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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
fire_n	fall_v	fire_v	let_v	7,124	5	6.8599	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A40528	Meteors, or, A plain description of all kind of meteors as well fiery and ayrie, as watry and earthy, briefly manifesting the causes of all blazing-stars, shooting stars, flames in the aire, thunder, lightning, earthquakes, rain, dew, snow, clouds, sprigs, stones, and metalls / by W.F.	Fulke, William, 1538-1589.; F. W. Observations on Dr. F. his booke of meteors.	1655 (1655)	Wing F2260A; ESTC R28245	64,212	186

Exhalation received into the pores of their face and eyes maketh their face to swell and break out into a Leprosy and also dryeth up the Chrystalline humour of their Eyes so that consequently they must needs be blind Eutropius sheweth that the same day in which Marcus Tullius Cicero was born a certain Virgin of Rome riding into Apulia was stricken with Lightning so that all her garments being taken from her without any rending she lay starke naked the lasing of her breast being undone and her hose-garters untyed yea her bracelets collars and rings being all loosed from her Likewise her horse lay dead with his bridle and girts untyed The places of them that are burnt with Lightning are colder then the rest of their bodyes either because the greater heat draweth away the lesser or else because that by the great violence the vital heat is quite extinguished in that place The Sea-Calf is never hurt with Lightning wherefore the Emperours Tents were wont to be covered with their skins The Bay Trees and Box Trees are never or seldom stricken with Lightning The Cause of these may be the Hardness of their Skinne which hath so few Pore-holes that the Exhalation cannot enter into them The Eagle also among Fouls is not stricken with Lightning Wherefore the Poets feigne that the Eagle carrieth Jupiters Armour which is Lightning The Reason may be the thickness and dryness of her feathers which will not be kindled with so swift a fire Of Storme Winds A Storme Wind is a thick Exhalation violently moved out of a Cloud without inflammation or burning The Matter of this Storme is all one with the Matter of Lightning that hath been spoken of namely it is an Exhalation very hot and dry and also gross and thick so that it will easily be set on fire but then it hath another name and other Effects The Form or Manner of the generation is such When abundance of that kinde of Exhalation is gathered together within a Cloud which needs will have one way out or other it breaketh the cloud and causeth Thunder as it hath been taught before but if the matter be very thick and the Cloud somewhat thin then doth it not rend the Cloud but falling down beateth the Cloud before it and so is carried as an arrow out of a bowe It doth always goe before a great sodain showre For when the Cloud is broken the water must needs fall down Also it is so gross and so thick that it darkneth the Air and maketh all the Lowest Region of the Air to be in a manner as a dark Smoaky Cloud It causeth Tempests in the Sea and Wonderfull great Danger to them that bear Sayle whom if it overtake it bringeth to utter destruction So sodain is this kinde that it cannot be resisted with sodain helpe so violent it is that seeble force cannot withstand it Finally It is so Troublesome with Thunder Lightning Rayne and Beasts besides these Darkness and Cold that it would make men at so neer a Pinch to be at their Wits End if they were not accustomed to such Tumultuous Tempests Wherefore it were profitable to declare the Signes that goe before it to the End Men might beware of it But they are so common to other Tempests that either they are known well enough or else being never so well known in a Seldom Calamity they would little be feared The Sea-ships subject to more Danger have more Helpe if it be used in Time But no Signes foreknowne can profit the Dweller of the Land to keep his House from Ruine except it were to save his Life from the fall of his Mansion The sudden violence of this Tempest to him is more seldome times but more incurable when it commeth then to the Mariner who hath some Ayd to look for by his comming the other if he escape with his life may comfort himself that he was neer a great danger and cast with himself to build up his House again Of Whirlwinds A Whirlwind is a Wind breaking out of a Cloud Rouling or Winding round about overthrowing that which standeth neer it and that which commeth before it carrying it with him aloft in the Air. It differeth from a Stormy Wind in three points First in the Matter which is less in Quantity and of thinner Substance Secondly in the Moving which is Circular Winding about whereas the Storme bloweth Aslope and Sidelongs Also a Whirlwind in the Moving divideth not it self abroad and bloweth Directly as the Storme doth And Thirdly in the manner of the generation for a Storme doth always come out of one Cloud but a Whirlwind sometime is Caused by means of two Contrary Winds that meet toether In like manner as we see in the streets of Cities where the wind is beaten back from two walles meeting in the middest of the street there is made a little whirle-wind which whisking round about taketh up the dust or strawes and bloweth it about after the very similitude of the great and fearefull whirlewind The reason of the going about is this that when the walls beat back the wind from them which aboundeth in that place and those winds when they meet by reason of equall force on both sides can neither drive one the other back againe nor yet passe thorrow one the other it must needs be that they must both seek a way on the side at once and consequently be carried round about the one as it were pursuing the other untill there be space enough in the aire that they may be parted asunder The matter of a whirlewind is not much differing from the matter of storme and lightning that is an Exhalation hote and drie breaking out of a cloud in divers partes of it which causeth the blowing about Also it is caused as it hath been said by two or more windes blowing from divers places which may be of particular causes that have been shewed before in the Chapter of windes this tempest is noysome to man and beast Sea and Land things living and life lacking For it will take up both men and beasts stones and clods of earth which when it hath borne a great way will not be so curteous as to set them downe againe but negligently letteth them fall from a great height or else violently throweth them downe to the earth It breaketh Trees winding them about and pulling them up by the roots It turneth about a Ship and bruiseth it in peeces with other mischiefes besides Of fired Whrlewinds SOmetime a whirlewind is set on fire within the cloud and then breaking forth flyeth round like a great cart-wheele terriblie to behold turning and over browing all drie things that it commeth neer as Houses Woods Corn Grasse and what soever else standeth in the way It differeth not from a whirlewind saving that it is kindled and set on fire so appearing else the generation of both is called one Of Circles THe Circle called Halon is

Meteors OR A plain Description of all kind of Meteors as well Fiery and Ayrie as Watry and Earthy BRIEFLY Manifesting the Causes of all Blazing-Stars Shooting-Stars Flames in the Aire Thunder Lightning Earthquakes Rain Dew Snow Clouds Springs Stones and Metalls By W. F. Doctor in Divinitie LONDON Printed for William Leake at the Crown in Fleet-street between the two Temple Gates 1655. To the Reader I Shall not beg your pardon for publishing this Book for as 't is none of mine being written by a famous and learned Divine so I doe not set it forth relying on my own judgement but had the opinions ●nd approbation of divers persons of known abilities who knew best what is most usefull for publique Benefit And I may without breach of Modesty affirm that there is not in our Language any Booke of so small a bulke containes so much of the Doctrine of the Meteors We daily behold and view divers Meteors but very few are skill'd in their Causes but those that are not may be informed And I must tell you also that this Book on perusall hath been found so advantagious that a person of quality hath lately taken paines to make divers worthy Observations upon it which here I have subjoyned because you should not pay for two Books instead of one These Observations were never published till now and I trust thou wilt find the Author did thee a Courtesie Farewel The Table The first Booke WHy Meteors be called Unperfectly mixed 3. Why they be called perfectly mixed 3. The generall cause of all Meteors and first of the materiall cause 4. The places in which they are generated 10. The Second Book of fiery Meteors 13. The generation of the Impression called Burned Stubble or Sparkles of fire 14 Torches 15 Dancing or leaping Goates ibid. Shooting and falling Stars 16 Burning Candles 18 Burning beams and round pillars ibid. Burning Spares ibid. Shields Globes or Bowles 20. L●mps ibid. Flying Dragons or fire Drakes ibid. The Pyramidal pillar like a Spire or broched steeple 23 Fire scattered in the Aire ibid. Lights that goe before men and follow them abroad in the fields in the night season 24 Helena Castor and Pollux 27. Flames that appeare upon the haires of men and beasts 29. Comets or blazing Stars 30 Apparitions 35 Colours wide gapings and deep holes which appear in the clouds 36. Wide gaping ibid. Round openi●g Hiatus 37. The third Book of Airy Impressions 37. Of Winds 38. Earthquakes 41. Divers kinds of Earthquakes 43 How so great winds come to be under the earth 46 The signs and tokens that go before an Earthquake most commonly 47 Thunder 50 Lightning 55 Fulgetrum ibid. Coruscation 57 Fulgur 58 The fourth kind called Fulmen 59. The first kind 60 The second k●nd 62 The third kind ibid. The marvailes of Lightning and their causes ibid. Storme Winds 67 Whirle winds 70 The fired Whirlewind 72 Circles 73 The Rainbow 77 The Milk way called of some the way to S. James and Watling-street 81 Beames or streames of light appearing through a cloud 86 Of Many Suns 89 Many Moons 92 Wonderfull apparitions 94 The fourth Booke Of watry Impressions 100 Of Clouds 101 Mists 103 Empty clouds 104 Raine 106 The signes of Raine 109 Monstrous or prodigious Raine 111 Dew 115 Hoare frost 117 Haile Snow 118 120. Springs and Rivers 121 Fountaines Brooks Rivers 123 Lakes 125 Hot Baths ibid. The divers tasts that are perceived in wells 126 A recitall of such Rivers and Springs as have marvelous effects whereof no natural caus can be assigned by most men although some reason in a few may be found 127 Of the Sea 132 The saltnesse of the Sea 133 The ebbing and flowing thereof 134 The fifth Booke Of earthly Meteors or bodies perfectly mixed 135 Of Earth● 136 Liquors concrete 139 Metals 142 Gold 143 Silver 145 Copper 146 Tynne 148 Lead ibid. Iron 149 Quicksilver 150 Stones 151 The divers kinds of stones 153 The vertue of stones 154 FINIS THE FIRST BOOK FOr as much as wee intend in this Treatise to declare the causes of all those bodies that are generated in the earth called Fossilia as well as those other Impressions named of their height Meteors which no writer hitherto hath done that we have seen the common definition given by the most Writers in no wise will serve us and whether we may borrow the name of Meteoron to comprehend the whole subiect of our worke we are not altogether out of doubt although the Philosopher deriving it from doubtfulnes giveth●us some colour so to take it and peradventure we might be as well excused to apply it to Minerals as other authors are to use it for earthquakes yet to avoid all occasions of cavilling at words we shall both define and also describe the subject of our matter on this manner It is a body compound without life natural and yet to stop one hole because here wanteth the name of the thing to be defined it is no new thing to them that have read Aristotles workes to find a definition of that whereof there is no name But what need you be so precise will some man say meane you so to proceed in all your discourse no verily but because many of quick iudgement not considering the stile to bee attempered to the capacitie of the readers will impute the plainesse to the ignorance of the Author wee thought good in the beginning to pluck the opinion out of their minds that as the common saying is they may know wee have skill of good manners though we little use them The Meteors are divided after three manner of wayes First into bodies perfectly and imperfectly mixed Secondly into moist impressions and drie Thirdly into fiery airy watry and earthly According to this last division we shall speake of them in foure bookes following but first we must be occupied a little in the generall description of the same that afterward shall be particularly treated of Why they be called imperfectly mixed THey are called imperfectly mixed because they are very soon changed into another thing and resolved into their proper elements of which they do most consist as do all impressions fierie airie watry as snow into water clouds into waters c. Why they be called perfectly mixed THe last sort namely earthly Meteors are called perfectly mixed because they will not easily be changed and resolved from that form which they are in as be stones metalls and other mineralls According to the qualitie of the matter they are divided into moist and drie impressions consisting either of Vapors or Exhalations Vapors are called moist and exhalations drie which termes must be well noted because they must be much used Of the general causes of all Meteors and first of the material cause THe matter whereof the most part of Meteors doth consist is either water or earth for out of the water proceed vapors and out of the earth come exhalations Vapor as the Philosopher saith is

elements Earth Water Aire and Fire one compassing another round about saving that the waters by Gods commandement are gathered into one place that the land might appear The highest is the spheare of the Fire which toucheth the hollownesse of the moons heaven the next is the aire which is in the hollownesse of the fire the aire within his hollownesse comprehendeth the water and the earth which both make but one spheare or Globe or as the common sort may understand it one ball So each element is within another as scales of a perch are one above anothes or to use a grosse similitude as the peeles of an Onion are one within another after the same sort from the highest heaven to the earth that is lowest one part that is greater compasseth round about another that is lesser But for this present purpose it is to be knowne that the aire is divided into three regions the highest the middle and the lowest The highest because it is next to the region of the fire is exceeding hot the lowest being next the earth and waters is temperate and by repercussion or striking backe of the Sunne beames waxeth hot and by absence of them is made cold being subject to winter and summer The middle region of the aire is alwaies exceeding cold partly because the sunne beames cannot be cast back so high and partly because the cold that is there betweene the heat above and the heat beneath it is so kept in that it can not get out so that it must needs be excessively cold for the water and the earth being both cold Elements after the Sunne setting in the night season doe coole the aire even to the middle region But in the morning the Sunne rising warmeth the aire so farre as his beames which are beaten backe from the earth and the water can extend and reach which is not so high as the middle region and by heat on both sides is inclosed and kept saving that a little thereof falleth downe in the night which the next day with much more is driven back againe Wherefore this region being so cold is dark and cloudy in so much that some doting Divines have imagined purgatory to be there in the middle region of the aire In the highest region be generated Comets or blazing stars and such like of divers sorts In the middle region clouds rain stormes winds c. In the lowest region dew frost hoar-frost mists bright rods candles burning about graves and gallowses where there is store of clamy fattie or oily substance also lights and flaming fires seen in fields c. And thus much for the general causes of all Meteors THE SECOND BOOKE Of Fiery Meteors A Fiery impression is an Exhalation set on fire in the highest or lowest region of the aire or else appearing as though it were set on fire and burning They are therefore divided into flames and Apparitions Flames are they which burn indeed and are kindled with fire These are discerned by four ways by the fashion of them by their place by the abundance of their matter and by the want of their matter Their placing is after the abundance and scarcity of the matter whereof they consist for if it be great heavy and grosse it cannot be carried so far as the middle region of the ayre and therefore is set on fire in the lowest region if it be not so great light and full of heat it passeth the middle region and ascendeth to the highest where it is easily kindled and set on fire According to their divers fashions they have divers names for they are called burning stubble torches dauncing or leaping Goates shooting or falling starres or candles burning beames round pillars spears shields Globes or bowles firebrands lampes flying Dragons or fire drakes painted pillars or broched steeples or blazing starres called Comets The time when these impressions doe most appeare is the night-season for if they were caused in the day time they could not be seen no more then the stars be seen because the light of the Sunne which is much greater dimmeth the brightness of them being lesser Of the generation of the impression called burning stubble or sparkles of fire The generation of this Meteor is this when the matter of the Exhalation is in all parts alike thin but not compacted or knit together then some part of it being caryed up into the highest Region by the fiery heat is set on fire before another part that cometh up after it and so being kindled by little and little flieth abroad like sparkles out of a chimney insomuch that the common people suppose that an infinite number of stars fall down whereas it is nothing else but the Exhalation that is thin kindled in many parts sparkling as when sawdust or cole-dust is cast into the fire Of Torches TOrches or firebrands are thus generated when the matter of the exhalation is long and not broad being kindled at one end thereof in the highest region of the aire it burneth like a torch or firebrand and so continueth till all the matter be burnt up and then goeth out none otherwise then a Torch when all the stuffe is spent must needs burne no longer Of dancing or leaping Goates DAncing Goates are caused when the exhalation is divided into two parts as when two torches be seen together and the flame appeareth to leap or dance from one part to the other much like as bals of wild fire dance up and down in the water Of shooting and falling stars A Flying shooting or falling star is when the exhalation being gathered as it were on a round heape and yet not throughly compacted in the highest part of the lowest region of the ayre being kindled by the sodaine cold of the middle region is beaten backe and so appeareth as though a starre should fall or slide from place to place Sometime it is generated after another sort for there is an exhalation long and narrow which being kindled at one end burneth swiftly the fire running from end to end as when a silk thred is set on fire at the one end Some say it is not so much set on fire as that it is direct under some Star in the firmament and so receiving light of that star seemeth to our eies to be a Star Indeed sometimes it may be so but that i● is not so alwayes nor yet most commonly it may be easily demonstrated The Epicureans as they are very grosse in determining the chiefe goodness so they are very fond in assigning the cause of this Meteor For they say that the stars fall out of the firmament that by the fall of them both thunder and lightning are caused for the lightning say they is nothing else but the shining of that Starre that falleth which falling into a waterie cloud and being quenched in it causeth that great thunder even as hot Iron maketh a noise if it be cast into cold water But it is

evident that the starres of the firmament cannot fall for GOD hath set them fast for ever he hath given them a Commandement which they shall not passe And though they should fall into the clouds yet could they not rest there but with their weight being driven down would cover the whole earth For the least starre that is seen in the firmament is greater then all the earth Here will step forth some merrie fellow which of his conscience thinketh them not to be above three yards about and say it is a loud lie for he can see within the compasse of a bushell more then 20 stars But if his bushell were on fir● 20 mile of I demand how bigge it would seeme unto him He that hath any wit will easily perceive that starres being by all mens confession so many thousand miles distant from the earth must needs be very great that so far off should be seen in any quantity Thus much for the shooting or falling starres Of burning Candles WHen the Exhalation carried up into the highest part of the ayre is in all parts thereof of equall and like thinness and also long but not broad it is set on fire and blazeth like a candle until the Exhalation be quite consumed Of burning Beames and round Pillars THese are caused when the Exhalation being long and not very broad is set on fire all at once and so burneth like a great beame or logge The difference of Beames and Pillars is this for beams are when they seeme to lie in length in the ayre but they are called Pillars when they stand right up the one end neerer to the earth then the other Of Burning Speares BUrning speares are generated when a great quantity of exhalations which may be called a dry cloud is set on fire in the middest and because the cloud is not so compact that it should suddenly rend as when thunder is caused the fire breaketh out at the edges of the cloud kindling the thin Exhalations which shoot out in great number like fiery speares or darts long and very small wherefore they continue not long but when they fayle within a short while after more fire breaking out they shoot as many more in their place and likewise when they are gone others succeed if the quantity of the matter will suffice more then a douzen courses This impression was seene in London Anno Dom. 1560. the thirty day of Ianuary at eight of the clock at night the ayre in all other places being very darke but in the North-east where this cloud burned it was as light as when the day breaketh toward the Sunne rising in so much that plaine shaddow of things opposite was seene The edge of this cloud was in the fashion like the Raynebow but in colour very bright and oftentimes casting forth almost innumerable darts of wonderfull length like squibs that are cast into the ayre saving that they move more swiftly then any squibs Of Shields Globes or Bowles THese Meteors also have their name of their fashion because they are broad and appeare to be round otherwise their generation differeth not from the cause of the like impressions before mentioned Of Lampes THe Lampe consisteth of an Exhalation that is broad and thick but not equally extended namely smaller at one end then at another which being kindled about the middest thereof burneth like a lampe The cause why as well this impression as many other appeareth round is not for that alwaies they are round indeed but because the great distance causeth them to seem so For even the square formes far off seem to be round 〈◊〉 is written that a Lamp fell down at Rome when Germanicus Caesar set forth forth the fight of sword players Of flying Dragons or fire Drakes Flying Dragons or as Englishmen call them fire-Drakes be caused on this manner When a certaine quantity of ●apors are gathered together on a heap ●eing very neere compact and as it were ●ard tempered together this lump of ●apors ascending to the region of cold ●forcibly beaten back which violence ●f moving is sufficient to kindle it ●lthough some men will have it to be ●used between 2 clouds a hot and a ●●ld then the highest part which was ●iming upward being by reason more ●btill and thin appeareth as the Dra●ns neck smoking for that is was ●ely in the repulse bowed or made ●●oked to represent the Dragons belly ●e last part by the same repulse turned ●ward maketh the tayle appearing ●aller for that it is both further off ● also for that the cold bindeth it ●is dragon thus being caused flyeth ●ng in the ayre and sometime turneth ●nd fro if it meet with a cold cloud eat it back to the great terrour of 〈◊〉 that behold it of whom some 〈◊〉 it a fire Drake some say it is the ●ill himselfe and so make report ●thers More then 47 yeeres ago● on May day when many young folk went abroad early in the morning remember by six of the clocke in th● forenoone there was newes come to London that the Devill the same morning was seen flying over the Thames afterward came word that he lighte● at Stratford and there was taken an● set in the Stockes and that though h● would fane have dissembled the matte● by turning him selfe into the likenes● of a man yet was he known well enoug● by his cloven foot I knew some the● living that went to see him and returning affirmed that he was seen flying in the ayre but was not take● prisoner I remember also that som● wished he had been shot at with Gun● or shafts as he flew over the Thame● Thus do ignorant men iudge of the things that they know not As for th● Devill I suppose it was a flying Dr●gin whereof we speake very fearefu● to looke upon as though he had 〈◊〉 because he moveth whereas it is n●thing else but clouds and smoake 〈◊〉 mighty is God that he can feare 〈◊〉 enemies with these and such like op●rations whereof some examples may be found in holy Scripture Of the Pyramidall Pillar like a spire or broached Steeppe THis sharpe poynted pillar is generated in the highest region of the ayre and after this sort When the Exhalation hath much earthly matter in it the lighter parts and thinner as their nature is ascending upward the grosser heavier and thicker abide together in the bottome and so is it of fashion great beneath and small poynted above and beeing set on fire it is so seene and thereof hath his name Of fire scattered in the ayre FIre scattered in the ayre or illuminations are generated in the lowest region of the ayre when very drie and hot Exhalations are drawne up and meeting with cold clouds are sent back again which motions doe set them a fire whose parts being not equally thick or ioyned together seeme as though fire were scattered in the ayre Yea sometimes the whole ayre seemeth to burne as though it

to the body of a tree also with armes● branches leaves and fruits This Metal Silver lacketh sufficient heat and therefore commeth neither to the colour solidity nor perfection of Gold and is generated in cold countries neer unto the North and South Poles in so great quantity that the Husbandmen when they plow their ground turn up silver among he clods in their daily labours which they do hide and conceal least the greedy Princes for Coveteousness of the Mettal should overturn and destroy their land The Gold Mines are contrariwise most found in the hot Countries of India and Aethiopia because in them is sufficient of heat for that unhappy generation This Silver also the Alchymists would fain make by Ai● but Mercury the chief Master of the Work is so subtile and so sly that nothing can hold him nothing can kill him for if the glass be not very thick he will soon break out of prison and so there is nothing left Of Copper COpper in colour comming neerest to Gold being not so solid nor massy for of all Metal Gold is the heavyest giveth way to Corruption being infected with that green Mineral Copperas Hereof be divers kindes Brass Latin and such like which differ in digestion the Copper being purest is of best digestion and neerest unto Gold and so the rest in like degrees Copper is most like Silver in the weight and in the hammering wherefore the Alchymists have learned to make it white that it deceiveth mens sight and handling but the Gold miths do easily try it and by the taste of counterfeit Silver make Copper again Copper or Brass doth always grow neer to the Mine of Copperas which running with it in the digestion or natural concoction hindereth it of perfection maketh it to stink and to be eaten of a green rust Much adoe the Alchymists have to tu●n it into Gold if it might be they dispute very reasonably and conclude almost necessarily in their Talk that it may be converted into Gold as a body that wanteth little of perfection which may be easily added unto it but in conclusion of the work it is an harder matter to bring to pass then it was to purpose before they had done it to build an Abbey at every Miles end upon Salisbury Plain as one was minded Of Tinne TInne whereof great plenty groweth in the West parts of England in beauty and colour commeth neerest to Silver and of Silver wanteth nothing but solidity and hardness for Tinne is raw and undigested metall also very porose and compact which causeth it to crash when it is broken or bitten so it faileth of heat in the commixtion and also sufficient digestion in the Earth otherwise it is a fair and profitable metall to serve the use of them unto whom Silver and Gold are not so plentifull Of Lead LEad also found in great abundance within this Realm is a raw and undigested metall as Tinne is but yet of better digestion then commixtion for it is mixed with a gross earthy substance which maketh it to be in colour so black and so fowl to corrupt so that of the same Fumes and Exhalations which if they had been pure and well digested if the place and matter would have suffered should have ben concrete into Silver for lack of the same Lead is generated which comming plentifully doth better service then Silver Of Iron IRon the most necessary and profitable of all other metals and yet as ill used of many as any other is generated of such substance as Silver is but mixed with a red Mineral which ●ateth it with red rust and also being of too extreame digestion passing ●ll other metals in hardness And as other metals to the perfection of Silver want sufficient concoction whereby ●hey come not to the same hardness ●o Iron passeth and exceedeth Silver in ●mmoderate digestion But though it ●ome not to the perfection of Silver God forbid that all Iron had been tur●ed into Silver for then we should ●ore have missed it then silver or gold ●e want of which would hinder us ●othing at all Of Quick-silver THough Quick-silver be no metal yet because it is the mother of all metals something is here to be spoken of it There be divers and sundry opinions both of the generation and also the qualities of it which make the generation hard to find out For if the quality were certainly agreed upon there were an easier way found to try out the generation Some affirm that it is exceeding hot and that they would prove by the swift peircing thereof into other things that be porose Others say it is exceeding cold and that they prove by the exceeding weight of it As for the peircing they say it is caused of the exceeding moistness of which quality both parts d● grant that it is Concerning the generation some have said that it is pur● and Elemental water some again have thought that it droppeth out o● heaven and is a part of the heavenl● stance And others say that it is generated in the Clouds and falleth down in the feilds in a Circle on those round Circles which are seen in many feilds that ignorant People affirm to be the rings of the Fairies dances It is certain that Quick-silver hath divers times faln out of the Clouds as we have declared in the Treatise of Wonderfull and Marvellous Raine but whether it so fall in ●ircles it is doubtfull The most probable opinion is that it is generated of moyst Vapors of the Earth coacted by cold much like to Water as Brimstone is of hot fumes coacted by cold much like to fire And thus much of metals Of Stones STones the fourth kind of Earthly mixed bodies have two manner of generations by most contrary qualities for heat doth harden moist bodies into stones and we see that clay it maketh exceeding hard brick Also the Thunderbolts in the clouds are generated by heat as before hath been shewed But cold doth by congealing generate many more stones then heat doth for the most part of all the stones that are digged out of the Earth are generated by cold which is able to convert any other kind of mixed substance into stone as hath beene partly shewed in the nature of wels and springs of which there be some in England which by their cold turne wood or any like thing into stones I have seene a peece of rotten wood which to sight was very light and like wood but in handling a very stone that was taken out of such a Wel. Also of other things taken out of the Earth turned into stones I have seene and found my selfe fl●●s with head and wings very hard stones also I have seen a heart a birds tongue a beasts stone a peare a plumme and divers other things turned into hard stones Of divers kinds of stones STones may first be divided into rude and beautifull the rude containe those great Rocks which are generated by many small parts