to _Argos_. That fire being fallen from heaven there-about, it was
afterward there kept within the Temple of _Apollo_; which if by chance
it came to extinguish, they lighted it againe anew by the Sunnebeames;
as also they did at _Rome_ that of the Vestals. And in _Persia_ their
sacred fire which they carried ordinarily where the King marcht in
person singularly reverencing it, for their respect to the Sunne,
which they adored above all other Deities; for they esteemed it here
below, their Image. They caryed it (I say) in great pompe and solemnity
on a magnificent Chariot drawne by four great Couriers, and followed
by 365 young Ministers, for as much as there are so many dayes in
the yeare, which describe the Sunne by its course, clad with yellow
guilded, the colour conformable to the Sunne, and fire, singing hymnes
to their praise. And there was amongst them, no crime more capitall
and irremissible, then to cast any dead carkasse or other uncleannesse
therein, or to blow it with your breath, for feare to infect it, but
they did it to give it aire, for in all this they hazzarded no lesse
then life; as to quench it otherwise in water: So that if any one had
perpetrated any grievous forfeit, to obtaine grace and pardon therein;
the best expedient then was, as _Plutarch_ puts in his first Treatise
of the first cold, to put himselfe in running water with fire in the
hand, threatning to quench it in the water if they did not grant his
request; but after hee had obtained it hee was not left unpunished for
his offence, but for the impiety that hee had forethought to commit.
And from thence it became a common proverbe mentioned in _Suidas_: I am
a _Persian_, borne of _Persian_ parents; what a strange _Persian_? yea
Sir, for us to pollute fire, it is sharper then cruel death. But all
this which may bee said of fire, and by the meanes thereof, hath not
yet been revealed, nor knowne by men: Is there any thing more admirable
then Gunpowder, so easy to make, and consisting of so few ingredients;
and so common Sulphur, Saltpeter and coale? which seeme to have been
mystically designed by the Ægyptians, by the three Celestial powers,
whence they alledge Thunder, Lightning, Tempests, to be conducted and
governed, _Jupiter_, _Vesta_, and _Vulcan_. By _Vulcan_, Sulphur; by
_Jupiter_, Saltpeter, full of aire and winde, as _Raymund Lullius_ puts
it, who well knew it, and its nature, and its effects if he would have
discovered them; and by _Vesta_ Coale; as well for the Terrestreity
that is in it, as for that it is incorruptible, being able to keepe
it many thousands of yeares within the ground, without alteration or
spoiling, which was the cause that they made a place and stage for it,
in the foundation of the Temple of _Diana_ at _Ephesus_: Saltpeter
is appropriated to the Aire; because it is as of a meane disposition
of nature, betwixt Sea water, and the Fire, or Sulphur, whereof it
participates, for that it is so inflamable, and saltish, on the other
side, resolving it selfe into moisture, and water, as the Salts do;
from whence it hath bitternesse and acuity; and as the inclosed and
retained aire, within the clouds, doth breake and lighten by the
impetuosity of Thunder, the same doth Saltpeter: But this will come to
better purpose hereafter in Salts. Moreover hee that can make powder
composed of certaine proportions of Sulphur and Saltpeter, and in
stead of Coale, with the Terrestrial scurf of Antimony, which must be
separated by frequent and reiterated ablutions of lukewarme water; may
come to an artificiall fire, not to bee disdained; of a powder, that
will give a small report; ’tis true that it is not so impetuous and
full of force, as the common. In regard of the invention of Gunpowder,
the relations of _China_ do cary, that by their ancient Chronicles it
is found out, that they have had the use of it more then 1500 yeares;
as also of printing. _Roger Bacon_, the famous English Philosopher,
who writ above 300 yeares agoe, in his booke of the admirable power of
Nature and Art, sets downe, that with a certaine composition imitating
lightning and thunder, _Gideon_ was wont to feare his Enemies with.
And yet that it is not formally as it is written in the 7 of _Judges_,
yet it is said neverthelesse more then sixscore yeares before the
divulgation of Gun-powder; see his word: furthermore there may bee made
perpetuall lights and bathes, burning without end, for we have knowne
many things that are not burned, but purified; but besides these,
there are other stupendious things of Nature and Art; for sounds may
be made in the aire, like thunders, and of greater horror then such
as are made by nature. And a little matter adapted to the quantity of
a thumb, makes a horrible sound, and shewes a vehement coruscation;
and this may bee done many wayes, by which every City and Army may bee
destroyed; after the manner of _Gideons_ Artifice, who with broken
pitchers and lamps, fire breaking out with ineffable fragor, destroyed
the _Midianitish_ Army, with only 300 men. These may be Granadoes and
fire pots. And to be short, nothing could better agree on all points
to Gun-powder; but these good men foreseeing the ruine that such
things might bring, made too great conscience to reveale it. To the
purpose of perpetuall fires, by meanes of most long durance; _Hermolaus
Barbarus_ in his notes upon _Pliny_, relates that in his time there
was an old Sepulchre opened in the Territory of _Padoua_, and therein
found a little Coffer, where there was a Lampe yet burning, although
that according to the inscription it must have beene more then 500
yeares since it was lighted. So that by this reckoning, it should not
bee altogether impossible to make fires, that will not be put out; for
wee see the same in many sorts of that which men call Grec; whereof
_Aristotle_ as it is reported heretofore composed a Treatise, which
could not bee quenched with water, chiefly Sea water, by reason of the
fatty and unctuous Salt mingled therewith, but they grow worser, and
waxe more fiery. But what hurt were there to stay thereon a little,
since likewise it is a question of Fire: Of Acornes steeped in wine,
afterward dryed and put in a mill so long till the liquor come forth,
which afterwards accompanied with other oyles besmeared upon quicke
chalc, Pumice stone, spectacle glasse, and Alum calcined together with
Soap, and other the like things, that hold their adustible impurities
in the bottome of a vessel, whilest that the oile by distillation
mounts cleare, neat, and purified, and lesse inflamable; but this
requireth a sufficient good fire; for the matches corresponding
thereto, make them of cotten yearne besmeared within the Lee: then bath
them in the oile, or liquor of Tartar, Saltpetring them over _Alum
plumed_, intermingled with _pitch_, _rozin finely bruised and beaten_,
or of _Colophon_. These fires of so long duration would seeme to us
a thing fabulous, if wee were not ascertained by authentique Authors
of that so famous a Lampe hung in a certaine Temple of _Venus_, where
there burned without ceasing the Stone called _Asbestus_, which being
once set on fire, never goes out. But some will say that that is also
a fable; I will leave others to decide it, and I will tell you what
befell mee, seeking nothing lesse then that, to meet with a substance,
conducted thereunto, by graduall artifices of fire: which being bound
fast within a Viall of glasse and sealed with _Hermes_ his Seale, that
no aire could any way enter in, might be kept 1000 yeares (after the
manner of speech) in the bottome of the Sea: and opening it at the
termination of so long a season, or when you shall please, you shall
therein finde a suddaine fire, (which when it sents the aire) will
light matches. We reade in the second booke of the _Maccabees_, chap.
1. vers. 20. that at the transmigration of _Babylon_, the _Levites_
having hid their sacred fire in the bottome of a well or pit, 70
yeares, after they found there a thicke water and whitish, who assoone
as ever the Sunbeames gave thereon, tooke fire.
These two Deities aforesaid, _Pallas_ and _Vesta_, one and the other,
chaste Virgins, as is also Fire; represent unto us the two fires of the
Sensible world; that is to say, _Pallas_, the Celestiall; and _Vesta_,
the Elementary here below, the which notwithstanding it bee more grosse
and materiall, then that above, tends neverthelesse alwayes upward, as
if it endeavoured to unmingle it selfe from a corruptible substance,
where it remaineth fixed; to returne free and exempt from all these
hinderances to its first Original from whence it came, as an imprisoned
soule,
_There is in them fiery vigor and celestiall Origin,
In seeds as much as our harmelesse bodies stay them,
And our terrene joints dull them, and our dying members_.
The other on the contrary, though more subtill and essential rusheth
out here below toward the earth, as if these two aspired incessantly
to encounter each other, and to face each other, in the fashion of two
Pyramides; whereof that above should have its basis planted in the
_Zodiack_, where the Sunne perfects his annuall course through the 12
Signs: from the point of which _Pyramis_, comes to cast here below
all that which is here procreated, and hath being, according to the
Astrologers of Ægypt; that there is nothing produced in the earth, and
in the water, which was not first sowed in heaven, which is there, as
a labourer to cultivate it, and by his heate, impregned here below,
with the efficacy of his influences, conducts the whole to its compleat
perfection and maturity, which _Aristotle_ also confirmes in his bookes
of Beginning and Ending. But the fire here below on the contrary at
the basis of his _Pyramis_, fastned to the earth, making one of six
faces of the Cube, whereof the _Pythagoreans_ give him the forme and
figure, because of its forme, and invariable stability; and from the
point of this _Pyramis_ the subtill vapours mount upwards, which serve
as nourishment to the Sun, and to all the rest of the Celestiall
bodies, according as _Phurnutus_ writeth after others. Men attribute
(saith hee) inextinguished fire unto _Vesta_, peradventure for that the
power of fire that is in the world, takes it nourishment from thence,
and that from thence the Sunne is maintained and consisteth. This is
that also, that _Hermes_ would inferre in his Table of _Emeraudes_:
That which is below, is as that which is above, and contrarywise, to
perpetrate miracles of one thing. And _Rabbi Joseph_ the sonne of
_Carnitol_ in his ports of Justice, the foundation of all the inferior
ædifices is placed above, and their heap or top here below as a Tree
inverted. So that a man is but as a spirituall tree planted in the
Paradise of delights, which is the earth of the living, by the roots of
his haires; following that which is written in the _Canticles 7. The
haire of thy head like purple, the King is bound in the Galleries._
These two fires then, the high and the low, who do know themselves,
and so one another, have beene no lesse unknowne to the Poets, for
_Homer_ in the 18 of his Iliads, having placed _Vulcans_ forge in the
eighth starry heaven, where he is accompanied with his Artisans endowed
with singular prudence, and who know two sorts of workes, which were
taught them by the immortall Gods, wherein they labour in his presence;
_Virgill_ in his 8 of the Æneads hath suffered him to set his shop here
below in the earth, in an Island called _Vulcanian_.
_Vulcans house, and by name, Vulcans earth._
To shew that there is fire in the one, and the other Region, the
Celestial, and Elementary; but diversly: Men make moreover four sorts
of fire; that of the intelligible world, which is all light; the
Celestiall participates of heate and light; the Elementary of light,
heate, and ardour; And the infernall opposite to the intelligible, with
ardor and burning without light; we see Lanthornes upon Mountaines
that burne on the inside, and other like called _Vulcans_. And it is a
thing very admirable, as one of the _Rabbins_ quoteth, that Sulphur &
Pitch that are so ready and easy to take fire, and continue so little
in their combustion being exposed to the aire, restrained neverthelesse
within the Earths intrails, it seemes they there renew themselves, and
multiply by their owne consumption, although their heat and burning
bee there much more violent without comparison, then here above.
According as wee may see in Mountaines that burn for so many continued
ages, and hot Bathes. This seemes to emancipate from the common order
of Nature by a secret disposition of Divine providence, who will have
them continue so; till the scurf and impurity of this inferiour world
be exterminate, with this infected stinking and corruptible odor; and
to banish it from hence and send it backe to hell for the punishment
and torment of the damned; whereof it is written in _Psal. 11. 6. Upon
the wicked hee shall raine snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible
tempest, this shall bee the portion of their Cup._ This fire there,
which is blacke, obscure, thicke, and dark, the more devouring and
burning it is, resembles that of some great coales of stone, which
conceive a most strong ignition, whereof it is spoken in the 20 of
_Job_ 26. _A fire shall devour them which is not kindled._ And more
particularly in the 4 of _Baruch_ 26. _Fire shall come upon them from
the everlasting to continue many dayes, and Devils shall a long time
dwell there._
[Sidenote: P. 72. Lamp.]
There where the Celestial fire is all clear and shining as a lamp,
whose flame should bee nourished with water of Life, mingled with a
certaine composition of _Camphire_, _Salnitre_, and other inflamative
matters. So that these combustible substances, whereof there are
infinite varieties, may endure very long, but it is true that it will
bee but a gentle and weak flame. And of the like, but more subtill
without comparison, the Celestiall bodies are nourished and fed, that
need but little nourishment, as approaching from spirituality. I can
tell you, being at any other time brought, to make the fashion of a
shining Sunne, in the darke, (it was a fire of a Lampe) so glittering,
that a whole great Hall might bee therewith rather dazled, then
lightened; _for this did more effect then two or three dozen of great
Torches, and yet in 24 houres used no more oile then I gave it, with
matches corresponding thereunto, which held no more then a nut shell,
for this was a Lampe of Glasse, plunged or dipped within a Globe of
Crystall as great as a head filled with vinegar, distilled three or
foure times; for there is nothing more transparent, nor more splendent.
Sea water is also good thereto, and much better then fresh water, how
pure soever it may bee; It it the Salt mingled among that gives it this
luminous brightnesse._
[Sidenote: ἰχὼρ]
[Sidenote: P. 75.]
[Sidenote: Tuffe p. 76. a kind of white Sand, or soft and brittle
Stone.]
But to returne to our discourse, some have thought that sith the
Starres receive nourishment, they should also vanish in certaine
periods of time, and others come in their stead; which were no other
thing then a separation of their clearnesse and light, with their Globe
of substance more grosse and materiall, by which they come to dissipate
themselves, and to vanish within the heaven; as vitall spirits within
the aire: whilest they are absented from some animated body, and
leave it void of life. So that by this meanes, their Globe from this
time forward would remaine darke as a Lampe, whereby light, which
before gave it light, should bee quenched for lacke of nourishment, or
other accident. This light or luminous fire is in the Starres, as the
bloud is in animals, or juice in vegetables, whereto _Homer_ seemes
willing to grant in the 5. of his Iliads, where he puts, that for as
much as the Gods do not live by bread and wine, as mortalls, but by
_Ambrosia_ and _Nectar_, so they have no bloud, but in lieu thereof,
a substance which they call ἰχὼρ which is as it were a
subtill saltish waterishnesse: hindering corruption in animals, and
all other composed Elements; but wee must here a little better cleare
this, for the great affinity that the Sunne and Fire have together:
Wee must then understand, that the Sunne arising by its attraction
elevates the spirits of the earth, which are of two natures, (a moist
vapour including, and a dry vapour included) are together exalted,
(saith the Philosopher in the 5. of his Meteors) the one hot and
moist, as is the Aire and Water, potentially; this which is properly
called Vapour; the other hot and dry, of the nature and power of fire,
called Exhalation. The first resolves into water, as raines, snowes,
hailes, mists, fogges, and other such moist impressions as are formed
of this vapour, in the middle Region of the Aire, for being grosse
and heavy, they cannot mount higher, but afterwards being thickned,
and congealed by the cold that resides there, they fall backe here
below, more materiall then those which were not mounted from thence,
and at last, all do resolve into water. The second, called Exhalation,
is subdivided into three kindes; the first, more viscous, grosse,
and heavy, is that whereof your fires are formed, which are called
_Castor_ and _Pollux_, otherwise _Saint Herme_; the _foole fires_, and
the like, which cannot mount higher then the low Region of the Aire:
the second is a little lighter, more subtill, and depured, penetrating
even to the middle Region, where thunders and lightnings are formed,
the wandring starres, _barres_ of fire, _cheurons_, and other such
inflamations. The third, is yet more dry and light, and more free from
unctuosity, almost of the nature of that Quintessence, which we observe
in _Aqua vitæ_ soveraignly depured: therefore it may mount not onely
to the highest Region of the Aire, and that of Fire contiguous; but
escape yet whole and safe higher then the Heaven, with which, for its
greatest subtilty and depuration which it hath gotten in this long
way, it hath a great conformity: For being come to the Globe of the
Sun, it is there perfected to concoct and to digest into a pure and
cleare light; for the nourishment, as well of it selfe, as of other
starres; the same that _Pliny_ toucheth in the 8 and 9 chapters of
his second booke: So that the Starres receive all their light and
nourishment from the Sunne, after that it hath been there concocted and
fitted, and not by the forme of reflexion, as from its raies, which
would lessen themselves either in water, or in a looking Glasse; for
all that which participates of fire, hath need of nourishment. This
is done as in the Animall, where the most pure bloud, comes from the
Liver to empty it selfe through the Arteries into the heart which
conducts it to its last perfection for the nourishment of Spirits.
But this must be understood, if these Exhalations and vapours finde
issue atwhart the pores and spongiosities of the Earth, to evaporate
upwards. But if peradventure it meet with Tuffe, or Sand, or the like
lets, and hindrances, which do contradict them, or let them, they stay
there and wax thicke, for procreation of minerals: that is to say,
a hot and a dry exhalation, in the nature of Brimstone, and a moist
vapour in the nature of Quicksilver; not vulgar, but a substance yet
spirituall and full of fume, from the assembling of which two, in a
subtill vapour, they come to procreate in themselves afterwards by a
long continuance of time, metals, and meane minerals, according to the
purity or impurity of their coagulated substances; and the temperature,
defect, or excesse of the heat that recocts them in the entrails of the
earth. Without going from my intention of the foresaid exhalations, I
thought fit to touch a little upon an experiment whereunto I arrived
by my industry, which I thinke will not be disagreeable. Take good old
Wine, and put therein a certaine quantity of Salnitre, and Camphire,
in a Platter upon a fire pan, within a Closet well firmed, that aire
cannot enter, and make it evaporate therein, and that there be no more
covering then the thicknesse of the backe of a knife, to give it so
much aire as it must have, to make it burne. This being done, shut
well your little window, that nothing may vapour out after you have
withdrawne the dish, or platter, from thence to 10. 20. or 30. yeares;
provided that the aire do not enter, and that the winde blow not in;
bringing in thither a lighted waxe candle, you shall see infinite
little fires capring as lightnings in the great heats of Summer, which
are not accompanied with thunders and lightnings, nor with stormes,
windes, and raines, having nothing but an inflamation of Aire, by
reason of Saltpeter, and Sulphur, which are elevated from the Earth.
Before wee passe from our intention of vapours and exhalations,
that no man doubts but do proceed from heat introduced within the
earth by the continuall motion of the heaven round about, and of the
Celestial bodies, whence light is accompanied with some heat that
it darts thereinto: Let us come to the experiments next approaching
to our sensible knowledge; wee see, that the fire leaves two sorts
of excrements, the one grosser, namely, Ashes; remaining in the
bottome of its adustion, that containeth Salt and Glasse; and the two
fixed and solid Elements, Fire and Earth: The other more light, and
subtill, which the fume carries upwards; that is, the Soote, wherein
are contained the two volatill and liquid Elements, called by the
_Chymists_, Mercury and Sulphur, and by the _Naturalists_, Vapour,
and Exhalation. By _Mercury_, is designed Water, or Vapour, and by
_Sulphur_, Oile, and Exhalation; Of Salt and of Earths therein, there
are found a very small quantity, yet sufficient, thereby to perceive
how the four Elements are found out in the resolution of all the
composed Elementaries: Take then the Soote of Chimney, but of that
which shall mount highest in a very long Chimney pipe, and in the very
top, where it must bee most subtill, thereof fill a great Cornue, or
an Alembic two parts of three, then apply thereunto a great recipient,
which you wrap about with linnen wet with fresh water. Give fire by
small quantities, the water and the oil will distill together, although
the water ought in order to issue out first. After that, all these two
liquors shall passe through the Recipient, and when nothing else shall
arise, increase your fire with faggot stickes well dryed, or other
like, continuing it for 8 or 10 houres, so long that the earths which
shall rest in the bottome bee well calcined: but for that they are in
small quantity put to more Soote, and continue it as aforesaid, untill
you have earth enough which you shall take out of the Alembic, which
you shall put into a little earthen pot, of _Parris_, not smoothed,
or in a little hollow pot. The water and oile, which you shall have
distilled may be easily separated by a glasse fonnell, where the water
will swimme above the oile: This done you shall rectify your water by
_Balneum Mariæ_, by redistilling of it two or three times; for oile
doth not mount by this degree of fire but by Sand; keepe them asunder
upon the earths, that shall be calcined within the said pot or cruset,
put their water thereon a little warme stirring it with a spit, so long
till the Salt which shall therein bee revealed by the fires action, do
totally dissolve it selfe into this Water; withdraw it by distillation,
and the Salt shall bee left you in the bottome, of the nature of
_Salarmoniac_, so that by pressing it, it will elevate it selfe. But of
this more plainely hereafter in its owne place, when we shall speake
of Salt. Of Earthes wee need not take much care, for wee must seeke for
the best in the Ashes, as also fixed Salt. So by the meanes of Water,
extracted out of ashes (we will here a little passe from Soote, a
little better to declare the subject of Earthes.)