In some manuscripts lately given to the Royal Society, David Gregory,[86] who seems to have seen Gephyrander's work, calls him Salicetus _Westphalus_, which is probably on the title-page. But the only Weiden I can find is in Bavaria. Murhard has both editions in his Catalogue, but had plainly never seen the books: he gives the author as Thomas Gep. Hyandrus, Salicettus Westphalus. Murhard is a very old referee of mine; but who the _non nominandus_ was to see Montucla's _Gephyrander_ in Murhard's _Gep. Hyandrus_, both writers being usually accurate?] NAPIER ON REVELATIONS. A plain discoverie of the whole Revelation of St. John ... whereunto are annexed certain oracles of Sibylla.... Set Foorth by John Napeir L. of Marchiston. London, 1611, 4to.[87] {67} The first edition was Edinburgh, 1593,[88] 4to. Napier[89] always believed that his great mission was to upset the Pope, and that logarithms, and such things, were merely episodes and relaxations. It is a pity that so many books have been written about this matter, while Napier, as good as any, is forgotten and unread. He is one of the first who gave us the six thousand years. "There is a sentence of the house of Elias reserved in all ages, bearing these words: The world shall stand six thousand years, and then it shall be consumed by fire: two thousand yeares voide or without lawe, two thousand yeares under the law, and two thousand yeares shall be the daies of the Messias...." I give Napier's parting salute: it is a killing dilemma: "In summar conclusion, if thou o _Rome_ aledges thyselfe reformed, and to beleeue true Christianisme, then beleeue Saint _John_ the Disciple, whome Christ loued, publikely here in this Reuelation proclaiming thy wracke, but if thou remain Ethnick in thy priuate thoghts, beleeuing[90] the old Oracles of the _Sibyls_ reuerently keeped somtime in thy _Capitol_: then doth here this _Sibyll_ proclame also thy wracke. Repent therefore alwayes, in this thy latter breath, as thou louest thine Eternall salvation. _Amen_." --Strange that Napier should not have seen that this appeal could not succeed, unless the prophecies of the Apocalypse were no true prophecies at all. {68} OF GILBERT'S DE MAGNETE. De Magnete magneticisque corporibus, et de magno magnete tellure. By William Gilbert. London, 1600, folio.--There is a second edition; and a third, according to Watt.[91] Of the great work on the magnet there is no need to speak, though it was a paradox in its day. The posthumous work of Gilbert, "De Mundo nostro sublunari philosophia nova" (Amsterdam, 1651, 4to)[92] is, as the title indicates, confined to the physics of the globe and its atmosphere. It has never excited attention: I should hope it would be examined with our present lights. OF GIOVANNI BATISTA PORTA. Elementorum Curvilineorium Libri tres. By John Baptista Porta. Rome, 1610, 4to.[93]