expressions had they been observed in ancient translations elder Expositers had not beene misguided by the Synonomy nor had they afforded occasion unto Austen the Glosse Lyranus and many others to have taken up the common conceit and spoke of this text conformably unto the opinion rejected CHAP. II. Concerning the Loadstone Of things particularly spoken thereof evidently or probably true Of things generally beleeved or particularly delivered manifestly or probably false In the first of the Magneticall vertue of the earth of the foure motions of the stone that is its Verticity or direction its Attraction or Coition its declination its Variation and also of its Antiquity In the second a rejection of sundry opinions and relations thereof Naturall Medicall Historicall Magicall ANd first we conceive the earth to be a Magneticall body A Magnetical body we term not only that which hath a power attractive but that which seated in a convenient medium naturally disposeth it self to one invariable and fixed situation And such a Magnetical vertue we conceive to be in the Globe of the earth whereby as unto its naturall points and proper terms it disposeth it self unto the poles being so framed constituted ordered unto these points that those parts which are now at the poles would not naturally abide under the Aequator nor Green-land remain in the place of Magellanica and if the whole earth were violently removed yet would it not foâ—goe its primiâ—ive points nor pitch in the East or West but return unto its polary position again For though by compactnesse or graviâ—y it may acquire the lowest place and become the center of the universe yet that it makes good that point not varying at all by the accession of bodyes upon or secession thereof from its surface pertuâ—bing the equilibration of either Hemiâ—pheare whereby the altitude of the starres might vary or that it strictly maintaines the north and southerne points that neither upon the motiâ—ns of the heavens ayre and winds without large eruptions and dâ—vâ—sion of parts within its polar paâ—ts should never incline or veere unto the Aequator whereby the latitude of places should also vary it cannot so well be salved from gravity as a magneticall verticity This is probably that foundation the wisdome of the Creator hâ—th laid unto the earth and in this sense we may more nearly apprehend and sensibly make out the expressions of holy Scripture as that of Ps. 93. 1. Firma vit orbem terrae qui non commovebitur he hath made the round world so sure that it cannot be moved as when it is said by Jâ—b Extendit Aquilonem super vacuo c. Hee stretcheth forth the North upon the empty place and hangeth the earth upon nothing And this is the most probable answer unto that great question Job â—8 whereupon are the foundations of the earth fastened or who laid the corner stone thereof Had they been acquainted with this principle Anaxagoras Socrates and Democritus had better made out the ground of this stabiliâ—y Xenâ—phanes had not been faine to say it had no bottome and â—hâ—les Milesius to make it swim in water Now whether the earth stand still or moveth circularly we may concede this Magneticall stability For although it move in that conversion the poles and center may still remaine the same as is conceived in the Magneticall bodies of heaven especially Jâ—piter and the Sunne which according to Galileus Kepler and Fabrâ—cius are observed to have Dineticall motions and certaine revolutions abouâ— their proper centers and though the one in about the space of ten dayes the other in lesse then one accomplish this revolution yet do they observe a constant habitude unto their poles and firme themselves thereon in their gyration Nor is the vigour of this great body included only in is selfe or circumferenced by its surface but diffused at indeterminate distances through the ayre water and bodyes circumjacent exciting and impregnating magneticall bodyes within it surface or without it and performing in a secret and invisible way what we evidently behold effected by the Loadstone For these effluxions penetrate all bodyes and like the species of visible objects are ever ready in the medium and lay hold on all bodyes proportionate or capable of their action those bodyes likewise being of a congenerous nature doe readily receive the impressions of their motor and if not fettered by their gravity conforme themselves to situations wherein they best unite unto their Animator And this will sufficiently appeare from the observations that are to follow which can no better way bee made out then this wee speake of the magneticall vigour of the earth Now whether these effluviâ—ms do flye by streated Atomes and winding particles as Renatus des Cartes conceaveth or glide by streames attracted from either pole and hemispheare of the earth unto the Aequator as Sir Kenelme Digby excellently declareth it takes not away this vertue of the earth but more distinctly sets downe the gests and progresse thereof and are conceits of eminent use to salve magneticall phenomena's And as in Astronomy those hypotheses though never so strange are best esteemed which best do salve apparencies so surely in Philosophy those principles though seeming monstrous may with advantage be embraced which best confirme experiment and afford the readiest reason of observation And truly the doctrine of effluxions their penetrating natures their invisible paths and insuspected effects are very considerable for besides this magneticall one of the earth severall effusions there may be from divers other bodies which invisibly act their parts at any time and perhaps through any medium a part of Philosophy but yet in discovery and will I feare prove the last leafe to be turned over in the booke of Nature First therefore it is evidently true and confirmable by every experiment that steele and good Iron never excited by the Loadstone discover in themselves a verticity that is a directive or polary faculty whereby conveniently they do septentrionate at one extreme and Australize at another this is manifestible in long and thin plates of steel perforated in the middle and equilibrated or by an easier way in long wires equiponderate with untwisted silke and soft wax for in this manner pendulous they will conforme themselves Meridionally directing one extreame unto the North another to the South The same is also manifest in steele wires thrust through little spheres or globes of Corke and floated on the water or in naked needles gently let fall thereon for so disposed they will not rest untill they have â—ound out the Meridian and as neere as they can lye parallell unto the axis of the earth Sometimes the eye sometimes the point Northward in divers Needles but the same point alwayes in most conforming themselves unto the wholâ— earth in the same manner as they doe unto every Loadstone For if a needle untoucht be hanged above a Loadstone it will convert into a parallel position thereto for in this situation it can best
as it is largely opposed unto pronenesse or the posture of animals looking downewards carrying their venters or opposite part to the spine directly towards the earth it must not be strictly taken for though in Serpents and Lizards we may truly allow a pronenesse yet Galen acknowledgeth that perfect Quadrupedes as Horses Oxen and Camels are but partly prone and have some part of erectnesse and birds or flying animals are so farre from this kinde of pronenesse that they are almost erect advancing the head and breast in their progression and onely prone in the act of their volitation and if that be true which is delivered of the Penguin or Anser Magellanicus and often described in Maps about those Straits that they goe erect like men and with their breast and belly do make one line perpendicular unto the axis of the earth it will make up the exact erectnesse of man nor will that insect come very short which we have often beheld that is one kinde of Locust which stands not prone or a little inclining upward but in a large erectnesse elevating alwayes the two fore legs and susteining it selfe in the middle of the other foure by Zoographers called mantis and by the Common people of Province Prâ—ga Dio that is the Prophet and praying Locust as being generally found in the posture of supplication or such as resembleth ours when we lift up our hands to heaven As for the end of this erection to looke up toward heaven though confirmed by severall testimonies and the Greek Eâ—ymology of man it is not so readily to be admitted and as a popular and vaine conceit was anciently rejected by Galen who in his third De usu partium determines that man is erect because he was made with hands and was therewith to exercise all Arts which in any other figure he could not have performed as he excellently declareth in that place where he also proves that man could have beene made neither Quadruped nor Ceâ—taur The ground and occasion of this conceit was a literall apprehension of a figurative expression in Plato as Galen plainely delivers the effect of whose words is this To opinion that man is erect to looke up and behold the heavens is a conceit onely fit for those that never saw the fish Uranoscopus that is the Beholder of heaven which hath its eyes so placed that it lookes up directly to heaven which man doth not except he recline or bend his head backward and thus to looke up to heaven agreeth not onely unto men but Asses to omit birds with long necks which looke not onely upwards but round about at pleasure and therefore men of this opinion understood not Plato when he said that man doth Sursum aspicere for thereby was not meant to gape or looke upward with the eye but to have his thoughts sublime and not onely to behold but speculate their nature with the eye of the understanding Now although Galen in this place makes instance but in one yet are there other fishes whose eyes regard the heavens as Plane and cartilagineous fishes as pectinals or such as have the Apophyses of their spine made laterally like a combe for when they apply themselves to sleepe or rest upon the white side their eyes on the other side looke upward toward heaven for birds they generally carry their heads erectly like man and some have advantage in that they move not their upper eyelid and many that have long necks and bear their heads somewhat backward behold farre more of the heavens and seeme to look above the aequinoxiall circle and so also in many Quadrupeds although their progression be partly prone yet is the sight of their eye direct not respecting the earth but heaven and makes an higher arch of altitude then our owne The position of a Frogge with his head above water exceedeth these for therein hee seemes to behold a large part of the heavens and the acies of his eye to ascend as high as the Tropick but he that hath beheld the posture of a Bitour will not deny that it beholds almost the very Zenith CHAP. II. Of the heart THat the heart of man is seated in the left side is an asseveration which strictly taken is resutable by inspection whereby it appeares the base and centre thereof is in the midst of the chest true it is that the Mucro or point thereof inclineth unto the left for by this position it giveth way unto the ascension of the midriffe and by reason of the hollow veine could not commodiously deflect unto the right from which diversion neverthelesse wee cannot so properly say t is placed in the left as that it consisteth in the middle that is where its centre resteth for so doe we usually say a Gnomon or needle is in the middle of a Diall although the extreams may respect the North or South and approach the circumference thereof The ground of this mistake is a generall observation from the pulse or motion of the heart which is more sensible on this side but the reason hereof is not to be drawne from the situation of the heart but the site of the left ventricle wherein the vitall spirits are laboured and also the great Artery that conveyeth them out both which are situated on the left and upon this reason epithems or cordial applications are justly applyed unto the left brest and the wounds under the fist rib may bee more suddenly destructive if made on the sinister side and the speare of the souldier that pierced our Saviour is not improperly described when Painters direct it a little towards the left The other ground is more particular and upon inspection for inâ— dead bodies especially lying upon the spine the heart doth seem to incline unto the left which happeneth not from its proper site but besides its sinistrous gravity is drawne that way by the great arterie which then subsideth haleth the heart unto it And therefore strictly taken the heart is seated in the middle of the chest but after a carelesse and inconsiderate aspection or according to the readiest sense of pulsation wee shall not quarrell if any affirme it is seated toward the left and in these considerations must Aristotle be salved when hee affirmeth the heart of man is placed in the left side and thus in a popular acception may wee receive the periphrasis of Persius when hee taketh the part under the left pappe for the heart and if rightly apprehended it concerneth not this controversie when it is said in Ecclesiastes The heart of a wiseman is in the right side but that of a fool in the left That assertion also that man proportionally hath the largest brain I did I confesse somewhat doubt and conceived it might have failed in birds especially such as having little bodies have yet large cranies and seeme to containe much brain as Snipes Woodcoks c. but upon triall I finde it very true The braines of a man Archangelus and
conclude from the position of the antecedent unto the position of the consequent or from the â—emotion of the consequent to the remotion of the antecedent This is usually committed when in connexed propositions the termes adhere contingently This is frequent in Oratorie illations and thus the Pharisees because he conversed with Publicans and sinneâ—s accused the holinesse of Christ. But if this fallacy be largely taken it is committed in any virious illation offending the rules of good consequence and so it may be very large and comprehend all false illations against the setled laws of Logick but the most usuall consequences are fâ—om particulars from â—egatives and from affirmative conclusions in the 〈…〉 wherein indeed offences are most frequent and their discoveries noâ— difficult CHAP. V. Of Credulity and Supinity A Third cause of common Errors is the Credulity of men that is an easie assent to what is obtruded or a believing at first eare what is delivered by others this is a weaknesse in the understanding without examination assenting unto things which from their natures and causes doe carry no perswasion whereby men often swallow falsities for truths dubiosities for certainties fesibilities for possibilities and things impossible as possibilities themselves Which though a weaknesse of the Intellect and most discoverable in vulgar heads yet hath it sometime fallen upon wiser braines and great advancers of truth Thus many wise Athenians so far forgot their Philosophy and the nature of humane production that they descended unto beliefes the originall of their Nation was from the Earth and had no other beginning then from the seminality and wombe of their great Mother Thus is it not without wonder how those learned Arabicks so tamely delivered up their beliefe unto the absurdities of the Alcoran How the noble Geber Avicenna and Almanzor should rest satisfied in the nature and causes of earthquakes delivered from the doctrine of their Prophet that is from the motion of a great Bull upon whose hornes all the earth is poised How their faiths could decline so low as to concede their generations in heaven to be made by the smell of a citron or that the felicity of their Paradise should consist in a Jubile of conjunction that is a coition of one act prolonged unto fifty years Thus is it almost beyond wonder how the beliefe of reasonable creatures should ever submit unto Idolatry and the credulity of those men scarce credible without presumption of a second fall who could believe a Deity in the worke of their owne hands For although in that ancient and diffused adoration of Idolls unto the Priests and subtiler heads the worship perhaps might be symbolicall and as those Images some way related unto their deities yet was the Idolatry direct and downe-right in the people whose credulity is illimitable who may be made believe that any thing is God and may be made believe there is no God at all And as Credulity is the cause of Error so incredulity oftentimes of not enjoying truth and that not only an obstinate incredulity whereby wee will not acknowledge assent unto what is reasonably inferred but any Academicall reservaâ—ion in matters of easie truth or rather scepticall infidelity against the evidence of reason and sense For these are conceptions befalling wise men as absurd as the apprehensions of fooles and the credulity of the people which promiscuously swallow any thing For this is not only derogatory unto the wisdome of God who hath proposed the world unto our knowledge and thereby the notion of himselfe but also detractory unto the intellect and sense of man expressedly disposed for that inquisition And therefore hoc tantum scio quod nâ—hil scâ—o is not to be received in an absolute sense but is comparatively expressed unto the number of things whereof our knowledge is ignorant nor will it acquit the insatisfaction of those which quarrell with all things oâ— dispute of matters concerning whose verities we have conviction from reason or decision from the inerrable and requisite conditions of sense And therefore if any man shall affirme the earth doth move and will not bâ—lieve with us it standeth still because he hath probable reasons for it and I no infallible sense nor reason against it I will not quarrell with his assertion but if like Zeno he shall walke about and yet deny there is any motion in nature â—urely it had been happy he had been born in Antyâ—era and is only fit to converse with their melancholies who having a conceit that they are dead cannot be convicted into the society of the living The fourth is a supinity or neglect of enquiry even in matters whereof we doubt rather beleeving as we say then going to see or doâ—bting with ease and gratis then beleeving with difficulty or purchase whereby either by a temperamentall inactivity we are unready to put in execution the suggestions or dictates of reason or by a content and acquiescence in every species of truth we embrace the shadow thereof or so much as may palliate its just and substantiall acquirements Had our forefathers sat downe in these resolutions or had their curiosities been sedentary who pursued the knowledge of things through all the corners of nature the face of tâ—uth had been obscure unto us whose lustre in some part their industries have revealed Certainly the sweat of their labours was not salt unto them and they took delight in the dust of their endeavours Fâ—r questionlesse in knowledge there is no slâ—nder difficulty and truth which wise men say doth lye in a well is not recoverable but by â—xâ—ntlation It were some extenuation of the curse if in sudore vulâ—us tul were confineable unto corporall exercitations and there still remained a Paradise or unthorny place of knowledge but now our undeâ—standings being eclipsed as well as our tempers infirmed we must betake our selves to wayes of reparation and depend upon the illumination of our endeavours for thus we may in some measure repaire our primarie ruins and build our selves men againe And though the attempts of some have been precipitous and their enquiries so audacious as to come within command of the flaming swords and lost themselves in attempts above humanity yet have the inquiries of most defected by the way and tyred within the sober circumference of knowledge And this is the reason why some have transcribed any thing and although they cannot but doubt thereof yet neither make experiment by sence or enquiry by reason but live in doubts of things whose satisfaction is in their owne power which is indeed the inexcusable part of our ignorance and may perhaps fill up the charge of the last day For not obeying the dictates of reason and neglecting the cryes of truth we faile not onely in the trust of our undertakings but in the intention of man it selfe which although more veniall unto ordinary constitutions and such as are not framed beyond the capacity of beaten notions yet will it inexcusably condemne some men
used crude and called sulpher vive and is of a sadder colour or after depuration such as we have in magdeleons or rolls of a lighter yellow Smal-coale is commonly known unto all and for this use is made of Sallow Wâ—llow Aldeâ— Hasell and the like which three proportionably mixed tempered and formed into granulary bodies doe make up that powder which is in use for gunnes Now all these although they bear a share in the discharge yet have they distinct intentions and different offices in the composition from brimstone proceedeth the continued and durable firing for Small coal and peter together will onley spit nor easily continue the ignition From Small-coale ensueth the black colour and quicke accension for neither brimstone nor peter although in powder will take fire like Small-coale nor will they easily kindle upon the sparks of a flint as neither will Camphire a body very inflamable but small-coal is equivolent to tinder and serveth to light the sulphur from salt-peter proceedeth the force and the report for sulphur and small-coale mixed will not take fire with noise or exilition and powder which is made of impâ—re and greasie peter hath but a weake emission and giveth a faint report and therefore in the three sorts of powder the strongest containeth most salt-peter and the proportion thereof is at the least ten parts of peter unto one of coale and sulphur But the immediate cause of the report is the vehement commotion of the ayre upon the sudden and violent eruption of the powder for that being suddenly fired and almost altogether being thus ratified it requireth by many degrees a greater space then before its body occupied but â—inding resistance is actiuely forceth out his way and by concussion of the aire occasioneth the report Now with what vigour and violence it forceth upon the aire may easily be conceived if wee admit what Cardan affirmeth that the powder fired doth occupie a hundred times a greater space then its own bulke or rather what Sâ—ellius more exactly accounteth that it exceedeth its former space on lesse then 12000. and 500. times And this is the reason not onely of this tonniâ—ruous and fulâ—â—iâ—ating report of gunnes but may resolve the cause of those terrible cracks and affrighting noise of heaven that is the nitrous and sulphureous exhalations set on fire in the cloudâ—s whereupon requiring a larger place they force out their way not only with the breaking of the cloud but the â—aceration of the ayre about it When if the matter be spirituous and the cloud compact the noise is great and terrible If the cloud be thinne and the materials weake the eruption is languide and ending in corrusâ—ations without any noyse although but at the distance of two miles which is esteemed the remotest distance of clouds and therefore such lightnings doe seldome any harme And therefore also it is prodigious to have thunder in a cleare skye as is observably recorded in some Histories Now therefore he that would destroy the report of Powder must worke upon the peter he that would exchange the colour must thinke how to alter the small coale For the one that is to make white powder it is surely many wayes feasible The best I know is by the powder of rotten willowes spunck or touchwood prepared might perhaps make it russet and some as Beringuccio in his Pyrotechny affiâ—meth have promised to make it red All which notwithstanding doth little concerne the report for that as wee have shewed depends on another ingredient and therefore also under the colour of blacke this principle is very variable for it is made not onely by Willow Aller Hazell c. But some above all commend the coales of Flaxe and Rushes and some also contend the same may bee effected with Tinder As for the other that is to destroy the Report it is reasonably attempted but two wayes that is either by quite leaving out or else by silencing the Salt-peter How to abate the vigour thereof or silence its bombulation a way is promised by Porta and that not onely in generall termes by some fat bodies but in particular by Borax and Buâ—ter mixed in a due proportion which sayeth he will so goe off as scarce to be heard by the discharger and indeed plentifully mixed it will almost take off the reporr and also the force of the charge That it may be thus made without Salt-peter I have met with but one example that is of Alphonsus Duke of Ferrara who in the relation of Brassavolus and Cardan invented such a Powder as would discharge a bullet without report That therefore white Powder there may be there is therein no absurdity that also such a one as may give no report wee will not deny a possibility But this however contrived either with or without Salt-peter will surely be of little force and the effects thereof no way to be feared For as it omits of report so will it of effectuall exclusion for seeing as we have delivered the strength and report do necessarily depend upon the violent exclusion where there is no report there will be no violent exclusion and so the charge of no force which is excluded For thus much is reported of that famous powder of Alphonsus which was not of force enough to kill a chicken according to the delivery of Brassavolus Iamque pulvis inventus est qui glandem sine bombo projâ—cit nec tamen vehementer ut vel pullum interficere possit It is very true and not to bee denyed there are wayes to discharge a bullet not only with powder that makes no noise but without any powder at all as is done by water and windegunnes but these afford no fulminating report and depend on single principles and even in ordinary powder there are pretended other wayes to alter the noise and strength of the discharge and the best if not onely way consists in the quality of the Nitre for as for other wayes which make either additions or alterations in the powder or charge I finde therein no effect That unto every pound of sulphur an adjection of one ounce of Qâ—icksilver or unto every pound of peter one ounce of Sal Armoniac will much intend the force and cosequently report as Beringuccio hath delivered I find no verity therein That a piece of Opium will dead the force and blow as some have promised I finde herein â—o such peculiarity no more then in any gumme of viscose body and as much effect there is to be found from Scammonie That a bullet dipped in oyle by preventing the transpiration of ayre will carry farther and pâ—irce deeper as Portu affirmeth my experience cannot with satisâ—action discerne That Quicksilver is more distructive then shot is surely not to be made out for it will scarce make any penetration and discharged from a Pistoll will hardly pierce thorow a paâ—chment That vineger spirits of wine or the distilled water of Orange pilles wherewith the powder is tempored are more effectuall unto
properly called a Morse and makes not out that shape That which the Ancients named Hippocampus is a little animall about six inches long and not preferred beyond the classis of Insects that they tearmed Hippopotamus an amphibious animall about the River Nile so little resembleth an horse that as Mathiolus observeth in all except the seet it better makes out a swine that which they tearmed a Lion was but a kinde of Lobster and that they called the Beare was but one kinde of Crab and that which they named Bos marinus was not as we conceive a fish resembling an Oxe but a Skaite or Thornbacke so named from its bignesse expressed by the Greek word Bous which is a prefixe of augmentation to many words in that language And therefore although it be not denied that some in the water doe carry a justifiable resemblance to some at the Land yet are the major part which beare their names unlike nor doe they otherwise resemble the creatures on earth then they on earth the constellations which passe under animall names in heaven nor the Dog-fish at sea much more make out the Dog of the land then that his cognominall or name-sake in the heavens Now if from a similitude in some it bee reasonable to infer a correspondency in all we may draw this analogie of animalls upon plants for vegetables there are which carry a neare and allowable similitude unto animals as we elsewhere declare wee might also presume to conclude that animall shapes were generally made out in mineralls for severall stones there are that beare their names in relation to animals parts as Lapis anguinus Conchites Echinites Eucephalites Aegopthalmus and many more as will appeare in the writers of Mineralls and especially in Boetius Moreover if we concede that the animalls of one Element might beare the names of those in the other yet in strict reason the watery productions should have the prenomination and they of the land rather derive their names then nominate those of the sea for the watery plantations were first existent and as they enjoyed a priority in forme had also in nature precedent denominations but falling not under that nomenclature of Adam which unto terrestrious animalls assigned a name appropriate unto their natures from succeeding spectators they received arbitrary appellations and were respectively denominated unto creatures knowne at land which in themselves had independent names and not to bee called after them which were created before them Lastly by this assertion wee restraine the hand of God and abridge the variety of the creation making the creatures of one Element but an acting over those of an other and conjoyning as it were the species of things which stood at distance in the intellect of God and though united in the Chaos had several seeds of their creation for although in that indistinguisht masse all things seemed one yet separated by the voyce of God according to their species they came out in incommunicated varieties and irrelative seminalities as well as divided places and so although we say the world was made in sixe dayes yet was there as it were a world in every one that is a distinct creation of distinguisht creatures a distinction in time of creatures divided in nature and a severall approbation and survey in every one CHAP. XXV Compendiously of sundry Tenents concerning other Animals which examined prove either false or dubious 1. ANd first from times of great Antiquity and before the Melodie of Syrens the Musicall notes of Swans hath been commended and that they sing most sweetly before their death For thus we read in Plato de Legibus that from the opinion of Melempsuchosis or transmigration of the soules of men into the bodies of beasts most sutable unto their humane condition after his death Orpheus the Musician became a Swan Thus was it the bird of Apollo the god of Musicke by the Greekes and a Hieroglyphick of Musick among the Aegyptians from whom the Greeks derived the conception hath been the affirmation of many Latines and hath not wanted assertors almost from every Nation All which notwithstanding we find this relation doubtfully received by Aelian as an hearsay account by Bellonius as a false one by Pliny expresly refuted by Myndius in Athenaeus severely rejected by Scaliger whose words unto Cardan are these De Cygni vero cantu suavis simo quem cum parente mendaciorum Graecia jactare ausus es ad Luciani tribunal apud quem novi aliquid dicas statuo Authors also that countenance it speak not satifactorily of it Some affirming they sing not till they die some that they sing yet die not some speake generally as though this note were in all some but particularly as though it were only in some some in places remote and where we can have no trial of it others in places where every experience can refute it as Aldrovand upon relation delivered concerning the Musicke of the Swans on the river of the Thames neer London Now that which countenanceth and probably confirmeth this opinion is the strange and unusuall conformation of the winde pipe or vocall organ in this animall observed first by Aldrovandus and conceived by some contrived for this intention for in its length it far exceedeth the gullet and hath in the chest a sinuous revolution that is when it ariseth from the lunges it ascendeth not directly unto the throat but ascending first into a capsulary reception of the breast bone by a Serpentine and Trumpet recurvation it ascendeth againe into the neck and so by the length thereof a great quantity of ayre is received and by the figure thereof a musicall modulation effected But to speak indifferently what Aldrovand himself acknowledgeth this formation of the Weazon is not peculiar unto the Swan but common also unto the Platea or Shovelard a bird of no Musicall throat And as himselfe confesseth may thus be contrived in the Swan to contain a larger stock of ayre whereby being to feed on weeds at the bottom they might the longer space detain their heads under water And indeed were this formation peculiar or had they unto this effect an advantage from this part yet have they a knowne and open disadvantage from an other which is not common unto any singing bird wee know that is a flat bill For no Latirostrous animal whereof neverthelesse there are no slender numbers were ever commended for their note or accounted among those animals which have been instructed to speake When therefore we consider the dissention of Authors the falsity of relations the indisposition of the Organs and the immusicall note of all we ever beheld or heard of if generally taken and comprehending all Swans or of all places we cannot assent thereto Surely he that is bit with a Tarantula shall never be cured by this Musicke and with the same hopes we expect to hear the harmony of the Spheres 2. That there is a speciall proprietie in the flesh of Peacocks rost or boiled
Therapeuticke or curative Physicke we tearm that which restoreth the Patient unto sanity and taketh away diseases actually affecting now of diseases some are cronicall and of long duration as quartane Agues Scurvy c. wherein because they admit of delay we deferre the cure to more advantagious seasons others wee tearme acute that is of short duration and danger as Fevers Pleurifies c. in which because delay is dangerous and they arise unto their state before the Dog-dayes determine we apply present remedies according unto Indications â—especting rather the acutenesse of the disease and precipitancy of occasion then the rising or setting of Stars the effects of the one being disputable of the other assured and inevitable And although Astrologie may here put in and plead the secret influence of this Starre yet Galâ—n I perceive in his Comment makes no such consideration confirming the truth of the Aphorisme from the heat of the yeare and the operation of Medicines exhibited in regard that bodies being heated by the Summer cannot so well endure the acrimony of purging Medicines and because upon purgations contrary motions ensue the heat of the Ayre attracting the humours outward and the action of the Medicine retracting the same inward but these are readily salved in the distinctions before alleadged and particularly in the constitution of our climate and divers others wherein the Ayre makes no such exhaustion of spirits and in the benignity of our Medicines whereof some in their owne natures others well prepared agitate not the humours or make a sensible perturbation Nor do we hereby reject or condemne a sober and regulated Astrology we hold there is more truth therein then in Astrologers in some more then many allow yet in none so much as some pretend we deny not the influence of the Stars but often suspect the due application thereof for though we should affirme that all things were in all things that heaven were but earth celestified and earth but heaven terrestrified or that each part above had an influence upon its devided affinity below yet how to single out these relations and duely to apply their actions is a worke oft times to be effected by some revelation and Cabala from above rather then any Philosophy or speculation here below what power soever they have upon our bodies it is not requisite they should destroy our reasons that is to make us rely on the strength of Nature when she is least able to relieve us and when we conceive the heaven against us to refuse the assistance of the earth created for us this were to suffer from the mouth of the Dog above what others doe from the teeth of Dogs below that is to be afraid of their proper remedy and refuse to approach any water though that hath often proved a cure unto their disease There is in wise men a power beyond the stars and Ptolomy encourageth us that by fore-knowledge wee may evade their actions for being but universall causes they are determined by particular agents which being inclined not constrained containe within themselves the casting act and a power to command the conclusion Lastly if all be conceded and were there in this Aphorisme an unrestrained truth yet were it not reasonable to inferre from a caution a non-usance or abolition from a thing to bee used with discretion not to be used at all because the Apostle bids us beware of Philosophy heads of extremity will have none at all an usuall fallacie in vulgar and lesse distinctive braines who having once overshot the mean run violently on and finde no rest but in the extreams And hereon we have the longer insisted because the errour is materiall and concernes oftimes the life of man an errour to bee taken notice of by State and provided against by Princes who are of the opinion of Salomon that their riches consist in the multitude of their Subjects an errour worse then some reputed Heresies and of greater danger to the body then they unto the soul which whosoever is able to reclaime he shall save more in one Summer then Themison destroyed in any Autumne he shall introduce a new way of cure preserving by Theorie as well as practice and men not onely from death but from destroying themselves THE FIFTH BOOK Of many things questionable as they are commonly described in Pictures CHAP. I. Of the picture of the Pelecan ANd first in every place we meet with the picture of the Pelecan opening her breast with her bill and feeding her young ones with the bloud distilling from her Thus is it set forth not onely in common signes but in the Crest and Scucheon of many Noble families hath been asserted by many holy Writers and was an Hieroglyphicke of pietiâ— and pittie among the Aegyptians on which consideration they spared them at their tables Notwithstanding upon enquirie we finde no mention hereof in Ancient Zoographers and such as have particularly discoursed upon Animals as Aristotle Aelian Plinie Solinus and many more who seldom forget proprieties of such a nature and have beene very punctuall in lesse considerable Records Some ground hereof I confesse wee may allow nor need wee deny a remarkeable affection in Pelecans toward their young for Aelian discoursing of Storkes and their affection toward their brood whom they instruct to flie and unto whom they redeliver up the provision of their bellies concludeth at last that Herons and Pelecans do the like As for the testimonies of ancient Fathers and Ecclesiasticall writers we may more safely conceive therein some Emblematicall then any reall Storie so doth Eucherius confesse it to bee the Embleme of Christ and wee are unwilling literally to receive that account of Jerome that perceiving her young ones destroyed by Serpents she openeth her side with her bill by the blood whereof they revive and return unto life againe by which relation they might indeed illustrate the destruction of man by the old Serpent and his restorement by the blood of Christ and in this sense we shall not dispute the like relations of Austine Isidore Albertus and many more and under an Emblematicall intention we accept it in coat armour As for the Hieroglyphick of the Aegyptians they erected the same upon another Story that is from earnestly protecting her young when her nest was set on fire for as for letting out her blood it was not the assertion of the Egyptians but seemes translated unto the Pelecan from the Vulture as Pierius hath most plainly delivered Sed quod Pelicanum â—t etiam alijs plerisque persuâ—sum est rostro pectus dissecantem pingunt ita ut suo sanguine filios alat ab Aegyptiorum historiâ valde alienum est illi enim vulturem tantum id facere tradiderunt And lastly as concerning the picture if naturally examined and not Hieroglyphically conceived it containeth many improprieties disagreeing almost in all things from the true and proper description for fiâ—st whereas it is commonly set forth green or yellow in its proper
land So is it exceeded by that which by Cardan is termed the greatest in the world that is the River Oregliana in the same Continent which as Maginus delivereth hath beene navigated 6000. miles and opens in a Channell of ninety leagues broad so that as Acosta an ocular witnesse recordeth they that sayle in the middle can make no land of either side Now the ground of this assertion was surely the magnifying esteem of the Ancients arising from the indiscovery of its head For as things unknowne seeme greater then they are and are usually receaved with amplifications above their nature So might it also be with this River whose head being unknowne and drawne to a proverbiall obscurity the opinion thereof became without bounds and men must needs conceat a large extent of that to which the discovery of no man had set a period And this an usuall way to give the superlative unto things of eminency in any kinde and when a thing is very great presently to define it to be the greatest of all whereas indeed Superlatives are difficult whereof there being but one in every kinde their determinations are dangerous and must not be made without great circumspection So the City of Rome is magnified by the Latiâ—s to be the greatest of the earth but time and Geography enforme us that Cairo is bigger then ever it was and Quinsay in China farre exceedeth both So is Olympus extolled by the Greeks as an hill attaining unto heaven but the enlarged Geography of after times makes slight account hereof when they discourse of Andes in Peru or Teneriffa in the Canaries So have all Ages conceaved and most are still ready to sweare the Wren is the least of birds yet the discoveries of America and even of our owne Plantations have shewed us one farre lesse that is the Humbird not much exceeding a Beetle And truly for the least and greatest the highest and the lowest of every kinde as it is very difficult to define them in visible things so is it to understand in things invisible Thus is it no easie lesson to comprehend the first matter and the affections of that which is next neighbour unto nothing and impossible truly to comprehend God who indeed is all things and so things as they arise unto perfection and approach unto God or descend to imperfection and draw neerer unto nothing fall both imperfectly into our apprehensions the one being too weake for our conception our conception too weake for the other Thirdly divers conceptions there are concerning its increment or inundation The first unwarily opinions that this encrease or annuall overflowing is proper unto Nile and not agreeable unto any other River which notwithstanding is common unto many currents of Africa For about the same time the River Niger and Zaire do oveâ—flow and so do the Rivers beyond the mountaines of the Moone as Suama and Spirito Santo and not onely these in Africa but some also in Europe and Asia for so it is reported of Menan in India and so doth Botero report of Duina in Livonia and the same is also observable in the River Jordan in Judea for so is it delivered Josuah 3. that Jordan overfloweth all his banks in the time of harvest The effect indeed is wonderfull in all and the causes surely best resolvable from observations made in the Countries themselves the parts through which they passe or whence they take their originall That of Nilus hath beene attempted by many and by some to that despaire of resolution that they have only referred it unto the providence of God and the secret manuduction of all things unto their ends but divers have attained the truth and the cause alledged by Diodorus Seneca Strabo and others is allowable that the inundation of Nilus in Aegypt proceeded from the raines in Aethiopia and the mighty source of waters falling towards the fountaines thereof For this inundation unto the Aegyptians happeneth when it is winter unto the Aethiopians which habitations although they have no cold winter the Sun being no farther removed from them in Cancer then unto us in Taurus yet is the fervour of the ayre so well remitâ—ed as it admits a sufficient generation of vapours and plenty of showres ensuing thereupon This theory of the Ancients is since confirmed by experience of the Modernes as namely by Franciscus Alvarez who lived long in those parts and hath left a description of Aethiopia affirming that from the middle of June unto September there fell in his time continuall raines As also Antonius Ferdinandus who in an Epistle written from thence and noted by Condignus affirmeth that during the winter in those Countries there passed no day without raine Now this is also an usuall course to translate a remarkable quality into a propriety and where we admire an effect in one to opinion there is not the like in any other with these conceits do common apprehensions entertaine the antidotall and wondrous condition of Ireland conceaving in that Land onely an immunity from venemous creatures but unto him that shall further enquire the same will be affirmed of Creta memorable in ancient stories even unto fabulous causes and benediction from the birth of Jupiter The same is also found in Ebusus or Evisa an Island neere Majorca upon the coast of Spaine With these opinions do the eyes of neighbour spectators behold Aetna the flaming mountaine in Sicilia But Navigators tell us there is a burning mountaine in Island a more remaâ—keable one in Teneriâ—â—a of the Canaries and many vulcano's or fiery hils elsewhere Thus Crocodiles were thought to be peculiar unto Nile and the opinion so possessed Alexander that when he had discovered some in Ganges he fell upon conceit he had found the head of Nilus but later discoveries affirme they are not onely in Asia and Africa but very frequent in some Rivers of America Another opinion confineth its inundation and positively affirmeth it constantly encreaseth the seventeenth day of June wherein notwithstanding a larger forme of speech were safer then that which punctually prefixeth a constant day thereto for first this expression is different from that of the Ancients as Herodotus Diodorus Seneca c. delivering only that it happeneth about the entrance of the Sunne into Câ—ncer wherein they warily deliver themselves and reserve a reasonable latitude So when Hippocrates saith Sub Cane ante Canem difficiles sunt purgationes there is a latitude of dayes comprised therein for under the Dogstar he containeth not onely the day of its ascent but many following and some ten dayes preceding So Aristotle delivers the affections of animalls with the wary termes of Circa magna ex parte and when Theodorus translateth that part of his Coeunt Thunni Scombri mense Februario post Idus pariunt Iâ—nio ante Nâ—nas Scaliger for ante Nonas renders it Iunii initâ—o because that exposition affordeth the latitude of divers dayes For affirming it happeneth before the Nones he alloweth but one day
one reversed with many others considerable in Meteorologicall Divinity which would more sensibly make out the Epithite of the Heathens and the expression of the son of Syrach very beautifull is the Rainebow It compasseth the heaven about with a glorious circle and the hands of the most High have bended it CHAP. V. Of Sem Ham and Iaphet COncerning the three sons of Noah Sem Ham and Japhet that the order of their nativity was according â—o that of numeration and Japhet the youngest son as most beleeve as Austin and others account the sons of Japhet and Europeans â—eed not grant nor will it so well concord unto the letter of the Text and its readiest Interpretations For so is it said in our Translation Sem the father of all the sons of Heber the brother of Japhet the elder so by the Septuagint and so by that of Tremellius and therefore when the Vulgar reades it Fratre Iaphet majore the mistake as Junius observeth might be committed by neglect of the Hebrew accent which occasioned Jerom so to render it and many after to beleeve it Nor is that argument contemptible which is deduced from their Chronology for probable it is that Noah had none of them before and begat them from that yeare when it is said hee was five hundred yeares old and begat Sem Ham and Japhet Againe it is said he was sixe hundred yeares old at the flood and that two yeares after Sem was but an hundred therefore Sem must be borne when Noah was five hundred and two and some other before in the yeare of five hundred and one Now whereas the Scripture affordeth the priority of order unto Sem we cannot from thence inferre his primogeniture for in Sem the holy line was continued and therefore however borne his genealogy was most remarkeable So is it not unusuall in holy Scripture to nominate the younger before the elder so is it said That Taâ—ah begat Abraham Nachor and Haram whereas Haram was the eldest So Rebecca is termed the mother of Jacob and Esau. Nor is it strange the younger should be first in nomination who have commonly had the priority in the blessings of God and been first in his benediction So Abel was accepted before Cain Abraham the younger preferred before Ismael the elder Jacob before Esau Joseph was the youngest of twelve and David the eleventh son and but the caddet of Jesse Lastly though Japhet were not elder then Sem yet must we not affirme that he was younger then Cham for it is plainely delivered that after Sem and Japhet had covered Noah he awaked and knew what his youngest son had done unto him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is the expression of the Septuagint Filius minor of Jerome and minimus of Tremellius And upon these grounds perhaps Josephus doth vary from the Scripture enumeration and nameth them Sem Japhet and Cham which is also observed by the Annian Berosus Noah cum tribus filâ—is Semo Iapeto Chem. And therefore although in the priority of Sem and Japhet there may be some difficulty though Cyrill Epiphanius and Austin have accounted Sem the elder and Salian the Annalist and Petavius the Chronologist contend for the same yet Cham is more plainly and confessedly named the youngest in the Text. CHAP. VI. That the Tower of Babel was erected against a second deluge AN opinion there is of some generality that our fathers after the Flood attempted the tower of Babel to secure themselves from a second Deluge Which however affirmed by Josephus and others hath seemed improbable unto many who have discoursed hereon For beside that they could not be ignorant of the promise of God never â—o drowne the world againe and had the Rainebow before their eyes to put them in minde thereof it is improbable from the nature of the Deluge which being not possibly causable from naturall showres above or watery â—ruptions below but requiring a supernaturall hand and such as all acknowledge irresistible wee must disparage their knowledge and judgement in so succeslesse attempts Againe they must probably heare and some might know that the waters of the flood ascended fifteene cubits above the highest mountaines Now if as some define the perpendicular altitude of the highest mountaines bee foure miles or as others but fifteene furlongs it is not easily conceived how such a structure could bee effected except wee receive the description of Herodotus concerning the Tower of Belus whose first tower was eight furlongs higher and eight more built upon it except we beleeve the Annian Berosus or the traditionall relation of Jerome It was improbable from the place that is a plaine in the land of Shinar And if the situation of Babylon were such at first as it was in the dayes of Herodotus it was rather a seat of amenity and pleasure then conducing unto this intention it being in a very great plaine and so improper a place to provide against a generall Deluge by towers and eminent structures that they were faine to make provisions against particular and annuall inundations by ditches and trenches after the manner of Aegypt And therefore Sir Walter Ralegh accordingly objecteth If the Nations which followed Nimrod still doubted the surprise of a second flood according to the opinions of the antient Hebrewes it soundeth ill to the eare of Reason that they would have spent many yeares in that low and overflowne valley of Mesopotamia And therefore in this situation they chose a place more likely to have secured them from the worlds destruction by fire then another Deluge of water and as Pierius observeth some have conceived that this was their intention Lastly the reason is delivered in the Text. Let us build us a City and a Tower whose top may reach unto heaven and let us make us a name lest wee be scattered abroad upon the whole earth as wee have already began to wander over a part These were the open ends proposed unto the people but the secret designe of Nimrod was to settle unto himselfe a place of dominion and rule over the rest of his brethren as it after succeeded according to the delivery of the Text The beginning of his kingdome was Babel CHAP. VII Of the Mandrakes of Leah VVEE shall not omit the Mandrakes of Leah according to the History of Genesis And Reuben went out in the dayes of Wheat-harvest and found Mandrakes in the field and brought them unto his mother Leah then Rachel said unto Leah Give me I pray thee of thy sonnes Mandrakes and she said unto her Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my husband and wouldest thou take my sons Mandrakes also and Rachel said therefore he shall lye with thee this night for thy sonnes Mandrakes from whence hath arisen a common conceit that Rachel requested these plants as a medicine of fecundation or whereby she might become fruitfull which notwithstanding is very questionable and of incertaine truth For first from the comparison of one