THE

NINETEENTH BOOK

O F

Natural Maffick

Concerning Wind-Instruments.

The Proem e.

T Have spoken concerning tight and heavy, now follow experiments by wind : for these seemto fellow the reasons of Mathematics, and of the Air, and water, and a Philosopher

T Have spoken concerning tight and heavy,

^ A T A l/A «u . M A AA A u I Al A A A A M AU A M A

who seeks, to find things profitable, and admirable for mans use, must infift on these things,

contemplate and search them out, in no thing doth the Majesty of'Hat are shine forth more.’There are extant the famous tJMonuments of the most learned Heron of Alexandria , con-cerning wind Instruments, lwilladde some that are new, to give an occafion to search outgreater matters.

Chap. I.

Whether material Statues may fpeakjby any Artificial way.

B Have read that in some Cities there was a Coliffus of Brass,placed on a mighty high Pillar, which in violent tempests ofwind from the nether parts , received a great blast , that wascarried from the month to a Trumpet, that it blew strongly,or else sounded some other Instrument, which I believe tohave been easie, because I have seen the like. Also, I read inmany men of great Authority, that Albertus CMagnus made ahead that speak: Yet to speak the truth, I give little creditto that man, because all I made trial of from him, I found tobe false, but what he took from other men. I will see whether an Image can bemade that will speak. Some say that Alberttu by Astrological elections of times,didperform this wonderful thing; but I wonder how learned men could be soguld;for they know the Stars have»• such forces: Some think he did it by Magick Arts.And this I credit least of all, since'there is no man that professcth himself to knowthose Arts but Impostors and Mounttbanks, whilst they chert ignorant men andsimple women; nor do I think that the Godly man would profess ungodly Arcs.But I suppose it may be done by wind- We Itt vhat the voice or a sound,will be con-veighed entire through the Air, and that not in an restart, but by degrees in time.We fee that Brass-guns, which by the force of Gun-powder, make a mighty noise, ifthey be a mile off, yet we see the flame much before we hear the sound: Sohand-Guns make a report, that comes at a great distance to es, but some minuter oftime are required for it, for that is the nature of sounds; Wherefore sounds go withtime , and are entire without interruption , unless they break upon some place.Eccho proves this, for it strikes whole against a wall, and so rebounds back , and isreflected as a beam of the Sun. Moreover, as I said in this work, words and voicesgo united together , and are carried very far entire, as they are spoken at first.These therefore being laid down scr true grounds; if any man (hall make leadenPipes exceeding long , two or three hundred paces long (as I have tried) and (hallspeak in them some or many word?, they will be carried true through those Pipes,

and