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.

BA B BA

BACON (signifying here the Fat of Hogs or Swine) the Original of which word I cannot trace, with any satisfaction to my self, either from the T. Speck or L. Lardum, nor from a Boar, T. Eber, which is pretty near L. Aper) nor from Sow, T. Saw, L. Sus and Scrofa, nor from Swine, T. Schwene, L. Porcus, but refer you to Skinner's Dictionary. And though this is oft mentioned by Erckern for greazing of Instruments, yet in respect of the Salt in it, I conceive it were better to use the fat of a Boar (especially when any Metal is concern'd) because I know it is as effectual in cu∣ring of wounds at distance, as the so admired unguentum Ar∣marium, commonly called the Weapon-salve; and since it hath such a kindness to Metals, I know not how it may not be better used than Venetian or Smerna Soap, for improving Gold, Silver, Tin, &c. and so in stead of Gold-soap call'd Golden Bacon. l. 2. c. 4. l. 4. c. 15. l. 5. c. 10.

BALLANCE, or a pair of Scales, T. en wagmit Zwyen Schustun: but the L. call it Bilanx, habens duas lances, or two little Vessels to contain the things to be tryed, and also statera, because it demonstrates the state of the thing in question, and the tongue of this Ballance is in the T. Wigzunglain, L. Lingua, and Examen, because by standing in an equipoisure or not, it doth as it were speak or tell you the difference or certainty of the

Weights, in question, and the Latine hath another word for it, viz. Trutina, from the Greek Trutane, which not only signifies a Ballance, but a dilligent examining, or good advice and judgment, and from this Trutina we borrow the word Truth, and as the natural tongue of men speaks the truth of the Heart, so this artificial tongue speaks the truth of the Ballance and Weights, and this Ballance is very necessary to the perfor∣mance of this metallick science. l. 1. c. 35, 36, 37.

BEAM, the word is applyed to the beam of an House, and the beam in the eye, the beam of a plough, a Weaver's beam, but though we use the same word for many things in English, yet they all differ in other Languages by distinct words: but this is called T. schnalwag, and in Latin the same with Ballance. See Ballance.

BELL, T. Schelle, i. e. sonitus, that which yields a sound, and it either comes from Belle an adverb signifying that which is pleasing to the ear, or from tunable Instruments that were used in Tempore Belli, and though by the Italians they are called Campane, upon pretence of their original, from Campa∣nia a noble region in Italy, yet we find in Exod. 28. that there were golden Bells upon Aarons Vest, which all the Versions into Latin call Tintinnabulum auri (of which▪ the Interpreters give little account) and certainly they had little or no sound; but the metal of our bells have no gold in them, but what is casually mixt with other metals, for they are compounded of Copper, Tin and Brass, and a little Silver: sometimes the Artists or maker of these are called Bell-founders T. Glocken∣giesser from Gloken which we call Clock, by changing G to C) and the art of mixing, making and casting them (in respect of their diversity of sounds) is of as transcending a nature as any one art or science, for the proportions of Ingredients are ac∣cording to the great skill and Judgment of the Founders ade∣quated to their various uses.

Antiently, and still, solemn Prayers are used at the casting them, and formerly they were with great Ceremony baptized,

presuming that many spirits did attend them: and I remember an old sexton did affirm, That by the sound of a Passing-Bell, for one dying and dead, he could tell how many hours or days after, some other of his Parish should dy: But whether this prognosticating quality be in them, I shall not dispute, but we are certain, that the Harmony of a Consort of them, are very pleasing to musical ears; and 'tis observable, that this Art is only from Metals. l. 1. c. 18. And not only this of Bells, but most of the choice Instruments of Musick were and still are either in the whole or in parts composed of Metals; Such as are whol∣ly of Metals, are Trumpets, Sag-bots, Cimballs (soft and tri∣umphal) Organ Pipes, &c. such as are in part, viz. the strings of the Harp (which we now call the Irish Harp (being strung with wire) in distinction of the Welsh Harp strung with Guts∣strings) also the strings of the Harpsicon, and Poliphant (which I have often heard with great pleasure, but now out of use) al∣so the Tabaret, and the Cittern, though now of small esteem, yet was devised by Amphion, Pliny l. 7. p. 187. and many others, amongst which I must not forget the Monochord or Tu∣ba marina, whose Entrals are curiously composed of Metals, although the string, which stirs up the reverberating Spirits of the Metal, is composed of Guts. Now as Petrus Bongus hath writ a Book de sacris numeris, and Jonston de sacris Arbori∣bus (with Sculptures) I wish some would write De sacris In∣strumentis Musicae, with their Sculptures, especially of those wherein metals are imployed, for doubtless the subject would afford excellent variety.

But besides this musical part of Metals, the word Bell is also applyed to a Glass with a round bottom and long neck, which the Chimists call a matrass glass, or long Bell, Sculpture I.

BELLOWS, T. Blaszbalgh, and to blow Geblasz. L. Follis & follescere: of these there are three sorts mentioned in Erckern, 1. the Philosophical Bellows, 2 The great Bellows (which re∣quires eight Ox-hides) and 3. the common Bellows, which Smiths also use, and others for common fires, as you often find in the

Sculptures, and all these in imitation of the nature of a Cow Beast, which in drawing in and forcing out her breath, is said to Bellow.

BLANCH, T. Blanck, Weiss and Bluk, all signifying white, or a white Silver or Tin, when it is melted, for the meer Oar of Tin is of a ruddy colour, and white when melted; and this by the Translator of Weckerus, is called Blenck; which word I like, (though I find it not in any Dictionary) for I had a Mannor in Suffolk, called by the name of Blenches, and it ap∣peared so in my Antient Court Rolls, for that the Soyl of the Mannor, consisted of a white Clay and Chalky temper, and the next Village is Wisset, which consisted also of the like Soil: Blench and Wiess both signifying white, so that Blench and Blanch have the same signification of white, and so the word is used for the whitening, blenching or blanching of Silver; the word is also used to Almonds, viz. when the superficies or dull part is taken from them by boyling Water, they are then called blencht or blancht Almonds. See Bone Ashes.

BISMUTH, is a Crude Oar or kind of Silver Marcha∣site, and of a white, hard and brittle Body, and I conceive is the same which Erckern calls also Wismut, or Wismuth Oar and Spelter, l. 4. c. 10. and sometimes called Tin Glass. See their Alphabets.

BITUMEN, is accounted both among Gums and Pixes, and also among Sulphurs, but that which Erckern speaks of, intends Brimstone, which the T. calls Schwebel, L. Sulphur, and this is either Natural, from the Lake called Asphaltis, (where once Sodom and Gomorrah stood, also from the vomi∣ting of the Hill Aetna and Visuvius) or Artificial made by Fire. See Minerals.

BLACK, See Colours.

BLEND, or Blent, T. Ablinderne, L. Miscere, A. to Mingle, that is, when Metals are blended or mingled in lumps. l. 4. c. 2. &c. And this word is much used in the North parts of England, for mixt or mingled matter, which some call Hots-Potch.

BLEW, See Colours.

BLINK, T. Blinkin or Blicken, L. Micare and Nictare, A. to Shine, it is commonly used to those that are blear Ey'd, or often twinkle with their Eyes: it is also applyed to dead and sharp Beer, and to the brouss or loppage of Trees, given to Deer (see Skinner) but in our Author only applyed to bright Oars, or melted Metals, l. 1. c, 23. &c. & l. 2. c. 24. viz. blink Gold and blink Silver, that is bright or clear Gold or Silver.

BLOUD, T. Blut, L. Sanguis, apply'd to the Bloud of Oxen, &c. and is often mentioned as a good mixture, for In∣struments and Cements for Metalick uses. See l. 2. c. 20. and Ox.

BOYLING, T. Seiden and Kochen. L. Coquens, l. 5. c. 7. s. 1. we have many words for this, tending to the same sence, and yet with some Gradations, as when any liquid matter be∣gins to stir with the heat of the Fire, we call it simporing, it may be from simpo, a Pot wherein the old Roman and Gretian Priests were wont to drink their cheering Liquor, and therfore the word simporing is used for smiling, and when it stirs more, 'tis called seething (which differs little from the T. Seiden) when it stirs to bubble, it is called Boyling, from bulla and bul∣lire; but antiently Boyling was called Plawing, from L. Plau∣dere, to rejoyce, because the fire had the full effect of the heated liquor, and therefore the Psalmist saith, Plaudent Flumina vola, let the Floods clap their Hands: i. e. let them plaw or re∣joyce in their plawing or boyling waves, but I do not find my sense of the word plawing confirmed in any Dictionary, as I can now peruse; but this I shall affirm for the Sence and Anti∣quity of the Word, That there is a Marsh in South-Walsham in Norfolk, belonging to the now Duke of that County, which with other Marshes were gain'd from the Sea, in the time of the old Romans (as 'tis generally said) to which my Grandfather and my self were Tenants for near an 100 years, and in these Marshes there was one parcel called by the name of Plawing-Well Marsh, within 3 miles of Yarmouth, and about a mile from

the Sea, and the Marsh is so called, and stiled in Writings, from a Well or place in it of about two yards broad, and about 18 Inches deep, only in the middle of it is a little hole, the bot∣tom of which I could not then fathom by any Pole or Instru∣ment that I could get, and from that hole the water constantly bubbles, boils up and playes, which was the word used in the Lease, and in other Records sufficient to justify the Antiqui∣ty of the word.

Now having spoken what I can of the word, give me leave to speak of the water, which keeps at one scantling, neither swel∣ling higher nor decreasing; but if it decrease at any time, it foretels a dearth) so that the motions of it cannot be attribu∣ted to the neighboring Motions of the Sea (which are re∣gular, lunary or ventilary) nor any other cause that I could find; unless it be from a constant motion of Cattle (gra∣zing in these and the neighboring marshes▪ which being only thin & grassy coverings of the waters, those beasts by quassation and constant compressure of such flexible grounds, may easily cause this Ebolition or plawing) I confess, I am the more con∣tent with this reason, because we daily see, that a little Compres∣sure in a large vessel of liquids will make it rise and run over, and we often find in solid Bodies, Compressure will have great effects at distance, as in the year 1648. when the Committee∣house at Norwich was blown up, by the firing of 40 barrels of Powder, it caused by compressure such a motion in the Earth, that at Thorp Market (15 miles from Norwich (near Cromer) Mr. Allen who dwelt there in good repute) told me, that as he was sitting in his Parlor there, he was very sensible of the quaking of the Earth, which upon Information of what had past the day before at Norwich, and comparing the punctu∣al time, he found the shaking was caused by that Gun-pouder, and I, being then in the Country, soon after went into the City, where I observ'd, that all the lower windows of the City-houses were shattered by the Air and Earth, but the upper windows (that had only the more tender motion of the Air to offend

them) had little hurt, and this was general, except in Churches whose Windows were all shatter'd, having no floors to defend them against the motion of Earth and Air.

I was pleased with these outward accidental causes, but soon after I saw a Spring on one side of the highest Hills in Darby∣shire within the Peak-Forest, and 30 miles from the Sea) that eb'd and flowed four times in the space of an hour, call'd Tides Well, and for this I will not pretend to give a Reason, being so far from the Sea, or any probable outward cause.

BOLUS, see Armoniack. It signifies a certain proportion; from whence we might have the word Boul or Bole, which is used by Miners to measure out their dig'd Oars, both for the King, Proprietor or themselves, or for other uses.

BONE (Ashes) T. Bein (Ashen) Lat. Os & Ciner. A. Ashes, and from ciners, cinders: so as the Latines have no proper word for it, but Ciner the Cinders, or ashes of Ossium, or bones in the plural. Now the Latines have the like word Os signifying a mouth, distinguished in their Genitive cases, one making Os, ossis, the other Os oris, one signifying spiration, from the Greek, the other duration, and they may well be cou∣pled, for the nourishment which goes into the mouth gives nutri∣ture to the Bones, and is the Original of its duration (of which I have writ more fully in my Fodinae Regales) and our Au∣thor gives several Directions what Bones are fittest to be used (to the making of Tests and Crucibles for dissolving Mettals) either of Beasts or Fishes, of which you may see his Opinion in several places, l. 1. c. 5, 6, 7, &c. See Ashes, Incineration, Pulverisation.

Now Pliny N. H. l. 11. c. 37. tells us that the bones of As∣ses have a more musical nature in them (being made into Pipes) than any other bones, so that it may be worth the Tri∣al for Bell-Founders, who make their Furnaces and Tests of Bone-Ashes) to try if tests made of bones of those dull Asses, in stead of other bones, can make their Bells of a more active sound.

The ordinary Bone-Ashes made of Beasts is a considerable Trade about London, not only for Goldsmiths, &c. but for our Mines in England, for whilst the Leasees of our Society did work the Mines of Consumlock and Talibont in Cardigan shire in Wales (two old Roman Mines, as I have shewn else where) every year there were at least 800 Tun sent from hence thi∣ther by Sea; by which may be guessed what is, or might be, spent in the other 28 Mine Counties in England and Wales, if our Mines were duly set on work, but they being neglect∣ed, we send great quantities to other Nations, for the same use; for which the Merchants pay outward 6 s, 8 d, for every thou∣sand Bones, and we pay for their bringing them into us 1 l. 5 s. for every Barrel of their Ashes, which we might burn and em∣ploy for ours.

BORAX, T. Borras. L. Borax, and Christocolla, which Pliny calls the Ordure or Dung of Gold, yet Gold-smiths and Silver-Smiths use it for their chiefest sodering of Gold or Sil∣ver, and joyning one metal with the other, and indeed bring∣ing all metals to perfection, besides it hath medicinal proper∣ties, l. 2. c. 4. s. 2. and in many other places.

Pliny reckons it among Minerals, and describes it to be a green Earth, but of four sorts, the best from Copper Mines, the second from Silver, the third from Gold, and the fourth and worst from Lead, he tells us also of an Artificial Borax which he saith comes from a putrified Vein of metals: there is also another kind made by Art of Roch Alum and Bole Armoni∣ack, and other Ingredients, which is used also by Goldsmiths: But the right Borax hath another quality, for it being mixt with Arsnick, it takes off the poisonous quality of the Ars∣nick, whereby it may be safely put to metals as a dissolvent.

BOTTELLS, T. Krugs. See Instruments and their Crui∣ses, Jugs, Pots, &c.

BOTTOM, T. Boden, l. 1. c. 33. L. Fundus. A. Foun∣dation, or the lowermost part of any thing: the word is also used for a bottom of thread, T. Vin-Gleuen or a clew of

thred. L. Glomus, which is only the Foundation on which the thred is wound, and so call'd the bottom.

BRAN, T. Kleyen & Gruesck. L. Aplauda & Furfur, because it makes a double theft, by taking away it self, and also much of the good flower with it: however this Bran is very useful, by its mixtion with such stuff as is used for glasing and strengthning the outward and inward parts of such earth∣en Pots or Vessels as are made for Metals, by making the matter stick the more close and firm, and is it self destroyed like many innocent men, to make way for others. l. 2. c. 20. s. 6.

BRASS, T. Ertz. L. Aes: and it is a great Error that most Writers run into, by promiscuously giving the title Aes for both Brass and Copper, as if they were the same Metals; whereas Aes or Brass is not a proper Metal, but compound∣ed of a Metal, viz. Cuprum or Copper, and Lapis Calaminaris, or Cadmiae, which is a mineral, and from the mixture of these two, Brass is made, as may be seen in Erckern, lib. 3. c. 28. which in T. is called Galmay. Now there is of this Calamin two sorts, Natural, as in the third Book; and Artificial, l. 4. c. 8. s. 7. made of the dregs of Metals, but the natural, he saith, comes from Britain, and indeed we have mountains of it, especially in Glocester-shire, Sommerset-shire, and Noting∣hamshire: but we let the Calaminaris go for Ballast into forein parts, in very great quantities, before it be wrought, so as the best Brass beyond Sea is made of our stone rather than their own, which deserves a further consideration: and I re∣member about 30 years since, one Demetrius a German, did set up a Brass-work in Surry, and with the Expence of 6000 pound (as he told me) made it compleat and to good profit: but the forein Merchants joyning with some of ours, found wayes to bring him into Suits; and meeting with no incou∣ragement, he was at last necessitated to submit the work, to his own ruin, and unspeakable prejudice to the Kingdom, in loosing so beneficial an Art, having here both the best Copper and Calamine of any part of Europe. See Stones and Copper.

Now whereas Pliny, Cap. 33. speaks of about 18 several Mines of Brass, we must not understand it as a specifick Metal: though the word Aes is vulgarly applyed to both, but those Mines were either Copper mines, capable of being made Brass; or so many several sorts of Lapis Cadmiae or Calamin, from the composition of all which with Copper, Brass was made more or less both in Quantity and Quality: and this Art of composing it, is said, by him, to be first invented by Cadmus a Grecian, con∣temporary with Joshua, in whose time the word Brass is first mentioned in the Sacred Story, Exod. 25. 3. And it is obser∣vable, That though in the composition of Brass, there is more of the stone than of Copper, and that Copper is a Metal, and that other a Stone, yet it takes a new name of Brass, and not its own, or of the Metal, Copper: and being thus made Brass, it is an Imitator of Gold, both in Colour and in many Virtues, and in such esteem, that the Roman Treasurers were call'd Tri∣buni Aerarij, rather than Aurarii: and Camerarius says, that the Aegyptians (long before the Romans) had so great Veneration of Brass that they made Images of it, and laid them in the graves of their Kings, to preserve their Bodies from Putrefacti∣on, and to men of lesser quality they nailed their dead bodies with many brass nails.

Also Virgil, Horace and Homer are all full of their Encomi∣ums on Brass, and therefore it may well have the honour of a seventh Metal, though compounded of a Mineral. Now as the common Brass is of a Goldish colour, so Pliny, l. 34. c. 11. tells us, of a white brass, (which is no other (as I conceive) than Brass Tind-over, and called Laten, or Auricalcum. See Latten.

BRICK, A. Brick. T. Gabachen-stein or (a stone made by Art) L. Later, a side, because 'tis used both to outside and inside of Buildings; as antient as the Aegytians who forc'd the Israe∣lites to make it: the Makers of it is called, T. Bachen-strein-lin. L. Laterculus. l. 5. c. 7. s. 1.

BRICKLE, T. Zee bruch-lech, L. Fragilis, and this we vulgarly call brittle, but doubtless it come from Brick, the

nature of which is fragile or more easy to be broken in pieces, and so made into Pouder, which both whole and in Pouder (as those from Tile) are used by Assayers. l. 1. c. 32. s. 3. l. 2. c. 44. s. 2. &c.

BRIMSTONE, see Bitumen, Sulphur. l. 1. c. 16. s. 1. thence Bitumenous, Sulphureous.

BRITTAIN, See Mines and Mineral Countrys. l. 3. c. 28. s. 5.

BROOM, T. Bassem, L. Scopa, A. Besom and Broom; but I conceive this word is from the Plant, which we call Broom, (T. Ginster, L. Genista) of a flexible nature, and so used to sweep Rooms.

BROWN, T. Braun, L. Fuscus. See Colours.

BRUSH, T. Buerst (and yet to brush, they say Kethern) L. Scopula and verricula, vestes purgare scopulis, Sculpture 7.

BUBLING, Ein Wasser blason, from T. Blass a Bladder, being but a more durable bubble, L. bulla. l. 2. c. 35. s. 7.

BUCK, Bucking, and up-Bucking, and to Buck, used often in the 2, 3, 4 & 5 Books, in the T. is Lawgen, L. Lixivare from Lixivium or Lee, (see Lee of Ashes) but the Italians call it Bucato or Washing, from whence our word Buck, or properly Buc (to distinguish it from the Male of a Doe) is called also Buck, which may have its name too from Bucceto, from his frequent mingency, pissing or making Water oftner than Fe∣males, and this word Bucking is applyed often to those that are Washers of the filth out of Linen or Cloaths, which the common people use to do with a piece of broad and thick Wood, which they call a Clapper or Bat-staff; but for more Expedition, the Fullers have invented Mills, with several Stamps for their Cloths, which by the force of water do raise and let fall their Stamps, by which the Fullers-Earth with the Water do make our Cloaths fit for use; but whether the Metallists did teach them that Art, I shall not enquire, only the Metalists which we converse with here, have two ways of Bucking or Wash∣ing their Oars, from the dirt or Earth about them; one by a Mill, which they call a Smelting-mill, by which with the force

of Water, certain Stamps or Hammers do beat and wash the Oars, and those Workers are called Smelters at the Mill, and after that, there are other lesser Buckings in Mortars and Tubs, to prepare the Metal (more free from Rubbish) for the Melt∣ers; See Smelting Melting, and Menstruum.

BURNING of Metals, i. e. reducing them to Ashes or Pouder for use. l. 2. c. 2. See Ashes, Calcination, Roasting, &c.