Note, That all theſe were compared with another Apple of the ſame kinde that lay of
# it ſelf; and in compariſon of that, were more ſweet, and more yellow, and ſo
# appeared to be more ripe

Take an Apple, or Pear, or other like Fruit, and roul it upon a Table
hard: We ſee in common experience, that the rouling doth ſoften and
ſweeten the Fruit preſently, which is nothing but the ſmooth diſtribution
of the Spirits into the parts; for the unequal diſtribution of the Spirits
maketh the harriſhneſs: But this hard rouling is between Concoction,
and a ſimple Maturation; therefore, if you ſhould roul them but gently
perhaps twice a day, and continue it ſome ſeven days, it is like they would
Mature more finely, and like unto the Natural Maturation.

Take an Apple, and cut out a piece of the top and cover it, to ſee
whether that Solution of Continuity will not haſten a Maturation. We ſee that
where a Waſp, or a Fly, or a Worm, hath bitten in a Grape or any Fruit, it will
ſweeten haſtily.

Take an Apple, & c. and prick it with a Pin full of Holes, not deep,
and ſmear it a little with Sack, or Cinnamon Water, or Spirit of Wine,
every day for ten days, to ſee if the Virtual Heat of the Wine, or Strong-
Waters, will not Mature it.

In theſe Tryals alſo as was uſed in the firſt, ſet another of the ſame Fruits by, to compare
# them, and try them by their r [?] ellowneſs, and by their Sweeineſs.

THe World hath been much abuſed by the opinion of Making of Gold. The Work it ſelf, I judge to be poſſible; but the Means (hitherto pro-
pounded) to effect it, are in the Practice, full of Error and Impoſture; and in the Theory, full of unſound Imaginations. For to ſay, that Nature
hath an in ention to make all Metals Gold; and that, if ſhe were delivered
from Impediments, ſhe would perform her own work; and that, if the
Crudities, Impurities, and Leproſies of Metals were cured, they would
become Gold, and that a little quantity of the Medicine in the Work of
Projection, will turn a Sea of the Baſ@r Metal into Gold by multiplying. All theſe are but dreams, and ſo are many other Grounds of Alchymy. And to help the matter, the Alchymiſts call in likewiſe many vanities,
out of Aſtrology, Natural Magick, Superſtitious Interpretations of Scri
ptures, Auricular Traditions, Feigned Teſtimonies of Ancient Authors,
and the like. It is true, on the other ſide they have brought to light not a
few profitable Experiments, and thereby made the World ſome amends: But we, when we ſhall come to handle the Verſion and Tranſmutation of
Bodies, and the Experiments concerning Metals and Minerals; will lay
open the true Ways and Paſſages of Nature, which may lead to this great
effect. And we commend the wit of the Chineſes, who deſpair of making
of Gold, but are mad upon the making of Silver. For certain it is, That
it is more difficult to make Gold, (which is the moſt ponderous and ma-
teriate amongſt Metals) of other Metals, leſs ponderous and leſs mate-
riate, than (Via versâ) to make Silver of Lead, or Quick-ſilver; both
which are more ponderous than Silver: So that they need rather a further
degree of Fixation, than any Condenſation. In the mean time, by occaſion of
handling the Axioms touching Maturation, we will direct a tryal touching
the Maturing of Metals, and thereby turning ſome of them into Gold; for
we conceive indeed, that a perfect good Concoction, or Diſgeſtion, or Ma
turation of ſome Metals will produce Gold. And here we call to minde,
that we knew a Dutchman that had wrought himſelf into the belief of a