90 On ihe Culoptrical and Dioptrical 



at your eve, likewise as von do at the Glasse. Strangle, 

 this is to iiear off, but more niervailous to behold, than 

 these iny words can sionific. And ncverthelesse, by de- 

 monstration Optical!, the order, and cause thereof, is cer- 

 tified : even :.<) as the effect is consequent. Yea, tln« 

 much more, dare I take upon me, toward the satisfying of 

 the noble courage, that Jongcth ardently for the wiscdome 

 of Causes Naturall : as to let him understand, thaf, in Lori- 

 dofiy he mav w ith his own eyes, have proof of that, which 

 I have said herein. A Gentleman*, (which, for his good 

 service, done to his coimtrey, is famous and honourable : 

 and for skill in the Maihcmaticall Sciences, and Languages, 

 is the Odde man of this land, Sec.) even he is able : and 

 (I am sure) will, vcrv willinglv, let the Glasse, and proof 

 be seni : and so I (here) request hmti : for the encrease of 

 ivisedome, in the honourable: and for the stopping of the 

 mouths malicious: and repressing the arrogancy of the ig- 

 norant: ve mav easily guessc, what I mean." — These last 

 words will be best explained by the first sentence of the 

 author's long and <|ueru!uus " Digression Apologeticall :" 

 — " And for these, and such like marvellous Acts and 

 Feats, Naturallv, Mathematically, and Mechanically, 

 wrought and contrived : ought any honest Student, and 

 modest Christian Philosopher, be counted and called a 

 Co/iiunr r' — It appears that the foolish and superstitious 

 Tnultitude, not conttnl with verbal abuse, dcstmyed the 

 large collection of instruments, manuscripts, and printed 

 books, which he had painfully amassed at Morllake, in 

 Surrv, " as hclongirn^ to one who dealt with the dci<ilf." — 

 In another place, Dte has the^c words : *' Of the strange 

 self-moving, whicli, at Saint Denis, by Paris, Anno 1551, 

 I saw once or twice (OiontiasX beiny; then with rae, in 

 company) it were too strange to tell. But some have writ- 

 ten it : and yei, I hope it is there, of other to be seen. And 

 by Perspective also strange things arc done : as, to see in 

 the air aloft, the lively image of another man, either walk- 

 ing to and fro : or standing siih Likewise, to come into 

 an house, and' there to see the lively shew of Gold, Silver, 

 or precious stones : and comming to take them in your 



* S. W. P. on tlic margin. 



t Sl'^ Dr. lluttons Dice, art. Drt, compared with this *' Digression 

 Apuli'tjctic.ill." 



+ Probat)ly tlic ixeat French geometer and meclianician O\on!':v' Fi- 

 Tuei'i (or (honce Fi'i^) w'lo died A. D. 1555, after sutfcrini^ much for 

 an a^troloijical pretliciion, whicti had oftciuicd the court ot France. See 

 JJr. HrJton'i Dictioiury, ariirlt FifUfus, 



hand. 



