Pseudodoxia epidemica, or, Enquiries into very many received tenents and commonly presumed truths by Thomas Browne.

THE SECOND BOOK: (Book 2)

Of sundry popular Tenents concerning Minerall, and vegetable bodies, generally held for trueth, which examined, prove either false, or dubio••••. (Book 2)

CHAP. I.

Of Crystall.

HEreof the common opinion hath been, and still re∣m••ineth amongst us, that Crystall is nothing else, but Ice or Snow concreted, and by dura∣tion of time, congealed beyond liquation. Of which assertion, if the prescription of time, and numerositie of Assert••rs, were a sufficient de∣monstration, we might sit downe herein, as an unquestionable truth; nor should there need vlterior disquisition. For indeed, few opinions there are, which have ••ound so many friends, or been so popularly received, through all professions and ages. And first, Plinie is positive in this opinion: Crystallus sit gelu vehem••ntius concr••to: the same is followed by Seneca, and Elegantly described by Claudian, not denyed by Scaliger, and some way affirmed by Alber∣tus, Brasavolus, and directly by many others. The venerable Fathers of the Church have also assented hereto; As Basil in his Hexameron, Isidore in his Etymologies, and not onely Austin a Latine Father, but Gregory the great, and Jerom upon occasion of that terme, expressed in the first of Ezekiel.

All which notwithstanding upon a strict enquiry, we finde the mat∣ter controve••••ible, and with much more reason denyed then is as yet affirmed. For first, though many have passed it over with easie affir∣matives▪ yet are there also many Authors that deny it, and the exactest Mineralogists have rejected it. Diodorus in his eleventh booke de∣nyeth it, If Crystall be there taken in its proper acception, as Rhodigi∣nus hath used it, and not for a Diamond, as Salmatius hath expounded

it; for in that place he affirmeth. Crystallum esse lapidem ex aqua pura concr••tum▪ non tamen frigore sed divini caloris v••. Solinus who tran∣scribed Plinie, and therefore in almost all subscribed unto him, hath in this point dissented from him. Putant quidam glaciem coire, & in Cry∣stallum corporari sed frustra. Mathiolus in his Comment upon Diosco∣rides, hath with confidence and not without reason rejected it. The same hath been performed by Agricola de Natura foss••lium; by Car∣dan, Boe••ius de Boot, Caesius Bernardus, Senuertus, and many more.

Now besides authoritie against it, there may be many reasons dedu∣ced from their severall differences which seeme to overthrow it. And first, a difference is probable in their concretion. For if Crystall be a stone, (as in the number thereof it is confessedly received) it is not im∣mediatly concreted by the ••fficacy of cold, but rather by a Minerall spirit, and lapid••ficall principles of its owne, and therefore while it lay in solutis principiis, and remained in a fluid body, it was a subject very unapt for proper conglaceation; for Minerall spirits, doe generally re∣sist and scarce submit thereto. So wee observe that many waters and springs will never freez, and many parts in rivers and lakes, where there a••e Minerall eruptions, will still persist without congelation; as we also visibly observe, in Aqua fortis, or any Minerall solution, either of Vi∣trioll, Alum, Salpeter, Ammoniac, or Tartar; which although to some degree exhaled and placed in cold conservatories, will Crystallise and shoot into white and glacious bodyes; yet is not this a congelation pri∣marily effected by cold, but an intrinsecall induration from themselves, and a retreat into their proper solidityes, which were absorbed by the licour, and lost in a full imbibition thereof before. And so also when wood and many other bodies doe petrifie, either by the sea, other wa∣ters, or earths abounding in such spirits, doe wee usually ascribe their induration to cold, but rather unto salinous spirits, concretive juyces, and causes circumj••cent, which doe assimilate all bodyes not indispo∣sed for their impressions.

But Ice is only water congealed by the frigidity of the ayre, where∣by it acquireth no new forme, but rather a consistence or determinati∣on of its diffluency, and amitteth not its essence, but its condition of fluidity; neither doth there any thing properly conglaciate but water, or watery humidity; for the determination of quick-silver is properly fixation, that of milke coagulation, and that of oyle and unctious bo∣dies onely incrassation; And therefore Aristotle makes a triall of the fertility of humane seed, from the experiment of congelation, for that sayth hee, which is not watery and improlificall will not conglaciate, which perhaps must not be taken strictly, but in the germe and spirited particles: for egges I observe will freeze, in the generative and albu∣ginous part thereof. And upon this ground Paracelsus in his Archi∣doxis,

extracteth the magistery of wine, after foure moneths dige∣stion in horsedunge, exposing it unto the extremity of cold, whereby the aqueous parts will freeze, but the Spirit retyre and be found un∣congealed in the center.

Againe, the difference of their concretion is not without reason, collectible from their dissolution, which being many wayes perform∣able in Ice, is not in the same manner effected in Crystall. Now the causes of liquation are contrary to those of concretion, and as the atoms and indivisible parcels are united, so are they in an opposite way dis∣joyned. That which is concreted by exsiccation or expression of humi∣dity, wil be resolved by humectation, as earth, dirt, and clayi; that which is coagulated by a fiery siccity, will suffer colliquation from an aque∣ous humidity, as salt and sugar, which are easily dissoluble in water, but not without difficulty in oyle, and well rectified spirits of wine. That which is concreated by cold, will dissolve by a moist heat, if it consist of watery parts, as Gums, Arabick, Tragacanth, Ammoniac, and others, in an ayrie heat or oyle, as all resinous bodies, Turpentine, Pitch, and Frankincense; in both as gummy resinous bodies, Masticke, Camphire, and Storax; in neither, as neutralls and bodies anomalous hereto, as Bdellium, Myrrhe and others. Some by a violent dry heat, as mettalls, which although corrodible by waters, yet will they not suffer a liquation from the powerfullest heat, communicable unto that element. Some will dissolve by this heat although their ingredients be earthy, as glasse, whose materialls are fine sand, and the ashes of Chali or Fearne; and so will salt runne with fire, although it bee con∣created by heat, and this way alone may bee effected a liquation in Crystall, but not without some difficulty; that is, calcination or redu∣cing it by Arte, into a subtile powder, by which way and a vitre∣ous commixture, glasses are sometime made hereof, and it becomes the chiefe••t ground for artificiall and factitious gemmes; but the same way of solution is common also unto many stones, and not only Berylls and Cornelians, but flints and pebbles, are subject unto fusion, and will runne like glasse in fire.

But Ice will dissolve in any way of heat, for it will dissolve with ••ire, it will colliquate in water, or warme oyle; nor doth it only submit to an actuall heat, but not endure the potentiall calidity of many wa∣ters; for it will presently dissolve in Aqua fortis, sp. of vitrioll, salt or tartar, nor will it long continue its fixation in spirits of wine, as may be observed in Ice injected therein.

Againe, the concretion of Ice will not endure a dry attrition with∣out liquation; for if it be rubbed long with a cloth it melteth, but Crystall will calefy unto electricity, that is a power to attract strawes or light bodies, and convert the needle freely placed; which is a de∣clarement of very different parts, wherein wee shall not at present

inlarge, as having discoursed at full concerning such bodies in the Chap of Electricks.

They are differenced by supernatation or floating upon water, for Chrystall will sinke in water as carrying in its owne bulke a greater ponderosity, then the space in any water it doth occupy, and will there∣fore only swim in molten mettall, a••d Quicksilver. But Ice will swim in water of what thinnesse soever; and though it sinke in oyle, will float in spirits of wine or Aqua vitae. And therefore it may swim in water, not only as being water it selfe, and in its proper place, but perhaps as weighing no more then the water it possesseth. And therefore as it will not sinke unto the bottome, so will it neither float above like ligh∣ter bodies, but being neare, or inequality of weight, lye superficially or almost horizontally unto it. And therefore also an Ice or congela∣tion of salt or sugar, although it descend not unto the bottome, yet will it abate, and decline below the surface in thin water, but very sensibly in spirits of wine. For Ice although it seemeth as transparent and com∣pact as Chrystall, yet is it short in either, for its atoms are not concre∣ted into continuity, which doth diminish its translucency; it is also full of spumes and bubbles, which may abate its gravity. And therefore waters frozen in pans, and open glasses, after their dissolution do com∣monly leave a froth, and spume upon them.

They are distinguisht into substance of parts and the accidents there∣of, that is in colour and figure; for Ice is a similary body▪ and homoge∣neous concretion, whose materiall is properly water, and but acciden∣tally exceeding the simplicity of that element; but the body of Cry∣stall is mixed, its ingredients many, and sensibly containeth those prin∣ciples into which mixt bodies ar•• reduced; for beside the spirit and mercuriall principle, it containeth a sulphur or inflamable part, and that in no small quantity; for upon collision with steele, it will actually send forth its sparkes▪ not much inferior unto a flint. Now such bodies only strike fire as have a sulphur or ignitible parts within them. For as we elsewhere declare, these scintillations are not the accension of the ayre, upon the collision of two hard bodies, but rather the inflamable effluencies discharged from the bodies collided. For diamonds, mar∣bles, heliotropes, and agaths, though hard bodies, will not strike fire, nor one steele easily with another, nor a flint easily with a steele, if they both be wet, for then the sparkes are quenched in their eruption.

It containeth also a salt, and that in some plenty which may occasi∣on its fragility, as is also observable in corall. This by the art of Chy∣mistry is separable unto the operations whereof it is lyable, with other concretions, as calcination, reverberation, sublimation, distillation: And in the preparation of Crystall, Paracelsus hath made a rule for that of Gemms, as he declareth in his first de praeparationibu••. Briefly, it consisteth of such parts so far from an Ici•• dissolution that powerfull

menstruums are made for its emolition, whereby it may receive the tincture of minerals, and so resemble Gemms, as Boetius hath declared in the distillation of Urine, spirits of wine, and turpentine, and is not onely triturable, and reduceable into powder, by contrition, but will subsist in a violent ••ire, and endure a vitrification: Wherby are testified its earthy and fixed parts. For vitrification is the last worke of fire, and when that arriveth, humidity is exhaled, for powdered glasse emits no fume or exhalation although it bee laid upon a red hot iron. And therefore when some commend the powder of burnt glasse against the stone, they fall not under my comprehension, who cannot conceive how a body should be farther burned, which hath already passed the extr••amest teste of fire.

As for colour although crystall in his pellucide body seems to have none at all, yet in its reduction into powder, it hath a vaile and shadow of blew, and in its courser peeces, is of a sadder hue, then the powder of Venice glasse, which complexion it will maintaine although it long endure the fire; which notwithstanding needs not move us unto won∣der, for vitrified and pellucide bodyes, are of a clearer complexion in their continuities, then in their powders and Atomicall divisions. So Stibium or glasse of Antimony, appears somewhat red in glasse, but in its powder yellow; so painted glasse of a sanguine red will not ascend in powder above a murrey.

As for the figure of crystall (which is very strange, and forced Plinie to the despaire of resolution) it is for the most part hexagonall or six cornerd, being built upon a confused matter from whence as it were from a root angular figures arise, as in the Amethists and Basaltes, which regular figuration hath made some opinion, it hath not its de∣termination from circumscription or as conforming unto contiguities, but rather from a seminall root, and formative principle of its owne, e∣ven as we observe in severall other concretions. So the stones which are sometime found in the gall of a man, are most triangular, and py∣ramidall, although the figure of that part seems not to cooperate there∣to. So the Aster••a or Lapis Stellaris, hath on it the figure of a Starre, and so Lapis Iuda••cu••, that famous remedy for the stone, hath circular lines in length all downe its body, and equidistant, as though they had been turned by Art. So that we call a Fayrie stone, and is often found in gravell pits amongst us, being of an hemisphericall figure, hath five double lines arising from the center of its basis, which if no accretion distract them doe commonly concur and meet in the pole thereof. The figures are regular in many other stones, as in the Belemnites, Lapis an∣guinus, Cornu Amn••onis, and divers beside, as by those which have not the experience hereof may be observed in their figures expressed by Mineralogistes. But Ice receiveth its figure according unto the sur∣face, wherein it concreteth or the circumamb••••ncy which conformeth

it. So is it plaine upon the surface of water, but round in hayle, (which is also a glaciacion) and figured in its guttulous descent from the ayre. And therefore Aristotle in his Meteors concludeth that haile which is not round is congealed nearer the earth, for that which falleth from an high, is by the length of its journey corraded, and descendeth therefore in a lesser magnitude, but greater rotundity unto us.

They are also differenced in the places of their generation; for though Crystall be found in cold countries, and where Ice remaineth long, and the ayre exceedeth in cold, yet is it also found in regions, where Ice is seldome seen or soon dissolved, as Plinie and Agricola relate of Cyprus, Caramania and an Island in the Red-sea; it is also found in the veynes of Mineralls, in rocks, and sometime in common earth. But as for Ice it will not concrete but in the approachment of the ayre, as we have made tryall in glasses of water, covered halfe an inche with oyle, which will not easily freeze in the hardest frosts of our climate; for water concreteth first in its surface, and so conglaciates downward, and so will it doe although it be exposed in the coldest mettall of lead; which well accordeth with that expression of God, Job 38. The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.

They have contrary qualities elementall, and uses medicinall; for Ice is cold and moyst, of the quality of water: But Crystall is cold and dry, according to the condition of earth, the use of Ice is condem∣ned by most Physitians; that of Chrystall commended by many. For although Dioscorides and Galen, have left no mention thereof; yet hath Mathiolus, Agricola, and many other commended it in disenteries and fluxes; all for the encrease of milke, most Chymistes for the stone, and some as Brassavolus and Boetius, as an antidote against p••oyson: Which occult and specificall operations, are not expectible from Ice; for being but water congealed, it can never make good such qualities, nor will it reasonably admit of secret proprieties, which are the affecti∣ons of formes, and compositions at distance from their elements.

Having thus declared what Chrystall is not, it may afford some sa∣tisfaction to manifest what it is. To deliver therefore what with the judgement of approved Authors, and best reason consisteth, It is a mi∣nerall body in the difference of stones, and reduced by some unto that subdivision, which comprehendeth gemmes; transparent and resem∣bling glasse or Ice, made of a lentous colament of earth, drawne from the most pure and limpid juyce thereof, owing unto the coldnesse of the earth some concurrence or coadjuva••cy, but not its immediate determination and efficiency, which are wrought by the hand of its concretive spirit, the seeds of petrification and Gorgon within it selfe; as we may conceive in stones and gems, as Diamonds, Beryls, Saphires and the like, whose generation we cannot with satisfaction confine un∣to the remote activity of the Sun, or the common operation of cold∣nesse

in the earth, but may more safely referre it unto a lapidificall ••uc∣city, and congelitive principle which determines prepared materials unto specificall concretions. And therefore I feare we commonly con∣sider subterranities not in contemplations sufficiently respective unto the creation. For though Moses have left no mention of minerals, nor made any other description then sutes unto the apparent and visible creation; yet is there unquestionably, a very large Classis of creatures in the earth farre above the condition of elementarity: And although not in a distinct and indisputable way of vivency, or answering in all points the properties or affections of plants, yet in inferiour and descen∣ding constitutions, they do like these containe specificall distinctions, and are determined by seminalities; that is created, and defined seeds committed unto the earth from the beginning. Wherein although they attaine not the indubitable requisites of Animation, yet have they a neere affinity thereto. And though we want a proper name and expres∣sive appellation, yet are they not to be closed up in the generall name of concretions, or lightly passed over as onely Elementary, and Subter∣raneous m••xtions.

The principle and most gemmary affection is its Tralucency; as for irradiancy or sparkling which is found in many gems it is not dis∣coverable in this, for it commeth short of their compactnesse and duri∣ty: and therefore it requireth not the Eme••ry, as Diamonds or Topaze, but will receive impression from steele, more easily then the Turchois. As for its diaphanity or perspicuity, it enjoyeth that most eminently, and the reason thereof is its continuity, as having its earthly & salinous parts so exactly resolved, that its body is left imporous and not discre∣ted by atomicall terminations. For, that continuity of parts, is the cause of perspicuity, is made perspicuous by two wayes of ••xperiment, that is either in effecting transparency in those bodyes which were not so before, or at least far short of the additionall degree. So snow be∣comes transparent upon liquation, so hornes and bodyes resolveable into continued parts or gelly. The like is observable in oyled paper, wherein the interstitial divisions being continuated by the accession of oyle, it becommeth more transparent, and admits the visible rayes with lesse umbrosity. Or else by rendring those bodies opacus which were before pellucide and perspicuous. So glasse which was before diaphanous, being by powder reduced into multiplicity of superficies, becomes an opacus body, and will not transmit the light: and so it is in crystall ••owdered, and so it is also evident before; for if it be made hot in a c••usible, and presently projected upon water, it will grow dim, and abate its diaphanity, for the water entring, the body begets a divi∣sion of parts, and a termination of Atoms united before unto con∣tinuity.

The ground of this opinion might be, first the conclusions of some

men from experience, for as much as Crystall is found sometimes in rockes, and in some places not much unlike the stirious or stillicidious dependencies of Ice; which notwithstanding may happen either in places which havee been forsaken or left bare by the earth, or may be petrifications, or Minerall indurations, like other gemmes proceeding from percolations of the earth disposed unto such concretions.

The second and most common ground is from the name Crystallus, whereby in Greeke, both Ice and Crystall are expressed, which many not duly considering, have from their community of name, conceived a community of nature, and what was ascribed unto the one, not unsitly appliable unto the other. But this is a fallacy of Aequivocation, from a society in name inferring an Identity in nature. By this fallacy was he deceived that drank Aqua fortis for strong water: By this are they delu∣ded, who conceive sperma Coeti (which is a bituminous superfluitance on the Sea) to be the spawne of the Whale; Or take sanguis draconis, (which is the gumme of a tree) to be the blood of a Dragon. By the same Logick we may inferre, the Crystalline humor of the eye, or ra∣ther the Crystalline heaven above, to be of the substance of Crystall below; Or that Almighty God sendeth downe Crystall, because it is delivered in the vulgar translation, Psal. 47. Mittit Crystallum suum sicut Buccellas: which translation although it literally expresse the Sep∣tuagint, yet is there no more meant thereby, then what our translation in plaine English expresseth; that is, hee casteth forth his Ice like mor∣sels, or what Tremellius and Junius as clearly deliver, De••icit gelu suum sicut frusta coram frigore eius quis consistet? which proper and Latine expressions, had they been observed in ancient translations, elder Ex∣positers had not beene misguided by the Synonomy, nor had they af∣forded occasion unto Austen, the Glosse, Lyranus, and many others, to have taken up the common conceit, and spoke of this text conforma∣bly unto the opinion rejected.

CHAP. II.

Concerning the Loadstone.

Of things particularly spoken thereof evidently or probably true. Of things gene∣rally beleeved, or particularly delivered, manifestly or probably false. In the first of the Magneticall vertue of the earth, of the foure motions of the stone, that is, its Verticity or direction, its Attraction or Coition, its declination, its Variation, and also of its Antiquity. In the second a rejection of sundry opinions and relations thereof, Naturall, Medicall, Historicall, Magicall.

ANd first we conceive the earth to be a Magneticall body. A Mag∣netical body, we term not only that which hath a power attractive, but that which seated in a convenient medium naturally disposeth it

self to one invariable and fixed situation. And such a Magnetical vertue we conceive to be in the Globe of the earth; whereby as unto its natu∣rall points and proper terms it disposeth it self unto the poles, being so framed, constituted & ordered unto these points, that those parts which are now at the poles, would not naturally abide under the Aequator, nor Green-land remain in the place of Magellanica; and if the whole earth were violently removed, yet would it not fo••goe its primi••ive points, nor pitch in the East or West, but return unto its polary position again. For though by compactnesse or gravi••y it may acquire the lowest place, and become the center of the universe, yet that it makes good that point, not varying at all by the accession of bodyes upon, or se∣cession thereof, from its surface pertu••bing the equilibration of either Hemi••pheare (whereby the altitude of the starres might vary) or that it strictly maintaines the north and southerne points, that neither upon the moti••ns of the heavens, ayre and winds without, large eruptions and d••v••sion of parts within, its polar pa••ts should never incline or veere unto the Aequator (whereby the latitude of places should also vary) it cannot so well be salved from gravity as a magneticall verticity. This is probably that foundation the wisdome of the Creator h••th laid unto the earth, and in this sense we may more nearly apprehend, and sensibly make out the expressions of holy Scripture, as that of Ps. 93. 1. Firma vit orbem terrae qui non commovebitur, he hath made the round world so sure that it cannot be moved: as when it is said by J••b, Extendit A∣quilonem super vacuo, &c. Hee stretcheth forth the North upon the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing. And this is the most probable answer unto that great question, Job ••8. whereupon are the foundations of the earth fastened, or who laid the corner stone there∣of? Had they been acquainted with this principle, Anaxagoras, So∣crates and Democritus had better made out the ground of this stabili∣••y: Xen••phanes had not been faine to say it had no bottome, and ••h••les Milesius to make it swim in water. Now whether the earth stand still, or moveth circularly, we may concede this Magneticall stability: For although it move, in that conversion the poles and cen∣ter may still remaine the same, as is conceived in the Magneticall bo∣dies of heaven, especially J••piter and the Sunne; which according to Galileus, Kepler, and Fabr••cius, are observed to have Dineticall moti∣ons and certaine revolutions abou•• their proper centers; and though the one in about the space of ten dayes, the other in lesse then one, ac∣complish this revolution, yet do they observe a constant habitude unto their poles and firme themselves thereon in their gyration.

Nor is the vigour of this great body included only in is selfe, or cir∣cumferenced by its surface▪ but diffused at indeterminate distances through the ayre, water and bodyes circumjacent; exciting and im∣pregnating magneticall bodyes within it surface or without it, and per∣forming

in a secret and invisible way what we evidently behold effe∣cted by the Loadstone. For these effluxions penetrate all bodyes, and like the species of visible objects are ever ready in the medium, and lay hold on all bodyes proportionate or capable of their action; those bo∣dyes likewise being of a congenerous nature doe readily receive the impressions of their motor; and if not fettered by their gravity, con∣forme themselves to situations, wherein they best unite unto their Ani∣mator. And this will sufficiently appeare from the observations that are to follow, which can no better way bee made out then this wee speake of the magneticall vigour of the earth. Now whether these ef∣fluvi••ms do flye by streated Atomes and winding particles as Renatus des Cartes conceaveth, or glide by streames attracted from either pole and hemispheare of the earth unto the Aequator, as Sir Kenelme Dig∣by excellently declareth, it takes not away this vertue of the earth, but more distinctly sets downe the gests and progresse thereof, and are conceits of eminent use to salve magneticall phenomena's. And as in Astronomy those hypotheses though never so strange are best estee∣med which best do salve apparencies, so surely in Philosophy those principles (though seeming monstrous) may with advantage be embra∣ced, which best confirme experiment, and afford the readiest reason of observation. And truly the doctrine of effluxions, their penetrating natures, their invisible paths, and insuspected effects, are very conside∣rable; for besides this magneticall one of the earth, severall effusions there may be from divers other bodies, which invisibly act their parts at any time, and perhaps through any medium, a part of Philosophy but yet in discovery, and will I feare prove the last leafe to be turned over in the booke of Nature.

First, therefore it is evidently true and confirmable by every experi∣ment, that steele and good Iron never excited by the Loadstone, dis∣cover in themselves a verticity; that is, a directive or polary faculty, whereby conveniently they do septentrionate at one extreme, and Au∣stralize at another; & this is manifestible in long and thin plates of steel perforated in the middle and equilibrated, or by an easier way in long wires equiponderate with untwisted silke and soft wax; for in this manner pendulous they will conforme themselves Meridionally, di∣recting one extreame unto the North, another to the South. The same is also manifest in steele wires thrust through little spheres or globes of Corke and floated on the water, or in naked needles gently let fall thereon, for so disposed they will not rest untill they have ••ound out the Meridian, and as neere as they can lye parallell unto the axis of the earth: Sometimes the eye, sometimes the point Northward in di∣vers Needles, but the same point alwayes in most, conforming them∣selves unto the whol•• earth, in the same manner as they doe unto every Loadstone; For if a needle untoucht be hanged above a Loadstone, it

will convert into a parallel position thereto; for in this situation it can best receive its verticity and be excited proportionably at both ex∣tremes: now this direction proceeds not primitively from themselves, but is derivative and contracted from the magneticall effluxions of the earth, which they have winded in their hammering and formation, or else by long continuance in one position, as wee shall declare here∣after.

It is likewise true what is delivered of Irons heated in the fire, that they contract a verticity in their refrigeration; for heated red hot and cooled in the meridian from North to South, they presently contract a polary power, and being poysed in ayre or water convert that part unto the North which respected that point in its refrigeration; so that if they had no sensible verticity before it may be acquired by this way, or if they had any, it might be exchanged by contrary position in the coo∣ling: for by the fire they omit not onely many drossie and scorious parts, but whatsoever they had received either from the earth or load∣stone, and so being naked and despoiled of all verticity, the magneticall Atomes invade their bodies with more effect and agility.

Neither is it onely true what Gilbertus first observed, that Irons re∣frigerated North and South acquire a Directive faculty, but if they be cooled upright and perpendicularly they will also obtaine the same; that part which is cooled toward the North on this side the Aequator, converting it selfe unto the North, and attracting the South point of the Needle: the other and highest extreme respecting the South, and attracting the Northerne according unto the Laws Magneticall: for (what must be observed) contrary poles or faces attract each other, as the North the South, and the like decline each other, as the North the North. Now on this side of the Aequator, that extreme which is next the earth is animated unto the North, and the contrary unto the South; so that in Coition it applyes it selfe quite oppositely, the coition or at∣traction being contrary to the verticity or Direction. Contrary if wee speake according unto common use, yet alike if we conceave the virtue of the North pole to diffuse it self and open at the South, and the South at the North againe.

This polarity Iron refrigeration upon extremity and in defect of a Loadstone might serve to invigorate and touch a needle any where; and this, allowing variation, is also the truest way at any season to dis∣cover the North or South; and surely farre more certaine then what is affi••med of the graines and circles in trees, or the figure in the roote of Ferne. For if we erect a red hot wire untill it coole, then hang it up with wax and untwisted silke, where the lower end and that which cooled next the earth doth rest, that is the Northerne point; and this we affirme will still be true, whether it be cooled in the ayre or extin∣guished in water, oyle of vitrioll, Aqua fortis, or Quicksilver. And this

is also evidenced in culinary utensils and Irons that often feele the force of fire, as tongs, fireshovels, prongs and Andirons; all which acquire a magneticall and polary condition, and being suspended, convert their lower extremes unto the North, with the same attracting the Southerne point of the Needle. For easier experiment if wee place a Needle tou∣ched at the foote of tongues or andirons, it will obvert or turne aside its lyllie or North point, and conforme its cuspis or South extreme un∣to the andiron. The like verticity though more obscurely is also con∣tracted by brickes and tiles, as wee have made triall in some taken out of the backs of chimneys. Now to contract this Direction, there needs not a totall ignition, nor is it necessary the Irons should bee red hot all over. For if a wire be heated onely at one end, according as that end is cooled upward or downeward, it respectively acquires a verticity, as we have declared before in wires totally candent. Nor is it absolutely requisite they should be exactly cooled perpendicularly, or strictly lye in the meridia••, for whether they be refrigerated inclinatorily or some∣what Aequinoxially, that is toward the Easterne or Westerne points though in a lesser degree, they discover some verticity.

Nor is this onely true in Irons but in the Loadstone it selfe; for if a Loadstone be made red hot in the fire it amits the magneticall vigour it had before in it selfe, and acquires another from the earth in its refri∣geration; for that part which cooleth toward the earth will acquire the respect of the North, and attract the Southerne point or cuspis of the Needle. The experiment hereof we made in a Loadstone of a parallel∣logram or long square figure, wherein only inverting the extremes as it came out of the fire, wee altered the poles or faces thereof at pleasure.

It is also true what is delivered of the Direction and coition of Irons that they contract a verticity by long and continued position; that is, not onely being placed from North to South, and lying in the meridi∣an, but respecting the Zenith and perpendicular unto the center of the earth, as is most manifest in barres of windowes, casements, hindges and the like; for if we present the Needle unto their lower extremes, it wheeles about it and turnes its Southerne point unto them. The same condition in long time doe bricks contract which are placed in walls, and therefore it may be a fallible way to finde out the meridian by pla∣cing the Needle on a wall for some bricks therein which by a long and continued position, are often magnetically enabled to distract the po∣larity of the Needle.

Lastly, Irons doe manifest a verticity not only upon refrigeration and constant situation, but (what is wonderfull and advanceth the mag∣neticall hypothesis) they evidence the same by meer position accor∣ding as they are inverted▪ and their extreams disposed respectively un∣to the earth. For if an iron or steele not formerly excited, be held per∣pendicularly

or inclinatorily unto the needle, the lower end thereof will attract the cuspis or southerne point; but if the same extream be in∣verted and held under the needle, it will then attract the lilly or nor∣therne point; for by inversion it changeth its direction acquired before, and receiveth a new and southerne polarity from the earth as being the upper extreame. Now if an iron be touched before, it varyeth not in this manner, for then it admits not this magneticall impression, as being already informed by the Loadstone and polarily determined by its pr••action.

And from these grounds may we best determine why the Northern pole of the Loadstone attracteth a greater weight then the Southerne on this side the Equator, why the stone is best preserved in a naturall and polary situation; and why as Gilbertus observeth, it respecteth that pole out of the earth which it regarded in its minereall bed and subter∣raneous position.

It is likewise true and wonderfull what is delivered of the Inclina∣tion or Declination of the Loadstone; that is, the descent of the needle below the plaine of the Horizon: for long needles which stood before upon their axis parallell unto the Horizon, being vigo∣rously excited, incline and bend downeward, depressing the North extreame below the Horizon; that is the North on this, the South on the other side of the Equator, and at the very Lyne or middle circle of the Earth stand parallell, and deflecteth neither. And this is evidenced not only from observations of the needle in seve∣rall parts of the earth, but sundry experiments in any part thereof, as in a long steele, wires equilibrated or evenly ballanced in the ayre; for excited by a vigorous Loadstone it will somewhat depresse its anima∣ted extreme, and interest the horizontall circumference. It is also ma∣nifest in a needle pierced through a globe of Cork so cut away and pa∣red by degrees that it will swim under water, yet sinke not unto the bottome, which may be well effected; for if the corke bee a thought too light to sinke under the surface, the body of the water may be at∣tenuated with spirits of wine; if too heavy, it may be incrassated with salt; and if by chance too much be added, it may againe be thinned by a proportionable addition of fresh water: if then the needle be taken out, actively touched and put in againe, it will depresse and bow down its northerne head toward the bottome, and advance its southerne ex∣tremity toward the brim. This way invented by Gilbertus may seem of difficulty; the same with lesse labour may be observed in a needled sphere of corke equally contiguous unto the surface of the water; for if the needle be not exactly equiponderant, that end which is a thought too light, if touched becommeth even; that needle also which will but just swim under water if forcibly touched will sinke deeper, and some∣time unto the bottome. If likewise that inclinatory vertue be destroy∣ed

by a touch from the contrary pole, that end which before was eleva∣ted will then decline; & this perhaps might be observed in some scales exactly ballanced, and in such needles which for their bulke can hardly be supported by the water. For if they be powerfully excited & equally let fall, they commonly sink down and break the water at that extream wherat they were septentrionally excited, & by this way it is conceived there may be some fraud in the weighing of precious commodities, and such as carry a value in quarter grains, by placing a powerfull Loadstone above or below, according as we intend to depres or elevate one extrem.

Now if these magneticall emissions bee only qualities, and the gra∣vity of bodyes incline them only unto the earth; surely that which mo∣veth other bodyes to descent carryeth not the stroak in this, but rather the magneticall alliciency of the earth, unto which alacrity it applyeth it selfe, and in the very same way unto the whole earth, as it doth unto a single Loadstone: for if an untouched needle be at a distance suspen∣ded over a Loadstone, it will not hang parallel, but decline at the north extreme, and at that part will first salute its Director. Again, what is also wonderfull, this inclination is not invariable; for as it is obser∣ved just under the line the needle lyeth parallel with the Horizon, but sayling north or south it beginneth to incline, and increaseth according as it approacheth unto either pole, and would at last endeavour to e∣rect it selfe; and this is no more then what it doth upon the Loadstone, and that more plainly upon the Terrella or sphericall magnet geogra∣phically set out with circles of the Globe. For at the Aequator there∣of the needle will stand rectangularly, but approaching northward to∣ward the tropick it will regard the stone obliquely; & when it attaineth the pole directly, and if its bulk be no impediment, erect it self and stand perp••ndicularly thereon. And therefore upon strict observation of this inclination in severall latitudes & due records preserved, instruments are made whereby without the help of Sun or Star, the latitude of the place may be discovered; and yet it appears the observations of men have not as yet been so just & equall as is desirable, for of those tables of declina∣tion which I have perused, there are not any two that punctually agree, though som have been thoght exactly calculated, especially that which Ridley received frō Mr. Brigs in our time Geometry Professor in Oxford.

It is also probable what is delivered concerning the variation of the compasse that is the cause and ground thereof, for the manner as being confirmed by observation we shall not at all dispute. The variation of the compasse is an Arch of the Horizon intercepted between the true and magneticall meridian, or more plainly, a deflexion and siding East and West from the true meridian. The true meridian is a major circle passing through the poles of the world, and the Zenith or Vertex of a∣ny place, exactly dividing the East from the West. Now on this lyne the needle exactly lyeth not, but diverts and varieth its point, that is

the North point on this side the Aequator, the South on the other; som∣times unto the East, sometime toward the West, and in some few pla∣ces varieth not at all. First, therfore it is observed that betwixt the shore of Ireland, France, Spaine, Guinie and the Azores, the North point varieth toward the East, and that in some variety; at London it varieth eleven degrees, at Antwerpe nine, at Rome but five, at some parts of the Azores it deslecteth not, but lyeth in the true meridian on the other side of the Azores; and this side the Equator the north point of the needle wheeleth to the West, so that in the latitude of 36. neare the shore, the variation is about eleven degrees; but on the other side the Equator, it is quite otherwise: for about Capo Frio in Brasilia, the south point varieth twelve degrees unto the West, and about the mouth of the Straites of Magellan five or six; but elongating from the coast of Brasilia toward the shore of Africa it varyeth Eastward, and ariving at Capo de las Agullas, it resteth in the Meridian, and looketh neither way.

Now the cause of this variation may be the inequalitie of the earth, variously disposed, and differently intermixed with the Sea: withall the different disposure of its magneticall vigor in the eminencies and stronger parts thereof; for the needle naturally endeavours to con∣forme unto the Meridian, but being distracted driveth that way where the greater & most powerfuller part of the earth is placed, which may be illustrated from what hath been delivered before, and may be con∣ceived by any that understands the generalities of Geographie. For whereas on this side the Meridian, or the Isles of Azores, where the first Meridian is placed, the needle varieth Eastward, it may bee occa∣sioned by that vast Tract of earth, that is, Europe, Asia, and Africa, seated toward the East, and disposing the needle that way: For arriving at some part of the Azores, or Islands of Saint Michaels, which have a middle situation betweene these continents, and that vast and almost answerable Tract of America, it seemeth equally distracted by both, and diverting unto neither, doth parallell and place it self upon the true Meridian. But sayling farther it veers its Lilly to the West, and re∣gardeth that quarter wherein the land is nearer or greater; and in the same latitude as it approacheth the shoare augmenteth its variation. And therefore as some observe, if Columbus or whosoever first dis∣coved America, had apprehended the cause of this variation, having passed more then halfe the way, he might have been confirmed in the discovery, and assuredly foretold there lay a vast and mighty continent toward the West. The reason I confesse, and inference is good, but the instance perhaps not so. For Columbus knew not the variation of the compasse, whereof Sebastian Cabot first took notice, who after made discovery in the Northern parts of that continent. And it hap∣pened indeed that part of America was first discovered, which was on

〈◊〉〈◊〉 side fa••thest distant, that is Jamaica, Cuba, and the Isles in the Bay of M••xico. And from this variation do some new discoverers deduce a probability in the attempts of the Northerne passage toward the Indies.

Now because where the greater continents are joyned, the action and ••ffl••ence is also greater, therefore those needles do suffer the grea∣test variation which are in Countreys which most do feel that Action. A••d therefore hath Rome far lesse variation then London; for on the West side of Rome, are seated the great continents of France, Spaine, Germ••ny, which take of the exuperance and in some way ballance the vigour of the E••stern parts; but unto England there is almost no earth W••st▪ but the whole extent of Europe and Asia, lyeth E••stward, and therfore at London it varieth eleven dgerees, that is almost one Rhomb. Thus also by reason of the great continent of Brasilia, Peru, and Chili, the needle deflecteth toward the land twelve degrees; but at the straits of M••gellan where the land is narrowed, and the Sea on the o••her side, it varyeth but five or six. And so likewise, because the Cape 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Agullas hath Sea on both sides near it, and other land remote and as it were aequid••stant from it, therefore at that point the needle con∣forms unto the true Meridian, and is not distract by the vicinity of Ad∣jacencyes. And this is the generall and great cause of variation. But if in certaine creekes and valleys the needle prove irregular, and vary beyond expect••nce, it may be imputed unto some vigorous part of the earth, or Magneticall eminence not far distant. And this was the in∣vention of D^r Gilbert not many yeeres past, a Physition in London. And therefore although some assume the invention of its direction, and others have had the glory of the Carde, yet in the experiments, grounds, and causes thereof, England produced the Father Philoso∣pher, and discovered more in it, then Columbus or Americus did ever by it.

It is also probable what is conceived of its Antiquity, that the knowledge of its polary power and direction unto the North was un∣knowne unto the Ancients, and though Levinus Lemnius, and Caelius Calcagninus, are of another beliefe, is justly placed with new inventi∣ons by Pancirollus; for their Achilles and strongest argument is an ex∣pression in Plautus, a very ancient Author, and contemporary unto En∣nius. Hic ventus jam secundus est cape modo versoriam Now this ve••so∣riam they construe to be the compasse, which notwithstanding accord∣ing unto Pineda, who hath discussed the point, Turnebus, Cabeus, & di∣vers others, is better interpreted the rope that helps to turne the ship; or as we say, doth make it tack about; the Compasse, declaring rather the ship is tu••ned, then con••erring unto its conversion. As for the long expeditions & sundry voiages of elder times, which might confirm the antiquity of this invention, it is not improbable they were performed

by the helpe of starres; and so might the Phaenicean navigators, and also Vlysses saile about the Mediterranean, by the flight of birds, or keep∣ing near the shore, and so might Hanno coast about Africa, or by the helpe of oares as is expressed in the voyage of Jonah. And whereas it is contended that this ve••ticity was not unknowne unto Salomon, in whom is presumed a universality of knowledge, it will as forcibly fol∣low he knew the Arte of Typography, powder and gunnes, or had the Philosophers stone, yet sent unto Ophir for gold. It is not to be deny∣ed, that beside his politicall wisdome; his knowledge in Philosophie was very large, and perhaps from his workes therein, the ancient Phi∣losophers especially Aristotle, who had the assistance of Alexanders acquirements, collected great observables, yet if he knew the use of the Compasse, his ships were surely very s••ow, that made a three yeares voyage from Eziongeber in the red Sea unto Ophir, which is suppo∣sed to be Taprobana or Malaca in the Indies, not many moneths sayle, and since in the same or lesser time, Drake and Candish performed their voyage about the earth.

And as the knowledge of its verticity is not so old as some con∣ceive, so is it more ancient then most beleeve; nor had its discovery with gunnes, printing, or as many thinke, some yeers before the disco∣very of America; for it was not unknowne unto Petrus Peregrinus a French man, who two hundred yeeres since hath left a Tract of the Magnet & a perpetual motion to be made thereby preserved by Gasse∣rus. Paulus Venetus and about five hundred yeers past, Albertus Mag∣nus, make mention hereof, and quoteth for it a book of Aristotle de la∣pide, which book although we find in the Catalogue of Laertius, yet with Cabeus I rather judge it to be the work of some Arabick writer, not many years before the dayes of Albertus.

Lastly, It is likewise true what some have delivered of Crocus mar∣tis, that is, steele corroded with vineger, sulphur, or otherwise, and af∣ter reverberated by fire. For the Loadstone will not at all attract it, nor will it adhere, but lye therein like sand. This is to be understood of Crocus martis well reverberated, and into a violet colour: for common chalybs praeparatus, or corroded and powdered steele, the Loadstone attracts like ordinary filings of iron, and many times most of that which passeth for Crocus martis. So that this way may serve as a test of its preparation, after which it becommeth a very good medicine in fluxes. The like may be affirmed of Flakes of iron that are rusty and begin to tend unto earth; for their cognation then expireth, and the Loadstone will not regard them.

CHAP. III.

Concerning the Loadstone, therein of sundry common opinions, and received relati∣ons, Naturall, Historicall, Medicall, Magicall.

ANd first not onely a simple Hetorodox, but a very hard Parodox, it will seeme, and of great absurdity unto obstinate eares, if wee say attraction is unjustly appropriated unto the Loadstone, and that per∣haps we speake not properly, when wee say vulgarly the Loadstone draweth Iron, and yet herein we should not want experiment and great authority. The words of Renatus des Cartes in his principles of Phi∣losophy are very plain. Praeterea magnes trahet ferrum, sive potius mag∣nes & ferrum ad invicem accedunt, neque enim ulla ibi tractio est, The same is solemnly determined by Cabius. Nec magnes trahit proprie fer∣rum, nec ferrum ad se magnetem provocat, sed ambo pari conatu ad invi∣cem con••luunt. Concordant hereto is the assertion of Doctor Ridley, Physition unto the Emperour of Russia in his Tract of Magnetical bo∣dies; defining Magneticall attraction to be a naturall incitation and dis∣position conforming unto contiguitie, an union of one Magneticall body with an other, and no violent haling of the weak unto the stron∣ger. And this is also the doctrine of Gilbertus, by whom this mo∣tion is termed coition, and that not made by any faculty attractive of one, but a Syndrome and concourse of each; a coition alway of their vigours, and also of their bodies, if bulke or impediment prevent not, and therefore those contrary actions which slow from opposite poles or faces, are not so properly expulsion and attraction, as Sequela and Fuga a mutuall flight and following.

The same is also confirmed by experiment; for if a piece of iron be fastened in the side of a bowle or bason of water, a Loadstone swim∣ming freely in a boat of cork, will presently make unto it. And so if a steele or knife untouched be offered toward the needle that is touched, the needle nimbly moveth toward it, and conformeth unto union with the steele that moveth not. Againe, If a Loadstone be finely filed, the atoms or dust thereof will adheare unto iron that was never touched, even as the powder of iron doth also unto the Loadstone. And lastly, If in two skiphs of cork, a Loadstone and steele be placed within the orbe of their activities, the one doth not move, the other standing still, but both hoise sayle and steere unto each other; so that if the Loadstone attract, the steele hath also its attraction; for in this action the Allicien∣cy is reciprocall, which joyntly felt, they mutually approach and run into each others armes.

And therefore surely more moderate expressions become this action, then what the Ancients have used, which some have de∣livered in the most violent termes of their language, so Austine cals it,

Mirabilem ferri rap••orem: Hippocrates, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Lapis qui ferrum rapit. Galen disputing against Epicurus useth the terme 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. but that is also too violent: among the Ancients Aristotle spake most warily. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Lapis qui ferrum movet: and in some tollerable acception do runne the expressions of Aquinas, Scali∣ger and Cusanus.

Many relations are made, and great expectations are raised from the Magnes Carneus, or a Loadstone, that hath a faculty to attract not onely Iron but flesh; but this upon enquiry, and as Cabeus hath also observed, is nothing else but a weake an inanimate kinde of Load∣stone, veyned here and there with a few magneticall and ferreous lines, but chiefly consisting of a bolary and clammy substance, where∣by it adheres like Haematites, or Terra Lemnia, unto the Lipps, and this is that stone which is to be understood, when Physitions joyn it with Aetites or the Eagle stone, and promise therein a vertue against abor∣tion.

There is sometime a mistake concerning the variation of the com∣passe, and therein one point is taken for another. For beyond the Aequa∣tor some men account its variation by the diversion of the Northerne point, whereas beyond that circle the Southerne point is soveraigne, and the North submits his preheminency. For in the Southerne coast either of America or Africa, the Southerne point deflects and varieth toward the land, as being disposed and spirited that way by the meri∣dionall and proper Hemisphere. And therefore on that side of the earth the varying point is best accounted by the South. And therefore also the writings of some, and Maps of others, are to be enquired, that make the needle decline unto the East twelve degrees at Capo Frio, and sixe at the straits of Magellan, accounting hereby one point for another, and preferring the North in the liberties and province of the South.

But certainely false it is what is commonly affirmed and beleeved, that Garlick doth hinder the attraction of the Loadstone; which is not∣withstanding delivered by grave and worthy Writers; by Pliny, Soli∣nus, Ptolomy, Plutarch, Albertus, Mathiolus, Ru••us, Langius, and many more. An effect as strange as that of Homers Moly, and the Garlick the gods bestowed upon Ulysses. But that it is evidently f••lse, many experiments declare. For an Iron wire heated red hot and quenched in the juyce of Garlick, doth notwithstanding contract a verticity from the earth, and attracteth the Southerne point of the Needle. If also the tooth of a Loadstone be covered or stuck in Gar∣lik, it will notwithstanding attract and animate any Needles excited and fixed in Garlick untill they begin to rust, doe yet retaine their at∣tractive and polary respects.

Of the same stampe is that which is obtruded upon us by Authors

ancient and moderne, that an Adamant or Diamond prevents or su∣spends the attraction of the Loadstone, as is in open termes delivered by Pliny. Adam as dissidet cum Magnete Lapide ut juxta positus ferrū non patiatur abstrahi, a••t si admotus magnes apprehenderit, rapiat atque aufe∣rat. For if a Diamond be placed betweene a needle and a Loadstone, there will neverthelesse ensue a Coition even over the body of the Di∣amond: and an easie matter it is to touch or excite a needle through a Diamond, by placing it at the tooth of a Loadstone, and therefore the relation is false, or our estimation of these gems untrue; nor are they Diamonds which carry that name amongst us.

It is not suddenly to be received what Paracelsus in his booke De ge∣neratione rerum, affirmeth, that if a Loadstone be annointed with Mer∣curiall oyle, or onely put into Quicksilver, it omitteth its attraction for ever. For we have found that Loadstones and touched needles which have laid long time in Quicksilver have not amitted their attraction, and we also finde that red hot needles or wires extinguished in quick∣silver, do yet acquire a verticity according to the Laws of position in extinction. Of greater repugnancy unto reason is that which he deli∣vers concerning its graduation, that heated in fire & often extinguished in oyle of Mars or Iron, it acquires an ability to extract or draw forth a naile fastened in a wall; for, as we have declared before, the vigor of the Loadstone is destroyed by fire, nor will it be reimpregnated by any other Magnete then the earth.

True it is, and we shall not deny, that besides fire some other wayes there are of its destruction, as Age, Ruste, and what is least dreamt on an unnaturall or contrary situation; for being impolarily adjoyned un∣to a more vigorous Loadstone, it will in a short time exchange it poles, or being kept in undue position, that is, not lying on the meridian or with its poles inverted, it receaves in longer time impaire in activity exchange of faces, and is more powerfully preserved by site then by the dust of steele. But the sudden and surest way is fire, as we have de∣clared before: that is, fire not onely actuall but potentiall; the one surely and suddenly, the other slowly and imperfectly; the one chan∣ging, the other destroying the figure. For if distilled Vinegar or Aqua∣fortis be powred upon the powder of Loadstone, the subsiding pow∣der dryed, retaines some magneticall vertue, and will be attracted by the Loadstone: but if the menstruum or dissolvent be evaporated to a consistence, and afterward doth shoote into Icycles or crystalls, the Loadstone hath no power upon them, and if in a full dissolution of steele a separation of parts be made by precipitation or exhalation, the exsiccated powder hath lost its wings and ascends not u••to the Load∣stone. And though a Loadstone fired do presently omit its proper ver∣tue, and according to the position in cooling contracts a new verticity from the earth, yet if the same be laid a while in Aqua fortis or other

corrosive water, and taken out before a considerable corrosion, it still reserves its attraction, and will convert the Needle according to for∣mer polarity.

It is improbable what Pliny affirmeth concerning the object of its attraction, that it attracts not only ferreous bodies, but also liquorem vi∣tri, for in the body of glasse there is no serreous or magneticall nature which might occasion attraction. For of the glasse we use, the purest is made of the finest sand and the ashes of Chali or Glasseworte, and the courser or greene sort of the ashes of brake or other plants. Beside, vi∣trification is the last or utmost fusion of a body vitrifiable, and is per∣formed by a strong and violent fire, which keeps the melted glasse red hot. Now certaine it is, and we have shewed it before, that the Load∣stone will not attract even steele it selfe that is candent, much lesse the incongenerous body of glasse being fired. For fire destroyes the Load∣stone, and therefore it declines it in its owne defence, and seekes no uni∣on with it. But that the Magnet attracteth more then common Iron, we can affirme. It attracteth the Smyris or Emery in powder, It draweth the shining or glassie powder brought from the Indies, and usually im∣plyed in writing dust. There is also in Smiths ci••ders by some adhesi∣on of Iron whereby they appeare as it were glazed, sometime to bee found a magneticall operation, for some thereof applyed have power to move the Needle.

It is also improbable and something singular what some conceive, and Eusebius Nierembergius a late writer and Jesuit of Spain delivers, that the body of man is magneticall, and being placed in a boate, the vessell will never rest untill the head respecteth the North; if this be true, the bodies of Christians doe lye unnaturally in their graves, and the Jews have fallen upon the natural position, who in the reverence of their Temple, do place their beds from North to South. This opinion confirmed would much advance the microcosmicall conceite, and commend the Geography of Paracelsus; who according to the cardi∣nall points of the world divideth the body of man, and therefore wor∣king upon humane ordure▪ and by long preparation rendring it odife∣rous, he termes it Zibeta Occidentalis, Westerne Civet; making the face the East, but the posteriors the America or Westerne part of his microcosme. The verity or rather falsity hereof, might easily be tried in Wales, where there are portable boats, and made of leather, which would convert upon the impulsion of any verticity, and seeme to bee the same whereof in his description of Brittaine, Caesar hath left some mention.

Another kinde of verticity,* 1.1 is that which Angelus doce mihi jus, ali∣as, Michael Sundevogis, in a Tract de sulphure, discovereth in Vege∣tables, from sticks let fall or depressed under water; which equally framed and permitted unto themselves, will ascend at the upper end, or

that which was verticall in its vegetation, wherein notwithstanding, as yet, we have not found satisfaction; although perhaps too greedy of magnallities, we are apt to make but favourable experiments concer∣ning welcome truths, and such desired verities.

It is also wondrous strange and untrue what Laelius Bisciola repor∣teth, that if unto ten ounces of Loadstone one of Iron be added, it en∣creaseth not unto eleven, but weighs ten ounces still: a relation inexcu∣sable in the title of his worke, Horae subsecivae, or leasureable howres: the examination being as ready as the relation, and the falsity tryed as easily as delivered: nor is it to be omitted what is taken up by Caesius Bernardus a late Mineralogist, and originally confirmed by Porta, that needles touched with a Diamond contract a verticity, even as they doe with a Loadstone, which will not consist with experiment. And therefore, as Gilbertus obse••veth, he might be deceived, in touching such needles with Diamonds, which had a verticity before, as we have declared most needles to have, and so had he touched them with gold or silver, he might have concluded a magneticall vertue therein.

In the same forme may we place Fracastorius his attraction of sil∣ver, Philostratus his Panturbes, Apollodorus, and Beda his relation of the Loadstone that attracted onely in the night: but most inexcusable is Franciscus Rueus, a man of our own profession, who in his Discourse of gemmes mentioned in the Apocalyps, undertakes a Chapter of the Loadstone; wherein substantially and upon experiment he scarce deli∣vereth any thing, making enumeration of its traditionall qualities, whereof he seemeth to beleeve many, and some of those above, convi∣cted by experience, he is fain to salve as impostures of the Devill. But Boetius de Boot Physi••ian unto Rodulphus the second, hath recom∣penced this defect; and in his Tract, de lapidibus & gemmis, speakes very materially hereof, and his discourse is consonant unto experience and reason.

As for relations Historicall, though many there be of lesse account, yet two alone deserve consideration; the first concerneth magneticall rockes, and attractive mountaines in severall parts of the earth. The o∣ther the tombe of Mahomet and bodies suspended in the aire. Of rocks magneticall there are likewise two relations; for some are delive∣red to be in the Indies, and some in the extremity of the North, and about the very pole; the Northerne account is commonly ascribed un∣to Olaus Magnus Archbishop of Upsale, who out of his predecessour Joannes, Saxo, and others, compiled a history of some Northerne Na∣tions; but this assertion we have not discovered in that worke of his which passeth among us, and should beleeve his Geographie herein no more then that in the first line of his booke, when he affirmeth that Bi∣armia (which is not seventy degrees in latitude) hath the pole for its Zenith▪ and Equinoctiall for the Horizon.

Now upon this foundation how uncertaine soever men have erected mighty illations, ascribing thereto the cause of the needles direction, and conceiving the ••ffluxions from these mountaines and rockes invite the lilly toward the north; which conceit though countenanced by lear∣ned men, is not made out either by experience or reason; for no man hath yet attained or given a sensible account of the pole by some degrees; it is also observed the needle doth very much vary as it approacheth the pole, whereas were there such direction from the rocks, upon a nearer approachment it would more directly respect them. Beside were there such magneticall rocks under the pole, yet being so far removed they would produce no such effect; for they that saile by the Isle of Flua now called Elba in the Thuscan sea which abounds in veynes of Load∣stone, observe no variation or inclination of the needle, much lesse may they expect a direction from rocks at the end of the earth. And lastly, men that ascribe thus much unto rocks of the north must pre∣sume or discover the like magneticalls at the south: For in the southern seas and far beyond the Aequator, variations are large, and declinations as constant as in the northerne Ocean.

The other relation of Loadstone, mines, and rocks, in the shore of In∣dia is delivered of old by Plinie; wherein saith he, they are so placed both in abundance and vigor, that it proves an adventure of hazard to passe those coasts in a ship with Iron nailes. S••rapion the Moore an Au¦thor of good esteeme and reasonable antiquity, confirmeth the same, whose expression in the word magnes in this. The mine of this stone is in the Sea coast of India, whereto when Ships approach, there is no Iron in them which flyes not like a bird unto these mountains, and therefore their Ships are fastened not with Iron but wood, for otherwise they would bee torne to peeces. But this assertion how positive soever is contradicted by all Navigators that passe that way, which are now many and of our owne Nation, and might surely have been controuled by Nearchus the Admirall of Alexander, who not knowing the com∣passe, was faine to coast that shore.

For the relation concerning Mahomet, it is generally beleeved his tombe at Medina Talnabi, in Arabia, without any visible supporters hangeth in the ayre betweene two Loadstones artificially contrived both above and below, which conceit is very fabulous, and evidently false from the testimony of ocular Testators; who affirme his ••ombe is made of stone and lyeth upon the ground; as besides others▪ the lear∣ned Vossius observeth from Gabriel Sionita, & Joannes Hesronita, two Maronites in their relations hereof. Of such intention•• and attempt by Mahometans we read in some relators, and that might be the occasion of the fable; which by tradition of time and distance of place enlarged into the story of being accomplished: and this hath been promoted by attemps of the like nature; for we read in Plinie that one Dinocrates be∣gan

to Arche the Temple of Arsinoe in Alexandria with Loadstone, that so her statue might be suspended in the ayre to the amazement of the beholders; and to lead on our credulity, herein confirmation may be drawne from History and Writers of good authority: so is it re∣ported by Ruffinus, that in the Temple of Serapis there was an iron chariot suspended by Loadstones in the ayre, which stones removed, the chariot fell and dashed into peeces. The like doth Beda report of Bellerophons horse which framed of iron, and placed betweene two Loadstones with winges expansed, hung pendulous in the ayre.

The verity of these stories we shall not further dispute their possibi∣lity, we may in some way determine; if we conceive, what no man will deny, that bodies suspended in the aire have this suspension from one or many Loadstones placed both above and below it, or else by one or many placed only above it. Likewise the body to be suspended in respect of the Loadstone above, is placed first at a pendulous distance in the medium, or else attracted unto that site by the vigor of the Load∣stone; and so we first affirm that possible it is a body may be suspended between two Loadstones; that is, it being so equally attracted unto both that it determineth it selfe unto neither: but surely this position will be of no duration; for if the ayre be agitated or the body waved either way, it omits the equilibration and disposeth it selfe unto the nearest attractor. Again, it is not impossible (though hardly fe••sible) by a single Loadstone to suspend an iron in the ayre, the iron being artifi∣cially placed, and at a distance guided toward the stone, untill it find the newtrall point wherein its gravity just equalls the magneticall quality, the one exactly extolling as much as the other depresseth; and thus must be interpreted Fracastorius. And lastly, impossible it is that if an iron rest upon the ground, and a Loadstone be placed over it, it should ever so arise as to hang in the way or medium; for that vigor which at a distance is able to overcome the resistance of its gravity and to lift it up from the earth, will as it approacheth nearer be still more able to attract it, and it will never remaine in the middle that could not abide in the extreams; and thus is to be understood Gilbertus. Now the way of Baptista Porta that by a thred fasteneth a needle to a table, and then so guides and orders the same, that by the attraction of the Loadstone it abideth in the aire, infringeth not this reason; for this is a violent retention, and if the thred be loosened, the needle ascends and adheres unto the Attractor.

The third consideration concerneth relations Medicall, wherein what ever effects are delivered, they are derived from its minerall and ferre∣ous condition, or else magneticall operation. Unto the ferreous and minerall quality pertaineth what Dioscorides an ancient Writer and Souldier under Anthony and Cleopatra, affirmeth, that halfe a dram of Loadstone given with honey and water, proves a purgative medi∣cine,

and evacuateth grosse humors; but this is a quality of great in∣certainty, for omitting the vehicle of water and honey, which is of a laxative power it selfe, the powder of some Loadstones in this dose doth rather constipate and binde, then purge and loosen the belly. And if sometimes it cause any laxity it is probably in the same way with iron and steele unprepared, which will disturbe some bodies, and worke by purge and vomit. And therefore, what is delivered in a booke ascribed unto Galen that it is a good medicine in dropsies, and evacuates the waters of persons so affected: It may I confesse by siccity and astriction afford a confirmation unto parts relaxed, and such as be hydropically disposed, and by these qualities it may be usefull in Her∣nias or Ruptures, and for these it is commended by Aetius, Aegineta and Orbasius, who only affirme that it containes the vertue of Haema∣tites, and being burnt was sometimes vended for it. To this minerall condition belongeth what is delivered by some, that wounds which are made with weapons excited by the Loadstone, contract a maligni∣ty, and become of more difficult cure; which neverthelesse is not to be found in the incision of Chyrurgions with knives and lancets touched, which leave no such effect behinde them. Hitherto must we also referre that affirmative which sayes the Loadstone is poyson, and therefore in the lists of poysons we finde it in many Authors; but this our experi∣ence cannot confirme, and the practice of the King of Zeilan clearly contradicteth, who as Garcias ab Horto, Physitian unto the Spanish Viceroy delivereth, hath all his meat served up in dishes of Loadstone, and conceives thereby he preserveth the vigor of youth.

But surely from a magneticall activity must be made out what is let fall by Aetius, that a Loadstone held in the hand of one that is podagri∣call doth either cure or give great ease in the gou••. Or what Marcellus Empericus affirmeth, that as an amulet it also cureth the head-ach, w^ch are but additions unto its proper nature, and hopefull enlargements of its allowed attraction; for perceiving its secret power to draw unto it selfe magneticall bodies, men have invented a new attraction to draw out the dolor and paine of any part. And from such grounds it surely became a philter, and was conceived a medicine of some venereall at∣traction, and therefore upon this stone they graved the Image of Ve∣nus according unto that of Claudian, Venerem magnetica gemma fi∣gurat. Hither must wee also referre what is delivered concerning its power to draw out of the body bullets and heads of arrows, and for the like intention is mixed up in plaisters: which course although as vaine and ineffectuall it be rejected by many good Authors, yet is it not me thinks so readily to be denyed, nor the practice of many ages and Physitians which have thus compounded plaisters, thus suddenly to be condemned, as may be observed in the Emplastrum divinum Nicolai, the Emplastrum nigrum of Augspurge, the Opodeldoch and At••racti∣vum

of Paracelsus, with severall more in the Dispensatory of Wecker, and practise of Sennertus; the cure also of Heurnias, or Ruptures in Pa∣reus, and the method also of curation lately delivered by Daniel Beck∣herus, and approved by the Professors of Leyden in the Tract de Cul∣trivoro Prussiaco, 1636. that is, of a young man of Spruceland that casu∣ally swallowed downe a knife about ten inches long, which was cut out of his stomach and the wound healed up. In which cure to a••tract the knife to a convenient ••ituation, there was applyed a plaister made up with the powder of Loadstone. Now this kinde of practice Libavius, Gilbertus, and lately Swickardus in his Ars Magnetica, condemne, as vaine, and altogether unusefull; and their reason is, because a Load∣stone in powder hath no attractive power; for in that forme it omits his polary respects, and looseth those parts which are the rule of its attra∣ction: wherein to speake compendiously, if experiment hath not de∣ceived us, we first affirme, that a Loadstone in powder omits not all attraction. For if the powder of a rich veine be in a reasonable quan∣tity presented toward the Needle freely placed, it will not appeare to be void of all activity, but will be able to stir it; nor hath it only a po∣wer to move the Needle in powder and by it selfe, but this will it also doe, if incorporated and mixed with plaisters, as we have made triall in the Emplastrum de Minio, with halfe an ounce of the masse, mixing a dram of Loadstone, for applying the magdaleon or roale unto the Needle it would both stir and attract it; not equally in all parts, but more vigorously in some, according unto the mine of the stone more plen••ifully dispersed in the masse. And lastly, in the Loadstone pow∣dered, the polary respects are not wholly destroyed; for those diminu∣tive particles are not atomicall or meerly indivisible, but consist of di∣mensions sufficient for their conditions, though in obscure effects. Thus if unto the powder of Loadstone or Iron we admove the North pole of the Loadstone, the powders or small divisions will erect and conforme themselves thereto: but if the South pole approach, they will subside, and inverting their bodies respect the Loadstone with the other extreame. And this will happen not only in a body of pow∣der together, but in any particle or dust divided from it.

Now though we affirme not these plaisters wholly ineffectuall, yet shall we not omit two cautions in their use, that therein the stone bee not too subtily powdered; for it will better manifest its attraction in a more sensible dimension; that where is desired a speedy effect, it may be considered whether it were not better to relinquish the powdered plaisters, and to apply an entyre Loadstone unto the part: And though the other be not wholly ineffectuall, whether this way be not more powerfull, and so might have been in the cure of the young man delivered by Beckerus.

The last consideration, concerneth Magicall relations, in which ac∣count

we comprehend effects derived and fathered upon hidden quali∣ties, specifical forms, Antipathies and Sympathies, whereof from recei∣ved grounds of Art, no reasons are derived. Herein relations are strange and numerous, men being apt in all ages to multiply wonders, and Philosophers dealing with admirable bodies as Historians have done with excellent men, upon the strength of their great atchievements, as∣cribing acts unto them not only false, but impossible, and exceeding truth as much in their relations, as they have others in their actions. Hereof we shall briefly mention some delivered by Authors of good ••steem, whereby we may discover the fabulous inventions of some, the credulous supinity of others, and the great disservice unto truth by both; multiplying obscurities in nature, and authorising hidden quali∣ties that are false, whereas wise men are ashamed there are so many true.

And first▪ Dioscorides puts upon it a shrewd quality, and such as men are apt enough to experiment, and therewith discovers the incontinen∣cie of a wife by placing the Loadstone under her pillow; for then shee will not be able to remaine in bed with her husband. The same he al∣so makes a helpe unto theevery; for theeves saith he, having a de∣signe upon a house, doe make a fire at the foure corners thereof, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 therein the fragments of Loadstone, whence ariseth a fume that so d••sturbeth the inhabitants, that they forsake the house and leave it to ••he spoyl of the robbers. This relation how ridiculous soever, hath Al∣bertus taken up above a thousand years after, & Marbodeus the French∣man hath continued it the same in Latine verse, which with the notes of Pictorious is currant unto our dayes. As strange must be the Litholmancy or divination from this stone, whereby as Tzetzes in his Chy∣liads delivers, Helenus the Prophet foretold the destruction of Troy; and the Magick thereof, not safely to be beleeved, what was delivered by Orpheus, that sprinkled with water it will upon a question emit a voyce not much unlike an Infant. But surely the Loadstone of Lau∣rentius Guascus the Physitian is never to be matched, wherewith as Cardane delivereth, whatsoever needles or bodies were touched, the wounds and punctures made thereby, were never felt at all. And yet as strange a vertue is that which is delivered by some that a Loadstone preserved in the salt of a Remora, acquires a power to attract gold out of the deepest Wells. Certainly a studied absurdity, not casually cast out, but plotted for a perpetuity: for the strangenesse of the effect ever to bee admired, and the difficulty of the tryall never to bee con∣victed.

These conceits are of that monstrosity that they refute themselves in their recitements: there is another of better notice, and whispered thorow the world with some attention; credulous and vulgar auditors readily beleeving it, and more judicious and distinctive heads, not alto∣gether

rejecting it. The conceit is excellent, and if the effect would follow somwhat divine, whereby we might communicate like spirits, and conferre on earth with Menippus in the Moone; which is pretend∣ed from the sympathy of two needles touched with the ••ame Load∣stone, and placed in the center of two Abscedary circles, or rings with letters described round about them; one friend keeping one, & another the other, and agreeing upon an houre wherein they wil communicate. For then saith tradition, at what distance of place soever, when one needle shall be removed unto any letter; the other by a wonderfull Sympathy will move unto the same. But herein I confesse my experi∣ence can finde no truth; for having expresly framed two circles of wood, and according to the number of the Latine letters divided each into twenty three parts, placing therein two stiles or needles compo∣sed of the same steele, touched with the same Loadstone, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 same point: yet of these two, whensoever I removed the one, 〈…〉〈…〉 but at the distance of halfe a spanne, the other would stand like Her∣cules pillars, and if the earth stand still, have surely no moti••n 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Now as it is not possible that any body should have no boundar•• 〈…〉〈…〉 as we terme it Sphere of its activity, so is it improbable it sh••uld eff••••t that at distance, which nearer hand it cannot at all performe.

Againe, the conceit is ill contrived, and one effect inferred, whereas indeed the contrary will ensue. For if the removing of one of the needls from A to B should have any action or influence on the other, it would not intice it from A to B but repell it from A to Z: for needles ••xcited by the same point of the stone, doe not attract; but avoyd each other, even as these also do, when their invigorated extreams approach unto one another.

Lastly, were this conceit assuredly true, yet were it not a co••••lusion 〈◊〉〈◊〉 every distance to be tryed by every head: yet being no ordinary or Almanack businesse, but a probleme Mathematicall, to finde out the difference of houres in different places; nor doe the wisest exactly satisfie themselves in all. For the houres of severall places anticipate each other, according unto their Longitudes, which are not exactly discovered of every place, and therefore the triall hereof at a considerable intervall, is best performed at the distance of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that is, such habitations as have the same Meridian and equall parallell, on dif∣ferent sides of the Equator; or more plainly have the same Longitude, and the same Latitude unto the South, which wee have in the North. For unto such Situations it is noone and midnight at the very same time.

And therefore the Sympathie of these needles is much of the same mould, with that intelligence which is pretended from the flesh of one body transmuted by incision into another. For if the Arte of Talia∣cotius de Curtorum Chyrurgia per incisionem, a permutation of flesh, or

transmutation be made from one mans body into another, as if a piece of flesh be exchanged from the biciptall muscle of either parties arme, and about them both, an Alphabet circumscribed; upon a time ap∣pointed as some conceptions affi••me, they may communicate at what distance soever. For if the one shall prick himself in A, the other at the same time will have a sense thereof in the same part; and upon in∣spection of his arme, per••••ive what letters the other points out in his owne; which is a way of intelligence very strange, and would requite the Arte of Pythagoras; who could read a reverse in the Moone.

Now this Magneticall conceit how strange soever, might have some originall in reason; for men observing no solid body, whatsoever did interrupt its action, might be induced to beleeve no distance would terminate the same, & most conceiving it pointed unto the pole of hea∣ven, might also opinion that nothing between could restrain it. Who∣soever was the Author, the Aeolus that blew it about, was Famianus Strada, that elegant Jesuit in his Rhetoricall prolutions, who chose out of this subiect to expresse the stile of Lucretius. But neither Baptista Porta, de furtivis literarum notis; Trithemius in his Steganography, Sile∣nus in his Cryptography, or Nuncius inanimatus written of late yeers by D^r Godwin Bishop of Herford, make any consideration hereof: al∣though they deliver many wayes to communicate our thoughts at di∣stance. And this we will not deny may in some manner be effected by the Loadstone; that is, from one room into an other, by placing a table in the wall common unto both, and writing thereon the same letters one against another: for upon the approach of a vigorous Loadstone unto a letter on this side, the needle will move unto the same on the other: But this is a very different way from ours at present; and hereof there 〈◊〉〈◊〉 many wayes delivered, and more may be discovered which contradict not the rule of its operations.

As for unguentum Armarium, called also Magneticum, it belongs not to this discourse, it neither having the Loadstone for its ingredi∣ent, nor any one of its actions: but supposeth other principles, as com∣mon and universall spirits, which convey the action of the remedy un∣to the part, and conjoynes the vertue of bodies far disjoyned. But per∣haps the c••res it doth, are not worth so mighty principles; it com∣monly healing but simple wounds, and such as mundified and kept cleane, doe need no other hand then that of Nature, and the Balsam of the proper part. Unto which effect, there being fields of Medicines suf∣ficient. it may bee a hazardous curiositie to relie on this; and because men say the effect doth generally follow, it might be worth the experi∣ment to try, if the same will not ensue upon the same method of cure, by ordinary Balsams, or common vulnerary plasters.

Other Discourses there might be made of the Loadstone, as Morall, Mysticall, Theologicall; and some have handsomly done them, as Am∣brose,

Austine, Gulielmus Parisiensis, and many more; but these fal un∣der no rule, and are as boundles as mens inventions; and though honest minds do glorifie God hereby, yet do they most powerfully magnifie him, and are to be looked on with another eye, who demonstratively set forth its Magnalities, who not from postulated or precarious in∣ferences, entreate a courteous assent, but from experiments and unde∣niable effects, enforce the wonder of its Maker.

CHAP. IV.

Of b••dies Electricall.

HAving thus spoake of the Loadstone and bodies magneticall, I shall in the next place deliver somewhat of Electricall, and such as may seeme to have attraction like the other; and hereof wee shall also deliver what particularly spoken or not generally knowne is mani∣festly or probable true, what generally beleeved is also false or dubi∣ous. Now by Electricall bodies, I understand not such as are Me∣tallicall mentioned by Pliny, and the Ancients; for their Electrum was a mixture made of gold, with the addition of the fifth part of sil∣ver, a substance now as unknowne, as true Aurichalcum, or Corinthi∣an brasse, and set downe among things lost by Pancirollus. Nor by Electrick bodies do I conceive such onely as take up shavings, strawes, and light bodies, in which number the Ancients onely placed Jet and Amber; but such as conveniently placed unto their objects attract all bodies palpable whatsoever. I say, conveniently placed, that is, in regard of the object, that it be not too ponderous, or any way affixed in re∣gard of the Agent, that it be not foule or sullied, but wiped, rubbed, and excitated in regard of both, that they be conveniently distant, and no impediment interposed. I say all bodies palpable, thereby excluding fire, which indeed it will not attract, nor yet draw through it, for fire consumes its effluxions by which it should attract.

Now although in this ranke but two were commonly mentioned by the Ancients, Gilbertus discovereth many more, as Diamonds, Sa∣phyres, Carbuncles, Iris, Opalls, Amethistes, Berill, Chrystall, Bri∣stoll stones, Sulphur, Mastick, hard Wax, hard Rosin, Arsenic, Sal gemme, roch Alume, common Glasse, Stibium, or glasse of Antimo∣ny; unto these Cabeus addeth white Wax, Gum Elemi, Gum Guaici, Pix Hispanica, and Gypsum. And unto these wee adde gum Anime, Benjamin, Talcum, Chyna dishes, Sandaraca▪ Turpentine, Styrax Li∣quida, and Caranna dryed into a hard consistence. And the same at∣traction wee finde not onely in simple bodies, but such as are much compounded, as the Oxicroceum plaster, and obscurely that ad Herni∣am, and Gratia Dei, all which smooth and rightly prepared, will disco∣ver

a sufficient power to stirre the needle setled freely upon a wel poin∣ted pinne, and so as the Electrick may be applyed unto it without all disadvantage.

But the attraction of these Electricks we observe to be very different. Resinous or unctuous bodies, and such as will flame, attract most vigo∣rously and most thereof without f••ication, as Anime, Benjamin and most powerfully good hard wax, which will convert the needle al∣most as actively as the loadstone; and wee beleeve that all or most of this substance if reduced to hardnesse tralucency or cleerenesse, would have some attractive quality; but juyces concrete, or gums easily dis∣solving in water, draw not at all, as Aloe, Opium, Sanguis Draconis, Lacca, Galbanum, Sagapenum. Many stones also both precious and vulgar, although terse and smooth have not this power attractive; as Emeralds, Pearle, Jaspis, Corneleans, Agathe▪ Heliotropes, Marble, Alablaster, Touchstone, Flint and Bezoar. Glasse attracts but weakely though cleere, some slick stones and thick glasses indifferently: Arsenic but weakely, so likewise glasse of Antimony, but Crocus Metallorum not at all. Saltes generally but weakely, as Sal Gemma, Alum and also Talke; nor very discoverably by any frication: but if gently warmed at the fire, and wiped with a dry cloth, they will better discover their Electricities.

No mettall attracts, nor any concretian Animall wee know, al∣though polite and smoothe; as wee have made triall in Elkes hooves, Hawkes talons, the sword of a Sword fish, Tortoyse shels, Sea-horse and Elephants teeth, in bones, in Harts horne, and what is usually con∣ceived Unicornes horne, no wood though never so hard and polished, although out of some Electricks proceed, as Ebony, Box, Lignum vitae, Cedar, &c. And although Jet and Amber be reckoned among Bitumens, yet neither doe we finde Asphaltus, that is, Bitumen of Ju∣dea, nor Seacole, nor Camphire, nor Mummia to attract, although we have tried in large and polished pieces. Now this attraction have wee tried in strawes and paleous bodies, in needles of Iron equilibrated, powders of wood and Iron, in gold and silver foliate, and not onely in solid but fluent and liquid bodies, as oyles made both by expression and distillation, in water, in spirits of wine, vitrioll and Aqua fortis.

But how this attraction is made is not so easily determined; that tis performed by effluviums is plaine and granted by most; for Ele∣ctricks will not commonly attract, except they grow hot or be perspi∣cable. For if they be foule and obnubilated, it hinders their effluxion; nor if they be covered though but with Linnen or Sarsenet, or if a bo∣dy be interposed, for that intercepts the effluvium. If also a powerfull and broad Electrick of wax or Anime be held over fine powder, the Atomes or small particles will ascend most numerously unto it; and if the Electrick be held unto the light, it may be observed that many

thereof will flye, and be as it were discharged from the Electrick to the distance sometime of two or three inches, which motion is performed by the breath of the effluvium issuing with agility; for as the Electrick cooleth, the projection of the Atomes ceaseth.

The manner hereof Cabeus wittily attempteth, affirming that this effluvium attenuateth and impelleth the neighbour ayre, which retur∣ning home in a gyration, carrieth with it the obvious bodies unto the Electrick, and this he labours to confirme by experiments; for if the strawes be raised by a vigorous electrick, they doe appeare to wave and turne in their ascents; if likewise the Electrick be broad and the strawes light and chaffy, and held at a reasonable distance, they will not arise unto the middle, but rather adhere toward the verge or bor∣ders thereof. And lastly, if many strawes be laid together and a nimble Electrick approach, they will not all arise unto it, but some will com∣monly start aside and be whirled a reasonable distance from it. Now that the ayre impelled returnes unto its place in a gyration or whirling, is evident from the Atomes or moates in the Sun. For when the Sunne so enters a hole or window, that by its illumination the Atomes or moates become perceptible, if then by our breath the ayre bee gently impelled, it may be perceived that they will circularly returne, and in a gyration unto their places againe.

Another way of their attraction is also delivered, that it is made by a tenuous emanation or continued effluvium, which after some distance retracteth into it selfe, as is observable in drops of syrups, oyle and se∣minall viscosities, which spun at length retire into their former dimen∣sions. Now these effluviums advancing from the body of the Ele∣ctrick, in their returne doe carry back the bodies which they have laid hold within the spheare or circle of their continuities, and these they do not onely attract but with their viscous armes, hold fast a good while after. And if any shall wonder why these effluviums issuing forth impell and protrude not the straw before they can bring it back, it is because Effluvium passing out in a smaller thred and more enlengthe∣ned filament, it stirreth not the bodies interposed but returning unto its originall it falls into a closer substance, and carrieth them back unto it selfe. And this way of attraction is best received, embraced by Sir Ke∣nelme Digby in his excellent Treaty of bodies, allowed by Des Cartes in his principles of Philosophy, as farre as concerneth fat and resinous bodies, and with exception of glasse, whose attraction he also deriveth from the recesse of its effluxion. And this in some manner the words of Gilbertus will beare. Effluvia illa tenuior a concipiunt & amplectuntur corpora, quibus uniuntur, & Electris tanquam extensis brachiis & ad fon∣tem, propinquitate invalescentibus effluviis, deducuntur. And if the ground were true that the earth were an Electrick body, and the ayre but the effluvium thereof, wee might perhaps beleeve that from this

attraction and by this effluxion that bodies tended to the earth, and could not remaine aboue it.

Our other discourse of Electricks concerneth a generall opinion touching Jet and Amber, that they attract all light bodies, except O∣cymum or B••sil, and such as be dipped in oyle or oyled, and this is urged as high as Theophrastus: but Scaliger acquitteth him; And had this bin his assertion, Pliny would probably have taken it up, who herein stands out, and delivereth no more but what is vulgarly known. But Plutarch speakes positively in his Symposiacks, that Amber at∣tracteth all bodies, excepting Basil and oyled substances. With Plu∣tarch consent many Authors both ancient and moderne, but the most inexcusable are Lemnius, and Rueus, whereof the one delivering the nature of minerals, mentioned in Scripture the infallible fountaine of truth, confirmeth their vertues with erroneous traditions; the other undertaking the occult and hidden miracles of Nature, accepteth this for one, and endeavoureth to alledge a reason of that which is more then occult, that is not existent.

Now herein, omitting the Authority of others, as the doctrine of experiment hath informed us we first affirme, that Amber attracts not Basil, is wholly repugnant unto truth; for if the leaves thereof or dry∣ed stalkes be stripped into small strawes, they arise unto Amber, Wax, and other Electries no otherwise then those of Wheate or Rye; nor is there any peculiar fatnesse or singular viscosity in that plant that might cause adhesion and so prevent its ascension. But that Jet and Amber attract not strawes oyled, is in part true and false, for if the strawes be much wet or drenched in oyle, true it is that Amber draweth them not, for then the oyle makes the straw to adhere unto the part whereon they are placed, so that they cannot rise unto the Attractor; and this is true not onely if they be soaked in oyle, but spirits of wine or water. But if we speake of strawes or festucous divisions lightly drawen over with oyle, and so that it causeth no adhesion, or if we conceive an an∣tipathy betweene oyle and Amber, the doctrine is not true; for Am∣ber will attract strawes thus oyled, it will attract or convert the Needls of Dials made either of Brasse or Iron, although they be much oyled; for in these Needls consisting free upon their center there can be no adhesion; it will likewise attract oyle it selfe, and if it approacheth un∣to a drop thereof, it becommeth conicall and ariseth up unto it, for oyle taketh not away his attraction, although it be rubbed over it. For if you touch a piece of wax already excitated with common oyle, it will notwithstanding attract▪ though not so vigorously as before. But if you moysten the same with any chymicall oyle, water or spirits of wine, or onely breath upon it, it quite omits its Attraction, for either its effluences cannot get through or will not mingle with those sub∣stances.

It is likewise probable the Ancients were generally mistaken con∣cerning its substance and generation, they conceiving it a vegetable concretion made of the gums of trees, especially, Pine and Poplar fal∣ling into the water, and after indurated or hardened, whereunto accor∣deth the fable of Phaetons sisters: but surely the concretion is mine∣rall, according as is delivered by Boetius; for either it is found in mountaines and mediterraneous parts, and so it is a fat and unctuous sublimation in the earth concreted and fixed by salt and nitrous spirits wherewith it meeteth; or else, which is most usuall, it is collected up∣on the sea shore, and so it is a fat and bituminous Juice coagulated by the saltnesse of the sea. Now that salt spirits have a power to congele and coagulate unctuous bodies, is evident in chymicall operations, in the distillations of Arsenick, sublimate and Antimony, in the mixture of oyle of Juniper, with the salt and acide spirit of Sulphur, for there∣upon ensueth a concretion unto the consistence of Birdlime; as also in spirits of salt, or Aqua fortis powred upon oyle of Olive, or more plainly in the manufacture of Soape. And many bodies will coagulate upon commixture whose separated natures promise no concretion. Thus upon a solution of Tinne by Aqua fortis, there will ensue a coa∣gulation, like that of whites of egges. Thus the volatile salt of urine will coagulate Aqua vitae, or spirits of wine; and thus perhaps (as Hel∣mont excellently declareth) the stones or calculous concretions in Kidney or bladder may be produced: the spirits or volatile salt of urine conjoyning with the Aqua vitae potentially lying therein; as he illu∣strateth from the distillation of fermented urine. From whence ariseth an Aqua vitae or spirit, which the volatile salt of the same urine will congele, and finding an earthy concurr••nce strike into a lapideous substance.

Lastly, we will not omit what Bellabonus upon his own experiment writ from Dantzich unto Mellichius, as hee hath left recorded in his Chapter, De succino, that the bodies of Flies, Pismires, and the like, which are said oft times to be included in Amber, are not reall but ap∣parent and representative, as he discovered in severall pieces broke for that purpose; if so, the two famous Epigrams hereof in Martiall are but poeticall, the Pismire of Brassavolus Imaginary, and Cardans Mousoleum for a flye, a meere phancy. But hereunto we know not how to assent in the Generall, as having met with some whose Reals made good their representations.

CHAP. V.

Compendiously of sundry other common Tenents, concerning Min••rall and Terre∣ous bodies, which examined, prove either ••alse or dubious.

1. ANd f••••st we hear it in every mans mouth, and in many good Au∣thors we reade it, That a Diamond, which is the hardest of stones, and not yielding unto steele, Emery, or any thing, but its own powder, is yet made soft, or broke by the bloud of a Goat; Thus much is ass••med by Pliny, Solinus, Albertus, Cyp••ian, Austin, Isi∣dore, and many Christian Writers, alluding herein unto the heart of man, and the precious bloud of our Saviour, who was typified indeed by the Goat that was sl••ine, and the scape Goat in the wildernesse; and at the effusion of whose bloud, not onely the hard hearts of his ene∣mies relen••ed, but the stony rocks and vaile of the Temple was shat∣tered. But this I perceive is easier affirmed then proved. For Lapida∣ries, and such as p••o••esse the art of cutting this stone, doe generally de∣ny it, and they that seem to countenance it, have in their deliveries so quali••ied it, that little from thence of moment can be inferred for it. For first, the holy Fathers, without a further enquiry did take it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 granted, and rested upon the authority of the first deliverers. As for Alber••us, he promiseth this effect but conditionally, that is not except the Goat drinke wine, and be fed with Siler monta••um, petroselinum, and such hearbes as are conc••ived of power to breake the stone in the bladder. But the words of Pliny from whom most likely the rest at first derived it, if strictly considered, doe rather ove••throw, then any way advantage this eff••ct. His words are these: Hi••cino rumpitur san guine, nec aliter quam recenti, calidoque m••c••rata▪ & sic qu qu•• mu••tis ••ctibus, tunc etiam praet••rquam ex••mias incu••es mall••e••sque ferreos fr••n∣gens. That is, i•• is brok••n with Goats blood, bu•• not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it bee ••resh and warme▪ and that not without many blows, and then also it will bre••ke the best anvills and hamme••s of iron. And answerable he••eto, is the as••ertion of Isidore and S••l••nus. By which account, a Diamond st••••ped in Goats blo••d, r••ther encreaseth in h••rdnesse, then acquir••th any softnesse by the in••usion; for the best we have are com∣mi••uible without it, and a••e so far from breaking hammers, that they submit unto pistilla••ion, and r••••sist not an ••ordina••y pestle.

Upon this conceit arose, pe••haps the discovery of another; that is, that the bloud of a Goat, was sovereigne for the stone, as it stands commended by many good Writers, and brings up the composition in the Lithont••ipticke powder of Nicolaus▪ or rather because it was found an excellent medicine ••or the stone, and its ability comm••nded by some to d••ssolve the hardest thereof; it might be conceived by amplify∣ing apprehensions, to be able to break a Diamond, and so it came to be

ordered that the Goat should be fed with saxifragous herbes, and such as are conceived of power to breake the stone. However it were as the effect is false in the one, so is it surely very doubtfull in the other. For although inwardly received it may be very diuretick, and expulse the stone in the kidnyes; yet how it should dissolve or breake that in the bladder, will require a further dispute, and perhaps would be more rea∣sonably tryed by a warme injection thereof, then as it is commonly used. Wherein notwithstanding, we should rather relie upon the urine in a Castlings bladder, a resolution of Crabs eyes, or the second distil∣lation of urine, as Helmont hath commended; or rather, if any such might be found a Chylifactory menstruum or digestive preparation drawne from species or individualls, whose stomacks peculiarly dissolve lapideous bodies.

2. That gl••sse is poyson, according unto common conceit, I know not how to grant not only from the innocency of its ingredients, that is fine ••and, and the ashes of glasse-wort or fearne, which in themselves are harmelesse and usefull: or because I finde it by many commended for the stone, but also from experience, as having given unto dogs above a dram thereof, subtilly powdered in butter or paste, without any visible disturbance. And the tryall thereof we the rather did make in that animall, because Grevinus in his Treaty of poysons, affirmeth that dogges are inevitably destroyed thereby.

The conceit is surely grounded upon the visible mischiefe of glasse grossely or coursely powdered; for that indeed is mortally noxious, and effectually used by some to destroy myce and rats; for that by reason of its acutenesse and augularity, commonly excoriates the parts through which it passeth, and sollicits them unto a continuall expulsi∣on. Whereupon there ensues fearfull symptomes, not much unlike those which attend the action of poyson. From whence notwith∣standing, we cannot with propriety impose upon it that name, either by occult or elementary quality; which he that concedeth will much enlarge the catalogue or listes of poysons; for many things, neither deleterious by substance or quality, (are yet destructive by figure, or) some occasionall activity. So are leeches destructive, and by some ac∣counted poyson; not properly, that is by temperamentall contrariety, occult forme, or so much as elementall repugnancy; but because being inwardly taken they fasten upon the veines, and occasion an effusion of bloud, which cannot be easily stanched. So a sponge is mischievous, not in it selfe, for in its powder it is harmlesse, but because being recei∣ved into the stomack it swelleth, and occasioning a contiuall disten∣sion, induceth at last a strangulation. So pins, needls, ••ares of Rye or Barley, may be poyson. So Daniel destroyed the Dragon by a com∣position of three things, whereof neither was poyson alone, nor pro∣perly altogether, that is pitch, fat and haire, according as is expressed

in the History. Then Daniel tooke pitch, and fat, and haire, and did seeth them together and made lumps thereof, these he put in the Dra∣gons mouth, and so he bu••st asunder; that is the fat and pitch being cleaving bodies, and the haire continually extimulating the parts, by the action of the one, nature was provoked to expell, but by the tena∣city of the other forced to retaine: so that there being left no passage in or out, the Dragon brake in peeces. It must therefore bee taken of grossely powdered glasse what is delivered by Grevinus, and from the same must that mortall dissentery proceed which is related by Sancto∣rius; and in the same sense shall we onely allow a Diamond to be poy∣son, and whereby as some relate Paracelsus himselfe was poysoned. And so also even the precious fragments and cordiall gems which are of frequent use in Physicke, and in themselves confessed of usefull faculties, received in grosse and angular powders, may so offend the bowells, as to procure desperate languors, or cause most dangerous fluxes.

3. That Gold inwardly taken, and that either in substance, infusion, decoction or extinction is a speciall cordiall of great efficacy, in sun∣dry medicall uses, although a practice much used is also much questio∣ned, and by no man determined beyond dispute. There are hereof I perceive two extream opinions; some excessively magnifying it, and probably beyond its deserts; others extreamly vilifying it, and perhaps below its demerits. Some affirming it is a powerfull medicine in ma∣ny diseases, others averring that so used it is effectuall in none; and in this number are very eminent Physitians, Erastus, Dur••tus, Rondele∣tius, Brassavolus, and many other; who beside the strigments and sudo∣rous adhesions from mens hands, acknowledge that nothing procee∣deth from gold in the usuall decoction thereof. Now the capitall rea∣son that led men unto this opinion was their observation of the insepe∣rable nature of gold; it being excluded in the same quantity as it was received without alteration of parts, or diminution of its gravity.

Now herein to deliver somewhat which in a middle way may be en∣tertained; we first affirm & few I beleeve will deny it, that the substance of gold is indeed invincible by the powerfullest action of naturall heat, and that not only alimentally in a substantiall mutation, but also medi∣camentally in any corporeall conversion; as is very evident, not only in the swallowing of golden bullets but in the lesser and foliate divisions thereof; passing the stomack and guts even as it doth the throat, that is without abatement of weight or consistence; so that it entereth not the veynes with those electuaries, wherein it is mixed, but taketh leave of the permeant parts, at the mouthes of the miseraicks, and accompa∣nieth the inconvertible portion unto the siege; nor is its substantiall conversion expectible in any composition or aliment wherein it is ta∣ken. And therefore that was truly a starving absurdity, which befell

the wishes of Midas. And little credit there is to be given to the golden Hen, related by Wendlerus. And so likewise in the extinction of gold, we must not conceive it parteth with any of its salt or dissoluble principle thereby, as we may affirme of Iron, for the parts thereof are fixed beyond division; nor will they seperate upon the strongest test of fire. And this we affirme of pure gold, for that which is currant and passeth in stampe amongst us, by reason of its allay, which is a proportion of copper mixed therewith, it is actually dequantitated by fire, and possibly by frequent extinction.

Secondly, although the substance of gold be not sensibly immuted or its gravity at all decreased, yet that from thence some vertue may proceed either in substantiall reception or infusion, we cannot safely deny. For possible it is that bodyes may emit a vertue and operation without abatement of weight, as is most evident in the Loadstone, whose effluencies are both continuall and communicable without a minoration of gravity. And the like is observable in bodies electricall, whose emissions are lesse subtile. So will a Diamond or Saphire emit an effluvium sufficient to move the needle or a straw without dimi∣nution of weight. Nor will polished amber although it send forth a grosse and corporall exhalement be found a long time defective upon the exactest scales.

Thirdly, if amulets doe worke by Aporrhoias, or emanations from their bodies, upon those parts whereunto they are appended, and are not yet observed to abate their weight; if they produce visible and re∣all effects by imponderous and invisible emissions, it may be unjust to deny all ••fficacie of gold in the non omission of weight, or deperdition of any ponderous particles.

L••stly, since Stibium or glasse of Antimony, since also its Regulus will manifestly communicate unto water, or wine, a purging and vo∣mitory operation; and yet the body it selfe, though after iterated infu∣sions, cannot be ••ound to abate either vertue or weight; I dare not de∣ny but gold may doe the like; that is, impart some ef••luences unto the infusion which carry with them the subtiler nature, and separable con∣ditions of its body.

That therefore this mettall thus received, hath any undeniable effect upon the body either from experience in others or my selfe, I cannot satisfactorily affirm. That possibly it may have I not wil at all deny. But from power unto act, from a possible unto an actuall operation, the in∣ference is not reasonable. And therefore since the point is dubious, and not yet authentically decided, it will be discretion not to depend on disputable remedies; but rather in cases of knowne danger, to have recourse unto medicines of knowne and approved activity; for beside the benefit accruing unto the sicke, hereby may be avoyded a grosse and frequent error, commonly committed in the use of doubtfull re∣medies,

conjoyntly with those which are of approved vertue. That is, to impute the cure unto the conceited remedy, or place it on that whereon they place their opinion, whose operation although it be no∣thing, or its concurrence not considerable, yet doth it obtaine the name of the whole cure, and carryeth often the honour of the capitall ener∣gie, which had no finger in it.

4. That a pot full of ashes, will still containe as much water as it would without them, although by Aristotle in his problems taken for granted, and so received by most, is surely very false, and not effe∣ctible upon the strictest experiment I could ever make. For when the ayery intersticies are filled, and as much of the salt of the ashes as the water will imbibe is dissolved, there remaines a grosse and terreous portion at the bottome which will possesse a space by it selfe, accor∣ding whereto there will remaine a quantity of water not receiveable, and so will it come to passe in a pot of salt, although decrepitated; and so also in a pot of snow. For so much it will want in reception, as its so∣lution taketh up, according unto the bulke whereof, there will remaine a portion of water not to be admitted. So a glasse stuffed with peeces of spunge, will want about a sixt part of what it would receive without it. So suger will not dissolve beyond the capacity of the water, nor a mettall in Aqua-fortis bee corroded beyond its reception. And so a pint of salt of tartar exposed unto a moist aire untill it dissolve, will make far more liquor, or as some tearm it oyle, then the former mea∣sure will contain.

Nor is it only the exclusion of ayre by water, or repletion of cavi∣ti••s possessed thereby which causeth a pot of ashes to admit so great a quantity of water, but also the solution of the salt of the ashes into the body of the dissolvent; so a pot of ashes will receive somewhat more of hot water then of cold, for as much as the warme water imbibeth more of the salt, and a vessell of ashes more then one of pindust or fi∣lings of Iron, and a glasse full of water, will yet drinke in a proportion of salt or suger without overflowing.

5. Of white powder and such as is discharged without report, there is no small noise in the world: but how far agreeable unto truth, few I perceive are able to determine. Herein therefore to satisfie the doubts of some, and amuse the credulity of others, We first declare; that gun-powder consisteth of three ingredients, that is, Salt-peter, Smal-coale, and Brimstone. Salt-peter, although it be also naturall and found in severall places, yet is that of common use an artificiall salt, drawn from the infusion of salt earth, as that of Stals, Stables, Dovehouses, Cellers, and other covered places, where the raine can neither dissolve, nor the sunne approach to resolve it. Brimstone is a Minerall body of fat and inflamable parts, and this is used crude, and called sulpher vive, and is of a sadder colour; or after depuration, such as we have in magdeleons

or rolls, of a lighter yellow: Smal-coale is commonly known unto all, and for this use is made of Sallow, W••llow, Alde••, Hasell, and the like, which three proportionably mixed, tempered and formed into granu∣lary bodies, doe make up that powder which is in use for gunnes.

Now all these although they bear a share in the discharge, yet have they distinct intentions, and different offices in the composition: from brimstone proceedeth the continued and durable firing, for Small coal and peter together will onley spit, nor easily continue the ignition. From Small-coale ensueth the black colour and quicke accension; for neither brimstone nor peter, although in powder, will take fire like Small-coale, nor will they easily kindle upon the sparks of a flint, as neither will Camphire a body very inflamable, but small-coal is equi∣volent to tinder, and serveth to light the sulphur: from salt-peter pro∣ceedeth the force and the report, for sulphur and small-coale mixed will not take fire with noise, or exilition, and powder which is made of imp••re, and greasie peter, hath but a weake emission, and giveth a faint report, and therefore in the three sorts of powder, the strongest con∣taineth most salt-peter, and the proportion thereof is at the least ten parts of peter, unto one of coale and sulphur.

But the immediate cause of the report, is the vehement commotion of the ayre upon the sudden and violent eruption of the powder; for that being suddenly fired, and almost altogether, being thus ratified it requireth by many degrees a greater space then before its body oc∣cupied; but ••inding resistance, is actiuely forceth out his way, and by concussion of the aire, occasioneth the report. Now with what vigour and violence it forceth upon the aire, may easily be conceived, if wee admit what Cardan affirmeth, that the powder fired doth occupie a hundred times a greater space then its own bulke, or rather what S••el∣lius more exactly accounteth; that it exceedeth its former space on lesse then 12000. and 500. times. And this is the reason not onely of this tonni••ruous and ful••••i••ating report of gunnes, but may resolve the cause of those terrible cracks, and affrighting noise of heaven; that is, the nitrous and sulphureous exhalations, set on fire in the cloud••s, whereupon requiring a larger place, they force out their way, not only with the breaking of the cloud, but the ••aceration of the ayre about it. When if the matter be spirituous, and the cloud compact, the noise is great and terrible: If the cloud be thinne, and the materials weake, the eruption is languide, and ending in corrus••ations without any noyse, although but at the distance of two miles, which is esteemed the re∣motest distance of clouds; and therefore such lightnings doe seldome any harme. And therefore also it is prodigious to have thunder in a cleare skye, as is observably recorded in some Histories.

Now therefore, he that would destroy the report of Powder, must worke upon the peter, he that would exchange the colour, must thinke

how to alter the small coale. For the one, that is, to make white pow∣der, it is surely many wayes feasible: The best I know is by the pow¦der of rotten willowes, spunck, or touchwood prepared, might per∣haps make it russet: and some as Beringuccio in his Pyrotechny affi••m∣eth, have promised to make it red. All which notwithstanding doth little concerne the report: for that as wee have shewed depends on an¦other ingredient; and therefore also under the colour of blacke; this principle is very variable, for it is made not onely by Willow, Aller, Hazell, &c. But some above all commend the coales of Flaxe and Rushes, and some also contend the same may bee effected with Tinder.

As for the other, that is, to destroy the Report, it is reasonably at∣tempted but two wayes; that is, either by quite leaving out, or else by silencing the Salt-peter. How to abate the vigour thereof, or silence its bombulation, a way is promised by Porta, and that not onely in ge∣nerall termes by some fat bodies, but in particular by Borax and Bu••ter mixed in a due proportion; which sayeth he, will so goe off as scarce to be heard by the discharger; and indeed plentifully mixed, it will al∣most take off the reporr, and also the force of the charge. That it may be thus made without Salt-peter, I have met with but one example, that is, of Alphonsus Duke of Ferrara, who in the relation of Brassa∣volus and Cardan invented such a Powder, as would discharge a bullet without report.

That therefore white Powder there may be, there is therein no ab∣surdity, that also such a one as may give no report, wee will not deny a possibility. But this however, contrived either with or without Salt-peter, will surely be of little force, and the effects thereof no way to be feared: For as it omits of report, so will it of effectuall exclusion; for seeing as we have delivered the strength and report, do necessarily depend upon the violent exclusion, where there is no report there will be no violent exclusion, and so the charge of no force which is exclu∣ded. For thus much is reported of that famous powder of Alphonsus, which was not of force enough to kill a chicken, according to the de∣livery of Brassavolus. Iam{que} pulvis inventus est qui glandem sine bombo proj••cit, nec tamen vehementer ut vel pullum interficere possit.

It is very true and not to bee denyed, there are wayes to discharge a bullet, not only with powder that makes no noise, but without any powder at all, as is done by water and windegunnes; but these afford no fulminating report, and depend on single principles, and even in or∣dinary powder there are pretended other wayes, to alter the noise and strength of the discharge, and the best, if not onely way consists in the quality of the Nitre: for as for other wayes which make either addi∣tions or alterations in the powder, or charge, I finde therein no effect. That unto every pound of sulphur, an adjection of one ounce of

Q••icksilver, or unto every pound of peter, one ounce of Sal Armo∣niac will much intend the force, and cosequently report, as Berin∣guccio hath delivered, I find no verity therein. That a piece of Opium will dead the force, and blow as some have promised, I finde herein ••o such peculiarity, no more then in any gumme of viscose body, and as much effect there is to be found from Scammonie. That a bullet dipped in oyle by preventing the transpiration of ayre, will carry far∣ther, and p••irce deeper, as Portu affirmeth, my experience cannot with satis••action discerne. That Quicksilver is more distructive then shot is surely not to be made out; for it will scarce make any penetration, and discharged from a Pistoll, will hardly pierce thorow a pa••chment. That vineger, spirits of wine, or the distilled water of Orange pilles, wherewith the powder is tempored, are more effectuall unto the re∣port then common water, as some doe promise, I shall not affirme, but may assuredly be more conduceable unto the preservation and durance of the powder, as Cataneo hath well observed.

But beside the prevalent report from Salt-peter by some antipathie, or incummiscibility therewith upon the approach of fire. Sulphur may hold a greater use in the composition and further activitie in the exclu∣sion then is by most conceived; for sulphur vive makes better pow∣der then common sulphur, which neverthelesse is of as quicke accensi∣on as the other; for Small-coale, Salt-peter and Camphire made into powder will bee of little force, wherein notwithstanding there wants not the accending ingredient; for Camphire though it ••l••me well, yet will not flush so lively, or de••ecate Salt-peter, if you inject it thereon like sulphur, as in the preparation of Sal prunellae, And lastly, though many wayes may be found to light this powder, yet is there none I know to make a strong and vigorous powder of Salt-peter, without the admixion of sulphur. Arsenick red and yellow, that is, Orpement and Sandarach may perhaps doe something, as being inflamable and containing sulphur in them, but containing also a salt, and hydra••gyrus mixtion, they will be of little effect; and white or Cristaline a••senick of lesse, for that being artficiall, and sublimed with salt, will not en∣dure flamation.

And this antipathy or contention between saltpeter and sulphur upon an actuall fire, and in their compleat & distinct bodies, is also ma∣nifested in their preparations, and bodies which invisibly containe them. Thus is the preparation of Crocus Metallorum, the matter kind∣leth and flusheth like Gunpowder, wherein notwithstanding, there is nothing but Antimony and Saltpeter, but this proceedeth from the sulphur of Antimony, not enduring the society of saltpeter; for after three or foure accensions, through a fresh addition of peter, the pow∣der will flush no more; for the sulphur of the Antimony is quite exha∣led. Thus Iron in Aqua fortis will fall into ebullition, with noise and

emication, as also a crasse and fumide exhalation, which are caused from this combat of the sulphur of Iron, with the acide and nitrous spirits of Aqua fortis. So is it also in Aurum fulminans, or powder of gold dissolved in Aqua Regis, and precipitated with oyle of Tartar, which will kindle without an actuall fire, and afford a report like Gun∣powder, that is, not as Crollius affirmeth from any Antipothy be∣tweene Sal Armoniac and Tartar, but rather betweene the nitrous spi∣rits of Aqua Regis, commixed per minima with the sulphur of gold, as in in his last, De consensu chymicorum &c. Sennertus hath well observed.

6. That Corall (which is a Lithophyton or stone plant, and grow∣eth at the bottome of the Sea) is soft under water, but waxeth hard as soone as it arriveth unto the ayre, although the assertion of Dioscori∣des, Pliny, and consequently Solinus, Isidore, Rueus, and many others, and stands believed by most, we have some reason to doubt, not onely from so sudden a petrifaction and strange induration, not easily made out from the qualities of Ayre, but because we finde it rejected by ex∣perimentall enquirers. Johannes Beguinus in his Chapter of the tin∣cture of Corall, undertakes to cleere the world of this errour, from ••he expresse experiment of Iohn Baptista de Nicole,* 1.2 who was Overseer of the gathering of Coral upon the Kingdome of Thunis. This Gentle∣man, saith he, desirous to finde the nature of Corall, and to be resolved how it groweth at the bottome of the Sea, caused a man to goe downe no lesse then a hundred fathom into the Sea, with expresse to take no∣tice whether it were hard or so••t in the place where it groweth, who returning brought in each hand a branch of Corall, affirming it was as hard at the bottome, as in the ayre where he delivered it. The same was also confirmed by a triall of his owne, handling it a fathome under water before it felt the ayre. Beotius de Boote in his accurate Tract De Gemmis, is of the same opinion, not ascribing its concretion unto the ayre, but the coagulating spirits of salt, and lapidi••icall juyce of the sea, which entring the parts of that plant, overcomes its vegetability, and converts it into a lapideous substance, and this, saith he, doth happen when the plant is ready to decay; for all Corall is not hard, and in many concreted plants some parts remaine ••••petri••ied, that is, the quick and livelier parts remaine as wood, and were never yet conver∣ted. Now that plants and ligneous bodies may indurate under water without approachment of ayre, we have experiment in Coralline, with many Coralloidall concretions, and that little stony plant which Mr. Johnson nameth, Hippuris coralloides, and Gesner foliis m••nsu Are∣nosis; we have our selfe found in fresh water, which is the lesse concre∣••ive portion of that element. We have also with us the visible petri∣fication of wood in many waters, whereof so much as if covered with water converteth into stone, as much as is above, it and in the ayre re∣taineth the forme of wood, and continueth as before.

7. We are not thorowly resolved concerning Porcellane or Chy∣na dishes, that according to common beliefe they are made of earth, which lyeth in preparation about an hundred yeares under ground, for the relations thereof are not onely divers, but contrary, and Authors agree not herein. Guido Pancirollus will have them made of Egge shells, Lobster shells, and Gypsum layed up in the earth the space of 80. yeeres: of the same affirmation is Scaliger, and the common opi∣nion of most. Ramuzius in his Navigations is of a contrary assertion, that they are made out of earth, not laid under ground, but hardened in the Sunne and winde, the space of fourty yeeres. But Gonzales de Mendoza, a man employed into Chyna, and with an honourable pre∣sent, sent from Phillip the second King of Spain, hath upon ocular ex∣perience, delivered a way different from al these. For enquiring into the artifice thereof, hee found they were made of a Chalky earth, which beaten and steeped in water, affoordeth a cream or fatnesse on the top, and a grosse subsidence at the bottome; out of the cream or superflui∣••ance, the finest dishes, saith he, are made; out of the residence thereof the courser; which being formed, they gild or paint, and not after an hundred yeares, but presently commit unto the furnace: And this, saith he, is knowne by experience, and more probable then what Odoardus Barbosa hath delivered, that they are made of shels, and buried under earth of hundred yeares: And answerable unto all points hereto, is the relation of Linschotten, a very diligent enquirer in his Orientall Navi∣gations.

Now if any man enquire, why being so commonly made, and in so short a time, they are become so scarce, or not at all to be had, the an∣swer is given by these last Relators, that under great penalties it is for∣bidden to carry the first sort out of the Countrey. And of those surely the properties must verified, which by Scaliger and others are ascri∣bed to China dishes, That they admit no poyson, That they strike fire, That they will grow hot no higher then the liquor in them ariseth. For such as passe amongst us, and under the name of the finest, will onely strike fi••e, but not discover Aconite Mercury, or Arsenick, but may be usefull in dissenteries, and fluxes beyond the other.

8. Lastly, he must have more heads then Janus, that makes out half of those vertues ascribed unto stones, and their not onely medicall, but Magicall proprieties, which are to be found in Authors of great name. In Psellus, Serapion, Evax, Albertus, Aleazar Marbodeus; in Maio∣lus,* 1.3 Rueus; Mylius, and many other.

That Lapis Lazul•• hath in it a purgative faculty we know,* 1.4 that Be∣zoar is Antidotall, Lapis Judaicus diureticall, Corall Antipilepticall, we will not deny.* 1.5 That Cornelians, Jaspis, Heliotropes, and bloud∣stones, may be of vertue to those intentions they are implyed, experi∣ence and visible effects will make us doubt. But that an Amethist pre∣vents

inebriation, that an Emerald will breake if worne in copulation. That a Diamond laid under the pillow, will betray the incontinency of a wife. That a Saphyre is preservative against enchantments; that the fume of an Agath will avert a tempest, or the wearing of a Crysoprase make one out of love with gold, as some have delivered, we are yet, I confesse to believe, and in that infidelity are likely to end our dayes. And therefore, they which in the explication of the two Beryls upon the Ephod, or the twelve stones in the Rationall or breast-plate of Aa∣ron, or those twelve which garnished the wall of the holy City in the Apocalyps, have drawne their significations from such as these, or de∣clared their symbolicall verities from such traditionall falsities, have surely corrupted the sincerity of their Analogies, or misunderstood the mystery of their intentions.

CHAP. VI.

Of sundry tenents concerning vegetables or Plants, which examined, prove either false or dubious.

1. MAny Mola's and false conceptions there are of Mandrakes, the first from great Antiquity, conceiveth the Roote thereof re∣sembleth the shape of man, which is a conceit not to be made out by ordinary inspection, or any other eyes, then such as regarding the clouds, behold them in shapes conformable to preapprehensions.

Now what ever encouraged the first invention, there have not bin wanting many wayes of its promotion. The first a Catacresticall and farre derived similitude, it holds with man; that is, in a byfurcation or division of the roote into two parts, which some are content to call thighes, whereas notwithstanding they are oft times three, and when but two commonly so complicated and crossed, that men for this de∣ceit, are faine to effect their designe into other plants; And as faire a resemblance is often found in Carrots, Parse••ips, Bryony, and many others. There are, I confesse, divers plants which carry about them, not onely the shape of parts, but also of whole animals, but surely not all thereof, unto whom this conformity is imputed. Whoever shall peruse the signatures of Crollius, or rather the phytognomy of Port••, and strictly observes how vegetable realities, are commonly forced in∣to Animall representations, may easily perceive in very many, the sem∣blance is but postulatory, and must have a more assimilating phancy then mine to make good many thereof.

Illiterate heads have bin led on by the name, which in the first silla∣ble expresseth its representation; but others have better observed the laws of Etymology, and deduced it from a word of the same language, that is, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, spel••nca, because it delighteth to grow in obscure and

shady places, which derivation, although we shall not stand to main∣taine, yet is the other openly absurd, answerable unto the Etymologies of many Authors, who often confound such nominall notations. Not to enquire beyond our owne profession, the Latine Physitians, which most adheared unto the Arabick way, have often failed herein, parti∣cularly Valescus de Taranta a received Physitian, in whose Philonium or medicall practice these may be observed; Diarhaea saith he, qu••a pluries venit in die. Herisepela, quasi haerens pilis, emorrohois, ab emach sanguis & morrhois quod est cadere. Lithargia à Litos quod est oblivio & Targus morbus, Scotomia a Scotos quod est videre & mias musca, Opth••l mia ab opus Graece quod est succus, & Talmon quod est occulus, Paralisis, qu••si laesio partis, Fistula à fos sonus & stolon quod est emissio, quasi emissio soni vel vocis: which are derivations as strange indeed as the other, and hardly to be paralleld elsewhere, confirming not onely the words of one language with another, but creating such as were never yet in any.

The received distinction and common notation by sexes, hath also promoted the conceit; for true it is, that Herbalists from ancient times, have thus distinguished them; naming that the masle, whose leaves are lighter, and fruit and apples rounder, but this is properly no generative division, but rather some note of distinction in colour, figure or ope∣ration. For though Empedocles affirme, there is a mix••, and undivi∣ded sex in vegetables; and Scaliger upon Aristotle de plantis, doth fa∣vourably explain that opinion, yet will it not consist with the common and ordinary acception, nor yet with Aristotles definition: for if that be mas••e which generates in another, that female which procreates in it selfe; if it be understood of sexes conjoyned, all plants are female, and if of dis••joyned, and congressive generation, there is no male or fe∣male in them at all.

But the Atlas or maine axis, which supported this opinion, was daily experience, and the visible testimony of sense; for many there are in severall parts of Europe who carry about, and sell rootes unto ignorant poeple, which hansomely make out the shape of man or woman, but these are not productions of Nature, but contrivances of Art, as divers have noted, and Mathiolus plainly detected, who learned this way of trumpery from a vogabond cheator lying under his cure for the French disease; his words are these, and may determine the point, Sed profecto vanum & fabulosum, &c. But that is vaine and fa∣bulous which ingnorant people, and simple women beleeve; for the roots which are carried about by impostors to deceive unfruitfull wo∣men, are made of the roots of Canes, Bryony, and other plants, for in these yet fresh and virent, they carve out the figures of men and wo∣men, first sticking, therein the graines of barley or millet, where they intend the haire should grow, then bury them in sand, untill the grains

shoot forth their roots, which at the longest will happen in twenty dayes; afterward clip and trim those tender strings in the fashion of beard and other hayrie t••guments. All which like other impostures once discovered is easily effected, and in the root of white Bryony may be practised every spring.

What is there fore delivered in favour hereof, by Authors ancient or moderne, must have its roots in tradition, imposture, or farre deri∣ved similitude; so may we admit of the epithyte of Pythagoras who calls it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and that of Col••mella, who tearms i•• semihomo, otherwise Alber tus magnus is not to be received when he affirmeth that Mandrakes so represent mankinde, that distinction of sex and other accidents are manifest therein. And udner these tearms may those Authors bee admitted, which for this opinion are introduced by Drusius, as David Camius, Moses ••ilius Namanis, and Abenezra Hispanus.

The second assertion concerneth its production, That it naturally groweth under gallowses and places of execution, arising from fat or urine that drops from the body of the dead; a story somewhat agree∣able unto the fable of the Serpents teeth sowed in the earth by Cad∣mus, or rather the birth of Orion from the urine of Jupiter, Mercurie, and Neptune: Now this opinion seems grounded on the former, that is a conceived similitude it hath with man; and therefore from him in some way they would make out its production. Which conceit is not only erroneous in the foundation, but injurious unto Philosophy in the superstruction, making putrifactive generations, correspondent unto seminall productions, and conceiving in equivocall effects and univo∣call conformity unto the efficient; which is so far from being verified of animalls in their corruptive mutations into plants, that they main∣taine not this similitude in their nearer translation into animalls. So when the Oxe corrupteth into Bees, or the Horses into hornets, they come not forth in the image of their originalls. So the corrupt and ex∣crementous humors in man are animated into lyce; and we may observe that hogs, sheep, goats, hawkes, hens, and divers other, have one pe∣culiar a••d proper kind of vermine, not resembling themselves accor∣ding to seminall conditions, it carrying a setled and confined habitude unto their corruptive originalls; and therefore come not forth in gene∣rations erraticall, or different from each other, but seem specifically and in regular shapes to attend the corruption of their bodyes, as doe more perfect conceptions, the rule of seminall productions.

The third affirmeth the roots of Mandrakes doe make a noyse or give a shreeke upon eradication, which is indeed ridiculous, and false below confute; arising perhaps from a small and stridulous noyse, which being firmely rooted, it maketh upon divulsion of parts. A slen∣der foundation for such a vast conception: for such a noyse we some∣time

observe in other plants, in parsenips, liquorish, eri••gium, flags, and others.

The last concerneth the danger ensuing, that there followes an ha∣zard of life to them that pull it up, that some evill fate pursues them, and they live not very long after; therefore the attempt hereof among the Ancients, was not in ordinary way, but as Pliny informeth, when they intended to take up the root of this plant, they tooke the wind thereof, and with a sword describing three circles about it they digged it up, looking toward the West, a conceit not only injurious unto truth, and confutable by dayly experience, but somewhat derogatory unto the providence of God, that is not only to impose so destructive a qua∣lity on any plant, but conceive a vegetable whose parts are usefull unto many, should in the only taking up prove mortall unto any. To think he suffereth the poyson of Nubia to be gathered, Nap••llus, Aconite and Thora to be eradicated, yet this not to be moved. That hee per∣mitteth Arsenick and minerall poysons to be forced from the bowells of the earth, yet not this from the surface thereof. This were to intro∣duce a second forbidden fruit, and inhance the first malediction; ma∣king it not only mortall for Adam to taste the one, but capitall unto his posterity to eradicate or dig up the other.

Now what begot, at least promoted so strange conceptions might be the magicall opinion hereof; this being conceived the plant so much in use with Circe, and therefore named Circea, as Dioscorides and Theophrastus have delivered; which being the eminent soceres of elder story, and by the magicke of simples beleeved to have wrought many wonders, some men were apt to invent, others to beleeve any tradition or magicall promise thereof.

Analogus relations concerning other plants, and such as are of neare affinity unto this, have made its currant smooth, and passe more easily among us; for the same effect is also delivered by Josephus, concer∣ning the root Baaras, by Aelian of Cynospastus, and we read in Homer the very same opinion concerning Moly.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The Gods it Moly call, whose root to dig away, Is dangerous unto man, but Gods they all things may.

Now parallels or like relations alternately releeve each other; when neither will passe asunder, yet are they plausible together, and by their mutuall concurrences support their solitary instablilities.

Signaturists have somewhat advanced it, who seldome omitting what Ancients delivered, drawing into inference received distinctions of sex, not willing to examine its humane resemblance, and placing it in the forme of strange and magicall simples, have made men suspect there was more therein, then ordinary practice allowed, and so be∣came

••pt to embrace what ever they heard or read conformable unto such conceptions.

Lastly, the conceit promoteth it selfe: for concerning an effect whose triall must cost so deare, it fortifies it selfe in that invention, and few there are whose experiment it need to ••••are. For (what is most contemptible) although not only the reason of any head, but experience of every hand may well convict it, yet will it not by divers bee rejected, for prepossessed heads will ever doubt it, and ti∣morous beliefes will never dare to try it. So these tradi••ions how low and ridiculous soever, will finde in some suspition, doubt in others, and serve as tests or trialls of melancholy, and superstitious tempers for ever.

2. That Cinamon, Ginger, Clove, Mace and Nutmeg, are but the severall parts and fruits of the same tree, is the common beliefe of those which daily use them; whereof to speak distinctly, Ginger is the root of neither tree nor shrub, but of an herbaceous plant, resembling the water ••lower De ••uce, as Garcias fi••st described, or rather the common reed, as Lobelius since affirmed, very common in many parts of India, grow∣ing either from root or seed, which in December and January they take up, and gently dryed, role it up in earth, whereby occluding the pores, they conserve the naturall humidity, and so prevent corruption.

Cinnamon is the inward barke of a Cinnamon tree, whereof the best is brought from Zeilan; this freed from the outward barke, and ex∣posed unto the Sun, contracts into those folds wherein we commonly receive it. If it have not a sufficient insolation it looketh pale, and at∣taines not its laudable colour, if it be sunned too long it suffereth a tor∣refaction, and descendeth somewhat below it.

Clove is the rudiment or beginning of a fruit growing upon the Clove tree, to be found but in few Countries. The most commend∣able is that of Isles of Molucca; it is first white, afterward green, which beaten downe, and dryed in the Sun becommeth blacke, and in the complexion we receive it.

Nutmeg is the fruit of a tree differing from all these, and as Garcias describeth it, somewhat like a Peach, growing in divers places, but fructifying in the Isle of Banda. The fruit hereof, consisteth of foure parts; the first or outward part is a thick and carnous covering like that of a Walnut. The second a dry and flosculous coat, commonly called Mace. The third a harder tegument or shell, which lyeth under the Mace. The fourth a kernell included in the shell, which is the same we call Nutmeg; all which both in their parts and order of dis∣posure, are easily discerned in those fruits, which are brought in pre∣serves unto us.

Now if because Mace and Nutmegs proceed from one tree, the rest must beare them company, or because they are all from the East-Indies,

they are all from one plant, the Inference is precipitous, nor will there such a plant be found in the Herball of Nature.

3. That Viscus Arboreus of Misseltoe is bred upon trees, from seeds which birds, especially Thrushes and Ringdoves let fall thereon, was the creed of the Ancients, and is still beleeved among us, is the account of its production, set downe by Pliny, delivered by Virgil, and sub∣scribed by many more. If so, some reason must be assigned, why it groweth onely upon cert••ine trees, and not upon many whereon these birds do light. For as Exotick observers deliver, it groweth upon Al∣mond trees, Chesnut, Apples, Oakes, and Pine trees, as wee observe in England, very commonly upon Apple, Holly, Bayes, Crabs, and White thorne, sometimes upon Sallow, Hasell, and Oake, never upon Bayes, Holly, Ashes, Elmes, and many others. Why it groweth not in all countries and places where these birds are found, for so Brassavolus affirmeth, it is not to be found in the territorie of Ferrara, and was faine to supply himselfe from other parts of Italy. Why if it ariseth from a seed, if sowne it will not grow againe, as Pliny affirmeth, and as by setting the berryes thereof, wee have in vaine attempted its produ∣ction; why if it commeth from seed that falleth upon the tree, it grow∣eth often downewards and puts forth under the bough, where seed can neither fall, nor yet remaine. Hereof beside some others, the Lord Verulam hath taken notice. And they surely speake probably who make it an arboreous excrescence, or rather superplant, bred of a vis∣cous and superfluous sappe the tree it selfe cannot assimilate, and therefore sprouteth not forth in boughs and surcles of the same shape and similary unto the tree that beareth it, but in a different forme, and secondary unto its specificall intention, wherein once fay∣ling, another forme succeedeth, and in the first place that of Misseltoe, in plants and trees disposed to its production. And therefore also where ever it groweth▪ it is of constant shape, and maintaines a vegular figure like other supercrescenses, and such as living upon the stock of others, are termed Parasiticall plants, as Polypody, Mosse, the smaller Capillaries, and many more.

Now what begot this conceit, might be the enlargement of that part of truth conteined in its story. For certaine it is, that some birdes doe feed upon the berries of this vegetable, and we meet in Aristotle with one kind of thrush called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the missell thrush or ••eeder upon misseltoe. But that which hath most promoted it, is a received proverb. Turdus sibi malum cac••t▪ Appliable unto such men as are au∣thors of their owne misfortune: For according unto ancient tradition and Plinies relation, the bird not able to digest the fruit whereon shee feedeth, from her inconverted muting, ariseth this plant, of the berries whereof birdlime is made, wherewith she is after entangled. Now al∣though proverbs bee popular principles, yet is not all true that is pro∣verbiall;

and in many thereof there being one thing delivered, and ano∣ther intended, though the verball expression be false, the proverbe is true enough in the veritie of its intention.

As for the Magicall vertues in this plant, and conceived efficacie unto veneficiall intentions, it seemeth unto me a Pagan relique derived from the ancient D••uides, the great admirers of the Oake, especially the Misseltoe that grew thereon; which according unto the particular of Plinie, they gathered with great solemnitie. For after sacrifice the priest in a white garment, ascended the tree, cut downe the Misseltoe with a golden hooke, and received it in a white coat, the vertue where∣of was to resist all poysons, and make fruitfull any that used it. Vertues not expected from Classicall practise; And did they answer their pro∣mise which are so commended, in Epilepticall intentions, wee would abate these qualities. Countrey practise hath added another, to pro∣voke the after-birth, and in that case the decoction is given unto Cowes. That the berries are poison as some conceive, we are so far from averring, that we have safely given them inwardly, and can con∣firme the experiment of Brassavolus, that they have some purgative quality.

4. The Rose of Jerico, that flourishes every yeer just upon Christmas Eve is famous in Christian reports, which notwithstanding wee have some reason to doubt; and we are plainely informed by Bellonius, it is but a Monasticall imposture, as hee hath delivered in his observations, concerning the plants in Jericho. That which promoted the conceit, or perhaps begot its continuance, was a proprietie in this plant. For though it bee dry, yet will it upon imbibition of moisture dilate its leaves, and explicate its flowers contracted, and seemingly dryed up. And this is to bee effected not onely in the plant yet growing, but in some manner also in that which is brought exuccous and dry unto us. Which quality being observed, the subtilty or contrivers did com∣monly play this shew upon the Eve of our Saviours Nativitie, and by drying the plant againe, it closed the next day, and so pretended a double mystery. That is the opening and closing of the wombe of Mary.

There wanted not a specious confirmation from a text in Eccle∣siasticus, chap. 24. Quasi palma exaltata sum in Cad••s▪ & quasi planta∣tio Rosae in Iericho: I was exalted like a Palme tree in Engaddi, and as a Rose in Jericho. The sound whereof in common eares, begat an ex∣traordinary opinion of the Rose of that denomination. But herein there seemeth a great mistake; for by the Rose in the text, is implyed the true and proper Rose 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 sayth the Greek, and ours accord∣ingly rendreth it. But that which passeth under this name, and by us is commonly called the Rose of Jericho, is properly no Rose, but a small thorny shrub or kinde of heath, bearing little white flowers, far

differing from the Rose, whereof Bellonius a very inquisitive Herba∣list could not finde any in his travells thorow Jericho. A plant so unlike a Rose, it hath been mistaken by some good Simplist for Amo∣mum, which truely understood is so unlike a Rose, that as D••oscorides delivers, the flowers thereof, are like the white violet, and its leaves resemble Bryonie; sutable unto this relation almost in all points is that of the thorne at Glassenbury, and perhaps the daughter thereof; herein our endeavours as yet have not attained satisfaction, and cannot there∣fore enlarge. Thus much in generall we may observe, that strange ef∣fects, are naturally taken for miracles by weaker heads, and artificially improved to that apprehension by wiser.

5. That ferrum Equinum, or Sferra Cavallo hath a vertue attractive of Iron, a power to breake lockes, and draw off the shooes of a horse that passeth over it. Whether you take it for one kinde of Secu••idaca, or will also take in Lunaria, we know it to be false; and cannot but won∣der at Mathiolus, who upon a parallell in Plinie was staggered into suspension; who notwithstanding in the imputed vertue to open things, close and shut up, could laugh himselfe at that promise from Aethiopis, and condemne the judgement of Scipio, who having such a picklock, would spend so many years in battering the gates of Carthage. Which strange and Magicall conceit, seemes unto me to have no deeper root in reason, then the figure of its seed; for therein indeed it somewhat re∣sembles an horseshooe, which notwithstanding Baptista Porta hath thought too low a signation, and raised the same unto a Lunarie repre∣sentation.

6. That Bayes will protect from the mischief of lightning and thun∣der, is a qualitie ascribed thereto, common with the figtree, Aegle, and skin of a Seale. Against so famous a quality, Vicomer••atus produ∣ceth experiment of a Bay tree blasted in Italy, and therefore although Tiberius for this intent, did weare a Laurell about his temples. Yet did Augustus take a more probable course, who fled under arches and hol∣low vautes for protection. And though Porta conceive, becasue in a streperous eruption, it riseth against fire, it doth therefore resist lightning, yet is that no emboldning Illation: And if wee consider the threefold effect of Jupiters Trisulke, to burne, discusse and terebrate; and if that be true which is commonly delivered, that it will melt the blade, yet passe the scabbard, kill the childe, yet spare the mother, dry up the wine, yet leave the hogshead intire; though it favour the amulet it may not spare us; it will be unsure to rely on any preservative, tis no security to be dipped in Styx, or clad in the armour of Ceneus. Now that beer, wine, and other liquors, are spoyled with lightning and thun∣der, we conceive it proceeds not onely from noyse and concussion of the ayre, but also noxious spirits, which mingle therewith, and draw them to corruption, whereby they become not onely dead themselves,

but sometime deadly unto others, as that which Seneca mentioneth, whereof whosoever dranke, either lost his life, or else his wits upon it.

7. It hath much deceived the hopes of good fellowes, what is com∣monly expected of bitter Almonds, and though in Plutarch confirmed from the practise of Claudius his Physitian, that Antidote against ebriety hath commonly failed. Surely men much verst in the practice doe erre in the theory of inebriation, conceaving in that disturbance the braine doth onely suffer from exhalations and vaporous ascentions from the stomack, which fat and oylie substances may suppresse, whereas the prevalent intoxication is from the spirits of drink dispersed into the veynes and arteries, from whence by common conveyances they creep into the braine, insinuate into its ventricles, and beget those vertigoes, accompanying that perversion. And therefore the same ef∣fect may be produced by a Glister, the head may be intoxicated by a medicine at the heele. And so the poysonous bytes of Serpents, al∣though on parts at distance from the head, yet having entered the veynes, disturbe the animall faculties, and produce the effects of drink, or poyson swallowed. And so as the head may bee disturbed by the skin, it may the same way be relieved, as is observable in balneations, washings, and fomentations, either of the whole body, or of that part alone.

8. That every plant might receive a name according unto the dis∣ease it cureth, was the wish of Paracelsus; a way more likely to mul∣tiply Empericks then Herbalists, yet what is practised by many is ad∣vantageous unto neither; that is, relinquishing their proper appellati∣ons, to re-baptise them by the name of Saints, Apostles, Patriarcks and Martyres, to call this the herbe of John, that of Peter, this of James or Joseph, that of Mary or Barbara, for hereby apprehensions are made additionall unto their proper natures; whereon superstitious practises ensue, and stories are framed accordingly to make good their foun∣dations.

9. We cannot omit to declare the grosse mistake of many in the no∣minall apprehension of plan••s; to instance but in few. An herbe there is commonly called Betonica Pauli, or Pauls Betony, hereof the peo∣ple have some conceit in reference to S. Paul, whereas indeed that name is derived from Paulus Aegineta, an ancient Physitian of Aegina, and is no more then speed well, or Fluellen. The like expectations are raised from Herba Trinitatis, which notwithstanding obtaineth that name onely from the figure of its leaves, and is one kinde of liverworte of Hepatica. In Milium Solis, the epithite of the Sun hath enlarged its opinion, which hath indeed no reference thereunto, it being no more then Li••hospermon, or grummell, or rather milium Soler, which as Serapion from Aben Juliel hath taught us, because it grew plentifully in the mountaines of Solar, received that appellation. In Jews eares

some thing is conceived extraordinary from the name, which is in pro∣priety but Fungus sambucinus, or an excrescence about the roots of El∣der, and concerneth not the Nation of the Jews, but Judas Iscariot, upon a conceit, he hanged on this tree, and is become a famous medi∣cine in Quinses, sore throats, and strangulations ever since. And so are they deceived in the name of Horse-raddish, Horse-mint, Bull-rush▪ and many more: conceiving therein some prenominall consideration, whereas indeed that expression is but a Grecisme, by the prefix of Hip∣pos and Bous, that is, Horse and Bull, intending no more then great. According whereto the great dock is called Hippolapathum; and hee that calls the horse of Alexander great head, expresseth the same which the Greeks do in Bucephalus.

10. Lastly, many things are delivered and believed of other plants, wherin at least we cannot but suspend. That there is a property in Basil to propagate Scorpions, and that by the smell thereof they are bred in the braines of men, is much advanced by Hollerius, who found this insect in the braines of a man that delighted much in this smel. Where∣in beside that wee finde no way to conjoyne the effect unto the cause assigned; herein the Modernes speake but timerously, and some of the Ancients quite contrarily. For, according unto Oribasius, Physition unto Julian, The Affricans, men best experienced in poysons, affirme whosoever hath eaten Basil, although hee be stung with a Scorpion, shall feele no paine thereby: which is a very different effect, and rather antidotally destroying then seminally promoting its production.

That the leaves of Cataputia or spurge being plucked upward or downeward respectively performe their operations by purge or vomit, as some have written, and old wives still do preach, is a strange conceit, and indeed somewhat magneticall, aseribing unto plants positionall o∣perations, and after the manner of the Loadstone, upon the pole where∣of if a knife be drawne from the handle unto the poynt, it will take up a neele, but if drawne againe from the point to the handle, it will at∣tract it no more.

That an Ivy cup will separate wine from water, if filled with both, the wine soaking through, but the water still remaining, as after Pliny many have averred wee know not how to affirme, who making tryall thereof, found both the liquors to soake indistinctly through the bowle.

That Ros solis which rotteth sheepe hath any such cordiall vertue upon us, we have some reason to doubt.

That Flos Affricanus is poyson, and destroyeth dogs, in two expe∣riments we have not found.

That Yew and the berries thereof are harmelesse we know.

That a Snake will not endure the shade of an Ashe we can deny.

That Cats have such delight in the herbe Nepeta, called therefore

Cattaria, our experience cannot discover. Nor is it altogether incon∣siderable what is affirmed by Bellonius; for if his assertion bee true in the first of his observations, our apprehension is oftentimes wide in ordinary simples, and in common use wee mistake one for another. We know not the true thime, the savory in our Gardens is not that commended of old, and that kinde of hysop the Ancients used, is un∣known unto us who make great use of another.

Wee omit to recite the many vertues, and endlesse faculties ascri∣bed unto plants, which sometime occure in grave and serious Authors, and wee shall make a bad composition for truth to concede a verity in halfe. To reckon up all, it were imployment for Archimedes, who undertooke to write the number of the sands. Swarmes of o∣thers there are, some whereof our future endeavours may discover; common reason I hope will save us a labour in many, whose absur∣dities stand naked unto every eye, errours not able to deceive the Emblem of Justice, and need no Argoes to descry them. Herein there surely wants expurgatory animadversions, whereby wee might strike out great numbers of hidden qualities, and having once a serious and conc••ded list, wee might with more encouragement and safety, attempt their Reasons.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Anagram∣matically.
• * 1.2

  In the french Copy.
• * 1.3

  Against poyson.
• * 1.4

  Provoking urine.
• * 1.5

  Against the falling∣sicknesse.