1893 text
Johannes Siberius Kuffler was originally a dyer at Leyden, who married [Cornelis van] Drebbel’s daughter. In the “Calendar of State Papers, Domestic,” 1661-62 (p. 327), is the following entry: “Request of Johannes Siberius Kuffler and Jacob Drebble for a trial of their father Cornelius Drebble’s secret of sinking or destroying ships in a moment; and if it succeed, for a reward of 10,000_l._. The secret was left them by will, to preserve for the English crown before any other state.” Cornelius van Drebbel settled in London, where he died. James I. took some interest in him, and is said to have interfered when he was in prison in Austria and in danger of execution.
This text comes from a footnote on a diary entry in the 1893 edition edited by Henry B. Wheatley.
3 Annotations
First Reading
dirk • Link
See annotation under Cornelis Drebbel:
http://www.pepysdiary.com/encyclo…
vicenzo • Link
known for " bow dye"
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/…
Dr. Johannes Sibertus Kuffler of Leyden, who had married a daughter of the famous Dutch chemist Drebbel, set up a scarlet-dye house at Bow, probably putting to practical use improved methods learnt from his father-in-law. The scarlet he obtained soon became known as 'Bow dye.'
Second Reading
Sasha Clarkson • Link
Kuffler and the "Emperor's New Weapon": there's an entry for him in Wikipedia as "Johannes Sibertus Kuffler"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joha…
There's a longer article on Kuffler's father-in-law Cornelis Drebbel, who built a "submarine" (not a contemporary term) for James I, and actually took him on a trip in it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corn…
Although Kuffler gets no mention, there is also a short article on Drebbel in Britannica, including that
"In 1620 he completed his "diving boat." Propelled by oars and sealed against the
water by a covering of greased leather, the wooden vessel travelled the River Thames at a depth of 12 to 15 feet (about 4 metres) from Westminster to Greenwich. Air was supplied by two
tubes with floats to maintain one end above water."