did before Now this second water being a very strong water must be boyled in a Cauldron and after it hath wel boiled abate the fire vnder the Cauldron till you haue taken of from it all the scumme which must be saued in a pot or other vessell When you haue so done make a good fire vnder the Cauldron to cause the water that is in the same to seeth or boyle quickly againe and as the water shall diminish or seethe away put more of the said first water vnto the same and as you were before willed to do scumme the said water and keepe the scumme when the scumme shall be thicke To know whē the maister water of Salt-peter is enough boyled and hard and of a French russet colour take some water with the scummer out of the Cauldron let it drop vppon a peece of yron for if the water be well and enough boyled the droppes of water will congeale vppon the same yron and if the said droppes doe not congeale it is a signe that the water in the Cauldron is not boiled enough When you shall perceiue by this signe that the water is well and enough boiled take it of from the fire and preserue it because it is the master water So soone as you haue made an end of boyling the second water you ought to boile and scumme the first water called water of the foote To know whē the first water of Saltpeter called water of the foote and wash of earth is enough boyled How water of the foote and wash of earth when it is burned may be made good againe Salt peter water must be suffered to cōgeale in a dankish close and darke place and wash of earth as you did the second water till it shall cast vp a scumme of a French russet colour vnto which if it shal happen to cleaue vnto the sides of the Cauldron you must put of the other French russet scumme that was made and saued by you before to boyle with it vntill the droppes of this water falling vppon yron wil congeale If this congealed water shall be very soft it is a signe that the water in the Cauldron is not boyled enough but if this congealed water shall be very hard it is a signe that it is burned To amend this fault which the very hard congealed water hath and to make the same water good againe put some freshe and cleare water thereunto and then hauing extinguished all the fire vnder the Cauldron and made the same Cauldron to stand a slope so that the lies and dregges which being congealed are the very salt whereof Saltpeter is made may not with any water runne ouer the brimmes of the vessell you must if you will make good Saltpeter suffer the water to settle in the same vessell and to congeale in a dankish close and darke place and after the water which will not congeale hath for the space of two or three dayes dropped out of the vessell into some other tubbe take the Saltpeter out of the saist vessell and preserue the same water because it being the master water may afterwardes be vsed when you shall haue neede of the master water The 3 Chapter How you may make an excellent kind of artificiall Saltpeter of the flowre which groeth on walles how Saltpeter water must bee boyled howe you may knowe when Saltpeter water hath boyled enough how Saltpeter water which is burned may bee made good againe and how Saltpeter in his refining doth waste TAke of flowre which groeth on walles foure partes of vnslaked Lime one parte This one part of lime must bee well boyled in water ouer a fire and after it hath boyled enough it must be taken from the fire and suffered to settle and then it must be strained into another vessell This done put the same foure parts of the said flowre into such a halfe but tubbe hogshead or other barrell as before you haue been willed to prepare for earth whereof Saltpeter shal be made powre vppon the same flowre so much of the said strained water which is named Lie or Lime water as will dissolue the same flowre When the flower is dissolued let the Lie or Lime water which hath dissolued the flower droppe out at the bottome of the sayd vessell into another tubbe set vnder the same vessell and boyle those droppes of Lie or Lime water ouer a fire till they being put vppon yron wil congeale and be of a temperate hardnesse that is to say neither too soft nor too hard It is a signe as before I haue told you that the water hath not boyled enough when the congealed droppes are too soft and it is a token that the water is burned when the congealed drops are too hard But as you haue learned the water which is burned may be made good againe with a little fresh and cleare water put vnto it After this Lie or Lime water is well and enough boyled take it of from the fire scumme it with a scummer and doe vnto it all that you haue been taught in the precedent Chapter to doe vnto the Saltpeter water that first droppeth out of vessels filled with earth So this Saltpeter will bee good with the first boyling and serue for some vses without any other refining But for to make gunpowder it ought to be refined againe though thereby it will waste a little The 4 Chapter How good Saltpeter may be knowne PVT a handful of Saltpeter vppon an oken boord or vppon a drie Walnut tree boord lay vppon the Saltpeter a quicke cole of fire and when the Saltpeter is well kindeled take the cole away from it for now if the Saltpeter be good it will burne of it selfe and ray much the table But if the Saltpeter shall as it doth burne giue any crackes it is a token that the same Saltpeter hath in it Salt and that it was refined for vnrefined Saltpeter will neuer cracke and when many dregges do remaine vppon the table after the Saltpeter is so burned they shew that the same Saltpeter had much grease in it and that it was naught The 5 Chapter How Saltpeter may be made to groe where none did groe before and how earth which hath made Salt-peter may be made after the end of fiue or sixe yeeres to yeelde more Saltpeter than it did yeelde at the first time DIssolue Saltpeter in water and wet well therewith a couered peece of ground where you will haue Saltpeter to groe then suffer that peece of ground to lie still for a certaine space of time and by so doing you shall see that the Saltpeter will groe and multiplie wonderfully in that place Also it is truth if the earth which hath made Saltpeter be heaped vp in a couered place where no raine may fall vppon the same that after the end of fiue or sixe yeres you may labour the same earth againe and finde in it more Saltpeter than it did yeeld at the first time The 6 Chapter
How Saltpeter meale is made and how Saltpeter meale without any beating will serue among other materiall things to make gunpowder HAng a kettle with a wide bottome ouer a good fire and put into that kettle a conuenient quantitie of Saltpeter when the Saltpeter shall begin to bloe frie and smoke stirre it about the kettle with a woodden ladle pulling backe the Saltpeter which shal shew white and putting forward the other Saltpeter which hath not had so much fire as the said white Saltpeter and cease not to stirre and mingle all the Saltpeter well together so as it may not melt vntill it shall waxe drie and be like a comfette for by so doing you shall take away out of the Saltpeter all the grease and Salt that was in it Then powring so much water into the kettle as will couer all the Saltpeter that is in it you must melt the same Saltpeter ouer a good fire and sturre it well about the kettle with a bigge and rounde staffe vntill it shall waxe drie againe be like meale which without any beating will serue among other materiall things to make gunpowder The 7 Chapter How Saltpeter may be refined with water by two sundrie wayes and how Saltpeter refined with water ought to be dried The first waie to refine Salt-peter with water TAke of the mixture made of Lime Ashes and Allum dissolued whereof mention hath been made in the second Chapter of this booke and in the first way to make artificiall Saltpeter of earth and into euery barrell of water that you haue put into the Cauldron for to dissolue the Saltpeter powre sixe pots full of the strong water that is also mentioned in the said first way to make artificiall Saltpeter and in the same quantitie of water so prepared put so much Saltpeter as you thinke may well be dissolued and with boyling make it to dissolue very well Then seeing it in boyling to haue cast vp scumme you shall take it out of the Cauldron and put it into a tubbe in the bottome whereof you must first put fine sand foure fingers thicknesse cleane washed couered with a linnen cloth and by a little hole made into the bottome of the tubbe you shall suffer it to droppe by little and little in some other vessell set vnder to receiue it and so this water thus strained you must afterwards put into the very same or into another Cauldron to boyle againe and to make the greater part of the same water seethe away Finally make it boyle so much vntill you shall see it readie to thicken powring now and then into the same water a little of the aforesaid strong water especially when it swelleth casteth vp scumme This done powre the said water out of the Cauldron into chestes or other vessels of wood to congeale which though it shall be a great quantitie within three or foure dayes will congeale But if any part of that water doe not within that time congeale then taking it out of the vessel boile it againe do it vnto all that you did before to the other water that is congealed And so you must doe from time to time as it gathereth together and congealeth and by this meanes you shall make the Saltpeter most white and faire and much better than at the first seething The second way to refine Saltpeter with water Saltpeter may also be refined with water in this manner put Saltpeter with Lime well slaked into a cleane Cauldron and powre vppon the Saltpeter and slaked Lime so much faire water or rather so much of the aforesaide Lie or Lime water as will couer and lie foure ynches in heigth aboue the same Saltpeter and slaked Lime Moreouer make a good fire vnder the Cauldron that the things in the same may quickly boile and bee readie as scumme shal rise to take it away with a scummer When you shal see that no more scumme will rise then take the Cauldron from the fire and setting it somewhat aslope let the boiled water coole settle and cleare in the same if the boiled water will not waxe cleare by this meanes put ashes into it aad boyle the same water againe for a while This done take the Cauldron from the fire setting it aslope sprinkle faire water vpon the boyled water for by so doing you shall make the same water cleare This water being cleare must by little and little be powred into some other vessell so as the lies dregges or grounds may not goe out with the same Saltpeter refined with water ought to be dried against the Sun or with heate of fire For of the water which lyeth aboue in the vessell Saltpeter is made and in the water at the bottome of the vessell are the lies or dregges of Saltpeter After you haue in this sort powred out the saide water into other vessels and haue suffered the same for two dayes space and more if need be to congeale in the same vessels you must take the same congealed water which is Saltpeter out of the vessels and drie the same against the Sunne or with heate of fire To know whē the water in which Saltpeter is refined hath boyled enough After you haue taken the said Saltpeter out of the vessels in which it did congeale boyle again ouer a good fire the vncongealed water which remaineth in the said vessels so long as this water doth boile scumme it if it shall cast vp any scumme let this water boile vntill the same water dropping vppon yron stone or such like things from a peece of wood put into the water will congeale for then is that time to take it from the fire Nowe this being done if you shall see a thinne skin to lie vppon the water scumme the same away and more doo vnto the same water all that you haue bin willed to doo vnto the other water which did before congeale into saltpeter Although this saltpeter made of the water which did lie in the bottome of the vessels is not so good as the Saltpeter which came of that part of water which did lie vppermost in the vessels yet may it be made as good as the other with so much labour as you are willed to bestowe vppon the other and by putting so much water vnto it as you did vnto the other for through lacke of water it will be burned Saltpeter being thus refined with water will make good gunpowder How Saltpeter refined with water ought to be dried in a Cauldron ouer a fire if it shall afterwards passe thorow a boulter or searse But to drie this Saltpeter so as it may passe thorow a fine boulter or searse put it into a Cauldron ouer a fire of Coles whereby the Saltpeter will yeeld a water fall into the flowre and melt and being well stirred in a Cauldron that all the Saltpeter may feele the heate of fire it will be a lumpe like a comfet When you shall see that this Saltpeter
mingle them togeather for to vse This kinde of gunpowder is of so great force as that it wil cause any peece of Artillerie full charged therewith to breake in peeces with a great noyse therby put them in danger of their liues that shal be then neare vnto the same peece But whosoeuer doth put into this kinde of gunpowder 24 parts of burned paper or so much of hay seede very well pounded and mingle well the same burned paper or hay seed with the said gunpowder shall so abate the force of that powder as that it will not make so vehement a flame nor giue so great a bloc as otherwise it would haue done with this kinde of gunpowder the ingenious Gunner may doe wonderfull experiments To make an other kinde of gunpowder 14 If you mingle three poundes of good gunpowder and one pound of Brimstone and Greeke pitch togeather you shall make a kinde of gunpowder which will bee a fire quickly and burne very vehemently A censure of Mute gunpowder 15 Mute gunpowder was first inuented as Brasauolus saith by a Duke of Ferrara and insomuch as it will make no noyse when it shall be shot out of a peece the saide powder is named Mute gunpowder and some men fearing it more than any other sort of gunpowder doe iudge the same powder an vnlawfull thing to bee vsed But knowing by the reasons alleaged in the first booke and 22 Colloquie of Nicholas Tartaglia his Colloquies that it is an impossible thing for gunpowder of any force to make no noise when it shal be shot out of a peece Also considering that diuers Authours namely Hieronymus Cardanus and Ioan Iacobus Weckerus doe affirme in their bookes that Mute powder is alwaies of so litle force as that it will shoote a pellet scarse twelue paces from the mouth of his peece I esteeme that feare of Mute powder as a vaine conceite and doe verily beleue vnder reformation that Mute gunpowder which as before you haue heard is weake in force and not much hurtful in effects may among all men of vnderstanding be more tollerable then any other sort of gunpowder The 17 Chapter To renue and make good againe any sort of gunpowder that hath lost his strength or vertue by moisture long lying or by any other meanes WHen you haue dried all the gunpowder which shall be renued put so much thereof as you will into a canuasse sachell or linnen bagge and then tying a corde very hard about the mouth of the bagge thrust the same into a cleane Cauldron and powre so much water into the Cauldron as will couer the bagge this done make the water to boile in the Cauldron till a droppe of it laid vppon yron or stone will congeale and while the water boyleth remember to scumme it as neede shall require After this remoue the Cauldron from the fire and setting it a slope let that bagge drop into the Cauldron and when you shall see that the water in the Cauldron is cleare poure it out by little and litle into an other vessell so as no lies or dregges may runne out with the water into the same vessell because the water must there congeale After the water is congealed take the Saltpeeter out of the vessell and as you did before boyle and scumme the water which shall then remaine in the said vessell till a droppe of it laid vpon yron or stone will congeale Also doe vnto it all that you did before vnto the congealed water and let it not greeue you to worke thus so long as any saltpeter may by this meanes bee founde in the vncongealed water The saltpeeter and Brimston which were within the said bagge did dissolue and soke into the boyling water yea the dissolued saltpeter turned into water the dissolued brimstone sunke downe to the bottome of the water where you may finde it But the coles which were mingled with the said dissolued saltpeter and brimstone remaine still within the bagge among the lies and dregges of the decayed gunpowder therefore when you haue gathered together by the meanes aboue rehearsed all the saltpeter that was in the sayd boyling water and haue well dried the said saltpeter brimstone and coles poise euery of them by it selfe and then seeing how much the part of saltpeeter so gathered doth want of the quantitie which it should haue for the sayd parts of cole and brimstone adde thereunto the portion of saltpeeter which wanteth That done beate mingle and incorporate them together as you haue bene taught to beat mingle and make nwe gunpowder The 18 Chapter How you may by taste feeling colour and burning know good and il gunpowder and how among many sortes of gunpowder you may know the best sorte of gunpowder GVnpowder that hath so mylde a taste as that you shall scant feele it on your tongue is of good receite and well wrought By how much gunpowder is in feeling more harder by so much it is more better Gunpowder of a fayre azure or french russet colour is very good and it may be iudged to haue all his receites well wrought and sufficient of the master well refined Lay 3. or 4. cornes of gunpowder vppon a white peece of paper the one three fingers distant from the other and put fire to one of them Now if the gunpowder be good and strong you shall see them all at one time a fire and that there will remayne no refuse or grosenesse of brimston or of saltpeeter nor any other thing except a white smokie colour in the place where they were burned neither will the paper be burnt or defiled therewith If good gunpowder be layde vppon the palme of your hande and set on a fire it will not burne your hande Gunpowder that hath a very sharpe taste hath abundance of the master not wel refined and will geue againe If white knottes or knottes of a french russet colour shall remayne after gunpowder is set on a fire it is a signe that the saltpeeter in that sorte of gunpowder was not wel refined but lefte full of salte and grease especially when the same knottes shall hisse in burning be dankish and leaue moysture in the place where the gunpowder was burned If harde dry and white knottes or pearles shall remayne after gunpowder is set on a fire it is a signe that this sorte of gunpowder was not well wrought An admonition And it behooueth euery Gunner to beware of such gunpowder because if it doe lie long dry in a peece it will waxe so fine with long and dry lying that if you take it not out of the peece it will in his discharge with fire put the same peece in danger of breaking If small black knottes which will burne downwards in the place where proofe is made shall remayne after gunpowder is set on a fire they doe shewe that the same sorte of gunpowder hath not enough of the maister and that it is of little force or strength and slowe in fiering If
and carrieth away therwith much of the good the which minding to remedy you must take three partes of Oke ashes and one of Lime and moreouer in euery hundred pounde waight of water there must be dissolued foure poundes of Roch Alume and when the Cauldron boyleth take of the said water with a pot and power into it once or twise specially when you see the Saltpeter water rise in skumme and so doing within a little while you shall see it alay and be both cleere faire an of an azure colour and it must be boiled so long till all the thinne watrinesse be vapoured away and the substance of the Saltpeter thickened so that it being taken out and put in chestes or tubbes and cooled may congeale the which is best done when the water is brought to a small quantitie taking it out and putting it into a lesse Cauldron wherein it will sooner congeale the which water being tasted and seen to be readie to congeale you may take it out and put it into vessels of wood or of earth that are rough within with certaine stickes of wood to congeale and so you shal let it coole and rest three or foure dayes so as it may droppe and be strained through some little hole in the bottome of the vessell and all the water which is not then congealed you must take out and saue for to seeth againe and the Saltpeter which is in any quantitie congealed you shall finde to be according to the vertue that was in the water or in the earth but the cleerenesse and fairenesse thereof will come of the master vertue of the water which is put into it in the boyling which hath strength to purge it and to make it come as it were refined in the first seething Now this being taken from the sides of the vessel where it congealed and in the water thereof washed you must lay it vpon a Table to drie throughly and the same seeming vnto you to haue neede or neuerthelesse minding to haue it aboue the common vse for some purpose more refined and purified from all maner of earthie grossenesse fatnesse and saltnesse which for to make exceeding fine powder or aquam fortem is most requisite so to be I counsell you to refine and purifie after one of the wayes taught in this Appendix Saltpeter may also be made of earth in this sort folowing The second way to make artificiall Saltpeter of earth digge such earth out of floores in sellers vaultes stables oxestaules gote or sheepe coates pigen houses or out of the loermost roomes in other houses as is blacke or that throwne into a fire will sparkle or that is of a sharpe biting and meane salt taste But digge not for any such earth more deeper than the length of 3 ynches vnder the face and vppermost part of the floore or ground out of which it shal be taken except you shall see in the earth vnder that depth such white things or veines as the Italian mameth Fiocchi To know whether or no any Saltpeter is in earth do this make a woodden pin of a foote in length and with a mallet driue it vp to the head into the ground where you meane to seeke for Saltpeter Then taking the pinne out of his hole thrust an yron naile made redde hot with fire and equal in length and bignesse to the saide pin into the said hole After this couer the same hole quickly suffer the naile to stād in it til it shal be thorow cold This done pull the naile out of the saide hole and note well the culler of the naile For as when the naile so taken out of the hole shall haue a pale yelloe culler you ought to thinke that the earth in that place wil yeeld plentie of Saltpeter so when the naile taken out of the hole shal haue the naturall culler of yron you must knowe that no Saltpeter will bee made of the earth in that place Hauing gotten a sufficient quantitie of Saltpeter earth made fine and small and a competent number of halfe buttes hogsheaddes or barrels that haue one hole made with an Augar in the bottome of euery of them you must first couer euery of the said holes on the inside with an earthen porenger and stoppe the saide holes on the outside of the vessels with tappes and spiggets This done fill vp the said halfe buttes hogsheads or barrels with the said earth within a spanne of their brimmes and remember that although the earth about the sides of euery vessell must be rammed downe yet that part of earth which lyeth in the midst of the vessell must lie loose and vnpressed After this powre a bucket or pale of cleane water by little litte vppon the saide earth When the earth hath drunke vp this water powre one other bucket or pale of cleane water in the same sort vpon that earth and continue in so doing till all the earth in the said vessels is well moistened with water which ought to lie in the saide vessels for the space of a day and a night one handbreadth in heigth aboue the earth Then pull the said tappes or spiggets out of the holes in the vessels and suffer all the saide water to droppe out into other tubbes placed directly vnder the said holes when you shall see that no more water will come or droppe into the vndermost tubbes emptie the dropped water into the vessels out of which it did droppe before and out of the same let it drop againe so long and so much as it will into the said vndermost tubbes This water which hath so soked thorow the earth in the said vessells hath twise dropped out of the higher vessels into the tubbes that are placed vnder them is called among the Italians water of the foote also the washe of earth which ought to be saued by it selfe After you haue done all this powre some other cleane water as you did before vppon the earth in the vessels and when the same water hath dropped out of the higher vessels into the tubbes standing vnder them take all the said earth out of the vessels and fill them againe as you did before with other like earth and then powre vppon this earth in the vessels the first water called water of the foote and wash of earth suffering it to droppe thorow the same into the vndermost tubbes so often till the same water tasted in your mouth will byte your tongue Note and that an egge put into this water will swim vppon the toppe of the same The first water being brought by this meanes to this perfection and strength powre the second water vppon the same earth or on other such like earth if neede bee that it may by often dropping thorow the same bee made also of a biting taste like vnto the first water and able to beare vppe an egge put into the same like as the first water called water of the foote and wash of earth
expulsiue in that peece doth continually more decrease the pellet by that reason flieth with lesse swiftnes or lesse force and consequently maketh continually a lesse or shorter range Prior. I like wel of your reasons but who doth not know that the two first accidents which giue furtherance and aide to the range of the pellet I meane the great combustion or running of the aire towards the place which is continually shot at and the force which increaseth in the powder through the heate are sufficient perchance more than enough to supplie that attractiue defect caused by the great heate of the peece The which thing being so it foloweth that the same peece shooteth alwaies in one like sort that is to say it shooteth no farther at onetime than at an other because that which the said two accidents adde therunto is so much as that which the third accident doth diminish or else it shootes continually more farther for that the increase of the saide two first accidentes is more than the detraction of the third accident Nic. Certainly I must confesse that the said two first accidents that is to say the breaking of the aire and the force which increaseth in the powder do aide helpe much the range of the pellet which aide helpe as it is to be beleeued that sometimes it supplieth and perchaunce giues aduantage by that expulsiue virtue which continually the peece doth diminish or suppe in according as it heateth so as peraduenture the third fourth shoot will be as it were equal in ballance or all one with the second shoote Note or little differing neuerthelesse it is to be affirmed that in continuance of time the said two accidents cannot supplie the defect of the third accident by reason of the great heat which continually increaseth in that Peece Through continual shooting for a lōg while together a peece in the end wil shoote a lesse distāce than it did in the beginning A hot peece cooled with water shooteth not so farre as it will do after it hath beene suffered to coole of it selfe continually makes the same Peece as before hath bin declared to be therby more attractiue and therfore continually the said peece decreaseth or suppeth in more of that exhalatiō which should expel the pellet therfore this third accident through continuall shooting for a long time togeather commes to be superior to the two first accidents so through continuall shooting for a long while together the Peece shootes a lesse distance than it did before Prior. If any body shall coole that Peece by casting water into the concauitie thereof doe you not thinke that thereby it will shoote more farther towards the saide place Nicho. Without doubt whē the Peece is perfectly dry cold it will shoote more farther but cooled so with water the mettall being hot doth sup vp of that water resolueth that water so supped vp into an airie vapour which cannot continue in the hollonesse of the Peece but is forced to goe out of it by little little and when this vapour doth not carry with it any moysture and the concauitie of the Peece is very dry then that vapour will rather augment the range of the same Peece than diminishe the same because the power attractiue which was in that Peece is expelled through the oftē going out of that vapour But forasmuch as that vapour is altogether moist it must needes bee notwithstanding the Peece seemeth for to bee drie when the powder is put in to recharge the same that such a moist vapour will make the powder somewhat dankish Dākish powder wil weaken the force of the pellet which is shot out of a peece charged with the same powder that thereby the effects of that powder wil not be so forceable as they would haue been if that Peece had been suffered to coole of it selfe without putting any water into the same Prior. You haue wel satisfied me for this euening and because it is now late I pray you let vs make here an end of this talke The 6. Colloquie How a peece of Artillerie charged with his due charge of powder did shoote his bullet right vpon the place to which the leuel was giuen and how the said peece charged with more powder than his due charge did shoote his bullet aboue or ouer that place because the said bullet shot with more powder than his due charge flied more swiftly and in a more righter way than the other bullet did which was shot with his due charge in powder and by that reason wil alwaies strike aboue that place where the other bullet shot with lesse powder shall strike And how a bullet will neuer flie in a right line vnto the marke at which the leuell is giuen except it bee shot right vp towardes heauen or right downe towardes the center of the worlde Interlocutors L. Gabriel Tadino Prior of Barletta Nicholas Tartaglia PRior What was the cause that a peece charged with his due charge of powder did shoote his bullet right vpon the place to which the leuell was giuen and that the same peece charged with more powder than his due charge did shoote his bullet aboue or ouer that place Nicho. It came so to passe by reason that the bullet which was shott out of the peece charged with a more quantity of powder than his due charge did flye in a waie lesse croked than the other bullet did The way which is least crooked alwaies extendeth and goeth aboue that waie which is more crooked and by howe much a bullet flyeth more farther by so much the bullet which flyeth in the lesse crooked way wil strike more higher and come more nearer to the right way than the bullet which flieth in the more crooked way The right way of a bullet is aboue all the oblique waies of any bullet violētly issuing out of a peece towards any place and that the difference of both their croked waies is more perceaued in the end of their ranges than in any other place for the way which is least crooked alwayes extendeth and goeth aboue that way which is more crooked and by how much the bullet flieth more farther by so much the bullet which flieth in the lesse croked way shal strike more higher than the bullet which flieth in the more croked way And the way which is lesse crooked commeth more nearer to the very right way than that way doth which is more crooked Also because that right way I meane that right way which is rightly extended and lyeth right with the concauitie of the Peece towardes any place that you will is alwaies aboue all the oblique wayes of any bullet issuying violently out of that peece towardes any place whatsoeuer Therefore that way which is most nearest to the right way is alwayes aboue that way which is farther of from it A bullet shot out of a peece with more powder than his due charge flieth
as they will bee by standing in a dankish roome nor mixed with any dust or durt Finally you must vnderstande that such gunpowder ought to be very well beaten and that the said 3 materials ought also to be well incorporated together this being done that sort of gūpowder will alwaies do his effects according to his kind so that it be alwayes kept drie and therefore it would not be laid in any moyst or dankish place And also there is another reason why it should be kept drie Gunpowder ought to be kept drie for moystnes causeth the Salt-peter to dissolue into water and it being dissolued descends by little and little to the bottome of the vessell in which it lieth and so the powder in the bottome of the vessel is more fuller of Saltpeter than the powder lying in the vppermost part thereof By this your Lordship may perceiue that by many and sundrie wayes the order or proportion of quantitie for the said three materials in the making of gunpowder hath been determined Prior. I maruell that the order to be vsed in the making of gunpowder hath been by so many wayes altered and I can not see by what reason men haue been mooued to deuise so many wayes Nicholas The first inuention although some say that it was found out by chaunce was as I thinke found out by naturall reason speculatiuely that is to say the same three materialls being well beaten and mingled together would bee apt to make a strong and vnextinguishable fire till each matter should be consumed and there are good reasons why it should be so but I thinke men were instructed by experience to appoint a proportion of quantitie for the said materials for in the first order they did worke by proportion of equalitie taking so much of the one material as of the other and although peraduenture a great quantitie of such gunpowder might doe some good effect yet neuerthelesse considering how that effect proceeded from the Saltpeter an other way for the making of gunpowder was deuised by taking a greater quantitie of Saltpeter than any of the other two materials whereby it was perceaued that this kinde of gunpowder was more stronger than the first sort of gunpowder and so vppon such aduised considerations men haue from time to time euen vnto these our dayes changed the said order But some of the aforesaid orders haue been appointed without any reason or iudgement and I thinke that they which appointed the same orders were mooued to ordaine them vppon no other reason than for that they would not doe as others did that they might be thought to know more therein than others Some of them haue without any reason appointed nwe waies for the making of gūpowder by increasing the quantitie of Coles and decreasing the quantitie of Brimstone Others increase the quantitie of Brimstone and decrease the quantitie of Coles And others alter all the saide three materials by certaine strange proportions to the intent that such order as is so by them appointed may bee thought to be deuised by great wisedome and skill Prior. There are some among those makers of gunpowder which can not say or doe more therein than others haue sayd or done but because they are ashamed to shew at any time that they haue learned of others to make gunpowder they studie to alter the way which was shewen vnto them Nicholas It is so in deede Prior. You haue made a long discourse vppon this matter therfore let vs make heare an ende thereof The first Corollarie ALthough Tartaglia in the precedent Colloquie doth affirme out of one Authour that gunnes were deuised by Archimedes and not by a Duchman as Cornazano declareth yet this is to be noted that diuers men are therein of diuers mindes as it wil appeare by this which followeth Polidor Virgil Munster and Gilbert Cognat Nozeren Inuention of gunnes haue written that gunnes were first deuised in Anno Domini 1370. by a monke whom Munster calleth Bertholdus Sthwartz and Gilbert Cognat nameth Albertus Magnus M. Iohn d ee our Countrie man in his Mathematicall preface and discourse of Menadrie saith that an Englishman was the first inuentor of gunnes though his said inuention in an other lande and by other men was first executed also our English Chronicles doe report that in An. Domini 1380. a monke did vnwillingly let fall a sparke of fier vppon Brimstone beaten to powder in a morter and couered with a tile stone and that hee seeing how the powder of Brimstone touched with fire did sodainly flame lift vp a great height the said tile stone Inuention of gunpowder did thereupon deuise a kinde of gunpowder and taught the Venetians to vse the same in yron pypes against the Genuates The 6. Colloquie When you shall make a comparison of strength betweene two equall quantities of fine or grose gunpowder you may with truth say that the quantitie of gunpowder which hath in it the greater part of Saltpeter is more stronger than the other quantitie of gunpowder which hath in it the lesser part of Saltpeter Also when you shall compare one sort of cole whereof gunpowder may be made with an other sort of Cole you may affirme that by how much the cole is of a more lighter and softer substance by so much it is more apt to receiue and maintaine fire with facilitie Interlocutors L. Gabriel Tadino Prior of Barletta Nicholas Tartaglia PRior Yesterday in the euening you declared by how many waies within this little while the order or proportion of quantitie for the three materials in making of gunpowder hath been changed now tell me which of those wayes as well of the wayes which are most aūcient as of the wayes which were lately deuised is iudged to be best that is to say which of those sorts of gunpowder is thought to be most perfect of most strongest force Nich. Without doubt that powder is thought to be of most force and strength which conteineth the greatest part of Saltpeter I say the greatest part in respect of all the three materials As for example in the first order before noted where is taken of euery materiall one part the Saltpeter containes ⅓ part of the whole mixture and the Brimstone and Coles containes ⅔ partes of that mixture And in the second order following next after the same where is taken 3 partes of Saltpeter 2 partes of Brimstone and 2 partes of Cole the Saltpeter containes 3 7 parts of the whole mixture the Brimstone and Cole containe ⅘ partes of the same mixture and because 3 7 are a more greater part than is ⅓ therefore I say that the gunpowder made after the second order is more forceable and stronger than the gunpowder made after the first order Likewise the gunpowder made after the thirde order will be more forceable and stronger than the gunpowder made after the second order for in the said third order the Saltpeter containes 7 8 parts of the whole
fire and water out of drie and durtie grounde or of the flower that groweth out of walles in sellers or out of that ground which is found loose within vaultes tombes or desolate caues where rayne cannot come in And as some thinke artificiall saltpeeter hath greater vertue and more strength than mynerall saltpeeter But the best artificiall saltpeeter is made of beastes dung conuerted into earth in stables or in dunghilles of a long time not vsed aboue all other of the same dung which comes of gotes and hogges And it is requisite what dung so euer it be that by continuance of time it be well resolued into earth and all the humiditie thereof being dryed that the same earth should be as it were a subtile and fine powder When you shall haue occasion to make of this dung or earth a great quantitie of artificiall saltpeeter The first way to make artificiall Saltpeter of earth it will be necessarie for you to prouide many cauldrons furnaces barrelles or tubbes and likewise wood white lime ashes of olde oke and a sufficient quantitie of the sayde earth and a great barne or other walled house neere to the water that you may haue enough thereof and of euery other material thing But first the furnaces must be made for the cauldrons they must be placed thereō as they are which Diers vse Then there must be prepared ioystes so long as the house and so broade that vppon them commodiously aboue ground may stand buttes with their heads knocked out square chestes barrels or tubbes to the number of 50. 60. or 100. according to the cauldrons and the capacitie of the place and betweene euery two of those vessels there must be set a halfe tubbe to receaue the water that shall runne out Or there would be placed a gutter or canel of wood along vnder the holes of the vessels which are set aboue the ground so that it may conuey all the water which commeth from them into one or two great tubbes sufficient to holde all the water that shall be full of the substāce of Saltpeeter And in the buttes which haue their heads knocked out barrels or tubbes I say in the bottome of euery of them a hole must be made on the one side with an Augar or els three or foure little holes may be made with a good big perser and vppon them you may lay a little thinne linnen cloath or els the sweeping ende of a broome or some strawe for to keepe the yerth vp and to strayne the water that shall be put amongst the same yerth which is to be wrought when it is tasted with the mouth so that it be certaine that it contayneth Saltpeeter Then there must be made in the middest of the house where the sayd Saltpeeter is to be wrought a great hil next vnto which must be made another hil halfe so big which must be made with two partes of vnslaked lime and three partes of oke ashes or other ashes which in taste are very strong and sharpe and then the one hill must be wel mingled with the other and with the same composition the tubbes must be filled which are set aloft vppon the ioystes within a span of the mouth or els minding not to mingle with the yerth the ashes and the lime together you may put first a span thicknesse of yerth in the bottome of the tubbe and then three fingers thicknesse of the aforesayde lime and ashes and afterwardes vppon the same another span in thicknesse of yerth and on that likewise another three or foure fingers thicknesse of lime and ashes and so putting into the sayd tubbes one rew of one thing and another rew of another thing you ought to fill all the buttes and tubbes or other vessels that you haue placed euen as aboue I haue sayd within a span of the mouthes of them and the rest which is then left empty you must fill with water the which running through all the yerth by a little and a little must drop into the tubbes that stande vnder to receaue it or into a gutter or canel or where you list so that it be conueyed into one two or three sundry tubbes or where you thinke good and so you must wel and diligently gather all the water which was powred vppon the yerth after it hath passed through the holes in the bottome of the tubbes in such wise that it may bring with it all the substance and vertue of the saltpeeter which was in the sayd earth whereof by putting some of it on your tongue you may taste and finding it biting and very salte To know good Saltpeter water it is a token that it is good and that you haue done wel if not powre it againe vppon the very same earth or vppon some other nwe earth But finding the first earth full of substance so much as sufficeth you may againe powre vppon it more water to wash better the remnant of the earth albeit this second water would be saued in another vessel and after this the earth may likewise be washed the thirde time to the intent that all the substance thereof may be perfectly gotten But this seconde nor the thirde ought not to be mingled with the first if it happen not to come of the very same taste the which I beleeue that it wil not but it must be put by it selfe in other vessels for that it is good to powre vppon the change of the next earth and so you may proceede gathering a good quantitie of such water taking heede neuerthelesse that it be full of the substance of saltpeeter the which if it seeme vnto you not of the same perfection as you would haue it you may powre it againe vppon the very same earth or vppon other nwe til such time as it shal satisfie you and that you shal knowe it to be ful of the substāce of saltpeeter Besides this there must be made a furnace with one or two cauldrons of brasse wauled thereon which must be so great as those which the Dyers vse these cauldrōs must then be filled with the sayd saltpeter water the which as alredy I haue tolde ought to be so ful of substāce as may be so that it haue about the two third partes and make it faire and softly to boyle so much till it come to one thirde part or there aboutes and after take it of and put it to settle in a great vessel couered which must be wel bound about with hoopes of yron and sure and close in the ioyning thereof to the intent it spill not And thus when the same water is setled cleere and from the earth and grosse matter which in it remayned diligently purged it must be taken out and boyled againe of nwe in the same cauldron or in some other And forasmuch as at euery time that it boyleth if it be not taken heed of it turneth into skumme and sometimes swelleth so much that by running ouer it spilleth
is drie take it from the fire for through too long standing ouer the fire it will yeeld moysture loose his strength and bee a gumme when it is burned The 8 Chapter How Saltpeter may be refined with fire and how Saltpeter may be better refined with water than with fire SAltpeter in a little quantitie is refined with fire after this maner which although it be a readie way yet seldome times it is vsed and albeit it serueth to get out the fatnesse of Saltpeter yet for that it sendeth into the bottome very much earthie drosse I like better the other wayes which teach you to purge it with water than this with fire But to refine Salt-peter with fire doe thus Take an yron sallet or some other yron or brasen vessell and fill it with Saltpeter and couer it with a couer of yron brasse or earth so that it be made bigge enough meete to be taken of and put on when you list and so as the vessell being well couered the heate within may not breath out This vessell must be set in the midst of a good fire of coles and so the Saltpeter will melt which is soone perceiued of the expert artificer and workman When you thinke that it is melted looke vppon it and if it be not well melted couer it againe and let it melt well Then the Saltpeter being well melted take Brimstone most finely beaten in powder and cast some thereon and if of it selfe it take not fire doe you kindle it and being kindeled let it burne till such time as the Brimstone bee all consumed so that nothing els be burnt but the vpper part and certaine grosse vnctiousnesse of the Saltpeter the which when it is burned will leaue the rest faire and cleare and then it must be taken from the fire letting it coole in the vessell where you shall finde it after the same is colde all in one peece like a white peece of marble All the earthy drosse thereof remaining in the bottome will be good Saltpeter to make gunpowder but not verie commendable to any other vse Some in steede of Brimstone doe burne the grosse vnctiousnesse of Saltpeter with quicke vnflaming coles of fire but insomuch as the refined Saltpeter being so burned looseth part of his force as Girolamo Cataneo in his fift booke Dell'arte militare writeth I will not counsell you to burne the grosse vnctiousnesse of Saltpeter with any Brimstone or quicke vnflaming coles of fire The 9 Chapter How you may sublime and purifie Saltpeter by two sundry waies TAke of Saltpeter refined drie one part and of the scumme or off all of yron one part sublime both these materiall things as you shall hereafter in the tenth chapter of this booke be taught to sublime Brimstone and when you mill make gunpowder or fireworks of sublimed Saltpeter and Brimstone moisten them well with aqua vita Also you may purifie Saltpeter in this maner Take for euery pound of Saltpeter a quart of good white wine and putting them together in a pot ouer a fire let them seeth till one fourth part thereof is sod away then taking the pot from the fire suffer the mixture which is nowe Saltpeter well purified to remaine in it till it be drie The 10 Chapter How you may sublime Brimstone Arsenike and salt Armoniake MElt your Brimstone ouer a sloe fire in a copper or cleane earthen vessell and with a cleane ladle take away all the scumme or thinne skinne which will lie vppon the toppe of the same melted Brimstone That done straine the Brimstone remaining in the vessell into an other cleane pot thorow a thicke peece of canuasse or thorow a thicke strainer and keepe this strained Brimstone which hath been thus sublimed and purified for to serue in fine gunpowder and fireworkes The thinne skinne or scumme which shall bee so taken away from melted Brimstone with a ladle is the grease that Was in the melted Brimstone and that which remaineth in the canuasse after the Brimstone is strained is the refuse and earth of the Brimstone Arsenike and salt Armoniake are sublimed and purified in the same maner as Brimstone is sublimed The 11 Chapter How you may make Coles for gunpowder by foure sundrie wayes TO make Coles for gunpowder fixe vppon the grounde fiue or sixe woodden staues of foure or fiue feete in heigth in the fourme of a round pyramis or taper circle which at the great and loest end must be one foote and a half or there about in widenesse Binde round about the outsides of these staues in three or foure seuerall places bondes of toe and then hauing in a readinesse a conuenient number of small shorte clouen and drie stickes of young willoe bowes without any barke or rines pyle within the said staues vp to their toppes the said stickes which must be set vpright vppon their endes and then couer the said pyle of stickes and the staues on the outside all ouer with wette strawe and lay moist earth durt or clay three or foure ynches thicke hard pressed downe all ouer the straw This done winde round about in 4 or 5 places vppon the couer of clay good bigge bonds of toe make a small hole in the verie top midle part of the said pyle of stickes thorow that hole put fire to the said pyle After you shall vppon good aduisement thinke that the fire is kindeled in the pyle that it hath burnt well downwards halfe the way into the pyle stoppe vp the said hole in the toppe and with a round sticke so bigge as a mans finger make diuers other holes as the fire shall burne downewards thorow the said couers of moyst clay Note and wette strawe round about the aforesaide pyle for smoke to passe out at When you shal see that no smoke doth come out at any of the holes then the coles are burned enough and now to the end that they may not consume to ashes you must close and stoppe vp all the said holes and beware to meddle any more with the saide pyle till all the Coles in the same are colde which will be within one day or two after the Coles haue been burned enough The second way to make Coles for gunpowder Also you may make Coles for gunpowder in this maner Builde with Stone and Lime a round furnace like a round well and in the bottome of this furnace leaue an open place or hole thorowe the wall two ynches square and set fiue or six staues of wood in the midst of the furnace vpright vpon their endes in the fourme of a rounde pyramis or taper circle and within those staues pyle vp to their toppes small short clouen drie stickes of wood without any barke or rines and hauing set the said stickes in that pyle vpright vpon their endes couer the toppe of the sayd furnace all ouer with clay or durt leauing in the vppermost part thereof a hole so bigge as a mans great finger for smoke
to passe out at and thorowe the saide hole in the bottome of the furnace put fire to the said stickes When the fire hath well burned vpwardes to the middest of the pyle within the furnace stoppe vp the said hole in the bottome of the furnace with a fitte stone well luted so as no smoke may come out at that loâ—rmost hole Note This done the said vppermost hole must also be stopped vp when you shall see that no smoke commeth out of the same hole for the Coles in the said pyle being then burned enough if any one of the saide holes should afterwards be left open all the Coles in the said pyle would burne to ashes Finallie after the said holes haue been closed vp in this maner for the space of two dayes and two nights you may vncouer the toppe of the sayde Furnace and the heate of the fire that was in the Coles being gone pull away the stone below and at your pleasure take all the Coles out of the Furnace To make a small quantitie of Coles for fine gunpowder The third way to make coles for gunpowder take young Hasell wood of a yeere olde without any barke or rines and hauing cut them in short peeces put the same peeces into a great earthen pot or into a vessell of yron or brasse and that pot or vessell being close shut and couered lay lute or clay very well about the pot or vessell so that it may not breath then make fire rounde about the pot or vessell and also vppon it til such time as you shall vppon good aduisement thinke that the heate is well entred in through all partes of the vessell and that the stickes within are well kindeled and only through such heate without firebrandes or flame burned After this the Coles within the pot or vessell being burned enough take the fire from the pot or vessell suffer the Coles within the said pot or vessell to coole before you take them out Also you may make in hast a small quantitie of Coles for gunpowder in this maner The 4 way to make coles for gunpowder Take so many drie Hasell stickes cut in short peeces without any barke or rynes as will be sufficient to serue your purpose and laying them close togeather on a heape set them a fire and after you haue well burned them sprinkle water vppon them with a broome till you haue quenched their fire and in so doing scatter the Coles heere and there that they being so with water throughly quenched may drie well againe The 12 Chapter How you may make a mixture of Brimstone and quickesiluer for gunpowder and how Brimstone which shall serue for gunpowder ought alwaies to be very drie and without any fat MElt scumme and straine your Brimstone as before in the tenth Chapter of this booke you haue been taught After this melt againe the same Brimstone and then taking it from the fire put thereunto so much quicksiluer as you will stirring them together with a sticke vntill they are incorporated When you doe put quicke siluer into the melted Brimstone hold your face so farre as you may from it An admonition because if any quicksiluer or Brimstone should leape vp out of the pot hit your face it would doe you much hurt Also you must vnderstand that the Brimstone which shal serue for gunpowder ought alwayes to be very drie for that the fatte of Brimstone doth make dregges in gunpowder and is offensiue to the Saltpeeter that is in any sort of gunpowder The 13 Chapter How the makers of gunpowder doe mingle togeather the simples and materiall thinges of which they doe make gunpowder and how gunpowder must be kept in drie vessels of wood and laide in high roomes of houses and how an emptie caske of wood ought to waie 12 poundes and euery caske filled full of gunpowder ought to waie one hundred waight of Auer de poize waight and how euery last of gunpowder ought to waye 24 hundred waight of the said Auer de poize waight SOme vse to waie euery of the simples and materiall things whereof gunpowder is made by it selfe and afterwardes they do mingle beate all the same things togeather Others hauing beaten and searsed euery simple wherof gunpowder is made by it selfe doe mingle the same togeather But the best most readiest way is to put all the Saltpeeter which you will occupie into a Cauldron that must haue so much water in it as will when the same is made hot with fire suffice to dissolue the said saltpeter which being so dissolued ought to be washed and laid when it is washt vppon a cleane and firme place or peece of grounde This done beate the quantitie of Cole which is to bee added vnto the mixture into very fine powder and putting the same powder vnto the dissolued Saltpeeter stirre and incorporate them well togeather and as you doe stirre and turne togeather with a staffe the Saltpeeter and Cole you must cast vppon them a due quantitie of Brimstone finely beaten and well searsed and continue in stirring of them togeather till the sayd Saltpeeter Coles and Brimstone shall be well mingled After this lay foorth that mixture to drie a little and when the same mixture somewhat dried by beating the Cole till it bee subtile and inpalpable is made a very fine incorporate substance sift it well thorow a Sâ—eue or rather a searse then casting water and vineger vppon it corne the gunpowder and when you haue so done drie it well againe or after it is drie put all the same gunpowder into cleane and drie vessels of wood which ought to be laid in high roomes of houses where little comming is for other reasons than that it may lie there drie And forsomuch as in England we do vse to put our gunpowder into woodden vesselles called Caskes 16 ounces doe make 1 pound of Auer de poize waight and 112 pouÌ„ds doe make one huÌ„dred waight of the same Auer de poize waight note well that an emptie Caske of wood ought to waie twelue poundes and that euery such Caske filled full of gunpowder ought to waie one hundred waight of auer de poize waight Also note that 24 such Caskes of gunpowder are named a Last of gunpowder and that euery Last of gunpouder ought to waie 24 hundred waight of the said auer de poize waight The 14 Chapter How you may grinde or beate gunpowder by sixe sundrie waies how gunpowder ought not to be beaten drie and how you may know whether or no gunpowder is well beaten or enough grounde MAny men doe grinde gunpowder in such milles as doe serue to grinde crabbes to make vergys appels to make sider And some stamp the powder in a stone morter large in the mouth with a woodden pestell like vnto a hammer or maule And some cause the powder to be stamped in morters with a water mill or a horse mill which way is the best of all other and
most surest for the powder is thereby more finely beaten and with lesse labour Some which haue not the commoditie of water make a great wheele after such sort that the cogges thereof shall raise vppe many heauie pestels which in falling downe doe beate the powder lying within diuers morters of wood made in a beame of Oke Among which there bee some that haue their bottomes of brasse Some stampe gunpowder with pestels which they holde in their handes and tie to the ende of a poole with a corde right ouer a morter of wood or brasse and so they beate with lesse paine And some grinde gunpowder with handmilles as they vse to grinde corne which is a painefull and dangerous way You shall kindle fire by rubbing two Bay stickes togeather with violence An admonition because such a composition ground togeather with stones will soone catch heate and bee a fiar euen as by rubbing together with violence a couple of Bay stickes you shall straight way kindle fire Wherefore in grinding and beating gunpowder after this last way or any other way it behooueth all men to take heede that they doe not grinde or beate the same drie but wet with water to a certaine degree of moistnesse so that taking it vp in one hand it may cling togeather Some for this purpose doe moysten it with vineger and some with Camphored aqua vitae and they say that the powder will therewith be made more stronger But neither vineger nor aqua vitae will be better than water to make gunpowder forceable and strong because they vaporing away little of their substance can remaine Note By drawing gunpowder with your finger and in like maner by breaking or cutting with a knife a part thereof you may know whether or no it is well and enough grounde or beaten For if in the said broken part you shall see all blacke within and no Saltpeeter or Brimstone in the same then vndoubtedly that sort of gunpowder is well and enough beaten And contrariwise if you shal perceiue any Saltpeeter or Brimstone within that broken or cut part then it is certaine that the same sort of gunpowder is not beaten enough The 15 Chapter How you may corne gunpowder FIrst prepare a Seeue with a bottome of thicke parchment made full of round holes and then moystening the Gunpowder which shall be corned with water put the same and also a little bowle into that Seeue and when you haue so done sift the powder so as the said bowle rolling vp and downe in the Seeue may breake the cloddes of powder and make the same powder by running through the holes of the Seeue to corne The 16 Chapter How you may make diuers sorts of gunpowder and how you may make gunpowder of diuers colours and how you may abate the force of gunpowder and how for want of aqua vitae and vineger to moisten gunpowder you may vse the water of Saltpeeter or if you will the vrine of a man how Mute gunpowder is of little force To make grosse gunpowder for great Ordinance 1 Take of Saltpeeter 4 partes Fine Brimstone 1 part Cole of Willoe Hasell or some other soft wood 1 part out of euery pounde waight that is in the same part of Brimstone take away one ounce of Brimstone and then hauing beaten and sifted thorow a Searse euery of the said materials or simples by it selfe you shall moysten them with very strong white Vineger and incorporate them togeather for through that moystnesse the powder will be made more stronger and beaten more finer An admonition yet take heede that you doe not stampe this powder so much as you shall be willed to stampe the two sortes of gunpowder next following for handegunnes because it may thereby be made too strong and able to breake any great Peece of Artillerie that shall be charged with an ordinary charge thereof You may know whether or no this mixture is enough beaten by breaking or cutting a part thereof for after you haue broken or cut a little part or peece of the powder if you shall perceaue that the Brimstone is finely beaten and that no Saltpeeter can bee seene within the same broken peece then you may know that this mixture of gunpowder is enough beaten After this mixture hath been so beaten sift it thorow a Seeue or searse to make it to corne and all that part thereof which will not passe thorow a Seeue or searse beate againe in a morter and by such meanes make it to passe thorow the Seeue or searse that it may also be corne gunpowder which being dried will as I haue tolde you before be best kept in close and drie vesselles of wood To make fine gunpowder for Handgunnes 2 Take of Saltpeeter fiue partes of Coles made of young Hasell twigges or of the wood of a young Willoe tree one part of Brimstone one part lacking one ounce in euery pounde waight that is in the same part of Brimstone 672 partes of this sort of gunpowder are equall in force to 720 parts of that sort of gunpowder which is before marked with the figure of 1. beate during the space of sixe houres euery of the said simples and materiall thinges by it selfe into fine powder and sift each of those powders by it selfe twise or thrise thorow a fine Seeue or searse and then incorporate them togeather Moreouer hauing moystened the same mixture with strong vineger you ought to beate it well againe and in so doing to remember that the mixture is beaten enough when by cutting or breaking a peece thereof you shall see it all blacke within and no Saltpeter or Brimstone within the same After the said mixture hath been enough beaten fift it againe thorow a fine Seeue and corne it that when it is drie the same may be kept in vessels of wood for to charge Handgunes To make more finer gunpowder for Handgunnes 3 Take of Saltpeeter sixe partes of Cole made of the twigges or bowes of a Nut tree of one yeeres groth one parte of Brimstone one part lacking one ounce in euery pounde waight that is in the same part of Brimstone 640 partes of this sort of gunpowder are equall in force to 672 parts of that sort of gunpowder which is before marked with the figure of 2. beate euery of the said simples and materiall thinges by it selfe into very fine powder and sift each of those powders by it selfe three times at the least thorow a searse or fine Seeue and remember alwaies to beate againe that powder which remaining in the searse or fine Seeue can not passe thorow the same to this end that euery part thereof may be sifted thorow the searse or fine Seeue When you haue in this maner sifted all these powders thorow the searse or fine Seeue mingle them togeather and sift them againe altogeather thorow that searse or Seeue This done moysten the same mixture with strong vineger or Saltpeeter water and beate it in a
a little heape of gunpowder set in a fire doth make a noyse rise vp with great speede and yeelde little smoke it is a signe that the saltpeeter in that heape of gunpowder was well refined and well wrought and that the materials in the sayde heape were well incorporated If the flame of fiered gunpowder shall rise vp slowly continue long make little noyse yeelde much smoke it is a signe that the same gunpowder had in it much cole brimston and a little quantitie of saltpeeter If gunpowder burned vppon a boorde shall black the same boorde it is a signe that too much cole was in the same gunpowder When gunpowder is moyste or full of the earth of saltpeeter it is naught for to be shot out of great ordinance because it putteth him in perill which shooteth with the same in time of neede shaming the Gunner which doth occupie it serueth to no effect If gunpowder be very black it is a signe that it was made with very much cole or that it is moyste and when you rubbe it vppon a peece of white paper it will black the same paper more than it should doe Among many sortes of gunpowder to know which sorte is best make a little heape of euery sorte of gunpowder and then setting those heapes one from another marke well when you put fire vnto them which of the heapes did soonest take fire For that sorte of gunpowder which will soonest be a fire make least smoke leaue least refuse is the best gunpowder The 19 Chapter To make diuers sortes of gunmatches and other matches which will serue to discharge great small peeces of artillerie and geue fire to trunkes pykes mines dartes arrowes all other firewoorkes Make small ropes or cordes of bumbas or of cotton wooll put the same into an earthen pot or pan which must haue in it so much strong vineger or rather aqua vitae brimstone and saltpeeter or in steade of saltpeeter grosse gunpowder mingled together as will couer the same ropes and seeth all those things together in the same pot ouer a fire vntill the aqua vitae brimstone and saltpeeter or grosse gunpowder shall waxe thicke and incorporate and then pull the same ropes well soked in that composition one after another out of the pot and hang one of them from another vppon a pole to dry in the sunne so as when they are thorow dry you may winde or role them vp for gunmatches to geue fire vnto great smal peeces of artillerie mynes trunkes pikes dartes arrowes pottes hollow pellettes and all other firewoorkes An other way to make Gunmatches Take cordes made of hempe that is not very fine or of toe which is better although it will sooner consume and let euery corde be so big as a mans great finger Also choose such cords for this purpose as are nor much wreathed this done boyle the same cords in strong lie ashes and a little of saltpeeter til all the lie shal be consumed An other way to make Gunmatches Take cordes made of toe and beate them with a woodden hammer vppon a quicke stone â—unmatches â—hich will â—…rne in moyst â—…aces in waâ—…r vnder snoe â—…d yce â—ou may also â—…arne to â—…ake an vnâ—…enchable â—…nmatch by â—…e lxxxviii â—hapter of â—is appendix â—atches â—hich will â—…ne conâ—…me very â—…ickly and â—…rne his â—…ote that shal â—…ade vppon â—…em Also take of turpentine nwe waxe and common oyle of each an equall parte couer and boyle the cordes in the turpentine waxe and oyle till the sayd liquide composition shall be consumed and then take the cordes out of the vessel in which they did boyle and beate them againe a little and when you haue so done suffer them to dry in the shadowe This sorte of gunmatches will preserue fire in any moyste place and also in water and vnder snoe and yee An other way to make matches which wil serue to geue fire to trunkes pottes pikes darts arrows hollow pellettes and al other such like fireworkes Take cordes made of three or fourethreedes of bumbas spinned coursely boyle them in a nwe nealed pot filled full of strong white vineger till all the vineger shal be consumed then take the cordes out of the pot wring them and dry them in the shadow or at the fire if you haue haste to vse them You may also boyle the same cordes in saltpeeter water or in cleere lie and saltpeeter and when you haue so done you must wring the moysture out of them that done you must wet them in aqua vitae and after wring them againe lightly then role them in fine gunpowder and suffer them to lie in fine gunpowder till they are dry A match thus made doth burne and consume very quickly because it hath beene wet in aqua vitae wherefore you must not wet your match in aqua vitae if you wil not haue it to burne and consume very quickly Also one of these matches after it hath beene thrice boyled in saltpeeter water or in cleere lie and saltpeeter thrice wet in aqua vitae and thrice roled in fine gunpowder will burne your foote if you shall happen to treade vppon it The 20. Chapter To make touchwood and tinder for a Gunners Tinder boxe TAke those great things which are called olde Todestooles growing at the bottomes of nuttrees beechtrees okes and such other like trees drye them with the smoke of fire then cut them into so many peeces as you will and hauing well beaten them boyle theÌ„ in stronglie with waule floure or saltpeeter till all the lie shal be consumed After this laying them in a heape vppon a boorde drie them in an ouen which must not be made verie hotte and after you haue so done beate them well with a woodden mallet and when you shall haue cause to vse any parte of those To destooles now by the meanes aboue declared made touchwood rubbe well that parte betweene your handes for to make it softe and apte to take fire But when you will make tinder for a Gunners tinder boxe take peeces of fustian or of olde and fine linnen clothe make them to burne and flame in a fire suddenly before the flame which is in theÌ„ doth die choke their fire keepe their tinder so made in a boxe lined within with clothe to the ende it may not be moyste at any time The 21 Chapter To make a stone which being wette with water or spittle will flame and be a fire and serue to light candles and gunmatches in such places where by reason of rayne or other moysture you can not light candles or matches by any other meanes PVt a loadestone into a pot or other like vessel then fill the same pot or vessell with Colophonia and vnquenched or vnslaked lime so as the sayde stone may lie buryed in the same Colophonia and lime After this set the sayd pot close stopped with potters clay or with that kinde of
expressed in the first chapter of this Appendix and obserue the same before you do shoote for by so doing there is no doubt but that the pellet shot out of the saide peece will strike the appointed marke in any night how darke so euer it is Also if this doctrine be obserued at euery time when you will shoote at a marke you may without faile strike the saide marke so often as you will with diuers peeces from sundrie places in any darke night But to the end you may see at all times before you shoote whether or no the line and plummet hanging vppon the Semicircle falleth vppon the degree noted in your memoriall wheather or no the middle part of the mouth of the peece doth lie right ouer the line of direction I counsell you to prepare a close boxe of boordes like a lantorne to carrie a lighted candle and to haue a dore in the side of the boxe to open when you will see with your candle and to shut when you will haue no light seene Example A peece of artillery beeing planted in the day time at B and mounted by a Semicircle 3 degrees did strike D a marke in the wall of a forte and when the said peece was discharged at the same marke the middle part of the mouth of the peece and the middle part of the taile of the peece did lie directly ouer B C the woodden or yron pinnes which stande in the line of direction therefore when you will shoote in the night time from B to D you must mount this peece three degrees and plumme the middle part of the mouth of the peece and the middle part of the taile of the peece right ouer B C the wodden or yron pinnes in the line of direction and so doing you can not faile in your purpose The 69 Chapter How you may carrie in the night time a lighted Gunmatch so as it shall not bee seene nor bee wet with raine HAng at your girdle as you doe the sheath of your knife a hollow cane of eight or tenne ynches in length and let the Cane be open at both endes then put the lighted ende of the gunmatch into the Cane and as the gunmatch within the Cane shall burne and consume so put the lighted end of the same gunmatch more farther or loer into the Cane and by this meanes the lighted end of the gunmatch being within the Cane can not bee seene in the night nor be wet with raine The 70 Chapter In what distance peeces of Artillerie ought to be planted for batterie In what order peeces of artillery ought to be mounted for batterie In what sort peeces of artillery ought to bee discharged for batterie and in what measure a breach with battery ought to be and in what maner a peece made hot with many shootes ought to be cooled TO batter a wall of a Towne or fort lay your Cannons if you can at the distance of 80 paces from the wall which shall be beaten downe and in no wise without constraint more farther from that wal than 150 paces for when Cannons doe lie 300 or 200 paces of from the wall which shal be battred they are planted as Luigui Collado writeth in an inconuenient distance vnmeete place to batter Also lay the mouthes of your Cannons so as they may strike a foot one aboue an other in the wal vnto ¼ of the heigth in the said wal discharging them altogether at one instant continue the batterie till you haue made a breach so bigge as at the least nine men in a rancke may enter into it After a peece with manie shootes is made very hot it changeth his colour shooteth weaklie and then to saue it from breaking you ought to coole it within with a spunge wet in cold water or in two parts of cold water one part of vineger or in lie mingled with a little water and lay all ouer the peece or at the least from the touchhole to the mouth sheepes skinnes with long wooll on thē dipped in the said cold water or in 2 parts of cold water 1 part of vineger or in lie and a little water which lie stoppeth the powres of the mettall in the peece and causeth it to resist heate The 71 Chapter How a Gunner may outshoote other Gunners in one and the same peece at one and the same eleuation with pellets of one waight of one kinde with an equall waight of one the same kind of gunpowder WRappe the pellet in linnen or woollen cloth so as it may goe very stiffe and close vnto the gunpowder in the peece and by so doing you shall make the sayde pellets to randge more grounde than a like pellet which is not so wrapped in cloth will doe Likewise when a Gunner shall shoote with an other Gunner in one and the same peece at one and the same eleuation with pellettes of one waight and of one kinde with an equall waight of one and the same kind of gunpowder and in all pointes with like aduantage hee that shooteth last shall out shoote him which did first shoote in the saide peece by the reasons alleaged in the 4 Colloquie of the first booke of N Tartaglia his Colloquies and in the seuenth Colloquie of the second booke of N Tartaglia his Colloquies Also if a gunner after he hath laded a peece with his due charge in gunpowder will make a hole with a staffe of a conuenient length and bignesse thorow the very middest of the same gunpowder and likewise after he hath duely charged his saide peece with 2 waddes of hay strawe toe or of vntwisted ropes and a fit pellet wil fill the touchhole of the same peece with good gunpowder and make an other hole with his proyning yron thorow the same touch gunpowder downe vnto the hole which was first made in the saide due charge of gunpowder within the peece doubtlesse he shall by so doing shoote more ground than an other Gunner ignorant of this skil can doe in the same peece at one and the same eleuation with a like pellet and an equall charge of one and the same sort of gunpowder The staffe which shall make a hole in the middest of the peece his charge in gunpowder ought for euery Fauconet Faucon Minion Saker Culuering French demie Cannon demie Cannon lower than ordinarie and demie Cannon to bee in compasse three or foure ynches or there aboutes and the staffe which shall make a hole in the middest of the peece his charge in gunpowder for euery ordinarie demie Cannon demie Cannon of the eldest sort French double Cannon ordinarie double Cannon and double Cannon of the eldest and biggest sort ought to be in compasse fiue ynches or thereabout The 72 Chapter How you may amend high loe and wide shootes To amend an high shoote VVHen a pellet shot at a marke within point blanke hath strooke somwhat aboue that marke lay your peece for the
done dippe toe or linnen clothe in the sayd mixture and make a round baule fitte for your Morter peece or for an other peece of Ordinance of the same toe or linnen clothe wel dipped and imbrued in the sayd mixture 2 You may also if you will take a small pellet of yron or stone and winde about the same so much of that toe or linnen clothe well dipped and imbrued in the sayd mixture as will suffice to make the same a fitte shotte for your great peece of Ordinance or Morter peece But when you will throe the sayd ball of toe or linnen clothe with your handes you shall hang a ringe about the same and tie vnto that ringe a cord ¾ of a yarde in length which corde you shall take in one of your hands and with the same tosse the ball after it is set on a fire rounde about you till you shall perceaue by casting it about that it is readie to departe from you and then with all your strength throe it into the appoynted place Also Canes holloe staues and pottes may bee filled with this mixture or you may fill bagges therewith and after you haue set them on a fire throe them with slinges or such like instruments whether you will 3 An other kinde of firewoorke which may be throne out of mens handes among enemies set in battell ray and which may be shotte out of great Ordinance and Morter peeces into Townes Castles Campes and Shippes TAke of the vernish which is occupied to guilde leather an hundred twenty partes of quick brimstone forty eyght parts of the oyle of rozen or gumme twenty foure parts of Saltpeeter eyghteene parts of the oyle called Oleum Olibani twelue parts of Camphire sixe parts of very good Aqua vitae fourteene parts Mingle all these thinges togeather in a pot or some other vessell set ouer a softe fire then dip or imbrue toe or linnen clothe in that mixture and keepe the same imbrued toe and linnen clothe in pottes to throe after it is kindled with a gunpowder match among enemies standing or marching in battel ray or make of the same imbrued toe and linnen clothe fitte pellets for to be shot out of great Ordinance and Morter peeces into Townes Castles Campes and Shippes For this kinde of firewoorke being well kindled can not be quenched wheresoeuer it falles 4 An other firewoorke which may be shotte out of great Ordinance and Morter peeces or throne out of mens handes TAke of the vernish which is occupied to guilde leather 120 parts of the oyle of rozen or gumme 12 parts of the oyle of waxe 12 parts of the oyle of turpentine 8 parts of quick brimstone 24 parts of saltpeeter 48 parts of camphire 12 parts of very good Aqua vitae 24 parts of greeke pitch beaten into fine powder 36 parts Mingle all these things togeather in a pot or some other vessel set ouer a softe fire then dip and imbrue toe or linnen clothe in that mixture and keepe the same imbrued toe in pottes to be throne with slinges after it is kindled into any place that you will burne or make of the imbrued toe and linnen clothe rounde balles which may be shotte out of great Ordinance and Morter peeces into Townes Fortes Campes and Shippes for this firewoorke being kindled can not be quenched 5 An other firewoorke which will burne in water and may be shotte out of great Ordinance and Morter peeces in holloe balles of mettall throne with slinges out of mens hands TAke of good gunpowder 72 parts of colophonia 24 parts of common oyle of Oliues 18 parts of brimstone 12 parts of Naphra or stone oyle 12 parts These things being well mingled togeather will burne all drie things and as by adding vnto the same mixture a greater quantitie of gunpowder you may increase the strength of this firewoorke so by putting vnto that mixture somewhat more of Colophonia and brimstone you may abate the strength of the same firewoorke After you haue made a mixture of the said things wrap the same in little bags of linnen as well and as straight bound about as may be then hauing tied a corde vnto euery of the said bags holde fast the endes of the cordes in your handes that by the same you may dip and imbrue the said bags in hote pitch which done let the said bags imbrued with pitch drie When they are drie wrap them in linnen clothe as before you did the said mixture afterwards dip and imbrue the said wrappers in hote pitch as before you did the bagges through which they shall not onely be defended from the moysture of water but also from breaking asunder with the force of fire After this drie the said wrappers in the sunne hauing so done pearce a little hole quite thoroe the said imbrued wrappers bags into that hole put fire After the fire is kindled and hath burned a while in the said hole throe the aforesaid composition into water and by so doing you shall see the said firewoorke to go downe to the bottome of the water and to rise vp againe to the top of the water and to flame and burne both on the toppe of the water also in the bottome of the water and neuer to be quenched with water Some vse to shoote this kinde of firewoorke in holloe balles of mettall out of great Ordinance and Morter peeces and for that purpose they put a quantitie of gunpowder in toe and after they haue imbrued the said toe in the aforesaide mixture of Gunpowder Colophonia oyle of Oliues oyle of brimstone oyle of stone or naphra they fill therewith hollow balles of mettall which being also couered on the outside with the sayde mixture and shotte out of great Ordinance or Morter peeces with other gunpowder will for a while flie burning in the ayre and at the length breake in many peeces to the spoyle and destruction of all those that shall be strooken with any peece of the same ball That this firewoorke may burne the longer and be more stronger some put vnto the sayd mixture Swines grease Goose grease brimstone that hath neuer beene on any fire oyle of brimstone oyle of naphra oyle of lintseede Saltpeeter oftentimes refined Aqua vitae or burning water oyle of turpentine Iuniper oyle liquide pitch or vernish oyle of the yolke of egges and for to thicken and incorporate those liquide thinges sawe duste of a Bay tree And after they haue well mingled all these thinges togeather and haue put the same in a glasse well stopped with waxe that no ayre may breathe out they bury the sayde glasse in a doonghill for two or three moneths space and at euery tenne dayes ende within that time they take that glasse out of the dunghill and hauing shaken well togeather the mixture in the same they bury it againe in fresh dung After the sayd mixture hath beene so buried in dung by the sayd space of two or three monethes it