Here foloweth of the Ayer and of his nature. ca. xxiiijo
THe Ayer is sette aboue the water / and is moche more subtyl than the water or the erthe / and enuy∣ronneth therthe on alle parties / and domyneth also hye as the clowdes mounte / This Ayer whiche enuyronneth vs on alle sydes is moche thycke / But we lyue therby / in li∣ke wyse as the fysshe lyueth by the water / whiche he d••a∣weth in / and after casteth it out agayn / In suche maner the ayer prouffyteth to vs / ffor we drawe it in / and after we put it out / and thus it holdeth the lyf within the body ffor a man shold sonner deye without Ayer / than a fysshe shold doo without water / to whom alleway the lyf is sone fynysshyd whan it is out of the water / Thayer maynte∣neth in vs the lyf / by the moysture that is in hym / And by the thycknes that is in hym he susteyneth the byrdes fleeyng that so playe with their wynges and meue them so moche al aboute therin that they disporte them ledyng their Ioye therin and their deduyt / Thus goon the birdes by thayer fleyng. syngyng and preysyng their maker & creatour / lyke as the fysshes that goon swymmyng in the water / and ye may apperceyue in this maner / take a rodde and meue it in thayer / and yf ye meue it fast and roydly it shal bowe anon / And yf it fonde not thayer thycke / it