lime Lastly great fires are nourished with water We see also that there is sometime hot sometime cold water not onely in rivers but also breaking out of fountains according as it is affected yet it may not be dissembled in the mean time that air is more prone to heat by reason of its rarity water to coldnesse by reason of its thicknesse XXVII The water at first covered the earth round about but on the third day of the creation it was gathered into certain channels which are called Seas Lakes Pooles Rivers c. That this was done at the command of of God Moses testifies in these words Let the waters be gathered together into one place that the dry land may appear Gen. 1. v. 9. but David relating the processe of the creation describes the manner also Ps. 1â—4 v 6 7 8 9. That thunders were raised by which the Mountains ascended the valleys descended but the waters were carried steep down into their channels and that in this sort a bound was set them that they might not return to cover the earth Whence it is very likely that that discovery of the surface of the earth was made by an earthquake but that the earthquake was produced by the fire sunk into the earth which giving battle to the cold there conglobated shook the earth and either caused it to swell variously or rent it asunder Whence those risings aâ—â— fallings in the surface of the earth that is mountains and valleys were made but within caves and many hollow places This done the waters of their own accord betook themselves from those swelling eminencies to thc low and hollow places This pious conjecture will stand so long as no more probable sense can be given of this Scripture And what need many words common sense testifies that mountains are certainly elevated valleys and plains depressed therefore of necessity that was sometime so ordered but not in the first foundation of the earth the second day for then the grosser parts of the matter flowing about poised themselves equally about the center therefore it was about the third day when the face of the earth appeared and the waters flowed into their channels But besides perhaps God doth therefore permit earthquakes yet to be sometimes and by them mountatains and valleys and rivers to be changed that we may not be without a pattern how it was done at the first XXVIII The water then is divided into Seas Lakes Rivers and Fountains XXIX The sea is an universall receptacle oâ—â—â—aters into which all the rivers of the earth unburthen themselves Which uery thing is an argument that the sea is lower then the earth for rivers run down not up again XXX The sea is one in it self because it insinuates it self into the Continent here and there as it were with strong arms it hath gotten severall names in severall places That great Sea encompassing the earth is called the Ocean those armes dividing the Continent Bayes or Gulfs For all those gulfes are joyned to the Ocean except the Caspian or Hyrcanian Sea in Asia yet that is thought to have channells within the earth whereby it joyned to the Ocean XXXI The Sea is cf unequall depth commonly srom an hundred to a thousand paces yet in some places they say that the bottome cannot be found Hence the sea is called an Abysse It is probable that the superficies of the earth covered with the water is as unequal as this of ours standing out of the water namely that in some places are most spacious plaines in other places valleys and depths and in other places mountains and hils which if they stand above the water are called Islands but if they be hidden under the water shelves XXXII The water of the Ocean faileth not because huge rivers and showres continually flow into it neither doth it cverflow becruse it doth always evaporrte upwards in so many parts of it Of the earth XXXIII The earth is the most dense bedy of the world as it were the dregs and setling of the whole matter And therefore gross opacous cold heavy XXXIV It hangeth in the middle of the universe encompassed with air on every-side For being that it is on every side encompassed with the heaven and is forced by the heat thereof on every side it hath not whither to go or where to rest but in the aequilibrium of the universe XXXV The earth is every way round For the forme which at the first it received from the light of heaven wheeling about it it yet retaineth except that in some places it is elevated into mountains and hils by the thunder which was sent into its bowels the third day in other places again it is pressed down into valleys and plains for the running down of the rivers but that doth not notably hinder the globosity thereof XXXVI The better part of the superficies of the earth is yet covered with water the lesser part stands out of the water where it is called dry land or continent or if it be a small portion an Island There are seven Continents of the earth Europe Asia Africa America Peruviana America Mexicana Magellanica or Terra Australis and Terra Borealis but there are Islands innumerable XXXVII The earth is in its outward face in some places plain in others mountainous but within in some places solid in others hollow That appears in Mountains and Mines of metal where is to be seen here stones or clay very close compact there dens and most deep caves and endlesse passages which must needs be thought to have been the work of the thunder sent into the earth the third day of the creation which penetrating and piercing its bowels so tore them Now there are in the earth not only spacious caves and holes but an infinite number of straighter veins and as it were pores which is plain enough by experience XXXVIII The cavities of the earth are full of water air fire For being that there are cavernes passages and pores they must needs be filled and that with a thin matter Of air no man will doubt But that there are waters in the cavernes under ground appeares in the mines of mettall and is proved by the testimony of the Scripture which in the history of the deluge saith that all the fountains of the great deep were broken up Gen. 7. v. 11. Lastly that there is fire under the earth we have already seen Aphorism 16. which it is credible is the relicks of the lightning raised within the bowels of the earth the third day of the Creation Psalm 1â—4 v. 7. left there for the working of minerals but nourished with sulphureous and bituminous matter spread through the bowels of the earth CHAP. VII Of Vapours IF the Light of Heaven had wrought nothing else upon the matter but melt it together into the formes of the Elements as it was variously rarified or densified the world had remained void of other living creatures But it ceaseth not passing through the
sun upon a bright cloud placed by its side After the same manner if you stand upon the opposite bank of a river you shall see two suns the one the true one in heaven the other reflected in the water There are sometimes three suns seen if two of those clouds are at once opposed to the sun and our sight XLIII Paraselene a false moon is the image of the moon expressed after the same manner upon a collaterall cloud XLIV Rods are beams of the sun covered with a cloud yet shining through the thin cloud stretched towards the earth like rods XLV Colours are they that appear divers in a cloud according as it is after severall manners turned toward the sun and us so that the cloud seems somtimes yellow somtimes red fiery XLVI Lastly the Rainbow is an Halo opsite to the sun or moon in a dewy cloud reprepresenting a bow of divers colours For there are Lunar rainbows also Now that the Rainbow is an appearing Meteor is plain if it be but from hence that it comes and goes backwards and forwards with the eye of the beholder and so it appears to be in severall places to those that behold it from severall places even as the image or brightness of the sun to those that walk up and down on the shore I say that it is a Meteor like to an Halo because it is alike circular And as in the Halo the center of the luminary the center of the lightsome circle and the center of our eye are in one right line so in a Rainbow onely that in the first the luminary and the eye are the extreams the Halo in the middest here the luminary and the bow are the extreams and the eye in the middest Now there doth not appear a whole circle in the rainbow because the center of it to us fals upon the earth and so the upper halfe of the circle only appears If any one could elevate himselfe into the cloud or above the cloud without doubt he would see the whole circle of the Rainbow Hence also the reason is evident why at the suns rising or setting there appears a whole semicircle elevated right up towards heaven but when the sun is high it appeares low Lastly why there can be none at all when the sun is verticall The Lunar Rainbowes are onely pale as an Halo the Solar shewes forth most fair clouds from a stronger light diversly reflected from a thousand thousand drops of the melting cloud the colours being coordinate as is to be seen in a Chrystalline Prisme and certainly the Rainbow was given even for this that we might learn to contemplate the nature of colours There is also a contrairis namely when the rainbow reflects again upon another cloud underneath and therefore it is lesse and of a weaker colour and the order of the colours inverted so that the highest is lowest as in a glasse the right side answers to the left side c. but of Meteors enough Of watery oncretes XLVII Watery concretes are a bubble foame ice and severall appearances in the water also the saltnesse of the sea spring waters and medicinall waters XLVIII A bubble is a thin watery skin filled with air It is made when a small portion of air thrust down below the water is carried upwards which the water being somwhat fatter in its superficies suffers not presently to flie out but covers it with a thin skin like a little bladder By how much the more oily the water is by so much the longer the bubbles hold as it is to be seen in those ludicrous round bubbles which boyes are wont to blow out of water and sope which flie a great while through the air unbroken From the bubble we learn to what a subtilty water may be brought For the skin of a bubble is a thousand times thinner then the thinnest paper XLIX Foame is a company of very small bubbles raised by the sudden falling of water into water The beating of the water into small parts causes whitenesse in the foam even as ice waxe pitch and other things are whitish when they are beaten The durability also of the foam is more in an oily liquour as in beer c. L Ice is water hardened together with cold LI Watery impressions are images of clouds of birds flying over of men of trees and of any things objected It is known that water is the first mirrour receiving the images of all things which is by reason of the evennesse of its superficies For light coloured with things falling upon the water cannot as it comes to passe in another body of a rough superficies be dispersed but by reason of its exceeding evennesse is intirely reflected and presents it selfe whole with that image to the eye of the beholder This is the ground of all mirrours But let us come to reall concretions in the water LII The saltnesse of the sea is from the subterrane fire which heating a bituminous matter spreadeth salt exhalations through the sea Saltnesse something bitter with a kind of oleosity was given to the sea 1 That the waters might not putrifie 2 For the more convenient nutriment of fishes 3 For strength to bear the burdens of ships Now the sea is salt not as Aristotle thought by reason of the sun beams extracting the thinner parts of the waters and scorching the rest For our fire would do the same and the sun in lakes and pooles neither of which is done yea by how much the more salt water is heated with our fire the salter it is but fresh water is so much the fresher but by reason of the heat included within the bowels of the earth and of the deep which when it cannot exhale it scorcheth sharply the humour that there is so that it turnes to urine The very same we see done in our own body and all living creatures For urine and sweat are alike salt LIII Spring waters are made of vapours condensed in the cavernes of the earth after the same manner as drops are gathered together upon the covers of pots It is certain that under the earth there lies a great deep Gen. 7. 11. That is a mighty masse of waters diffused through the hollows of the earth which that it joynes with certain gulfes of the Ocean this is an argument that the depth of the sea in some places is altogether insearchable Therefore as vapours ascend out of the open sea into the air which being resolved into drops distill rain so the subterrane waters being attenuated by the subterrane heat send forth vapours which being gathered together in the hollowes of the earth and collected into drops flow out which way passage is given them And this is it which the Scripture saith All rivers enter into the sea and the sea runneth not over unto the place from whence the rivers come they returne that they may flow again Eccles. 1. v. 7. Whence it is understood why springs yield fresh water though they come from
matter cherishes and rules it and produces every creature introducing into every one it s own form but being that this work-master had need of fire to soften and to prepare the matter variously for various uses God produced it For V God said let there be light and there was light ver 3. this is described as the third principle of the World meerly active whereby the matter was made visible and divisible into forms the light I say perfecting all things which are and are made in the World therefore it is added VI And God saw the light that it was good ver 4 that is he saw that all things would now proceed in order for that light being produced in a great masse began presently to display its threefold virtue of illuminating moving it selfe and heating and by turning about the World to heat and rarifie the matter and so to divide it for hence followed first of all from the brightnesse of that light the difference of nights and days VII He divided the light from darkness and called the light day and the darknesse he called night and the evening and morning were the first day ver â— that is that light when it had turn'd it self round compassed the World with that motion made day and night The second effect of light was from heat namely that which way soever it pass'd it rarified and purified the matter but it condensed it on both sides upward and downward whence came the division of the Elements this Moses expresses in these words VIII And God said let there be a Firmament that it may divide betwixt the waâ—er above and the waters below ver 6. God said that is he ordained how it should be let there be a Firmament that is let that light stretch forth the matter and let the thicker part of the matter melting and flying from the light thereof make waters on this side and on that above as they are the term of the visible World but below as they are a matter apt to produce other creatures under which the earth as thick dregs came together that was done the second day XI Therefore God said let the waters be gathered together under heaven into one place and let the dry land appear and it was so and God called the dry land earth and the gathering together of the waters he called seas and he saw that it was good ver 9 10. and so on the third day there came the foure greatest bodies of the World out of the matter already produced Aether that is the Firmament or Heaven Aire Water and Earth all as yet void of lesser creatures therefore said God X Let the earth bud forth the green herb and trees bearing seed or fruit every one according to his kinde ver 11. this was done the same third day when as now the heat of Coelestiall light having wrought more effectually began to beget fat vapours on the earth whereinto that living spirit of the World insinuating it self began to cause plants to grow up in various formes according as it pleased the Creator this is the truest original and manner of generation of plants hitherto that they are form'd by the spirit with the help of heat but as the heavens did not always equally effuse the same heat but according to the various form of the World one while more midly another while more strongly the fourth day God disposed that same light of heaven otherwise then hitherto it had been namely forming from that one great masse thereof divers lucid Globes greater and lesser which being called stars he placed here and there in the Firmament higher and lower with an unequall motion to distinguish the times and this Moses describes v. 14 15 c. thus XI And God said let there be light made in the Firmament of heaven that they may divide the day and the night and may be for signes and for seasons and for days and for years that they may shine in the Firmament and enlighten the earth therefore God made two great lights and the starres c. This done then after all the face of the World began to appear beautifull and the heat of heaven more temperate began to temper the matter of inferiour things together after a new manner so that the spirit of life now began to form more perfect creatures namely moving plants which we call animals of which Moses thus XII God said also let the waters bring forth creeping things having a soul of life and flying things upon the earth c. v. 20. the waters were first commanded to produce living creatures because it is a softer Element then earth first reptiles as earth-wormes and other worms c. because they are as it were the rudiment of nature also swiming things and flying things that is fishes and birds animals of a more light compaction that was done on the fift day with a most goodly spectacle to the Angels but on the sixth day God commanded earthly animals to come forth namely of a more solid structure which was presently done when the spirit of the World distributed it self variously through the matter of the clay for thus Moses XIII God said let the earth produce creatures having life according to their kind beasts and serpents and beasts of the field and it was sâ— v. 24. so now the heaven of heavens had for inhabitants the Angels the visible heaven the starres the air birds the water fishes the earth beasts there was yet a ruler wanting for these inferiour things namely a rationall creature or an Angel visibly clothed for whose sake those visible things were produced Therefore at the last when God was to produce him he is said by Moses to have taken counsel in these words XIV Then God said let us make man after our own image and likenesse who may rule over the fishes of the sea and the fouls of the air and beasts and all the earth c. Therefore he created man out of the dust of the earth and breathed in his face the breath of life c. v. 26. and cap. 2. v. 7. so man was made like to the other living creatures by a contemperation of matter spirit and light and to God and the Angels through the inspiration of the mind a most exquisite summarie of the world and thus the structure of the Universe ought to proceed so as to begin with the most simple creature and end in that which is most compound but both of them rationall that it might appear that God created these onely for himself but all the intermediate for these Lastly that all things are from God and for God flow out from him and reflow to him But that all these things might continue in their essence as they were disposed by the wisdome of God he put into every thing a virtue which they call Nature to conserve themselves in their effence yea to multiply whence the continuation of the creatures unto this very day and
the world is moved circularly being kindled in the air as it darts it self forth this way or that way as the matter is disposed or the wind sits included in a living creature as the strength of the phantasie forceth it this way or that way VII The motion of the matter is eightfold of expansion contraction aggregation sympathie continuitie impulsion libration and libertie Whereof the first two are immediately from the fire the four following from some other bodies the two last from it self but by the mediation of the spirit of the universe which if it seems harsh will soon appear plain by examples VIII The motion of expansion is that whereby the matter being rarified with heat dilate sits self of its own accord seeking larger room For it is not possible that the matter being rarified should be conteined in the same space but one part thrusts another that they may stretch forth themselves and gather themselves into a greater sphear you shall see an example if you drop a few drops of water into a hogs bladder and having tied the neck thereof lay it over a furnace for the bladder will be stretched out and will swell because the water being turned into vapour by the heat seeks more room IX The motion of contraction is that whereby the matter is contracted betaking it self into a narrower space by condensation For example if you lay the foresaid bladder from the furnace into a cold place for the vapour will return to water and the swelling of the bladder will fall or if you put a thong into the fire you shall see it wil be wrinkled and contracted because the softer parts being extracted by the fire the rest must needs be contracted from the same reason also the chinks and gapings of timber and of the earth come X The motion of aggregation iâ— when a body is carried to its connaturals For example our flame goes upward a stone goes downward for the flame perceives that its connaturals that is subtile bodies are above a stone that its that is heavy things are here below Note well that they coÌ„monly call this motion naturall who are ignorant of the rest But though it appear most in sight and seem to be most strong and immutable yet indeed it is weak enough because it gives place to all the rest that follow and puts not forth it self but when they cease which will of it self appear to one that meditates these things diligently yet I will adde this A drop of ink fallen upon paper defends it self by its roundnesse yet put a moist pen to it you â—â—ll see the drop run up into into it See it â—â—es not downward as it should by reaâ—â—â— of its heavinesse but upwards that it â—â—y joyn it self to a greater quantity thereâ—â— XI The motion of sympathie and antipathy â—hat whereby a like body is drawn to its like 〈◊〉 driven away by its contrary Now this similitude is of the spirit that habits in it this motion is very evident in â—â—ne bodies as in the loadstone which â—â—aws iron to it or else leaps it self to the 〈◊〉 in others weak and scarce sensible as 〈◊〉 example in milk the cream whereof seâ—rates it self by little and little from the hevie parts and gathers it self to the top some things it is as it were bound unâ—â—sse it be losed some way or other that apâ—ears in melted brasse wherein metals are â—â—parated one from another by the force of 〈◊〉 fire and by the virtue of sympathy eveâ—â— thing gathers it self to its like lead to â—â—ad silver to silver and flows together in 〈◊〉 peculiar place XII Motion of continuity is that whereby â—atter follows matter shunning discontinuity As when you suck up the air with a pipe â—â—tting one end thereof into the water the water will follow the air though it be upâ—ward For we said before that the world a living creature would not be cut the livinâ— spirit uniting all things XIII The motion of impulsion or cessionâ— is that whereby matter yeelds to matter thâ— presseth upon it So water yeelds to a stone that comâ— down into it that it may sink so a stonâ— to the hand that thrusts it c. for a bodâ— will not endure to be penetrated it had rather yeeld if it can If it cannot all the paâ—â— yeeld as wee may see it happen in eveâ— Breake Bruise Rent Wearing Cutting for the weaker yeelds every where to thâ— stronger XIV The motion of libration is that where in the parts wave themselves too and fro thâ—â— they may be rightly placed in the whole As when a ballance moves it self now this now that way XV The motion of liberty is that whereby a body or a part thereof being violently moveâ— out of its place and yet not plucked away returns thither again As when a branch of a tree bent forcibly and let go again betakes it self to its positure A SCHEAME Of Motions Motion therefore is of Spirit Light which is called the motion of agitation diffusion Matter which is caused by the fire and is called the motion of expansion contraction some body drawing by connaturalitie as of aggregation a secret virtue as of sympathie connexion as of continuitie thrusting or inforcing as of impulsion it self that it may be well with it self as the motion of libration libertie An example of all these motions in the fâ—â—tion of the Macrocosme or great World First the spirit moved it self upon theâ—ters with the motion of Agitation then light being sent into the matter penetraâ— it every way with the motion of Diffusion and by the matter above where the liâ—â— passed through being heated and rarifâ—â— dilated it self with the motion of Dispaâ—â— but below it coagulated it self with theâ—â—tion of Contraction And all the more suâ—â— parts gathered themselves upwards the 〈◊〉 downwards with the motions of Agregation and Sympathy for a more oâ—â— Sympathy and Antipathy was put in things afterwards and whither soever oâ— part of the matter went others followed 〈◊〉 the motion of Continuity or if one rushâ— against others they gave way by the motion of Impulsion but the grosser parts did poiâ—â— themselves flying from the heat whicâ— came upon them from above about thâ— Center to an exact Globosity with thâ— motion of Libration there was no motion oâ— Liberty because there was no externall violence to put any thing out of order An example of the same motions in the Microcosme or little World In man and in every living creature the food that is put into the belly grows hot with incalescency here you have the motion of Expansion then by the motion of Sympathie every member attracts to it self that which is good for it but by the motion of Antipathy superfluous things are driven forth as unprofitable and hurtfull to them then the blood is distributed equally to the whole body upwards and downwards by the motion of Libration and being assimilated to the members it is condensed that it may become flesh
matters we could have no fire but Solar on the earth for nothing would be kindled and then what great defects would the life of man endure Of the accidentary or extrinsecall qualities of bodies So much of the substantiall qualities the accidentary follow VII An accidentall quality is either manifest or occult VIII A manifest quality is that which may be perceived by sense and is therefore to be called sensible As heat cold softnesse roughnesse IX An occult quality is that which is known only by experience that is by its effect as the love of iron in the loadstone c. therefore it is called insensible N. The manifest qualities proceed from the diverse temperatures of the elements substantificall qualities the occult immeditely from the peculiar spirit of every thing X The sensible quality is five fold according to the number of the senses visible audible olfactile gustatile tangible that is colour sound odour savour tangour Let not the unusuall word tangor offend any it is feigned for doctrines sake and analogy admits it for if we say from Caleo Calor from Colo Color from sapio sapor from amo amor from fluo fluor from liquo liquor from clango clangor from ango angor why not also from tango tangor Of the tangible quality XI The tangible quality or tangor is such or such a positure of the parts of the matter in a body XII The copulations thereof are twelve for every body in respect of touch is 1 rare or dense 2 moist or dry 3 soft or hard 4 flexible or stiffe 5 smooth or rough 6 light or heavy 7 hot or cold Of every of which we are to consider accurately what and how they are XIII Rarity is an extension of the attenuated matter through greater spaces density on the contrary is a straighter pressing together of the matter into one For all earth water air and spirit is sometime more rare sometime more dense and we must note that there is not any body so dense but that it hath pores neverthelesse though insensible That appears in vessels of wood and earth which let forth liquors in manner of sweat also in a bottle of lead filled with water which if it be crushed together with hammers or with a presse sweats forth a water like a most delicate dew XIV Humidity or humour is the liquidnesse of the parts of the body and aptnesse to be penetrated by one another siccity on the contrary is a consistency and an impenetrability of the parts of the body So a clot hardned together either with heat or cold is dry earth but mire is moist earth water is a humid liquour but ice is dry water c. XV Softnesse is a constitution of the matter somewhat moist easily yeilding to the touch hardnesse is a drynesse of the matter not yeelding to the touch So a stone is either hard or soft also water spirit air c. XVI Flexibility is a compaction of the matter with a moist glue so that it will suffer it self to be bent stifnesse is a coagulation of the matter with dry glue that it will not bend but break So iron is stiffe steel flexible so some wood is flexible other stiffe but note that the flexible is also calld tough the stiffe brittle XVII Smooth is that which with the aequality of its parts doth pleasantly affect the touch rough is that which with the inequality of its parts doth distract and draw asunder the touch Note in liquid things the smooth is called mild the rough tart so marble unpolished is rough polished it is smooth Water is rough oile is mild a vehement and cold wind is rough and sharp a warm air is mild So in our body humours vapours spirits are said to be mild or sharp XVIII Lightnesse is the hasting upwards of a body by reason of its rarity and spirituosity heavinesse is the pronenesse of a dense body downwards as that appears in flame and every exhalation this in water and earth N. W. I how this motion is made upwards and downwards by a love of fellowship or of things of the same nature hath been said cap. 3. 2 The inaequality of heavinesse or ponderosity is from the unequall condensation of the matter For look how much the more matter there is in a body so much the more ponderous it is as a stone more then wood metals more then stones and amongst these gold quicksilver and lead most of al because they are the most compacted bodies 3 Amongst all heavy things gold is found to be of greatest weight spirit of wine or sublimated wine of least and the proportion of quantity betwixt these two is found not to exceed the proportion of 21 parts so that one drop of gold is not heavier than one and twenty drops of spirit of wine XIX Heat is a motion of the most minute parts of the matter reverberated against it self penetrating and rending the touch like a thousand sharp points but cold is a motion of the parts contracting themselves N. W. 1 It appears that heat and cold are motions and fixed qualities 1 because there is no body found amongst us perpetually hot or cold as there is rare and dense moist and drie c. but as a thing heats or cools the which is done by motion 2 because sense it self testifies that in scorching the skin and members are penetrated and drawn asunder but in cold they are stopped and bound therefore it is a motion 3 because whatsoever is often heated though it be metall is diminished both in bignesse and in weight till it be even consumed and whēce is that but that the heat casting forth a thousand atomes doth weare and consume away the matter Now it is called a motion of parts and that reverberated against it self for that which is moved in whole and directly not reflexedly doth not heat as wind a bird flying c. but that which is moved with reverberation or a quick alteration as it is is in the repercussion of light in the iterated collision of bodies in rubbing together friction c. 3 But we must distinguish betwixt Calidum Calefactivum and Calefactile Calidum or Calefactum is that which is actually hot and scorcheth the touch as flame red hot iron seething water or air which also receiveth amost violent heat c. N. W. among all things that are known to us fire is most hot wee have nothing that is most cold but ice which notwithstanding is farre off from being opposed in its degree of cold to the degree of heat in fire Calefactivum is that which may stirre up heat as motion and whatsoever may procure motion namely fire and pepper and all sharp and bitter things taken within the body for motion is from fire and fire from motion and heat from them both For as fire cannot but be moved else it presently goes out so motion cannot but take fire as it appears by striking a flint and rubbing wood something long
us by forcing compressing rarifying or densifying that may be shewn to children by ocular experiments for if you drive the air with a fan doth it not give a blast if you presse it when it is drawn into the bellows doth it not breath through the pipe if you lay an apple or an egge into the fire doth not the rarified humour break forth with a blast but this last will be better seen in a bowle of brasse which hath but one hole put to the fire especially if you drop in some drops of water For the air shut in with the water when they feel the heat will presently evaporate and thrust themselves out with a violent blast Which may be also seen if you put a burning wax candle into a pot well stopped having a small hole left at the side c. The fourth way is by condensation of air if for example you lay the foresaid bowle of brasse very hot upon ice and force the thin air included to be condensed again with cold you shall perceive it to draw it again from without to fill up the hollownesse of the bowle Therefore so many ways winds are made under heaven either because the air is rarified with the heat of the Sun and spreads it self or because it contracts it self with being cold and attracts from elsewhere to fill up the spaces or because a cloud scattered or falling downward or else blasts somewhere breaking out of the earth compresse the air and make it diffuse or lastly because one part of the air being moved drives others before it for here you must remember what was said before 1 that a drop of water turned into air requires an hundred times more space 2 that the air is a very liquid and moveable element and therefore being but lightly pushed gives back a long way but yet it is plain that all those motions of the air take their first rise from vapours Now because the world is a great globe it affordeth great store of blasts also both the heat of the sun above and the parching of the fire under ground begetting various vapours Hence it is understood why after a great fire there arises a wind presently even in the still air namely because much solid matter wood and stone c. is resolved into vapours and the air round about is attenuated by the heat of the fire that it must of necessity spread it self and seek a larger room XIII Winds in some countreys are certain comming at a certain time of the year and from a certain coast others are free comming from any place Note they call these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is as much to say as annuall which are caused either by the mountainousnesse of the tract neer adjoyning wherein the snows are then dissolved or to be sure some other causes by reason of which vapours are then progenerated there in great abundance But you must note that those etesian winds are for the most part weak and gentle and yield to the free winds Note 2 There is also another kind of set wind common to the whole world namely a perpetuall fluxe of the whole air from the east to the west For that there is such a wind 1 they that sail about the aequator testifie 2 in the seas of Europe when a particular wind ceaseth they say also that a certain gentle gale is perceived from the east 3 and therefore Marriners are constantly of opinion that the navigation from east to west is speediliest performed 4 lastly with us in a clear and still skie the highest clouds are seene for the most part to be carried from East to West therefore wee need not doubt of this generall wind if so be any one will call it a wind For it proceeds not from exhalations but from the heaven which by its wheeling round carries the air perpetually about swiftly above here nigh the earth where the clouds are almost insensibly yet under the aequator as being in a greater Circle very notably Whence this Probleme may be profitably noted why the East wind dries but the West moistens namely because that being carried along with the air attenuates it the more but this striving against the air condenseth it XIV A gentle wind is called aura a gale a vehement wind overthrowing all it meets with procella a tempest if winded into it self turbo a whirlewind It is plain that sundry vvinds may arise in sundry places together according as matter of exhalations is afforded here and there and occasion to turn it self hither or thither Therefore if they flovv both one vvay the wind doubled is the stronger if sideways or obliquely the stronger carries away the weaker with it and there is a change of the wind which we see done often yea daily but when they come opposite to one another and fall one against another they make a storme or tempest vvhich is a fight of the vvinds till the strongest overcome and is carried vvith a horrible violence bearing dovvn all before it But contrary vvinds of aequall strength make a vvhirlvvind vvhen neither vvill give sidevvay but both vvhirl upvvards vvith a violent gyration Of the sea-tide XV The sea-tide is the daily fluxe of the sea to the shore and refluxe back again The sea hath its fluxes lesse unconstant then the air for it flows onely to the shores and back again the same vvay and tvvice a a day it flowes up and twice it ebbs again The end thereof vvithout doubt is to keepe the vvaters of the Sea from putrefying by that continuall motion But the efficient cause thereof heretofore accounted amongst the secrets of nature comes novv to be searched out of the truest grounds of naturall Philosophy and more accurate observations XVI The cause of the sea-tide are vapours within wherewith the sea swelling diffuseth it self and falling settles down again For this tide is like to the boiling of vvater seething at the fire vvhich is nothing but the stirring of the vapours raised in the vvaters by the force of the heat For it is impossible that the vvater should not be resolved into vapours by the heat impossible that the vapours should not seek a passage upvvards to their connaturals yet impossible that they should have an easie passage out of the vvater being that the superficies of the vvater yea the vvhole masse thereof being a diffused liquor like liquid glasse hath fewer pores than the earth or wood or a stone therefore it is impossible that the water should not swel rise up dash it self against the sides of the kettle and at length break in a thousand openings and give the heat dancing evapourating a passage out by reason of the vapour raised multiplied vvithin and striving upvvard all vvhich vve see in a boiling pot â—n the same manner the sea svvels by reason of the vapour that is multiplyed in the bottome of its gulfes and lifts up it self into a tumour of necessity spreads it self to the
side neither doth it make any thing against this that the vvater of the sea boiling is not so hot as the water of a boiling pot For here the vast quantity doth not admit of so great heat over such deep gulfes For the water of a kettle heats at the bottome bu the superficies begin to swell and turn about before they heat XVII Vapours within the sea are chiefly generated by by the fire under ground They referre it commonly to the caelestiall fire the Sun and the Moon But that is likely to be as true as that we see a pot of water to boile set in the sun though never so hot For who ever saw that the Sun may lick the superficies of the water and so consume it by little and little and turn it into vapour but nothing can make it boil at the bottome but fire put under it Therefore the cause of the vapours within the sea must of necessity be placed underneath namely that fire under ground which the whole nature of inferiour things demonstrate to be shut up there XVIII The vapours and tides of the sea are provoked by the heat of heaven the Sun A labouring man or a traveller sweats easily enough by his inward heat stirred up by the motion of his body but a great deal more easily in the heat of Summer then in Winter and all of us sooner in a bath then else-where the outward heat provoking the inward In like manner the sea vapours and boiles vvithin but yet after the harmony of the superiour fire which is from the stars Which harmony is seen also in yielding us vvater from the clouds and fountains For in rainy vveather fountains flow more abundantly in dry vveather they dry something both which God intimated Gen. 7. v. 11. and Deut. 28. v. 23. Now the cause is the harmony of fire to fire of the caelestiall to the subterraneous c. as it shall elsewhere appear XIX The Sea flowes twice a day according as the Sun comes and goes For the Sun ascending to the Meridian attracts the vapours of the sea and causes the waters to be elevated and diffused descending to the West it suffers them to fall again Now that the waters swell again at the Sun setting and fall as he hastens to the East the cause is the same which in boyling pots where the hot water is seen to boile and to be elevated not only in that part which is toward the fire but also on the contrary but to fall again on the sides both wayes So the Sea is a caldron which the Sun the worlds fire encompassing makes to swell up on both the opposite parts but to fall in the intermediate parts so that this sea-tide following the Sun goes circularly after a perpetuall law XX The fluxe and refluxe of the sea is varied according to the motion of the Sun and Moon and the site of places For 1 in Winter it is almost insensible the Sun but weakly raising the subterrane vapours 2 When the Moon is in conjunction or opposition to the Sun the seas swell extraordinarily the force of both luminaries being joyned together to affect the inferiour things either joyntly or else oppositely Also the Moon encreasing the flowings are something retarded decreasing they are anticipated which gave occasion to the ancients to think that it was caused by the Moon alone 3 Those sea fluxes and refluxes vary also according to the divers turnings and windings of Countries and Promontories and the shorter or longer coherence of inlets with the Ocean which causeth them to be perceived in some places sooner in others later But enough of the sea tide the earthquake followes XXI An earthquake is the shaking of the superficies of the earth in any countrey arising from subterrane exhalations gathered together in great abundance and seeking a passage out Therefore it ceaseth not till the said exhalations are either scattered through the cavities of the earth or else break forth XXII Earthquakes are sometimes so horrible that they subvert Cities Mountaines Islands with an hideous bellowing howling and crashing Which formidable effects cause us to suspect that those vapours are then mixt like to those by which thunders are caused in a cloud and that not simply by the blast of the exhalations but by their burning so that they are a kinde of subterrane lightnings yet I thought good to make mention of it here together CHAP. VIII Of concrete substances namely Stars Meteors and Minerals I A Concrete thing is a vapour coagulated endued with some form For example soot clouds snow c. Note that this name of concrete and concreture is new yet fit to expresse this degree of creatures which confers nothing but coagulation and figure II The primary cause of concretion of vapours is cold which wheresoever it findeth a vapour condenseth and coagulateth it That appears in Alembicks where the vapour raised by heat and carried into the highest region of it where it is cold resolves it selfe again into water and to that end Distillours now and then wash the uppermost cap of the Alembick with cold water and make the pipes through which the concrete liquour distils to passe through a vessell of water Yet heat helps the concretion of things consuming the thinner part of the concrete and compelling the rest to harden which we see done in the generation of metals III Some concretes are Aethereall others aereall others watery others earthly Namely because some are made in the skie as stars others in the air as clouds c. others in water as a bubble c. others in the earth as stones c. every one of which come to be considered apart IV Aethereal concretes are stars and comets V Stars are fiery globes full of light and heat with which the skie glitters on every side Both the ornament of the world required this that hanging lamps should not be wanting in so lofty a palace as also the necessity of the inferiour world concerning which is the following Aphorisme Now we reckon stars in the rank of concretes because it is certain that they are made of matter and light Stars were produced in so great number upon very great necessity Namely 1 To heat the earth with a various temperature 2 To make the various harmony of times 3 To inspire a various form into the creatures For so great variety could not be induced into the lower world without such variety in coelestiall things VII God placed the greatest number of stars in the highest heaven round about that they might irradiate the earth on every side and carry about their sphear with a rapid motion of heat On which starry sphear take these following Aphorismes 1 That the motion of this sphear is finished in the space of twenty four hours 2 And because that motion is circular it is said to be made upon two hinges or immoveable points in Greek poles of vvhich the one is called the Northern or Artick pole the other the
same efficient cause of its condensation For sometimes cold condenseth a vapour as in the head and pipe of an Alembick which must needs be cooled we see sometimes the very compression it selfe or conspissation as it is plain in the roof of baths and the cover of a boiling pot But neither of these causes is wanting to beget rain being that the middle region of the air is cold and the cloud being pressed together by the vapours alwayes ascending must of necessity be dissolved And this is the cause why the burning heat of the air is a fore-teller of rain because then it is certain that the air is thickned N. 2. That rain is better for fields and gardens then river water because it hath a kind of a fatnesse mixt with it from the evaporations of the earth minerals plants and Animals wherewith it gives the earth a most profitable tincture N. 3 Sometimes wormes small fishes frogs c. fall with the rain which as it is very likely are suddenly generated within the cloud of vapours gathered together of the same nature by virtue of a living spirit admixt therewith as in the beginning at the Command of God the waters brought forth creeping things and fishes in a moment XXIX Hail is rain congealed For when the Sun beams in the greatest heat of Summer have driven away all cold from the earth into the middle region of the air it comes to passe that that vehement cold doth violently harden the drops of rain passing through them and forces them to turn to ice and therefore haile cannot be procreated in Winter the cold abiding then near the earth not on high XXX Snow is a resolution of a cloud into most small drops and withall a thickning of them with a gentle cold N. 1 It falls only in Winter because the vapours are not elevated by the weak rayes of the Sun so far as the middle that is the cold region here then near the earth the resolution is made in a milder cold and withall the congelation is very mild 2 The whitenesse of the snow is from the conjunction of the parts of the water the same comes to passe in broken ice and in the froth of water XXXI Dew is a thin vapour or else the air it selfe attracted by the leaves of plants and with their coldnesse condensed into water For it is no where but upon plants and that in the heat of summer when the plants are colder then the air it selfe Now this turnes to the great benefit of the plants for by that means they are moistned at the very driest time of the year And therefore they are produced also in those countries which know no rain XXXII Frost is congealed dew Therfore there is none but in winter when cold reigns by reason of the suns absence Of fiery Meteors Fiery meteors are those which arise from fat fumes kindled in the air the principal kinds of which are seven a falling star a flying dragon lightning flying sparks ignis fatuus a torch and ignis lambens XXXIII A falling star is a fat and viscous fume kindled by an antiperistasis that is an obsistency of the cold round about at the upper end of it the flame whereof following its fuell is carried downward till it fail also and be extinguished For they are to be seen every clear night in winter more then in summer and you may see the like spectacle if you kindle the fat fume of a candle put out with another candle put to it above This falling star is made of a grosse vapour and by reason of its grossenesse hanging together like a cord Therefore it burns so violently that falling upon a man it burns through his garment Look which way it tends with its motion it foretels wind from that part XXXIV A flying dragon is a long thick fat fume elevated in all its parts for which cause being kindled it doth not dart it selfe downward bnt side-wayes like a dragon or sparkling beam This meteors is not so often seen and therefore they that are ignorant of the naturall causes think that the Divell flies XXXV Lightning is fire kindled within a cloud which flying from the contrary cold breaks out with an horrible noise and for the most part casts the flame as far as the earth The World is the Alembick of nature the air the cap of this Alembick the sun is the fire the earth the water minerals plants c. are the things which being softned with this fire exhale vapours upward perpetually So there ascend salt sulphury nitrous c. vapours which being wrapped up in clouds put forth various effects for example When sulphury exhalations are mixt with nitrous the first of a most hot nature the second most cold they endure one another so long as till the sulphur takes fire But as soon as that is done presently their followes the same effect as in gun-powder whose composition is the same of Sulphur and Nitre a fight a rapture a noise a violent casting forth of the matter For thence it is that a viscous flaming matter is cast forth which presently inflames whatsoever it touches that is apt to flame and smiting into the earth it turnes to a stone and being taken out after a time is called a thunder-bolt XXXVI Flying sparks are a sulphury fume scattered into many small parts and kindled It is seldome seen as likewise those that follow XXXVII Ignis fatuus is a fat and viscous fume which by reason of its grossenesse doth not elevate it selfe far from the earth and being kindled straggles here and there leading travellers sometimes out of their way and into danger XXXVIII A torch is a fume like it but thin and therefore elevated upwards which being kindled burnes a while like a candle or lamp XXXIX Ignis lambens is a fat exhalation coming from a living body heated with motion and kindled at its head or near about It sometimes befalls men and horses vehemently breathing after running that the ardent vapours sent forth are turned into flames Of appearing Meteors Appearing Meteors are the images of things in clouds variously expressed by the incident light of which sort there are observed seven Chasma Halo Parelius Paraselene Rods Colours the Rainbow XL Chasma a pit is the hollowness of a cloud making shew of a great hole It it by reason of a shadow in the midst of a cloud the extremities whereof are enlightned You may see the like almost in the night by a candle on a wall which hath any hollownesse in it though it be whitish XLI Halo a floor is a luminous circle when the vapours underneath the sun or moon are illustrated with the rayes of the luminary You may see the same by night in a bath or any other vaporous place about a burning candle It is oftest seen under the moon because the sun with his stronger rayes either penetrates or dissipates the cloud XLII Parelius a false sun is the representation of the
those bitter and salt waters of the sea namely because they come by distillation to the spring head For they say that the sea water being distilled that is resolved first into vapours then into drops in an Alembick looseth its saltnesse by the same reason then the deep under ground evaporating salt waters sendeth them fresh out of fountains neverthelesse And what need words For clouds gathered of the vapours of the sea send down fresh showers Sâ— how excellently the truth of things agree with it selfe still LIV Medicinall waters are made of the various tinctures of the metals and juices of the earth from which they receive the virtue 〈◊〉 healing and savour For example hot waters or baths aâ— made of bitumen burning within Therefore they exhale sulphur manifestly bâ—â— sharpish waters relish of iron coper vitrioâ—allom c. of which earthly concretes it wilâ— be now time to speak Of earthly concretes which are called Minerals LV Minerals are earthly concretes begotten of subterrane vapours as clods concret juicesî metals and stones These are called minerals from the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as if you shonld say from the earth They call them also Fossiles because they are digged that all these are begotten of subterrane vapours and subterrane fire appears by the example of our body wherein bloud choler flegme melanlancholy urine spittle fat flesh veins nerves membranes gristles bone c. yea the stone and gravell are made of the vapours of food concocted and digested as shal be seen hereafter Now as these parts of ours are formed within the body by the heat included so minerals are generated in the bowels of the earth not elsewhere For the earth with its most deep passages and veins winding every way where infinite vapours are generated and perpetually distilled in a thousand fashions is that great work-house of God wherein for the space of so many ages such things are wrought as neither art can imitate nor wit well find out LVI Clods are digged earths infected only with fatnesse or some colour and apt to be soaked as 1 Clay 2 Marle 3 Chalk 4 Red earth 5 Paintings or painters colours as lake vermilion oker azure or blew verdigrease 6 Fullers earth in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 7 Medicinall earth as sealed earth Lemnian Armenian Samian c. These colours seem to be nothing else but the soot of the subterrane fumes variously distilled and those earths nothing else but a various mixture of liquors distilled also variously and brought to such or such a quality LVII Concrete juices are fossiles indued with a savour or some sharp virtue apt to be dissolved or kindled as sulphur niter salt allome vitriol arsenick which painters call orpiment antimonie or stibium such like N. Those juices seem to be nothing else but the cream of subterrane liquors variously distilled LVIII Metals are watery fossiles apt to be melted cast and hammered as gold silver brasse or copper iron tin lead quick-silver N. 1. That they are progenerated of fire this is enough to testifie that they are oft times taken hot out of the veines so that the touch will not endure them For in winter when all herbs are white with frost those which grow over the veins admit of no frost because of the hot exhalation within hindering concretion so also trees by the blewnesse of their leaves shew the veines of metals 2 Now that metals are made of vapours this is an argument that they are wont also to be procreated in the very clouds For examples are not unknown even in our age of bodies of brasse or iron of no small weight falling from heaven 3 That metals are made of watery vapours their liquabilitie shews now they are coagulated by virtue of salt Therefore the drosse of iron is salt and bitter 4 Quicksilver alone is alwayes liquid never consistent as a perpetuall witnesse of the watery nature of metals Other metals swim upon it because it hath the most compacted substance of all gold only excepted which therefore it receives only into it selfe 5 Whether metals differ in their species or only in degree of purity and hardnesse and in heat we leave now in suspense LIX Stones are earthly fossiles hardly compacted apt only to be broken in pieces That stones are earth coagulated with water and fire bricks and pots teach us for here art imitates nature Yet the severall formes of stones shew that they are not earth simply concrete but a masse concrete of divers most grosse earthly vapours with a various temperature of humours LX Stones are either vulgar or precious LXI A vulgar stone is earth most hardly compacted the principall kinds of which are seven The gravell stone the milstone the pumice-stone the flint to which I refer the Smiris wherewith glasse is cut and iron polished the whetstone and the touch stone or Lapis lydius the marble and the loadstone N. Every kind have their differences again 2 A great stone is called saxum or a rock a little one gravell and sand 3 Most mountains are stony and yield metals because the subterrane fire on the third day of the creation swelling the earth here made it self many channels and passages breathing through which it doth variously exhale melt mix and boile the matter which is not done so copiously under plains LXII Pretious stones are are called gems because they are the gums of stones sweating in the bowels of the earth Hence comes their clearnesse and brightnesse that is to say from their most thinâ— and accurate straining even more then in the gums of trees for wood hath looseâ— pores then stones LXIII All gems are transparent and pellucid but some onely transparant as these three the Diamond the Chrystall the Beryllâ— Others coloured with all and thoseâ— according to the diversity of their colours of sveâ—â— sorts 1 Bright and burning the Carbuncle the Chalcedon the Chrysolite 2 Yellow the Jacinth and Topaze 3 Green the Emerald and the Turquois 4 Red or purple the Rubie and the Granate but the Carnelous and the Onyx are more pale 5 Skie-coloured the Saphir and the Amethyst 6 Black the Morion 7 Changeable as the Jasper the Agat the Chrysoprase N. 1. That Chrystall is never found unlesse it be Hexagonall which is the miracle of nature And that it is growes in arched cels under ground dry and closed where the wind enters not for some years hath been experienced at Kings Itradeck in Bohemia Anno 1618. For elegant chrystals were found hanging from the stones of the arches like Isicles of an exact Hexagonall forme but in the silver mines of Catteberge there are found far more Of other gems we have nothing to say in particular N. 2. Stones that are wont to grow in some living creatures are usually reckoned amongst precious stones as the pearl in sea shell fishes the Bezoar the Chelidonius the Alectorius the Bufonites c. also Corall and Amber But these two are to be
some modern Divines interpret it of the waters of the clouds that is too cold They say that Jer. 10. 13. The rain waters are signified by the name of the water in heaven and therefore here also But I answer 1 That the waters in heaven are one thing and the waters above heaven another Rain might be called water in heaven because the air was by the Hebrews called the first heaven but it cannot be called the waters above heaven as these of which Moses speaks 2 That the waters of the clouds are not waters in act but vapours but Moses speaks of waters For he sayes expresly that in the first seven dayes there was no rain cap. 2. ver 5. but he sayes that those waters above the Expansum were presently made the second day therefore they are some thing else then rain water 3 He sayes that the waters were seperated from the waters but the waters of the clouds are not separated from the waters of the sea and of rivers For they are perpetually mingled vapours ascending rain descending 4 He sayes that the Expansum was in the middest betwixt the waters and the waters but how can that be said of the clouds which are below the Expansum and reach not to the thousandth part of its altitude Lastly Psalm 148 placeth the waters above the heaven next of all to the Heaven of Heavens v. 4. but reckons up clouds and rain afterwards among the creatures of the earth ver 8. what need we any other interpretation Reason perswades the same thing most strongly For setting down the principles of the world in that order wherein we see them set down by Moses it was necessary that the matter being scattered by the light rolling about should flie hither and thither and coagulate it selfe at the terms of the world on both fides that in the middle where the light went and goes yet there should be pure skie but that on both sides above and below the mathardning it self should grow thick We see it done here below why not above also especially God himself intimating it Let it be so because naturally it cannot be otherwise But that there is fire included in the earth 1 the eructations of fire in Aetra Vesuvius Hecla c. do shew 2 the springs of hot waters every where 3 the progeneration of metals even in cold countreys and other things which can come from nothing else but from fire which shall be looked into in that which follows 4 lastly there is a testimony extant in the book of Job chap. 28. v. 5. Bread commeth out of the earth and under it is turned up as it were fire Let the Reader see Thomas Lydiats disquisition concerning the originall of Fountains and there he shall see it disputed at large and very soundly XVIII The waters above the heaven are there placed for ends known to God but the use of fire under ground is well enough known to us also Yet we may say something of these waters by conjecture As namely that it was meet that there should be visible termes of the visible World and that the heat of the frame ever rolling had need of cooling on the other side also and the like But that of the fire under ground mountains and valleys and caves of the earth are produced and also stones metals and juyces generated and many other things we shall see in that which follows for without heat there is no generation because there is no motion Of the Skie in specie XIX The Skie is the highest Region of the most vast world the dwelling place of the stars XX The Skie is the most liquid part of the whole world and therefore transparent and most moveable For by the motion and heat of the Sun always present it is perpetually attenuated to an exceeding subtlety XXI The whole skie is moved about because that burning and ever flying light of the stars hurries it about with it That appears 1 by reason for if the starres were moved in the heaven immoveable after that manner that birds are carried in the air and fishes in the water that penetration of the heaven would not be without violence neither could it be performed with so great celerity nor with so aequable a course by reason of the resistance Therefore the starres are carried in heaven in all respects as clouds in the air that is with their charriot 2 by sense for we see that our fire carries away with it the matter which it hath caught and attenuated namely vapours smoaks flames why not the heavenly fire also which comets also shew to the eye of which we shall see more chap. 8. 3. The same is to be gathered out of Moses words accurately considered Gen. 1. v. 14. 17. Of the air XXII The air is the lowest Region of the Expansum the abode of the clouds and birds In Scripture it is signified by the name of the first heaven Yet it penetrates water and earth to fill up their cavities because there is no vacuum XXIII The air is of a middle nature betwixt the heaven and the water in respect of site and qualities Yet it is thicker where it joyns to the earth and water and thinner towards heaven Therefore in the highest tops of some mountains neither men can live nor trees grow because of the thinnesse of the air by reason of which it is neither sufficient for the breathing of living creatures nor for the growth of plants XXIV The air neer the earth in summer is hot by the vehement repercussion of the Suns verticall beams in winter by reason of the obliquity and obtuse reflexion of the beams it cannot be heated above it is always cold yet most in summer when it is pend in on both sides with the heat of the heaven and of the earth Of the water XXV Water is thickned air Washing and and moistning the earth the abode of fishes XXVI Water of its own nature is onely moist and fluid to the rest of the qualities indifferent Obs. 1. The fluidity of the water is such that if you give it never so little declivity it runs But the humidity is unequall according to the degree of rarity and density For a ship sinks not so deep in the sea as in a river because the sea water is thicker and drier Obs. 2 They adde commonly that water is naturally cold by a twofold argument 1 because it cooleth 2 because it extinguisheth fire but I answer it cools not by its coolnesse but by its crudity But it quencheth fire after the same manner as hot water and wine do though they be hot not because they are contrary to fire but because fire is nourished with the thinner parts of the wood but if abundance of water be cast on or any fluid thing even oyl the pores are stopped and the fire is quenched Otherwise fires are made of Bitumen which is not a porous matter that burn in the very water which we see done also in