PYROTECHNIA OR, A DISCOURSE OF ARTIFICIAL FIREWORKS: In which the true Grounds of that Art are plainly and perspicuously laid down: Together with sundry such Motions, both Strait and Circular, performed by the help of Fire, as are not to be found in any other Discourse of this kind, Extant in any Language. Whereunto is annexed a short TREATISE of Geometry, containing certain Definitions and Problems, for the Mensuration of Superficies and solids, with Tables for the Square Root to 25000, and the Cubick Root to 10000 Latus, wherein all Roots under those Numbers are extracted only by Ocular Inspection. Written by John Babington Gunner, and Student in the MATHEMATICS. LONDON, Printed by THOMAS HARPER, for RALPH MAB, MDCXXXV. A Table of the Contents. CHAP. 1 HOw to make all sorts of moulds in a true proportion with the Rollers, and drift. Page 1 CHAP. 2 How to make your Coffins of paper. p. 4 CHAP. 3 How you shall choke a Rocket. idem CHAP. 4 The manner of driving a Rocket, with the instruments belonging to the same. p. 6 CHAP. 5 The manner of heading a Rocket, with the order of capping the same. p. 7 CHAP. 6 The manner of finishing a Rocket. p. 8 CHAP. 7 The manner of fyring Rockets, with the description of a staff for fyring of them. p. 10 CHAP. 8 Divers compositions for stars. p. 11 CHAP. 9 The manner of making the best sort of stars. p. 12 CHAP. 10 The manner of making silver and golden rain. p. 14 CHAP. 11 How to make fisgigs which some call Serpents. idem CHAP. 12 How to make the reports or breakers. p. 15 CHAP. 13 How to make a Runner on the Line. p. 16 CHAP. 41 The manner of firing your Runner. p. 17 CHAP. 15 How to compose a Wheel. p. 19 CHAP. 16 How to make a ground Wheel. p. 20 CHAP. 17 Another manner of ground Wheels. p. 21 CHAP. 18 The manner of making a fixed Wheel which shall give diverse reports. p. 22 CHAP. 19 How to make a fixed Wheel which shall cast forth many Rockets into the Air. idem CHAP. 20 How to make a fixed Wheel which shall cast forth diverse fisgigs, and likewise as many reports. p. 28 CHAP. 21 The manner of making a Wheel to run two ways, which is forward and backward. idem CHAP. 22 The manner of composing a Wheel, which having finished his revolution, shall represent a Coat of Arms. p. 25 CHAP. 23 How to represent a Coat of Arms in fire which having burnt a small while, the said Coat shall appear in perfect colours, and shall continue so a long while. p. 27 CHAP. 24 How to represent an antic dance by the help of fire, which shall move in a circular form. p. 28 CHAP. 25 Another way for making an antic dance which is not so violent as the former, p. 29 CHAP. 26 How to compose a Castle of firework, with the manner of placing the works in a true order, idem CHAP. 27 How to represent diverse motions in a Castle of Firework. p. 30 CHAP. 28 Another way to perform the same Motions, and will not be so violent as the former. p. 34 CHAP. 29 How to represent the form of an Army of an hundred men marching, which shall present and fire at on certain place appointed. idem CHAP. 30 How to represent Music playing (by the help of fire) with antics dancing. p. 36 CHAP. 31 How to make a Dragon or any other creature run on the line, by the help of fire. idem CHAP. 32 Another way for making a fiery Dragon to pass on the line without the help of fire. p. 37 CHAP. 33 How to represent Saint George fight with a Dragon on the line, p. 37 CHAP. 34 How to make a trunk of fire, which shall cast forth diverse fire-balls. p. 41 CHAP. 35 The manner of making a Club which shall cast forth diverse small works or fisgigs. p. 42 CHAP. 36 Another sort of club, which being fired, shall give many reports. p. 43 CHAP. 37 Another which I call jacke in a box. p. 45 CHAP. 38 How to represent the sphere moving in the air, without any other supportation. Idem CHAP. 39 How to represent the sphere, with diverse circles, some movable, others fixed. p. 46 CHAP. 40 How to make a half moon of rockets appear in the air. p. 47 CHAP. 41 How to make a case of rockets to rise at once. Idem CHAP. 42 How to make letters or any other figure appear in the air, after the spending of a rocket. p. 49 CHAP. 43 How to represent a figure of the Sun, casting forth his beams in fire. Idem CHAP. 44 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 air. p. 50 CHAP. 45 How to make a ball which shall be in continual agitation on the ground, till the fire be consumed. p. 51 CHAP. 46 How to make another sort of balls for the ground, which will continue a long while in their motion. Idem CHAP. 47 How to make a Dragon issuing out of a Cave, which shall cast out much fire. p. 52 CHAP. 48 How to make two Dragons to meet each other from several Caves, which shall send forth their fire to each other with great violence. Idem CHAP. 49 How to make a bucklar, which shall cast forth a hundred Fisgigs, every one making his report. p. 53 CHAP. 50 How to make the Curtle-axe, Scimitar, or Falchion. p. 55 CHAP. 51 How to make a water ball which shall burn on the water with great violence. Idem CHAP. 52 A water ball which shall shoot forth many reports. p. 56 CHAP. 53 How to make a water ball, which after a certain time of firing, shall cast forth diverse rockets into the air. p. 57 CHAP. 54 Another sort of water ball, which shall cast forth rockets at two sundry times, and after it is finished, shall give a great report. p. 58 CHAP. 55 Another sort of bal, with iron chambers, every one casting forth a small bal. p. 60 CHAP. 56 The proportions of the mortar piece. p 61 CHAP. 57 How to make a ball for the Mortar piece, which shall cast forth a great shower of stars at the breaking. Idem CHAP. 58 Another sort of ball for the mortar piece, which shall cast forth diverse Rockets in the air. p. 63 CHAP. 59 How to compose a ship of firework, which being once fired, diverse motions shall present themselves. p 63 CHAP. 60 How to make the Siren or Mermaid playing on the water. Idem CHAP. 61 How to represent a Dragon issuing out of a Castle, which shall swim through the water, and be encountered by a horseman from the shore. p. 66 CHAP. 62 An order for a general piece of firework for land, and is for the pleasure of a Prince, or some great personage p. 67 CHAP. 63 An other order for a general work, and is to be acted on the water. p. 68 CHAP. 64 The use of certain engines for trying the goodness or strength of powder. p. 69 CHAP. 65 The manner of making one of the aforesaid engines. Idem CHAP. 66 Another engine for the same. p. 71 CHAP. 67 A third Engine for the same. Idem CHAP. 68 Another Engine for trying the strength of powder by water. p. 27 TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE, THE EARL OF Newport, Master of his Majesty's Ordnance, my singular good Lord. Right Honourable: I Am not induced to present this Treatise to your Lordship for any worth that is either in it, or in myself, the Author of it; the thing being of small moment, and myself of as little account: but your Lordship's singular clemency to all, and your Honourable favour vouchsafed to me in particular, hath made me thus bold, and hath caused me thus fare to presume. I have been for certain years past, and so at present am, one of the inferior Gunners of his Majesty; and ever since I held that place, I have endeavoured to gain such skill and experience, as I esteemed most requisite for that service. And to that end I have bestowed some time and expense, as my occasions and ability would permit, in the practice of Artillery and Fireworks, wherein though I have chief aimed at such conclusions as might be useful against an enemy in the field, yet these halcyon days of peace and tranquillity, which through the goodness of God we have so long enjoyed, have given me occasion to invent and practise such also as these following; which howsoever they may seem to serve only for delight and exercise, yet as by the handling of these there may be gained knowledge in the natures and operations of the several ingredients and their compositions; so the due consideration of the ordering of them may excite and stir up in an ingenious mind, sundry inventions more serviceable in times of war. Now because your Lordship hath of late, by the gracious providence of the Almighty, for your extraordinary wisdom and worth, been advanced to that eminent place, upon which I have some dependence, and to which I stand obliged by my special service (to which also all works of Pyrotechnie may seem to have relation) I hold it my bounden duty to present these first fruits of my labours to your Honour, as an unfeigned testimony, and an undoubted evidence of my faithful observance, and singular respect to your Lordship: which if you shall be pleased to take into your special Patronage and protection, I shall be in good hope to be freed both from the venomous tooth of Momus, and from the malevolent aspect of Zoilus, and from the poisoned breath and stinging of the rest of that viperous brood, and shall always remain Your Honours in all dutiful observance, JOHN BABINGTON. TO THE READER. Courteous Reader, HAving for mine own private recreation, spent some vacant hours in the study and contemplation of those artificial Fireworks which are discoursed of in the ensuing Treatise; I held it requisite for my further and better satisfaction, as any opportunity did offer itself, to make experiment of some of the particularities there set down; and I did accordingly now and then bring into Act that whereof before I had but a mere Notion, and the bare and naked Theory: which because it could not be done so privately, but that of necessity sometimes it would come to the view of others; by that means it is come to pass, that more notice than I was ever willing to, hath been taken, that I have bestowed some thoughts upon that subject, and taken more than ordinary pains in it. And not so only, but thereupon also some of my intimate friends and acquaintance, who have a special interest in me, have been very instant and urgent with me that I would make my labours more public, and communicate them to the world, by committing them to the Press: whereto though I was a long while utterly unwilling, as being conscious to myself of mine own inability and insufficiency to devise and contrive any thing worthy to come to such public view, yet their importunity hath at last so fare prevailed with me, that those rude and unpolished lines are now like to see the Sun; and to come abroad to be scanned and censured by others. If thou shalt look upon them with a fair and favourable eye, I shall be encouraged to bestow my pains upon some other thing, which may happily give thee more content, and in the mean while shall rest Thy true friend and well-willer, JOHN BABINGTON, Gunner. In laudem Authoris JOANNIS BABINGTON Amici & in Art Mathesios celeberrima Socii. THe pleasant object of close ardent Bowers, Enveloped with Florae's fragrant flowers, The goodly Prospect of Sky-kissing Hills, Or fertile Plains veined over with purling Rils: More ravish not my senses with delight, Then doth thy Pyrotechnie. Many writ Of Arts in themselves worthy, but their worth Is much impaired by those that set them forth, Wholly unskilled in Megathologie, The very soul of each deep Mystery. I wish such shallow men would meddle less, And with their senseless stuff not cloy the Press. All such his School to pass by Plato wild In beautiful Geometry not skilled. Well hast thou then my Friend expressed thy Art, Since this rare Science hath the greater part Shared in thy Work, giving it winged fire, To mount it up-aloft, and deck the air With splendent stars, silver and golden showers; These are th'effects of Mathematic powers: Which crown their Author's temples, not with bays, But with a wreath of stars and fulgent rays. Fairly go on, thyself such Trophies rear, That neither Time not Envy may outwear: Tho. Stutevill. Philomathes. Unto his worthy Friend, and industrious Artist, Master JOHN BABINGTON. When as I did thy Book by chance espy, With diverse figures graced, most curiously Contrived, all new, and of thine own invention, With sundry Engines made by just proportion: I did admire thy skill, thy active brain, Whereby those things thou didst so well attain: Justly I might, for of no Nation yet, There's any hath this path so fully beat; Nor laid those grounds that thou hast done, whereby We might attain to things that tend so high. For senseless things with life thou seem'st to fill, Making them wondered at by common skill. Thou sundry doubts unfold'st, and with much ease, Thou teachest us to measure Land and Seas. When as I thought on these, and knew how rare Men thus addicted, and thus given were, My mind, my hand, my hand did force my pen, T' offer my mite of thankes amongst other men. Accept it then, and let it no less be Pleasing, then greater gifts are unto thee. Thy truly affectionate, and wel-wishing Friend, John Bate. In commendations of his worthy Friend Master John Babington Gentleman. I f I were worthy to extol the Name O f him that spends the ' Elixir of his spirits, H owe rare defined, I should set forth the same, N ere should I flinch; for why thy great demerits B ravely should arm me boldly to oppose A 'gainst thy Critics and backbiting foes, B rave man of worth proceed: the rarest wits, I f thy rare Work do come but in their view, N ere doubt, but they as soon as God permits, Great love and aid will then express to you, T hat spends your time, spirits, and great expense O n Country's good for love, not recompense. N owe tell me thou that hast a Talent lent, Which was received from God Omnipotent, And hor'dst it up, burying it with thy Name, It there takes Period, ending with thy frame. When this my Author's fame, I just presage, Shall flourish still, and not wear out with age. Thy Friend JOHN HICKS, alias Bridghampton Gunner. A Treatise of ARTIFICIAL FIREWORKS, most of them being invented and approved by the Author. CHAPTER I. How to make all sorts of moulds, in a true proportion, with the Rulers and Drifts. THat I may set down the true proceeding in Fireworks, it is requisite in the first place to lay down the true order and form of making all sorts of moulds, aswell greater as less: and to proceed, you must get of the best dry Box you can find; if not, of some other tough wood, as Crabbe-tree, Holly, or such like wood, which when you have provided according to your size you mean to use, it behoveth in the next place to be known, of what diameter you will have the height of your boar, and from thence all the rest is derived: For example, I desire to have one bored of an inch high, which I get bored by some Turner; and to know of what length it must be, I take for the said length six diameters of the boar, which maketh six inches, and for the thickness it ought to be half a diameter on each side, so that being turned true round, it contains two inches in diameter. Then have you to provide a bottom, which is to be fitted in such sort as you see described in this figure: the proportions hereafter follow. A is the foot of the mould, and is in height two diameters, which must be two inches; and one diameter and ¼ in breadth, whether it be square or round. B serveth only for a stay, and must arise one inch into the mould, which is one diameter, and so proportional in all other sorts. C is for the mouth of the rocket, and is in diameter ⅔ of the bore; so setting one foot of the compasses in the centre, describe the arch, which is the full height required. fig 1 diagram of a mold, roller, and drift used for fireworks E E serveth for the paper being rolled, and is ⅙ part of the diameter on each side: F F is the thickness of the mould, which is half the diameter of the boar, that is in this place half an inch. F G the length of the mould, which is six diameters. D the length and bigness of the needle, which is ⅔ the length of the mould, and bigness to be ⅙ of the diameter of the bore at the bottom, and sow taper to the top. When you have provided your mould according to your desire, than you are to fit your rowler, which must be two third parts of the diameter of the bore of the said mould, and the length thereof to be six inches longer than your mould, which is for the rolling of your paper, and is described by the letter A in this second figure, with a hole to be bored in the bottom to receive a wire, which must be fastened in another piece of wood somewhat shorter, which is to take out at pleasure, as you may see described by the letter D: there is required no proportion of length for this short piece; only it sufficeth if it be but so long as a man may well hold it in his hand; the use hereafter shall be more plainly described when I come to speak of the order of making the coffins; which shall be in the next Chapter. When you have fitted your rocket according to this direction, proceed to the making of your rammers, (or more properly called drifts) which must be always two at the least to, each mould, and as your mould increases in largeness, so must you have more rammers, by reason of the largeness of the taper needle: the manner and form you may see described by the letters B C. B is the hollow rammer, and hath a hole in it answerable to the length and bigness of the taper needle, as appeareth in that figure. It must be a small matter less than the rowler, because that otherwise in putting it in, you will put down the paper, which is very prejudicial to your rocket. The other rammer is not half so long, and is sad, that when you have beaten to the top of the needle, you make use of it: it is described by the letter C. When you have fitted your rammers, you must provide a piece of Box made after the form as you see described; which must serve to make your large coffins to put the work which you intent, on the head of your rockets. It is described by the letter F, as in the figure is manifest. The letters E E show the diameter, which is the just bigness of your rocket, and must be so in all sizes. G G shows the largensse of the coffin, and must be two diameters, which in this figure is two inches. H H H H shows the length of the coffin, which ought to be two diameters of your rocket, which in this place is two inches; but we are not tied to that so precisely; for we are to alter that according to the works which we put therein. CHAP. II. How to make your coffins of paper. NOW having explained the manner and form of the moulds, with the rest of the dependants, I come now to show the use of them in their several orders: and first for the use of the rowler, which is described by the letter A. You must provide some good strong paper, as old Law books, which are both strong and large; and cut out your sizes of paper for your work: now to know what length your paper must be, let it be always the length of your mould: so shall you have one diameter left above the mould, the use whereof shall be shown in his proper place. Now having provided your paper in length ready, take your rowler, and one length of paper, and begin to roll; when you have rolled one sheet, you must have a board to roll it with (the board is marked in the second figure; Figure 2. G. ) which must be done in this manner: you must hold the rowler in your left hand, and with your right hold the board; then lay down your rowler upon some smooth chest, or table, or such like; which when you have done, lay on your board, and roll it very hard, only one way; which having done, roll another length, and so proceed in rolling between every sheet, till you have rolled on so much as will fill the mould very strait; when you have so done, draw forth your rowler one diameter, which in this place is one inch; and then take the other part of the rowler, which is short, and marked with D, and put it in as you see described; and there have you a place left for the choking of your rocket, of which we come now to speak: CHAP. III. How you shall choke a rocket. WHen you come to choke your rocket, you must have a ring to screw into some post, at which you must tie your cord, which must be bigger or lesser, according to the bigness of your rocket, by reason that a small cord will not choke a great rocket for want of strength; and again, a great cord will not serve for a small, in regard that it will make too great a choking; so that you must have a bigger and less; which when you have so provided, tying one end to the ring, you must about a yard off tie a stick, in fashion of a handle for a swing, which must be strong, by reason that it must bear the whole weight of the body, (the letter G in the second figure expresseth the same; Figure 2. K. ) which when you have provided, fig 2 diagram of making a coffin of paper for fireworks put the stick between your legs, and wind the cord about the rocket case in the place appointed, which is between the long rowler and the short, when you have so done, gird it by degrees, ever turning your rouler, to the end it may come together more close and neat (the manner is expressed in the third figure, by the letter K) so when you have choked it sufficiently, draw forth your short rowler, and where your choking is, Figure 3. K. tie it about with strong packthread; and so drawing forth your rowler, you have a coffin ready to be filled when occasion serveth, the form whereof followeth. And because the choking of a rocket is very laborious and dangerous, in regard of the breaking of the cord, which often happeneth; I have therefore invented a certain Engine, whereby a child may choke the strongest rocket. The parts of it are a screw moving a wheel, on the axletree of which is fastened your cord for choking, with the other end of the cord fastened to a staple on the same board: Figure 3. B. C. the form whereof you shall find described in the third figure, by the letter B. C. Figure 3. A Is the coffin of a Rocket wholly finished, with his choking. B The form of an Engine for choking a Rocket. C The manner of using the Engine. F Is a measure made of horn or latten. G Is a funnel with a handle to fill small Rockets, and other small works. H Is a fine searce, with a receiver to searce your ingredients. I Is a mortar to meal your powder, and your other ingredients, which must be of wood, with a pestle. Having described the order and forms of all things necessary to the making of a rocket, it resteth now that we know the manner of driving it, as also what ingredients are most proper for every size. CHAP. IU. The manner of driving a Rocket, with the instruments belonging to the same. WHen you have finished your coffin of paper, take it, and with your hollow rammer force it down close into your mould, which when you have done, strike two or three smart blows to settle the paper into his right form: which being done, you must begin to fill your coffin, in doing whereof, you must have a great care, always providing a measure, which may contain 1/20, part of your whole Rocket; so by that means you shall not fail, but every Rocket shall have a true proportion alike; as for Example, I have a coffin, which being filled, will hold an ounce of mixture or thereabouts. I take the twentieth part, and when I find what quantity it is, I make a measure of horn, which shall contain so much, and then I begin to fill my coffin with one measure at a time, and putting in my rammer, strike four or five smart blows with a good strong mallet, Figure 3. M. and then I fill another measure, and strike again, so I continue till I come to the top of the needle, than I take the sad rammer, and so continue with it, till I come to the top of the mould: now the paper which is above the top of the mould, must be turned down, and beaten hard down, which being done, the Rocket is finished from the mould; which force out, with as much ease as you can, for the less you force it (being filled, and the needle taken out) the better it is, for knocking loosens the powder, and so causes the Rocket to fail: now it rests to know the receipts proper for every sort of Rockets. And first for Rockets of one ounce, The ingredients for ordinary Rockets. you may take only powder dust being very fine seared; which rises very swift, but carries no tail of fire with it, and often times breaks, unless they be very thick of paper: but the best and surest way is, to allay your powder with coal dust being well seared, which causes a more glorious show; and you may use it at your discretion. The ordinary allay for small Rockets is, 1 l. of powder, two ℥. of coal dust, which serves till you come to Rockets of four ounces, then must you take to every 1 l. of powder 2½ ℥ of coledust, continuing that quantity till you come to Rockets of ten ounces, and from ten to sixteen ounces, which is one pound: your allay must be to one pound of powder, three ounces of coal. Now when you have provided your powder, you must first meal it, and then scarce it, so that it may be free from any corn though never so small. Likewise take good dry coal, well burnt, and beat it to dust, searcing it very fine, which when you have done, mix them according as your occasion serveth, and as your directions are. CHAP. V The manner of heading a Rocket, with the order of capping it. NOw we come to show the manner of heading a Rocket, in which we are to use our thick Roler, specified in the second figure, and marked with F. Upon which you must role some paper or fine pasteboard, and past it so that it may be very close, and then choke it at the length of the thicker part, so that it may come close to your stick in the lesser part, which will fit to be tied to the top of your Rocket, so shall you have a coffin to put in your works, which must be of diverse sorts. That being done, you must provide Taper caps, which must be adjoined to the top of the large coffin. The use of them is to keep in your works, and to cause them to pierce the air more swiftly. The manner of making these caps, is, to take a pair of Compasses, and describe a circle in pasteboard, then cut it forth with a pair of shears, and that shall make two caps, being cut in the middle, and turned one corner under the other, and so pasted; and let them so pasted, be put in a napkin press 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 passed on the cap to the coffin: the form 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 driven, as I have showed you, with the paper turned down, you shall first prime it, which must be with cotton wick made for the said purpose, which you shall put up into the vent, leaving a piece to hang lower than the mouth of your Rocket, by three or four inches, which being done, tie a piece of paper over the mouth, to the end it fall not out: now having primed your Rocket, you may proceed 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 turn down the paper, you must with a bodkin, pierce two or three holes, to the intent that the Rocket having spent himself, your works which are on his head, may take fire; which holes, prime with a little powder dust, and then put on his head, with the choking fitted to your Rocket, which must come over the Rocket, in such manner, that the bottom of the greater part must come even with the top of the Rocket; which tie fast to your rocket with thread, and then put in your works: but before you put in your works, whether they be stars, or any other works, you must put in a little cotton wool, being rolled in powder dust, to the end your stars may fire, and likewise may blow out: which having done, put in your stars, or other works, and if you make more than one tire (as you may do of your stars) then must you put more cotton rolled in powder dust amongst them, or between every tire, to the end they may all take fire; then take your cap so provided as I have formerly showed, 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 stick, 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 straight, 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 between the choking of your Rocket, and the end of the vent; because if you should tie it upon the vent, it would loosen the powder, and so cause it to break in the firing. Now that you tie not the wrong end of your fig 3. diagram of how to choke a rocket Rocket uppermost, as some foolishly have done, for want of better instructions, you must always tie the end downwards, which is choked, and with a piece of strong thread tie it fast to the lower notch, just about the choking, so shall you be sure your sticks shall not fall off, neither will it endanger the hurting of your rocket. When yo● have tied that, then proceed to the tying of it higher, which as I say, must be somewhat higher than the top of the vent, and let your stick 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 find the stick be too heavy, cut it shorter, till you find your Rocket to balance your stick, for the stick being too heavy, causes your rocket to slug, and being too light, it makes a rocket fall before he is half 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 staff for the firing of them. PRovide a long staff with a pike at one end, which must be thrust hard into the ground, and a three legged staff with a hollow hoop at the top, to let this long staff slide up and down, to the end that having rockets, whose sticks are longer than your said staff, yet by raising it through the said iron hoop, you may make it four or five foot longer than it would be standing on the ground. Now this long staff must have a sliding piece cut with several points, which must be near the top; and at the bottom there must be a ring of wire, to let the stick go through, which must be made likewise to slide up and down; so thrusting the small end through the said ring, your rocket will rest upon that part above, which must be just opposite in a strait line, so open the mouth of your rocket, and pull out the end of your cotton wick, and with a piece of match, fastened in a Linstock, give fire to the said wick, and by degrees, you shall see it fire your rocket; which being well ordered, will mount very strait and high: now having showed the whole order of composing a rocket, with the firing of the same, I will show you an order for making of your stars, and other works which are necessary for the heads of your rockets; and first of all I will show you the making of diverse sorts of stars, with their compositions; and since we cannot make them without the compositions, I will first set down the compositions, and then proceed to the manner of making them. CHAP. VIII. Divers Compositions for stars. A Composition for stars of a blue colour, with red. TAke of powder mealed, 8 ℥ Salt peter, 4 ℥ Sulphur vive, 12 ℥ Meal these very fine, and mix them together with 2 ℥. of aqua vite, and ●/2 ℥ of oil of spick, which let be very dry before you use it. Another Composition which maketh a white fire and beautiful. Take powder, 4 ℥ Salt peter, 12 ℥ Sulphur vive, 6 ℥ Camphire, ⅓ ℥ Meal your ingredients, and mix them; now to powder your Camphire, you must dip your pestle in oil of Almonds, or such like oil: you must not use your wooded pestle for this, because that oil will soak into it, which is an enemy to some works; therefore take a brass pestle and mortar, and dipping the pestle in oil of Almonds, put it to your Camphire, and so stirring it by degrees, it will powder; which when you have done, keep it very close from air, 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 ℥ Salt peter, 1 l Sulphur vive, 8 ℥ Camphur, 1 ℥ Oil of peeter, 2 ℥ Meal those which are to be mealed, very fine, and mix them according to the former directions. CHAP. IX. The manner of making the best sort of stars. NOw having set down the compositions for stars, it resteth to know how these stars are made, which is diverse ways, but I will set you down only two ways both which are very good, so that you may take your choice. The first is this, you must make little square pieces of brown paper, which fill with your composition you intent, Figure 4. N. G. and so double it down, rolling it till you make it somewhat round, about the bigness of a nut or bigger, according to the size of your rocket; you may put in a dozen on the head of a small rocket; when you have made them up in this form, you must bind them round with small thread, which done, draw through a cotton wick prepared for priming, as hereafter shall be shown. The second sort are made after another manner, which is thus; you must have a rowler, as big as an ordinary arrow, which shall be to roll a length of paper about it, and with a little mouth glue, or paste, passed it round; so have you a hollow trunk of paper, which you shall order after this manner. Fill it by little and little with your small funnel, still thrusting it very hard, till you have filled it to the top; which done, cut it into short pieces, about half an inch in length; then having in readiness either hot glue, or size mingled with red lead, dip one end of your short pieces, to the end, that both ends of your star fire not, and also that it may not blow out; which being so finished, set to dry till you use them, and then putting the other end into powder dust, you may put them on your rocket, in one or two tier; always provided, as I said before, that you put in powder dust between every tier, to the end they may all fire; thus have you the manner of making your stars, the forms whereof you shall have described hereafter. Priming for Rockets. The priming before spoken of, is made after this manner; take oil of Camphire, and soak some cotton wick in it, then take it out being moist, and roll it in fine powder dust, which having done, you shall hang it up till it be thorough dry, so have you prepared a very good priming, which must be kept close from air, till such time you have occasion, otherwise the spirit of the Camphir will decay. The description of the staff for firing of Rockets. A The long staff to rise through the ring. B B B The three legged staff. C The ring or hoop of iron for the long staff to slide thorough. D A screw to screw fast the long staff being raised. E A piece of iron filled with notches to hang the Rockets on. F The ring of wire to put thorough the stick, which may be raised higher, or put lower, as occasion proffers. G G The description of two stars, with the priming, K, and the binding L. H The description of the trunk, or case, which is to be f●lled with your star mixture, and so cut into short pieces, as you see represented by the figures 1.1. fig 4th diagram describing how to create a report and the staff for firing a rocket where the uper part represents the open end, and is marked with M, and the under part which is glued, is represented by the letter N, so have you the stars wholly described. CHAP. X. The manner of making silver and gold rain. NOw I will show you the order for making of golden rain, which is after this manner; you must provide store of Goose quills, which having, you must cut off the quill as long as you can leave it, and cut not off the other end, but leave it close as you see presented by the letters O P. Figure 4. where O represents one filled, and P one empty. The receipt which you make your golden rain, must be the same which you make your rockets of one ounce, which is to 1 l. of powder, 2 ℥. of coal dust: now having filled many of these quills, as I have showed you, they must be put on the head of your rocket, with the open ends downward, to the end they may take fire so soon as your rocket is spent, and so shall you see appear a shower of gold, which by some is called golden rain: the like way may you make silver rain, filling your quills with the mixture prescribed for your white stars, and using them in the same manner, you shall see them fall down like a shower of silver, which is called silver rain; and thus much shall suffice to be known for this sort of work. CHAP. XI. How to make Fisgigs, which some call Serpents. NOw I will show you to make another sort of work, which we call Fisgigs, or as the French name them, Serpents, which are made as followeth. You must provide a small mould, of ¼ of an inch diameter, which must be made without a needle, which when you have, you must make your cases, as you make for your rockets, choking them ½ an inch from the end, which shall serve for occasion as it shall be proffered; when you have made your cases, fill them three inches with powder dust, and then choke him, and after put in a little corn powder, to the end that your Fisgig having played a while to and fro, he may break and give a report; the use of the making so deep a mouth at your first choking is, that you may fill it with your star mixture; so that putting diverse of them on the head of a large rocket, they will first appear like so many stars, and when the stars are spent, taking hold of the powder dust, they will run wriggling to and fro like Serpents, and after a while they will give so many reports, which will give great content. There are many works which are made of these fisgigs, which we will speak of in their places. CHAP. XII. How to make the reports or breakers. NOW I will proceed to show the manner of making reports to place on the head of a rocket; you must make a coffin of the size of your rocket of one inch, but you must roll your paper a great deal thicker, to the intent your report may be the greater; also in choking, the mouth must be left very large, to the end that on occasion you may fill it with star mixture; now when you have made diverse coffins about three inches and better in length, you must leave a small vent at the choking, the bigness of an ordinary wire, which you must stop with a little paper, while you fill the coffin almost full, or within half an inch of the top, with good corn powder, turning down four or five folds of paper, choke it close at the top, and bind it round with thread, so you have your reports ready, against such time you come to use them; which must be done in this manner: first be careful to pull out your stopple, which having done, fill the mouth with your star mixture, and so fasten him on the top of your rocket, always putting a little paper about the top of your rocket, and in it put a little powder dust, and so set on your report, and tie it fast on, with the mouth towards the head of the rocket, so that the rocket having spent himself, you shall see a large star appear, and when it is near the ground, you shall hear the report; the order thereof you shall find described in the fourth figure. 1 Is the report ready finished. 2 The rocket with the report on the head. 3 The report fastened on the head of the rocket. 4 The paper to fasten the report to the rocket, which must first be tied to the rocket, and likewise to the report. 8 Representeth a fisgig finished. 9 The choking, as I have showed, which must be silled upward with corn powder. 10 The mouth of your fisgig, which upon occasion you may fill with your star mixture, to put on the head of your rockets. 11 Representeth a fisgig, with a bladder, which must be tied on to the head of them, in such manner, that the neck of the bladder may go into the fisgig, and so be fast tied, that they stir not; the use of them is, only to fire in your hand, (for being fired with a little powder dust in the mouth of it) and so cast away from you, it will fly to and fro without ceasing, till it hath spent itself; and by reason of the bladder which is tied to it, it will not stick fast to the ground, as others do which have no bladders. 12 Representeth a cracker fastened to the top of a rocket, so that the rocket having spent himself, it taketh fire, and maketh many reports; the manner of fastening him is thus; you must first tie on your rocket, leaving the stick so much higher than the top, as will suffice to tie on your cracker, which must be tied about the said stick, in such manner, that the nose of it may come into the head of your rocket, which being primed with some powder dust, will take fire. 5 Representeth a rocketh with several works, whether stars, or serpents, and must be with a large coffin on the top, with his cap. 6 Is the coffin, which as I have showed you, must be somewhat bigger than your rocket. 7 Is the cap, which must be taper. 13 Sheweth the fastening of the stick, which must not be higher than your rocket, beside the large coffin. All which I have formerly described, with the form and manner of making them, and their several uses; so that I have fully laid down the whole order of finishing a rocket for the air. Now it resteth to show what other works may be done by the said rockets, which are many; for all sorts of Fire works for pleasure, do wholly depend upon them, except the water balls: and to proceed, I will first describe unto you the order of making the runners on the line, which must be done in manner following. CHAP. XIII. How to make a runner on the line. YOU must provide a small rocket mould, which must be half an inch or more, with rulers, and rammers, according as I have described, save only that your mould must have no needle, nor your rammers hollow; when you have provided them, make up your cases, after the form which I have showed you, some longer, and some shorter, which must be used as followeth; your short ones must be beaten up to the top, which must not be above four inches; your longer, which must be 5 ½ inches, must be likewise filled four inches high, and the rest to be filled with corn powder within half an inch of the top, Receipt for runners. which must be choked close, and tied up; the receipt for these sorts must be only fine powder dust. Now when you have driven them as is showed, you may proceed to the finishing of them, which must be in this manner; you must roll a piece of paper about the head of your shorter rocket, (which must be left open to give fire to the next) which paper must be five inches broad, and being rolled on, you must first try if the mouth of your other rocket will easily go in, which when you have done, draw forth your other rocket which you tried, and bind your paper fast to the top of your short one, in such manner, that four inches may remain hollow above the top of your rocket, which is to be filled with powder dust, about two inches high; then put in your longer rocket, (with the mouth inward) so fare as it may touch your powder dust; and tie the paper fast about the choking, as you shall find described in the fift figure; after you have done this, proceed to the putting on of your cane, which must be after this manner; you must first provide canes of such bigness as will fit your line, and cut them three inches, long, or somewhat better, and then notch them with three notches, which when you have so provided, first tie it to your longer rocket which is to fire last, and then doubling them together, (in such sort that the nose of the first come farther out than the tail of the second) tie it to them both; the reason of this is, because otherwise, if it were tied to them both together, and not to one severally, so soon as the first were fired, the cane will grow slack, and often fall off, and never make his return; and again, if you should not put the mouth of the one farther out than the tail of other, it would fire your other rocket, and so make a confusion: therefore that you may the better understand what I have showed you, I have set down in this fift figure, the whole order of finishing a runner for the line. A Is the short rocket. B Is the longer, which must be beaten four inches with powder dust, and one inch with corn powder. C C Your two rockets joined, the mouth of one to the tail of the other, in such sort, that there may be two inches between them. D The coffin of paper which joins those two together, and must be filled with powder dust, lightly put in. E E The rockets doubled, with the cane tied on. F The cane, which must be three inches long, or more. G The cord that passeth thorough the cane. H A piece of cork on the end of the line. CHAP. XIV. The manner of firing your runner. NOW having thus finished your runners, you must provide a line, which may be a hundred yards, or more, as your ground will permit, so fastening your cord at the farthest of your distance, provide a piece of board or cork, with a hole of the bigness of your line, which must be put on the end of your line, to the end that your rocket may not rest against any thing that may hinder it in the retrogade motion; always provided, you soap your line very well, for fear of firing: then put on your runner at the other end (with the mouth of the rocket towards you, which must be primed with powder dust) and pull your line very strait, which is a great help to the running of a rocket, so fastening your cord, you may fire your runner, which being well ordered, will run to the farthest of your line, making his return, with a report at last; so have you finished the runner. fig 5th diagram showing runners, wheels and ground wheels CHAP. XV. How to compose a wheel. NOW I will show you the order of composing a wheel, which is a prime work, being well ordered; of which some are movable, and some immovable: of the movable, some move horizontal, and some vertical, which is toward the zenith: and first of the movable wheel. You must provide a wheel of such diameter as you please, which must be made into squares, according to the circumference of your wheel, and to proportion your wheel into a just number, you may allow five inches or better for every side, so that your wheel being 14 inches diameter, the circumference will be as 7 to 22, which is 44 inches circumference; so being divided by 5, there will be 8 squares, Figure 5. N 1. or more properly, 8 sides, which will every one contain 5 inches and 3/10, which is the cord of 45 degrees; these sides must be hollowed with a groofe fitting your rockets, and at the ends of every side it must be filled with notches, to fasten your binding that it slide not, when you bind fast your rockets; the form whereof you shall find in the fift figure N 1. A Sheweth the 8 sides. B The places of fastening. C The screw which fasteneth the wheel to some post. Note always, that as your wheel doth increase in diameter, so you must increase in the proportion, for that rocket which forces about a wheel of 14 inches, will not force a wheel of 18 inches; nor that rocket which forceth one of 18 inches, will not force one of 24 inches; but that you may come to a near proportion, I will satisfy you so near as I can; first seek the diameter of your wheel, which imagine to be 18 inches, I take the third thereof, which is 6, so that your rocket for 18 inches diameter, must be 6 inches long, and your wheel of 24 inches diameter, will require rockets of 8 inches; yet as your wheel increaseth, you may alter this proportion by dividing it into more sides. Now having provided your wheel, with your rockets of a just size, you shall proceed to the finishing of it, which must be after this manner; you must join your rockets one to another, in such sort as I shown you for your runners, that is, with the mouth of the one to the top of the other, and so proceed till you have fastened so many as will serve your wheel, always leaving so much space between each rocket, as may suffer them to come round about your wheel, without breaking any; which when you have done, proceed to the tying of them on to your wheel, which must be so ordered, that you tie them where the notches are, to the end they fail not in firing, by sliding off. In tying the●● on you must provide that you leave a little distance between the first and the last, which must be parted with a bolster of paper well soaped, to th● end that the first fire not the last, and so cause a great confusion. Now for the manner of placing them, it is according to the workman's pleasure, which must be either horizontal, or vertical; for the horizontal wheel you must provide a post fastened in the ground, and screw your wheel to the top of it; for the vertical, you must screw it on the side of the post, so having fired them, you shall see one run parallel to the horizon, and the other to the zenith, as you shall see described in the fift figure. N 2 Representeth the horizontal wheel. N 3 Representeth the vertical wheel. There are many other works which do wholly depend upon the wheel, of which I will set down some few. CHAP. XVI. How to make a ground wheel. HEre I will declare unto you the manner of making a pair of wheels to run upon a plain horizon; provide two wheels, (such as are spinning wheels) of one bigness, which must be fastened to a small axletree, in such manner, that they may not move about the axletree, and on the middle of the axletree fasten a fire wheel, which let be so much less than the other, that it touch not the ground, so that being fast upon the same axletree, it cannot run unless it carry the other with it, which being set on a plain horizon, will run a great way without ceasing: now that you may make it return, you may provide your wheel in such manner, that it may have rockets on both sides, so that one side being spent, it may give fire to the other, which being fastened with their mouths the contrary way, will make a return with a swift motion. The form of these ground wheels you may see represented in the fift figure, N 4. A A the two wheels fastened to the axletree. C C the axletree on which the three wheels are all fastened. B the fire wheel, which is represented of a lesser diameter than the other two. CHAP. XVII. Another manner of ground wheels. THere is another kind of ground wheels, and that is made so, that the wheels may move about the axletree; but this sort is not moved about by a wheel, in regard the axletree must stand still, but it is made after this manner; you must make your axletree somewhat broad about the midst of it, and in that place you shall boar two holes, into which you shall put two rockets, which must be so close one to the other, that they may almost touch, and must be so joined together, that one having spent himself, the other may take fire, after the manner of your line work, to the end that being fired, it may run first one way, and then the other taking fire, may make his return by a second motion: now the rockets which you put into this place, must always be proportioned according to the bigness of your wheel, which if you perform according to the direction, you shall have your desire. The form of this wheel is expressed in the fift figure N 4. A A the two wheels being lose upon their axletree. B B the axletree in which the rockets are put. C the place for the two rockets to be fastened, which must be so ordered, that the mouth of one may join to the tail of the other. It is especially to be noted, that these wheels must run upon a very plain horizon, such as the place for the game of Pall Mail at St. james, or some other very smooth place; by reason that after the first firing of a rocket, his violence is over, and so a small thing will stay him. There are also sundry sorts of wheels, which do perform diverse offices; some for displaying of a Coat of Arms, and others for setting of diverse circular works, some of them I will speak of; and first I will show the manner of making a horizontal wheel, which with one firing shall give diverse reports, and shall stand fixed. CHAP. XVIII. The manner of making a fixed wheel, which shall give diverse reports. YOU must first get a wheel 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 half an inch wide, and likewise as deep; to which groofe you must have a piece of wood so fitted, that it may just slide in, which piece of wood must have so many small holes bored in it as you will have reports about it, always provided, you set them not too near together, because the firing of one may not beat down the other; when you have thus provided your wheel, make a conveyance or hollow trunk of paper which will just fill it, which must be filled with some of your slow mixtures for stars, and then putting on the cap of wood so fitted with holes, and made very fast with glue, 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 peal of Chambers placed in a small room, 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 sixth figure marked A. CHAP. XIX. How to make a fixed wheel which shall cast forth many rockets into the air. THere is likewise another sort of wheel not much unlike to the former, which shall give fire to diverse rockets standing circular, the order differs nothing from the former, only you must make a hole for every stick to pass thorough, 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 be all spent; the mixture for this conveyance ought to be 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 ℥ Meal these ingredients very fine, and incorporate them, adding ⅛ ℥ of Linseed oil, and ⅛ ℥ of oil of peter; these oils must be dropped in by degrees, and so wrought up, till you find your mixture bound like dough, which if you perform well, will be both slow and sure. Figure 6. B. The form of this wheel is expressed in the sixth Figure, by the letter B. CHAP. XX. How to make a fixed wheel, which shall cast forth diverse Fisgigs, and likewise as many reports or breakers. 'Cause a wheel to be turned, with a groofe on the top to put in your conveyance of paper; then fit on a piece of wood, as I have formerly shown you, with small holes to put in quills, which are for the firing of your reports, and must be placed round about the uper part of your wheel; and on the side thereof, shall be made diverse holes of the bigness of your Fisgigs, (which shall be so pierced thorough to the paper conveyance) those fisgigs that are placed round on the side, & the reports on the top, one train 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 be fired a report, so that there shall be a continual motion until the whole train be consumed: the form of this wheel is represented in the sixth Figure, by the letter G. G Represents the wheel finished, with Reports and Fisgigs. R R Represents the reports, placed on the uper part of the wheel. F F Represents the Fisgigs placed round on the side of the wheel. CHAP. XXI. The manner of making a wheel which shall run two ways, which is, forward and backward. 'Cause a wheel to be made, so that the rockets may be placed on each side, with a hole thorough 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 wick for priming, and let it come through your wheel, to the mouth of another rocket, which shall be turned the contrary way; so that the wheel having finished his revolution one way, may take fire fig 6th diagram showing fixed wheels on the other side, and so make a retrograde motion: and as you do this, so may you after the same manner, make a wheel which shall run direct, and continue twice so long as another of the same bigness, which is by placing the rockets the same way on both sides. The form of this is expressed the 6 Figure, by the letters D and E. D Represents the wheel with Rockets placed on the one side, the last rockets having a vent, to pass through to the other side. E Represents the said wheel finished with Rockets on both sides. CHAP. XXII. The manner of composing a wheel, which having finished his revolution, shall represent a Coat of Arms. MAke a wheel of some light board, so that it may be without any spokes, and upon one side of it, let be drawn, that Coat of Arms you intent to represent, than boar so many holes in the wood, as may conveniently stand on the traced lines, then on the other side, near the top, shall a place be made, which may contain your rockets, with a hole pierced thorough 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 be primed carefully, to pass thorough 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, soap it well over for fear of some sparks lighting on the paper before the appointed time of firing, so have you a wheel ready which you must put on an axletree, so that it may stand vertical, and then firing it, you shall have your desire, for so soon as the wheel hath spent his moving work, it will give fire to the other side; and then standing still, you shall see a perfect Coat of Arms in fire. Figure 7. A. B. A Represents that side of the wheel which hath the Rockets placed on it. B Represents the Coat of Arms, in which the round spots signify the places to be filled with a slow mixture, which must be moist, to the end it keep close in. fig 7th diagram showing coat of arms in fire and antique figures moved by rocket CHAP. XXIII. How to represent a Coat of Arms in fire, which having burnt a small while, the said Coat shall appear in his perfect colours, and shall continue so a long while. FIrst cause a board to be made four square, of what dimension you please, which let be ½ an inch thick, and cause a Painter or some drafts man to trase out what Arms or other figure you please, upon the said board; also let there be another which shall be an inch and ½ thick, and of the same breadth, which fasten to the other with some small tacks, till you have boared so many holes as you have occasion for, which shall behalf an inch asunder, and likewise half an inch boar; then boar your holes thorough your inch board, and let them enter an inch into the thicker plank, then make four square holes (one at each corner) in the thicker plank, to receive four square pieces of wood, which must be an inch square, which glue fast into four holes opposite to the other in the thinner plank, 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 thorough the thicker plank, and be fastened to a piece of wood, which may turn upon a joint; to the end you may draw the thinner square nearer as your fire consumes, and must draw it too foot at least; then provide a small arrow of two foot long, and upon it roll 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 thorough the thinner piece, and the ends thereof into the thicker, which let be glued fast into the bottom of that, so that they may stand very fast, and likewise let them pass so easily thorough the other holes, that the board may slide nearer or further, to or from the fire, at pleasure; then fit a piece of pasteboard, so that it may come close about these rolled lances, and may fit as exactly as the board doth at the other end; and let this come within half an inch of the firing end, than prime them all with quick 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 wind is; stand on that side, and fire it at the lower corner, so that by the help of the wind, you shall have it all fire at once; which having burnt a while, will come to the pasteboard and fire it, so that falling away, there will be represented a Coat of Arms in colours, close to your fire, which may be drawn in by one standing behind, so that it shall seem always to be standing in one place, and the light not to grow shorter till the last. The form of this frame is presented in the seventh figure C D. A The frame without the scutcheon or letters. B The back side of the frame, with an iron rod passing thorough 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 rolled paper, filled with slow composition. CHAP. XXIV. How to represent an antic dance, by the help of fire, which shall move in a circular form. 'Cause a board to be made of two foot square, so that one side of it may be hollowed, (or grooved) to lay your rockets in; then cause another board to be made of the same largeness, so that it may sit close on the other, the rockets lying between, and in the centre of the same board, place a brass socket, which must pass thorough the other for the centre pin to enter into it; then place your antic figures on the top of the said board, with wires passing thorough both; to the end they may be turned about in their motion, by certain pins placed in another board, which must stand fixed; so that moving about the said board, the pins take hold of the wires which come thorough, and turn them backward and forward; but in regard of the extraordinary violence of this motion, it will tear all in pieces, unless you have a great care in making all things to run very exactly, which must be 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 bottom board, which stands fixed with a socket to put on a long pole, and hath a small pin 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 wires passing thorough both boards which are fastened to the foot of each antic. H H The other wires which stand fast in the fixed board, and are to turn about the antics passing by them. CHAP. XXV. Another way for making an antic dance, which is not so violent as the former. TAke one of your large sort of wheels, and fasten it on an iron axletree, so that the wheel move the axletree with his motion; then let there be a screw filled on the said axletree, which may be fitted to a small wheel of ten teeth or thereabouts as you please, for the more teeth there is in the wheel, the slower it goeth, and easier, et contra: which wheel let it be so fastened to an axletree, (on which the board bearing the antics must stand) that the fire wheel turning about vertical, may move your work hirozontall, which will move so slow, that the fire wheel will be ten times about, before your Motion will move once about, which being done neatly, will prove a work of great contentment. The form whereof is expressed in the seventh Figure by the letter F. A The fire wheel placed on an iron axelrree, and made fast to it. B The screw made on the said axletree, or filled out of the same stuff. C The wheel which the aforesaid screw must be fitted to run with, which must have so many teeth, as you intent the fire wheel shall move about for once of your motion. D The square board on which the antics stand, and is fastened to the axletree which hath the wheel. E A place for a light to burn so long as the work endureth. F F F The detentes or pieces which come thorough the board from the foot of each antic. G G G Certain pins 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 work with the manner of placing the works in a true order. PRepare a Castle of wood, or plate, of what largeness you please, the which shall be made four square, with round towers and battlements, and on the top or inner part of that work, let there be 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 conveyances, (which let be of brass) which is for your reports, which must be placed between each battlement, and shall have little pipes of brass to give fire to each report, which must be screwed into the great conveyance; which conveyance let be filled with your composition for rockets of 1 l. which is one pound of powder to 3⅓ ℥ of coal dust; and by this means you shall have them all fire in order, without any confusion; which having spent itself, shall give fire to another conveyance, which shall be placed further in, with a strong wall between, so that the fire of one do not offend the other: the use of this conveyance is to place diverse rockets on, so that they may fire one after another, and shall take fire as soon as the reports are ended. Now for the four large towers, you shall provide four pieces of wood, turned and fitted to slide in exactly, and shall have diverse smooth holes boared round thorough the out side of your tower, and the wood, till they meet with the hollow which passeth from the top to the bottom, or within an inch, which hollow shall be one inch and a half diameter, and must be filled with a very slow mixture, (to the end it may continue as long as the work 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 fly 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 four uper towers, and that through one of the corners, may be a hole, which may go to the uper conveyance, that so those reports may fire next, and at the end of that conveyance shall be another to pass down to the lower tier of reports, and at each corner of that conveyance shall be a hole to pass 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 be placed, which taking fire orderly, will conclude the work. These and the like are for the pleasure of princes and great personages, rather than for the vulgar. The form of this Castle is laid down 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 conveyance 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 between. CHAP: XXVII. How to represent diverse motions in a Castle of firework. 'Cause a frame to be made, placing thereon two Castles, that they may stand about twelve foot distant one from another; this frame must be so ordered, that it may be hollow underneath, which being done, let the doors of those Castles be placed the one opposite to the other, at each end of the said frame, and just within each door, let there be a figure 8 diagram showing a castle of fireworks with moving figures rowler of wood, four inches diameter, which shall have iron pevikts or points to run upon, that they may run the more easy; and let those roulers be put full of small pins, and a girt put round about them, to the end that the rulers moving circular, may draw the girt in a strait line, then placing some antic Figures on the gird (so that they may move about with it) place your fire wheels upon the axletree of each rowler, providing another rowler at each end to make it slide more easily; so firing the said wheels, you shall see the antikes come one out of one door, and the other at the other door, meeting in the midst; and when they come at the contrary end, they make a return with their heads downward, and come up again at the same doors they went first out of, which will continue running, so long as the fire wheels continue. And when the wheels stand still, the reports shall go off on each tower one against another, which shall be done after this manner: let one of the spokes of both your wheels be hollow, and also part of the axletree, which let be filled with powder dust, and the rocket which fires last, shall be placed over that spoke which hath the vent, with a piece of cotton wick to fire it, so will it run down thorough the axletree, which (as I said) must be hollow, and must have paper pasted over it, so that as soon as the fire comes there, it breaks thorough the paper, and fires a train which is laid round about it, which train 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 pass to an inner conveyance, which shall fire so many rockets, as may be well placed about it; this being well and orderly performed, will give great content. The form 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 doors opposite. B The two figures moving forward. C C The two fire wheels which causeth this motion. C Represents the frame for this motion. D D The two fire wheels fixed on their axletree. E E The Roler each wheel 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 diagram showing a castle of fireworks with moving figures including an army CHAP. XXVIII. Another way to perform the same motions, and will not be so violent as the former. PRepare your Castle with the frame fitted as the former, only upon the axletree of each rowler, let there be a small wheel with teeth, and likewise must there be a screw upon the axletree of each fire wheel; which must be so fitted, that they may draw these wheels about, which if they be well fitted, will move them with great facility; and whereas the other fire wheels were placed on each side, these must be placed behind, or underneath, which you please, or find most commodious. Now you must note that your fire wheel moving once about, moveth but one tooth of your other wheel by reason of the screw which draws him, so that if you make ten teeth in the said wheel, your fire wheel shall make ten revolutions for one of your rowler: by this means it will move after a fare more easy 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 wheels which forceth the rest of the work. C C The screws fastened on the axletree of each wheel, which forceth the rulers. D D The two wheels which are placed on the rulers, 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 form of an army of an hundred men marching, which shall present and fire at one certain place appointed. THe ground of all these motions, are wheel works; 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 drawn by two screws fastened to the fire wheels, in regard of the great weight they are to draw; also they must be somewhat large wheels, with rockets of the second size, which is five ounces in each rocket, placing about each wheel, 20. or more, which having provided, you must likewise get you so many figures of soldiers, which must be cut by a Carver, and aught to have the joints lose of the right arm of each, with a wire 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 several girts, so that they may stand ten in rank 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 several groofe; then placing small pieces in their hands, which must be ready loaded and primed, set them going, and within two foot of the end of their march, let there be a crooked piece of iron stuck up, between each file, so that they may stand just in a strait line, to the end that when the soldiers move to that place, the detents or wires are forced against those pins which draw back the arm, and so pulls the trickers of each Piece in that rank, so that the whole rank will fire altogether, if they be well ordered; and as these have fired and passed, another rank 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 fail, and will be a very rare work to behold, but will prove extraordinary costly to the owner thereof. The form of this you shall find in the ninth figure, by the letter R? E represents the whole frame, with all the parts thereof. F F are the two fire wheels, being placed one at each end of the rowler. G G the screws, being fastened to each fire wheel, which move the two wheels placed on the rowler. H H the two wheels being placed at each end of the rowler. I I two rulers, about which the girts do pass, 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 he ought to be made. M Is the detent which is fastened to the right arm, and is to slide on a joint, being fastened to the thigh; so that it may move the arm. N another detent which moveth the former, as it passeth by the pin. O the pin which putteth by the said detent as it cometh to it. q q the said pins in their right places. CHAP. XXX. How to present music playing, (by the help of fire) with antics dancing. 'Cause an instrument to be made, representing the Virginals, and to it fit a Barrel set with several tunes, (as I shall show you in another Treatise hereafter) then let there be a wheel with teeth fastened on this barrel, and a fire wheel, with a screw on the axletree, as I have showed before, which screw may be so fitted, that as it moves round the barrel one way, so it may move another wheel, being placed on the side, which wheel shall move certain antics, as the music playeth. This and many more may be performed by the motion of wheel work. The form of this is expressed in the tenth figure, by the letter A: B the fire wheel, fixed on the axletree, which moveth a screw. C the screw, moving a wheel placed on the top of it, and another on the side. D the wheel fastened to a barrel set with tunes. E the wheel placed on the side, which hath a pinion at the end of the axletree, marked F; which carrieth about the wheel G; on which there are placed four antics: this wheel moveth four pinions marked H, on which is placed four other antics. I is the barrel set with tunes. K the palates which causeth the jacks to move. L the jacks which pass up to the strings. M a board or frame covering the strings, on which is placed the antics. Having spoken sufficiently of the order of motions performed by wheel work, I come now to show some things that may be 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 be made hollow, with a place in the belly to put in two rockets, and shall be so ordered, that there may come a small pipe from the tail 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 rolled paper, and thrust in; then on the top of the back let there be fastened 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, (always noting, that this receipt must be some slow mixture, such as your stars) than fire that rocket which is placed with his mouth toward the tail of the Dragon, which will make it seem to cast fire from thence, till he 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 find in the tenth figure, by the letter B. B represents a dragon to be 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 tail, with the mouth of the rocket outward. D is a conveyance from the tail of that rocket, to the mouth of the next, which cometh out at the belly. E E two small brass pullees, fastened in a frame on the back, for the line to run in. CHAP. XXXII. Another way for making a fiery Dragon to pass on the line without the help of fire. IN the former Chapter, I spoke of a Dragon of a small size, of a foot in length, or thereabout; now I come to speak of those of a greater magnitude, which cannot so easily be forced with fire, in a strait line, without some artificial help; for Art must be always as a handmaid attending on Nature, to help her in her work; therefore having prepared a large dragon, you must make diverse hollow trunks of wood, within the body, which shall be to cast out fire, and on a sudden diverse small balls of fire, other times a great number of small fisgigs. Now to make this run on the line, you must have a hollow trunk fastened on the back, between the wings of your dragon, which must be somewhat bigger than your cord, with a small hole thorough each end; the use of those small holes is, to fasten a small cord, which must be so fastened, that one end thereof must be fastened at the head of the Dragon, and so pass over a pulley; (which pulley shall be fastened at the end of the line) and returning thorough that hollow trunk in the back, it shall be put over another pulley at the other end of the line, and so making a return, shall be fastened to the hole in the hinder part of the trunk. Now one of these pulleys shall have a handle or winch to turn it about, which shall cause the dragon to move, and shall be a help to the drawing of it backward and forward at your pleasure; after this manner you may form many works on the line, which otherwise cannot be done. The form of this is set down in the eleventh figure, by the letter A. fig 10 diagram showing antique figures dancing to music using wheel work and a dragon moving on a line A representeth the dragon ready finished, with all his works. B C the manner of the hollow trunk which the cord must pass thorough. B the place for fastening of a small cord, which must pass over the pulley, marked D. D the manner of fastening that pulley which must be at the further end of the line. o o o o the manner of the passing of the said line which is thorough the hollow trunk, and so over the pulley marked E, and then fastened to the other end of the trunk marked G. F a handle or winch belonging to one of the pulleys which maketh the dragon move forward and backward, as occasion proffereth. H H the great line on which the dragon passeth, and is only for keeping it steaddy in the motion. CHAP. XXXIII. How to represent S. George fight with a Dragon in fire on 〈…〉. HAving prepared your figures artificially made, you must make a h●llow t●●nck thorough the body of each fi●●●e, fo● a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to pass thorough 〈◊〉 likewise for a smaller lin● to draw them 〈◊〉 from each other; which m●st be fastened in ●●is manner: at the breast 〈◊〉 ●he dragon let one end of one cord be 〈◊〉 which shall pass thorough the body of the George, and returning it about ● pulley at the other end, fasten it to the back of the George, and a● the breast of the Georg● let ●n●●her cord be tied, which shall pass thorough the body of th● d●●gon o● a trunk on the back, and so returning about a pulley at that 〈◊〉 sha●● be pulled strait, and fastened to the tail of the dragon, 〈◊〉 that 〈◊〉 you turn that wheel, the George and dragon will run furiously at each other; and when you please you may cau●● the● to make a retreat and come on again diverse times; but in all th' 〈…〉 forget not to 〈◊〉 your line extraordinary well, and likewise have 〈…〉 that yo 〈…〉 not too heavy above the line, but that they may hang equ●●r●●● ●the●wise they will turn their heels upward, which 〈◊〉 be● a great disgrace to the work and workman: there might be 〈◊〉 w●●tten upon this same subject, but to the ingenious, I think it insufficient, th●y may order their work● according to their own fa 〈…〉 e is the ground of the matter. The manner of this is repr 〈…〉 eleventh figure, by the letter B. C represening the George. D the dragon. E the small line fastened to the head of the dragon, and passeth thorough the body of the George. fig 11th diagram showing dragon moving on a line and fighting Saint George F the pulley which guideth the said line. G the place of fastening the other end of that line. H another line fastened to the breast of the horse, which passeth thorough the hollow trunk of the dragon. I the pulley about which it passeth, and is fastened to the tail of the dragon. K the place of fastening the said line to the dragon. L L the great line which guideth these two figures. M the winch or handle fastened to one of the pulleys, and is for the moving them forward or backward. CHAP. XXXIV. How to make a trunk of fire, which shall cast forth diverse fire balls. PRovide a trunk of four inch boar, and two foot long, with a hollow place in the bottom, of two inch boar, & as much deep, to the end it may be put on a strong post; let there be a bottom left between the two boars, which shall be two inches thick, so that there will be twenty inches left for your work, which shall be filled as followeth; first fill it with corn powder one inch, then put in your ball, which shall be five inches and a half, and round about it put powder dust, till you come to the top, then fill it two inches and a half with slow mixture, and on that two inches of corn powder: then put in another ball, and after it slow mixture, which shall be filled to the top, and so reserve it for your use; note that you must turn three places for arming of it, which must be done either with iron hoops or else with cords, to the end the violence of your corn powder burst it not; your upper ball shall be made after this manner: Having made ready a case of canvas, fill it with this mixture following. Take 1 l. of salt peter. ½ l. of powder dust. ¼ l. of sulphur vive. 2 ℥ of camphire. 1 ℥ of oil of peter. Mix these very well, till it become somewhat tough, and then fill your ball, and arm it, leaving four vents, into which you shall put four small sticks, till such time you have coated; the manner of coating is, to dip the ball in a mixture of pitch, rosin, tallow, and sulphur, but this is for balls of longer continuance; the coating for ●his ball shall be as followeth; The receipt for coating, ½ l. of pitch. ¼ l. of varnish. 1 ℥ of sulphur vive. 2 ℥ of powder dust. Melt your pitch and sulphur, and then pour in your varnish and powder dust, and while it is hot dip in your ball, and then cast a little fine powder dust over it, and so let it cool a little, and then dip it lightly again, and so you have it ready; when you use it, pull out your four sticks out of the vents, and fill them with powder dust, and so put them in. The lower ball which is last fired, shall be full of stars, with powder dust intermixed, to break the ball, these shall be primed with cotton wick made of purpose, to the end it may not fire the bal till it be up a good height, and then to break into a shower of stars. The receipt of the composition for the trunk. 1 l. of roch peter. ¼ l. of fine powder dust. ½ of sulphur vive. 2 ℥ of camphir. 1 ℥ of linseed oil. The form of this trunk is represented in the twelfth figure by the letter A: A represents a trunk ready finished, with two balls. B the ball which lieth uppermost, and is filled with slow composition. C the lower ball, which is filled with stars, D the slow mixture at the top of the trunk. E the corn powder to send forth the upper ball. F the second lay of composition. G the powder for sending forth the lower ball. o o o three places left for arming the said trunk. H the bottom of the trunk, which must be two inches thick. I a place left to put in a post of wood for it to stand on. CHAP. XXXV. The manner of making a Club, which being fired, shall cast forth diverse small works, or fisgigs. 'Cause a piece of wood to be turned of four inches diameter, boar it one inch and a half from the top toward the bottom, only leaving a bottom of an inch thick, and likewise a place underneath to put in your club staff, the length of this trunk may be eighteen inches; then draw a circular or spiral line, from the top to the bottom, which let be in the manner of a screw, every thread being an inch and a half asunder, and in that line boar small holes, (of the bigness of one of your fisgigs) till you come within a quarter of an inch of the bottom of each hole; and then pierce it with a small piercer, till you come to the soul of the trunk. Having done this, make small wires fit to each hole, which let be fastened, so that they may stand opposite to the said holes, within two inches off from each hole; the use of them is, to keep your fisgigs more upright and steaddy, which otherwise would be apt to fall out, by reason they must be put in very slack, or else they would not so easily come forth, when they should, then load your trunk with the slow mixture appointed in the former chapter (for a trunk) and put in your fisgigs, priming each, and likewise each hole, and so firing it at the top, you shall find them come forth one after another, as your trunk burneth downwards, which shall scatter abroad after a confused manner. The form of this you shall see in the twelfth figure, by the letters E 1 E represents the form of the club without the wires on, or any other work. I is the said club ready finished with all his work. K the wires placed for to stay each fisgig in his place. L the fisgigs placed. M the place of firing. N the club fast put into the bottom. CHAP. XXXVI. Another sort of club, which being fired, shall give many reports. PRovide a club like unto the former, but let not the holes be boated so big, but only that a small quill or pipe may go in for a vent to every breaker, then having boared your holes at proportionable distance, cut so many hollow groofes with a googe or half round chisel, and fit them to your breakers of paper, and place so many reports round about it; your reports or breakers for this work shall be made as followeth; upon a rowler of half an inch, roll so much paper till you make it an inch thick, and better, choking it close at one end, then fill it an inch and a half with good pistol powder, choking it at the other end, so that it be very close at each end; then pierce a small hole in the middle for a pipe to enter in, which must be filled with powder dust, and put into the small holes of your trunk, very close, then pitch them well round about, and pour pitch all over, that the work may not be seen; and likewise that it may hold your reports close together; this pitch likewise when the fire cometh to it, will easily fire, and make a very furious light, which will give great content. The form of this is represented in the twelfth figure by the letters O and V. O representing the club without the reports placed. A the groofes to put in the reports, with a hole in the middle of each groofe to put in the quill. R a report with a quill ready to be placed in the club. figure 12 diagram showing club, jack in a box, and sphere types of fireworks q the manner of the quill which must be put into those small holes to fire the reports. V the club finished, with the reports placed in it. B B the manner of the reports as they are placed in the said club. CHAP. XXXVII. Another, which I call jack in a box. THE order of making this is after this manner; provide a box of plate, of what largeness you please, which let be six inches deep, with a socket at the bottom to put in your staff, then putting in a quantity of corn powder or powder dust, (in the bottom of the box) you shall fill it with fisgigs, or serpents, leaving a place in the middle for a cane to go thorough to the bottom, which cane must be filled with slow receipt, in which you shall put a quantity of camphir, but no oils, in regard of the narrow passage it hath to burn, without any other vent; then put your cane down, leaving it an inch above the box, and take a piece of thick pastebord, cutting a hole for the cane to pass thorough, and glue it close to the cane, to the end the fire pass not thorough before the appointed time; this pastebord must be of sufficient breadth to cover your box quite over, than put it on a staff, and light your cane, which will appear only like a candle, and after a pretty distance of time you shall hear a sudden noise, and see all those fisgigs flying some one way, some another. This toy hath given great content to the spectators. The form of this is set down in the twelfth figure by the letters B C D. B the box without any thing in it. C the fisgigs placed in the box. D the box finished, with a cane passing thorough to the bottom. CHAP. XXXVIII. How to represent the Sphere, moving in the air, without any other supportation. 'Cause a Sphere to be made somewhat light, and on the horizon place your rockets, and in the zenith or upper part, let there be a pin pass thorough the meridian, with a ring fastened to it, to hang it by; this must be fastened to a large Kite, so as the Sphere may hang six foot under it, then fasten a match of cotton to the nose of the first rocket, and light it, which having done, raise your Kite, and by such time as it is at the highest, the rockets shall take fire, and shall cause it to make diverse revolutions in the air; you may place the midst of this sphere full of lights, which will seem very strange. The manner of this is represented in the twelfth Figure, by the letters K and S. K Represents the Kite which is supported by the air, and to which the sphere is fastened. S The sphere with all his circles, the rockets being placed about the horizon. H H The horizontal circle about which the rockets are placed! CHAP. XXXIX. How to represent the sphere, with diverse circles, some movable, others fixed. 'Cause a sphere to be made, either of wood or mettle, the outward circles representing the meridian circle with the horizon, the next within shall represent the Collurs with the equinoctial, likewise the tropicks and zodiac, whose poles shall be 23 degrees ½ from the poles of the world; by which means the ecliptic shall be excentricke to the equinoctial, (which shall be expressed) so that fastening rockets about the equinoctials, and placing two small lights in the zodiac, the one representing the Sun, the other the Moon: you shall see them move about the earth, (which is placed in the midst of the spheres) according to the rules of Tycho Brahe, and shall be according to their natural manner of motion, which is continually rising and settling in an obliqne motion to the horizon and meridian, which always stand fixed, and the rest moving on the poles of the equinoctial, although the ecliptic be framed from its own poles. The form of this is represented in the twelfth Figure, by the letter T. M The fixed Meridian. A A The Horizon. E E The Equinoctial. E E The Ecliptic with the Sun and Moon placed round. P P The poles or axletree about which all the inner circles move. CHAP. XL. How to make a half moon of Rockets to appear in the air. PRovide a piece of plank of two inch thick, and turn it to a half round, then cut so many groves (from the centre to the circumference) as you intent to place rockets about it, and on the other side, let there be rings for every rod to pass thorough, of which let one of each be close to the top, and another near the end of each rod; and note that the plank must be so large, that the ends of all the rods must meet in the centre; then prime each rocket with a quill filled with powder dust, and put on the top of each groofe, till you have placed your semicircle full; then having primed these groofes, (which comes from one centre to the circumference) passed paper over them, and so let it stand till you fire it, which is done after this manner: set this same at the top of a post, about four or five foot from the ground, and prime it (at the centre) with a little cotton wick prepared for that purpose, and firing it, you shall see them take fire all at one instant, and so will fly circular, in the form of a half Moon. The form whereof is represented in the thirteenth Figure, by the letters A B. A Represents the forepart of the frame, in which one presents the groofes which pass to each rocket. D D The quills filled with powder dust, entering into the groofes with one end, and into the rocket with the other. B Represents the back part of the frame. E E The rings below. F F The rings above. G G The rockets placed on the frame. CHAP. XLI. How to make a case of Rockets to rise at once. 'Cause a frame to be made about two foot square, with small groofes, two inches asunder, and between each groofe, boar holes for your rocket rods to pass thorough; you may make ten groofes, and in each groofe you may place ten rockets, so you shall have a hundred rockets in one of these cases, which shall fire all at once; there must be a cross groofe made in the midst, and in the centre of that groofe, shall you fire it, which shall suddenly fire all over, being primed with a quick train of powder: the charge is great, and quickly spent, but it makes a very glorious show. The form of this is represented in the 13 Figure, by the letters G D. fig 13th diagram of a half moon of rockets, a case of rockets and fireworks of letters, sunbeams, ground and aerial types A A A A Represents the square of your case which is grooved. The white strokes signify the groofes which are to be filled with powder dust, whereon the mouth of your rockets must be placed. The other spaces express the holes where your rods pass thorough with a hole in the midst to fire it at. B Represents the case filled with rockets, their rods passing thorough, and is made long, to the end there may be another board at the bottom for each rod to pass thorough, that they may be kept more steady. CHAP. XLII. How to make letters, or any other figure appear in the air, after the spending of a Rocket. HAving considered of what largeness you will have your letters or figures, make them of pasteboard, leaving a hollow to put in small quills, (which shall be filled with a clear and strong mixture) then put in your quills, and glue them fast in; and and so have you finished it, till you come to use it. There is another manner, which is thus; provide a mould of plate, and cut out what letter you please in wax, which having done, stick it full of quills in an orderly form, and put this on the head of your rocket: note this, that these are only to be used on very large rockets. The form of these are represented in the thirteenth Figure E F. The form of the letters, the white spots signifying the place for so many quills filled full of slow mixture, to be placed in. CHAP. XLIII. How to represent a figure of the Sun casting forth his beams, in fire. 'Cause a box to be made of plate, too inches long, and one inch diameter, which must be filled with your slow composition, and let the head be made with small groofes, crossing the centre, to the end you may lay in certain springs of steel, such as they use to small Watches. These springs shall be about six inches in length, and must be four, so that both ends of each appearing, will make eight, which will make a circular form, the box being the centre; now to the end of every one of these springs, must be fastened one of your small Fisgigs, & then bend up close to the box, and so put into your coffin at the top of your rocket, with powder dust and cotton to fire and break the coffin, which as soon as it breaks, the springs will cast forth your Fisgigs, and make them seem like the sparkling beams of the sun, and the mixture in the centre will seem as the body of the same; this will continue a while, and then you shall see it break with diverse reports. This I had from a noble Captain of this City, namely Captain Forestar, who invented the same, the form whereof is represented in the thirteenth Figure, by the letters L M. L Being the box with the springs fastened to the top, with a Fisgig at the end of each. M The said box finished with the springs bend ready to put on the head of a Rocket; the mouth of each Fisgig must come down to the mouth of the box, and so be put with their mouths all downwards. Having spoken sufficiently of works operating in the air, I will show you something which shall serve for ground works. 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 air. HAving prepared a Rocket, with a report in the head, tie it to a bladder, so that the end of the Rocket may come to the mouth of the bladder, and bind 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 blown up round about it, and tied about the neck of the Rocket. The form of these are represented in the 13 Figure, by the letters G H. G The Rocket with the bladder at the tail of it. H The Rocket in the bladder. CHAP. XLV. How to make a ball which shall be in continual 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 (joined together after the manner of your runners) so close up your ball fast with glue; only in the place where the two Rockets join, 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 joined, 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 seen. CHAP. XLVI. How to make another sort of Balls 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 be hollowed, to make it the lighter; then fit in two pieces of wood, so that you may make both sides equal, 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 thorough your ball, than place in your rockets as I have showed you for the wheel: which having done, glue them fast in, to the end, that by the motion of the ball, they may not be disordered, then join your ball together, and glue it fast with paper round about it, to the end the vents may be covered, only 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 be 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 wheels, which shall be so placed in the belly of the Dragon, that no part may be seen, but only the bottom which comes to the ground; and let the rocket be so placed, that it may with trains fire all parts of the body, as the eyes, mouth, and all other parts; in which you shall place diverse small works, which firing, shall fly out, and make a very great show, which shall burn till all be 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 noise, by reason of the largeness of the rocket, and the hollowness of the cave he comes forth of. The form whereof is represented in the fourteenth Figure by the letter G. G The Dragon ready finished. A The wheels on which it must run, which must be 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 meet each other, from several 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 showed you in the former Chapter; it is requisite that you know how fare they will run, then place the Caves at such a distance one from the other, that they may meet each other in the mid way, and that you may do this the more neater, you shall have your ground laid with smooth boards that they may run more free, and from the midst of the walk, to the end of each Dragon; let there be a groofe made in one of the boards, which shall serve to convey a train to each, for the firing of them; than you shall be sure, that if you fire it in the midst, they will both take fire together; always provided you make a conveyance of paper from the board to the tail of each Dragon, or to the mouth of each rocket, which being fired once, they shall meet, and cast forth their fire at each other with great violence. The form of this is represented in the fourteenth Figure, by the letters A A. A A The two Dragons ready to run. B B The two great rockets which forceth them. C C The wheels which each Dragon runneth on. D The midst of their walk, with the groofe to each rocket. There are diverse other works which may be performed after this manner, which for brevity sake I will omit. Likewise there are diverse motions to be performed by the action of man, as single duels, to which appertain the Buckler of fire, and likewise the Curtle-axe or Falchion, the manner of which hath been formerly described by diverse Authors, almost in all languages, and therefore will seem more than requisite to relate those things so large as they might be; for what action cannot man perform by his industry? and therefore I leave every man to his own order, only I will show you the making of one sort of Bucklar, which as yet hath not been performed, and likewise the Falchion or Curtle-axe, 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 be made of some light wood, which let be about two foot in diameter or more, as you please, then cause a groofe to be cut in it, from the centre to the circumference in a spiral or serpentine form, then fill that groofe with one of your slow compositions, such as hath neither oil nor gums, by reason the sum 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 be two inches asunder, and let there be wire 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 centre, and then shall you have a very great breaker, so that firing it at the circumference, every Fisgig will fly out as the fire comes to it, and will fly against his adversary combatant, till they come both to the centre, and then will they give a great report, and so end. The form 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 Falchion. fig 14 diagram of dragon moving out of a cage, dragons confronting each other, buckler and falchion filled with fizgigs CHAP. L. How to make the Curtle-axe, Scimitar, or Falchion. PRepare a Curtle-axe either of wood, or plate, which let be hollowed from back to edge, three inches, and let it be so thick, as it may serve for your smallest fisgigs, than you shall have a piece 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; than you shall lay in your lances of fire (which is nothing else but your slow composition for stars put into hollow trunks 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 cometh to them; having done this, you have finished your Falchion, which must be 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 diverse others. The form whereof is represented in the fourteenth figure, by the letters I K L. I represents the Falchion prepared, with a groofe in the back. K represents the Falchion, with holes to put in the works. L represents a Falchion 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 show the making of some works to be acted on the water; and first of all I will show you the making of the water balls. CHAP. LI. How to make a water ball, which shall burn on the water, with great violence. FIrst, having considered of what bigness you will have your ball, take the circumference and half it, and of that half make a circle, which cutting out in strong canvas, shall be half 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, than the circumference (being as seven to twenty two) must be 18 6/●, so the half will be 9 3/7, which must be the diameter of your cloth, and must be made true round, so that sewing two together, and making a case thereof, it shall be 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 four 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 always that you leave two vents to fire it, which shall be pierced a third part into your ball, and must be 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 always let your ball be thorough 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 oil of peter. 1 ℥ of oil of lin. ½ ℥ of oil of spike. 2 ℥ of colophonia. The form 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 piece 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 be in two pieces, so that you may join it close together at pleasure; this ball must have small holes boared round about it, to put in your quills, which must fire your reports; the reports or breakers shall be made of paper choked at both ends, and primed thorough the midst; they shall be fastened round with pitch, and so covered round about, that no water may pass in; you shall fill this bal in two halves, to the end you may force it very close together, and when it is filled, glue it fast, and arm it well with nealed wire, then put in your breakers, with a quill which shall enter into the bal, and likewise into the breaker; the form 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 will have, as the reports pass 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 oil. 2 ℥ of rosin. 1 ℥ of oil benedick. Powder that which is to be powdered, and incorporate them well together, and by little and little sprinkle your oils, till you have wrought it like a paste, and then make use of it; your quills which you prime with shall be filled only with powder dust, to the end it fire suddenly before the quill come to shrink up, which will 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 corn powder. C C C the quills, 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 certain time of firing, shall cast forth diverse rockets into the air. PRepare a ball of wood, of eight inches diameter, and boar a hole in the midst (of an inch and a half) and let it come within one inch of the bottom, and round about that great hole you shall boar eight smaller holes of an inch, so that they may be 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 be 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 piece of wood to the greater boar of your ball, leaving only a smaller vent, of half an inch, and by this means the fire will come out with more violence, and having spent itself, 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 air, a small height, 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 piece 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 lose, and to be hollowed to receive part of the slow mixture. E E the holes boared to put in the rockets, which must be covered with paper. F F the rockets placed in, with their mouths 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 be 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 be one inch from the lower tire, 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 coming to the chamber of iron, shall cause a very great report, and so conclude. The form of this is laid down in the fifteenth figure by the letter H. H the vent for firing the ball. I I the piece of wood fitted to the greater boar. K the hollow of the greater boar filled with a slow composition. L L the upper tire of rockets. M M the lower tire of rockets. N the breaker of iron. o o o o the places to put in the rockets, which must be covered with paper well soaped, upon tallow. fig 15th diagram of water balls 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 boar a large hole of two inches high, hollowing it within, and let it come within an inch of the bottom; then boar small holes of an inch from the top to the bottom, in a spiral line, to put in your small chambers, which shall be made of iron, each chamber having a broad plate at the mouth to fasten it to the ball; those chambers shall be loaden with a quantity of corn powder, and after that a small ball made up in canvas, and primed, as I have showed you for stars, then having filled the large concave with slow composition, place in your chambers, whose touch holes or vents must be just at the breech, and shall come all in toward the centre of the ball, than 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 be made in two pieces, to place in this chamber, and after glued well, and bound about with wire. 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 nail 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 be first incorporated on the fire, and so used: this bal may serve as well for service in war, as for pleasure or triumph, by putting into each chamber a bullet of lead, and so shot out of a Mortar piece. CHAP. LVI. There are diverse other sorts of balls, as well for water as for land, and are to be shot out of the Mortar piece. AND because the Mortar piece is often used in Fireworks, 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 Mortar piece consisteth only in his proportions, which are diverse, according to the pleasure of the workman; but those of most use for fire balls, are one and a half, and two diameters, in the length of the chase, and one diameter in the length of the chamber, with half a diameter at the mouth of the chamber; the reason of this shortness is, that one may come the more commodiously to the firing of the ball; the proportion of this piece followeth in the sixteenth Figure. B is the form of a Mortar piece lying on his carriage, the quoyn being made to draw with a screw, as I have made use of. A A the diameter or height of the boar, 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 height of the chamber, which is half a diameter of the shot, which is here two inches. B C the length of the chamber, which is one diameter of the shot, that is four inches. C C the bottom of the chamber, which is one inch, or ¼ diameter. D D the diameter of the trunions, which is half the diameter of the shot, and is two inches. D E the length of the trunions, and is two inches. The proportion of powder for this piece is 2 ℥ for a stone shot, and 1 ℥ for a Fire ball. CHAP. LVII. How to make a ball for the Mortar piece, which shall cast forth a great shower of stars at the breaking. THis ball must be made of canvas, and must be so proportioned, that being armed (as I have formerly showed) it may just fit the chase of your piece, which being ready, you shall proceed to the filling of it, which must be after this manner; at the bottom of this ball put in an ounce of fine corn powder, and then put in some of your round stars well primed, and so fill them up close about with powder dust, still putting in more of those stars, and in the midst put figure 16th diagram of balls for use with a mortar one star which may be somewhat great, so filling it till you come within one inch of the top, then fill it up with a slow receipt, as I have formerly prescribed for balls; and sew it close up, arming it with fine cord, or marline, and pierce a vent in that place where your slow mixture lieth, always provided you pierce it not too deep, that your ball break not before his appointed time: then when you would use it, load your mortar piece with one ounce of corn powder, putting after a wadd and tampion, and put on your ball with the vent towards the mouth of your piece: so elevating your piece toward the Zenith, you may proceed to the firing of it, which must be after this manner: provide two matches ready lighted, having one in each hand, and first fire your ball with one hand, and presently give fire to your Piece with the other, always holding your head under the horizontal line of your Piece, for fear the blast annoy you: this having done, you shall see your ball mount very high, with a fair tail of fire, and when it is at highest, shall break forth into a goodly shower of stars: one of these balls will contain almost one hundred small stars. The form of it is represented in the 16 Fiigure, by the letter G. C Representing the ball cut in sunder, that you may see the order of the stars lying. E The great star in the midst, with all the rest placed about it. Note every one of these stars must be primed thorough with cotton wick, as I have formerly showed. D The slow mixture, which cometh within one inch of the top. CHAP. LVIII. Another sort of ball for the mortar piece, which shall cast forth diverse Rockets in the air. THis ball must be made of wood, according as I have formerly shown you, only it must be made proportionable to the piece, and moreover the vent which in the other is required to be a slow mixture, in this must be more swift, in regard it would otherwise continue till it came to the ground, wherefore the mixtute that this ball shall be filled with, shall be the same that your rockets of one pound are, which is 4 ℥ of coledust to a pound of powder, and one ounce of saltpetre. These must be well mealed, and likewise must be close driven, otherwise it will consume too fast. This ball may be made somewhat cillindricall, in regard of the length of the rockets to be placed in it, as you have made this for to cast forth once, so you may make another to cast forth twice, as I have formerly shown you for the water ball. The form is represented in the 16 Figure, by the letter D. fig 17th diagram of fireworks on water in the form of a ship, a mermaid and a castle with dragon and horseman CHAP. LIX. How to compose a ship of fire works, which being once fired, diverse motions shall present themselves. 'Cause a mould to be made so, as you may take off the upper deck, to place some work; underneath, where you shall have a fire wheel placed with a screw on the axletree; this wheel shall be pla●ed in the stern, and shall turn a rowler, on which shall be two girts placed, which shall pass on each side of the main mast, and run on to the foreship; in this wheel there shall be a hollow spoke and axletree, as I have formerly showed, which shall be so ordered, that the wheel being spent, it may convey fire to a tier of guns lying round about, which shall be fired with a close conveyance, and having passed that, it shall take hold of another conveyance, which shall give fire to certain rockets, being placed in the bodies of some figures representing Mariners, and shall be so fitted, that they may have a cane joined to the body to guide them, so that they may run up from the top of the deck, to the top of each mast: this and many the like may be performed with great facility. The form of this is represented in the 16 figure A. A Represents the ship ready finished, with all things in motion. B The fire wheel which moveth the rowler, and carrieth the girt whereon the figures are placed. C The figures placed on the girt being in motion. D D D D The tier of guns which fire as the wheel beginneth to stand still. E E The figures which stand ready to run up the cords; also you may see some in their motion half way, and others being got up to the top of the masts. CHAP. LX. How to make the Siren or Mermaid, playing on the water. THis is to be form diverse ways, according to the magnitude of the figure; if you will make one of an ordinary length, which is five or six foot, proceed as followeth: Let the body be made of light rods, such as basket-makers use, and in the centre of the body, let there be placed an axletree, having too wheels coming into the water; yet so as they may not be seen; these wheels must be made hollow, to contain a quantity of sand or water; the use of it is to keep the Siren upright, and also to sink it so fare into the water as is needful, and likewise to make it go more steady; note that these wheels must be lose, and the axletree fast; in the midst of this axletree, place three or four great rockets, one by another with their mouths all one way, yet so provide, that there may be such a distance between each rocket, that there may come a vent from the tail of the first, to the mouth of the second, and from the second to the third, and to the end that it may continue the longer in motion, you may place diverse lights about the body, to make it more beautiful; every of each light extinguishing, shall give a report, and so conclude. The form of this is represented in the 17. Figure by the letter B. B Represents a Siren on the water. C The wheels which are lose on the axletree, being hollow, and filled half with sand or water. D D The rockets placed in the axletree which is fast. There are many other works to be performed on the water, by manual art, or the help of the hand: some of which I will show, the rest I shall leave to the judgement of judicious workmen in that art; in regard there are sea fights, which are performed by galleys placed on the water, with the help of Mariners acted; and likewise Castles placed both on the water, and on the shore; all which do represent some former story of the like: yet know this, there are many motions, to be wrought by hand, after a more secret manner, which will cause more admiration, and is done by certain lines placed under the superficies of the water, the ground of which I will show you. CHAP. LXI. How to represent a Dragon issuing out of a Castle, which shall swim thorough the water, and be encountered by a horseman from the shore. 'Cause a Castle to be made on certain timber, so as it may float, if it be in a flowing and ebbing water, and let the bottom of the door of this Castle, with the ground plat, be two foot under the horizon of the water (the reasons follow) and at a foot high within the Castle, let there be a certain line tied, which may pass thorough the body of the Dragon, and may be fastened near the shore, where you shall have a float likewise sunk so fare under water, that the line may not be perceived, then fasten on your Dragon, as I have formerly shown you for the line, but so that the head of this may always be above the line, where that was under: then when the time appointed comes, there shall be one ready within the Castle to fire those parts of the Dragon which is requisite, which being done by the help of those pulleys, shall pass it thorough the water, which so soon as it presents itself, Neptune (as being displeased to see so monstrous a creature within his bounds) shall come and encounter the said Dragon, page 66 and 67 foldout of a diagram combining multiple types of pyrotechnics previously described and at last shall overthrow him: you may order your work so, that which you please shall have the victory, for that which keepeth fire longest, is supposed to have the best, and that which is soon spent, to have the worst. Many rare things may be done in this for the pleasure of Princes, which are to be acted on the water, which for brevity sake I omit: only I shall show you the order of composing two sorts of works, the one to be acted on the land, the other on the water. The form of this work is represented in the 17 Figure, by the letters C D. G Representing the Castle floating on the water, out of which the Dragon issueth. E The Dragon coming forth of the Castle. D Neptune coming towards the said Dragon to encounter him. F The pulley which causeth these motions by means of drawing them to and from each other: the manner of fastening the line for drawing them, I have showed you before in the 33 Chapter. CHAP. LXII. An order for a general piece of firework for land, and is for the pleasure of a Prince or some great person. 'Cause a frame to be made of wood, which let be eight square, or more properly eight sided (which is the best figure for this purpose) and let it be forty yards from one side to the other, there place two Castles the one opposite to the other, which Castles shall be eight foot square, these Castles shall be fitted with motions, as I have formerly shown you, some coming out against others, some moving on the walls; all which may be performed by the help of large fire wheels, which must be at the least six foot diameter, with large Rockets for the same purpose, as I have formerly shown you: then on the four adjacent sides, you shall place four other wheels, two running horizontal, and two vertical; and on the other two sides you shall place rockets, some flying upright, and others circular; at each angle or corner, there shall be placed a torch of a beautiful fire and slow; so much for the sides: now you shall come to fill up the vacuum between the sides, always noting that from one Castle to the other, passeth a frame of wood, the use whereof I have formerly showed, then before the midst of this frame, there is placed on the one side, two square cases of rockets, and between these cases toward the bottom, and somewhat before, there is placed antic motions, and to the angles of each Castle are placed two lines, with runners which take fire, and pass to and fro; note the end of those lines must be perfect wire, or else the fire would burn them, then on the same side behind the motions, shall stand aloft a frame with the King's name or the like; then on the other side of the frame, within the vacuum, shall be placed three standing wheels, whereof the one shall cast forth rockets into the air, the other two are for reports and fisgigs; these three wheels shall stand in a triangular form, and shall have a frame pass from the one to the other; and between the angles of these wheels, shall be placed two mortar pieces, which shall be to cast fire bats, with diverse works in them. The manner of this is represented in the 18 Figure. CHAP. LXIII. Another order for a general work, and is to be acted on the water. HAving a place appointed for your work, (which must be in some spacious River) you shall seek the most convenient place on the shore for placing a Castle, which shall be made to represent some City or Fort lying on the water; this Castle shall be furnished with all manner of works, as well fire balls, as rockets, with diverse small Ordnance to give a more grace to the work; this being provided, you shall also make another Castle on the water, on certain boats chained and lying at anchor, these shall be set at a reasonable distance from the other, about twenty score, or as your place will permit: in this Castle likewise you shall provide works, as in the other, only this Castle may not be so big as that on shore, than you shall provide diverse small ships, which shall be ready to make a sea fight: these shall be so divided, that the greater part may belong to the smaller Castle on the water, and likewise for surprising that on the land; likewise you may have motions passing from one Castle to another, as I have formerly shown you for the water; amongst the rest you shall have some small fire ship, such as I have showed you, which shall have diverse motions: now there are many actions to be performed by these works, as casting balls from one Castle to the other, with the mortar pieces, likewise sending back rockets to each other, with diverse onsets on each side for surprisals, all which I leave to the discretion and appointment of the judicious workman; and because I will not trouble you with prolixity, I will conclude this my Pyrotechnia; only I will at last impart that which is not the least, which is the making of certain Engines for trying of powder, of which I shall show you four, with the use of them in the ensuing Chapters, and so conclude. CHAP. LXIV. Of the use of certain Engines for the trying of the goodness or strength of powder. BEfore I come to explain the manner of making those Engines, I will show you the commodiousness of them, especially in these works; for he that will make a good rocket, must be certain of the strength of his powder, which if it be too strong, will break; if too weak, it will not rise to that height it should; which, I must confess, hath been a great loss of labour to me, as well as to other men, yet if men will be so careful and take that pains for the trying their powder, they may make rockets infallible; therefore I advise every man that will work sure, first to take his powder, be it what it will, and allay it according to the rules prescribed, then take a quantity of that mixture, and put it into your Engine being exactly weighed to a grain, then drive your rocket, and be sure to follow the former rules prescribed in driving your rockets, which being finished, with his works upon his head, you may fire it, which if you shall find to be too violent, you may allay by putting thereto a proportion of coal, and so try it again, till such time you find it to be the best, then note that proportion for all rockets of that size, and so do for all others; and if you find your mixture yet too weak, add thereto a small quantity of roch peter till you make it of sufficient strength; and thus doing, you shall have a certain and infallible rule for your proportions: I could set down the proportions according to my Engines, but that would prove an absurdity, in regard every Engine may have a greater or lesser strength added to his springs, or the like, as you shall perceive in the next Chapter. CHAP. LXV. The manner of making the aforesaid Engines for trying the strength of powder. THE first is made in a circular form, with a neck coming from the circumference, which serves for a lid to the powder box, which box shall be made to hold the quantity of a dram of powder, or there about, so that being covered with the lid, and fired, will blow, according to the strength of the powder, and moving, will turn about a circle of brass, which is divided into certain equal parts, and so will show the strength according to the part it cutteth; for the greater the degree is that it is blown fig 20 diagram of engines for determing the strength of powder up to, the stronger is the powder, and contrary. The form of this is represented in the twentieth Figure, by the letter A. A representing the form of the whole Engin. B the powder box, which must be filled to the top. C the lid, which must be put on the said box, it being filled. D the circle of brass to which the lid is fastened, which is divided into degrees, and runneth upon the pin E, passing thorough the centre, with a screw to set it harder or easier. CHAP. LXVI. Another Engine for trying of powder. THE lid of this second sort is made to rise in a strait line, and hath for his guide two square pillars of brass, divided into degrees, with springs to keep it steaddy in this motion; this must be made on a square piece of brass, with the small box in the midst, and two square pillars on each side, with a piece of brass to slide up and down by those pillars, and must serve for a cover for your powder box; this piece of brass must have small springs, which must go to each side of the square to guide it steaddy in the motion. The form whereof you shall find in the twentieth Figure, by the letter B. B the whole frame, with his parts adjoined. C the square plate of brass, on which all is fastened. D the powder box, standing in the midst of that plate. E E the two square pillars of brass, standing on this foot, and may be made to screw off and on at pleasure. F the lid to the fire box, which is made to slide up the two square pillars. G G the springs, which are fastened to the lid, to make it move more steaddy. The divisions 10, 20, etc. show of what strength the powder is, for the higher that the lid riseth, the stronger is the powder. CHAP. LXVII. A third Engine for trying the strength of powder. THE third sort are made somewhat after the manner of the former, which is to rise up strait, only it hath a cover hollow as big as the box, and on each side of the cover is a small hole for a wire to pass thorough, and on one of the sides are little pieces of steel or brass, so fitted, that they will rise with a touch, and give way to the rising of the lid, and so soon as it is past, will hold it there, and will not suffer it to pass down any further; this I hold to be the best of the three, in regard that the springs in the former are subject to grow foul with use, and so will be very stiff, every time more and more; but this will not. The form of this is represented in the twentieth Figure, by the letter C. A the foot whereon the Engine standeth. B the powder box, which hath two small wires passing from each side to the top, to guide the lid. D the lid, which hath also two holes on each side for the wires to pass thorough. E the side which is divided, on which is placed at every degree, one of those pieces to slide up and catch the lid. F F the form of those catches, being either of steel or brass. G G the two wires which guide the lid of the box, and must be put into a little piece of brass at the top, which may be screwed higher or lower at pleasure, for the straightening of the same. H the screw which straightneth those wires. CHAP. LXVIII. Another Engine for trying the strength of powder by water. THE fourth, and most certainest way of all, is by water, and is thus; cause a small vessel to be made of brass, and very tied, so as it may contain a pint of water; let this vessel be made in a cillindricall form, and from the top of this vessel let there be made a pipe of brass, which shall turn like the syphon, and shall have a screw at the lower end, to screw into a box of brass; all which shall stand on a wooden frame: now when you will use this, you shall fill this great vessel half full of water, at a pipe which shall come from the bottom, and come up to the top winding, then shall there be likewise another vessel underneath for a receiver, so that putting a quantity of powder into the small box, and screwing it on, it is ready; then fire the powder, and you shall see it send forth a quantity of water, which you shall weigh, and so keep the weight of it, by this you shall know what quantity of powder of such a goodness will send forth such a quantity of water; this I hold to be the certainest way, although the most troublesome. The form of it is represented in the twentieth Figure, by the letter D. A representing the vessel of water, which shall be always filled one half. B the pipe of brass which passeth from the powder box to the vessel of water. C the powder box, being screwed to one end of the said pipe. E the receiver, to receive such water as is forced out. G the pipe which conveyeth that water into the receiver. F the bottom being of wood, with a plate of brass let into it. FINIS.