Elements mixt together is the purenesse subtilenesse and simplicity if I may say so of that Element Which reason may serve too against them when they say that if it were there it should burne all about And which likewise may serve for answer to the objection of the Comets which are seene seeing they are of a terrestriall maligne exhalation and so having in them that earthly mixture and being inflamed by the neighbour-heate of that fiery Element no wonder though they bee seene and not it her subtile purenesse being free of all combustible matter and so the lesse conspicuous to our eyes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sive perspicuum nisi condensetur est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quia visum non terminat Iul. Scal. Exer. 9. There is no such question about the second Element which is the Aire for of it all agree that it hath three regions wherein all these you call Meteors are fashioned as clouds haile snow thunder wind and dew yea and higher than all these in the first and supreme Region these blazing Comets although other men place them above the Moone which are so formidable to ignorants who know not the causes of their matter Quest. Is this so as you give it forth Answ. It is of verity that the first Element which we call the Element of fire is disputable and hath beene denied by many but as for the Ayre none to my knowledge ever called it in question neither is there in all our Philosophy a subject more fitting a man of spirit to know than the discourse of the Meteors therein framed of all which although you have a tractate hereafter by it selfe yet one word here more to make you understand their nature and matter the better Section 5. A briefe Discourse of Meteors of their causes matter and differences THE great Creator hath so disposed the frame of this Vniverse in a constant harmony and sympathy amongst the parts of it that these Heavenly Lights which wee see above our heads have their owne force power and influence upon this Earth and Waters whereon and wherein we live marying as it were these two so farre distant Creatures both in place and nature by the mediation of this Ayre above spoken of which participateth of both their qualities warmenesse from the Heavens and moistnesse from the Earth and Waters Nature then but Melior naturâ Deus or GOD better than Nature hath ordained the Sunne Fountaine of light and warmth to be the physicall or naturall cause yea and the remotest cause as wee say in the Schooles of these Meteors as Aristotle himselfe in his first Book of his Meteors cap. 2. observeth When I speak of the Sun as most principall I seclude not the Stars and these celestiall bodies which rolling about in a per-ennall whirling and rotation doe lance forth their power upon the Earth also The neerest Physicall or naturall cause againe must be understood to be cold and heate heate from these heavenly bodies to rarifie or attenuate the vapors of the Earth whereby they may bee the easier evaporated by the Sunne or heate to draw fumes and vapours from the Earth upward cold againe to condensate and thicken those elevated vapours in the Ayre to thicken them I say either in clouds raine or snow or the rest Thus as the Meteors have a twofold cause as you have heard so have they a two fold matter The first and remotest are the two Elements but of them chiefly Earth and Water the neerer cause or matter are exhalations extracted from these former two Which exhalations I divide in fumes and vapours fumes being a thin exhalation hot and dry elevated from the Earth and that of their most dried parts by the vertue of the heavenly Starres and the Sunnes warmenesse elevated I say by the vertue and warmnesse of the Sunne and Stars from the driest parts of the Earth even the Element of fire from whence and of which our Comets fiery-Darts Dragons and other ignean Meteors doe proceed although later Astronomers have found and give forth some of the Comets formation to be above the Moone Whereas vapours are exhalations thicker and hotter swifter drawne up from the Seas and Waters by the power of the Sun and Stars of which vapors thither elevated are framed our raines snow haile dewe wherewith they falling back againe the Earth is bedewed and watered When I say that these vapours are hot and moist thinke it not impossible although the waters their mother be cold and moist for that their warmnesse is not of their owne innate nature but rather accidentall to them by vertue of the Sunne and Starres warmnesse by whose attractive power as the efficient cause they were elevated Now then as of fumes elevated to the highest Region of the Ayre the fiery Meteors are composed so of their watery vapours which are drawne no higher than the middle Region proceeds raine clouds snow haile and the rest or if they passe not beyond this low Region wherein we breath they fall downe into dew or in thick mysts Thus you see that these vapours are of a middle or meane nature betwixt the Ayre and the Waters because they resolve in some one of the two easily even as fumes are medians betwixt fire and earth in respect that they are easily transmuted or changed in the one or the other And thus as you have heard the efficient and materiall causes of Meteors So now understand that their forme dependeth upon the disposition of their matter for the materiall dissimilitude either in quantity or quality in thicknesse thinnesse hotnesse drinesse aboundance or scarcity and so forth begetteth the Meteor it selfe different in species and forme as if you would say by the aboundance of hot and dry exhaled fumes from the Earth and the most burnt parts thereof are begot the greater quantity of Comets winds thunders and contrary-wayes by the aboundance of moist vapours elevated by the force of the Sunne from the Seas and waters we judge of aboundance of raine haile or snow or dew to ensue according to the diverse degrees of light in the Ayrie Region whither they are mounted Now when I said before that hot exhaled fumes are ever carried aloft to the highest Region of the Ayre take it not to be so universally true but that at times they may be inflamed even in this low Region of ours here and that through the Sunnes deficiency of heate for the time for as the uppermost Region is alwayes hot the middle alwayes cold so is the lower now hot now cold now dry and againe moist according to the Sunnes accesse or recesse from it as Aristotle lib. 1. Meteo cap. 3. noteth And of this sort are these even visible inflamations which in the Seas are seene before any storme flaming and glancing now and then as I my selfe have seene yea and sometimes upon the tops of Ships masts Sterne and Poope or such as in darke nights now
to the diversity of the matter whereof they are framed which are dry and moist vapours and exhalations extracted from the earth and waters and from thence elevated to the regions of the ayre where they are fashioned and that diversely according either to the degree of the Region they are framed in or the matter whereof they are fashioned The Philosophers and meere naturalists have not alike consideration of them for Philosophers have regard to them both as they have their dependance from above specifying time place and all other their circumstances whereas the meere naturalists doe particularize none of them but generally shew how they flow from the earth the knowledge of stars and of the regions of the ayre better fitting the Philosopher then the other For so it is that the vapors and exhalations which the Sun extracteth out of the Seas and earth sending them up to the regions of the ayre are the true and originall materiall cause of these Meteors Not of all uniformely but severally of each one according to the height whereto they are elevated from the said waters and earth and the nature of the vapour elevated which I may not unfitly compare to the naturall body of man whose stomacke is the centre of his fabrick which sendeth up to the head the moyst or flatulent humors wherewith for the time it is affected and receiveth backe againe either heated and consuming distillations or refrigerated and quenching humors wherewith to attemperate and refresh the incessant motion and heat of the other noble parts by a circular motion Quest. I know the curiosity of more subtile spirits will move the question whether the Sun draweth exhalations from the lowest or first region of the ayre seeing it is humid and hot sometime hotter sometime colder according as the reverberation of the Sunnes heat from the earth affecteth it although I grant that the ayre of its owne nature is hot yet that hindereth not but accidentally it may be heated also yea sometimes made hotter then of its nature it is To this question I answer Answ. That the subtilty and rarefaction of the ayrs humidity hindereth the Sunne from exhaling of it for although some parts of the moist ayre be grosser than others yet the same grosser parts are more subtile then any vapor which the Sun extracteth from the earth or waters for not all subtile humidity is evaporable but that of water only as that which may more easily be apprehended by heat As then the lowest and first region of the ayre about us wherin we breath here is hot and moist both by nature and accident as I was saying by the reverberation of the sunne-beames upon solid and combustible bodyes and heated by the exhalation of fumes from places or things that are apt to be kindled even so the uppermost region is hot and dry both by nature and accident and almost more or rather by accident then by nature propter viciniam ignis albeit the supreme region must be hotter then the lower both in respect of the propinquity of it to the element of fire even as the lowest region by the neighbour-hood of it to the earth oftentimes is colder than hot as also in respect of the nearenesse of it to the heavens which as with the light of them they warme the lower things So by the rapidity and velocity of their circular course they heate this first region also Now as these two regions are of themselves hot and moist and hot and dry so the middle Region is only cold but drierwhere it is contiguous with the uppermost and more moist whereit is â—igher the lowest This great coldnesse of it enforced together by an Antiperistasis as we say or opposite contrarieties of heate above and cold below The Ayre then being divided into these three Regions wherewith the uppermost as comprehended within the concavity of the fiery Element is ever hot and dry the lowest hot and moist but of a weake and debill heat which by a breathing cold may be changed the middle Region is alwayes cold CHAP. 2. Where Meteors are composed Of Clouds where they are fashioned together with the solution of some questions concerning the middle Region NOW remaines to know in which of these Regions any of these Meteors are framed and first whether or not Clouds be generated in the middle Region of the Ayre It is most likely that not there but in the lower because in it diverse other Meteors alike in matter and forme are framed To which not so much cold is requisit as to the other two yet the nature of Clouds being considered we shall finde them to be generated in the middle Region onely For seeing Clouds are nothing else but vapours mounted and thickned by condensed cold then sure they cannot bee framed in the uppermost Region of the Ayre because in it the Sunnes rayes are directed lacking reflex beside the circular and Spherick motion it hath by vertue of the proximity of the Elementary fire which warmeth it againe this thickning or condensing cold cannot be in the lower region by reason of the heate of it through the reverberation of the Suns rayes beating upon the solid bodies of the earth and waters so there resteth the middle Region in which the reflex faileth the vertue from above too of the direct Sunnes rayes so that naturally it being cold in it only these vapours must be condensed to a cloud And whereas I was saying before that it should seeme that the Clouds are begotten in the lowest Region in respect that in it Waters as Dew and Fountaines at least their matter and forme are brought forth that alwayes cannot hold because that Fountaines and Rivers are rather bred in the concavities and hollow places of the earth than of it or rather flow and have their source from the Seas Neither must my words be mistaken when I say that the middle Region is naturally cold seeing before I have set downe the Ayre naturally to be hot and moist for when I say that it is cold it must bee understood but respectively in regard of the other two as wanting the reflective heate of the lower Region and the circulative heat by the ignean or fiery warmenesse of the other Now if it be objected that seeing the middle Region of the Ayre is cold and all cold things are heavie and so consequently tend downeward what can be the reason that this middle Region falleth not thorow the lowest to its own centre of weight which is the earth It availeth not for first not all frigidity draweth or tendeth alwayes from its circumferences to the centre but that only which is absolutely and simply cold as that of the Earth and Waters and not that of the Ayre which as I say before is but respectively cold yea albeit that the middle Region divide not the lowest in whole yet in parts it doth as in raine when it falleth from the
middle one upon the dissolution of a cloud Finally it may be said here that clouds not onely may bee seene beneath us to inviron the tops of our lower Mountaines for I my selfe crossing the lower Alpes at Genoa have seene them below me along the sides of the Mountaines they likewise may be perceived to glide over the Plaines and swimming over our Lakes and Rivers yet that serveth not to prove that they are generated in the lowest Region but rather argueth the ascending of these vapours and the gathering of them together of which the clouds must bee coagulated and no otherwise as that they are absolutely there framed But this by the way CHAP 3. Of falling Starres Fleakes in the Ayre and other such fiery Meteors THere be foure Elements as all know the Fire hot and dry the Ayre hot and moist the Earth dry and cold the Waters cold and moist Now as of the moisture of the Waters whether in their owne Element or on the Earths superfice are composed all watery vapours as clouds raine dew haile snow and hoare-frosts c. Even so from the dry parts of the Earth calefied or made hot by the Sun-beames doe proceed fumy exhalations whereof the fiery and burning Meteors are generated But so it is that of these vaporous exhalations whereof all the ignite and fiery Meteors or impressions are composed all are not framed alike for according to the diversity of the dispositions of their matter they are either round or long or more long than round or more round than long for if by the efficient and materiall causes which are the Sunne-beames exhaling these fumous evaporations from the driest part of the Earth these spumeous exhalations are such as are combustible and capable to bee kindled if it be of a like length and breadth then in that case it shall be seene to burne in the uppermost Region of the Ayre like a blazing fire of straw if it bee longer than broad then is it taken for those long falling Stars which by the Meteorologians are called Dall If otherwayes broader than long then are they called fiery inflammations which seeme to reele in the Ayre as it were and to shoot hither and thither And because sometimes these exhalations although dry have some coldnesse in them therefore the ejaculation of that cold matter maketh the Meteor to seeme by that extrusion to fall as being in labour to expell it whence more properly are our falling Stars which Stars at some times seeme to fall aside at other times strait downe or upward according as their matter is for the time either disposed or placed And if it be objected how contrary to their nature can they descend or fall downe their matter being light and not ponderous I told before that that commeth by expulsion and by way of projection for confirmation whereof may be added the experience we have of Thunder whose bolts and claps light at times even at our feet otherwhiles what in our houses beating downe Pinacles and Steeples the tops of Turrets and the like although it be both light and dry and the reason is That Thunder being generated in the middle Region of the Ayre not by exustion of any kindled hot matter but rather by a separation of an expelling cold meane while this cold thickning and coagulating it selfe together with violence in a manner detrudeth the hot matter which with it was thither drawn up and maketh such a noise and terrible din the time of that expulsion that not only the Ayre seemeth to bee rent asunder but the very Earth also appeareth to tremble at its violence Iust so as the matter of the falling Stars is placed they fall either straight down aside or upward as before I noted Even so is it with the Thunder Now as those vapors thickned in the ayre doe produce the afore-said effects so shall it not bee thought amisse to say that the same ayre being thickned with their vapors but not condensed in a cloud by susception of light but chiefly from the Suns rayes opposite to it either by night or day but chiefly by night become fiery coloured and looke as burning the same vapors stirring to and fro and being someway thickned by refraction of light doe assume unto themselves variable and diverse colours and those fires in effect are the same which vulgarly are called pretty dancers and by reason that the materiall cause of such impressions is swift and soone vanisheth therefore they abide and remaine the shorter time for such phantasmes not being come to the full perfection of other Meteors as seldome they are seene to doe so their abode and being is but short and inconstant they being composed but of hot and dry exhalations from chalky rocky sandy and sulphureous parts of the earth there being a mixture of moysture with them And to the effect that this may be somewhat better cleared we must consider That foure sorts of vapors are exhaled or drawne up out of the earth by vertue of the Sunnes rayes beside the smoake of our fires which ascending to the ayre also augments these fiery Meteors First vapors hot and dry not having so much humidity in them as may be able to overcome them but rather such as may make this dry vapor to be continued for no earthly thing can continue without moisture Secondly cold and dry which altogether are of the earth's nature virtually cold albeit formally all vapors are hot The third are those vapours which are hot and moyst where humidity predominateth over the heat The fourth kind of vapors which ascend are cold and moyst in which absolutely watry moystnesse beareth rule and this vapor virtually is called cold These foure sorts of vapors then are the neerest matter of all our meteors The first whereof viz hot and dry vapors doe ascend through the ayre quickly even to the concavity of the firy and ignean element where being enflamed and enkindled it becommeth the right generation and propagator of our fiery Meteors whereas the second being hot and moyst doth not ascend so high and because it is easily resolved it commeth to bee ayre The other two cold and dry and cold and moyst vapors are elevated aloft also but no farther then to the colder parts where they are thickned and coagulated together by the invironing cold but so as cold and moyst are converted to raine and the other cold and dry to wind or this falls downe with the pluvious or rainy vapour This being so we may see that there are foure kindes of vapors and exhalations conformable to the foure elements which make up the matter of these Meteors in such sort that as there are hot and dry exhalations and cold and dry even so there are hot vapours and cold and humid ones also Since then you know the matter of wind raine falling stars and inflammations in the ayre let us heare what can bee objected One demands what
Italy almost after that prodigious debording of waters which fell from the Alpes without any former raine Charles the 8th of France his entering thereafter and the disasterous chances that followed thereupon can testifie all which our and their stories can record besides many others as Sabellicus in the penult booke of his last Aeneids doth intimate Neither yet may I be induced to beleeve that the Starre whereof Tichobray that famous renouned and noble Astronomer maketh mention which is yet seen and was affirmed to be though the Prince now bee dead most fitly appropriated to the victorious wise and fortunate Gustavus King of Sueden to have beene no other than a Comet what ever reasons he alledgeth to the contrary Albeit such remarkable Starres are rather observed to appeare at the death of great men and Kings than at their birth Neither must we instance the example of the Starre which was observed by the wise men of the East at the birth of our Lord and Saviour at Nazareth such extraordinaries should be admired not inferred to exemplifie things For answer to this that the death of common people may as well happen under these Comets as that of Princes there is no question but that the supereminency of great persons and States making them the more remarkable maketh their death also more perspicuously to be notified And as in the Title of curiosities I have showne that not ever the most curious questions of Arts and Sciences are the most profitable Even so in this I allow not of Hali the Iew his commentary upon the centiloquy of Ptolomee where referring the death of Princes to comets he thus saith Quòd si apparuerit cometa Domino istius regni exeunte in Oriente significat mortem Regis vel principis si autem Dominus istius regni fuerit in Occidente significat aliquem de regno suo interfecturum Regem I over-slip the interpretation of these words least the divulging of them might more harme than profit Alwayes leaving Philosophicall alterations thus much by naturall experience we may resolve upon that they never appeare but some bad event followeth thereon either to the countrey over which it blazeth or to which it aspecteth or else to that countrey over which ruleth a starre which that comets tayle tendeth towards or followeth though much rather to that countrey which it hath aspect unto not by vertue of its influence but by reason of the superabundancie of maligne dry and hot exhalations regorging and dispersing themselves over it CHAP 5. Of Raine Dew hoare-frost and their cause AS hot and dry exhalations are the matter and cause of Meteors in the upper region of the aire of which before Even so cold and moist vapors are the causes of these after this manner vapors elevated up into the ayre by force of the Sunnes beames and being separated from the heat which accompanied them either by that heat 's ascending higher and leaving the grosser vapors or the subtillest of that heat being extinguisht by the grossenes aboundance of cold and moist vapors which mounted up with it in the ayre or else by the coldnesse of the place the middle region of the ayre These grosser vapors I say segregated from that heat which accompanied it and being thickned and carried about in the ayre for a time fall back againe to the earth but being first coagulated in a cloud which dissolving falleth down to the place from whence it ascended so that by a circular motion first the waters resolving in vapors the vapors thickning in a cloud then that dissolving back againe into waters imitateth in a manner the circular motion of the Sunne by whose approximation as these vapors are elevated even so by his elongation if I may say so they doe fall backe againe Now as this is the generall cause of these moyst Meteors so is it the particular cause of the falling of Rayne for Raine being a watery vapor carryed up by heat into the Ayre and there that heat leaving it resolveth and falleth downe againe in great or lesser showers according to its quantity Dew and Hoare-frost are not so generated for why When there is not such quantity of vapors elevated in the day time through want of heat to draw them up or through great drowth upon the earth they are not carried high in hoter countreys they fall downe againe before the day be spent and that by them is called Serene as in France particularly So when these elevated vapors are thickned in waters without either so much heat as may dry them up or so much cold as to congeale them then I say the dew appeareth Now the Hoar-frost happeneth otherwise as when the like exhaled vapours are congealed before they be condensed whereby you may see that dew falleth in temperate times and places whereas Hoare-frosts fall in Winter and in the colder parts of the earth and the reason may be alleadged that seeing vapors are hoter than water in respect of the concomitating heat whereby they are carried up no question but more cold is required for the congelation of vapors then of waters and so if in cold seasons and places waters congeale and harden much more may we say of vapors congealable into Hoare-frost Thus we have touched the materiall and efficient causes of dew and Hoare-frost so it shall not be amisse to shew that the time when the Sun ingendreth these Meteors in the ayre by the drawing up of these vapors from out the earth and waters must be when the lowest region of the ayre is calme serene and cleare without wind raine or cooling clouds for they being mounted thither may either hinder their ascending or condensation and thickning as also the stirring winds would hinder their condensation or at least their congregation or gathering together Now that both dew and Hoare-frost are begotten of vapors not carryed high in the ayre by this it may be knowne because we see little Hoare-frost or dew in the higher mountaines where it seemeth likeliest they are made and doe recide in regard of the cold there which is so much the more probable in this that the heat which elevateth these vapors from low and Marshy places carrying as you would say a burden heavier then their hability can comport with leaveth them ere they can ascend any higher Besides that we may say that the second region of the ayre being higher than these mountaines and carryed about and in a manner drawne after the circular wheeling about of the heavens dissolveth these vapors by its motion and by this meanes maketh the dew and Hoare-frost for so I expound Pruina Notwithstanding this a greater motion is required to disgregate and sunder apart heavy and many vapors then few and light ones now seeing the matter of Snow and Raine is greater and containeth a great many more vapors then the matter of dew and Hoare-frost Therefore it is that in exceeding high Mountaines
the Starres our Astronomers have found out by visible demonstrations as for a peculiar motion allotted to them besides it is a thing of some further consideration Aristotle and the Astronomers of that age doe teach that the eight Spheare commonly called the Firmament of fixed starres is the highest and next to the first movable yet the later Astronomers observing in the fixed starres beside the daily revolution of 24 houres another motion from West to East upon the Poles of the Zodiack in regard one simple body such as is the Firmament cannot have but one motion of it selfe have concluded that above the Firmament of fixed starres there behoved to be a ninth heaven And last of all the later Astronomers and chiefly the Arabs observing in the fixed starres a third motion called by them Motus trepidationis or trembling motion from North to South and from South to North upon its owne Poles in the beginning of Aries and Libra have hereupon inferred that there is yet above all these a tenth heaven which is the first moveable in 24. houres moving round about from East to West upon the Poles of the World and in the same space drawing about with it the nine inferiour heavens and the ninth heaven upon the Poles of the Zodiack making a slower motion to the East measureth but one degree in one hundreth yeares and therefore cannot absolve its course before six and thirty thousand yeares which space is called the great Platonick yeare because Plato beleeved that after the end thereof the heavens should renew all things as they had beene in former times seeing they returned to their first course so that then hee should bee teaching those same Schollers in the same Schoole whereby it seemeth that this motion was not unknowne in his time The slownesse of this motion proceeding from the neerenesse to the first moveable like as the eight Orbe or Firmament finisheth its trembling motion in 7000. yeares but of this trembling motion as also of the number motions and aspects of the Starres who lists to reade Ioannes Herpinus his Apologie for Bodin against Ferrerius shall rest marvellously contented SECT 10. The order of the Elements with some observations of the Ayre and Water NOw betwixt the Spheare of the Moone and the Earth and Waters is the Element of Ayre next after the Element of fire filling up all that vast intecstice divided in three Regions whose middle Region by Anteperistasis as we say of the supreame one ever hot and the lower ones now hot now somewhat cold is ever cold and so is made the receptacle of all our Meteors Raine Haile Snow and so forth framed there accordingly as the matter elevated from the earth and waters is either hot moist dry cold high or low Next to the Element of the Ayre is the Element of Water and Earth which two make but one Globe whose uppermost superficies is breathed upon with the incumbing and environing Ayre These two are the center to the Globe and environing heavens the great Ocean by Homer and Virgil called Pater Oceanus which compasseth the earth and windeth about it as it is father to all other floods fountaines brookes bayes lakes which doe divide themselves through the whole body and upon the face of the Earth like so many veines shedde abroad and dispersed thorough our humane bodies whose source and spring is from the Liver so hath it divers denominations from the Coasts it bedeweth as Britannick Atlantick Aethâ—opick Indick and so forth Now the reason why the Seas which are higher than the Earth doe not overflow it seeing it is a matter fluxible of it selfe cannot bee better given by a Naturalist setting aside Gods eternall ordinance than that the waters having their owne bounds from the bordering circumferences doe alwayes incline and tend thither Praescriptas metuens transcendere metas SECT 11. Of the Earth that it is the lowest of all the Elements its division first into three then into foure parts and some different opinions concerning them reconciled THe Earth is as the heaviest so the lowest subsidit tellus though divers admit not the waters to bee higher than the earth of which opinion Plato seemes to mee to be placing the spring of Rivers and Fountaines in orco or cavities of the earth The former opinion our famous Buchanan elegantly illustrateth in his first Booke de Sphaera Aspice cumpleuis è littore concita velis Puppis eat sensim se subducente Carina Linteaque suâ—mo apparent Carche sia maio Nec minus è naviterram spectantibus unda In medio assurgens c. Which argueth rather the Earth to be round nor that the Seas or waters are higher than it so it may be confidently enough said that the water is above about and in the Earth yea and dispersed thorough it as the blood is diffused and dispersed thorough the body or man or beast from its spring the Liver the Orcum as we may say of it This Earth alwayes by the Geographers of old was divided into three parts viz. Europe Asia Africk not knowing any further but suffereth now a new partition or division since the dayes of Columbus who in the yeare 1492 by an enterprize to the eternall memory of his name made discovery of America added by our moderne Mappes as a fourth part which according to our late Navigators and discoverers shall bee found to exceede the other three in extent from whence the gold and silver commeth hither as Merchant wares occasioning all the dearth we have now considering how things were in value the dayes of our Fathers as Bodin in his paradoxes against Malestrot averreth so that the profuse giving of their gold for our trifies through the abundance of their inexhaustible gold mynes maketh now by the abundance of money which formerly was not that a thing shall cost ten yea twenty which before was had for one or two Mercator that most expert Cosmographer expecteth as yet the fifth part of the Earth intituling it Terra Australis the Spaniards in their Cardes Terra dell fuego which must be by South that Sea descried by Magellanes So that by his supputation the world shall be divided yet in three making Europe Asia Africk but one as but one Continent which in effect it is America and this looked for terra Australis the other two SECT 12. Of the different professions of Religion in the severall parts of the world what Countries and llands are contained within Europe and what within Asia BVt leaving those two last parts as most remote from our commerce and knowledge of Europe Africk and Asia thus much I finde in Cosmographers that scarce the fourth part of these three is Christians and yet those Christians differing amongst themselves the Greeke Church differing in five principall points from the Roman that from the Protestants and the other amongst themselves For not to speake of Europe where Christianisme is gloriously professed consisting of
Quest. What causeth some Fountaines to last longer than others certainly that must proceed from the copiousnesse and aboundance of the veine and and waters such long-lasting ones have above the others Or finally if it be demanded what can be the cause that some Rivers and Springs which formerly did flow in large swift currents do lessen and sometimes totally dry up That must not be imputed to the scituation or change of the Starres as some suppose by which say they all places in the world are altered but rather unto the decay of the veine peradventure because the earth preasing to fill up voidnesse hath sunke down in that place and so choaked the passage and turned the course another way Neither can there be a fitter reply given unto those who aske what maketh two Springs or Fountaines which are separated onely by a little parcell of ground to bee of a contrary nature yea one sweet and fresh the other brackish and salt one extreame cold another neere adjoyning to it to bee luke-warme Then the diversity of Oares or Metals through which these waters doe runne which is the cause of their different tasts and temperatures as on one parcell of ground some flowers and herbs salutiferous and healthfull others venemous and mortall may grow The Moone is often said to bee the efficient cause of the ebbing and flowing of the Sea now if so be as universally all the Learned hold what is the cause seeing shee is universally seene by all Seas in a manner and I may say equally that therefore all Seas flow not and ebbe not alike To this I thinke no better reply can be given than that some Seas there are which be rather Lakes in a manner and of fresher water than Seas in respect of the incessant running of endlesse Rivers into them whereof they make no account againe to say so by subministring matter to Rivers Fountaines Brookes or Lakes as the Ocean doth the invironing bankes and shoares being higher almost than they such are all Sounds Gulphs and it may be the Mediterranean Sea also Or yet we may say that the profundity and deepenesse of some Coasts hindereth the flowing more then it doth upon shallow and ebbe sands and other valley and low bankes Now the cause of our hot Baths neere Bristoll in Flanders Germany France Italy and else where is onely the sulphureous and a brimstony Oare or Metall through which their waters runne as the salt earth through which some waters doe runne is the cause of their saltnesse such as the Salt-pits in Poland and Hungarie out of which Salt is digged as our Pit-coales and stones are digged out of Quarries And no question but these waters are heated too by running through such earth These and the like are the reasons given by Philosophers for such secrets of Nature as either here before I have touched or may handle hereafter and howbeit by humane reason men cannot further pry into these and the like yet no question but the power of the great Maker hath secrets inclosed within the bowels of Nature beyond all search of man To learne us all to bend the eyes of our bodies and minds upward to the Heavens from whence they flow to rest there in a reverent admiration of his power working in by and above nature and that by a way not as yet wholly manifested unto mortall men By all which and many more we may easily espie as the power so the wisdome of this our Maker in disposing the forme of this Vniverse whether the great World or the little one MAN in both which there is such a harmony sympathy and agreement betwixt the powers above which wee see with our eyes as the Heavens and the distinguished Regions of the Ayre in the greater World with the Earth and Seas or of the soule minde life and intellect of Man the heaven in him comparatively with his body the Earth and such like of the one with the other that is the great and little world together as is a wonder For as in the Ayre how the lower parts are affected so are the superiour and contrarywise as the superior is disposed right so the inferiour So we see that not onely a heaven of Brasse maketh the Earth of Iron but likewise waterish and moist earth causeth foggy and rainy ayre as a serene or tempestuous day maketh us commonly either ioyfull or melancholy or as a sad and grieved minde causeth a heavie and dull body but contrariwayes a healthfull and well tempered body commonly effecteth a generous and jovially disposed minde OF VARIETIES THE THIRD BOOKE CONTEINING FIVE TREATISES OF 1. Armies and Battels 2. Combats and Duels 3. Death and Burials 4. Laughing and Mourning 5. Mentall Reservation BY DAVID PERSON OF Loughlands in SCOTLAND GENTLEMAN Et quae non prosunt singula multa juvant LONDON Printed by RICHARD Badger for Thomas Alchorn and are to be sold at his shop in Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Greene Dragon 1635. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE THOMAS Earle of Hadington LORD Privy Seale of Scotland and one of His Majesties most HONOURABLE Privy Counsell in both KINGDOMES Right Honourable IF writers of books in former ages have made a gratefull commemoration in the front of their workes of worthy men who for their brave deeds either in Peace or War Church or Common wealth were renounced thereby to enternize their fame and by their examples to extimulate others to the imitation of their vertues nothing could expiat my trespasse if I should passe over your Lordships most accomplished rare vertues thereby to deprive posterity of so excellent a President especially amongst your other many exquisite perfections you being in this barren age so worthy a patterne and Bountifull Patron of letters and literate men Let antiquity boast it selfe of the integritie of a Greeke Aristides in the gravity and inflexibilitie of a Roman Cato and the rest yet our age may rejoyce to have all these accumulated on your Lordship alone Envy cannot conceale with what credit and generall applause as through the Temple of Vertue to the Sacrary of Honour you have past all the orders of our Senatoriall Tribunall even to the highest dignity where like an Oracle you strike light through most foggie and obscurest doubts The continued favour of Kings the aggrandizing of your estate by well managed fortune the peopling by the fecunditie of your fruitefull loynes not only your owne large stocke but many of the most ancient and honourable families in our nation may well set out your praises to the world but the true Panegyrick which I if able would sound abroad your Honours due deserving merits to which in all humility and reverence I offer this small pledge of my entirer affection hoping ere long to present them with something more worthy the studies and travels of Your Lordships in all dutifull obedience D. PERSON OF ARMIES AND BATTELLS VVherein by the way our moderne VVarfare is compared with
that fishes breath What way fishes may be said to breath If herring can â—â—ie How herring may be engendred in the Aire A sea-sawing râ—â—â—on why herring 〈◊〉 site Apodes or fowles without feet or Plumes Of Claick Geese Diverse kindes of Insects Sea Insects Reasons why Insects are not propagated by a Celestiall heat What middle Creatures are How fishes can be said to live by the Sea seeing their flesh is more firme then the water whereof they are geneâ—â—ted How fowles are brought forth in waters The cause of the firme flesh of fishes That Gold cannot bee made potable The matter of precious stones Quest. Two Philosophicall wayes to know things What leeteth that We cannot aright give up the supputation of the Earths cricumference Diversity of opinions concerning the worlds Compasse The earths circumference or compasse The thicknesse of the earth Distance of the earth from heaven The most approved opinion of the earths distance from the Sun Definition of Meteors their matter substance and height of formation Meteors severally considered by Philosophers and naâ—uralists A comparison of these Vapors â—nto the body of man chiefly to the venâ—â—icle and head Whether there be any exhalaâ—ions from the lowest Region of the ayre The lowest region of the aire is hot and moist both by nature and accident The uppermost region hot and dry The middle region is only cold at least respectively In what region of the Ayre the Meteors are composed What clouds are Clouds are fashioned in the middle region Concerning the middle â—â—gion Solution The foggy vapours which we see like clouds skimming our lakes are but ascending to frame the cloud The matter and forme of fiery Meteors from whence they proceed What are our falling-stars What maketh them fal dovvn seeing they are light Solution Of thunâ—er the matter whereof and place where The matter forme of thâ—se which we call pretty Dancers Fower sorts of vapors ascend from the earth and waters which arâ— the neerest mâ—tter of all Meteors Ayre what Raine what wind Quest. What is the cause that the falling Stars make no noyse as the Thunder seeing one matter is common to both What meaneth these fiâ—es wee see by night before us or by us when we ride at some times Why are they not seene in the day time What be these complainings and laughing which sometimes are heard in the ayre They are Aereall spirits The nature forme of comets The reason of their long hayre or beard Sometimes they are round Halos 1. area What are the Circles about the Moone which we call broughes What course the Comets observe Answer for the diverse courses of Comets What maketh the Comets commonly move from the South to the North. The place of their abode commonly Whether or not they can portend evill to come The Philosophers deny it admitting them but as naturall things The Philosophicall reason why not Other of their reasons why they can portend no evill to come Other reasons of theirs The contrary is seene by experience Lamentable accidents which have followed after the appearing of Comets The reasons which our Astronomicall Philosophers give that Comets may portend change of States Examples of Comets appearing before desolâ—tion Answer to the former objections Conclusion of comets with a particular observation The first matter of raine The way how raine falleth downe The matter manner how dew is engendred What is that which in France we call Serene The matter manner how Hoare-frost are fashioned The place where dew and hoare-frost are framed Some more good observations of dew and Hoar-frost What Snow is Much Snow in the Northerne climats and Why Difference betwixt the Snowy cloud and the rainy one The matter and cause of winde The beginning of wind is but small but it encreaseth in blowing A place of Scripture concerning winds solved What maketh raine commonly follow winde And what after raine What maketh some windes cold other hot seeing one matter is common to both What maketh that in the heat of Summer there are fewest winds seeing then there should be most The way how the wind bloweth Againe the way how the wind bloweth The matter and forme of Earthquakes What makes the Southerne countries most subject to these earthquakes The odâ— betweene wind earthquakes A very fit comparison As our bodies are stirred with a hot ague even so the earth with an inclosed wind A remarkable question Solutions both Philosophicall and Theologicall What is the matter of lightnings The right cause of the noyse of thunder after the lightning Why we see the lightning before wee heare the noyse And why doâ—â— it descend seing it is light The cause of the admirable effects of thunder Why the thunder of blacke clouds are more terrible then those of White Why those that be thunder beaten smell of brimstone The true matter of thunder The reason why the thunder of black clouds are most dangerous All weake Meteors have one common matter Their difference in forme and place Why haile is round Why raine falleth in drops From whence fountains have their courses That there is waters within the earth The Sea the mother of fountaines How Fountaines are on the tops of mountaines How mountaine furnisheth water unto fountains Why some springs cease running What maketh two fountaines a little distant one hot and another cold The veines through which the waters run maketh them salt hot or cold Gods power outreacheth mans wisdome The comparison of the great little world A worthy similitude Greatest armies have not alwayes done great Semiramis innumerable army defeated by a very few under an Indian Prince Xerxes alio overthrowne by a handfull of Greekes and Salamines The battaile of Thermopilae Iohn King of France overthrowne by Edward the black Prince of England Edward Carnarvan of england overthrowen by Bruce at Bannak-burne Scanderbeg with a handfulâ— overthrew Mahomet If Princes may hazzard their persons in a field or not Queene Elizabeth on the front of her armie in 88. The countenance of a King a great incouragement unto souldiers When a King should be in proper person in a field Why powerful subjects are not alwâ—yes fiâ—est to bee elected Generals of armies One Generall â—itter not two How the Romans and Grecians send two Commanders with their armies abroad Their foresight and prudence herein Fabius and Marcellus contrary dispositions Why the Grecians did send alwayes two in ambassage or to field The limitating of Generals Commission dangerous Great ods betwixt battels and duels To shun fighting at times is no disgrace unto a General Hannibal sueth for peace at Scipio Hannibals speech unto Scipio Sr. Fr. Drakes stratageme in 88. Hannibals stratagem A comparison of drawing up of our armies with the Old Romans If the Roman field malice exceeded ours yet our beleaguring instruments of warre exceed theirs The terriblenes of our pieces How the Romans had a fitter occasion of trying their valour then we The battell of Lepanto surpasseth all the Romans Sea-fights
and then are perceived to flutter about Horse-meines and feet or amongst people gone astray in darke nights And these our Meteorologians call Ignes fatui ignes lambentes wilde-fires Sect. 6. That the earth and waters make but one globe which must be the Center of the world Of the Seas saltnesse deepnesse flux and reflux why the mediterranean Indian Seas have none Of Magellanes strait what maketh so violent tyde there seeing there is none in the Indian Sea from whence it floweth Of the Southerne Sea or Mare del Zur THus then leaving the Aire I betake me unto the third and fourth elements which are the earth and waters for these two I conjoyne in the Chapter of the world and that after the opinion of the most renowned Cosmographers howbeit Plinius Lib. 2. Naturalis Histor cap. 66. and with him Strabo lib. 1. distinguish them so as they would have the waters to compasse the earth about the middle as though the one halfe of it were under the waters and the other above like a bowle or Apple swimming in a vessell for indeede Ptolomee his opinion is more true that the earth and waters mutually and linkingly embrace one another and make up one Globe whose center should be the' center of the world But here now I aske seeing the frame of the universe is such that the heaven circularly encompasseth the low spheares each one of them another these the fire it the Aire the aire againe encompasseth the waters what way shall the water be reputed an element if it observe not the same elementarie course which the rest doe which is to compasse the earth also which should be its elementarie place Answer True it is that the nature of the element is such but GOD the Creator hath disposed them other wayes and that for the Well of his Creatures upon earth Who as he is above nature and at times can worke beyond and above it for other wayes the earth should have beene made improfitable either for the production or entertainement of living and vegetable Creatures if all had beene swallowed up and covered with waters both which now by their mutuall embracing they do hence necessarily it followeth that the Sea is not the element of water seeing all elements are simple and unmixt creatures whereas the Seas are both salt and some way terrestriall also How deepe hold you the Sea to be Answ. Proportionably shallow or deepe as the earth is either stretched forth in valleys or swelling in mountaines and like enough it is that where the mouth of a large valley endeth at the Sea that shooting as it were it selfe forth into the said Sea that there it should bee more shallow then where a tract of mountaines end or shall I say that probably it is thought that the Sea is as deepe or shallow below as commonly the earth is high in mountaines and proportionably either deepe or shallow as the earth is either high in mountaines or low and streacht forth in vallies But what reason can you render for the Seas saltnesse Answer If we trust Aristotle in his 2 booke of Meteors and 3. as he imputeth the ebbing and flowing of the Sea to the Moone so he ascribeth the cause of its saltnesse to the Sunne by whose beames the thinnest and sweetest purer parts of it are extenuated and elevated in vapors whilest the thicker and more terrestriall parts which are left behind by that same heate being adust become bitter and salt which the same Author confirmeth in that same place before cited by this that the Southerne Seas are salter and that more in Summer then the others are and inforceth it by a comparison in our bodies where our urine by him is alleadged to be salt in respect that the thinner and purer part of that moistnesse by our inborne warmenesse is conveyed and carryed from our stomack wherein by our meate and drinke it was engendred thorough the rest of the parts of our body Neither leaveth he it so but in his Problems Sect 23. 30. for corroboration hereof he maintaineth that the lower or deeper the Sea-water is it is so much the fresher and that because the force of the Suns heat pierces and reaches no further then the Winter Cold extendeth its force for freezing of waters unto the uppermost superfice only and no further If it bee true then that the Seas are salt wherefore are not lakes and rivers by that same reason salt also Answer Because that the perpetuall running and streames of rivers in flouds hindreth that so that the sun beames can catch no hold to make their operation upon them and as for lakes because they are ever infreshed with streames of fresh springs which flow and run into them they cannot be salt at all the same reason almost may serve to those who asâ—â— what makes some springs savour of salt some vitrioâ—â—â—â—e of brimstone some of brasse and the like To which nothing can be more pertinently answered then that the diversity of mineralls through which they run giveth them those severall tastes What have you to say concerning the cause of the flowing and ebbing of the Sea Answ. To that all I can say is this that Aristotle himselfe for all his cunning was so perplexed in following that doubt that he died for griefe because he could not understand it aright if it be truth which Coelius Rhodiginus lib. 29. antiquarum lectionum cap. 8. writeth of him it is true indeede yea and more probable that many ascribe the cause of his death to have beene a deepe melancholy contracted for not conceaving the cause aright of the often flowing and ebbing of Euripus a day rather than to the not knowing the true cause of the Seas ebbing and flowing chiefly seeing Meteor 2 3. he ascribeth it to the Moone the mother and nurse of all moist things which is the most receaved opinion and warranted with the authoritie of Ptolomee and Plinius both as depending upon her magnetick power being of all Planets the lowest and so the neerer to the Sea which all doe acknowledge to bee the mistris of moisture and so no question but to it it must be referred which may bee fortified with this reason That at all full Moones and changes the Seas flowing and swelling is higher then at other times and that all high streams and tydes are observed to bee so seeing the Moone doth shine alike upon all Seas what is the cause that the Mediterranean Sea together with the West Indian-Seas all along Hispaniola and Cuba and the Coasts washing along the firme Land of America to a world of extent hath no ebbing nor flowing but a certain swelling not comparable to our Seas ebbing and flowing Answ. Gonsalus Ferdinando Oviedes observation in his History of the West-Indian-Seas shall solve you of that doubt and this it is He compareth the great Ocean to the body of a man lying upon his back reaching
his trunck from the Pole Artick from the North and East to the Antartick South West stretching forth the left Arme to the Mediterranean the other to the West-Indian-Seas now the Ocean as the lungs of this imagined body worketh by Systole and Diastole on the neerer parts to it maketh a flux and reflux where its force faileth in the extremities the hands and feet the Mediterranean and Indian Seas Quest. How is that possible that you admit no flux nor reflux to the West-Indian-Seas seeing their Histories informe us that at Magellanes-strait that same West Sea doth glide through the firme land of America into the Mare Del Zur and that with such rapiditie and vertiginousnesse that no Ship is able with Wind or Art to returne from that South-Sea backward Answ. That must not be thought so much a flowing as the course of Nature whereby the Heavens Sun Moone and Stars yea and the Sea doe course from East to West as that Strait doth run I may joyne to this the Easterly-wind which of all others bloweth most commonly as elsewhere so there also which furthereth that violent course and of this opinion is Peter Martyr in his Decads upon the Historie of that Countrey Quest. Admit all be true you say but what have you to say to this that the Mare Del Zur hath flux and reflux and yet your West-Indian-Seas have little or none as you confesse how then can the Moone be the cause of the universall Seas ebbing and flowing seeing they two under one Moone both are neverthelesse so different in Nature and yet so neere in place Answ. Seeing Ferdinando Oviedes who was both Cosmographer Hydographer leaveth that question undilucidated as a thing rather to be admired than solved leaving to the Reader thereby in a manner to adore the great Maker in the variousnes of his works I thinke much more may I be excused not to pry too deepely in it Quest. What is the cause then seeing the Moone is alike in power over all waters that Lakes and Rivers flow not and ebbe not as well as the Sea doth Answ. Because these waters are neither large nor deepe enough for her to worke upon and so they receive but a small portion of her influence Quest. What is the reason why seeing the Sea is salt that the Rivers and Fountaines which flow from her for we all know that the Sea is the Mother of all other waters as to her they runne all back againe exinde fluere saith the Poet retro sublapsareferri are not salt likewise Answ. Because the Earth through whose veines and conduits these waters doe passe to burst forth thereafter in springs cleanseth and mundifieth all saltnesse from them as they passe It seemeth that your former discourse maketh way for answer to such as aske why the Sea doth never debord nor accreace a whit notwithstanding that all other waters doe degorge themselves into her bosome the reason being because there runneth ever as much out of her to subministrate water to springs and rivers as she affordeth them But is it possible which is reported that our late Navigators have found by experience that the Seas water so many fathomes below the superficies is fresh so that now they may draw up waters to their shippes by certaine woodden or rather yron vessells which ovally closed doe slyde thorough the first two or three fathomes of the salted superfice downe to the fresh waters where artificially it opens and being filled straight shutteth againe and so is drawne up which they report to have but small difference in tast from the waters of fresh Rivers which if it bee true is a strange but a most happily discovered secret Answ. Yea it is possible for probably it may be thought that the Sunnes raies which before are granted to bee the cause of the Seas saltnesse penetrate no further than the first superfice like as on the contrary the coldnesse of the Northerne windes freezeth but the uppermost water congealing them into Ice or the reason may better be the perpetuall and constant running and disgolfing of Rivers brookes and springs from the earth into it And verily I could be induced to thinke the Mediterranean sea the Sound of Norwey and such like which lye low and are every where encompassed with the higher land except where they breake in from the greater Ocean that such Seas should be fresh low in regard of the incessant currents of large Rivers into them and in respect they doe not furnish water back again to the springs rivers and fountaines seeing they are low beneath the earth yea it hath troubled many braines to understand what becommeth of these waters which these Seas dayly receave but it cannot bee receaved for possible that the waters of the great Ocean are fresh at least drinkably fresh under the first two or three fathomes it being by God in natures decree made salt for portablenesse Sect. 7. That the Mountaines and valleys dispersed over the earth hindreth not the Compleatnesse of its roundnesse Of burning mountaines and Caves within the earth BVt leaving the Sea thus much may be demaunded concerning the earth why it is said to be round since there are so inaccessible high mountaines and such long tracts of plaine valleys scattered over it all Answ. These mountaines and valleys are no more in respect of the earth to hinder its roundnesse then a little flie is upon a round bowll or a naile upon a wheele to evince the rotunditie of it for the protuberances of such knobs deface not the exact roundnesse of the whole Globe as not having a comparable proportion with it But what signifie these burning mountaines so frightfull to men which may be seene in severall places of the earth as that of Island called Hecla in Sicilie called Aetna besides the burning hills of Naples which I have seene one in Mexico in our new found lands of America so formidable as is wonderfull If the earth be cold as you give it forth to be then how can these mountaines burne so excessively or if they bee chimneys of hell venting the fire which burneth there in the center of the earth or not Answ. No question but as there are waters of divers sorts some sweet others salt and others sulphureous according to the minerall veynes they run thorough right so there be some partes of the earth more combustible then others which once being enflamed and kindled either by the heate of the Sunnes beames or by some other accident and then fomented by a little water which rather redoubleth the heate then extinguisheth it as we see by experience in our farriers or smiths forges where to make their coales or charco ales burne the bolder they bedew or besprinkle them with water they hold stil burning the sulphureous ground ever subministrating fewell to the inflammation But they and the like do not hinder the earths being cold no more than one or
may be said to be respiration but since nothing properly can be said to breath but that which hath lungs the instruments of breathing which indeed fishes have not The conclusion is cleare That they have rather a sort of refrigeration then respiration Quest. But is it of truth which wee heare of our Navigators that in the Southerne seas they have seene flying fishes and herring like a foggie or moist cloud fleeing above their heads and falling againe in the Seas with a rushing and flushing Answ. Yea I thinke it possible for the great Creator as he hath created the foules of the Aire the beasts of the earth and the fishes of the Sea at the first creation in their owne true kindes So hath hee made of all these kindes Amphibia And as there are foure footed beasts and fowles of double kinds living promiscuously on land and water why may there not be fishes of that nature also of which hereafter So hath hee indued the Aire as the more noble element of the three with that prerogative that in it either fowles or watery creatures might be engendred out of vapors either moist or terrestriall or extracted from standing lakes stanckes marishes myres or the like oyly and marshie places which waters elevated to the Aire by the violent operation of the Sunnes beames either from the Seas or the fore-said places by the benefit of the warme Aire where they abide as in the fertile belly of a fruitfull mother doe there receave the figure either of frogge or fish according to the predominancy of the matter whereof that vapor is composed from whence again as all heavie things doe tend downeward so doe they also Which hath made some suppose that herrings by them called flying fishes doe descend from the aire their place of generation where indeed more truly the error commeth this way the Herrings in their season doe come in great shoales as Sea men say upon the superfice of the waters where scudding along the coasts some sudden gale of wind they being elevated upon the top of some vaste wave may chance to blow them violently so farre till they encounter and light on a higher billow which hath made Marriners thinke they flie Quest. What have you to say to this that as there are fishes extraordinary so I have heard of fowles without either feete or plumes Answ. Fowles they cannot be because fowles are defined to be living creatures feathered and two footed and since these are not such fowles they cannot be And yet Iulius Scaliger exercitatione 228. sect 1. 24. maketh mention of them calling them Apodes which Greeke word is as much as without feete Quest. But leaving the various diversities of fowles as the Geese who hatch their egges under their paw or foote and the like how doe those claick geese in Scotland breed whereof Du Bartas maketh mention as of a rare work of nature Answ. Their generation is beyond the ordinary course of nature in so much that ordinarily one creature begetteth another but so it is that this fowle is engendred of certaine leaves of trees out of which in a manner it buddeth and ripeneth Now these trees growing upon the bankes of lakes doe at their due time cast these leaves which falling into the lake doe there so putrifie that of them is engendred a Worme which by some secret fomentation agitation of the waters with the Suns helpe groweth by little and little to be a fowle somewhat bigger than a Mallard or wild Duck and in those waters they live and feed and are eaten by the inhabitants thereabouts First then I resolve their questions who argument against the possibility of this generation and then I shall cleare you of that doubt you have proposed thus it standeth then with these Argumentators when Aristotle in his last chapter of his third booke De generatione animalium before he had dissenssed the materiall causes of all kind of perfect creatures In the end falleth upon the materiall cause of insects and so of the lesse perfect one kinde of them he maketh to be produced of a Marish clay an earthie and putrified slimie substance whereof wormes froggs snailes and the like are produced the Sun beames as the efficient cause working upon that matter The other sort is more perfect and these are our Bees waspes flyes midges and so forth which are engendred of some putrified substance as peradventure of a dead horse oxe or asse out of which by the operation of the environing aire and the internal putrefaction together they are brought forth The insects of the Sea are said to have the like generations whereof Aristotle De historia Animalium lib. 1. cap. 1. Et in libro de respiratione and lately the learned Scaliger Exercitatione 191 sect 2. Notwithstanding the venerable testimony and authority of such famous Authors yet our beleevers of miracles doe reason thus both against the generation of the Claik Geese and of the Insects also Every thing begotten must be engendred of a like unto it selfe as men horse Sheepe Neat c. engender their life and this by the warrant and authoritie of Aristotle else where but particularly cap. 7. Meteor Text 2. Quest. But so it is that the body of the heavens the Sun and his heate are no wayes similia or alike unto these Insects produced and procreated from the slymie and putrified matters above rehearsed And therefore that cannot be the way of their generation Thus they Answ. To this answer must be made Philosophically in distinguishing the word alike to it selfe for things may be said alike unto other either of right or univoce as they say in the Schooles That way indeed our Insects are not a like to the putrified earth or beast they came of but Analogice they may be said to be alike that is in some respect in so farre as they communicate in this that they are produced of the earth and by the warmenesse of the Sun which are things actually existing Quest. Now to cleere the question concerning fowles wanting feete and feathers whether may such things be or not Ans. Yea for as the great Creator hath ordained in nature betwixt himselfe and us men here Angels yea good and bad spirits betwixt sensitive and insensitive Creatures mid creatures which wee call Zoophyta and Plantanimalia as the Fishes Holuthuna stella marina Pulmo marinus c. Even so betwixt fowles and fishes nature produced middle or meane creatures by the Greekes called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or beasts of two lives partly living by waters partly by earth And of this sort these fowles must be as betwixt land beasts and fishes are frogs and Crocodills and some others the like Sect. 10. Of fishes and their generation How fowles are generated in the waters If gold can be made potable and of the matter of precious stones Question BVt you have not as yet sufficiently enough satisfied my minde of that scruple
neither raine dew nor Hoare-frost fall because of the violent motion and great flux of the ayre there for that matter is rather even wheeled about with that violent motion whereas in the lower Mountaines againe because of the lesser flux and motion of the ayre snow and raine falls but not deaw nor Hoare-frosts To end this part in a word then I say That dew and Hoare-frost have a like matter common to both viz moyst vapours exhaled from the earth and waters but not highly elevated in the ayre and except in quantity they differ not but onely in this that dew is fashioned of moderate cold the other is begotten by a more violent CHAP 6. Of Snow its cause matter and nature THe matter of Snow is a cloud composed of an aereall substance whereby it may bee made some way hot and of a terrestriall and earthly matter whereby when it is dissolved it leaveth some muddy substance behind it but the most speciall matter of it is of the vapors exhaled from the waters dispersed over the earth Their place is in the middle region where violent colds are which excessive cold must not be thought their generation only but then when that cold is dispersed through the whole ayre for then this cold is not so sharpe and piercing as that cold is which by the dispersed heat in the ayre is reenforced and crowded into one place Now because such colds are not spread abroad through the whole ayre but at certaine times as in winter in the end of Autumne and in the beginning of the Spring therefore it is that in winter in the tayle of Autumne or in the beginning of the Spring Snow falleth at least then most frequently And because the Northerly Climats are coldest and farthest remote from the hot Zone as there where the Sunne beames hath least reflex Quod sol obliqua non nisi luce videt Therefore it is also that in these places snow is most usually seene Now if it be said how can it be that the snowy cloud must be of a hot ayrie disposition seeing the other two ingredients are earthly and waterish vapors which naturally are cold for by this I should include contrarieties in one subject To which I answer that there are no absurdities in that for in this case the one is as ingredient the other as egredient the one over-comming the other remitting something of its dignity for as the cold holdeth together this snowy cloud till it dissolve into water so before this cloud begin to dissolve into snow we find the ayre which before was marvailous cold during the time of the congealing of this cloud to wax somewhat hoter by reason of the aery heat which leaveth the cloud and disperseth it selfe through the ayre From whence likewise we may gather the reasons why the snowy cloud before it dissolve in the ayre is cleare and cleareth the earth also Whereas the rainy clouds doe both dimme the sky and earth are exceeding cold immediately before the rayne fall downe That is because the rainy cloud hath nothing but grosse and heavy earth and watrish vapors in it whereas the snowy one hath besides them the ayre inclosed which being by nature warme and then being thrust out of the cloud by the predominancie of the other two cleareth and warmeth both CHAP. 7. Of Windes their true cause matter and nature c. IN the former part of this treatise we have heard that there are two sorts of exhalations whereof all Meteors above us in the Ayre are composed one of them moist called vapours the other dry called fumes or smoke not that any of these are so either wholly dry or moist or that they have no mixture of others for that is not but that the predominancy of the one above the other in the compound maketh the denomination Now as the heat of the Sun extracting these two from the earth and waters is their efficient cause so they againe are the materiall causes of the Meteors made up by them viz. vapours the causes of raine haile snow dew clouds and so forth As the dry and fumous exhalations are the causes of winde in particular as also of the hot Meteors above mentioned Hot and dry exhalations then are matter and causes of the wind and as they are elevated in the Ayre by the force of the Sunne so no question but from that same Ayre the winds begin to blow and not from the Earth first which in this may be discerned because that the highest Mountaines I meane if they exceed not the first Region Towres Trees Steeples and so forth are more agitated with winds then the lower and baser are as being neerer the ayre Feriunt summos fulmina montes Saepius ventis agitatur ingens Pinus And the reason is because straining to mount aloft conformable to their nature they are reverberated againe by the middle region their opposite being cold and moist to their hot and dry nature Now as the beginnings and first springs of Rivers are small but by corrivation of other lesser ones they increase Even so the first beginnings and principalls of windes are commenced but with few exhalations no question but their increment floweth from the adunition and combination of more exhalations Whence it is that some yeares are more windy and some seasons too then others and commonly the dryest Summers maketh the windiest and most tempestuous winters It is said in Scripture that the wind bloweth where it pleaseth and that none knoweth either whence it commeth or whither it goeth And it is truth indeed to speake particularly we feele it and find it we know it evanish away into the many vast and spacious inturnings of the ayre but from what particular place it floweth we know not well for as they are small in their principalls so no doubt but they receive augmentations in their progresse Here then it may be inferred that winds and raine are not procreated of the selfe same matter as some foolishly doe maintaine which by this only may bee evidently confuted that often times the windes are abated by raine and commonly after raine we have windes The first for this naturall reason because that violence of winds blowing clouds together and the invironing cold condensing and thickning them together makes them dissolve into water The other is because of waters or raine falling from the clouds by which meanes the Ayre is warmed and consequently the Earth which maketh it yeeld aboundance of hot exhalations for the Sunnes rayes to transport upward to the Ayre wherewith wind is framed againe And if it be objected that exhalations are common causes of winds and yet of the same winds some are cold as the North and East whereas the Southerly and Westerly are commonly hotter To this may be answered that the exhalations themselvs are not the occasion of that but the disposition of the Climats from whence they flow the Suns heat never
aproaching the North Climat but afarre off and obliquely or side-wayes occasioning the cold of it and consequently of the winds blowne from thence Whereas more perpendicularly it glanceth on the other Meridian and Westerne parts by which means as the Earth is warmed so are the winds And if it be asked why in the height of Summer the Sun being in Cancer that then are fewest and lowest winds as in the extremity and cold of Winter there are few likewise as by experience may be seene To that may be answered That as in all things extremities are vicious even so in this matter for great heat and drought in Iune Iuly and August doe keepe back the winds and their matter as extremity of cold doth in December and Ianuary The Earth in that time of Summer being burnd up with scorching heate hindereth the winds to rise because the earth then is burningly dry wthout any mixture of moistnesse out of which drougth of the earth without some moistnesse no fumes can be exhaled So the Ayre clogged with cold thick heavie and lumpish clouds of raine and waters holdeth as it were the winds within their Precinct hindring them to blow then till the Ayre be disburdened of that load and doe give way to the winds to sport themselves in the spring recompensing their long captivity with licencious unbridled blasts Or to know how the wind bloweth is this First the exhalations whereof it is composed are carried from the Earth high up to the middle Region of the Ayre but so that when it is there it is encountered and repercussed tossed and moved with cold and condensed Ayre finally it is put aside from whence againe by violence it is throwne downe by the cold predominating in that Region so it striketh upon this lower Region of the aire in the descent of it not right and diametrically downe but slentingly which ayre againe beating the Earth by the superiour impulsion and the earths repelling it upward or back againe maketh it following the round circumference of the Ayre to blow about filling it with its noise As for the number of the winds what Countries be subject to such or such winds what maketh the Northerly winds to blow dry the Southerly moist I refer the first to Sea-men whose experience is surer than our contemplation the other are soone solved by a good Naturalist for the Sunne shining upon the South Countries more kindlie and hotter than upon the North maketh the winds conforme to the Ayre of the Countries hotter there than in the North and moister CHAP. 8. Of Earthquakes their cause and nature THIS question dependeth upon the knowledge of the former for the nature and matter of winds being well understood will cleere this the sooner I formerly said then that cold and dry exhalations by the force of the Sun elevated up in the Ayre and from thence by predominating cold beaten aside and from that through the Ayre downward to the Earth back againe whirling upon the face of it and round about through this lowest Region are the matter and nature of the winds which cold and dry exhalations I say are the matter of these winds which often times so lowdly blow upon the superfice of the Earth that not onely Ships on the Seas Trees in the Woods are overturned by their violence but likewise high Steeples and Towers are made to shake and tremble in such sort that even Bels have beene blowne out of the one the roofe of the other uncovered our fruits and cornes beaten downe to the terror and amazement of the beholders Even so dry and cold exhalations but these more grosse and not so Elementary as the first enclosed within the bowels and concavities of the Earth for Nature hath no vacuity and there converted into winds doe struggle and strive as it were to burst up through this earth to attaine to its owne right place which is upwards and that is the cause of this trembling and motion of the Earth which we call Earthquakes And because the Southerne Countries are hotter than the Northerne in respect of the Suns approach to them I meane in its perpendicular beholding of them they I say are consequently more apt to bee enflamed and so to be concaved and wasted within yea and to be more capable of the engendring and reception of these exhalations and winds and their effects therefore it is that these Countries are more subject to the motions and tremblings of the earth whereof their particular Histories afford us testimonies enough than the more Northerly are for they having grosser and lesse matter evaporated from them by the Sunnes heat doe admit lesse concavities and so fewer exhalations so then both winds and Earthquakes are of one selfesame matter and subject viz. of cold and dry exhalations wherof they are framed and they differ onely in this That the exhalations whereof the winds are doe rise more purified of the superfice of the earth and as we say in Schooles Ex Elemento superiori whereas the other more grosser are from below Et ex Elemento inferiori so that both in matter and motion they doe agree Neither is this called in question by Aristotle handling the same matter Lib. 3. Meteor Where his Commentator Albertus Coloniensis compareth this motion of the Earth by the power of these inclosed vapours in the bowels and cavernes of it to the motions and tremblings of our pulse by the Systole and Diastole of our spirits in and above our hearts and so within the cavity or hollownesse of our bodie And yet not content with this comparison he insisteth in the duration and continuance of the Earths motion saying that even as the tremblings wherewith our bodies are agitated during the fits of a Feaver doe continue so long as the faulty and peccant humour reigneth in our veines and accordingly diminisheth its proportion as the matter occasioning the feaver impaireth even so it is with this trembling of the earth having respect to the multitude of vapours and to their declining for the more these vapours are the Earthquake lasteth the longer and is more violent but when they spend and decline its violence and continuance is remitted I know now the Philosopher and Naturallist who admit nothing done in nature to bee otherwise than by naturall meanes will admit nothing beyond the reach of Nature when they are posed How is it then that commonly after Earthquakes Plagues Pestilences and death of Bestiall doe ensue To this they answer That the exhalations which causeth the Earths motion having burst up through the Earth infecteth our Ayre with the infective breath of it which it contracteth when it was incarcerated within the bowels and wast places of the said Earth Likewise they ascribe some such or not farre different reasons in their owne degree to the cause of evils which usually I wil not say ever befall after blazing Comets which although in effect they have their owne