THE
MYSTERYES OF
NATVRE AND ART

Courteous Reader, this ensuing Treatise hath lien by mee a long time, penned, but in a confused and undigested manner, as I gathered it, practised, or found it out by industry and experience. It was not in my minde to have as yet exposed it to the publique view: but being sollicited by the intreaties of some, and those not a few, to impart to each particular person what his Genius most affected; I was enforced as well for the satisfying of their requests, as for the avoydance of many inconveniences, to dispose in some order such Experiments as for the present I was content to impart. Expect no elegancy of phrase, for my time would not afford that, (nor indeed my selfe to be the transcriber.) I endeavored as much as I could, to write in plaine termes, that in regard of the easinesse thereof it might suit with the meanest capacity. The whole book consisteth of foure parts: The first whereof treateth of Water-workes. The second of Fire-workes. The third of Drawing, Painting, Graving, and Etching. The fourth and last part treateth of severall Experiments, as well serviceable as delightfull: which because they are confusedly intermixed, I have entituled them Extravagants.

Now my chiefest ayme and end being the generall good, I could wish a generall acceptance, but that is too uncertaine to expect: I will content my selfe that I am already certaine that these my first and weak endeavours will finde acceptance with some, and I hope also with all honest and indifferent Readers; as for others, hap as hap may be, it is not to be doubted, but that I shall scape as well as many my betters have done before me. Farewell.

It hath been an old saying amongst Philosophers, and experience doth prove it to be true, Non datur vacuum, that is to say, Nature will not admit of any vacuity, or emptinesse. For some one or other of the Elements, but especially Ayre, and Water doe insert themselves into all manner of concavities, or hollownesses, in, or upon the earth, whether they are such as are formed either by Art or Nature. For the one it is so obvious, and manifest, as that it needs not any proofe at all. As for the other, I shall make it manifest unto you by easie demonstration. Let there be gotten a large vessell of glasse, or other, having besides the mouth another hole (though but a little one) at the top: poure water into the vessell by a tunnell thrust into the mouth of it, and you shall finde that as the water runneth into the vessell, a winde will come forth of the little hole, sufficient to blow out a candle being held over it. This proveth, that before the water was poured into the vessell (though to our sight it appeared to bee empty) it was full of ayre, which forced out of the vessell as the water ran in; and the reason hereof is, because the water is by nature of a massie, subtill, substance; and the ayre of a windy, light, evaporative nature: The knowledge of this, with the rarifaction of inclosed ayre, is the ground and foundation of divers excellent experiments not unworthy the knowledge of any ingenious Artist whatsoever.