THE
MYSTERYES OF
NATVRE AND ART
THE
MYSTERYES OF
NATVRE AND ART:
_Conteined in foure
severall Tretises, The first of _water_
workes, The second of _Fyer_ workes,
The third of _Drawing_, Colouring,
_Painting_, and Engrauing, The
fourth of divers Experiments, as wel
serviceable as delightful: partly
Collected, and partly of the Authors
Peculiar Practice, and
Invention_
_by_
_I . B_
_Imprinted at London for Ralph Mab and are to be sold by John Jackson
and Francis Church at the Kings armes in Cheapeside 1634._
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration]
_TO THE READER._
Courteous Reader, this ensuing Treatise hath lien by mee a long time,
penned, but in a confused and undigested manner, as I gathered it,
practised, or found it out by industry and experience. It was not in my
minde to have as yet exposed it to the publique view: but being
sollicited by the intreaties of some, and those not a few, to impart to
each particular person what his _Genius_ most affected; I was enforced
as well for the satisfying of their requests, as for the avoydance of
many inconveniences, to dispose in some order such Experiments as for
the present I was content to impart. Expect no elegancy of phrase, for
my time would not afford that, (nor indeed my selfe to be the
transcriber.) I endeavored as much as I could, to write in plaine
termes, that in regard of the easinesse thereof it might suit with the
meanest capacity. The whole book consisteth of foure parts: The first
whereof treateth of Water-workes. The second of Fire-workes. The third
of Drawing, Painting, Graving, and Etching. The fourth and last part
treateth of severall Experiments, as well serviceable as delightfull:
which because they are confusedly intermixed, I have entituled them
_Extravagants_.
Now my chiefest ayme and end being the generall good, I could wish a
generall acceptance, but that is too uncertaine to expect: I will
content my selfe that I am already certaine that these my first and
weak endeavours will finde acceptance with some, and I hope also with
all honest and indifferent Readers; as for others, hap as hap may be,
it is not to be doubted, but that I shall scape as well as many my
betters have done before me. Farewell.
_Your Wellwiller_,
_I. B._
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration]
To my friend the Authour, upon his Mysteries
of Nature and Art.
_When I scan over with a busy eye
The timely fruits of thy vast industry,
Observing how thou searchest out the heart
Of Knowledge, through th' untrodden pathes of Art,
How easily thy active minde discries
Natures obscure and hidden rarities,
No greater wonder than thy selfe I finde,
The chiefest rarity's thy active minde,
Which so fore-runs thy age. Thy forward spring
Buds forth betimes, and thou art publishing
Ev'n in the morning of thy day, so soone,
What others are to learne till th' afternoone.
Now since thy first attempts expos'd thou hast
To publick censure, and the Dy is cast,
Doubt not of good successe: the early rose
(Thou knowst) is snatcht at, ev'n before it blowes.
Climbe higher yet; let thy quick-sighted eyes
Venture againe for new discoveries:
Nor be thou mizer-like, so envious,
As to detaine what ere thou find'st, from us;
No, make the world thy debtor; be thou still
As open-handed to impart thy skill,
As now thou art; and may thy teeming braine
Bring often forth such lusty Births againe._
R. O.
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[Illustration]
_Of Water-works._
It hath been an old saying amongst Philosophers, and experience doth
prove it to be true, _Non datur vacuum_, that is to say, Nature will
not admit of any vacuity, or emptinesse. For some one or other of the
Elements, but especially Ayre, and Water doe insert themselves into all
manner of concavities, or hollownesses, in, or upon the earth, whether
they are such as are formed either by Art or Nature. For the one it is
so obvious, and manifest, as that it needs not any proofe at all. As
for the other, I shall make it manifest unto you by easie
demonstration. Let there be gotten a large vessell of glasse, or other,
having besides the mouth another hole (though but a little one) at the
top: poure water into the vessell by a tunnell thrust into the mouth of
it, and you shall finde that as the water runneth into the vessell, a
winde will come forth of the little hole, sufficient to blow out a
candle being held over it. This proveth, that before the water was
poured into the vessell (though to our sight it appeared to bee empty)
it was full of ayre, which forced out of the vessell as the water ran
in; and the reason hereof is, because the water is by nature of a
massie, subtill, substance; and the ayre of a windy, light, evaporative
nature: The knowledge of this, with the rarifaction of inclosed ayre,
is the ground and foundation of divers excellent experiments not
unworthy the knowledge of any ingenious Artist whatsoever.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration]
The order of the things contayned in
the first booke.
_Experiments of drawing water by the Crane._
_Experiments of drawing water by Engins._
_Experiments of forcing water by ayre compressed._
_Experiments of forcing water by Engins._
_Experiments of producing sounds by ayre and water._
_Experiments of producing sounds by evaporation of water by fire._
_Experiments of producing sounds by Engins._
_Experiments of motions by evaporating water._
_Experiments of motions by rarifying ayre._
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Illustration]
Of Water-workes.
_To draw water by a Crane._
Take any vessell, of what bignes you please, fill it with water, then
take a Crane (that is a crooked hollow Cane) one end wherof, let be
somewhat longer then the other; put the shorter end of it into the
vessell of water, and let the longer end hang out of the vessell, unto
which longer end, put your mouth, and draw in your breath, and the
water will follow; then withdraw your mouth, and you shall see the
water runne so long, till it come equall to that end of the Cane which
is within the vessell.
[Illustration]
_Another._
Take a deep vessel, having two loopes on one of the sides, fill it nigh
full with water: then take a hollow Cane, like unto the aforesayd, but
let there bee fastned unto the shorter end a wooden dish; put the
longer end heereof through the loopes on the side, and that end that
hath the dish fastned unto it into the vessell of water, with your
mouth as you did in the former, draw out the ayre, and you shall see
that as the water runneth out, the Crane will sinke lower and lower,
and so will continue running untill the vessell bee drawen empty.
[Illustration]
_How to make a conceited pot, which being filled with
water, will of it selfe run all out; but not being
filled will not run out._
Make, or cause a pot to bee made of what fashion best liketh your mind,
and make a large hollow cane to stand up in the midst thereof; having
at the bottome 2 or 3 small holes; let the top of this cane be close:
then make a hole in the bottome of the vessell, and put up a little
cane hollow at both ends, into the other cane, so that the one end
therof may almost touch the top of the great cane, and it is done.
Note, that if you put into this vessel so much liquor, that it swimme
above the top of the cane, it will of its owne accord, run and never
cease so long as there is any liquor in the vessell; but if you fill it
below the cane, it will not run at all of it selfe: the reason whereof
is this; the ayre being the lighter element, doth ascend into the
higher place, but being drawne as in the two first demonstrations out
of the Crane, or forced, as in this, by the weight of the water in the
vessell, the water then tendeth downewards unto its proper place.
[Illustration]
_How to dispose 2 vessels upon one foot, that so much
wine may runne out of the one, as you shall put
water into the other._
Let A, B, C, D, be the foot, at each end whereof, place a vessell
equall in bignesse, the one to the other; as D, E; also let there passe
a hollow cane from the one to the other, as A, R, A, the ends whereof
must almost touch the tops of the sayde vessels; in the vessell D,
there must bee a hollow pipe, as F, whereby you may by help of a tunnel
powr water into the vessell: also in the vessell E, there must be a
crane, as G; now if you fill the vessel E with wine almost unto the top
of the crane, and afterwards stoppe the mouth of the vessell, that the
ayre may not breath foorth, it will not run of it selfe: but if you put
water into the vessell D, the ayre contayned in it, will passe through
the hollow pipe, A, R, A, into the vessel E, where striving for a
greater quantity of roome, it presseth the wine out of the vessell E,
(by the crane) answerable in quantity unto the water powred into the
vessell D.
[Illustration]
_How to dispose 2 vessels upon one foot, the one being
empty, and the other almost full of wine, and yet shall
not runne out of the vessell, unlesse you fill the
empty vessel with water, and then the
one shall run pure wine, the other
fayre water._
Let there bee 2 vessels placed upon one foot, having a hollow cane
passing from one to the other (as I taught in the precedent probleme)
but let there bee 2 cranes as F, G, one in each vessell; then fill one
of the vessels with wine, but not above the crane, so it will not runne
of it selfe: but if you powre water into the other vessell, untill it
bee full, it will cause that wine shall runne out of the one, and
cleare water out of the other.
[Illustration]
_To make that the water conteined in one vessell, shal
ascend into another vessell placed above it._
Let A, B, C, D, bee a vessell having a partition in the middle, as E,
F, let there be placed upon this vessell, a Cylinder of Glasse cleare,
and very transparant, that will contayne the same quantity of water,
that one of the partitions will, as I, G, H; in the lowermost partition
towards the bottome, let there bee a cocke, and out of the same vessell
let two pipes be made to passe, the one wherof reacheth almost unto the
top of the Cylinder, the other must come out by the side of the
Cylinder: also out of the upper partition there must come another pipe.
Moreover there must be a hole, through the top of the uppermost
partition as Y. Fill the lower partition at the pipe, also the upper
partition by the hole Y: note then that if you turn the cocke as the
water runneth out of the lower partition, the water contained in the
upper partition wil ascend throgh the pipe into the glasse Cylinder.
When all the water in the lower partition is runne out at the cocke,
then the water which before did ascend into the Cylinder, will fall
backe againe into the upper partition: after this manner may you
compose an artificiall water clocke, if you note the howres upon the
Cylinder, and make the cocke after such manner, as that the water may
issue out but by droppes.
[Illustration]
_To make a cup or vessell that so oft as you take the
liquor out of it, so oft it shall fill it selfe,
but never runne over._
Svppose A to bee a vessell full of water, having a pipe comming from
the bottome, and rising up into a cup of the just height that the
vessell is of; over the vessell fild with water, let there be placed
another vessel, as E. From this vessell must come a pipe, and reach
with in the other vessell. Now ouer this vessell there hangeth, as it
were, the beame of a scale; at the one ende whereof, is fastened a
peece of boord, hauing a leather nayled upon the top; at the other end
of this beame must hang a weight, but not full so heauie as the peece
of boord lethered is. Fill both these vessells with water, and the cup
also; note then, that if you sucke out the water in the cup by the pipe
on the side of it, the water in the vessell will come into it, untill
it is in both of equall height: now as the water falleth downe in A,
the peece of boord that is hanged unto one end of the beame falleth
after it (because it is heauier then the weight) and so giueth way unto
the water in E, which runneth into it; and when the vessell is filled
againe with water, it beareth up the sayd peece of boord against the
pipe of the vessell E, so that the water can run out thereat no longer,
except the water bee againe drawne out of the cup.
[Illustration]
_Of drawing water by Engines._
Before I begin with these, take a word or two by the way. Let it bee a
generall notion that no engine for water workes of what sort soeuer,
whether for seruice, or meere pleasure, can be made without the help of
Succurs, Forcers, or Clackes; euery of which, I haue orderly explayned
both by words and demonstratiue figures.
[Illustration]
A Succur is a box, which is made of brasse (hauing no bottome) in the
middest of which, there is a small bar goeth crosse, the same hauing a
hole in the middle of it; this box hath a lid so exactly fitted unto
it, that being put into it, no ayre nor water can passe betweene the
creuise: this couer hath a little button on the top, and a seame that
goeth into the box, and so through the hole of the aforesayd crosse
barre, and afterwards it hath a little button riueted on it, so that it
may with ease flip up and downe, but not be taken, or flip quite out.
[Illustration]
A Forcer is a plug of wood exactly turned and leathered about; the end
that goeth into the barrell, is semicircularly concaue.
[Illustration]
A Clacke is a peece of Leather nayled ouer any hole, hauing a peece of
lead to make it lie close, so that the ayre or water in any vessell may
thereby bee kept from going out.
_How to harden Leather, so as the same shall last much
longer in succurs of Pumps, then it doth
unprepared._
Lay such Leather as is well tanned to soake in water, wherein there
hath beene store of iron filings a long time, or else in the water that
hath lien a long time under a grindstone, into the which such yron as
hath beene from time to time ground away, hath fallen and there setled.
_The making of a Pumpe to draw water._
Svppose A B C were a deepe Wel, wherein you would make a Pumpe to draw
water to the surface or superficies of the earth. First therefore you
must prouide a pipe of Lead, or a peece of timber bored through, so
long as will reach unto the bottome of the Well: that part that
standeth in the water must bee cut with two or three arches, as it
were, if it be wood; if Leade, it must haue somewhat to beare it a
little from the bottome, that the water may thereby bee let into the
pipe. Towards the bottome of the pipe in the water there must bee
fastned a succur; also another of these succurs must be fastned about
two foot aboue the top of the ground; then haue a bucket fitted unto
the hole of the wood or leaden pipe; let it bee well leathered about,
and haue a clacke at the bottome of it, and let it bee hanged with a
sweepe as the figure sheweth: note that after you haue filled the
distance betweene the lower succur, and the bucket with water, that if
you lift up the sweepe, it will thrust downe the bucket upon the water,
and presse it, the water being pressed upon by the bucket, beareth up
the clacke, and comes into the bucket; then if you pull downe the
sweepe, the clacke shutteth, and so the water remaynes in the bucket,
which being drawen upward, there being nothing to follow but water,
both the succurs open, and there commeth into the pump so much water as
the buckets drew out.
[Illustration]
_The making of an Engin, whereby you may draw water
out of a deepe Well, or mount any River water,
to be conveyed to any place within three or foure
miles of the same. Also it is used in great
ships which I have seene._
Svppose A B C D to be a deepe Well, and E F to be a strong peece of
timber fastned athwart the same, a good way in the water. In this
planke let there bee fastened a peece of timber with a strong wheele in
it, as G H, hauing strong yron spikes droue athwart the wheele within
the creuise, and strongly riueted on each side: let them be three or
foure inches distant from each other. Let there bee likewise made in
the sayde planke two holes, in which set two hollow posts, that may
reach to the top of the Well, or so much higher as you desire to mount
the water; let them bee made fast that they stirre not. In the bottom
of one of these posts, there must be fastned a barrell of brasse, as G
H, made very smooth within, and betwixt those two posts at the top; let
there bee fastned unto them both another peece of strong timber to hold
them fast, lest they start asunder; and in the midst of that make a
mortice, and in it fasten a strong peece of timber with a wheele like
to the former mentioned; the pin whereof ought to bee made fast unto
the wheele, and haue a crooked handle to turne about, that by turning
of it, you may turne the wheele also. Then prouide a strong yron chayne
of length sufficient, hauing on euery third or fourth linke a peece of
horne, that will easily goe through the brasse barrell, and a leather
of each side of it, but somewhat broader then the horne; put this
chayne under the lower wheele in the Well upon both the hollow posts,
draw it ouer the upper wheele, and linke it fast and straight. Turn
then the handle round, and it will turne the chayne round, whose
leathers comming up the brasse barrell, will beare the water before
them; this goeth very strongly, and therefore had neede bee made with
wheeles and wrought upon by horses, for so the water is wrought up at
Broken Wharfe in London.
[Illustration]
_To make an Engin, which being placed in water will
cast the same with violence on high._
Let there be prepared a strong table, with a sweepe fastened at the one
end thereof, to lift up and downe; unto the end of the sweepe, let
there be linked a peece of yron hauing two rods of length sufficient;
let there bee made a hole quite through the midst of this table, whose
diameter let be about fiue or six inches; then prouide two peeces of
brasse in forme of hattes, but let the brim of the uppermost be but
about one inch broad, and haue diuers little holes round about it; also
in the crown of this must bee placed a large succur, and ouer it a half
globe, from the top of which, must proceed a hollow trunke aboute a
yard long, and of a good wide bore; then take good liquored leather, 2
or 3 times double, & put betweene the board and the brims of this, and
with diuers little screws put through the holes of the brimme, screw it
fast unto the top of the table. Note that the table must bee leathered
also underneath the compasse of the brimme of the lower brasse. Now the
lowermost brasse must be of equal diameter (in hollownesse) unto the
other, but it must be more spirall towards the bottome, and must haue
eyther a large clacke or succur fastned in it; also the brim of this
must be larger then that of the uppermost, and haue two holes made
about the midst on each side one; bore then 2 holes in the table, on
each side of the brasse one, answerable unto the holes of the brim of
the lower brasse, throgh which holes put the two rods, of the yron
hanged unto the sweepe through them, and riuet them strongly into the
holes of the lower brasse. Place this in water, and by mouing the
sweepe up and downe, it will with greater violence cast the water on
high.
[Illustration]
_Experiments of forcing water by ayer
compressed._
Let there bee a large pot or vessell, hauing at the side a peece of
wood made hollow, hauing a clacke of leather with a peece of lead upon
it, within the vessell also let there be a pipe through the top of the
vessell, reaching almost to the botom of it: at the top of which let
there be a round hollow ball, and on it a small cocke of brasse. Note
that if you fill the said vessell halfe-full of water, and blow into
the hole of the pipe, at the side, your breath will lift up the clack,
and enter the vessell, but when it is in, it will presse down the
clack: blow into it oftentimes, so shall there bee a great deale of
ayre in the vessell, which will presse so hard upon the water, that if
you turne the cock at the top, the water in the vessell will spin out a
good while.
[Illustration]
_Another._
Let A, B, C, D, be a great vessell, having a partition in the middle:
let there bee a large tunnell at the top of it, E, F, whose neck must
go into the bottom almost of the lower vessell: let there be a hollow
pipe also coming out of the partition, and almost touch the top of the
upper vessell. In the top of the upper vessell let there bee another
pipe, reaching from the bottom of the upper vessell, and extending it
selfe out of the vessell a good way: let the top of it hang ouer the
tunnell. In the top of the upper vessell let there be a hole besides,
to be stopped with cork, or otherwise: when you will use it, open the
cork-hole, and fill the upper vessel with water: then stop it close
againe, and poure water into the tunnell, and you shall see that the
water in the upper vessell will run out of the pipe into the tunnell
againe and so will continue running untill all the water in the upper
vessell be run out. The reason thereof is this; the water in the
tunnell pressing the ayre in the lower vessell, maketh it ascend the
pipe in the partition, and presse the water in the upper vessell, which
having no other way but the pipe, it runneth out thereat.
[Illustration]
_The forcing of water by pressure, that is the naturall
course of water in regard of its heavinesse
and thinnesse, artificially contrived to
break out of what image
you please._
Let A, B, C, D, bee a cestern placed upon a curious frame for the
purpose, let the bottom of this frame be made likewise in the form of a
cestern: Through the pillers of this frame let there passe hollow pipes
from the bottom of the upper cestern, and descend to the bottom of the
lower cestern, and then run all to the middle thereof, and joyne in
one, and turne up into the hollow body of a beast, bird, fish, or what
your fancy most affecteth: let the hole of the image whereat the water
must break out, be very small, for so it will run the longer. Fill the
upper cestern with water, and by reason of the weight thereof it will
passe through the pipes, and spin out of the hole of the image.
_Experiments of forcing water by Engins._
Let there bee an even streight barrell of brasse of what length and
bignesse you please: let the bottom of it be open, and let the top be
closed, but so that it be hollow on the outside like a basin: in the
midst whereof let there bee a straight pipe erected, open at both ends,
also let there be another short pipe at the side of it, which let bee
even with the top of the basin on the outside, but stand a little from
it on the side. Having thus prepared the barrell, fit a good thick
board unto it, so that it may slip easily up and down from the top of
the barrell unto the bottom, nayle a lether about the edges of it, and
another upon the top of it: on the underside of it let there be fastned
a good stiffe, but flexible spring of steele, which may thrust the
board from the bottom to the top of the barrell: let the foot of this
spring rest upon a barre fastned acros the bottom of the barrell; let
this board also have tied at the middle a little rope of length
sufficient. When you use it, bore a little hole in the table that you
set it on, to put the rope thorow, and pull the rope down, which will
contract the spring, and with it draw down the board: then poure in
water at the basin untill the vessell be full: Note then, as you let
slack the rope, the water will spirt out of the pipe, in the middle,
and as you pull it straight, the water will run into the vessell
againe. You may make birds, or divers images at the top of the pipe,
out of which the water may break.
[Illustration]
_Another manner of forcing water, whereby the water
of any spring may be forced unto
the top of a hill._
Let there be two hollow posts, with a succur at the bottom of each,
also a succur nigh the top of each: let there be fastned unto both
these posts a strong peece of timber, having, as it were, a beame or
scale pinned in it, and having two handles, at each end one. In the
tops of both these hollow posts fasten two brasse barrels, made very
even and smooth within, unto these two barrels let there be fitted two
forcers, lethered according to art, at the tops of these forcers must
be fastned two yrons, which must bee linked unto the aforesaid beam;
from each post below towards the end of the barrels, let there bee two
leaden pipes, which afterward meet in one, to conduct the water up to
the place desired, which if it bee very high, there will be need of
some succurs to catch the water as it cometh.
[Illustration]
_The description of an Engin to force water up to a
high place: very usefull for to quench
fire amongst buildings._
Let there be a brasse barrell provided, having two succurs in the
bottom of it: let it also have a good large pipe going up one side of
it with a succur nigh unto the top of it, and above the succur a hollow
round ball, having a pipe at the top of it made to screw another pipe
upon it, to direct the water to any place. Then fit a forcer unto the
barrell with a handle fastned unto the top; at the upper end of this
forcer drive a strong screw, and at the lower end a screw nut, at the
bottom of the barrell fasten a screw, and at the barre that goeth
crosse the top of the barrell, let there be another screw nut: put them
all in order, and fasten the whole to a good strong frame, that it may
stand steddy, and it is done. When you use it, either place it in the
water, or over a kennell, and drive the water up to it, and by moving
the handle to and fro, it will cast the water with mighty force up to
any place you direct it.
[Illustration]
_Experiments of producing sounds by
ayer and water._
Let there bee had in a readinesse a pot made after the forme of the
figure following, having a little hole at the top, in the which fasten
a reed or pipe, also another little hole at the bottom: presse this pot
into a bucket of water, and it will make a loud noyse.
[Illustration]
_Another._
Let there be a cestern of lead or such like, having a tunnell on the
top: let it bee placed under the fall of a Conduit, and at the one end
of the top, let there come out of the vessell a small pipe, which let
bee bent into a cup of water, and there will be heard a strange voice.
Over this pipe you may make an artificiall tree with diuers birds made
to sit therein.
[Illustration]
_How to make that a bird sitting on a basis, shall
make a noise, and drink out of a cup of water,
being held to the mouth of it._
Provide a cestern, having a tunnell at the one end of the top, and a
little cane coming out of the other end of the vessell; on the top of
which let there be a bird made to sit, also at the bottom of the
cestern, let there bee a crane to carry away the water as it runneth
into the vessell. Place this vessell with its tunnell under the fall of
a conduit of water, and the bird will sing; and if you hold a cup of
water under his bill, hee will drink and make a noise.
[Illustration]
_A device whereby severall voyces of birds
cherping may be heard._
Prepare a cestern having divers partitions, one above another; let them
all have cranes in the bottoms to carry the water from one to another;
also let each cestern have his severall pipe, all of them coming out at
the top of the cestern, on whose tops let birds bee artificially made,
with reeds in them: also in the top of the upper cestern let there bee
a tunnell. Place it under the fall of a conduit of water, and you shall
heare so many severall voyces as there are birds.
[Illustration]
_A device whereby the figure of a man standing on
a basis shall be made to sound a trumpet._
Prepare a cestern having within on the lid fastned a concave
hemisphere, in whose bottom let there bee made one or two holes: let
there also be a hole in the top of the sayd cestern, whereby it may bee
filled with water as occasion serveth. Also let there bee made to stand
on the top of this cestern the image of a man holding unto his mouth a
trumpet: this image must likewise have a slender pipe coming out of the
cestern unto the trumpet, in this pipe or cane there must be a cock,
nigh unto the cestern. Also there must come out of the concave
hemisphere at the side of the cestern, a little short pipe, having a
clack on it within the vessell. Fill the cestern about two thirds full
of water, and then cork it up fast, blow then into the vessell at the
pipe on the side divers times, and the ayer will force the water out of
the hemisphere, and make it rise up on the sides of it; turne then the
cock, and the weight of the water will force the ayer out of the pipe,
and so cause the trumpet to sound.
[Illustration]
_Hercules shooting at a Dragon, who as soone as
he hath shot, hisseth at him._
Let there be a cestern having a partition in the midst, in the
partition let there bee a deep succur, having a small rope fastned unto
the top of it: let the one end of the rope come out of the upper lid of
the cestern, and bee fastned unto a ball, the other part thereof let it
be put under a pulley (fastned in the partition) and let it be carried
also out of the upper cestern, and be fastned unto the arme of the
image, which must bee made to slip to and againe, and to take hold of
the string of a steele bow that is held in the other hand. At the other
end of the cestern let there bee made an artificiall image of a Dragon,
through whose body must come a small pipe with a reed artificially
fastned in the upper part thereof. Note then, that when you put up the
ball, the image will draw his bow, and when you let it fall, the Dragon
will hisse.
[Illustration]
_Experiments of producing sounds by evaporation
of water by ayer._
Prepare a round vessell of brasse, or latin, having a crooked pipe or
neck, whereto fasten a pipe: put this vessell upon a trevet over the
fire, and it will make a shrill whistling noyse.
[Illustration]
_To make two images sacrificing, and a
Dragon hissing._
Prepare a cestern having an altar of brasse or tin upon it, let there
be in the cestern a hollow pipe turning up out of the cestern at each
end; also in the middle within the altar, also on the side of the altar
into the body of a dragon artificially made, with a reed in the mouth
of it. Let there bee two boxes at the tops of the pipes, on the ends of
the cestern, having two crooked pipes or cranes comming out of them.
Fill the boxes with water when you occupy it, also put fire upon the
altar, and the dragon will hisse, and the water in the two boxes being
wrought upon by the heat of the fire comming thorow the pipes, will
drop into the fire. These two boxes ought to be inclosed in the bodies
of two images, and the two short cranes comming out of them in her
armes and hands.
[Illustration]
_Experiments of producing sounds by Engins._
Prepare a vessell after the forme of the figure marked with the letters
A, B, C, D, place it upon a frame, as F, G, H; this vessell must have a
hole in the bottom, with a pipe fastned in it, as Q, to convay the
water conteyned in it into a vessell or tub set under it, marked with
the letters R, S, T, also a frame must bee fastned at the top of it, as
G, H, L, having so many bels with little beaters or hammers to them
(artificially hanged) as are requisit to expresse your desired tune.
Lastly provide a sollid peece of timber, whose lower part must bee
fitted unto the aforesayd vessell, so that it may easily slip up and
down, and so high as that its foot resting upon the bottom of the
vessell, the upper part thereof may stand somewhat above all the bels.
Note likewise that that part of this wood aboue its bottom or foot must
be cut away about three quarters of an inch. Vpon this wood thus fitted
must bee fastned severall pins equall unto each bell, from the top unto
the foot thereof, so disposed that they may orderly presse down the
inward ends of the hammers of each bell, according as the tune goeth:
when you use it, fill the cestern almost with water, and put the fitted
peece of timber into it, and as the water runneth out at the bottom, it
will play upon the bels: note that it were very requisit to haue a cock
fastned to the pipe on the bottom of the vessell, that therewith you
might at your pleasure stay the water. The like engines might be made
to play upon wyer strings disposed upon a concavous water, to make the
musick resound, but because this description giueth light enough for
the framing of diuers other, I thought good here to omit them.
[Illustration]
_Experiments of motions by rarifying
water with fire._
Let there be an altar having a pipe comming out of it, and entring the
body of a hollow ball, let there come out of the same ball a crane,
whose lower end make to hang ouer a bucket fastned to a rope, and
hanging ouer a pulley, of which rope the other end must bee wound about
two spindles, hauing two doores fastned unto them, and at the end of
the same rope let there bee a waight fastned. So the fire on the altar
will cause the water to distill out of the ball into the bucket, which
when by reason of the water it is become heuier then the weight, it
will draw it up, and so open the said gates or little doores.
[Illustration]
_Experiments of motions by rarifying
ayre by fire._
Let there be a round vessell of glasse, or horn, and on the top of it a
vessell of brasse, and in the midst a hollow pipe spreading it selfe
into foure seuerall branches at the bottom: the ends of two of the
branches must turn up, the ends also of two must turn down; upon these
foure branches fasten a light cord, with seuerall images set upon it.
Rarifie the ayre then by laying a red-hot iron upon the top of the
brasse or tin vessell, and it will turn the wheele about, so that you
would think the images to bee living creatures.
[Illustration]
_Another way._
First prepare a round peece of wood, hauing a brasse box in the midst,
such as they make to hang the mariners compasse with, but a good deale
bigger, round about this peece of wood fasten divers shreds of thin
lattin, standing obliquely or ascew, as the figure doth represent;
round about these fasten a coffin of thin pastbord, cut into seuerall
formes of fishes, birds, beasts, or what you please. Prepare a lantern
with oyled parchment, sufficient to conteine it, in the midst of whose
bottom must bee erected a spindle with a narrow point, to hang the
pastbord cut into formes upon: upon each side let there be a socket for
to set a candle in, also let there bee made a doore in the bottom to
put the candles in at, and after to be shut, and it is done. If you set
two candles in the sockets, the heat of them will turne the whole
pastbord of formes round.
[Illustration]
* * * * *
Amongst all the experiments pneumaticall, there is none more excellent
than this of the Weather-glasse: wherefore I haue laboured to describe
the making thereof as plainly as it possibly might be.
_What the Weather-glasse is._
A Weather-glasse is a structure of, at the least, two glasses,
sometimes of three, foure, or more, as occasion serueth, inclosing a
quantity of water, and a portion of ayre proportionable, by whose
condensation or rarifaction the included water is subject unto a
continuall motion, either upward or downward; by which motion of the
water is commonly foreshewn the state, change, and alteration of the
weather. For I speak no more than what mine experience hath made me
bold to affirme; you may (the time of the yeere, and the following
obseruations understandingly considered) bee able certainly to foretell
the alteration or uncertainty of the weather a good many houres before
it come to passe.
_Of the severall sorts and fashions of
Weather-glasses._
There are diuers seuerall fashions of Weather-glasses, but principally
two.
1 The Circular glasse.
2 The Perpendicular glasse: The Perpendiculars are either single,
double, or treble.
The single Perpendiculars are of two sorts, either fixt or moueable.
The fixt are of contrary qualities; either such whose included water
doth moue upward with cold, and downward with heat, or else upward with
heat, and downward with cold.
In the double and treble Perpendiculars, as the water ascendeth in one,
it descendeth as much or more in the other.
In the moueable Perpendicular the glasse being artificially hanged,
moueth up and down with the water.
_How to make the water._
I must confesse, that any water that is not subiect unto putrifaction,
or freezing, would serue the turne, but Art hath taught to make such a
water as may bee both an ornament to the work, and also delectable to
the eye.
Take two ounces of vardigrease in powder, and infuse it so long in a
pint of white wine vineger, untill it hath a very green colour, then
poure out the vineger gently from the vardigrease: take also a pint and
a halfe of purifide May-dew, and put therein 6 ounces of Roman vitreoll
in grosse powder, let it stand till the vitreoll bee throughly
dissolved; then mix this with the former water, and strain them through
a cap paper, and put it into a cleane glasse well stopped, and its
ready for use.
_Another._
Take a gallon of rayn water that hath setled, infuse therein a day and
a night 4 pound of quick lyme; stir it about with a cleane stick
oftentimes in the day; in the morning poure the cleere water off from
the lyme, into a brasse pan, and adde thereto 3 pound of sal armoniack;
let it stand fiue or six houres, afterwards stir it about untill it be
of a perfect blew colour, then straine it through a browne paper rowled
within a tunnell, and reserue it for your use. This water is not so
good for use as the former.
_How to make the Circular glasse._
First you must prepare two glasses, the fashion whereof let be like
unto the figures marked with the letters A, B, and C, D. The glasse C,
D, is open at both the ends, also in the middle there is a neck comming
up of sufficient widenesse to receiue the shank end of the glasse
marked with the letters A, B. Then fill the glasse C, D, a third part,
with either of the waters, and diuide the glasse into so many equall
parts as you would haue degrees; rarifie the ayre in the head of the
glasse A, B, by holding it to the fire, which being yet warme, reuerse
the shank of it into the neck of the glasse C, D. Note that if the
water do not ascend high enough, you must take the glasse A, B, out
againe, and heat it hotter; if it ascend too high, heat it not so hot.
If it be in the dog-dayes, and extreme heat of summer, 1 and 2 are good
degrees; if the weather be most temperate, then 3 and 4 are best; if a
frost, 9 or 10. When you haue hit an indifferent degree, lute the
joynts very close, and fasten a ribben unto the top of the glasse to
hang it by. In this glasse the water will with cold ascend the glasse
A, B, with heat it will descend the glasse A, B, and ascend the hornes
of the glasse C, D.
[Illustration]
_How to make the single perpendicular glasse,
whose water ascendeth with cold, and
descendeth with heat._
Prepare two glasses after the fashion of these figures underset, F, G,
I, I. Alwayes chuse those upper glasses that haue the least heads, else
they will draw the water too fast, and presse it too low: also let not
the shank of the glasse bee too wide: it is no matter to bee curious in
chusing the lower glasse. Hauing prouided both these glasses, make a
frame for them about one inch longer than the shank of the glasse F, G,
hauing a hole at the top to put the same thorow. There ought to be a
great deale of care had in making the frame so, that the foot thereof
may bee of a greater compasse than the top, to the end that it may
stand firm, and not be subject to be turned down, which will distemper
the whole work. After you have provided the frame, proceed to the
making of it after this manner. Put both the glasses into the frame,
and then divide the shank of the glasse F, G, into so many equall parts
as you would haue it haue degrees; write figures upon paper, and paste
them on (with gum tragagant dissolued in faire water;) then fill the
bottom glasse 2 thirds with the water, and rarifie the ayre in the
glasse F, G, so often untill you haue hit such a degree as is most
fitting for the temper of the weather, put in a little crooked hollow
cane for the ayre to passe in and out at, but let it not touch the
water: then stop it about the joynts of the glasse with good cement,
that nothing may come out. Make an artificiall rock about it, with
peeces of cork dipt in glew, and rowled in this following powder, and
it is done.
[Illustration]
_The powder for the rock._
Take mother of Pearle 2 pound, small red Corall di. pound, Antimony
crude 4 ounces, and make a grosse powder of them.
_To make the single perpendicular glasse, ascending
with heat, and descending with cold._
Prepare two glasses after the fashion of the figure A, B, and C, D: let
the glasse A, B, haue a small pinhole at or about the top of all, and
let the glasse C, D, haue besides the hole at the top, another hole at
the bottom with a short pipe. Prouide such a frame for this as you did
before for the other; then put the glasses into it, fasten the bottom
glasse to the bottom of the frame, hauing a hole at the bottom, thorow
which the pipe of the glasse C, D, may passe, fit a cork unto it: then
lute the two glasses together, so that no ayre may passe between the
joyning; divide then the shank into so many degrees as you please, and
figure it as before I taught you, then with the heat of a candle,
rarifie the ayre in the glasse C, D, and fill it a third part full of
water, and then put the cork fast in. Note that if the first heating of
the glasse rayse not the water unto your content, you must repeat it
over and over, untill it doe: when it is sufficient, then stop the cork
in very firm, that no water may come out, and it is made.
[Illustration]
_How to make the double perpendicular glasse._
Prepare two glasses like unto the figure marked with the letters A, B,
the one of them must have a small hole in or about the head thereof.
Prepare likewise for the bottom a vessell of the fashion of the figure
G, H, having two mouthes, at each end one, also a cocke in the middle,
as K: divide then the shank of the glasse without the hole in the top,
into equall parts, and set figures upon it: next lute them both fast
into the necks of the bottom vessell. (But first remember to put them
in a frame:) when the cement is dry turn the cock of the bottom
vessell, and rarify the ayre in the glasse that hath no hole at the
top; then set the bottom vessell a little way into a vessell filled
with water, and it will suck up the water as it cooleth, when the
bottom vessell is full, also the water mounted in that top glasse
without a vent, up to a fitting degree; (the temper of the weather
regarded) then depresse (but gently) the glasses into the vessell of
water, untill the water be come up into the glasse with the vent at the
top sufficiently, that is, so that in both the glasses may bee
contained so much water as will fill the shank of one, and about 2 or 3
degrees of the other; then turne the cock, and take away the vessell of
water from under them, let them down, and fasten the bottom vessell
unto the bottom of the frame, and make a rock about it, or else what
other works you please, that the art may not be discerned. Lastly, set
figures upon both, but first upon that without the vent, beginning from
the bottom, and proceeding upwards, then lay your hand upon the head of
it, which will depresse the water, which when it commeth equall to the
degrees, paste the same degree on the place of the water in the other
glasse with the vent, and it is done.
[Illustration]
_How to make the treble perpendicular glasse._
After the same manner is the treble glasse made: but whereas in the
double glasse there was but one glasse that had a vent at the top,
there is two in this, both whose shanks must contain the iust quantity
of water that the glasse without the vent will containe. If you do well
obserue the form of the subsequent figure, you cannot goe amisse.
[Illustration]
_How to make the moveable perpendicular
glasse._
First prepare the glasse A, B, fill it almost top-full of water,
provide also the glasse K, L, having a loop at the top of it: divide it
into so many equall parts as you would haue degrees, and on the mouth
thereof fasten a thin board, that will easily slip in and out of the
bottom glasse, make then a waight of lead or brasse somewhat heavier
than both the glasse and board fastned thereto; and then tie a little
rope to the loop of the glasse A, B, and the waight at the other end
thereof. Rarify the ayre contained in the glasse L, and reverse it into
the glasse A, B, filled with water, and hang the plummet over two
little pulleys fastned in a frame made for the purpose, and as the
glasse K, L, cooleth, the water will ascend the same, and so by the
change of the outward both the glasse and water will move accordingly.
[Illustration]
_Of the use of all the severall sorts of
Weather-glasses._
Albeit the formes of Weather-glasses are divers, according to the fancy
of the Artist, yet the use of all is one and the same: to wit, to
demonstrate the state, and temper of the season, whether hot or cold;
as also to foreshew the change and alteration thereof.
1 Note therefore, that the nature and property of the water in all the
glasses that have no vent holes at the top, is, to ascend with cold,
and descend with heat. But in them that have vents, it descendeth as
much as it ascendeth in these.
2 The sudden falling of the water is an evident token of rayne.
3 The continuance of the water at any one degree, is a certaine token
that the weather will continue at that stay it is then at, whether it
be fayre, or foule, frost or snow. But when the water either riseth or
falleth, the weather will then presently change.
4 The uncertaine motion of the water is a signe of fickle weather.
The single perpendicular with a vent, moveth upwards with cold, and
downwards with heat, and is quite contrary in quality to the former,
only that it moveth uncertainly in fickle and uncertaine weather, and
keepeth a constant place in stayed weather.
These rules are all certaine and true: now you may according to your
owne observation frame other rules, whereby you may foretell the change
of the weather the water being at any one degree whatsoeuer.
_A Water-clock, or a Glasse shewing the
houre of the day._
Let there be provided a deepe vessell of earth, or any thing else, that
will hold water, as A, B, C, D, provide also a glasse made after the
fashion of the figure marked with the letters E, F, G. It must bee open
at the bottom, and haue also a small hole at the top, thorow which if
you can but put the point of a needle, it is sufficient. This glasse
must not bee so long as the vessell is deepe, by about two inches. Then
take a iust measure of the length of the glasse E, F, G, and set it on
the inside of the vessell A, B, C, D, from the bottom towards the top,
and then make a rase round about the vessell; there must bee fitted
unto this earthen vessell, a pipe reaching from the top of the outside
thereof, (where there must bee a cock unto it) and going to the bottom,
where it entreth the same, and againe extendeth it selfe almost unto
the circle or mark rased on the vessell A, B, C, D. Fill then the
vessell with fayre water up to the rase, or circle, and turne the cock,
and put the glasse into the water, and you shall see that the glasse by
reason of its heavinesse, will tend toward the bottom of the vessell,
but very slowly, by reason that the ayre contained therein hath so
small a vent: turne an houre-glasse, and at the end of each houre make
a mark upon the glasse equall with the water, and it is done. When the
glasse is quite sunke to the bottom of the water, turn the cock, and
with one blast of your mouth at the pipe, it will ascend againe.
[Illustration]
_Another fashioned one._
Prepare a vessell, as A, B, C, D, having a very small cock unto it,
whose passage ought to bee so small, as that the water might issue out
but by drops. Prepare likewise a vessell, as E, F, G, H, having at one
end of it a piller of a foot and a halfe, or two foot high: let there
be fitted unto this vessell a board, so that it may freely without
stay, slip up and down: towards one side of this board, there must be a
good big hole, which must bee placed under the cock of the other
vessell. Then fasten unto the top of this board, the image of Time or
Death, and pointing with a dart upon the piller aforesaid: turn then an
houre glasse, and at the end of every houre make a figure on the place
of the piller that the image with his dart pointeth at, and it is made.
For note, the dropping of the water out of the cock thorow the hole of
the board whereon the image standeth, causeth the same to ascend by
little and little. Mark the figures.
[Illustration]
_Another artificiall Water-clock, which may bee set
conveniently in a double Weather-glasse._