Meteors, Chapter 4 – Table of contents 2
CHAP, 4.
Of Gold.
GOld is Metallnm puriffimum, the purest Metall of all others; and nature never took delight to make a more perfect elementary substance then Gold is; and therefore in price and estimation, is far above all other riches.
The Composition of Gold is proportioned in equall quality, fitly Correspondent in the symmetry of the elements which compound it; it is even in the Originals so purified already, as are the simple & pure Elements, in such sort, that by their conjunction together in equall power, there is engendred so delicate and perfect a mixture of indissoluble union, composing an accord so faithfully, that there is made thereby an incorruptible Past, which is permanent to all eternity, in the excellency and goodnesse thereof; wherefore Gold cannot be vanquished by injury of time and antiquity; neither can contain in it felte, nor support any excre…ncy and superfluity of Rust; for though it be put into the water or fire, and there remain a long space; yet it is never stained, nor accepteth it any other quality but what is Naturall. Nor yet doth Gold fail any whit, which is a sole priviledge belonging to this royall Metall, all other being subject to alteration and corruption, for though Gold be drawn into the smallest wire, and be extenuated as fine as the threds in the Spiders wed; and though it be buried in the most piercing medicaments as are Sublimatum, Verdegrease, Salt, Venegar, and that it remain three thousand years therein, it will not for all that be corrupted, but rather the more refined, provided the Gold be perfect, and not sophisticated and false.
CHAP. 5.
Where Gold is found.
GOld is found in divers manners, to wit, mixt with Sand as in Bohemia: on the shore-side amongst the water neer to Goldborough & Risegrond; and amongst the stones in mountaines, as in Calecut, and in the Indies.
The Generation of Gold is usually on the tops of Mountaines, because that there in the highest places the Sun doth more easily purifie that which retaineth too much earthiness in it: and when the Raine and Torrents do flow downe, they carry the Gold downe with them to the foot thereof, where it is gathered amongst the sand, or else in waters neer thereunto, whether it is driven by the violence of floods, except the Ground perhaps open with those inundations, and the Gold fall into the gaping jaws of the Earth, and so stick there. Now it is observable, that that which is found in the entrance of the Mine, is not the purest, but is as an earnest to invite to farther labour and pains. That which is found in Waters and Rivers is fished for, and is in form of little Grains: In Rocks and Mountains it is taken out by delving and digging. And there be three sorts of Mines, some are called Pendent, some Jacent, and some Oblique and turning: Pendent are those which are found in the superficies and tops of Mountains: Jacent are low, and lie in plain fields: Oblique have a cross Course, whether it be to that which is Pendent, or Jacent, all whereof is driven by Rivers into the next floods.
CHAP. 6.
Of Silver.
THe most noble amongst Metalls next to Gold, is Silver; for though Copper in colour, and Lead in waight do nearest approach unto Gold; yet in Tenuity of substance, in pureness and fastnesse, Silver is so like unto it, that good silver may be rightly said to be imperfect Gold in substance; sailing in colour, and that by succession of time, it is sometimes changed into Gold, as in many years space Lead turneth into Silver. The Mines of Silver are more ordinary then Mines of Gold; and it is usually engendred in four manners, to wit, either in the Earth, or in Brass, or in Lead, or in Stones, which being purged and melted, yeeld some quantity of Silver. In the Mountain called Mons Regius, stones retain very much Silver, which being put in the fire, there is found in every pound of silver that runneth out of them, half an ounce of Gold at least.
Silver is many times found to be mixed with Copper, as in Alsaria, near to the Rhine in the Mountains of S. Anne, and in Messein. When Silver is separated from Lead, it leaveth a scum which is called Lithargyrium, which is a kind of impure Lead.
CHAP. 7.
Of Quick-silver.
QUick-silver is called Materia Metallaris, the matter of the Metalls; and though it have the name of Silver, yet in nature it approacheth nearer to Gold; for it is like unto it in Tenuity and weight, and to Silver onelyonly in colour. And notwithstanding the opinions of many Chymists, Quick-silver is not a Metall, but a Water condensate, not by heat (for it is not hardned) nor by cold (for then it would be a stone or metall) but by some other terrestriall rare and pure portion, whereby it commeth to be weighty and cold, splendent and liquide, and is therefore ranked amongst those metalline substances which differ but little from water; and it is common in experience, that the Mountains wherein Quick-silver is found, are very green and full of fountains.
CHAP. 8.
Of Electrum or Amber.
MAny Authors, Philosophers, and Chymists, disagree in their opinions and discourse of Amber; some reckon Amber amongst plyable and hard metalline substances; others will not acknowledge it but to be but the gum of a Tree producing Rosin which is common in Arabia.
Philemon writeth, that in two places of Scythia, Amber is digged out of the ground like a kind of stone, and in one place it is white, and in another it is yellow; to omit this Argument, and to agree with those who allow Amber to be a Metall, is most consonant to reason: The nature and property of it is a mean betwixt Gold and Silver, and such is the true and naturall Amber: as for that which is used for Beads, it is but artificiall.
Amber partaketh more of Gold then Silver, because it is more pure, & more apt to be wrought; for if it consist more of Silver, it could not endure the forge and hammer.
Vessels are made of Amber, some for beautie, some for profit: and if composed of true and good Amber, they will discover poysons by cracking, and making signs of an Arch within: for when the rare humidity thereof commeth to be consumed by the force of venome, it cracketh, and the colour changing in the Vessel, it seemeth in stead of the great splendor thereof, there doth a kind of stain represent it selfe like unto an Arch. Now that this Metall is more rare, is ignorance that knoweth not the vertue; or avarice, that greedily thirsteth after Gold and gaine.
CHAP. 9.
Of Iron.
IRon is taken out of the Earth, and to make it Malleable, the mass thereof is laid to drie in the Sun; and that which is Earthy, doth soften and moulder with the Rain, as that which is moist doth melt with the Sun; which as the venome of it is consumed in the Furnace by the fire, by how much more it is purged in the fire, by so much the more it is pure in its goodnesse, in such sort as that which is earthy, doth at last turn to schales and dross, and the most subtil part thereof doth convert into Steel.
CHAP. 10.
Of Steel.
THe common Steel is artificiall extracted Iron, Iron more excellently purged, and a little Marble added thereunto; but in many places there is Naturall Steel, namely in Persia very good, and in the Chaldean Isle, and neer Damascus, whereof the best Cemiters and Faulchions in the world are made, which cut so well, that there is no Rasor, be it never so well steeled and tempered, that hath a more keene and sharper edge; for this cause some say, That there are some kinds of Steel and Iron so excellent, that weight for weight, they are esteemed of greater price then Gold.
CHAP. 11.
Of Lead.
LEad is a gross dull Metall, Procreated and Consistent of more impure Quicksilver, and more feculent and crass Sulphur; it least indures the fire of any Metall, and therefore soonest melteth. Galen saith, Lead buryed long in moist subterranean Caves and holes, increaseth in magnitude and weight, and therefore is a Cover (if wel considered) lesse proper for any buildings but where the Roofs are of infinite strength. There be divers kinds of Lead, some red, some white, some balck, and a fourth sort of a m…an quality betwixt white and black, found in the mountaines of Bohemia. The Ore of Lead is melted in furnaces, and is let runne through pipes out of the furnace, whether the Workmen will. Lead is an incongruent and malignant Metal to all others; and if but one ounce be mixt incorporated with one hundered ounces of Silver or Gold, the mixture will reader the whole mass brittle and fragil; and so it will be in all like proportions.
CHAP. 12.
Of Tinne.
TIn is a white Metal somwhat like to Silver for i…s splendor & whiteness, and yet not much above Lead for its softnesse and porosity. And this is the difference betwixt Tinne and white Lead, that the one is ingendered where there is some Silver mine or veine, but the other is generated apart without the company of so rich a Neigbour.
CHAP. 13.
Of Brasse.
BRass is a more impure Metal: which composed of much sulphurous matter, is more hot, light, and less pory, and so less subject to corruption and rust by reason of all moisture and humidity (almost) consumed in it.
In times past, it was very usuall to make Shields and Bucklers, and Pike…, & Launces therof, as Homer reports how Menelaus pursued Paris with a brazen Launce. This Metal is proper for …rumpets, because it maketh a great noise in Dorick musick, and inflameth men to Combat: That of Cyprus is harder, and therefore better then any other.
CHAP. 14.
Of Copper.
COpper, or Orichalcum, is Latten, or as some call it as factitium, artificiall brass; it represents with it a golden Complexion, but is somwhat more yellow then Gold; some because of Copper, make two kinds of Brass, the one Natural, the other Artificial; the best hath spots of shining Gold intermin gled; and the Merchants tell us, that in Nova Hispania in America, a peice of it hath bin found of two hundered pound weight. The Artificial brass, commonly called Copper or Latten, is very ordinary; and the most excellent is that which in foure pounds of brass, doth containe in it one pound of white Lead. Also when the white Lead is mixed to the eight part of brass, then is the Copper very good; but it is base when mixed with black Lead: the use of Copper is chiefly for faire instruments, as Ordinance, Cauldrons, and such like, wherein it is more excellent then brass; and it giveth no ill taste or smell to meat boyled in it.
FINIS.
The Table.
OF the Earth in general, Chap. 1 page 159
Of Metalls, Chap. 2. p. 161
Of the number of Metalls, Chap. 3. p. 162
Of Gold, Chap. 4. p. 163
Where Gold is found, Ch. 5. p. 165
Of Silver, Ch. 6. p. 166
Of Quick-silver, Ch. 7. p. 167
Of Electrum or Amber, Ch. 8. p. 168
Of Iron, Ch. 9. p. 170
Of Steel, ibid.
Of Lead, Ch. 11. p. 171
Of Tinne, Ch. 12. p. 172
Of Brasse, Ch. 13. p. 173
Of Copper, ibid.
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YOrk's Heraldry, Folio
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Orlando Furioso, Folio Callis learned Readings on the Stat. 21. Hen. 8. Cap. 5. of Sewers.
Perkins on the Laws of England. Wilkinsons Office of Sheriffs Persons Law.
Mirrour of Justice.
Topicks in the Laws of England
Sken de significatione verbor….
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Wilby's 2d set of Musick, 3, 4,, 5, & 6 Parts.
Corderius in English.
Exercitatio Scholastica.
Nyes Gunnery and Fire-works.
Cato Major with Annotations.
Mel Helliconium, by Alex. Ross.
The History of Vienna and Paris.
Lazarillo de Tormes two Parts.
Posing of the Accidence.
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End of the text · William Fulke, Meteors (1655)