Of ‘Pneumatics Experiments,

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A Fountain that cajls Urth water bj compression of the Aity

Let there be a vessel of water-work close every where, A B, r.^ke a bole through themiddle, and let a little pipe CD go up from the bottom of the water-work vessel D,so far from the bottom that the water may run forth. Upon the superficies of theTympanum let there be C a very little hole with a cover to it, or let it have as theGreeks call it, Smerismation, to shut and open it handsomely, and in the upper sur-face of the Tympanum , bore the basis quite through with a little pipe, which entersinto the hollow of the Tympanum, and having in the hole beneath a broad piece ofleather or brass, that the air coming in may not go back: wherefore Pour in water atE, that it may be three fingers above the bottom; then blew in air as vehementlyas you can t when it is well pressed in, (hut the mouth ; then opening the mouth A,tha water will fly up aloft, until the air be weak. I at Venice made a Tympanumwith pipes of Glass, aud when the water was cafi forth very far, the Lord Est ens muchadmired it, to fee the water fly so high, and no visible thing to force it. I also madeanother place ncer this Fountain, that let in light, and when the air was extenua-ted , so long as any light lasted the Fountain threw out water , which was a thing ofmuch admiration, and yet but little labor. To confirm this, there is

An Artifice whereby a hand-fjm may shoot a bullet without fire ,

For by the air onely pressed is the blast made. Let there be a hand Gun that is madehollow and very smooth, which may be done with a round instrument of lead , andwith Eonril-powdcr beaten, rubbing all the parts with it. Then you must have around Instrument that is exactly plained on all parts, that may perfectly go in ac themouth of the wind Gun, and so fill it that no air may come forth: let it be all smeer’dwithoyl, for the oyl by its grossness hinders any air to come forth. So this leadBullet being put into the Guns mouth, and thrust down with great force and dexte-rity, then presently take away your hands (but you must first shut the little holethat is in the bottom of the hole) and the bullet and little stick will fall to the bot-tom, and by the violence of the air pressed together it will cast out the Bullet a greatway, and the stick too, which is very strange. Also 1 will make

APesely wherewith m jou drinks the liquor shall be sprinkled about your face.

Make a vessel of Pewter, or Silver, like to a Urinal; then make another vessel Wthe fashion of a Tunnel, or a round Pyramis: let their mouths be equal, and joyn’dperfectly together, for they must be of the fame bredth: let the spire of it be di-stant from the bottom ©f the Urinal a fingers breadth , and let it be open: then pourwater into the vessel, and sill the Urinal unto the hole of the spire end, and fill theTunnel to the top, and the rest of the Urinal will he empty , becaufethe air hath noplace ro get forth ; when therefore any man drinks, when the water is drank upasfar as the hole of the spire end, by the air pressed within, is the water thrust violent-ly forth, and flies in the face of him that drinks. Also there is a vessel that no mancan drink out of it, but he Who knows the art. Make an earthen or metal vessel, inform of a Bottle or Flagon , and make it full of holes from the neck to the middle ofthe belly : From the bottom let a pipe ascend by the bandle of the vessel, and thehind le being round about it, let it come above the brims of the vessel, empty: underthe handle in a place not seen, make a little hole, that any man holding the vessel bythe handle, may with his finger stop and unstop this hole when he please : underthe brim of the vessel, where you set it to your mouth , let there be another secrethole. Then pour water into the vessel: if new any man put the bottle to hismouth, and raiseth it to drink, the water will run forth ar the neck that is open,and at the belly ; bnt he that knows the trick, taking the vessel by the handle, shutsthe hole with his thumb, and not moving the vessel, he draws the air with his mouth,for the water follows the air, and so he drinks it all up; but if any man fuck, and shutnot the hole,the water will not follow.

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Chap.