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

Chap. 105. Of a bright-shining hot, glowing, fire.

IT is the nature of bright-shining, hot-glowing fires, to have both an interior, and an exterior burning, and is of such a kinde of subdividing nature, as it strives to dissolve all united parts, or bodies, and if it doth not dissolve all bodies it works on, as we shall see many things which grow harder with fire, yet is not that the nature would not dissolve such a thing, but the power cannot, for those bodies that grow harder with* 1.1 fire, opposes the power of fire, and strives by contraction to unite the looser parts, in a more solid body, to resist with more strength.

Also some bodies grow hard by shrinking inward, for as∣soon* 1.2 as they feel the fire, they draw back, as from an ene∣my, having an Antipathy thereunto.

Thus, it is not the fire that dries or hardens, or maks more* 1.3 solidity, but the opposite body that will not burn, having a strength to oppose, or a nature not to subject to this fire, or the fire hath not a sufficient power to overcome, but this sort of fire hath a general power, though some bodies will strong∣ly resist it; but it is the nature of this sort of fire, that most

bodies they overcome, they first convert them into their* 1.4 own likenesse, but their natures being different, their prisoners die in the fiery arms of their enemies.

Notes

• * 1.1

  This sort of contraction is drawing in∣ward.
• * 1.2

  Those sorts are falling backward.
• * 1.3

  The contract∣ing motions too strong for the expulsive motions.
• * 1.4

  Yet there are but few bo∣dies that are not overcome at last.