88

CELIPILES.

Kircher greatly increased its effect, by employ-ing two ; and if Branca’s was picturesque, so isKircher’s.

The use made of steam from oelipiles by Branca,Wilkins, and Kircher, will excuse a brief noticeof the fact of their being employed in England invery early times to excite the heat of a fire. Dr.Plot, in his account 'of Staffordshire, describes amanorial custom, which he supposes had con-tinued from the age of Godiva, the famous wifeof Leofric, Earl of Mercia. st Jack of Hilton,”says the doctor, “ a little hollow image of brass,about twelve inches high, with his right hand onhis head, and his left on pegoblows the fire inUillon-hall every new year’s day, while the lordof Essington drives a goose three times roundit, before it is to be roasted and eaten by thelord of Hilton, “ or his deputyand in 1594,Sir Hugh Platte gave a good figure of a “ roundeball of copper, or latton, that blows the fyre veriestronglie, by the attenuation of water into ayre.”

Kircher ,