For you must know that of the Things before recited many of them are grown into use throughout the Kingdome But yet if they did flow from our Invention we have of them also for Patterns and Principals We have also Furnaces of great Diversities and that keep great Diversitie of Heats Fierce and Quickâ— Strong and Constant Soâ—â—and Mildâ— Blown Quiet Drie Moâ—st And the like But above all we have Heats in Imitation of the Sunns and Heavenly Bodies Heats that passe divers inequalities and as it were Orbs Progresses and Returns wherâ—by we may produce admirable effects Besides we have Heats of Dungs and of Bellies and Mawes of Living Creatures and of their Bloods and Bodies and of Hayes and Herbs laid up moist of Lime unquenched and such like Instruments also which generate Heat only by Motion And further Places for Strong Insolations And â—gain Places under the Earth which by Natuâ—e or Art yeeld Heat Tâ—ese dâ—vers Heats we use As the Natuâ—e of the Operation which we intendâ— requireth We have aâ—so Perspective-Houses where we make Demonstration of all Lights and Radiations And of all Colours And out of Things uncoloured and Transparent we can represent unto you all seveâ—all Colours Not in Rain-bows as it is in Gemms and Prisms but of themselves Single We represent also all Multiplications oâ— Light which we carry to great Distance and make so Sharp as to discern small Points and Lines Also all Colourations of Light All Delusions and Deceits of the Sight in Figures Magnitudes Motions Colours All Demonstrations of Shadows Wee find also divers Means yet unknown to you of Producing of Light originally from divers Bodies We procure means of Seeing Objects A-farr off As in the Heaven and Remote places And represent Things Near as A-farr off And Things A-farr off as Near Makingâ—eâ—igned Distances We have also Helps so the Sight far above Spectacles and Glasses in use We have also Glasses and Means to see Small and Minute Bodies perfectly and distinctly As the Shapes and Colours of Small Flies and VVorms Grains and Flaws in Gemmes which cannot otherwise he seen Observations in Urine and Bloud not otherwise to be seen We make Artificial Rain-Bows Helo's and Circles abâ—ut Light We represent also all manner of Reflexions Refractions and Multiplication of Visual Beams oâ— Objects We have also Pretious Stones of all kinds many of them of great Beauty and to you unknown Chrystals likewise And Glasses of divers kinds And amongst them some of Metals Vitrificated and other Materials beside those of which you make Gâ—asse Also a number of Fossiles and Imperfect Minerals which you have not Likewise Loadstones of Prodigious Vertue And other rare Stones both Natural and Artificial We have also Sound Houses where we practise and demonstrate all Sounds and their Generation We have Harmonies which you have not of Quarter-Sounds and lesser Slides of Soundsâ—Diverse Instruments of Musick likewise to yâ—u unknown some sweeter than any you haveâ— With Bells and Rings that are dainty and sweet We represent small sounds as great and Deep Likewise Great sounds â—xtenuate and sharp We make diverse tremblings and VVarblings of Sounds which in their Original are Entire We represent and imitate all Articulate sounds and Letters and the Voices and Notes of Beasts and Birds We have certain Helps which set to the Eare do further the Hearing greatly We have also diverse strange and Artificial Ecchoes Reflecting the Voice many times and as it were tossing it And some that give back the Voice Lowder than it came some shriller and some Deeper Yea some rendring the Voice Differing in the Letters or Articulate Sound from that they receive VVe have all means to convey Sounds in Trunks and Pipes in strange Lines and Distanâ—es VVe have also Perfume-houses wherewith we joyn aâ—so Practices of Taste VVe Multiply Smells which may seem strange VVe Imitate Smells making all Smells to breath out of other Mixtures than those that give them VVe make diverse Imitations of Taste likewise so that they will deceive any Mans Taste And in this House we contain also a Confiâ—ure House where we make all Sweet-Meats Drie and Moist And divers pleasant Wines Milks Broaths anâ— Sallets far in greater Variety than you have VVe have also Engine-Houses where are prepared Engines and Instruments for all sorts of Motions There we imitate and practise to make Swifter Motions than any you have either out of your Muskets or any Engine that you have and to Make them and Multiply them more Easily and with Small Force by VVheeles and other Means and to make them Stronger and more Violent than yours are Exceeding your greatest Cannons and Basilisks VVe represent also Ordinance and Instruments of War and Engines of all Kinds and likewise new Mixtures and Compositions of Gun-Powder Wild-Fires burning in Water and Unquenchable Also Fire-works of all Variety both for Pleasure and Use VVe imitate also Flights of Birds VVe have some Degrees of Flying in the Ayr We have Ships and Boats for Going under VVater and Brooking of Seas Also Swimming-Girdles and Supporters We have divers curious Clocks And other like Motions of Return And some perpetual Motions We imitate also Motions of Living Creatures by Images of Men Beasts Birds Fishes and Serpents We have also a great Number of other Various Motions strange for Equality Finenesseâ—and Subtility We have also a Mathematical-House where are represented all Instruments as well of Geometry as Astronomy exquisitely made VVe have also Houses of Deceits of the Senses where we represent all manner of Feats of Jugling False Apparitions Impostures and Illusions And their Fallacies And surely you will easily beleeve that we that have so many Things truly Natural which induce Admiration could in a World of Particulars deceive the Senses if we would disguise those Things and labour to make them more Miraculous But we do hate all Impostures and Lies Insomuch as we have severely forbidden it to all our Fellows under pain of Ignominy and Fines that they do not shew any Natural VVork or Thing Adorned or Swelling but only Pure as it is and without all Affectation of Strangenesse These are my Son the Riches of Salomons House For the several Employments and Offices of our Fellows VVe have Twelve that Sayl into Forein Countries under the Names of other Nations for our own we conceal VVho bring us the Books and Abstracts and Patterns of Experiments of all other Parts These we calâ— Merchants of Light VVe have Three that Collect the Experiments which are in all Books These we call Deprepators VVe have Three that Collect the Experiments of all Mechanical Artsâ—And aâ—so of Liberal Sciences And also of practices which are not Brought into Arts These we call Mystery-men We have Three that trie New Experiments Such as themselves think good These we call Pioneers or Miners We have Three that Draw the Experiments of the Former Four into Titles and Tables to give the better light for the drawing of Observations and Axiomes out
Peach-coloured Velvet His Neck was bare to the Shoulders His Hat was like a Helmet or Spanish Montera and his Locks curled below it decently They were of Colour brown His Beard was cut round and of the same colour with his Hair somewhat ligher He was carried in a rich Chariot without wheeles Litter-wise With two Horses at either end richly trapped in blew Velvet Embroydered and two Footmen on each side in the like attire The Chariot was all of Cedar gilt and adorned with Christal save that the Fore-end had Pannels of Sapphires set in borders of Gold and the Hinderend the like of Emarauds of the Peâ—u Colour There was also a Sun of Gold Radiant upon the Top in the Midst and on the Top before a small Cherub of Gold with VVings displayed The Chariot was covered with cloth of Gold â—issued upon Blew He had before him fifty attendants young Men all in white Satten loose Coats up to the Mid Leg and Stockings of white Silk and Shoes of blew Velvet and Hats of blew Velvet with fine Plums of divers Colours set round like Hatbands Next before the Chariot went two Men bare headed in Linnen garments down to thefoot girt and Shoes of blew Velvet who carried the one a Crosier the other a Pastoral Staff like a Sheep-hook Neither of them of Metal but the Crosier of Balm-wood the Pastoral Staff of Cedar Horsemen he had none neither before nor behind his Chariot As it seemeth to avoid all Tumult and trouble Behind his Chariot went all the Officers and Principals of the Companies of the City He sate alone upon Cushions of a kind of Excellent Plush blew And under his Foot curious Carpets of Silk of divers Colours like the Persian but far finer He held up his Bare Hand as he went as blessing the people but in Silence The Street was wonderfully well kept So that there was never any Army had their Men stand in better Battel-Array than the People stood The VVindows likewise was not crouded but every one stood in them as if they had been placed VVhen the shew was past the Iew said to me I shall not be able to attend you as I would in regard of some Charge the City hath laid upon me for the Entertaining of this great Person Three daies after the Iew came to me again and said Ye are happy men For the Father of Salomons House taketh knowledge of your being here and commanded me to tell you that he will admit all your Company to his presence and have private Conference with one of you that yee shall choose And for this hath appointed the next day after to Morrow And because he meaneth to give you his Blessing he hath appointed it in the Fore-Noon VVe came at our Day and Hour and I was chosen by my Fellows for the private accesse VVe found him in a fair Chamber richly hanged and carpetted under Foot without any Degrees to the State he was set upon a Low Throne richly adorned and a rich cloth of State over his head of blew Sattin Embroidered He was alone save that he had two Pages of Honor on either Hand one finely attired in VVhite His Under-Garments were the like that we saw him wear in the Chariot But insteed of his Gown he had on him a Mantle with a Cape of the same fine Black fastened about him VVhen we came in as we were taught we bowed Low at our first Entrance And when we were come near his Chair he stood up holding forth his Hand ungloved and in Posture of Blessing And we every one of us stooped down and kissed the Hem of his Tippet That done the rest departed and I remained Then he warned the Pages forth of the Room and caused me to sit down beside him and spake to me thus in the Spanish Tongue GOD blesse thee my Son I will give thee the greatest Iewel I have For I will impart unto thee for the love of GOD and Men a Relation of the true State of Salomons House Son to make you know the true State of Salomons House I will keep this Order First I will set forth unto you the End of our Foundation Secondly the Preparations and Instruments we have for our Works Thirdly the â—â—veral Employments and Functious whereto our Fellows are assigned And fourthly the Ordinances and Rites which we observe The end of our Foundation is the Knowledge of Causes and Secret Motions of things and the Enlarging of the bounds of Humane Empire to the Effecting of all Things possible The Preparations and Instruments are these We have large and deep Caves of several Depths The deepest are sunk 600 Fathome And sâ—me of them are digged and made under great Hills and Mountains So that if you reckon together the Depth of the Hill and the Depth of the Cave they are some of them above three miles deep For we find that the Depth of an Hill and the Depth of a Cave from the Flat is the same Thing both remote alike from the Sun and Heavens Beams and from the open Airâ— These Caves we call the Lower Region And we use them for all Coagulations Indurations Refrigerations and Conservations of Bodies We use them likewise for the Imitation of Natural Mines And the Producing also of New Artificial Metals by Compositions and Materials which we use and lay there for many years We use them also sometimes which may seem strange for Curing of some Diseases and for Prolongation of Life in some Hermits that choose to live there well accomodated of all things necessary and indeed live very long by whom also we learn many things We have Burials in several Earths where we put divers Cements as the Chineses do their Porcellane But we have tâ—em in greater Variety and some of them more fine We also have great variety of Composts and Soils for the Making of the Earth Fruitâ—full We have High Towers The Highest about half a Mile in Height And some of them â—ikewise set upon High Mountains So that the Vantage of the Hill with the Tower is in the Highest of them thrâ—e Miles at least And these Places we call the Upper Region Accounting the Air between the High Places and the Low as a Middle Region We use these Towers according to their several Heights and Situations for Insolation Refrigeration Conseâ—vation And for the View of divers Meteors As Winds Rain Snow Haâ—l And some of the Fiery Meteors also And upon them in some Places are Dwellings of Hermits whom we visit sometimes and instruct what to observe We have great Lakes both Salt and Fresh whereof we have use for the Fish and Fowl VVe use them also for Burials of some Natural Bodies For we find a difference in things buried in Earth or in Air belâ—w the Earth and things buried in VVater VVe have also Pools of which some do strain Fresh VVater out of Salt And others by Art do turn Fresh VVater into Salt We have also some Rocks in the Midst
of the Sea And some Bayes upon the Shore for some VVorks wherein is required the Air and Vapour of the Sea We have likewise violent Streams and Cataracts which serve us for many Motions And likewise Engines for Multiplying and Enforcing of VVinds to set also on going divers Motions We have also a Number of Artificial VVells and Fountains made in Imitation of the Natural Sources and Bathes As tincted upon Vitrioll Sulphur Steel Brasse Lead Nitre and other Minerals And again we have little Wells for Infusions of many Things where the Waters take the Vertue quicker and better than in Vessels or Basins And amongst them we have a VVater which we call water of Paradise being by that we do it made very Soveraign for Health and Prolongation of Life VVe have also Great and spacious Houses where we imitate and demonstrate Meteors As Snow Hail Rain some Artificial Rains of Bodies and not of VVater Thunders Lightnings Also Generations of Bodies in Air As Frogs Flies and divers Others We have also certain Chambers which we call Chambers of Health where we qualifie the Air as we think good and proper for the Cure of divers Diseases and Preservation of Health We have also â—air and large Baths of several Mixtures for the Cure of Dâ—seasesâ—and the restoring of Mans Body from Arefaction And other for the Confiming of it in Strength of Sinews vital Parts and the very Juyce and Substance of the Body We have also large and various Orchards and Gardens Wherein we do not so much respect Beauty as Variety of Ground and Soil proper for divers Trees and Herbs And some very spacious whâ—re Trees and Berries are set whereof we make divers Kinds of Drinks besides the Vine-yards In these we practise likewise all Conclusions of Grafâ—ing and Inoculating as well of Wild-Trees as Fruit-Trees which produceth many Effects And we make by Aâ—t in the same Orchards and Gardens Trees and Flowers to come earlier or later than their Seasons And to come up and bear more speedily than by their Natural Course they do We make them also by Art greater much than their Nature And their Fruit greater and sweeter and of differings Taste Smell Colour and Figure from their Nature And many of them we so Order that they become of Medicinal Use We have also Means to make divers Plants rise by Mixtures of Earths without Seeds And likewise to make divers New Plants differing from the Vulgar and to make one Tree or Plant turn into another We have also Parks and Enclosures of all Sorts of Beasts and Birdsâ—which we use not only for view or Rarenesse but likewise for Dissections and Trialsâ—That thereby we may take light what may be wrought upon the Body of Man Wherein we find many strange Effects As Continuing Life in them though divers Parts which you account Vital be perished and taken forth Resuscitating of some that seem Dead in Appearance And the like We try also all Poysons and other Medicines upon them as well of Chirurgery as Physick By Art likewise we make them Greater or Taller than their Kind is And contrariwise Dwarf them and stay their Growth VVe make them more Fruitfull and Bearing than their Kind is And contrary wise Barren and not Generative Also we make them differ in Colour Shape Activity many waies VVe find Means to make Commixtures and Copulations of diverse Kinds which have produced many New Kinds and them not Barren as the general Opinion is VVe make a number of Kinds of Serpents Worms Flies Fishes of putrefaction whereof some are advanced in effect to be perfect Creatures like Beasts or Birds And have Sexes and do propagate Neither do we this by Chance but we know before hand of what Matter and Commixture what Kind of those Creature will arise We have also Particular Pools where we make Trials upon Fishes as we have said before of Beasts and Birds We have also Places for Breed and Generation of those Kinds of Worms and Flies which are of Speciall Use such as are with you your Silkworms and Bees I will not hold you long with recounting of our Brew-houses Bake-houses and Kitchins where are made divers Drinks Breads and Meats Rare and of special Effects Wines we have of Grapes And Drinks of other Juyce of Fruits of Grains and of Roots And of Mixtures with Honey Sugar Manna and Fruits dryed and decocted Also of the Tears or Woundings of Trees And of the Pulp of Canes And these Drinks are of Severall Ages some to the Age or Last oâ— forty years We have Drinks also brewed with severall Herbs and Roots and Spices Yea with several Fleshes and VVhite-Meats whereof some of the Drinks are such as they are in effect Meat and Drink both So that Divers especially in Age doe desire to live with them with little or no Meat or Bread And above all we strive to have Drinks of Extreme Thin Parts To insinuate into the Body and yet without all Biting Sharpnesse or Frettingâ—Insomuch as some of them put upon the Back of your Hand will with a little stay passe thorow to the Palme and yet tast Mild to the Mouth We have also VVaters which we ripen in that fashion as they become Nourishing So that they are indeed excellent Drink And many will use no other Breads we have of Several Grains Roots and Kernels Yea and some of Flesh and Fish Dried With divers kinds of Leavings and Seasonings So that some doe extremely move Appetites Some doe nourish so as Divers doe live of them without any other Meat Who live very long So for Meats we have some of them so beaten and made Tender and mortified yet without alâ— Corrupting as a VVeak Heat of the Stomack will turn them into good Chilus As well as a Strong Heat would Meat otherwise prepared VVe have some Meats also and Breads and Drinks which taken by Men enable them to Fast long afterâ— and some other that used make the very Flesh oâ— Mens Bodies sensibly more Hard and Tough And their Strength farâ— greater than otherwise it would be VVe have Dispensatories or Shops of Medicines VVherein you may easily think if we have such Varietie of Plants and Diving Creatures more than you have in Europe for we know what you have the Simples Druggs and Ingredients of Medicines must likewise be in so much the greater Variety VVe have them likewise of divers Ages and long Fermentations And for their Preparations we have not only all Manner of Exquisite Distillaâ—ions and Separations and especially by Gentle Heats and Percolations through divers Strainers yea and Substances But also Exact Forms of Composition whereby they incorpâ—rate almost as they were Natural Simples We have also divers Mechanical Arts which you have not And Stuffs made by them As Papers Linnen Silks Tissues dainty Works of Feathers of wonderfull Lustre excellent Dies and manie others And Shops likewise as well for such as are notâ—â—rought into Vulgar use amongst us as for those that are