drowsie and the senses dull when the sensitive motions are idle for want of work that is having no variety of objects presented to them that is of such kinde of works for the innate matter never ceaseth to move although the motions are not alwayes agil and quick nor after one and the same manner but when they alter the motions as I may say more proper then to slacken them they do as it were cast anchor pulling down their sail going as it were under hatches and the figure that is like a ship where the motions of the breath are like waves of water that heave it up and then sink down but saile not nor steer not to any Coast and the sensitive innate matter which is in this action like Mariners when they work under the hatches drawing and winding up the slimy humours in the body like ropes by attractive motions staying and setling the loose parts by retentive motions placing and putting disordered parts into their proper places by disgestive motions and all the motions busiely imployed some mending the figure stopping the leaks dearning and sewing together the torne sailes oyling and greasing the keel pitching and tarring the cresses tying and twisting the roaps drawing the superfluous moisture to the gutter ready to be pumpt out sweeping all the rubbish and dirt on a heap ready to be flung out some running up and returning from the deck which are the pores of the skin but the rational innate matter is the master of the Animal ship and the sensitive innate matter as the Saylors those works on the dull part of matter the other directs when occasion serves that is when the body is in action for though the rational innate matter never labours on the dull part of matter yet they counsel and direct the animal ship when it is built and set afloat that is when the body is come to the full growth and orders it in blustrous storms and great dangers but these the rational innated matter when this animal ship is cast to anchor which is to sleep moves onely in a rocking or rowling motion as it were from side to side of the cabbin which is the brain making no perfect figure nor gives direction this is sleeping without dreaming but dreaming is when they move in figures making such figures as these objects which have presented to them by the sensitive motions which are onely pictures or copies of the Original objects which we call remembrance for remembrance is nothing but a waking dream and a dream is nothing but a sleeping remembrance but if the sensitive innated matter moves in the same manner on the same place as printing and drawiug such figures or objects in the optick nerve or setting such notes or letters on the drum of the ear or drawing such platforms on the dura mater or pia mater of their brain or the tongue flesh or skin of their own accord without the presence of the outward objects then we see here taste smell touch as strong as if we were awake if their motions be as strong and industrious but many times we have in sleep those objects but in part and not in whole the reason is that either the sensitive innated matter is slow or else they are not so perfect Artists to work without a sampler working by misplacing and mistaking or else works by halves according to their skil or as appetite moves them make a hogpog or gallimophry of many several pieces or draughts into one figure or picture which make extravagant dreams by reason they work not in a methodical manner and the rational innated matter moving in the same manner makes a mixt resemblance but the sensitive innate having not the outward objects in sleep to work by seldom works perfect or plain and working imperfectly they move disorderly and for the most part that which makes us so often perturbed in our sleeps is by moving crosse and irregular which crosse Irregularity insnarles several motions so as there is no distinction which is the reason that our dreams are so often obscure and dark as we can make nothing of them and when the rational innate matter moves crosse and tumultuously our dreams are most commonly fearful and when the sensitive innated matter works so disorderly our dreams are painfull and when the sensitive innated matter works perfectly and the rational innate matter moves justly we have as much knowledge and understanding of what we dream of and as much satisfaction from our senses as if we were awake and the real abjects presented to us Chap. 154. Dreamings of living and dead figures THose friends in acquaintance that that have been dead a long time and appear in our sleep we never question the truth of their life though we may question them how they lived again the reason is that these figures are as perfect and lively to our present senses in our sleep as when we are awake for oftimes the sleeping motion prints figures on the inside of the optick nerve as on the inside of the pia mater as the waking motion doth on the outside and when we hear them as it were discourse words right on the inside of the drum of the ear or pia mater by the sensitive motion as on the outside when we are awake for all the sensitive works inwards asleep as outward awake for if we smell sents pleasing or displeasing the sensitive spirits draw lines and set notes on the inside of the dura mater and pia mater of the brain and so for taste and touch they draw plateforms in the inside of the skin either of the skin of the tongue or any other outward parts of the body as they do on the outside of the skin awake Thus the senses present as perfect prints to the rational oft times in sleep as awake onely they print on the inside a sleep and on the outside awake and what rational creature would not beleeve their senses for should a man see another man die and see him buried and afterwards should see that man alive again and hear him speak and touch him shall feel the substance of flesh would not he think he lived Thomas the Apostle questions the relations of our Saviours resurrection from the grave but never questioned his senses when he saw and touched him so in our dreames when the sensitive innate matter prints such figures on the optick nerve as of such a person which is dead the rational matter straight paterns out the sensitive print and when the sensitive print and the rational figure is just alike the other motion of the rational matter cannot question the truth of that figure or figures being there though they may question how they come alive again treating with it as if awake the same is if the sensitive innated prints any thing as dead which is living and the rational pattern it the rest of the rational motions make no question of the
perceive or other sensitive spirits that come in through these doors strait print or draw the same figure upon the optick nerve which optick nerve is made of dull matter by the sensitive spirits from whence the rational spirits viewing from thence that picture strait run themselves by number and measure into the likeness of that picture which are those we call knowledg or understanding and as long as those figures last among the rational spirits though the objects are absent that we call memory for when these prints are rubbed off by the sensitive spirits and others placed thereon or vaded by distance of place or obscured by shutting the lids yet the figure thereof may remain amongst the rational spirits which is as I said before memory and the repetitions of figures 〈◊〉 is when one and the same figure was dissolved and created again amongst the rational it is remembrance but memory is not so strong as the present sense nor the remembrance so perfect as the memory and the reason is that what the sensitive spirits wrought on the optick nerve is like a printed or painted figure and that which the rational spirits make is like a carved statue like painting or sculpture so that in memory the sculpture remains and in remembrance is created although the printing or painting is worn out or rubbed out so that the present senses have two figures one upon the optick nerve the other amongst the rational spirits wherein memory remains but one and the reason why remembrance is not so perfect as memory is because it is but the copy of a copy from the original for remembrance is but a pattern taken from the memory and the memory but a pattern from the object Chap. 159. Of the figure of the head THe figure of the brain gives strength to the sensitive motions and to the rational knowledg in animals for the scull being made with an arched rough and the sides being hollow and the whole head round which hollow sides arched rough and round compass cause rebounds and reflections of the motions therein which multiplie increase and strengthen them as for the motions and figures of sound the notes that are made are struck from the drum of the ear as balls from a hand to the concave part and from thence rebound from side to side and fall down as a new note is raised or like many balls struck one after another so rebounds follow one another and according as they are struck so are the rebounds stronger or weaker and according as they are repeated so do they last the same for sight for * lines piercing from the optick nerve darting on the concave parts reflect and these reflections cause double lines which make the sensitive figures on the optick nerve appear plain to the rational figure but if they rebound and reflections be disorderly returned by disordered motions they make a confusion both in the sense and rational knowledg as for tast it strikes from the nerves of the tongue upon the brain besides the hollow cave of the mouth and according as the rebounds are made and the strokes are struck the taste is stronger or weaker but if the brain be stuff'd with cold then the concaves being stuft and so stopp'd where the rebounds should return cause the taste to be weak insomuch as not to be sensibly felt and for touch the pores of the skin and flesh are hollow wherein rebounds are made striking from side to side of each pores and we finde by experience that those parts which are not hollow have not so strong a sense as those that are hollow Again if the nerves from whence the strongest strokes are struck be 〈◊〉 slack the sense is weak As for scent which is brought through the nostrils of the nose like water through spouts which dilates its self through the brain circling the pia mater swelling flowing and ebbing like to the sea about the earth which when it flows it is strong but when it ebbs it is weak But by reason scent is made by streaming motions and not striking and retorting motions As the other four senses are it retaines not so long in the memory as the others do although it may last longer in the brain or head being more lasting most commonly for the present then the rest are for a stinke will remain in the brain a great while and so will strong perfumes Chap. 160. Of Sight THe general opinion is that all objects come through the optick nerve and print the figures received on the brain and that there are nor can be no figures in the brain but what the opticks bring in and have passed through the eye it is true by experience we finde that without an eye we cannot see an outward object as they are without us yet we see those objects as they are without us in our sleep when our eyes be shut thus the sense of seeing is not lost although the eyes were out and the optick nerves stopped up But some will say those objects in dreams have past through in part or in whole therefore the question will be where an animal can have an insight if it were born blinde but if it be so as the opinion is that no figure or insight can be but what comes or hath passed through the eye and optick nerve must want that sensible knowledge for according to that opinion the ear can do the understanding no service as toward that sense by reason sound can make no figure to sight neither will taste nor sent but some may say touch may discover somewhat of that sense to the understanding but I think not for in my opinion touch is as senssesse to insight as sound for we cannot comprehend more of touch then of sound for depth and breadth are no more to insight then high notes and low notes nor soft nor hard no more to insight then swift and slow sharp or flat nor pleasure nor pain no more then harmony and discord but my opinion is that figures are as inherent to the minde as thoughts And who can have an unfigurative thought for the minde cannot have thoughts but upon some matter and there is no matter but must have some figure for who can think of nothing but the minde is like infinite nature having no dimension or extention no center nor circumference no breadth no depth and as the innat matter creates figures so the minde which is the matter creates thoughts which thoughts are the figures of the minde for when we hear of a deity we say in words it is an incorporeal thing but we cannot conceive it so in thought we say we do but we cannot prove we do T is true the minde may be in a maze and so have no fixt thought of any particular thing yet that amaze hath a figurative ground although not subscribed as for example my eyes may see the sea or air yet not the compasse and so the earth or heavens so
likewise my eye may see a long pole yet not the two ends these are but the parts of these figures but I see not the circumference to the uttermost extention so the mind in amaze or the amaze of thinking cuts not out a whole and distinct figurative thought but doth as it were spread upon a flat without a circumference and though there are not such figures in the brain as it brought through the opticks yet such figures as the minde creates for the minde is innate matter and innat matter is self-motion and self-motion is alwayes moving and working which working is figuring thus the sensitives innated matter prints figures iu the brain and the rational innated matter creates figures in the brain after its own invention which are imagination and conception wherein are made imaginary worlds without the materials of outward objects and perchance these motions may create such a figure as this world and such several figures as the several creatures therein although not so solid and lasting because those motions want those grosse materials of which they should create it withal but the sensitive innated matter in this cause prints these figures upon the brain by patterning the rational figures created in the brain like as when it doth the outward objects and when the sensitive innate matter works on the inside as in sleep then it gives an insight which are dreams according to their copied prints and these motions may make lines of light triangular lines for colours set notes of tunes draw plat-forms of taste and sent make prints of touch not onely the rational innated matter by imagination but the sensitive innated matter gives a sensible touch on the brain of all the outward senses by which touch I mean sensible knowledge thus the interior motions may move the brain with the variety of every sense without the exterior passages or objects and although it may not make those very objects and subjects yet such as are proper for each sense and of the same nature as I said before draw lines of light gathering motions make clouds triangular motions make colours insnarled motions make darknesse without the outward object and all other motions that make several figures or printed figures Likewise reflections without the help of the eye and so rebounds and retorts for sound and set notes print words and plain tunes without the ear so likewise for taste sent and touch but when the brain is filled withoutward objects the natural motion seldom works after their own invention having not room as it were or else it is as it were overpowred with work having more objects brought in then they can either conveniently place or sort or distinguish but weak minds which are slow moving matter think life an insensible thing and the head or brain empty of figures when it is not filled with outward objects like as a barrel is not filled with liquor thinks it empty because the thin air with which it is filled is not subject to their grosse senses so not to their weak capacities Thus it is not the outward objects that make the sense but the innate matter which is self motion which is the sense and knowledge and the different motions therein and therefrom make the differences thereof and though different sense and knowledge may be in different and several figures and such kind of sense knowledge proper for such kind of sorts of figures yet the figure adds nothing to the sense and knowledge although the innated matter may give a figure such a kind of sense and knowledge and when that figure dies that kinde of sense and knowledge may alter which was proper to that kinde of figure yet if it were the figure that gave the sense and knowledg and not the innated motions there would be no alteration when the figure is made or any extraordinary passion whereby experience we finde the sense and knowledge do alter all though the figure be perfect and in health Chap. 161 Of Light and Colours LIght and colour is made upon the optick nerve as sound on the drum of the ear for light the sensitive innated matter draws long straight smal even lines upon the optick nerve and when colours are made notes are set upon those lines drawn upon the optick nerve as thus Of colours are when those lines are set with quavor semy quavor But light is onely when those lines are drawn without those quavors semy-quavors but as we shall see plain song books after this manner And the knowledg the rational innated matter takes thereof is when they move in plain lines when they move in figures and lines they move for colours Chap. 162. Of Blindnesse Blindnesse proceeds from many causes as when the cristalline part of the eye is not clear for if it be dimming or failing or spotted and foul the objects seem muddy and misty and as the water of the cristaline is coloured so the objects appear for as Diamonds some are of a black water others of a yellow water some of a green water or blue others of a white water so is the cristalline part of several eyes and according as it is clear or coloured so all objects appear A second defect may be in the ball of the eye for according to the compasse of the concave or convex thereof the objects are presented neerer or at a further distance or longer or shorter or broader or narrower A third defect may be in the eye hole for according to the largenesse or littlenesse thereof objects are presented either in whole or in part bigger or lesser more or fewer objects enter at once for if the eye-lid hole should be too large the species would disperse too much disuniting parts and figures and if too small the species cannot passe in 〈◊〉 and file as I may say for though the smaller the circle is the closer it contracts the species and draws the objects into a straighter line yet if they should passe in a crowd they will stop the mouth of the passage like water in a glasse when turned suddenly downward every drop striving to get out first hinders each others so in the strife as none can passe A fourth defect may be in the optick nerve if it be full of slime and the like it darknens the sight stopping the passage of the light or if it be shrunk or dried up likewise if the head be full of grosse vapours it obscures the sight as a thick mist doth the sun for this foul foggy and grosse vapors hinder the species from entring and the sensitive innated matter that should print these objects on the optick nerve and if they are not quite stopt yet it hinders the regularity making that innated matter to work by piece-meales or else staies not so long as to take a perfect survay The fift and sixth defect may be if the eyes move too quick or too slow which makes the sight imperfect or dull for too quick motions
bullet the pistol or that which makes the sound is the center which spreads sound as fire doth light and when such a compass of air is filled with sound either vocal or verbal every ear that stands in the compass must needs receive the sound if they 〈◊〉 not deaf likewise every eye may see day-light that is not blinde and the rebounds of sound are as the reflections of light and verbals are received into the ear as figures into the eyes and as cross lines of light make various colours so different notes make various tunes But some may say that if the air were full of one and the same words or notes that more would enter the ears then was sent I say that is impossible unless the ear could draw the spreading or streaming lines from the circumference to a point which the ear cannot But I believe art may do the same for sound as it can with light for art can draw with glasses made for that purpose many beams to appoint but if the eyes did so it would burn them out Also they can draw several species through a small hole I believe artificial echoes are or may be made after such a manner Chap. 165. Of taste touch and smell THese senses are made by such motions as sound is and as they are set on the drum of the ear so these are set on the nerves of the tongue or on the skin for when the skin is off our tongue we cannot taste likewise for touch they are set on the nerves and sinnews and when these notes are set harmoniously it pleaseth the senses otherwise it displeaseth them which displeasure is pain amongst the sensitive innated matter and hate amongst the rational innate matter As for scent they are motions that draw like lines like a plat-form upon the pia mater of the brain indeed the second draught of the sensitive innated matter is to draw all their figures upon the pia mater of the brain Chap. 166. Of Touch. TOuch is the general sense of the whole body which the other senses are not for though every part of the body is of a several touch yet it is all touch When sight onely belongs to the eyes sound onely to the ears scent onely to the nostrils and taste onely to the tongue besides the loss of any of these senses nay all of them may be wanting as if they were not belonging to life as indeed they are not but onely as conveniencies to the life but not of necessity whereas touch is as it were the life of the figure for when this sense is generally wanting in the animal figure it is as we say dead that is the natural motion belonging thereto is generally altered or quite changed as we say This sense is received through the pores of the flesh and the nerves are the instrumental strings whereon motion playes either a harmony of pleasure or a discord of pain for as their strings are struck so is pain or pleasure felt but I have treated sufficiently of this sense in my chapter of numb'd palsies Chap. 167. Of the pores of the body THe pores are passages which let out the smoke or vapor unnatural heat and the superfluous humors in the body also they are passages to let in comfortable warmth refreshing colds nourishing air these passages have their inconveniencies for they are a means to conveigh out the good with the bad and many times takes in infections as malignant diseases that passe through the pores for infection comes in as much through the pores as any other part of the body Besides many times the radical moisture is carried out by unnatural heats and sometimes the vital spirits by too many transparations but these pores passages are drawn or shut closer together by contracting motions or set wider open by extenuating motions but if these common and necessary passages to the interiour parts be 〈◊〉 close shut either by cold contractions or hot contractions it smoothers and choakes the vital parts by keeping the vapor or smoke that should go forth for the pores in this case are as the funnels of chimneys wherein the smoke ascends up and goeth out and if they are set too wide open by the extenuating motions they cause the body to starve by giving passage to such matter as should be kept in to feed the body or by giving too free passage to the natural moisture that should quench or temper the heat in the body or by giving too free a passage to the gadding spirits that should stay in the body to be imployed to the substance and strength thereof besides when they are too open they are as apt to take in by giving passage to that which is a prejudice to the 〈◊〉 of the body as infections malignity or unnatural colds or the like But the pores of the body are always imployed where the other passages of the body are imployed but some times THE NATVRAL VVARS IN ANIMAL FIGVRES PART V. CHAP. 167. ALL animals after they are created and have an animal life the figure is inlarged by nourishing motions and sympathetical matter these nourishing motions are disgesting motions carrying those parts which are received by the senses unto those parts that are created therein building thereon and fitting therewith strengthning by adding thicknesse as well as inlarging by extention yet all that is received into the stomack is not nourishing the reason is that the temperament of the matter is not sympathetical that is agreeing not with the motions therein For though it is not so antipathetical to make an open war which war is sicknesse yet they do hinder and obstruct like several factions those natural motions which make health but when the natural motions and tempers of humours are quite opposite to the food that is received or the unnatural humours bred in the body by evil digestion they become mutanous by the quantity that is received or that ariseth from obstructions whereupon there becomes a fierce and cruel fight of contrary motions and temperaments of matter and whilest they are in the battle we say the body is sick and if the natural motions be not strong enough to beat that evil and dangerous matter out or at least able to resist them so far as to guard themselves until the evil parts do spend themselves with their own fury or till the natural motions and temperaments can have some assistance as cordials or physick it destroyes the figure it fights with but if the natural motions be more powerfull either by their own strength or by their assistance then the mutinous and rebellious humours or the foreign enemy as surfets and the like but when they are beaten out killed or taken prisoners which is to be purged corrected or purified which makes the humours obedient and peaceable Chap. 168. Of the four natural Humours of the Body and those that are inbred AS there is natural Fire Aire Water and Earth that is made by an intire creation derived
l. 25. r. print p. 123. l. 6. r. foul p. 130. l. 6. r. dissolution and l. 27. add and swooning p. 143. l. 3. r. sensitive p. 144. l. 24. r. gold p. 148. l. 10. r. veines p. 149. l. 6. r. fursball p. 157. l. 18. blot out or quick and l. 42. r. as p. 158. l. 30. r. dry and l. 33. r. dry p. 160. l. 11. r. then p. 161. l. 19. r. are not all expulsive p. 162. l. 22. r. matter from the. FINIS I mean of Form dull Matter Some think there was a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 confused Heap The Readers may take either Opinion Several Motitions and severall Figures * Not the Matter but the Degrees * Not the 〈◊〉 of Figures but the manner of shapes which makes some shapes to have the advantage over others much bigger as a Mouse will kill an Elephant * Which is in Likenesse * Unlikenesse One Shape hath power over another one Minde knowes more then another Either by Growth or Sense or Reason For when Matter comes to such a degree it quickens That it begins to move and Motion is Life * I mean when I say Obstruct that it either turns their motion another way or makes them move slower * I do not say that bones are the solid'st matter in Nature * As the figure of man * All Motion 〈◊〉 Life I mean the Figure of dull matter As a plentiful Crop or a great Brood These degrees are visible to us Dancing is a measur'd Motion * Scorching is when the Motioh is too quick * That is when there come so many spirits as they disagree pressing upon one another * Those degrees that are neerest have the greatest Sympathy * Like Chess-men Table-men Nine-pins or the like * I say higher for expressions sake * Nothing can be made or known absolute out of Infinite and Eternal * Though it may mave oMotions yet not the Animal Motion * The Figure might be without an Animal Motion but an Animal motion cannot be untill there is an Animal Figure * Which food is when such Materials are not proper for such a Figure * The greater the number is the more variety of Motion is made which makes Figures in the brain * in Animal Shapes * To prove that it is the several Motion is that we shall have the same sense in our sleep either to move pleasure or feel pain * Like glasse * Natural power I say extract because it is the essence of matter This for example Drawing motions Driving m tions Bearing motions Throwing striking darting motions Lofty motions Low 〈◊〉 Conjunction of those different motions First the earth bears Vegetables and the plants bear seed and the seed and earth bear Vegetables again Unlesse a greater power destroy it before the natural time Life is in every thing It is but one thing but three words That is to weaken the degree Fish is a kind of flesh The yolk and white is mixt into one substance which we call an adle egge before it be a 〈◊〉 it is bloody T is a lump of flesh before it be bone or sinew And then it is no metamorphosing I shal declare And then it is called a new creature rather then a metamorphosed creature c. Which circular lines I shal expresse hereafter I mean natural extenuations As the pores of the skin Oyl hot-waters wine vitrals aquafortis From earth to water * As thns Or rather like flame As if an Ani mal creature should be pulled and dragged out of ' its natural garb I mean here the exterior nature not the interior nature I mean the heaviest metal to the hardest stone as gold to diamonds or tin or lead to a soft stone * As Vessels wherein water is put and fire underneath This sort of contraction is drawing inward Those sorts are falling backward The contracting motions too strong for the expulsive motions Yet there are but few bodies that are not overcome at last I mean the matter that made it As several men will as peace among neighbours and friends I say aptest not as they do I speak this as a comparison for I know the sun is much bigger then the earth As we say dead I thimk them to be Animals I say natural because there are metamorphosed elements If one powers water on the ground it flows with a Convex In a pear figure See my chapter of Fame Sound enters into all hollow places as well as into the Animal ear I call 〈◊〉 natural that are propper to the figure Fethers wool hair and the like which are neither liquid 〈◊〉 nor wet onely soft and sympathy All animals are not of one shape And as a man may pick a hole through the wall so water will pick a passage through the earth I mean all exterior motions Which moves in figures like dancing The world is presented like a popitplay in the head a Sleep nonrisheth and gives health and strength b Nourishment c Healing decayes 〈◊〉 Strengthening Knitting the muscles nervs and the like Urin to the bladder Excrements into the guts Vapors The innate matter can move slower then their strength or natural agilnesse but not above nor beyond their natural strength and agilnesse I call that matter so 〈◊〉 distinction * As we finde in Churches and caves made hollow arched a noise sounds loudest Lines of light may be made by the sensisitive spirits on the side of the optick nerve as on the outside as in sleep All innate matter is as the minde or life of nature All without outward help The property of each sense Fools have lesse rational innated matter in their braines then those that are wise * As for touch the pores of the flesh are like harpsical keys and the nerves like the wyer strings 〈◊〉 move when those keyes are touch'd which cause pleasure or pain like discord or harmony according as they are struck or plaid upon The head ake is different from the tooth ake or stomack ake and so every 〈◊〉 be it never so small differs As sauces may be equally mixt with several sorts of things as none can tast any one thing in it Like the over flowing of banks Ebbing from the mouth of the stomack as from the river Like low marshy grounds * I think it is rar fied vapor because it is so easily dispersed The stronger motions forceth the weaker to their wayes As on the opticks or as on the drum of the ear the pia mater or the skin for touch and taste As to see hear taste touch smell that which is not present or perhaps not in nature * Figures of innated matter In mad fits * If I mistake not Which is corrupt humors As a sound body Surfets or unholsom meats The stronger motions over power the the weaker Some dayes the body 〈◊〉 better then others so in an hour or half an hour As hot and dry Cordials As to draw every day an ounce or two as long as the violence of the discase lasts I meane there interior strength * As by letting bloud or the like Yet it is first caused by other distempered motions before they come to be distempered expulsions There are hot expulsions and cold expulsions and hot contractions and cold contractions As witnesse the frost and ice The like of other kinde of motions See in the chap of extenuations of water Sometimes longer and some times shorter For as long as the humor remains the 〈◊〉 are repeated Winde Collick A bilious Collick Cramps oft times taken for Collicks * Rheums * Sweats I have treated of the several sorts of fire That is when it works and converts a thinner substance to its own nature But bound about with straight smooth lines without as to the circumference As a flint hard suger brimstone or the like * That which is most apt to I mean purning motions Restraining motions Attractive motion Restoring motion * The humor that staies behiude We may hear a tune so often repeated that it may grow hateful although delightful at first
when they find the house rotten and ready to fall Or scar'd away like Birds from their Nest. But where should this Swarm or Troop or Flight or Essences go unlesse they think this thin matter is an Essence evaporates to nothing As I have said before the difference of rational spirits and sensitive spirits is that the sensitive spirits make figures out of dull matter The rational spirits put themselves into figure placing themselves with number and measure this is the reason when Animals die the External Form of that Animal may be perfect and the Internal motion of the spirits quite alter'd yet not absent not dispers'd untill the Annihilating of the External Figure thus it is not the matter that alters but the Motion and Form Some Figures are stronger built then others which makes them last longer for some their building is so weak as they fall as soon as finished like houses that are built with stone or Timber although it might be a stone-house or timber-house yet it may be built not of such a sort of Stone or such a sort of Timber Chap. 49. Of the Senses THe Pores of the skin receive touch as the eye light the eare sound the nose scent the tongue tast Thus the spirits passe and repasse by the holes they peirce through the dull matter carrying their several burthens out and in yet it is neither the Burthen nor the Passage that makes the different sense but the different motion for if the motion that coms through the Pores of the Skin were as the motions which come from the Eye Ear Nose Mouth then the body might receive sound light scent Tast all other as it doth touch Chap. 50. Of Motion that makes Light IF the same motion that is made in the Head did move the Heel there would appear a Light to the Sense of that part of the figure unlesse they will make such matter as the Brain to be infinite and onely in the head of an Animal Chap. 51. Opticks THere may be such motion in the Brain as to make Light although the Sun never came there to give the first motion for two opposite motions may give a light by Reflection unlesse the Sun and the Eye have a particular Motion from all Eternity As we say an Eternal Monopolor of such a kinde of Motion as makes Light Chap. 52. Of Motion and Matter VVHY may not Vegetables have Light Sound Taste Touch as well as Animals if the same kinde of motion moves the same kinde of matter in them For who knows but the Sap in Vegetables may be of the same substance and degree of the Brain And why may not all the senses be inherent in a figure if the same Motion moves the same matter within the figure as such motion without the figure Chap. 53. Of the Brain THe Brain in Animals is like Clouds which are sometimes swell'd full with Vapour and sometimes rarified with Heat and mov'd by the sensitive spirits to several Objects as the clouds are mov'd by the Wind to several places The Winds seem to be all Spirits because they are so agile and quick Chap. 54. Of Darknesse TO prove that Darknesse hath particular motions which make it as well as motion makes light is that when some have used to have a light by them while they sleep will as soon as the light goeth out awake for if Darknesse had no motion it would not strike upon the Opick Nerve But as an equal motion makes light and a perturb'd motion makes colour which is between Light and darknesse So darknesse is an Opposite Motion to those motions that make light for though light is an equal motion yet it is such a kinde or sort of Motion Chap. 55. Of the Sun VVHY may not the Sun be of an higher Extract then the rational spirits and be like Glasse which is a high Extract in Chymistry and so become a shining body If so sure it hath a great knowledge for the Sun seems to be composed of pure spirits without the mixture of dull matter for the Motion is quick and subtle as we may finde by the effect of the light and heat Chap. 56. Os the Clouds THe Clouds seem to be of such spungy and porous Matter as the Rain and Aire like the sensitive spirits that form and move it and the Sun the Rational Spirit to give them knowledge And as moist Vapours from the Stomack rise and gathering in the Brain flow through the eyes so do the Clouds send forth as from the Brain the Vapours which do rise in showres Chap. 57. Of the Motion of the Planets THE Earth Sun Moon the rest of Planets all Are mov'd by that we Vital Spirits cal And like to Animals some move more slow And other some by quicker motion go And as some Creatures by their shapes do flye Some swim some run some creep some riseth high So Planets by their shapes about do winde All being made like Circles round we finde Chap. 58. The Motion of the Sea THe Sea 's more quick then fresher waters are The reason is more Vital spirits are there And as the Planets move still round about So Seas do ebb and flow both in and out As Arrows flye up far as strength them lend And then for want of strength do back descend So do the Seas in ebbes run back again For want of strength their length for to maintain But when they ebb and flow at certain times Is like the Lungs that draw and breath out wind Just so do Seas draw back and then do flow As constant as the Lungs do to and fro Alwayes in motion never lying still The empty place they leave turn back to fill We may as well inquire of Nature why Animals breath in such a space of Time as the Seas ebb and flow in such a space of Time AN EPISTLE TO CONDEMNING READERS MAny perchance will laugh in scorn at my opinion and ask what reason I have to think those things I have described should be made with such a kinde of Motion my answer is that I guess by the forms I mean the figures or shapes what the motion may be to produce them for I see the figure of a four leg'd Creature hath other motions then two legged Creatures or then those Creatures that have no legs and I see some shape Creatures that can flee by reason of their figures which is made proper to produce that kinde of motion for those that are not made so cannot do so By this I think it probable that Internal motions are after the manner of External motions for we may guess at the cause by the effects so by the figures of Snow Frost Hail Rain Vapor and the like we may guesse at other Internal or external motions that produced their External figures or alterations and by the effects of light darknesse heat cold moisture what manner of motions produced them wherefore I know no reason why any should condemn my opinions But
and according as the quantity of the rational matter is there is the more knowledge and clearer understanding the quicker wit and the livelier memory the fresher remembrance and the more multiplicity of thoughts for it is not onely the largeness and extent of the place wherein the rational matter moves in that makes the more knowledg and understanding and the like but the quantity of the rational matter for a great head may have but a little wit or dim understanding and a little head a quick wit and clear understanding if the little head be full of this rational innate matter and the great head be empty thereof but if the room or place be large and filled with this sort of innate matter according to the bigness that creature will be very knowing understanding and ingenious for imagin that all the heads of mankinde were put into the compass of one head and a sufficient quantity of that rational matter therein that creature whatsoever it were would have not onely the knowledg of every particular brain joyned together but that knowledg and understanding would increase as use-money for that bulk or bank would multiply being put together Chap. 151. Of thoughts MAny wonder what Thoughts are and how such millions can be within so little a compasse as the brain I answer that a little quantity of the rational innate matter may make millions of figures which figures are thoughts As for example from eight notes milions of tunes are made and from twenty four letters millions of several Languages may be made Likewise one lump of clay may be molded and formed into millions of several figures and like Pictures many figures may be drawn in one piece and every figure in a several posture Likewise a little picture will represent so great an Army as would take up many acres of land were it in a pitched field Again a Globe no bigger then a Head will present the whole world Again say some how is it possible there should be so many several thoughts in the head at one time and how from one thought should there arise so many of a sudden and at some times so extravagant as to have no coherence therein at other times very methodicall and sympathetical To the first I answer how many several postures may a man put his body into at one time nay I may say one part of the body for how many several postures may the face draw it self into at one time Secondly I answer that many several wheels will move with one motion nay with one kinde of motion several wayes and many wheels with several motions several wayes and all within one and the same compasse and from one prime spring Again some may wonder how it is possible figurative thoughts can inlarge and contract the demension and extension I answer how is it with Prospective glasses convex and concave glasses likewise a screen or a fan or the like which can fold in many folds into one fold then can draw them out into a plain straight piece again and so shut up into a fold or open in a plain piece as often and as quick as a thought and millions of the like examples may be given but these are enough for this time on this subject Chap. 152. Of thinking or thoughts THoughts are more pleasant to the minde then the appetite to the senses and the minde feeds as greatly on thoughts as a hungry stomacke doth upon meat and as some meat breeds good nourishment and some bad nourishment causing either health and strength or diseases and pain so doth thoughts for displeasing thoughts of grief and all sad remembrances cause the minde to be dull and melancholly or froward and discontented and pleasing thoughts cause the minde to be chearful pleasant and delightful Besides the minde is like chewing of the cud for what the senses bring in and are fed with outward objects those swallowed objects the thoughts of the minde chews over again thus the minde is alwayes feeding besides the senses have no longer pleasure or pain then the objects remain but the minde is as much grieved or delighted when the object is removed as when they are present As for example a man is as much grieved when he hears his friend is dead or kill'd as if he saw him die or slaine for the dead fried lives in the minde not the minde in the dead friend and if a man have a fine house or great riches or an excellent rare race of horses or the like whereupon the minde takes as great delight in thinking of his fine house as if it dwelt in the house and as great delight in thinking of his riches or what he could do with the use of his riches for the minde doth not so much dwell in the house as the house in the minde nor the minde doth not take so much delight in the use of the riches as the use to be in the minde and the remembrance of the curious horses is as much in the minde as when those horses were in the eye for when the sense is filled the minde can but think and the minde may as well think when the objects are gone as when they are present and the minde may take as much delight in thinking what the senses have enjoyed as what they are to injoy or desire to enjoy for thoughts are the fruition of the minde as objects the fruition of the senses for the minde takes as much delight if not more in thinking of an absolute power as when the commands of an absolute power is obeyed for obedience dwells no more in the minde when it is acted then it did before it was acted or by the imagination that it is acted thus the minde receives no more by action then it doth by contemplation onely when the pleasure of the senses are joyned with delightful thoughts may be said to be more happy though I beleeve the pleasure of senses draws the delight from the thoughts for the more at rest the body is the more busie the minde is imployed and as torments of the minde are beyond the torments of the body or at least the displeasure of the senses so the delight of the minde is beyond the ease or rest of the body or the pleasure of the senses Chap. 153. Of sleep and dreams SLeep is caused by a tirednesse of the spirits for when the sensitive motions are tired with the working on the dull parts of matter which tirednesse is slacking the motions or changing their motions as when they work lasily then the figure grows drousy and the senses dull being weary of pencelling copying out objects upon the optick nerve Likewise with printing letters and setting notes on the drum of the 〈◊〉 or in drawing 〈◊〉 of several tasts touches and sents on the tongue and pores of the flesh or striking or playing on the nerves and on the dia mater and pia mater of the brain but many times the figure grows
truth of those sleeping motions untill waking motions otherwayes inform them for rational motion in every particular figure knows little of the sensitive but what the senses shews them in the several motions yet the rational generally knows what they present unto them which every particular sense doth not each motion is unknown and are strangers to each other in one and the same figure for the ear knows not what the eye seeth nor the eyes know not what the nose smelleth nor the nose knows not what the tongue tasts nor the tongue knows not what the body feels but the rational innat matter in a figure knows all the sensitive motions in the same figure as long as the figure is perfect and moves in an Animal way and that the rational motion moves regular for when the motions are irregular they can take no perfect copies nor notice how the sensitive move that is the reason that in perturbed passions which are onely irregular motions the senses become as it were uselesse to them but most commonly the disorder of one brings the disorder of the other I will not say at all times and so when the sensitive spirits are regular the rational is regular but not at all times for some times the one is regular the other is not but the rational which takes copies of the sensitives is oftener disordered by the sensitives then the sensitives by the rational for when there is grief in the minde many times the body is in good health but it is seldom known when the body is sick but the minde is troubled Chap. 155. Of Local Dreames THe reason that many times we dream of walking woods or houses and the like is through this following reason The rational innate matter as I often said before turns most commonly into such figures as the sensitive innate matter prints or hath printed upon the senses now if a tree or house or the like be printed on the inside of the pia mater or the like sensitive part when we are asleep the rational innate matter straight figures them these figures move after a local manner although they have not an animal or local shape the reason is that the rational innated matter being purer in it self without the mixture of dull matter moves onely in their own matter and the figure moves in the matter whereas the sensitive innated matter working upon the dull part of matter moves in that dull matter and not the dull matter in the sensitive innated matter that is the sensitive innate matter moves in the dull part of matter and the dull part of matter is moved by the sensitive innate matter thus the sensitive figure is moved but not moving but the rational innated matters figures give their own motions likewise if we have seen a battle or heard of a battle and afterwards we dream of the same or of the like battle then the rational innated matter puts its self into animal figures and moves after a local manner each figure placing it self after that manner or way as was related or printed by the senses or after away of its own invention and when the figures encounter each other as they must do to fight a battle in the brain and then some seeme to be falling and others dead and some mangled those figures are as falling and broken and cease to move after the local manner and when one party seems to move as in a confusion then the motions are irregular and just as the senses present so doth the rational innated matter act in the brain when we sleep and sometimes when we are awake as in imagination Chap. 156. Of the senses and the objects that pass through the senses THat innate matter which I call the sensitive spirits makes holes which holes serve as doors in animal figures to receive outward objects as the holes that are made in the eyes ears nostrils mouth and the pores of the skin wherein the animal receives light sound scent tast and touch the senses are brought and presented by the sensitive innated matter to the rational innated matter who takes knowledg thereof as for example there is a hous or a tree or any the like gross material figure these being placed beforethe passage of the eyes those sensitive spirits in the eye taking notice thereof with the help of that brings the objects therein strait prints or paints those objects upon the optick nerve or upon the outside of the brain as the dia mater or pia mater upon which the rational spirits view as on pictures then copie them out not by working on the dull part of matter as the sensitives innated matter doth but turn themselves by number and measure into figures like those printed or painted figures the difference is that the rational matter is like sculptures the others as pictures upon flats these rational figures we call knowledg or understanding and as long as these rational figures last though the object is absent and the prints rub out by other objects or by distance of place or the like we call memory but when those rational figures are dissolved and afterwards repeated be wrought without a presentment of the senses we call it remembrance and the reason the memory is not so strong as the present sense nor the remembrance so perfect as the memory is that with the present object there are two figures as the rational sculpture and the sensitive point when the memory is but one as the sculpture which remains as with the rational but the sensitive print is rubbed or worn out and the reason why remembrance is not so perfect as the memory is because remembrance is but a copy of a copy from the original print for remembrance is but a pattern taken from the Memory and the memory 〈◊〉 a pattern taken from the objects Chap. 157. Of figure presented to the senses and figures together THe reason why figurative senses are quicker then the figurative growth is It is less labour in printing on the dull part of matter then in cutting out sculpt figures not for the strength of actions as for the several laborious actions therein fetching their material a far way and for many several places which requires time and place when printing is but a press laid upon a flat Chap. 158. Of objects and the senses something differing from the other Chapter THat innate matter which I call the sensitive spirits for distinction sake makes holes or doors in animal figures to receive outward objects as the ears eyes nostrils mouth pores of the skin and the like and these outward objects are presented to that part of innate matter which I call rational spirits but that part of innate matter I call sensitive spirits as for example thus there is a house or a tree or any the like gross material figure which is subject to the sense of animal figures these standing at the doors of the eyes which as soon as the sensitive spirits
of the eye dazles the sight and clips and cuts the exterior objects into so many parts as no one part can be perfectly known or seen and too slow motion blunts the sight like a sharp point that is struck upon a stone or the like besides when it is fixt too long upon one object other objects passe by before it removes or wearies it so much as one cannot take notice of it But when the eyes are too quick it is by reason the nerve strings that tie and fasten the ball of the eye to the head are too slack which makes the eye ball so loose as the least motion moves it or else these nervous strings are too small which makes them so weak as every little motion moves so as they are alwayes in motion as it were for if the nerves and sinew-strings be too small for the weight of the eye ball it may alwayes have a trembling motion like a sthe aspen or like weights that cannot poise steddy as long as there is a disproportion and when the eyes are too slow the reason is when the sinews or nerve-strings are so short tied or shrunk up so that it holds the eye ball too hard or too straight giving it not liberty to stir and turn from side to side or to role about A seventh defect may be when the eyes look asquint as it may do two several wayes the one is when the ball of the eye is tied too short by the nervous string towards the nose by which the balls of either eye are drawn so much inward to each other as to look at each other but that they are some wayes hindered by the nose this makes the lines or points that shoot from either eye to meet acrosse which makes all exterior objects to look double but if the eye string ties the balls of the eyes too short towards the temples it draws the points from the center and the eyes out of the natural bias which causeth a side look as seeing two several wayes at once but neither way perfectly by reason that the lines that issue from the eyes lie not level neither can those lines meet upon an object in a triangular which joyns 〈◊〉 sight of each eye into a point which makes sight so much the stronger Thus if the strings be too loose or too hard or too small or that the optick is shrunk up or the eye-lid-hole covered with some scale or filme or the eye-lid-hole too little or too big or the christalline full or the brain full or too many vapours continually ascending from the bowels or stomach or if the eye be too quick or too slow it is a great defect in sight But if the passage be quite stopped up of the strings or christalline part be broke those are irrecoverably blinde Chap. 163. Of Hearing AFter the same manner is the sense received at the ear onely the difference is that instead of drawing printing the outward objects received through the eye printed on the optick nerve so the sensitive innated matter sets or pricks down notes and draws lines on the drum of the ear as musicians do upon paper or the like and the sensitive innated matter in making them run and make stops according as the vocal sound is set and it is louder or lower according as they work weaker or stronger but for the verbal it is writ 〈◊〉 printed on the drum of the ear in letters for words and the knowledge the animal figure takes is when the rational innated matter moves according to those letters or notes or wayes of division but in a confused sound there is no order time nor stop kept nor no perfect note nor letter nor line prick'd or printed or drawn but as we vulgarly say it is all scrible-scrable or else ciphers set for notes and like as it is to the opticks so it is to the ear for the notes and letters as the pictures which fade for as the outward motions slacken so the vocal and verbal sound dissolves and the memory and remembrance of sounds vocal and verbal is as the sense of the objects on the opticks Chap. 164. Of Articular sounds or sounds without distinction IT is strange if we consider that one word should strike so many several ears and so to be heard perfectly by every particular ear but surely to my reason one word or note cannot fill so many ears as can stand to hear it again it is strange that a word should directly hit into every ear that stands to hear it I will not say alwayes for sometimes a word is spoke two or three times over although the ear be clear before it can hit the entrance but that is but seldome but in my opinion it is not a single word that runs about from ear to ear for then all would not hear at once for if there were a multitude the last ear might not hear a week after or at least a day after it had been spoken Wherefore in my opinion it must be after this manner the mouth tongue and breath formes not onely a single word but millions in one lump with the same labour of pains as for one word as for example take a sheet of paper or the like and fold it into many folds in a small compass and stamp a print thereon and every fold shall have the like print with one stamp and until they are parted they stick so close as if they were but one printed body when every fold is divided by the stamp with the print thereon so likewise the mouth folds up thin air and the tongue gives the printed stamp which being cast forth like a ball of wilde-fire disperseth in a crack or sound and then suddenly spreads about in several streams thus millions of words run about in lines of air passing in all pores and hollow bodies as the ear or the like concaves as hollow wood and vaults where finding resistance rebounds back in repetitions and according to their strength or the strength of their bearing motions they pierce farther and fall shorter and according to the freeness of the passage they sound louder clearer lower or duller and according to their stamp they are perfect or imperfect After the same manner is all distinct sounds notes being printed as words but sounds without distinction are like stamps without prints that is plain pieces of air but if the ear be stopped the sound is lost to the brain I will not say to natural sense for surely the brain is not the whole ingrosser of that and the like sensitive knowledg neither will say the animal head ingrosses all that sort of tempered matter or that no passage can conveigh a sound but the animal ear But most probably all sounds spread as lights as for example a small candle will enlighten a large compass by reason rayes of light streame equally from the center candle to the circumference so is sound for when a pistol or any the like shots of a
〈◊〉 which forceth to vomit or to purge yet it extenuates by thrusting weakly out into a faint sweat then there are other sorts of sickness which are caused by such motions as if meat were turning about on a spit for the center of the humor removes not out of the place although the circumference turns about this is a constant sickness and the stomach hath no ease untill the humor is taken out of the stomach by some stronger motions as you would take a spit from the fire or by 〈◊〉 motions to hold the humor from turning so there are millions of several motions which makes several sicknesses in the stomach for though the stomach can be but sick yet the sickness is not always after one and the same manner Chap. 171. Of the motions which cause pains PAin is caused not onely by irregular motions but cross motions or rather as I may say jumbling motions that is motion beats upon motion or as I may say runs upon each other thronging and justling each other and several sorts of pain in several parts of the body are caused by different cross or beating motions but if they be dilating motions they beat upon one another by shufling outward like as foolish women do for place tumbling upon each other to get foremost those painful motions turn to sores and putrifie because dilating motions make moisture and being perturbed make corruption but if they be such contracting motions which cause pains they turn those parts that are pained to be harder then naturally those parts are as the stone dry liver or brain or the like but if those pains be made of mixt motions as some beat inward and some outward and so run cross they are hard swelling that extends to the exterior parts but will not break as the King 's Evil or Gouts that lie in the flesh or Sciatica and many the like for though the extenuating motions would burst out yet the contracting motions keep in and being both equally strong neither get the better for the time the pain is and if the pain be amongst the sinews it is caused either by contracting motions or 〈◊〉 motions but not mixt but as it were divided for if it be extenuating motions 〈◊〉 sinews are irregularly stretch'd too far if contracting or atracting motions they irregularly draw or pull or gather the sinews strings too short if the paines be in the bones they are onely cross motions as if one should run one against the other yet neither shuff backward nor push forwards being equally strong if in the flesh they are intangled motions which make it incline towards black as to seem purple or read or black And if the pain be in the skin they are pricking motions as if a needle should draw a thread in and out upon a cloath or the like but in every pained part there is some difference in the manner of motions although not in the nature of the motions Chap. 172. Of swiming or dissiness in the head DIssiness and swimming in the head is made by several sorts of motions of such vapor as is condensed into winde if winde be condensed if not it is rarified vapor turned into winde and the agilness of the motions therein causeth the force thereof by an often repetition giving no time for a repulse but howsoever winde is made either by rarification or condensation it is winde most commonly which causeth that we call a swimming and dissiness in the head for this condensed or rarified vapor which you will when it is expulsed flies violently about carrying or driving whatsoever is bearable loose or moveable along or about with it according to the strength thereof and if this winde be in those veins which incompass and run through the brain it carries the bloud therein with such an extraordinary and swift motion about the head or brain as it carries the senses as it were along with it which makes the diseased think the brain turned round in the head when it is onely the vapor that wheels round therein or about but the lasting strength wasting by the violent swiftness brings but a short trouble to the diseased and seldom or never causeth a ruine unless there be some vein broken by the violence thereof but if it be a windy vapor in the 〈◊〉 and larger parts of the head it sometimes will gather like a ball or like that we 〈◊〉 a spinning top which spins about in the brain whilest it hath strength and when the strength fails the spinning motion is done and the vapor disperseth so the dissiness ceaseth at other times those vapors will move like a whirlwinde moving ascendingly in lesser and lesser circles until it brings a circle to a point in the shape of a pyramid and when the strength abates or that it breaks it self against more solid matter the vapor disperses and so expulses but this sort of motions is so violent as it causes the diseas'd to fall but soon to recover for what is supernaturally violent cannot last long Chap. 173. Where the brain turns round or not in the head ALthough thin vapor may get betwixt the skull and the brain and likewise slimy 〈◊〉 yet I imagine not that the brain is loose from the skull so as to flap flash or to strike against the sides of the skull when the head is moved or to turn round although it is a common phrase to say my brain turns round in my head when they are dissie but imagine it is not in the brain that turnes round but the vapor or the humor therein it is true the brain turns round when the whole body turns round but so as it turns round with the head as one part not in the head as a part by it self and the reason that the dissiness is cured by turning the contrary way is that the sensitive motions therein are turned toward their moderate naturall and accustomed manner of moving for the violence of turning round forces the sensitive motions as the winde doth the air or water driving all one way as before it or rather like a scrue or a wheel that windes up those motions as thread upon a spindle and so unwinds the contrary way Chap. 174. Of the sound or noise in the head WHen there is a thin vapor got into the head as betwixt the skull and the brain and runs about in Circular lines as a string about a wheele it makes a humming noise as a turning wheel doth and the more by reason the head as well as the vaporous lines is spherical and though the brain may stick close to the scull yet not so close but a thin vapor may get betwixt but if the vapor be gathered into little hollow balls like cymbals and runs about the head it causeth a noise like those cymbals as a tickling or gingling noise But if the vapour in the head hath intermitting motions the sound is like musical instruments for the stops like notes make the divisions
a glibby and moist body rather then a soaking wet body but when this watry extenuation extenuates beyond the degree of water they turn to vapour which causeth the diseased to be puft or blown like a bladder rather then swell'd out as we shall perceive that a little time before the patients fall into a consumption they will be so puft out as their flesh wil be like a fire-bal the next degree they fall into a fiery extenuation For when the humour extenuates beyond vapor which is a kinde of an aire then it becomes hot like fire which is a hective fevour and when the humour hath extenuated to the farthest degree it expulses and so pulls down and throws out the life of the diseased but in the hidropical diseases there must first be applied attractive medicines to draw out the watry overflows by issues cupping-glasses or the like then there must be applyed expulsive medicines as purgings and bleeding and sweatings yet they must be gently applyed for fear of weakning the body by drawing out the humour too suddenly then there must be applied contracting medicines to draw into an united substance as to gather or draw up those parts that have been made loose porous and spungie with the disease then there must be applied retentive medicines to confirm and settle them after their natural manner or form then last there must be applied disgestive medicines to restore what is wasted but if any of the principal parts be impaired wasted or expulsed they neither can be restored nor mended but by a new creation which uncreating braines perhaps conceive not but I must intreat my readers to observe that some sorts of motions begin a disease that is they lay the foundations thereof and other sorts of motions work upon those foundations Chap. 193. Of apoplexies SOme sorts of apoplexies are caused by an inbred superfluous water in the brain which being congealed by a cold contraction falling to the knitting part of the head which is the hinder part it stupifies the senses stopping the natural motions as a flowing river that is turned into ice but those sorts of apoplexies are curable if assistance be taken in time which is by hot dilating medicines not onely to stretch out the icy contraction but to expell that cold watry humour by a rarification but if the apoplexie be caused by an inbred slime as flegme which is of a thicker nature then water and is become crusted or peterated by hot contractions it is seldom or never cured no more then brick which is once baked by the sun or in a fire can be made to such clay as it was before it was burnt But mistake me not for I do not mean the humour is as hard as stone or brick in the head but so hard as to the nature of the brain that is the flegme is grown so dry and tough as not to be dissolved so soon as the nature of the brain requires it for though flegme will be contracted into stone as in the bladder and kidnies yet not in the brain by reason the nature of the brain is so tender and so sensible as it cannot indure so solid a substance therein nor suffer so long a time as the humour will be penetrating to stop the passages to the brain not but those kinde of motions that produce stone may be so strong and so swift as to turn matter into stone immediately but I do beleeve not in the animal bodies for they are too weak figures for so strong motions to work in but as I said these hot or cold contractions for both sorts of contractions produce stone so both sorts of contractions make tough clammy crusted hard flegme which is some degree towards stone flegme if it stop the passages to the brain it causeth an apoplexie but the 〈◊〉 why the watry contractions are more apt for cure is because the nature of water is fluid and is easily dissolved by dilations having interior nature to extenuations but slime and flegme are more solid and so not so flexible to be wrought upon as suddenly to change shape or nature in being dissolved or transformed The third cause is a fulnesse of blood or a thicknesse of blood for when the veins are too full there is not vacuity enough for the blood to run so stops the motion thereof or if the blood is too thick or clammy it becoms lesse fluid and the more solid it is the slower the motion is and though the blood may have too quick a motion by reason of heat so it may have too slow a motion by reason of thicknesse and if the veines are filled too full of hot blood wherein are many spirits it endangers the breaking some of the veines like as when strong liquor is put into a barrel if it be filled too ful the strength of the spirits striving for liberty break the barrel the like will the blood in the veins and if a vein chance to break in the head it overflows the brain and drowns the life therein The last is grosse vapor which may ascend from the bowels or stomack which causeth so great a smoak as it suffocates or choaks the brain smothering out the life of the body All apoplexies are somewhat of the nature of dead palsies Chap. 194. Of Epilepses which is called falling-sicknesse THis disease is caused by a water in the brain which water is most commonly green like sea water and hath an ebbing and flowing motion like the tides thereof and when the water is at full tide on the forepart of the head it takes the diseased after the manner of panting and short breathing beating themselves and foaming at the mouth neither can they hear see smell nor speak the reason is that the flowing motion driving the watry humour so far out as it extends the pia mater and dia mater of the brain farther then the natural extention which extention swelling out towards the outward part of the head hinders all recourse stopping those passages which should receive the objects through the exterior senses and the froth or slimy humor which is betwixt the skin where the brain lies and the skull being pressed out fals through the throat into the mouth and there works forth like yeast which is called foaming but though the motions of the head are thus altered for a time so as there is neither sense nor rational knowledg yet the body may be after the natural course and not any wayes altered but the body feeling life opprest in the head the several parts or members in the body strive and struggle with what power and strength they have to release it Like as a loyal people that would defend or release their natural and true born King from being prisoner to a foraign enemy but when this water flows to the hinder part of the head the pia mater and dia mater extending out that way stops all the nerves in the nodel of the head by which
ravish the minde delight the sense and cause love in the minde others which the sense dislike causeth hate in the minde pain in the sense grieving in the minde pleasure in the sense delight in the minde but if the sense and minde disagree then the sense likes that the minde hates As for example the sense is taking pleasure upon an object which for the crosse disposition the minde 〈◊〉 or for some injury done or by some neglect or out of envie and as they sympathize and antipathize in their working and making so in the expulsions time works out a passion accidents work out passion evacuations work out passion the like in the senses so many times humors are expulsed by passions and as the superfluities are purged out of the body after the same manner are violent passions from the minde for as the body purges by siege by vomit by urin by spitting by sweating by bleeding by incisions and the like so strong passions are purged by weeping by sighing groaning speaking and acting but if the increasing motions of the humors in the body and the passions in the minde be as many and as strong as the expulsive motions then there is a continuance of the same humour or passion for whatsoever is cast forth or wasted is bred again Chap. 205. Of outward objects disagreeing with the natural motions and humours in the body INward commotions of the body are often times caused by outward objects or subjects as when the senses take adelight at some kinde of sound scent sight taste and touch as for example some will sownd at a fearful noise that is at a sudden or unacustomed or tumultuous noise others will sownd at the sight of bloud or at any cruel object or at the sight of a cat or many other creatures some will sownd at sweet-smels others if they should taste cheese or any meat they dissike naturally and some will not onely sownd but die laughing with tickling the reason is that the exterior motion anticipates with the natural motions belonging to the body sometimes onely to the sensitive parts other-some to the rational part others to both The reason is that the disordered motions of the outward senses disorder the interior motions which makes the body sick and the body passionate and sometimes the brain frantick and if they make not the body sick nor the brain mad yet those antipathetical and these disordered motions never fail to put the sense to pain or move passion but when these antipathetical motions be toostrong for the natural motions belonging to the body or minde it brings death or unrecoverable madnes for then the natural motions belonging to that body is as it were extinguished thus we may see that the outward senses may be perfect and the inward parts within that body may be corrupt and decayed so likewise the outward senses may be defected and the inward parts sound and so some parts of the body firme and others infirme and some of the outward parts or sense wanting or defective others free clear and distinguishing The reason is that some of the sensitive innated matter works orderly others disorderly and clear from the nature of the body for as I have said before some of the exterior parts of the body may be nummed or dead the reason is that the natural motions belonging to such a part of the body are altered for every part or parcel hath proper motions belonging thereunto But if in any part of the body the natural motions onely work irregularly then it onely causeth a pain in that part but if the motions work crosse to the nature of the body it causeth that part to die but if they alter but in part it causeth onely a numnesse which is in a degree of being dead but if the natural motions be onely stopt by some outward accident or actions as by a sudden fright which causeth the body to swoon by reason the spirits are contracted by the fright into so straight a compasse and thronged so close together that they cannot move in order or by the action of lying or pressing too hard or too heavy upon any part that hinders the spirits therein from moving after their natural manner which causeth a sleepinesse or numnesse in those parts that are prest by weight or strength those disorders are soon to be rectified Again as by giving liberty or helping the spirits with cordials which gives strength to them and sets them at liberty but if the sensitive parts be quite altered from their natural course they seldom are rectified But sometimes the assistance of the regular motions in the body joyning as it were with one consent do expel that innated matter out of that part wherein they work contrary to the nature of the body and supplies that part with fresh and new matter that moves as it should do Likewise as the sensitive innated matter works in some parts of the body irregularly and in other parts regularly and in one and the same part sometimes regularly and sometimes irregularly the same is it many times with the rational innate matter for sometimes that will moves regularly and sometimes iregularly that makes frantick men sometimes to be in their wits and sometimes out of their wits but if their madnesse be at certain times as at full of the moon or high tides or springs or falls or in the midst of summer or when they keep an evil or too full a diet then it proceeds from those outward accidents which give assistance to the disordered motions which inhabit in the body the original defect being amongst the sensitive innate matter for this shewes that the madness proceeds from some distemper of the body which most commonly is in the spleen or that which they call in women the mother from which parts arise grosse and noisom vapors which ascends up into the head and disaffects the brain and many times the brain is disaffected with its own distempers and whensoever the brain is distempered the rational innate matter which moves therein moves irregularly but when those times or seasons are past or that overfulnesse of humour is purged out the natural motions of humour get strength and the man is well untill the return thereof But if the irregularity be in the rational innate matter it is most dangerous for it seldom or never is cured nor seldom have intermitting fits but as a continual fever in the body so is a continual madnesse in the minde But I shall speak more of this in my following chapters Chap. 206. Of the inward sense and outward sense as the interior and exterior parts SOme of the exterior senses may be extinguished as sight hearing scent or taste or some parts of the body numb or dead or some disjoynted from the rest as leggs or arms toes brest eyes nose or the like and yet the material parts sound and whole which materal parts are the vital parts as the brain the heart the liver the lungs the
it is so ridiculous then to think that this Lady cannot understand these tearms as it is rather to be laught at then to trouble ones self to answer And that invincible Problem the quadrature of the circle as they call it which makes me doubt that they think themselves wiser for naming the quadrature then squaring the circle who lives that hath not heard of it and who lives that can do it and who is dead that hath done it and put the case it were done what then why then 't is squared and that 's all and that all is nothing much ado about nothing But we will leave these impertinent malicious and most false exceptions to the Lady and her Books and will now begin with her book of Poems examining first her Philosophy there That 's an old opinion of Atomes say some witnesse Democrates and many others T is very true they have talkt of atomes but did they ever dispose of them as they are there or tell you what several sorts there are of them and what figure they bear and being joyned what forms they produce of all kindes in all things if you have read any such things before I 'le be bold to burn the Book Why then all these are new opinions and grounded upon Reason I say some but they are Paradoxes what then I hope a Paradox may be as true as an old opinion and an old opinion as false as a Paradox for neither the one nor the other makes a truth either the new or the old for what is most reason reasonable for in natural Philosophy one opinion may be as true as another since no body knows the first cause in nature of any thing Then this Ladies Philosophy is excellent and will be thought so hereafter and the truth is that it was wholy and onely wrought out of her own brain as there are many witnesses by the several sheets that she sent daily to be writ fair for the presse As for her Poems where are the exceptions to these marry they misse sometimes in the numbers and in the rimes It is well known by the copies that those faults lie most upon the Corrector and the Printer but put the case there might be some slips in that kinde is all the book damned for it no mercy Gentlemen when for the numbers every Schoole-boy can make them on his fingers and for Rimes Fenner would have put down Ben. Johnson and yet neither the boy or Fenner so good Poets No it is neither of those either makes or condemns a Poet it is new born and creating Phansies that Glorifies a Poet and in her Book of Poems I am sure there is excellent and new Phancies as have not been writ by any and that it was onely writ by her is the greatest truth in the world Now for her Book called the Worlds Olio say some how is it possible that she showld have such experience to write of such things so I answer that I living long in the great world and having the various fortunes of what they call good and bad 〈◊〉 the reading of men might bring me to as much experience as the reading of Books and this I have now and then discourst unto this Lady who hath wisely and elegantly drest it in her own way and sumptuously cloathed it at the charge of her own Phancies and expressions I say some of them she hath heard from me but not the fortieth part of her book all the rest are absolutely her own in all kindes this is an ingenious truth therefore beleeve it As for the Book of her Philosophical opinions there is not any one thing in the whole Book that is not absolutely spun out by her own studious phancy and if you will lay by a little passion against writers you will like it and the best of any thing she has writ therefore read it once or twice not with malice to finde a little fault but with judgement to like what is good Truly I cannot beleeve so unworthily of any Scholer honouring them so much as we both do that they should envie this Lady or should have so much malice or emulation to cast such false aspersions on her that she did not write those Books that go forth in her name they will hardly finde out who else writ them and I protest none ever writ them but her self You should rather incourage her then by false suppositions to let her see the world is so ill natured as to beleeve falshoods before truths But here 's the crime a Lady writes them and to intrench so much upon the male prerogative is not to be forgiven but I know Gown-men will be more civil to her because she is of the Gown too and therefore I am confident you will defend her and truth and thus be undeceived I had not troubled you with this but that a learned Doctor our very noble friend writ is word of the infidelity of some people in this kinde whatsoever I have write is absolutly truth which I here as a man of Honour set my hand to W. NEWCASTLE TO THE READER IN my Book called the Worlds Olio there are such grosse mistakes in misplacing of Chapters and so many literall faults as my book is much disadvantaged thereby As for Chapters there are many misplaced for some Chapters that belong to that part of diseases are misplaced among those of natural Philosophy as one that belongs to sleep and three Chapters that are of the temper of Aire likewise another Chapter of the strength of the soul and body is placed between the first and last part of the Common-Wealth which nothing belongs to it for though there is a soul and body belonging to every Common-Wealth yet not such a soul and body as I have discourst of there For the soul of a Common-Wealth is Actuall Justice and industry The soul of a man is Contemplation Reason and imagination And the body of a Common-Wealth is the Citizens therein and Magistrates thereof And the body of a man is the senses therein and the members thereof Likewise the strength of a Common-Wealth is the Laws And the strength of a mans body is the nerves Likewise a short copie of verses which is at the latter end of the book is what I intended for this book as being my beloved of all my works prefering it as my master-piece although I do beleeve it will not please my Readers because as I have said in some of my Epistles few take delight in the study of Natural Philosophy yet those that delight not or slight the study or dispraise the work make it not the lesse rational for reason will be reason in the despite of the most malicious detractors or sophsterian censurers but for the faults and mistakes in my other works and perchance the like mischance may come to these and although I know a passion cannot recal an injury past yet I cannnot but grieve at the misfortune as for a friend that
made in the heart and not in the head is that when the brain is distempered and mad as we say yet the passions may be free and regular and Love and Hate which are the two chief passions may be constant to the objects they were placed on thus the minde or soul which is the rational innate matter lies as much in the heart as the head Chap. 147. Of different passions in one and the same part AS for passion we shall love and hate at one and the same time but not one and the same thing at one and 〈◊〉 same time for that is impossible But different passions are made according to the subjects or objects they move by or to yet the rational innated matter which creates passions may move partly sympathetically and partly antipathetically at one and the same time As for example a man may be in love with a woman for her beauty or wit or behaviour and yet have an aversion to her bad qualities but a man cannot love the person of a woman and hate it at one and the same time but to the creating of those passions that sympathies as love and hope and joy and the like The rational innate matter doth as it were spread and delate its self but for those passions that antipathies it contracts it self more together as in hate fears jealousies doubts envy spight and the like and when two or three passions arise at one time as a passion of grief for my friend that is killed and a passionate hate to his murtherer or the like then the rational innated matter divides its self partly moving after one manner and partly moving after a quite contrary manner and so may divide into as many parts and after as many several manners as their place or quantity will give way to but when we love what was hated or hate what was loved then the innate matter changes their motions towards such a subject or object without a division but when they move disorderly the passions are like a tempest at Sea passions beat against passions in a confused manner distempering the whole body causing the senses to mistake with the violence thereof likewise in the brain there may be opposite motions amongst one and the same degree of innated matter either rational or sensitive either by an alteration of motion in one and the same part of matter or by divisions moving in parts but when the rationall innate matter moves in a regular division and the measures of time and the notes of motions skilfully set and rightly kept that is curiously or neatly and carefully ordered then there is a harmony which harmony is a quiet minde gentle imaginations a clear understanding a solid judgment elevated fancies and ready memory but when this rational innated matter moves disorderly there arises extravagant fancies false reasons misunderstandings and the like Chap. 148. The affinity betwixt imaginations and passions IT is the rational innate matter that makes passions and not the sensitive innated matter for the senses onely present the 〈◊〉 the rational the passions which shews the rational innated 〈◊〉 is as much in the heart as in the head and may be of the same degree of strength although they work different wayes as being different figures yet there is such sympathie with each other whether by recourse or otherwise as passions will raise imaginations corrupt judgment disorder reason and blindfold understanding And imaginations will raise passions as fear love hate doubts hopes and the like which shews that the rational innate matter in the head and heart hath such affinity as the sensitive innated matter hath in the stomach and head as the pain in the head will make the stomach sick and a sickness in the stomach will make the head-ache I will not say at all times but most commonly neither will imaginations at all times raise a passion nor a passion an imagination but very often Chap. 149. Of the Brain THe brain is not the cause of knowledg and understanding for a bird that hath but a little brain seems as understanding if not more then a great beast as an ox or the like which hath far greater quantity of brain but perchance the bird hath more of the rational innated matter in his little brain then the beast that hath more braine for the rational innated matter moves in the brain not on the brain for that is wrought and moved by the sensitive innate matter being made of the dull part of matter for when the brain is defective it is caused by the sensitive innated matter not the rational innated matter yet oft times the sensitive innate matter disorders the motions of the rational innated matter as we shall see in distempered and sick bodies like-wise the disordred motions in the rational innate matter will disorder the sensitive motions as we shall see by troubled mindes Chap. 150. Of the multitude of figures amongst the rational matter in the brain and heart THe reason why we may have millions of several figures in our memory at one time so likewise raised up to our remembrance when we can receive but one perfect figure through our senses at one time is that the passages for outward objects to enter is so straight in all animal figures as that but one object can take place therein I mean as being perfectly distinct for the passages being straight many objects entring at once make a confusion at least a disorder for if more then one object be presented at one time to any particular sense they are received but by piece-meals as in the small parts and many times the divided parts are so mixt together as no piece is perfectly seen or heard or smelt or tasted or touched besides the passages being straight the sensitive innate matter cannot work so regular having not liberty for it is not with the sensitive innate matter as with the rational innate matter by reason the sensitive innate matter works upon gross materials as upon the dull part of matter which makes that it cannot move so nimbly nor divide into parts so suddenly especially in a straight passage as the rational innate matter can which moves onely in number and measure without any dull mixture for the rational innate matter can figure out the whole world and millions of several figures therein sooner and swifter then the sensitive innate matter can print one figure upon any of the senses and not onely those figures that the sensitive innate matter presents or hath presented but makes those figures that were never presented as those we call phantasms and as I said the rational innate matter hath more room to move in as in the head and heart then the sensitive innate matter hath in the ear eye nostrils mouth or pores of the flesh so there may be a greater quantity or proportion of that rational moving matter together in a body or bulk as I may say then of the sensitive innate matter in the foresaid passages
lights the spleen the maw the midriff the kidnies the bladder or the like as for the heart and the brain there is such a sympathising and conjunction with the whole body as the least distemper indangers the body and the least alteration of their shapes or figures it destroyes the life of the body but for the rest of those vitals or fundamental parts when they decay or are any way impaired the life doth sink down as in were by degrees according as those parts impaires but if they be wounded or corrupted by poisons or plaguie infections or by an absolute and sudden alteration from their natural motions or figures then the life is suddenly extinguished but the external figures of the rest of the parts have not such a sympathy to the interior motions of the whole figure but when I say the exterior figure of the interior parts I mean the particular figure of every particular part not onely the outward part as hands and armes leggs and head and body and the like but of brain and heart and liver and so all the rest for though they be internal figures to the external figures yet they be the external figures to the internal motion that works in them Chap. 207. The sympathies and antipathies of sound to the minde and actions THe bottome hole in the eare is covered with a thin caule or felme which is called the drum of the ear where those motions that enter in at the ear beat thereon like unto drum-sticks and if the felm or thin skin be stretched smooth or braced straight with the nervous strings the sound is clear and loud but if it be weakly braced and the nervous strings loose and the thin skin slack the sound is low and dull by reason that skin is so soft by the slackness that the beating or striking or playing motion thereon cannot rebound or retort but sinks and is smothered therein and if it be stretched very hard and thin and then such motions enter the ear which pierce or cut sharp such as we call shrill notes it doth not onely desturb the natural motion in the brain but many times breaks that skin or at least puts it to pain likewise if those motions that enter in at the ear move crosse to the natural motions in the brain it causeth pain in the head likewise if one and the same notes are often repeated it fills the head so full of this particular motion as they over-power the natural motions therein and as I may say cause a surfeit thereof in the brain being glutted therewith tiring not onely the sensitive part os the brain which causeth pain or diseases but oppresseth the rational part of innate matter in the brain causing a hate thereto and if the vocal or verbal sound are crossed as by the way of antipathy it may disorder both the sensitive and rational innated matter in the brain so much by striking or pressing into and by barring and thronging out as the sense and reason are so disordered as the natural government is absolutely overthrown from whence proceeds madness at least extravagant passions raised from the heart the like disorder both in the head and heart may proceed from each of the senses and as this or the like external objects or subjects may disorder by the irregular and antipathetical motions the health and understanding which are the interiour motions so regularity and sympathie of the verbal or vocal motions brought through the ear may compose the differences and disorder of the natural interior motions as health reason understanding affection or reconcilement as for example a timely kinde discreet discourse may compose a disquiet mind for the motions of wise sober kinde gentle or eloquent words may turn the motion of troubled combustible or extravagant thoughts into a smooth and calm temper or regular order Likewise unkinde and indiscreet double false malicious hasty sudden sad or frightful discourses may discompose and disorder a quiet and well tempered minde disordering the regular motions by misplacing the thoughts making a war in the minde giving strength to some thoughts and overpowring others The like with vocal sounds as for musick the notes in musick agree with the motions of passions and the motions of several thoughts as some notes sympathize with passions and with the several thoughts and move the actions accordingly so others discompose the minde and inveterat and disturb it for slow sought strains on the tenor and bass is as commending extorting exciting threatning terrifying judging which moves the minde to melancholy from whence proceeds fear superstition devotion repenting praying and vowing which causeth an humble submission dejected countenance weeping eys heaved up hands and bended knees And slow soft notes onely on the tenors are a sad relation sorrowful laments mournful complaints pleadings petitioning acknowledging faults begging pardon imploring mercy which moves the minde to a tender pitty and compassion and a charitable love from whence proceeds a listning ear a helping hand a serious countenance a sad eye with a favouring cast therefrom High hard sharp notes or straines on the basse or tenor is like exclaiming incouraging or animating extolling promising which moves the minde to pride ambition vain-glory desire hope which makes the body active the actions adventrous bold the eyes darting and quick Low sharp straines and cross notes and unequal times move the minde to murmur words choler hate revenge fury despair the cursing their hands tearing the legs stamping their bodies turning several wayes their countenance maskerd and gastly and the eyes staring But quick sharp straines in tenor notes and soft slow strains on treble notes are as perswading flattering insinuating professing inviting alluring this moves the minde to love the thoughts to be amorous this makes their actions affective kissing their hands making of leggs mending their garments offering their service their words complemental their countenance smiling and their eyes glancing And quick sharp strains on the tenor and treble notes produce a cheerful minde it makes the thoughts lively the countenance pleasant their eyes quick their discourse wanton and jesting their actions laughing singing playing and dancing But slow low flats strike on the basses and tenor notes moves the minde to a dull stupidity wherein the thoughts lie as dead this makes the body appear like sensless statues of stone without motion the head bending down the eyes fixt to the ground But Cramatick musick is like Schools disputation and discord in musick is like quarrelling these are the grounds of musical discourses or discourses in musick Musick hath a sympathie to the rational motions because the rational spirits move in number and measure as musical instruments do Thus as notes are set the thoughts are placed and as the notes change in several tunes so the thoughts move in several passions and as notes are composed so are thoughts as sembrim of thoughts a full note is a fixt thought Thus according as the notes and thoughts agree the