COMPOUNDING OF METALS. 387 



brass, and might be as well served by the compound 

 stuff; wherein the doubts will be chiefly of the tough- 

 ness and of the beauty. 



First ; therefore, if brass ordnance could be made of 

 the compound stuff, in respect of the cheapness of the 

 iron, it would be of great use. 



The vantage which brass ordnance hath over iron, 

 is chiefly, as I suppose, because it will hold the blow, 

 though it be driven far thinner than the iron can be ; 

 whereby it savetli both in the quantity of the material, 

 and in the charge and commodity of mounting and 

 carriage, in regard by reason of the thinness it bear- 

 eth much less weight : there may be also somewhat 

 in being not so easily overheated. 



Secondly ; For the beauty ; those things wherein the 

 beauty or lustre are esteemed, are andirons, and all 

 manner of images, and statues, and columns, and tombs, 

 and the like. So as the doubt will be double for the 

 beauty ; the one, whether the colour will please so well, 

 because it will not be so like gold as brass ? the other, 

 whether it will polish so well ? Wherein for the latter 

 it is probable it will ; for steel glosses are more resplen- 

 dent than the like plates of brass would be ; and so is 

 the glittering of a blade. And besides, I take it, and- 

 iron brass, which they call white brass, hath some 

 mixture of tin to help the lustre. And for the golden 

 colour, it may be by some small mixture of orpiment, 

 such as they use to brass in the yellow alchemy, it will 

 easily recover that which the iron loseth. Of this the 

 eye must be the judge upon proof made. 



But now for pans, pots, curfews, counters, and the 

 like ; the beauty will not be so much respected, so as 

 the compound stuff is like to pass. 



