Fleta minor the laws of art and nature, in knowing, judging, assaying, fining, refining and inlarging the bodies of confin'd metals : in two parts : the first contains assays of Lazarus Erckern, chief prover, or assay-master general of the empire of Germany, in V. books, orinally written by him in the Teutonick language and now translated into English ; the second contains essays on metallick words, as a dictionary to many pleasing discourses, by Sir John Pettus ... ; illustrated with 44 sculptures.

CHAP. XX. To granulate out of a Kiln.

[Section. 1] FURTHER, there is another way to gra∣nulate (novv used) call'd Granulating out of the Kiln, and is thus: Cause a Kiln * 1.1to be made of Potters earth (a little above a Span diameter within) which must have Iron-hoops, and the middle ring or hoop must have a long Iron-handle, and at the end of the han∣dle a ring; likewise the Kiln is to be cut out on that side towards the Bellows, and when there is an Intention to granulate in the Kiln, then it must be set before the mouth of strong Bellows, and coals put in it, and after let the Bellows blow into it, that it may glow well; and then the old Silver (with an Iron-ladle) must be put on the top of the Coals, and the Bellows must blow al∣ways, so will it melt easily; and put still more silver, and let it flow: do this so long till as much Silver is in the Kiln as it can hold▪ stir it well about, after that, Take the Kiln vvith the coals in it, from the Bellows, and take it vvith the handle upon thy arm, and the ring which is at the end of the handle in thy hand, by which

you may govern the Kiln, and so granulate it out of the Kiln, through Brooms as hath been said before.

This is a quick way to granulate, but the Contents of the old Silver is sometimes not found alike, and it [Section. 2] doth also waste more than by other grainings or granu∣latings: * 1.2Now as often as there is need to melt in such a Kiln, it is necessary to do it alvvayes well over with a good Clay, that may hold well in the fire, otherwise, when the Metal is warm, it may flow through it.

It happens also often, that if a Crucible doth leak or or run out; and in that case sweep all clean together, put [ 3] it in a Vessel and pour vvater on it, and that vvhich * 1.3doth swim at top, take off, and throw away, and pour other water on it, this do so long untill the water doth go clear off, then out of the Residue pick out the course sand and stones, and stamp the rest in a Morter and searse it through a hair seeve, that which doth not pass keep it, because it is good, but that which goeth through, vvash that again in a long Tub made of Firr, that the residue of the good may be got out: because where much is to be granulated there will be sometimes some Mischance, so that a Crucible may run out, and cannot be rectifi'd again without loss and dammage. The follovving Sculpture is thus

[illustration]

Deciphered.

• 1. The Grain or granulating Kill or Kiln.
• 2. 2. The Wind-Oven of Potters-stuff upon a Trevet or three-foot Frame.
• 3. Another Wind-Oven of Potters-Loam with Iron-Hoops, on a three-foot Iron-trevet or frame.
• 4. The Crucible in which the Silver is to be melted.
• 5. The crucible in which the melted Metal (that is ta∣ken out of the fire) is to be put.
• 6. The copper▪Bason in which the granulating is per∣form'd.
• ...

[illustration]

• ... 7. An iron-roaster on which the Silver is heated and roasted.
• 8. He that tends the Grain-Kiln.
• 9. The Broom-holder for Granulation.
• 10. The granulating Vessel.
• 11. The Bellovvs to the Grain-Kiln.
• 12. The Instrument used by him that tends the Grain-Kiln or Furnace.

Sculpture VII.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The manner of perform∣ing it.
• * 1.2

  A quick way of gra∣nulating.
• * 1.3

  When the Crucible doth break.