The art of glass shewing how to make all sorts of glass, crystal and enamel : likewise the making of pearls, precious stones, china and looking-glasses : to which is added, the method of painting on glass and enameling : also how to extract the colours from minerals, metals, herbs and flowers ... : illustrated with proper sculptures / written originally in French, by Mr. H. Blancourt, and now first translated into English ; with an appendix, containing exact instructions for making glass-eyes of all colours.

OF THE ART OF GLASS. (Book 2)

BOOK II. (Book 2)

CHAP. LI. Wherein is shown the art of making Chalcedony of the Colour of Agats and Oriental Jasper; with the way to prepare all Colours for this purpose. To make Aqua-Fortis and Regalis, necessary in this business. The way of preparing and calcining Tartar, and u∣niting it with the Red Colour of its own kind called by the Italians Rosichiero, which produceth Glass of many Colours with undulations in them very plea∣sant to behold, and gives it an Opacity like Oriental Stones.

BEfore I proceed to the Explication of these preparations, it will be necessary to shew those of some Minerals used for such Com∣positions. And although one may buy several of them Publickly, ready made, yet our design being

to make this work as perfect as we can, it will be necessary that we shew the Chymical way of prepa∣ring them after the best manner, by which the curious in this Art may do it themselves for less charge than they can buy them. There is no doubt, but that the Metalline matters made use of to tinge Glass, may give it several colours more lively and brighter than any it receives in the or∣dinary Furnaces, when these matters are artfully prepared, and their Metalline Colours are choice∣ly pick'd out and Collected, and well purified from Heterogeneous matters which hinder the communi∣cation of their Tincture to the Glass. The colour of Chalcedony, or rather the matter whereof it is made, is nothing but an Amassement of Several Colours which may be made in Glass, and which many are not acquainted with. We will shew the whole process and the way of well succeeding in it. It is most certain that all the Colours we can extract will never give that Beauty and Splen∣dor to Glass which is desired, if they be not well prepared. You must therefore for this purpose well calcine and dissolve the metals with Aqua For∣tis. You must open the Copper, Sulphur, Vitriol and Sal Armoniac and other minerals with a great deal of patience, and prepare them at a gentle Fire, the violence of the fire being very noxious in this affair as well as in others, which very often ren∣ders Operations defective, which otherwise would succeed well, among those who are impatient or ignorant. You must observe Regularity in all those Cases we shall treat of, and exact proportions of the Doses, and put them in, in fit and due time, otherwise the Process will miscarry; especially in the Red Colour whereof we treat in the 8th Book, and in the Tartar that it may be perfectly Calcin'd. You must yet further observe that the Metal be

well Boiled, well Purified, and made fit for Work∣ing; then proceed in it as diligent Workmen ought to do. Thus you may perfectly imitate Agat, oriental Chalcedony, with the Fairest and most Beautifull Colours, and wavings, so lively and full, that it will seem as if nature her self could not arrive to the like perfection, or art imitate it. Yet experience shews us that in several things, and in particular in this Art of Colouring Glass, that Art cannot only imitate nature, but also far sur∣pass her. The Eye and Phancy shall be judge, in the three ways which we will shew, where every thing shall appear so distinctly, that the curious shall easily understand it, and all that will apply themselves to it may succeed therein, if they do not deviate from these precepts. If they are well put in practice, you'll find more than we can tell you.

CHAP. LII. The way to prepare Aqua-Fortis, which dissolves Silver and Quicksilver.

THERE are several sorts of Aqua-Fortis's, prepa∣red after different manners, appropriated to the different Uses they are design'd for; but all of them always with Salt-Petre or Nitre, which is the principal ingredient in Aqua-Fortis. That we shall here Treat of being not an Ordinary one, may pass for one of those that have a peculiar Composition. For this Water, take 1 pound of Nitre or Salt-Petre refined, three Pound of Roch-Allom calcined on the Fire-Shovel; and four Ounces of Crystalline Arsenick, the whole reduced into Powder,

to which add seven Ounces of * 1.1 fine Sand; and having well mixed the whole Composition, put it into a Glass Cucurbit, always leaving ⅓ part of it Empty, ⅔ being filled, lute the Cucurbit well with a strong lute, whereof we will give you the prepara∣tion at the end of this Chapter. But before you put the Cucurbite or Body on, you must lay Sand four Inches deep, and thick Iron-Bars to bear the weight, then fit a head, and lute the joints well, with a lute made of fine Flour and Lime powdered, and mixt with whites of Eggs: then put on the Joints roulers of fineLinen, then lute it again and then put on Linen roulers again, three or four times, each time letting it dry before you put on the next rouler. And then this will bear the Violence of the Fire, and the pe∣netrating force of the Spirits of the Aqua-Fortis.

After that, you must put this Body of the Alembick in a deep Earthen-Pan, made of the same Earth as Crucibles, filled with Sand, so that it be buried in the Sand to within two Inches of the joints; then set it in a Wind Furnace fit, and capable to maintain an equal Fire. We here give you the figure of it, this Furnace may serve for several uses, as we will here∣after Explain.

Your Alembic being thus fitted, you must put to the head a Glass Receiver very capacious, the better to resist the force of the Spirits, otherwise all may break. Lute it well to the Mouth of the Alembic, as you did the joints before, and with the same precau∣tion of letting it dry each time in the Air, taking care not to kindle the Fire in the Furnace, till the lute of all the joints be dry, for that is very ne∣cessary.

The whole being thus in right order, kindle a small coal Fire for the space of three hours, during

which time the windy humour that is in the Mate∣rials, and which would break them will be drawn of into the Receiver. So continue a moderate Fire for six hours, then encrease it little by little, putting on at last billets of dry Oaken-Wood to the coals, for six hours more, till the Alembic or head begin to be tinged yellow, and the Spirits begin to rise. Ob∣serve to continue this Regimen or degree of Fire, till the head and receiver begin to grow red; then augment it till the Alembic become of a deep red; continue this degree of the Fire as long as that Colour lasts, till all the Spirits are drawn of, and the Head and Receiver begin by degrees to grow clear, and re∣assume their common Colour in cooling; which sometimes will be two days first. Notwithstanding you must continue the Fire some time afterward; then let the Furnace cool of its self; taking care, that whilst the Alembic and Receiver are still red, and the Fire in force, that you admit no cool Air into the place, and that nothing cold touch them, which would break them. When all is cold, cover the head and receiver with wet Linen cloaths, that the Spirits (which are about the Head and Receiver) may the better sink to the bottom of the Receiver, and let it stand so twelve hours. Then bath the joints and the luting with warm Water, that you may the better loosen the bandage, and so take off the head from the Receiver, otherwise it would be difficult to do it; then you may break the body which will be good for nothing, and take out the Faeces which reduce again into Powder: add to each Pound of that Powder, four Ounces of refin'd Nitre, and put the whole into a Cucurbit (or Body) whereon pour all the Aqua-Fortis before distill'd; then put on the Head and Receiver, and lute it and dry it well as you did before; having put it on the same Sand Furnace, during the first four hours make a gentle Fire, which

afterwards may be encreased little by little, till the Head and Receiver begin to grow clear and all the Spirit is drawn over. After which let all cool, co∣vering the Head and Receiver with wet Cloaths; then let it stand twelve hours as before. Then unlute the joints again with warm Water, and put the Aqua-Fortis into Glass Vessels well stopt, that the Spirits may not exhale, and keep it so for uses hereafter to be mentioned. This is the Aqua-Fortis which is commonly called Water of separation, and the best that can be made. There are some that instead of Roch-allom take the best Roman Vitriol, or the like. You may know whether the Vitriol be proper for this use or not by rubbing it on a piece of well polish∣ed Iron; if it be it will leave a Copper Colour on it; Then this Vitriol, the purification whereof we will give in the next Chapter, will make an Aqua-Fortis far more penetrating than the former.

Now we come to shew how to make the lute which we promised, which tho' common is very usefull in this Case. You must take one Part of Lome (a fat Earth) which is found in Rivers, 3 Parts of Sand, of common Wood Ashes well sifted, and of the Shearings of woollen Cloath each one half; mix the whole well together, and putting water to them make a soft past, to which add one third part of common Salt Powder'd, and work them all well together, then use them in luting your vessels.

Here follows the description of a usefull Furnace, which may serve instead of several others, the Number whereof would be troublesome, it being proper for several Operations. To render this Furnace more Intelligible to those who are not acquainted with it, we have here given a Cut of it, whereon we have marked A. B. C. the places made use of, with their Names, that they may by the same Letters here set down again be the

better understood. A. is the Ash-hole, into which all the Ashes, on the Iron Grates which go cross it, fall down, and which are taken out with a little Iron shovel, or a sort of Iron Peel.

B. is the space or whole room of the Ash-hole.

C. Is the Fire-Grate which ought to be of square Iron Bars lying with the Edges upwards that the Ashes may not lie thereon, which they would do if the flats were upwards.

D. is the place where the Fire is made of Coal or Wood.

E. is the Door of it.

F. is several holes wherein are put Iron Bars which go cross from one side to the other, to keep up the vessels wherein the matters to be worked are contained, stopping up the other holes that are not used with Lute.

G. is the Work hole, or little Laboratory of the Furnace.

H. is a semicircular opening with the like hole in the Cover to put the neck of the Retort through, when you distil in a Reverberatory, or otherwise.

I. is the inner part of the Work-hole of the Furnace.

K. is two Registers.

L. is the Cover of the Furnace for 8 Registers.

M. is a round hole which serves for a Register to Reverberate, and to pass the neck of the Ma∣trasses through which are in Balneo, whether in digestion or otherwise.

N. is the Registers which are to be opened or shut to augment or diminish the heat of the Fire of the Reverberatory.

This Furnace, very usefull in a little Laborato∣ry, may serve for most part of our works. First of all for a wind Furnace for several operations if the vessel containing the matter be so accommo∣dated

[illustration]

in the work-hole, that the fire may touch it immediately. It may be also serviceable for Fusion of several Metalline matters which we Em∣ploy for Tinctures, to calcine them, vitrifie them, make Enamels, &c. If it be open at the bot∣tom where the Ash-hole is, and placed upon an Iron Trevet; and besides that, covering the top with two Cases the better to keep in the heat.

2. For a Reverberatory Furnace, if you cover the work-hole with its cover, or door, and shut the Registers, the vessel containing the Materials being exposed to the naked flame.

3. For a Balneum Mariae, if you put into the hole a Copper Vessel of the same Diameter, in shape of a Copper, the bottom whereof must be strong and flat, and fill it with hot water, wherein you may put the Vessel that contains your matter: Which if it be a Matrass or Bolt-head, you may let the Neck out at the hole at the middle of the Cover, which covers the Balneum (or vessel full of water.)

4. For a Balneum Vaporosum, by putting in the same hole, a vessel full of water that shall rise in vapours: And in that vessel, another which shall contain the materials two Inches above the water, shutting this vessel with a fit cover least the vapours Exhale.

5. For a Balneum Aereum, or dry bath, by putting in the same hole a vessel filled with hot Air shut close, and therein also another vessel with the Ma∣terials.

6. For a Sand or Ash Furnace, and with filings of Iron, if the vessel put in the hole, and which is exposed to the naked Fire be filled with Sand, Ashes, or Filings of Steel, and that you pu•• in the one or the other, the vessel that contains the mat∣ter you are to work on.

7. For a Lamp Furnace, if in place of the Bars below you put a Porringer full of Ashes, to contain the Vessel wherein your matter is; provided you put also a Glass Bell on that Vessel to cover it that must stand on the Brim or Ledges of the Por∣ringer, well sitted to it, to preserve the heat that arises: and then put under that Porringer the Lamp on a little Trevet.

In short, this Furnace may serve for almost all Chymical Operations whatsoever, which would be too long here to mention.

CHAP. LIII. The way of purifying Vitriol to make Aqua-Fortis stronger and more penetrative.

WE have promised in the preceding Chapter, to shew the way of purifying Vitriol, which consists in taking away its Yellowness, which alone hinders the good effects it is capable of producing.

Take Roman Vitriol, the best you can get; dis∣solve it in common warm Water, then let it stand three days; then filter it, and fling away the yel∣low Faeces; then evaporate in Glass Bodies two thirds of the Water, and put the Remainder into Earthen glaz'd Pans, and set it in a cool place for the Cry∣stals of it to shoot, which in 12 hours time they will do, about the Brims of the Pans in little trans∣parent pieces, like natural Crystal of an Emerald∣Colour; and at bottom there will remain a sul∣phureous Sediment, which must be carefully sepa∣rated, and cast away.

Then you must take all those little green Crystals, and dissolve them again in warm Water, as before, and then filter and evaporate them in the same Glass

Bodies: And set them again to crystallize, as be∣fore, in a cool place, taking care to separate all the yellow Faeces you find. Reiterate this Process of disolving, and filtering, evaporating, and cry∣stallizing the third time; then you will have a well purified and refined Vitriol.

We will here add for the sake of the curious, that those who make use of Vitriol instead of Roach-Allum, to make Aqua-Fortis, the Preparation whereof we have shewn in the precedent Chap. ought to take a special care in the Distillation, that assoon as the Red Fumes are passed, all the Spirits of Nitre are raised, and that then the Fire must be extinguished; for that which follows after, is only Spirit of Vitriol, which hinders the Opera∣tion of the Spirit of Nitre in the Solution of Metals.

You may also draw a parting Water in 12 hours time, (as some Refiners do) during which time, but little Spirit of Vitriol can arise with their fires.

CHAP. LIV. The way to make Aqua Regalis for the solution of Gold and other Metals, except Silver.

AQua Regalis, is nothing but a common Aqua∣Fortis, wherein you dissolve ¼ of its weight of Sal-Armoniac. But to have a good and strong Aqua-Regalis you must take one pound of Aqua-Fortis prepared as in Chap. 52. put it in a Glass Matrass, and add to it only 2 Ounces of Sal Armoniac, then put the Matrass into a warm Bath or Pan, of warm Water, and stir it often, that the Sal armo∣niac may be well dissolved in the Aqua-Fortis, which

will be tinged of a yellow Colour. Then you must add as much Sal-Armoniac to it as the Aqua∣Fortis can dissolve, then let it settle a little; and the Sal-Armoniac will leave at the bottom all its Terrestreity. After that decant it gently off into another Vessel, so that you don't trouble the settling at bottom, or rather filter it through whited-brown Paper. This Water will dissolve Gold and other Metals, far better than the com∣mon Aqua Regalis, except Silver, which it toucheth not at all, for reasons which Chymists are ac∣quainted with.

CHAP. LV. Another way of making Aqua-Regalis far stronger than the former.

OUr Design being not only to shew Operations and Processes proper for Glass, but also for the sake of Gentlemen chymically inclin'd, whose Curiosities are not contented with what's common, or with ordinary Preparations; those which we here give of Aqua-Regalis are among the number of those, whose Virtues are far above the common Preparations, they more intimately pe∣netrating and dissolving Gold and other Metals than others, rendring them more volatile, and consequently more proper to be drawn over in Distillations.

The first is that which some Philosophers call the Water of the two Champions, which is made with two parts of purified Sulphur, two parts of purified Sal-Armoniac, and one part of calcin'd Flints, all re∣duced to powder, and mixed well together. Then take an earthen Retort, which must have a little hole

on the back (or Curvature) on the upper side, through which you may put in the Ingredients. For the more safety sake, you may lute the Body of the Retort over well, and let it dry; then put it in the Furnace we have describ'd chap. LII. and fit to it a great Glass Recipient (by reason of the violence of the Spirits) wherein you may put a lit∣tle common Water to attract them; lute the Joints of them as you do for Aqua-Fortis, and let them be well dry'd before you kindle the fire, for Rea∣sons we have elsewhere assigned.

The Lute being dry, and all in right Order, you must begin by a gentle fire, that the Retort may grow warm by degrees, and afterwards gradually encrease it till it grow red-hot. Then put in at the Hole of the Retort four Ounces at a time of the Ingredients you have prepared, and stop it a∣gain presently. Doing thus you will see in a lit∣tle time▪ great quantities of cloudy Vapours arise, and pass into the Receiver, and fill it, which will dissolve little by little, mixing themselves with the common Water, and the Receiver will grow clear. Assoon as you perceive this, you must put four Ounces more of your Ingredients into the Retort, and give time for the Vapours (arising again) to dissolve as before; then reiterate this Process till all your Ingredients are distill'd off. Then unlute your Receiver, and pour the Liquor into an Alem∣bick, and draw off the Phlegm in Balneo Mariae, and rectifie it in an Ash-Fire: Then your Water will be made, and fit to dissolve any Metal but Silver.

CHAP. LVI. Another way of making Aq. Reg. more easie, and with less precaution.

THIS second way of making Aq. Reg. will be more easie than the former, and the Water of as much force. Take 1 pound of good Salt-Petre, pow∣der it, and mix it with 3 Pound of Potters Clay, or Flints calcined to Powder; put the whole into a Glass Retort well luted, and sit to it a great Recei∣ver, lute the Joints well, then put it in a reverbera∣tory Furnace, and distil it according to Art in a gra∣dual Fire. When all the red Spirits are passed over, as we have explained in speaking of Aq. fortis in the 52 Chapter. Then draw off the Phlegm in Balneo Mariae (which the Chymists and we hereafter will note by the two Letters B. M.) then rectifie it in an Ash Furnace, and keep it for use.

Then take a Pound of Sal Armoniac, well pow∣der'd, and mix it with four Pound of Wood-Ashes, (out of which you have before extracted all the Salt with warm Water) then put the whole into a Re∣tort, sit a Receiver to it, and distil it in a Sand-Fur∣nace, and the Spirit of the Sal Armoniac will pass over into the Receiver.

Then unlute your Receiver, and take off that Phlegm of the Spirit in B. M. and rectifie it in Ashes. This done, take equal parts of each of these Spirits; then mix them together and distil them in an Ash∣Furnace. Then you'll have a strong Menstruum for dissolving Gold.

I can't here omit, that the Spirit of Sea-water Salt distill'd as Salt-petre, has the same effects as the Wa∣ter of the 2 Champions whereof we have given the

Preparation in the preced. Chap. and as that we have just now treated of; and in the mean while is not so sharp nor corrosive. You must, to make it succes∣fully, take 3 parts of Spirits of Sea-water Salt, and add to it one part of Salt-petre, then distil it together in an Ash-Furnace, the better to unite them. Then you'll have an Aqua Regalis, which will dissolve Gold sooner than the Spirit of Sal-Armoniac, and which will make it rise and pass over in the Recei∣ver; thus you may this easie way make it more fit for the use you design it for.

But notwithstanding this, you must not imagine that this Solution of Gold is a radical and total one, because it will pass over in an Alembic, and that so it is reduc'd into a Species of Aurum potabile: For there is nothing but the one Sovereign Menstruum of the Philosophers, which has that virtue, as being homogeneous to it, and formed of it. That is the only Liquor in which it can putrisie and be totally re∣solved, and regenerated again after the manner of the Phoenix, to become a Spiritual and Glorious Bo∣dy, capable of performing all those wonderful Ef∣fects ascrib'd to it.

CHAP. LVII. The way to Calcine Tartar.

WE have already given one Preparation of Tar∣tar in Chap. 15. both for the Calcination of it, and to extract the Salt; and we have largely shewn in Chap. 5. of what importance it is to dry it through∣ly: For that reason we will not repeat it here, but refer the Reader thither.

To make this Calcination, which is easie, Take Tar∣tar in great lumps, the thickest and most shining you can get, blow away all the Powder, then put it in new Earthen Pots upon live Coals, or in a little Fur∣nace, where you must leave it till it smoaks no more, and all its humidity be exhaled, and it be reduc'd in∣to Lumps of a black purplish colour; then it is cal∣cin'd and well prepared.

Tartar may also be calcin'd by wrapping it in pie∣ces of brown Paper; then lay a Bed of live Coals, and lay a bundle of it upon them, then another Layer or Bed of Coals, and on them another parcel of Tar∣tar; continue thus to do S. S. S. till all your parcels of Tartar are laid on, observing that the upper Layer be always of Coals; and leave the whole in that State till the Tartar be well calcined and leaves off smoak∣ing; then take it off and blow away the Ashes.

CHAP. LVIII. A way to make a fair Chalcedony in Glass.

ALtho Chalcedony is not so dear as it has been heretofore, since it is found in Europe; yet Peo∣ple have not left off counterfeiting it by help of Art, to make several Works of it no less beautiful than the true, and much cheaper.

We will shew three different ways to prepare this Chalcedony, which will make three different Species of it, all of them very fair, but whose Beauty may be also augmented by the number of Ingredients we compose them of, and which cause those Diversities of Colours, which that Stone ought to have.

Among the rest of the Ingredients we employ in this Subject, there are some that give no colour to Glass, as Tartar, Soot, Sal-Armoniac and Mercury.

Those that are of an unctuous Nature, as Lead, Soot, Tartar, the Azure-stone often hinder the Union of the Ingredients, by reason of the Separation which may happen by the cooling the Metal; which does not happen to those who know how to observe the degree of heat, wherein the principal knowledge of this Art consists.

To make the first sort of Chalcedony: Put two Pound of Aqua fortis (whereof we have given the Prepara∣tion in Chap. 52.) into a Glass Body with a long Neck, four Ounces of fine Silver in small and thin Plates, or granulated, put the Body in an Ash Furnace over a soft Fire, or in warm Water, and the Silver will be presently dissolv'd. At the same time take ano∣ther Body and dissolve in it 6 Ounces of Quick-silver in a Pound and half of the same Aqua fortis. After that pour both the Solutions together into a greater Body, which put in the same Bath, or warm Water, or Ash-Furnace: then add to it six Ounces of Sal∣Armoniac, which dissolve over a gentle Fire; then put to it one Ounce of Zaffer, and half an Ounce of Manganese prepared, little by little, with as much Ferretto of Spain also little by little, for fear the Matter coming to swell too much should break the Vessel. Add to all these Ingredients one Ounce of Crocus Martis calcined with Sulphur; as much Scales of Copper thrice calcined, which ought to boil like Manganese; as much blue Lake that the Painters use; and the same quantity of Red Lead, the whole reduc'd into Powder. In putting in these Powders you must gently stir the Glass Body, that they may the better incorporate with the Aqua fortis, never∣theless take care there be not too much heat; then you must well stop the Matras (or Glass Body) stir∣ring it well every Day for ten Days, that the Pow∣ders may well incorporate, and that they may always appear as separated from the Water. After that

put the great Glass Body in a Sand-Furnace in a temperate heat, or rather empty it into a GlassCucur∣bit, after having luted it at the bottom, and put it over the same Fire, so that the Aqua fortis may eva∣porate in 24 Hours, and at bottom of the Vessel you will have a yellow Powder, which keep safely in Glasses for use. When you are to make Chalcedony, take white Crystal in Glass, well purified, and that has been often melted; for Crystal new made is not fit for that Operation, because the Colours will not stick to it, but are consumed by the Frit. Put about twenty Pound of this sort of Crystalline Glass into a Pot; and being well melted, put in about three Ounces of your Yellow Powder at three different times, mix the Glass well with it each time, that the Powder may incorporate with it, the Glass being thus well mixed, let it stand an Hour, then mix it once more and let it stand during 24 Hours: Then mix it again for the last time, and make an Essay of it, it will give a yellowish Azure colour. Having made your Essay, and found your Matter right, you may take your Pot out of the Furnace, and when it is cold you'll have colours which shall represent Wavings of the Sea, and other fine things. But to have a very fair Chalcedony, you must make a second Ope∣ration to join to the first, by taking eight Ounces of Tartar calcined, as we have shewn Chap. 41. Two Ounces of Soot of the Chimney well purified, half an Ounce of Crocus Martis calcined with Sulphur: Mix the whole well together, then put it into the melted Metal at five or six different times; otherwise the Impetuous Swelling of the Materials would break the Pot, and the whole would be lost; which may be avoided by putting it in little by little, stirring it each time well, that the Matters may incorporate: Make the Pot also boil, then let it stand twenty four Hours. After which you may work it into what you

please, which put in the Furnace to whiten, and see if the Glass please you; if it be green without, and blue, white, red, yellow and of other Colours like Jasper and Oriental Agat. If looking on it obliquely it be red like Fire, and held to the Sun it shew the Colours of the Rain-bow by reflection of the Rays; if so, then it is fit to make all sorts of Vessels which may be polished at the Wheel. If it be pale and clear, you must add to it more calcined Tartar and Soot as before, stirring it well to make it incorpo∣rate; then let the Glass stand and purifie several Hours, and afterwards work it as you please.

Chalcedony is much used for the Effigies of Kings and Princes, for Heads, Cups, and many other Vessels; principally for making Seals, because it may be gra∣ved easily, and the Wax will not stick to it.

CHAP. LIX. A second Species of Chalcedony.

THE second sort of Chalcedony ought to be finer than the former: The Preparations are as fol∣low.

Put into a Glass Body a Pound of Aqua fortis, and three Ounces of coppel'd Silver granulated, the bet∣ter to dissolve.

In another Glass Body put also a Pound of Aqua fortis, with five Ounces of Mercury well puri∣fied and passed through the Glove, and close it well.

Take likewise another Glass Vessel, and put into it also a Pound of Aqua fortis, with two Ounces of Sal-Armoniac to dissolve in it.

After it is dissolv'd add to it Crocus Martis prepa∣red, as in Chap. 27. Feretto of Spain, of Chap. 22. Cop∣per calcined as in Chap. 32. Leaves of Copper calcin'd by means of Sulphur, as in Chap. 31. of each half an Ounce, the whole reduced into Powder; taking care to put them in one after another, and little by little, for fear the Vessel should break.

Then put in another Earthen Body, one Pound of Aqua fortis, with two Ounces of Sal-Armoniac; and the whole being dissolv'd, add successively as before of good crude Antimony, of blue Enamel which the Painters use; of red Lead, and of Vitriol well purified of each one half Ounce; the whole well powder'd, and put in little by little, as we have said, for fear of breaking the Vessel, then close it well.

Take also another Glass Body, wherein put one Pound of Aqua fortis, and two Ounces of Sal-Armo∣niac; being dissolv'd, add to it two Ounces of pre∣pared Zaffer, as we have shewn in Chap. 17. a quar∣ter of an Ounce of Manganese of Piedmont also pre∣pared, as in Chap. 18. half an Ounce of thrice calci∣ned Copper, as in Chap. 33. with an Ounce of Cinna∣bar; the whole being well pounded, put it by little and little into the Vessel; taking care (as we have said) that the Powders don't by too much swelling break the Vessel; then close it well.

You must have a sixth Vessel of the same bigness with the rest, wherein likewise put a Pound of Aqua fortis, and two Ounces of Sal-Armoniac; as soon as it is dissolved, cast in two Ounces of Ceruse little by little, for that will cause a great fermentation. Then add the like weight of Painters red Lake, and as much of Iron Scales from the Anvil, putting it in little by little, as we have heretofore admonish'd, and for the same Reasons; and lastly proceed very

slowly in all these Operations; then stop your Ves∣sel well.

All your six Vessels being on a gentle fire of Ashes, or in a warm Bath, to hasten the Solution of your Materials, you must stir them at least six times a Day, during the twelve in which you leave them in that heat, that the Aqua fortis may the better penetrate the Powders, and they communicate their Tinctures the better to the Glass. The twelve Days being past, take a great Glass Crucible that will hold the whole, and lute it well for fear of breaking; let the lute dry, then pour in gently your Materials in the six Matras's one after the other, after ha∣ving well stirred each of them beforehand; then put your Cucurbite on a gentle Ash Fire, and fit to it a Head and Receiver, and lute well the Joints; then distil gently all the Aqua fortis for the space of Twenty four Hours, that is in the Body, making a very gentle Fire towards the end, otherwise the Powders may be spoiled by too much heat, and the Spirits which ought to remain in the Powder would pass into the Receiver. Then they will remain at the bottom of the Vessel of a yel∣lowish red colour, which keep in a Glass well stop∣ped, for tinging Glass, or Crystal, which is yet better, as I have shewn in the preceding Chap∣ter.

CHAP. LX. The third and last way of Chalcedony.

THIS third way surpasses the other two in Beau∣ty; it is something tedious, but the Learned know that what is most perfect, requires most time.

To make this Preparation, you must use the Aqua fortis of Chap. 52. putting one Pound in a Glass Ma∣trass, with four Ounces of Leaf-Silver to dissolve, and stop the Matras.

Take another Matras, wherein put a Pound of the same Aqua fortis, with five Ounces of Mercury pu∣rified with Salt and Vinegar after this manner. Take common Salt, sprinkle it with Vinegar in a Wooden-dish, where add to it a little common fair Water to make it dissolve, put in your Mercury, and stir it well with a Wooden-Pestle to draw out the Blackness; repeat washing them often with fresh Salt and Vinegar, till there be no more Blackness; then dry them with warm Linen or Cotton, and pass it thro' the Glove, then it will be purified, and fit to put in your Aqua fortis. When it is dissolved, stop the Matras and keep it.

Take another Glass Body, wherein put a Pound of Aqua fortis with three Ounces of fine Silver calci∣ned. Amalgamate the Silver with the Mercury, as the Goldsmiths usually do, and put it into a Crucible, with its weight of common Salt purified, as we have heretofore shewn: Then put the Crucible on hot Coals, that the Mercury may evaporate, and that only the Silver remain at bottom, which will be pu∣rified and calcined. Then add to that calcined Sil∣ver,

an equal weight of common Salt purified as be∣fore, mix them well together, and put them over the Fire in a Crucible to calcine them afresh; then wash them well with warm Water to take out the Salt; then put this Silver into a Glass Vial fill'd with common Water, which boil till one fourth part be consumed, then let it cool and settle to the bottom, then decant off the Water, and put more upon it: Reiterate this Process with fresh Water three times, and at the fourth dry the Silver, and put it into your Aqua fortis, and stir it well, and stop the Ma∣tras.

We have promised to give the way of purifying common Salt, which is this. Take what quantity you will of Sea-Salt, dissolve it in a convenient quantity of common Water, boiling it for the space of two Hours, then let the Water rest, that the earthy part of the Salt may settle to the bottom: Then filter the Water, and evaporate it in an Ear∣then Vessel, or rather in a Glass Cucurbit, till the Salt remain dry at the bottom. Dissolve this Salt again, making the Water boil, then let it stand for the Dregs to settle, after which filter it and evapo∣rate it as before; which you must continue to do, till it leave no more Faeces or Dregs, and it will be well purified and prepared.

To continue our Preparation of the Materials, you must put into a Glass Matras a Pound of Aqua fortis, with three Ounces of purified Sal-Armoniac; that is to say, filter'd and whitened till it leave no Faeces or Dregs, as we have shewn in common Salt: Then dissolve in that Water a quarter of an Ounce of Sil∣ver, and stop the Vessel well.

Take another Glass Matras, and put into it also a Pound of Aqua fortis, with two Ounces of Sal-Ar∣moniac; being dissolv'd, put into that Water, of Cinnabar, of Crocus Martis calcined with Sulphur as

above; of Vltramarine, and of Ferretto of Spain, prepared as in Chap. 22. of each half an Ounce, the whole well pounded into Powder; you must do this little by little as we have heretofore hinted for fear of breaking the Vessel, by the fermentation which they make with the Aqua fortis; then stop the Ma∣tras.

Put into another Matras a Pound of Aqua fortis, and dissolve in it two Ounces of Sal-Armoniac as be∣fore; add to it of Crocus Martis calcined, as in Chap. 25, with calcined Tin, known among the Glass-Men, of Zaffer described in Chap. 17. and of Cinnabar, of each half an Ounce, the whole well powder'd, and cast little by little into your Matras, for the Reasons before assigned, which require that great precaution; then stop the Matras.

Take another Glass Body, wherein put one Pound of Aqua fortis, and dissolve in it two Ounces of Sal-Armoniac; then add one Ounce of small Leaves of Copper calcined, as in Chap. 31, half an Ounce of Scales of Copper thrice calcined, as describ'd in Chap. 34, half an Ounce of Manganese of Piedmont prepared, as in Chap. 18, and half an Ounce of Scales of Iron which fall from the Smiths Anvil, the whole well pounded, which cast little by little into your Matras for fear of breaking it, then stop it well.

Put into another Glass Body one Pound of Aqua fortis, and two Ounces of Sal-Armoniac: The disso∣lution being made, put to it little by little half an Ounce of red Lead, one Ounce of Scales of Copper of Chap. 34, half an Ounce of crude Antimony, and as much Caput Mortuum of Vitriol purified, the whole well pulveriz'd; then stop the Ma∣tras.

Take another Glass Matras, put into it one Pound of Aqua fortis with two Ounces of Sal-Armoniac; add to that Water of Orpiment, of white Arsnick, of Painters Lake, half an Ounce of each; the whole being well powder'd, and put into a Matras with the same precaution as before, stop it well.

We have not repeated at each Operation, that you must put your Matras on an Ash Furnace over a gen∣tle heat, or in a warm Bath to hasten the Solution of the Materials; because we have told you it must be al∣ways done in Chap. 58, in speaking of the Preparation of those things which serve to tinge the first Species of Chalcedony; which may suffice for the instruction of those who employ themselves in this Art. We will add, that all the nine Matrasses mentioned in this Chapter, must remain fifteen Days in the same heat, stirring them often every Day, that the Water may the better operate on the Materials subtilizing them, and well opening their Tinctures. Then put all these Materials, with the Aqua fortis, into a great Glass Body, little by little, that they may unite well to∣gether. Close the Body and set it in the same heat, stirring it well for six Days. After that, take a great Glass Cucurbit well luted half way up the Body of it, put it on an Ash Furnace, put into it all the Mate∣rials out of your Body, fit to it a Head and Receiver, lute well all the Joints, then distil it during the space of twenty four Hours, over a very gentle Fire, for fear the Colours should be spoil'd, that the Water pass gently over, and the Spirits remain in the Pow∣der, which of green will become yellow.

Thus putting that Powder in the requisite Dose (as we have taught in the first Species of Chalcedony) into purified Glass Metal, made of broken pieces of Cry∣stal, and not of Fritt; and adding to it in its due time, calcined Tartar, Soot of Chimney, Crocus

Martis made with Vinegar, observing all we have on this Subject remarked, these Materials will give an opacity to Glass, which may be worked twenty four Hours afterwards, managing it well with pro∣per Tools, and often heating it; and you'll have things made of an extraordinary Beauty, greater then can be imagin'd.

The End of the Second BOOK.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Neri says Lime.