Shakespeare and the Dawn of Modern Science By Peter Usher

Chapter 1:

The New Astronomy

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concerning higher Forms of the intelligible world, all the while acceding to Plato's insistence on the divinity of Heaven (Dicks 131).

The Perspective Glass

The question arises, however, as to how Thomas Digges came by his new vision of the heavens. In 1571, with the publication of A Geometrical Practical Treatise named Pantometria, he and his father discussed basic designs for a two-element optical magnifier, or “perspective glass.”

But marveylous are the conclusions that may be performed by glasses concave and convex of circulare and parabolicall formes, using for multiplication of beames sometime the aide of Glasses transparent, whiche by fraction should unite or dissipate the images or figures presented by the reflection of other. (as cited in Johnson 175)

“Glasses transparent” refer to lenses, and “glasses…parabolicall” and “concave and convex of circulare formes” refer to mirrors. Digges continued by describing the result of combining these two kinds of “glasses.”

By these kinde of Glasses or rather frames of them, placed in due Angles, yee may not onely set out the proportion of an whole region, yea represent before your eye the lively image of every Towne, Village, &c. and that in as little or great a space or place as ye will prescribe, but also augment and dilate any parcell thereof, so that…yee may…discerne any trifle, or reade any letter…as plainely as if you were corporally present, although it be distante from you as farre as eye can discrie. (as cited in Johnson 175–176)

Digges explained why he refrained from divulging further details. “But of these conclusions I minde not here more to intreate, having at large in a separate volume by it selfe opened the miraculous effects of perspective glasses” (as cited in Johnson 176). He referred readers