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SECT. XXIV. How Powder is made, and several ways to know whether Powder be de∣cayed or no, by moisture or Age, in part, or in whole.
POwder was always made of Salt-peter, Brimstone, and Char-cole; but in these latter times experience hath still mended the goodness or strength of it more, than it was in former times by much: but briefly thus; the best sort that is made at this pre∣sent time is made of six parts Salt-peter, Brimstone, Char-cole, one part.
the Musquet or Pistol Powder is now commonly made of Salt-peter five parts, one part of Brimstone, and one of Cole; Canon-Powder of Salt-peter four times as much as of Brimstone, and as of Cole. The reason why Pistol-Powder being the strongest of 6 - 1 - 1 is not so good for the Canon as 4 - 1 - 1 the weakest, although you take but so much of the Pistol Powder as you find by an Engine to be of like strength with another quantity of Canon-Powder.
The reason why Canon-Powder is best for Ordnance, is, because it taketh up a grea∣rer room in the Cylinder of the Piece, than Pistol-Powder; for in taking up much room it hath the greater length or fortification of Metal about it in the Piece.
Suppose a Saker require four l. of great Powder for her loading, and I would know how much Pistol Powder is equal in strength to four l. of Canon-Powder, trying by an Engine made on purpose to try Powder, I find 3 l. of Pistol-Powder; therefore you easily concieve, that 3 pounds have but 3 quarters of the Metal of the Piece to keep it from breaking, when 4 pound had a quarter more Metal, than the other had.
Nath. Nye Mr. Gunner found by an experiment made by him at Deriton the 17 of March Anno 1644, he loading a Saker-bore Piece of Iron,* 1.1 and the thickness of the Metal about the Chamber was 2 inch. and load her with 4 pound of weak Canon-Powder, which filled the Cylinder of the bore 9 inch. just, which 9 inch. in length, and two inch. in thickness is 225 inches of Metal about the Powder, which was 6 ounces more than the Piece should have had in proportion to Pistol-Powder: He fired, and the Piece went off safe; and he saith, he loaded her again with one pound and ¼ of fine Powder almost, which filled the bore but 2 inches and ¾, and had to its Fortification but 6, 8 ¾ inches, which in weight is 15 l. and when the Gun was discharged, it broke into divers pieces, as there is witness enough in that Town.
The harder the Corns of Powder are in feeling, by so much the better it is. Secondly,* 1.2 Gun-powder of a fair Azure or French Russet colour is very good, and it may be judged to have all its Receipts well wrought, and the proportion of Peter well refined. Thirdly, Lay 3 or 4 Corns of Gun-powder upon a white piece of Paper, the one three fingers distant from the other, and fire one, if the Powder is good, they will all fire at once, and leave nothing but a white chalky colour in the place where they were burned, neither will the Paper be touched; but if there remains a grosness of Brimstone and Salt-peter, it is not good. Fourthly, If you lay good Powder on the palm of your Hand, and set it on Fire, it will not burn you. Fifthly, To know the best amongst many sorts of Pow∣der, make a little heap of every sort, and then setting those heaps one from the other, mark well when you put Fire into them, which of the heaps did take Fire the soonest; for that Powder that will soonest be on Fire, smoak least, leave least sign behind it, is the best sort of Gun-powder.