Nor Cold doth not make Drought: for, there is a _Temper_ of Cold and
Moist. Neither doth Heat make Moisture: for, there is a _Temper_ of Hot
and Dry. Nor doth Cold make Moisture: for, there is a _Temper_ of Cold
and Dry. But, such or such sorts of Corporeal Figurative Motions, make
Hot, Cold, Moist, Dry; Hot and Dry, Hot and Moist; Cold and Dry, Cold
and Moist; and, as those Figurative Motions alter their Actions, those
_Tempers_ are altered: the like happens in all Creatures. But this is
to be observed, That there is some opposite or contrary _Tempers_,
which have a likeness of Motion: as for example, A Moist Heat, and a
Moist Cold, have a likeness or resemblance of Moistness;
and the same is in dry Heats and Cold: but surely, most sorts of
Moistures, are some sorts of dilative Motions; and most Droughts, are
some sorts of Contractive Motions: but, there are several sorts of
Dilatations, Contractions, Retentions, Expulsions, and the like: for,
there are Cold Contractions, Hot Contractions; Cold Dilatations, Hot
Dilatations; Hot Retentions, Cold Retentions; and so of Digestions,
Expulsions, and the like: But, as I said, Moist Heats, and Moist
Colds, seem of a Dilative Nature; as Dry, of a Contractive Nature.
But, all Cold and Heat, or Dry and Moist, may be made by one and the
same Corporeal Motions: for, though the Actions may vary, the Parts
may be the same: yea, the like Actions may be in different Parts. But,
no Part is bound to any particular Action, having a free Liberty of
Self-motion. But, concerning Hot and Cold, and the like Actions, I
observe, That Extream Heat, and Extream Cold, is of a like Power, or
Degree: neither can I perceive the Hot Motions to be quicker than Cold:
for Water, in little quantity, shall as suddenly freeze, as any leight
Fewel or Straw, burn: and Animals will as soon freeze to death, as be
burned to death: and Cold is as powerful at the Poles, as Heat in the
_Torrid Zone_. And 'tis to be observed, That Freezing is as quick and
sudden, as Thawing: but sometimes, nay very often, Cold and Hot Motions
will dispute for Power; and some sorts of Hot, with other sorts. The
like Disputes are amongst several sorts of Cold Motions; Dry with
Moist, Dry with Dry, Moist with Moist. And the like Disputes are also
often amongst all Creatures. As for Density, it doth not make Gravity:
for, there may be Dense Bodies, that are not Grave; as for example,
Feathers, and Snow. Neither doth Gravity make Density: for, a quantity
of Air hath some weight, and yet is not dense. But mistake me not; for,
I mean by _Grave, Heavy_; and not for the Effects of Ascending, and
Descending: for Feathers, though Dense, are more apt to ascend, than
descend; and Snow, to descend. Also, all sorts of Fluidity, do not
cause Moist, Liquid, or Wet; nor all Extenuations, cause Light: but,
they are such and such sorts of Fluidities and Extenuations, that cause
such and such Effects. And so for Heats, Colds, Droughts, Moistures,
Rarities. The same for Gravities, Levities, and the like. So that,
Creatures are Rare, Fluid, Moist, Wet, Dry, Dense, Hard, Soft, Leight,
Heavy, and the like, according to their Figurative Motions.
CHAP. III. Of the Change and Rechange; and of Dividing and Ioyning of
the Parts of the Elements.
Of all Creatures subject to Human Perception, the Elements are most apt
to Transform, _viz._ to _Change_ and _Rechange_; also, to _Divide_ and
_Ioyn_ their Parts, without altering their Innate Nature and Property.
The reason is, because the Innate Figurative Motions of Elements, are
not so different as those of Animals and Vegetables, whose Compositions
are of many different Figurative Motions; in so much, that disjoining
any Part of Animals, or Vegetables, they cannot be joined again, as
they were before; at least, it is not commonly done: but, the Nature
and Property of the Elements, is, That every Part and Particle are of
one innate Figurative Motion; so that the least grain of Dust, or the
least drop of Water, or the least spark of Fire, is of the same Innate
Nature, Property, and Figurative Motions, as the whole Element; when
as, of Animals, and Vegetables, almost, every Part and Particle is of a
different Figurative Motion.
CHAP. IV. Of the Innate Figurative Motions of Earth.
There are many sorts of _Earth_, yet all sorts are of the same kind;
that is, they are all Earth: but (in my opinion) the prime Figurative
Motions of Earth, are Circles; but not dilated Circles, but contracted
Circles: neither are those Circles smooth, but rugged; which is the
cause that Earth is dull, or dim, and is easily divided into dusty
Parts: for all, or at least, most Bodies that are smooth, are more
apt to joyn, than divide; and have a Glassie Hew or Complexion; which
is occasioned by the smoothness, and the smoothness occasioned by the
evenness of Parts, being without Intervals: but, according as these
sorts of Circular Motions are more or less contracted, and more or less
rugged, they cause several sorts of Earth.
CHAP. V. Of the Figurative Motions of Air.
There are many sorts of _Airs_, as there is of other Creatures, of
one and the same kind: but, for Elemental Air, is composed of very
Rare, Figurative Motions; and the Innate Motions, I conceive to be
somewhat of the Nature of Water, viz. Circular Figurative Motions,
only of a more Dilating Property; which causes Air, not to be Wet,
but extraordinary Rare; which again causes it to be somewhat of the
nature of Light: for, the Rarity occasions Air to be very searching and
penetrating; also, dividable and compoundable: but, the Rarity of Air,
is the cause that it is not subject to some sorts of Human Perception;
but yet, not so Rare, as not to be subject to Human Respirations; which
is one sort of Human Perception: for, all Parts of all Creatures, are
perceptive one way, or another: but, as I said, there are many sorts of
Air; as, some Cold, some Hot; some Dry, some Moist; some Sharp; some
Corrupt, some Pure, some Gross; and numbers more: but, many of these
sorts are rather Metamorphosed Vapours, and Waters, than pure Elemental
Air: for, the pure Elemental Air, is, in my opinion, more searching and
penetrating, than Light; by reason Light may be more easily eclipsed,
or stopt; when as Air will search every Pore, and every Creature, to
get entrance.
CHAP. VI. Of the Innate Figurative Motion of Fire.
The Innate Figurative Motions of Elemental Fire, seem the most
difficult to Human Perception, and Conception: for, by the Agilness,
it seems to be more pure than the other sorts of Elements; yet, by
the Light, or Visibleness, it seems more gross than Air; but, by the
dilating Property, it seems to be more rare than air, at least, as rare
as Air. By the Glassie or Shining Property, it seems to be of Smooth
and Even Parts: also, by the piercing and wounding Property, Fire
seems to be composed of sharp-pointed Figurative Motions: Wherefore,
the Innate Figurative Motions of Fire, are, Pure, Rare, Smooth, Sharp
Points, which can move in Circles, Squares, Triangles, Parallels, or
any other sorts of Exterior Figures, without an alteration of its
Interior Nature; as may be observed by many sorts of Fuels: as also, it
can contract and dilate its Parts, without any alteration of its Innate
Property.
CHAP. VII. Of the Productions of Elemental Fire.
It is to be observed, That Points of Fire are more numerous, and more
suddenly propagating, than any other Element, or any other Creature
that is subject to Human Perception. But, Sparks of Fire, resemble the
Seeds of Vegetables, in this, That as Vegetables will not encrease in
all sorts of Soyles, alike; neither will the Points of Fire, in all
sorts of Fuel, alike. And, as Vegetables produce different Effects
in several Soyls; so doth Fire on several Fuels: As for example, The
Seeds of Vegetables do not work the same Effect in a Birds Crop, as
in the Earth: for, there they encrease the Bird by digestion; but, in
the ground, they encrease their own Issue (as I may say): So Fire, in
some Fuels, doth destroy it self, and occasions the Fuel to be more
consumed; when as, in other sorts of Fuel, Fire encreases extreamly.
But Fire, as all other Creatures, cannot subsist single of it self, but
must have Food and Respiration; which proves, Fire is not an Immaterial
Motion. Also, Fire hath Enemies, as well as Friends; and some are
deadly, namely, Water, or Watry Liquors. Also, Fire is forced to comply
with the Figurative Motions of those Creatures it is joyned to: for,
all Fuels will not burn, or alter, alike.
CHAP. VIII. Of FLAME.
_Flame_ is the Rarest Part of Fire: and though the Fuel of Flame be of
a vaporous and smoaky Substance; yet surely, there are pure Flames,
which are perfect Fires: and, for proof, we may observe, That Flame
will dilate and run, as it were, to catch Smoak: but, when the Smoak
is above the Flame, if it be higher than the Flame can extend, it
contracts back to the Fiery Body. But, Flame doth somewhat resemble
that we name _Natural Light_: but yet, in my opinion, Light is not
Flame; nor hath it any Fiery Property, although it be such a sort of
Extenuating or Dilating Actions, as Flame hath.
CHAP. IX. Of the two sorts of Fire most different.
There are many sorts of Fires: but two sorts are most opposite; that
is, the Hot, Glowing, Burning, Bright, Shining Fire; and that sort of
Fire we name a _Dead, Dull Fire_; as, Vitriol Fires, Cordial Fires,
Corrosive Fires, Feverish Fires, and numerous other sorts; and every
several sort, hath some several Property: as for example, There is
greater difference between the Fiery Property of Oyl, and
the Fiery Property of Vitriol: for, Oyl is neither Exteriorly Hot, nor
Burning; whereas Vitriol is Exteriorly Burning, though not Exteriorly
Hot: but, the difference of these sorts of Fires, is, That the Actions
of Elemental Fire, are to ascend, rather than to descend: and the Dull,
Dead Fire, is rather apt to descend, than ascend; that is, to pierce,
or dilate, either upwards, or downwards: but, they are both of Dilating
and Dividing Natures. But this is to be noted, That all sorts of Heats,
or Hotness, are not Fire. Also it is to be noted, That all Fires are
not Shining.
CHAP. X. Of Dead or Dull Fires.
OF _Dull, Dead Fires_, some sorts seem to be of a mixt sort: as
for example, Vitriol, and the like, seem to be Exteriorly, of the
Figurative Motions of Fire; and Interiorly, of the Figurative Motions
of Water, or of Watry Liquors: And Oyl is of Fiery Figurative Motions,
Interiorly; and of Liquid Figurative Motions, Exteriorly; which is
the cause that the Fiery Properties of Oyl cannot be altered, without
a Total Dissolution of their Natures. But, such sorts whose Fiery
Figurative Motions are Exterior, as being not their Innate Nature, may
be divided from those other Natural
Parts they were joyned to, without altering their Innate Nature.
CHAP. XI. Of the Occasional Actions of Fire.
All Creatures have not only Innate figurative Motions that cause
them to be such or such a sort of Creature; but, they have such and
such actions, that cause such and such Effects: also, every Creature
is occasioned to particular Actions, by forrein Objects; many times
to improper actions, and sometimes to ruinous actions, even to the
dissolution of their Nature: And, of all Creatures, Fire is the most
ready to occasion the most Mischief; at least, Disorders: for, where
it can get entrance, it seldom fails of causing such a Disturbance,
as occasions a Ruine. The reason is, that most Creatures are porous:
for, all Creatures, subsisting by each other, must of necessity have
_Egress_ and _Regress_, being composed of Interior and Exterior
Corporeal Motions. And Fire, being the sharpest figurative Motion, is
apt to enter into the smallest Pores.
But some may ask, _Whether Fire is porous it self?_
I answer: That having Respiration, it is a sufficient proof that it is
Porous: for, Fire dyes if it hath not Air.
But some may say, _How can a Point be porous?_
I answer, That a Point is composed of Parts, and therefore may very
well be porous: for, there is no such thing as a Single Part in Nature,
and therefore, not a Single Point.
Also, some may say, _If there be Pores in Nature, there may be Vacuum_.
I answer, That, in my opinion, there is not; because there is no empty
Pores in Nature: Pores signifying only an _Egress_ and _Regress_ of
Parts.
CHAP. XII. Fire hath not the Property to Change and Rechange.
Of all the Elemental Creatures, _Fire_ is the least subject to change:
for, though it be apt to occasion other Creatures to alter; yet it
keeps close to its own Properties, and proper Actions: for, it cannot
change, and rechange, as Water can. Also, Natural Air is not apt to
change and rechange, as Water: for, though it can (as all the Elements)
divide and join its Parts, without altering the Property of its Nature:
yet, it cannot readily alter, and alter again, its Natural Properties,
as Water can. The truth is, Water and Fire, are opposite in all their
Properties: but, as Fire is, of all the Elements, the furthest from
altering: so Water is, of all the Elements, the most subject to alter:
for, all Circular Figures are apt to variety.
CHAP. XIII. Of the Innate Figurative Motions of Water.
The Nature of _Water_ is, Rare, Fluid, Moist, Liquid, Wet, Glutinous,
and Glassie. Likewise, Water is apt to divide and unite its Parts,
most of which Properties are caused by several sorts of Dilatations,
or Extenuations: but, the Interior, or Innate Figure of Water, is a
Circular Line. But yet, it is to be observed, That there are many
several sorts of Waters, as there are many several sorts of Airs,
Fires, and Earths, and so of all Creatures: for, some Waters are more
rare than others, some more leight, and some more heavy; some more
clear, and some more dull; some salt, some sharp; some bitter, some
more fresh, or sweet; some have cold Effects, some hot Effects: all
which is caused by the several Figurative Motions of several sorts
of Waters: but, the nature of Water is such, as it can easily alter,
or change, and rechange, and yet keep its Interior, or Innate Nature
or Figure. But this is also to be observed, That the Dilating or
Extenuating Circle of Water, is of a middle Degree, as between Two
Extreams.
CHAP. XIV. The Nature or Property of Water.
Wetness, which is the Interior or Innate Property, or Nature of Water,
is, in my opinion, caused by some sort of Dilatations or Extenuations.
As, all Droughts, or Dryness, are caused by some sorts of Contractions;
so, all Moistures, Liquors, and Wets, by Dilatations: yet, those
Extenuations, or Dilatations, that cause Wet, must be of such a sort of
Dilatations, as are proper to Wet; _viz._ Such a sort of Extenuations,
as are Circular Extenuations; which do dilate, or extenuate, in a
smooth, equal dilatation, from the Center, to the Circumference; which
Extenuations, or Dilatations, are of a middle Degree; for otherwise,
the Figure of Water might be extended beyond the Degree of Wet; or,
not extended to the Degree of Wet. And it is to be observed, That
there is such a Degree as only causes moistness, and another to cause
liquidness, the third to cause wetness: for, though Moistness and
Liquidness are in the way of Wetness; yet, they are not that which we
name Wet: also, all that is Soft, or Smooth, is not Wet; nor is all
that is Liquid, or Flowing, Wet: for, some sorts of Air are liquid
and flowing, but not wet: nay, Flame is liquid and flowing, but yet
quite opposite from wet. Dust is flowing, but neither liquid or wet,
in its Nature. And Hair and Feathers are soft and smooth, but neither
liquid, nor wet. But, as I said, Water is of such a Nature, as to have
the Properties of Soft, Smooth, Moist, Liquid, and Wet; and is also of
such flowing Properties, caused by such a sort of Extenuating Circles
as are of a Middle or Mean Degree: but yet, there are many several
sorts of Liquors, and Wets, as we may perceive in Fruit, Herbs, and the
like: but, all sorts of Wets, and Liquors, are of a watry kind, though
of a different sort. But, as I have said, all things that are Fluid,
are not Wet; as, Melted Metal, Flame, Light, and the like, are fluid,
but not wet: and Smoak and Oyl are of another sort of Liquidness, than
Water, or Juyce; but yet they are not wet: and that which causes the
difference of different sorts of Waters, and Watry Liquors, are the
differences of the watry Circular Lines; as, some are edged, some are
pointed, some are twisted, some are braided, some are flat, some are
round, some ruff, some smooth; and so after divers several Forms or
Figures: and yet are perfect Circles, and of some such a Degree of
Extenuations or Dilatations.
CHAP. XV. Of the Alteration of the Exterior Figurative Motion of Water.
As I formerly said, The Figurative Motions of the Innate Nature of
Water, is a sort of Extenuating; as being an equal, smooth Circle:
which is the cause Water is rare, fluid, moist, liquid, and wet. But,
the Exterior Figurative Motions of the watry Circle, may be edged,
pointed, sharp, blunt, flat, round, smooth, ruff, or the like; which
may be either divided, or altered, without any alteration of the Innate
Nature, or Property: As for example, Salt-water may be made fresh, or
the Salt Parts divided from the watry Circle: The like of other sorts
of Waters; and yet the Nature of Water remains.
CHAP. XVI. Of OYL, and VITRIOL.
The Exterior Figurative Motions of _Oyl_, are so much like those of
_Water_, as, to be fluid, smooth, soft, moist, and liquid, although
not perfectly wet: but, the Interior Figurative Motions of Oyl, are of
that sort of Fire, that we name a _Dull, Dead Fire_: and the difference
between _Salt Waters_,
_Vitriol_ or the like, and _Oyl_, is, That the Exterior Figurative
Motions of _Vitriol_ and _Salt Waters_, are of a sort of Fire; whereas
it is the Interior Figurative Motions of Oyl, or the like, that are
of those sorts of Fire; and that is the reason that the fiery Motions
of Oyl cannot be altered, as the fiery Motions of _Vitriol_ may. But
this is to be noted, That although the Interior Figurative Motions of
Oyl, are of such a sort of fiery Motions; yet, not just like those of
_Vitriol_; and are not burning, corroding, or wounding, as _Vitriols,
Corrosives_, and the like, are: for, those are somewhat more of the
Nature of bright shining Fires, than Oyls.
CHAP. XVII. Of Mineral and Sulphureous Waters.
In _Sulphureous_ and _Mineral Waters_, the _Sulphureous_ and _Mineral_
Corporeal Motions, are Exterior, and not Interior, like Salt
waters: but, there are several sorts of such waters; also, some are
occasionally, others naturally so affected: for, some waters running
through Sulphureous, or Mineral Mines, gather, like a rowling Stone,
some of the loose Parts of Gravel, or Sand; which, as they stick or
cleave to the rowling Stone; so they do to the running Waters; as we
may perceive by those waters that spring out of Chalk, Clay, or Lime
Grounds, which will
have some Tinctures of the Lime, Chalk, or Clay; and the same happens
to Minerals. But, some are naturally Sulphureous; as for example, Some
sorts of hot Baths are as naturally Sulphureous, as the Sea-water is
Salt: but, all those Effects of Minerals, Sulphurs, and the like, are
dividable from, and also may be joyn'd to, the Body of water, without
any disturbance to the nature of water; as may be proved by Salt-water,
which will cause fresh Meat to be salt; and salt Meat will cause
Fresh-water to be salt. As for hot Baths, those have hot figurative
Motions, but not burning: and the moist, liquid, and wet Nature of
water, makes it apt to joyn, and divide, to, and from other sorts of
Motions; as also, to and from its own sort.
CHAP. XVIII. The Cause of the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea.
The Nature of water is to flow; so that all sorts of waters will flow,
if they be not obstructed: but it is not the Nature of Water, to ebb.
Neither can water flow beyond the Power of its Quantity: for, a little
water will not flow so far as a great one. But, I do not mean by
flowing, the falling of water from some Descent; but, to flow upon a
Level: for, as I have said, all waters do naturally flow, if they be
not obstructed; but, few sorts of water, besides Sea-water, ebbs. As
for the Exterior Figurative Motions of water, in the action of flowing,
they are an Oval, or a half Circle, or a half Moon; where the middle
parts of the half Moon, or Circle, are fuller than the two Ends. Also,
the figure of a half Moon, or half Circle, is concave on the inside,
and convex on the outside of the Circle: but, these Figurative Motions,
in a great quantity of water, are bigg and full, which we name _Waves
of Water_; which waves flowing fast upon each other, presses each
other forward, until such time as the half Circle divides: for, when
the Bow of the half Circle is over-bent, or stretched, it divides into
the middle, which is most extended: and when a half Circle (which is a
whole wave of water) is divided, the divided Parts fall equally back
on each side of the flowing waves: so, every wave dividing, after
that manner, in the full extension, it causes the motion of ebbing,
that is, to flow back, as it flow'd forward: for, the divided Parts
falling back, and joining as they meet, makes the head of the half
Circle, where the Ends of the half Circle were; and the Convex, where
the Concave was; by which action, the ebbing Parts are become the
flowing Parts. And the reason that it ebbs and flows by degrees, is,
That the flowing half Circles require so much time to be at the utmost
extension. Also, every wave, or half Circle, divides not all at one
time, but one after another: for, two Bodies cannot be in one place
at one point of time; and until the second, third, and so the rest,
flow as far as the first, they are not at their full extension. And
thus the Sea, or such a great Body of Water, must flow, and ebb, as
being its nature to flow; and the flowing Figure, being over-extended,
by endeavouring to flow beyond its power, causes a dividing of the
Extended Parts, which is the Cause of the Ebbing.
But, whether this Opinion of mine, be as probable as any of the former
Opinions concerning the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea, I cannot judg:
but I would not be mistaken; for the flowing of the water, is according
to its Quantity; for, the further it flows, the fainter, or weaker it
is.
CHAP. XIX. Of OVERFLOWS.
As for _Overflows_, there be many; and many more would be, if the
waters were not hindred and obstructed by Man's Inventions. But,
some Overflows are very Uncertain and Irregular; others, Certain and
Regular, as, the flowing of _Nilus_ in _Egypt_: but as for the distance
of time of its flowing, it may proceed from the far Journey of those
flowing-waters: and, the time of its ebbing, may be attributed to
the great Quantity of Water; so that the great quantity of water,
will cause a longer or a shorter time in the flowing or ebbing; and
certainly the waters are as long a flowing back, as flowing forward.
As for Spring Tides, they are only in such a time when there is a
Naturall Issue of a greater quantity of water: so that Spring-Tides are
but once a Month, and Single-Tides in so many hours: but, many several
occasions, may make the Tides to be more or less full.
As for Double-Tides, they are occasioned through the Irregular dividing
of the Half-Circle; as, when they divide not orderly, but faster than
they orderly should do; which, falling back in a Crowd, and being,
by that means, obstructed, so that they cannot get forward, they are
necessitated to flow, where they ebb'd.
The reason the Tides flow through Streams of Running-waters, is, That
the Tide is stronger than the Stream: but, if the Stream and Tides pass
through each other, then the Tide and Stream are somewhat like Duellers
together, which make Passes and Passages for their conveniency.
CHAP. XX. Of the Figure of Ice and Snow.