The historie of the vvorld: commonly called, The naturall historie of C. Plinius Secundus. Translated into English by Philemon Holland Doctor of Physicke. The first [-second] tome

CHAP. XIV.

¶ Of Yron, and Yron mines, and the different kindes of Yron. [unspec C]

IT remaineth now in the next place to discourse of the mines of yron, a mettal which we may well say is both the best and the worst implement vsed now in the world: for with the helpe of yron we break vp and ear the ground, we plant and plot our groues, we set our hortyards and range our fruitful trees in rewes: we prune our vines, and by cutting off the superfluous branches and dead wood, we make them euery yere to look fresh and yong againe: by meanes of yron and steele we build houses, hew quarries, and cut in stone, yea, and in one word, wee vse it to all other necessary vses of this life. Contrariwise, the same yron serueth for wars, murders, and robberies, not onely to offend and strike therewith in hand, but also to reach and kill afarre off, with diuers sorts of darts and shot; one while discharged and sent out of engines, another while lanced and * 1.1 [unspec D] flung by force of the arme; yea, and sometime let flie with wings: and this I take to be the wic∣kedest inuention that euer was deuised by the head of man: for to the end that death may speed away the faster to a man, and surprise him more suddenly, we make it to flie as a bird in the aire, and to the arrow headed at one end with deadly yron, we set feathers at the other: whereby it is euident, that the mischiefe proceeding from yron, is not to be imputed to the nature of it, but to the vnhappy wit of man. For good proofe wee had already by many experiments otherwise, that yron might be imploied and occupied, without any hurt or harme at all to mankinde. And verily in those capitulations of peace, which after the expulsion of the kings, Porsena, king of the Tuscans tendred to the people of Rome, I find this expresse article & imposition, that they should not vse yron, but only about tillage of the ground. And as our Chronicles of greatest an∣tiquity [unspec E] haue left recorded, it was not thought safe to permit writing and ingrauing letters with a style of yron. Certes, in the third Consulship of Pompey the great, by occasion of a tumult and commotion raised within the city of Rome for the murder committed vpon the person of P. Clodius, there was an edict come forth (which now is extant vpon record) after the manner of an inhibition in this form: Ne vllum telum in vrbe esset, i. That no man throughout all Rome should be seene to weare a weapon. Neuerthelesse men did not forbeare and giue ouer to doe some ho∣nour vnto yron also in some other occasions of this life, tending to the entertaining of civility and humanity; for Aristonidas the cunning artificer, minding to represent in an image the furious rage of Athamas, beginning now to coole and be allaied, together with his repentance for the cruell murdering of his owne sonne Learchus, whom he flung headlong against the hard stones, [unspec F] and thereby dasht out his braines; made a temperature of brasse and yron together, to the end, that the rustie yron appearing through the bright lustre of the Brasse, might liuely expresse a blushing red in the countenance, beseeming a man confused and dismayed for so vnnaturall a fact. This Statue is at this day to bee seene at Thebes. Within the same Citie there is another

image of Hercules all of hard yron or steele, which Alcon the famous workman made of purpose [unspec G] to signifie the vndaunted heart of that deified Hercules, who vnderwent and indured all labours and perils whatsoeuer. Here àlso in Rome we may see certain drinking cups of steele dedicated in the temple of Mars the Reuenger.

But to come vnto the nature of yron, herein appeareth still the same goodnesse of Nature, that this mettall working such mischiefe as it doth, should be reuenged of it selfe, and receiue condigne punishment by the own rust. See also the wonderful prouidence of Nature, * 1.2 who ma∣keth nothing in the world more subject to death and corruption, than that which is most hurt∣full and deadly to mankind.

As touching mines of yron ore, they are to be found almost in euery country, for there is not so much as the Island Ilua here within Italy, but it breedeth yron. And lightly wheresoeuer any [unspec H] such be, they are easily found, for the very leere of the earth, resembling the colour of ore, bewrai∣eth where they lie. And when it is found out, they burn, try, and fine it, as other veins of mettall. Onely in Cappadocia there is some question and doubt made, whether in the making of yron they be more beholden to the earth that yeeldeth the ore, or to the water for the preparing and ordering of it? for this is certain, that vnlesse the vein of ore bee well drenched and soked with the water of one riuer there, it will neuer yeeld yron out of the furnace. As for the kinds of yron many they are, and all distinct. The first difference ariseth from the diuersity of the soile and climats where the mines be found: for in some places, the ground & the position of the heauens do yeeld onely a soft ore, and comming nearer to the substance of lead than yron: in another, the mettall is * 1.3 brittle and short, standing much vpon a veine of brasse, such as will not serue one [unspec I] whit for stroke and naile to bind cart-wheels withall, which tire indeed would be made of the o∣ther that is gentle and pliable. Moreouer, some kind of yron there is that serueth onely, if it be wrought in short and 'smal works, as namely, for nailes, studs and tackes imploied about greeues and leg-harneis: another againe, that is more apt to take rust and canker than the rest. Howbeit, all the sorts of yron ore are termed in Latine Stricturae, a word appropriat to this mettall & to no other, * 1.4 à stringenda acie, i. of dazling the eies, or drawing a naked sword. But the furnace it self, where the ore or yron stone is tried, maketh the greatest difference that is: for there in you shall haue to arise by much burning and fining, the purest part thereof, which in Latine is called Nu∣cleus ferri, i. the kernell or heart of the yron [and it is that which we call steele] and the same also of diuers sorts: for the best is it that hardeneth the edge of any weapon or toole: there is of it [unspec K] which serueth better for stithy or anuill heads, the faces of hammers, bits of mattocks, and yron crowes. But the most variety of yron commeth by the means of the water, wherein the yron red hot is eftsoons dipped and quenched for to be hardened. And verily, water onely which in some place is better, in other worse, is that which hath innobled many places for the excellent yron that commeth from them, as namely, Bilbilis in Spaine, and Tarassio, Comus also in Italy; for none of these places haue any yron mines of their owne, and yet there is no talk but of the yron and steele that commeth from thence. Howbeit, as many kinds of yron as there bee, none shall match in goodnesse the steele that commeth from the Ceres: for this commoditie also, as hard ware as it is, they send and sell with their soft silks and fine surs: in a second degree of goodnesse, may be placed the Parthian yron. And setting aside these two countries, I know not where there be any bars or gads tempered of fine and pure steel indeed, for all the rest haue a mixtue of yron, [unspec L] more or lesse. And generally in this West part of the world wherin wee liue, all our steel is of a more soft and gentle temperature than that of the Leuant. This goodnesse of steele in some countries ariseth from the nature of the mine, as in Austrich: in others from the handling and temperature thereof, like as by quenching, as I said before, and namely at Sulmo, where the wa∣ter serueth especially for that purpose: and no maruell, for we see a great difference in whet∣ting and sharpening the edge of any instrument, between oyle whetstones that barbars vse, and the common water grind-stones: for surely the oilegiueth a more fine and delicat edge. Further∣more, this is strange, that when the ore or vein is in the furnace, it yeeldeth yron liquid & cleare as water: and afterwards, being reduced into bars and gads when it is red hot, it is spungeous and brittle, apt to break or resolue into flakes. And considering the difference that is betweene the [unspec M] nature of oile and water (as I haue said) this is to be obserued, that the finer any edge tooles bee, the manner is to quench them in oile for to harden the edge: for feare lest the water should harden them ouer much, and make the edge more ready to breake out into nickes, than to bend

and turne again. But wonderfull it is aboue all, that mans bloud should haue such a vertue in it, [unspec A] as to be reuenged of the yron blade that shed it; for being once embrued therin, it is giuen euer after eftsoones to rust and canker.

Concerning the load-stone, and the great concord or amity betweene yron and it, I meane to write more amply in the due place. Howbeit, for the present thus much I must needs say, that yron is the only mettall which receiueth strength from that stone, yea, and keepeth the same a long time, insomuch, as by vertue therof, if it be once well touched & rubbed withal, it is able to take hold of other pieces of yron: and thus otherwhiles we may see a number of rings hanging together in manner of a chaine, notwithstanding they be not linked and inclosed one within a∣nother. The ignorant people seeing these rings thus rubbed with the load-stone, and cleauing one to another, call it quick-yron. Certes, any wound made by such a toole, are more eager and [unspec B] angry than by another. This stone is to be found in Biskay, scattered here and there in smal pie∣ces by way of bubbation (for that is the term they vse,) but it is not that true Magnet or load-stone indeed, which growes in one continued rock. And I wot not whether these be so good for glasse-makers, and serueth their turn so well in melting their glasse, as the other: for no man yet hath made experiment therof. But sure I am, that if one do rub the edge, back, or blade of a knife therewith, it doth impart an attractiue vertue of yron thereunto, as well as the right Magnet. An here I cannot chuse but acquaint you with the singular inuention of that great architect and master deuiser, of Alexandria in Aegypt, Dinocrates, who began to make the arched roofe of the temple of Arsinoe all of Magnet or this load-stone, to the end, that within that temple the statue of the said princesse made of yron, might seeme to hang in the aire by nothing. But pre uented [unspec C] he was by death before he could finish his worke, like as K. Ptolomaee also, who ordayned that temple to be built in the honour of the said Arsinoe his sister.

But to returne again to our yron: of all mines that be, the vein of this mettall is largest, and spreadeth it self into most lengths euery way: as we may see in that part of Biscay that coasteth along the sea, and vpon which the Ocean beateth: where there is a craggy mountaine very steepe and high, which standeth all vpon a mine or veine of yron. A wonderfull thing, and in maner in∣credible, howbeit, most true, according as I haue shewed already in my Cosmography, as tou∣ching the circuit of the Ocean.

Notes

• * 1.1

  OPliny, what wouldest thou say, if thou did dest see & hear the Pistols, muskess, Cul∣uerines, & Ca∣nons in these daies.
• * 1.2

  Nihil in rebus mortalius faci∣ente, quam qd. infessissimum, mortalitati, the grace of this Latine cannot be so well ex∣pressed in Eng∣lish.
• * 1.3

  Which our smiths cal Col sar-yron.
• * 1.4

  Some read à stringēda (ocu∣lorū atie) i of dazeling the eies; which irō red hot, or the bright blade of sword & other weapons, doth: but nether any copies of the author haue the word (oeu∣lorum) neither haue I read stringere, but perstringere, to signifie, to da∣zle: others vn∣derstand it of drawing a na∣ked sword: & yet it is not so proper in La∣tine to say in that sence, stringereaciem, as stringere fer∣rū, or gladium: howbeit, I in∣cline rather to this, for that Pliny a little after calls the best steele A∣cies, which word haply is the primitiue, from whence acies also is v∣sed for an edg, &c. and yet it may be, that those stricturae i. sparkling skales, flying frō iron vnder the smiths hā∣mer & frō no other mettall, (which do per∣stringere acie•…•… oculorū, if any thing els) may giue occasion herof. Sed haec viderint Critici