objects to the other 4 Senses which are Colour Sound Odour and Savour but in asmuch as it is naturally moist and dry sometimes also hot or cold as it is diversly affected we feele it strongly by the touch Q. But wherefore is it that nature hath not given it neither colour nor sound nor savour nor odour A. Because that being the medium or meanes by the which we perceive the said qualities it should be impossible for us to marke or discerne in the world the admirable variety of colours sounds savours and odours if the Ayre were participant for as wee behold traversly a glasse red or yellow all things seeme red or yellow in like sort if the Ayre had certaine colour sound savour or odour all things would seeme to us of the same colour sound savour or odour that the Ayre had in as much that by the meanes of it we perceive these said qualities in all other things Bitternes Q. FRom whence comes it that bitter things have for the most part some medicinall vertue or purgative faculty A. It is in as much that they are of a difficult digestion and concoction so that they serving not for food and nourishment to the body they yet serve at least for purgation and medicine Love Q. HOw comes it to passe that many times we love those that we never saw A. This hapneth not often that we love so but those the which by reputation wee beleeve to have some perfection be it of Vertue of Science or Beauty that we are so taken and our soules doe imagine this selfe perfection more great then it is so that it is no marvell she is so taken and that she loves and honours much more then after she hath seene the subject for rare persons are like to Tapestries which seeme fairer a far off then neare hand Q. VVherefore is it as saith the Comicke that the falling out of lovers is the renewing of love A. Because that Love is like to a flame that increaseth by the blast and by the winde likewise Love augmenteth by some disfavour that one Lover receiveth from another so as they are sometimes unassociated and retired but after they desire a re-union of their love with more fervour and passion then before Q. VVherefore is it that the love of men augmenteth when there are many corrivals in the enquest of one selfe subiect A. It is because that the jealousie that the one hath against the other the which as a puffe of winde re-inflames the fire so doth the amorous passion this is therefore that the ancient Poets feigned very properly that Venus knew never how to put into credit her sonne Cupid or Love that the Greekes call Eros untill shee had brought forth an Anteros or Counter-love Q. From whence commeth that we are ashamed to discover our amorous appetites when they surmount us and discover frankely and without any shame our appetite of eating drinking sleeping and such like A. It is because the amorous appetite is not necessary to the life as the others are and the open practice thereof is shamefully censured amongst the most politicke Nations and being shamefull to be acted but in the night and in hidden corners it is not comely to speake lasciviously but amongst Nations which held it no shame nor made it no more difficult to publikely play with women in love-tricks then to eate and drinke And Diogenes the Cynick had no more shame in this action then to say he was planting a man as if he would say that it should bee as lawfull to plant publikely Men as Trees Q. From whence comes it that lovers are ordinarily pale and wan and that sometimes the extremities of their bodies are quickly hot and cold and all for love A. They are wanne when they are in defiance feare or despaire of their loves because that such passions cause the blood to retire to the interiour parts by reason whereof also the extremities of the body become cold for blood giveth the Vermillion blush and heate together but when they are in hope or assurance to enjoy their loves then they are red and have the extremities of their bodies hot the blood running and spreading over all the parts even to the extremities and with the blood the naturall heate Q. VVhich of the two is more constant in love man or woman A. Virgil and other Poets have accused Women of extreame lightnesse and inconstancy neverthelesse it seemeth to me that reason and experience should combate for them herein Reason in as much as they are more cold then Men and the nature of cold is to hold and shut constantly heate in the contrary the which aboundeth more in men then in women unties disunites and dissolves Experience confirmes the reason in that we ordinarily see more women deceived by men then men deceived by women Q. VVherefore is it that women love more ardently and constantly those which have had their maiden-head A. It is because a woman receives her perfection by coupling with the Male as the matter by union with the forme and so women love most those which have given beginning to this perfection or that those which have depucillated them hold the most faire and most rich gage of their love which is their Virginity Q. Wherefore is it that Mothers love their Infants more tenderly then their Fathers A. It is because they cost the Mothers more deere who have contributed to their generation with their Fathers And besides they have borne and nourished them within their flankes and after brought them forth with perill of their lives Also that the Mother is very certaine that they are her children but the Father doth but thinke it onely that they are his not being wholly certaine that they be begotten by his works this is the reason that the Poet Menander singeth in his Verse The Infant is beloved by his Mother More tenderly then by his Father Because she well doth know it is her owne And hee but thinkes it fruit himselfe hath sowne And the same reason makes Homer to feigne that Telemachus the Sonne of Vlysses being asked who was his Father answered in this sort My Mother hath mee told Ulysses was the man I do beleeve it so for who tell better can Q. Wherefore is it that fathers and mothers love much more dearely their children then they are beloved of them A. For three principall reasons the one is that the Fathers and Mothers love further their Children to wit from their birth by which cause their love is more fortified and the children love not but since they had the judgement to acknowledge them for Parents the other is that the fathers and mothers love their children as themselves seeing a continuance and a progeny of their being to posterity and the children love them not but as being sprung from their truncks without regarding of them as propagators of their being the third that nature that alwaies hath regard to the conservation and promotion of
infallible nor otherwise can they resolve me wherefore children of the seventh moneth live and those of the eight not if it be not as they say in Egypt because of the serenity of the Ayre which is in that Region Briefly there is an infinite number of other effects of whom the neighbour cause is hidden from us to the end that wee shall acknowledge our weakenesse and that wee should not grow proud upon our sufficiency so short in many things but that we should praise God and that otherwise marking the infinite desire to learne which is innated in our Soules the Engine of Divinity and which cannot be satisfied in this life drawing from us a certaine proofe of its Immortality and that it is in another place where shee ought to be made all-knowing and all accomplished by the enioying of the soveraigne good in the contemplation of her Creatour the most cleare Mirrour representing and teaching all things which shall bee to her eternally in view For the questions contayned in this Treatise I perswade my selfe that they shall here finde solution pleasant and not vulgar being for the most part drawne from the Problemes of Aristotle of Alexander Aphrodisea and from the workes of the most excellent Physitians Naturalists and other grave Authours which I have gleaned and beene choise in them having also contributed much of my owne as well in the invention disposition and facilitating the reasons of others so that those which though they have but little iudgement may resolve an infinite of other questions by the understanding of these here Also it is my principall ayme and marke to profit by my labours all sorts of studious persons and that the glory may be to God by whose grace and bounty we hold all sorts of goodnesse which appeare by so much the more great as we communicate his gifts to others for unhappy are those who hide or bury their treasures be it riches of spirit or other communicable blessings THE TABLE OF ALL the chiefest heads that are contained in this Booke AYre page 11 Animals p. 25 Ascending and descending p. 2â—0 A Gouty question p. 226 Age. p. 393 B Bitternesse and love p. 16 Blindnesse p. 22 Basili ke p. 33 Bastards p. 34 Beasts p. 36 Baldnesse p. 64 Bells p. 94 Bow-strings p. 103 Breathing p. 232 Birds p. 310 Blood p. 340 C Crooked Persons p. 40 Callus p. 41 Camelion p. 44 Calxes p. 46 Cocks p. 100 Cold. p. 208 Cause of the Hic-up p. 237 D Dogs p. 83 Dropsie p. 248 Drinking and Eating p. 273 Dumb folkes p. 289 Drowning p. 298 Death p. 403 E Egges p. 58 Eccho and of the Element p. 156 Excrements p. 183 Extremities p. 184 Eating and drinking p. 273 Eares p. 314 Earth p. 362 F Flesh p. 4â— Flame of a candle p. 44 Fingers p. 12â— Face p. 186 Females p. 189 Fire p. 194 Fevers p. 19â— Forme p. 20â— Fruit. p. 21â— Frost p. 214 Fatnesse p. 226 Fasting p. 252 Feare or fright p. 327 Fishes p. 333 G Gravell or stone in the bladder or raines p. 42 Gelded folkes p. 45 Grainesse p. 71 Gaping or choking p. 177 Generation p. 218 Gold p. 313 Gunpowder p. 336 H Heate p. 63 Heaven p. 83 Heart p. 93 Hornâ—s p. 107 Habitation p. 227 I Infancy and Increase p. 1 Infants p. 157. Images p. 249 Ioy excessive p. 25 L Lamenesse p. 39. Lightning p. 207 Letuce p. 258 Laurel or Bayes p. 264 Looking-glasses or Mirours p. 284 Life and to live p. 389 Lice p. 402 M Manginesse p. 113 Milke p. 256 Moone p. 266 Morning p. 276 Moores or Ethiopians p. 287 Musick p. 291 Mice p. 403 O Of Oyle p. 244 P Pissing and breaking Winde backward p. 172 Q Quicksilver p. 28 R Running p. 11 Right hand or side p. 138 Resounding and Retaining p. 337 Rats p. 403 S Sharpenesse p. 10 Stamerers p. 35 Speaking p. 38 Sneezing p. 59 Sleep p. 129. Sweetnesse p. 136 Shame p. 242 Swearers p. â—55 Sicknesse p. 269 Snow p. 294 Smelling p. 304 Sobriety p. 342 Spittle of maÌ„ p. 343 Salt p. 344 Sunne of the Firmament p. 347 Sorcery p. 350 Sweating p. 352 Spots p. â—59 Sight or seeing p. 367 T Tooth-ake p. 9 Tickling p. 62 Teeth p. 115 Tasting p. 223 Tongue p. â—60 Teares p. 162 V Vrine p. 387 W VVayes p. 70 VVater p. 141 VVomen p. 191 VVashing of hands p. 263 Winde p. 364 VVormes p. 402 Courteous Reader I intreat you to adde these 4 words to the latter end of the last line of page 205 common to all formes The Resolver OR CURIOSITIES OF NATVRE Of Infancy and Encrease QUESTION WHerefore is it that during our Infancy and the first yeare after our Birth our bodies increase much more and more hastily then in our Youth Answer Because that Nature being farre from her perfection hasteth as much as she may and troopeth up all the forces of naturall heat which is then fervent and boyling to turne great quantity of food into the increase of the body Que. Wherefore is it that Females are sooner perfect in their growth then Males Ans Because as in things Artificiall those which are done in most haste are the worst accomplished so Nature imployeth lesse time to the increase of Females as being lesse perfect then Males which have much more of naturall heate and are more vigorous strong and robust then they are It is also the cause wherefore Daughters are deemed by right of Law capable of Marriage at 12 yeares of age and Males onely at 14 which age is called Pubertie or Youth as also that Nature is so free to men that shee maketh them gaine twenty yeares above women for the two they went before them by increase in their childe-hood for women decline and decrease and cease to conceive about the 50 yeares of their age and men are capable of generation at 70 years and wee read of some that have begotten children after fourescore yeares as Cato the Censor and the King Massinissa although he had attained to the age of Foure-score and sixe yeares Q. Wherefore is it that the vitall Faculty exerciseth not so well its functions in the increase of the body to the end of the life as it doth to move the appetite to eate and drinke to concoct digest and dispense the victuals by all the members of the body to thrust out the excrements and briefly to nourish and sustaine the body Ans Because that all naturall bodies are determined to a certaine quantity otherwise they would increase unmeasurably being then arrived to that regular quantity for then Nature increaseth no more the bodily masse the which having remayned sometimes in his perfection beginneth in the contrary to decline and decrease So as it is not necessary to the life that the body should still increase without end but it is above all necessary that the other functions of the vitall faculty should be exercised because that without them we know not how to live Qu. But wherefore
the Species which shee maintains in the continuall succession of her individualls thrusts alwaies out the love of predecessors to the successors and regards not much behinde her the posterity of the ancestors that is it which causeth this coÌ„mon saying that love descends more then ascends Animals Q. FRom whence comes it that wee cannot finde any private and domestick Animall but that there is of the same kinde wild and savage and neverthelesse there is of the savage that can never be made tame A. That is saith the Philosopher that the evill is more easie to bring forth and produce then the good in as much that the good are more perfect and that which is most perfect is of hardest production now that which is Domestick and tame being better then that which is wilde is not so frequent the same one may say of plants as well as of Animals Q. From whence comes it that houshold beasts are more fruitfull then the wilde when they engender A. It is because they travell lesse and are better nourished Q. From whence comes it that certaine beasts as Elephants and Camells will not drinke in the water unlesse it bee stirred and troubled A. Because that seeing their Images in the cleare water they are afraid and get out not daring to drinke Q. How is it that some Animals can sleepe with their eyes open as doe Lyons and Hares A. It is because they have not their eye-lids sufficiently large to cover wholy their eyes Q. From whence comes it that women have not a certaine season for childe birth as well as all other kinds of Animals have for the most part the most perfect producing ducing their fannes and their Colts at certaine seasons of the year A. That the conjunction of man with woman is at will irregular and indifferent at all times and the most part of all other Animals â—oupleth not but at certaine seasons and not all the yeare through Q How comes it that certaine Animalls naturally feare others even at the first sight as little Chickins the Kite the Hare the Dog the Lambe the Wolfe the Rat the Cat and so others and yet feare not other strong Animals and more formidable then they are A. I have said herebefore in the Preface of this booke that it is not easie to yeeld a particular reason and a neere cause but onely in generall that the same proceeds from an Antipathy or a naturall hate which is between certaine kindes of Beasts to the most weak whereof nature hath given this instinct and knowledge of their enemies from their birth for their safegard and for the conservation of their kindes Quick Silver Q. FRom whence comes it that Quick Silver separateth and div deth it selfe into divers parcels upon a body solide dry plaine and smooth A. It is because of his subtilty that hee holds alwaies inmooving according as the figure of the place permits him because of which mooving subtilty and Activity it is called quick Q. Wherefore is it that being separated in peices he gathereth together and againe comes into a body if he be powred into a hollow place A. Because that being liquid the parts separated researcheth and easily findeth their union in a proper place to containe and border them for it is the nature of liquors to Unite and Remasse because of their resemblance and the easinesse that they have to stretch forth and runne the one within the other Q Wherefore is it that it runneth still round A. It is the nature of all the Elements to occupy the place Spherick Circular or round by reason where of they are parties as by some naturall right that they hold from the total aroundeth so now quick silver being no other thing then water mixed with very little of Terrestrial exhalations and that the most subtile takes the same figure even so as we see by experience that drops of water or other liquor shed upon the earth gather themselves together round as little bullets being that moist things flye the dry as their contrary clap into a roundnesse to touch the lesse Q. But why it seemes not to me that all the Elements occupie a round place in their parties for the fire is alwaies in a Pyramis not in a round the earth hath no certaine figure in his parties and for the Ayre being invisible wee can know nothing of it A. Intruth the materiall fire is alwayes in a Pyrmais because that wee can never see it but in motion and tending to his naturall place above the Ayre and likewise the small drops of water are Ropes in the Ayre hanging their motion and casteth them into rounds being come to their Center but if the fire were in his naturall place with the fire Elementary it should bee without doubt in a Spherick figure as the other bodies which invâ—ron it for the earth she hath her Center round as well as the other Elements making but one selfe globe with the water but if she is removed in her parts and peeces shee retains such figure as the giver or as shee falls in the division because of their soliditie and drinesse which permits them not to extend forth as those of other Elements which are fluid and moist Q. Wherefore is it that Quicksilver wets not a dry body running over it seeing that it is very waterish A. Because that being in part composed of Terrestriall exhalations so in all metalls the drynesse of them hindereth the moisture so as Quick-silver flies marveilously and will not be long stayed but runnes along or leapes to avoide the touch Blindnesse Q. WHerefore is it that the blind hath better hearing then the cleare seeing A. Because that the Sense of the sight doth not distract them other-where and being they can see nothing they hearken alwayes more attentively being that Nature recompenseth in one Sense the losse of another Q. Wherefore is it that they have also better memories A. For the same reason above said for perceiving little of obiect in comparison of cleare seeing they retaine what they heare better and longer time Basiliske Q. HOw comes it to passe that the Basiliske kills men with his onely looke on them A. There is more apparance that he kills men by certaine stinkes and venemous vapours that he exhales and breaths out with which hee infecteth those that approach neare him for if he saw from a far he could not hurt them Bastards Q. WHerefore is it that Bastard children are ordinarily more ingenious and more couragious then the legitimate A. The cause is that being conceived by stealth the businesse is done with an affection more particular and ardently searching those parts which cause the child to be much more accomplished then those which are begot with an ordinary and common affection and sometimes languishingly and this is the cause wherefore the ancient Bastards that the Poets called Hero's or demy gods have bin esteemed Sonnes of a god and of a mortall woman oâ— of a Goddesse and of a
being extreame hot it conceives easily his like and yet entertaines freely what he hath of matter Q. Wherefore is it that it is more light then any other liquour and likewise that it will swimme upon oyle A. It is because that it holds both of ayre and of fire which are the two light and subtill elements for all that is earthly and grosse in the wine whereof it was made and drawne by the Alembicke was separated from it Q. Wherefore is it that it being mixed with any other liquour it hinders it from freezing even during the extremity of thewinter A. Because that it is exteamly hot of it selfe and therefore it is called burning water the cause whereby it resists so the cold be it never so sharpe and vehement Q. VVherefore is it that it is not profitable to a leane and dry person A. Because it drieth and burneth the humours which be not superfluous but rather defailing in leane and dry persons it were better therefore they did conserve them then consume them Echo Q. WHerefore is it that the Echo reports more clearely to our hearing the last syllables then the first A. It is because that the first are broken by the last or that we are too neare or that wee speake the last in measure â—onger then the Echo giveth us the first and so we cannot so well understand them Elements Q. HOw can it be that the Elements which haue their qualities so contrary may be hoâ—den with so straight and perfect a bond together without destroying the one the other by their neighbourhood A. It is that their qualities are so justly and perfectly ballanced and proportioned that they themselves are the band which most strictly ties them the one being not able to undertake nothing too much upon the others for even as a consort of foure good voyces discordant in tone neverthelesse agreeing in their Systeme is much more harmonious then if they all agree'd in the unison likewise the accord of the foure Elements consisteth in their discord by the just proportion of their forces Infants Q. WHerefore is it that Infants which are borne in the 7 moneth after their conception many times live those which are borne in the 8 seldome doe A. Some attribute this to the order of the seaven planets and hold that the first moneth answers to Saturne the second to Iupiter and so according to the order of the Planets in descending towards us and although that the seaventh moneth bee past wee must beginne againe with Saturne which is a cold Planet and Symboliseth with weaknesse therefore children borne in the eight moneth cannot well live although that Aristotle and after him Pliny testifieth that sometimes they lived as well as the others and especially in Egypt because of the continuall serenity of the Ayre which is in that Region but the foresaid reason seemes to me more subtile then veritable Fracastorius the Italian thought better how to deale then others upon this question hee saith that the children of the seventh and ninth moneth may live but not on the eight in as much that as there are kindes of corne which comes in three moneths others in seven out of these times they are worth nothing so there is of the sorts of humane seed the one of seven and the other of nine and out of these times the children cannot live the which resolution is yet more impertinent then the precedent for even as the corne of seven moneths is worth nothing at three so to follow his manner of saying those that beget children of nine moneths know not how to beget for seven that may live on the contrary or to traverse it those which are begotten for seven moneths cannot beget for nine and neverthelesse experience every day sheweth us the contrary for my owne part I see well enough that neither the one nor the other sayes any thing of value neverthelesse I will adjoyne although it is possible enough that I shall say nothing to the liking of another but so much I love to attribute to the perfection of the Septenarie number the which by a certaine occult and secret vertue accomplisheth all things This number is very perfect because it is composed of the two first perfect numbers par and impar to wit of the third and fourth for the second being not composed but of an unite repeated the which is no number nor is perfect for his occult vertue I esteeme that it worketh upon all the things sublunary because that the Moone changeth her forme from seven to seven dayes that is every seventh day and shee is more apparent and manifest in man then in any other thing whatsoever For first being borne seven moneths after his conception hee may live in the seventh moneth after his birth his teeth beginne to come out at seven yeares hee beginnes to have the use of reason at twice seven yeeres hee enters into the age of Puberty and to bee capable of generation at three times seven yeares hee enters likewise into the flower of his Age at foure times seven yeares hee beginnes to enter into the Age of Virility and full perfection of his naturall vigor and manhood from seven to seven if wee take heed a man receives ordinarily some alteration and change in his spirit or body or in his temporall goods or in his fortune be it in adversity bee it in prosperity such a change is principally remarkeable in his complection and after all which is full of admiration the climatericall yeare which is the three score and third yeare of the age of man now count seven times nine or nine times seven the which is ordinarily reduced to some extreamity perill of his life which the Emperour Augustus well noting rejoyceth marvellously to have past that very yeare not without apprehension though without danger of his life then as by the number of seven and of nine multiplied the one by the other wee are in danger of death so the very same numbers are also happy for the prolongation of our lives now to cut short this question the Lawyers approving this doctrine from the Phisitians have judged that children borne the seventh month with perfection ought to be allowed as legitimate if by adventure the father had beene absent Q. Wherfore is it that children as as soone as they are out of their mothers wombs begin to cry A. The cause is they feele a great change in passing out of a place so close and hot to enter into an ayre free and cold together with clarity which dazeleth their weake eyes which causeth them to cry if we shal yet further enter into the profound mysteries of our beeing be it that they presage the miseries of their future life which is but a passage and a way not a life to goe to a true and immortall living Q. Wherefore is it that little children have their noses turned up A. It is as saith Aristotle that they have their blood boyling
and the heate hindereth the superfluous matter to extend it selfe now the nose is a Cartilage and a Cartilage is a kind of bone and a bone is a superfluous and insensible matter Q. Wherefore is it that little children have more heate and fire and naturall humidity then perfect men A. Because they are newly composed and formed of a matter hot and very moist to wit of seed and of blood Q. Wherefore is it that the little tenderling children have their haire very cleare and thinne A. Because that they have not yet the pores of the skinne open for to give passage to the humidity and likewise they have yet little or no smoaky exhalations which are matter of the haire Q. Wherefore is it that little Infants have their voyces small and sharpe A. It is because they have the Artery and pipe of the voyce more â—â—raite then perfect men together that having much humidity the conduit of the voice is stopped and the voyce by the same meanes is more sharpe For as the pipes of winde instruments expresse the sound more sharpe if they be straite and small so is it of the Arteries Organs and conduits of the voyce Q. From whence comes it that rocking provokes sleepe in little children A. Because as I have said before they being very moist this agitation and moving them up and downe moves also the humours which mount to the braine and provoke sleepe which comes not so to aged persons because they have not so much humidity Q. VVherefore is it that little children falling to the earth by stumbling against some stone or other hard or solid body takes no such bruises and hurts as great and old folkes that are strong and robust A. If they fall onely all along the reason is easie for being little and low they cannot hurt themselves so much as if they fell from an high but besides it may be sayd that they are more soft tender and flexible so that stumbling against any hard and solid body their flesh resists not as it doth with bigge folkes but yeelds and gives place the knocke and stumble is not so rude even as it is in a sponge that will not breake against the stone as another stone will or as the reeds which yeeld and wave up and downe are not so easily overthrowne by a violent and forcible storme as the Trees which refist it Q. Wherefore is it that the little Infants have their vitall functions so strong and vigorous and their animall functions so weake I call vitall functions their eating concocting digesting nourishing increasing and growing and the animal functions as their mooving and holding fast A. Because that the naturall functions exercise themselves by the meanes of the naturall heat which is in them aboundant and boyling and the Animal functions exercise not themselves but by the meanes of the Animal spirits which proceed from the braiee the which being yet very feeble and the grisly bones which incomposeth and covereth them being yet tender and fraile it is no marvaile that the Animal spirits have their effects lesse vigorous untill the braine bee fortified with age Q. From whence comes it that little children which have more of iudgement and use of reason then their age will beare or ordinarily pernut or promise which wee commonly call too forward children live not long or being too fat and too great become sots an d lubbers A. Truely Cato the Censor said very well that we could not looke for any other then a hasty death of children that are hastily prudent that is to say when it comes too much before the due time of mature age and the reason is taken from this that it is a certaine argument that such children have their braine dry out of measure and beyond the temperature of their age for the too much humidity which is ordinary in all little children hinders as a cloud that their interiour senses should not stretch so farre so clearely and so openly their functions as in persons of perfect age and the unmeasureable drinesse which is in some one extraordinarily is the cause that within a little time the body drieth alwayes more and more with the age so that the Organs of the Sences yea all the body dissolves and deth then follows or at least the Sences are so ill affected that the soule cannot worthily exercise his function neither more nor lesse then the best artificers can make no master-piece of worke with evill tooles though instruments of their Art Q. Wherefore is it that little children are ordinarily slavering and sniveling and have their heads all of a dandering scurfe A. Because their naturall heat exhales from their stomacke great quantity of vapours to the braine the which dischargeth himselfe by all his meanes as head mouth and nose Q. How comes it that children pisse their beds in sleeping without feeling it which comes not much to those which are arrived to the youthfull age A. It is because that children are very hot and moist as is above said and therefore they are very laske and discharge their bladders more easily as also being in a profound sleepe the bladder dischargeth it selfe without any feeling of it Q. But wherefore is it that they have no seed A. Because that they being farre from their perfection all their good nourishments turne into the increase of the corporal masse Pissing and sneezing and farting Q. FRom whence comes it that sometimes wee shake and tremble after we have pissed A. Because as sayes Alex. A. phrodiseus that there is a sharpe and biting humour which pricking the bladder moveth all the body by a strong convulsion to the end it should more forcibly thrust out this ill humour which fals most commonly to children because of their much and often eating and because they abound in excrements or better according to Aristotle it proceeds of this that although the bladder being full of urine which is hot it then feeles not the cold but on the contrary it being discharged for nothing can remaine void the ayre then filling it which being cold or fresh makes us to shake tremble the same happens to us sneezing when the veines void themselves of some humours or hot spirits and that the fresh ayre enters into their place Q. VVherefore is it that ordinarily we let fly winde in pissing A. It is because that as long as the bladder is full the great gut or Colon is stretched and that in voiding the bladder one holds his breath so as the bladder being after released and avoided of his measure the intestins which were banded and filled with ayre and winde are released alwayes by the same meanes and so voided Q. Wherefore is it that horses and many other kind of Animals and even men themselves pisse for company A. It is by the Sympathy of the Animal spirits or rather that the one thinkes of the other Q. Wherefore is it that in rubbing our eyes we cease to sneeze A. Because by that
naturall heate but because wee have greater appetite to the new fruits which is then in abundance and likewise that bread which is our dayly food is then made of new corne Morning Q. WHerefore is it that the Mornings are many times colder then the night seeing that in the morning the Sun is more neare to us A. Because that in the Morning the dew which is gathered together by the coldnesse of the night fals upon the earth and cooleth the ayre together that the evening and the first parts being lesse removed from the precedent day then the last have some feeling of the heate of the same day the which weakening and diminishing by little and little is extinct or diminished at the end of the Night Que. Wherefore is it that the Morning-study is best and most profitable A. Because that the spirits are more free after their repose and the Braines and Organs of the body are discharged of the fumes and vapours arising from the victuals the digestion being accomplished Memory Q. WHerefore is it that we retaine better that which wee have learned in the 〈◊〉 â—orning then in any other time of the day Answ It is because that the braine is not then hindered and troubled with vapours the digestion being intirely perfected as also because the spirits are more free and lesse occupied then after the perception of many new objects which bring confusion and trouble ranking themselves in the memory Q. But how is it possible that so many and divers obiects can ranke themselves and bee kept in the memory without confusion A. In truth it happens often that those which know most confound themselves also the most if they rule not their memories by judgement but this treasure being prudently dispenced although that it must bee that the diversity of things confounds the one the other But on the contrary they may bee brought to more advantage for as a house well furnished and garnished with all sorts of moveables or as a Farme accompanied with plowed fields with woods with vines with fountaines and with all other profitable things for a countrey-house is much more to be esteemed then if it consisted onely of one of these things Q. From whence comes it that a very happy memory is seldome found with a very great and neate iudgement and a gentle spirit in one selfe person A. From this that the retayning memory consisteth in the dry and hard temperature of the braine neverthelesse it hindreth the vivacity of the spirits but yet if the organ of the imagination is of a temper soft moist and that of the memory of a temper mediocrally dry they both may bee found in one selfe person although the same is as rare as excellent Q. Wherefore is it that neither young children nor old folkes have any hould in their memories A. Because that both the one and the other are in perpetuall mooving the one in increasing and the other in declining which is the cause that the Images of the objects are not so deeply ingraven in their memories ot else it may bee for this cause that young children have the Organ of the me morie too moyst and old folkes to dry so that the one cannot imprint and strongly engrave the Images of the objects deepe enough in their memory and the other perceive the object too lightly neverthelesse children may have a good memorie for another reason that is because they are not disturbed either with affaires of importance that may divert them nor other waies to charge their memories with too many things Q. Wherefore is it that those which learne promptly retayne it lesse then those which are long a learning A. Because that those which are so prompt imprint the images of the object too lightly in the memory and the others ingrave them profoundly because they repeat and inculcate them Q. Wherefore is it that Elephants Dogs Horses and other Animals bethinke them better of the wayes where they have but once gone or beene then men doe A. Beasts have not properly this bethinking but a continuall thinking the which having once lost they cannot recover neither by discourse nor reasoning because they have it not neverthelesse the beasts retaine more long time their thoughts to marke a way then men doe because they are not distracted in their sences by diders things as men are and by the same cause country clownes and rustick people also marke better the wayes and such other things more heedfull then men of knowledge or those which have their minds disturbed with many businesses Q. How is it possible that wee bethinke our selves of dreames seeing that they are not things done but representations to the interiour sence A. Because that the soule then represents the Images of things then dreamed as truthes nor more not lesse then when they describe us a Towne a Province or they report us a battaile wee doe then imagine in our selves that which we have not seene Q. Wherefore is it that wee easily forget dreames A. Because that during the time of sleepe the sences being clouded the faculties of our soule exercise more loosly their functions and that the images of the dreames being but represented as in darknesse and shaddowes are therein lesse perceived and lesse stable Q. Wherefore is it also that we easily forget our soules being being during that time distracted and other-where busied things which appeare during that distraction A. As we have perceived them lightly so as lightly wee forget them for the sence being distracted and occupied with divers objects the operation is more weake the imagination more light and the images lesse way imprinted and ingraven in the memory Looking-glasses or Mirrours Q. VVHerfore is it that wee suddenly forget our proper images after wee have seene them in the Glasse and retire our look from the glasse or mirror A. It is because that wee see the image representing us in the Mirrour only by reflection and not by imprint or graving in solid matter and as it is so lightly represented it is also as lightly imprinted in the imagination or fantasie and by consequent lesse profoundly graved in the memory Q. Wherefore is it that hollow Mirrours burne things which are opposed to them in the rayes of the Sunne A. It is that the solary rayes comming to give themselves together and by a conjunct forme they incountering in one selfe point they yeeld an extreame heate by their reflection and redargement the which heate burnes the opposite bodies and likewise inflames strawes leaves and such other dry and tender things as also wood c. by the meanes of which Mirrours and glasses Archimedes burnt the vessels and engines of Marcellus before Syracusa Q. From whence is it that wood stone or any other like body well polished cleane and united may serve for a mirrour although that in truth they are more shaddowish and dull then diaphanicall or transparent bodies A. Because the pollishment of such bodies yeelds them shining and shining bodies
same the Fever torments them strenger then it did before A. Because that such sweats are rather indices of weakenesse then of health as also that the excrements and the most subtill parts of the evill humours evaporate onely by the sweate the more grosse and dangerous remaining still within Spots Q. VVHerefore is it that little white spots come oftner upon the nailes of the hands then of those of the feete and sooner to little children then to men of perfect age A. It is because the feete by the continuall travell and exercise of going consume the flegme which is the cause of these white spots and on the nailes of the hands of little children sooner being they are more flegmaticke and more moist then men of perfect age they are therefore more subject thereto Q. From whence proceeds that the spots which appeare in the round of the Moone make arepresentation of a humane visage A. It is because the Moone hath some parts more thinne more smooth and simple then others the which for this cause are so much the more cleare and transparent the other parts which are more thicke remaine to our aspects as shaddowie cloudy and spotted shewing to us darkely which are the cause that the parts more cleare seeme to rise up and to make a resemblance of a humane visage being for certaine that things darke appeare not so far off so raised up as those which are white or cleare Plutarch hath made a Treatise upon this subject where hee hath many words without any reason or truth or truth-like but the solution before is of that great Arabian Philosopher Averroes Q. But wherefore is it that wee perceive it rather with a humane face then with any other image A. It is because of the roundnesse of this Planet especially when she is in the full for then representing to us a humane head shee after represents to us the face The Earth Q. HOw is it that the earth can subsist in the other Elements without tumbling or falling towards unto the other Hemispheare seeing that a little peece of it cannot be sustained neither in the Ayre nor in the VVater but descends alwayes downeward A. A little piece of Earth tends alwaies downeward because it is not in its owne naturall place as doth all this great and heavy Masse which maintaines it selfe in his natural place by his proper waight and cannot shrink nor tumble to the other side of the Hemispheare or Antipodes no more then from ours for that were to mount not descend or to fall downward Q. Wherefore is it that the â—arth sometimes smells and yeelds a certaine pleasant odour A. That happens not alwayes nor in all earths but onely in â—hose which are good and ferâ—ile and that after long drinesse and heates there fals some small â—aine for the humidity of the Earth being well decocted by â—he heates and drynesse minâ—les it selfe with the raine and â—hen comming to exhale it â—eelds a certaine pleasing sweet â—dour as things well decocted â—rdinarily yeeld a good smell Q. From whence proceed the earth-quakes A. They either proceed from exhalations or from windes â—nclosed within the Cavernes of the earth which if they cannot get out strive to give themselvs way by force grumbling and murmuring within and in the end violently opening and bearing up the earth Winde Q. WHerefore is it that the winde is more vehement in a straight place then in a vast or open place A. Because that in a straight and shut up place his forces are more united and heaped together and in a vast place they are diffused and by the same meanes more loose Q. VVherefore is it that when the South-winde blowes wee finde our selves loose and sluggish A. Because that winde by his heat and humidity looseth and weakens the body Q. Wherefore is it that when the south-winde blowes the plants thrust out grow flowrish and fructifie more hasâ—â—ly then with other windes A. Because as I have formerly sayd this Winde is hot and moyst and heate and humidity are the efficient causes of generation Q. Wherefore is it that the falling starres I meane the exhalaâ—ions which being inflamed in the â—yre and fall to the Earth when â—hey are made very hot are a cerâ—ain index or signe of great windes comming A. Because that such fires which resemble starres in falâ—ing so high are ordinarily thrust downward by the winde which beginnes sooner to blow aloft then below Q. From whence comes it that the Windes blow from that side where there are few on â—â— clouds A. It comes from this that the winds themselves chase the clouds before them or dissipate them Q. Wherefore is it that the most cold windes dry the most A. Because they carry away with them the vapours and humidities whereupon they blow Q. From whence comes it that the windes are more weake in places where they begin to blow and in extending they fortifie themselves alwayes more and more A. Because that all things have their beginning ordinarily little and weake and especially things moving as then the Rivers increase to a measure and runne over or overflow the fields in receiving the Rivers of all sides so the windes augment them with the matters of exhalations and neverthelesse fortifie themselves by blowing more strongly as they still extend for the after-movings are fortified by the precedents Sight or seeing Q. See wee or as speake the Philosophers the vision or is it made by the emission or sending out of the rayes of our eyes or by the reception in our eyes of the species or images of obiects belonging to the sight For example when I see a house a man or a horse is it that the rayes of my eyes glancing upon those obiects bring backe the image to the sight or is it that the image diffuseth it selfe through the ayre and sometimes by the water which is the medium betwixt our eies the obiect and so is received into the sight A. This hath beene a very great dispute agitated â—long amongst the Ancients and even to this day is amongst the Opinionists but I will resolve it onely thus that the vision making in an instant it selfe the object of things most farre it is impossible that it can make it selfe by the emission of the rayes of the eyes because that in an instant it cannot penetrate to the objects as in example even to the very Stars and then to retire backe againe and to bring the images to the sight therefore it must be of necessity that the vision is made by the reception of the species or images from the objects the which representeth themselves in all the space of the medium which is betwixt the objects and our eyes if some opacous body hinder it not Q. Wherefore is it that comming out of darknesse and going into the light or on the contrary going out of a very cleare light place and entring into a shadowed place we see not very clear but as it were