Perpetual Motion 69 



entitled ^^Mathematical Recreations, or a collection of sundr}' 

 excellent problems out of ancient and modern phylosophers 

 . . . . first written in Latin and Greeke, and then compiled 

 in French by Henry Van Ettin, and now in English with the 

 examinations and emendations of divers modern mathematicians. 

 Printed by William Leake and sold at the Crown in Fleet Street 

 between the Temple Gates, 1653." I turn to Problem CVIII, and 

 find it reads : " An infalliable perpetual motion. Mix five or six 

 ounces of mercury with is equal weight of tin, grinde it together 

 with ten or twelve ounces of sublimate dissolved in a celler upon a 

 marble for the space of four days, and it will become like Oil olive, 

 which distil with fire of chaffe or driving fire, and it will sublime dry 

 substance. Then put water upon the earth, in the form of lye, 

 which will be at the bottom of the Lymbeck and dissolve that 

 which you can, filter it, then distil it and there will be produced 

 very subtile antomes, which put into a bottle close stopped and 

 kept dry and you shall have your desire, with astonishment to all 

 the world, and especially to those who have travelled herein 

 without fruit." 



The other class I mentioned, the physical, is well represented 

 in history. Two or three examples will show the nature of the 

 machines. 



There was, of course, that famous motion which Wilkin tells 

 us of, invented by Cornelius Van Dreble and presented by him to 

 King James, " wherein was represented the constant revolution of 

 the Sun and Moon, and that without springs or weights." One 

 Thomas Tymme, who professes to be a great friend of the maker, 

 tells us how it was done. " By extracting a fiery spirit out of the 

 mineral matter, joining the same with his proper air, which 

 included in the axle tree of the first moving wheel being hollow, 

 carrieth the other wheels making continual rotation." Wilkin is 

 somewhat sceptical with regard to Tymme's explanation, as he 

 says — " What strange things may be done by such extractions I 

 know not and therefore dare not condemn this relation as 

 impossible, but methinks it rather like a chymical dream than a 

 philosophical truth." 



