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was the Subject on which was wrought; and indeed with so great cunning,that I could not but admire the ingenuity of the men: and knowing that whata man prizeth (though it be a trifle) yet to spoil or destroy that would be aninjury, I meddled not with any Glass, (for indeed there were Labourers thatfled not, because they knew nothing, but only wrought as they weredirected :) and when I came, they could not perceive that I had any Candlein my hand, and wondred their Masters should so fly from a phansie.Moreover I found that they could not see any light from the Fox-fire andGlow-worms tails, which were there; but the place being dark, as beingunder ground, they wrought by Candles and Lamps, which yet could givetheir Masters no light, but they sought all the world over for those shiningsubjects: Yet I could notwithstanding both discern utter darkness, which theRays of my Candle would not enlighten. Then said I to the Workmen, Whatis this that is brought in here? Oh, said they, they are Sol and Lunaterrestrial, whereby our Masters can see clearly the Natures of all things inthe world, and to make by their light the great Elixir; and though we cansee no light in them, or very little, it is because of our Ignorance in thesethings, therefore we use our Lamps to work by. Where are your Masters?said I. They ran away, said they, because when you came they said youwere a Devil, and brought an ominous light with you, and if they did butonce see that with a full view, their Works would all vanish; they didtherefore lay a few Charms, and ran away. Then I looked, and the groundunder me was full of Crosses and Circles, at which I laughed, and departedinto another Room.Or Salts preparate in divers wise,Neither with Corrosives, nor with Fire alone,Neither with Vinegar, nor with Waters ardent,Nor with the vapour of Lead, our StoneCalcined is according to our intent.All those, to Calcining which are so bent,From this hard Science withdraw their hand,Till they our Calcining understand.And there I found in like fort rare Furnaces, with this Inscription, SalMetallorum est Lapis Philosophorum: many processes I beheld, whichwould be tedious to relate. On I passed from thence, and in another Room Ifound large Furnaces, in which they were labouring about Waters fort;others were with strong reverberations calcining Lead, Tin, Copper, Iron,and all metals and Minerals; others were drawing Spirit of Vinegar with agreat care, till it became exquisitely sharp, and in this they laboured tocalcine several Metalline bodies; others were rectifying Spirit of Wine, solong toll no Body almost or Receiver could hold it, it was so subtile, andthis they said was the true Water of Life that must do the work; others were74