Book V. could it come to pafs that the Ufe of the Magnet (21); Printing(22), Clocks (23), Telescopes (24).

and

Reucline, Melanthon, Foach. Camerarius, Wolphlazius, Beat. Rheanus, Almaines: by Erafmus of Rotterdam; Vives a Spaniard; Bembus, Sadoletus, Eugubinus, Italians: Turnebus, Muretus, Ramus, Pithaus, Budeus, Amiot, Scaliger, Frenchmen; Sir Tho. More and Linaker, Englishmen. And about this time, even those Northern Nations yielded their great Men; Denmark yielded Olaus Magnus, Holfter, Tyche Brake, and Hemingius; and Poland, Hofius, Frixius, and Crumerus. But to name the Worthies that followed thefe, down to the prefent time, would be endless, and next to impoffible. See therefore Hakewill's Apolog. L. 3 c. 6. § 2.

(21) Dr. Gilbert, the most learned and accurate Writer on the Magnet, fhews that its Attractive Vertue was known as early as Plato and Ariftotle but its Direction was a discovery of later Ages. He faith, Superiori avo 300 aut 400 labentibus annis, Motus Magneticus in Boream & Auftrum repertus, aut ab hominibus rurfus recognitus fuit. De Mag. L. 1. c. 1. But who the happy Inventer of this lucky Difcovery was, is not known. There is fome, not inconfiderable, Keafon, to think our famous Country-man, Rog. Bacon either difcovered, or at least knew of it. But for it's Ufe in Navigation, Dr. Gilbert faith, in regno Neapolitano Melphitani omnium primi (uti ferunt) pyxidem inftruebant nauticam,

edocti a cive quodam Fol. Goia A. D. 1300. ibid. if the Reader hath a mind to fee the Arguments for the Invention, being as old as Solomon's or Plautus's time, or of much younger date, he may confult Hakewill. ib. c. 10. §. 4. or Purchas Pilgr. L. 1. c. 1. §. I.

As to the Magnetick Variation, Dr. Gilbert attributes the Difcovery of it to Sebaftian Cabott. And the Inclination, or Dipping of the Needle, was the Difcovery of our ingeous Rob. Norman. And lastly, the Variation of the Variation was first found out by the ingenious Mr. H. Gellibrand. Aftr. Prof. of Gresham-Col. about 1634. Vid. Gellibr. Difc. Math on the Variat, of the Mag. Need. and its Variat. Anno 1635.

But fince that, the before commended Dr. Halley, having formerly in Philof.Tranf. No. 148. and 195. given a probable Hypothefis of the Variation of the Compafs, did in the Year 1700. undertake a long and hazardous Voyage, as far as the Ice near the South Pole, in order to examine his faid Hypothefis, and to make a Syftem of the Magnetical Variations: which being foon after published, has been fince abundantly confirmed by the French, as may be feen in feveral of the late Memoirs de Phyfique & de Mathematique, publifh'd by the French Academie des Sciences.

Το

To thefe Difcoveries, I hope the Reader will excufe me› if I add one of my own, which I deduced fome Years ago from fome magnetical Experiments and Obfervations I made; which Difcovery I alfo acquainted our Royal Society with fome time fince, viz. That as the common, horizontal Needle is continually varying towards the E. and W. fo is the Dipping-Needle varying up and down, towards or fromwards the Zenith, with its magnetick Tendency defcribing a Circle round the Pole of the World, as I conceive, or fome other point. So that if we could procure a Needle fo nicely made, as to point exactly according to it's magnetick Direction, it would, in fome certain number of years, defcribe a Circle, of about 13 gr. Radius round the magnetick Poles Northerly and Southerly This I have for feveral Years fufpected, and have had fome Rea❤ fon for it too, which I mentioned three or four Years ago at a Meeting of our Royal-Society, but I have not yet been fo happy to procure a tolerable good Dipping-Needle, or other proper one to my mind, to bring the thing to fuffi cient Teft of Experience; as in a fhort time I hope to do,. having lately hit upon a Contrivance that may do the thing. (22) It is uncertain who was the Inventer of the Art of Printing, every Hiftorian afcribing the Honour thereof to his own City or Country. Accordingly fome afcribe the Invention of it to John Guttenberg, a Knight of Argentine, about 1440. and fay that Fauftus was only his Affiftant. Bertius afcribes it to Laurence John of Haerlem, and faith Fuft or Fauft ftole from him both his Art and Tools. And to name no more, fome attribute it to John Fuft or Fauft, and Peter Schoeffer (called by Fuft in fome of his Imprima turs, Pet. de Gernefbem puer meus.) But there is now to be feen at Haerlem, a Book or two printed by Lau. Kofter, before any of these, viz. in 1430. and 1432. (See Mr. Ellis's Letter to Dr. Tyfon, in Phil. Tranf. No. 286.) But be the firft Inventer who it will, there is however great Reason to believe, that the Art received great Improvements from Fauft and his Son in Law Schoeffer, the latter being the In-, venter of metalline Types, which were cut in Wood before, firft in whole Blocks, and afterwards in fingle Types or Let-: ters. See my learned Friend Mr. Wanley's Obfervations in Philof. Tranf No. 288. and 310..

(23) Concerning the Antiquity and Invention of Clocks and Clock-work, I refer the Reader to a little Book, called the Artificial Clock-maker, Ch. 6. Where there is fome Account of the Ancients Inventions in Clock-work, as Archimedes's Sphere, Ctefibius's Clock, &c.

(24) The Invention of Telescopes, Hieron Syrturus gives this Account of, Prodiit Anno 1609, feu Genius, feu alter

T 3

vir

and an hundred things befides fhould efcape the Discovery of Archimedes, Anaximander, Anaximenes, Pofidonius, or other great Virtuofo's of the early Ages, whofe Contrivances of various Engines, Spheres, Clepfydra and other curious Inftruments are recorded (25)? And why cannot the

vir adbuc incognitus, Hollandi fpecie, qui Middleburgi in Ze landia convenit Fob. Lipperfein Fuffit perfpicilla plura tam cava.quam convexa, confici. Condicto die rediit, abfolutum opus cupiens, atque ut ftatim babuit pra manibus, bina fufcipiens, cavum feil. & convexum, unum & alterum oculo admovebat, & fenfim dimovebat five ut punctum concur fus, five ut artificis opus probaret, poftea abiit. Artifex, ingenii minime expers, & novitatis curiofus cœpit idem facere & imitari, &c. Vid. Muf. Worm. L. 4. c. 7.

(25) Among the curious Inventions of the Antients Archytas's Dove was much famed of which Aul. Gellius gives this Account. Scripferunt Simulachrum Columba è ligno ab Archyta ratione quadam difciplinaque mechanica factum, volaffe. Ita erat fcilicet libramentis fufpenfum, & aura fpiritus inclufa atque occulta concitum. Not. Attic. L. 10. c. 12, The fame eminent Pythagorean Philofopher (as Favorinus in Gellius calls him) is by Horace accounted a notable Geo metrician too, Te maris & terra, numeroque carentis arene Menforem Archyta. Among the reft of his Inventions, Children's Rattles are afcribed to him. Ariftotle, calls them •AUTY Tαrag, Polit. 8. i. e. Archytas's Rattle. And Dio genianus the Grammarian gives the Reafon of his Invention; 'Are Aatayn in , &c. That Archytas's Rattle was to quiet Children's for be having Children, contrived the Rattle, which he gave them to prevent their [tumbling, diRoivo] other things about the Houfe.

To thefe Contrivances of Archytas, we may add Regiomon. tanus's Wooden Eagle, which flew forth of the City aloft in the Air, met the Emperour a good way off, coming towards it, and having faluted him, return'd again, waiting on him to the City Gates. Alfo his Iron-fly, which at a Feaft flew forth off bis Hands, and taking a Round, returned thither again. Vid. Hakewill ub. fupr. c. To. § 1.

As to other Inventions of the Antients, fuch as of Letters, Brick and Tiles, and building Houfes, with the Saw, Rule, and Plumber, the Lath, Augre, Glue, c. alfo the making

Brafs

279 the present or paft Age, so eminent for polite Litérature, for Difcoveries and Improvements in all curious Arts and Bufineffes (perhaps beyond any known Age of the World; why cannot it, I fay) difcover thofe hidden Quæfita, which may probably be referved for the Discovery of future and lefs learned Generations?

Of thefe Matters, no fatisfactory Account can be given by any mechanical Hypothefis, or any other way, without taking in the Superintendence

Brafs, Gold, and other Metals; the ufe of Shields, Swords, Bows and Arrows, Boots, and other Inftruments of War; the Pipe, Harp, and other musical Inftruments; the building of Ships and Navigation, and many other things befides; the Inventors of thefe (as reported by ancient Heathen Authors) may be plentifully met with in Plin. Nat. Hift. L. 7. c.56.

But in this Account of Pliny, we may obferve whence the Ancients (even the Romans themselves in fome measure) had their Accounts of thefe Matters, viz. from the fabulous Greeks, who were fond of afcribing every thing to themfelves. The Truth is (faith the most learned Bishop Stillingfleet) there is nothing in the World ufeful or beneficial to Mankind, but they, have made a Shift to find the Author of it among themfelves. If we enquire after the Original of Agriculture, we are told of Ceres and Triptolemus; if of Pafturage, we are told of an Arcadian Pan; if of Wine, we presently bear of a Liber Pater; if of iron Inftruments, then who but Vulcan? if of Mufick, none like to Apollo. If we prefs them then with the Hiftory of other Nations, they are as well provided here: if we enquire an account of Europe, Afia, or Libya; for the first we are told a fine Story of Cadmus's Sifter; for the fecond of Prometheus's Mother of that Name; and for the third of a Daughter of Epaphus. And fo the learned Author goes on with other particular Nations, which they boafted themselves to be the Founders of. Only the grave Athenians thought Scorn to any Father affigned them, their only Ambition was to be accounted Aborigines & genuini Terra. But the Ignorance and Vanity of the Greek Hiftory, that learned Author hath fufficiently refuted. Vid Stilling. Orig. Sacr, Part. I. B. 1. Ch.

bave

4.

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(26)

dence of the great Creator and Ruler of the World; who oftentimes doth manifeft himself in fome of the moft confiderable of thofe Works of Men, by fome remarkable Tranfactions of his Providence, or by fome great Revolution or other happening in the World thereupon. Of this I might inftance in the Invention of Printing (26), fucceeded first by a train of Learned Men, and the Revival of Learning, and foon after that by the Reformation, and the much greater Improve ments of Learning at this Day. But the most confiderable Inftance I can give is, the Progress of Chriftianity, by means of the civilized Difpofition, and large Extent of the Roman Empire. The latter of which, as it made way for Human Power; fo the former made way for our moft excellent Religion into the Minds of Men. And fo I hope, and earnestly pray, that the Omnipotent and All-wife Ruler of the World will tranfact the Affairs of our moft holy Religion, e'er it be long, in the Heathen World; that the great Improvements made in the laft, and prefent Age, in Arts and Sciences, in Navigation and Commerce,may be a means to tranfport our Religion, as well as Name, through all the Nations of the Earth. For we find that our Culture of the more polite and curious Sciences, and our great Improvements in even the Mechanick Arts, have already

made

(26) Whether Printing was invented in 1440, as many imagine, or was fooner practifed, in 1430 or 1432, as Mr. Ellis's Account of the Dutch Infcription in Phil. Tranf. No. 286. doth import; it is however manifeft, how great an Influence (as it was natural) this Invention had in the promoting of Learning foon afterwards, mentioned before In Note 28. After which followed the Reformation about the Year 1517.

(27) The