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CHAP. V.
* 1.1SOme haue thought that the cause of earthquakes was in the aire, some in the impressions of fire, some in the earth it selfe, and other∣some in the aire. Some haue said that two or three of the elements were the cause, some haue imputed it to all. Some of these haue said that one of these in their knowledge was the cause thereof, but which they knew not: But now let vs examine ••uery particular. This be∣fore all things must I needes say, that the opinions of the ancients were both grosse and feeble.* 1.2 They wandered as yet about the truth. All things were new to those that spake of it first, but afterwards they were better polished and dis∣couered, and if any thing be found out, yet for all that we ought to ascribe and attribute the honour to them. It was the enterprise of a high vnderstanding, to diue into the secrets of nature, and not content to behold her outwardly, to contemplate her inwardly, and to descend into the secrets of the Gods. He hath helped very much in the finding it out, that hath hoped that he might find the same. Our ancients therefore are to be heard with some excuse: nothing is con∣summate in the beginning: neither in this thing only which is the greatest and most intricate of all others, wherein likewise when as much is performed, yet euery age shall finde what to doe: but in euery other businesse also, the begin∣nings were alwaies farre from perfection.