The Hartlib Papers

                     EPHEMERIDES

                         ANNI

                         1654

                           55

                           56

                           57

                           58.

                         1654

Greattricks hath invented a Way of cutting of Tobacco by an Instrument wherby one man may dispatch as much as 20. other men can doe. Greatricks.

Inventiones Cutting of Tobacco.

Greattricks.

The best composition of Purging Pills. Son Clodius approoved those which Dr Kuffler doth vse. the Receipt of which Mr Morian hath imparted vnto him in a letter. Clodius.

Purging Pils.

Clodius.

The flegma Vitrioli is the most soveraigne present helpe for any burning to take away the aking of it blistering swelling, as it were in a moment.

Flegma Vitriolis.

Burning.

It is also excellent for running or sore and red ey's. Clodius.

Red Running Eys.

And yet that Water is ordinarily cast away. Id.

Dr Playford dwelling in Coventgarden a very inventive man presented a curious needle-worke to the Lord Protector and brags of an Invention of certain Philosophical Bellows which wherby one can performe all the busines of boyling and brewing in halfe an houre etc. Doughty.

Dr Playford.

Bellow's.

The Invention of Woodden Bellow's hath beene in vse in Sweden these 15. yeares which was invented by a German, but are now in common vse. They last twice or thrice as long as the Leathern ones, give a far stronger blast then those other, and need not to bee repaired. Colonel Wurtz confessed that Mr Potter had hid of his owne accord vpon most part of the Invention. They may cost 6 lb.

Woodden Bellows.

Foure great and principal Vses of Mr Potter's Invention for raising of water. 1. for cleering of Mines from

Potter. Invention.

Raising of Water.

Water (the profits of which Kalthof counted to bee equal if not exceeding the Revenues of any king). 2. for Watering of Town's or bringing of water into Townes. Cities etc. 3. for taking of all Mills fro vpon rivers to make them Navigable etc. 4. for flooding or watering of Lands. which also Sir Cheney Culpeper suggested. 5. for imploying of many thousands if not hundred thousands of Poore People that may bee set to digging of Mines. which by way of pensa Mr Atchison may bee made to particularize. Mr Potter.

Pensa Atchinson.

The Earl of Worcester motions that all the mines might bee farmed by the Protector which by the improovement of the fore-said addition would come to a Million of yearly Revenue by which meanes all Taxes might bee taken of.

Didactica Divitiarum. Opera Parliamenta.

A man of 70 years in Holstein professed to have found an incredible benefit by the daily vse of this Elixir, it being a vniversal cordial to the whole Body.

It cost's my son about 20. shillings besides the paines and attendance and therfore may bee sold for 2. lb or more very lawfully. Clodius.

Didactica Sanitatis <sensitatis>

Elixir Proprietatis.

When it is prepared with the spirit of Vrin it's then made in his perfection and will then more certainly also cure Quartans and other feavers. Id.

Elixir proprietatis. Spiritus vrinæ.

Out of Lemons when you have extracted the better vses, the water remaining will bee of a perfuming nature and something else being put into it, the water will bee more Cosmetical. Quæstio if the plaine common Lemon-Water may

Quartan-Feaver.

not as well as Rose-Water bee vsed by Barbers. Albureth.

Mr Potter should bee entreated to make out his Advice vpon the Danish project especially for the vse of orphans and widdows.

Mr Potter.

Didactica divitiarum.

Danish Project.

Orphans Widdows.

The 29. of Ianuary Mr Ramsay imparted vnto mee a secret How to put Brasse into a silver-colour which was translated out of the German Artists owne language and is amongst my Papers.

Brasse-silvering.

The goodnes of it ad above other Way's consists in the lastingnes of the Colour that it shal never weare of. Ramsay.

There is an excellent Man but a very meane and plain fellow that hath excellent and transcendent skill in all manner of water-works for which end hee hath beene often called into the Low Countries and now may bee gained for Mr Potter or Rushworth Water Works. Hee makes also woodden-clocks with all the Astronomical Motions vpon it. Clodius.

Holstejin -

Mechanici

Water-Works

Woodden-clock.

Some Chapters ex Iohannes Francese Mirandula which is one of the Treatises in Theatro Chemico, may very fitly illustrate Potter's designe for Bank of Lands. As the 1 Chapter whose Argument is 1. Aurum non semper a Primordiis sæculorum ipsiusque inventionis initio sic æstimatum consensu Nationum vt res cæteras metiretur. Also

Chapter 2. Quod non tanti vt fit ducendum sit Aurum ex vtilitate de rei natura petita. etc.

Potters Bank of Lands.

Son Clodius Father tried several Experiments about muske etc. affirmed in Horti-cultura but found them all vntrue. Clodius.

Lauremberg

Horticultura

Calcanthum Cyprium or Vitriole of Cyprus to lay it in water as long as you can say Pater noster, and to wash your ey's with it is very excellent for the Ey's.

It is also excellently good for wounds and cuts. The vitriol is to bee taken out and dryed to bee laid vp. Clodius.

Cyprus-Vitriol

Eyes.

Spirit of vrine and spiritus sanguinis humani are the most soveraigne medicines in that disease according to Helmont. They differ only that the latter cures the foresaid diseases radicitus and that in adultes. Id.

Epilepsy. Apoplexy.

Spiritus vrinæ.

Spiritus sanguinis humani.

All Vina Acida [nought?] Arthriticis and those inclined to Gout and stone. Yet they may bee drunk without that inconveniency if you drink take before it either sal-vrinæ or sal cancrorum. Id.

Vina Acidæ Rhenish Wine. Gout, stone, Arthritis. Sal Cancrorum vrinæ.

In Moschus you may easily and plainly discerne the blood. Id.

Moschus. sanguis.

One Reason alledged by Mr Pell why the Vintages and making of wine ceased in England was for want of vessels and of a stouage or Cellars. The like also he judged of Cidar.

Vintages of England.

Ergo the Tarras-Invention should bee the more prosecuted to remedy this inconvenience. Mr Pell.

Tarras.

Duport, Greek Professor in Cambridge turned Iob into Greek verses which is vsed in New England in stead of Homer.

Christian Homer.

Hee is also about more notes vpon the New Testament which

The Opus Criticum Parei of 40. annorum which is an Index vpon all Classical Authors is in Pauls church yard and commended by Langley. Schoppius promised the like but this may supply it till that other come forth, which perhaps may bee more accurate. Id.

Didactica Linguarum Authores.

One came to Sir Thomas Alesbury with a Petition about making of Gold that hee might have leave to bring it to the Tower to have it coined. which Sir Thomas interpreted only to avoid the danger of the Statute against multiplication etc. and so did the king also. But being referred to his Attourney General Noy he judged it to bee a cheate that having attained such a Priviledge he might the better put of his sophisticated Gold by shewing and alledging this Patent, and never bring any quantity to the Tower.

Alchymica.

Making of Gold.

The statute is made against those chiefely that professe that sophisticated Art, as the whole Channel-Row, or the Channes there, did in former times. See of this more in Theatrum Chemicum out of Chauser. Gabriel Platt was of opinion that the Aldermen and Merchants were the greatest Multipliers of Gold and Silver and so should bee the greatest fellons according to that statute. Id.

The Ministers of Fraunce are counted the best Intelligencers for state-Affaires? And why should they not bee so for all other collateral matters of any publique and vseful consequence? Hee alledged his Vncles house which was as it were a schoole of Husbandry. So they might bee made Instrumental for collecting all manner of Experiments for certificats etc. which have beene tried already? or divulging and communicating of new ones. Id.

Office of Addres.

Communication

Ministers.

In the south-west of the Isle of Wight there is discovered of late a very rich Copper-Mine that is said to hold much gold. But then the Copper must bee blow'n away. And if it abound with water, Mr Potters Invention must bee applied. Coxe.

Isle of Wight.

Copper-mine.

The water-work of Potters or Earl of Worcester will bee worth 200 lb. to every Parish for watering of their Lands. Id.

Potters Invention.

With oile of salt hee cured the hydropsical new feavers in his country. Id.

Oile of salt feavers.

Highly commended Mercurius Vitæ et Aurum vitæ of the Earl of Pembroke wherwith hee hase cured dropsies and other incurable diseases. Id.

Earl of Pembroke.

Aurum vitæ.

Mercurius vitæ.

Son Clodius Father being extreamly troubled in Italy with Tooth-ache he was advised by a Friar there to vse the wood of Rosemary for Tooth-pickers which he did and finding so great ease by it, they are now ordinarily brought to his Table with his knives. Clodius.

Toothach.

Rosemary-stickes.

Buck-wheate is an excellent food for Bees as hath been observed by Mr Babbington in some part bejond seas as in Cleve-land as j take it which hee is to set downe. Babington.

Buckwheate

Bees.

Babbington.

A soveraigne Remedy for easing the paines in the Gout to bee made out of Moles (Talpe) as hee said it had beene tried by many Experiments. Id.

Gout. Moles.

There is a new Invention of Glyster-Pipes observed by Dr Boate at Paris which costs about 7. or 8. shillings which is far more commodious then the ordinary ones. Mris Dury from Dr Boate.

Sir Iohn Winter is vpon an Invention for char-coaling of sea-coales.

Sir Iohn Winter.

Charcoale.

Fruit-trees should bee planted in hedges and betweene Goose-berries of which an excellent wine may bee made, as a friend of Mr Potters hath Experimented. The like Wines may bee made of Rasberries strawberries. etc. cherries but different in kinds and tast's one more vinous then the other.

Planting of Fruit-trees.

Goosberries.

Wines. Potter Rasberries.

Strawberries.

An offer might bee made by the State that all Lands should bee freed of Taxes, so that they would enclose and keepe their Hedges planted with Fruit-trees and Goose-berrys, and these to bee for the States vse and disposing out of which wines should bee made which would amount to a greater revenue then the Taxes themselves. Potter.

Taxes.

Opera Parliamenta Revenues to the state.

Chirurgical Cures should bee performed as well by inward Medecins as outward Applications. Clodius.

Chirurgica.

Iean Baptista Coen Addresse at Paris. chez Mons. Gerard Heusch Rue de Quinquam-poix a Paris.

At the same house or Inne all the English are said there to rendevous.

Coen.

Anagrame of Oliver Vir Leo. Oliver Cromwel, Rule well or j (Christ) come. I was a Man before now a Lion.

Oliver Cromwel.

The 28. of February son Clodius made out after a more peculiar and dispatching way or processe Stella Martis or Mercurius Stellatus. doing that by one fusion which others cannot attain vnto by two or three.

Then also they doe not know when they have it what to doe further with it. Clodius.

Stella Martis.

Mercurius stellatus.

Mr Pratt of Batterse made once an excellent Wine out of Gooseberries, which was so well liked by the vintners that they offered him to give him as much in quantity of the best sack.

Mr Pratt of Batterse.

Gooseberry wines.

Afterward hee tried again but could not make it so good for want of a due fermentation as hee conceived of which hee was altogether ignorant.

Fermentation.

Mr Fred. Lodowick lodged once at his house.

Fred. Lodowick.

Hee deales in wines and with some about Collen with Pottery-Wares. Amongst others hee mentioned an Earthen Roundlet of which hee expected one to bee brought over. Id.

Potters.

Roundlet.

The man in Long-acre that makes Crucibles is very likely to know the whole mystery of mixing and tempering of the Tarras.

Tarris.

Crucibles.

One Whites - stationer before Algate his Man is very active and comes to dwel in Blundens-shop.

White stationer.

Greattricks is to procure from Mr Wrens Father the Receipt of making of Gooseberry wines. Mr Potter.

Greattericks

Gooseberry-Wines.

A Compendious Way of keeping a Coach by letting <it> out as ordinary hacking-coaches for halfe the day or some days in a weeke when the owner doth not vse it. Now especially they are resorted to a certain number. Dr Morton.

Didactica Oeconomica.

Coaches.

Baron Mizleck hath an Invention wherby all the Watches will bee put downe. It is taken from a mans body and senses. Mr Dury.

Baron Misleck.

Watches. Invention

In Herefordshire there is a friend of Mr William's that keepes two hundred stocks of Bees not killing any of them. Mr Williams.

Bees. Williams.

Herefordshire.

Captain Brooke hath erected with some other Participants an Office of Addresse in New-gate-market consisting of a lawyer Mathematician etc. Col. Copley.

Captain Brooke

Office of Address

New-gate Market.

Sir Edward Payton hath made a large Experiment of Clover Seed. making for 7. acres 8 lb an acre. Sir Cheney Culpeper.

Slingsby proposes that no alloy or mixture at all (as is ordinary and those lesse here then in any other Nation) yet none at all should bee mixed with our English gold. then it would bee the purest more of other Nations.

Slingsby.

Hee hath mainly to propose something about Fishing and advancement of Trade. Id.

Fishing.

Trade.

There is one in London that gets his living by cutting of Corke after what manner or sizes you desire to have them. Sons Apoth Ieys

Didactica divitiarum.

Corke.

The fatt of Adders or serpents is an excellent Cosmeticum making the skin very smooth. The pock-holes being anointed with it they are likewise taken away by it. One pound of the fore-said Grease is sold for 20 or 30. shillings. Clodius.

Adder. serpent.

Cosmeticum.

Smal-pox.

There is one Oglesby in Salisbury-Court that hath set out a Poetical and Historical Picturary. containing a number of choice cuts. Mr Florence.

Picturary.

Oglesby.

Hee brags that none hath the Art in England as well as hee for marbling of Leather as marble Paper is done. Id.

Florence.

Marbling of Leather.

Star-fal a kind of dew which is gathered in March and April the best approoved Medecin to take away Wormses, Lady Ranalagh.

Weemses.

Viridaria Varia Regia et Academica Publica in vsum Magnatum et Philobotanicorum. Collecta ac recognita Opera et studio D. Simonis Paulli. S. R. M. Daniæ Norwegiæ etc. Medici Aulici. Hafniæ 1653. Prostant apud Ioachimum Moltkenium. Continetur

1. Catalogus Plantarum Horti Regii Hafniæ.

2. Catalogus Plantarum Horti Regii Parisiensis

Botanica.

Catalogi

Botanici.

3. Catalogus Plantarum Tam Exoticarum quam Indigenarum quæ Anno 1651 in Hortis Regiis Warsaviæ nasci observatæ sunt.

4. Catalogus Plantarum Indigenarum, quæ in locis paludosis, pratensibus, arenosis et sylvis circa Warsaviam nascuntur.

5. Catalogus Plantarum Horti Medici Oxoniensis. 1648.

6. Catalogus Plantarum Horti Gymnasii Patavini. 1642.

7. Catalogus Plantarum Horti Academici Lugduno-Batavi. Quibus is instructus erat Annis 1642 et 1649.

8. Index Plantarum Indigenarum Quæ in locis paludosis etc. prope Lugdunum in Batavis nascuntur.       9. Appendix Plantarum quæ Horto Publico Academiæ Lugd. Batav. accesserunt. 1641.

10. Catalogus Plantarum Horti Gröningensis. 1646.

11. Catalogus Tuliparum.

12. Catalogus Caryophillorum Hortensium.

13. Catalogus Seminum Exoticorum.

14. M. Guilielmi Laurembergii Botanotheca. Hoc est. Modus conficiendi Herbarium Vivum. In gratiam et vsum studiosorum medicinæ conscripta.

Hæc omnia vno volumine. Lamb habet Mr Wexel Cozen.

Elenchus Plantarum circa Nobile Borussorum Dantiscum sua sponte nascentium Earundem synonima Latina et Germanica, loca Natalitia, florum tempora et vires exhibens. Recensitus a Nicolao Olhasio. D. Med. Regio et in Republica Patria Physico ordinario.

Typis et imprimensis Georgi Rheti. 1643. Id habet.

Botanica

Dantisci.

Author Phytologie Britannicæ Howe is about a collection of divers other Additional Catalogues as of Yorke-shire etc. Id.

Howe.

Der Artischoken saamen, welche man in England braucht zu fortziehung der pflantzen, wird mehrentheils von Bologna gebracht, dessgleichen dan auch bey einem kaufman in Hamburg, so auf Italien handelt vnd Antoni Erhart heist, heuffig zu bekommen. Der saamen, welcher alhier in Engeland von den Artischoken ausgenommen wird, ist nicht halb so gutt vnd wird nur von denen, so den andern, als welcher teurer, nicht kauffen können gebraucht. Clodius.

Artichok.

England.

Hamburg.

Dr Petty hath perfected some rare piece about the Irish harp. Clerke.

Dr Petty. Irish Harpe.

All books of dialling will bee vseles when Dr Pettys Invention on that subject will bee published. Id.

Dialling.

Dr Simon Paulli was commended to goe into Norway and to write a Herbarium of that Country which hee also did in a far compleater way then yet performed by any body but in the Danish Language and if mistake not the whole Natural History besides with the several vses of it. Clodius.

Dr Simon Pauli.

Norway.

Herbarium

Natural History

Norway.

Leafe-gold being put before the hole of a darkened roome will show vpon the wall in a greene colour. Ergo gold dissolved shews greene. Sir Kenelm Digby.

Gold.

Greene-Colour.

Major Saunderson a Rojalist as j take it well know'n to Sir K. Digby is full of all manner of Inventions and vndertakes great matters for making of salpeeter out of common salt and sea-water. Sir K. Digby.

Major Saunderson Salpeter.

Spirit of Wine vsed by Sir K. Digby in stead of oile in Lamps. But there must bee no vent left save where the match doth burne, otherwise it will wast too fast. Id.

Lamps.

Oile. Spirit of wine.

The Bohemian Baron Misleck his Resident here sets him out as one of the rarest wisest and industrious Princes. By reason of his former as it were exile hee travelling incognito and but as a privat man, had the freer occasion to informe himselfe of the whole mystery

Duke of Curland.

of Trading and all manner of Industries. By which meanes now hee is restored to his Government hee is himself become the Publick Merchant in all his Country setting a work all manner of manufactures and exporting a great number of commodities. Hee hath discovered several Mines in his Territories of brasse Iron etc. and causes them to bee worked by his owne People and subjects. And wheras he was laughed at for vndertaking to build ships there hee hath built already 30. goodly ships by which hee trades also into Africa. One of them is said to carrie a hundred piece of Ordnance. Besides this hee hath made a peculiar Haven or Harbour for ships by cutting through certain Lands. Hee abounds in Horses and dogs. and sees all things done himself. To which he purpose hee hath laid so many stages that hee can presently flie as it were from one end to the other. There is no drinking at his Court and a good agreement with his Lady in matters of Religion, frequenting by turnes each others Congregation. Id.

Duke of Curland.

Greattrick will not give for a rush for Wrens double writing, it being not practicable or of daily vse. Mr Potter.

Wrens double writing.

Bulmar hath gotten a Patent for his Invention. Hee is adjudged to bee a notorious liar. Id.

Bulmars Invention.

White is counted by Sir K. Digby one of the greatest Naturalists now a daies. He commends him much to have assisted an Invention of diving vnder water and taking vp of sunken ships or other things. which was really performed by one in Fraunce, who was so far envied for it that the Kings ingeniers gott him into their Clutches to suppresse his Invention. Hee took vp so much iron etc. out of a sunke ship that was valued at 2 or 3. thousand lb. sterling. Sir K. Digby.

White.

Diving vnder water.

Taken vp of sunk ships.

Greattricks hath a most easy way or Art of dialling, wherby a boy may make a dial vpon any wall etc. Potter.

Greattricks.

Art of dialling.

De Claves or Mons. Cloves just such another man as Morian who is admirably skilful but can bring nothing to perfection but is very inconstant and fals from one thing to another. Sir K. Digby.

De Claves.

Cloves

Chymici.

Mithridate boyled vp in wine hath cured many hundreds of Quartan Agues. Id. to Clodius.

Quartan Agues.

The taking of some graines of snakes-powder every day hath caused children in some women who had no more their courses. Id.

bearing of children.

snakes-powder.

Morian, Sir K. Digby and other Chymical Grandees keep continual correspondence with De Claves. Sir K. Digby.

De Claves.

A rare Man in Chemistry an Abbat in Fraunce who keeps Correspondence with Sir K. Digby and had the processe of the Altahest from Coen, which also Sir K. Digby imparted

Chymici Galli.

Alcahest Coen. Clodius.

to Clodius, and hee to Morian with his owne Processe of it. Clodius.

Clodius. Alcahest. Morian.

Foxly's friend in the Strand a great chymical Laborator persuading himself to have shortly the Vniversal medecin. Potter.

Foxlys friend.

Vniversal Medecin. Chymici.

Mr Trencher reported how that Dr Love was wholly cured of his Melancholy by vsing a certain Medecin the Receipt wherof hee hopes to get by Mr Sadlers meanes from a Gentlewoman about some one of the Innes of Court. Mr Trencher.

Sadler. Trencher.

Melancholy.

Ferrarii Lexicon-Geographicum (as j take it Ferrarii) is now a printing by Daniel. It was left excessively vitious the Author dying it before it was printed at Millane. But Mr Selden so highly approoves of it that he gives all the helpe to it. And the copy is so extreamly faulty that the Corrector cannot dispatch a sheete of it in a day. Mr Worthington.

Ferrarii Lexicon

Geographicum.

Sir K. Digby obtained from the Pope a great quantity of his Mithridate which is most singularly prepared out of the most choicest Ingredients which hee caused to bee gathered and procured by the Iesuits in the places of their growth. Of which hee had two great vessels of pure gold standing in his secret study to which no body was admitted. Hee told him that he desired not so much the graunt of the favour of his many spiri-

Mithridate.

Treacle.

tual Indulgences as something of his Temporals. And when hee was vrged to name those hee begd two good large boxes to bee filled with the fore-said Mithridate. Sir K. Digby.

Hee told him likewise of the barke of a certain Tree growing in great abundance about Sevilia and other places in Spaine which being steeped in wine is a most suddaine immediate and most infallible Cure of all Quartan Agues, professing that himself had cured above 50. of such Patients by this sole Medicin. The Tree is called Sincinella or [blank]. Sir K. Digby.

Spaine.

Trees.

Quartan Agues.

At Beddingfordgton in Surrey at my Lord Warwick's Residence there is such a row of Orenge Trees as would put a Spaniard to blush to see such goodly ones <growing> in England. There also store of orenge flowers may bee had in great abundance. Anonymous Gentleman.

Surrey. Beddington or Orenge-Trees.

Flowers.

Sir K. Digby learned a very lucriferous Experiment which was practised at Lions in Fraunce by Bonnet being a sublimat of Mercury. discovered also in writings but not taken notice of which amounts to 16. thousand a year. but may be far more enlarged or as much as one pleases. The Receipt wherof or the Processe at large he promised from his Papers in the meane time he told it by word of mouth to Clodius.

Sir K. Digby.

Bonet.

Didactica divitiarum Experimenta Lucrifera.