ofOXFO%T>~SHI1{E. us 



lived in our days we could have given no lefs, to one who in all 

 probability was a great Improver at leaft, if not the Inventor of 

 that ufeful Mathematical Inftrument, fince by GaliUtK and others 

 called the Telefcope ; of which admirable Invention perhaps Ox- 

 ford may juftly boaft, and for it expecl: to be celebrated to all po- 

 fterity. Whicii affertion if made good with all perfpicuity and 

 clearnefs, without wrefting any words or begging favorable con- 

 ftrucYion, I think I need not to doubt but on all hands 'twill be 

 granted, that the obfervations here made as they were new and fre- 

 quent, foto the vulgar and ignorant, they muft needs be terrible 

 and amazing. 



3. That this Learned Frier underftood all forts of glaffes, and 

 to order and adapt them to fuch like purpofes (not to cite other 

 places that might eafily be brought) I think I may with truth as 

 well as confidence affirm from the unconftrained fenfe of his own 

 words, in his Book of Perfyeclive. Si vero corpora nonfunt plana 

 per qu< vifm videt, (edffhdtrica ; tunc eft magna diverfitoi, nam vel 

 cdncavitoi corporis eft ver(ws oculum, vel convexitas '. But, fays 

 he, if the glaffes be not plain (having treated of them before) 

 but fpberical ; the cafe is much otherwife, for either the concavity 

 of the glafs is next the eye, or the convexity, (src. Now that he u- 

 fed thekglaffes in Celeftial Obfervations, is altogether as evident 

 from the fame Book.-, where he proceeds in thefe words. De vifwne 

 frafta, majcra funt, nam de facili patet, maxima poffe apparere mini- 

 ma, & e contra ; (sr longt difiantia videbuntur propinquiffime, (sr e 

 converfo : fie etiam facer emws Solem, is" Lunam, (p Stellas defcendere 

 fecundum apparentiam hie inferiwt, (yc k . Greater things are per- 

 formed if the vifion be refratled, for [by refraclion'] 'tis eafily 

 made appear that the great eft things may be reprefented lefs, and 

 little things as the greateft ; and that things afar off 'may be repre- 

 fented near : Thus we can make the Sun, and Moon, and Stars, to 

 all appearance, to come down to us here below, (ye. 



4. Again in his Epiftlc ad Parifienfem, concerning the fecret 

 works of Art and Nature. Poffunt enim fie figurari perfyicua, ut lon- 

 gifiimepofita, appareant propinquiffima, <& e contrario ; it a quod ex 

 incredibili diftantia legertmu* literat minutiffimab, ($ numeraremus 

 res quantumcunque parvas, ($ Jlella* facer emm apparere quo vellemus '. 

 Clajfes may be fo figured, that things the moil remote may appear 



1 PerfpetKv. part. 3. difi. 2. cap . 3. k Uid. dl(t. ultima. l In Ep!fi. adVarijiens, cap. 5. 



near', 



