Modern curiosities of art & nature extracted out of the cabinets of the most eminent personages of the French court : together with the choicest secrets in mechanicks, communicated by the most approved artists of France / composed and experimented by the Sieur Lemery, apothecary to the French king ; made English from the original French.

An excellent Composition for Granadoes, staming Lances, Pikes, and other Instruments.

TAke fine Cannon Powder, six parts Salt∣peter, Rosin, of each a fifth part, Greek-Pitch, all being beaten to Powder, sprinkle it with Nut Oyl, till it be made into a hard Paste.

Flaming Lances.

Take two foot in length of the Lance, which fill with the aforesaid Composition, till within two inches of the top, which fill up with fine Cannon Powder, over that make a round Ball of the aforesaid matter, covered with fine Flax, putting in a stick for the touch-hole, which leave there after having dipped the said Ball in melted Pitch, redoubling this Compo∣sition when you please.

Fire Pots.

Take six ounces of fine Powder, powdered Rosin one ounce, Arsenick four ounces, in fine Powder, mix them together with Yarn, and Hemp a little; fill your Pot, cast it as you know, and you will see the effect.

Good Squibs.

Take a pound of fine Powder, Salt-peter, two ounces, all well beaten together, and fift them through a fine Sieve or Strainer, then sprinkle with Aquae Vitae, or good White-wine, beat down and ram the said Matter hard in your Cartridge, which must be washed with white of Egg and Starch, or some other fine Glew.

A pleasant Invention to kill Game.

Make a stopple of Hemp, with melted Grease and fresh Hogs Lard, put the said stop∣ple into your Gun instead of Paper, and ram it upon the Powder with your scowring Rod; then take a little Rag, and thrust it never so little into the muzzle of your Gun with the scowring Rod, and having put in your shot, fold the four corners of the Rag that hang over the muzzle of your Piece, over one ano∣ther, and drive them down with your scow∣ring Rod, then shoot either at Quelsts, Stock∣doves, Ducks, &c. and you will see strange Effects; and you need not come so near as is usual, because this carries a great way; so when the Birds run upon the Ground, you must shoot at them as they rise.

To make Powder strong.

To eight ounces of Powder, add one of Borax well pounded, and mix them together.

To catch Partridges.

Steep Wheat in Aquae Vitae, strew it where the Partridges repair, and they will fall down drunk.

To make Rabbets come out of their Berries without a Ferret.

Take Powder of Orpiment, Sulphur, and an old shooe, or Parchment, or Cloth, which burn at the Mouth of the Berrie, upon which the Wind blows, and spread your Bags under the Wind.

Another way.

Put one or two Cray-fishes into the Mouth of the Berry, and they will certainly make the Conies come out.

To gather together a great number of Hares.

Take juice of Henbane mixed with the Blood of a young Hare, and sew it in a Hares Skin, whi4ch bury in the Earth.

An admirable way to preserve Arms from rusting, and take off the rust.

Take a pound and half of Beef Suet, a pound and half of Oyl of sweet Almonds extracted without Fire, one pound of fresh∣ned Olive Oyle, four ounces of Camphire, twelve ounces of Lead burnt with Sulphur, make a Composition of them, and boil it to the substance of an Oyntment, with which rub the Armes to prevent rusting.

Note, that Lead is burnt by melting, and then throwing upon it powdered Sulphur, al∣ways stirring the Lead with an Iron Rod, till it remains in a black Powder. Olive Oyle is freshned with luke-warm Water, beating them together, and then letting them settle again; lastly, put them into a Funnel to filtrate, the Water will run out first when you unstop the bottom hole.

Another way.

Take new white Wax, heat the Iron you will rub with the Wax very hot, and when it is so hot you can hardly hold it, rub it well, and let it soak the said Wax; letting it after∣wards dry before the Fire, that it may suck in the said Wax, rubbing and cleansing it with a piece of Serge, and thus it will never rust.

To make an unextinguishable Wild fire.

Take live quick Sulphur, Tartar, Sarco∣colla, Oyl of Pitch, boyled, or decrepitated Salt, Petroleum, and common Oyl, and boyl them well together: it cannot be extinguish∣ed but by Vinegar.

Another way.

Take Oyl of Petilium, Oyl of Turpen∣tine, of each an ounce, Camphire six drams in Powder, hard Rosin half an ounce, melt all together, then take Hemp or Flax, and dip it in this Composition, then throw it up∣on the place you design.

A Fire that burns upon Armour.

Take Cannon-powder five parts, Salt-peter three, Sulphur two parts, Rosin and Turpen∣tine of each one part, white Vitriol half a part, Oyl of Acorns the same quantity, as much Linseed Oyl, and one part and half of Aqua Vitae.

To make a Pistol carry far.

Put a good charge of Powder into it, and instead of Paper ramm a Bullet of Camphire upon your Powder, beating it well down, then you must have a thin skin dipped in

Oyl of Petroleum, in which wrap up your Bullet, over that a little more Camphire, which you must not ramm too much.

A pleasant way to catch Crows.

You must mince some Oxes Liver or Lights with some Nux Vomica, which make up into little Balls as big as small Nuts, and spread them in any Field; as soon as the Crows eat of them, they fall down stounded, and you may easily catch them with your hands.