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CHAP. XIX. The Image of the Ferment, begets the Masse or lump with childe of a Seed. (Book 19)

1. There is no seminall successive change without a Ferment. 2. Handicraft operation is brought into a Circle by Ale or Beere. 3. The Ferment makes volatile that which otherwise is changed into a Coal. 4. It is proved by handicraft-operation, in the venall Bloud. 5. The Bloud attains its own various ferments in the Kitchins of the members. 6. The uncon∣stancie of Paracelsus is taken notice of. 7. The Beginnings of Para∣celsus are made by the fire; but they are not in Bodies. 8. There are double ferments, from whence are the seeds of things. 9. The Birth of Insects. 10. 'Tis not sufficient to have said, that Insects are born of putrefaction or corruption. 11. A twofold manner of generation. 12. How seedes are made. 13. In what manner an odour or smell caus∣eth a ferment and seed. 14. A Scorpion from Basil. 15. The fer∣ment in voluntary seedes, reacheth to the Horizon or bound of life. 16. The ferment of Diseases and healings. 17. Almost all Medicines do act by way of an odour onely. 18. Therefore seedes are strong onely in a specificall odour. 19. An odour and light do pierce the spirits. 20. Odours do cause or incite, and cure the Plague and di∣vers Diseases. 21. Art having forgotten its perfume, is translated into a servile rage or madness. 22. Ʋnappeaseable pains, are presently appeased by the odour of an outward application. 23. The ferment is the Parent of transmutations. 24. Of what quality the ferment of the stomach is. 25. Why very many do abhorre Cheese. 26. A sharp fer∣mentall thing differeth from soure things. 27. From whence belching is. 28. The labour of Wisdom. 29. All things which are believed to be mixt, are onely of Water and a ferment. 30. The ferment of the Equinoctiall Line. 31. The progress of seedes and ferments unto pro∣Pagation. 32. The originall and progress of Vegetables. 33. Fer∣ments do sometimes operate more powerfully than Fire. 34. Paracelsus is noted.

AS no knowledge in the Schooles is scantier than the knowledge of a Ferment, so no knowledge is more profitable: The name of a Ferment or Leaven be∣ing [unspec 1] unknown hitherto, unless in making of bread: when as notwithstanding, there is made no successive change, or transmutation, by the dreamed appetite of matter, but onely by the endeavour of the ferment alone. In times past, leaven, and all things lea∣vened, were forbidden, and the Mystery hidden in the Letter, was then of right interpreted according to the Letter: For as leavens or ferments were altogether the way-leaders, and necessary unto every transmutation of a thing: so they did denote corruption, unconstancy, and impurity; and therefore a flight from leaven was enjoyned.

I will first of all explain a thing surely so paradoxall in naturall Philosophy, by an ex∣ample: The purest of Ales or Beeres (which is deservedly the nourishing juyce or meat, [unspec 2] melting, or finished right of the Grain) requireth so much Grain, by how much there is ca∣pacity and largeness in the Vessel or Hogs-head: And so indeed, that the Bran being taken

away, all the Meal doth melt into the Ale or Beer, and the Water onely supplies the place of the Bran. That Ale or Beer, by a very little ferment or leaven being administred, doth boyl up by fermenting in Cellars, it waxeth clear by degrees, and the dreg falls down to the bottom: at length something doth fermentally wax soure, by which tartness it con∣sumeth all its dreg: And then, it looseth more and more, daily, its sharp, or pricking soureness: At length it is deprived of the taste, virtues, and body of the meal. And last of all, it, of its own accord, returns into water. That Ale or Beere, being distilled, layeth aside very much residence in the bottom, like a Syrupe, which at length by proceed∣ing, [unspec 3] is changed into a Coal: But if that same Ale or Beere, by the degrees of the ferment shall passe over into water, it leaveth no more dregs in the bottom while it is distilling, than otherwise, the water from whence it was boyled, did contain, because the natall sediment of the waters is not subject to the ferment of the Grain, since it is not the object thereof; but the Client of or dependant on another Monarchy. Therefore the Grains do return unto their first matter whereof they are, which is water, and that by the virtue of the ferment onely.

In the next place, every one of us doth daily frame to himself, 7 or 10 ounces of bloud; but (at leastwise in our standing age) as much bloud must needes be consumed, as is a-new, [unspec 4] generated: For else a man might straightway fear a hugeness or excessive greatness. And then, the bloud is by degrees, changed into a vitall muscilage or flimy juyce, the true, im∣mediate nourishment of the members of which it is wont to be said, we are nourished by those things, whereof we consist. But they will have this nourishment to be sprinkled on all the particular members; in manner of a dew (but I believe it to be framed in all the least Kitchins of the parts) whereby it may moysten the same, and for that cause, defend them from dryness, the calamity of old age, as much and as long as it can. At length, that dew doth unperceiveably flee thorow the pores of the skin, neither doth it leave any thing of a solid sediment remaining behinde it: For so do nourishments at length exspire thorow the skin in the shew of a Vapour, and like water. But the Schooles will have this secondary humour, af∣ter that it hath slidden like a dew into the parts, to be assimilated or made like them, and to be informed by the Soul: But I permit it to be assimilated, onely under the growing of youth, but no longer afterwards; seeing that neither is it any longer turned into the substance of the similar parts. For which way should that dew be assimilated to a Bone, in strength, hardness, and driness, &c. if the bones do now no longer receive an increase? Let the same judge∣ment be of the other parts: for all particular things in nature have a birth, an increase, a state or standing, a declining, and a death.

This is therefore the Tragedy and Metamorphosis or transforming of the bloud, by the virtue of the seed. But otherwise, the bloud being distilled, doth at length lay down much [unspec 5] of its salt Coal, neither hath it any manner of volatility, which the operation of the ferment doth consequently grant unto it under the other digestions. Because heat, seeing it wanteth a transmutative ferment of things, it onely seperates the parts, but doth not change them. Therefore the bloud doth obtain its aforesaid ferments, in the very Cook-roomes of our body, and is thereby made so volatile, that moreover it leaveth no remainder of it selfe.

I admire at Paracelsus, that he teacheth, the bloud to be the universall Mercurie of the body, as also of meats; yet that he will have sweat to be an excrementitious Sulphur. See∣ing [unspec 6] all bloud doth exhale thorow the skin; but if together with the watery Liquor or juyce of sweat, but a very little of fat flowes out; it is not therefore presently of Mercury, made Sulphur, unless he be unmindfull of his own Doctrine; Although something of fatness, may infect our garments in manner of sweat; for greases are not unchangeable, but they perish daily even as they do increase. Surely I have hated the proportionable resemblance of the principles of Paracelsus brought back into the three principles of nature: because they are [unspec 7] those things which are neither in bodies actually, nor are they present, nor are seperated, unless by changing them first as it were by the fire, or by the reducement of melting, they are prepared as it were new things. For truly, I do willingly behold a naked naturall Phy∣losophy every where; surely, I do not apply figures or moving forces in Mathematicall demonstration unto nature: I shun proportionable resemblance, as also metaphoricall speeches as much as I can. I have dedicated every necessity of nature to the seeds; but the seeds of many things, I fetch not so much from the Parents, as from the Ferments.

There are therefore double Ferments in nature: one indeed containeth in it a flowable air, the seminall Archeus which aspireth by its flowing into a living Soul: But the other doth [unspec 8] onely contain, the beginning of the moving, or the generation of a thing into a thing: The which indeed, although in its beginning, it should not have a seminall air, which may em∣brace

or contain the aims of things to be done; yet it straightway obtains a vapour, which, as well the locall ferments, as those things which the disposition of the matter it self attaineth by externall nourishing warmth, do awaken: Whence something like an Archeus is made, which changeth, fitteth, and increaseth it self, and its own perceived entertainment: More∣over, afterwards it acteth the other things unto a proportion of perfection, and to what is required of that air: For this seed doth at first abound with a certain, and that a genericall largeness: For although it rejoyceth to have directed the masse subjected under it, unto the scope of the conceived ferment; yet oft-times it receiveth the fewels of a more hidden light from elsewhere, and a rash boldness being taken, it aspireth also into a living soul.

For from hence, not onely lice, wall-lice or flies breeding in Wood, Gnats, and Worms, become the guests and neighbours of our misery, and are as it were bred or born of our in∣ner [unspec 9] parts, and excrements: but also, if a foul shirt be pressed together within the mouth of a Vessel, wherein Wheat is, within a few dayes (to wit, 21) a ferment being drawn from the shirt, and changed by the odour of the grain, the Wheat it self being incrusted in its own skin, transchangeth into Mice: and it is therefore the more to be wondered at, because such kinde of insects being distinguished by the Signatures of the Sexes, do generate with those which were born of the seed of Parents: That from hence also, the likeness or quali∣ty of both the seeds, and a like vitall strength of the ferments may plainly appear: And which is more wonderfull, out of the Bread-corn, and the shirt, do leap forth, not indeed little, or sucking, or very small, or abortive Mice: but those that are wholly or fully formed. Now and then, the lowsie evill ariseth in us, and a louse, mans upper skin being opened, goes forth: he is also otherwise generated in the pores, being not indeed enclosed in the Egge∣shell of a nit; but small, and scarce to be beheld. But the gnat is alwayes not generated, but by the ferment being drawn more outward. Neither hath it been sufficient to have said in the Schooles, that such insects do proceed from putrified things:

For Birds Eggs also do notably putrifie, and stink hugely, before the constituting of a chick. Therefore life is in those putrified things, no lesse than in Eggs: nor is it sufficient to have [unspec 10] doubted from whence those kindes of Insects may draw a uniform and specificall vitall spirit out of our Body, seeing a natural generation doth presuppose an imprinted Seal of likeness: For truly in an irregular generation, an Archeus sufficeth, not indeed a humane one, but such a one, which by a fermental virtue, and for identity or sameliness sake, doth alwayes generate in excrements, such Insects of a like or an equall form: And so, although in respect of us, it be a monstrous and irregular generation, yet it is naturall and ordinary in order to its cau∣ses, to wit, we affording onely a ferment and nourishing warmth: therefore the ferment of the shirt being sprinkled on the Wheat, doth resolve the matter by going or entring back∣wards, and so a youthful mouse, but not a new one is born: For that, it hath respect unto another manner of making.

Therefore in the former, and vitall seedes, the generater inspires the Archeus, and the vitall air, together with the masse of the seed, with his own likeness: But in the latter, the [unspec 11] Odour onely of the ferment is snuffed in from the containing Vessels, or from the contagion of the encompassing air: which when they shall be rightly fitted together, they are straight∣way formed into a Plant, or Insect, to wit, the Air being stirred up by the Odour, and ferment of putrefaction by continuance, which afterwards is exalted into a ruling Archeus: Even as concerning forms elsewhere.

Therefore seeds are made by the conception of the generater, making his own Image [unspec 12] through desires, or from the Odour of the ferment, which disposeth the matter to the Idea or first shape of a possible thing: For even as the matter drawes from the Odour a disposition of transmutation; so from the Image is afterwards made a disposition of the matter, which procu∣reth and promoteth a specificall ferment: But in this the ferment differs from the seed: that, that is an Odour, or quality of some putrefaction by continuance, apt to dispose unto an alte∣rity or successive alteration, and corruption of the masse: But the seed is a substance where∣in the Archeus already is, which is a spiritual Gas containing in it a ferment, the Image of the thing, and moreover, a dispositive knowledge of things to be done.

Therefore whatsoever things do contract a filthiness, or putrefaction by continuance, from [unspec 13] an Odour, do also presently conceive Worms: and therefore also Balsams know not how to pu∣trifie, or breed Worms: For the Odour of the Herbe Basil being inclosed in the seed, produ∣ceth that Herbe, together with an Air that existeth within it; which Odour, if it be changed by a putrefaction through continuance, it produceth true Scorpions: For neither is it a ficti∣on; but in very deed, the Herbe being bruised, and depressed between Bricks, and exposed to the Sun, Aquitane after some dayes, hath yielded unto us, Scorpions. But the more curi∣ous

one will say, That the Scorpion came from without, to the sweet smell and food of the Herbe: but that doubt is prevented. For truly, the two bricks being mutually beaten to∣gether, did suitably touch each other, so that they hindered the entrance of the Scorpion, as well by their co-touching plainness, as by their weight: But a trench did contain the Herb in the middle. The Ferment therefore in a voluntary seed, doth after a neer manner reach to the Horizon or terme of life: For neither is one thing changed into another without a fer∣ment and a seed.

Which things, as they have stood neglected hitherto, all things have been ascribed to na∣ked or bare heats, and the healings of many Diseases have remained desperate: For truly [unspec 15] they have hitherto laboured onely about the correcting of the first qualities, and the with∣drawing of a feigned humour, either alone by it selfe, or together with the bloud; but they have not a whit considered, that every Disease is poysonous, if not to the whole body, yet at least, as to a part of it: and so although it be not contagious to every part, yet it ceaseth not to imprint its fermentall odour from its self, on the part whereon it setteth.

Therefore healing for the most part, is perfected by Odours, as also, contagions being im∣printed [unspec 16] on the skin, do forthwith depart from odours: For because an odour doth contain the resembling mark of the ferment, and from hence the Seminary cause of transmutation; I con∣clude, the virtues of things, and their masculine strength to be from odours (even as in mag∣num oportet, in its place.) Yea, if the thing it self be more fully looked into, even inward Medicines, as well solutive as corrective, do work onely by way of an odour: For hence it is, that the smell of a Medicine being once put off, the faculties or virtues of the same do pe∣rish. [unspec 17] For I have often seen the Quartane-Ague, over-flowings of the wombe, melancholy, pains of the Colick, &c. to be seperated by Ointments alone: But it is certain, that not the Ointment it selfe, but its odour onely creepes and acts inward: For so one that hath the fall∣ing-sickness, falleth by an odour, yea the brain in the falling-evill, which heareth not, which perceiveth or feeleth not, nor which, if it hath fallen into the fire, doth withdraw it self, obey∣eth onely Odours. For so an Erisipelas or Anthonies fire, is healed by the odour of a towel dipt in Hares bloud, if it be bound on drie: So wounds, Ulcers, and Impostumes or corrupt swel∣lings, do through odours applied by anointings, wax milde, or are exasperated or enraged.

Therefore if the seeds of voluntary living Creatures are to be born of odours, and a pu∣trefaction by continuance, nor do differ in the particular kinde, from others which are pro∣created [unspec 18] by a conjoyning of the Sexes: the seedes of all living Creatures also, must needes have their specificall odours, whereby there are made suitings or fittings of the Archeus to the matter, and the more easie obedience for transchanging: From whence at length are made diversities of impressions into any bowels Organs, and powers, and in the strength, and life: Surely specificall odours do affect the matter, and subdue it into their own protection: and an inclination, and selfe-love ariseth from the specificall odour: Next, through custome, there is an easie receiving, and a more perfect fitting: and at length, a love snatcht into all desire of its selfe: Therefore fragrant or sweet smelling things do de∣light: Even like as the light pleaseth good natural inclinations, so it displeaseth reprobate ones; and that not, because both do see alike well, without, or with light, or have need of the use of a clear air, or not; but by reason of the abstracted, and Almighty light, whose Image the light of the day is: For the spirits are delighted with an odour and light, because light and odour do immediately touch and pierce them: For the spirit of the bloud in one that fainteth, ought to be more refreshed by the smell of roasted flesh, than by a sweet smell, unless the fragrancy should as soon as it toucheth the life, pre∣pare [unspec 19] herein a purity, and sweetness. Odours therefore are seen to reach even unto the ab∣stracted spirits, even as a pestilent smell being not perceived by the nostrils, shakes the Ar∣cheus with horrour.

For there are odours which do move, and by their contagion imprint head-aches, loath∣ings [unspec 20] of the stomach, vomiting, Coughs, the hicket, giddiness of the head, falling evill, Apo∣plexie, bloudy-flux, &c. And therefore there are others also, which in a co-like manner, do cure the same, or at least do mitigate them, though they have taken a more fast root: And there are some odours, which choak without a perceivable astriction of the matter, and some are also convulsive or pulling together, and there are some, which do likewise infatuate or befool, as it very often comes to passe in affections of the womb.

For the Antients worshipped their perfumes even unto superstition, whereby they would drive a man as it were into an extasie, and they supposed that they thereby profited the awa∣kened: [unspec 21] For they infected their Bed, Garments, Head, and things that they used, with their Odours, whereby they might provoke their minde to studies: whereunto when Satan had joyned his hidden deceits, the art of perfumes being first suspected, straightway after re∣mained

wholly rude or untilled. They had learned in the Law, that sweet smelling Sacri∣fices were pleasing to the Gods above; and the Israelite was enjoyned in the Camps, daily to cover his excrements in the ground, least it should grieve the Angel to go over, or com∣pass the night Camps: For I remember, that a certain man was well nigh consumed with a grievous pain of the stomach: For four houres after meat, he wailed, howled, and was drawn [unspec 22] together, unless he laying on a Table, did strongly presse the place: For I being deceived with an aptness of belief then thought, with Paracelsus, a Canker of the stomach to be incura∣ble: for it was the place where the bastard ribs do approach the mouth of the stomach. This man, I say, I saw cured in a few houres, by a fragrant emplaister extended scarce to the breadth of the palm of ones hand.

After what manner the ferment is the parent of transmutations, I have not better found out, than by the art of the fire: for I have known, that as often as a Body is divided into fi∣ner [unspec 23] Atomes than the necessity of its substance doth bear, a transmutation of that Body doth also continually follow in an Element: As the ferment being drawn, and snatching to it the aforesaid Atomes, doth season or besmear them with the strange character of it self, in the re∣ceiving whereof, there are made divisions of the parts, which diversities of kindes, and divi∣sions of parts, a resolving of the matter doth follow: for this cause indeed, Chymistry doth digest, and send putrefactions before hand, that a ferment being received, the parts may cleave asunder into the smallest things: And so meats in the stomach are resolved through the fer∣ment of the place, being seasoned with a sharpish quality: but in the liver, and other places, continually by other ferments. For so, although people are fed with much Sugar, yet straight∣way, [unspec 24] they sometimes vomit up that which is soure: yet neither is the ferment of the Sto∣mach, as it is sharp, the ferment: For neither do therefore, Vinegar, or Raspes Leaven, al∣though they are soure and harsh: but the sharpness of the Stomach, is the proper specificall mean thereof. But yet also, in one particular kinde or Species, it undergoes much latitude: for this man beares grievously, Potherbs, another pulse, some one, Fishes, or Wine; because he doth not digest them.

Very many do not eat Cheese: not indeed because it is a meer Tartar, or a meer Salt, (both, by course, so Paracelsus willeth;) but the new, waxeth breachily sharp, which doth [unspec 25] easily stir up torments or wringings in a soure stomach: But the old casts a smell of rotten∣ness or corruption, which it hath from the dead curd, being before excrementious in it self. Therefore it breedeth worms, and easily putrifieth, because it hides part of a stinking or Dunghilly ferment under the soureness of the milk; in many, it is manifested, and ariseth into a degree: And therefore it displeaseth many, onely with its smell: therefore the latitude of a sharp ferment, although specificall, happeneth to be in the stomach, because there are di∣vers alterations of the framer and receiver, in acting: but in this, a sharp fermentall thing, differs from soure things; That what things that pierceth, it doth also make volatile by the [unspec 26] same endeavour: but every sharp Spirit, in dissolving is it self coagulated, according to that Chymicall maxime. The bread of one, is broken small by a Man, a Dog, Horse, Cow, Sheep, Bird, Fish, and so, by as many specificall and soure ferments being distant in kinde. Boyes say that Sparrowes wax wondrous sharp in the throat, and therefore they are also devouring: for it happens, that a Sparrow hath snatched at the tongue of a Boy put out, and hath endea∣voured to swallow, by which meanes, they say that they have tasted the sharpness of his throat: For so many living creatures are constrained for the asswaging of sharpness sake, to eat Chalk, Lime, Bricks, or white Earth. Therefore the more fine, and the volatile Atomes of meats are easily changed by the ferment of the Stomach, into a windy Gas, when as the other part is [unspec 27] content to be resolved onely into a juyce: For Chymistry is carefull in searching for a body, which should play together with us by a harmony of such purity, that it cannot be dispersed by that which corrupteth. And at length, religion is amazed or astonished at the finding of a latex or liquor, which being reduced to the least Atomes possible to nature, as loving a single life, [unspec 28] would despise the Wedlocks of every ferment: therefore, desperate or without hope is the transmutation of that, it not finding a body more worthy than it self which it might marry: But the labour of wisdom, hath caused an irregular thing in nature, which hath arisen without a ferment diverse from it self, that may be mixed with it: That the Serpent hath bitten himself, hath revived from the poyson, and knowes not hereafter to die.

And indeed, because the Schooles have been ignorant of ferments, they ought also to have [unspec 29] been ignorant, that solid bodies are framed onely of water and a ferment: for I have taught, that Vegetables, and grain, and whatsoever bodies are nourished by those, do proceed onely from water: for the Fisherman never found any thing of food in the Stomach of a Salmon. If therefore the Salmon be made of water onely (even that of Rivers) he is also nourished by it. So the Sturgeon wants a mouth, and appeares onely with a little hole beneath in his

throat, whereby the whole Fish draweth nothing besides water: therefore every Fish is nou∣rished, and likewise made of water; if not immediately, yet at least by seeds and ferments, if it be great with young. From the Salt Sea, almost every sweet Fish is drawn: Therefore it turneth Salt, into not Salt, or at leastwise, water into it self, not into water. Lastly, Shell-fishes do form to themselves stony shells of water, instead of bones; even as also all kinde of Snails: therefore the Salt of the Sea, which scarce yieldeth to bright burning fire, waxeth sweet by the ferment, in fishes, and their flesh is made volatile, and at the time of nourish∣ing it is also wholly dispersed, without a residence, or dreg. So also Salt passeth over into its original Element of water: and so the Sea, although it receiveth salt streams, yet it is not every day the salter.

For the purest water, although it be free from all defilement, nevertheless under the E∣quinoctial-line [unspec 30] it waxeth filthy or hoary, stinketh; straightway it becomes of the colour of a Brick half burned, and then it waxeth green; and lastly, it waxeth red with a notable hor∣rour or quaking: Which afterwards, of its own accord returns entirely into it self again. Truly, these things happen by the conceived ferment of the place; and that being consumed, they cease.

So the most pure Fountain-water waxeth filthy through a ferment of the Vessel putrified by continuance, it conceiveth Worms, it brings sorth Gnats, yea is covered with a skin. Fens [unspec 31] putrifie from the bottom, through continuance: hence arise Frogs, Shell-fishes, Snails, Horse-leeches, Herbs, &c. And moreover, swimming-herbs do cover the water, being con∣tented onely with the drinking of water putrified through continuance. And even as stones are from Fountains wherein there is a stony seed and ferment existing; So the Earth stinking with metally ferments, doth make out of water, a metally or Mineral Bur. But the water being elsewhere shut up in the Earth, if it be nigh the Air, and stirred by a little heat, it pu∣trifieth by continuance, which is no more water, but the juyce Leffas or of Plants: by the force of which hoary ferment, a power is conferred on the Earth of budding forth Herbs: for that putrified juyce, by the prick of a little heat doth ascend into a smoak, is made spongie, and encompassed with a skin, by reason of the requirance of the ferments therein laying hid. Therefore that putrefaction by continuance, hath the office of a ferment, and the virtues of a seed, hastening by degrees into the Archeusses, through its seminall virtues, into a quantity of life. Therefore the juyce of the Earth putrified through continuance, is Leffas: From whence ariseth every kinde of Plant wanting a visible seed, and from whence seeds that are sown, are promoted into their appointments: therefore there are as many rank or stinking smells of putrefactions by continuance, as there are proper savours of things; for that, odours are not onely the messengers of savours, but also their promiscuous parents. The smoak Leffas being now gathered together, doth at first wax pale, afterwards wax yellowish, straight∣way it waxeth a little whitishly green; And at length it is fully green. And the power of the Species or particular kinde being unfolded, it assumeth divers Colours and Signates: In which flowing, it imitatets the leading of the water under the Equinoctial-line: yet in this it differs, that these waters have borrowed too Spiritual a ferment from the Star and place, without a corporeal hoary putrefaction; and therefore, through their too frail seed, they straightway return into themselves: but Leffas is constrained to perfect the Tragedy of the conceived seed. Therefore Rain conceiving a hoary ferment, and being made Leffas, is drawn into the lustfull roots by a certain sucking. And it is experienced, that within this [unspec 32] Kitchin, there is a new hoary putrefaction of the Ferment the Tenant: by and by, it is brought from thence to the Bark or Liver, where it is enriched with a new ferment of that bowel, and is made an Herby or woody juyce, and at length, a ripeness being conceived, it becommeth Wood, becometh an Herb, or departs into fruit: but the Trunk or Stem, if it sooner putri∣fies under the Earth than the Bark or Rhine becomes dry, it cleaves asunder by its own fer∣ment, sends forth a smoak thorow the Bark, which in its beginning is spongie, and at length hardens into a true root; and so planted branches become Trees by the abridgement of art.

Therefore it is now evident, that there is no mixture of the Elements, that all bodies pri∣mitively and materially, are made onely of water through a seed being attained by a ferment, [unspec 33] and that the seeds being exhausted or overcome with pains, Bodies do at length return into their antient Inne of water: yea that ferments do sometimes work more strongly than fire, because great Stones are turned into Lime, and Woods indeed into ashes, and there the fire makes a stop: the which notwithstanding, a ferment in the Earth being assumed, do of their own accord, return into the juyce of Leffas, and so also at length into simple water: For o∣therwise, Stones and Bricks do of their own accord decline into Salt-peter. Lastly, Glasse which is unconquered by the fire, uncorrupted by the Air, in a few years putrifieth by con∣tinuance,

rots under the Earth, and undergoes the lawes of water: for whatsoever things may be melted in water, do forthwith return into water; but other things are made vola∣tile by the ferments, and what things soever were compacted, and not to be thorowly mingled, being brought by the ferments of putrefactions by continuance, into a necessity of transmutation, are opened, and do hastily consult of seperating. But the most clear Fountains, although they climbe thorow the Rocks and Sand, out of the un-savoury soil of nature, or the Quellem, are purified far from the contagion of Clay, a ferment, and corruption: neither do they also fall down by chance, but are appointed for great uses: yet seeing they contract at least the hidden Odours of the Rockie Stone, unperceivable by us, they hasten into other bounds. Therefore, Streams, Springs, Rivers, Fens, Pooles, Seas, and whatsoever things are contained in the belly of the water, do likewise, even from the very birth of the Fountains, conceive their seeds, and in wantonizing, do ripen them by their course. Also great storms of Rain, being struck down through the putrefaction of Thunder, are fruitfull; but sober rains are great with young of dew, or a conceived exhalation: For I have perfectly learned by the fire, that the dew is rich in a sweet Sugar. They deliver, that in Snow, Northern worms are bred: therefore the Mountains to be covered over with a long Snow; and although their Grass be sparing, yet that it is most apt for the fatting of lesser Cattel; so that unless they are driven away in time, they will be choaked with fat.

But the waters which contain a melting, Paracelsus doth call corporeall ones, and he igno∣rantly [unspec 34] denieth that they contain an Element in them. Therefore Ferments do by seeds play their universall part in the World, under the one Element of water.