The compleat cannoniere: or, The gunners guide

 To know if Saltpeter be well refined.

TAke and lay it on a board, and put a coale unto it, if it raise an azure scum, it is yet greasie, if it leaves pearles it is yet earthly: but if it burne into the board, and leave nothing but a blacke colour, and rise with a long flamed ventosity and exhalation, it is well refined.

Severall wayes to know whether powder be decayed or no, whether by moysture or age, in part or in whole.

IT is the practicke part of a Gunner really to know his powder, and whether it bee decayed or not, by mutation or corruption. And there are especially three ready wayes to finde the same. The first, by the sight; the second by the feeling, and the third and surest by fiering it. By sight, if it bee not blacke and darke, but bright, and inclining to a blewish tawny colour. By feeling, grasping it in the fist, if it run through the fingers quickly, and avoydeth the handling, and cling not together. By fire, if fired, it rise quicke, and spread in a moment, smoke little, but riseth in a cleare flash: unto which [Page 50]adde further, if it leave no seezes, but carry all away, the powder is good, or else the contrary may bee judged.

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