Keppler，whenheassertedthesamefact，couldgainnobread，andlittlecredence；butwhenhepretendedtotellfortunesandcastnativities，thewholetownflockedtohim，andpaidhimenormousfeesforhisfalsehood。
WhenRogerBaconinventedthetelescopeandthemagic-lantern，noonebelievedthattheunaidedingenuityofmancouldhavedoneit；butwhensomewiseacresassertedthatthedevilhadappearedtohim，andgivenhimtheknowledgewhichheturnedtosuchaccount，noonewasboldenoughtoassertthatitwasimprobable。Hishintthatsaltpetre，sulphur，andcharcoal，mixedincertainproportions，wouldproduceeffectssimilartothunderandlightning，wasdisregardedordisbelieved；butthelegendofthebrazenheadwhichdeliveredoracles，wascreditedformanyages。
[Godwin，inhis“LivesoftheNecromancers，“givesthefollowingversionofthislegend。FriarBaconandFriarBungayentertainedtheprojectofenclosingEnglandwithawall，soastorenderitinaccessibletoanyinvader。Theyaccordinglyraisedthedevil，asthepersonbestabletoinformthemhowthiswastobedone。Thedeviladvisedthemtomakeabrazenhead，withalltheinternalstructureandorgansofahumanhead。Theconstructionwouldcostthemmuchtime，andtheymustwaitwithpatiencetillthefacultyofspeechdescendeduponit。Finally，however，itwouldbecomeanoracle，and，ifthequestionwerepropoundedtoit，wouldteachthemthesolutionoftheirproblem。Thefriarsspentsevenyearsinbringingthesubjecttoperfection，andwaiteddayafterdayinexpectationthatitwouldutterarticulatesounds。Atlengthnaturebecameexhaustedinthem，andtheylaydowntosleep，havingfirstgivenitstrictlyinchargetoaservantoftheirs，clownishinnature，butofstrictfidelity，thatheshouldawakenthemthemomenttheimagebegantospeak。Thatperiodarrived。Theheadutteredsounds，butsuchastheclownjudgedunworthyofnotice。“Timeis！“itsaid。Nonoticewastaken，andalongpauseensued。“Timewas！“——asimilarpause，andnonotice。
“Timeispassed！“Themomentthesewordswereuttered，atremendousstormensued，withthunderandlightning，andtheheadwasshiveredintoathousandpieces。ThustheexperimentofFriarBaconandFriarBungaycametonothing。]
SolomonDeCans，who，inthetimeofCardinalRichelieu，conceivedtheideaofasteam-engine，wasshutupintheBastilleasamadman，becausetheideaofsuchanextraordinaryinstrumentwastoopreposterousforthewiseagethatbelievedinalltheabsurditiesofwitchcraft。