gainsay, but only deny that it could have been done here; for if that silver could have been existent in the _Aqua Regia_, or salt of Tartar (whereas _Aqua Regia_ cannot bear any) it would have been precipitated together with the gold. But that it was no common silver, but gold which turned to silver after it was deprived of its Tincture, I shall briefly endeavour to prove. For that the salt waters (of _Aqua Regia_ and salt of Tartar) out of which the gold hath been precipitated, is of that nature, before it be coagulated to salt, though it be quite clear and white, that if you put a feather in it, it will be dyed purple within few days, which purple colour comes from the gold, and not from silver, in regard that silver doth dye red or black: and hence it appeareth, that the salt water hath retained something of gold. Now some body peradventure may ask, if that the said salt water hath retained some gold, how is it then, that in the melting, no gold comes forth, but only silver? To which I answer, that some salts are of that nature, that in the melting, they take from gold its colour and soul; whereof if the gold be truly deprived, it is then no more gold, nor can be such; neither is it silver, but remaineth only a volatile black body, good for nothing, which also proveth much more unfixt than common Lead, not able to endure any force of fire, much less the cupel: But like _Mercury_ or _Arsenick_ vanisheth (or flyeth away) by a small heat. Hence it may be gathered, that the fixedness (or fixity) of gold doth consist in its soul or Tincture, and not in its body, and therefore it is credible, that gold may be anatomized, its best or purer part separated from the grosser (or courser) and so that a Tingent medicine (or Tincture) may be made of it. But whether this be the right way, whereby the universal medicine of the ancient Philosophers (by whose means all metals can be changed or transmuted into gold) is to be attained unto, I will not dispute; yet I believe that peradventure there may be another subject, endued with a far higher Tincture than gold is, which obtained no more from nature, than it doth need it self for its own fixedness. However, we may safely believe, that a true Anima or Tincture of gold, if it be well separated from its impure black body, may be exalted and improved in colour; so that afterwards of an imperfect body a greater quantity, than that was from which it was abstracted, may be improved and brought to the perfection of gold. But waving all this, it is true and certain, that if the gold be deprived of its Tincture, the remaining body can no more be gold; as is demonstrated more at large in my Treatise (_de Auro potabili vero_) of the true potable Gold: And this I mentioned here onely therefore, that in case the lover of this Art, in his work should meet perchance with such a white grain, he may know, from whence it doth proceed.