their Optick observations through the several sorts of their Glasses would be a tedious work and tire even the most patient Reader wherefore I 'le pass them by onely this was very remakable and worthy to be taken notice of that notwithstanding their great skil industry and ingenuity in Experimental Philosophy they could yet by no means contrive such Glasses by the help of which they could spy out a Vacuum with all its dimensions nor Immaterial substances Non-beings and Mixt-beings or such as are between something and nothing which they were very much troubled at hoping that yet in time by long study and practice they might perhaps attain to it The Bird and Bear-men being dismissed the Empress called both the Syrens-or Fish-men and the Worm-men to deliver their Observations which they had made both within the Seas and the Earth First she enquired of the Fish-men whence the saltness of the Sea did proceed To which they answered That there was a volatile salt in those parts of the Earth which as a bosom contain the Waters of the Sea which Salt being imbibed by the Sea became fixt and this imbibing motion was that they call'd the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea for said they the rising and swelling of the Water is caused by those parts of the volatile Salt as are not so easily imbibed which striving to ascend above the Water bear it up with such a motion as Man or some other Animal Creature in a violent exercise uses to take breath This they affirmed to be the true eause both of the saltness and the ebbing and flowing-motion of the Sea and not the jogging of the Earth or the secret influence of the Moon as some others had made the World believe After this the Empress enquired Whether they had observed that all Animal Creatures within the Seas and other waters had blood They answered That some had blood more or less but some had none In Crea-fishes and Lobsters said they we perceive but little blood but in Crabs Oysters Cockles c. none at all Then the Empress asked them in what part of their Bodies that little blood did reside They answered in a small vein which in Lobsters went through the middle of their tails but in Crea-fishes was found in their backs as for other sorts of Fishes some said they had onely blood about their Gills and others in some other places of their Bodies but they had not as yet observed any whose veins did spread all over their Bodies The Empress wondring that there could be living Animals without Blood to be better satisfied desired the Worm-men to inform her whether they had observed Blood in all sorts of Worms They answered That as much as they could perceive some had Blood and some not a Moth said they had no Blood at all and a Lowse had but like a Lobster a little Vein along her back Also Nits Snails and Maggots as well as those that are generated out of Cheese and Fruits as those that are produced out of Flesh had no blood But replied the Empress If those mentioned creatures have no blood how is it possible they can live for it is commonly said That the life of an Animal consists in the blood which is the seat of the Animal spirits They answered That blood was not a necessary propriety to the life of an Animal and that that which was commonly called Animal spirits was nothing else but corporeal motions proper to the nature and figure of an Animal Then she asked both the Fish-and Worm-men whether all those Creatures that have blood had a circulation of blood in their veins and arteries But they answered That it was impossible to give her Majesty an exact account thereof by reason the circulation of blood was an interior motion which their senses neither of themselves nor by the help of any Optick Instrument could perceive but as soon as they had dissected an Animal Creature to find out the truth thereof the interior corporeal motions proper to that particular figure or creature were altered Then said the Empress If all Animal Creatures have not blood it is certain they all have neither Muscles tendons nerves c. But said she Have you ever observed Animal Creatures that are neither flesh nor Fish but of an intermediate degree between both Truly answered both the Fish and Worm-men We have observed several Animal Creatures that live both in Water and on the Earth indifferently and if any certainly those may be said to be of such a mixt nature that is partly Flesh and partly Fish But how is it possible replied the Empress that they should live both in Water and on the Earth since those Animals that live by the respiration of Air cannot live within Water and those that live in Water cannot live by the respiration of Air as Experience doth sufficiently witness They answered her Majesty That as there were different sorts of Creatures so they had also different ways of Respirations for Respiration said they is nothing else but a composition and division of parts and the motions of nature being infinitely various it is impossible that all Creatures should have the like motions wherefore it was not necessary that all Animal Creatures should be bound to live either by the Air or by Water onely but according as Nature had ordered it convenient to their Species The Empress seem'd very well satisfied with their answer and desired to be further informed Whether all Animal Creatures did continue their Species by a successive propagation of particulars and whether in every Species the off-springs did always resemble their Generator or Producer both in their interior and exterior Figures They answered her Majesty That some Species or sorts of Creatures were kept up by a successive propagation of an off-spring that was like the producer but some were not Of the first rank said they are all those Animals that are of different sexes besides several others but of the second rank are for the most part those we call Insects whose production proceds from such causes as have no conformity or likeness with their produced Effects as for example Maggots bred out of Cheese and several others generated out of Earth Water and the like But said the Empress there is some likeness between Maggots and Cheese for Cheese has no blood nor Maggots neither besides they have almost the same taste which Cheese has This proves nothing answered they for Maggots have a visible local progressive motion which Cheese hath not The Empress replied That when all the Cheese was turned into Maggots it might be said to have local progressive motion They answered That when the Cheese by its own figurative motions was changed into Maggots it was no more Cheese The Empress confessed that she observed Nature was infinitely various in her works and that though the species of Creatures did continue yet their particulars were subject to infinite changes But since you have informed me said she of the
and of the Characters she was pleased to give of him to the Emperor Amongst other Relations she told him all what had past between the Empress and the several Monarchs of that VVorld whither she went with the Empress and how she had subdued them to pay Tribute and Homage to the Monarch of that Nation or Kingdom to which she owed both her Birth and Education She also related to her Lord what Magnificent Stables and Riding-Houses the Emperor had built and what fine Horses were in the Blazing-world of several shapes and sizes and how exact their shapes were in each sort and of many various Colours and fine Marks as if they had been painted by Art with such Coats or Skins that they had a far greater gloss and smoothness than Sattin and were there but a passage out of the Blazing-world into this said she you should not onely have some of those Horses but such Materials as the Emperor has to build your Stables and Riding-Houses withall and so much Gold that I should never repine at your Noble and Generous Gifts The Duke smilingly answered her That he was sorry there was no Passage between those two VVorlds but said he I have always found an Obstruction to my Good Fortunes One time the Duchess chanced to discourse with some of her acquaintance of the Empress of the Blazing-world who asked her what Pastimes and Recreations her Majesty did most delight in The Duchess answered That she spent most of her time in the study of Natural Causes and Effects which was her chief delight and pastime and that she loved to discourse sometimes with the most Learned persons of that World And to please the Emperor and his Nobles who were all of the Royal Race she went often abroad to take the air but seldom in the day-time always at night if it might be called Night for said she the Nights there are as light as Days by reason of the numerous Blazing-Starrs which are very splendorous onely their Light is whiter than the Sun 's Light and as the Sun's Light is hot so their Light is cool not so cool as our twinkling Starr-light nor is their Sun-light so hot as ours but more temperate And that part of the Blazing-world where the Empress resides is always clear and never subject to any Storms Tempests Fogs or Mists but has onely refreshing-Dews that nourish the Earth The air of it is sweet and temperate and as I said before as much light in the Sun's absence as in its presence which makes that time we call Night more pleasant there than the Day And sometimes the Empress goes abroad by Water in Barges sometimes by Land in Chariots and sometimes on Horse-back her Royal Chariots are very Glorious the Body is one intire green Diamond the four small Pillars that bear up the Top-cover are four white Diamonds cut in the form thereof the top or roof of the Chariot is one intire blew Diamond and at the four corners are great springs of Rubies the Seat is made of Cloth of Gold stuffed with Ambergreece beaten small the Chariot is drawn by Twelve Unicorns whose Trappings are all Chains of Pearl and as for her Barges they are onely of Gold Her Guard of State for she needs none for security there being no Rebels or Enemies consists of Giants but they seldom wait on their Majesties abroad because their extraordinary height and bigness does hinder their prospect Her Entertainment when she is upon the Water is the Musick of the Fish and Bird-men and by Land are Horse and Foot-matches for the Empress takes much delight in making Race-matches with the Emperor and the Nobility some Races are between the Fox and Ape-men which sometimes the Satyrs strive to out-run and some are between the Spider-men and Lice-men Also there are several Flight-matches between the several sorts of Bird-men and the several sorts of Fly-men and Swimming-matches between the several sorts of Fish-men The Emperor Empress and their Nobles take also great delight to have Collations for in the Blazing-world there are most delicious Fruits of all sorts and some such as in this World were never seen nor tasted for there are most tempting sorts of Fruit After their Collations are ended they Dance and if they be upon the Water they dance upon the Water there lying so many Fish-men so close and thick together as they can dance very evenly and easily upon their backs and need not fear drowning Their Musick both Vocal and Instrumental is according to their several places Upon the Water it is of Water-Instruments as shells filled with Water and so moved by Art which is a very sweet and delightful harmony and those Dances which they dance upon the Water are for the most part such as we in this World call Swimming-Dances where they do not lift up their feet high In Lawns or upon Plains they have Wind-Instruments but much better than those in our World And when they dance in the Woods they have Horn-Instruments which although they are of a sort of Wind-Instruments yet they are of another Fashion than the former In their Houses they have such Instruments as are somewhat like our Viols Violins Theorboes Lutes Citherins Gittars Harpsichords and the like but yet so far beyond them that the difference cannot well be exprest and as their places of Dancing and their Musick is different so is their manner or way of Dancing In these and the like Recreations the Emperor Empress and the Nobility pass their time THE EPILOGUE TO THE READER BY this Poetical Description you may perceive that my ambition is not onely to be Empress but Authoress of a whole World and that the Worlds I have made both the Blazing-and the other Philosophical World mentioned in the first Part of this Description are framed and composed of the most pure that is the Rational parts of Matter which are the parts of my Mind which Creation was more easily and suddenly effected than the Conquests of the two famous Monarchs of the World Alexander and Cesar. Neither have I made such disturbances and caused so many dissolutions of particulars otherwise named deaths as they did for I have destroyed but some few men in a little Boat which dyed through the extremity of cold and that by the hand of Justice which was necessitated to punish their crime of stealing away a young and beauteous Lady And in the formation of those Worlds I take more delight and glory than ever Alexander or Cesar did in conquering this terrestrial world and though I have made my Blazing-world a Peaceable World allowing it but one Religion one Language and one Government yet could I make another World as full of Factions Divisions and VVarrs as this is of Peace and Tranquility and the Rational figures of my Mind might express as much courage to fight as Hector and Achilles had and be as wise as Nestor as Eloquent as Ulysses and as beautiful as Hellen. But I esteeming Peace before VVarr VVit before Policy Honesty before Beauty instead of the figures of Alexander Cesar Hector Achilles Nestor Ulysses Hellen c. chose rather the figure of Honest Margaret Newcastle which now I would not change for all this Terrestrial World and if any should like the World I have made and be willing to be my Subjects they may imagine themselves such and they are such I mean in their Minds Fancies or Imaginations but if they cannot endure to be Subjects they may create Worlds of their own and Govern themselves as they please But yet let them have a care not to prove unjust Usurpers and to rob me of mine for concerning the Philosophical-world I am Empress of it my self and as for the Blazing-world it having an Empress already who rules it with great Wisdom and Conduct which Empress is my dear Platonick Friend I shall never prove so unjust treacherous and unworthy to her as to disturb her Government much less to depose her from her Imperial Throne for the sake of any other but rather chuse to create another World for another Friend FINIS
in the middle Region and by reason of its leightness could not go directly to the bottom but was carried by the Air up and down Some would have it a flowing Water of the Air and others again a flowing Air moved by the blaz of the Stars But the Empress seeing they could not agree concerning the cause of Wind asked Whether they could tell how Snow was made To which they answered That according to their observation Snow was made by a commixture of VVater and some certain extract of the Element of Fire that is under the Moon a small portion of which extract being mixed with Water and beaten by Air or Wind made a white Froth called Snow which being after some while dissolved by the heat of the same spirit turned to VVater again This observation amazed the Emperess very much for she had hitherto believed That Snow was made by cold motions and not by such an agitation or beating of a fiery extract upon water Nor could she be perswaded to believe it until the Fish or Mear-men had delivered their observation upon the making of Ice which they said was not produced as some had hitherto conceived by the motion of the Air raking the Superficies of the Earth but by some strong saline vapour arising out of the Seas which condensed Water into Ice and the more quantity there was of that vapour the greater were the Mountains or Precipices of Ice but the reason that it did not so much freeze in the Torrid Zone or under the Ecliptick as near or under the Poles was that this vapour in those places being drawn up by the Sun-beams into the middle Region of the Air was onely condensed into Water and fell down in showres of Rain when as under the Poles the heat of the Sun being not so vehement the same vapour had no force or power to rise so high and therefore caused so much Ice by ascending and acting onely upon the surface of water This Relation confirmed partly the observation of the Bird-men concerning the cause of Snow but since they had made mention that that same extract which by its commixture with Water made Snow proceeded from the Element of Fire that is under the Moon The Emperess asked them of what nature that Elementary Fire was whether it was like ordinary Fire here upon Earth or such a Fire as is within the bowels of the Earth and as the famous Mountains Vesuvius and AEtna do burn withal or whether it was such a sort of fire as is found in flints c. They answered That the Elementary Fire which is underneath the Sun was not so solid as any of those mentioned fires because it had no solid fuel to feed on but yet it was much like the flame of ordinary fire onely somewhat more thin and fluid for Flame said they is nothing else but the airy part of a fired Body Lastly the Empress asked the Bird-men of the nature of Thunder and Lightning and whether it was not caused by roves of Ice falling upon each other To which they answered That it was not made that way but by an encounter of cold and heat so that an exhalation being kindled in the Clouds did dash forth Lightning and that there were so many rentings of Clouds as there were Sounds and Cracking noises But this opinion was contradicted by others who affirmed that Thunder was a sudden and monstrous Blaz stirred up in the Air and did not always require a Cloud but the Empress not knowing what they meant by Blaz for even they themselves were not able to explain the seuse of this word liked the former better and to avoid hereafter tedious disputes and have the truth of the Phaenomena's of Coelestial Bodies more exactly known commanded the Bear-men which were her Experimental Philosophers to observe them through such Instruments as are called Telescopes which they did according to her Majesties Command but these Telescopes caused more differences and divisions amongst them then ever they had before for some said they perceived that the Sun stood still and the Earth did move about it others were of opinion that they both did move and others said again that the Earth stood still and the Sun did move some counted more Stars then others some discovered new Stars never seen before some fell into a great dispute with others concerning the bigness of the Stars some said The Moon was another World like their Terrestrial Globe and the spots therein were Hills and Vallies but others would have the spots to be the Terrestrial parts and the smooth and glossie parts the Sea At last the Empress commanded them to go with their Telescopes to the very end of the Pole that was joined to the World she came from and try whether they could perceive any Stars in it which they did and being returned to her Majesty reported that they had seen three Blazing-Stars appear there one after another in a short time whereof two were bright and one dim but they could not agree neither in this observation for some said It was but one Star which appeared at three several times in several places and others would have them to be three several Stars for they thought it impossible that those three several appearances should have been but one Star because every Star did rise at a certain time and appear'd in a certain place and did disappear in the same place Next It is altogether improbable said they That one Star should fly from place to place especially at such a vast distance without a visible motion in so short a time and appear in such different places whereof two were quite opposite and the third side-ways Lastly If it had been hut one Star said they it would always have kept the same splendor which it did not for as above mentioned two were bright and one was dim After they had thus argued the Empress began to grow angry at their Telescopes that they could give no better Intelligence for said she now I do plainly perceive that your Glasses are false Informers and instead of discovering the Truth delude your Senses Wherefore I Command you to break them and let the Bird-men trust onely to their natural eyes and examine Coelestial Objects by the motions of their own Sense and Reason The Bear-men replied That it was not the fault of their Glasses which caused such differences in their Opinions but the sensitive motions in their Optick organs did not move alike nor were their rational judgments always regular To which the Empress answered That if their Glasses were true Informers they would rectifie their irregular Sense and Reason But said she Nature has made your Sense and Reason more regular then Art has your Glasses for they are meer deluders and will never lead you to the knowledg of Truth Wherefore I command you again to break them for you may observe the progressive motions of Coelestial Bodies with your natural eyes better then through Artificial Glasses The
Blazing-World lived and reigned most happily and blessedly and received oftentimes Visits from the Immaterial Spirits who gave her Intelligence of all such things as she desired to know and they were able to inform her of One time they told her how the World she came from was imbroiled in a great War and that most parts or Nations thereof made War against that Kingdom which was her Native Country where all her Friends and Relations did live at which the Empress was extreamly troubled insomuch that the Emperor perceived her grief by her tears and examining the cause thereof she told him that she had received Intelligence from the Spirits that that part of the World she came from which was her native Country was like to be destroyed by numerous Enemies that made War against it The Emperor being very sensible of this ill news especially of the Trouble it caused to the Empress endeavoured to comfort her as much as possibly he could and told her that she might have all the assistance which the Blazing-World was able to afford She answered That if there were any possibility of transporting Forces out of the Blazing-World into the World she came from she would not fear so much the ruin thereof but said she there being no probability of effecting any such thing I know not how to shew my readiness to serve my Native Country The Emperor asked Whether those Spirits that gave her Intelligence of this War could not with all their Power and Forces assist her against those Enemies She answered That Spirits could not arm themselves nor make any use of Artificial Arms or Weapons for their Vehicles were Natural Bodies not Artificial Besides said she the violent and strong actions of war will never agree with Immaterial Spirits for Immaterial Spirits cannot fight nor make Trenches Fortifications and the like But said the Emperor their Vehicles can especially if those Vehicles be mens Bodies they may be serviceable in all the actions of War Alas replied the Empress that will never do for first said she it will be difficult to get so many dead Bodies for their Vehicles as to make up a whole Army much more to make many Armies to fight with so many several Nations nay if this could be yet it is not possible to get so many dead and undissolved Bodies in one Nation and for transporting them out of other Nations it would be a thing of great difficulty and improbability But put the case said she all these difficulties could be overcome yet there is one obstruction or hindrance which can no ways be avoided For although those dead and undissolved Bodies did all die in one minute of time yet before they could Rendezvouze and be put into a posture of War to make a great and formidable Army they would stink and dissolve and when they came to a fight they would moulder into dust and ashes and so leave the purer Immaterial Spirits naked nay were it also possible that those dead bodies could be preserved from stinking and dissolving yet the Souls of such Bodies would not suffer Immaterial Spirits to rule and order them but they would enter and govern them themselves as being the right owners thereof which would produce a War between those Immaterial Souls and the Immaterial Spirits in Material Bodies all which would hinder them from doing any service in the actions of War against the Enemies of my Native Countrey You speak Reason said the Emperor and I wish with all my Soul I could advise any manner or way that you might be able to assist it but you having told me of your dear Platonick Friend the Duchess of Newcastle and of her good and profitable Counsels I would desire you to send for her Soul and conferr with her about this business The Empress was very glad of this motion of the Emperor and immediately sent for the Soul of the said Duchess which in a minute waited on her Majesty Then the Empress declared to her the grievance and sadness of her mind and how much she was troubled and afflicted at the News brought her by the Immaterial Spirits desiring the Duchess if possible to assist her with the best Counsels she could that she might shew the greatness of her love and affection which she bore to her Native Countrey Whereupon the Duchess promised her Majesty to do what lay in her power and since it was a business of great Importance she desired some time to consider of it for said she Great Affairs require deep Considerations which the Empress willingly allowed her And after the Duchess had considered some little time she desired the Empress to send some of her Syrens or Mear-men to see what passages they could find out of the Blazing-World into the World she came from for said she if there be a passage for a Ship to come out of that World into this then certainly there may also a Ship pass thorow the same passage out of this World into that Hereupon the Mear-or Fish-men were sent out who being many in number employ'd all their industry and did swim several ways at last having found out the passage they returned to the Empress and told her That as their Blazing World had but one Emperor one Government one Religion and one Language so there was but one Passage into that World which was so little that no Vessel bigger than a Packet-Boat could go thorow neither was that Passage always open but sometimes quite frozen up At which Relation both the Empress and Duchess seemed somewhat troubled fearing that this would perhaps be an hindrance or obstruction to their Design At last the Duchess desired the Empress to send for her Ship-wrights and all her Architects which were Giants who being called the Duchess told them how some in her own World had been so ingenious as to contrive Ships that could swim under Water and asked Whether they could do the like The Giants answered They had never heard of that Invention nevertheless they would try what might be done by Art and spare no labour or industry to find it out In the mean time while both the Empress and Duchess were in a serious Counsel after many debates the Duchess desired but a few Ships to transport some of the Bird Worm-and Bear-men Alas said the Empress What can such sorts of Men do in the other World especially so few They will be soon destroyed for a Musket will destroy numbers of Birds at one shot The Duchess said I desire your Majesty will have but a little patience and relie upon my advice and you shall not fail to save your own Native Country and in a manner become Mistress of all that World you came from The Empress who loved the Duchess as her own Soul did so the Giants returned soon after and told her Majesty that they had found out the Art which the Duchess had mentioned to make such Ships as could swim under water which the Empress and Duchess were
both very glad at and when the Ships were made ready the Duchess told the Empress that it was requisite that her Majesty should go her self in body as well as in Soul but I said she can onely wait on your Majesty after a Spiritual manner that is with my Soul Your Soul said the Empress shall live with my Soul in my Body for I shall onely desire your Counsel and Advice Then said the Duchess Your Majesty must command a great number of your Fish-men to wait on your Ships for you know that your Ships are not made for Cannons and therefore are no ways serviceable in War for though by the help of your Engines they can drive on and your Fish-men may by the help of Chains or Ropes draw them which way they will to make them go on or flye back yet not so as to fight And though your Ships be of Gold and cannot be shot thorow but onely bruised and battered yet the Enemy will assault and enter them and take them as Prizes wherefore your Fish-men must do you Service instead of Cannons But how said the Empress can the Fish-men do me service against an Enemy without Cannons and all sorts of Arms That is the reason answered the Duchess that I would have numbers of Fish-men for they shall destroy all your Enemies Ships before they can come near you The Empress asked in what manner that could be Thus answered the Duchess Your Majesty must send a number of Worm-men to the Burning-Mountains for you have good store of them in the Blazing-World which must get a great quantity of the Fire-stone whose property you know is that it burns so long as it is wet and the Ships in the other World being all made of Wood they may by that means set them all on fire and if you can but destroy their Ships and hinder their Navigation you will be Mistress of all that World by reason most parts thereof cannot live without Navigation Besides said she the Fire-stone will serve you instead of Light or Torches for you know that the World you are going into is dark at nights especially if there be no Moon-shine or if the Moon be overshadowed by Clouds and not so full of Blazing-Stars as this World is which make as great a light in the absence of the Sun as the Sun doth when it is present for that World hath but little blinking Stars which make more shadows then light and are onely able to draw up Vapours from the Earth but not to rarifie or clarifie them or to convert them into serene air This Advice of the Duchess was very much approved and joyfully embraced by the Empress who forthwith sent her Worm-men to get a good quantity of the mentioned Fire-stone She also commanded numbers of Fish-men to wait on her under Water and Bird-men to wait on her in the Air and Bear and Worm-men to wait on her in Ships according to the Duchess's advice and indeed the Bear-men were as serviceable to her as the North-Star but the Bird-men would often rest themselves upon the Decks of the Ships neither would the Empress being of a sweet and noble Nature suffer that they should tire or weary themselves by long flights for though by Land they did often fly out of one Countrey into another yet they did rest in some Woods or on some Grounds especially at night when it was their sleeping time And therefore the Empress was forced to take a great many Ships along with her both for transporting those several sorts of her loyal and serviceable Subjects and to carry provisions for them Besides we was so wearied with the Petitions of several others of her Subjects who desired to wait on her Majesty that she could not possibly deny them all for some would rather chuse to be drowned then not tender their duty to her Thus after all things were made fit and ready the Empress began her Journey I cannot properly say she set Sail by reasou in some Part as in the passage between the two Worlds which yet was but short the Ships were drawn under water by the Fish-men with Golden Chains so that they had no need of Sails there nor of any other Arts but onely to keep out water from entering into the Ships and to give or make so much Air as would serve for breath or respiration those Land-Animals that were in the Ships which the Giants had so Artificially contrived that they which were therein found no inconveniency at all And after they had passed the Icy Sea the Golden Ships appeared above Water and so went on until they came near the Kingdom that was the Empress's Native Countrey where the Bear-men through their Telescopes discovered a great number of Ships which had beset all that Kingdom well rigg'd and mann'd The Empress before she came in sight of the Enemy sent some of her Fish and Bird-men to bring her intelligence of their Fleet and hearing of their number their station and posture she gave order that when it was Night her Bird-men should carry in their beeks some of the mentioned Fire-stones with the tops thereof wetted and the Fish-men should carry them likewise and hold them out of the Water for they were cut in the form of Torches or Candles and being many thousands made a terrible shew for it appear'd as if all the Air and Sea had been of a Flaming-Fire and all that were upon the Sea or near it did verily believe the time of Judgment or the Last Day was come which made them all fall down and Pray At the break of Day the Empress commanded those Lights to be put out and then the Naval Forces of the Enemy perceived nothing but a Number of Ships without Sails Guns Arms and other Instruments of War which Ships seemed to swim of themselves without any help or assistance which sight put them into a great amaze neither could they perceive that those Ships were of Gold by reason the Empress had caused them all to be coloured black or with a dark colour so that the natural colour of the Gold could not be perceived through the artificial colour of the paint no not by the best Telescopes All which put the Enemies Fleet into such a fright at night and to such wonder in the morning or at day-time that they knew not what to judg or make of them for they knew neither what Ships they were nor what Party they belonged to insomuch that they had no power to stir In the mean while the Empress knowing the Colours of her own Country sent a Letter to their General and the rest of the chief Commanders to let them know that she was a great and powerful Princess and came to assist them against their Enemies wherefore she desired they should declare themselves when they would have her help and assistance Hereupon a Councel was called and the business debated but there were so many cross and different Opinions that they could not
other Creatures within the Earth were colourless At which question they could not forbear laughing and when the Empress asked the reason why they laught We most humbly beg your Majesties pardon replied they for we could not chuse but laugh when we heard of a colourless Body Why said the Empress Colour is onely an accident which is an immaterial thing and has no being of it self but in another body Those replied they that informed your Majesty thus surely their rational motions were very irregular For how is it possible that a Natural nothing can have a being in Nature If it be no substance it cannot have a being and if no being it is nothing Wherefore the distinction between subsisting of it self and subsisting in another body is a meer nicety and non-sense for there is nothing in Nature that can subsist of or by it self I mean singly by reason all parts of Nature are composed in one body and though they may be infinitely divided commixed and changed in their particulars yet in general parts cannot be separated from parts as long as Nature lasts nay we might as probably affirm that Infinite Nature would be as soon destroyed as that one Atom could perish and therefore your Majesty may firmly believe that there is no Body without colour nor no Colour without body for colour figure place magnitude and body are all but one thing without any separation or abstraction from each other The Empress was so wonderfully taken with this Discourse of the Worm-men that she not only pardoned the rudeness they committed in laughing at first at her question but yielded a full assent to their opinion which she thought the most rational that ever she had heard yet and then proceeding in her questions enquired further whether they had observed any seminal principles within the Earth free from all dimensions and qualities which produced Vegetables Minerals and the like To which they answered That concerning the seeds of Minerals their sensitive perceptions had never observed any but Vegetables had certain seeds out of which they were produced Then she asked whether those seeds of Vegetables lost their Species that is were annihilated in the production of their off-spring To which they answered That by an Annihilation nothing could be produced and that the seeds of Vegetables were so far from being annihilated in their productions that they did rather numerously increase and multiply for the division of one seed said they does produce numbers of seeds out of it self But repli'd the Empress A particular part cannot increase of it self 'T is true answer'd they but they increase not barely of themselves but by joining and commixing with other parts which do assist them in their productions and by way of imitation form or figure their own parts into such or such particulars Then I pray inform me said the Empress what disguise those seeds put on and how they do conceal themselves in their Transmutations They answered That seeds did no ways disguise or conceal but rather divulge themselves in the multiplication of their off-spring onely they did hide and conceal themselves from their sensitive perceptions so that their figurative and productive motions were not perceptible by Animal Creatures Again the Empress asked them whether there were any Non beings within the Earth To which they answered That they never heard of any such thing and that if her Majesty would know the truth thereof she must ask those Creatures that are called Immaterial Spirits which had a great affinity with Non-beings and perhaps could give her a satisfactory answer to this question Then she desired to be informed What opinion they had of the beginning of Forms They told her Majesty That they did not understand what she meant by this expression For said they there is no beginning in Nature no not of Particulars by reason Nature is Eternal and Infinite and her particulars are subject to infinite changes and transmutations by vertue of their own Corporeal figurative self-motions so that there 's nothing new in Nature nor properly a beginning of any thing The Empress seem'd well satisfied with all those answers and enquired further Whether there was no Art used by those Crearures that live within the Earth Yes answered they for the several parts of the Earth do join and assist each other in composition or framing of such or such particulars and many times there are factions and divisions which cause productions of mixt Species as for example weeds instead of sweet flowres and useful fruits but Gardeners and Husbandmen use often to decide their quarrels and cause them to agree which though it shews a kindness to the differing parties yet 't is a great prejudice to the Worms and other Animal-Creatures that live under ground for it most commonly causes their dissolution and ruine at best they are driven out of their habitations What said the Empress are not Worms produced out of the Earth Their production in general answered they is like the production of all other Natural Creatures proceeding from the corporeal figurative motions of Nature but as for their particular productions they are according to the nature of their Species some are produced out of flowers some out of roots some out of fruits some out of ordinary Earth Then they are very ungrateful Children replied the Empress that they feed on their own Parents which gave them life Their life answered they is their own and not their Parents for no part or creature of Nature can either give or take away life but parts do onely assist and join with parts either in the dissolution or production of other Parts and Creatures After this and several other Conferences which the Empress held with the Worm-men she dismissed them and having taken much satisfaction in several of their Answers encouraged them in their Studies and Observations Then she made a Convocation of her Chymists the Ape-men and commanded them to give her an account of the several Transmutations which their Art was able to produce They begun first with a long and tedious Discourse concerning the Primitive Ingredients of Natural bodies and how by their Art they had found out the principles out of which they consist But they did not all agree in their opinions for some said That the Principles of all Natural Bodies were the four Elements Fire Air Water Earth out of which they were composed Others rejected this Elementary commixture and said There were many Bodies out of which none of the four Elements could be extracted by any degree of Fire whatsoever and that on the other side there were divers Bodies whose resolution by Fire reduced them into more then four different Ingredients and these affirmed That the only principles of Natural Bodies were Salt Sulphur and Mercury Others again declared That none of the forementioned could be called the True Principles of Natural Bodies but that by their industry and pains which they had taken in the Art of Chymistry they had discovered
that all Natural Bodies were produced but from one Principle which was Water for all Vegetables Minerals and Animals said they are nothing else but simple Water distinguished into various figures by the vertue of their Seeds But after a great many debates and contentions about this Subject the Empress being so much tired that she was not able to hear them any longer imposed a general silence upon them and then declared her self in this following Discourse I am too sensible of the pains you have taken in the Art of Chymistry to discover the Principles of Natural Bodies and wish they had been more profitably bestowed upon some other then such experiments for both by my own Contemplation and the Observations which I have made by rational sensitive perception upon Nature and her works I find that Nature is but one Infinite Self-moving Body which by the vertue of its self-motion is divided into Infinite parts which parts being restless undergo perpetual changes and transmutations by their infinite compositions and divisions Now if this be so as surely according to regular Sense and Reason it appears no otherwise it is in vain to look for primary Ingredients or constitutive principles of Natural Bodies since there is no more but one Universal Principle of Nature to wit self-moving Matter which is the onely cause of all natural effects Next I desire you to consider that Fire is but a particular Creature or effect of Nature and occasions not onely different effects in several Bodies but on some Bodies has no power at all witness Gold which never could be brought yet to change its interior figure by the art of Fire and if this be so Why should you be so simple as to believe that Fire can shew you the Principles of Nature and that either the Four Elements or Water onely or Salt Sulphur and Mercury all which are no more but particular effects and Creatures of Nature should be the Primitive Ingredients or Principles of all Natural Bodies Wherefore I will not have you to take more pains and waste your time in such fruitless attempts but be wiser hereafter and busie your selves with such Experiments as may be beneficial to the publick The Empress having thus declared her mind to the Ape-men and given them better Instructions then perhaps they expected not knowing that her Majesty had such great and able judgment in Natural Philosophy had several conferences with them concerning Chymical Preperations which for brevities sake I 'le forbear to reherse Amongst the rest she asked how it came that the Imperial Race appear'd so young and yet was reported to have lived so long some of them two some three and some four hundred years and whether it was by Nature or a special Divine blessing To which they answered That there was a certain Rock in the parts of that World which contained the Golden Sands which Rock was hallow within and did produce a Gum that was a hundred years before it came to its full strength and perfection this Gum said they if it be held in a warm hand will dissolve into an Oyl the effects whereof are following It being given every day for some certain time to an old decayed man in the bigness of a little Pea will first make him spit for a week or more after this it will cause Vomits of Flegm and after that it will bring forth by vomits humors of several colours first of a pale yellow then of a deep yellow then of a green and lastly of a black colour and each of these humors have a several taste some are fresh some salt some sower some bitter and so forth neither do all these Vomits make them sick but they come out on a sudden and unawares without any pain or trouble to the patient And after it hath done all these mentioned effects and clear'd both the Stomack and several other parts of the body then it works upon the Brain and brings forth of the Nose such kinds of humors as it did out of the Mouth and much after the same manner then it will purge by stool then by urine then by sweat and lastly by bleeding at the Nose and the Emeroids all which effects it will perform within the space of six weeks or a little more for it does not work very strongly but gently and by degrees Lastly when it has done all this it will make the body break out into a thick Scab and cause both Hair Teeth and Nails to come off which scab being arrived to its full maturity opens first along the back and comes off all in a piece like an armour and all this is done within the space of four months After this the Patient is wrapt into a Cerecloth prepared of certain Gums and Juices wherein he continues until the time of nine Months be expired from the first beginning of the cure which is the time of a Childs formation in the Womb. In the mean while his diet is nothing else but Eagles-eggs and Hinds-milk and after the Cere-cloth is taken away he will appear of the age of Twenty both in shape and strength The weaker sort of this Gum is soveraign in healing of wounds and curing of slight distempers But this is also to be observed that none of the Imperial race does use any other drink but Lime-water or water in which Lime-stone is immerged their meat is nothing else but Fowl of several sorts their recreations are many but chiefly Hunting This Relation amazed the Empress very much for though in the World she came from she had heard great reports of the Philosophers-stone yet had she not heard of any that had ever found it out which made her believe that it was but a Chymera she called also to mind that there had been in the same World a Man who had a little Stone which cured all kinds of Diseases outward and inward according as it was applied and that a famous Chymist had found out a certain Liquor called Alkahest which by the vertue of its own fire consumed all Diseases but she had never heard of a Medicine that could renew old Age and render it beautiful vigorous and strong Nor would she have so easily believed it had it been a medicine prepared by Art for she knew that Art being Natures Changeling was not able to produce such a powerful effect but being that the Gum did grow naturally she did not so much scruple at it for she knew that Nature's Works are so various and wonderful that no particular Creature is able to trace her ways The Conferences of the Chymists being finished the Empress made an Assembly of her Galenical Physicians her Herbalists and Anatomists and first she enquired of her Herbalists the particular effects of several Herbs and Drugs and whence they proceeded To which they answered that they could for the most part tell her Majesty the vertues and operations of them but the particular causes of their effects were unknown onely thus much they