1. The Ordering and making, in a true Propor­tion, the Moulds for Fireworks.

BEfore you proceed to the making of Rockets for Fire-works, it is requisit to understand how to order, and make your Moulds and other Instruments for the same; and first for your Moulds, You must provide a piece of good dry Box, Holly, Walnut­tree, Cr [...]b Tree, or some such like tough Wood, without Shakes or Knots; and when you have thus done, it is fit to know of what length and breadth you desire to have your Mould, for fol­lowing this kind of proportion, all other sorts of [Page 2]Moulds are made great and small, therefore you ought to have a Turner to turn and bore the same: As for Example: I would have the Hole of a Mould bored but an Inch diameter, or wide, then the length of the Mould must be six times so long as the Hole is wide (which is six Inches) and on each side of the Hole half an Inch thick: So that when the Mould is turned round, it is two Inches over in breadth When you have done this, you must have a bottom made and it is to be fitted therein.

II. The order and making of Rowlers, Rammers, and other things for the Coffins.

HAving provided your Mould, then you are to fit your Rowler, which must be two third parts of the breadth of the bore of the Mould, and the length thereof six Inches longer than the Mould, which is for rowling of your Paper, with a Hole to be bored in the bottom to receive a Wyre, which must be fasten'd in another piece of Wood some-what shorter, to take out at your plea­sure, the use thereof shall be described, when I shall shew the order of making the Coffins.

When you have fitted your Rocket, then pro­ceed to the making of your Rammers, which must always be two at the least, for each several Mould as they increase in largeness, so you must be fitted with several Rammers, by reason of the taper Needle: Having fitted your Rammers, pro­vide a piece of Box, which must serve to make your whole Coffins, to put the work which you intend, on the Head of your Rockets.

III. How to order and make the Coffins of Paper.

HAving explain'd the manner and form of the Moulds, with the other things belonging to the same; I will now shew the use of them in their several orders.

Provide you some good large strong Paper for your work: And to know what length your Paper must be, let it be always the length of your Mould, so shall you have one Breadth left above the Mould the use whereof shall be shewed hereafter. Now having provided your Paper in length ready, take your rowler and one length of Paper, and be­gin to rowl; when you have rowled one Sheet, you must have a Board with a Handle, to roul it with, which must be done in this manner: You must hold the Rowler in your left Hand, and with your right Hand hold the Board by the Handle. and then lay down your Rowler upon some smooth Chest, or Table, which when you have done, rowl another length of Paper, and so proceed in rowling between every Sheet, untill you have rowled on so much, as will fill the Mould very streight. When you have thus done, draw forth the Rowler about an Inch, and then take the other short Rowler, and put it in, and there you shall have a place left for the choaking of the Rocket, of which is next following.

IV. The order and manner how you shall choak a Rocket.

WHEN you are to choak a Rocket, you must have an Iron Hook, or a Staple driven in­to some Post, to which you must fasten your Cord, which must be bigger or less, according to the bigness of your Rocket, by reason that a small Cord will not choak a great Rocket for want of Strength, and a great Cord will not serve for a small one, in regard that it will make too great a choaking, so that you must have a bigger and a less; and when you have so done, you must tye one End of the Cord to the Hook or Staple, and at the other End, about a Yard off, tye a strong Stick, in fashion of a Swing, (it must be strong, because it bea [...]eth the Weight of the Body,) which [Page 4]when you have provided, put the Stick between your Leggs, and wind the Cord about the Rocket­cace in the place appointed, which must be be­tween the long Rowler and the short; when that is done, girt it by degrees, ever turning the rowler, to the End it may come together more close and neat; and when you have sufficiently choaked it, draw forth your short Rowler, and where the choaking is, tye it about with strong Pack-thread, and then draw forth the Rowler, your Coffin is ready to be filled when occasion serveth.

V. The manner of driving a Rocket, with the Instru­ments belonging thereunto.

YOUR Coffin of Paper being sinished, take it, and with your hollow Rammer, force the same down close into the Mould, and when you have done, strike two or three hard blows to settle the Paper into its right form: Which being done, then you must fill the Coffin, in doing whereof you must have a care, providing a Mea­sure which may contain the twentieth part of your whole Rocket; so by that means you shall not fail, but every Rocket shall have a true proportion alike: As for Example: I have a Coffin, which being filled, will hold an Ounce of mixture, or thereabout: Then I take the twentieth part, and when I find what quantity it is, I make a Mea­sure of Horn or Latten which shall contain so much, and then I begin to fill my Coffin with one Measure at a time, and putting in my Ram­mer, I strike four or five smart Blows with a good heavy Mallet, and then fill another Measure, and strike again, so I continue till I come to the top of the Needle; then I take the said Ram­mer, and so continue with it, till I come to the Top of the Mould: Now the Paper which is a­bove the Top of the Mould, must be turned down [Page 5]and beaten hard: Which being done, the Rocket is finished from the Mould, which being forced out with as much ease as you can, for the less you force it, (being filled, and the Needle taken out,) the better it is, for knocking loosens the Powder, and so causes the Rocket for to fail. You should have a Funnel to fill your small Rockets.

VI. Of the Composition and Receipts for your Rockets.

HAving thus finished your Rockets, it now rests to know the Receipts: For in the ma­king of them, the chiefest thing to be regarded is, the Composition that they ought to be filled with­all: For as much as that which is proper to Rock­ets which are of less sort, is very improper to those which are of a greater Size: For the Fire being lighted in a great Concave, which is filled with a quick Composition, burns with great vio­lence: And so contrary, a weak Composition be­ing placed into a small Concave, maketh no effect: Therefore we shall here deliver Rules and Direc­tions, which may serve for the true Composition, or matter wherewith you may charge any Rocket; from Rockets which are charged but with one Ounce of Powder, unto greater, which require for their Charge ten Pound of Powder: And here follows the Ingredients for several Rockets.

First, for Rockets of one Ounce. Unto each Pound of good Musket Powder bea­ten, put two Ounces of Small-Coal-Dust, and with this charge the Rocket.

For Rockets of two or three Ounces. Unto every four Ounces and a half of Powder-dust, add an Ounce of Salt-petre, or to every four Ounces of Powder-dust, add an Ounce of Coal-dust.

For Rockets of four Ounces. Unto every Pound of Powder-dust, add four Ounces of Salt-petre, and an Ounce of Coal-dust, but to have it more flow, unto every ten Oun­ces of good Powder-dust, add three Ounces of Salt Petre, and three Ounces of Coal-dust.

For Rockets of five or six Ounces Unto every Pound of Powder-dust, add three Ounces and a half of Salt-petre, and two Ounces and a half of Coal-dust, and an Ounce of Sul­phur, and an Ounce of File-dust.

For Rockets of seven or eight Ounces. Unto every Pound of Powder-dust, add four Ounces of Salt-petre, and three Ounces of Sul­phur.

For Rockets of ten or twelve Ounces. Unto the former Ingredients, add half an Ounce of Sulphur, and it will be sufficient.

For Rockets of fourteen and sixteen Ounces. Unto every Pound of Powder-dust, add four Ounces of Salt-petre, of Coal-dust two Ounces and a quarter, of Sulphur and File-dust, an Ounce and a quarter.

For Rockets of one Pound. Unto every Pound of Powder-dust, add three Ounces of Coal-dust, and an Ounce of Sulphur.

For Rockets of two Pound. Unto every Pound of Powder-dust, add nine Ounces and a half of Salt-petre, of Coal-dust two Ounces and a half, of File-dust one Ounce and a half, and of Sulphur three quarters of an Ounce.

For Rockets of three Pound. Unto every Pound of Salt-petre, add six Ounces of Coal-dust, and of Sulpher four Ounces.

For Rockets of four, five, six or seven Pound. Unto every Pound of Salt-petre, add five Oun­ces and a half of Coal-dust, and of Sulphur, two Ounces and a half.

Here note, that in all great Rockets there is no Powder put, because of the greatness of the Fire, which is lighted at once, which causeth too gr [...] a violence, and therefore ought to be filled with a more weak Composition.

Now when you have provided your Powder, you must first meal it, and then searce it, so that it may be free from any Corn, though never so small. Likewise take good dry Coul, well burnt, and beat it to Dust; searcing it very fine, which when you have done, mix them according as your occasion requireth, and follow your Directions.

VII. The manner of heading a Rocket, with the order of capping it.

IN the manner of heading a Rocket, you must use the thick Rowler, upon which you must rowl some Paper, or fine Paste board, and paste it so that it may stick very close, and then choake it at the length of the thicker Part, so that it may come close to your Stick in the lesser Part, which will be fit to be tyed to the top of the Rocket: So shall you have a Coffin to put in your works, which must be of divers sorts. This being done you must provide taper Caps, which must be join­ed to the top of the large Coffin: The use of them is to keep in your works, and to cause them to pierce the Air more swiftly. The manner of making these Caps, is to take a pair of Compas­ses, and describe a circle in a Paste board, then cut it out with a pair of Sheers, and that will make two Caps being cut in he middle, and [...]urned one corner under the other, and so pasted: And let them so pasted, be put in a Napkin-press [Page 8]'till they be dry, and when they be dry, cut out a half circle in Paper, which shall sit round about the said Cap, and shall serve to paste on the Cap to the Coffin; so you have all things ready to the finishing of your Rocket.

8 The manner of fastning a Rocket.

HAving driven your Rocket, as I have shewed, with the Paper turned down, you must first prime it, which must be with cotten wick made for that purpose, which you must put into the Vent, leaving a piece to hang lower than the mouth of the Rocket by three or four Inches; which being done, tye a piece of Paper over the mouth, that is may not fall out. Now having primed your Rocket you may proceed to the heading of it, and that is done after this manner.

Take your Rocket, and on the head you should turn down the Paper, you must with a Bodkin pierce two or three holes, that when the Rocket hath spent it self, the works which ar [...] in the head may take fire; which holes prime with a little Pow­der-dust, and then put on the head, with the choak­ing fitted to your Rocket, which must come over the same in such manner, that the bottom of the greatest part must come even with the top of the Rocket; which tye fast to the Rocket with thread, and then put in your works; but before you put in your works, whether they be Stars, or any other works, you must put in a little cotton-wool, be­ing rouled in Powder-dust, to make your Stars to take fire, or likewise may blow out: Having thus done, put in your Stars, or other works, and if you make more than one tire, (as you may do of your Stars) then you must put more Cotten rouled in Powder-dust among them, or between every tire, that they may all take fire; then take your Cap, and fill the hollow place with Cotton, because [Page 9]it is light, and likewise will fire quickly; which be­ing fitted, paste it close to the top of the coffin that it may stand upright; then must you fit your stick, for the poising of your Rocket, which ought to be eight times the length of the Rocket without the head: You must get the smoothest and lightest you can, such as Ba [...]ket-makers use, and then cut one side of it flat at the great end, then make two notches on the round side, that the one be differing from the other, so much as is between the choaking of your Rocket, and the end of the Vent; for if you should tye it upon the Vent it would loosen the Pow­der, causing it to break in the Firing: be careful that you tye not the wrong end of the Rocket upper­most, but tye that end downward that is choaked, and with a piece of thread that is strong, tye it to the lower notch about the choaking. When you have [...]yed that, then tye the other higher, and let the [...]tick come even with the top of the Roket. Then [...]oyse your Rocket, by laying it on your finger two or three Inches from the month; and if you find the stick be too heavy, cut it shorter, till you find your rocket to ballance your stick, for if the stick be too heavy, the rocket will be a slug, and being too light, the rocket will fall before it be half up. These things being provided, you have your rocket ready to be fired, which must be after this manner following.

9 The manner of firing Rockets, with the description of a Staff for the same.

YOU must provide a long staff with a Pike at one end, to be thrust hard into the ground, with a three-legged staff, having a hollow hoop at the top, to let this long staff slide up and down, to the end that having Rockets whose sticks are longer than the staff, yet by raising it through the said [Page 10]Iron hoop, you may make it four or five foot longer than it would be standing on the ground. Now this long staffe must have a sliding place cut with several points, which must be near the top; and at the bottom there must be a ring of Wyre, to let the stick go through, which must be made likewise to slide up and down, so thrusting the small end through the said Ring, your Rocket will [...]est upon that part above, which must be just opposite in a streight Line; so open the Mouth of your Rocket, and pull out the End of your Cotton-wick, and with a piece of Match fastned in a Linstock, give fire to the Wick, and by degrees you shall see it fire your Rocket; which ordered well, will mount very streight and high. Thus having shewed the whole order of composing a Rocket, with firing of the s [...]me, I will in the next place shew you the order for making of Stars, and other work [...], which are necessary for the heads of your Rockets.

X. Several Compositions for the ordering of Stars of several Colours.

IF you will have your Stars of a blue Colour with red, then take eight Ounces of Powder mealed, of Salt-petre four Ounces, and of Sulphu [...] ­vive twelve Ounces: Meal these very fine, and mix them together with two Ounces of Aqua­vitae, half an Ounce of the Oyl of Spike, and let it be dry before you use it.

If you will have a beautiful white Fire, take four Ounces of Powder, twelve Ounces of Salt­petre, six Ounces of Sulphur-vive, and half an Ounce of Camphire: Meal your Ingredients and mix them. Now to powder your Camphire, you must use a brass Mortar and a Pestle, dipping it in Oyl of Almonds, so stirring it by degrees it will Powder, and then keep it close from the Air till you use it, or the Camphire will lose its Spi­rit.

If you will have a white Fire, and to last long, then take four Ounces of Powder, one Ounce of Salt-petre, eight Ounces of Sulphur vive, one Ounce of Camphire, and two Ounces of Oyl of Peter: meal those which are to be mealed very fine, and mix them according to the former Directions.

XI. The order and manner of making the best sort of Stars.

HAving shewed the Composition for Stars, now I will shew you how to make them, which is thus: You must make little square pieces of brown Paper, which fill with your Composition, and so double it down, rowling it till you make it somewhat round, about the bigness of a Nut or bigger, according to the size of the Rocket; you may put in a dozen on the head of a small Rocket, binding them round with a Thread, and then draw a Cotten-wick through them, being prepared for priming.

Also there is another way which is thus; take a small Rowler, about the bigness of an Arrow, and roul a length of Paper about it, and paste it round, letting it dry, and then you have a hollow trunk of this Paper, fill this with your Ingredi­ents, thrusting it hard till it be at the Top, and then cut it into short pieces, about half an Inch long, and then in warm glew dip one of the Ends therein, and let them dry to the End that both Ends of your Stars fire not, and then put the o­ther End into Powder-dust; you may put them on your Rocket, in one or two tires, putting in Powder-dust between every tire, that they may all take Fire.

The priming is thus made; Take Oyl of Cam­phire soaking Cotten-wick therein, and being moist rowl it in fine Powder-dust, and then hang it up till it is thorow dry, and then keep it close [Page 12]from Air till you use it, or the spirit of the Cam­phire will decay.

XII. The order and making of other several Fire-works for the Rockets, as Serpents, or Fisgigs, Reports, Golden and Silver Rain, &c.

THE Serpents or Fisgigs, are made about tho bigness of ones little Finger, by rowl­ing a Paper upon a small Stone, (as it was for your Stars) and choaking the Paper Coffin an Inch from the End, then fill it three Inches with Pow­der-dust, and then choak it, and then put in a lit­tle Corn-powder, when your Serpents have played a while to and fro, it may break and give Re­port: You may fill it with the Star Mixture, and putting divers of them on the head of the large Rocket, they will first appear like Stars, and when the Stars are spent, take hold of the Powder-dust, and they will run rigling to and fro like Serpents, and at last will give [...] many reports, very delight­ful to behold.

The reports are made in their proper cases as the Serpents are, but the Paper must be somewhat thicker, which will cause it to give the greater report: These are to be filled with grain Powder, or half Powder and Star mixture.

To make the Golden Rain, you must get store of Goose Quills; and cut them off next the Fea­thers, and fill these Quills hard with the same Composition that is in your Rocket, and must be put on the head of the Rocket, with the open end downwards: If it were possible to put a thou­sand of these Quills upon the head of a Rocket, it were a dainty sight to see how pleasantly they spread themselves in the Air, and come down like streams of Gold, much like the falling down of Snow, especially if the Wind be any thing high.

If you will make silver Rain, it is performed as the other; only you must fill your Quills with the same Ingredients that you did your white Stars.

XIII. How to make your Fi [...]e-works to run upon a line backward or forward.

TAKE small Rockets, and place the Tail of one to the Head of the other, tying a Ca [...]e to them to run on a Line soped; the line may be a Hundred Yards long or longer if you please, being well stretched and set on Stakes: And at last (if you please) may be placed a pot of Fire­works, which being fir'd will make good sport; having Serpents and other things in it, which will variously intermixe themselves in the Air, and up­on the Ground and every one will extinguish it self with the report.

XIV. How to make a Wheel of Fire-works to run forward and backward upon the Ground.

YOU must get a pair of light Wheels like spinning Wheels, both of a bigness, which must be fasten'd to a small light axle-tree, in such manner, that they may not move about the same, and on the middle of the axle-tree, fasten also a Fire-wheel, which must not be so big in compass as the two other Wheels, because it must not touch the Ground, so that being fast in the mid­dle upon the same axle-tree, it cannot run unless it carry the other Wheels with it; these being set on an even Ground, will run a great way without ceasing: Now that you may make it re­turn back again when it has run its course for­ward, you may make your middle Wheel in such manner, that it may have Rockets on both sides, so that when one side is spent, it may give fire to the other side, the mouths of the Rockets be­ing [Page 14]fastned the contrary way will make a return with a swift motion.

XV. Another way for a single Wheel to be placed on a Post to turn both ways.

THIS may be performed with a single Wheel, so that the Rockets may be placed on each side, (as in the other middle Wheel, with a Hole from the one side to the other for a vent; then place your Rockets first upon one side, but so that the last Rocket be placed over the said Hole) and boring a small Hole in one side of the last Rocket, put in a Cotten-wick for prim­ing, letting it come through the Hole in the Wheel, to the mouth of another Rocket, which shall be turned the contrary way on the other side: So that the Wheel having finished its revo­lution on one way may take fire on the other side, making a retrograde motion: But if you place the Rockets all one way on both sides, it will con­tinue twice so long as another of the same big­ness.

XVI. The order to make a fixed Wheel, standing upon a Post, giving divers reports.

THere must be a Wheel turned two Foot wide, and out of the upper side must be a groof turned half an Inch wide, half an Inch deep; to which groof you must have a piece of Wood so f [...]ted, that it may just slide in; which piece of Wood must have so many small Holes bored in it, as you will have reports about it, and be sure you set them not too ne [...]r together, lest the Fire of one beat the other down; having thus provided your Wheel, you must make a con­veyance or hollow Trunk of Paper, which will just fill it, and fill the same with s [...]me of your [Page 15]slow mixtures of Stars, and then putting on the cap of Wood so fitted with Holes, being made fast with Glew, pierce every hole into your hollow con­veyance, so that putting a Quill into every one, they may take Fire, and to the Quill fasten a Report; so shall you have a peal of Chambers placed in a small Room, which being once Fired, will follow in Order, till the whose Train be spent.

XVII. Another fixed Wheel upon a post, which will cast forth many Rockets into the Air.

THIS Wheel is not much unlike the former, which will give Fire to divers Rockets stand­ing circular, differing little from the former, only you must make a hole for every stick to pass thorough, and therefore it must be made somewhat broader, which will work the like effect that the other doth, by conveying Fire from one Rocket to another, till they be all spent

The mixture for this conveyance must be very slow, therefore use these Ingredients: Take eight Ounces of Roch-Peter, four Ounces of Sulphur-vive, half an Ounce of Camphire, two Ounces of fine Powder-dust, and meal these very fine, and mingle them together, adding half a quarter of an Ounce of Linseed Oyl, and as much of the Oyl of Peter, these Oyls must be dropped in by degrees, and so wrought up, till you find your mixture bound like Dough, and this is both slow and sure.

XVIII. Another dainty fixed Wheel, which will cast forth divers Fisgigs, or Serpents, and as many Reports.

YOU must have a Wheel turned with a groof on the top thereof to put in the conveyance of Paper, then fit on a piece of Wood (as it was before shewed) with small Holes to put in Quills, which are for Firing your Reports, and must be [Page 16]Placed round about the upper Part of your Wheel, and on the side thereof divers holes must be made of the bigness of your Fisgigs, which must be pier­ced through to the Paper conveyance, those Fisgigs that are placed round on the sides, and the Reports on the top, one Train will Fire them all; and in firing you shall see all the Fisgigs flying round about, one after another as the Fire passeth to them; and for every Fisgig which passeth out shall be fired a Report; so that there shall be a continued Motion until the whole Train be consumed.

XIX. Of Night Combatants with Faulchions and Targets, Clubs, Maces, &c.

THIS is performed by two Men seeming to Fight, or to make way in a Throng of Peo­ple, the Clubs at the great Ends are made like a [...]ound Basket (or other Form) with wicker or small Sticks on a Staff, which must be filled with Rockets in a spiral Form glued, and so placed, that they Fire but one after another: The Faulchions are made of Wood in a bowing manner, having large backs to receive many Rockets, the Heads of one near the Neck of another, glewed and fastned well together, so that one being spent, the other may take Fire: The Targets are made of thin boards, which are challenged in spiral Eines to contain Pri­mers to Fire the Rockets one after another, which is all covered over with a thin covering of Wood or Paste-board, bored with Holes spiral also, which Rockets must be glewed and made fast to the Place of the Channels: Now if two Men have in each Hand a Target and a Faulchion, or a Mace of Fire, and seem to Fight, it will appear very plea­sant to the Spectators; for by the Motion of Fight­ing, the Place will seem to be full of Streams of Fire. And there may be adjoyned to each Target a Son or burning Comer, with Launces of each [Page 17]Fire, which will make them more beautiful and resplendent in that Action.

XX. Another dainty one with Fisgigs, called, Jack in a Box

THE manner of making the fame is in this Order, cause a B [...]x of Plate [...]o be made about six Inches deep, and of what compass you please (with a Socket at the bottom to put in a Staffe) then putting in a quantity of Corn Powder, or Powder-Dust in the bottom of the Box, you may fill it with Fisgigs or Serpents, leaving a place in the middle for a Cane to go through the bottom, which Cane must be filled with a slow Receit, in which you must put a quantity of Camphire, but no Oyls, in regard of the narrow Passage it hath to burn, without any other vent, then put your Cane down, leaving it an Inch above the Box, and take a thick piece of Past-board cutting a Hole for the Cane [...]o pass through, and glew it close to the Cane that the Fire pass not through before its Time: This Paste-board must be of sufficient breadth to cover the Box quite over, then put it on a Staffe and Light your Cane, which will appear only like a Candle, and after a little space of Time you shall hear a sudden Noise, and see all those Fisgigs flying some some one way, and some another: This hath given good content to the Beholders you may if you please make Clubs or Maces of the same.

XXI. Of Pots of Fire for the Ground which will make the Air rebound with their Reports.

MANY Po [...]s being fired together, do give a fine Representation and Recreation to the Spectators; for those Pots being filled with Balls of Fire, or flying Serpents for the Air, will so inter­mix one within another in flying here and there a little above the Ground, and giving such a Volly [Page 18]of Reports, that the Air will rebound with the Noise, and the whole Place be filled with sundry Streams of pleasant Fire; which Serpents will much trouble those near the Place to defend themselves in their upper Parts; and they will be no less busi­ed by the Balls of Fire which will seem to annoy their Feet.

XXII. The making of a Fire-Ball from the Ground, which will be in continual Motion.

YOU must get a Ball turned of some light Wood, and then let it be sawn through the midst with a thin Bow saw, then make on each side a hollow groof to lay in two Rockets (joyned together after the manner of the Runners) and then close up your Ball with Glew; only in the Place where the two Rockets join shall be a groof, which must be pasted over with Paper, that the second Rocket taking Fire may have a Vent, otherwise the Ball will serve but once, then Fire it and you shall see the Operation with pleasure

XXIII. The making of a Ball for Water, which shall burn with great Violence.

SOW a round Case of strong Canvas, in shape of the case for a Foot-Ball, but somewhat les­ser, and very round; having thus made your case, then proceed to the filling of it, which must be done in this manner: You must first put in three or four good spoonfuls of your mixture following, and with a Stick made round at one End, force it close together, and so continue filling it, and be­tween every filling put in your Stick and force it together, round it continually in your Hand till you have finished it; which having done, sow it up close, and then arm it with small Cord, which is called Marling; after you have thus done, you must coat it with a quantity of Rossin, Pitch and [Page 19]Tallow to dissolve, and dip your Ball all over in the same, provided that you leave two Vents to fire it, which must be pierced a third Part into your Ball, which must be stopped with two small Sticks, till such time that you come to use them then pul­ling forth the Sticks, fill the two Vents with fine Powder Dust, and firing it, cast it into the Water, and you shall have your desire; but you must al­ways be sure that your Ball be throughly fired be­fore you cast it from you: The Receipt for this Ball followeth.

Take one pound of Powder, eight ounces of Roch-water, four ounces of Sulphur, two ounces of Camphir, one ounce of Oyl of Peter, one ounce of Linseed Oyl, half an ounce of Oyl of Spike, and two ounces of Colophonia.

XXIV. Another dainty Water Ball, which will shoot forth many Reports.

THIS Ball must be made of Wood (as was shewed before) in two Pieces, because you may joyn it close together at Pleasure, having small Holes bored round about it to put in your Quills which justifie the Reports, which Reports, or Breakers must be made of Paper, choaked at both ends and primed through the midst; they must be fastened round with Pitch, and so covered round about, that no Water may pass in: You must fill this Ball in two halfs, that you may force it very close together, and when it's filled glew it fast, and arm it well with nealed Wyer, then put in your Breakers, with a quill which must enter into the Ball, and likewise into the breaker.

The Receipt for this Ba [...]l are these; Take one pound of Roch-Peter, four ounces of powder dust, three ounces of Sulphur vive, two ounces of Cam­phire, one ounce of Linseed Oyl, two ounces of Rosin, and one ounce of Oyl benedict; you must [Page 20]powder those Things which are to be powdred and mingle them all together, and by little and little sprinkle your Oyls, till you have wrought it like Paste, and then use it: The Quills must be filled only with Powder-Dust, because it must Fire suddenly.

XXV. How to make a Dragon, or the like, to run on the Line, spitting of Fire.

THE body of the Dragon must be made either with Paste board, or with fine Rods of wick­er, being hollow, with a place in the Belly to put in two Rockets and must be so ordered, that there may come a small Pipe from the Tail of the one, to the Head of the other: Then make a Place for the Eyes and Mouth, to put into each Hole fire, which must be made up in rouled Paper, and thrust in, then on the Top of the back, let there be fasten­ed two small Pullies for a Line [...] which being done, your Dragon is finished for firing, which must be thus▪ First set it at the Eyes and Mouth, (always observing that this Receipt must be some slow mixture, such as your Stars) then fire that Rocket which is placed with his Mouth towards the Tail of the Dragon, which will make it seem to cast fire from thence till he come to the end of his Motion; and then on a sudden (as a Creature wounded with some accident) shall return with fire coming forth of his Belly: This being well ordered, will give good Content to the Beholders of the same.

XXVI. The manner and form to represent St. George fighting with a Dragon in Fire, on the Line.

WHEN you have formed your Figures of Paste-board, or Wicket (as aforesaid) you must make a hollow Trunk through the Body of each Figure, for a great Line to pass through, and [Page 21]likewise for a smaller Line to draw them to and fro from each other which must be fastned in this man­ner; At the Breast of the Dragon let one end of one Cord be tied, which must pass through the Body of the George, and turning it about a Pully at the other end, fasten it to the back of the George, and at the Breast of the George let another Cord be [...]ed, which must pass through the body of the Dragon (or a Trunk on the back) and so returning about a Pulley at that end, must be pulled strait and fastned to the Tail of the Dragon, so that as you turn that Wheel, the George and Dragon will run furiously at each other; and when you please, you may cause them to make a Retreat, and come on again: But by all means forget not to scope your Line extraordinary well, and likewise have a care that your Work be not too heavy above Line, but [...]hat they may hang in an equal Ballance, otherwise they will turn their Heels upward, which will be a great disgrace to the Work and Workmen: And thus much to the Ingenious I suppose will suffice.

XXVII. How to make a Whale, a Mermaid, or other to play and swim upon the Water.

YOU may make Figures of what Shape your fancy best pleaseth; The Body must be made of light wicker Rods, and in the midst of the Body let there be placed an Axle-Tree, having two Wheels coming into the Water, yet so as they may not be seen: These Wheels must be made hollow, to contain a quantity of Sand or Water: The use of it is to keep the Body of your Figure upright, and able to sink it so far into the Water as is need­ful, and likewise to make it swim more steady: Note that these Wheels must be loose, and the Axle-Tree fast: In the midst of this Axle-Tree, place three or four great Rockets one by another, with their Mouths all one Way: Yet so provided that [Page 22]there may be such a distance between each Rocket, that there may come a Vent from the Tail of the first to the Mouth of the second, and from the second to the third▪ And to the end that it may continue the longer in Motion, you may place di­vers Lights about the Body, to make it the more beautiful; every of which Lights extinguishing shall give a Report, and so conclude. There are divers other fine Works to be performed on the Waters, which a judicious Artist may invent.

XXVIII. Of divers other rare Works, which are to be performed on the Water.

THOSE places which are situated upon Ri­vers or great Ponds, are proper to make these Recreative Fires on; therefore if you desire to make some of consequence, they ought to be built upon Boats, or light Timber, which may be framed like Beasts, or Fishes spitting of Fire; upon which may be built Castles, Pageants, Turrets, or other Conceits as you please. As if you would present a Castle, out of which shall issue a Dragon, which shall swim through the Water, and that Dragon be encountred by a Horseman, which is thus performed. Cause a Castle to be framed on light Timber, and let the bottom of the Door of the Castle with a ground Plat be two Foot under the brim of the Water, (the Reasons follow) and at a Foot high within the Castle let there be a certain Line tyed which may pass thro' the Body of the Dragon, and may be fastened near the Shoar, where must be a float sunk so far under Water, that the Line may not be perceived; then fasten on your Dragon (as was shewed before for the Line) but so that the Head of this may always be above the Line, whereas the other was under then at the appointed time, there must be one ready within the Castle, to Fire those Parts of the Dra­gon [Page 23]which is requisite; which being done (by the help of the Pulleys) shall pass it through the Wa­ter, which so soon as it presents itself, Neptune on a Sea Horse shall come, and encounter the said Dragon, and at last shall overcome it: Or you may order the work so that which you please shall have the Victory; for that which keepeth Fire longest, is supposed to have the best, and that which is soonest spent, to have the worst.

You may if you please, build upon Boats, or Timber, Turrets, Pageants, or Castles, as is, said, to receive or hold diversity of Fireworks that may be made within them, which may play out, and play divers Fires, as Reports, Stars Golden Rain, Fisgigs, Granadoes, and Balls of Fire to burn in the Water, which will give great content to the Eyes of the Beholders; and in the conclusion, it may be so ordered, that they Fire one another, for which End they were made.

XXIX. The manner to compose a Ship of Fire works, which being once fired, divers Motions will present themselves.

YOU must make a Mould or Body of a Ship to be made, that you may take off the upper Deck, to place some Works underneath, where you must have a Fire-wheel placed with a Screw on the Axle-Tree; this Wheel must be placed in the Stern, and must turn a rouler, on which must be two girts placed that must pass on each side of the Main Mast, and ruin on to the Foreship; in this Wheel there must be a hollow spoke and Axle-tree, as I have shewed, which must be so ordered, that the Wheel being spent, it may convey Fire to a tire of Guns, lying round about, which must be fired with a close Conveyance; and having passed that, it must take hold of another Conveyance which shall give fire to certain Rockets, which must [Page 24]be placed in the Body of some Figures representing Mariners, and must be so fitted; that they may have a Cane joyned to their Body to guide them, that they may run on the Ropes from the Deck to the top of the Masts. This and other the like may be performed with great facility.

XXX. Of Launces of Fire for Pleasure and for Service.

STanding Launces are commonly made with hol­low Wood, to contain sundry Petards or Rock­ets; these Lances may be fastened to Posts, so that they may not be overthrown in the flying out of the Rockets or Petards: But there are a lesser sort of Launces, whose Cases are of three or four fold­ings of Paper of a foot long, and about the bigness of ones Finger: The composition wherewith these Launces must be filled is this; Unto every four ounces of Powder you must add two Ounces of Salt-Peter, and unto that add one Ounce of Sul­phur; and then it will make a brick Fire red colour before it be half spent, if the Launce be fired and held to it: Now if Twenty such Launces were placed about a great Rocket, and shot to a House or Ship, it would produce a mischievous Effect.

Or, if unto the End of the Rocket there were fastened an Arrow (which must not be too heavy) and instead of the Feathers, it should be of thin white Tin Plate, and if you give Fire to it, being thus prepared, you may see how serviceable it will prove. To the Head of such Rockets may be pla­ced Petards, Balls of Fire, Granadoes, and the like, and so may be applied to warlike Affairs.

Short, but certain RULES for the Making all Sorts of Fire works for Recreation, as Rockets, Fifgigs, Runners on the Line, Serpents, Stars, Fire-Wheels, Clubs, Jack in a Box, &c. To­gether with the Quantity of all the Ingredients thereunto belonging, and the manner of Com­pounding them.

GARDENS ought to be in a free open Air to the East and South, but South East it best, and the North, defended by tall Trees, by the House, or indeed by both, which is better than Hills, for Hills to Trees are not so good, because they give too great a Reflection of Heat in Summer, and likewise hin­der the cool serene Air that often comes from thence: Tall Trees break the Wind and fierce Air, that in Spring and Winter damage the most delicate Plants and Flowers, affording most, pleasant, sweet Air, and Shade in hot Weather.

As to your Ground, the Quality thereof ought to be inquir'd into; a [...]d it's a great Happiness to en­joy good Ground, for it will yield more than that which is mended at great Cost and Charge. The Quality of your Ground it to be regarded, as whe­ther it be soft or strong, light, dry, or moist; and how to chuse proper Trees to plant it withal; also what sort is proper to me [...]d those that grow on dry warm Ground, a [...] make them bear the best sorts of Fr [...]it. Those that gro [...] on moist Ground, produce large Fruit, tho' not not so pleasant, nor well-tasted as the forme; as you may observe in we [...] or dry Years, all La [...]d proper for Wheat, Barley, Rye, Beans, Peas, &c. are ki [...]dly for O [...]cha [...]ds; the most improper is extream hot and dry Sands; and on the contrary, Grounds that are very wet and cold.

In Ground that is moist, don't dig your Holes too deep, but heighten your Ground, and be careful; before you plant Trees you may cut the Roots that shoot down, more especially the Pin-roots, or else you must put Brushes underneath, that the Water shoot off, and the Ro [...]t not strike too deep into the cold Earth. The upper Ground is always the best, for what is deep in the Ground, has not felt the He [...]t of the Sun, nor received the sweet Moisture of Rain or Dew.

A [...] for Soils proper, and all other Matters requi­site to be known, I refer you to peruse Meager' [...] Com­pleat English Gardener, adorn'd with 24 Copper Cuts of Garden-Plars, which is the most plain and easie Book extant, that I know of. It's sold at the Ring in Little Britain for 4 s. 6 d.

The Miscarriages and Disappointments that are met with in Planting, proceed, First, From the wan [...] of Knowledge, which is the best and properest sorts of Plants for Fruit, and often using the worst. Second­ly, For want of their being well order'd and manag­ged after they are planted. Thirdly, Some Seasons have of late prov'd bad, and spoil'd Fruit, tho' the greatest Care and Skill have been made use of.

To remedy these Inconveniencies, endeavour to find out such Gardeners as will deal faithfully by you, and such as have Judgment to know the vast Difference of Fruit, for there are several sorts of Fruit, which some call by one N [...]me [...] a [...]d some by another: and Mistakes of this Kind of [...]en cause a quite different sort to be set, not proper to your Purpose, being neither proper for your Soul not Ex­posure, and seldom or never comes to M [...]tu [...]ry: Nay, tho' you have the best, if the Soil and Expo­sure be not proper, they may grow, but will not ar­rive at that Perfection or M [...]r [...]ty which th [...]e do that [...]r [...] s [...]wn or planted in a proper a [...]d agreeable Soil; heref [...]re et your Gardener he acquai [...]ted w [...]th the Aspect [...]f the Wall you design to plan [...] [...], as also to the Height and Extent of it, and what sort [Page 3]of Earth it stands upon, whether hot and dry, or cold and moist, that he may regulate and furnish the whole Plantation with Trees proper and necessary.

T [...]e well ordering or man [...]ging of Trees is to be chiefly regarded; for if you plant against an old W [...]ll, where other Trees have dy'd the Year before, and put 'em in just where the others were, it is g [...]eat Odds but your Expectation is frustrated. Or if it be a new Wall, if the E [...]th 'tis set in be not good and proper, tho' you fill up your Borders with good Earth, it will return back again, and so your Fruit will be small, and have little Taste or Goodness, Therefore use a proper Depth and Width, with good Earth, and let your Fruit-Trees be carefully Plantedand headed in their proper Times and Seasons, and like­wise water'd in Summer, with the Borders clear'd from Weeds: Let nothing be sown by them, as Beans, Pease, &c. nor yet any Flowers, for all these suck away the Nourishment from them; and be sure let all your Fruit Trees be well pruned, and the Fruit carefully pick'd and look'd after, or you'll ne­ver obtain what you expect.

As to the most proper Seasons.

When you have used a [...]l your Endeavours to plant and graft according to the Nature of your Ground, the various Seasons (either too much Rain, or too much Cold) give a quite different turn to your Fruit: sometimes 'twill prove small, sometimes watry, and of little or no value; nay, you would scarce be­lieve the same Trees could produce such different Fruit: Therefore if when you have used the pro­per Means, your Expectation is frustrated, what must be the Fate of those who are careless, and per­haps plant Pears, Apricocks, Peaches, &c. not re­garding the several Aspects against the Wall which is requir'd, as, when they should plant against a South, they do't against a North, or North-East Wall, &c. Likewise observe in Trees, you are to plant against a Wall, you do not plant 'em for D [...]arss, for then they will not come to their due Perfection.

Great Allowances must be made for the Fickle­ness of Seasons, the Diversity of Soils and Climates, (which are almost numberless) and to the Nature of the Trees and Stock, and to the way that Trees grow to the greatest Perfection; these are Things that require mature Consideration, and a quick Apprehension, to balance the Opinions of proper Judges.

'Tis a great Matter to know the Nature of the several Soils, their Infirmities, and their proper Remedies, with the Applications requir'd to invi­gorate exhausted Mold, sweeten the foul and tain­ted, reduce the sowre, harsh, stubborn, dry, and overmoist, and dilated Earth to its genuine Tem­per and Constitution; and what Scituations and Aspects are most adapt to the several sorts of dwarf, standard, and other Fruit-trees.

The requisite Qualifications of a good Gardener are such as these, viz. He should be a middle aged Man, vigorous and active, one of Experience and a large Capacity. Diligent, Honest, and Good-na­tur'd, which are Qualifications necessary for any Person.

As for the Exposure of Gardens, if they be of a strong Earth that is cold, to be exposed to the South is best; if light and hot, then the East is counted best; the Nor hern Aspect in England is best for Baking Fruit; the Eastern Exposure is sub­ject to the North-East Wind which withers the Leaves and new Shoots; besides Eastern Wall-Fruit have little benefit of the Rain which gene­rally comes from the West; and as the Eastern Exposure is subject to North-East Winds, so the Western suffers by North-West Winds in Spring, and the Fruit in Autumn is often blown down by them; and as all Exposures have their Advanta­ges and Disadvantages, it requires some conside­rable Prudence and Skill to prevent the latter.

THE GARDENER'S Monthly Calendar.

To make a Liquour of more Value than Tea or Coffee &c.

TAKE a quart of Conduit, Spring, o [...] River­water; boil it 6 or 7 min then put into it whilst boiling hot, about 25 or 30 Leaves of Sage of Virtue [...]red, or common Sage, and about half the quantity of Rosemary with about 12, 15, or 20 Grains of Saffron; let them boil in the Liquour about 6 or 7 min close stopt, then you may pour it off, and drink what quantity of it you think fit, as a quarter or half a Pint; sweeten it with white Sugar, and you may eat Bread and Butter with it if you please. This Liquor far exceeds Coffee, Tea &c. and is good against Foison, resisting it, all Infections and pesti­lential Air, and [...]isom Stinks; it comforts the Spi­rits, strengthens the Brain Heart and Nerves breeds good Blood, expels [...]ll Humours, if they off [...]nd the Stomach and Body. It is in short, a general Preser­vative against all Distempers, especially those reign­ing ones of [...]gue a [...]d curvey. This I recommend for the Good of my Country, without Fee or Re­ward.