Meteors, Book 5 – Chapter 3
The fifth Book.
Of earthly Meteors, or bodies perfect…y mixed.
THis last Treatise containeth such bodies whose chiefe matter is the earth,Earthly bodies. and are called perfectly mixed, because they are not easily resolved into the chief matter whereof they are generated. These are divided into four Kinds. The first be divers sorts of Earth: The second be Liquors concrete: The third be Metalls and Metallikes: The fourth be Stones.
This division is not altogether perfect, both for that there be many of these Minerals which partake of two kinds, and also for that the names of these kinds may be said of others. Yet minding as plainly as can be, to declare the things themselves; the controversie and cavillation of names, shall not greatly trouble us, especially seeing we pretend not to teach Philosophers, but such as need a ruder and plainer instruction. They may therefore be content with this division, which shall not serve them to dispute of these matters, but to understand the truth of these things that they desire. Of these foure therefore we will speak orderly and generally, not minding to treat of every particular kind (for that were infinite) but to open such universall causes, as they which have wit may learn (if they list) to apply unto all particulars.
Of Earths.
THe Earth is an element, one of the four, cold and dry,Of Earths. most gross and solid, most heavy and weighty, the lowest of all other in place. When I say an Element, I meane a simple body uncompounded. This Earth is no Meteor, but as it was shewed in the water, to the end there should be generation of things. There is no Element that we have which is pure and simple, but all are mixed and compound. Our fire is grosse and compound, so is our aire, our water, and our earth: but the earth notably and above the rest, is mixed. For the pure and naturall Earth is dry and cold; but we see much to be moist, and much to be hot. The natural earth is black of colour: but we see many Earths white, many yellow, and many red. So that first, the greatest part of the Earth is mixed with water, that maketh it to cleave together, with aire and some fire, which make an oylie, fat or clammy earth, as is clay made, &c.
Another great part is dried, not into the naturall drinesse of the first quality, but as a thing once mixed, and after dryed, either by cold, as sand, gravell, &c. or else by heat, as chalke, oaker, &c. And yet somewhat more plainly and particularly to discourse upon these causes, admitting the natural colour of the Earth to be black, of the water to be blue, of the aire to be white, and of the fire to be ruddy, it followeth, that upon the mixtion of these colours, or chiefe domination of them, all things have their colour.
The grosse substance of the Earth therefore being diversly mixed with other Elements, and those mixtures again being eftsoones altered by divers and sometime contrary qualities, hath brought forth so many kinds of earth, as clay, marble, chalke, sand, gravell, &c. Clay is mixed with fat moysture, taking his Colour of the mixture with red from white; but being cold, it is not so fruitful as Marble, which is not alwaies so moist as it. Chalke is an Earth by heat concocted, after divers mixtions, and dried up. Oker, both yellow and red, with such like, are of the same nature, with mixtion of red, more or lesse.
Sand and gravell, are dryed Earths, as it were frozen by cold: gravell is grosse and apparent; sand, though it be finer, is of the same generation, consisting of many small bodies, which are congealed into stones. Sand seemeth to be clay dryed by cold, and clotted together into small stones; whereof some are thorow-shining, which were the moist parts; the thick were of the grosse part: the same is gravell, but of greater stones consisting. The like judgment is to be given of all other kinds of Earth, whose generation by the similitude of these will not be very hard to find out. They that list to know the divers kindes of Earths, must have recourse to Plinius, Cardanus, Plinius. Cardanus.and other Writers, that recite a great number of them: but these are the chiefe and most common kindes.
Of Liquors concrete.
WE take not liquors concrete so largely as the word doth signifie, for then should we comprehend both the other kinds following. But only those liquors, called in Lattine Succi, which are as it were middle betweene metalls and stone, of which, some being fat and oyly, doe burne as Brimstone, Sea-coles, Jet, bitumen, &c. and the kinds of all these. Othersome do not burne, as Salt, Allum, Copperas Saltpeeter, &c. and the kinds of these.
Of the first sort, which are generated of Earthy and Airy Vapors, Fumes and Exhalations, the chief and most notable is Brimstone, which seemeth to be the matter of all dry and hot qualities that are in Earthly Meteors. The rest are generated of such like Vapors as Brimstone is, but then they be diversly mixed: as the coles have much Earth mixed with Brimstone; Jet seemeth to be all one but better concocted then coles. Of Amber is great contention, whether it be a minerall, or the sperme of a Whale: for it is found in the Sea, cast upon the shore. Now the Whales seed being of the very same qualities, is taken more and lesse concrete of divers hardness; some almost as hard as Amber: some softer, and some liquid: yet Cardan plainly defineth, that Amber is a Mineral. Whether he have reason or experience, contrary to the vulgar opinion, let them consider that list to contend. These Minerals that will resolve with fire, it is apparent, that they were concrete with cold: in that they burnt, it is manifest, they have a fat and clammy substance mixed with them, as the other kind hath not, which will not resolve so well with fire as with Water; which be salt, copperas, saltpeeters, &c. These burne not, being watery, Earthy, and not fat, unctuous, nor clammy.
These be of divers colours, black, as Coles, and Jett, because there is much Earthy substance mixed with their sulphurous matter. Some be sheere, as Salt, and Allome, having a substance Watery dryed, and concrete. Copperas is greene, because it hath much cold matter that is blue, mixed with it. Salt, the most common and necessary of all these liquors concrete, that be moist and not fatty, hath two manner of generations; one natural, and the other artificial. The natural generation is when it is first generated in the Earth; after commeth the water of the Sea, and is infected with it; out of which the Salt is againe artificially gathered. Of these liquors concrete, be those strange wel… and springs infected, of which was spoken in the latter end of the fourth book. Most notably Brimstone causeth the hot Bathes, and burneth in Aetna of Sicilia, and Vesuvius of Italy, Aetna and Vesuvius.casting up the Pumice stones, of which is no place here to treat.
Of Metals.
MEtalsMetals be substances perfectly mixed, that will melt with heat and be brought into all manner of fashions that a man will.
Of these the Alchymists say there be Seven kinds to answer to the Seven Planets; Gold, Silver, Copper, Tinne, Lead, Iron, and Quick-silver that they call Mercury.Mercury. But saving their Authority, Quick-silver is no more a Metal then Brimstone, which is as necessary to the generation of Metal as Quick-silver is. For they all agree, that all Metals are generated of Sulphur, that is Brimstone, which because it is hot they call the father; and Mercury, that is Quick-silver, which because it is moist, they call the mother: so by as good reason may they call Brimstone a Metall as Mercury.
Then there remaineth but Six perfect Metals; Gold, Silver, Copper, Tinne, Lead and Iron.
Of Gold.
THat most unprofitable and hurtfull of all Metals,Gold. Gold which most men dispraise, and yet all men would have, is of all other Metals the rarest: it is only perfect, the rest are corruptible.
Gold never corrupteth by rust,Why Gold rusteth not. because it is pure from poysonous infection, and most solid, that it receiveth not the Air into it which causeth all things to corrupt. It is perfectly concocted with sufficient heat and mixture of Sulphur: all other Metals either are not so well concocted, or else they have not the due quantity of Brimstone.
This opinion hath also place among the Alchymists,The opinion of the Alcumists. that because Nature in all her Works seeketh the best End, she intendeth of all Metals to make Gold; but being lett, either for want of good mixture, or good concoction, she bringeth forth other Metals, indeed not so precious, but much more profitable; and the less precious, the more profitable: for there is more use to the necessities of mans life in Iron and Lead, then in Gold and Silver; but either the beauty or the perfection, or at least the rareness of Gold and Silver have obtained the estimation of all men, so that for them is sold all manner of things, holy and profane, bodily and spiritual.
What paines do not men take to win Gold? Every man hath one way or other to hunt after it: but the Alchymist despising all other ways as slow, unnatural and unprofitable, laboureth either to help Nature in her work, as of unperfect Metals to make perfect, or else to force Nature to his purpose by his Quintessences and Elixars, so that whatby purging, what by concocting, what by mixing of Sulphur and Quick-silver and much other like stuff, at length he turneth the wrong side of his gown outward, all the teeth out of his head, and his body from health to a Palsey, and then he is a Philosopher, and so he will be called.
Of Silver.
SIlverSilver. the most pure Metal next unto Gold, hath indifferent good concoction in the Earth, but it wanteth sufficient heat in the mixture that maketh it pale.
It is found (as they say) running into divers veins, as all other Metals be, but this most specially, after the shape and fashion of a tree lieing along with a body or stock, of proportion like to the body of a tree, also with armes…, branches, leaves and fruits.
This Metal Silver lacketh sufficient heat, and therefore commeth neither to the colour, solidity nor perfection of Gold, and is generated in cold countries, neer unto the North and South Poles, in so great quantity, that the Husbandmen when they plow their ground, turn up silver among he clods in their daily labours, which they do hide and conceal, least the greedy Princes for Coveteousness of the Mettal, should overturn and destroy their land.
The Gold Mines are contrariwise most found in the hot Countries of India and Aethiopia, because in them is sufficient of heat for that unhappy generation.
This Silver also the Alchymists would fain make by Ai…; but Mercury the chief Master of the Work, is so subtile and so sly, that nothing can hold him, nothing can kill him: for if the glass be not very thick, he will soon break out of prison, and so there is nothing left.
Of Copper.
COpper in colour comming neerest to Gold, being not so solid nor massy (for of all Metal Gold is the heavyest) giveth way to Corruption, being infected with that green Mineral Copperas.
Hereof be divers kindes, Brass, Latin and such like, which differ in digestion; the Copper being purest, is of best digestion and neerest unto Gold: and so the rest in like degrees.
Copper is most like Silver in the weight and in the hammering: wherefore the Alchymists have learned to make it white, that it deceiveth mens sight and handling: but the Gold miths do easily try it, and by the taste of counterfeit Silver make Copper again.
Copper or Brass doth always grow neer to the Mine of Copperas, which running with it in the digestion or natural concoction, hindereth it of perfection, maketh it to stink, and to be eaten of a green rust.
Much adoe the Alchymists have to tu…n it into Gold, if it might be: they dispute very reasonably and conclude almost necessarily in their Talk, that it may be converted into Gold as a body that wanteth little of perfection, which may be easily added unto it: but in conclusion of the work, it is an harder matter to bring to pass, then it was to purpose, before they had done it, to build an Abbey at every Miles end upon Salisbury Plain, as one was minded.
Of Tinne.
TInneTinne. whereof great plenty groweth in the West parts of England, in beauty and colour commeth neerest to Silver, and of Silver wanteth nothing but solidity and hardness: for Tinne is raw and undigested metall, also very porose and compact, which causeth it to crash when it is broken or bitten: so it faileth of heat in the commixtion, and also sufficient digestion in the Earth: otherwise it is a fair and profitable metall, to serve the use of them unto whom Silver and Gold are not so plentifull.
Of Lead.
LEadLead. also found in great abundance within this Realm, is a raw and undigested metall as Tinne is, but yet of better digestion then commixtion: for it is mixed with a gross earthy substance, which maketh it to be in colour so black and so fowl to corrupt: so that of the same Fumes and Exhalations (which if they had been pure and well digested, if the place and matter would have suffered should have ben concrete into Silver) for lack of the same, Lead is generated, which comming plentifully, doth better service then Silver.
Of Iron.
IRonIron. the most necessary and profitable of all other metals (and yet as ill used of many as any other) is generated of such substance as Silver is, but mixed with a red Mineral which …ateth it with red rust, and also being of too extreame digestion, passing …ll other metals in hardness. And as other metals to the perfection of Silver want sufficient concoction, whereby …hey come not to the same hardness: …o Iron passeth and exceedeth Silver in …mmoderate digestion. But though it …ome not to the perfection of Silver, God forbid that all Iron had been tur…ed into Silver: for then we should …ore have missed it then silver or gold, …e want of which would hinder us …othing at all.
Of Quick-silver.
THough Quick-silver be no metal,Quick-silver. yet because it is the mother of all metals, something is here to be spoken of it.
There be divers and sundry opinions, both of the generation and also the qualities of it, which make the generation hard to find out. For if the quality were certainly agreed upon, there were an easier way found to try out the generation.
Some affirm that it is exceeding hot, and that they would prove by the swift peircing thereof into other things that be porose.
Others say it is exceeding cold, and that they prove by the exceeding weight of it. As for the peircing, they say it is caused of the exceeding moistness, of which quality both parts d… grant that it is. Concerning the generation, some have said that it is pur… and Elemental water: some again have thought that it droppeth out o… heaven, and is a part of the heavenl… stance. And others say that it is generated in the Clouds, and falleth down in the feilds in a Circle, on those round Circles which are seen in many feilds, that ignorant People affirm to be the rings of the Fairies dances.
It is certain that Quick-silver hath divers times faln out of the Clouds, as we have declared in the Treatise of Wonderfull and Marvellous Raine: but whether it so fall in …ircles it is doubtfull. The most probable opinion is, that it is generated of moyst Vapors of the Earth, coacted by cold, much like to Water, as Brimstone is of hot fumes, coacted by cold, much like to fire. And thus much of metals.
Of Stones.
STones,Stones. the fourth kind of Earthly mixed bodies have two manner of generations, by most contrary qualities for heat doth harden moist bodies into stones; and we see that, clay, it maketh exceeding hard brick.
Also the Thunderbolts in the clouds are generated by heat, as before hath been shewed. But cold doth by congealing, generate many more stones then heat doth; for the most part of all the stones that are digged out of the Earth, are generated by cold, which is able to convert any other kind of mixed substance into stone, as hath beene partly shewed in the nature of wels and springs, of which, there be some in England, which by their cold, turne wood, or any like thing into stones. I have seene a peece of rotten wood, which to sight was very light, and like wood, but in handling, a very stone that was taken out of such a Wel. Also of other things taken out of the Earth, turned into stones, I have seene and found my selfe, fl…s; with head and wings, very hard stones; also, I have seen a heart, a birds tongue, a beasts stone, a peare, a plumme, and divers other things turned into hard stones.
Of divers kinds of stones.
STones may first be divided into rude and beautifull: the rude containe those great Rocks,Rockes. which are generated by many small parts ioyned together, and the common pibble stones that be found every where in the Earth,Pibble stones. among gravell, and on the shore of the Sea, or bancks of the Rivers. These are generated of grosse and Earthly humours, congealed by cold: and because they be neither faire of colour, nor thorow shining, and also common, they are contemptible. The faire or beautifull stones, be either great or small. The great be as marble of divers kinds and colours, alablaster,Marble. and such like, which being hard and well concocted, may be polished and become beautifull. Their colour is as they are mixed, being uncongeled, so is their purenesse. The small are more precious, and they be either thick or pellucide. The thick be neither so faire nor so precious,Aehates. Jasper. Prassios. as the Achates, the Tasper, Prassios, &c. These consisting of a pure matter, and not very watery, are congealed into such stones. The clear stones be liquore concrete, as the Diamond, the Saphir, the Emerald, &c. they are praised for their greatnesse, hardnesse, clearnesse,Diamond. Saphir. Emerald. The praise of precious Stones. and faire colours, of which enough hath bin spoken, saving that some be of opinion, that these be generated by heat, becaus the best are found in hot countries, in the East, and in the South. Answer may be made, that the hotter the Air is, the colder is the Earth: so that reason is of small force.
Of the vertue of Stones.
SOme perchance,The vertue of Stones. would looke that we should make a long discourse of the vertue of stones, and would be well content that we should treat of divers properties of gemmes and precious stones, which matter though it be out of our purpose (which considereth only the generation) yet seeing it is not out of their expectation, some thing briefly, and yet sufficiently shall be said of the vertue of stones.
That vertue that is ascribed unto them, is either Natural or Magical.The vertue of Stones, either naturall or magicall, Magnes. Naturall vertue, is either that which is known to have a natural cause, or a natural effect, as the Magnes or Loadstone to draw Iron, which is by a simitude of nature, & such an appetite as is between the Male and the Female. Also, the said Magnes moveth toward the North, and as some say, there is another kind found in the South, that draweth toward the South. They say, that there are great hils of this stone in the North and South, which maketh it look that way.
Others bring a Mathematicall reason, which because it is more curious then can be understood of the common sort, not exercised in Geometry, I omit.
The Jet and Amber draw hairs,Jet and Amber draweth chaffe. chaffe, and like light matter, but being before chafed, for heat is attractive.
Also the precious Stone called Astroites, Astroites, a Stone moveth in vineger.moveth it self in Vinegar, the sharpnesse of the Vineger peircing it, and the aire excluded driving it forward.
These vertues because I have seen, I have set for an example; generally all other like naturall vertues, proceed of like naturall causes, which by their effect, the ingenious must seek to find out.
As for Magical Vertues, they be they which are grounded on no reason, or natural cause; which if they take effect, it is rather of the superstition and credulity of him that useth them, then of the vertue of the stones. As that an Emerald encreaseth love, a Saphir favour, a Diamond strength, and such like vertues,Albertus Magnus, of which Alberius in his Age, surnamed the Great, took paines to write a Book, which I suppose to be Englished.
To conclude with the cause why Stones melt not, as Metalls do, may be gathered by that which hath been said before, because they are congealed past that degree, and also because there is left in them no unctuous or clammy matter. Let this suffice for Stones; and and so the whole purpose is at an end.
OBSERVATIONS On Dr. F. his BOOKE OF Meteors.
By F. W.
LONDON, Printed for William Leake at the Crown in Fleet-street.
CHAP. I.
Of the Earth.
IT is a great Question amongst Philosophers, Whether the External and Visible Riches and Plenty which groweth and springeth on the face of the Earth: or the Internal and Hidden Treasure be more precious and valuable?
Flowers and Fruits, Corn and Cattel, and all other external terrestrial Births are of most rare and exquisite use for mankind: but the Earth is an Element not only beautified without, but most richly stored within with great Varieties of admirable Creatures, both pleasant, rare and profitable for humane Content and Conservation.
From this very Consideration the Philosophers of Old reckoned and esteemed the Earth as the first and most antient of all the Gods, and so stiled her *Ils l'appelloient lamere grand & la mere de dieux. Antoine du verdier En la Relligions de Pagens.The Grandmother or Mother of all the Gods. And the Heashens did not only honor the Earth as a Mother, but did adore her as a Goddess, giving her the names of Ops, Cibele, Rhea, Proserpina, Vesta, Ceres, and other Appellations to signify the diversities and several effects and vertues which she produced.
The Earth was called Ops, Ops.which signifyeth Aid, because she affordeth aid and comfort to all Creatures inhabitant on her: And Pausanias reports that neer the River Crasside in Greece, there stood a little Temple dedicated to the Earth, wherein she was adored Dea largi pectoris as the Goddess of the open and large brest, freely feeding all her Children which in numerous companies were ranged by her.
Her Robe was rich aud glorious, embroidered with the most pleasant flowers of all colours: and she was adorn'd with a Mantle of Tissue whose ground was a beautifull Green, signifying her great Plenty of all things wherewith Man-kind might be affected, as most valuable and precious; and such are her rich Mines of Gold, Silver, Copper, Brasse, and Iron: or yet more highly priz'd Commodities, as precious Stones, and rare rich Gems of all kinds.
CHAP. 2.
Of Metalls.
THe visible beauty of the Earth is obvious to every eye, which is not the subject here in hand: Her abstruse and hidden riches, Preciosa periculaterrae, as Boetius calls them; her precious Metalls and Mines, which force men to be so bold and ingenious, are the matter of this Discourse: These Aristotle calls Corpora perfectè mixta, inanimate bodies of compleat mixture, made up of Sulphur and Quick-silver, the veines of the Earth being composed of a fit temper for such production: Some Philosophers make the … of Metallum, from foreign, which signifies a change effected in the Subterranean Veines with long labour and much difficulty.
Some Naturalists are more short, and seem more plain; affirming, That Metalls is that which is plyable by the hammer, and hard: Stones are hard, but not plyable, and Wax and Mud are plyable, but not hard.
CHAP. 3.
Of the number of Metalls.
MEtalls are seven in number, as the Planets are; Gold, Silver, Amber, Iron, Lead, Brasse, Copper. Gold presenteth the Sun, Silver the Moon, Amber called Electrum Mercury, Iron Mars, Lead Saturn, Brasse Venus, and Copper Jupiter; or else the seven may be distinguished thus: All Metall is perfect, soft and pure as Gold; or it is pure and hard as Silver; or it is hard and impure as Iron; or it is soft and impure as Lead: And for Amber, it is compounded of Gold and Silver, as Cyprus Copper is made of Brasse and Iron, containing an equall substance of Brasse and Iron, which causeth that too much concocted, and high tincted is easily changed into Brass, and rechanged againe into Copper.