The Hartlib Papers

               EPHEMERIDES

                  ANNI

                  1643

1643.

Holler found out a new way of etching and a new kind of Aqua Fortis or Parting Water without that diseasing or killing annoyance which accompanies the other.   And if this bee so then it may bee applied For printing vpon thin Cupper-Plates.   Galettus at Paris is said to excell in the Art of Etching for dispatch.   Mr Hack.

Art of Etching.

Typographia.

A Remedy against the Annoyance of the Parting Water to make as it were a snout before one's face that should bee put into another roome out of which wee should fetch in the Aire.   As in parallel is seene in the practice of the vrinatores.   Pell.

Mr Hall of Norwich, Minister, of vast Reading and Memory.   Offered to conferre at large about the Lawfulnes of the Lords Prayer with little Mr Goodwin but hee did not compare   My Lord Francis Hobart hase a great interest in him.

Hall

Lord Hobart

Dr Bagre's Purging-Head Pills are exceeding soveraigne for the Head.   An Apothecary at Francfort hase the Recept of it.   Hee dose send them far and neere and gotten a great deal of wealth by them.   From Mr Kendrich.

Medica

Kendrich

The Places of Controversys amongst all <disputants> being gathered to our hands in the great [Greek?] Testament in 4. by way of Appendix it were not amisse to put them into one Body with an Analysis Duræana etc by way of Answer. etc.

Desiderata Biblica

Elenchtica scripturæ

Mris Laramor an excellent woman for surgery, the curing of the Mother and all other women-diseases.   Shee hase done most wonderful cures.   Mr Southern.

Medici

Londiniensis

1. To get by heart a Lexicon didacticum <Comenianum> Wendelinianum see his preface in Medulla Latinitatis, hoc est Practica cum derivatione et compositione nativa significatione. Et hoc beneficio methodi Bodinianæ et   [Pict?] 2. Pars Grammatica etymologica sive declinatio et Conjugatio Methodo Bodiniana et Brukiana.

3. Praxis instituatur in Ianua interpretando.

4. Phraseologia sive Medulla Wendelini. per propria didactica. 2. et methodo Bodiniana.

5. Præceptor [Lubriciani?] loquendi. 1. crebra repetitione   2. exercisis contrarium.

6. Lectio et Interpretatio plenaria Autorum Hubneriana.

7. Versiones Reciprocæ Ashami <Brukii> et Inventiones Hubnerianæ pro ornatu et tota structura.

4 April.

Didactica Linguarum

Lingua Latina etc.

The 18. of April begun my communications with Mr Scringer.   Hee professed himself to bee a great Traveller in his younger years.   A great Experimenter of Lapis Philosophorum.   A professed student and Proficient in Medicina et Re Medica.   A great library of all manner of Medici Libri.   A Scottishman.   His lodging in Charter House.

Scringer.

Thomas Grantham Mr of Arts in Mugwell Streete neere to the Sunne. April 20. 1643. Vndertakes in a year to teach Latin et Greeke.

Didactica Linguæ

Latinæ et Græcæ

Iustice Long sayes that he learned of an old man (who had above 40 yeeres vsed it) to brush down his bare backe from the nape of the necke to the end of the backe bone every evening & morning about halfe a score strokes with the softer end of such French brushes as commonly hang vp in Barbers shops to brush our heads.

The cause of This is done to open all the pores in the backe that so nothing which descends from the braine (by the conjuncture of the nerves in the necke and backe bone) may settle in the backe or kidneyes so to breede the stone by the over heating or lying on the backe.

He hath vsed it these 6 or 7 yeeres himselfe & sayes that it hath freed him from the feare of the stone which was begun in him with much paine.

He further sayes that for want of such a brush you may rubbe downe the backe, but be sure to begin from the very nape, and this will be good also when in the night you awake and find that you have turned in your sleepe and lien vpon your backe.

He saieth that the Old man is yet living about 90 yeeres old, a sound strong man without any paines of the stone which first forced him to vse this seeming frivolous exercise, and that in a word he ailes nothing.

Lady Smith was advised to rubbe vp and downe her necke with a cloth wherby she found much good in the paines of toothake.   Cozen Catharen.

Toothake.

Wheras I have promised in former bills to teach to write and speake Latin properly and to vnderstand the Greeke reasonable well within the compasse of one year I now promise (by the helpe of God) to doe all this in halfe the time to any that can but reade English perfectly, and the Learner shall give his Rules out of the Latin and Greeke Grammers,   if any doubt of this they may (if they please) come and examine my schollers before they goe to the Vniversity, vpon whom it is done already.

Didactici Linguarum Grantham.

Thomas Grantham Mr in Art Professor of the Greek and Latin Tongue in Mugwell Street neere the signe of the Sunne.   April. 20. 1643.

Dr Wiseman dyed about Christmas last.   Hee had perfited almost his Treatise of the Balsamum Vitæ or Lapis.   I meane to show his Positions concerning it and the grounds for the Extraction of the spirit which hee confessed to have had and to know the way to extract it or inbodied when hee pleases.   The MS hee sent to Thomas Goodwyn et who never respondet himself of whom hee complained on his death-bed as one that by keeping it so long by him had beene a hinderer of the publishing of it for a more common good.   Hee kept a perfect diary of his life and all his Actions and especially about the debates which hee had had about this subject and designe.   Hee fancied that this Balsamum Vitæ (wherby men might live a 1000 years) to bee most in vse in the 1000 years of Christ.   The Manner of extracting

Dr Wiseman.

Mr Wishcot.

MS. Chymicæ

hee had not yet set downe to Paper but the preliminarys and introductions were ready for the presse.   But whose have now the MS. hee could not tell.   Mr Whichcot.

There is another at Cambridge Mr Iohnson by name a Gentleman of 500 a year formerly who hase spent his whole estate vpon the Perpetuus Motus and other Mechanical Industries so that hee hase left himself not above 80. lb. per annum.   Hee is now ancient and gouty but very courteous and responsive to schollars.   Id.

Inventiones

Iohnson.

Whichcot.

Herr Camerarius misit 5 Iuly 1643 per Freher a Treatise called Succincta Veritatis Demonstratio sive Responsio ad declarationem Bavaricam circa amicabilem Tractatum in Causa Electorali Palatina annis 1641. et 1642. susceptum, typis nuper evulgatum.   Anno 1643.

Politica

Palatina.

A most excellent MS. 3. years agoe offered to bee licenced and because of the curtailing taken away again but what is since become of it cannot bee knowen.   Mr Herberts of Cambridge De Cura Pastorali.   Mr Woodward perhaps can give further direction for it.

Arderley

MS Theologica

Woodward

Mr Milton in Aldersgate Street hase written many good books a great traveller and full of projects and inventions.

Milton

The iuce of browne nettles mixed and drunke in wine is very soveraigne against the stone.   Mris King.

Medica

contra

Calculum

The seeds of a Thistle drunke in somwhat was imparted as a great secret to Mr Plats.

A new kinde of bellows to put in Tobacco and to smoake out of beds the fleas but tried that Tobacco

Inventiones

Mechanicæ.

Perfumes

will not doe it.   Ergo something else must bee tried, flea-kraut or the like.   But the Bellows will sefve excellently for perfuming with any other odours.   They cost about 5 shillings a paire.   Mr Pell etc base had one.   Plats.

Perfuming with the smoake of quick silver killes all the lice etc.   Probatum.   Plats.

Engelbert Bows to short Granadoes will keepe of any siege.   Hee had a Pension of a 100. marke allowed vnto him but was forbidden to reveale the Invention to others by Queen Elizabeth's Councell who had nothing to object against it but that it would spoile the Art of Warre.   There were 1000 of them of such steele bows in the Tower but they were all sold according to the valew of the steele.   One of them is yet in Southwarke to bee seene and Mr Plats could make them if need were.

Mechanica

Bellica

Hee knows also the Inventor of a Portatil oven to bake bread in remoovable vpon a wheele-barrow for a thousand men in a day and night.

Plats

Mechanica Militaria

Hee can make sophisticated Mettal that will yeeld a profit equivalent to a trade, <which> shal not bee discerned and last continually.

Plats Chymica

There is an Invention in the Tower which may bee set up in a day for the more dispatchful Minting of smal monys vpon which Mr Plats himself wrought.   I take it to bee Engelberts Invention.   Plats.

Inventiones Mechanicæ.

Plats

The King was apprehended as a Poore Man when hee was in his courtly state because there were so many gatherings for him in the Country.   Id.

Historia et Moralia

In bestowing of any new Inventions vpon the Commonwealth wee must buy a Fame as the Gallants in Venetia vse to doe when they seeke for a good Marriage or office etc then they vse to enrich their young Brother etc.   Plats.

Ars Agendi

Plats hase excellent Remedies against et for the curing of the Plague.

Plague.

Plats

No better way to sweate then by stone bottles with hot water in them wrapped in a blanket.   For with the like degrees you coole.   Id.

Medica

Sweathing.

Lady Smart hase an excellent Water for the Eyes and so cozen Reade sister found good by it.

Lady Smart.

Eye-sight

Mr Whyte Plats special acquaintance <one> that lived for many years with Dr Evered who spent many hundred lb. vpon Chymistry is a most exquisite fellow and the best in England for making all manner of furnaces and of divers other industries.   Plats.

Plats. Whyte.

Chymica

Salt of Wormwood an approved remedy being eaten with meat as other salt to close and shut the Liver that it may the better disperse all its operations.   Id.

Liver Medica

A Receipt against Feet that smell or stinke.   Take wheaten Branne dried it well and weare it in thy sockes as thicke as you can conveniently weare it for a weeke or 10. days together.   Every morning fresh branne this is knowen to bee a special helpe.   Cozen Catherin.

Stinking feet

How to get Grease out of a Carpet etc.   Take a fire-shovel and heat it red hot and hold it a pretty distance from the carpet and this will draw it out.   Id.

Experimemta against Grease

How to get Pitch or Tarre out of

a Cloth.

Take Aqua Vitæ and dip it well in and lay it in the heat of the sunne and that will fetch it out.   Mr Lisle to Cozen Catherin.

Experiment against Pitch

Dr Mayerne hase a most approoved Receipt how to prevent or cure the scorbut in those that goe to ship.   Hee promised to publish it for a general good but never did it.   Plats.

Dr Mayerne

Scorbutus

One Pindar a minister in the North of Essex a most excellent worker in brasse farre above Allen in all manner of Mathematical Instruments, of which Mr Frost hase some.   De la Maine hase many Instruments from him.   Hee wrought also some things for the king in silver very curiously.   Frost feares that now his eye-sight begins to faile him.   Hee hase but a Living of 50. lb. and is not taken notice of according to his desert. etc.   Pell.

Pindar

Mathematica

Instrumenta

Frost

1. A Lumbard. 2. An Office of Addresse. 3. A Free-schoole of Husbandry or a House of Experiments are greatly wanting in England.   Plats.

Opera Publica

Angliæ

Some must not bee imparted as that of poisoning at distances which Plats knows.   Hee hase read over almost a 1000. MS et Books concerning this subject but findes none so good as Filum Ariadnes and Physica Restituta etc. at Paris.

Experimenta

Plats

Lapis.

Hee hase a never failing Receipt against Tooth-ache which is to make a blister behind the eare to let out the humors which will bee withdrawn from the tooth this way.   Id.

Toothach.

A writing Pen curiously made of silver <with> 4 squares or ecken brought by Mr Westphaly from Paris.

Inventiones

The addresse for it follow's in his owne words.   Vne plume quarrée couste cinquante sols.   On en trouve au Palais chez les Merciers.   On l'appelle ordinairement un croyon.

It cost's about 3 shillings.   It does not cut nor blot the Paper and may bee sharpened as it grows blunt.   On one side there is black lead.   It being 4-squared the inke lasted the longer in it.   NB. only you must keep it always without greazing.

Hee is making accuratly Ferrum Potabile without any corrosion.   It is very soveraigne for purging and vomiting without any nauseousnes.   It purges purely all the ill out of the stomack and leaves nothing behind.   It is a kind of yellow powder and will not hurt a sound body. It is excellent to cure Feavers or Agues etc.

Plats.

Medica.

Ferrum Potabile

One of the best Bookes that hase beene written for the curing of the stone according to Sir H. Wottons judgment is Theodorus Baronius De difficultate mejendi, in 4to Venetiis.   It is very hard to bee gotten, yet there is a copy of it in Eton College Library.   Also Frenus De Flatibus in 8. is highly commended.   Mr Martin.

Libri selectiores

Medici et Rariores.

Calculus

Mr Vnderhil can helpe mee to all his bookes.   Hee hase written a Treatise De Divortio wherin hee maintained Paradoxes and new Opinions and therfore will not bee known to bee the Author it it. Vnderhil.

Milton.

Divortium.

Daulman hase gotten the MS of the deceits from Mr Goodwin.   Daulman.

Libri Practicæ

Theologiæ Angliæ

No better Receipt against Bleeding then to hold the Cold of a Pestil in the neck but especially wet nap cold napkins one after another to ones Privy Members.   An

Bleeding

Experiment which yet never failed.   Mr Plats.

De Ratione discendæ docendæque Linguæ Latinæ et Græcæ libri duo Anthonio Schoro Authore.   Cum Gratia et privilegio ad annos 8. Argentorati 1571.

It is a very choice Booke out of which no doubt Dr Webbe hase taken many of his hintes.   Mr Grantham can shew it at any time.

Didactici

Libri Linguarum

Pag. 34. in præfatione - Nobis vero placeret vt commutatis temporibus personis locis rebus etiam vernaculo sermone quæ docuit (præceptor) versa proponat: quæ deinde Puer sua industria in Latinum sermonem et iis maxime modis quos tum audivit, convertat.   Cujus exempla iis quæ in Epistolis ad Tironem observavimus, addidimus: non quo quenquam nostris rationibus alligemus sed vt viam tum aliquam ad imitandum commonstremus.   Is vero qui eo exercitationis genere aliquid perfecit ad majora et perfectiora est adducendus vt nimirum Epistolas Ciceronis ad verbum a Magistro vulgari sermone expressas Latine non inspectas de suis facultatibus reddat.   Sed hoc non nisi ii præstare possunt qui aliquamdiu sunt in sermonis Latini studiis versati.   Hoc enim modo Pueri oratio non doctoris sui arbitrio sed præstantissimorum Authorum judicio emendabitur. Neque quicquam [perniciosius?] accidere studiis Latinæ Linguæ possit quam quod neglecta omni Imitatione Pueri a suis Magistris magis quam Romanis ipsis Latinitatem discere cogantur, perversius vero nihil ne cogitari quidem possit quam quod es convertenda Latine de vernaculo sermone præscribant, quorum vel Nomina vel Loquendi Modos neque tum neque antea Puer audivit.

Et in Appendice de Ratione

Aliorum generum epistolas imitari facile possumus ex his quæ nunc ostendimus.   In omnibus enim ratio est primum ea servanda vt capitibus quibusdam, quæ ad imitandum sibi proponere studiosus debet, comprehendantur.

Deinde aut Ciceronis verbis servatis, sed accomodatis ad id, quod tibi proposuisti, aut commutatis verbis eodem sensu vniversam epistolæ formam exprimes, i.e. Axiomatical et diaroetical imitation vt Brook loquitur.

For souldjers dublets or Brests made of silke and sinews that keepes out petternel shot swords, halberts or pikes - At the Eagle and Child on Snow-hill.   The like never before invented. in Sept. 1643.

Invention.

An approoved Antidote or Cordial Medicine that by Gods favour cureth the Pestilential Feaver or Plague with other contagious Agues or Feavers beginning either hot or cold and that at once taking or at the most at twice and hath no taste nor smel; and the quantity at one time to bee taken is but 8. Graines and the Vertue therof will not decay in 7 years.   This Powder is made by one Wooddart

Medica

Pestis

Woodard.

a Chirurgeon that lived once bejond the Rojal Exchange.   Mr Stoughton dose highly commend it as having tried it vpon himself and vpon his child to bring out the Smal Poxe.   Hee supposed it to bee a Mineral Mercurius Auri or the like.   Hee shewed it to Mr Oughtred but hee could not find it out. Hee offered the Author for the Receipt 20. lb.. afterward 100. lb.. but hee would not part with it.   But the Powder may bee had.   Stoughton.

Smal Poxe

Mr Stoughton

Sambuck or Sambruck a great linguist for Oriental Languages.   Hee should have beene Professor in Chelsy Colledge. Hee is very well acquainted with Mr Wahl.

Wahl. Babbington.

Sambruck

So is one Babbington (his Father a rich man in the (country <City>) living in the Country.   One that hase a great number of most approoved Medicins and Experiments and all manner of Mechanical Inventions for Military and other vses. Wahl.

Experimenta

Medica Inventiones

Hee knew a better Translation of Tobie out of which hee hase taken an extract.   Frost.

Frost.

Hee hase a world of excellent Inventions.   Amongst others how to catch beastes and fowles in Plantations in abundance.   How to preserve ones selfe from the annoyance of hurtful beasts.   How to take anything from amongst the Lions without any danger.   How to hang a great Bell in the ayre.   His other Military Inventions see the bundel of Inventions.

Edmond Felton.

Inventiones.

Thomas Nut offered to have many Inventions. Weemes the 2 of Nov. went with his Leather ordnance the Parliament giving him 2000 lb. in hand and 4000. vpon publick faith.

Inventiones

Hee can make smal and great on horsebacke or otherwise.   Hee hase brought them to such a perfection that the 2. inconveniences are now quite taken of, the 1. that they doe not lift themselves vp any more and so misse their Marke, the second that you may shoote with them all the day long a hundred shot or more without any breaking.   The French Ambassador had once engaged him giving him 500. in hand and afterward a great yearly Pension.   But hee was taken post going over and accused of Treason.   But the king having refused his offers hee was cleared, and a Master Gunners place of England 200 lb. a year bestowed vpon him.   Now the Parlament hase gotten him for the vse of Sir William Waller.

Dr Mösler knows one walking in Westminster-hall which vndertakes (and did see a proofe) to shoot with his Powder in any Musket once as far as you can doe with your ordinary Powder and Muskets.

Mösler

Young Freher heard of one neere Westminster that promised to carry over a River more in an houre then by ordinary Ferries or any other helpes could bee done in a whole day.

Freher.

This hee promised to discover to the Holland Ambassadors.

Des Augsburgers kunst geschutz giessen dass weniger erzt vnd Mettal darin sein soll vnd also viel leichter vnd dennoch völlig so gut sey als ein ander geschutz.   Dr Mösler knowes that Invention which his Brother communicated to the king and had 200. lb. for it.

Dr Mösler

Inventiones Metallicæ

Weems makes also Leatherne Musquets shootting bullets of one lb. weight.

Inventiones

Bullets

Hee is with the Parlament that can shoote little arrows out of Muskets of most terrible execution.   Many more are in readines of that sort but were never yet vsed.   Mr Vernon.

Mr White hase amongst <many> other things invented a new kind of Furnaces which will save charges and coales.   For hee vndertakes to save one third part of the charges of fire in all Brew-houses dyers-Houses and all other Houses and emploiments where boyling of liquid substances cause the charge.   Plats.

Inventiones

Oeconomicæ Mechanicæ

White.

Hase a way of making a new more forcible way of Gun-powder. 2. an Art of burying of Granadoes. 3. of hindring or spoiling of Gunners in discharging of Ordnance. 4. of going harmlesse to all manner of wild beasts etc. 5. to secure Country Townes fromm being plundred by the Enemies Horse and in a very cheape way.   And this way is most excellent for the Citty to overthrow a very great Army if come against it. 2. to march securely to take Townes and with little blood of both sides especially on the Parlament and to take forts and other good helpes for the souldjers that shal march.

Felton.

Hee can yet make Armes (of wool etc.) quilted far lighter then hee at Snow-hill. which will bee somwhat dearer.   As the his brest-workes are made.

Felton Inventiones

Hee hase also an Art of shooting bullets (a great deale