PRÆFATIO.

as necessity demands, the powder itself is prepared from them. Furthermore, and for this reason also, this so-called concentration of wood precedes the condensation of wine and beer in its utility: because not only can great heaps of minerals everywhere in Germany, which contain no fixed and corporeal gold and are held as naught, be fixed by the benefit of saltpeter so that a better part may be extracted, but also lesser metals, once their superfluous sulfur is burned away, can be changed into better ones, and perfect metals, such as gold and silver, can be destroyed by the same help and gathered into a better part (concerning which the second, third, and fourth parts following will treat). Therefore, the transformation of wood into saltpeter salemetræ saltpeter or tartar Tartarum potassium bitartrate/tartar, both of which are not only sold in great quantity but are also accustomed to being applied to various uses, will be able to add a great increase of power and strength to our noble fatherland of Germany, in which there is everywhere an incredible abundance of wood that can be had almost for free, not only against future enemies but also against present ones.

Whoever, therefore, abounds in wood will also be enriched with many riches, if only he is willing to set his hand to the work, by no means fearing that the matter of saltpeter will be worth no price or be unsellable. And if this were the case, nevertheless, in the explanation of the miraculi mundi miracle of the world already released to the light, I have made so much plain, and in the following three parts of this book I will manifest so much, as...