e of this
Lead, twelve ounces of Cupellate
Silver, and from these twelve ounces,
he also had two ounces of the
best Gold. And I Helvetius am able
to shew some of this Spongeous
Lead with part of the Star yet adhering,
& besides the pieces of the Star
the Silver and Gold made thereof.
Which when this Subtile (and
Likewise Foolish) Grill understood,
he would not be known to Knottterus,
whether he had used the
Spirit of Salt, or not; but thenceforth
attempted to learn of him
the Art how to make it; yet some
time being Elapsed, the worthy
Knottnerus had for got what Spirit
of salt (for he was expert in
various kinds thereof) he had given
him; not being able to call
the same to mind so suddenly: in
the mean while, he and his Family
were visited with the Pestilence
and dyed: the other falling into
the Water was drowned. After
the death of these two, none
could find out the way of either of
their Operations.

Certainly here is cause of Admiration,
that the Internal Nature
of Lead, by the simple maturation
of Spirit of Salt, should appear
in an external form so noble.
No less admirable and wonderful
to the mind is this, viz. that the
mirifick Stone of Philosophers can
so exceeding swiftly transmute
Metals; having virtue potentially
insited in it self, so as it is deduced
into Art, as in Iron by contact
of the Magnet. But touching
These enough for the Sons of Art.

CHAP. III.

Since promises are so much the better
esteemed, by how much the sooner
they are fulfilled, I, without any
dilation, immediately come to my
promised Declaration of the following
History, which thus take.

At the Hague, on the sixth Calend
of January or the 27th.
of December, in the year 1666, a
certain man came to my House in
the Afternoon, to me indeed planely
unknown, but endued with an
honest gravity, and serious authority
of Countenance, cloathed in
a Plebick Habit, like to some
Memnonite of a middle Stature,
his Visage somewhat long, with
some Pock-holes here and there dispersed:
his Hairs were indeed very
black, yet not curled, little or no
no hair on his Chin, and about
three or four and fourty years of
Age: his Countrey (as far as I
am able to conjecture) is