reasonable to pass into the Air and to elevate it self on high without any difficulty and in such a sort that those bundles may not by any means give hinderance or stoppage to their rising in a streight line and take care most exactly that the Fuzee be not so big but that they may retain as near as you can a Pyramidal or Conical form when all its weight that may be is adjoyned to it 20. Men ought to shun as much as possible those nights that are rainy moist and when the Sky is darkned with black clouds as being very incommodious and offensive to the Fuzees And more than that avoid impetuous Stormy winds and the Whirl-winds hinder no less than the first 21. You may not reject above other causes the different effects which are produced by sundry Fuzees although they be charged with one and the same Composition no otherwise than thus that they were not made with an equal diligence either in the Charging or Peircing or in the other Circumstances which you were obliged to observe or in this that it may be some may have been kept in a more moister place than the others where they have acquired too much moisture which causeth to them effects much different one from another as well in Rising as in Consuming 22. If you would make appear in the Air streams of fire or a quantity of burning sparks or stars or long large rayes to dart from the Fuzees there is accustomed to mix with the Composition some small quantity of powdered Glass grosly beaten filings of Iron Sawdust One may also represent fire of divers colours as we have shewed before in the fifth Chapter but more particularly thus if you put a certain portion of Camphire in your Composition you will see in the Air a certain fire which will appear white pale and of the colour of Milk if you put Greek Pitch which is a light yellow Pitch used in Plaisters called Pix Burgundy it will represent unto you a red flame and of the colour of Brass if you put in Sulphur the fire will appear blew if Sal-Armoniack the fire will appear Greenish if from Crude Antimony the flame will be Red Yellowish and of the Colour of Honey if the filings of Ivory be added they will render a Silver-like White and shining flame yet something inclining to a Livid Plumbous colour if the powder of Yellow Amber be added the fire will appear of the same colour with the Citrine lastly if black Pitch be added it will throw forth an obscure smoaky fire or rather a smoak that is black and thick which will darken all the Air. CHAP. XIV Of Odoriferous Aquatick Balls CAuse to be made by a Turner Balls of wood hollow within about the bigness of a Wild Apple which you must fill with some one of these Compositions hereunto annexed and they being all prepared and charged you may throw them into the water after they are lighted but it ought to be done in a Chamber or close place that the fume may be the better kept together and this must be done with some small end of our Match made of prepared Flax or Hemp to the end that the Composition which is shut up in the Globe may take fire with the greater facility The Compositions are these that follow viz. Take Salt-Peter Storax Calamite one Dram Incense one ounce Mastick one ounce Amber half an ounce Civet half an ounce of the Sawings of Juniper wood two ounces of the Sawings of Cypress wood two ounces Oyl of Spike one ounce Make your Composition according to the Art and Method given Or Take of Salt-Peter two ounces of Flower of Brimstone Camphire half an ounce powder of yellow Amber half an ounce Coals of the Teile tree one ounce Flower of Benjamin or Assa sweet half an ounce Let the matters that may be beaten be powdered afterwards well mingled and incorporated together CHAP. XV. Compositions to Charge Globes or Balls that will burn as well under as above water FIrst take Salt-Peter reduced into fine meal 16 l. Sulphur 4 l. of the sawings of wood which hath been first boyled in a Nitrous water and afterwards well dryed 4 l. Of good Corned powder half a pound of the powder of Ivory 4 ounces Or thus Salt-Peter 6 l. Sulphur 3 l. of beaten powder 1 l. Filings of Iron 2 l. of Burgundy pitch half a pound Or thus Salt-Peter 24 l. of beaten powder 4 l. Sulphur 12 l. of Sawdust 8 l. of yellow Amber half a pound of Glass beaten in gross powder half a pound of Camphire half a pound For that which concerns the manner of preparing all these Compositions it differs nothing from what we have prescribed in the making of Rockets only 't is not necessary that the materials be so subtilly beaten powdered nor sifted as for those Fuzees but nevertheless to be well mixed one among another Care must be taken that they be not too dry when you charge the Globes or Balls and for that purpose they may be moistned with Linseed-oyl Oyl of Olives Petrole Hemp-seed Nuts or any other fatty humour that is receptible of fire Note that amongst all these Compositions of matters that will burn in the water which I have here proposed from my own particular experience every one may make them as pleaseth himself best provided he always take the materials in proportion one to the other as they ought But nevertheless I shall counsel you to experience from time to time your Compositions for the greater surety before you expose them to the publick view of the world It is also amongst the rest very necessary that you learn the force and strength of every material you put into the Compositions whereby you may at your pleasure know how to alter and vary your proportion as you shall judg fit CHAP. XVI Of Stars and fiery Sparks called by the Germans Stern-veuer and Veuerputzen I Have shewed the Composition of Stars in Chap. 5. I have also shewed the way of making them up and their use and also I have shewed the manner of giving to them various Colours as in the 22 Rule of the 13 Chapter where I had an intent to say no more of these things But finding in Master Cazimier's Artillery these Compositions which I judge may prove very excellent therefore I thought good to insert them that I might leave out nothing that might make more perfect any thing we treat of First you must know that between fiery Sparks and Stars there is this difference that the Stars are greater and are not so soon consumed by the fire as the Sparks are but do subsist longer in the Air and do shine with greater substance and with such a light that by reason of their great splendor they are in some manner comparable with the Stars in the Heavens They are prepared according to the following Method Take Salt-Peter half a pound Sulphur two ounces Yellow Amber powdered one Dram Antimony Crude one Dram
of beaten Powder three Drams Or Take Sulphur two ounces and a half Salt-Peter four ounces Powder subtilly powdered four ounces Olibanum Mastick Christal Mercury sublimate of each four ounces White Amber one ounce Camphire one ounce Antimony and Orpiment half an ounce All these materials being well beaten and well sifted they must be mixt together with a little Glue or gum-Gum-water made with Gum-Arabick or Tragacant then make them into small Balls about the bigness of a Bean or small Nut which being dryed in the Sun or in a Pan by the fire may be kept in a convenient place for such uses as we have spoken of in the fifth Chapter of this Book You must only remember that when you would put them into Rockets or Recreative Balls they must be covered on all sides with prepared Tow of which we have shewed the way of preparing in the seventh Chapter of the first Part of our Fire-works Sometimes Fire-Masters are accustomed to take in the places of these little Balls a certain proportion of melted matters of which we have spoken in the first Part of Fire-works But if these do not please you by reason of their swarthy colour but you rather desire to see them yellow or inclining somewhat to white then take of Gum-Arabick or Tragacant four ounces powder it and pass it through a Sieve of Camphire dissolved in Aqua-vitae two ounces Salt-Peter a pound and a half Sulphur half a pound Glass grossy powdered four ounces White Amber an ounce and a half Orpiment two ounces make all these Ingredients into one mass and make Globes of them as before I Learned this saith my Author from Claude Midorge For the method of making Sparkles in particular it is thus Take Salt-Peter one ounce of this Liquid matter half an ounce of beaten Powder half an ounce of Camphire two ounces after you have beaten all these materials into powder every one by it self put all of them into an Earthen Pan and put upon them the Water of Gum Tragacanth or Brandy-wine wherein you have dissolved some Gum Tragacanth or Arabick until it be of a good consistency that done take an ounce of Lint which has first been boyled in Brandy-wine or Vinegar or in Salt-Peter and after dryed again and the threads drawn out then put it into the Composition and mix them well together so well and so long until it has drank up all the matter of these Compositions make little Balls in the form of Pills and of the bigness of great Peas which you must roul in mealed Gun-powder and dry them whereof you may serve your self according to the method we have prescribed Besides these there are certain odoriferous Pills prepared which are employed in small Engines and fiery Inventions which are shewed in Chamber Roams or close Cabinets these are commonly prepared of Storax Calamite Benjamin Amber white and yellow and of Camphire of each one ounce Salt-Peter three ounces of Coals made of the Teil Tree four ounces beat all these Ingredients to powder then incorporate them well together and moisten them with Rose Water in which is dissolved Gum-Arabick or Tragacanth to make thereof little Balls at last having fashioned them expose them to the Sun or to the fire to dry THE DOCTRINE OF PROJECTS APPLYED TO GUNNERY By those late famous Italian Authors GALILAEUS AND TORRICELLIO Now rendred in ENGLISH LONDON Printed in the Year 1672. THE PREFACE GALILAEUS in his 4th Dialogue of Motion hath largely treated of aequable and accelerate or increasing Motions as also of that of Projects or things shot and thence derived several Propositions or Conclusions and hath likewise made several Tables touching the Amplitudes or Base Lines and the Altitudes or Heights of the Semiparabola's or Curves described by the Motion and Ranges of Projects The which Doctrine the late Famous Torricellio of Florence having with great Judgment much advanced and facilitated applying the whole to the Art of Gunnery that the benefit of his pains might redound to the English Reader that is especially Delighted or Exercised in the Affairs of Mars it was thought fit to render the same into English THE DOCTRINE OF PROJECTS APPLYED TO GUNNERY PROPOSITION The Impetus B A that is as much as is that of the moveable naturally falling from B to A by the * Which Definition is when we name an Impetus given we determine it in spaces according as Galilaus useth Exemp Grat. When we say let the Impetus given be A B then we mean let the Impetus given be so much as is requisite to throw the Project from A to the highest point of the perpendicular B or which is the same as much as is the Impetus of a moveable naturally falling from B to A. Definition as also the Direction A I according to which the Projection is to be made with the said Impetus being given it is required to find the Amplitude Altitude and the whole future Parabola of this Projection Again I say that this Parabola is described by the Impetus given for AE EF and EB or those three lines equal to DG the Altitude GF the Semi-base and GL are in continual proportion Wherefore GL is the sublimity by the V. Proposition De metu Projectorum of Galiaeus and its Corollary Then thus the Impetus of the Parabola AG in the point A is as much as that of the Cadent naturally falling from L to D by X. of Galiaeus that is from B to A or of the Project ascending from A to B therefore the Parabola hath in the point A the Impetus that was given wherefore that is done which was required But because this Proposition is of great moment for clearing of those that follow we will prove it another way First it is manifest that the point P cannot be in the line LD because since the line AC toucheth each Parabola that ID the common Axis should be cut into two equal parts in two points by the Vertex's of the Parabola is absurd Nor can it be in the line EG for drawing the Diameter suppose MN thorough the â—â—rtex that MN should be cut into two equal parts by the line EG is absurd for only ID of all the lines parallel unto it in the angle CAD can be cut into two equal parts Now let the point P fall any where at pleasure and draw the Horizontal line PR for as much as PN and PM are equal by the II of * this NR and RA PR and RS Which second Proposition is that the sublime point of the Range of any Project P doth cut the Perpendicular M intercepted betwixt the Horizon and line of direction into two equal parts shall be equal And because the Parabola AP hath the Impetus BA that is OM the Point O shall be its sublimity and for that reason the lines OP PR and PM shall be in continual proportion and the Rectangle OPM equal unto the square PR and changing the lines
leave the most terrestial part and such as is useless in the Sand which water again put into the Cauldron and boyl it up as formerly until it may be fit to congeal and in the end pour it into wooden long flat Vessels as before and in two or three dayes 't will be shot into Christals as formerly which if you would have purer you must reiterate this work once more or you may put upon this Peter lyme-Lyme-water filter it and boyl it up according to Art and it will be pure Salt-Peter may be purified thus put your Salt-Peter in a Vessel of Copper Iron or Vernish't Earth I like a Crucible best which being put to a small fire augment it gradually until all the Salt be melted and boyl'd then take common Sulphur finely pulverised and throw it upon the liquified Salt-Peter which will quickly take fire and burn and by the same means consume all the gross and viscous humours with the terrestrial Salt remaining useless amongst the Salt-Peter before the rectification besides you may reiterate this work by putting on fresh Sulphur many times until such time all the strange humours be quite consumed in the end the Salt-Peter being well melted and well purified pour it upon well polished Marble or Plates of Iron or Copper or glazed Earth and let it cool and you will have a Salt-Peter congealed almost resembling in colour and hardness the true Alabaster CHAP. XI How Salt-Peter Meal is made without any beating for the making of Gun-powder SAlt-Peter well purified must be put in a Kettle upon a furnace over a fire then moderately increase the fire with Bellows to such a degree of heat until it begin to smoak and evaporate until the Salt begin to lose its humidity and obtain a whiteness and so keep continually stirring it with a wooden or Iron Ladle for fear it should return into its pristine form and hereby will be taken away all its fatty greasiness that may be commixt This being done pour so much water into the Kettle as will cover the Salt-Peter and when it shall be dissolved and it has obtained the consistence of a thick Liquor then with a wooden stick or Ladle keep continually stirring it without any intermission until all its humidity be evaporated and all be reduced into most dry white Meal CHAP. XII To make Salt-Peter with the flower of Did Walls of Caves Cellars Uaults c. GAther together a good quantity of this Flower which you may find upon the Surface of Old Walls which are in moist places under the Earth you may also make provision with a certain Salt which sticks to Lyme or upon ruinated Walls which Peter one Sardi a Roman took notice of was alwayes well practised at Bruxells in Brabant as he confesseth in his fifth Book of Artillery Chap. 49. First see how much Salt-Peter matter you have then take one fourth part so much of quick Lyme pour upon it warm water boyl it well and clarifie it according to custom then put your Salt-Peter matter into a Tub with a tap in it and a little Earthen Dish before the hole of the tap within pour into this Tub the Lye and stir it well with a stick until all the Salt Peter be dissolved in the Water then let it distil leisurely into a Vessel that stands under the tap and at last being all dissolved and run out put this water into a Kettle and boyl it over the fire until so much be consumed that the remainder being dropped upon a Tyle-stone or Board do congeal and be of hardness but not too hard for if it be very hard the water is burnt but if too soft not enough When 't is well boyled and scummed take it from the fire and proceed with it as in the tenth and eleventh Chapters CHAP. XIII How to examine the goodness of Salt-Peter PUt upon a Wooden Table or any clean and smooth Board a little Salt-Peter then give fire to it with a live coal and observe these Rules following viz. If it make the same noise in burning as the common Salt doth when it is thrown upon live coals it is a sign it holds yet much common Salt If it hold a thick and fat scum it is a sign 't is fatty and viscous If after the Salt be consumed there resteth yet crass and filthy matter upon the board it is an infallible sign that the Salt contains yet a quantity of earthy matter and so much the more if you see much dregs after the combustion of the Salt-Peter is past and therefore the less powerful and active But by contraries if it render a cleer long flame divided into many streams and that the superficies of the board remain neat without any filth or that it be consumed so that nothing is left but a white clean ash without making much noise or great trembling you may then conclude that the Salt-Peter is good and well cleansed and in its perfect preparation CHAP. XIV The true way to purifie Salt-Peter and separating it from all offending and superfluous matter as common Salt Uitriol Allum and all fatty and viscous humours TAke Two pound of Quick-Lyme Two pound of common Salt One pound of Verdigrease One pound of Roman Vitriol One pound of Sal-Armoniack beat them all together after put them into an Iron Vessel and pour upon them a good quantity of Vinegar or in default of them good clear water and make a Lixivium which you shall let rarifie and clarifie of it self standing the space of three dayes after put your Salt-Peter in a Kettle and pour upon the same as much of this Lixivium as will well cover the Salt-Peter put it upon a fire sufficiently moderate at first increasing it until it boyl to the consumption of half take it then away from the fire and pour it by gentle inclination into a wooden Vessel and throw away all the dregs and Salt which remaineth in the bottom of the Kettle That done let the Salt-Peter water cool and continue your preparation as we have given before where we treated of refining Salt-Peter CHAP. XV. How to clarifie common Sulphur and to know its goodness WE experience often and without contradiction that not only Salt-Peter is filled with terrestrial qualities but Brimstone also which is not only of a fatty certain oleganious humour but likewise a noysome quality which is in the compound common to one and the other of its matters from hence if we desire to be curious in our work we judge it may be necessary to purifie Sulphur and to procure to it by power of clarification a nature most sublime subtile fiery and volatile The order and method that ought to be used in this is thus in Vessels of Iron or Copper melt your Sulphur with a very gentle fire over Coals well lighted and not flaming and when it is melted with a Ladle skim neatly off all that riseth on the top and swimmeth upon the Sulphur then not long after let
half a pound of Sal-armoniac 4 ounces Above all this the Chymists know how to prepare a certain oyl of Sulphur which they call a Balsam of which the virtues are so admirable that they admit not any body either living or dead to be touched with putrification but will conserve it in so perfect and entire state that neither the pernicious Influences of the celestial bodies nor that corruption which the Elements produce nor that which reduces things into their Principles can any way damnifie it if anoynted with it There is also from it prepared a certain fire as Tritemius teacheth with flowers of Sulphur Borax and Brandy-wine which will remain many years without extinguishing of it self Others that are knowing do attest that a Lamp may be filled with such like Oyl from whence all that are within the Light of it will appear as if they had no heads There is another way of making Oyl of Sulphur which is very admirable and excellent which is prepared thus Incorporate well together an equal proportion of Sulphur and Salt-Peter reduce them into most subtile Powder and pass it through a fine sieve then put them into an Earthen Pot that hath never been used and pour upon them Vinegar made of White-wine or Aqua-vitae as much as will cover the Powder Close the Pot in such manner that no air may any wise enter and put it thus in any hot place so long time until all the vinegar be digested and vanished Lastly take that matter which rests in the Pot and draw from thence an oyl by Chymical Instruments proper to this work CHAP. II. The preparation of the Flowers of Benjamin TAke Benjamin a certain quantity of ounces put it into a Gourd or a Limbeck glass and close it well with a blind head as they call it then have in readiness an earthen vessel set it upon a Tresfoot or for the more certainty upon a small Furnace place it in your glass body and compass it well about with fine Sand or ashes so high as the matter is in the glass after make a moderate fire under it for fear the Limbeck heat too soon and be too hot for that will make the flowers become citrine or yellow when they ought to be as white as Snow Observe when you see the flowers begin to raise a vapour or small fume continue your fire in that same degree the space of one quarter of an hour after you shall see the flowers risen unto the internal Superficies of the blind head then take it away carefully and put to it another that shall be quite cold and put that which you have taken off upon a white paper until it be cold then gently with a Feather or wooden Spatula cause the flowers to come forth of the blind head and gather them together carefully thus you may add a third or fourth blind head and in time many until all the Benjamin cease to fume Benjamin may be made into flowers another way thus put into a glazed pot a certain quantity of ounces of Benjamin and place it upon warm ashes and when you see it begin to fume cover the vessel with a Cornet of paper made in the form of a Cone and a little larger than the orifice of the pot leave it there about one quarter of an hour after take off the Cornet and take the flowers and gather them together then put upon the vessel another Cornet of paper and let it stand as long as before take it off and gather the flowers to the former and continue thus putting Cornet after Cornet until your flowers be entirely evaporated CHAP. III. The preparation of Camphire TAke Juniper Gumm which is called somtimes Sandarach white varnish or Mastick most subtilly powdered 2 l. white distilled vinegar as much as is necessary to cover the Gumm in a glass set it deep in horse-dung the space of 20 days then take it and pour it forth into another glass Vessel with a wide mouth and let it stand thus in digestion a whole moneth and in it you shall have Camphire congealed in form of a Crust of bread and which hath in some measure the resemblance of the verâ—able or true Camphire The Camphire hath such a love for the fire that being once lighted it goeth not out until it be quite consumed The flame that comes from thence is very clear and of a very agreeable odour after it hath remained suspended in the air some time it vanisheth insensibly The cause that produceth all these rare effects from Camphire is by reason its parts are extream subtil and airy I do add to all this that it may be easie to reduce Camphire into Powder to make it useful in artificial fireworks if a man crumbles it and beats it gently rouling it with Sulphur The oyl of Camphire which serves also for the same effect is made by adding a little of oyl of sweet Almonds and stir them well together in a brass Morter and pestle of the same metal until all be converted into oyl of a greenish colour Or a man may put it into a Glass Viol which must be close stopped provided also that the Camphire be true and natural and not a Cheat then put that Glass into a warm Furnace and draw it out when you shall see all the Camphire turned into a pure clear oyl which will burn with an admirable vivacity CHAP. IV. Water of Sal-armoniac TAke Sal-armoniac 3 ounces Salt-Peter 1 ounce reduce them into a most subtil Powder and mix them well together after put them into a Limbeck and then pouring on them some of the best and strongest Vinegar you may distil the same into a water with a small fire CHAP. V. Of a certain artificial water which will burn upon the Palm of your hand without doing any harm TAke Oleum Petroli and of Terebinthi and of Calx vive of Mutton fat and of Hogs Lard of each equal parts beat them well together until they be well incorporated then cause them to be distilled in warm ashes or upon burning coals and you shall draw from thence an excellent oyl CHAP. VI. To prepare Fire-Spunges TAke of the oldest and greatest Toad-stools which grows at the Root of Ash Oak Birch and Fir-tree with many other Trees which produce them freely get a good parcel string them and hang them in the Chimney and leave them to macerate being well mortified and macerated take and cut them in pieces and then beat them with a wooden Mallet this done boyl them over a small fire in a strong Lye and a sufficient quantity of Salt-Peter until all the humidity be evaporated At last having put them upon a Plank or even board put them in a warm Oven and let them well dry there having drawn them from thence you must beat them with a wooden Mallet as before until it become wholly subtile and soft being thus prepared you must keep them in a commodious place to serve you upon occasion CHAP. VII
study and invent in these latter ages a new way to supply the want of the former which being made with much labour and industry from the bowels of the Earth and then purified and washed divers times to separate it from its more gross and Terrestrial parts and taken from its first crudity that its may shew its likeness of its Mother it is in the end perfectly purified and brought to such a height that it differs nothing to he of the same form and vertue of the ancient Salt-Peter Wherefore if I may be admitted to speak my thoughts upon it I shall say openly and plainly leaving none in doubt the Ancients did indeed find natural growing Niter which came out of it self at the tops of Rocks filling the clefts and holes and there condensing into small Icicles it hardnes and petrefies This Niter is natural but since Art is the Imitator of Nature as 't is allowed by all then you may not think it strange if we can by a little of her aid and by force of industry attain to the perfection of her productions nay if I may be bold to say it such as shall surpass by far the more perfect of her works Do we not daily see an infinite of very principal Works brought to light after a long and painful travel which is not permitted nature to imitate although she did imploy at the best all her secret and full strength to come to perfection It may from hence herefore be concluded that our Salt made by the Art of Fire is such as is every way agreeing with that of the Ancients not any way differing one from the other especially as to those uses we intend here For if according to our method given in the next Chapter I dare affirm in all our uses it will truely imitate the natural but the more if it be purified and purged many times So that at last it will come to be more excellent than the Ancient and natural Salt-Peter which is plainly seen in the ordinary way of purifying Common Salt or Sugar which by Art is so purged that it comes to be far purer and whiter than 't was before in its first natural dress And this we do suppose to be a sufficient argument or reason for us to judge that our Artificial Salt-Peter is not only as good but far more excellent than the natural Which being thus allowed we will add only a few words of the properties of Niter and so pass to its Artificial preparation And first of the spetting quality and noise it makes in the fire which Scaliger would have to be caused by its terrestrity that it holds in it self which we cannot allow of but rather judge otherwise for if the Earthy part were the subject that made it make such noise then the Earth it self might be adjudged to make a far greater noise seeing it is also mixed with this Element and yet we find it cracks not at all being put in the fire therefore by consequence this reason is void Well then is it of its rarity which Aristotle calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This cannot pass for a truth since daily experience doth let us see that the Mushrooms or Toad-stools and many other things which are of a most rare thin nature yet make no noise when put upon burning coals Neither is the hardness that is joyned to these more subtil parts the cause of the cracking For we see that the Pumice-stone will not spet nor crack nor make any noise in the fire although it be of a substance sufficiently spungy and hard There must therefore be another thing that must be the cause of this spetting and all the noise that is made by Nitre when it is embraced by the fire The Divine Praeceptor in the 11 Section of his Questions saith that the Salt cracks in the fire because it contains in it much moisture which being attenuated by the fire and rarified in a high degree converts all into Spirits and an Airy nature For in it there is contained more of a Spirit than watery matter which being brought to the fire the two fiery Spirits mutually attract each other and joyning together do become Master of the lesser part the Water for the fire of the Niter being fortified and put into action by the common fire the Water is constrained from its bonds and can stay no longer there but must of a suddain depart and in its way by the violency of its departure overthroweth all such obstacles as come in its way And in this action the external air being strongly and violently agitated by their refraction it breaks with impetuosity or great violence and from thence by consequence follows that hideous and fearful noise which commonly and ordinarily happens in the combustion of Salt-Peter and other Compositions mixed with it whereof Salt-Peter is the greatest part CHAP. IX The way of Preparing Salt-Peter from a Nitrous Earth THe Earth and matter of Salt-Peter is found commonly in great abundance in obscure shadowed places where no Rain nor any fresh water doth penitrate nor likewise where the Sun by his rayes can communicate his heat it is likewise drawn from Horse dung under Stables and from covered places where great and small Cattle are shut up likewise in such places as men use to piss in or Jaqueses or the like places or in places where has been made great Fights or where has been laid up together many dead Bodies and earth thrown upon them For from thence in few years may much Salt-Peter be drawn I shall declare three several wayes whereby to ground your judgment with more certaint◠concerning the goodness of the place from whence one would draw the Salt-Peter which is most necessary to be known by all Salt-Peter men or such as intend to mannage these Affairs The first is that such Earth as you suspect to hold Salt-Peter be put upon the Tongue and if it prick a little sharply it is a most certain sign you will not loose your labour in taking it to task but on the contrary if it be not biting or a little corrosive it will not well answer your money and labour in preparing of it The second way to know a good Nitrous Earth is this make a hole in the Earth with a sharp pointed thing either of Wood or Iron and in it put a peece of Iron red hot after having stopt the hole let it stand until it be quite cold then draw it out and if you find a little after about this Iron some Citrine marks inclining a little after to a whiteness you need not doubt that earth but further assure your self 't is very good to put to work The third way is throw a little of that Earth upon burning Coals and if you perceive it make any noise and that it spets in the fire or that clear and shining sparks come from it you may from thence judge that that Earth holds a forcible matter
of that nature After you have found a proper Earth to draw Salt-Peter from and that by some of these proofs you have testimony of its goodness and worth let be taken of it a great quantity or as much as you please let it be carried to a place appointed for this purpose then prepare to burn a good quantity of Wood either of Oak Ash Elm Maple or other sorts of hard Wood that you may have Ashes then take two parts of these Ashes one part of quick Lime mix them well and put this mixture by it self for such uses as I shall shew you anon Take then Vessels of Wood or Pipes or Hogsheads cut in two parts for they must be able to hold a good quantity of Water make a hole at the bottom about one or two fingers breadth put into the hole a small wicker thing or you may whelm over it an Earthen Dish after put Rushes all over the bottom not excepting the hole or in its place clean straw this Vessel being thus fitted dispose of it in this manner Set it so that under may stand a lesser Vessel of Wood to receive the Liquor that shall distil down from the upper Vessel after put into the upper Vessel about the height of a hand of this Salt-Peter Earth which has been before for some time dryed in the Air upon this Earth put the height of three or four fingers of the mixture made of Ashes and quick Lime and then again of the Salt-Peter Earth after of the Ashes about the same height as before and continue this fashion putting Earth upon Ashes and Ashes upon Earth until the Vessel be full within a hands breadth at the top to hold the Water that is put in this done put upon it fresh Water as much as shall be necessary viz. so much as must surmount the Earth two or three fingers breadth and look that it pass through all the Earth and run drop by drop through the hole at bottom of the Vessel into the Tub standing under and you shall have a Nitrous Lixivium according to the quantity of Water as you poured into the Vessel which if you judge is too little you must reiterate the infusion and the second time also the water passing through the Earth will carry with it a substance And so the third time This done put all the Lixivium into a â—ettle of a sufficient bigness and let it be boyled upon the fire very easily and moderately at first after increase the fire to the consumption of the Liquor or a little more keeping continually skimming it all the time it boyls And when 't is thus consumed pour it into wooden Vessels that are broad and cover them over with Cloaths and let them stand until the pure part Christalize into white Salt and the feculent or more terrestial part settle to the bottom In the mean time continue pouring in of the Lixivium again into the Kettle boyling and skimming it as before and this do until all your Lixivium be boyled up and poured into wooden Vessels to Christalize Then from the wooden Vessels inclining them gently pour all the Lixivium leaving the settling at bottom by it self into your Copper as before and boyl it up again with a good fire until half be consumed or until it begin to thicken or until by putting a little upon a stone or peece of board it do immediately congeal Then take it from the fire and when 't is a little cooled pour it as before into wooden Vessels or Boles and put into each about a hand in height then cover each Vessel with course cloaths put it into a cool place and two or three dayes after you will find your Salt-Peter congealed and thrust together in small Christals like transparent Ice sticking to the sides of the Vessel and likewise upon some sticks for that purpose provided the rinds being taken off and placed in the wooden Vessels before the pouring in of the Liquor get diligently together the Peter as well that which sticks to the sides of the Vessel as that to the sticks in a Vessel of wood proper to receive it and cover it and keep it dry The remaining water you must boyl up as before not forgetting to separate it from its residence Whilst 't is boyling it happens sometimes that the Liquor may rise and boyl over the Cauldron to prevent that danger have in readiness other Lixivium made of three parts of Ashes and one part of quick Lyme as we spoke before in which is dissolved Roch Allum allowing to every hundred weight of Lixivium four pounds of Allum and when it begins to rise pour in a little of this from time to time And by this means you will see that the water that was hastning to come over will fall down and that the common Salt and more terrestrial part will settle to the bottom The Earth remaining in the Wooden Tubs from whence the salt was drawn must be put in some cover'd place made for that purpose where neither Sun Rain nor any other water may come and there it must be spread all abroad about a foot high Then you must have in readiness Horse dung or the Excrements of all sorts of Beasts great and small and put off this upon the other about the height of three or four foot then take all that was skum'd from the Lixivium in boyling and the water that is left and will not shoot and the bottoms that are left in the wooden Vessel where the Salt-Peter did shoot and throw them away as hurtful and useless upon the Dunghil throw likewise every day or as often as you can the Urine of men and let it lye two years and you shall have your Earth filled with Salt-Peter as before with a greater aboundance You may likewise throw upon your Dunghill the Horns Claws and Hoofs of Beast and then from this Earth it will be very easie to draw good Salt-Peter by the method we have prescribed CHAP. X. To Clarifie and Refine Salt-Peter TAke as much Salt-Peter as you please and being put in a Copper pour upon it so much fair water as will dissolve it that is about eight of Water and three of Salt and pour upon the same of the former Lixivium prepared of Ashes Quick-lyme and Roch Allum boyl it upon the fire until all the Salt-Peter be dissolved that being done have in readiness a Vessel of Wood sufficiently big and so disposed that another may stand under the same which must before it be so set be peirced in the middle and the hole covered over with an Earthen Dish Let the uppermost Tub be filled five or six inches with fine clean sand then let the Tub be covered over with a course cloath and pour through the same into your Sand-Tub your dissolved Salt-Peter and so it will distil by little and little into the Vessel which stands under and so passing through the Sand it will be discharged of all its superfluities and will
it be taken from the fire and strained through a double Linnen Cloath into another Vessel pouring it through at leisure thus all the Oylie matter and crassy substance remains in the Cloath but under in the Vessel will be a pure Sulphur such as we have before spoken of To know the goodness of Sulphur you must do thus Press it between two Iron plates that are hot and if in the running it appear yellow without any bad odour and that which remains be of a reddish colour one may believe 't is natural and excellent so likewise 't is a good sign if when 't is set on fire it do freely burn all away leaving little or no resident matter For if Sulphur be pure and good we do find that there is such a sympathy between it and fire that the fire is desirous of the Sulphur for its nutriment and that reciprocally the Sulphur is pleased likewise to be thus devoured and consumed by the Element of fire so that if some fragment of it be put about some pieces of Wood if this shall feel the fire at some distance it seems as if it did attract it to it self and doth sometimes unawares at a distance catch or take fire if great care be not taken There is a certain kind of Sulphur which will not burn so freely as other Sulphur nor send forth any ill scent but being put upon the fire melts no otherwise than common Wax and this Sulphur is found abundantly near Mount Aetna as Carniola of Libavius reports in his first Book of the Apocap Hermel but this Sulphur is commonly red as also is that which is found in the Heil des Heim as Agricola mentions in his first Book Chap. 22. And upon the testimony of Iohn Iohnson Adm. Nat. Clas 4. Chap. 13. Sulphur is found likewise of divers other colours as pale Yellow Green as is many times to be seen and found sticking about Stones and Rocks So that a man may without any great difficulty take it from thence and make it into a Mass That which is clear perfectly yellow not very hard nor too much shining is the very best Yet there is another Sulphur which looks greenish and hath never past the fire and this is called Sulphur Vivum and by some Virgin Sulphur by reason Women and Maids had a custom to compose with it a certain fucus or Paint with which they used to adorn their faces CHAP. XVI Of the third principal in Composition of Gunpowder viz. Coal and its Preparation IN the Month of May or Iune when all sorts of Trees are easie to peel by reason in that time there comes out a sap and they are fuller of humours than at any other time of the year Cut then a great quantity of Hazle or Ash the length of two or three foot of the bigness of half your fist taking away from them with a Bill all that is Superfluous then take away the rind likewise and of these make little bundles and make them very dry in a warm Oven then in a place chosen for that purpose that is plain and even set them upright one by another and set them on fire and after you see the fire well lighted and that the fire hath reduced them all into burning Coals cover them closely and diligently with watered earth so that it may have no respiration or that no Air may pass in then the flame being thus stifled upon the Coals they will remain pure and whole without being charged with much Ashes then 24 hours after you may take them away and keep them for to serve you in your business and put them to such uses as we shall write of hereafter But if you have occasion for a small quantity only take then of the Arms and Limbs of such Trees aforesaid that is of Teil wood of Juniper of Ash c. Cut them in small pieces and dry them well then shut them in an Earthen Vessel and lute the Cover on the top with Clay then place Coals round about the Pot and let it be all covered with Coals leaving them so the space of a good hour continuing the fire all this while in the same degree of heat at last let it cool of it self and when 't is cold open the pot and take out the Coals for your use CHAP. XVII The wayes of Compounding or Making Gunpowder THe wayes of Compounding of Gun-Powder have been so commonly known that not only such as are conversant in fireworks do understand the same but others also so that it is made a particular Trade nay that which is more strange the Countrey people in Polonia have learned to prepare it with their own hands without the use of any Artificial Engine or Chymical Vessel For I have seen many of the People of Podolie and Vkrains which we call now the Cossaques who prepare their Powder quite contrary to the common way or that which is used by Fire-Masters For they put Sulphur Salt-Peter Charcoal all together in an Earthen Pot a certain proportion of each which proportion one to the other they have learned by experimental practice upon which they pour fair fresh water which they boyl upon the fire until all the water is evaporated and the matter become thick then they take it from the fire and dry it in the Sun or in some warm place as a Stove or the like then they pass it through a Hair Sieve and reduce it into small Grains There are others that take these Materials and grind them upon a smooth flat Stone or a smooth Earthen Dish and then having moistned it by their Skill they bring it into Grains which powder brought to this degree of perfection they serve their occasions with as much utillity and profit as if it had been made by the hand of one of the most knowing or skilful Powder-makers in the world It is in my judgment labour lost to speak more of these superficial wayes but come to the order and method which is necessary and usually observed in the preparing of Gun-Powder It shall likewise suffice me to propose in this Chapter some Compositions most excellent and best approved which are these Compositions for Cannon Powder Compositions for Musquet-Powder Compositions for Pistol-powder The first Salt-Peter 100 l. Sulphur 25 Coals 25 The first Salt-Peter 100 l. Sulphur 18 Coals 20 The first Salt-Peter 100 l. Sulphur 12 Coals 15 The Second Salt-Peter 100 l. Sulphur 20 Coals 24 The Second Salt-Peter 100 l. Sulphur 15 Coals 18 The Second Salt-Peter 100 l. Sulphur 10 Coals 8 You must first finely powder these compositions or mixtures for Cannon or Musquet Powder and after moissen them with fair fresh water or Vinegar or with Aquavitae but if you will have your Pistol Powder stronger and more violent you ought to stir it up several times whilst t is in the Morter with this following liquor that is a water distilled from Rinds of Oranges Citrons or Lemons by an Alymbeck or any other
How to prepare Match or Low for Artificial Fires MAke Cords of Tow Hemp or Cotton which you please of two or three twists not made too hard put them in a new Earthen pot Vernished pour upon them Vinegar made of good white Wine four parts of Urine two parts of Aqua vitae one part of Salt Peter purified one part of Cannon Powder reduced to Meal one part Make all these Ingredients boyl together upon a great Fire to the Consumption of all the Liquor then spread upon a great smooth Plank or Board the Meal or Flower of the most excellentest Powder that you can get Having drawn your Match out of the Pot roul them in the Powder and then dry them in the shade or Sun for it matters not which and the Cords or Match that are thus prepared will burn very quick Francis Jouchim Prechtelin in his second part of his Fire-works Chap. 2. describes a certain Match which is extream slow in burning and is thus made take Mastich two parts Colophonia one part Wax one part Salt-Peter two parts Charcoal half a part then having melted all and mixed them well upon the fire take a Match made of Hemp or Flax of a sufficient bigness and draw it through this Composition making it go down to the bottom of the Vessel drawing it often through until it hath gotten the bigness of a Candle and when you desire to use it light it first and when it is well lighted blow it out and there remains none but a burning Coal CHAP. VIII Of certain Antidotes excellent and approved against the burning of Gun-powder Sulphur hot Iron melted Lead and other like accidents drawn from the particular Experiments of Cozimu Nowicz SECTION I. BOyle Hogs grease in common water over a most gentle fire the space of some time then take it from the Fire and let it cool and after expose it to the fair and clear weather three or four nights after having put it into an Earthen pot melt it again upon a small fire and being melted strain it through a Cloath into cold water after wash it many times with good clean and fresh water until it come as white as snow this done put it into a glazed pot to serve you at your occasions The use is thus you must annoint the burnt part as soon as you can and you will see a quick and admirable effect SECT II. Take Plaintain water Oyl of Nuts of Italy of each as much as you please SECT III. Take Mallows water Rose water Plume Allum of each as much as is necessary and mix them well together with the white of an Egg. SECT IV. Take a Lixivium made of Calx Vive and common water add to it a little Oyl of Hempseed Oyl Olive and some whites of Eggs mingle all well together and annoint the burnt place with this Composition All these Oyntments cure burnings without causing any pain These I have often experimented upon my self Some Receipts from divers Authors Take Oyl of Olives Oyl of sweet Almonds Liquid Vernish each one part juice of Onions two parts with these chafe the part affected If there be already blisters raised and Ulcerations in the parts this following Oyntment is most excellent Boyle a great quantity of the second Rind of Elder tree in Oyl of Olive then pour it through a Linnen cloath add to it a little after two parts of Cerus or burnt Lead of Lytharge of Gold of each one part put them into a Leaden Morter and then stir them about and mix them so that they become in the form of a Linament Take melted Lard pour it into two Ounces of Morrel water and one Ounce of Oyle of Saturn then mingle them well together ' this Remedy is soeveraign Take the Mucilage of the Roots of Henbane and of the Flowers of Poppies of each one Ounce Salt Peter one Ounce mingle them all with Oyl of Camphire and make a Linament according to Art Or take the juyce of Oynions rosted in embers two Ounces Nut Oyle one Ounce mingle them all well together Or take of the Leaves of Ivy two m. or handfuls well beaten up with Plaintain water Oyl Olive one pound make all boyl with four Ounces of good white Wine until the Consumption of the whole Wine at the end of the decoction add Wax as much as is necessary to give him the form and consistency of a Linament Again take old Lard let it be melted over the flame and poured into two Ounces of the juyce of Beets and Rue of the Cream of Milk one Ounce Mucilage of Quince-seeds and Gum Tracanth of each an Ounce and a half mix them well together and make thereof a Linament This remedy is none of the worst we took it from Joseph Quercetanus in libro Sclopetrio CHAP. IX Of Hand Granadoes THe Hand Granadoes respecting their form are Globically or perfectly round and hollow in their interior part in manner of a Sphere they are called Hand Granadoes or Handy Granadoes because they may be grasped in the hand and thrown to the Enemies and if we should dwell upon the denominations of the Latine we may call them as they do Granades Palmares they are commonly of the bigness of a Bullet of Iron of 5 6 and 8 l. they weigh sometimes 1 l. and sometimes one pound and a half some are of two pounds and others of three pounds there is given to these sort of Globes the names of Granadoes by reason of the great resemblance they have with the Fruit Punique which we call Pom-granad for as these do shut up in their rinds a great quantity of grains so our Military Globes are filled with a number of Grains of Powder almost innumerable the which having received the Fire do break into a thousand and a thousand shivers leaping against the Enemy and piercing if it could all such things as it meets opposing its violence They are generally made of Iron or Copper carrying in its Diameter about three Ounces being about the length of a Barly Corn in thickness of Metal they are filled commonly with Gun-Powder and sometimes of other Compositions there is added to its Orifice a small Pipe commonly called a Fuse which is filled with a matter or Composition that is slack or slow in burning but nevertheless very susceptible of the Fire and capable to hold fire some time for fear that it should break in the hands of those that mannage it and intend to throw it There is amongst Fire-Masters accounted three sorts of Hand Granadoes the first and most common are made of Iron others are made of Brass allayed with other Metals in the melting the third sort is of Glass If you cause them to be made of Iron take such as is most fragile and as little wrought as possible you can get if you will cast them of Copper you must allay six pound of Copper with two pounds of Tyn and half a pound of Marcasite or you may put one part of Tyn with
Chymical Vessel then let all be beaten and well brayed 24. hours and then in the end reduce it into very fine small grains A Liquor for this purpose may likewise be made of twenty parts of Aquavitae and 12 parts of distilled Vinegar made of Whitewine and four parts of Spirit of Salt-Peter and two parts of water of Sal-armoniac and one part of Camphire dissolved in Brandy-wine or reduced into Powder with powdered Sulphur or reduced with Oyl of sweet Almonds To Corn Powder well you must prepare a Sieve with a bottom of thick Parchment made full of round holes then moisten the Powder that must be corned with its water and make it up in Balls as big as Eggs which put into the Sieve and with it put a wooden Bowls and when you have so done sift the Powder so as the Bowl rouling about the Sieve may break the Clods of Powder and make it pass through those little holes into Corns It is observed by Fire-Masters and Gunners that Powder when it is Corned is of much greater force and power than in Meal from hence 't is concluded that powder when 't is put into a Piece of Ordnance ought not to be pressed or beaten home too hard in the Piece for thereby it will loose its form of grains and thereby looseth a great part of its strength that it had and is therefore not able to throw out the Bullet with so great a violence as if the Powder had been gently thrust home to the Britchend CHAP. XVIII Of the several Colours which are to be given to Powder KNow first that all the blackness which you see in Gun-powder comes from the Coal not that this colour is absolutely necessary to be conjoyned to its nature or that it is absolutely necessary to be given to it for its meliorating or making it more vigorous this is not so but by contraryes you may be permitted to give unto it any such colours as you shall think fit without prejudice or hinderance of the Powder and vertue of it For if instead of Coal you take rotten dryed wood or Sawdust well dryed or white paper moistned and dryed in a Stove and powdered or indeed any other thing of a combustible nature or that is well disposed to take fire such as you read hereunder and to this you may add a colour according to your fancie and pleasure and you will infallibly have a Powder that will make the same Effect as the black powder And for this purpose I shall lay down in this Chapter certain mictions with which I served my self many times and therefore known to be experimental truths White Powder Take Salt-Peter six pounds Sulphur one pound of Sawdust of the Elder Tree well dryed and powdered one pound these mixed according to the directions in the former Chapter there will be made a Powder of a white colour Or thus Take Salt-Peter ten pounds of Sulphur one pound of the woody part when the Hemp is taken away one pound c. Or thus Salt-Peter six pounds Sulphur one pound of Tartar calcin'd until it be brought to a whiteness and the Salt extracted for use one Ounce Red Powder Take of Salt-Peter twelve Parts of Sulphur two parts of Amber one part of Red Sanders two parts c. Or Take Salt-Peter eight pounds of Sulphur one pound of dryed powdered Paper boyled up in a Water wherein is Cinaber or Brazil Wood and then again dryed one pound Yellow Powder Take Salt-Peter eight pounds Sulphur one pound Wild or Bastard Saffron boyled in Aqua Vitae after dryed and powdered two pounds c. Green Powder Salt-Peter ten pounds of Sulphur one pound dryed Wood or Saw-dust boyled in Aqua Vitae with some Verditer then dryed and powdered of this two pounds Blew Powder Salt-Peter eight pounds of Sulphur one pound of the Saw-dust of the Teil Wood boyled in Brandy Wine with Indigo and after dryed and powdered one pound CHAP. XIX Still Powder or Powder without Noise THere are several that do Write many strange things concerning this Still Powder or Powder without noise or as some do give it the name Deaf Powder whereof they have treated prolixly the which I think not convenient to do by reason I am loath to tire the Reader with any such Discourse as tends not much to Edification I shall therefore put down certain mixtures which I have known to be more excellent and best approved First way Take Common Powder two pounds Venus Borax one pound these being well powdered mingled and incorporated together must be made up into Corn Powder Second way Take common Powder two pounds Venus Borax one pound of Lapis Calaminaris half a pound of Sal-armoniack half a pound powder and mix them well and make them up into Grains Third way Take common Powder six pounds of Live Moles burnt in an Earthen Pot of Venus Borax half a pound mix them as before c. Fourth way Take Salt-Peter six pounds Sulphur eight pounds and a half powder of the Second Bark of Elder Tree half a pound common decripitated Salt two pounds make Corn Powder of these according to the precedent order or accustomed method To these known things I shall add here a thing whereof you may make experience if you please it being only taken from the Books of Authors without any tryal made by me which you may also find written in the natural Magick of John Baptistâ— Porta which is in our English Tongue where he saith that if you add burnt Paper in the Composition of Gun-Powder or the double quantity of Hay seed well beaten these will take away a great part of the strength and will hinder it from making so great flame and noise Some do say that the Gall of a Pike doth the same effect if it be mixed and mingled with the same but we shall leave the belief of these things to the faith of such Authors as have experimented the same There are some wise and knowing men in this Art attribute the cause of this noise or as some do express it this horrible noise produced by a Cannon after the firing not to the Powder but to the beating and contusion of the Air which is inraged or in a passion by being so furiously endeavoured to be stifled or choaked by a strange and extraordinary movement of which we have spoken more at large in the former Chapter where we treated of Salt-Peter Yet in favour of the Sons of Art we shall never theless give you the opinion of Scaliger taken out of his his fifteenth Book in his Exer. Exoter against Cardan of Subâ—il Exer. 25. Loâ—ge pâ—jus illud cum sonitus causam a bellicis machinis editi attribuis Sal Petrae nanâ— tâ—nuissimuâ—n in pulverem comminuâ—um cavernulas amisit CHAP. XX. The Proof or Tryal of Gun-powder IT is accustomary for men skilled in these Arts to try Powder three several wayes that is by sight by touch and by fire And first for the tryal by sight it