There is also another precursory tryal of minerals, and metals, which is made with Salt-peter; where especially tin, iron, and copper do largely draw forth their treasures hid in them, which they will not yield being tryed by Lead, the which is not a sign of their poverty, but rather of not a true tryal made by Lead, which is not the true, and genuine judge, and tryer of metals. For otherwise (if it were) it would draw forth their treasure as well out of a greater quantity of metallick matter, as out of a lesser. Now follows the tryal by Nitre: Make a mixture of one part of sulphur, of two parts of pure Tartar, and four parts of purified Nitre, then take an ounce of this mixture, and one dram of the mineral or metal ground small, mix those together, and being put into a crucible, put a red hot iron or burning coal to them, and that mixture will be inflamed, and yield a most vehement fire, reducing that mineral or metal into dross: And what is not brought into dross must again be mixed with the aforesaid mixture, and be burnt as before, until the whole be consumed by the fire. Then make that dross or salt containing in it the metal that is destroyed, to flow so long in a strong crucible, untill it be made glass; which being poured out there are found grains of gold or silver, which came from the mineral or metal that was tryed. And this opperation (if it be well done) will be a pleasant sight, but without profit, because it cannot be done in a great quantity, and by reason of the price of the Nitre. Wherefore I set this way of tryal only for demonstration sake, that it might appear how almost all tin, iron, and copper, contain in them gold and silver, although they do not draw it forth in the Cuple. Now do not suppose that this is transmutation, which is only separation; wherefore thou must consider with thy self how that may be performed otherwise. But take heed that thou do not kindle this mixture from beneath, being put upon the coals, but from above, by reason of the danger of flashing: Also metals are easily fusible by the following mixture. Take one part of the saw-dust of the wood of the teil-tree being well dryed, two parts of sulphur, eight or nine parts of pure Nitre. Make _stratum super stratum_ in a crusible, and take to 11, or 12. parts of this mixture; one part of the metal subtilly ground, and kindle them, and the mine being melted will yield grains of pure Gold and Silver, if the mine were not too impure, the impurity thereof be consumed by that most vehement fire. And if this tryal be not for thy profit, yet it is rational, and may be for thine instruction. _Of the melting of mines and metals._ The melting of these in a great quantity is not for this place, because they cannot be done by this furnace, but it is treated of plainly enough by others in their writings of minerals. _Of the separation of metals._