The Wonders of the Lodestone, Chapter 40 – Poem 2
Chap. 40. Of the slanders and abuse…, to …hich Loadstones, as also great men and their affaires, are lyable.
HItherto have I con…inued in rehearsing the various and …xcellent uses of the Loadstone, hereafter I will comprehend in few words, the abuses thereof, and those fables also which passing to and fro through the mouthes of men, have gotten some beliefe among the credulous multitude; especially such as that is, concerning Mahomets Iron Tombe, that hangs, as they say, in the Ayre, in a Chappell sceiled with Loadstones, which they who travaile as far as Mecha, doe constantly affirme to be false. This I conjecture to be sprung from another fable, somewhat neere of kin unto it, which Pliny relates of that Master-Builder Dinocrates, who began to cover with Loadstones the roofe of Arsinoe's Temple at Alexandria, that her Image or Picture might seeme to hang in the Ayre; in the meane time it fell out that the Artificer died, and Ptolomy also, who commanded this to be made for his Sister. Of the same kind are those fained tales of Serapion, that he could open doores and lockes, that he could stay Ships in the midst of their course, that he could extract nailes out of them, by the helpe of a Loadstone: Like unto this is that of Arnoldus de villa nova, who affirmed that the devils might be put to flight by this meanes, and that of Marbodaeus Gallus, who said it was the best Philter or Medic…ne to procure love, and that wives are by it reconciled to their husbands, and husbands reconciled to their wives; unto which his Commentator Pictorius, adds, this for a Surplusage; that it makes the possessors of it very acceptable to Princes▪ and eloquent; It is also an usuall thing with Couseners of plaine Countrey people, and for Mountebancks, under pretence of the vertues and effects thereof, to seek earnestly for credit and estimation to that plaister, which in Latine is tearmed Armarium, and is commonly called the weapon salve, having Sympathy with other things, & wrought upon by the Stars. Besides Famianus Strada, a man excellent for penning any kinde of discourse, hath feigned a notable couple of Tales, (and as I beleeve) to exercise his wit, and practise his writing, which because they are briefe and pleasant, or full of mirth, I shall not thinke much to set them downe here fully: The first is according to the Patterne of Lucretius his Verse, and treats of a most expedite nere way to write unto friends, without any Carrier, or sending of Letters, and that only by the helpe of a Loadstone after this manner.
Magnesi genus est Lapidis mirabile, &c.
A Loadstone of strange kind there is,
to which if you apply
Some iron substance, instruments
to write, then by and by
They draw not only vertue thence,
and motion amaine,
VntoUnto the Northerne Pole to turne,
and toward Charles his waine,
But also all, among themselves
in strange and wondrous sort,
Those instruments the Loadstone toucht
you shall see them resort
VntoUnto one place of motion;
yea, so that if by chance,
But one of them doe move at Rome,
the other will advance
It selfe to this, and though far off,
will instantly remove,
And turn to it with speed, by League
and Natures secret love:
Well then, if thou would'st understand
of thy far-distant Mate,
To whom no letter can be sent,
then take a plaine round plate,
That's large and wide, then write therin
the A, B, C, letters all,
In order, as by children learn'd,
these place on brims withall
Of this round plate, and in the midst each way
set downe the Iron Pen,
Which touch'd the Loadstone, that
It may be turn'd, and then
Touch any letter, which thou wilt:
by this example frame
Another table for thy friend,
in forme the verie same,
Having those outward brims alike,
and Iron Instrument
Toucht by one Loadstone, which thy friend
that to depart is bent,
May carry with him; then you must
among your selves appoint
What time the Iron Pen shall move,
and at the Letters point
Things so compos'd, if thou desir'st
for to salute thy friend,
Which busied is farre off from home,
in earths extreamest end;
Then take the Table in thy hand,
the turning Iron touch,
Thou seest the Letters on the brim,
dispos'd in order such,
As thou shalt need them to frame words,
to them thy pen direct,
Somtimes to this, and somtimes that,
thy purpose to effect:
Vntill that oft this Instrument,
thus turning all about,
Thou hast in order all thy thoughts
discribed and set out.
'Tis strange to be believ'd: thy friend
which is farre off doth see
The rolling Iron move with speed,
from all enforcement free:
Now here, now there, then he that knowes
this feat is at a stay,
Observes the Guidance of the Pen, toucht
and followes every way:
Hee reades the Letters that were
which being together brought,
He now perceives what needfull is,
which by this meanes was wrought.
Besides the friend when that he sees
the Instrument to stand,
May touch the letters, and rescribe,
and answer out of hand,
As he shall thinke conve…ient.
O that this way to write
Were once in common use, that all
might letters thus endite;
A Letter then more speedily,
and safely to and fro,
Might passe without all feare of theeves,
and streams to overflow:
A Prince might then dispatch himselfe
his owne affaires abroad;
We Scribes might part with inkie seas,
and change our black abode.
There is another Fable that followes after this, of a Loadstone called Chrysos, which doth not draw Iron, but Gold; and is framed according to the language and mind of Ovid:
Forte mihi puero putei super ore sedenti, &c
WHen being a boy, I sate
upon the brink
Of a deep pit, my ring
did fall and sink:
Of it I had no hope,
but then I saw
My Sire let downe a stone,
which gold could draw,
VponUpon a line; then straight
the ring arose
Out of the bottome, and
stuck very close
VntoUnto the stone, as fish
unto a booke:
My father spake, when
wondring I did looke;
Son, know this stone, the
fable is but short;
Deucalion and Pyrrha
in a sort,
Who comprehended all
of humane race,
That people might in earth
againe have place,
Threw stones behind their backs,
upon command,
Which softned were, and
changed out of hand
To bones, and to the faces
of mankind;
Although among them, some
as yet we find,
As undigested statues,
having much
Of marble hardnesse, shewing
they be such,
As from the stones have
their originall:
This Off-spring grew with care
distracted all,
As on the waters, fields,
and dens they fell,
Mounts that for mines of
ir'n, and gold excell,
The nature of the place
they did partake;
One bunts, another tils
the ground, some take
Their pleasure in the sea;
some others seeke
For veines of ir'n and gold
in everie creeke;
And every where with paines
and panting breath,
They seeke to find the cause
of sin and death.
Then mother Nature would
take from their sights
Those strong invitements
to all ill delights;
And to the inmost bowels
of the ground,
She drew, and mov'd them,
ev'n to hell, that found
They sarcely could be, and
yet here descends
Their furious lust, which knew
no bounds, nor ends:
They search things hid, and doe
unbowell all
Their mother, Earth; then
Nature did them call;
She said in wrath, What meane
yee for to doe?
What further end have you,
where will you goe?
Devoyd of metals all
the earth shall lye
And groane, before that you
can satisfie
Your appetite: she turning
doth behold
Magnesia's fields, with shame
not to be told,
She sees them very earnest
at their work,
Searching those secrets, which
at last did lurk
In the now digg'd out world,
almost thereby,
Seeking out gaines (their losse)
which therein lye:
She cri'd, O troop condemn'd,
ô groveling rout
Worthy of graves, which
you digg'd all about
Neere hell, and so she shak'd
the earth with might,
Opprest the men, and kill'd
them all out right:
Their limbs she mingled with
those clods of land,
Which they abused with
a wicked hand.
From the neere Stygian caves,
a smoakie flame
Took hold of th'earth and
members in the same.
These, thus confounded, into
stones were turn'd,
Their hue and colour seeme,
as if halfe burn'd:
Nor only this, but that
desire of gaine,
Which troubled them alive,
doth yet remaine;
As when they gathered gold
and ir'n, by Fate
They were supprest; so likewise
now of late,
Though senselesse stones, they do
well know their prey,
And with a two- fol
avarice assay
To draw it to them, now
this stone drawes gold,
The other ir'n: and so
the tale is told.
These wonders when I heard,
I laugh'd and said;
We all love gold so well,
I am afraid
That each man will be a
Magnesian stone:
My father pleased me,
his little one,
With fables such as these.
These and the like feigned Inventions, as all false rumours for the most part, so have they some truth or some thing likely to be true; for their originall from whence they rise, and their foundation whereupon they relye; for experience hath taught me, that by the helpe of the Loadstone, and an Instrument fitted for that purpose, it is possible that a friend may intimate his mind to another friend, being in the next Chamber, and that through a wall which is two foot broad in thicknesse, that he may thus impart to the other his intent and purpose, and answer to those things which shall be propounded unto him. This exploit was either never heard of before, or seemed altogether incredible. But that a man should by this Sympatheticall Needle communicate in speeches with his absent friend, as it were by an Epistle or Letter, his friend being in parts of the world so far distant, and placed out of the Loadstones Spheare of activity; It is a meere fable, and deceitfull imposture.
But that which happens to the Loadstone, the same is fatall, and doth▪ usually befall great affai… … all great men that are famous for their vertue, they lye open to many abuses and slanders, and are debased thereby.
What hath been extant in any place, or at any time, which Nature ordained for excellent uses, that either the devils cunning, or mens Leger de maine, hath not perverted to most horrible abuses? What man was ever famous for workes and miracles, of whom Histories have declared any thing true and wonderfull, upon whom fabulous reports have not fastened many absurdities & falshoods which they added unto the truth?
What are the lives of Saints, and those golden Legends, as they call them, but confused heaps of lies, feigned and written by men of brazen faces, and Leaden braines, I am easily induc'd to beleeve, that, concerning Gregory, surnamed Thaumaturgus, and other men, to be reverenced for the power they had to worke Miracles, their Cotempararies, and other approved Authors, have written many things that were true; But that I should give credit to all things which the Monkes of following ages have added, I can never be perswaded; Therefore it shalbe a wise mans part, neither to deny beliefe unto those things that are true, because of the mixture of things that are false; nor rashly to give credence unto things that are false, for the sake of those things that are true, but like a Sieve, to retaine those things that are weighty and solid, and to reject those things that are vaine and light.
Chap. 41. There is no lesse power in Christ and the Load…one to retaine things, than to draw them at first.
THe Loadstone doth not only by Invincible provocations sweetly draw Iron unto it, but strongly retaines it by indissoluble bands when it is drawne, untill it be pluckt away from it by violent hands; you may see Anchors in Goldsmiths shops hanging by the Loadstone whole moneths and yeares together; and put the case that a Loadstone of such great vertue might be had, that it could not be violently wrought upon by outward force, it would follow hereupon, that the Anchors should perpetually cleave to the Loadstone: Now just in the same manner doth Jesus the Corner Stone, the stone of our helpe, worke in our wils, it is by his grace that we are assisted in all things, and he causeth that it may not bee refused though we know not after what manner, as Augustine often declares. He doth also poure into the hearts of his chosen, such love and feare, such good acceptance of his favours, that they will never depart from him, and doth alwaies take heed lest there should be in any of them any unbelieving heart, to fall away from the living God.Hebr. 3.12. There remaines, we deny not in elect and regenerate, not only a power, but also a pronenesse and inclination to become Apostata's, to fall away totally and finally from God;1 Thess. 5. but faithfull is he which hath called us, and preserves our whole Spirit and Body, untill his glorious Comming, by whom we are comprehended rather than comprehend him: Having our foundation upon this Magnetick …ock, no showers or windes shall to our confusion, dash and shake us, no man shall snatch us out of his hand; nothing, whether present or to come, shall separte us from his love. Now unto him that is able to keepe from falling those that are his, and so present us faultlesse in his presence with exceeding great joy, be ascribed all glory, strength, and power, for ever and ever. Amen.
A short Prayer according to the matter and manner of one of St. Bernards devout rimes.
Magne Magnes, me dignare
Ad te totum inclinare, &c.
GReat Loadstone, doe not thus decline,
Me wholy unto thee encline,
Make my whole heart, sweet Lord, to hye
It self most quickly to apply
To thee with a devoted mind.
This base filthy dog that barketh,
This poor wādring sheep that bleateth,
This much wearied hart that brayeth,
Thy slow Servant that delayeth,
Draw home and let him mercy find.
So draw that I may follow thee,
So turne me, that turned I may be,
Conjoyne thy selfe unto my heart,
Anoynt it by thy Spirit, impart
To it compunction for sin.
Through inwards of this hart of mine,
Sinfull and guilty, force divine
Let passe, and doe not me confound;
But let my heart entire be bound,
With bonds of love, thy love to win.
Let my heart to thine be likened,
Let my heart to thine be joyned,
Let my hard'ned heart be pierced, love.
Let my Iron heart be wounded,
With wounds, O God, of thy true
Make my power, my will, my knowledge,
Obedience to thee acknowledge;
Make my barren heart be hungrie,
Eager…y and hotly thirstie
For thee, & for grace from above.
O Sharons Rose, thy leaves display,
Whose odour fragrant is alway;
O make my nostrils smell this sent,
And to receive with content
Above all delight some sweetnesse.
Pleasant Manna, purest honey
Sweetest wine, ev'n Nectar meerly,
In which nothing is that's bitter,
Be thou to me ever deerer,
Than worldly vain delightfulnesse.
Behold, I approach unto thee,
If I dare offend, O spare mee;
Behold, with willing mind I run,
Yet all unshame fastnesse I shun,
Reject me not I humbly pray.
Shew thy selfe most kind unto mee,
Me repell not, though unworthy,
Move all my heart unto thee still,
With holy love sill full my will,
That from thee I may never stray.
A Magnetick desire.
Achath Schaalthi יתלאש תחא
One thing have I desired,
Psal. 27 4.
MAny, O Lord, ask many
things of thee,
Those many given, then many
ills they be,
Few me suffice, though few
ask thee few things,
One thing to m… full sweet
contentment bri…gs:
This one I need, this one
will ever serve,
'Tis more than all, and more
than I deserve;
Give me this one, I shall
have wealth at will;
I sought this one, I'll seeke
it of thee still:
If that thou giv'st this one,
I'll thankfull be,
Draw me to Christ, who hath
redeemed me,
I may draw others, whom
he did redeeme;
This one I doe, than thousands
more esteeme:
Give this, a thousand thanks
to the I'll give,
I'll pay my vowes, as long
as I doe live.
FINIS.
Imprimatur:
Tho. Wykes R.P.Ep. Lond. Capell. domest. April. 29. 1640.
End of the text · Samuel Ward, The Wonders of the Lodestone (1640)