extenuated or contracted is the water thicker or thinner colder or hotter heavier or lighter and according as the lines are round or flat-edge pointed or smooth is the water fresh sharp salt or bitter but these circles may not onely dilate and contract several wayes but after several fashions as to make vapor air fire snow hail ice and frost as I shall declare in my following chapters Chap. 87. Of wetnesse WE may perceive that whatsoever is hot and dry and cold and dry shrinks inward as towards the center and whatsoever is hot and moist and cold and moist dilates as towards the circumference so that all moisture is wrought by extenuating motions and drought by contracting motions and not onely extenuating motions but such sorts of extenuating motions and drought by contracting motions and notonely extenuating motions but such sorts of extenuating motions as in circular figures which circular figures make water so soft smooth and flowing smooth because circular for Circles make it smooth the figures having no end extenuating makes it softby spreading and loosing the parts as flowing by reason dilations drive all outward as toward the circumference yet the degree of extenuating may out-run the degree of wet for wet is in such a degree of extenuating circles as I may say the middle degree yet there are many sorts of wet as oylie wet and watry but I have described that in my chapter of oyl but I take oyl rather to be liquid and moist then wet For there is difference betwixt moist liquid and wet for though moist and liquid is in a degree of wet yet it is not an absolute wet for dissolved gums are liquid not wet melted Sugers are liquid not wet oyl is more liquid then wet and smoak may be said to be liquid as being of an oyly nature and air rather to be moist then wet and dust Ashes flame light winde may be said to be fluid but not liquid nor wet Chap. 88. Of Circles A Circle is a round figure without ends having a circumference and a center and the figure of a circle may be many wayes contracted but can be but in one way extenuated which is by inlarging the compasse of the line and the reason is because it is a round piece without ends for a straight line may be drawn out at either end but if a circle be drawn out of the compasse it may stretch out of the one side but it will pull in the other side after it unlesse the line be broke and then it is no longer a circle thus we can extend no part out but another part must contract to give way to that part that goeth out Chap. 89. Of Softnesse ALL that is wett is soft I mean that which is naturally wet but all that is soft is not wet as hair wool feathers and the like Likewise all that is soft or wet is made by extenuating motions now some may ask me why extenuating motions should cause figures to be soft more then any other I answer first that all extentions causeth porousnesse or spunginesse by spreading or loosing parts and all that are porous tend to hollownesse and all that is hollow tends to slacknesse and all that are porous hollow and slack tend to softnesse for we may perceive whatsoever figure is porous is not so firm strong nor hard as those which are close compact for that which hath no Vacuum or Convenient distance hath not so much Liberty as that which hath Vacuum for Vacuum is space and distance betwixt parts which gives those parts liberty to move and remove and that which hath most liberty is most loose and that which is most loose is least contracted and that which is least contracted is most pliant and that which is most pliant is soft But I desire my Readers would not mistake me for as there is hard soft light heavy thick thin quick slow belonging to the nature of the onely infinite matter so there are belonging to such shapes or figures made by the working of the infinite motions making infinite figures out of infinite matter but the difference is that what is in the nature cannot be altered but what is done by the working of motions may be undone again for the effects may alter but not the cause thus motion and figure or figure by motion may alter but not the nature of the matter For motion and figure are but the effects of the onely and infinite matter c. Chap. 90. Of Liquors ALL liquors are wrought by extenuating motions and all that is liquid and wet are circles extenuated to such a degree and after such a manner and all that are liquid and wet is either water or of the nature of water as also of oyls vitrals strong-waters all juices from fruits herbs or the like or any thing that is liquid and wet but though all that is liquid and wet naturally agree in extenuating circles yet their circle lines are different which causeth the different effects for some have different effects interiorly others exteriorly and some both interiorly and exteriorly for some have circular lines of points others have circular lines pointed others have circular lines of points pointed others have circular lines of points edged some have smooth circle lines onely edged as the sharp edge of a knife or the like others have circle lines edged of one side of the line and pointed on the other side some their circle lines are flat others their circle lines are round some their circle lines are twisted others plain some checkred others smooth some more sharpe-edged or pointed then other some smoother and some rougher then other And infinite more that I know not how to describe But these lines nor circle points nor edges are not subject to our senses although their effects may make them subject to our reason for nature works beyond our sense but reason is part of the sense of nature but of all wet liquors oyl is most different from the effects of water for all other wet liquors do strive to quench fire but oyl doth assist it yet all vitrals have an exterior burning faculty which oyl hath not and although all strong wet liquors will flame when it is set on fire yet they will quench out fire if enough be cast thereon Chap. 91. The extention and contraction of circles THe nature of extention strives to get ground that is space or compasse and to disperse or level parts as it were and the nature of contraction strives to thrust out space and compasse and to thrust up parts close together and this is the reason that a circle may contract so many several wayes because contraction flings out the compasse and makes use of the line laying the line into millions of several works And yet the exterior form which is the circular line be one and the same that is the circular line is not divided but when those works are undone and the line extended to the full
if 〈◊〉 be out and mistake either in termes of art or otherwise I must intreat my readers to pardon it for I am no Mathematician onely I have gathered here and there some little parcels or crums from the discourse of my friends for I have not much kept the company of strangers nor conversed with dead Authors by books but these parcels I have got I place according to my own fancy if they sound probably I have my ends and the lines of my desires are pointed with a satisfaction Chap. 93. Motion changing the figure from water to fire VVHen these watry circle lines begin to inlarge they grow smaller and thereby become lesse wet and more thinne as vapor which is lesse wet then water and not so grosse for as I said before when the circle comes in such a degree of extenuating it becomes wet and beyond such a degree it becomes lesse wet and so lesse and lesse as beforè it came to such a degree it became more and more wet as from being pores to soft from soft to liquid from liquid to wet likewise from wet to moist from moist to thin which thin is air But when the extenuating lines come to such a degree of smalnesse as to cut as a very smal line will do which is to such a degree as to be sharp as an edge it makes it in a degree towards burning fire so far as to become sulphury hot as we know by the sense of feeling we finde the air to be hot This sort of air which is made of watry circles is like seething hot water for it is a moist heat and not like the natural air for this is but a Metamorphosed air for the interior nature of water is undissolved onely the exterior is altered the lines being become small and edged by the fair extenuations but when those circles extenuate smaller then the quantity of matter will afford to give a compasse it breaks and turns to hot burning fire for the extenuating motions therein ceasing not do stretch those lines so smal as they fall into pointed parts this alters the interior nature from being water to burning fire for the interior nature of water is the circle line but if those lines be drawn by contracting motions into bigger lines and lesse circles it becomes from thin hot air to vapor or mists and from vapor to water and so from water to slime from slime to mud from mud to earth as it did extenuate so it contracts if nothing hinders the same for contraction draws in the lines to such a bignesse like as a smaller thred to a bigger thred so from the thinnest air to the thickest air from grosse air to the thin vapor from thin vapor to thick vapor fromthick vapor to water to slime fromslime to mud from mud to earth but according as the contracting and dilating motions are quick or slow it is sooner or longer turning out of one shape into another and if any of the circular lines break by other motions or figures before it coms to the furthest extention the quantity becomes lesse wasting that matter into figures of other natures being dissolved from that natural figure thus that ball or lump may be dissolved like as Animals or the like For no question these balls are created and dissolved as Animal kinde and are as numerous as other creatures and some lasting longer then others and some dissolving sooner though their creations are different one being produced by procreation the other by extenuation thus these elements are increaseable and decreaseable and other creature are and when the interior nature is altered it dissolves as other creatures do onely the exterior with the interior dissolves which most of other creatures do not for when the interior is altered in Animals the exterior is perfect and dissolves more by degrees Chap. 94. Of Oyl OYL is partly of the nature of fire and partly of the nature of water for as it is soft fluid liquid and moist it is of the nature of water as it is hot burning and flamable it is of the nature of fire for that which makes it fludi and liquid is by extenuations and that which makes it moist and liquid is by extenuating circles and that which makes it burning is that those circular lines are composed of pointed parts which when fire and oyl meets the fire breaking those lines a sunder sets those pointed parts at liberty which causeth it to rise in a flame and the reason why it flames is that it doth not suddenly lose the circular extenuating nature for flame is somewhat of the nature of water as being fluid though not wet and the reason why flame is fluid is because it ascends in a circular motion for though the ascent be in a strict parrelled line yet the matter is after a circular figure as a hollow spungy body as after this manner or the like which shuts upward like an arrow out of a bow onely imagining the arrow to be in serpentine shape and to turn and spin about as it ascends likewise the body to extend or spread outward according to the bulk or quantity which several figures or several motions may be all at one time and in one and the same thing and work to one and the same effect and to several effects at the same time which causeth it to be fluid liquid and light for light as well as oyl water or flame is fluid caused by extenuating motions for as water will run forward when it hath liberty or run backward in a torrent when it is stopt so light will enter when it hath passage or run back by reflection if it be stopt but all those fluidities are different by reason their extenuations are different For light is caused by swift extenuating paralel lines water oyl and the like by extenuating circular lines which make it moist and liquid as well as fluid but flame takes part from all for it is light and fluid by the swift extenuating parallel lines it ascends in and liquid although not wet by the circular motions it ascends up in and burning by the sharp parts it is composed of vitral is after the same nature of oyl onely the lines are edged as a knife or the like or sharp edged tools which make it have an exterior pressing quality as burning fire hath but the exterior of oylie lines are smooth which makes it soft and glib and not so sharp and penetrating as vitrals or the like are Thus flame light oyl fire vitrals waters have mixt motions to make one figure and many figures to make those figures which make them to be of mixt qualities producing mixt effects as indeed all effects are of a mixt nature Chap. 95. Of Metals ALL Metals are created after the manner of circle lines as water onely the lines in metal are contracted as drawing inwards and water circle lines are extended outward but in all metals the circle lines are flat
power and strength doth alter somewhat according to the work and becoms grosser and finer accoring to the temperaments or degrees of that which they work on as for example wood that is set on fire or a firy coal is a grosser body of fire then flaming oyl or the like that is such a sort of moist fluid matter set on fire for fire takes hold of the thinnest parts as well as the thickest if they be such thin bodies which are subject to take fire for when fire is set to wood it doth not onely take hold of the solid'st parts but those that are more porous or fluid as those that rise in smoak which become a flaming body which is a fluid fire but there is a cold dul burning fire as well as a hot bright burning as all strong vitrals and this we call hot water or spirits which have an exterior nature to burn or dissolve other bodies and an interior nature to flame but it hath not an exterior nature to be hot nor shining Also there is another sort of fire which onely hath an interior nature to flame but the exterior is neither actually burning nor hot as sulphur or oyl though oyl is nothing but a liquid sulphur and sulphur a hardened oyl But this cold dul fire hath not the power of transforming to its own likenesse by reason there is some difference in the interiors to their exteriors where the quick hot burning bright shining fire the exterior and interior is all one without any difference Chap. 102. Of such sorts of heating Motions as cause burning melting boiling Evaporating and rarifying BUrning melting boyling and evaporating are caused by several motions or several degrees or temperaments of matter And though burning melting boyling and evaporating are caused by expulsive and dilating motions yet al dilative and expulsive motions work not after one and the same manner but according as the matter is As for example leather doth not burn as wood doth yet both are dissolved by an expulsive motion Besides some figures do dissolve into flame others moulder away into dust and never flame as stone and many more examples may be given but most commonly all burning motions do pierce or shut or wedge in sharp tootht or pointed figures into those figures they work upon and then it dissolves it by expulsions for those sharp pointed figures help motion to loosing and unbinde those parts that they finde joyned and contracted that they may more freely separate those parts and dissolve those figures which as they dissolve the thinner parts dilate into vapor the lighter parts flie out into fiery points which are those we call sparks of fire but the grosser and more solid part moulders away into dust and ashes as being too heavy and solid for the points to spread forth they can onely as it were chew it between their sharp teeth for ashes are nothing but chewed wood yet this manner of chewing doth alter the nature from being wood or any thing that burns after an expulsive manner but those fiery motions that onely melt or rather those figures that are not subject to burn but onely to melt is done by a stretching motion for those motions do as it were thrust out the contracted parts and cause them to extenuate but when the fiery motions cause any thing to boyl they first stretch out the parts so far as causeth those parts to be fluid and as it were liquid if those things were contracted but if they be liquid and fluid of themselves they save those fiery motions that labour and when this motion strives to ascend with those loose parts the liquor riseth up in bubbles or waves but when those fiery motions are over-poured by the weight they fall back again thus the weight of the liquor and the sharp points of the fire strive together one party striving to ascend the other to descend so that those fiery motions are to pull out or to bear up and the watry motion to pull or presse down but evaporating is when the extenuating lines are stretcht so far out as to break or the lighter parts are carried away and dispersed amongst other figures but all rarifying heats are caused by slow dilating motions and not expulsions for if such sorts of dilations as make rarifying heat were extended beyond the line of the matter they work on it alters the nature of the figure and the motions of that nature but rarifying heat is an extenuating motion spreading parts equally and evenly but the farther they are spred the more hot grows the heat as neerer to expulsion and though all rarifying heat is in the way of burning yet not in the manner But I must intreat my reader to take notice that burning motions make use of burning figures for all sorts of motions work according to the matter and figure they work on or in or to Chap. 103. Of quenching of fire THere is such Antipathy betwixt fire and some sorts of wets as such wets as are made by smooth extenuating circles as they never can agree when they do personally meet and indeed such sorts of wets have such power over hot burning bright shining fire as they never incounter but fire is in danger to be quenched out if there be not a sufficient quantity to break the watry circles for it is not the coldnesse that quenches fire but such sorts of wetnesse for scalding water will quench out fire and many sorts of liquors as wine or the like although they be flameable yet if they be cast on this bright hot burning fire it will quench it out by reason they are more of the wet nature then the oyly and sulphurous or the burning or flaming faculty T is true that there are many liquors that are subject to burn but there are few wets that have not power to quench for the spherical drops do either blunt the fiery points or disperse the the united body or intangle them in the porous circles Thus water hath the better unlesse the lines break in the combate but when fire and water treat apart or by an Attorny or hath a body betwixt them to Moderate their spleens they agree better but in this treaty most commonly the water becoms weak by rarification and evaporates into air by too strong or too much extenuating extending further then the wet compasse Chap. 104. Of the quenching of fire and evaporated Water THe reason why water quenches fire is that the figure being spherical and porous gives distance and space of parts where the sharp figures of fire flying about to bite the circular lines asunder that they may ravel out that figure of water lose their strength both in their ffight and compasse breaking their forces by dispersing their parts and intangling their dispersed parts in the hollow places in the watry figure like arrows that are shot into a net seldom break the net but intangle themselves by reason there is no firm substance to strick on or in
for being soft and spungy there is no stop nor hold besides water being wet and wet in the nature is sticking that when those sharp points do at any time break the lines they joyn again for being fluid each part moves to each other and being wet they joyn and being circular they unite into the natural figure Thus in a plain combat water most commonly hath the better of fire if there be not too much odds on the fires fide for quantity but when fire doth come by an undermining motion as when some other figures are betwixt them then fire gets the better by the help of those undermining motions Chap. 105. Of a bright-shining hot glowing fire IT is the nature of bright-shining hot-glowing fires to have both an interior and an exterior burning and is of such a kinde of subdividing nature as it strives to dissolve all united parts or bodies and if it doth not dissolve all bodies it works on as we shall see many things which grow harder with fire yet is not that the nature would not dissolve such a thing but the power cannot for those bodies that grow harder with fire opposes the power of fire and strives by contraction to unite the looser parts in a more solid body to resist with more strength Also some bodies grow hard by shrinking inward for assoon as they feel the fire they draw back as from an enemy having an Antipathy thereunto Thus it is not the fire that dries or hardens or maks more solidity but the opposite body that will not burn having a strength to oppose or a nature not to subject to this fire or the fire hath not a sufficient power to overcome but this sort of fire hath a general power though some bodies will strongly resist it but it is the nature of this sort of fire that most bodies they overcome they first convert them into their own likenesse but their natures being different their prisoners die in the fiery arms of their enemies Chap. 106. Of the drinesse of hot burning bright shining fire DRinesse hath such a relation to hot burning bright shining fire as moistnesse to water for though interior motions are expulsive yet the exterior is attractive drawing all unto it like a greedy appetite and as the teeth doth mince the the food that is chewed so doth the pointed figure of fire all it laies hold on or enters into Chap. 107. Of moist colds and moist heats of dry colds and dry heats c. HEat doth not make drought for there is a temper of heat and moist nor cold doth not make drought for there is a temper of cold and moist nor heat doth not make moisture for there is a temper of hot and dry nor cold doth not make moisture for there is a temper of cold and dry but when the motions of heat and the motions of drought joyn they cause hot and dry effects and when the motions of cold and the motions of drought joyn they cause cold and dry effects and when the motions of heat and the motions of moisture joyns they cause hot and moist effects and when the motions of cold and the motions of moisture joyn they cause cold and moist effects yet there are infinite varieties in their several effects but those motions which make cold and heat I may fimilife to wandring armies of the Gothes and Vandals which over-run all figures as they all the world sometimes they work attractive contractive retentive disgustive expulsive according to the temper and degree of matter and proportion and shape of the figures they meet or according to their own power and strength and although both cold and heat are motions that work more or lesse upon all the figures in this world yet cold heat works not upon figure alike but differ as their figures differ nor are cold and heat directly the same motions although they be of the same kinde of motions no more then several sorts of beasts kinde yet all beasts are of Animal kinde and most commonly like several sorts of beasts that falleth out or rather like two equal powerful Monarchies that oppose one anothers power and fight for preheminency where sometimes one gets the better and then the other sometimes by strength and sometimes by advantage but when there is a truce or a league they have a common commerce joyning their motions working sympathetically together which produceth an equall temper Chap. 108. Of the motions of cold and heat drouth and Moisture COld and heat are not wrought by different kinds of motions but after a different manner of workings or movings for a moist cold and a moist heat are but one kinde of motions as being motions that extenuate and enlarges from the center to the circumference for a moist heat doth thrust or drive outward as toward the circumference A moist cold doth pull or draw from the center towards the circumference As for example we shall often see a gardiner that rolles a green turft walk to thrust the roll before him and when he is weary with pressing forward he will turn his arms behinde him and pull the roll after him Also a dry or congealed cold and a dry heat are not several kindes of motions but moves after several manners for as moist cold and heat extends and enlarges from the center to the circumference so a dry heat or a dry or congealed cold contracts from the circumference towards the center the congealed cold in several works a dry cold or a dry heat onely draws into a lesse space or compasse yet the same difference in the manner of the motions is between a dry heat and a dry cold as was between a moist heat and a most cold for a dry heat drives from the circumference to the center a dry cold draws from the circumference to the center for although al drought is from the circumference to the center and all moisture from the center to the circumference yet the several manner of movings are infinite also cold and heat are not several kindes of motions but different motions as every man is of man-kinde but they are different men And if we observe the effects of heat and cold we shall finde them to work after one and the same manner for very sharp colds and great heats paines equally and sharp colds destroy with as great strong fury as burning heats neither can I perceive that burning heats have swifter motions then sharp colds for water to the quantity shall freez assoon as any light matter shall burn for water shall be assoon frozen as straw burnt take quantity for quantity and Animals shall be assoon frozen to death if they be touched or struck with very sharp colds such as are neer the poles as be burnt under the torrid Zone as for plants we oftener see them killed with cold then heat and I perceive there is no thaw so sudden as a frost for when any thing is
a glibby and moist body rather then a soaking wet body but when this watry extenuation extenuates beyond the degree of water they turn to vapour which causeth the diseased to be puft or blown like a bladder rather then swell'd out as we shall perceive that a little time before the patients fall into a consumption they will be so puft out as their flesh wil be like a fire-bal the next degree they fall into a fiery extenuation For when the humour extenuates beyond vapor which is a kinde of an aire then it becomes hot like fire which is a hective fevour and when the humour hath extenuated to the farthest degree it expulses and so pulls down and throws out the life of the diseased but in the hidropical diseases there must first be applied attractive medicines to draw out the watry overflows by issues cupping-glasses or the like then there must be applyed expulsive medicines as purgings and bleeding and sweatings yet they must be gently applyed for fear of weakning the body by drawing out the humour too suddenly then there must be applied contracting medicines to draw into an united substance as to gather or draw up those parts that have been made loose porous and spungie with the disease then there must be applied retentive medicines to confirm and settle them after their natural manner or form then last there must be applied disgestive medicines to restore what is wasted but if any of the principal parts be impaired wasted or expulsed they neither can be restored nor mended but by a new creation which uncreating braines perhaps conceive not but I must intreat my readers to observe that some sorts of motions begin a disease that is they lay the foundations thereof and other sorts of motions work upon those foundations Chap. 193. Of apoplexies SOme sorts of apoplexies are caused by an inbred superfluous water in the brain which being congealed by a cold contraction falling to the knitting part of the head which is the hinder part it stupifies the senses stopping the natural motions as a flowing river that is turned into ice but those sorts of apoplexies are curable if assistance be taken in time which is by hot dilating medicines not onely to stretch out the icy contraction but to expell that cold watry humour by a rarification but if the apoplexie be caused by an inbred slime as flegme which is of a thicker nature then water and is become crusted or peterated by hot contractions it is seldom or never cured no more then brick which is once baked by the sun or in a fire can be made to such clay as it was before it was burnt But mistake me not for I do not mean the humour is as hard as stone or brick in the head but so hard as to the nature of the brain that is the flegme is grown so dry and tough as not to be dissolved so soon as the nature of the brain requires it for though flegme will be contracted into stone as in the bladder and kidnies yet not in the brain by reason the nature of the brain is so tender and so sensible as it cannot indure so solid a substance therein nor suffer so long a time as the humour will be penetrating to stop the passages to the brain not but those kinde of motions that produce stone may be so strong and so swift as to turn matter into stone immediately but I do beleeve not in the animal bodies for they are too weak figures for so strong motions to work in but as I said these hot or cold contractions for both sorts of contractions produce stone so both sorts of contractions make tough clammy crusted hard flegme which is some degree towards stone flegme if it stop the passages to the brain it causeth an apoplexie but the 〈◊〉 why the watry contractions are more apt for cure is because the nature of water is fluid and is easily dissolved by dilations having interior nature to extenuations but slime and flegme are more solid and so not so flexible to be wrought upon as suddenly to change shape or nature in being dissolved or transformed The third cause is a fulnesse of blood or a thicknesse of blood for when the veins are too full there is not vacuity enough for the blood to run so stops the motion thereof or if the blood is too thick or clammy it becoms lesse fluid and the more solid it is the slower the motion is and though the blood may have too quick a motion by reason of heat so it may have too slow a motion by reason of thicknesse and if the veines are filled too full of hot blood wherein are many spirits it endangers the breaking some of the veines like as when strong liquor is put into a barrel if it be filled too ful the strength of the spirits striving for liberty break the barrel the like will the blood in the veins and if a vein chance to break in the head it overflows the brain and drowns the life therein The last is grosse vapor which may ascend from the bowels or stomack which causeth so great a smoak as it suffocates or choaks the brain smothering out the life of the body All apoplexies are somewhat of the nature of dead palsies Chap. 194. Of Epilepses which is called falling-sicknesse THis disease is caused by a water in the brain which water is most commonly green like sea water and hath an ebbing and flowing motion like the tides thereof and when the water is at full tide on the forepart of the head it takes the diseased after the manner of panting and short breathing beating themselves and foaming at the mouth neither can they hear see smell nor speak the reason is that the flowing motion driving the watry humour so far out as it extends the pia mater and dia mater of the brain farther then the natural extention which extention swelling out towards the outward part of the head hinders all recourse stopping those passages which should receive the objects through the exterior senses and the froth or slimy humor which is betwixt the skin where the brain lies and the skull being pressed out fals through the throat into the mouth and there works forth like yeast which is called foaming but though the motions of the head are thus altered for a time so as there is neither sense nor rational knowledg yet the body may be after the natural course and not any wayes altered but the body feeling life opprest in the head the several parts or members in the body strive and struggle with what power and strength they have to release it Like as a loyal people that would defend or release their natural and true born King from being prisoner to a foraign enemy but when this water flows to the hinder part of the head the pia mater and dia mater extending out that way stops all the nerves in the nodel of the head by which
stopping it stops the exterior motions of the whole body by reason that place is the knitting place of those moving strings and when the water is flow'd as I said to this part the diseased lies as in a swoon as if they were quite dead having no visible motion but as soon as the water begins to fall back they begin to recover out of the fits but as often as the water in the head is at full tides either of the fore part of the head or the hinder part the diseased fals into a fit which is sometimes oftner then other for it keeps no constant course time nor measure and according as the pia mater and dia mater extends the 〈◊〉 are stonger or weaker Likewise such green water with such motions about the heart may produce the same disease for oft times this green water or green thin humor ascends or runs from several parts of the body into the cesterns of the head and the heart and this kinde of water or humor if it be in the nerves causeth dangerous convulsions by reason of the sharpness that shrivels up the nerves and when it is in the bloud causes the veins to contract through the same reason if in the stomach it causes vomiting or great fluxes by subdividing the humors and the sharpness prickling or tickling the stomach provokes a straining as tickling in the nose doth sneezing so the stomach either to strain upwards or downwards Chap. 195. Of Shaking Palsies SHaking palsies proceed from a supernatural extenuation in the nerves which by the extenuating becomes more porous and hollow and becomes like a perpetual earthquake having a flatuous or windy humor in the bowels thereof and cannot finde passage out if it proceeds from a hot extention there must be applied cold condensing medicines If by a cold extention there must be applied hot condensing remedies Chap. 196. Of Convulsions and Cramps COnvulsions proceed from contrary contracting motions quite from the natural motions of the body as winding up the sinews nerves or veins but especially those sinews which joyn and impair the muscles together drawing not onely contrary but contracting several wayes and after divers manners for some time the nerves are as if we should tie strings in bowt-knots others as if we should winde 〈◊〉 Lute strings on pegs and some are twisted like whip-cord and many the like wayes which would be too long to recount but these contractions proceed either from a winde got into the nerves or veines which troubles them as the winde-cholick doth the guts or a sharp humor that shrivels them together or as salt watery humor mixt with winde which strugling and striving together turns windes folds or roles up the nerves like the waves of the Sea or a cold icy humor which draws and gathers in the nerves as frost will do all spungie bodies or some thick clammy humor which stops some passages which causeth the natural motions to turn irregular but if the humor be onely in the veins it is cured by letting bloud if the bloud be corrupted sharp or salt or if the bloud be cold windy or watry hot liquid medicines cure it or cordial water or the like and if it be a cold humor in the nerves hot oyls and extraordinary hot medicines cures it as the spirit of Caster oyl of Amber and the like but if it proceed from a salt sharp watery humor or a thick clammy humor in the nerves it is seldom or never cured because it is not easily got out neither can medicines so suddenly get into the nerves as into the veins for though the cold in the nerves may be easily cured by melting and dissolving by the comfortable warmth or violent heats from the hot cordial medicines which spread about the body as a great fire in a chimney which spreads about and heats all the room if the fire in the chimney be answerable to the bigness or largeness of the room it is in and the lesser the room is and the bigger the fire is the hotter it is wherefore it is to be considered that those that are at full growth or are larger of body if thus the diseased ought to have a greater proportion or a larger quantity of those medicines then a childe or those that are but little of stature for though those that are of little stature may be more stronger then those that are of a far bigger bulk yet in the cause of diffusing or dilating medicines the circumference of the body must be considered as well as the strength of the medicines and if the convulsion be in the stomach caused by the aforesaid humor purging medicines or cordials may cure it unless the stomach is gathered shrivell'd or shrunk up by an unnatural contracting heat like as leather that is put into the fire which when so the stomach can no more be cured then leather to be made smooth which is shrunk up in a purse by fire after the like manner as corvulsions or cramps but cramps most commonly are only contractions of the smal veins 〈◊〉 tie or twist them up many times so hard as they break for those that have been much troubled with the cramp wil have all the skin where the cramp hath taken them all stretch'd with broken veins I mean the small hair veins but rubbing the part grieved with a warm cloath will untie and untwist them again by dissolving the cold or dispersing the 〈◊〉 or rarifying the bloud therein this we 〈◊〉 by experience wherefore I should think that in convulsion fits that are 〈◊〉 by the like that if the diseased should be rubbed with hot cloaths outwardly applied as well as hot medicines inwardly taken it may do the patient much good But I must remember my Readers that in Convulsions the strength of the medicines inwardly taken must be according to the strength of the fits for if they be strong fits weak medicines do no good for more strength goeth to untie a hard knot then a loose knot or to untwist a hard string then a loose string besides it is hard to know after what manner the knot is tied or twisted and many indeed are so ignorant of medicines as the manner of the disease to apply such as shall hap of the right end as those which are cured by chance and chance hits so seldom right as not one of an hundred escapes of these kinde of diseases if the disease is any wayes violent for then the motions tie so fast and so strong as they break the life of that figure asunder There be natural contractions and unnatural contractions that is proper or improper to the health of the figure Chap. 197. Of Collicks ALL Collicks are towards the nature of Convulsions or at at least Cramps Some Collicks proceed from raw undigested humors Some from sharp melancolly humors Others from cold flegmatick humors Others from hot cholerick humors Others from putrified humors Some Collicks are in the stomach
divide parts or unsettle or unground parts which disunites weaknes and dissolves parts or bodies Wherefore all contracting attracting retentive disgestive dilating expulsive motions in a well tempered body must move like the several Planets every sort in their proper sphears keeping their times motions tempers and degrees but too many or too strong contracting motions cause the gout stone plurisie hective fevers numb and dead palsies dry-liver brain and many the like and too many dilating motions cause dropsies winde-colicks rhumes shaking palsies sweats or fainting sicknes milions the like and too many or too strong expulsive motions cause fluxes vomiting bleeding and the like and too many or too strong digestive motions cause too much blood fat and flesh which is apt to choak the vital parts or may nourish some particular parts so much as may make them grow and swell out so bigg as they may be disproportionable for the rest of the parts in the body But still I must remember my readers that all dilating motions are in the way of expulsion and all attractions in the way of contraction and digestion are mixt motions taking part from either side then I must remember my readers that there are infinite wayes or manners of contractions and infinite wayes or manners of wayes of attraction and so of retentions dilations expulsions and disgestions where every change makes a several effect Chap. 201. Of the several tempers of the body A Healthful temper of the body is an equal temper of the body and mixture of 〈◊〉 well set parts and justly tuned motions whereby life dances the true measure of health making several figures and changes with the feet of times and a sick distempered body is when the humours of body are superabundant or unequally tempered and the motion perturbed and irregular keeping neither time nor measure but all diseases proceed from too much cold or too much heat or too much drought or too much moisture or too much humor or too much motion or mistempered humor or unequal motion or too swift motion or too slow motion all contracting motions make the body dry al dilating motions make the bodie moist some sorts of contracting motions make the body hot and dry other sorts of contracting motions make the bodie cold and dry some sorts of dilating motions make the body hot and moist other sorts of dilating motions make the body cold and moist all slow or quick motions cause the humours of the body to be heavy thick and clammy all swift motions cause the humors of the body to be thin sharp and salt all crosse-justling or beating motions causeth pain and according to such and such irregularities are such or such sorts or kinde or sorts or degrees of diseases are produced there-from Chap. 202. The nature of purging medicines MOst purging drugs are of the nature of hot burning fire for the inherent motions therein work according to the humour or matter it meets with some humor they melt making it thin and fluid although it be hard tough or clammy and as fire doth oare which is unmelted metal makes it so fluid as it will run through a gutter of earth like water so do some drugs make some sorts of humour through the body either upward or downward Again some drugs will work upon some humours as fire upon wood dividing the humour into small parts as ashes from wood which naturally falls downward And some they will dissolve by mouldring and crumbling as fire doth stone which runs forth like sand which is stone indeed bred in the body Some drugs rarifie the humors into wind as fire will rarifie and evaporate water which is set boyling theron Other drugs will at fire that distils out the moist and watry substance from that which is more grosse but it is to be observed that all purging drugs that work by vomit are somewhat of the nature of that kinde of fire we call sulphur or oyl that is melted or fluid sulphur when these sorts of drugs are set on fire as I may say by the natural or distempered heat in the body it flies out ascendingly like AEtna for it is of the nature of sulphur to ascend as flame doth and certainly al bodies have such motions naturally inherent in them as make and produce such effects as fire doth on several sorts of humours by which motions the body hath a natural cleansing faculty which makes the natural purging quality but when the motions are so violent they oftentimes destroy the body with burning fevers or violent fluxes or the like for the fire in the body is like a fire in a chimnie for when the chimny is clean and the fire proportionable to lie therein it warms and comforts all about and is useful for many imployments for the necessaries of life but if the chimny be foul or the fire too big or too much for the chimny it sets all in a flame consuming whatsoever it incompasses if it be not quenched out with cooling julips as with water or by casting on rubbish or grosse materials to smother it out as in great fluxes they will not onely give restringent medicines as having a natural restringent faculty but thick meats as thicked milk or the like but when the body is restringent or hath taken restringent medicines it is produced by drying motions as contracting or retentive motion if they be hot retentive or contracting motions they they harden and confirm the humours as the heat of the sun or the heat of the fire doth clay which turns it to brick or tile or those things we call earthen pots and according as the humour is grosse or fine the more britle or hard or thick or heavie or thinne or light It is for some humor as Proselnye or Chyney others as the grosser earthen vessels Again some sorts of contracting or retentive motions draw the humour as when bacon neats tongues or the like are dryed in a chimney or oven or the like other sorts of hot contractions draw the humour as the sun doth the earth drying up the watry spring therein but if the restringencies either of the body or of the medicines be caused by cold retentive or contracting motions it dries the humors as cold frost dries the earth or bindes up the humors as frost binds up the waters in icy fetters or thickens the humors as cold thickens the water or vapor drawn from the earth into clouds of snow But I am to advertise my readers that all expulsive motions are not fiery expulsions for there are infinite several wayes of expulsive motions and dilations Secondly these fiery motions do not alwayes work expulsively but contractively attractively and retentively and disgestively Thirdly all expulsive dilative disgestive contractive attractive retentive motions are not fiery but there is such a kinde or sort of contractions attractions retentions disgestions dilations and expulsions as belong to fire or heat or as I may better say produces heat or fire and as I
l. 25. r. print p. 123. l. 6. r. foul p. 130. l. 6. r. dissolution and l. 27. add and swooning p. 143. l. 3. r. sensitive p. 144. l. 24. r. gold p. 148. l. 10. r. veines p. 149. l. 6. r. fursball p. 157. l. 18. blot out or quick and l. 42. r. as p. 158. l. 30. r. dry and l. 33. r. dry p. 160. l. 11. r. then p. 161. l. 19. r. are not all expulsive p. 162. l. 22. r. matter from the. FINIS I mean of Form dull Matter Some think there was a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 confused Heap The Readers may take either Opinion Several Motitions and severall Figures * Not the Matter but the Degrees * Not the 〈◊〉 of Figures but the manner of shapes which makes some shapes to have the advantage over others much bigger as a Mouse will kill an Elephant * Which is in Likenesse * Unlikenesse One Shape hath power over another one Minde knowes more then another Either by Growth or Sense or Reason For when Matter comes to such a degree it quickens That it begins to move and Motion is Life * I mean when I say Obstruct that it either turns their motion another way or makes them move slower * I do not say that bones are the solid'st matter in Nature * As the figure of man * All Motion 〈◊〉 Life I mean the Figure of dull matter As a plentiful Crop or a great Brood These degrees are visible to us Dancing is a measur'd Motion * Scorching is when the Motioh is too quick * That is when there come so many spirits as they disagree pressing upon one another * Those degrees that are neerest have the greatest Sympathy * Like Chess-men Table-men Nine-pins or the like * I say higher for expressions sake * Nothing can be made or known absolute out of Infinite and Eternal * Though it may mave oMotions yet not the Animal Motion * The Figure might be without an Animal Motion but an Animal motion cannot be untill there is an Animal Figure * Which food is when such Materials are not proper for such a Figure * The greater the number is the more variety of Motion is made which makes Figures in the brain * in Animal Shapes * To prove that it is the several Motion is that we shall have the same sense in our sleep either to move pleasure or feel pain * Like glasse * Natural power I say extract because it is the essence of matter This for example Drawing motions Driving m tions Bearing motions Throwing striking darting motions Lofty motions Low 〈◊〉 Conjunction of those different motions First the earth bears Vegetables and the plants bear seed and the seed and earth bear Vegetables again Unlesse a greater power destroy it before the natural time Life is in every thing It is but one thing but three words That is to weaken the degree Fish is a kind of flesh The yolk and white is mixt into one substance which we call an adle egge before it be a 〈◊〉 it is bloody T is a lump of flesh before it be bone or sinew And then it is no metamorphosing I shal declare And then it is called a new creature rather then a metamorphosed creature c. Which circular lines I shal expresse hereafter I mean natural extenuations As the pores of the skin Oyl hot-waters wine vitrals aquafortis From earth to water * As thns Or rather like flame As if an Ani mal creature should be pulled and dragged out of ' its natural garb I mean here the exterior nature not the interior nature I mean the heaviest metal to the hardest stone as gold to diamonds or tin or lead to a soft stone * As Vessels wherein water is put and fire underneath This sort of contraction is drawing inward Those sorts are falling backward The contracting motions too strong for the expulsive motions Yet there are but few bodies that are not overcome at last I mean the matter that made it As several men will as peace among neighbours and friends I say aptest not as they do I speak this as a comparison for I know the sun is much bigger then the earth As we say dead I thimk them to be Animals I say natural because there are metamorphosed elements If one powers water on the ground it flows with a Convex In a pear figure See my chapter of Fame Sound enters into all hollow places as well as into the Animal ear I call 〈◊〉 natural that are propper to the figure Fethers wool hair and the like which are neither liquid 〈◊〉 nor wet onely soft and sympathy All animals are not of one shape And as a man may pick a hole through the wall so water will pick a passage through the earth I mean all exterior motions Which moves in figures like dancing The world is presented like a popitplay in the head a Sleep nonrisheth and gives health and strength b Nourishment c Healing decayes 〈◊〉 Strengthening Knitting the muscles nervs and the like Urin to the bladder Excrements into the guts Vapors The innate matter can move slower then their strength or natural agilnesse but not above nor beyond their natural strength and agilnesse I call that matter so 〈◊〉 distinction * As we finde in Churches and caves made hollow arched a noise sounds loudest Lines of light may be made by the sensisitive spirits on the side of the optick nerve as on the outside as in sleep All innate matter is as the minde or life of nature All without outward help The property of each sense Fools have lesse rational innated matter in their braines then those that are wise * As for touch the pores of the flesh are like harpsical keys and the nerves like the wyer strings 〈◊〉 move when those keyes are touch'd which cause pleasure or pain like discord or harmony according as they are struck or plaid upon The head ake is different from the tooth ake or stomack ake and so every 〈◊〉 be it never so small differs As sauces may be equally mixt with several sorts of things as none can tast any one thing in it Like the over flowing of banks Ebbing from the mouth of the stomack as from the river Like low marshy grounds * I think it is rar fied vapor because it is so easily dispersed The stronger motions forceth the weaker to their wayes As on the opticks or as on the drum of the ear the pia mater or the skin for touch and taste As to see hear taste touch smell that which is not present or perhaps not in nature * Figures of innated matter In mad fits * If I mistake not Which is corrupt humors As a sound body Surfets or unholsom meats The stronger motions over power the the weaker Some dayes the body 〈◊〉 better then others so in an hour or half an hour As hot and dry Cordials As to draw every day an ounce or two as long as the violence of the discase lasts I meane there interior strength * As by letting bloud or the like Yet it is first caused by other distempered motions before they come to be distempered expulsions There are hot expulsions and cold expulsions and hot contractions and cold contractions As witnesse the frost and ice The like of other kinde of motions See in the chap of extenuations of water Sometimes longer and some times shorter For as long as the humor remains the 〈◊〉 are repeated Winde Collick A bilious Collick Cramps oft times taken for Collicks * Rheums * Sweats I have treated of the several sorts of fire That is when it works and converts a thinner substance to its own nature But bound about with straight smooth lines without as to the circumference As a flint hard suger brimstone or the like * That which is most apt to I mean purning motions Restraining motions Attractive motion Restoring motion * The humor that staies behiude We may hear a tune so often repeated that it may grow hateful although delightful at first
compasse it receives the original form which is a round circle for as they were contracted without breaking the circle so they may be extended into a circle again Likewise the circular forms may be wrought with mixt motions as partly by contraction and partly by extenuation as when a round circle is wound about a staff or pole or the like for though the winding about the staff be a contracting motion or at least one way which is when it draws inward as towards the center yet by winding it length-wayes or upward is a kinde of an extenuation Likewise a circle or smoak when it curls in rings before the circle break as we shall oft times see it doth contract as folding and half curling so it extenuates as it spreads and weares out Likewise take a round string that is joyn the two ends and put this circular string double and then winde it serpentine wayes and the like and though the winding or twisting about is contracting yet winding or twisting one ring before another is extenuating Here have I set down after what manner of wayes are contracted or continuated circles and thus millions of several works may by circles be wrought and several figures made thereof Likewise for circular lines some may be broad some narrow some round some flat some edged some twisted but those that are flat are most apt to be edged Likewise there may be circle lines with smooth lines some pointed some checkred some twisted some braided and the like But although the circle compasse is perfect yet the line is not a perfect Circular compasse because the roughnesse makes it uneven Thus as I have said before milions of changes may be in circles but perchance some will say it is no longer a circle when it is turned square or triangular-wayes or the like I answer it is a circle squared but not a circle broke for as long as the circle is whole the interior nature is not dissolved let the exterior figure be after what manner it will or can for still it is a natural circle although it be put into a Mathematical square or the like so those exterior figures are but changed shapes not the natural form but a natural square is to have four distinct lines and a triangle three distinct lines and a cupe six as I take it or sixteen but it is to be observed that all those figures that naturally are made of one piece without distinct parts or several tempered matter may change and rechange their shapes and yet keep their own interiour nature intire that is the nature proper to such a figure but those figures that are made of many distinct parts or several tempered matter would make such a confusion in their transformations as would ruin the intire foundations Chap. 92. Of congealed water WAter is not alwayes exteriorly wet or fluid as we may see alwayes when it is congealed to snow ice and hail yet still it is water keeping the interior nature of being wet and fluid onely the cold contractions have as may say altered the face or countenance thereof for it is to be observed as there are extenuating motions thrusting and stretching inlarging further and wider out in compasse bredth length and depth as from the center to the circumference so there are contracting motions together draw winde twist and pull in as from the circumference to the center and not onely by interior motions but exterior motions as for example cold contraction upon water circles or any thing that is porous and spungie draws and gathers them into several works or draws them into a lesse compasse as strings do a purse or like fishers or faulkners nets But snow hail and frost and ice is made by a level contraction as if a Circular line should be laid upon a flat ground and be drawn a particular work as for example according to the number of watry circles there is such a quantity of water and if the quantity of water be more then the strength of the cold contraction it is frozen more or lesse now the several figures which cold contraction draws to make snow hail ice and frost are after this manner as first the interior nature of the water is a round circle like a ring When it contracts into hail the exterior figure contracts into a ball or lump as if one should winde up a double line or thread into a bundle or bottom Snow is made by contraction as if one should draw a round line into a three square figure as triangular way Ice as if we should draw a round line into a four square figure as after a cupe way Frost is made by such contracting motions as if a round line should be drawn into a surfling as a crackling figure When this congealed cold thaws it is either by the interior strength of dilating motions or by an exterior heat that draws these contractions out into smooth extenuating circles again Thus circular lines may be drawn from the round compasse to be four square three square or length-wayes as one would clap the brim of 〈◊〉 hat together and millions of several works and never divide the circular lines but I will not say by a Mathematicall rule though nature is beyond our learning And that which makes ice and hail more shining then frost and snow is that the lines are evener for all figures that are composed by the way of lines are apt to shine and those figures that have fewest points or ends are smoothest Now some may say or ask why I should think snow is made triangular wayes My reason is because it seems rougher and not so united as ice or hail which shews the interior figure hath more points or unevener numbers or unequal lines and a triangular figure is not so smooth or at least seems not so as a circular a paralel or cupe for in the angulars the points and lines are odd and the lines run slope-wayes whereas the figure of a cupe although it hath more points yet the figure is more proportionable by the even number of the points and lines for as there are four points so there are four equal lines which make an equal number when in the figure of a triangular the points and lines are odd for though there are a plural number yet it is an uneven number as being odd And as I have said the lines are slope when the figure of a cupe is just square besides triangular points being odd multiplie and substract by reflections as we shall see by triangular glasses that from one face millions are made by subdividings Thus what is made uneven by odd numbers are made even by equal numbers and the odd points and slope lines make the figure of snow rough and the equal points and straight lines make the figure of ice smooth but I treat here of exterior figures or rather countenances not of the interior form for their contractions change the exteriors not the interiors But
or if he should lie down in snow there would be his print so it is in air as we move from place to place new figures are made and the former figures moulder or melt out but according as the air is so they last or decay for if the air be congealed with cold thickned with grosse fogs or mist the figures last the longer therein although in a misshapen posture like ruinated buildings or broken statues or like defeated armies here an arm or a piece of an arm or a hand and there leggs here a head there a mangled body but when the air is thin and serene the print dissolves assoon as the figure removes and if the air were as solid as snow we should see the figures as perfect in the one as in the other but the air being very thin and porous the sight of the eye runs thorow without stay or stop taking no notice like water in a sieve wherein nought can be contained because there is no hold to keep the water in from running out Chap. 123. Of External figures and internal forms IN some things there is such sympathy betwixt the internal form and the external figure as the alterations of the one change the nature of the other as for fire when the external figure is altered the internal faculty is gone here the internal nature depends upon the exterior figure but as for water the external figure may be changed as we see when it is frozen but the internal nature not changed for it is as water still though it be not fluid here the internal depends not upon the external but thus much the exterior figures of all things depend so so much upon the exterior form or nature that when the internal is changed the exterior cannot be altered from and to as to change the countenance or face as I may say by contraction and dilation as water and metals and many others but an animal figure may remain as it was for a time when the internal is changed but not long as for example Animals although the internal nature and faculty be changed which is to move after such a manner as is proper for Animal the external figure is not altered for when Animals are dead the external which is the outward shape remains perfect for a time yet the internal motions may be in disorder as they are in animals that sound or are sick or faint or in vegetables that are fading or drooping but when the internal motions move orderly again either of themselves or by the help of assistant motions and figures the Animal is as it was before and the Vegetable flourisheth green again thus there may be an alteration but when there is an absolute change in the internal there can be no return but by a new creation for all alterations of motions do not do it but a total change Chap. 124. Earth water air fire cold heat light darknesse EArth water air fire cold heat light darknesse is made as Animals Vegetables and Minerals that is that such degrees of innated matter works upon the dull part of matter with various motions and several degrees of dull matter produceth such effects joyning parts together and separating parts asunder but joyning and mixing each degree together loseth not the entity of each degree for that can never be altered for as it was from all eternity so it will last to all eternity Chap. 125. The motions of the Sun and Planets THe Sun and the rest of the Planets are questionlesse created as other Animal creatures and their local motions are according to the shape as we see all Animals are for a worm cannot run but onely moves by gathering up the body from one place and then stretching it self out farther or else by rolling and winding his body from place to place nor beasts cannot flee as birds nor birds cannot trot amble nor gallop as beasts because they have no shape fitted thereto for birds want four leggs to pace and gallop and beasts want wings to flee so the Planets move according to their shape turning about as a spherical circle about a center and if the sun runs about the world with such speed as some old opinions are it must turn as a wheel about the spoake or rundle as a bowl in the ecliptick line But if the sun as some Modern opinions hold doth not move out of his place but is as it were fixed and that the Planets move about it in circular wayes according to their shape then the motions of the sun are onely by dilation and attractions from which light and heat proceeds and vapor is drawn or suckt up Chap. 126. Of the motions and figures of the four natural Elements THe motions that make the natural figure of earth are not so curious nor the matter they work on so fine as those which make fire air and water for the materials being grosser their work is rougher like morter that is made of hair and lime and the motions moving not so evenly or distinctly but rather mixtly causeth it to be sad and dark the solidity weight and drought are caused by the contracting attracting and retentive motions which motions are the chief workers and creators of this element which work like ants drawing all thereto making it like a round heap or like a Load-stone that attracts the solid matter The slimie or gelly part of the earth is made by such kinde of motions as spin small lines lik Silk-worms in a round hollow ball water is made after that manner onely those lines extenuate more into perfect circles Natural and pure air is made by such a kinde of motion as spiders spin webs smal lines spread and enterwoven evenly Natural fire is made by such kinde of motions as the art of whetting or sharpening or pointing with a grind-stone or Load-stone or the like and is made like the stings of Bees which pierce and wound whatsoever they can enter Natural light is made by such kinde of motions as wier-drawing or drawing a small thread from a spindle Natural darknesse is made by such kinde of motions as winding up threads upon bottoms in a heap I say natural because they keep their original form and is the right kinde and true shape as I may say of man-kinde For if a creature should be partly a beast and partly a man it were not of the right kinde and true shape Likewise Elements may be of the right kinde and yet be different as mankinde for every particular man is not alike neither in shape nor quality the like may elements differ Chap. 127. The reason of the ebbing and flowing of the sea thus I Will not dispute according to Copernicus that the earth goes about the Sun stands stil upon which ground Galleleo saith the reason of the ebbing and flowing of the sea is the jogging of the earth the old opinion is that the moon is the cause of it which I can hardly beleeve
concave and convex glasses doth objects when presented to the eye thus hollow figures cause a hollow sound if they be struck for the concave draws those motions in which rebounds from fide to side and the rebounds continue 〈◊〉 sound by the Echos repeated for sound lasts longer in hollow figures then in any other and though I will not say that onely hollow figures make sounds yet I say that no sound can enter but through hollow figures as the ear is a hollow figure and all hollow figures and the ear is not onely hollow but circular but sounds are made in the ear or rather enters as light and colours in the eyes for discord is perturbed motion or rather close Antipathetical motions and harmony are sympathetical and regular motions but the more of these extenuating circles break the more lightning there is and the stronger they brea the more thunder rhere is and the harder they strike upon the unbroken circles the lowder is the sound But if the circle lines break onely asunder and extend or shut forth into straight lines without more parts there is onely lightning without thunder but if those lines break into more parts there is thunder also and when there falls r ain at those times of thunder it is when the gentler motions of some of those expulsed parts do not strike hard upon some of those unbroken circles but presse upon them which causeth them to draw and gather into a lesse circle and a grosser line untill they return into the watry compasse where growing too heavy for the hight falls down toward the center of the earth as all heavie bodies if not thick bodies under to bear them up or stronger motions then their weight to hold them up thus in my opinion is thunder and lightning caused and when it rains those unbroken circles return into its nature again Chap. 136. Of the alterations of motions ONe and the same degree of innate matter may change and rechange the natural posture motion in one and the same figure but a general alteration of those motions proper to that figure dissolves the natural form of any one particular figure for a figure moving by several motions proper to its kinde must joyntly consent either by a sympathy or inforcement to make a dissolution as well as a creation but all motions works or alter according as the matter is or figure they work to or forced by stronger motions to alter their natural course likewise several and contrary motions may work by turns in one and the same figure by one and the same degree of innated matter Chap. 137. Of different motions ALL extenuating motions make not fludity or wet but such kind of extenuating on such tempered or on such degrees of dull part of matter for some extenuating motions make light others make heat and infinite the like so all expulsive motions do not burn nor all 〈◊〉 motions do not work alike nor all attractive nor all retentive nor expulsive for there are infinite wayes or kindes of them which works infinite varieties for there are infinite several sorts of heats coldes droughts moistures and infinite kindes of lights and darknesse as well as of colours so infinite wayes of contractions and attractions and infinite wayes of expulsions and so there are such varieties in one and the same kinde as it is impossible for me to describe as for one man to draw the several pictures of mankinde from all eternity but if I could draw but one picture it will be enough to shew my art and skill although but a plain draught but I finde the work too hard for my wit yet I have ventured and mean to hang it on the wall of censure although I know spite will strive to pull it down Chap. 138. Of the local motions of water air and fire I perceive there be other figures that have local motions besides Animals yet it is partly their figures that are proper thereto for though there is no matter but is figured yet all figures move not but of themselves and though all figures aremoved or moving or both moved and moving yet all local motions move not after one and the same manner but I hear mean by local motion that which naturally can move from place to place by their interior nature and exterior shape but if the word is not right to the sense pray pardon it and take the sense and leave the word and Christen it a new but these kindes of local figures are water arie and fire which move after an Animal manner although they have not the shape of those we cal Animals yet they seem Animals by their self motion as moving from place to place unlesse they be stopt by stronger motions or other figures that are more powerful the like of other Animals as for example if one man or more being stronger bindes another man which hath not strength nor power to oppose or hinder them he cannot move according to the property of his nature and shape So likewise if cold contractions be more powerful then the extenuating circles it bindes up the the water with icie fetters wherby it cannot move according to the nature nor circular shape so if any man should go to a place and a high wall should stand betwixt him and that place he cannot passe unlesse there were a passage or that he can clamber which must be by art because there is no footing and to jump over it he cannot for it is so high that the weight of his body will pull him down before the strength or agilnesse of his limbs shall raise him over and he cannot flee over by reason his shape is not fitted thereto having no wings so water being stopt and the passage hindered by a thick bank of earth cannot move according to its property for it is proper for water to move descendingly at least straight forth but when it ascends it is forced by other more powerful motions so likewise it is proper for air to move after a level streaming or spreading manner For fire to ascend after a piercing shooting and perpendicular manner for these elements do as other Animals do for man beasts birds fishes their local motions are different according to their shapes for it is the property of a four legged creature to gallop trot pace run leap but they cannot flee because their shape is not fitted thereto having not wings nor a bird cannot gallop trot nor pace having not four leggs to make changes therewith it is true a two legged creature may leap jump hop and run Likewise those fishes can neither run nor flee that have not wings nor legs but those that have mixt shapes have mixt local motions as there be fleeing fishes and swimming birds and running fishes and swimming beasts indeed most creatures can swim for most shapes are fitted thereto in one kinde or another but mans shape is such as it can imitate most various motions
extenuating those clouds into small parts so that the dropsical humor that ariseth from hot consumptions are onely liquid like melted metal and the dropsical humor that ariseth from cold consumptions is as a watery floud but as I said in all consumptions the remedies must be contractive or at least retentive because the nature of all consumptions are expulsive but yet all or the most part of physicians finding their patients to be lean and dry give all dilative medicines as if the parts were onely gathered into a less compass but the truth is when so much of the natural bulk of the body is lessened so much of the body is wasted I will not say but these unnatural expulsions might proceed from unnatural contractions like as when any thing is made so dry as it moulders into dust but when it comes to that degree it expulses so whensoever the body is in a consumption the motions therein are expulsive I do not mean by siege or vomit although they will spit much which is a kinde of vomiting but they waste by insensible inspirations but all purging medicines are an enemy to this disease unless they be very gentle for though purging medicines do not expulse after the nature of consumptive expulsions yet if they be strong they may in some kinde assist the consumptive expulsions neither is much leting blood good in these diseases yet a little refreshes and tempers the body for in these diseases physitians must do as Chirurgions when they cure wounds they first clense the sore or wounds taking away the putrified matter gently with a probe and then lay a healing plaister so Physitians must gently purge and bleed the patient and then give them strengthening and nourishing remedies again many Physitians have a rule that when they perceive their patient to be exteriorly dry that is outwardly dry they think them hot but it doth not follow that all drouth proceeds from heat for there are cold drouths as well as hot so that a Physician must warily observe the patients drouth whether it proceeds from cold or heat or whether the drouth proceeds for want of a sufficient quantity of matter for the body to feed upon or that the matter which properly should be porous and spungy is contracted into an unnatural solidity and though the interior nature of drought is made by contraction yet the exterior motions may be expulsive as for example if any thing is dryed to that degree as to fall into dust although the interior be contracting that caused it to be so dry yet the exterior motions are expulsive that causeth it to fall into parts but the drouth of consumptions doth proceed most commonly from a scarcity of nourishing matter that should feed each part of the body for the principal and consistent parts being distempered cannot disgest so much as will feed the hungry members therof but as I have said before that all consumptions are wrought by expulsive motions for what is contracted is not consumed nor doth consume untill it expulses but those bodies that are lean or dry by contractions are not in consumptions for nothing is wasted onely the dimensions and extentions of the body are drawn into a lesser compasse Thus as I have said Physitians although they mistake not the diseases yet they may easily mistake the manner of the diseases for one and the same kinde of diseases may move after divers manners in several bodies and in one and the same body Chap. 192. Of dropsies MOst dropsies are something of the nature of consumptions as being in the way to consumptive expulsions for they dilate after that manner as the other expulses especially if they are dropsies which proceed from corrupt parts and then they turn to consumptive expulsions and the onely difference in most dropsies and consumptions is that dropsies as long as that disease lasts the motions in the body are most dilating which is in a degree to expulsion and when it comes to a consumption they are all expulsions but as the motions differ so the diseases differ for there are several sorts of dilations and several sorts of expulsions nay some are different in the manner of working as if they were of other kindes of motions but some dropsies proceed from hot dilations others from cold dilations and some proceed from too many digestive motions that is when there are too many or too strong disgestive motions in the body for the natural temper of the body disgests so fast as makes more nourishment then the several parts can feed with temperance which makes the reignes and the rest of the sucking parts glutinous or else those many disgesting motions work too curious for by reason they cannot be idle they work the nourishing matter too fine or too thin for proper uses as if flower should be so often bolted that it could not work into a lump or batch for bread or like as any thing should be wrought upon so much as to become liquid as into oyl or water Other dropsies proceed from the weaknesse of disgestion those motions being not strong or sufficient to work all that is brought into the stomach whereupon that superfluous matter corrupts with distempered motions and when it comes to be corrupted it either dilates or expulses if it onely dilates it turns to water if expulsive it casts forth either by vomit or stool or else lies to corrupt the principal parts in the body which when they are joyned together expulses life by their treacherous usurpation Other dropsies are caused by too weak contracting motions causing that to be tender that should be solid or those parts loose that should be firm as not contracting hard enough As first contracting into Chylus then into blood then harder for flesh and harder for nerves and bones the contractions growing weaker and weaker until they become of no strength and then they turn to dilations or expulsions but pray mistake me not for though one and the same innate matter may grow weaker as to abate of such or such a kinde of motion so increases stronger and stronger according to the quantity as to other motions But as I said before that innated matter in such diseased bodies turns from contracting to dilating turning by degrees from one to another and then the dilations work more and more extending more and more in such circular motions as produce water for when it comes to such a degree of extention it is become from being solid to be lesse hard from being lesse hard to be soft from soft to be liquid from liquid fluid and when it comes to such a degree of a fluid extention it turns wet and when it is soft liquid fluid and wet it is turned to that we call water for oyl though it be soft liquid and fluid yet it is not absolute wet it is rather moist then wet for there is a difference between moist and wet or glibby and wet or glibby and moist so that oyl is
others are in the bowels as the guts some in the sides and sometimes in the veins but those Collicks are Cramps but the cause of all Collicks are by extenuating motions though the effects are oft times contracting but if the cause be contracting it is a Cramp not a Collick for a Collick is properly winde produced from the aforesaid humors that is when those humors extenuate farther then a watry extenuation which turns into vapor or winde which vaporous winde or windy vapor striving to get vent being stopped by grosser vapor or thicker humor runs about in cross motions which cause pain for the extenuating motions thrusting outward and the resisting motions thrusting backward run cross or beat on each other which causeth pain and as long as the strife lasts the body hath no ease until some assistance in medicines be given or that it can over-master the resistent motions but when once it hath liberty it flies out in expulsive motions at all vents but if the extenuating humors are broke or dissolved in the body by the well tempered motion therein or expulsing of its self it evaporates through the pores of the body in insensible transpirations but if the extenuating can finde no way to be expulsed it gathers inward in small and smaller rings like a scrue drawing in the guts or stomach therein stopping the passages thereof whereby the body can neither receive nourishment nor send out excrement with which the body is brought to an utter destruction but these kinds of windes causing this distember this distemper is oft times produced from sharp hot cholerick humors which sharpness hath a natural contracting quality which is rather of the nature of a cramp or a convulsion then the nature of a collick howsoever expulsive medicines are good in these cases of diseases Convulsions are collicks in the nerves and cramps collicks in the veins and as the collick in the stomach or guts proceeds sometimes from winde and sometimes from crude bilious sharp humors so doth this Chap. 198. Of the diseases in the head and vapors to the head DIseases and swimming which are diseases belonging onely to the head differ as the motions and mixture and forms of matter differ for no disease although of one and the same sort is just alike but although these diseases belongs onely to the head yet the motions and humors of the stomach have greater affinity to the head and many times cause the diseases therein by the course and recourse thereto and therefrom for some humors falling from the head into the stomach do so disaffect that part as it returns more malignity up again and sometimes the stomach begins the war sending up such an army of ill vapors as many times they do not onely disorder the head but totally ruinate it but most commonly the vapors which ascend to the head are gathered by contracting motions into clouds as vapor is which ariseth from the earth and as long as the vapor is in a cloudy body it makes that part feel heavy and the senses dull by obstructions for it stops the nose dims the sight fills the ears blunts the taste and numbs the touch especially if the obstruction be caused from a cold contraction which congeals the vapor to an icy substance but when it is expulsed by a hot dilation it falls down like hail or flakes of snow by which I mean cold glassie flegme which cold flegme doth most commonly as snow doth which covers the face of the earth so this flegme covers as it were stops the mouth of the stomack and deads the appetite thereof but the danger is in these cold contractions that 〈◊〉 they should last too long they may cause numb palsies or the like and if contracted so as one may say christalined it may cause an incurable dead palsie but if it be disperst by a hot expulsion it is dissolved in thundring coughs or falls like pouring shoures of rain running through the spouts of the noise eyes and mouth and through the pores of the skin and sometimes falls into the cabberns or bowels of the body as the stomack and the intrals but if some of the floud-gats chance to be stopped by obstructions these shoures may chance to overflow the body and make an utter destruction otherwise it onely washes and clenses these parts but if vapor be gathered by a hot contraction they become sharp and salt as being of a burning quality and if they be disperst by a hot expulsion they fall down like a misling rain which hath a soaking and penetrating faculty cutting and piercing those parts they fall on by insensible degrees which rots the vital parts not onely by the sharpnesse which ulcerates but by a continuated unnatural weaknesse which if once the parts begin to decay which is the foundation the building must needs fall Chap. 199. Of catching cold ONe is apter to catch cold standing against a crevis or door or window then in a wide plain For narrow passages receive air as pipes do water though there comes in lesse quantity it passes with a greater force The like cause makes us catch cold after great heats by reason the pores of the body are extended there-with and are like so many windows set open which receive air with too great a force Chap. 200. Of the several motions in an animal body VVHen a body is in perfect health the motions therin do not onely work regularly and proportionably placing every part of matter rightly and properly mixing and tempering the matter as it should be or as I may say fittly that is when the quantity of matter or humour is proportionably and the motion moves equally for though every kinde or sort of motion may move evenly and keep just time yet not equally or harmoniously as for example say there were a company of musicians and every one played skilfuly justly tunable timely on the same notes yet may there be too many trebles for the tenor and bases or too many tenors for the trebles and bases and too many bases for the tenors and trebles to make a harmony So in the body there may be too much of one or more kinde of motions for other kindes to make a harmony of health as for proof too many contracting motions make the body too dry and contract diseases as for example instead of binding any thing we should break it by pulling or drawing too hard together or instead of joyning of parts we should knock them so close as to rivet or split them or instead of gathering such a quantity of matter or joyning such a number of parts we should gather twice or thrice the quantity or numbers of the like examples might be given for all other kinde of motions as dilating or expulsive instead of throwing out the 〈◊〉 or rubbish in a house we should pull down the house and disperse the materials therein digging up the foundation thereof Likewise too many dilating or expulsive motions may disperse or
said there are infinite several wayes of each kinde of motion as for example I will treat of one of them a bee gather wax a bird gather straws and a man gathers sticks the bees gather and carie the wax to the hive to make a comb to lay or hold and keep the honey the bird gathers and carries the straw to build a nest to hatch her young ones in the man gathers wood to mend his house these all gather to one end but yet several wayes for the bees gather the wax and carie it on their thighs the bird gathers the straw and carries it with their bill the man gathers with his hands but carries it several wayes as on his head or on his shoulders or at his back or in his armes and milions of the like examples may be given upon each kinde or sort of motion or moved matter Again I must advertise my readers that though I say there are fiery motions in drugs and natural fiery motions in every animal creature and so in many other figures yet I mean not a bright shining fire although some are of opinion that in the heart is a thin flame and when that is put out or goeth out the creature dies but I mean not such a fire for to my apprehension there are three sorts of fire to our perceivance although there may be numberlesse sorts yet all of one kinde as for example there are those creatures we call animals though some are beasts birds fish and men but not onely so for some are of one sort and some of another for a lennit is not a parot nor a parot an owl nor a horse a cow nor a sheep a dog nor a whale a herring nor a herring a plaise nor a plaise a lobster nor a black-more is not a tauny-more nor a Europian an Ethiopian yet all are of animal kinde so although there may be several sorts of fire and so of the other elements yet all are of the fiery kinde or likewise the fiery motions make several figures and several figures have several fiery motions for every sort of animals have a several shape and several motions belonging to that shape so in fiery figures and fiery motions but as I said before there are three sorts of fire The first is a bright-shining hot-burning fire that is when the interior and exterior temperament of matter and the interior and exterior figure and the interior and exterior motions be all as one The second is a hot-burning fire but not a bright shining fire such as Aqua-fortis vitrals and such sorts of the same nature which will burn as fire doth but not thin as the other fire doth for though they are both of an interior nature yet not of an exterior for the bright-shining fire is all composed of sharp points as I may say lines of points but this vitral fire is as sharp edged lines like a rasor or knife or the like neither is there external motions alike for bright-shining fire mounts upwards when it is not supprest or in a straight paralel line for flame which is the liquid part of bright-shining fire although it moves in several lines as it ascends yet the lines they ascend in are a straight diameter line but this vitral fire descends as it were downward or divides as streames of water do that digs it self a passage through the earth so this vitral cuts a passage through what it works on neither can this sort of fire work so variously as bright-shining fire can by reason it hath not so many parts for points will fall into more parts and are more swift in motion then the edged line as for example dust which is numerous little parts heapt together will be more agile upon the least motion although it be of a weighty nature as of the nature of a stone The smal haires which be of a light and weightlesse nature but being not divided into so many parts cannot move so nimble as being united lines but if you cut the hair into smal parts it shall move with more restlesse motion then the sand by so much the more as the substance is lighter The third sort of fire is that which I call a cold dull fire such as brimstone or sulphur mercury salt oyl or the like this sort in the interior nature is of the nature of bright-shining fire both in the motions and temperaments of matter but not in the exterior for it is composed of points but those points are turned inward as toward the Center but assoon as it touches the bright-shining fire it straight turns the points outward for those points soon catch hold of those straight circumferent lines and break them in sunder which as soon as they are broke the points are at liberty and taking their freedom they mount in a flame but when those lines are not dissolved by fire but crack as we will snap a string asunder then they onely sparkle fire out but not flame out but mercury or quick-silver the interior is fire but the exterior is water for the exterior moves extenuating circles as water doth and so much as to make it soft and fluid but not so much as to make it wet for though it alwayes gathers into sphiratical figures which shews that the exterior would run into wet but that the interior hinder it by drawing the circles inward as cold doth water into hail-stones but yet the interior wants the force to make it so hard and firm but as I did advertise my Readers before that all sorts of fire work according to the matter it meets with yet none work so variously as the bright-shining fire which makes me think that drugs are more of the nature of bright-shining fire then of the two other sorts because they work in the body according to the humour it meets with for if it meets wit watrish humors it boyls it as water in a pot which either boiles over the mouth of the stomack or evaporates out in sweat like dewes or draws downward like as in showers ofrain it melts humors like metal or turns humors like wood into ashes or calcines the humor where some part is fixed other parts are volable As for example Rubarb hath a double faculty some humors it expels out others it bindes up for Rubarb is both purging and restringent as it is to be observed in great fluxes for what it doth not cast forth it confirms to a more solid substance so as it doth expulse and contract at one time as I may say according as it findes the humour it works with Again some drugs move several expulsive wayes as by vomit and stool where the vomiting is produced with ascending expulsions siege with descending expulsions but that expulses descending are of the nature of vitral fire all that expulses ascendingly is of the nature of sulphurous fire but the generality of drugs works like bright-shining fire according to the nature of the matter it meets
sexes faces countenance dispositions and qualities of men Besides who knowes but that the very thoughts of men may be known by the temper of their body for could men come but to learn the several motions of the body which ingenious observations may come to do they may easily come to learn the motions of the minde and so come to know the thoughts which thoughts are the several figures therein which figures most commonly move sympathetically with the motions of the body Chap. 209. To my just Readers I Desire all those that are friends to my book if not to my book for justice sake that whatsoever is new is my own which I hope all is for I had never any guide to direct me nor intelligence from any Authors to advertise me but write according to my own natural cogitations where if any do write after the same manner in what language soever that they will remember my work is the original of their discourse but they that steal out my opinions or compare them to old opinions that are nothing alike as if one should liken to men that had neither semblance in features countenance proportion nor complexion because they are two men as being of madkinde surely they might be judged to be fools but may all such be condemned as false malicious ridiculous or mad But to such noble dispositions as will give right and speak truth may they never receive injury may honour crown them fame applaud them and time reward them with antiquity This Chapter although it belongs to another book yet I thought it fit to joyn it to this discourse Chap. 210. The diatical Centers ALthough infinite matter and motion was from all eternity yet that infinite moving matter is disposed by an in finite Deity which hath power to order that moving matter as that Deity pleaseth by reason there is nothing greater then it self therefore there is nothing that can oppose its will Likewise this Deity is as the center of infinite moving matter for though there can be no center in infinites by reason there is no circumference yet in respect the matter is infinite every way from and to this Deity we may say the Deity is the center of infinite matter and by reason the infinite moving matter flowes as much to this diatical center as from it it doth as it were present it self or rather is forced to be ordered by its infinite wisdom which otherwise it would run into an infinite confusion with which there would be an infinite horrid and eternal war in nature and though this Deity is as the center to infinite matter yet this Deity in it self is as infinite matter for its wisdom is as infinite as matter and its knowledge as infinite as its wisdom and its power as infinite as both and the effects of these attributes run with infinite matter like infinite paralel lines even and straight not crossing nor obstructing nor can they circumference or circle in each other the matter and the Deity being both infinite neither is the matter or Deity finite to or in themselves for infinite matter hath no end or period neither can the infinite Deity comprehend it self so as it is a god to it self as well or as much as to matter for this Deity is no wayes finite neither to its self nor matter its knowledge being as infinite as its power and its wisdom as infinite its knowledge and its power as infinit as both and being infinit its wisdom cannot be above its power nor its power beyond its wisdom neither can its knowledge comprehend its power or the wayes of its wisdom being all infinite and eternal And though nature is infinit matter motion and figure creating all things out of its self for of matter they are made and by motion they are formed into several and particular figures yet this Deity orders and disposes of all natures works GReat God from thee all infinites do flow And by thy power from thence effects do grow Thou orderest all degrees of matter just As t' is thy will and pleasure move it must And by thy knowledge orderd'st all the best For in thy knowledge doth thy wisdom rest And wisdom cannot order things amiss For where disorder is no wisdom is Besides great God thy will is just for why Thy will still on thy wisdom doth rely O pardon Lord for what I now hear speak Upon a guesse my knowledge is but weak But thou hast made such creatures as mankinde And gav'st them somthing which we cal a mind Alwayes in motion never quiet lies Untill the figure of his body dies His several thoughts which several motions are Do raise up love hope joyes doubts and feare As love doth raise up hope so fear doth doubt which makes him seek to find the great God out Self love doth make him seek to finde if he Came from or shall last to eternity But motion being slow makes knowledge weak And then his thoughts 'gainst ignorance doth beat As fluid waters 'gainst hard rocks do flow Break their soft streams so they backward go Just so do thoughts then they backward slide Unto the place where first they did abide And there in gentle murmurs do complain That all their care and labour is in vain But since none knows the great Creator must Man seek no more but in his greatness trust FINIS I Finde since I have read my book over I could have enlarged that part of my book that treats of diseases much to the advantage but I must intreat my noble Readers to remember there are natural humors and metamorphosed humors which are wrought by several motions as those of Elements Also that there are natural contractions attractions retentions digestions delations expulsions Likewise that there are unnatural of all these motions that is such as are proper or improper to the the natural health or consistence of the several parts and the generality of the whole figure Also that the motions that make the humor and the motions that move the humor may be quite different and some parts of a humor may be made by some sorts of motions and some by other sorts of motions where my discourse of the motions which makes the Elements will enlighten the Readers ERRATA IN my Epistle to my Honourable Readers for pair read poiz In a Condemning Treatise of Atoms for figures read febures p. 10. l. 28. r. dissolution p. 12. l. 30. r. other p. 22. l. 35. r. dissolution p. 23. l. 15. r. finite p. 24. l. 21. r. brain p. 30. l. 2. r. individable p. 34. l. 21. r. spread p. 35. l. 22. r. digging p. 38. l. 21. r. prints p. 43. l. 16. r. cold p. 58. l. 47. r. extenuated p. 60. l. 15. r. crinkling and l. 36. r. triangulars p. 62. l. 4. r. from water and l. 17. r. as p. 62. l. 32. r. manner p. 65. l. 14. r. piercing p. 104. l. 5. r. heptick fevors and l. 12. add my p. 116.