The Method Of Preparing Fire Pots And Of Making Balls Of Incendiary Composition To Be Thrown By Hand.

THERE have always been in this world men of such keen intelligence that with their discourse they have been capable of infinite and various inventions that are as beneficial as they are simultaneously harmful to the human body. Wherefore, from day to day, we see unfolded before our eyes some of these that greatly astound our minds, and we remain so stupefied that when-we think of them we are not able to control our faculties for some time, both from considering by what necessity or purpose these men were goaded, as well as from contemplating the profound subtlety of their discoveries, which, in truth, are such that they are awarded the greatest commendation by noble minds. By following their counsels and with their aid, there have been* some astute and lever captains who have had certain pots or balls of earthenware carried by their infantry, expressly filled with compositions of powder or other unctuous liquors disposed to ignite easily. When they meet the enemy in battle and come up close to them, they try to strike vigorously with these in the first assault in an effort to throw them into disorder and to make them give way by breaking them up and drawing them out of formation. The smoke is harmful, but the fire very much more so. These are made in this way. Take the number of vessels that you have to make-it does not matter whether they are raw or baked as long as they are well freed from the moisture of the clay-and fill them a little more than half full with coarse gunpowder which has mixed in it pounded Grecian pitch and at least a third of crushed sulphur. Then pour in a covering a dito thick of strained pig fat mixed with powder. This keeps it from falling out when it is thrown and keeps the fire slower until it reaches the enemy. When this has been made, open up the pig fat a little at one side when you wish to throw it and put in a little fuse or a little good powder and apply fire, holding it in your hand until you see that the fire has taken hold well. Then throw it, choosing your time. A liquid composition is also made in a kettle in which are put pork fat, petroleum oil, oil of sulphur, live sulphur, [163] doubly refined saltpeter,