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LADDER. See Utensils.
LEACH (l. 3. c. 26.) this word I retain signify∣ing hard work (often mentioned by Erkern) and the Etimology may be, because such hard Work, do occasion Le Ach, on the Ach in the Joynts of the Operators.
LAMINS. T. Bleck. L. Lamina, A. the Plates of Me∣tals. l. 4. c. 4.
LAPIS LAZULI, l. 1. of which Blew Vitriol is made.
LAPIS CALAMINARIS, L. Cadmia: see Cadmia, Calaminaris and Stones.
LAPIS TUTIJ, a Compound made of Calaminaris, good for sore Eyes. See Calaminaris and Stones.
LATTEN, T. Latton, Auri Chalcum and Orichalcum, also Coronarius, and is a Compound of Copper and Lapis Ca∣laminaris, and so cast into Forms and not wrought with Ham∣mers, in respect of its friableness or brittleness, that which is also made of thin Plates of Iron and so Tin'd over, is vulgarly called Latton. See Plates, Iron, Tin.
LEAD. T. Bley, L. Plumbus; it is called also (Howel) Aurum Philosophorum, because it doth as it were govern Gold and other Metals in their Precipitations, and from thence wee use this word to lead or conduct, because this Metal doth as it were, lead and conduct us to the knowledge of all other Metals (l. 4.) and several other parts: see Metals; and cer∣tainly no Metal hath more excellent effects in Chyrurgery, than the Artificial Leads made of it, under the names of white and red Lead, and therefore it is put under the highest Planet Sa∣turn, slow in motion and sure in operation, and of this virtual metal we have as good and as great quantities in England and Wales proportionably, as in any parts of Europe; besides the great quantity of Silver contained in it: But before I close this Discourse (because it was omitted in the word Ceruse) I must inform you, that for this common Lead (which is a na∣tural Metal, and plentiful in all our Mine-Countries) there are Mills erected (such as the Society for the Mines Royal have in Wales) where they make white Lead (which is only a pro∣duct of that Metal, Lead, corrupted with Vinegar or Ʋrine, and afterwards being ground in the Mills, and formed into a white colour, is called white Lead, and after that Refined, and then hath the name of Ceruse, which yields the best and most perfect white, and at these Mills there is made also red Lead, of the common Metal Lead, and is brought to that colour, only by the Art of using Fire to it; and both being thus made, as
well the red as the white, are of excellent use, not only for Painters, &c. but to all Chirurgeons (as I have said:) There is also a mineral Lead, which we call Black Lead, some∣thing like Antimony, but not so shining or sollid, of which sort I know but of one Mine in England, and this yields plenty, both for our selves and other Nations, and this Mine is in Cumberland, which they open but once in se∣ven years (I suppose the reason is, least they should dig more then they can vend) this also is used by Painters and Chyrur∣geons, &c. with good success, especially being mixt with the products of Metals: and of late, it is curiously formed into cases of Deal or Cedar, and so sold as dry Pencils, something more useful than Pen and Ink.
There is also a white Mineral in England, called white Chalk, tending to a transparency, but of a Leadish quality, and therefore I place it here, rather than under Earths or Stones.
LEAD-GLASS. See Fluss.
LEATHER. See Utensils.
LIMBECK, T. Alimbick, L. Alimbicus, quia extrahen∣do materiam lambit (Minshaw) and also called sublimatorium, quia materiam evehat in sublime, and he saith, it is an Arabian word; but in short, it is a kind of an Oven or Furnace made of Metals, vulgarly called a Still, and used more for distilling Waters than Metals, and is sometimes mentioned by Erckern, but chiefly as an Helmet to the Athanor or great Furnace (l. 2. c. 32. s. 7.) Now of these Stills, I deny not but those which we commonly use, are very fit for their purposes; but I have contrived one (whereof I have made often Tryals) which per∣form the like, with much less fire, and less trouble, because the fire need not to be tended but once in 10 or 12 hours, and the Waters (of several sorts) which I have Distilled in it, are eve∣ry way as effectual, but the manner and way of Distilling there∣in, doth every day improve in my Experiments, and when it is fitted to effect all the intents and purposes of the common Stills (with some additions, which they cannot perform) I shall di∣vulge
the Invention, without Patent, or any expected Reward, but thanks. See Quick-silver.
LIMETS. See Files.
LIME-CALX, I have writ something of this, under the word Calcine; but now I shall speak of Lime, or the Calx of Lime-stone or Chalk-stone, which Calx is used both in Cement∣ings, Lutings, and in melting of Metals, with other Ingredients, but the great use of this Lime, is to make Mortar for Buildings, and therefore I shall refer it to the word Mortar: only observe this, That when Lime-stone or Chalk, whilst it is immediately from the Pit or Quarry (because it is properly a Stone, though of a soft nature) is called unslack't or unburnt Lime, but when it is burnt, called slack't, and so all Metals unburnt or burnt may be also called, unslack't or slack't and the pieces slackes, which word is often used.
LINNEN. See Utensils.
LIQUATION, L. Liquatio, from Aqua & liqui∣dus: A. liquor or moisture: and liquation is a term in this Art of Chimistry for one of the Methods in dissolving Metals, and the word liquifaction of the like sense, and from the same Ra∣dix is also applyed to Metals when they are melted by the heat of fire, or Sun: See Conglutination.
LITTARGE, T. Blegg Leidt or Glet, L. Lithargicus, or the stone of Gold or Silver, from the Greek Lethos; and sometimes called the spume or froth of Gold and Silver, but generally the Excrements, Scoria's or Dross of Gold or Silver caused by Lead, and if it be Gold-Litarge, it looks of a Yel∣low Colour, and tho it be dross; yet the Metallists give it this di∣stinct name, because it hath more excellent Virtues than any other Excrement, Recrement or other Dross, and that it may be cleared from other words of almost the same sound; I think it fit to distinguish them here: This word is written Littarge, and by some Lithargy, and that which signifies the publick Office of Devotions, LITTURGY; and the sleepy Di∣sease, LETHARGY (with an E:) and I wish that the plenty of
our Littarge or Lithargy may raise up our Litturgical Devo∣tions to be delivered in all times of our Wealth, and from the Lethargical or sleepy hours of Death, as well by our Devotions as by the excellent spirits, &c. made of our Littarge peculiar to that Apoplectick Distemper. (See those words.)
LIXIVIUM, See Menstruum, Lee or Lees.
LYE, called also Ligh or Lees, to distinguish from a lye, or to lye, or to speak untruth, or to lye or lay down to rest.) T. Langen, L Lixivium, from Lix signifying Ashes, or as Min∣shaw calls it, Humor Cineri mistus, of which see more in Buck and Menstruum. And here I may observe that as in Latine, Lix signifies Ashes so lixa is Water; and those two mixt, makes the lees, with which women wash and buck their cloths for so lixa also signifies.
LOAD-STONE or Magnet (lib. 4▪ cap. 21 and 22. s. 4.) T. Magnet-steine; but when it hath relation to Navigation, 'tis call'd Segel-steine, or sail-stone; but the Latines Magnes and Magnifficus: and A. from the Saxon, Load or Leading stone, or lapis cujus ductu Nautae instituant cursum; and Erckern for this and many other qualities calls it a Jewel, and 'tis pret∣ty to see how the Latines quibble about this word Magnes, for they call a great Man Magnas (on the account of Honour;) and Magnus great, on the account of bulk, &c. and this stone Magnes, being of so great Virtue, that it is scarce comprehensible, and 'tis probable, that the other two words do borrow their titles from it.
Pliny tells us, (lib. 7.) That this word Magnes was given from Magnes the Name of a Shepherd who was the first finder of it, and makes five kinds of it (lib. 36. cap. 16.) Cardanus but three kinds, who observes, That Aristotle was altogether ig∣norant of the maratine use of it, and that Galen and Al. Aphro∣dosius (two great Inquirers into the secrets of Nature) have not so much as once mentioned the wonderful Nature of this Stone: but now Authors do abound in their discourses upon it, and make all things easy and plain in their Naratives of its Vir∣tues
and Operations: only when their Discourses are apply∣ed to its Variation by the Needle (touch'd with it for the use of Navigation) there they disagree very much in their Opinions; and amongst the rest, Boetius tells us, (cap. de Magnete) that there are two magnetick Mountains; and that those magnets which are digg'd nearest to the Artick Pole, have most of the Artick Virtue; and such as are digg'd nearest to the Antartick, have most of the Virtue of the Antartick; which is the cause of their Variations, and many other pretty and plausible notions are writ of them, but I shall only men∣tion some of my own Observations.
1. That this Stone is found in most Iron-mines in England, but are not so effectual in their attractive power as those which we have from foreign Parts, and therefore ours need to be nourished with filings of Iron) for stones have a vegita∣ble life to be preserv'd) and to be kept from the Juyce of Ony∣ons and Garlick, and moist places, which do unglutinate, and so destroyes or subdues their Virtues: and therefore those Lapidists whose Art it is to fit Loadstones for Navigation (or other uses) will not suffer those Plants to be near them: and I have often try'd, That when I have touched my knife with a Loadstone, and thereby impowred it to take up Needles or small Weights (and so it holds its Virtue many dayes) but the Knife once touch'd with an Onion doth utterly loose the Virtue which it borrowed; I confess I never tryed Onions or other acid things to the Poles of my Loadstone, because I chose rather to believe than hurt the Stone: especially a Lapidist of my Acquaintance affirming the Truth of it, who was so great an Artist that he told me, That with a Magnet of the big∣ness of my head, he could drive the Soul of it, into as little a compass thereof as a Nutmeg, but before I could see the effects of his Art, I was diverted with other Occasions, and could never find him after. Yet it was my good fortune to be ac∣quainted with a worthy Gentleman Francis smith Esq (of Rushoke in Worcester-shire, since deceased) who was Master of
much sound learning and very ingenuous in his Discourses, when he thought fit to expatiate himself; or otherwise reserv'd: and we happened upon the Discourse which I had with the Lapidist upon which he produced a Loadstone, fixt with its irons for the North and South points, which I had the free∣dom to weigh in my Gold-Scales, and the Iron pieces and points and Gold (for Ornament which embraced it) weighed just eleven grains, and it attracted a piece of Iron of an ounce weight. Now, there being according to the Venetian account 6912 Grains to a pound, every ounce is 576 grains, which is 52 times 11 grains so that it took up an Iron of above 52 grains more than its own weight (considering its embracers) and by my description of the Lapidist, he believed, it was bought of the same person and looking upon it as avery great Rarity, I took upon me the Confidence to tell him, That it was pity so great a Jewel should lye concealed, and added, that I believ'd it would be a very acceptable Present to his Majesty: He approved of my Proposal, and accordingly did present it, and it was so accepted, and got a good Office soon after, I cannot say for that, (though it deserved it) but for his own Deserts, and I hope it is still preserv'd amongst his Majesties Rari∣ties.
Another piece of Curiosity I saw in the Hands of Sir Wil∣liam Persal (since Deceased also) viz. a Terrella or Load-stone, of little more than 6 Inches Diameter, turned into a Globular Form, and all the Imaginary Lines of our Terrestrial Globe, exactly drawn upon it: viz. the Artick and Antartick Cir∣cles, the two Tropicks, the two Colures, the Zodiack and Me∣ridian; and these Lines, and the several Countryes, artificially Painted on it, and all of them with their true Distances, from the two Polar Points, and to find the truth of those Points, he took two little pieces of a Needle, each of about half an Inch in length, and those he laid on the Meridian line, and then with Brass Compasses, moved one of them towards the Artick, which as it was moved, still raised it self at one end higher and
higher, keeping the other end fixt to the Terrella; and when it had compleated it Journy to the very Artick Points, it stood upright upon that Point; then he moved the other piece of Needle to the Antartick Point, which had its Elevations like the other, and when it came to the Point, it fixt it self upon that Point, and stood upright, and then taking the Terrella in my Hand, I could perfectly see that the two pieces of Needles stood so exactly one against the other, as if it had been one in∣tire long Needle put through the Terrella, which made me give credit to those who held, That there is an Astral Influence that darts it self through the Globe of Earth from North to South (and is as the Axel-Tree to the Wheel, and so called the Axis of the World) about which the Globe of the Earth is turned, by an Astral Power, so as what I thought imagi∣nary, by this Demonstration, I found real; and am convinc't by this, and other Experiments, That not only the whole Earth is guided by this Astral Influence, (fixt in the Septentrional and Astral Points) but every particular within the circumference of the Terrestrial Globe, hath a Magnetick tendency to the Sep∣tentrional Points, naturally fixt in them, as may be Experi∣enc'd in Plants, Stones and Metals (of which one might write a large Volumn) and it is commonly known, that in Clay, which have not been formerly dig'd (as I mentioned of that under my House (in Title Clay) being dig'd in pieces of 6 Inches, more or less in length, make them into Rolls, pointed at each end, and hang them with a thread in Equilibrio, and they will turn themselves to the North, to shew that there is an obedience in all Vegetables, to the Septentrial Astral conduct, and so it may be evident on every other Vegetable; and though the lesser sorts of them can scarcely be experimented, in respect of their minute∣ness, yet in Plants of greater bulks, we may see the predomi∣nancy of the North Point in their vegetation, which is the rea∣son, why Plants that are removed do not grow, or but very slowly, till they have recovered their first position to the North, by a second compliance to the Northern Magnetick Attra∣ction.
And it is not only thus in Vegetables, but in sensitives and Rationals, which I might inlarge: yet before I leave this Di∣scourse, I cannot but say something of the Constellation that at∣tends this Artick Point, which is called Cynosura, pretended in the stories of Constellations (see Dr. Hood) to be the Daugh∣ter of Calisto, and so had the name of Ʋrsa minor (a Female) yet hath the tail of a Dog, and the end of that tail is called the Pole-Star, and this polar Point is called also Septentrio, from the seven Stars which hover about it, and those seven Stars called Septentriones: Now the Scithians held the polar Point to be an Iron Nail (which is our Axis) and this they adored as a God, and before the Load-stone was known for Navigation, the 2 stars on the shoulder of this Bear or ursa minor, were Directions to the Spaniards instead of a Compas, Card or Needle: the like is said of the Constellation (called Helyce, Sister to Cinosura) which is in the Southern Point, fixt in ursa major; and the seven chief of this Constellation are called Charles's Wayne, and are in the hinder part and tail of this great Bear; but I have said enough of this, especially concerning the Scithians belief, that it was Iron (probably not then knowing the Name of the Load-stone, and therefore called it Iron instead of Load-stone:) but to pass these Metallick Parts of the Terrestrial Globe, and celestial In∣fluences attending them. I cannot but recommend the Expe∣rience I have had (in lying in my bed with my Feet to the North and Head to the South) in my rest, sleep and dreams, from other Positions, which I leave to the Consideration of others; and return to the Magnetism of Metals; wherein all Chimists agree, That Gold is the Magnet of Quick silver, Iron of Copper, Copper of Silver, and Tin of Lead; and these Magnetisms are still guided by astral Influences, not on∣ly of the Seven Peculiar Planets, to the Seven Metals, but to the Septentrional Axis or North Point, which directs the In∣fluences of the Seven Stars upon the Seven Metals. And now I shall conclude, and refer you to that admirable Experiment which our Author mentions of this Jewel, l. 4. c. 20. (colle∣cted
from Serapion (an old Philosopher) as also to Cardanus, (a known Author) who tells us what he had experimented, viz. That if a Knife be touch'd with a Load-stone, it will en∣ter into any part of Man's Body without sense of Pain, not only in thrusting it in, (which is common to all Weapons till the Air entreth the Wound) but also when it is drawn out.
Yet I cannot leave this pleasant Subject, till I have imparted my own Experiments, in making this Jewel (for so Erckern de∣servedly calls it) useful to inform us, as well of the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea, as of the Alterations of the Weather, and to that End, I fram'd a Model or Case (as is here represen∣ted, but covered with glass) with a pair of little wooden Scales artificially hung by a thread to a thin piece of Wood, plac'd between the two iron Points of the Loadstone, so as the two Scales may hang true under each point, and at each end of the wooden Beam of those two Scales, I fixt two little pieces of Iron, to answer the two points, whereby the attrative power of the two Iron Points of the Loadstone might operate its attractive power on the two lower pieces of Iron on the Beam, and then in one Scale I put in Quick-silver, and in the other certain little weights proportionable to the weight of the Quick silver; and on the Center of the top of the frame I placed an Horizontal Dial, with a Compass-Needle in it (such are commonly sold) and on each side of the frame (at equal Distances from the Center) I placed also upon an extended piece of thin wooden board, two more such Horizontal Dials with Needles, so as the Gnomon's of all three, might answer each other in a dia∣metrical Line. But having been hindred in perfecting my real Apprehension, of obtaining thereby many pleasing and use∣ful Experiments, I must refer the further account of them, till another time.
LOAM, See Clay.
LOTH, See Money.
LUMP, l. 1. c. 4. Teut. Klumpen. L. Massa, or a piece of any thing compos'd of hard, and moist, mixt, as Clay; &c. but in a mixture of Metals, 'tis called Bolus, and in mixture of light Earths, Gleba: and we also call a fish (which is com∣mon in our Markets) a Lump, in respect of its form, close, and compacted without a regular shape, and the word may
well come from Lumbus or Lumbricus, by changing b into p, which two Letters differs not in their labial utterance, but by the addition of some other Consonant or Vowel: also Lumbus is properly a Store-house (for refuse Metals or lumps of Me∣tals) and for other Wares.
LUTE, Luting, The Teut. calls it Laum, the L. Lutum, and they have a word called Testudo, which signifies not only the outward Case, or belly of a musical Instrument called a Lute, but also Clay, and as Lute for Clay, and as Lute for a musi∣cal Instrument, are synonimus, so they are in their operations, for as the Belly of a Lute serves for reverberations of Sounds which makes them musical, so these Lutes or lutings serves in a Chimical Notion to reverberate or repercuss the spirits of Me∣tals, to make them harmonious and useful to Chimists, and con∣sequently to others who partake of their Art: and therefore the Chimists have a Past or Clay compounded with many Ingredients, whereof the chief is that which they use about the necks of their Retorts, &c. which they call Lutum Sapientiae, shewing the Wisdom of the All-Disposer, that, that Earth which preserv'd the Metal whilst quiet and undisturb'd in its Bed or Mine; is now made use of also, to keep its spirits from be∣ing useless.