Natural magick by John Baptista Porta, a Neapolitane ; in twenty books ... wherein are set forth all the riches and delights of the natural sciences.
Porta, Giambattista della, 1535?-1615.

CHAP. I.

How divers ways to procure Fire may be prepared.

VItruvius saith, That it fell out by accident, that sundry Trees, frequently moved with Windes and Tempests, the Bows of them rubbing one against another, and the parts smiting each other, and so being ratified, caused heat, and took fire, and flamed exceedingly. Wilde people that saw this, ran away. When the Fire was out, and they durst come neerer, and found it to be a great commodity for the Body of man, they preserved the Fire; and so they perceived that it afforded causes of civility, of conversing and talking to∣gether. Pliny saith, It was found out by Souldiers and Shepherds. In the Camp, those that keep watch, found this out for necessity; and so did Shepherds, because there is not always a Flint ready. Theophrastus teacheth what kindes of Wood are good for this purpose: and though the Anger and the handle are sometimes both made of one sort of Wood, yet it is so that one part acts and the other suffers; so that he thinks the one part should be of hard Wood, and the other of soft. Ex∣ample:

Wood that by rubbing together will take Fire.

They are such as are very hot, as the Bay-Tree, the Buck-thorn, the Holm, the Piel-Tree: But Mestor adds the Mulberry-Tree; and men conjecture so, because they Page  290 will presently blunt the Ax. O all these they make the Auger, that by rubbing they may resist the more, and do the business more firmly; but the handle to re∣ceive them, is to be made of soft Wood, as the Ivy, the wilde Vine, and the like, be∣ing dried, and all moisture taken from them. The Olive is not fit, because it is full of fat matter, and too much moysture. But those are worst of all to make Fires, that grow in shady places. Pliny from him. One Wood is rub'd against another, and by rubbing takes Fire; some dry fuel, as Mushroomes or Leaves, easily receiving the Fire from them. But there is nothing better then the Ivy, that may be rubbed with the Bay-Tree, or this with that. Also the wilde Vine is good, which is another kinde of wilde Vine, and runs upon Trees as the Ivy doth. But I do it more con∣veniently thus: Rub one Bay-Tree against another, and rub lustily, for it will presently smoak, adding a little Brimstone: put your fuel neerer, or dry matter made of dry Toad-stools, or Leaves that are very fine, found about the Roots of Colts-foot; for they will soon take fire, and retain it. I have done the same with Ivy-wood cleansed from the Bark, and dried; and by rubbing one Reed against another; or, which is better, drawing a cord swiftly upon it. The West-Indians binde two dry sticks toge∣ther, and they put a stick between them, which they turn about with their hands moved from them, and so they kindle fire. But since the minde of Man seldom rests in the thing once invented, but seeks for new Inventions, by mans industry there is found out

A stone that will raise Fire with any moysture.

The way to make it is thus: Take quick Brimstone, Salt-Peter refined, of each a like weight; Camphire the double weight to quick Lime; and beat them all in a Mor∣ter, till they be so fine that they will flie into the Air: binde them all fast together, wrapt in a Linen-clout, and put them into an earthen pot; let it be well stopt: lute it well with clay and straw, and let it dry in the Sun: then put them into a Potters Oven; and when the earthen Vessel is perfectly baked, they will grow together, and be hard as a Stone: take them out, and lay them up in a dry place for use. I went to try this in haste, and my experience failed me. I know certainly, that some of my Friends have done it: but the pot must not have any vent, for it will all burn away. Yet I have seen water cast upon quick Lime, and by putting Brimstone to it, it took Fire, and fired Gun-powder. This I can maintain.