therefore by some rejected from the value of Metalls 42. Though in times past the Native was in much use and more nobler by far then Brass As Pliny witnesseth L. 34. c. 2. The Commentary A THe name Metall is derived from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is to search because it is sought for with much pains and cost in the Veins and Caverns of the Earth Pliny adjudges it to be derived from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies near another because where one Vein is found of Metall not far from thence another is found For they have a kinde of sympathy with them as Gold and Silver Brass and Iron Others are called Minerals which are generated in the Veins Pores and Bowels of the Earth those are called Fossiles which are digged out of the Earth Fossiles are separated and distinguished from Metalls by Aristotle 3. Met. ch 7. because Fossiles are cast up out of the Earth onely by digging needing no other art or further labor for their discovery But Metalls are much boyled and separated by the fire and purged several ways as need requires Now the definition of Metall delivered doth consist of a genus and difference The Genus is a Body because a Metall doth receive three Dimensions the Difference contains four In the first place it is called a Body perfectly mixed to the difference of Meteors for there is not so light a concourse of Elements in Metalls as in Meteors In the second place it is called Inanimate to difference it from Animate as are Plants and Animalls whence Brighthus did right Comment in Scribonius who defines metallick-Metallick-bodies imperfectly to be called Animates If they have a soul they must have it perfectly because the soul doth not receive more or less of quantity but is the very perfection and absolution of a thing The opinion therefore of Cardan is to be reproved who asserts all Metalls to be perfect Animates but seeing they produce no vitall action they cannot have a soul attributed unto them In the third place the matter of Metall is credited to be Sulphure and Quicksilver which are as it were the Father and Mother of Metalls which two are mingled variously and from the mixtion of these two are all Metalls imediately procreated But Cardan resists this opinion who denies that Metalls do consist of Sulphure and Quicksilver and that upon this account because by the act of two Existents a third cannot be made Scaliger answers Exer. 106. sect 6. that it is the property of things mingled that by the act of many Existents a third to be made And Cardan himself doth affirm that Copper doth consist of Tinn and Brass which are two in one existent act Aristotle following Plato in Timaeus doth demonstrate of a double vapour doth lie hid in the bowels of the earth The one dry that is more terrene then watry The other Humid and Glutinous that is more watry then terrene From the former he thinks hard Fossiles as stones to grow and from the latter that which is properly called Metall But this Controversie may easily be reconciled if we say that these vapours or habits are the more remote matter of Metalls but the proximate and proper to to be Sulphure and Quicksilver But let it seem strange to none why such hard bodies as Metalls are should be generated of vapour for this vapour is Crass and Fumid whence it happens that in those Pits and Mines where Metalls are digged that many are suffocated and killed by those vapours and hence it is that those who are daily laborerâ—… therein are â—…oxious to various Diseases and Catarrhs But I say that the matter of Metalls is not simply a vapour or watrish humor but that which is more watry then earthy for the watry vapour simply cannot be the matter of Metalls For how should they then cohere or how come Metalls so solid Hence it is that they have certain mixed parts of that and slimy earth yet notwithstanding they obtain more of water then of earth because they may be powred out melted which can never be done without there be some inward moisture for it is the faculty of an humor to soften therfore those of them that have most humidity as Gold Silver c. are the soonest powred out and melted but such as have but little humor as Iron and Brass are hard to be melted But it is said in the definition that Metalls are begot as by sperme of Sulphure and Quicksilver mixed and tempered In which words the efficient Causes are included which are two Heat and Cold Heat indeed doth precede Cold follows the generation of Metalls for Heat whether Celestial or Elementary doth mingle digest temper and concoct all the portions of the matter which mass so tempered is rudely prepared for this or that kinde of Metall and so grows and condenses with cold for because all Metalls are dissolved by the force of heat then it remains that they must be concreted by cold so that it is needful that one contrary be the cause of another What is more clearer to sence then that which is soluble by heat must needs condense by cold For if Gold Silver or Lead be melted and removed from the fire they presently come into their pristine form for cold is the privation of heat and according to the various preparations of that mixtion divers kindes of Metalls are gotten of the same Mass for by how much more subtil and defaecate the matter is by so much the more nobler and purer the Metall will be In brief all Heat and Splendor and all the Excellency of Metalls doth depend upon a decent and legitimate mixtion and temperation of the matter unto which the temperature of the Air the soyl of the place doth much profit for the various Influence and Efficacy of the Sun Moon and Stars as in other things so in the procreation of Metals is of great moment And hence it happens that all sorts of Earth will not bear Metalls although the matter of it be contained within it So we see also in such Regions as are too dry as Affrica that Metalls will not easily be generated because the matter to wit the moist vapour doth not abound there nor in Regions too cold will Gold or silver be found but in places onely moist Fourthly In the definition the Veins of the earth are the subject of Metalls for these are as it were the mothers of these Bodies but sometimes they are found in stones and that rather upon Mountains then Plains in higher Places rather then Groves for according to their solidity they do retain their colour better which in Plains is sooner dissipated by reason of the softness of the earth And this shall suffice for the explication of the Definition B It is called quick metaphorically because it always moves And it is called Mercury because as Mercury is joyned to all the Planets so this to all Metals or as Mercury turns round so is
water but the rather more inflamed by it 32. That is called Petreolum which flows from Rocks and sometimes Naptha Petra 33. Amber is fragrant Bitumen and kept amongst the richest merchandise and it is gotten about Arabia 34. Vitriol is a concreted Juice looking like the clearness of glass it is called by the Latines Atramentum sutorium and sometimes Chalchanthum 35. The native is found concreted in the Veins of the Earth or clefts of the Rock and from thence doth distil by drops part thereof hanging like frozen Ice and part found in the bottom of Channels 36. Furthermore Juices which cannot be melted yet not indurated into stones are Auripigmentum Sandarach Chalk Gypsum Lime Oker Argil Sealed earth Armenian earth 37. Auripigmentum or Arsnick is B a concreted Juice of a yellowish colour flourishing Pictures with a golden colour is hot and dry in the fourth degree and a present poyson 38. Sandarach is a reddish earth of the colour of Cinabaris yet something inclining to a yellow much of it is gotten in the veins of Metals with Auripigmentum smelling strong of Sulphure 39. Lime is a dry earth cocted to a stone which after it is burnt is inflamed with water and extinguished with oyl it is called Viva or Living because it contains fire hidden within it 40. Gypsum is a shining earth gentle and light akin to Lime but not so dry nor hot which is digged out of the bottom of the earth the Factitious is made of a certain stone and so placed in walls for the ornament of houses 41. Chalk is a tender earth and white plentiful in the Island of Crete 42. Ocher is a light and yellowish earth which when it is burnt is red 43. Argil is a fat and soft earth of which figuline vessels are made 44. Sealed and Lemnian earth is a portion of earth that is very red digged out of the Island Lemnos and sealed with the seal of Diana's high Priest it is also digged daily in Silesia and Hassia it resists poyson 45. The Armenian is a portion of earth digged out in Armenia drying by nature and of a pale colour The Commentary A SAlt is derived a saliendo from leaping because it leaps in the fire Some judge it to be called salt from the sun because it is gotten of its own accord of sea-water the spume thereof left upon the shore by the sun is concreted into salt The efficient cause of salt is the heat of the sun and the rest of the stars which drawing the sweeter and tender parts out of the saltish matter leaves the Terrene which being boyled makes a saltish substance Two things are required to a salt sapour the dry and Terrene parts and their adustion of the first is made a sapour of the latter a salt sapour Erroneous therefore is that opinion which judg'd salt to concrete as Ice of cold For if salt doth concrete of â—…old it is dissolved with heat because it is a general rule with Naturalists every thing to be dissolved by the contrary wherewith it was congealed but salt is dissolved with nothing less then with heat for that hardens it and dryes it more but it is quickly dissolved with water therefore it is not constringed of cold The matter is a Terrene Juice adust and dryed with heat the forme is dryed vapours with concocted water the end and use of salt is various in the whole course of life whence it is rightly said that nothing is more profitable then salt and the sun And old Homer called salt Divine because â—…t is accommodated to various â—…ses Salt hinders putrefaction and â—…akes away superfluous humidity â—…n our Bodies without salt a perfect concoction cannot be made besides it is of frequent use in the cure of wounds B Auripigmentum is double native and factitious that which is like to Ackorns erupts of its own accord from Metals this again is double the one is made of Arsnick and natural salt of equal parts mixed and burned in a crucible till the vapour appear like Chrystal hence it is called Christalline Arsnick the other is made of natural Arsnick and Sulphure mixed together and combustible both of them are dry and hot in the fourth degree and a present poyson CHAP. 4. Of the Nature of Plants in general and of their corruptions 1. HItherto we have spokeâ—… of an inanimate Body perfectly mixed Now we proceed to Animate Bodies which are perfectly mixed endowed with soul and life 2. There are two parts in the life of a furnisht Body the external Body and the soul which subministers life of the former we have spoken before of the latter we shall now 3. An animate Body is expert of sense or sensitive 4. A Plant is a Body expert in sense which is also called stirps A which is a body perfectly mixed endowed with a vigent soul which doth grow live wax green is nourished and increased from the earth 5. For when Plants are nourished and increased and bear flowers and fruits it proceeds from the soul and they are the works of animated Bodies neither can they be without this soul 6. Therefore rejected is that opinon of the Philosophers which call that the form which vivificates Plants and that their nature which indeed is the soul. 7. And also Erroneous is that opinion which maintans Plants to be Animals endowed with sense which Scaliger refutes Exer. 138. 8. For they are not accommodated with Organs which are requisite to sensitive faculties neither can the actions of any such faculties be apprehended in Plants for which of them can see hear smell taste or feel Arist. lib. 1. de planc C. 1. 9. We do not deny but some sense is resident in Plants in attracting to them what is profitable and shunning what is unprofitable but then the question will be how can Plants which are always fixed in a place properly be said to draw what is profitable and shun what is incommodious 10. The vegetable soul alonâ—… that is within the Plant is used as an instrument to the preservation of life by heat both native and adventitious lawfully temperated which the Plants draw out of the earth where they are fixed by the roots 11. That heat adhering in the moist matter it attracts as convenient to its nature and so alters and converts it into the substance of the Plant. 12. Hence there are two vital principles in every Plant heat and humour the want whereof as it is death to Animals so it is a corruption and decaying to Plants 13. Corruption doth either infest part of the Plant or the whole 14. A total corruption is either natural or preternatural 15. The natural is made when Plants are rendred more dryer for their internal heat and their moisture decayed by progress of time 16. Some are corrupted sooner others later and so accordingly they live long or short 17. The cause of which variety is especially the form yet sometimes it happens from the gluishâ—…ess of the humour and
more exact in its new guest 39. Hence it is that wilde Plants if they be engrafted do remain firm because they are nourished by a more sincere Aliment so that a Domestick or Garden Plant engrafted into a wilde Plant wâ—… grow better and yield more pleasanter fruit 50. The Fruits of these respond in sapour colour and odour the nature of the Plant whence the Graft was taken because the juice whereby the fruit is nourished is of great moment in this matter The Commentary A NAture doth proceed always from the less perfect to the more perfect therefore it is in the first place disputed seeing that Plants by reason of forms do want of the perfection of Animals whether it be a body perfectly mixed First it is defined to be a Body perfectly mixed to difference it from Meteors in which there is an alteration of Elements made whereas in Plants and also in Metals there is a notable mutation of elementary parts therefore there is added in the definition endowed with 〈◊〉 vegetive soul. Therefore in the first place that I may take away the opinion both of Philosophers and Physitians who call that the form which governs the Plant and that the nature which is the soul for when Plants are nourished and increase they bear fruits and flowers which are the works of animate Bodies and they cannot want that soul Secondly to take away their opinion who declare that Plants are endowed with sense as Animals are concèrning which Plato Anaxagoras Empedocles and many others maintain to which many later writers assent but especially Cardan First Flight Hatred Aversion Appetite cannot be attributed to any Bodies but such as are endowed with a sensitive soul but Plants refuse and fly too much Heat as the Vine hath no propinquity with the Cabbadge and many other Plants also the Vine desires the Elm and almost all other Plants do gather what is familiar unto them and fly from what is unprofitable therefore by these actions it is not obscure that Plants are endowed with sense Secondly they are distinguished in the sex the Feminine Plant cannot consist with the Masculine each other desiring their congress neither can they come to ripeness or bear fruit without their mutual society But to the first we Answer That the Hatred Flight and Appetite of Plants is not proper but translated as Danaeus speaks indeed they contract and extend themselves by the benefit of their Fibres and so receive what is familiar and profitable by a certain natural faculty yet not with any sense onely endowed with the strength of a vegetive soul and led by the impulse of nature which Cicero calls an instinct for what things love or hate by sense those cannot hate or love as Scaliger saith Exer. 138. But for example the Cabbadge always refuses the Vine and hath a continual enmity against it and hence doth manifestly evade it But this Flight and Appetite of Plants is altogether without sense yet some attribute this to the Sex of the Plants which is to be understood metaphorically as a certain similitude taken from strength and weakness for the Masculine is more stronger then the Feminine the Feminine more weaker then the Masculine therefore we are to understand that masculine Plants are always strong and robust the feminine weak and fecundine But it is said in the Definition which do grow out of the earth for this is as it were the belly of Plants as Anaxagoras saith and out of this the Fibres of the roots whatsoever is profitable to them and agreable to their nature they attract and convert into their substance Further it is said to grow live nourish and increase in which vital actions the Plant differs from other Inanimate things which as they are destitute of a soul so they want these actions Hence it is that a Plant is said to be dissolved not that it hath onely an animate Body but organical also and so of it self alone and not of the earth as the Soicks would have it to have the beginning of its actions but although these strengths and actions are common to Animals yet notwithstanding they are insited in Plants the soul is used to the life and preservation of the Plants instrumentally with heat well tempered which Plants do draw out of the earth where they are placed by the roots and that heat which cleaves to the humid tressel and subject the defect whereof as it is death to Animals so it is dryness and corruption to Plants B The plenty of the inward humour causes the longevity of Plants for thereby the innate heat which is the instrument of form is thereby made First therefore when plenty of heat is discerned it suggests the aliment not easily to be dissipated but that the Plant will live long and yield much oleous and resinous juice Secondly when they are dense and compact they faithfully preserve their vital heat and moisture neither can they suffer external injuries and for this cause trees are more diuturnal then Fruits and Fruits then Herbs Thirdly the Longitude and crassitude of roots is of great moment by reason of their hardness for lengthening of life First because by how much the roots are deeper by so much they stick more firm and the more do resist the external injury of winde and heat Secondly the roots are as it were the beginning of Plants in which the hot moisture doth chiefly flourish and the subterranean heat and humour daily cherished for it is consonant to reason where there is much humidity and calidity there the roots must needs be ample and profound and therefore a small and simple root is defective of calidity and humidity and thereupon cannot grow long Fourthly fecundity also is the cause of shortning its life because of the too little dissipation of Juice whereby the inward humour is nourished which juice should go into the seed and fruit C Heat hurts Plants less then cold unless arridity accede which is called squalor and those are easily hurt by cold whose roots are not deep for there the sun doth the sooner pierce unto them and the proximate parts of the roots are affected strongly by the beams of the sun because the earth is wanting to nourish them D But why certain Plants do arise quickly after sowing the seed and others a long time after The first and chiefest cause is the force of form The second is the strength and imbecility of the insited heat The third is the rarity and density the softness and hardness of the seeds for in hard and dense Bodies the humour is elicited not so readily by the force of heat out of the earth whereby the seed doth swell and for this cause it is that the seed of Pyony doth bud so long after Sation and Mandrake longer which is more hard and dense which certain space of days of budding or sprouting happens according to the variety of the suns influence and heavens concurrence and hence it is that if dung be commixed
on the contrary that place is altogether unprofitable for Plants where moderate aliment is not afforded in plenty according to the nature of the Plant and its substance in the first and second qualities or where the soyl is such that the roots can neither go lower nor rise higher as occasion serves and need requires therefore these Plants which stand in need of pure aliment much and sweet can never profit or thrive where the place suggests nothing but impure little hot and saltish aliment so such as have robust and long roots will not live in a dense soyl and those that have small and tender roots cannot thrive in a thin soyl because they cannot draw aliment from the bottom Some are bettered with a dense air which happens because of their dissipation by the airs tenuity some thrive gallantly in a sunny place because they stand in need of the heat of the sun to excite their denser substance and here also is a certain tacite consent proceeding from the peculiar form of Plants for in cold places hot juyce doth grow and in a cold and moist place sometimes hot and dry Plants do live CHAP. 6. Of the parts of Plants and their kindes 1. HItherto of Plants which have a body both organical and animate Now of their parts 2. Whatsoever that is from which the body of Plants is constituted is either within the ground and then it is called a root or above the ground then superficies 3. And this whole body is distributed into parts or principals or less principal 4. Those which are called the true principals are those parts in which the vegetable soul doth perfect nutrition and conserve life 5. And they are either similar or dissimilar 6. Similar parts which have one and the same substance altogether and because many of them want proper words they change the appellation of parts of Animals by a certain Analogy 7. And these are either liquid or solid 8. The liquid are Juices and Tears 9. Juice is that liquid part diffused in the substances of Plants by which as with blood their life is preserved Arist. 1. de Plant. c. 2. 10. Lachryma or Tears are humours which drop from Plants spontaneously either induced thereunto by the heat of the sun or the plenty of humour dehiscing upon any occasion 11. And they are either watry as such as do concrete into Gums or pitchy such as are converted to Rosin 12. The solid parts are the substance called flesh and the fibres 13. The Flesh is the gross substance of the Plant consisting of a concreted humour responding to the muscles of Animals 14. The Fibres are long parts continued fissile carried in the same manner over the whole Plant as Veins and Nerves in Animals and accordingly in Plants they are called Veins and Nerves the succulent Fibres are the greater Veins the dry the lesser 15. The dissimilar parts do consist of the similar 16 And these are either universal or anniversary 17. The Universal or parts during for a long time are the root the caule matrix and bough 18. The root is the lowest part of the Plant which is as it were the mouth of the Plant fixed in the earth thereby attracting nutriment for the enlivening of the whole and the supplying of every part 19. The caule is the Trunk Stock or Body of the Plant which doth arise next from the root above the earth into which as it were into the vena cava the aliment doth first ascend from the root and after a full concoction is carried to the other parts 20. The matrix or medulla or sap is the internal part of the Plant lying hid in the midle of the Plant consisting of flesh and humour 21. The boughs are parts of the Plant which do stretch out and dilate themselves from the caule or trunk as the arms of the body from the shoulders 22. Anniversary that is those parts that grow afresh yearly young twigs flowers and fruit 23. A twig is part of the Plant which arises new from the boughs yearly and upon these twigs do the fruit and flowers hang. 24. The less principal parts are the Barks and Leaves 25. The Bark is as it were a certain tunicle made of Fibres wherewith the body is involved and is called the rinde 26. Leaves are as it were the excrements of Plants and they do consist of humour and fibres 27. But Plants are either perfect or imperfect 28. I call those perfect which evidently have the first and principal parts of Plants to wit the superficies and the root 29. And these have by nature for their superficies a caul or none 30. Those that have a caule have it either perpetual that is to say for a long time or not perpetual 31. Those whose caules are not perpetual they have no liqueous substance as all kindes of herbs and these amongst all Plants are the least 32. An herb A therefore is a little Plant whose superficies consists of a caule or stem void of wood continuing for a year 33. Under this we comprehend all fruits and pot-herbs which are no other then such as are fit to be eaten 34. Those which have a caule perpetual that is for a long time have it either by nature simple or compound one or more 35. Those which have it simple are Plants of the greatest crassitude as trees 36. A tree therefore is a liqueous Plant hard to be dissolved amongst all Plants the firmest and highest whose candex is perpetual and by nature simple 37. And this hath either a firm caul or not firm 38. Firm as the Oak the Apple-tree Pear and Cherry-tree c. 39. Infirm as the Vine and others which are fain to be supported 40. Which have many caules and the same either thin or crass 41. Those which have a thin caule are reckoned amongst less liqueous Plants as Broom and Bavine 42. Brush or Bavine is a Plant accounted the least amongst liqueous Plants both in altitude and crassitude not unlike to the Rose-tree Sage and Marshmallow 43. Those which have crass caules are reckoned amongst middle Plants easily passing into the nature of trees by the abscission of the unprofitable branches as shrubs 44. A shrub is a liqueous Plant of a middle altitude and crassitude who hath for its superficies a perpetual caule by nature multifarious and crass as the Hazle and Elder 45. Imperfect Plants are those which want a superficies and root or that is obscurely in them or not in them 46. Of this sort are Mushrooms and Toadstools whose substance is spungy in which but one superficies can be discerned so also Missletoe Dodder and Epithimus in which no root can be seen 47. There are so many varieties of Plants in the universe that they cannot be comprehended within our brevity their species and several natures may be known by reading of Pliny Theophrastus and other writers of Herbs The Commentary A AN Herb may be distinguished several ways by divers Arguments we shall
NATURE'S CABINET UNLOCK'D Wherein is Discovered The natural Causes of Metals Stones Précious Earths Juyces Humors and Spirits The nature of PLANTS in general their Affections Parts and Kinds in Particular Together with A Description of the Individual Parts and Species of all Animate Bodies Similar and Dissimilar Median and Organical Perfect and Imperfect With a compendious Anatomy of the Body of Man As also the Manner of his Formation in the Womb. All things are Artificial for Nature is the Art of God By Tho. Brown D. of Physick London Printed for Edw. Farnham in Popes-head alley near Cornhil 1657 OF PHYSIOLOGY Treating of BODIES Perfectly mixed With Comments thereupon CHAP. 1. Of Metalls 1. WE shall here Treat of those Bodies which are perfectly mixed and substantial 2. That Body is perfectly mixed â—…hich is made solid by the Concretion of the Elements and therefore daily grows harder and harder 3. All the Elements do abide and are concentricated in a mixed Body because all mixed Bodies are carried to a place of the Earth and therefore much of earth must needs be in them And if earth be in them then water without which earth cannot consist for all Generation happens from their contraries so that if there be one contrary it 's necessary that there should be an opposite contrary to that Arist. lib. 2. De gen corrupt c. 8. 4. And these Bodies are either Inanimate or Animate 5. Inanimate bodies are such as are void of life As Metalls Stones precious Earths 6. Metall is a body perfectly mixed and Inanimate of Sulphure and Quicksilver gotten in the veins of the earth 7. Sulphure and Quicksilver is often found in the veins of Metalls and of these for the variety of the temperament and mutuall permission the Professors of the Rosie Cross do adjudge Metalls to have their original 8. They define Sulphure to be a Metallick matter consisting of a subtill exhalation fat and unctuous included in the earth 9. Quicksilver B is a Metallick matter consisting of a vapour more subtil then water which is conglutinated with the earth and cocted by the heat of Sulphure 10 The Peripateticks will have a double vapour to lye hid in the bowels of the earth the one dry that is more terrene then water the other moist and glutinous that is more watry then terrene and from these do Stones and Fossiles grow and these do produce proper Metall Arist. 3. Met. c. 7. 11. The Chymists do not dissenâ—… from this opinion of Aristole for he maketh the matter of Metalls to be a remote vapour They a nearer matter Sulphure and Quicksilver which do grow from the aforesaid vapour as the remote matter of Metalls 12. The efficient Cause of Metall is heat and cold for heat whether Elementary or Celestial doth animate digest and exactly mingle all portions of matter which mass so temperated and prepared for this or that kind of metall doth grow by cold and is condensated 13. The place in which Metals are ingendered is the bosom of the earth Arist. 3. met c. 7. 14. Many are made amongst Stones and that oftner in mountains then in plains for according to their solidâ—…ty they do retain their colour better which is easily decayed and dispersed in plains because of the softness of the earth 15. If it be demanded whether their form be one or more C that is to say whether they can be distinguished amongst themselves in specifical differences which do effect divers and incommunicable forms amongst themselves 16. To the latter it is agreed First Because every Species hath its Essence and that perfect Secondly Its Definition Thirdly Its Heats Fourthly It Strength and Use Scal. Exer. 106. sect 2. 17. But it is a great dispute amongst late writers whether Metalls are Bodies Inanimate or whether they Live It is most certain they perform no vitall action as other bodies that are endowed with a vegetive soul therefore they are not Animated Scal. Exer. 102. 18. But Metalls are either pure or impure 19. Pure Metall is when there is a perfect decoction exquisitely made as in Gold and Silver 20. Gold E is a pure Metall begotten of pure Quicksilver fixed red and clear and of pure red Sulphure not too hot but well qualified 21. This of all Metalls is the softest and tenderest wanting fatness It is heavy having a sweet pleasant and excellent sapor and odor 22. But whether the Chymists by the industry of art can make true and approved Gold it is a question much disputed of late yet in my opinion it is clear that though it be very difficult experience witnessing it yet it is â—…ot altogether impossible for if Art be a follower and imitator of Nature I see not why Nature may not be imitated in framing of true Gold 23. And whether it may be made potable that is so prepared that it may be taken into the body without danger is a great controversie between the Chymists and Galenists 24. The favourers of Galen defend the Negative to which Scaliger doth subscribe being perswaded with these two reasons I. There is no similitude to be discerned between Gold and our Body as there is between Aliment and Body to be nourished II. Because Gold is more solid then that it can be overcome by our heat or changed from its substance Scal. Exer. 272. 25. Silver is a pure Metall G begotten of clear Quicksilver shining white and of pure Sulphure almost fixed 26. Such Metalls are impure which do consist of impure Sulphure and Mercury 27. Of these some have more of the Humor or Mercury and some more of the Earth or Sulphure 28. Lead and Tinn do participate more of the Humor 29. Lead H is a Metall procreated of much crass and less-pure Quicksilver and burning Sulphure 30. Its Species are various according to the matter of which it consists and the heat by which it is cocted 31. And hence it is black or clear 32. Black-lead doth consist of impure Quicksilver and it is less elaborate therefore of a baser value 33. Clear or White-lead is fully cocted and doth coâ—… somewhat of a more purer matter 34. Tin I is a White-metal begotten of much yet not so pure Quicksilver outwardly white but inwardly red and of impure Sulphure not well digested 35. Brass and Iron have more of Earth to which is added Copper 36. Brass K is an impure Metall begotten of much Sulphure red and gross and a little impure Quicksilver 37. Cyprian Brass is a Species of it which doth grow copiously in the Island Cyprus whence it is called Cuprum 38. Iron is L a Metall impure begotten of much Sulphure Crude Terrestrial and burning and a little impure Quicksilver 39. And although it 〈◊〉 hard yet it is bruised with daily labor because there goes to its generation less Quicksilver or Humor but more Sulphure or Terrene 40. Copper is factitious Brass clarified of the colour of Gold or rather more yellow 41. The Native is now of no use and
this moveable But why doth Quicksilver like a drop of water in powder or dust and also upon a dry substance be globular and round The question is subtil and difficult Cardan renders this reason What things are dry do fly from touching or mixing with their contrary and therefore in hatred thereof is compelled into a globular form This opinion is refuted by Scaliger Exer. 105. 1. This happens not in a dry substance onely but in water which is moist 2. That it will gather it self in the dust of Lead and not fly from it because Lead is like to the nature of Quicksilver and therefore it doth not fly from its nature but rather desire it 3. A drop of water when it falls in the air is globular and round but doth not refuse the air which is moist therefore the flight from dryness will not be the cause of its globular form if it be the same in moistness But the truest reason is taken from the material cause to wit Quicksilver for its exquisite mixture of moist and dry to be forced into one and conglobulated for pure water alone cannot be convolved into a globular form but if there be any thing of earth exquisitely mixed with water then indeed it will be globular as we see in drops falling upon dust with which assoon as any dust is mingled it becomes round for from dryness it received a certain firmness to cause that roundness From which Example the substanâ—…e of Quicksilver may be easily understood because it hath the same form way or station in nature as water gathered in dust therefore Quicksilver according to the definition of Scaliger is nothing else then a watry earth or earthly water not without much air and I shall adde to these another cause of conglobulation both from the form and the end desumed For whatsoever they be they are always one but unity in its kinde is excellently preserved in a globular form because there is nothing different nothing absent no inequality and therefore Quicksilver that it might better conserve its unity it goes into a globular form C It is a Controversie to this day agitated whether Metalls are distinguished amongst themselves in specificall differences which do effect divers and incommunicable forms amongst themselves so that one kinde of metall cannot be changed or converted into another or rather do they differ in the manner of perfection and imperfection This last Tenent is defended by the Chymists to which Cardan and Danaeus subscribe The first the followers of Galen and Julius Scaliger defend Reas. 1. Metals have their divers Definitions divers Colours Strength Seats Weights and many such like differences between them 2. In Species what is imperfect cannot be reposed or exist in any Species for the Essence of every thing is indivisible but the Essence alone is perfection As Scaliger saith Exer. 106. sect 2. 3. Metalls between themselves are not changed therefore they have a proper and compleat Essence and do differ in specificall forms I confirm the proposition for either its nature must change or art But it doth not change its nature because its place is not outward as to operation then much less art which is an imitator of nature 4. Saith Scaliger there are both other Metalls appointed by nature that of them Gold should be made and other Animates that of them man may be made Therefore it is not true that Gold is the perfection of Metalls So Thomas Erastus his second Part of dispute against Paracelsus and Iacobus Albertus and Thomas More D In this place that long controversed Point whether Metalls live or produce vitall action as other Bodies do that are endowed with a vegetable soul Cardan De subtil lib. 5. pag. 150. doth affirm it and these are his reasons 1. Every thing that is nourished or generated doth live Every mingled Body is nourished or at least generated therefore it lives To this Scaliger answers by denying the Proposition The Tophus or Gravel-stone is generated yet it doth not live because it wants a soul therefore the name Generation is common to all things generable and corruptible as also to Inanimate and corporall Simples for this water is generated of the air without a living soul. The second reason which is judged the most valid is this Where there is heat there is a soul where a soul there is life In a Stone there is heat therefore also life and soul. The major is deniable for in fire there is heat which notwithstanding wants a soul the minor also is false for a stone is rather cold then hot 3. Attraction comes from the soul the Loadstone attracts Iron therfore it hath a soul or is animated Scaliger answers That all attraction not to be from the soul as is plain from fire which doth gather and attract its kinde neither is it animated 4. Metalls have Veins and Pores therefore the office and end of Veins the end is the passage of Aliment but Aliment is onely of the soul. Scaliger answers and denies the first That there is no true Veins in Metalls but rather certain Internalls by which the parts are distinguished and grant they were true Veins and necessary then they would be found in all Metalls which are not in the most precious Metalls as in Gold the Adamant and others therefore they are not true 5. Metalls do grow therefore they have a vegetable soul. I answer Metalls do grow and increase not by the benefit of a soul but rather by accretion or apposition of parts extrinsecally adhering no otherwise then as a stone in the bladder therefore a soul cannot rightly be attributed unto them 6. Metalls do suffer Diseases and old Age as Albertus doth attest which must necessarily proceed from life We answer That old Age and Diseases are metaphorically given to them when by much preservation we say they have lost their first goodness and vertue as Scaliger doth instance in the Adamant which never can be said to wax old E These properties are denoted of Gold First that it is of all Metalls the most softest and tenderest and therefore it may be dilated into a thin leaf insomuch that one ounce of Gold will cover eight of Silver 2. It wants fatness and therefore it doth not tincture not defile neither is it conâ—…umed with fire for Gold according to Aristotle of all Metalls loses nothing in the fire the oftner it is burnt the better it is 3. It is heavy considering the thickness of its substance because it is compacted well with heat 4. It hath a pleasant and excellent Sapour and Odour for it is temperately hot and dry whence it is said to exhilarate the heart of man and to corroborate the vitall Spirits Native Gold is found in the mountains about Arabia in Caverns and Ponds in Germany in Rivers at Tago and sometimes in the heads of Fishes it is also generated and mingled with other metalls F There is a great Controversie amongst latter Chymists and followers of
the plenty thereof whereby the 〈◊〉 heat the instrument of form is nourished together with the firmness and solidity of the whole Plant. 18. For such grow a long time As first have much soft and gentle humidity in them Secondly a solid substance Thirdly their roots long and thick Fourthly those that are barren and fruitless Fifthly such as grow in a dry place 19. On the contrary part those Plants are short lived and sooner perish by natural corruption as have not the contraries to the former 20. Preternatural or violent â—…ruption happens either by â—…tinction or â—…nt of nourishâ—… 21. Corruption happening 〈◊〉 extinction is when the Plant perishes by too much cold 22. When cold 〈◊〉 goâ—… to the bottom it hinders 〈◊〉 warm vapour or heat from coming to the roots and at length causes the whole to perish 23. This corruption doth not happen but when an extream cold comes and invades the roots denuded of earth 24. Corruption happening from want of nourishment and that by heat by which the Plant is as it were scorched the humidity thereof being C exhausted by the vehemency of heat 25. And there are two seasons especially wherein Plants are exposed to this injury the one when they begin to bud because then they are more laxi the other when they bear fruit when their juice is exhausted and made weak 26. That is called partial corruption or sideration when the native heat of any part is extinguished either by cold or heat or with a wound mortification of that part following 27. Furthermore some kinde of Plants grow of their own accord and some are propagated by the art and industry of man 28. Such arise of their own accord of seed as are either manifest or obscure 29. Those that grow of manifest seed have but one manner of rising as in all Herbareous Plants that are sown of seed and others are propagated divers manner of ways 30. From manifest seed after this manner seed falling into the moist earth is thereby softned and is cherished both with naturall and celestial heat and so swelling by reason of the plenty of humour flowing into them from the earth it breaks and out of that part which is broken a certain soft and tender sprout doth grow by so little becomes more firm and crass one part whereof being partaker of the airy nature ascends up the other which is terrestrial and crass resides in the earth and there coaâ—…esces 31. So then Plants arising â—…rom seed are cherished by the humour of the earth decocted â—…y heat and attracted by their â—…nternal nature 32. But the time of sprouting of Plants is not one and the same D for some do begin to grow within three days as the Bafil and Rape some on the fourth day as Lettice some on the fifth as the Gourd some on the sixth as Beet some on the eighth as Arach some on the tenth as Colwort Leeks in twenty days Smallidg forty or fifty Last of all Pyony and Mandrake â—…rce in the space of a whole year 33. The causes of this diversity of sproutings are these First 〈◊〉 strength of Form Secondly the strength or weakness of their inward heat Thirdly the variety or density fatness or hardness of the seeds for in hard and dense Bodies the humour cannot be illicited out of the earth so readily whereby seed must swell before it erupts 34. Certain Plants E according to the opinion of Theophrastus are said to grow without evident or manifest seed and he declares the cause to be a certain permistion of earth and putrefied water which being as it were preserved both by the heat of the sun and the propriety of the matter renders a fit generation of spontaneous Plants 35. This opinion is probable enough for as a strange heat is the cause of putretude so also into things of new forms which are putrefied and he makes the heat of the sun and stars to be a beneficial induction therâ—… 36. But besides these the air and the earth may be the cause of sproutings of such Plants as grow spontaneously If it be true that according to the various station of first and second qualities in substance various mutations and generations of things may be made 37. Moreover a Plant sometimes is produced out of a hard stone which happens when air is included therein and endeavors to asâ—…end but when it cannot finde a passage it is reflected and so waxes hot by its agitation whereby it draws the humor of the stone to it self That vapour with the humour breaks out and of that vapour and humour brought out of the stone a Plant is ingendered by the concurrent heat of the sun Arist. lib. 2. de Plantis c. 5. 38. Furthermore Plante are variously propagated by the art and industry of men by setting of roots or ingrafting yong slips 39. By setting of roots as Liquorice Lilly for these do easily attract aliment and so live 40. By ingrafting or planting and that either by fastning them in the earth or upon the stock of a tree 41. Planted or fixed in the earth as the Rose Willow Vine Mulberry which is called a propagation 42. Engrafted upon the stock of a tree by thrusting a slip into the wood of another which properly indeed is called insition as an Apple-tree into a Pear-tree 43. Indeed most Plants may be propagated all these ways as Olives Figgs and Cherry-trees 44. But there are invented other manner of propagations more artificially whereby a leaf digged out of the earth to bud in a new stock 45. But it is a question not to be contemned F why the dissected parts of Plants do live and thereby propaga ed when it is the cause of death in Animals This is said to happen because Plants have the strength and force of the soul engrafted within them and so diffused over all their parts Heat also which is an individual companion of the soul and moisture gentle and thin and therefore not dissipable but it is not so with Animals for they stand in need of that faculty which flows from the heart 46. Therefore part of a bough which is planted in the earth doth preserve in it self heat humour and strength of the soul and by that attracted humour begins to swell and receive spirit and by the strength of the soul it detaines and by the help of its innate heat it distributes the grossest parts of the humour from whence the roots are framed and the thinnest part it preserves which causes it to grow higher 47. The same manner is observed in engrafting for as Plants out of the earth as out of a womb so Grafts from those where they are grafted do preserve keep and attract the nutriment of the Plant by the force of the soul and heat and by a continued action a generation of parts is made 48. But Aliment which the Graft draws is by far more elaborate First in that was concocted before in the mother Secondly in that is made
with the earth where seed is to be sowen the seed will sooner erupt not onely excited thereunto by the innate heat of the seed as the extream calidity of the earth so the seeds of Palmes if infused and macerated in water before its sation it sooner sprouts E Theophrastus saith that experience teaches that certain Plants do grow without seed and that some have been seen to grow in the earth where none was sowen or planted before he instances in Laserpitium which sometimes hath been seen in Affrica and never found before in the same place Some of the Philosophers do inquire out the seminal cause of these Plants Anaxagoras judges the air to convey the seed from some other place and there to fix according to the course of nature others judge it to happen by the inundation and conflux of waters whereby seeds are conveyed from some places to other parts of the earth more remote And although these things are not spoken altogether foolishly as without reason yet the truth thereof is to be questioned but it is certain that many Plants however have been found to grow of their own accord without any seed As Polypody of the Oak as we see certain little Animals to have their original by accidents as lice worms and other insects that are generated by accidents F It is a question deserves solution whence it is that the insected parts of Plants do live longer then if they had remained whole nay and are thereby propogated whereas it is not so with Animals for if their parts be cut they perish For we see that boughs plucked from their stock and plants plucked up by the roots to grow and are thereby propagated but with Animals after the division of a foot ear arm leg or ther parts forthwith they die I answer that Plants do longer survive after their section if again planted or engrafted because they have the force of the soul insited and that diffused through all and every part And besides they have scattered abroad their native heat the individual companion of the soul and their humidity which is lent and crass and therefore less dissipable through all the parts by which two principles they live and undergo all the functions of nature and hence it is that part of a Plant sejoyned from its stock is said to live in the earth the matrix as it were of Plants by the benefit of the soul which is correllative in the whole and every part and to beget a root or take rooting which is a new principle from the humidity resident and attracted out of the earth or sprout and grow out of another trunk planted therein by insition and so coalesce after the same manner even now declared For as long as Plants preserve that humidity of theirs stedfast and dense so long are they capable of life and soul but such as are perfect Animals and are consequently of a stronger and better nature do not onely stand in need of an insited but an influent faculty which is drawn from the heart and hence it is that their humidity is not so stedfast viz. substantial but more thin and tenderer and therefore doth the sooner expire Hence it is that if a hand be separared from the body all the life therein is extinguished because it is destitute of an influent faculty from the heart for that thing cannot have a soul unless it have a continued derivation from the heart which if it once be destitute of it loses to be an animated being CHAP. 5. Of certain affections of Plants 1. HItherto we have Treated of the rise of Plants both Natural and Artificial Now we shall proceed to their Affections or Corruptions wherewith they are infested their Affections may proceed either from their native soyl or rather the ground where planted from the variety of their germination fecundity and propriety of substance or from their qualities 2. The soyl or rather matter of the rise of Plants is either Terrestrial or Aquatical 3. Terrestrial viz. their native place in the earth and that either in gardens or fields sative or wilde 4. The Sative are Domestick Plants such as grow in Gardens 5. The Wilde are such as grow in the Woods Mountains Valleys and the like 6. Aquatical such as grow in waters and that either in the ocean or lesser waters as in Fountains Rivers Ponds c. Arist. 7. Again some Plants are delighted in a hot place some in a cold place some in the open field some in the shade some upon rocks and some upon sandy-ground 8. But why A Plants should delight to grow in such variety of soyls is not easily determined yet notwithstanding the place where the thing is sited is the conservation of that thing and indeed of all things sublunar therefore divers Plants are of divers natures and accordingly do attract convenient Aliment out of that soyl for the preservation of life and do therefore rejoyce as it were in a fit and convenient soyl 9. Furthermore notice must be taken in the germination of Plants the time when they germinate their Celerity and Tardity 10. The time of germination is the Spring when there is plenty of humour abounding which was gathered in the winter-season and then their innate heat is excited by the extremity of external heat insomuch that the cutis of Plants and the meatus of the universal Body begins to be opened which causes the juice to be educed abroad and a budding or germination to be made 11. Others put forth their summer-fruit sooner or later according to their naure which happens according to the greater or lesser force of the innate heat and humour and also the rarity or density of the Plants body 12. Sometimes notwithstanding tilled or pruned Plants do bud later then the untilled First by reason of the less revocation of the inward heat to the outward parts and by reason of the wounds made by pruning Secondly either from the debilitation or weakness of the same heat or the denudation of the root or from the incrassitude of the humour Thirdly from the density and thickness of the Plant induced or brought into the root by the force of nocturnal frigidity and by the root into the whole Plant. 17. And they do not generate forthwith in their first age neither do Animals whilst young and tender bear young because all their aliment at that time is diverted into their increment Secondly their force is more weak whereby it cannot concoct it nor condensate it into fruit 14 Neither do all Plants generate for so some are fruitful others not fruitful 15. The cause of fruitfulness is referred by some onely to heat but when there is heat without matter that is copious aliment it can effect or frame nothing Hot and succulent Plants are onely fruitful 16. Of fruitful or fecundine Plants some do bear fruit once in all their life others oftner 17. Those that bear fruit oftner are such as fructicate annally once a year some twice
nourished and it is called exerementitious blood to difference it from the seminal excrement and it is an excrement of the second concoction which is made in the liver and veins and therefore it is that it hath a red colour furthermore that matter which is contained in the veins and expurged by the veins of the womb is this superfluous blood and excrement of the second coction for whereas the Bodies of women are more colder then mens they cannot make perfect their last aliment nor convert it into the substance of the body to be nourished whereupon that which is above and cannot be converted by little and little is thence conveyed to the veins of the womb where it gathers together into one place and what of it cannot be sustained by nature is expelled It s use is necessary for as it helps conception so it nourishes the yong But here a question will arise how the yong whilst it is conceived and framed in 〈◊〉 â—…omb is gotten nourished by this same blood when it is endowed with a bad quality and puts forth many ill affections I answer This blood is not always so bad as is imagined for those women whose bodies are temperate their blood also must needs be temperate and when the body is vitious the blood also must needs be infected But again this pravity in women is purged away every moneth and in them it is otherwise then in those who keep their tearms beyond their accustomed time the former hath no noxious quality in it as to hurt what is generated of it which need not seem strange but if the same blood be not evacuated at its accustomed time but retained it will stir up and cause many bad affections as the suffocation of the matrix 〈◊〉 and the like But now if it be considered in a woman that hath milk in her brests it is otherwise for then blood is conflated of a treble substance for then the alimentary or pure portion of it goes to the nourishment of the yong and part somewhat impurer goes to the brests and converts to milk and the worst of all is contained as excrements in the tunicles where the yong is enrolled which is evacuated at the womans delivery E After the seed of both Sexes together with the menstruous blood is received into the womb it closes up and the seed therein contained is cherished by its heat and begins to act the spiritual part of the seed passes to the bottom and begins the formation and of the crass part of the seed the spermatick parts are engendred and of the menstruous the sanguineous parts F The Notes of conception are these The close shutting up of the womb A kinde of trembling and tickling over the whole body And after that an exceeding refrigeration Loss of stomach Nauseating of victuals Vomitings c. G Generation is made by the mutation of the power into the act and an artificial composition of many existents in the act the Soul is the act of an organical body but the seed is not the organ therefore not the animate then the power above will be the animate for as the Sun not hot doth calefie the Whetstone not sharp yet doth sharpen so also the seed may animate that is the yong is animated by the seed although there be no soul or life in it I It is a great and difficult dispute among Physitians and Philosophers in what order the parts of the yong are framed some think the liver first to be generated others the heart which they say is the first that lives and the last that dies In this Controversie we are to observe that neither the Liver nor the Heart nor any other principal member nor umbilical vessels are generated first as divers have judged â—…everal manner of ways but that all are inchoated in one and the same moment and that for this subsequent reason The vital spirit which is the efficient cause of the generation and the internal natural agent not the external voluntary hath the whole formatrix faculty in every part where it is joyned to the matter fitly disposited it must necessarily act secundum potentias and therefore all the parts of the body are produced by it at once this experience confirms by those who have miscarried in ten twenty or thirty days after conception when the whole substance hath not exceeded the bigness a grain of Barley a Bee or the figure of a Bean yet all its bowels are formed as some late Anatomists have observed CHAP. 16. De Zoophytis or of things that are partly Animals and partly Plants 1. HItherto we have illustrated the first Species of Nature Aisthetices to wit an animal the other which remains to be explained is part Plant and part Animal 2. And these Zoophyta's are corporeal Natures endowed onely with certain senses contracting and dilating themselves by motion 3. Whence Hermolaus Barbarus calls them Plantanimalia Budaeus tearms them Plantanimes because they have a middle and as it were a third Nature between Plants and Animals 4. Whereas they have a certain sense with Animals Hence they dilate themselves pleasantly to such things as they attract and affect but contract themselves if pricked or offended 5. But in the effigies of the Body they come nearest to the Nature of Plants 6. Their formes differ according to their greater or lesser vertue of feeling all of them adhere to Rocks Sand or Mud of which sort are these Holothuria Stella marina Pulmo marinus Uâ—…tica spongiae 7. To these may be added that Tree which grows in the Province of Pudifetanea to which if a man draws nigh it will gather in its boughes as though it were ashamed and when he is gone spread them abroad for which cause the inhabitants thereabouts have nominated it the Chaste tree Scaliger Exer. 181. Sect. 28. FINIS An Advertisement to the Reader THere is now in the Press that excellent Piece intituled Natural Magick in twenty Books by John Baptist Porta a Neopolitane Enlarged by the Author himself and cleared from divers errors wherewith the former Editions were tainted In which all the riches and delights of the natural Sciences are set forth Carefully Translated from the Latine and rendred into English by a worthy hand The Books of Natural Magick are these 1 OF the causes of wonderful things 2 Of the Generation of divers Animals 3 Of the production of new Plants 4 Of increasing Houshold-stuff 5 Of Changing Metals 6 Of Counterfeiting precious Stones 7 Of the wonders of the Load-stone 8 Of strange Cures 9 Of Beautifying of women 10 Of extracting Essences 11 Of Perfuming 12 Of Artificial Fires 13 Of the most rare Tempering of Steel 14 Of Cookery 15 Of Hunting 16 Of invisible Writing 17 Of strange Glasses 18 Of Staticks Experiments 19 Of Pneumatick Experiments 20. Chaos