Summer would have been extreme hot and the Winter extreme cold likewise the Summer temperate unto some but excessive and in extremity unto others as unto those who should dwell under the Tropicke of Cancer as then would doe some part of Spaine or ten degrees beyond as Germany and some part of England who would have Summers as now the Moores of Africa for the Sunne would sometime be verticall unto them but they would have Winters like those beyond the Articke Circle for in that season the Sunne would be removed above 80 degrees from them Againe it would be temperate to some habitations in the Summer but very extreme in the Winter temperate to those in two or three degrees beyond the Artick Circle as now it is unto us for they would be equidistant from that Tropick even as we are from this at present but the Winter would be extreme the Sun being removed above an hundred degrees and so consequently would not be visible in their Horizon no position of sphere discovering any starre distant above 90 degrees which is the distance of every Zenith from the Horizon And thus if the obliquity of this Circle had been lesse the vicissitude of seasons had been so small as not to be distinguished if greater so large and disproportionable as not to be endured Now for its situation although it held this Eclypticke line yet had it been seated in any other Orbe inconveniences would ensue of condition like the former for had it been placed in the lowest sphere and where is now the Moone the yeare would have consisted but of one moneth for in that space of time it would have passed through every every part of the Eclyptick so would there have been no reasonable distinction of seasons required for the generation and fructifying of all things contrary seasons which destroy the effects of one another so suddenly succeeding besides by this vicinity unto the earth its heat had been intollerable for if as many affirme there is a different sense of heat from the different points of its proper orbe and that in the Apogeum or highest point which happeneth in Cancer it is not so hot under that Tropick on this side the Aequator as unto the other side in the Perigeum or lowest part of the eccentric which happeneth in Capricornus surely being placed in an orbe farre lower its heat would be unsufferable nor needed we a fable to set the world on fire But had it been placed in the highest Orbe or that of the eight sphere there had been none but Platoes yeare and a farre lesse distinction of seasons for one yeare had then been many and according unto the slow revolution of that orbe which absolveth not his course in many thousand years no man had lived to attaine the account thereof These are the inconveniences ensuing upon its situation in the extreme orbes and had it been placed in the middle orbes of the Planets there would have ensued absurdities of a middle and participating nature Nor whether we adhere unto the hypothesis of Copernicus affirming the Earth to move and the Sunne to stand still or whether wee hold as some of late have concluded from the spots in the Sun which appeare and dis-appeare againe that besides the revolution it maketh with its Orbes it hath also a dineticall motion and rowles upon its owne poles whether I say we affirme these or no the illations before mentioned are not thereby infringed we therefore conclude this contemplation and are not afraid to believe it may be literally said of the wisdome of God what men will have figuratively spoken of the works of Christ that if the wonders thereof were duly described the whole world that is all within the last circumference would not containe them for as his wisdome is inâ—init so cannot the due expressions thereof be finite and if the world comprise him not neither can it comprehend the story of him CHAP. VI. Concerning the vulgar opinion that the earth was slenderly peopled before the Floud BEside the slâ—nder consideration men of latter times doe hold of the first ages it is commonly opinioned and at first thought generally imagined that the Earth was thinly inhabited at least not remotely planted before the Floud so that some conceiving it needlesse to bee universal have made the deluge particular and about those parts where Noah built his Arke which opinion because it is not only injurious to the Text humane history and common reason but also derogatory unto that great worke of God the universall inundation it will be needfull to make some farther Inquisition and although predetermined by opinion whether many might not suffer in the first Flood as they shall in the last Flame that is who knew not Adam nor his offence and many perish in the deluge who never heard of Noah or the Arke of his preservation Now for the true enquirie thereof the meanes are as obscure as the matter which being naturally to be explored by History humane or divine receiveth thereby no small addition of obscurity for as for humane relations they are so fabulous in Deucalions floud that they are of little credit about Ogyges Noah's for the Heathens as Varro accounteth make three distinctions of time the first from the beginning of the World unto the generall Deluge of Ogyges they terme adelon that is a time not much unlike that which was before time immanifest and unknowne because thereof there is almost nothing or very obscurely delivered for though divers Authors have made some mention of the Deluge as Maneâ—hon the Aegyptian Priest Zenophon de aequivocis Fabius Pictor de Aureo seculo Mar. Cato de originibus and Archilochus the Greek who introduceth also the testimony of Moses in his fragment de temporibus yet have they delivered no account of what preceded or went before it Josephus I confesse in his Discourse against Appion induceth the antiquity of the Jewes unto the floud and before from the testimony of humane Wâ—iters insisting especially upon Maseas of Damascus Jeronymus Aegypâ—ius and Berosus and confirming the long duration of their lives not only from these but the authority of Hesiod Erathius Hellanicus and Agesilaus Berosus the Chaldean Priest writes most plainly mentioning the City of Enos the name of Noah and his sonnes the building of the Arke and also the place of its landing And Diodorus Siculus hath in his third book a passage which examined advanceth as high as Adam for the Chaldeans saith he derive the originall of their Astronomy and letters forty three thousand yeares before the Monarchy of Alâ—xander the Great now the yeares whereby they computed the antiquity of their letters being as Xenophon interprets to be accounted Lunary the compuâ—e will arise unto the time of Adam for forty three thousand Lunary years make about three thousand six hundred thirty fouâ—e yeares which answereth the Chronologie of time from the beginning of the world unto the reigne of Alexander as Annius of Viterbo
to be swallowed at large or entertained without a prudent circumspection In whom the ipse dixit although it be no powerfull argument in any is yet lesse auâ—hentick then in many other because they deliver not their owne experiences but others affirmations and write from others as we our selves from them 1. The first in order as also in time shall be Herodotus of Halicarnassus an excellent and very elegant Historian whose books of history were so well received in his owne dayes that at their rehearsall in the Olympick gâ—mes they obtained the names of the nine Muses and continued in such esteeme unto descending Ages that Cicero termed him Historiarum parens And Dionysius his Countreyman in an Epistle to Pompey after an expresse comparison affords him the better of Thucydides all which notwithstanding he hath received from some the stile of Mendaciorum pater his authority was much infringed by Plutarch who being offended with him as Polybius had bin with Philarcus for speaking too coldly of his Countreymen hath left a particular Tract de Malignitate Herodotâ— But in this latter Century Camâ—rarius and Stephanus have stepped in and by their witty Apologies effectually endeavoured to frustrate the arguments of Plutarch or any other Now in this Author as may be observed in our ensuing Discourse and is better discernable in the perusall of himselfe there are many things fabulously delivered and not to be accepted as truthes whereby neverthelesse if any man be deceived the Author is not so culpable as the believer For he indeed imitating the father Poet whose life he hath also written and as Thucydides observeth as well intending the delight as benefit of his Reader hath besprinkled his worke with many fabulosities whereby if any man be led into errour he mistaketh the intention of the Author who plainly confesseth hee writeth many things by hearesay and forgetteth a very considerable caution of his that is Ego quae fando cognovi exponere narratione mea debeâ— omnia credere autem esse vera omnia non debeo 2. In the second place is Cresias the Cnidian Physitian unto Artaxerxes King of Persia his books are often cited by ancient Writers and by the industry of Stephanus and Rodomanus there are extant some fragments thereof in our dayes he wrote the History of Persia and many narrations of India In the first as having a fair oportunity to know the truth And as Diodorus affirmeth the perusall of Persian records his testimony is acceptable in his Indiary relations wherein are contained strange and incredible accounts he is surely to be read with suspension and these were they which weakned his authority with former ages and made him contemptible unto most For as we may observe he is seldome mentioned without a derogatory parenthesis in any Author Aristotle besides the frequent undervaluing of his authority in his bookes of Animals gives him the lie no lesse then twice concerning the seed of Elephants Strabo in his xi booke hath left a harder censure of him Equidem facilâ—us Hesiâ—do Homero aliquis â—idem adhibuerit itemque Tragicis Poetis quam Ctesiae Herodoto Hellanico eorum similibus But Lucian hath spoken more plainly then any Scripsit Ctesias de Indorum regione deque tis quae â—pud illos sunt ea quae nec ipse vâ—dit neque ex ullâ—â—s sermone audivit Yet were his relations taken up by most succeeding Writers and many thereof revived by our Country-man Sir John Mandevell Knight and Doctor in Physicke who after thirty years peregrination dyed at Leige and was there honourably interred He left behinde him a booke of his travells which hath been honoured with the translation of many languages and hath now continued above three hundred years herein he often attesteth the fabulous relations of Ctesias and seems to confirme the refuted accounts of Antiquity all which may still be received in some acceptions of morality and to a pregnant invention may afforde commendable mythologie but in a naturall and proper Exposition it containeth impossibilities and things inconsistent with truth 3. There is a Book de mirandis auditionibus ascribed unto Aristotle another de mirabilibus narrationibus written long after by Antigonus another also of the same title by Plegon Trallianus translated by Xilander and with the Annotations of Meursius all whereof make good the promise of their titles and may be read with caution which if any man shall likewise observe in the Lecture of Philostratus concerning the life of Apolonius or not only in ancient Writers but shall carry a wary eye on Paulus Venetus Jovius Olaus Magnus Nierembergius and many other I thinke his circumspection is laudable and he may thereby decline occasion of Error 4. Dioscorides Anazarbeus hee wrote many bookes in Physicke but six thereof de Materia Medica have found the greatest esteeme hee is an Author of good Antiquity and better use preferred by Galen before Cratevas Pamphilus and all that attempted the like description before him yet all hee delivereth therein is not to be conceived Oraculous For beside that following the warres under Anthony the course of his life would not permit a punctuall examen in all There are many things concerning the nature of simples traditionally delivered and to which I beleeve he gave no assent himselfe It had been an excellent receit and in his time when Sadles were scarce in fashion of very great use if that were true which he delivers that Vitex or Agnus Castus held only in the hand preserveth the rider from galling It were a strange effect and whores would forsake the expeâ—iment of Savine If that were a truth which hee delivereth of Brake or femall fearne that only treading over it it causeth a sudden abortion It were to be wished true and women would Idolize him could that be made out which he recordeth of Phyllon Mercury and other vegetables that the juice of the masle plant drunke or the leaves but applied unto the genitalls determines their conceptions unto males In these relations although he be more sparing his predecessours were very numerous and Gallen hereof most sharply accuseth Pamphilus many of the like nature we meet sometimes in Oribasius Acius Trallianus Serapion Evax and Marcellus whereof some containing no colour of verity we may at first sight reject them others which seem to carry some face of truth we may reduce unto experiment And herein we shall rather peforme good offices unto truth then any disservice unto their relators who have well deserved of succeeding ages from whom having received the conceptions of former times we have the readier hint of their conformity with ours and may accordingly explore their verities 5. Plinius Secundus of Verona a man of great eloquence and industry indefatigable as may appeare by the number of the writings especially those now extant and which are never like to perish but euen with learning it selfe that is his naturall Historie comprised in 36. bookes hee was the greatest Collector or
Rhapsodist of all the Latines and as Suetonius de viris Illustribus observeth hee collected this piece out of 2000. Latine and Greeke Authors Now what is very strange there is scarce a popular errour passant in our dayes which is not either directly expressed or diductively contained in this worke which being in the hands of most men hath proved a powerfull occasion of their propogation wherein notwithstanding the credulitie of the Reader is more condemnable then the curiositie of the Authour For commonly he nameth the Authors from whom he received those accounts and writes himselfe by heare say as in his Preface unto Vespasian he acknowledgeth 6. Claudius Aelianus who flourished not long after in the raigne of Trajan unto whom he dedicated his Tacticks an elegant and miscellaneous Author he hath left two bookes which are in the hands of every one his History of Animals and his Varia historia wherein are contained many things supicious not a few false some impossible hee is much beholding unto Ctesias and in many subjects writes more confidently then Plinie 7. Julius Solinus who lived also about his time He left a work entituled Polyhistor containing great varietie of matter and is with most in good request at this day but to speake freely what cannot bee concealed it is but Plinie varied or a transcription of his naturall historie nor is it without all wonder it hath continued so long but is now likely and deserves indeed to live for ever not so much for the elegancy of the text as the excellency of the comment lately performed by Salmasius under the name of Plinian exercitations 8. Athenaeus a dâ—lectable Author and very various and as Causabone in his Epistle stiles him Grâ—corum Plinius There is extant of his a famous piece under the name of Deipnosophista or coena sapientum containing the discourse of many learned men at a feast provided by Laurentius It is a laborious collection out of many Authors and some whereof are mentioned no where â—lse It containeth strange and singular relations not without some spice or sprinckling of all learning The Author was probably a better Gramarian then Philosopher dealing but hardly with Aristotle and Plato and betrayeth himselfe much in his Chapter de curiositate Aristotelis In briefe he is an Author of excellent use and may with discretion be read unto great advantage and hath therefore well deserved the Comments of Causabon and Dalecampius but being miscellaneous in many things he is to be received with suspicion for such as amasse all relations must erre in some and may without offence be unbeleeved in many 9. Wee will not omit the workes of Nicander a Poet of good Antiquity that is his Theriaca and Alexipharmaca translated and commented by Gorraeus for therein are contained severall traditions and popular conceits of venemons beasts which only deducted the worke is ever to be embraced as containing the first description of poysons and their Antidotes whereof Dioscorides Pliny and Galen have made especiall use in elder times and Ardoynus Grevinus and others in times more neere our owne Wee might perhaps let passe Oppianus that famous Cilician Poet. There are extant of his in Greeke foure bookes of Cynegeticks or venation five of Halieuticks or piscation commented and published by Ritterhusius wherein describing beasts of venerie and fishes hee hath indeed but sparinlgly inserted the vulgar conceptions thereof so that abating onely the annuall mutation of Sexes in the Hyaena the single Sex of the Rhinoceros the antipathy betweene two drummes of a Lambe and a Wolfes skinne the informity of Cubbes the venation of Centaures the copulation of the Murena and the Viper with some few others hee may bee read with great delight and profit It is not without some wonder his elegant lines are so neglected Surely hereby wee reject one of the best Epick Poets and much condemn the judgement of Antoninus whose apprehensions so honoured his Poems that as some report for every verse hee assigned him a Stater of gold 10. More warily are we to receive the relations of Philes who in Grâ—cke Iambicks delivered the proprieties of Animals for herein hee hath amassed the vulgar accounts recorded by the Ancients and hath therein especially followed Aelian and likewise Johannes Tzetzes a Gramarian who besides a Comment upon Hesiod and Homer hath left us Chiliads de varia Historia wherein delivering the accounts of Câ—esias Herodotus and most of the Ancients he is to be embraced with caution and as a transcriptive relator 11. Wee cannot without partialitie omit all caution even of holy Writers and such whose names are venerable unto all posterity not to meddle at all with miraculous Authours or any Legendary relators Wee are not without circumspection to receive some bookes even of Authentick and renowned Fathers So are we to read the leaves of Basil and Ambrose in their bookes entituled Hexameron or The description of the Creation Wherein delivering particular accounts of all the Creatures they have left us relations sutable to those of Aelian Plinie and other naturall Writers whose authorities herein they followed and from whom most probably they desumed their Narrations And the like hath been committed by Epiphanius in his Phisiologie that is a booke he hath left concerning the nature of Animals With no lesse caution must we looke on Isidor Bishop of Sevill who having left in 25. bookes an accurate worke de originihus hath to the Etymologie of words superadded their received natures wherein most generally hee consents with common opinions and Authors which have delivered them 12. Albertus Bishop of Ratisbone for his great learning and latitude of knowledge firnamed Magnus besides divinitie he hath written many Tracts in Philosophie what we are chiefly to receive with caution are his naturall Tractates more especially those of Mineralls Vegetables and Animals which are indeed chiefly Collections out of Aristotle Aelian and Plinie and respectively containe many of our popular errors A man who hath much advanced these opinions by the authoritie of his name and delivered most conceits with strickt enquirie into few In the same classis may well be placed Vincentius Belluacensis or rather he from whom he collected his Speculum naturale that is Gulielmus de Conchis as also Hortus Sanitatis and Bartholomeus Glanvill firnamed Anglicus who writ de Proprietatibus rerum Hither also may be referred Kiranides which is a collection of Harpocration the Greek and sundry Arabick writers delivering not onely the Naturall but Magicall proprietie of things a worke as full of vanitieâ— as varietie containing many relations whose invention is as difficult as their beliefes and their experiments sometime as hard as either 13. We had almost forgot Ieronymus Cardanus that famous Physition of Milan a great enquirer of truth but too greedy a receiver of it he hath left many excellent discourses Medicall Naturall and Astrologicall the most suspicious are those two he wrote by admonition in a dream that is de subtilitate varietate
things whereto they runne parallel and in their proper motions would never meet together Thus doth he sometime delude us in the conceits of Starres and Meteors beside their allowable actions ascribing effects thereunto of independent causations Thus hath he also made the ignorant sort beleeve that naturall effects immediatly and commonly proceed from supernaturall powers and these he usually derives from heaven and his owne principality the ayre and meteors therein which being of themselves the effects of naturall and created causes and such as upon a due conjunction of actives and passives without a miracle must arise unto what they appeare are alwayes looked on by the ignorant spectators as supernaturall spectacles and made the causes or signs of most succeeding contingencies To behold a Rain-bow in the night is no prodigie unto a Philosopher Then eclipses of Sun or Moon nothing is more naturall Yet with what superstition they have been beheld since the Tragedy of Niceas and his Army many examples declare True it is and we will not deny it that although these being naturall productions from second and setled causes we need not alway looke upon them as the immediate hands of God or of his ministring Spirits yet doe they sometimes admit a respect therein and even in their naturalls the indifferencie of their existences contemporised unto our actions admits a farther consideration That two or three Suns or Moons appeare in any mans life or reign it is not worth the wonder but that the same should fall out at a remarkable time or point of some decisive action that the contingencie of its appearance should be confined unto that time That those two should make but one line in the booke of faâ—e and stand together in the great Ephemerides of God beside the Philosophical assignment of the cause it may admit a Christian apprehension in the signality But above all he deceiveth us when wee ascribe the effects of things unto evident seeming causalities which arise from the secret undiscerned action of himself Thus hath he deluded many Nations in his Auguriall and Extispicious inventions from casuall and uncontrived contingences divining events succeeding Which Fuscan superstition first ceasing upon Rome hath since possessed all Europe When Augustus found two galls in his sacrifice the credulity of the City concluded a hope of peace with Anthony and the conjunctions of persons in choler with each other Because Brutus and Cassius met a Blackmore and Pompey had on a darke or sad coloured garment at Pharsalia these were presages of their overthrow which notwithstanding are scarce Rhetoricall sequells concluding metaphors from realities and from conceptions metaphoricall inferring realities again Now these divinations concerning events being in his power to force contrive prevent or further they must generally fall out conformably unto his predictions When Graceus was slaine the same day the Chickens refused to come out of the coope And Claudius Pulcher underwent the like successe when he contemned the Tripudiary Augurations They dyed not because the Pullets would not feed but because the devill foresaw their death he contrived that abstinence in them So was there no naturall dependance of the event upon the signe but an artificall contrivance of the signe unto the event An unexpected way of delusion and whereby he more easily led away the incercumspection of their beliefe Which fallacy he might excellently have acted before the death of Saul which being in his power to foretell was not beyond his ability to foreshew and might have contrived signes thereof through all the creatures which visibly confirmed by the event had proved authentick unto those times and advanced the Art ever after He deludeth us also by Philters Ligatures Charmes ungrounded Amulets Characters and many superstitious wayes in the cure of common diseases seconding herein the expectation of men with events of his owne contriving which while some unwilling to fall directly upon Magick impute unto the power of imagination or the â—fficacy of hidden causes he obtaines a bloody advantage for thereby he begets not onely a false opinion but such as leadeth the open way of destruction In maladies admitting naturall reliefes making men rely on remedies neither of reall operation in themselves nor more then seeming efficacy in his concurrence which whensoever he pleaseth to withdraw they stand naked unto the mischiefe of their diseases and revenge the contempt of the medicines of the earth which God hath created for them And therefore when neither miracle is expected nor connexion of cause unto effect from naturall grounds concluded however it be sometime successefull it cannot be safe to rely on such practises and desert the knowne and authentick provisions of God In which ranke of remedies if nothing in our knowledge or their proper power be able to relieve us wee must with patience submit unto that restraint and expect the will of the Restrainer Now in these effects although he seeme oft times to imitate yet doth hee concurre unto their productions in a different way from that spirit which sometime in naturall meanes produceth effects above Nature For whether he worketh by causes which have relation or none unto the effect he maketh it out by secret and undiscerned wayes of Nature So when Caius the blinde in the reigne of Antonius was commanded to passe from the right side of the Altar unto the left to lay five fingers of one hand thereon and â—ive of the other upon his eyes although the cure succeeded and all the people wondered there was not any thing in the action which did produce it nor any thing in his power that could enable it thereunto So for the same infirmity when Aper was counselled by him to make a collyrium or ocular medicine with the bloud of a white Cock and honey and apply it to his eyes for three dayes When Julian for his haemoptysis or spitting of bloud was cured by hony and pine Nuts taken from his Altar When Lucius for the paine in his side applyed thereto the ashes from his Altar with wine although the remedies were somewhat rationall and not without a naturall vertue unto such intentions can we beleeve that by their proper faculties they produced these effects But the effects of powers Divine flow from another operation who either proceeding by visible meanes or not unto visible effects is able to conjoyne them by his cooperation And therefore those sensible wayes which seeme of indifferent natures are not idle ceremonies but may be causes by his command and arise unto productions beyond their regular activities If Nahaman the Syrian had washed in Jordan without the command of the Prophet I beleeve he had beene cleansed by them no more then by the waters of Damascus I doubt if any beside Elisha had cast in salt the waters of Jericho had not bin made wholesome thereby I know that a decoction of wilde gourd or Colocynthis though somewhat qualified will not from every hand be dulcified unto aliment by an addition
Michovius who hath expresly written of those parts plainly affirmeth there is neither gold nor Griffins in that countrey nor any such animall extant for so doth he conclude Ego vero contra veteres authores Gryphes nec in illa septentrionis nec in alâ—is or bis partibus inveniri affirmarim Lastly concerning the Hieroglyphicall authority although it neerest approacheth the truth it doth not inferre its existency the conceit of the Griffin properly taken being but a symbolicall phancy in so intolerable a shape including allowable morality So doth it well make out the properties of a Guardian or any person entrusted the â—ares implying attention the wings celerity of execution the Lion-like shape courage and audacity the hooked bill reservance and tenacity It is also an Embleme of valour and magnanimity as being compounded of the Eagle and Lion the noblest animals in their kinds and so is it applyable unto Princes Presidents Generals and all heroick Commanders and so is it also borne in the Coat armes of many noble Families of Europe CHAP. XII Of the Phaenix THat there is but one Phaenix in the world which after many hundred yeares burneth it selfe and from the ashes thereof aâ—iseth up another is a conceit not new or altogether popular but of great Antiquity not onely delivered by humane Authoâ—s but frequently expressed by holy Writers by Cyrill Epiphanius and others by Ambrose in his Hâ—xameron and Tertul. in his Poem de Iudicio Dâ—mini but more agreeably unto the present sence in his excellent Tract de Resur carnis Illum dico alitem orientis peculiarem de singularitate famosum de posteritate monstruosum qui semâ—tipsum libenter funerans renovat na tali fine decedens at que succedens iterum Phaenix ubi jam nemo iterum ipse quia non jam alius idem The Scripture also seemes to favour it particularly that of Job 21. in the Interpretation of Beda Dicebam in nidulo meo moriar sicut Phaenix multiplicabo diâ—s and Psalme 91. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vir justus ut Phaenix florebit as Tertullian renders it and so also expounds it in his booke before alledged All which notwithstanding we cannot preâ—ume the existence of this animall nor dare we affirme there is any Phaenix in Naâ—uâ—e For first there wants herein the definitive confiâ—rmatoâ— and test of things uncertaine that is the sense of man for though many Writers have much enlarged hereon there is not any ocular describer or such as presumeth to confirme it upon aspection and therefore Herodotus that led the story unto the Greeks plainly saith he never attained the sight of any but onely in the picture Againe primitive Authors and from whom the stâ—eâ—me of relations is derivative deliver themselves very dubiously and either by a doubtfull parenthesis or a timorous conclusion overthrow the whole relation Thus Herodotus in his Euâ—erpe delivering the story hereof presently interposeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is which account seemes to me improbable Tacitus in his Annals affordeth a larger story how the Pâ—aenix was first seene at Heliopolis in the reigne of Sesostris then in the reigne of Amasis after in the dayes of Ptolomy the third of the Macedonian rare but at last thus determineth Sed â—ntiquitas obscura noâ—nulli falsum esse hunc PhaeniceÌ„ neque ArabuÌ„ è terris eredidere Pliny makes yet a fairer story that the Phaenix flew into Aegypt in the Consulship of Quintus Plancius that it was brought to Rome in the Censorship of Claudius in the 800. yeare of the City and testified also in their records but after all concludeth Sed quae falsa esse nemo dubitabit but that this is false no man will make doubt Moreover such as have naturally discoursed hereon have so diveâ—sly contrarily or contradictorily delivered themselves that no affirmative from thence can reasonably be deduced for most have positively denyed it and they which affirme and beleeve it assigne this name unto many and mistake two or three in one So hath that bird beene taken for the Phaenix which liveth in Arabia and buildeth its nest with Cinnamon by Herodotus called Cinnamulgus and by Aristotle Cinnamomus and as a fabulous conceit is censured by Scaliger some have conceived that bird to be the Phaenix which by a Persian name with the Greeks is called Rhyntace but how they made this good we finde occasion of doubt whilst we reade in the life of Artaxâ—â—xes that this is a little bird brought often to their tables and wherewith Parysatis cunningly poysoned the Queene The Manucodiata or bird of Paradise hath had the honour of this name and their feathers brought from the Molucca's doe passe for those of the Pâ—aenix which though promoted by rariety with us the Easterne travellers will hardly admit who know they are common in those parts and the ordinary plume of Janizaries among the Turks And lastly the bird Semenda hath found the same appellation for so hath Scaliger observed and refuted nor will the solitude of the Phaenix allow this denomination for many there are of that species whose trifistulary bill and crany we have beheld our selves nor are men onely at variance in regard of the Phaenix it selfe but very disagreeing in the accidents ascribed thereto for some affirme it liveth three hundred some five others six some a thousand others no lesse then fifteene hundred yeares some say it liveth in Aethiopia others in Arabia some in Aegypt others in India and some I thinke in Utopia for such must that be which is described by Lactantius that is which neither was singed in the combustion of Phaeton or overwhelmed by the inundation of Dâ—ucalcon Lastly many Authors who have made mention hereof have so delivered themselves and with such intentions we cannot from thence deduce a confirmation For some have written Poetically as Ovid Mantuan Lactantius Claudian and others Some have written mystically as Paracelsus in his booke de Azoth or de ligno linea vitae and as severall Hermeticall Philosophers involving therein the secret of their Elixir and enigmatically expressing the nature of their great worke Some have written Rhetorically and concessively not controverting but assuming the question which taken as granted advantaged the illation So have holy men made use hereof as farre as thereby to confirme the Resurrection for discoursing with heathens who granted the story of the Phaenix they induced the Resurrection from principles of their owne and positions received among themselves Others have spoken Emblematically and Hieroglyphically and so did the Aegyptians unto whom the Phaenix was the Hieroglyphick of the Sunne and this was probably the ground of the whole relation succeâ—ding ages adding fabulous accounts which laid together built up this singularity which every pen proclaimeth As for the Texts of Scripture which seem to confirme the conceit duly perpended they adde not thereunto For whereas in that of Job according to the Septuagint or Greeke Translation we finde the word Phaenix yet can it
preserved from extinction and so the individuum supported in some way like nutrition And so when it is said by the same Author Pulmo contrarium corpori alimentum trahit reliqua omnia idem it is not to be taken in a strict and proper sense but the quality in the one the substance is meant in the other for ayre in regard of our naturall heat is cold and in that quality contrary unto it but what is properly aliment of what quality soever is potentially the same and in a substantiall identity unto it And although the ayre attracted may be conceived to nourish that invisible flame of life in as much as common and culinary flames are nourished by the ayre about them I confesse wee doubt the common conceit which affirmeth that aire is the pabulous supply of fire much lesse that flame is properly aire kindled And the same before us hath been denyed by the Lord of Verulam in his Tract of life and death also by Dr. Jorden in his book of Minerall waters For that which substantially maintaineth the fire is the combustible matter in the kindled body and not the ambient ayre which affordeth exhalation to its fuliginous atomes nor that which causeth the flame properly to be termed ayre but rather as he expresseth it the accention of fuliginous exhalations which containe an unctuosity in them and arise from the matter of fuell which opinion is very probable and will salve many doubts whereof the common conceit affordeth no solution As first how fire is strickeÌ„ out of flints that is not by kindling the aire from the collision of two hard bodies for then Diamonds and glasse should doe the like as well as slint but rather from the sulphur and inflamable effluviums contained in them The like saith Jorden we observe in canes and woods that are unctuous and full of oyle which will yeeld â—ire by frication or collision not by kindling the ayre about them but the inflamable oyle with them why the fire goes out without ayre that is because the fuligenous exhalations wanting evaporation recoyle upon the flame and choake it as is evident in cupping glasses and the artifice of charcoals where if the ayre be altogether excluded the 〈◊〉 goes out why some lampes included in close bodies have burned many hundred yeares as that discovered in the sepulchre of Tullia the sister of Cicero and that of Olibius many yeares after neare Padua because what ever was their matter either a preparation gold or Naptha the duration proceeded from the puritie of their oyle which yeelded no fuligenous exhalations to suffocate the fire For if ayre had nourished the â—lame it had not continued many minutes for it would have been spent and wasted by the fire Why a piece of â—laxe will kindle although it touch not the â—lame because the fire extendeth further then indeed it is visible being at some distance from the weeke a pellucide and transparent body and thinner then the ayre it self why mettals in their Equation although they intensly heat the aire above their surface arise not yet into a â—lame nor kindle the aire about them because them sulphur is more fixed and they emit not inflamable exhalations And lastly why a lampe or candle burneth onely in the ayre about it and inâ—lameth not the ayre at a distance from it because the flame extendeth not beyond the inflamable eâ—â—â—uence but closly adheres unto the originall of its inâ—lamation and therefore it onely warmeth not kindleth the aire about it which notwithstanding it will doe if the ambient aire be impregnate with subtile inflamabilities and such as are of quick accension as experiment is made in a close roome upon an evaparation of spirits of wine and Camphir as subterranâ—ous fires doe sometimes happen and as Creâ—sa and Alexâ—anders boy in the bath were set on â—ire by Naptha Lastly the Element of aire is so far from nourishing the bodie that some have questioned the power of water many conceiving it enters not the body in the power of aliment or that from thence there proceeds a substantiall supply For beside that some creatures drinke not at all unto others it performs the common office of ayre and seâ—ves for refrigeration of the heart as unto fishes who receive it and expell it by the gills even unto our selves and more perfect animals though many wayes assistent thereto it performes no substantiall nutrition in sâ—â—ving for refrigeration dilution of solid aliment and its elixation in the stoâ—macke which from thence as a vehicle it conveighs through lesse accessible cavities into the liver from thence into the veines and so in a â—oride substance through the capillarie cavities into every part which having performed it is afterward excluded by urine sweat and serous separations And this opinion surely possessed the Ancients for when they so highly commended that water which is suddenly hot and cold which is without all favour the lightest the thinnest and which will soonest boile Beanes or Pease they had no consideration of nutrition whereunto had they had respect they would have surely commended grosse and turbid streames in whose confusion at the last there might be contained some nutriment and not jejune or limpid water and nearer the simplicity of its Element All which considered severer heads will be apt enough to conceive the opinion of this animal not much unlike unto that of the Astomi or men without mouthes in Pliny sutable unto the relation of the Mares in Spaine and their subventaneous conceptions from the westerne winde and in some way more unreasonable then the figment of Rabican the famous horse in Ariosto which being conceived by flame and wind never tasted grasse or fed on any grosser provender then ayre for this way of nutrition was answerable unto the principles of his generation which being not ayrie but grosse and seminall in the Chameleon unto its conservation there is required a solid pasture and a food congenerous unto the principles of its nature The grounds of this opinion are many The first observed by Theophrastus was the inâ—lation or swelling of the body made in this animal upon inspiration or drawing in its breath which people observing have thought it to feed upon ayre But this effect is rather occasioned upon the greatnes of its lungs which in this animal are very large and by their backward situation afford a more observable dilatation and though their lungs bee lesse the like inflation is also observable in Toads A second is the continuall hiation or holding open its mouth which men observing conceive the intention thereof to receive the aliment of ayre but this is also occasioned by the greatnes of its lungs for repletion whereof not having a sufficient or ready supply by its nostrils it is enforced to dilate and hold open the jawes The third is the paucitie of blood observed in this animal scarce at all to be found but in the eye and about the heart which defect being observed inclined