(ioy4) 
Pit, two pound weight. In the fecond encreafeth to five 
pound weight. In the third 5 to eight pound weight. 
And in the laft Pit, which is always frefli Mine, to twelve 
pound weight ; and foin this proportion, according to the 
goodnefs of the Mine, and the well Calcining thereof. For 
fometimes the Liquors paffing the four fe vera 1 Pits, will not 
be above fix or feven pound weight. At other times, above 
twelve pound weight, feldome holding a conftant weight, one 
week logefher. Yet many times Liquor of feven oreight 
pound weight produceth more, Alum^ than that of ten or 
twelve pound weight either through the illnefs of the Mine, 
or, asufually, the bad Calcining thereof. And if by pafllng 
the weak Liquor through another Pit offrefli Mine, you bring 
it to ten or twelve pound weight, yet you (hall make lefs 
jilum with it, than when it was but eight pound weight. For 
what it gains from the laft Pit of Mine, will be moft of it Nitre, 
and Slam^ which poyfons the good Liquors, and diforder the 
whole Houfe, until the Slam be wrought out. 
That which they call Slam, is firft perceived by the rednefs 
of the Liquor when it comes from the Pit, occafioned cither 
by the illnefs of the Mine, or as conmionly the over or under 
Calcining of it, as abovefaid ; which in the Seller finks to the 
bottom, and there becomes of a muddy fubftance, and of a 
dark colour. That Liquor, wh »ch comes whiteft from the 
Pits, is the beft. 
When a Work is firft begun, they make Mumoi the Li- 
quor only that comes from the Pits of Miae, without any other 
Ingredients* And fb might continue, but that ic would fpend 
fo much Liquor, as not to quit coft. 
Keif is made of a Sea-weed, called TaiJgle, fuch as comes to 
London on Oy ftcrs. It grows on Rocks by the Sea fide, be- 
tween High- water and Low- water mark. Bcingdryed, it will 
burn and run like Pitchy when cold and hard, 'tis beaten to 
afhes, fteeped in Water, and the Lees drawn off to two pound 
weight, or thereabout. 
Becaufe the Country people, who furnifli the Work with 
Urine, do fometimes mingle it with Sea- Water, which cannot 
be difcovered by weight : they try itjby putting it to fome of 
the boyling Liquor-, For fo, if the Urine be good, it will 
work, like Yeft put to Beer or A!e, but if mingled it will ftir 
no more than fo much Water* It 
