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. XXIV. How Silver Touch-Needes are to be made.

[Section. 1] THE silver Touch-Needles (which are al∣so called Proof-Needles) they are gene∣rally made and used by all Refiners and Guardians, and they that deal in Silver: by which Touch all Silver-Contents may very nearly be known: Now to make [Section. 2] such it is very necessary to have weights that are a pret∣ty * 1.1deal bigger than common Assay-Weights: And then take good fine Silver, and of it make the first Needle, (and make a Mark on it) viz. 16 Loth of fine: And to the Second Needle, take 15 Loth of fine Silver, and one Loth of fine Copper: and

• To the Third 14 Loth of fine Silver and 2 Loths of Copper.
• To the Fourth 13 Loth of fine Silver and 3 Loths of Copper.
• To the Fifth 12 Loth of fine Silver and 4 Loths of Copper.
• To the Sixth 11 Loth of fine Silver and 5 Loths of Copper.
• To the Seventh 10 Loth of fine Silver and 6 Loths of Copper.
• To the Eighth 9 Loth of fine Silver and 7 Loths of Copper.
• To the Ninth 8 Loth of fine Silver and 8 Loths of Copper.
• To the Tenth 7 Loth of fine Silver and 9 Loths of Copper.
• To the Eleventh 6 Loth of fine Silver and 10 Loths of Copper.
• To the Twelveth 5 Loth of fine Silver and 11 Loths of Copper.
• To the Thirtenth 4 Loth of fine Silver and 12 Loths of Copper.
• To the Fourteenth 3 Loth of fine Silver and 13 Loths of Copper.
• To the Fifteenth 2 Loth of fine Silver and 14 Loths of Copper.
• To the Sixteenth 1 Loth of fine Silver and 15 Loths of Copper.

[Section. 3] * 1.2When you have weighed all these, then put every Needle's proportion into a Crucible, and do not let it drive much, for thereby the Needles may prove false: but so soon as the Silver and Copper in the Crucible begins to drive then stir it with a dry Splinter (or stick) and cast each proportion into a small Ingot, out of which the Needles are to be made, which you may shape as you please, and put a mark or distinction on each Needle, according to the Contents of each, thereby to see how many loths of fine Silver a Mark doth con∣tain, that you may not be deceived by the Touch, but thereby make a right Judgment.

[Section. 4] * 1.3Some do part and divide the Needles into two half∣loths, which is left to every ones Freedom, and there is enough in it, where the Touch may not be certainly known by the loth, Now when thou dost intend to use the Needles, then upon the Silver which thou hast made, scrape a fine shining stroak, and also make another stroak on the Needle by it, and see which stroak on the Needle is most like the Silver-stroke, and so you will see by

them how much the Silver doth contain: and that the form of the Touch-Needles may be seen, this following Sculpture doth represent.

[illustration]

Sculpture VIII.

Deciphered.

• 1. 2. The Touch-Needles.
• 3. 4. The Ingots to be compared with the Touch-needles.

Notes

• * 1.1

  To make them.
• * 1.2

  To try them
• * 1.3

  Needles half Loth.