PREFACE.

which we omit here, striving for brevity. Beer contracted in the same way also brings many benefits. For grain, for the storage of which eight casks were scarcely sufficient before, only one is needed here, which, once placed in a beer vessel, will not turn into living creatures, nor will it fly away from the granary, but after ten or twenty years, it can be taken out and applied to use. Such artificial and factitious beers, since they are cooked for a longer time during condensation, are far better than those common ones that are made from toasted or fried grain. Whoever, therefore, when grain is cheap, buys it up and condenses it with such artificial contractions and sets it aside until a difficulty of grain arises, bringing a great profit to himself, will not only acquire an honest profit that brings no harm to others, but will also, as one studious of charity and mercy, deserve well of his neighbor if he brings help to him who is in extreme necessity and pays him money for the grain purchased, by which he can sustain his family and look after some gain for himself.

Thus, by this condensation and concentration of beer and wine, no one is harmed, but profit is born for both the buyer and the seller, which by right and merit should be a concern for people of every condition. Great men, princes, Kings, Caesars, and other magistrates and republics would do well if they were to concern themselves with condensed