_First_, Miraculously and Preternaturally, as was that at _Antioch_,
which burn’d 1500 Years in an open and public Place, over the Door of a
Church, preserv’d by that Divine Power who hath made so infinite a
number of Stars to burn with perpetual Light. _Secondly_, [Sidenote: By
the wiles of the _Devil_,] By the wiles of the Devil, who, as St.
_Austin_ tells us, deceives such a thousand ways, who, out of Curiosity
and Avarice, consult Oracles or worship false Gods, so that when Men
sought for the Sepulchres of these Gods, nothing was more easie than for
the Devil to represent a flash of Light or Flame to them at their first
entring into such _Subterranean Caves_. Others assign Natural Reasons
for this, as that which Countrymen imagine to be a burning _Lamp_, at
their first finding those _Sepulchres_, may be only a kind of _Ignis
fatuus_, or pellucid Matter which shines in the dark; [Sidenote: Or from
a _Natural Cause_.] for such glimmering Coruscations are frequently seen
in Church-Yards and fat marshy Grounds, especially at the breaking up of
old Tombs, where no Air has been immitted for many Ages. Also Miners
observe, that at the first opening of a new Vein of Ore, such flames or
flashes of Light break forth; yet are these not sufficient Arguments for
criticizing Philosophers, for some believe a _Lamp_ may be made with
such Art as to burn perpetually, and others as absolutely deny it,
alledging that whatever is resolv’d into Vapour or Smoak cannot be
permanent, but will consume, and the oily Nutriment of a lighted _Lamp_
is exhal’d into a Vapour, therefore the Fire cannot be perpetual for
want of a _Pabulum_. On the contrary, those that defend the possibility
of making a perpetual _Lamp_, deny that all the Nourishment of kindl’d
Fire must of necessity evaporate into a Damp or Vapour, asserting, that
there are things in Nature, which not only resist the force of Fire, and
are inconsumable by it, but also inextinguishable either by Wind or
Water: Such as these are some peculiar Preparations of _Gold_, _Silver_
or _Mercury_; _Naptha_, _Petroleum_, and the like bituminous _Oils_;
also _Oil_ of _Camphir_, _Amber_ and _Bricks_; the _Lapis Asbestos seu
Amianthus_, _Lapis Carystius_, _Cyprius_ and _Magnesius_ and _Linum
vivum seu Creticum_, &c. of all which in their Order. _First_, They
affirm such Matter might be prepar’d either of _Gold_, _Silver_, or the
like Metal, [Sidenote: Or can be made with _Gold_, _Silver_,] made fluid
after a particular manner, and _Gold_ they thought the fittest _Pabulum_
for such an inconsumable _Lamp_, because, of all Metals, that wastes the
least when either heated or melted, yet what Oily Humidity can that or
any other Metal afford which will catch Fire and continue its Flame? But
that these perpetual _Lamps_, if ever there were any such, were not
prepar’d of Metals, is sufficiently confuted by _Licetus_, p. 130 and
132. and by _Ferrarius_, p. 16. tho’ _Licetus_ in another place, _viz._
p. 44. makes mention of a Preparation of Quicksilver purged seven Times,
thro’ white Sand by Fire, of which, he says, _Lamps_ were made that
would burn perpetually; and that this Liquor was variously nam’d by the
Chymists, [Sidenote: Or _Mercury_.] as _Aqua Mercurialis_, _Materia
Metallorum_, _perpetua Dispositio_, _Materia prima Artis_, _Vitrum
perenne incorruptumque_, _Oleum Vitri_, and the like. Nevertheless, how
fabulous soever this may seem, both _Maturantius_ and _Citesius_ aver
they firmly believe, that to make a _Lamp_ which will burn perpetually,
must of necessity be a Chymical Work, tho’ perhaps not made from any
Preparation of Metal. [Sidenote: Two _Chymical Experiments_ for making
_Eternal Fire_.] This appears from the Chymical Experiments of
_Tritenhemius_ and _Bartholomeus Korndorferus_, who both made
Preparations for Eternal Fire after the following manner.
[Sidenote: First _Experiment_.]
The first was thus made: ℞ _Sulphur. Alum. ust. a_ ℥ iv. sublime them
into Flowers to ℥ ij. of which add of Christalline _Venetian_ Borax
pouder’d ℥ j. upon these affuse high rectify’d Spirit of Wine and digest
it, then abstract it and pour on fresh: Repeat this so often ’till the
Sulphur melt like Wax, without any Smoak, upon a hot Plate of Brass, and
this is for the _Pabulum_, but the Wiek is to be prepar’d after this
manner: You must gather together the Threds or Thrums of the _Lapis
Asbestos_, to the thickness of your middle, and length of your little
Finger, which done, put them into a _Venice_ Glass, and covering them
over with the aforesaid depurated Sulphur or Aliment, set the Glass in
Sand for the space of 24 Hours, so hot that the Sulphur may bubble all
the while. The Wiek being thus besmear’d and anointed, is to be put into
a Glass like a Scallop-Shell, in such manner, that some part of it may
lye above the Mass of prepar’d Sulphur; then setting this Glass upon hot
Sand, you must melt the Sulphur, so that it may lay hold of the Wiek,
and when ’tis lighted it will burn with a perpetual Flame, and you may
set this _Lamp_ in any Place where you please. The way of making the
other Eternal Fire is thus:
[Sidenote: Second _Experiment_.]
℞. _Salis tosti_, lb. j. affuse over it strong Wine-Vinegar, and
abstract it to the consistency of Oil; then put on fresh Vinegar and
macerate and distill it as before. This repeat four Times successively,
then put into this Vinegar _Vitr. Antimonii subtiliss. lævigat_, lb. j.
set it on Ashes in a close Vessel for the space of six Hours, to extract
its Tincture, decant the Liquor, and put on fresh, and then extract it
again; this repeat so often ’till you have got out all the redness.
Coagulate your Extractions to the consistency of Oil, and then rectifie
them in _Balneo Mariæ_: Then take the _Antimony_, from which the
Tincture was extracted, and reduce it to a very fine Meal, and so put it
into a glass Bolthead; pour upon it the rectify’d Oil, which abstract
and cohobate seven Times, ’till such time as the Pouder has imbib’d all
the Oil, and is quite dry. This extract again with Spirit of Wine, so
often, ’till all the Essence be got out of it, which put into a _Venice_
Matrass, well luted with Paper five-fold, and then distill it so that
the Spirit being drawn off, there may remain at bottom an inconsumable
Oil, to be us’d with a Wiek after the same manner with the Sulphur we
have describ’d before.
These are those Eternal Lights of _Tritenhemius_, adds _Libavius_’s
Commentator, which indeed tho’ they do not agree with the Pertinacy of
_Naptha_, yet these things can illustrate one another. [Sidenote: _Lamp_
made with _Naptha_,] _Naptha_ is not so durable as not to be burn’d, for
it exhales and deflagrates, but if it be fix’d by adding the Juice of
the _Lapis Asbestinos_, it can afford Perpetual Fuell, so says that
Learned Person upon this Matter. Moreover, _Naptha_ is a sort of
_Bitumen_ so very hot, that it presently burns every Thing it adheres
to, nor is it easily extinguish’d by any moist Thing; and _Pliny_ says
it has such Affinity with Fire, that it presently leaps to it wherever
it finds it. Thus ’tis reported _Glauca_ was burnt by _Medea_, when she
came to Sacrifice, for approaching the Altar the Fire immediately caught
hold of her: This was because _Jason_, being in Love with _Glauca_, the
Daughter of _Creon_ King of _Corinth_, had forsaken _Medea_, when she to
be reveng’d on that Princess, wetted her Vail and Crown with _Naptha_,
by which means she might be the sooner set on Fire, as _Plutarch_ has it
in the Life of _Alexander_ the Great. Thus as _Naptha_ is very
inflamable and ready to catch Fire, so is it not easily extinguish’d
either by Wind or Water, but burns more violently if cast into the
Water, or agitated by the Wind. Of this kind also are some other sorts
of _Bitumen_, such as _Petroleum_, _Amber_, _Camphir_, &c. therefore may
be proper Ingredients for these sorts of _Lamps_ we are speaking of. Now
in _Egypt_ there were many Places full of _Bitumen_ and _Petroleum_, as
_Bellonius_, _Radzivillus_, _Vallæus_, _Burattinus_, and other Searchers
into _Egyptian_ Antiquities testifie, which were constituted by the
hidden Counsels of Nature, with an inexhaustible store of Matter;
wherefore the Learned among them, who were great Naturalists, having
discover’d these bituminous Wells or Fountains, [Sidenote: With liquid
_Bitumen_ or _Petroleum_.] laid from them secret Canals or Pipes to the
Subterranean Caves and Sepulchres of the Dead, where, in a convenient
Place, they set a _Lamp_ with a Wiek of _Asbestos_, which was constantly
moisten’d and supply’d with Oil by means of this Duct from the
afore-said Places: Seeing therefore the flowing of the Oil was
perpetual, and the Wiek of _Asbestos_ inconsumable, it must of necessity
follow, that the Light also endur’d perpetually. And that this was so,
[Sidenote: Confirm’d by _Schiangia_.] fully appears from what
_Schiangia_ an _Arabian_ Author relates in his History of the memorable
Things of _Egypt_, in much the same Words as follow: ‘There was a Field
in _Egypt_ whose Ditches were full of Pitch and liquid _Bitumen_, whence
the Philosophers knowing the force of Nature, dug some Canals to their
Subterranean _Cryptæ_, where they set a _Lamp_, which was joyn’d to the
afore-said Canals, and which having a Wiek of incombustible Flax, by
that means being once lighted, it burn’d perpetually by reason of the
continual afflux of _Bitumen_, and the incombustible Wiek.’ The same
thing might perhaps be effected with _Naptha_, which flow’d at _Mutina_
in _Italy_, as also with _Petroleum_ and _Sicilian Oil_. [Sidenote: And
believ’d by _Kircher_, &c.] This _Kircher_ and several others are of
Opinion is the true way of making _perpetual Lamps_, seeing it is a
Thing purely natural, where such Bituminous Oils do abound, and has no
other difficulty in it, but preparing the Wiek of _Asbestos_, or the
like, which comes next under our Consideration.
[Sidenote: _Lapis Asbestos._]
First _Asbestos_, call’d by the _Greeks_ Ἄσβεστος, i. e.
_inextinguibilis_, a kind of Stone, which being set on fire, cannot be
quench’d, as _Pliny_ and _Solinus_ write. _Albertus Magnus_ describes it
to be a Stone of an Iron colour, found for the most part in _Arabia_,
and of such strange Virtue, as was manifest in the Temples of the
Heathen Gods, that being once lighted it was never to be extinguish’d,
by reason of some small quantity of oleaginous Moisture, which was
inseparately mix’d with it, and which being inflam’d cherish’d the Fire:
Now could any expert _Chymist_ rightly extract this indissoluble Oil, we
need not question but it would afford a perpetual _Pabulum_ for these
_Eternal Lamps_ which the Ancients boast of; but many Experiments of
that kind have been made in vain, some affirming, [Sidenote: Its _Oil_.]
the Liquor chymically extracted from that Stone was more of a watry than
oily Nature, and withal so fæculent, that it was not capable to receive
Fire and exist. Others again have said, that this Oil was of so thick
and solid a Substance that it would hardly flow, and for the most part
burn’d not at all or but very indifferently, emitting no Flame, or if it
did, it shone not with a bright splendor, but cast up thick and dark
Fumes, whereas on the contrary, those _Lamps_ of the Ancients, which
burn’d so many Ages, yielded a clear and bright Flame without any Smoak
to soil the Vessel and circum-ambient Places, and which in time might
both obscure, stop up and put out the Light: Hence _Kircher_ is of
Opinion, that tho’ the Mistery of extracting this Oil be not
impracticable, yet it is very difficult to be attain’d to by any Humane
Art, and as _Ferrarius_ also observes, that as the Stone _Asbestos_, if
once lighted is inextinguishable, so much more must its Oil be both
incombustible and inextinguishable, wherefore it does not appear that
the _Lamps_ of the Ancients were made either of one or the other, seeing
for the most part they are said to have gone out immediately on the
opening of the Sepulchre where they were plac’d.
[Sidenote: _Asbeston seu Asbestinum._]
_Secondly_, The very same is said of _Asbeston sive Asbestinum_, which
the _Greeks_ call Ἄσβεστον, i. e. _inextinguibile, & est genus Lini quod
Ignibus non absumitur_, a kind of Flax of which they made Cloth that was
to be cleans’d by burning, as Tobacco-Pipes are. _Pliny_ calls it _Linum
vivum_ and _Indian_ Flax, and says it was so dear it was esteem’d equal
to Pearl and Precious Stones, for it was hard to be met with, and then
very difficult to be woven, by reason of the shortness of it. Also he
tells us the Bodies of Kings were wont to be wrapp’d in this sort of
Cloth, when they were to be burn’d, to the end the Ashes might be
preserv’d unmix’d from those of the _Funeral Pile_, in order to the
laying them up in Urns, as the Custom then was when they burn’d their
dead Bodies. Moreover _Pliny_ says, he saw some Napkins of this sort of
Cloth in his Time, and was an Eye-Witness of the Experiment of purifying
them by Fire.
One _Podocattarus_, a _Cyprian_ Knight, who wrote _de Rebus Cypriis_ in
the Year 1566, had both Flax and Linnen of this kind with him at
_Venice_, which _Porcacchius_ says, in his Book of _Antient Funerals_,
he and many others that were with him, saw at that Knight’s House. Also
_Ludovicus Vives_ saw a Towel of this kind at _Lovain_ in _Brabant_, and
several Wieks of it at _Paris_, as he himself relates in his Commentary
upon St. _Austin_’s Treatise _de Civitate Dei_. Likewise _Baptista
Porta_, says he saw the same thing at _Venice_ in the hands of a
_Cyprian_ Woman, and which he terms _Secretum optimum, perpulchrum &
perutile_, a very useful, beautiful and profitable Secret. Several other
Authors testifie they have seen the same, but _Henricus Salmuthius_, in
his Commentary upon _Pancirollus_, p. 16. will have this sort of Linnen
to be call’d _Asbestinum_, from its likeness to Chalk, which he says the
_Greeks_ term’d Ἄσβεστον, for as that is wont to be purify’d by Fire, so
is this Linnen made clean and white by burning. [Sidenote: Two
_Objections_ against this _Asbeston_.] Now the chief Objections
_Ferrarius_ makes against _Pliny_’s Account of this incombustible and
inextinguishable Flax are, first, That if Wieks had been made of it,
they would never have been consum’d or extinguish’d, or when once the
Funeral Pile was lighted, the incombustible Linnen, wherein the Bodies
were wrapp’d, as also the Napkins and Towels, which Authors mention,
would never have been quench’d, but have burn’d perpetually, whereas, he
says, this kind of Linnen burn’d only so long as either Grease, Fat, or
the like _Sordes_ afforded the Flame a _Pabulum_, wherefore that being
consum’d which had occasion’d the Spots or Dirt, the Linnen appear’d
more white and clean than if it had been wash’d with Water and Soap.
From this it appears also that those Funeral Shrouds of Kings, often
mention’d in Authors, burn’d only so long upon the Pile as the Fat or
_Sanies_ of the Body afforded Aliment, and when that fail’d, the Flame
ceas’d likewise; for otherwise, if this sort of Flaxen Linnen had been
inextinguishable, as _Salmuthius_ seems to imply by the word Ἄσβεστον,
how could those Napkins or Funeral Shrouds, when once burn’d, be ever
handl’d or made use of any more without burning whatever they came near
or touch’d? The second Objection is taken from _Pliny_’s own Words, who
tells us, this sort of Flax was very scarce and of great Price, being
preserv’d for the Kings of that Country only, so that ’tis highly
probable the _Egyptians_ might make use of another sort of Cloth,
[Sidenote: _Lapis Amiantus._] made of the Stone _Amiantus_, for burning
their Bodies, and which, _Pliny_ says, they had the Art of Spinning at
that Time. _Plutarch_ also assures us that in his Time there was a
Quarry of that Stone in the Island of _Negropont_, and that the like was
to be found in the Isle of _Cyprus_, _Tines_, and else-where. Moreover,
’tis the common Opinion of the Learned, that both Funeral Shrouds or
Sheets, Table-Cloths, Napkins and the Wieks of the Perpetual _Lamps_ of
the Ancients, were made of this _Lapis Amiantus_, which Linnen, _&c._
_Porcacchius_ and _Ludovicus Vives_ have particularly spoken of before:
Besides, as _Dasamus_ relates, the Emperor _Constantine_ caus’d Wieks to
be made of this Flax for those _Lamps_ which burn’d perpetually in his
Bathing Place, and _Agricola_ affirms, that both Napkins, Table-Cloths,
_&c._ were made at _Rome_, and at _Vereberge_ in _Bohemia_, of this
_Lapis Amiantus_, which instead of washing when dirty, they were wont to
cleanse and purifie by Fire. The best sort of this Stone was to be had
in _Cyprus_ and _India_, from the former of which Countries it came to
be call’d _Lapis Cyprius_ and _Linum Cyprium_; [Sidenote: _Lapis
Cyprius_ and _Linum Cyprium_.] but of late there has been very good
found in some Mines of _Italy_, of which see _Philosophical Transact._
No. 72. This Stone being beaten with a Hammer, and the Earth and Dust
shaken out, appears like to Flax with its Filaments, and then is spun
and woven into Cloth, which Art, says Dr. _Grew_ in his Description of
the Rarities in _Gresham_-College, as well as the Use is thought to be
utterly lost, tho’ it be not really so; for _Septalius_ in his _Musæum_
has or lately had, both Thread, Ropes, Paper and Net-work, all made of
this Flax, and some of them with his own Hand. But _Grew_ seems to make
_Asbestinus Lapis_ and _Amiantus_ all one, and calls them in _English_
the _Thrum-Stone_; he says it grows in short Threads or Thrums, from
about a quarter of an Inch to an Inch in length, parallel and glossy, as
fine as those small single Threads the Silk-Worm spins, and very flexile
like to Flax or Tow. There are several pieces of this kind in the
aforesaid _Musæum_, both white and green, of which the latter has the
longest Threads and the most flexile.
Others think the Funeral Shrouds, wherein the dead Bodies of Kings were
burn’d, as also the Wieks of those Perpetual _Lamps_ were made of the
_Lapis Carystius_, [Sidenote: _Lapis Carystius._] a Stone so call’d from
the City _Carystos_, and which signifies, _Ardens Tela, quod ex Lapide
Carystio texeretur; Tela cujus sordes Igne purgabantur_. The Inhabitants
kemb’d, spun and wove this downy Stone into Mantles, Table-Linnen and
the like, which when foul they purify’d again with Fire instead of
Water, as _Mattheus Raderus_ mentions in his Comment on the 77th Epigr.
of the IX. Book of _Martial_. Also _Pausanias_ in _Atticis_, and
_Plutarch_ Lib. _De Oraculorum defectu_, deliver that the Wieks of
_Lamps_ made hereof, and burn’d with Oil, never consum’d, tho’ the
latter says the Stone was not to be found in his Time. [Sidenote: _Linum
Carpasium._] Others say it was the _Linum Carpasium_ which was apply’d
to all these Uses, so call’d _a Carpaso, Cypri Urbe_, and that Linnen
made thereof was call’d _Carbasa_, which _Solinus_ says, would endure
Fire without consuming. Sometimes also ’tis call’d _Linum Cyprium_,
[Sidenote: _Cyprium._] of which kind of Flax it was made, and they
report the before-mention’d _Podocatterus_, a _Cyprian_ Knight, shew’d a
piece of it to the _Venetians_, and which he cleans’d by burning in the
Fire. _Franciscus Ruæus_, _Albertus Magnus_, _Cælius Rhodiginus_,
_Camillus_, _Leonardus_, _Isiodorus_, and many other famous Writers
alledge, if a Wiek be made of this kind of Flax, it will not consume
with Fire, and _Pausanias_ particularly says, the Wiek of the Golden
_Lamp_ of _Minerva_ was made hereof. Much like this, if not directly the
same, was the Flax call’d _Linum Creticum_; [Sidenote: _Creticum._] for,
as _Solinus_ asserts, those _Carbasa_, that would endure the Fire, were
made in _Crete_. Also _Strabo_ says this _Linum Creticum_ was made out
of a Rock, beaten into Threads, and the Earthy Matter shaken out, after
which ’twas kemb’d and woven into Cloth which was not to be consum’d,
but might be cleans’d by burning.
Other Authors say inconsumable Cloth, and the Wieks of Perpetual _Lamps_
were made of the Stones _Magnesia_, _Alumen Sciscile_, and the like;
[Sidenote: _Magnesia_, _Alumen Sciscile_, &c.] but whether under
different Denominations one thing might be meant, I can by no means
pretend to determin, altho’ _Hieronymus Mercurialis_ thinks Linnen made
of the _Lapis Carystius_ to be the same which _Pliny_ calls _Linum
vivum_, _Pausanias_, _Carpasium_, _Solinus_, _Carbasum_, _Zoroaster_,
_Bostrichitem_, others _Corsoidem_, some _Poliam_ or _Spartopoliam_, and
the common People _Villam Salamandræ_. Tho’ after all, the Ancients
might very probably have some other Invention for burning Bodies, such
as to set them on the Fire in a Coffin of Stone, Brass or Iron, from
whence it was very easie to gather the Ashes and Bones that were not
consum’d; and as for the _Lamps_ some are of Opinion they had no Wieks
at all: Among these was _Licetus_, who believes the antient _Lamps_
wanted Wieks, because few or none of them have been found, and
_Ludovicus Vives_ is the only Person that affirms he has seen any; but
this is nevertheless a conjectural Opinion, since they might have been
destroy’d either by Time, Fire or any other Accident. However, he at
least affirms the Wiek of a _Lamp_ not to be absolutely necessary
towards its burning, by reason _Camphir_, _Naptha_, _Oil of Bricks_,
liquid _Bitumen_, and the like, will for the most part take Fire without
any addition of a Wiek. _Ferrarius_, on the contrary, does not deny but
rather confirm the use of Wieks, making the Question dubious, [Sidenote:
Whether the _Perpetuity_ of a _Lamp_ proceeded from the _Oil_ or
_Wiek_.] whether the perpetuity of Light in _Lamps_ proceeded mostly
from the Oil or Wiek? If from the Oil, says he, why did they generally
go out upon the admission of Air into the Sepulchre at its first
opening? For Air or a gentle gale of Wind is not commonly found
prejudicial to the flame of Oil, but only violent Blasts or Storms,
which if absent, the Flame or Light will continue so long as the Aliment
lasts. But how then came the _Lamps_ of _Minerva_, _Pallas_ and others
not to be extinguish’d by the rushing in of Wind or sprinkling of Dust,
and only by breaking the _Lamp_? Surely there must needs have been two
kinds of inconsumable Oil, one which fear’d any admission of Air, and
another which defy’d the most violent storms of Rain or Wind; or perhaps
one might be the effect of an Oil-_Lamp_ without any Wiek, and the other
of a _Lamp_ which had both Oil and Wiek, which certainly must have been
the most permanent. For grant there are some Oils so spirituous and
inflammable, that they will of themselves catch Fire at a great
distance, yet must these needs be too volatile to occasion a _Lamp_ to
burn perpetually, unless they are fix’d with some more permanent Matter,
[Sidenote: Both _Wiek_ and _Oil_ in a _Lamp_.] and then they cannot be
so easily lighted without a Wiek; neither can we understand how it
should burn so above the _Lamp_, unless the Flame be supported by a
little Cord or Wiek, the Vehicle of the Oil: Besides, What can that
little _Foramen_ at the Beak of all the _Lamps_ mean, but only to thrust
the Wiek and Light out at? ’Tis plain therefore they had Wieks, but what
they were made of, whether of _Asbestos_, _Amiantus_, or any of the
before-mention’d Things, is somewhat difficult to decide; forasmuch as
they being reported both to have been inconsumable and inextinguishable,
when once lighted, they must needs have burn’d perpetually, and
consequently the _Lamps_ have had no occasion for any Oil; but this is
certainly false, for both the _Lamps_ and _Funeral Shrouds_ burn’d only
so long as there was any Oil, Fat, or oleaginous Moisture remaining,
which being consum’d they likewise ceas’d, yet might perhaps remain
unconsum’d, but that without any Flame. However, we must not deny there
were any Wieks in _Lamps_, because they could not, as most are of
opinion, continue to burn of themselves without any oily inflammable
Matter, but rather all believe both the Oil and Wiek had a Virtue to
assist each other, and on the contrary could not burn separately for any
duration or considerable Time. But some have thought quite otherwise of
this matter, _viz._ That what Country-Peasants imagine they see at the
first breaking up of such Sepulchres are only the sudden irradiations
and reflections of the Sun in those dark Caves, or else some sparks of
Light rais’d by the percussion or attrition of their Iron-Tools against
the Stones, a glimmering Vapour of the Earth, or the like Appearances,
which being heightn’d by the strength of their prepossess’d Fancy, they
easily take to be one of the Perpetual _Lamps_ of the Ancients, which
had burn’d ’till then, but was immediately extinguish’d upon the rushing
in of the Air, or accidental breaking of the _Lamp_. But _Gutherius_
thinks the contrary; he imagines it was some Liquor or Pouder which took
fire at the entring in of the Air: And _Johan. Sigism. Elholtius_, in
his Observations _de Phosphoris_, p. 9. obs. 2. Sect. 4. compares his
liquid _Phosphorus_ or _Cold Fire_, as he terms it, with the _Lamps_ of
the Ancients in these Words: [Sidenote: _Perpetual Burning Lamp_ thought
to be liquid _Phosphorus_.] _Plura circa_ frigidum _hunc_ Ignem
_Phœnomina hactenus non observavimus, in posterum tamen istis
experimentis plus operæ sumus impensuri, & postea communicaturi.
Profecto, si conjectura quorundam de_ Lucernis Veterum _Sepulchralibus
vera est, quod scilicet non Mille vel amplius Annos illa arserint, sed
quod apertæ demum ardere cæperint, tum utique ab Oleo illo Antiquorum,
non multum obfuerit hic_ Phosphorus liquidus. _Qui enim quiescens &
obturatus haud nitet, apertus & inter aperiendum motus, corruscare atque
flagrare incipit: restauratæq; hoc pacto forent Lucernæ illæ, multis
retro Seculis inter_ Deperdita _ab omnibus relatæ_. _We have not
hitherto observ’d more_ Phœnomena _concerning this_ Cold Fire,
_nevertheless intend for the future to spend more Time and Labour in
these Experiments, and then will communicate them to the Public. But
surely if a certain Conjecture concerning the_ Lamps _of the Ancients be
true_, viz. _That they burn’d not a Thousand or more Years, but at
length when they came to be discover’d began to burn, then certainly
this liquid_ Phosphorus _cannot differ much from that Oil of the
Ancients, which lying quiet and stopp’d up, hardly shines; but being
open’d, in the motion of opening begins to corruscate and burn, and
after this manner those_ Lamps _would be restor’d, which are related by
all to have been lost for many Ages_.
[Sidenote: _Licetus_’s Opinion that a _Perpetual Lamp_ may be made.]