The Hartlib Papers

To all whom these presents shall appertaine, wee, whose names are susbcribed, having now & long heretofore used by ourselves & servants, the Manufacture of maulting in our Malthouses in the County of Norffolk where wee reside. And knowing the many Casualties & dangers, that Malthouses & Kilnes are subject vnto, which wee make vse off, & with what charge in fireing wee doe the same. And being by some of our Friends made acqvainted, that the sonne & sonns in Law of Cornelius Drebel, had erected in the Towne of Stratford Lancton neare London, in the County of Essex, a Mault Kilne, as a patterne for others: which <at> all times is free from danger of fyring, doth dry perfect Mault in a short time, well coloured, & save[altered] a great deale of expence in fuell: Wee endeavoured to have a sight thereof, to give ourselves satisfaction, & whether the effects would answer the Report.

   And by meanes of Friends, having this instant day, being the 16 of June 1638 not only obtained a sight of the Kilne, but also in our presence seene five-coombs of mault laid upon the said Kilne, & dryed, wee have thought fitt to certifie the whole proceeding therein.

   First, the said Malt so dryed, was much defective & foystie, before it was laid on the Kilne, & after the drying thereof, the ill sent was taken away, & the colour much amended, because it was dryed without any smoake, & so did neither impaire the Malt, either in tast or sight, which was performed within the time of seaven howers.

   Secondly, that it was dryed with the quantity of 2´ pecks of Seacoales: & wee are confident that the like qvantity of Mault, may be dryed in lesse time, & with lesse expence of coales.

   Thirdly, that the said Kilne, is every way free from all meanes of Casualties by fire & doth reqvire small attendance.

   And lastly. Wee in our best Iudgments agreed, that neither the Kilnes, wee ourselves now vse, nor any other that wee have seene, are comparable, either to prevent casualty, or to save charge.

   In witnes whereof, wee have subscribed our names, the day & year above written.

                               Raphe Bishop.

I vnderwritten, have divers times beene present at the drying of Malt, as likewise on the 16^th of Iune, before mentioned, & doe therefore testifie, that this is a firme & sure way to save charges, to prevent all danger of casualties by fire, & to dry Malt sweeter, then any hath beene done heretofore, without any smoke[altered from smoake], evill tast or sent, & is done with smaller attendance, then our ordinarie.

                                William Lodge.

I vnderwritten, have divers tymes beene present at the drying of Mault, & doe therefore[altered] testifie, that this is firme & sure way, to save charges, to prevent all danger of Casualtie by fire, & to dry Mault sweeter then any hath beene done heeretofore, without any smoake, evill tast, or sent, & is done with smaller attendance, then our ordinarie way.

                                Iames Martin. Malster

I vnderwritten, have seene both the vse of fire & of the Malt, & doe testifie the very same, mentioned in the foregoing page, & esteeme the Malt sweeter & wholesomer, then any other way heretofore vsed.

                              William Horsman. Bruer./.