in the Front and Reer and then of firing by Ranks And first of Files firing in the Front 1. Files firing in the Front The right hand File and the left hand File March some distance before the head of the Troop and Rank themselves to the right and left inward and so Present and Give fire which being performed let them wheel off to the right and left outwards into the Reer of their first Station and so set themselves in their respective places even with the remainder of the Body leaving distance for every Rank to march into his proper place after they have once fired over 2. Files firing in the Reer When they have thus fired they are immediately to fall off to the right and left and March forth into their places As you observe in each firing both the Files do rank themselves and then fire Now a further exercise you may Command for each File to face in opposition and fire each to the other Firing in the Front firing in the Reer I shall now demonstrate one platforme of firing by Rank But in firing by Rank observe the first Rank may advance upon a larg Trot Gallop or Carrere as Command is given between thirty or fourty paces from the Body The first Rank having fired wheels off to the left if occasion will permit and falls into the Reer and immediatly upon the wheeling off of the first Rank the second advanceth according to Command and fireth and so the third You may fire also by divisions which is of singular use in the exercise of Horse either by firing by single divisions both in Front and Reer or in opposition both in Front and Reer also as in firing of the Files before mentioned so that I need not trouble you with any platformes of them After that these firings have been performed and the Souldier is grown expert in the handling of his Arms and well managing of his Horse there is one thing that ought not to be forgot by any Commander which is of most excellent use That is for the Souldier to be well exercised both with his Carabine and Pistol to shoote with Bullet at Marks which if it be not well exercised and taught it will be to little purpose as to the Executive part of this Art So it ought to be the care of every Chief Officer to exercise those Troops under his Command sometimes as occasion may serve in a Regimental way leaving sufficient distances betwen each Troop that each other may be relieved orderly and so to retreat in due order to avoid Confusion CHAP. X. The Conclusion BEfore I conclude these few spent hours about the Exercise of the Horse and that my demonstrating of them but three in depth I hear many brave Souldiers but old ones to make some objections against me As first in medling with that which is of too high a concern for me My answer to that is breifly That those that have writ Books of this Art although they have been gallant Souldiers if they had been in Command now and of late years to have seen what have been performed in the Executive part of the Horse service they would correct their Judgements and amend their Mode of Exercise finding in it much error and serviceable for nought but to prolong Execution as if all experienced genus's in this Art should be tyed up to the Low Country services And what I have done is but my duty if accepted else for my own private use also for my friends and relations that come after me And because there ought to be a great deal of care had in a work of this nature I leave the correction hereof to the better Learned and more Experienced in this Military Art And for the drawing of the Horse but three in File I say If the Grecian Writers were alive and some of our Modern Writers that have Commented upon them and made Collectives out of them which they have published for authentick Maximes in this Art would now much admire to see our Mode of Exercise so changed for the better 64 in a Troop When as our late Cruso in his Military instructions in his platformes of Exercise demonstrates then Eight in depth and Eight in rank And Captain Ward in his Drilling and exercise of Horse is six in File and twenty in Rank Leo Ch. 7. Sect. 81. Ch. 14. Sect. 78. 108 109. and alleadgeth it for the best and is taken out of Polibius General of the Achaeans Horse Leo writeth almost the same That if there be many horse to be exercised they are to be ordered ten in File and if but few no more but five giving this reason That if the Body be but shallow the Body will be so weak that it is subject it self to fraction Then Livie verifieth that of Leo and saith the Souldiers had then Speares of four and twenty foot in Length which was to match the Pikes of the Infantry But in some process of time as History makes it appear the Macedonians found great inconveniency in the length of those Spears and made some of them to be fifteen foot in length and being then at that length determined that five Horse in depth was too many as to be offensive to their Enemies but notwithstanding these results endeavoured to make their Battalias seem to be square and for their better advantage in shew order ten in Rank and five in File to every Troop of Horse And these depths were only in those dayes used when the Horse fought only with Spears and Guns not at all used Now if they had the use of Guns so much as we and should fire in Ranks five six eight or ten in depth and our mode of fighting being but three in File their exercise would be so long in the performance thereof that it would not only be tedious but hazzardous to us for of late years it hath been experienced and seldome known any Troops to stand it out as may be thought that time in competition for victory for we know that the ordering of our Horse in making a large Front as occasion and ground will give leave and thereby over-winging our Enemies Battalia hath proved Victorious And whereas they alleadge when they are six and eight in File they can make their body to shew powerful against their Enemy by commanding them to double their Fronts by their Middle-men or half-file-leaders and can if occasion serve take away a party in the reer and file the Enemy in their Flank or Flanks c. But this I conceive to be dangerous and of ill consequence for when we are settled in Battalia three deep we are then fixed for service and need not be troubled in doubling of the Front thereby we are free from distraction and other disturbances which are most incident by suddain motions to the breaking of Ranks and the like which contrarywise is with us for our fighting is not by wheeling off as formerly but by charging at Pistols
now is to fire upon the same ground he stands and must not at all advance into his leaders ground as before and having once fired all over they are reduced OR You may reduce themby Commanding the Musquetteers to face about to the right and march down into their respective places OR Command the Pikes to march up and even the Front with the file leaders of Musquetteers A triple firing 10. Front half files of Musquetteers double your Front of Pikes by division 2. Reer half files of Musquetteers open to the right and left and Rank even with the Pikes To perform this direct the Front half files to advance clear of the body of Pikes then face them to the right and left inwards and so close their divisions before the Pikes You are to observe in this firing that the Musquetteers of the Front and both flanks are to present and give fire together the Musquetteers of the Front division after firing are to wheel off to the right and left between their intervals and place themselves even in Rank in the Reer of the Reer divisions of Musquetteers Then the Musquetteers that fired in the flanks march directly down and place themselves even in breast with the Reer of Pikes Thus they are reduced Or else you may continue firing at your pleasure and arging of your Pikes 11. Wheel your flanks by division into the Front When they have fired let them march or pass down through the intervals and place them in the Reer of their own divisions And then upon an other firing they may place themselves in the Reer of the Pikes The Pikes here may charge either at hand or foot the Musquetteers may also fire over them To reduce them if it be upon the first Command firing and falling off in the Reer of their own divisions let the Body close their Divisions and wheel their flanks into the Reer and face to their Leader But if you fire a second time and wheel off your Musquetteers into the Reer of the Pikes Command the masquetteers by division to double their Front intire and then wheel both flanks into the Reer and face them to their Leader as before 12. Command Musquetteers Poyze your Musquetts and march until til they be clear of the Body of Pikes Then Front half files face to the right and left inward close your divisions and face to your leader Reer half files open to the right and left Front half files of Pikes face to the right and left outwards and march even to flank the Having fired let them wheel off to the right and left the Front Divisions falling in the Reer of themselves and the flanks either in the Reer of themselves or else in the Reer of their Pikes the Pikes moving forward and maintaining the Musquetteers ground To reduce this Command Front half files of Musquetteers face to the right and left outwards and march even in flank with the Reer half files of Pikes Then wheel your flanks into the Reer Front half files of Pikes face in opposiition and march into your places Musquetteers face about to the right and march closing of your divisions face all to your leader 13. Command Musquetteers march all until your half files be even with the Front of Pikes Front half files march three paces forward and stand Reer half files of Musquetteers face to the right and left outward and march clear of the Front half files Reer half files of Pikes open to the right and left outward and march clear of the Front Division of Pikes The first Ranks of all divisions having fired they may in the first place fall in the Reer of their own divisions And for a second firing so soon as the first ranks have fired in the Front they are to wheel off to the right and left and flank the Pikes as they were then the Reer division of Musquetteers after firing fall off to the right and left and place themselves even abreast with the Reer division of Pikes Then Reer half files of Pikes face to the right and left inwards and march into your places By this they are Reduced 14. Command Musquetteers march until your two last Ranks are equal with the two first Ranks of Pikes The two second Ranks of Pikes face to the right and march into the Reer of the right flank of Musquetteers The two last Ranks of Pikes face to the left and march into the Reer of the left flank of Musquetteers Having fired let them whel off to the right and left falling in the Reer of themselves and so having fired once or twice over they may fall in the Reer of their own Pikes every Musqueteer as he fireth to advance unto his leaders place and the Pikes to advance also who are to be ported and when the two last Ranks are firing they are to charge at the discretion of the Commander which Figure I have here set down because from it the fourteenth shall be reduced The Reducement The two ranks of Pikes upon the right flank face to the left and march c. then march the four ranks direct The two Ranks on the left flank face to the right and place your selves as you were facing them to their Leader the Musquetteers to advance and flank the Pikes they are reduced 15 Command Front half files of Musquetteers and the two first Ranks of Pikes march three foot The four Ranks of Pikes wheel your flanks into the front by division and face to the right and left and march even in the Reer of the Front Division of Musquetteers Then the Reer half files of Musquetteers face to the right and left and march them clear of the division of Pikes facing them to their Leader and march up even with the flanks of Pikes Having fired and wheeled off in the Reer of their own divisions of Musquetteers then for a second firing let the Front divisions of Musquetteers fire and wheel into the Reer of Pikes the pikes porting and charge as in the figure and retreit and upon the retreit the Pikes to fall all even in breast And the front division of Musquetteers to sleeve up even in breast with the Reer division of Musquetteers Then the Pikes to charge on again and the reer division of Musquetteers to fire wheeling off to the right and left and fall into the Reer of the front division of Musquetteers who will then stand after this form To reduce them Command The Pikes to advance and march all to a convenient distance then march the middle division of Pikes six foot then the two divisions of pikes upon the flanks to face in opposition and close their divisions Then Wheel their flanks into the Reer and face them to their leader which being done the Pikes are reduced The Musquetteers are to march up and flank the Pikes Many firings the ingenious might invent to the Front more than what I have demonstrated I shall only mention the Introductive and Extraductive firings I must
Carabine 11. Draw forth your scouring stick or Rammer 12. Shorten your Rammer 13. Lade with Bullet and Ramm home 14. With-draw your Rammer or scowring stick 15. Return your scowring stick 16. Recover and rest your Carabine in your bridle hand 17. Fix your Hammer or Steel 18. Free your Cock 19. Present your Carabine In presenting of the Carabine he must rest it upon his bridle Arm placing the butt end to the right side near the shoulder or at length with his right hand 20. Give fire Note That the Carabine is to be fired about twelve foot distance and to be levelled at the knees of your Enemies Horse because that by the strength of the Powder and motion of the Horse your shot may be at Random 21. Drop or let fall your Carabine These Postures may serve for the Harquebuz but observe when at any time you make your Approaches towards an Enemy your Carabine is to be mounted with the butt end on your thigh with your hand above the lock and so when you march through any Town or City otherwise to be dropt Here follow the Commands for the Pistols Postures 1. Vncape your Pistols 2. Draw forth your Pistols This must be performed with the right hand the left Pistol first and then to mount the Muzzel 3. Order your Pistol Rest your Pistol a little in your bridle hand and then immediately take your Pistol near the middle part of it and place the butt end upon your thigh 4. Sink or rest your Pistol in your bridle hand 5. Bend your Cock or draw up your Cock to half bent 6. Secure or Guard your Cock 7. Open your Pan. 8. Prime your Pan. 9. Shut your Pan or order your Hammer or Steel 10. Cast about your Pistols Which is to be done against your left thigh with your muzzel upwards in your bridle hand 11. Gage your Flasks 12. Lade your Pistols with Powder For your more speedy lading of your Pistols there is lately invented a small powder flask with a suitable charge but it is not to be denied but your Cartroaches are very serviceable 13. Draw forth your Rammer 14. Shorten your Rammer 15. Lade with Bullet and ram home 16. With-draw your Rammer 17. Shorten your Rammer 18. Return your Rammer 19. Recover your Pistol 20. Fix or order your Hammer or Steel 21. Free your Cock 22. Bend your Cock at full bent 23. Present your Pistols 24. Give fire In the firing of your Pistols you are not to fire directly forwards to your Enemies horses head but towards the right hand with the lock of the Pistol upwards 25. Return your Pistol c. The Souldier having fired and returned his Pistol if time will permit him so to do he is to take himself to the use of the sword his sword being drawn and placed in his bridle hand near to the hilt of the sword and having received it into his weapon hand for service must place the pummel upon his right thigh and so to raise his point to his mark higher or lower as occasion serveth and therewith to endeavour to disable his Enemy either by cutting his Horses bridle or other his Arms that he serveth in which if discreetly managed will prove perilous to them And further it is very requisite that the Harquebuzier and Carabinier be often exercised to shoot bullets at a mark that in time they may be approved marks-men In order to which they are to take special care not to over-charge their peeces with powder as it is too much an errour in many endeavouring more for a report than for execution Wherefore there ought not to be in proportion for any peece but almost half as much the weight in Powder of the bullet or the Diameter and half of the peece is charge enough And it ought to be the special care of every Commander to see that his Souldiers be served with good powder and well cast bullets and that their bullets be directly fit to their Carabines and Pistols I should now come to shew you what is to be learned by a Souldier for the better demeaning of himself being joyned in a body But shall not in this place shew at large what is meant by a File or Rank half files or half ranks front Read in the exercise of the foot pag. flanks or reer because it will spend too much time and our late unhappy differences have given some light thereunto besides there is so much writ of them in several Treatises of the Infantry that it would be too much trouble here to treat thereupon CHAP. VII Of Distance EVery Troop consisteth of Ranks and Files Note That in drawing up of a Troop it must be performed by files not by Ranks and by squadrons as Chap. 5. In Order to distance I must briefly declare what a File and a Rank is A File is a sequent Number certain See Foot Ch. 3. standing head to crupper in a straight line from the Front to the Reer and according to our Mode of Discipline consisteth of three Persons 1 h 2 h 3 h A Rank is a Row of men uncertain in Number Pouldron to Pouldron even in breast be they more or less according to the quantity of Souldiers as it falls out to make a Rank There are to be observed two sorts of distances or orders in File and Rank Viz. Close Open Order Close Order in Files is three foot or as occasion serveth closing knee to knee Open Order in files is six foot Close Order in Ranks is three foot or as occasion serveth closing to the Horses crupper Open Order in Ranks is six foot And herein you must further know that there is a difference between the manner of taking the distance of the Cavalry and the Infantry In the Foot the distance is taken from the Souldiers body which cannot be understood in this place but only of space of ground between Horse and Horse CHAP. VIII Of Motions There be four kind of Motions Facings Doublings Counter-marches Wheelings BUt some of these being not of use to our present mode of Discipline therefore I shall treat no more of them but what may be useful 1. Facings are used to make the Company perfect and to be suddainly prepared for a Charge on either Flank or Reer With 10. 8. and 6. in depth 2. Doublings There hath been used in the Horse service these following as 1. As to strengthen the Front There were used to strengthen the Flanks 1. Doublings of Ranks 2. Doublings of half Files 3. Doubling of the Front by bringers up 4. Doublings of Files 5. Doublings of half Ranks The three first as to our Mode of Exercise may be wholly laid aside in regard they cannot be performed the Troop being but three in depth It is conceived the other two may be necessary either for Exercise sake or in regard of some suddain Onset on the Flanks thereby to strengthen them but I otherwise think this may be prevented by a speedy wheeling
may at one and the same time charge either in the Front or Reer in Front and Reer also in Front Reer and Flank and of these I shall demonstrate some that I at first learnt and some amongst others that are most convenient to be learnt Now that the Souldier might be expert in his firings against the Enemy let him be often exercised with firings only in the pan falling off and on as shall be Commanded All which being well performed by the Musquetteers is a full accomplishment of what hath been before taught him by which the Commander shall be credited and the Souldier preferred to his merit Of firing by forlorne files 1. That which is to be used in our modern exercise is two manner of wayes the two outmost files of each flank of Musquetteers to march with two Serjeants so far as shall be commanded and there to stand and the foremost ranks are to give fire and to fall into the Reer of themselves either by wheeling off to the right or to the right and left Then let the remaining do the like and fall into their places Those that have fired are to fall off on the inside of the Musquetteers between them and the Pikes and as they are thus trooping back after firing to their places the rest are in like manner to move away and fire and fall in next the Pikes 2. Accordingly as you draw out two files so you may draw out more files to the number of Musquetteers and so to fire and fall into the Reer of themselves and places c. 3. You may move them all clear of the Pikes and let them open from the midst leaving sufficient Intervals for their wheelings in the Reer of themselves and then to place themselves even with their Pikes the second having fired as before place themselves in the Reer of the first division c. 4. Advance the two outmost files by the Serjeants who are to lead them to the place for execution as by order received Commanding 1. Files to rank inward to present and give fire all together 2. You may rank inward two Files or more and fire as before And having fired are to wheel off to the right and left by their respective file leaders placing themselves next the Pikes I proceed to a second way of firing and that is by Ranks First By advancing before the Front Secondly firing even with the Front Thirdly firing even with the half files Advancing before the Front may be performed by advancing of single ranks and so firing in the Front or by advancing of both flanks into the Front before the Pikes and so to fire by single ranks Which is performed by Commanding Demyhearse 5. Pikes stand Musquetteers move forward and place your selves before in the Front of your Pikes and close your Divisions I mention nothing to tye up the hand of the ingenious to any stinted form whose ablities may command his figures at pleasure Observe that when the forlorn files or Ranks march out they are to give fire as upon a retreit that is to stand and fire and wheel off that their followers may do the like unless the Enemy give ground And when the two last ranks were presented the next two ranks must be ready to march forward being fixed to present and give fire also Thus having fired in the Front by one single Rank or more they are by wheeling off to place themselves in the Reer of their own divisions before the Pikes the rest doing the like until they have all fired round A second way of firing by this figure shall be a reducement to it First The Frontiers having performed their firing are to wheel off by division until they come down so low as to be even to the first ranks of Pikes and so to rank even a breast All the Musquetteers are so to do successively and flank themselves even with the Pikes 6. Ranks advancing from the Front of a standing Battalia A Serjeant from each Flank leading up the two formost Ranks according to order the first Rank is to give fire wheel off and place themselves in the Reer of their own divisions the second in order is to execute the same with speed being not above three foot distance from the first being ready with his Musquett palm'd his Cock bent and Muzzel mounted so to Present and give fire and so to wheel off and place themselves as their Leaders had done before them 7. Ranks firing even with the Front The first Rank having fired and wheeled off placing themselves in the Reer of their Divisions the next ranks are to move forwards at three motions into their places making good their leaders ground and there to present and give fire wheeling off and placing themselves as by the former directions By the way you must observe if the body be upon a march the Pikes must be shouldered and when they come to charge they are to close forward at their close order It is presupposed ere one firing or two be performed or past over the bodies are almost close Then the Pikes are to be at their Port and at length to be at their absolute Charge and push home and being so near they may do great execution with their Musquets firing upon the half files of Pikes as if they were even with the Front Which brings me to 8. Ranks firing even with the half files When the Pikes are charging then the musquetteers may perform this who are to advance no further than the half files of Pikes and there you may either fire one Rank or more at the discretion of the Commander and as soon as every Rank hath fired successively they are to wheel off and place themselves in the Reer of their own leaders When the firing is ended and each Souldier in his proper place the Musquetteers marching up even in breast with the Front of Pikes they are reduced But in this firing the Musquetteers are to make good their leaders ground except it be upon a retreit then they are to fire upon the same ground and to wheel off that their followers may doe the like unless the Enemy give ground Horn. Bat. 9. Command Pikes stand Musquetteers march until the bringers up rank even with the Front You may in this as with some of the former fire two Ranks ten paces advanced before the Front and so whel off and place themselves in the Reer of their own files OR Secondly let the first Rank of Musquetteers present and give fire and wheel off to the right and left placing themselves in the Reer of their own files then the second Rank firing are to advance into their leaders place firing and wheeling off in the same manner and so they are all successively to do the like Then Thirdly when they have all given fire let them begin again and the file leaders having fired they are to wheel off to the right and left flank themselves even with the Pikes the second Rank
give my judgement with those who do not allow the firings by way of Introduction to be useful in our modern Wars nor are they secure to the Souldier unless when the Commander shall find his Souldiers to be well exercised then amongst other various curiosities these may be performed By the word Introduction is meant a passing through or between and by its motion doth advance and gain ground upon an Enemy 16. Command Make ready to give fire by Introduction Then Command the files of Musquetteers to open by division to their open order and to pass through to the right c. The first rank of each flank presents and gives fire so done they stand and make ready again The second rank so soon as the first have fired passeth through and placeth it self before the first and do their fire and stand also and make ready again The third is to pass forward and stand in rank even with the first and when the second rank hath fired they must step before the second and having fired are to stand and make ready again and thus every rank is to follow his Leader successively until the Bringers up of each Division are to give fire and stand in the Front of all Observe in this firing you may keep your Pikes shouldered still moving slowly forwards if there be no danger of Horse and so keep even with the Front of Musquetteers This done twice over will reduce them A Second way of Introductive firing The first Rank is to fire and stand as in the forementioned Figure then the Bringers-up or last Rank whilst the File-leaders are firing shall march up and place themselves even with the second Rank and when they have fired the Bringers-up are to step before them and immediatly to present and give fire and when the rest have followed their Bringers-up and fired once over be sure that the File-leaders fire twice Both produce the horn battle who ought to be the first and the last and so stand the Pikes are to march up even with the Front of Musquetteers as in the former direction and they are reduced Extraductive 17. Firing There have been in use two Extraductive firings I shall speak but of one which is allowed somewhat useful especially in narrow passages and in case your Enemy be too powerful either in Horse or Foot that then the passage might be filled up with the Pikes but if your Pikes be not sufficient to do it as you will perceive by my Figure then double your Ranks let your Pikes be in such posture and motion accordingly as occasion shall offer it self Command Musquetteers face about to the right and march until you are clear of the Body of Pikes then face inward and close your Divisions for the Pikes command them to double their Ranks to the right Or half Files double their Front to the right To perform this Command The first rank of Musquetteers next after the Pikes face to the right then to march forth file-wise close up by the right flank of Pikes and when the Leader is advanced into the Front of Pikes he is to lead them athwart the whole Front of Pikes after which they are all to stand present and give fire and having fired they are to wheel off to the left and fall into the Reer of Musquetteers and whilst the first Rank is firing the second is to be marching so as to be ready to fall into their Places To reduce them Command the Pikes to advance six foot if they be doubled their Ranks to the right let them now double their Files to the left then Command I could have mentioned a great many more firings to the Front but through my confinement to such a small number of men and not an equality in arms Art compleated cannot be expected from me Must of these firings are solid and serviceable yet it cannot be conceived that three Ranks can make any abidement of Battle for continuance against any Enemy although sometimes they may be forced to be reduced into less Numbers yet by shewing the nature hereof you will be the better able to manage a greater c. CHAP. XIX Of firing in the Front and Reer And Reer alone BEfore I demonstrate the firings in the Reer I thought it fit to give one Figure of firing to the Front and Reer which may serve also for a firing to each Flank when the Commander pleaseth 1. Command Front half Files of Musquetteers march until your Bringers-up be even in breast with the Front of Pikes Reer half Files of Pikes face about to the right Reer half Files of Musquetteers face about to the right and march until the half File-leaders are even in breast with the Bringers up of Pikes For the first firing by this Figure so soon as the Ranks upon each Division have fired they are to wheel off to the right and left and fall into the Reer of their own Divisions And having so fired all over they are to wheel off and place themselves even in breast with the Pikes as now they stand faced then being faced to their Leader they are reduc'd This is not our drift of firing in the Reer but if in a March an Enemy eagerly pursues and assaults then by facing about and firing in the Reer or by Countermarching or Wheeling about and so firing these repulses orderly performed may cause a disorder in the pursuants And it is good sometimes as occasion may offer to keep an Enemy in play whilst he may advantage himself in his Ground either for his Embattlement or Ambushes or for the conveyances of Gunns or other Carriages c. 2. Firing Upon a March the last Rank is to face about and so to give fire wheeling off in File by Division and marching up towards the Front and placing themselves before their File-leaders 1. Observing that they rank even with the second rank of Pikes 2. In the performance of this you will lose one rank in the Front 3. Observe that whilst the rank of Musquetteers are firing in the Reer the next rank although he be marching he ought to be preparing with his cock bent and garded that with his three motions he may next fire so soon as his precedent rank is wheeled off 4. Although you are upon a march yet you are to fall one rank nearer to the Reer that the Body may be preserved intire 5. Observe further in the performance of all this your preparations and firings ought to be at three motions Cock your match Blow your coal Present c. Let the first be with the right leg advancing the second with the left leg advancing bending your cock then a little advancing forward with the right foot to present and give fire Now I give these Reasons for the Observations of some motions in these firings to the Reer because so soon as the Souldier hath fired if the last rank should immediatly face about and present c. there would be a
present incumbrance This experience hath discovered and that firing upon motion to be the most speediest and safest way for firing in the Reer Now for a Publick Exercise when you have fired over once you may then face them to their Leader and fire in the Front But if you be upon a march and should be pursued by an Enemies Horse then Wheel your Flanks into the Front and face to the Reer your Pikes will defend your Body so your Musquetteers may fire over them as in the 17. Figure by extraduction and reduced accordingly Secondly In firing to the Reer the Musquetteers may be in the Reer of the Pikes And first having fired they are to wheel off and place themselves between the Front of Musquetteers and Reer of Pikes And secondly having fired in the Reer they may wheel off by Division and march into the Front of Pikes the Body still marching Or if both flanks be in the Reer they may fire wheel off by Division and double both flanks This last hath reduced it self and for the second you may for exercise fire them in the Front and in their wheeling off to flank their Pikes or for expedition for the Musquetteers to open to the right and left and march the Pikes up in the interval and they are reduced as at first You may perceive the use of firings in the Reer and that the Souldier ought to be very well exercised in them For a true experience herein doth not only add to the perfection of the Souldier but his safety also Before I conclude this Chapter I shall add two Figures of firing in Front and Reer marching 3. Command Front half Files of Musquetteers march until you be clear of the Front of Pikes Face in opposition and close your Divisions So for the reer half files face about to the right and march until you be clear of the Reer of Pikes face them in opposition and close their Divisions Having fired their first and last Ranks they wheel off to the right and left by Division the Front Division are to place themselves even in Rank with the Front of Pikes and the Reer Division of Musquetteers are to place themselves even in Rank with the Bringers-up and so each Rank successively after each other will reduce this Figure 4. Command Half Files of Musquetteers fire to your Front and Reer placing your selves between your Divisions This firing is plain without direction and the firing being ended they are reduced CHAP. XX. Of Firings in the Flanks THere are reasons to be given and Experience hath found it necessary for firing in the Flanks When you are upon a March an Enemy may endeavour an assault to molest you in your passages that your disadvantages may be the greater either by ambushments laid against you or to frustrate your designs Now in the performance hereof there are several circumstances that are to be taken notice of as the strength of your Enemy the time number and place all for your own security or advantages against him I shall begin with some Exercises upon the right flank and what is performed there by Figure may also be performed upon the left hand In order hereunto pass all your Musquetteers into your right flank by Commanding Musquetteers of the right Flank open to the right and being opened to a convenient distance stand then Musquetteers of the left Flank pass through your Ranks of Pikes to the interval of the right Flank then stand and face to your Leader Your facings to the right or left is that by which the flanks become accidental fronts and then for the firings thereupon you may to your discretion use such as are most convenient being already shewn Chapter 18. I shall not here take up any room with the demonstrations thereof and shall shew but some few firings in the right flank as the Body shall be marching in all which you are to observe the Pikes are to be shouldered 1. Command Musquetteers give fire to the right and wheel after your Bringers-up between your Divisions And this at the discretion of the Commander is done two wayes either by commanding to be lead into their places by their File-leader or by their Bringers-up and to place themselves before them c. Here by this Figure they in the first place as the Body is marching face to the right the outmost File presents and gives fire after their firing they face to the right and after their Bringer-up who leads them off in the Reer of the Musquetteers and up into the Interval between the Pikes and Musquets until the Bringer-up of the File hath placed himself even in breast with the Frontiers and so the marching Party as Command shall be given are to open that the Files of Musquetteers after they have fired may march up between the Divisions and so every File is successively to fire and wheel off and place it self This firing being performed twice over they are Reduced If but once you must countermarch your files of Musquetteers to reduce them 2. You may secondly after they have fired Command them to face to the right and to wheel off every man placing himself before his Bringer up or present Leader hereby the Bringer up will be in his due place and the file-leader in his proper place also 3. A Third way of firing upon this Figure is to fire in the right flank and to be lead off into their places by their respective File-leaders The Body marching the outmost File faceth to the right and fires and when the body is marched clear of the standing file then the next file presents to the right and fires and whilest he is firing the first file that is fired faceth to the left and marcheth up between the Musquetteers and Pikes Observing the former directions in their march that there may be space enough in the Interval for the several Files successively to march into these places 4. There is a fourth way of firing that is to give fire to the right and gather up your Files The Body marching the outmost file faceth to the right fires then stands and faceth to their Leader Then when the Body is clear of the standing file the second file faceth to the right and fires and stands also facing to their Leader then the first file is to advance up to the second and so when the first and second have fired they are to be lead up to the third Thus having fired they are to be lead up even in breast to the file that last fired and having all fired they are to be marcht up even with the Front Pikes To reduce this Command Left half Ranks of Musquetteers face to the left Pikes face to the right pass through interchanging of Ground Face to your Leader How beneficial this may be to the security of the Souldier they that will make use of it that are ingenious will better judge but I am of opinion it is more fit for a private Exercise
than for publick Service 5. Command Give fire to the right and place your selves even in Front with the Pikes marching up between the midst of the Pikes Observe in the performance hereof the Pikes as they march are to open to the right and left and the fired Musquetteers are to be lead up according to Command To reduce this Command 1. Pikes to face inwards 2. Musquetteers face to the right and left outwards 3. Pass all through and interchange Ground 4. Face to your Leader 6. Command Musquetteers give fire to the right placing your selves on the outside of the left Flank of Pikes If you will reduce this without any firing you may Command the right half Ranks to pass through your Ranks of Pikes The Ingenious may find many ways for the Reducement Or when all the Musquetteers are on the left flank you may fire them over again and they are reduced 7. Command Musquetteers give fire to the right and to the Reer placing your selves between the Pikes and your own Divisions Having placed your left flank of Musquetteers in the Reer A useful firing then Command The outmost file upon the right flank are to face to the right and the last rank of Musquetteers in the Reer are to face about and both are to present and give fire together and having fired the outermost file upon the right hand faceth to the left and marcheth after their Leader in the interval between the Musquets and the Pikes They are to march a reasonable pace and the rank fired in the Reer is to wheel to the right placing it self in the Reer of Pikes c. This is easily reduced by commanding the Musquetteers to draw off into the left flank again Observe that flank that is farthest from the Enemy ought to be drawn into the Reer 8. Command Musquetteers give fire to both Flanks marching and place your selves between the Pikes and your own Divisions To perform this the outermost file of each flank presents outward 9. Command The Body standing Advance your Pikes Musquetteers and Pikes face to the right and left Musquetteers present and give fire to both flanks and flank your Pikes The outermost file upon the right and left flank presents and fires wheeling off by Division ranking or flanking the Pikes as they stand faced leaving such a distance as the rest may securely follow them every rank is to fire upon the same Ground and wheel off by Division after the same manner From this Figure as they will stand after firing there may be produced a great many brave Figures but now I must leave them to the skilful Artist To reduce this Command The Musquetteers to march all until they are clear of the Pikes then face them to the right and left inwards and close their Divisions and face them to their Leader 10. Command Because it may easily be produced from the precedent Figure it shall be from the first Figure of firing in the Front and Reer Chap. 19. the Body being faced to the right and left will be a firing to both Flanks 11. Command Shall be a firing to right Flank and to the Front and Reer Left half Ranks double your right Flank by Division You may face the Divisions any way which you intend for their firing After firing they are to wheel off into their own Divisions every Rank moving into his Leaders Ground To reduce them face them to their proper Front then Command half Ranks that doubled face to the left and so march into your places See the doubling of Flanks Figure 17. CHAP. XXI Of several Divisional Firings I Might here make mention of a great many Figures for firings some serviceable and others not but all left to the judicious for censure and to make use of the best yet none useless for delight or Garden Exercises The Figures cannot be perfect because I am tied to the exercise but of twelve Files four of them Pikes and eight Musquetteers it being a Number that our Western Commanders can make use of and no more yet any who may be capable to perform them will be able to invent others and command the production of such like in geater Numbers and with better delight 1. Command The two outmost Files upon each Flank stand the two inmost half Ranks of the Reer face about to the right the two inmost half Ranks both of Front and Reer march until you are clear of the Body of Pikes then half Files rank to the right and left inwards by wheeling into the Front For the Pikes open them to the right and left from the midst then Command the right and left hand File of Pikes to stand the Reer half Files of the remainder face about to the right then both half Files rank to the right and left inward into the Front and Reer This Figure in great Bodies must be performed otherways and may be very serviceable against the Horse the Pikes may advance into the Front of Musquetteers to secure them against the Horses fury if occasion shall serve After their first firing and wheeling off to the right and left in the Reer of their own Divisions then when the Pikes are defending them from the Horse let them fire over the Pikes This being done pass through the Musquetteers before the several Fronts of Pikes as they were before any firing To reduce them Command Face the Front and Reer to the right and left inwards The Front and Reer Ranks of Pikes file to the right and left inwards the right and left hand files of Pikes close to the right and left inwards and close all to the midst Then Command the Front and Reer Ranks of Musquetteers file to the right and left inward face in opposition and march into your places closing the whole Body to their close Order and open them again to their Order Evening of their Ranks and streightning of their Files they are reduced 2. Command and Direction Musquetteers open six foot to the right and left Front half Files of the right Flank of Musquetteers Advance intire into the Front of Pikes The Reer Division of the left Flank of Musquetteers face about to the right and double intire the Reer of the Pikes The Front Division of Musquetteers of the left face about to the right and march even in breast with the Reer half Files of Pikes The Front half Files of Pikes face to the right and left outwards and march until you are clear c. Face them to their Leader To reduce them The Front Division of Musquetteers face to the right and march into your places Reer Division of Musquetteers face to the left and march forth into your places Front half Files of Pikes face in opposition and close your Divisions The left flank of Musquetteers advance even with the Front of Pikes Musquetteers close to the right and left inward and face them to their Leader And they are reduced 3. Command Front half Files face to the right and left
increase of Honour here and what may be merited for you to make you glorious in the world to come subscribing in the quality of July 29. 1671. Your Humble Servant Tho. Venn TO THE Truly Generous Gentlemen and CITIZENS of LONDON Practising Armes in the Artillery Garden Gentlemen ALthough I am a stranger to you I must declare to the world that what I know in this Art Military I received as it were from your breast from some who were Leaders in your ground And 't is a grief to me that I live at such a distance from you as not to be of your number the least amongst you being of ability to be Commanders in Chief when ever his MAJESTY may require it There is in you strength enough to shield a just cause and a Royal cause is able to advance your power give me leave to tell you there can be nothing done by you without it it is that which giveth strength and sinewes to all your motions Gentlemen you may see by my other Epistles what Authors I have made use of Elton and if you find some of the words of Command one and the same with others late before me I could not help it for this was finished as to the Commands and directions above four or five years now last past and in all that time I never saw any thing of the Gentlemans nor his latter piece as yet This you 'l find to be but methodical collections for the young Country Souldier and in our rural exercises they can draw up but twelve files in which I am stinted to a very small number for so great a work if there were a proportionableness in the Armes the figures would have been better yet not in the least presuming to teach you but I hope with your favourable constructions you will allow it useful for us in the Country although your abilities may teach the world ten times more I aim'd at nothing but to shew how necessary the readyness and use of Armes is and of men to be well exercised in them Which hath been a benefit to Republicks as History and experience hath made to appear for what Nation hath not found safety in the expert use of them and in the neglect thereof ruin I hope there are none of you so disloyal as not to obey your Princes Commands in Order to which I cannot but Commend your close order to his Religion and not to be at open distances it is that which will make your obedience free your affections settled your selves renowned and as I may in some part say the peace of the Kingdom secured I humbly crave your pardons for my boldness and grant me not only to be in the number of the well wishers to this Art but also to the prosperity of your ground and I shall alwayes subscribe March 1671. Yours Tho. Venn TO ALL MY FELLOW-OFFICERS SOULDIERS AND LOVING COUNTRY-MEN To whom the Exercise of ARMES Is delightful Gentlemen and Fellow Souldiers ALlthough there are discouragements enough to make you negligent in the exercise of Armes not only to see this Art so little countenanced but our late Enemies by sitting still grow rich and the Royal Sons of Mars in all their labours not able with one hand to wash the other yet this one thing in making our selves capable to do our Gracious King and Country service should be the chiefest motive to labour after the Theorick part of this Art by which we shall be the better able to perform the Practick when we shall be called thereunto But lest these few Collectives might meet with some objections why that I should treat of the Horse in the first place when Antiquity alloweth the precedency thereof to the Infantry It was not to raise a dispute amongst the Novists but I leave such to enquire of the precedencies in a Council of War and who taking place there will resolve them And it is well known to most of you I was a Commander of Horse my self and then having finished my weak thoughts as to the Exercise thereof which being viewed by some Gentlemen of our Country I was desired by them to set out likewise some few Collections for the young foot Souldier It is true there have been many Books printed of this Art in our past ages and some in our present and as Solomon saith of making many Books there is no end yet if it had not been for Books this Art might have been buried in oblivion And if I should set out at full how all that we practise is not only borrowed from Antiquity but most of the very words of Command are kept still in use it would be too large and it being not my business I shall acquiesce with what I intended for my private use but being as I have declared requested hereunto When London was burnt 1666. Sept. 3d. c. and now fearing that most of our books are consumed by fire I am further perswaded to put these introductives to publick view Let me perswade you fellow Souldiers although you meet with many discouragements and scoffs in your Country although taxes lie heavy upon you and your allowances do not answer your moderate expences nay although not your due for your time spent herein yet go on for I will boldly tell you that practical knowledge in this Art is the highest step to preferment We read among the Romans of Lucullus and in our latter age of M. Spinola who through maturity of judgement and great Learning became Generals as soon as Souldiers Intimating that it is the Prerogative of Princes to be born leaders of Armies But others must expect to ascend this Mountain of Honour by many and difficult stepps Therefore first lay a foundation of honest fame labouring after the practice of private vertues Then orderly proceeding to signalize thy selfe by some publique atchievements which I doubt not but every generous spirit will endeavour the ascention thereof you may be assured that passing once the brunt of it even to the hazzard of life it self you 'l find delightful pleasures in following the exercises of this Art Military Who is it that shall think so despicably of a Souldier or his profession so base as some have so accounted them When they that are the sons of Mars and have the true form of Military Discipline are highly to be esteemed as honourable and as necessary members in a Kingdome such as no Kingdome can be without It is honourable because it is compassed about with such reasons as that the contemners thereof by the judicious are much reproved for that State that is not able to stand it out in Armes against the rage of intestine and forraign violence is sure to fall into the hands of the destroyer How can any particular interest preserve it self without it I will boldly say that the Despisers of the use of Armes are not only disloyal to their Prince but destructive to themselves What are the Laws and Civil Orders without defence
it was found in different forms for some was found full of holes or caverns like a Spunge others on the contrary were firm close sollid shining and Diaphanous as Glass which being let fall easily will split in thin leaves and is fryable in beating and from its various appearances is judged its manifold vertues in one more powerful than another which is known by its operation From hence we see that which is to be found from the testimony of the best received Authors about the Mineral Niter and in none is any mention made of Artificial Salt-Peter or such as we at present make use of generally which is called properly Salt-Peter Sal Nitre or Halinitre yet is there very little difference between the Natural that useth to be brought to us and the Artificial for if we compare the vertues and operations of the one we shall find them in our uses no way d ffering as Scaliger testifies saying that the ancient Niter is not much different from ours particularly if we consider its tenuity and subtil part There is of the ancient Niter found upon the superficies of old Walls exposed to the humidity but particularly in Cellars and deep Caves and in covered Vaults it resembles perfectly a certain Brine or white Gelly or fine Meal or in more proper speaking fine Sugar and is many times white as Snow and this thus had the vertues are to be commended which I my self have taken the pains to collect in the imitation of many others which I have often seen which if now it be desired to prepare this Salt according to the method of our Art It will be congealed into small little long Christals like Isicles and it will be like that of the Ancients But as 't is impossible to find so great a quantity as the continual use doth consume and necessity doth excite to this day for the supply of all Wars which have been great and in few years consumed many great and vast places of the Universe We are therefore constrained to this new subject and are forced even to 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 hardens 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 certainty 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 Kettle 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 Hooss 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 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-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 Old Walls of Caves Cellars Vaults 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 Vitriol 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 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 John Johnson 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 Gun-powder viz. Coal and its Preparation IN the Month of May or June 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 Gun-powder 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 the Vkrains which we call now the Cossaques who prepare their Powder quite contrary to the common way or that
Foot long 2 10 4 20 6 30 8 40 10 30 12 61 14 73 16 84 18 56 21 8 10 Foot and half 2 21 4 41 6 69 8 88 11 81 13 28 15 48 17 68 19 89 22 10 11 Foot long 2 31 4 62 6 93 9 24 11 56 13 88 16 22 18 51 20 82 23 14 11 Foot and half 2 42 4 48 7 26 9 68 12 10 14 53 16 95 19 37 21 80 24 21 12 Foot long 2 53 5 6 7 59 10 12 12 65 15 18 17 72 20 25 22 78 25 33 12 Foot and half 2 63 5 20 7 89 10 52 13 15 15 78 18 41 21 4 23 67 26 33 13 Foot long 2 74 5 48 8 82 10 96 13 70 16 44 19 48 21 92 24 68 27 40 13 Foot and half 2 84 5 68 8 52 11 36 14 20 27 4 19 88 22 72 25 56 28 42 14 Foot long 2 95 5 90 8 85 11 80 14 75 17 70 20 65 23 60 26 56 29 53 The use of this Table in graduating the Rule is very plain for if your Piece of Ordnance be 8 foot long and you would mount your Piece two degrees seek for 8 foot under the title length of the Piece and in the common Angle against the length of the Piece under two degrees you will find 3 36 to make a degree that is 3 inches and 36 parts of an inch divided into 100 parts and to this you may set your Bead. The use of the graduated Rule is thus having loaded your Piece and brought your Piece of Ordnance in a right line with your mark the dispart being placed upon the Muzzle Ring in like manner place your Rule upon the Base Ring and let one standing by hold it for the foot of it let it be fitted round to the Gun so you may be sure to place it right and you may estimate on its perpendicular well enough now having before the distance to the mark you intend to shoot at and admit you have found it to be 461 paces and the first Shot you made for practice out of that Piece conveyed her Shot at two degrees of Mounture 274 paces then by our former Rules and the Tables of Randoms there I find 461 against 6 degrees which is the degrees I must mount my Piece to reach 461 paces Then to find by this Table how many inches and hundred parts of an inch 6 degrees will require look in the Table above and find on the left hand in the first Column the length of the Piece and just under the degrees as is aforesaid you shall find the inches and parts of Mounture to which set your Bead on your string that is in the sight to so many inches and parts as the Table gives then mount the Piece higher or lower until you bring the Bead to the top of the dispart and mark all in one line stop then the Piece in such a position with a Coyn then prime and give fire If you will shoot by the Metal of the Piece without a dispart then substract the height of the dispart out of the inches found by the Table and to the remainder mount your Piece If you have no Quadrant nor a Ruler and would make a good Shot look in the Table and find the length of the Piece and the inches that you ought to raise your Piece unto then cut a peece of stick just of that length and set it upon the Base Ring and bring the top of that stick the top of the dispart and the mark all in a right line with your eye and you will make as good a Shot as if you had a Rule and Bead or Quadrant If you will have no dispart take your dispart and measure it upon the aforesaid stick at the Base Ring and from it cut off the length of the dispart and the remainder use upon the Base Ring But if the Mounture should be so small that the inches of the dispart should be more than the inches answerable to the degrees of Mounture then cut off from the dispart so much as 't is longer than the other and place it upon the Muzzle Ring and bring the upper part of the Base Ring the dispart and mark in a right line with your Eye and you will this way make a level with a stick without Instrument as well as if you had Ruler or Quadrant CHAP. XXIII How to make a Shot at the Enemies Light in a dark night and to make at a Company of Horsemen or Footmen passing by and also to make a good Shot at a Ship Sailing and how a Shot lodged in a Piece so that it will not be driven home to the Powder may be shot out without hurt to the Piece TO shoot by night at the Enemies Lights dispart your Piece with a lighted and flaming Wax Candle or with a lighted Piece of Match that with your Eye you may bring the Base Ring the fired Match on the Muzzle Ring and the Enemies Light in a right line or mark then give fire and you will make a good Shot If you make a Shot at a Company of Horse passing by take a Piece that will reach the way the Horse or Foot are coming in a right line then let your Gun be so loaded with Powder as it may presently take fire and let your Shot be fit for your use then take notice of some Hillock or some turning cross way for the mark and when the Enemy comes near to that way in a right line with your Gun give fire but for shooting at a Ship upon the River you must put your Piece to some eminent mark on the other side of the River and when the Head of the Ship shall begin to be between the Piece and the mark then give fire But if by some mischievous accident a Shot is lodged in the concavity of a Piece and there sticks and will not go home to the Powder or come out then the Gunner to save his Piece from breaking must imbase the mouth of the Piece or put it under the line of level then put in at the Touch-hole fair warm water at several times so that it may run out at Muzzle or Mouth of the Piece and when all the Salt-Peter is washed from the Powder which is known by the taste of the Water then let the Gunner clear the Touch-hole and put in as much Powder as possible he can and prime and give fire and it will serve to draw out the Shot But when a Shot hath lain long in a Piece until he is grown rusty and so sticks fast put strong Vinegar warm into the mouth of the Piece and with the Rammer strike the Shot until it doth move then put in Vinegar until it run clear through the Powder and Shot prime as before and give fire with good Powder and if it do not run through after it hath stood three dayes clear the Touch-hole prime and give fire A man may also shoot
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 veritable 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 How to prepare Match or Tow 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 Iouchim 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 chase 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 soveraign 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 Plantain 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 three parts of Lattin or of Auricalque Those that are made of Iron are in thickness about the ninth part of the Diameter those that are made of Brass must have one tenth part of the Diameter in thickness of Metal Lastly such which you cause to be made of Glass must have one seventh part of their Diameter in their thickness The largeness of the Orifice in which you must put in your Fuse made of Wood whose upper part must be about 2 9 the Diameter of the Granado and the small hole in the Fuse should have the largeness of 1 18 of the same Diameter the rest of the capacity of the Shell must be filled with well grain'd Powder the length of the Fuse must be about â…” of the Diameter and the top must be broad and a little rounding like a Hemisphere the hollow and inner part of the Fuse must be about 1 9 Diameter at the small or inner end and â…” at the outer end Men do generally fill the void place with Powder ground most subtilly which must be moistned with Gum-water or dissolved glue that it may joyn the better As for the Fuses they must be filled or charged with one of the Compositions hereunder written afterward you must fasten it well and close with Tow or Okham and the Pyrotechnian Lute which the Germans call Kit which is made of four parts of Ship Pitch two parts of Colophonia one part of Terrebinthe and one part of