thither to defend themselves from the coldness of the air but they being so deep in the Earth where the cold cannot enter are kept from the perception of cold so as they cannot imitate so well the motions of cold as other Creatures that are exposed to the open air The like may be said of the heat of the Sun in Summer which cannot penetrate deeper into the bowels of the Earth then cold can The truth is the Earth is to them like an Umbrello which defends or keeps men from the Sun rain wind dust c. but although it defends them from the heat of the Sun or coldness of wind yet they have those qualities naturally within themselves sometimes more and sometimes less and so has the Earth its natural temper of heat and cold But what Umbrello the middle region has whether it be some Planet or any thing else I am not able to determine unless I had been there and observed it nay ten to one but I might even then have been mistaken Wherefore all the contentions and disputes about the doctrine of Antiperistasis are in my judgment to little purpose since we are not able to know all the differences of heat and cold for if men conceive there is but one heat and cold in Nature they are mistaken and much more if they think they can measure all the several sorts of heat and cold in all Creatures by artificial experiments for as much as a Natural man differs from an artificial statue or picture of a man so much differs a natural effect from an artificial which can neither be so good nor so lasting as a natural one If Charles's Wain the Axes of the Earth and the motions of the Planets were like the pole or axes or wheels of a Coach they would soon be out of order Indeed artificial things are pretty toys to imploy idle time nay some are very useful for our conveniency but yet they are but Natures bastards or changelings if I may so call them and though Nature takes so much delight in variety that she is pleased with them yet they are not to be compared to her wise and fundamental actions for Nature being a wise and provident Lady governs her parts very wisely methodically and orderly also she is very industrious and hates to be idle which makes her imploy her time as a good Huswife doth in Brewing Baking Churning Spinning Sowing c. as also in Preserving for those that love Sweet-meats and in Distilling for those that take delight in Cordials for she has numerous imployments and being infinitely self-moving never wants work but her artificial works are her works of delight pleasure and pastime Wherefore those that imploy their time in Artificial Experiments consider onely Natures sporting or playing actions but those that view her wise Government in ordering all her parts and consider her changes alterations and tempers in particulars and their causes spend their time more usefully and profitably and truly to what purpose should a man beat his brains and weary his body with labours about that wherein he shall lose more time then gain knowledg But if any one would take delight in such things my opinion is that our female sex would be the fittest for it for they most commonly take pleasure in making of Sweet-meats Possets several sorts of Pyes Puddings and the like not so much for their own eating as to imploy their idle time and it may be they would prove good Experimental Philosophers and inform the world how to make artificial Snow by their Creams or Possets beaten into froth and Ice by their clear candied or crusted quiddinies or conserves of fruits and Frost by their candied herbs and flowers and Hail by their small comfits made of water and sugar with whites of Eggs and many other the like figures which resemble Beasts Birds Vegetables Minerals c. But the men should study the causes of those Experiments and by this society the Commonwealth would find a great benefit for the Woman was given to Man not onely to delight but to help and assist him and I am confident Women would labour as much with Fire and Furnace as Men for they 'l make good Cordials and Spirits but whether they would find out the Philosophers-stone I doubt for our sex is more apt to waste then to make Gold however I would have them try especially those that have means to spend for who knows but Women might be more happy in finding it out then Men and then would Men have reason to imploy their time in more profitable studies then in useless Experiments 27. Of Congealation and Freezing THe Congelation of Water into Ice Snow Hail and the like is made by its own corporeal figurative motions which upon the perception of the exterior object of cold by the way of imitation do contract and condense water into such or such a figure Some are of opinion that Water or the like liquors are not contracted but expanded or rarified by freezing which they prove both by the levity of congealed Water and the breaking of Glasses Earthen Bottles or other the like Vessels in which water is contained when it freezes But although I' mentioned in my former discourse that there are several sorts of colds as for example moist and dry colds whereof these contract and condense those dilate and rarifie so that there are cold dilations as well as cold contractions yet Freezing or Congelation being none of the sorts of moist but of dry colds it is not made by expanding or dilating but by contracting and condensing motions for that liquid bodies when frozen are more extended 't is not the freezing motions that cause those extensions but water being of a dilative nature its interior parts strive against the exterior which figurative motions do imitate the motions of cold or frost and in that strife the water becomes extended or dilated when congealed into Ice But the question is Whether solid bodies do dilate or extend when they freeze and my opinion is they do not for that solid bodies as Metal and the like are apt to break in a hard frost doth not prove an expansion but the division of their parts is rather made by contraction for though the motions of cold in metal are not so much exteriously contracting as to be perceived by our optick sense in its bulk or exterior magnitude as they are in the body of water whose interior nature is dilative yet by the division which cold causes it may well be believed that freezing hath an interior contractive effect otherwise it could not divide so as many times it doth Wherefore I believe that solid bodies break by an extream and extraordinary contraction of their interior parts and not by an extraordinary expansion Besides this breaking shews a strong self-motion in the action of congealing or freezing for the motions of cold are as strong and quick as the motions of heat Nay even those Experimental Philosophers which
on her in the air and Bear-and Worm-men to wait on her in Ships according to the Duchess's advice and indeed the Bear-men were as serviceable to her as the North-Star but the Bird-men would often rest themselves upon the Decks of the Ships neither would the Emperess being of a sweet and noble Nature suffer that they should tire or weary themselves by long flights for though by Lard they did often flye out of one Countrey into another yet they did rest in some Woods or on some Grounds especially at night when it was their sleeping time And therefore the Emperess was forced to take a great many Ships along with her both for transporting those several sorts of her loyal and serviceable Subjects and to carry provisions for them Besides she was so wearied with the Petitions of several others of her Subjects who desired to wait on her Majesty that she could not possibly deny them all for some would rather chuse to be drowned then not tender their duty to her Thus after all things were made fit and ready the Emperess began her Journey I cannot properly say she set Sail by reason in some Part as in the passage between the two Worlds which yet was but short the Ships were drawn under water by the Fish-men with Golden Chains so that they had no need of Sails there nor of any other Arts but onely to keep out water from entering into the Ships and to give or make so much Air as would serve for breath or respiration those Land Animals that were in the Ships which the Giants had so Artificially contrived that they which were therein found no inconveniency at all And after they had passed the Icy Sea the Golden Ships appeared above water and so went on until they came near the Kingdom that was the Emperess's Native Countrey where the Bear-men through their Telescopes discovered a great number of Ships which had beset all that Kingdom well rigg'd and mann'd The Emperess before she came in sight of the Enemy sent some of her Fish-and Bird-men to bring her Intelligence of their Fleet and hearing of their number their station and posture she gave order that when it was Night her Bird-men should carry on their backs some of the mentioned Fire-stones with the tops thereof wetted and the Fish-men should carry them likewise and hold them out of the Water for they were cut in the form of Torches or Candles and being many thousands made a terrible shew for it appear'd as if all the Air and Sea had been of a flaming Fire and all that were upon the Sea or near it did verily believe the time of Judgment or the Last Day was come which made them all fall down and Pray At the break of Day the Emperess commanded those Lights to be put out and then the Naval Forces of the Enemy perceived nothing but a Number of Ships without Sails Guns Arms and other Instruments of War which Ships seemed to swim of themselves without any help or assistance which sight put them into a great amaze neither could they perceive that those Ships were of Gold by reason the Emperess had caused them all to be coloured black or with a dark colour so that the natural colour of the Gold could not be perceived through the artificial colour of the paint no not by the best Telescopes All which put the Enemies Fleet into such a fright at night and to such wonder in the morning or at day time that they knew not what to judg or make of them for they knew neither what Ships they were nor what Party they belonged to insomuch that they had no power to stir In the mean while the Emperess knowing the Colours of her own Country sent a Letter to their General and the rest of the chief Commanders to let them know that she was a great and powerful Princess and came to assist them against their Enemies wherefore she desired they should declare themselves when they would have her help and assistance Hereupon a Councel was called and the business debated but there were so many cross and different Opinions that they could not suddenly resolve what answer to send the Emperess at which she grew angry insomuch that she resolved to return into her Blazing-world without giving any assistance to her Country-men But the Duchess of Newcastle in treated her Majesty to abate her passion for said she Great Councels are most commonly slow because many men have many several Opinions besides every Councellor striving to be the wisest makes long speeches and raises many doubts which cause retardments If I had long speeched Councellours replied the Emperess I would hang them by reason they give more Words then Advice The Duchess answered that her Majesty should not be angry but consider the differences of that and her Blazing-world for said she they are not both alike but there are grosser and duller understandings in this then in the Blazing-world At last a Messenger came out who returned the Emperess thanks for her kind profer but desired withal to know from whence she came and how and in what manner her assistance could be serviceable to them The Emperess answered That she was not bound to tell them whence she came but as for the manner of her assistance I will appear said she to your Navy in a splendorous Light surrounded with Fire The Messenger asked at what time they should expect her coming I 'le be with you answered the Emperess about one of the Clock at night With this report the Messenger returned which made both the poor Counsellers and Sea-men much afraid but yet they longed for the time to behold this strange sight The appointed hour being come the Emperess appear'd with Garments made of the Star-stone and was born or supported above the Water upon the Fish-mens heads and backs so that she seemed to walk upon the face of the Water and the Bird and Fish-men carried the Fire-stone lighted both in the Air and above the Waters Which sight when her Country-men perceived at a distance their hearts began to tremble but coming something nearer she left her Torches and appeared onely in her Garments of Light like an Angel or some Deity and all kneeled down before her and worshipped her with all submission and reverence But the Emperess would not come nearer then at such a distance where her voice might be generally heard by reason she would not have that of her Accoustrements any thing else should be perceived but the splendor thereof and when she was come so near that her voice could be heard and understood by all she made this following Speech Dear Country-men for so you are although you know me not I being a Native of this Kingdom and hearing that most part of this World had resolved to make War against it and sought to destroy it at least to weaken its Naval Force and Power have made a Voyage out of another World to lend you my assistance against
parts of animal bodies after eating them would swell and burn more then the exterior onely by touching them And as for stings of Bees whether they be poysonous or not I will not certainly determine any thing nor whether their stings be of no other use as some say then onely for defence or revenge but this I know that if a Bee once looseth its sting it becomes a Drone which if so then surely the sting is useful to the Bee either in making Wax and Honey or in drawing mixing and tempering the several sorts of juices or in penetrating and piercing into Vegetables or other bodies after the manner of broaching or tapping to cause the Liquor to issue out or in framing the structure of their comb and the like for surely Nature doth not commonly make useless and unprofitable things parts or creatures Neither doth her design tend to an evil effect although I do not deny but that good and useful instruments may be and are often imployed in evil actions The truth is I find that stings are of such kind of figures as fire is and fire of such a kind of figure as stings are but although they be all of one general kind nevertheless they are different in their particular kinds for as Animal kind contains many several and different particular kinds or sorts of animals so the like do Vegetables and other kinds of Creatures 8. Of the beard of a wild Oat THose that have observed through a Microscope the beard of a wild Oat do relate that it is onely a small black or brown bristle growing out of the side of the inner husk which covers the grain of a wild Oat and appears like a small wreath'd sprig with two clefts if it be wetted in water it will appear to unwreath it self and by degrees to streighten its knee and the two clefts will become streight but if it be suffered to dry again it will by degrees wreath it self again and so return into its former posture The cause of which they suppose to be the differing texture of its parts which seeming to have two substances one very porous loose and spongy into which the watry steams of air may very easily be forced which thereby will grow swell'd and extended and a second more hard and close into which the water cannot at all or very little penetrate and this retaining always the same dimensions but the other stretching and shrinking according as there is more or less water or moisture in its pores 't is thought to produce this unwreathing and wreathing But that this kind of motion whether it be caused by heat and cold or by dryness and moisture or by any greater or less force proceeding either from gravity and weight or from wind which is the motion of the air or from some springing body or the like should be the very first foot-step of sensation and animate motion and the most plain simple and obvious contrivance that Nature has made use of to produce a motion next to that of rarefaction and condensation by heat and cold as their opinion is I shall not easily be perswaded to believe for if Animate motion was produced this way it would in my opinion be but a weak and irregular motion Neither can I conceive how these or any other parts could be set a moving if Nature her self were not selfmoving but onely moved Nor can I believe that the exterior parts of objects are able to inform us of all their interior motions for our humane optick sense looks no further then the exterior and superficial parts of solid or dense bodies and all Creatures have several corporeal figurative motions one within another which cannot be perceived neither by our exterior senses nor by their exterior motions as for example our Optick sense can perceive and see through a transparent body but yet it cannot perceive what that transparent bodies figurative motions are or what is the true cause of its transparentness neither is any Art able to assist our sight with such optick instruments as may give us a true information thereof for what a perfect natural eye cannot perceive surely no glass will be able to present 9. Of the Eyes of Flies I Cannot wonder enough at the strange discovery made by the help of the Microscope concerning the great number of eyes observed in Flies as that for example in a gray Drone-flie should be found clusters which contain about 14000 eyes which if it be really so then those Creatures must needs have more of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sense then those that have but two or one eye 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cannot believe that so many 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be made for no more use then one or two eyes are for though Art the emulating Ape of Nature makes often vain and useless things yet I cannot perceive that Nature her self doth so But a greater wonder it is to me that Man with the twinkling of one eye can observe so many in so small a Creature if it be not a deceit of the optick instrument for as I have mentioned above Art produces most commonly hermaphroditical figures and it may be perhaps that those little pearls or globes which were taken for eyes in the mentioned Flie are onely transparent knobs or glossie shining spherical parts of its body making refractions of the rayes of light and reflecting the pictures of exterior objects there being many Creatures that have such shining protuberances and globular parts and those full of quick motion which yet are not eyes Truly my reason can hardly be perswaded to believe that this Artificial Informer I mean the Microscope should be so true as it is generally thought for in my opinion it more deludes then informs It is well known that if a figure be longer broader and bigger then its nature requires it is not its natural figure and therefore those Creatures or parts of Creatures which by Art appear bigger then naturally they are cannot be judged according to their natural figure since they do not appear in their natural shape but in an artificial one that is in a shape or figure magnified by Art and extended beyond their natural figure and since Man cannot judg otherwise of a figure then it appears besides if the Reflections and Positious of Light be so various and different as Experimental Philophers confess themselves and the instrument not very exact for who knows but hereafter there may be many faults discovered of our modern Microscopes which we are not able to perceive at the present how shall the object be truly known Wherefore I can hardly believe the Truth of this Experiment concerning the numerous Eyes of Flies they may have as I said before glossy and shining globular protuberances but not so many eyes as for example Bubbles of Water Ice as also Blisters and watry Pimples and hundreds the like are shining and transparent Hemispheres reflecting light but yet not eyes Nay if Flies should have so many numerous Eyes why can
perpendicular line as well as these Creatures do by reason of the depth of their bodies from the soles of their feet to the surface of their back the weight of their depth over-powering the strength of their leggs Wherefore the weight of a Creature lies for the most part in the shape of its body which shape gives it such sorts of actions as are proper for it as for example a Bird flies by its shape a Worm crawls by its shape a Fish swims by its shape and a heavy Ship will bear it self up on the surface of water meerly by its exterior shape it being not so much the interior figure or nature of Wood that gives it this faculty of bearing up by reason we see that many pieces of Timber will sink down to the bottom in water Thus Heaviness and Lightness is for the most part caused by the shape or figure of the body of a Creature and all its exterior actions depend upon the exterior shape of its body Whether it be possible to make Man and other Animal Creatures that naturally have no Wings flie as Birds do SOme are of opinion that is not impossible to make Man and such other Creatures that naturally have no wings flie as Birds do but I have heard my Noble Lord and Husband give good reasons against it For when he was in Paris he discoursing one time with Mr. H. concerning this subject told him that he thought it altogether impossible to be done A Man said he or the like animal that has no Wings has his arms set on his body in a quite opposite manner then Birds wings are for the concave part of a Birds wing which joins close to his body is in man outward and the inward part of a mans arm where it joins to his body is in Birds placed outward so that which is inward in a Bird is outward in Man and what is inward in Man is outward in Birds which is the reason that a Man has not the same motion of his arm which a Bird has of his wing For Flying is but swimming in the Air and Birds by the shape and posture of their wings do thrust away the air and so keep themselves up which shape if it were found the same in Mans arms and other animals leggs they might perhaps flie as Birds do nay without the help of Feathers for we see that Bats have but flesh-wings neither would the bulk of their bodies be any hinderance to them for there be many Birds of great and heavy bodies which do nevertheless flie although more slowly and not so nimbly as Flies or little Birds Wherefore it is onely the different posture and shape of Mens arms and other Animals leggs contrary to the wings of Birds that makes them unapt to flie and not so much the bulk of their bodies But I believe that a four-legg'd Creature or Animal may more easily and safely go upright like Man although it hath its leggs set on in a contrary manner to Mans arms and leggs for a four-legg'd animals hind-leggs resemble man's arms and its fore-leggs are just as man's leggs Nevertheless there is no Art that can make a four legg'd Creature imitate the actions of man no more then Art can make them have or imitate the natural actions of a Bird For Art cannot give new motions to natural parts which are not proper or natural for them but each part must have such proper and natural motions and actions as Nature has designed for it I will not say but Art may help to mend some defects errors or irregularities in Nature but not make better that which Nature has made perfect already Neither can we say Man is defective because he cannot flie as Birds for flying is not his natural and proper motion We should rather account that Man monstrous that could flie as having some motion not natural and proper to his figure and shape for that Creature is perfect in its kind that has all the motions which are naturally requisite to the figure of such a kind But Man is apt to run into extreams and spoils Nature with doting too much upon Art 13. Of Snails and Leeches and whether all Animals have blood WHether Snails have a row of small teeth orderly placed in the Gums and divided into several smaller and greater or whether they have but one small bended hard bone which serves them instead of teeth to bite out pretty large and half-round bits of the leaves of trees to feed on Experimental Philosophers may enquire by the help of their Microscopes My opinion is That Snails are like Leeches which will not onely bite but suck but this I do verily believe that Snails onely bite Vegetables not Animals as Leeches do and though Leeches bite into the skin yet they do not take any part away but suck onely out the juicy part that is the blood and leave the grosser substance of flesh behind and so do Snails bite into herbs to suck out the juicy substance or else there would be found flesh in Leeches and herbs in Snails which is not so that Snails and Leeches bite for no end but onely to make a passage to suck out the juicy parts and therefore I cannot perceive that they have bones but I conceive their teeth or parts they pierce withal to be somewhat of the nature of stings which are no more Bones then the points of Fire are I do not certainly affirm they are stings but my meaning is that they are pointed or piercing figures that is as I said of the nature of stings there being many several sorts of pointed and piercing figures which yet are not stings like as there are several sorts of grinding and biting figures which are not teeth for there are so many several sorts of figures in Vegetables Minerals Animals and Elements as no particular Creature is able to conceive Again it is questioned whether those Creatures that suck blood from others have blood themselves as naturally belonging to their own substance and my opinion is that it is no necessary consequence that that should be a part of their substance on which they feed food may be converted into the substance of their bodies by the figurative transforming motions but it is not part of their substance before it is converted and so many Creatures may feed on blood but yet have none of themselves as a natural constitutive part of their being besides there are Maggots Worms and several sorts of Flies and other Creatures that feed upon fruits and herbs as also Lobsters Crabs c. which neither suck blood nor have blood and therefore blood is not requisite to the life of every animal although it is to the life of man and several other animal Creatures Neither do I believe that all the juice in the veins is blood as some do conceive for some of the juice may be in the way of being blood and some may have altered its nature from being blood to
interior figurative motions being dilating but yet this doth not prove that all other Creatures may as easily be metamorphosed into stone as they for the parts of water are composed but of one sort of figure and are all of the same nature and so is wood clay shells c. whose parts are but of one figure at least not of so many different figures as the parts of Animals or other Creatures for as Animals have different parts so these parts are of different figures not onely exteriously but intericusly as for example in some or most Animals there are Bones Gristles Nerves Sinews Muscles Flesh Blood Brains Marrow Choler Phlegme and the like besides there are several sorts of flesh witness their interior and exterior parts as the Heart Lungs Liver Spleen Guts and the like as also the Head Breast Armes Body Legs and the like all which would puzzle and withstand the power of Ovid's Metamophosing of Gods and Goddesses Wherefore it is but a weak argument to conclude because some Creatures or parts can change out of one figure into another without a dissolution of their composed parts therefore all Creatures can do the like for if all Creatures could or should be metamorphosed into one sort of figure then this whole World would perhaps come to be one Stone which would be a hard World But this Opinion I suppose proceeds from Chymistry for since the last Art of Chimystry as I have heard is the Production of glass it makes perhaps Chymists believe that at the last day when this Word shall be dissolved with Fire the Fire will calcine or turn it into Glass A brittle World indeed but whether it will be transparent or no I know not for it will be very thick 23. Of the Nature of Water THe Ascending of VVater in Pipes Pumps and the like Engines is commonly alledged as an argument to prove there is no Vacuum But in my opinion VVater or the like things that are moist liquid and wet their interior corporeal and natural motion is flowing as being of a dilating figure and when other parts or Creatures suppress those liquors so that they cannot rise they will dilate but when solid and heavy bodies are put into them as Stones Metals c. which do sink then they will rise above them as being their nature to over-flow any other body if they can have the better of it or get passage For concerning the floating of some bodies the reason is not so much their levity or porousness but both their exterior shape and the waters restlesness or activity the several parts of water endeavouring to drive those floating bodies from them like as when several men playing at Ball or Shittle-cock or the like endeavour to beat those things from and to each other or like as one should blow up a feather into the Air which makes it not onely keep up in the air but to wave about The like doth water with floating bodies and the lighter the floating parts are the more power have the liquid parts to force and thrust them about And this is also the reason why two floating bodies of one Nature endeavour to meet and joyn because by joyning they receive more strength to resist the force of the watry parts The same may be said when as floating bodies stick or join to the sides of Vessels but many times the watry parts will not suffer them to be at rest or quiet but drive them from their strong holds or defences Concerning the suppression of water and of some floating bodies in water by air or light as that air and light should suppress water and bodies floating upon it as some do conceive I see no reason to believe it but the contrary rather appears by the levity of air which is so much lighter and therefore of less force then either the floating bodies or the water on which they float Some again are of opinion That Water is a more dense body then Ice and prove it by the Refractions of light because VVater doth more refract the rays of light then Ice doth but whatsoever their experiments be yet my reason can hardly believe it for although Ice may be more transparent then water yet it may be more dense then water for Glass is more transparent then water and yet more dense then water and some bodies will not be trasparent if they be thick that is if they have a great number of parts upon parts when as they will be transparent if they be thin that is if they have few thin parts upon each other so that transparent bodies may be darkned and those that are not transparent of themselves may be made so by the thickness or thinness of parts that one may see or not see through them and thus a thin body of Water may be more transparent then a thick body of Ice and a thin body of Ice may be more transparent then a thick body of water As for the expansion of Water it doth not prove that Water is more dense then Ice but on the contrary it rather proves that it is more rare for that body whose parts are close and united is more dense then that whose parts are fluid and dilating Neither doth Expansion alter the interior nature of a body any more then contraction but it alters onely the exterior posture as for example when a man puts his body into several postures it doth not alter him from being a man to some other Creature for the stretching of his legs spreading out of his armes puffing up his cheeks c. changes his nature or natural figure no more then when he contracts his limbs close together crumpling up his body or folding his armes c. but his posture is onely changed the like for the expansions and contractions of other sorts of Creatures Nor can I readily give my assent to their opinion that some liquors are more dense then others I mean such as are perfectly moist liquid and wet as water is for there be numerous sorts of liquors which are not throughly wet as water and although their Circular lines may be different as some edged some pointed some twisted and the like yet they do not differ so much but that their inherent figures are all of Circular lines for the interior nature or figure of water and so of all other moist and wet liquors is Circular and it is observable that as Art may be an occasion of diminishing those points or edges of the Circular lines of some liquors or of untwisting them so it may also be an occasion that some liquid and wet bodies may become so pointed edged twisted c. as may occasion those circles to move or turn into such or such exterior figures not onely into triangular square round and several other forms or figures as appears in Ice Hail Frost and flakes of Snow but into such figures as they name Spirits which several sorts of figures belonging all to one sort of
Creatures may cause several refractions reflections and inflections of the rayes of light Wherefore Mechanicks may very much be mistaken concerning the truth of the interior Nature of bodies or natural Creatures by judging them onely according to their exterior figures 24. Of Salt and of Sea or Salt-water THe reason why Salt is made or extracted out of Salt-water is that the Circular lines of Sea or Salt-water are pointed exteriously but not interiously which is the cause that the saltish parts may be easily divided from those watry lines and it is to be observed that those points when joyned to the watry circles are rare but being once separated either by Art or a more natural way by some sorts of dividing motions they become more dense yet not so dense but they may melt or return again into the first figure which is a rare figure and so become liquid salt and afterwards they may be densed or contracted again for there is no other difference between dry and liquid salt but what is made by the rarity or density of those sorts of points As for that sort of Salt which is named volatile it is when some of those rare points become more dilated or rarified then when they are joyned to the watry circle-lines I say some not all for as some points do condense or contract into fixt salt so others do dilate or arise into volatile salt But perchance some will say How can there be several sorts of points since a point is but a point I answer There may very well be several sorts considering the Nature of their substance for some sorts are rare some dense some contracting some dilating some retenting c. besides all points are not alike but there is great difference amongst several pointed figures for all are not like the point of a Pin or Needle but to alledg some gross examples there be points of Pyramids points of Knives points of Pins points of the flame of a Candle and numerous other sorts which are all several points and not one like another for I do not mean a Mathematical or imaginary point such as is onely made by the rational matter in the mind although even amongst those imaginary points there is difference for you cannot imagine or think of the several pointed figures of several sorts or kinds of Creatures or parts but you will have a difference in your mind but I mean pointed figures and not single points It is also to be observed that as some watry Circles will and may have points outwardly so some have also points inwardly for some watry Circles as I have mentioned in my Philosophical Opinions are edged to wit such as are in vitriol water others pointed as those in salt water and others are of other sorts of points as those in cordial or hot waters but those last are more artificial and all these are different in their sorts or kinds although a litttle difference in their own natures may appear great in our humane perception Concerning Oyl there is also difference between Oyl and other wet bodies for Oyl although it be rare liquid and moist yet we cannot say it is absolutely that which we name wet as other liquors are viz. Water and Wine or natural juices and since the interior natural figure of oyl is burning and hot it is impossible to divide those interior fiery points from the circle figure of Oyl without dissolving those liquid circle lines But as the Penetrations of other acid and salt liquors are caused by their exterior points so oyl whose points are interiously in the circle-lines cannot have such quick effects of penetration as those that are exteriously pointed But mistake me not I do not mean such exterior parts as are onely subject to our humane perception but such as cause those Creatures or parts to be of such a figure or nature 25. Of the Motions of Heat and Cold. THose which affim that Heat and Cold are the two primary and onely causes of the Productions of all natural things do not consider sufficiently the variety of Nature but think that Nature produces all by Art and since Art is found out and practised by Man Man conceits himself to be above Nature But as neither Art nor any particular Creature can be the cause or principle of all the rest so neither can heat and cold be the prime cause of all natural productions no more then paint can produce all the parts of a man's face as the Eyes Nose Forehead Chin Cheeks Lips and the like or a 〈◊〉 can produce a natural Head or a suit of Clothes can make the body of Man for then whensoever the fashioned Garments or Mode-dresses do change men would of necessity change also but Art causes gross mistakes and errors not onely in sensitive but also in rational perceptions for sense being deluded is apt to delude Reason also especially if Reason be too much indulgent to sense and therefore those judgments that rely much upon the perception of sense are rather sensitive then rational judgments for sense can have but a perception of the exterior figures of objects and Art can but alter the outward form or figure but not make or change the interior nature of any thing which is the reason that artificial alterations cause false at least uncertain and various judgments so that Nature is as various in mens judgments as in her other works But concerning heat and cold my opinion is that they are like several Colours some Natural and some Artificial of which the Artificial are very inconstant at least not so lasting as those that are not made by Art and they which say that both heat and cold are not made by the sensories or sensitive organs are in the right if their meaning be that both heat and cold in their natures and with all their proprieties as they are particular Creatures are not made or produced by humane or animal senses nevertheless the sensitive animal perception of heat and cold is made by the sensitive motions in their sensitive organs for what heat and cold soever an animal Creature feels the perception of it is made in the sense of touch or by those sensitive motions in the parts of its body for as the perception of any other outward object is not made by a real entrance of its parts into our sensories so neither is all perception of heat and cold made by the intermixture of their particles with our flesh but they are patterned and figured out by the sensitive motions in the exterior parts of the body as well as other objects I will not say that cold or heat may not enter and intermix with the parts of some bodies as fire doth intermix with fuel or enters into its parts but my meaning is that the animal perception of heat and cold is not made this way that is by an intermixture of the parts of the Agent with the parts of the Patient as the learned call them that
is of the exterior object and the sentient or else the perception of all exterior objects would be made by such an intermixture which is against sense and reason and therefore even in such a commixture where the parts of the object enter into the body of the sentient as fire doth into fuel the perception of the motions of fire in the fuel and the fuels consumption or burning is not made by the fire but by the fuels own perceptive motions imitating the motions of the fire so that fire doth not turn the fuel into ashes but the fuel doth change by its own corporeal figurative motions and the fire is onely an occasion of it The same may be said of Cold. Neither is every Creatures perception alike no more then it can be said that one particular Creature as for example Man hath but one perception for the perception of sight and smelling and so of every sence are different nay one and the same sense may have as many several perceptions as it hath objects and some sorts of peceptions in some Creatures are either stronger or weaker then in others for we may observe that in one and the same degree of heat or cold some will have quicker and some slower perceptions then others for example in the perception of touch if several men stand about a fire some will sooner be heated then others the like for Cold some will apprehend cold weather sooner then others the reason is that in their perception of Touch the sensitive motions work quicker or slower in figuring or patterning out heat or cold then in the perception of others The same may be said of other objects where some sentient bodies will be more sensible of some then of others even in one and the same kind of perception But if in all perceptions of cold cold should intermix with the bodies of animals or other Creatures like as several Ingredients then all bodies upon the perception of cold would dissolve their figures which we see they do not for although all dissolving motions are knowing and perceptive because every particular motion is a particular knowledg and perception yet not every perception requires a dissolution or change of its figure 'T is true some sorts or degrees of exterior heat and cold may occasion some bodies to dissolve their interior figures and change their particular natures but they have not power to dissolve or change all natural bodies Neither doth heat or cold change those bodies by an intermixture of their own particles with the parts of the bodies but the parts of the bodies change themselves by way of imitation like as men put themselves into a mode-fashion although oftentimes the senses will have fashions of their own without imitating any other objects for not all sorts of perceptions are made by Imitation or patterning but some are made voluntarily or by rote as for example when some do hear and see such or such things without any outward objects Wherefore it is not certain steams or agitated particles in the air nor the vapours and effluviums of exterior objects insinuating themselves into the pores of the sentient that are the cause of the Perception of Heat and Cold as some do imagine for there cannot probably be such differences in the pores of animal Creatures of one sort as for example of Men which should cause such a different perception as is found in them for although exterior heat or cold be the same yet several animals of the same sort will have several and different perceptions of one and the same degrees of exterior heat and cold as above mentioned which difference would not be if their perception was caused by a real entrance of hot and cold particles into the pores of their bodies Besides Burning-Fevers and Shaking-Agues prove that such effects can be without such exterior causes Neither can all sorts of Heat and Cold be expressed by Wind Air and Water in Weather-glasses for they being made by Art cannot give a true information of the Generation of all natural heat and cold but as there is great difference between Natural and Artificial Ice Snow Colours Light and the like so between Artificial and Natural Heat and Cold and there are so many several sorts of heat and cold that it is impossible to reduce them all to one certain cause or principle or confine them to one sort of Motions as some do believe that all sorts of Heat and Cold are made by motions tending inward and outward and others that by ascending and descending or rising and depressing motions which is no more probable then that all Colours are made by the reflexion of Light and that all White is made by reflecting the beams of light outward and all black by reflecting them inward or that a Man when he is on Horse-back or upon the top of an House or Steeple or in a deep Pit or Mine should be of another figure then of the figure and nature of man unless he were dissolved by death which is a total alteration of his figure for neither Gravity nor Levity of Air nor Almospherical Pillars nor any Weather-glasses can give us a true information of all natural heat and cold but the several figurative corporeal motions which make all things in Nature do also make several sorts of heat and cold in several sorts of Creatures But I observe experimental Philosophers do first cry up several of their artificial Instruments then make doubts of them and at last disapprove them so that there is no trust nor truth in them so much as to be relied on for it is not an age since Weather-glasses were held the onely divulgers of heat and cold or change of weather and now some do doubt they are not such infallible Informers of those truths by which it is evident that Experimental Philosophy has but a brittle inconstant and uncertain ground and these artificial Instruments as Microscopes Telescopes and the like which are now so highly applauded who knows but may within a short time have the same fate and upon a better and more rational enquiry be found deluders rather then true Informers The truth is there 's not any thing that has and doth still delude most mens understandings more then that they do not consider enough the variety of Natures actions and do not imploy their reason so much in the search of natures actions as they do their senses preferring Art and Experiments before Reason which makes them stick so close to some particular opinions and particular sorts of Motions or Parts as if there were no more Motions Parts or Creatures in Nature then what they see and find out by their Artificial Experiments Thus the variety of Nature is a stumbling-block to moft men at which they break their heads of understanding like blind men that run against several posts or walls and how should it be otherwise since Natures actions are Infinite and Mans understanding finite for they consider not so much
are so much for expansion confess themselves that water is thicker and heavier in Winter then in Summer and that Ships draw less water and that the water can bear greater burdens in Winter then in Summer which doth not prove a rarefaction and expansion but rather a contraction and condensation of water by cold They likewise affirm that some spirituous liquors of a mixt nature will not expand but on the contrary do visibly contract in the act of freezing Concerning the levity of Ice I cannot believe it to be caused by expansion for expansion will not make it lighter but 't is onely a change of the exterior shape or figure of the body Neither doth Ice prove Light because it will float above water for a great Ship of wood which is very heavy will swim when as other sorts of bodies that are light and little will sink Nor are minute bubbles the cause of the Ice's levity which some do conceive to stick within the Ice and make it light for this is but a light and airy opinion which has no firm ground and it might as well be said that airy bubles are the cause that a Ship keeps above water but though wind and sails make a Ship swim faster yet they will not hinder it from sinking The truth is the chief cause of the levity or gravity of bodies is quantity of bulk shape purity and rarity or grosness and density and not minute bubles or insensible atomes or pores unless porous bodies be of less quantity in water then some dense bodies of the same magnitude And thus it is the Triangular figure of Snow that makes it light and the squareness that makes Ice heavier then Snow for if Snow were porous and its pores were fill'd with atomes it would be much heavier then its principle Water Besides It is to be observed that not all kind of Water is of the same weight by reason there are several sorts of Circle-lines which make water and therefore those that measure all water alike may be mistaken for some Circle-lines may be gross some fine some sharp some broad some pointed c. all which may cause a different weight of water Wherefore freezing in my opinion is not caused by rarifying and dilating but by contracting condensing and retenting motions and truly if Ice were expanded by congelation I would fain know whether its expansions be equal with the degrees of its hardness which if so a drop of water might be expanded to a great bigness nay if all frozen liquors should be inlarged or extended in magnitude according to the strength of the freezing motions a drop of water at the Poles would become I will not say a mountain but a very large body Neither can rarefaction in my opinion be the cause of the Ice's expansion for not all rarified bodies do extend and therefore I do rather believe a clarefaction in Ice then a rarefaction which are different things But some may object That hot and swelling bodies do dilate and diffuse heat and scent without an expansion of their substance I answer That is more then any one is able to prove the truth is when a fiery-coal and an odoriferous body cast heat and scent as we use to say 't is not that they do really and actually expand or dilate heat or scent without body for there can be no such thing as an immaterial heat or scent neither can Nothing be dilated or expanded but both heat and scent being one thing with the hot and smelling body are as exterior objects patterned out by the sensitive motions of the sentient body and so are felt and smelt not by an actual emission of their own parts or some heating and smelling atomes or an immaterial heat and smell but by an imitation of the perceptive motions in the sentient subject The like for cold for great shelves or mountains of Ice do not expand cold beyond their icy bodies but the air patterns out the cold and so doth the perception of those Seamen that sail into cold Countries for it is well to be observed that there is a stint or proportion in all natures corporeal figurative motions to wit in her particulars as we may plainly see in every particular sort or species of Creatures and their constant and orderly productions for though particular Creatures may change into an infinite variety of figures by the infinite variety of natures corporeal figurative motions yet each kind or sort is stinted so much as it cannot run into extreams nor make a confusion although it makes a distinguishment between every particular Creature even in one and the same sort And hence we may conclude that Nature is neither absolutely necessitated nor has an absolute free-will for she is so much necessitated that she depends upon the All-powerfull God and cannot work beyond her self or beyond her own nature and yet hath so much liberty that in her particulars she works as she pleaseth and as God has given her power but she being wise acts according to her infinite natural wisdom which is the cause of her orderly Government in all particular productions changes and dissolutions so that all Creatures in their particular kinds do move and work as Nature pleases orders and directs and therefore as it is impossible for Nature to go beyond her self so it is likewise impossible that any particular body should extend beyond it self or its natural figure I will not say that heat or cold or other parts and figures of Nature may not occasion other bodies to dilate or extend but my meaning is that no heat or cold can extend without body or beyond body and that they are figured and patterned out by the motions of the sentient which imitating or patterning motions of the sentient body cannot be so perfect or strong as the original motions in the object it self Neither do I say that all parts or bodies do imitate but some and at some times there will be more Imitators then at others and sometimes none at all and the imitations are according as the imitating or patterning parts are disposed or as the object is presented Concerning the degrees of a visible expansion they cannot be declared otherwise then by the visibly extended body nor be perceived by us but by the optick sense But mistake me not I do not mean that the degrees of heat and cold can onely be perceived by our optick sense but I speak of bodies visibly expanded by heat and cold for some degrees and sorts of heat and cold are subject to the humane perception of sight some to the perception of touch some to both and some to none of them there being so many various sorts and degrees both of heat and cold as they cannot be altogether subject to our grosser exterior senses but those which are are perceived as I said by our perception of sight and touch for although our sensitive perceptions do often commit errors and mistakes either through their own
particulars do oppose each other yet all opposition tends to the conservation of a general peace and unity in the whole But to return to Fire since Air is the proper matter of respiration for fire extream colds and frosts either of air or vapour are as unfit for the respiration of fire as water is which if it do not kill it quite yet it will at least make it sick pale and faint but if water be rarified to such a degree that it becomes thin vapour then it is as proper for its respiration as air Thus we see although fire hath fuel which is its food yet no food can keep it alive without breath or respiration The like may be said of some other Creatures Qu. 5. Whether Wood be apt to freeze My Answer is That I believe that the moist part of Wood which is sap may freeze as hard as Water but the solid parts cannot do so for the cracking noise of Wood is no proof of its being frozen because Wainscot will make such a noise in Summer as well as in Winter And it is to be observed that some bodies will be apter to freeze in a weak then in a hard frost according to their own dispositions which is as much to be considered as the object of cold or frost it self for some bodies do more and some less imitate the motions of some objects and some not at all and thus we see that solid bodies do onely imitate the contractive motions of cold but not the dilative motions of moisture which is the cause they break in a hard frost like as a string which being tied too hard will fly asunder and as they imitate Cold so they do also imitate Thaw Quest. 6. Whether Water be fluid in its nature or but occasionally by the agitation of the air I answer That Waters is fluid in its own nature needs no proof but 't is known enough by the force of its dilating motions for Water when it gets but liberty it overflows all and dilates everywhere which proves it is not air that makes it fluid but it is so in its own nature Quest. 7. What produces those great Precipices and Mountains of Ice which are found in the Sea and other great waters I answer That Snow as also thick Fogs and Mists which are nothing but rarified water falling upon the Ice make its out-side thicker and many great shelves and broken pieces of Ice joyning together produce such Precipices and Mountains as mentioned Quest. 8. Whether Fishes can live in frozen Water I answer If there be as much water left unfrozen as will serve them for respiration they may live for it is well known that Water is the chief matter of respiration for Fish and not Air for Fish being out of water cannot live long but whilst they live they gasp and gape for water I mean such kinds of Fish which do live altogether in Water and not such Creatures as are of a mixt kind and live in water as well as by land which the Learned call Amphibious Creatures as Otters and the like which may live in the air as well as in water Those Fish I say if the water be thorowly frozen or if but the surface of water be quite frozen over to a pretty depth will often die by reason the water that remains unfrozen by the contraction of Ice has altered for that time its dilative motions to retentive motions and like as men are smothered in a close air so Fish in close water that is in water which is quite covered and inclosed with Ice but at some men have not so nice and tender natures as others and some have larger organs for respiration then others and some are more accustomed to some sorts of air then others which may cause them to endure longer or respire more freely then others so some Fishes do live longer in such close waters then others and some may be like Men that are frost-bitten which may chance to live even in those waters that are quite thorowly frozen as Experimenters relate but yet I cannot believe that the water in which Fishes have been observed to live can be so thorowly frozen to solid Ice that it should not leave some liquidity or wetness in it although not perceptible by our sight by which those Fishes were preserved alive However it is more probable for Fish to live in Ice then for other Creatures because the Principle of Ice is Water which is the matter of the Fishes respiration which keeps them alive Quest. 9. Whether in decoctions of Herbs when congealed or frozen into Ice the figures of the Herbs do appear in the Ice This is affirmed for Truth by many Learned and though I do not deny but that such liquors in freezing may have some resemblance of their solid parts yet I do not believe it to be universal for if the blood of an animal should be congealed into Ice I doubt it would hardly represent the figure of an animal Indeed there 's much difference between the exterior figures of Creatures and their interior natures which is evident even in frozen water whose exterior Icy figures are numerous when as their interior nature is but water and there may also several changes and alterations of exterior figures be made by Art when their interior nature is but one and the same Quest. 10. Whether Cold doth preserve Bodies from Corruption I answer That in my opinion it may be very probable For Corruption or Putrefaction is nothing but irregular dissolving motions when as Freezing or Congelation is made by regular contracting and condensing motions and so long as these motions of Freezing are in force it is impossible the motions that make Corruption should work their effect But that such bodies as have been thorowly frozen after being thawed are most commonly spoiled the reason is that the freezing or congealing motions being not natural to those bodies have caused such a thorowalteration of the natural motions of their parts as a hundred to one but they will never move regularly and orderly again afterward but on the contrary their interior motions do quite and absolutelely change by which the figure is totally altered from its former nature but if a solid body be not throughly frozen it may be reduced to a perfect regularity again for those natural motions that are not altered may occasion the rest to act as formerly to the preservation of that figure 30. Of Contraction and Dilation THere have been and are still great disputes amongst the Learned concerning Contraction and Extension of bodies but if I were to decide their controversie I would ask first Whether they did all agree in one principle that is whether their principle was purely natural and not mixt with divine or supernatural things for if they did not well apprehend one anothers meaning or argued upon different principles it would be but a folly to dispute because it would be impossible for them to agree But
wicked Man or the Devil hath power over God for although one Part may have power over another yet not over Nature no more then one man can have power over all Mankind One Man or Creature may over-power another so much as to make him quit his natural form or figure that is to die and be dissolved and so to turn into another figure or creature but he cannot over-power all Creatures nay if he could and did yet he would not be an absolute destroyer and Creator but onely some weak and simple Transformer or rather some artificial disfigurer and misformer which cannot alter the world though he may disorder it But surely as there was always such a perpetual Motion in Nature which did and doth still produce and dissolve other Creatures which Production and Dissolution is nam'd birth and death so there is also a Motion which produces and dissolves Arts and this is the ordinary action and work of Nature which continues still and onely varies in the several ways or modes of dissolving and composing 6. Whether there be any Prime or Principal Figures in Nature and of the true Principles of Nature SOme are of opinion that the Prime or Principal figures of Nature are Globes or Globular figures as being the most perfect but I cannot conceive why a globular or spherical figure should be thought more perfect then any other for another figure may be as perfect in its kind as a round figure is in its kind for example we cannot say a Bird is a more perfect figure then a Beast or a Beast a more perfect figure then a Fish or Worm neither can we say Man is a more perfect figure then any of the rest of the Animals the like of Vegetables Minerals and Elements for every several sort has as perfect a figure as another according to the nature and propriety of its own kind or sort But put the case man's figure were more perfect then any other yet we could not say that it is the Principle out of which all other figures are made as some do conceive that all other figures are produced from the Globular or Spherical for there is no such thing as most or least perfect because there is no most nor least in Nature Others are of opinion that the Principle of all natural Creatures is salt and that when the World dissolves it must dissolve into salt as into its first Principle but I never heard it determined yet whether it be fixt or volatile salt Others again are of opinion that the first principle of all Creatures is Water which if so then seeing that all things must return into their first principle it will be a great hinderance to the conflagration of the world for there will be so much water produced as may chance to quench out the fire But if Infinite Nature has Infinite parts and those Infinite parts are of Infinite figures then surely they cannot be confined to one figure Sense and Reason proves that Nature is full of variety to wit of corporeal figurative motions which as they do not ascribe their original to one particular so neither do they end in one particular figure or creature But some will wonder that I deny any Part or Creature of Nature should have a supremacy above the rest or be called Prime or Principal when as yet I do say that Reason is the Prime Part of Nature To which I answer That when I say no Creature in Nature can be called Prime or Principal I understand Natural effects that is Natural composed Parts or Creatures as for example all those finite and particular Creatures that are composed of Life Soul and Body that is of the Animate both Rational and Sensitive and the Inanimate parts of Matter and none of those composed Creatures I mean has any superiority or supremacy above the rest so as to be the Principle of all other composed Creatures as some do conceive Water other Fire others all the four Elements to be simple bodies and the principles of all other Natural Creatures and some do make Globous bodies the perfectest figures of all others for all these being but effects and finite particulars can be no principles of their fellow-creatures or of Infinite Nature But when I say that Reason or the Rational part of Matter is the Prime Part of Nature I speak of the Principles of Nature out of which all other Creatures are made or produced which Principle is but one viz. Matter which makes all effects or Creatures of Nature to be material for all the effects must be according to their principle but this matter being of two degrees viz. animate and inanimate the animate is nothing but self-motion I call it animate matter by reason I cannot believe as some do that Motion is Immaterial there being nothing belonging to Nature which is not material and therefore corporeal self-motion or animate matter is to me one and the same and this animate matter is again subdivided into two degrees to wit the rational and sensitive the rational is the soul the sensitive the life and the inanimate the body of Infinite Nature all which being so intermixed and composed as no separation can be made of one from the other but do all constitute one Infinite and self-moving body of Nature and are found even in the smallest particles thereof if smallest might be said they are justly named the Principles of Nature whereof the rational animate matter or corporeal self-motion is the chief designer and surveigher as being the most active subtil and penetrating part and the sensitive the workman but the inanimate part of Matter being thorowly intermixed with this animate self-moving Matter or rather with this corporeal self-motion although it have no motion in it self that is in its own nature yet by vertue of the commixture with the animate is moving as well as moved for it is well to be observed that although I make a distinction betwixt animate and inanimate rational and sensitive Matter yet I do not say that they are three distinct and several matters for as they do make but one body of Nature so they are also but one Matter but as I mentioned before when I speak of self-motion I name it animate matter to avoid the mistake lest self-motion might be taken for immaterial for my opinion is that they are all but one matter and one material body of Nature And this is the difference between the cause or principle and the effects of Nature from the neglect of which comes the mistake of so many Authors to wit that they ascribe to the effects what properly belongs to the cause making those figures which are composed of the foresaid animate and inanimate parts of matter and are no more but effects the principles of all other Creatures which mistake causes many confusions in several mens brains and their writings But it may be they will account it paradoxical or absurd that I say Infinite Matter consists of
can neither be always assured of knowing the Truth for particular Reason may sometimes be deceived as well as sense but when the Perceptions both of sense and reason agree then the information is more true I mean regular sense and reason not irregular which causes mistakes and gives false informations also the Presentation of the objects ought to be true and without delusion 19. Of preserving the Figures of Animal Creatures I Am absolutely of the opinion of those who believe Natural Philosophy may promote not onely Anatomy but all other Arts for else they would not be worth the taking of pains to learn them by reason the rational perceptions are beyond the sensitive I am also of opinion that there may be an Art to preserve the exterior shapes of some animal bodies but not their interior forms for although their exterior shapes even after the dissolution of the animal figure may be some what like the shapes and figures of their bodies when they had the life of an animal yet they being transformed into some other Creatures by the alteration of their interior figurative motions can no ways keep the same interior figure which they had when they were living animals Concerning the preserving of blood by the means of spirit of Wine as some do probably believe my opinion is That spirit of Wine otherwise call'd hot-Hot-water if taken in great quantity will rather dry up or putrifie the blood then preserve it nay not onely the blood but also the more solid parts of an animal body insomuch as it will cause a total dissolution of the animal figure and some animal Creatures that have blood will be dissolved in Wine which yet is not so strong as extracts or spirit of Wine But blood mingled with spirit of Wine may perhaps retain somewhat of the colour of blood although the nature and propriety of blood be quite altered As for the instance of preserving dead fish or flesh from putrifying and stinking alledged by some we see that ordinary salt will do the same with less cost and as spirits of Wine or hot Waters may like salt preserve some dead bodies from corruption so may they by making too much or frequent use of them also cause living bodies to corrupt and dissolve sooner then otherwise they would do But Chymists are so much for extracts that by their frequent use and application they often extract humane life out of humane bodies instead of preserving it 20. Of Chymistry and Chymical Principles IT is sufficiently known and I have partly made mention above what a stir Natural Philosophers do keep concerning the principles of Nature and natural Beings and how different their opinions are The Schools following Aristotle are for the Four Elements which they believe to be simple bodies as having no mixture in themselves and therefore fittest to be principles of all other mixt or compounded bodies But my Reason cannot apprehend what they mean by simple bodies I confess that some bodies are more mixt then others that is they consist of more differing parts such as the learned call Heterogeneous as for example Animals consist of flesh blood skin bones muscles nerves tendons gristles and the like all which are parts of different figures Other bodies again are composed of such parts as are of the same nature which the learned call Homogeneous as for example Water Air c. whose parts have no different figures but are all alike each other at least to our perception besides there are bodies which are more rare and subtile than others according to the degrees of their natural figurative motions and the composion of their parts Nevertheless I see no reason why those Homogeneous bodies should be called simple and all others mixt or composed of them much less why they should be principles of all other natural bodies for they derive their origine from matter as well as the rest so that it is onely the different composure of their parts that makes a difference between them proceeding from the variety of self-motion which is the cause of all different figures in nature for as several work-men join in the building of one house and several men in the framing of one Government so do several parts in the making or forming of one composed figure But they 'l say it is not the likeness of parts that makes the Four Elements to be principles of natural things but because there are no natural bodies besides the mentioned Elements that are not composed of them as is evident in the dissolution of their parts for example A piece of Green wood that is burning in a Chimney we may readily discern the Four Elements in its dissolution out of which it is composed for the fire discovers it self in the flame the smoak turns into air the water hisses and boils at the ends of the wood and the ashes are nothing but the Element of earth But if they have no better arguments to prove their principles they shall not readily gain my consent for I see no reason why wood should be composed of the Four Elements because it burns smoaks hisses and turns into ashes Fire is none of its natural ingredients but a different figure which being mixt with the parts of the wood is an occasion that the Wood turns into ashes neither is Water a principle of Wood for Water is as much a figure by it self as Wood or Fire is which being got into the parts of the wood and mixt with the same is expelled by the fire as by its opposite but if it be a piece of dry and not of green wood where is then the water that boils out Surely dry wood hath no less principles then green wood and as for smoak it proves no more that it is the Element of Air in Wood then that Wood is the Element of Fire for Wood as experience witnesses may last in water where it is kept from the air and smoak is rather an effect of moisture occasioned into such a figure by the commixture of fire Others as Helmont who derives his opinion from Thales and others of the ancient Philosophers are only for the Element of Water affirming that that is the sole principle out of which all natural things consist for say they the Chaos where of all things were made was nothing else but water which first setled into slime and then condensed into solid earth nay some endeavour to prove by Chymical Experiments that they have disposed water according to their Chymical way so that it visibly turn'd into earth which earth produced animals vegetables and minerals But put the case it were so yet this doth not prove water to be the onely principle of all natural beings for first we cannot think that animals vegetables and minerals are the onely kinds of creatures in Nature and that there are no more but them for nature being infinitely various may have infinite Worlds and so infinite sorts of Creatures Next I say that the change of water
seasonably applied can work good effects so they may also produce ill effects if they be used improperly and unseasonably and therefore wise Physicians and Surgeons know by experience as well as by learning and reason what is best for their Patients in all kind of distempers Onely this I will add concerning diseases that in the productions of diseases there must of necessity be a conjunction of the Agent and Patient as is evident even in those diseases that are caused by conceit for if a man should hear of an infectious disease and be apprehensive of it both the discourse of him that tells it and the mind of him that apprehends it are Agents or causes of that disease in the body of the Patient and concur in the production of the disease the difference is onely that the discourse may be called a remoter cause and the rational motions or the mind of the Patient a nearer or immediate cause for as soon as the mind doth figure such a disease the sensitive corporeal motions immediately take the figure from the mind and figure the disease in the substance or parts of the body of the Patient the Rational proving the Father the Sensitive the Mother both working by consent Whereby we may also conclude that diseases as well as other sorts of Creatures are made by Natures corporeal figurative motions and those parts that occasion others to alter their natural motions are most predominant for although Nature is free and all her parts self-moving yet not every part is free to move as it pleases by reason some parts over-power others either through number strength slight shape opportunity or the like advantages and natural Philosophy is the onely study that teaches men to know the particular natures figures and motions of the several composed parts of Nature and the rational perception is more intelligent then the sensitive 23. Of several sorts of Drink and Meat SOme Physicians when they discourse of several sorts of Drinks and Meats do relate several wonderful Cures which some Drinks have effected And truly I am of opinion that they may be both beneficial and hurtful according as they are used properly and temperately or improperly and excessively but I find there are more several sorts for curiosity and luxury then for health and necessity Small Ale or Beer is a soveraign remedy to quench drought and one Glass of Wine proves a Cordial but many Glasses may prove a kind of poyson putting men oftentimes into Feavers and the like diseases And for Diet-drinks I believe they are very good in some sorts of diseases and so may Tea and Coffee and the water of Birches for any thing I know for I never had any experience of them but I observe that these latter drinks Tea and Coffee are now become mode-drinks and their chief effects are to make good fellowship rather then to perform great cures for I can hardly believe that such weak liquors can have such strong effects Concerning several sorts of Meats I leave them to experienced Physicians for they know best what is fit for the bodies of their Patients Onely as for the preservation or keeping of several sorts of meats from putrefaction I will say this That I have observed that what will keep dead Flesh and Fish as also Vegetables from putrefaction will destroy living Animals for if living Animals should like dead flesh be pickled up and kept from air they would soon be smother'd to death and so would Fire which yet is no Animal Neither can Ladies and Gentlewomen preserve their lives as they do several sorts of fruit Nevertheless both this and several other Arts are very necessary and profitable for the use of man if they be but fitly and properly imployed but we may observe that when as other Creatures have no more then what is necessary for their preservation Man troubles himself with things that are needless nay many times hurtful Which is the cause there are so many unprofitable Arts which breed confusion instead of proving beneficial and instructive 24. Of Fermentation FErmentation of which Helmont and his followers make such a stir as 't is enough to set all the world a fermenting or working is nothing else but what is vulgarly called digestion so that it is but a new term for an old action And these digestions or Fermentations are as various and numerous as all other actions of Nature to wit Respiration Evacuation Dilation Contraction c. for action and working are all one But there are good and ill Fermentations those are done by a sympathetical agreement of parts but these by an antipathetical disagreement Those tend to the preservation of the subject these to its destruction Those are regular these irregular So that there are numerous sorts of fermentations not onely in several sorts of Creatures but in several parts of one and the same Creature for Fermentation or Digestion is according to the composition of the fermenting or digestive parts and their motions 25. Of the Plague IHave heard that a Gentleman in Italy fancied he had so good a Microscope that he could see Atomes through it and could also perceive the Plague which he affirmed to be a swarm of living animals as little as Atomes which entred into mens bodies through their mouths nostrils ears c. To give my opinion hereof I must confess That there are no parts of Nature how little soever which are not living and self-moving bodies nay every Respiration is of living parts and therefore the Infection of the Plague made by the way of respiration cannot but be of living parts but that these parts should be animal Creatures is very improbable to sense and reason for if this were so not onely the Plague but all other infectious diseases would be produced the same way and then fruit or any other surfeiting meat would prove living Animals But I am so far from believing that the Plague should be living animals as I do not believe it to be a swarm of living Atomes flying up and down in the Air for if it were thus then those Atomes would not remain in one place but infect all the places they passed through when as yet we observe that the Plague will often be but in one Town or City of a Kingdom without spreading any further Neither do I believe as some others say that it is always the heat of the Sun or Air that causes or at least increases the Plague for there are Winterplagues as well as Summer-plagues and many times the Plague decreases in Summer when it is hot and increases in Winter when it is cold Besides the air being generally hot over all the Country or Kingdom would not onely cause the infection in one Town or City but in all other parts Therefore my opinion is that as all other diseases are produced several manners or ways so likewise the Plague and as they generally do all proceed from the irregularities of corporeal natural motions so does also
arrived into another Island which was of a pleasant and mild temper full of Woods and the inhabitants thereof were Satyrs who received both the Bear Fox and Bird-men with all respect and civility and after some conferences for they all understood each others language some chief of the Satyrs joining to them accompanied the Lady out of that Island to another River wherein were very handsome and commodious Barges and having crost that River they entered into a large and spacious Kingdom the men whereof were of a Grass-green complexion who entertained them very kindly and provided all conveniences for their further voyage hitherto they had onely crost Rivers but now they could not avoid the open Seas any longer wherefore they made their Ships and tacklings ready to sail over into the Island where the Emperor of their Blazing-world for so it was call'd kept his residence very good Navigators they were and though they had no knowledg of the Load-stone or Needle or pendulous Watches yet which was as serviceable to them they had subtile observations and great practice in so much that they could not onely tell the depth of the Sea in every place but where there were shelves of Sand Rocks and other obstructions to be avoided by skilfull and experienced Sea-men Besides they were excellent Augurers which skill they counted more necessary and beneficial then the use of Compasses Cards Watches and the like but above the rest they had an extraordinary Art much to be taken notice of by experimental Philosophers and that was a certain Engine which would draw in a great quanty of air and shoot forth wind with a great force this Engine in a calm they placed behind their ships and in a storm before for it served against the raging waves like Canons against an hostile Army or besieged Town it would batter and beat the waves in pieces were they as high as steeples and as soon as a breach was made they forced their passage through in spight even of the most furious wind using two of those Engins at every Ship one before to beat off the waves and another behind to drive it on so that the artificial wind had the better of the natural for it had a greater advantage of the waves then the natural of the ships the natural being above the face of the water could not without a down-right motion enter or press into the ships whereas the artificial with a sideward motion did pierce into the bowels of the waves Moreover it is to be observed that in a great tempest they would join their ships in battle array and when they feared wind and waves would be too strong for them if they divided their ships they joined as many together as the compass or advantage of the places of the liquid Element would give them leave for their ships were so ingeniously contrived that they could fasten them together as close as a honey-comb without waste of place and being thus united no wind nor waves were able to separate them The Emperors ships were all of Gold but the Merchants and Skippers of Leather the Golden ships were not much heavier then ours of Wood by reason they were neatly made and required not such thickness neither were they troubled with Pitch Tar Pumps Guns and the like which make our Wooden-ships very heavy for though they were not all of a piece yet they were so well sodder'd that there was no fear of leaks chinks or clefts and as for Guns there was no use of them because they had no other enemies but the winds but the Leather ships were not altogether so sure although much lighter besides they were pitched to keep out water Having thus prepared and order'd their Navy they went on in despight of Calm or Storm and though the Lady at first fancied her self in a very sad condition and her mind was much tormented with doubts and fears not knowing whether this strange adventure would tend to her safety or destruction yet she being withal of a generous spirit and ready wit considering what dangers she had past and finding those sorts of men civil and diligent attendants to her took courage and endeavoured to learn their language which after she had obtained so far that partly by some words and signs she was able to apprehend their meaning she was so far from being afraid of them that she thought her self not onely safe but very happy in their company By which we may see that Novelty discomposes the mind but acquaintance settles it in peace and tranquillity At last having passed by several rich Islands and Kingdoms they went towards Paradise which was the seat of the Emperor and coming in sight of it rejoyced very much the Lady at first could perceive nothing but high Rocks which seemed to touch the Skies and although they appear'd not of an equal heigth yet they seemed to be all one piece without partitions but at last drawing nearer she perceived a clift which was a part of those Rocks out of which she spied coming forth a great number of Boats which afar off shewed like a company of Ants marching one after another the Boats appeared like the holes or partitions in a Honey-comb and when joined together stood as close the men were of several complexions but none like any of our World and when both the Boats and Ships met they saluted and spake to each other very courteously for there was but one language in all that world nor no more but one Emperor to whom they all submitted with the greatest duty and obedience which made them live in a continued peace and happiness not acquainted with other forreign wars or home-bred insurrections The Lady now being arrived at this place was carried out of her Ship into one of those Boats and conveighed through the same passage for there was no other into that part of the world where the Emperor did reside which part was very pleasant and of a mild temper within it self it was divided by a great number of vast and large Rivers all ebbing and flowing into several Islands of unequal distance from each other which in most parts were as pleasant healthful rich and fruitful as Nature could make them and as I mentioned before secure from all forreign invasions by reason there was but one way to enter and that like a Labyrinth so winding and turning among the rocks that no other Vessels but small Boats could pass carrying not above three passengers at a time On each side all along this narrow and winding River there were several Cities some of Marble some of Alabaster some of Agat some of Amber some of Coral and some of other precious materials not known in our world all which after the Lady had passed she came to the Imperial City named Paradise which appeared in form like several Islands for Rivers did run betwixt every street which together with the Bridges whereof there was a great number were all paved the City it self
motion but all agreed it was fixt and firm like a centre and therefore they generally called it the Sun-stone Then the Emperess asked them the reason Why the Sun and Moon did often appear in different postures or shapes as sometimes magnified sometimes diminished sometimes elevated otherwhiles depressed now thrown to the right and then to the left To which some of the Bird-men answered That it proceeded from the various degrees of heat and cold which are found in the air from whence did follow a differing density and rarity and likewise from the vapours that are interposed whereof those that ascend are higher and less dense then the ambient air but those which descend are heavier and more dense But others did with more probability affirm that it was nothing else but the various patterns of the Air for like as Painters do not copy out one and the same original just alike at all times so said they do several parts of the Air make different patterns of the luminous bodies of the Sun and Moon which patterns as several copies the sensitive motions do figure out in the substance of our eyes This answer the Emperess liked much better then the former and enquired further what opinion they had of those Creatures that are called the motes of the Sun To which they answered That they were nothing else but streams of very small rare and transparent particles through which the Sun was represented as through a glass for if they were not transparent said they they would eclipse the light of the Sun and if not rare and of an airy substance they would hinder Flies from flying in the air at least retard their flying motion Nevertheless although they were thinner then the thinnest vapour yet were they not so thin as the body of air or else they would not be perceptible by animal sight Then the Emperess asked Whether they were living Creatures They answered Yes Because they did encrease and decrease and were nourished by the presence and starved by the absence of the Sun Having thus finished their discourse of the Sun and Moon the Emperess desired to know what Stars there were besides But they answer'd that they could perceive in that World none other but Blazing-stars and from thence it had the name that it was called the Blazing-world and these Blazing-stars said they were such solid firm and shining bodies as the Sun and Moon not of a Globular but of several sorts of figures some had tails and some other kinds of shapes After this The Emperess asked them What kind of substance or creature the Air was The Bird-men answered That they could have no other perception of the air but by their own respiration For said they some bodies are onely subject to touch others onely to sight and others onely to smell but some are subject to none of our exterior senses For Nature is so full of variety that our weak senses cannot perceive all the various sorts of her Creatures neither is there any one object perceptible by all our senses no more then several objects are by one sense I believe you replied the Empress but if you can give no account of the Air said she you will hardly be able to inform me how Wind is made for they say that Wind is nothing but motion of the Air. The Bird-men answer'd That they observed Wind to be more dense then Air and therefore subject to the sense of Touch but what properly Wind was and the manner how it was made they could not exactly tell some said it was caused by the Clouds falling on each other and others that it was produced of a hot and dry exhalation which ascending was driven down again by the coldness of the air that is in the middle Region and by reason of its lightness could not go directly to the bottom but was carried by the Air up and down Some would have it a flowing water of the Air and others again a flowing Air moved by the blas of the Stars But the Emperess seeing they could not agree concerning the cause of Wind asked whether they could tell how Snow was made To which they answered That according to their observation Snow was made by a commixture of Water and some certain extract of the element of Fire that is under the Moon a small portion of which extract being mixed with Water and beaten by Air or Wind made a white froth called Snow which being after some while dissolved by the heat of the same spirit turned to Water again This observation amazed the Emperess very much for she had hitherto believed That Snow was made by cold motions and not by such an agitation or beating of a fiery extract upon water Nor could she be perswaded to believe it until the Fish-or Mear-men had delivered their observation upon the making of Ice which they said was not produced as some had hitherto conceived by the motion of the Air raking the Superficies of the Earth but by some strong saline vapour arising out of the Seas which condensed Water into Ice and the more quantity there was of that vapour the greater were the Mountains or Precipices of Ice but the reason that it did not so much freeze in the Torrid Zone or under the Ecliptick as near or under the Poles was that this vapour in those places being drawn up by the Sun-beams into the middle Region of the Air was onely condensed into water and fell down in showres of rain when as under the Poles the heat of the Sun being not so vehement the same vapour had no force or power to rise so high and therefore caused so much Ice by ascending and acting onely upon the surface of water This Relation confirmed partly the observation of the Bird-men concerning the cause of Snow but since they had made mention that that same extract which by its commixture with Water made Snow proceeded from the Element of Fire that is under the Moon The Emperess asked them of what nature that Elementary Fire was whether it was like ordinary fire here upon Earth or such a fire as is within the bowels of the Earth and as the famous mountains Vesuvius and AEtna do burn withal or whether it was such a sort of fire as is found in flints c. They answered That the Elementary Fire which is underneath the Sun was not so solid as any of those mentioned fires because it had no solid fuel to feed on but yet it was much like the flame of ordinary fire onely somewhat more thin and fluid for flame said they is nothing else but the airy part of a fired body Lastly the Emperess asked the Bird-men of the nature of Thunder and Lightning and whether it was not caused by roves of Ice falling upon each other To which they answered That it was not made that way but by an encounter of cold and heat so that an exhalation being kindled in the Clouds did dash forth Lightning and that there
of light I cannot certainly tell The Emperess seeing the insufficiency of those Magnifying-glasses that they were not able to enlarge all sorts of objects asked the Bear-men whether they could not make glasses of a contrary nature to those they had shewed her to wit such as instead of enlarging or magnifying the shape or figure of an object could contract it beneath its natural proportion Which in obedience to her Majesties Commands they did and viewing through one of the best of them a huge and mighty Whale appear'd no bigger then a Sprat nay through some no bigger then a Vinegar-Eele and through their ordinary ones an Elephant seemed no bigger then a Flea a Camel no bigger then a Lowse and an Ostrich no bigger then a Mite To relate all their optick observations through the several sorts of their Glasses would be a tedious work and tire even the most patient Reader wherefore I 'le pass them by onely this was very remarkable and worthy to be taken notice of that notwithstanding their great skil industry and ingenuity in Experimental Philosophy they could yet by no means contrive such Glasses by the help of which they could spy out a Vacuum with all its dimensions nor Immaterial substances Non-beings and Mixt-beings or such as are between something and nothing which they were very much troubled at hoping that yet in time by long study and practice they might perhaps attain to it The Bird-and Bear-men being dismissed the Emperess called both the Syrenes or Fish-men and the Worm-men to deliver their observations which they had made both within the Seas and the Earth First she enquired of the Fish-men whence the saltness of the Sea did proceed To which they answered That there was a volatile salt in those parts of the Earth which as a bosom contain the Waters of the Sea which salt being imbibed by the Sea became fixt and this imbibing motion was that they call'd the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea for said they the rising and swelling of the water is caused by those parts of the volatile salt as are not so easily imbibed which striving to ascend above the water bear it up with such a motion as Man or some other animal Creature in a violent certainly those may be said to be of such a mixt nature that is partly flesh and partly fish But how is it possible replied the Emperess that they should live both in Water and on the Earth since those Animals that live by the respiration of air cannot live within Water and those that live in Water cannot live by the respiration of Air as experience doth sufficiently witness They answered her Majesty That as there were different sorts of Creatures so they had also different ways of respirations for respiration said they was nothing else but a composition and division of parts and the motions of nature being infinitely various it was impossible that all Creatures should have the like motions wherefore it was not necessary that all animal Creatures should be bound to live either by the air or by water onely but according as Nature had ordered it convenient to their species The Emperess seem'd very well satisfied with their answer and desired to be further informed Whether all animal Creatures did continue their species by a successive propagation of particulars and whether in every species the off-spring did always resemble their Generator or Producer both in their interior and exterior figures They answered her Majesty That some species or sorts of Creatures were kept up by a successive propagation of an off-spring that was like the producer but some were not of the first rank said they are all those animals that are of different sexes besides several others but of the second rank are for the most part those we call insects whose production proceds from such causes as have no conformity or likeness with their produced effects as for example Maggots bred out of Cheese and several others generated out of Earth Water and the like But said the Emperess there is some likeness between Maggots and Cheese for Cheese has no blood and so neither have Maggots besides they have almost the same taste which Cheese has This proves nothing answered they for Maggots have a visible local progressive motion which Cheese hath not The Emperess replied That when all the Cheese was turned into Maggots it might be said to have local progressive motion They answered That when the Cheese by its own figurative motions was changed into Maggots it was no more Cheese The Emperess confessed that she observed Nature was infinitely various in her works and that though the species of Creatures did continue yet their particulars were subject to infinite changes But since you have informed me said she of the various sorts and productions of animal Creatures I desire you to tell me what you have observed of their sensitive perceptions Truly answered they Your Majesty puts a very hard question to us and we shall hardly be able to give a satisfactory answer to it for there are many different sorts of Creatures which as they have all different perceptions so they have also different organs which our senses are not able to discover onely in an Oyster-shell we have with admiration observed that the common sensorium of the Oyster lies just at the closing of the shells where the pressure and reaction may be perceived by the opening and shutting of the shells every tide After all this the Emperess desired the Worm-men to give her a true Relation how frost was made upon the Earth To which they answered That it was made much after the manner and description of the Fish and Bird-men concerning the Congelation of Water into Ice and Snow by a commixture of saline and acid particles which relation added a great light to the Ape-men who were the Chymists concerning their Chymical principles Salt Sulphur and Mercury But said the Emperess if it be so it will require an infinite multitude of saline particles to produce such a great quantity of Ice Frost and Snow besides said she when Snow Ice and Frost turn again into their former principle I would fain know what becomes of those saline particles But neither the Wor-men nor the Fish-and Bird-men could give her an answer to it Then the Emperess enquired of them the reason Why Springs were not as salt as the Sea is also why Springs did ebb and flow To which some answered That the ebbing and flowing of some Springs was caused by hollow Caverns within the Earth where the Sea-water crowding thorow did thrust forward and draw back-ward the Spring-water according to its own way of ebbing and flowing but others said That it proceeded from a small proportion of saline and acid particles which the Spring-water imbibed from the Earth and although it was not so much as to be perceived by the sense of Taste yet was it enough to cause an ebbing and flowing motion And as for the Spring-water being fresh
answered That by an annihilation nothing could be produced and that the seeds of Vegetables were so far from being annihilated in their productions that they did rather numerously increase and multiply for the division of one seed said they does produce numbers of seeds out of it self But replied the Empress A particular part cannot increase of it self 'T is true answer'd they but they increase not barely of themselves but by joining and commixing with other parts which do assist them in their productions and by way of imitation form or figure their own parts into such or such particulars Then I pray inform me said the Emperess what disguise those seeds put on and how they do conceal themselves in their transmutations They answered That seeds did no ways disguise or conceal but rather divulge themselves in the multiplication of their off-spring onely they did hide and conceal themselves from their sensitive perceptions so that their figurative and productive motions were not perceptible by animal Creatures Again the Emperess asked them whether there were any Non-beings within the Earth To which they answered That they never heard of any such thing and that if her Majesty would know the truth thereof she must ask those Creatures that are called Immaterial Spirits which had a great affinity with Non-beings and perhaps could give her a satisfactory answer to this question Then she desired to be informed what opinion they had of the beginning of forms They told her Majesty That they did not understand what she meant by this expression For said they there is no beginning in Nature no not of Particulars by reason Nature is Eternal and Infinite and her particulars are subject to infinite changes and transmutations by vertue of their own corporeal figurative self-motions so that there 's nothing new in Nature nor properly a beginning of any thing The Emperess seem'd well satisfied with all those answers and inquired further whether there was no Art used by those Creatures that live within the Earth Yes answered they for the several parts of the Earth do join and assist each other in composition or framing of such or such particulars and many times there are factions and divisions which cause productions of mixt species's as for example weeds instead of sweet flowers and useful fruits but Gardeners and Husbandmen use often to decide their quarrels and cause them to agree which though it shews a kindness to the differing parties yet 't is a great prejudice to the Worms and other animal Creatures that live under ground for it most commonly causes their dissolution and ruine at best they are driven out of their habitations What said the Emperess are not Worms produced out of the Earth Their production in general answered they is like the production of all other natural Creatures proceeding from the corporeal figurative motions of Nature but as for their particular productions they are according to the nature of their species some are produced out of flowers some out of roots some out of fruits some out of ordinary Earth Then they are very ungrateful Children replied the Emperess that they feed on their own Parents which gave them life Their life answered they is their own and not their Parents for no part or creature of Nature can either give or take away life but parts do onely assist and join with parts either in the dissolution or production of other parts and Creatures After this and several other Conferences which the Emperess held with the Worm-men she dismissed them and having taken much satisfaction in several of their answers encouraged them in their studies and observations Then she made a convocation of her Chymists the Ape-men and commanded them to give her an account of the several Transmutations which their Art was able to produce They begun first with a long and tedious discourse concerning the Primitive Ingredients of Natural bodies and how by their Art they had found out the principles out of which they consist But they did not all agree in their opinions for some said That the Principles of all natural bodies were the four Elements Fire Air Water Earth out of which they were composed Others rejected this Elementary commixture and said There were many bodies out of which none of the four Elements could be extracted by any degree of Fire whatsoever and that on the other side there were divers bodies whose resolution by fire reduced them into more then four different ingredients and these affirmed that the onely principles of natural bodies were Salt Sulphur and Mercury Others again declared That none of the forementioned could be called the True principles of natural bodies but that by their industry and pains which they had taken in the Art of Chymistry they had discovered that all natural bodies were produced but from one Principle which was Water for all Vegetables Minerals and Animals said they are nothing else but simple water distinguished into various figures by the vertue of their seeds But after a great many debates and contentions about this subject the Emperess being so much tired that she was not able to hear them any longer imposed a general silence upon them and then declared her self in this following discourse I am too sensible of the pains you have taken in the Art of Chymistry to discover the principles of natural bodies and wish they had been more profitably bestowed upon some other then such experiments for both by my own contemplation and the observations which I have made by my rational and sensitive perception upon Nature and her works I find that Nature is but one Infinite self-moving body which by the vertue of its self-motion is divided into infinite parts which parts being restless undergo perpetual changes and transmutations by their infinite compositions and divisions Now if this be so as surely according to regular sense and reason it appears no otherwise it is in vain to look for primary ingredients or constitutive principles of natural bodies since there is no more but one Universal principle of Nature to wit self-moving Matter which is the onely cause of all natural effects Next I desire you to consider that Fire is but a particular Creature or effect of Nature and occasions not onely different effects in several bodies but on some bodies has no power at all witness Gold which never could be brought yet to change its interior figure by the art of Fire and if this be so Why should you be so simple as to believe that fire can shew you the principles of Nature and that either the four Elements or Water onely or Salt Sulphur and Mercury all which are no more but particular effects and Creatures of Nature should be the Primitive ingredients or Principles of all natural bodies Wherefore I will not have you to take more pains and waste your time in such fruitless attempts but be wiser hereafter and busie your selves with such Experiments as may be beneficial to the publick The Emperess having
thus declared her mind to the Ape-men and given them better Instructions then perhaps they expected not knowing that her Majesty had such great and able judgment in Natural Philosophv had several conferences with them concerning Chymical Preparations which for brevities sake I 'le forbear to rehearse Amongst the rest she asked how it came that the Imperial Race appear'd so young and yet was reported to have lived so long some of them two some three and some four hundred years and whether it was by Nature or a special Divine blessing To which they answered That there was a certain Rock in the parts of that World which contained the Golden Sands which Rock was hollow within and did produce a Gum that was a hundred years before it came to its full strength and perfection this Gum said they if it be held in a warm hand will dissolve into an Oyl the effects whereof are following It being given every day for some certain time to an old decayed man in the bigness of a little Pea will first make him spit for a week or more after this it will cause Vomits of Flegm and after that it will bring forth by vomits humors of several colours first of a pale yellow then of a deep yellow then of a green and lastly of a black colour and each of these humors have a several taste some are fresh some salt some sower some bitter and so forth neither do all these Vomits make them sick but they come out on a sudden and unawares without any pain or trouble to the patient And after it hath done all these mentioned effects and clear'd both the stomack and several other parts of the body then it works upon the brain and brings forth of the nose such kind of humors as it did out of the mouth and much after the same manner then it will purge by stool then by urine then by sweat and lastly by bleeding at the nose and the Emerodes all which effects it will perform within the space of six weeks or a little more for it does not work very strongly but gently and by degrees Lastly when it has done all this it will make the body break out into a thick scab and cause both Hair Teeth and Nails to come off which scab being arrived to its full maturity opens first along the back and comes off all in a piece like an armour and all this is done within the space of four months After this the Patient is wrapt into a sear-cloth prepared of certain Gums and Juices wherein he continues until the time of nine Months be expired from the first beginning of the cure which is the time of a Childs formation in the womb In the mean while his diet is nothing else but Eagles-eggs and Hinds-milk and after the Sear-cloth is taken away he will appear of the age of Twenty both in shape and strength The weaker sort of this Gum is soveraign in healing of wounds and curing of slight distempers But this is also to be observed that none of the Imperial race does use any other drink but Lime-water or water in which Lime-stone is immerged their meat is nothing else but Fowl of several sorts their recreations are many but chiefly Hunting This Relation amazed the Emperess very much for though in the world she came from she had heard great reports of the Philosophers-stone yet had she not heard of any that had ever found it out which made her believe that it was but a Chymera she called also to mind that there had been in the same world a man who had a little Stone which cured all kinds of Diseases outward and inward according as it was applied and that a famous Chymist had found out a certain liquor called Alkahest which by the vertue of its own fire consumed all diseases but she had never heard of a Medicine that could renew old Age and render it beautiful vigorous and strong Nor would she have so easily believed it had it been a medicine prepared by Art for she knew that Art being Natures Changeling was not able to produce such a powerful effect but being that the Gum did grow naturally she did not so much scruple at it for she knew that Natures Works are so various and wonderful that no particular Creature is able to trace her ways The Conferences of the Chymists being finished the Emperess made an Assembly of her Galenical Physicians her Herbalists and Anatomists and first she enquired of her Herbalists the particular effects of several Herbs and Drugs and whence they proceeded To which they answered that they could for the most part tell her Majesty the vertues and operations of them but the particular causes of their effects were unknown onely thus much they could say that their operations and vertues were generally caused by their proper inherent corporeal figurative motions which being infinitely various in Infinite Nature did produce infinite several effects And it is observed said they that Herbs and Drugs are as wise in their operations as Men in their words and actions nay wiser and their effects are more certain then Men in their opinions for though they cannot discourse like Men yet have they sense and reason as well as Men for the discursive faculty is but a particular effect of sense and reason in some particular Creatures to wit Men and not a principle of Nature and argues often more folly then wisdom The Emperess asked Whether they could not by a composition and commixture of other Drugs make them work other effects then they did used by themselves They answered That they could make them produce artificial effects but not alter their inherent proper and particular natures Then the Emperess commanded her Anatomists to dissect such kinds of Creatures as are called Monsters But they answered her Majesty That it would be but an unprofitable and useless work and hinder their better imployments for when we dissect dead Animals said they it is for no other end but to observe what defects or distempers they had that we may cure the like in living ones so that all our care and industry concerns onely the preservation of Mankind but we hope your Majesty will not preserve Monsters which are most commonly destroyed except it be for novelty neither will the dissection of Monsters prevent the errors of Natures irregular actions for by dissecting some we cannot prevent the production of others so that our pains and labour will be to no purpose unless to satisfie the vain curiosities of inquisitive men The Emperess replied That such dissections would be very beneficial to Experimental Philosophers If Experimental Philosophers answer'd they do spend their time in such useless inspections they waste it in vain and have nothing but their labour for their pains Lastly her Majesty had some Conferences with the Galenick Physicians about several Diseases and amongst the rest desired to know the cause and nature of Apoplexy and the spotted Plague They answered
Bird-and Bear-men what Towns they should begin withall in the mean while she sent to all the Princes and Soveraigns of those Nations to let them know that she would give them a proof of her Power and check their Obstinacies by burning some of their smaller Towns and if they continued still in their Obstinate Resolutions that she would convert their smaller Loss into a Total Ruine She also commanded her Bird-men to make their flight at night lest they be perceived At last when both the Bird-and Worm-men came to the designed places the Worm-men laid some Fire-stones under the Foundation of every House and the Bird-men placed some at the tops of them so that both by rain and by some other moisture within the Earth the stones could not fail of burning The Bird-men in the mean time having learned some few words of their Language told them That the next time it did rain their Towns would be all on fire at which they were amaz'd to hear men speak in the air but withall they laughed when they heard them say that rain should fire their Towns knowing that the effect of Water was to quench not produce fire At last a rain came and upon a sudden all their Houses appeared of a flaming Fire and the more Water there was poured on them the more they did flame and burn which struck such a Fright and Terror into all the Neighbouring Cities Nations and Kingdoms that for fear the like should happen to them they and all the rest of the parts of that World granted the Emperess's desire and submitted to the Monarch and Soveraign of her Native Countrey the King of ESFI save one which having seldom or never any rain but onely dews which would soon be spent in a great fire slighted her Power The Emperess being desirous to make it stoop as well as the rest knew that every year it was watered by a flowing Tide which lasted some weeks and although their Houses stood high from the ground yet they were built upon Supporters which were fixt into the ground Wherefore she commanded both her Bird-and Worm-men to lay some of the Fire-stones at the bottom of those Supporters and when the Tide came in all their Houses were of a Fire which did so rarifie the Water that the Tide was soon turn'd into Vapour and this Vapour again into Air which caused not onely a destruction of their Houses but also a general barrenness over all their Countrey that year and forced them to submit as well as the rest of the World had done Thus the Emperess did not onely save her Native Countrey but made it the absolute Monarchy of all that World and both the effects of her Power and her Beauty did kindle a great desire in all the greatest Princes to see her who hearing that she was resolved to return into her own Blazing-World they all entreated the favour that they might wait on her Majesty before she went The Emperess sent word That she should be glad to grant their Requests but having no other place of reception for them she desired that they would be pleased to come into the open Seas with their Ships and make a Circle of a pretty large compass and then her own Ships should meet them and close up the Circle and she would present her self to the view of all these that came to see her Which Answer was joyfully received by all the mentioned Princes who came some sooner and some later each according to the distance of his Countrey and the length of the voyage And being all met in the form and manner aforesaid the Emperess appeared upon the face of the Water in her Imperial Robes in some part of her hair she had placed some of the Star-Stone near her face which added such a lustre and glory to it that it caused a great admiration in all that were present who believed her to be some Celestial Creature or rather an uncreated Goddess and they all had a desire to worship her for surely said they no mortal creature can have such a splendid and transcendent beauty nor can any have so great a power as she has to walk upon the Waters and to destroy whatever she pleases not onely whole Nations but a whole World The Emperess expressed to her own Countreymen who were also her Interpreters to the rest of the Princes that were present that she would give them an entertainment at the darkest time of night which being come the Fire-Stones were lighted which made both Air and Seas appear of a bright shining flame insomuch that they put all Spectators into an extream fright who verily believed they should all be destroyed which the Emperess perceiving caused all the Lights of the Fire-Stones to be put out and onely shewed her self in her Garments of Light The Bird-men carried her upon their backs into the Air and there she appear'd as glorious as the Sun Then she was set down upon the Seas again and presently there was heard the most melodious and sweetest Consort of Voices as ever was heard out of the Seas which was made by the Fish-men this Consort was answered by another made by the Bird-men in the Air so that it seem'd as if Sea and Air had spoke and answered each other by way of Singing Dialogues or after the manner of those Plays that are acted by singing Voices But when it was upon break of day the Emperess ended her entertainment and at full day light all the Princes perceived that she went into the Ship wherein the Prince and Monarch of her Native Country was the King of ESFI with whom she had several Conferences and having assured him of the readiness of her assistance whensoever he required it telling him withal that she wanted no Intelligence she went forth again upon the Waters and being in the midst of the Circle made by those Ships that were present she desired them to draw somewhat nearer that they might hear her speak which being done she declared her self in this following manner Great Heroick and Famous Monarchs I came hither to assist the King of ESFI against his Enemies he being unjustly assaulted by many several Nations which would fain take away his Hereditary Rights and Prerogatives of the Narrow Seas at which Vnjustice Heaven was much displeased and for the Injuries he received from his Enemies rewarded him with an absolute Power so that now he is become the Head-Monarch of all this World which Power though you may envy yet you can no ways hinder him for all those that endeavour to resist his Power shall onely get loss for their labour and no Victory for their profit Wherefore my advice to you all is to pay him Tribute justly and truly that you may live Peaceably and Happily and be rewarded with the Blessings of Heaven which I wish you from my Soul After the Emperess had thus finished her Speech to the Princes of the several Nations of that World she desired that their