may draw it self into many several Figures, as Squares, or Triangles:
as also, into many other Figures mix'd of Squares, Triangles, Cubes, or
the like; being partly one, and partly, another; and into other several
ways, and after several manners; which is the reason, Water may appear
in many several Postures of Snow, Ice, Hail, Frost, and the like: and,
in my Opinion, when the Water-Circle is Triangular, it is Snow; when
the Circle is Square, it is Ice: as for Hail, they are but small pieces
of Ice; that is, small Parts, or few Drops of Water, changed into
Ice; and those several Parts moving after several manners, make the
Exterior Figures, after several shapes; as, great Bodies of Ice will
be of many several shapes, occasioned by many or fewer Parts, and by
the several Postures of those Parts: but, such Figures, though they are
of Ice, yet, are not the Innate Figures of Ice. The same is to be said
of Snow. But, the reason of these my Opinions concerning the Figures
of Ice and Snow, is, That Snow is leighter than the Water it self; and
Ice is heavier, at least, as heavy. And the reason Snow is so leight,
is, That a Triangular Figure hath no poyse, being an odd Figure;
whereas a Square is poysed by Even and Equal Lines, and just Number of
Points, as, Two to Two: but, a Triangle is Two to One. Also, a Circle
is a poysed Figure, as being equal every way, from the Center to the
Circumference; and from the Circumference to the Center, all the Lines
drawing to one Point. But, mistake me not; for I treat (concerning the
Figures of Snow and Ice) only of those Figures that cause Water to be
Snow or Ice; and not of the Exterior Figures of Snow and Ice, which are
occasioned by the Order or Disorder of Adjoining Parts: for, several
Parts of Water, may order themselves into numerous several Figures,
which concern not the nature of Water, as it is Water, Snow, or Ice:
As for example, Many Men in a Battel, or upon Ceremony, joyn into many
several Figures or Forms; which Figures or Forms, are of no concern
to their Innate Nature. Also, the several Figures or Forms of several
Houses, or several sorts of Building in one House, are of no concern to
the Innate Nature of the Materials. The like for the Exterior Figures
of Ice and Snow; and therefore _Microscopes_ may deceive the Artist,
who may take the Exterior for the Interior Figure; but there may be
great difference between them.
CHAP. XXI. Of the Change and Rechange of Water.
_Water_ being of a Circular Figurative Motion, is, as it were, but
one Part, having no divisions; and therefore can more easily change
and rechange it self into several Postures, viz. into the Posture of
a Triangle, or Square; or can be dilated or extended into a larger
compass, or contracted into a lesser compass; which is the cause it can
turn into Vapour and Vaporous Air; or into Slime, or into some grosser
Figure: For example, Water can extend it self beyond the proper degrees
of Water, into the degree of Vapour; and the Circle, extending further
than the degree of a Vaporous Circle, is extended into a Vaporous Air;
and if the Vaporous Airy Circle be extreamly extended, it becomes so
small, as it becomes to be a sharp Edg, and so, in a degree, next
to Fire; at least, to have a hot Effect: but, if it extends further
than an Edg, the Circle breaks into Flashes of Fire, like Lightning,
which is a flowing Flame: for, being produced from Water, it hath the
property of Flowing, or Streaming, as Water hath, as we may perceive
by the Effects of some few Parts of Water flung on a bright Fire; for
those few drops of Water being not enough to quench the Fire, straight
dilate so extreamly, that they break into a Flame; or else cause the
Fire to be more brisk and bright: and as the Water-Circle can be turned
into Vapour, Air, and Flame, by Extension; so, it can be turned into
Snow, Hail, or Ice, by Contraction.
CHAP. XXII. Of Water Quenching Fire; and Fire Evaporating Water.
There is such an Antipathy betwixt _Water_ and _Fire_, (I mean bright
shining Fire) that they never meet Body to Body, but Fire is in danger
to be quenched out, if there be a sufficient Quantity of Water. But
it is to be observed, That it is not the actual Coldness of Water,
that quenches out Fire; for, Scalding-water will quench out Fire:
wherefore, it is the Wetness that quenches out Fire; which Wetness
choaks the Fire, as a Man that is drown'd: for, Water being not fit
for Man's Respiration, because it is too thick, choaks and smuthers
him; and the same doth Water to Fire: for, though Air is of a proper
temper for Respiration, both to some sorts of Animals, such as Man; as
also, to Fire: yet, Water is not: which is most proper for other sorts
of Animals, namely, Fish; as also, for some sorts of Animals that are
of a mixt kind or sort, partly Fish, and partly Flesh: to which sort
of Creatures, both Air and Water are both equally proper for their
Respiration; or, their Respiration equal to either: for certainly, all
sorts of Creatures have Respiration, by reason all Creatures subsist
by each other; I say, _By each other_, not _Of each other_. But, there
are many several sorts and kinds of Respirations; as concerning Water
and Fire, though a sufficient quantity of Water, to Fire, doth always
choak, smuther, or quench out the Fire's Life, if joyn'd Body to Body;
yet, when there is another Body between those two Bodies, water is in
danger to be infected with the Fire's heat; the Fire first infecting
the Body next to it; and that Body infecting the Water: by which
Infection, Water is consumed, either by a languishing Hectick Fever;
or, by a raging Boyling Fever; and the Life of Water evaporates away.
CHAP. XXIII. Of Inflamable Liquors.
There are many Bodies of mixt Natures; as for example, Wine, and all
Strong Liquors, are partly of a watry Nature, and partly of a fiery
Nature; but, 'tis of that sort we name a _Dead_, or _Dull Fire_: but,
being of such a mixt Nature, they are both apt to quench Bright Fire,
as also, apt to burn or flame; so that such sorts are both Inflamable,
and Quenchable. But, some have more of the fiery Nature; and others
more of the watry Nature; and, by those Effects, we may perceive, that
not only different, but opposite Figurative Motions, do well agree in
one Society.
CHAP. XXIV. Of THUNDER.
I observe, that all Tempestuous Sounds have some resemblances to the
flowing of waters, either in great and ruffling waves; or, when the
waters flow in such sort, as to break in pieces against hard and rugged
Rocks; or run down great Precipices, or against some Obstruction.
And the like Sound hath the Blowings of Wind, or the Clappings of
Thunder; which causes me to be of opinion, That Thunder is occasioned
by a Discord amongst some Water-Circles in the Higher Region; which,
pressing and beating upon each other in a confused manner, cause a
confused Sound, by reason all Circles are Concave within the Bow, and
Convex without; which is a Hollow Figure, although no Vacuum: which
Hollow Figure, causes quick Repetitions and Replies; which Replies
and Repetitions, we name Rebounds but, Replies are not Rebounds; for,
Rebounds are Pressures and Re-actions; whereas Repetitions are without
Pressure, but Re-action is not: and, Replies are of several Parts; as,
one Part to reply to another.
But for _Thunder_, it is occasioned both by Pressures and Re-actions;
as also, Replies of Extended Water-Circles, which make a kind or sort
of Confusion, and so a confused Sound, which we name _Horrid_; and,
according to their Discord, the Sound is more or less terrifying,
or violent. But this is to be noted, That as _Thunder_ is caused by
undivided or broken Circles; so _Lightning_ is caused by broken or
divided Circles, that are extended beyond the Power of the Nature of
the Water-Circle; and when the Circle is extreamly extended, it divides
it self into a straight Line, and becomes a flowing Flame.
CHAP. XXV. Of Vapour, Smoak, Wind, and Clouds.
_Vapour_ and _Smoak_ are both fluid Bodies: but, Smoak is more of the
Nature of Oyl, than Water; and Vapour more of the Nature of Water,
than Oyl; they are dividable: and may be join'd, as other Elements:
also, they are of a Metamorphosing Nature, as to change and rechange;
but, when they are Metamorphosed into the form of Air, that Air is a
gross Air, and is, as we say, a corruptible Air. As for Vapour, it is
apt to turn into Wind: for, when it is rarified beyond the Nature of
Vapour, and not so much as into the Nature of Air, it turns into some
sorts of Wind. I say, some sorts: and certainly, the strongest Winds
are made of the grossest Vapours. As for Smoak, it is apt to turn
into some sorts of Lightning; I say, apt: for, both Vapour and Smoak
can turn into many sorts of Metamorphosed Elements. As for Wind, it
proceeds either from Rarified Vapour, or Contracted Air. And there are
many sorts of Vapours, Smoaks, and Winds; all which sorts of Vapours
and Smoaks, are apt to ascend: but, Wind is of a more level action.
As for Clouds, they cannot be composed of a Natural Air; because
Natural Air is too rare a Body to make Clouds. Wherefore, Clouds are
composed of Vapour and Smoak: for, when Vapour and Smoak ascends up
high without transformation, they gather into Clouds, some higher,
some lower, according to their purity: for, the purer sort (as I may
say for expression-sake) ascends the highest, as being the most agil.
But, concerning the Figurative Motions of Vapour and Smoak, they are
Circles; but of Winds, they are broken Parts of Circular Vapours: for,
when the Vaporous Circle is extended beyond its Nature of Vapour, the
Circumference of the Circle breaks into perturbed Parts; and if the
Parts be small, the wind is, in our perception, sharp, pricking, and
piercing: but, if the Parts are not so small, then the wind is strong
and pressing: but wind, being rarified Vapour, is so like Air, as it is
not perceived by human sight, though it be perceived by human touch.
But, as there are hot vapours, cold vapours, sharp vapours, moist
vapours, dry vapours, subtil vapours, and the like; so there is such
sorts of winds. But, pray do not mistake me, when I say, that some
sorts of winds are broken and perturbed Circles, as if I meant, such as
those of Lightning: for, those of Lightning, are extended beyond the
degree of Air; and those of Vapours, are not extended to the degree of
Air: also, those of Lightning, are not perturbed; and those of Wind,
are perturbed. Again, those of Lightning, flow in Streams of smooth,
small, even Lines; those of Wind, in disordered Parts and Fragments.
CHAP. XXVI. Of WIND.
_Wind_ and _Fire_ have some resemblance in some of their particular
actions: as for example, Wind and Fire endeavour the disturbance of
other Creatures, occasioning a separating and disjoining of Parts.
Also, Wind is both an Enemy and Friend to Fire: for Wind, in some sorts
of its actions, will assist Fire; and in other actions, dissipates
Fire, nay, blows it out: but certainly, the powerful Forces of Wind,
proceed not so much from Solidity, as Agility: for, soft, weak, quick
Motions, are far more powerful, than strong, slow Motions; because,
quick Replies are of great Force, as allowing no time of respit. But
this is to be observed, That Wind hath some watry Effects: for, the
further water flows, the weaker and fainter it is: so the Wind, the
further it blows, the weaker and fainter it is. But this is to be
observed, That according to the agilness or slowness of the Corporeal
Motions; or, according to the number; or, according to the manner of
the compositions, or joynings, or divisions; or, according to the
regularity or irregularity of the Corporeal Figurative Motions, so are
the Effects.
CHAP. XXVII. Of LIGHT.
Water, Air, Fire, and Light; are all Rare and Fluid Creatures; but they
are of different sorts of Rarities and Fluities: and, though Light
seems to be extreamly Rare and Fluid; yet, Light is not so Rare and
Fluid, as pure Air is, because it is subject to that sort of Human
Perception we name _Sight_; but yet, it is not subject to any of the
other Perceptions: and, pure Air is only subject to the Perception of
Respiration, which seems to be a more subtil Perception than Sight;
and that occasions me to believe, That Air is more Rare and Pure, than
Light: but howsoever, I conceive the Figurative Motions of Light, to be
extraordinary even, smooth, agil Lines of Corporeal Motions: but, as
I said before, there are many sorts of Lights that are not Elemental
Lights; as, Glow-worms Tails, Cats Eyes, Rotten Wood, Fish Bones, and
that Human Light which is made in Dreams, and Infinite other Lights,
not subject to our Perception: which proves, That Light may be without
Heat. But, whether the Light of the Sun, which we name _Natural Light_,
is naturally hot, may be a dispute: for, many times, the Night is
hotter than the Day.
CHAP. XXVIII. Of DARKNESS.
The Figurative Motions of _Light_ and _Darkness_, are quite opposite;
and the Figurative Motions of Colours, are as a Mean between both,
being partly of the Nature of both: but, as the Figurative Motions
of Light, in my opinion, are rare, straight, equal, even, smooth
Figurative Motions: those of Darkness are uneven, ruff, or rugged,
and more dense. Indeed, there is as much difference between Light
and Darkness, as between Earth and Water; or rather, between Water
and Fire; because each is an Enemy to other; and, being opposite,
they endeavour to out-power each other. But this is to be noted, That
Darkness is as visible to Human Perception, as Light; although the
Nature of Darkness is, To obscure all other Objects besides it self:
but, if Darkness could
not be perceived, the Optick Perception could not know when it is dark;
nay, particular dark Figurative Motions, are as visible in a general
Light, as any other Object; which could not be, if Darkness was only a
privation of Light, as the Opinions of many Learned Men are: but, as I
said before, Darkness is of a quite different Figurative Motion, from
Light; so different, that it is just opposite: for, as the property of
Light is to divulge Objects; so, the property of Darkness is to obscure
them: but, mistake me not; I mean, that Light and Darkness have such
properties to our Perception: but, whether it is so to all Perceptions,
is more than I know, or is, as I believe, known to any other Human
Creature.
CHAP. XXIX. Of COLOURS.
AS for _Colour_, it is the same with Body: for surely, there is no
such thing in Nature, as a Colourless Body, were it as small as an
Atom; nor no such thing as a Figureless Body; or such a thing as a
Placeless Body: so that Matter, Colour, Figure, and Place, is but one
thing, as one and the same Body: but Matter, being self-moving, causes
varieties of Figurative Actions, by various changes. As for Colours,
they are only several Corporeal Figurative Motions; and as there are
several sorts of Creatures, so there are several sorts of Colours:
but, as there are those, Man names Artificial Creatures; so there are
Artificial Colours. But, though to describe the several Species of all
the several sorts of Colours, be impossible; yet we may observe, that
there is more variety of Colours amongst Vegetables and Animals, than
amongst Minerals and Elements: for, though the Rain-bow is of many fine
Colours; yet, the Rain-bow hath not so much Variety, as many particular
Vegetables, or Animals have; but every several Colour, is a several
Figurative Motion; and the Brighter the Colours are, the Smoother and
Evener are the Figurative Motions. And as for Shadows of Colours, they
are caused when one sort of Figurative Motions is as the Foundation:
for example, If the Fundamental Figurative Motion, be a deep Blew,
or Red, or the like, then all the variations of other Colours have a
tincture. But, in short, all Shadows have a ground of some sort of dark
Figurative Motions. But, the Opinions of many Learned Men, are, That
all Colours are made by the several Positions of Light, and are not
inherent in any Creature; of which Opinion I am not: For, if that were
so, every Creature would be of many several Colours; neither would any
Creature produce after their own _Species_: for, a Parrot would not
produce so fine a Bird as her self; neither would any Creature appear
of one and the same Colour, but their Colour would change according
to the Positions of Light; and in a dark day, in my opinion, all fine
coloured Birds, would appear like Crows; and fine coloured Flowers,
appear like the Herb named Night-shade; which is not so. I do not say,
That several Positions of Light may not cause Colours; but I say, The
Position of Light is not the Maker of all Colours; for, _Dyers_ cannot
cause several Colours by the Positions of Light.
CHAP. XXX. Of the Exterior Motions of the Planets.
By the _Exterior Motions of the Planets_, we may believe their
Exterior Shape is Spherical: for, it is to be observed, That all
Exterior Actions are according to their Exterior Shape: but, by reason
Vegetables and Minerals have not such sorts of Exterior Motions or
Actions, as Animals; some Men are of opinion, they have not Sensitive
Life; which opinion proceeds from a shallow consideration: neither do
they believe the Elements are sensible, although they visibly perceive
their Progressive Motions; and yet believe all sorts of Animals to have
sense, only because they have Progressive Motions.
CHAP. XXXI. Of the Sun, and Planets, and Seasons.
The Sun, Moon, Planets, and all those glittering Starrs we see, are
several sorts of that Man names _Elemental Creatures_: but Man,
having not an infinite Perception, cannot have an infinite perceptive
knowledg: for, though the Rational Perception is more subtil than the
Sensitive; yet, the particular Parts cannot perceive much further than
the Exterior Parts of Objects: but, Human Sense and Reason cannot
perceive what the Sun, Moon, and Starrs are; as, whether solid, or
rare; or, whether the Sun be a Body of Fire; or the Moon, a Body of
Water, or Earth; or, whether the Fixed Starrs be all several Suns;
or, whether they be other kinds or sorts of Worlds. But certainly,
all Creatures do subsist by each other, because Nature seems to be an
Infinite united Body, without _Vacuum_. As for the several Seasons of
the Year, they are divided into Four Parts: but the several Changes and
Tempers of the Four Seasons, are so various, altering every moment,
as it would be an endless work, nay, impossible, for one Creature to
perform: for, though the _Almanack-makers_ pretend to foreknow all the
variations of the Elements; yet, they can tell no more than just what
is the constant and set-motions; but not the variations of every Hour,
or Minute; neither can they tell any thing, more than their Exterior
Motions.
CHAP. XXXII. Of Air corrupting Dead Bodies.
Some are of opinion, _That Air is a Corrupter, and so a Dissolver of
all dead Creatures, and yet is the Preserver of all living Creatures._
If so, Air hath an Infinite Power: but, all the reason I can perceive
for this Opinion, is, That Man perceives, that when any Raw (or that
we name _Dead_) _Flesh_, is kept from the air, it will not stink, or
corrupt, so soon as when it is in the air: but yet it is well known,
that extream cold air will keep Flesh from corrupting.
Another Reason is, That a Flye entomb'd in _Amber_, being kept from
air, the Flye remains in her Exterior Shape as perfectly as if she were
alive.
I answer, The cause of that may be, that the Figurative Motions of
_Amber_, may sympathize with the Exterior consistent Motions of the
Fly, which may cause the Exterior Shape of the Flye to continue,
although the Innate Nature be altered. But Air is, as all other
Creatures are, both Beneficial, and Hurtful to each other; for Nature
is poysed with Opposites: for we may perceive, that several Creatures
are both Beneficial and Hurtful to each other: as for example, A Bear
kills a Man; and, on the other side, a Bear's
Skin will cure a Man of some Disease. Also, a _Wild-Boar_ will kill a
Man; and the _Boar_'s Flesh will nourish a Man. Fire will burn a Man,
and preserve a Man; and Millions of such Examples may be proposed.
The same may be said of Air, which may occasion Good or Evil to other
Creatures; as, the _Amber_ may occasion the death of a Fly; and, on the
other side, may occasion the Preservation, or Continuation of the Fly's
Exterior Figure, or Form: but, Nature being without _Vacuum_, all her
Parts must be be joined; and her Actions being poysed, there must be
both Sympathetical, and Antipathetical actions, amongst all Creatures.
The Thirteenth Part.
CHAP. I. Of the Innate Figurative Motions of Metals.
All sorts of _Metals_, in my opinion, are of some sorts of Circular
Motions; but not like that sort, that is Water: for, the Water-Circle
doth extend outward, from the Center; whereas, in my opinion, the
Circular Motion of Metal, draws inward, from the Circumference. Also,
in my opinion, the Circular Motions are dense, flat, edged, even, and
smooth; for, all Bright and Glassie Bodies are smooth: and, though
Edges are wounding Figures; yet, Edges are rather of the Nature of
a Line, than of a Point. Again, all Motions that tend to a Center,
are more fixt than those that extend to a Circumference: but, it is
according to the degree of their Extensions, that those Creatures are
more or less fixt; which is the cause that some sorts of Metals are
more fixt than others; and that causes Gold to be the most fixt of all
other sorts of Metals; and seems to be too strong for the Effects of
Fire. But this is to be noted, That some Metals are more near related
to some sort, than other: as for example, There is no Lead, without
some Silver; so that Silver seems to be but a well-digested Lead. And
certainly, Copper hath some near relation to Gold, although not so near
related, as Lead is to Silver.
CHAP. II. Of the Melting of Metals.
_Metals_ may be occasioned, by Fire, to slack their Retentive Motions,
by which they become fluid; and as soon as they are quit of their
Enemy, _Fire_, the Figurative Motions of Metal return to their proper
Order: and this is the reason that occasions Metal to melt, which is,
to flow: but yet, the Flowing Motion is but like the Exterior, and not
the Innate actions of: for, the Melting actions do not alter the Innate
actions; that is, they do not alter from the Nature of being Metal:
but, if the Exterior Nature be occasioned, by the Excess of those
Exterior actions, to alter their Retentive actions, then Metal turns to
that we name _Dross_; and as much as Metal loses of its weight, so much
of the Metal dissolves; that is, so much of those Innate motions are
quite altered: but, Gold hath such an Innate Retentiveness, that though
Fire may cause an extream alteration of the Exterior actions; yet, it
cannot alter the Interior motions. The like is of Quick-silver. And yet
Gold is not a God, to be Unalterable, though man knows not the way, and
Fire has not the power to alter the Innate Nature of Gold.
CHAP. III. Of Burning, Melting, Boyling, and Evaporating.
_Burning, Melting, Boyling_, and _Evaporating_, are, for the most
part, occasioned by Fire, or somewhat that is, in effect, Hot: I
say, _occasioned_, by reason they are not the actions of Fire, but
the actions of those Bodies that melts, boyls, evaporates, or burns;
which being near, or joyned to Fire, are occasioned so to do: as for
example, Put several sorts of Creatures, or Things, into a Fire, and
they shall not burn alike: for, Leather and Metal do not burn alike;
for Metal flows, and Leather shrinks up, and Water evaporates, and Wood
converts it self, as it were, into Fire; which other things do not;
which proves, That all Parts act their own actions. For, though some
Corporeal motions may occasion other Corporeal motions to act after
such or such a manner; yet, one Part cannot have another Part's motion,
because Matter can neither give nor take motion.
CHAP. IV. Of STONE.
All Minerals seem to be some kinds of Dense and Retentive motions:
but yet, those kinds of Dense and Retentive motions, seem to be of
several sorts; which is the cause of several sorts of Minerals, and
of several sorts of Stones and Metals. Also, every several sort, hath
several sorts of Properties: but, in my opinion, some sorts are caused
by Hot Contractions and Retentions; others, by Cold Contractions and
Retentions; as also, by Hot or Cold Densations: and the reason why I
believe so, is, That I observe that many Artificial Stones are produced
by Heat: but Ice, which is but in the first Degree of a Cold Density,
seems somewhat like transparent Stones; so that several sorts of
Stones, are produced by several sorts of Cold and Hot Contractions and
Densations.
CHAP. V. Of the LOADSTONE.