third is to 13 so 100 is to 4 yards and 18 Inches To take the height of a Towre or Castle standing on a hill To performe this you must first take the height of the hill at two stations as of a thing unaccessible and after the same manner take the height of the Hill and Towre together which being done substract the height of the said Hill from the whole the remainder will be the height of the Towre CHAP. 59. How to finde the Longitude or Distance to any place by the Square I Desire to know the Distance to a Towre in the wall of a City because of placing my Ordnance to dismount a Gun upon the same I make choyce of a convenient place for my station where placing mine Instrument I bring the Index to the point C to lye just upon the line D C written in the figure The Line Fiduciall because from this line proceeds the beginning of the Degrees in the Circle and it is most used the Index being on this Line move the Instrument till you perceive through the Sights the Towre letting the Instrument rest firme turn the Index directly upon the other line marked with E G looke through the Sights and if you can espie any place or thing that you can remember to finde exactly take that for your second station if you cannot espy wherewithall to remember cause one to go towards such a place that you can see through the Sights with a handkirchief in his hand when you espy that bid him drop it upon the ground and goe to that place where set up your Instrument and laying the ruler upon The Fiduciall Line turn the Instrument untill you can espy through the Sights your first station then letting the Instrument stand firme turn the Index untill you can likewise espy the Towre through the Sights and marke diligently what part it cuts in the Square then As the parts cut are to 100 the Radix so the distance between the two stations is as the Distance required Example Suppose the parts cut were 5 the distance between the two stations 30 paces then as 5 is to 100 so is 30 to 600 paces the true distance to the Towre CHAP. 60. How to take the distance of divers places at one time by help of the Circle that is described within the Instrument FIrst of all finde some convenient place in which set up your Instrument for your first station and laying the Index upon the fiduciall line turne the Instrument with the Index upon the aforesaid line untill you see such a place as you thinke most convenient for in this you may choose your second station which by the practice in the last Chapter you could not doe The Instrument thus fixed espie through the holes every one of those places whose distance you would know and write them down I mean the degrees cut in the Circle with the name of the place alwayes remembring to begin so far on the left hand as you have any marke that way when you have noted them all down according as I have taught goe to the second station and place your Instrument there lay the Index upon the fiduciall line and looke back to the first station and espie it through the holes after this be sure your Instrument be not stirred then turn the Index to the first marke you tooke at the first station and after observation made note it down as at the first time when you have observed all the marks take your Instrument away goe to a large Table and with your Ruler draw a strait line acrosse the Table parallel to the Tables end and about two foot one from another describe two Circles the former made line being a diameter to each Circle First divide the distance between the centers of the two Circles into so many equall parts as there were paces betwen your two stations then divide the Circles In each center fix a needle and tie to each needle so many silke thrids as you had marks extend each of these at a great length just cutting the degree in the Circle that was cut in the Circle of the Instrument when you made your Instrumentall observation beginning first with the first marke so proceed and the end of every thrid which must be very long fasten to the Table with a little soft wax when you have fastened all the thrids thus that are on the first needle which signifieth the first station place those on the second needle as you did the other with wax at their full extent just over the Degree in the Circle made on the Table as you have noted was made upon your Instrument by observation beginning with the first as you did before and so likewise fasten them Now to know the distance to these marks looke where the first string of one Circle crosseth the first of the other that place note for the first marke looke where the second crosseth with the second that note for the second marke so likewise for the third fourth c. till you have noted all the marks down then with a paire of Compasses measure the distance unto any marke in paces or yards according as the Scale between the Circles is divided and what distance you finde to be either between one marke and another or between the stations and the marks is the true distance between those marks or between either of your stations and marks in paces yards or feet according to the division of your Scale but if the first second or third thrid c. in one Circle doe not tend to the same marks that you have noted in the observation as the first second and third doth in the other Circle then you are to make the marke where two thrids crosse that doe tend to the same marks An Example to cleere and manifest the last Proposition At such time as the Leaguer was before the City of Worcester I tooke the distance by such means as I have afore taught to every remarkable place therein by the aforesaid Instrument First finding a convenient place for the first station and placing the Index upon the Fiduciall line I marked where to make a second station the Instrument standing immoveable The first and farthest marke towards the left as I observed was Saint Peters Steeple the Index cutting 75 degrees the next observation was made at the Colledge Steeple the Index cut 84 degrees then Saint Hellens the parts cut in that observation 102 my fourth marke was the lofty Spire of Saint Andrews 104 degrees the fifth marke was the new built Block-house where formerly stood the Fryers gate the degrees cut were 106 the sixth observation was made towards the high Towre Steeple of All Saints the Index cut 107 degrees in the Circle the seventh object was the eighth square Towre Steeple of Saint Suthwins 117 the eighth which was worth observation was the brick Steeple of Saint Nicholas where the Index cut just 120 degrees the ninth observation which I
14 7 2 14 17 5 5 and a half 19 4 3 12 23 0 6 inches 25 0 5 0 30 0 6 and a half 32 0 6 0 38 0 7 inches 40 0 8 0 48 0 7 and a half 48 0 10 0 58 0 8 inches 59 0 12 0 71 0 CHAP. 31. How by knowing the weight of one Piece of Ordnance to finde the weight of any other Piece being of that very shape of the same mettal or of any other mettal by the Table of Cube Roots IF the Piece be of the same mettal that the Piece whose weight you know of you must do this first take the greatest thickness of your known Piece with your Callapers and also of the Piece whose weight you know not with their Diameters enter the Table of Cube Roots then observe that as the Cube of the Diam of the Piece whose weight is known is to the weight of the said Piece so the Cube of the Diam of the Piece whose weight you seek is to the weight sought for But if the Piece be of another mettal first work as before afterwards as the difference of the mettal iron and brass is between themselves so the weight found by the first rule is to the true weight sought for Example A brass Saker of 1900 weight hath its greatest thickness eleven inches and a half whose Cube is 1520.85 as appeareth by the Table of Cube Roots Now I finde the Diam of the other brass Piece whose weight I know not to be eight inches and three quarters and by the Table I finde the Cube to be 669.92 then as 1520.85 the Cube of 11 ½ is to 669.92 the Cube of 8 ¾ so 1900 the weight of the known Piece to 837 pounds almost but if the Piece had been iron whose weight you sought then having done as much as before first supposing as if it were brass finde the difference of the mettals in Chap. 28. and the difference between iron and brass will appear to be as 16 to 18 brass being the heavier then say as 18 the weight of brass is to 16 the weight of a Piece of iron of the same bigness so 837 the weight of a brass Piece is to 744 the weight of an iron Piece of the like shape and magnitude CHAP. 32. How by knowing what quantity of powder will load one Peece of Ordnance to know how much will load any other Peece THis Chapter or Proposition is resolved almost like the former for first you must find the Cube Root of the diameter of the bore of that Peece whose allowance of Powder for a charg you know and also the Diameter of the bore of the Peece which you would know how much should load or charge it then by the Table finde their Cubes and as the cube of that you doe know is to the cube of that you know not so the quantity of powder known is to that sought for Example A Saker of three inches three quarters diameter of the bore requires foure pound what will a Demicannon of six inches and an half require the cube of three and three quarters is 52 and 73 hundred parts of an unite and the cube of six and a halfe is 274 and 62 hundred parts Then say evermore as 52.73 the cube of three and three quarters is to 274 and 62 hundred parts the Cube of six inches and an halfe so foure pound of Powder to load a Saker is in proportion to 20 pound 13 ounces the Powder to load a Demicannon You are likewise to understand that the Demicannon should be fortified so well as the Saker the cube of the diameter of the Demicannon is 274 of the Saker 52 the weight of the Saker 1600 what should the weight of the Demicannon be then say as before as 52 the cube of the bore of the Saker is to 274 the cube of the Demicannon bore so 1600 the weight of that Saker is to 8431 the weight that such a Demicannon should be of that can beare such a proportionable charge according to the Saker But suppose the Demicannon to be no more then 6000 weight then you must multiply 6000 by 20 pound and 13 ounces the charge already calculated divide by 8431 the weight and you shall finde 14 pound 13 ounces which is a sufficient charge for that Peece thus you are always to take care of over-loading your Peece which errour divers run into when they call a Peece a Demicannon they presently load her with so much as is allowed for such a Peece so named seldome examining whether the Peece have mettall enough for such a charge by which mistake they stand in danger of their own lives and others too which are about them which may easily be prevented as is above declared CHAP. 33. To finde whether a Peece of Ordnance be true bored or no. YOu must provide a Pike-staffe about a foot longer then the bore of your Peece and at the end thereof fasten a Rammer head that will just fill all the bore under the touch-hole and at the other end of the staffe you must bore a hole big enough to put thorow a rod of iron which must hang from the same and at the other end of the rod must be made a weight about the bignesse of a Saker shot this is done to make the pike staffe and rammer head to lye with the same part upward when they are taken out of the Peece as they did when the were within the Peece then you must put your Instrument thus prepared into the Peece letting the iron ball that is at the end of the rod which is put thorow the hole bored acrosse the pike staffe hang perpendicular then take your priming Iron or some other Bodkin and put it down the touch-hole to the rammer head making a mark therewith this done draw out your Instrument and lay the same on a long table with the Iron ball hanging off the end perpendiculer as it did when this Instrument was in the Peece then observe whether the marke you made upon the rammer head when it was in the Peece be just on the upermost part of the same if it be the bore at the Peece lyeth neither to the right nor left hand if you finde it a quarter of an inch on the right or left hand so much lyeth the bore either to the right or left and the Peece in shooting must be ordered charged accordingly By this aforesaid you may finde whether the bore incline to the right or left but to know whether it ly also upwards and downwards and not in the middle that way To know this finde the diameter of the Peece at the touch-hole as is before taught then take a wire and bend it a little at the very end that it may catch at the mettall when you draw it out of the said touch-hole after this wire is thus prepared first put it in at the touch-hole till it touch the bottom of the mettall in the Chamber
then holding it in that place make a mark upon that wire just even with the said touch-hole afterwards draw up the wire untill it catch at the mettall on the top of the Chamber and holding it there make a mark as before the difference between the two marks is the just widenesse of the Chamber and the distance betweene the first mark and the end of the wire having half the diameter of the Chamber of the Peece substracted from it will leave halfe of the diameter of the Peece if the Peece be true bored but if this number be more then halfe the diameter then the bore lyeth too far from the touch-hole and the upper part of the mettall is thickest but if lesse the under part hath most mettall Example First I finde the diameter of the Peece to be 12 inches at the touch-hole then with my wire I finde the bore to be in diameter four inches to the bottome of the mettall it is seven inches and an half the half of the diameter or bore is two inches which being added to the distance from the second marke on the wire or substracted from seven inches and an halfe the first marke leaves five inches and an halfe which is lesse then halfe of the diameter you first took by half an inch therefore as I said before the greatest part of the mettall is under the bore and the Peece likest to break above also when you make the dispart for that peece you are to make it halfe an inch shorter then before the like observation you must have to make it longer in case the mettall be thickest in the upper part Thus I hope I have given reasonable satisfaction concerning this point and I am sure on that manner as was never taught before the truth is there was never any way taught before that could performe this thing the peece lying in its carriage and how laborious it is to handle a great peece out of a carriage let Gunners judge I made two such Instruments as are taught by Master William Bourne in his Book called The Art of shooting in great Ordnance Chap. 2. but neither I nor I believe himself could ever use them when the peece is in its cariage CHHP. 34. A description of all sorts of Ordnance from the Cannon to the base of their weight loding shot and all other things apperteining to them Of the Canon A Cannon is eight inches diameter in the bore she is also commonly 8000 weight and about 12 foot long the load of Cannon powder is two diameters of powder which is 32 pound eight ounces the shot seven inches and an half high weyeth 58 pound the length of the ladle 24 inches and the breadth thereof 14 three quarters Of the Demicannon Demicannons of the greatest size are six inches three quarters in diameter of the bore the shot six inches and five eight parts of an inch in height weighing 36 pound the weight of the peece 6000 pound and in length 12 foot and requireth for its charge in Cannon powder 18 pound being neere the silling two diameters of the peeces bore the length of the ladle 23 inches lack one quarter and the bredth 12 inches The ordinary Demicannon the height of the bore is six inches and an halfe the height of the shot six inches and one sixth part the weight of the shot 32 pound the weight of the peece about 5600 pound the peece is in length about ten or eleven foot and her charge in powder is about 17 pound and 8 ounces the length of the ladle is 22 inches and the breadth thereof twelve Anther sort of Demicannon are in diameter of the bore six inches and a quarter the height of the shot six inches the weight 30 pound the weight of the peece 5400 the length somtimes twelve somtimes ten the charge in powder 14 pound the ladles length 20 inches the breadth eleven and an half Culverings Culverings of the largest size diameter of the bore five inches and an half of the shot five inches and one quarter the weight of the shot twenty pound of the peece 4800 their length ten twelve or thirteen foot their charge in powder twelve pound eight ounces which is neer two diameters and an half of powder the length of the ladle neer sixteen inches the breadth ten Ordinary whole Culvering the height of the mouth of the peece five inches and one quarter the height of the shot five inches the weight seventeen pound five ounces the weight of the peece 4500 the length of the peece twelve foot the load in powder eleven pound six ounces the length of the ladle fifteen inches the breadth nine and an half with such a peece as last named I found at the leagure before Worcester that it carrieth 400 yards point blank 800 by the mettall Culverings of the least size the height of the bore five inches the height of shot four inches and three quarters the weight almost fifteen pound the weight of the peece 4000 the length twelve foot the charge of it in powder ten pound which is much about two diameter and an half of the bore full the length of the ladle fourteen inches and one quarter the breadth ninth Demiculverings The elder sort of Demiculverings the height of their bore is four inches and three quarters the height of the shot foure and a half the weight twelve pound and an eleven ounces the weight of the peece 3000 the length sometimes ten twelve or thirteen the charge forth this peece 8 pound and an half the length of the ladle thirteen and an halfe the breadth eight and a halfe The ordinary Demiculvering the bore foure inches and an halfe the shot four and one quarter the weight ten pound and ten ounces and half the usuall weight of the peece 2700 the length ten foot requireth for her charge in powder seven pound and one quarter the length of the ladle twelve inches three quarters the breadth eight inches Demiculvering lower then ordinary the height of the bore foure inches and one quarter the height of the shot foure inches the weight nine pound the peece 2000 weight the length nine or ten foot their charge in powder six pound and a quarter the length of the ladle twelve inches the breadth eight Sakers Some Sakers of the oldest sort cast in the reign of Henry the eighth and Edward the sixth are 4 inches in height at the mouth the shot 3 inches 3 quarters the weight of the iron shot 7 pound 5 ounces the weight of the peece 1800 the lengrh either 9 or 10 foot and requireth for her charge in Cannon powder 5 pound it being found by experience to be sufficient the length of the ladle 11 inches and the breadth 7 and a quarter Sakers ordinary the diameter of their bore three inches three quarters height of the shot 3 and an halfe weight six pound weight of the peece 1500 length 9 foot charge of cannon powder 4 pound length of the
at ten Degrees which conveyed 630 paces five foot to a pace Whilst I made these shots I loded the Peece my selfe with loose pouder exactly weyed and weyed the wad also I beat down the said wad with foure stroaks so neere as I could with the same strength I did the time before also I let the Peece cool of it selfe staying above halfe an houre betwixt each shot I put no wad after the bullet because the Peece was mounted I am sure if I had not taken all this care I should not have profited by all these shots When these were made I tryed the strength of the pouder the which I carefully noted down also I kept some of it to compare again when I should have other pouder these things I would advise every one to observe that meaneth to be cunning in shooting at Randon It is the duty of a Master Gunner of a Town or Fort to draw an exact description of the said Garrison and of every object as lyeth neer his Works within the reach of his Guns by which means he shall not be troubled to take the distance but be ready at all times to know the distance by his Map then after he hath made one shot he by the Rule of Proportion may be able to make another shot to any distance he pleaseth exāple suppose I find the distance by my Map where the first shot grazed to be 704 paces the mounture of the Peece being foure degrees how much must I mount the peece to convey her shot 900 paces you must proportion these distances of Randon to those in my Table say if 407 paces require 370 paces as the Table hath it at foure Degrees of Randon what number to be found in the Table against that Degree which I must mount the Peece unto will 900 require Multiply and divide and you shall finde 473 which number is not to be found in the Table but the next lesse is 461 against six Degrees and the next greater number is 505 against seven Degrees the difference between these two numbers is 44 which shew that the Peece must be mounted at six Degrees and one third part for to reach the distance of 900 paces because 461 is 12 lesse then 473 it being one third part almost of 44 the difference Here I present unto your view the Table of Randons which I made by my own observation desiring every one if it be possible he can get pouder to make one by his own experience and alwayes remember to keep some of the same Gunpouder to try its proportion as I have taught in the 16 Chap. with any other pouder that afterwards he shall have occasion to use for this is one of the excellentest properties that belong to a Gunner and without this knowledge he shall never be able to make good shot because at the time of a Leagure he must often change his pouder at such a time I have had nine pound of one sort as good as 15 of another sort as both by shooting and by my Instrument I have experimented Degrees Randons 1 225 2 274 3 323 4 370 5 416 6 461 7 505 8 548 9 589 10 630 CHAP. 41. How to make an effectuall shot out of a Peece of Ordnance at Randon EVery one that hath charge of a Gun must at one time or other obtein leave of his superiours to make two or three shots at least out of his said Peece and measuring the distance from the Platform to the first graze of the shot you must apply it to my Table and by the Rule of Proportion as in the last Chapter finde what Degree you shall need to mount the Gun for any other shot at another time when you shall have occasion First When you come to your Peece set your Boudge barrel on the wind hand thereof and causing one of your Matrosses to hold the same aslope thrust your Ladle into the same filling it full of pouder and then strick it with a Ruler for by so doing you may know just how many pounds and ounces you load your peece withall then fixing your thumb just under the staffe of the Ladle thrust the same home to the Chamber of the Peece where the pouder lyeth turning the Ladle so as your thumb be directly above the staffe and in so doing the pouder will empty it selfe out of the Ladle cleanly then drawing out your Ladle with the Tampion at the other end of that staffe thrust home the pouder causing your assistant to hold his finger or thumb close on the touch-hole then taking a close round wad of hey or untwisted rope thrust in the same with your Rammer head that is on the Spunge staffe for if you should doe it with that on the Ladle it would soon loosen the plate of the Ladle and with it give three or foure good stroaks when you have thus done put in the bullet without any wad because the Peece must be elevated If you charge your peece with Cartredges which I count the best way providing that although they hold the like quantity of powder they be all of one thicknesse otherwise you shall finde much deceit in shooting slit it a little in that place which must be conveyed under the touch-hole then put it home with the end of the Rammer and afterwards put home to it a good wad then turn in the shot the Peece being loaded as I have taught you take the distance to the mark by such means as I teach in the 59 Chapter of this Book and also observe how many degrees the platform is either higher or lower then your marke with your Quadrant after you have done thus and calculated what degree you must mount the Gun unto to reach the mark if the said mark be under the platform subtract the profundity out of the degrees of randon but if the said mark be higher then the platform add the degree of that altitude to the degrees of Random and at these corrected degrees mount your Peece by putting the Ruler of the Quadrant into the mouth of your peece marking diligently untill the plumb-line which proceedeth from the center of your Quadrant cut those degrees and parts of a degree unto which you are to mount the Gun in the Circumference Make your shot for without question you may either strike or come very neer the mark Example Suppose that when you make triall of your Gun as is spoken of in the beginning of this Chapter you finde that at seven degrees of Randon upon a levell ground the shot is conveyed 700 paces you being called out upon service against a Citie or other Fort and being appointed to play your Gun towards it you also finding it to beyond point-blank the distance being 560 paces also that the said place is lower then where you must plant your Gun by one degree and one sixt part then to know the degrees of mounture say as 700 paces being the range of seven degrees out of your Gun
then a rouler to roule the paper upon for such I use to make having all other devises that are taught by the aforesaid learned men but make little use of them to make Rockets my way do thus cause a Rowler to be turned in a lathe what thicknesse you please onely let the rouler be 8 times the diameter therof in length if it be three quarters of an inch in thicknesse the length will be three inches roule your paper hard on the rouler till it make an inch and one quarter the whole thicknesse rouler and all then glue the uppermost paper and the case is made onely choaking or contracting the paper together within one diameter of the bore of the end except one little hole about one quarter the Diameter of the bore thereof to contract these cases on this manner doe thus wet the end about one inch in water then put the rouler in again and tye a great packthrid about the wet within three quarters of an inch of the end put another thing almost of the same diameter of the rouler in at the wet end about halfe an inch hold it there get some other body to draw the packthrid together you holding the rouler and rammer one put downe to the end within one inch and the rammer which must be a little lesse in diameter to meet with that end within halfe an inch in which place the contract or choaking must be the packthrid having drawn it together tye it fast on that place take out the former let it dry and it is done when the hole is contracted together make it so wide as is before taught with a round Bodkin which you must provide for that purpose B A A The mouth of the Rocket B so far must the Bodkin be thrust up the middle You must have a smaller Bodkin which when your Rockets are filled with composition and tyed to the rod you must thrust this Bodkin in at the mouth straight up to the midst of the Rocket having a care of thrusting it neerer one side then the other CHAP. 11. How to make the Composition for Rockets of any Size THese wayes which I will teach you I take them not upon trust out of Authors to that purpose but have experimented what I teach and first for Rockets of one ounce you must use onely Cannon-powder dust being beaten in a morter and finely scarsed which riseth very swift making a great noyse but carries no taile those of most beauty in their operation are made with putting one ounce of charcole dust to eight ounces of powder this composition will hold for Rockets of one two and three ounces but for those of foure take three ounces of charcole to one pound of Cannon-powder dust continuing that rule untill you come to Rockets of ten ounces and from thence to Rockets of a pound one pound powder dust and foure ounces of charcole dust bigger then these I have no experience of To fill the Rockets with this composition Place the mouth downwards where it was choaked and with a knife put in so much as you can of the receits provided for that size at one time then put down your rammer which must be longer and narrower then the former or Rouler upon which you made the cases and with a hammer of a pound weight give three or foure indifferent knocks then put in more composition with your knife untill it be full at every time knocking the like as before with the rammer untill the composition come within one diameter of the bore of the top there put down a peece of pastbord and knock it in hard prick three or foure little holes therein then put fine pistoll powder in almost to the top and upon that another cap of paper upon which put a peece of leather that it may be tyed on the top of the Rocket and fast glued on then get a streight twigge and binde it upon the Rocket with strong packthrid it must be no heavier then being put upon your finger two or three fingers breadths from the mouth of the same it may just ballast the Rocket then it is prepared for use CHAP. 12. How to give fire to one or more Rockets SEt your Rockets mouth upon the edge of aâ—y peece of timber battlement of a wall top of the Gunners carriage wheele or any dry place whatsoever where the rod or twigge may hang perpendicular from it then lay a train of powder that may come under the mouth thereof give fire thereunto and you have done But if you would fire more Rockets then one that as one descendeth the other may ascend by degrees make this composition following of Roch peeter 8 ounces Quick Brimstone 4 ounces and fine Powder dust 2 ounces which lay in a line from one rocket to another they being placed ten inches or a foot one from another give fire to this composition and it will worke your desire by causing one to mount into the aire when the other is spent but before you place your Rockets remember to prick them with the bodkin as I have taught you in the tenth Chapter at the latter end thereof CHAP. 13. Divers and sundry Compositions for Stars A Composition for Stars of a blew colour mixed with red Take of Powder mealed 8 ounces Take of Salt-peeter 4 ounces Take of Quick Brimstone 12 ounces Meale all these very fine and mix them together with two ounces of Aquavitae and halfe an ounce of oile of Spike which let be very dry before you use it Another Composition which maketh a white and beautifull fire Take Powder 8 Ounces Take Salt-peeter 24 Ounces Take Quick Brimstone 12 Ounces Take Camphire 1 Ounces Meale these Ingredients and incorporate them Now to meale your Camphire take a brasse pestle and morter wet the end of the pestle in a little of the oyle of Almonds and it will meale to powder then keepe it close from the aire else it will become of no use Another white fire which lasteth long Take Powder 4 Ounces Take Salt-peeter 16 Ounces Take Brimstone 8 Ounces Take Camphire 1 Ounces Take Oile of Peeter 2 Ounces Meale those that are to be mealed and mixe them according to the former directions CHAP. 14. The manner of making Stars and to use them TAke litle four squar pieces of brown paper which fill with the composition you approve of best of the three last taught so double it down rouling it untill you make it round about the bignesse of a nut or bigger according to the size of your Rocket that you intend them for prime them with drawing thorow them Cotton-week and they are prepared You may also make them after this manner you must have a rouler which must be as big as an ordinary arrow which shall be to roule a length of paper about it and with a little glue past it round when it is dry draw out the rouler and fill it by little and little with a thimble still thrusting it down
at a ship sayling in a river he ought to plant his peece towards a cloud or some evident marke on the other side the river and give fire to his peece when the fore part of the Ship shall begin to be between the mouth of the peece and the marke CHAP. 49. How to cause that the same quantity both of pouder and shot discharged out of the same Peece shall carry close or more scattering MAster John Bate in his Booke of Extravagants sayth Take the quantity of a pease of Opium and charge it amongst the case shot and it will make the said case shot fly closer together then otherwise it would this Master Bate sayth he learned of a Sea man who had made triall hereof as he sayes and unto whom Master Bate sold some for that purpose it is very probable for Opium is of a congealing and fixative nature CHAP. 50. How a shot which sticketh fast within the concavity of a Peece that it cannot be driven home unto the powder may be shot out without danger to the Gunner or hurt to the Peece WHen a peece of Artillery is charged with such a Shot as will not be driven home unto the powder then the Gunner to save this peece from breaking must so imbase the mouth thereof that faire water for two or three dayes being put in at the touch hole at severall times may run out into a vessell set under the mouth of the Gun to save all the Salt Peeter that was in the powder when these things are done the Gunner must prime the peece and put so much in at the touch-hole as will serve to drive out the shot But when a rusty shot hath for a long time stuck fast within the peece put strong Vineger in the mouth of the peece and with the rammer strike the shot till it doe move then poure the Vineger out again if it have soaked through the powder then prime with a little fresh powder and give fire if the Vineger could not passe by the shot amongst the powder then moysten the said powder with some water or Vineger when it is yet danke and moyst prime the touch-hole with good powder and give fire CHAP. 51. A merry conceit how to charge a Peeece of Ordnance without Gun-powder This may be done with aire and water onely having put cold water into the concavity of the peece filling one quarter of the Cylinder put in after it a Tampion of wood as long as broad perfectly made to fit the peece with an oyled cloath about it doubled either more or lesse that it might be two mens strength to put it home this done put in the shot elevate the peece a little and make a fire under the hinder part thereof the touch-hole being very close stopped then put the spunge of the peece in oyle and wet all the Cylinder of the peece with oyle that it may passe out the glibber for when the fire hath rarified the water it will burst out suddenly The experiment which we have in long Trunks shooting out pellats with aire onely proveth this also CHAP. 52. A Peece of Ordnance at one selfe same elevation and towards one selfe same place with the like quantity of powder and shot discharged severall times what ranges it will make I Have discharged a peece seven times in the space of 50 minutes with the like weight of powder shot and elevation and have found their ranges as following the first shot was conveyed 416 paces the second 436 the third 440 the fourth 432 the fifth 425 the sixth 410 the seventh 394 so that the greatest difference from the first shot was 24 paces these things must be kept in perfect memory by every one that learneth to shoot at randon or he shall be never good at that practice The reason of these things is this at the first shot the bullet found the aire quiet and at the second shoot it did not onely finde the aire stirred with the first shoot but also moving or tending towards the place at which it shot and because it is more easie to move and penetrate that which is already moved and open then that which is close and quiet it followeth that the second shot finding in his range a lesse resistance then the first did will out-fly the first A second reason is at the first shot the pouder being put in the peece doth often times finde the same somwhat moyst especially when it hath not been shot in for certain dayes before through which the pouder will not fire quickly as it doth when the peece is dry and temperately warme for this warmth or heat will somwhat dry up the moysture which is in the powder and cause it to fire sooner wherefore the powder doth not worke so forcibly in the first shoot as it doth in the second the third shoot and fourth will be much like the second now I will give you the reason why as the peece grows hotter one shot wil not out-shoot the last before it but every time come shorter and shorter The peece waxing hotter and by how much the more hotter by so much the more attractive is the concavity of the peece made and because the shot is driven forth or expelled with no other thing then by the airy exhalation or winde caused through the Salt peeter therefore by making such a peece the more attractive with the more heate which suppeth and reteineth continually more and more of that winde which should serve to expell the bullet the vertue expulsive in that peece doth continually more and more decrease and the shot flyeth not with that swiftnesse as it did before although the two first things that is the breaking of the aire and the drying of the powder every time more and more doth help much the range of the shot which aide and help as it is to be beleeved that somtimes it supplyeth and perchance gives advantage by that expulsive vertue which continually the peece doth diminish or sup in according as it heateth so that the third and fourth shoots will not be much differing from the second shoot neverthelesse in continuance of time the said two accidents that is the opening of the aire and drying the powder by the heat of the peece cannot supply the third accident that is the vertue attractive by reason the attraction is augmented as the peece heateth This caused my sixth and seventh shoots to convey the bullet 22 paces shorter then my first It is reported by Nicholas Tartaglia that many shoots being made at a battery by a peece it chanced by some occasion that the peece rose up in such sort that the mouth touched the ground a little dog passing by did smell unto the peeces mouth and by so doing was fast joyned to the peeces mouth and immediately after drawn into the said peece which thing when the standers by had seen some of them ran to helpe the said dog and although they found him to be drawn almost to the
further end of the concavity they pulled him out almost dead This was done by the vertue attractive CHAP. 53. How many Horses Oxen or Men will serve to draw any Peece of Artillery FOr every hundred weight of mettall one man so a Peece of 8000 pound weight requires 80 men besides so many more men as the Carriage may weigh severall hundreds for every 500 of mettall use one horse then 16 horses will draw a Gun of 8000 weight but in the Winter 24 also 17 yoke of Oxen is thought sufficient to draw a Peece of 8000 weight but in the Winter they need to be one third part more CHHP. 54. A description of the Instrument wherewith the Reader must learn to take heights depths and distances THis Instrument is four square with a Circle in the middle divided into 360 degrees the divisions on the squares proceed from one to ten or from 10 to 100 the figure you may see before you you may call this Instrument a Circumferenter or Geometricall Square Sometimes you must use an Index and at other times a Line and Plummet according as I shall in the ensuing Treatise give directions Versed Shad Right Shad versed Shadow Right Shadow the line fidutiall Versed Shad Right Shad Versed Shad Right Shad Place the Instrument between 36 and 37 little c. CHAP. 55. The use of this Instrument to finde the height of a Towre or Castle which is accessible FIrst holding one side of your Square Parallel to the Horizon move the Index upward till thorow the sights thereof you perceive the top of the Towre or Castle then look what part is cut by the Index upon the Square if it be of Right Shadow multiply the distance to the base or foot of the Towre by 100 and divide by the parts cut adding thereunto the height of your eye from the ground but if of contrary or versed shadow multiply the distance from the middle of your foot by the parts cut and divide by 100 not forgetting as well as before to add the height of your eye from the ground If you finde it more covenienter to use â—he plumb line then the Index doe thus fix the line upon the pin on which the Index did move and make your observation through the sights on the side of your Instrument marked with the letters A B to the object you desire to know the aforesaid by and the plummet line will cut the same division as the Index did formerly Suppose the Index or plumb-line cut the 35th division of the Scale of versed shadow in making my observation towards the Castle or Tower and the distance thereunto be 135 yards what will the heighth amount unto because it is of Contrary or versed shadow then as you are taught before multiply the distance from the middle of your legs to the base 135 by the parts cut 15 divide by 100 and the heighth will be found to amount to 75 yards and one quarter above your eye whose heighth as it shall be found must be added to the aforesaid number CHAP. 56. How to finde the height of any Towre that is inaccessible IF you would take the Altitude of any Towre Wall Hill or other Edifice which is unapproachable either in regard of the enemy lying between or of some Ditch River or other impediment you shall proceed as followeth first approach to the neerest and most convenient place for your purpose where with your Instrument make observation and note down or remember what parts are cut in the Scale you must then goe back in a strait line according to the commodiousnesse of the place and make a second observation noting as before the parts cut in the Square which will be either on the Right of Versed Shadow if they fall both on the Versed Shadow which most often doth happen you shall divide the side of the Square severally by the parts cut and substract the lesser Quotient from the greater and by the remainder divide the distance between the two stations to that adde the height of your eye from the Horizon you have your desire Example Suppose the parts cut at the first station be 45 Versed Shadow and at the second 30 both Versed Shadow I divide the whole side of the Square which is 100 by these two Sums severally and finde the one to be conteined 2 10 45 or in decimall parts thus 2 222 the latter number is contained 3 â…“ or 3 333 by the difference I divide the distance of the stations substract 2 222 out of 3 333 the difference will be 1 111 the Distance 24 yards being thereby divided the product will be 21 15 the height of mine eye 5 foot these added will give the height 22 yards 2 foot and 2 inches almost of the said object CHAH. 57. How to performe the same operation when the parts cut fall on the Right Shadow WHen the parts cut in each station be of Right Shadow which is very seldome substract the lesser number of those from the greater and put that in the first place in The Golden Rule or Rule of Three the side of the Square in the second place and the stationary distance in the third Example Let the parts cut in the first station be 30 in the second 40 of right shadow substract the lesser from the greater the remainder is 10 the which shall be put in the first place of the golden Rule the side of the Square being 100 in the second and the distance between the two stations seven in the third place so the Rule standeth thus As the difference of parts cut is to the whole side so is the difference of stations to the height required Or as 10 to 100 so 7 to 70 the height CHAP. 58. How to take an Altitude at a place unapproachable when the parts cut are of different Shadows IF the parts cut in the neerest station be of Right Shadow and the furthest be of Contrary Shadow they shall be both reduced to one Shadow after this manner square the whole side which is 100 and divide the product by the parts cut of the versed Shadow and the Quotient will give the right Shadow that being done substract the lesser shadow from the greater and the remainer will be the first place in the Rule of Three the distance between the two stations shall be the second and the side of the Square the third Example Let the parts of Right and Versed Shadow be both 30 I desire to bring them to be both Right First I square the whole side which here is 100 it maketh 10000 that Product I divide by the parts cut of Versed Shadow which is 30 the Quotient is 333 and one third part from whence substract 30 the right shadow out of 333 and one third the remainder is 303 and one third for my first Terme the distance between my two stations 13 for the second and the side of the Square 100. for the third The Rule standeth thus As 303 and one