Imprimatur THO. WEEKES R. P. Episcope Londinens Cap domest Octavo die Maij. Astro logus THE RESOLUER OR Curiosities of NATURE Written in French by Scipio Du Plesis Counseller and Historiographer to the French King Vsefull pleasant for all GOD and Nature hath done nothing in Vaine Arist lib 5. Cap 8. Plato Aristotle Iason W. Marshall London Printed by N. I. Okes. Anno Domini MDC XXXV Alâ—humil Sculpsiâ— THE PREFACE OF the Authour upon his naturall Curiosity super-tituled THE RESOLVER ARistippus being asked wherefore he instructed his Son in good Disciplines with so great care made this crude or raw Answer to the end said he That one stone should not bee set in the Theater upon another stone It seemes by this answer hee esteemed ignorant men below beasts and things though animated he esteemed rather a stone above them which hath neither sence nor life Neverthelesse I would not so viliâ—te the dignity of Man although he were ignorant because of the divine Character of the Soule but I dare hold and maintaine that of base things he is of worse condition then the beasts although that they for the conservation of their kinds have beene indowed with many rich naturall faculties the effects of which seeme to approach even to reason But man having no neede of such faculties being he hath beene created of Reason it selfe if he would vouchsafe to use it by the meanes of which hee may bee a neighbour even to Divinity which is farre from brutality Now the use of Reason appeares principally in the search and knowledge of causes the which makes us to equally distinguish of those which are ignorant and of the beasts together For the ignorant and the beasts know well the being of things but not the causes of them they see well that it is Day that it is Night they heare well enough the murmure and grumbling of the Thunder they marke the progresse the perfection the decline and the alteration of things which are in Nature but the causes of all these things are onely in the learned which know and that with singular contentment of spirit the causes Neverthelesse as those which are shut up within a darke dull prison cannot extend their aspects upon all sides but onely a traverse by the grates and little openings of the same so our Soule a prisoner within the grosse carkasse of this materiall body having no other way of knowledge for the most part of those things then by the meanes of the Sences which are as the windows of his prison cannot commodiously speculate and consider nor by consequent know but as the Hydropickes augment their thirst in drinking so the desire that they have to learne increaseth in them even in their learning And yet further in admiring the divers obiects that present themselves ordinarily as marveils to his ignorance so that hee may have a solace in his knowing without being satisfied and yet may draw some resection not perfection the which hath therefore beene so wisely ordayned by the singular providence of the soveraigne authour of Nature to the end that being stayed in the search of the Causes in these low things and being not able but to admire the effects in many subiects our Soule lifts it selfe up to the knowledge of the first cause which is God wholly wise wholly good and Almighty This is therefore that I ought not to be blamed of curious spirits if in this curious search of causes in naturall things I have not digg'd so profoundly into all the secrets of Nature as they would desire for it is a thing above more then humane power and although I have not fed them with vaine imaginations or imagined vanities as some who with an ambitious arrogancy have published resolutions of the most abstruce things which the Ancients more able then they have held either for inexcrutable or for uncertaine Also it is easie to iudge that they did but trifle themselves herein and that silence would have better becommed them then their too much pratling for in the end they could not discharge themselves from those barres where their subtill spirits were so inwrapped that they were constrained to have often recourse to the first causes or to the universall For if one asked them the reason why the Adamant drawes the Iron or the Ieate or Amber the straw they answere that it is by Sympathy Analogy and resemblance of qualities that there are in these two bodies but aske them what are those qualities they are stopped there so as they are lesse resolved after such their solution then they were before for if I should grant them that if the resemblances of some qualities are the cause of such attractions then wherfore is it That wood doth not draw or attract wood stones stones and so of other things which not onely sympathize in qualities but are also of the same essence Who is he that can yeeld a certaine reason why the little Chickens feare the Kite although they have never seene him and that hee is so farre from them as almost in the clouds and yet they feare not the Dogge the Cat the Horse nor any other Animals which passe hard by them The same one may say of the feare which naturally the Hare hath of the Dogge the Rat of the Cat and other the like but these subtill spirits will answer that it is a certaine Antipathy In truth on the contrary it is uncertaine since wee can neither designe it nor particularize it for what other thing can we say but to runne to the generall cause and say that nature hath given them as by instinct this knowledge of their enemy for the safegard and conservation of their kinde Who can resolve me of the marvelloas invention of our Fathers touching the needle in the Mariners Compasse which turnes alwayes towards the Pole Articke or North-starre so necessary to Navigation the point of the same being onely touched by the Adamant There are say they Mountaines of Iron under this Pole or neare it the which for the sympathy that is betwixt the Iron and the Adamant wherewith this Needle is touched and is the cause that this point is alwayes turned towards that coast there neither will I deny that these Mountaines are so because I have never beene vpon them but yet I am not bound to beleeve it so although I shall deferre this to the authority of those which have written hereof Therefore I will not very willingly perswade my selfe that the attractive faculty of these Mountaines of Iron are so powerfull that they can extend so long a distance as they ordinarily prove it in the vastity of the Seas Who is he amongst the Physitians that can give mee a cleare and true Reason of the comming and going of the Ague be it quartan quotidian or tertian and why at his comming it first shakes him with a cold fit and after seizeth him with a hot and how successively the sick have their houres certaine and
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
mortall man because of their admirable and above humane vertue as Hercules Achilles Aeneas Romulus and others Stammerers Q. WHerefore is it that those which stutter having great difficulty to expresse with an articular voice cannot speake softly and low as others doe A. Because that to surmount this difficulty and naturall default and accident for this may come by sicknesse or other harme that hinders them from pronouncing distinctly and neatly they force themselves with more contention then others and so striving they cannot speake low as those which have their tongues easie and smooth Beasts Q. VVHerefore is it that Beasts goe as soone as they are brought forth and men doe not A. Because that the Beasts have their naturall heate from their birth equally diffused through all the parts of their bodies and man not but onely and principally in the head and so the other members are not sufficieutly strong of sustaine him in going untill that with time naturall heate stretcheth it selfe also to the inferiour parts thus saith Alex. Aphrodiseus but in effect to say better and that the cause truely is that men have their legs more fleshy but the beasts being almost all â—erves and bones by which reason the Philosopher concludes that men are many times born more lame then any of the other Animals as we shall say hereafter Q. But wherefore is it that nature hath so or dayned that the man should in this bee inferior to the other Animals A. It is in my opinion that if the beasts had beene also infirme as men in their birth the greatest part of them had beene lost neither having judgement nor conduct nor the commodities of men and being subject to be taken and surprized by one another as also by man but in mans behalfe it was very expedient that he should be borne so weake to the end that he should acknowledge his basenesse and his infirmity and that he should be lesse proud Q. Have not the beasts some iudgement or at least some use of reason A. No but onely a certaine naturall instinct which hath bin given them for the conservation of their lives and propagation of their kinds Speaking Q. WHerefore is it that no other kinde of Animal hath the faculty of speaking besides man onely or if there be any that imitate his language or rather his voice they understand nothing A. It is because that words are the messengers of the reason or will and beasts being deprived of reason have no neede neither of discourse nor of words their inarticular voice being to them sufficient to expresse their appetites and animall passions as joy and griefe and anger for those which would have that the beasts have also their language and that many have understood them as Tiresias Thales Melampus and Apollonius Tyanien are fables or rather follies Lame Q. WHerefore is it that the lame are more gluttonous and luxurious then those which have their legs equall and whole A. Because the food that they ought to imploy to the increase of the thighes or the legges enters not through all the members one being more short then the other or both imperfect which is the cause that the rest of the Aliment mounteth aloft and turneth into seed the superfluity whereof provoketh luxury Crooked persons Q. WHerfore is it that those which are crooked and curbed back't have ordinarily difficulty in breathing and have stinking breaths A. Because that their Lungs are by the same meanes rebaited and recurbed so that the Ayre being there stopped and shut up they breath with paine and the same Ayre being not free corrupts and putrifies there within them and then breathing it out stinkes Callus Q. HOw comes it that in a broken legge ill set there comes to bee a rupture or hard knot which the Latins call Callus which is more hard and more strong then the bone it selfe was before the Rupture A. It is because that Nature is provident in all things and hath more care of the parts offended then of those which are whole so as she distributes more abundantly nourishment unto them as a good father doth likewise to his sicke children and by this meanes the said parts are more fortified then they were before the same also hapneth unto Trees Gravell or Stone in the Bladder or Reines Q. From whence comes it that little children having the Ston or Gravell which the Latins call Calculus ingender within the bladder and aged men most often in their Reines A. It is because the little children have the conduits of the Reines very straite so that the urine running through like a channell of water trayneth with it by force a gravelly sand which is the matter of the Stone below within the Bladder but old men having the conduits more ample and large there is place enough to give way to the urine without trayning any matter which flowes in it neverthelesse when it is heapt together in great quantity it sometimes stops the conduits and is not suffer'd to descend so well in old men as in little children within the Bladder now this sand being made of certaine adust humours and too much boyled is reduced into powder and at last coagulated into a stone in the Reines Flesh Q. WHerefore is it that the flesh of young Animals corrupts sooner then that of the old A. Because that of the young is much more humid and of the superfluous humidity proceedeth the corruption Camelion Q. From whence comes it that the Camelion changeth his colour so often and takes that of the next body to which he is neerest neighbour A. The cause is that he hath his skinne so shining the which as a kinde of mirrour representeth the colours of the neighbour body diversly neverthelesse according to the reflection of the light for to proove the same it must be done in a bright day and in the Sunne-shine as I have seene it by experience they 7s ay the 7s ame of a Fish called Voulpe Of Candle Q. FRom whence comes it that the Flame of a Candle retires or with-drawes it selfe from that side if there be neare to it â—ron or some other cold thing A. To resolve this in a word it proceedeth from Antipathy and contrariety of qualities in the fire with other cold things Q. From whence comes it that the flame of a Candle onely in Winter and in moist times seemes blewish A. The same proceeds from a mingling of the light with the vapours and fumes which proceede from the Candle the which colour is furthered also by his lighted match proceeding from the mixture of his blacknesse with the light Gelded folkes Q. WHerefore is it that men Gelded which the Greekes call Eunuches have â—o beards A. Because they are too moist for as a field mediocrally moyst is fruitfull and in the contrary barren if it be too moyst likewise men of middle temperature have beards and men too moist as the gelded folkes children and women who otherwise are cold have no
Because they are very moist and charged with excrements and their hairs as I have formerly said are maintained and nourished with humidity The same thing one may say of young men and women and for the very same reason hornes fal not from gelded Deere nor the feathers from Capons as I have said heere before Q. But wherefore is it that old men become bald A. For the reason contrary to the precedent that is by declining with age naturall humidity consumes in them although they abound in corrupt excrements Q. Wherefore is it that bald men are esteemed more luxurious then other A. In the contrary we ought to say that they are more bald for being too much luxurious then luxurious for being bald for by force of drying their bodies and especially the braine which contributeth most to the act Venerian they become bald not retaining sufficient humidity to nourish the haires Q. Wherefore is it that bald persons are esteemed of others wicked and dangerous A. Because they are of a nature hot and dry and so are prompt hardy and cholericke if good education and nourture doth not moderate and correct them but also those persons that are of the same complexion are ordinarily judicious vigilant prudent and subtill Calxes Q. VVHerefore is it that one contrary ordinarily flies another neverthelesse Calx Sponge Cloath bran and many other dry things receive water very easily and imbibe and moisten A. We must observe that all bodies which have pores and subtill conduits some neverthelesse more close shut then others so then dry bodies which have pores shut admitteth not at all or very little of humidity and those which have the pores more open as the said things admit not more of themselves that is to say in as much as dry bodies but accidently because of the opennesse and laxity of their pones by which the humidity hath ingression Q. How is it that quicke Lyme breakes and fall in peeces being drenched with water A. In as much as the water insinuateth and penetrateth strongly without and within the parts of the Lyme opening the ties of it whereof followeth the division and separation Q. How is it that the Lyme quenched with water heateth and smoakes seeing that it ought rather to grow cold by the moist coldnesse of the water A. It is because the Lyme being a body well burnt in the Furnacâ— holds much of the fire and containes great quantity of fiery spirits the which bandeth and gathereth together against their contrary which is the water and worketh vigorously against it chafing and turning part of the same into fumes and vapours as those which breath out of a vessell full of water put upon the fire Wayes Q. FRom whence comes it that we finde the wayes more long which are to us unknowne then those which wee have often travelled A. It is because that wee determine and easily limit in our selves the way wee know and cannot limit that which we have never gone it seemes to us longer then it is Q. From whence comes it that a plaine smooth way although it be very easie as by fields and valleyes of great stretch it is much more trouble some then those which are unequall and rough A. It is because the plaine and smooth way is alwayes alike and that which is unequall and rough hath in it diversity and change which is agreeable to our nature and solaceth much more the incommodity that we receive of others as also that which is limited hath divers peeces and by retakes but in that which wee see in a long stretch it seemes to us infinite and to be without limit for the sight Graynesse Q. WHerefore is it that men beginneto waxe gray neare to the temples then behinde the head by reason whereof Homer calleth them Poliocrotapous that is to say to the gray temples A. Because that this part of the head is more watery humid and soft then the hinder part of the same and by so much more subject to the corruption of the humours which makes white the haires Q. How comes it that in age our haires become white A. Because as the Philosopher teacheth us old persons abound in flegme the which being white tincteth the haires in the same colour by which the haires are nourished Q. Wherefore is it that a man onely of all other Animals is properly said gray when Horses also become grisseled A. It is because that of other Animals where the haire fals all the yeare by little and little upon the Winter and then comes againe after as in Horses in Beeves and in Dogges or if they fall not as wooll doth not fall much from the sheepe it is because that such Animals live so few yeares that they cannot change their haires and colour but man is not of that nature so that his haire falls not yearely nor of so short life as the other Animals from whom the haire falls not it must be that in his age he still grisseleth and becomes wholly gray and in the end fully white by the abundance of moisture so farre that at last naturall heate being extinct in him by the default of radicall humidity which is associated with naturall heate Q. But how when other Animals having the same default and debilitation of radicall humidity and of naturall heate in their age wherefore shew they not the like effect A. This comes particularly to man in as much as according to the proportion of the corporall masse hee hath more quantity of braine then any other of the Animals Now the naturall heate debilitateth and diminisheth in him in his age and hee cannot conserve so great quantity of humidity so that this humidity superabounding leaveth him the naturall heate corrupts and the haires then receiving an evill nourishment whiteneth and representeth as I have said before by this whitenesse the colour of this corrupt humour which is a kind of flegme alwayes white Q. From whence comes it that there are men white before age and in the flower of their best time become gray A. The cause is labour travell torments affliction and sicknesses which doe often debilitate and often extinct before the time the power of naturall heate according to the saying of Pindarus in this Verse It sometimes happens in our way To meete a young man turned gray And Homer to this purpose Care sorrow griefe and dire distresse Gives the young head the old man s dresse Very feare it selfe horrour and the apprehension of an inevitable death hath so farre seized upon some men as we read of a kinsman of Francis Gonzagus Prince of Mantona who accused of treason became gray in the prison betwixt the evening and the morning Q. Wherefore is it that Horses become gray or griseld about the head more then any other kinde of Animal A. Because that they haue the bone which covers the braine much lesse hard considering the proportion of their bodies then any other Animal which is the cause as saith the
say they benignè agendum A. This is not as the vulgar commonly say that the Fever quartane and the Gout the Physitians cannot see looking all about for they know right well violent remedies doe take away the Fever quartane yea better then the Mountebanks and Empyricks but they proceed more discreetly then they for they love better you should travell your selfe with this Fever then to hazard your lives in giving you Antimony or Sow-bread for these are the violent remedies that beare away good and evill humours together and other corâ—asives so that in curing you of one evill they leave you many others and sometimes kill the malady indeed as I have seene and observed but the But or ayme of the prudent Physitian is to take away the sicknesse and restore the patient unto his intire health and perfect estate not to chase one malady by another as boyes doe with Elder-gunnes by shutting out one paper-pellet and leaving in another Forme Q. WHerefore is it that the Physitians establish not a primer forme for the first matter and principall of things naturall as they do for a first matter A. In asmuch that forme is not onely the principall which giveth being to things but also that it makes difference and distinction and to diversify the one from the other to which diversification nature is pleased above all for if she had but one forme commonto al matters all the things of the world should not onely be of one liknesse but also vniforme that 's to say one selfe same thing Q. A branch of a tree halfe dry and dead and the other halfe green and living is this one selfe same thing A. No they are truely two formes of bodyes but not mathematicall that is to say they are two bodyes different in nature and in forme but their dimentions are conjunct although different in quantity Lightning Q. HOw is it possible that lightning can produce so marvelous effects for it kils Animals breaking their bones without any wound appearing it breakes the sword within the scabard without hurting the sheath melteth the mony within the purse without hurting the purse A. The lightning which produceth these effects is extramly subtile and wholy firy which is the cause that it breakes bruseth or melts that which resisteth it and doth nothing of force to that which yeeldeth without any resistance Q. But what produceth it yet more contrary effects for it makes the raine to issue out of the vessell without any knowne passage whatsoever according to Lucretius and on the contrary according to Seneca it makes a thick skumme or conglutinate substance within the space of three dayes although the vessell be crack't and broken A. Ha! intruth these are marvells indeed but all founded upon naturall reasons for as reciteth Lucretius the lightning can by this subtil heat wholly exhale the wine as a vapour and as saith Seneca it doth it when the lightning suddenly decocts it by his extreame and unexpressable heat upon the surface of the wine producing a froth containing the wine as a skinne of a Goat Cold. Q. WHerfore is it that those whit hare seized with a great cold comming near a good fire fâ—ele a great griefe are like to swoun as wee proove ordinarily rubbing then our cold hands close to and before it A. It is because contraries working veheâ—ently and violently against contraries they must of necessity be subject to the passioÌ„ during that conflict especially the humane body the which being more temperate then those of other Animals feels much more of the combate of those two contrary extreames with griefe but to apply and moderate remedy let them warme themselves a farre off Q. Wherefore is it that cold things offend more the teeth and the nerves then the flesh A. Because that those parts are more terrestrial and by conscquent more cold then the flesh which holdes more of ayr and of fire so that adjoyning cold to another cold the subject is much more effected and offended Q. From whence comes it that the extreame parts of the body are blacke and as it were transpierced with the cold during the extremity of the winter although that in our interiours wee are warme A. It is because the extreame cold closeth and shutteth within the naturall heate and the cold seizeth onely upon the extremities of the outward members as when a powerfull enemy assaults the courtaines and outward walles of a strong place or Fort and constraines the besieged to keepe within the wals and Cittadell Q. From whence comes it that those which are seized with a great cold have their flesh looking as dead folkes and their visages tarnish't with a leaden colour A. Because the cold surmounteth the heate and congealeth the blood and for this cause old folkes for want of naturall heate become so tarnish and looke with a leaden colour Q. Wherefore is it that those which are chill with cold are so unperfecâ— in talking or speaking A. Because that the cold shutting and thickning the humidity bindes up their tongues and takes away the easinesse of its moving as also that their shaking caused by the cold causeth itso Q. Wherefore is it that the cold benumbeth and makes animals slothfull A. Because that it chaseth the naturall heate from the interiour parts and is the cause that the body being exterially seized with it the members are restrayned all stiffe and as taken and bound so as they are not able to exercise their functions and remaine all unable and benumb'd Fruits Q. WHerfore is it that of fruits some are within their parts unprofitable and are nothing worth to eate and others as Nuts and Chesnuts A. It is because that nature is so pleased with her diversity and neverthelesse shee so diversifieth with such a providence that shee intends principally to the generation and conservation of their kinds and it is therefore that shee hideth and shuts up within the seede of the fruits and puts on the out-side that which is least profitable to the production of the like Q. Wherefore is it that the fruits and such as are most tender little and furthest from their maturity and perfection are in so much the more bitter A. Because that with time they are decocted alwayes to more advantage ripening and becomming more sweete and savorous by the exhalation of the superfluous humidity and by the heating of the Sunne Q. Wherefore is it that vulgarly they hold that after raw fruite they must be temper'd with drinking wine A. Because that raw fruite boyling within the stomacke as must within the vessell as being hot moist and further being heated within the stomacke with naturall heate but wine being infused cocts the crudity humidity rebounding besides wine by his stroÌ„ger heat extincts the boyling of the raw fruite and abateth his waight but water although contrary to the quality of Wine is also very good and more wholesome after raw fruite although the common speech of drinkers say that it cooles and
nothing A. Because the instrument of the smell being moistned by the the Rheum is altered and depraved Q. If good and sweete Odours come from heate wherefore is it then that dunghils and the excrements of the belly which are very hot stinke neverthelesse and are of a very ill savour A. No too much no excesse hath no temperature and in these things there is not onely heat but an excessive boyling of them but to the good smel is required a temperature not an excesse Q How is it that fishes can smel things under the water which wee cannot A. This hath bin a doubt whether the fishes can smell and doe affect Odours under the water but Experience hath shewed that they can being drawne by subtill unces and sweet-smelling pastes that the Anglers and crafty Fishers make for baits to take them with and the Philosopher hath so determined it Now the Fishes receiving or perceiving the odours by the Fistulaes and Conduits that the Greekes and Latines call Branchia without any respiration or attraction of aire covet them because they have no lungs for the most part but in our parts wee cannot sucke the water without breathing and in breathing instead of ayre we attract water which choakes us Q. Wherefore is it that perfumes are not so sweete smelling and pleasing neare the fire especially if the fire be sharpe and scalding A. Because that the too much asperous he ate of the fire dissipateth that which is odoriferous and by that meanes the odour exhales with the fume but if the fire be moderate the odours are more easily sented Q. Wherefore is it that in Winter we sent lesse the perfumes and odours then in Summer A. Because that the cold thickens the ayre and yeelds them more soft and slowly and as immoveable to beare the odours as also that the odour proceeds as I have often said of a temperature hot and dry the cold taking much of the vertue and perfection of the odour Q. VVherefore is it that hidden flowers smell not so well as others A. Because that the terrestrial part mingling with the odour bemusts the point of the odour Q. Wherefore is it that dogges have not as good a sent in the Spring-time as in any other time of the yeare A. Because that the great quantity of flowers which yeeld divers odours in that season deceiveth the dogges nose and makes them to lose the sent of the fumes and traces of the beasts Birds Q. WHerefore is it that wee have divers kinds of passengerbirds and not of foure-footed beasts A. Because that those birds being very chilly flying the rigour of the Winter and therefore fly into hot regions as also that it is more easie for them to carry themselves other-where then for the other Animals and to search the regions more temperate Nature having given them to that end wings Q. Wherefore is it that Birds being covered with feathers the which should keepe them marvellous warme are neverthelesse more chilly then foure-footed beasts A. Because that the quilles of their feathers let loose and inter-opens their skinne and by this meanes give way and make more overture for the cold Q. Wherefore is it that Birds have their sight more sharpe and subtill then other Animals A. It is because they are composed of a matter more ayry and subtill because whereof they are light and can lift themselves up in the Ayre and some of them dare looke fixtly the Sun shining in their face even at noone-day Q. Wherefore is that Birds have neither bladder nor tonnell thereto A. Because they pisse not and therefore those parts were to them unprofitable Q. But wherefore pisse they not since they drinke A. Because they have need of a great quantity of humidity to nourish and entertaine their feathers withall and on which they imploy their drinke as also that by drinking they make their excrements more humid the dry and the moist issuing out by one and the same conduit Q. Wherefore is it that birds have no teeth A. Because that the matter of the teeth is imployed in their beake and that they cannot have both together as also that having their stomacks very hot they can digest their victuals without the wing it and by that reason they have no neede of teeth for Nature hath done nothing in vaine Q. VVherefore is it that birds in sleeping hide their heads under their wings A. Because they may avoide the cold from their heads Gold Q. WHerefore is it that Gold is the most heavy of all metalls seeing that according to the Philosophers and the Chymists themselues it is the least terrestriall A. Because it is extreamely solid and more decocted then any other of the metalls Q. Wherefore is it that all metals leave a thicke ordure or taint to the hands if by a frequent touching excepting onely Gold A. It is because that it is very well decocted and is the lesse fat for this fatnesse and ordure of other metalls is as a kinde of viscous grease Eares Q. VVHerefore is it that the Eares which have lesse of blood then any other part of the Face neverthelesse grow red and most then when wee blush with shame A. Because that the blood mounting with the heate to the visage covers us when we are ashamed runnes more willingly to the parts that are voide as to the Eares then to the others or else it is that they are nearer to the temples where the heat rankes it selfe the most often Q. From whence comes it that the Membrane called Mening or Tympan where lies the hearing breakes easily in the divers or those which swimme betwixt two waters A. It is because they are constrained to hold their breath a long time and in so doing this Membrane swells and the water comming to beate above it breakes it if they bring not some remedy as is the infusion of Oyle or stopping the Eares with a sponge or other such like things Q. But wherefore is it that in holding our breath out of the water this happens not to us by the impulsion of the Ayre A. Because that the ayre which comes to strike within ouâ— eares is not so grosse a body nor so strong as the water and so it cannot doe such a forcible effect Que. VVhat is the cause of the bitternesse of our eare waxe A. It comes from a putrified and corrupt humour which gathered together thickens and heats there within and being such can bee no other then bitter as are all things overcocted and rotten this humour neverthelesse is not unprofitable within the eares but being thickned fleas and other little flyes which may insinuate within the eares may trouble us are there taken by this conglutinate humour Q. From whence comes it that wee cough in scratching within the eares A. It is because there is a little conduit which answeres to the Lungs so that in rubbing or scratching within the eares there runneth often by this little conduit a little humidity which