Workdiary WD15 (editorial transcript)
Workdiary 15 ('Philosophicall Collections begun the 12th of
September 1656')
Content: Medical and chymical recipes in
English from September 1656 to June 1657; sources and informants of recipes are
not noted
General Information
- Creation: 1656-7
- Hands: Hand P (entries 1-12) uncertain hand, perhaps 1650s hand (entries 13-64) Robert Boyle (additions and alterations to entries)
- Source: Royal Society, Boyle Papers 25, pp. 173-6, 165-72; Boyle Papers
26, fols. 96-9
- Languages: English (64 entries)
- Length: 64 entries, 61 of which are
numbered
- Format: Foolscap sheets
folded to make five sets of four sides on which the entries were recorded; the
sheets were then folded again, once vertically and twice horizontally (in
thirds). The folded sheets which make up this workdiary were arranged in a
jumbled order when bound in the Boyle Papers. It begins on BP 25, p. 173 and
continues to p. 176 (one sheet), at which point it goes back to p. 165 and
continues to p. 172 (two sheets). From there it continues on folios 96-9 of
Boyle Papers 26 (two sheets). We have presented the entries in their proper
order. Pp. 4-19 have their original pagination. The original p.10 follows p.11, in that it is written on
the inner recto of a folded sheet, with p.11 on the facing verso; the last side
is not paginated. Also entries, 31 and 32 are accidentally duplicated. We have
given the second pair the editorial numbers 31a and 32a to avoid confusion.
[BP 25, p. 173]
Philosophicall
Collections begun the
12th of September
1656
[Entry 1]
[Date: 12 September 1656]
[Hand: P]
[Integral marginalia:]
September 12:th
1 Take of the Caput mortuum of Aqua
fortis (made of 3 parts of crude vitrioll & 2 of saltpetre) &
<of> either of the Chromiall Mineralls finely powdered
equall parts mix these well together and let them boyle well with stale urine
in an Iron Kettle for 12 or 14 houres still renewing the urine as it waits till
towards the end of the operation when it must be boyld all away till the
residue be left drie. put this prepar'd matter into an Iron Still & in a
strong & lasting fire draw of what will come over in one day & then
exposeing
<the> matter that remaines behind for some days & nights
to the open Aire destill it the second time as you did the first & soe if
need be you may doe it the 3d & 4th time alsoe. Note that
<if> the Minerall you deale in be Stannello you may add when
you boyle it when with urine
about the fourth part
of the
<weigh of the> minerall of strong potashes
[Entry 2]
[Hand: P]
2 Otherwise you may worke the same mineralls with Calcin'd vitrioll
part Lap.
Claminaris part
& the greene Calcinatum
part mixing these
well together & drawing them over as before.
[BP 25, p. 174][Entry 3]
[Hand: P]
3 Take of the Caput mortuum of Aqua fortis & of good Tobacco
pipe Clay of each alike quantitie of quick=lime The 4th part of either of them
beat these up & incorporate them exquisitly with as litle moisture as
possibly may suffice
<to make them into a lute> to Coate Retorts and Line
Furnaces. Note that it matters not much whether the Clay be calcin'd or
noe,
[Entry 4]
[Hand: P]
4
Take of the hearb called Ladiesmock &
distill it in a comon cold Still or els in a glasse head & bodie in Balneo
then take the distilld water & put it upon fresh hearbs & draw it of
once more & give of it, 3, 4, or 6 spoonefulls at a time fasting in the
morning for Convulsion fits, Spleene Epilepsie &c or els give of the powder
of the dryed hearb as
<much as> will lye upon A sixpence
<to a man> & halfe as much to child
[Entry 5]
[Hand: P]
5 Take an ounce of Quicksilver purify'd with Colcothar & vinager
& an ounce of water gold or other fine gold very finely ground upon a
porphyrite stone then provide a strong glasse egge of the forme of a Cone
inverted with the bigger end somewhat flatter then ordinary & the
neck suitable
in bignes to the glasse which must be of such a size that it may hold about
thrice the matter to be put into it & not more then put in first your
{mercury} & strow your gold dexterously that remaineing at the top it may
be [BP 25, p. 175] penetrated by the ascending fumes of the
Quicksilver then stop the orifice of the neck loosely with a peice of clay
& set your glasse in an Athenor where it may have a gentle heat day &
night for a forthnight
after which
time your fire must be encreasd for a forthnight longer & then to a higher
degree for a third forthnight & last of all to a yet higher degree dureing
a 4th forthnight dureing which time the sand must never be soe hot as to be of
a red much lesse of a white head & by this time the matter (part whereof
will perhaps grow in trees) will be converted into a red præcipitate
haveing lost by evaporation somewhat of its first weight of {ounce}
ii, whatever the remaineing weight be grind it well &
ad to it its full weight of new purifyd {mercury} which must be first put in a
glasse of the same shape but of a larger size then the former & the
præcipitate being put upon it they must be digested for the same space
of time &
by the same [de]grees of
fire that formerly we[re] imployd about the first glasse
& at the end of 2 months this second præcipitate being ground &
weighed must be comitted to a 3d glasse of the same shape as before with its
full weight of {mercury} (which will be above {ounce} iii
) & must be handled in all points as the former till at the end of 2 months
more the whole masse be turn'd into
reddish præcipitate which will amount to about
{ounce} vii & thus in all cost about six months in
præparation
[BP 25, p. 176 (original pagination p. 4)][Entry 6]
[Hand: P]
6 Take of tinglasse one part of lead one part melt them together
& then take of {mercury} 2 parts amalgame them well together & poureing
them hot into the glasee well heated before shake them as evenly as you can
till you see the have sufficiently foliated the glasse,
[Entry 7]
[Hand: P]
7 Make your 6:s Beare of River water to
a kilderkin put in (immediatly after Fermentation) 3 orenges & 3 Lemons
sliced skin & all & then stop it exactly with clay beaten with Salt to
exclude the aire drinck it 6 weeks old in winter & 3 or 4 in Summer
[Entry 8]
[Hand: P]
8 Take
6 or 7 quarts of Aqu: Calcis & a drachme & a halfe
of Sublimate ground with {ounce} ii of fountaine water let
it stand 3 days then filtre it & reserve it for outward uses ulcers
gangrenes &c,
[Entry 9]
[Hand: P]
9 Take the Cinnaber of Antimony that rises in the distilli[n]g the Butyrum Antimonii this sublime 2 or 3 times
more per se and strow the fine powder of it upon Balsam of Sulphur when you
apply it to ill
conditioned ulcers.
[Entry 10]
[Note: Foolscap sheets
folded to make five sets of four sides on which the entries were recorded; the
sheets were then folded again, once vertically and twice horizontally (in
thirds). The folded sheets which make up this workdiary were arranged in a
jumbled order when bound in the Boyle Papers. It begins on BP 25, p. 173 and
continues to p. 176 (one sheet), at which point it goes back to p. 165 and
continues to p. 172 (two sheets). From there it continues on folios 96-9 of
Boyle Papers 26 (two sheets). We have presented the entries in their proper
order. In addition, the original p.10 follows p.11, in that it is written on
the inner recto of a folded sheet, with p.11 on the facing verso; the last side
is not paginated. Also entries, 31 and 32 are accidentally duplicated. We have
given the second pair the editorial numbers 31a and 32a to avoid confusion.]
[Hand: P]
10 Let Sublimate run per deliquium in a Cellar upon an Iron plate
abstract what moisture you can in a low head & body in Balneo let the Caput
mortuum run againe per deliquium & abstract againe the moisture & soe
proceede till matter will run noe more
[BP 25, p. 165 (original pagination p. 5)] per deliquium then take this Liquor
(in which there will swim sometime
a kind of oyle) & in it dissolve gold
[Entry 11]
[Date: 1 October 1656]
[Hand: P]
[Integral marginalia:]
October 1:st
11, Take pure regulus of Antimonie (without Mars) & dissolve it
in good Aqua Regis till the Soution become like milke, then præcipitate
it with Oile of Tartar per deliquium till the Solution grow prettie cleare then
filter it thorow Cap=paper & the powder that remains in the paper dulcify
exquisitly
by frequent
effusion of faire water this powder put in a Crucible & keepe it in as
great a fire as
<it> will well endure without danger of fusion & within
2 houres it will grow yellowish then take it out & give of it three foure
or five grains for a dose
[Entry 12]
[Hand: P]
12 With
good
wine draw over any Cordiall liquor you please (whose Ingredients are well
sented) as Aqua Mirabilis &c let the
<Sp:> be pretty strong but not excessively soe nor at all
Empyreumaticall
into a pint of this Liquor put {scruple} iiii of {drachm}
ii of Sulphur marinum viride & botle it up exquisitly
well tyeing downe the Corke very strongly & set the botle over head &
eares in a vessell of water impregnated with as much salt peter as it is able
to dissolve & after it has stood there 6 months take it out & use
it
[BP 25, p. 166 (original pagination p. 6)][Entry 13]
[Date: 29 April 1657]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
Aprill 29th
57
13 Take good rectifyd
Butyrum Antimonii & on it poure by degrees good Sp of Nitre till the
Liquors will make noe more Ebullition abstract what will come over in a gentle
heat of sand & cohobate it 2 or 3 times in a retort upon the Caput mortuum
(or Bezoardicum Minerale) in this Menstruum dissolve pure foliated
<{gold}> & the weight of that
<{gold}> of good Sal armoniacke digest these together for 5 6 or 8 weekes
then abstract the Menstruum & sublime up
with a strong fire as much as will ascend of the
Mettall
<from> which being thus made volatile may by the sweet Sp: of Salt
<(made secund.
Basil. with
{spirit of wine})> be drawne a red Tincture which digested with
<sil.> dissolv'd in Aqua fortis & beaten downe with Copper will
give it a golden colour but not permanent after fusion & the Mettall that
remaind in the retorts will for 2 parts of it be pure
<Lune> & the other third
white
<{gold}>
[Entry 14]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
14 Upon calcind
<lune> pour
<the> pure Saline Spirits of quick=lime & it will draw
thence a blew Tincture which being digested with Quicksilver does sometimes
coagulate it
[Entry 15]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
15 The Antimoniall Menstruum above mention'd
will from
<Silver> calcind or els dissolvd in Aqua fortis & beaten downe with
Copper plates draw by Digestion a blewish Tincture
[Entry 16]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
16 To make Tillets take root plentifully
<cut them of &> set them in the ground 2 3 or 4 dayes
after the full Moone when the Spirit is drawne up to the upper parts of the
plant
[Entry 17]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
17 Take
<good> Colcothar
undulcifyed
& flowes of Antimony of each alike
& sublime them together cohobate
<ing> them 2 or 3 times till the flowers ascend somewhat
tincted by the [BP 25, p. 167 (original pagination p. 7)] venus & then with
highly rectifyd Sp of wine drawing a rich yellow tincture abstract it either at
Mellaginem or to a pulverable consistence & give some graines of this
Substance
[Entry 18]
[Date: 1 May 1657]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
[Integral marginalia:]
May 1:st
18 Take of
[syncere]
Sublimate for instance {pound} i & at least a pound or a
pound & a Quarter of running Mercury incorporate them well together &
sublime them & if there be pretty
<store of quick> Merc. in the Sublimate then there will not
need addition of more but els there must be added such a Quantity of fresh
Mercury as may suffice plentifully to satitate the Salts that help'd to make up
the Sublimate And however the Quicksilver that is either found after this first
Sublimation or added or both must be carefully rubb'd & thereby
incorporated with that seemingly saline Substance last sublimd up & then
this mixture must be sublimd once twice or thrice more with new Merc. if need
be till all the saline particles of the
<Sublimate> be glutted with Quicksilver then sublime the Mercurius Dulcis
once or twice & afterwards put it into some broad & shallow vessell in
moderatly hot sand that the adhereing graines of Quicksilver if there be any
may ascend & fasten it selfe to a sheet of cleane paper with which the
vessell must be coverd & must be shifted as often as need requires till all
the loose
<&> runing Mercury be sever'd from the Merc. Dulcis which will not
fly away in soe gentle aheat the Dosis may be about {drachm} ii with gr 18 of unprepared Scammony
[Entry 19]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
19. Make
of equall parts of salt petre & tartar a white
Calcinatum to which add of Fel vitri or Sandivert a 5t or 6s part of its weight
& to 2 or 3 parts of this mixture add one part of
[BP 25, p. 168 (original pagination p. 8)] beaten to fine powder let these
Ingredients flow together in a crucible till
<they> will noe longer puffe or yeild bubbes then poure out the Masse
into a Cone and knocking of the Metalline Regulus coppell it according to the
wonted manner
[Entry 20]
[Date: 7 May 1657]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
[Integral marginalia:]
May 7th
20 Take of Allum of Nitre & sea salt ana dissolve them in as
much faire water as is sufficient for their solution in which boyle
<of> foliated Gold made small a sufficient quantity till the
solution first grow yellow & afterwards continue the fire till the salts be
reduc'd to a Dry cake & then breake the glasse & take out this
yellowish cake & beat it very small & boyle the powder well in Spirit
of
<Wine (as I remember)> & this
Menstruum being pour'd of hot and put in a coole place will in the cold let
fall the salts very white & retaine the tincture of the gold which will
make it yellow
[Entry 21]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
21 Take pure silver & dissolve it in a sufficient quantity of
Aqua fortis then precipitate it with Sp of salt into a white Calx evaporate
away the Menstruum & puting this Calx in a crucible give it fire by degrees
till as much as is Evaporable be exhal'd
[Entry 22]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
22 Take silver & dissolve it in Aqua fortis & then adding to
the Menstruum 5 or 6 times its quantity of faire water cast into it cleane
copper plates & let them rest there about foure & twenty houres then
wipe of
all the silver
that adheres to the plates (which it will doe but loosely) & collect alsoe
that which you shall find precipitated to the bothom of the vessell & all
this silver must be well boyd in change of faire waters
till it be perfectly dulcify'd & the water come from it altogether
insipid
[BP 25, p. 169 (original pagination p. 9)][Entry 23]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
23 Take laminated silver & cement it for 24 or 30 houres with
sea salt & it will thereby be refind (the adhereing copper not being able
to indure soe great a heat) & turn'd into a opened calx which must be by
frequent ablutions with hot water exquisitly dulcify'd & then it is fitted
to yeild its blewish tincture if not in the Menstruum Catholicum yet at least
in the Sp: Hermaphroditicus
[Entry 24]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
24 Take of good comon Sp: of salt 3 parts & of good Sp. of Nitre
one part & use this mixture instead of
<{aqua regia}>
[Entry 25]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
25 To purify aqua fortis & make it fit to separate silver from
Gold before you use
it to that purpose
; cast into it a litle refin'd Silver which by the meanes
of the saline Sp: proceeding from the comon salt that lay hid in the salt=petre
whereof the Aqua fortis was made will precipitate into a white Calx from which
you must carefully decant the menstruum which will then and not before be fit
to make separation of Gold from silver for otherwise salt=petre haveing comonly
some mixture of some sea=salt the Aqua fortis would as wel upon the score of
the saline Sp let fall some of the silver as upon the score of the nitrous Sp
it will
<let> fall the Gold,
[Entry 26]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
26 Take of Miluus what quantity you please & distill off all
that will come over from it & mixing all the three liquors it will yeild
together poure of this Menstruum upon very finely powder'd Antimony till the
Menstruum swim above the matter three or 4 fingers Then closeing the bolt=head
well
<digest it well> for 3 4 5 or 6 week & after drawing of
the Menstruum ad siccitatem & urgeing the remaineing matter with a
competent fire you will have a
<copious> sublimate consisting of lumps of several
<sizes> in show like comon Sulphur but onely somewhat more
inclineing to greene
[BP 25, p. 171 (original pagination p. 10)][Entry 27]
[Note: Foolscap sheets
folded to make five sets of four sides on which the entries were recorded; the
sheets were then folded again, once vertically and twice horizontally (in
thirds). The folded sheets which make up this workdiary were arranged in a
jumbled order when bound in the Boyle Papers. It begins on BP 25, p. 173 and
continues to p. 176 (one sheet), at which point it goes back to p. 165 and
continues to p. 172 (two sheets). From there it continues on folios 96-9 of
Boyle Papers 26 (two sheets). We have presented the entries in their proper
order. In addition, the original p.10 follows p.11, in that it is written on
the inner recto of a folded sheet, with p.11 on the facing verso; the last side
is not paginated. Also entries, 31 and 32 are accidentally duplicated. We have
given the second pair the editorial numbers 31a and 32a to avoid confusion.]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
27 To reduce the Calx of silver or other Lunary preparations into a
body melt the disguised silver with a flux made of
<the calcinatum of> Nitre & Tartar to which is to be
added a quantity of Charcoale dust
[Entry 28]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
28 Take the juyce of Rasberryes & in it cast as much pure loafe
suger as it will dissolve without the assistance of fire This Syrup being
carefully stopt must be carefully kept from fermenting by being plact in a
coale cellar or well &c where it will not worke but onely cast
<up> a mother & when it is to be
us'd there needs noe more but the putting of an arbitrary quantity
<of it> into the wine or other liquor to which it is to give
the Denomination
[Entry 29]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
29 Take Morella cherrys well dry'd & to one part of them put 6
or 8 parts of Rhenish wine or very good white wine & let them stand
together in a coole place where they may not ferment & the wine will take
the perfect
tast tincture & verturs of the fruit, If you
would doe this with
undry'd Morella's
you must beat them very well in a cleane mortar takeing care that the stones be
broken & the Kernells well bruised allso, & to this Mash you must adde
a greater proportion of wine by reason of the aquosity of it
[Entry 30]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
30 To one part of good-hony
put about 6 parts of faire water & boyleing together
for about half an houre or an houre till they be well incorporated & have
cast up: most of their scum (which must be carefully taken of) put this liquor
into a Barrell of which it may not fill above half or 2 thirds (for otherwise
it might prove vinous) & in about
three days it will turne into very strong vinager which
after a yeares keeping will not like Rhenish wine vinager continue the same or
els decay in strength but will grow stronger & more like an Aqua fortis
[BP 25, p. 170 (original pagination p. 11)][Entry 31]
[Date: 8 May 1657]
[Note: Foolscap sheets
folded to make five sets of four sides on which the entries were recorded; the
sheets were then folded again, once vertically and twice horizontally (in
thirds). The folded sheets which make up this workdiary were arranged in a
jumbled order when bound in the Boyle Papers. It begins on BP 25, p. 173 and
continues to p. 176 (one sheet), at which point it goes back to p. 165 and
continues to p. 172 (two sheets). From there it continues on folios 96-9 of
Boyle Papers 26 (two sheets). We have presented the entries in their proper
order. In addition, the original p.10 follows p.11, in that it is written on
the inner recto of a folded sheet, with p.11 on the facing verso; the last side
is not paginated. Also entries, 31 and 32 are accidentally duplicated. We have
given the second pair the editorial numbers 31a and 32a to avoid confusion.]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
[Integral marginalia:]
May 8th
31 Take Coboltum beaten downe with Copper & mix it with two
parts of comon sea salt put the mixture
<into a> melting pot & give them such a fire as the salt is able to
indure without fusion (which is carefully to be avoided & in case of which
new salt is to be taken & if need be the Coboltum is againe to be made
small) & in such a heat the pot will scarce appeare red unles in the darke
When this cementation is finish'd, the calx
<which will looke blackish> freed
from the salt by faire water must be againe cemented
<with new salt> for 24 houres as formerly & this worke
of cementation must be reiterated 5 6 or 7 times or untill the Minerall will
<totally> dissolve in distilld vinager & give it both a
blew colour & a strong vitriolat tast. The Sp{star} of vinager being drawn
quite of will leave the salt of a whitish colour, Upon this salt poure about a
fingers depth of a Menstruum made of all the three Venereall liquors &
seting the mixture to evaporate in a Crucible the Menstruum will carry away all
the Minerall Sulphur (which made the mineral as often as it was dissolv'd in
distilld vinager yeild a blew tincture) & will leave in the Crucible the
whiteish fixt salt desired. but if before the affusion of the venereall
<Menstruum you melt downe the calx with a flux of
calcinatum tartari & coale dust you shall have part of your minerall fixed
but not tinged note also that the water us'd to dulcify the calx after each
cementation must be carefully reserv'd for after its haveing stood some days it
will at length let fall a pretty copious calx abounding with the fixed but not
tinged parts formerly mentioned.>
[Entry 32]
[Note: Foolscap sheets
folded to make five sets of four sides on which the entries were recorded; the
sheets were then folded again, once vertically and twice horizontally (in
thirds). The folded sheets which make up this workdiary were arranged in a
jumbled order when bound in the Boyle Papers. It begins on BP 25, p. 173 and
continues to p. 176 (one sheet), at which point it goes back to p. 165 and
continues to p. 172 (two sheets). From there it continues on folios 96-9 of
Boyle Papers 26 (two sheets). We have presented the entries in their proper
order. In addition, the original p.10 follows p.11, in that it is written on
the inner recto of a folded sheet, with p.11 on the facing verso; the last side
is not paginated. Also entries, 31 and 32 are accidentally duplicated. We have
given the second pair the editorial numbers 31a and 32a to avoid confusion.]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
32 Take good copper & dissolve
<it> in Aqua fortis abstract the Menstruum ad siccitatem
& put the remaineing Calx into a Crucible where you must give it such a
heat as will force away the adherhereing saline
particles & leave the copper like a blackish powder & very well open'd,
Then take of quick=lime {pound} {half} of
a quarter of a
pound & of comon salt a handfull (which is supposed to
amount to
allso about a
Quarter of a pound
<on> this mixture poure vinager & by drawing it from these
Ingredients make it a Menstruum which in about 24 houres will from the
aforesaid Calx draw without heat a deep green
[BP 25, p. 172 (original pagination p. 12)] tincture & when the calx is
wholely depriv'd of all the tincture of that kind which it contain'd the
remaineing body wilbe white & fit to be melted with
<a third part> its weight of silver the Menstruum pour'd upon the
abovemention'd Calx will extract thence a deepe greenish blew tincture which
digested with Silver
<& abstracted will tinge it> but not permanently
[Entry 31a]
[Date: 12 May 1657]
[Note: Another entry 31 has already appeared
on p. 11 (BP 25, p. 170). The confusion could have come about because of the
reversed order of the pages at this point. Foolscap sheets
folded to make five sets of four sides on which the entries were recorded; the
sheets were then folded again, once vertically and twice horizontally (in
thirds). The folded sheets which make up this workdiary were arranged in a
jumbled order when bound in the Boyle Papers. It begins on BP 25, p. 173 and
continues to p. 176 (one sheet), at which point it goes back to p. 165 and
continues to p. 172 (two sheets). From there it continues on folios 96-9 of
Boyle Papers 26 (two sheets). We have presented the entries in their proper
order. In addition, the original p.10 follows p.11, in that it is written on
the inner recto of a folded sheet, with p.11 on the facing verso; the last side
is not paginated. Also entries, 31 and 32 are accidentally duplicated. We have
given the second pair the editorial numbers 31a and 32a to avoid confusion.]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
[Integral marginalia:]
May 12th
31 To prepare cloath for scarlet boyle it a competent time in liquor
made of an ounce of powderd Argoll & a gallon of faire water into which has
been put an ounce of Aqua fortis neither very strong nor very weake
[Entry 32a]
[Note: Another entry 32 has already appeared
on p. 11 (BP 25, p. 170). The confusion could have come about because of the
reversed order of the pages at this point. Foolscap sheets
folded to make five sets of four sides on which the entries were recorded; the
sheets were then folded again, once vertically and twice horizontally (in
thirds). The folded sheets which make up this workdiary were arranged in a
jumbled order when bound in the Boyle Papers. It begins on BP 25, p. 173 and
continues to p. 176 (one sheet), at which point it goes back to p. 165 and
continues to p. 172 (two sheets). From there it continues on folios 96-9 of
Boyle Papers 26 (two sheets). We have presented the entries in their proper
order. In addition, the original p.10 follows p.11, in that it is written on
the inner recto of a folded sheet, with p.11 on the facing verso; the last side
is not paginated. Also entries, 31 and 32 are accidentally duplicated. We have
given the second pair the editorial numbers 31a and 32a to avoid confusion.]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
32 Take Mirabolans & free them from the stalks & tufts as if
they were to be presently drest then lay them in a convenient pot into which
poure on them a sufficient quantity of good white wine made scalding hot &
taken of the fire as soone as ever it is soe. On this liquor in the same
vessell poure a sufficient quantity of good oyle & closeing on the cover of
the pot exactly keep it in a coole place for use At which time the thick skin
that will swim at the top of the wine must without breakeing
<be> gently lifted up & with the
<plump> fruit a proportionable
quantity of the wine impregnated with it must be taken away & the skin
permitted to fall downe againe
[Entry 33]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
33 Take oisters &c as also Capons foule &c & perboyle
them takeing them imediatly from of the fire then take of the Hermaphroditicall
oyle & (haveing first let the liquor draine from the perboyld things &
place them in a convennient pot) set it over a gentle fire that the saline
parts if it have any may fall to the bothom & decanting what is liquid
& unsalted poure it on the perboyld things till they be all cover'd over
& overtop it by a competent height of the liquor & soe closeing the
vessell well keep it in a coole place
[BP 26, fol. 96 (original pagination p. 13)][Entry 34]
[Note: From this point on the workdiary
continues in BP 26, fols. 96-9. Foolscap sheets
folded to make five sets of four sides on which the entries were recorded; the
sheets were then folded again, once vertically and twice horizontally (in
thirds). The folded sheets which make up this workdiary were arranged in a
jumbled order when bound in the Boyle Papers. It begins on BP 25, p. 173 and
continues to p. 176 (one sheet), at which point it goes back to p. 165 and
continues to p. 172 (two sheets). From there it continues on folios 96-9 of
Boyle Papers 26 (two sheets). We have presented the entries in their proper
order. In addition, the original p.10 follows p.11, in that it is written on
the inner recto of a folded sheet, with p.11 on the facing verso; the last side
is not paginated. Also entries, 31 and 32 are accidentally duplicated. We have
given the second pair the editorial numbers 31a and 32a to avoid confusion.]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
34 Take of
<Quinces> that are litle worth what quantity you please stamp or cut
them small & make of them an exceeding strong Decoction (that may not
ferment) Into which cast a quantity of comon salt & then put into this
pickle good peares of the same kind & closeing the vessell well keepe it in
a coole place
[Entry 35]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
35 Take french beanes cods & all & in a strong decoction of
them cast some salt & in this Menstruum preserve shelled french beans after
the manner just now taught
[Entry 36]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
36 Take wallnuts that have been dry'd & bury them for 2 or 3
days in good earth
[Entry 36a]
[Note: 36 has already been used as the number
for the immediately preceding entry. Perhaps these two entries were seen as a
pair. Otherwise there is no obvious explanation for this repetition]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
36 Cut of Angelica neare the ground & anointing the place of the
cut very well with pitch to keepe in the juyce & to keep out the aire hang
up these plants in a coole & dry place
[Entry 37]
[Date: 13 May 1657]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
[Integral marginalia:]
May 13th:
37 Take Copper fifteen ounces tin 4 ounces Iron 12{superscript d} peny weight
&
<Antimony> six peny weigh melt all theis together in a strong Crucible or
melting pot & when the bubles are gone away out of the liquid mixture poure
it into a mould made of Spaud or good lute the inside of which mould must be
first well smoak'd with the smoke of a torch or candle to hinder the mettall
from sticking to it
N. B. you may make spaud with the calcin'd stone that is
digg'd out of the great Quarry
<neare> Swithland in
Leicestershire which Calx must be made up with water impregnated with Sal
armoniacke. N. B. Inquire for Mr
W More of [Bureq] in Herefordshire neare Din-mare hill within 4 miles
of hereford.
[BP 26, fol. 96v (original pagination p. 14)][Entry 38]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
38 Take of Sal tartari 2 parts Crystalls of tartar 2 parts
<Opium> one part
incorporate these exquisitly together by beateing them
into a masse of which the dose may be about the bignes of
a hazill nut,
<Mr Hardings Laudanum>
[Entry 39]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
39 Make a regulus Martis with Iron and salt petre without tartar.
Suffer the slates of the first fusion of this regulus to fall of themselves
into powder in the open aire To a pound of this powder add a pound or two of
the strongest Lixivium you can make of potashes and boyleing them together
without indeavouring to incorporate them take carefully of the lumps that will
rise to the top of the liquor & reserve them for use
[Entry 40]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
40 To 2 pound of the antimoniall slates made as formerly add 2
3 or 4 pound of the strongest Lixivium of potashes stirring
them often very well together that they may incorporate into a kind of sope
upon which (first cut into small peices) poure of the Sp terrinus about its
weight or rather untill they will make no more Ebullition then place the
mixture in a retort in sand & a litle of the Sp
<which may be kept> will come over
<at> the first & as soon as the flegm begins to follow boyle
up the mixture in an Iron pot ad siccitatem after which give it a pretty smart
fire for about a quarter of an houre. Then satiate it the 2d time with
<the like quantity of> new Sp & draw of the liquors and
proceed as before & this doe also the 3d & if need be the 4th time
& last of all distill the Sulphureous matter in a retort by degrees of
fire
[Entry 41]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
41 Take opium & dissolve as much as you can in faire water
filter the solution thorough paper & into it cast the weight of the opium
of dry fermented salt which will precipitate
[BP 26, fol. 97 (original pagination p. 15)] in great quantity a Narcotick
Sulphur of the opium then filter this solution (after it has stood 24 houres)
once more thorough good cap paper &
<evaporateing> it till it come to a consistence keepe it for
use,
[Entry 42]
[Date: 15 May 1657]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
[Integral marginalia:]
May 15th
42 Take of the
<raw> calx us'd in old Irish castles beat it into a grosse
powder & casting it on quick coales (perfectly kindled beforehand) draw a
liquor from it of which in rectification the Spirituous part will first ascend
& leave the flegme behind it. then take reddish flints or pebles whose
tincture is somewhat fixt
which you may know if after calcination the inside remaine
of a reddish or yellowish colour heat these stones red hot & quench them in
faire water & continue to doe thus till you can easily beat them into a
fine powder upon which poure as much of the abovemention'd rectify'd Sp: as may
overtop
<it> 3 or 4 fingers bredth digest them together for 10 or 12
days or till the Sp: have got a reddish tincture from the calcined stones Of
this tincted Sp: you may give about half a spoonefull in wine Syrups or any
other convenient vehicle
[Entry 43]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
43 Take of the abovemention'd powder of calcin'd flints & digest
them 10 or 12 days or longer with a convenient proportion of Aqua terræ
made per deliquium & this liquor which wilbe somewhat tincted being drawn
over in a small coated retort &
<a> strong fire will yeild an urinous & penetrant Sp in
vertue like the former
[Entry 44]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
44 In the makeing of the Antimoniall tincture the matter upon which
Glaubers disciples
worke in order to their panacea may be kept
<after calcination> 2 o three houres
<
of> in a good fire & must be made to flow at
last for soe it will yeild its tincture the better
[BP 26, fol. 97v (original pagination p. 16)][Entry 45]
[Date: 19 May 1657]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
[Integral marginalia:]
May 19th
57
45 Take
<pure Silver> & dissolve it
<in> its proper Menstruum
<viz Aqua fortis> & evaporate the superfluous humidity
ferè ad cuticulam then keep it stirring that it may dry without shooting
into Christalls then take as much Crystall as you did Tin & make a Solution
of it in its proper Menstruum mix
this
solution
<& the abovementiond Calx> together & set them to
evaporate as before & when the cuticula begins to appeare keep the masse
continually stirring till it be dry then set it in a broad botthom'd glasse or
China dish on warme sand which you must have a care never to make hot enough to
make the snow white precipitate melt & whilst it is on the sand you must
often smell to it because it must be kept there for soe many houres or days
untill the smell of the Menstruum be quite gone from it & then the matter
must be kept very dry & made up when need requires into small pills
containing each of them about 3 gr: of the prepared Tin & of these pills
you may give when the patient goes to bed 1 or 2 at a time & in strong
distempers & bodies 3 or 4 may be safely enough administred
[Entry 46]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
46 Dissolve Silver in Aqua fortis & beat it downe with copper
dulcify it with faire water & digest it in Sp of Antimony till it acquire a
blew tincture which you may if you please further digest with the matter of the
abovemention'd pills & by drawing of the Menstruum indeavour to unite the
tincture & the pills
[Entry 47]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
47 Take
<pure Luna> open'd by comon Salt till it will dissolve in Sp of
vinager. With Sp of
Salarmoniack made with quick lime extract a tincture which by digestions &
Cohobations may be made volatile
[BP 26, fol. 98 (original pagination p. 17)][Entry 48]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
48 Take Aurum album & let it boyle in
Beguinus his
Ænigmaticall
<Menstruum> till it have receivd its tincture & note
that if the peices of the mettall be anything big the tincture wilbe litle more
then superficiall not penetrateing above the bredth of a Barley corne in
depth.
[Entry 49]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
49 Take Mr Grills
minerall & blow it of with lead & every hundred weight of the Minerall
will retaine a pound
or two of the
silver lurking in the lead.
[Entry 50]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
50 Take Silver beaten downe with copper & place it with
<about> an equall
quantity of flowers of Brimstone betwixt 2 Crucibles
well luted together with some litle vent for the Sulphur then give a gentle
fire to it onely great enough to make the Sulphur burne but not great enough to
give the Silver a fusion which must be carefully avoided, When the blew flames
of the Sulphur cease to appeare the fire may be increasd considerably,
<till the Crucible be candent for above an houre> & then the matter being taken out which wilbe blackish the
silver wilbe well calcind but if you
<reduce> it with lead (which is the best way) you should find it diminsh'd
in quantity & if you then dissolve it in Aqua fortis it will let fall a
pretty store of a black powder which is part of the Sulphur retaind by the
Silver & by it protected from the action of the lead & this black
powder being for the most part burnt away in a small Crucible that which at
length remaines wilbe fixt.
[Entry 51]
[Date: 20 May 1657]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
[Integral marginalia:]
May 20th
51 Take silver beaten downe with Copper & well dulcify'd &
put to it an equall quantity or litle more of Tartarum
<Vitriolatum> & cement it in a
double Crucible with a fire not very violent
for 12 14 or 16 houres then wash away the adhereing
Salts & dissolveing the Calx in distilld vinager draw a tincture of it And
Note that after
this tincture has been drawn by any acid or volatile
Menstruum it may very usefully be brought by abstraction of the Menstruum
[BP 26, fol. 98v (original pagination p. 18)] to a dew consistence which will
afterwards communicate its tincture in Spirit of wine
[Entry 52]
[Date: 26 May 1657]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
[Integral marginalia:]
May 26:th
52 They make their vitrioll at Depthford as they there told us
thus
They make beds of whole copperis stones (which they have cheifly
from Chitwick & the Isle
of Wight) of an arbitrary length &
bredth
& of about 2 foot in depth these beds are made somewhat shelving that the
raine
falling upon the stones & assisted by the heat
of the Sun to dissolve the copperis lurkeing in them may run into certain tubs
plac'd at the lower extremitys of them & to this purpose also there is
under each of these beds
a floore
<made> of such beaten clay made that the water will not
penetrate it All these particular tubs doe by pipes with stoptells fitted to
them to be taken out onely when need requires empty themselves into one great
tub whence by a pipe with a stoppell fitted to it the vitriolate liquor is when
the workmen please convey'd into a very large Cisterne from which it is as need
requires pump'd up with double pumps under which are placed wooden troughs to
convey the pumped liquor into great square boylers (as they call them) which
are made of sheet lead (because that either Iron brasse or copper vessells
would be corroded by the liquor) where it is boyl'd for 10 15 or 20 days or
more dureing which time the workmen cast in by degrees as much old hamer'd (but
not cast) Iron as they liquor will conveniently dissolve, & then opening
certan pipes which are at other times kept stopt in the boylers the liquor is
thence convay'd into other great vessells which they call Coolers where being
suffered to rest for 8 10 or 14 days it shootes into vitrioll, NB: 1 That in
their boyleing [BP 26, fol. 99 (original pagination p. 19)] furnaces
they use sea=coales 2ly: That one bed will last 7 or 8
yeares or more but yet they strow some quantity of new stones on it almost
every yeare 3ly:
<That> The bothom of their great Cisterne is made onely of comon planks
well
<arm'd> with
<comon> pitch or
as they call it well
calik'd as shipps are wont to be onely instead of Iron
Nailes they use
wooden pegs or trunnells. 4ly That if the liquor boyle but a litle too long
they say it is quite spoyl'd & will yeild onely a greasy substance (as they
<speake> but never make good vitrioll. 5ly That they say they pay for their
stone brought to their beds
20
<s a tunn> & sell their vitrioll for ten pounds a tunn each
tunn consisting of 20 hundred pounds to the tunn,
[Entry 53]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
53 The Standard maker when he lays leafe silver upon Standards first
covers them severall times with whiteing & then with Size but if he be to
lay it on skins he uses Size alone mixing equall quantitys of strained size
& faire water & spreding this mixture with his hands upon the skins
till they be fully glutted with it & will drinke up noe more then he lays
on his leafe silver & pollishes it with a smooth stone & on this Silver
he lays his gilding vernish the first time &
letts it
dry well on (either in the Sunn or shade according to the
nature of the vernish) Of which laying on more the 2d time & letting it dry
the skin is gilt
On this gilt skin you
may lay for green
verdegrease finely ground with comon white
vernish, but for red you must use
<a litle> Lake finely ground with
<a good Quantity of> some drying oyle which you may make by
boyleing for about an houre halfe a pound of umber in about a quart of good old
Linseed oyle,
[BP 26, fol. 99v][Entry 54]
[Date: 8 June 1657]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
[Integral marginalia:]
June 8th
57 Oxo:
54 Take of fritta ten pound & as much putty made
by calcination of six parts of Tin and foure parts of lead
& let these three Ingredients stand in fusion their due time to make Amell
white
[Entry 55]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
55 Take fritta six pound of the aforemention'd Putty foure pound
Zaffora one pound let these stand in fusion their due time to make
<blue> Amell
[Entry 56]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
56 To make red Amell you must use Magnesia & scales of Iron N.B.
Fritta is made of equall parts of pure white sand & Borallio reverberated
till they incorporate together
[Entry 57]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
57 Colour your
Glasse red with
<a very litle> Manganese green with Copper calcin'd per se.
[Entry 58]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
58 Take Minium 4 parts & Copper calcind one part melt them
together & make thereof a coloured past try likewise with Fritta 4 parts
& Manganese one part or els with Manganese 1 part & Minium 4 parts
keeping them their due time in fusion for one of those two ways will
succeed
[Entry 59]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
59 Upon peices of grossly tincted Fritta lay fine
leafe gold & presse it on upon the Dice being first a
litle moisten'd to make it stick then strow on them as much finely powder'd
Crystall glasse as is convenient that until the fusion of
the glasse
in a moderate but competent heat the Gold may be uniformely cased.
[Entry 60]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
60 Take Flints heat them red hot & quench them in faire water
& doe this soe often till you can reduce them to an impalpable powder then
with as litle fixt salt &
flux as may be
run them with convenient colours then powder the vitrifyd Masse & free it
as much as you can with distill'd
vinager or
otherwise from the salt or flux or both & vitrify it once more to harden
it
[Entry 61]
[Hand: sixteen-fifties]
61 Melt a pound of Rosin & to it add a quantity of a beane or
nutmeg of yellow wax then by nimble stirring incorporate with it as much powder
of beaten bricks as will suffice to bring it to a consistence fit for a cement
for Glasse fountaines.