Speculum mundi· Or A glasse representing the face of the world shewing both that it did begin, and must also end: the manner how, and time when, being largely examined. Whereunto is joyned an hexameron, or a serious discourse of the causes, continuance, and qualities of things in nature; occasioned as matter pertinent to the work done in the six dayes of the worlds creation.

Artic. 3. Of Dew.

DEw offers it self in the next place, as being a neare kinsman to rain. For it consisteth of a cold moist vapour which the sunne draweth into the aire: from whence, when it is somewhat thickened and condensed through cold of the night, and also of the place whither the sunne exhaled it, it falleth down in very small and in∣discernible drops, to the great refreshment of the earth.

And this is certain, that the morning and the evening are the onely times when it falleth; the reason being in* 1.1 regard of the sunne, which both positively & privative∣ly causeth it. Dew at night is caused privatively; dew in the morning, positively. At night or in the evening pri∣vatively, because when the sunne setteth, the lowest part of the vapour, not being high enough to hang in the aire, falleth down through absence of the sunne. And in the morning positively, because at the return of the sunne the residue of the vapour, together with the augmentati∣on of it (haply by some condensed aire caused by cold of the night) is dissolved by his approaching beams, and so made fit to fall, rather then hang any longer. For look what vapours are about the Horizon at the rising of the sunne, are dispersed by his first approach; and so it comes

to passe that the morning as well as the evening afford∣eth dew. But know that if the vapour be not convenient∣ly* 1.2 placed, that is, if it be very high above the Horizon, or in a loftie station of the aire, then the sunnes ap∣proaching beam neither dissolveth nor disperseth it; whereupon we have no dew, but rather look for rain, because the matter of dew is still in the aire, staying there till it be turned into a cloud, and so into rain.

And now by this you may see what is the materiall, what the efficient, what the formall, and lastly what the finall cause of dew.

The materiall cause is a subtil and moist vapour, be∣ing the thinnest of all vapours.

The efficient cause is the temperate cold of the night, together with the absence and approach of the sunne.

The formall cause is the sprinkling of most thin drops, which the hand can scarcely perceive.

And the finall cause, that (without rain) the earth may have some refreshment.

Yet neverthelesse, this I finde concerning dew, as it is of a calorificall nature, that a 1.3 rorilentas segetes collectas putrefacit, because every externall heat is putrefactive.

Also dew is a great enemie to sheep, begetting a* 1.4 deadly rot in them, or a dangerous flux of the bellie; which cometh to passe in regard of the humour being of much viscositie, and not throughly refined or purged. Wherefore your carefull and skilfull shepherds will never drive out their sheep to feed, untill the sunne or the winde have licked the tops of the grasse and flowers. Also know that a windie night hindereth the falling of dew. Some say three things hinder it; viz. winde, great* 1.5 heat, and cold: for the most temperate and calm times afford it; when other times want it.

As for the kindes of dew, I cannot but joyn with them who divide them into three.

For there is, first, common dew; secondly, sweet* 1.6 dew; and thirdly, bitter blasting dew.

The common dew is ordinary. Sweet dew is threefold. 1. Manna. 2. Mel. 3. Lada∣num.

Manna is said to be white like sugar: by some it is* 1.7 called Coeli sudor. The matter of it is a fat and pure va∣pour, not tainted with any putrid or corrupt Exhalati∣ons. Or, according to some, it is roris melliti genus, sed concreti, a kinde of hony-sweet dew, but concrete or compact more close together: it falleth in the East parts, Arabia, Syria, &c.

As for that Manna which God rained to the Israelites* 1.8 in the wildernesse, some think that it was altogether miraculous; others that it was ejusdem speciei cum Manna vulgari, of the same kinde with common Manna: which I also think; because Iosephus, in his third book and first chapter, writeth, that in his dayes there was great store of it in that part of Arabia wherein Moses was 40 yeares with the Israelites. What should hinder this opinion, I see not, unlesse because the common Manna is of a pur∣ging qualitie, and therefore to be taken for a medicine rather then for food. To which I b 1.9 finde an answer, that haply at the first it might work the like effect on their bodies also, till it expelled the humours proceeding from the onyons and leeks that they eat in Egypt; but after∣wards through custome it might not work at all upon them: or else God, for their good, that they might be fed, might allay that qualitie in it by his mighty power: for God resting from all his works on the seventh day, created no new species of anything afterwards. Fuohsius a learned Physician, testifieth that there falleth great store of Manna upon the mountain of Libanus, which is eaten without harm, although they take it in plentifull abundance. Yet neverthelesse it cannot be denied but

that the Israelites had many things miraculous in theirs:* 1.10 as that they could not finde it on the Sabbath day: that he which gathered little, and he which gathered much, had alwayes sufficient for his eating; and the like: All which proclaimed the power of God: In which regard he saith that he fed them with* 1.11 Angels food. Not that the Angels eat of it; but because it was cibus excellentissimus, a most excellent kinde of meat; insomuch that were the Angels to be fed with bread, they might be fed with this. In which sense, we also call that which is daintie meat, meat for a King, or a Prince, intimating the good∣nesse of it: So also the poets called their c 1.12 Myrrhina or their Nectar, the drink of the Gods, because it was a li∣quour of such excellencie. But besides this, the Scripture in like manner saith that it was bread from heaven, as* 1.13 well as Angels food. Not that it came from heaven, if heaven be taken in a strict sense; but because it was a symbole of Christs descending from heaven, as it is John the 6. Moses gave you not that bread (saith our Saviour) but I am that bread of life come down from heaven. Or else it is said to come from heaven, because it came out of the aire: for so the word signifying heaven is often used; as the fowls of the aire are said to flie in the open fir∣mament of heaven, Gen. 1. 20. The clouds are called the clouds of heaven: and the windes the windes of heaven, although they be but in the aire, Dan. 7. And thus much concerning Manna.

The other kinde of sweet dew is Mel, or an Hony-dew.* 1.14 Now this falleth, not onely in other countreys, but also here in England; and we cannot give it a more signifi∣cant name then a Mel-dew, being both as sweet, and also of the same substance that hony is. Some suppose that it is drawn out of sweet herbs and flowers, which I also beleeve, acknowledging that there is a kinde of re∣sudation of juice proceeding from them at a certain

convenient time of their growth: which juice is either drawn up as a vapour, and so sweeteneth the dew in the aire by such time as it falleth; or else, issuing of it self from the said flowers and plants, but not ascending, it sweeteneth the dew after it is come down or fallen on them, although the said dew be but ordinary: for when or∣dinary dew falleth upon any of those leaves which yeeld such a resudation or sweat, it cannot but be sweetened, although none of the sweet liquour be drawn into the aire as a vapour with it. Now of these two choose which in your judgement is the most probable.

d 1.15 Plinie witnesseth that these dews are most common at the shining of Syrius, or the greate 1.16 Dog-starre; and that before the rising of Virgiliae or thef 1.17 Seven starres in the morning with the Sunne, they cannot at all be.

Ladanum is another kinde of sweet dew. Arabia hath* 1.18 great plentie of it, and no other countrey (as Plinie wri∣teth) unlesse it be g 1.19 Nabathaea, bordering on the Arabick coast of Syria.

It is called Ladanum, because it is a vapour falling up∣on the herb Ladon or Ledum; and is sweetened by the juice issuing from the leaves of the said herb, mixing it self with the vapour. Goats hairs are often found a∣mongst it; because the Goat feeding upon that herb, scat∣tereth some of his hairs, which are incorporated with the vapour and the juice of Ladon, whilest like gumme it is hardened by the Sunne.

And thus much of sweet dews.

Now followeth that which I called bitter blasting* 1.20 dew. The Germanes say it is h 1.21 Mildaw; which is an im∣proper name if it hath relation to that which we call Mel-dew. For Mel-dew (as before I shewed) is an hony-sweet dew, and not a bitter dew. This therefore may be rather named Ros noxius, or bitter blasting dew, because it hurteth and killeth such herbs and

plants as it falleth on, and sticketh or cleaveth to. This vapour hath much earthly matter in it, and therefore it remaineth white when the moisture is gone. It is also corrupted: which comes to passe (as 'tis conjectured) through the often change of the Aire, which being tainted or infected through varietie of differing Exha∣lations, sendeth down noysome and unwholesome dews, falling sometimes even in the day time it self. And here an end concerning dew.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Why dew is but in the morning, and at evening.
• * 1.2

  Why no dew is a signe of rain.
• a 1.3

  Tit•…•…lm. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. lib. 6. cap. 6.
• * 1.4

  How sheep may•…•… get a deadly flux.
• * 1.5

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 of dew.
• * 1.6

  Three kindes of dew.
• * 1.7

  Manna.
• * 1.8

  Of the Israelites Manna.
• b 1.9

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 o•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.10

  The Israelites Manna was not without miracle in many respects.
• * 1.11

  Psal. 78. 25, 26. How Manna is said to be Angels food.
• c 1.12

  Myrrhina is a wine mixed with Myr•…•…he and other sweet •…•…pices.
• * 1.13

  How Manna is said to come from heaven.
• * 1.14

  Hony-dew.
• d 1.15

  Lib. 11. cap. 12.
• e 1.16

  It riseth with Sol about the end of July.
• f 1.17

  Which is about the 17 day of April.
• * 1.18

  Ladanum, the third kinde of sweet dew.
• g 1.19

  Plin. lib. 12. cap. 17.
• * 1.20

  Blasting dew.
• h 1.21

  Magir. Phys. Com. lib. 4. cap. 6.