Speculum mundi· Or A glasse representing the face of the world shewing both that it did begin, and must also end: the manner how, and time when, being largely examined. Whereunto is joyned an hexameron, or a serious discourse of the causes, continuance, and qualities of things in nature; occasioned as matter pertinent to the work done in the six dayes of the worlds creation.

A table of the contents in the severall Chapters, Sections, Paragraphs, Articles, and Questi∣ons, which are contained in this book.

CHAP. I.

THe first Chapter concerneth the worlds beginning and ending; and is divided into three Sections.

• Sect. 1. That the world began, and must also end.
• Sect. 2. Of the manner how the world must end.
• Sect. 3. Of the sundry times which some have fancied out for the worlds ending.

CHAP. II.

THe second Chapter concerneth the time of the yeare when the world began: and it is divided into seven Sections.

• Sect. 1. Of three opinions concerning the time of the worlds creation; with a confutation of the first.
• Sect. 2. Their reasons shewed who suppose the time to be in the Spring.
• Sect. 3. That the world began in Autumne; with an an∣swer to their first reason who endeavour to prove it was in the Spring.
• Sect. 4. An answer to their second reason.
• Sect. 5. An answer to their third reason.
• Sect. 6. An answer to their fourth reason.
• Sect. 7. Concluding the time to be Autumne.

CHAP. III.

THe third Chapter concerneth the first day of the world; and is divided into three Sections.

• Sect. 1. Of God the Architect of all; and of the first part of the first dayes work.
• ...

CHAP. IIII.

THe fourth and fifth Chapters concern the second day, with such things as are pertinent to the work done in it; and are divided into these following Sections, Para∣graphs, and Articles.

• Sect. 1. Of the Expansum, or stretching out of the heavens, called the Firmament.
• Sect. 2. Of the waters above the heavens.
• Sect. 3. Of the matter of the heavens, &c.

CHAP. V.

THe fifth Chapter beginneth with the second part of the second dayes work; and hath two Sections.

• Sect. 1. How to understand the word Heavens.
• Sect. 2. Of the Aire; together with such appearances as we use to see there. This Section hath seven Paragraphs.
  • Parag. 1. Of the division and qualitie of the Regions in the Aire.
  • Parag. 2. Of Meteors: first in generall; then how they be divided in particular.
  • Parag. 3. Of Fierie Meteors, such as are said to be pure and not mixt. This Paragraph hath thirteen Articles.
    • 1. Of burning Torches.
    • 2. Of burning Beams.
    • 3. Of round Pillars.
    • 4. Of Pyramidall Pillars.
    • 5. Of burning Spears, Streams, or Darts.
    • 6. Of dancing or leaping Goats.
    • 7. Of flying Sparks.
    • 8. Of shooting Starres.
    • ...

• ...
  • ...
    • ...
      • 9. Of flying Launces.
      • 10. Of Fires in the Aire, two kindes.
      • 11. Of Flying Dragons, or Fire-Drakes.
      • 12. Of Wandring Lights.
      • 13. Of Licking Lights.
  • Sect. 2. of the fifth Chapter, still continued.
    • Parag. 4. of the second Section. It concerneth Fiery Me∣teors impurely mixt.
      This Paragraph hath three Articles.
      • 1. Of Comets, &c.
      • 2. Of New stars, their matter and significations.
      • 3. Of Thunder and Lightning.
    • Parag. 5. Of such Meteors as are Fiery onely in ap∣pearance. This hath seven Articles.
      • 1. Of the Galaxia, that it is no Meteor.
      • 2. Of Colours in the Clouds.
      • 3. Of many Sunnes and Moons.
      • 4. Of Beams or Streams of Light.
      • 5. Of Circles or Crowns.
      • 6. Of the Rain-bow.
      • 7. Of Openings, or Chaps in the skie.
    • Parag. 6. Of Watery Meteros, and of their severall kindes. This Paragraph hath eight Articles.
      • 1. Of Clouds, and their matter.
      • 2. Of Rain.
      • 3. Of Dew.
      • 4. Of Frosts.
      • 5. Of Snow.
      • 6. Of Hail.
      • 7. Of Mists, and their kindes.
      • 8. Of the Cobweb-like Meteor.
    • Parag. 7. Of Aiery Meteors. This hath five Articles.
      • 1. Of divers opinions concerning Winde.
      • 2. Of Winde, what it is, &c.
      • 3. Of the division of Windes, &c.
      • ...

CHAP. VI.

THe sixth Chapter treateth of the third day, together with such things as are pertinent to the work done in it. Here befoure Sections, and two Appendices.

• Sect. 1. Shewing into how many main parts the businesse of this day may be distinguished.
• Sect. 2. Concerning the first thing done; viz. The gathering together of the Waters, which God Almighty calleth Seas. This Section disputeth seven Questions.
  • 1. How the Waters were gathered together.
  • 2. How they could be gathered but to one place, seeing there be many Seas, Lakes, Rivers, and Fountains, farre asunder.
  • 3. Whether they be higher then the Earth.
  • 4. Whether there be more Water then Earth.
  • 5. Whether the Earth be founded upon the Waters.
  • 6. The originall of Rivers; as also why the Seas be salt and Rivers fresh.
  • 7. Of the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea.
• Unto which Section, an Appendix is joyned: and it concerns strange properties in certain Wells, Waters, and Fountains.
• Sect. 3. Of the Drie-land, appearing after the Waters were gathered: wherein the cause of Earth-quakes, toge∣ther with the compasse and circuit of the Earth, is shewed.
• Sect. 4. Of the Sprouting, Springing, and Fructification of the Earth: wherein the varietie, and vertues of sundry Herbs and Trees, is largely discovered, according to the best Authours.
• Unto which two last Sections, an Appendix is joyned con∣cerning all kinde of Metals, as Gold, Silver, Stones of all sorts, and such like things as are under ground.

CHAP. VII.

THe seventh Chapter concerneth the fourth day, together with such things as are pertinent to the work done in it; namely the Matter, Names, Natures, Motions, and Offi∣ces of the Starres. It hath three Sections.

• Sect. 1. An entrance towards the discourse of the Stars and Lights.
• Sect. 2. Of the Matter, Place, Motion, and Height of the Starres, &c. This Section hath two Articles.
  • 1. That the Starres consist most of a Fiery matter, and are cherished by the Waters above the Heavens; as was mentioned, Chap. 4.
  • 2. Of their Order and Place in the Skie: and why one is higher then another.
• Sect. 3. Of those offices given to the Starres when they were created. This third Section hath three Paragraphs.
  • Parag. 1. Shewing that their first office is to shine upon the Earth, to rule the Day and Night, &c. Here we have two Articles.
    • 1. Of Light, what it is: and whether the Sunne be the onely fountain of Light.
    • 2. Of the Starres twinkling, and Sunnes dancing.
  • Parag. 2. Of that other office; viz. that the Starres should be for Signes, &c. This Paragraph hath three Articles.
    • 1. That the Starres work upon the inferiour world, and are signes of future events.
    • 2. Whether it be not a derogation from the perfection of things created, to grant that the Starres may give an inclination to Man, in his actions.
    • 3. Of Predictions, or understanding the Signes.
  • Parag. 3. Of that other office, wherein the Starres were made (as it were) heavenly clocks. This hath three Articles.
    • 1. Of Seasons; as Spring, Summer, &c.
    • ...

CHAP. VIII.

THe eighth Chapter concerneth the creatures made in the fifth day of the world; viz. Fish, and Fowl. This Chapter hath two Sections.

• Sect. 1. Of Fishes, their names, kindes, properties; together with sundry emblemes drawn from them.
• Sect. 2. Of the names, kindes, and properties of Fowls; with many and sundry emblemes drawn from most of them.

CHAP. IX.

THe ninth Chapter concerneth the creatures made in the sixth and last day; being such creatures as live neither in the Aire or Water, but upon the Earth. This Chapter hath likewise two Sections.

• Sect. 1. Of Beasts, their properties, names, kindes, &c. toge∣ther with sundry emblemes drawn from many of them.
• Sect. 2. The creation of Man, being created male and fe∣male, and made according to the image of God: together with the institution of Marriage, and blessing given to that estate.