CORNELIS DREBBEL

In a very curious little book, entitled *Kronÿcke van Alemaer*, and published in that town anno 1645, I read the following particulars about Cornelis Drebbel, a native of the same city. Being justly renowned as a natural philosopher, and having made great progress in mechanics, our Drebbel was named tutor of the young Prince of Austria, by the emperor Ferdinandus II.; an office which he fulfilled so well, that he was afterwards chosen councillor to his Majesty, and honoured with a rich pension for past services. But, alas! in the year 1620, Prague, the place he dwelt in, was taken by Frederick…