Section 66

Cm a p. VIII. How to mafy fweet Perfumes.
IT remaineth,that we fpeak of Perfumes ; for they are very neceflary for the fenting of Skin?, Clothes, and Powders, and to enrich Noble mens Chambers, with fwecc odors in Winter : they are made either of Waters or Powders.
How to make Perfumes of Waters. Take four parts of Storax, three of Berjamin ; of Labdanum, Lignum Aloes, and Cinnamon, one ; an eighth part of Cloves, a little Mask and Amber. Beat them all grofsly , and put them in a Brafs Pot with an ounce and a half of Rofe- water. Sec the Pot over the fire, or hot Afhes, that it may be hot, but not boyl ; it will caft forth a pleafant odor : when the Water is confumed , put in more. You may alfo add what you have refer ved in the making AquaNanfa : for it will fend out a very fwcec fume.
Another way.
Take three parts of Cloves, two of Berj>mia,one of Lignum Aloes, as much Cinna- mon, Orange-Pill and Sanders, an eighth part of Nutmeg. Beat them, and put them into a pot, and ponr into themfome Orange flower-water , Lavender, and Myrtle- water, and fo heat it.
tA^Kother way.
Exprefs and Grain the juice of Lemmon , into which put Storax , Camphire Lignum Aloes, and empty Musk-Cods : macerate them all in Balneo for a week in a Glafs- Bcttle clofeftopt. When yea would perfume ycur Chamber , caft a drop of this Liquor into a Brafs Pot fnll of Role- water ; and let it heat over warm Afhcs, it will fmell moft pleafantly.
Excellent Tomattdersfer ptrfuming.
Take out of the Decoction for Aqua Nattfa, Lignum Aloes, Sanders, Cinnamon and Cloves j and of the remaining Powders make a mafs, which you may form into cakes, which being burnt on hot Attics, fmell very Iweetly. I take out the Cinnamon and the Woods, becaufe in burning they caft forth a ftiik of fmoak.
Another way.
Take one pcund and a half cf the Coals of Willow , ground into duft, and feirced • fonr ounces of Labdanum , three drachms of Storax , two of Benjamin , one of
Lignum
z88 Natural Magick. 2?00^ n.
Lignum Aloes : mix the Storax, Benjamin, and Labdanum in a Brafs Mon er with an Iron Peftle heated, and put to them the Coal and Lignum Aloes powdered. Add toihefehalf an ounce of liquid Storax : then diflolveGumTragacamha in Role- water, and drop it by degrees into the Morter. When the powders are mixed into the form of an Unguent , you may make it up into the fhape of Birds , or any other things , and dry them in the (bade. You may wafh them over with a liti k Musk and Amber upon a Pencil ; and when you burn them, you will receive a moft fwcet fume from them.
Another Perfume.
Anoynt the Pill of Citron or Lemmon witli a little Civet ; ftick it with Cloves and Races of Cinnamon : boyl it in Rofe-water , and it will fill your chamber with an odorifeous fume.
Chap. IX.
How to adulterate Mtukj
TTHefe Perfumes are often counterfeited by Impoftors ; wherefore I will declare how you may difcem and beware of thefe Cheats : for you muft not truft whole Mu k Cods ot ic , there being cunning Impoftors , who fill them with other things , and onely mix Musk enough to give its fent to them. Black Mu-k in- clining to a dark red, is counterfeited with Goats blood a little rofied , or loafted bread i lo that three or four pans of them beaten with one of Musk > will hardly be dikovered. The Impofturc may be difcerned onely thus : The Btead is eafie to be crumb'd, and the Goats blood looketh clear and bright within when it is broken. Ic is counterfeited by others in this manner : Beat Nutmegs, Mace,( innamon, Cloves, Spikenard, of each one handful, and feitce them carefully : then mix them with the warm blood of Pigeons, and dry them in the Sun. Afterward beat them again, and wet them with Musk- water and Rofe-water : dry them , beat them , and raoyften them very many times j at length, add a fourth part of pure Musk,and mix them well, and wet them again with Rofe-water and Musk- water : divide the Mafs into feveral parrs, and row 1 them in the hair of a Goat which growcth under his Tail. Others do it
Another tvajy and
mingle Storax, Labdanum, and Powder of Lignum Aloes : add to the Competition, Musk and Civer,and mingle all together with Rofe-water.The Impoftnre is discovered by the eafie diffolving of k in water ; and it differeth in colour and fent. Others aug- ment Mu.k by adding Roots of Angelica , which doth in fome fort imitate the fent cf Mu>k. So a!fo they endeavour
To adulterate CiVet
with the Gall of an Ox and Storax liquified and wafhed , or Cretan Honey, But if your Musk or Amber have loft their fent, thus you muft do,
To make tJMttikjecover its fent, hang it in a Jakes and among ftinks : for by ftriving againfi thofe ill favour ?,it excitctb its own vertue, reviveth. and rccovereth its loft fenr.
THE
x%9
THE
TWELFTH BOOK
O F
Natural Magick •
Of Artificial Fires.
The Pkoihi,
BEfore Heave off u write of Fire* I {hall treat of that dangerous Fife that work* won- derfulthings, -which the vulgar call Artificial Fire , -which the Commanders of Ar- mies ami Generals , ufe lamentably in divers Artifices and monfirosu Defigns, to tfeakjfejt Walls and Cities, and totally to fubvert them; and in Sea-fight $,xo the infinite mine of mor- tal men \ and -whereby they oft-times frufirate the malteiom enter frizes of their Enemies, The matter u very ufeful and wonderful, and there is nothing in the world that more frights *nd terrifies the mindes of men, (jod is coming to judge the world by Fire, I (hallde- fenbe the mighty hot Fires of our Ancefiors , which they ufed to be^ege plates with ; and Jfhall add thofe that are of later Invention, that far exceed them : and lafily , / fnaU fpea\ of thofeof our days, Tom have here the Ccmpoftions of terrible Cnn-pewaer that makes a notfe. and then c f that which makgs no noife : cf Pipes that vomit forth deadly Firesfand of Fires that cannot be br the Seas rerd a] 'under *i 0 if they were Undermined by the great violence of the flames finving agair.fi them, and are lifted up into the Airy that Ships are drawn by the monjlront Cutphs. Of Fire- Balls that fiie with glitter irg Fire, and terrific Troops of Horfe-men^ and •vet throw them, S o that wt are come almofi to eternal Fires,
Chap, I. How divers ways to procure fire may be prepared,
ttruviw faith , That it fell out by accident, that fuodry Trees,- frequeatly moved with Windes and Tempcfts , the Bows of them rubbing one againft another , and the parts fmiting each other , and fo being rarified , caufed heat , and took fire, and flamed exceedingly. Wilde people that faw this, ran away. When the Fire was out , and they durft come neerer, and found it to be a great commodity for the Body of man, they preferred the Fire ; and fothey perceived that it afforded caufes of civility , of converting and talking to- gether. Pliny bub y It was found one by Souldiers and Shepherds. In the Camp, thofe that keep watch , found this oat for necedity ; and fo did Shepherds * becaufc there is not always a Flint ready. Theophraflm teacbeth what kindes of Wood are good for this purpofe : and though the Auger and the handle are fotnetiraes both made of one fort of Wood, yet it is fo that one part a&s and the other fuffers ; fo that he thinks the one part fhould be of hard Wood , and the other of foft. Ex- ample :
Wood that by rubbing together will take Fire,
They are fuch as are very hot, as the Bay-Tree, the Buck-thorn, the Holm , the fficl- T ee : But UHneftor adds the Mulberry-Tree ; and men conjecture fo* becaufc they
R t will
7S$Q iSI A T U R A L M A G J C K. 2)00^ 1%.
WiUrrrfemly blunt the Ax. O" all thefe they make the "Airier, that by rubbirw they may refilt the more , and do the bufin:fs more firmly. ; but the handle to re- ceive thetn, is tobernade of foft Wood, as the Ivy, the wilde Vine, and the like, be- ing dried, and all moillure taken from them. The Olive is not fit, became it is full or fat .narter,and too much moyfture. But thofc are worft of all to make Fires, that grow in fhady places. . Plinj from him. One Wood is rub'd againft another, and by rubbing takes Fire . force dry fuel, as Mulhroomes.of- Le«ves,eafily receiving the Fire from them. But there is bbthing better then the Ivy , that may be rubbed with the Bay-Tree, or this with that. Alfo the wilde Vine is good , which is another kinde of wilde Vine, and runs upon Trees as the Ivy doth. But I do it more con- veniently thu :Rub one Bay-Tree aglinH another,and rub luftily,for it will prefently fmoak, adding a little Brim'.tone : put your fueJ neerer , or dry matter made of dry Toad-H'ools , or Leaves that are very fine, found about the Roots of Coltsfoot ; for they will foon take fire, and retain it., L have done the fame with Ivy-wood cleanfed from the Bark, and dried; and by rubbing one Reed againft another ; or, which is better, drawing a cord fwiftly upon it. The Weft-Indians bindetwo dry (licks toge- ther , ^ and t hey pot a Hick between-them, which they turn about with their hahds moved from them, and fo they kindle .fire. Bat fince the minde of Man feldotn re; Mb the thing once invented', but feeks,for new Inventions , by mans indulfry there is fouccUur, N
s A Jlane that wtR.wfe Fire with &t>y moyfture.
The wiy to mike it is thus: Take quick Brimflone, Salt-Peter refined, of each a like weight ; Cimphire the ruble weight to quick Lirnc ;. and beat fbem all in aMor- ter, till they be io fine that they williTie into the Air. : ;binde them all fat* together, wrapt in a Linen clou , and put them into an cartbcA pot ; let it be well Hopr r lute it wel, with cla and. raw. , and let it dry in the Sun.-;-;, then put thcrfi intoa Potters O en ; and when the earthen Vcflel is pcrfe61y b^ked , they will grow t*d*ther, and be-hard a? a -tone: take them out, an^lay.^tftjup in a dry-place for fcfe.- I went to try this \a batie, and my experience failed Oje>\ -I know certainly, ihapVrrnii. of m; Friends have, done il : but the pot mull not have any vent, for it will all ryKd away . Yet I have feen water ctH upoo^quick Lime,, and by putting Brim: -.one to-ir, it took Fire, and fired Gun-pow der. This I can maintain.
i€. . * ' •
ft. • -
\ Chap. II, .... .
Of the Cempofit ions for Fire-) that onr Axceftors fifed, j nT rtbsiil 5* i eu»bibos v? ! :i:o !Isi ji sn*7
BEfore I come to our Compofitions for Fire-worir^lfliall fer dowa thofe that our forefathers ufed in Sea-fights, and in taking 6c «tefendiag of Cities. Thucifoics faith, That thole that befieged Piataenenfes, when Engines wcu'd do no good , they fell toFire works : for calling about the Wallsbundles of Huff, and throwingin Firc BrimHone andPitch, they burnt-thc waJl : whence arofc Such aflame,that until that time no man ever law the like. ■Hftan teachcth. j- That in burning of Walls, after ycu nave made ahoieihorow, yoamcftpnr witKxd of the Pine-Tree under, and *novnt,thtm with dry pitch, and powdered Brxrhrtone! together ? with Tar crOyl, and fet this on fire. And ellew here heteacheth tdLbnrri wkh a pc**Take an earthen Phcher , andbinde it about with plates t>f Iron on the 'cutfide ,'iiftMetit befnllof fmall coal : let there be ahole about the bottom to put in the Beilows: for when the coals take fire, by fprinkltng on of vinegar, pifs, or any other fharp matter, the Walls are broken. Vegehttttttthkia what eombuftible matrer mutt beufetF: and he lifeth burning Oyl, Hards-, BrimHcne, Bicnmen. Burning' Arrows are (hot in Crofs-bows intotbc Enemies Ships; and thefe, being fmeered over with Wax, Pitch andRofin, they quickly fire the Decks , with fo many things, that aflford fuel! to the Fire. I Cull add
The Ftre-Djrts the AntfeHtf* fell.
Ammixntu Marcellinw d^knbidVuc-Dins^ kinde or" Weapon made after fuch a fl
fhio;
Of Artificial Fires. 2 pi
Giion: It is ao Arrow of Cane, joyned with many Irons between the Shaft and the Head.and they are made hollow after the fafliion of a wpmans Diiiaff ;whertwuh Li- nen-threed isfpunjn themidli cf it, it hath many fmalihoies,arjd in the very l,o\ow of it, is put fire with iomc combuitibie matter, and io is it eafily (hot forth of a weak Bow : for a Bow that is ftrong , puts out the Fire • and there is no m^an-, to put it out , but by cafiing on Duft or Lees of Oyl. Livy, Seme came with burning Tor- ches, others carrying Tow,Pitch,and Fire- Darts; and the whole Army (Tuned as if it were ah in flames : but in the concave part or this Dart there was Glue and Fuel, for Fire not to be cxtinguifhed,of Colopbonia, Brimftone, Salt-Peter, all mingled with Oyl of Bays. Others fay, with Oyl of Peter, Ducks-grcaie, the Pith of the Reed of Ferula, Brimftone ; and, as others think, with Oyl, Tallow, Colophonia,Camphire,' Rofin,Tow. The old Warriors called this an incendiary compofition. Lux An fpeaks of burning of Ships :
TV is plague to wattr is not consonant ,
For burning Torches, Oyl and Brimftone joyn'd,
Art caft abroad^ and fuel was not [cant :
The Ships do burn with Pitch or Wax combind.
And cliewhere*
He bids them fifoot their Shafts into the S ails\ ^ Befmeer'd with Pitch , and fo he feon prevails: rV The Fire ftraight doth burn what's made ofFlaxy fcn [ft
And fo their Decks were fir'd by melting Wax ; And tops of Mafts were burnt , and Sea- mens packs.
But in competitions for Arrows and Darts , that they might burn the more vehe- mently, they put melted Vernifh, Printers Oyl, Petroleum, Turpentine, made up with theftiarpelT Vinegar, prefled dole , and dried atthe Sun, ana wrap'd over with Tow, and with fliarp Irons to defend it, Wrought together like to a bottom of yarn : ah which at lalf , only palTing over one hole, are imcered over with Colophonia and Bricnrtonej after the manner that follows. But by the fubtilty of the Greeks, there was invented
A Fire-, called the Creekjrire,
To overcome the Ship prelently , they boyl'd Willow-coals, Sair, Spirit of Wine, Brimftone, Pitch, with the yarn of the foftVVooll of Ethiopia, andOmphire; which, it is wonderful to fpeak, will burn alone in the water , confumingall matter. C-'i'tmachu* the Architect flying fromHeliopolis, taught the Romans that thing firft, and many of their Emperors did ufe that againft their Enemies afterwards. Leo the Emperor, burnt wirh this kinde of Fire thofe of the Eaf*, that fail'd agaihft Conftan- tinople with 1800 Carvels. The fame Emperor, fhcrtly after, burnt with the fame Fire 40C0 Ships of the Enemy ,and 5 5 o in like manner. Promethetu found out, thac Fire would keep a yeerin the Cane Ferula : wherefore Martial fpeaks of them thus:
Canes that the Mafters love, but Boys do hate, Are by Prt metheus gift held atgreatrate,
laorto >mi:a m >• n*i t inn* i!y^0dHfln8 tth*T
Chap. III.
Of the divers Compo fit ions of Gun-powder,
fliould be ill fpoken of,if, that treating of fiery Compofuions, wefhould not firftfay fomethingof that wonderful Gun-powder , that is the Author cf fo many wonderful things ; for it is an ingredient in all mixtures, and all depends upon it : not that I have any minde to fpeak of it , becaufe it is fo common ; but of fuch thiags that have fomc new or hidden fecret in them. It is made of four parts of Salt-
Rr« Pecer«
%9% Natural Magick. 2>oo^ iz.
Peter, Brimftone and Willow-coals, of each one partw But the Salt-Peter muft be refined from common Salt, the fat and earthly parts : for that is the Foundation and Bafis of the reft. All of thele muft be well powdered and finely feirced , and per- fectly mingled together. Therefore if you would have
(fUn-powder that (hall m*k* * great noife, and do much fervice, Put in more parts of Salt-Peter ; namely,to one part of Brimftone, and one of Wil- low-coal,pnt in fix or eight parts of Salt- Peter, but excellent well refined and min°led# For four parts of Salt-Peter well refined and mingled, will do more then ten parts of that which U fxculem, and ill mingled. From the Salt- Peter comes the force, the noife of the flame ; for Brimftone it takes fire , and the fooner for the coal. But if one would have