begotten which we commonly terme Monsters but this is not ordinary but rather extraordinary for Nature doth never produce any of these Monsters but by some extraordinary and lascivious thoughts in the very act or else after the act which bringeth sleepe there to continue in the body of the Female which I thinke and some other learned are of my opinion is a maine cause of these Monsters called Hermophrodites and sometimes Nature hath given them that are thus luxurious no comfort of their issue for if not Hermophrodites then they proove fooles and ideots Qu. Why doe some children resemble sometime their Father more than the Mother which breeds them in their body and sometime like the Grandsir or some other of their kinred Ans It is according to their youth whether it bee father or mother which hath more seed in their vessels than the other which overflowes the lesser and being more desirous of lust which causeth the same likenesse And againe it is when in the very act the man remembers the visage of the Woman which is a great matter having it in his thought at that time sometimes it is like the Grand-father when hee is thought upon or remembred in the like action Qu. Why doe those infants which come out of the wombe at the eight Moneths end most commonly become weake and sometimes in danger of death A. Because nature is weak in those women and not able in regard of their burden to hold out any longer by reason of the watery and cold Planet the Moone which hath rule in every body whatsoever and by reason the Moon is retrograde ill desposed at that time is the cause of its death Q. Why doth the infant open the wombe at forty weekes end A. The reason is as wee may see in divers fruites when they be ripe they easily fal and so likewise when the childe is at full growth then the vessell doth breake or open and the tendons or ligaments easily broken and therefore those women which hold out their full time without their terms falling down in that time haue strong and lusty children and live long Q. Why doth either excessive ioy or griefe cause a woman to miscarry A. Sometime extraordinary joy doth take away the naturall heat which causeth and giveth life to the seede in the wombe and so causeth miscarrying and the very same reason is given for griefe conceived which taketh away the natural heat from the wombe to comfort the heart Q. Why doth the tongue sometimes lose the use of speaking A. The learned Physitian Hypocrates saith sometime it doth happen through a Palsie or Apoplexy which is by a violent effusion of blood and of other thicke humours and againe it is the infection spiritus animalis in the Median part of the braine which is an hinderāce that the vigor or spirit is not carryed unto the tongue which is the maine cause why the tongue sometimes is not able to expresse those actions which its office ought to make manifest Q. Why did nature make rather the braine cold than hot A. For this maine reason onely to temper and moderate the heate of the heart to the end it might serve in stead of a Fan or cooler Q. Wherefore made Nature Man naked and without weapons onely his armes to defend him A. Nature having bestowed wisedome upon man hath given him meanes enough to arme himselfe at his owne pleasure as well against the cold and heate of the aire as against the blowes of his enemies Q. What is the cause that children who are moyst by nature are not bald notwithstanding A. Because their humidity is intermingled with a temperate heate Q. Why doth Rue being planted under a fig-tree grow the better and receiveth more nourishment A. Because it drawes unto it selfe the sweetnesse of the Fig-tree or else the Fig-tree suckes away from the Rue a part of his bitternesse and so being somewat sweetned it groweth the better Q. Why doe old men dye almost without paine A. By reason that all their sences are debilitated and their rudicall moysture and naturall heate consumed Q. Why doth sorrow and care make some men to look old and gray before their time Answ Because they dry up the moysture of their bodie by their Cholericke humour which is too predominant in them and indeede Age is no thing but a kind of drynesse Q. Wherefore are womens counsailes which they give upon the suddaine commonly esteeemed happy and prosperous in effect and those which they give upon long deliberation unlucky and disastrous A. Erasmus is of opinion that their mindes are for the most part employed with what they most affect and upon a pinch if they bee put to it they shew much and a quicke wittinesse for Women are naturally farre more witty than men but more prone to affect and sometimes make use of it to extreame wickednesse Q. VVherefore is it said what 's a VVoman but her tongue A. Because antienly they had no other defence nor weapon but that but now they have better fortified themselves with tongue tooth and nayles Q. VVhat kinde of people are those that doe not sleepe in their owne faces A. Women that paint which put on other faces than nature gave them under which fained fairenesse there is a foule pretence of concealing age and wrinkles but not their desire of youthfull actions Justice Sph. Ph. pa. 683. Dialogismus What Goddesse Justice Why thy lookes so sterne Not to be wonne from what I once discerne VVhence born From heaven Thē say who was thy father Measure he 's cald and true-faith is my mother Why one eare open and the other shut To th' good thats ope to th'bad that 's closed up Why sword i' th right hand in the left a scales These weigh each act ' gainst th' guilty that prevailes Why art alone Good company is rare These times conduct mee not where good men are Why poorely clad Cause hee that will be iust Refraine to purchase wealth and treasure must Q. What doe you iudge to be most fit for the tranquility of of a marryed life A. No married life can be peaceable and quiet except the man be deafe and the woman blind for either of them must conceale somethings that she being blind may not be peeping prying into every action of her husband he deafe that he may not heare his wife brawling continually at home Altera luminihus quando caret auribus alter Improba coniugium tale querela fugit In English thus Where Wives want eyes and Husbands want good eares That Wedlocke seldome causeth jarres and teares Of a widow Q. Wherefore is it that no Spaniard of what meane quality soever will marry a widdow bee shee very young and wealthy A. It hath beene a resolution of theirs from Antiquity and continueth to this day and to this effect one of them made this answer I will no Widow wed my reason's sound I 'le drinke no water wherein one was
instant But I rather suppose that this happeneth not but to faint-hearted and weake cowards which are stricken into a maze and astonishment which is a cause that the naturall heate retires inward neare about the heart so that the outward parts being destitute of heate become as it were benumb'd and shake as those doe through extreame cold in the winter Q. Whence comes it to passe that the flesh of a sheepe bitten by a wolfe eates farre tenderer than others the wool is more apt to breed lice vermin A. It is because the breath of the wolfe is very hot and attenuating the flesh by his heate makes it more tender and by the same cause the wool participates the alteration of the flesh and is more subject and apt to putrefaction and to breed vermin This is the solution of Plutarch Q. Whence is it that the wolfe is sayd never to see his syre nor whelpe A. Because the Wolfe after his coupling with the female smells very ranke and strong farre more than before the smell being augmented by the motions of the humors which are in the coupling wherefore the other wolves in a rage fall upon him and worry him to death and teare him peece-meale and by that meanes he shal never see his whelps nor they him nor their owne which they shall beget The generall opinion of Hunters is that the Bitch-wolfe never couples with the Male but once in her life which is the cause that many Malewolves follow her when she is proud and fight and while they are all fighting if any one of them couple with her all the rest fall upon him and kill him Of Mules Male and Female Qu. VVHy is it that the Mulets beget not nor the Mules can conceive A. Some are of opinion that this proceedeth from their being ingendred of two divers and very different species or kinds of animals for the Horse is of a very hot and the Asse of a very cold temperament by nature they have not a disposition requisite for generation and conception Or rather because Nature doth abhorre the generation and propagation of monsters and Animals being engendered of two different creatures as these are being monsters Nature will not permit that their generation shall extend or enlarge it selfe any farther This reason is generall and the precedent is particular but both probable neverthelesse it is observed that Mules have sometimes conceived brought forth Quest Wherefore is it that Mulets are stronger sounder and longer-liv'd than Horses or asses being they participate of both natures A. Because by the providence of nature the defect of generation which is in them is recompensed by their other qualities or rather because of the great heate of the horse and the coldnesse of the Asse being mixed together doe make a good temperameÌ„t by the strength healthinesse livelinesse and long continuance of the Mulet which partakes of both Species Q. Wherefore is it that the Mulets participate more of the nature of the Asse than of the Horse being that the Horse is greater both in courage and fiercenesse and more generous than the Asse A. Because the Asse is of a melancholicke constitution and by consequence more desirous of copulation lust and venery by the reason whereof her feede is predominant in the generation of the Mulet or rather it is because the seede of the Asse being of a colder temper than that of the Horse is more tenacious or retayning Of Drunkards Q. WHerefore is it that great drinkers are said to gather death whence others gather life A. By the reason of excesse for Plures enecat inteÌ„perantia quaÌ„ gladius Excesse killeth more than the sword and by this meanes their foreheads oreshew to the world their more than brutish affection by the variety of pimples the rubies on their noses the rednesse of their eyes the trembling of their hands their stinking breath and as their bodies batten so their soules wither and themselves accelerate their deaths as immature by their intemperance As Saint Austine noteth Multi manducant bibunt in hac vita quod postea in inferno digerant Many eate and drinke that in this life which they must afterwards digest in Hell And Diogenes called these men the Charyhdes of life For the Charybdis swallows what the sea brings to it and casts it up againe but these swallow up rivers and lands but never cast them up againe Q. VVherefore is it that teares are frequent and usefull to your Maudlin drunkards A. The reason is that the shedding of teares is a great ease to them by the effusion of the superabundant humours in the head for the braine is filled with vapours which is much eased by such teares and by consequence they as Tibullus acknowledgeth thus Sape ego tentavi curas depellere vino At dolor in lachrymas verterat omne merum In English thus By wine I oft have try'd t' expell my cares But they converted all my wine to teares Qu. Wherefore is it that to a drunken man every thing seemes two A. These questions are not for a triviall understanding to resolve but I will doe my endeavour to enucleate what you propose The reason then is that by the abundance of humectation or moistning the tender muscles of the eyes more than ordinary affected and contracted they divert and distract the eyes the one being forced upwards and the other downewards Therefore both the eyes doe not direct themselves to one marke or object which causeth the sight to be double each eye directing it selfe differently Qu. How doe these pot-companions excuse themselves An. Certainly I thinke out of Anacreon thus Faecunda terra potat Hanc arboresque potant Et potat aequor auras Ipsumque Luna Phaebum Quid ergo vos sodales Pâ—â—â—â—â—… me vetatis In English thus The fruitfull Earth doth drinke The Trees drink earth I thinke The Sea drinkes Ayre I weene The Moone drinks Sol agen Then Blades why should wee fall From drinking Knock and call Qu. What kind of life is most fit for these kinde of Animals An. In my conceite the life of Frogs for they having liquor enough yet croake for more that is for fresh raine Quest How is it that Wine workes contrary and different effects in the drinkers An. The Sunne melts the Ice and hardens 〈◊〉 by the diversity of the subject whereon it operateth So Wine not of its owne Nature but by the nature of the bodies into which it is powred they being not all of one temper workes divers and different effects The melancholy man becomes fearefull without any manifest cause and steales away and starts as fearefull at every noise hee talkes of nothing but Ghosts and dead men or on the Scripture and is never more religious than when hee hath got a cup or two The phlegmaticke becomes heavy dull and stupid The sanguine hee laughes sings dances and spends himselfe in mirth The Cholericke hee puts all the rest in a confusion and quarrels
choler gnawes and corrupts the Liver the Liver the Blood and the Blood the whole Body Sometimes by the meanes of this Dew the Liver is oppilated obstructed or stopped which is the cause of a generall disease and death in the flock Albertus Magnus testifieth himselfe to have seene these experiences Of Frost Q. WHence proceedes the Frost A. Almost in the same manner it is generated as the Dew I say almost because a greater and more intense cold is required for the production of the frost than of the Dew that it may not onely dissolve the hot vapour into water but also congeale it when it is dissolved Of Springs and Fountaines Qu. WHence have Fountains and Springs their beginnings A. The earth in its womb hath many concavityes and hollow veines and passages in which because nothing can be empty certaine vapours being raised from the earth are dissolved into water and sticking to the sides of those veines destill into drops cause little streams which meeting together from all those parts in a lower place make a current and breaking forth make a spring Qu. Wherefore is it that some springs are constant and some increase in the Winter and decay in Summer An. By the reason of the disposition of the place of their beginning and mutation of the qualities For the more solid Hills whose secret passages the exteriour ayre cannot easily penetrate doe utter more constantly their waters for the former vapours being dissolved into a fluent liquor and that there may not bee a vacuum or emptinesse other vapours succeed and are likewise dissolved But the Hills that are porous that have open orifices or passages for the exterior ayre to penetrate especially in Summer doe not containe the vapors for they are dryed up by the exsiccating quality of the Ayre Q. Wherefore is it that the springs are warme in winter and cooler in summer A. The cause is from the fortification of the coldnesse of the cavernes and holes within the earth For in winter when the pores of the earth are stopped up by the exterior cold and the hot exhalations not finding a way out are there detained and warme the vapours the vapours consequently the waters in so much that they are usually seene reake smoake but in Summer the pores being open the exhalations easily passe and are drawne out And the coldnes of the cavernes kept in by Antiperistasis by the exteriour heate cooleth the vapours and waters Q. Wherefore is it that the Bath is so warme and coole and so different in qualities A. The reason and resolution of this question Philosophy gives affirming in generall that those Baths which are warme receive their heate by passing through the veines of sulphury and burning Mineralls But the diversity of the Springs proceeds from the various and divers permixtion of the first qualities by the concurse of the influences also by reason of the diversity of the Minerals and earths by which they passe But to give a reason for the strange effects and qualities of some waters it is very difficult referring that to the hand Omnipotent Qu. Which kind of waters are thought to bee purest and best An. Those that are lighter in weight purer in substance not standing but continually running over a pure earth towards the East and therefore these kind of waters are more usefull in medicine than any other by reason of their purity and vertue Q. Whence then are the Rivers caused An. The causes of Rivers in respect of their beginnings are the same with the springs A River is made by the concourse of divers waters as from the spring Ior and Dan which issue out at the foote of Libanus the river Iordan is produced so likewise many famous rivers have their like beginnings and denominations and all these run into the vast body of the devouring sea Of the Sea Qu. WHerefore is it that the water of the sea is so salt A. It is a generall opinion that the saltnesse of the sea proceedeth from the mixture of the adust terrene drynesse elevated by the power of the Sunne and mingled with the moyst vapours that fall into the Sea and by the same reason the water that is streined dreaned through ashes becomes bitter moreover the heate of the Sunne continually raiseth the sweeter and lighter Waters leaving the terrestriall earthinesse But the Rivers that runne out of the Sea and as it were are streyned through sands and earth flow not to us salt or bitter but become sweet leaving their salt qualitie in the earth and sand behinde them and returning againe into the sea do much temper and abate the saltnes thereof but many are of opinion that it was salt in its first creation Q. Wherefore is it that the sea ebs and flowes A. The cause hereof is attributed to the Mistresse of moysture the Moone for at her increase or decrease it is certaine that the humours almost of all things doe change and alter Wherupon the Moon running under the Sun which happeneth in her change the light of both being hindred cannot subtiliate the ayre which being grossened is turned to water and the encrease of the Sea is augmented in substance a flowing must necessarily follow but the Moone being in opposition of the Sunne which happeneth in her ful disperseth her light all over the inferiour bodies neither is she a hindrance to the Sun for the imparting his light and power to the Sea and hereupon the water of the Sea which by the reason of its grossenesse contayneth vapours becomes thinne ascends and flowes like the droppes of warme Milke and this encrease is not in substance but by accident by the rarefaction But in the interposed quartiles of the Moone the Sea encreaseth and decreaseth by the like causes In the first quartile the Sea decreaseth in the second it increaseth accidentally by the way of rarefaction In the third it decreaseth by the rarefaction by the decreasing of the light In the fourth the Moone comming nearer the Sunne the substance of the Sea againe increaseth by the thickenning of the ayre As for the foure quarters of the day naturall the Sea imitates the motion of the Moone For while the Moone upon the Horizon ascends towards the middle of the Heaven the Sea increaseth and floweth But the Moone declining from the middle of the Heaven towards the West the Sea decreaseth and ebbes Againe the Moone going forward to the West-ward towards the corner of the night the Sea increaseth and flowes but the Moone ascending from the corner of the night towards the East it decreaseth and ebbes Which when the Grand Syre of Philosophy Aristotle could not comprehend and conceive cast himselfe into the Sea saying If Aristotle cannot comprehend Euripe Euripe shall comprehend Aristotle Of the Earthquake Qu. VVHerefore is it that the Earth many times trembles which we cōmonly call Earthquakes An. When in the bowels and entrailes of the Earth a great abundance of vapours being included cannot finde
cabbages nought for the eyes An. By reason of the melancholy blood and sharpe rhume they ingender in the stomacke which flyes into the braine and distills inthe eyes Qu. Wherefore is it held dangerous to fast long An. By reason that by too much fasting a company of ill humors are ingendred and so will beget diseases and cause vomit Qu. What is the cause that wee have better stomacks to our meate when the winde is in the North than at other times An. By reason of his coldnesse which knits together and holds within us the natural heat of our bodies which causeth a quick digestion Qu. What is the reason that Vinegar is very wholesome to those that are cholerick and is of contrary operation to those that are melancholy An. Because it asswageth choler by his coldnesse and by his heate dryes up melancholy Qu. What is the reason that some men have hard haire and some againe have soft An. The greatnesse and smalnesse of the pores of the body is the cause of it for soft haire commeth by reason of the smalnesse of them and hard haire for the contrary And therefore women have commonly softer haire than men because their naturall cold doth restraine and close the pores Qu. Why is a dead body heavier than that which hath life within An. A body alive is full of ayre and fire which doe hold it upright for their nature is alwayes to mount upwards and a dead body is nothing but a lumpe of earth whose nature is heavy and melancholy and alwayes tending downwards Qu. VVhat is the cause that some dye for very joy and some againe with griefe and sadnesse An. Because great joy doth coole and refrigerate too much at that time the inward and vitall parts of man and too much sorrow and pensivenesse doth as it were suffocate and choake them Qu. Why hath Nature made the lungs of all creatures spungeous or full of holes like unto a spunge An. To the end it might receive the ayre the better to coole and qualifie the heart and to drive away from it all such vapours as are hurtfull unto it Qu. VVhy is our heart placed in the middest of the body A. To quicken equally all the members thereof even as the Sunne giveth heat equally to all vegetable things being in the middest of the Heaven Qu. VVhat is the cause that men doe neese and the benefit of it A. Some say by extreame cold taken from the feete which presently ascends into the braine and the braine being so pure that it will not suffer the pia mater to suffer wrong makes men to neese and because that the expulsive vertue or power and the sight should there by be purged and the braine also from super fluities which oppresse it so much which if they did not purge either by the counsell or advice of a Physitian or else by neesing will prove very dangerous And those which neese oft are held to have a strong and an able braine and those that cannot neese which are sicke or diseased dye suddenly because it is a manifest token that their braine or pia mater is stuffed with humor and nature hath lost her naturall office or function Qu. VVhy have men more teeth than women An. By reason of aboundance of heate and blood in the male kind which is not so hot in the female kind Qu. VVhat is the reason that wine mingled with water provoketh urine An. Because water being mingled with wine hurts the stomack weakens the retaining vertue or strength of the wine whereas wine alone doth cherish and comfort the heart Qu. Why doe ancient men and women neese with great difficulty An. Because of the decay of nature and the narrownesse of the pores of their body which wants that vigour which youth enjoyes Qu. Why is man of all other creatures whatsoever more subject to diseases infirmities than any other creature An. By reason of his intemperance and likewise being composed of the foure Elements and having blood choler phlegme and melancholy and one of these more predominant than the other causeth sicknesse and therefore Schola Salerni saith Esse cupis sanus sit tibi parcamanus That is If thou wilt live in health have a niggardly hand that is Use temperance of Dyet Qu. Why doe Physitians hold it a dangerous matter to let a fat man blood An. Because those that are grosse and fat have smaller veines and the veines are more hidden and appeare not so much Moreover they have but little blood and as small an appetite and are no way able to digest that meate which the retentive part requires Qu. VVhat is the reason that the beast called a Camelion changeth so often his colours An. By reason of his great feare and timorousnesse and by reason hee maketh much of his blood but hee will change the oftner and with greater delight to the beholder if you lay a cloath of that colour under him which you desire to see him change to Qu. VVherefore is it that an Orenge being roasted and put hot into a glasse of wine gathers about it a kinde of pearly froth An. Because the heate of the fire piercing the pores of the rinde of the Orenge by which heate those pores are opened as the nature of heate is proper to that effect and the property of cold to shut up or close them which being roasted and put hot into wine a liquor naturally cold but operatively hot the ambient cold suddenly stopping the pores of the rinde and the incident heat striving by the way of Antipathy to make a way out is restrayned by the over domineering cold and moysture which are the opposites of fire and so appeares in small bubbles like pearles Qu. VVherefore is it that it never snoweth in Summer An. Because although the cloud bee frozen yet the Snow cannot come Snow to us but resolved into water and by reason that passing the inferiour region of the Ayre which is hot it is melted although it falls and lyes upon high Mountaines because in high places it is alwayes cold Qu. Why doe men use to lay lime or chalke at the roote of Cherry-trees and other fruit-trees An. Because the Lime is hot and dry and in the winter season doth as it were nourish and heate the roote as the Sun doth in Summer and by thus doing you may have ripe fruite before the time Qu. Why is a storme said to follow presently when a company of Hogges runne crying home An. Some say that a Hog is most dull and of a melancholy nature and so by reason doth fore-see the raine that commeth And in time of raine indeed I have observed that most cattell doe pricke up their eares As for example an Asse will when hee perceiveth a storme of raine or haile doth follow Qu. Why did nature give all living creatures Eares An. For two maine reasons for so saith Galen because that with those eares they should heare any thing comming to
or a Peacocke or in mingled colourd silke for al these things seem of another different colour according to the reflection of the light Q. Wherefore is it that the Heaven sometimes seeme to be all of a flame A. Because of the fiery matter which is above the cloud through which we looke be great in quantity and thinne it seemes to us also that the whole heaven is flaming and if it bee very crasse and thicke it appeares to us to be like blood Q. Wherefore is it that sometimes wee heare divers noyses and sounds above in the Aire A. Without doubt that happeneth in the aire when the exhalation detained enclosed in the cold clouds makes a way out by breaking and tearing the cloud as wee said before of thunder Neverthelesse fearful ignorant and superstitious people beleeve that it is the very sound of a Trumpet or Drumme as the true messengers of great warres presently to ensue and seeme to see certaine troupes of Horsemen ranged in Batallia and many other terrible things according to the feare or apprehension which they conceive Qu. Wherefore is it that circles are often seene about the Moone and other Astres An. The circle that is many times seene about the Sunne and Moone and other Starres proceeds from a cloud which is equally condensed or thickened but somewhat thinne and being justly interposed betweene the Moone and our view the Moone darting her rayes through the cloud causeth an apparition of a round circle in a similitude of her owne rotundity which the Greekes call Halo but if the interposed mist or cloud doe not cover as it were the whole face of the Astre it appeares but as a semicircle Qu. Wherefore is it that sometimes a plurality of Suns and Moones doe appeare An. The reason of this is that when a cloud is obliquely and not directly opposed being humide very watry and disposed to be dissolved into raine and by this meanes being of an equality united and susceptible of the impression of the figures as a Looking-glasse upon which the Sunne or Moone giving a reflection makes a native resemblance and figure of them so that likewise by the reflection against the cloud wee can hardly discerne which is which or the one from the other But this can not be without a great disposition in the cloud for if it be too thicke the rayes of the Astres could not illuminate it and if it be too thinne and rare they would penetrate and dissipate it Pliny writes that sometimes there appeare three Sunnes and Moones without any raine at all in the manner aforesayd Qu. Wherefore is it that these circles are seene oftener about the Moone than the Sunne An. Because the rayes of the Sunne being of a greater vigour and power than those of the Moone doe more easily dissipate and disperse those kind of mists or clouds Of the Raine-bow Qu. VVHence is the Rain-bow so called An. The Greeks tearme it Iris which name the Latins also use and as by isidore it is Etymologised quasiaëris and by us it is by the reason of similitude or likenesse tearmed a Raine-bow quasi Rainy-bow which seemed so admirable that the Ancients called it The daughter of Admiration But never thelesse it will not seeme so strange if wee remember what is said before touching the diversity of colour which oftentimes appeare in the aire for the variety of the colours in the Raine-bow appeare to us as produced from the like causes Q. What is the cause of the Raine bow and diversity of its colours A. The Raine-bow presents it selfe in the aire when we perceive the Sun through a somewhat thicke but a transparant cloud towards us by the reason it is dewy and disposed to bee melted into raine but grosse towards the Sunne so that his raies cannot penetrate it for in this manner wee see three principall colours Orange colour green and purple and by the mixture and confusion of these colors by reason of the reflection of the light of the Sun and our aspect others confusedly likewise are represented even as I said before in the Apparitions in the ayre that upon the neck of a Pigeon or Peacock or of a changeable Taffety according to the postures they are in in the way of reflection of the light Q. Wherefore is it that sometimes two or three Raine-bowes are seene at one time A. Because when the cloud is very cleare and Christalline it accidentally happens that by the reflection of the light two opposite and variegate Raine-bowes also appeare in the Ayre but this happens rather when the Sunne darts his splendour upon two Cloudes and both disposed to receive the same impressions so that sometimes a third Raine-bow is seene meerely by the reflection of the first or second or both But those that take their reflections from the first have their colours far more dimme nothing so quick norlively as that which takes its first reflection from the Sunne Q. Wherefore is it that the Raine-bow appeare but in a semicircle and not wholly round A. Because the Sunne illuminates the cloud circularly and in the way of rotundity but not so that it may perfect a circle by the reason of the connexity of the Heaven so that by how much the Sun is higher upon our Horizon so much the lesse the Raine-bow seemes but morning and evening it appeares greatest And by the same cause wee set our shadowes longer in the morning and evening than at noone-day Q. Whether doth the Raine-bow presage faire or foule weather A. The opinions concerning this point are so divers and different that it is hard to judge Seneca is of opinion that in the morning it portends a faire day at noone raine at night Thunder Pliny who in my conceit was a more curious observer of the incertainty writes that it neither promiseth certainely raine nor certainely faire weather but if it be double or two it will bee attended with raine And the reason hereof I guesse is that the cloud being very humid and moist then when a second Bow appeares by reflexion so that it is ready to melt into raine Qu. Wherefore is it that many mountaines in Sicily as Aetna Naxus Lipara and Brocano are burning and many Fountaines also An. The cause of such fires is that the hot exhalations being enclosed and shut up in the cavernes or dennes of the earth seeking to breake out by force kindle by their allision and attrition of the earth and such hard bodies as they meete with and so breake out in flames through the crannies and chinks of the earth which of it selfe being sulphury slimy and oyly and capable of fire is the cause of the continuance of the fire a long time casting up fire smoake and ashes As for the Fountaines we must presuppose that they dreane through a sulphury earth and matter apt to burne so that the more subtile exhalations issuing through the hollow concaves of the earth kindle as afore-said and heate the
foale by admitting severall coverings whereby the Cotyledons of the Matrix are violently broken And sometimes Women great being cupidineous by the same way many times miscarry Other Animals if after conception they should be so libidinous and admit their Male would also most times be subject to abortion Qu. VVherefore is it that a Horse by swimming is soone drowned although he receive little or no water in at the mouth An. Because the water in their swimming entereth into their bodies by the fundament which in them is large and so by degrees ponderously depresseth them Of Birds Qu. WHerefore is it that the Swallow flyeth swiftest of all Birds An. Because their wings are longer in respect of the quantity of their bodies than those of other birds and that is usefull for the catching of Flies which are their food and for the escaping from Birds of rapine and prey Q. Wherefore is it that they appeare not any where in Winter or whither doe they betake themselves during the time of winter An. Because they are no mans meate neither can they then get food all manner of Flies being dead so that then they betake themselves to Rocks by the Sea-side lying in holes by heapes nourishing one another with mutuall heate which the Corall-fishers in the Balticke Sea have confirmed to bee so who have found great heapes of them in that manner together Q. Wherefore is it that the Sparrow is most libidinous of all other birds A. All Birds are so but they are not so much as the Cocke and the Pigeon which have young eleven Moneths of the yeere Q. Wherefore is it that Birds continue their warbles and chants without stoppe or taking breath A. Because they sing as well breathing inwardly as outwardly as it appeares in the Larke which mounting upwards continues her chants without interruption even till she rise to the very clouds Q. Wherefore is it that Birds when they betake themselves to sleepe doe usually put their heads under the right wing An. Either for defending the head from cold or that they affect the posture which they had in the shell Qu. Wherefore is it that the fiercest beasts have the smallest hearts and those of a dull spirit and courage as the Oxe and the like have a greater and larger heart An. Because a great spirit confined to a streight breakes out with a greater violence and in a larger it is dispersed and dilated Qu. Wherefore is it that in Birds and other animals the multitude of either Sexe is indifferently equall in Man not for sometimes one begetteth most sonnes another most daughters An. Because of the stronger and abler bodies Males are generated and Females of a colder and weaker temperament so that in the Southerne parts Women exceed Men in number in the Northerne men them Therefore the strong Hercules by the multiplicity of Wives had Seventy two Sonnes and one onely Daughter Acab the King of Samaria had also Seventy Sonnes Qu. Wherefore is it that Animals have a kind of certainty and season for generation man not An. Because the pleasures of the other Animals are congruent to nature but the extravagant and unbridled lust of man is the cause that the mother so often bringeth children resembling neither parent Q. Wherefore is it that nature hath given Man a more copious abundance of braines than women seeing that prudence judgement and memory theron depend An. Because subtilty is more naturall to Women than prudence for this cannot bee but vertuous and that an enemy to vertue Neither doth craft proceed from plenty of braine but from a delinquent nature for a Fox of all Animals irrationall the most subtile and crafty hath but a small quantity of braines but a greater of sly nature Q. Wherefore is it that foure footed beasts have their legges before shorter than those behind A. For the aptnesse and swiftnesse of motion And Art imitating nature doth also make the fore-wheeles of a Coach and Wagon of a lesse proportion than those behinde that by the motion of the hinder the former may be enforced Q. Wherefore is it that a bone being broken and well set and conglutinated againe becomes stronger than any other part of the same bone A. By the reason of a knot contracted by the marrow which nature immediately sends unto it as it appeares also in a Tree as I said heretofore Qu. Wherefore is it that nature placed the principall parts of man so inward as the braine the heart c. An. That they might bee as safely protected as might bee for the conservation of the perfectest Animall man as the Braine with the Meninges dura Mater Skull skinne and haire the Heart with ribbs flesh and skin and so the rest Qu. Wherefore did Nature make a partition by the Diaphragma betweene the heart and the stomacke liver milt reines guts and intestines genitals and the rest of the bowells A. That the purer member as the Fort of life might be free from the annoyances of inferiour and noysome inconveniences as from excrements and ordure Furthermore it was necessary that the libidinous power should be inferiourly ranked to the irascible and life maintainer Qu. Wherefore is it that the essentiall part of the braine is by temperature cold and spungy and more plentifully given to Man than to any other Animall whatsoever An. That it might contayne the chiefe force or spirit a thing most necessary to the wisest of inferiour Creatures and might temper the heate of the heart with a coldnesse nature giving to other Animals a proportion and quantity sufficient for sense and motion Qu. Wherefore is it that the prime vigour of generation in a man is chiefly in the reines and that of the woman in the navell A. Because the internall parts which in a woman are fastened to the navell are larger and more capacious than those of men and so the force of desire greater but the muscles of the reines in a man are sinewous and his whole body more nervous and the braine the roote of nerves in man is of a larger size than a womans Qu. Wherefore is it that the blade of the tougue of all animalls is not fat An. That fatnesse by its concretion might not obstruct the passages of the spungy substance of the tougue whereby it might be deprived of the benefit of tast of severall Viands and fatnesse in the member in man would greatly have hindered speech Qu. Wherefore is it that the Eyes of Animals are first framed and perfected last An. Because no one member consisteth of many parts as that doth neither hath Nature fabricated any one thing in them of more exquisite feature than the eye which hath no lesse enemies peculiar diseases I meane than 120. Qu. Wherefore is it that Nurses which hourely give sucke have plenty of milke and those which are not drawne grow dry An. The same reason is in Wells and Fountaines for Nature strives to make that good againe which is violently taken from
her Yet some Nurses are of a more plentifull temper than others which is primely to bee considered For the well-coloured give alwayes more milke than the pale Qu. VVherefore is it that the Childe cryes when the absent Nurses brests doe pricke an ake An. That by dayly experience is found to bee so so that by that the Nurse is hastened home to the Infant to supply the defect and the reason is that either at that very instant that the Infant hath finished its concoction the breasts are replenished and for want of drawing as it is seene likewise in milch-cattell Or rather the good Genius of the Infant seemeth by that meanes to sollicite or trouble the Nurse in the Infants behalfe Which Reason seemeth the more firme and probable because sometimes sooner sometimes later the child cryeth neither is the state of nurse Infant alwayes the same Extravagants Metalls Qu. WHerefore is it that melted metalls doe burne more vehemently than the fire it selfe An. Nothing burneth more strongly than fire but it burneth more vehemently in char-coale than in any other fuell and more in liquid metalls than in charcoale and by how much every solid body is more dense so much the more forcibly it is inflamed For it was alwayes Natures pleasure that a greater force should bee in the efficient cause than in the effect Qu. VVherefore is it that the heate of the fire is feebled by the Sunne shining upon it and hot water is sooner cooled standing in the Sunne than in a coole shade An. By the reason that contraries doe contend for supereminence and predominance of power and force Qu. VVherefore is it easier to overthrow false opinions than to establish true ones An. The reason is two-fold the first because it is easier to pull downe than to build secondly falsehood may be pronounced upon any thing many wayes and truth but one Qu. VVherefore is it that wee gather those fruits which wee desire should be faultlesse in the wane of the Moone and gueld cattell more safely in the wane than in the increase An. Because in that season bodies have lesse humour and heate by which an innated putrefaction is wont to make them faulty and unsound Qu. Wherefore is it that a stone being throwne into the Dalmaticke Denne or Cave or into the Pyrenaean Lake or the stones of the Altar upon the Mount Sacon which is one of the Pyrenaean presently strange Tempests stormes of Haile Thunder and Lightning doe ensue An. Because the wofull experience of the Inhabitants hath proved it but Philosophy at this question is silent insomuch that it is death for any man to fling a stone into those places or to touch the stones of that Altar in Sacon whereon these words are written in Latin NE QVID IN MONTE SACONE But the causes of the many detriments which have immediately ensued upō the neglect of some travellers therein is ascribed to the worker of all evill Qu. VVherefore is it that the Northerly windes blowing beyond the Tropicke of Cancer men neither sowe plant plough nor open a wound or cancor without losse and detriment An. Because the Ayre of its owne nature being cold especially in a Northerne winde it cooles more and more those things which by being destitute of heate to cherish and relieve them by the intense cold are utterly lost Of Physitians and many other severall things Qu. VVHy doe Physitians hold that a surfeit of meate is more dangerous than a furfeit of drink An. Because drinke is sooner digested than meate for meate is of greater substance and more materiall than drinke and therefore meate is harder of digestion especially when it is ingurgitated Qu. Why doe Physitians forbid us to read or write or to use any violent labour presently after dinner or supper An. Because any violent motion doth jogge or hinder the stomacke when the meat is in it of its digestion and by that reason doth not turne to nutriment but rather breeds crudities and rawnesse of the stomacke but rather let any one walke gently that the meate may descend to the bottome of the stomacke that the vertue of the meate may cherish the other parts of the body Qu. Why doe the Physitians hold it bad for any one to lye in their beds with their faces upwards An. Because they say it doth engender not onely a Dropsie but also the Vertego in the braine and causeth the humours to runne crosse his stomacke and heart which maketh a stop in some by the grossenesse of their humours and evill imaginations and that is termed the Night-mare which humours lye so heavy upon his stomacke by this reason that it makes rather a destraction then any naturall repose Therefore it is good to lye sometimes on the right and then againe on the left side Qu. Why is it held wholesome to vomite when the stomacke is oppressed An. Because it doth cleanse the stomack of such grosse humours which otherwise would breed diseases in the body and cause Catarhs in the head therefore vomiting naturally is held very good because then nature doth helpe to evacuate that which formerly was oppressed by excesse Therefore after vomiting to settle the stomacke againe it is good to have a little Mithridate mixt with conserves of Roses and to eate that and sweate upon it if occasion will give you leave Qu. Why doth sleepe comfort for t and refresh the stomacke of man An. Because that in sleepe our naturall heate doth repaire inward and so doth helpe to concoct and digest what wee have formerly eaten and so doth dilate it selfe into every veine of man which is the nourishment Qu. Why hath not a Horse or a Camell or a Pigeon or a Dove no gall An. Many affirme that all these creatures have galls although the gall bee not contayned in a vessel by it selfe as other Animals have yet they have a veine in which the gall is dispersed into the severall parts of the body for none of these but can and doe remember an injury and is desirous of revenge which argues they have a gall though not so apparent as others have Qu. Why doe all living creatures desire sleepe An. For necessity because the instruments of nature by their severall actions in the day are wearied being so long awake and by their sleepe they receive againe comfort and vigour Qu. VVhy doe most men desire sleepe after their meate An. Because when the stomacke is full and overcharged with meate the pores are stopped and cannot have so suddainly a passage which heate of the stomacke ascendeth by fumes into the braine and to causeth heavinesse and sleepe therefore it is good to leave alwayes with an appetited and to abstaine from excesse which will breed infirmities Qu. VVhy doe men willingly sleepe after their labour An. Because that through continuall motion of our bodies the naturall heate is dispersed to the outward parts of the body the which after that the labour is past gathereth together againe to the
is it that soonest waxethold A. A benefit for nothing is sooner forgotten than a good turne and nothing longer remembred than an injury Qu. Vpon what men are almes deeds worst bestowed An. Vpon blind men for they would bee glad to see him hanged that relieves them I would not that any man should interprete them in earnest which is onely written in a merriment and that for this they should withdraw their charity from such poore men Qu. VVhy doe most men delight more in flesh than in fish and why it is wholesomer unto the body A. Because it strengthneth more and is of sounder nourishment or else because it agrees better with the substance of our bodies Qu. VVhereby doth a womans love resemble the shadow of our bodies An. Even as our shadow if we run towards doth fleete away from us and if we run from it doth follow us so the love of a woman if wee fondly pursue it wil disdaine us but if we set light by it or seeme to run from it will most earnestly desire us Qu. VVhat is the greatest friend to men at liberty and most enemy to such as are condemned A. Hope which encourageth men at liberty to attempt great matters and maketh such as are condemned unprepared for death Qu. VVhy is favour bought with money most uncertaine An. Because by discontinuance of giving it breeds inward grudging and by the ceasing of liberality it bursts out into open hatred Qu. What is the hardest thing to be learned An. To learne to know himselfe Qu. What doth cast from it a greater heate than fire An. Beauty which setteth not onely on fire those that touch it but also those that a farre off doe behold it Qu. Why doe Pullets their throats being cut survive after it longer than men An. Chickens and Pullets have smaller sinews and veines and therefore life cannot so soone leave them Qu. Why did the Lace demonians sacrifice a 〈◊〉 when they had obtained victory against their enemies by maine force and an Oxe when they had overthrowne them by subtilty surprise or intelligence An. Because they preferred Prudence and Wit before force or bodily strength and therefore a certaine Captaine of Grecia was wont to say If a Lyons skin cannot prevaile adde unto it the skinne of a Foxe meaning thereby if force cannot use policy Qu. VVhat is the reason that the bottome of a Kettell being full of boyling water and hanging over the fire is cold notwithstanding An. By reason of the hot vapours which continually doe mount upwards wherewith the higher parts being warmed the bottome remaines coole for the continuance of the water that is upon it Qu. VVhat is the immoderate use of too much liberty An. An occasion oftentimes of bondage slavery Qu. How or what are the gifts of Fortune An. Such as are the mindes of those that possesse them a helpe and comfort to them that can use them and a ruine and overthrow to them that know not how to use them Qu. VVhy were it better to be among Ravens than to live among flatterers An. Because Ravens prey not upon men but when they are dead but flatterers devoure them even when they are alive Qu. Why did Solon establish no Law against Parisides An. Because hee thought that such an enormity could not be committed by a child and therefore because hee should not seeme rather to remember men of such a wickednesse than to forbid it would in no wise appoint any punishment for it Q. How should Parents take the death of their children An. As Anaxagoras and a Lady of Lacena did for newes being brought to the one of his sonnes departure out of this life answered the messengers That hee knew long since that he had begotten a mortall man And this Lady whose constancy deserveth no lesse praise cōmendation having heard that her sonne was slaine in the battaile said to those that first brought her the tidings hereof To that end have I brought him to the world that there should not bee wanting one that should doubt and refuse to spend his life and blood in the defence of his Countrey Qu. VVho may bee said to suffer water continually to bee drawne out of his spring and yet for it hath nothing the lesse himselfe An. He that giveth good counsell to them that demand it or he that bestoweth a benefit upon another without any hinderance to himselfe Qu. By what meanes shall one become rich quickly An. In being poore of desire and therefore Seneca said If you have respect wherewith nature is sufficed you shall never be poore but if you looke unto that which opinion craveth you shall never be rich Qu. What men are said to live onely and longest An. Those that live onely and longest in ease quiet And therefore Adrian a most puissant Emperour who by great travaile and intercession obtained license in the end of his dayes to dwell in a little village of his where hee lived seven yeeres in great rest and quiet dying left an apparant token and testimony that the life led in honor and dignity was not the true life for he caused words to be graven on his tombe Here lieth the wight whose age is of many yeares but hee lived but onely seven Qu. What is marriage An. A Paradise on earth if her lawes be observed but a hell in the house if her statutes be broken Qu. What is it that of men is least esteemed and of God most honoured An. Chastity which is precious before God and a laughing stocke before men Qu. VVhat foure things have continuall residence in a noble minde An. Courage to repel the incroaching enemy a heart to consider a loyall friend a hand to reward the gifts of the simple and clemency to accept and pardon a well meaning mind Qu. Who is alone a worthy and a valiant man An. Hee who doth never bow his shoulders at the burden of misfortunes nor hee who never panted at his chance Qu. Wherein did Artemisia declare her great chastity towards her Husband deceased An. In her entire love towards him for when her Husband Mansolus King of Caria was dead shee caused his heart to be dryed in a vessell of Gold into pouder and by a little and little dranke it all up saying Their two hearts should never depart asunder and that she thought there might be no worthier sepulcher made for it but her owne body Notwithstanding she made for his body such a sepulchre that for the excellent workmanship beauty and costlinesse therof it was taken for one of the marvells of the world and for the notable fame of it all sumptuous and great sepulchres were afterwards called Mansalca Qu. How might a man become master over himselfe An. In amending that in himselfe which he rebuketh in another body Qu. What is the cause that in our age there are not so many excellent men as there were in times past An. By reason of Nature which dayly decreaseth or because Vertue is not so much esteemed of now adayes as it was in times past or else it is the custome of all ages to complaine Qu. Why doe men seeke to avoyde poverty An. Because it causeth them oftentimes to decline from the right way of vertue Qu. What maketh men in earth famous in their graves glorious and in the Heavens immortall An. Vertue FINIS * Modus Plut. ◠Lib 2. Lib. 5. Eleg. Explicand hic terminus Plin. cap 22. l. 2. Hist nat Plato in Theat Senec. li. 2. natur quest c. 6. Cap. 15. Li. 2. nat Hist * L. 7. cap. 12. 22. nat q. * L. 7. De bello Jud. Lib. 4. Annal. Vid. Fernel de procreat hom ubi latius Fernel e. 12. l. 3. Method med Arist c. 1. l. 3. de anim Duplaix Idem Idem Idem Lib. 1. de caus plant * Arist l. 7. c. 6 Hist anim