hee is seated in such a hidden place A. Nature hath done the like with all the noble parts as with the Braine with the Liver with the Lungs to the end that they should not be easily offended hurt or wronged seeing that these parts cannot be grieviously offended without losse and death of the Animal Q. Wherefore is it that the heart of some Animals being torne with force out of the body wil pant and moove still A. This panting and mooving comes from the fervor of the blood of the spirits from the heart as sparkes and flames from the naturall heat which are not suddenly extincted after the death of the Animals no otherwise then a snuffe or a meske of a lighted Lampe looseth not suddenly all his fire nor all his light although separated from the Oyle Q Wherefore is it that in Animals the most couragious as in Lyons and in Tigers they have their hearts very little and in those which are the most fearfull as the Deere the Asse and the Hare they should have the most great considering the proportion of their Bodies and neverthelesse to signifie a valiant man they commonly say heâ— is a man of a great heart A. The Animals that have little hearts are commonly the most hardy because that the force of the heat amassed together in a little place are more vigorous and doe greater deeds then being dispersed neither more nor lesse then an ordinary fire heats not so easily a great hall as a little chamber and whereas they commonly say a hardy man hath a great heart the same ought to be understood of quality not of quantity that is to say of courage it selfe of valour it selfe of hardinesse it selfe not of the masse or piece of the heart Q. Wherefore is it that hurting of the heart is mortall A. Because as saith the Philosopher that it being the principall and beginning of the life if it bee wounded there is nothing that can sustaine or snccour the other parts that depends on it neverthelesse it hath beene found of Animals that although wounded in the heart they have not dyed of the hurt judging by that that after they have made dissection and cure they have found the Iron head of an arrow or the bullet of a Hargubusse sticking in their hearts Q. From whence comes it that some renowned personages have their hearts hairy and have bin approved wonderfull valiant and couragious as Leonidas the Lacedemonian and Aristomenes the Argien A. Because that it testified an extraordinary calour or heate neverthelesse naturall in them the which excited smoaky exhalations in their hearts and such fumes are the matter of the haire and naturall heate is accompanied with vigour and courage Cockes Q. BY what vertue is it that the crowing of the Cocke so affrights the Lyon A. There is no Animall whatsoever is so fierce and couragious as the Cocke which combats most valiantly even to the death his crow is also very penetrating so as the Lyon knowing by instinct his invincible courage and fierce hardinesse in so little an Animall hearing him sing is astonished and retyres himselfe so writeth Pliny Q. What is it that induceth him to crow every third houre and so iustly at midnight A. One may ordinarily prove that he croweth not every third houre although it hath pleased Pliny to say so that tooke up much by heare-say but for his crowing at mid-night they give divers Reasons as some hold that the Cocke is an Animall wholly solarie because whereof the Ancients consecrated him to Aesculapius Sonne to the Sunne so that resenting about mid-night that the Planet predominating upon his nature is remounting upon our Horizon hee awaketh hee rejoyceth and sings for joy Others attribute the same to his Venerian desire for hee is an Animall which is very lascivious and why having his Hennes about him and otherwise hee is accustomed to sing rather after then before his treading and therefore this reason seemeth to mee nothing probable Democritus as Cicero reporteth held that the Cocke satisfied with sleepe after hee had perfected his digestion as hee hath in him much naturall heate to well concoct and digest his food hee awaketh all joyfull and proclaimes his joy with his owne Trumpet but that great Iulius Scaliger durst resolve nothing of this question but I dare say that there is some apparance in the first opinion but more in the last of Democritus Strings Q. WHerefore is it that the string of a long bow or a crosse-bowe breakes sooner when one dischargeth them without an arrow then when they shoote with an arrow A. It is because the Arrow abates and moderateth the violence of the motion but when one disbandeth the violence of the motion which findeth not an encounter nor stayeth makes a strength against the cord it selfe and is the cause it breakes and sometimes the Bow it selfe Q. Wherefore is it that the strings of a long Instrument breakes sooner and will not stretch so high as those of a short Instrument A. Because that those of the long stretch longer then the others have a more long space from the middle are more further from their center that is to say from the place where they are tied and that which is further from their center is most weake wherof we see divers examples from these words light waight Q. Wherefore is it that two strung Lutes or other like instruments being reached up and tuned in one and the selfe same tune if one soundeth or play eth upon the one neare to the other that which is not touched shall sound and moove also upon her Harmonious cordes and the dissonant not moove astraw being laid upon the string of the untouched Lute or such like strung instrument A. This is caused by the Sympathy and consonance of the instrument the strings of the one being touched the Ayre which is affected with the harmony makes to resound affect and stir the same strings of the other and by the same cause if one strike a string of a Lute which is accorded in the unison or in the octave it will shake also the other which one may prove by putting a litle straw upon that which is not touched and which is agreeing to the unison or to the octave of that which is struck and better yet to Philosop hize upon this subject wee will adjoyne that wee may observe a double mooving in the strings of an instrument the one is it which beats the Ayre then before is string is struck the other then behinde when it retyres after that it is struck the shake makes him to resound but encountering other strings streatched into another tune and out of the unison or the Octave they shall not finde the like disposition of mooving because of the dissonance and disproportion of tunes so as they will not resound at all Q. From whence comes it that the harmony and Systeme of the voice or of instruments well accorded is so agreeable to the hearing
resting upon one of our armes it will be benumb'd and become as unsensible A. It is because that in pressing upon it the blood retires and runnes to the other parts of the body with the blood the natural heate its inseparable coÌ„panion and with them both the animal spirits causers of the feeling so that the member left of the blood of the naturall heate and of the animall spirits and seized with the cold remaines as insensible and immoveable Grafting Q. FRom whence comes it that trees grafted or inoculated be are better fruite then the wilde ones and yet more those which are againe inoculated beare yet better those which have bin twice I meane A. It is that Nature perceiving some want betakes her suddainely to repaire by a more ample and better nourishment so that the Tree being cut or slit to graffe in shee sendeth so much food as is necessary and of the best to that part slit and cut the which she fortifies in as much more as shee was sluggish before and produceth more faire and better fruite the same likewise hapneth to ruptures which being well joyned and set the Callus becomes more hard then the bone it selfe Q. Wherefore is it not good to graffe and inoculate in all times but onely in the Spring A. Because that in the Winter the over-much cold makes the Trees to dye by insinuating into the opening or incision of the graffe and in Summer the excessive heate withers the tree and kills it Likewise in Autumne it profiteth not neither in respect of the colds neerely comming which are enemies to Natures productions but in the Spring time because there is no very great frosts after the grafting is made but a temperate heate the friend of nature ayding to their increase and perfection Egges Q. WHerefore is it that Egges are such a good nourishment to the humane body A. Because that they are hot and give ayde by their owne decoction without much borrowing of naturall heate neverthelesse those which are roasted in the imbars and eaten without so me liquor as Verjuice Vineger or other the like are not good for aguish people because they are affected with a strange heat by the fever they doe adde yet more heat to the fever Sneezing Q. WHerefore is it that men sneeze more strongly and more often then any other Animals A. It is because they eate ordinarily more then need and of many sorts of meat too which is the cause that they cannot so well digest as other Animals so great quantity of vapours mounting to the braine which moveth and provoketh them to discharge it which they doe by the means of sneezing which proceedeth as saith the Philosopher by the force of the Spirits then when the humiditie forceth them to exhale and distill or by the strength or expulsion of some raw and undigested humour or as the Philosopher likewise saith man having the conduits of his nostrils more ample and open in respect to the proportion of his body he lodgeth more winde and spirits there which provoke him to sneeze I will adde hereunto that man having according to his temporall masse more brain then any other Animall so hath he more humiditie so as he growing cold great quantity of humours fill the conduits the which thrusting out by the effect of the spirits it makes that hee sneezeth strongly in and by this conflict and with great noise Q. Wherefore is it that old folkes sneeze with more pain then young A. Because they have the conduits of their nose more shut and more straight and as it were taken and clos'd together Q. But why have they the conduits of their nose more shut then the young A. Because they are cold and cold restraines and shuts Q. From whence comes it that sneezing wee shake shrug and tremble A. It is because the vaines voyd themselues of a certaine humour or heated spirit and fill them againe with fresh ayre for they cannot remaine empty it is that which maks us to shake the same happeneth to us in emptying the bladder Tickling Q. WHerefore is it that wee tickle not our selves A. Because that our touch is to us naturall and familiar and things familiar and ordinary mooves nor affects us much Q. Wherefore is it that we are very ticklish in the soles of our feet and under our arme-pits A. Because that the skinne in those parts is stretched and very delicate as also they are parts that we are seldome touched by which as I have formerly said give more cause of motion and effection Q. Wherefore is it that we are very ticklish about the place of the Spleen A. Because that the Spleene being a part spongeous and delicate it is also more easily affected so that men the which feeling the body shot through that part of the body have dyed laughing Heate Q. WHerefore is it that hot things are sooner cold in the Sun then in the shadow A. Because in the shadow the cold locks up the heat and hindreth it from dilating or exhaling which is the cause that it is more strong and vigorous And in the Sunne by the contrary the heat is extended or exhaled by the Ayre which is his neighbour which being heated by the reflection and stroke of his rayes so that it is much more weak and feeble for the same cause the fire is lesse hot in Summer where the Sunne shineth upon it then it is in Winter or in the shadow Q. From whence comes it that a peece of Iron red hot in the fire is much more hot and burnes much more then the fire it selfe seeing that the Philosophers hold that that wich is such by the meanes of another that which is the cause ought to be much more it selfe A. That the fire being a body simple and nothing solide cannot worke so powerfully as the Iron or some other body that is solide thick and grose unto which the fire hath imparted his quality Baldnesse Q. WHerefore is it that we become more bald in the fore part of the head then behinde it A. Because that the fore part of the head is more soft and more thinne and divided by many seames as we may see in the sculs of the dead and the hinder part is in the contrary very hard and close by reason whereof the humidity which is the nourishment of the hayre is exhaled more eaâ—â—ly from the parts before whereby it loseth the haire sooner then of that behinde Q. Wherefore is it that those which have curled locks become soonest bald and later gray then others A. They become sooner bald because that they are of complection hot and dry so that the hayre the which is also dry falls of for want of moysture which is its nourishment they are also later gray then others because their heat consumes the moist humour which is the cause of whitenesse of the hayres being it selfe of the same colour Q. But wherefore is it that Eunuches become seldome bald A.
feeling themselves weake in the field get unto their Garrisons their Castles and Towers best fortified and most strong Now the blood which gives a vermillion colour to the face and to all the parts of the body being retired to the within it must bee of necessity that the exteriour parts by the want of it become wanne and pale Q. Wherefore is it that they tremble A. Because that the nerves becomming cold slack and weake by the absence of the blood of the naturall heate and of the animall spirits which are retired into the interiour cannot support the burthen of the body but the members shake and tremble Q. Wherefore is it that without thinking on it they let goe their excrements by both the conduits below A. Because that the muskels of the vessells which contayne the excrements are so weakned by the absence of the heate and of the animall spirits that they slacke and by that meanes sometimes they escape without being perceived Q. Wherefore is it that those which are seized with feare by an inevitable perill or danger as for example those that are led to execution have ordinarily an extreame thirst A. Because that the heate retiring and gathering together as is said into the interiors dries them and there exciteth the thirst although the extremities of their bodies as hands and feet are very cold trembling Q Wherefore is it that we are soone frighted in the night and in darkenesse especially being alone more then in the day and in the light A. Some attribute the same to the danger that one may get by stumbling or other mischiefe when wee can see nothing but the question is of another kinde of feare then of the danger of knocks and stumbling for I will suppose that if one bee within a good bed and stirrs not the true reason is then that the enemy of humane kinde being a friend of darknesse and as the Psalmist saies marcheth in darknes and is then most redoubtable to men as being a spirit and of a nature more strong then ours and that it is so there is none that hath not sometimes approoved it as in going alone in the night and it may bee without apprehension of any danger at all bnt in an instant a suddaine feare seiseth upon them because in my conceit there is some evill spirit that wee doubt without seeing it as the weaker Animals are affraid approaching to the Lyon although they see him not I will not deny neverthelesse that the night also augmenteth all sorts of feare because of the enterprizes and surprizes which may bee made then with the most commodity but there is another naturall terrour which comes often to men when they are in a place of perfect assurance and as soone to the most couragious as to the veriest cowards for verily I have seene brave generous and magnanimous persons feare spirits in the night extreamly when weak and fellowes of base courage have marcht on a long way with firme assurance Vlysses in Homer durst not goe alone in the night but would have for companion Diomedes the most most valiant of the Greekes next to Achilles I will attribute neverthelesse willingly all these feares come from the force of the imagination and want of faith for by the one and the other wee propose a thousand terrours but hee which hath his confidence in God and inhabites as saith the Psalmist under the wing of the Almighty shall not bee mooved at all with the Arrow which flyeth by day or the Spirits which wallketh by night nor the nightly horrours shall not feare him and to put this in our memories the church sings this in our evening song Q. Wherefore is it that the haire will stare and stand up an end with feare and horrour A. It is because that such passions coole the exteriour parts of the body and by the absence of the heat which retyres with the blood into the interiour and the cold binding and restraining the pores the haire being by the same meanes bound and pressed from the root lifts itselfe up and stares Fishes Q. WHerefore is it that Fish eate upon their backs and their bellies aloft contrary to all other Animals A. Because they feare the prey should scape them below besides that they should make the shaddow of themselves in eating it if they held the prey or the food below them Q. Wherefore is it that Fish are more gluttenous then other Animals A. It is because that being very moyst they have need of the dry and that the watry food with which they ordinarily nourish themselves sustaines them not so well as the terrestriall together that for those of the Sea the saltnesse of which excites yet more their appetites and makes them so much the more devouring and gluttonous Q. VVherefore is it that Fishes are not so subiect to diseases as land-animals A. It is because they are in an Element more pure then the Earth for the Earth is much more mingled with mixt bodies then the Water Q. How can it bee that during the Winter and the extreame rigour of the cold when the water is frozen over with Ice the Fish which of himselfe is also very cold dyes not for all that coldnesse A. It is because that the cold occupying the surface of the water the heate retires to the bottome and the Fish also for the conservation of their lives Q. Wherefore is it that Fish begin to spoile and corrupt in the head and other Animals in their intrayles A. Because that Fish have not much ordure and excrements in their intrailes as other Animals the which for this reason begin to corrupt there but the Fish having otherwise very little braine instead whereof there is aire inclosed within their heads the which being hot and moist is the ordinary cause of their corruption Gun powder Q. HOw is it possible that so little a quantity of Gun powder should thrust out a ball â— bullet so farre and with such a strength or force as is marvellous A. Because that this powder which is firy being a lighted and reduced into flame occupies much more of place then when it was in his masse or earthly substance so that for to extend it selfe and to make way to the end to take up as much place as he needs it forceth the bullet which is before it to flie out with such an impetuosity that it thrusteth it out so very farre that it makes it breake and shatter all that it encounters Q. From whence proceeds this great noise and terrible bounce that the Peeces make A. The reason is neare the very same that is in the precedent question and more as the fire is active and violent it forceth the ayre inclosed within the Cannon to give it place and in this conflict the ayre being beaten and repulsed with such force with the Bullets issue which is within and then ensueth this most fearefull cracke Resounding and retaining Q. WHerefore is it that the high places
proposed in the same and by the same meanes to establish the truth oâ— the cause Q. From whence comes it that throwing in a perpendicular line a chippe or other piece of wood equally bigge within the water the upper end which first entereth within the water shall bee â—ooner remounted upon the water then that above shall sinke to the bottome A. It is certaine that wood being a thinne body containes very much ayre the naturall place whereof is above the water by reason whereof being thrust by violence under the water he riseth above by his owne nature in lesse time then the violence which thrusts him downe because it was but accidentary Q. Wherefore is it that a ball blowne full of winde being thrust downe by force under water sudâ—ainly mounts up againe upon the top of it A. Because that the Ayre or winde wherewith it is full comes to his naturall place which is above the water Q. Wherefore is it that a piece of wood being cast from high to low within the water with a piece of lead stone or any other hard or solid body of the same weight they shall both descend and fall in the same time upon the water yet neverthelesse the lead or stone shal sinke into the water and the wood shall swimme upon the top of the water A. The wood sinks not within the water because it is ayerie and the place of the Ayre is above the water the other sinks because they are earthly watery but in the ayre the wood descends as swiftly as the terrestriall and watery bodies because that the ayre as all other Elements excepting the fire weighs in his naturall place Finger Q. FRom whence comes it that the fourth finger of the left hand next to the little finger hath beene so esteemed amongst the Egyptians Greeks and Romans that they have onely adorned it with a gold Ring A. Because in making Anatomies dissections of the body they have found that there is a little nerve in the same which stretcheth and reacheth even to the heart and for the conjunction and ligature it hath with that noble part they more honoured it then the others and more they call it the medicinable finger Sleepe Q. WHerfore is it that Physitians forbid us to lie in our beds upon our backes and our bellies aloft A. The cause is that lying in that sort the Reines heate and the Phlegme which is there hardeneth whereby is ingendred the stone in the reines it chafes also the blood that is in the veine called Cave and the spirits that are within the great Artery and it likewise shuts and stops the conduits of the excrements whereof ensueth and proceedeth as saith Avicen Apoplexies Phrensies and Incubus Q. Wherefore is it that the morning sleepe is more pleasant then that of the night A. Because that the Sunne remounting in our Hemispheare and comming neare us mooveth sweetly in our bodies such vapours as provoke us to sleep Q. But wherefore is it that sleep after dinner is hurtfull A. If one have watched the night before I doe not condemne him to sleep in the day but having sufficiently rested the night and to take a nappe betwixt the two meales it corrupts the digestion looseth and slakes the members too much dulleth and makes the head heavy and brings one to be carelesse and unprofitable I will say neuerthelesse that although the Physitians permit old folkes to sleepe sometimes in the day because they cannot well rest in the night therefore they may take a nap when they desire it but it is not good to use it too soone after meat or if then but a short one with the Proverb Somnum Meridianum aut brevis aut Nihil Q. Wherefore is it that little children are very sleepy and old folkes on the contrary very watchfull A. Because that little children are very moist and neverthelesse abounding in naturall heat the which evaporates great quantitity of the humidity sendeth it to the brain so as the conduits by which the animal spirits flow from the brain to the other parts of the body being stoppen they sleepe easily Old folkes on the contrary are dry have besides litle natural heat in them is the cause that the matter efficient cause of sleep fails in them that they cannot long sleep whereas I say that aged folkes are dry I mean they have little of radicall moisture although they abound in ill humours the which neverthelesse are not the cause and matter of sleep Q. Wherfore is it that those which have their veines very small are more sleepy then those which have them great A. Because as Aristotle saith very well that the fumes and vapours which have their mouÌ„ture to the brain have their stopping by the conduits of the sence cannot easily flow nor be dissipated by the natural heat so easily as if the wayes were large and ample so then it is requisit they have more time to take away the cause of sleepe as also the effect lasteth n t long Q. From whence comes it that Harmony and a sweet consort of a well agreeing musick be it of voice or of instruments yea a sweet murmur of waters and Rivers the chirping of birds the humming of flyes and other such obiects of the hearing provoke sleep A. The same procedeth from that as the soule is greatly affected as it were seized charmed by the hearing gathereth all his forces for to send up great quaÌ„tity of spirits so as the other sences being altogether deprived remain as filled the Agitation of the same spirits mooving the vapours fumes to the Organes and conduits of the hearing provoke a sweet and pleasant sleep Q. How can it bee that sorrow breakes the sleepe and yet neverthelesse sleepe allaies sorrow anâ— griefe A. It is that sorrow and griefe troubles and hinders so much the concoction that imagination it selfe breaks the sleepe and neverthelesse rest increaseth the motion of the troubled spirits and releaseth the anguish and sorrow Q. How can it be that labour provoketh sleepe seeing it expandeth and throweth abroad naturall heate through all the body and neverthelesse naturall heate amasseth from the interiour is the efficient cause of sleepe making to vapour the fumes from the stomacke to the braine the which turning them into water stoppeth the conduits of the sense which remaines by this meanes filled and bound A. Sleepe comes not from the labour but by accident and mediately not as the nearest cause because labour ingenders wearinesse and wearinesse constraines us to rest so that during the rest naturall heate retires within and worketh so with that shee findes within the stomacke and inwards that it exhales the fumes and vapours to the braine the which provokes sleepe and stops the conduits of the Senses Q. Wherefore is it that the first sleepe is more strong more profound and holds the sense more bound and more drown'd in sleepe A. Because that then it sends