Page  191

CAP. VI. Of the volant Automata, Archytas his Dove, and Regiomontanus his Eagle. The possibility and great use∣fulnesse of such inventions.

THe volant or flying Automata are such Mechanicall contrivances, as have a self-motion, whereby they are carried aloft in the open air, like the flight of Birds. Such was that wooden Dove made by Archytas,* a Citizen of Tarentum, and one of Plato's ac∣quaintance. And that wooden Ea∣gle framed by Regiomontanus at No∣remberg, which by way of triumph, did fly out of the City to meet Charles the fift.* This later Author is also re∣ported to have made an iron fly, Quae ex artificis manu egressa,*convivas cir∣cumvolitavit, tandemque veluti defessa in Domini manus reversa est, which when he invited any of his friends, would fly to each of them round the table, and at length (as being weary) return unto its Master.

Page  192Cardan seems to doubt the possibi∣lity of any such contrivance;* his rea∣son is, because the instruments of it must be firm and strong, and conse∣quently 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 in∣struments, whose strength shall much exceed their heavinesse. Nor can he shew any cause why these Mechani∣call motions may not be as strong, (though not so lasting) as the naturall strength of living creatures.

Page  193Scaliger conceives the framing of such volant Automata,* to be very ea∣sie. 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 Gel∣lius,*Ita erat scilicet libramentis suspen∣sum, & aurâ spiritus inclusâ atque oc∣cultâ consitum, &c. As if there had been some lamp, or other fire with∣in 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 a∣nother 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 o¦ther two. According to this suppo∣sition, Page  194 it is easie to conceive how the motion of flight may be perfor∣med and continued.

The wings may be made either of severall substances joyned, like the fea∣thers in ordinary fowl, as Daedalus is feigned to contrive them, accor∣ding to that in the Poet,

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 na∣turall 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 Page  195 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, un∣lesse a man be able to goe to the try∣all of things, he will perform but Page  196 little. In such matters,

(as the Poet saith) a generall specula∣tion, 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 sub∣ject in question, for the incourage∣ment of those that have both minds and means for such experiments. This same Scholars fate, is that which hinders the promoting of learning in sundry particulars, and robs the world of many excellent in∣ventions. We read of Aristotle, that he was allowed by his pupill Alex∣ander 800 talents a year, for the pay¦ment of Fishers, Fowlers, and Hun∣ters, who were to bring him in seve∣rall creatures, that so by his particu∣lar experience of their parts and dis∣positions, he might be more fitly pre∣pared Page  197 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 a∣ny strange invention or attempts, it is none of the meanest discouragements, that they are so generally derided by common opinion, being esteemed on∣ly as the dreams of a melancholy & di∣stempered 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 ven∣ture upon any such vain attempt, as passing in the air, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, unlesse his brain be a little crazed with the humour of melan∣choly; whereupon he advises that we should not in any particular en∣devour to transgresse the bounds of nature, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉Page  198〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and since we are na∣turally destitute of wings, not to imi∣tate the flight of Birds. That saying of the Poet,

hath been an old censure applyed unto such as ventured upon any strange or incredible attempt.

Hence may we conceive the rea∣son, why there is so little intima∣tion in the writings of antiquity, con∣cerning the possibility of any such in∣vention. The Ancients durst not so much as mention the art of flying, but in a fable.

It was the custome of those former ages, in their overmuch gratitude, to advance the first Authours of any usefull discovery, amongst the num∣ber of their gods. And Daedalus be∣ing so famous amongst them for Page  199 sundry Mechanicall inventions (e∣specially the sails of ships) though they did not for these place him in the heavens, yet they have promo∣ted him as near as they could, feign∣ing him to fly aloft in the air, when as he did but fly in a swift ship, as Diodorus relates the Historicall truth,* on which that fiction is grounded.