LETTER III. (continued 2)

One Podocattarus, a Cyprian Knight, who wrote de Rebus Cypriis in the Year 1566, had both Flax and Linnen of this kind with him at Venice, which Porcacchius says, in his Book of Antient Funerals, he and many others that were with him, saw at that Knight’s House. Also Ludovicus Vives saw a Towel of this kind at Lovain in Brabant, and several Wieks of it at 359Paris, as he himself relates in his Commentary upon St. Austin’s Treatise de Civitate Dei. Likewise Baptista Porta, says he saw the same thing at Venice in the hands of a Cyprian Woman, and which he terms Secretum optimum, perpulchrum & perutile, a very useful, beautiful and profitable Secret. Several other Authors testifie they have seen the same, but Henricus Salmuthius, in his Commentary upon Pancirollus, p. 16. will have this sort of Linnen to be call’d Asbestinum, from its likeness to Chalk, which he says the Greeks term’d Ἄσβεστον, for as that is wont to be purify’d by Fire, so is this Linnen made clean and white by burning. |Two Objections against this Asbeston.| Now the chief Objections Ferrarius makes against Pliny’s Account of this incombustible and inextinguishable Flax are, first, That if Wieks had been made of it, they would never have been consum’d or extinguish’d, or when once the Funeral Pile was lighted, the incombustible Linnen, wherein the Bodies were wrapp’d, as also the Napkins and Towels, which Authors mention, would never have been quench’d, but have burn’d perpetually, whereas, he says, this kind of Linnen burn’d only so long as either Grease, Fat, or the like Sordes afforded the Flame a Pabulum, wherefore that being consum’d which had occasion’d the Spots or Dirt, the Linnen appear’d more white and clean than if it had been wash’d with Water and Soap. From this it appears also that those Funeral Shrouds of Kings, often mention’d in Authors, burn’d only so long upon the Pile as the Fat or Sanies of the Body afforded Aliment, and when that fail’d, the Flame ceas’d likewise; for otherwise, if this sort of Flaxen Linnen had been inextinguishable, as Salmuthius seems to imply by the word Ἄσβεστον, how could those Napkins or Funeral Shrouds, 360when once burn’d, be ever handl’d or made use of any more without burning whatever they came near or touch’d? The second Objection is taken from Pliny’s own Words, who tells us, this sort of Flax was very scarce and of great Price, being preserv’d for the Kings of that Country only, so that ’tis highly probable the Egyptians might make use of another sort of Cloth, |Lapis Amiantus.| made of the Stone Amiantus, for burning their Bodies, and which, Pliny says, they had the Art of Spinning at that Time. Plutarch also assures us that in his Time there was a Quarry of that Stone in the Island of Negropont, and that the like was to be found in the Isle of Cyprus, Tines, and else-where. Moreover, ’tis the common Opinion of the Learned, that both Funeral Shrouds or Sheets, Table-Cloths, Napkins and the Wieks of the Perpetual Lamps of the Ancients, were made of this Lapis Amiantus, which Linnen, &c. Porcacchius and Ludovicus Vives have particularly spoken of before: Besides, as Dasamus relates, the Emperor Constantine caus’d Wieks to be made of this Flax for those Lamps which burn’d perpetually in his Bathing Place, and Agricola affirms, that both Napkins, Table-Cloths, &c. were made at Rome, and at Vereberge in Bohemia, of this Lapis Amiantus, which instead of washing when dirty, they were wont to cleanse and purifie by Fire. The best sort of this Stone was to be had in Cyprus and India, from the former of which Countries it came to be call’d Lapis Cyprius and Linum Cyprium; |Lapis Cyprius and Linum Cyprium.| but of late there has been very good found in some Mines of Italy, of which see Philosophical Transact. No. 72. This Stone being beaten with a Hammer, and the Earth and Dust shaken out, appears like to Flax with its Filaments, and then is spun and woven into Cloth, 361which Art, says Dr. Grew in his Description of the Rarities in Gresham-College, as well as the Use is thought to be utterly lost, tho’ it be not really so; for Septalius in his Musæum has or lately had, both Thread, Ropes, Paper and Net-work, all made of this Flax, and some of them with his own Hand. But Grew seems to make Asbestinus Lapis and Amiantus all one, and calls them in English the Thrum-Stone; he says it grows in short Threads or Thrums, from about a quarter of an Inch to an Inch in length, parallel and glossy, as fine as those small single Threads the Silk-Worm spins, and very flexile like to Flax or Tow. There are several pieces of this kind in the aforesaid Musæum, both white and green, of which the latter has the longest Threads and the most flexile.

Others think the Funeral Shrouds, wherein the dead Bodies of Kings were burn’d, as also the Wieks of those Perpetual Lamps were made of the Lapis Carystius, |Lapis Carystius.| a Stone so call’d from the City Carystos, and which signifies, Ardens Tela, quod ex Lapide Carystio texeretur; Tela cujus sordes Igne purgabantur. The Inhabitants kemb’d, spun and wove this downy Stone into Mantles, Table-Linnen and the like, which when foul they purify’d again with Fire instead of Water, as Mattheus Raderus mentions in his Comment on the 77th Epigr. of the IX. Book of Martial. Also Pausanias in Atticis, and Plutarch Lib. De Oraculorum defectu, deliver that the Wieks of Lamps made hereof, and burn’d with Oil, never consum’d, tho’ the latter says the Stone was not to be found in his Time. |Linum Carpasium.| Others say it was the Linum Carpasium which was apply’d to all these Uses, so call’d a Carpaso, Cypri Urbe, and that Linnen made thereof was call’d Carbasa, which Solinus says, 362would endure Fire without consuming. Sometimes also ’tis call’d Linum Cyprium, |Cyprium.| of which kind of Flax it was made, and they report the before-mention’d Podocatterus, a Cyprian Knight, shew’d a piece of it to the Venetians, and which he cleans’d by burning in the Fire. Franciscus Ruæus, Albertus Magnus, Cælius Rhodiginus, Camillus, Leonardus, Isiodorus, and many other famous Writers alledge, if a Wiek be made of this kind of Flax, it will not consume with Fire, and Pausanias particularly says, the Wiek of the Golden Lamp of Minerva was made hereof. Much like this, if not directly the same, was the Flax call’d Linum Creticum; |Creticum.| for, as Solinus asserts, those Carbasa, that would endure the Fire, were made in Crete. Also Strabo says this Linum Creticum was made out of a Rock, beaten into Threads, and the Earthy Matter shaken out, after which ’twas kemb’d and woven into Cloth which was not to be consum’d, but might be cleans’d by burning.

Other Authors say inconsumable Cloth, and the Wieks of Perpetual Lamps were made of the Stones Magnesia, Alumen Sciscile, and the like; |Magnesia, Alumen Sciscile, &c.| but whether under different Denominations one thing might be meant, I can by no means pretend to determin, altho’ Hieronymus Mercurialis thinks Linnen made of the Lapis Carystius to be the same which Pliny calls Linum vivum, Pausanias, Carpasium, Solinus, Carbasum, Zoroaster, Bostrichitem, others Corsoidem, some Poliam or Spartopoliam, and the common People Villam Salamandræ. Tho’ after all, the Ancients might very probably have some other Invention for burning Bodies, such as to set them on the Fire in a Coffin of Stone, Brass or Iron, from whence it was very easie to gather the Ashes and Bones that were not consum’d; and as for the Lamps 363some are of Opinion they had no Wieks at all: Among these was Licetus, who believes the antient Lamps wanted Wieks, because few or none of them have been found, and Ludovicus Vives is the only Person that affirms he has seen any; but this is nevertheless a conjectural Opinion, since they might have been destroy’d either by Time, Fire or any other Accident. However, he at least affirms the Wiek of a Lamp not to be absolutely necessary towards its burning, by reason Camphir, Naptha, Oil of Bricks, liquid Bitumen, and the like, will for the most part take Fire without any addition of a Wiek. Ferrarius, on the contrary, does not deny but rather confirm the use of Wieks, making the Question dubious, |Whether the Perpetuity of a Lamp proceeded from the Oil or Wiek.| whether the perpetuity of Light in Lamps proceeded mostly from the Oil or Wiek? If from the Oil, says he, why did they generally go out upon the admission of Air into the Sepulchre at its first opening? For Air or a gentle gale of Wind is not commonly found prejudicial to the flame of Oil, but only violent Blasts or Storms, which if absent, the Flame or Light will continue so long as the Aliment lasts. But how then came the Lamps of Minerva, Pallas and others not to be extinguish’d by the rushing in of Wind or sprinkling of Dust, and only by breaking the Lamp? Surely there must needs have been two kinds of inconsumable Oil, one which fear’d any admission of Air, and another which defy’d the most violent storms of Rain or Wind; or perhaps one might be the effect of an Oil-Lamp without any Wiek, and the other of a Lamp which had both Oil and Wiek, which certainly must have been the most permanent. For grant there are some Oils so 364spirituous and inflammable, that they will of themselves catch Fire at a great distance, yet must these needs be too volatile to occasion a Lamp to burn perpetually, unless they are fix’d with some more permanent Matter, |Both Wiek and Oil in a Lamp.| and then they cannot be so easily lighted without a Wiek; neither can we understand how it should burn so above the Lamp, unless the Flame be supported by a little Cord or Wiek, the Vehicle of the Oil: Besides, What can that little Foramen at the Beak of all the Lamps mean, but only to thrust the Wiek and Light out at? ’Tis plain therefore they had Wieks, but what they were made of, whether of Asbestos, Amiantus, or any of the before-mention’d Things, is somewhat difficult to decide; forasmuch as they being reported both to have been inconsumable and inextinguishable, when once lighted, they must needs have burn’d perpetually, and consequently the Lamps have had no occasion for any Oil; but this is certainly false, for both the Lamps and Funeral Shrouds burn’d only so long as there was any Oil, Fat, or oleaginous Moisture remaining, which being consum’d they likewise ceas’d, yet might perhaps remain unconsum’d, but that without any Flame. However, we must not deny there were any Wieks in Lamps, because they could not, as most are of opinion, continue to burn of themselves without any oily inflammable Matter, but rather all believe both the Oil and Wiek had a Virtue to assist each other, and on the contrary could not burn separately for any duration or considerable Time. But some have thought quite otherwise of this matter, viz. That what Country-Peasants imagine they see at the first 365breaking up of such Sepulchres are only the sudden irradiations and reflections of the Sun in those dark Caves, or else some sparks of Light rais’d by the percussion or attrition of their Iron-Tools against the Stones, a glimmering Vapour of the Earth, or the like Appearances, which being heightn’d by the strength of their prepossess’d Fancy, they easily take to be one of the Perpetual Lamps of the Ancients, which had burn’d ’till then, but was immediately extinguish’d upon the rushing in of the Air, or accidental breaking of the Lamp. But Gutherius thinks the contrary; he imagines it was some Liquor or Pouder which took fire at the entring in of the Air: And Johan. Sigism. Elholtius, in his Observations de Phosphoris, p. 9. obs. 2. Sect. 4. compares his liquid Phosphorus or Cold Fire, as he terms it, with the Lamps of the Ancients in these Words: |Perpetual Burning Lamp thought to be liquid Phosphorus.| Plura circa frigidum hunc Ignem Phœnomina hactenus non observavimus, in posterum tamen istis experimentis plus operæ sumus impensuri, & postea communicaturi. Profecto, si conjectura quorundam de Lucernis Veterum Sepulchralibus vera est, quod scilicet non Mille vel amplius Annos illa arserint, sed quod apertæ demum ardere cæperint, tum utique ab Oleo illo Antiquorum, non multum obfuerit hic Phosphorus liquidus. Qui enim quiescens & obturatus haud nitet, apertus & inter aperiendum motus, corruscare atque flagrare incipit: restauratæq; hoc pacto forent Lucernæ illæ, multis retro Seculis inter Deperdita ab omnibus relatæ. We have not hitherto observ’d more Phœnomena concerning this Cold Fire, nevertheless intend for the future to spend more Time and Labour in these Experiments, and then will communicate them to the Public. But surely if a certain 366Conjecture concerning the Lamps of the Ancients be true, viz. That they burn’d not a Thousand or more Years, but at length when they came to be discover’d began to burn, then certainly this liquid Phosphorus cannot differ much from that Oil of the Ancients, which lying quiet and stopp’d up, hardly shines; but being open’d, in the motion of opening begins to corruscate and burn, and after this manner those Lamps would be restor’d, which are related by all to have been lost for many Ages.

Licetus’s Opinion that a Perpetual Lamp may be made.

Nevertheless, Licetus endeavours to persuade us that a Pabulum for Fire may be given with such an equal Temperament, as cannot be consum’d but after a long Series of Ages, and so that neither the Matter shall exhale but strongly resist the Fire, nor the Fire consume the Matter, but be restrain’d by it, as it were with a Chain, from flying upward. This, says Sir Thomas Brown in his Vulgar Errors, p. 124. speaking of Lamps which have burn’d many Hundreds of Years, included in close Bodies, proceeds from the Purity of the Oil, which yeilds no fuliginous Exhalations to suffocate the Fire; for if Air had nourish’d the Flame, then it had not continu’d many Minutes, for it would certainly in that case have been spent and wasted by the Fire.

But the Art of preparing this inconsumable Oil is lost, having perish’d long since, as Pancirollus assures us, but neither he nor any other Learned Man has given us any convincing Proof that there ever was such a Thing, but only think to amuse us with a wonderful Art, and then tell us only it is quite lost. And for my part I cannot see hitherto that all that 367has been wrote or said on this Subject is sufficient to prove there ever was any such Thing, and much more that it ever could be made. Licetus, who has argu’d most on this Head, is confuted by Aresius, and in a word, all that can be alledg’d is, that if this Art be not impossible to be effected, it is nevertheless as difficult to be attain’d to, by any Human Invention, as the Perpetual Motion or Philosophers Stone, therefore I shall not trouble my Thoughts any farther about these Lamps, but only look on them as so many Hieroglyphics or Symbols of the Immortality of the Soul, and heartily pray that we may not want Oil in our Lamps when the Bridegroom shall come, but be prepar’d to enjoy Eternal Light with him, which is the devout Prayer of,

SIR,

Your most Obliged

Humble Servant,

Thomas Greenhill.

FINIS.