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THe Oare beaten into small Pieces is brought from the mine to the Smel∣ting House, and there melted with black and white Coal; i. e. With Charcoale and wood slit into small pieces and dried in a kiln, for that purpose. The reason why they mix black and white Coal is, because black alone makes too vehe∣ment
a Fire, and the white too gentle, but mixt together they make a just temper of hear. After the fire is made the mine is cast on the coales; and so interchangeably mine and Coales. The mine when melted runs down into the Sump, i. e. a round pit of stone covered over with clay within. Thence it is laded out and cast into long square bars with smaller ends fit to lift and carry them by.
These bars they bring to the refining Fur∣nace, which is covered with a thick cap of stone bound about with Iron and moveable, that so they may lift it up, and make the test at the bottome anew (which they doe every refining) In the middle of the cap there is a hole in which the barr of metal hangs in Iron slings above the Furnace, that so it may be let down by degrees as it melts off. Besides this they have another hole in the side of the Furnace parallel to the Horizon, and bottomed with Iron. At this hole they thrust in ano∣ther barr. The rest is of an oval Figure, and occupies all the bottome of the Furnace. The fire is put in by the side of the bellows. When the Furnace is come to a true temper of heat, the lead converted into Litharge is cast off by the blowing of the bellows, the Silver subsiding into the bottome of the test.
The blast blows the lead converted into Li∣tharge off the Silver after the manner that Cream is blown off Milk.
As soon as all the glut of Litharge (for so they call it) is cast off, the Silver in the bottome of the Cuple grows cold, and the same degree of heat will not keep it melted as before. The Cake of Silver after it grows cold springs or rises vp into branches.
The test is made of marrow-bones burnt to small pieces, afterward stamped to pouder, and with water tempered into a past. The test is about a foot thick laid in Iron. After the cake of silver is taken out, that part of the test which is discoloured they mingle with the Oare to be melted; the rest they stamp and use again for test.
The Litharge is brought to a reducing Furnace, and there with Charcoale only mel∣ted into Lead. The Litharge is cast upon the Charcoale in the bing of the Furnace, and as the Charcoale burns away and the Litharge melts, more Charcoale thrown on and Litharge put upon it as at first smel∣ting.
Another Furnace they have, which they call an Almond Furnace, in which they melt the slags or refuse of the Litharge (not stamped) with Charcoale only.
The slags or cinders of the first smelting they beat small with great stamps lifted up by a wheel moved with water, and falling by their own weight. First they are stamped with dry stamps, then sifted with an Iron sieve in water. That which lies at the bot∣tome of the sieve is returned to the smelting Furnace without more adoe. That which swims over the sieve is beaten with wet stamp.
That which passeth through the sieve, as also that which after it hath been beaten with the wet stamps passes through a fine grate or strainer of Iron, goeth to the Buddle, which is a vessel made like to a shallow tum∣brel, standing a little shelving.
Thereon the matter is laid, and water run∣ning constantly over it, moved to and fro with an Iron rake or how, and so the water carries away the earth and dross, the metal remaining behind. That which is thus Bud∣led they lue with a thick hair sieve close
wrought in a tub of water, rolling the sieve about and enclining it this way and that way with their hands. The light which swims over the sieve is returned again to the Buddle. That which subsides is fit for the smelting Furnace.
They have besides an Assay-Furnace, wherewith they try the value of the metal, i. e. what proportion the lead bears to the Silver, cutting a piece off every bar and mel∣ting it in a small Cupel. First they weigh the piece cut off, then after the lead is sepa∣rated the Silver. A tun of metal will yield 10, sometimes 15, and if it be rich 20 l. weight of Silver. All lead oar dig'd in Eng∣land hath a proportion of silver mixt with it, but some so little, that it will not quit cost to refine it.
At the first smelting they mingle several sorts of oare, some richer, some poorer, else they will not melt so kindly.
The Silver made here is exceeding fine and good.
These six mountains in Cardiganshire not far distant from each other afford Silver oar,
Talabont, Geginnon, Comsomlack, Gedarren, Bromefloid and Cummer.
At our being there they dig'd only at Ta∣labont.
They sink a perpendicular square hole or shaft, the sides whereof they strengthen round from top to bottome with wood that the earth fall not in.
The transverse pieces of wood, they call stemples and upon these catching hold with their Hands and Feet they descend without using any rope. They dig the Oar thus, one holds a little picque or punch of Iron, having a long handle of wood, which they call a Gad; another with a great Iron ham∣mer or sledge drives it into the vein.
The vein of metal runs East and West, it riseth North and flopes or dips to the South. There is a white Fluor about the vein, which they call Spar, and a black which they call blinds. This last covers the vein of Oare, and when it appears they are sure to find Oare.
They sell the Oare for 3 l. or 4 l. the tun, more or less as it is in goodness, or as it is more rare or plentiful.
This information and ac∣count we had from Major Hill, 1662. Who was then master of the silver mills.
The History of these Silver-works may be seen in Dr. Fullers Worthies of Wales General, p. 3.
The smelting of Lead is the same with the smelting of Silver Oare, and therefore no need that any thing be said of it.
THe tinners find the Mine by the Shoad (or as they call it Squad) which is loose stones of tin mixed with the Earth, of which they give you this account.
The load or vein of tin before the flood came up to the Superficies of the Earth. The flood washing the upper part of it as of the whole earth, brake it off from the load, and confounded or mixed it with the earth to such a depth. They observe that the deeper the shoad lies, the nearer is the main load, and the shallower the further off. Sometimes it comes up to the exterior Superficies of the earth. The main load begins at the East and runs Westward, shelving still deeper and deeper; and sometimes descending almost perpendicularly. Besides the main load, they have little branches that run from it North and South, and to other points which they call Countrey. The vein or load is sometimes less, sometimes greater, sometimes not a foot thick, sometimes three foot or more. When they have digged a good way they sink an air-shaft, else they cannot breathe nor keep their candles light. The shoad commonly descends a hill side. There
is a kind of fluor which they call Spar next the vein, and which sometimes encompas∣seth it. In this are often found the Cornish Diamonds. Above the Spar lies another kind of substance like a white soft stone, which they call Kellus. They get out the Mine with a Pick-ax, but when it is hard they use a Gad [a tool like a Smiths punch] which they drive in with one end of their Pick-ax made like a hammer. When they have gotten out of the Mine, they break it with a hammer in∣to small pieces, the biggest not exceeding half a pound or a pound, and then bring it to the stamps. [The stamps are onely two at one place, lifted up by a wheel moved with water as the Silver Mills] There it is put in∣to a square open box into which a spout of water continually runs and therein the stamps beat it to powder. One side of the box men∣tioned is made of an iron-plate perforated with small holes like a grate, by which the water runs out, and carries away with it the Mine that is pounded small enough to pass the holes, dross and all together, in a long gut∣ter or trough made of wood. The dross and earth (as being lighter) is carried all a∣long the trough to a pit or vessel into which the trough delivers it, called a loob: the tin as being heavier, subsides and staies behind in the trough: and besides at a good di∣stance
from the stamps they put a turf in the trough to stop the tin that itrun not further.
The tin remaining in the trough they take out and carry to the buddle [a Vessel descri∣bed in the Silver work] where the sand and earth is washed from it by the water running over it, the tinners stirring and working it both with a shovel, and with their feet. In the buddle the rough tin (as they call it) falls behind; the head tin lies upper∣most or foremost. The head tin passes to the wreck, where they work it with a wooden rake in Vessels almost like the buddling Ves∣sels, water running also over it. In the wreck the head tin lies again foremost, and that is finished and fit for the blowing house, and is called black tin, being black of colour, and as fine as sand. The rough tin lies next, that as also that in the buddle they sift to se∣parate the course, and dross, and stones from it, which is teturned to the stamps to be new beaten. The fine is lewed in a fine sierce moved and waved to and fro in the water, as is described in the Silver work; the oar sub∣fiding to the bottom, the sand, earth and other dross flows over the rimme of the sierce with the water: that which remains in the sierce they sift through a fine sieve, and what passes through they call black tin. In like manner they order the wast tin that falls hindmost in
the Buddle and wreck, which they call the tail, as also that which falls into the loob, pit or sump, viz. washing and sifting of it, which they call stripping of it, returning the rough and course to the stamps, and the finer to the wreck.
With the rough tin that is returned to the stamps they migle new ore, else it will not work, but fur up the stamps. The tin in the loob they let lie a while, and the longer the better, for, say they, it grows and encreases by lying.
The black tin is smelted at the blowing house with Charcoal only, first throwing on Charcoal, then upon that black tin, and so interchangeably into a very deep bing (which they call the house) broader at the top and narrower at the bottom. They make the fire very vehement, blowing the coals conti∣nually with a pair of great bellows moved by water, as in the smelting of other metals. The melting tin together with the dross or slag runs out at a hole at the bottom of the bing into a large trough made of stone. The cinder or slag swims on the top of it like scum, and hardens presently.
This they take off with a shovel and lay it by.
When they have got a sufficient heap of it they sell it to be stamped, budled and lued.
They get a good quantity of tin out of it. Formerly it was thrown away to mend high wayes, as nothing worth. When they have a sufficient quantity of the melted metal they cast it into oblong square pieces in a mould made of Moore-stone. The lesser pieces they call slabs, the greater blocks. Two pound of black tin ordinarily yields a pound of white or more.
The tin after it is melted is coyned, i. e. marked by the Kings Officer with the Lion Rampant. The Kings custom is four shil∣lings on every hundred pound weight. O∣ther particulars concerning the tin-works I omit, because they may be seen in Carewy's survey of Cornwal. But the manner of pre∣paring the tin for blowing or smelting is now much different from what it was in his time.
Tin-oar is so different in colour and ap∣pearance from tin, that one would wonder that the one should come out of the other: and somewhat strange it is that tin being so like to lead, tin-oar should be so unlike to Lead-oar being very like to the lead that is melted out of it.
THe Iron-mine lies sometimes deeper, sometimes shallower in the Earth from 4 foot to 40. and upward. There are several sorts of mine, some hard, some gentle, some rich, some courser. The Iron-masters always mix dif∣ferent sorts of mine together, otherwise they will not melt to advantage.
When the mine is brought in, they take small cole and lay a row of small cole and upon it a row of mine, and so alternately, S. S. S. one above another, and setting the coles on fire therewith burn the mine.
The use of this burning is to mollifie it, that so it may be broke in small pieces: otherwise if it should be put into the furnace as it comes out of the Earth, it would not melt but come away whole.
Care also must be taken that it be not too much burned, for then it will loop, i. e. melt and run together in a mass. After it is burnt, they beat it into small pieces with an Iron sledge, and then put it into the Furnace (which
is before charged with coles) casting it upon the top of the coles, where it melts and falls into the hearth in the space of about twelve hours more or less, and then it is run into a Sow.
The hearth or bottome of the furnace is made of a Sand-stone, and the sides round to the height of a Yard or thereabout, the rest of the Furnace is lined up to the top with Brick.
When they begin upon a new furnace; They put fire for a day or two before they begin to blow.
Then they blow gently and increase by degrees till they come to the height in ten weeks or more.
Every six days they call a Founday, in which space they make 8 tun of Iron, if you divide the whole summ of Iron made by the Foundays: for at first they make less in a Founday, at last more.
The hearth by the force of the fire con∣tinually blown grows wider and wider, so that if at first it contains so much as will make a Sow of 600 or 700 pound weight, at last it will contain so much as will make a Sow of 2000 l. The lesser pieces of 1000 pound or under they call Pigs.
Of 24 loads of coals they expect 8 tun of Sows to every load of coals, which con∣sists of 11 quarters they put a load of mine which contains 18 bushels.
A Hearth ordinarily if made of good stone will last 40 Foundays, that is 40 weeks, dur∣ing which time the fire is never let go out. They never blow twice upon one hearth though they go upon it not above five or six Foundays.
The cinder like scum swims upon the mel∣ted metal in the hearth, and is let out once or twice before a Sow is cast.
IN every forge or hammer there are two fires at least, the one they call the Finery, the other the Chafery.
At the Finery by the working of the hammer they bring it into Blooms and An∣conies, thus.
The sow at first they roll into the fire, and melt off a piece of about three fourths of a hundred weight, which, so soon as it is broken off, is called a Loop.
This Loop they take out with their shing∣ling tongs, and beat it with Iron sledges upon an Iron plate near the fire, that so it may not fall in pieces but be in a capacity to be car∣ried under the hammer. Under which they then removing it, and drawing a little water, beat it with the hammer very gently, which forces cinder and dross out of the matter, afterwards by degrees drawing more water they beat it thicker and stronger till they bring it to a Bloom, which is a four-square mass of about two foot long. This operation they call shingling the Loop.
This done they immediately return it to the Finery again, and after two or three heats and working they bring it to an Ancony, the figure whereof is in the middle, a barr about 3 feet long of that shape they intend the whole barr to be made of it: at both ends a square piece left rough to be wrought at the Chafery.
Note, At the Finery 3 load of the big∣gest coals goe to make one tun of Iron.
At the Chafery they only draw out the 2 ends sutable to what was drawn out at the Finery in the middle, and so finish the barr.
Note, 1. One load of the smaller coals will draw out one tun of Iron at the Cha∣fery.
2. They expect that one man and a boy at the Finery should make 2 tuns of Iron in a week: two men at the Chafery should take up, i. e. make or work five or six tun in a week.
3. If into the hearth where they work the Iron-sowes (whether the Chafery or the Finery) you cast upon the Iron a piece of Brass it will hinder the metal from working, causing it to spatter about, so that it cannot be brought into a Solid piece.
This account of the whole process of the Iron-work I had from one of the chief Iron-masters in Sussex, my honoured friend Walter Burrell of Cuck-field Esquire deceased. And now that I have had occasion to mention this worthy Gentleman give me leave by the by to insert a few observations referring to Hus∣bandry communicated by him in occasional discourse on those Subjects.
1. In removing and transplanting young Oakes you must be sure not to cut off or wound that part of the root, which descends down-right (which in some Countreys they call the tap-root) but dig it up to the bot∣tome, and prepare your hole deep enough to set it: else if you perswade it to live you hinder the growth of it half in half.
2. Corn or any other grain, the longer
it continues in the ground, or the earlier it is sown, caeteris paribus, the better laden it is, and the berry more plump, full and weighty and of stronger nourishment, as for example, winter Oats better then summer Oats, Beans set in February then those set in March, &c.
3. The most effectual way to prevent smutting or burning of any corn is to lime it before you sow it, as is found by daily experience in Sussex, where, since this practise of liming, they have no burnt corn, whereas before they had abundance. They lime it thus, first they wet the corn a little to make it stick and then sift or sprinkle poudered lime upon it.
4. He uses to plow with his Oxen end∣wayes or all in one file, and not to Yoke them by pairs, whereby he finds a double advantage. 1. He by this means loseth no part of the strength of any Oxe, whereas breastwise, it is very hard so evenly to match them, as that a great part of the strength of some of them be not rendred useless. 2. In this way a wet and clay ground is not so much poached by the feet of the Oxen.
5. He hath practised to burn the ends of all the posts which he sets into the ground to a coal on the outside, whereby they con∣tinue
a long time without rotting, which otherwise would suddainly decay.
This observation I also find mentioned in an Extract of a Letter, written by David von-der beck a German Philosopher and Physitian at Minden to Dr. Langelot, &c. Registred in the Philosophic: Transact. Numb. 92. Pag. 5185. In these words, Hence also they sleightly burn the ends of timber to be set in the ground, that so by the fusion made by fire, the volatile Salts, which by the accession of the moisture of the earth would easily be consumed to the corruption of the timber may catch and fix one ano∣ther.
6. He first introduced the use of Fern for burning of lime, which serves that purpose as well as wood, (the flame thereof being very vehement) and is far cheaper.
7. Bucks if gelded when they have cast their head, their horns never grow again, if when their horns are grown they never cast them, in brief their horns never grow after they are gelded.
This Observation, expressed in almost the same words, I find in the Summary of a Book of Francesco Rodi the Italian, called Esperienze intorno a diverse cose naturali, &c. Delivered in the Philosophical Transactions Numb. 92. Pag. 6005.
8. Rooks, if they infest your corn, are more terrified if in their sight you take a Rook and plucking it limbe from limbe, cast the several limbes about your Field, then if you hang up half a dozen dead Rooks in it.
9. Rooks when they make their nests, one of the pair always sits by to watch it, while the other goes to fetch materials to build it. Else if both goe and leave it unfinished, their Fellow-Rooks, ere they return again will have carried away toward their several nests all the sticks and materials they had got together. Hence perhaps the word Rooking for cheating and abusing.
THey take little square bars, made like bars of steel, which they call Osborn-Iron, wrought on pur∣pose for this manufacture; and strain i. e. draw them at a Furnace with a hammer moved by water (like those at the Iron Forges but lesser) into square rods of about the bigness of ones little finger, or less, and bow them round. When that is done
they put them into a furnace, and neal them with a pretty strong fire for about 12 hours: after they are nealed they lay them in water for a month or two (the longer the better) then the Rippers take them and draw them into wire through two or three holes.
Then they neal them again for six hours or more, and water them the second time about a week, then they are carried to the Rlippers who draw them to a two-bond wire as big as a great packthread.
Then again they are nealed the third time and watered about a week as before, and delivered to the small wire drawers, whom there they call Overhouse-men, I suppose only because they work in an upper room.
In the mill, where the Rippers work, the wheel moves several Engins like little barrels, which they also call Barrels hoopt with Iron. The Barrel hath two hooks on the upper side, upon each whereof hang two links standing a-cross, and fastned to the two ends of the tongs, which catch hold of the wire and draw it through the hole. The Axis on which the barrel moves runs not through the center, but is placed towards one side, viz. that on which the hooks are. Underneath is fastned to the barrel a spoke of wood, which they call a Swingle, which is drawn back a good way by the calms or cogs in the
Axis of the wheel, and draws back the bar∣rel, which falls to again by its own weight. The tongs, hanging on the hooks of the bar∣rel, are by the workmen fastned on the wire, and by the force of the wheel the hooks being drawn back draw the wire through the holes.
They anoint the wire with train-oil, to make it run the easier. The plate, wherein the holes are, is on the outside Iron, on the inside steel.
The holes are bigger on the Iron side, because the wire finds more resistance from the steel and is streigthned by degrees.
There is another mill where the small wire is drawn which with one wheel moves three Axes that run the length of the house on 3 floors one above another.
The Description whereof would be tedi∣ous and difficult to understand without a a Scheme, and therefore I shall omit it.
LApides ex quibus Vitriolum ex∣coquitur ad litus Orientale insulae Shepey reperiuntur. Ubi ingen∣tem horum copiam collegerunt per spatiosam areterrae mistos spargunt, donec imbrium illuvie, accedente Solis aestu & calore in terram seu pulverem redigantur subti∣lissimum, nitrosum, sulphureum odore prae∣tereuntes offendentem. Interea aqua per hanc terram percolata in Subjecta vasa per tubulos & canales derivata in vase plumbeo amplo sex vel septem dierum spatio coquitur ad justam consistentiam, tum in aliud vas plum∣beum effunditur immissis asseribus aliquot, quibus adhaerens concrescat vitriolum omni∣bus refrigeratis. Nullo alio vase coqui aut contineri hoc lixivium potest quàm plumbeo; cui ut facilius ebulliat ferri injiciunt parti∣culas, quae à lixivio plané consumuntur.
We saw the manner of making Vitriol or Copperas at Bricklesey in Essex. They lay the stones upon a large bed or floor prepared in the open air, underneath which there are gutters or troughs disposed to receive and carry away the liquor impregnate with the mineral to a Cistern where it is Reserved. [For the air and weather dissolving the stones, the Rain falling upon them carries away with it the Vitrioline juice or salt dissol∣ved,]
This liquor they boil in large leaden pans putting in a good quantity of Old Iron. When it is sufficiently evaporated they pour it cut into large troughs wherein it coals, the Vitriol crystallizing to the sides of the troughs and to cross barrs put into them.
The liquor that remains after the Vitriol is Crystallized they call the mother, and reserve it to be again evaporated by boy∣ling.
They gather of these stones in several pla∣ces besides the coast of the Island of Shepey. I have observed people gathering them on the Sea-shore near to Bright Helmston in Sus∣sex.
The manner of making Vitriol in Italy is something different from ours in England, which take in Matthiolus his words.
Minerae glebas in acerves mediocres con∣jectos igne suppsito accendunt. Sponte au∣tem urunt semel accensae, donec in calcem seu cineres maxima ex parte reducantur. Mine∣ram cubustam in piscinas aquae plenas obru∣unt, agitando, miscendoque eam, ut aqua im∣buatur substantiâ Vitrioli. Aquam hanc Vi∣triolatam a sedimento claram hauriunt; & in caldaria plumbea transfundunt, quam igne supposito decoquunt. Verum dum ebullit, in medio cocturae vel parum supra vel infra addunt modicum ferri veteris vel glebae aeris juxta intentionem operantis. Aquam Vi∣triolatam decoctam in vasa lignea transfundunt in quibus frigescens congelatur in vitrio∣lum.
FIrst they take Lead and waste it in an Oven or Furnace: that is bring it to a Substance almost like a Litharge, by stirring it with an iron rake or how. This they grind with two pair of stones which deliver it from one to another: the first grind it courser, the the second finer [There is a mill so contrived as that it moves at once six pair of these stones] Thus reduced to powder and washed it is put into an Oven or reverberating Fur∣nace, and, by continual stirring with the iron rake or how, it is brought to the right colour in two or three dayes. The fire must not be extreme all this while, else it will clod toge∣ther and change colour. The iron rake wherewith it is stirred is hung or poised on an iron hook, else it is so heavy that it could not be moved by one man.
THe process of making Allom, as we partly saw, and partly received from the Workmen, was as followeth.
First they take the Mine picked from the D••sse or Rock, and laying it on great heaps burn it with whins and wood till it be white. When it is sufficiently burned, they barrow it into a pit made on purpose some ten feet long, six foot broad, and seven fourths of a yard deep, where it is steeped in water for the space of eight or ten hours. Then they draw out the Liquor, (which is but a Lixi∣vium impregnated with the Allom-mine) in∣to troughs by which it is conveyed to the Allom-house, into a deep Cistern of about twenty yards circumference, and three yards and half deep. After this first water is drawn off the Mine in the pits, they do not presently cast away the mine, but pour fresh water on it the second time, and after the se∣cond water is drawn off (which is much wea∣ker then the first) they cast out the Mine and put in new, and pour on fresh water as before.
Out of the Cistern they convey the Lixi∣vium by troughs into the pans, where it is
boiled for the space of twenty four hours or∣dinarily. Then they take off the Liquor out of the pans, and examine it by weight, to know how much Lee made of kelp it will re∣quire, which is for the most part six inches of the pans depth.
Which being put in so soon as the Liquor boils or flows up by the putting in of an iron cole-rake, or other iron Instrument, they draw it off into a settler, and there let it stand about an hour, that so the Sulphur and other dregs may settle to the bottom, which being done it is drawn off into coolers, where it continues about for days and nights. The cooler being drawn about half full, they pour into it a quantity of Urine, viz. about eight gallons into a cooler that contains about two half tuns.
Having thus stood four days and nights, it is quite cool, and the Allom crystallized to the sides of the cooler. Then they scope out the Liquor (which they call the Mother) into a Cistern, and put it into the pans again with new Lixivium to be evapo∣rated by boiling, &c. The Allom that is shotten and crystallized on the sides of the cooler they scrape off and wash with fair
Spring water; then throw it into a bing, where the water drains from it. Thence it is taken and cast into a pan, which they call the rocking pan, and there melted, it is scoped out and conveyed by troughs into tuns, in which it stands about ten days untill it be per∣fectly cool and condensed. Then they un∣hoop and stave the tuns, and taking out the Allom, chip it and carry it into the Store-house.
We failed to enquire exactly what propor∣tion of kelp they put in. For though they told us six inches of the pans depth, yet they told us not how deep the pans are made.
THe Salt-spring or (as they call it) the Brine-pit is near the River, and is so plentiful that were all the water boil'd out that it would afford (as they told us) it would yield Salt enough for all England. The Lords of the pit appoint how much shall be boiled as they see occasi∣on, that the Trade be not clogged.
Divers persons have interest in the Brine-pit, so that it belongs not all to one Lord; Some have one Lead-walling, some two, some three, some four or more. [N. B. A Lead-walling is the Brine of twenty four hours boiling for one house.]
Two hundred and sixteen Lead-wallings or thereabout belong to all the Owners of the pit. No Tradesman, Bachelor or Widow can Rent more then eighteen Lead-wall∣ings.
They have four sworn Officers chosen
yearly, which they call Occupiers of Wall∣ing, whose duty it is to see equal dealing be∣tween Lord and Tenant, and all persons con∣cerned. They appoint how many Houses shall Work at a time, and that is twelve at the most. When there is occasion for Salt to be made, they cause a Cryer to make Proclamation, that so all Parties concerned may put to their fires at the same time; and so when they shall cease at a determinate hour, at which they must give over; else they cause their Salt to be marred by casting dirt into it, or the like.
There are in the Town about fifty houses, and every house hath four pans, which the Rulers are to see be exactly of the same measure.
Salt-water taken out of the Brine-pit in two hours & a quarter boiling, will be evapo∣rated and boil'd up into Salt. When the Li∣quor is more then lukewarm, they take strong Ale, bullocks blood and whites of Eggs mixt together with Brine in this pro∣portion; of blood one Egg-shell full, the white of one Egg and a pint of Ale, and put it into a pan of twenty four gallons or therea∣bouts. The whites of the Eggs and the
bloud serve to clarifie the Brine by raising the scum, which they take off just upon the boiling of the pans, otherwise it will boil in, and spoil the Salt. The older the bloud is, the better it is; caeteris paribus. They do not always put in bloud, viz. when there is danger of the Liquors boiling too fast. If the Liquor happens to boil too fast, they take to allay it Brine that had been boil'd and drain'd from the Salt: Crude Brine, they say, will diminish their Salt. The Ale serves (they said) to harden the Corn of the Salt.
After one hour boiling the Brine will be∣gin to Corn: then they take a small quan∣tity of clear Ale, and sprinkle thereof into the pan about one Egg-shell full [N. if you put in too much it will make the broth boil over the pan.] Ale the while before they put in the last Ale they cause the pan to boil as fast as they can; Afterwards very gently till the Salt be almost dry. They do not evaporate ad siccitatem, but leave about a pottle or gal∣lon of Brine in the pan, lest the Salt should burn and stick to the sides of the pan.
The Brine thus sufficiently boil'd and e∣vaporated, they take out the Salt and put it
into Conical Baskets, (which they call barrows) and in them let the water drain from it an hour, more or less, and then set it to dry in the Hot-house behind the Fur∣nace.
A barrow containing six pecks is sold therefor 1s. 4d.
Out of two pans of forty eight gallons they expect seven pecks of Salt, Winchester-mea∣sure.
N. The house in which the Salt is boil'd is called the Wych-house, whence may be guessed what Wych signifies, and why all those Towns where there are Salt-Springs and Salt made are called by the name of Wych, viz. Namptwych, Northwych, Middlewych, Droitwych. The Vessel whereinto the Brine is by troughs convey∣ed from the Brine-pit is called the ship. It is raised up out of the pit by a pump. Be∣tween the Furnace and the Chimney tun∣nels which convey up the smoke is the Hot∣house where they set their Salt to dry, along the floor whereof run two Funnels from the Fur∣naces almost parallel to the Horizon, and then arise perpendicularly; in these the flame
and smoke running along from the Furnaces heat the Room by the way.
At Droitwych in Worcestershire the Salt is boil'd in shallow leaden pans. They first put in Salt-water out of the Brine∣pit.
After one hours boiling they fill up the pan with water that drains from the Salt set to dry in barrows: after a second hours boiling they fill up the pan again with the same.
In five hours space the pan boils dry, and they take out the Salt.
In twenty four hours they boil out five pans: and then draw out the ashes: After the ashes are drawn out, they put in the white of an Egg, to cause the scum to arise [viz. the dust and ash that fell into the pans while the ashes were drawing out] which they take off with a scummer. After four hours they begin to take out the Salt; and once in twenty four hours they take out a (ake which sticks to the bottom of the pan ••which they call ••lod Salt) otherwise the pan
would melt. They told us that they use neither Bloud nor Ale. The Salt made here is extraordinary white and fine.
IN Summer time in dry weather they Skimme or pare off the upper part of the Sand in the flats and washes that are covered at full Sea, and bare when the Tide is out, and lay it up on great heaps.
Of this Sand they take and put in troughs bored with holes at the bottom, and there∣on pour Water, as Laundresses do upon Ashes to make a Lixivium, which Water draining through the Sand, carries the Salt therein contained down with it into Vessels placed underneath to receive it. So long as this liquor is strong enough to bear an Egg they pour on more Water; as soon as the
Egg begins to sink they cast the sand out of the troughs, and put in new.
This water thus impregnate with Salt they boil in leaden pans, wherein the water evapo∣rating the Salt remains behind.
There is also at Newcastle, Preston pans in Scotland, Whithaven in Cumberland and elsewhere great plenty of Salt made of Sea∣water by boiling and evaporating in like manner, wherein they make use of Oxes Bloud.