The mariners magazine, or, Sturmy's mathematical and practical arts containing the description and use of the scale of scales, it being a mathematical ruler, that resolves most mathematical conclusions, and likewise the making and use of the crostaff, quadrant, and the quadrat, nocturnals, and other most useful instruments for all artists and navigators : the art of navigation, resolved geometrically, instrumentally, and by calculation, and by that late excellent invention of logarithms, in the three principal kinds of sailing : with new tables of the longitude and latitude of the most eminent places ... : together with a discourse of the practick part of navigation ..., a new way of surveying land ..., the art of gauging all sorts of vessels ..., the art of dialling by a gnomical scale ... : whereunto is annexed, an abridgment of the penalties and forfeitures, by acts of parliaments appointed, relating to the customs and navigation : also a compendium of fortification, both geometrically and instrumentally / by Capt. Samuel Sturmy.

OF ARTIFICIAL FIRE-WORKS, FOR Recreation, AND SEA and LAND-SERVICE. CHAP. XIII.

SECT. I. A Description of the Mortar-Piece, and how to make one of Wood, and Past-Board (for a need,) Brass and Iron ones being wanting.

THe same Metal that makes the best sort of Brass-Ordnance, they make Mortar-Pieces with, and by these Measures; if the Diam. or Bore be 9 Inches, let the Mortar be one Foot and half in length, and let the Chamber in which you Load your Piece with Powder be 3 Inches Diam. and 4 and a half deep; the thickest of the Metal above the Touch-hole 3 Inches, and the upper part thereof 1 Inch ½.

To make the Mortar-Piece of Wood and Past-Board.

Provide a Wooden-Ruler of such bigness as you desire to make the Diameter of the Morter, then grease your Ruler well, that the stuff may slip off that is put about him, which is Past-Boards and Canvas, and very well plyed with hot Glue; and after let it dry a little while on the Rowler, and another while off from the Rowler; and when this kind of Trunk is very dry, put it on the Ruler, and set it in a Lathe, and cut off both ends of the Trunk with a Chizel very even, then turn a Foot thereto with a shoulder to put the Trunk upon, and in the middle thereof make the Chamber for your Powder; if the Piece be 8 Inches in the Mouth, let the thickness of the Past-Board-Trunk be two Inches thick, and 18 Inches long, the Britch or Foot 10, the Shoulder 2 Inches long, and 2 high, that when the Trunk is put on this Shoulder, and joyned with the

Wood, it may be just even with the same; the Bore into which you put your Powder must be two Inches high, and three deep, Plated with Copper, Lattin, (if it be possible) as also all the rest of the Wood that goeth into the Trunk; when you have put the Trunk into the Britch of Wood, nail it round about the Shoulder, by making holes for the Nails, and then driving in the Nails upon that Wood, that you made to receive the Past-boards or Trunk; then cover both Wood and Trunk with good Belch-Cord and Glue again, and let it be well dryed, it will last a long time; and with such you may Shoot Ballouns into the Air for Recreation.

SECT. II. How to fit and prepare Granadoes for the Mortar-Piece.

THe Shot of great Mortar-Pieces are most commonly one tenth part lower than the Bore, because of Cording them, to sling into the Mouth of the Piece; and for fear of secret Cracks, which cannot be easily espyed, they are coated with Pitch, so that being fitted and prepared, they do but just fit the Bore.

How to make Fuses.

Every Ball hath an hole left to put in a Fuse, or piece of Wood, just like a Faucet for a Spiggot; this hole must be just one quarter of the Diameter of the wooden Fuse, which Fuse must be in length three quarters of the height of the Granadoe; make it taper, and then filled with composition, and driven gently into the Powder that is in the Ball, leaving a little of it without: the Composition of this Fuse is made thus; take one Pound of Powder, four Ounces of Salt-Peter, and one of Brimstone, first beaten to Powder, and sifted in a Sieve severally, these Ingredients being mixt together, your Composition is fit for use.

SECT. III. How to make Granadoes of Canvas for the Mortar.

THe operation of these Granadoes made of Canvas is quite contrary to these already set down: these are only Fit to Fire a Town, they are not of so violent execu∣tion, as the precedent, yet altogether as costly in the making; for the making of them, fit a piece of Canvas upon a round Ball of Wood or Form, so big as you would have your Granadoe, then take this Composition following; four Pound of Salt-peter, two Pound of Gun powder dust, and two Pound of Brimstone; all these incorporated, and moistned with Oyl of Salt-peter; fill your Case with this Compound, and cover it with Cords, and pierce the Sack full of holes, and in every hole put an Iron Barrel, Charged like a Pistol; these must be driven into the Sack unto the head, then let there be an hole about an Inch deep, which shall serve to Prime it with Powder-dust, moisten it with Oyl of Petrol; be sure your Barrels have great Touch-holes, that the rust through time may not choak them, and they will be ready for service many years.

SECT. IV. How Granadoes are to be Charged in a Mortar, and Fired.

YOu must take great care in the Loading or Charging the Mortar, thus; first, weigh the Powder to a Drachm that you put into the Chamber, and after it put a good close Wadd of Hay, or a Tampion of Wood, then cut a Turf off the Ground that may just fill the bottom of the hole or bore of the Mortar next the Wadd; your Gra∣nadoe being prepared, with a coat of Pitch and Cord, as before taught, sling it into the Mouth of the Mortar; observe to have the Fuse of the Granadoe in the middle of the Bore, then go to the Britch, thrust up a Wire in the Touch-hole to make sure, then

Prime with the best drie Powder you have; for (believe me) this is a ticklish sort of Shooting; without care, your Life, and Mortar-Piece is now at stake; but we will give you very sure directions how to give Fire.

Provide small Fuses, such as we taught you to make before for the Shells, but less, about a quarter of an Inch bore, three quarters of an Inch thickness, and eight Inches long, fill these with good Powder-dust, moisten it with Oyl of Salt-Peter but a little, and put it in with an Iron Rammer, try whether you like the time, they continue burn∣ing; if too slow, abate Oyl of Peter; if too fast, add more to it.

Thus being prepared, the use is, (viz.) thrust the Pick of your Linstock in at one end of the Fuse you mean to give Fire withal, bid one of your assistants come to one side of the Mouth of the Piece, and give Fire to your Fuse, wherewith Fire the Fuse in the Mortar, and then with great speed give Fire to the Touch-hole; these Fuses are very certain to give Fire, but Match doth ofttimes fail.

SECT. V. How to make Hand-Granadoes to be hove by Hand.

THere is good use made of Hand-Granadoes in assaults, and Boarding of Ships, and there be two sorts of them made; the first is shewed already,* 1.1 the second is made by Sea-Gunners upon a Mould made with Twine, and covered over with Car∣tredge-Paper, and Musquet-Bullets cut in two, put with Past and bits of Paper thick on the out-side; after you have doubled the Shells, Paste on some at a time, and let it drie, and then some more, until he is quite full; then dip him in scalding Rozin, or Pitch, and hang him up, and he is for your use; but you must have the innermost end of the Twine. which must be left out at the small hole for the Fuse; and before you Pitch it, you are to wind it out, and stop the hole, and then Pitch it.

To Load them, fill these small Shells with Gun-Powder, then make a Fuse of one Pound of Gun. Powder, six Ounces of Salt-Peter, and one of Char-cole; or if you will have them of less durance, you may take the Composition made for the Fuses be∣fore spoken of for great Granadoes, knock the Fuse up to the head within one quarter of an Inch, which is only to find it by in the night; stop well the rest of the holes if any Chinks are open, with soft Wax; then your first Shells must be coated with Pitch and Hurds, lest it should break with the fall; and be sure when you have Fired the Fuse, suddenly to cast it out of your hand, and it will do good execution.

SECT. VI. How to make Fiery-Arrows or Darts like Death Arrow-Heads.

MAke your Head of Iron, sharp and bearded, to stick fast; and to it have an Ar∣row or long shaft of Wood, and about the middle of that Head make fast a Lin∣nen Bag in form of an Egg, leaving open at the end a hole, that it may be filled with the Composition following; take one Pound of Peter, half a Pound of Gun-powder, and as much Brimstone in Powder; all these Ingredients being mixt well, and mingled with Oyl of Petriol; with this fill the Bag round about the Arrow-head, then let all be bound about with Wire; and for Priming of these, dip Cotton-week into Gun-Powder wet with Water; and well dryed again before it is used, and let the Arrows or Shafts be so put into the Head, that when they be stuck in a House or Ship-side, or any where else, the Man which endeavours to pull them out, may be deceived, and pull only the Shaft, and leave the Head to burn the House, or Ship, or Mens Cloaths, or any thing else; if you throw or shoot it well, it will Fire whatsoever combustible stuff or matter shall be near it, as Sails, Timber, Pitch, Tarred places; and this will much as∣sault Enemies in storming a Work, or Boarding a Ship.

SECT. VII. How to make Fire-pots of Clay.

FIre-Pots, and Balls to throw out of Mens Hands, or with a Bascula, may be made of Potters-Clay, with Ears baked, and to it hang lighted Matches, and throwing them, if it lighteth on a hard thing, it breaks, and the Matches Fire the Powder, and the half Bullets of Musquets contrived upon them, as before, disperses, and doth much mischief; their mixture is of Powder, Peter, Sulphur, and Sal-armoniack of each one Pound, and 4 Ounces of Camphire pounded, and Searced, and mixed well together with hot Pitch, Linseed-Oyl, or Oyl of Peter; prove it first by burning it, if it be too slow, add more Powder, and if it be too quick, more Oyl, or Rozin, and then it is for your use.

SECT. VIII. How to make Powder-Chests.

YOu must make them with 2 Boards to be nailed together, like the ridge of a House, and one longer and broader to the bottom thereof; between the three Boards put a Cartredge, then make it up like a Sea-Chest, and fill it with Pibble-stones, Nails, Stubs of old Iron; then nail the Cover on, and the end to the Decks, in such a place as you may Fire the Powder underneath through a hole made to put a Pistol in.

SECT. IX. How to make Artificial Fire-Works for Recreation and Delight.

VVE shall not describe the Moulds in particular, being needless; for such Men as are inquisitive into these things, let them buy Mr. Babrington, or Bate, or Malthus, or Norton's Fire-Works; here we will lay down such Rules, as shall be as soon conceived without Figures, only a Rowler or Mould for to make the Paper upon; and that may serve for all the rest, they being made in the same manner.

To mak good experienced Rockets our way, do thus; get a Form or Rowler to be turned in a Lathe, what thickness you please, and intend to make your Rockets, and let his length be 8 times the Diameter; if it be ¾ of an Inch in thickness, the length will be 6 Inches, put so many Rowls of Paper on this Form, until it is ½ an Inch thick, or make it ¼ Inch the whole then Paste the upper side to the rest; then you must contract the Paper together an Inch from the Mouth, thus: dip an Inch of the Case in Water, the Formor in him, and with Twine, about ¾ of an Inch from the end gather it in; but let a Formor, or a thing near the bigness be put into his Mouth, while you draw it in with the Twine and choak it; you must remember to leave a small hole to put in a Wire through the Composition half way the Rocket, as big as a Bod∣kin; then take out the Formor, and dry them, and they are for use at any time; the Figure following makes all plain; A is the Mouth of the Rocket, B so far the Bodkin must be thrust up the middle; you must be provided with a smaller Bodkin, which when your Rocket is filled with the Composition, and tyed to the Rod, you must thrust this Wire Bodkin in at the Mouth, straight up to the midst of the Rocket, having a care not to thrust it more upon one side than the other.

SECT. X. To make the Composition for Rockets of any size.

[illustration] diagram

THe Reader may make use of these Rules, not upon trust out of Authors, but found by Practice and Experience; and first for Rockets of 1 Ounce; you must use only Canon-Powder-dust, being beaten in a Mortar, and finely Searsed; this makes him rise very swift, making a great noise, but car∣ries no Tail. These of more Operations are made by putting one Ounce of Char-cole-dust to 8 Ounces of Powder; this Composition will hold for Rockets of one, two, and three Ounces; but for these of four, take three Ounces of Char∣cole-dust, to one Pound of Canon-Powder-dust, continuing that Rule, until you come to Rockets of 10 Ounces; and also for Rockets of a Pound, take one Pound of Powder-dust, and four Ounces of Char-cole-dust, and these are big enough for any Recreation or Delight.

To fill the Rockets with this Composition.

Hold the Mouth downwards where it was Choaked, and with a knife put in so much as you can of the Receipt provided for that size at one time, then with a Rammer fitted to the Case, and with a Mallet give three or four indifferent knocks, then put in more Composition until it be full, every time knocking the Rammer, as before, until the Composition come within one Diameter of the bore of the top; then put down a piece of Paste-board, and knock it in hard, prick three or four little holes therein; then put fine Pistol-Powder in almost to the top, and upon that another cap of Paper, upon which put a Piece of Leather, that it may be tyed on the top of the Rocket, and fast Glued on; then get a straight Twigg, and bind it upon the Rocket with good Twine; it must be no heavier, than being put upon your Finger an Inch and a half from the Mouth of the same, that it may just ballance the Rocket, then it is prepared for use.

To give Fire to one or two Rockets.

Set your Rockets Mouth upon the Edge of any piece of Timber, that stands so high from the ground, that the stick may stand perpendicular from it downwards or upon a side of a Wale or Carriage-wheel, or any dry place whatsoever; then lay a train of Powder that may come under the Mouth thereof; give Fire thereto, and you have done; but to Fire more Rockets than one, that as one descendeth, the other may ascend by degrees: make this Composition following; of Roch-Peter eight Ounces, Quick-Brimstone four Ounces, and fine Powder-dust two Ounces, which lay in a Line, from one Rocket to another, they being placed ten Inches, or a Foot one from another; give Fire to this Composition, and you have your desire, if you did prick the Rocket with the Wire, as directed; you shall see how gallant one will mount the Air, when the other is spent.

SECT. XI. How to make flying Serpents and Rockets that will run upon a Line, and return again.

FOr this you must provide a small Rowling-Pin about one quarter of an Inch in thickness; upon which Roul seaven or eight thickness of Paper; fill them four Inches with Powder-dust, sometimes putting between the filling a little of the Compo∣sition for Rockets of ten Ounces, and at the end of four Inches choak him; fill two Inches more with Pistol-Powder, then choak the end up, and at the other end put in a little of the mixture for Stars, which follows, and choak between them and the Com∣position, and it is fit for use; but divers of those with the Starry end downwards upon the head of a Rocket and Powder-train to blow them out, when the Rocket is spent, they will first appear like so many Stars; when the Stars are spent, taking hold of the Powder-dust, they will run riggling to and fro like Serpents; and when that Composi∣tion is spent, they will end with every one a Report, which will give great content to the beholder.

I did omit to speak of Runners in its proper place in the last Section, for that is the Composition, which you must make them of, very carefully whether they be, double or single, or those that carry Dragons, Men, or Ships, or other Shapes in motion, least they shame their Master; the Line must therefore be fine, even, and strong, and being rubbed over with soft Sope to make it slippery, and not easily to take Fire; Those that turn Wheels, may have a further addition of Roch-Peter in their Receipts to add plea∣sure and life to the beholders; You must have a piece of Cane as long as the Rocket, and bind to the Rockets, and so that ones Head may be to the others Vent, that when one hath carryed the Cane on the Line to the end thereof, the other may Fire, and bring him back again to the Tower or place where it was fired; these Figures are made with strong Paper or Parchment, and with Lattin, and Wire, and Twine, until they be brought into these Shapes, and then painted like Ships, or Dragons, or like the thing it carries with it.

SECT. XII. How to make Fire-Wheels, or as some call them Girondles.

FIrst be provided with Spinning-Wheels or the like, made easy to run round upon its Axis, Horizontal, or Vertically; and put Flags on the top of the middle, to set out the Wheel; bind Rockets to the Wheel, and Crackers betwixt each Rocket, with the Mouth of one towards the Tail of the other; thus continued, until you have fitted the Wheel quite round; which done, cover them with Paper pasted over, and coloured handsomly to set it out, that one taking Fire, they may not Fire all, and daub Soap upon them quite round, leaving the Mouth of one of them open, to give Fire thereto; the first Rocket being burned, will set Fire to the rest one after another, keep∣ing the Wheel in a contional motion, until they be all spent; you may bind Fire-Lances to these Wheels, either upright, or near over athwart, which will make to appear diversity of Fire-Circles; you must take care to place your Wheels called Gi∣rondles at convenient distance from other Fire-Works, least they should make a confu∣sion, and spoil all the Work.

SECT. XIII. How to make divers Compositions for Starrs.

FOr Starrs of a Blew colour mixed with Red, the Composition is of Powder-mealed eight Ounces, Salt-Peter four, Quick Brimstone twelve Ounces, Meal all these very fine, and mix them together with two Ounces of Aqua Vitae, and half an Ounce of Oyl of Spike; which let it be very dry before you use it.

Another Composition which will make White and beautiful Fire; take Powder eight, Salt-Peter 24, quick Brimstone two, Camphire one Ounce, Meal these Ingre∣dients, and Incorporate them; make the Camphire with dipping your Pestil into a little Oyl of Almonds, and it will Meal presently, and keep it close from the Air, or else it will become of no use.

Another White-Fire which lasteth long, take Powder four, Salt-Peter 16, Brim∣stone eight, Camyhire one, Oyl of Peter two Ounces, Meal these that are to be Mealed, and mix them according to the former directions.

SECT. XIV. How to make and use the Starrs.

TAke little square pieces of Brown Paper, which fill with either of the foresaid Compositions which you like best, fold it down, rowling it til you make it round, about the bigness of a Nut or bigger, according to the size of your Rocket that you intend them for, Prime them with drawing through them Cotton-Week, and they are prepared to make fast to the Wheels: you may also make them thus; you must have a Rowler which must be as big as an ordinary Arrow, which shall be to Rowl a length of Paper about, and Paste it round, and dry it well, fill it with a Thimble, and thrust it down with a Rowler, and then cut it in short Pieces about half an Inch long; then you must have in readiness either hot Glue, or Size mingled with red Lead, dip therein one end of your short Pieces, least they take Fire at both ends together; besides, it will not so easily blow out; these being thus done, set them to dry until you use them, and in the top of the Rocket, whereas in the 10 Section you were to fill it with Pistol-Powder, now you must put none, but a very little, and that is to blow one of the bits of Starrs out, which must stand in the room of the Powder, and on the top of that another Tire, with strewing a little Powder and dust; and in like manner another, to a third or fourth, putting a little small corned Powder between them, until you come unto the top of the Rocket-case, there put a Paper over the Head of it, and tie it close about the top, that none of the Powder come from between the Stars; the Cotton-Week is such as the Chaundlers use doubled 6 or 7 times, dipped in Salt-Peter Water, or Aqua Vita, wherein some Camphire hath been dissolved; or for want of either, in fair Water, cut it in divers pieces, Rowled in Mealed Powder dryed in the Sun, and it is done.

SECT. XV. How to represent divers sorts of Figures in the Air with Rockets.

VVHen you have divers Rockets to make for a great Fire-Work, let one be with a Report, another with Starrs, another with Golden Hair or Rain, one with Silver Hair or Rain, which it seems to be when you are right under; and upon the Head of another Rocket place the Serpents, and they will make most delight∣ful sport.

SECT. XVI. How to make Silver and Golden Rain, and how to use them.

YOu must provide store of Goose-Quills, which being provided, you must cut them off so far as they are hollow; the Composition to fill them is, two Ounces of Cole-dust, and one Pound of Powder well mixed; having filled many of these Quills, you shall place them in the same place as I told you to put the Powder and Stars, put∣ting a little Pistol-Powder to blow them out, as you did the Stars, and fill the top of the Case as full of them as you can, with the open end downwards; so soon as the Rocket is spent, there will appear a Golden Shower, or Rain; or with the Compo∣sition for White-Stars filled in the Quills, will make a Shower of Silver Rain.

SECT. XVII. How to make Fire-Lances.

MAke them thus; first, you must make Cartredges, or Cases just like the Cases for Rockets, only those for a need may be made with Past-Board, and Glued, as they are formed round, but the former is better; let them be filled with the drie Com∣position for Stars in the 13th Section; Prime them with wet Gun-Powder, the lower end of the Case is stopped with a piece of Wood, to the end they may be nailed and stirred when and where they shall be used, the Wood being about three Fingers breadth long out of the Case or Cartredge, or as long as you will.

SECT. XVIII. The manner how to make Balloons for the Mortar-Piece.

YOu must have a Formor or Ruler twice the length of the Diameter and of the bigness, as you will have the inside of your Balloon, and upon that Formor put so many Past-Boards, as you shall think sufficient for strength, then Paste or Glue them well together, and choak him at the end with a String, leaving a small hole for a Port-Fire, which must be made just like a Rocket but no holes in it as the Rocket hath, and of such length as is fit: now to fill the Balloons, place all your Serpents within it together, with Stars, Rockets, and Crackers, leave very little room within the Case, or Cartredge; and being filled, put in as much Powder-dust as you can, that it may run every where through the Chinks between the Serpents, Rockets, and Stars, that they may all Fire, and that the said Powder-dust may break the Balloon; these things thus done, choak up the other end close, and Charge it in the Mortar, as we have taught you to do the Canvas Granadoe in the fourth Section, and you may shoot it when you please, and you will make most excellent delight to the Spectators, and credit to your self; for this is part of the way of Mr. Malthus's Fire-Works, which were the best that ever I practised.

[illustration] depiction of various fireworks

Rockets single or doble made to run vpon a line from tower to tower is in 12 sectio.

The Ball A is a Granado, coated armed and lopdeg sect: 4▪

Fire Potts of Glay w^th: eares and markes is B section. 7.

Balls to fire and stick is D made of y^e same stuffe a•…•… 7 section

Fire Arrowes or darts sec•…•… y^e 6 is E

FG is a sillinder Granad•…•… of turned timber to shoote fliers section the 10.

Vertuall wheele is H se•…•… 12 by w^ch: you may vnd•…•…¦stand y^e form of horizo•…•…¦tall wheeles or any oth•…•… sort:

ABCD are the mo•…•…

Peice mould and Ball•…•… section 18.

And M N is 5 woode•…•…

Morters or Chambers a•…•… in section 18

SECT. XIX. A most precious Unguent for any Burning.

DIvers Men in the Practice of Fire-Works one time or other chance to be burned, or blown in the Face by Powder; here you have Mr. Malthus's Salves, which is known by often Experience to be very good, and will fully cure you.

The SALVES.

Take fresh Hogs-Grease, or Lard, as much as you please, and boyl, and take off the Scum, until there arise no more Scum; then set the Lard three or four nights abroad, after which it must be washed in running Water to take away the Saltish nature, and to make it White; then melt it, and keep it for your use.

Otherwise,

The White of an Egg, and fresh Butter being mingled together, and well beaten into an Oyntment, is excellent good.

SECT. XX. Another Salve most Excellent.

TAke a Stone of Quick Lime, and let it be dissolved in clear Water, and when the water is settled, pour it out gently from the Lime through a Linnen cloath, then put as much Sallet Oyl, as you have Water together, and beat it all to an Oyl; you may keep it for such uses, and you have a most Sovereign Cure for all manner of Burning whatsoever.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Sdells are made of Glass, or nelld Clay, or Paper.