The art of gunnery. Wherein is described the true way to make all sorts of gunpowder, guu-match [sic], the art of shooting in great and small ordnance: excellent ways to take heights, depths, distances, accessible, or inaccessible, either single or divers distances at one operation: to draw the map or plot of any city, town, castle, or other fortified place. To make divers sorts of artificiall fire-works, both for war and recreation, also to cure all such wounds that are curable, which may chance to happen by gunpowder or fire-works. This treatise is composed for the help of all such gunners and others, that have charge of artillery, and are not well versed in arithmetick and geometry : all the rules and directions in this book, being framed both with and without the help of arithmetick. By Nathanael Nye mathematician, master gunner of the city of Worcester.

CHAP. 13.

Another way to renew Gunpowder, or rather to unmake Gunpowder, to make it good, in the making it again.

PUt so much thereof (as you will refine or new make again) into a linen bag, and then tie a string or rather small cord about the mouth of the said bag, then put it into a clean Kettle, and pour so much water therein as will cover the bag; this done, make the water to boil, till a drop of it laid upon iron or stone will congeal; and while the water boileth, remember to scum it, if need require; when it will congeal, take it from the fire, and set the Kettle aslope; when the water is as clear as it will be, pour it out into some vessel where it will congeal into Saltpeter; when you have taken the Saltpeter out of the said vessel, that water as remains, boil again, until it will (by dropping a drop thereof 〈◊〉〈◊〉 iron) congeal, then put it again into the same ves••el: and thus do with all such 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as is last, after you have taken out 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Peter.

The Saltpeter and Brimstone which were within the said bag, did dissolve and soke into the boiling water; yea, the dis∣solved Peter turned into water, and the Brimstone sunk down to the bottom of the water, where you may finde it; but the Coles (which were formerly compounded with the Peter and Brimstone) they remain in the bag, amongst the lies and dregs of the decayed Gunpowder: therefore when you have gathered together all the Saltpeter by the means above named, and dryed the same, weigh it, and also weigh the Brim∣stone and Cole by themselves, and what you finde every thing to want in its quality and due proportion, make up with more, then mingle, beat and incorporate them, as you have been taught to make new Gunpowder.