Of Artificial Fires . tpp

seth the white of an cgge to quench it, saying, that the white of an egge is so strong*that if wood be wet with it, it will not burn, nor yet any garment. Hieron , tocover scaling engines, used the raw hides of beasts new killed , as having force to re-sist fire; and the joynts of wood they fenced with chalk, or with ashes temperedwith blood , or clay molded with hair or straw, and with sca-weeds wet in vinegar ;for lo they were safe from fire. larchedonius was the first that taught men to coverengins and rams, with green hides. I have heard by men of credit, that wheithoufeswere on fire, by a peculiar property, the menstruous clothes of a woman that had hercourses the first time, cast over the planks, would presently put out the fire. Thickand muscilaginons juyees are good against fire, as of Marsh' mallows. Therefore Al-berttu writ not very absurdly, that if a man anoint his hands with j ay ce of Marsh mal-lows, the white os anegge and vinegar, with alonH

He may bandle fire without hurt.

And it is a thing that hath much truth in it. Buc I think that quick-silver killed invinegar, and the white of an egge,and fmccred on, can presort e any thing from fire.

Chap. X.

Of divers compositions for fire.

I Shall speak of divers compositions for fire to be used for divers user. But men faycJM. Gracchut was Author of this invention.

7 o make a fiery compositions that the Sun may kindle•

It consists of these things: Oyl of Resinous Turpentine, ©f* Quick-silver (otherwisethen 1 shewed in distilling) of Juniper, ofNtphtha, Linseed, Colophonia,Camphire ;let there be Pitch, Salt-peter, and Ducks-grease, double to them all \Aqua vita refi-ned from all flegm. Pound them all, and mingle them; put them up in a glazed ves-sel, and let them ferment two moneths in horse-dung, always renewing the dung;and mingling, them together. After the set time, put it into a retort, and distil it:thicken the liquor either with Pigeons-dung, finely sifted, or with gunpowder, thatit may be like pap: Wood that is fmccred over with this mixture, and set in thesummer Sun, will fire of itself. Pigeons-dung easily takes fire by the Sunbeams;Galen reports, That in Mysia, a part of Asia, a house was so set on sire. Pigeons-dungwas cast forth, and touched a window that was neer; as it came to touch the woodthat was newly fmeered with rosin, when it was corrupted, and grew hot, and va-poured at Midsummer, by heat ©f the Sun, it fired the rosin , and the window; thettother places fmeered with Rosin , took fire, and by degrees part of the house beganro take hold; and when once the covering of the house began to flame, it soon laidhold of the whole house, because it hath a mighty force to inflame all. Ducks-grease is very prevalent in fire-wotks, and Physitians praise it extremely , that it ismost subtile, penetrating and hot, it makes other things penetrate; and as it ismost subtile and hot, so it takes fire vehemently, and burns. 1 shall shew how to -distil

A mofi scalding Oyl .

When I would prepare the most excellent compositions of burning oyl, I distilledcommon oyl in a retort, but with great labour; yet what was distilled was thin,combustible, and ready to fire ; that once kindled, it was not to be put out ; and itwould draw the flame at a great distance, and hardly let it go. But oyl of Linseed isstronger than it, for if you distil it often, it will have such a wonderful force to takefire, that it can hardly be shut up in a vessel, but it will draw the fire to it: and theglals being opened, it is so thin, that it willflyinto the Air; and if the lighe of acandle, or of fire touch it, the Air rakes fire, and the oyl fired by it, will cast theflame afar off, lo vehemently, that it is almost impossible to quench it. It must bedistilled with great cunning., lest the veffel over-hcat, it should take fire within.Moreover,

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