CHAP. XIII.

NOW I come to shew how our mineral waters receive both their actual heat, and their virtues. * I joyn them together, because they depend upon one and the same cause, unless they be juices which will readily dissolve in wa∣ter, without the help of heat: other minerals will not, or very hardly.

This actual heat of waters hath troubled all those that have written of them, and many opinions have been held of the causes of them. Some attribute it to wind or air, or exhala∣tions included in the bowels of the earth, which either by their own nature, or by their violent motion, and agitation, and attrition upon rocks and narrow passages, do gather heat, and impart it to our waters. * Of their own nature these ex∣halations cannot be so hot, as to make our water hot, especially seeing in their passage among cold rocks, it would be much allaied, having no sup∣ply Page  106 of heat to maintain it. Moreover, where water hath passage to get forth to the superfi∣cies of the earth, there these exhalations and winds will easily pass, and so their heat gone withall, and so our waters left to their natural coldness: whereas we see they do continue in the same degree and tenor, many generations together. * If by their agitation and violent mo∣tion they get this heat, because no violent thing is perpetual or constant, this cannot be the cause of the perpetual and constant heat of water. Besides, this would rather cause earthquakes and storms, and noyses in the earth, then heat our springs. Moreover, we daily observe, that exhalations and water are never heated by mo∣tion, or agitation; as in the Cataracts of the Rhine by Splug; the agitation and fall of water upon rocks is most violent, and makes a hideous noyse; yet it heats not the water, though it be very deep in the earth. * Neither can any attri∣tion heat either air or water, or any soft and li∣quid thing, but rather make it more cold.

Others attribute this actual heat of Bathes unto the Sun, whose beams piercing thorow the pores of the earth, do heat our waters. * If this heat which heats our Bathes be caused by the beams of the Sun, then either they bring it in∣tirely from the Sun, as a quality proceeding from thence, or they make it by their own motion. If it come from the nature of the Sun, the Sun must be extream hot that can heat these inferiour parts at such a distance; especially the beams which must carry it, passing thorow the middle region of the air, which is alwayes extream cold, Page  107 and cannot but cool those beams before they come to us. And if they were able to pass that region without losing their heat, yet they cannot but warm that region, being nearer to their foun∣tain of heat, as well or better then they can warm our waters, in despite of any Antiperi∣stasis. But it is doubtfull whether the Sun be hot of his own nature or no. † The Peripate∣ticks hold it to be hot and dry moderately; yet it must be extream hot, if in this manner it do heat our Bathes. And if the Sun be capable of heat, they must also make it capable of cold (ele∣mentary qualities) and then they make celestial bodies obnoxious to generation and corruption; which they are not willing to grant. Although in this respect they need not fear the decay of the Sun, no more then of the globe of the earth: which though it suffer in his parts many altera∣tions, yet the whole remains firm and perpe∣tual, as Mr. Doctor Hakwell proves in his learn∣ed work upon that argument; and will so do un∣till it be dissolved by that omnipotent power which framed it. * If they make this heat to come from the motion of the Sun, we must consider how the Sun by motion may get such a heat. The Sun is either moved by his own motion, or as he is carried in his Sphear wherein he is fixed. If by his own motion, it must be either by vo∣lutation upon his axis, which is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or by circumgyration, which is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, round about the globe of the earth: and this is the common opinion; which if it be so, he must be carried more swiftly then a bullet out of a peece of Ordnance. I read in the Turkish Hi∣story Page  108 at the siege of Scodra, of a bullet of twelve hundred weight called the Prince, and it seems a great matter. But to have such a bullet as the globe of the Sun, which is held to be 166 times bigger then the globe of the earth, to be carried in a swifter course, and that perpetually, is a monstrous, furious, and mad agitation, insa••∣motus, as one termeth it. The like may be said of the motion of the Sphears: but I will leave the confutation of this to others. * But admit it to be so; and that this violent agitation is not repugnant to the perpetuity of the Heavens; and that it is able to breed an extream heat in the Sun and celestial Spheres, notwithstand∣ing their tenuity, &c. which is unapt to breed heat by motion or collision, for that is proper to solid substances: yet this heat must be conveyed to us by the same beams of the Sun, and must be subject to the former impediments.

Wherefore the beams of the Sun by their mo∣tion must make this heat, by the collection a many beams together. For if they be dispersed, no fire will be kindled, but only some moderate heat: as we see in a burning-glass, which will heat a white paper or cloth, but not burn it. O∣ther things it will burn, which are apt fewels; but the whiteness of the paper or cloth it seem disperseth the beams. But no doubt the Sun by his light and beams do warm these inferiour parts, especially where they have free passage, and reflection withall, and it is to be judged, that the heat not being essentially in the Sun, is an effect of the light by whose beams it is im∣parted to us: So that where light is excluded, Page  109 heat is also excluded. And if we can exclude the heat of the beams of the Sun by the in∣•rposition of a mud wall, or by making a Cel∣•r fix foot under the ground; how is it likely that these beams can pierce so deep into the earth, as to heat the water there, as Lucretius •aith,

And if the beams of the Sun be not able to heat a standing Pool in the midst of Summer, how should they heat a subterranean water, which is alwaies in motion, especially in the winter time? Again, if this heat come from the Sun, then in the Summer, when the Sun is hottest, the waters should be so also, and in winter cold, because of the absence of the Sun; but we find them always alike. Also, why should the Sun heat some few Fountains and pass over an infinite number of o∣thers, which are left cold? And why should there be hot Fountains in cold Climates, where the Sun hath little power to heat, either by reason of his oblique beams, or by reason of his long ab∣sence; and yet in hot Climats they should be so •re? wherefore it is very improbable that our Springs are heated by the Sun.

Page  110 Others have devised another cause of this actual heat of Bathes, more vain then the for∣mer, which they call Antiperistasis: where by reciprocation or compression, any quality is in∣tended and exalted to a higher degree. * As where heat or cold are compassed by their con∣trary quality, so as the vapours or effluvium of it is reflected back again, the quality thereof is in∣creased. Hypocrates gives us an example of it in our own bodies, where he saith, ventres hi•∣calidiores; our stomachs are hotter in Winter then in Summer, by reason the ambient air be∣ing then cold, doth stop the pores of the skin, and repell those fuliginous vapours which nature would breathe forth, and so our inward heat is increased: whereas in the Summer, by reasoned too much eventilation, our natural heat is di∣minished; and therefore we concoct better i• Winter then in Summer. And although it be not simple heat which concocts, and makes eby∣lus in the Stomach, Blood in the Liver, Seed is the Spermatick Vessels, or Milk in the Breast &c. as Joubertus saith: yet heat attending upon the faculties of those parts, doth quicken them as cold doth benumb them. * But if we examine this example aright, we shall find a great diffe∣rence between this and our hot Bathes. For the heat in our bodies is continually fed and main∣tained from the Heart by his motion: that a Bathes hath no such supply according to their doctrine, from any cause to make or continue this heat. And therefore the repelling of va∣pours cannot make water hotter then it is: and being naturally cold, and without any heat Page  111 where heat is not, how can it be pend in or re∣pelled? Again, in Hypocrates his example there is an interstitium (our skin) between the fuli∣ginous vapours and the external air, which keep them from uniting: but in our Bathes there is nothing to hinder the meeting and conjunction of these qualities, and then the one must dull the other. Moreover, we see that any thing that is naturally cold, as Iron or a Stone, if it be made hot accidentally by fire or otherwise, it is sooner cold in cold air, then in a warm place. So that the Antiperistasis doth rather diminish then increase the heat of it. Wherefore unless water were naturally hot, or the heat maintained by some continual cause, this Antiperistasis can do no good, but by his opposite quality would rather cool it. Nay heat it self cannot make any thing more hot, unless it be greater then the heat of the thing it self. But to ascribe the genera∣tion of heat to cold, and so to make it the cause of his contrary, is against the law of Nature. No quality of it self is increased by his contrary. It is true, that a pot of water set over the fire, will be sooner hot, being covered, or otherwise the vapours kept in, then being open: but there must be fire then to heat it, and to continue the heat: otherwise the Antiperistasis will do no∣thing, unless it make it more cold, and congeal it into Ice, if the air ambient be more cold then the water. Some may object, that they find some Fountains warmer in Winter then in Summer, and to reak when they break forth into the air; as I have seen at Wercksworth and Bakewell in Dar∣byshire: and therefore this doth argue an Anti∣peristasis. Page  112 * Galen thinks that these waters do but seem so to our sense: our hands being hot in Summer, and cold in Winter, as our Urins seem cold in a hot Bath. But I will grant with Va∣lesius that many deep Fountains may be so in∣deed, and not in appearance only, as partaking with some warm exhalations, especially in Mine∣ral Countreys, as Darbyshire is.

Moreover, if our Bathes were heated by a• Antiperistasis, then they should be hotter in Winter then in Summer; but we find them al∣wayes alike. Also if a cold ambient be able to make cold water hot, why should not a hot am∣bient make it more cold? especially seeing the vapours are cold, which being repelled by heat, which doth terminate cold, should increase the coldness of the water. Also if we should grant this Antiperistasis, we must deny the reaction and resistance between the qualities of the Ele∣ments: and so overthrow all temperaments which arise from thence: and also our composi∣tion of medicines were in vain. * Wherefore this Antiperistasis is an idle invention to main∣tain this purpose.

Others attribute this actual heat to quick Lyme, which doth readily heat any water call upon it, and also kindle any combustible sub∣stance put into it; this is Democritus his opi∣nion. * To this I answer, that Lyme is an artifi∣cial thing, not natural, and is never found in the bowels of the earth. Besides, if it were found, one fusion of water extinguisheth the heat of it, and then it lyeth like a dead earth, and will yield nor more heat, So as this cannot procure a perpe∣tual Page  113 heat to Bathes: neither can the Lymestones without calcination, yield any heat to water, nor will break and crackle upon the affusion on wa∣ter, as Lyme doth. Wherefore this opinion is altogether improbable.

Others attribute this actual heat to a subter∣ranean fire kindled in the bowels of the earth. Let us consider how this may be. * Fire is a qua∣lity and the highest degree of heat, which can∣not subsist without a subject; for I define it to be intensissimus color in corpore cremabili: The highest degree of heat in a combustible body: And it is received into his subject either by pro∣pagation or coition, as when one candle lights another, or by motion, as collision, concussion, dilatation, comprission, putrefaction, fermenta∣lion, reflection, &c. yet all motion doth not kindle fire although it heat; neither are all sub∣stances apt to be heated by motion. Air and water are rather colder by motion: but this rule holds in such things as are apt to receive heat by motion, as solid substances, combustible substan∣ces, &c. And the heat of animals, vegetables, and minerals, which they have for their genera∣tion and nutrition, is from motion: although this heat is not in so high a degree as fire is, for then it would consume them; but as the motion is moderate, and agreeable to each nature, so is the heat. This motion in natural things proceeds from their seeds, or forms, and may be called internal or natural. External motions are vio∣lent agitations, concussions, &c. which com∣monly kindle fire in apt matter. As for the ele∣ment of fire, which should be pure, not shining, Page  114 and therefore invisible, and subsisting without a subject or fewel: let them find it who know where to seek for it. For my part I know no element of fire, unless we should make it to be that which is natural to all creatures and their seeds, causing their fermenting heat, whereof I shall speak anon. And this interpretation we may well make of Hypocrates, where he faith, that all things are made of fire and water; and that these two are sufficient for all generations; fire giving motion, and water nutrition. * And it is not likely that this fire should be fetched from: a remote place, and downwards, against the na∣ture of fire, for every generation: but that it be near hand, and inbred in the seeds themselves, as the principal ingredient into every natural thing; whereas if it were remote, what should bring it continually, and unite it with the other elements in these generations? Where∣fore this is most likely to be the element of fire, Our burning fire is all of one nature, not differ∣ing in kind, but only in degree according to the quality of the fewel. Some fewels will make a manifest flame, as all thin and light substances, Sulphur, liquid Bitumen, Oyle, Fat, &c. Some only a glowing coal, with little or no flame, as some forts of Stone-coal. Yet all fire doth send forth fuliginous vapours, which would choak it if there were not vent for them into the air: as we see in the making of Char-coal, although they cover their fire with lome, yet they must leave some vent for the smoke; though not so much as may make it to flame, yet enough to maintain the fire. Of the first flaming fort there Page  115 are divers degrees, as that of Straw, Brimstone, Spirit of Wine, Naphtha, Petroleum, &c. Some of which will scarcely take hold upon other fewel: as one may wet a linnen cloath in Spirit of Wine, and being kindled, he shall hardly find the cloath scorched. The like hath been ob∣served in that exhalation which is called ignis satuus, being of a very thin substance, for Bi∣tumen or Naphtha. Some reckon Comets a∣mong these fiery exhalations: but I can hardly believe that they are any kindled substances. * First because their flame is not pyramidal, as it is in all kindled substances. Secondly, because if they be of a thin substance from Sulphur and Bitumen, the flame would be greater, seeing it must be plentiful, if it continue so long in burn∣ing, as we find them to do. Or admit that this matter be kindled by succession, yet it is incre∣dible that it should continue burning above a year together; as that Comet Xiphian, which lasted a whole year: Another, Anno 1572. un∣der the constellation of Cassiopaea, lasted a year and a half, others six months, others three, &c. If the Sulphurous or Bituminous matter be thick, it will melt in burning, and rain down Brimstone and Bitumen upon us. Thirdly, if Comets were kindled substances, what enter∣tainment could they find above the Moon, and among the spheres, where they say no corrup∣tible or elementary substance can be indured. But many of our Comets have been observed to have been above the Moon, and some among the fixed Starrs, as hath been observed by Tycho Brahe, and Clavius: and upon due observation Page  116 they could find some of them to admit no Pa∣ralaxis, or diversity of aspect to any star in dif∣ferent Climats.

This argumnnt may be good against a Peripa∣tetick; but a Platonist, or a Pytnagorean, who hold the Heavens to be made of elementary matter, and subject to generation and corruption, will not allow it, no more will many of our Divines.

For glowing fires, we have none but they must be kindled, and then they must have vent for their fuliginous vapours, and they must be kindled either by propagation or coition from some other fire, or by violent motion able to kindle them, which we shall hardly find in the bowels of the earth, where all is quiet, and no space for any such perturbation.

But they say there is an ignis subterraneus, which being kindled upon Sulphur and Bitumen, disperseth it self among other Mines of the like nature, and sets them on fire. Now we are come from Heaven to Hell, or to Purgatory at the least, which Pyhagoras calls materiam vatum falsique pericula mundi; The dream of Poets, and a forged fear. * The largest description of it is in Virgil: from whence both Divines and Philosophers derive much matter: and Beccius doth believe that there is such a thing in the Center of the Earth. But if we observe Virgil well, we shall find that he propounds it but as a dream: for in the end of that Book he saith, Page  117

Now saith he, when Anchyses had led AEne∣as and Sibilla through Hell, he lets them forth at the Ivory gate (Portaque emittit Eburna:) As if he should say; all that I have related of Hell, is but a fiction; and thus Ludovicus Vi∣ves interprets it in his Comment upon this place.

I hope none will think that I deny a Hell, but I approve not of the assignment of it to the center of the earth, or that that fire should serve as Baccius would have it, to further all genera∣tions in the earth: and as others, to be the cause of Fountains, Winds, Earth-quakes, Vulcanoes, Storms, Saltness of the Sea, &c. nor of the actual heat of our Bathes, although it be the most com∣mon received opinion.

First for the place, it is not likely that the center of the earth, whither all heavy things do tend, should be hollow, but rather more com∣pact then any other part of the earth, as likewise Valesius thinks; but if there be any concavities, they are between the Center and the Superfi∣cies; and these concavities being receptacles of water from the Sea, cannot also receive fire. Page  118 These two will not agree together in one place, but the one will expel the other: for whereas some hold that Bitumen will burn in water, and is nou∣rished by it, it is absolutely false, as experience shews; and I have touched it among the Bitu∣mina. *

Moreover, if the heat which warms our Bathes did proceed from hence, there must be huge vessels above the fire to contain water, whereby the fire might heat it, and not be quenched by it. Also the vapours arising from hence, must be hotter then water can endure, or be capable of; for as they ascend towards the superficies of the earth, they must needs be cooled as they pass by Rocks, or else they could not be congealed into water again: and after this congelation, the wa∣ter hath lost most of his heat, as we find in our ordinary distillations of Rose-water, &c. where we see our water to descend into the receive; almost cold; so that they cannot derive our hot Bathes from hence.

Secondly, for the fire it self, although water and air may be received into the bowels of the earth, yet there is great difficulty for fire. For the other two need no nourishment to support them, as fire doth. If there be not competency of air to nourish the fire by venting his fuligious vapours, howsoever there be fewel enough, it is suddenly quenched, and such huge and flaming fire as this must be, will require more air then can there be yielded: a great part thereof pas∣sing away through the secret creeks of Rocks, and little or none entring through the Sea. And therefore daily experience shews, that our mi∣neral Page  119 men are fain to sink new Shafts (as they call them) to admit air to their works, other∣wise their lights would go out. Although one would think, that where many men may have room enough to work, there would be space enough for air to maintain a few lights. The like we see in Cupping-glasses, where the light goes out as soon as they are applied. Also there are no fires perpetual, as hot Bathes are, but are either extinct, or keep not the same te∣nor. Wherefore fire cannot be the cause of this constant heat of Bathes. It must be a continual cause that can make a continual hea•. Also where fire is, there will be smoak, for as it breeds exhalations, so it sends them forth. But in most of our hot Bathes we find none of these dry exhalations. Moreover, fire is more hardly pend in then air; yet we see that air doth break forth: wherefore fire should also make his way, having fuel enough to maintain it. So they say it doth in our Vulcanoes at Hecla in Iseland, AEtna in Sicicy, Vesuvio in Campania, in Enaria, AEolia, Lipara, &c. But it is yet unproved that these eruptions of fire do proceed from any deep cause, but only are kindled upon or neer the su∣perficies of the earth, where there is air enough to feed it, and means enough to kindle it by lightnings, or other casual means. Whereas in the bowels of the earth, there is neither air to nourish it, nor any means to kindle it; seeing neither the beams of the Sun, nor Wind, or other Exhalations, nor any Antiperistasis, nor Lyme, nor Lightnings can do it. For the same reasons that exclude the Beams of the Sun and Page  120 exhalations, will likewise exclude lightnings.

Thirdly, for the fuel, there are only two sub∣stances in the bowels of the earth, which are apt fuels for fire, Bitumen and Sulphur. *

Sulphur is in such request with all men, as they think there can be no not Bath without it: nay many hold, that if water do but pass thorow a Mine of Brimstone, although it be not kindled, but actually cold, yet it will contract from thence, not only a potential, but an actual heat. * But we do manifestly find, that neither all hot waters are sulphurous, nor all sulphurous waters hot (as is said before in Sulphur.)

The Bathes of Caldaneila and Avinian in agro Senensi, de Grotta in Viterbio, de aquis in Pisano, Divi Johannis in agro Lacenss, Balneum Geber suilleri in Halsatia, &c. are all hot, and yet give no signe of Sulphur, either by smell, or taste, or quality, or effect. Contrariwise that all sulphurous waters are not hot, may appear by the Bathes in Zurich in Helvetia, of Buda in Pannonia, at Cure in Rhetia, Celenses in Germa∣ny. In Campania between Naples and Pateolum, are many cold sulphurous Springs. At Brandula in agro Carpensi, &c. All which Bathes shew much Sulphur to be in them, and yet are cold. And no marvel, for if we insuse any simple, be it never so hot potentially, yet it will not make the liquor actually hot. Wherefore this Sulphur must burn before it can give any actual heat to our Bathes; and then it must needs be subject to the former difficulties, and also must be con∣tinually repaired by new generations of matter, which actual fire cannot further, but rather hin∣der. Page  121 The fire generates nothing, but consumes all things. *

The like we may judge of Bitumen, that unless it be kindled, it can yield no heat to our Bathes; as Solinander reports of a Bituminous Mine in Westfalia, in agro Tremonensi, where going down into the Grove, he found much water, having the smell, taste, and colour of Bitumen, and yet cold. Agricola imputes the chief cause of the heating of Bathes, unto the fuel of Bitumen; Baccius on the other side to Sulphur. But in my opinion, they need not contend about it. For, as I have shewed before in the examples of mineral waters, there are many hot Springs from other minerals, where neither Sulphur nor Bi∣tomen have been observed to be. John de Don∣dis, and Julius Alexandrinus were much unsa∣tisfied in these opinions, and did rather acknow∣ledge their ignorance, then that they would subscribe unto them. I need not dispute whe∣ther this fire be in Alveis, or in Canalibus, or in vicinis partibus, &c. because I think it is in nei∣ther of them.