A Preface of the Copper Instrument and Furnace

Now this Instrument is made of strong Copper plates after the following manner. You must make two strong hemispheares of Copper or Latten of the bigness of a mans head (or thereabout) and join them together with a most strong soder, and that without tin, whereof the one must have a pipe: Now the pipe must be of a most exact roundness, that it may most accurately fit the hole that is made with an auger or wimble to keep the water from flowing out like to a tap, of the length of one span at least, wider on the hinder part towards the globe, than on the forepart, which also must be according to the bigness of the globe, greater or lesser, and be exactly joined with the best soder to its hemisphear, and the diameter of the forepart being very round like a tap, and most exactly filling the round hole must be of two fingers breath. Now there is required to the foresaid instrument or globe, a certain peculiar little furnace made of iron or copper, viz. most strong copper plates, covered within with stones or the best lute, into which is put that globe like a retort, so that it may ly upon two iron bars of the distance of a span, or span and half from the grate; the neck whereof (that pipe) goeth forth of the furnace one span at least. The furnace also must have below a place for the ashes, and above a cover with its hole for the letting forth of the smoke, and for regulating the fire, as you may see by the annexed figure. It must also below have a treefoot, on which the furnace must be set, and on the sides two handles by the help whereof it may be removed from place to place; the which is very necessary; for it is not only used for the distilling of burning spirits by wooden Vessels instead of copper, but also for such distillation, and digestion that is performed in gourds, bolt-heads, and other instruments of glass, stone, copper, tin, &c. which are to be set in Balneo: also in the boyling of beer, metheglin, wine, and other drinks, which are to be performed by the help of wooden Vessels.