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CHAP. XI. The Essay of a Meteor. (Book 11)

1. A vapour raised from the heat of water differs from that which is made by cold. 2. That Air is not made of water. 3. That air can nei∣ther by art or nature be brought into water. 4. That the Air doth not subsist without an actuall vacuum or emptiness. 5. It is proved by Han∣dicraft operation, that the subtilizing or rarefying of Art, however ex∣act or fine it be, is nothing but a sifting. 6. By handy operation the same thing is shewen in the sifting or making of leaf-Gold. 7. The water is examined by three proportionable things, and the Doctrine of necessity in the highest degrees of cold of the middle Region of the Air is deliver∣ed. 8. The likeness of Mercury with water. 9. The nature of Mercury. 10. The rashness of antient Chymists, concerning Mercury. 11. That earth and water are never made one thing by any co-mixture. 12. How art exceedes nature. 13. The Earth is properly the fruit of the two primary Elements. 14. A neere Reason of an uncapacity in Mercury, of being destroyed. 15. Aquae fortesses do not operate upon the Center of Mer∣cury. 16. Nor the Spirit of Sea-salt, upon the body of it. 17. The inward Sulphur of Mercury. 18. How water may give a weight more weighty than it self. 19. After what manner there is an ordi∣nary piercing of Bodies in the way of nature. 20. In the way of nature, there are not the three first things, although in its own simpleness there is a conceivable difference of kinde, which is to receive the Seedes. 21. Smoak is meer water. 22. Why Clouds do stink. 23. What the Dew is. 24. What a mist is. 25. Wherefore it behooved the Air in the middle Region of the Air to be cold. 26. In this cold, all seeds se∣perated by Atomes or Motes, do die, and therefore the water returns into the simplicity of its own Element: but in Earth and Water, if things are spoiled of their seed, they do not return unto that simplicity: but do conceive a new seed. 27. By Handicraft operation the errour of Pa∣racelsus is laid open. 28. The errour of the Galenists about the savours of things Elementated. 29. What the Gas of the water is. 30. The un∣constancy of Paracelsus concerning the seperation of Elements from Elements.

IT is already sufficiently manifest, that the water by the force of heat, is lifted up in manner of a vapour, which vapour nevertheless, is nothing but water made [unspec 1] thin, and remains as before; and therefore being retorted or struck back by an Alem∣bick, it returns into its antient weight of water. Yet it may be doubted, whether wa∣ter consumed by the cold of the air, is not changed into the nature and properties of air. Because after the floud, the Almighty sent the windes, that they might dry the face of the Earth. And even unto this day, water is sooner supt up under the most cold North, than in Summer heats. Also a Fountain falling into a place or Vessel of Stone or Marble, under the most chilled cold, with a continuall Gulf, the motion of the steep falling Fountain, hinders indeed the water from congealing; yet a certain vapour is seen to ascend, which being straightway invisible, is snatched away in the Air.

That which is presupposed, is, that the every way nature of air, is at least, consumed by cold, if not by heat. First of all I answer; that absurdity being granted, the [unspec 2] Schooles in the first place, have not any thing for themselves from thence, that there∣fore, the air, by it self, should be moyst: so far is it that the air (as they determine) should be far moyster than the water. Because it is at least, water dried up. For that which is transchanged, doth alwayes loose the properties which it had in the terme

or bound [from which] and borroweth the qualities of the thing transchanging. For however, either the whole air was sometimes water, or that onely should be moyst, which was born of water: but the other first-born air, should be dry from its Creation. And so there should be two aires essentially different. But that the air in its own purity, is dry by an inward property, it appeares from the objection of the aforesaid cold: because if the air from its Root were moyst, windes had not been sent to dry the Earth. But if indeed through the windes, the waters of the floud were truly changed into air, there should be much more air after the floud than before. Consequently, either some part of the World had been empty, or cer∣tainly, now by reason of a pressing together, and thickning caused by a new air of so great an heap, we should be choaked (which thing shall hereafter be manifested, by the handicraft operation of a Candle) or an equall part of air ought successively to had been annihilated or brought to nothing, under the generation of so great a new air. For the Text will have it, that so deep waters, and the whole superficies of the Earth also, was dryed by the windes. Or if before the floud, the waters had been air in the floud-gates of Heaven; in like manner therefore in the whole floud, there had been an emptiness in those floud-gates of Heaven: to wit, if the water be thicker and more condensed by a hundred fold at least, than the air.

Therefore, I lay it down for a position, That the water doth never perish, indeed not through cold, or that it can be changed, by any endeavours of nature or art; and [unspec 3] likewise, that the air in no ages, or by no dispositions (not so much as in one onely small drop) can be reduced into water. For the water doth not endure an empti∣ness, as neither the co-pressing of it self, in being pressed together by any moover. Onely it is pressed together in a seminall in-thickning, through a formal transchang∣ing of it self.

But on the contrary, the air cannot subsist without a Vacuum or emptiness, (which thing I will prove in its Chapter) and therefore it suffers an enlarging [unspec 4] and straightning of it self. Therefore there are two stable Elements, differing in nature and properties among themselves; because it is impossible for them to be changed into each other. I confess indeed, that out of the Stone-Vessel of a Foun∣tain, a watery exhalation doth ascend like a mist, from the smallest Atomes of the water; which exhalation, although departing but a little from thence, it be made altogether invisible, it doth not therefore corrupt the Doctrine delivered. For truly of one equall agent, there is one onely, and equall action. Wherefore, if cold doth first change the water into an icy exhalation, the same cold cannot afterwards have another action upon that exhalation, than of more extenuating and dispersing the same; so as that through its fineness, it may soon be made invisible; And afterwards may be made more and more fine. For neither could the hundredth extenuation of the same exhalation, more transchange the water, than the first. Because it is an Element and Body, impossible, by its appointment, to be reduced into a greater sim∣plicity: [unspec 5] since subtilizing made by the division of parts, is nothing but a certain simple shifting. For example, Beat Gold into Plates, and then into the thinnest leaves, but thence into the Gold of Painters; straightway again, make it smooth or [unspec 6] plain, in a Marble Morter. And then with minium or red Lead, and Salt, bring it into an impalpable, or exceeding fine Powder; seperate the minium by the fire, and wash away the Salt with water, and repeat or renew it often as thou listest: At length, also with Sal armoniac, Stibium, and Mercurie Sublimate, drive it through a retort; and renew that seven times, that the whole Gold may be brought into the form of a flitting Oil of a light red colour. For it is a very smooth, yea and a hard, sound, that which may be hammered, and a most fixed Body, which now seemeth to be turned into the nature of an Oil. But truly that dissembled Liquor, is easily reduced into its former weight and body of Gold. What if therefore Gold doth not change its antient nature, by so many manglings; nor doth by any meanes loose its own seed; much lesse doth water, a thing appointed for a simple Element by the Lord of things, for the upholding of the Universe. Although water should be po∣tent in the three divulged Beginnings, and should truly consist in Salt, Sulphur, and Mercurie, mingled together: yet it suffers no seperation of the same things, by rea∣son of the most exquisite simpleness of its nature, and the most firm continuance of its constancy. For Bodies when they are made subtile or fine to the utmost, that they could be no more fine; if they should continue in making them fine, at length they depart into another substance; with a retaining of their seminall properties. And in

this respect, the Alkahest of Paracelsus, by piercing all Bodies of nature, trans∣changeth them by making them subtile. Which happens not in the Elements, Wa∣ter and Air; because, by reason of their highest simplicity, and priority of their ap∣pointment, they refuse to passe, or to be transchanged into any thing that is before, or more simple than themselves. Therefore when exhalations being gotten with child by the odours or smells, and seeds of compound Bodies, are translated from the lower parts to the middle Region of the air: there, through the most subtile dividing of the vapours by cold, as much as is possible for nature to do, they are reduced indeed, into their most simple and primitive purity of Elementary water: but in that last sub-division of their finenesses and Atomes, all Seeds, Odours, and Ferments, which they lifted upward with themselves, do dye together, and do return into their first Element of water whence they were materially formed. Hence Clowdes, as long as they are Clowdes, do stink in Mountains: but not after they are by the greatest colds, there extenuated into the last division of fineness. And this necessity hath been in nature, that the middle Region of the air should (not far of from us) be most cold. For therefore the water alwayes remains whole as it is, or without any dividing of the three beginnings, it is transformed and goes into fruits, whither the Seedes do call and withdraw it. Because an artificial diligent search hath shewen me indeed, after what sort, the three first beginnings, and that in a proportionable sense, are in the water, yet by no art, or corruption of dayes, are they to be divided from each other. For an Element should cease to be a simple body, if it be to be seperated into any thing before, or more simple than it self. But nothing in corporeall things is granted to be before, or more simple than an Element.

The water therefore, is most like to the internall Mercurie of Mettalls; the which, [unspec 8] seeing it is now stript of all manner of spot of Mettalick Sulfur, it as well cleaves to it self on every side, by an undissolvable joyning, as it doth radically refuse all possi∣ble division by art or nature. Hence Geber had occasion given him to say, that there is no moysture in the order or course of things, like to Mercury, by reason of the Ho∣mogeneall or samely kinde of simplicity continually remaining with it in the tor∣ment of the fire. For truly either it being wholly changed in its own nature, flees away from the fire; or it wholly perseveres in the fire through the transchanging of its seedes. I confess indeed that I learned the nature of the Element of water, no otherwise than under the Ferule or Staffe made of the white wand of Mercury. But since I have from hence, with great pains and cost, thorowly searched for thirty whole years, and I have found out the adequate or suitable Mercurie of the water; I will therefore endeavour to explain its nature, so far as the present speech requireth, and the slenderness of my judgement suffereth.

First of all, the Alchymists do confess, that the substance of Mercurie is not at all capable to endure any intrinsecall or inward division, and they shew the cause: be∣cause [unspec 9] by a homogeneall and sweet proportion, its watery parts, are by an equall tem∣pering conjoyned to its earthly parts (the aiery and fiery ones, being suppressed in silence, for that these should flee away, if they were in it, neither do they contain the cause of constancy here required) and therefore that both these cannot forsake each other, by reason of their just temperature, they embracing each other, though against the fires will.

In the first place, the errour of the auntients hath deluded them, concerning the [unspec 10] necessary confluence of four Elements into the mixture of mixt bodies. But surely, that errour was not to be indulged by Alchymists: because they are those, who durst not enforce or comprise the air and fire of Mercurie, when as they treated of its constancy. And then, because it was very easie for them to experience, that the wa∣ter, after what manner soever, either by art, or natural proportion, it was married to the Earth, yet that it never obtains a constancy in the fire, as neither to be at any time truly radically joyned to the Earth: Because water, after what manner soever it be co-mixed with Earth, ceaseth not to be water. For neither shall manner or pro∣portion [unspec 11] ever make water to degenerate from its own essence, as neither shall any conjoyning of it with Earth, be able to procure that thing. But water remaining water, is born, alwayes to flee away from the fire. Surely it is a ridiculous thing, that the water should rather love a proportioned weight of Earth, than an unequall one, and that, for that loves sake, it should against its will, the rather forsake that tempe∣rament of Earth. For truly when the speech is concerning the co-mingling of four Elements, it is understood of pure Elements, and those plainly unmixed together,

and so not defiled, with any spot of mixture, or otherwise prevented by any disposi∣tion. For neither doth the water carry a ballance with it, nor beares a respect as to weigh the Earth that is to be co-mixed with it, that it may be the more toughly con∣joyned to the same. I greatly admire, that the wan errour of the co-mixing of Ele∣ments being received, hath brought forth such so••tish absurdities among all the Schooles, and that they by that absurdity alone, have locked the gate of finding out of Sciences and Cau•• Mercurie doth not indeed admit into it, or contain so m••ch as the least of earth, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is alwayes the Son of water alone. Yea earth and wa∣ter can never be compelled into any naturall body, or be subdued into an identity or sameliness of forme, by whatever skill that thing be attempted: For T••les or Bricks, if from moyst Earth they are boiled into a shelly stone, they do not receive water, but for the guidance of the Clay: but earth hath a seed in its own Salt, whence the Clay becomes stony through the coction of Glasse-making. There∣fore of the water and earth, there is onely a powring on, and applying of parts; but not an admixture of growing together. For whatsoever is meet to depart into a compounded Body, and of divers things, to be converted into [this something] this must needes be done by the endeavour of the working Spirits, and so far, of those things that do contain them, as they do promote the matter by transchanging it into a new generation. But the Elements are Bodies, but not spirits, and much lesse do they also act into each other. The Earth therefore, ought first to loose its Being, and be reduced into a juyce, before it should marry the water, that by embra∣cing this water gotten with childe by the seed, it might bring it over into the fruit ordained for the conceived seed. But what agent should that be, which should trans∣port the earth into a juyce, and not rather into water? since the earth being a simple body, should be changed into nothing but into a simple body its neighbour? Surely another co-like Element should not cause that; seeing nothing of like sort, hath been hitherto seen to agree with the water or air. Nor, at length, should the earth in∣tend the corruption of it self, since this resisteth the constancy of Creation. There∣fore [unspec 12] although part of the earth may be homogeneally or by way of simplicity of kinde, reduced into water by art; yet by nature onely, I deny that thing to be done: seeing that, in nature, an agent is wanting, by which agent alone, onely mediating, the Virgin-earth, or true earth, is reduced into Salt, and from thence into water.

Let it be for a Lesson to Chymists; That the Earth, although it was in its first constitution, created, yet properly it is even a fruit of the water. Therefore neither [unspec 13] do generations or co-mixtures ever happen in nature, but by a getting of the water with childe. And so that as long as the water is chief in the seed, never any gene∣ration proceedeth from thence. Therefore much lesse, is there a flowing compound body to be exspected from thence; because it resisteth the fruitfulness of the fire. And that thing least of all, as oft as water and earth are mutually connexed to their own bodies. Therefore the constancy of bodies is onely in the fire, in the family of Mineralls, and indeed most perfect in the purest Mettalls. Because the Eternall, hath not created moysture to be ••••kened in its constancy, to metallick Mercurie. And [unspec 14] therefore there is in Mercurie it self, even as in the Elements, a near reason of an un∣capacity to be destroyed. For truly I have discerned in Mercurie, a certain outward Sulphur, containing the originall spot of Mettall; the which, because it is originall, therefore is it also taken away from it, with difficulty. Which at length, never∣theless, being seperated by art, skilful men say, that the Mercurie is cleansed of a su∣perfluous Sulphur, and superfluous moysture. Because afterwards, it may not by a∣ny fire be precipitated or cast into the form of Earth, by reason of its greatest simple∣ness, whereby it is compared to the Element of water. For it hath lost its earth, that is its Sulphur, which earth in the center of its essence, is no less from the Element of water, than its remaining refined Mercurie, which earth, albeit, it had from its first beginning most deeply co-mixed with it self. If therefore the Mercury in its former state, had a suitable temperament of earth and water: therefore at leastwise, after the taking away of that Sulphurous earth, it had lost its an••ient uncapacity of being devided, the which rather, by a contrary disposition of relation, it ha••h hence-forward c••nfirmed far more firm to it self for ever. For Mercurie, after it is spoiled of that Sulphur, is found not to be changed by any fire: because it is the Mercurie of Mercurie. But the Sulphur is death and life, or the dwelling place of life in things: to wit, in the Sul∣phur, are the Fermen••s or leavens, putrifactions by continuance, o ••ours, specificall savours of the seedes, for any kinde of transmutations. The Mercurie therefore be∣ing

cleansed of its originall spot, and being a Virgin, doth not suffer it self to be any more laid hold on by Sulphurs or seeds; but it straight-way consumeth, and as it were slayeth these, except its own compeere. For other sublunary bodies, are to weak, that they should subdue, pierce, change, or defile Mercurie of so great worth: Even as it well happens in other bodies, where the seed which lurketh in the Sulphur, sends it self into water. But the Salt and Mercurie of things, as it were womanish juyces, do follow the conceptions of the Sulphur.

For Aqua fortis is not wrought upon Mettalls, or Mercurie, but by the beholding [unspec 15] of the Sulphur. For the spirit of Sea-salt, without the conjoyning of some embryo∣nated or imperfect shaped Sulphur, doth not therefore so much as dissolve the [unspec 16] common peoples Mercurie. Therefore the Sulphur onely is by adjuncts immedi∣ately dissolved, and changed by the fire; which successive change, the other parts of the compounded body do afterwards undergoe, not but for the Sulphurs sake. Therefore Mercurie of Mercurie, or in Mercurie, remaineth safe, as well in fires as in its Liquor the air. Otherwise, if a Corrosive matter should touch on that Mercurie, the pains of many might happily be recompenced: Because the whole Root of trans∣mutations is in the Sulphur.

Therefore there is another Sulphur of Mettalls, internall to Mercurie it self, and [unspec 17] therefore it remains untouched by every corrosive thing, no lesse, than from the de∣structions of fire and air. Yea a totall ruine of things should follow, if every thing dissolving should pierce into the innermost Root of dissolving. And although Silver dissolved in Aqua fortis may seem to have perished, as being in the form of a water; yet it remains in its former essence: Even as Salt dissolved in water, is, remaineth Salt, and is fetched from thence, without the changing of the Salt. Which thing surely should not thus come to passe, if the thing dissolving, should in the least be joyned in dissolving, and should not be stayed by the Mercurie of that composed body. Therefore the inward kernel of the Mercurie, is not touched by dissolvers, and much lesse is it pierced by them.

But the ignorant being astonished at the novelty of the Paradox, will urge: If [unspec 18] the water be not pressed together, nor its parts go to ruine, and Gold be of water a∣lone, whence therefore have Gold or Lead their weight? For truly, water hath not pores, bigger by ten fold than the whole water. In the first place, as this doubt doth not take away doubts, so it argues nothing against the matter of Gold, to be taken from water onely. For truly, if Gold should be of four proportioned Elements: and air and fire are light ones: I therefore may likewise object, from whence hath Gold its weight? But if it consist onely of Earth and water, from whence hath Gold its ten fold weight? Therefore an argument which of it self doth not drive away difficulties, doth nothing presse the adversaries. But since it behooves an In∣terpreter of nature to be ready to search into, and render the causes of nature; I will shew from the premises, that the seed of Gold hath a power of transchanging the water into [this something] which is far different from water. Wherefore it is a∣greeable to nature and reason, that in transmutation, the water doth sustain as much pressing together, going to ruine, and aduniting, as great Stones or Mettalls do over∣poyse the water in weight, and as much as the necessity of the seed doth require: Because that, of nothing, nothing is made. Therefore weight is made of another body weighing even so much; in which there is made a transmutation as of the matter, so also of the whole essence. Therefore the water, while it undergoes the lawes of the seed, it is also bound to the precepts of the dimensions of its own weight, co-thickning, and going to ruine. For if the water of its own accord flies up, out∣flees the sight, in the shew of a vapour a hundred fold lighter than it self, and yet remains water; why shall not the water, while it is made, [this something] neither is any longer formally water, also receive thicknesses greater than it is wont, by ten fold? for indeed on both sides, the matter doth follow the properties of the seedes. Therefore the liberty of nature is perpetuall, of its own accord, to cause, and to suf∣fer the pressings together of a watery body, and will not undergoe those by any guidance of an Artificer; yea Mountains are sooner overturned by Gun-powder. Therefore there shall be sixteen parts of water pressed together into the room of one part, where Gold is framed of water.

Wherefore, so far is it, that the piercing of dimensions becomes impossible, seeing that nothing is more natural or home-bred to nature, than to co-thicken the body [unspec 19] of the water: but indeed, although there may something appear in the water like [unspec 20]

to the three first things, yet also there is no hope that they should be rent asunder from each other, because in the every way simplicity of the water, an adequate or suitable Sulphur is after a certain sort hidden, which cannot be seperated from the other two, but they all do accompany together. Those are not the three true Prin∣ciples, which are abstracted or seperated onely by the Imagination. The water therefore, since it doth on every side vary off-Springs according to the diversity of their seedes; thus so many kindes of Earths, Mineralls, Salts, Liquors, Stones, Plants, living Creatures, and Meteors, do rise up in their particular kindes, from the blast or inspiration of the seedes. For the water putrifies by continuance, in the Earth, is made the juyce of the Earth, Gums, Oyl, Rosin, Wood, Berries, &c. and that which of late, was nothing but water materially, now burns, and sends forth a fume or smoak.

Not indeed, that that fume is air, but is either a vapour, or a drie exhalation, and a [unspec 21] new fruit of the water, not yet appointed to be wholly turned by its seed. It is proved. For the Body of the air cannot make a shadow in the air; but whatsoever doth exhale out of a live Coal, doth make a shadow in the Sun. For since the air hath a limited consistence and thickness, and that agreeable to its own simpleness: it fol∣lowes, that whatsoever is thicker than the air, that is not air. Moreover, that which being made thin by the heat of the fire, doth now exhale, is as yet thicker than the air; and so for that cause, makes a shadow; surely that shall become far more thick in the cold, and shall be made visible in Clouds.

Whatsoever exhalations therefore do from the Earth climbe upward, and are joyned in Clouds; for this cause also, those Clouds do stink, no otherwise than as [unspec 22] water doth under the Aequinoctial line: and there the Ferment and Seed of their Concretion or growing together being consumed, they are turned into pure water, no otherwise, than the water is, after it hath escaped and overcome the bounds of its putrefaction: which it had conceived under the line. The dew therefore is a Cloud be∣longing to the Spring, not yet stinking, falling down, before it can touch the place of [unspec 23] cold. So a mist or fogg, is a stinking Cloud, not as yet refined through the putrefacti∣on of its Ferment: because as many as have passed over the Alps with me, have [unspec 24] known, how greatly, Clouds taken hold of with the hand, do stink; but the Rain∣water collected thence, how sweet and without savour it is, and almost incorruptible. For when any thing doth exhale, whether it be in the shew of water, or Oil, or smoak, or mists, or of an exhalation, although indeed it brings not away with it, the seedes of the Concrete or composed Body, at leastwise, it carries the Ferments up∣ward, which that they may be fully abolished from thence, and that the remaining [unspec 25] matter may return into water, it behooves, that they be first lifted up into a subtile or fine Gas in the kitchin of the most cold air, and that they passe over into another higher Region, and do assume a condition in the shape of the least motes or A∣tomes. And that the Ferments do there die, as well through the cold of the place, as the fineness of the Atomes, as it were by choaking and extinguishing. For cold is therefore a principle not indeed of life, but of extinguishment. To wit, as it doth sub-divide the parts of the Atomes, as yet by more subtilizing them, even as I have above taught. And so that Woods are also the sooner consumed by fire under cold, as if they were driven by a blast. From which necessity, verily that place was from the beginning, alwayes chilled with continuall cold. Because the Authour of nature, least he might seem to have been wanting to the necessities of his Creature, hath every where fitted ordinations according to necessities. Therefore cold is na∣turall and home-bred to that place: but not from the succeeding Chymera of an Antiperistasis. Indeed the matter of fruits being brought thither, must needes re∣turn into their first Being; and the infections of the Ferments are therefore first to be removed, by the mortifications, sub-divisions, subtilizings, piercings, choakings and extinguishings of the cold.

The Air therefore is the place, where, all things being brought thither, are con∣sumed, [unspec 26] and do return into their former Element of water. For in the Earth and water, although Bodies sprung up from seedes, do by little and little putrifie, and de∣part into a juyce; yet they are not so nearly reduced into the off-spring of simple water, as neither into a Gas: For Bodies that are enfeebled or consumed, do straight way in the Earth, draw another putrifaction through continuance, a ferment, and Seed: Whence they flee to second Marriages, and are again anew increased into succeeding fruits. But the fire, the death of all things, doth want seedes, being

subjected to the will of the Artificer, it consumeth all seminall things, but brings over their combustible matters into a Gas.

Paracelsus affirms, that three Beginnings are so united in all particular principles, [unspec 27] that one cannot wholly be freed from the other, by any help of art. But saving the authority of the man, our Handicraft-operation containing his secret, Samech, hath affirmed, that which is contrary to his assertion, by the Spirit of Wine being turned into an un-savoury water. And so neither can that man cover his ignorance. In∣deed the Spirit of Wine being wholly capable of burning, made void of Phlegme or watery moysture, and Oil; it alwayes for the one half of it, passeth into a simple, un-savoury, and Elementary water, by a touching of the Salt of Tartar on it. Again, the same thing is made by repetition, as to the other part. For that man was igno∣rant of the thingliness of a Gas (to wit, my Invention) and next of the properties of cold in the Air; yea he thought that the vapour of the water was plainly an∣nihilated: which sottishness of that his proper form of speech, is least of all to be winked at in so great a Distiller. Especially, because he would have the Elements to be seperable from feigned Elements, rather than the three first things. Where∣fore from the dissection of the water delivered, it now sufficiently appeares, that the simple water is not crude or raw, and that fire doth not take away the crudity from it, which it hath not. Because the whole action of the fire, is not into the water, but into that which is co-mixed with it by accident.

Galen according to his manner, transcribing Diascorides word for word, and being [unspec 28] willing to measure the Elementary Degrees of Simples, he hath not attempted it by the discretion of his Tongue: and so he divined, that more of the fire had con∣curred to a mixture, where he found the more sharpness and bitterness. Which thing, the Schooles even till now hold as authenticall; although Opium being bit∣ter, hinders it, although Flammula or Scarrewort; (the Glasse being close shut) layeth aside its tartness; as also Water-Pepper, and the like. And what things are moyst, do burn or sting, but dried things do binde. Neither shall the Gale∣nists easily finde out a way, whereby they may bring fire for water-Pepper, under dirt. For it hath been unknown in the Schooles, that all properties, not onely those which they call occult or hidden, but also that any other properties, do flow out of the lap of seeds: and all those which it pleaseth the Schooles themselves also to call formall ones. Surely I do experience four Elementary qualities, to be as in the outward bark of things; the second qualities to be more dangerous or destructive: but the most inward ones, to be immediately pressed in the Archeus. Yet all of them to be from the bosom of the seede and forms: But no quality to come forth from the first matter, as neither from the Wedlock of the Elements, because they are both feigned Mothers. But because the water which is brought into a vapour by cold, is of another condition, than a vapour raised by heat: therefore by the Licence of a Paradox, for want of a name, I have called that vapour, Gas, being not far severed from the Chaos of the ••••untients. In the mean time, it is suffi∣cient [unspec 29] for me to know, that Gas, is a far more subtile or fine thing than a vapour, mist, or distilled Oylinesses, although as yet, it be many times thicker than Air. But Gas it self, materially taken, is water as yet masked with the Ferment of com∣posed Bodies.

Moreover, Paracelsus was altogether earnest in seperating four Elements out of [unspec 30] Earth, Water, Air and Fire; and so from his very own Elements: which seperation notwithstanding, he denieth to be, from the three first things, possible: as if those three first things, were more simple, and before the Elements: Being unmindefull of the Doctrine many times repeated by him: To wit, that every kinde of Body, doth consist onely of three principles; but not of Elements: because Elements were not bodies: but places, and empty wombs of bodies or principles, void of all body. For although the Elements are among us commonly not believed to be undefiled; yet Paracelsus calls them so: the which he teacheth, are by art to be seperated from pollutions. But this description receiveth the air in one Glasse, common water in another; but the Earth, either of the Garden, or the Field, in a third; and at length, the flame of the fire in a fourth. But he shuts the Vessels with Hermes's Seal, by melting of the neck: And the water for a moneth, continually to boyl in its Vessel. As though that thing could possibly be done, and the Glasse not the sooner leap a∣sunder: especially, because he commands the water to be shut up without air, unto the highest brim of the Vessel (and the Glasse to be melted, to wit, with the water.)

Lastly, he conceives a flame in the Glasse, and in the very moment wherein it ceas∣eth, it is no more fire, but an aiery smoak: nor is the fire a substance. Last of all, nor can the fire be detained within the compass of the Vessel. In another place, he denieth any Element of fire besides the Heaven; but now, he calls the fire, the Gas of the thing burnt up. And he exalts these his trifles for causes of great moment, the which notwithstanding, he dared not to name. Because the doubtful man hath exposed his Dreams to the World, in hope of deserving thereby, the name of the Monarch of Secrets.