An entire body of philosophy according to the principles of the famous Renate Des Cartes in three books, (I) the institution ... (II) the history of nature ... (III) a dissertation of the want of sense and knowledge in brute animals ... / written originally in Latin by the learned Anthony Le Grand ; now carefully translated from the last corrections, alterations, and large additions of the author, never yet published ... by Richard Blome.

CHAP. X. Of Fires kindled in the Air.

I. Why those Meteors called Wills with the Wisp, do lead men towards Pools and Rivers. WILLS with the Wisp or Wandring Lights, do frequently lead persons to Lakes and Boggy Places; and make them fall into Precipices, or lose their way.

This effect may be explained from what we have said before concerning Winds. For seeing that more Vapours are raised in the Night from the Earth, than from the Water, this is the cause why these Wandring Lights or Fires, that follow the motion of the Air, do take their course towards Waters and Pools, because thereabouts the Air is more cool, by reason of a lesser agitation, and consequently becomes thicker and more condensate, than that which lies close upon the Earth; so that these Wandring Fires, being in a manner born up by the Wings of the Air, and complying with the motion of the same, are carried thither from the neighbouring grounds.

II. Why these wandring Fires follow those that flee from them, and flee from those that follow them Nothing is more commonly asserted by Philoso∣phers, than that Wills with the Wisp do flee from those that pursue them, and follow those that flee from them. And this they prove from many Examples, as may be seen in FROMUN∣DUS.

The cause of this is imputed to the Air, which being light and fluid, and shaken by the agitati∣on of the person that walks along, doth either drive them forwards, or drags them along after him, when he runs from them. For if this Me∣teor stand before him that walks, by his driving the Air before him, it is driven forwards, and so flees from him that follows it: But if it be be∣hind him that walks, forasmuch as the following Air accompanies him, it also follows him fleeing from it.

III. Why these Fires are much seen about Church∣yards and Common-sewers. Wills with the Wisp are commonly seen about Churchyards, Common-sewers, Fire-vomiting Mountains, and other places where great slaughter of Men or Beasts have been made.

The Reason is, because these Wandring Fires consist of fat and viscous steams, which having no such quantity of subtil particles mixed with them, by means whereof they might be carried upwards, do fluctuate in the lower part of the Air, and are forced, because of the cleaving te∣nacity of their parts, and the Earthly Matter that is mixed with them, to tend downwards by their weight, rather than mount upwards; and move especially about Church-yards, Lay∣stalls and such like places, as abounding with a greater quantity of Fat and Oily Parti∣cles.

IV. What is the cause of those Flames that some∣times ap∣pear about, or upon the Hair ••f Childr••n. We read in the Writings of the Ancients, of Fires or Flames that have been seen hanging up∣on the Hair of Children, and that without hurt∣ing or scorching their Hair. According as VIR∣GIL tells us, that this hapned to Ascanius the Son of Aeneas, Lib. 2. Aeneidos.

Lo from Julus Crown a flaming Light Was seen to rise, and harmless Fire did spread, With a soft touch, and round his Temples fed.

The cause of these flames is, when a sub∣til and penetrating Exhalation (such as parti∣cipates of the nature of Salt) doth enter the Pores of another that is Fat and Sulphureous. This being of it self sufficient to kindle some thin and subtil flames, as well on high, as in the lower parts of the Air. For certain it is, that not only a violent agitation, but the mixture only of different Bodies, is sufficient to produce Fire. As we see in Quick-lime that is sprinkled with Water; and innumerable other Examples which daily occur to Chymists.

V. Th••se Flames may also proceed from a Com∣motion of the Spirits. These Lambent Flames may also be caused from a commotion of the Spirits, that rush out from the Body, and being intangled together, re∣present the appearance of Fire: Thus Historians tell us, that ALEXANDER the Great, in the heat of Battle, darted sparks from his Bo∣dy; and that something like this hapned to the fierce Horse of the Emperour TIBERIUS, from whose Head a flame was seen to break forth. For Alexander being of a fiery complexion, and addicted to the drinking of Wine, it cannot seem strange that he sent through his Pores such Spi∣rits as were proper to kindle flames: No more than that from TIBERIUS his Horse, when he had heated himself with running, a fat and viscous sweat did break forth, which kindled in∣to a flame, but such a one as was harmless, and without any burning or scorching quality. In like manner as the flame of Spirit of Wine, which hath some aqueous particles mixt with it, doth not burn the Linnen Cloth that is moistned with them.

VI. Why s••arks of Fire pro∣ceed from a Cats Back when rub'd. And it is for the same reason, that when we rub a Cats back contrary to the hair, especially in the Winter, sparks of fire dart forth from it, be∣cause Cats in the Winter are fatter than in the Summer, and therefore are able to furnish a greater quantity of a fat clammy humour, proper for the exciting of these Sparks. But because in the Summer these steams do more easily break forth into the Air, and are disperst there, it cannot seem strange, that when the proper matter for the generating of these Sparks fail, they should cease also, and not then appear upon the rubbing of the Cats back.

VII. What Fall∣ing Stars are. In clear Nights, Stars seem to shoot or fall from the Sky.

The cause is, when after a very hot and dry season, the space which is between two Clouds, is filled with copious Exhalations, that are very subtil, and proper to take fire: For if these be so light and loose of Texture, that one of them falling from on high, doth not produce any noise of Thunder, nor cause any Tempest in the Air, yet the Exhalations lying between the said Clouds, may be so twisted together, as to exhibit the ap∣pearance of some lesser flames, which are com∣monly called falling or shooting Stars. Because by inflammation the combustible particles, which were the cause of their ascent, were thereby con∣sumed and vanish; and therefore the Star, which at the beginning of its deflagration, complied with the motion of the Air that carried it, was called a running or shooting Star; afterwards, when its more subtil parts were burnt away, falls down, because the weight of the Earthy and viscous matter, doth exceed the heaviness of the Air that lies under it; and then is called a falling Star. And therefore these Meteors receive a different de∣nomination from the various specification of the kindled Exhalation. For if an Exhalation that lies at length, becomes kindled, it is called a Beam if at the bottom it be somewhat broader, 'tis called a Pyramid; if it be broad about the midst, and small at both ends, 'tis called a flying Dra∣gon, &c.

VIII. Why those Fires which are formed ••••ar the Earth do continue for some time, whereas those that are produ∣ced high in the Air are of no long continuance Fires generated near the Earth, continue for some time; whereas those formed in the upper∣most part of the Air do presently vanish.

The Reason is, because a flame doth cleave more strongly or weakly to any matter, accord∣ing as the said matter is more or less close and compact. Now forasmuch as these Meteors which are formed in the upper Region of the Air, do consist of a very loose and thin matter, it is plain that their flame cannot continue long. For in∣deed if this matter were thick and close, it would by its own weight sink towards the Earth, and leave its former station. And therefore ARI∣STOTLE in the first Book of his Meteors, sup∣poseth them to be like that flame, which runs along the smoak or steam of a newly put out Can∣dle, which is apt to be kindled again by another that stands near it.

IX. What is the cause of the Appearance of Armies in the Skies In the Sky is sometimes represented the appea∣rance of Armies, and Soldiers sighting. Such a Representation as this is reported to have been seen in Silesia in 1545. A Bear appeared in the East at the head of an Army, and was met by a Lion, who led an Army from the West: Between both these Armies there appeared also a most bright Star; and presently after they engaged, so that the blood seemed to drop from the Bodies o•• those who were wounded, and many as it were fell down dead. As these Armies were fighting, an Eagle coming from an high Rock, hovered over the Lions Army. And after the Battle was ended, the Lion shone bright in the midst of his Forces; but there was no appearance of the Bear. The place where both the Armies stood was all covered with dead bodies, and by them some old Men, venerable for their Gray Hairs. Afterwards the Lion led off his Army towards the West; who af∣ter he was got some way from the place of the Battle, a person ••iding upon a white Horse, adorn'd with Trappings, returned from the Army to the place where the Battle was fought, and set a young Man armed Cap-a-pee upon that Horse, and having accompanied him some part of the way towards the East, vanished together with all the other Ap∣paritions.

X. The Com∣mon-People very apt to believe such Stories as these. I am very well aware how greedily such storie•• as these are embraced by the common People, and how ready they are to lay hold of any thing, which they imagin may discover to them the knowledge of future Events. And therefore if they do but see two Clouds standing over against one another, and enterchanging some Refractions or Reflexions, this is sufficient for them to appe∣hend two Armies fighting, that the more bright portions of them are Soldiers in whole and bright Armour, that they hear the clashing of Arms, dis∣charging of Musquets, &c. I my self once in a clear night in Flanders saw some Vapours scatter'd in the Air, in an unusual manner, and giving some light from them, which did so terrifie the Inhabi∣tants, that the next day all the news was that they had seen Armies in the Air, heard the ratling of Pikes, the discharging of Musquets, the clashing of Swords and the sound of Trumpets.

XI. What may be the cause of an Ar∣my appear∣ing in the Air. But because it may happen that such appearances as these may really be seen in the Air, I w••ll here add two probable causes whence the same may pro∣ceed. The First is, That there may be in the Air various Clouds of that smallness, as that every one may exhibit the appearance of a Soldier, and rushing one upon another, may contain a sufficient quantity of Exhalations, to produce some small flashes of Lightning, and cause some sounds or noises; and so represent the fighting of Souldiers. The other is, when all these small Clouds do shine, and reverberate that light which the Lightning of some great Tempest hapning at so great a distance, as that they can∣not be perceived there from the Earth, do reflect upon them.