it should be exceeding the exactest measure which can be had by the quantitie of eleven minutes or there abouts causing thereby by little and little to be an apparent anticipation of the Equinoctiall and Solstitiall points insomuch that the Vernall equinox whose place at the first Councel of Nice was upon the 21 day of March is now come to be upon the 10 day of March The reformation of which errour hath been wished for by divers learned men and in some sort performed by Pope Gregorie the 13 using likewise in it the help of Christopher Clavius and some others who in the yeare 1582 brought back the Equinoctiall day to the same place it was at the said Nicene Councel by cutting off 10 dayes in the moneth of October writing in the Calender next after the fourth day the fifteenth day by means whereof all their moneths begin ten dayes sooner then ours as do also all those feasts whose place is fixed and not moveable Now in this reformation it was likewise ordered that the yeare should consist of 365 dayes 5 houres and 49 minutes And that the Equinox might not be subject any more to anticipation in 400 yeares they thought it fit to omit three Leap-yeares The first whereof will fall into the yeare of Christ 1715 the second into the yeare 1848 and the third into the yeare 1982 if God suffer the frame of the world to stand so long Howbeit in thus doing although the alteration will be very little yet the reformation is not exactly true because there is an inequalitie of anticipation in the Equinoctiall as the great Masters in Astronomie teach us being as they say in some ages more and in some lesse But seeing as I said the alteration will be very little if it ever come to that it is fit the Leap-year be then omitted And thus am I come now to the end likewise of this fourth dayes work wherein after my plain manner I have discoursed upon every such thing as is pertinent to the work done in it Let me therefore concluding say with Moses The Eve and Morn confine the fourth of dayes And God gives to his work deserved praise CHAP. VIII Concerning the creatures created in the Fifth day of the world and they were Fishes and Fowls Sect. 1. Of Fishes their kindes properties c. NOw follow the works of the Fifth day which when I consider I cannot but admire the harmonious order which the Almightie observeth in the whole progresse of his creating For as yet the world was but like an emptie house without inhabitants a stately structure having no moving creature with life and sense to be living in it not so much as a poore flie a fish or a bird to taste the goodnesse of things created and made But in this and the next day the building thus framed and cheer provided he brought as it were his guests to participate of his delicates alwayes provided that things inferiour should serve things superiour making his best work last namely Man unto whom the other works were put in subordination to shew me thinks that the end is the perfection of every thing And now see the first day was for the matter The second brought it into a better form stretched out the heavens and lifted up the waters which are above them The third did not onely shew the face of the earth by the gathering together of those waters under heaven but also adorned it with herbs trees and plants The fourth beautifies the vaulted roof of the sparkling firmament with funne moon and starres In the fifth and sixth he makes all kindes of living creatures furnishing first of all the waters and aire with their inhabitants and last of all the earth And for those many creatures in the waters and aire their creation was effected in this fifth dayes work so that every kinde of fish and all kinde of birds were now produced God onely said it and it was done as by viewing the text of Moses will appeare For in all his works he spake the word and they were made he commanded and they were created But to proceed We need divide the whole of this day into no more then two parts The one of Fishes the other of Birds That of fishes is the formost and therefore the varietie of those creatures would be first admired And see how Moses ushers them The greater ones are placed in the forefront For God saith he made great whales And then he proceedeth to adde something concerning the other species of smaller creatures living and moving in the water saying And every living creature that moveth which the waters brought forth abundantly after their kinde Pareus and other Expositours also by the word which is commonly translated great whales understand the biggest kinde of sea-beasts and monstrous fishes of the largest greatnesse And indeed the epithet great is not added to the whale without cause For the word tannin signifieth a serpent dragon or a great fish and the whale or great fish is the greatest of all living creatures as in Job 41. 33. In the earth there is none like him His jaws are likened to doores vers 14. his scales to shields vers 15. Out of his nostrills goeth smoke as out of a seething pot or caldron vers 20. he maketh the sea to boil like a pot vers 31. Munster writeth that neare unto Iseland there be great whales whose bignesse equalizeth the hills and mightie mountains which are sometimes openly seen and these saith he will drown and overthrow ships except they be affrighted with the sound of trumpets and drummes or except some round and emptie vessels be cast unto them wherewith they may play and sport them because they are much delighted with such things But above all this he affirmeth to be a good remedie against such dangerous whales to wit that which the Apothecaries call Castoreum tempered with water and cast into the sea for by this as by a poyson they are utterly driven and banished to the bottome Other authours mention farre greater whales then these And Olaus Magnus writeth that there are many kindes of whales For some he affirmeth to be rough-skinned and bristled and these contain in length 240 feet and in breadth 120. others are smooth and plain and these are lesse being taken in the North and Western ocean Some again have jaws with long and terrible teeth of 12 or 14 feet in length and the two dog-teeth are farre longer then the rest like unto horns or the tusks of a boar or elephant This kinde of whale hath eyes so ample and large that sometimes 15 20 or more men may sit in the compasse of one eye and about either eye there be 250 horns ad rigidam vel placidam anteriorem vel posteriorem motionem ventilationem serving also to defend the eyes either in a tempestuous season or when this fish is assaulted by any other sea-beast Physeter or the Whirl-pool-whale hath a
whereof they make lard and hath not the savour or taste of fish It feedeth on the grasse that groweth on the banks of the river and never goeth out it hath a mouth like the mozell of an ox and there be of them that weigh five hundred pound apiece Purchas In the West sea there is a fish called the Pontarof a cruell monster that taketh great pleasure to carrie away young children loving to play and sport with them Du Bart. Summar ex Oviedo lib. 13. The fishes called Sharks are most ravenous devourers and in the waters upon the coasts of Africa they have been seen with six or seven other smaller fishes garded with blew and green attending like serving-men And omitting many whether in the new-found world in the Norway seas or elsewhere I come now to the Dolphin that king of fishes then whom there is not any which is swifter none more charitable to his fellows and which is above all the rest none more loving to man Plinie hath written much of this fish in his ninth book at the eighth chapter and so have others also affirming that he is not onely sociable and desirous of mans company but delighted also in sweet and sensecharming musick Amongst the fishes that did swiftly throng To dance the measures of his mournfull song There was a Dolphin did the best afford His nimble motions to the trembling chord But whether that in the storie of Arion be true I am not able to say Perhaps their censure is none of the worst who perswade themselves it is a fable which was invented by those who had heard of that famous historie of the Prophet Jonas for divers stories of the Bible have been in this manner changed by the Pagans as amongst the rest that of Sennacheâ—…ib was very counterfeitly told by Herodotus when he makes mention of a great companie of mice as he had his relation from the priests of Egypt who came by night and eat off the feathers from his arrows Herod lib. 2. And the floud of Deucalion is related by Ovid as if Noahs floud and that were all one And the Grecians fable upon the sunnes going back in Hezechiahs time that at the birth of Hercules the sunne made a longer night then at other times Howbeit this scruple may not take away the love of the Dolphin towards man For besides those things related in Plinie of a boy feeding a Dolphin and carried on his back over the waters to school with such like things in the said authour others also have in a manner written to the same purpose And amongst the rest Elian tells a storie of a Dolphin and a boy this boy being very fair used with his companions to play by the sea side and to wash with them in the water practising likewise to swimme which being perceived by a Dolphin frequenting that coast the Dolphin fell into a great liking with this boy above the rest and used very familiarly to swimme by him side by side the boy at the first was fearfull of this his unwonted companion but through custome he and the Dolphin grew so familiar that they would be friendly antagonists and contend together in swimming each by other insomuch that sometimes the boy would get upon the Dolphins back and ride through the waterie territories of Neptunes kingdome as upon some proud pransing horse and the Dolphin at all times would bring him safely to the shore again of which the people in the adjoyning citie were eye-witnesses and that not seldome At last it chanced that the boy not carefull how he sat upon the fishes back but unadvisedly laying his belly too close was by the sharp pricks growing there wounded to death And now the Dolphin perceiving by the weight of his bodie and by the bloud which stained the waters that the boy was dead speedily swimmeth with all his force to the land and there laying him down for very sorrow died by him In memorie whereof let these few lines be added The fish would live but that the boy must die The dying boy the living fish torments The fish tormented hath no time to crie But with his grief his life he sadly vents Oh where is love or grief so firm as this Of such true love and grief most men do misse The Sea-fox is a fish that hath a long tail is subtil in his chase having a strong sent as the Land-fox hath He â—…seth to swallow his young into his belly in time of danger as the Balaena doth which some also attribute to the Dolphin This fish and the Amia use to deceive the fisherman either by leaping at or by sucking up so much of his line that they may be sure to bite off the hook Aelian var. hist. lib. 1. The Cantharus is an admired pattern of chastitie Elian speaketh of the ardent love of this Cantharus and saith that between him and the adulterous Sargon is great enmitie for he will fight as couragiously for his mate as Paris could fight for Helena being in this the true embleme of a loyall couple who hate defiled sheets loving and living constantly together Like unto which is the Mullet who albeit she be a fearfull fish as Plinie telleth us lib. 9. cap. 17. and will hide her head for fear yet seeing her male taken she followeth after him as farre as she can choosing rather to die with him then to be left her self alone But the Sargon is contrarie for this is an adulterous fish daily changing mates and not so content useth to go on the grassie shore horning the he-goats who had horns before For as Elian writeth his lustfull love towards the she-goat is so furious that the fishermen use to take these fishes by covering themselves with a goats skinne And doth not this fish bear a true embleme against adulterers Yes surely doth it For those who make horns on other mens heads do but make engines to tosse themselves to hell Caprae refert scortum similis fit Sargus amanti Qui miser obscoeno captus amore perit The goat a harlot doth resemble well The Sargus like unto the lover is Who poore wretch taken is condemn'd to hell And for his lust depriv'd of heav'nly blisse Howbeit a Ten in the hundred or a Fox-furr'd-clouted-pated fornicatour who to his tenants wife is sometimes a lecherous administratour cannot see it neither will such beleeve that whores are the hackneys which men ride upon into Devils-ditch for thither do they gallop like the deceived Sargus caught by the fisher in the skinne of a goat Hoga is said to be a fish as big as a mackerell or as some say no bigger then a herring This fish hath wings which do not so much help her by flying to escape a farre greater fish as endanger her to the mercilesse crueltie of another enemie I mean a certain sea-fowl which waits but for such an oportunitie
them who say that an effect may be called naturall two manner of wayes first in regard of the causes themselves secondly in regard of the direction and application of the causes If we consider the meer secondary and instrumentall causes we may call this effect naturall because it was partly performed by their help and concurrence but if we consider the mutuall application and conjunction of these second causes together with the first cause which extraordinarily set them on work we must needs acknowledge it to be supernaturall Now then although we have built upon reason and so found that before fourtie dayes fully ended the middle Region it self was drowned whereupon it could not rain from thence yet in so doing we do not argue amisse for it is no whit derogating from the power of the Almighty to ascend up higher till we finde the cause of this long rain and also the place from whence it came seeing that when we have so done we shall plainly finde that in regard of the direction and application of the cause it was extraordinarily set on work by a divine dispensation and so the effect was supernaturall I may therefore now proceed and that I may make the matter yet a little plainer concerning these cataracts or windows of heaven and so by consequence of the waters also above the heavens this in the next place may be added namely that Moses setteth down two causes by which there grew so great an augmentation of water as would drown the world the one was the fountain of the great deep the other was the opening of the windows of heaven Now if these windows were the clouds then it seemeth that the waters were increased but by one cause for the clouds in the aire come from the waters in the sea which by descending make no greater augmentation then the decresion was in their ascending And although it may be thought that there are waters enough within the bowels of the earth to overflow the whole earth which is demonstrated by comparing the earths diameter with the height of the highest mountains yet seeing the rain-water is made a companion with the great deep in the augmentation of the drowning waters I see no reason why that should be urged against it especially seeing it is found that the earth emptied not all the water within her bowels but onely some For thus stand the words The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped and the rain from heaven was restrained their store therefore was not spent when they had sufficiently drowned the world but their fury rather was restrained when they had executed Gods purpose by climbing high enough above the hills Cardinall Cajetane was conceited that there was a mount in Paradise which was not overflown and there forsooth he placeth Henoch The like dream also they have amongst them concerning Elias And as their champion and Goliah Bellarmine is perswaded all those mountains onely were overflown where the wicked dwelt Iosephus also reporteth out of Nicholas Damascenus that the hill Baris in Armenia saved many who fled thither for succour But these are dreams and devices which are soon overthrown by Moses in his foresaid evident text where the words are so generall that they include all and every mountain under not onely the Aiery heaven as Cajetane collecteth but under the whole Heaven without exception And now after all what hindereth that there should not be waters above the concave of the Firmament and that the opening of the windows of heaven should not be more then the loosing of the clouds For it is affirmed and not without reason you see that the rain or a great part of it which fell in the universall Floud came from an higher place then the middle Region of the aire and that the upper waters are to be above the Firmament and not the parts of it is an assertion well agreeing to Moses his description of this second dayes work For as hath been shewed concerning the fowls and stars it is true that they are but in the Firmament and not above it neither is there any more Firmament then one seeing Moses mentions not a second The fowls indeed fly above the earth as the text it self speaketh in Gen. 1. 20. but not above the Firmament their course being as Iunius reads the place versus superficiem expansi coeli or ante expansum or coram expanso coeli but never supra expansum And as for the starres the text likewise saith ver 15. Let them be for lights in the out-spread firmament mentioning never more then one and the same Firmament But for the waters it is otherwise The Firmament is appointed to separate them as being between and not above them Esto expansum inter aquas it is learned Iunius his right version of the place ut sit distinguens inter aquas Fecit ergò Deus expansum quod distinguit inter aquas quae sunt sub expanso inter aquas quae sunt supra expansum That is Let there be a firmament between the waters c. Between the waters as having waters above it And how unlike it is that the upper waters should be placed otherwise let the former reasons witnesse For all things considered we need not stand so much upon Pareus his reading Super quasi in expanso and desuper expanso as if they were but above or on high within the concave as are the fowls and starres this I say we need not stand upon seeing Iunius readeth Supra expansum without any such nice salving although he thinketh with Pareus that these upper waters are no higher then the middle Region of the aire And also admit that some derive the word Schamajim or Shamajim which signifieth Heavens from Sham There or in that place and from Majim Waters concluding thereupon that these waters which we now speak of must be There viz. in the heavens and not above them although some I say make this derivation yet others derive the same word otherwise And no few be there who not without reason do suppose that it is no derivative nor compound word at all but rather that the Ismaelitish word Schama which signifieth nothing else but High or Above doth proceed from this word Schamajim which in English we reade Heavens In which regard the Etymologie helpeth nothing to prove the adverse part And yet as I said before let the reader take his choice For perhaps he may now think after all that if there be waters above the starry heaven and that part of those waters descended in the time of the Floud that then the Heavens would have been corrupted and dissolved as some have said the rain falling through them from the convexitie of the out-spread Firmament Sect. 3. An objection answered concerning the nature of the Heavens examining whether they be of a Quint-essence BUt concerning this it may be said that it is not known whether the heavens be of
before when there was onely light in those thinne parts in stead of fire And thus have I shewed you the naturall cause of all fiery Meteors Sect. 2. Parag. 6. Of watery Meteors and their severall kindes NOw it followeth that I speak something of watery Meteors and shew after what manner they are generated They be called watery because they consist most of water their substance being that kinde of Exhalation which we call Vapor and not Fumus And that which in the first place offereth it self is Nubes a Cloud Artic. I. Of Clouds I Begin therefore with clouds And a cloud is a vapour or Exhalation cold and moist drawn from the earth out of wet or watery places by heat of the Sunne into the middle Region of the aire where by cold it is so thickened and knit together that it hangeth untill either the own weight or some resolution causeth it to fall If it be a great cloud it is Nubes if it be but a little one it is called Nubecula The name comes ab obnubendo id est operiendo coelum from hiding or covering the heavens because a cloud through the thicknesse that the vapour is condensed into hindereth that a lesse portion of the heavens is conspicuous then otherwise would be It is also two-fold either fertill or barren A fertill or fruitfull cloud affordeth rain but a barren cloud doth not because it is at length by the blasts of winde and vertue of the heavenly bodies turned into thin aire And to either of these clouds belong motion colour Their motion is caused by the winde most commonly through whose force they are driven to and fro But if the windes blow not then they are drawn along by the Sun and made a companion with him in his travels alwayes moving that way which the Sunne goeth Concerning their colours I spake before in Paragraph 5. Article 2. And therefore here you may expect the lesse yet let me say that they are either simple or mixt Black or white are simple because they consist of no other colours But red green and the rest are mixt They appeare white when the vapour is thin for then it is easily pierced by the light which disperseth it self into it But when they appeare of a black colour then the vapour is thick and more closely condensed insomuch that the beams of light cannot be admitted As for their rednesse it may be caused two wayes according to Goclenius either through the adustion of the aire magno aestu incensum as he saith Or propter retusum radium Solis by reason of the beams of the Sunne beat back again which falling upon a watery cloud that is thickly condensed pierceth not but being doubled causeth rednesse as in the morning and this is a signe of rain but the other is not For the other rednesse is in such a cloud as sheweth the drinesse and adustion of the aire the cloud it self consisting of a smokie humid substance unto which is joyned a kinde of drie and adust matter This therefore is a signe of fair weather being seen in the evening towards the place of Sun-setting according as it hath been said of old Serò rubens coelum mané indicat esse serenum Concerning green clouds they are altogether watery and as it were already resolved into water which receiving into them the light appeare green like unto water in a great vessel or in the sea and deep rivers Blew clouds come something neare to the nature of black excepting that the black are thicker And note If when the Sunne sets there appeare or arise black dark clouds it portendeth rain Also observe the place opposite to the Sunne at his setting viz. the East and see if that be cleare for if it be pestered with black clouds there is but small hope of fair weather that night or the next day The common opinion is that the height of the clouds is not above nine miles But it is agreeable to no reason at all why any certain height should be determined for they are of unequall heights differing both according to the matter of their composure and also according to the time of the yeare being lower in winter then in summer for when the sunne hath the greatest force they then ascend the higher and in his smaller force they hang the lower By which it appeareth that the sunne helpeth to uphold them and keepeth them although heavier then the aire even in the aire for they sometimes also follow his motion But note that it is not the sunne alone which upholds them for the aire it self is also a cause of their not falling and that both within the clouds and also without them within the clouds for the clouds are of a spungie nature and full of pores which are filled with aire leâ—…t there should be vacuum and this aire heaveth them up causing them to aspire without the clouds also because they do as it were float up and down in the aire as some heavie things do in the water and yet not sink unlesse their substance be too earthie and heavie Artic. 2. Of Rain FRom clouds I proceed to speak of rain And rain is nothing else but as it were the melting of a cloud turned into water Or according to Aristotle it is the flux of a fertill cloud resolved by the heat of the sunne into distilling drops of water which being depressed with their own weight fall down to the earth For when the matter of the cloud being a cold vapour and earthly humour is drawn from the earth and waters into the middle Region of the aire and there thickened through the cold dwelling in the confines of that place it is at the last dissolved and cannot therefore but fall down in drops which drops if they be great are caused either by the quick resolution of the cloud or else by the little distance of it from the earth But if they be smaller then either the great distance or slow resolution maketh them of no ample quantitie The first of these is named nimbus the other is called imber And note that the dissolution as hath been said proceedeth out of heat which is not onely of the sunne but of windes also of an hot temper as is seen in the southern winde which bloweth up rain sooner then any other winde And as for rains which come from cold coasts and at cold times of the yeare if the cloud be not at such times as some may think dissolved through the heat of any winde it dissolveth it self through its own weight being a little holpen by the sunne for it continueth in the aire even whilest it can stay no longer And at these times also if we consider all aright we shall finde that the winde somewhat helpeth although not so speedily as from hotter coasts for naturally there is a kinde of heat in every winde because it is an Exhalation hot and drie although by accident as from
art yes surely hath he And if man be so potent as to make his skill admired yea and by those who are men as well as he what may we think of the Maker of men but that his art is much more then commendable and his wisdome much more then matchlesse so that the world and all the parts thereof afford nothing but matter of wonder It is therefore an acclamation which deserves impression in the hearts of us mortall men Oh God how manifold are thy works in wisdome thou hast made them all And being made his providence doth sustain them The sixth question is concerning the saltnesse of the sea and freshnesse of rivers Aristotle in his second book of Meteors at the 3. chapter setteth down besides his own three opinions concerning this saltnesse One whereof is that the waters overflowing the earth in the beginning of the world were so dried up by the heat of the sunne that not onely the drie-land appeared but all those waters which remained being the sea were so sucked and robbed of their sweet savour that they could not but be salt Another opinion agreeing to that of Plato who generating the sea ex tartaro or from great and deep gulfs in the earth or with others drawing it through the bowels of the earth gave occasion to think that the water in it self was sweet and yet became salt by reason of the divers savours that it met withall in the ground or veins of the earth Which cause by the interpretours of Aristotle is also attributed to Anaxagoras Metrodorus as being pleasing to them For as water strained through ashes is endued with a certain tart and salt kinde of acrimonie so the sea is made salt by some such kinde of earth through which it passeth which is as others have also thought who suppose that the saltnesse of Mineralls doth much conduce to this purpose A third was the opinion of Empedocles who affirmed that the sea was but the sweat of the earth being as it were rosted by the heat of the sunne and was therefore salt because all sweat is of such a savour Now these three opinions Aristotle endeavoured to confute by severall reasons shewing other causes of the seas saltnesse And indeed had it been so with him that he could have repaired unto Moses then had the first opinion been struck dead more easily then it was because Moses would have told him that the drying of the earth and gathering of the waters were one day elder then either sunne or starres And for the second if it be taken in a qualified sense it is not much amisse for although Aristotle saith that if it be a true opinion then rivers would be salt as well as seas because they runne in the veins of the earth yet know that all and every vein is not of one and the same temper as is apparent by the differing qualitie of springing waters As for the third it seemeth rather a ridiculous then philosophicall opinion for sweat is but a small part of that humour contained in any bodie that yeeldeth sweat but the sea is not the smallest part of humour in the bodie of the earth therefore it neither causeth the sea nor saltnesse of it But beside all these there are other opinions also Wherefore some again have attributed the cause to adust vapours partly let fall on the sea and partly raised from it to the brinks and face thereof Others to the motion of the sea Some to under-earth or rather under-sea fires of a bituminous nature causing both the motion and saltnes also Others to an hot and drie aspiration exhaled out of the earth and mixed with the water of the sea But that which followeth seemeth absolutely the best namely that it is effected by the working of the sunne which draweth out the purer and finer parts leaving the grosser and more base behinde even as in this little world of our bodies the purest part of our nourishment being employed in and on the bodie the urine and other excrements remaining do retain a perfect saltnesse Unto which opinion they also assent who affirm that the saltnesse is radically or originally in the matter of the water which must be so understood as the water hath in it an earthy kinde of substance of a drying nature which as I suppose was not first in the matter of the waters before they were gathered unto this one place where now they are because as is reported and written there be salt mines in sundry places as in a certain hill in Barbary out of which perfect salt is digged and used for salt after it is made clean and beaten small All which doth greatly commend the providence and wisdome of God For it is not unlike but that the sea was by his wisdome and providence gathered into such salt valleys of the earth as were otherwise barren and unfruitfull with which substance the gathered water being mixed must needs partake both of an earthy matter and also of a salt savour yet so as this salt savour cannot be drawn out and sensibly perceived in the mixture of many sweet humours joyned with it without a separation first made by the heat of the sunne of the thinner parts from the thicker And so the sunne is a disponent though not a productive cause of this saltnesse Now this opinion may be strengthened by many reasons First because sea-sea-water when it is boyled doth evaporate a dewie or watrie humour which being collected and kept together hath a sweet tast or savour Secondly because vapours drawn from the sea and turned into rain are void of saltnesse Thirdly because the sea in summer and towards the South as Aristotle affirmeth is more salt then elsewhere which cometh to passe in that the sunne at that time and place draweth away more of the sweet humours then at other times Fourthly because the sea is fresher towards the bottome then at the top as some have found by using practises to experience it Fifthly because as Aristotle again testifyeth if an emptie vessel sealed up with wax be by some means or other caused to sink into the sea and there let lie for a certain space it will at the last be filled with very fresh and sweet water issuing in through the insensible small pores of the wax for by this manner of passing into the vessel the thin is strained from the thick yea by this means the earthy and adust part which carrieth the saltnesse in it is excluded whilest the other is admitted For in every salt savour two things are required viz. an adustion and an earthie kinde of substance of a drying nature both which are found in the sea For according to the testimonie of Physicians sea-sea-water doth heat and drie more then other waters and is also more ponderous or heavie yea and it doth more easily sustain a heavie burden giving it lesse leave to sink then the fresh silver-seeming streams And thus we see
from certain straits creeks bayes or such like places ought to be referred to accidentall hinderances as to the unaptnesse of the places rocks qualities of the regions differing nature of the waters or other secret and unknown impediments such as manifest themselves in Cambaia For it is reported that there although the tides keep their course with the moon yet it is contrary to the course they hold in these parts for they are said to increase not with the full of the moon but with the wane and so the sea-crabs do likewise amongst other things the nature of the water and qualitie of the region may much avail to this if it be true And in the island of Socotora saith Mr Purchas Don John of Castro observed many dayes and found contrary both to the Indian and our wont that when the moon riseth it is full sea and as the moon ascends the tide descends and ebbeth being dead low water when the moon is in the meridian These things are thus reported and if they should be true yet we must know that they are but in particular seas as I said before where a generall and universall cause may be much hindered and in a manner seem as if it were altered They that descend the brinie waves Of liquid Thetis flouds And in their ships of brittle staves Trade to augment their goods These men behold and in the deeps they see How great Gods wonders of the waters be I conclude therefore and cannot but say that this is as great a secret to be in every point discussed and unfolded as any nature can afford Arcanum enim naturae magnum est It is a great secret of nature and gives us therefore principall occasion to magnifie the power of God whose name onely is excellent and whose power above heaven and earth Last of all this is the finall cause of the seas motion God hath ordained it for the purging and preserving of the waters For as the aire is purged by windes and as it were renewed by moving to and fro so this motion keeps the waters of the sea from putrefaction An Appendix to the former Section wherein the properties and vertues of certain strange rivers wells and fountains are declared I Do not well know how to end this discourse of waters before I have spoken something of the strange properties that are in certain rivers wells and fountains Some are hot because they are generated and flow out of veins of brimstone or receive heat from those places where subterranean fires are nourished For this is a generall rule that all waters differ according to the qualitie of the place from whence they arise Some again are sowre or sharp like vineger and these runne through veins of allome copperas or such mineralls Some may be bitter that flow out of such earth as is bitter by adustion or otherwise Some may be salt whose current is through a salt vein And some may be sweet these are such that be well strained through good earth or runne through such mineralls as be of a sweet taste Our baths in the West countrey and S. Anne of Buckstones well in the North part of England and many other elsewhere are hot Aristotle writeth of a well in Sicilie whose water the inhabitants used for vineger and in divers places of Germanie be springs which harbour much sharpnesse In Bohemia neare to the citie called Bilen is a well saith Dr Fulk that the people use to drink of in the morning in stead of burnt wine And some saith he have the taste of wine as in Paphlagonia is a well that maketh men drunk which drink of it now this is because that water receiveth the fumositie of brimstone and other minerals through which it runneth and retaining their vertue it filleth and entoxicateth the brain as wine doth For it is possible that fountains may draw such efficacie from the mines of brimstone that they may fill their brains with fume that drink thereof who also become drunk therewith To which purpose Ovid speaketh thus Quam quicunque parùm moderato gutture traxit Haud aliter titubat quà m si mer a vina bibisset Which whoso draws with an immoderate throat Trips as his brains in meer good wine did float And Du Bartas also Salonian fountain and thou Andrian spring Out of what cellars do you daily bring The oyl and wine that you abound with so O earth do these within thine entralls grow What be there vines and orchards under ground Is Bacchus trade and Pallas art there found Ortelius in his Theatre of the world makes mention of a fountain in Ireland whose water killeth all those beasts that drink thereof but not the people although they use it ordinarily It is also reported that neare to the isle Ormus there is a great fountain found the water whereof is as green as the field in spring-time and salt as the sea He which drinketh but a little of it is incontinently taken with a violent scowring and he that drinketh very much thereof dieth without remedie Aelianus makes mention of a fountain in Boeotia neare to Thebes which causeth horses to runne mad if they drink of it Plinie speaketh of a water in Sclavonia which is extreamly cold yet if a man cast his cloth cloak upon it it is incontinently set on fire Ortelius again speaketh of a boyling fountain which will presently seethe all kinde of meat put into it it will also bake paste into bread as in an oven well heated This is said to be in the isle of Grontland The river Hypanis in Scythia every day brings forth little bladders out of which come certain flies They are bred in the morning fledge at noon and dead at night wherein mankinde is also like them For his birth is as his morning his strongest time or his middle time be his time long or short is as his noon and his night is that when he takes leave of the world and is laid in the grave to sleep with his fathers For this hath been the state of every one since first the world had any one The day breaking the Sunne ariseth the Sunne arising continues moving the Sunne moving noontime maketh noontime made the Sunne declines the Sunne declining threatens setting the Sunne setting night cometh and night coming our life is ended Thus runnes away our time If he that made the heavens Sunne hath set our lives Sunne but a small circumference it will the sooner climbe into the noon the sooner fall into the night The morning noon and evening as to those flies these three conclude our living Clitumnus saith Propertius lib. 3. is a river or spring in Italie which maketh oxen that drink of it white Dr. Fulk yeeldeth this reason namely because the qualitie of the water is very flegmatick Fulk Met. lib. 4. Plinie speaketh of the river Melas in Boeotia which maketh sheep black But Cephisus another stream which
flows out of the same lake makes them white See Plin. in the 103. chap. of his 2 book Plinie also in the former book and chapter makes mention of the river Xanthus which will make the flocks turn red if they drink the water Solinus affirmeth the like of a fountain in Arabia neare to the red-Red-sea saying in littore maris istius fontem esse quem si oves biberint mutent vellerum qualitatem at fulvo postmodum nigrescant colore To which purpose we may heare Du Bartas descant thus Cerona Xanth and Cephisus do make The thirsty flocks that of their waters take Black red and white And neare the crimson deep Th' Arabian fountain maketh crimson sheep Seneca speaketh of a river which maketh horses red Now these things may be as Dr. Fulk yeelds probable conjecture in that the qualitie of the water may alter the complexion and the complexion being altered the colour of their wooll and hairs may be changed Aristotle in his 3 book chap. 12 de histor animal maketh mention of such like waters also as there is a river in Assyria called Psychrus of that coldnesse which causeth the sheep that drink thereof to yean black lambes in Antandria there are two rivers the one maketh the sheep white the other black the river Scamander doth die them yellow Dr. Will. in his Hexap on Gen. ex Aristot. Plinie makes mention of the Hammonian fountain saying Iovis Hammonis fons interdiu frigidus noctibus fervet The fountain of Jupiter Hammon is cold in the day time and hot in the night Like unto which is that which he calleth the fountain of the Sunne excepting that the water is sweet at noon and bitter at midnight but for the times of cold and heat it is like to the other fountain lib. 2. cap. 103. Some seem to think that this may be the reason namely that the cold humidity of the night nourisheth the heat and by an Antiperistasis causeth it to reinforce it self inward But by day the Sunne-beams sucking up that heat which is in the surface that is to say above the water remaineth cold Others determine thus saying that this may be by the same reason that well-water is colder in summer then it is in winter We have in England wells which make wood and all things else that be cast into them stones the cause whereof is great cold Iosephus de Bello Iudaic. lib. 7. cap. 24. writeth that there is a river in Palestine which passeth between two cities called by these names viz. Arcen and Raphaneâ—… which river is admirable for an extraordinarie singularitie namely that having entertained his violent and swift course for the space of six dayes on the seventh it remaineth dry which being past it runneth as before and therefore is called the river of the Sabbath Du Bartas calleth it the Jews religious river Keeping his waves from working on that day Which God ordain'd a sacred rest for ay In Idumea was a well which one quarter of the yeare was troubled and muddy the next quarter bloudie the third green and the fourth cleare Isiodore makes mention of this and it is called the fountain of Job Seneca and others affirm that there be rivers whose waters are poyson now this may be in regard that they run through poysonous mineralls and receive infection from their fume and the like Such is the water Nonacrinis in Arcadia of which it is recorded that no vessell of silver brasse or iron can hold it but it breaketh in pieces onely a mules hoof and nothing else can contain it Some write that Alexander the great through the treacherie and plots of Antipater was poysoned with this water Curtius calleth it the water of Styx lib. 10. juxta finem In an isle of Pontus the river Astaces overfloweth the fields in which whatsoever sheep or other milch cattell be fed they alwayes give black milk This river Plinie forgetteth not lib. 2. cap. 103. It is reported that in Poland is a fountain so pestilent that the very vapour thereof killeth beasts when they approach unto it There be some waters which make men mad who drink of them Which is in a manner by the same reason that other fountains have made men drunk Some again spoil the memorie and make men very forgetfull which may very well be by procuring obstructions in the brain Fulk Seneca speaketh of a water that being drunk provoketh unto lust Plinie in the second chapter of his 31 book speaketh of certain waters in the Region of Campania which will take away barrennesse from women and madnesse from men And in Sicilia are two springs one maketh a woman fruitfull the other barren The foresaid Plinie in the same book and chapter saith that the river Amphrysus or Aphrodisium causeth barrennesse And again in his 25 book and 3 chapter he speaketh of a strange water in Germanie which being drunk causeth the teeth to fall out within two yeares and the joynts of the knees to be loosed Lechnus a spring of Arcadia is said to be good against abortions In Sardinia be hot wells that heal sore eyes and in Italie is a well which healeth wounds of the eyes In the isle of Chios is said to be a well which makes men abhorre lust and in the same countrey another whose propertie is to make men dull-witted Now these and the like qualities may as well be in waters which are mixed with divers mineralls and kindes of earth as in herbs roots fruits and the like The lake Pentasium as Solinus saith is deadly to serpents and wholesome to men And in Italie the lake Clitorie causeth those that drink of it to abhorre wine Fulk Met. lib. 4. Ortelius in the description of Scotland maketh mention of divers fountains that yeeld forth oyl in great quantitie which cometh to passe by reason of the viscositie or fatnesse of the earth where they passe and from whence they arise The like may be also said concerning pitchie streams c. Some waters are of that temper that men sink not in them although they know not how to swimme The like lake is said to be in Syria in which as Seneca relateth no heavie thing will sink That which Plinie writeth of the fountain Dodone lib. 2. cap. 103. is very strange whereupon Du Bartas makes this descant What should I of th' Illyrian fountain tell What shall I say of the Dodonean well Whereof the first sets any clothes on fire Th' other doth quench who but will this admire A burning torch and when the same is quenched Lights it again if it again be drenched There be some wells whose waters rise and fall according to the ebbing and flowing of the sea or of some great river unto which they are neare adjoyned The reason therefore of this is plain But strange is that which Dr Fulk mentioneth of the river Rhene in Germanie
likewise many islands such as were never seen before And thus there may be five severall kindes of earthquakes Know also that an earthquake hath both his Antecedentia and Subsequentia The Antecedentia are the signes which go before it and shew that it will be The Consequentia or Subsequentia are the effects which follow after it and shew that it hath been As for the Antecedentia or signes they be of these sorts chiefly First a great tranquillitie or calmnesse of the aire mixed with some cold the reason of which is because the exhalation which should be blowing abroad is within the earth Secondly the sunne is observed to look very dimme certain dayes before although there be no clouds the reason of which is because the winde which should have purged and dissolved the grosse aire is taken prisoner and enclosed within the bowels of the earth Thirdly the birds flie not but sit still beyond their ordinary wont and seem as if they were not fearfull to let any one come neare them the reason of which is because either the pent exhalation sendeth some strange alteration into the aire which slenderly breatheth out of some insensible pores of the earth which it may do though the exhalation comes not out or else it is that they are scarce able to flie for want of some gentle gales for their wings to strike upon it being a thing well known that birds flie more willingly and cheerfully when the aire is of such a temper Fourthly the weather is calm and yet the water of the sea is troubled and rageth mightily the reason of which is because the great plentie of spirits or winde in the bottome of the sea beginneth to labour for passage that way and finding none is sent back again whereupon soon after it shaketh the land This is evermore a certain signe Fifthly the water in the bottome of pits and deep wells is troubled ascending and moving as if it boyled stinking and is infected the reason of which is because the exhalation being pent and striving to get forth moveth some stinking mineralls and other poisonous stuffe to the springs of those waters and they with the strugling exhalation stirre and attaint them Sixthly there is a long thin cloud seen in a cleare skie either a little before sunne-setting or soon after now this is caused by reason of the calmnesse of the aire even as Aristotle observeth that in a quiet sea the waves float to the shore long and straight I do not think that this alone can be any more then a very remote signe unlesse it be joyned with some of the other signes already mentioned for although such a cloud may be seen yet every calm brings not an earthquake neither are all places alike subject to them The last signe and that which cannot but be infallible is the great noise and sound which is heard under the earth like to a groning or very thundering And yet some say that this is not alwayes attended with an earthquake for if the winde finde any way large enough to get out it shaketh not the earth Now this noise is made by the struggling of the winde under the earth Next after the Antecedentia the Consequentia of earthquakes would be considered and these as I said be their effects which indeed be not so much the effects of the earthquake as of the exhalation causing the earthquake The first whereof may be the ruine of buildings and such like things together with the death of many people About the 29 yeare before the birth of Christ was an earthquake in Iurie whereby thirtie thousand people perished In the fifth yeare of Tiberius Emperour of Rome thirteen cities of Asia were destroyed in one night by an earthquake Some say but twelve Lanq. chron In the 66 yeare of Christ three cities of Asia were also by the like accident overthrown namely Laodicea Hieropoliâ—… and Colossus Again in the yeare of Christ 79 three cities of Cyprus came to the like ruine and in the yeare following was a great death of people at Rome And in the yeare 114 Antioch was much hurt by an earthquake at which time the Emperour Trâ—…jan being in those parts escaped the danger very difficultly Eusebius placeth it in the second yeare of the 223 Olympiad and Bucholcerus setteth it in the yeare of Christ one hundred and eleven Eusebius makes mention of another before this in the 7 yeare of Trajan this was that which in Asia Greece Calabria overthrew nine severall cities About the yeare of Christ 180 or 182 the citie Smyrna came to the like ruine for the restauration whereof the Emperour remitted ten yeares tribute About the yeare of Christ 369 Eusebius again telleth of an earthquake which was in a manner all over the world to the great damage of many towns and people The like was in the yeare 551 at which time a quave of the earth swallowed a middle part of the citie Misia with many of the inhabitants where the voice of them that were swallowed was heard crying for help and succour He also in the yeare 562 mentions another wherewith the citie Berintho was overthrown and the isles called Câ—…y grievously shaken Again he writeth of a great tempest and earthquake in the yeare 1456 wherein as he hath it out of Chronica chronicorum there perished about Puell and Naples 40 thousand people Also in the yeare 1509 the citie of Constantinople was sorely shaken innumerable houses and towers were cast to the ground and chiefly the palace of the great Turk insomuch that he was forced to fly to another place Thirteen thousand perished in this calamitie Again in the yeare 1531 in the citie Lisbon a thousand foure hundred houses were overthrown or as some say one thousand five hundred and above six hundred so shaken that they were ready to fall and their churches cast unto the ground lying like heaps of stones This earthquake was attended with a terrible plague and pestilence And thus do these examples confirm the first effect A second is the turning of plain ground into mountains and raising up of islands in the sea as Thia in the time of Plinie and Therasia which as Seneca witnesseth was made an island even in the sight of the mariners or whilest they were looking on Thus also Delos Rhodos and sundry others came to be islands A third effect is the throwing down of mountains and sinking of islands and such like Thus perished the Atlantick island as I shewed before yea thus also perished by the breach of the earth those famous cities of Achaia viz. Helice and Buris of which Ovid writeth thus Si quaras Helicen Burin Achaeidas urbes Invenies sub aquis Et adhuc ostendere nautae Inclinata solent cum moenibus oppida mersis If thou would'st Helice and wish'd Buris finde Th'Achaean cities never lost in minde The water hides them and the shipmen show Those
out of some experiment very busie in tempering brimstone sulphureous powder of dried earth and certain other ingredients in a mortar which he covered with a stone and growing dark he took a tinder-box to light him a candle into which whilest he assayed to strike some fire a spark by chance flew into the mortar where catching hold of the brimstone and salt-peter it fired with a sudden flash and violently blew up the stone The cunning Chymist guessing which of his ingredients it was that produced this effect never left till he found it out then taking an iron pipe he crammed it full of the said ingredient together with some stones and putting fire to it he saw that with great furie and noise it discharged it self Soon after he communicated this his invention to the Venetians who having been often vanquished by the Genowaies did by help of these bombards or gunnes give them a notable discomfiture which was in the yearâ—… of our Lord 1380 as Bucholcerus writeth in his chronologie saying Hoc tempore BOMBARD Ae ad hominum perniciem inventae sunt excogitatâ—… à Bertholdo Nigro Chymista ut quidam volunt Monacho Germano Wherein we see that he calls them bombards invented for the ruine of men For by these saith he it comes to passe that now in a manner all the force of the footmen all the splendour of the horse and all right warlike power doth shamefully cease lie dead faint and dull Polydore also saith that of all other instruments which ever were devised to the destruction of man the gunnes be most devilish In which regard sith he was not well instructed concerning the Almains name that invented them he addeth yet thus much more saying For the invention he received this benefit that his name was never known lest he might for this abominable device be cursed and evill spoken of as long as the world remaineth And in the continuation of Carions chronicle by Caspar Peucer it is also said that about the beginning of Wanceslaus his reigne That raging kinde of engine and tormenting torture which from the sound we call a bombard was found out by a Monk the devil being the chiefest enginer or master-workman For it was their care that seeing the authoritie of idle superstitions should decline and fade by little and little which through these authors had bewitched the mindes of mortalls and cast them into eternall destruction this might therefore succeed by them the same authours as another kinde of mischief which should rage against their bodies as that other had done against their souls To this purpose Peucer And indeed an experiment of his speech we then beheld when the upholders of that tottering kingdome would have traiterously tried to have sent at once even all the peers of this our land piece-meal into the aire But he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep The Lord himself was our keeper so that their sulphureous fire could neither burn us by day nor sâ—…are us by night although Faux were taken the night before among the barrells and wished that then sith he had done so much and could do no more his match with fire had toucht the powder Oh never let the mem'rie of that day Flie from our hearts or dully slide away God thought on us that we remembring this Might think on him whose hand defendeth his But whither am I transported now These foure although they be the principall kindes of salt digged from the ground yet there be other also amongst which those Spanish mountains would be remembred where there is a salt cut out and drawn as stones are out of a quarrie in which place it afterwards increaseth and filleth up the gap with more salt again Du Bartas calls this the brine-quar-hill in Arragon And as for Salt digged out of waters or watrie places or not digged from under ground it is thus caused namely by the heat of the sunne percocting those waters which are extreamly salt For when salt waters are throughly concocted by the sunne they are so dried congealed and thickened that in their shores by their banks and often upon their very surfaces or superficies they render liberally good store of Salt Thus in the summer time is the Tarentine lake of which Plinie speaketh turned into â—…alt the salt being in the surface of the waters to the depth of a mans knee So also in Sicilie in the lake Coranicus And in some rivers the water is known to runne underneath in its ordinary course whilest the uppermost part is turned into salt as about the Caspian straits which are called the rivers of salt and also neare the Mardi and Armenians whose countreys are in Asia But leaving these I come to the second kinde of Salt which is artificiall and made or boiled salt For although the matter be naturall yet the making is by art From whence it comes to passe that of one and the same salt water this man will boil better Salt then that man and he then another Yea some out of water lesse salt will boil and make better Salt then others out of fountains more salt Many be the places where they make Salt after this manner by boiling of salt water neither is this kingdome of ours destitute of such fountains or wells For at the towns called the Witches in Cheshire there is a brinie water which by boiling is turned into white Salt And the same water is said to be as good to powder any kinde of flesh as brine for within 24 houres it will powder beef sufficiently A great blessing of God to raise up such springs for our use so farre within the land as also an evident argument that the Sea is made salt by the substance of the ground of which I have spoken my minde already And here unto all this I could adde the necessitie of Salt which is such that we cannot well live without it and therefore it is the first thing that is set on the table and ought to be the last taken away according as one translateth out of Schola Salerni saying Salt should be last remov'd and first set down At table of a Knight or countrey clown This I confesse as pertinent might be added but it is now high time to put a period to the discourse of this dayes work Take the rest therefore all in one word and then it is thus The eve and morn conclude the third of dayes And God gives to his work deserved praise CHAP. VII Concerning the fourth day together with such things as are pertinent to the work done in it Sect. 1. Being as it were a kinde of entrance into this dayes work which treateth of the starres and lights THe structure of the earth being adorned with herbs trees and plants in the third or former day Moses now returns to shew both how when God beautified the heavens bedecking that vaulted roof with shining lights and beauteous
indeed may well be neare their feet for they prize the trash we trample on farre above the joyes of heaven else would they never work their fond purposes by deceitfull means and damage others to help themselves Amongst the severall sorts of shell-fishes the glistering Pearl-fish deserves remembrance not onely in respect of her self but also in regard of the Prawn another fish and her companion for between these two there is a most firm league of friendship much kindenesse and such familiaritie as cannot but breed admiration in the reader They have a subtill kinde of hunting which being ended they divide their prey in loving manner for seeing they one help the other in the getting of it they likewise joyn in the equall sharing And in few words thus it is of which ye may reade in Plinie Plutarch Elian c. When the Pearl-fish gapeth wide she hath a curious glistering within her shell by which she allureth the small fry to come swimming into her which when her companion the Prawn perceiveth he gives her a secret touch with one of his prickles whereupon she shuts her gaping shell and so incloseth her wished prey then as I said they equally share them out and feed themselves And thus day by day they get their livings like a combined knot of cheaters who have no other trade then the cunning deceit of quaint cousenage hooking in the simpler sort with such subtill tricks that be their purses stuft with either more or lesse they know a way to sound the bottome and send them lighter home lighter in purse though heavier in heart The foresaid authours make mention of the Gilthead or Golden-eye which helpeth the one the other out of a snare or from off an hook for if the insnared fish cannot help himself by loosing the snare with his tail then will his companion put to his mouth and set him free Or if the one see the other hanged on a hook it may be easily observed how his free mate will skip at the line and never leave till he have broke it off Which may serve well to teach us that we ought not to leave our friends in danger but do the best and utmost that we can to set them free For a friend is never known till such an occasion shall discover him at other times we have friends enow The Plaice if it be well grown and something thick is said to be a passing good fish It takes the name from Placeo to please because it pleaseth the palate That fish which we call the Sole is a very wholesome fish And so is the Whiting often entertained in the court I have heard the Gurnard likewise much commended But the Conger is hard of substance and therefore not easie to be digested And so also is the Salmon hard of digestion although it be a pleasant fish and very sweet especially the belly Whereupon it comes to passe that we do not eat it hot or presently after it is boyled The Ray or Thornback is scarce so wholesome as other fish for Physicians write that it makes men subject to the falling evil by reason that it is a fish full of superfluous juice Howbeit the pricks which grow without upon the skinne if they be pulled up by the roots dried made into powder and given fasting in White or Rhenish wine is an excellent medicine to avoid gravell and to break the stone Herring is a fish common and cheap very dangerous if they be not moderately eaten fresh for we often see that want of care in the eating of them casteth many into fevers And as for Red Herrings and Red Sprats they must needs have little wholesomenesse or nourishment in them for if we may beleeve the learned they give as good nourishment to the bodie as rustie Bacon We reade that in the river Ganges are Eeles of an extraordinarie bignesse and length This fish is never better moved from his nest then in a thunder They be not bred out of spawn as other fishes but from the slime and dirt of the earth as the common opinion goeth and of all fishes which are tooth some these are the least wholesome They breed agues stop and hurt the voice procure the stone by reason of their great sliminesse and do also dispose a man to the gowt by breeding such matter as brings pain in the joynts But know that after Eeles and Eâ—…mpreys we should drink good strong wine and indeed generally with all kindes of fish wine is very wholesome The Shad is never is season but in the spring for at other times it is full of bones And in the choice of fish this is a rule that such as have seales and â—…innes are best for many scales and â—…innes betoken the purenesse of their substance as the physicians tell us The Gogion is a daintie fish and found aswell in the sea as in fresh waters of which there be sundry sorts but the best live in sandie places and about rocks The Tench is commonly called the Physician of other fishes for when they be hurt they heal themselves again by touching the Tench finding the slime of his body to be as a soveraigne salve The Perch useth to wound others with his sharp fins whereupon the Pike or Pickerell dares not devoure him Both these give the body pure nourishment by reason of their firm and hard substance The Rock Dace Chevine Bream Smelt and Carp are good But the Trout is admirable for this is so sound in nourishment that when we would speak of one who is sound indeed we say that he is as sound as a Trout This is in some kinde a foolish fish and an embleme of one who loves to be flattered for when he is once in his hold you may take him with your hands by tickling rubbing or clawing him under the bellie I will not say who else is like this fish for fear I should offend some squeamish dame but let not her anger shew her wantonnesse and so we are both charmed to hold our peace she to salve her own credit and I to end this present section wherein I do confesse I might have spoken of sundry other fishes but I had rather send my reader to Gesner and such other ample authours then tire him with my relations Sect. 2. Containing the second part of this fifth day which is of Birds or Fowl flying in the open firmament of heaven FRom fishes I must come to birds from the water to the aire and teach my pen to flie a while with the feathered fowls as before it was swimming with the fearfull silent fish And now why God hath joyned the creation of fish and fowl together may without curiositie be observed to wit because he would in every work and part thereof continue an harmonious order Great is the likenesse between fish and fowl whether it be that we consider the
naturall place wherein either of them live or that we consider their resemblance in parts or their manner of motion For first the place of fishes is the water the place of fowls the aire both which are diaphanous cleare moist and easie yeelding elements Secondly that which finnes be to fishes wings and feathers are to birds And thirdly that which swimming is to fishes in the waters flying is to birds in the aire The one moves himself by his sinnes the other by his wings The one cuts and glideth through the liquid aire the other shoots and darteth through the humid water The one makes paths in that subtil concave between heaven and earth the other draws furrows in the ploughed sea and both tracts are indiscernible either place again closing no longer open then their native dwellers flit through their yeelding gates And first of all me thinks I see the loftie Eagle king of birds towring on high in the heaven-aspiring aire And amongst all fowls the Eagle onely can move her self straight upward and downward perpendicularly without any collaterall declining Munster This bird is commended for her faithfulnesse towards other birds in some kinde though sometimes she shew her self cruell They all stand in awe of her and when she hath gotten meat she useth to communicate it unto such fowls as do accompany with her onely this some affirm that when she hath no more to make distribution of then she will attach some of her guests and for lack of food dismember them Her sight is sharp and quick insomuch that being in the highest part of the aire she can easily see what falleth on the land and thereupon the sooner finde her prey It is said that she can gaze upon the sunne and not be blinde and will fight eagerly against the Dragon for the Dragon greedily coveting the Eagles egges causeth many conflicts to be between them The Poets have called her Joves bird and Jupiters armour-bearer because she is never hurt with lightning She is a bird tenderly affected towards her young insomuch that she will endanger her own bodie to secure them bearing her young ones on her back when she perceiveth them to be assaulted with arrows Hares Harts Geese and Cranes are such creatures as this bird useth to prey upon And for her practise in killing the Hart thus it is when she laboureth to drive the Hart headlong to ruine she gathereth saith Munster much dust as she flieth and sitting upon the Harts horns shaketh it into his eyes and with her wings beateth him about the mouth untill at last the poore Hart is glad to fall fainting to the ground The Eagle buildeth her nest in the rocks and high places and the propertie of the young Eagle is when she findeth a dead carcase first of all to pick out the eye And so saith one do all seducing hereticks first put out the right eye of knowledge that thereby they may the better leade along their seduced Proselites And note that although the Eagle be very tender over her young yet when they be able to flie of themselves she casteth them out of her nest because she would have them shift and no longer depend upon their damme Which is a good example saith the same authour for domesticall discipline namely that parents should not bring up their children in idlenesse but even from their youth exercise them in honest labour training them up to some vocation Moreover Aristotle writeth that when the Eagle waxeth old the upper part of her bill so groweth over and increaseth that in the end she dieth of famine But Augustine observeth further that when the Eagle is thus overgrown she beateth her bill upon a rock and so by striking off her cumbersome part she recovereth her strength and eating to which the Psalmist alludeth Psal. 103. 5. Which maketh thee young and lustie as an Eagle The Phenix saith Munster is a noble bird and is but one in the world Cornelius Valerius whom Plinie mentioneth doth witnesse that when Quintus Plautius and Sex Papinius were Consuls one was seen to flie into Egypt And Tacitus also writeth that when Lucius 〈◊〉 and Pâ—…ulus Fabiâ—…s were Consulâ—… another was likewise seen to flie thither and yet not another but the same rather for there was not above two yeares difference in the time of this appearance Vitellius and Fabius being Consuls in the yeare of the citie 786 and Plautius with Papinius in the yeare 788. Dion was perswaded that this bird thus shewing her self did betoken the death of Tiberius but our countreyman Mr Lydiat rather thinketh that it pointed out the time when Christ that true Phenix did both die and rise again and so also thinketh Carion in his chron lib. 3. This bird if we may beleeve what is written is about the bignesse of an Eagle having a glittering brightnesse in the feathers of her neck like unto gold in other parts purple with an azured tail but so as in some places it is of a rose colour her head hath on it a plume or tuft of feathers Some say she liveth five hundred yeares others give her six hundred and sixtie and as Plinie writeth this bird hath her setled habitation in Arabia Felix When she waxeth old she is said to make her a nest of Cassia with branches of the frankincense tree into which she putteth other odours and so dieth upon them and then out of her bones and marrow there springeth first a little worm which afterwards comes to be a young Phenix Howbeit many think that all this is fabulous for besides the differing reports which go of this bird what species or kinde of any creature can be rehearsed whereof there is never but one and whereas the Lord said to all his creatures Increase and multiplie this benediction should take no place in the Phenix which multiplieth not And again seeing all creatures which came into the Ark came by two and two the male and female it must needs follow that the Phenix by this means perished And so saith one As for the Phenix I and not I alone think it a fable because it agreeth neither to reason nor likelihood but plainly disagreeth to the historie of the creation and of Noahs floud in both which God made all male and female and commanded them to increase and multiplie The Griffon is a creature if there be any such for many doubt it which whether I may reckon amongst the birds or beasts I cannot tell Howbeit as I finde him marked by Aelianus he is thus described namely that he is a kinde of beast with foure feet keeping most of all in India being as mightie in strength as a lion he hath wings and crooked talons black on the back and in the forepart purple His wings be somewhat white his bill and mouth like an eagles bill his eyes fierie he is hard to be taken except he be young he maketh his nest in the high mountains
we call the Ray. For whilest the devouring Crows be diving under water to catch their prey they themselves are caught by this fish and devoured suddenly lest otherwise they might want a revenger of their rapacitie even where and whilest they do the wrong Howbeit this Ray is a loving fish to man for swimming in the waters and being greedily pursued by the devouring Sea-dogs the Ray defends him and will not leave him untill he be out of danger There be also an abundance of other birds in those parts of strange properties and names scarce known of which they who have a desire may reade more in Olaus Magnus the nineteenth book of his Northern historie The Plover is Avis pluvialis and a fowl well known howbeit some have thought that they live onely by the winde and eat nothing at all but they deceive themselves in this opinion as experience teacheth For they have not onely been seen to feed but taken also with meat in their crops And that which first occasioned this errour was their quick digestion for they commonly eat things that are easily digested and soon consumed Plover saith one is thought to be a daintie dish and right wholesome yet it is slow of digestion nourisheth little and encreaseth melancholie The like he affirmeth of the Lapwing but the Teal he yeeldeth to be somewhat better Moreover the Plover flying high doth signifie rain which bird Olaus describeth after this manner There is saith he a bird which we call Avis Pluvialis about the bignesse of a Partridge supposed to live by nothing but aire because her bellie useth to be emptie of meat and yet she is very fat her feathers are diversly coloured some with white some with black and some with saffron colour and this bird the fowlers thus hunt by throwing up into the aire short heavie clubs for by so doing they cause her to descend and being descended they catch her in their nets laid readie for the same purpose Upupa or the Lapwing is a bastard-plover This is a querulous bird flying up and down lapping and clapping with her wings from whence she is called a Lapwing and in Latine she is named Upâ—…a from pu pu which is the crie that she maketh there y securing her nest and young ones from our finding Fâ—… by this practise she will draw us away from them 〈◊〉 farre as she can The combe or crest upon her head gâ—…ve Ovid a fit occasion to feigne a tale of a king turned into a Lapwing whose crown doth yet appeare upon the head of this bird The Lapwings fight often with the Swallows Jackdaws and Pies and by their much crying do signifie rain And as for their young being as it were half hatched they will runne from their nests with the shells on their heads The Osprey is a ravenous bird which hovereth over pools to take fish having one claw foot and another flat Galgulus-Icterus or the Charadrion is a bird unto which some ascribe this strange property viz. that if any who hath the Jaundise look upon him and the bird on him the bird then taketh the disease and dieth but the man is cured made sound and liveth Such are we by nature sick unto death but by Christ who died for our sinnes and rose again for our justification we are cured made sound and live Porphyrio is a bird drinking as though he did bite the water his bill and legs are red and long Haleyon or the King-fisher is a bird which maketh her nest in winter upon the sea during which time there is a calm and quiet season whereupon we call those dayes Halcyon dayes wherein we have peace rest and quietnesse They live also about rivers lay five egges and as Plinie witnesseth are seven dayes in preparing their nests and in the other seven they bring forth their young The Poets have a fiction of Alcyone and Ceyx who were turned into these birds For when Alcyone heard that her husband Ceyx was drowned in his way home from a certain voyage she cast her self into the sea and then for the pitie which the gods had of them they were both transformed into Halcyons But without any fiction this we are sure of that it is a strange bird and as it were natures dearest darling seeing that in favour of her nests and young the waters leave their raging the windes their blowing tempests have forgot to rise and dayes appeare with quiet calms The Pirate dwelling alwayes in his bark Her building dayes desiredly doth mark And the rich merchant resolutely venters So soon as th' Halcyon in her brood-bed enters For so long as her quiet couch she keeps The boyling sea exceeding calmly sleeps This is a bird which feedeth upon fish and by diving after them catcheth them as is not seldome seen In the Summer islands amongst other things we heare of varietie of fowls For upon the discovery of those parts by Sr. George Summers and Sr. Thomas Gates an abundance of fowl were taken They took a thousand of one sort in two or three houres being as big as a Pigeon and laying speckled egges upon the sand as big as hennes egges which they would daily come and lay although men sat down amongst them Purch There also is another fowl that liveth in holes like cony-holes their egges like to hen-egges both in quantitie and qualitie And other birds were there found so tame and gentle that whistling to them they would come and gaze on you while with your stick you might kill them Idem But in Asia in one of the Molucco islands named Tidore is a strange bird which they call Mamucos or birds of Paradise they have lesse flesh then the bodie maketh shew of their legs be in length about an hand-breadth their head small their bill long their feathers fair of a singular beauteous colour Authours write that they have no wings neither do they fly but are born up in the aire by the subtiltie of their plumes lightnesse of their bodies They are never seen saith my authour upon the ground but dead neither do they corrupt or rot in any â—…ort There is no man knoweth from whence they issue neither where they breed up their young ones nor whereupon they nourish themselves The islanders beleeve that they make their nests in Paradise and tell many fables thereupon which perswasion the Moores first put into their heads They call them Manucodiata or holy birds and have them in religious account insomuch that some of them have beleeved that souls are immortall by the consideration of such a bird And as for the sustenance which keeps this fowl alive although it be hard to say upon what it is maintained I do easily think that we may listen to them who suppose that they nourish themselves and maintain their lives by the dew that falleth and the flowers of the spices See Gesner de Avibus lib. 3.
the time of the worlds creation with a confutation of the first Sect. 2. Their reasons shewed who suppose the time to be in the Spring Sect. 3. That the world began in Autumne with an answer to their first reason who endeavour to prove it was in the Spring Sect. 4. An answer to their second reason Sect. 5. An answer to their third reason Sect. 6. An answer to their fourth reason Sect. 7. Concluding the time to be Autumne CHAP. III. THe third Chapter concerneth the first day of the world and is divided into three Sections Sect. 1. Of God the Architect of all and of the first part of the first dayes work Sect. 2. Of the creation of Light Sect. 3. Of the intercourse between day and night CHAP. IIII. THe fourth and fifth Chapters concern the second day with such things as are pertinent to the work done in it and are divided into these following Sections Paragraphs and Articles Sect. 1. Of the Expansum or stretching out of the heavens called the Firmament Sect. 2. Of the waters above the heavens Sect. 3. Of the matter of the heavens c. CHAP. V. THe fifth Chapter beginneth with the second part of the second dayes work and hath two Sections Sect. 1. How to understand the word Heavens Sect. 2. Of the Aire together with such appearances as we use to see there This Section hath seven Paragraphs Parag. 1. Of the division and qualitie of the Regions in the Aire Parag. 2. Of Meteors first in generall then how they be divided in particular Parag. 3. Of Fierie Meteors such as are said to be pure and not mixt This Paragraph hath thirteen Articles 1. Of burning Torches 2. Of burning Beams 3. Of round Pillars 4. Of Pyramidall Pillars 5. Of burning Spears Streams or Darts 6. Of dancing or leaping Goats 7. Of flying Sparks 8. Of shooting Starres 9. Of flying Launces 10. Of Fires in the Aire two kindes 11. Of Flying Dragons or Fire-Drakes 12. Of Wandring Lights 13. Of Licking Lights Sect. 2. of the fifth Chapter still continued Parag. 4. of the second Section It concerneth Fiery Meteors impurely mixt This Paragraph hath three Articles 1. Of Comets c. 2. Of New stars their matter and significations 3. Of Thunder and Lightning Parag. 5. Of such Meteors as are Fiery onely in appearance This hath seven Articles 1. Of the Galaxia that it is no Meteor 2. Of Colours in the Clouds 3. Of many Sunnes and Moons 4. Of Beams or Streams of Light 5. Of Circles or Crowns 6. Of the Rain-bow 7. Of Openings or Chaps in the skie Parag. 6. Of Watery Meteros and of their severall kindes This Paragraph hath eight Articles 1. Of Clouds and their matter 2. Of Rain 3. Of Dew 4. Of Frosts 5. Of Snow 6. Of Hail 7. Of Mists and their kindes 8. Of the Cobweb-like Meteor Parag. 7. Of Aiery Meteors This hath five Articles 1. Of divers opinions concerning Winde 2. Of Winde what it is c. 3. Of the division of Windes c. 4. Of the qualitie and nature of Windes 5. Of Whirl-windes Storm-windes c. CHAP. VI. THe sixth Chapter treateth of the third day together with such things as are pertinent to the work done in it Here befoure Sections and two Appendices Sect. 1. Shewing into how many main parts the businesse of this day may be distinguished Sect. 2. Concerning the first thing done viz. The gathering together of the Waters which God Almighty calleth Seas This Section disputeth seven Questions 1. How the Waters were gathered together 2. How they could be gathered but to one place seeing there be many Seas Lakes Rivers and Fountains farre asunder 3. Whether they be higher then the Earth 4. Whether there be more Water then Earth 5. Whether the Earth be founded upon the Waters 6. The originall of Rivers as also why the Seas be salt and Rivers fresh 7. Of the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea Unto which Section an Appendix is joyned and it concerns strange properties in certain Wells Waters and Fountains Sect. 3. Of the Drie-land appearing after the Waters were gathered wherein the cause of Earth-quakes together with the compasse and circuit of the Earth is shewed Sect. 4. Of the Sprouting Springing and Fructification of the Earth wherein the varietie and vertues of sundry Herbs and Trees is largely discovered according to the best Authours Unto which two last Sections an Appendix is joyned concerning all kinde of Metals as Gold Silver Stones of all sorts and such like things as are under ground CHAP. VII THe seventh Chapter concerneth the fourth day together with such things as are pertinent to the work done in it namely the Matter Names Natures Motions and Offices of the Starres It hath three Sections Sect. 1. An entrance towards the discourse of the Stars and Lights Sect. 2. Of the Matter Place Motion and Height of the Starres c. This Section hath two Articles 1. That the Starres consist most of a Fiery matter and are cherished by the Waters above the Heavens as was mentioned Chap. 4. 2. Of their Order and Place in the Skie and why one is higher then another Sect. 3. Of those offices given to the Starres when they were created This third Section hath three Paragraphs Parag. 1. Shewing that their first office is to shine upon the Earth to rule the Day and Night c. Here we have two Articles 1. Of Light what it is and whether the Sunne be the onely fountain of Light 2. Of the Starres twinkling and Sunnes dancing Parag. 2. Of that other office viz. that the Starres should be for Signes c. This Paragraph hath three Articles 1. That the Starres work upon the inferiour world and are signes of future events 2. Whether it be not a derogation from the perfection of things created to grant that the Starres may give an inclination to Man in his actions 3. Of Predictions or understanding the Signes Parag. 3. Of that other office wherein the Starres were made as it were heavenly clocks This hath three Articles 1. Of Seasons as Spring Summer c. 2. Of Dayes and their kindes c. 3. Of Yeares and their kindes c. CHAP. VIII THe eighth Chapter concerneth the creatures made in the fifth day of the world viz. Fish and Fowl This Chapter hath two Sections Sect. 1. Of Fishes their names kindes properties together with sundry emblemes drawn from them Sect. 2. Of the names kindes and properties of Fowls with many and sundry emblemes drawn from most of them CHAP. IX THe ninth Chapter concerneth the creatures made in the sixth and last day being such creatures as live neither in the Aire or Water but upon the Earth This Chapter hath likewise two Sections Sect. 1. Of Beasts their properties names kindes c. together with sundry emblemes drawn from many of them Sect. 2. The creation of Man being created male and female and made according to the image of God together with the institution of Marriage and blessing
viz. God commanded this elementarie light to be that so the thinner and higher element severed from the aire might by his enlightning operation effect a light some shining and the aire according to the nature thereof receive it which to the fire was an essentiall propertie to the aire an accidentall qualitie approved of God as good both to himself and the future creatures Thus some But others except against it affirming that this light was moveable by the presence of it making day and by its absence making night which could not have been had it been the element of fire unlesse it be more or lesse in one place then in another and not equally dispersed Or as Pareus answereth it could not be the element of fire because that is above the clouds according to the common rules of Philosophie and therefore in his judgement the fierie element was not untill the second day being created with the Expansum or stretching out of the aire But unto these exceptions I think an answer may be framed as I perhaps shall afterwards shew you Thirdly if as some have done we should think that this was the very light of the sunne and then in the sunne or in such a cloud or subject as was the matter of the sunne the text would be objected against it which affirmeth that the sunne was not untill the fourth day for the creation of that was but then although the light was before Fourthly Aquinas saith Lux primo die fuit producta secundum communem lucis naturam quarto autem die attributa est luminaribus determinata virtus ad determinatos effectus secundum quod videmus alios effectus habere radium solis alios radium lunae sic de aliis Whereupon he concludeth that howsoever it was it was but an informed light untill the fourth day Now therefore amongst a multitude of opinions which are besides these already mentioned I for mine own part cannot but preferre this as the best namely that the light for three dayes space wanted a subject such as now it hath and yet it did perform the same office which now it doth being fastened to a subject or to the bodie of the Sunne which is Vehiculum lucis A Chariot for the light For we may easily perceive that in the works of creation there is such an harmonious order observed as that there may be an union and reduction of all things of one kinde to their own heads and centre As for example the upper waters must be severed by the out-spread firmament and the lower must repair all to one sea as their naturall subject and as for heavie substances they hasten downwards and the light ones they fly upwards In like manner that light which at the first was dispersed and fixed to no subject doth presently as soon as the sunne was unite it self unto that body as now it is This of all other seemeth to me the best opinion to pitch upon and the most probable in this kinde which may well be as an Embleme how God will one day gather his elect from all coasts of heaven to the participation of one glorie S. Paul applieth it to our regeneration thus God who commanded the light to shine out of darknesse hath shined in our hearts c. that we who were once darknesse are now light in the Lord. And in this consideration I think we need not much dissent from them who would have the element of fire signified by it which opinion was before mentioned for howsoever it be that that element be now dispersed or wheresoever placed yet it might be that the first light shined from it thus I say it might be because we may not reason à facto ad fieri or from the order of the constitution of things in which they now are to the principles of their institution whilest yet they were in making And for further proof of this I do easily assent to them who have probably affirmed that the starres and lights of heaven contain the greatest part of this fire as afterwards in the fourth dayes work shall be more plainly shewed This I have said as seeming to me the best and most probable tenent although perfectly to affirm what this light was must be by our enlightning from him who commanded that it should shine out of darknesse Of which shining and darknesse seeing the Sunne was not yet made which by his course and turning about makes it day and night at the same time in divers places it may be said that it was day and night at the same instant now over the face of the whole earth which made one therefore say that the first darknesses were not loco divisae sed planè depulsae à luce ut nusquam essent yet so as that they should either return or depart according to the contraction or expansion of this first light caused by a divine dispensation Thus Pareus And now of thee oh bright-shining creature it may be said that hadst thou never been the beautie of the world had been as nothing For thou art the beautie of all the beauties else as saith Du Bartas Gods eldest daughter Oh how thou art full Of grace and goodnesse Oh how beautifull Quest. But if God made the Light was he not before in darknesse Answ. No For he needs not any created light who is himself a Light uncreated no corporall light who is a spirituall one God is light and in him is no darknesse at all 1. Joh. 1. 5. He made this light for our mortall journey on earth himself is the Light of our immortall abode in heaven neither did he more dwell in this light that he made then the waters were the habitation of the Spirit when it was said that the Spirit moved upon the waters But see there was Night Light and Day before the Sunne yet now without it there is neither which sheweth that we must allow God to be the Lord of his own works and not limit his power to means And surely as it was before man was made so shall it be after he is dissolved For then as the Prophet speaketh The Sunne shall no more be thy light by day neither shall the Moon give light unto thee but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light and thy God thy glory Lastly unto this amongst many things let me adde but one thing more God made light on the first day so Christ arose from death on the same day being the first of the week And he is the true light which lighteth every one that cometh into the world Of which light if we have no portion then of all creatures man is the most miserable Sect. 3. Of the intercourse between day and night WHat now remaineth God called the light Day and the darknesse Night 'T is true Th' All 's Architect alternately decreed That Night the Day the Day should Night succeed Of both which we have more then
may be also thought that both these waters dropping from clouds in the aire and also all other waters under the canopie of Heaven or within the concavitie of this Expansum are but the lower waters and those other which are separated from them must be in an higher place viz. above the firmament and so shall they be divided by the firmament otherwise not To which purpose Du Bartas thus I 'le rather give a thousand times the lie To mine own reason then but once defie The sacred voice of th'everlasting Spirit Which doth so often and so loud averre it That God above the shining firmament I wot not I what kinde of waters pent Or as Hyperius also writeth Assentiemur Mosi ac simpliciter statuemus aquas non tantùm infra firmamentum ubi in portiones quasi regiones certas eae ipsae sunt distributae aliaeque per aërem circumvehuntur aliae terris sunt adglutinatae verùm etiam super illud esse alias undique circumfusas That is Let us assent to Moses and plainly determine that there are not onely waters below the firmament as it were divided into certain portions and regions some of them carried about through the aire some fastened to the earth but also that there are other waters above the firmament spread round about it Which thing is also thus further manifested because those waters that are separated by the firmament are to be at all times separated For God in the creation of this firmament did not onely command that it should separate but also that it should be separating that is Let it continually separate or divide the waters from the waters quasi voluerit nullum esse tempus quo non distinguat as if he would have it that there should be no time wherein it might not distinguish between the one the other Which as it cannot be doâ—…e unlesse there be alwayes waters to be distinguished so neither can it be pertinent to those waters in the clouds because the aire is often cleare and those bottles of rain are not alwayes there And again it is from the vapours drawn from below that clouds and rain come which cannot at all times be but then onely when there is a naturall concourse of causes to effect it And then again when they are there they be soon gone for the rain proceeding from those vapours which we call the clouds stayeth not long in the aire but forthwith falleth down again and so by little and little the vapour consumeth and the cloud is gone How can it therefore be that these should be those supercelestiall waters separated from all other waters by the firmament seeing the firmament is above them and not onely so but also their proper place is here below being but at times drawn from hence and then it is as it were against their wills which makes them therefore hasten hither again with all the speed they can whereas on the contrary the firmament is to be between those waters and not over them separating them not at times but continually Neither may it seem strange how the out-firmament can be able alwayes to uphold them seeing as hath been said it was made strong by stretching out lifting then the waters up with it and therefore well fitted for this office and can no more fall then the heaven it self whose beams or rafters are laid in the waters as the Prophet speaketh Psalme 104. 3. And hereupon it also was that noble Bartas said I see not why mâ—…ns reason should withstand Or not beleeve that He whose powerfull hand Bay'd up the Red sea with a double wall That Israels host might scape Egyptian thrall Could prop as sure so many waves on high Above the Heav'ns starre-spangled canopie This was his opinion concerning the waters separated by the firmament of which opinion are sundry more But on the contrary side are other some who are of another minde affirming that they are meant onely of those waters in the clouds for say they the aire is called the firmament so also is the skie c. And of the clouds it is said in Job that God bindeth up his waters in thick clouds and the cloud is not rent under them So that first as every part of the water is called by the name of water in like manner every part of the firmament is called by the name of the firmament in which regard those waters in the clouds although no higher then the aire may be taken for those waters which the firmament doth separate and secondly that place in Job sheweth no lesse making it appeare how and in what manner the waters are separated by the firmament Furthermore Ex ipsa nubium natura saith Pareus From the very nature of the clouds this appeareth to be so for what other thing are the clouds but waters separated by force of the diurnall heat and by the cold of the aire made thick whereupon as Plinie calleth them they are said to be Aquae in coelo stantes Waters standing in the heavens Also it may be added saith Pareus that Moses makes mention but of two kindes of waters superas inferas the higher and the lower but the clouds are waters as hath been shewed and no low waters therefore they are the upper waters unlesse there be three kindes of waters which is contrary to Moses Besides this saith he is confirmed by the grammaticall construction of the words For Moses saith not that it divided from the waters which were supra Expansum but thus viz. from the waters which were desuper Expanso The sense therefore is not that the waters were carried up above the whole Expansum or Firmament but rather that they were carried upwards so as that with the firmament they were supra and desuper that is above and on high Also the name of heaven confirms no lesse for saith he the Expansum is called according to the Hebrews Schamajim or Shamajim from Sham There and Majim Waters which derivation is common And therefore those upper waters are not quite above the Expansum or the Firmament but are there that is in the Firmament namely in the middle Region of the aire Thus we see the difference concerning these waters And now let the reader choose which opinion likes him best But for mine own part I like this latter worst yet let me not tie another to be of the same minde any further then he pleaseth for it is no matter of faith and therefore we have our free choice according to the best reasons and most forcible demonstrations Wherefore let me proceed a little further that thereby as neare as I can I may set down that which seemeth to me the best meaning and nearest to the truth First then I answer that they do mistake who divide the Expansum into parts as if in so doing they could absolutely cleare the matter in question for it is not a part of
the nature of the place over which it passeth it may be altered of which I shall speak more afterwards And besides all this the secret influence of the Planets worketh greatly towards the dissolution of the foresaid vapours But I proceed And now it followeth that I divide all sorts of rain into two kindes First such as are ordinary secondly such as be extraordinary I call those ordinary when nothing but water falleth And I call those extraordinary which others call prodigious rains as when worms frogs fish wheat milk flesh bloud wooll stones iron earth c. fall from the clouds Plinie makes mention of many such prodigies as these in the 56 chapter of his second book setting down the times when they happened Concerning all which next under God the causer of the causes causing them these or the like reasons may be urged to shew how it is possible they should be procured and upon what causes they naturally depend 1. And first for the raining of worms it may be thought that the putrefaction of some dead carcasses or other hath been drawn up into the aire as fumes and vapours are where it breedeth such worms as use to breed out of the like matter here below 2. The like may be said of frogs when the vapour is exhaled out of marish grounds at such times as they engender 3. So also of fishes excepting that as is supposed the force of windes may suddenly sweep away little frey out of ponds upon montanous places and so also little young frogs with many the like things may be taken up Some write of a whole calf falling from the clouds and have been thereupon perswaded that it is possible of Vapours and Exhalations with the power of heavenly bodies concurring a calf may be made in the aire But this is idle It was therefore as others write taken up in some storm of whirl winde and so let fall again 4. As for wheat and other grain it hath been observed that their raining down hath often come in case of extremitie to the great preservation and refreshment of the distressed in which regard it may be supposed that it was an immediate work of God wrought without the rule of nature so that were all the wits in the world prest into one yet were they all too weak to shew a true cause of such a prodigie Which made Du Bartas write concerning such Let them declare what cause could yerst beget Amid the aire those drizzling showres of wheat Which in Carinthia twice were seen to shed Whereof that people made them store of bread To speak therefore as I think I will not boldly affirm how this was caused but onely touch at the possibilitie of it namely that it might be effected like unto other strange rains first drawn from the earth into the aire and then sent down again For as I have already said in shewing probable reasons for such things as are strange we do also include God the chief and best cause of all things And so also we reade that when the Red sea was bayed up with a double wall to give the children of Israel safe and free passage through it God sent a strong East-winde all that night c. by which the waters were divided Exod. 14. 21. And again when the Quails came and filled their tents being as it were rained round about them they were brought from the sea with a winde and let fall a dayes journey on this side and a dayes journey on that side even round about their camp Numb 11. 31. He that hath seen saith one an egge-shell full of dew drawn up by the sunne into the aire in a May morning will not think it incredible that wheat and other grain should be drawn up in much hotter countreys then ours is much rather the meal or flower which is lighter 5. By the like reason also it sometimes raineth milk for when the intensissimus solis calor the vehement heat of the sunne shall either draw milk from the udders of cattell and shall mix it with the other parts of the cloud or shall so throughly trie purifie digest or concoct the vapour that it may look something white then will the drops look as if it rained milk 6. As for the raining of flesh it is supposed to be after this manner namely through the drawing up of bloud from places where much bloud hath been shed which being clottered together seemeth as if it were flesh 7. And so also it may rain bloud namely when it is not clottered together but thinner c. In the yeare of Christ 480 was such a rain As also in the yeare 864 neare unto Brixia in Italie was the like Yea and before either of these times our own chronicles tell us that in the dayes of Rivallo King of the Britains we also had bloud rained upon which ensued great mortalitie of people Histories make mention of the like wonders at other times But say some there is often great store of bloud spilt and yet no prodigie appeareth To which is answered that it is not the ordinarie exhaling vertue which resteth in the starres and Planets that can draw up such bloudy vapours although much bloud be spilt but then onely when there is a more unusuall concurrence of causes for sometimes they are disposed to one thing sometimes to another And for the working of any strange thing it must be when there is a strange kinde of combination amongst them To which purpose we know although we cannot alwayes directly see and demonstrate how they are mixed and combined that they principally intend and cause at the same time other changes of which the visible prodigie is but the proclaimer or fore-runner as if you look but a little before concerning Comets you may see and so rest satisfied And unto this also adde that there may be drops like unto bloud and yet no bloud drawn up And this may be either when the Sunne draweth vapours out of putrified watery places in which as I have often seen in a drought resteth much slimie and red-coloured corrupted water or else when the Sunnes immensive heat doth so boyl the water in the cloud that like unto the urine which a man maketh in a burning fever it looketh red when it falleth The like cause I gave before unto the water of a white colour but know that it must then be of another qualitie the matter of the vapour I mean for there are some kinde of waters as is well known which being boyled turn to white salt c. And as for a red colour the ordinarie rain sheweth that it is possible for we see that ordinary rain-water looketh alwayes more brown then spring or river-water being as if a more powerfull operation would turn it into red 8. The raining of wooll or hair is when a certain mossinesse like wooll such as is upon quinces willows and
and land with many a tempestuous blast and unwished breathings Moreover this also may be observed that the long continuance of the windes in any of these quarters produceth these and the like effects As first the East winde breedeth in cholerick bodies sharp fevers raging madnesse and perilous apostumations Secondly the South winde breedeth corrupt humours and in hot bodies cramps giddinesse in the head or the falling sicknesse pestilence and cruel fevers viz. when they blow long in the winter This is held to be the most unwholesome winde Thirdly the West winde breedeth phlegme in moist bodies it procureth sleep causeth apoplexies and the like and is never so churlish as when winter begins to approach And last of all the North winde is good against the pestilence and yet in cold bodies it breedeth plurifies coughs gouts and in some squincies and sore throats but yet of all windes it is held to be the wholesomest although it be sharp in our winter moneths And this also note that a continuall still summer is a signe of plague or earthquake for a standing aire putrifieth and an enclosed winde shaketh the ground Artic. 5. Of whirlwindes storm-windes and fired whirlwindes A Whirlwinde is a winde breaking out of a cloud rowling or winding round about which may be caused two manner of wayes First when two or more contrary windes blowing from divers places meet together Secondly when the matter of winde being an hot and drie exhalation breaketh out of a cloud in divers parts of it coming through the said holes with more then an ordinary violence Or rather thus Imagine a windie exhalation bursting out of a cloud to be so driven that by the way it happeneth to be pent between two clouds on either side of it against which beating it self and finding a repercussion it is forced to turn and whirl about even as we see in the streets of cities when the winde is beaten from two walls and meeteth in the middest of the street for then there is made a little whirl-puffe which whisking round about taketh up the dust or straws and bloweth them about as doth the great and fearfull whirlwinde it self which hath brought not onely amazement and terrour to mortalls but also much harm and mischief Plinie is perswaded that vineger thrown into one of these blasts will break it because vineger is of a cold qualitie and the exhalation hot and therefore the one is as it were quelled and quenched by the other The Greeks call a whirlwinde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Latinists turbo or vortex Also a sudden storm-winde is called by the Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and by the Latines procella and this happeneth either when a windie exhalation is thrown down and encompassed in a thin course of clouds newly overcast or else when a windie exhalation is come to an extraordinary thicknesse and violently moved out of a cloud to the darkening of the aire without inflammation or burning for when it burneth they call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 à 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 incendo to burn or set on fire And this last is that which we call a fired whirlwinde being an exhaled blast set on fire either by an Antiperistasis by repercussion or violent detrusion from the cloud wherein it was enclosed for it is made apt to be fired in regard that it consisteth of an exhalation which hath more fattie substance in it then other windes which burn not And know that it differeth from lightning chiefly in these respects first because lightning consisteth of a more subtil and thin matter for although a fired whirlwinde have a more thin spirit or blast then a whirlwinde or a stormie winde yet it is not so tenuous as the spirit of fulmen or lightning Secondly because lightning is more flamie and lesse breathie the one having more windie spirits in it then the other The conclusion of this dayes work ANd thus at the last I have let you take a view with me of what is pertinent to this dayes work We have seen good reader the framing of the out-spread Firmament with the lifting up of the waters over it we have examined the nature of the heavens and scarce found them of a quint-essence we have searched what heavens they were which Moses meant when he said God called the firmament Heavens From thence we proceeded to the severall regions of the aire examining their temperatures and qualities and thereupon we fell into an ample consideration of such appearances as are usually seen in any of those Regions discoursing at large both of fierie waterie and aierie Meteors And this being all which this day affordeth I may here make and end and say That eve and morn conclude the second day And in his work God findeth no decay CHAP. VI. Wherein is contained a survey of the third dayes work together with such things as are pertinent to it Sect. 1. Shewing into how many main parts the businesse of this day may be distinguished BEing come from the second to the third dayes work I cannot say with Virgil now Ille ego qui quondam gracili modulatus avenâ But rather on the contrary Ille ego qui superis volitabam nuper in oris Nunc humilis sequor arva soli nunc tenuia presso Ore loquor Because in the former day the work belonging to it compelled my winged pen to soar aloft not suffering her to come unto the ground till now For she was to walk above the Firmament and view the out-spread buildings laid in the flowing waters then through the Regions of the liquid aire she was to trace a path which finished she must be content to frame her self unto a lower pitch before any leave be granted to ascend again And indeed I think it is what both she and I desired for we were long detained there And now having both of us obtained our wishes we finde that Gods inspired pen-man holy Moses so setteth down the admired work of his Almighty maker done on this third day of the world that into three main parts it may be severed for by viewing the words which he hath written of it the same will be apparent And God saith he said Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place and let the drie-land appeare and it was so And God called the drie-land Earth and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas and God saw that it was good And God said Let the earth bring forth grasse the herb yeelding seed and the fruit-tree yeelding fruit after his kinde whose seed is in it self upon the earth and it was so And the earth brought forth grasse and herb yeelding seed after his kinde and the tree yeelding fruit whose seed was in it self after his kinde and God saw that it was good And the evening and the morning were the third day This is the summe of all which as before was said consisteth of
three severall parts The first whereof concerneth the gathering together of the waters in these words And God said Let the waters under heaven be gathered together unto one place The second concerneth the drying of the ground in these words And let the drie-land appeare The third is pertinent to the sprouting and springing of the earth in these words And God said Let the earth bring forth grasse the herb yeelding seed and the fruit-tree yeelding fruit after his kinde c. All which in their orders are severally to be discussed together with such other things as are pertinent to the said division And concerning the two first observe that God bestowes as it were sirnames on them calling the gathering together of the waters Seas and the drie-land he calleth Earth Sect. 2. Of the gathering together of the waters which God called Seas VVAter and earth are the two lowest elements and this was that day which brought them to perfection for untill now they were confused because their matter although not quite void of form received at this time a better form of due distinction and more comely ornament The informitie was expressed before when Moses said that the earth was void and invisible because covered with waters but the formitie is then expected and declared when the waters are gathered and the drie-land made apparent It is a wonder sure to think what a confused tyrannie the waters made by their effusion for they did rather tyrannize then orderly subdue or govern this inferiour mirie masse wherefore it seemed good to the Almightie maker first to divorce one from the other before he gave them leave so to be joyned each to other that both together might make one globie bodie which according to the best approved writers is one and twentie thousand and six hundred miles in compasse But concerning this gathering together of the waters there arise certain questions which may not altogether be forgotten As first it is enquired How the waters were gathered together Secondly How it can be said that they were gathered to one place seeing there be many seas lakes rivers and fountains that are farre asunder Thirdly Whether they be higher then the earth Fourthly Whether there be more water then earth Fifthly Whether the earth be founded upon the waters Sixthly Why the seas be salt and rivers fresh Seventhly and lastly What causeth an ebbing and flowing in the sea rather then in rivers Concerning the first of these questions those who think that there be no Antipodes supposed that the waters did runne together and cover the other part of the earth which is opposite to this where we dwell But the experience of skilfull navigatours and famous travellers yea and reason it self doth crie against it Others imagine that it was some mighty winde which dried them up or that the fervent heat of the sunne effected it But both think amisse because the drie-land saith one appearing all at once was so prepared by a greater power then either of the winde or sunne which could not work it at once nor scarcely in a long continuance of time neither was the sunne made untill the next day after Dixit igitur factum est he spake the word onely and by the power of that word it was done For the efficient cause of the sea was the onely word of God the materiall was the waters the formall was their gathering together and the finall partly was that the drie-land might appeare Ezekiels wheels were one within the compasse of another and so was the earth water and aire before the powerfull word of God commanded this their gathering the earth within the water the water within the aire and the aire within the concave of the Firmament Which if they had all for ever so remained and man made as he is the world had been no house for him to dwell in neither had it been a work so full of never ended admiration as now it is Perhaps the pores and holes of the ground were full before this gathering yet neverthelesse their bodies must be willing to be made the beds for more That they were full it proceedeth from the nature of the water falling downwards and filling them That being full they are yet made capable of more might proceed both from a more close composure of the not hollow parts of the earth and also by making these waters thicker then they were before For whilest the not hollow parts were made more solid the hollow could not choose but be enlarged and whilest the thin and vapourie waters were better thickened and condensed the outface of the ground could not be obscured but shew it self as one released from out a waterie prison Some adde unto this their heaping together in the high and wide seas whereby it cometh to passe that they flow to and fro at flouds and ebbs and do often force out water-springs from out the highest mountains which last whether it be so or no shall be examined afterwards The next question was how it can be said that they were gathered to one place seeing there be many seas lakes rivers and fountains that are farre asunder It was a strange conceit of him who thought that this one place unto which the waters were gathered was separate so from the earth that the waters by themselves should make a globe and have their proper centre for leaving to descend towards the centre of the earth they were gathered to a centre of their own and so the drie-land appeared But this opinion is very false and worthy to be reckoned amongst absurdities for as the Prophet Esay writeth the Lord is said to sit upon the circle of the earth Now experience sheweth that it is not the earth alone but the earth and sea together that make one globe or circle This one place then whither the waters were gathered was not a place separated from the earth being in the aire or elsewhere but was in the very body of the earth it self Neither was it one place strictly taken as it meant one point or angle of the earth or as if there were no Antipodes half the earth under us was to be covered with water But rather it is called one place because in the whole globe of the earth every place is either water or land or if not so because there is but one body of all the waters that are for every part of the water is joyned unto the whole as it were with arms and legs and veins diversly dilated and stretched out So that either under the earth or above the earth all the waters are joyned together which also the wise man witnesseth Eccles. 1. 7. But haply some may think because this gathering together of the waters is called Seas that therefore the one place unto which they were gathered is not to be understood of every collection or gathering of water but onely of the sea Well be it so And if this rather then the
other be the meaning of Moses his words it may be answered that although the sea be divers in name yet all seas are so continued together that one sea is perpetually joyned with another and thereupon the name given is not Sea but Seas as in the text is manifest Yea and hereupon it also is that Geographers make these waters come under a fourefold division For they either call this gathered water Oceanus Mare Fretum or Sinus 1. Oceanus the ocean is that generall collection of all waters which environeth the world on every side 2. Mare the sea is a part of the ocean to which we cannot come but through some strait 3. Fretum a strait is a part of the ocean restrained within narrow bounds and opening a way to the sea 4. Sinus a creek or bay is a sea contained within a crooked shore thrusting out as it were two arms to embrace the lovely presence of it Object But perhaps you will say that the Caspian sea is a sea by it self and therefore all seas joyn not the one unto the other Answ. To which it is answered that this sea is either as a lake in respect of the contiguous or joyning seas or else it was no sea in the beginning of the world but began onely at the ceasing of the Floud was caused by the waters coming down from the Caspian hills setling themselves in those declive and bottomie places where the said sea is Plinie and Solinus are perswaded that it joyneth it self unto other seas by running into the Scythian or Northern ocean through some occult passages under ground which is not improbable But howsoever this we are sure of that the river Volga is joyned to it being as another sea and having no lesse then seventie mouthes to emptie it self which river is also joyned to the river Don and that hath great acquaintance with the Euxine sea Besides Volga is not a stranger to other waters which fall either into the Scythian or Baltick ocean insomuch that it may be said this Caspian sea is tied as it were with certain strings to three other seas and so not onely all waters are made one bodie like as before I shewed but if this gathering must needs be referred to the seas even all seas also shake hands and by one means or other mutually embrace one the other A third question is Whether the waters be higher then the earth Concerning which there be authours on both sides some affirming some denying That they be higher then the earth it is thus affirmed First because water is a bodie not so heavie as earth Secondly it is observed by sailers that their ships flie faster to the shore then from it whereof no reason can be given but the height of the water above the land Thirdly to such as stand on the shore the sea seemeth to swell into the form of an hill till it put a bound to their sight Fourthly it is written of Sesostris King of Egypt and after him of Darius King of Persia that they would have cut the earth and joyned Nilus and the Red sea together but finding the Red sea higher then the land of Egypt they gave over their enterprise lest the whole countrey should be drowned Fifthly the arising of springs out of the highest mountains doth declare it because the water cannot be forced higher then the head of the fountain opposite to it As for example Like as we see a spring that riseth in an hill conveyed in lead unto a lower ground will force his waters to ascend unto the height it beareth at the fountain even so the waters which stand above the mountains do force out springs of water by necessary and naturall cause out of the highest mountains Sixthly the Psalmist doth witnesse the same affirming moreover that God Almighty hath made the waters to stand on an heap and hath set them a bound which they shall not passe nor turn again to cover the earth And Jer. 5. 22. Fear ye not me saith the Lord will ye not tremble at my presence which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetuall decree that it cannot passe it and though the waves thereof rage yet can they not prevail Thus on the one side But notwithstanding all this methinks the other part yet choose which you will is most probable For first the water indeed is a bodie not so heavie an earth yet heavie enough to descend not being of an aspiring nature but presseth eagerly towards the same centre that a stone or any part of the earth coveteth It cannot therefore possibly be above the earth although not so heavie as earth unlesse there were no hollow places in the ground to receive it But God Almighty in gathering them provided lodgings for them lest they should turn again and cover the earth which also is insinuated by the Hebrew word Kava signifying to congregate or gather together from whence the Latine word Cavus hollow may seem to be derived Besides should it be alledged that the hollow places could not be deep enough to receive them what were this but to curtall the earths Diameter or thicknesse for suppose the waters stood above the hills before they were gathered to one place yet know that even the Semidiameter of the earth is deeper by no few miles then the highest hill Suppose you could imagine an hill to be above a thousand miles high which is impossible yet the earths Semidiameter would be two thousand foure hundred and above 36 miles deeper then that height As for example if the earth be 21600 miles in compasse then the Diameter will be 6872 8 11 miles and if the Diameter be 6872 8 11 miles then the Semidiameter must be half so much viz. 3436 4 11 miles Secondly suppose it be observed by sailers that their ships fly faster to the shore then from it this proveth not the sea higher then the land For know that it is no wonder to see a ship sail more speedily homewards then outwards because when it approacheth to the shore it cometh with a continued motion which makes it the swifter but when it goeth from the shore it doth but begin its motion and is therefore slower then before This if need were might be proved by many plain and familiar examples Thirdly suppose that the sea seemeth to such as stand on the shore to swell higher and higher till it put a bound to the sight this rather proveth the sphericall roundnesse of the earth and sea then any thing else shewing that both together make one globie bodie Which why it is perceived rather in the water then the land this may be a reason namely because the sea being a plain and liquid element and spacious enough doth better shew it then the earth which hindereth our full view by reason of many woods trees and other fixed obstacles which the sight meeteth and encountreth by the way Fourthly although Sesostris K. of
Egypt and after him Darius K. of Persia dared not to make a cut out of the Red sea into Nilus for fear of drowning the countrey because they supposed that the sea lay three cubits higher then the land of Egypt yet as some report how truely I cannot tell the Ptolomies kings of Egypt effected the work without any danger of inundation But suppose they had not done it or suppose it were granted that the Red sea were higher then the plains of Egypt yet it followeth not unlesse one swallow can make a summer that the sea in generall is every where higher then the earth As for the height of the Red sea above the land neare adjoyning to it Aristotle seemeth to give a reason perswading himself that there is such a change in the universe as that that which hath been sea is sometimes land and that which hath been land is sometimes sea and so he thinketh of those low grounds neare the Red sea that they have been gained from the sea The like we may also think of many places in the Netherlands and of that small part of sea which is between Dover and Callis as Verstegan proveth in his restitution of decayed antiquities cap. 4. pag. 97. Fifthly suppose that certain springs arise out of the highest mountains must the sea therefore needs be higher then those mountains surely I think not For albeit I be not of Aristotles minde nor of their opinions who do not derive the rivers from the seas nor make subscription unto them who give a sucking and an attractive power to the veins of the earth yet I finde it as a thing possible although that part of the sea which lieth opposite to the head of the fountain or to the place where the water first breaketh out be lower then the ground that the said water may neverthelesse easily ascend and not break forth untill it finde a place convenient Now this ascent is caused by the sea which seeing it is a vast bodie is very ponderous and heavie and cannot be thrust back by the water at the head of the fountain opposite to it but rather it doth potently and strenuously croud on the said water through the hollow ports and passages of the earth untill at the last it springeth forth Were it so indeed that there were an equall weight of both waters I mean of the sea-water driving and of the spring-water arising then the ascent of the one could not be higher then the superficies of the other but seeing the weights are unequall which Cardan did not well consider the stronger and heavier must needs drive on the weaker and lighter causing it sometimes to ascend even above it self Sixthly and lastly that which the Psalmist witnesseth concerning the standing of the waters on an heap I take to be nothing else but the gathering of them to one place so and in such a manner that their coming together may be called Seas and their forsaking the land be called Earth for if one place of Scripture be expounded by another it will appeare to be even so First because it is said Ecclesiastes 1. 7. All the rivers go into the sea but the water hath his naturall course downwards and cannot be forced up but by the heavier weight as hath been shewed Secondly because it is said Psal. 107. 23. They go down to the sea in ships down as to the lower place and not up as to the higher And for that alledged out of Jeremy viz. Fear ye not me c. The Prophet speaks there of no miraculous work against nature but of the ordinary providence of God by naturall means keeping back and bounding the sea as at the 24. verse is manifest For there he gives the like instance of the rain which we know is not wrought by miracle and yet it sheweth the watchfull providence of God preserving the world by the naturall course of the creatures Judge then if they be not mistaken who would have the sea higher then the earth The fourth question is Whether there be more water then earth Now here I am perswaded that the answer may be either double or doubtfull For if we have respect to the known parts of the world then I think there may be more sea then land But if we have respect to all both known and unknown then perhaps there may be as much land as sea For we see that in the maps of the world the Southern parts are not known and therefore they write Terra Australis nondum cognita which whether it be sea or land is uncertain Pareus upon Genesis is perswaded that the land is more then the sea alledging a proof out of Esdras where it is said that when God commanded the waters to be gathered he gathered them into the seventh part of the earth and dried up the six other parts which although it be Apocryphall in respect of the autoritie of the book yet saith he it serves to shew that the waters are not more then the earth The next question is Whether the earth be founded upon the waters The Psalmist seemeth to affirm it Psal. 24. verse 2. For according to the common reading it is He hath founded it upon the seas and prepared it upon the flouds To which it is answered that if the earth as it is be the receptacle for the waters or holdeth the waters in the concavities of it how can it be that the waters are in stead of a foundation Job saith He hangeth the earth upon nothing chap. 26. 7. If upon nothing then not upon the waters for they are something And again even the Psalmist also saith The foundation of the earth cannot be moved Psal. 104. 5. If not moved then not founded upon the waters for they are moveable flitting to and fro sometimes this way sometimes that way and never standing still Wherefore when the Psalmist saith The earth is founded upon the seas he meaneth that it is so placed above them as that it is made fit to be a place for habitation And so Expositours understand the Hebrew word Gnal viz. in such a sense that it doth signifie above and not upon In which sense the waters that it sustaineth do not hold it but are holden by it for they are in it tanquam in utre as in a certain vessel and do alwayes strive to come as neare the centre as is possible For conclusion then of this question thus much must be known namely that when God made the world he made all things in number weight and measure insomuch that the earth although it be hanged upon nothing is so equally poysed on every side that it cannot but be firmly upheld and no more fall then the sun out of the firmament or the starres out of heaven For hath not man sometimes shewed an admired portion of skill in this or that rare work which he hath wrought and effected by nothing else but onely the deep and profound rules of
how the sea comes to be salt It followeth to shew why rivers be not salt as well as seas Now for the better explaining of this the first thing considerable will be concerning the originall of fountains and rivers Aristotle handled them amongst Meteors of a watry kinde because he supposed that there was the same originall of rivers within the earth which was of watry Meteors in the aire above the earth For if this aire saith he coming neare to the nature of a vapour is by cold turned into water then the aire which is in the caverns of the earth may be by the same cause condensed into water also According to which grounds we cannot but make this the originall of fountains and rivers namely that they are ingendred in the hollow concavities of the earth and derive both their birth and continuall sustenance from the aire which piercing the open chinks or chasma's of the earth and congealed by the cold of those places dissolveth into water as we see the aire in winter nights to be melted into a pearlie dew sticking on our glasse windows and being grown to some quantitie it will either finde a way or make a way to vent its superfluitie All which agreeth very well to the nature of the aire which seeing it is hot and moist the heat being gone it is thickened and so easily turned into water And as for a continuall running of rivers caused by this water it is saith Aristotle by a perpetuall succession of new aire But to this opinion we may not absolutely make subscription for although aire may be thus converted into water yet the sole matter of rivers cannot come from hence it may haply be an helping cause but not a prime or principall cause For first sith the aire is a thin subtil bodie there is necessarily required an abundance of aire to make but a little quantitie of water insomuch that it is not doubted by some without cause whether the dennes and hollow places of the earth be vast enough to receive so much aire as can make water enough to runne along untill it break out into a river or spring Secondly there be many fountains which have as it were a kinde of ebbing and flowing at certain direct and set times which they keep as constantly as the very sea it self As for example among other strange rivers Plinie makes mention of Dodon Jupiters fountain which evermore decreaseth from midnight untill noon thence it increaseth untill midnight again And in the island Delus the fountain of Inopus as he also affirmeth keeps his course with Nilus Also he makes mention of a little island in the sea over against the river Timavus or Brenta in Italie having certain fountains in it which increase and decrease according to the ebbing and flowing of the vast bodie of Amphitrite or the sea Wherefore the wise man Siracides thought more truely Ecclus. 40. 11. concerning these things affirming that all things which are of the earth shall turn to the earth again and that which is of the waters doth turn again into the sea Which saying of his I do not say is much strengthened but absolutely confirmed by one more authentick then it self namely by that of Solomon Eccles 1. 7. where it is witnessed that all rivers runne into the sea yet the sea is not full unto the place from whence the rivers come thither they return again Which testimonie makes it plain that the sea is the principall cause of all rivers and if therefore Aristotles aëriall vapours have any thing to do in this generation it is as much as nothing yet that which they are able to do I imagine they perform joyning themselves with the currents which come from the sea and so they runne together in the veins of the earth either untill free leave be given them to come abroad or that like Hannibal in the Alps they work themselves a way Now in this there is little or no difference between Solomon and Plato together with the ancient Philosophers before him although Aristotle dissenteth For that which Solomon calleth the sea Plato calleth the great gulf of the earth saying 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est Ad illum hiatum omnes fluvii confluunt ex hoc vicissim omnes effluunt that is Into this gulf all rivers do both flow or assemble themselves and also by their courses come or flow out again But what need more words It is without controversie that rivers have their first originall from the sea that is the fountain-head from whence all fountains have their heads Neither can the saltnesse of the sea and freshnesse of rivers stop this current For concerning springs it is true indeed that they are fresh and this freshnesse notwithstanding their salt originall may be ascribed to percolation and straining through the narrow spungie passages of the earth which makes them leave behinde as an exacted toll the colour thicknesse and saltnesse So that you see sea water though in it self of a salt and brackish savour by passing through divers windings and turnings of the earth is deprived of all unpleasantnesse and by how much the spring-heads of rivers are remote from the sea by so much are their waters affected with a delightfull relish yea and why they ascend up to the highest mountains already hath been declared Unto which may be added that they come not with a direct course from the sea unto those hills neither do they ascend directly upwards on the sudden but by degrees and so winding themselves through many crooked passages and turnings they do as it were scrue themselves up to the convenientest place of breaking out and cannot go back because the sea is a farre heavier bodie then the vein that cometh from it even as the bloud in our veins is nothing in proportion to the liver from whence each vein of bloud hath its first beginning But I draw towards a conclusion adding in the last place that of waters be they seas or rivers we have a threefold use and benefit First that out of them drink may be afforded to man and beast as it is Psal. 104. 11. They give drink to every beast of the field the wilde asses quench their thirst c. Secondly that running through the earth as bloud through the bodie by interlacing it and sometimes overwhelming it they make the earth able to produce those fruits which are necessary for the life of man which benefit of overflowing so fattens the whole land of Egypt that the priests of that countrey did thereupon ascribe the beginning of time or of every thing that now is to that time of the yeare when their Nilus overflowed or when it first began to lift up it self above the banks and diffuse an ample portion of manuring bountie into the lap of the land which is as good to them as if Iupiter should descend in a golden shower And for other places where there be
no such luckie flouds there it is found that these bounteous watrie bodies yeelding vapours do purchase for them such dropping showers of rain that the valleys stand so thick with corn that they laugh and sing and therefore these are great benefits challenging most humble thanks as it is Psal. 107. The third is that they can quell the rage of the hottest element and keep our mansions from cinders or a flamie conversion into ashes The fourth is that they yeeld us an easinesse and speedinesse of conduct and traffick by which each place partaketh of the blessings of every place Yea these and many more are the benefits of water without which the life of man could not be sustained But here I contract my sails and end this question for by coming on the shore I shall the better view that which remaineth concerning this liquid element Wherefore it followeth The next and last question propounded was concerning the fluxion and refluxion of the sea wherein I purpose as neare as I can to shew both why seas have that alternate motion as also why such murmuring brooks and rivers as do not ebbe and flow are destitute of the foresaid courses The motion of the sea is either naturall or violent The first is performeth on its own accord the other it doth not but by some externall force compelling it The first being a naturall motion is such as is in every other water namely that all waters do evermore flow into the lowest place because they have an heavinesse or ponderositie in them And thus the ocean naturally floweth from the North where it is highest unto the South as the lower place for there in regard of the great cold the waters are not onely kept from drying up but also increased whilest much aire is turned into water whereas in the South by reason of great heat they are alwayes sucked up and diminished Now this motion is called a motion of Equation because it is for this end namely that the superficies of the water may be made equall and distant alike on every side from the centre of gravitie The other being that which dependeth upon some externall cause is such as may be distinguished into a threefold motion One is rapt and caused by force of the heavens whereby it floweth from East to West The second is a motion of Libration in which the sea striving to poise it self equally doth as it were wave from one opposite shore to another And note that this is onely in such as are but strait and narrow seas being a kinde of trepidation in them or as I said before a motion of Libration just like a rising and falling of the beam of an equall-poised balance which will not stand still but be continually waving to and fro The third and last is Reciprocatio or Aestus maris called the ebbing and flowing of the sea The cause of which hath added no little trouble nor small perplexitie to the brains of the best and greatest Philosophers Aristotle that master of knowledge helps us little or nothing in this question And yet Plutarch affirmeth that he attributed the cause to the motion of the sunne Others have gathered from him that he seemed to teach it was by certain exhalations which be under the water causing it to be driven to and fro according to contrary bounds and limits But howsoever he taught or whatsoever he thought this we finde that nothing troubled him more For as Coelius Rhodiginus writeth when he had studied long about it and at the last being weary he died through the tediousnesse of such an intricate doubt Some say he drowned himself in Negropont or Euripus because he could finde no reason why it had so various a fluxion and refluxion ebbing and flowing seven times a day at the least adding before that his untimely and disastrous precipitation these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Quandoquidem Aristoteles non cepit Euripum Euripus capiat Aristotelem That is Although Aristotle hath not taken Euripus yet Euripus shall take Aristotle meaning that that should end him whose cause could not be comprehended by him But leaving Aristotle we shall finde as little help from his master Plato who as did also the Stoicks attributed the cause to the breath of the world Such also have been the fancies of others among whom Kepler may not be forgotten who in good earnest affirmeth and beleeveth that the earth is a great living creature which with the mightie bellows of her lungs first draweth in the waters into her hollow bowels then by breathing respires them out again A prettie fiction this and well worthy the pen of some fabling poet rather then to be spoken in good sober sadnesse and affirmed as a truth Others would have the cause to be by reason of waters in the holes of the earth forced out by spirits which comes something neare to that before concerning the breath of the world A third sort attribute the cause to the circular motion of the earth affirming that there is a daily motion of the earth round about the heavens which it performeth in 24 houres the heavens in the mean time onely seeming to move and not moving in very deed This opinion came first from the Pythagoreans and is defended by the Copernicanians as an effect of the foresaid motion As for example the earth moving swiftly round the water not able to follow the motion is left behinde and caused to flow to and fro like as in a broad shallow vessel may be seen for put water in such a vessel and let it be swiftly pulled forward and then you shall see that by being left behinde it will beat it self against the one side before the other can at all partake of its company and so it is also in the earth leaving the waters behinde whilest it moveth But if this opinion be true first tell me how it comes to passe that the sea doth not ebbe and flow alwayes at one and the same time but altereth his course and is every day about one houre later then other Secondly shew me why the tides are at one time of the moneth higher then at another Thirdly let me be informed why broad lakes and large rivers do not flow as well as seas Fourthly let me be rightly instructed how it comes to passe that things tend to the earth as their centre if the sunne as Copernicus and his followers imagine be the centre of the world Fifthly shew me why the aire in the middle Region is not rather hot then cold for surely if the earth should move round with a diurnall motion as they maintain then the middle Region must be either farre higher then it is or else the aire would be so heated by going round that the coldnesse in it would be either little or none at all for it is a ruled case that Remotio à motu circulari dat quietem frigiditatem et gravitatem sicut
sometimes constraining it to sink below them In an ebbe he heaves it up and in a floud he lets it sink As improbable also is that of some others who imagine one Angel to be an Angel of the water whose office is as in the pool of Bethesda to move the waters to and fro and for proof of this that place is alledged in the Revelation where when the vials were poured out upon the kingdome of the beast one of the Angels is called an Angel of the waters But know that the same answer made before concerning the moving of the windes will serve to stop this gap Or were it so that we must be tied to a literall sense the compulsion overthrows the assertion because he is called an Angel of the waters not for that he causeth them to ebbe and flow but because it was his office to corrupt them and turn them into bloud More probable was their opinion who attribute the cause to certain subterranean or under-under-sea fires whose matter is of neare akin to the matter of the Moon and therefore according to her motion they continue their times of burning and burning they make the sea so to boyl as that it is a tide or high-high-water but going out the sea sinks again But now if this opinion were true then the water in a tide would be thinner through the heat which causeth it to ascend thinner then at other times and so a ship carrying one and the same weight would sink deeper in a floud then in an ebbe which experience shews to be otherwise Yea were it so that there were such supposed fires in the bottome of the sea causing it to swell up like boyled water then it would also follow that the sea-water would be so hot that it might not be touched For if the heat of the supposed fire be sufficient to make it ascend it is sufficient also to make it hot which would appeare lesser in an ebbe then in a floud Wherefore omitting these and the like opinions the most allowable is to attribute this flux and reflux to the effects of the divers appearances of the Moon For we see by experience that according to the courses of the Moon the tides are both ordered and altered By which it is not improbable that the waters are drawn by the power of the Moon following her daily motion even as she is carried with the Primum Mobile Yea were it not so that the sea were hindered by some accident some have supposed that these waters would go round from East to West in 24 houres and so round again even day by day The accident hindering this circular motion is in regard that the West ocean sea is shot in between the firm land of America on the West part and the main land of Africa and Europe on the East part But were it so that there were no such accidentall let in the sea to be hindered by the land it would orderly follow the Moon and go daily round And seeing also it is hindered by such an impediment it is a probable conjecture to think that it cannot but be forced to retire for the firm land beats it back again Thus Mr William Bourn in the 5 book of his treasure for travellers chap. 6. determineth Others there be who attributing the cause to the moon do demonstrate it after another manner namely that through her influence she causeth these alternate motions and this influence of hers worketh according to the quadrate and opposite aspects of her position in the heavens or according to the quadrate and opposite configurations from that place where she was at the beginning For the seas saith a well learned writer begin to flow when the moon by her diurn rapt motion from East to West cometh to the nine a clock point in the morning or is South-east then they will continue flowing untill she come to a quadrate aspect or to 90 degrees which will be about 3 of the clock in the afternoon or be South-west when they cease from flowing and begin to ebbe continuing so untill she come to 180 degrees or the opposite place which will be somewhat after nine of the clock at night being the opposite place to that from which she began her flowing Then again they begin to flow and so continue untill she attain to 270 degrees from her first place which will be after three in the morning And then lastly they begin to ebbe and so continue still untill the moon come to that place where she was at the beginning for there the floud begins again Thus it is ordinarily yet her illumination the sunne and other starres may hasten hinder or something alter the moons influence as we see in spring-tides at the change and full and neap-tides at quarters and half quarters of the moon confessed by those who have been great masters in Astrologie And let this also be known that though the moon have dominion over all moist bodies yet not alike because of other causes concurring as the indisposition or unfitnesse of the subject or for want of matter and the like considerations As for example though it be probable that there be tides in mari Atlantico yet they are not to be perceived by reason of the vast widenesse and profunditie thereof in other places also of the sea are no tides being hindered by the strength of some current which prevaileth and in fresh water there is no tide because of the raritie thinnesse and subtiltie thereof which cannot retain the influence of the moon And note also that in such havens and rivers as ebbe and flow there may be great diversitie which cometh to passe both according to the indraught as also by reason of the crooked and narrow points and turnings of the banks which do let and stay the tide from that which is the common and ordinary course in the main bodie of the sea but afterwards when it is in and hath taken his sway then it cannot so soon reverse back but must continue untill the water behinde it be descended or ebbed into the sea The river Thames may serve as an instance in this for it is not a full sea in all places of it at one instant being three parts of a floud at the lands end before it can be any floud at London But were it so that there were no creeks islands straits turnings or other accidentall hinderances then there should be no difference found in any sea but the whole bodie should be swayed up and down with a constant course whereas since it is otherwise the times for every such place must be once found out that thereby they may be known for ever Wherefore the cavils of some men are nothing worth who by bringing particular and rare perhaps vain examples do think to take away this power from the moon For sith this lunar regiment is pertinent to most seas and that all our ocean doth follow her the exceptions taken
happeneth to be watred by continuall rains then not onely the pores and caverns thereof are stopped and closed up but even the aire and Exhalations within the earth are increased To which purpose Dr. Fulk in the third book of his Meteors writeth saying The great caves and dens of the earth must needs be full of aire continually for there is no vacuum in nature but when by the heat of the Sunne the moisture of the earth is resolved many Exhalations are generated as well within the earth as without and whereas the places were full before so that they could hold or receive no more except part of that which is in them be let out it must needs follow that in such countreys where the earth hath few pores or else where they be stopped with moisture that there I say these Exhalations striving to get out do either rend the earth or lift it up that thereby either a free passage may be had or else room enough to abide within I am perswaded that as in other windes there be also in this subterranean fires which help to move and stirre the Vapours and Exhalations Neither do I think that the Sunne is the onely cause of shutting the pores of the ground for then earthquakes would in a manner be as frequent and common as dryings after a rain Some of the other Planets therefore have their operation in this effect Which as Astrologers witnesse is Saturn being of an astringent nature and chiefly in earthie signes must this be produced For say they if Saturn have the sole dominion either in the revolution of the world or in any great conjunction or in the ecliptick place and be strong in earthie signes such as be Taurus Virgo and Capricorn and shall behold the Moon when she is impedite with a quadrate or opposite aspect then he foresheweth that there will be an earthquake And questionlesse this is not altogether idle For the influence of the Planets is divers and may as well according to their places and positions work these effects as have any power at all in the changes and alterations of the aire in the producing of Meteors cherishing of plants and the like And happily it is not Saturn onely nor the bright beams of the Sunne but other of the Planets also being conveniently placed and disposed which helpeth forward this sad effect Authours vary about the kindes of earthquakes some making more some fewer kindes Aristotle De Meteoris lib. 2. cap. 8. maketh onely two Tremor and Pulsus a Trembling and a Beating Some adde a third which they call Hiatus Others make seven And some adde onely foure to which may be joyned a fifth The first is when the whole force of the winde driveth to one place there being no contrary motion to let or hinder it Many hills and buildings have been rushed down by this kinde of earthquake especially when the winde causing it was strong For if it be a feeble winde it onely looseth or unfasteneth foundations if lesse feeble then without further harm the earth onely shakes like one sick of an ague This is called a laterall or side-long shaking The second is not so much laterall as perpendicular or upright which is when the earth with great violence is so lifted up that the buildings are like to fall and by and by sinketh down again For after the winde that caused the earth to swell is broke out of prison the earth returneth to his old place even as it was before The third kinde is Hiatus a gaping rending or cleaving of the earth one part being driven so farre from another that whole towns cities hills rocks rivers seas and the like are swallowed up and never seen again The fourth is a shaking that causeth sinking and is farre differing from the former For now the earth splitteth not but sinketh this being in such places where though the surface of the ground be solid yet it hath but a salt foundation which being moistened with water driven through it by the force of the shaking Exhalation is turned into water also Thus was the Atlantick Ocean caused to be a sea whereas before it was an island according to the testimonie of famous Plato who lived in his flourishing fame about 366 yeares before Christ was born and before his time it was that this island sunk Where by the way in a word or two may be discussed not so much how the late discovered parts of the world came to be peopled as how at the first to be unknown Concerning which this I think may be supposed that America was sometimes part of that great land which Plato calleth the Atlantick island and that the Kings of that island had some intercourse between the people of Europe and Africa Some have related that they were the sonnes of Neptune and did govern part of Europe and Africa as well as of the said island in which regard there was knowledge of the late known parts long ago But when it happened that this island became a sea time wore out the remembrance of remote countreys and that upon this occasion namely by reason of the mud and dirt and other rubbish of the island For when it sunk it became a sea which at the first was full of mud and thereupon could not be sailed untill a long â—…me after yea so long that such as were the sea-men in those dayes were either dead before the sea came to be cleare again or else sunk with the island the residue being little expert in the art of navigation might as necessitie taught them sail in some certain boats from island to island but not venturing further their memorie perished And not onely so but also thus this island sinking might so damp up the sea that neither those that were in these parts did ever attempt to seek any land that wayes to the Westwards nor yet those who were remaining upon that part of the island that did not sink would ever attempt to seek any land unto the Eastwards and so the one forgot the other More I might say touching this thing but this perhaps is more then enough Yet that such an island was and swallowed by an earthquake I am verily perswaded and if America joyned not to the West part of it yet surely it could not be farre distant because Plato deseribes it as a great island neither do I think that there was much sea between Africa and the said island But I leave this digression and proceed The fifth kinde of earthquake is contrary to the former for as before the ground sinks down so now it is cast up like as in the second kinde already mentioned onely this is the difference that now it returneth not to its place again but remaineth a great mountain an embleme whereof may be seen in the busie mole casting up hills in a plain ground And note that if such a rising be in the sea it not onely causeth overflowings but produceth
large wide mouth but round This is a cruel fish to the marriners and will sometimes lift up his head above the sail-yard casting up so much water through certain pipes in his forehead that as the foresaid authour witnesseth great and strong ships are either compelled to sink or else are exposed to great and manifest danger Sometimes again by laying his head upon either end of the ship he drowns it by his over-loading weight Some call the Whirl-pool-whales Balaenae But howsoever Balaena is reckoned amongst the whales and is differing from the Prister or Physeter which before I called the Whirl-pool-whale Olaus Magnus speaking of the Balaena saith that it hath no gills but certain Fistulae are in stead thereof placed in the forepart of the head and that it is a fish which shews great love and affection towards her young ones For when they are little being faint and weak she takes them into her mouth to secure them from tempestuous surges and when the tempest is over she spues them again out into the sea A fit embleme this to teach all sorts of parents either in Church Commonwealth or private families to provide for and not destroy those under them as also to secure them from dangers whensoever they arise When this Balaena and her male-whale accompanie together for they increase by copulation they scatter much of their seed in the waters which being found by the marriners is taken and sold as a pretious drugge Some call it Ambra or Ambergreese affirming that it is good contra guttas and against the palsie and resolution of sinews if it be used as an oyntment good also to be drunk down against the falling sicknesse and swounding having also great power of strengthening the inward parts It is commonly white and sometimes counterfeited with the dust of Lignum aloes and the sweet gum Storax sea-mosse and the like but that which is sophisticated may be easily known because it will soon be dissolved like wax whereas that which is without sophistication is more solid lesse easie to be made liquid Thus affirmeth Olaus magnus howbeit others write that Ambergreese is the spawn of the whale But Avioen is perswaded that it grows in the sea and some again onely write that it is cast up on the shore and found cleaving to stones there the fume whereof is good against the falling sicknesse and comfortable to the brain Munster writeth that many in Iseland of the bones and ribbes of the biggest whales make posts and sparres for the building of their houses and how great profit proceedeth from the oyl of the whale no man is ignorant Plinie writeth of a little fish called Musculus which is a great friend to the whale for the whale being big would many times endanger her self between rocks and narrow straits were it not for this little fish which swimmeth as a guide before her Whereupon Du Bartas descants thus A little fish that swimming still before Directs him safe from rock from shelf and shore Much like a childe that loving leads about His aged father when his eyes be out Still wafting him through ev'ry way so right That reft of eyes he seems not reft of sight Which office of that little fish may serve as a fit embleme to teach great ones superiours that they ought not to contemne their inferiours for they are not alwayes able so to subsist of themselves that they never stand in need of their helps who are but mean and base in the eyes of greatnesse there may come a time when the meanest person may do some good and therefore there is no time wherein we ought to scorn such a one how mean soever he be Furthermore as the whale is befriended by the Musculus so also he is as much infested by the Ork for albeit the Ork be lesse then the whale yet it is a nimbler fish and cruell withall having sharp teeth with which as with an admired weapon she cruelly wounds the whale in the belly and then floating into a shallow place endangers the whale to follow after The Sword-fish called Xiphia is little like to any other fish he hath an horrid head like an owl a deep mouth as if it were some immensive pit ougly eyes with a back and a bill like a sword There is also another great fish called Serra or a Saw-fish having an hard copled head with teeth like a saw standing in manner of a combe upon the head of a cock with which the said fish when she wants a prey cutteth the bottome of ships that the men being cast away a prey may be provided by feeding on their carcases The Monoceros or fish with one horn may fitly be called the Sea-unicorn it is a sea-monster having a great horn in his forehead wherewith he is able to pierce through a ship Howbeit his crueltie is much hindered in regard that it hath pleased the Almighty to make him very slow in motion whereby those who fear him have advantage given them to flie away The Sea-elephant is a fish which often goes on shore and sleeps in the rocks hanging by his two Elephant-like teeth but both they and his bodie are farre bigger then the land-elephant and being espied by men at sea they call to others on the shore by whose help using nets and gins and other instruments for that purpose they together invelope his bodie and then suddenly assaulting and awaking him he leaps with a violent rush as if he would leap into the sea but being hampered and entangled by the fishers engines he cannot he is compelled therefore to yeeld himself to their mercie who having killed him do first skin him then take out his fat and of his skinne they make thongs which are sold for a great price as being very strong and such as will never rot Olaus magnus commendeth his teeth above the other parts of his bodie Lib. 21. This fish thus sleeping and caught suddenly may be as a fit embleme of those men who coming out of their right way do fall asleep in sinne and at last when death awakes them they think to go to heaven or leap into the wayes of godlinesse but then it is too late for they are taken as surely and as suddenly as was that fool in the Gospell who thought he had goods laid up for many yeares The Crocodile seeing it lives in the waters as well or rather then on land I reckon among the fishes They be commonly found about the river Nilus in Egypt and Ganges in India and as Munster writeth in his cosmographie it waxeth of a little thing to a very great beast For his egges are much like unto goose egges but the young which cometh of them taketh increase to 16 or 18 cubits in length He liveth almost as long as a man his back is hard and full of scales he wants a tongue but hath
cruell teeth two whereof be farre more terrible then the other and much longer his eyes are said to be very dull in the water but marvellous quick-sighted when he is out of it his tail extends it self to an ample length and his bitings are so sharp and cruell that they can never be healed he hath also short feet and sharp claws or nails wherewith he helps to catch and dismember either man or beast which he can lay hold on howbeit it is said that he flies from those that persecute him and persecutes those that flie him Munst. When he hath devoured a man and eaten up all but the head he will sit and weep over it as if he expressed a great portion of sorrow for his cruell fact but it is nothing so For when he weeps it is because his hungrie paunch wants such another prey And from hence the proverb took beginning viz. Lacrymae Crocodili Crocodile teares which is then verified when one weeps cunningly without sorrow dissembling heavinesse out of craftinesse like unto many rich mens heirs who mourn in their gowns when they laugh in their sleeves or like to other dissemblers of the same nature who have sorrow in their eyes but joy and craftinesse in their hearts It is reported by some authours that the dogs in Egypt use to lap their water running when they come at Nilus for fear of the Crocodiles there Which cannot but be a fit pattern for us in the use of pleasures for true it is we may not stand to take a heartie draught for then delights be dangerous howbeit we may refresh our selves with them as we go on our way and may take them but may not be taken by them for when they detain us and cause us to stand still then their sweet waters have fierce Crocodiles or if not so they have strange Tarantula's whose sting causeth to die laughing Porcus marinus or the Sea-hog is a strange kinde of fish headed like an hog with teeth and tusks like a boar and a bending back like a creature begotten among swine onely his tail and hinder parts is like to the tail of other fishes and his foure legs are like to the legs of a dragon Such a fish as this was taken up in the Germane ocean in the yeare of our Lord 1537 as Olaus witnesseth in his 21 book But in Bermuda or in the sea about the Summer islands they have Sea-hogs of another kinde and fashion nothing so big nor terrible without legs good for food and like to hogs in their heads Moreover Olaus again makes mention of another fish which they of Norvegia call a Swam-fisk and this is the most greedie and gluttonous of all fishes For it is continually feeding and filling it self even up to the very mouth untill he can hold no more and his prey is upon other the smaller fishes This likewise is his qualitie and condition when he is in fear of any danger he will so winde up himself and cover his head with the skinne and substance of his own body that he is then but like unto a piece of a dead fish and nothing like himself Which feat he seldome doth without hurt or damage For still fearing that there be those about him who will prey upon him and devoure him he is compelled for lack of meat to feed upon the substance of his own body choosing rather to be devoured in part then to be consumed by other more strong and powerfull fishes These and such like are taken for their fat and oyl rather then for any thing else which is usefull in them And unto this fish I cannot but liken all greedy cormorants and covetous devourers of other men being never satisfied with the measure of their oppressions but lay house to house and field to field untill there be no more place as the prophet Esay speaketh chap. 5. 8. For they covet fields and take them by violence and houses and take them away so they oppresse a man and his house even a man and his heritage Mich. 2. 2. But at the last when they must give an account for all the things that they have done then being oppressed by fear as they oppressed others with cruelty they would be glad to hide their heads and rather consume their own selves then be given up to the tormentours saying with them in the Revelation Let the hills fall upon us and the mountains cover us from the wrath of him who sits upon the throne But it is madnesse to run from punishment and not from sinne And therefore to possesse all things is to possesse God the possessour of all things For omission and commission are a wicked mans confusion and oppressours may verily look to feast the devil for while they devoure the poore the devil devoures them Equus marinus the Sea-horse is most of all seen between Britain and Norway In the Northern seas he will sometimes sleep upon a piece of ice as it floateth upon the waters and seldome do the fishermen desire to take them in their voyages to those parts but when they take few Whales He hath an head like an horse and will sometimes neigh his feet are cloven like to the feet of a cow and he seeks his repast as well on the land as in the sea but his hinder parts are like to other fishes and his tail like theirs Ola. lib. 21. There be also Sea-cows and Calves so called because they do much resemble such kinde of creatures living upon land The Sea-cow is a great strong and fierce monster bringing forth young like her self she is said to be big ten moneths and then delivered sometimes of two but oftenest she hath but one and this follows her up and down whithersoever she goeth Olaus writeth that the Sea-calf is a great devourer of herrings insomuch that coming to the side of a net wherein they are hanged she will eat them up one by one untill few are left And in the Indies the Spaniards use to catch a mighty fish having large teats and dugs And those who live at Bermuda or the Summer Islands are much beholden to that fish which they call the Turtle or the Tortoise she will come on the shore and lay her eggs in the sands a bushell in the belly of some one which being taken in time are very good and wholesome meat and sweet but if they lie long the sunne will hatch them They have harping irons to catch these fishes and being taken one of them will serve to feast about fiftie men at a meal And indeed those seas afford varietie of very good fish pleasant and daintie as I have heard them say who lived there But above all the Mermaids and men-Men-fish seem to me the most strange fish in the waters Some have supposed them to be devils or spirits in regard of their whooping noise that they make For as if they had power
to devour her Neither can it flie high or farre or longer then her moistned wings keep wet nor yet swimme fast having exchanged finnes for wings So saith one have I seen men thrive worse that have two trades then such as have been skilfull or thriftie in one The birds that watch for these fishes are in feathers as big as crows but in flesh little bigger then a sparrow are wiser to hunt after others then to save themselves for they be so tame that they will light upon the hatches of ships and suffer themselves to be taken So have I seen some so eager to hurt others that in the mean time they have runne themselves into as great a danger and well worthy are they of such a reward For if a treacherous Haman provide a gallows for an harmlesse Mordecai it is no pitie to see the preparer give it hansell or first hanged Neither will any one mourn to see an Achitophels craftinesse catch himself in his own wilinesse He that will others guide to Charybs shelf On Scylla's rock may fearlesse split himself The Remora is a small fish which cleaveth to the bottome of a ship and doth as strongly as strangely stay it called therefore by some the Stop-ship Of which there can be no more reason given then of the loadstones drawing iron neither is it possible to shew the cause of all secrets in nature The properties of the Cramp-fish are in a manner as strange For the nature of it is to make the hands of such as touch it benummed albeit they touch it with a long pole Plin. lib. 32. cap. 1. He is called in latine Torpedo which is a name proceeding from his benumming qualitie Some attribute the propertie of this secret to the aire which issueth from the bodie of the Torpedo supposing it to be so subtill that passing along by the line and the pole it affecteth and afflicteth the arms of the fisherman Many authors have written of this fish as Plutarch Plinie Elian Aristotle and sundrie others It is said to be of the form and greatnesse of a Thornback and as I said of a fell and a banefull breath wherewith she doth not onely benumme the fishers hand but also the neighbouring fishes who come neare her that so being as if they were dead she may the more easily prey upon them like many a rich man slain by his heir in hope to possesse his lands The Barble is a fish that will not meddle with the bait untill with her tail she have unhooked it from the hook This fish carries a warie jealousie alwayes with it and will not be deceived by all the baits the fisher can devise Plutarch in his book De industria animalium setteth down the carefull circumspection of this creature affirming moreover that if with the beating of her tail she can do no good she then opening her mouth a little doth onely touch the bait with the tip of her lips and gnaw it round about Which is indeed a fit embleme against the rashnesse of those who will not look before they leap but are so fool-hardie that without either fear or wit they will undertake strange projects and beleeve every fair word as if the grasse had no snakes or a sugred pill no inward bitternesse The Scolopendra is a fish more credulous but of as strange a propertie For as Plinie writeth in his ninth book and 43 chapter to which Elian is not opposite this is a fish which refuseth not the bait but feeling himself taken with the hook casteth out his bowels and then having loosed the hook swalloweth them again Now this is a fit embleme of all such as have swallowed down the deceitfull baits of sinne aptly affording this instruction that if they will be safe and secure they must search themselves For if those baits which we have swallowed through the seeming good of deceitfull sinne if they I say be not vomited up again there is a hook which will hold us fast and hale us headlong into miserie The Sturgeon is a fish whose scales turn backwards and therefore he swimmeth against the stream So have I seen some effect their projects by means and wayes contrarie to the common course of men Nay some have been so happie as to thrive in respect of themselves when others could not but judge that the world must needs go backwards with them The Calamarie is sometimes called the Sea-clerk having as it were a knife and a pen. Some call him the Ink-horn-fish because he hath a black skinne like ink which serveth him in stead of bloud And of these fishes there be more kindes then one for the Cuttle hath also an inkie juice in stead of bloud You may see three figures of this fish in the fourth book of Gesners historie of fishes and Plinie speaking of these fishes affirmeth that both male and female when they finde themselves so farre forth discovered that if they cannot be hid they must be taken do then cast this their ink into the water and so by colouring it they obscure and darken it and the water being darkened they escape For through the clouds of this black inkie night They dazling passe the greedie fishers sight The Purple is a kinde of shell-fish from whence is gathered a most necessary juice for the dying of silks and such like things This juice is in the middest of her mouth and jaws and is to be had in the spring time for at other times she is barren and wants it She loseth her life with the losse of this juice and liveth no longer then this abideth in her Wherefore Munster in his cosmography giveth this counsell to take them alive adding moreover that she is a great devourer of little shell-fish She hath saith he a long tongue which is alwayes moving and by this she getteth her prey Some say that they differ in colour according to their nearnesse or farnesse from the sunne whereupon it comes to passe that in Africa they have as it were a violet colour and at Tyrus a redder colour Polypus is a fish with many feet and a round head neare unto them it is a great enemy to the Lobster and as Elian and other authours write they can often change their colour and by that project devoure other fishes Their use and custome is to he lurking closely by the sides and roots of rocks changing themselves into the colour of the same thing unto which they cleave insomuch that they seem as a part of the rock whither when the foolish fish swim they fall into danger for whilest they dread nothing these Polypodes suddenly prey upon them and devoure them And indeed this is the constancie and unfeared treacherie which is often found in many men who will be any thing for their own ends and nothing without them sparing none for their own purposes nor loving any but to effect them Their heads
this book I have declared Wherefore I will now conclude and concluding say God saw the works which he had made And good he found them all If therefore now they faint or fade 'T is 'cause Man caught a fall For ev'ry creature groneth deep A change they wish to see They travail seek they want and weep Till sonnes of God be free For then they likewise freedome have No longer kept in pain Come therefore quickly Lord we crave Renew this world again And in its kinde it being free 'T will praise thy name as well as we FINIS SOLI DEO GLORIA A Table of the principall and most remarkable matters contained in this book ABraham he had skill in the signes of heaven and taught the same to the Egyptians 347 The second age of the world was from the floud to Abraham 16 Achates the Eagles stone 295 Adam he fell soon after his creation 36 37 Adamant or Diamond the most precious of all stones and how to soften it 292 Adder and his properties 490 Adulterie An embleme against it by an example taken from the Sargon 381. Adulterous men like to the Cuckoe 406 Aeschynomen a strange kinde of herb 273 Affliction opens the eyes of securitie 480. One patient in trouble like to the stone Amiantus 299. False friends flie away in affliction 293. 405. Affliction ought to be taken patiently by an embleme from the Camel 444 Ages of the world 15. There be six ages but not of equall thousands 16 Agnus castus and the properties 274 Aire From the earth to the highest Firmament nothing but aire 116. See more in the word Regions Alabaster 291 Alborach a beast frequent in Turkie on which they fable Mahomet was carried into heaven 457 Alexander deceived by Apes 472 Alpine-mouse and the strange properties of it 468 Alume and the severall kindes thereof 304 Amber 303 304. Amber-greese 368 America A conjecture how America came at the first to be unknown 233 Amethyst a stone of power to resist drunkennesse 294 Amiantus a stone which the fire cannot hurt 299 Amphisbena a serpent with two heads 489 Ampelite a black pitchie earth of the same nature with our coals 301 Amphitane a stone of neare nature to the load-stone 298 Anacrampseros an herb causing love 272. Sowbread is of the same qualitie ibid. Androdamas is a stone stopping anger and furie 299 Angels when they were created 53. How Manna is said to be Angels food 157. The oath of the 7th Angel in the Revelation 27 Angelica and the vertues thereof 261 Anger restrained by the Sardius 295. as also by the Androdamas 299 Antiperistasis what it is 92 Apes and their kindes 471 Arbore de Rais or the tree of roots growing in India and called the Indian fig-tree 280 Arbore triste or the sad tree 281 Arguments to prove that the world began and must also end 2 3 Arions storie how to be credited 379 Aristotle 1. he drowned himself in Euripus 210 Armadill an Indian beast 457 Arsmart or Water-pepper 259 Arsnick rightly described and the kindes thereof 300 Artichoke 264 Asbestos a strange stone which being once fired cannot be quenched 298 Asp 492 Asphaltus or black Bitumen 302 Asterite a stone bearing in it the image of the sunne 294 Astrologers many times too busie 10. bold and wicked 351 352 sequent Atheists kick against the pricks 4 Atlantick island was once and had kings raigning in it but now it is a sea 233 Autumne described 356. The world was made in Autumne 32 41 42 43 c. B BAck Good against strains in the back 268 Badger 482 Balaena a kinde of whale Their love to their young with an instruction from thence 368 Barble a warie fish 383 Barnacles or Geese which grow upon a tree 282 Barrennesse Good against barrennesse 262 Bartas a divine Poet 4. His opinion of the worlds end 9. His description of the worlds ages 17. His opinion of the worlds beginning 4. His opinion of the Chaos 49. His opinion of the waters above the heavens 63 64. His opinion of the Regions 85. His opinion of wheat rained 147. His opinion of strange waters 227. His commendation of the vertues of herbs 267. His opinion opposite to those who make the starres living creatures 322 Basil and the vertues thereof 244 Basilisk or Cockatrice 486 Bat 404 Baum or Balm 245. It is good to close wounds 246. Bees are much delighted with Baum ibid. Beam a burning Meteor 90 Beams or streams seeming to burn 133 Beard Good to make the beard grow 254 Bear 475. A storie of a man saved by a Bear ibid. Bears love hony 476 Beasts Brute beasts not to be renewed in the end of the world 6 Beaver and his properties 452 Beautie The beautie of the heavenly bodies after the world is purged by fire 7 Bees 420. They lose their life with their sting ibid. Difference of bees ibid. Their king and common-weal 421. They never breathe ibid. The female bee supposed to be the drone 422. Their order of going to rest and work ibid. Their physick 423. The manner of their swarming ibid. How to keep them from stinging 244. See more in Thyme and Baum. Good against their stinging 425 Beggars How cunning beggars use to blister their arms and legs 260 Bellie The bellie destroyeth many by an embleme taken from the mouse 467 Bermuda-birds and their properties 418 Betonie and the sundry vertues thereof 266 Birds of Paradise 418 Bitumen and the kindes 302 Black-bird 402 Blasting Dew 158 Bleeding A bleeding herb 272 For bleeding at the nose 255 Bloud Times when it rained bloud together with the cause 149 Bloud-stone or the Haematite 297 Spitting of bloud and how to help it 247. 303 Boas and the properties 488 Bodie Our bodies follow the temper of the aire 104. 341. The parts of the bodie 497 498 499 Boldnesse We must not be too bold in things above our reach 9 Bole-armoniack what it is and what it is good for 300 Bombyx or the Silk-worm 425 Borage 245 Boy A storie of a Boy and a Dolphin 380 Brain Things good for the brain 247. A Scorpion bred in the brain 244. The animall spirits go from the brain 497 Brasse and Copper 288 Bream 388 Breath Good against a stinking breath 250 Brionie and the properties 256 Brown Umber 301 Bruises Good against bruises 269 Bubo or the great Owl 402. He is thought to be an ominous bird 403 Buffe and his properties 478 Bugill and Byson described 477 Buglosse See Borage Bulls and their natures 477 478 Burstnings good against them in children 260. Good against them in old folks 269 Butterwort and the properties thereof 252 C CAjetane confuted together with Bellarmine concerning Noahs Floud 75 Calamarie being a fish called the Sea-clerk 384 Calcedon is a stone which expelleth sadnesse 294 Callicia an herb turning water into ice 272 Camel 443. The Horse the Camel great enemies 444. Stuffes made of Camels hair ibid. The Cameleopard 445 Cantharus
Scorpion hath sometimes been bred in the brain 244 Scriech-owl 403 Sea Why seas be salt and rivers fresh 201. Why Springs be fresh 206. Why the Sea ebbeth and floweth 208 209 sequent Why fresh Waters and all Seas do not ebbe 218 Seasons of the yeare 354 Securitie Small securitie on earth by an example from the Squirrell 454 Selenite a stone which follows the course of the Moon 294 295 Sentida an herb of a strange propertie 273 Servius Tullius his head burning as he slept 97 Sethim It was that wood whereof Noah made the Ark 276 Seven a number of rest 21 Shad 388 Shark 378 Sheep and their natures 482. How sheep may catch 〈◊〉 rot 155. 252 Shepherds purse 270 Shooting starres a Meteor 92 Shrew A medicine to be used at the death of a Shrew 263 Shrew-mouse and his properties shewed 467 Sight Sight dulled by Leeks 262. Rue eaten fasting is very good for the sight 248. See Eyes Signes Signes of heaven must not be abused 351 sequent Silver the best mettall next to Gold 288 Sinne. We should weep for sinne by an example taken from the Hart 481. We should not sleep in sinne by an example taken from the Sea-Elephant 371. When the baits of sinne are swallowed they must be vomited up again by an embleme from the Scolopendra 384. The sweetnesse of sinne in the end is bitter by an example from the Beare eating hony 477. Those who are taken away in the very act of sinne what they are like unto 485 Sinner A sinner though blinde in life seeth in death by an example taken from the Mole 462 Sivet-cat or the Zibeth 463 Skirret 264 Sleet and the cause thereof 162 Slow-worm 490 Smaradge Plinie makes many kindes of this stone 293 Snapdragon an herb of a strange propertie 272 Snow 160. The matter of Snow 161. Why Snow is white ibid. Snow in the mountains and rain in the valleys both out of one cloud together with the cause thereof 162 Societie ought to be amongst men by an example taken from the Stork 399 Sole and Whiting 387 Sorrell and the vertues thereof 270 Sorrow An embleme concerning those who sorrow to part with earth for heaven 459. 481 Sothernwood and the qualities thereof 254 Soul The Soul breathed into man infused in the creation and created in the infusion 499. God stampt his image in the Soul ibid. 500. Souls Souls cannot appeare after death 94 95 South-winde 182 Sowbread an herb of a strange propertie 262. 272 Sow-thistle and the vertues thereof 267 Sparrow and his nature 409 Speare-wort the beggars herb 260 Spheres A figure shewing their motion 317 Sphinx and the meaning of Aenigma 472 Splene A medicine for the splene 274 Spring The Spring described 355. The creation was not in the Spring 30. 32 Squirrell described with his properties 453 Starling 402 Starres 311 312 sequent The Starres not to be worshipped 312. Their matter and motion 315 320. They be nourished by the waters above the heavens and how 321 322 323 324. The reason of their differing heights 324 325. Their offices 327. 334. 354. Why they seem to twinkle 332. They work upon this inferiour world 334 sequent New Starres 107. 114 115. 119. The signification of Cassiopea's Starre 108. 114 Steel and what it is 289 Stitch. Good to give ease to one troubled with a stitch in the side 247 Stomack Good to strengthen the Stomack 250. Good to help digestion 396 Stone in the body with â—… medicine for it 387. 254 Stones what they are their kindes c. 290 sequent They live not a vegetative life 291. Common Stones ibid. Precious Stones 292. A Stone which followes the course of the Moon 294. A Stone which will cool seething water 296. A compassionate Stone and the reason thereof ibid. 297. A Stone of power to draw gold 299. The Loadstone 297. The Bloud-stone ibid. Stories A Storie of a Sea-woman 375. A storie of a Boy and a Dolphin 380. A storie of a Sparrow 409. A storie concerning Cock-fighting 411. A storie of a Lion 438. Another of a Lion 440. A storie of a dying Usurer 459. A storie of two much familiaritie amongst Cats 464. A storie of a Bishop eaten up with Mice 466. A storie of a loving Dog 470. Another ibid. Another 471. A storie shewing how Alexander was deceived by Apes 472. A storie of a Man saved from death by a Beare 475 Stork 399. Lessons to be learnt from the stork ibid. Strange A rule to be observed in Strange sights 131 Students Mint good for students 255 Sturgeon 384 Su a strange beast in the new-found world 454 Sulphurwort it is good for young children 260 Summer described 356 Sunne Whether the Sunne be the fountain of light 329. Why the Sunne hath sometimes seemed to dance 333. The appearance of many Sunnes 130. Their cause 131. What they signifie ibid. Swallow 406. What strange things some have written of the swallow 407. It is said that she taught men first to build 408. They cure the blinde eyes of their young ones with an herb viz. Celandine 261 Swam-fisk a fish so called being the most greedy of all fishes 372 373 Swanne The nature and qualities of the Swanne 413 414 Swine eat no Turneps 263 Sword-fish 370 T TAmarisk It is of great vertue for the hardnesse of the splene or milt 274 Tanners An herb for Tanners in the dressing of Leather 257 Tarragon 264 Tarantula and his strange properties 425 Teeth Good against the tooth-ach 261. 267. How to scoure the Teeth and kill the worms in them 251 Temper Waters of a strange temper 220 221 Tench 388 Terebinth or the Turpentine tree 279 Thirst. An herb very good for the thirstie 269 Thrive The thriving of a man that upon occasion is of two trades The embleme is taken from the flying fish 382. Some men thrive in a course which to the vulgar seems contrary by an example taken from the Sturgeon 384 Throat Good for a sore throat 253 Thrush 402 Thunder what it is 122. A difference in Cracks 123. Thunder sometimes without Lightning and so on the contrarie ibid. How this may be 124. The making of the Thunder-stone 125. See more in the word Lightning Thyme and the vertues thereof 259 Time what it is 45. Times when the World should have ended according to some mens foolish fancies 18. 22 23 24 c. Tinne 290 Toad An antipathie between the Toad and Rue 248 Tobacco and the kindes thereof Where it was first found together with the names qualities and vertues thereof 264 265. The Indian women take no Tobacco 266. The time when it came first into England and by whom it was first brought ibid. A precious salve to be made of the green leaves 265. A lesson for quaffers ibid. Tongue 498. The Tongue hath brought many to mischief 413. Fair tongues false hearts 443 Topaz a very strange stone which stancheth bloud 295 296 Tophus 292 Torch a burning Meteor 89 Torpedo a
benumming fish 383 Tortoise 374 Tragelaphus 481 Treacherie Treacherous persons like to the Polypus 385. Like to the Ape 401. Like to the Hawk ibid. Trees and their properties 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282. Trinitie 46 47. The Trinitie shewed in making of Man 496 Trouble One patient in trouble what he is like 299 Trout The Trout commended 388. The Trout like one that loves to be flattered 389. Wanton Wenches like to the Trout ibid. Troy and the ruines thereof lamented 240 Turcois a precious stone good for weak eyes it will also shew whether he that weareth it be well in health 296 Turnep 263 Turtle 408 Tyger and his properties 441 V VAliant He is truely valiant that can overcome himself 441 Vapours their nature and why they be warm 87 Veins and Arteries how they differ 497 Vermilion 300. The Romanes used to paint their gods with Vermilion ibid. Vertigo How to cure it 261 Violets and their vertues 269 Viper 490 Virginia Dogs 447 Vitriol 304 Unicorn of the sea 370 Unicorn of the land 435. That there is such a beast 436. A description of the Unicorns horn ibid. How to catch the Unicorns 437 Urine Dill is good to provoke Urine 249 Use of things is often times turned into an abuse 265. We ought to make the best uses of the strangest things 227 131 132 W WArts and their cure 244. 263 Wasps 423 Watery Meteors 142 Water-cresses and their vertues 253 Waters Waters above the heavens 62 63 64 65 sequent Their use and profit 322 323. The Waters gathered together 190. How they were gathered together 191. How to one place seeing there be many Seas Lakes and Rivers 192. Whether they be higher then the earth 194. Whether there be more Water then earth 199. The benefit and use of Waters 207. Why fresh Waters do not ebbe and flow 218 Water used in stead of Vineger 220. Water used in stead of burnt wine ibid. Water making drunk ibid. A Water deadly to beasts and not to men 221. A killing and a purging Water ibid. A Water making horses mâ—…d ibid. A cold Water setting cloth on fire ibid. A Water which is hot enough either to boil rost â—…r bake ibid. A Water which maketh oxen white 222. A Water which changeth the colours either of sheep or horses ibid. A Water cold in the day and hot in the night 223. A Water which turueth wood into stone 224. Poysoâ—…ing Waters ibid. A Water which makes cattell give black milk 224. A Water which makes men mad 225. A Water which spoils the memorie ibid. A Water procuring lust ibid. A Water causing barrennesse ibid. Weasell and his properties 460 461 Well A strange wâ—…ll in Idumea 224 West-windeâ—… qualitie 183 Whale 366. Their kindes 367 c Wheat rained 147 Whirle-windes Storm-windes and fired Whirle-windes 185 186 Willow and Willow-garlands 274 Willow-wort and his properties it is of a contrary nature to the herb Betonie 270 Winde in the bodie how to expell it 249 Winde Divers opinions concerning Winde 168 169. Wâ—…nde is more then the motion of the aire 171. Poets fictions concerning Winde 172. How God bringeth the Windes out of his treasures 169. The Winde not moved by Angels 170. Why it useth to rain when the winde is down 174. What Winde is upon what causes it dependeth and how it is moved 173. Why we cannot see the matter of Winde 177. How that place is to be understood in the 3 of John concerning the blowing of the Winde 178. Aire moved augments the Winde 174. How the Windes are moved and by what 175. In what place the motion the Winde beginneth 176. Particular windes 177. Why the winde bloweth not alwayes one way ibid. Oppositâ—… ibid. Oblique windes ibid. Whisking windes ibid. The division names and number of the Windes 178. Mariners reckon two and thirtie Windes 179. The nature and qualitie of the Windes 181. The effects of a long-continuing Winde 184. Why the East and North windes bring rain sometimes for a whole day together 183 Windows of heaven opened in the Floud and what they were 69 Winter described 357. A warm Winter hurtfull 161 Witches they sell windes to sea-men 153 Wood-pecker how she useth to unwedge the hole of her nest 258 Wolf and his properties 447 Wolf-bane and the strange properties thereof 251 Wooll rained and how 152 Woman She was made after the image of God as well as the man 500. How she is said to be the glorie of the Man ibid. Why she was made out of a Rib 501. Wherein a womans rule ought to consist 501 502. Childe-bearing women Sage is good for them 247. The smell of Dragon very bad for those who are newly conceived with childe 262. The herb Sow-bread is also very hurtfull and causeth instant abortion ibid. How a doubting woman may know whether she be with childe 263. How a woman burying her husband may save her credit 256 World The World not eternall and must also end 2. The manner how it must end 4. Impostours concerning the end 18 sequent When it was created 28 sequent Why it was not made perfect in an instant 50 51. It decayeth daily 78 79 Worms in the belly with means to cure them 253. 255 Worms rained and how 147 Wren 402 Y YArrow and the properties thereof 267 Yeares The examination of the name length divers beginning and kinde of Yeares 360 361 362 363 Z ZAnchie his opinion of the Iewish tradition which they take from the Rabbin Elias 13. His opinion of certain strange and prodigious rains 154 Zebra a beast of an excellent comelinesse 446 Zibeth or the Sivet-cat 463 FINIS Plato in 〈◊〉 a Lib. 1. de calo cap. 10. 12. â—…b 2. 1 lib 8. I hâ—…s 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 coâ—… b Lib. de mundo c Pareus on Gen. * Inaniasoph smata ad obscurandam veritatem ingeniosâ—… magis quà m solidâ—… excogitata Pareus ibid. Lâ—…ret lib. 6. Gen. 1. 1. Du Bartaâ—… first day The manner of the worlds ending is shewed * 2. Pet. 3. 10. * Rom. 8. 21 22. * Psal. 102. 26. * Hier. on 〈◊〉 1. Cor. 15. 53. Job 19. 26. * Rom. 8. 21. The creatures remaining at the worlds ending See also Dr. Willets Hexap on Rom. chap. 8. quaest 34. a Pot. Mart. â—…oc câ—…m * Zach. 14. 7. b Pet. Mart. â—…x châ—…soss * Esay 60. 19. Revel 21. 23. c Part. in Apoc. cap. 21. Matth. 5. 5. d Dr. Willet Hexap in Rom. * Revel 4. 14. * Gen. 28. 12. * Matt. 17. 3. Of the time when the world endeth * Luke 21. 3â—… 2. Pet. 3. 10. 1. Thess. 5. 2. Revel 16. 15. a De verit Christ. Relig. †It was favoured by Justin Martyr Ireneus Lactantius Hierome c. but disallowed by Ambrose and Augustine See Augustine in exposit Psal. 90. b 〈◊〉 Tom. 7. Praelect de fine seculi c Note that the yeares from the Creation are now many more 2. Pet. 3. 4 * 1. Cor. 15. 12.
of the present tense noting the present performance of that which it was made for s As Val. Schindi Fagius upon Gen. chap. 1. out of Aben Ezra a Plin. lib. 2. cap 26. * Psal. 102. 26. b Dove confâ—…t of Atheil chap. 14. c Ideme â—…lin lib. 7. â—…ap 1â—… â—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gell. Nâ—…t Aâ—… l. 13. c. â—… * Psal. 19. 5. d Diâ—… Poâ—… 〈◊〉 2. 〈◊〉 Aâ—…vent Phys. lib. 8. cap. 1. 〈◊〉 f Lib. de 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 g For new starres Tycho affirmeth it lib. de nova â—…iella * Dan. 7. 2 13. †Psalm 8. 9. Gen. 1. 16. 17. * Matth. 22. 30. †2. Cor. 12. 2 a Bish. Halls contemplationâ—… The highest Region The lowest Region * The earth The middle Region a Remotiâ—…â—… 〈◊〉 circulaâ—…i dat quiâ—…tem frigiditatem 〈◊〉 siâ—… pro 〈◊〉 dat mâ—…um caloâ—… levitateâ—… Exhalations are of two kindes The nature of vapours Why vapours are warm The nature of fumes Three sorts of Meteors Two sorts of Fiery Meteors which burn in very deed These sorts are ignita pura These sorts are ignita 〈◊〉 Article 1. Of burning Torches Article 2. Of burning Beams Article 3. Of round burning Pillars Article 4. Of Pyramidall burning Pillars Article 5. Of Flashings Streams or Darts Article 6. Dancing Goats Article 7. Flying Sparks Article 8. of Shooting starres * Antiperistasis is a repulsion on every part whereby either heat or cold is made more strong in it self by restraining the contrary Article 9. Flying Launces Article 10 Of the seeming burning of the heavens a Stow in his Abridg. Ann 1574. Artic. 11. Fire-drakes or flying Dragons b Paracelsus is perswaded that it is a fierie living creature bred in the element of the Fire even as flies in the Aire fish in the Water and worms in the Earth affirming that it is of à short life like the Salamander c. But if this be not ridiculous then nothing is Artic. 12. Foolish Fire Jenny or Will with a wisp b Taken therefore but falsely for the souls of the departed as you may see if you look but a little further * 2. Sam. 12. 13. Job 7. 10. Psal. 103. 15 16. and Psal. 39. 15. * Eccles. 9. 5 6. * Eccles. 9. 10. Hos. 13. 14. John â—…7 24. * Luke â—…6 22. and chap â—…3 43. * 1. John 〈◊〉 9. Of Helena Castor and Pollux Why two lights at once shew fair weather and one light foul weather Artic. 13. Licking Lights Virg. Aeneid lib. 2. prope finem Why some fierie Meteors are lesse pure then others What Comets are * Plinie maketh their shortest time to be seven dayes and their longest 80 dayes lib. 2. cap. 25. but we finde it otherwise And therefore there is a fault 80 being put for 180 which might come to passe by the losse of a C. Three principall colours in a Comet Two chief fashions in a Comet The strange effects of Comets a Carion ex Seneca lib. 2. b Socrat. lib. 4. cap. 22. c Carion lib. 3. d Lib. 3. pag. 294. e Of this Comet you may reade in Carion lib. 5. pag. 854. f Alst. Chron. 〈◊〉 g Goclen Phys. Lanquet Chron. in contin Chron. Euseb. * So also a certain Germane in the continuation of Euseb. Chron. h Buchod in his chron * Idem ibid. h In Lanq. Chron. it is 1400. Vide Ann. Dom. 1531. i 〈◊〉 Bohemicum Germanicum orituâ—… quod hodié que affligit 〈◊〉 nostram Germaniam 〈◊〉 Chron. mirab Dei Fuit etiam antecesâ—… mortis Maâ—…hiae Imperatoris Why warres deaths famines and the like are the effects of Comets Our bodies follow the temper of the aire and our mindes do somewhat sympathize with the bodie †Burton in his Melancholy †Chap. 7. sect 3 parag 2 art 1. How to guesse at the signification of Comets i Origanâ—… de effectibus pag. 526 ex Cardano The severall ends of Comets Politicall Theologicall Naturall k Witnesse the great plague which was in Portugal Ann. Dom. 1531 occasioned by vapours which through a breach of ground in an earthquake issued forth and poisoned the aire Lanq. Chron. l After which were these appearances if not new starres yet most of them supralunary Comets as in the yeare 1577 which Sibylla Babylonica prophecied of as may be seen in Tycho shewing that it should arise about foure yeares after the vanishing of Cassiopea's starre which was true inclusively and in the yeares 1580 1585 1590 1593 and in the yeare 1596 but this was a New starre and in the yeares 1607 and 1618. a Viz. on Bartholomew day Calvis b Viz. on the ninth of November c And therefore he could not then name any one in particular d The King of Sweden born at such time as the starre began its operation The place pointed at by the heavens hath 62 degrees of North latitude l In a speech to his court at Ingolâ—…tadt m Taken out of the relation of his last battel pag. 20. translated out of French into English A memento for after-times * He flourished 135 yeares before Christs birth Helvic Chronol m Lib. 2. n See more in Aquinas summes o Some say the 17 degree Calvis châ—…ei A consideration of this New starres matter Lib. denova â—…ella * Yet the same matter had it been crushed together or as solidly composed as the earth would have been as nothing in respect of the earth * 〈◊〉 de novis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 From the earth to the highest Firmament is nothing but aire p Called Lingua q In 〈◊〉 Lunâ—… generatâ—…r ignie What place the Element of Fire possesseth r Lib. 3. Met. cap. 2. Art 7. What thunder is * Ioâ—…nnes Bodinus putat a geniis aeris 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fulmma jaci 〈◊〉 illâ—…m coeli cieri Great cracks Small cracks r Lib. 2. cap. 43. Sometimes 〈◊〉 and â—…o 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lighâ—…ning and nâ—… 〈◊〉 How there may be lightning without thunder The kindes of lightning Why we see the lightning before we heare the thunder The worst â—…inde of lightning The making of the thunder-stone a Or thus Geneâ—… ex exhalationâ—… 〈◊〉 vâ—…scosa 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quos 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ceâ—… 〈◊〉 mutatione 〈◊〉 so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sâ—… 〈◊〉 cuâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 miâ—… 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lib. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 7. cap. 3. Three kindes of Fulmen The first kinde is drie of qualitie The second kinde is something moist The third kinde is most grosse of the three * Plin. lib. 2. cap. 55. The Poets therefore write that she carries Jupiters armour which is lightning Not wholesome to gaze on the lightning What the Galaxia is Why red clouds are seen onely in the morning and evening * Viz. Parag. 6. Artic. 1. What is signified by many sunnes A rule and in observation concerning strange sights a Fulks Meteors b Stows Abridg. of chron c Stow ibid. d Idem e Fulks Meteors f In the yeare 1619 were 3 also seen at Lovan in the moneth of May
obvious to the sight d Fulk e Iste locus vult quâ—…d ventus sensibus deprehendi nequeat certus locus ubi ventus flarâ—… incipias desiâ—…at notari non possit vis enim ejus tantùm sentiatâ—… Havenreut * Psal. 104. 24. a Plin. Lib. 2. cap. 47. b Origan de effect cap. 5. c Ibid. d Lib. 2. cap. 22. The mariners reckon 32 windes f Orig. Ephes. lib. de effect cap. 6. a Windes blowing into the haven and famous citie of Panormus or Palermo in Sâ—…cilie b In a book called a generall description of the world c Origan Ephem de effect cap. 5. Their qualities according as they commonly blow Norths qualitie Souths qualitie Easts qualitie Why the East and North windes sometimes bring rain for a whole day West windes qualitie d Lib. 1. carm od 4. The effects of a long-continuing winde at certain seasons A signe of plague and earthquake a Lib. 2. cap. 48. Typhon * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod est verberare 〈◊〉 Prester A conclusion repeating the sum ne of this dayes work a Aeneid lib. 1. Questions concerning the waters which are said to be gathered together Quest. 1. Which sheweth how the waters were gathered together * Ezek. 1. 16. * Job 38. 10. Quest. 2. Shewing how they were gathered to one place * Esay 40. 22. * Dr. Fulk in his Met. lib. 4. saith that some lakes are so great that they bear the names of seas among which he reckoneth this Caspian sea a As Duina major and Duina minor called also Onega Look into the maps of Russia or Moscovia b Viz. the Euxine Baltick and Scythian or Northern seas Quest. 3. Shewing whether the waters be higher then the earth c Herodot in â—…terpe in lib. sequent Plin. lib. 6. cap. 39. * Psal. 104. d Met. lib. 1. cap. 14. e De subtil lib. 3. pag. 123. Quest. 4. Shewing whether there be more water then earth * 2. Esdr. 6. 42. Quest. 5 Shewing upon what the earth is founded * Wisd. 11. 22. * Job 26. 7. Quest 6. Shewing why the sea is salt and rivers fresh i 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arist. de Met. lib. 2. cap. 1. k Lyd. dâ—…â—…ig foâ—… cap. 8 9. l viae under the water The sea made salt by the substance of the ground that is my opinion Of rivers and from whence they proceed Arist. de Met. lib. 1. cap. 13. n Lib. 2. cap. 103. †Aëriall vapours are partly a cause of springs o Goclen Disput. Phys. cap. 39. ex Plat. in Phaed. * Plato did but expresse Moses meaning Gen. 7. 11. in other words How springs come to be fresh seeing the sea is salt p Putei prope mare falsi longiùs minùs procul nihil Ial Scal. exercitat 50. The benefit and use of waters Quest. 7. Wherein is shewed the cause of the ebbing and flowing of the sea q Zanch. Tom. 3. lib. 4 cap. 1. quest â—… thes 1. * Note that this is pertinent to the openest seas as the Atlantick and Southseas and especially between the Tropicks where is a constant Easterly breath caused by the superiour motions which draw together with them not onely the element of fire but of the aire and water also r De placiâ—… â—…los lib. 3. cap. 17. Dr. Fulk 〈◊〉 liâ—… 4. t Antiquarum lecti 〈◊〉 lib. 29. cap. â—… u Iuâ—… Mart. Greg. Naz. Aescâ—…ines orat contra â—…tes L. Valla Dialog de lib. arbitriâ—… c. x Livie saith that it is not seven times a day but â—…emere in modum venti nunc huc nunâ—… ilâ—…c rapitur lib. 8. dec 3. The earth hath no circular motion * Viz. chap. 4. sect 2. and chap. 5. sect 2. Paragraph 1. y Lâ—…sberg 〈◊〉 iâ—… 〈◊〉 terra diâ—…r pag. 7. * Wiâ—…d 11. 22. * Joâ—…h 10. 12 13. Esay 38. 8. z Motus terra is nothing but Germinatio terrâ—… Gen. 1. * Ecclus. 46. 4. * Bish. Hall * Revel 16. 5. This is the most probable cause why the Sea ebbs and flows z Sir Christopher Heydon in his defence of Judiciall Astron. chap. 21. pag. 432. a Idem pag 433. cap 21. Why all seas do not ebbe and flow Why fresh waters do not ebbe and flow Psal. 107. 23 24. Water used in stead of vineger Water used in stead of burnt wine Water which makes men drunk A water which is deadly to beasts but not to men A purging killing water A water which makes horses mad A cold burning water A water which will both rosâ—… and bake A river which breedeth flies A water which maketh oxen white Water which maketh sheep black or white Water which makes them red b Plin. lib. 31. cap 2. See also 〈◊〉 2 cap. 103. A water like to the former A water cold in the day and hot in the â—…ight A water turning wood into stone A river which rests every seventh day c In his 3 day A strange well in Idâ—…mea Poysoning waters d Plutarch See also Just. lib. 12. and Curt. lib. 10. A water which makes cattell give black milk Poysoning waters Water which makes men mâ—…d A water that spoils the memorie A water which procureth lust A water which causeth barren nesse and another which causeth the teeth to fall c. e For this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 where 〈◊〉 you may 〈◊〉 of â—…nother that sharpeâ—…eth the senses Fountains of oyl Waters of a strange temper Of the fountain Dodone Waters which work miracles * In which he was deceived it was rather to trie their strength and make them hardie as Verstegan well declareth Restitâ—… cap. 2. pag. 45. f Dâ—… 〈◊〉 cap. 51 52. g Dâ—… 〈◊〉 3 day We ought to make the best uses of the strangest things i Hâ—…iditas non est â—…stimanda ex irrigatione sed ex propria deâ—…nitione quod scilic et difficulter alieno termino clâ—…uditur Iam videâ—…us â—…quam includi faciliùs certis limitibus quà m aâ—…rem ergo c. Quod autem aqua magis â—…ectat id fit propter crassiorem substantiam Cùm eâ—…im humiditas aqua in denâ—…ore materia hâ—…reat ideo est magìs unita proinde efficacioâ—… ad humectandâ—…m Aeris verò humiâ—…tas tam crâ—…ssam substantiam siâ—…ut â—…qua non habet propâ—…erea tantum madorem corporibus 〈◊〉 â—…equit quod quandoque exiccâ—…re videatur id non est per se sed per accidens 〈◊〉 per exhalationes c. k Efficiens est calor solis simul ignis subterraneus quibus suppeditant tres superiores planetae l Causa materialis est spiritus seu vapor in terrae visceribus conclusus exire contendens m Forma est ipsa concussio terrae agitatio exhalationum terrae inclusatum The cause of earthquakes n Origaâ—… de effect cap. 9. ex Holy c. The kindes of earthquakes n Plâ—…t 〈◊〉 Tiâ—… A digression touching the new found world The attendants of an earthquake Signes of an earthquake Effects of earthquakes p
to raise extraordinarie storms and tempests the windes blow seas rage and clouds drop presently after they seem to call Questionlesse natures instinct works in them a quicker insight and more sudden feeling and foresight of these things then is in man which we see even in other creatures upon earth as in fowls who feeling the alteration of the aire in their feathers and quills do plainly prognosticate a change of weather before it appeareth to us And of these not onely the poets but others also have written The Poets fein there were three Mermaids or Sirens in their upper parts like maidens and in their lower part fishes which dwelling in the sea of Sicilie would allure sailers to them and afterwards devoure them being first brought asleep with hearkening to their sweet singing Their names they say were Parthenope Lygia and Leucasia wherefore sometime alluring women are said to be Sirens Neither can I but admire what I finde recorded in the historie of the Netherlands of a Sea-woman who was taken up in the streights of a broken dike neare to the towns of Campen and Edam brought thither by a sea-tempest and high tide where floating up and down and not finding a passage out again by reason that the breach was stopped after the floud was espied by certain women and their servants as they went to milk their kine in the neighbouring pastures who at the first were afraid of her but seeing her often they resolved to take her which they did and bringing her home she suffered her self to be clothed fed with bread milk and other meats and would often strive to steal again into the sea but being carefully watched she could not moreover she learned to spinne and perform other pettie offices of women but at the first they cleansed her of the sea-mosse which did stick about her She was brought from Edam and kept at Harlem where she would obey her mistris and as she was taught kneel down with her before the crucifix never spake but lived dumbe continued alive as some say fifteen yeares then she died This is credibly reported by the authour of that history by the writer of the chronicles of Holland and in a book called the Theatre of cities They took her in the yeare of our Lord 1403. Moreover Plinie telleth us of Tritons and Nereïdes which were Mermen or Men-fish of the sea And in the yeare 1526 as the authour of Du Bartas his summarie reporteth there was taken in Norway neare to a sea-port called Elpoch a certain fish resembling a mitred Bishop who was kept alive some few dayes after his taking And as the said authour writeth there was one Ferdinand Alvares secretarie to the store-house of the Indians who faithfully witnesseth that he had seen not farre off from the Promontorie of the Moon a young Sea-man coming out of the waters who stole fishes from the fishermen and eat them raw Neither is Olaus Magnus silent in these things For in his 21 book and first chapter having mentioned fishes like to dogs cows calves horses asses lions eagles dragons and what not he also saith Sunt belluae in mari quasi hominis figuram imitantes lugubres in cantu ut Nereïdes etiam marini homines toto corpore absolutâ similitudine c. that is There be monsters in the sea as it were imitating the shape of a man having a dolefull kinde of sound or singing as the Nereïdes There be also Sea-men of an absolute proportion in their whole body these are sometimes seen to climbe up the ships in the night times and suddenly to depresse that 〈◊〉 upon which they sit and if they abide long the whole ship sinketh Yea saith he this I adde from out the faithfull assertions of the Norway fishers that when such are taken if they be not presently let go again there ariseth such a fierce tempest with an horrid noise of those kinde of creatures and other sea-monsters there assembled that a man would think the very heaven were falling and the vaulted roof of the world running to ruine insomuch that the fishermen have much ado to escape with their lives whereupon they confirmed it as a law amongst them that if any chanced to hang such a fish upon his hook he should suddenly cut the line and let him go But these sudden tempests are very strange and how they arise with such violent speed exceeds the bounds of ordinary admiration Whereupon it is again supposed that these monsters are very devils and by their power such strange storms are raised Howbeit for my part I think otherwise and do much rather affirm that these storms in my judgement are thus raised namely by the thickening and breaking of the aire which the snortling rushing and howling of these beasts assembled in an innumerable companie causeth For it is certain that sounds will break and alter the aire as I have heard it of a citie freed from the plague by the thundering noise of cannons and also I suppose that the violent rushing of these beasts causeth much water to flie up and thicken the aire and by their howling and snortling under the waters they do blow up and as it were attenuate the waves and make them arise in a thinner substance then at other times so that nature having all these helps in an instant worketh to the amazement of the mariners and often to the danger of their lives Besides shall we think that spirits use to feed and will be so foolish as go and hang themselves on an hook for a bait They may have occult qualities as the Loadstone hath to work strange feats and yet be neither spirits nor devils for experience likewise teacheth that they die either sooner or later after their taking neither can a spirit have flesh and bones as they have But to conclude Alexander ab Alexandro in the third book of his geniall dayes hath written one whole chapter viz. the 8 concerning these sea-men affirming that it is no fabulous report to say there be such he describeth them to be fish in their lower parts and like to men in their upper parts affirming moreover that they be very venereous and desirous of women loving them or lusting after them Whereupon he relates a storie of a certain woman who was taken up and carried to the sea by one of these Mermen concubitûs causà that he might couple himself with her Which monster the inhabitants took soon after but refusing meat he died and they then made this law that no woman should adventure to come neare the sea except her husband were with her This happened in Epirus a countrey of Greece In the kingdome of Congo which lieth in the African part of the world there is in the river Zaire another kinde of hog-fish differing from that already mentioned It is called Ambize Angulo or Hog-fish It hath as it were two hands and a tail like a target which eateth like pork and
daunted when their countrey lay at the stake but fight with courage unresistable because they then fought for something To which purpose it is recorded that when Themistocles was captain and spectatour of such a Cock-contention he spake thus to his souldiers These two Cocks saith he endanger themselves as we see to the death not for their countreys cause not for the houshold gods not for the priviledges of their hoâ—…able ancestours not for renown not for libertie not for â—…fe and children but onely for this that the one might not 〈◊〉 crow or beat the other And therefore the hearts of â—…he Athenians ought rather to be stored with stoutnesse and audacitie that thereby they may purchase perpetuall remembrance Close by his side stands the couragious Cock Crest-creatures king the peasants trustie clock True morning watch Aurora's trumpeter The lions terrour true Astronomer Who leaves his bed when Sol begins to rise And when sunne sets then to his roost he flies The Crane is said to be a shifting bird it hath high legges a long beak and neck which finding no food in winter in the northern regions by reason of the great cold retire themselves into more temperate countreys and in summer return to the north again They flie by companies feed together love their own kinde and appoint one to be king over them and if at any time they fight among themselves presently they be again reconciled and keep their societie as before They have a watch and watch by course there being in the claw of that Crane whose turn it is to wake a little stone that so if by chance this watching bird should fall asleep the stone falling down might again awake him Gemin ex Aristot. Moreover it is said that when they do alight upon the ground their king is first and he also first raiseth himself from the earth and looketh round about him to see whether any one be coming that thereby giving warning they might defend themselves Which is indeed a fit embleme of carefull pastours good magistrates and honest governours whose part it is to be at all times vigilant for the good of those over whom they are Nay their captain and their watching doth not onely shew the care which ought to be in governours but also the necessitie of government is deciphered by it And again it is reported that when these birds flie out of Cilicia over the mountains Taurus each of them carrieth in his mouth a peble stone lest by their chattering they should be seized upon by the Eagles So have I seen those whose unbridled tongues have but brought them to mischief and rouzed the Eagles about their eares whereas in little medling is much rest and nothing said is soon amended The wise man therefore will wear discretion as a stone upon the tip of his tongue lest chattering such words as he knows not what he meet with that which he looks not for And now I could speak of the warres which the Cranes have against the Pigmies whom Du Bartas calleth Dwarfs of the North but I had rather referre you concerning this to Plinie in the second chapter of his seventh book Physicians tell us that the Crane is hard of digestion and maketh ill juice but being hanged up a day or two before he be eaten he is the more tender and lesse unwholesome The silver Swan is a white bird living in marshes and calm rivers very loving unto his fellow the male to the female whom when he draweth to him with his long neck he doth as it were embrace her wherefore in greek he is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to embrace or kisse whence also is derived the Latine Cygnus They do one defend the other and sit upon their nest by turns and equally have care of their young ones when they be hatched neither can the he-Swan endure that the she should companie with another in which they be a perfect pattern of chaste mutuall and matrimoniall love Howbeit they will sometimes fight very fiercely with their own kinde and against the Eagles they have cruell battells striving not so much to obtain rule as to revenge their injuries It is likewise said that they sometimes sing but never more sweetly then when they be dying and exchanging life for death of which some doubt and approve it as a thing onely spoken in a poeticall manner yet Aristotle is against them affirming that many have heard them sing in the Assyrian sea To which purpose Martial hath this epigram Dulcia defectâ modulatur carmina linguà Cantator cygnus funeris ipse sui Sweet strains he chaunteth out with 's dying tongue And is the singer of his fun'rall song Wherein he is a perfect embleme and pattern to us that our death ought to be cheerfull and life not so deare unto us as it is And from hence came the proverb Cygnea cantio which is but a lightning against death I formerly made mention of the Raven but beside the Raven there described there is also a Sea-raven or Sea-crow which is a bird very black unlesse it be on the breast and bellie upon which they be of an ash-colour They hunt after fish and have toothed bills like unto the reapers sickle with which they can hold even an eele as slipperie as it is The dung of this bird is of an evil nature for it will rot both the boughs and barks of such trees as it falleth upon and so it is also said that the dung of the Heron doth Olaus lib. 19. The said authour speaketh of another Sea-crow which in seven dayes builds her nest and in the next seven layes her egges and brings forth young and of another which he calleth Morfex or Humusculus so called because she must beat the water with her tail before she can flie She is black all over and with the residue of her companie useth to build her nest upon the tops of high trees growing neare to such places where be store of fish which they catch and devoure very greedily and of these birds there be great store in the more Northern parts of the world But they have especially two enemies the one is a bird which Olaus calleth Platea the other is a fish which is called Raia The Platea lies in wait for these crows and flies at them when they have gotten their prey and never leaves biting them upon their heads untill she cause them to leave it This bird useth to swallow down an abundance of whole cockles into her bellie and there having warmed them she casts them up and then their shels gaping like unto the rosted oister give her leave to take out their meat and eat it which sheweth as I said once before in the description of another bird that policie is better then strength and in the hardest matters prevaileth best The other enemie is not a bird but that fish which