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.

To the Courteous READER.

I Think fit before you read this Book, to instruct you in the Method of it, so as you may read the whole, or part, as your leisure serves.

1. It is divided into two parts (as the Title mentions,) viz. Erckern's V. Books, and my Dictionary.

2. Whereas the Original of Erckern's 5 Books had no Nu∣meral distinction of Chapters and Sections, I have divided them into Chapters and Sections, and Printed them before the Five Books, with numeral referrences to their chapters where they are contain'd.

3. Whereas the Sculptures had only Literal, and no Nume∣ral Directions of their Contents, I have in the second part of the Contents before the Five Books, Printed the Contents of the Sculptures, with references to the Pages where they may be seen and read.

4. Whereas the Original of Erckern's 5 Books hath no Coma's, Colons, Periods, Parenthesis, or Interrogatory Points, perti∣nent to the distinction of Words or Sentences (which are also wanting in many German Books) I have comply'd them to our way of Orthography, (which was no little trouble,) and there∣fore if the Reader find some few Omissions, they may upon that account be the more kindly dispens't with.

5. I do retain many antient and Saxon Words, upon the account of their affinity to the like Words which are still used among us, and these are hinted in the Dictionary.

6. In the Dictionary or second part, the first Words which I thought fit to explain, are in Capital Letters, and next, the Teutonick and Latine Words for those Capitals; (and other

Languages, as occasion requires,) and these I collected from G. Agricola, Alstidius, Cowel, Minshaw, and Skinners Di∣ctionarys for the Teutonick, from Cooper and Holiock for the Latine; from Florio for the Italian, from Cotgrave for the French; and from Waltons Lexicon for the Oriental Tongues, which, with a German was all the help I had for the use of above 600 Words; but the two chief Languages, of which I make the greatest use, are the Teutonick and Latine, this from the old Romans, (who continued among us above 500 years) the other from the Saxons (who were mixt with us as long,) from both of which Nations we gain'd a particular knowledg of Mines and Metals, as may be evident from many Roman and Saxon Works▪ which remain here under their Names to this day; and many of our Monarchs, particularly Queen Elizabeth did think fit to desire the assisting SKILL of the Germans, to improve OURS; to prevent which trouble, I here publish part of their Art, and intend more.

Lastly, I have given it the Title of FLETA, which is borrowed from an eminent Lawyer, who whilst he was Priso∣ner in the FLEET, writ his Learned Book of the Common Laws of England, and thereupon (as 'tis said,) he call'd his Book FLETA (Cowel) to which I add MINOR, in sub∣mission to his great Learning, and for its affinity to the word MINER, viz. one who Labours in the Mines, as I do in Learning the Metallick Art.

To conclude, I have writ some things from Authentick Au∣thors (too many to recite here,) and some from my own Con∣ceptions and Observations; now as they pleased me in writing, so I hope they will not displease others in reading.

JOHN PETTUS.