Physiologia Epicuro-Gassendo-Charltoniana, or, A fabrick of science natural, upon the hypothesis of atoms founded by Epicurus repaired [by] Petrus Gassendus ; augmented [by] Walter Charleton ...

CHAP. XV. OCCULT QUALITIES made MANIFEST.

SECT. I.

HAving thus long entertained it self with the most probable Reasons of the se∣veral wayes and means,* 1.1 whereby Compound Bodies exhibite their several Attributes and Proprieties to the judicature of the Sensitive Faculties in Animals, and principally in Man, the Rule, Perfection and grand Exemplar of all the rest; tis high time for our Curiosity to turn a new leaf, and sedulously address it self to the speculation of Another Order, or Classis of Qualities, such as are vulgarly distinguished from all those, which have hitherto been the sub∣ject of our Disquisitions, by the unhappy and discouraging Epithite, OCCULT. Wherein we use the scarce perfect Dialect of the Schools; who too boldly praesuming, that all those Qualities of Concretions, which belong to the jurisdiction of the senses, are dependent upon Known Causes, and deprehended by Known Faculties, have therefore termed them Ma∣nifest: and as incircumspectly concluding, that all those Proprieties of Bodies, which fall not under the Cognizance of either of the Senses, are derived from obscure and undiscoverable Causes, and perceived by Unknown Faculties; have accordingly determined them to be Immanifest or Occult. Not that we dare be guilty of such unpardonable Vanity and Ar∣rogance, as not most willingly to confess, that to Ourselves all the Operati∣ons of Nature are meer Secrets; that in all her ample catalogue of Qua∣lities, we have not met with so much as one, which is not really Im∣manifest and Abstruse, when we convert our thoughts either upon its Genuine and Proxime Causes, or upon the Reason and Manner of its perception by that Sense, whose proper Object it is: and consequently, that as the Sensibility of a thing doth noe way praesuppose its Intel∣ligibility, but that many things, which are most obvious and open to the Sense, as to their Effects, may yet be remote and in the dark to

the Understanding, as to their Causes: so on the Contrary, doth not the Insensibility of a thing necessitate, nay, nor aggravate the Unintel∣ligibility thereof, but that many things, which are above the sphere of the Senses, may yet be as much within the reach of our Reason, as the most sensible whatever. Which being praecogitated, as, when we look back upon our praecedent Discourses, touching the Originals and Per∣ception of Sensible Qualities, we have just ground to fear, that they have not attained the happy shoar of verity, but remain upon the wide and fluctuating ocean of meer Verisimility: So also, when we look for∣ward upon our immediately subsequent Disquisitions into the Causes of many Insensible Qualities, are we not destitute of good reason to hope, that though we herein attempt the consignation of Consentaneous and Probable Causes to sundry of those Effects, which Schollars commonly content themselves only to Admire, and without farther exercise of their Intellectuals, to leave wrapt up in the Chaos of Sympathies and Antipathies; yet will not the Ingenious misunderstand us, or con∣ceive that we esteem or propose those Reasons as Oraculous or Apo∣dicticall, or create an expectation of the Discovery of such Originals, whereupon those Rarer Operations and Magnalia of Nature do proximely and genuinely depend. However, some may think it expedient for us to profess, that as in our former Enquiries, so in this, our Designe is only to explain sundry admired Effects, by such Reasons, as may ap∣pear not altogether Remote and Incongruous, but Consentaneous and Affine to Truth; that so no mans judgement may be impeached by embracing them for most Probable, untill the (in that respect, too slow) wheel of Time shall have brought up some more worthy Explorator, who shall wholly withdrawe that thick Curtain of obscurity, which yet hangs betwixt Natures Laboratory and Us, and enrich the Com∣monweal of Letters, by the discovery of the Real Verity And this we must enterprize, by continuing our progress in the allmost oblite∣rated Tract, that Epicurus and Democritus so long since chalk'd forth; not by treading in the beaten road of Aristotle and his Se••tators, who (for ought we have learned) were They, who first founded that ill contrived Sanctuary of Ignorance, called OCCULT QUA∣LITIES.

For, generally setting up their rest in the Commistion of Ele∣ments,* 1.2 and their supposed Immateriall Qualities; and being not able ever to explicate any Insensible Propriety, from those narrow and barren Principles: they thought it a sufficient Salvo for their Ignorance, simply to affirme all such Proprieties to be Occult; and without due reflection up∣on the Invalidity of their Fundamentals, they blushed not to charge Na∣ture Herself with too much Closeness and Obscurity, in that point, as if she intended that all Qualities, that are Insensible, should also be Inex∣plicable.

The ingenious Sanchez, among many Sceptical Arguments of the Uncertainty of Sciences,* 1.3 seasonably urgeth this one, as very con∣siderable, against Physiologists; that when any Natural Problem, such as that of the Attraction of Iron by a Loadstone, of straws by Amber, &c. is objected to them; instead of setting their Curiosity on work to

to investigate the Causes thereof, they lay it in a deep sleep, with that infatuating opium of Ignote Qualities: and yet expect that men should believe them to know all that is to be known, and to have spoken like Oracles cencerning that Theorem; though at the same instant, they do as much as confess, that indeed they know nothing at all of its Nature and Causes. For, what difference is there, whether we say, that such a thing is Occult; or that we know nothing of it?

Nor is it a Course either less dishonorable to the Professors,* 1.4 or dan∣gerous to the Students of Philosophy, to refer such Effects, upon which men commonly look with the eye only of Wonder, to Secret Sympathies and Antipathies: forasmuch as those Windy Terms are no less a Re∣fuge for the Idle and Ignorant, than that of Occult Proprieties, it be∣ing the very same in importance, whether we have recourse to the One, or to the other. For, no sooner doe we betake ourselves to Either, but we openly confess, that, all our Learning is at a stand, and our Rea∣son wholly vanquisht, and beaten out of the field by the Difficulty pro∣posed. We deny not, that most, if not All of those Admired Effects of Nature, which even the Gravest Heads have too long thought suffici∣ent Excuses of their Despair of Cognition, do arise from some Sympa∣thy, or Antipathy betwixt the Agent and Patient: but yet for all that, have we no reason to concede, that Nature doth institute or Cause that sympathy or Antipathy, or the Effect resulting from either, by any o∣ther Lawes, or Means, but what she hath ordained and constantly useth, to the production of all other Common and familiar Effects. We ac∣knowlddge also, that Sympathy is a certain Consent, and Antipathy a cer∣tain Dissent betwixt Two Natures, from one, or both of which there usu∣ally ariseth some such Effect, as may seem to deserve our limited Admira∣tion: but is it therefore reasonable for us to infer, that those Natures are not subject unto, nor regulated by the General and Ordinary Rules of Acti∣on and Passion, whereto Nature hath fitmely obliged Herself in the rest of Her Operations?

To lance and cleanse this Cacoethical Ulcer, to the bottom,* 1.5 Con∣sider we, that the General Laws of Nature, whereby she produceth All Effects, by the Action of one and Passion of another thing, as may be collected from sundry of our praecedent Discertations, are these: (1.) That every Effect must have its Cause; (2) That no Cause can act but by Motion; (3) That Nothing can act upon a Distant subject, or upon such whereunto it is not actually Praesent, either by it self, or by some instrument, and that either Conjunct, or Trans∣mitted; and consequently, that no body can move another, but by con∣tact Mediate, or Immediate, i. e. by the mediation of some con∣tinued Organ, and that a Corporeal one too, or by it self alone. Which considered, it will be very hard not to allowe it necessary, that when two things are said either to Attract and Embrace one the other by mutual Sympathy, or to Repell and Avoid one the other, by mutual Antipathy; this is performed by the same wayes and means, whereby we observe one Body to Attract and hold fast another, or one Body to Repell and Avoid conjunction with another, in all Sen∣sible and Mechanique Operations. This small Difference only allowed,

that in Gross and Mechanique operations, the Attraction, or Repul∣sion is performed by Sensible Instruments: but, in those finer performances of Nature, called Sympathies and Antipathies, the Attraction or Re∣pulsion is made by Subtle and Insensible. The means used in every common and Sensible Attraction and Complection of one Bodie by an∣other, every man observes to be Hooks, Lines, or some such intermedi∣ate Instrument continued from the Attrahent to the Attracted; and in every Repulsion or Disjunction of one Bodie from another, there is used some Pole, Lever, or other Organ intercedent, or somewhat ex∣ploded or discharged from the Impellent to the Impulsed. Why there∣fore should we not conceive, that in every Curious and Insensible Attra∣ction of one bodie by another, Nature makes use of certain slender Hooks, Lines, Chains, or the like intercedent Instruments, continued from the Attrahent to the Attracted, and likewise that in every Secret Repulsion or Sejunction, she useth certain small Goads, Poles, Levers, or the like protruding Instruments, continued from the Repellent to the Repulsed bodie? Because, albeit those Her Instruments be invisible and imper∣ceptible; yet are we not therefore to conclude, that there are none such at all. We every day behold Spiders letting themselves down from high roofs, and as nimbly winding themselves up again at pleasure, by such slender threads of their own occasionall and extemporary spinning, as tis not every common eye that can discern them. Nay, in a Mask at Court, we have seen a whole Chorus of Gods descend into the theatre, as from the clouds, only by Wires and other lines, so fine and slender, as that all the light of the tapers burning therein was not sufficient to dis∣cover them to the sight of the Spectators: and vast and ponderous Scenes so suddenly and dextrously shifted, by the almost inobservable motions of Skrews, Elevators, Pulleys, and the like Archimedean Engines and De∣vices, that the common Beholders, judging only by the Apparence, or (rather) Non-apparence, have thought those great machines to have been Automatous, or to have moved themselves, and at last to vanish into nothing. And shall we not then allowe the incomparably more Cu∣rious Mechaniques of Natures, the Exemplar of Art, to be wrought by Instruments of Subtility incomparably greater: and that many of those small Engines, whereby she usually moves and susteins bodies of conside∣rable bulk and weight, are Corporeal, though by incomputable excesses below the perception of our acutest sense? Certainly, for us to affirm, that nothing Material is emitted from the Loadstone to Iron, which by continuity may Attract it; only because our sense doth deprehend nothing intercedent betwixt them: is an Argument of equal weight with that of the Blind man, who denied the Being of Light and Colours, because He could perceive none. In a word, if there be any validity in what we have so plainly asserted, and frequently inculcated, touching the Hebetude or Grossness of our Senses, on one part, and the great Exility of all Aporraea's or Effuxes streaming from Bodies, on the other; and if tha•• Oracle, Reason, be to be heard, which so long since persuaded Hippo∣crates, and many other, Secretaries of Nature, that most, if not All Bodies are [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] Perspirable and Conspirable, i. e. that they continually emit insensible Effluvia's from themselves to others: We say, if there be any weight in all this, men cannot think it unrea∣sonable in us to conceive, that those Admired Effects, which they com∣monly

ascribe to Hidden Sympathies and Antipathies, are brought about by the same ways and means, which Nature and Art use in the Causation of the like Ordinary and Sensible Effects; and that the Instruments of Natural Attraction, Complectence, Repulsion, Sejunction, are Corporeal, and hold a neer Analogie to those of Artificial; only these are Gross and Perceptible, those Subtile and Imperceptible.

Notwithstanding the perspicuity of these Arguments,* 1.6 we shall not supererogate, to heighten the lustre of so desirable a Truth, by the ver∣nish of a convenient and praegnant Simile, or two. If we attentively ob∣serve a Chamaeleon catching Gnats and other small Flyes in the Aer, for his food; we shall see him dart out a long and slender tongue, with a small recurvation at the tip, and birdlimed with a certain tenacious and inviscating moisture, wherewith, in a trice, laying hold of a Fly, at some distance from his mouth, he conveys the same into it with such cleanly speed, as exceeds the Legerdemane of our cunningst Juglers, and may have been the cheif occasion of that popular Error, that he lives meer∣ly upon Aer. And when we see a peice of Amber, Jet, hard Wax, or other Electrique, after sufficient friction, to attract straws, shavings of wood, quils, and other festucous bodies of the same lightness, object∣ed within the orbe of their Alliciency; and that with a cleanly and quick motion: Why should we not conceive, that this Electricity or At∣traction may hold a very neer Analogy to that attraction of Gnats, by the exserted and nimbly retracted tongue of a Chamaeleon. For (1) it is not improbable, that the Attraction of all Electriques is per∣formed by the mediation of swarms of subtle Emanations, or Continued Rayes of exile particles, comparative to so many Chamaeleons Tongues; which through the whole Sphere of their Virtue, in various points mu∣tually intersecting, or decussating, and more especially toward their Extreams, doe not only insinuate themselves into the pores of those small and light festucous bodies occurrent, but lay hold upon several in∣sensible Asperities in their superfices, and then returning (by way of Retraction) back to their Original or Source, bring them along in their twined arms, and so long hold them fast in their Complicate em∣braces, as the warmth and radial Diffusion, excited by affriction, lasteth. (2) All the Disparity, that can be objected, seems to consist onely in the Manner of their Return, or Retraction; the Tongue of the Chamaeleon being both darted forth, and retracted by help of certain Muscles, wherewith Nature, by a peculiar provi∣dence, hath accommodated that otherwise Helpless Animal: but, Electriques are destitute of any such organs, either for the Exser∣tion, or Reduction of their Rayes. And this is not so great, but it may be solved, by supposing, that as if the Chamaeleons Tongue were drawn forth at length by a mans hand, and not extruded by the instruments of Voluntary Motion, it would again Contract and Reduce it self spontaneously, after the same manner as Nerves and Lutestrings retract and curle up themselves, after violent Distensi∣on: so may the Rayes, which stream from an Electrique, being ab∣duced from their fountains, not spontaneously, but by the force of praecedent Affriction, be conceived to Reduce and Retract them∣selves, after the manner of Sinews and Lutestrings violently extended.

(3) That such tenacious Rayes are abduced from Amber and other Ele∣ctriques, is easily convincible (besides the experiment of their Attraction of convenient objects) from hence; that all Electriques are Unc••uous and Pinguous Concretions, and that in no mean degree: and manifest it is, that a viscid and unctuous Bodie is no sooner Warmed by rubbing, but there rise out of it certain small Lines or Threads, which adhaere to a mans finger that toucheth it, and such as may, by gentle abduction of the finger, be prolonged to considerable distance. But, however this may be contro∣verted, and the Way of all Electrique Attractions variously explicated, according to the various Conceptions of men; the Itch of Phancy being soonest allayed by the liberty of ones singular Conjecture, in such curi¦ous Theorems: yet still is it firme and indubitable, that though the At∣traction of straws by Amber, be in some sort Admirable, yet is it not Mi∣raculous, as is implied in that opinion, which would have it to be by some Immaterial (i e. Supernatural) Virtue; and that it is effected by some Cor∣poreal, though both impalpable and invisible Organs continued from the Attrahent to the Attracted.

* 1.7On the Other side, as for the Abaction, or Repulsion of one thing by another, in respect whereunto Vulgar Philosophers have thought and taught, that the Abacted or Repulsed doth (if an Animal) voluntarily (if Inanimate) spontaneously Flie from and avoid Conjunction with the Abacting, or Repellent, by reason of some hidden Enmity or Antipathy betwixt their Forms: though the Reasons and Manner of such Fugation, so far forth as concerns Animals, may be collected from our former Dis∣courses of the Gratefulness and Offensiveness of Sensible Objects; yet shall we here f••rther illustrate the same by certain Analogies and Simili∣tudes. When a Nettle is objected to a mans Hand, why doth He with∣draw it from the same? Not upon the account of any Antipathy in his hand to the Nettle; because being bruised, or withered, no Childe but will boldly handle it: but, because the Nettle is pallizado'd with millions of small stings, or prickles, which like so many Darts, wounding the the skin, cause a pain therein, and so the man, for avoidance of harm, catch∣eth his hand from it, as an injurious object. Why likewise doth the Nose abominate and avoid stinking Odours, whenever they are brought neer it? Is it not because such Foelid and Offensive Odours consist, for the most part, of such sharp and pungent Particles, as holding no Cor∣respondence to the pores and contexture of the Odoratory Nerves, are no sooner admitted, but they in a manner scratch, wound and dilacerate the Sensory? And may we not conceive those disproportionate Particles of the ungrateful Odour to be as so many small Lances or Darts, which offer the same injury to the Mammillary Processes of the brain, that the Prickles of a Nettle offer to the skin? Certainly, as the Nettle strikes its Darts into the skin, and not into the Nayles of a mans hand; because those are of too close and firm a Contexture to admit them: so doth an offensive Odour immit its painted and angular Particles into the tender smelling Nerves, and not into the skin, because its Contexture is more Com∣pact, than to be capable of Puncture or Dilaceration thereby. Lastly, Why doth the Eye abhor and turne from Ugly and Odious Objects? Is it not only because the Visible Species emitted from such Bodies, doth consist of Particles of such Configurations and Contexture, as carry no

proportion to the particles and contexture of the Optique Nerves, but striking upon the Retina Tunica, instantly wound and exasperate the slender and tender filaments thereof, and so cause the Eye, for fear of far∣ther injury, to close, or avert it self? And are not those Acute and Dis∣proportionate Particles, composing the visible Species, worthily resembla∣ble to so many small Prickles or Lancets, which though too subtile to wound the Skin, Nostrils, or other parts of the body, whose Compo∣sure is less delicate, do yet instantly mis-affect and pain the Optique Nerves, whose singular Contexture doth appropriate to them the Capacity of be∣ing sensible of that compunction? Now, putting all these Considerati∣ons into the scale together, and ponderating them with an equal hand; we shall find their weight amount to no less than this: that as every Sympathy is displayd by certain Corporeal, though Invisible Organs, comparated to Attraction and Amplectence; so is every Antipathy, by the like invisible Organs, comparated to Repulsion and Sejunction; which is what we As∣sumed.

Hence may we, without much difficulty,* 1.8 extract more than a Conjectu∣ral judgement, What are the First and General Causes of all Love and Hatred. For, look what kind of Motions, whether Grateful or Ungrate∣ful, are by the Species impressed upon the Nerves peculiarly inservient to that sense, by which the Object is apprehended; the very same are con∣tinued quite home to the Brain, and therein accordingly move and affect the Common Sensory: so as that, according to the Pleasure or Offence of the Perception, there is instantly excited an Affection either of Prosecuti∣on of the thing, by whose species that pleasant motion was Caused, and that is the Hint and Ground of Loving and Desiring it; or of Aversation from it, and that is the Ground of Hating and Declining it.

Nay, the same may be well admitted also for the Cause,* 1.9 Why things A like in their Natures, love and delight in the Society each of other; and on the contrary, Why Unlike Natures abhor and avoid each other. For, as those which are Consimilar in their Temperaments, affect each other with Con∣generous and Grateful Emanations: So doe those of Dissimilar mis-affect each other with Discordant and Ungrateful. And therefore it is no longer a wonder, that men Love, or Dislike each other commonly at first inter∣view, though they scarce know why: nor can we longer withold our Assent to that unmarkable Opinion of Plato, that Similitude of Temperaments and so of Inclinations, is not only the Cement, but Basis also of Amity and Friendship.

SECT. II.

* 1.10FRom this General Disquisition into the Reasons of All Sympathy, and Ant••pat••y, to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 most of those Proprieties, which by Ph••lo∣sophers are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as stupendious and Abscon••ite, are u••u••lly refer∣red; we must ••••vance to the Consideration of Part••cular inst••n••es, that by the Solution of Singula••s, we may afford the gre••ter 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to mens Curi••sity, and ••••ve so many Oppo••tunities of examining t••e Verisimili∣ty of our former Thesis, that all such Effects, the knowledge of w••ose causes is generally 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of, are produced by Sub••••a••tial and Explicable Means. An•• in order her••unto, we shall, according to the method of the no less 〈◊〉〈◊〉 than Judicious ••racastorius (de Sympath. & Antipath. Rerum) Distin••u••sh All Occult ••ualities into General, and Special; sub∣dividing the Generall into (1) the Conspiration of the Parts ••f the Uni∣verse, and (2) the I••flux of Caelestial upon Sublunary Bodies: and the Speciall into such as Concern (1) Inanimates, (2) Insensibles, (3) Sen∣sibles.

* 1.11To the FIRST GENERAL ORDER, viz. the Conspiration and Harmony of all Parts of the Universe, Philosophers unanimously ad∣scribe the Avoidance of Vacuity; whereupon many are the Secrets, that are presumed to ensue, as the Ascention of Heavy, Descent of Light Bodies, the Sejunction of Congenerous and Sociable Natures, the Conjunction and Union o•• ••iscordant and Unsociable, and the like Irregular and Prae∣posterous Effects. But, as for all these Secrets, we have long since de∣clared them to be no Secrets but the most ordinary and manifest operations of Nature. ••or, in our Ex••mination and Solution of all the Apparences in the late 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Experiment of introducing a Vacuum in a Tube, by Wa∣ter or Quick-silver, invented by Torri••••ius; we have at large proved, that Nature ••••th not abhor any but Sensible, or Coacervate Emptiness: nor that neither 〈◊〉〈◊〉, or upon the necessity of an absolute Plenitude of all places ••n the ••niverse; but by Accident only, and that either in respect of the natural Confluxibility of the parts of Fluid Bodies, such as Aer and Water, which causeth them with great velocity to flow into the parts of Space ••e••erted by a body passing thorow them; or of the Repugnancie of admitting tw•• bodies into one and the same place, at the same time, their Solidity prohibiting the penetration of ones dimensions by the other. Wherefore, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 no man henceforth account the Conspiration of the Parts of the Universe, to be an Occult Quality; or so much stand amazed at all or any of th••••e Phaenomena, which arise from Natures Aversion from Va∣cuity 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as if they had some Extraordinary Lawes and Constitutions particularly o••dained for their production, and belonged to some higher Oeconomy th••n that, according to which she regulates her Common Active and Passive Principles.

To the SECOND,* 1.12 viz. the Influx of Caelestial upon Sublunary Bodies, innumerable are the Effects, which the Fraud of some, the Ad∣miration of many, and the Credulity of most have confidently imputed: and therefore it cannot be expected, we should, in this place, so much as Enumerate the one Half, much less insist upon them All. Sufficient it is, to the Acquitance of our praesent Debt, that we select the most conside∣rable among them, and such as seem Capital and Comprehensive of all the rest. As for the Power and Influence of the Stars, of which Astrologers talk such wonders, and with such pride and ostent••t••on; truly, we have Reason to assure us, that our Cognation and Subjection to those ra••iant Bodies, is not so great as that not only All the Actions, Fortunes, and Accidents of Particular men, but even the Warres, Peace, Mutations, Subversions of whole Empires, Nations, States, and Provinces should depend upon their Smiles or Frowns: as if All Occurrents on the theatre of our Lower Orb, were but the orderly and necessary Effects of the Prae∣scriptions and Consignations of the Superior Orbs; or as if there were no Providence Divine, no Liberty of Mans Will.

(2) As for the Reciprocation, or Afflux and Reflux of the Sea,* 1.13 so generally fathered upon the Influx and Motion of the Moon, which doth herself suffer the like Ebbs and Floods of her borrowed Light; tis well known, how Seleucus of old, and Galilaeus of late, have more ful∣ly and roundly deduced it from the motion ascribed to the Earth. And though we should allow this great Phaenomenon to depend upon the se∣veral Adspects or Phases of the Moon, yet is there no necessity to drive us to the subterfuge of any Occult and Immaterial Influence from her wax∣ing and waning Light: since the System of Des Cartes in Princip. Philo∣seph. part. 4. page 22. •• doth much more satisfactorily make it out, from the Elliptical Figure of the Sphere, wherein the Moon moves; as will soon appear to the Examiner.

(3) As for the Diurnall Expansion, and Conversion of the Helio∣trope toward the Sun;* 1.14 though great notice hath been taken thereof by the Ancients, and most of our Modern Advancers of the Vanities of Natural Magick (who will have every Plant to retain to some one of the Planets, by some secret Cognation, and peculiar sympathie.) have laboured to heighten it to the degree of a Wonder: yet can we not con∣ceive the Effect to be so singular, nor that any such Solemne Reason need be assigned thereunto. For, every mans observation may certifie him, that all Marygolds, Tulippa's, Pimpernell, Wartwoort, Mallow Flowers, and indeed most other Flowers, so long as they are in their Vigour and Pride, use to Open and Dilate toward noon and somewhat Close and recontract themselves after Sun set. And the Cause (surely) is only the Warmth of the Suns Rayes, which discussing the Cold and Moisture of the praecedent Night (whereby the Leaves were loaden towards the bot∣tom, or in the bowle of the Flower, and so made to rise more upright and conjoyn their tops) and somewhat Exsiccating the Flower, make the pe∣destalls of its leaves more flaccid, so that they seem to expand and un∣fold themselves, and incline more outwards, meerly by reason of their want of strength to sustain themselves in an erect and concentrical posture: for alwayes the hotter the Day, the greater is the Expansion. Likewise,

as for the Flowers Conversion to, or Confronting the Sun in all its pro∣gress above the horizon, wherein our Darksom Authors of Magick Na∣tural, principally place the Magnale; the Cause thereof is so far from be∣ing more obscure than, that it is the very same with that of its Expansi∣on. For, as the Sun running his race from East to West, doth every mo∣ment vary the points of his Rayes vertical incidence upon the stalk which supports the Flower, and upon the leaves thereof; so must the whole Flower incline its head and wheel about accordingly: those parts of the stalk upon which the rayes are more perpendicular, and so the heat more intense, becoming more dry and flaccid, and so less able to support the bur∣then of the ••••ower, than those, which suffer only from the obli••n••, re∣flected and weaker beams. Notwithstanding this Solution, if any Champi∣on of secret Magnetism shall yet defend this Circulation to be a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the Heliotrop••, to which no other Flower can praetend; and that this So∣lar Plant discovers it Amours to the Sun, by not only disclosing its rejoycing head and b••som at the praesence, and wrapping them up again in the mantle of its owne disconsolate and languishing leaves, during the absence of its Lover, but also by facing him all day long: lest He should insult, upon an apprehension, that our theory is at a loss, we shall tell him, in a word; that that Propriety, which he supposeth, must consist only in such a peculiar Contexture and Disposition of the particles, which compose its Leaves, as makes them more sit to receive, and be moved, and their spiritual and most subtle parts to be in a manner Circulated by the Rayes of the Sun, than the Leaves of any other Flower whatever. As in the Organ of Smelling, there is a certain Peculiar Contexture of its insensible Component Parti∣cles, which renders it alone capable of being moved and affected by Odours, that have no influence nor activity at all upon the Eye, Eare, or other Or∣gan of Sense.

* 1.15(4) Great things have been spoken also of the Garden Claver, which bareth its bosom, and hideth the upper part of its stalk, whenever the Sun shines hot and bright upon it: but, this doubtless) hath the same Cause, as the Former, the Hiding of the stalk being nothing but an over-expansion of the Leaves, which by reason of the violent ardour of the Sun, grow more faint and flaccid, and so less able to support themselves.

* 1.16(5) A Fifth Secret, found in the Catalogue of Caelestial Influxes, is the Crowing of the House-Cock, at certain and periodical times of night and day, and more especially soon after midnight, and about day break: for, most esteem it an Occult Propriety, and all our Crollians and such as promote the dreams of Signatures and Sydereal Analogies, reckon the Cock a cheif Solar Animal, for this reason alone; as if his Phansy received some magnetique touches and impressions from the Sun, which made him pro∣clame his A••vent into our Hemisphere, and like a faithful Watch or Clock, measure out the severall stages in its race. Great enquiry also hath been made after the Cause hereof, in all ages, and various Conceptions enter∣tained concerning it. Some with lofty and Rhetorical Discourses en∣devouring to persuade, that Nature intended this 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, (as Plu••arch 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it) or Gallicinium, as an Alarme to rouse up sluggish man from the dull armes of sleep, and summon him to the early Contem∣plation of her Works; as Pliny (Natural. Histor. lib. 10. cap. 21.)

Others ascribing it to a Desire of Venery in this Animal, arising from the turgescence and stimulation of his sperm, at certain periods; as Erasmus, who is therefore worthily and sufficiently derided by Scaliger (Exercit. 239) Others assigning it to an Appetite of Aliment, inva∣ding and exciting after determinate intervalls; as Cardan. And others alleaging we (nor themselves) know not what peculiar influence of the Sun, causing a suddain mutation, or Evocation of the Spirits and blood of the Cock, which were Concentred by sleep; as Caelias Rhodigi∣nus (lib. 16. Antiq. Lection. cap. 13.) But, All these Great Clerks seem to have graspt the ear, and catched at shadowes. For (1) it may be doubted, that all Cocks, in one and some meridian, doe not Crow at the same times of night or day; and that no Cock doth ob∣serve set and punctual times of Crowing; both which are praesumed: and whoever shall think it worth the loss of a nights sleep, as we have done, to observe the Crowing of sundry Cocks in some Country Vil∣lage, where the Houses stand scatteringly and far asunder, so that the Cocks cannot awake each other; will, perhaps, more than doubt of ei∣ther. (2) It is, as Natural, so Familiar to the Cock, so often as his Ima∣gination is moved by a copious and fresh afflux of Spirits to his Brain, to rowze up himself, clapp his wings, and sound his trumpet as well at noon, after noon, and at other times of day and night, upon seve∣ral occasions; as when he hath escaped some late danger, obtained a victory, found some treasury of grain, compressed his mistress, and the like; as if his joy were not complete, till he had communicated the tidings thereof to his Wives and Neighbours, by the elevation of his gladsome and triumphat voice. (3) May we not allowe the Cock to have his set times of Sleeping and Waking, as well as all other Living Creatures, that live suo jure, and according to the Aphorisms of their Specifical Constitutions, and regiment of their proper Archaea's; and likewise most Men, who live healthfully and orderly, keeping to con∣stant hours for labour, meat, rest and sleep? (4) What need is there that we should have recourse to such a far-fetcht (and never brought home) Cause, as that of a Secret Commerce, and peculiar Sympathy betwixt this Fowl and the Sun in the other Hemisphere; when we have a more probable and manifest one, neerer hand; viz. The suddain in∣vasion of the Cock, by encreased Cold soon after midnight? For, when the Sun hath made some sensible advance in the lower world, beyond the Nadir point or midnight circle, and hasteneth toward our East; He moves and drives along before him into our horizon, the (formerly) quiet and cold Aer of the Night: which invading the Cock, disturbs him from his rest, during which his Heat is retired inward, and awakens him on the suddain: so that rowzing up himself, exciting his courage, and dif∣fusing his Spirits again into his members, to oppose that Cold, and per∣haps also to prevent his falling from the perch; he stands up, clappeth his wings against his sides, and chants a cheerfull Paean to himself and Roost∣fellowes, celebrating his safety and conquest with the loud musick of his throat.

* 1.17(6) A sixth notable Secret, appertaining to the same Classis, is that of the Encrease of the Substance of Shell Fish, of the Brains in Coneys, and of the Marrow in the bones of most Land Animalls, as the moon approacheth her Full; and the Decrease of them again, as her Light decreaseth toward her New. But, laying aside all Lunar Magnetism, Immaterial Influxes, and the like Toyes put into Great Words; we take it, the Phaenomenon may be well enough solved, by referring it meerly to the Moons great Humidity; at least, if those vast Duskish spots, apparent in her Orb, be her moist Element, carrying some analogy to our Seas, as the most and best of our Modern Astronomers have believed, and upon grounds almost de∣monstrative, and wholly irrefutable. For, insomuch as the Rayes of the Sun, in greater abundance falling upon the face of the Moon, toward and at her Full, than in her Wane, are accordingly more abundantly reflect∣ed from thence upon our Terraqueous Globe, bringing along with them no sparing Tincture of the Moons Moisture; so that the Light which is Reflected from the Oceans in the moon, being more moist than warm, must needs be more Prolifical, Generative, and praedisposed to the Nutri∣tion of Animals: and that in the New of the Moon no such plentiful Ab∣duction of her moisture can be expected, because fewer of the Suns Rayes are, at that time, Reflected from her Orb to ours; why should it be thought so strange, that either Aquatile, or Terrestrial Animals should be nourish∣ed more plentifully at the Full, than New of the Moon? Especially since it is no praecarious, nor novell Assertion, that the Light coming from the Moon, ••s tincted with Humidity, as being reflected from the Wa∣tery as well as solid parts of her Orb; Experience having frequently de∣monstrated, that the Calorifick Rayes not only of the Sun, but even of our terrestrial and culinary Fires, being trajected through various Li∣quors, and other Catoptricall bodies, or reflected from them, doe imbibe and carry off much of their Virtues, and become thereby impraegnate, so as to be praedisposed to the production of sundry noble Effects, such spe∣cially as relate to the Alteration, Germination, Pullulation, and Gene∣ration of Vegetables and Animals, both Aquatile, and Terrestrial. Ne∣vertheless, in case this Cause assigned seem somewhat Remote and ob∣scure, we shall alleage Another, sufficiently verisimilous to ease men of their wonder, at the Fullness of the Shell Fish in the Full moon, and their Leane•••• in the New; and that is the Encrease of the Tides of the Sea, which ascending higher upon the shoars, at the Full moon, and wash∣ing down m••re of Mudd, Slime and Saltness from thence, afford greater plenty of A••••ment to all Shell Fish: which delight in, and thrive best up∣on such k••nd of food, and are observed therefore to frequent foul and slimy shoa••••, and yet neerer and neerer to land, as the Tides rise higher and higher, and again remove farther and farther off, as the tides sink lower and lower.

* 1.18(7) To this Classis also belongs the Famous Selenites, or Moon-Geeme, a certain praecious stone, found only in Arabia, as Dioscorides (lib. 5. cap. 110.) delivers: whose rare and singular Faculty is this, that it repraesents the Moon in all her several Dresses of Light, or Apparences, encreasing 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Lustre exactly as she encreaseth hers, and proportionately losing it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Relations be true, which have been made thereof by Authors of the highest form for Credit, namely Pliny (lib. 36. cap. 10.) S. Au∣gustin

(de Civit. D. lib. 21. cap. 5.) Zanardus (de Univers. Element quaest. 53.) Nichol. Caussinus (lib. 11. Symbol 5••.) ••oh. Daniel Mylius (Ba∣silicae Chymic. lib. 5. cap 28.) and many modern Mineralogists. Now, for the Reason of this Rarity, in all liklihood, it must be if not the very same, yet Cousin German to that of the former. Because, it is very proba∣ble, that some certain portion of a thin, fluid and subtle matter (we may conceive it to be Hydrargycal, or relating to Quicksilver, since all the forenamed Authors describe the stone to be White and Candent of Co∣lour.) wherein the Lustre of the stone doth mostly consist, doth suffer some Alteration, according to the more and less of the Lunar Light in∣cident upon it; and is respectively Circulated through the looser or less compacted parts of the stone, after the same manner as the more subtle and spiritual parts of some Flowers are Circulated by the rayes of the Sun; the particular Configuration and Contexture of its insensible par∣ticles being such, as dispose to that Circulation, upon the influx of the Moons Light.

In the Inventory of SPECIAL Sympathies and Antipathies,* 1.19 the First Division Concerns INANIMATE Natures; and among such the first place belongs to the Attraction of I••on by the Loadstone the second to the Attraction of Straws and other small and light bodies by Amber and othe Electrique••: but such is the singular Excellency of the Forme, that it not only deserves, but challengeth a singular Chapter to its Disquisition; and the Rea••on of the other we have plainly, thou 〈…〉〈…〉, in the precaedent Section, the Consideration of the Wayes and Instru∣ments of all Attraction Natural, in the General, impelling us upon the Anticipation thereof.

In the Third,* 1.20 we are to examine the secret Amity of Gold and Quick∣silver, of Brass and Silver; which is so manifest, that whenever Gol•• ••s dissolved in Chrysulea or Aqua R••gis, and the Spirit or Dissolution of Quicksilver superadded thereto, the subtile E••fluvia streaming from 〈◊〉〈◊〉 particles of the Gold, will instantly lay hold of, and at distance attract and firmly embrace the particles of the Quicksilver, into which the Dissolving liquor hath subtiliated it; and in like manner, when Brass and Silver are dissolved in the same Aqua Fortis, their particles are observed to 〈…〉〈…〉 to concorporation, though the Spirits issuing from them, are not potent enough to perform an Attraction, while the Metals remain entire and in the mass. These Effects we conceive may well be referred to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Cor∣respondency or Compossibility betwixt the Figures of the insensible par∣ticles, of which the Emissions from the Gold, and Brass consist and those of the pores, inequalities, and fastnings in the superfices of the Granules of the Dissolved Quicksilver, and Silver: but what those Figures are on each part, is above our hopes of determination; nor can we afford the Curious any other light for Conjecture in this true Abstrusity, but what himself may perceive to arise to him by Reflection from the Reasons, we shall hereafter give, for the Attraction of Iron by a Loadstone. In the mean while, we praesent Him, for Diversion of his Scrutiny, with a short and opportune COROLLARY.

* 1.21Delightful it is, and indeed Admirable to behold the Granules of Gold and Silver, though much more ponderous than those of the Aqua Regis, and Aqua Fortis, to be notwithstanding held up, and constantly kept in a floating and elevated posture by them. And yet, in all likelihood the Salt dissolved in those Corrosive Waters, must be the Sole Cause of that strange Effect. For, the Salts which are plentifully dissolved in those Li∣quors, by a kind of mutual Cohaesion of their insensible particles support∣ing each other from the bottom to the top of the Glass, or other contain∣ing vessel; doe sustain and bear up the Granules of the Metals which they have Corroded and Embraced. And this seems the more probable from hence; that if common Water, impraegnate with a few dropps of Oyle of Tartar (that Great instrument of Separation) be superinfused upon those Tinctures, the Granules of the dissolved Metals suddainly disengage them∣selves from the arms of the Corroding Salts, and sink to the bottom: the fresh Water yet father dissolving those Salts, and giving them fuller Flui∣dity; so that becoming more Attenuate, they lose their mutual Cohaesi∣on, and so their power of supporting; and tis well known, that Salt wa∣ter will beare up such bodies, as will hardly swim in fresh. And this we take to be the General Reason of all sorrs of Praecipitation, practised either by Chymists, or common Refiners of Metals: the Oyle of Tartar thereto con∣ducing no otherwise, than meerly as it serves to the farther Attenuation of the Salt Armoniack and other Corrosive Salts formerly dissolved in the strong Waters.

* 1.22(4) To the Fourth, we assign the Attraction of a Less Flame by a Greater; according to the erroneous Dialect of the People: for, really it is rather the Extension of a Greater Flame to the Fewel of a Less. For, the heat of a Greater Flame being proportionately more intense and diffusive, extends it self to the pabulum or nourishment of the less, where the same is situate within the Sphere of its power: and thence it comes to pass, that the Great∣er burning more strongly, by reason of that addition or augmentation of its fewel, doth more and more dilate it self that way, till at length it becomes wholly united to the Less. Which unexamining heads not understanding, have imputed to a certain Attractive faculty in the Greater Flame, depend∣ing upon the Identity of the two Natures, or more praecisely, the same Nature in two Divisions and many have rackt their brains to erect subtle Discourses thereupon, as if they wanted other Opportunities to exercise their Learn∣ing, and entertain their Curiosity.

* 1.23(5) To the Fifth belongs the supposed Attraction of Flame by Naphtha of Babylon, at distance; which is also improperly accounted an Attraction: for the Flame of its own accord flyeth to, and layeth hold of the Naphtha; and the Cause of that Involation is only this. From the body of the Naph∣tha there is emitted in round a certain fat and unctuous, and so soon inflam∣mable Halitus, o•• steam, which being extended to the borders of some flame posited at convenient distance, and thereby kindled in the extreme of its Sphere, becomes enflamed all along the Rayes, and they burning, soon bring home the flame to the body of the Naphtha, from which they are emitted, in a continued ••luor.

(6) Next to this,* 1.24 Philosophers usually place the Attraction of Water by a Spunge; wherein they are as much mistaken as in either of the two last. For, the Ascention of Water into the pores of a spunge, so placed as to touch only the superfice of it, comes not from any Appetite of At∣traction, or Suction inhaerent in the Spunge, as is generally praesumed and affirmed; but onely from the Depression, or downward impulse of the water by the swelling and sensibly dilating spunge; and the manner of that series of motions is thus. The skirts or lowest parts of the spunge, touching the superfice of the Water, immediately imbibe some parts of it into its pores, and becoming thereby dilated and tumid, press down the subjacent Water to such a proportion as responds to the quantity of their owne expansion; so that as they are more and more dilated by the admis∣sion of more and more parts of Water into their Cells or Receptaries, it must be, that the Water being more and more depressed toward the bot∣tom, must rise higher and higher on the sides of the Spunge, and insinuate it self into other and other pores successively, till the whole spunge be filled. Manifest it is by Experience, that if Water or any other Liquor, when it is though never so gently pressed in the superfice, find any the smallest Chinks in the body pressing it; it doth instantly rise up in round, and insinuate it self into those pores or Chinks, the sides thereof in a manner sustaining it, and so praeventing its relapse or efflux. This we cannot but observe, when we dip the nose of our Pen into ink; the small Cleft or slit in the lowest part of the Quill, assisting the Assent of the ink into the hollow thereof, and carrying up so much of it, as the mutual Coherence of its parts will permit: for, if we dipp the point of a Pen, which hath no slit, into a standish, we shall observe no such plenti∣ful Assent of ink; there being no support or fastnings for it on each side of the nose, and so no obstacles to its relapse and sudden efflux. And, as for the Reason, Why Water Ascends, when it meets with any body, that is Dry, Filamentous or Fibrous, and full of pores or Chinks, such as a Spunge, Cloth, Pen, &c. it may be most fully explained by the In∣stance of a Syphon, or Pump.

Take a Pipe of Lead, of the figure of a Carpenters Squire,* 1.25 whose one arme is longer then the other (such our Wine Coopers exhaust their Buts of Wine withal) and immerse the shortest into a Cistern of Water, so as it may come very neer the bottom, and yet the longer arme rest upon the margin of the Cistern, in a dependent or declining posture, then with your mouth suck forth the Aer contained in the cavity of the pipe: and you shall observe the Water quickly to follow on the heels of the Aer, and flow in full stream out of the Cistern through the pipe, without ceasing till all the Water, that covers the shortest arme of the pipe, and so hinders the ingress of the aer into its ori∣fice, be exhausted. Of this the Cause is only, that as your Cheeks are inflated and distended by the Aer, which upon exsuction comes rushing into your mouth, doe strongly move and impell the ambient aer; so doth that, receding, move and impell the neighbouring aer, and that again moves and impels the next, till the impulse be propagated to the surface of the Water in the Cistern: and the Water being thus depressed in the superfice, riseth up into the Cavity of the pipe, which the extracted Aer had newly deserted and left unpossessed; nor doth it thenceforth cease

to ascend and flow in a continued stream through the pipe, until all be ex∣hausted. Because, how much of Water flows through the pipe, exact∣ly so much of Aer is, by impulsion, Circulated into the place thereof; the last round of aer wanting any other place to receive it, but what it provides for its self in the Cistern, by depressing the water yet remaining therein: and thus the Circulation once begun, is continued, till all the Water hath past through the pipe.

* 1.26Upon the same Cause, or some other so like it, as tis no ease matter to discriminate them, doth that kind of Percolation of Liquors, and espe∣cially of Aqua Calcis, depend, which is made by a long piece of Woollen Cloth, whose one end lies in the Liquor, and other hangs over the brim of the vessel that contains it. For, the Liquor gently ascends and creeps along the filaments of the Cloth, because, being though but very lightly prest in it superfice by the same, it doth proportionately ascend in round, to deliver it self from that pressure; and by that motion impelling the incumbent Aer upwards, it causeth the same to Circulate and depress the surface of the Liquor, and so makes it rise by insensible degrees higher and higher along the hairs and threads of the Cloth, till at length it arrive at the highest part thereof resting upon the margin of the vessel; and thence it slides down the decline or propendent half of the Cloth, and falls down into the Recipient, by dropps. And this Motion is Continued till all the Liquor hath passed the Percolatory, leaving the faeces adhaerent to the fibres of the same: each drop impelling the Ambient Aer, and driving it in round, or by a Periosis, upon the surface of the Water, so long as any remains in the vessel. And this, we conceive, may suffice to any mans Comprehension of the Reason of the Repletion of a Spunge, by Water Ascending (not Attracted) into its Cavities or Pores.

* 1.27(7) Another eminent Secret of Sympathy, belonging to the same Division, is that Consent betwixt two Lutestrings, that are Aequisone: (for Unisone is hardly proper); which is thus experimented. Take 2 Lutes, or V••••s, and their treble, mean, or base strings being tuned to an Equality of Sounds, lay one of them upon a table, with the strings upward, with a small short straw equilibrated upon the Aequi∣son string: and then strike the Aequison string of the other instrument, and you shall observe, both by the leaping off of the straw, and the visi∣ble trembling of the string, whereon it was imposed, that it shall partici∣pate of the motions of the string of the other instrument percussed; all the other Dissonous strings, as wholly unconcerned in the motion im∣prest, remaining unmoved. The like also will be, if the Diapason or Eighth to that string be percussed, either in the same Lute or Vial, or other lying by: but, in none of these, the Consent is discernable by any report of sound, but meerly by motion. And yet the Cause of this Sympathy is not so very obscure, but the dullest Pythagorean might soon have discovered it to be only this; that the percussed string doth suffer a certain number of Diadroms, or Vibrations, and impress the like determinate motions upon the Aer: which lighting upon another string of equal Contexture and Extension with the for∣mer percussed, doth impress the same motions thereupon, and impell and repell it so correspondently, as to make it suffer an equal number

of Diadroms. Nor doth the Aer hinder it in its several Reciprocati∣ons or alternate excurses and recurses; because the percussed string makes all its alternate excurses and recurses, at and in the same time, as the untoucht string doth, and so impels the Aer alternately to the contrary side thereof. But, that agitated Aer which falls upon a string of a diffe∣rent degree of extension, and so necessarily of a different tone; though it impress various insensible strokes thereupon, yet are those impressed strokes such as mutually check and oppose each other, i. e. the Ex∣curses hinder the Recurses: and therefore the string remains unmoved, at least as to the sense. Likewise, the Consent of another string, which makes that Consonance, which Musicians call a Diapason or Eighth, to that which is percussed by the hand, ariseth only from hence; that the Excurses and Recurses of the string percussed by the hand, do not at all clash with, nor perturb and confound the Excurses and Recurses of the string moved immediately only by the Aer, but are Coincident and Syn∣chronical to them, and observe the same periods; and so both agree in their certain and frequent intervals: more particularly, in an Eight, every single Diadrom of the longer and more lax string, is coincident to every second, fourth, sixth, &c. Diadrom of the shorter or more tense string. Nay farther, if the two strings be Consonous though but in the less per∣fect Consonance of a Fifth; yet shall the sympathy hold, and manifest it self (which is not commonly observed) by the tremulation of the un∣touched string, that is tuned to a Fifth: because their Diadroms are not wholly confused, each single diadrom of the longer or lower string, being coincident to every third, sixth, ninth, &c. diadrom of the shorter or more tense string. But if the two strings be Dissonous, the sympathy fails; be∣cause the Excurses and Recurses agree not in any of their Intervals or Peri∣ods, but perturb and confound each other; as may be more fully understood from our praecedent Discourse of the Reason of Consonances and Dissonances Musical.

(8) Nor is it the Inaequality of Tension,* 1.28 disparity of Longitude and Mag∣nitude, or Non-coincidence of the Vibrations in their several periods, that alone make Two strings Discordant; for, if we admit the common tradi∣tion of Naturalists, where an Instrument is strung with some strings made of Sheeps, and others of Woolfs Guts intermixed, the best hand in the World shall never make it yeeld a perfect Consonance, much less play an harmoni∣ous tune thereupon. And the Cause, doubtless, is no other than this; that the strings made of a Woolfs Guts are of a different Contexture from those made of a Sheeps; so that however equally both are strained and ad∣justed, yet still shall the Aer be unequally percussed and impelled by them, and consequently the sounds created by one sort, confound and drown the sounds resulting from the other. To leave you in the less uncertainty concern∣ing this, it is commonly observed, that from one and the same string, when it is not of an Uniforme Contexture throughout, but more close, even, and firme in some parts than in others (all such our Musicians call False strings) there doe alwayes result various and unequal sounds: the close, even and firm parts yeelding a smart and equal sound, the lax and uneven yeeld∣ing a dull, flat and harsh; which two different sounds at the same time created, confound and drown each other, and consequently where such a string is playd upon in Consort, it disturbs the whole Concent or Har∣mony. It is further observed also, that the Musick of an Harp

doth infect the musick of a Lute, and other softer and milder instru∣ments with a kind of Asperity and Indistinction of Notes: which Asperity seems to arise from a certain kind of Tremor, peculiar only to the Chords of that Instrument. The like also hath been reported of other scarce Con∣sortive Instruments, such as the Virginalls and Lute, the Welsh Harp and Irish, &c.

But you'll Object, perhaps, that the Discordance of Woolves and Sheeps Gutlings seemeth to arise rather from some Formal Enmity, or inhaerent Antipathy betwixt the Woolf and Sheep: because it hath been affirmed by many of the Ancients, and questioned by very few of the Moderns, that a Drum bottomed with a Woolfs skin, and headed with a Sheeps, will yeeld scarce any sound at all; nay more, that a Wolfs skin will in short time prey upon and consume a Sheeps skin, if they be layed neer toge∣ther. And against this we need no other Defense than a downright ap∣peal to Experience, whether both those Traditions deserve not to be listed among Popular Errors; and as well the Promoters, as Authors of them to be exiled the society of Philosophers: these as Traitors to truth by the plotting of manifest falsehoods; those as Ideots, for beleiving and admiring such fopperies, as smell of nothing but the Fable; and lye open to the contradiction of an easy and cheap Experi∣ment.

* 1.29(9) Nor can we put a greater value upon the Devouring of all other Birds Feathers by those of the Eagle commixt with them; though the Author of Trinum Magicum hath bin pleased to tell us a very formall and con∣fident story thereof: because we have no Reason to convince us, that the Eagle preys upon other Fowls, out of an Antipathy or Hatred, but rather out of Love and Convenience of Aliment; and though there were an Enmity betwixt the Eagle and all his feathered subjects, during life, yet is there no necessity that Enmity should survive in the scat∣tered peices of his Carcass, especially in the Feathers (that are but one degree on this side Excrements) which is praesumed to consist cheifly in the Forme; since those Proprieties which are Formal, in Animals, must of necessity vanish upon the destruction of the Forme, from whence they result. Thus Glow-worms project no lustre after death; and the Torpedo, which stupefies at distance, while alive, produceth no such effect though topically applied, after death: for there are many Actions of Sensible Creatures, that are mixt, and depend upon their vital form, as well as that of mistion: and though they seem to retain unto the Body, doe yet immediately depart upon its Dis∣union.

In the SECOND Division of Special Occult Qualities, viz. such as are imputed to Vegetables,* 1.30 the First that expects our Consideration, is the so frequently mentioned and generally conceded Sympathy, or mutually beneficial Friendship betwixt some certain Plants, as betwixt Rew, and the Figg-tree, the Rose and Garlick, the Wild Poppy and Wheat; all which are observed to delight and flourish most in the neighbourhood of each o∣ther, and our skilful Gardners use to advance the growth and fructifica∣tion of the one, by planting its favourite neer it. Concerning this, there∣fore, we advertise; that men are mistaken not only in the Cause, but

Denomination also of this Effect: supposing a secret Friendship where is none, and imputing that to a certain Cognation, or Sympathy, which seems to proceed from a manifest Dissimilitude and Antipathy betwixt Di∣vers Natures. For, wherever two Plants are set together, whereof the one, as being of a far Different, if not quite Contrary Nature, and so re∣quiring a different kind of nourishment, doth substract and assimilate to its self such a juice of the earth, as would otherwise flow to the other, and deprave its nourishment, and consequently give an evil tincture to its Fruit and Flowers: in this case, Both Plants are reciprocally the remote Cause of the Prosperity each of other. And thus Rew, growing neer the roots of the Figg-tree, and attracting to its self the Rank and Bitter moisture of the earth, as most agreeable to its owne nature; leaveth the Milder and Sweeter for the aliment of the Fig tree, and by that means both assisteth the procerity of the Tree, and Meliorateth the Fruit thereof. Thus also Garlick, set neer to a Rose tree, by consuming the Foetid juice of the ground, and leaving the more Odorate and benigne to pass into the roots of the Rose tree; doth both farther the Growth and Germination thereof, and encrease the Sweetness of it Flowers. But, as for the Amity betwixt the Wild Poppy and Wheat, we should refer it to another Cause, viz. the Qualification of the ground by the tincture of the Wheat, so as to prae∣pare it for the Generation and growth of the Wild Poppy; not by substra∣ction of Disagreeing moisture, but by Enriching the Soyle, or impraeg∣nating it with a fertility, determinate to the production of some sorts of weeds, and chiefly of that. For, most certain it is, that there are certain ••orn-flowers, which seldom or never spring up but amongst Corn, and will hardly thrive, though carefully and seasonably set in other places: such are the Blew-bottle, a kind of yellow single Marygold, and the Wild-Poppy.

(2) This discovered, we need not search far after the Reasons of those Antipathies, which are reported to be between the Vine and Cole-woort,* 1.31 the Oke and Olive, the Brake and Reed, Hemlock and Rew, the Shrub called our Ladies Seal (a certain Species of Bryony) and the Cole-woort, &c. which are presumed to be so odious each to other, from some secret Con∣trariety of their respective Forms, that if any two of them, that are Ene∣mies, be set neer together, one or both will die. For, the truth is, all Plants, that are great Depraedators of the moisture of the earth, defraud others that grow neer them, of their requisite nourishment, and so by de∣grees impoverishing, at length destroy them. So the Colewoort, is an enemy not only to the Vine, but any other Plant dwelling neer it; be∣cause it is a very succulent and rank Plant, and so exhausts the fattest and most prolifical juice of the ground. And if it be true, that the Vine will avoid the Society of the Colewoort, by Averting its trunck and branches from it; this may well be only in respect of its finding less nourish∣ment on that side: for, as the Lord St. Alban hath well observed, though the root continue still in the same place and position, yet will the Trunk alwayes bend to that side, on which it nourisheth most. So likewise the Oke and Olive, being large trees of many roots, and great spenders of moisture, doe never thrive well together: because, the stronger in Attraction of juice, deceives and starves the weaker. Thus Hem∣lock is a dangerous neighbour to Rew; because, being the Ranker Plant of the two, and living upon the like juice, it defrauds it of sufficient

sustenance, and makes it pine away for penury. And the like of the rest.

* 1.32(3) But what shall we think of that semiconjugall Alliance betwixt the Male and Female Palme trees, which is so strong and manifest, that the Femal, which otherwise would languish, as if she had the Green sickness, and continue b••rren; is observed to prosper, and load her fruitful boughs, with braces of Dates; when she enjoys the Society of the Male: nay, to extend her arms to meet his embraces, as if his masculine influence were necessary not only to her impregn••tion, and the maturity of her numerous issue; but even to her own health and welfare? Why, truly, we cannot better expound this dark Riddle of Nature, than by having recourse to some Corpore••l Emanations, deradiated from the male, which is the stronger and more spriteful plant, to the Female, which is the weaker, and wants an Accession of heat and spirits. For, far enou••h fr••m i••probable it is, that such ••••anation may contain much of the Males S••minal and fru••t••••••ing vir••••••; and it hath been avouched by freq••••nt Experiments, that the blossoms and Flowers of the Male being dried and poudered, and inspersed upon the branches of the Female, are no less eff••ctual to her Comfort and Fertility, than the Vicinity of the Male himself. We are told▪ indeed, by Heredotus, and from his own strict observation that the Male Palm pro••uceth yearly a Dwa••fish sort of Dates, which being unca∣pable of maturi•••• and perfection, men use therefore to gather early, and bind them on the loaden branches of the Female: that there corrupting, and breeding a kind of small volant In••ect, resembling our G••ats which the Natives 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Ps••••e, though Theophrastus seems to appropriate th••t name only to those Fiyes, th••t are a spont••neous pro••uction out of the immature fruit 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Wilde Figg tree, suffering putrefaction•• that they may advance the Growth and Maturity of her fruit▪ not by any secret in∣fluence, but the ••an••••est Voracity of those Insects, which continually prey∣ing upon the ripening fruit, both open the top•• o•• them, an•• so make way for the rayes o•• the Sun to enter more freely and deeply into their substance, and ••uck out 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the luxuriant crude and watery juice, leav••ng the 〈…〉〈…〉 ••nctu••us to the more easie digestion and assim••••••t••on of the ••ormerly ••••••rcharged Seminal V••rtue of the Plant This, we con∣fess, is ••••ce an•• ••••••usible, but not totally satisfactory▪ because it extends only to the Re••••on of the Males remote Assistance of the Female, in the maturat••••n of her Fruit; leaving us still to enquire, Why she herself re∣mains in a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••nd pining condition, unless she enjoys the Society and in∣vigorating 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the Male; and why she inclines her amorous boughs toward his, as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Neighbourhood were a kind of Divorce, and no∣thing less tha•• absolute Union could satisfie her Affection. And what we h••ve heres••••••, of the Sympathy betwixt the Male and Female Palms, will not lose a ••rain of its Verisimility, when our Reader shall please to accomodate 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the Explanation of the Cause of the like Amity be∣twixt the ••ig ••ree, and Caprificus or Wild Fig tree: of which Pliny (lib. 15. cap. 19.) ••••lates the very same story, as Herodotus doth of the Palms.

(4) This puts us in mind of the great Sympathy betwixt Vine and Wine,* 1.33 expressed from its Grapes, and immured in Hoggheads, though at the di∣stance of many miles. For, it seems most convenient, that it is from the like Diffusion of subtle Emanations, imbued with the Seminal tincture of the Vine, that Wines stored up in deep Cellars, in the same Country where they grew (for, in England, whither all wines are transported over sea, no such Effect hath been observed: the Remove being too large to admit any such Transmission of influence from the transmarine Vineyards to our Cel∣lars) become sick, turbid, and musty in the Cask, at the same time the Vines Flower and Bud forth: and again recover their former Clearness and Spirit, so soon as that season is past. And, that this Conjecture may seem to smell the less of Phansy, we desire you to consider, through what large tracts of Aer even the Odours (Exhalations much less Subtile and Diffusive, than those we conceive emitted from Vines to Wines) of many Aromaticks are usually diffused, in serene weather; especially in respect of such Persons, and Bruit Animals, as are exquisite in their sense of smelling. Hath it not been observed, that the Flowers of Oranges have transmitted their odours perfect and strong, from great Gardens to the nostrils of Mariners, many leagues off at Sea: nay, so far, that some Sailers have discovered land by the smell of them, when their longest Perspectives could not reach it? Doe not we frequently observe, that Ravens will scent a Carcass, at m••ny miles distance; and fly directly to it by the Chart of a favourable wind? Nay, are not there good Historians that assure us, that Eagles in Italy, have some∣time received an invitation by the nose, to come and feast on the dead bo∣dies of men, in Africa?

Here, since we are occasionally fallen upon the large Diffusion of some Odours, especially to sage and unpraepossessed Noses;* 1.34 we shall take the ad∣vantage of that Hint, to advertise you of a Vulgar Error, viz. that Waters distilled of Orange Flowers and Roses, become wholly Inodorous, and Phleg∣matick, at the time of the Blooming and Pride of those Flowers upon their trees. For, really those distilled Waters are not in themselves, during the season of the Flowers, from which they were extracted, less fragrant than at other times: but, because in the season of those Flowers, they diffuse their odours so plentifully through the Aer, and praepossess the nostrils, as that the odours of the Waters, being somewhat less quick and strong, are less perceived, than at other times, when the Aer is not imbued with the stronger and fresher odours, nor the olfactory Nerves praeoccupied. And this may be inferred from hence; that when the season of those ••lowers is past, and the smelling organ unoccupied; the Waters smell as fragrant as ever. For, as to the Assuefaction of the sense of smelling, to particular odours, good or bad, we need not say much of that: since Experience doth daily confirme, that the sense is scarce moved and affected by the same odour, though closely praesented, after Custom hath once strongly imbued it with the same.

SECT. III.

* 1.35IN the THIRD and last Division of Special Occult Qualities, or such as are vulgarly imputed to Sensible Creatures; the Pens of Schollars have been so pro••use, that should we but recount, and with all possible suc∣cinctness, enquire into the Verity and Causes of but the one Half of them; our Discourses would take up more sheets of Paper, than are allowed to the Longest Chancery Bill: wherefore, as in the former, so in this, we shall select and examine only a Few of them, but such as are most in vogue, and whose Reasons, is ••udiciously accommodated, suffice to the Solution of the Rest.

* 1.36(1) The Antipathy of a Sheep to a Woolf, is the common argument of wonder; and nothing is more frequent, than to hear men ascribe it to a provident instinct▪ or haereditary and invincible Hatred, that a Lamb▪ which never saw a Wool•• before, and so could not retain the impression of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 harme done or attempted by him, should be invaded with horror and trembling, at first interview, and run from him: nay, some 〈…〉〈…〉 the secret so far, as to affirme the Antipathy to be Equall on both 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Concerning this, therefore, we observe; that the Enmity is not Reciprocal: For, He that can be persuaded, that the Woolf hates the Sheep▪ only because he worries and preys upon him, and not rather, that the Woolf loves the sheep, because it is a weak and helpless Animal and its s••eth is both pleasant and convenient food for him: we shall 〈…〉〈…〉 persuade Him, that Himself also hates a sheep, be∣cause he 〈…〉〈…〉 pallate and stomach delighted and relieved with Mutton. Nor as the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 on the sheeps side Invincible; for, ourselves have see•• 〈…〉〈…〉, by Custom, to so great familiarity with a Woolf, that 〈…〉〈…〉 with him, and bleat, as after the Dam, when the 〈…〉〈…〉 of the room: and the like Kindness have we 〈…〉〈…〉 betwixt a Lamb and Lyon of the Lord Generall 〈…〉〈…〉 Sion house, and afterward publikely shewed in Lon∣d••n. 〈…〉〈…〉 Fear, which surpriseth the Lamb at first sight of a 〈…〉〈…〉 to arise from any Hereditary Impression derived from the 〈…〉〈…〉 Both•• as well because all Inbredd or traduced 〈…〉〈…〉, as that none of the Progenitors of the Lamb, 〈…〉〈…〉 saw or received any impression of injury from a 〈…〉〈…〉 in England. Besides, in case they had, and though 〈…〉〈…〉 that some Beasts are afraid of men, and other Beasts, 〈…〉〈…〉 memory of some Harme received from some man, 〈…〉〈…〉 the Idea of him, that did the Harme, 〈…〉〈…〉 upon the table of the Memory, and being fresh∣ly 〈…〉〈…〉 the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, whenever the sense brings in the 〈…〉〈…〉 not likely, that the same Idea should be propa∣•••••••• 〈…〉〈…〉, after so many hundred removes, 〈…〉〈…〉 Individual to the whole species, throughout the 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪

The Cause, 〈…〉〈…〉, why All Sheep generally are startled and o••••ended 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sight 〈…〉〈…〉, seems to be only this; that when the Woolf converts his eyes 〈…〉〈…〉 pleasing and inviting object, and that whereupon 〈…〉〈…〉 his Imagination; he instantly darts forth 〈…〉〈…〉 of subtle Effluvia's, which being part of 〈…〉〈…〉 his newly formed Idea of dilaniating and devouring 〈…〉〈…〉 ••omposed, serve as Forerunners or Messengers of destruction to the 〈…〉〈…〉 b••ing transmitted to his Common Sensory, through his opti••k nerve•• most highly misaffect the same, and so cause the sheep to fear, an•• ••n••••avour the praeservation of his life, by flight.

This receives sufficient Confirmation from hence▪* 1.37 that not only such Aversions, as arise from the Contrariety of Constitutions in several Ani∣mals 〈…〉〈…〉 commonly observed to produce those Effects of Fear, Trem∣bling and flight from the objects, from which offensive impressions are de∣rived, by the mediation of disagreeing Spirits or Ema••ations: but even the seeing them in a passion of Anger, or Fury, doth suddainly cause the like. For, violent Passions ever alter the Spirits, and Characterize them with the idea at that time most praevalent in the Imagination of the Passion∣ate; so that those spirits issuing from the body of the Animal, in the height o•• Passion, and insinuating themselves into the brain of the other Animal contrari••y 〈◊〉〈◊〉, must of necessity highly disgust and offend it. Which is the most likely Reason that hath hitherto been given, Why Bees sel∣dom sting men of a mild and peaceful disposition: but will by no means en∣dure, not be reconciled to others of a froward, cholerick, and waspish na∣ture. The same▪ so may serve to answer that common Quaere, Why some 〈…〉〈…〉 persons, having tuned their spirits to the highest key of 〈…〉〈…〉 have daunted not only fierce Mastiffs, but 〈…〉〈…〉 other Wild and ravenous Beasts, meerly by 〈…〉〈…〉 put them to flight by the Artillery of their 〈…〉〈…〉 Eyes. And the Key, wherewith we have unlockt the se∣cret 〈…〉〈…〉 and Woolf, will also open those like Antipa∣thies supposed to be betwixt the Dove and Falcon, the Chicken and Kite, and all other weak Animals, and such as use to make them their pr••y.

(2) It is worthy a serious Remark,* 1.38 that sundry Animalls bear a kind of 〈…〉〈…〉 to the Persons of such men, as are delighted or conversant in the Destruction of those of the same species with them: as we daily see, that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 are highly offended and angry at Butchers: that Dogs bark 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Glovers, that deal most in Dog skins, and 〈…〉〈…〉 killing of Dogs, in time of the plague, to prae∣v••nt 〈◊〉〈◊〉 diffusion 〈…〉〈…〉 and encrease of Putrefaction, by their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that Vermin 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the trapps and gins of Warrenners, where∣•••• 〈…〉〈…〉 their owne kind hath been taken and destroyed, &c. As 〈…〉〈…〉, or strong Aversions, tis manifest, that they arise 〈…〉〈…〉, or Character of Providence 〈…〉〈…〉 Natures, or Essential Forms, but only 〈…〉〈…〉 upon the sense. For the 〈…〉〈…〉

any Animal of the same species, excite a kind of Horror in the like Ani∣mal that smells them; and so cause it to abhor and avoid all such persons and places, for fear of the like harm and internecion, as their fellowes have suffered from them. Now, that which makes these odours insinuate them∣selves with such ••ase and familiarity into the Sensories of animals of the same species, is the similitude and Uniformity of their Specifical Constitutions, which yet the rough hand of Corruption seems not totally to have oblite∣rated in the long since extravenated blood and spirits, but to have left some Vestigia or R••mains of the Canine nature in the Doggs blood, of the Por∣cine in the Sw••••••s, &c. And, that which makes them so horridly Odious, is the great A••••••••••ion of the blood from its genuine temper and conditi∣us. For, the smell of the Carcass, or blood of any Animal, having once suffered the Dep••avation of Corruption; is always most hateful and dan∣gerous to others of the same Species: and it hath been observed, that the most pernicious in••ections and Plagues have been such, as took their Ori∣ginal from the Corruption of Humane Bodies; which indeed, is the best reason that hath ••een yet given, why the Plague so often attends long and bloody Sieges▪ and is commonly the second to the Sword. We conceive, the same to 〈…〉〈…〉 the ground of that Axiom of the Lord St. Alban (Nat. Hist. cent. 10.•• ••enerally, that which is Dead, or Corrupted, or Excerned, hath Antipa•••••• ••••th the same thing, when it is Alive, and when it is sound; and with those 〈◊〉〈◊〉 which do excern: as a Carcass of Man is most infecti∣ous and odious ••••man, a Carrion of an Horse to an Horse, &c. Purulent matter of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and Ulcers, Carbuncles, Pocks, Scabbs, Leprousy, to Sound flesh. And the Excrements of every species to that Creature, that excerneth them. But the Exc••ements are less Pernicious, than the Cor∣ruptions.

* 1.39(3) The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 (and, according to some reports, the opening of the Eyes•• of the Carcass of a murthered man, at the praesence and touch of the Homicide. 〈…〉〈…〉 in truth, the noblest of Antipathies: and scarce any Writer of the Secrets or Miracles of Nature, hath omitted the Conside∣ration thereof. This Life in Death, Revenge of the Grave, or loud lan∣guage of silent Corruption, many Venerable and Christian Philosophers have accounte•••• holly Miraculous or Supernatural; as ordained and effected by the just 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of God, for the detection and punishment of the inhumane 〈◊〉〈◊〉. And, least we should seem too forward, to ex∣punge, from 〈◊〉〈◊〉 mind of any man, the beleif of that opinion, which to some may 〈…〉〈…〉 more powerful Argument, than the express Command of God, to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them from committing so horrid and execrable a Crime as Mu••••er: we shall so far concurr with them, as to conceive this Effect 〈…〉〈…〉 Divine only in the I••stitution, but meerly Natural in the Production, or Immediate Causes. Because the Apparence seems not to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Capacity of Natural Means, and the whole Syn∣drome and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of it Causes may be thus explained. It is an Opini∣on highly C••••••entaneous, that in every vehement Passion there is form∣e•••• certain 〈…〉〈…〉 well of the Object, whereupon the Imagination is 〈…〉〈…〉 the Good or Evil connected unto, and expected from that Objec•• and that this Idea is as it were impressed, by a kind of inexplicable 〈◊〉〈◊〉 upon the Spirits, at the same instant the Mind 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to Will the praesent Prosecution, or Avoidance or the object 〈…〉〈…〉 by the mediation of the Spirits (those Angels of

the Mind) the same Idea is transmitted to the Blood, and through the Arteries diffused into all parts of the body, as well as into the Nerves and Muscles, which are inservient to such Voluntary Motions, as are requi∣site to the execution of the Decrees and Mandats of the Will, concern∣ing the Prosecution, or Avoidance of the Object. This being so, we may conceive, that the Phansy of the Person assaulted by an Assassine, having formed an Idea of Hatred, Opposition, and Revenge, and the same being Characterized upon the Spirirs, and by them diffused through the blood; though the blood become much less Fluid in the veins after death, by reason the vital influence and Pulsifick Faculty of the Heart, which Animated and Circulated it, is extinct: yet, because at the prae∣sence of the Murderer, there issue from the pores of his body such subtile Emanations, as are Consimilar to those, which were emitted from him, at the time He strove with overcame, and killed the Patient; and those Emanations entering the Dead Body, doe cause a fresh Commotion in the blood remaining yet somewhat Fluid in its veins, and as it were renew the former Colluctation or Duell betwixt the yet wholly un∣condensed Spirits of the slain, and those of the Homicide: therefore is it, that the Blood, suffering an Estuation, flows up and down in the veins, to seek some vent, or salley-port; and finding none so open as in that part, wherein the wound was made, it issues forth from thence. And, where the Murthered Person is destroyed by strangulation, suffo∣cation, or the like unbloody Death, so that there is no manifest Solu∣tion of Continuity in the skin, or other Exterior parts of the body; in that case, it hath been observed, that the Carcass bleeds at the Mouth, or Nose, or both; and this only because in all vehement strivings, and especially in Colluctation for life, the Spirits and Blood flow most plen∣tifully into the Arteries and Veins of the Herd, as is visible by the great Redness of the Eyes and face of every man that Fights; and where the blood fixeth in most plenty, there will be the greatest tumult, aestuation and commotion, when it is fermented, agitated, and again set afloat, by the Discordant Effluvia's emitted from the body of the neer appro••ch∣ing or touching Murtherer and consequently, there must the vessels suffer the greatest stress, distension, and disruption, or apertion of their orifices.

(4) And this magnale of the (as it were) Reanimation of the vin∣dictive blood in the veins of a Dead body,* 1.40 by the Magick of those Ho∣stile and Fermenting Aporrhaea's, transmitted from the body of Him, who violently extinguished its former life; ushers in Another, no less prodigious, nor less celebrated by Naturalists: and that is the sud∣dain Disanimation of the Blood in Living Bodies, by the meer pr••∣sence of the Basilisk, Catablepa, and Diginus; Serpents of a Nature so transcendently Venemous, that, according to pogular Tradition, and the several relations of Dioscorides, Galen, Pliny, Solinus, Aelian, Avicen, and most other Authors, who have treated of the Proprie∣ties of Animals and Venoms, they are Dectructive beyond themselves, i. e. they either kill by intuition, or Hiss out the flames of life by their Deieterious Expirations. If Natural Historians have herein escaped that itch of Fiction, to which they are so generally subject, when they come to handle Rarities; and that Nature hath produced any such Spe∣••••es, whose optical Emissions, or Pectoral Expirations are fatal and per∣nicious

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whether he sees the Woolf first, or the Woolf him; suddain si∣lence being ever the Associate, ••or (rather) Consequent of great and suddain Fear. The Aphonia, therefore, or Defect of voice, which hath sometimes, though very rarely, been observed to invade men, upon the Conspection of Woolves; is not the genuine Effect of any secret and radicated Anti∣pathy, or Fascinating Virtue in the subtle Aporrhaea's emitted from the eyes, lungs, or bodie of the Woolf: but only of their own Fear and Terror, ari∣sing from a strong apprehension of Danger; the suddain and impetuous Concentration of the Spirits, toward the Heart, by reason of the violent Terror, at that time, causing a Defection of spirits, and consequently a kind of Relaxation in the Muscles of the Tongue, and Nerves inservient to the vocal instruments: So that the inspired Aer cannot be Efflated with that force and celerity, as is necessary to the loudness and distinct articulati∣on of the voice.

(6) Nor is it the Eye alone,* 1.41 that the Folly of men hath made obnoxious to Antipathies, but the Ear also hath it share of wonderful Effects; for, there go solemn stories of inveterate and specifical Enmities betwixt the Lyon and Cock, Elephant and Swine, and He hath read little, who hath not more than once met with sundry relations, that the Crowing of the Cock is more terrible than death, to the fiercest Lyon, and the Grunting of a Swine so odious to an Elephant, that it puts him into an Agony of Horror, Trembling, and Cold sweat. Which notwithstanding, may well be called to the barre of Experiment, and many worthy Authors have more then questioned, among whom, Camerarius (in Symbol.) expresly assures us, that in his time, one of the Duke of Bavaria's Lyons, breaking into a yard adjacent to his Den, and there finding a flock of Poultry, was so far from being afraid of the Cock, or his Crowing, that he devoured him and his troop of Hens together. And as for the other Antipathy; our∣selves have seen an Elephant feed and sleep quietly in the same stable, with a Sow and her whole litter of Piggs. However, lest some should plead the power of Custom, in both these cases, and object, that that Lyon and Elephant had been, by Assuefaction, brought to endure the naturally hateful Noises of the Cocks Crowing, and the Swines Grunting; to era∣dicate the belief of the supposed Occult Antipathies, we say: that such may be the Discrepancy or Disproportion betwixt the Figures and Con∣textures of those subtile particles, that compose those Harsh Sounds, and the Contexture of the organs of Hearing in the Lyon and Elephant, as that they exasperate them, and so highly offend those Animals. For, thus we suffer a kind of short Horror, and our Teeth are set on edge, by those harsh and vehement sounds, made by scraping of trenchers, filing the teeth of saws, squeaking of doors, and the like: only because those sounds grate and exasperate the Auditory Nerves, which communicate the harsh impression to the Nerves of the Teeth,* 1.42 and cause a stridor therein.

(7) But if we pass from these Imaginary▪ to Real Antipathies, and desire not to misimploy our Understanding, in the quest of Dihot••es for such things, of whose Hoti the more sober and judicious part of Schollars justly doubt▪ let us come to the wonderful Venome of the TARANTULA, a certain Phalangium or smal Spider frequent in Italy, but most in and about Tarentum in Apulia; which hath this strange Propriety, that be∣ing

communicated to the bodie of man, by biting, it makes him Dance most violently, at the same time, every year, till He be perfectly cured thereby, being invincible by any other Antidote but Musick. An Effect so truly admirable, and singular, that the Discovery of its abstruse Causes, and the manner of their operation, cannot but be most oppor∣tune and grateful to the Curious; who, we presume, would gladly knowe,

Why su••h as are empoysoned by the biting of a Tarantula, fall int•• violent Fits of Dancing, and cannot be Cured by any other Remedies, but the Harmonious Straines of Musick alo••••▪

SOLUTION.

How great the power of Musick is, as to the excitement, exaltation, and compescence or mitigation of the Passions of the Mind of Man; and wherein the C••use of that Harmonical Magick doth consist: would be a Digression, and perhaps somewhat superfluous for us here to enquire. And, therefore, cutting off all Collateral Curiosities, we shall confine our present 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the limits of our owne Profession; endeavour∣ing only to explain the Reasons, why Musick hath so strong and ge∣nerous an Energy, as certainly to cure the Bodie of a man, intoxicated with the Venome of the Taruntula, which eludes and despises the oppo∣sition of all other Alexipharmacal Medicaments. Forasmuch, there∣fore, as the ••t••ings of a Lute, Vial, or other Musical Instrument, do alwayes mov•• and impell the Aer, after the same manner as themselves are moved an•• impelled, and by this proportionate misture of Sounds create an Harmony delightful not only to the Eare, but to that Harmo∣nious Essenc••▪ the soul, which Animates the Eare; hence comes it, that by the musical Harmony, that is made by the Musicians play••••g to the per∣son infected with the Tarant••sme, the Aer, by reason of the various and yet proportionate motions of the strings, is harmonically moved and agitated, and carying th••se various motions of the harmony impressed upon it self, into the Eare, and so affecting the Phantastical Faculty with those pleasant motions, 〈…〉〈…〉 like manner affect and move the spirits in the brain: and the spirits having received those impressions, and diffused into the Nerves, Muscles and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the whole body, and there meeting with a certain thin, acrimon••ous and pricking Humor, which is the chief fewel and vehicle of the Veno••e derived from the Tarantula; they attenuate and agitate the same, by a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 very like that of Fermentation, and disperse it with a quick motion 〈…〉〈…〉 all the parts. And this Humor being thus set afloat, and estuated, to••••••her with the venome, or seeds of the Poyson, which are contained 〈◊〉〈◊〉, must needs affect all the Musculousand Nervous parts, 〈…〉〈…〉, with a kind of Itch, or gentle and therefore plea∣san•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 or (rather) Titillation: So that the Patient feeling this uni∣versa•• 〈…〉〈…〉 Tickling, can be no longer at ease and quiet but is com∣pelle•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to dance and move all the members of his body with all agility 〈…〉〈…〉 possible. This Dancing causeth a Commotion of all the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in his body; that Commotion augments the present Heat there••••▪ that Heat causeth a Relaxation and Apertion of the pores of th•• ••kin; and thereupon ensues a liberal and universal sweat;

and together with that sweat, the venome is dispersed and expelled. But, where the Venome is so deeply settled, and as it were radicated in the solid substance of the parts, as that one or two, or three Fits of Dancing and Sweating are not sufficient to the total Eradication and Expulsion thereof; in that deplorable case, the Patient becomes freshly intoxicated, and re∣lapseth into his dancing paroxisins, at the same periodical season, every year, without omission, till his many and profuse Annual sweats have freed him from all Reliques of the Poyson.

Most true it is,* 1.43 that Divers Tarantiacal persons are affected with divers Musical Instruments, and divers Tunes and Ayrs; but this is to be imputed to the Diversity of Complexions and Temperaments either of the Ta∣rantula's, which envenome them, or of the Persons themselves. For, such as are Melancholy of themselves, or intoxicated by the poyson of the dul∣ler and more sluggish sort of Tarantula's; are ever Affected and Sympathize rather with the musick of Drums, Trumpets, Sackbuts, and other loud and strong sounding instruments, than with that of Lutes, Vials, and other soft and gentle ones. For, since Melancholy is a thick, heavy and viscid Humor, and the Spirit•• alwaies follow the Disposition of the Humor praedominant; to the Concitation and Dissipation thereof, a greater force of motion is required. And this, doubtless, was the Reason, why a cer∣tain Girl of Tarentum, being there bitten by a Tarantula, and affected with the stupendious symptome of Tarantism, could never be excited to dance by any sounds, but those of Guns, Alarms beaten upon Drums, Charges and Triumphs sounded in Trumpets, and other military musick; the hea∣vy and viscid venome, meeting with a body of a Cold and Phlegmatick Complexion; and so requiring very strong Commotions of the Aer and Spirits, to its Estuation and Dissipation. And, on the Contrary, Chole∣rick and Sanguine Complexions, are, by reason of the Subtility of their Spirits, and greater Fluidity of their Humors, soonest Cured by the H••r∣mony of Lutes, Harps, Vials, Virginals, Guitarrs, Tiorba's, and other stringed Instruments.

But, that which deserves our highest Admiration, is this▪* 1.44 that this Venome of the Tarantula doth produce the same Effect in the body of man, which it doth in that of the Tarantula it self, wherein it is ge∣nerated▪ as if there were some secret Cognation and Similitude be∣twixt the Nature of that venemous Spider, and that of Mankinde. For, as the Poyson, being infused into any part of mans body, and set a work by Musick, doth, by a continual vellication or Titillation of the Muscles and Membranes thereof, incite the intoxicated person to dance: So likewise, while it remains in its own womb and proper Conservatory, the body of the Tarantula being once set a work by Musick, doth it in∣cite the Tarantula to dance, and caper, as is commonly observed by the Italians, and at large related by At••an. Kircherus (in opere Magnetico) and some others of un questionable veracity, who would admit no testimo∣ny in this particular, but what they received from their own exact obser∣vations. Among the sundry Narrations of Experiments in this kind, Kircher entertains his Reader cheifly with this one, as the most exact and commemorable.

A certain Italian Duchess sayes He) to the end she might be fully satisfied of the truth of this prodigy of nature, of which ••he had so often heard, and as often doubted, commanded that a Tarantula

should be brought into the Hall, or Refectory of a Colledge of Jesuits, all the Fathers being praesent; and there set upon a small chipp of wood, that floated 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of water. Then she gave order, that an Excellent Harper shoul•• stand by, and play over several of his best composed Tunes. The Tarantula, for a good while, seemed wholly unconcerned in the musick▪ discovering no motions of tripudiation in himself; but at length, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the H••rper had hi•• upon some certain Notes Strains, and Ayres▪ 〈◊〉〈◊〉 held some proportion to the Humor and Specifical Venome of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Spider, ••he now enchanted Insect began to detect its sym∣pathy to 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and natural inclination to dancing, not only by the frequent 〈…〉〈…〉, and nimble agitation of his whole body, but even most 〈◊〉〈◊〉 observ••ng time and measures, according to the Harmo∣ni•••••• Numb•••••• ••••prest in the Tune: and as the Musician plaid more slow∣ly 〈…〉〈…〉 the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 beast dance more slowly or nimbly; not moving a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 after the T••m•• was ended.

But, this which then ap∣p••••r••d 〈…〉〈…〉 the Dutche••s and other Spectators, they soon after heard 〈…〉〈…〉 to the Musicians of Tarentum, who being hired, with an 〈…〉〈…〉 paid out of the Publique purse, to cure the mean∣e•• 〈…〉〈…〉 when any is bitten by a Tarantula; that they may not 〈…〉〈…〉 the Patient, and put themselves to the pains of play∣ing ••ong 〈…〉〈…〉 enquire of the Patient, in what house, what field, 〈…〉〈…〉 of what colour and bigness the Tarantula was, that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him 〈◊〉〈◊〉 satisfied of these particulars, they forthwith go to the p••ace 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ and there looking among the several species of Ta∣rantul••s 〈…〉〈…〉 are busie in weaving their Cobweb nets, for the en∣snaring of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they search for such a one as the Patient hath described, and having 〈◊〉〈◊〉 found the like, they instantly fall to their instruments; and pla•• over 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sets of Lessons one after another, till they light up∣on 〈…〉〈…〉 holding some proportion to the Specifical tempera∣ment and vene••••ous Humor of that Tarantula, inciteth him to dance. 〈…〉〈…〉 delightful and strange it is to behold the great 〈…〉〈…〉 among many Tarantula's together; one while this 〈◊〉〈◊〉 another 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that exactly sympathizing with the Harmonious mo∣••io•• 〈…〉〈…〉 and aer. When the Musicians have thus informed 〈…〉〈…〉 particular Genius and Humor of that species of Taran∣tu•••••• by one 〈◊〉〈◊〉 which the Patient was envenomed; they return home, an•• 〈…〉〈…〉 almost at first touch of their instruments, play∣in•• 〈…〉〈…〉 again those Tunes, whose Correspondency to the 〈…〉〈…〉 ambuscado •• in the centrals of his bodie, they 〈…〉〈…〉 ••••perimented▪ and they seldom or never fail of the 〈…〉〈…〉 are certain what Notes and Tunes are most 〈…〉〈…〉 Genius of the Spider, that hath intoxicated the 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

〈…〉〈…〉 inconsistent with Reason, that the Tarantula it self 〈…〉〈…〉 strange Effect from the Charms of Musick, as 〈…〉〈…〉 Venome hath intoxicated: for seeing that 〈…〉〈…〉 supplies the office of Blood in this Insect is exceed∣ing 〈…〉〈…〉 with subtle and hot spirits, and so becomes a 〈…〉〈…〉 receive the Motions impressed upon it, by the 〈…〉〈…〉 Aer, whereof the Sounds are composed: it seems 〈…〉〈…〉 being a s••••ated and set afloat, by the motions of the

aer, which are Harmonical; it should cause the like Vibrissations in the ner∣vous parts of the Tarantula, as the hand of the Musician hath caused in the Consonous strings of the instrument; the strings caused in the Aer, and the Aer caused in the spirits of the Animal: and consequently, that the Animal should suffer a kind of Itch, or gentle vellication in all its nerves, and muscles, and to ease it self of that troublesom Affection, move all its members, not only with great agility, but variety of motions correspnodent to those of the Harmony impressed upon its spiritual substance; especially where the Harmony is proportionate to the specifical (and perhaps, individual) Con∣stitution of the same.

That the vital Humor of these and most other Spiders, is both viscous,* 1.45 and a subject capable of Sounds, as we here assume▪ may be inferred from the relation of Peter Martyr (in Histor. sua Indiae Occidental) that in the West Indies there is a certain species of Phalangiums, or Venenate Spiders, whose poyson, being expressed, is so exceedingly viscid and tenacious, that the Na∣tives use to draw and spin it out into long threads, and twist those threads into Treble strings for their instruments of Musick: as also from our own ocular testimony, whenever we press a Spider to death.

And (what is of greatest moment to our praesent Disquisition) that the Venome of the Tarantula, by rea on of the Acrimony,* 1.46 or Mordacity of its Spiritual and hot particles, causeth an uncessent Titillation, or Itching joyn∣ed wi••h great heat, in the nervous and musculous parts of mans body, when it is in aestuation and commotion therein, may be collected from the agree∣ing relations of all persons, who have known the misery of Tara••tisme▪ every one complaining of an insufferable Itch in all parts of his body, during the paroxisme, and finding a remission of the same immediately after pro∣fuse sweating. For your farther Confirmation herein, be pleased to hear Father Kircher tell you a memorable and pertinent story.

A certain Cap∣pucine (saith He) of the Monastery belonging to that Order, in Tarentum, being bitten by a Tarantula, and by his (in that point, too severe) Superi∣ors forbidden to have recourse either to Baths, or Dancing, for the cure of his infection, as means that might seem too light and inconsistent with the gravity and rigid rules of his Profession; was so miserably and beyond all patience tormented with an itching and burning in both the interior and and exterior parts of his body, that rest and quiet were things he had long since been a stranger to; and hoping to find some ease and allay of his restless pains by bathing in cold water, he, one night, privily conveyed himself out of the Covent, and leaped into an Arm of the Sea, that em∣braced the town. Where, indeed, he met with a perfect cure of a••l his torments and grievances; being instantly drowned: leaving his Brethren to lament their own great loss, as well as the Sadness of his Face; and his Superiors to repent the cruelty of that Superstition, which had denied him the use of those innocent Remedies, Musick and Dancing, which the happy experience of many thousands had praescribed.

Lastly, as it is not every Harmonical Ayre that suits with the Genius of every Tarantula, but every particular species holds a secret Corres∣pondence to some particular sorts of Instruments, Tunes, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 composed of such and such Notes: So likewise is it not the Musick of every instrument, nor every modulation of sounds that move and

excite every person infected with this kind of poyson; but every Ta∣rantiacal Patient requires such and such particular Harmonious Tunes, Strains, and Notes as are proportionate to that Diathesis, or Disposi∣tion, which results from the Commixture and Confermentation of his owne Humors, and the Venome infused into his body. Which is the Rea∣son, why some dance to no musick but that of Drums, Trumpets and o∣ther loud and martial instruments; and others again are easily charmed to Levolta's by the mild and gentle Consonances of Lutes and Tiorba's. And if the Patient, being of a hot and bilious Complexion, be intoxicated by the venome of a Tarantula of the like Cholerick temperament; upon the aestuation and confermentation of those two consimilar Humors, the Pati∣ent shall become Feverish, insatiately thirsty, restless, and furiously maniacal: but, where a Melancholy Tarantula hath empoysoned a man of the like dull and sluggish Constitution; in that case, He shall be infested with great and inexpugnable Drowsiness, Stupidity, Spontaneous Lassitude, love of Solitude, unseasonable and affected Silence, and the like Symptoms contrary to the former, and shall be relieved only by grave and solemne tunes; the Accidents supervening upon this kind of intoxication, alwayes following and betraying the capacity of the praedominant Humor, and re∣sponding to that Harmony, which hath the most of proportion to the Ge∣nius of the Poyson.

* 1.47And as for the Annual Relapses of Patients, into their Tarant••acal Fits; the Cause thereof must be only this, that the Reliques of the Poyson cau∣sing a fresh Commotion and Fermentation of the most susceptible Humors of the body, and especially of the Serous and Bilious part of the blood (for, most persons thus affected; have their Paroxysms in the hottest season of the year) and imbuing them with exceeding great Acrimony and Morda∣city: diffuse themselves through the Arteries and Veins into all parts of the body; and fixing more especially on the thin membranes, that invest the muscles, so oppress, prick and vellicate them, as that the infected shall know no rest nor case, till he hath danced and sweat▪ to the dissipation and ex∣pulsion of all those sharp and pungent particles, that were diffused into the Habit of his body.

* 1.48But, what particular Sounds, and Notes, and Strains, and Ayres, are Accommodate to the Venome of this or that particular Tarantula; we leave to the determination of the long experienced Musicians of Tarentum only thus much we may say, in the General; that by how much the more frequent Diminutions of Notes into halfs and quarters (which is cal∣led Division) and the more frequent permistion of Sharps and Flats, in a Tone charged with frequent Semitones, the Tune containeth: by so much the more grateful will the same be to all Tarantulized Persons; because, from the Celerity of the motions it comes, that the Dormant Venome is more nimbly agitated, and so must sollicite them to dance the more spritely and vehemently. Hence is it, that the Musicians of Italy, such especially who proress the certain and speedy Cure of the Tarantisme, for the most part, enrich and adorne their strains with various Divisions of Notes; and that mostly in the Phrygian Tone, because it consisteth of frequent Semi∣tones.

(8) What we have here said,* 1.49 concerning the Magick of Harmonious Sounds both upon the Tarantula it self, and those unhappy men, whom its Fascinating venome hath Tarantulized; as it doth wholly take off the In∣credibility of those Relations, which some Natural Magicians have set down, of the Incantation of Serpents, by a wand of the Cornus, or Dog tree: so doth it also give us no obscure light into the dark Cause of that Effect, which among the Ignorant and Superstitious hath ever passed for meer∣ly praestigious and Diabolical. For, it being certain, that all Serpents are most highly offended at the smell, and influx of those invisible Emanati∣ons proceeding from the Cornus, by reason of some great Disproporti∣on or Incompossibility, betwixt those subtile Effluvia••s, and the tempe∣rament of the Vital and Spiritual Substance of Serpents: insomuch that, in a moment, they become strongly intoxicated thereby: Why should it seem impossible, that He, who understands this invincible Enmity, and how to manage a wand or rod of the Cornus with cunning and dexterity; having first intoxicated a Serpent by the touch thereof, should, during that fit, make him observe and readily conforme to all the various moti∣ons of that wand: So as that the unlearned Spectators perceiving the Ser∣pent to approach the Enchanter, as he moves the wand neerer to him∣self; to retreat from him, as he puts the wand from him; to turne round, as the wand is moved round▪ to dance, as that is waved to and fro; and lye still, as in a trance, when that is held still over him; and all this while knowing nothing, that the simple virtue of the wand is the Cause of all those mimical motions and gestures of the Serpent: they are easily deluded into a belief, that the whole seene is supernatural, and the main Energy radicated in those words, or Charms, which the Impostor, with great Ceremony and gravity of aspect mutters forth, the better to disguise his Legerdemane, and dissemble N••ture in the Colours of a Mi∣racle.

And, as in this, so in all other Magical Practices, those Bombast Words,* 1.50 nonesense Spells, exotique Characters, and Fanatick Ceremonies, used by all Praestigiators and Enchanters, have no Virtue or Efficacy at all (that little only excepted, which may consist meerly in the sounds, and tones in which they are pronounced, in respect whereof the eare may be pleased or displeased) as to the Causation of the Effect intended; nor doe they import any thing, more than the Circumvention of the Spect••••tors judgement, and exaltation of his Imagination, upon whom they pr••e∣tend to work the miracle. Which considered, it will be an argument not only of Christianism, but of sound judgement in any man, to con∣clude; that excepting only some few particulars, in which God hath been pleased to permit the Devil to exercise his Praestigiatory power (and yet, whoso shall consider the infinite Goodness of God, will not ea∣sily be induced to beleive, that He hath permitted any such at all.) all those Volumes of Stories of Fascinations, Incantations, Transformati∣ons, Sympathies of men and beasts with Magical Telesms, Gamahues or Waxen Images, and the like mysterious Nothings, are meer Fables, execrable Romances. So Epidemical, we confess, hath the Contagion of such Impostures been, that among the People, when any Person waxeth macilent, and pines away, we hear of nothing but Evil Neigh∣bours, Witchcraft, Charms, Statues of Wax, and the like venefical fopperies; and instantly some poor decrepite old woman is suspected,

and perhaps acc••••••d of malice and Diabolical stratagems against the life of that person: who all the while lieth languishing, of some Common Di∣sease, and the le••••••ed Physician no sooner examines the case, but he finds the sick mans Consumption to proceed from some inveterate malady of the bodie, as Ulcer of the Lungs, Hectique Fever, Debility of the Stomack, Liver, or other common Concocting part, or from long and deep Grief of mind. In like manner, when the Husband man observes his field to become barren, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 chattel ••o cast then yong, or die, his corn to be blast∣ed, his fruits 〈…〉〈…〉 immaturely, or the like sinister Accidents nothing is more usual 〈◊〉〈◊〉, than to charge those misfortunes upon the Magi∣cal Impraecations of some offended Neighbour, whom the multitude sup∣poseth to be a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 man, or Conjurer. And yet, were the Philo∣sopher consulte•• ••bou•• those Disasters, he would soon discover them to be the ordinary 〈◊〉〈◊〉 genuine Effects of Natural Causes, and refer each Contingent 〈◊〉〈◊〉 proper original. True it is likewise, that many of those Sorcerers▪ who•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vulgar call White Witches, in respect of the good they 〈…〉〈…〉 frequently p••••••scribe certain Amulets, or Per••apts, for the praecentio•• 〈…〉〈…〉 of some di••••ases: and in this case, if the Amulet or Per••apt▪ 〈…〉〈…〉 such Natural Ingredients, as are endowed with Qualitie•• repug•••••••• to the Dis••••se, or its germane Causes, we are not to deny 〈…〉〈…〉. But, as for those superstitious Invocations of An∣gels an•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Salamons Characters, Tetragrammatons, Spells, Cir∣cles▪ an•• 〈…〉〈…〉 and ridiculous Magical Rites and Ceremonies, used by the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 at the time of the Composition or Application of those Amulets or 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ they are of no power, or virtue at all, and signifie nothing but 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Delusion of the Ignorant. Again, we grant, that the Imagination 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Confidence of the sick Person, being by such means ex∣alte••▪ may 〈◊〉〈◊〉 very much to his Recovery; for, it is no secret, that the 〈…〉〈…〉 men are for the most part, erected, and their drooping spirit•• 〈…〉〈…〉 by the good opinion they have entertained of the 〈…〉〈…〉 Confidence they place in his praescripts: but, yet are 〈…〉〈…〉 allow any Direct and Natural Efficacy to that 〈…〉〈…〉 and Ceremonious administration of Remedies, which are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 observed by such Impostors, as praetend to Extraordina∣ry skill▪ an•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 supernatural way, in the Cure of Diseases, and seem to affect and 〈…〉〈…〉 the detestable repute of Magicians. And what we say of the 〈…〉〈…〉 Amulets, and the like, we desire should 〈…〉〈…〉, or Love-procuring Potions, o•• the Ligature 〈…〉〈…〉 Wedding night, to cause Impotency in new 〈…〉〈…〉 then Brides a thing very frequent in Zant and Gasco∣•••• 〈…〉〈…〉 because each of these hath other Causes, than those 〈…〉〈…〉 Nugaments praescribed by those Cheaters; and 〈…〉〈…〉 they can have upon the persons, to whom they 〈…〉〈…〉 in the praepossession of their Phancy, and 〈…〉〈…〉 to Hope, or Fear.

* 1.51(9) 〈…〉〈…〉, a certain sort of Fascination Natural about which 〈…〉〈…〉 and most Nurses, when they observe 〈…〉〈…〉 fall into Cachex••es, languishing conditi∣on•• 〈…〉〈…〉, instantly crie out, that some envious 〈…〉〈…〉 them. Concerning this secret therefore, in 〈…〉〈…〉 part) hath no interest at all; we say▪

that if there be any thing of truth, as to matter of Fact, the Fascinating acti∣vity of the old malicious Crone must consist only in this: that she doth evibrate or dart forth from her brain, certain malignant Spirits, or rayes, which entering the tender body of the Infant, do infect the purer spirits, and so the blood in its Arteries, and assimilating the same to their depraved and maligne nature, corrupt all the Aliment of the body, and alienate the parts from their genuine and requisite temperament. Not that those Malignant Emissions can arrive at, and infect an Infant that is absent, as is vulgarly conceived; but that the malicious old woman must be praesent, and look (with an oblique or wist look) and breath upon the Child, whose health she envies, nay, conjure up her Imagination to that height of malice, as to imbue her spirits with the evil Miasme or Inquinament of those vitious and corrupt Humors, wherewith her half-rotten Carcass is well stored; and to assist the Contention of her optique Nerves and Muscles, that so those Spirits may be ejaculated with great force. For, that an old woman though as highly malignant in her Nature and Malice, as can be supposed, should be able to infect and envenome an Infant at great distance; is not to admitted by any, but such as have ignorance enough to excuse their per∣swasion of the highest Impossibility imaginable. But, that she may, in some measure, contribute to the indisposition of an Infant, at whom she shoots her maligne Eye-beams, neer at hand; may receive much of credit from the Pollution of a Lookinglass by the adspect of a Menstruous woman; and from the Contagion of Blear Eyes, Coughing, Oscitation or Gaping, Pissing and the like: all which are observed to be somewhat infectious to the standers by.

(10) You may call it Fascination also, if you please, when the Torpedo doth benumb or stupifie the hand of the Fisherman. For,* 1.52 as the Malefici∣ation of Infants is the Effect only of certain malign or ill conditioned Ema∣nations transmitted to them from the brain of some malevolent and half venemous Ruines of a woman: so likewise must the stupefaction of the hand of the Fisherman, be the Effect of certain Stupefactive Emanations, either immediately, or by the mediation of a staff or other continued body, transmitted thereunto from the offended Fish; which Emanations, by a Fa∣culty holding some neer Analogy to that of Opium Hyosciamus, and other strong Narcoticks or stupefactive Medicaments, do in a moment Dull and Fix the Spirits in the part, that they invade, and so make it Heavy, Sense∣less, and unfit for voluntary motion.

(11) But, how shall we get free of that Difficulty,* 1.53 wherein so many high-going Wits have been Gravell'd; the sudden arrest of a ship, under sail, by the small Fish Echineis, thereupon general called a Remora? We cannot expede our selves from it, by having recourse to any Fixing Emanations transmitted from the Fish to the ship; because the Motion thereof is not voluntary, but from External Impulse; nor hath the ship any spirits, or other Active principles of motion, that can be supposed capable of Alte∣ration by any influx whatever. Nor by alleaging any motion, contrary to that of the tide, winds, and oares, impressed upon the ship by the Remora; because, whatsoever kind of Impulse or Force can be imagined impressible upon it thereby: yet can it never be sufficient to impede and suppress the so violent motion thereof; insomuch as the Remora, neither adhaering to any rock, shelf, or other place more firme than the water, but only to the ship 〈◊〉〈◊〉

self, must want that fixation & Firmitude, that is inevitably necessary, when∣ever any thing doth stop, or move another thing of greater weight then it self. What then? shall we impeach of unfaithfulness all those Authentick Historians, who have recorded the suddain and prodigious Arrests of the ships of Peria••••er▪ A••tigonus, and Caius Caligula, in the middest of their Courses, though therein advantaged by the Conspiring impulses of Sa••ls and Oares? Not so neither; because many other vessels, as well before as since, have been stopped in the like manner: and there is in nature Another Cause, incomp••••ably more potent, and so more likely to have arrested them, than that 〈◊〉〈◊〉, small and weak Fish Echmeis; and that is the Con∣trary motion of the sea, which our Mariners ••who also have been often troubled with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 experiments of its Retropellent Force) call the Current; which is alwayes most strong and cumbersome in narrow and aufractuous Chanels. Wh••••h being scarce known to the Sea-men of those times, when Navigation and Hydrography were yet in their infancy, and few Pilots so expert, as to d••••••••minate the several Re-encounters, or Contrary Drifts of Waters in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••nd the same Creek or Arme of the Sea; when they found any 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••ddenly retarded and impeded in its course, they never conceived that ••••moration to arise from some Contrary Current of Wa∣ters in that pla•••• ••ut from some Impediment in the bottome or keel of the vesse•• ••t sel••. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••s ••hey searched there for it, if it hapned twice or thrice, that they 〈…〉〈…〉 small Fish, such as the Concha Veneris, or any other not 〈…〉〈…〉, adhaering to the lower part of the Rudder, or Keel; they instantly, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 without any examin••tion at all, whether so weak a cause might not be 〈…〉〈…〉 to so great an Effect, imputed the Remoration of the••r 〈…〉〈…〉. Historians, indeed, tell us, that the Admiral Galley, which ••••••ried the Emperour Caligula, in his last voyage to Rome, was unexpecte••▪ Ar••ested, in the middest of all his numerous Fleet; and that an 〈…〉〈…〉 found sticking to the bottom thereof: but they forgot to tell us, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 or no there were any other Fishes of the same kind af∣fixed to any 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the Galleys, that kept on their course; and we have good ••••ason 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••njecture, that there were, because very few ships are brought into 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and Docks to be carined, but have many small fishes, resembling 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ adhaering to their bottoms, as ourselves have more than once obse•••••••• in Holland. Besides, since, at Caligula's putting forth ••••om Astura 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Island Port, and steering his course for Antium, his Galley▪ as is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 custome of Admirals, kept up in the middle Chanell; 〈…〉〈…〉 encountred and opposed by some special current, or vio∣lent 〈…〉〈…〉 place, so streitly pent in on both sides by the situa∣tion o•• certain 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and Shelves, as that its greatest force was in one cer∣tain p••r•• o•• the ••••ane••l, and so not extensible to the other Galleys of his Navy, 〈…〉〈…〉 ••owed neerer to the shoars, and so rode upon free wa∣ter? 〈…〉〈…〉 are now adayes often Arrested by special Currents, in the 〈…〉〈…〉, whose Chanels are rocky, aufractuous, and vor∣ti••ou•• 〈…〉〈…〉 to frequent Eddies and strong Whirlepools; and neer 〈…〉〈…〉 every day behold the Contrary Drifts of ships by the 〈…〉〈…〉 in the same Arme of the Sea; some vessels being 〈…〉〈…〉 whether the sea runs out, while others rice toward 〈…〉〈…〉 sea run•• in.

(12) So unlimited is the Credulity of man,* 1.54 that some have gone farther yet from the bounds of Reason, and imagined a Second wonderful Faculty in the Remora, viz. the Praesagition of violent Death, or some eminent Disaster, to the chief person in the ship, which it arresteth. For, Pliny (lib. 9. cap. 25. & lib. 23. cap. 1.) will needs have it a Prodigy portending the murder of Caligula, which ensued shortly after his arrival at Rome from Astura: and that by the like arresting of the ship of Perianders Ambassa∣dors sent to obtain an edict for the Castration of all Noble youths, Nature did declare her high detestation of that Course so destructive to the way of Generation, that she had instituted for the Conservation of her noblest species. But, every man knows, how easie it is to make any sinister Ac∣cident the Omen of a tragical Event, after it hath happened: and that Pli∣nies Remark upon the inhuman Embassie, and succeeding Infortune of Pe∣rianders Messengers, would better beseem the ranging pen or tongue of an Orator, than the strict one of a Philosopher.

(13) Here,* 1.55 we should open and survey the whole Theatre of Venoms or Poisons, on one hand; and that of Antidotes or Counterpoisons, on the other: those operating to the Destruction, these to the Muniment and Con∣servation of Life; and both by such Qualities and wayes, as are generally both by Physiologists and Physitians, praesumed to be Occult, or beyond the investigation of Reason, and of which all that is known, is learned in the common School of Experience. But, worthily to examine the Nature of each particular Poison, among those many found in the lists of Ani∣mals, Vegetables, Minerals; and explicate the Propriety, by which its proper Antidote or Alexipharmacon doth encounter, oppose, conquer and expel it: must of necessity enlarge this Section into a Volume, besides the expence of more time, than what we have consigned to our whole Work. And, therefore, we hope our Reader will not conceive his expectation wholly frustrated, nor Curiosity altogether defrauded; though we now entertain Him only with the General Reasons, Why Poi∣sons are Hostile and Destructive, why Counterpoisons friendly and Con∣serva••ive of Life.

Gwoinus (de Venen. lib. 2. cap. 24.) we well remember,* 1.56 defines Venenum, Poison, to be [quod in corpus ingressum, vim infert, Naturae illamque vincit] That which being admitted into the body, offers violence to Nature, and conquers it. And, according to this Definition, by Poisons we understand not only such things, as bear a pernicious Enmity in particular to the temperament of the Heart, or that substance, wherein the Vital Faculty may be conceived principally and immediately to consist: but all such as are hostile and destructive to the tempe∣rament of the Brain, or any o••her Noble and Principal Organ of the body, so as by altering the requisite Constitution thereof, they subvert the aeconomy and ruine the frame of Nature, wherein the Disposition of the parts, to perform the Actions of Life, is radicated.

And that, wherein this Deleterious or Pernicious Faculty doth con∣sist,* 1.57 we conceive to be a certain Substance, which being communi∣cated or infused into any part of the body, though in very small quan∣tity, doth, by reason of the exceeding Subtility and violent Mobility or

Agility of the insensible particles, of which it is composed, most easily and expeditely transfuse or disperse it self through the whole body, consoci∣ate it self to the spirits, and invading the Heart, Brain, or other Principal Or∣gan, so alter the requisite Disposition or temperament and habit thereof, as to make it thenceforth wholly uncapable of performing the Functions or Actions of life, to which it was destined and framed; and by that means introduceth extreme Destruction.

Likewise, by Alexipharmacal Medicaments, or Counterpoisons, we un∣derstand,* 1.58 not such things, as have only a propitious and benign Friend∣ship particularly for the temperament of the Brain, Heart, or other Noble Organ in the body, and are therefore accounted specifically Auxiliant and Corroborative thereunto, in the Expulsion of ought, that is noxi∣ous and offensive unto it; because, in that sense, all Cardiacal, Cepha∣lical, and Specifically Corroborative Medicaments would be Alexite∣rial, and every peculiar Venome would not require its proper Anti∣venome, both which are contradicted by Experience: But, such things as are endowed with Faculties è diametro and directly Contrapug∣nant to Poisons, meerly as Poisons; For, divers things that are absolute Poisons of themselves, and would destroy, if taken alone by themselves, do yet become powerful Praeservatives and Antidotes against other poi∣sons, and afford suddain and certain relief to nature, when taken to oppose them. Thus Aconite, than which scarce any venome is more speedy and mortal in its operation upon a sound body, doth yet prove a praesent re∣medy to one bitten by a Scorpion, if drank in Wine: as Pliny hath observed (lib. 27. cap. 2.)

And that, wherein this Salutiferous Virtue of Antidotes doth consist, we conceive likewise to be a certain Substance,* 1.59 which being received into the body, though in small quantitie, doth with expedition diffuse it self throughout the same: and encountering the venome formerly admitted, and then operating, refract its energy, praevent its further violence, ex∣tinguish its operation, and at length either totally subdue, or totally educe it. For, All Alexipharmacal Remedies do not bring relief to nature, assaulted and oppressed by Poison, by one and the same way or manner of operation; some working by way of Repulsion, others by way of Abdu∣ction, others by way of Opposition and downright Conquest, when they are taken Inwardly: some by Retraction, others by Extinction, where they are applied Externally.

Thus Triacle, whose Basis or master ingredient is the Flesh of Vipers, doth cure a man empoisoned by the Biting of a Viper;* 1.60 only because, in respect of Consimilarity or Similitude of substance, it uniteth it self to the Venome of the Viper, which had before taken possession of and diffused it self throughout the body, and afterwards edu∣ceth the same together with it self, when it is expelled by sweat∣ing, procured by divers Cardiacal and Hidrotical, or Sudorifick Me∣dicaments commixt in the same Composition: no otherwise than as Soap, whose principal Ingredient is oil, doth therefore take off oily and greasie spots from Clothes; because, uniting it self unto a Cognate or Consimilar substance, the Oil or Fat adhaering to the Cloth, and so assisting its Dilution and Concorporation with the Water,

in which it self is dissolved; it carrieth the same away together with it self in the water, when that is expressed or wrung out by the hand of the Laundress. More plainly; As oyle is therefore commixed with Ashes, or Salt, in the composition of Soap, to the end it may not stain the Cloth anew, to which it is applyed, but being confused with the oil or Fat, wherewith the cloth was formerly stained, Abduce or carry off the same together with it self in the water, which is the Vehicle to both: so likewise is the Flesh of Vipers therefore commixt with so many Alexiterial Simples as concur to the Confection of Triacle, to the end it may by them be hindred from envenoming the body a new, but yet at the same time be so commixt with the Venome already diffused t••rough the body, as that when those Alexiterial Medicaments are by S••••at or otherwise educed from the body, carrying along with them th•• Venome of the Vipers flesh, to which they are individually conso∣ci••ted, they may also abduce or carry away that venome of the Vipers tooth, which was formerly diffused through the body. And this, we m••reover conceive, may be the General Reason not only of the Evacu∣at••on of Venomes by Sweat, where the Antidote works by Union and A••••uction; but also of the Evacuation of superfluous Humours by Elective 〈◊〉〈◊〉, or Purging Medicaments, that specifically educe this, or that Humor: for, it may be as lawfully said, that Like may be cured by Like, or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by Unlike; as that oil may be absterged by its Like, viz. the oil in So••p, and by something that is Unlike, viz. the Salt, or Water carrying 〈◊〉〈◊〉 o••l individually commixt with it.

Thus also doth the body of a Scorpion,* 1.61 being bruised and layed warm to t•••• part, which it hath lately wounded and envenomed, suddainly Retract, a••d so hinder the further Diffusion of the Poison that it had immitted in∣to the body; only because the Nervous and Fibrous parts of the Scorpi∣ons body bruised, by a motion of Vermiculation recontracting themselves, as Chords too much extended, and so retracting the Venome that yet remains adhaerent to them: do at the same time Extract that Consimilar Venome, that was infused into the wound. The same also may be conceived of the Cure of the venome of a Spider by the body of the Spider contused, and applied to the part envenomed: and of the Cure of the Biting of a Mad Dog, by the Liver of the same Dog, in like manner Contused and imposed.

Nor is it by way of Union and Abduction alone,* 1.62 that some Poysons become Antidotes against others; but also by that of direct Contrariety, Colluctation and Conquest: for, there being great Diversity of Venoms, some must be Contrapugnant to others; and whenever any two, whose Natures and Proprieties are Contrary one to the other, meet together, they must instantly encounter and combate each other, and at last the Activity of the Weaker submit to that of the stronger, while Nature acting the part of a third Combatant, observes the advantage, and com∣ing in with all her forces to the assistance of her Enemies Enemie, com∣pletes the Victory, and delivers Her self from the danger. Besides, we have the testimony of Experience, that Divers men have fortified their bodies against the assault and fury of some Poisons, by a gradual As∣suefaction of them to others, as Mithridates, and the Attick old Wo∣man, &c.

* 1.63Hence we remember Another considerable Secret concerning Poisons, much disputed of in the School of Physitians; viz. Whence comes it, that not only sundry Particular Persons, but even Whole Nations have fedd upon venemous Animals and Plants, without the least of harm, nay with this benefit, that they have thereby so familiarized Poisons to their own Na∣ture, as that they needed no other Praeservative against the danger of the strongest Poison, but that Venenate one of their own Temperament? Where∣to, we Answer, in a word, that that Tyrant, Custome, alone challengeth the honour of this wonder; such men having, by sensible degrees, or slow ad∣vance from lesser to greater Doses of Poisons, so changed the temperament and habit of their bodies, that the wildest Venoms degenerated into whole∣some Aliments, and Poisons were no more Poisons to them, than to the Animals themselves, which Generate and contain them. Which duely considered, we have little reason to doubt the verity of Galens relation (de theriaca ad Pison.) of the Marsi, and Aegyp••ians, whose ordinary Diet was Serpents: or of the like in Pliny (lib. 6. cap. 29.) concerning the Psyllae, Tintyritae, and Candei, who were all ophiophagi, or Serpent-Eaters: or of Theophrastus his story (lib. 9. de histor. animal. cap. 18.) of certain Shep∣herds in Thrace, who made their grand Sallads of white Hellebor: or of Avicens (lib. 4. sen. 6. tract. 1. cap. 6.) of a certain Wench, who living upon no other Viands but Toads, Serpents, and other the strongest poisons, and mostly upon that of Napellus, became of a Nature so prodigiously virulent, that she outpoisoned the Basilisk, kissed several Princes to death, and to all those unhappy Lovers, whom her rare beauty had invited to her bed, her Embraces proved as f••tal, as those of Iupiter armed with his thun∣der, are feigned to have been to femele: or of Iul. Caes. Scaligers (Exercit. 175.) concerning the Kings son of Cambaia, who being educated with di∣vers sorts of poisons from his infancy, had his temperament thereby made so inhumane and trans••endently Deleterious, that He destroyed Flyes only with his breath, kille•• several women with his first nights Courtship, and pistol∣led his Enemies with his Spittle; like the serpent Ptyas, that quickly re∣solves a man into his originary Dust, only by Inspuition, as Galen reports (de theriaca ad Pison. cap. 8.)

The Rear of this Division of Secrets concerning Animals, belongs to the ARMARIE or MAGNETICK UNGUENT,* 1.64 and its Cousin German, the SYMPATHETICK POWDER, or Roman Vitriol calcined; both which are in high esteem with many, especially with the Disciples of Para••••lsus, Cro••lius, Goclenius, and Helmont, all which have laboured hard to assert their Virtue in the Cure of Wounds, at great di∣stance, either the Unguent, or Powder being applyed only to the weapon, wherewith the wound was made, or to some piece of Wood, Linnen, or other thing, to which any of the blood, or purulent matter issuing from the wound, doth ••••haere. Concerning those, therefore, we say, in short; (1) That notwithstanding the stories of wounds supposed to have been cured by Hoplochrism, both with the Unguent and Vitriol, are innumerable; yet is not that a suffi••••ent Argument to convince a circumspect and wary judg∣ment, that either o•• them is impowered with such a rare and admirable Vir∣tue, as their admire•••• praesume: because many of those stories may be Fa∣bulous; and were the several Instances or Experiments of their Unsuccess∣fulness summed up ••nd alledged to the contrary, they would, doubtless, by incomparable excesses overweigh those of their successfulness, and soon

counter-incline the minds of men to a suspicion at least of Error, if not of Imposture in their Inventors and Patrons. (2) Though the Examples of their success were many more than those of their Failing; yet still would it be less reasonable for us to flye to such remote, obscure, imaginary Faculties, as do not only transcend the capacity of our Understanding, but openly con∣tradict that no less manifest than general Axiome, Nihil agere in rem di∣stantem: than to have recourse to a proxime, manifest, and real Agent, such as daily producing the like and greater Effects by its own single pow∣er, may justly challenge the whole honour of that Sanative Energy to it self, which the fraud of some, and incircumspection of others have unduly ascribed to the Unguent, or Sympathetick Powder: We mean, the Vital (if you please, you may call it, the Animal, or Vegetative) Faculty it self; which rightly performing the office of Nutrition, doth by the continual apposition of the Balsam of the Blood, to the extremes of the small Veins, and to the Fibres in the wound, repair the lost flesh, consolidate the Disu••••∣ted parts, and at length induce a Cicatrice thereupon. For, common Ex∣perience demonstrateth, that in men of temperate Diet and euchymical bodies, very deep and large wounds are many times soon healed of them∣selves; i. e. meerly by the goodness of Nature it self, which being vigo∣rous, and of our own provision furnished with convenient means, wholesom and assimilable Blood, doth every moment freshly apply it to the part that hath suffered solution of Continuity, and thereby redintegrate the same: especially when those Impurities generated by putrefaction in the wound, which might otherwise be impediments to Natures work of Assimilation and Consolidation, are removed by the Detersive and Adstrictive Faculty of the Salt in the Urine, wherewith the wound is daily to be washed, according to the praescript of our Sympathetical Chirons. Nor is this more than what Dogs commonly do, when by licking their wounds clean, and moist∣ning them with the saltish Humidity of their tongues; they easily and spee∣dily prove their own Chirurgeons. (3) The Basis or Foundation of Hoplo∣chrism is meerly Imaginary and Ridiculous; for, the Assertors thereof ge∣nerally dream of a certain Anima Mundi, or Common Soul in the World, which being diffused through all parts of the Universe, doth constantly trans∣ferr the Vulnerary Virtue of the Unguent, & Vitriol, from the Extravenated blood adhaering to the weapon or cloth, to the wound, at any distance what∣ever, and imbuing it therewith, strongly assist Nature in the Consolidation of the Disunion. But, insomuch as this Anima Mundi, according to their own wild supposition, ought to be praesent to all other wounds in the world, no less than to that, from which the blood, whereunto the Unguent, or Vitriol is applied, was derived: therefore would it cure all other wounds, as well as that particular one; since it interveneth betwixt that wound and the Unguent or Vitriol, by no more special reason, than betwixt them and all other wounds; unless it can be proved, that some other special thing is trans∣mitted to that particular wound from the Unguent, and that by local motion through all points of the intermediate spaces successively;* 1.65 which they will by no arguments be induced to concede.

This Verdict, I praesume, was little expected from Me, who have, not many years past, publickly declared my self to be of a Contrary judgment; written profestly in Defence of the cure of wounds, at distance, by the Mag∣netick, or Sympathetick Magick of the Weapon-Salve; and Powder of Cal∣cined Vitriol; and excogitated such Reasons of my own, to support and

explicate the so generally conceded and admired Efficacy of Both, as seemed to afford greater satisfaction to the Curious, in that point, than the Ro∣mantique Anima Mundi of the Fraternity of the Rosy-Cross, the Analogi∣cal Magnetism of Helmont, or, indeed, than any other whatever formerly invented and alledged. And, therefore, to take off my Reader from all ad∣miration thereat, it is necessary for me here to profess; that the frequent Experiments I have, since that time, made, of the downright Inefficacy and Unsuccessfulness as well of the Armary Unguent, as Sympathetick Powder, even in small, shallow, and in dangerous Wounds; my discovery of the lightness and invalidity of my own and other mens Reasons, adferred to ju∣stifie their imputed Virtues, and abstruse wayes of operation; and the grea∣ter Probability of their opinion, who charge the Sanation of wounds, in such cases, upon the sole benignity and Consolidative Energy of Nature it self: these Arguments, I say, have now fully convinced me of, and wholly Converted me from that my former Error. And glad I am of this fair op∣portunity, to let the world know of my Recantation: having ever thought my self strictly obliged, to praefer the interest of Truth, infinitely above that of Opinion▪ how plausible and splendid soever, and by whomsoever conceived and asserted; to believe, that Constancy to any unjustifiable Conception, after clear Conviction, is the most shameful Pertinacity, a sin against the very Light of Nature, and never to be pardoned in a profest Votary of Candor and Ingenuity; and to endeavour the Eradication of any Unsound and Spurious Tenent, with so much more of readiness and sedulity, by how much more the unhappy influence of my Pen, or Tongue hath, at any time, contributed to the Growth and Authority thereof.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Art. 1. That the Insen∣sibility of Qua∣lities doth not import their Vnintelligibili∣ty; contrary to the presumpti∣on of the Ari∣stotelean.
• * 1.2

  Art. 2. Upon what grounds; and by wh••m, the Sanctuary of Occult Qualities was erected.
• * 1.3

  Art. 3. Occult Qualities and profest Ig∣norance, all one.
• * 1.4

  Art. 4. The Refuge of Sympathies and Antipathies, equally ob∣structive to the advance of Natural Sci∣ence, with that of Igno••e Pro∣prieties.
• * 1.5

  Art. 5. Thatall Attra∣ction, referred to Secret Sym∣pathy; and all Repulsion, ad∣scribed to se∣cret Antipathy, betwixt the Agent and Pa∣tient, is effect∣ed by Corporeal Instruments, and such as resem∣ble those, whereby one body Attract∣eth, or Repel∣leth another, in sensible and mechanique operations.
• * 1.6

  Art. 6. The Means of Attractions sympathetical, explicated by a convenient Simile.
• * 1.7

  Art. 7. The Means of Abaction and Repulsions Antipathetical, explicated likewise by sundry simili∣tudes.
• * 1.8

  Art. 8. The First and General Ca••ses of all Love and Hatred, betwixt Animals.
• * 1.9

  Art. 9. Why things Alike in their natures, love and delight in the Society each of other: and why Vn∣like natures ab∣hor and avoid each other.
• * 1.10

  Art. 1. Th•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Qualit•••• (re¦pu••ed) ••ccult.
• * 1.11

  Art. 2. Natures 〈…〉〈…〉 in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 or C••••••piration of all parts of the Universe; no Occult Qua∣l••ty.
• * 1.12

  Art. 3. The 〈…〉〈…〉 of mans will.
• * 1.13

  Art. 4. The Afflux and Reflux of the s••a, inderiva∣tive from any immaterial In∣flux of the Moon.
• * 1.14

  Art. 5. 〈…〉〈…〉 of 〈…〉〈…〉 and ••••nversion of ••he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and other Flowers.
• * 1.15

  Art. 6. Why Garden Claver hide••h it s••alk, in the heat of the day.
• * 1.16

  Art. 7. Why the 〈…〉〈…〉 usu∣ally 〈◊〉〈◊〉 soon after mid∣night; and at break o•• day.
• * 1.17

  Art. 8. Why Shell∣fish growe fat, in the Full of the moon, and lean again at the New.
• * 1.18

  Art. 9. Why the Selenites re∣sembles the Moon in all not several A••∣spects.
• * 1.19

  Art. 10. Why the 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.20

  Art. 11. 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.21

  Art. 12. A COROL∣LARY. Why the Gra∣nules of Gold and Silver, though much more pond∣rous then those of the Aqua Regis and Aqua For∣tis, wherein they are dis∣solved, are yet held up, and kept floating by them.
• * 1.22

  Art. 13. The Cause of the Attraction of a Less Flame by a Greater.
• * 1.23

  Art. 14. The Cause of the Inv••••ation of flame to Naphtha, at distance.
• * 1.24

  Art. 15. Of the Ascenti∣on of Water in∣to the pores of a Spunge.
• * 1.25

  Art. 16. The same il∣l••strated by the example of a Syphon.
• * 1.26

  Art. 17. The reason of the Percolation of Liquors, by a cloth whose one end lieth in the liquor, and other hangs over the brim of the vessel, that contains it.
• * 1.27

  Art. 18. The reas•••• of the 〈…〉〈…〉, that ar•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.28

  Art. 19. The reason of the Discent be∣twixt Lute∣strings of sheeps Guts, and those of Woolfs.
• * 1.29

  Art. 20. The tradition of the Con∣suming of all Feathers of Foul, by those of the Eagle; exploded.
• * 1.30

  Art. 21. Why some certain Plants befriend, and advance the growth and fruitfulness of others, that are their neigh∣bours.
• * 1.31

  Art. 22. Why s••me Plants thrive 〈…〉〈…〉 of some others.
• * 1.32

  Art. 23. The ••••ason of the great Frie••dship be∣twix•• the Male and Fe∣ma••e Palm-trees.
• * 1.33

  Art. 24. Why all ••••ines grow ••ick and turbid, during the sea••on wherein th•• Vines Fl••wer and Bud.
• * 1.34

  Art. 25. That the ••••∣stilled waters of Orange flow∣ers, and Roses, doe not take any thing of their fragran∣cy, during ••he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of those 〈◊〉〈◊〉; as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vulgarly be∣lieved.
• * 1.35

  Art. 1. Why this 〈…〉〈…〉 only some 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.36

  Art. 2. 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.37

  Art. 〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.38

  Art. 4. 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.39

  Art. 5. The Cause of the ••••est 〈…〉〈…〉 Carca•••• of a mu••the••ed man 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the praesence and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the H••mi••ia••
• * 1.40

  Art. 6. How the Basi∣lisk doth em∣poyson and destroy, at di∣stance
• * 1.41

  Art. 8. 〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.42

  Art. 9. 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.43

  Art. 10. W••y ••••••ers Tarantia••al Persons are af∣fected and cured with Divers T••n••s, and the mu∣sick of divers Instruments.
• * 1.44

  Art. 11. Th••t ••••e ve∣nome of the Tarantula doth produce the same effect in the body of a man; is it doth in that of the Taran∣tula it self: and why.
• * 1.45

  Art. 12. That the Ve∣n••m of the Tarantula is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 H••mor and such as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 capable of S••••nds.
• * 1.46

  Art 13. That it causeth an ••ncessent itching and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••itillation 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Nervous and Musculous par••s of mans body, when in∣fused into it, and ••erment∣ing ••n ••t.
• * 1.47

  Art. 14. The cause of the Annual Re∣cidivation of the Tarantism, till it be per∣fectly cured.
• * 1.48

  Art. 15. A Conjecture, what kind of Tun••••▪ Strain•• and Notes seem most accom∣modate to the Cure of Taran∣tiacal Person•• i•• the General.
• * 1.49

  Art. 16. The Reason of the Incantation of Serpents, by a rod of the Cornus.
• * 1.50

  Art. 17. DI••RES∣SION. That the 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.51

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.52

  Art. 19. 〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.53

  Art. 20. That ships are 〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.54

  Art. 21. That the E∣chineis, or Remora is not Ominous.
• * 1.55

  Art. 22. Why this place admits not of more than a General ••••quest into the Faculties of Po••••ons and Counterpoisons.
• * 1.56

  Art. 23. Poisons defi∣ned.
• * 1.57

  Art. 24. Wherein the Deleterious F••∣culty of Poi∣son doth con∣sist.
• * 1.58

  Art. 25. Counterpoisons Defined.
• * 1.59

  Art. 26. Wherein their Salutifer••us Virtue doth consist.
• * 1.60

  Art. 27. How Triacle cureth the ve∣nome of Vipers
• * 1.61

  Art. 28. How the body of a Scorpion, bruised and laid warm up∣on the par••, which it hath lately wound∣ed and enve∣nomed; doth cure the same.
• * 1.62

  Art. 29. That some Poisons are Antidotes a∣gainst others by way of di∣rect Contrariety
• * 1.63

  Art. 30. Why sundry particular men, and some whole Nations have ••ed upon Poisonous Ani∣mals and Plants, with∣out harm.
• * 1.64

  Art. 31. The A ma•••• Vrg••••••••, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 P••wder, im∣••ugned
• * 1.65

  Art. 32. The Au••••ors Retraction of his quondam De••ence of the Magnetick C••re of W unds, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in his P••o••egomena to He••m••nts Book of that subject and title.