presse till they be dry and when they be dry cut out a semicircle in paper which shall fit round about the said cap and shall serve to paste on the cap to the coffin the forme whereof is expressed in the fourth figure by the figure 14. and 15. so have you all things ready to the finishing of your Rocket which must be done as followeth CHAP. 6. The manner of finishing a Rocket WHen your Rocket is driuen as I have shewed you with the paper turned downe you shall first prime it which must be with cotton wicke made for the said purpose which you shall put up into the vent leaving a peece to hang lower than the mouth of your Rocket by three or foure inches which being done tye a piece of paper over the mouth to the end it fall not out now having primed your Rocket you may proceede to the heading of it and that is done after this manner Take your Rocket and on the head where I told you you should turne downe the paper you must with a bodkin pierce two or three holes to the intent that the Rocket having spent himselfe your workes which are on his head may take fire which holes prime with a little powder dust and then put on his head with the choaking fitted to your Rocket which must come over the Rocket in such manner that the bottome of the greater part must come even with the top of the Rocket which tye fast to your rocket with threed and then put in your workes but before you put in your workes whether they be starres or any other workes you must put in a little cotton wooll being rowled in powder dust to the end your stars may fire and likewise may blow out which having done put in your starres or other workes and if you make more than one tire as you may doe of your starres then must you put more cotton rowled in powder dust amongst them or betweene every tire to the end they may all take fire then take your cap so provided as I have formerly shewed and fill the hollow place with cotton because it is light and likewise will fire quickly which being fitted paste it close to the top of the coffin in such manner that it may stand very upright then must you fit on your sticke for the peasing of your Rocket which ought to be about eight lengths of your Rocket without the head You must get the smoothest and lightest you can such as basket makers use which when you have got you must make very strait and then cutting one side of it flat at the great end make two notches on the round side provided that the one be differing from the other so much as is betweene the choaking of your Rocket and the end of the vent because if you should tye it upon the vent it would loosen the powder and so cause it to breake in the firing Now that you tye not the wrong end of your fig 3. Rocket uppermost as some foolishly have done for want of better instructions you must alwayes tye the end downewards which is choaked and with a piece of strong thred tye it fast to the lower notch just about the choaking so shall you be sure your stickes shall not fall off neither will it indanger the hurting of your rocket When yoâ— have tyed that then proceed to the tying of it higher which as I say must be somewhat highâ—r than the top of the vent and let your sticke come even with the top of your rocket which having done pease your rocket which must be after this manner Lay it on your finger two or three inches or more from the mouth and if you finde the stick be too heavy cut it shorter till you finde your Rocket to ballance your sticke for the sticke being too heavy causes your rocket to slugge and being too light it makes a rocket fall before he is halfe up these things being provided you have your rocket ready to be fired which must be after this manner CHAP. VII The manner of firing Rockets with the description of a staffe for the firing of them PRovide a long staffe with a pike at one end which must be thrust hard into the ground and a three legged staffe with a hollow hoope at the top to let this long staffe slide up and downe to the end that having rockets whose stickes are longer than your said staffe yet by raising it through the said iron hoope you may make it foure or five foot longer than it would be standing on the ground Now this long staffe must have a sliding peece cut with severall points which must be neere the top and at the bottome there must be a ring of wyer to let the sticke goe through which must be made likewise to slide up and downe so thrusting the small end through the said ring your rocket will rest upon that part above which must be just opposite in a straight line so open the mouth of your rocket and pull out the end of your cotton wicke and with a peece of match fastened in a Linstocke give fire to the said wicke and by degreees you shall see it fire your rocket which being well ordered will mount very straight and high now having shewed the whole order of composing a rocket with the firing of the same I will shew you an order for making of your starres and other workes which are necessary for the heads of your rockets and first of all I will shew you the making of divers sorts of starres with their compositions and since wee cannot make them without the compositions I will first set downe the compositions and then proceed to the manner of making them CHAP. VIII Divers Compositions for starres A Composition for starres of a blew colour with red TAke of powder mealed 8 â„¥ Salt peter 4 â„¥ Sulphur vive 12 â„¥ Meale these very fine and mixe them together with 2 â„¥ of aqua vite and â— 2 â„¥ of oyle of spicke which let be very dry before you use it Another Composition which maketh a white fire and beautifull Take powder 4 â„¥ Salt peter 12 â„¥ Sulphur vive 6 â„¥ Camphire â…“ â„¥ Meale your ingredients and mixe them now to powder your Camphire you must dip your pestle in oyle of Almonds or such like oyle you must not use your wooded pestle for this because that oyle will soake into it which is an enemy to some workes therefore take a brasse pestle and morter and dipping the pestle in oyle of Almonds put it to your Camphire and so stirring it by degrees it will powder which when you have done keepe it very close from ayre till such time as you use it otherwise the Camphire will lose his spirit and become of no use Another white fire which lasteth long Take powder 4 â„¥ Salt peter 1 l Sulphur vive 8 â„¥ Camphur 1 â„¥ Oyle of peeter 2 â„¥ Meale those which are to be mealed very fine and mixe
shall appeare in his perfect colours and shall continue so a long while FIrst cause a board to be made foure square of what dimension you please which let be ½ an inch thicke and cause a Painter or some drafts man to trase out what Armes or other figure you please upon the said board also let there be another which shall bee an inch and ½ thicke and of the same breadth which fasten to the other with some small tackes till you have boared so many holes as you have occasion for which shall behalfe an inch asunder and likewise halfe an inch boare then boare your holes thorow your inch board and let them enter an inch into the thicker planke then make foure square holes one at each corner in the thicker planke to receive foure square pieces of wood which must be an inch square which glue fast into foure holes opposite to the other in the thinner planke to the end it may slide to and fro then fasten an iron rod in the midst of the thinner so that it may come thorow the thicker planke and be fastened to a piece of wood which may turne upon a joynt to the end you may draw the thinner square neerer as your fire consumes and must draw it too foot at least then provide a small arrow of two foot long and upon it rowle so much paper till it fill your small holes exactly then fill so many as you have holes already provided in your square and put them thorow the thinner piece and the ends thereof into the thicker which let be glued fast into the bottome of that so that they may stand very fast and likewise let them passe so easily thorow the other holes that the board may slide nearer or further to or from the fire at pleasure then fit a piece of past-board so that it may come close about these rouled lances and may fit as exactly as the board doth at the other end and let this come within halfe an inch of the firing end then prime them all with quicke powder dust and cover it over with paper which having performed you are ready against such time as you have occasion to fire it which must be after this manner observing which side the winde is stand on that side and fire it at the lower corner so that by the helpe of the winde you shall have it all fire at once which having burnt a while will come to the past-board and fire it so that falling away there will be represented a Coat of Armes in colours close to your fire which may be drawne in by one standing behinde so that it shall seeme alwaies to be standing in one place and the light not to grow shorter till the last The forme of this frame is presented in the seventh figure C D. A The frame without the scutcheon or letters B The backe side of the frame with an iron rod passing thorow it and fastened to the other part and the moving part which slideth to and fro as occasion proffers D The frame finished ready to put in your lances F Represents the face of the frame or thinner board G The inner part of the fixed piece with holes boared in each alike to put in your lances of rowled paper filled with slow composition CHAP. XXIV How to represent an antike dance by the helpe of fire which shall move in a circular forme CAuse a board to bee made of two foot square so that one side of it may bee hollowed or grooved to lay your rockets in then cause another board to bee made of the same largenesse so that it may sit close on the other the rockets lying betweene and in the center of the same board place a brasse socket which must passe thorow the other for the center pinne to enter into it then place your antike figures on the top of the said board with wiers passing thorow both to the end they may be turned about in their motion by certaine pinnes placed in another board which must stand fixed so that moving about the said board the pinnes take hold of the wiers which come thorow and turne them backward and forward but in regard of the extraordinary violence of this motion it will teare all in pieces unlesse you have a great care in making all things to runne very exactly which must bee tried before you come to use it The order of this is represented in the seventh Figure by the letter E. A B C D The bottome board which stands fixed with a socket to put on a long pole and hath a small pinne standing at each corner E E E The under board which moveth in which is placed the rockets F F The uper board which is fastened to the other wherein the rockets are placed G G The wiers passing thorow both boards which are fastened to the foot of each anticke H H The other wiers which stand fast in the fixed board and are to turne about the antickes passing by them CHAP. XXV Another way for making an anticke dance which is not so violent as the former TAke one of your large sort of wheeles and fasten it on an iron axeltree so that the wheele move the axeltree with his motion then let there bee a screw filed on the said axeltree which may bee fitted to a small wheele of tenne teeth or thereabouts as you please for the more teeth there is in the wheele the slower it goeth and easier et contra which wheele let it be so fastened to an axeltree on which the board bearing the antickes must stand that the fire wheele turning about verticall may move your worke hirozontall which will move so slow that the fire wheele will be tenne times about before your Motion will move once about which being done neatly will prove a worke of great contentment The forme whereof is expressed in the seventh Figure by the letter F. A The fire wheele placed on an iron axelrree and made fast to it B The screw made on the said axeltree or filed out of the same stuffe C The wheele which the aforesaid screw must be fitted to runne with which must have so meny teeth as you intend the fire wheele shall move about for once of your motion D The square board on which the antickes stand and is fastened to the axeltree which hath the wheele E A place for a light to burne so long as the worke indureth F F F The detentes or pieces which come thorow the board from the foot of each anticke G G G Certaine pinnes standing upright in the fixed board to the end that the others passing by may be turned about CHAP. XXVI How to compose a Castle of fire worke with the manner of placing the workes in a true order PRepare a Castle of wood or plate of what largenesse you please the which shall bee made foure square with round towers and battlements and on the top or inner part of that worke let there bee a
lesser tower of the same fashion with a Vane on the top or such a like Figure which having provided let there be a place made close to the battlements or within one inch of them to lay your conveiances which let be of brasse which is for your reports which must be placed betweene each battlement and shall have little pipes of brasse to give fire to each report which must be screwed into the great conveiance which conveiance let be filled with your composition for rockets of 1 l. which is one pound of powder to 3â…“ â„¥ of coale dust and by this meanes you shall have them all fire in order without any confusion which having spent it selfe shall give fire to another conveiance which shall be placed further in with a strong wall betweene so that the fire of one doe not offend the other the use of this conveiance is to place divers rockets on so that they may fire one after another and shall take fire as soone as the reports are ended Now for the foure large towers you shal provide foure pieces of wood turned and fitted to slide in exactly and shall have divers smooth holes boared round thorow the out side of your tower and the wood till they meet with the hollow which passeth from the top to the bottome or within an inch which hollow shall bee one inch and a halfe diameter and must be filled with a very slow mixture to the end it may continue as long as the worke is a burning then place some Fisgigs round in those little holes so that the mouths may be inward and primed which will take fire one after another and flye out on every side of your Castle which will give great content for the manner of firing this I could wish that it were first fired at the foure uper towers and that through one of the corners may bee a hole which may goe to the uper conveyance that so those reports may fire next and at the end of that conveyance shall be another to passe downe to the lower tier of reports and at each corner of that conveyance shall be a hole to passe into those lower towers so that by that time all the reports are fired the towers shall be all on fire then at the end of that conveyance as I said before let your conveyance for your rockets bee placed which taking fire orderly will conclude the worke These and the like are for the pleasure of princes and great personages rather then for the vulgar The forme of this Castle is laid downe in the eight Figure by the letter A. B B B Expresseth the angles of the lower tower C C C The angles of the higher tower D D The conveiance that fires the reports E The conveyance passing to the rockets F F F The Fisgigs placed round each angle G G Reports placed on the battlements H H Rockets placed farther in with a wall betweene CHAP XXVII How to represent divers motions in a Castle of fire-worke CAuse a frame to be made placing thereon two Castles that they may stand about twelve foot distant one from another this frame must bee so ordered that it may bee hollow underneath which being done let the dores of those Castles bee placed the one opposite to the other at each end of the said frame and just within each doore let there bee a figure 8 rowler of wood foure inches diameter which shall have iron pevikts or points to runne upon that they may runne the more easie and let those roulers be put full of small pinnes and a girt put round about them to the end that the rowlers moving circular may draw the girt in a straight line then placing some antike Figures on the girt so that they may move about with it place your fire wheeles upon the axeltree of each rowler providing another rowler at each end to make it slide more easily so firing the said wheeles you shall see the antikes come one out of one doore and the other at the other doore meeting in the midst and when they come at the contrary end they make a returne with their heads downeward and come up againe at the same doores they went first out of which will continue running so long as the fire wheeles continue And when the wheeles stand still the reports shall goe off on each tower one against another which shall be done after this manner let one of the spoakes of both your wheeles be hollow and also part of the axeltree which let be filled with powder dust and the rocket which fires last shall be placed over that spoake which hath the vent with a piece of cotton wicke to fire it so will it runne downe thorow the axeltree which as I said must be hollow and must have paper pasted over it so that as soone as the fire comes there it breakes thorow the paper and fires a traine which is laid round about it which traine passeth to a standing conveyance which goeth up to the battlements and so giveth fire to those reports which having past each corner the lower tower shall fire as it passeth and from thence passe to an inner conueiance which shall fire so many rockets as may be well placed about it this being well and orderly performed will give great content The forme whereof is expressed in the eight Figure N B B. B B Represents the two Castles ready fitted with the frame A A The two doores opposite B The two figures moving forward C C The two fire wheeles which causeth this motion C Represents the frame for this motion D D The two fire wheeles fixed on their axeltree E E The Roler each wheele is fixed to F F The other Rolers which guide the girts G G The girts passing from one roller to the other H H The figures placed on the girts fig 9th CHAP. XXVIII Another way to performe the same motions and will not be so violent as the former PRepare your Castle with the frame fitted as the former onely upon the axeltree of each rowler let there bee a small wheele with teeth and likewise must there bee a screw upon the axeltree of each fire wheele which must be so fitted that they may draw these wheeles about which if they be well fitted will move them with great facilitie and whereas the other fire wheeles were placed on each side these must be placed behinde or underneath which you please or finde most commodious Now you must note that your fire wheele moving once about moveth but one tooth of your other wheele by reason of the screw which drawes him so that if you make tenne teeth in the said wheele your fire wheele shall make tenne revolutions for one of your rowler by this meanes it will move after a farre more easie manner then the former The manner of this is represented in the ninth Figure A A R. A A Represents the two Castles ready placed R The frame for the motion B B Two
fire wheeles which forceth the rest of the worke C C The screws fastened on the axeltree of each wheele which forceth the rowlers D D The two wheeles which are placed on the rowlers and fitted to the screw which force them P P The two girts on which the figures are placed CHAP. XXIX How to represent the forme of an army of an hundred men marching which shall present and fire at one certaine place appointed THe ground of all these motions are wheele workes wherefore to proceed you must provide a rowler of two foot long or more which must be made and placed as the forementioned to be drawne by two screwes fastened to the fire wheeles in regard of the great weight they are to draw also they must be somewhat large wheeles with rockets of the second size which is five ounces in each rocket placing about each wheele 20. or more which having provided you must likewise get you so many figures of souldiers which must bee cut by a Carver and ought to have the joynts loose of the right arm of each with a wyer or detent to come down from the arm to the thigh of each and likewise another which may move that and come to the foot then place these on severall girts so that they may stand ten in ranck and file and may be an inch between each to the end they touch not at the feet but every file may run in a severall groofe then placing small peeces in their hands which must bee ready loaded and primed set them going and within two foot of the end of their march let there bee a crooked peece of iron stuck up between each file so that they may stand iust in a straight line to the end that when the souldiers move to that place the detents or wyers are forced against those pins which draw back the arm and so puls the trickers of each Peece in that ranck so that the whole ranck will fire altogether if they bee well ordered and as these have fired and past another ranck moveth forward to the same place performing the same thus continuing till they have all performed the like which being finished and all past they shall make a second march orderly without firing This being well and carefully ordered shall not faile and will be a very rare work to behold but will prove extraordinary costly to the owner thereof The form of this you shall finde in the ninth figure by the letter R E represents the whole frame with all the parts thereof F F are the two fire wheeles being placed one at each end of the rowler G G the screwes being fastned to each fire wheele which move the two wheeles placed on the rowler H H the two wheeles being placed at each end of the rowler I I two rowlers about which the girts do passe which carry the whole body of men K K the girts on which the figures are placed each girt having upon it ten so that in the whole there will be an hundred L represents the figure of a man standing in that posture as hee ought to bee made M Is the detent which is fastened to the right arme and is to slide on a joynt being fastened to the thigh so that it may move the arme N another detent which moveth the former as it passeth by the pin O the pin which putteth by the said detent as it commeth to it q q the said pins in their right places CHAP. XXX How to present musick playing by the help of fire with anticks dancing CAuse an instrument to bee made representing the Virginals and to it fit a Barrell set with severall tunes as I shall shew you in another Treatise hereafter then let there be a wheele with teeth fastned on this barrell and a fire wheele with a screw on the axeltree as I have shewed before which screw may be so fitted that as it moves round the barrell one way so it may move another wheele being placed on the side which wheele shall move certain anticks as the musick playeth This and many more may bee performed by the motion of wheele work The form of this is expressed in the tenth figure by the letter A B the fire wheele fixed on the axletree which moveth a screw C the screw moving a wheele placed on the top of it and another on the side D the wheele fastned to a barrell set with tunes E the wheele placed on the side which hath a pinion at the end of the axeltree marked F which carrieth about the wheele G on which there are placed foure anticks this wheele moveth foure pinions marked H on which is placed foure other anticks I is the barrell set with tunes K the pallats which causeth the jacks to move L the jacks which passe up to the strings M a board or frame covering the strings on which is placed the anticks Having spoken sufficiently of the order of motions performed by wheele work I come now to shew some things that may bee done on the Line CHAP. XXXI How to make a Dragon or any other creature to run on the Line by the help of fire LET your Dragon be made either of pasteboard or else of fine rods such as your Basketmakers use which must bee made hollow with a place in the belly to put in two rockets and shall bee so ordered that there may come a small pipe from the tayle of one to the head of the other then make a place in the eyes and mouth to put into each hole fire which shall be made up in rowled paper and thrust in then on the top of the back let there bee fastned two small pulleys for the line to run in which being done your Dragon is finished to firing which must be thus first fire it at the eyes and mouth alwayes noting that this receipt must be some slow mixture such as your starres then fire that rocket which is placed with his mouth toward the tayle of the Dragon which will make it seem to cast fire from thence till hee come to the end of his motion and then on a sudden as a creature wounded with some accident shall return with fire coming forth of his belly which being well ordered will give great content The form of this you shall finde in the tenth figure by the letter B. B represents a dragon to bee forced with rockets which are placed in the belly C a place made to put in a rocket which must be put in at the tayle with the mouth of the rocket outward D is a conveyance from the tayle of that rocket to the mouth of the next which commeth out at the belly E E two small brasse pullees fastned in a frame on the back for the line to run in CHAP. XXXII Another way for making a fiery Dragon to passe on the line without the help of fire IN the former Chapter I spake of a Dragon of a small size of a foot in length or thereabout
others for setting of divers circular works some of them I will speak of and first I will shew the manner of making a horizontall wheele which with one firing shall give divers reports and shall stand fixed CHAP. XVIII The manner of making a fixed wheele which shall give divers reports YOV must first get a wheele turned by some workman which must be two foot in diameter or as you please to augment or diminish your work which must have a groofe turned out of the upper side of halfe an inch wide and likewise as deep to which groofe you must have a peece of wood so fitted that it may just slide in which peece of wood must have so many small holes bored in it as you will have reports about it alwayes provided you set them not too neere together because the firing of one may not beat down the other when you have thus provided your wheele make a conveyance or hollow trunck of paper which will iust fill it which must bee filled with some of your slow mixtures for starres and then putting on the cap of wood so fitted with holes and made very fast with glew pierce every hole into your hollow conveyance so that putting a quill into every one they may take fire and to the said quill fasten a report so shall you have a peale of Chambers placed in a small roome which being once fired Figure 6. A. will follow in order till the whole train be spent The form you shall see expressed in the sixt figure marked A. CHAP. XIX How to make a fixed wheele which shall cast forth many rockets into the ayre THere is likewise another sort of wheele not much unlike to the former which shall give fire to divers rockets standing circular the order differs nothing from the former only you must make a hole for every stick to passe thorow and therefore it must be made somewhat broader which will effect the same as the other doth by conveying fire from one rocket to another till they bee all spent the mixture for this conveyance ought to bee very slow wherefore I advise you to take this ensuing which is both slow and sure Take Roch peter 8 ℥ Sulphur vive 4 ℥ Camphire ½ ℥ Fine powder dust 2 ℥ Meale these ingredients very fine and incorporate them adding ⅛ ℥ of Linseed oyle and ⅛ ℥ of oyle of peter these oyles must be dropped in by degrees and so wrought up till you finde your mixture bound like dough which if you performe well will bee both slow and sure Figure 6. B. The forme of this wheele is expressed in the sixth Figure by the letter B. CHAP. XX. How to make a fixed wheele which shall cast forth divers Fisgigs and likewise as many reports or breakers CAuse a wheele to bee turned with a groofe on the top to put in your conveiance of paper then fit on a peece of wood as I have formerly shewed you with small holes to put in quils which are for the firing of your reports and must bee placed round about the uper part of your wheele and on the side thereof shall be made diuers holes of the bignesse of your Fisgigs which shall be so pierced thorow to the paper conveiance those fisgigs that are placed round on the side the reports on the top one traine shall fire them all and in firing you shall see all the Fisgigs flying round about one after another as the fire passeth to them and for every Fisgig which passeth out shall bee fired a report so that there shall be a continuall motion untill the whole traine bee consumed the forme of this wheele is represented in the sixth Figure by the letter G. G Represents the wheele finished with Reports and Fisgigs R R Represents the reports placed on the uper part of the wheele F F Represents the Fisgigs placed round on the side of the wheele CHAP. XXI The manner of making a wheele which shall runne two waies which is forward and backward CAuse a wheele to be made so that the rockets may be placed on each side with a hole thorow one side which shall serve for a vent passing from one side to the other then place your rockets first upon one side provided that the last rocket be placed over the said hole and boring a small hole in one side of that rocket put in a cotton wicke for priming and let it come through your wheele to the mouth of another rocket which shall bee turned the contrary way so that the wheele having finished his revolution one way may take fire fig 6th on the other side and so make a retrograde motion and as you doe this so may you after the same manner make a wheele which shall runne direct and continue twise so long as another of the same bignesse which is by placing the rockets the same way on both sides The forme of this is expressed the 6 Figure by the letters D and E. D Represents the wheele with Rockets placed on the one side the last rockets having a vent to passe through to the other side E Represents the said wheele finished with Rockets on both sides CHAP. XXII The manner of composing a wheele which having finished his revolution shall represent a Coat of Armes MAke a wheele of some light board so that it may be without any spoakes and upon one side of it let be drawne that Coat of Armes you intend to represent then boare so many holes in the wood as may conveniently stand on the traced lines then on the other side neere the top shall a place bee made which may containe your rockets with a hole pierced thorow where the last rocket must rest This being done place your rockets round about so that the last rocket may be placed on the vent which must bee primed carefully to passe thorow to the other side having placed on the rockets fill those holes on the other side with some slow mixture such as is for your stars or the like then cover it over with paper and put in some powder dust to fire it and to break the paper which being done sope it well over for feare of some sparkes lighting on the paper before the appointed time of firing so have you a wheele ready which you must put on an axeltree so that it may stand verticall and then firing it you shall have your desire for so soone as the wheele hath spent his moving worke it will giue fire to the other side and then standing still you shall see a perfect Coat of Armes in fire Figure 7. A. B. A Represents that side of the wheele which hath the Rockets placed on it B Represents the Coat of Armes in which the round spots signifie the places to be filled with a slow mixture which must bee moist to the end it keepe close in fig 7th CHAP. XXIII How to represent a Coat of Armes in fire which having burnt a small while the said Coat
of each M The said boxe finished with the springs bent ready to put on the head of a Rocket the mouth of each Fisgig must come downe to the mouth of the boxe and so be put with their mouthes all downewards Having spoken sufficiently of workes operating in the ayre I will shew you something which shall serve for ground workes CHAP. XLIV How to make a Rocket which firing it out of your hand shall continually be in agitation on the ground sometimes and other whiles about in the ayre HAving prepared a Rocket with a report in the head tye it to a bladder so that the end of the Rocket may come to the mouth of the bladder and binde it over very strongly then firing it out of your hand cast it away from you it matters not which way for it will come to the ground and by reason of the bladder it cannot stay but presently rebounds upward moving to and fro till it be all spent There is another sort and that is a small Rocket put into a bladder and so blowne up round about it and tyed about the necke of the Rocket The forme of these are represented in the 13 Figure by the letters G H. G The Rocket with the bladder at the taile of it H The Rocket in the bladder CHAP. XLV How to make a ball which shall be in continuall agitation on the ground till the fire is consumed CAuse a ball to be made of some light wood which must be made so as you may take it asunder just in the midst then make on each side a hollow groofe to lay in two rockets joyned together after the manner of your runners so close up your ball fast with glue onely in the place where the two Rockets joyne shall be a groofe which shall be pasted over with paper that the second rocket firing may have a vent otherwise your ball will serve but once Then fire it and you shall have your desire This is represented in the 13 Figure by the letters I K. I Represents a part of the ball as it is ready to place in the Rockets K Represents the ball with the Rockets placed in so that the other side being joyned makes a perfect round C C C The vents to each Rocket which being closed must have paper glued over them that they be not seene CHAP. XLVI How to make another sort of Balles for the ground which will be a long time in their motion CAuse a ball to be made of some light wood and let it bee hollowed to make it the lighter then fit in two pieces of wood so that you may make both sides equall which pieces of wood shall be so groofed that you may lay in so many Rockets as may well be contained about it providing that at the end of each groofe or rocket you may have a vent thorow your ball then place in your rockets as I have shewed you for the wheele which having done glue them fast in to the end that by the motion of the ball they may not be disordered then ioyne your ball together and glue it fast with paper round about it to the end the vents may be covered onely leaving one open to fire it so have you this ball finished which firing will continue a long while in motion Figure 36. A The ball turned hollow with groofes to lay in your rockets B The other part of the ball with the rockets fastened in C C C C The vents at the end of each rocket CHAP. XLVII How to make a Dragon issuing forth of a Cave which shall cast out much fire PRovide a Dragon of some light matter as wicker rods or the like which let bee made so that you may put into the midst of the body one of your greatest rockets and close under the belly let there be a couple of wheeles which shall bee so placed in the belly of the Dragon that no part may bee seene but onely the bottome which comes to the ground and let the rocket bee so placed that it may with traines fire all parts of the body as the eyes mouth and all other parts in which you shall place divers small workes which firing shall flye out and make a very great shew which shall burne till all bee consumed this Dragon must be so placed that he may come forth of a seeming cave which firing on a sudden will make a great noyse by reason of the largenesse of the rocket and the hollownesse of the cave hee comes forth of The forme whereof is represented in the fourteenth Figure by the letter G. G The Dragon ready finished A The wheeles on which it must runne which must bee hid within the body B The rocket placed in the body of the Dragon which causeth the motion G The vent which passeth to this rocket for the firing CHAP. XLVIII How to make two Dragons to meete each other from severall Caves which shall send forth their fire to each other with great violence HAving prepared two Dragons both of one size and weight after the manner as I have shewed you in the former Chapter it is requisite that you know how farre they will runne then place the Caves at such a distance one from the other that they may meete each other in the mid way and that you may doe this the more neater you shall have your ground laid with smooth boards that they may runne more free and from the midst of the walke to the end of each Dragon let there be a groofe made in one of the boards which shall serve to convey a traine to each for the firing of them then you shall be sure that if you fire it in the midst they will both take fire together alwaies provided you make a conveyance of paper from the board to the taile of each Dragon or to the mouth of each rocket which being fired once they shall meete and cast forth their fire at each other with great violence The forme of this is represented in the fourteenth Figure by the letters A A. A A The two Dragons ready to runne B B The two great rockets which forceth them C C The wheeles which each Dragon runneth on D The midst of their walke with the groofe to each rocket There are divers other workes which may bee performed after this manner which for brevity sake I will omit Likewise there are divers motions to bee performed by the action of man as single duels to which appertaine the Buckler of fire and likewise the Curtlax or Fauchion the manner of which hath beene formerly described by divers Authors almost in all languages and therefore will seeme more then requisite to relate those things so large as they might be for what action cannot man performe by his industry and therefore I leave every man to his owne order onely I will shew you the making of one sort of Bucklar which as yet hath not beene performed and likewise the Fauchion or Curtlax
and first for the Bucklar CHAP. XLIX How to make a Bucklar which shall cast forth a hundred Fisgigs every one making his report CAuse a Bucklar to bee made of some light wood which let be about two foot in diameter or more as you please then cause a groofe to bee cut in it from the center to the circumference in a spirall or serpentine forme then fill that groofe with one of your slow compositions such as hath neither oyle nor gummes by reason the sume thereof may not offend the Bearers when you have filled it fit in pieces of wood which may have holes to receive a quantity of Fisgigs let every one bee two inches asunder and let there be wyer rings to every one of your Fisgigs to hold them steady that they fall not out till such time they fire then put in your Fisgigs into every hole one till you come to the center and then shall you have a very great breaker so that firing it at the circumference every Fisgig will flye out as the fire comes to it and will flye against his adversary combatant till they come both to the center and then will they give a great report and so end The forme of this is represented in the 14 Figure by the letters F G. F Represents the Buckler as it must be grooved G Represents the same finished with the Fisgigs placed about it H H Represents the manner of using the said Buckler with the Fauchion fig 14 CHAP. L. How to make the Curtlax Cimiter or Fauchion PRepare a Curtlax either of wood or plate which let bee hollowed from back to edge three inches and let it bee so thick as it may serve for your smallest fisgigs then you shall have a peece of pastebord so fitted on the back that your work may be close covered only holes left for the ends of your fisgigs to come forth then you shall lay in your lances of fire which is nothing else but your slow composition for starres put into hollow truncks of paper made on an arrow and between every lance you shall put two or three fisgigs which shall fly out so soon as the fire commeth to them having done this you have finished your Fauchion which must bee fired at the point and so burn downward towards the hilt This hath been formerly set forth by Monsieur Thybaviel a French Author and since by divers others The forme whereof is represented in the fourteenth figure by the letters I K L. I represents the Fauchion prepared with a groofe in the back K represents the Fauchion with holes to put in the works L represents a Fauchion wholly finished with the fisgigs placed as they ought to stand Having spoken sufficiently of land works I will come in the next place to shew the making of some works to bee acted on the water and first of all I will shew you the making of the water bals CHAP. LI. How to make a water ball which shall burn on the water with great violence FIrst having considered of what bignesse you will have your ball take the circumference and halfe it and of that halfe make a circle which cutting out in strong canvas shall bee halfe a case so that sewing two of them together they shall make a case according to your desire For Example I have a ball to make whose diameter is six inches then the circumference being as seven to twenty two must be 18 6 ◠so the halfe will bee 9 3 7 which must bee the diameter of your cloth and must bee made true round so that sewing two together and making a case thereof it shall bee almost six inches which the arming will make good having made your case you shall proceed to the filling of it which shall be done after this manner you shall first put in three or foure good spoonfuls of your mixture and then with a stick made round at one end force it close together and so continue filling it and between every filling put in your stick and force it together rounding it continually in your hand till such time you have finished it which having done sew it up close and then arm it with small cord which is called marling after you have done that you shall coat it with a quantity of rosin pitch and tallow dissolved and so your ball dipped over in the same providing alwayes that you leave two vents to fire it which shall be pierced a third part into your ball and must bee stopped with small sticks till such time you come to use them then pulling forth the sticks fill the two vents with fine powder dust and firing it cast it into the water and you shall have your desire you must alwayes let your ball be thorow fired before you cast it from you A receipt for this ball Take 1 l. of powder 8 ℥ of rochpeter 4 ℥ of sulphur 2 ℥ of camphir 1 ℥ of oyle of peter 1 ℥ of oyl of linne ½ ℥ of oyle of spike 2 ℥ of colophonia The forme of this ball is represented in the fifteenth figure by the letters A B. A A the canvas ready cut to be sewed together B the ball finished C C the two vents D a peece of cord left to hold it by whilst you coat it and likewise to hang it up being finished CHAP. LII A water ball which shall shoot forth many reports CAuse a ball to be made of wood which shall bee in two peeces so that you may joyne it close together at pleasure this ball must have small holes boared round about it to put in your quils which must fire your reports the reports or breakers shall bee made of paper choaked at both ends and primed thorow the midst they shall bee fastned round with pitch and so covered round about that no water may passe in you shal fil this bal in two halfes to the end you may force it very close together and when it is filled glew it fast and arm it well with nealed wyer then put in your breakers with a quill which shal enter into the bal and likewise into the breaker the forme whereof you shall see in the fifteenth figure by the letter C. The receipt for this bal must be somewhat slower than the last by reason of the many vents it wil have as the reports passe away The receipt for this ball Take 1 l. of rochpeter 4 ℥ of powder dust 3 ℥ of sulphur vive 2 ℥ of camphir 1 ℥ of linseed oyle 2 ℥ of rosen 1 ℥ of oyle benedick Powder that which is to bee powdered and incorporate them well together and by little and little sprinckle your oyles til you have wrought it like a paste and then make use of it your quils which you prime with shal be filled only with powder dust to the end it fire suddenly before the quil come to shrink up which wil be with a slow mixture A the mouth of the ball where it is to be fired B
B B the reports or breakers being made of paper and filled with corne powder C C C the quils which are primed with powder dust and serve for firing the reports D the hollow of the ball being filled with the slow composition CHAP. LIII How to make a Water ball which after a certaine time of firing shall cast forth divers rockets into the ayre PRepare a ball of wood of eight inches diameter and boare a hole in the midst of an inch and a halfe and let it come within one inch of the bottom and round about that great hole you shall boare eight smaller holes of an inch so that they may bee fit for eight rockets these holes shall be an inch from the greater and shall all meet in one at the bottom wherefore you shall cut off the bottom of the ball and fit another to it which may be so hollowed that your mixture may be conveyed to all the rockets then fasten on the bottom having filled it with your mixture and put in your rockets with the mouth of each rocket downward pasting paper round about it which shall bee coated with rosin and tallow and over each hole where the rockets are placed let it be soaped over the tallow to the end that being fired the sparks may not easily take fire of the paper which otherwise would make some confusion having done this fit in a peece of wood to the greater boare of your ball leaving only a smaller vent of halfe an inch and by this meanes the fire will come out with more violence and having spent it selfe within one inch of the bottom it shall fire the eight rockets placed about which by their force shall break the paper of each and ascend into the ayre a small heighth and after lie tumbling on the water This ball is represented in the twelfth figure by the letter D. A the place of firing the ball B B the peece of wood put in to lessen the vent C the greater hollow to be filled with the slow composition as the former D D the bottom which is loose and to bee hollowed to receive part of the slow mixture E E the holes boared to put in the rockets which must bee covered with paper F F the rockets placed in with their mouthes downward G G the place of fitting the rockets CHAP. LIV. Another sort of water ball which shall cast forth rockets at two sundry times and after it is finished shall give a great report THis ball shall be made after the manner of the other but shall bee a foot in diameter and shall have two circles of rockets placed round about so that the lower circle shall be one inch from the higher and likewise shall go down into the ball an inch lower and under that row of rockets there shall be placed a breaker of iron which shall bee one inch from the lower tyer so that the ball being fired shall after a certain time cast forth a dozen of small rockets and then continue a while longer and then in regard of the larger circumference of that circle it shall cast forth twenty and after that is ended their fire comming to the chamber of iron shall cause a very great report and so conclude The form of this is layd down in the fifteenth figure by the letter H. H the vent for firing the ball I I the peece of wood fitted to the greater boare K the hollow of the greater boare filled with a slow composition L L the upper tyer of rockets M M the lower tyer of rockets N the breaker of iron o o o o the places to put in the rockets which must bee covered with paper well soaped upon tallow fig 15th CHAP. LV. Another sort of ball with iron chambers every one casting forth a small ball CAuse a ball to be made of twelve inches diameter and in the midst boare a large hole of two inches high hollowing it within and let it come within an inch of the bottom then boare small holes of an inch from the top to the bottom in a spiral line to put in your smal chambers which shall be made of iron each chamber having a broad plate at the mouth to fasten it to the ball those chambers shal be loaden with a quantity of corn powder and after that a smal ball made up in canvas and primed as I have shewed you for starres then having filled the large concave with slow composition place in your chambers whose touch holes or vents must bee just at the breech and shal come al in toward the center of the ball then coat it round with rosin and tallow and so have you this bal finished the form whereof is represented in the fifteenth figure by the letter A. The first figure marked F represents the inside of the bal. F the mouth of it B B the iron chambers as they lie with the touch hole or vent of each chamber at the breech of the same C the concave filled with slow composition D a large chamber placed at the bottom note that this ball must bee made in two peeces to place in this chamber and after glewed well and bound about with wyer The second figure marked G is the bal finished except the coating G the vent at the mouth B B the reports with a plate of iron round the mouth of each to nayle it fast This bal being thus provided must be after covered with canvas and then dipped in a mixture of three parts rosin two parts pitch and one part tallow which must bee first incorporated on the fire and so used this bal may serve as wel for service in warre as for pleasure or triumph by putting into each chamber a bullet of lead and so shot out of a Morter peece CHAP. LVI There are divers other sorts of bals as well for water as for land and are to be shot out of the Morter peece AND because the Morter peece is often used in Fire-works I will describe the manner of it with the use thereof as much as is requisite to this place and first for the manner the manner of the Morter peece consisteth only in his proportions which are divers according to the pleasure of the workman but those of most use for fire bals are one and a halfe and two diameters in the length of the chase and one diameter in the length of the chamber with halfe a diameter at the mouth of the chamber the reason of this shortnesse is that one may come the more commodiously to the firing of the ball the proportion of this peece followeth in the sixteenth Figure B is the form of a Morter peece lying on his carriage the quoyn being made to draw with a screw as I have made use of A A the diameter or heighth of the boare which is 4¼ inches or 100 parts of this scale A B the length of the chase and is two diameters or 8½ inches B B the heighth of the chamber which is