The philosphical and physical opinions written by Her Excellency the Lady Marchionesse of Newcastle.

Chap. 65. Many motions go to the producing of one thing, or to one end.

FOr there are millions of several motions go to the making of one figure, or in mixing, as I may say, of seve∣ral degrees of the dull part of matter, as I will give one for example in grosse external motions, where I will describe it by digestive motions, which is to fit parts, and to distri∣bute parts to several places proper to the work. For digestive motions, there are many several sorts, or kinds of motions mixt together, as for example, a piece of meat is to be boyled, or the like, some motions cut fuel, and others take it up, others carrie, other lay down in a Chimnie, or the like place, others put fire, others kindle it, and make it burn, others take met∣tle and melt it, others cast such a figure as a pot, others bring the pot, others set it over the fire, others take up water, others carry that water to the pot, others put that water in∣to the pot, others kill a sheep, others divide it into parts,

others put it a part into the pot. Thus a piece of meat can∣not be boyled without all these motions, and many more, which would be too tedious to relate, for I could have in∣larged in three times as many more, only to boyl a piece of meat, and if there be so many several motions in our grosse sense in such things as these, then what is there in infinite Na∣ture, yet for all these infinite varieties of motions, as I said before, I cannot perceive but six ground-motions, or funda∣mental motions, from whence all changes come, which are these attractive motions, contracting motions, retentive moti∣ons, dilative motions digestive motions, and expulsive motions; likewise, although there be infinite kindes, and different fi∣gures, yet the ground-work, from whence ariseth all the ve∣riety, is but from four figures; as Circular, Triangular, Cupe, and Paralels. And as there are infinite changes of motions, amongst the sensitive innated matter, working on the dull parts of matter, so there are infinite changes of motions in the rational innated matter, making infinite kinds of know∣ledge, and degrees of knowledge, and understanding, and as there are infinite changes of motion, so there are infinite effects, and every produced effect, is a producing effect, and effects which effect produce effects, and the onely matter is the cause of all effects, for the several degrees of onely matter, is the effect of onely matter, and motion is the effect of some sorts of the degrees of onely matter, and varieties are the the effects of matter and motion, and life is the effect of in∣nate matter; and knowledge the effect of life.