friendly companions of sleepe Century 4. Of Plants Qu. WHerefore is it that very hot things as Water cresses Arsmart and the like doe grow in cold places and dry things as Reeds c. grow in moyst places An. Because nature would preserve a conveniency for every thing and agreeable to all which could not be unlesse one contrary in a contrary seate as hot in cold and cold in hot had beene situated As for example the juyce of an Orange which is cold to bee enclosed in a rinde of a very hot quality and the dry earth to bee encompassed with the moyst element of water and the cold ayre to be environed with the hot element of fire Qu. Wherefore is it that those Plants which grow wild are of longer continuance than those which are manured and cultivated by ingenious industry An. Because the cultivated spend their naturall vigour in the production of their fruite the other in the branch and extension of limbes in so much that Art seemeth rather to effeminate than encourage Nature Qu. Wherefore is it that those Plants which soone grow doe likewise soone decay A. Theophrastus indeed writes so but experience proves the contrary For Withyes Poplars Apple-trees Cherry-trees and Plumme-trees by cultivation attaine soone their full growth but then they as speedily decay But the garden Olive the Elme and others grow apace and yet are of a long continuance Qu. Wherefore is it that those Plants that now begin to decline bring forth a fruite more tastfull and sooner enripened An. Because the younger that have not yet attained their fulnesse of growth doe either suppeditate a crude and undigested humour to the fruite which hindereth it or else by the conversion of that humour to their growth but the ancient having now growne to their full quantity infuse not such a plentifull quantity of humour whereby the fruite may as it were be surfeited which it may more easily digest Qu. Wherefore is it that sower fruits are seldome worme-eaten and doe not so soone rot as other fruite An. Because all sower things are cooling piercing and extenuating by nature which qualities doe all resist putrefaction and therefore decayed Venison being steeped in Vinegar not onely resists the increase of a further putrefaction thereof but regaines to it its former sweetnesse Qu. Wherefore is it that grafted Plants bring forth more plentifully if the graft be againe grafted upon the same tree from whence it was cut An. Because Nature alwayes endeavours to comfort and cure a wound given not onely to sensitive Animals but also to the insensitive with a larger portion of aliment so that if a bone bee broken and carefully handled Nature sends it marrow in such plenty that the fracture is forthwith covered with a callous or thicke and hard skinne and afterwards becomes stronger in that part than before So also a Tree being cut in any part supplies it in like manner with such a quantity of sappe that in the place there groweth an exuberant knob or bunch Of Fishes Qu. VVHerefore is it that Oysters Cockles and the like shell-fish doe open against the Tyde although they bee farre from the Sea An. Either out of custome which they had when they were in their maritime habitacles at the certainty of the Tydes so to doe or else that naturally they feele in themselves the motion of the Sea by which they by their opening desire to feed and refresh themselves Qu. Wherefore is it that Sea-fish is usually better than that of fresh water An. The same may be demanded why River-fish is better than Pond-fish and Pond-fish better than Fen-fish and this better than Dike-fish Because these taste more of muddy impurity than those of the Sea for the Sea working admits no mudde and this appeares in River-mussels Vulgo Horse-mussels which savour of ranknesse of filth and the Sea-mussels are admitted for humane food the other rejected Qu. Wherefore is it that fresh water Fishes have windbladders the Sea fish none An. Because was necessary for the fresh Fish for its better navigation as I may say to have in it an ayery vessell to beare its body floating by the reason of the tenuity of the fresh water but the sult water Fish not by the reason of a grosser and stronger nature of the Sea and more apt for their swift and gliding supportation Of petty animals Q. VVHerefore is that unnecessary frogs and Mice doe breed as I may say of their owne accord seeing other animals for Mans use breed not but by propagation An. Even as the High Procurator of the great World provides store of all manner of Viands for his little world Man so also he chastiseth this neglecting Man when he subtracts and withdrawes from him the fruits of water earth Ayre and beasts for mans owne faults wherefore sometimes waters either abound by inundations sometimes by drought are extenuated and scarce sometimes the Ayre by contagion infects sometimes fire rageth so that from whence these breed it can no more be certainely affirmed than whence the swarmes of these Animals and the innumerable diseases of man doe also breed Qu. Wherefore is it that a Dormouse sleepeth so long without food An. Because fatnesse the pores being occluded or stopped by cold is condensed and when Animals remaine immote humours are lesse dissipated whereby it is that that fatnesse maintaines and sustaines them for naturall heate having no food to worke upon fasteneth upon superfluities and sleepe quencheth the appetite of thirst and hunger as it is very well said of the Dormouse by the Poet Tota mihi dormitur hyems pinguior illo Tempore sum quo me nil nisi somnus alit In English thus The tedious VVinter sleepe I then I batten And sleeping lose no flesh but rather fatten Qu. If the Dormouse sleepes so long is it not also necessary that it must make as long An. What else and that three Moneths or a quarter of a yeeres sleepe seemes to be shaped by the little beast for an example to man that he should sleepe likewise no more than the fourth part of 24 houres viz. 6 which by the circumference of the yeere doe containe one quarter Infants and children sleepe more the agedlesse for in them sleepe is sound in these slight as an argument of a longer shortly to ensue Of Major Animals Qu. VVHerefore is it that the Lyon is called the King of beasts An. Not because he is either stronger or more active than any other but for his Majestick courage because he seornes to lurke cowardly for his prey and feares no foure-footed fellow beast and rather spares a more imbecile creature than himselfe than tyrannically and basely expresse himselfe Qu. Wherefore is it that a Mare is more subject to abortion and miscarriage than a female Asse or Cow or any other beast An. Either because the courage of that kind of beast is animous and free and apt for running and leaping or that the Mare already great with
to requite a good with good is evill Bad to requite with bad 's a tricke o' th' Devill Bad to requite for good is most unjust Good to requite for good is good and just But good for ill is best so judge we must Q. Which of the two is more sufferable a Tyrant or hangman A. It is an easie question and yet a question Antisthenes the Philosopher was of opinion in behalfe of the Hangman For saith hee the Hangman kills the nocent but the Tyrant the innocent Of Money Qu. VVHat and whence is money A. Let her speak her selfe for when shee speakes all mouths are stopt nay can perswade more by silence than Cicero could with his Eloquence yet this she sayes of her selfe Terra fui primum latebris abscondita diris Nunc aliud regnum flamma nomenque dederunt Nec jam terra vocor licet en me terra paretur In English thus I first was earth enclosed deepe in ground The fire for me another name hath found Through earth the earth I sway where I abound Of Meteors Qu. VVHat is the reason of the Meteors An. The word Meteor signifies a thing drawne or lifted up on high because these imperfect bodies are engendred of exhalations or of vapors of the earth water and those are called Meteors and seeing that they are engendred not onely on high but also below and within the concavities of the earth those that write of this subject are very different in opinion Qu. Wherefore is it that sometimes we seeme to see the Starres fall An. Those are not Stars but Meteors caused of exhalations which being not great in quantity and drawne up to the lower Region of the Ayre taking fire fall in the likenesse of a Starre Q. What is the cause of the Ignis fatuus that either goes before or follows a man in the night An. It is caused of a great and well compacted exhalation and being kindled it stands in the aire and by the mans motion the Ayre is moved and the fire by the Ayre and so goes before or follows a man and these kind of fires or Meteors are bred neare Execution places or Church-yards or great Kitchins where viscous or slimy matter and vapours abound in great quantity Of Hayle Q. VVHat is to be thought the cause of Hayle Ans When by vertue of the Sunne and Starres a vapour is elevated it ascends to the middle Region of the Ayre but enters no farther which the environing cold by reason of its thinnesse penetrateth and driving out the warmth beginnes to turne the parts of the vapour into water and to thicken it but the cold because it is great congeleth those parts already turned into drops and fluide into a hardnesse and generates a greater or lesser Hayle according to the diversity of the cold and the vapour Sometimes also a vapour in the middle Region of the Ayre is converted into drops which in falling are congeled in the lowest Region of the Ayre by Antiperistasis and those drops by meeting together in their falling are congeled into a three-squar'd or angular haile and not sphericall or round Q. Wherefore is it that this watry impression is more frequent in the Spring than in any other time of the yeere A. Because the Spring is hot and moist by its temperature and by consequence most apt for the generating and elevating of vapors For Summer being hot and dry dryeth up and exhausteth the vapors Winter is cold and dry Autumne likewise cold but moist and these two last Quarters of the yeere many times permit not the vapors to bee dissolved For the materia of the hayle is very hot and therefore thinne and rare and is the sooner penetrable and convertible by the encompassing cold By the same reason it is that warme water in Winter will sooner be frozen than cold Of the small Hayle and Snow Q. VVHerefore is it that in March the Haile is usually smaller than at other times A. Their generation is the same but in quantity of heate different for being elevated up into the middle middle region of the Aire but in a lower place than the greater Hayle and by the cold being converted into droppes which are congealed extrinsecally before their fall into the forme of Haile but intrinsecally or inwardly by reason of the defect of cold they are softer and of the nature and quality of snow Q. Whence then proceedes the snow A. Out of a hot and moyst vapour drawne up to the lower part of the middle Region of the aire into which vapour the encompassing cold entereth by the reason of the vapors thinnenesse melts it into water and congeleth it in time into the similitude of tosed Wooll yet many times the snow while it falls through the lowest part of the aire is dissolved into raine by reason of warmth being then there and thence it happeneth that at one and the selfe same time snow falls on the hills and raine in the valleyes Of Raine Qu. WHence is the raine produced and generated A. When by the vertue of the Sunne and other Astres or Starres a hot moyst fumous and grosse vapour is drawne up to the upper part of the lower or to the lower part of the middle Region of the ayre and is dissolved into a cloud and the cloud into water and by its weightinesse tending to its center fals as being of a watry substance and falls in drops upon the earth and falling in greater drops it is commonly called a shower but falling in a lesse ponderous manner and with longer continuation we cal it raine Q. Whence is it that sometimes the raine seemeth to be red A. By the reason of anadust and dry earthlinesse which is mingled with the vapours that are elevated in a time of warmth Of Dew Qu. VVHence then hath the dew its causes A. The Dew is generated by a vapour weakly hot grosse and moyst which is elevated not much from the lowest part of the ayre and condensated or thickned by the nightly cold and dissolved into a water even as in an Alembicke the vapour a seending is converted into a water But the Dew most commonly falleth in the evening for at that time the lowest region of the aire is of a colder temperature Q. Wherefore is it that sheepefeeding on a Dew fallen on the grasse dye of the rot A. When a vapour participates much of the ayry moysture which is slimy and sweete and is dissolved into a Dew and falling upon the grasse and hearbs by the operation of the Sunne the watry part is exhaled leaving a kinde of mealy substance like a Sugar upon the leaves of trees and herbage and that is our now Manna And by the selfe same causes Laudanum is also generated in the Aire The sheepe then being much taken with the sweetnesse eate beyond their measure and surfet whereupon the gall being over-filled with choler this kinde of dew breeding it in them so abundantly breakes and that bile or
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
away out in the day time by the Sunne are warmed and subtiliated and in the night are againe grossened by the cold and being moved by both these meanes seeking a vent they shake the sides of the earth and cavernes or hollow places and many times breake it and make it tremble but oftener in the night And if they finde no issue many times they raise the earth in the manner of a hill where if a rupture be made they cast out ashes and stones and cause as it were Abysses and bottomlesse places which happening neare unto Rivers they swallow them up for a certaine distance but if these vapours happen under the current it selfe they force the water over the bankes and cause a particular deluge and inundation Qu. Wherefore is it that generally the Pestilence follows Earth quakes An. These vapours and spirits thus enclosed if they be venemous and break out they infect and corrupt the Ayre whence in the places where this happeneth a particular Pestilence must of necessity follow and mortality Of Windes Q. VVHence hath the winde its production An. The Winde is a cold and dry exhalation moved up and downe laterally about the earth For when it is hot it strives to passe through the regions of the ayre but the cold of the middle region of the ayre meeting with it beares it downe which exhalation by reason of the heat that is detained in it by its earthinesse reascends and is againe by the cold with violence cast down towards the earth But through the heate by which it alwayes tends upward likewise through the meeting of other exhalations it is not moved directly towards the face of the earth but side-long and that is called Winde Q. Whence is the whirlwind An. When two opposite Winds equall in force doe meete oppose each other either the one is repercussed or driven backe or descending from above downward and hath another wind in encounter which is ascending and so by their contention turne round and take up with them wooll straw leaves the like By the opposite winds are meant those that have their beginning frō divers parts of the earth as East West c. which are the foure principall And by the encounter of an East and South-winde a South-east winde blowes and so of the rest Of Thunder and Lightning Qu. VVHerefore is it that thunder maketh a sound so terrible An. By the reason of the violent eruption through the clouds in this manner when by the vertue of the Sunne and other Astres a vapour is drawne up and with that an exhalation even to the middle Region of the Ayre the vapour including or encompassing the exhalation thickens it into a cloud The exhalation included being pincht with the coldnesse thereof remaines within and fortifies it selfe and forcing it selfe against the sides of the ambient cloud by motion to an fro is kindled and not finding a way out it violently breakes the cloud and especially when another cloud is above it and that lower resisteth more strongly for then the exhalation being not fired cleaves the cloud and in the going out by the vehemency of the motion enkindles and so causeth the noise and sound and this noise is called Thunder and the coruscation or glittering is the Lightning although this bee at one instant yet we see the Lightning a good while before we heare the crack by reason of the subtilty of the sight and we many times see the fire and heare no sound especially in the evening in summer Q. What is the reason of that A. Because unlesse the sound bee very great before it comes to the eares it failes by the way of multiplication as it comes through the ayre or by its weaknesse informes not the aire nor the aire our eares and that the cloud is broken by the heating of the exhalation and by the violence of the eruption through the cloud the sound or noyse is made which is manifested by Chest-nuts roasting in the fire and by a bladder blowne full of winde which beeing violently pressed breakes and gives a cracke Q. Wherefore is it usually said Winters thunder and summers flood Never brings to England good A. Because that either of them in the clymate being unnaturall and out of season are hurtfull For in hotter clymates thunder is frequent by reason of the heate there abounding frō whēce it is generated but Northerne clymates as England is are of a cold temperature and so not apt in Winter to breed such vapours and exhalations by which it is caused and that happening which is rare with us no question but it portendeth an ill disposition of the aire which produceth divers effects according to the qualities thereof But for the summer-floods it is aparant that they bring with them their inconveniences as the decaying of grasse hay corn and the like and sometimes bears before it edifices bridges mills trees and many other very prejudiciall accidents Q. Wherefore is it that the lightning is said to goe with the thunder A. The Lightning is said to be oftententimes an exhalation very sulphury and venemous which violently breaking out of the cloud by its force penetrative power and subtilty tears down trees and sometimes fires them and steeples as Paules was by the melting of the Lead destroying cattle demolishing and consuming metalls and whatsoever resisteth it and sometimes a bolt comes with it which by the power of the fire and influences being decocted out of a vapour and an exhalation both terrestriall and mineral breaking through the cloud is as it were shot directly downewards and sometimes breakes downe Walls and bringing with it many sorts of disastres The Whiteway Qu. VVHat is that which in a faire night is seen in the heaven like a broad path A. To omit the erroneous opinions of the Ancients it is now generally held that that whitenesse which appeares in a bending length in cleare nights and faire proceedes from a confused light of many little stars which are in a small part of the heaven and the weaknesse of our sight being not able to perceive them by reason of the great distance of the Firmament where they are fixed we discerne not them but their confused light and then it can be no Meteor as some held Of Apparitions in the Aire Q. WHerefore is it that sometimes there appear strange colors in the aire A. The diversity of colors which seeme in the aire proceed by reason of a thick and dark cloud which is interposed betweene our view and certaine burning exhalations so that when wee see these flames through the cloude it seemes to us to be of divers colors but most commonly red and sometimes blew when the cloud is more moyst which colours are caused by the confusion of light and darknes as we ordinarily see by experience in our fires for if the smoak be grosse thick the flame passing through it shewes us the like colors It appears also in the necke of a Pigeon
very waters and thence come our naturall Baths Of Comets or blazing Starres Q. VVHerefore is it that many times there appeare blazing-starres An. The Comets or blazing-starres are of a hot and dry matter but thicke and as it were fat oyly viscous and gluy which is the cause they keepe fire the longer and according as it thickens more or lesse it is also the more or lesse cleare Qu. Whether are they naturall Starres orno An. No although many ancient Philosophers as Seneca and others and the ignorant vulgar to this day esteeme to be naturall For being of a matter as aforesaid elevated on high takes the resemblance of a celestiall body and that ignorance is grosse because the Stars are in the Heavens and these in the ayre a great distance below the Moone and is discovered by Astronomicall instruments Moreover the Starres follow one certaine and infallible course and motion neither increase or diminish nor change or alter as the Comets doe Q Wherefore are they called Comets A. Because the word Comet signifies both in Greeke and Latin Cometa quasi stella Comata that is to say hayry or shaggy because they have ordinarily divers branches which by reason of their height and distance seeme to us to be no bigger than a thred or haire Q. What do the Comets portend A. There are in the Comets two remarkable things their long continuance and the evills that they presage As for the durance or continuation it cannot bee determined how long or short because that dependeth upon the matter already gathered together and raised up as aforesaid Plynies opinion is that they continue at the most 80 dayes and at the least 7. Seneca remarks that in Nero's time there appeared a Comet for the space of 6 moneths and Iosephus writeth that the Comet which threatned Hierusalems totall destruction and extreame desolation flamed over that miserable City a whole yeares space before Titus came before it and beleagurd it Q. Wherefore are they held prodigious A. That the Comets are prodigious signes and presages of some great Monarch King or some great or eminent person of Pestilence Famine all Authors of note have ever observed it yea even the Vulgar it selfe holds this for such a certainty that in Nero's time a Comet beginning to appeare the Commonalty as Tacitus mentioneth suddenly began to stirre and to talke of no other affaires than who should succeede in the Imperiall Crowne Wee read also in the History of France that a little before the famous conflict of Carolus Murtellus against the Sarracens where there were of the Sarracens more than 365000 slaine two Comets appeared one which followed the Sunne rising and another the Sunne setting in the evening and because Histories are full of these relations it is contrary to my intent to bee Historicall but to continue in the causes of things Naturall Century 3. Qu. BVt wherfore is it that they presage all these evills A. Certainely this is a great secret and to affirme securely as I thinke wee must referre those signes to the threatnings of divine vengeance which gives us that notice before it afflicteth and punisheth us Neverthelesse as far as naturall reason dictateth wee may say that the Comets cannot generate nor be generated or be nourished and preserved any long time without a very great quantity of exhalations by the attraction wherof the earth is extreamely dryed by the extream heat and inferiour bodies also are participant of that aridity so that a scarcity of fruits followeth through the want of necessary moisture thence famine frō famine dearth an ill nourishment from that the intemperance of the aire concurring also a general sicknes or Pest and many other maladies and a mortality Q. But again wherefore is that by long experiēce of precedent ages it is observed that Comets are particularly messengers of the death of some Monarch or great personage A. The reason of this is either the courages of great persons are also more susceptible or capable of all impressions and by living more delicately are more subject to sharp maladies or else that the death of inferior persons is not so remarkable as that of Princes and therefore they seeme to threaten them more particularly than others Of Minerals Qu. WHat is to bee held concerning those which are called Minerals A. This that there are 3 principall sorts of Minerals Metals Stones and a third pecies which comprehends many kinds of Minerals different one from another which Species as yet hath no name proper Q. What doth nature determine touching the generation of Metals A. The common matter of Metals are exhalations and vapours inclosed within the entrailes of the earth which comming together doe conglutinate and adhere one to another by cold which fastneth stones and other hard and solid bodies one to another for vapors enclosed and condensed by cold first resolve into water and the exhalations by the means of the heate of the Sun which penetrates even into the bowels of the earth a kind of burnt earth mingling with them and by such concretions and mixtures is the generation of Metalls which by this meanes are nothing else but water condensed by cold with some terrene matter Q. Wherefore is it then that they are so hard An. That the water giveth them the better part of their generation it is easily judged because being heated they are fluide like water and by cold they are againe condensed into hardnesse And if they were of earth onely they would by fire become harder as earth doth Qu. Wherefore is it then that the Chynicks hold that Metalls in generall are generated of Sulphur and Mercury A. 't is true they hold so and say they because they are ever found in Mynes joyning to the Metalls and moreover that metalls are resolved into them But these reasons are as fallible as their Authors For moreover than that Sulphur and Quicksilver which they tearme their Mercury are not alwayes found joyning with the Metalls by the same reason Stones and other minerals should bee the matter of Metalls Qu. Wherefore is it that Metalls being melted and running doe not moysten or wet according to their watry quality An. Because they participate with drought which hinders humectation or moystning and by the same cause they running over moysture drinke up none because the due mixture of droughth resisteth it There are many curious considerations upon this subject concerning the third species of Mineralls which are Sulphur Alume Vitriol Arsenicke Orpment Salts of all sorts as Salt Saltpetre Salgemme Sal Armoniack Sal-nitre and Bitumen also Christall and glasse in many famous Authors as Pliny l. 33. 34. Albert. Mag. demineralib and Cardanus lib. 5. subtil to whom I referre the curious Reader Of Vegetables not sensitive Qu. VVHerefore are Hearbes Trees and the like tearmed Vegetables insensitive An. Because they are different from the sensitive as Man and other Animals which are sensitive Vegetables which is to say they have
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