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                                  THE
                              MYSTERYES OF
                             NATVRE AND ART




                                  THE
                              MYSTERYES OF
                            NATVRE AND ART:
                          _Conteined in foure
                severall Tretises, The first of _water_
                  workes, The second of _Fyer_ workes,
                   The third of _Drawing_, Colouring,
                     _Painting_, and Engrauing, The
                  fourth of divers Experiments, as wel
                   serviceable as delightful: partly
                  Collected, and partly of the Authors
                         Peculiar Practice, and
                               Invention_
                                  _by_
                                _I. B_

 _Imprinted at London for Ralph Mab and are to be sold by John Jackson
       and Francis Church at the Kings armes in Cheapeside 1634._

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                             [Illustration]

                            _TO THE READER._


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.

                           _Your Wellwiller_,
                                      _I. B._

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                             [Illustration]

              To my friend the Authour, upon his Mysteries
                           of Nature and Art.


          _When I scan over with a busy eye
          The timely fruits of thy vast industry,
          Observing how thou searchest out the heart
          Of Knowledge, through th' untrodden pathes of Art,
          How easily thy active minde discries
          Natures obscure and hidden rarities,
          No greater wonder than thy selfe I finde,
          The chiefest rarity's thy active minde,
          Which so fore-runs thy age. Thy forward spring
          Buds forth betimes, and thou art publishing
          Ev'n in the morning of thy day, so soone,
          What others are to learne till th' afternoone.
          Now since thy first attempts expos'd thou hast
          To publick censure, and the Dy is cast,
          Doubt not of good successe: the early rose
          (Thou knowst) is snatcht at, ev'n before it blowes.
          Climbe higher yet; let thy quick-sighted eyes
          Venture againe for new discoveries:
          Nor be thou mizer-like, so envious,
          As to detaine what ere thou find'st, from us;
          No, make the world thy debtor; be thou still
          As open-handed to impart thy skill,
          As now thou art; and may thy teeming braine
          Bring often forth such lusty Births againe._

                                                        R. O.

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                             [Illustration]

                           _Of Water-works._


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
mass