The Third Part of the Prosperity of Germany

be prepared, exhibiting more saltpeter than those previously mentioned, but what has been delivered is sufficient. Here I cannot omit mentioning that there are some subjects to be found which, without the prescribed vaults—in which, however, many secrets still lie hidden—bring the greatest utility and, though less pertaining to this matter, can be changed into the best saltpeter in the space of three hours. This labor is likewise reserved for friends, and if it were divulged, it would bring nothing but harm; therefore, it is better to have remained silent. More will be said in the following pages, where we shall treat of the Northern Monarchs.

Therefore, so that it may be sufficiently established, and so that I may prove to conform to the truth, that the salt of saltpeter is a universal subject and is thus contained in absolutely all things that the world possesses, I judge it advisable to set down here some proofs adapted to this purpose.

In the first part of the Prosperitas Germaniæ Prosperity of Germany, it has already been demonstrated more than sufficiently that good saltpeter can be extracted by art from everything that the world has. However, the method by which this can and should be done has not been revealed. Since everyone desires this most of all, I have proposed to describe first of all