Thirdly, That ſo much ev'n theſe Colours depend upon Texture, that in the Glaſs of Lead it ſelf made of about three parts of Lytharge or Minium Colliquated with one of very finely Powder'd Cryſtal or Sand, we have taken pleaſure to make the mixture paſs through differing Colours, as we kept it more or leſs in the Fuſion. For it was not uſually till after a pretty long Decoction that the Maſs attain'd to the Amethyſtin Colour.
Fourthly and laſtly, That the degrees of Coction and other Circumſtances may ſo vary the Colour produc'd in the ſame maſs, that in a Crucible that was not great I have had fragments of the ſame Maſs, in ſome of which perhaps not ſo big as a Hazel-Nut, you may diſcern four diſtinct Colours.
Annotation VI.
You may remember (Pyrophilus) that when I mention'd the three ſorts of adventitious Colours of Metals, I mention'd them but as the chief, not the only. For there may be other wayes, which though they do not in ſo ſtrict a ſenſe belong to the adventitious Colours of Metals, may not inconveniently be reduc'd to them. And of theſe I ſhall name now a couple, without denying that there may be more.
The firſt may be drawn from the practiſe of thoſe that Dye Scarlet. For the famouſeſt Maſter in that Art, either in England or Holland, has confeſs'd to me, that neither others, nor he can ſtrike that lovely Colour which is now wont to be call'd the Bow-Dye, without their Materials be Boyl'd in Veſſels, either made of, or lin'd with a particular Metall. But of what I have known attempted in this kind, I muſt not as yet for fear of prejudicing or diſpleaſing others give you any particular Account.[a]24]
The other way (Pyrophilus) of making Metals afford unobvious Colours, is by imbuing divers Bodies with Solutions of them made in their proper Menſtruum's, As (for
Inſtance) though Copper plentifully diſſolv'd in Aqua fortis, will imbue ſeveral Bodies with the Colour of the Solution; Yet Some other Metalls will not (as I elſewhere tell you) and have often try'd. Gold diſſolv'd in Aqua Regia, will, (which is not commonly known) Dye the Nails and Skin, and Hafts of Knives, and other things made of Ivory, not with a Golden, but a Purple Colour, which though it manifeſt it ſelf but ſlowly, is very durable, and ſcarce ever to be waſh'd out. And if I miſremember not, I have already told you in this Treatiſe, that the purer Cryſtals of fine Silver made with Aqua fortis, though they appear White, will preſently Dye the Skin and Nails, with a Black, or at leaſt a very Dark Colour, which Water will not waſh off, as it will ordinary Ink from the ſame parts. And divers other Bodies may the Same way be Dy'd, ſome of a Black, and others of a Blackiſh Colour.
And as Metalline, ſo likewiſe Mineral Solutions may produce Colours differing enough from thoſe of the Liquors themſelves. I ſhall not fetch an Example of this, from what we daily ſee happen in the powdring of Beef, which by the Brine imploy'd about it (eſpecially if the fleſh be
over ſalted) do's oftentimes appear at our Tables of a Green, and ſometimes of a Reddiſh Colour, (deep enough) nor ſhall I inſiſt on the practiſe of ſome that deal in Salt Petre, who, (as I ſuſpected, and as themſelves acknowledg'd to me) do, with the mixture of a certain proportion of that; and common Salt, give a fine Redneſs, not only to Neats Tongues, but which is more pretty as well as difficult, to ſuch fleſh, as would otherwiſe be purely White; Theſe Examples, I ſay, I ſhall decline inſiſting on, as chuſing rather to tell you, that I have ſeveral times try'd, that a Solution of the Sulphur of Vitriol, or ev'n of common Sulphur, though the Liquor appear'd clear enough, would immediately tinge a piece of new Coin, or other clean Silver, ſometimes with a Golden, ſometimes with a deeper, and more Reddiſh colour, according to the ſtrength of the Solution, and the quantity of it, that chanc'd to adhere to the Metall; which may take off your wonder that the water of the hot Spring at Bath, abounding with diſſolv'd Subſtances of a very Sulphureous Nature, ſhould for a while, as it were gild, the new or clean pieces of Silver coyn, that are for a due time immers'd in it. And to theſe may be added thoſe formerly mention'd Examples