Of tempering Steel.

off. Wherefore, that they may be strong,fmall.an J not to be bended in the month;you shall thus temper them: Of Mowers Sythes make wire, or of the best Steel,andmake Hooks thereof, small and fine: heat them not red-hot in the Fire; for that willdevour them: but lay them on a plate of red hot Iron. When they grow red; castthem into the watcr:when they arc cold,take them out and dry them. rhen make theplate ok Iron hot again , and lay on the Hooks the second time ; and when an Ashcolour, or that they commonly call Berotious, appears, plunge them into the wateragain, that they may be strong: for else they would be brittle. So you may make

falters extream bard,

jilbertm , from whom others have it, faith , That Iron is made more strong,if it betempered with juice of Radish, and Water of Earth-worms, three or four times.But I, when 1 had often tempered it with juice of Radish , and Horse-Radish, andWorms, I found it alwayes softer, till it became like Lead : and it was false, as therest of his Receits arc. But thus shall you make Steel extream hard, that with thatoncly, and no other mixture, you may make Lulters very hard: Divide the Steel intovery imall pieces like Dice , and let them touch one the ot her, binding Iron wiresover thcm,fastning all with an Iron wire: put them into the Fire till they gfow redhot, and tparkle, at least fifteen times, and wrap them in these powders that arcmade of black Borax one part, Oyster-shells,Cuttle-bones,bf each two parts: thenstrike them with a Hammer, that they may all unite together, and make C ulcers * orKnives,or what yon will: for they will be extream hard. For this is the most excellentsort of Steel, that oncly tempered with waters, is made most hard. There is ano-ther , bnt not so good; and unless it be well tempered , it alwayes grows Worse.It is this:

Te temper a Graver te cut Marble.

Make your Graver of the best Steel, let it be red hoc in the Fire, till it be redorRole coloured; dip it into water, then take it away, and observe the second colour.When it is yellow as Gold, cast it into the water. So almost is

%A Tool made to cut Iron,

When the fame red Rose cclour appears, plunge it into the water, or some sharp li-quor that we (bah shew; and you must observe the second yellow colour, or wheatcolour, and then cast it into the water. Thesc are the best

Tempers for Swords.

Swords must be tough, lest whilst we should make a thrust* they should break ; also,they must have a sharp edge, that when we cut, they may cut oft what we cut. Theway is thus : Temper the body ot it with Oyl and Butter, to make it tough > andtemper the edge with sharp things , that they may be strong to cut : and this isdone, cither with wooden Pipcs*or woollen Cloths* wet With Liquor: use it wittilyand cunningly.

Chap. VI.

Of the temper of a Totl shall cut a Porpbjr Marble Stones

O Ur Ancestors knew well to tefihper their Tools, wherewith they could easilycur a Porphyr Stone * as infinite Works testifie that were left to us i hut theW y vva strewed by none,and is wholly concealed; which is a mighty disgrace to ourtimes, when we neglect such rare and useful Inventions, and make no account ofthem. That we might be freed from this dishonour, with great care, and pains, andcost,] made trial of all things came to my hand, or I could think of, by divers waye$*td experiments,! hat I might attain unto it: at last,by Gods great blessing, 1 foundafar greater pastime for to come to these things,and what exceeds this. And I willbbt be grieved to relate what I found out by chance, whilst I made trial 6f these

things.