Peripateticall institutions. In the way of that eminent person and excellent philosopher Sr. Kenelm Digby. The theoricall part. Also a theologicall appendix of the beginning of the world. / By Thomas White Gent.

LESSON IX.

Of truly fiery Meteors, hanging in the Aire.

1. THe true fires, therefore, are Lightnings, Dragons, and those they call Fire-Drakes: For, first, they have not a clear brightnesse, as falling and gliding Stars have (which is almost a sure sign of reflection), but a dimm'd one (from the condition of the matter) as it were with smoak, as we see in our fires; though this rule may fail on both sides, unlesse it be prudently apply'd: Again, they are short-liv'd: Thirdly, the ashes of Dragons are often seen, and the effects of Lightning are well known. The Nature of Fire-drakes is like that of Lightning or the blazing of Candles; so that 'tis, un∣questionably, a sudden kindling of an oy∣ly vapour; and it varies its figure with e∣very motion, as fire uses, according to the various dispositions of the combustible matter. To apprehend the Causes of these things,

2. Let us imagine the hottest days ef∣fect

that upon the Earth, which, upon a Chymicall matter, the most intense heat does, that, after the gentler, is apply'd to extract Oyles, that is, the most glutinous and crasse moisture: Suppose that, out of fat and soft grounds, they raise Vapours, not liquid, but compacted with a deal of dense matter, not without a vast a∣bundance of fiery parts imprison'd in them.

3. That these Vapours can neither be elevated into a very high station, nor long sustain'd above: That, yet, to the pro∣portion of the heat, they are carryed higher (according to the nature of the Region and of the concurring causes) in one Climate then in another: And that, through the motion and tumult of the Clouds, these vapours meeting with one another, being of a glutinous substance, stick together and are constipated; that, being constipated, they are kindled, and, being kindled, either break out or are thrown out.

4. Again; this matter, being the hea∣viest of all that are elevated, will be hur∣ryed downwards, as we see in Golden-gunpowder: for the dilating of the fire makes and applyes an impression of the

adhering matter, that way which the mat∣ter leads: It breaks, therefore, through the Clouds, there, where 'tis easiest de∣scending; and being, in the time of its passage, for the most part, directed ob∣liquely, because the Cloud is thick∣est towards the Earth, 'tis, so, hurry'd to us.

5. When nothing but the flame ap∣proaches us, 'tis said to lighten: when, without Thunder and in a clear season, any lightnings appear, we say it flashes.

6. Hence, 'tis apparent enough how Thunderbolts come to be darted out of the Clouds: For, the fire in the Clouds be∣ing extreme violent, it bakes a light stone, like a Pumice or those which are made in furnaces for Metalls: and that, having the fire still adhering to it, and being light of its own nature, is carry'd, like an iron kettle or earthen Por∣ringer in water, and descends with vio∣lence.

7. Again; 'tis evident how Thun∣der is caus'd: For, that most suddain rarefaction of Fire cannot be made, without a most swift compression of one Cloud to another; nor this, with∣out a mighty noise, such as we hear

at the suddain extinguishing of a vio∣lent and intense fire, and at the dash∣ing together of the waves of the Sea in a Storm.

8. From the different matter of the Lightning there happens the vari∣ety of different effects: As, when, the Purse or Scabbard being intire, the Mony or the Blade is melted; it proceeds from hence, that, in the Lightning, there is the nature of those Salts, which serve to melt Metalls and yet have no power upon slighter sub∣jects: when the Wine congeals, the Vessell being broken; 'tis a sign of cold Spirits in the Lightning, by which liquid things are rendred consistent and hard things are broken; as we see by the congealing of water in a glasse or earthen vessel close stop'd: when water will not quench it, it has a mixture of Wild-fire in it, such as we see in burning Fountains.

9. Iron is us'd against Lightning, be∣cause 'tis a kind of matter something a∣kin to Lightning, and draws the vo∣latile spirits to it self, so that it does other things no hurt: Mushromes, too, come on the better for Tempests, because the

Rain which accompanies them is warm and fat; as the fields of Aetna and Cam∣pania are rendred more fruitfull by the eruptions of the Mountains, because much heat and fat matter descends with∣all.

10. Hence, that they call the Fiery Dragon is a certain weaker kind of Light∣ning: Its livid colour, and its falling without noise and slowly demonstrate a great mixture of watry exhalation in it: nor is there any thing else of singular in it worth taking notice of; for, 'tis suf∣ficient for its shape, that it has some re∣semblance of a Dragon, not the expresse figure.