Section 80

do thus: Open the letter upon a looking-glal's, that wants the foyl : upon the letter s Jay white paper, and a light under the glafs ; temper your ink as the writing is, and draw your lines upon the lines of the letters you iee through. We may
Open letter s, and fhut them without fttfpitten.
Weufe to feal letters, putting paper upon them , which goes through the letter on onefide, and was is put ortthe other fide, where it comes forth, andthereit bfeal- ed. Ycufhall open the letter thu; : Break away that part of the paper, thatisput upon the place, wheie it p'fleth through the letter , . and the hole is, the letter opens prefently : read it, and fhu: it again, and put the paper torn off, in its proper place : firft, anoyncingthe crack with »um-traganth, diflolvcdin water; for the piper will be t fo «le wed,that it will be ftronger there then elie where ; preis it w ith a imall weight, till it grow dry 5 the fraud cannot be difcovered,becaufe the glew is white, and is not known from rhe colour of the paper.
Chap. XII.
How yen may Jp ak.at a great diflance.
THere are many ways how we may fpeak at a very great diBance, with our friends that are abfcnt,or when they are iu ptifon, or (hut up in Cities ; and this is done withfafety, and without any fulpition, as I ("hall fhew. Two things are declared here, either to doit by open voice ret nplicated5or elfe by a Trunk. We may
With open voyce (hew feme thmgi to thofe that are confederate with hs. It is wonderful, that as the Light, fo the Voyce is icvcrbcrated with equal Angles. I fhall fhew how this may be done by a glafs It is -altnoft growD common, how to fpeak through right or circular walls. The voice pafling from the mouth goes through the Air : if it goes about a wall that is uniform, it pafTeth uncorrupted but if it be at liberty, it is beaten back by the wall it meets with in the way, and is heard, as we fee in an Eecho. I through a circular building, that was very long and tmooth, fpake words to my friend, that heard them round the wall , and the words came entire to his ears; but one ftanding in the middle heard not any noife, and yet I heard again what my friend anfwered to me. In them^rning whenas I walkcdby the fea fliore, I heard above a mile, what my friends talked in a Boat : the fea was very calm, and fcarce moved , and the words came clearly to me, carried on the plain fuperficies of the water. I hear that at Mantua, and other places , a sreat Gallery is built, where- in one fpeaking in the corner, is heard by another that knows the bufinefs , ftanding in another corner ; butthofe that Hand in the middle, perceive nothing of it. But more exafit'y and clearly
To (tgn':fie to friends all things by a Trunks
Let
Of invifible Writing. 353
Let the pipe be of Earth (bntlcad is better) or of any matter well dofed , that the voice may nor get forth in the long r afiage j for whatever yets fpeak at one end, the voice without any difference^ it came tenh of ti e fpc akers roou.h, a mes 1© to the cars ot him that hearkneth ; and I doubt not but tb i maybe dore fome miles cff. The voyce not oivided or Scattered, foes whole a long way 1 have tried it for above two hundred paces , when 1 had nooiher convenience , and the words W' re heard fo clear, and open, as the fpcaker uttered them: Upon this it came into my mind, to intercept words fpt ken by the way, with leaden pipes , and iO hold them fo long as I pleaied dole in; that when I opened the hole, thewords fhould break forth. I perceive that the iound goes by degrees , and thai being carried thicugh a pipe , it may be fhut up in the middle ; and if a very longTiunk (hculd rake away the conve- nience of it, that many winding pipes might iliut it up in aclofe place. I read that Albert* midc an Artificial head , that fpakeat a fet time : I might hope to do the fame hy thi> invention ; yet I never tried this farther then I have faid: yet I have heat o by my friends, that lovers have ipokc a long time through a leaden pipe , from their Hemes that fiood far afunder.
Chap. XIII. By Might we may make Jigns by fire*) and with dufi by day.
IT remains to fhew whether we can make Ggns in the night by fire, and in the day by duft, to declare our bofinefs. That may fall out twoways: Forbyfireof a fndden, wc fhew to our confederate friends, or when we pleafe, by certain numbers of Torches, wereprefent letters fit t© demonfuate what our purpofe is , thathofe that are far t ff, feeing and obferving the motions may percen e our intern. The firft way, we read that Medea- promiied to the Argonauts, that if (ht killed PetiM, (he would fignifie io much unto them by night with fire frc m a watch-Tower , and by day with fmoke. When therefore the bufineis was effected, as (he would have it, (he counterfeited, that (he muff pay her vows to the Moon , by making a fire, by lighting Toiches in the cpen Air,frcm the top of the place,as (he bad proaaifedi and when the Argcnauts tnderfiood it this way, they invaded the Kings palace, and killing the >rard, they made her to enjoy her wi(bes. We read alfo that CMaga, having prfl ffi n of Paretonirm, agreed with the watch , that at night in the evening, and again in the morning betimes, they (hcnld let up the light that was for confede- racy ; arc1 by that me*ns fgns were made , that themcfiengcr came as far as Clius. Alio to friends that live cut of the C ity, by fire we may rifle cur reverew, and the quality of provide n. It is apparent, that Annibal, as Polybttu writes , when the peo- ple of Agrigemum were refe^cd by the Remans, by many and frequent fires by nighr, did Qicw forth the intolerable famine of his Army, and for that caufe many of his Sruldicrs, fcr watt of victuals, fell effto the enemy. Alfo the Grecians compa- cted with Sinon , that by night, when the Trojans were afleep , thofc that one to Troy flic ul d have a token, when he fhould open the Trojan Horle, to let forth the Sculdiers that were within. Whence Virgil,
When the Kings feet Uft uf the fames, jufi then Vtet Sir, on I tt forth all the Grecian men,
Alfo by Torches letters may be fignified , as we find it in the Manufcript of Tolybim. Tops of buildicgs or Towers, are very fit to fet up the Torches on. Let the letters be divided into twocr three parts , if there may be eleven, orfeven parts of each. If they be feven , thefiifi letiers are (hew'd by (ingle Torches , the fecond by dou- ble ones , the third by three Torches. The number may be alfo divided into four parts : but in representing them, we muft obferve the variety cfmotion. Forone Torch once lifted up, (hall fignifie A, the fame lifted up twice B, thrice C; fo feven times: the laft of the firtt order G, after that two onceH, fo many twice I, thrice fignifies L, and fo of the red of the fame order. Then Q by the third order, once,
Bb Riby
y>4- Natural Magic k. Hoo^ \6.
R by the fame, twice , and thrice a* many of the fame, fignifies S, and fo it holds for four. Thus a woman from a watch-Tower, with three lights (hewed five time?, then wuh d^u^le ones twice, then with treble lights twice , then again with one at once, at d wiih the fame four times, then five times with three lights, then thrice, and with as minv four times , fhall fignifie, vir adefty the nan is come. Alfothe lights may be of divers colours, if they would flicw that friends are neer. Alfo by fmoke, w e may fhew that our enemies are neer, or fome other thing. Hence it was, thar bv the policv of Jmilcar^ the men of Agrigenrrm , being drawn oft far from the Cit5,amongtt their enemies that they pur'ued , unto an ambufcado, where the ene- mies lay hid, and a by wood fet on fire, ftffered a great overthrew : for when they thought the v were called back by their friends, byreafonof a Imoke they luppofed to erne from the walls ; when they turned their courfeto goto the City. Amilcur commanding , the Carthaginians followed them, who fled before, and fo flew them.
THE
5*5
THE
SEVENTEENTH BOOK
O F
Natural Magick :
Wherein are propounded Buming-glalTes , and the wonderful fights to be (een by chem.
The Proem e.
N Or* I am come to Mathematical Sciences > and this place requires that 1 (hew fome ex- periments concerning (^atoptrick:glaffes. For thefe (hine amongfi Geometrical ixftrw ments , fur Ingenuity , Wonder^ and, Profit : For what could be invented more ingentoufly^ then thai certain experiments Jh oh Id follow the imaginary conceits of the mind , and the truth of CMathematical'Demonfirations (h on id be made good by Ocular experiments ? what cop, Id feem more w>nderculy then that by reciprocal firokes of reflexion^ Images fkould appear out* wtrdly, hanging in the Air, and yet neither devtfibfe Object nor the Glafs feen? th*.t ikey may fctm net to be the repercufftonof the Glaffes, but Spirits of vainThantafms { to fee burning GUffts t not to burn alcne where the beams unne , but at a great difiance to caft forth ternble firesy a> d fames, that art mcfi profitable in warlike expeditions , as in many o- thcr things. We rt^d that Archimedes a: Sjracufe with burning Glaffcs defeated the forces of the Remans : and vat King Ptolcmcy built a Tower m Pharos , where he fit a Glafs^ that he could for fix hundred miles , fee by it the enemies Ships , that invaded his Country^ and plundered it. Ifhalladde alfo thofe Spectacles , whereby poor blinde people can at great ■dtftancey perfitlly fee aUthtngs. And though venerable Antiquity feem to have invented many and great things , yet I fhall fit down greater , more Noble , and more Famout things^ and that WiH not a little help to the Of tick Science, that more fubhme wits may ircreafe it infinitely. Lafi/y, IfhaUfhcw how to make (jyfial and Metal Glaffes , and how topolifh them.
Chap. I.
Diver s reprefentations made by plain Glaffes, i
Shall begin with plain G;a(Tes, for they arc morefimple, and the {pcculitions thereof", are not fo laborious, though the ap- paritions of ihem be almoft common, yet they will be useful for what follows : and we (tall add fome fecret apparition j unto them. The variety of the Images that appear , proceed either from the matter or form of the Glafs. Cryftal mu(t be clear , rranfparent, and exactly made plain on both fides : and if one or boih of thefe be wanting , they will reprefett divers ard deformed apparitions to oar fighr. I fhall therefore begin from the matter, and (hew
How apparitions ma) feem to him that looks upon them) to be pale- yellow, or of divers colours. When the G afs i- melted with heat in the furnace , with any little colour it will be tainted ; if ycticaft in yellow, the face of him that looks into it, will l'etm to have the yellow Jtundics.. it black, he will appear wan and deformed ;if you add much of it, like to a blacktnoore ; if red, like a drunkard or furious Tellow ; and fo will ic re-
Bb 2 prefent
y}6 Natural Magick. 2>00^i7.
prefent Images of any colour. How to mingle the colours, I taught when I fpake of Jewels. I have oft made fpore with the moti fair women, with thele Glaffcs ; when they looked, and faw not themtelvcs as they were : but there are many varieties a- rife from the form.
That the face of him that looks on the Glafs may feem to be divided in the middle, Let the fuperficies of the looking-glaffe that ycu look on , be plain , and exactly poliftied by rule ; but the backfide muft have a blunt angle in the middle , that the higheft part of it may be in the middle; in the outward parts it muft be (harp and prefled down ; then lay on the foil : wherefore the Image that falls on yout fight, where the lines meet in the angle, will feem divided into two. If you will
That he that looks in the Glafs^jhall Jeem like an Afs^Dog, or Sow j By variation of the place, the Angles, and the reprefentationof the Form beheld, will feem various. If that part of the Glafs,ihat is fet againft your mouth,fhallftick forth before like a wreathed band or a Bofs-buckler, your mouth will appear to come forth like an Afles or Sows fnout ; but if it iwell forth againft ycur eyes , your eyes will feem to be put forth like fhrimps eyes ; if the Angle be ftretched forth by the length of the Glafs, your Forehead, Ncfe, and Chin, will feem to be fharp , as the mouth of a Dog.
That the whole face may feem variom and deformed.
Let a plain Glafs not be exa£Uy plain and even : which that it may be done, when the Glafs is once made plain.put it into the furnace again, and let it be turned by the skilful hand of an Artift, till it lofe its right pofition , then foil it. Then the Image on the hollow part of the Glafs, will rcprelent the oppofite part hollow ; fo it will hold forth one lying along on his face, or crooked , and fwelliog outwardly and in- wardly. Then if when the Glafs is polifhed , one fide be rubbed, the face will feem loop and broad : wherefore it muft be rubbed, and fafhioncd on all fides, that it may every way reprcfem a perfect face. I fhall (hew you alfo
Hrw to mtke a Glafs to refrefent many Images. That it may fhew divers Images one after another , and of divers colours, make the folid body of the Looking-glafs , or Glafs that is half a finger thick , and let it be fo plained , that upon one fide,thc thicknefs may not be touched, but on the other fide, the lines of the two fuperficies may meet , as the fharp edge of a Knife. Make alfo another table of a Glafs the fame way : or elfe more ; lay a foil of Tin upon the laft, and place one of them upon the other, fo that the thinner part of the one, may lye upon the thick part of the other: fo will the face of one that looks into it, appear to be two, one behind the other, and the nethermoft will always appear darkeft. So if by the fame Artifice, you fit three tables of Glafs,tbe Image w ill appear to be three, and the farther he that looks , ftands with bis face from the Glafs , the farther will thofe Images or faces ftand afunder ; but as you ( one very neer , they feem to joyn all in one : If you hold a Candle lighted againft it, there will be many feen together, which comes by the mutual reciprocation of the fight and the Glaffe ; and if the po« lifher* ofGlaffes be notneer-hand , we may make the fame with common Looking- ing-glafles , putting one aptly above another , but let one be dipiant from the other bv certain courfes j then fhui them in a frame , that the Art may not be difcovered. N: r will I omit
How letters maybe cajt out and read) on a wall that is far diftant ;
which we fhall do with the fame plain Glafs ;and lovers that are far afunder, may fo hold commrrce one with another. On the fuperficies of a plain Glafs, make Let- ters wi h ' lack ink , or with wax , that they may be folid to hinder the light of the t -a( flettinrj on the* Glafs, may be caft upon the oppofite wall of a Chamber , it is no dcubr but the light and letters will be feen in the Chamber , the Suns light will be
cleared «
Of jlrange (jlajjes. 357
cleared, and rhc letters noc fo bright ; fo that they will be clearly difcovered, as ti.ey aic lent in.
Chap. II.
Other merry fprts with plain Locking- glares,
NOwT flull annex feme other operations of a plain Glafs, defcribed by our Ance- ltors, that I may feetn to leave out nothing: and I will fo augment them, and bring them to a rule, that they may be eafily made. I (hill begin with this,
How by plain Looking- glaftct, the head may appear to be downwards , and the heels
upwards.
If any man by plain Glaffes, defires to fee his head downward , and his feet upw as" (though it U proper for Concave- Glaffes co rcprcicntthat ) yet I will endeavour t° do it by plain GUffes. Place twoGbffes long-ways, that they may (Hck trgether* and cannot eafily come afundcr, or move here and there, and that they make a right Angle; when this is fo done, according to coherence the long way, fet this againlt your face, that in one, halt the face , in the other the other half may be fecn ; then incline ihe Looking-glaffe to the right or left hand , looking right into it , and ycur head will feemto be turned, for according to cheir latitude, they will cut the face into two, and the Image will appear to, a? if the head were under, and the heels upwards ; and if the Glafs be large, the whole body will feem to be inverted. But this happens from the mutual and manifold reflexion , for it flies from one to the other, that it fcerns to be turned. We may