Batman vppon Bartholome his booke De proprietatibus rerum, newly corrected, enlarged and amended: with such additions as are requisite, vnto euery seuerall booke: taken foorth of the most approued authors, the like heretofore not translated in English. Profitable for all estates, as well for the benefite of the mind as the bodie. 1582.

How the Elements are in the heauens, in the starres, in spirits, in Angels, finally in God himselfe.

* 1.1THE consenting opinion of all the Platonikes is, that euen as in the worlde, béeing the chiefe patterne, all are in all: so also in this corporall world, all thinges are in all, yet in diuers manners, to wit, according to the na∣ture of y^e receiuers: so also the elements, are not onely in these inferiour bodies, but also in the heauens, in the starres, in spirites and Angelles, to conclude, in God himselfe, the worker and chiefe pa∣trone of all. But in these earthlye bo∣dyes, the Elements are certaine grose formes, drowned matters, and material elements. But in the heauens, the ele∣ments are through their natures and strengths: to wit, in a heauenlye man∣ner, and much more excellent then be∣neath the Moone: for there is a heauen∣ly massinesse of the earth, without the grosenesse of the water: and an agilitie of the aire, farre from fleeting abroad: the heate of the fire is ther no•• burning but shining, and quickening all thinges by his heate. Moreouer of the starres, Mars and Sol are fierie, Iupiter & Ve∣nus airie, Saturne and Mercury wate∣rish, and they are earthlye, which inha∣bite the eight Orbe, and the Moone also, (which notwithstanding,* 1.2 of most men is thought to be waterie) forasmuch, as lyke to the earth it draweth vnto it the waters of heauen, with the which, shee being moystened, doth through the néer∣nesse, poure them vpon vs, and makes vs pertakers of them. There are also among the Signes some herie, some earthly, some airie, some watrie, and the elements rule in the heuens those soure triplicities, distributing to them the be∣ginning, the middle, the ende of euerye Element: so Aries hath the beginning of fire, Leo the proceeding and increase, and Sagittarius the ende of fire: Tau∣rus hath the beginning of earth, Virgo the procéeding, Capricornus the ende: Gemini hath the beginning of aire, Li∣bra the procéeding, Aquarius the ende. Cancer possesseth the beginning of wa∣ter, Scorpio the middle, Pisces the ende. Wherefore of the mixtions of these pla∣nets and signes, together with the Ele∣ments, are wrought all bodyes: and be∣sides spirites by this meanes are diui∣ded one from another, that some are cal∣led firie, some earthly, some airie, some watrie. Héerevpon those foure riuers in Hell, are sayd to be of diuers natures, so wit, Phlegethon firie, Cocytus ayrie, Styx watrye, Acheron earthly. And in the gospell we read of the fire of hell, an euerlasting fire (into the which the accursed shall be commaunded to goe). And in the Reuelation we read of the great poole of fire. And Isaias speaketh of the damned,* 1.3 The Lorde shall strike them with corrupt aire.

And in Iob, They shall passe from y^e wa∣ters of snow, to ouermuch heate. And in the same we read, of the darke earth, and couered with the dimnesse of death, of the earth of misery & darknes. Ther∣fore also these Elements are placed, in the Angels & blessed intelligences, which are aboue, without the compasse of this world: for there is in them a stablenes of essence, & an earthly force, whereby the seates of God are made strong: there is in them also gentlenesse & pitie, which is a watry vertue making cleane. Héer∣vpon the Psalmist speketh of y^e waters, where of heauen he saith, Which rulest the waters that are aboue him. There are also in them aire, which is a subtill spirit: & loue, which is a bright fire. For this cause, the holy scripture calleth them the wings of the winde, & els where the Psalmist speaketh of them thus, Which makest thy Angells spirits, & thy Mini∣sters a burning fire. Of the orders of Angels also, the Seraphin, the Vertues, & the Powers are firie: y^e Cherubin earth∣ly: the Thronenes & Archangels watry: the Dominationes & Principalities ay∣rie. And concerning the very chiefe Pa∣trone, worker of al things, is it not read? Let the earth be opened, and bud forth a Sauior. Is it not said of the same? The fountaine of the water of life, cleansing and regenerating. Is not the same the spirit breathing y^e breath of life. And the same also as Moses & Paule doe testifie, is a consuming fire. Wherefore no man can deny, that the elements are found e∣uery where & in all things in their man∣ner. First in these inferiour bodies, but dredgie & grose, in y^e heuenly bodies pure & cleane: & in the super celestiall bodies liuely and blessed on euery side. Where∣fore the elements in the chiefe Patron, are the Idee, or conceits of things to be brought forth: in y^e intelligenties, y^e ••••os∣red powers: in the heauens, y^e vertues: in the bodies beneath, the groset formes.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cap. 8.
• * 1.2

  Cōiecture.
• * 1.3

  Cap. 20.