74 THE SEVEN FOLLIES OF SCIENCE 



a proper value on assertions which, if not made so posi- 

 tively and by such apparently good authority, would be at 

 once condemned as deliberate falsehoods. That falsehood, 

 pure and simple, has formed the basis of a good many 

 claims of this kind, there can be no doubt, but at the same 

 time, it is probable that some of the claimants really de- 

 ceived themselves and attributed to causes other than radi- 

 cal errors of theory, the fact that their machines would not 

 continue to move. 



While many have claimed the actual invention of a per- 

 petual motion it is very certain that not one has ever suc- 

 ceeded. How, then, are we to explain the statements 

 which have been made in regard to Orffyreus and the 

 claims of the Marquis of Worcester? For both of these 

 men it is claimed that they constructed wheels which were 

 capable of moving perpetually and apparently strong testi- 

 mony is offered in support of these assertions. 



In the famous " Century of Inventions," published by 

 the Marquis in 1663, four years before his death, the cele- 

 brated 56th article reads as follows (verbatim et literatim) : 



" To provide and make that all the Weights of the descend- 

 ing side of a Wheel shall be perpetually further from the 

 Centre, then those of the mounting side, and yet equal in 

 number and heft to the one side as the other. A most in- 

 credible thing, if not seen, but tried before the late king 

 (of blessed memory) in the Tower, by my directions, two 

 Extraordinary Embassadors accompanying His Majesty, and 

 the Duke of Richmond and Duke Hamilton, with most of 

 the Court, attending Him. The Wheel was 14. Foot over, 

 and 40. Weights of 50. pounds apiece. Sir William Balfcre, 

 then Lieutenant of the Tower, can justifie it, with several 

 others. They all saw, that no sooner these great Weights 

 passed the Diameter-line of the lower side, but they hung 

 a foot further from the Centre, nor no sooner passed the 

 Diameter-line of the upper side, but they hung a foot nearer. 

 Be pleased to judge the consequence." 



