A CENTURY OF THE Names and Scantlings OF SUCH INVENTIONS, As at present I can call to mind to have tried and perfected, which (my former Notes being lost) I have, at the instance of a powerful Friend, endeavoured now in the Year 1655. to set these down in such a way as may sufficiently instruct me to put any of them in practice.  
— Artis & Naturae proles.  
LONDON: Printed by J. Grismond in the year 1663.   

TO THE KING'S Most Excellent MAjESTY.  
SIR,  
SCire meum nihil est, nisi me scire hoc sciat alter, saith the Poet, and I most justly in order to Your Majesty, whose satisfaction is my happiness, and whom to serve is my only aim, placing therein my Summum bonum in this world: Be therefore pleased to cast Your gracious Eye over this Summary Collection, and then to pick and choose. I confess, I made it but for the superficial satisfaction of a friends curiosity, according as it is set down; and if it might now serve to give aim to Your Majesty how to make use of my poor Endeavours, it would crown my thoughts, who am neither covetous nor ambitious, but of deserving Your Majesty's favour upon my own cost and charges; yet, according to the old English Proverb, It is a poor Dog not worth whistleing after. Let but Your Majesty approve, and I will effectually perform to the height of my Undertaking: Vouchsafe but to command, and with my Life and Fortune I shall cheerfully obey, and maugre envy, ignorance and malice, ever appear  
YOUR MAJESTY's Passionately-devoted, or otherwise disinterested Subject and Servant, WORCESTER   

To the Right Honourable, The Lords Spiritual and Temporal; And to the Knights, Citizens and Burgesses of the Honourable House of Commons; now assembled in Parliament.  
My Lords and Gentlemen,  
BE not startled if I address to all, and every of you, this Century of Summary Heads of wonderful things, even after the Dedication of them to His most Excellent Majesty, since it is with His most gracious and particular consent, as well as indeed no ways derogating from my duty to His Sacred Self, but rather in further order unto it, since your Lordships, who are His great Council, and you Gentlemen His whole Kingdoms Representatives (most worthily welcome unto Him) may fitly receive into your wise and serious considerations what doth or may publicly concern both His Majesty and His tenderly-beloved People.  
Pardon me if I say (my Lords and Gentlemen) that it is jointly your parts to digest to His hand these ensuing particulars, fitting them to His palate, and ordering how to reduce them into practice in a way useful and beneficial both to His Majesty and His Kingdom.  
Neither do I esteem it less proper for me to present them to you in order to His Majesty's service, than it is to give into the hands of a faithful and provident Steward whatsoever dainties and provisions are intended for the Master's diet; the knowing and faithful Steward being best able to make use thereof to his Master's contentment and greatest profit, keeping for the morrow whatever should be overplus or needless for the present day, or at least to save something else in lieu thereof. In a word, (my Lords and Gentlemen) I humbly conceive this Simile not improper, since you are His Majesty's provident Stewards, into whose hands I commit myself, with all properties fit to obey you; that is to say, with a heart harbouring no ambition, but an endless aim to serve my King and Country: And if my endeavours prove effectual, (as I am confident they will) His Majesty shall not only become rich, but His People likewise, as Treasurers unto Him; and His Pierless Majesty, our King, shall become both beloved at home, and feared abroad; deeming the riches of a King to consist in the plenty enjoyed by his People.  
And the way to render him to be feared abroad, is to content his People at home, who then with heart and hand are ready to assist him; and whatsoever God blesseth me with to contribute towards the increase of His Revenues in any considerable way, I desire it may be employed to the use of His People; that is, for the taking off such Taxes or Burdens from them as they chief groan under, and by a Temporary necessity only imposed on them; which being thus supplied will certainly best content the King, and satisfy His People; which, I dare say, is the continual Tend of all your indefatigable pains, and the perfect demonstrations of your Zele to His Majesty, and an evidence that the Kingdoms Trust is justly and deservedly reposed in you. And if ever Parliament acquitted themselves thereof, it is this of yours, composed of most deserving and qualified Persons; qualified, I say, with your affection to your Prince, and with a tenderness to His People; with a bountiful heart towards Him, yet a frugality in their behalves.  
Go on therefore cheerfully (my Lords and Gentlemen) and not only our gracious King, but the King of Kings, will reward you, the Prayers of the People will attend you, and His Majesty will with thankful arms embrace you. And be pleased to make use of me and my endeavours to enrich them, not myself; such being my only request unto you, spare me not in what your Wisdoms shall find me useful, who do esteem my self not only by the Act of the Water-commanding Engine (which so cheerfully you have passed) sufficiently rewarded, but likewise with courage enabled to do ten times more for the future; and my Debts being paid, and a competency to live according to my Birth and Quality settled, the rest shall I dedicate to the service of our King and Country by your disposals: and esteem me not the more, or rather any more, by what is past, but what's to come; professing really from my heart, that my Intentions are to outgo the six or seven hundred thousand pounds already sacrificed, if countenanced and encouraged by you, ingenuously confessing that the Melancholy which hath lately seized upon me (the cause whereof none of you but may easily guests) hath, I dare say, retarded more advantages to the public service then modesty will permit me to utter: And now revived by your promising favours, I shall infallibly be enabled thereunro in the Experiments extant, and comprised under these heads practicable with my directions by the unparallelled Workman both for trust and skill, Caspar Kaltoff's hand, who hath been these five and thirty years as in a school under me employed, and still at my disposal, in a place by my great expenses made fit for public service, yet lately like to be taken from me, and consequently from the service of King and Kingdom, without the least regard of above ten thousand pounds expended by me, and through my Zele to the Common good; my Zele, I say, a field large enough for you (my Lords and Gentlemen) to work upon.  
The Treasures buried under these heads, both for War, Peace and Pleasure, being inexhaustible; I beseech you pardon me if I say so; it seems a Vanity, but comprehends a Truth; since no good Spring but becomes the more plentiful by how much more it is drawn; and the Spinner to wove his web is never stinted, but further enforced.  
The more than that you shall be pleased to make use of my Inventions, the more Inventive shall you ever find me, one Invention begetting still another, and more and more improving my ability to serve my King and you; and as to my heartinesses therein there needs no addition, nor to my readiness a spur. And therefore (my Lords and Gentlemen) be pleased to begin, and desist not from commanding me till I flag in my obedience and endeavours to serve my King and Country:  
For certainly you'll find me breathless first t' expire,  
Before my hands grow weary, or my legs do tyre.  
Yet abstracting from any Interest of my own, but as a Fellow-Subject and Compatriot will I ever labour in the Vineyard, most hearty and readily obeying the least summons from you, by putting faithfully in execution, what your Judgements shall think fit to pitch upon amongst this Century of Experiences, perhaps dearly purchased by me, but now frankly and gratis offered to you. Since my heart (methinks) cannot be satisfied in serving my King and Country, if it should cost them any thing; As I confess when I had the honour to be near so obliging a Master as His late Majesty of happy memory, who never refused me his Ear to any reasonable motion: And as for unreasonable ones, or such as were not fitting for him to grant, I would rather to have died a thousand deaths, than ever to have made any one unto him.  
Yet whatever I was so happy as to obtain for any deserving Person, my Pains, Breath and Interest employed therein satisfied me not, unless I likewise satisfied the Fees; but that was in my Golden Age.  
And even now, though my ability and means are shortened, the world knows why my heart remains still the same; and be you pleased (my Lords and Gentlemen) to rest most assured, that the very complacency that I shall take in the executing your Commands shall be unto me a sufficient and an abundantly-satisfactory reward.  
Vouchsafe therefore to dispose freely of me, and whatever lieth in my power to perform; first, in order to His Majesty's service; secondly, for the good and advantage of the Kingdom; thirdly, to all your satisfactions, for particular profit and pleasure to your individual selves, professing that in all and each of the three respects I will ever demean myself as it best becomes,  
My Lords and Gentlemen, Your most passionately-bent Fellow-Subject in His Majesty's service, Compatriot for the public good and advantage, and a most humble Servant to all and every of you, WORCESTER.   

A CENTURY OF THE Names and Scantlings of Inventions by me already practised.  
SEveral sorts of Seals, some showing by screws, others by gauges, fastening or unfastening all the marks at once; others by additional points and imaginary places, proportionable to ordinary Escocheons and Seals at Arms, each way palpably and punctually setting down (yet private from all others, but the Owner, and by his assent) the day of the Month, the day of the Week, the Month of the Year, the Year of our Lord, the Names of the Witnesses, and the individual place where any thing was sealed, though in ten thousand several places, together with the very number of lines contained in a Contract, whereby falsification may be discovered, and manifestly proved, being upon good grounds suspected.  
Upon any of these Seals a man may keep Accounts of Receipts and Disbursments from one Farthing to an hundred millions, punctually showing each pound, shilling, penny or farthing.  
By these seals likewise any Letter, though written but in English, may be read and understood in eight several languages, and in English itself to clean contrary and different sense, unknown to any but the Correspondent, and not to be read or understood by him neither, if opened before it arrive unto him; so that neither Threats, nor hopes of Reward, can make him reveal the secret, the Letter having been intercepted, and first opened by the Enemy.  
How ten thousand Persons may use these seals to all and every of the purposes aforesaid, and yet keep their secrets from any but whom they please.  
A cipher and Character so contrived, that one line, without returns and circumflexes, stands for each and every of the 24. letters; and as ready to be made for the one letter as the other.  
This Invention refined, and so abreviated that a point only showeth distinctly and significantly any of the 24. letters; and these very points to be made with two pens, so that no time will be lost, but as one finger riseth the other may make the following letter, never clogging the memory with several figures for words, and combination of letters; which with ease, and void of confusion, are thus speedily and punctually, letter for letter, set down by naked and not multiplied points. And nothing can be less than a point, the Mathematical definition of being Cujus pars nulla. And of a motion no swifter imaginable than Semiquavers or Releshes, yet applicable to this manner of writing.  
A way by a Circular motion, either along a Rule or Ring-wise, to vary any Alphabet, even this of Points, so that the selfsame Point individually placed, without the least additional mark or variation of place, shall stand for all the 24. letters, and not for the same letter twice in ten sheets writing; yet as easily and certainly read and known, as if it stood but for one and the selfsame letter constantly signified.  
How at a Window, as far as Eye can discover black from white, a man may hold discourse with his Correspondent, without noise made or notice taken; being, according to occasion given and means afforded, Exre natâ, and no need of Provision beforehand; though much better if foreseen, and means prepared for it, and a premeditated course taken by mutual consent of parties.  
A way to do it by night as well as by day, though as dark as Pitch is black.  
A way how to levelly and shoot Cannon by night as well as by day, and as directly; without a platform or measures taken by day, yet by a plain and infallible rule.  
An Engine, portable in one's Pocket, which may be carried and fastened on the inside of the greatest Ship, Tanquam aliud agens, and at any appointed minute, though a week after, either of day or night, it shall irrecoverably sink that Ship.  
A way from a mile off to dive and fasten a like Engine to any Ship, so as it may punctually work the same effect either for time or execution.  
How to prevent and safeguard any Ship from such an attempt by day or night.  
A way to make a Ship not possible to be sunk though shot an hundred times betwixt wind and water by Cannon, and should lose a whole Plank, yet in half an hours time should be made as fit to sail as before.  
How to make such false Decks as in a moment should kill and take prisoners as many as should board the Ship, without blowing the Decks up, or destroying them from being reducible, and in a quarrer of an hours time should recover their former shape, and to be made fit for any employment without discovering the secret.  
How to bring a force to weigh up an Anchor, or to do any forcible exploit in the narrowest or lowest room in any Ship, where few hands shall do the work of many; and many hands applicable to the same force, some standing, others sitting, and by virtue of their several helps a great force augmented in little room, as effectual as if there were sufficient space to go about with an Axletree, and work far from the Centre.  
A way how to make a Boat work itself against Wind and Tide, yea both without the help of man or beast; yet so that the Wind or Tide, though directly opposite, shall force the Ship or Boat against itself; and in no point of the Compass, but it shall be as effectual, as if the wind were in the Pupp, or the stream actually with the course it is to steer, according to which the Oars shall row, and necessary motions work and move towards the desired Port or point of the Compass.  
How to make a Sea-castle or Fortification Cannon-proof, and capable of a thousand men, yet sailable at pleasure to defend a passage, or in an hours time to divide itself into three Ships as fit and trimmed to sail as before: And even whilst it is a Fort or Castle they shall be unanimously steered, and effectually be driven by an indifferent strong wind.  
How to make upon the Thames a floating Garden of pleasure, with Trees, Flowers, Banquetting-Houses, and Fountains, Stews for all kind of fishes, a reserve for Snow to keep Wine in, delicate Bathing-places, and the like; with music made with Mills: and all in the midst of the stream, where it is most rapid.  
An Artificial Fountain to be turned like an Hourglass by a child in the twinkling of an eye, it holding great quantity of water, and of force sufficient to make snow, ice and thunder, with a chirping and singing of birds, and showing of several shapes and effects usual to Fountains of pleasure.  
A little Engine within a Coach, whereby a child may stop it, and secure all persons within it, and the Coachman himself, though the horses be never so unruly in a full career; a child being sufficiently capable to loosen them in what posture soever they should have put themselves, turning never so short; for a child can do it in the twinkling of an eye.  
How to bring up water Balance-wise, so that as little weight or force as will turn a Balance will be only needful, more than the weight of the water within the Buckets, which counterpoised emty themselves one into the other, the uppermost yielding its water (how great a quantity soever it holds) at the selfsame time the lowermost taketh it in, though it be an hundred fathom high.  
How to raise water constantly with two Buckets only day and night, without any other force then its own motion, using not so much as any force, wheel or sucker, nor more pulleys than one, on which the cord or chain rolleth with a Bucket fastened at each end. This, I confess, I have seen and learned of the great Mathematician Claudius his studies at Rome, he having made a Present thereof unto a Cardinal; and I desire not to own any other men's Inventions, but if I set down any, to nominate likewise the Inventor.  
To make a River in a Garden to ebb and flow constantly, though twenty foot over, with a child's force, in some private room or place out of sight, and a competent distance from it.  
To set a Clock in a Castle, the water filling the Trenches about it; it shall show by ebbing and flowing the Hours, Minutes and Seconds, and all the comprehensible motions of the Heavens, and Counterlibation of the Earth, according to Copernicus.  
How to increase the strength of a Spring to such an height, as to shoot Bumbasses and Bullets of an hundred pound weight a Steeple-height, and a quarter of a mile off and more, Stone-bow-wise, admirable for Fireworks and astonishing of besieged Cities, when without warning given by noise they find themselves so forcibly and dangerously surprised.  
How to make a Weight that cannot take up an hundred pound, and yet shall take up two hundred pound, and at the selfsame distance from the Centre; and so proportionably to millions of pounds.  
To raise weight as well and as forcibly with the drawing back of the Lever, as with the thrusting it forwards; and by that means to lose no time in motion or strength. This I saw in the Arcenal at Venice.  
A way to remove to and fro huge weights with a most inconsiderable strength from place to place. For example, Ten Tun with ten pounds, and less; the said ten pounds not to fall lower than it makes the ten Tun to advance or retreat upon a Level.  
A Bridge portable in a Cart with six horses, which in a few hours time may be placed over a River half a mile broad, whereon with much expedition may be transported Horse, Foot and Cannon.  
A portable Fortification able to contain five hundred fight men, and yet in six hours' time may be set up, and made Cannon-proof, upon the side of a River or Pass, with Cannon mounted upon it, and as complete as a regular Fortification, with Halfmoons and Counter-scarps.  
A way in one night's time to raise a Bulwark twenty or thirty foot high, Cannon-proof, and Cannon mounted upon it, with men to overlook, command and batter a Town; for though it contain but four Pieces, they shall be able to discharge two hundred Bullets each hour.  
A way how safely and speedily to make an approach to a Castle or Town-wall, and over the very Ditch at Noonday.  
How to compose an universal Character methodical and easy to be written, yet intelligible in any Language; so that if an Englishman writ it in English, a Frenchman, Italian, Spaniard, Irish, Welsh, being Scholars; yea, Grecian or Hebritian shall as perfectly understand it in their own Tongue, as if they were perfect English, distinguishing the Verbs from Nouns, the Numbers, Tenses and Cases as properly expressed in their own Language as it was written in English.  
To write with a Needle and Thread, white, or any colour upon white, or any other colour, so that one stitch shall significantly show any letter, and as readily and as easily show the one letter as the other, and fit for any Language.  
To write by a knotted Silk string, so that every knot shall signify any letter with Comma, Full point, or Interrogation, and as legible as with Pen and Ink upon white Paper.  
The like by the fringe of Gloves.  
By stringing of Bracelets.  
By Pincked Gloves.  
By holes in the bottom of a Sieve.  
By a Latin or Plate Lantern.  
By the Smell.  
By the Taste.  
By the Touch.  
By these three Senses as perfectly, distinctly and unconfusedly, yea as readily as by the sight.  
How to vary each of these, so that ten thousand may know them, and yet keep the understanding part from any but their Correspondent.  
To make a Key of a Chamber door, which to your sight hath its Wards and Rose-pipe but Paper-thick, and yet at pleasure in a minute of an hour shall become a perfect Pistol, capable to shoot through a Breastplate commonly of Carabine-proof, with Prime, Powder and Firelock, undiscoverable in a stranger's hand.  
How to light a Fire and a Candle at what hour of the night one awaketh, without rising or putting one's hand out of the bed. And the same thing becomes a serviceable Pistol at pleasure; yet by a stranger, not knowing the secret, seemeth but a dexterous Tinderbox.  
How to make an artificial Bird to fly which way and as long as one pleaseth, by or against the wind, sometimes chirping, other times hover, still tending the way it is designed for.  
To make a Ball of any metal, which thrown into a Pool or Pail of water shall presently rise from the bottom, and constantly show by the superficies of the water the hour of the day or night, never rising more out of the water then just to the minute it showeth of each quarter of the hour; and if by force kept under water, yet the time is not lost, but recovered as soon as it is permitted to rise to the superficies of the water.  
A screwed Ascent, instead of Stairs, with fit landing places to the best Chambers of each Story, with Back-stairs within the noel of it, convenient for Servants to pass up and down to the inward Rooms of them unseen and private.  
A portable Engine, in way of a Tobacco-tongs, whereby a man may get over a wall, or get up again being come down, finding the coast proving unsecure unto him.  
A complete light portable Ladder, which taken out of one's Pocket, may be by himself fastened an hundred foot high to get up by from the ground.  
A Rule of Gradation, which with ease and method reduceth all things to a private correspondence, most useful for secret Intelligence.  
How to signify words and a perfect Discourse by jangling of Bells of any Parish-Church, or by any Musical Instrument within hearing, in a seeming way of tuning it; or of an unskilful beginner.  
A way how to make hollow and cover a Water-scrue as big and as long as one pleaseth in an easy and cheap way.  
How to make a Water-scrue tight, and yet transparent, and free from breaking; but so clear, that one may palpably see the water or any heavy thing how and why it is mounted by turning.  
A double Water-scrue, the innermost to mount the water, and the outermost for it to descend more in number of threads, and consequently in quantity of water, though much shorter than the innermost screw, by which the water ascendeth, a most extraordinary help for the turning of the screw to make the water rise.  
To provide and make that all the Weights of the descending side of a Wheel shall be perpetually further from the Centre, than those of the mounting side, and yet equal in number and heft to the one side as the other. A most incredible thing, if not seen, but tried before the late King (of blessed memory) in the Tower, by my directions, two Extraordinary Ambassadors accompanying His Majesty, and the Duke of Richmond and Duke Hamilton, with most of the Court, attending Him. The Wheel was 14. Foot over, and 40. Weights of 50. pounds apiece. Sir William Balfore, than Lieutenant of the Tower, can justify it, with several others. They all saw, that no sooner these great Weights passed the Diameter-line of the lower side, but they hung a foot further from the Centre, nor no sooner passed the Diameter-line of the upper side, but they hung a foot nearer. Be pleased to judge the consequence.  
An ebbing and flowing Waterwork in two Vessels, into either of which the water standing at a level, if a Globe be cast in, instead of rising it presently ebbeth, and so remaineth until a like Globe be cast into the other Vessel, which the water is no sooner sensible of, but that Vessel presently ebbeth, and the other floweth, and so continueth ebbing and flowing until one or both of the Globes be taken out, working some little effect besides its own motion, without the help of any man within sight or hearing: But if either of the Globes be taken out with ever so swift or easy a motion, at the very instant the ebbing and flowing ceaseth; for if during the ebbing you take out the Globe, the water of that Vessel presently returneth to flow, and never ebbeth after, until the Globe be returned into it, and then the motion beginneth as before.  
How to make a Pistol to discharge a dozen times with one loading, and without so much as once new Priming requisite, or to change it out of one hand into the other, or stop one's horse.  
Another way as fast and effectual, but more proper for Carabines.  
A way with a Flask appropriated unto it, which will furnish either Pistol or Carabine with a dozen Charges in three minutes time, to do the whole execution of a dozen shots, as soon as one pleaseth, proportionably.  
A third way, and particular for Muskets, without taking them from their Rests to charge or prime, to a like execution, and as fast as the Flask, the Musket containing but one Charge at a time.  
A way for a Harquebus, a Crock, or Shipmusquet, six upon a Carriage, shooting with such expedition, as without danger one may charge, levelly, and discharge them sixty times in a minute of an hour, two or three together.  
A sixth way, most excellent for Sakers, differing from the other, yet as swift.  
A seventh, tried and approved before the late King (of ever blessed memory) and an hundred Lords and Commons, in a Cannon of 8. inches half quarter, to shoot Bullets of 64. pounds' weight, and 24. pounds of powder, twenty times in six minutes; so clear from danger, that after all were discharged, a Pound of Butter did not melt being laid upon the Cannon-britch, nor the green Oil discoloured that was first anointed and used between the Barrel thereof, and the Engine, having never in it, nor within six foot, but one charge at a time.  
A way that one man in the Cabin may govern the whole side of Ship-musquets, to the number (if need require) of 2. or 3000. shots.  
A way that against several Advenues to a Fort or Castle, one man may charge fifty Cannons playing, and stopping when he pleaseth, though out of sight of the Cannon.  
A rare way likewise for Musquettoons fastened to the Pummel of of the Saddle, so that a Common Trooper cannot miss to charge them, with twenty or thirty Bullets at a time, even in full career.  
When first I gave my thoughts to make Guns shoot often, I thought there had been but one only exquisite way inventible, yet by several trials and much charge I have perfectly tried all these.  
An admirable and most forcible way to drive up water by fire, not by drawing or sucking it upwards, for that must be as the Philosopher calleth it, Intra sphaeram activitatis, which is but at such a distance. But this way hath no Bounder, if the Vessels be strong enough; for I have taken a piece of a whole Cannon, whereof the end was burst, and filled it three quarters full of water, stopping and serving up the broken end; as also the Touchhole; and making a constant fire under it, within 24. hours it burst and made a great crack: So that having a way to make my Vessels, so that they are strengthened by the force within them, and the one to fill after the other. I have seen the water run like a constant Fountaine-stream forty foot high; one Vessel of water rarified by fire driveth up forty of cold water. And a man that tends the work is but to turn two Cocks, that one Vessel of water being consumed, another gins to force and re-fill with cold water, and so successively, the fire being tended and kept constant, which the selfsame Person may likewise abundantly perform in the interim between the necessity of turning the said Cocks.  
A way how a little triangle screwed Key, not weighing a Shilling, shall be capable and strong enough to bolt and unbolt round about a great Chest an hundred Bolts through fifty Staples, two in each, with a direct contrary motion, and as many more from both sides and ends, and at the selfsame time shall fasten it to the place beyond a man's natural strength to take it away: and in one and the same turn both locketh and openeth it.  
A Key with a Rose-turning pipe, and two Roses pierced through endwise the Bit thereof, with several hand somly-contrived Wards, which may likewise do the same effects.  
A Key perfectly square, with a Screw turning within it, and more conceited than any of the rest, and no heavier than the triangle-scrued Key, and doth the same effects.  
An Escocheon to be placed before any of these Locks with these properties.  
1. The owner (though a woman) may with her delicate hand vary the ways of coming to open the Lock ten millions of times, beyond the knowledge of the Smith that made it, or of me who invented it.  
2. If a stranger open it, it setteth an Alarm going, which the stranger cannot stop from running out; and besides, though none should be within hearing, yet it catcheth his hand, as a Trap doth a Fox; and though far from maiming him, yet it leaveth such a mark behind it, as will discover him if suspected; the Escocheon or Lock plainly showing what moneys he hath taken out of the Box to a farthing, and how many times opened since the owner had been in it.  
A transmittible Gallery over any Ditch or Breach in a Town-wall, with a Blind and Parapit Cannon-proof.  
A Door, whereof the turning of a Key, with the help and motion of the handle, makes the hinges to be of either side, and to open either inward or outward, as one is to enter or to go out, or to open in half.  
How a Tape or Ribbon-weaver may set down a whole discourse, without knowing a letter, or interweaving any thing suspicious of other secret than a new-fashioned Ribbon.  
How to write in the dark as straight as by day or candlelight.  
How to make a man to fly; which I have tried with a little Boy of ten years old in a Barn, from one end to the other, on an Hay-mow.  
A Watch to go constantly, and yet needs no other winding from the first setting on the Cord or Chain, unless it be broken, requiring no other care from one then to be now and then consulted with concerning the hour of the day or night; and if it be laid by a week together, it will not err much, but the oftener looked upon, the more exact it showeth the time of the day or night.  
A way to lock all the Boxes of a Cabinet, (though never so many) at one time, which were by particular Keys appropriated to each Lock opened severally, and independent the one of the other, as much as concerneth the opening of them, and by these means cannot be left opened unawares.  
How to make a Pistol Barrel no thicker than a Shilling, and yet able to endure a Musket proof of Powder and Bullet.  
A Combe-conveyance carrying of Letters without suspicion, the head being opened with a Needle-scrue drawing a Spring towards them; the Comb being made but after an usual form carried in one's Pocket.  
A Knife-Spoon or Fork in an usual portable Case, may have the like conveyances in their handles.  
A Rasping-mill for Hartshorn, whereby a child may do the work of half a dozen men, commonly taken up with that work.  
An Instrument whereby persons ignorant in Arithmetic may perfectly observe Numerations and Subtractions of all Sums and Fractions.  
A little Ball made in the shape of Plum or Pear, being dexterously conveyed or forced into a body's mouth, shall presently shoot forth such and so many Bolts of each side and at both ends, as without the owner's Key can neither be opened or filled off, being made of tempered Steel, and as effectually locked as an Iron Chest.  
A Chair made a la-mode, and yet a stranger being persuaded to sit down in't, shall have immediately his arms and thighs locked up beyond his own power to loosen them.  
A Brass Mold to cast Candles, in which a man may make 500 dozen in a day, and add an Ingredient to the tallow which will make it cheaper, and yet so that the Candles shall look whiter and last longer.  
How to make a Brazen or Stone-head, in the midst of a great Field or Garden, so artificial and natural, that though a man speak never so softly, and even whispers into the ear thereof, it will presently open its mouth, and resolve the Question in French, Latin, Welsh, Irish or English, in good terms uttering it out of his mouth, and then shut it until the next Question be asked.  
White Silk knotted in the fingers of a Pair of white Gloves, and so contrived without suspicion, that playing at Primero at Cards, one may without clogging his memory keep reckoning of all Six, Seven and Aceses which he hath discarded.  
A most dexterous Dicing Box, with holes transparent, after the usual fashion, with a Device so dexterous, that with a knock of it against the Table the four good Dice are fastened, and it looseneth four false Dice made fit for his purpose.  
An artificial Horse, with Saddle and Caparizons fit for running at the Ring, on which a man being mounted, with his Lance in his hand, he can at pleasure make him start, and swiftly to run his career, using the decent posture with bon grace, may take the Ring as handsomely, and running as swiftly as if he road upon a Barb.  
A Screw made like a Water-scrue, but the bottom made of Iron-plate Spade-wise, which at the side of a Boat emptieth the mud of a Pond, or raiseth Gravel.  
An Engine whereby one man may take out of the water a Ship of 500 Tun, so that it may be calked, trimmed and repaired without need of the usual way of stocks, and as easily let it down again.  
A little Engine portable in one's Pocket, which placed to any door, without any noise, but on crack, openeth any door or gate.  
A double Cross-bow, neat, handsome and strong, to shoot two Arrows, either together, or one after the other, so immediately that a Dear cannot run two steps but, if he miss of one Arrow, he may be reached with the other, whether the Deer run forward, sideward, or start backward.  
A way to make a Sea-bank so firm and Geometrically-strong, that a stream can have no power over it; excellent likewise to save the Pillar of a Bridge, being far cheaper and stronger than Stonewalls.  
An Instrument whereby an ignorant person may take any thing in Perspective, as justly, and more than the skilfullest Painter can do by his eye.  
An Engine so contrived, that working the Primum mobile forward or backward, upward or downward, circularly or corner-wise, to and fro, straight, upright or downright, yet the pretended Operation continueth, and advanceth none of the motions , hindering, much less stopping the other; but unanimously, and with harmony agreeing they all augment and contribute strength unto the intended work and operation: And therefore I call this A Semi-omnipotent Engine, and do intent that a Model thereof be buried with me.  
How to make one pound weight to raise an hundred as high as one pound falleth, and yet the hundred pound descending doth what nothing less than one hundred pound can effect.  
Upon so potent a help as these two last mentioned Inventions a Water is by many years' experience and labour so advantageously by me contrived, that a Child's force bringeth up an hundred foot high an incredible quantity of water, even two foot Diameter, so naturally, that the work will not be heard even into the next Room; and with so great ease and Geometrical Symmetry, that though it work day and night from one end of the year to the other, it will not require forty shillings reparation to the whole Engine, nor hinder one's day-work. And I may boldly call it The most stupendious Work in the whole world: not only with little charge to drain all sorts of Mines, and furnish Cities with water, though never so high seated, as well to keep them sweet, running through several streets, and so performing the work of Scavingers, as well as furnishing the Inhabitants with sufficient water for their private occasions; but likewise supplying Rivers with sufficient to maintain and make them portable from Town to Town, and for the bettering of Lands all the way it runs; with many more advantageous, and yet greater effects of Profit, Admiration and Consequence. So that deservedly I deem this Invention to crown my Labours, to reward my Expenses, and make my Thoughts acquiesce in way of further Inventions: This making up the whole Century, and preventing any further trouble to the Reader for the present, meaning to leave to Posterity a Book, wherein under each of these Heads the means to put in execution and visible trial all and every of these Inventions, with the shape and form of all things belonging to them, shall be Printed by Brass-plates.  
In Bonum Publicum, & Ad majorem DEI Gloriam.   

Index.  
SEals abundantly-significant. 1 Private and particular to each owner. 2 An oneline cipher. 3 Reduced to a Point. 4 Varied significantly to all the 24. letters. 5 A mute and perfect discourse by colours. 6 To hold the same by night. 7 To level Cannons by night. 8 A Ship-destroying Engine. 9 How to be fastened from-a-loof and under water. 10 How to prevent both. 11 An unsinkable Ship. 12 False destroying Decks. 13 Multiplied strength in little room. 14 A Boat driving against wind and tide. 15 A Sea-sailing Fort. 16 A pleasant floating Garden. 17 An Hourglass Fountain. 18 A Coach-saving Engine. 19 A Balance Waterwork. 20 A Bucket-fountain. 21 An ebbing and flowing River. 22 An ebbing and flowing Castle-clock. 23 A Strength-increasing Spring. 24 A double drawing Engine for weights. 25 A to and fro Lever. 26 A most easy level Draught. 27 A portable Bridge. 28 A movable Fortification. 29 A Rising Bulwark. 30 An approaching Blind. 31 An universal Character. 32 A Needle-alphabet. 33 A knotted String-alphabet. 34 A Fringe-alphabet. 35 A Bracelet-alphabet. 36 A Pincked Glove-alphabet. 37 A Sieve-alphabet. 38 A Lanthorn-alphabet. 39 An alphabet by the Smell. 40 An alphabet by the Taste. 41 An alphabet by the Touch. 42 A variation of all and each of these. 43 A Key-Pistol. 44 A most conceited Tinderbox. 45 An artificial Bird. 46 An Hour Water-ball. 47 A screwed ascent of Stairs. 48 A Tobacco-tongs Engine. 49 A Pocket-ladder. 50 A Rule of Gradation. 51 A mystical jangling of Bells. 52 An hollowing of a Water-scrue. 53 A transparent Water-scrue. 54 A double Water-scrue. 55 An advantageous change of Centres. 56 A constant Water-flowing and ebbing motion. 57 An often-discharging Pistol. 58 An especial way for Carabines. 59 A Flask-charger. 60 A way for Muskets. 61 A way for a Harquebus, a Crock. 62 For Sakers and Minyons. 63 For the biggest Cannon. 64 For a whole side of Ship-musquets. 65 For guarding several advenues to a Town. 66 For Musquettoons on horseback. 67 A Fire Waterwork. 68 A triangle Key. 69 A Rose Key. 70 A square Key with a turning screw. 71 An Escocheon for all Locks. 72 A transmittible Gallery. 73 A conceited Door. 74 A Discourse woven in Tape or Ribbon. 75 To write in the dark. 76 A flying man. 77 A continually-going Watch. 78 A total locking of Cabinet-boxes. 79 Light Pistol-barrels. 80 A Comb-conveyance for Letters. 81 A Knife, Spoon or Fork-conveyance. 82 A Rasping-mill. 83 An arithmetical Instrument. 84 An untoothsome Pear. 85 An imprisoning Chair. 86 A Candle-mold. 87 A Brazen head. 88 Primero Gloves. 89 A Dicing-box. 90 An artificial Ring-horse. 91 A Gravel Engine. 92 A Ship-raising Engine. 93 A Pocket Engine to open any door. 94 A double Cross-bow. 95 A way for Sea-banks. 96 A perspective Instrument. 97 A Semi-omnipotent Engine. 98 A most admirable way to raise Weights. 99 A stupendious Waterwork. 100   
FINIS.