How to Escape from Prison

1642

“The lens is of such efficacy in burning that it can not only burn wood and other materials suited to combustion, but it can also liquefy lead, tin, and other metals, just as you see in the figure on the right that the prisoner (A) secretly secures liberty for himself, as he points the lens (B) toward the sun, and liquefies the lead joints (C), with which the iron bars are fastened outside the walls, so that he may freely escape.”

Mario Bettinus, Apiaria universae philosophiae mathematicae

Need to escape from a poorly constructed prison with lots of direct sunlight? Have a giant lens on hand? Problem solved.