LETTERS ON SCIENTIFIC SUBJECTS.
9
Water to make the skynne and fleshe fayre and brighte.
Waters to clense and keepe brighte the skynne and fleshe, and preserve it in his perfitt state.
SPECIALL OBSERVATIONS CONCERNINGE THE PREPARATIONS FOR FIREWORKES.
An excellente kinde of salt-peter of greate force.
Saltepeter mighte be so refyned that the powder made therof mighte be of double the force, so that one pounde maye serve as manye shotte and as stronge as two pounde of that that is comonly used, and lesse chardge in cariage; and many other wayes apter and better for service.
A notable peece of service for your Majestie and the Realme.
That saltepeter, minerall sulphur, pitche, aspaltum, licquidion, and drye, and many other like drugges, mighte be founde in the domynions of your Majestie, which we wante and paye most extreamely for; and God knoweth what gayne and glorie mighte redownde to your Majestie and countrey, if skilfull and honest men were imployed therein.
Oyles for fireworkes.
Oyles bothe simple and composed to be distilled for fireworkes, there is none to be boughte or had; he that will have them must make them.
A strange kinde of flyinge fire many wayes serviceable.
A flyinge fire which shall, without ordynance, and farre of, wonderfully annoye any battayle, towne, or campe, and disperse even as if it did rayne fire; and the devydinge fires, being coted and made flyinge, maye touche many places, and leave them all burninge; very terrible both to men and horse.
A tridant or mace newly invented.
A tridant or mace for many notable effectes, bothe for shotte, and to sette any thinge on fire; a very apte instrumente, and moste soldierlike bothe for horsemen and footemen.
Balls of mettle serving to many purposes.
Balles of mettle to throwe into shippes, to enter in campes in the nightes, likewise in streightes or breaches, especially in battayles; and to have the said balles of all heightes, dia-