Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	body_n	motion_n	natural_a	2,016	5	6.5181	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A66047	Mathematicall magick, or, The vvonders that may be performed by mechanicall geometry in two books, concerning mechanicall povvers, motions, being one of the most easie, pleasant, usefull (and yet most neglected) part of mathematicks, not before treated of in this language / by I.W. ...	Wilkins, John, 1614-1672.	1648 (1648)	Wing W2199; ESTC R227427	93,737	280

their continuall attraction and expulsion of one another they may cause a perpetuall revolution of a wheel Of this opinion were Taisner Pet. Peregrinus and Cardan out of Antonius de Fantis But D. Gilbert who was more especially versed in magneticall experiments concludes it to be a vain and groundlesse fancy But amongst all these kind of inventions that is most likely wherein a loadstone is so disposed that it shall draw unto it on a reclined plane a bullet of steel which steele as it ascends neer to the loadstone may be contrived to fall down through some hole in the plane and so to return unto the place from whence at first it began to move and being there the loadstone will again attract it upwards till coming to this hole it will fall down again and so the motion shall be perpetuall as may be more easily conceivable by this figure Suppose the loadstone to be represented at AB which though it have not strength enough to attract the bullet C directly from the ground yet may doe it by the help of the plane EF Now when the bullet is come to the top of this plane it s own gravity which is supposed to exceed the strength of the loadstone will make it fall into that hole at E and the force it receives in this fall will carry it with such a violence unto the other end of this arch that it will open the passage which is there made for it and by its return will again shut it so that the bullet as at the first is in the same place whence it was attracted and consequently must move perpetually But however this invention may seem to be of such strong probability yet there are sundry particulars which may prove it insufficient For 1. This bullet of steele must first be touched and have its severall poles or else there can be little or no attraction of it Suppose C in the steel to be answerable unto A in the stone and to B In the attraction CD must always be directed answerable to AB and so the motion will be more difficult by reason there can be no rotation or turning round of the bullet but it must slide up with the line CD answerable to the axis AB 2. In its fall from E to G which is motus elementaris and proceeds from its gravity there must needs be a rotation of it and so 't is ods but it happens wrong in the rise the poles in the bullet being not in the same direction to those in the magnet and if in this refluxe it should so fall out that D should be directed towards B there should be rather a flight then an attraction since those two ends doe repell and not draw one another 3. If the loadstone AB have so much strength that it can attract the bullet in F when it is not turned round but does onely slide upon the plane whereas its own gravity would roule it downwards then it is evident the sphere of its activity and strength would be so increased when it approaches much neerer that it would not need the assistance of the plane but would draw it immediately to it self without that help and so the bullet would not fal down through the hole but ascend to the stone and consequently cease its motion For if the loadstone be of force enough to draw the bullet on the plane at the distance FB then must the strength of it be sufficient to attract it immediately unto it selfe when it is so much neerer as EB And if the gravity of the bullet be supposed so much to exceed the strength of the Magnet that it cannot draw it directly when it is so near then will it not be able to attract the bullet up the plane when it is so much further off So that none of all these Magneticall experiments which have been as yet discovered are sufficient for the effecting of a perpetuall motion though these kind of qualities seem most conducible unto it and perhaps hereafter it may be contrived from them CAP. XIV The seeming probability of effecting a continuall motion by solid weights in a hollow wheel or sphere THe third way whereby the making of a perpetuall motion hath been attempted is by the naturall affection of gravity when the heavinesse of severall bodies is so contrived that the same motion which they give in their descent may bee able to carry them up again But against the possibility of any such invention it is thus objected by Cardan All sublunary bodies have a direct motion either of ascent or descent which because it does refer to some tearm therefore cannot be perpetuall but must needs cease when it is arrived at the place unto which it naturally tends I answer though this may prove that there is no naturall motion of any particular heavy body which is perpetuall yet it doth not hinder but that it is possible from them to contrive such an artificiall revolution as shall constantly be the cause of it self Those bodies which may be serviceable to this purpose are distinguishable into two kinds 1. Solid and consistent as weights of metall or the like 2. Fluid or sliding as water sand c. Both these ways have been attempted by many though with very little or no successe Other mens conjectures in this kind you may see set down by divers Authours It would be too tedious to repeat them over or set forth their draughts I shall onely mention two new ones which if I am not over partiall seem altogether as probable as any of these kinds that have been yet invented and til experience had discovered their defect and insufficiency I did certainly conclude them to be infallible The first of these contrivances was by solid weights being placed in some hollow wheel or sphere unto which they should give a perpetuall revolution For as the Philosopher hath largely proved only a circular motion can properly be perpetuall But for the better conceiving of this invention it is requisite that we rightly understand some principles in Trochilicks or the art of wheel-instruments As chiefly the relation betwixt the parts of a wheel and those of a ballance the severall proportions in the Semidiameter of a wheel being answerable to the sides in a ballance where the weight is multiplyed according to its distance from the center Thus suppose the center to be at A and the Diameter of the wheel DC to be divided into equall parts as is here expressed it is evident according to the former ground that one pound at C will equiponderate to five pound at B because there is such a proportion betwixt their severall distances from the Center And it is not materiall whether or no these severall weights be placed horizontally for though B do hang lower then C yet this does not at all concern the heavinesse or though the plummet C were placed much higher then it is at E or lower

the table and at length as being weary return unto its Master Cardan seems to doubt the possibility of any such contrivance his reason is because the instruments of it must be firm and strong and consequently they will be too heavy to be carried by their own force but yet saith he if it be a little helped in the first rising and if there be any wind to assist it in the flight then there is nothing to hinder but that such motions may be possible So that he doth in effect grant as much as may be sufficient for the truth and credit of those ancient relations and to distrust them without a stronger argument must needs argue a blind and perverse incredulity As for his objection concerning the heavinesse of the materials in such an invention it may be answered that it is easie to contrive such springs and other instruments whose strength shall much exceed their heavinesse Nor can he shew any cause why these Mechanicall motions may not be as strong though not so lasting as the naturall strength of living creatures Scaliger conceives the framing of such volant Automata to be very easie Volantis columbae machinulam cujus autorem Archytam tradunt vel facillime profiteri audeo Those ancient motions were thought to be contrived by the force of some included air So Gellius Ita erat scilicet libramentis suspensum aurâ spiritus inclusâ atque occultâ consitum c. As if there had been some lamp or other fire within it which might produce such a forcible rarefaction as should give a motion to the whole frame But this may be better performed by the strength of some such spring as is commonly used in watches this spring may bee applyed unto one wheel which shall give an equall motion to both the wings these wings having unto each of them another smaller spring by which they may be contracted and lifted up So that being forcibly depressed by the strength of the great and stronger spring and lifted up again by the other two According to this supposition it is easie to conceive how the motion of flight may be performed and continued The wings may be made either of severall substances joyned like the feathers in ordinary fowl as Daedalus is feigned to contrive them according to that in the Poet Ignotas animum dimittit in artes Naturamque novat nam ponit in ordine pennas A minimo coeptas longam breviore sequente Vt clivo crevisse putes c. Or else of one continuate substance like those of Bats In framing of both w ch the best guidance is to follow as near as may be the direction of nature this being but an imitation of a naturall work Now in both these the strength of each part is proportioned to the force of its imployment But nothing in this kind can be perfectly determined without a particular triall Though the composing of such motions may be a sufficient reward to any ones industry in the searching after them as being in themselves of excellent curiosity yet there are some other inventions depend upon them of more generall benefit and greater importance For if there be any such artificiall contrivances that can flye in the air as is evident from the former relations together with the grounds here specified and I doubt not may bee easily effected by a diligent and ingenious artificer then it will clearly follow that it is possible also for a man to fly himself It being easie from the same grounds to frame an instrument wherein any one may sit and give such a motion unto it as shall convey him aloft through the air Then which there is not any imaginable invention that could prove of greater benefit to the world or glory to the Author And therefore it may justly deserve their enquiry who have both leisure and means for such experiments But in these practicall studies unlesse a man be able to goe to the tryall of things he will perform but little In such matters Studium sine divite venâ as the Poet saith a generall speculation without particular experiment may conjecture at many things but can certainly effect nothing And therefore I shall only propose unto the world the Theory and generall grounds that may conduce to the easie and more perfect discovery of the subject in question for the incouragement of those that have both minds and means for such experiments This same Scholars fate Res angusta domi and curta supellex is that which hinders the promoting of learning in sundry particulars and robs the world of many excellent inventions We read of Aristotle that he was allowed by his pupill Alexander 800 talents a year for the payment of Fishers Fowlers and Hunters who were to bring him in severall creatures that so by his particular experience of their parts and dispositions he might be more fitly prepared to write of their natures The reason why the world hath not many Aristotles is because it hath so few Alexanders Amongst other impediments of any strange invention or attempts it is none of the meanest discouragements that they are so generally derided by common opinion being esteemed only as the dreams of a melancholy distempered fancy Eusebius speaking with what necessity every thing is confined by the laws of nature and the decrees of providence so that nothing can goe out of that way unto which naturally it is designed as a fish cannot reside on the land nor a man in the water or aloft in the air infers that therefore none will venture upon any such vain attempt as passing in the air 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 unlesse his brain be a little crazed with the humour of melancholy whereupon he advises that we should not in any particular endevour to transgresse the bounds of nature 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and since we are naturally destitute of wings not to imitate the flight of Birds That saying of the Poet Demens qui nimbos non imitabile fulmen c. hath been an old censure applyed unto such as ventured upon any strange or incredible attempt Hence may we conceive the reason why there is so little intimation in the writings of antiquity concerning the possibility of any such invention The Ancients durst not so much as mention the art of flying but in a fable Daedalus ut fama est fugiens Minoia regna Praepetibus pennis ausus se credere coelo Insuetum per iter gelidas enavit ad arctos It was the custome of those former ages in their overmuch gratitude to advance the first Authours of any usefull discovery amongst the number of their gods And Daedalus being so famous amongst them for sundry Mechanicall inventions especially the sails of ships though they did not for these place him in the heavens yet they have promoted him as near as they could feigning him to fly aloft in the air when as he did

it would be but descending in a straight line and wee might presently be there If it were under any other parallel it would then only require that we should direct it in the same Meridian til we did come to that parallel and then as before a man might easily descend unto it It would be one great advantage in this kind of travelling that one should be perfectly freed from all inconveniences of ways or weather not having any extremity of heat or cold or Tempests to molest him This aethereall air being perpetually in an equall temper and calmnesse Pars superior mundi ordinatior est nec in nubem cogitur nec in tempestatem impellitur nec versatur in turbinem omni tumultu caret inferiora fulminant The upper parts of the world are always quiet and serene no winds and blustring there they are these lower clowdy regions that are so full of tempests and combustion As for the manner how the force of a spring or in stead of that the strength of any living person may bee applyed to the motion of these wings of the Chariot it may easily be apprehended from what was formerly delivered There are divers other particulars to be more fully enquired after for the perfecting of such a flying Chariot as concerning the proportion of the wings both for their length and breadth in comparison to the weight which is to bee carried by them as also concerning those speciall contrivances whereby the strength of these wings may be severally applyed either to ascent descent progressive or a turning motion All which and divers the like enquiries can onely be resolved by particular experiments We know the invention of sayling in ships does continually receive some new addition from the experience of every age and hath been a long while growing up to that perfection unto which it is now arrived And so must it be expected for this likewise which may at first perhaps seeme perplexed with many difficulties and inconveniences and yet upon the experience of frequent tryals many things may be suggested to make it more facil and commodious He that would regularly attempt any thing to this purpose should observe this progresse in his experiments he should first make enquiry what kind of wings would bee most usefull to this end those of a Bat being most easily imitable and perhaps nature did by them purposely intend some intimation to direct us in such experiments that creature being not properly a bird because not amongst the Ovipara● to imply that other kind of creatures are capable of flying as well as birds and if any should attempt it that would be the best pattern for imitation After this he might try what may be effected by the force of springs in lesser models answerable unto Archytas his Dove and Regiomontanus his Eagle In which he must be carefull to observe the various proportions betwixt the strength of the spring the heavinesse of the body the breadth of the wings the swiftnesse of the motion c. From these he may by degrees ascend to some larger essays CAP. IX Of a perpetuall motion The seeming facility and reall difficulty of any such contrivance The severall ways whereby it hath been attempted particularly by Chymistry IT is the chief inconvenience of all the Automata before mentioned that they need a frequent repair of new strength the causes whence their motion does proceed being subject to fail and come to a period and therefore it would be worth our enquiry to examine whether or no there may be made any such artificiall contrivance which might have the principle of moving from it self so that the present motion should constantly be the cause of that which succeeds This is that great secret in art which like the Philosophers stone in nature hath been the businesse and study of many more refined wits for divers ages together and it may well be questioned whether either of them as yet hath ever beene found out though if this have yet like the other it is not plainly treated of by any Authour Not but that there are sundry discourses concerning this subject but they are rather conjectures then experiments And though many inventions in this kind may at first view bear a great shew of probability yet they will fail being brought to triall and will not answer in practise what they promised in speculation Any one who hath beene versed in these experiments must needs acknowledge that hee hath been often deceived in his strongest confidence when the imagination hath contrived the whole frame of such an instrument and conceives that the event must infallibly answer its hopes yet then does it strangely deceive in the proof and discovers to us some defect which we did not before take notice of Hence is it that you shall scarce talk with any one who hath never so little smattering in these arts but he will instantly promise such a motion as being but an easie atchievement till further triall and experience hath taught him the difficulty of it There being no enquiry that does more entice with the probability and deceive with the subtilty What one speakes wittily concerning the Philosophers stone may be justly applyed to this that it is Casta meretrix a chaste whore Quia multos invitat neminem admittit because it allures many but admits none I shall briefly recite the severall ways whereby this hath been attempted or seems most likely to be effected thereby to contract and facilitate the enquiries of those who are addicted to these kind of experiments for when they know the defects of other inventions they may the more easily avoid the same or the like in their own The ways whereby this hath been attempted may be generally reduced to these three kinds 1. By Chymicall extractions 2. By Magneticall virtues 3. By the naturall affection of gravity 1. The discovery of this hath been attempted by Chymistry Paracelsus and his followers have bragged that by their separations and extractions they can make a little world which shall have the same perpetuall motions with this Microcosme with the representation of all Meteors Thunder snow rain the courses of the sea in its ebbs and flows and the like But these miraculous promises would require as great a faith to beleeve them as a power to perform them And though they often talk of such great matters At nusquam totos inter qui talia curant Apparet ullus qui re miracula tanta Comprobet yet we can never see them confirmed by any reall experiment and then besides every particular Authour in that art hath such a distinct language of his own all of them being so full of allegories and affected obscurities that 't is very hard for any one unlesse hee bee throughly versed amongst them to finde out what they mean much more to try it One of these ways as I finde it set down is this Mixe five ounces of ☿ with an equall weight of ● grinde them together with