Title continues: "In Two Parts. The First contains Assays of Lazarus Erckern, Chief Prover (or Assay-Master General of the Empire of Germany) in V. Books: originally written by him in the Teutonick Language, and now translated into English. The Second contains Essays on Metallick Words, as a Dictionary to many pleasing Discourses." The earliest illustrated work on metallurgy in English. The first part is Pettus' translation of Lazarus Ercker's work on mining and metals. Ercker (1530-1594), Inspector General of Mines in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, who first published his study in 1574, discusses lab procedures, equipment and how to construct furnaces. Sir John Pettus of Suffolk, Kt. of the Society for the Mines Royal (1613-1690) was deputy Governor of the royal mines for over 35 years. His lexicography of metals is the first dictionary of metalurgy and metals in English. Pettus fell into debt and finished this work in the Fleet debtors' prison - hence the odd title, Fleta Minor. 43 large engravings illustrate the equipment and procedures being described, with workmen wearing contemporary English costume.
