,pennsylvania ,schoenberg ,center for ,electronic ,text ,image 7http3_/_/dewey4library4upenn4edu_/sceti 74 ,transcriber's ,notes3 ,this e-book was prepared from a facsimile of the #affa first edition and contains spelling1 capitalization1 and punctuation inconsistencies typical of the era4 ,these have been preserved as they appear in the original4 ,printer errors have also been preserved4 ,those mentioned in the ,errata at the end of the book are noted with ,errata3 corrected text4 ,other obvious printer errors are noted with ,transcriber's ,note3 corrected text where the meaning might be unclear without the correction4 ,see also the printer's note preceding the ,errata1 which contains material omitted from the text 7the place where it should be inserted is marked in the text with a ,transcriber's ,note74 ,there are a number of sidenotes in this book1 most of which function as footnotes 7e4g41 citations to other works7 and some of which function as true sidenotes4 ,for the sake of clarity1 sidenotes functioning as footnotes have been converted to numbered footnotes1 with number markers at appropriate places in the text4 ,a character with a macron is represented by an equal sign4 ,e4g41 a indicates a with macron4 ,a table of contents has been provided for the reader's convenience4 ,,the ,,sceptical ,,chymist3 ,,or ,,chymico-,,physical ,doubts ,paradoxes1 ,touching the ,,spagyrist',s ,,principles ,commonly call'd ,,hypostatical1 ,as they are wont to be ,propos'd and ,defended by the ,generality of ,,alchymists4 ,whereunto is praemis'd ,part of another ,discourse relating to the same ,subject4 ,,by ,the ,honourable ,,robert ,,boyle1 ,esq2 ,,london1 ,printed by ,j4 ,cadwell for ,j4 ,crooke1 and are to be ,sold at the ,ship in ,st4 ,paul's ,church-,yard4 ,,mdclxi4 ,,contents ,a ,praeface ,introductory ,physiological ,considerations ,the ,first ,part ,the ,second ,part ,the ,third ,part ,the ,fourth ,part ,the ,fifth ,part ,the ,sixth ,part ,the ,conclusion ,printer's ,note ,errata ,a ,,praeface ,,introductory ,to the following ,treatise4 ,to give the ,reader an account1 ,why the following ,treatise is suffer'd to pass abroad so maim'd and imperfect1 ,i must inform him that 'tis now long since1 that to gratify an ingenious ,gentleman1 ,i set down some of the ,reasons that kept me from fully acquiescing either in the ,peripatetical1 or in the ,chymical ,doctrine1 of the ,material ,principles of mixt ,bodies4 ,this ,discourse some years after falling into the hands of some ,learned men1 had the good luck to be so favourably receiv'd1 and advantageously spoken of by them1 that having had more then ordinary ,invitations given me to make it publick1 ,i thought fit to review it1 that ,i might retrench some things that seem'd not so fit to be shewn to every ,reader1 ,and substitute some of those other things that occurr'd to me of the trials and observations ,i had since made4 ,what became of my papers1 ,i elsewhere mention in a ,preface where ,i complain of it3 ,but since ,i writ ,that1 ,i found many sheets that belong'd to the subjects ,i am now about to discourse of4 ,wherefore seeing that ,i had then in my hands as much of the first ,dialogue as was requisite to state the ,case1 and serve for an ,introduction as well to the conference betwixt ,carneades and ,eleutherius1 as to some other ,dialogues1 which for certain reasons are not now herewith publish'd1 ,i resolv'd to supply1 as well as ,i could1 the ,contents of a ,paper belonging to the second of the following ,discourses1 which ,i could not possibly retrive1 though it were the chief of them all4 ,and having once more try'd the ,opinion of ,friends1 but not of the same1 about this imperfect work1 ,i found it such1 that ,i was content in complyance with their ,desires2 that not only it should be publish'd1 but that it should be publish'd as soon as conveniently might be4 ,i had indeed all along the ,dialogues spoken of my self1 as of a third ,person2 ,for1 they containing ,discourses which were among the first ,treatises that ,i ventur'd long ago to write of matters ,philosophical1 ,i had reason to desire1 with the ,painter1 to latere pone tabulam1 and hear what men would say of them1 before ,i own'd my self to be their ,author4 ,but besides that now ,i find1 'tis not unknown to many who it is that writ them1 ,i am made to believe that 'tis not inexpedient1 they should be known to come from a ,person not altogether a stranger to ,chymical ,affairs4 ,and ,i made the lesse scruple to let them come abroad uncompleated1 partly1 because my affairs and ,prae-ingagements to publish divers other ,treatises allow'd me small hopes of being able in a great while to compleat these ,dialogues4 ,and partly1 because ,i am not unapt to think1 that they may come abroad seasonably enough1 though not for the ,authors reputation1 yet for other purposes4 ,for ,i observe1 that of late ,chymistry begins1 as indeed it deserves1 to be cultivated by ,learned ,men who before despis'd it2 and to be pretended to by many who never cultivated it1 that they may be thought not to ignore it3 ,whence it is come to passe1 that divers ,chymical ,notions about ,matters ,philosophical are taken for granted and employ'd1 and so adopted by very eminent ,writers both ,naturalists and ,physitians4 ,now this ,i fear may prove somewhat prejudicial to the ,advancement of solid ,philosophy3 ,for though ,i am a great ,lover of ,chymical ,experiments1 and though ,i have no mean esteem of divers ,chymical ,remedies1 yet ,i distinguish these from their ,notions about the causes of things1 and their manner of ,generation4 ,and for ought ,i can hitherto discern1 there are a thousand ,phaenomena in ,nature1 besides a ,multitude of ,accidents relating to the humane ,body1 which will scarcely be clearly satisfactorily made out by them that confine themselves to deduce things from ,salt1 ,sulphur and ,mercury1 and the other ,notions peculiar to the ,chymists1 without taking much more ,notice than they are wont to do1 of the ,motions and ,figures1 of the small ,parts of ,matter1 and the other more ,catholick and ,fruitful affections of ,bodies4 ,wherefore it will not perhaps be now unseasonable to let our ,carneades warne ,men1 not to subscribe to the grand ,doctrine of the ,chymists touching their three ,hypostatical ,principles1 till they have a little examin'd it1 and consider'd1 how they can clear it from his ,objections1 divers of which 'tis like they may never have thought on2 since a ,chymist scarce would1 and none but a ,chymist could propose them4 ,i hope also it will not be unacceptable to several ,ingenious ,persons1 who are unwilling to determine of any important ,controversie1 without a previous consideration of what may be said on both sides1 and yet have greater desires to understand ,chymical ,matters1 than ,opportunities of learning them1 to find here together1 besides several ,experiments of my own purposely made to ,illustrate the ,doctrine of the ,elements1 divers others scarce to be met with1 otherwise then ,scatter'd among many ,chymical ,books4 ,and to ,find these ,associated ,experiments so ,deliver'd as that an ,ordinary ,reader1 if he be but ,acquainted with the usuall ,chymical ,termes1 may easily enough ,understand ,them2 and even a wary ,one may safely rely on ,them4 ,these ,things ,i add1 because a ,person any ,thing vers'd in the ,writings of ,chymists cannot but ,discern by their obscure1 ,ambiguous1 and almost ,a,enigmatical ,way of expressing what they pretend to ,teach1 that they have no ,mind1 to be understood at all1 but by the ,sons of ,art 7as they call them7 nor to be ,understood even by these without ,difficulty ,and ,hazardous ,tryalls4 ,insomuch that some of ,them ,scarce ever speak so candidly1 as when they make use of that known ,chymical ,sentence2 ,ubi palam locuti fumus1 ibi nihil diximus4 ,and as the obscurity of what some ,writers deliver makes it very difficult to be understood2 so the ,unfaithfulness of too many others makes it unfit to be reli'd on4 ,for though unwillingly1 ,yet ,i must for the truths sake1 and the ,readers1 warne him not to be forward to believe ,chymical ,experiments when they are set down only by way of ,prescriptions1 and not of ,relations2 that is1 unless he that delivers them mentions his doing it upon his own particular knowledge1 or upon the ,relation of some credible person1 avowing it upon his own experience4 ,for ,i am troubled1 ,i must complain1 that even ,eminent ,writers1 both ,physitians and ,philosophers1 whom ,i can easily name1 if it be requir'd1 have of late suffer'd themselves to be so far impos'd upon1 as to ,publish and ,build upon ,chymical ,experiments1 which questionless they never try'd2 for if they had1 they would1 as well as ,i1 have found them not to be true4 ,and indeed it were to be wish'd1 that now that those begin to quote ,chymical ,experiments that are not themselves ,acquainted with ,chymical ,operations1 men would ,leave off that ,indefinite ,way of ,vouching the ,chymists say this1 or the ,chymists affirme that1 and would rather for each ,experiment they alledge name the ,author or ,authors1 upon whose credit they relate it2 ,for1 by this means they would secure themselves from the suspition of falshood 7to which the other ,practice ,exposes them7 and they would ,leave the ,reader to ,judge of what is fit for him to ,believe of what is ,deliver'd1 whilst they employ not their own great names to ,countenance doubtfull ,relations2 and they will also do ,justice to the ,inventors or ,publishers of true ,experiments1 as well as upon the ,obtruders of false ones4 ,whereas by that general ,way of quoting the ,chymists1 the candid ,writer is ,defrauded of the particular ,praise1 and the ,impostor escapes the ,personal ,disgrace that is due to him4 ,the remaining ,part of this ,praeface must be imploy'd in saying something for ,carneades1 and something for my ,self4 ,and first1 ,carneades hopes that he will be thought to have disputed civilly and ,modestly enough for one that was to play the ,antagonist and the ,sceptick4 ,and if he any where seem to sleight his ,adversaries ,tenents and ,arguments1 he is willing to have it look'd upon as what he was induc'd to1 not so much by his ,opinion of them1 as the ,examples of ,themistius and ,philoponus1 and the custom of such kind of ,disputes4 ,next1 ,in case that some of his ,arguments shall not be thought of the most ,cogent sort that may be1 he hopes it will be consider'd that it ought not to be ,expected1 that they should be ,so4 ,for1 his ,part being chiefly but to propose ,doubts and ,scruples1 he does enough1 if he shews that his ,adversaries ,arguments are not strongly ,concluding1 though his own be not so neither4 ,and if there should appear any disagreement betwixt the things he delivers in divers passages1 he hopes it will be consider'd1 that it is not necessary that all the things a ,sceptick ,proposes1 should be consonant2 since it being his work to ,suggest doubts against the ,opinion he questions1 it is allowable for him to propose two or more severall ,hypotheses about the same thing3 ,and to say that it may be accounted for this way1 or that way1 or the other ,way1 though these wayes be perhaps inconsistent among ,themselves4 ,because it is enough for him1 if either of the proposed ,hypotheses be but as probable as that he calls a question4 ,and if he proposes many that are ,each of them probable1 he does the more satisfie his doubts1 by making it appear the more difficult to be sure1 that that which they alwayes differ from is the true4 ,and our ,carneades by holding the ,negative1 he has this ,advantage1 that if among all the ,instances he brings to invalidate all the ,vulgar ,doctrine of those he ,disputes with1 any one be ,irrefragable1 that alone is sufficient to overthrow a ,doctrine which ,universally asserts what he opposes4 ,for1 it cannot be true1 that all ,bodies whatsoever that are reckon'd among the ,perfectly mixt ,ones1 are ,compounded of such a ,determinate ,number of such or such ,ingredients1 in case any one such ,body can be produc'd1 that is not so compounded2 and he hopes too1 that ,accurateness will be the less expected from him1 because his undertaking obliges him to maintain such ,opinions in ,chymistry1 and that chiefly by ,chymical ,arguments1 as are ,contrary to the very ,principles of the ,chymists2 ,from whose writings it is not ,therefore like he should receive any intentionall ,assistance1 except from some ,passages of the ,bold and ,ingenious ,helmont1 with whom he yet disagrees in many things 7which reduce him to explicate ,divers ,chymical ,phaenomena1 according to other ,notions27 ,and of whose ,ratiocinations1 not only some seem very ,extravagant1 but even the ,rest are not wont to be as considerable as his ,experiments4 ,and though it be ,true indeed1 that some ,aristotelians have occasionally written against the ,chymical ,doctrine he ,oppugnes1 yet since they have done it according to their ,principles1 ,and since our ,carneades must as well oppose their ,hypothesis as that of the ,spagyrist1 he was fain to fight his ,adversaries with their own ,weapons1 ,those of the ,peripatetick being ,improper1 if not hurtfull for a ,person of his ,tenents2 besides that those ,aristotelians1 7at ,least1 those he met with17 that have written against the ,chymists1 seem to have had so little ,experimental ,knowledge in ,chymical ,matters1 that by their frequent ,mistakes and unskilfull ,way of ,oppugning1 they have too often expos'd ,themselves to the ,derision of their ,adversaries1 for writing so ,confidently against what they appear so little to understand4 ,and ,lastly1 ,carneades hopes1 he shall doe the ,ingenious this ,piece of service1 that by having ,thus drawn the ,chymists ,doctrine out of their ,dark and ,smoakie ,laboratories1 and both brought it into the open light1 and shewn the weakness of their ,proofs1 that have hitherto been wont to be brought for it1 either ,judicious ,men shall henceforth be allowed calmly and after due information to disbelieve it1 or those abler ,chymists1 that are zealous for the reputation of it1 will be oblig'd to speak plainer then hitherto has been done1 and maintain it by better ,experiments and ,arguments then ,those ,carneades hath examin'd3 so ,that he hopes1 the ,curious will one ,way or other ,derive either satisfaction or instruction from his endeavours4 ,and as he is ready to make good the profession he makes in the close of his ,discourse1 he being ready to be better inform'd1 so he expects either to be indeed inform'd1 or to be let alone4 ,for ,though if any ,truly knowing ,chymists shall ,think fit in a civil and rational way to shew him any truth touching the matter in ,dispute ,that he yet discernes not1 ,carneades will not refuse either to admit1 or to own a ,conviction3 yet if any impertinent ,person shall1 either to get ,himself a ,name1 or for what other end soever1 wilfully or carelesly mistake the ,state of the ,controversie1 or the sence of his ,arguments1 or shall rail instead of arguing1 as hath been done of ,late in ,print by divers ,chymists2#a or lastly1 shall write against them in a canting way2 ,i mean1 shall express himself in ambiguous or obscure termes1 or argue from experiments not intelligibly enough ,deliver'd1 ,carneades professes1 ,that he values his time so much1 as not to think the answering such ,trifles worth the loss of it4 ,footnote #a3 ,g4 and ,f4 and ,h4 and others1 in their books against one another4 ,and now having said thus much for ,carneades1 ,i hope the ,reader will give me leave to say something too for my self4 ,and first1 if some morose ,readers shall find fault with my having made the ,interlocutors upon occasion complement with one another1 and that ,i have almost all along written these ,dialogues in a stile more ,fashionable then ,that of meer scholars is wont to be1 ,i hope ,i shall be excus'd by them that shall consider1 that to keep a due decorum in the ,discourses1 it was fit that in a book written by a ,gentleman1 and wherein only ,gentlemen are introduc'd as speakers1 the ,language should be more smooth1 and the ,expressions more civil than is usual in the more ,scholastick way of writing4 ,and indeed1 ,i am not sorry to have this ,opportunity of giving an example how to manage even ,disputes with ,civility2 whence perhaps some ,readers will be assisted to discern a ,difference betwixt ,bluntness of speech and ,strength of reason1 and find that a man may be a ,champion for ,truth1 without being an ,enemy to ,civility2 and may confute an ,opinion without railing at ,them that hold it2 ,to whom he that desires to convince and not to provoke them1 must make some amends by his ,civility to their ,persons1 for his severity to their mistakes2 and must say as little else as he can1 to displease them1 when he says that they are in an error4 ,but perhaps other ,readers will be less apt to find fault with the ,civility of my ,disputants1 than the ,chymists will be1 upon the reading of some ,passages of the following ,dialogue1 to accuse ,carneades of ,asperity4 ,but if ,i have made my ,sceptick sometimes speak sleightingly of the ,opinions he opposes1 ,i hope it will not be found that ,i have done any more1 than became the ,part he was to act of an ,opponent3 ,especially1 if what ,i have made him say be compar'd with what the ,prince of the ,romane ,orators himself makes both great ,persons and ,friends say of one anothers ,opinions1 in his excellent ,dialogues1 ,de ,natura ,deorum3 ,and ,i shall scarce be suspected of ,partiality1 in the case1 by them that take ,notice that there is full as much 7if not far more7 liberty of sleighting their ,adversaries ,tenents to be met with in the ,discourses of those with whom ,carneades disputes4 ,nor needed ,i make the ,interlocutors speak otherwise then freely in a ,dialogue1 wherein it was sufficiently intimated1 that ,i meant not to declare my own ,opinion of the ,arguments propos'd1 much lesse of the whole ,controversy it self otherwise than as it may by an attentive ,reader be guess'd at by some ,passages of ,carneades3 7,i say1 some ,passages1 because ,i make not all that he says1 especially in the heat of ,disputation1 mine17 partly in this ,discourse1 and partly in some other ,dialogues betwixt the same speakers 7though they treat not immediately of the ,elements7 which have long layn by me1 and expect the ,entertainment that these present ,discourses will meet with4 ,and indeed they will much mistake me1 that shall conclude from what ,i now publish1 that ,i am at ,defyance with ,chymistry1 or would make my ,readers so4 ,i hope the ,specimina ,i have lately publish'd of an attempt to shew the usefulness of ,chymical ,experiments to ,contemplative ,philosophers1 will give those that shall read them other thoughts of me3 ,i had a design 7but wanted opportunity7 to publish with these ,papers an ,essay ,i have lying by me1 the greater part of which is ,apologetical for one sort of ,chymists4 ,and at least1 as for those that know me1 ,i hope the pain ,i have taken in the fire will both convince them1 that ,i am far from being an ,enemy to the ,chymists ,art1 7though ,i am no friend to many that disgrace it by professing it17 and perswade them to believe me when ,i declare that ,i distinguish betwixt those ,chymists that are either ,cheats1 or but ,laborants1 and the true ,adepti2 ,by whom1 could ,i enjoy their ,conversation1 ,i would both willingly and thankfully be instructed2 especially concerning the ,nature and ,generation of ,metals3 ,and possibly1 those that know how little ,i have remitted of my former addictedness to make ,chymical ,experiments1 will easily believe1 that one of the chief ,designes of this ,sceptical ,discourse was1 not so much to discredit ,chymistry1 as to give an occasion and a kind of necessity to the more knowing ,artists to lay aside a little of their over-great ,reservedness1 either explicate or prove the ,chymical ,theory better than ordinary ,chymists have done1 or by enriching us with some of their nobler secrets to evince that ,their art is able to make amends even for the deficiencies of their ,theory3 ,and thus much ,i shall here make bold to add1 that we shall much undervalue ,chymistry1 if we imagine1 that it cannot teach us things farr more useful1 not only to ,physick but to ,philosophy1 than those that are hitherto known to vulgar ,chymists4 ,and yet as for inferiour ,spagyrists themselves1 they have by their labours deserv'd so well of the ,common-wealth of ,learning1 that methinks 'tis ,pity they should ever misse the ,truth which they have so industriously sought4 ,and though ,i be no ,admirer of the ,theorical ,part of their ,art1 yet my conjectures will much deceive me1 if the ,practical ,part be not much more cultivated than hitherto it has been1 and do not both employ ,philosophy and ,philosophers1 and help to make men such4 ,nor would ,i that have been diverted by other ,studies as well as affairs1 be thought to pretend being a profound ,spagyrist1 by finding so many faults in the ,doctrine wherein the ,generality of ,chymists scruples not to ,acquiesce3 ,for besides that 'tis most commonly far easier to frame ,objections against any propos'd ,hypothesis1 than to propose an ,hypothesis not lyable to ,objections 7besides this ,i say7 'tis no such great matter1 if whereas ,beginners in ,chymistry are commonly at once imbu'd with the ,theory and ,operations of their profession1 ,i who had the good ,fortune to ,learn the ,operations from illiterate ,persons1 upon whose credit ,i was not ,tempted to take up any opinion about them1 should consider things with lesse prejudice1 and consequently with other ,eyes than the ,generality of ,learners2 ,and should be more dispos'd to accommodate the ,phaenomena that occur'd to me to other ,notions than to those of the ,spagyrists4 ,and having at first entertain'd a suspition ,that the ,vulgar ,principles were lesse ,general and comprehensive1 or lesse considerately ,deduc'd from ,chymical ,operations1 than was believ'd2 it was not uneasie for me both to ,take notice of divers ,phaenomena1 overlook'd by prepossest ,persons1 that seem'd not to suite so well with the ,hermetical ,doctrine2 and1 to devise some ,experiments likely to furnish me with ,objections against it1 not known to many1 that having practis'd ,chymistry longer perchance then ,i have yet liv'd1 may have far more ,experience1 ,than ,i1 of particular processes4 ,to conclude1 whether the ,notions ,i have propos'd1 and the ,experiments ,i have communicated1 be considerable1 or not1 ,i willingly leave others to ,judge2 and ,this only ,i shall say for my ,self1 ,that ,i have endeavour'd to deliver matters of ,fact1 so faithfully1 that ,i may as well assist the lesse skilful ,readers to examine the ,chymical ,hypothesis1 as provoke the ,spagyrical ,philosophers to illustrate it3 which if they do1 and that either the ,chymical opinion1 or the ,peripatetick1 or any other ,theory of the ,elements differing from that ,i am most inclin'd to1 shall be intelligibly explicated1 and duly prov'd to me2 what ,i have hitherto discours'd will not hinder it from making a ,proselyte of a ,person that ,loves ,fluctuation of ,judgment little enough to be willing to be eas'd of it by any thing but ,error4 ,,physiological ,,considerations ,touching ,the experiments wont to be employed to evince either the ,,iv ,peripatetick ,elements1 or the ,,iii ,chymical ,principles of ,mixt ,bodies4 ,part of the ,first ,dialogue4 ,i ,perceive that divers of my ,friends have thought it very strange to hear me speak so irresolvedly1 as ,i have been wont to do1 concerning those things which some take to be the ,elements1 and others to be the ,principles of all mixt ,bodies4 ,but ,i blush not to acknowledge that ,i much lesse scruple to confess that ,i ,doubt1 when ,i do so1 then to profess that ,i ,know what ,i do not3 ,and ,i should have much stronger ,expectations then ,i dare yet entertain1 to see ,philosophy solidly establish't1 if men would more carefully distinguish those things that they know1 from those that they ignore or do but think1 and then explicate clearly the things they conceive they understand1 acknowledge ingenuously what it is they ignore1 and profess so candidly their ,doubts1 that the industry of intelligent persons might be set on work to make further enquiries1 and the easiness of less discerning ,men might not be impos'd on4 ,but because a more particular accompt will probably be expected of my unsatisfyedness not only with the ,peripatetick1 but with the ,chymical ,doctrine of the ,primitive ,ingredients of ,bodies3 ,it may possibly serve to satisfy others of the excusableness of my disatisfaction to peruse the ensuing ,relation of what passed a while since at a meeting of persons of several opinions1 in a place that need not here be named2 where the subject whereof we have been speaking1 was amply and variously discours'd of4 ,it was on one of the fairest dayes of this ,summer that the inquisitive ,eleutherius came to invite me to make a visit with him to his friend ,carneades4 ,i readily consented to this motion1 telling him that if he would but permit me to go first and make an excuse at a place not far off1 where ,i had at that hour appointed to meet1 but not about a business either of moment1 or that could not well admit of a delay1 ,i would presently wait on him1 because of my knowing ,carneades to be so conversant with nature and with ,furnaces1 and so unconfin'd to vulgar ,opinions1 that he would probably by some ingenious ,paradox or other1 give our mindes at least a pleasing ,exercise1 and perhaps enrich them with some solid instruction4 ,eleutherius then first going with me to the place where my ,apology was to be made1 ,i accompanied him to the lodging of ,carneades1 where when we were come1 we were told by the ,servants1 that he was retired with a couple of ,friends 7whose names they also told us7 to one of the ,arbours in his ,garden1 to enjoy under its coole shades a delightful protection from the yet troublesome heat of the ,sun4 ,eleutherius being perfectly acquainted with that ,garden immediately led me to the ,arbour1 and relying on the intimate familiarity that had been long cherish'd betwixt him and ,carneades2 in spight of my ,reluctancy to what might look like an intrusion upon his privacy1 drawing me by the hand1 he abruptly entered the ,arbour1 where we found ,carneades1 ,philoponus1 and ,themistius1 sitting close about a little round ,table1 on which besides paper1 pen1 and inke1 there lay two or three open ,books2 ,carneades appeared not at all troubled at this surprise1 but rising from the ,table1 received his ,friend with open looks and armes1 and welcoming me also with his wonted freedom and civility1 invited us to rest our selves by him1 which1 as soon as we had exchanged with his two ,friends 7who were ours also7 the civilities accustomed on such occasions1 we did4 ,and he presently after we had seated our selves1 shutting the ,books that lay open1 and turning to us with a smiling countenance seemed ready to begin some such unconcerning discourse as is wont to pass or rather waste the time in promiscuous companies4 ,but ,eleutherius guessing at what he meant to do1 prevented him by telling him1 ,i perceive ,carneades by the books that you have been now shutting1 and much more by the posture wherein ,i found ,persons qualifi'd ,errata3 so qualify'd to discourse of serious matters2 and so accustom'd to do it1 that you three were before our coming1 engag'd in some ,philosophical conference1 which ,i hope you will either prosecute1 and allow us to be partakers of1 in recompence of the freedome we have us'd in presuming to surprise you1 or else give us leave to repair the injury we should otherwise do you1 by leaving you to the freedom we have interrupted1 and punishing our selves for our boldness by depriving our selves of the happiness of your company4 ,with these last words he and ,i rose up1 as if we meant to be gone1 ,but ,carneades suddenly laying hold on his arme1 and stopping him by it1 smileingly told him1 ,we are not so forward to lose good company as you seem to imagine2 especially since you are pleas'd to desire to be present at what we shall say1 about such a ,subject as that ,you found us considering4 ,for that1 being the number of the ,elements1 ,principles1 or ,materiall ,ingredients of ,bodies1 is an enquiry whose truth is of that ,importance1 and of that ,difficulty1 that it may as well deserve as require to be searched into by such skilfull ,indagators of ,nature as your selves4 ,and therefore we sent to invite the bold and acute ,leucippus to lend us some light by his ,atomical ,paradox1 upon which we expected such pregnant hints1 that 'twas not without a great deal of trouble that we had lately word brought us that he was not to be found2 and we had likewise begg'd the ,assistance of your presence and thoughts1 had not the messenger we employ'd to ,leucippus inform'd us1 that as he was going1 he saw you both pass by towards another part of the ,town2 ,and this frustrated expectation of ,leucippus his company1 who told me but last night that he would be ready to give me a meeting where ,i pleas'd to day1 having very long suspended our conference about the freshly mention'd ,subject1 it was so newly begun when you came in1 that we shall scarce need to repeat any thing to acquaint you with what has pass'd betwixt us before your arrival1 so that ,i cannot but look upon it as a fortunate ,accident that you should come so seasonably1 to be not hearers alone1 but we hope ,interlocutors at our conference4 ,for we shall not only allow of your presence at it1 but desire your ,assistance in it2 which ,i adde both for other reasons1 and because though these learned ,gentlemen 7sayes he1 turning to his two friends7 need not fear to discourse before any ,auditory1 provided it be intelligent enough to understand them1 yet for my part 7continues he with a new smile17 ,i shall not dare to vent my unpremeditated thoughts before two such ,criticks1 unless by promising to take your turnes of speaking1 ,you will allow me mine of quarrelling1 with what has been said4 ,he and his friends added divers things to convince us that they were both desirous that we should hear them1 and resolved against our doing so1 unless we allowed them sometimes to hear us4 ,elutherius ,transcriber's ,note3 ,eleutherius after having a while fruitlesly endeavoured to obtain leave to be silent promis'd he would not be so alwayes1 provided that he were permitted according to the freedom of his ,genious and ,principles to side with one of them in the managing of one ,argument1 and1 if he saw cause1 with his ,antagonist1 in the ,prosecution of another1 without being confin'd to stick to any one party or ,opinion1 which was after some debate accorded him4 ,but ,i conscious to my own ,disability's told them resolutely that ,i was as much more willing as more fit to be a hearer then a speaker1 among such knowing ,persons1 and on so abstruse a ,subject4 ,and that therefore ,i beseeched them without necessitating me to proclaim my weaknesses1 to allow me to lessen them by being a silent ,auditor of their ,discourses3 to suffer me to be at which ,i could present them no motive1 save that their instructions would make them in me a more intelligent ,admirer4 ,i added1 that ,i desir'd not to be idle whilst they were imploy'd1 but would if they pleas'd1 by writing down in short hand what should be delivered1 preserve ,discourses that ,i knew would merit to be lasting4 ,at first ,carneades and his two friends utterly rejected this motion2 and all that my ,resoluteness to make use of my ears1 not tongue1 at their debates1 could do1 was to make them acquiesce in the ,proposition of ,eleutherius1 who thinking himself concern'd1 because he brought me thither1 to afford me some faint assistance1 was content that ,i should register their ,arguments1 that ,i might be the better able after the conclusion of their conference to give them my sence upon the ,subject of it1 7,the number of ,elements or ,principles37 which he promis'd ,i should do at the end of the present ,debates1 if time would permit1 or else at our next meeting4 ,and this being by him undertaken in my name1 though without my consent1 the company would by no means receive my ,protestation against it1 but casting1 all at once1 their eyes on ,carneades1 they did by that and their unanimous silence1 invite him to begin2 which 7after a short pause1 during which he turn'd himself to ,eleutherius and me7 he did in this manner4 ,notwithstanding the subtile reasonings ,i have met with in the books of the ,peripateticks1 and the pretty experiments that have been shew'd me in the ,laboratories of ,chymists1 ,i am of so diffident1 or dull a ,nature1 as to think that if neither of them can bring more cogent arguments to evince the truth of their assertion then are wont to be brought2 a ,man may rationally enough retain some doubts concerning the very number of those materiall ,ingredients of mixt bodies1 which some would have us call ,elements1 and others principles4 ,indeed when ,i considered that the ,tenents concerning the ,elements are as considerable amongst the ,doctrines of natural ,philosophy as the ,elements themselves are among the bodies of the ,universe1 ,i expected to find those ,opinions solidly establish'd1 upon which so many others are superstructed4 ,but when ,i took the pains impartially to examine the bodies themselves that are said to result from the blended ,elements1 and to torture them into a confession of their constituent ,principles1 ,i was quickly induc'd to think that the number of the ,elements has been contended about by ,philosophers with more earnestness then success4 ,this unsatisfiedness of mine has been much wonder'd at1 by these two ,gentlemen 7at which words he pointed at ,themistius and ,philoponus7 who though they differ almost as much betwixt themselves about the question we are to consider1 as ,i do from either of them1 yet they both agree very well in this1 that there is a determinate number of such ingredients as ,i was just now speaking of1 and that what that number is1 ,i say not1 may be1 7for what may not such as they perswade87 but is wont to be clearly enough demonstrated both by ,reason and ,experience4 ,this has occasion'd our present ,conference4 ,for our ,discourse this afternoon1 having fallen from one subject to another1 and at length setl'd on this1 they proffer'd to demonstrate to me1 each of them the truth of his opinion1 out of both the ,topicks that ,i have freshly nam'd4 ,but on the former 7that of ,reason strictly so taken7 we declin'd insisting at the present1 lest we should not have time enough before supper to go thorough the ,reasons and ,experiments too4 ,the latter of which we unanimously thought the most requisite to be seriously examin'd4 ,i must desire you then to take notice ,gentlemen 7continued ,carneades7 that my present business doth not oblige me so to declare my own opinion on the ,subject in question1 as to assert or deny the truth either of the ,peripatetick1 or the ,chymical ,doctrine concerning the number of the ,elements1 but only to shew you that neither of these ,doctrines hath been satisfactorily proved by the arguments commonly alledged on its behalfe4 ,so that if ,i really discern 7as perhaps ,i think ,i do7 that there may be a more rational account then ordinary1 given of one of these opinions1 ,i am left free to declare my self of it1 notwithstanding my present engagement1 it being obvious to all your observation1 that a solid truth may be generally maintained by no other1 then incompetent ,arguments4 ,and to this ,declaration ,i hope it will be needless to add1 that my task obliges me not to answer the ,arguments that may be drawn either for ,themistius or ,philoponus's ,opinion from the ,topick of reason1 as opposed to experiments2 since 'tis these only that ,i am to examine and not all these neither1 but such of them alone as either of them shall think fit to insist on1 and as have hitherto been wont to be brought either to prove that 'tis the four ,peripatetick ,elements1 or that 'tis the three ,chymical ,principles that all compounded bodies consist of4 ,these things 7adds ,carneades7 ,i thought my self obliged to premise1 partly lest you should do these ,gentlemen 7pointing at ,themistius and ,philoponus1 and smiling on them7 the injury of measuring their parts by the arguments they are ready to propose1 the lawes of our ,conference confining them to make use of those that the vulgar of ,philosophers 7for even of them there is a vulgar7 has drawn up to their hands2 and partly1 that you should not condemn me of presumption for disputing against persons over whom ,i can hope for no advantage1 that ,i must not derive from the nature1 or rules of our controversy1 wherein ,i have but a negative to defend1 and wherein too ,i am like on several occasions to have the ,assistance of one of my disagreeing adversaries against the other4 ,philoponus and ,themistius soon returned this complement with civilities of the like nature1 in which ,eleutherius perceiving them engaged1 to prevent the further loss of that time of which they were not like to have very much to spare1 he minded them that their present businesse was not to exchange complements1 but ,arguments3 and then addressing his speech to ,carneades1 ,i esteem it no small happinesse 7saies he7 that ,i am come here so luckily this ,evening4 ,for ,i have been long disquieted with ,doubts concerning this very subject which you are now ready to debate4 ,and since a ,question of this importance is to be now discussed by persons that maintain such variety of opinions concerning it1 and are both so able to enquire after truth1 and so ready to embrace it by whomsoever and on what occasion soever it is presented them2 ,i cannot but promise my self that ,i shall before we part either lose my ,doubts or the hopes of ever finding them resolved2 ,eleutherius paused not here2 but to prevent their answer1 added almost in the same breath2 and ,i am not a little pleased to find that you are resolved on this occasion to insist rather on ,experiments then ,syllogismes4 ,for ,i1 and no doubt ,you1 have long observed1 that those ,dialectical subtleties1 that the ,schoolmen too often employ about ,physiological ,mysteries1 are wont much more to declare the wit of him that uses them1 then increase the knowledge or remove the doubts of sober lovers of truth4 ,and such captious subtleties do indeed often puzzle and sometimes silence men1 but rarely satisfy them4 ,being like the tricks of ,jugglers1 whereby men doubt not but they are cheated1 though oftentimes they cannot declare by what slights they are imposed on4 ,and therefore ,i think you have done very wisely to make it your businesse to consider the ,phaenomena relating to the present ,question1 which have been afforded by experiments1 especially since it might seem injurious to our senses1 by whose mediation we acquire so much of the knowledge we have of things corporal1 to have recourse to far-fetched and abstracted ,ratiocination ,errata3 ,ratiocinations1 to know what are the sensible ingredients of those sensible things that we daily see and handle1 and are supposed to have the liberty to untwist 7if ,i may so speak7 into the primitive bodies they consist of4 ,he annexed that he wished therefore they would no longer delay his expected satisfaction1 if they had not1 as he feared they had1 forgotten something preparatory to their debate2 and that was to lay down what should be all along understood by the word ,principle or ,element4 ,carneades thank'd him for his admonition1 but told him that they had not been unmindful of so requisite a thing4 ,but that being ,gentlemen and very far from the litigious humour of loving to wrangle about words or terms or notions as empty2 they had before his coming in1 readily agreed promiscuously to use when they pleased1 ,elements and ,principles as terms equivalent3 and to understand both by the one and the other1 those primitive and simple ,bodies of which the mixt ones are said to be composed1 and into which they are ultimately resolved4 ,and upon the same account 7he added7 we agreed to discourse of the opinions to be debated1 as we have found them maintained by the ,generality of the assertors of the four ,elements of the one party1 and of those that receive the three ,principles on the other1 without tying our selves to enquire scrupulously what notion either ,aristotle or ,paracelsus1 or this or that ,interpreter1 or follower of either of those great persons1 framed of ,elements or ,principles2 our design being to examine1 not what these or those writers thought or taught1 but what we find to be the obvious and most general opinion of those1 who are willing to be accounted ,favourers of the ,peripatetick or ,chymical ,doctrine1 concerning this subject4 ,i see not 7saies ,eleutherius7 why you might not immediately begin to argue1 if you were but agreed which of your two friendly ,adversaries shall be first heard4 ,and it being quickly resolv'd on that ,themistius should first propose the ,proofs for his ,opinion1 because it was the antienter1 and the more general1 he made not the company expect long before he thus addressed himself to ,eleutherius1 as to the ,person least interessed in the dispute4 ,if you have taken sufficient notice of the late ,confession which was made by ,carneades1 and which 7though his ,civility dressed it up in complementall ,expressions7 was exacted of him by his ,justice1 ,i suppose ,you will be easily made sensible1 that ,i engage in this ,controversie with great and peculiar ,disadvantages1 besides those which his ,parts and my ,personal ,disabilities would bring to any other cause to be maintained by me against him4 ,for he justly apprehending the force of truth1 though speaking by no better a tongue then mine1 has made it the chief condition of our ,duell1 that ,i should lay aside the best ,weapons ,i have1 and those ,i can best handle2 ,whereas if ,i were allowed the freedom1 in pleading for the four ,elements1 to employ the ,arguments suggested to me by ,reason to demonstrate them1 ,i should almost as little doubt of making ,you a ,proselyte to those unsever'd ,teachers1 ,truth and ,aristotle1 as ,i do of your ,candour and your ,judgment4 ,and ,i hope you will however consider1 that that great ,favorite and ,interpreter of ,nature1 ,aristotle1 who was 7as his ,organum witnesses7 the greatest ,master of ,logick that ever liv'd1 disclaim'd the course taken by other petty ,philosophers 7,antient and ,modern7 who not attending the ,coherence and ,consequences of their ,opinions1 are more sollicitous to make each particular ,opinion plausible independently upon the the ,transcriber's ,note3 extra the in original rest1 then to frame them all so1 as not only to be consistent together1 but to support each other4 ,for that great ,man in his vast and comprehensive ,intellect1 so fram'd each of his ,notions1 that being curiously adapted into one ,systeme1 they need not each of them any other defence then that which their mutuall ,coherence gives them3 ,as 'tis in an ,arch1 where each single stone1 which if sever'd from the rest would be perhaps defenceless1 is sufficiently secur'd by the solidity and entireness of the whole ,fabrick of which it is a part4 ,how justly this may be apply'd to the present case1 ,i could easily shew ,you1 if ,i were permitted to declare to ,you1 how harmonious ,aristotles ,doctrine of the ,elements is with his other ,principles of ,philosophy2 and how rationally he has deduc'd their number from that of the combinations of the four first ,qualities from the kinds of simple ,motion belonging to simple bodies1 and from ,i know not how many other ,principles and ,phaenomena of ,nature1 which so conspire with his ,doctrine of the ,elements1 that they mutually strengthen and support each other4 ,but since 'tis forbidden me to insist on ,reflections of this kind1 ,i must proceed to tell ,you1 that though the ,assertors of the four ,elements value ,reason so highly1 and are furnish'd with ,arguments enough drawn from thence1 to be satisfi'd that there must be four ,elements1 though no ,man had ever yet made any sensible tryal to discover their ,number1 yet they are not destitute of ,experience to satisfie others that are wont to be more sway'd by their senses then their ,reason4 ,and ,i shall proceed to consider the testimony of ,experience1 when ,i shall have first advertis'd ,you1 that if ,men were as perfectly rational as 'tis to be wish'd they were1 this sensible way of ,probation would be as needless as 'tis wont to be imperfect4 ,for it is much more high and ,philosophical to discover things a priore1 then a posteriore4 ,and therefore the ,peripateticks have not been very sollicitous to gather ,experiments to prove their ,doctrines1 contenting themselves with a few only1 to satisfie those that are not capable of a ,nobler ,conviction4 ,and indeed they employ ,experiments rather to illustrate then to demonstrate their ,doctrines1 as ,astronomers use ,sphaeres of pastboard1 to descend to the capacities of such as must be taught by their senses1 for want of being arriv'd to a clear apprehension of purely ,mathematical ,notions and ,truths4 ,i speak thus ,eleutherius 7adds ,themistius7 only to do right to ,reason1 and not out of ,diffidence of the ,experimental proof ,i am to alledge4 ,for though ,i shall name but one1 yet it is such a one as will make all other appear as needless as it self will be found ,satisfactory4 ,for if ,you but consider a piece of green-,wood burning in a ,chimney1 ,you will readily discern in the disbanded parts of it the four ,elements1 of which we teach ,it and other mixt bodies to be compos'd4 ,the fire discovers it self in the flame by its own light2 the smoke by ascending to the top of the chimney1 and there readily vanishing into air1 like a ,river losing it self in the ,sea1 sufficiently manifests to what ,element it belongs and gladly returnes4 ,the water in its own form boyling and hissing at the ends of the burning ,wood betrayes it self to more then one of our senses2 and the ashes by their weight1 their firiness1 and their dryness1 put it past doubt that they belong to the ,element of ,earth4 ,if ,i spoke 7continues ,themistius7 to less knowing ,persons1 ,i would perhaps make some ,excuse for building upon such an obvious and easie ,analysis1 but 'twould be1 ,i fear1 injurious1 not to think such an ,apology needless to ,you1 who are too judicious either to think it necessary that ,experiments to prove obvious truths should be farr fetch'd1 or to wonder that among so many mixt ,bodies that are compounded of the four ,elements1 some of them should upon a slight ,analysis manifestly exhibite the ,ingredients they consist of4 ,especially since it is very agreeable to the ,goodness of ,nature1 to disclose1 even in some of the most obvious ,experiments that ,men make1 a ,truth so important1 and so requisite to be taken notice of by them4 ,besides that our ,analysis by how much the more obvious we make it1 by so much the more suittable it will be to the ,nature of that ,doctrine which 'tis alledged to prove1 which being as clear and intelligible to the ,understanding as obvious to the sense1 tis no marvail the learned part of ,mankind should so long and so generally imbrace it4 ,for this ,doctrine is very different from the whimseys of ,chymists and other ,modern ,innovators1 of whose ,hypotheses we may observe1 as ,naturalists do of less perfect ,animals1 that as they are hastily form'd1 so they are commonly short liv'd4 ,for so these1 as they are often fram'd in one week1 are perhaps thought fit to be laughed at the next2 and being built perchance but upon two or three ,experiments are destroyed by a third or fourth1 whereas the doctrine of the four ,elements was fram'd by ,aristotle after he had leasurely considered those ,theories of former ,philosophers1 which are now with great applause revived1 as discovered by these latter ages2 ,and had so judiciously detected and supplyed the ,errors and defects of former ,hypotheses concerning the ,elements1 that his ,doctrine of them has been ever since deservedly embraced by the letter'd part of ,mankind3 ,all the ,philosophers that preceded him having in their several ages contributed to the compleatness of this ,doctrine1 as those of succeeding times have acquiesc'd in it4 ,nor has an ,hypothesis so deliberately and maturely established been called in ,question till in the last ,century ,paracelsus and some few other sooty ,empiricks1 rather then 7as they are fain to call themselves7 ,philosophers1 having their eyes darken'd1 and their ,brains troubl'd with the smoke of their own ,furnaces1 began to rail at the ,peripatetick ,doctrine1 which they were too illiterate to understand1 and to tell the credulous ,world1 that they could see but three ,ingredients in mixt ,bodies2 which to gain themselves the repute of ,inventors1 they endeavoured to disguise by calling them1 instead of ,earth1 and ,fire1 and ,vapour1 ,salt1 ,sulphur1 and ,mercury2 to which they gave the canting title of ,hypostatical ,principles3 but when they came to describe them1 they shewed how little they understood what they meant by them1 by disagreeing as much from one another1 as from the truth they agreed in opposing3 ,for they deliver their ,hypotheses as darkly as their ,processes2 and 'tis almost as impossible for any sober ,man to find their meaning1 as 'tis for them to find their ,elixir4 ,and indeed nothing has spread their ,philosophy1 but their great ,brags and undertakings2 notwithstanding all which1 7sayes ,themistius smiling7 ,i scarce know any thing they have performed worth wondering at1 save that they have been able to draw ,philoponus to their ,party1 and to engage him to the ,defence of an unintelligible ,hypothesis1 who knowes so well as he does1 that ,principles ought to be like ,diamonds1 as well very clear1 as perfectly solid4 ,themistius having after these last words declared by his silence1 that he had finished his ,discourse1 ,carneades addressing himself1 as his ,adversary had done1 to ,eleutherius1 returned this ,answer to it1 ,i hop'd for ,errata3 for a ,demonstration1 but ,i perceive ,themistius hopes to put me off with a ,harangue1 wherein he cannot have given me a greater ,opinion of his ,parts1 then he has given me ,distrust for his ,hypothesis1 since for it even a ,man of such ,learning can bring no better ,arguments4 ,the ,rhetorical part of his ,discourse1 though it make not the least part of it1 ,i shall say nothing to1 designing to examine only the ,argumentative part1 and leaving it to ,philoponus to answer those passages wherein either ,paracelsus or ,chymists are concern'd3 ,i shall observe to ,you1 that in what he has said besides1 he makes it his ,business to do these two things4 ,the one to propose and make out an ,experiment to demonstrate the common ,opinion about the four ,elements2 ,and the other1 to insinuate divers things which he thinks may repair the weakness of his ,argument1 from ,experience1 and upon other ,accounts bring some credit to the otherwise defenceless ,doctrine he maintains4 ,to begin then with his ,experiment of the burning ,wood1 it seems to me to be obnoxious to not a few considerable ,exceptions4 ,and first1 if ,i would now deal rigidly with my ,adversary1 ,i might here make a great ,question of the very way of ,probation which he and others employ1 without the least scruple1 to evince1 that the ,bodies commonly call'd mixt1 are made up of ,earth1 ,air1 ,water1 and ,fire1 which they are pleas'd also to call ,elements2 namely that upon the suppos'd ,analysis made by the fire1 of the former sort of ,concretes1 there are wont to emerge ,bodies resembling those which they take for the ,elements4 ,for not to ,anticipate here what ,i foresee ,i shall have occasion to insist on1 when ,i come to discourse with ,philoponus concerning the right that fire has to pass for the proper and ,universal ,instrument of ,analysing mixt ,bodies1 not to ,anticipate that1 ,i say1 if ,i were dispos'd to wrangle1 ,i might alledge1 that by ,themistius his ,experiment it would appear rather that those he calls ,elements1 are made of those he calls mixt ,bodies1 then mix'd ,bodies of the ,elements4 ,for in ,themistius's ,analyz'd ,wood1 and in other ,bodies dissipated and alter'd by the fire1 it appears1 and he confesses1 that which he takes for ,elementary ,fire and ,water1 are made out of the ,concrete2 but it appears not that the ,concrete was made up of ,fire and ,water4 ,nor has either ,he1 or any ,man1 for ought ,i know1 of his perswasion1 yet prov'd that nothing can be obtained from a ,body by the fire that was not ,pre-existent in it4 ,at this unexpected objection1 not only ,themistius1 but the rest of the company appear'd not a little surpriz'd2 but after a while ,philoponus conceiving his opinion1 as well as that of ,aristotle1 concern'd in that ,objection1 ,you cannot sure 7sayes he to ,carneades7 propose this ,difficulty2 not to call it ,cavill1 otherwise then as an ,exercise of wit1 and not as laying any weight upon it4 ,for how can that be separated from a thing that was not existent in it4 ,when1 for instance1 a ,refiner mingles ,gold and ,lead1 and exposing this ,mixture upon a ,cuppell to the violence of the fire1 thereby separates it into pure and refulgent ,gold and ,lead 7which driven off together with the ,dross of the ,gold is thence call'd ,lithargyrium ,auri7 can any man doubt that sees these two so differing substances separated from the ,mass1 that they were existent in it before it was committed to the fire4 ,i should 7replies ,carneades7 allow your ,argument to prove something1 if1 as ,men see the ,refiners commonly take before hand both ,lead and ,gold to make the ,mass you speak of1 so we did see ,nature pull down a parcell of the ,element of ,fire1 that is fancy'd to be plac'd ,i know not how many thousand ,leagues off1 contiguous to the ,orb of the ,moon1 and to blend it with a quantity of each of the three other ,elements1 to compose every mixt ,body1 upon whose ,resolution the ,fire presents us with ,fire1 and ,earth1 and the rest4 ,and let me add1 ,philoponus1 that to make your ,reasoning cogent1 it must be first prov'd1 that the fire do's only take the ,elementary ,ingredients asunder1 without otherwise altering them4 ,for else 'tis obvious1 that ,bodies may afford substances which were not pre-existent in them2 as ,flesh too long kept produces ,magots1 and old ,cheese ,mites1 which ,i suppose you will not affirm to be ,ingredients of those ,bodies4 ,now that fire do's not alwayes barely separate the ,elementary parts1 but sometimes at least alter also the ,ingredients of ,bodies1 if ,i did not expect ere long a better occasion to prove it1 ,i might make probable out of your very ,instance1 wherein there is nothing ,elementary separated by the great violence of the ,refiners fire3 the ,gold and ,lead which are the two ,ingredients separated upon the ,analysis being confessedly yet perfectly mixt ,bodies1 and the ,litharge being ,lead indeed2 but such ,lead as is differing in consistence and other ,qualities from what it was before4 ,to which ,i must add that ,i have sometimes seen1 and so questionlesse have you much oftener1 some parcells of ,glasse adhering to the ,test or ,cuppel1 and this ,glass though ,emergent as well as the ,gold or ,litharge upon your ,analysis1 you will not ,i hope allow to have been a third ,ingredient of the ,mass out of which the fire produc'd it4 ,both ,philoponus and ,themistius were about to reply1 when ,eleutherius apprehending that the ,prosecution of this ,dispute would take up time1 which might be better employ'd1 thought fit to prevent them by saying to ,carneades3 ,you made at least half a ,promise1 when you first propos'd this ,objection1 that you would not 7now at least7 insist on it1 nor indeed does it seem to be of absolute necessity to your cause1 that you should4 ,for though you should grant that there are ,elements1 it would not follow that there must be precisely four4 ,and therefore ,i hope you will proceed to acquaint us with your other and more considerable ,objections against ,themistius's ,opinion1 especially since there is so great a ,disproportion in ,bulke betwixt the ,earth1 ,water and ,air1 on the one part1 and those little parcells of resembling substances1 that the fire separates from ,concretes on the other part1 that ,i can scarce think that you are serious1 when to lose no advantage against your ,adversary1 you seem to deny it to be rational1 to conclude these great simple ,bodies to be the ,elements1 and not the ,products of compounded ones4 ,what you alledge 7replies ,carneades7 of the ,vastness of the ,earth and ,water1 has long since made me willing to allow them to be the greatest and chief ,masses of ,matter to be met with here below3 ,but ,i think ,i could shew ,you1 if ,you would give me leave1 that this will prove only that the ,elements1 as ,you call them1 are the chief ,bodies that make up the neighbouring part of the ,world1 but not that they are such ,ingredients as every mixt ,body must consist of4 ,but since ,you challenge me of something of a ,promise1 though it be not an entire one1 ,yet ,i shall willingly perform it4 ,and indeed ,i intended not when ,i first mention'd this ,objection1 to insist on it at present against ,themistius1 7as ,i plainly intimated in my way of proposing it37 being only desirous to let you see1 that though ,i discern'd my ,advantages1 yet ,i was willing to forego some of them1 rather then appear a rigid ,adversary of a ,cause so weak1 that it may with safety be favourably dealt with4 ,but ,i must here profess1 and desire ,you to take ,notice of it1 that though ,i pass on to another ,argument1 it is not because ,i think this first invalid4 ,for ,you will find in the ,progress of our ,dispute1 that ,i had some reason to question the very way of ,probation imploy'd both by ,peripateticks and ,chymists1 to evince the being and number of the ,elements4 ,for that there are such1 and that they are wont to be separated by the ,analysis made by ,fire1 is indeed taken for granted by both ,parties1 but has not 7for ought ,i know7 been so much as plausibly attempted to be proved by either4 ,hoping then that when we come to that part of our ,debate1 wherein ,considerations relating to this ,matter are to be treated of1 you will remember what ,i have now said1 and that ,i do rather for a while suppose1 then absolutely grant the truth of what ,i have question'd1 ,i will proceed to another ,objection4 ,and hereupon ,eleutherius having promis'd him not to be unmindfull1 when time should serve1 of what he had declar'd4 ,i consider then 7sayes ,carneades7 in the next place1 that there are divers ,bodies out of which ,themistius will not prove in haste1 that there can be so many ,elements as four extracted by the ,fire4 ,and ,i should perchance trouble him if ,i should ask him what ,peripatetick can shew us1 7,i say not1 all the four ,elements1 for that would be too rigid a ,question1 but7 any one of them extracted out of ,gold by any degree of ,fire whatsoever4 ,nor is ,gold the only ,bodie in ,nature that would puzzle an ,aristotelian1 that is no more ,errata3 7that is no more7 to analyze by the ,fire into ,elementary ,bodies1 since1 for ought ,i have yet observ'd1 both ,silver and calcin'd ,venetian ,talck1 and some other ,concretes1 not necessary here to be nam'd1 are so fixt1 that to reduce any of them into four ,heterogeneous ,substances has hitherto prov'd a ,task much too hard1 not only for the ,disciples of ,aristotle1 but those of ,vulcan1 at least1 whilst the latter have employ'd only ,fire to make the ,analysis4 ,the next ,argument 7continues ,carneades7 that ,i shall urge against ,themistius's ,opinion shall be this1 ,that as there are divers ,bodies whose ,analysis by ,fire cannot reduce them into so many ,heterogeneous ,substances or ,ingregredients ,transcriber's ,note3 ,ingredients as four1 so there are others which may be reduc'd into more1 as the ,blood 7and divers other parts7 of ,men and other ,animals1 which yield when analyz'd five distinct ,substances1 ,phlegme1 ,spirit1 ,oyle1 ,salt and ,earth1 as ,experience has shewn us in distilling ,mans ,blood1 ,harts-,horns1 and divers other ,bodies that belonging to the ,animal-,kingdom abound with not uneasily sequestrable ,salt4 ,,the ,,sceptical ,,chymist3 ,,or ,,chymico-,,physical ,doubts ,paradoxes1 ,touching the ,,experiments ,,whereby ,,vulgar ,,spagyrists ,are wont to ,endeavour to ,evince their ,,salt1 ,,sulphur ,,and ,,mercury1 ,,to ,,be ,the ,true ,principles of ,things4 ,utinam jam tenerentur omnia1 inoperta ac confessa ,veritas esset6 ,nihil ex ,decretis mutaremus4 ,nunc ,veritatem cum eis qui docent1 quaerimus4 ,sen4 ,,london1 ,printed for ,j4 ,crooke1 and are to be sold at the ,ship in ,st4 ,pauls ,church-,yard4 #affa4 ,,the ,,sceptical ,,chymist4 ,the ,first ,part4 ,i am 7sayes ,carneades7 so unwilling to deny ,eleutherius any thing1 that though1 before the rest of the ,company ,i am resolv'd to make good the part ,i have undertaken of a ,sceptick2 yet ,i shall readily1 since you will have it so1 lay aside for a while the ,person of an ,adversary to the ,peripateticks and ,chymists2 and before ,i acquaint you with my ,objections against their ,opinions1 acknowledge to you what may be 7whether truly or not7 tollerably enough added1 in favour of a certain number of ,principles of mixt ,bodies1 to that grand and known ,argument from the ,analysis of compound ,bodies1 which ,i may possibly hereafter be able to confute4 ,and that you may the more easily ,examine1 and the better ,judge of what ,i have to say1 ,i shall cast it into a pretty number of distinct ,propositions1 to which ,i shall not premise any thing2 because ,i take it for granted1 that you need not be advertis'd1 that much of what ,i am to deliver1 whether for or against a determinate number of ,ingredients of mix'd ,bodies1 may be indifferently apply'd to the four ,peripatetick ,elements1 and the three ,chymical ,principles1 though divers of my ,objections will more peculiarly belong to these last nam'd1 because the ,chymical ,hypothesis seeming to be much more countenanc'd by ,experience then the other1 it will be expedient to insist chiefly upon the disproving of that2 especially since most of the ,arguments that are imploy'd against it1 may1 by a little variation1 be made to conclude1 at least as strongly against the less plausible1 ,aristotelian ,doctrine4 ,to proceed then to my ,propositions1 ,i shall begin with this4 ,that ,sidenote3 ,propos4 ,i4 ,it seems not absurd to conceive that at the first ,production of mixt ,bodies1 the ,universal ,matter whereof they among other ,parts of the ,universe consisted1 was actually divided into little ,particles of several sizes and shapes variously mov'd4 ,this 7sayes ,carneades7 ,i suppose you will easily enough allow4 ,for besides that which happens in the ,generation1 ,corruption1 ,nutrition1 and wasting of ,bodies1 that which we discover partly by our ,microscopes of the extream littlenesse of even the scarce sensible parts of ,concretes2 and partly by the ,chymical ,resolutions of mixt ,bodies1 and by divers other ,operations of ,spagyrical ,fires upon them1 seems sufficiently to manifest their consisting of parts very minute and of differing ,figures4 ,and that there does also intervene a various local ,motion of such small ,bodies1 will scarce be denied2 whether we chuse to grant the ,origine of ,concretions assign'd by ,epicurus1 or that related by ,moses4 ,for the first1 as you well know1 supposes not only all mixt ,bodies1 but all others to be produc'd by the various and casual occursions of ,atomes1 moving themselves to and fro by an internal ,principle in the ,immense or rather ,infinite ,vacuum4 ,and as for the inspir'd ,historian1 ,he1 informing us that the great and ,wise ,author of ,things did not immediately create ,plants1 ,beasts1 ,birds1 c4 but produc'd them out of those portions of the pre-existent1 though created1 ,matter1 that he calls ,water and ,earth1 allows us to conceive1 that the constituent ,particles whereof these new ,concretes were to consist1 were variously moved in order to their being connected into the ,bodies they were1 by their various ,coalitions and ,textures1 to compose4 ,but 7continues ,carneades7 presuming that the first ,proposition needs not be longer insisted on1 ,i will pass on to the second1 and tell you that ,sidenote3 ,propos4 ,,ii4 ,neither is it impossible that of these minute ,particles divers of the smallest and neighbouring ones were here and there associated into minute ,masses or ,clusters1 and did by their ,coalitions constitute great store of such little primary ,concretions or ,masses as were not easily dissipable into such ,particles as compos'd them4 ,to what may be deduc'd1 in favour of this ,assertion1 from the ,nature of the ,thing it self1 ,i will add something out of ,experience1 which though ,i have not known it used to such a purpose1 seems to me more fairly to make out that there ,may be ,elementary ,bodies1 then the more questionable ,experiments of ,peripateticks and ,chymists prove that there ,are such4 ,i consider then that ,gold will mix and be colliquated not only with ,silver1 ,copper1 ,tin and ,lead1 but with ,antimony1 ,regulus ,martis and many other ,minerals1 with which it will compose ,bodies very differing both from ,gold1 and the other ,ingredients of the resulting ,concretes4 ,and the same ,gold will also by common ,aqua ,regis1 and 7,i speak it knowingly7 by divers other ,menstruums be reduc'd into a seeming ,liquor1 in so much that the ,corpuscles of ,gold will1 with those of the ,menstruum1 pass through ,cap-,paper1 and with them also coagulate into a ,crystalline ,salt4 ,and ,i have further try'd1 that with a small quantity of a certain ,saline ,substance ,i prepar'd1 ,i can easily enough sublime ,gold into the form of red ,crystalls of a considerable length2 and many other wayes may ,gold be disguis'd1 and help to constitute ,bodies of very differing ,natures both from ,it and from one another1 and neverthelesse be afterward reduc'd to the self-same ,numerical1 ,yellow1 ,fixt1 ,ponderous and ,malleable ,gold it was before its commixture4 ,nor is it only the fixedst of ,metals1 but the most fugitive1 that ,i may employ in favour of our ,proposition3 for ,quicksilver will with divers ,metals compose an ,amalgam1 with divers ,menstruums it seems to be turn'd into a ,liquor1 with ,aqua fortis will be brought into either a red or white ,powder or precipitate1 with ,oyl of ,vitriol into a pale ,yellow one1 with ,sulphur it will compose a blood-red and volatile ,cinaber1 with some ,saline ,bodies it will ascend in form of a ,salt which will be dissoluble in water2 with ,regulus of ,antimony and ,silver ,i have seen it sublim'd into a kinde of ,crystals1 with another ,mixture ,i reduc'd it into a malleable ,body1 into a hard and brittle ,substance by another3 ,and some there are who affirm1 that by proper ,additaments they can reduce ,quicksilver into ,oyl1 nay into ,glass1 to mention no more4 ,and yet out of all these exotick ,compounds1 we may recover the very same running ,mercury that was the main ,ingredient of them1 and was so disguis'd in them4 ,now the ,reason 7proceeds ,carneades7 that ,i have represented these things concerning ,gold and ,quicksilver1 is1 ,that it may not appear absurd to conceive1 that such little primary ,masses or ,clusters1 as our ,proposition mentions1 may remain undissipated1 notwithstanding their entring into the composition of various ,concretions1 since the ,corpuscle of ,gold and ,mercury1 though they be not primary ,concretions of the most minute ,particles or matter1 but confessedly mixt ,bodies1 are able to concurre plentifully to the composition of several very differing ,bodies1 without losing their own ,nature or ,texture1 or having their cohaesion violated by the divorce of their associated parts or ,ingredients4 ,give me leave to add 7sayes ,eleutherius7 on this occasion1 to what you now observ'd1 that as confidently as some ,chymists1 and other modern ,innovators in ,philosophy are wont to object against the ,peripateticks1 ,that from the mixture of their four ,elements there could arise but an inconsiderable variety of compound ,bodies2 yet if the ,aristotelians were but half as well vers'd in the works of ,nature as they are in the ,writings of their ,master1 the propos'd ,objection would not so calmly triumph1 as for want of ,experiments they are fain to suffer it to do4 ,for if we assigne to the ,corpuscles1 whereof each ,element consists1 a peculiar size and shape1 it may easily enough be manifested1 ,that such differingly figur'd ,corpuscles may be mingled in such various ,proportions1 and may be connected so many several wayes1 that an almost incredible number of variously qualified ,concretes may be compos'd of them4 ,especially since the ,corpuscles of one ,element may barely1 by being associated among themselves1 make up little ,masses of differing size and figure from their constituent parts3 and since also to the strict union of such minute ,bodies there seems oftentimes nothing requisite1 besides the bare ,contact of a great part of their ,surfaces4 ,and how great a variety of ,phaenomena the same matter1 without the addition of any other1 and only several ways dispos'd or contexed1 is able to exhibit1 may partly appear by the multitude of differing ,engins which by the contrivances of skilful ,mechanitians1 and the dexterity of expert ,workmen1 may be made of ,iron alone4 ,but in our present case being allow'd to deduce compound ,bodies from four very differently qualified sorts of matter1 he who shall but consider what you freshly took notice of concerning the new ,concretes resulting from the mixture of incorporated ,minerals1 will scarce doubt but that the four ,elements mannag'd by ,natures ,skill may afford a multitude of differing ,compounds4 ,i am thus far of your minde 7sayes ,carneades7 that the ,aristotelians might with probability deduce a much greater number of compound ,bodies from the mixture of their four ,elements1 than according to their present ,hypothesis they can1 if instead of vainly attempting to deduce the variety and properties of all mixt ,bodies from the ,combinations and ,temperaments of the four ,elements1 as they are 7among them7 endowd with the four first ,qualities1 they had endeavoured to do it by the ,bulk and ,figure of the smallest parts of those supposed ,elements4 ,for from these more ,catholick and ,fruitfull ,accidents of the ,elementary matter may spring a great variety of ,textures1 upon whose ,account a multitude of compound ,bodies may very much differ from one another4 ,and what ,i now observe touching the four ,peripatetick ,elements1 may be also applyed1 mutatis mutandis1 7as they speak7 to the ,chymical ,principles4 ,but 7to take notice of that by the by7 both the one and the other1 must1 ,i fear1 call in to their assistance something that is not ,elementary1 to excite or regulate the motion of the parts of the matter1 and dispose them after the manner requisite to the ,constitution of particular ,concretes4 ,for that otherwise they are like to give us but a very imperfect account of the ,origine of very many mixt ,bodies1 ,it would1 ,i think1 be no hard matter to perswade you1 if it would not spend time1 and were no ,digression1 to examine1 what they are wont to alledge of the ,origine of the ,textures and ,qualities of mixt ,bodies1 from a certain substantial ,form1 whose ,origination they leave more obscure than what it is assum'd to explicate4 ,but to proceed to a new ,proposition4 ,sidenote3 ,propos4 ,,iii4 ,i shall not peremptorily deny1 that from most of such mixt ,bodies as partake either of ,animal or ,vegetable ,nature1 there may by the ,help of the ,fire1 be actually obtain'd a determinate number 7whether ,three1 ,four or ,five1 or fewer or more7 of ,substances1 worthy of differing ,denominations4 ,of the ,experiments that induce me to make this ,concession1 ,i am like to have occasion enough to mention several in the prosecution of my ,discourse4 ,and therefore1 that ,i may not hereafter be oblig'd to trouble ,you and my self with needless ,repetitions1 ,i shall now only desire you to take notice of such ,experiments1 when they shall be mention'd1 and in your thoughts referre them hither4 ,to these three ,concessions ,i have but this ,fourth to add1 ,that ,sidenote3 ,propos4 ,,iv4 ,it may likewise be granted1 that those distinct ,substances1 which ,concretes generally either afford or are made up of1 may without very much ,inconvenience be call'd the ,elements or ,principles of them4 ,when ,i said1 without very much ,inconvenience1 ,i had in my ,thoughts that sober ,admonition of ,galen1 ,cum de re constat1 de verbis non est ,litigandum4 ,and therefore also ,i scruple not to say ,elements or ,principles1 partly because the ,chymists are wont to call the ,ingredients of mixt ,bodies1 ,principles1 as the ,aristotelians name them ,elements2 ,i would here exclude neither4 ,and1 partly1 because it seems doubtfull whether the same ,ingredients may not be call'd ,principles8 as not being compounded of any more primary ,bodies3 and ,elements1 in regard that all mix'd ,bodies are compounded of them4 ,but ,i thought it requisite to limit my ,concession by premising the words1 very much1 to the word ,inconvenience1 because that though the ,inconvenience of calling the distinct ,substances1 mention'd in the ,proposition ,elements or ,principles1 be not very great1 yet that it is an ,impropriety of ,speech1 and consequently in a matter of this moment not to be altogether overlook'd1 ,you will perhaps think1 as well as ,i1 by that time you shall have heard the following part of my ,discourse1 by which you will best discern what ,construction to put upon the former ,propositions1 and how far they may be look'd upon1 as things that ,i concede as true1 and how far as things ,i only represent as specious enough to be fit to be consider'd4 ,and now ,eleutherius 7continues ,carneades7 ,i must resume the person of a ,sceptick1 and as such1 propose some part of what may be either dislik't1 or at least doubted of in the common ,hypothesis of the ,chymists3 which if ,i examine with a little the more freedom1 ,i hope ,i need not desire you 7a ,person to whom ,i have the ,happinesse of being so well known7 to look upon it as something more suitable to the ,employment whereto the ,company has1 for this ,meeting1 doom'd me2 then either to my ,humour or my ,custom4 ,now though ,i might present you many things against the ,vulgar ,chymical ,opinion of the three ,principles1 and the ,experiments wont to be alledg'd as ,demonstrations of it1 yet those ,i shall at present offer you may be conveniently enough comprehended in four ,capital ,considerations2 touching all which ,i shall only premise this in general1 ,that since it is not my present ,task so much to assert an ,hypothesis of my own1 as to give an ,account wherefore ,i suspect the ,truth of that of the ,chymists1 it ought not to be expected that all my ,objections should be of the most cogent sort1 since it is reason enough to ,doubt of a propos'd ,opinion1 that there appears no cogent ,reason for it4 ,to come then to the ,objections themselves2 ,i consider in the first place1 ,that notwithstanding what common ,chymists have prov'd or taught1 it may reasonably enough be ,doubted1 how far1 and in what sence1 ,fire ought to be esteem'd the genuine and universal ,instrument of analyzing mixt ,bodies4 ,this ,doubt1 you may remember1 was formerly mention'd1 but so transiently discours'd of1 that it will now be fit to insist upon it2 ,and manifest that it was not so inconsiderately propos'd as our ,adversaries then imagin'd4 ,but1 before ,i enter any farther into this ,disquisition1 ,i cannot but here take notice1 that it were to be wish'd1 our ,chymists had clearly inform'd us what kinde of ,division of ,bodies by ,fire must determine the number of the ,elements3 ,for it is nothing near so easy as many seem to think1 to determine distinctly the ,effects of ,heat1 as ,i could easily manifest1 if ,i had leasure to shew you how much the ,operations of ,fire may be diversify'd by ,circumstances4 ,but not wholly to pass by a matter of this ,importance1 ,i will first take notice to you1 that ,guajacum 7for ,instance7 burnt with an open ,fire in a ,chimney1 is sequestred into ,ashes and ,soot1 whereas the same ,wood distill'd in a ,retort does yield far other ,heterogeneities1 7to use the ,helmontian expression7 and is resolv'd into ,oyl1 ,spirit1 ,vinager1 ,water and ,charcoal2 the last of which to be reduc'd into ,ashes1 requires the being farther calcin'd then it can be in a close ,vessel3 ,besides having kindled ,amber1 and held a clean ,silver ,spoon1 or some other ,concave and smooth ,vessel over the ,smoak of its ,flame1 ,i observ'd the ,soot into which that ,fume condens'd1 to be very differing from any thing that ,i had observ'd to proceed from the steam of ,amber purposely 7for that is not usual7 distilled per se in close ,vessels4 ,thus having1 for ,tryals sake1 kindled ,camphire1 and catcht the ,smoak that copiously ascended out of the ,flame1 it condens'd into a ,black and unctuous ,soot1 which would not have been guess'd by the ,smell or other ,properties to have proceeded from ,camphire3 whereas having 7as ,i shall otherwhere more fully declare7 expos'd a quantity of that ,fugitive ,concrete to a gentle heat in a close ,glass-,vessel1 it sublim'd up without seeming to have lost any thing of its whiteness1 or its ,nature1 both which it retain'd1 though afterwards ,i so encreased the ,fire as to bring it to ,fusion4 ,and1 besides ,camphire1 there are divers other ,bodies 7that ,i elsewhere name7 in which the heat in close ,vessels is not wont to make any separation of ,heterogeneities1 but only a comminution of ,parts1 those that rise first being ,homogeneal with the others1 though subdivided into smaller ,particles3 whence ,sublimations have been stiled1 ,the ,pestles of the ,chymists4 ,but not here to mention what ,i elsewhere take notice of1 concerning common ,brimstone once or twice sublim'd1 that expos'd to a moderate ,fire in ,subliming-,pots1 it rises all into dry1 and almost tastless1 ,flowers2 ,whereas being expos'd to a naked ,fire it affords store of a ,saline and ,fretting ,liquor3 ,not to mention this1 ,i say1 ,i will further observe to you1 that as it is considerable in the ,analysis of mixt ,bodies1 whether the ,fire act on them when they are expos'd to the open ,air1 or shut up in close ,vessels1 so is the degree of ,fire by which the ,analysis is attempted of no small moment4 ,for a milde ,balneum will sever unfermented ,blood 7for ,instance7 but into ,phlegme and ,caput mortuum1 the later whereof 7which ,i have sometimes had7 hard1 brittle1 and of divers ,colours1 7transparent almost like ,tortoise-shell7 press'd by a good ,fire in a ,retort yields a ,spirit1 an ,oyl or two1 and a volatile ,salt1 besides a ,errata3 another ,caput mortuum4 ,it may be also pertinent to our present ,designe1 to take notice of what happens in the making and distilling of ,sope2 for by one degree of ,fire the ,salt1 the ,water and the ,oyl or ,grease1 whereof that factitious ,concrete is made up1 being boyl'd up together are easily brought to mingle and incorporate into one ,mass2 but by another and further degree of ,heat the same ,mass may be again divided into an oleagenous1 an aqueous1 a ,saline1 and an ,earthy part4 ,and so we may observe that impure ,silver and ,lead being expos'd together to a moderate ,fire1 will thereby be colliquated into one ,mass1 and mingle per minima1 as they speak1 whereas a much vehementer ,fire will drive or carry off the baser ,metals 7,i mean the ,lead1 and the ,copper or other ,alloy7 from the ,silver1 though not1 for ought appears1 separate them from one another4 ,besides1 when a ,vegetable abounding in fixt ,salt is analyz'd by a naked ,fire1 as one degree of ,heat will reduce it into ,ashes1 7as the ,chymists themselves teach us7 so1 by only a further degree of ,fire1 those ,ashes may be vitrified and turn'd into ,glass4 ,i will not stay to examine how far a meere ,chymist might on this occasion demand1 ,if it be lawful for an ,aristotelian to make ,ashes1 7which he mistakes for meere ,earth7 pass for an ,element1 because by one degree of ,fire it may be produc'd1 why a ,chymist may not upon the like ,principle argue1 that ,glass is one of the ,elements of many ,bodies1 because that also may be obtain'd from them1 barely by the ,fire8 ,i will not1 ,i say1 lose time to examine this1 but observe1 that by a ,method of applying the ,fire1 such similar ,bodies may be obtain'd from a ,concrete1 as ,chymists have not been able to separate2 either by barely burning it in an open ,fire1 or by barely distilling it in close ,vessels4 ,for to me it seems very considerable1 and ,i wonder that men have taken so little notice of it1 that ,i have not by any of the common wayes of ,distillation in close ,vessels1 seen any separation made of such a volatile ,salt as is afforded us by ,wood1 when that is first by an open ,fire divided into ,ashes and ,soot1 and that ,soot is afterwards plac'd in a strong ,retort1 and compell'd by an urgent ,fire to part with its ,spirit1 ,oyl and ,salt2 for though ,i dare not peremptorily deny1 that in the ,liquors of ,guajacum and other ,woods distill'd in ,retorts after the common manner1 there may be ,saline parts1 which by reason of the ,analogy may pretend to the name of some kinde of volatile ,salts2 yet questionless there is a great disparity betwixt such ,salts and that which we have sometimes obtain'd upon the first ,distillation of ,soot 7though for the most part it has not been separated from the first or second ,rectification1 and sometimes not till the third7 ,for we could never yet see separated from ,woods analyz'd only the vulgar way in close vessels any volatile ,salt in a dry and ,saline form1 as that of ,soot1 which we have often had very ,crystalline and ,geometrically figur'd4 ,and then1 whereas the ,saline parts of the ,spirits of ,guajacum1 c4 appear upon distillation sluggish enough1 the ,salt of ,soot seems to be one of the most volatile ,bodies in all ,nature2 and if it be well made will readily ascend with the milde heat of a ,furnace1 warm'd only by the single ,wieck of a ,lamp1 to the top of the highest ,glass ,vessels that are commonly made use of for ,distillation3 and besides all this1 the taste and smell of the ,salt of ,soot are exceeding differing from those of the ,spirits of ,guajacum1 c4 and the former not only smells and tastes much less like a vegetable ,salt1 than like that of ,harts-horn1 and other ,animal ,concretes2 but in divers other ,properties seems more of ,kinne to the ,family of ,animals1 than to that of vegetable ,salts1 as ,i may elsewhere 7,god permitting7 have an occasion more particularly to declare4 ,i might likewise by some other ,examples manifest1 ,that the ,chymists1 to have dealt clearly1 ought to have more explicitly and particularly declar'd by what ,degree of ,fire1 and in what manner of ,application of it1 they would have us ,judge a ,division made by the ,fire to be a true ,analysis into their ,principles1 and the ,productions of it to deserve the name of ,elementary ,bodies4 ,but it is time that ,i proceed to mention the particular ,reasons that incline me to ,doubt1 whether the ,fire be the true and universal ,analyzer of mixt ,bodies2 of which ,reasons what has been already objected may pass for one4 ,in the next place ,i observe1 ,that there are some mixt ,bodies from which it has not been yet made appear1 that any degree of ,fire can separate either ,salt or ,sulphur or ,mercury1 much less all the ,three4 ,the most obvious ,instance of this ,truth is ,gold1 which is a ,body so fix'd1 and wherein the ,elementary ,ingredients 7if it have any7 are so firmly united to each other1 that we finde not in the operations wherein ,gold is expos'd to the ,fire1 how violent soever1 that it does discernably so much as lose of its fixednesse or weight1 so far is it from being dissipated into those ,principles1 whereof one at least is acknowledged to be ,fugitive enough2 and so justly did the ,spagyricall ,poet somewhere exclaim1 ,cuncta adeo miris illic compagibus harent4 ,and ,i must not omit on this occasion to mention to you1 ,eleutherius1 the memorable ,experiment that ,i remember ,i met with in ,gasto ,claveus1#b who1 though a ,lawyer by ,profession1 seems to have had no small ,curiosity and ,experience in ,chymical affairs3 ,he relates then1 that having put into one small ,earthen ,vessel an ,ounce of the most pure ,gold1 and into another the like weight of pure ,silver1 he plac'd them both in that part of a ,glass-house ,furnace wherein the ,workmen keep their ,metal1 7as our ,english ,artificers call their ,liquid ,glass7 continually melted1 and that having there kept both the ,gold and the ,silver in constant ,fusion for two ,moneths together1 he afterwards took them out of the ,furnace and the ,vessels1 and weighing both of them again1 found that the ,silver had not lost above a #abth part of its weight1 but the ,gold had not of his lost any thing at all4 ,and though our ,author endeavours to give us of this a ,scholastick ,reason1 which ,i suppose you would be as little satisfied with1 as ,i was when ,i read it2 yet for the matter of ,fact1 which will serve our present turne1 he assures us1 that though it be strange1 yet ,experience it self taught it him to be most true4 ,footnote #b3 ,gasto ,claveus ,apolog4 ,argur4 ,chrysopera4 ,and though there be not perhaps any other ,body to be found so perfectly fix'd as ,gold1 yet there are divers others so fix'd or compos'd1 at least of so strictly united parts1 that ,i have not yet observ'd the ,fire to separate from them any one of the ,chymists ,principles4 ,i need not tell you what ,complaints the more ,candid and ,judicious of the ,chymists themselves are wont to make of those ,boasters that confidently pretend1 that they have extracted the ,salt or ,sulphur of ,quicksilver1 when they have disguis'd it by ,additaments1 wherewith it resembles the ,concretes whose ,names are given it2 whereas by a skilful and rigid ,examen1 it may be easily enough stript of its ,disguises1 and made to appear again in the pristine form of running ,mercury4 ,the pretended ,salts and ,sulphurs being so far from being ,elementary parts extracted out of the ,bodie of ,mercurie1 that they are rather 7to borrow a terme of the ,grammarians7 ,de-compound ,bodies1 made up of the whole ,metal and the ,menstruum or other ,additaments imploy'd to disguise it4 ,and as for ,silver1 ,i never could see any degree of ,fire make it part with any of its three ,principles4 ,and though the ,experiment lately mentioned from ,claveus may beget a ,suspition that ,silver may be dissipated by ,fire1 provided it be extreamly violent and very lasting3 yet it will not necessarily follow1 that because the ,fire was able at length to make the ,silver lose a little of its weight1 it was therefore able to dissipate it into its ,principles4 ,for first ,i might alledge that ,i have observ'd little ,grains of ,silver to lie hid in the small ,cavities 7perhaps glas'd over by a vitrifying heat7 in ,crucibles1 wherein ,silver has been long kept in ,fusion1 whence some ,goldsmiths of my ,acquaintance make a ,benefit by grinding such ,crucibles to powder1 to recover out of them the latent particles of ,silver4 ,and hence ,i might argue1 that perhaps ,claveus was mistaken1 and imagin'd that ,silver to have been driven away by the ,fire1 that indeed lay in minute parts hid in his ,crucible1 in whose pores so small a quantity as he mist of so ponderous a ,bodie might very well lie conceal'd4 ,but ,secondly1 admitting that some parts of the ,silver were driven away by the violence of the ,fire1 what proof is there that it was either the ,salt1 the ,sulphur1 or the ,mercury of the ,metal1 and not rather a part of it homogeneous to what remain'd8 ,for besides1 that the ,silver that was left seem'd not sensibly alter'd1 which probably would have appear'd1 had so much of any one of its ,principles been separated from it3 ,we finde in other ,mineral ,bodies of a less permanent nature than ,silver1 that the ,fire may divide them into such minute parts1 as to be able to carry them away with its self1 without at all destroying their ,nature4 ,thus we see that in the refining of ,silver1 the ,lead that is mix'd with it 7to carry away the ,copper or other ignoble ,mineral that embases the ,silver7 will1 if it be let alone1 in time evaporate away upon the ,test2 but if 7as is most usual amongst those that refine great quantities of ,metals together7 the ,lead be blown off from the ,silver by ,bellowes1 that which would else have gone away in the ,form of unheeded steams1 will in great part be collected not far from the ,silver1 in the ,form of a darkish ,powder or ,calx1 which1 because it is blown off from ,silver1 they call ,litharge of ,silver4 ,and thus ,agricola#c in divers places informs us1 when ,copper1 or the ,oare of it is colliquated by the violence of the ,fire with ,cadmia1 the ,sparks that in great multitudes do fly upwards do1 some of them1 stick to the vaulted ,roofs of the ,furnaces1 in the form of little and 7for the most part7 ,white ,bubbles1 which therefore the ,greeks1 and1 in ,imitation of them1 our ,drugsters call ,pompholix3 and others more heavy partly adhere to the sides of the ,furnace1 and partly 7especially if the ,covers be not kept upon the ,pots7 fall to the ,ground1 and by reason of their ,ashy ,colour as well as ,weight were called by the same ,greeks ,greek3 spodos1 which1 ,i need not tell you1 in their ,language signifies ,ashes4 ,i might add1 that ,i have not found that from ,venetian ,talck 7,i say ,venetian1 because ,i have found other kinds of that ,mineral more open7 from the ,lapis ,ossifragus1 7which the ,shops call ,ostiocolla7 from ,muscovia ,glass1 from pure and ,fusible ,sand1 to mention now no other ,concretes2 those of my ,acquaintance that have try'd have been able by the ,fire to separate any one of the ,hypostatical ,principles1 which you will the less scruple to believe1 if you consider that ,glass may be made by the bare ,colliquation of the ,salt and ,earth remaining in the ,ashes of a burnt ,plant1 and that yet common ,glass1 once made1 does so far resist the violence of the ,fire1 that most ,chymists think it a ,body more undestroyable then ,gold it self4 ,for if the ,artificer can so firmly unite such comparative gross ,particles as those of ,earth and ,salt that make up common ,ashes1 into a ,body indissoluble by ,fire2 why may not ,nature associate in divers ,bodies the more minute ,elementary ,corpuscles she has at hand too firmly to let them be separable by the ,fire8 ,and on this ,occasion1 ,eleutherius1 give me leave to mention to you two or three sleight ,experiments1 which will1 ,i hope1 be found more pertinent to our present ,discourse1 than at first perhaps they will appear4 ,the first is1 that1 having 7for ,tryals sake7 put a quantity of that ,fugitive ,concrete1 ,camphire1 into a ,glass ,vessel1 and plac'd it in a gentle ,heat1 ,i found it 7not leaving behinde1 according to my ,estimate1 not so much as one ,grain7 to sublime to the ,top of the ,vessel into ,flowers3 which in ,whiteness1 ,smell1 c4 seem'd not to differ from the ,camphire it self4 ,another ,experiment is that of ,helmont1 who in several places affirms1 ,that a ,coal kept in a ,glass exactly clos'd will never be calcin'd to ,ashes1 though kept never so long in a strong ,fire4 ,to countenance which ,i shall tell you this ,tryal of my own1 ,that having sometimes distilled some ,woods1 as particularly ,box1 whilst our ,caput mortuum remain'd in the ,retort1 it continued black like ,charcoal1 though the ,retort were ,earthen1 and kept red-hot in a vehement ,fire2 but as soon as ever it was brought out of the candent ,vessel into the open ,air1 the burning ,coals did hastily degenerate or fall asunder1 without the ,assistance of any new ,calcination1 into pure white ,ashes4 ,and to these two ,i shall add but this obvious and known ,observation1 that common ,sulphur 7if it be pure and freed from its ,vinager7 being leasurely sublim'd in close ,vessels1 rises into dry ,flowers1 which may be presently melted into a ,bodie of the same ,nature with that which afforded them4 ,though if ,brimstone be burnt in the open ,air it gives1 you know1 a penetrating ,fume1 which being caught in a ,glass-,bell condenses into that acid ,liquor called ,oyl of ,sulphur per ,campanam4 ,the use ,i would make of these ,experiments collated with what ,i lately told you out of ,agricola is this1 ,that even among the ,bodies that are not fixt1 there are divers of such a ,texture1 that it will be hard to make it appear1 how the ,fire1 as ,chymists are wont to imploy it1 can resolve them into ,elementary ,substances4 ,for some ,bodies being of such a ,texture that the ,fire can drive them into the cooler and less hot part of the ,vessels wherein they are included1 and if need be1 remove them from place to place to fly the greatest heat1 more easily than it can divorce their ,elements 7especially without the ,assistance of the ,air7 we see that our ,chymists cannot ,analyze them in close ,vessels1 and of other compound ,bodies the open ,fire can as little separate the ,elements4 ,for what can a naked ,fire do to ,analyze a mixt ,bodie1 if its component ,principles be so minute1 and so strictly united1 that the ,corpuscles of it need less heat to carry them up1 than is requisite to divide them into their ,principles4 ,so that of some ,bodies the ,fire cannot in close ,vessels make any ,analysis at all1 and others will in the open ,air fly away in the ,forms of ,flowers or ,liquors1 before the ,heat can prove able to divide them into their ,principles4 ,and this may hold1 whether the various similar parts of a ,concrete be combin'd by ,nature or by ,art2 ,for in factitious ,sal ,armoniack we finde the common and the ,urinous ,salts so well mingled1 that both in the open ,fire1 and in subliming ,vessels they rise together as one ,salt1 which seems in such ,vessels irresoluble by ,fire alone4 ,for ,i can shew you ,sal ,armoniack which after the ninth ,sublimation does still retain its compounded ,nature4 ,and indeed ,i scarce know any one ,mineral1 from which by ,fire alone ,chymists are wont to sever any ,substance simple enough to deserve the name of an ,element or ,principle4 ,for though out of native ,cinnaber they distill ,quicksilver1 and though from many of those ,stones that the ,ancients called ,pyrites they sublime ,brimstone1 yet both that ,quicksilver and this ,sulphur being very often the same with the common ,minerals that are sold in the ,shops under those names1 are themselves too much compounded ,bodies to pass for the ,elements of such4 ,and thus much1 ,eleutherius1 for the ,second ,argument that belongs to my ,first ,consideration2 the others ,i shall the lesse insist on1 because ,i have dwelt so long upon this4 ,footnote #c3 ,agricola de ,natura ,fossil4 ,lib4 #i4 ,cap4 #aa4 #ab4 ,proceed we then in the next place to consider1 ,that there are divers ,separations to be made by other means1 which either cannot at all1 or else cannot so well be made by the ,fire alone4 ,when ,gold and ,silver are melted into one ,mass1 it would lay a great ,obligation upon ,refiners and ,goldsmiths to teach them the ,art of separating them by the ,fire1 without the trouble and charge they are fain to be at to sever them4 ,whereas they may be very easily parted by the ,affusion of ,spirit of ,nitre or ,aqua fortis 7which the ,french therefore call ,eau de ,depart37 so likewise the ,metalline part of ,vitriol will not be so easily and conveniently separated from the ,saline part even by a violent ,fire1 as by the ,affusion of certain ,alkalizate ,salts in a liquid ,form upon the ,solution of ,vitriol made in common water4 ,for thereby the acid ,salt of the ,vitriol1 leaving the ,copper it had corroded to joyn with the added ,salts1 the ,metalline part will be precipitated to the bottom almost like ,mud4 ,and that ,i may not give ,instances only in ,de-compound ,bodies1 ,i will add a not useless one of another kinde4 ,not only ,chymists have not been able 7for ought is vulgarly known7 by ,fire alone to separate true ,sulphur from ,antimony2 but though you may finde in their ,books many plausible ,processes of ,extracting it1 yet he that shall make as many fruitlesse ,tryals as ,i have done to obtain it by1 most of them will1 ,i suppose1 be easily perswaded1 that the ,productions of such ,processes are ,antimonial ,sulphurs rather in ,name than ,nature4 ,but though ,antimony sublim'd by its self is reduc'd but to a volatile ,powder1 or ,antimonial ,flowers1 of a compounded ,nature like the ,mineral that affords them3 yet ,i remember that some years ago ,i sublim'd out of ,antimony a ,sulphur1 and that in greater plenty then ever ,i saw obtain'd from that ,mineral1 by a ,method which ,i shall therefore acquaint you with1 because ,chymists seem not to have taken notice of what ,importance such ,experiments may be in the ,indagation of the ,nature1 and especially of the ,number of the ,elements4 ,having then purposely for ,tryals sake digested eight ,ounces of good and well powder'd ,antimony with twelve ,ounces of ,oyl of ,vitriol in a well stopt ,glas-,vessel for about six or seven ,weeks2 and having caus'd the ,mass 7grown hard and brittle7 to be distill'd in a ,retort plac'd in ,sand1 with a strong ,fire2 we found the ,antimony to be so opened1 or alter'd by the ,menstruum wherewith it had been digested1 ,that whereas crude ,antimony1 forc'd up by the ,fire1 arises only in ,flowers1 our ,antimony thus handled afforded us partly in the ,receiver1 and partly in the ,neck and at the ,top of the ,retort1 about an ,ounce of ,sulphur1 yellow and brittle like common ,brimstone1 and of so ,sulphureous a smell1 that upon the unluting the ,vessels it infected the ,room with a scarce supportable stink4 ,and this ,sulphur1 besides the ,colour and ,smell1 had the perfect ,inflamability of common ,brimstone1 and would immediately kindle 7at the ,flame of a ,candle7 and burn blew like it4 ,and though it seem'd that the long digestion wherein our ,antimony and ,menstruum were detain'd1 did conduce to the better unlocking of the ,mineral1 yet if you have not the leasure to make so long a ,digestion1 you may by incorporating with powder'd ,antimony a convenient ,quantity of ,oyl of ,vitriol1 and committing them immediately to ,distillation1 obtain a little ,sulphur like unto the common one1 and more combustible than perhaps you will at first take notice of4 ,for ,i have observ'd1 that though 7after its being first kindled7 the ,flame would sometimes go out too soon of its self1 if the same ,lump of ,sulphur were held again to the ,flame of a ,candle1 it would be rekindled and burn a pretty while1 not only after the second1 but after the third or fourth accension4 ,you1 to whom ,i think ,i shewed my way of discovering something of ,sulphureous in ,oyl of ,vitriol1 may perchance suspect1 ,eleutherius1 either that this ,substance was some ,venereal ,sulphur that lay hid in that ,liquor1 and was by this operation only reduc'd into a manifest ,body2 or else that it was a compound of the unctuous parts of the ,antimony1 and the ,saline ones of the ,vitriol1 in regard that 7as ,gunther#d informs us7 divers learned men would have ,sulphur to be nothing but a mixture made in the ,bowels of the ,earth of ,vitriolate ,spirits and a certain combustible ,substance4 ,but the ,quantity of ,sulphur we obtain'd by ,digestion was much too great to have been latent in the ,oyl of ,vitriol4 ,and that ,vitriolate ,spirits are not necessary to the ,constitution of such a ,sulphur as ours1 ,i could easily manifest1 if ,i would acquaint you with the several wayes by which ,i have obtain'd1 though not in such plenty1 a ,sulphur of ,antimony1 colour'd and combustible like common ,brimstone4 ,and though ,i am not now minded to discover them1 yet ,i shall tell you1 that to satisfie some ,ingenious ,men1 that distill'd ,vitriolate ,spirits are not necessary to the obtaining of such a ,sulphur as we have been considering1 ,i did by the bare distillation of only ,spirit of ,nitre1 from its weight of crude ,antimony separate1 in a short time1 a yellow and very inflamable ,sulphur1 which1 for ought ,i know1 deserves as much the name of an ,element1 as any thing that ,chymists are wont to separate from any ,mineral by the ,fire4 ,i could perhaps tell you of other ,operations upon ,antimony1 whereby ,that may be extracted from it1 which cannot be forc'd out of it by the ,fire2 but ,i shall reserve them for a fitter ,opportunity1 and only annex at present this sleight1 but not impertinent ,experiment4 ,that whereas ,i lately observed to you1 that the ,urinous and common ,salts whereof ,sal ,armoniack consists1 remain'd unsever'd by the ,fire in many successive ,sublimations1 they may be easily separated1 and partly without any ,fire at all1 by pouring upon the ,concrete finely powder'd1 a ,solution of ,salt of ,tartar1 or of the ,salt of ,wood-,ashes2 for upon your diligently mixing of these you will finde your ,nose invaded with a very strong smell of ,urine1 and perhaps too your ,eyes forc'd to water by the same subtle and piercing ,body that produces the stink2 both these effects proceeding from hence1 that by the ,alcalizate ,salt1 the ,sea ,salt that enter'd the composition of the ,sal ,armoniack is mortify'd and made more fixt1 and thereby a divorce is made between it and the volatile ,urinous ,salt1 which being at once set at liberty1 and put into motion1 begins presently to fly away1 and to offend the ,nostrils and ,eyes it meets with by the way4 ,and if the operation of these ,salts be in convenient ,glasses promoted by warmth1 though but by that of a ,bath1 the ascending ,steams may easily be caught and reduc'd into a penetrant ,spirit1 abounding with a ,salt1 which ,i have sometimes found to be separable in a ,crystalline ,form4 ,i might add to these ,instances1 that whereas ,sublimate1 consisting1 as you know1 of ,salts ,quicksilver combin'd and carried up together by ,heat1 may be ,sublim'd1 ,i know not how often1 by a like degree of ,fire1 without suffering any divorce of the component ,bodies1 the ,mercury may be easily sever'd from the adhering ,salts1 if the ,sublimate be distill'd from ,salt of ,tartar1 ,quick ,lime1 or such ,alcalizate ,bodies4 ,but ,i will rather observe to you1 ,eleutherius1 what divers ingenious men have thought somewhat strange2 that by such an ,additament that seems but only to promote the ,separation1 there may be easily obtain'd from a ,concrete that by the ,fire alone is easily divisible into all the ,elements that ,vegetables are suppos'd to consist of1 such a similar ,substance as differs in many respects from them all1 and consequently has by many of the most ,intelligent ,chymists been denied to be contain'd in the mixt ,body4 ,for ,i know a way1 and have practis'd it1 whereby common ,tartar1 without the addition of any thing that is not perfectly a ,mineral except ,salt-petre1 may by one ,distillation in an ,earthen ,retort be made to afford good store of real ,salt1 readily dissoluble in water1 which ,i found to be neither acid1 nor of the smell of ,tartar1 and to be almost as volatile as ,spirit of ,wine it self1 and to be indeed of so differing a ,nature from all that is wont to be separated by ,fire from ,tartar1 that divers ,learned ,men1 with whom ,i discours'd of it1 could hardly be brought to beleeve1 that so fugitive a ,salt could be afforded by ,tartar1 till ,i assur'd it them upon my own ,knowledge4 ,and if ,i did not think you apt to suspect me to be rather too backward than too forward to credit or affirm unlikely things1 ,i could convince you by what ,i have yet lying by me of that anomalous ,salt4 ,footnote #d3 ,lib4 #a4 ,observat4 ,cap4 #f4 ,the ,fourth thing that ,i shall alledge to countenance my first ,consideration is1 ,that the ,fire even when it divides a ,body into ,substances of divers ,consistences1 does not most commonly analyze it into ,hypostatical ,principles1 but only disposes its parts into new ,textures1 and thereby produces ,concretes of a new indeed1 but yet of a compound ,nature4 ,this ,argument it will be requisite for me to prosecute so fully hereafter1 that ,i hope you will then confess that 'tis not for want of good ,proofs that ,i desire leave to suspend my ,proofs till the ,series of my ,discourse shall make it more proper and seasonable to propose them4 ,it may be further alledg'd on the behalf of my ,first ,consideration1 ,that some such distinct ,substances may be obtain'd from some ,concretes without ,fire1 as deserve no less the name of ,elementary1 than many that ,chymists extort by the ,violence of the ,fire4 ,we see that the ,inflamable ,spirit1 or as the ,chymists esteem it1 the ,sulphur of ,wine1 may not only be separated from it by the gentle heat of a ,bath1 but may be distill'd either by the help of the ,sun-,beams1 or even of a ,dunghill1 being indeed of so ,fugitive a ,nature1 that it is not easy to keep it from flying away1 even without the ,application of external heat4 ,i have likewise observ'd that a ,vessel full of ,urine being plac'd in a ,dunghill1 the ,putrefaction is wont after some weeks so to open the ,body1 that the parts disbanding the ,saline ,spirit1 will within no very long time1 if the ,vessel be not stopt1 fly away of it self2 ,insomuch that from such ,urine ,i have been able to distill little or nothing else than a nauseous ,phlegme1 instead of the active and piercing ,salt and ,spirit that it would have afforded1 when first expos'd to the ,fire1 if the ,vessel had been carefully stopt4 ,and this leads me to consider in the ,fifth place1 ,that it will be very hard to prove1 that there can no other ,body or way be given which will as well as the ,fire divide ,concretes into several homogeneous ,substances1 which may consequently be call'd their ,elements or ,principles1 as well as those separated or produc'd by the ,fire4 ,for since we have lately seen1 that ,nature can successefully employ other ,instruments than the ,fire to separate distinct ,substances from mixt ,bodies1 how know we1 but that ,nature has made1 or ,art may make1 some such ,substance as may be a fit ,instrument to ,analyze mixt ,bodies1 or that some such ,method may be found by ,humane ,industry or ,luck1 by whose means compound ,bodies may be resolv'd into other ,substances1 than such as they are wont to be divided into by the ,fire4 ,and why the ,products of such an ,analysis may not as justly be call'd the component ,principles of the ,bodies that afford them1 it will not be easy to shew1 especially since ,i shall hereafter make it evident1 that the ,substances which ,chymists are wont to call the ,salts1 and ,sulphurs1 and ,mercuries of ,bodies1 are not so pure and ,elementary as they presume1 and as their ,hypothesis requires4 ,and this may therefore be the more freely press'd upon the ,chymists1 because neither the ,paracelsians1 nor the ,helmontians can reject it without apparent ,injury to their respective ,masters4 ,for ,helmont do's more than once ,inform his ,readers1 that both ,paracelsus and ,himself were ,possessors of the famous ,liquor1 ,alkahest1 which for its great power in resolving ,bodies irresoluble by ,vulgar ,fires1 he somewhere seems to call ,ignis ,gehennae4 ,to this ,liquor he ascribes1 7and that in great part upon his own ,experience7 such wonders1 that if we suppose them all true1 ,i am so much the more a ,friend to ,knowledge than to ,wealth1 that ,i should think the ,alkahest a nobler and more desireable ,secret than the ,philosophers ,stone it self4 ,of this ,universal ,dissolvent he relates1 ,that having digested with it for a competent time a piece of ,oaken ,charcoal1 it was thereby reduc'd into a couple of new and distinct ,liquors1 discriminated from each other by their ,colour and ,situation1 and that the whole body of the ,coal was reduc'd into those ,liquors1 both of them separable from his ,immortal ,menstruum1 which remain'd as fit for such ,operations as before4 ,and he moreover tells us in divers places of his ,writings1 that by this powerful1 and unwearied ,agent1 he could dissolve ,metals1 ,marchasites1 ,stones1 ,vegetable and ,animal ,bodies of what kinde soever1 and even ,glass it self 7first reduc'd to powder17 and in a word1 all kinds of mixt ,bodies in the ,world into their several similar ,substances1 without any ,residence or ,caput mortuum4 ,and lastly1 we may gather this further from his ,informations1 ,that the homogeneous ,substances obtainable from compound ,bodies by his piercing ,liquor1 were oftentimes different enough both as to ,number and as to ,nature1 from those into which the same ,bodies are wont to be divided by common ,fire4 ,of which ,i shall need in this place to mention no other proof1 then that whereas we know that in our common ,analysis of a mixt ,body1 there remains a terrestrial and very fixt ,substance1 oftentimes associated with a ,salt as fixt2 ,our ,author tells us1 that by his way he could ,distill over all ,concretes without any ,caput mortuum1 and consequently could make those parts of the ,concrete volatile1 which in the ,vulgar ,analysis would have been fixt4 ,so that if our ,chymists will not reject the solemn and repeated ,testimony of a ,person1 who cannot but be acknowledg'd for one of the greatest ,spagyrists that they can boast of1 they must not deny that there is to be found in ,nature another ,agent able to ,analyze compound ,bodies less violently1 and both more genuinely and more universally than the ,fire4 ,and for my own part1 though ,i cannot but say on this ,occasion what 7you know7 our ,friend ,mr4 ,boyle is wont to say1 when he is askt his ,opinion of any strange ,experiment2 ,that ,he that hath seen it hath more ,reason to beleeve it1 than ,he that hath not2 yet ,i have found ,helmont so faithful a ,writer1 even in divers of his improbable ,experiments 7,i alwayes except that ,extravagant ,treatise ,de ,magnetica ,vulnerum ,curatione1 which some of his ,friends affirm to have been first publish'd by his ,enemies7 that ,i think it somewhat harsh to give him the ,lye1 especially to what he delivers upon his own proper ,tryal4 ,and ,i have heard from very credible ,eye-witnesses some things1 and seen some others my self1 which argue so strongly1 that a circulated ,salt1 or a ,menstruum 7such as it may be7 may by being abstracted from compound ,bodies1 whether ,mineral1 ,animal1 or ,vegetable1 leave them more unlockt than a wary ,naturalist would easily beleeve1 that ,i dare not confidently measure the ,power of ,nature and ,art by that of the ,menstruums1 and other ,instruments that eminent ,chymists themselves are as yet wont to ,empoly ,errata3 employ about the ,analyzing of ,bodies2 nor ,deny that a ,menstruum may at least from this or that particular ,concrete obtain some apparently similar ,substance1 differing from any obtainable from the same ,body by any degree or manner of ,application of the ,fire4 ,and ,i am the more backward to deny peremptorily1 that there may be such ,openers of compound ,bodies1 because among the ,experiments that make me speak thus warily1 there wanted not some in which it appear'd not1 that one of the ,substances not separable by common ,fires and ,menstruums could retain any thing of the ,salt by which the separation was made4 ,and here1 ,eleutherius1 7sayes ,carneades7 ,i should conclude as much of my ,discourse as belongs to the first ,consideration ,i propos'd1 but that ,i foresee1 that what ,i have delivered will appear liable to two such specious ,objections1 that ,i cannot safely proceed any further till ,i have examin'd them4 ,and first1 one sort of ,opposers will be forward to tell me1 ,that they do not pretend by ,fire alone to separate out of all compound ,bodies their ,hypostatical ,principles2 it being sufficient that the ,fire divides them into such1 though afterwards they employ other ,bodies to collect the similar parts of the ,compound2 as 'tis known1 that though they make use of water to collect the ,saline parts of ,ashes from the ,terrestrial wherewith they are blended1 yet it is the ,fire only that ,incinerates ,bodies1 and reduces the fix'd part of them into the ,salt and ,earth1 whereof ,ashes are made up4 ,this ,objection is not1 ,i confess1 inconsiderable1 and ,i might in great part allow of it1 without granting it to make against me1 if ,i would content my self to answer1 that it is not against those that make it that ,i have been disputing1 but against those ,vulgar ,chymists1 who themselves believe1 and would fain make others do so1 ,that the ,fire is not only an universal1 but an adaequate ,transcriber's ,note3 adequate and sufficient ,instrument to analyze mixt ,bodies with4 ,for as to their ,practice of ,extracting the fix'd ,salt out of ,ashes by the ,affusion of ,water1 'tis obvious to alleadge1 that the ,water does only assemble together the ,salt the ,fire had before divided from the ,earth3 as a ,sieve does not further break the ,corn1 but only bring together into two distinct heaps the ,flour and the ,bran1 whose ,corpuscles before lay promiscuously blended together in the ,meal4 ,this ,i say ,i might alleadge1 and thereby exempt my self from the need of taking any farther notice of the propos'd ,objection4 ,but not to lose the ,rise it may afford me of ,illustrating the matter under ,consideration1 ,i am content briefly to consider it1 as far forth as my present ,disquisition may be concern'd in it4 ,not to repeat then what has been already answer'd1 ,i say farther1 that though ,i am so civil an ,adversary1 that ,i will allow the ,chymists1 after the ,fire has done all its work1 the use of fair ,water to make their ,extractions with1 in such cases wherein the ,water does not cooperate with the ,fire to make the ,analysis2 yet since ,i ,grant this but upon ,supposition that the ,water does only wash off the ,saline ,particles1 which the ,fire ,alone has ,before ,extricated in the ,analyz'd ,body1 it will not be ,reasonable1 that this ,concession should ,extend to other ,liquors that may ,add to what they ,dissolve1 nor so much as to other ,cases than those ,newly ,mentioned3 ,which ,limitation ,i ,desire ,you would be ,pleas'd to ,bear in ,mind till ,i shall ,anon have ,occasion to make ,use of it4 ,and ,this being thus ,premis'd1 ,i shall ,proceed to ,observe1 ,first1 ,that ,many of the ,instances ,i ,propos'd in the ,preceding ,discourse are ,such1 that the ,objection we are ,considering will not at all ,reach ,them4 ,for ,fire can no more with the ,assistance of ,water than without it ,separate any of the ,three ,principles1 either from ,gold1 ,silver1 ,mercury1 or some ,others of the ,concretes named ,above4 ,hence ,we may ,inferre1 ,that ,fire is not an ,universal ,analyzer of all ,mixt ,bodies1 since of ,metals and ,minerals1 wherein ,chymists have most ,exercis'd ,themselves1 there ,appear scarce ,any which they are able to ,analyze by ,fire1 ,nay1 from which they can ,unquestionably ,separate so much as any ,one of their ,hypostatical ,principles2 ,which may well ,appear no small ,disparagement as well to their ,hypothesis as to their ,pretensions4 ,it will also remain ,true1 notwithstanding the ,objection1 ,that there may be ,other ,wayes than the wonted ,analysis by ,fire1 to ,separate from a ,compound ,body ,substances as ,homogeneneous ,transcriber's ,note3 ,homogeneous as those that ,chymists ,scruple not to ,reckon among their ,tria ,prima 7as some of them1 for ,brevity ,sake1 call their ,three ,principles47 ,and it ,appears1 ,that by ,convenient ,additaments such ,substances may be ,separated by the ,help of the ,fire1 as could not be so by the ,fire alone3 ,witness the ,sulphur of ,antimony4 ,and ,lastly1 ,i must ,represent1 ,that since it appears too that the ,fire is but ,one of the ,instruments that must be ,employ'd in the ,resolution of ,bodies1 ,we may ,reasonably ,challenge the ,liberty of doing ,two ,things4 ,for when ever any ,menstruum or other ,additament is ,employ'd1 together with the ,fire to ,obtain a ,sulphur or a ,salt from a ,body1 ,we may well take the ,freedom to ,examine1 whether or no ,that ,menstruum do barely ,help to ,separate the ,principle ,obtain'd by ,it1 or whether there ,intervene not a ,coalition of the ,parts of the ,body ,wrought upon with ,those of the ,menstruum1 whereby the ,produc'd ,concrete may be ,judg'd to ,result from the ,union of ,both4 ,and it will be farther ,allowable for ,us to ,consider1 how far any ,substance1 ,separated by the ,help of such ,additaments1 ,ought to pass for one of the ,tria ,prima2 since by ,one ,way of ,handling the same ,mixt ,body it may according to the ,nature of the ,additaments1 and the ,method of ,working upon it1 be made to ,afford differing ,substances from those ,obtainable from it by other ,additaments1 and another ,method1 nay and 7as may appear by what ,i ,formerly told ,you about ,tartar7 ,differing from any of the ,substances into which a ,concrete is ,divisible by the ,fire without ,additaments1 though perhaps those ,additaments do not1 as ,ingredients1 enter the ,composition of the ,obtained ,body1 but only ,diversify the ,operation of the ,fire upon the ,concrete2 and though that ,concrete by the ,fire alone may be ,divided into a ,number of ,differing ,substances1 as ,great as any of the ,chymists that ,i have met with teach us that of the ,elements to be4 ,and having said thus much 7sayes ,carneades7 to the ,objection likely to be ,propos'd by some ,chymists1 ,i am now to ,examine that which ,i ,foresee will be ,confidently press'd by ,divers ,peripateticks1 who1 to ,prove ,fire to be the true ,analyzer of ,bodies1 will ,plead1 ,that it is the very ,definition of ,heat given by ,aristotle1 and ,generally ,received1 ,congregare ,homogenea1 ,heterogenea ,segregare1 to ,assemble ,things of a ,resembling1 and ,disjoyn those of a ,differing ,nature4 ,to this ,i answer1 ,that this ,effect is far from being so ,essential to ,heat1 as 'tis ,generally ,imagin'd2 for it rather ,seems1 that the ,true and ,genuine ,property of ,heat is1 to set a ,moving1 and thereby to ,dissociate the parts of ,bodies1 and ,subdivide them into ,minute ,particles1 without regard to their being ,homogeneous or ,heterogeneous1 as is apparent in the ,boyling of ,water1 the ,distillation of ,quicksilver1 or the ,exposing of ,bodies to the action of the ,fire1 whose ,parts either ,are not 7at least in that ,degree of ,heat ,appear not7 ,dissimilar1 where all that the ,fire can do1 is to ,divide the ,body into very ,minute ,parts which are of the same ,nature with one another1 and with their ,totum1 as their ,reduction by ,condensation ,evinces4 ,and even when the ,fire seems most so ,congregare ,homogenea1 ,segregare ,heterogenea1 it ,produces that ,effect but by ,accident2 ,for the ,fire does but ,dissolve the ,cement1 or rather ,shatter the ,frame1 or tructure ,errata3 structure that kept the ,heterogeneous ,parts of ,bodies together1 under one ,common ,form2 upon which ,dissolution the ,component ,particles of the ,mixt1 being ,freed and set at ,liberty1 do ,naturally1 and oftentimes without any ,operation of the ,fire1 ,associate themselves each with its ,like1 or rather do take those places which their ,several ,degrees of ,gravity and ,levity1 ,fixedness or ,volatility 7either ,natural1 or ,adventitious from the ,impression of the ,fire7 ,assigne them4 ,thus in the ,distillation 7for ,instance7 of ,man's ,blood1 the ,fire do's ,first begin to ,dissolve the ,nexus or ,cement of the ,body2 and then the ,water1 being the most ,volatile1 and ,easy to be ,extracted1 is either by the ,igneous ,atomes1 or the ,agitation they are put into by the ,fire1 first carried up1 till ,forsaken by what carried it up1 its ,weight sinks it down into the ,receiver3 but all this while the other ,principles of the ,concrete ,remain ,unsever'd1 and ,require a stronger ,degree of ,heat to make a ,separation of its more ,fixt ,elements2 and therefore the ,fire must be ,increas'd which ,carries over the ,volatile ,salt and the ,spirit1 they being1 though ,beleev'd to be ,differing ,principles1 and though ,really of ,different ,consistency1 yet of an almost ,equal ,volatility4 ,after them1 as less ,fugitive1 comes over the ,oyl1 and leaves behinde the ,earth and the ,alcali1 which being of an ,equal ,fixednesse1 the ,fire ,severs them not1 for all the ,definition of the ,schools4 ,and if into a ,red-hot ,earthen or ,iron ,retort you cast the ,matter to be ,distill'd1 ,you may ,observe1 as ,i have often done1 that the ,predominant ,fire will ,carry up all the ,volatile ,elements ,confusedly in one ,fume1 which will afterwards take their ,places in the ,receiver1 either according to the ,degree of their ,gravity1 or according to the ,exigency of their respective ,textures2 the ,salt ,adhering1 for the most part1 to the ,sides and ,top1 and the ,phlegme ,fastening it self there too in great ,drops1 the ,oyle and ,spirit placing themselves ,under1 or ,above one another1 according as their ,ponderousness makes them ,swim or ,sink4 ,for 'tis ,observable1 that though ,oyl or ,liquid ,sulphur be one of the ,elements ,separated by this ,fiery ,analysis1 yet the ,heat which ,accidentally ,unites the ,particles of the other ,volatile ,principles1 has not alwayes the same ,operation on this1 there being divers ,bodies which ,yield ,two ,oyls1 whereof the ,one sinks to the ,bottom of that ,spirit on which the other ,swims2 as ,i can shew ,you in some ,oyls of the same ,deers ,blood1 which are yet by ,me3 ,nay ,i can shew you ,two ,oyls carefully made of the same ,parcel of ,humane ,blood1 which not only ,differ extreamly in ,colour1 but ,swim upon one another without ,mixture1 and if by ,agitation ,confounded will of themselves ,divorce again4 ,and that the ,fire doth oftentimes divide ,bodies1 upon the account that some of their ,parts are more ,fixt1 and some more ,volatile1 how far soever either of these ,two may be from a pure ,elementary ,nature is ,obvious enough1 if ,men would but heed it in the ,burning of ,wood1 which the ,fire ,dissipates into ,smoake and ,ashes3 ,for not only the latter of these is ,confessedly made up of two such ,differing ,bodies as ,earth and ,salt2 but the ,former being condens'd into that ,soot which adheres to our ,chimneys1 ,discovers it self to ,contain both ,salt and ,oyl1 and ,spirit and ,earth1 7and some ,portion of ,phlegme too7 which being1 all almost1 ,equally ,volatile to that ,degree of ,fire which ,forces them up1 7the more ,volatile ,parts ,helping perhaps1 as well as the ,urgency of the ,fire1 to carry up the more ,fixt ones1 as ,i have often ,try'd in ,dulcify'd ,colcothar1 ,sublim'd by ,sal ,armoniack ,blended with it7 are carried ,up together1 but may afterwards be ,separated by other ,degrees of ,fire1 whose orderly ,gradation allowes the ,disparity of their ,volatileness to ,discover it self4 ,besides1 if ,differing ,bodies ,united into one ,mass be both sufficiently ,fixt1 the ,fire finding no ,parts ,volatile enough to be ,expell'd or carried up1 makes no ,separation at all2 as may appear by a ,mixture of ,colliquated ,silver and ,gold1 whose ,component ,metals may be easily ,sever'd by ,aqua ,fortis1 or ,aqua ,regis 7according to the ,predominancy of the ,silver or the ,gold7 but in the ,fire alone1 though vehement1 the ,metals remain unsever'd1 the ,fire only dividing the ,body into smaller ,particles 7whose ,littlenesse may be argu'd from their ,fluidity7 in which either the little nimble ,atoms of ,fire1 or its brisk and numberless strokes upon the ,vessels1 hinder ,rest and ,continuity1 without any ,sequestration of ,elementary ,principles4 ,moreover1 the ,fire sometimes does not ,separate1 so much as ,unite1 ,bodies of a differing ,nature2 provided they be of an almost resembling ,fixedness1 and have in the ,figure of their ,parts an ,aptness to ,coalition1 as we see in the making of many ,plaisters1 ,oyntments1 c4 ,and in such ,metalline ,mixtures as that made by ,melting together two parts of clean ,brass with one of pure ,copper1 of which some ,ingenious ,trades-men cast such curious ,patterns 7for ,gold and ,silver ,works7 as ,i have sometimes taken great ,pleasure to ,look upon4 ,sometimes the ,bodies mingled by the ,fire are ,differing enough as to ,fixidity and ,volatility1 and yet are so combin'd by the first ,operation of the ,fire1 that it self does scarce afterwards ,separate them1 but only ,pulverize them2 whereof an ,instance is afforded us by the ,common ,preparation of ,mercurius ,dulcis1 where the ,saline ,particles of the ,vitriol1 ,sea ,salt1 and sometimes ,nitre1 ,employ'd to make the ,sublimate1 do so unite themselves with the ,mercurial ,particles made use of1 first to ,make ,sublimate1 and then to ,dulcifie it1 that the ,saline and ,metalline ,parts arise together in many successive ,sublimations1 as if they all made but one ,body4 ,and sometimes too the ,fire does not only not ,sever the ,differing ,elements of a ,body1 but ,combine them so firmly1 that ,nature her self does very seldom1 if ever1 make ,unions less ,dissoluble4 ,for the ,fire meeting with some ,bodies exceedingly and almost equally ,fixt1 instead of making a ,separation1 makes an ,union so strict1 that it self1 alone1 is unable to ,dissolve it2 ,as we see1 when an ,alcalizate ,salt and the ,terrestrial ,residue of the ,ashes are ,incorporated with pure ,sand1 and by ,vitrification made one permanent ,body1 7,i mean the course or greenish sort of ,glass7 that mocks the greatest ,violence of the ,fire1 which though able to ,marry the ,ingredients of it1 yet is not able to ,divorce them4 ,i can shew you some pieces of ,glass which ,i saw flow down from an ,earthen ,crucible purposely ,expos'd for a good while1 with ,silver in it1 to a very vehement ,fire4 ,and some that deal much in the ,fusion of ,metals ,informe me1 that the melting of a great part of a ,crucible into ,glass is no great ,wonder in their ,furnaces4 ,i remember1 ,i have ,observ'd too in the ,melting of great ,quantities of ,iron out of the ,oar1 by the ,help of store of ,charcoal 7for they ,affirm that ,sea-,coal will not yield a ,flame strong enough7 that by the prodigious ,vehemence of the ,fire1 ,excited by vast ,bellows 7made to play by great ,wheels turn'd about by ,water7 part of the ,materials ,expos'd to it was1 instead of being ,analyz'd1 ,colliquated1 and turn'd into a ,dark1 ,solid and very ,ponderous ,glass1 and that in such ,quantity1 that in some places ,i have seen the very ,high-wayes1 neer such ,iron-works1 mended with ,heaps of such ,lumps of ,glasse1 instead of ,stones and ,gravel4 ,and ,i have also ,observ'd1 that some kind of ,fire-stone it ,self1 having been employ'd in ,furnaces wherein it was expos'd to very strong and lasting ,fires1 has had all its ,fixt ,parts so ,wrought on by the ,fire1 as to be ,perfectly ,vitrifi'd1 which ,i have try'd by ,forcing from it ,pretty large ,pieces of ,perfect and ,transparent ,glass4 ,and lest ,you might think1 ,eleutherius1 that the ,question'd ,definition of ,heat may be ,demonstrated1 by the ,definition which is wont to be given and ,acquiesc'd in1 of its contrary ,quality1 ,cold1 whose property is taught to be tam ,homogenea1 quam ,heterogenea congregare2 ,give me leave to represent to ,you1 that neither is this ,definition unquestionable2 for not to ,mention the ,exceptions1 which a ,logician1 as such1 may ,take at it1 ,i ,consider that the ,union of ,heterogeneous ,bodies which is ,suppos'd to be the ,genuine ,production of ,cold1 is not ,perform'd by every ,degree of ,cold4 ,for we see for ,instance that in the ,urine of ,healthy ,men1 when the ,liquor has been ,suffer'd a while to stand1 the ,cold makes a ,separation of the ,thinner ,part from the ,grosser1 which ,subsides to the ,bottom1 and ,growes ,opacous there2 whereas if the ,urinal be ,warme1 these ,parts readily ,mingle again1 and the whole ,liquor becomes ,transparent as before4 ,and when1 by ,glaciation1 ,wood1 ,straw1 ,dust1 ,water1 c4 are ,suppos'd to be ,united into one ,lump of ,ice1 the ,cold does not ,cause any ,real ,union or ,adunation1 7if ,i may so ,speak7 of these ,bodies1 but only ,hardening the ,aqueous ,parts of the ,liquor into ,ice1 the other ,bodies being ,accidentally ,present in that ,liquor are frozen up in it1 but not ,really ,united4 ,and accordingly if we ,expose a ,heap of ,mony ,consisting of ,gold1 ,silver and ,copper ,coynes1 or any other ,bodies of ,differing ,natures1 which are ,destitute of ,aqueous ,moisture1 ,capable of ,congelation1 to never so intense a ,cold1 we find not that these ,differing ,bodies are at all thereby so much as ,compacted1 much less ,united together2 and even in ,liquors ,themselves we find ,phaenomena which ,induce us to ,question the ,definition which we are examining4 ,if ,paracelsus his ,authority were to be look't upon as a ,sufficient ,proof in matters of this ,nature1 ,i might here insist on that ,process of his1 whereby he ,teaches that the ,essence of ,wine may be ,sever'd from the ,phlegme and ,ignoble ,part by the ,assistance of ,congelation3 and because much ,weight has been laid upon this ,process1 not only by ,paracelsians1 but other ,writers1 some of whom seem not to have perus'd it themselves1 ,i shall give ,you the entire ,passage in the ,authors own ,words1 as ,i lately found them in the sixth ,book of his ,archidoxis1 an ,extract whereof ,i have yet about me2 and it sounds thus4 ,de ,vino sciendum est1 faecem phlegmaque ejus esse ,mineram1 ,vini substantiam esse corpus in quo conservatur ,essentia1 prout auri in auro latet ,essentia4 ,juxta quod ,practicam nobis ad ,memoriam ponimus1 ut non obliviscamur1 ad hunc modum3 ,recipe ,vinum vetustissimum optimum quod habere poteris1 calore saporeque ad placitum1 hoc in vas vitreum infundas ut tertiam ejus partem impleat1 sigillo ,hermetis occlusum in equino ventre mensibus quatuor1 in continuato calore teneatur qui non deficiat4 ,quo peracto1 ,hyeme cum frigus gelu maxime saeviunt1 his per mensem exponatur ut congeletur4 ,ad hunc modum frigus vini spiritum una cum ejus substantia protrudit in vini centrum1 ac separat a phlegmate3 ,congelatum abjice1 quod vero congelatum non est1 id ,spiritum cum substantia esse judicato4 ,hunc in ,pelicanum positum in arenae digestione non adeo calida per aliquod tempus manere finito2 ,postmodum eximito vini ,magisterium1 de quo locuti sumus4 ,but ,i dare not ,eleu4 lay much ,weight upon this ,process1 because ,i have found that if it were ,true1 it would be but seldom ,practicable in this ,country upon the best ,wine3 for ,though this present ,winter hath been ,extraordinary ,cold1 yet in very ,keen ,frosts accompanied with lasting ,snowes1 ,i have not been able in any ,measure to ,freeze a thin ,vial full of ,sack2 and even with ,snow and ,salt ,i could ,freeze little more then the ,surface of it2 and ,i suppose ,eleu4 that tis not every ,degree of ,cold that is ,capable of ,congealing ,liquors1 which is able to make such an ,analysis 7if ,i may so call it7 of them by ,separating their ,aqueous and ,spirituous ,parts2 for ,i have sometimes1 though not often1 frozen severally1 ,red-wine1 ,urine and ,milk1 but could not ,observe the expected ,separation4 ,and the ,dutch-,men that were forc'd to ,winter in that ,icie ,region neer the ,artick ,circle1 call'd ,nova ,zembla1 although they relate1 as we shall see below1 that there was a ,separation of ,parts made in their frozen ,beer about the middle of ,november1 yet of the ,freezing of their ,back ,errata3 ,sack in ,december following they give but this ,account3 ,yea and our ,sack1 which is so hot1 was ,frozen very hard1 so that when we were every ,man to have his part1 we were forc'd to melt it in the ,fire2 which we shar'd every second ,day1 about half a ,pinte for a ,man1 wherewith we were forc'd to sustain our selves4 ,in which words they imply not1 that their ,back ,errata3 ,sack was divided by the ,frost into differing ,substances1 after such manner as their ,beer had been4 ,all which notwithstanding1 ,eleu4 suppose that it may be made to appear1 that even ,cold sometimes may ,congregare ,homogenea1 ,heterogenea ,segregare3 and to ,manifest this ,i may tell you1 that ,i did once1 purposely cause to be ,decocted in fair ,water a ,plant abounding with ,sulphureous and ,spirituous ,parts1 and having expos'd the ,decoction to a keen ,north-,wind in a very ,frosty ,night1 ,i observ'd1 that the more ,aqueous ,parts of it were turn'd by the next ,morning into ,ice1 towards the innermost part of which1 the more ,agile and ,spirituous parts1 as ,i then conjectur'd1 having ,retreated1 to shun as much as might be their ,environing ,enemy1 they had there preserv'd themselves unfrozen in the ,form of a high colour'd ,liquor1 the ,aqueous and ,spirituous parts having been so sleightly 7,blended rather than7 ,united in the ,decoction1 that they were easily ,separable by such a ,degree of ,cold as would not have been able to have ,divorc'd the ,parts of ,urine or ,wine1 which by ,fermentation or ,digestion are wont1 as ,tryal has inform'd me1 to be more intimately associated each with other4 ,but ,i have already intimated1 ,eleutherius1 that ,i shall not ,insist on this ,experiment1 not only because1 having made it but once ,i may possibly have been mistaken in it2 but also 7and that principally7 because of that much more full and eminent ,experiment of the ,separative ,virtue of extream ,cold1 that was made1 against their ,wills1 by the foremention'd ,dutch men that ,winter'd in ,nova ,zembla2 the ,relation of whose ,voyage being a very scarce ,book1 it will not be amiss to give you that ,memorable part of it which concerns our present ,theme1 as ,i caus'd the ,passage to be extracted out of the ,englished ,voyage it self4 ,gerard de ,veer1 ,john ,cornelyson and ,others1 sent out of ,amsterdam1 ,anno ,dom4 #aeif4 being forc'd by unseasonable ,weather to ,winter in ,nova ,zembla1 neer ,ice-,haven2 on the thirteenth of ,october1 ,three of us 7sayes the ,relation7 went aboard the ,ship1 and laded a ,sled with ,beer2 but when we had laden it1 thinking to go to our ,house with it1 suddenly there arose such a ,winde1 and so great a ,storm and ,cold1 that we were forc'd to go into the ,ship again1 because we were not able to stay without2 and we could not get the ,beer into the ,ship again1 but were forc'd to let it stand without upon the ,sled3 the ,fourteenth1 as we came out of the ,ship1 we found the ,barrel of ,beer standing upon the ,sled1 but it was fast frozen at the ,heads2 yet by reason of the great ,cold1 the ,beer that purg'd out froze as hard upon the ,side of the ,barrel1 as if it had been glu'd thereon3 and in that sort we drew it to our ,house1 and set the ,barrel an end1 and drank it up2 but first we were forc'd to melt the ,beer1 for there was scarce any unfrozen ,beer in the barrel2 but in that thick ,yiest that was unfrozen lay the ,strength of the ,beer1 so that it was too strong to drink alone1 and that which was frozen tasted like ,water2 and being melted we ,mix'd one with the other1 and so drank it2 but it had neither ,strength nor ,taste4 ,and on this ,occasion ,i remember1 that having the last very ,sharp ,winter purposely try'd to ,freeze1 among other ,liquors1 some ,beer moderately strong1 in ,glass ,vessels1 with ,snow and ,salt1 ,i observ'd1 that there came out of the ,neck a certain thick ,substance1 which1 it seems1 was much better able then the rest of the ,liquor 7that ,i found turn'd into ,ice7 to resist a ,frost1 and which1 by its ,colour and consistence seem'd mafestly ,transcriber's ,note3 manifestly enough to be ,yiest1 whereat1 ,i confess1 ,i somewhat marvail'd1 because ,i did not either discerne by the ,taste1 or find by ,enquiry1 that the ,beer was at all too ,new to be very fit to be ,drank4 ,i might confirm the ,dutchmens ,relation1 by what happen'd a while since to a neere ,friend of mine1 who complained to me1 that having ,brew'd some ,beer or ,ale for his own drinking in ,holland 7where he then dwelt7 the ,keenness of the late bitter ,winter froze the ,drink so as to reduce it into ,ice1 and a small ,proportion of a very ,strong and ,spirituous ,liquor4 ,but ,i must not entertain you any longer concerning ,cold1 not onely because you may think ,i have but lost my way into a ,theme which does not directly belong to my present ,undertaking2 but because ,i have already enlarg'd my self too much upon the first ,consideration ,i propos'd1 though it appears so much a ,paradox1 that it seem'd to ,require that ,i should say much to keep it from being thought a meere ,extravagance2 yet since ,i ,undertook but to make the common ,assumption of our ,chymists and ,aristotelians appear ,questionable1 ,i hope ,i have so ,perform'd that ,task1 that ,i may now ,proceed to my ,following ,considerations1 and ,insist lesse on them than ,i have done on the ,first4 ,,the ,,sceptical ,,chymist4 ,the ,second ,part4 ,the ,second ,consideration ,i ,desire to have ,notice ,taken of1 is ,this1 ,that it is not so ,sure1 as ,both ,chymists and ,aristotelians are wont to ,think it1 that every ,seemingly ,similar or ,distinct ,substance that is ,separated from a ,body by the ,help of the ,fire1 was ,pre existent in it as a ,principle or ,element of it4 ,that ,i may not make this ,paradox a ,greater then ,i needs must1 ,i will ,first ,briefly ,explain what the ,proposition means1 before ,i proceed to ,argue for it4 ,and ,i suppose ,you will easily ,believe ,that ,i do not mean that any thing is separable from a ,body by ,fire1 that was not ,materially pre-existent in it2 for it ,far ,exceeds the power of ,meerly ,naturall ,agents1 and ,consequently of the ,fire1 to produce anew1 so ,much as one ,atome of ,matter1 which they can but ,modifie and ,alter1 not ,create2 which is so ,obvious a ,truth1 that almost all ,sects of ,philosophers have ,deny'd the ,power of producing ,matter to ,second ,causes2 and the ,epicureans and some ,others have ,done the ,like1 in ,reference to their ,gods themselves4 ,nor does the ,proposition peremptorily ,deny but that some ,things ,obtain'd by the ,fire from a ,mixt ,body1 may have been more then barely ,materially pre-existent in it1 since there are ,concretes1 which before they be ,expos'd to the ,fire afford us several ,documents of their abounding1 some with ,salt1 and ,others with ,sulphur4 ,for it will serve the present ,turn1 if it appear that diverse things ,obtain'd from a ,mixt ,body expos'd to the ,fire1 were not its ,ingredients ,before3 for if this be made to appear it1 will ,errata3 appear1 it will be ,rationall enough to suspect that ,chymists may ,decieve themselves1 and ,others1 in concluding ,resolutely and ,universally1 those ,substances to be the ,elementary ,ingredients of ,bodies barely separated by the ,fire1 of which it yet may be ,doubted ,whether there be such or ,no2 at least till some other ,argument then that drawn from the ,analysis be ,brought to resolve the ,doubt4 ,that then which ,i ,mean by the ,proposition ,i am ,explaining1 is1 ,that it may without ,absurdity be ,doubted whether or no the ,differing ,substances ,obtainable from a ,concrete ,dissipated by the ,fire were so ,exsistent in it in that ,forme 7at least as to their minute ,parts7 wherein we find them when the ,analysis is over1 that the ,fire did only ,dis-joyne and ,extricate the ,corpuscles of one ,principle from those of the other wherewith before they were ,blended4 ,having thus ,explain'd my ,proposition1 ,i shall endeavour to do two things1 to prove it2 ,the first of which is to shew that such ,substances as ,chymists call ,principles ,may be produc'd ,de novo 7as they speak47 ,and the other is to make it probable that by the ,fire we may ,actually obtain from some ,mixt ,bodies such ,substances as were not in the ,newly ,expounded sence1 pre-existent in them4 ,to begin then with the ,first of these1 ,i ,consider that if it be as true as 'tis probable1 that ,compounded ,bodies ,differ from ,one ,another but in the ,various ,textures ,resulting from the ,bigness1 ,shape1 ,motion1 and contrivance of their smal parts1 ,it will not be ,irrationall to conceive that one and the same parcel of the ,universal ,matter may by ,various ,alterations and ,contextures be brought to ,deserve the ,name1 somtimes of a ,sulphureous1 and sometimes of a ,terrene1 or ,aqueous ,body4 ,and this ,i could more largely ,explicate1 but that our ,friend ,mr4 ,boyle has promis'd us something about ,qualities1 wherein the ,theme ,i now willingly ,resign him1 ,will ,i ,question not be ,studiously ,enquired into4 ,wherefore what ,i shall now advance in favour of what ,i have lately ,deliver'd shall be ,deduc'd from ,experiments made ,divers ,years since4 ,the first of which would have been much more considerable1 but that by some intervening ,accidents ,i was ,necessitated to lose the best time of the year1 for a trial of the ,nature of that ,i design'd2 it being about he ,transcriber's ,note3 the middle of ,may before ,i was able to begin an ,experiment which should have then been two moneths old2 but such as it was1 it will not perhaps be impertinent to ,give ,you this ,narrative of it4 ,at the time newly ,mention'd1 ,i caus'd ,my ,gardiner 7being by ,urgent ,occasions ,hinder'd from being present myself7 to dig out a convenient quantity of good ,earth1 and dry it well in an ,oven1 to weigh it1 to put it in an ,earthen pot almost level with the ,surface of the ground1 and to set in it a selected seed he had before received from me1 for that purpose1 of ,squash1 which is an ,indian kind of ,pompion1 that ,growes apace2 this seed ,i ,ordered ,him to ,water only with ,rain or ,spring ,water4 ,i did not 7when my ,occasions permitted me to visit it7 without delight behold how fast it ,grew1 though unseasonably sown2 but the ,hastning ,winter ,hinder'd it from attaining any thing neer its due and ,wonted magnitude2 7for ,i found the same ,autumn1 in my ,garden1 some of those plants1 by ,measure1 as big about as my ,middle7 and made me order the having it taken ,up2 ,which about the ,middle of ,october was carefully ,done by the same ,gardiner1 who a while after sent me this account of it2 ,i have ,weighed the ,pompion with the ,stalk and ,leaves1 all which ,weighed three pound wanting a quarter2 ,then ,i took the ,earth1 baked it as formerly1 and found it just as much as ,i did at ,first1 which made me think ,i had not dry'd it ,sufficiently3 then ,i put it into the ,oven twice ,more1 after the ,bread was ,drawn1 and ,weighed it the ,second time1 but found it ,shrink little or nothing4 ,but to deal ,candidly with ,you1 ,eleutherius1 ,i must not conceal from ,you the ,event of another ,experiment of this ,kind made this present ,summer1 wherein the ,earth seems to have been much more ,wasted2 as may appear by the following account1 ,lately sent me by the same ,gardiner1 in these ,words4 ,to give ,you an ,account of your ,cucumbers1 ,i have ,gain'd two ,indifferent ,fair ,ones1 the ,weight of them is ten ,pound and a ,halfe1 the ,branches with the ,roots ,weighed four ,pounds wanting two ,ounces2 and when ,i had weighed them ,i took the ,earth1 and bak'd it in several small ,earthen ,dishes in an ,oven2 and when ,i had so done1 ,i found the ,earth wanted a ,pound and a halfe of what it was formerly2 yet ,i was not satisfi'd1 doubting the ,earth was not dry3 ,i put it into an ,oven the ,second ,time1 7after the ,bread was drawn7 and after ,i had taken it out and weighed it1 ,i found it to be the ,same ,weight3 ,so ,i ,suppose there was no ,moisture left in the ,earth4 ,neither do ,i think that the ,pound and ,halfe that was wanting was ,drawn away by the ,cucumber but a great ,part of it in the ,ordering was in ,dust 7and the like7 wasted3 7the ,cucumbers are kept by themselves1 lest ,you should send for them47 ,but yet in this ,tryal1 ,eleutherius1 it appears that though some of the ,earth1 or rather the dissoluble ,salt harbour'd in it1 were wasted1 the main ,body of the ,plant consisted of ,transmuted ,water4 ,and ,i might add1 that a year after ,i caus'd the formerly mentioned ,experiment1 touching large ,pompions1 to be reiterated1 with so good success1 that if my memory does not much mis-inform me1 it did not only much surpass any that ,i made before1 but seem'd strangely to conclude what ,i am pleading for2 though 7by reason ,i have unhappily lost the particular ,account my ,gardiner writ me up of the ,circumstances7 ,i dare not insist upon them4 ,the like ,experiment may be as conveniently try'd with the seeds of any ,plant1 whose growth is hasty1 and its size ,bulky4 ,if ,tobacco will in ,these ,cold ,climates ,grow well in ,earth undung'd1 it would not be amiss to make a ,tryal with it2 for 'tis an annual ,plant1 that arises where it prospers1 sometimes as high as a ,tall ,man2 and ,i have had leaves of it in my ,garden neer a ,foot and a ,halfe broad4 ,but the next time ,i ,try this ,experiment1 it shall be with several seeds of the same sort1 in the same pot of ,earth1 that so the event may be the more ,conspicuous4 ,but because every ,body has not ,conveniency of time and place for this ,experiment neither1 ,i made in my ,chamber1 some shorter and more ,expeditions ,transcriber's ,note3 ,expeditious ,tryals4 ,i took a ,top of ,spearmint1 about an ,inch ,long1 and put it into a good ,vial full of ,spring water1 so as the upper part of the ,mint was above the neck of the ,glass1 and the lower part ,immers'd in the ,water2 within a few ,dayes this ,mint began to shoot forth ,roots into the ,water1 and to display its ,leaves1 and aspire upwards2 and in a short time it had numerous ,roots and ,leaves1 and these very strong and fragrant of the ,odour of the ,mint3 but the ,heat of my ,chamber1 as ,i suppose1 kill'd the ,plant when it was grown to have a pretty thick ,stalk1 which with the various and ramified ,roots1 which it shot into the ,water as if it had been ,earth1 presented in its ,transparent ,flower-pot a ,spectacle not unpleasant to behold4 ,the like ,i try'd with sweet ,marjoram1 and ,i found the ,experiment succeed also1 though somewhat more slowly1 with ,balme and ,peniroyal1 to name now no other ,plants4 ,and one of these ,vegetables1 cherish'd only by ,water1 having obtain'd a competent ,growth1 ,i did1 for ,tryals sake1 cause to be ,distill'd in a small ,retort1 and thereby obtain'd some ,phlegme1 a little ,empyreumaticall ,spirit1 a small ,quantity of adust ,oyl1 and a ,caput mortuum2 which appearing to be a ,coal concluded it to consist of ,salt and ,earth3 but the ,quantity of it was so small that ,i forbore to ,calcine it4 ,the ,water ,i us'd to nourish this ,plant was not shifted nor renewed2 and ,i chose ,spring-water rather than ,rain-water1 because the latter is more discernably a kinde of ,greek3 panspermia1 which1 though it be granted to be freed from grosser ,mixtures1 seems yet to ,contain in it1 besides the ,steams of several ,bodies wandering in the ,air1 which may be suppos'd to impregnate it1 a certain ,spirituous ,substance1 which may be ,extracted out of it1 and is by some mistaken for the ,spirit of the ,world ,corporify'd1 upon what ,grounds1 and with what ,probability1 ,i may elsewhere perchance1 but must not now1 ,discourse to you4 ,but perhaps ,i might have sav'd a great part of my ,labour4 ,for ,i finde that ,helmont 7an ,author more considerable for his ,experiments than many ,learned men are pleas'd to think him7 having had an ,opportunity to prosecute an ,experiment much of the same nature with those ,i have been now speaking of1 for five ,years together1 obtain'd at the end of that time so notable a ,quantity of ,transmuted ,water1 that ,i should scarce ,think it fit to have his ,experiment1 and ,mine ,mention'd together1 were it not that the ,length of ,time ,requisite to this may deterr the ,curiosity of some1 and exceed the leasure of ,others2 and partly1 that so ,paradoxical a ,truth as that which these ,experiments seem to hold forth1 needs to be ,confirm'd by more ,witnesses then one1 especially since the ,extravagancies and ,untruths to be met with in ,helmonts ,treatise of the ,magnetick ,cure of ,wounds1 have made his ,testimonies suspected in his other ,writings1 though as to some of the ,unlikely matters of ,fact he delivers in them1 ,i might safely undertake to be his ,compurgator4 ,but that ,experiment of his which ,i was mentioning to ,you1 he sayes1 was this4 ,he took #bjj pound of ,earth dry'd in an ,oven1 and having put it into an ,earthen ,vessel and moisten'd it with ,raine water he planted in it the ,trunk of a ,willow tree of five pound ,weight2 this he ,water'd1 as need required1 with ,rain or with ,distill'd ,water2 and to keep the ,neighbouring ,earth from getting into the ,vessell1 he employ'd a plate of ,iron tinn'd over and perforated with many holes4 ,five years being efflux'd1 he took out the ,tree and weighed it1 and 7with computing the leaves that fell during four ,autumnes7 he found it to weigh #afi pound1 and about three ,ounces4 ,and ,having again ,dry'd the ,earth it grew in1 he found it want of its ,former ,weight of #bjj ,pound1 about a couple only of ,ounces2 so that #afd pound of the ,roots1 ,wood1 and ,bark1 which ,constituted the ,tree1 seem to have ,sprung from the ,water4 ,and though it appears not that ,helmont had the ,curiosity to make any ,analysis of this ,plant1 yet what ,i lately told ,you ,i did to ,one of the ,vegetables ,i nourish'd with ,water only1 will ,i suppose keep ,you from ,doubting that if he had ,distill'd this ,tree1 it would have afforded him the like ,distinct ,substances as another ,vegetable of the same kind4 ,i need not ,subjoyne that ,i had it also in my thoughts to try how ,experiments to the same purpose with those ,i related to ,you would succeed in other ,bodies then ,vegetables1 because importunate ,avocations having hitherto hinder'd me from putting my ,design in ,practise1 ,i can yet speak but ,confecturally ,transcriber's ,note3 ,conjecturally of the ,success3 but the best is1 that the ,experiments already made and mention'd to you need not the ,assistance of new ,ones1 to ,verifie as much as my present task makes it concern me to prove by ,experiments of this ,nature4 ,one would suspect 7sayes ,eleutherius after his long silence7 by what ,you have been discoursing1 that ,you are not far from ,helmonts ,opinion about the ,origination of ,compound ,bodies1 and perhaps too dislike not the ,arguments which he imployes to prove it4 ,what ,helmontian ,opinion1 and what ,arguments do you mean 7askes ,carneades47 ,what ,you have been ,newly ,discoursing 7replies ,eleutherius7 tells us1 that ,you cannot but know that this bold and ,acute ,spagyrist scruples not to ,assert that all mixt ,bodies spring from one ,element2 and that ,vegetables1 ,animals1 ,marchasites1 ,stones1 ,metalls1 c4 are ,materially but simple ,water disguis'd into these ,various ,formes1 by the plastick or ,formative ,virtue of their seeds4 ,and as for his ,reasons you may find divers of them scatter'd up and down his writings2 the considerabl'st of which seem to be these three2 ,the ,ultimate ,reduction of mixt ,bodies into ,insipid ,water1 the ,vicissitude of the supposed ,elements1 and the production of perfectly mixt ,bodies out of simple ,water4 ,and first he affirmes that the ,sal circulatus ,paracelsi1 or his ,liquor ,alkahest1 does adequately resolve ,plants1 ,animals1 and ,mineralls into one ,liquor or more1 according to their several internall ,disparities of ,parts 7without ,caput ,mortuum1 or the ,destruction of their seminal ,virtues27 and that the ,alkahest being abstracted from these ,liquors in the same weight and ,virtue wherewith it ,dissolv'd them1 the ,liquors may by frequent ,cohobations from chalke or some other idoneous matter1 be ,totally depriv'd of their seminal ,endowments1 and return at last to their first matter1 ,insipid ,water2 some other wayes he proposes here and there1 to divest some particular ,bodies of their borrow'd shapes1 and make them remigrate to their first ,simplicity4 ,the second ,topick whence ,helmont drawes his ,arguments1 to prove ,water to be the ,material cause of ,mixt ,bodies1 ,i told ,you was this1 that the other suppos'd ,elements may be transmuted into one another4 ,but the ,experiments by him here and there produc'd on this ,occasion1 are so uneasie to be made and to be judg'd of1 that ,i shall not insist on them2 not to mention1 that if they were granted to be true1 his ,inference from them is somewhat disputable2 and therefore ,i shall pass on to tell ,you1 ,that as1 in his ,first ,argument1 our ,paradoxical ,author endeavours to prove ,water the ,sole ,element of ,mixt ,bodies1 by their ,ultimate ,resolution1 when by his ,alkahest1 or some other conquering ,agent1 the ,seeds have been ,destroy'd1 which ,disguis'd them1 or when by time those seeds are ,weari'd or ,exantlated or unable to ,act their ,parts upon the ,stage of the ,universe any ,longer3 ,so in ,his ,third ,argument he ,endeavours to evince the same ,conclusion1 by the constitution of ,bodies which he asserts to be nothing but ,water ,subdu'd by ,seminal ,virtues4 ,of this he gives here and there in his ,writings several ,instances1 as to ,plants and ,animals2 but divers of them being ,difficult either to be try'd or to be ,understood1 and others of them being not altogether ,unobnoxious to ,exceptions1 ,i think you have singl'd out the ,principal and less ,questionable ,experiment when you lately mention'd that of the ,willow ,tree4 ,and having thus1 ,continues ,eleutherius1 to ,answer your ,question1 given you a ,summary ,account of what ,i am ,confident ,you know better then ,i do1 ,i shall be very glad to receive ,your ,sence of it1 if the giving it me will not too much ,divert ,you from the ,prosecution of your ,discourse4 ,that ,if 7replies ,carneades7 was not needlessly annex'd3 for thorowly to examine such an ,hypothesis and such ,arguments would require so many ,considerations1 and ,consequently so much time1 that ,i should not now have the ,liesure ,errata3 leasure to perfect such a ,digression1 and much less to finish my ,principle ,errata3 principal ,discourse4 ,yet thus much ,i shall tell ,you at present1 that you need not fear my rejecting this ,opinion for its ,novelty2 since1 however the ,helmontians may in complement to their ,master pretend it to be a new ,discovery1 ,yet though the ,arguments be for the most part his1 the ,opinion it self is very ,antient3 ,for ,diogenes ,laertius and divers other ,authors speak of ,thales1 as the first among the ,graecians that made disquisitions upon nature4 ,and of this ,thales1 ,i ,remember1 ,tully#e informes us1 that he taught all things were at first made of ,water4 ,and it seems by ,plutarch and ,justin ,martyr1 that the ,opinion was ,ancienter then he3 ,for they tell us that he us'd to defend his ,tenet by the ,testimony of ,homer4 ,and a ,greek ,author1 7the ,scholiast of ,apollonius7 upon these ,words ,greek3 ,ex iliou ,transcriber's ,note3 iluos eblastese chthon aute1#f ,the ,earth of ,slime was made1 ,affirms 7out of ,zeno7 that the ,chaos1 whereof all things were made1 was1 according to ,hesiod1 ,water2 which1 settling first1 became ,slime1 and then condens'd into solid ,earth4 ,and the same ,opinion about the ,generation of ,slime seems to have been entertain'd by ,orpheus1 out of whom one of the ,antients#g cites this ,testimony1 ,greek3 ,ek tou hydatos ilui katiste4 ,of ,water ,slime was made4 ,footnote #e3 ,de ,natura ,deorum4 ,footnote #f3 ,argonaut4 #d4 ,footnote #g3 ,athenagoras4 ,it seems also by what is delivered in ,strabo#h out of another ,author1 concerning the ,indians1 ,that they likewise held that all things had differing ,beginnings1 but that of which the ,world was made1 was ,water4 ,and the like ,opinion has been by some of the ,antients ascrib'd to the ,phoenicians1 from whom ,thales himself is conceiv'd to have borrow'd it2 as probably the ,greeks did much of their ,theologie1 and1 as ,i am apt to think1 of their ,philosophy too2 since the ,devising of the ,atomical ,hypothesis commonly ascrib'd to ,lucippus and his ,disciple ,democritus1 is by ,learned ,men attributed to one ,moschus a ,phoenician4 ,and possibly the ,opinion is yet antienter than so2 ,for 'tis known that the ,phoenicians borrow'd most of their ,learning from the ,hebrews4 ,and among those that acknowledge the ,books of ,moses1 many have been inclin'd to think ,water to have been the ,primitive and ,universal ,matter1 by perusing the ,beginning of ,genesis1 where the ,waters seem to be mention'd as the ,material ,cause1 not only of ,sublunary ,compounded ,bodies1 but of all those that make up the ,universe2 whose ,component ,parts did orderly1 as it were1 emerge out of that vast ,abysse1 by the ,operation of the ,spirit of ,god1 who is said to have been moving ,himself as hatching ,females do 7as the ,original ,hebrew3 merachephet1 ,meracephet#i is said to ,import1 and as it seems to signifie in one of the two other places1 wherein alone ,i have met with it in the ,hebrew ,bible7#aj upon the ,face of the ,waters2 which being1 as may be suppos'd1 ,divinely ,impregnated with the seeds of all things1 were by that productive ,incubation qualify'd to produce them4 ,but you1 ,i presume1 ,expect that ,i should ,discourse of this ,matter like a ,naturalist1 not a ,philologer4 ,wherefore ,i shall add1 to ,countenance ,helmont's ,opinion1 ,that whereas he gives not1 that ,i remember1 any ,instance of any ,mineral ,body1 nor scarce of any ,animal1 generated of ,water1 a ,french ,chymist1 ,monsieur de ,rochas1 has presented his ,readers an ,experiment1 which if it were punctually such as he has deliver'd it1 is very ,notable4 ,he then1 ,discoursing of the ,generation of things according to certain ,chymical and ,metaphorical ,notions 7which ,i confess are not to me ,intelligible7 sets down1 among divers ,speculations not pertinent to our ,subject1 the following ,narrative1 which ,i shall repeat to you the sence of in ,english1 with as little variation from the ,literal sence of the ,french words1 as my memory will enable me4 ,having 7sayes he7 discern'd such great ,wonders by the ,natural ,operation of ,water1 ,i would know what may be done with it by ,art ,imitating ,nature4 ,wherefore ,i took ,water which ,i well knew not to be compounded1 nor to be mix'd with any other thing than that ,spirit of ,life 7whereof he had spoken before27 and with a ,heat ,artificial1 ,continual and ,proportionate1 ,i prepar'd and dispos'd it by the above mention'd ,graduations of ,coagulation1 ,congelation1 and ,fixation1 untill it was turn'd into ,earth1 which ,earth produc'd ,animals1 ,vegetables and ,minerals4 ,i tell not what ,animals1 ,vegetables and ,minerals1 for that is reserv'd for another ,occasion3 but the ,animals did ,move of themselves1 ,eat1 c4--and by the true ,anatomie ,i made of them1 ,i found that they were compos'd of much ,sulphur1 little ,mercury1 and less ,salt4--,the ,minerals began to grow and encrease by converting into their own ,nature one part of the ,earth thereunto dispos'd2 they were solid and heavy4 ,and by this truly ,demonstrative ,science1 namely ,chymistry1 ,i found that they were compos'd of much ,salt1 little ,sulphur1 and less ,mercury4 ,footnote #h3 ,universarum rerum primordia diverta esse1 faciendi autem mundi initium aquam4 ,strabo4 ,geograp4 lib4 #ae4 circa medium4 ,footnote #i3 ,deuter4 #cb4 #aa4 ,footnote #aj3 ,jerem4 #bc4 #i4 ,but 7sayes ,carneades7 ,i have some ,suspitions concerning this strange ,relation1 which make me unwilling to ,declare an ,opinion of it1 unless ,i were satisfied concerning divers ,material ,circumstances that our ,author has left unmentioned2 though as for the ,generation of ,living ,creatures1 both ,vegetable and ,sensitive1 it needs not seem ,incredible1 since we finde that our common water 7which indeed is often ,impregnated with ,variety of ,seminal ,principles and ,rudiments7 being long kept in a quiet place will putrifie and stink1 and then perhaps too produce ,moss and little ,worms1 or other ,insects1 according to the nature of the ,seeds that were lurking in it4 ,i must likewise desire you to take ,notice1 that as ,helmont gives us no ,instance of the ,production of ,minerals out of ,water1 so the main ,argument that he employ's to prove that they and other ,bodies may be resolv'd into water1 is drawn from the ,operations of his ,alkahest1 and consequently cannot be satisfactorily ,examin'd by ,you and ,me4 ,yet certainly 7sayes ,eleutherius7 ,you cannot but have somewhat wonder'd as well as ,i1 to observe how great a share of ,water goes to the making up of ,divers ,bodies1 whose ,disguises promise nothing neere so much4 ,the ,distillation of ,eeles1 though it yielded me some ,oyle1 and ,spirit1 and ,volatile ,salt1 besides the ,caput mortuum1 yet were all these so disproportionate to the ,phlegm that came from them 7and in which at first they boyl'd as in a ,pot of ,water7 that they seem'd to have bin nothing but coagulated ,phlegm1 which does likewise strangely abound in ,vipers1 though they are esteem'd very hot in ,operation1 and will in a ,convenient ,aire survive some dayes the loss of their ,heads and ,hearts1 so vigorous is their ,vivacity4 ,mans ,bloud it self as ,spirituous1 and as ,elaborate a ,liquor as 'tis reputed1 does so abound in ,phlegm1 that1 the other ,day1 ,distilling some of it on purpose to try the ,experiment 7as ,i had formerly done in ,deers ,bloud7 out of about seven ,ounces and a half of pure ,bloud we drew neere six ,ounces of ,phlegm1 before any of the more operative ,principles began to arise1 and ,invite us to change the ,receiver4 ,and to satisfie my self that some of these ,animall ,phlegms were void enough of ,spirit to deserve that ,name1 ,i would not content my self to taste them only1 but fruitlesly pour'd on them acid ,liquors1 to try if they contain'd any ,volatile ,salt or ,spirit1 which 7had there been any there7 would probably have discover'd it self by making an ,ebullition with the affused ,liquor4 ,and now ,i mention ,corrosive ,spirits1 ,i am minded to ,informe you1 ,that though they seem to be nothing else but ,fluid ,salts1 yet they abound in ,water1 as you may ,observe1 if either you ,entangle1 and so ,fix their ,saline ,part1 by making them ,corrode some idoneous ,body1 or else if you mortifie it with a contrary ,salt2 as ,i have very manifestly ,observ'd in the making a ,medecine somewhat like ,helmont's ,balsamus ,samech1 with ,distill'd ,vinager instead of ,spirit of ,wine1 wherewith he prepares it3 ,for you would scarce ,beleeve 7what ,i have lately ,observ'd7 that of that acid ,spirit1 the ,salt of ,tartar1 from which it is ,distill'd1 will by mortifying and retaining the acid ,salt turn into worthless ,phlegm neere twenty times its weight1 before it be so fully ,impregnated as to rob no more ,distill'd ,vinager of its ,salt4 ,and though ,spirit of ,wine ,exquisitely rectify'd seem of all ,liquors to be the most free from ,water1 it being so ,igneous that it will ,flame all away without leaving the least ,drop behinde it1 yet even this ,fiery ,liquor is by ,helmont not improbably affirm'd1 in case what he relates be ,true1 to be ,materially ,water1 under a ,sulphureous ,disguise3 ,for1 according to him1 in the making that excellent ,medecine1 ,paracelsus his ,balsamus ,samech1 7which is nothing but ,sal ,tartari dulcify'd by ,distilling from it ,spirit of ,wine till the ,salt be sufficiently glutted with its ,sulphur1 and suffer ,errata3 and till it suffer the ,liquor to be drawn off1 as strong as it was pour'd on7 when the ,salt of ,tartar from which it is ,distill'd hath retain'd1 or depriv'd it of the ,sulphureous parts of the ,spirit of ,wine1 the rest1 which is incomparably the greater part of the ,liquor1 will remigrate into ,phlegm4 ,i added that ,clause ,in case what he ,relates be ,true because ,i have not as yet sufficiently try'd it my self4 ,but not only something of ,experiment keeps me from thinking it1 as many ,chymists do1 absurd1 7though ,i have1 as well as they1 in vain try'd it with ordinary ,salt of ,tartar27 but besides that ,helmont often ,relates it1 and draws ,consequences from it2 ,a ,person noted for his ,sobernesse and ,skill in ,spagyrical ,preparations1 having been askt by me1 ,whether the ,experiment might not be made to succeed1 if the ,salt and ,spirit were prepar'd according to a way suitable to my ,principles1 he affirm'd to me1 that he had that way ,i propos'd made ,helmont's ,experiment succeed very well1 without adding any thing to the ,salt and ,spirit4 ,but our way is neither short nor ,easie4 ,i have indeed 7sayes ,carneades7 sometimes wonder'd to see how much ,phlegme may be obtain'd from ,bodies by the ,fire4 ,but concerning that ,phlegme ,i may anon have ,occasion to note something1 which ,i therefore shall not now anticipate4 ,but to return to the ,opinion of ,thales1 and of ,helmont1 ,i consider1 that supposing the ,alkahest could reduce all ,bodies into water1 yet whether that water1 because insipid1 must be ,elementary1 may not groundlesly be doubted2 ,for ,i remember the ,candid and ,eloquent ,petrus ,laurembergius in his ,notes upon ,sala's ,aphorismes affirmes1 that he saw an insipid ,menstruum that was a powerfull ,dissolvent1 and 7if my ,memory do not much mis-informe me7 could dissolve ,gold4 ,and the water which may be ,drawn from ,quicksilver without ,addition1 though it be almost ,tastless1 ,you will ,i believe think of a differing ,nature from simple ,water1 especially if you ,digest in it ,appropriated ,mineralls4 ,to which ,i shall add but this1 that this ,consideration may be further extended4 ,for ,i see no ,necessity to conceive that the ,water mention'd in the ,beginning of ,genesis1 as the ,universal ,matter1 was simple and ,elementary ,water2 since though we should ,suppose it to have been an ,agitated ,congeries or ,heap consisting of a great ,variety of ,seminal ,principles and ,rudiments1 and of other ,corpuscles fit to be subdu'd and ,fashion'd by them1 it might yet be a ,body ,fluid like ,water1 in case the ,corpuscles it was made up of1 were by their ,creator made small enough1 and put into such an actuall ,motion as might make them ,glide along one another4 ,and as we now say1 the ,sea consists of ,water1 notwithstanding ,errata3 7notwithstanding the ,saline1 ,terrestrial1 and other ,bodies mingl'd with it17 such a ,liquor may well enough be called ,water1 because that was the greatest of the known ,bodies whereunto it was like2 ,though1 that a ,body may be ,fluid enough to appear a ,liquor1 and yet contain ,corpuscles of a very differing ,nature1 ,you will easily believe1 if ,you but expose a good ,quantity of ,vitriol in a strong ,vessel to a ,competent ,fire4 ,for although it contains both ,aqueous1 ,earthy1 ,saline1 ,sulphureous1 and ,metalline ,corpuscles1 yet the whole ,mass will at first be ,fluid like water1 and boyle like a seething pot4 ,i might easily 7,continues ,carneades7 enlarge my self on such ,considerations1 if ,i were ,now ,oblig'd to give ,you my ,judgment of the ,thalesian1 and ,helmontian1 ,hypothesis4 ,but ,whether or no we conclude that all things were at first ,generated of ,water1 ,i may ,deduce from what ,i have try'd ,concerning the ,growth of ,vegetables1 nourish'd with water1 all that ,i now propos'd to my ,self or need at present to prove1 namely that ,salt1 ,spirit1 ,earth1 and ev'n ,oyl 7though that be thought of all ,bodies the most opposite to ,water7 may be produc'd out of ,water2 and consequently that a ,chymical ,principle as well as a ,peripatetick ,element1 may 7in some cases7 be ,generated anew1 or obtain'd from such a parcel of ,matter as was not endow'd with the form of such a principle or ,element before4 ,and having thus1 ,eleutherius1 ,evinc'd that 'tis possible that such ,substances as those that ,chymists are wont to call their ,tria ,prima1 may be ,generated1 anew3 ,i must next ,endeavour to make it ,probable1 that the ,operation of the ,fire does ,actually 7sometimes7 not only divide ,compounded ,bodies into smal ,parts1 but ,compound those ,parts after a new ,manner2 whence ,consequently1 for ought we ,know1 there may ,emerge as well ,saline and ,sulphureous ,substances1 as ,bodies of other ,textures4 ,and perhaps it will assist us in our ,enquiry after the ,effects of the ,operations of the ,fire upon other ,bodies1 to ,consider a little1 what it does to those ,mixtures which being ,productions of the ,art of ,man1 ,we best know the ,composition of4 ,you may then be pleas'd to take ,notice that though ,sope is made up by the ,sope-,boylers of ,oyle or ,grease1 and ,salt1 and ,water ,diligently ,incorporated together1 yet if ,you expose the ,mass they ,constitute to a ,graduall ,fire in a ,retort1 ,you shall then indeed make a ,separation1 but not of the same ,substances that were ,united into ,sope1 but of others of a ,distant and yet not an ,elementary ,nature1 and especially of an ,oyle very sharp and ,faetid1 and of a very ,differing ,quality from that which was ,employ'd to make the ,sope3 fo ,errata3 so if you ,mingle in a due ,proportion1 ,sal ,armoniack with ,quick-,lime1 and ,distill them by ,degrees of ,fire1 ,you shall not ,divide the ,sal ,armoniack from the ,quick-,lime1 though the one be a ,volatile1 and the other a ,fix'd ,substance1 but that which will ascend will be a ,spirit much more ,fugitive1 ,penetrant1 and stinking1 then ,sal ,armoniack2 and there will remain with the ,quick-,lime all or very near all the ,sea ,salt that concurr'd to make up the ,sal ,armoniack2 concerning which ,sea ,salt ,i shall1 to satisfie ,you how well it was ,united to the ,lime1 informe ,you1 that ,i have by making the ,fire at length very ,vehement1 caus'd both the ,ingredients to melt in the ,retort it self into one ,mass and such ,masses are apt to ,relent in the ,moist ,air4 ,if it be here ,objected1 that these ,instances are taken from factitious ,concretes which are more ,compounded then those which ,nature produces2 ,i shall reply1 that besides that ,i have ,mention'd them as much to ,illustrate what ,i propos'd1 as to prove it1 it will be ,difficult to ,evince that ,nature her self does not make ,decompound ,bodies1 ,i mean mingle together such mixt ,bodies as are already ,compounded of ,elementary1 or rather of more simple ones4 ,for ,vitriol 7for ,instance7 though ,i have sometimes taken it out of ,minerall ,earths1 where ,nature had without any assistance of ,art prepar'd it to my ,hand1 is really1 though ,chymists are pleas'd to reckon it among ,salts1 a ,de-compounded ,body ,consisting 7as ,i shall have occasion to declare anon7 of a ,terrestriall ,substance1 of a ,metal1 and also of at least one ,saline ,body1 of a peculiar and not ,elementary ,nature4 ,and we see also in ,animals1 that their blood may be compos'd of ,divers very ,differing ,mixt ,bodies1 since we find it observ'd that divers ,sea-,fowle tast rank of the ,fish on which they ordinarily feed2 and ,hipocrates himself ,observes1 that a ,child may be purg'd by the ,milke of the ,nurse1 if she have taken ,elaterium2 which argues that the purging ,corpuscles of the ,medicament ,concurr to make up the ,milke of the ,nurse2 and that white ,liquor is generally by ,physitians suppos'd to be but blanch'd and alter'd ,blood4 ,and ,i remember ,i have observ'd1 not farr from the ,alps1 that at a certain time of the ,year the ,butter of that ,country was very ,offensive to strangers1 by reason of the rank tast of a certain ,herb1 whereon the ,cows were then wont plentifully to feed4 ,but 7proceeds ,carneades7 to give you ,instances of another kind1 to shew that things may be obtain'd by the ,fire from a ,mixt ,body that were not ,pre-existent in it1 let ,me ,remind ,you1 that from many ,vegetables there may without any ,addition be ,obtain'd ,glass1 a ,body1 which ,i presume ,you will not say was ,pre-existent in it1 but produc'd by the ,fire4 ,to which ,i shall add but this one ,example more1 namely that by a certain ,artificial way of handling ,quicksilver1 ,you may without ,addition separate from it at least a #eth4 or #dth4 part of a clear ,liquor1 which with an ,ordinary ,peripatetick would pass for ,water1 and which a ,vulgar ,chymist would not scruple to call ,phlegme1 and which1 for ought ,i have yet seen or heard1 is not reducible into ,mercury again1 and ,consequently is more then a ,disguise of it4 ,now besides that divers ,chymists will not allow ,mercury to have any or at least any ,considerable ,quantity of either of the ,ignoble ,ingredients1 ,earth and ,water2 ,besides this1 ,i say1 the great ,ponderousness of ,quicksilver makes it very unlikely that it can have so much ,water in it as may be thus obtain'd from it1 since ,mercury weighs #ab or #ad times as much as water of the same ,bulk4 ,nay for a further ,confirmation of this ,argument1 ,i will add this ,strange ,relation1 that two ,friends of mine1 the one a ,physitian1 and the other a ,mathematician1 and both of them ,persons of unsuspected ,credit1 have ,solemnly assured me1 that after many ,tryals they made1 to reduce ,mercury into ,water1 in ,order to a ,philosophicall ,work1 upon ,gold 7which yet1 by the way1 ,i know prov'd ,unsuccesfull7 they did once by divers ,cohobations reduce a pound of ,quicksilver into almost a pound of ,water1 and this without the ,addition of any other ,substance1 but only by pressing the ,mercury by a ,skillfully ,manag'd ,fire in purposely contriv'd ,vessels4 ,but of these ,experiments our ,friend 7sayes ,carneades1 pointing at the ,register of this ,dialogue7 will perhaps give ,you a more ,particular ,account then it is necessary for me to do3 ,since what ,i have now said may sufficiently evince1 that the ,fire may sometimes as well alter ,bodies as divide them1 and by it we may obtain from a ,mixt ,body what was not ,pre-existent in it4 ,and how are we sure that in no other ,body what we call ,phlegme is barely separated1 not ,produc'd by the ,action of the ,fire3 ,since so many other ,mixt ,bodies are of a much less ,constant1 and more alterable ,nature1 then ,mercury1 by many ,tricks it is wont to put upon ,chymists1 and by the ,experiments ,i told ,you of1 about an hour since1 ,appears to be4 ,but because ,i shall ere long have ,occasion to resume into ,consideration the ,power of the ,fire to produce new ,concretes1 ,i shall no longer insist on this ,argument at present2 only ,i must mind ,you1 that if ,you will not dis-believe ,helmonts ,relations1 ,you must confess that the ,tria ,prima are neither ingenerable nor incorruptible ,substances2 since by his ,alkahest some of them may be produc'd of ,bodies that were before of another ,denomination2 and by the same powerfull ,menstruum all of them may be reduc'd into insipid ,water4 ,here ,carneades was about to pass on to his ,third ,consideration1 when ,eleutherius being desirous to hear what he could say to clear his second ,general ,consideration from being repugnant to what he seem'd to think the true ,theory of ,mistion1 prevented him by telling him1 ,i somewhat wonder1 ,carneades1 that ,you1 who are in so many ,points unsatisfied with the ,peripatetick ,opinion touching the ,elements and ,mixt ,bodies1 should also seem averse to that ,notion touching the manner of ,mistion1 wherein the ,chymists 7though perhaps without knowing that they do so7 agree with most of the ,antient ,philosophers that preceded ,aristotle1 and that for ,reasons so considerable1 that divers ,modern ,naturalists and ,physitians1 in other things unfavourable enough to the ,spagyrists1 do in this case side with them against the common ,opinion of the ,schools4 ,if you should ask me 7continues ,eleutherius7 what ,reasons ,i mean8 ,i should partly by the ,writings of ,sennertus and other learned ,men1 and partly by my own ,thoughts1 be supply'd with more1 then 'twere at present proper for me to ,insist largely on4 ,and therefore ,i shall mention only1 and that briefly1 three or four4 ,of these1 ,i shall take the ,first from the state of the ,controversie itself1 and the genuine ,notion of ,mistion1 which though much intricated by the ,schoolmen1 ,i take in short to be this1 ,aristotle1 at least as many of his ,interpreters expound him1 and as indeed he ,teaches in some places1 where he professedly ,dissents from the ,antients1 declares ,mistion to be such a mutual ,penetration1 and perfect ,union of the mingl'd ,elements1 that there is no ,portion of the mixt ,body1 how ,minute soever1 which does not contain ,all1 and ,every of the ,four ,elements1 or in which1 if you please1 all the ,elements are not4 ,and ,i remember1 that he reprehends the ,mistion taught by the ,ancients1 as too sleight or gross1 for this ,reason1 that ,bodies mixt according to their ,hypothesis1 though they appear so to humane ,eyes1 would not appear such to the acute ,eyes of a ,lynx1 whose perfecter ,sight would discerne the ,elements1 if they were no otherwise mingled1 than as his ,predecessors would have it1 to be but ,blended1 not ,united2 whereas the ,antients1 though they did not all ,agree about what kind of ,bodies were ,mixt1 yet they did almost unanimously hold1 that in a compounded ,bodie1 though the ,miscibilia1 whether ,elements1 ,principles1 or whatever they pleas'd to call them1 were associated in such small ,parts1 and with so much ,exactness1 that there was no sensible ,part of the ,mass but seem'd to be of the same ,nature with the rest1 and with the whole2 ,yet as to the ,atomes1 or other ,insensible ,parcels of ,matter1 whereof each of the ,miscibilia consisted1 they retain'd each of them its own ,nature1 being but by ,apposition or ,juxta-,position united with the rest into one ,bodie4 ,so that although by virtue of this composition the mixt ,body did perhaps obtain ,divers new ,qualities1 yet still the ,ingredients that ,compounded it1 retaining their own ,nature1 were by the ,destruction of the ,compositum separable from each other1 the minute ,parts disingag'd from those of a differing ,nature1 and associated with those of their own sort returning to be again1 ,fire1 ,earth1 or ,water1 as they were before they chanc'd to be ,ingredients of that ,compositum4 ,this may be explain'd 7,continues ,eleutherius17 by a piece of ,cloath made of white and black threds interwoven1 wherein though the whole piece appear neither white nor black1 but of a resulting ,colour1 that is gray1 yet each of the white and black threds that compose it1 remains what it was before1 as would appear if the threds were pull'd asunder1 and sorted each ,colour by it self4 ,this 7pursues ,eleutherius7 being1 as ,i understand it1 the ,state of the ,controversie1 and the ,aristotelians after their ,master ,commonly ,defining1 that ,mistion is ,miscibilium alteratorum ,unio1 that seems to comport much better with the ,opinion of the ,chymists1 then with that of their ,adversaries1 since according to that as the newly mention'd ,example declares1 there is but a ,juxta-position of separable ,corpuscles1 retaining each its own ,nature1 whereas according to the ,aristotelians1 when what they are pleas'd to call a mixt ,body results from the ,concourse of the ,elements1 the ,miscibilia cannot so properly be said to be ,alter'd1 as ,destroy'd1 since there is no ,part in the mixt ,body1 how small soever1 that can be call'd either ,fir ,transcriber's ,note3 ,fire1 or ,air1 or ,water1 or ,earth4 ,nor indeed can ,i well understand1 how ,bodies can be mingl'd other wayes then as ,i have declar'd1 or at least how they can be mingl'd1 as our ,peripateticks would have it4 ,for whereas ,aristotle tells us1 that if a ,drop of ,wine be put into ten thousand ,measures of ,water1 the ,wine being ,overpower'd by so ,vast a ,quantity of ,water will be turn'd into it1 he speaks to my ,apprehension1 very improbably2 ,for though ,one should add to that ,quantity of ,water as many ,drops of ,wine as would a ,thousand times exceed it all1 yet by his ,rule the whole ,liquor should not be a ,crama1 a ,mixture of ,wine and ,water1 wherein the ,wine would be ,predominant1 but ,water only2 ,since the ,wine being added but by a ,drop at a time would still ,fall into nothing but ,water1 and ,consequently would be turn'd into it4 ,and if this would hold in ,metals too1 'twere a rare secret for ,goldsmiths1 and ,refiners2 ,for by melting a ,mass of ,gold1 or ,silver1 and by but casting into it ,lead or ,antimony1 ,grain after ,grain1 they might at pleasure1 within a reasonable ,compass of time1 turn what ,quantity they desire1 of the ,ignoble into the ,noble ,metalls4 ,and indeed since a ,pint of wine1 and a pint of water1 amount to about a ,quart of ,liquor1 it seems manifest to sense1 that these ,bodies doe not ,totally ,penetrate one another1 as one would have it2 but that each retains its own ,dimensions2 and ,consequently1 that they are by being ,mingl'd only divided into minute ,bodies1 that do but touch one another with their ,surfaces1 as do the ,grains1 of ,wheat1 ,rye1 ,barley1 c4 in a heap of severall sorts of ,corn3 ,and unless we say1 that as when one measure of wheat1 for ,instance1 is ,blended with a hundred measures of ,barley1 there happens only a ,juxta-position and ,superficial ,contact betwixt the ,grains of wheat1 and as many or thereabouts of the ,grains of ,barley4 ,so when a ,drop of wine is mingl'd with a great deal of water1 there is but an ,apposition of so many ,vinous ,corpuscles to a ,correspondent ,number of ,aqueous ones2 ,unless ,i say this be said1 ,i see not how that ,absurdity will be avoyded1 whereunto the ,stoical ,notion of mistion 7namely by ,greek3 synchysis ,errata3 ,greek3 ,synchysis1 or ,confusion7 was ,liable1 according to which the least ,body may be co-extended with the greatest3 ,since in a mixt ,body wherein before the ,elements were ,mingl'd there was1 for ,instance1 but one pound of water to ten thousand of ,earth1 yet according to them there must not be the least part of that ,compound1 that ,consisted not as well of ,earth1 as water4 ,but ,i insist1 ,perhaps1 too long 7sayes ,eleutherius7 upon the proofs afforded me by the ,nature of ,mistion3 ,wherefore ,i will but name ,two or ,three other ,arguments2 whereof the first shall be1 that according to ,aristotle himself1 the motion of a mixt ,body followes the ,nature of the ,predominant ,element1 as those wherein the ,earth prevails1 tend towards the ,centre of heavy ,bodies4 ,and since many things make it ,evident1 that in divers ,mixt ,bodies the ,elementary ,qualities are as well ,active1 though not altogether so much so as in the ,elements themselves1 it seems not reasonable to deny the actual ,existence of the ,elements in those ,bodies wherein they ,operate4 ,to which ,i shall add this ,convincing ,argument1 that ,experience manifests1 and ,aristotle ,confesses it1 that the ,miscibilia may be again separated from a mixt ,body1 as is ,obvious in the ,chymical ,resolutions of ,plants and ,animalls1 which could not be unless they did actually retain their formes in it3 ,for since1 according to ,aristotle1 and ,i think according to truth1 there is but one common ,mass of all things1 which he has been pleas'd to call ,materia ,prima2 ,and since tis not therefore the ,matter but the ,forme that ,constitutes and ,discriminates ,things1 to say that the ,elements remain not in a ,mixt ,body1 according to their ,formes1 but according to their ,matter1 is not to say that they remain there at all2 ,since although those ,portions of ,matter were ,earth and water1 c4 before they concurr'd1 yet the resulting ,body being once ,constituted1 may as well be said to be simple as any of the ,elements1 the ,matter being confessedly of the same ,nature in all ,bodies1 and the ,elementary ,formes being according to this ,hypothesis perish'd and abolish'd4 ,and lastly1 and if we will ,consult ,chymical ,experiments1 we shall find the ,advantages of the ,chymical ,doctrine above the ,peripatetick ,title little less then ,palpable4 ,for in that ,operation that ,refiners call ,quartation1 which they employ to purifie ,gold1 although three parts of ,silver be so exquisitely mingl'd by ,fusion with a fourth ,part of ,gold 7whence the ,operation is ,denominated7 that the resulting ,mass acquires severall new ,qualities1 by virtue of the ,composition1 and that there is scarce any sensible part of it that is not ,compos'd of both the metalls2 ,yet if ,you cast this mixture into ,aqua ,fortis1 the ,silver will be dissolv'd in the ,menstruum1 and the ,gold like a dark or black ,powder will fall to the ,bottom of it1 and either ,body may be again reduc'd into such a ,metal as it was before1 which shews3 that it retain'd its ,nature1 notwithstanding its being mixt per ,minima with the other3 ,we likewise see1 that though one part of pure ,silver be mingled with eight or ten ,parts1 or more1 of ,lead1 yet the ,fire will upon the ,cuppel easily and perfectly separate them again4 ,and that which ,i would have you peculiarly ,consider on this ,occasion is1 that not only in ,chymicall ,anatomies there is a ,separation made of the ,elementary ,ingredients1 but that some ,mixt ,bodies afford a very much greater ,quantity of this or that ,element or ,principle than of another2 as we see1 that ,turpentine and ,amber yield much more ,oyl and ,sulphur than they do ,water1 whereas ,wine1 which is confess'd to be a perfectly mixt ,bodie1 yields but a little ,inflamable ,spirit1 or ,sulphur1 and not much more ,earth2 but affords a vast proportion of ,phlegm or water3 which could not be1 if as the ,peripateticks suppose1 every1 even of the minutest ,particles1 were of the same nature with the whole1 and consequently did contain both ,earth and ,water1 and ,aire1 and ,fire2 ,wherefore as to what ,aristotle principally1 and almost only ,objects1 that unless his ,opinion be admitted1 there would be no true and perfect ,mistion1 but onely ,aggregates or ,heaps of contiguous ,corpuscles1 which1 though the ,eye of ,man cannot discerne1 yet the ,eye of a ,lynx might perceive not to be of the same ,nature with one another and with their ,totum1 as the ,nature of ,mistion requires1 if he do not beg the ,question1 and make ,mistion to consist in what other ,naturalists deny to be requisite to it1 yet ,he at least objects ,that as a great ,inconvenience which ,i cannot take for such1 till he have brought as ,considerable ,arguments as ,i have propos'd to prove the contrary1 to evince that ,nature makes other ,mistions than such as ,i have allowed1 wherein the ,miscibilia are reduc'd into minute ,parts1 and ,united as farr as sense can discerne3 which if ,you will not grant to be sufficient for a true ,mistion1 he must have the same ,quarrel with ,nature her self1 as with his ,adversaries4 ,wherefore 7,continues ,eleutherius7 ,i cannot but somewhat marvail that ,carneades should oppose the ,doctrine of the ,chymist in a ,particular1 wherein they do as well agree with his old ,mistress1 ,nature1 as dissent from his old ,adversary1 ,aristotle4 ,i must not 7replies ,carneades7 engage my self at present to examine thorowly the ,controversies concerning ,mistion3 ,and if there were no third thing1 but that ,i were reduc'd to embrace absolutely and unreservedly either the ,opinion of ,aristotle1 or that of the ,philosophers that went before him1 ,i should look upon the latter1 which the ,chymists have adopted1 as the more defensible ,opinion3 ,but because differing in the ,opinions about the ,elements from both ,parties1 ,i think ,i can take a middle ,course1 and ,discourse to you of ,mistion after a way that does neither perfectly agree1 nor perfectly disagree with either1 as ,i will not peremptorily define1 whether there be not ,cases wherein some ,phaenomena of ,mistion seem to favour the ,opinion that the ,chymists ,patrons borrow'd of the ,antients1 ,i shall only endeavour to shew ,you that there are some cases which may keep the ,doubt1 which makes up my second ,general ,consideration from being unreasonable4 ,i shall then freely acknowledge to ,you 7sayes ,carneades7 that ,i am not over well satisfi'd with the ,doctrine that is ascribed to ,aristotle1 concerning ,mistion1 especially since it teaches that the four ,elements may again be separated from the mixt ,body2 whereas if they continu'd not in it1 it would not be so much a ,separation as a ,production4 ,and ,i think the ,ancient ,philosophers that ,preceded ,aristotle1 and ,chymists who have since receiv'd the same ,opinion1 do speak of this matter more intelligibly1 if not more probably1 then the ,peripateticks3 but though they speak ,congruously enough1 to their believing1 that there are a certain ,number of ,primogeneal ,bodies1 by whose ,concourse all those we call ,mixts are ,generated1 and which in the ,destruction of mixt ,bodies do barely part company1 and recede from one another1 just such as they were when they came together2 yet ,i1 who meet with very few ,opinions that ,i can entirely ,acquiesce in1 must confess to ,you that ,i am inclin'd to differ not only from the ,aristotelians1 but from the old ,philosophers and the ,chymists1 about the ,nature of ,mistion3 ,and if ,you will give me leave1 ,i shall ,briefly propose to you my present ,notion of it1 provided you will look upon it1 not so much as an ,assertion as an ,hypothesis2 in talking of which ,i do not now pretend to propose and debate the whole ,doctrine of ,mistion1 but to shew that 'tis not ,improbable1 that sometimes mingl'd substances may be so strictly united1 that it doth not by the usuall ,operations of the ,fire1 by which ,chymists are wont to suppose themselves to have made the ,analyses of mixt ,bodies1 sufficiently appear1 that in such ,bodies the ,miscibilia that concurr'd to make them up do each of them retain its own peculiar ,nature3 and by the ,spagyrists ,fires may be more easily extricated and ,recover'd1 than ,alter'd1 either by a ,change of ,texture in the ,parts of the same ,ingredient1 or by an ,association with some parts of another ,ingredient more strict than was that of the parts of this or that ,miscibile among themselves4 ,at these words ,eleu4 having press'd him to do what he propos'd1 and promis'd to do what he desir'd2 ,i consider then 7resumes ,carneades7 that1 not to mention those improper ,kinds of mistion1 wherein ,homogeneous ,bodies are ,joyn'd1 as when ,water is mingl'd with water1 or two ,vessels full of the same kind of ,wine with one another1 the mistion ,i am now to ,discourse of seems1 ,generally speaking1 to be but an ,union per ,minima of any two or more ,bodies of differing ,denominations2 as when ,ashes and ,sand are ,colliquated into ,glass or ,antimony1 and ,iron into ,regulus ,martis1 or ,wine and ,water are mingl'd1 and ,sugar is dissolv'd in the ,mixture4 ,now in this general notion of ,mistion it does not appear clearly comprehended1 that the ,miscibilia or ,ingredients do in their small ,parts so retain their ,nature and remain distinct in the ,compound1 that they may thence by the ,fire be again taken asunder3 ,for though ,i deny not that in some ,mistions of certain permanent ,bodies this ,recovery of the same ,ingredients may be made1 yet ,i am not convinc'd that it will hold in all or even in most1 or that it is necessarily deducible from ,chymicall ,experiments1 and the true ,notion of ,mistion4 ,to explain this a little1 ,i assume1 that ,bodies may be mingl'd1 and that very durably1 that are not ,elementary or resolv'd ,errata3 nor have been resolved into ,elements or ,principles that they may be mingl'd2 as is evident in the ,regulus of ,colliquated ,antimony1 and ,iron newly mention'd2 and in ,gold ,coyne1 which lasts so many ages2 wherein generally the ,gold is alloy'd by the mixture of a quantity1 greater or lesser1 7in our ,mints they use about a #abth4 part7 of either silver1 or ,copper1 or both4 ,next1 ,i consider1 that there being but one ,universal matter of things1 as 'tis known that the ,aristotelians themselves acknowledge1 who call it ,materia ,prima 7about which nevertheless ,i like not all their ,opinions17 the ,portions of this matter seem to differ from ,one ,another1 but in certain ,qualities or ,accidents1 fewer or more2 upon whose ,account the ,corporeal ,substance they belong to receives its ,denomination1 and is referr'd to this or that particular sort of ,bodies2 so that if it come to lose1 or be depriv'd of those ,qualities1 though it ceases not to be a body1 yet it ceases from being that kind of ,body as a ,plant1 or ,animal2 or ,red1 ,green1 ,sweet1 ,sowre1 or the like4 ,i consider that it very often happens that the small parts of ,bodies cohere together but by immediate ,contact and ,rest2 and that however1 there are few ,bodies whose minute ,parts stick so close together1 to what cause soever their ,combination be ascrib'd1 but that it is possible to meet with some other ,body1 whose small ,parts may get between them1 and so dis-joyn them2 or may be fitted to cohere more strongly with some of them1 then those some do with the rest2 or at least may be combin'd so closely with them1 as that neither the ,fire1 nor the other usual ,instruments of ,chymical ,anatomies will separate them4 ,these things being promis'd1 ,i will not peremptorily deny1 but that there may be some ,clusters of ,particles1 wherein the ,particles are so minute1 and the ,coherence so strict1 or both1 that when ,bodies of ,differing ,denominations1 and consisting of such durable ,clusters1 happen to be mingl'd1 though the ,compound ,body made up of them may be very ,differing from either of the ,ingredients1 yet each of the little ,masses or ,clusters may so retain its own ,nature1 as to be again separable1 such as it was before4 ,as when ,gold and ,silver being melted together in a ,due ,proportion 7for in every ,proportion1 the ,refiners will tell ,you that the ,experiment will not succeed7 ,aqua ,fortis will dissolve the ,silver1 and leave the ,gold untoucht2 by which means1 as you lately noted1 both the ,metalls may be recover'd from the mixed ,mass4 ,but 7,continues ,carneades7 there are other ,clusters wherein the ,particles stick not so close together1 but that they may meet with ,corpuscles of another ,denomination1 which are dispos'd to be more closely ,united with some of them1 then they were among themselves4 ,and in such case1 two thus combining ,corpuscles losing that ,shape1 or ,size1 or ,motion1 or other ,accident1 upon whose ,account they were endow'd with such a ,determinate ,quality or ,nature1 each of them really ceases to be a ,corpuscle of the same ,denomination it was before2 and from the ,coalition of these there may emerge a new ,body1 as really one1 as either of the ,corpuscles was before they were mingl'd1 or1 if you please1 ,confounded3 ,since this ,concretion is really endow'd with its own ,distinct qualities1 and can no more by the ,fire1 or any other known way of ,analysis1 be divided again into the ,corpuscles that at first concurr'd to make it1 than either of them could by the same means be subdivided into other ,particles4 ,but 7sayes ,eleutherius7 to make this more intelligible by particular examples2 ,if you dissolve ,copper in ,aqua ,fortis1 or ,spirit of ,nitre1 7for ,i remember not which ,i us'd1 nor do ,i think it much ,material7 ,you may by ,crystalizing the ,solution ,obtain a goodly ,vitriol2 which though by ,virtue of the ,composition it have manifestly diverse ,qualities1 not to be met with in either of the ,ingredients1 yet it seems that the ,nitrous ,spirits1 or at least many of them1 may in this ,compounded ,mass retain their former ,nature2 for having for tryal sake ,distill'd this ,vitrioll ,spirit1 there came over store of ,red ,fumes1 which by that ,colour1 by their peculiar stinke1 and by their ,sourness1 manifested themselves to be1 ,nitrous ,spirits2 and that the remaining ,calx continu'd ,copper1 ,i suppose you'l easily beleeve4 ,but if you dissolve ,minium1 which is but ,lead ,powder'd by the ,fire1 in good ,spirit of ,vinager1 and ,crystalize the ,solution1 you shall not only have a ,saccharine ,salt exceedingly differing from both its ,ingredients2 but the ,union of some ,parts of the ,menstruum with some of those of the ,metal is so strict1 that the ,spirit of ,vinager seems to be1 as such1 destroy'd1 since the ,saline ,corpuscles have quite lost that acidity1 upon whose ,account the ,liquor was call'd ,spirit of ,vinager2 nor can any such ,acid ,parts as were put to the ,minium be ,separated by any known way from the ,saccharum ,saturni resulting from them both2 for not only there is no ,sowrness at all1 but an admirable ,sweetness to be tasted in the ,concretion2 and not only ,i found not that ,spirit of ,wine1 which otherwise will immediately hiss when mingl'd with strong ,spirit of ,vinager1 would hiss being pour'd upon ,saccharum ,saturni1 wherein yet the ,acid ,salt of ,vinager1 did it ,survive1 may seem to be concentrated2 but upon the ,distillation of ,saccharum ,saturni by its ,self ,i found indeed a ,liquor very ,penetrant1 but not at all ,acid1 and differing as well in smell and other ,qualities1 as in tast1 from the ,spirit of ,vinager2 which likewise seem'd to have left some of its ,parts very firmly united to the ,caput ,mortuum1 which though of a ,leaden ,nature was in smell1 ,colour1 c4 differing from ,minium2 which brings into my mind1 that though two ,powders1 the one ,blew1 and the other ,yellow1 may appear a ,green mixture1 without either of them losing its own ,colour1 as a good ,microscope has sometimes inform'd me2 yet having mingl'd ,minium and ,sal ,armoniack in a requisite ,proportion1 and expos'd them in a ,glass ,vessel to the ,fire1 the whole ,mass became ,white1 and the ,red ,corpuscles were destroy'd2 for though the ,calcin'd ,lead was separable from the ,salt1 yet you'l easily beleeve it did not part from it in the ,forme of a ,red ,powder1 such as was the ,minium1 when it was put to the ,sal ,armoniack4 ,i leave it also to be consider'd1 whether in ,blood1 and divers other ,bodies1 it be probable1 that each of the ,corpuscles that concurr to make a ,compound ,body doth1 though some of them in some ,cases may1 retain its own ,nature in it1 so that ,chymsts ,transcriber's ,note3 ,chymists may ,extricate each sort of them from all the others1 wherewith it concurr'd to make a ,body of one ,denomination4 ,i know there may be a ,distinction betwixt ,matter ,immanent1 when the material ,parts remain and retain their own ,nature in the things materiated1 as some of the ,schoolmen speak1 7in which sence ,wood1 ,stones and ,lime are the matter of a ,house17 and ,transient1 which in the materiated thing is so alter'd1 as to receive a new ,forme1 without being capable of re-admitting again the ,old4 ,in which sence the ,friends of this ,distinction say1 that ,chyle is the matter of ,blood1 and ,blood that of a ,humane ,body1 of all whose ,parts 'tis presum'd to be the ,aliment4 ,i know also that it may be said1 that of material ,principles1 some are common to all mixt ,bodies1 as ,aristotles four ,elements1 or the ,chymists ,tria ,prima2 others ,peculiar1 which belong to this or that sort of ,bodies2 as ,butter and a kind of whey may be said to be the ,proper ,principles of ,cream3 and ,i deny not1 but that these ,distinctions may in some ,cases be of ,use2 but partly by what ,i have said already1 and partly by what ,i am to say1 ,you may easily enough guess in what sence ,i admit them1 and discerne that in such a sence they will either illustrate some of my ,opinions1 or at least will not overthrow any of them4 ,to prosecute then what ,i was saying before1 ,i will add to this purpose1 ,that since the ,major part of ,chymists ,credit1 what those they call ,philosophers affirme of their ,stone1 ,i may represent to them1 that though when ,common ,gold and ,lead are mingled ,together1 the ,lead may be sever'd almost un-alter'd from the ,gold2 yet if instead of ,gold a ,tantillum of the ,red ,elixir be mingled with the ,saturn1 their ,union will be so indissoluble in the perfect ,gold that will be produc'd by it1 that there is no known1 nor perhaps no possible way of separating the diffus'd ,elixir from the fixed ,lead1 but they both ,constitute a most permanent ,body1 wherein the ,saturne seems to have quite lost its ,properties that made it be call'd ,lead1 and to have been rather transmuted by the ,elixir1 then barely associated to it4 ,so that it seems not alwayes necessary1 that the ,bodies that are put together per minima1 should each retain its own ,nature2 ,so as when the ,mass it ,self is dissipated by the ,fire1 to be more dispos'd to re-appear in its ,pristine ,forme1 then in any new one1 which by a stricter association of its ,parts with those of some of the other ,ingredients of the ,compositum1 then with one another1 it may have acquired4 ,and if it be objected1 that unless the ,hypothesis ,i oppose be admitted1 in such ,cases as ,i have proposed there would not be an ,union but a ,destruction of mingled ,bodies1 which seems all one as to say1 that of such ,bodies there is no mistion at all2 ,i answer1 that though the ,substances that are mingl'd remain1 only their ,accidents are ,destroy'd1 and though we may with tollerable ,congruity call them ,miscibilia1 because they are ,distinct ,bodies before they are put together1 however afterwards they are so ,confounded that ,i should rather call them ,concretions1 or ,resulting ,bodies1 than mixt ones2 and though1 perhaps1 some other and better ,account may be propos'd1 upon which the name of mistion may remain2 yet if what ,i have said be thought ,reason1 ,i shall not wrangle about ,words1 though ,i think it fitter to alter a ,terme of ,art1 then reject a new ,truth1 because it suits not with it4 ,if it be also ,objected that this ,notion of mine1 concerning mixtion1 though it may be allow'd1 when ,bodies already ,compounded are put to be mingl'd1 yet it is not applicable to those mixtions that are immediately made of the ,elements1 or ,principles themselves2 ,i ,answer in the first place1 that ,i here ,consider the ,nature of mixtion somewhat more ,generally1 then the ,chymists1 who yet cannot deny that there are oftentimes ,mixtures1 and those very durable ones1 made of ,bodies that are not ,elementary4 ,and in the next place1 that though it may be probably pretended that in those ,mixtures that are made immediately of the ,bodies that are call'd ,principles or ,elements1 the mingl'd ,ingredients may better retain their own ,nature in the ,compounded ,mass1 and be more easily separated from thence2 yet1 besides that it may be doubted1 whether there be any such ,primary ,bodies1 ,i see not why the reason ,i alleadg'd1 of the destructibility of the ,ingredients of ,bodies in ,general1 may not sometimes be ,applicable to ,salt ,sulphur or ,mercury2 'till it be shewn upon what account we are to believe them ,priviledged4 ,and however1 7if you please but to recall to mind1 to what purpose ,i told you at ,first1 ,i meant to speak of ,mistion at this ,time7 you will perhaps allow that what ,i have hitherto ,discoursed about it may not only give some ,light to the ,nature of it in general 7especially when ,i shall have an ,opportunity to ,declare to you my thoughts on that subject more fully7 but may on some ,occasions also be ,serviceable to me in the ,insuing ,part of this ,discourse4 ,but1 to look back ,now to that part of our ,discourse1 whence this ,excursion concerning ,mistion has so long diverted us1 though we there ,deduc'd1 from the differing ,substances obtained from a ,plant nourished only with ,water1 and from some other things1 that it was not necessary that nature should alwaies compound a ,body at first of all such differing bodies as the fire could afterwards make it afford2 yet this is not all that may be collected from those ,experiments4 ,for from them there seems also ,deducible something that ,subverts an other ,foundation of the ,chymical ,doctrine4 ,for since that 7as we have seen7 out of fair ,water alone1 not only ,spirit1 but ,oyle1 and ,salt1 and ,earth may be ,produced2 ,it will follow that ,salt and ,sulphur are not ,primogeneal ,bodies1 and principles1 since they are every ,day made out of plain ,water by the ,texture which the ,seed or ,seminal principle of plants puts it into4 ,and this would not perhaps seem so strange1 if through pride1 or negligence1 ,we were not ,wont to ,overlook the ,obvious and ,familiar ,workings of ,nature2 ,for if ,we consider what slight ,qualities they are that serve to denominate one of the ,tria ,prima1 ,we shall find that ,nature do's frequently enough work as great ,alterations in divers parcells of matter3 ,for to be readily dissoluble in water1 is enough to make the body that is so1 passe for a ,salt4 ,and yet ,i see not why from a new shufling and ,disposition of the ,component ,particles of a body1 it should be much harder for ,nature to compose a body dissoluble in ,water1 of a portion of ,water that was not so before1 then of the ,liquid substance of an ,egg1 which will easily mix with ,water1 to produce by the bare warmth of a hatching ,hen1 ,membrans1 ,feathers1 ,tendons1 and other parts1 that are not dissoluble in ,water as that ,liquid ,substance was3 ,nor is the ,hardness and ,brittleness of ,salt more difficult for ,nature to introduce into such a yielding body as ,water1 then it is for her to make the ,bones of a ,chick out of the tender ,substance of the ,liquors of an ,egg4 ,but instead of prosecuting this consideration1 as ,i easily might1 ,i will proceed1 as soon as ,i have taken notice of an objection that lies in my ,way4 ,for ,i easily foresee it will be alledged1 that the above mentioned ,examples are all taken from ,plants1 and ,animals1 in whom the ,matter is ,fashioned by the ,plastick power of the seed1 or something analogous thereunto4 ,whereas the ,fire do's not act like any of the ,seminal ,principles1 but destroyes them all1 when they come within its ,reach4 ,but to this ,i shall need at present to make but this easy ,answer1 ,that whether it be a ,seminal ,principle1 or any other which fashions that ,matter after those various manners ,i have mentioned to ,you1 yet 'tis ,evident1 that either by the ,plastick principle ,alone1 or that and ,heat ,together1 or by some ,other cause capable to contex the matter1 it is yet possible that the matter may be ,anew contriv'd into such ,bodies4 ,and 'tis only for the ,possibility of this that ,i am now contending4 ,,the ,,sceptical ,,chymist4 ,the ,third ,part4 ,what ,i have hitherto ,discours'd1 ,eleutherius1 7sayes his ,friend to ,him7 has1 ,i presume1 shew'n ,you1 that a ,considering ,man may very well question the ,truth of those very ,suppositions which ,chymists as well as ,peripateticks1 without proving1 take for granted2 and upon which ,depends the ,validity of the ,inferences they draw from their ,experiments4 ,wherefore having dispach't that1 which though a ,chymist ,perhaps will not1 yet ,i do1 look upon as the most ,important1 as well as ,difficult1 part of my ,task1 it will now be ,seasonable for me to proceed to the ,consideration of the ,experiments themselves1 wherein they are wont so much to ,triumph and ,glory4 ,and these will the rather deserve a serious ,examination1 because those that ,alledge them are wont to do it with so much ,confidence and ,ostentation1 that they have hitherto impos'd upon almost all ,persons1 without excepting ,philosophers and ,physitians themselves1 who have read their ,books1 or heard them talk4 ,for some learned ,men have been content rather to beleeve what they so boldly ,affirm1 then be at the trouble and charge1 to try whether or no it be ,true4 ,others again1 who have ,curiosity enough to ,examine the ,truth of what is ,averr'd1 want ,skill and ,opportunity to do what they ,desire4 ,and the ,generality even of ,learned ,men1 seeing the ,chymists 7not contenting themselves with the ,schools to amuse the ,world with empty words7 ,actually ,perform'd divers strange things1 and1 among those ,resolve ,compound ,bodies into several ,substances not known by former ,philosophers to be contain'd in them3 ,men ,i say1 seeing these ,things1 and ,hearing with what ,confidence ,chymists ,averr the ,substances ,obtain'd from ,compound ,bodies by the ,fire to be the ,true ,elements1 or1 7as they speak7 ,hypostaticall ,principles of them1 are forward to think it but ,just as well as ,modest1 that according to the ,logicians ,rule1 the ,skilfull ,artists should be ,credited in their own ,art2 ,especially when those things whose ,nature they so ,confidently take upon them to teach others are not only ,productions of their own ,skill1 but such as others ,know not else what to make of4 ,but though 7,continues ,carneades7 the ,chymists have been able upon some or other of the mention'd ,acounts1 not only to ,delight but ,amaze1 and almost to bewitch even ,learned ,men2 yet such as ,you and ,i1 who are not unpractis'd in the ,trade1 must not suffer our ,selves to be impos'd upon by hard ,names1 or bold ,assertions2 nor to be dazl'd by that ,light which should but assist us to discern things the more clearly4 ,it is one thing to be able to help ,nature to produce things1 and another thing to ,understand well the ,nature of the things produc'd4 ,as we see1 that many ,persons that can beget ,children1 are for all that as ,ignorant of the ,number and ,nature of the parts1 especially the internal ones1 that ,constitute a ,childs ,body1 as they that never were ,parents4 ,nor do ,i ,doubt1 but you'l excuse me1 if as ,i thank the ,chymists for the things their ,analysis shews me1 so ,i take the ,liberty to consider how many1 and what they are1 without being astonish'd at them2 as if1 whosoever hath ,skill enough to shew men some new thing of his own making1 had the ,right to make them believe whatsoever he pleases to tell them concerning it4 ,wherefore ,i will now proceed to my ,third ,general ,consideration1 which is1 ,that it does not appear1 that ,three is precisely and ,universally the ,number of the ,distinct ,substances or ,elements1 whereinto mixt ,bodies are resoluble by the ,fire2 ,i mean that 'tis not prov'd by ,chymists1 that all the ,compound ,bodies1 which are granted to be perfectly mixt1 are upon their ,chymical ,analysis divisible each of them into just ,three ,distinct ,substances1 neither more nor less1 which are wont to be lookt upon as ,elementary1 or may as well be reputed so as those that are so reputed4 ,which last ,clause ,i subjoyne1 to prevent your ,objecting1 that some of the ,substances ,i may have occasion to mention by and by1 are not perfectly ,homogeneous1 nor ,consequently worthy of the name of ,principles4 ,for that which ,i am now to consider1 is1 into how many ,differing ,substances1 that may plausibly pass for the ,elementary ,ingredients of a mix'd ,body1 it may be ,analyz'd by the ,fire2 but whether each of these be un-compounded1 ,i reserve to examine1 when ,i shall come to the next ,general ,consideration2 where ,i hope to evince1 that the ,substances which the ,chymists not only allow1 but assert to be the ,component ,principles of the ,body resolv'd into them1 are not wont to be uncompounded4 ,now there are two ,kind of ,arguments 7pursues ,carneades7 which may be brought to make my ,third ,proposition seem probable2 one sort of them being of a more ,speculative ,nature1 and the other drawn from ,experience4 ,to begin then with the first of these4 ,but as ,carneades was going to do as he had said1 ,eleutherius interrupted him1 by saying with a somewhat smiling countenance2 ,if you have no mind ,i should think1 that the ,proverb1 ,that ,good ,wits have bad ,memories1 is ,rational and ,applicable to ,you1 ,you must not ,forget now you are upon the ,speculative ,considerations1 that may relate to the ,number of the ,elements2 that your ,self did not long since ,deliver and ,concede some ,propositions in ,favour of the ,chymical ,doctrine1 which ,i may without disparagement to you think it uneasie1 even for ,carneades to answer4 ,i have not1 replies he1 ,forgot the ,concessions you mean2 but ,i hope too1 that you have not forgot neither with what ,cautions they were made1 when ,i had not yet assumed the ,person ,i am now sustaining4 ,but however1 ,i shall to content ,you1 so discourse of my ,third general consideration1 as to let ,you see1 ,that ,i am not ,unmindful of the things you would have me remember4 ,to talk then again according to such principles as ,i then made use of1 ,i shall represent1 that if it be granted rational to suppose1 as ,i then did1 that the ,elements consisted at first of certain small and primary ,coalitions of the minute ,particles of matter into ,corpuscles very numerous1 and very like each other1 ,it will not be absurd to conceive1 that such primary ,clusters may be of far more sorts then three or five2 and consequently1 that we need not suppose1 that in each of the compound ,bodies we are treating of there should be found just three sorts of such primitive ,coalitions1 as we are speaking of4 ,and if according to this ,notion we allow a considerable number of differing ,elements1 ,i may add1 that it seems very possible1 that to the constitution of one sort of mixt ,bodies two kinds of ,elementary ones may suffice 7as ,i lately ,exemplify'd to you1 in that most durable ,concrete1 ,glass17 another sort of ,mixts may be compos'd of three ,elements1 another of four1 another of five1 and another perhaps of many more4 ,so that according to this ,notion1 there can be no determinate number assign'd1 as that of the ,elements2 of all sorts of compound ,bodies whatsoever1 it being very probable that some ,concretes consist of fewer1 some of more ,elements4 ,nay1 it does not seem ,impossible1 according to these ,principles1 but that there may be two sorts of ,mixts1 whereof the one may not have any of all the same ,elements as the other consists of2 as we oftentimes see two words1 whereof the one has not any one of the ,letters to be met with in the other2 or as we often meet with diverse ,electuaries1 in which no ,ingredient 7except ,sugar7 is common to any two of them4 ,i will not here debate whether there may not be a multitude of these ,corpuscles1 which by reason of their being primary and simple1 might be called ,elementary1 if several sorts of them should convene to compose any ,body1 which are as yet free1 and neither as yet contex'd and entangl'd with primary ,corpuscles of other kinds1 but remains liable to be subdu'd and fashion'd by ,seminal ,principles1 or the like powerful and ,transmuting ,agent1 by whom they may be so connected among themselves1 or with the parts of one of the bodies1 as to make the compound ,bodies1 whose ,ingredients they are1 resoluble into more1 or other ,elements then those that ,chymists have hitherto taken notice of4 ,to all which ,i may add1 that since it appears1 by what ,i observ'd to you of the permanency of ,gold and ,silver1 that even ,corpuscles that are not of an ,elementary but compounded ,nature1 may be of so durable a ,texture1 as to remain indissoluble in the ordinary ,analysis that ,chymists make of ,bodies by the ,fire2 ',tis not impossible but that1 though there were but three ,elements1 yet there may be a greater number of ,bodies1 which the wonted wayes of ,anatomy will not discover to be no ,elementary ,bodies4 ,but1 sayes ,carneades1 having thus far1 in compliance to you1 talk't conjecturally of the number of the ,elements1 'tis now time to consider1 not of how many ,elements it is possible that ,nature may compound mix'd ,bodies1 but 7at least as farr as the ordinary ,experiments of ,chymists will informe us7 of how many she doth make them up4 ,i say then1 that it does not by these sufficiently appear to me1 that there is any one determinate number of ,elements to be uniformly met with in all the several sorts of ,bodies allow'd to be perfectly mixt4 ,and for the more distinct proof of this ,proposition1 ,i shall in the first place ,represent1 ,that there are divers ,bodies1 which ,i could never see by fire divided into so many as three ,elementary substances4 ,i would fain 7as ,i said lately to ,philoponus7 see that fixt and noble ,metal we call ,gold separated into ,salt1 ,sulphur and ,mercury3 and if any man will submit to a competent forfeiture in case of failing1 ,i shall willingly in case of prosperous successe pay both for the ,materials and the charges of such an ,experiment4 ',tis not1 that after what ,i have try'd my self ,i dare peremptorily deny1 that there may out of ,gold be extracted a certain substance1 which ,i cannot hinder ,chymists from calling its ,tincture or ,sulphur2 and which leaves the remaining ,body depriv'd of its wonted colour4 ,nor am ,i sure1 that there cannot be drawn out of the same ,metal a real quick and running ,mercury4 ,but for the ,salt of ,gold1 ,i never could either see it1 or be satisfied that there was ever such a thing separated1 in rerum natura1 by the relation of any credible eye witnesse4 ,and for the several ,processes that ,promise that effect1 the materials that must be wrought upon are somewhat too pretious and costly to be wasted upon so groundlesse adventures1 of which not only the successe is doubtful1 but the very possibility is not yet demonstrated4 ,yet that which most deterres me from such tryalls1 is not their chargeablenesse1 but their unsatisfactorinesse1 though they should succeed4 ,for the ,extraction of this golden ,salt being in ,chymists ,processes prescribed to be effected by corrosive ,menstruums1 or the ,intervention of other ,saline ,bodies1 it will remain doubtful to a wary person1 whether the ,emergent ,salt be that of the ,gold it self2 or of the ,saline ,bodies or ,spirits employ'd to prepare it2 ,for that such disguises of ,metals do often impose upon ,artists1 ,i am sure ,eleutherius is not so much a stranger to ,chymistry as to ignore4 ,i would likewise willingly see the three principles separated from the pure sort of ,virgin-,sand1 from ,osteocolla1 from refined ,silver1 from ,quicksilver1 freed from its adventitious ,sulphur1 from ,venetian ,talk ,transcriber's ,note3 ,talck1 which by long detention in an extreme ,reverberium1 ,i could but divide into smaller ,particles1 7not the constituent principles17 ,nay1 which1 when ,i caused it to be kept1 ,i know not how long1 in a ,glasse-house fire1 came out in the ,figure it's ,lumps had when put in1 though alter'd to an almost ,amethystine colour2 and from divers other ,bodies1 which it were now unnecessary to enumerate4 ,for though ,i dare not absolutely affirme it to be impossible to ,analyze these ,bodies into their ,tria ,prima2 yet because1 neither my own ,experiments1 nor any competent ,testimony hath hitherto either taught me how such an ,analysis may be made1 or satisfy'd me1 that it hath been so1 ,i must take the ,liberty to refrain from believing it1 till the ,chymists prove it1 or give us intelligible and practicable ,processes to performe what they pretend4 ,for whilst they affect that ,a,enigmatical obscurity with which they are wont to puzzle the ,readers of their divulg'd ,processes concerning the ,analyticall ,preparation of ,gold or ,mercury1 they leave wary persons much unsatisfyed whether or no the differing ,substances1 they promise to produce1 be truly the ,hypostatical ,principles1 or only some intermixtures of the divided ,bodies with those employ'd to work upon them1 as is ,evident in the seeming ,crystalls of ,silver1 and those of ,mercury2 which though by some inconsiderately supposed to be the ,salts of those ,metalls1 are plainly but mixtures of the ,metalline ,bodies1 with the ,saline parts of ,aqua fortis or other corrosive ,liquors2 as is evident by their being reducible into ,silver or ,quicksilver1 as they were before4 ,i cannot but ,confesse 7saith ,eleutherius7 that though ,chymists may upon probable grounds affirm themselves ,able to obtain their ,tria ,prima1 from ,animals and ,vegetables1 yet ,i have often wondred that they should so confidently pretend also to resolve all ,metalline and other ,mineral bodies into ,salt1 ,sulphur1 and ,mercury4 ,for 'tis a saying almost ,proverbial1 among those ,chymists themselves that are accounted ,philosophers2 and our famous ,countryman ,roger ,bacon has particularly adopted it2 that ,facilius est aurum facere quam destruere4 ,and ,i fear1 with ,you1 that ,gold is not the only ,mineral from which ,chymists are wont fruitlessly to attempt the separating of their three ,principles4 ,i know indeed 7continues ,eleutherius7 that the ,learned ,sennertus1 even in that book where he takes not upon him to play the ,advocate for the ,chymists1 but the ,umpier betwixt them and the ,peripateticks1 expresses himself roundly1 thus2#aa ,salem omnibus inesse 7mixtis scilicet7 ex iis fieri posse omnibus in resolutionibus ,chymicis versatis notissimum est4 ,and in the next ,page1 ,quod de sale dixi1 saies he1 ,idem de ,sulphure dici potest3 but by his favour ,i must see very good proofs1 before ,i believe such general ,assertions1 how boldly soever made2 and he that would convince me of their truth1 must first teach me some true and practicable way of separating ,salt and ,sulphur from ,gold1 ,silver1 and those many different sort of ,stones1 that a violent ,fire does not bring to ,lime1 but to ,fusion2 and not only ,i1 for my own part1 never saw any of those newly nam'd ,bodies so resolved2 but ,helmont1 who was much better vers'd in the ,chymical ,anatomizing of ,bodies then either ,sennertus or ,i1 has somewhere this resolute passage2#ab ,scio 7saies he7 ex arena1 silicibus saxis1 non ,calcariis1 nunquam ,sulphur aut ,mercurium trahi posse2 ,nay ,quercetanus himself1 though the grand stickler for the ,tria ,prima1 has this ,confession of the ,irresolubleness of ,diamonds2#ac ,adamas 7saith he7 omnium factus ,lapidum solidissimus ac durissimus ex arctissima videlicet trium principiorum unione ac ,cohaerentia1 quae nulla arte separationis in solutionem principiorum suorum spiritualium disjungi potest4 ,and indeed1 pursues ,eleutherius1 ,i was not only glad1 but somewhat surprized to find you inclined to ,admit that there may be a ,sulphur and a running ,mercury drawn from ,gold2 for unlesse you do 7as your expression seem'd to intimate7 take the word ,sulphur in a very loose sence1 ,i must doubt whether our ,chymists can separate a ,sulphur from ,gold3 ,for when ,i saw you make the experiment that ,i suppose invited you to speak as you did1 ,i did not judge the golden ,tincture to be the true principle of ,sulphur extracted from the body1 but an aggregate of some such highly colour'd parts of the ,gold1 as a ,chymist would have called a ,sulphur incombustible1 which in plain ,english seems to be little better than to call it a ,sulphur and no ,sulphur4 ,and as for ,metalline ,mercuries1 ,i had not wondred at it1 though you had expressed much more severity in speaking of them3 ,for ,i remember that having once met an old and famous ,artist1 who had long been 7and still is7 ,chymist to a great ,monarch1 the repute he had of a very honest man invited me to desire him to tell me ingenuously whether or no1 among his many labours1 he had ever really extracted a true and running ,mercury out of ,metalls2 to which question he freely replyed1 that he had never separated a true ,mercury from any ,metal2 nor had ever seen it really done by any man else4 ,and though ,gold is1 of all ,metalls1 ,that1 whose ,mercury ,chymists have most endeavoured to extract1 and which they do the most brag they have extracted2 yet the ,experienced ,angelus ,sala1 in his ,spagyrical account of the seven ,terrestrial ,planets 7that is the seven metalls7 affords us this memorable ,testimony1 to1 our present purpose2 ,quanquam 7saies he7 c4 experientia tamen 7quam stultorum ,magistrum ,errata3 ,magistram vocamus7 certe ,comprobavit1 ,mercurium auri adeo fixum1 maturum1 arcte cum reliquis ejusdem corporis substantiis conjungi1 ut nullo modo retrogredi possit4 ,to which he sub-joynes1 that he himself had seen much ,labour spent upon that ,design1 but could never see any such ,mercury produc'd thereby4 ,and ,i easily beleeve what he annexes2 that he had often seen ,detected many tricks and ,impostures of ,cheating ,alchymists4 ,for1 the most part of those that are fond of such ,charlatans1 being unskilfull or ,credulous1 or both1 'tis very easie for such as have some ,skill1 much craft1 more boldness1 and no ,conscience1 to impose upon them2 and therefore1 though many profess'd ,alchymists1 and divers ,persons of ,quality have told me that they have made or seen the ,mercury of ,gold1 or of this or that other ,metal2 yet ,i have been still apt to fear that either these persons have had a ,design to deceive others2 or have not had ,skill and circumspection enough to keep themselves from being deceived4 ,footnote #aa3 ,sennert4 lib4 de cons4 dissens4 pag4 #adg4 ,footnote #ab3 ,helmon4 pag4 #dji4 ,footnote #ac3 ,quercet4 apud ,billich4 in ,thessalo redivivo4 pag4 #ii4 ,you recall to my mind 7sayes ,carneades7 a certain ,experiment ,i once devis'd1 innocently to deceive some persons1 and let them and others see how little is to be built upon the affirmation of those that are either unskillfull or unwary1 when they tell us they have seen ,alchymists make the ,mercury of this or that ,metal2 and to make this the more evident1 ,i made my ,experiment much more ,slight1 ,short and ,simple1 than the ,chymists usuall processes to ,extract ,metalline ,mercuries2 which ,operations being commonly more ,elaborate and ,intricate1 and requiring a much more longer time1 give the ,alchymists a greater opportunity to ,cozen1 and ,consequently are more ,obnoxious to the ,spectators suspicion4 ,and that wherein ,i endeavour'd to make my ,experiment look the more like a ,true ,analysis1 was1 that ,i not only pretended as well as others to extract a ,mercury from the ,metal ,i wrought upon1 but likewise to separate a large proportion of manifest and inflamable ,sulphur4 ,i take then1 of the filings of ,copper1 about a ,drachme or two1 of common sublimate1 powder'd1 the like ,weight1 and ,sal ,armoniack near about as much as of ,sublimate2 these three being well mingl'd together ,i put into a small ,vial with a long neck1 or1 which ,i find better1 into a ,glass ,urinall1 which 7having first stopped it with ,cotton7 to avoid the ,noxious ,fumes1 ,i approach by degrees to a competent ,fire of well kindled coals1 or 7which looks better1 but more endangers the ,glass7 to the ,flame of a candle2 and after a while the bottom of the ,glass being held ,just upon the ,kindled ,coals1 or in the flame1 ,you may in about a quarter of an ,hour1 or perchance in halfe that time1 perceive in the ,bottom of the ,glass some running ,mercury2 and if then ,you take away the ,glass and break it1 ,you shall find a ,parcel of ,quicksilver1 ,perhaps altogether1 and perhaps part of it in the pores of the ,solid ,mass2 ,you shall find too1 that the remaining ,lump being held to the ,flame of the ,candle will readily burn with a greenish ,flame1 and after a little while 7perchance presently7 will in the ,air ,acquire a ,greenish ,blew1 which being the ,colour that is ascrib'd to ,copper1 when its ,body is unlocked1 ',tis easie to perswade ,men that this is the ,true ,sulphur of ,venus1 especially since not only the ,salts may be ,suppos'd partly to be ,flown away1 and partly to be ,sublim'd to the upper part of the ,glass1 whose inside 7will ,commonly appear ,whitened by them7 but the ,metal seems to be quite ,destroy'd1 the ,copper no longer appearing in a ,metalline ,forme1 but almost in that of a ,resinous ,lump2 whereas indeed the ,case is only this1 ,that the ,saline parts of the ,sublimate1 together with the ,sal ,armoniack1 being excited and actuated by the ,vehement heat1 fall upon the ,copper1 7which is a ,metal they can more easily corrode1 than silver7 whereby the small parts of the ,mercury being freed from the ,salts that kept them asunder1 and being by the heat tumbled up and down after many ,occursions1 they ,convene into a ,conspicuous ,mass of ,liquor2 and as for the ,salts1 some of the more ,volatile of them ,subliming to the upper part of the ,glass1 the others ,corrode the ,copper1 and uniting themselves with it do strangely alter and ,disguise its ,metallick ,form1 and compose with it a new kind of ,concrete inflamable like ,sulphur2 concerning which ,i shall not now say any thing1 since ,i can ,referr ,you to the ,diligent ,observations which ,i remember ,mr4 ,boyle has made concerning this ,odde kind of ,verdigrease4 ,but ,continues ,carneades smiling1 you know ,i was not cut out for a ,mountebank1 and therefore ,i will hasten to resume the person of a ,sceptick1 and take up my discourse where ,you diverted me from prosecuting it4 ,in the next place1 then1 ,i consider1 that1 as there are some ,bodies which yield not so many as the three ,principles2 so there are many others1 that in their ,resolution ,exhibite more principles than three2 and that therefore the ,ternary ,number is not that of the ,universal and ,adequate ,principles of ,bodies4 ,if you allow of the ,discourse ,i ately ,errata3 lately made ,you1 touching the primary ,associations of the small ,particles of matter1 ,you will scarce think it improbable1 that of such ,elementary ,corpuscles there may be more sorts then either three1 or four1 or five4 ,and if you will grant1 what will scarce be deny'd1 that ,corpuscles of a compounded ,nature may in all the wonted ,examples of ,chymists pass for ,elementary1 ,i see not1 why you should think it impossible1 that as ,aqua ,fortis1 or ,aqua ,regis will make a ,separation of colliquated ,silver and ,gold1 though the ,fire cannot2 so there may be some ,agent found out so subtile and so powerfull1 at least in respect of those particular compounded ,corpuscles1 as to be able to resolve them into those more simple ones1 whereof they consist1 and consequently encrease the number of the ,distinct ,substances1 whereinto the mixt ,body has been hitherto thought resoluble4 ,and if that be true1 which ,i recited to you a while ago out of ,helmont concerning the ,operations of the ,alkahest1 which divides ,bodies into other ,distinct ,substances1 both as to number and ,nature1 then the ,fire does2 it will not a little countenance my ,conjecture4 ,but confining our selves to such wayes of ,analyzing mix'd ,bodies1 as are already not unknown to ,chymists1 it may without ,absurdity be ,question'd1 whether besides those grosser ,elements of ,bodies1 which they call ,salt ,sulphur and ,mercury1 there may not be ,ingredients of a more ,subtile ,nature1 which being extreamly little1 and not being in themselves ,visible1 may escape unheeded at the ,junctures of the ,destillatory ,vessels1 though never so carefully ,luted4 ,for let me observe to you one thing1 which though not taken notice of by ,chymists1 may be a notion of good ,use in divers ,cases to a ,naturalist1 that we may well suspect1 that there may be severall ,sorts of ,bodies1 which are not ,immediate ,objects of any one of our senses2 since we ,see1 that not only those little ,corpuscles that issue out of the ,loadstone1 and perform the ,wonders for which it is justly admired2 ,but the ,effluviums of ,amber1 ,jet1 and other ,electricall ,concretes1 though by their effects upon the particular ,bodies dispos'd to receive their ,action1 they seem to fall under the ,cognizance of our ,sight1 yet do they not as ,electrical immediately ,affect any of our senses1 as do the bodies1 whether minute or greater1 that we ,see1 ,feel1 ,taste1 c4 ,but1 continues ,carneades1 because you may expect ,i should1 as the ,chymists do1 consider only the sensible ,ingredients of ,mixt ,bodies1 let us now see1 what ,experience will1 even as to these1 suggest to us4 ,it seems then questionable enough1 whether from ,grapes variously order'd there may not be drawn more distinct ,substances by the help of the ,fire1 then from most other mixt ,bodies4 ,for the ,grapes themselves being dryed into ,raysins and distill'd1 will 7besides ,alcali1 ,phlegm1 and ,earth7 yield a considerable quantity of an ,empyreumatical ,oyle1 and a ,spirit of a very different nature from that of ,wine4 ,also the unfermented ,juice of ,grapes affords other distil'd ,liquors then ,wine doth4 ,the ,juice of ,grapes after fermentation will yield a ,spiritus ,ardens2 which if competently rectifyed will all burn away without leaving any thing remaining4 ,the same fermented ,juice degenerating into ,vinager1 yields an acid and corroding ,spirit4 ,the same ,juice turn'd ,errata3 tunned up1 armes it self with ,tartar2 out of which may be separated1 as out of other ,bodies1 ,phlegme1 ,spirit1 ,oyle1 ,salt and ,earth3 not to mention what ,substances may be drawn from the ,vine it self1 probably differing from those which are separated from ,tartar1 which is a body by it self1 that has few resemblers in the ,world4 ,and ,i will further consider that what force soever you will allow this instance1 to evince that there are some ,bodies that yield more ,elements then others1 it can scarce be deny'd but that the ,major part of bodies that are divisible into ,elements1 yield more then three4 ,for1 besides those which the ,chymists are pleased to name ,hypostatical1 most bodies contain two others1 ,phlegme and ,earth1 which concurring as well as the rest to the constitution of ,mixts1 and being as generally1 if not more1 found in their ,analysis1 ,i see no sufficient cause why they should be excluded from the number of ,elements4 ,nor will it suffice to object1 as the ,paracelsians are wont to do1 that the ,tria prima are the most useful ,elements1 and the ,earth and ,water but worthlesse and unactive2 for ,elements being call'd so in relation to the constituting of mixt ,bodies1 it should be upon the account of its ,ingrediency1 not of its use1 that any thing should be affirmed or denyed to be an ,element3 and as for the pretended uselessness of ,earth and ,water1 it would be consider'd that usefulnesse1 or the want of it1 denotes only a ,respect or ,relation to us2 and therefore the presence1 or absence of it1 alters not the ,intrinsick nature of the thing4 ,the hurtful ,teeth of ,vipers are for ought ,i know useless to us1 and yet are not to be deny'd to be parts of their ,bodies2 and it were hard to shew of what greater ,use to ,us1 then ,phlegme and ,earth1 are those ,undiscern'd ,stars1 which our ,new ,telescopes discover to ,us1 in many ,blanched places of the ,sky2 and yet we cannot but acknowledge them ,constituent and ,considerably great parts of the ,universe4 ,besides that whether or no the ,phlegme and ,earth be immediately ,useful1 but necessary to constitute the ,body whence they are separated2 and consequently1 if the mixt ,body be not ,useless to us1 those constituent parts1 without which it could not have been ,that mixt ,body1 may be said not to be ,unuseful to ,us3 and though the ,earth and ,water be not so conspicuously ,operative 7after separation7 as the other three more active ,principles1 yet in this case it will not be amiss to remember the lucky ,fable of ,menemius ,aggrippa1 of the dangerous ,sedition of the ,hands and ,legs1 and other more busie parts of the ,body1 against the seemingly unactive ,stomack4 ,and to this case also we may not unfitly apply that ,reasoning of an ,apostle1 to another purpose2 ,if the ,ear shall say1 because ,i ,am not the ,eye1 ,i am not of the ,body2 ,is it therefore not of the ,body8 ,if the whole ,body were ,eye1 where were the ,hearing8 ,if the whole were for hearing1 where the smelling8 ,in a word1 since ,earth and water appear1 as clearly and as generally as the other ,principles upon the resolution of ,bodies1 to be the ,ingredients whereof they are made up2 and since they are useful1 if not immediately to us1 or rather to ,physitians1 to the ,bodies they constitute1 and so though in somewhat a remoter way1 are serviceable to us2 to exclude them out of the number of ,elements1 is not to imitate ,nature4 ,transcriber's ,note3 ,see the printer's note 7beginning ,the ,authors constant ,absence7 at the end of the book for material that the printer inadvertently omitted from this page4 ,but1 pursues ,carneades1 though ,i think it ,evident1 that ,earth and ,phlegme are to be reckon'd among the ,elements of most ,animal and ,vegetable ,bodies1 yet 'tis not upon that ,account alone1 that ,i think divers ,bodies resoluble into more ,substances then three4 ,for there are two ,experiments1 that ,i have sometimes made to shew1 that at least some ,mixts are divisible into more ,distinct ,substances then five4 ,the one of these ,experiments1 though 'twill be more seasonable for me to mention it fully anon1 yet in the mean time1 ,i shall tell you thus much of it1 ,that out of two ,distill'd ,liquors1 which pass for ,elements of the ,bodies whence they are drawn1 ,i can without ,addition make a true ,yellow and ,inflamable ,sulphur1 notwithstanding that the two ,liquors remain afterwards ,distinct4 ,of the other ,experiment1 which perhaps will not be altogether unworthy your ,notice1 ,i must now give you this particular ,account4 ,i had long observ'd1 that by the ,destillation of divers ,woods1 both in ,ordinary1 and some unusuall sorts of ,vessels1 the ,copious ,spirit that came over1 had besides a strong tast1 to be met with in the ,empyreumaticall ,spirits of many other ,bodies1 an ,acidity almost like that of ,vinager3 ,wherefore ,i suspected1 that though the sowrish ,liquor ,distill'd1 for ,instance1 from ,box-,wood1 be lookt upon by ,chymists as barely the ,spirit of it1 and therefore as one single ,element or ,principle2 yet it does really consist of two ,differing ,substances1 and may be divisible into them2 and consequently1 that such ,woods and other ,mixts as abound with such a ,vinager1 may be said to consist of one ,element or ,principle1 more then the ,chymists as yet are ,aware of2 ,wherefore bethinking my self1 how the separation of these two ,spirits might be made1 ,i ,quickly found1 that there were several wayes of ,compassing it4 ,but that of them which ,i shall at present mention1 was this1 ,having ,destill'd a ,quantity of ,box-,wood per se1 and slowly rectify'd the sowrish ,spirit1 the better to free it both from ,oyle and ,phlegme1 ,i cast into this ,rectify'd ,liquor a convenient ,quantity of ,powder'd ,coral1 expecting that the ,acid part of the ,liquor would ,corrode the ,coral1 and being associated with it would be so retain'd by it1 that the other part of the ,liquor1 which was not of an acid ,nature1 nor fit to fasten upon the ,corals1 would be permitted to ascend alone4 ,nor was ,i deceiv'd in my ,expectation2 ,for having gently abstracted the ,liquor from the ,coralls1 there came over a ,spirit of a ,strong smell1 and of a tast very piercing1 but without any sourness2 and which was in diverse qualities manifestly different1 not only from a ,spirit of ,vinager1 but from some ,spirit of the same ,wood1 that ,i purposely kept by me without depriving it of its acid ,ingredient4 ,and to satisfy you1 that these two ,substances were of a very differing ,nature1 ,i might informe you of several ,tryals that ,i made1 but must not name some of them1 because ,i cannot do so without making some unseasonable discoveries4 ,yet this ,i shall tell you at present1 that the sowre ,spirit of ,box1 not only would1 as ,i just now related1 dissolve ,corals1 which the other would not fasten on1 but being pour'd upon ,salt of ,tartar would immediately boile and hiss1 whereas the other would lye quietly upon it4 ,the acid ,spirit pour'd upon ,minium made a ,sugar of ,lead1 which ,i did not find the other to do2 some drops of this penetrant spirit being mingl'd with some drops of the blew ,syrup of ,violets seem'd rather to dilute then otherwise alter the colour2 whereas the ,acid ,spirit turn'd the syrup of a reddish colour1 and would probably have made it of as pure a red as ,acid ,salts are wont to do1 had not its operation been hindered by the mixture of the other ,spirit4 ,a few drops of the compound ,spirit being ,shaken into a pretty quantity of the infusion of ,lignum ,nephriticum1 presently destroyed all the blewish colour1 whereas the other ,spirit would not take it away4 ,to all which it might be added1 that having for tryals sake pour'd fair water upon the ,corals that remained in the bottom of the glass wherein ,i had rectifyed the double spirit 7if ,i may so call it7 that was first drawn from the ,box1 ,i found according to my expectation that the ,acid ,spirit had really dissolved the ,corals1 and had coagulated with them4 ,for by the affusion of fair ,water1 ,i ,obtain'd a ,solution1 which 7to note that singularity upon the bye7 was red1 whence the ,water being evaporated1 there remained a soluble ,substance much like the ,ordinary ,salt of ,coral1 as ,chymists are pleas'd to call that ,magistery of ,corals1 which they make by dissolving them in common spirit of ,vinager1 and abstracting the ,menstruum ad ,siccitatem4 ,i know not whether ,i should subjoine1 on this occasion1 that the simple spirit of ,box1 if ,chymists will have it therefore ,saline because it has a strong tast1 will furnish us with a new kind of ,saline ,bodies1 differing from those hitherto taken notice of4 ,for whereas of the three chief sorts of ,salts1 the ,acid1 the ,alcalizate1 and the ,sulphureous1 there is none that seems to be friends with both the other two1 as ,i may1 e're it be long1 have occasion to shew2 ,i did not find but that the simple spirit of ,box did agree very well 7at least as farr as ,i had occasion to try it7 both with the ,acid and the other ,salts4 ,for though it would lye very quiet with salt of ,tartar1 ,spirit of ,urine1 or other bodies1 whose ,salts were either of an ,alcalizate or fugitive ,nature2 yet did not the mingling of ,oyle of ,vitriol it self produce any hissing or ,effervescence1 which you know is wont to ensue upon the ,affusion of that highly ,acid ,liquor upon either of the ,bodies newly mentioned4 ,i think my self1 sayes ,eleutherius1 beholden to you1 for this ,experiment2 not only because ,i forsee you will make it helpful to you in the ,enquiry you are now upon1 but because it teaches us a ,method1 whereby we may prepare a numerous sort of new spirits1 which though more simple then any that are thought ,elementary1 are manifestly endow'd with peculiar and powerfull qualities1 some of which may probably be of considerable use in ,physick1 as well alone1 as associated with other things2 as one may hopefully guess by the redness of that ,solution your sour ,spirit made of ,corals1 and by some other circumstances of your ,narrative4 ,and suppose 7pursues ,eleutherius7 that you are not so confin'd1 for the separation of the ,acid parts of these compound ,spirits from the other1 to employ ,corals2 but that you may as well make use of any ,alcalizate ,salt1 or of ,pearls1 or ,crabs eyes1 or any other ,body1 upon which common ,spirit of ,vinager will easily work1 and1 to speak in an ,helmontian ,phrase1 ,exantlate it self4 ,i have not yet tryed1 sayes ,carneades1 of what use the mention'd liquors may be in ,physick1 either as ,medicines or as ,menstruums3 ,but ,i could mention now 7and may another time7 divers of the tryals that ,i made to satisfy my self of the difference of these two ,liquors4 ,but that1 as ,i allow your thinking what you newly told me about ,corals1 ,i presume you will allow me1 from what ,i have said already1 to deduce this ,corollary2 ,that there are divers compound bodies1 which may be resolv'd into four such differing ,substances1 as may as well merit the name of ,principles1 as those to which the ,chymists freely give it4 ,for since they scruple not to reckon that which ,i call the compound ,spirit of ,box1 for the spirit1 or as others would have it1 the ,mercury of that ,wood1 ,i see not1 why the ,acid liquor1 and the other1 should not each of them1 especially that last named1 be lookt upon as more worthy to be called an ,elementary ,principle2 since it must needs be of a more simple nature then the ,liquor1 which was found to be divisible into that1 and the ,acid ,spirit4 ,and this further use 7continues ,carneades7 may be made of our experiment to my present purpose1 that it may give us a rise to suspect1 that since a ,liquor reputed by the ,chymists to be1 without dispute1 ,homogeneous1 is by so slight a way divisible into two distinct and more simple ,ingredients1 some more skilful or happier ,experimenter then ,i may find a way either further to divide one of these ,spirits1 or to resolve some or other1 if not all1 of those other ,ingredients of mixt ,bodies1 that have hitherto pass'd among ,chymists for their ,elements or ,principles4 ,,the ,,sceptical ,,chymist4 ,the ,fourth ,part4 ,and thus much 7sayes ,carneades7 may suffice to be said of the ,number of the ,distinct substances separable from mixt ,bodies by the ,fire3 ,wherefore ,i now proceed to consider the nature of them1 and shew you1 ,that though they seem ,homogeneous ,bodies1 yet have they not the purity and simplicity that is requisite to ,elements4 ,and ,i should immediately proceed to the proof of my ,assertion1 but that the ,confidence wherewith ,chymists are wont to call each of the ,substances we speak of by the name of ,sulphur or ,mercury1 or the other of the ,hypostaticall ,principles1 and the intollerabln ,errata3 intolerable ,ambiguity they allow themselves ie ,errata3 in their ,writings and ,expressions1 makes it necessary for me in ,order to the ,keeping you either from mistaking me1 or thinking ,i mistake the ,controversie1 to take ,notice to you and complain of the unreasonable ,liberty they give themselves of playing with ,names at pleasure4 ,and indeed if ,i were oblig'd in this ,dispute1 to have such regard to the ,phraseology of each particular ,chymist1 as not to ,write any thing which this or that ,author may not pretend1 not to contradict this or that sence1 which he may give as ,occasion serves to his ,ambiguous ,expressions1 ,i should scarce know how to dispute1 nor which way to turn myself4 ,for ,i find that even ,eminent ,writers1 7such as ,raymund ,lully1 ,paracelsus and others7 do so abuse the termes they employ1 that as they will now and then give divers things1 one name2 so they will oftentimes give one thing1 many ,names2 and some of them 7perhaps7 such1 as do much more properly signifie some ,distinct ,body of another kind2 nay even in ,technical ,words or ,termes of ,art1 they refrain not from this ,confounding ,liberty2 but will1 as ,i have ,observ'd1 call the same ,substance1 sometimes the ,sulphur1 and ,sometimes the ,mercury of a ,body4 ,and now ,i speak of ,mercury1 ,i cannot but take ,notice1 that the ,descriptions they give us of that ,principle or ,ingredient of mixt ,bodies1 are so intricate1 that even those that have ,endeavour'd to ,pollish and ,illustrate the ,notions of the ,chymists1 are fain to confess that they know not what to make of it1 either by ,ingenuous ,acknowledgments1 or ,descriptions that are not ,intelligible4 ,i must confess 7sayes ,eleutherius7 ,i have1 in the reading of ,paracelsus and other ,chymical ,authors1 been troubled to find1 that such hard ,words and ,equivocal ,expressions1 as ,you justly complain of1 do even when they treat of ,principles1 seem to be studiously affected by those ,writers2 whether to make themselves to be admir'd by their ,readers1 and their ,art appear more ,venerable and ,mysterious1 or1 7as they would have us think7 to conceal from them a ,knowledge themselves judge inestimable4 ,but whatever 7sayes ,carneades7 these ,men may promise themselves from a ,canting way of delivering the ,principles of ,nature1 they will find the ,major part of ,knowing ,men so vain1 as when they understand not what they read1 to conclude1 that it is rather the ,writers fault then their own4 ,and those that are so ambitious to be admir'd by the ,vulgar1 that rather then go without the ,admiration of the ,ignorant they will expose themselves to the contempt of the ,learned1 those shall1 by my consent1 freely enjoy their ,option4 ,as for the ,mystical ,writers scrupling to ,communicate their ,knowledge1 they might less to their own ,disparagement1 and to the trouble of their ,readers1 have conceal'd it by writing no ,books1 then by ,writing bad ones4 ,if ,themistius were here1 he would not stick to say1 that ,chymists write thus darkly1 not because they think their ,notions too precious to be explain'd1 but because they fear that if they were explain'd1 men would discern1 that they are farr from being precious4 ,and indeed1 ,i fear that the chief ,reason why ,chymists have written so obscurely of their three ,principles1 may be1 ,that not having ,clear and ,distinct ,notions of them themselves1 they cannot write otherwise then ,confusedly of what they but ,confusedly ,apprehend3 ,not to say that divers of them1 being ,conscious to the ,invalidity of their ,doctrine1 might well enough discerne that they could scarce keep themselves from being confuted1 but by keeping themselves from being clearly understood4 ,but though much may be said to ,excuse the ,chymists when they write ,darkly1 and ,a,enigmatically1 about the ,preparation of their ,elixir1 and ,some few other grand ,arcana1 the divulging of which they may upon ,grounds ,plausible enough esteem unfit2 yet when they pretend to teach the ,general ,principles of ,natural ,philosophers1 this ,equivocall ,way of ,writing is not to be endur'd4 ,for in such ,speculative ,enquiries1 where the naked ,knowledge of the ,truth is the thing ,principally aim'd at1 what does he teach me worth thanks that does not1 if he can1 make his ,notion intelligible to me1 but by ,mystical ,termes1 and ,ambiguous ,phrases darkens what he should clear up2 and makes me add the ,trouble of guessing at the sence of what he ,equivocally expresses1 to that of examining the ,truth of what he seems to deliver4 ,and if the matter of the ,philosophers ,stone1 and the manner of preparing it1 be such ,mysteries as they would have the ,world believe them1 they may ,write ,intelligibly and ,clearly of the ,principles of mixt ,bodies in ,general1 without ,discovering what they call the ,great ,work4 ,but for my part 7,continues ,carneades7 what my ,indignation at this ,un-philosophical way of teaching ,principles has now extorted from me1 is meant chiefly to excuse my self1 if ,i shall hereafter oppose any ,particular ,opinion or assertion1 that some ,follower of ,paracelsus or any ,eminent ,artist may pretend not to be his ,masters4 ,for1 as ,i told you long since1 ,i am not ,oblig'd to examine private mens writings1 7which were a ,labour as endless as unprofitable7 being only engag'd to examine those ,opinions about the ,tria ,prima1 which ,i find those ,chymists ,i have met with to agree in most3 ,and ,i ,doubt not but my ,arguments against their ,doctrine will be in great part easily enough applicable ev'n to those private ,opinions1 which they do not so directly and expresly oppose4 ,and indeed1 that which ,i am now entering upon being the ,consideration of the things themselves whereinto ,spagyrists resolve mixt ,bodies by the ,fire1 ,if ,i can shew that these are not of an ,elementary ,nature1 it will be no great matter what names these or those ,chymists have been pleased to give them4 ,and ,i question not that to a ,wise man1 and consequently to ,eleutherius1 it will be lesse considerable to know1 what ,men ,have thought of ,things1 then what they ,should have thought4 ,in the fourth and last place1 then1 ,i consider1 that as generally as ,chymists are wont to appeal to ,experience1 and as confidently as they use to instance the several substances separated by the ,fire from a ,mixt ,body1 as a sufficient proof of their being its component ,elements3 ,yet those differing ,substances are many of them farr enough from ,elementary simplicity1 and may be yet look'd upon as mixt ,bodies1 most of them also retaining1 somewhat at least1 if not very much1 of the ,nature of those ,concretes whence they were forc'd4 ,i am glad 7sayes ,eleutherius7 to see the ,vanity or ,envy of the canting ,chymists thus discover'd and chastis'd2 and ,i could wish1 that ,learned ,men would conspire together to make these deluding ,writers sensible1 that they must no longe ,transcriber's ,note3 longer hope with ,impunity to abuse the ,world4 ,for whilst such ,men are quietly permitted to publish ,books with promising ,titles1 and therein to ,assert what they please1 and contradict others1 and ev'n themselves as they please1 with as little danger of being confuted as of being understood1 they are encourag'd to get themselves a name1 at the cost of the ,readers1 by finding that intelligent ,men are wont for the reason newly mention'd1 to let their ,books and ,them alone3 ,and the ignorant and credulous 7of which the number is still much greater then that of the other7 are forward to admire most what they least understand4 ,but if ,judicious men skill'd in ,chymical affaires shall once agree to write clearly and plainly of them1 and thereby keep men from being stunn'd1 as it were1 or imposd upon by dark or empty ,words2 'tis to be hop'd that these men finding that they can no longer write impertinently and absurdly1 without being laugh'd at for doing so1 will be reduc'd either to write nothing1 or ,books that may teach us something1 and not rob men1 as formerly1 of invaluable ,time2 and so ceasing to trouble the ,world with ,riddles or ,impertinencies1 we shall either by their ,books receive an ,advantage1 or by their silence escape an ,inconvenience4 ,but after all this is said 7continues ,eleutherius7 it may be represented in favour of the ,chymists1 that1 in one regard the ,liberty they take in using names1 if it be excusable at any time1 may be more so when they speak of the substances whereinto their ,analysis resolves mixt ,bodies3 ,since as ,parents have the ,right to name their own ,children1 it has ever been allow'd to the ,authors of new ,inventions1 to ,impose ,names upon them4 ,and therefore the subjects we speak of being so the ,productions of the ,chymist's ,art1 as not to be otherwise1 but by it1 obtainable2 it seems but equitable to give the ,artists leave to name them as they please3 considering also that none are so fit and likely to teach us what those ,bodies are1 as they to whom we ow'd them4 ,i told ,you already 7sayes ,carneades7 that there is great ,difference betwixt the being able to make ,experiments1 and the being able to give a ,philosophical ,account of them4 ,and ,i will not now add1 that many a ,mine-digger may meet1 whilst he follows his work1 with a ,gemm or a ,mineral which he knowes not what to make of1 till he shews it a ,jeweller or a ,mineralist to be inform'd what it is4 ,but that which ,i would rather have here observ'd1 is1 ,that the ,chymists ,i am now in debate with have given up the ,liberty ,you challeng'd for them1 of using ,names at ,pleasure1 and confin'd ,themselves by their ,descriptions1 though but such as they are1 of their ,principles2 so that although they might freely have call'd any thing their ,analysis presents them with1 either ,sulphur1 or ,mercury1 or ,gas1 or ,blas1 or what they pleas'd2 yet when they have told me that ,sulphur 7for instance7 is a ,primogeneal and simple ,body1 ,inflamable1 ,odorous1 c4 they must give me leave to dis-believe them1 if they tell me that a ,body that is either compounded or uninflamable is such a ,sulphur2 and to think they play with words1 when they teach that ,gold and some other ,minerals abound with an ,incombustible ,sulphur1 which is as proper an ,expression1 as a ,sun-shine ,night1 or ,fluid ,ice4 ,but before ,i descend to the ,mention of ,particulars belonging to my ,fourth ,consideration1 ,i think it convenient to premise a few ,generals2 some of which ,i shall the less need to insist on at present1 because ,i have ,touched on them already4 ,and first ,i must invite you to take notice of a certain passage in ,helmont2#ad which though ,i have not ,found much heeded by his ,readers1 ,he ,himself mentions as a notable thing1 and ,i take to be a very considerable one2 for whereas the ,distill'd oyle of oyle-olive1 though drawn per se is 7as ,i have try'd7 of a very sharp and fretting ,quality1 and of an odious tast1 ,he tells us that ,simple oyle being only digested with ,paracelsus's sal circulatum1 is reduc'd into dissimilar parts1 and yields a sweet ,oyle1 very differing from the oyle distill'd1 from ,errata3 distill'd from sallet oyle2 as also that by the same way there may be separated from ,wine a very sweet and gentle ,spirit1 partaking of a far other and nobler quality then that which is immediately drawn by distillation and call'd ,dephlegm'd ,aqua vitae1 from whose ,acrimony this other spirit is exceedingly remote1 although the sal circulatum that makes these ,anatomies be separated from the ,analyz'd ,bodies1 in the same weight and with the same qualities it had before2 which ,affirmation of ,helmont if we admit to be true1 we must acknowledge that there may be a very great disparity betwixt bodies of the same denomination 7as several oyles1 or several spirits7 separable from compound ,bodies3 ,for1 besides the differences ,i shall anon take notice of1 betwixt those distill'd ,oyles that are commonly known to ,chymists1 it appears by this1 that by means of the ,sal ,circulatum1 ,there may be quite another sort of ,oyles obtain'd from the same ,body2 and who knowes but that there may be yet other ,agents found in ,nature1 by whose help there may1 whether by ,transmutation or otherwise1 be obtain'd from the ,bodies ,vulgarly call'd ,mixt1 ,oyles or other substances1 ,differing from those of the same ,denomination1 known either to ,vulgar ,chymists1 or even to ,helmont ,himself3 but for fear ,you should tell me1 that this is but a conjecture grounded upon another ,man's ,relation1 whose ,truth we have not the means to ,experiment1 ,i will not ,insist upon it2 but leaving ,you to ,consider of it at leasure1 ,i shall proceed to what is next4 ,footnote #ad3 ,illud notabile1 in vino esse ,spiritum quendam mitiorem ulterioris nobilioris qualitatis participem qua qui immediate per distillationem elicitur diciturque aqua vitae dephlegmata1 quod facilius in simplici ,olivarum oleo ad oculum spectatur4 ,quippe distillatum oleum absque laterum aut tigularum ,errata3 tegularum additamento1 quodque oleum ,philosophorum dicitur1 multum dissert ab ejus oleitate2 quae elicitur prius reducto oleo simplici in partes dissimilares sola digestione ,salis circulati ,paracelsici appositione2 siquidem sal circulatum idem in pondere quantitatibus pristinis ab oleo segregatur postquam oleum olivarum in sui heterogeneitates est dispositum4 ,dulce enim tunc ,oleum ,olivarum ex oleo1 prout suavissimus vini spiritus a vino hoc pacto separantur1 longeque ab aquae vitae acrimonia distinctus4--,helmont4 ,aura vitalis1 pag4 #gbe4 ,secondly1 ,then if that be ,true which was the ,opinion of ,lucippus1 ,democritus1 and other prime ,anatomists of old1 and is in our dayes reviv'd by no mean ,philosophers2 namely1 ,that our ,culinary ,fire1 such as ,chymists use1 consists of swarmes of little ,bodies swiftly moving1 which by their smallness and motion are able to permeate the sollidest and ,compactest ,bodies1 and even ,glass it ,self2 ,if this 7,i say7 be ,true1 since we see that ,in flints and other ,concretes1 the ,fiery part is ,incorporated with the ,grosser1 it will not be ,irrationall to conjecture1 that multitudes of these ,fiery ,corpuscles1 getting in at the ,pores of the ,glass1 may associate themselves with the parts of the mixt ,body whereon they work1 and with them ,constitute new ,kinds of ,compound ,bodies1 according as the ,shape1 ,size1 and other ,affections of the ,parts of the ,dissipated ,body happen to dispose them1 in ,reference to such ,combinations2 of which also there may be the greater ,number2 if it be likewise granted that the ,corpuscles of the ,fire1 though all exceeding minute1 and very swiftly moved1 are not all of the same bigness1 nor ,figure4 ,and if ,i had not ,weightier ,considerations to ,discourse to you of1 ,i could name to you1 to ,countenance what ,i have newly said1 some particular ,experiments by which ,i have been ,deduc'd to think1 that the ,particles of an open ,fire working upon some ,bodies may really ,associate themselves therewith1 and add to the ,quantity4 ,but because ,i am not so sure1 that when the ,fire works upon ,bodies included in ,glasses1 it does it by a reall ,trajection of the ,fiery ,corpuscles themselves1 through the ,substance of the ,glass1 ,i will proceed to what is next to be mention'd4 ,i could 7sayes ,eleutherius7 help you to some ,proofes1 whereby ,i think it may be made very probable1 that when the ,fire acts immediately upon a ,body1 some of its ,corpuscles may stick to those of the burnt ,body1 as they seem to do in ,quicklime1 but in greater numbers1 and more permanently4 ,but for fear of retarding ,your ,progress1 ,i shall desire you to deferr this ,enquiry till another time1 and proceed as you intended4 ,you may then in the next place 7sayes ,carneades7 observe with me1 that not only there are some ,bodies1 as ,gold1 and ,silver1 which do not by the usual ,examens1 made by ,fire1 ,discover themselves to be mixt2 but if 7as ,you may ,remember ,i formerly told ,you7 it be a ,de-compound ,body that is ,dissipable into several ,substances1 by being expos'd to the ,fire it may be resolv'd into such as are neither ,elementary1 nor such as it was upon its last mixture ,compounded of2 but into new ,kinds of mixts4 ,of this ,i have already given ,you some ,examples in ,sope1 ,sugar of ,lead1 and ,vitrioll4 ,now if we shall ,consider that there are some ,bodies1 as well ,natural1 7as that ,i last nam'd7 as ,factitious1 manifestly ,de-compounded2 ,that in the ,bowells of the ,earth ,nature may1 as we see she sometimes does1 make strange ,mixtures2 ,that ,animals are nourish'd with other ,animals and ,plants2 ,and1 that these themselves have almost all of them their ,nutriment and ,growth1 either from a certain ,nitrous ,juice ,harbour'd in the ,pores of the ,earth1 or from the ,excrements of ,animalls1 or from the putrify'd ,bodies1 either of living ,creatures or ,vegetables1 or from other ,substances of a ,compounded ,nature2 ,if1 ,i say1 we consider this1 it may seem probable1 that there may be among the ,works of ,nature 7not to mention those of ,art7 a greater ,number of ,de-compound ,bodies1 then men take ,notice of2 ,and indeed1 as ,i have formerly also observ'd1 it does not at all appear1 that all ,mixtures must be of ,elementary ,bodies2 but it seems farr more probable1 that there are divers sorts of compound ,bodies1 even in regard of all or some of their ,ingredients1 consider'd ,antecedently to their ,mixture4 ,for though some seem to be made up by the immediate ,coalitions of the ,elements1 or ,principles themselves1 and therefore may be call'd ,prima ,mista1 or ,mista ,primaria2 yet it seems that many other ,bodies are mingl'd 7if ,i may so speak7 at the second hand1 their immediate ,ingredients being not ,elementary1 but these primary ,mixts newly spoken of2 ,and from divers of these ,secondary sort of ,mixts may result1 by a further ,composition1 a ,third sort1 and so onwards4 ,nor is it improbable1 that some ,bodies are made up of ,mixt ,bodies1 not all of the same ,order1 but of several2 as 7for ,instance7 a ,concrete may consist of ,ingredients1 whereof the one may have been a primary1 the other a ,secondary ,mixt ,body2 7as ,i have in ,native ,cinnaber1 by my way of ,resolving it1 found both that ,courser the ,errata3 delete the part that seems more properly to be ,oar1 and a ,combustible ,sulphur1 and a ,running ,mercury37 or perhaps without any ,ingredient of this latter sort1 it may be compos'd of ,mixt ,bodies1 some of them of the first1 and some of the third ,kind2 ,and this may perhaps be somewhat ,illustrated by reflecting upon what happens in some ,chymical ,preparations of those ,medicines which they call their ,bezoardicum's4 ,for first1 they take ,antimony and ,iron1 which may be look'd upon as ,prima ,mista2 of these they compound a ,starry ,regulus1 and to this they add according to their ,intention1 either ,gold1 or ,silver1 which makes with it a new and further ,composition4 ,to this they add ,sublimate1 which is it self a ,de-compound body1 7consisting of common ,quicksilver1 and divers ,salts ,united by ,sublimation into a ,crystalline ,substance7 and from this ,sublimate1 and the other ,metalline ,mixtures1 they draw a ,liquor1 which may be allow'd to be of a yet more ,compounded ,nature4 ,if it be true1 as ,chymists affirm it1 that by this ,art some of the ,gold or ,silver mingl'd with the ,regulus may be carry'd over the ,helme with it by the ,sublimate2 as indeed a ,skilfull and ,candid person complain'd to me a while since1 ,that an experienc'd ,friend of ,his and mine1 having by such a way brought over a great ,deal of ,gold1 in hope to do something further with it1 which might be gainfull to him1 has not only miss'd of his ,aim1 but is unable to recover his ,volatiliz'd ,gold out of the ,antimonial butter1 wherewith it is strictly united4 ,now 7,continues ,carneades7 if a ,compound body consist of ,ingredients that are not meerly ,elementary2 it is not hard to conceive1 that the ,substances into which the ,fire ,dissolves it1 though seemingly ,homogeneous enough1 may be of a ,compounded ,nature1 those parts of each body that are most of ,kin associating themselves into a ,compound of a new ,kind4 ,as when 7for example sake7 ,i have caus'd ,vitrioll and ,sal ,armoniack1 and ,salt ,petre to be mingl'd and ,destill'd together1 the ,liquor that came over manifested it self not to be either ,spirit of ,nitre1 or of ,sal ,armoniack1 or of ,vitrioll4 ,for none of these would dissolve crude gold1 which yet my ,liquor was able readily to do2 and thereby manifested it self to be a new ,compound1 consisting at least of ,spirit of ,nitre1 and ,sal ,armoniack1 7for the latter dissolv'd in the former1 will ,work on ,gold7 which nevertheless are not by any known way separable1 and consequently would not pass for a ,mixt ,body1 if we our selves did not1 to obtain it1 put and ,distill together divers ,concretes1 whose ,distinct ,operations were known before hand4 ,and1 to add on this ,occasion the ,experiment ,i lately promis'd ,you1 because it is ,applicable to our present purpose1 ,i shall ,acquaint ,you1 that suspecting the ,common ,oyle of ,vitrioll not to be altogether such a simple ,liquor as ,chymists presume it1 ,i mingl'd it with an equal or a ,double ,quantity 7for ,i try'd the ,experiment more then once7 of common ,oyle of ,turpentine1 such as together with the other ,liquor ,i bought at the ,drugsters4 ,and having carefully 7for the ,experiment is ,nice1 and somewhat dangerous7 ,distill'd the ,mixture in a small ,glass ,retort1 ,i obtain'd according to my ,desire1 7besides the two ,liquors ,i had put in7 a pretty ,quantity of a certain substance1 which sticking all about the ,neck of the ,retort ,discover'd it self to be ,sulphur1 not only by a very strong ,sulphureous smell1 and by the colour of ,brimstone2 but also by this1 ,that being put upon a coal1 it was immediately kindl'd1 and burn'd like common ,sulphur4 ,and of this ,substance ,i have yet by me some little ,parcells1 which ,you may command and examine when you please4 ,so that from this ,experiment ,i may deduce either one1 or both of these ,propositions1 ,that a real ,sulphur may be made by the ,conjunction of two such ,substances as ,chymists take for ,elementary1 ,and which did not either of them apart appear to have any such body in it2 or that ,oyle of ,vitrioll though a ,distill'd ,liquor1 and taken for part of the ,saline ,principle of the ,concrete that yields it1 may yet be so ,compounded a body as to contain1 besides its ,saline part1 a ,sulphur like common brimstone1 which would hardly be it self a simple or un-compounded body4 ,i might 7pursues ,carneades7 remind ,you1 that ,i formerly represented it1 as possible1 ,that as there may be more ,elements then five1 or six2 so the ,elements of one body may be ,different from those of another2 whence it would follow1 that from the ,resolution of ,de-compound body ,errata3 bodies1 there may result ,mixts of an altogether new kind1 by the ,coalition of ,elements that never perhaps conven'd before4 ,i might1 ,i say1 mind ,you of this1 and add divers things to this second ,consideration2 but for fear of wanting time ,i willingly pretermit them1 to pass on to the third1 which is this1 ,that the ,fire does not alwayes barely resolve or take asunder1 but may also after a new manner mingle and compound together the parts 7whether ,elementary or not7 of the ,body ,dissipated by it4 ,this is so evident1 sayes ,carneades1 in some obvious ,examples1 that ,i cannot but wonder at their ,supiness that have not taken notice of it4 ,for when ,wood being burnt in a ,chimney is dissipated by the ,fire into ,smoke and ,ashes1 that smoke composes soot1 which is so far from being any one of the principles of the ,wood1 that 7as ,i noted above7 you may by a further ,analysis separate five or six distinct substances from it4 ,and as for the remaining ,ashes1 the ,chymists themselves teach us1 that by a further degree of fire they may be indissolubly united into glass4 ',tis true1 that the ,analysis which the ,chymists principally build upon is made1 not in the open air1 but in close ,vessels2 but however1 the ,examples lately produc'd may invite you shrewdly to suspect1 ,that heat may as well compound as dissipate the ,parts of mixt ,bodies3 and not to tell you1 that ,i have known a ,vitrification made even in close vessels1 ,i must remind you that the ,flowers of ,antimony1 and those of ,sulphur1 are very mix'd ,bodies1 though they ascend in close vessells3 ,and that 'twas in stopt glasses that ,i brought up the whole ,body of ,camphire4 ,and whereas it may be objected1 that all these ,examples are of ,bodies forc'd up in a dry1 not a ,fluid forme1 as are the ,liquors wont to be obtain'd by distillation2 ,i answer1 ,that besides that 'tis possible1 that a ,body may be chang'd from ,consistent to ,fluid1 or from ,fluid to ,consistent1 without being otherwise much altered1 as may appear by the ,easiness wherewith in ,winter1 without any ,addition or ,separation of ,visible ,ingredients1 the same substance may be quickly harden'd into brittle ,ice1 and thaw'd again into ,fluid ,water2 ,besides this1 ,i say it would be consider'd1 that common ,quick-silver it self1 which the ,eminentest ,chymists confess to be a mixt ,body1 may be ,driven over the ,helme in its ,pristine forme of ,quicksilver1 and consequently1 in that of a ,liquor4 ,and certainly 'tis possible that very compounded ,bodies may concur to ,constitute ,liquors2 ,since1 not to mention that ,i have found it possible1 by the help of a certain ,menstruum1 to distill ,gold it self through a ,retort1 even with a ,moderate ,fire3 ,let us but consider what happens in ,butter of ,antimony4 ,for if that be carefully rectify'd1 it may be reduc'd into a very clear ,liquor2 and yet if ,you cast a quantity of fair water upon it1 there will quickly precipitate a ,ponderous and ,vomitive ,calx1 which made before a considerable part of the ,liquor1 and yet is indeed 7though some eminent ,chymists would have it ,mercurial7 an ,antimonial ,body carryed over and kept dissolv'd by the ,salts of the ,sublimate1 and consequently a compounded one2 as ,you may find if ,you will have the ,curiosity to ,examine this ,white powder by a skilful ,reduction4 ,and that ,you may not think that ,bodies as compounded as flowers of ,brimstone cannot be brought to ,concurr to ,constitute ,distill'd ,liquors2 ,and also ,that ,you may not imagine with ,divers ,learned ,men that pretend no small skill in ,chymistry1 that at least no mixt ,body can be brought over the ,helme1 but by corrosive ,salts1 ,i am ready to shew ,you1 when ,you please1 among other wayes of bringing over ,flowers of ,brimstone 7perhaps ,i might add even ,mineral ,sulphurs7 some1 wherein ,i employ none but ,oleaginous bodies to make ,volatile ,liquors1 in which not only the colour1 but 7which is a much surer mark7 the smell and some ,operations manifest that there is brought over a ,sulphur that makes part of the ,liquor4 ,one thing more there is1 ,eleutherius1 sayes ,carneades1 which is so pertinent to my present purpose1 that though ,i have touch'd upon it before1 ,i cannot but on this occasion take notice of it4 ,and it is this1 ,that the ,qualities or ,accidents1 upon whose account ,chymists are wont to call a portion of ,matter by the name of ,mercury or some other of their ,principles1 are not such but that 'tis possible as ,great 7and therefore why not the like87 may be produc'd by such changes of ,texture1 and other ,alterations1 as the ,fire may make in the small ,parts of a ,body4 ,i have already prov'd1 when ,i discours'd of the second ,general ,consideration1 by what happens to plants nourish'd only with fair water1 and ,eggs hatch'd into ,chickens1 that by changing the disposition of the component parts of a ,body1 ,nature is able to effect as great ,changes in a parcell of ,matter reputed similar1 as those requisite to ,denominate one of the ,tria ,prima4 ,and though ,helmont do somewhere wittily call the ,fire the ,destructor and the ,artificial ,death of ,things2 ,and although another ,eminent ,chymist and ,physitian be pleas'd to build upon this1 ,that ,fire can never generate any thing but ,fire2 ,yet ,you will1 ,i doubt not1 be of another mind1 ,if ,you consider how many new sorts of mixt ,bodies ,chymists themselves have produc'd by means of the ,fire3 ,and particularly1 if ,you consider how that ,noble and ,permanent ,body1 ,glass1 is not only manifestly produc'd by the violent action of the ,fire1 but has never1 for ought we know1 been produc'd any other way4 ,and indeed it seems but an inconsiderate ,assertion of some ,helmontians1 that every sort of ,body of a ,peculiar ,denomination must be produc'd by some ,seminal power2 as ,i think ,i could evince1 if ,i thought it so necessary1 as it is for me to hasten to what ,i have further to discourse4 ,nor need it much move us1 that there are some who look upon whatsoever the ,fire is employ'd to produce1 not as upon ,natural but ,artificial ,bodies4 ,for there is not alwaies such a difference as many imagine betwixt the one and the other3 ,nor is it so easy as they think1 clearly to assigne that which ,properly1 ,constantly1 and ,sufficiently1 ,discriminates them4 ,but not to engage my self in so nice a ,disquisition1 it may now suffice to observe1 that a thing is commonly termed ,artificial1 when a parcel of matter is by the ,artificers hand1 or ,tools1 or both1 brought to such a shape or ,form1 as he ,design'd before-hand in his ,mind3 ,whereas in many of the ,chymical ,productions the effect would be produc'd whether the ,artificer intended it or no2 and is oftentimes very much other then he ,intended or ,look't for2 and the ,instruments employ'd1 are not ,tools ,artificially fashion'd and shaped1 like those of ,tradesmen1 for this or that particular ,work2 but1 for the most part1 ,agents of ,nature's own providing1 and whose chief ,powers of ,operation they receive from their own ,nature or ,texture1 not the ,artificer4 ,and indeed1 the ,fire is as well a ,natural ,agent as ,seed3 ,and the ,chymist that imployes it1 does but apply ,natural ,agents and ,patients1 who being thus brought together1 and acting according to their respective ,natures1 performe the worke themselves2 as ,apples1 ,plums1 or other fruit1 are natural ,productions1 though the ,gardiner bring and fasten together the ,sciens of the ,stock1 and both ,water1 and do perhaps divers other wayes ,contribute to its bearing fruit4 ,but1 to proceed to what ,i was going to say1 ,you may observe with me1 ,eleutherius1 that1 as ,i told ,you once before1 ,qualities sleight enough may serve to ,denominate a ,chymical ,principle4 ,for1 when they anatomize a compound ,body by the ,fire1 if they get a ,substance inflamable1 and that will not mingle with ,water1 that they presently call ,sulphur2 what is sapid and ,dissoluble in ,water1 that must pass for ,salt2 ,whatsoever is fix'd and indissoluble in ,water1 that they name ,earth4 ,and ,i was going to add1 that1 whatsoever ,volatile substance they know not what to make of1 not to say1 whatsoever they please1 that they call ,mercury4 ,but that these ,qualities may either be produc'd1 otherwise then by such as they call ,seminal ,agents1 or may belong to bodies of a compounded ,nature1 may be shewn1 among other ,instances1 in ,glass made of ashes1 where the exceeding strongly-tasted ,alcalizate ,salt joyning with the ,earth becomes insipid1 and with it constitutes a ,body1 which though also dry1 fixt1 and indissoluble in ,water1 is yet manifestly a mixt ,body2 and made so by the ,fire itself4 ,and ,i remmember to our present purpose1 that ,helmont1#ae amongst other ,medicines that he commends1 has a short processe1 wherein1 though the ,directions for ,practice are but obscurely intimated2 yet ,i have some reason not to ,dis-believe the ,process1 without affirming or denying any thing about the vertues of the remedy to be made by it4 ,quando 7sayes he7 oleum cinnamomi c4 suo sali alkali miscetur absque omni aqua1 trium mensium artificiosa occultaque circulatione1 totum in salem volatilem commutatum est1 vere essentiam sui simplicis in nobis exprimit1 usque in prima nostri constitutivasese ingerit4 ,a not unlike ,processe he delivers in another place2 from whence1 if we suppose him to say true1 ,i may argue1 that since by the ,fire there may be produc'd a substance that is as well ,saline and volatile as the ,salt of ,harts-horn1 blood1 c4 which pass for ,elementary2 and since that this ,volatile ,salt is really compounded of a ,chymical ,oyle and a fixt ,salt1 the one made ,volatile by the other1 and both associated by the fire1 it may well be suspected that other ,substances1 emerging upon the ,dissipation of ,bodies by the ,fire1 may be new sorts of ,mixts1 and consist of ,substances of differing natures2 and particularly1 ,i have sometimes suspected1 that since the ,volatile ,salts of ,blood1 ,harts-horn1 c4 are figitive ,errata3 fugitive and endow'd with an exceeding strong smell1 either that ,chymists do ,erroneously ascribe all odours to sulphurs1 or that such ,salts consist of some oyly parts well incorporated with the ,saline ones4 ,and the like conjecture ,i have also made concerning ,spirit of ,vinager1 which1 though the ,chymists think one of the ,principles of that ,body1 and though being an ,acid ,spirit it seems to be much less of kin then ,volatile ,salts to sulphurs2 yet1 not to mention its piercing smell2 which ,i know not with what congruity the ,chymist will deduce from ,salt1 ,i wonder they have not taken notice of what their own ,tyrocinium ,chymicum teach us concerning the ,destillation of ,saccharum ,saturni2 out of which ,beguinus#af assures ,us1 that he distill'd1 besides a very fine spirit1 no lesse then two ,oyles1 the one blood-red and ponderous1 but the other swimming upon the top of the ,spirit1 and of a yellow colour2 of which he sayes that he kept then some by him1 to verify what he delivers4 ,and though ,i remember not that ,i have had two distinct ,oyles from ,sugar of ,lead1 yet that it will though distill'd without addition yield some ,oyle1 disagrees not with my ,experience4 ,i know the ,chymists will be apt to pretend1 that these ,oyls are but the volatiliz'd sulphur of the lead2 and will perhaps argue it from what ,beguinus relates1 that when the ,distillation is ended1 you'l find a ,caput ,mortuum extreamly black1 and 7as he speaks7 nullius momenti1 as if the ,body1 or at least the chief part of the ,metal it self were by the distillation carried over the ,helme4 ,but since you know as well as ,i that ,saccharum ,saturni is a kind of ,magistery1 made only by calcining of ,lead per se1 dissolving it in distill'd ,vinager1 and crystalizing the solution2 if ,i had leasure to tell ,you how ,differing a thing ,i did upon examination find the ,caput ,mortuum1 so sleighted by ,beguinus1 to be from what he represents it1 ,i believe you would think the conjecture propos'd less probable then one or other of these three2 either that this ,oyle did formerly concur to constitute the ,spirit of ,vinager1 and so that what passes for a ,chymical ,principle may yet be further resoluble into distinct substances2 or that some parts of the ,spirit together with some parts of the ,lead may constitute a ,chymical ,oyle1 which therefore though it pass for ,homogeneous1 may be a very compounded ,body3 or at least that by the action of the ,distill'd ,vinager and the ,saturnine ,calx one upon another1 part of the ,liquor may be so alter'd as to be transmuted from an ,acid ,spirit into an ,oyle4 ,and though the truth of either of the two former conjectures would make the example ,i have reflected on more pertinent to my present argument2 yet you'l easily discern1 the ,third and last ,conjecture cannot be unserviceable to confirm some other passages of my discourse4 ,footnote #ae3 ,helmont pag4 #dab4 ,footnote #af3 ,tyroc4 ,chym4 ,l4 #a4 ,c4 #d4 ,to return then to what ,i was saying just before ,i mention'd ,helmont's ,experiment1 ,i shall subjoyne1 ,that ,chymists must confess also that in the perfectly ,dephlegm'd spirit of ,wine1 or other ,fermented ,liquors1 that which they call the ,sulphur of the ,concrete loses1 by the ,fermentation1 the ,property of ,oyle1 7which the ,chymists likewise take to be the true ,sulphur of the ,mixt7 of being unminglable with the ,water4 ,and if ,you will credit ,helmont1#ag all ,errata3 a pound of the purest ,spirit of ,wine may barely by the help of pure ,salt of ,tartar 7which is but the fixed ,salt of ,wine7 be resolv'd or ,transmuted into scarce half an ounce of ,salt1 and as much ,elementary ,water as amounts to the remaining part of the mention'd weight4 ,and it may 7as ,i think ,i formerly also noted7 be doubted1 whether that ,fixt and ,alcalizate ,salt1 which is so unanimously agreed on to be the ,saline ,principle of incinerated ,bodies1 be not1 as 'tis ,alcalizate1 a ,production of the ,fire8 ,for though the tast of ,tartar1 for ,example1 seem to argue that it contains a ,salt before it be burn'd1 yet that ,salt being very ,acid is of a quite ,differing ,tast from the ,lixiviate ,salt of ,calcin'd ,tartar4 ,and though it be not truly ,objected against the ,chymists1 that they obtain all ,salts they make1 by reducing the ,body they work on into ,ashes with ,violent ,fires1 7since ,hartshorn1 ,amber1 ,blood1 and divers other ,mixts yield a copious ,salt before they be burn'd to ,ashes7 yet this ,volatile ,salt ,differs much1 as we shall see anon1 from the ,fixt ,alcalizate ,salt ,i speak of2 which for ought ,i remember is not producible by any known ,way1 without ,incineration4 ',tis not unknown to ,chymists1 that ,quicksilver may be ,precipitated1 without ,addition1 into a dry ,powder1 that remains so in ,water4 ,and some eminent ,spagyrists1 and even ,raimund ,lully himself1 teach1 that meerly by the ,fire ,quicksilver may in convenient ,vessels be reduc'd 7at least in great part7 into a thin ,liquor like ,water1 and minglable with it4 ,so that by the bare ,action of the ,fire1 'tis possible1 that the parts of a mixt ,body should be so dispos'd after new and differing manners1 that it may be sometimes of one consistence1 sometimes of another2 ,and may in one ,state be dispos'd to be mingl'd with ,water1 and in another not4 ,i could also shew you1 that ,bodies from which apart ,chymists cannot obtain any thing that is ,combustible1 may by being associated together1 and by the help of the ,fire1 afford an inflamable ,substance4 ,and that on the other side1 'tis possible for a ,body to be inflamable1 from which it would very much puzzle any ordinary ,chymist2 and perhaps any other1 to separate an inflamable ,principle or ,ingredient4 ,wherefore1 since the ,principles of ,chymists may receive their ,denominations from ,qualities1 which it often exceeds not the power of ,art1 nor alwayes that of the ,fire to produce2 ,and since such ,qualities may be found in ,bodies that differ so much in other ,qualities from one another1 that they need not be allow'd to agree in that pure and simple ,nature1 which ,principles1 to be so indeed1 must have2 it may justly be suspected1 that many ,productions of the ,fire that are shew'd us by ,chymists1 as the ,principles of the ,concrete that afforded them1 may be but a new kind of ,mixts4 ,and to annex1 on this ,occasion1 to these arguments taken from the ,nature of the thing1 one of those which ,logicians call ad ,hominem1 ,i shall desire ,you to take ,notice1 that though ,paracelsus ,himself1 and some that are so mistaken as to think he could not be so1 have ventur'd to teach1 that not only the bodies here below1 but the ,elements themselves1 and all the other ,parts of the ,universe1 are compos'd of ,salt1 ,sulphur and ,mercury2 yet the learned ,sennertus1 and all the more wary ,chymists1 have rejected that conceit1 and do many of them confess1 that the ,tria ,prima are each of them made up of the four ,elements2 and others of them make ,earth and ,water concur with ,salt1 ,sulphur and ,mercury1 to the ,constitution of ,mixt bodies4 ,so that one sort of these ,spagyrists1 notwithstanding the specious ,titles they give to the productions of the ,fire1 do in effect grant what ,i contend for4 ,and1 of the other sort ,i may well demand1 to what ,kind of ,bodies the ,phlegme and dead ,earth1 to be met with in ,chymical ,resolutions1 are to be referr'd8 ,for either they must say1 with ,paracelsus1 but against their own ,concessions as well as against ,experience1 that these are also compos'd of the ,tria ,prima1 whereof they cannot separate any one from either of them2 or else they must confess that two of the vastest ,bodies here below1 ,earth1 and ,water1 are neither of them compos'd of the ,tria ,prima2 and that consequently those three are not the ,universal1 and ,adequate ,ingredients1 neither of all ,sublunary ,bodies1 nor even of all mixt ,bodies4 ,footnote #ag3 ,ostendi alias1 quomodo lib4 una aquae vitae combibita in sale ,tartari siccato1 vix fiat semuncia salis1 caeterum totum corpus fiat aqua ,elementalis4 ,helmont4 in ,aura vitali4 ,i know that the chief of these ,chymists represent1 that though the ,distinct ,substances into which they divide mixt bodies by the ,fire1 are not pure and ,homogeneous2 yet since the four ,elements into which the ,aristotelians pretend to resolve the like bodies by the same ,agent1 are not simple neither1 as themselves acknowledge1 'tis as allowable for the ,chymists to call the one ,principles1 as for the ,peripateticks to call the other ,elements2 since in both cases the ,imposition of the name is grounded only upon the ,predominancy of that ,element whose name is ascrib'd to it4 ,nor shall ,i deny1 that this ,argument of the ,chymists is no ill one against the ,aristotelians4 ,but what ,answer can it prove to me1 who you know am disputing against the ,aristotelian ,elements1 as the ,chymicall ,principles1 and must not look upon any body as a true ,principle or ,element1 but as yet compounded1 which is not perfectly ,homogeneous1 but is further ,resoluble into any number of ,distinct ,substances how small soever4 ,and as for the ,chymists calling a body ,salt1 or ,sulphur1 or ,mercury1 upon pretence that the ,principle of the same name is predominant in it1 ,that it self is an ,acknowledgment of what ,i contend for2 namely that these productions of the ,fire1 are yet compounded bodies4 ,and yet whilst this is granted1 it is affirm'd1 but not prov'd1 that the reputed ,salt1 or ,sulphur1 or ,mercury1 consists mainly of one body that deserves the name of a principle of the same ,denomination4 ,for how do ,chymists make it appear that there are any such primitive and simple bodies in those we are speaking of2 since 'tis upon the matter confess'd by the answer lately made1 that these are not such8 ,and if they pretend by ,reason to evince what they affirm1 what becomes of their confident boasts1 that the ,chymists ,errata3 ,chymist 7whom they therefore1 after ,beguinus1 call a ,philosophus or ,opifex ,sensatus7 can convince our ,eyes1 by manifestly shewing in any mixt body those simple substances he teaches them to be compos'd of8 ,and indeed1 for the ,chymists to have recourse in this case to other proofs then ,experiments1 as it is to wave the grand ,argument that has all this while been given out for a ,demonstrative ,one2 so it releases me from the obligation to prosecute a ,dispute wherein ,i am not engag'd to ,examine any but ,experimentall proofs4 ,i know it may plausibly ,enough be ,represented1 in favour of the ,chymists1 that it being evident that much the greater part of any thing they call ,salt1 or ,sulphur1 or ,mercury1 is really such2 it would be very rigid to deny those ,substances the names ascribed them1 only because of some sleight mixture of another ,body2 since not only the ,peripateticks call particular parcels of matter ,elementary1 though they acknowledge that ,elements are not to be anywhere found pure1 at least here below2 ,and since especially there is a manifest ,analogie and ,resemblance betwixt the bodies obtainable by ,chymical ,anatomies and the principles whose names are given them2 ,i have1 ,i say1 consider'd that these things may be represented3 ,but as for what is drawn from the ,custome of the ,peripateticks1 ,i have already told ,you1 that though it may be employ'd against ,them1 ,yet it is not available against me who allow nothing to be an ,element that is not perfectly ,homogeneous4 ,and whereas it is alledg'd1 that the ,predominant ,principle ought to give a name to the substance wherein it abounds2 ,i answer1 that that might much more reasonably be said1 if either we or the ,chymists had seen ,nature take pure ,salt1 pure ,sulphur1 and pure ,mercury1 and compound of them every sort of ,mixt ,bodies4 ,but1 since 'tis to experience that they appeal1 we must not take it for granted1 that the ,distill'd ,oyle 7for instance7 of a plant is mainly compos'd of the pure principle call'd ,sulphur1 till they have given us an ocular proof1 that there is in that sort of ,plants such an ,homogeneous ,sulphur4 ,for as for the specious argument1 which is drawn from the ,resemblance betwixt the ,productions of the ,fire1 and the ,respective1 either ,aristotelian ,elements1 or ,chymical ,principles1 by whose names they are call'd2 it will appear more plausible then cogent1 if ,you will but recall to mind the state of the controversie2 which is not1 whether or no there be obtain'd from mixt ,bodies certain substances that agree in outward appearance1 or in some ,qualities with ,quicksilver or ,brimstone1 or some such obvious or copious ,body2 ,but whether or no all ,bodies confess'd to be perfectly mixt were compos'd of1 and are resoluble into a determinate number of primary unmixt ,bodies4 ,for1 if you keep the state of the question in your ,eye1 you'l easily discerne that there is much of what should be ,demonstrated1 left unprov'd by those ,chymical ,experiments we are ,examining4 ,but 7not to repeat what ,i have already discover'd more at large7 ,i shall now take notice1 that it will not presently follow1 that because a ,production of the ,fire has some affinity with some of the greater ,masses of matter here below1 that therefore they are both of the same ,nature1 and deserve the same ,name2 for the ,chymists are not content1 that flame should be look't upon as a parcel of the ,element of ,fire1 though it be hot1 dry1 and active1 because it wants some other ,qualities belonging to the nature of ,elementary fire4 ,nor will they let the ,peripateticks call ,ashes1 or ,quicklime1 ,earth1 notwithstanding the many likenesses between them2 because they are not tastlesse1 as ,elementary ,earth ought to be3 ,but if you should ask me1 what then it is1 that all the ,chymical ,anatomies of ,bodies do prove1 if they prove not that they consist of the three ,principles into which the fire resolves them8 ,i answer1 that their ,dissections may be granted to prove1 that some mixt bodies 7for in many it will not hold7 are by the fire1 when they are included in close ,vessels1 7for that ,condition also is often requisite7 dissolube ,transcriber's ,note3 dissoluble into several ,substances differing in some ,qualities1 but principally in ,consistence4 ,so that out of most of them may be obtain'd a fixt substance partly saline1 and partly insipid1 an unctuous ,liquor1 and another ,liquor or more that without being unctuous have a manifest taste4 ,now if ,chymists will agree to call the dry and sapid substance salt1 the ,unctous liquor ,sulphur1 and the other ,mercury1 ,i shall not much quarrel with them for so doing3 ,but if they will tell me that ,salt1 ,sulphur1 and ,mercury1 are simple and primary bodies whereof each mixt body was actually compounded1 and which was really in it antecedently to the operation of the fire1 they must give me leave to doubt whether 7whatever their other arguments may do7 their ,experiments prove all this4 ,and if they will also tell me that the ,substances their ,anatomies are wont to afford them1 are pure and similar1 as ,principles ought to be1 they must give me leave to believe my own senses2 and their own confessions1 before their bare ,assertions4 ,and that you may not 7,eleutherius7 think ,i deal so rigidly with them1 because ,i scruple to ,take these ,productions of the ,fire for such as the ,chymists would have them pass for1 upon the account of their having some affinity with them2 consider a little with me1 that in regard an ,element or ,principle ought to be perfectly ,similar and ,homogeneous1 there is no just cause why ,i should rather give the body propos'd the ,name of this or that ,element or ,principle1 because it has a resemblance to it in some obvious ,quality1 rather then deny it that name upon the account of divers other ,qualities1 wherein the propos'd ,bodies are unlike2 and if you do but consider what sleight and easily producible qualities they are that suffice1 as ,i have already more then once observ'd1 to ,denominate a ,chymical ,principle or an ,element1 you'l not1 ,i hope1 think my wariness to be destitute either of ,example1 or else of ,reason4 ,for we see that the ,chymists will not allow the ,aristotelians that the ,salt in ,ashes ought to be called ,earth1 though the ,saline and ,terrestrial part symbolize in weight1 in dryness1 in fixness and fusibility1 only because the one is sapid and dissoluble in ,water1 and the other not3 ,besides1 we see that sapidness and volatility are wont to denominate the ,chymists ,mercury or ,spirit2 and yet how many ,bodies1 think you1 may agree in those ,qualities which may yet be of very differing natures1 and disagree in qualities either more numerous1 or more considerable1 or both4 ,for not only ,spirit of ,nitre1 ,aqua ,fortis1 ,spirit of ,salt1 ,spirit of ,oyle of ,vitriol1 ,spirit of ,allome1 ,spirit of ,vinager1 and all ,saline ,liquors ,distill'd from ,animal ,bodies1 but all the ,acetous ,spirits of ,woods freed from their ,vinager2 ,all these1 ,i say1 and many others must belong to the ,chymists ,mercury1 though it appear not why some of them should more be comprehended under one denomination then the ,chymists ,sulphur1 or ,oyle should likewise be2 for their ,distill'd ,oyles are also ,fluid1 ,volatile1 and ,tastable1 as well as their ,mercury2 ,nor is it ,necessary1 that their ,sulphur should be ,unctuous or ,dissoluble in ,water1 since they generally referr ,spirit of ,wine to ,sulphurs1 although that ,spirit be not ,unctuous1 and will freely mingle with ,water4 ,so that bare ,inflamability must constitute the ,essence of the ,chymists ,sulphur2 as uninflamablenesse joyned with any taste is enough to intitle a ,distill'd ,liquor to be their ,mercury4 ,now since ,i can further observe to ,you1 that ,spirit of ,nitre and ,spirit of ,harts-horne being pour'd together will boile and hisse and tosse up one another into the air1 which the ,chymists make signes of great ,antipathy in the ,natures of ,bodies 7as indeed these ,spirits differ much both in ,taste1 ,smell1 and ,operations27 ,since ,i elsewhere tell you of my having made two sorts of ,oyle out of the same mans blood1 that would not mingle with one another2 ,and since ,i might tell ,you ,divers ,examples ,i have met with1 of the ,contrariety of ,bodies which according to the ,chymists must be huddl'd up together under one ,denomination2 ,i leave you to ,judge whether such a multitude of ,substances as may agree in these sleight ,qualities1 and yet ,disagree in ,others more ,considerable1 are more worthy to be call'd by the ,name of a ,principle 7which ought to be pure and homogeneous17 than to have appellations given them that may make them differ1 in name too1 from the bodies from which they so wildly differ in ,nature4 ,and hence also1 by the bye1 you may perceive that 'tis not unreasonable to distrust the ,chymists way of ,argumentation1 when being unable to shew us that such a ,liquor is 7for ,example7 purely saline1 they prove1 that at least salt is much the predominant principle1 because that the propos'd substance is strongly tasted1 and all ,tast proceeds from salt2 whereas those ,spirits1 such as spirit of ,tartar1 spirit of ,harts-horn1 and the like1 which are reckoned to be the ,mercuries of the ,bodies that afford them1 have manifestly a strong and piercing tast1 and so has 7according to what ,i formerly noted7 the spirit of ,box c4 even after the acid ,liquor that concurr'd to compose it has been separated from it4 ,and indeed1 if sapidness belong not to the spirit or ,mercurial ,principle of ,vegitables and ,animals3 ,i scarce know how it will be discriminated from their phlegm1 since by the absence of ,inflamability it must be distinguish'd from their sulphur1 which affords me another ,example1 to prove how unacurate the ,chymical ,doctrine is in our present ,case2 since not only the spirits of ,vegitables and ,animals1 but their ,oyles are very strongly tasted1 as he that shall but wet his tongue with ,chymical ,oyle of ,cinnamon1 or of ,cloves1 or even of ,turpentine1 may quickly find1 to his smart4 ,and not only ,i never try'd any ,chymical ,oyles whose tast was not very manifest and strong2 but a skilful and inquisitive person who made it his business by elaborate operations to depurate ,chymical ,oyles1 and reduce them to an ,elementary simplicity1 ,informes us1 that he never was able to make them at all ,tastless2 whence ,i might inferr1 that the proof ,chymists confidently give us of a bodies being saline1 is so far from demonstrating the ,predominancy1 that it does not clearly ,evince so much as the presence of the saline ,principle in it4 ,but ,i will not 7pursues ,carneades7 remind you1 that the ,volatile salt of ,harts-horn1 ,amber1 ,blood1 c4 are exceeding strongly scented1 notwithstanding that most ,chymists deduce ,odours from ,sulphur1 and from them argue the ,predominancy of that ,principle in the ,odorous body1 because ,i must not so much as add any new ,examples of the incompetency of this sort of ,chymical arguments2 since having already detain'd ,you but too long in those generals that appertain to my fourth consideration1 'tis time that ,i proceed to the particulars themselves1 to which ,i thought fit they should be previous3 ,these ,generals 7continues ,carneades7 being thus premis'd1 we might the better survey the ,unlikeness that an attentive and unprepossess'd observer may take notice of in each sort of ,bodies which the ,chymists are wont to call the salts or sulphurs or ,mercuries of the ,concretes that yield ,them1 as if they had all a simplicity1 and ,identity of ,nature3 whereas salts if they were all ,elementary would as little differ as do the ,drops of pure and simple ,water4 ',tis known that both ,chymists and ,physitians ascribe to the fixt salts of calcin'd ,bodies the vertues of their concretes2 and consequently very differing ,operations4 ,so we find the ,alkali of ,wormwood much commended in distempers of the stomach2 that of ,eyebright for those that have a weak sight2 and that of ,guaiacum 7of which a great ,quantity yields but a very little salt7 is not only much commended in ,venereal ,diseases1 but is believed to have a peculiar purgative vertue1 which yet ,i have not had occasion to try4 ,and though1 ,i confess1 ,i have long thought1 that these ,alkalizate salts are1 for the most part1 very neer of kin1 and retain very little of the properties of the ,concretes whence they were separated2 ,yet being minded to ,observe watchfully whether ,i could meet with any ,exceptions to this ,general ,observation1 ,i observ'd at the ,glasse-house1 that sometimes the ,metal 7as the ,workmen call it7 or ,masse of colliquated ,ingredients1 which by ,blowing they fashion into ,vessels of divers shapes1 did sometimes prove of a very differing colour1 and a somewhat differing ,texture1 from what was usuall4 ,and having enquired whether the cause of such ,accidents might not be derived from the peculiar ,nature of the fixt salt employ'd to bring the sand to fusion1 ,i found that the knowingst ,workmen imputed these ,mis-adventures to the ,ashes1 of ,errata3 ,ashes off some certain kind of ,wood1 as having observ'd the ignobler kind of ,glass ,i lately mention'd to be frequently produc'd when they had employ'd such sorts of ,ashes which therefore they scruple to make use of1 if they took notice of them beforehand4 ,i remember also1 that an ,industrious ,man of my acquaintance having bought a vast quantity of ,tobacco stalks to make a fixt ,salt with1 ,i had the ,curiosity to go see whether that ,exotick ,plant1 which so much abounds in volatile salt1 would afford a peculiar kind of ,alcali2 and ,i was pleas'd to find that in the ,lixivium of it1 it was not necessary1 as is usual1 to evaporate all the ,liquor1 that there might be obtain'd a ,saline ,calx1 consisting like lime quench'd in the ,air of a heap of little ,corpuscles of unregarded shapes2 but the fixt salt shot into figur'd ,crystal1 almost as ,nitre or ,sal-armoniack and other uncalcin'd salts are wont to do2 ,and ,i further remember that ,i have observ'd in the fixt ,salt of ,urine1 brought by depuration to be very white1 a tast not so unlike to that of common salt1 and very differing from the wonted caustick ,lixiviate tast of other salts made by ,incineration4 ,but because the ,instances ,i have alledg'd of the ,difference of ,alcalizate salt are but few1 and therefore ,i am still inclin'd to think1 that most ,chymists and many ,physitians do1 inconsideratly enough and without ,warrant from ,experience1 ascribe the ,vertues of the ,concretes expos'd to ,calcination1 to the salts obtain'd by it2 ,i shall rather1 to shew the ,disparity of salts1 mention in the first ,place the apparent ,difference betwixt the ,vegetable fixt salts and the ,animal ,volatile ones3 ,as 7for ,example7 betwixt salt of ,tartar1 and salt of ,harts-horn2 whereof the former is so fixt that 'twill indure the brunt of a violent ,fire1 and stand in fusion like a ,metal2 whereas the other 7besides that it has a differing tast and a very differing smell7 is so far from being fixt1 that it will fly away in a gentle heat as easily as ,spirit of ,wine it self4 ,and to this ,i shall add1 in the next place1 ,that even among the ,volatile salts themselves1 there is a considerable ,difference1 as appears by the distinct ,properties of 7for ,instance7 salt of ,amber1 salt of ,urine1 salt of ,mans ,skull1 7so much extoll'd against the falling ,sicknesse7 and divers others which cannot escape an ordinary ,observer4 ,and this ,diversity of ,volatile salts ,i have observ'd to be somtimes ,discernable even to the ,eye1 in their ,figures4 ,for the salt of ,harts-horn ,i have observ'd to adhere to the ,receiver in the forme almost of a ,parallelipipedon2 and of the ,volatile salt of humane blood 7long digested before distillation1 with spirit of ,wine7 ,i can shew you store of graines of that ,figure which ,geometricians call a ,rhombus2 though ,i dare not undertake that the ,figures of these or other ,saline ,crystals 7if ,i may so call ,them7 will be alwaies the same1 whatever degree of ,fire have been employ'd to force them up1 or how hastily soever they have been made to convene in the spirits or liquors1 in the lower part of which ,i have usually observ'd them after a while to shoot4 ,and although1 as ,i lately told ,you1 ,i seldom found any ,difference1 as to ,medical ,vertues1 in the fixt ,salts of ,divers ,vegetables2 and accordingly ,i have suspected that most of these volatile ,salts1 having so great a ,resemblance in smell1 in tast1 and fugitiveness1 differ but little1 if at all1 in their ,medicinal properties3 ,as indeed ,i have found them generally to agree in divers of them 7as in their being somewhat ,diaphoretick and very ,deopilative2 ,errata3 ,deopilative7 ,yet ,i remember ,helmont#ah somewhere informes us1 that there is this ,difference betwixt the saline spirit of ,urine and that of ,mans blood1 that the former will not cure the ,epilepsy1 but the ,latter will4 ,of the ,efficacy also of the ,salt of ,common ,amber against the same ,disease in ,children1 7for in ,grown ,persons it is not a specifick7 ,i may elsewhere have an ,occasion to ,entertain ,you4 ,and when ,i consider that to the obtaining of these ,volatile ,salts 7especially that of ,urine7 there is not requisite such a ,destructive ,violence of the ,fire1 as there is to get those ,salts that must be made by ,incineration1 ,i am the more invited to conclude1 that they may differ from one another1 and consequently recede from an ,elementary ,simplicity4 ,and1 if ,i could here shew ,you what ,mr4 ,boyle has ,observ'd1 touching the ,various ,chymicall ,distinctions of ,salts2 ,you would quickly discern1 not only that ,chymists do give themselves a strange ,liberty to call ,concretes ,salts1 that are according to their own ,rules to be look'd upon as very ,compounded ,bodies2 but that among those very ,salts that seem ,elementary1 because produc'd upon the ,anatomy of the ,bodies that yield them1 there is not only a visible ,disparity1 but1 to speak in the common ,language1 a manifest ,antipathy or ,contrariety3 ,as is evident in the ,ebullition and hissing that is wont to ensue1 when the ,acid ,spirit of ,vitrioll1 for ,instance1 is pour'd upon pot ashes1 or ,salt of ,tartar4 ,and ,i shall beg leave of this ,gentleman1 sayes ,carneades1 casting his ,eyes on me1 to let me observe to ,you out of some of his papers1 particularly those wherein he treats of some ,preparations of ,urine1 that not only one and the same body may have two ,salts of a contrary ,nature1 as he exemplifies in the ,spirit and ,alkali of ,nitre2 but that from the same body there may without addition be obtain'd three differing and ,visible ,salts4 ,for ,he ,relates1 that he observ'd in ,urine1 not only a ,volatile and ,crystalline ,salt1 and a fixt ,salt1 but likewise a kind of ,sal ,armoniack1 or such a ,salt as would sublime in the form of a salt1 and therefore was not fixt1 and yet was far from being so fugitive as the ,volatile salt2 from which it seem'd also otherwise to differ4 ,i have indeed suspected that this may be a ,sal ,armoniack properly enough so call'd1 as ,compounded of the ,volatile salt of ,urine1 and the fixt of the same ,liquor1 which1 as ,i noted1 is not unlike sea-salt2 but that it self argues a manifest ,difference betwixt the salts1 since such a ,volatile salt is not wont to ,unite thus with an ordinary ,alcali1 but to fly away from it in the ,heat4 ,and on this occasion ,i remember that1 to give some of my ,friends an ,ocular proof of the difference betwixt the fixt and ,volatile salt 7of the same ,concrete7 ,wood1 ,i devis'd the following ,experiment4 ,i took common ,venetian sublimate1 and dissolv'd as much of it as ,i well could in fair ,water3 then ,i took ,wood ,ashes1 and pouring on them ,warme ,water1 ,dissolv'd their salt2 and filtrating the ,water1 as soon as ,i found the ,lixivium sufficiently sharp upon the tongue1 ,i reserv'd it for use3 ,then on part of the former solution of sublimate dropping a little of this ,dissolv'd ,fixt salt of ,wood1 the ,liquors presently turn'd of an ,orange ,colour2 but upon the other part of the clear solution of sublimate putting some of the ,volatile salt of ,wood 7which abounds in the spirit of soot7 the ,liquor immediately turn'd white1 almost like ,milke1 and after a while let fall a white sediment1 as the other ,liquor did a ,yellow one4 ,to all this that ,i have said concerning the ,difference of salts1 ,i might add what ,i ,formerly told you1 concerning the simple spirit of ,box1 and such like ,woods1 which differ much from the other salts hitherto mention'd1 and yet would belong to the saline ,principle1 if ,chymists did truly teach that all ,tasts proceed from it4 ,and ,i might also annex1 what ,i noted to you out of ,helmont#ai concerning ,bodies1 which1 though they consist in great part of ,chymical ,oyles1 do yet appear but ,volatile salts2 ,but to insist on these things1 were to repeat2 and therefore ,i shall proceed4 ,footnote #ah3 ,error vero per distillationem nobis monstrat etiam ,spiritum salinum plane volatilem odore nequicquam ut nec gustu distinguibilem a spiritu ,urinae2 ,in eo tamen essentialiter diversum1 quod spiritus talis cruoris curat ,epilepsiam1 non autem ,spiritus salis lotii4 ,helmont4 ,aura ,vitalis4 ,footnote #ai3 ,aliquando oleum ,cinnamomi1 c4 suo sali ,alcali miscetur absque omni aqua1 trium mensium ,artificiosa occultaque circulatione1 totum in salem volatilem commutatum est4 ,helmont4 ,tria ,prima ,chymicorum1 c4 pag4 #dab4 ,this ,disparity is also highly eminent in the separated sulphurs or ,chymical ,oyles of things4 ,for they contain so much of the scent1 and tast1 and vertues1 of the ,bodies whence they were drawn1 that they seem to be but the ,material ,crasis 7if ,i may so speak7 of their ,concretes4 ,thus the ,oyles of ,cinnamon1 ,cloves1 ,nutmegs and other spices1 seem to be but the ,united ,aromatick parts that did ennoble those ,bodies4 ,and 'tis a known thing1 that ,oyl of ,cinnamon1 and oyle of ,cloves1 7which ,i have likewise observ'd in the ,oyles of several ,woods7 will sink to the ,bottom of ,water3 whereas those of ,nutmegs and divers other ,vegetables will swim upon it4 ,the ,oyle 7abusively call'd spirit7 of ,roses swims at the ,top of the ,water in the forme of a white butter1 which ,i remember not to have observ'd in any other ,oyle drawn in any ,limbeck2 yet there is a way 7not here to be declar'd7 by which ,i have seen it come over in the forme of other ,aromatick ,oyles1 to the ,delight and ,wonder of those that beheld it4 ,in ,oyle of ,anniseeds1 which ,i drew both with1 and without ,fermentation1 ,i observ'd the whole ,body of the ,oyle in a coole place to thicken into the ,consistence and ,appearance of white ,butter1 which with the least heat resum'd its ,former ,liquidness4 ,in the ,oyl of ,olive drawn over in a ,retort1 ,i have likewise more then once seen a spontaneous ,coagulation in the ,receiver3 ,and ,i have of it by me thus ,congeal'd2 which is of such a strangely ,penetrating scent1 as if 'twould ,perforate the ,noses that approach it4 ,the like pungent ,odour ,i also observ'd in the ,distill'd ,liquor of common sope1 which forc'd over from ,minium1 lately afforded an oyle of a most admirable ,penetrancy2 ,and he must be a great stranger1 both to the ,writings and preparations of ,chymists1 that sees not in the ,oyles they distill from ,vegetables and ,animals1 a considerable and obvious ,difference4 ,nay ,i shall venture to add1 ,eleutherius1 7what perhaps you will think of kin to a ,paradox7 that divers times out of the same ,animal or ,vegetable1 there may be extracted ,oyles of ,natures obviously differing4 ,to which purpose ,i shall not insist on the swimming and sinking ,oyles1 which ,i have sometimes observ'd to float on1 and subside under the spirit of ,guajacum1 and that of divers other ,vegetables ,distill'd with a strong and lasting ,fire2 ,nor shall ,i insist on the observation elsewhere mention'd1 of the divers and unminglable oyles afforded us by ,humane ,blood long fermented and ,digested with spirit of ,wine1 because these kind of oyles may seem chiefly to differ in ,consistence and ,weight1 being all of them high colour'd and adust4 ,but the ,experiment which ,i devis'd to make out this ,difference of the oyles of the same ,vegetable1 ad ,oculum1 7as they speak7 was this that followes4 ,i took a pound of ,annisseeds1 and having grosly beaten them1 caused them to be put into a very large glass ,retort almost filled with fair ,water2 and placing this ,retort in a sand ,furnace1 ,i caus'd a very ,gentle heat to be administer'd during the first day1 and a great part of the second1 till the ,water was for the most part drawn off1 and had brought over with it at least most of the ,volatile and ,aromatick ,oyle of the seeds4 ,and then encreasing the ,fire1 and changing the ,receiver1 ,i obtain'd besides an ,empyreumatical ,spirit1 a quantity of adust oyle2 whereof a little floated upon the ,spirit1 and the rest was more heavy1 and not easily separable from it4 ,and whereas these oyles were very dark1 and smell'd 7as ,chymists speak7 so strongly of the ,fire1 that their ,odour did not betray from what ,vegetables they had been forc'd2 the other ,aromatick ,oyle was enrich'd with the genuine smell and tast of the ,concrete2 and spontaneously coagulating it self into white butter did manifest self ,errata3 it self to be the true ,oyle of ,annisseeds2 which ,concrete ,i therefore chose to employ about this ,experiment1 that the ,difference of these ,oyles might be more conspicuous then it would have been1 had ,i instead of it destill'd another ,vegetable4 ,i had almost forgot to take notice1 that there is another sort of ,bodies1 which though not obtain'd from ,concretes by ,distillation1 many ,chymists are wont to call their ,sulphur2 not only because such substances are1 for the most part1 high colour'd 7whence they are also1 and that more properly1 called ,tinctures7 as dissolv'd ,sulphurs are wont to be2 but especially because they are1 for the most part1 abstracted and separated from the rest of the ,masse by ,spirit of ,wine3 which ,liquor those men supposing to be ,sulphureous1 they conclude1 that what it works upon1 and abstracts1 must be a ,sulphur also4 ,and upon this account they presume1 that they can sequester the sulphur even of ,minerals and ,metalls2 from which 'tis known that they cannot by ,fire alone separate it4 ,to all ,this ,i shall answer2 ,that if these sequestred substances where indeed the sulphurs of the ,bodies whence they are drawn1 there would as well be a great ,disparity betwixt ,chymical ,sulphurs obtain'd by ,spirit of ,wine1 as ,i have already shewn there is betwixt those obtain'd by ,distillation in the forme of ,oyles3 which will be evident from hence1 that not to urge that themselves ascribe distinct vertues to ,mineral ,tinctures1 extolling the ,tincture of ,gold against such and such ,diseases2 the ,tincture of ,antimony1 or of its ,glass1 against others2 and the ,tincture of ,emerauld against others2 'tis plain1 that in ,tinctures drawn from ,vegetables1 if the superfluous spirit of ,wine be distill'd off1 it leaves at the bottom that thicker substance which ,chymists use to call the ,extract of the ,vegetable4 ,and that these ,extracts are endow'd with very differing ,qualities according to the ,nature of the ,particular ,bodies that afforded them 7though ,i fear seldom with so much of the specifick vertues as is wont to be imagin'd7 is freely confess'd both by ,physitians and ,chymists4 ,but1 ,eleutherius1 7sayes ,carneades7 we may here take ,notice that the ,chymists do as well in this case1 as in many others1 allow themselves a ,license to abuse ,words3 ,for not again to argue from the differing properties of ,tinctures1 that they are not exactly pure and ,elementary ,sulphurs2 they would easily appear not to be so much as ,sulphur's1 although we should allow ,chymical ,oyles to deserve that ,name4 ,for however in some ,mineral ,tinctures the ,natural fixtness of the extracted ,body does not alwayes suffer it to be easily further resoluble into differing substances2 ,yet in very many extracts drawn from ,vegetables1 it may very easily be manifested that the spirit of ,wine has not sequestred the sulphureous ,ingredient from the saline and ,mercurial ones2 but has dissolv'd 7for ,i take it to be a ,solution7 the finer ,parts of the ,concrete 7without making any nice distinction of their being perfectly ,sulphureous or not7 and united it self with them into a kind of ,magistery2 which consequently must contain ,ingredients or ,parts of several sorts4 ,for we see that the stones that are rich in vitriol1 being often drench'd with rain-,water1 the ,liquor will then extract a fine and transparent substance coagulable into ,vitriol2 and yet though this ,vitriol be readily dissoluble in ,water1 it is not a true ,elementary ,salt1 but1 as ,you know1 a body resoluble into very differing ,parts1 whereof one 7as ,i shall have occasion to tell ,you anon7 is yet of a ,metalline1 and consequently not of an ,elementary ,nature4 ,you may consider also1 that common ,sulphur is readily dissoluble in ,oyle of ,turpentine1 though notwithstanding its ,name it abounds as well1 if not as much1 in ,salt as in true ,sulphur2 witness the great quantity of saline ,liquor it affords being set to flame away under a glasse ,bell4 ,nay ,i have1 which perhaps ,you will think strange1 with the same ,oyle of ,turpentine alone easily enough dissolv'd crude ,antimony finely powder'd into a ,blood-red ,balsam1 wherewith perhaps considerable things may be perform'd in ,surgery4 ,and if it were now ,requisite1 ,i could tell ,you of some other ,bodies 7such as ,perhaps ,you would not suspect7 that ,i have been able to work upon with certain ,chymical ,oyles4 ,but instead of digressing further ,i shall make this use of the ,example ,i have nam'd4 ,that 'tis not unlikely1 but that ,spirit of ,wine which by its pungent tast1 and by some other ,qualities that argue it better 7especially its ,reduciblenesse1 according to ,helmont1 into ,alcali1 and ,water17 seems to be as well of a ,saline as of a ,sulphureous ,nature1 may well be suppos'd ,capable of ,dissolving ,substances ,that are not meerly ,elementary sulphurs1 though perhaps they may abound with ,parts that are of kin thereunto4 ,for ,i find that ,spirit of ,wine will dissolve ,gumm ,lacca1 ,benzoine1 and the ,resinous ,parts of ,jallap1 and even of ,guaiacum2 whence we may well suspect that it may from ,spices1 ,herbs1 and other lesse compacted ,vegetables1 extract substances that are not perfect ,sulphurs but mixt ,bodies4 ,and to put it past ,dispute1 there is many a ,vulgar ,extract drawn with ,spirit of ,wine1 which committed to ,distillation will afford such differing substances as will ,loudly proclaim it to have been a very compounded ,body4 ,so that we may justly suspect1 that even in ,mineral ,tinctures it will not alwaies follow1 that because a red substance is drawn from the ,concrete by spirit of ,wine1 that ,substance is its true and ,elementary ,sulphur4 ,and though some of these ,extracts may perhaps be inflamable2 ,yet besides that others are not1 and besides that their being reduc'd to such ,minuteness of ,parts may much facilitate their taking ,fire2 besides this1 ,i say1 ,we see that common ,sulphur1 common ,oyle1 ,gumm ,lac1 and many ,unctuous and ,resinous ,bodies1 will flame well enough1 though they be of very compounded natures3 ,nay ,travellers of ,unsuspected ,credit assure ,us1 as a known thing1 that in some ,northern ,countries where ,firr trees and ,pines abound1 the poorer sort of ,inhabitants use ,long splinters of those ,resinous ,woods to burne instead of ,candles4 ,and as for the rednesse wont to be met with in such solutions1 ,i could easily shew1 that 'tis not necessary it should proceed from the ,sulphur of the ,concrete1 ,dissolv'd by the ,spirit of ,wine2 if ,i had leasure to manifest how much ,chymists are wont to delude themselves and others by the ,ignorance of those other causes upon whose account spirit of ,wine and other ,menstruums may acquire a red or some other high colour4 ,but to returne to our ,chymical ,oyles1 supposing that they were exactly pure2 ,yet ,i hope they would be1 as the best spirit of ,wine is1 but the more inflamable and deflagrable4 ,and therefore since an ,oyle can be by the ,fire alone immediately turn'd into flame1 which is something of a very differing ,nature from it3 ,i shall ,demand how this ,oyle can be a ,primogeneal and ,incorruptible ,body1 as most ,chymists would have their ,principles2 ,since it is further resoluble into flame1 which whether or no it be a portion of the ,element of ,fire1 as an ,aristotelian would conclude1 is certainly something of a very differing ,nature from a ,chymical ,oyle1 since it burnes1 and shines1 and mounts swiftly upwards2 none of which a ,chymical ,oyle does1 whilst it continues such4 ,and if it should be ,objected1 that the ,dissipated ,parts of this flaming ,oyle may be caught and collected again into ,oyl or ,sulphur2 ,i shall demand1 what ,chymist appears to have ever done it2 and without ,examining whether it may not hence be as well said that sulphur is but compacted ,fire1 as that ,fire is but diffus'd ,sulphur1 ,i shall leave you to consider whether it may not hence be argu'd1 that neither ,fire nor ,sulphur are primitive and indestructible ,bodies2 and ,i shall further observe that1 at least it will hence appear that a portion of matter may without being ,compounded with new ,ingredients1 by having the ,texture and ,motion of its small parts chang'd1 be easily1 by the means of the ,fire1 endow'd with new ,qualities1 more differing from them it had before1 then are those which suffice to discriminate the ,chymists ,principles from one another4 ,we are next to ,consider1 whether in the ,anatomy of mixt ,bodies1 that which ,chymists call the ,mercurial part of them be un-compounded1 or no4 ,but to tell ,you ,true1 though ,chymists do ,unanimously affirm that their ,resolutions discover a ,principle1 which they call ,mercury1 yet ,i find them to give of it ,descriptions so ,differing1 and so ,a,enigmaticall1 that ,i1 who am not asham'd to confess that ,i cannot understand what is not sence1 must acknowledge to you that ,i know not what to make of them4 ,paracelsus himself1 and therefore1 as you will easily believe1 many of his ,followers1 does somewhere call that ,mercury which ascends upon the burning of ,wood1 as the ,peripateticks are wont to take the same smoke for ,air2 and so seems to define ,mercury by ,volatility1 or 7if ,i may coyne such a ,word7 ,effumability4 ,but since1 in this ,example1 both ,volatile ,salt and ,sulphur make part of the smoke1 which does indeed consist also both of ,phlegmatick and ,terrene ,corpuscles1 this ,notion is not to be admitted2 ,and ,i find that the more sober ,chymists themselves disavow it4 ,yet to shew you how little of clearness we are to expect in the accounts even of latter ,spagyrists1 be pleas'd to take notice1 that ,beguinus1 even in his ,tyrocinium ,chymicum1#bj written for the ,instruction of ,novices1 when he comes to tell us what are meant by the ,tria ,prima1 which for their being ,principles ought to be defin'd the more accurately and plainly1 gives us this ,description of ,mercury2 ,mercurius 7sayes he7 est liquor ille acidus1 permeabilis1 penetrabilis1 aethereus1 ac purissimus1 a quo omnis ,nutricatio1 ,sensus1 ,motus1 ,vires1 ,colores1 ,senectutisque ,praeproperae retardatio4 ,which words are not so much a ,definition of it1 as an ,encomium3 and yet ,quercetanus in his ,description of the same ,principle adds to these1 divers other ,epithets4 ,but both of them1 to skip very many other faults that may be found with their ,metaphoricall ,descriptions1 speak incongruously to the ,chymists own ,principles4 ,for if ,mercury be an ,acid ,liquor1 either ,hermetical ,philosophy must err in ascribing all ,tasts to ,salt1 or else ,mercury must not be a ,principle1 but ,compounded of a ,saline ,ingredient and somewhat else4 ,libavius1 though he find great fault with the obscurity of what the ,chymists write concerning their ,mercurial ,principle1 does yet but give us such a ,negative ,description of it1 as ,sennertus1 how favourable soever to the ,tria ,prima1 is not satisfi'd with4 ,and this ,sennertus ,himself1 though the ,learnedst ,champion for the ,hypostatical ,principles1 does almost as frequently as justly complain of the unsatisfactoriness of what the ,chymists teach concerning their ,mercury2 and yet he himself 7but with his wonted modesty7 ,substitutes instead of the ,description of ,libavius1 another1 which many ,readers1 especially if they be not ,peripateticks1 will not know what to make of4 ,for scarce telling us any more1 then that in all bodies that which is found besides ,salt and ,sulphur1 and the ,elements1 or1 as they call them1 ,phlegm and ,dead ,earth1 is that ,spirit which in ,aristotles ,language may be call'd ,greek3 ousian analogon ,errata3 ousia analogos to ton astron stoichaio ,errata3 astron stoicheio4 ,he sayes that which ,i confess is not at all satisfactory to me1 who do not love to seem to acquiesce in any mans ,mystical ,doctrines1 that ,i may be thought to understand them4 ,footnote #bj3 ,chm4 ,tyrocin4 lib4 #a4 ,cap4 #b4 ,if 7sayes ,eleutherius7 ,i durst presume that the same thing would be thought clear by me1 and those that are fond of such cloudy ,expressions as ,you justly ,tax the ,chymists for1 ,i should venture to offer to ,consideration1 whether or no1 since the ,mercurial ,principle that arises from ,distillation is unanimously asserted to be distinct from the salt and ,sulphur of the same ,concrete1 that may not be call'd the ,mercury of a ,body1 which though it ascend in ,distillation1 as do the ,phlegme and ,sulphur1 is neither insipid like the former1 nor inflamable like the latter4 ,and therefore ,i would substitute to the too much abused ,name of ,mercury1 the more clear and ,familiar ,appellation of ,spirit1 which is also now very much made use of even by the ,chymists themselves1 of our times1 though they have not given us so ,distinct an ,explication1 as were fit1 of what may be call'd the ,spirit of a mixt ,body4 ,i should not perhaps 7sayes ,carneades7 much quarrel with your ,notion of ,mercury4 ,but as for the ,chymists1 what they can mean1 with congruity to their own ,principles1 by the ,mercury of ,animals and ,vegetables1 'twill not be so easie to find out2 for they ascribe ,tasts only to the ,saline ,principle1 and consequently would be much put to it to shew what ,liquor it is1 in the ,resolution of ,bodies1 that not being insipid1 for that they call ,phlegme1 neither is inflamable as ,oyle or ,sulphur1 nor has any ,tast2 which according to them must proceed from a ,mixture1 at least1 of ,salt4 ,and if we should take ,spirit in the sence of the ,word receiv'd among ,modern ,chymists and ,physitians1 for any ,distill'd ,liquor that is neither ,phlegme nor oyle1 the ,appellation would yet appear ,ambiguous enough4 ,for1 plainly1 that which first ascends in the ,distillation of ,wine and ,fermented ,liquors1 is generally as well by ,chymists as others reputed a ,spirit4 ,and yet pure ,spirit of ,wine being wholly inflamable ought according to them to be reckon'd to the ,sulphureous1 not the ,mercurial ,principle4 ,and among the other ,liquors that go under the name of ,spirits1 there are divers which seem to belong to the family of ,salts1 such as are the ,spirits of ,nitre1 ,vitriol1 ,sea-,salt and others1 and even the ,spirit of ,harts-horn1 being1 as ,i have try'd1 in great part1 if not totally reducible into ,salt and ,phlegme1 may be suspected to be but a ,volatile ,salt disguis'd by the ,phlegme mingl'd with it into the forme of a ,liquor4 ,however if this be a ,spirit1 it manifestly differs very much from that of ,vinager1 the ,tast of the one being ,acid1 and the other ,salt1 and their ,mixture in case they be very pure1 sometimes occasioning an ,effervescence like that of those ,liquors the ,chymists count most contrary to one another4 ,and even among those ,liquors that seem to have a better title then those hitherto mention'd1 to the name of ,spirits1 there appears a sensible ,diversity2 ,for spirit of ,oak1 for instance1 differs from that of ,tartar1 and this from that of ,box1 or of ,guaiacum4 ,and in short1 even these spirits as well as other ,distill'd ,liquors manifest a great ,disparity betwixt themselves1 either in their ,actions on our senses1 or in their other operations4 ,and 7continues ,carneades7 besides this ,disparity that is to be met with among those ,liquors that the ,modernes call spirits1 take for similar bodies1 what ,i have formerly told you concerning the ,spirit of ,box-wood may let you see that some of those ,liquors not only have qualities very differing from others1 but may be further resolved into substances differing from one another4 ,and since many moderne ,chymists and other ,naturalists are pleased to take the ,mercurial spirit of ,bodies for the same ,principle1 under differing names1 ,i must invite you to observe1 with me1 the great difference that is conspicuous betwixt all the ,vegetable and ,animal spirits ,i have mention'd and running ,mercury4 ,i speak not of that which is commonly sold in shops that many of themselves will confesse to be a mixt ,body2 but of that which is separated from ,metals1 which by some ,chymists that seem more ,philosophers then the rest1 and especially by the above mentioned ,claveus1 is 7for distinction sake7 called ,mercurius ,corporum4 ,now this ,metalline ,liquor being one of those three ,principles of which ,mineral ,bodies are by ,spagyrists affirmed to be compos'd and to be resoluble into them1 the many notorious ,differences betwixt them and the ,mercuries1 as ,they call ,them1 of ,vegetables and ,animals will allow me to inferr1 either that ,minerals and the other two sorts of ,mixt ,bodies consist not of the same ,elements1 or that those ,principles whereinto ,minerals are immediately resolved1 which ,chymists with great ostentation shew us as the true principles1 of them1 are but ,secundary ,principles1 or ,mixts of a peculiar sort1 which must be themselves reduc'd to a very differing forme1 to be of the same kind with ,vegetable and ,animal ,liquors4 ,but this is not all2 for although ,i formerly told ,you how ,little ,credit there is to be given to the ,chymical ,processes commonly to be met with1 of ,extracting the ,mercuries of ,metals1 ,yet ,i will now add1 that supposing that the more ,judicious of ,them do not untruly affirme that they have really drawn true and running ,mercury from several ,metals 7which ,i wish they had cleerly taught ,us how to do also17 yet it may be still doubted whether such extracted ,mercuries do not as well differ from common ,quicksilver1 and from one another1 as from the ,mercuries of ,vegetables and ,animalls4 ,claveus1#ba in his ,apology1 speaking of some experiments whereby ,metalline ,mercuries may be fixt into the nobler metals1 adds1 that he spake of the ,mercuries drawn from metals2 because common ,quicksilver by reason of its excessive coldnesse and moisture is unfit for that particular kind of operation2 for which though a few lines before he prescribes in general the ,mercuries of ,metalline ,bodies1 yet he chiefly commends that drawn by art from silver4 ,and elsewhere1 in the same ,book1 he tells us1 that he himself tryed1 that by bare coction the quicksilver of ,tin or ,pewter 7argentum vivum ex stanno prolicitum7 may by an efficient cause1 as he speaks1 be turn'd into pure ,gold4 ,and the ,experienc'd ,alexander van ,suchten1 somewhere tells us1 that by a way he intimates may be made a ,mercury of ,copper1 not of the ,silver colour of other ,mercuries1 but green2 to which ,i shall add1 that an eminent person1 whose name his travells and learned writings have made famous1 lately assur'd me that he had more then once seen the ,mercury of ,lead 7which whatever ,authors promise1 you will find it very difficult to make1 at least in any considerable quantity7 fixt into perfect ,gold4 ,and being by me demanded whether or no any other ,mercury would not as well have been changed by the same ,operations1 he assured me of the ,negative4 ,footnote #ba3 ,dixi autem de argento vivo a metallis prolicito1 quod vulgare ob nimiam frigiditatem humiditatem nimium concoctioni est contumax1 nec ab auro solum alterato coerceri potest4 ,gast4 ,clave4 in ,apoll4 ,and since ,i am fallen upon the mention of the ,mercuries of metals1 you will perhaps expect 7,eleutherius67 that ,i should say something of their two other principles2 but must freely confess to you1 that what ,disparity there may be between the salts and sulphurs of ,metals and other ,menerals ,transcriber's ,note3 ,minerals1 ,i am not my self experienced enough in the separations and examens of them1 to venture to determine3 7for as for the salts of ,metals1 ,i formerly represented it as a thing much to be question'd1 whether they have any at all37 ,and for the processes of separation ,i find in ,authors1 if they were 7what many of them are not7 successfully practicable1 as ,i noted above1 yet they are to be performed by the assistance of other bodies1 so hardly1 if upon any termes at all1 separable from them1 that it is very difficult to give the separated principles all their due1 and no more4 ,but the ,sulphur of ,antimony which is vehemently vomitive1 and the strongly scented ,anodyne ,sulphur of ,vitriol inclines me to think that not only ,mineral ,sulphurs differ from ,vegetable ones1 but also from one another1 retaining much of the nature of their ,concretes4 ,the salts of metals1 and of some sort of minerals1 ,you will easily guesse by ,errata3 7by the ,doubts ,i formerly express'd1 whether metals have any salt at all ,errata3 all71 that ,i have not been so happy as yet to see1 perhaps not for want of curiosity4 ,but if ,paracelsus did alwaies write so consentaneously to himself that his opinion were confidently to be collected from every place of his writings where he seems to expresse it1 ,i might safely take upon me to tell you1 that he both countenances in general what ,i have delivered in my ,fourth main consideration1 and in particular warrants me to suspect that there may be a difference in metalline and mineral ,salts1 as well as we find it in those of other bodies4 ,for1 ,sulphur 7sayes he7#bb aliud in auro1 aliud in argento1 aliud in ferro1 aliud in plumbo1 stanno1 c4 sic aliud in ,saphiro1 aliud in ,smaragdo1 aliud in rubino1 chrysolito1 amethisto1 magnete1 c4 ,item aliud in lapidibus1 silice1 salibus1 fontibus1 c4 nec vero tot sulphura tantum1 sed totidem salia2 sal aliud in metallis1 aliud in gemmis1 aliud in lapidibus1 aliud in salibus1 aliud in vitriolo1 aliud in alumine3 similis etiam ,mercurii est ratio4 ,alius in ,metallis1 alius in ,gemmis1 c4 ,ita ut unicuique speciei suus peculiaris ,mercurius sit4 ,et tamen res saltem tres sunt2 una essentia est sulphur2 una est sal2 una est ,mercurius4 ,addo quod specialius adhuc singula dividantur2 aurum enim non unum1 sed multiplex1 ut et non unum pyrum1 pomum1 sed idem multiplex2 totidem etiam sulphura auri1 salia auri1 mercurii auri2 idem competit etiam metallis gemmis2 ut quot saphyri praestantiores1 laevioris1 c4 tot etiam saphyrica sulphura1 saphyrica salia1 saphyrici ,mercurii1 c4 ,idem verum etiam est de turconibus gemmis aliis universis4 ,from which passage 7,eleutherius7 ,i suppose you will think ,i might without rashness conclude1 either that my opinion is favoured by that of ,paracelsus1 or that ,paracelsus his opinion was not alwaies the same4 ,but because in divers other places of his writings he seems to talk at a differing rate of the three ,principles and the four ,elements1 ,i shall content my self to inferr from the alledg'd passage1 that if his doctrine be not consistent with that ,part of mine which it is brought to countenance1 it is very difficult to know what his opinion concerning salt1 sulphur and mercury1 was2 and that consequently we had reason about the beginning of our conferences1 to decline taking upon us1 either to examine or oppose it4 ,footnote #bb3 ,paracel4 de ,mineral4 ,tract4 #a4 pag4 #ada4 ,i know not whether ,i should on this occasion add1 that those very bodies the ,chymists call ,phlegme and ,earth do yet recede from an ,elementary simplicity4 ,that common ,earth and ,water frequently do so1 notwithstanding the received contrary opinion1 is not deny'd by the more wary of the moderne ,peripateticks themselves3 and certainly1 most ,earths are much lesse simple bodies then is commonly imagined even by ,chymists1 who do not so consideratly to prescribe and employ ,earths ,promiscuously in those distillations that require the mixture of some caput mortuum1 to hinder the flowing together of the matter1 and to retain its grosser parts4 ,for ,i have found some ,earths to yield by distillation a ,liquor very far from being inodorous or insipid2 and 'tis a known observation1 that most kinds of fat ,earth kept cover'd from the rain1 and hindred from spending themselves in the production of vegetables1 will in time become impregnated with ,salt-,petre4 ,but ,i must remember that the ,water and ,earths ,i ought here to speak of1 are such as are separated from mixt ,bodies by the fire2 and therefore to restrain my ,discourse to such1 ,i shall tell you1 ,that we see the ,phlegme of ,vitriol 7for instance7 is a very effectual remedie against burnes2 and ,i know a very ,famous and experienc'd ,physitian1 whose unsuspected secret 7himself confess'd to me7 it is1 for the discussing of hard and ,obstinate ,tumours4 ,the ,phlegme of ,vinager1 though drawn exceeding leasurly in a digesting ,furnace1 ,i have purposely made tryall of2 and sometimes found it able to draw1 though slowly1 a saccharine sweetness out of ,lead2 and as ,i remember by long ,digestion1 ,i dissolv'd ,corpals ,errata3 ,corals in it4 ,the ,phlegme of the sugar of ,saturne is said to have very peculiar properties4 ,divers ,eminent ,chymists teach1 that it will dissolve ,pearls1 which being precipitated by the spirit of the same concrete are thereby 7as they say7 rendred volatile2 which has been confirmed to me1 upon his own observation1 by a person of great veracity4 ,the ,phlegme of ,wine1 and indeed divers other ,liquors that are indiscriminately condemnd to be cast away as phlegm1 are endow'd with qualities that make them differ both from meer water1 and from each other2 and whereas the ,chymists are pleas'd to call the caput mortuum of what they have distill'd 7after they have by affusion of water drawn away its salt7 terra damnata1 or ,earth1 it may be doubted whether or no those earths are all of them perfectly alike3 and it is scarce to be doubted1 but that there are some of them which remain yet unreduc'd to an ,elementary nature4 ,the ashes of wood depriv'd of all the salt1 and bone-,ashes1 or calcin'd ,harts-horn1 which ,refiners choose to make ,tests of1 as freest from ,salt1 seem unlike3 and he that shall compare either of these insipid ashes to ,lime1 and much more to the calx of ,talk ,transcriber's ,note3 ,talck 7though by the affusion of water they be exquisitely dulcify'd7 will perhaps see cause to think them things of a somewhat differing nature4 ,and it is evident in ,colcothar that the exactest calcination1 follow'd by an exquisite dulcification1 does not alwaies reduce the remaining body into elementary earth2 for after the salt or ,vitriol 7if the ,calcination have been too faint7 is drawn out of the ,colcothar1 the residue is not earth1 but a mixt body1 rich in ,medical vertues 7as experience has inform'd me7 and which ,angelus ,sala affirmes to be partly reducible into malleable ,copper2 which ,i judge very probable3 for though when ,i was making ,experiments upon ,colcothar1 ,i was destitute of a ,furnace capable of giving a heat intense ,enough to bring such a ,calx to ,fusion2 yet having conjectur'd that if ,colcothar abounded with that ,metal1 ,aqua ,fortis would find it out there1 ,i put some dulcifi'd ,colcothar into that ,menstruum1 and found the ,liquor1 according to my ,expectation1 presently ,colour'd as ,highly as if it had been an ,ordinary ,solution of ,copper4 ,,the ,,sceptical ,,chymist4 ,the ,fifth ,part4 ,here ,carneades making a pause1 ,i must not deny 7sayes his ,friend to him7 that ,i think ,you have sufficiently prov'd that these distinct ,substances which ,chymists are wont to obtain from ,mixt ,bodies1 by their ,vulgar ,destillation1 are not pure and simple enough to deserve1 in ,rigour of speaking1 the ,name of ,elements1 or ,principles4 ,but ,i suppose ,you have heard1 that there are some ,modern ,spagyrists1 who give out that they can by further and more ,skilfull ,purifications1 so reduce the separated ,ingredients of ,mixt ,bodies to an ,elementary simplicity1 ,that the ,oyles 7for ,instance7 extracted from all ,mixts shall as perfectly resemble one another1 as the ,drops of ,water do4 ,if you remember 7replies ,carneades7 that at the ,beginning of our ,conference with ,philoponus1 ,i declar'd to him before the rest of the ,company1 that ,i would not engage my self at present to do any more then examine the usual proofs alledg'd by ,chymists1 for the ,vulgar doctrine of their three ,hypostatical ,principles2 ,you will easily perceive that ,i am not oblig'd to make answer to what you newly propos'd2 and that it rather grants1 then disproves what ,i have been contending for3 ,since by pretending to make so great a change in the reputed ,principles that ,destillation affords the common ,spagyrists1 'tis plainly enough presuppos'd1 that before such ,artificial ,depurations be made1 the ,substances to be made more simple were not yet simple enough to be look'd upon as ,elementary2 ,wherefore in case the ,artists you speak of could perform what they give out they can1 yet ,i should not need to be asham'd of having question'd the ,vulgar ,opinion touching the tria ,prima4 ,and as to the thing it self1 ,i shall freely acknowledge to you1 that ,i love not to be forward in determining things to be impossible1 till ,i know and have consider'd the means by which they are propos'd to be effected4 ,and therefore ,i shall not peremptorily deny either the possibility of what these ,artists promise1 or my ,assent to any just ,inference2 however destructive to my ,conjectures1 that may be drawn from their performances4 ,but give me leave to tell you withall1 that because such promises are wont 7as ,experience has more then once inform'd me7 to be much more easily made1 then made good by ,chymists1 ,i must withhold my ,beliefe from their assertions1 till their ,experiments exact it2 and must not be so easie as to expect before hand1 an unlikely thing upon no stronger ,inducements then are yet given me3 ,besides that ,i have not yet found by what ,i have heard of these ,artists1 that though they pretend to bring the several ,substances into which the ,fire has divided the ,concrete1 to an exquisite simplicity1 ,they pretend also to be able by the ,fire to divide all ,concretes1 ,minerals1 and others1 into the same number of ,distinct ,substances4 ,and in the mean time ,i must think it improbable1 that they can either truly separate as many differing ,bodies from ,gold 7for ,instance7 or ,osteocolla1 as we can do from ,wine1 or ,vitriol2 or that the ,mercury 7for ,example7 of ,gold or ,saturn would be perfectly of the same ,nature with that of ,harts-horn2 and that the sulphur of ,antimony would be but ,numerically different from the ,distill'd butter or oyle of ,roses4 ,but suppose 7sayes ,eleutherius7 that you should meet with ,chymists1 who would allow you to take in ,earth and ,water into the number of the principles of ,mixt ,bodies2 and being also content to change the ,ambiguous ,name of ,mercury for that more intelligible one of spirit1 should consequently make the principles of ,compound ,bodies to be ,five2 would you not think it something hard to reject so plausible an ,opinion1 only because the ,five substances into which the ,fire divides mixt ,bodies are not exactly pure1 and ,homogeneous8 ,for my part 7,continues ,carneades7 ,i cannot but think it somewhat strange1 in case this ,opinion be not true1 that it should fall out so luckily1 that so great a ,variety of ,bodies should be ,analyz'd by the ,fire into just five ,distinct substances2 which so little differing from the ,bodies that bear those names1 may so ,plausibly be call'd ,oyle1 ,spirit1 ,salt1 ,water1 and ,earth4 ,the ,opinion ,you now propose 7answers ,carneades7 being another then that ,i was engag'd to examine1 it is not requisite for me to ,debate it at present2 nor should ,i have leisure to do it thorowly4 ,wherefore ,i shall only tell you in ,general1 that though ,i think this ,opinion in some respects more defensible then that of the ,vulgar ,chymists2 yet you may easily enough learn from the past ,discourse what may be thought of it3 ,since many of the ,objections made against the ,vulgar ,doctrine of the ,chymists seem1 without much alteration1 employable against this ,hypothesis also4 ,for1 besides that this ,doctrine does as well as the other take it for granted1 7what is not easie to be prov'd7 that the ,fire is the true and ,adequate ,analyzer of ,bodies1 and that all the ,distinct substances obtainable from a mixt ,body by the ,fire1 were so pre-existent in it1 that they were but extricated from each other by the ,analysis2 ,besides that this ,opinion1 too1 ascribe ,errata3 ascribes to the ,productions of the ,fire an ,elementary simplicity1 which ,i have shewn not to belong to them2 and besides that this ,doctrine is lyable to some of the other ,difficulties1 wherewith ,that of the ,tria ,prima is incumber'd2 ,besides all this1 ,i say1 this quinary number of ,elements1 7if you pardon the ,expression7 ought at least to have been restrain'd to the ,generality of ,animal and ,vegetable ,bodies1 since not only among these there are some ,bodies 7as ,i formerly argu'd7 which1 for ought has yet been made to appear1 do consist1 either of fewer or more similar substances then precisely ,five4 ,but in the ,mineral ,kingdom1 there is scarce one ,concrete that has been evinc'd to be adequatly divisible into such five ,principles or ,elements1 and neither more nor less1 as this ,opinion would have every mixt ,body to consist of4 ,and this very thing 7continues ,carneades7 may serve to take away or lessen your ,wonder1 that just so many ,bodies as five should be found upon the ,resolution of ,concretes4 ,for since we find not that the fire can make any such ,analysis 7into five ,elements7 of ,metals and other ,mineral ,bodies1 whose ,texture is more strong and permanent1 it remains that the ,five ,substances under consideration be ,obtain'd from ,vegetable and ,animal ,bodies1 which 7probably by reason of their looser ,contexture7 are capable of being ,distill'd4 ,and as to such ,bodies1 'tis natural enough1 that1 whether we suppose that there are1 or are not1 precisely five ,elements1 there should ordinarily occurr in the ,dissipated parts a five ,fold ,diversity of ,scheme 7if ,i may so speak47 ,for if the ,parts do not remain all fix'd1 as in ,gold1 ,calcin'd ,talck1 c4 nor all ascend1 as in the ,sublimation of ,brimstone1 ,camphire1 c4 but after their ,dissipation do associate themselves into new ,schemes of ,matter2 it is very likely1 that they will by the ,fire be divided into fix'd and ,volatile 7,i mean1 in ,reference to that degree of heat by which they are destill'd7 and those ,volatile parts will1 for the most part1 ascend either in a dry forme1 which ,chymists are pleas'd to call1 if they be ,tastless1 ,flowers2 if ,sapid1 ,volatile ,salt2 or in a ,liquid ,forme4 ,and this ,liquor must be either inflamable1 and so pass for oyl1 or not inflamable1 and yet subtile and pungent1 which may be call'd ,spirit2 or else strengthless or insipid1 which may be nam'd ,phlegme1 or ,water4 ,and as for the fixt part1 or ,caput ,mortuum1 it will most commonly consist of ,corpuscles1 partly ,soluble in ,water1 or ,sapid1 7especially if the ,saline parts were not so ,volatile1 as to fly away before7 which make up its fixt salt2 and partly insoluble and insipid1 which therefore seems to challenge the name of ,earth4 ,but although upon this ground one might easily enough have foretold1 that the differing substances obtain'd from a perfectly mixt ,body by the ,fire would for the most part be reducible to the five newly mentioned ,states of ,matter2 yet it will not presently follow1 that these five ,distinct substances were simple and primogeneal bodies1 so pre-existent in the ,concrete that the fire does but take them asunder4 ,besides that it does not appear1 that all ,mixt ,bodies1 7witness1 ,gold1 ,silver1 ,mercury1 c47 ,nay nor perhaps all ,vegetables1 which may appear by what we said above of ,camphire1 ,benzoin1 c4 are resoluble by ,fire into just such differing ,schemes of ,matter4 ,nor will the ,experiments formerly alledg'd permit us to look upon these separated ,substances as ,elementary1 or uncompounded4 ,neither will it be a sufficient ,argument of their being ,bodies that deserve the ,names which ,chymists are pleas'd to give them1 that they have an ,analogy in point of ,consistence1 or either ,volatility or ,fixtness1 or else some other obvious ,quality1 with the suppos'd ,principles1 whose names are ascrib'd to them4 ,for1 as ,i told you above1 notwithstanding this ,resemblance in some one ,quality1 there may be such a ,disparity in others1 as may be more fit to give them ,differing ,appellations1 then the ,resemblance is to give them one and the same4 ,and indeed it seems but somewhat a gross ,way of judging of the ,nature of ,bodies1 to conclude without ,scruple1 that those must be of the same ,nature that agree in some such ,general ,quality1 as ,fluidity1 ,dryness1 ,volatility1 and the like3 since each of those ,qualities1 or ,states of ,matter1 may ,comprehend a great ,variety of ,bodies1 otherwise of a very differing ,nature2 as we may see in the ,calxes of ,gold1 of ,vitriol1 and of ,venetian ,talck1 compar'd with common ,ashes1 which yet are very dry1 and fix'd by the vehemence of the ,fire1 as well as they4 ,and as we may likewise gather from what ,i have formerly ,observ'd1 touching the ,spirit of ,box-,wood1 which though a ,volatile1 ,sapid1 and not inflamable ,liquor1 as well as the ,spirits of ,harts-horn1 of ,blood and others1 7and therefore has been hitherto call'd1 the ,spirit1 and esteem'd for one of the ,principles of the ,wood that affords it27 may yet1 as ,i told ,you1 be subdivided into two ,liquors1 differing from one another1 and one of them at least1 from the ,generality of other ,chymical ,spirits4 ,but you may your self1 if you please1 7pursues ,carneades7 accommodate to the ,hypothesis you propos'd what other particulars you shall think applicable to it1 in the foregoing ,discourse4 ,for ,i think it unseasonable for me to meddle now any further with a ,controversie1 which since it does not now belong to me1 ,leaves me at ,liberty to ,take my ,own time to ,declare my ,self about it4 ,eleutherius perceiving that ,carneades was somewhat unwilling to spend any more time upon the debate of this ,opinion1 and having perhaps some thoughts of taking hence a ,rise to make him ,discourse it more fully another time1 thought not fit as then to make any further mention to him of the propos'd opinion1 but told him2 ,i presume ,i need not mind you1 ,carneades1 ,that both the ,patrons of the ternary number of ,principles1 and those that would have five ,elements1 endeavour to back their experiments with a specious ,reason or two2 and especially some of those ,embracers of the ,opinion last nam'd 7whom ,i have convers'd with1 and found them ,learned men7 assigne this ,reason of the necessity of five distinct ,elements2 that otherwise mixt ,bodies could not be so compounded and temper'd as to obtain a due consistence and competent ,duration4 ,for ,salt 7say they7 is the ,basis of ,solidity2 and ,permanency in ,compound ,bodies1 without which the other four ,elements might indeed be variously and loosly blended together1 but would remain incompacted2 but that ,salt might be dissolv'd into minute ,parts1 and convey'd to the other ,substances to be compacted by it1 and with it1 there is a ,necessity of ,water4 ,and that the mixture may not be too hard and brittle1 a ,sulphureous or ,oyly ,principle must intervene to make the mass more tenacious2 to this a ,mercurial spirit must be superadded2 which by its activity may for a while premeate ,transcriber's ,note3 permeate1 and as it were leaven the whole ,mass1 and thereby promote the more exquisite mixture and incorporation of the ,ingredients4 ,to all which 7lastly7 a portion of ,earth must be added1 which by its drinesse and poracity ,errata3 porosity may soak up part of that water wherein the ,salt was dissolv'd1 and eminently concurr with the other ingredients to give the whole body the requisite consistence4 ,i perceive 7sayes ,carneades smiling7 that if it be true1 as 'twas lately rooted ,errata3 noted from the ,proverb1 ,that good ,wits have bad ,memories1 ,you have that ,title1 as well as a better1 to a place among the good ,wits4 ,for you have already more then once forgot1 that ,i declar'd to you that ,i would at this ,conference ,examine only the ,experiments of my ,adversaries1 not their ,speculative ,reasons4 ,yet 'tis not 7,subjoynes ,carneades7 for fear of medling with the ,argument you have propos'd1 that ,i decline the examining it at present4 ,for if when we are more at leasure1 you shall have a mind that we may ,solemnly consider of it together2 ,i am confident we shall scarce find it insoluble4 ,and in the mean time we may observe1 that such a way of ,arguing may1 it seems1 be speciously accommodated to differing ,hypotheses4 ,for ,i find that ,beguinus1 and other ,assertors of the ,tria ,prima1 pretend to make out by such a way1 the requisiteness of their ,salt1 ,sulphur and ,mercury1 to constitute mixt ,bodies1 without taking notice of any necessity of an ,addition of ,water and ,earth4 ,and indeed neither sort of ,chymists seem to have duly consider'd how great ,variety there is in the ,textures and ,consistences of ,compound ,bodie2 sand ,errata3 ,bodies2 and how little the consistence and ,duration of many of them seem to accommodate and be explicable by the propos'd ,notion4 ,and not to mention those almost incorruptible ,substances obtainable by the ,fire1 which ,i have prov'd to be somewhat compounded1 and which the ,chymists will readily grant not to be perfectly mixt ,bodies3 7,not to mention these1 ,i say7 ,if you will but recall to mind some of those ,experiments1 whereby ,i shew'd ,you that out of common ,water only mixt ,bodies 7and even living ones7 of very differing consistences1 and resoluble by ,fire into as many ,principles as other bodies acknowledg'd to be perfectly mixt2 if you do this1 ,i say1 you will not1 ,i suppose1 be averse from beleeving1 that ,nature by a convenient disposition of the minute parts of a portion of matter may contrive bodies durable enough1 and of this1 or that1 or the other ,consistence1 without being oblig'd to make use of all1 much less of any ,determinate quantity of each of the five ,elements1 or of the three ,principles to compound such bodies of4 ,and ,i have 7pursues ,carneades7 something wonder'd1 ,chymists should not consider1 that there is scarce any body in ,nature so permanent and indissoluble as ,glass2 which yet themselves teach us may be made of bare ,ashes1 brought to fusion by the meer ,violence of the ,fire2 so that1 since ,ashes are granted to consist but of pure ,salt and simple ,earth1 sequestred from all the other ,principles or ,elements1 they must acknowledge1 ,that even ,art it self can of two ,elements only1 or1 if you please1 one ,principle and one ,element1 compound a ,body more durable then almost any in the ,world4 ,which being undeniable1 how will they prove that ,nature cannot compound ,mixt ,bodies1 and even durable ,ones1 under all the five ,elements or material ,principles4 ,but to insist any longer on this ,occasional ,disquisition1 ,touching their ,opinion that would ,establish five ,elements1 were to remember as little as ,you did before1 that the ,debate of this matter is no part of my first undertaking2 and consequently1 that ,i have already spent time enough in what ,i look back upon but as a digression1 or at best an ,excursion4 ,and thus1 ,eleutherius1 7sayes ,carneades7 having at length gone through the four ,considerations ,i propos'd to ,discourse unto you1 ,i hold it not unfit1 for fear my having insisted so long on each of them may have made you forget their ,series1 briefly to repeat them by telling you1 that ,since1 in the first place1 it may justly be doubted whether or no the ,fire be1 as ,chymists suppose it1 the genuine and ,universal ,resolver of mixt ,bodies2 ,since we may doubt1 in the next place1 whether or no all the ,distinct ,substances that may be obtain'd from a mixt body by the ,fire were pre-existent there in the formes in which they were separated from it2 ,since also1 though we should grant the ,substances separable from mixt ,bodies by the fire to have been their component ,ingredients1 yet the ,number of such substances does not appear the same in all mixt ,bodies2 some of them being ,resoluble into more differing substances than three1 and ,others not being ,resoluble into so many as three4 ,and ,since1 ,lastly1 those very substances that are thus separated are not for the most part pure and ,elementary bodies1 but new kinds of mixts2 ,since1 ,i say1 these things are so1 ,i hope you will allow me to inferr1 that the ,vulgar ,experiments 7,i might perchance have ,added1 the ,arguments too7 wont to be ,alledg'd by ,chymists to prove1 that their three ,hypostatical ,principles do adequately compose all mixt ,bodies1 are not so demonstrative as to reduce a wary ,person to acquiesce in their ,doctrine1 which1 till they ,explain and prove it better1 will by its perplexing darkness be more apt to puzzle then satisfy considering men1 and will to them appear incumbred with no small ,difficulties4 ,and from what has been hitherto deduc'd 7continues ,carneades7 we may ,learn1 what to ,judge of the common ,practice of those ,chymists1 who because they have found that ,diverse compound ,bodies 7for it will not hold in ,all7 can be resolv'd into1 or rather can be brought to afford two or three differing ,substances more then the ,soot and ,ashes1 whereinto the naked fire commonly divides them in our ,chymnies1 cry up their own ,sect for the ,invention of a ,new ,philosophy1 some of them1 as ,helmont1 c4 styling themselves ,philosophers by the ,fire2 and the most part not only ascribing1 but as far as in them lies1 engrossing to those of their ,sect the ,title of ,,philosophers4 ,but alas1 how narrow is this ,philosophy1 that reaches but to some of those compound ,bodies1 which we find but upon1 or in the crust or outside of our terrestrial ,globe1 which is it self but a point in comparison of the vast extended ,universe1 of whose other and greater parts the ,doctrine of the ,tria ,prima does not give us an ,account6 ,for what does it teach us1 either of the ,nature of the ,sun1 which ,astronomers affirme to be eight-score and odd times bigger then the whole ,earth8 or of that of those numerous fixt ,starrs1 which1 for ought we know1 would very few1 if any of them1 appear inferiour in bulke and brightness to the ,sun1 if they were as neer us as ,he8 ,what does the knowing that ,salt1 sulphur and ,mercury1 are the ,principles of ,mixt ,bodies1 informe us of the ,nature of that vast1 fluid1 and ,a,etherial ,substance1 that seemes to make up the interstellar1 and consequently much the greatest part of the ,world8 for as for the opinion commonly ascrib'd to ,paracelsus1 as if he would have not only the four ,peripatetick ,elements1 but even the ,celestial parts of the ,universe to consist of his three ,principles1 since the modern ,chymists themselves have not thought so groundless a conceit worth their owning1 ,i shall not think it ,worth my confuting4 ,but ,i should perchance forgive the ,hypothesis ,i have been all this while examining1 if1 though it reaches but to a very little part of the ,world1 it did at least give us a satisfactory account of those things to which 'tis said to reach4 ,but ,i find not1 that it gives us any other then a very imperfect information even about mixt ,bodies themselves3 ,for how will the knowledge of the ,tria ,prima discover to us the ,reason1 why the ,loadstone drawes a ,needle and disposes it to respect the ,poles1 and yet seldom precisely points at them8 how will this ,hypothesis teach ,us how a ,chick is formed in the ,egge1 or how the ,seminal ,principles of ,mint1 ,pompions1 and other ,vegitables1 that ,i mention'd to ,you above1 can fashion ,water into ,various ,plants1 each of them endow'd with its peculiar and determinate shape1 and with divers specifick and discriminating ,qualities8 ,how does this ,hypothesis shew us1 how much ,salt1 how much ,sulphur1 and how much ,mercury must be taken to make a ,chick or a ,pompion8 and if ,we know that1 what ,principle is it1 that manages these ,ingredients1 and contrives 7for instance7 such ,liquors as the ,white and ,yelk of an ,egge into such a variety of ,textures as is requisite to fashion the ,bones1 ,veines1 ,arteries1 ,nerves1 ,tendons1 ,feathers1 ,blood1 and other parts of a ,chick2 and not only to fashion each ,limbe1 but to connect them altogether1 after that manner that is most congruous to the perfection of the ,animal which is to ,consist of ,them8 ,for to say1 that some more fine and subtile part of either or all the ,hypostatical ,principles is the ,director in all this business1 and the ,architect of all this ,elaborate structure1 is to give one occasion to demand again1 what proportion and way of mixture of the ,tria ,prima afforded this ,architectonick ,spirit1 and what ,agent made so skilful and happy a mixture8 ,and the ,answer to this ,question1 if the ,chymists will keep themselves within their three ,principles1 will be lyable to the same ,inconvenience1 that the ,answer to the former was4 ,and if it were not to intrench upon the ,theame of a ,friend of ours here present1 ,i could easily prosecute the ,imperfections of the ,vulgar ,chymists ,philosophy1 and shew you1 that by going about to explicate by their three ,principles1 ,i say not1 all the abstruse ,properties of mixt ,bodies1 but even such ,obvious and more familiar ,phaenomena as ,fluidity and ,firmness1 ,the ,colours and ,figures of ,stones1 ,minerals1 and other compound ,bodies1 ,the ,nutrition of either ,plants or ,animals1 the ,gravity of ,gold or ,quicksilver compar'd with ,wine or ,spirit of ,wine2 ,by attempting1 ,i say1 to render a reason of these 7to omit a thousand others as difficult to account for7 from any proportion of the three simple ,ingredients1 ,chymists will be much more likely to discredit themselves and their ,hypothesis1 then satisfy an intelligent ,inquirer after ,truth4 ,but 7interposes ,eleutherus7 ,transcriber's ,note3 ,eleutherius ,this ,objection seems no more then may be made against the four ,peripatetick ,elements4 ,and indeed almost against any other ,hypothesis1 that pretends by any ,determinate ,number of ,material ,ingredients to render a reason of the ,phaenomena of ,nature4 ,and as for the use of the ,chymical ,doctrine of the three ,principles1 ,i suppose you need not be told by me1 that ,the great ,champion of it1 ,the ,learned ,sennertus1#bc assignes this noble use of the ,tria ,prima1 ,that from ,them1 as the neerest and most ,proper ,principles1 may be ,deduc'd and ,demonstrated the ,properties which are in ,mixt ,bodies1 and which cannot be ,proximately 7as ,they speak7 deduc'd from the ,elements4 ,and ,this1 sayes he1 is chiefly ,apparent1 when we ,inquire into the ,properties and ,faculties of ,medecines4 ,and ,i know 7continues ,eleutherius7 ,that the ,person ,you have assum'd1 of an ,opponent of the ,hermetick ,doctrine1 will not so far prevaile against your ,native and wonted ,equity1 as ,to keep ,you from acknowledging that ,philosophy is much beholden to the ,notions and ,discoveries of ,chymists4 ,footnote #bc3 ,senn4 de ,cons4 ,dissen4 p4 #afe4 ,if the ,chymists ,you speak of 7,replyes ,carneades7 had been so modest1 or so ,discreet1 as to propose their ,opinion of the ,tria ,prima1 but as a ,notion useful among ,others1 to increase ,humane knowledge1 they had deserv'd more of our thanks2 and less of our ,opposition2 but since the ,thing that they pretend is not so much to contribute a ,notion toward the ,improvement of ,philosophy1 as to make this ,notion attended ,errata3 7attended by a few lesse considerable ones7 pass for a ,new ,philosophy itself4 ,nay1 since they boast so much of this phancie of theirs1 that the famous ,quercetanus scruples not to write1 that if his most certain ,doctrine of the three ,principles were sufficiently ,learned1 ,examin'd1 and ,cultivated1 it would easily ,dispel all the ,darkness that benights our minds1 and bring in a ,clear ,light1 that would remove all ,difficulties4 ,this ,school affording ,theorems and ,axiomes irrefragable1 and to be admitted without ,dispute by impartial ,judges2 and so useful withal1 as to exempt us from the necessity of having recourse1 for want of the knowledg of causes1 to that ,sanctuary of the igorant ,transcriber's ,note3 ignorant1 ,occult ,qualities2 since1 ,i say1 this ,domestick ,notion of the ,chymists is so much overvalued by them1 ,i cannot think it unfit1 they should be made sensible of their mistake2 and be admonish'd to take in more fruitful and comprehensive ,principles1 if they mean to give us an account of the ,phaenomena of ,nature2 and not confine themselves and 7as far as they can7 others to such narrow ,principles1 as ,i fear will scarce inable them to give an account 7,i mean an intelligible one7 of the tenth part 7,i say not7 of all the ,phaenomena of ,nature2 but even of all such as by the ,leucippian or some of the other sorts of ,principles may be plausibly enough explicated4 ,and though ,i be not unwilling to grant1 that the incompetency ,i impute to the ,chymical ,hypothesis is but the same which may be ,objected against that of the four ,elements1 and divers other ,doctrines that have been maintain'd by ,learned men2 yet since 'tis the ,chymical ,hypothesis only which ,i am now examining1 ,i see not why1 if what ,i impute to it be a real inconvenience1 either it should cease to be so1 or ,i should scruple to object it1 because either ,theories are lyable thereunto1 as well as the ,hermetical4 ,for ,i know not why a ,truth should be thought lesse a ,truth for the being fit to overthrow variety of ,errors4 ,i am oblig'd to ,you 7continues ,carneades1 a little smiling7 for the favourable ,opinion ,you are pleas'd to express of my ,equity1 if there be no design in it4 ,but ,i need not be tempted by an ,artifice1 or invited by a ,complement1 to acknowledge the great service that the ,labours of ,chymists have done the ,lovers of useful ,learning2 nor even on this occasion shall their ,arrogance hinder my ,gratitude4 ,but since we are as well examining to ,errata3 delete to the truth of their ,doctrine as the merit of their industry1 ,i must in order to the investigation of the first1 continue a reply1 to talk at the rate of the part ,i have assum'd2 ,and tell you1 that when ,i acknowledg the usefulness of the ,labours of ,spagyrists to ,natural ,philosophy1 ,i do it upon the score of their experiments1 not upon that of ,their ,speculations2 for it seems to me1 that their ,writings1 as their ,furnaces1 afford as well smoke as light2 and do little lesse obscure some subjects1 then they illustrate others4 ,and though ,i am unwilling to deny1 that 'tis difficult for a man to be an ,accomplisht ,naturalist1 that is a stranger to ,chymistry1 yet ,i look upon the common ,operations and practices of ,chymists1 almost as ,i do on the ,letters of the ,alphabet1 without whose knowledge 'tis very hard for a man to become a ,philosopher2 and yet that knowledge is very far from being sufficient to make him ,one4 ,but 7sayes ,carneades1 resuming a more serious ,look7 to consider a little more particularly what you alledg in favour of the ,chymical ,doctrine of the ,tria ,prima1 though ,i shall readily acknowledge it not to be unuseful1 and that the ,divisers ,errata3 devisers and ,embracers of it have done the ,common-,wealth of ,learning some service1 by helping to destroy that excessive esteem1 or rather veneration1 wherewith the ,doctrine of the four ,elements was almost as generally as undeservedly entertain'd2 yet what has been alledg'd concerning the usefulness of the ,tria ,prima1 seems to me liable to no contemptible ,difficulties4 ,and first1 as for the very way of ,probation1 which the more ,learned and more ,sober ,champions of the ,chymical cause employ to evince the ,chymical ,principles in ,mixt ,bodies1 it seems to me to be farr enough from being convincing4 ,this grand and leading ,argument1 your ,sennertus ,himself1 who layes ,great weight upon it1 and tells us1 that the most ,learned ,philosophers employ this way of ,reasoning to prove the most important things1 proposes thus3 ,ubicunque 7sayes he7 pluribus eaedem affectiones qualitates insunt1 per commune quoddam ,principium insint necesse est1 sicut omnia sunt ,gravia propter terram1 calida propter ,ignem4 ,at ,colores1 ,odores1 ,sapores1 esse ,greek3 phlogiston similia alia1 mineralibus1 ,metallis1 ,gemmis1 ,lapidibus1 ,plantis1 ,animalibus insunt4 ,ergo per commune aliquod principium1 subiectum1 insunt4 ,at tale principium non sunt ,elementa4 ,nullam enim habent ad tales qualitates producendas potentiam4 ,ergo alia principia1 unde fluant1 inquirenda sunt4 ,in the ,recital of this ,argument1 7sayes ,carneades7 ,i therefore thought fit to retain the ,language wherein the ,author proposes it1 that ,i might also retain the propriety of some ,latine ,termes1 to which ,i do not readily remember any that fully answer in ,english4 ,but as for the ,argumentation it self1 'tis built upon a precarious supposition1 that seems to me neither ,demonstrable nor true2 for1 how does it appear1 that where the same ,quality is to be met with in many ,bodies1 it must belong to them upon the ,account of some one ,body whereof they all partake8 7,for that the ,major of our ,authors ,argument is to be ,understood of the ,material ,ingredients of bodies1 appears by the ,instances of ,earth and ,fire he annexes to explain it47 ,for to begin with that very ,example which he is pleas'd to alledge for himself2 how can he prove1 that the ,gravity of all ,bodies proceeds from what they participate of the ,element of ,earth8 ,since we see1 that not only common ,water1 but the more pure ,distill'd ,rain ,water is heavy2 and ,quicksilver is much heavier than ,earth it self2 though none of my ,adversaries has yet prov'd1 that it contains any of that ,element4 ,and ,i the ,rather make use of this ,example of ,quicksilver1 because ,i see not how the ,assertors of the ,elements will give any better ,account of it then the ,chymists4 ,for if it be demanded how it comes to be ,fluid1 they will answer1 that it participates much of the ,nature of ,water4 ,and indeed1 according to them1 ,water may be the ,predominant ,element in it1 since we see1 that several ,bodies which by ,distillation afford ,liquors that weigh more then their ,caput ,mortuum do not yet consist of ,liquor enough to be ,fluid4 ,yet if it be demanded how ,quicksilver comes to be so heavy1 then 'tis reply'd1 that 'tis by reason of the ,earth that abounds in it2 but since1 according to them1 it must consist also of air1 and partly of ,fire1 which they affirm to be light ,elements1 how comes it that it should be so much heavier then ,earth of the same bulk1 though to fill up the porosities and other ,cavities it be made up into a mass or paste with ,water1 which it self they allow to be a heavy ,element4 ,but to returne to our ,spagyrists1 we see that ,chymical ,oyles and fixt ,salts1 though never so exquisitely purify'd and freed from terrestrial parts1 do yet remain ponderous enough4 ,and ,experience has inform'd me1 that a pound1 for instance1 of some of the heaviest ,woods1 as ,guajacum that will sink in ,water1 being burnt to ,ashes will yield a much less weight of them 7whereof ,i found but a small part to be ,alcalyzate7 then much lighter ,vegetables3 ,as also that the black ,charcoal of it will not sink as did the wood1 but swim2 which argues that the ,differing ,gravity of ,bodies proceeds chiefly from their particular ,texture1 as is manifest in ,gold1 the closest and ,compactest of ,bodies1 which is many times heavier then we can possibly make any parcell of ,earth of the same ,bulk4 ,i will not examine1 what may be argu'd touching the ,gravity or ,quality ,analagous thereunto1 of even ,celestial bodies1 from the motion of the spots about the ,sun1 d ,errata3 and from the appearing equality of the suppos'd ,seas in the ,moon2 nor consider how little those ,phaemonea ,transcriber's ,note3 ,phaenomena would agree with what ,sennertus presumes concerning ,gravity4 ,but further to invalidate his supposition1 ,i shall demand1 upon what ,chymical ,principle ,fluidity depends8 ,and yet ,fluidity is1 two or three perhaps excepted1 the most diffused quality of the universe1 and far more ,general then almost any other of those that are to be met with in any of the ,chymicall ,principles1 or ,aristotelian ,elements2 since not only the ,air1 but that vast expansion we call ,heaven1 in comparison of which our ,terrestrial ,globe 7supposing it were all ,solid7 is but a point2 and perhaps to ,errata3 too the ,sun and the fixt ,stars are fluid bodies4 ,i demand also1 from which of the ,chymical ,principles ,motion flowes2 which yet is an affection of matter much more ,general then any that can be deduc'd from any of the three ,chymical ,principles4 ,i might ask the like ,question concerning ,light1 which is not only to be found in the ,kindl'd ,sulphur of mixt ,bodis ,transcriber's ,note3 ,bodies1 but 7not to mention those sorts of rotten ,woods1 and rotten ,fish that shine in the ,dark7 in the tails of living ,glow-wormes1 and in the ,vast bodies of the ,sun and ,stars4 ,i would gladly also know1 in which of the three ,principles the ,quality1 we call ,sound1 resides as in its proper ,subject2 since either ,oyl falling upon ,oyle1 or ,spirit upon ,spirit1 or ,salt upon ,salt1 in a great quantity1 and from a considerable height1 will make a noise1 or if you please1 create a sound1 and 7that the objection may reach the ,aristotelians7 so will also water upon water1 and ,earth upon ,earth4 ,and ,i could name other qualities to be met within divers bodies1 of which ,i suppose my ,adversaries will not in haste assign any ,subject1 upon whose ,account it must needs be1 that the quality belongs to all the other several bodies4 ,and1 before ,i proceed any further1 ,i must here invite you to compare the supposition we are examining1 with some other of the ,chymical ,tenents4 ,for1 first they do in effect teach that more then one quality may belong to1 and be deduc'd from1 one ,principle4 ,for1 they ascribe to ,salt ,tasts1 and the power of ,coagulation2 to sulphur1 as well ,odours as inflamableness2 ,and some of them ascribe to ,mercury1 ,colours2 as all of them do effumability1 as they speak4 ,and on the other side1 it is evident that ,volatility belongs in common to all the three ,principles1 and to ,water too4 ,for 'tis manifest1 that ,chymical ,oyles are ,volatile2 ,that also divers ,salts ,emerging1 upon the ,analysis of many ,concretes1 are very ,volatile1 is plain from the figitiveness ,errata3 fugitivenesse of ,salt1 of ,harts-horne1 flesh1 c4 ascending in the ,distillation of those bodies4 ,how easily water may be made to ascend in ,vapours1 there is scarce any body that has not observ'd4 ,and as for what they call the ,mercuriall ,principle of bodies1 that is so apt to be rais'd in the form of ,steam1 that ,paracelsus and others define it by that aptness to fly up2 so that 7to draw that inference by the way7 it seems not that ,chymists have been accurate in their ,doctrine of qualities1 and their respective ,principles1 since they both derive several qualities from the same ,principle1 and must ascribe the same quality to almost all their ,principles and other bodies besides4 ,and thus much for the first thing taken for granted1 without sufficient proof1 by your ,sennertus3 ,and to add that upon the ,bye 7continues ,carneades7 we may hence learn what to judge of the way of ,argumentation1 which that fierce ,champion of the ,aristotelians against the ,chymists1 ,anthonius ,guntherus ,billichius#bd employes1 where he pretends to prove against ,beguinus1 that not only the four ,elements do immediately concur to ,constitute every mixt body1 and are both present in it1 and obtainable from it upon its ,dissolution2 but that in the ,tria ,prima themselves1 whereinto ,chymists are wont to resolve mixt ,bodies1 each of them clearly discovers it self to consist of four ,elements4 ,the ,ratiocination it self 7pursues ,carneades7 being somewhat unusual1 ,i did the other ,day ,transcribe it1 and 7sayes ,he1 pulling a ,paper out of his ,pocket7 it is this4 ,ordiamur1 cum ,beguino1 a ligno viridi1 quod si concremetur1 videbis in sudore ,aquam1 in fumo ,aerem1 in flamma ,prunis ,ignem1 ,terram in cineribus3 ,quod si ,beguino placuerit ex eo colligere humidum aquosum1 cohibere humidum oleaginosum1 extrahere ex cineribus salem2 ,ego ipsi in unoquoque horum seorsim quatuor ,elementa ad oculum demonstrabo1 eodem artificio quo in ligno viridi ea demonstravi4 ,humorem aquosum admovebo ,igni4 ,ipse ,aquam ,ebullire videbit1 in ,vapore ,aerem conspiciet1 ,ignem sentiet in aestu1 plus minus ,terrae in sedimento apparebit4 ,humor porro ,oleaginosus aquam humiditate fluiditate per se1 accensus vero ,ignem flamma prodit1 fumo ,aerem1 fuligine1 nidore amurca terram4 ,salem denique ipse ,beguinus siccum vocat ,terrestrem1 qui tamen nec fusus ,aquam1 nec caustica vi ignem celare potest2 ignis vero ,violentia in halitus versus nec ab ,aere se alienum esse demonstrat2 ,idem de ,lacte1 de ,ovis1 de semine ,lini1 de ,garyophyllis1 de ,nitro1 de sale ,marino1 denique de ,antimonio1 quod fuit de ,ligno viridi ,judicium2 eadem de illorum partibus1 quas ,beguinus adducit1 sententia1 quae de viridis ligni humore aquoso1 quae de liquore ejusdem oleoso1 quae de sale fuit4 ,footnote #bd3 ,in ,thessalo redivivo4 ,cap4 #aj4 pag4 #gc4 #gd4 ,this bold ,discourse 7resumes ,carneades1 putting up again his ,paper17 ,i think it were not very difficult to confute1 if his ,arguments were as considerable as our time will probably prove short for the remaining and more necessary ,part of my ,discourse2 wherefore referring ,you for an ,answer to what was said concerning the ,dissipated ,parts of a burnt piece of green ,wood1 to what ,i told ,themistius on the like occasion1 ,i might easily shew ,you1 how sleightly and superficially our ,guntherus talks of the dividing the flame of ,green ,wood into his four ,elements2 ,when he makes that vapour to be air1 which being caught in ,glasses and condens'd1 presently discovers it self to have been but an ,aggregate of innumerable very minute drops of ,liquor2 and ,when he would prove the ,phlegmes being compos'd of ,fire by that ,heat which is adventitious to the ,liquor1 and ceases upon the absence of what produc'd it 7whether that be an ,agitation proceeding from the motion of the ,external ,fire1 or the presence of a ,multitude of igneous ,atomes pervading the pores of the ,vessel1 and nimbly permeating the whole ,body of the ,water7 ,i might1 ,i say1 urge these and divers other ,weaknesses of ,his ,discourse4 ,but ,i will rather take ,notice of what is more pertinent to the ,occasion of this ,digression1 namely1 that ,taking it for ,granted1 that ,fluidity 7with which he unwarily seems to confound ,humidity7 must proceed from the ,element of ,water1 he makes a ,chymical ,oyle to ,consist of that ,elementary ,liquor2 and yet in the very next ,words proves1 that it consists also of ,fire1 by its ,inflamability2 not remembring that exquisitely pure ,spirit of ,wine is both more ,fluid then ,water it self1 and yet will ,flame all away without leaving the ,least ,aqueous ,moisture behind it2 and without such an ,amurca and ,soot as he would ,deduce the presence of ,earth from4 ,so that the same ,liquor may according to his ,doctrine be concluded by its great ,fluidity to be almost all ,water2 and by its burning all away to be all disguised ,fire4 ,and by the like way of ,probation our ,author would shew that the fixt salt of ,wood is compounded of the four ,elements4 ,for 7sayes he7 being turn'd by the violence of the ,fire into steames1 it shews it self to be of kin to ,air2 whereas ,i doubt whether he ever saw a true fixt ,salt 7which to become so1 must have already endur'd the violence of an ,incinerating ,fire7 brought by the ,fire alone to ascend in the ,forme of ,exhalations2 but ,i do not doubt that if he did1 and had caught those ,exhalations in convenient ,vessels1 he would have found them as well as the ,steames of common ,salt1 c4 of a ,saline and not an ,aereal ,nature4 ,and whereas our ,authour takes it also for ,granted1 that the ,fusibility of ,salt must be ,deduc'd from ,water1 it is indeed so much the ,effect of heat variously agitating the ,minute ,parts of a ,body1 without regard to ,water1 that ,gold 7which by its being the heavyest and fixtest of ,bodies1 should be the most ,earthy7 will be brought to ,fusion by a strong ,fire2 which sure is more likely to drive away then increase its ,aqueous ,ingredient1 if it have any2 and on the other side1 for want of a sufficient agitation of its minute parts1 ,ice is not ,fluid1 but ,solid2 though he presumes also that the ,mordicant ,quality of ,bodies must proceed from a fiery ingredient2 whereas1 not to urge that the ,light and inflamable parts1 which are the most likely to belong to the ,element of ,fire1 must probably be driven away by that time the violence of the ,fire has reduc'd the ,body to ashes2 ,not to urge this1 ,i ,i ,transcriber's ,note3 extra ,i in original say1 nor that ,oyle of ,vitriol which quenches ,fire1 burnes the ,tongue and flesh of those that ,unwarily tast or apply it1 as a caustick doth1 it is precarious to prove the ,presence of ,fire in fixt salts from their ,caustick power1 unlesse it were first shewn1 that all the ,qualities ascribed to salts must be deduc'd from those of the ,elements2 which1 had ,i ,time1 ,i could easily manifest to be no easy talk4 ,and not to mention that our ,authour makes a ,body as ,homogeneous as any he can produce for ,elementary1 belong both to ,water and ,fire1 ,though it be neither ,fluid nor ,insipid1 like ,water2 nor light and ,volatile1 like ,fire2 he seems to omit in this ,anatomy the ,element of ,earth1 save ,that he intimates1 ,that the salt may pass for that2 ,but since a few lines before1 he takes ,ashes for ,earth1 ,i see not how he will avoid an ,inconsistency either betwixt the ,parts of his ,discourse or betwixt some of them and his ,doctrine4 ,for since ,there is a manifest ,difference betwixt the ,saline and the insipid ,parts of ,ashes1 ,i see not how substances ,that ,disagree in such ,notable ,qualities can be both said to be ,portions of an ,element1 whose ,nature requires that it be ,homogeneous1 especially in this case where an ,analysis by the ,fire is suppos'd to have separated it from the admixture of other ,elements1 which are confess'd by most ,aristotelians to be ,generally found in common ,earth1 and to render it impure4 ,and sure if when we have consider'd for how little a ,disparities sake the ,peripateticks make these ,symbolizing ,bodies ,aire and ,fire to be two ,distinct ,elements1 we shall also consider that the ,saline part of ,ashes is very strongly ,tasted1 and easily soluble in ,water2 whereas the other part of the same ,ashes is insipid and indissoluble in the same ,liquor3 ,not to add1 that the one substance is ,opacous1 and the other somewhat ,diaphanous1 nor that they differ in ,divers other ,particulars2 ,if we consider those things1 ,i say1 we shall hardly think that both these ,substances are ,elementary ,earth2 ,and as to what is sometimes objected1 that their ,saline ,tast is only an ,effect of ,incineration and ,adustion1 it has been elsewhere fully reply'd to1 when propos'd by ,themistius1 and where it has been prov'd against him1 that however insipid ,earth may perhaps by ,additaments be turn'd into ,salt1 yet 'tis not like it should be so by the ,fire alone3 ,for we see that when we refine ,gold and ,silver1 the violentest ,fires ,we can ,employ on them give them not the least ,rellish of ,saltness4 ,and ,i think ,philoponus has rightly observ'd1 that the ,ashes of some ,concretes contain very little salt if any at all2 ,for ,refiners suppose that bone-ashes are free from it1 and therefore make use of them for ,tests and ,cuppels1 which ought to be ,destitute of ,salt1 lest the ,violence of the ,fire should bring them to ,vitrification2 ,and having purposely and heedfully tasted a ,cuppel made of only bone-ashes and fair water1 which ,i had caus'd to be expos'd to a ,very ,violent ,fire1 acuated by the ,blast of a large pair of ,double ,bellows1 ,i could not perceive that the force of the ,fire had imparted to it the least ,saltness1 or so much as made it less ,insipid4 ,but 7sayes ,carneades7 since neither ,you nor ,i love ,repetitions1 ,i shall not now make any of what else was urg'd against ,themistius but rather invite ,you to take notice with me that when our ,authour1 though a ,learned ,man1 and one that pretends skill enough in ,chymistry to reforme the whole ,art1 comes to make good his confident ,undertaking1 to give us an occular ,demonstration of the immediate ,presence of the four ,elements in the resolution of ,green ,wood1 ,he is fain to say things that agree very little with one another4 ,for about the beginning of that passage of ,his lately recited to you1 he makes the sweat as he calls it of the green ,wood to be ,water1 the smoke ,aire1 the shining ,matter ,fire1 and the ,ashes ,earth2 whereas a few lines after1 he will in each of these1 nay 7as ,i just now noted7 in one ,distinct ,part of the ,ashes1 shew the four ,elements4 ,so that either the former ,analysis must be incompetent to prove that ,number of ,elements1 since by it the burnt ,concrete is not reduc'd into ,elementary ,bodies1 but into such as are yet each of them compounded of the four ,elements2 or else these ,qualities from which he endeavours to deduce the presence of all the ,elements1 in the fixt salt1 and each of the other separated substances1 will be but a precarious way of probation3 especially if you consider1 that the extracted ,alcali of ,wood1 being for ought appears at least as similar a ,body as any that the ,peripateticks can shew us1 if its differing ,qualities must argue the presence of ,distinct ,elements1 it will scarce be possible for them by any way they know of employing the fire upon a ,body1 to shew that any ,body is a ,portion of a true ,element3 ,and this recals to my mind1 that ,i am now but in an occasional excussion1 which aiming only to shew that the ,peripateticks as well as the ,chymists take in our present ,controversie something for granted which they ought to prove1 ,i shall returne to my exceptions1 where ,i ended the first of them1 and further tell you1 that neither is that the only precarious thing that ,i take notice of in ,sennertus his ,argumentation2 for when he inferrs1 that because the ,qualities he ,mentions as ,colours1 ,smels1 and the like1 belong not to the ,elements2 they therefore must to the ,chymical ,principles1 he takes that for granted1 which will not in haste be prov'd2 as ,i might here manifest1 but that ,i may by and by have a fitter opportunity to take notice of it4 ,and thus much at present may suffice to have ,discours'd against the ,supposition1 that almost every ,quality must have some ,greek3 dektikon proton1 as they speak1 some ,native receptacle1 wherein as in its proper ,subject of inhesion it peculiarly resides1 and on whose account that quality belongs to the other ,bodies1 ,wherein it is to be met with4 ,now this ,fundamental supposition being once ,destroy'd1 whatsoever is built upon it1 must fall to ruine of it self4 ,but ,i consider further1 that ,chymists are 7for ought ,i have found7 far from being able to explicate by any of the ,tria ,prima1 those qualities which they pretend to belong primarily unto it1 and in mixt ,bodies to ,deduce from it4 ,tis true indeed1 that such qualities are not explicable by the four ,elements2 but it will not therefore follow1 that they are so by the three hermetical ,principles2 and this is it that seems to have deceiv'd the ,chymists1 and is indeed a very common mistake amongst most ,disputants1 who argue as if there could be but two ,opinions concerning the ,difficulty about which they contend2 and consequently they inferr1 that if their ,adversaries ,opinion be ,erroneous1 ,their's must needs be the ,truth2 whereas many questions1 and especially in matters ,physiological1 may admit of so many ,differing ,hypotheses1 that 'twill be very inconsiderate and fallacious to conclude 7except where the ,opinions are precisely ,contradictory7 the ,truth of one from the falsity of another4 ,and in our particular case 'tis no way necessary1 that the ,properties of mixt ,bodies must be explicable either by the ,hermetical1 or the ,aristotelian ,hypothesis1 there being divers other and more plausible wayes of explaining them1 and especially that1 which deduces qualities from the motion1 figure1 and contrivance of the small parts of ,bodies2 as ,i think might be shewn1 if the attempt were as seasonable1 as ,i fear it would be ,tedious4 ,i will allow then1 that the ,chymists do not causelessly accuse the ,doctrine of the four elements of incompetency to explain the ,properties of ,compound bodies4 ,and for this ,rejection of a ,vulgar ,error1 they ought not to be deny'd what praise men may deserve for exploding a ,doctrine whose ,imperfections are so conspicuous1 that men needed but not to shut their ,eyes1 to discover them4 ,but ,i am mistaken1 if our ,hermetical ,philosophers ,themselves need not1 as well as the ,peripateticks1 have ,recourse to more ,fruitfull and ,comprehensive ,principles then the tria ,prima1 to make out the ,properties of the ,bodies they converse with4 ,not to accumulate ,examples to this purpose1 7because ,i hope for a fitter opportunity to prosecute this ,subject7 let us at present only point at ,colour1 that you may guess by what they say of so obvious and familiar a ,quality1 how little ,instruction we are to expect from the ,tria ,prima in those more abstruse ones1 which they with the ,aristotelians stile ,occult4 ,for about ,colours1 neither do they at all agree among themselves1 nor have ,i met with any one1 of which of the three ,perswasions soever1 that does intelligibly explicate ,them4 ,the ,vulgar ,chymists are wont to ascribe ,colours to ,mercury2 ,paracelsus in divers places attributes them to ,salt2 and ,sennertus1#be having recited their differing ,opinions1 ,dissents from both1 and referrs ,colours rather unto ,sulphur4 ,but how ,colours do1 nay1 how they may1 arise from either of these ,principles1 ,i think you will scarce say that any has yet intelligibly explicated4 ,and if ,mr4 ,boyle will allow me to shew you the ,experiments which he has collected about ,colours1 you will1 ,i doubt not1 confess that bodies exhibite colours1 not upon the ,account of the ,predominancy of this or that ,principle in them1 but upon that of their ,texture1 and especially the ,disposition of their superficial parts1 whereby the ,light rebounding thence to the ,eye is so modifi'd1 as by differing ,impressions variously to affect the ,organs of ,sight4 ,i might here take notice of the pleasing variety of ,colours exhibited by the ,triangular glass1 7as 'tis wont to be call'd7 and demand1 what addition or decrement of either ,salt1 ,sulphur1 or ,mercury1 befalls the ,body of the ,glass by being ,prismatically figur'd2 and yet 'tis known1 that without that shape it would not affor'd those colours as it does4 ,but because it may be objected1 that these are not real1 but apparent ,colours2 that ,i may not lose time in examing the ,distinction1 ,i will alledge against the ,chymists1 a couple of examples of ,real and ,permanent ,colours ,drawn from ,metalline ,bodies1 and represent1 that without the addition of any extraneous body1 ,quicksilver may by the ,fire alone1 and that in glass ,vessels1 be depriv'd of its silver-like ,colour1 and be turn'd into a ,red ,body2 and from this ,red ,body without ,addition likewise may be obtain'd a ,mercury ,bright and ,specular as it was before2 ,so that ,i have here a lasting ,colour ,generated and ,destroy'd 7as ,i have seen7 at pleasure1 without adding or taking away either ,mercury1 ,salt1 or ,sulphur2 and if you take a clean and slender piece of harden'd steel1 and apply to it the flame of a candle at some little distance short of the point1 ,you shall not have held the ,steel long in the flame1 but ,you shall perceive divers ,colours1 as ,yellow1 ,red and ,blew1 to appear upon the ,surface of the metal1 and as it were run along in chase of one another towards the point2 ,so that the same body1 and that in one and the same part1 may not only have a new colour produc'd in it1 but exhibite successively divers ,colours within a minute of an hour1 or thereabouts1 and any of these ,colours may by ,removing the ,steel from the ,fire1 become ,permanent1 and last many years4 ,and this ,production and ,variety of ,colours cannot reasonably be suppos'd to proceed from the ,accession of any of the three ,principles1 to which of them soever ,chymists will be pleas'd to ascribe ,colours2 especially considering1 that if you but suddenly ,refrigerate that ,iron1 ,first made ,red hot1 it will be harden'd and ,colourless again2 and not only by the ,flame of a ,candle1 but by any other equivalent heat ,conveniently appli'd1 the like ,colours will again be made to appear and succeed one another1 as at the ,first4 ,but ,i must not any further prosecute an ,occasional ,discourse1 though that were not so ,difficult for me to do1 as ,i fear it would be for the ,chymists to give a better ,account of the other ,qualities1 by their ,principles1 then they have done of ,colours4 ,and your ,sennertus ,himself 7though an ,author ,i much value7 would ,i fear have been exceedingly puzl'd to resolve1 by the ,tria ,prima1 halfe that ,catalogue of ,problems1 which he challenges the ,vulgar ,peripateticks to explicate by their four ,elements4#bf ,and supposing it were true1 that ,salt or ,sulphur were the ,principle to which this or that ,quality may be peculiarly referr'd1 yet though he that teaches us this teaches us something concerning ,that quality1 yet he ,teaches us but something4 ,for indeed he does not ,teach us ,that which can in any ,tollerable measure satisfie an inquisitive ,searcher after ,truth4 ,for what is it to me to know1 that such a quality resides in such a ,principle or ,element1 whilst ,i remain altogether ignorant of the ,cause of that quality1 and the manner of its production and ,operation8 ,how little do ,i know more then any ,ordinary ,man of ,gravity1 if ,i know but that the ,heaviness of mixt bodies proceeds from that of the ,earth they are compos'd of1 if ,i know not the reason why the ,earth is ,heavy8 ,and how little does the ,chymist teach the ,philosopher of the ,nature of ,purgatition1 if he only tells him that the ,purgative ,vertue of ,medicines resides in their ,salt8 ,for1 besides that this must not be conceded without ,limitation1 since the purging parts of many ,vegetables ,extracted by the ,water wherein they are infus'd1 are at most but such compounded ,salts1 7,i mean mingl'd with ,oyle1 and ,spirit1 and ,earth1 as ,tartar and divers other ,subjects of the ,vegetable ,kingdom afford27 ,and since too that ,quicksilver precipitated either with ,gold1 or without ,addition1 into a powder1 is wont to be strongly enough ,cathartical1 though the ,chymists have not yet prov'd1 that either ,gold or ,mercury have any ,salt at all1 much less any that is ,purgative2 ,besides this1 ,i say1 how little is it to me1 to know ,that 'tis the ,salt of the ,rhubarb 7for ,instance7 that purges1 if ,i find ,that it does not purge as ,salt2 since scarce any ,elementary ,salt is in small quantity cathartical4 ,and if ,i know not how ,purgation in general is effected in a ,humane ,body8 ,in a word1 as 'tis one thing to know a mans ,lodging1 and another1 to be acquainted with him2 so it may be one thing to know the subject wherein a ,quality principally resides1 and another thing to have a right notion and knowledg of the quality its self4 ,now that which ,i take to be the reason of this ,chymical ,deficiency1 is the same upon whose account ,i think the ,aristotelian and divers other ,theories incompetent to explicate the ,origen ,errata3 origine of ,qualities4 ,for ,i am apt to think1 that men will never be able to explain the ,phaenomena of ,nature1 while they endeavour to deduce them only from the ,presence and ,proportion of such or such material ,ingredients1 and consider such ingredients or ,elements as ,bodies in a state of rest2 whereas indeed the greatest part of the affections of matter1 and consequently of the ,phaenomena of nature1 seems to depend upon the motion and the continuance ,errata3 contrivance of the small parts of ,bodies4 ,for 'tis by motion that one part of matter acts upon another2 and 'tis1 for the most part1 the texture of the ,body upon which the moving parts strike1 that modifies to motion or ,impression1 and concurrs with it to the production of those ,effects which make up the chief part of the ,naturalists ,theme4 ,footnote #be3 ,de ,cons4 dissen4 cap4 #aa4 pag4 #ahf4 ,footnote #bf3 ,sennert4 de ,con4 seus4 ,transcriber's ,note3 ,consens4 ,dissens4 pag4 #afe4 #aff4 ,but 7sayes ,eleutherius7 me thinks for all this1 you have left some part of what ,i alledg'd in behalf of the three principles1 unanswer'd4 ,for all that you have said will not keep this from being a useful ,discovery1 that since in the ,salt of one ,concrete1 in the ,sulphur of another and the ,mercury of a third1 the ,medicinal vertue of it resides1 that ,principle ought to be separated from the rest1 and there the desired faculty must be sought for4 ,i never denyed 7,replyes ,carneades7 that the ,notion of the ,tria ,prima may be of some use1 but 7continues he laughing7 by what you now alledg for it1 it will but appear ,that it is useful to ,apothecaries1 rather than to ,philosophers1 ,the being able to make things ,operative being sufficient to those1 whereas the ,knowledge of ,causes is the ,thing looked after by ,these4 ,and let me ,tell ,you1 ,eleutherius1 even this it self will need to be entertained with some caution4 ,for first1 it will not presently follow1 ,that if the ,purgative or other vertue of a simple may be easily extracted by ,water or ,spirit of ,wine1 it ,resides in the ,salt or ,sulphur of the ,concrete2 ,since unlesse the ,body have before been resolved by the ,fire1 or some ,other ,powerful ,agent1 it will1 for the most part1 afford in the ,liquors ,i have named1 rather the finer compounded parts of it self1 ,than the ,elementary ones4 ,as ,i noted before1 ,that ,water will dissolve not only pure ,salts1 but ,crystals of ,tartar1 ,gumme ,arabick1 ,myrr'h1 and ,other ,compound ,bodies4 ,as also ,spirit of ,wine will ,dissolve not only the pure ,sulphur of ,concretes1 but likewise the whole ,substance of divers ,resinous ,bodies1 as ,benzoin1 the ,gummous parts of ,jallap1 ,gumme ,lacca1 and ,other bodies that are counted perfectly ,mixt4 ,and we see that the ,extracts made either with ,water or ,spirit of ,wine are not of a simple and ,elementary ,nature1 but ,masses consisting of the looser ,corpuscles1 and finer parts of the ,concretes whence they are ,drawn2 since by ,distillation they may be ,divided into more ,elementary substances4 ,next1 we may consider ,that even when there intervenes a ,chymical resolution by he ,transcriber's ,note3 the ,fire1 'tis seldom in the ,saline or ,sulphureous principle1 as such1 that the desir'd ,faculty of the ,concrete ,resides2 ,but1 as that ,titular ,salt or ,sulphur is yet a mixt body1 though the ,saline or ,sulphureous ,nature be predominant in it4 ,for1 if in ,chymical ,resolutions the separated ,substances were pure and simple ,bodies1 and of a perfect ,elementary ,nature2 no one would be indued with more ,specifick ,vertues1 than another2 and their qualities would ,differ as ,little as do those of ,water4 ,and let me add this upon the bye1 ,that even ,eminent ,chymists have suffer'd themselves to be reprehended by me for their over great ,diligence in purifying some of the things they obtain by ,fire from mixt ,bodies4 ,for though such compleatly purifyed ,ingredients of ,bodies might perhaps be more satisfactory to our ,understanding2 yet others are often more useful to our ,lives1 the efficacy of such ,chymical ,productions depending most upon what they retain of the ,bodies whence they are separated1 or gain by the new associations of the ,dissipated among themselves2 whereas if they were meerly ,elementary1 their uses would be comparatively very small2 and the vertues of ,sulphurs1 ,salts1 or ,other such ,substances of one denomination1 would be the very same4 ,and by the ,way 7,eleutherius7 ,i am inclin'd upon this ground to ,think1 ,that the artificial resolution of compound bodies by ,fire does not so much enrich mankind1 as it divides them into their supposed ,principles2 as upon the score of its making new compounds by now ,transcriber's ,note3 new combinations of the dissipated parts of the resolv'd ,body4 ,for by this means the ,number of mixt ,bodies is considerably increased4 ,and many of those new productions are indow'd with useful qualities1 divers of which they owe not to the body from which they were obtein'd1 but to ,their newly ,acquired ,texture4 ,but thirdly1 that which is principally to be ,noted is this1 that as there are divers ,concretes whose ,faculties reside in some one or other of those differing ,substances that ,chymists call their ,sulphurs1 ,salts1 and ,mercuries1 and consequently may be best obtain'd1 by analyzing the ,concrete whereby the desired ,principles may be had sever'd or freed from the rest2 ,so there are other wherein the noblest properties lodge not in the ,salt1 or ,sulphur1 or ,mercury1 but depend immediately upon the form 7or if you will7 result from the determinate structure of the ,whole ,concrete2 and consequently they that go about to extract the ,vertues of such bodies1 by exposing them to the ,violence of the ,fire1 do exceedingly mistake1 and take the way to ,destroy what they would obtain4 ,i remmember that ,helmont himself somewhere confesses1 ,that as the ,fire betters some things and improves their ,vertues1 so it spoyles others and makes them degenerate4 ,and elsewhere he judiciously affirmes1 that there may be sometimes greater vertue in a simple1 such as ,nature has made it1 than in any thing that can by the fire be separated from it4 ,and lest you should doubt whether he means by the vertues of things those that are ,medical2 he has in one place#bg this ingenuous confession2 ,credo 7sayes he7 simplicia in sua simplicitate esse sufficientia pro sanatione omnium morborum4 ,nag4 ,errata3 ,nay1 ,barthias1 even in a ,comment upon ,beguinus1#bh scruples not to make this acknowledgment2 ,valde absurdum est 7sayes he7 ex omnibus rebus extracta facere1 salia1 quintas essentias2 praesertim ex substantiis per se plane vel subtilibus vel homogeneis1 quales sunt uniones1 ,corallia1 ,moscus1 ,ambra1 c4 ,consonantly whereunto he also tells ,us 7and ,vouches the famous ,platerus1 for having candidly given the same ,advertisement to his ,auditors17 that some things have greater vertues1 and better suited to our humane nature1 when unprepar'd1 than when they have past the ,chymists ,fire2 as we see1 sayes my ,author1 in ,pepper2 of which some grains swallowed perform more towards the relief of a ,distempered stomack1 than a great quantity of the ,oyle of the same spice4 ,footnote #bg3 ,helmont ,pharm4 ,dispens4 ,nov4 p4 #deh4 ,footnote #bh3 ,vide ,jer4 ad ,begu4 ,lib4 #a4 ,cap4 #ag4 ,it has been 7pursues ,carneades7 by our ,friend here present observ'd concerning ,salt-petre1 that none of the substances into which the ,fire is wont to divide it1 retaines either the ,tast1 the cooling vertue1 or some other of the properties of the ,concrete2 and that each of those ,substances acquires new qualities1 not to be found in the ,salt-,petre it self4 ,the shining property of the tayls of gloworms does survive but so short a time the little animal made conspicuous by it1 that inquisitive men have not scrupled publickly to deride ,baptista ,porta and others2 who deluded perhaps with some ,chymical surmises have ventur'd to prescribe the distillation of a ,water from the tayles of ,glowormes1 as a sure way to obtain a liquor shining in the ,dark4 ,to which ,i shall now add no other example than that afforded us by ,amber2 which1 whilst it remains an intire body1 is endow'd with an ,electrical faculty of drawing to it self fethers1 strawes1 and such like ,bodies2 which ,i never could observe either in its ,salt1 its ,spirit1 its ,oyle1 or in the ,body ,i remember ,i once made by the reunion of its divided ,elements2 none of these having such a ,texture as the intire ,concrete4 ,and however ,chymists boldly deduce such and such properties from this or that proportion of their component ,principles2 yet in ,concretes that abound with this or that ,ingredient1 'tis not alwayes so much by vertue of its presence1 nor its plenty1 that the ,concrete is qualify'd to perform such and such ,effects2 as upon the account of the particular texture of that and the other ,ingredients1 associated after a determinate ,manner into one ,concrete 7though possibly such a proportion of that ingredient may be more convenient than an other for the constituting of such a body47 ,thus in a clock the hand is mov'd upon the dyal1 the bell is struck1 and the other actions belonging to the engine are perform'd1 not because the ,wheeles are of brass or iron1 or part of one metal and part of another1 or because the weights are of ,lead1 but by ,vertue of the size1 shape1 bigness1 and co-aptation of the several parts2 which would performe the same things though the wheels were of ,silver1 or ,lead1 or ,wood1 and the ,weights of ,stone or ,clay2 provided the ,fabrick or ,contrivance of the engine were the same3 though it be not to be deny'd1 that ,brasse and ,steel are more convenient materials to make clock-wheels of than ,lead1 or ,wood4 ,and to let you see1 ,eleutherius1 that 'tis sometimes at least1 upon the ,texture of the small parts of a body1 and not alwaies upon the presence1 or recesse1 or increase1 or ,decrement of any one of its ,principle1 that it may lose some such ,qualities1 and acquire some such others as are thought very strongly inherent to the bodies they ,reside in4 ,errata3 in2 ,i will add to what may from my past discourse be refer'd to this purpose1 this ,notable ,example1 from my ,own experience2 ,that ,lead may without any additament1 and only by various applications of the ,fire1 lose its colour1 and acquire sometimes a gray1 sometimes a yellowish1 sometimes a red1 sometimes an amethihstine ,transcriber's ,note3 amethistine colour2 and after having past through these1 and perhaps divers others1 again recover its leaden colour1 and be made a bright body4 ,that also this ,lead1 which is so flexible a metal1 may be made as brittle as ,glasse1 and presently be brought to be again flexible and ,malleable as before4 ,and besides1 that the same lead1 which ,i find by ,microscopes to be one of the most opacous bodies in the ,world1 may be reduced to a fine transparent glasse2 whence yet it may returne to an opacous ,nature again2 and all this1 as ,i said1 without the addition of any extraneous body1 and meerly by the manner and ,method of exposing it to the ,fire4 ,but 7sayes ,carneades7 after having already put you to so prolix a trouble1 it is time for me to relieve you with a promise of putting speedily a period to it2 ,and to make good that promise1 ,i shall from all that ,i have hitherto discoursed with you1 deduce but this one proposition by way of ,corollary4 ,that it may as yet be doubted1 whether or no there be any determinate ,number of ,elements2 ,or1 if you please1 whether or no all compound bodies1 do consist of the same number of ,elementary ingredients or material ,principles4 ,this being but an inference from the foregoing ,discourse1 it will not be requisite to insist at large on the proofs of it2 ,but only to point at the chief of ,them1 and ,referr ,you for ,particulars to what has been already ,delivered4 ,in the ,first place then1 from what has been so largely discours'd1 it may appear1 that the ,experiments wont to be brought1 whether by the common ,peripateticks1 or by the vulgar ,chymists1 to demonstrate that all mixt bodies are made up precisely either of the four ,elements1 or the three ,hypostatical ,principles1 do not evince what they are alledg'd to prove4 ,and as for the other common arguments1 pretended to be drawn from ,reason in favour of ,aristotelian ,hypothesis 7for the ,chymists are wont to rely almost altogether upon ,experiments7 they are ,commonly grounded upon such unreasonable or precarious ,suppositions1 that 'tis altogether as easie and as just for any man to reject them1 as for those that take them for granted to assert them1 being indeed all of them as indemonstrable as the conclusion to be inferr'd from them2 and some of them so manifestly weak and prooflesse2 that he must be a very courteous adversary1 that can be willing to grant them2 and as unskilful a one1 that can be compelled to do so4 ,in the next place1 it may be considered1 if what those ,patriarchs of the ,spagyrists1 ,paracelsus and ,helmont1 do on divers occasions positively deliver1 be true2 namely that the ,alkahest does ,resolve all mixt ,bodies into other ,principles than the fire1 it must be decided which of the two resolutions 7that made by the ,alkahest1 or that made by the fire7 shall determine the number of the ,elements1 before we can be certain how many there are4 ,and in the mean time1 we may take notice in the last place1 that as the distinct substances whereinto the ,alkahest divides bodies1 are affirm'd to be differing in nature from those whereunto they are wont to be reduc'd by fire1 and to be obtain'd from some bodies more in ,number than from some others2 since he tells us1 he could totally reduce all sorts of ,stones into ,salt only1 whereas of a coal he had two distinct ,liquors4#bi ,so1 although we should acquiesce in that resolution which is made by fire1 we find not that all mixt bodies are thereby divided into the same number of ,elements and ,principles2 some ,concretes affordding more of them than others do2 ,nay and sometimes this or that ,body affording a greater number of ,differing substances by one way of management1 than the same yields by another4 ,and they that out of ,gold1 or ,mercury1 or ,muscovy-glasse1 will draw me as many distinct substances as ,i can separate from ,vitriol1 or from the juice of ,grapes variously orderd1 may teach me that which ,i shall very ,thankfully learn4 ,nor does it appear more congruous to that variety that so much conduceth to the perfection of the ,universe1 that all elemented bodies be compounded of the same number of ,elements1 then it would be for a language1 that all its words should consist of the same number of ,letters4 ,footnote #bi3 ,novi saxum lapides omnes in merum salem suo saxo aut lapidi aequiponderantem reducere absque omni prorsus sulphure aut ,mercurio4 ,helmont4 pag4 #dji4 ,,the ,,sceptical ,,chymist ,,or1 ,a ,paradoxical ,appendix to the ,foregoing ,treatise4 ,the ,sixth ,part4 ,here ,carneades ,having ,dispach't what he ,thought ,requisite to oppose against what the ,chymists are wont to alledge for ,proof of their three ,principles1 ,paus'd awhile1 and look'd about him1 to discover whether it were ,time for him and his ,friend to ,rejoyne the ,rest of the ,company4 ,but ,eleutherius perceiving nothing yet to forbid ,them to ,prosecute their ,discourse a little further1 said to his ,friend1 7who had likewise taken ,notice of the same thing7 ,i halfe expected1 ,carneades1 that after you had so freely declar'd ,your doubting1 whether there be any ,determinate ,number of ,elements1 ,you would have proceeded to question whether there be any ,elements at all4 ,and ,i confess it will be a ,trouble to me if ,you defeat me of my ,expectation2 especially since you see the leasure we have allow'd us may probably suffice to examine that ,paradox2 because you have so largly ,deduc'd already many ,things pertinent to it1 that you need but intimate how you would have them ,apply'd1 and what you would inferr from them4 ,carneades having in ,vain represented that their leasure could be but very short1 that he had already prated very long1 that he was unprepared to maintain so great and so invidious a ,paradox1 was at length prevail'd with to tell his ,friend2 ,since1 ,eleutherius1 you will have me ,discourse ,ex ,tempore of the ,paradox you mention1 ,i am content1 7though more perhaps to express my ,obedience1 then my ,opinion7 to tell you that 7supposing the ,truth of ,helmonts and ,paracelsus's ,alkahestical ,experiments1 if ,i may so call them7 though it may seem extravagant1 yet it is not absurd to doubt1 whether1 for ought has been prov'd1 there be a necessity to admit any ,elements1 or ,hypostatical ,principles1 at all4 ,and1 as formerly1 so now1 to avoid the needless trouble of ,disputing severally with the ,aristotelians and the ,chymists1 ,i will address my self to oppose them ,i have last nam'd1 ,because their ,doctrine about the ,elements is more applauded by the ,moderns1 as pretending highly to be grounded upon ,experience4 ,and1 to deal not only fairly but favourably with them1 ,i will allow them to take in ,earth and ,water to their other ,principles4 ,which ,i consent to1 the rather that my ,discourse may the better reach the ,tenents of the ,peripateticks2 who cannot plead for any so probably as for those two ,elements2 that of fire above the ,air being ,generally by ,judicious ,men exploded as an ,imaginary thing2 ,and the ,air not concurring to compose ,mixt ,bodies as one of their ,elements1 but only lodging in their pores1 or ,rather replenishing1 by reason of its ,weight and ,fluidity1 all those ,cavities of bodies here below1 whether compounded or not1 that are big enough to admit it1 and are not fill'd up with any grosser substance4 ,and1 to prevent mistakes1 ,i must advertize ,you1 that ,i now mean by ,elements1 as those ,chymists that speak plainest do by their ,principles1 certain ,primitive and ,simple1 or perfectly unmingled bodies2 which not being made of any other bodies1 or of one another1 are the ,ingredients of which all those call'd perfectly mixt ,bodies are immediately compounded1 and into which they are ultimately resolved3 now whether there be any one such body to be constantly met with in all1 and each1 of those that are said to be ,elemented bodies1 is the thing ,i now question4 ,by this ,state of the controversie you will1 ,i suppose1 ,guess1 that ,i need not be so absur'd ,errata3 absurd as to deny that there are such bodies as ,earth1 and ,water1 and ,quicksilver1 and ,sulphur3 ,but ,i look upon ,earth and ,water1 as component parts of the ,universe1 or rather of the ,terrestrial ,globe1 not of all mixt bodies4 ,and though ,i will not peremptorily deny that there may sometimes either a running ,mercury1 or a ,combustible ,substance be obtain'd from a ,mineral1 or even a ,metal2 yet ,i need not ,concede either of them to be an ,element in the sence above declar'd2 as ,i shall have occasion to shew you by and by4 ,to give you then a brief account of the grounds ,i intend to proceed upon1 ,i must tell you1 that in matters of ,philosophy1 this seems to me a sufficient reason to doubt of a known and important proposition1 that the ,truth of it is not yet by any competent proof made to appear4 ,and congruously herunto1 if ,i shew that the grounds upon which men are perswaded that there are ,elements are unable to satisfie a considering man1 ,i suppose my doubts will appear rational4 ,now the ,considerations that induce men to think that there are ,elements1 may be conveniently enough referr'd to two heads4 ,namely1 the one1 that it is necessary that ,nature make use of ,elements to constitute the bodies that are reputed ,mixt4 ,and the other1 ,that the ,resolution of such bodies manifests that nature had compounded them of ,elementary ones4 ,in reference to the former of these ,considerations1 there are two or three things that ,i have to ,represent4 ,and ,i will begin with reminding you of the ,experiments ,i not long since related to you concerning the growth of pompions1 mint1 and other vegetables1 out of fair water4 ,for by those experiments its seems evident1 that ,water may be ,transmuted into all the other ,elements2 from whence it may be inferr'd1 both1 ,that 'tis not every ,thing ,chymists will call ,salt1 ,sulphur1 or ,spirit1 that needs alwayes be a ,primordiate and ,ingenerable body4 ,and that ,nature may contex a ,plant 7though that be a perfectly mixt ,concrete7 without having all the ,elements previously presented to her to compound it of4 ,and1 if you will allow the relation ,i mention'd out of ,mounsieur ,de ,rochas to be ,true2 then may not only plants1 but ,animals and ,minerals too1 be produced out of ,water1 ,and however there is little doubt to be made1 but that the plants my tryals afforded me as they were like in so many other respects to the rest of the plants of the same ,denomination2 so they would1 in case ,i had reduc'd them to putrefaction1 have likewise produc'd ,wormes or other insects1 as well as the resembling ,vegetables are wont to do2 so that ,water may1 by ,various ,seminal ,principles1 be successively ,transmuted into both plants and ,animals4 ,and if we consider that not only ,men1 but even sucking ,children are1 but too often1 ,tormented with ,solid ,stones1 but that divers sorts of ,beasts themselves1 7whatever ,helmont against ,experience think to the contrary7 may be ,troubled with great and ,heavy stones in their ,kidneys and ,bladders1 though they ,feed but upon ,grass and other ,vegetables1 that are perhaps but ,disguised ,water1 it will not seem improbable that even some ,concretes of a mineral ,nature1 may ,likewise be form'd of ,water4 ,we may further ,take notice1 that as a ,plant may be nourisht1 and consequently may ,consist of ,common water2 so may both plants and ,animals1 7perhaps even from their ,seminal ,rudiments7 consist of compound ,bodies1 without having any thing meerly ,elementary brought them by nature to be compounded by them3 ,this is evident in divers men1 who whilst they were ,infants were fed only with ,milk1 afterwards ,live altogether upon ,flesh1 ,fish1 wine1 and other perfectly mixt ,bodies4 ,it may be seen also in sheep1 who on some of our ,english ,downs or ,plains1 grow very fat by feeding upon the grasse1 without scarce drinking at all4 ,and yet more manifestly in the magots that breed and grow up to their full bignesse within the pulps of ,apples1 ,pears1 or the like ,fruit4 ,we see also1 that ,dungs that abound with a mixt ,salt give a much more speedy increment to corn and other ,vegetables than ,water alone would do3 ,and it hath been assur'd me1 by a man experienc'd in such matters1 that sometimes when to bring up roots very early1 the ,mould they were planted in was made over-rich1 the very substance of the ,plant has tasted of the ,dung4 ,and let us also consider a ,graft of one kind of ,fruit upon the upper bough of a ,tree of another kind4 ,as for instance1 the ,ciens of a ,pear upon a ,white-thorne2 for there the ascending ,liquor is already alter'd1 either by the root1 or in its ascent by the bark1 or both wayes1 and becomes a new mixt body3 as may appear by the differing qualities to be met with in the saps of several trees2 as particularly1 the medicinal vertue of the ,birch-,water 7which ,i have sometimes drunk upon ,helmonts great and not undeserved commendation7 ,now the graft1 being fasten'd to the stock must necessarily nourish its self1 and produce its ,fruit1 only out of this compound ,juice prepared for it by the ,stock1 being unable to come at any other aliment4 ,and if we consider1 how much of the ,vegetable he feeds upon may 7as we noted above7 remain in an ,animal2 we may easily suppose1 ,that the blood of that ,animal who ,feeds upon this1 though it be a ,well constituted ,liquor1 and have all the differing ,corpuscles that make it up kept in order by one praesiding form1 may be a strangely ,decompounded ,body1 many of its parts being themselves decompounded4 ,so little is it ,necessary that even in the mixtures which nature her self makes in ,animal and ,vegetable ,bodies1 she should have pure ,elements at hand to make her compositions of4 ,having said thus much touching the constitution of ,plants and ,animals1 ,i might perhaps be able to say as much touching that of ,minerals1 and even ,metalls1 if it were as easy for us to make experiment in ,order to the production of these1 as of those4 ,but the growth or increment of ,minerals being usually a work of excessively long time1 and for the most part perform'd in the bowels of the ,earth1 where we cannot see it1 ,i must instead of ,experiments make use1 on this occasion1 of ,observations4 ,that stones were not all made at once1 but that are some of them now adayes generated1 may 7though it be deny'd by some7 be fully prov'd by several examples1 of which ,i shall now scarce alledg any other1 then that famous place in ,france known by the name of ,les ,caves ,gentieres ,errata3 ,goutieres1 where the ,water falling from the upper ,parts of the cave to the ground does presently there condense into little stones1 of such figures as the drops1 falling either severally or upon one another1 and coagulating presently into stone1 chance to exhibit4 ,of these stones some ,ingenuous ,friends of ours1 that went a while since to visit that place1 did me the favour to present me with some that they brought thence4 ,and ,i remember that both that sober ,relator of his ,voyages1 ,van ,linschoten1 and another good ,author1 inform us that in the ,diamond ,mines 7as they call them7 in the ,east-,indies1 when having dig'd the ,earth1 though to no great depth1 they find ,diamonds and take them quite away2 ,yet in a very few years they find in the same place new ,diamonds produc'd there since4 ,from both which ,relations1 especially the first1 it seems probable that ,nature does not alwayes stay for divers ,elementary ,bodies1 when she is to produce stones4 ,and as for ,metals themselves1 ,authors of good note assure us1 that even they were not in the beginning produc'd at once altogether1 but have been observ'd to grow2 so that what was not a ,mineral or ,metal before became one afterwards4 ,of this it were easie to alledg many testimonies of professed ,chymists4 ,but that they may have the greater authority1 ,i shall rather present you with a few borrowed from more unsuspected writers4 ,sulphuris ,mineram 7as the inquisitive ,p4 ,fallopius notes7 quae nutrix est caloris subterranei fabri seu ,archaei fontium mineralium1 ,infra terram citissime renasci testantur ,historiae ,metallicae4 ,sunt enim loca e quibus si hoc anno sulphur effossum fuerit2 intermissa fossione per quadriennium redeunt fossores omnia sulphure1 ut autea ,errata3 antea1 rursus inveniunt plena4 ,pliny ,relates1 ,in ,italiae ,insula ,ilva1 gigni ferri metallum4 ,strabo multo expressius2 effossum ibi metallum semper regenerari4 ,nam si effossio spatio centum annorum intermittebatur1 iterum illuc revertebantur1 fossores reperisse maximam copiam ferri regeneratam4 ,which history not only is countenanced by ,fallopius1 from the ,incom which the ,iron of that ,island yielded the ,duke of ,florence in his time2 but is mention'd more expressely to our purpose1 by the ,learned ,cesalpinus4 ,vena 7sayes he7 ferri copiosissima est in ,italia2 ob eam nobilitata ,ilva ,tirrheni maris ,insula incredibili copia1 etiam nostris temporibus eam gignens3 ,nam terra quae eruitur dum vena effoditur tota1 procedente tempore in venam convertitur4 ,which last clause is therefore very notable1 because from thence we may deduce1 that earth1 by a ,metalline plastick principle latent in it1 may be in processe of time chang'd into a metal4 ,and even ,agricola himself1 though the ,chymists complain of him as their adversary1 acknowledges thus much and more2 by telling us that at a ,town called ,saga in ,germany1#cj they dig up ,iron in the ,fields1 by sinking ditches two foot deep2 ,and adding1 that within the space of ten years the ,ditches are digged again for ,iron since produced1 ,as the same ,metal is wont to be obtain'd in ,elva4 ,also concerning ,lead1 not to mention what even ,galen notes1 that it will increase both in bulk and ,weight if it be long kept in ,vaults or ,sellars1 where the ,air is gross and thick1 as he collects from the smelling of those pieces of ,lead that were imploy'd to fasten together the parts of old ,statues4 ,not to mention this1 ,i say1 ,boccacius ,certaldus1 as ,i find him ,quoted by a ,diligent ,writer1 has this ,passage touching the ,growth of ,lead4 ,fessularum mons 7sayes he7 in ,hetruria1 ,florentiae civitati imminens1 lapides plumbarios habet2 qui si excidantur1 brevi temporis spatio1 novis incrementis instaurantur2 ut 7annexes my ,author7 tradit ,boccacius ,certaldus1 qui id compotissimum ,errata3 compertissimum esse scribit4 ,nihil hoc novi est2 sed de eadem ,plinius1 lib4 #cd4 ,hist4 ,natur4 cap4 #ag4 dudum prodidit1 ,inquiens1 mirum in his solis plumbi metallis1 quod derelicta fertilius reviviscunt4 ,in plumbariis secundo ,lapide ab ,amberga dictis ad ,asylum recrementa congesta in cumulos1 exposita solibus pluviisque paucis annis1 redunt suum metallum cum fenore4 ,i might ,add to these1 continues ,carneades1 many things that ,i have met with concerning the ,generation of ,gold and ,silver4 ,but1 for fear of wanting time1 ,i shall mention but two or three ,narratives4 ,the ,first you may find ,recorded by ,gerhardus the ,physick ,professor1 in these ,words4 ,in valle 7sayes he7 ,joachimaca ,errata3 ,joachimica argentum gramini ,errata3 graminis modo more e ,lapidibus minerae velut e radice excrevisse digiti ,longitudine1 testis est ,dr4 ,schreterus1 qui ejusmodi venas aspectu jucundas admirabiles ,domi sua aliis saepe monstravit ,donavit4 ,item ,aqua caerulea ,inventa est ,annebergae1 ubi argentum erat adhuc in primo ente1 quae coagulata redacta est in calcem fixi boni argenti4 ,footnote #cj3 ,in ,lygiis1 ad ,sagam opidum2 in pratis eruitur ferrum1 fossis ad altitudinem bipedaneam actis4 ,id decennio renatum denuo foditur non aliter ac ,ilvae ferrum4 ,the other two ,relations ,i have not met with in ,latine ,authours1 and yet they are both very memorable in themselves1 and as pertinent to our present purpose4 ,the first ,i meet with in the ,commentary of ,johannes ,valehius upon the ,kleine ,baur1 ,in which that ,industrious ,chymist ,relates1 with many circumstances1 that at a ,mine-,town 7,if ,i may so ,english the ,german ,bergstat7 eight miles or ,leagues distant from ,strasburg call'd ,mariakirch1 a ,workman came to the ,overseer1 and desired employment2 but he telling him that there was not any of the best sort at present for him1 added that till he could be preferr'd to some such1 he might in the mean time1 to avoid idleness1 work in a ,grove or ,mine-pit thereabouts1 which at that time was little esteem'd4 ,this ,workman after some weeks ,labour1 had by a ,crack appearing in the ,stone upon a ,stroak given near the wall1 an ,invitation ,given him to ,work his ,way through1 which as soon as he had done1 his ,eyes were saluted by a mighty stone or ,lump which stood in the middle of the ,cleft 7that had a hollow place behind it7 upright1 and in shew like an armed-man2 but consisted of pure fine ,silver having no ,vein or ,ore by it1 or any other ,additament1 but stood there free1 having only underfoot something like a burnt matter2 and yet this one ,lump held in ,weight above a #ajjj marks1 which1 according to the ,dutch1 ,account ,errata3 ,dutch account makes #ejj pound weight of fine silver4 ,from which and other ,circumstances my ,author gathers2 ,that by the warmth of the place1 the ,noble ,metalline ,spirits1 7,sulphureous and ,mercurial7 were carri'd from the neighbouring ,galleries or ,vaults1 through other smaller ,cracks and ,clefts1 into that ,cavity1 and there collected as in a close ,chamber or ,cellar2 whereinto when they were gotten1 they did in process of time settle into the forementioned precious mass of ,metal4 ,the other ,germane ,relation is of ,that great ,traveller and ,laborious ,chymist ,johannes 7not ,georgus7 ,agricola2 who in his notes upon what ,poppius has written of ,antimony1 ,relates1 that when he was among the ,hungarian ,mines in the deep ,groves1 he observ'd that there would often arise in them a warm ,steam 7not of that malignant sort which the ,germains call ,shwadt1 which 7sayes he7 is a meer poyson1 and often suffocates the ,diggers ,errata3 diggers71 which fasten'd it self to the ,walls2 and that coming again to review it after a couple of dayes1 he discern'd that it was all very fast1 and glistering2 whereupon having collected it and ,distill'd it per ,retortam1 he obtain'd from it a fine ,spirit1 adding1 that the ,mine-,men inform'd him1 that this ,steam or ,damp of the ,english ,mine ,errata3 damp as the ,englishmen also call it 7retaining the dutch ,term7 would at last have become a ,metal1 as ,gold or ,silver4 ,i referr 7sayes ,carneades7 to another ,occasion1 the ,use that may be made of these ,narratives towards the explicating the ,nature of ,metalls2 and that of ,fixtness1 ,malleableness1 and some other ,qualities conspicuous in them4 ,and in the mean time1 this ,i may at present deduce from these ,observations1 ,that 'tis not very probable1 that1 whensoever a ,mineral1 or even a ,metall1 is to be ,generated in the ,bowels of the ,earth1 ,nature needs to have at hand both ,salt1 and ,sulphur1 and ,mercury to ,compound it of2 for1 not to urge that the two last ,relations seem less to favour the ,chymists than ,aristotle1 who would have ,metals ,generated of certain ,halitus or steams1 the foremention'd ,observations together1 make it seem more ,likely that the mineral ,earths or those ,metalline steams 7wherewith probably such ,earths are plentifully imbu'd7 do contain in them some seminal ,rudiment1 or some thing ,equivalent thereunto2 by whose plastick power the rest of the matter1 though perhaps ,terrestrial and heavy1 is in ,tract of time fashion'd into this or ,that metalline ,ore2 almost as ,i formerly noted1 that fair water was by the seminal ,principle of ,mint1 ,pompions1 and other ,vegetables1 contriv'd into ,bodies answerable to such ,seeds4 ,and that such ,alterations of ,terrestrial matter are not impossible1 seems evident from that notable ,practice of the ,boylers of ,salt-,petre1 who unanimously observe1 as well here in ,england as in other ,countries2 ,that if an ,earth pregnant with ,nitre be depriv'd1 by the affusion of water1 of all its true and dissoluble ,salt1 yet the ,earth will after some years yield them ,salt-,petre again2 ,for which reason some of the eminent and skillfullest of them keep it in heaps as a perpetual ,mine of ,salt ,petre2 whence it may appear1 that the ,seminal ,principle of ,nitre latent in the ,earth does by degrees ,transforme the neighbouring matter into a ,nitrous ,body2 for though ,i deny that some ,volatile ,nitre may by such ,earths be attracted 7as they speak7 out of the ,air1 yet that the innermost parts of such great heaps that lye so remote from the ,air should borrow from it all the ,nitre they abound with1 is not probable1 for other reasons besides the remoteness of the ,air1 though ,i have not the ,leasure to mention them4 ,and ,i remember1 that a person of ,great ,credit1 and well acquainted with the wayes of making ,vitriol1 affirm'd to me1 that he had observ'd1 that a kind of mineral which abounds in that ,salt1 being kept within ,doors and not expos'd 7as is usual7 to the free ,air and ,rains1 did of it self in no very long time turn into ,vitriol1 not only in the outward or superficial1 but even in the internal and most ,central parts4 ,and ,i also remember1 that ,i met with a certain kind of ,merkasite that lay together in great ,quantities under ground1 which did1 even in my chamber1 in so few hours begin of it self to turne into ,vitriol1 that we need not distrust the newly recited narrative4 ,but to return to what ,i was saying of ,nitre2 as ,nature made this ,salt-,petre out of the once almost and inodorous ,earth it was bred in1 and did not find a very stinking and corrosive ,acid ,liquor1 and a sharp ,alcalyzate ,salt to compound it of1 though these be the ,bodies into which the ,fire dissolves it2 so it were not necessary that ,nature should make up all ,metals and other ,minerals of ,pre-existent ,salt1 and ,sulphur1 and ,mercury1 though such ,bodies might by ,fire be obtained from it4 ,which one consideration duly weigh'd is very considerable in the present controversy3 ,and to this agree well the ,relations of our two ,german ,chymists2 for besides that it cannot be convincingly prov'd1 it is not so much as likely that so languid and moderate a heat as that within the ,mines1 should carry up to so great a heat ,errata3 height1 though in the forme of fumes1 ,salt1 ,sulphur and ,mercury2 since we find in our ,distillations1 that it requires a considerable ,degree of ,fire to raise so much as to the height of one foot not only ,salt1 but even ,mercury it self1 in close ,vessels4 ,and if it be objected1 that it seems by the stink that is sometimes observ'd when ,lightening falls down here below1 that sulphureous steams may ascend very high without any extraordinary ,degree of heat2 ,it may be answer'd1 among other things1 that the ,sulphur of ,silver is by ,chymists said to be a fixt ,sulphur1 though not altogether so well ,digested as that of ,gold4 ,but1 proceeds ,carneades1 ,if it had not been to afford ,you some hints concerning the ,origine of ,metals1 ,i need not have deduc'd any thing from these ,observations2 ,it not being necessary to the ,validity of my ,argument that my ,deductions from them should be irrefragable1 because my ,adversaries the ,aristotelians and ,vulgar ,chymists do not1 ,i presume1 know any better then ,i1 a priori1 of what ingredients ,nature compounds ,metals and ,minerals4 ,for their ,argument to prove that those ,bodies are made up of such ,principles1 is drawn a posteriori2 ,i mean from this1 that upon the ,analysis of ,mineral bodies they are resolv'd into those differing substances4 ,that we may therefore examine this ,argument1 ,let us proceed to consider what can be alledg'd in behalf of the ,elements from the ,resolutions of ,bodies by the fire2 which you remember was the second ,tophick ,transcriber's ,note3 ,topick whence ,i told you the ,arguments of my ,adversaries were desum'd4 ,and that ,i may first dispatch what ,i have to say concerning ,minerals1 ,i will begin the remaining part of my discourse with considering how the fire divides them4 ,and first1 ,i have partly noted above1 that though ,chymists pretend from some to draw salt1 from others running ,mercury1 and from others a ,sulphur2 ,yet they have not hitherto taught us by any way in us ,errata3 use among them to separate any one principle1 whether ,salt1 ,sulphur1 or ,mercury1 from all sorts of ,minerals without exception4 ,and thence ,i may be allow'd to conclude that there is not any of the ,elements that is an ,ingredient of all ,bodies1 since there are some of which it is not so4 ,in the next place1 supposing that either ,sulphur or ,mercury were obtainable from all sorts of ,minerals4 ,yet still this ,sulphur or ,mercury would be but a compounded1 not an ,elementary body1 as ,i told you already on another occasion4 ,and certainly he that takes notice of the wonderful ,operations of ,quicksilver1 whether it be common1 or drawn from ,mineral ,bodies1 can scarce be so inconsiderate as to think it of the very same nature with that immature and fugitive substance which in ,vegetables and ,animals ,chymists have been pleas'd to call their ,mercury4 ,so that when ,mercury is got by the help of the fire out of a metal or other ,mineral ,body1 if we will not suppose that it was not pre-existent in it1 but produc'd by the action of the fire upon the ,concrete1 we may at least suppose this ,quicksilver to have been a perfect ,body of its own kind 7though perhaps lesse heterogeneous then more secundary mixts7 which happen'd to be mingl'd per minima1 and coagulated with the other substances1 whereof the ,metal or ,mineral consisted4 ,as may be exemplyfied partly by ,native ,vermillion wherein the ,quicksilver and ,sulphur being exquisitely blended both with one another1 and that other course ,mineral stuff 7what ever it be7 that harbours them1 make up a red body differing enough from both2 and yet from which part of the ,quicksilver1 and of the ,sulphur1 may be easily enough obtain'd2 ,partly by those ,mines wherein nature has so curiously incorporated ,silver with ,lead1 that 'tis extreamly difficult1 and yet possible1 to separate the former out of the ,latter4 ,errata3 latter2 ,and partly too by native ,vitriol1 wherein the ,metalline ,corpuscles are by skill and industry separable from the saline ones1 though they be so con-coagulated with them1 that the whole ,concrete is reckon'd among ,salts4 ,and here ,i further observe1 that ,i never could see any ,earth or ,water1 properly so call'd1 separated from either ,gold or ,silver 7to name now no other ,metalline ,bodies7 and therefore to retort the argument upon my ,adversaries1 ,i may conclude1 that since there are some bodies in which1 for ought appears1 there is neither ,earth nor ,water4 ,errata3 ,water2 ,i may be allow'd to conclude that neither of those two is an ,universal ,ingredient of all those ,bodies that are counted perfectly mixt1 which ,i desire you would remember against ,anon4 ,it may indeed be objected1 that the reason why from ,gold or ,silver we cannot separate any moisture1 is1 because that when it is melted out of the ,oare1 the vehement ,fire requisite to its ,fusion forc'd away all the aqueous and fugitive moisture2 and the like fire may do from the materials of ,glass4 ,to which ,i shall ,answer1 that ,i ,remember ,i read not long since in the ,learned ,josephus ,acosta1#ca who relates it upon his own observation2 that in ,america1 7where he long lived7 there is a kind of ,silver which the ,indians call ,papas1 and sometimes 7sayes he7 they find pieces very fine and pure like to small round roots1 the which is rare in that metal1 but usuall in ,gold2 ,concerning which metal he tells us1 that besides this they find some which they call ,gold in grains1 which he tells us are small morsels of ,gold that they find whole without mixture of any other metal1 which hath no need of melting or ,refining in the fire4 ,footnote #ca3 ,acosta ,natural and ,moral history of the ,indies1 ,l4 #c4 c4 #e1 p4 #bab4 ,i remember that a very skilful and credible person affirmed to me1 that being in the ,hungarian mines he had the good fortune to see a mineral that was there digg'd up1 wherein pieces of ,gold of the length1 and also almost of the bigness of a humane ,finger1 grew in the ,oar1 as if they had been parts and ,branches of ,trees4 ,and ,i have my self seen a ,lump of whitish ,mineral1 that was brought as a ,rarity to a ,great and knowing ,prince1 wherein there grew here and there in the ,stone1 which looked like a kind of sparr1 divers little ,lumps of fine ,gold1 7for such ,i was assured that ,tryal had manifested it to be7 some of them ,seeming to be about the ,bigness of pease4 ,but that is nothing to what our ,acosta subjoynes1 which is indeed very memorable1 namely1 that of the morsels of ,native and pure ,gold1 which we lately heard him mentioning he had now and then seen some that weighed many pounds2#cb to which ,i shall add1 that ,i my self have seen a ,lump of ,oar not long since digged up1 in whose stony part there grew1 almost like ,trees1 divers parcels though not of ,gold1 yet of 7what perhaps ,mineralists will more wonder at7 another ,metal which seemed to be very pure or unmixt with any ,heterogeneous ,substances1 and were some of them as big as my ,finger1 if not bigger4 ,but upon ,observations of this kind1 though perhaps ,i could1 yet ,i must not at present dwell any longer4 ,footnote #cb3 ,see ,acosta in the fore-cited ,place1 and the passage of ,pliny quoted by him4 ,to proceed ,therefore now 7sayes ,carneades7 to the ,consideration of the ,analysis of ,vegetables1 although my ,tryals give me no cause to doubt but that out of most of them five differing ,substances may be obtain'd by the fire1 yet ,i think it will not be so easily ,demonstrated that these deserve to be call'd ,elements in the ,notion above explain'd4 ,and before ,i descend to particulars1 ,i shall repeat and premise this ,general ,consideration1 that these differing substances that are call'd ,elements or ,principles1 differ not from each other as ,metals1 ,plants and ,animals1 or as such ,creatures as are immediately produc'd each by its peculiar ,seed1 and ,constitutes a distinct propagable sort of ,creatures in the ,universe2 but these are only ,various ,schemes of matter or ,substances that differ from each other1 but in consistence 7as ,running ,mercury and the same ,metal congeal'd by the ,vapor of ,lead7 and some very few other accidents1 as ,tast1 or ,smel1 or ,inflamability1 or the want of them4 ,so that by a change of ,texture not impossible to be wrought by the ,fire and other ,agents that have the ,faculty not only to dissociate the smal parts of ,bodies1 but afterwards to connect them after a new manner1 the same parcell of matter may acquire or lose such accidents as may suffice to ,denominate it ,salt1 or ,sulphur1 or ,earth4 ,if ,i were fully to clear to you my apprehensions concerning this matter1 ,i should perhaps be obliged to acquaint you with divers of the ,conjectures 7for ,i must yet call them no more7 ,i have had ,concerning the ,principles of things purely ,corporeal3 ,for though because ,i seem not satisfi'd with the ,vulgar ,doctrines1 either of the ,peripatetick or ,paracelsian ,schools1 many of those that know me1 7and perhaps1 among ,them1 ,eleutherius himself7 have thought me wedded to the ,epicurean ,hypotheses1 7as others have mistaken me for an ,helmontian27 yet if you knew how little ,conversant ,i have been with ,epicurean ,authors1 and how great a part of ,lucretius himself ,i never yet had the ,curiosity to read1 you would perchance be of another mind2 especially if ,i were to entertain you at large1 ,i say not1 of my present ,notions2 but of my former thoughts concerning the ,principles of things4 ,but1 as ,i said above1 fully to clear my ,apprehensions would require a ,longer ,discourse than we can now have4 ,for1 ,i should tell you that ,i have sometimes thought it not unfit1 that to the ,principles which may be assign'd to things1 as the ,world is now ,constituted1 we should1 if we consider the ,great ,mass of matter as it was whilst the ,universe was in making1 add another1 which may ,conveniently enough be call'd an ,architectonick ,principle or power2 by which ,i mean those ,various ,determinations1 and that ,skilfull ,guidance of the motions of the small parts of the ,universal matter by the most wise ,author of things1 which were necessary at the beginning to turn that confus'd ,chaos into this ,orderly and beautifull ,world2 and ,especially1 to contrive the ,bodies of ,animals and ,plants1 and the ,seeds of those things whose kinds were to be propagated4 ,for ,i confess ,i cannot well ,conceive1 how from matter1 ,barely put into ,motion1 and then left to it self1 there could ,emerge such ,curious ,fabricks as the ,bodies of men and perfect ,animals1 and such yet more admirably ,contriv'd parcels of matter1 as the seeds of living ,creatures4 ,i should likewise tell you upon what grounds1 and in what sence1 ,i suspected the ,principles of the ,world1 as it now is1 to be ,three1 ,matter1 ,motion and ,rest4 ,i say1 as the ,world now is1 because the present ,fabrick of the ,universe1 and especially the seeds of things1 together with the establisht ,course of ,nature1 is a ,requisite or ,condition1 upon whose account divers things may be made out by our three ,principles1 which otherwise would be very hard1 if possible1 to explicate4 ,i should moreover declare in general 7for ,i pretend not to be able to do it otherwise7 not only why ,i ,conceive that ,colours1 ,odors1 ,tasts1 ,fluidness and ,solidity1 and those other qualities that ,diversifie and ,denominate ,bodies may ,intelligibly be ,deduced from these three2 but how two of the ,three ,epicurean ,principles 7which1 ,i need not tell1 you ,transcriber's ,note3 tell you1 are ,magnitude1 ,figure and ,weight7 are ,themselves ,deducible from ,matter and ,motion2 since the ,latter of these ,variously ,agitating1 and1 as it were1 ,distracting the ,former1 must needs disjoyne its parts2 which being ,actually separated must ,each of them necessarily both be of some ,size1 and obtain some shape or other4 ,nor did ,i add to our ,principles the ,aristotelean ,privation1 partly for other ,reasons1 which ,i must not now stay to insist on2 and partly because it seems to be rather an ,antecedent1 or a ,terminus a quo1 then a ,true ,principle1 as the starting-,post is none of the ,horses ,legs or ,limbs4 ,i should also explain why and how ,i made rest ,errata3 ,rest to be1 though not so considerable a ,principle of things1 as ,motion1 yet a ,principle of them2 partly because it is 7for ought we know ,errata3 know7 as ,ancient at least as it1 and depends not upon ,motion1 nor any other quality of matter2 and partly1 because it may enable the ,body in which it happens to be1 both to continue in a ,state of ,rest till some external force put it out of that state1 and to concur to the production of divers ,changes in the bodies that hit against it1 by either quite stopping or lessning their ,motion 7whilst the body formerly at ,rest ,receives all or part of it into it self7 or else by giving a new ,byass1 or some other ,modification1 to ,motion1 that is1 ,to the ,grand and ,primary instrument whereby ,nature produces all the ,changes and other ,qualities that are to be met with in the ,world4 ,i should likewise1 after all this1 explain to you how1 although ,matter1 ,motion and ,rest1 seem'd to me to be the ,catholick ,principles of the ,universe1 ,i thought the ,principles of ,particular bodies might be ,commodiously enough reduc'd to two1 namely ,matter1 and 7what ,comprehends the two other1 and their effects7 the result or ,aggregate ,errata3 ,aggregate or complex of those ,accidents1 which are the ,motion or ,rest1 7for in some ,bodies both are not to be found7 the ,bigness1 ,figure1 ,texture7 ,errata3 delete 7 and the thence resulting ,qualities of the small parts7 ,errata3 delete 7 which are necessary to intitle the ,body whereto they belong to this or that ,peculiar ,denomination2 and discriminating it from others to appropriate it to a ,determinate ,kind of ,things1 as ,errata3 7as ,yellowness1 ,fixtness1 such a ,degree of ,weight1 and of ,ductility1 do make the ,portion of matter wherein they ,concur1 to be reckon'd among perfect metals1 and obtain the name of ,gold47 ,which ,errata3 ,this ,aggregate or result of ,accidents you may1 if ,you please1 call either ,structure or ,texture4 ,errata3 no paragraph break ,though ,errata3 7,though indeed1 that do not so properly ,comprehend the motion of the constituent parts especially in case some of them be ,fluid ,errata3 ,fluid71 or what other appellation shall appear most ,expressive4 ,or if1 retaining the ,vulgar ,terme1 ,you will call it the ,forme of the thing it denominates1 ,i shall not much oppose it2 ,provided the word be interpreted to mean but what ,i have express'd1 and not a ,scholastick ,substantial ,forme1 which so many intelligent men profess to be to them altogether ,un-intelligible4 ,but1 sayes ,carneades1 if you remember that 'tis a ,sceptick speaks to you1 and that 'tis not so much my present ,talk to make assertions as to suggest doubts1 ,i hope you will look upon what ,i have propos'd1 rather as a ,narrative of my former conjectures touching the principles of things1 then as a ,resolute ,declaration of my present opinions of them2 especially since although they cannot but appear ,very much to their ,disadvantage1 ,if you ,consider ,them as they are propos'd without those ,reasons and ,explanations by which ,i could perhaps make them appear much lesse extravagant2 yet ,i want time to offer you what may be alledg'd to clear and countenance these notions2 my design in mentioning them unto you at present being1 partly1 to bring some ,light and ,confirmation to divers passages of my discourse to you2 partly to shew you1 that ,i do not 7as you seem to have suspected7 embrace all ,epicurus his principles2 but ,dissent from him in some main things1 as well as from ,aristotle and the ,chymists1 in others2 partly also1 or rather chiefly1 to intimate to you the grounds upon which ,i likewise differ from ,helmont in this1 that whereas he ascribes almost all things1 and even diseases themselves1 to their determinate ,seeds2 ,i am of opinion1 that besides the peculiar ,fabricks of the ,bodies of ,plants and ,animals 7and perhaps also of some ,metals and ,minerals7 which ,i take to be the ,effects of seminal principles1 there are many other bodies in nature which have and deserve distinct and ,proper names1 but yet do but result from such contextures of the matter they are made of1 as may without determinate seeds be effected by heat1 cold1 artificial mixtures and compositions1 and divers other causes which sometimes nature imployes of her own accord2 and oftentimes man by his power and skill makes use of to fashion the matter according to his ,intentions4 ,this may be exemplified both in the productions of ,nature1 and in those of ,art2 of the first sort ,i might name multitudes2 but to shew how sleight a variation of ,textures without addition of new ingredients may procure a parcel of matter divers names1 and make it be ,lookt upon as ,different ,things2 ,i shall invite you to observe with me1 ,that ,clouds1 ,rain1 ,hail1 ,snow1 ,froth1 and ,ice1 may be but water1 having its parts varyed as to their size and distance in respect of each other1 and as to motion and rest4 ,and among ,artificial ,productions we may take notice 7to skip the ,crystals of ,tartar7 of ,glass1 ,regulus1 ,martis-,stellatus ,errata3 ,regulus ,martis ,stellatus1 and particularly of the ,sugar of ,lead1 which though made of that insipid ,metal and sour salt of ,vinager1 has in it a sweetnesse surpassing that of common ,sugar1 and divers other qualities1 which being not to be found in either of its two ingredients1 must be confess'd to belong to the ,concrete it self1 upon the account of its ,texture4 ,this ,consideration premis'd1 it will be1 ,i hope1 the more easie to perswade you that the ,fire may as well produce some new textures in a parcel of matter1 as destroy the old4 ,wherefore hoping that you have not forgot the ,arguments formerly imploy'd against the ,doctrine of the ,tria prima2 namely that the ,salt1 ,sulphur and ,mercury1 into which the ,fire seems to resolve ,vegetable and ,animal ,bodies1 are yet compounded1 not simple and ,elementary ,substances2 ,and that 7as appeared by the ,experiment of ,pompions7 the ,tria prima may be made out of ,water2 hoping ,i say1 that you remember ,these and the other ,things that ,i formerly represented to the same purpose1 ,i shall now add only1 that if we doubt not the ,truth of some of ,helmonts ,relation ,errata3 ,relations1 ,we may well doubt whether any of these ,heterogeneities be 7,i say not pre-existent1 so as to convene together1 when a plant or ,animal is to be constituted but7 so much as in-existent in the ,concrete whence they are obtain'd1 when the ,chymists ,errata3 ,chymist first goes about to resolve it2 ,for not to insist upon the un-inflamable ,spirit of such ,concretes1 because that may be pretended to be but a mixture of ,phlegme and ,salt2 the ,oyle or ,sulphur of ,vegetables or ,animals is1 according to him1 reducible by the help of ,lixiviate ,salts into ,sope2 as that ,sope is by the help of repeated ,distillations from a ,caput ,mortuum of ,chalk into insipid ,water4 ,and as for the saline substance that seems separable from mixt bodies2 the same ,helmonts tryals#cc give us cause to think1 ,that it may be a production of the ,fire1 which by transporting and otherwise altering the particles of the matter1 does bring it to a ,saline nature4 ,footnote #cc3 ,omne autem ,alcali addita pinguedine in aqueum liquorem1 qui tandem mera simplex aqua fit1 reducitur1 7ut videre est in ,sapone1 ,lazurio lapide1 c47 quoties per adjuncta fixa semen ,pinguedinis deponit4 ,helmont4 ,for ,i know 7sayes he1 in the place formerly alledg'd to another purpose7 a way to reduce all stones into a meer ,salt of equal weight with the stone whence it was produc'd1 and that without any of the least either ,sulphur or ,mercury2 which asseveration of my ,author would perhaps seem less incredible to ,you1 if ,i durst acquaint ,you with all ,i could say upon that subject4 ,and hence by the way you may also conclude that the ,sulphur and ,mercury1 as they call them1 that ,chymists are wont to obtain from compound ,bodies by the ,fire1 may possibly in many ,cases be the productions of it2 since if the same bodies had been wrought upon by the ,agents employ'd by ,helmont1 they would have yielded neither ,sulphur nor ,mercury2 and those portions of them which the ,fire would have presented ,us in the forme of ,sulphureous and ,mercurial ,bodies would have1 by ,helmonts method1 been exhibited to us in the form of ,salt4 ,but though 7sayes ,eleutherius7 ,you have alledg'd very plausible ,arguments against the tria ,prima1 yet ,i see not how it will be possible for you to avoid acknowledging that ,earth and ,water are ,elementary ,ingredients1 though not of ,mineral ,concretes1 yet of all ,animal and ,vegetable ,bodies2 ,since if any of these of what sort soever be committed to ,distillation1 there is regularly and constantly separated from it a phlegme or aqueous part and a ,caput ,mortuum or ,earth4 ,i readily acknowledged 7answers ,carneades7 it is not so easy to reject ,water and ,earth 7and especially the former7 as 'tis to reject the ,tria ,prima1 from being the ,elements of mixt ,bodies2 but 'tis not every difficult thing that is impossible4 ,i consider then1 as to ,water1 that the chief ,qualities which make men give that name to any visible ,substance1 are1 that it is ,fluid or ,liquid1 and that it is insipid and inodorous4 ,now as for the tast of these qualities1 ,i think you have never seen any of those separated substances that the ,chymists call ,phlegme which was perfectly devoyd both of ,tast and ,smell3 and if you object1 that yet it may be reasonably suppos'd1 that since the whole ,body is ,liquid1 the mass is nothing but ,elementary ,water faintly imbu'd with some of the ,saline or ,sulphureous parts of the same ,concrete1 which it retain'd with it upon its ,separation from the ,other ,ingredients4 ,to this ,i answer1 ,that this ,objection would not appear so stong ,transcriber's ,note3 strong as it is plausible1 if ,chymists understood the ,nature of ,fluidity and ,compactnesse2 and that1 as ,i formerly observ'd1 to a ,bodies being ,fluid there is nothing necessary1 but that it be divided into parts small enough2 and that these parts be put into such a motion among themselves as to glide some this way and some that way1 along each others ,surfaces4 ,so that1 although a ,concrete were never so dry1 and had not any ,water or other ,liquor in-existent in it1 yet such a ,comminution of its parts may be made1 by the fire or other ,agents1 as to turn a great portion of them into ,liquor4 ,of this ,truth ,i will give an instance1 employ'd by our friend here present as one of the most conducive of his experiments to ,illustrate the nature of ,salts4 ,if you ,take1 then1 sea salt and melt it in the ,fire to free it from the aqueous parts1 and afterward distill it with a vehement ,fire from burnt ,clay1 or any other1 as dry a ,caput mortuum as you please1 you will1 as ,chymists confess1 ,errata3 confesse 7delete comma7 by teaching it drive over a good part of the ,salt in the form of a ,liquor4 ,and to satisfy some ingenious men1 ,that a great part of this ,liquor was still true sea salt brought by the ,operation of the ,fire into ,corpuscles so small1 and perhaps so advantageously shap'd1 as to be capable of the forme of a ,fluid ,body1 ,he did in my presence poure to such spiritual salts a due proportion of the spirit 7or salt and ,phlegme7 of ,urine1 whereby having evaporated the superfluous moisture1 he soon obtain'd such another ,concrete1 both as to tast and smell1 and easie sublimableness as common ,salt ,armoniack1 which you know is made up of grosse and undistill'd sea salt united with the salts of ,urine and of ,soot1 which two are very neer of kin to each other4 ,and further1 to manifest that the ,corpuscles of sea salt and the ,saline ones of ,urine retain their several ,natures in this ,concrete1 ,he mixt it with a convenient quantity of ,salt of ,tartar1 and committing it to ,distillation soon regain'd his spirit of ,urine in a liquid form by its self1 the ,sea salt staying behind with the ,salt of ,tartar4 ,wherefore it is very possible that dry ,bodies may by the ,fire be reduc'd to ,liquors without any separation of ,elements1 but barely by a certain kind of ,dissipation and ,comminution of the matter1 whereby its parts are brought into a new state4 ,and if it be still objected1 that the ,phlegme of mixt ,bodies must be reputed water1 because so weak a tast needs but a very small proportion of ,salt to impart it2 ,it may be reply'd1 that for ought appears1 common ,salt and divers other bodies1 though they be distill'd never so dry1 and in never so close ,vessels1 will yield each of them pretty store of a ,liquor1 wherein though 7as ,i lately noted7 ,saline ,corpuscles abound1 ,yet there is besides a large proportion of ,phlegme1 as may easily be discovered by coagulating the ,saline ,corpuscles with any convenient ,body2 as ,i lately told you1 our ,friend coagulated part of the ,spirit of ,salt with ,spirit of ,urine3 and as ,i have divers times separated a salt from ,oyle of ,vitriol it self 7though a very ponderous ,liquor and drawn from a saline body7 by boyling it with a just quantity of ,mercury1 and then washing the newly coagulated salt from the ,precipitate with fair ,water4 ,now to what can we more probably ascribe this plenty of aqueous ,substance afforded us by the ,distillation of such bodies1 than unto this1 ,that among the various operations of the ,fire upon the matter of a ,concrete1 divers particles of that matter are reduc'd to such a shape and bignesse as is requisite to compose such a ,liquor as ,chymists are wont to call ,phlegme or ,water4 ,how ,i conjecture this change may be effected1 'tis neither necessary for me to tell you1 nor possible to do so without a much longer discourse then were now seasonable4 ,but ,i desire you would with me reflect upon what ,i formerly told you concerning the change of ,quicksilver into ,water2 ,for that ,water having but a very faint tast1 if any whit more than divers of those liquors that ,chymists referr to ,phlegme2 ,by that experiment it seems evident1 that even a metalline body1 and therefore much more such as are but ,vegetable or ,animal1 may by a simple operation of the ,fire be turn'd in great part into ,water4 ,and since those ,i dispute with are not yet able out of ,gold1 or ,silver1 or divers other ,concretes to separate any thing like ,water2 ,i hope ,i may be allow'd to conclude against ,them1 that water it self is not an ,universal and pre-existent ,ingredient of ,mixt ,bodies4 ,but as for those ,chymists that1 ,supposing with me the ,truth of what ,helmont relates of the ,alkahest's wonderful ,effects1 have a right to press me with his ,authority concerning them1 and to alledge that he could ,transmute all reputedly mixt ,bodies into insipid and meer ,water2 ,to those ,i shall represent1 ,that though his ,affirmations conclude strongly against the ,vulgar ,chymists 7against whom ,i have not therefore scrupl'd to ,employ ,them7 since they ,evince that the ,commonly reputed ,principles or ,ingredients of ,things are not ,permanent and indestructible1 since they may be further reduc'd into ,insipid ,phlegme differing from them all2 ,yet till we can be allow'd to examine this ,liquor1 ,i think it not unreasonable to doubt whether it be not something else then meer ,water4 ,for ,i find not any other reason given by ,helmont of his ,pronouncing it so1 then that it is insipid4 ,now ,sapour being an ,accident or an ,affection of matter that relates to our ,tongue1 ,palate1 and other ,organs of ,tast1 it may very possibly be1 that the small ,parts of a ,body may be of such a ,size and ,shape1 as either by their extream ,littleness1 or by their slenderness1 or by their ,figure1 to be unable to pierce into and make a perceptible ,impression upon the ,nerves or ,membranous parts of the ,organs of ,tast1 and what ,errata3 yet may be fit to work otherwise upon divers other ,bodies than meer ,water can1 and consequently to ,disclose it self to be of a ,nature farr enough from ,elementary4 ,in ,silke dyed ,red or of any other ,colour1 whilst many ,contiguous ,threads makes up a skein1 the ,colour of the ,silke is conspicuous2 but if only a very few of them be lookt upon1 the ,colour will appear much fainter then before4 ,but if ,you take out one simple ,thread1 you shall not easily be able to discern any ,colour at all2 ,so subtile an ,object having not the ,force to make upon the ,optick ,nerve an ,impression great enough to be taken ,notice of4 ,it is also observ'd1 that the best sort of ,oyl-,olive is almost tastless1 and yet ,i need not tell you how exceedingly distant in ,nature ,oyle is from ,water4 ,the ,liquor into which ,i told you1 upon the ,relation of ,lully1 and ,errata3 an ,eye-witness that ,mercury might be ,transmuted1 has sometimes but a very ,languid1 if any ,tast1 and yet its ,operations even upon some ,mineral ,bodies are very peculiar4 ,quicksilver it self also1 though the ,corpuscles it consists of be so very small as to get into the ,pores of that ,closest and compactest of ,bodies1 ,gold1 is yet 7you know7 altogether ,tastless4 ,and our ,helmont several times tells us1 that fair ,water wherein a little ,quantity f ,errata3 of ,quicksilver has lain for some time1 though it acquire no certain ,tast or other sensible ,quality from the ,quicksilver2 ,yet it has a power to destroy wormes in humane ,bodies2 which he does much1 but not causelessly extoll4 ,and ,i remember1 a great ,lady1 that had been ,eminent for her ,beauty in ,divers ,courts1 confess'd to me1 that this insipid ,liquor was of all innocent washes for the ,face the best that she ever met with4 ,and here let me conclude my ,discourse1 concerning such waters or ,liquors as ,i have hitherto been examining1 with these two ,considerations4 ,whereof the first is1 ,that by reason of our being wont to drink nothing but ,wine1 ,bear1 ,cyder1 or other strongly tasted ,liquors1 there may be in several of these ,liquors1 that are wont to pass for insipid ,phlegme1 very peculiar and ,distinct1 ,tasts ,errata3 distinct ,tasts though unheeded 7and perhaps not to be perceiv'd7 by ,us4 ,for to omit what ,naturalists affirm of ,apes1 7and which probably may be true of divers other ,animals7 that they have a more exquisite palate than ,men3 among ,men themselves1 those that are wont to drink nothing but water may 7as ,i have try'd in my self7 ,discern very sensibly a great ,difference of ,tasts in several waters1 which one un-accustomed to drink water would take to be all alike insipid4 ,and this is the first of my two ,considerations2 the ,other is1 ,that it is not impossible that the ,corpuscles into which a body is dissipated by the ,fire may by the ,operation of the same fire have their figures so altered1 or may be by associations with one another brought into little ,masses of such a ,size and ,shape1 as not to be fit to make sensible ,impressions on the ,tongue4 ,and that you may not think such alterations impossible1 be pleased to consider with me1 that not only the sharpest ,spirit of ,vinager having dissolved as much ,corall as it can1 will ,coagulate with it into a ,substance1 which though soluble in water1 like salt1 is incomparably less strongly ,tasted then the ,vinager was before2 but 7what is more considerable7 though the ,acid salts that are carried up with ,quicksilver in the preparation of common sublimate are so sharp1 that being moistened with water it will ,corrode some of the ,metals themselves2 yet this ,corrosive ,sublimate being twice or thrice re-sublim'd with a full proportion of insipid ,quicksilver1 ,constitutes 7as you know7 that ,factitious ,concrete1 which the ,chymists call ,mercurius dulcis2 not because it is sweet1 but because the sharpness of the ,corrosive ,salts is so taken away by their ,combination with the ,mercurial ,corpuscles1 that the whole mixture when it is prepar'd is judg'd to be insipid4 ,and thus 7continues ,carneades7 having given you some ,reasons why ,i refuse to admit ,elementary water for a constant ,ingredient of ,mixt ,bodies1 ,it will be easie for me to give you an ,account why ,i also reject ,earth4 ,for first1 it may well be suspected that many ,substances pass among ,chymists under the name of ,earth1 because1 like it1 they are ,dry1 and ,heavy1 and ,fixt1 which yet are very farr from an ,elementary ,nature4 ,this you will not think improbable1 ,if you recall to mind what ,i formerly told you concerning what ,chymists call the ,dead ,earth of things1 and especially touching the copper to be drawn from the ,caput ,mortuum of ,vitriol2 ,and if also you allow me to subjoyn a casual but memorable ,experiment made by ,johannes ,agricola upon the ,terra ,damnata of ,brimstone4 ,our ,author then tells us 7in his notes upon ,popius ,transcriber's ,note3 ,poppius17 that in the year #afba he made an ,oyle of ,sulphur2 the remaining ,faeces he reverberated in a moderate ,fire fourteen dayes2 afterwards he put them well luted up in a ,wind ,oven1 and gave them a strong ,fire for six hours1 purposing to calcine the ,faeces to a perfect ,whiteness1 that he might make someting ,transcriber's ,note3 something else out of them4 ,but coming to break the pot1 he found above but very little ,faeces1 and those ,grey and not ,white2 but beneath there lay a fine ,red ,regulus which he first marvell'd at and knew not what to make of1 being well assured that not the least thing1 besides the ,faeces of the ,sulphur1 came into the pot2 and that the ,sulphur it self had only been dissolv'd in ,linseed ,oyle2 this ,regulus he found heavy and malleable almost as ,lead2 having caus'd a ,goldsmith to draw him a ,wire of it1 he found it to be of the ,fairest copper1 and so rightly colour'd1 that a ,jew of ,prague offer'd him a great price for it4 ,and of this ,metal he sayes he had #ab loth 7or six ounces7 out of one pound of ,ashes or ,faeces4 ,and this ,story may well incline us to suspect that since the ,caput ,mortuum of the ,sulphur was kept so long in the fire before it was found to be any thing else then a ,terra damnata1 there may be divers other ,residences of ,bodies which are wont to pass only for the ,terrestrial ,faeces of things1 and therefore to be thrown away as soon as the ,distillation or ,calcination of the ,body that yielded them is ended2 which yet if they were long and ,skilfully examin'd by the fire would appear to be differing from ,elementary ,earth4 ,and ,i have taken notice of the unwarrantable forwardness of common ,chymists to pronounce things useless ,faeces1 by observing how often they reject the ,caput ,mortuum of ,verdegrease2 which is yet so farr from deserving that ,name1 that not only by strong fires and convenient ,additaments it may in some hours be reduc'd into copper1 but with a certain ,flux ,powder ,i sometimes make for ,recreation1 ,i have in two or three minutes obtain'd that ,metal from it4 ,to which ,i may add1 that having for tryall sake kept ,venetian ,taclk ,errata3 ,talck in no less a heat than that of a glass ,furnace1 ,i found after all the ,brunt of the fire it had indur'd1 the remaining ,body though brittle and discolour'd1 had not lost very much of its former ,bulke1 and seem'd still to be nearer of kin to ,talck than to meer ,earth4 ,and ,i remember too1 that a candid ,mineralist1 famous for his ,skill in trying of ,oars1 requesting me one day to procure him a certain ,american ,mineral ,earth of a ,virtuoso1 who he thought would not refuse me2 ,i enquir'd of him why he seem'd so greedy of it3 he confess'd to me that this ,gentleman having brought that ,earth to the publick ,say-,masters2 and they upon their being unable by any means to bring it to fusion or make it fly away1 he 7the ,relator7 had procur'd a little of it2 and having try'd it with a peculiar ,flux separated from it neer a third part of pure ,gold2 so great mistakes may be committed in hastily concluding things to be ,uselesse ,earth4 ,next1 it may be suppos'd1 ,that as in the ,resolution of ,bodies by the ,fire some of the dissipated ,parts may1 by their various occursion occasion'd by the heat1 be brought to stick together so closely as to constitute ,corpuscles too heavy for the ,fire to carry away2 the aggregate of which ,corpuscles is wont to be call'd ,ashes or ,earrh ,errata3 ,earth2 ,so other ,agents may resolve the ,concrete into ,minute ,parts1 after so differing a manner as not to produce any ,caput mortuum1 or dry and heavy ,body4 ,as you may remember ,helmont above inform'd us1 that with his great ,dissolvent he divided a ,coal into two liquid and volatile ,bodies1 aequiponderant to the ,coal1 without any dry or fixt ,residence at all4 ,and indeed1 ,i see not why it should be necessary that all ,agents that resolve ,bodies into portions of differingly qualifi'd matter must work on them the same way1 and divide them into just such parts1 both for nature and ,number1 as the ,fire dissipates them into4 ,for since1 as ,i noted before1 the ,bulk and shape of the small ,parts of bodies1 together with their ,fitness and ,unfitness to be easily put into ,motion1 may make the liquors or other substances such ,corpuscles compose1 as much to differ from each other as do some of the ,chymical principles3 ,why may not something happen in this case1 not unlike what is usuall in the grosser divisions of bodies by ,mechanical ,instruments8 ,where we see that some ,tools reduce ,wood1 for ,instance1 into darts ,errata3 parts of several shapes1 bignesse1 and other qualities1 as ,hatchets and ,wedges divide it into grosser parts2 some more long and slender1 as splinters2 and some more thick and irregular1 as chips2 but all of considerable bulk2 but ,files and ,saws makes a ,comminution of it into ,dust2 which1 as all the others1 is of the more solid sort of parts2 whereas others divide it into long and broad1 but thin and flexible parts1 as do ,planes3 ,and of this kind of parts it self there is also a variety according to the ,difference of the ,tools employ'd to work on the ,wood2 the shavings made by the plane being in some things differing from those shives or thin and flexible pieces of wood that are obtain'd by ,borers1 and these from some others obtainable by other ,tools4 ,some ,chymical ,examples applicable to this purpose ,i have elsewhere given you4 ,to which ,i may add1 that whereas in a mixture of ,sulphur and ,salt of ,tartar well melted and incorporated together1 the action of pure spirit of wine digested on it is to separate the sulphureous from the ,alcalizate ,parts1 by dissolving the former and leaving the latter1 the action of ,wine 7probably upon the score of its copious ,phlegme7 upon the same mixture is to divide it into ,corpuscles consisting of both ,alcalizate and ,sulphureous ,parts united4 ,and if it be objected1 that this is but a ,factitious ,concrete2 ,i answer1 that however the instance may serve to illustrate what ,i propos'd1 if not to prove it2 and that ,nature her self doth in the bowels of the ,earth make ,decompounded ,bodies1 as we see in ,vitriol1 ,cinnaber1 and even in ,sulphur it self2 ,i will not urge that the ,fire divides new ,milk into five differing ,substances2 but ,runnet and ,acid ,liquors divide it into a ,coagulated matter and a thin ,whey3 ,and on the other side churning divides it into ,butter and ,butter-milk1 which may either of them be yet reduc'd to other substances differing from the former4 ,i will not presse this1 ,i say1 nor other instances of this ,nature1 because ,i cannot in few words answer what may be objected1 that these ,concretes sequestred without the help of the ,fire may by it be further divided into ,hypostatical ,principles4 ,but ,i will rather represent1 ,that whereas the same spirit of ,wine will dissociare ,transcriber's ,note3 dissociate the ,parts of ,camphire1 and make them one ,liquor with it self2 ,aqua ,fortis will also disjoyn them1 and put them into motion2 but so as to keep them together1 and yet alter their ,texture into the form of an ,oyle4 ,i know also an uncompounded ,liquor1 that an extraordinary ,chymist would not allow to be so much as ,saline1 which doth 7as ,i have try'd7 from ,coral it self 7as fixt as divers judicious writers assert that ,concrete to be7 not only obtain a noble ,tincture1 ,without the ,intervention of ,nitre or other ,salts2 but will carry over the ,tincture in ,distillation4 ,and if some reasons did not forbid me1 ,i could now tell you of a ,menstruum ,i make my self1 that doth more odly dissociate the parts of ,minerals very fixt in the fire4 ,so that it seems not incredible1 that there may be some ,agent or way of ,operation found1 whereby this or that ,concrete1 if not all ,firme ,bodies1 may be resolv'd into parts so very minute and so unapt to stick close to one another1 that none of them may be fixt enough to stay behind in a strong ,fire1 and to be incapable of ,distillation2 nor consequently to be look'd upon as ,earth4 ,but to return to ,helmont1 the same ,authour somewhere supply's me with another ,argument against the ,earth's being such an ,element as my ,adversaries would have it4 ,for he somewhere affirms1 that he can reduce all the ,terrestrial parts of mixt bodies into insipid water2 whence we may argue against the ,earths being one of their ,elements1 even from that ,notion of ,elements which you may remember ,philoponus recited out of ,aristotle himself1 when he lately disputed for his ,chymists against ,themistius4 ,and here we may on this occasion consider1 that since a ,body from which the ,fire hath driven away its looser parts is wont to be look'd upon as ,earth1 upon the ,account of its being endow'd with both these qualities1 ,tastlessenesse and ,fixtnesse1 7for ,salt of ,tartar though ,fixt passes not among the ,chymists for ,earth1 because 'tis strongly ,tasted7 if it be in the power of ,natural ,agents to deprive the ,caput ,mortuum of a body of either of those two ,qualities1 or to give them both to a portion of matter that had them not both before1 the ,chymists will not easily define what part of a resolv'd ,concrete is earth1 and make out1 that that ,earth is a primary1 simple1 and indestructible ,body4 ,now there are some cases wherein the more skilful of the ,vulgar ,chymists themselves pretend to be able1 by repeated ,cohobations and other fit ,operations1 to make the ,distilled parts of a ,concrete bring its own ,caput ,mortuum over the ,helme1 in the forme of a ,liquor2 in which state being both ,fluid and ,volatile1 you will easily believe it would not be taken for ,earth4 ,and indeed by a skilful1 but not ,vulgar1 way of managing some ,concretes1 there may be more effected in this kind1 then you perhaps would easily think4 ,and on the other side1 that either ,earth may be ,generated1 or at least ,bodies that did not before appear to be neer ,totally ,earth1 may be so alter'd as to pass for it1 seems very possible1 if ,helmont#cd have done that by ,art which he mentions in several places2 especially where ,he sayes that he knowes wayes whereby ,sulphur once dissolv'd is all of it fix'd into a ,terrestrial ,powder2 and the whole ,bodie of ,salt-,petre may be turn'd into ,earth3 ,which last he elsewhere sayes is ,done by the ,odour only of a certain ,sulphureous ,fire4 ,and in another place ,he mentions one way of doing this1 which ,i cannot give you an ,account of2 because the ,materialls ,i had prepar'd for ,trying it1 were by a ,servants mistake unhappily thrown away4 ,footnote #cd3 ,novi item modos quibus totum ,salpetiae ,errata3 sal-petrae in terram convertitur1 totumque ,sulphur semel dissolutum fixetur in ,pulvearem terreum4 ,helmont in ,compl4 atque ,mist4 ,elementor4 ,sect4 #bd4 ,and these ,last ,arguments may be confirm'd by the ,experiment ,i have often had occasion to mention concerning the ,mint ,i produc'd out of ,water4 ,and partly by an ,observation of ,rondeletius concerning the ,growth of ,animals also1 ,nourish'd but by ,water1 which ,i remember'd not to mention1 when ,i discours'd to you about the ,production of things out of ,water4 ,this ,diligent ,writer then in his instructive book of fishes1#ce affirmes ,that his ,wife kept a fish in a ,glass of water without any other ,food for three years2 in which space it was constantly augmented1 till at last it could not come out of the ,place at which it was put in1 and at length was too big for the glass it self though that were of a large capacity4 ,and because there is no just reason to doubt1 that this ,fish1 if ,distill'd1 would have yielded the like differing substances with other ,animals3 ,and ,however1 because the ,mint which ,i had out of water afforded me upon ,distillation a good quantity of ,charcoal1 ,i think ,i may from thence inferr1 that ,earth it self may be produc'd out of ,water2 or if you please1 that water may be transmuted into ,earth2 and consequently1 that though it could be prov'd that ,earth is an ,ingredient actually in-existent in the ,vegetable and ,animal ,bodies whence it may be obtain'd by ,fire3 yet it would not necessarily follow1 that ,earth as a pre-existent ,element ,does with other ,principles convene to make up those ,bodies whence it seems to have been separated4 ,footnote #ce3 ,lib4 #a4 cap4 #b4 ,after all is said 7sayes ,eleutherius7 ,i have yet something to ,object1 that ,i cannot but think considerable1 since ,carneades ,himself alledg'd it as such2 for1 7continues ,eleutherius smiling7 ,i must make bold to try whether you can as luckily answer your own ,arguments1 as those of your ,antagonists1 ,i mean 7pursues he7 that part of your ,concessions1 wherein you cannot but remember that you supply'd your ,adversaries with an ,example to prove that there may be ,elementary ,bodies1 by taking ,notice that ,gold may be an ,ingredient in a multitude of differing ,mixtures1 and yet retain its ,nature1 notwithstanding all that the ,chymists by their ,fires and ,corrosive ,waters are able to do to ,destroy it4 ,i sufficiently intimated to you at that time 7replies ,carneades7 that ,i propos'd this ,example1 chiefly to shew you how ,nature may be ,conceived to have made ,elements1 not to prove that she actually has made any2 ,and you know1 that a posse ad esse the ,inference will not hold4 ,but 7continues ,carneades7 to answer more directly to the ,objection drawn from ,gold1 ,i must tell ,you1 that though ,i know very well that divers of the more sober ,chymists have complain'd of the ,vulgar ,chymists1 as of ,mountebanks or ,cheats1 for pretending so vainly1 as hitherto they have done1 to ,destroy ,gold2 ,yet ,i know a certain ,menstruum 7which our ,friend has made1 and intends shortly to communicate to the ,ingenious7 of so piercing and powerfull a ,quality1 ,that if notwithstanding much care1 and some skill1 ,i did not much deceive myself1 ,i have with it really destroy'd even refin'd ,gold1 and brought it into a ,metalline ,body of another colour and ,nature1 as ,i found by ,tryals purposely made4 ,and if some just ,considerations did not for the present ,forbid it1 ,i could ,perchance here shew you by another ,experiment or ,two of my own ,trying1 that such ,menstruums may be made as to entice away and retain divers parts1 from ,bodies1 which even the more ,judicious and ,experienc'd ,spagyrists have pronounc'd irresoluble by the ,fire4 ,though 7which ,i ,desire you would mark7 in neither of these ,instances1 the ,gold or ,precious ,stones be ,analys'd into any of the ,tria ,prima1 but only ,reduc'd to new ,concretes4 ,and indeed there is a great ,disparity betwixt the ,operations of the several ,agents whereby the ,parts of a ,body come to be ,dissipated4 ,as if 7for ,instance7 you dissolve the purer sort of ,vitriol in common ,water1 the ,liquor will swallow up the ,mineral1 and so ,dissociate its ,corpuscles1 that they will seem to make up but one ,liquor with those of the water2 and yet each of these ,corpuscles retains its ,nature and ,texture1 and remains a ,vitriolate and ,compounded ,body4 ,but if the same ,vitriol be exposed to a strong ,fire1 it will then be divided not only1 as before1 into smaller parts1 but into ,heterogeneous ,substances1 each of the ,vitriolate ,corpuscles that remain'd entire in the water1 being it self upon the ,destruction of its former ,texture dissipated or divided into new ,particles of differing ,qualities4 ,but ,instances more fitly applicable to this purpose1 ,i have already given you4 ,wherefore to return to what ,i told you about the ,destruction of ,gold1 that ,experiment ,invites me to ,represent to you1 that ,though there were either ,saline1 or ,sulphureous1 or ,terrestrial ,portions of ,matter1 whose parts were so small1 so firmly united together1 or of a figure so fit to make them cohere to one another1 7as we see that in quicksilver broken into little ,globes1 the ,parts brought to touch one another do immediately re-imbody7 that neither the ,fire1 nor the usual ,agents employ'd by ,chymists1 are pierceing enough to divide their ,parts1 so as to destroy the ,texture of the single ,corpuscles2 yet it would not necessarily follow1 ,that such ,permanent ,bodies were ,elementary1 since tis possible there may be ,agents found in ,nature1 some of whose parts may be of such a ,size and ,figure as to take better ,hold of some parts of these seemingly ,elementary ,corpuscles than these parts do of the rest1 and ,consequently may carry away such parts with them1 and so dissolve the ,texture of the ,corpuscle by pulling its parts asunder4 ,and if it be said1 that at least we may this way discover the ,elementary ,ingredients of ,things1 by observing into what ,substances these ,corpuscles that were reputed pure are divided2 ,i answer1 that it is not necessary that such a ,discovery should be practicable4 ,for if the ,particles of the ,dissolvent do take such firme hold of those of the ,dissolved ,body1 they must constitute together new ,bodies1 as well as ,destroy the ,old2 and the strickt ,union1 which according to this ,hypothesis may well be suppos'd betwixt the ,parts of the ,emergent ,body1 will make it as ,little to be ,expected that they should be pull'd asunder1 but by little ,parts of matter1 that to ,divide them ,associate ,themselves and stick extreamly close to those of them which they sever from their ,former ,adherents4 ,besides that it is not impossible1 that a ,corpuscle suppos'd to be ,elementary may have its ,nature changed1 without suffering a ,divorce of its parts1 barely by a new ,texture ,effected by some powerfull ,agent2 as ,i formerly told you1 the same portion of matter may easily by the ,operation of the ,fire be turn'd at pleasure into the form of a ,brittle and ,transparent1 or an ,opacous and ,malleable ,body4 ,and indeed1 if you consider how farr the bare ,change of ,texture1 whether made by ,art or ,nature 7or rather by ,nature with or without the assistance of man7 can go in producing such ,new ,qualities in the same parcel of matter1 and how many inanimate ,bodies 7such as are all the ,chymical productions of the ,fire7 we know are ,denominated and ,distinguish'd not so much by any ,imaginary ,substantial ,form1 as by the aggregate of these ,qualities4 ,if you consider these ,things1 ,i say1 and that the varying of either the figure1 or the ,size1 or the ,motion1 or the ,situation1 or ,connexion of the ,corpuscles whereof any of these ,bodies is compos'd1 may alter the ,fabrick of it1 you will possibly be invited to suspect1 with me1 that there is no great need that ,nature should alwayes have ,elements before hand1 whereof to make such ,bodies as we call mixts4 ,and that it is not so easie as ,chymists and others have hitherto ,imagin'd1 to discern1 among the many differing ,substances that may without any extraordinary skill be obtain'd from the same portion of matter1 ,which ought to be esteemed exclusively to all the rest1 its in-existent ,elementary ,ingredients2 much lesse to determine what ,primogeneal and ,simple ,bodies convened together to compose it4 ,to exemplify this1 ,i shall add to what ,i have already on several occasions ,represented1 but this single instance4 ,you may remember 7,eleutherius7 that ,i formerly intimated to you1 that besides ,mint and ,pompions1 ,i produced divers other ,vegetables of very differing ,natures out of ,water4 ,wherefore you will not1 ,i presume1 think it incongruous to suppose1 that when a slender ,vine-slip is set into the ground1 and takes root1 there it may likewise receive its ,nutriment from the water attracted out of the earth by his roots1 or impell'd by the warm'th of the sun1 or pressure of the ambient air into the pores of them4 ,and this you will the more easily believe1 if you ever observ'd what a strange quantity of ,water will ,drop out of a wound given to the ,vine1 in a convenient place1 at a seasonable time in the ,spring2 and how little of ,tast or ,smell this ,aqua ,vitis1 as ,physitians call it1 is endow'd with1 notwithstanding what concoction or alteration it may receive in its passage through the ,vine1 to discriminate it from common ,water4 ,supposing then this ,liquor1 at its first entrance into the roots of the ,vine1 to be common ,water2 ,let ,us a little consider how many various ,substances may be obtain'd from it2 though to do so1 ,i must repeat somewhat that ,i had a former occasion to touch upon4 ,and first1 this ,liquor being ,digested in the plant1 and assimilated by the several parts of it1 is turn'd into the ,wood1 ,bark1 ,pith1 ,leaves1 c4 of the ,vine2 ,the same ,liquor may be further dry'd1 and fashon'd into ,vine-buds1 and these a while after are advanced unto sour ,grapes1 which express'd yield ,verjuice1 a ,liquor very differing in several qualities both from ,wine and other ,liquors obtainable from the ,vine3 ,these soure ,grapes being by the heat of the ,sun concocted and ripened1 turne to well tasted ,grapes2 ,these if dry'd in the ,sun and ,distill'd1 afford a faetid ,oyle and a piercing ,empyreumatical ,spirit1 but not a ,vinous ,spirit2 ,these dry'd ,grapes or ,raisins boyl'd in a convenient proportion of ,water make a sweet ,liquor1 which being betimes distill'd afford an ,oyle and ,spirit much like those of the ,raisins themselves2 ,if the juice of the ,grapes be squeez'd out and put to ,ferment1 it first becomes a sweet and turbid ,liquor1 then grows lesse sweet and more clear1 and then affords in common ,distillations not an ,oyle but a ,spirit1 which1 though inflamable like ,oyle1 differs much from it1 in that it is not fat1 and that it will readily mingle with ,water4 ,i have likewise without ,addition obtain'd in processe of time 7and by an easie way which ,i am ready to teach you7 from one of the noblest sorts of ,wine1 pretty store of pure and curiously figured ,crystals of ,salt1 together with a great proportion of a ,liquor as sweet almost as ,hony2 and these ,i obtained not from ,must1 but ,true and sprightly ,wine2 besides the ,vinous ,liquor1 the fermented ,juice of ,grapes is partly turned into liquid ,dregs or ,leeze1 and partly into that crust or dry feculancy that is commonly called ,tartar2 and this ,tartar may by the ,fire be easily divided into five differing substances2 four of which are not ,acid1 and the other not so manifestly ,acid as the ,tartar it self2 ,the same ,vinous ,juice after some time1 especially if it be not carefully kept1 ,degenerates into that very sour ,liquor called ,vinegar2 from which you may obtain by the ,fire a ,spirit and a ,crystalline ,salt differing enough from the ,spirit and ,lixiviate ,salt of ,tartar4 ,and if you pour the ,dephlegm'd ,spirit of the ,vinegar upon the ,salt of ,tartar1 there will be produc'd such a ,conflict or ,ebullition as if there were scarce two more contrary ,bodies in ,nature2 and oftentimes in this ,vinager you may observe part of the matter to be turned into an innumerable company of swimming ,animals1 which our ,friend having divers years ago observed1 hath in one of his ,papers taught us how to discover clearly without the help of a ,microscope4 ,into all these various ,schemes of matter1 or differingly ,qualifyed ,bodies1 besides divers others that ,i purposely forbear to mention1 may the ,water that is imbib'd by the roots of the ,vine be brought1 partly by the formative power of the plant1 and partly by supervenient ,agents or ,causes1 without the visible concurrence of any extraneous ,ingredient2 but if we be allowed to add to the ,productions of this transmuted ,water a few other substances1 we may much encrease the ,variety of such ,bodies2 although in this second sort of ,productions1 the ,vinous parts seem scarce to retain any thing of the much more fix'd ,bodies wherewith they were mingl'd2 but only to have by their ,mixture with them acquir'd such a ,disposition1 that in their recess occasion'd by the ,fire they came to be alter'd as to shape1 or ,bigness1 or both1 and associated after a ,new manner4 ,thus1 as ,i formerly told you1 ,i did by the ,addition of a ,caput ,mortuum of ,antimony1 and some other ,bodies unfit for ,distillation1 obtain from crude ,tartar1 store of a very ,volatile and ,crystalline ,salt1 differing very much in smell and other ,qualities from the usuall salts of ,tartar4 ,but 7sayes ,eleutherius1 interrupting him at these ,words7 if you have no restraint upon you1 ,i would very gladly before you go any further1 be more particularly inform'd1 how you make this ,volatile ,salt1 because 7you know7 that such ,multitudes of ,chymists have by a scarce imaginable ,variety of wayes1 attempted in ,vain the ,volatilization of the ,salt of ,tartar1 that divers learned ,spagyrists speak as if it were impossible1 to make any thing out of ,tartar1 that shall be ,volatile in a ,saline ,forme1 or as some of them express it1 in forma sicca4 ,i am very farr from thinking 7answers ,carneades7 that the ,salt ,i have mention'd is that which ,paracelsus and ,helmont mean when they speak of ,sal ,tartari ,volatile1 and ascribe such great things to it4 ,for the ,salt ,i speak of falls extreamly short of those ,virtues1 not seeming in its ,tast1 ,smel1 and other ,obvious ,qualities1 to differ very much 7though something it do differ7 from ,salt of ,harts-horn1 and other ,volatile ,salts drawn from the ,distill'd ,parts of ,animals4 ,nor have ,i yet made ,tryals enough to be sure1 that it is a pure ,salt of ,tartar without participating any thing at all of the ,nitre1 or ,antimony4 ,but because it seems more likely to proceed from the ,tartar1 than from any of the other ,ingredients1 and because the ,experiment is in it self not ,ignoble1 and ,luciferous enough 7as shewing a new way to produce a ,volatile ,salt contrary to ,acid ,salts from ,bodies that otherwise are ,observ'd to yield no such ,liquor1 but either only1 or chiefly1 ,acid ones17 ,i shall1 to satisfie you1 acquaint you before any of my other ,friends with the way ,i now use 7for ,i have formerly us'd some others7 to make it4 ,take then of good ,antimony1 ,salt-,petre and ,tartar1 of each an equal weight1 and of ,quicklime ,halfe the ,weight of any one of them2 let these be powder'd and well mingl'd2 this done1 you must have in readiness a long neck or ,retort of ,earth1 which must be plac'd in a ,furnace for a naked ,fire1 and have at the top of it a hole of a convenient ,bigness1 at which you may cast in the ,mixture1 and presently stop it up again2 this ,vessel being fitted with a large ,receiver must have ,fire made under it1 till the bottom of the sides be red hot1 and then you must cast in the above prepar'd ,mixture1 by about halfe a spoonfull 7more or less7 at a time1 at the hole made for that purpose2 which being nimbly stopt1 the ,fumes will pass into the ,receiver and condense there into a ,liquor1 that being rectifi'd will be of a pure golden ,colour1 and carry up that colour to a great height2 this ,spirit abounds in the ,salt ,i told you of1 part of which may easily enough be separated by the way ,i use in such cases1 which is1 to put the ,liquor into a glass ,egg1 or bolthead with a long and narrow ,neck4 ,for if this be plac'd a little inclining in hot sand1 there will sublime up a fine ,salt1 which1 as ,i told you1 ,i find to be much of kin to the ,volatile ,salts of ,animals3 ,for like them it has a ,saltish1 not an ,acid ,salt2 it hisses upon the ,affusion of ,spirit of ,nitre1 or ,oyle of ,vitriol2 it precipitates ,corals ,dissolv'd in ,spirit of ,vinager2 it turnes the blew ,syrup of ,violets immediately green2 it presently turnes the ,solution of ,sublimate into a ,milkie whiteness2 and in summ1 has divers ,operations like those that ,i have observ'd in that sort of ,salts to which ,i have resembled it3 and is so ,volatile1 that for ,distinction sake1 ,i call it ,tartari ,fugitivus ,errata3 ,sal ,tartari ,fugitivus4 ,what virtues it may have in ,physick ,i have not yet had the opportunity to ,try2 but ,i am apt to think they will not be despicable4 ,and besides that a very ,ingenious ,friend of mine tells me he hath done great matters against the stone1 with a ,preparation not very much ,differing from ours1 a very ,experienc'd ,germane ,chymist finding that ,i was unacquainted with the wayes of making this salt1 told me that in a great ,city in his ,country1 a noted ,chymist prizes it so highly1 that he had a while since procur'd a ,priviledge from the ,magistrates1 that none but ,he1 or by his ,licence1 should vent a ,spirit made almost after the same ,way with mine1 save that he leaves out one of the ,ingredients1 namely the ,quick-lime4 ,but1 continues ,carneades1 to resume my ,former ,discourse where your ,curiosity interrupted it2 ,tis also a common practice in ,france to bury thin ,plates of ,copper in the ,marc 7as the ,french call it7 or ,husks of ,grapes1 whence the ,juice has been squeez'd out in the ,wine-press1 and by this means the more saline parts of those ,husks working by little and little upon the ,copper1 ,coagulate ,themselves with it into that ,blewish ,green ,substance we in ,english call ,verdigrease4 ,of which ,i therefore take ,notice1 because having ,distill'd it in a ,naked ,fire1 ,i found as ,i expected1 that by the ,association of the ,saline with the ,metalline parts1 the former were so alter'd1 that the ,distill'd ,liquor1 even without ,rectification1 seem'd by smell and ,tast1 strong almost like ,aqua ,fortis1 and very much surpassed the purest and most ,rectifi'd ,spirit of ,vinager that ever ,i made4 ,and this ,spirit ,i therefore ascribe to the salt of the ,husks alter'd by their ,co-,mixture with the copper 7though the ,fire afterwards ,divorce and ,transmute them7 because ,i found this later in the bottom of the ,retort in the ,forme of a ,crocus or redish powder3 ,and because ,copper is of too sluggish a ,nature to be forc'd over in close ,vessels by no stronger a heat4 ,and that which is also somewhat ,remarkable in the ,destillation of good ,verdigrease1 7or at least of that sort that ,i us'd7 is this1 that ,i ,never could observe that it yielded me any oyl1 7unless a little black slime which was separated in ,rectification may pass for ,oyle7 though both ,tartar and ,vinager1 7especially the former7 will by ,destillation yield a ,moderate proportion of it4 ,if likewise you pour ,spirit of ,vinager upon ,calcin'd ,lead1 the ,acid ,salt of the ,liquor will by its ,commixture with the ,metalline parts1 though ,insipid1 acquire in a few hours a more than ,saccharine sweetness2 and these ,saline parts being by a strong ,fire ,destill'd from the ,lead wherewith they were imbody'd1 will1 as ,i formerly also noted to a ,different purpose1 leave the ,metal behind them alter'd in some qualities from what it was1 and will themselves ascend1 partly in the ,forme of an unctuous ,body or ,oyle1 partly in that of ,phlegme2 but for the greatest part in the ,forme of a subtile ,spirit1 indow'd1 besides divers new ,qualities which ,i am not now willing to take notice of1 with a strong smell very much other than that of ,vinager1 and a piercing tast quite differing both from the ,sowerness of the ,spirit of ,vinager1 and the ,sweetness of the ,sugar of ,lead4 ,to be short1 ,as the difference of ,bodies may depend meerly upon that of the schemes whereinto their ,common matter is put2 ,so the seeds of ,things1 the ,fire and the other ,agents are able to alter the minute parts of a ,body 7either by breaking them into smaller ones of differing shapes1 or by ,uniting together these ,fragments with the unbroken ,corpuscles1 or such ,corpuscles among ,themselves7 and the same ,agents partly by ,altering the shape or bigness of the ,constituent ,corpuscles of a ,body1 partly by driving away some of them1 partly by blending others with them1 and partly by some new manner of connecting them1 may give the whole portion of matter a new ,texture of its minute parts2 and thereby make it deserve a new and ,distinct name4 ,so that according as the small parts of matter recede from each other1 or work upon each other1 or are connected together after this or that determinate manner1 a ,body of this or that denomination is produced1 as some other ,body happens thereby to be alter'd or destroy'd4 ,since then those things which ,chymists produce by the help of the ,fire are but inanimate ,bodies2 since such fruits of the ,chymists skill differ from one another but in so few qualities that we see plainly that by fire and other ,agents we can employ1 we can easily enough work as great alterations upon matter1 as those that are requisite to change one of these ,chymical ,productions into another2 ,since the same portion of matter may without being ,compounded with any extraneous ,body1 or at least ,element1 be made to put on such a variety of formes1 and consequently to be 7successively7 turn'd into so many differing ,bodies4 ,and since the matter cloath'd with so many differing formes was originally but water1 and that in its passage thorow so many transformations1 it was never reduc'd into any of those substances which are reputed to be the ,principles or ,elements of mixt ,bodies1 except by the violence of the fire1 which it self divides not ,bodies into perfectly simple or ,elementary substances1 but into new ,compounds2 ,since1 ,i say1 these things are so1 ,i see not why we must needs believe that there are any ,primogeneal and simple ,bodies1 of which as of ,pre-exsistent ,elements ,nature is obliged to compound all others4 ,nor do ,i see why we may not conceive that she may produce the ,bodies accounted mixt out of one another by ,variously altering and contriving their minute parts1 without resolving the matter into any such simple or ,homogeneous substances as are pretended4 ,neither1 to dispatch1 do ,i see why it should be counted absur'd ,transcriber's ,note3 absurd to think1 that when a ,body is resolv'd by the ,fire into its suppos'd simple ,ingredients1 those substances are not true and proper ,elements1 but rather were1 as it were1 ,accidentally produc'd by the fire1 which by ,dissipating a ,body into minute ,parts does1 if those parts be shut up in ,close ,vessels1 for the most part necessarily bring them to ,associate ,themselves after another manner than before1 and so bring ,them into ,bodies of such ,different ,consistences as the ,former ,texture of the ,body1 and ,concurrent ,circumstances make such disbanded particles apt to ,constitute2 as experience shews us 7and ,i have both noted it1 and prov'd it already7 that as there are some ,concretes whose parts when dissipated by fire are fitted to be put into such ,schemes of matter as we call ,oyle1 and ,salt1 and ,spirit2 ,so there are others1 such as are especially the greatest part of ,minerals1 whose ,corpuscles being of another ,size or figure1 or perhaps contriv'd another ,way1 will not in the ,fire yield ,bodies of the like ,consistences1 but rather others of differing ,textures2 ,not to mention1 that from ,gold and some other ,bodies1 we see not that the ,fire separates any ,distinct ,substances at all2 nor ,that even those ,similar ,parts of ,bodies which the ,chymists ,obtain by the ,fire1 are the ,elements whose names they bear1 but ,compound ,bodies1 upon which1 for their resemblance to them in consistence1 or some other obvious ,quality1 ,chymists have been pleas'd to bestow such ,appellations4 ,,the ,,conclusion4 ,these last ,words of ,carneades being soon after follow'd by a noise which seem'd to come from the place where the rest of the ,company was1 he took it for a warning1 that it was time for him to conclude or break off his ,discourse2 and told his ,friend2 ,by this time ,i hope you see1 ,eleutherius1 that if ,helmonts ,experiments be true1 it is no absurdity to question whether that ,doctrine be one1 that doth not assert ,any ,elements in the sence before explain'd4 ,but because that1 as divers of my ,arguments suppose the marvellous power of the ,alkahest in the ,analyzing of ,bodies1 so the ,effects ascrib'd to that power are so unparallell'd and stupendious1 that though ,i am not sure but that there may be such an ,agent1 yet little less than ,greek3 autopsia seems requisite to make a man sure there is4 ,and consequently ,i leave it to you to judge1 how farre those of my ,arguments that are built upon ,alkahestical ,operations are weakned by that ,liquors being ,matchless2 and shall therefore desire you not to think that ,i propose this ,paradox that rejects all ,elements1 as an ,opinion equally probable with the former part of my discourse4 ,for by that1 ,i hope1 you are satisfied1 that the ,arguments wont to be brought by ,chymists1 to prove ,that all ,bodies consist of either ,three ,principles1 or ,five1 are far from being so strong as those that ,i have employ'd to prove1 that there is not any certain and ,determinate number of such ,principles or ,elements to be met with ,universally in all mixt ,bodies4 ,and ,i suppose ,i need not tell you1 that these ,anti-,chymical ,paradoxes might have been manag'd more to their ,advantage2 but that having not confin'd my ,curiosity to ,chymical ,experiments1 ,i who am but a young ,man1 and younger ,chymist1 can yet be but slenderly furnished with them1 in reference to so great and difficult a ,task as you impos'd upon me2 ,besides that1 to tell you the ,truth1 ,i durst not employ some even of the best ,experiments ,i am acquainted with1 because ,i must not yet disclose them2 but however1 ,i think ,i may presume that what ,i have hitherto ,discoursed will induce you to think1 that ,chymists have been much more happy in finding ,experiments than the ,causes of them2 or in assigning the ,principles by which they may best be explain'd4 ,and indeed1 when in the writings of ,paracelsus ,i meet with such ,phantastick and ,un-intelligible ,discourses as that ,writer often puzzels and tyres his ,reader with1 father'd upon such excellent ,experiments1 as though he seldom clearly teaches1 ,i often find he knew2 me thinks the ,chymists1 in their searches after truth1 are not unlike the ,navigators of ,solomons ,tarshish ,fleet1 who brought home from their long and tedious ,voyages1 not only ,gold1 and ,silver1 and ,ivory1 but ,apes and ,peacocks too2 ,for so the ,writings of several 7for ,i say not1 all7 of your ,hermetick ,philosophers present us1 together with divers ,substantial and noble ,experiments1 ,theories1 which either like ,peacocks feathers make a great shew1 but are neither solid nor useful2 or else like ,apes1 if they have some appearance of being rational1 are blemish'd with some absurdity or other1 that when they are ,attentively consider'd1 makes them appear ,ridiculous4 ,carneades having thus finish'd his ,discourse against the received ,doctrines of the ,elements2 ,eleutherius judging he should not have time to say much to him before their separation1 made some haste to tell him2 ,i confess1 ,carneades1 that you have said more in favour of your ,paradoxes then ,i expected4 ,for though divers of the ,experiments you have mention'd are no secrets1 and were not unknown to me1 yet besides that you have added many of your own unto them1 you have laid them together in such a way1 and apply'd them to such purposes1 and made such ,deductions ,from them1 as ,i have not ,hitherto met with4 ,but though ,i be therefore inclin'd to think1 that ,philoponus1 had he heard you1 would scarce have been able in all points to defend the ,chymical ,hypothesis against the arguments wherewith you have oppos'd it2 yet me thinks that however your ,objections seem to evince a great part of what they pretend to1 yet they evince it not all2 and the numerous tryals of those you call the vulgar ,chymists1 may be allow'd to prove something too4 ,wherefore1 if it be granted you that you have made it probable1 ,first1 that the differing substances into which mixt ,bodies are wont to be resolved by the ,fire are not of a pure and an ,elementary nature1 especially for this ,reason1 that they yet retain so much of the nature of the ,concrete that afforded them1 as to appear to be yet somewhat compounded1 and oftentimes to differ in one ,concrete from ,principles of the same denomination in another3 ,next1 that as to the number of these differing substances1 neither is it precisely three1 because in most ,vegetable and ,animal bodies ,earth and ,phlegme are also to be found among their ,ingredients2 nor is there any one determinate number into which the ,fire 7as it is wont to be employ'd7 does precisely and universally resolve all compound ,bodies whatsoever1 as well ,minerals as others that are reputed perfectly mixt4 ,lastly1 that there are divers ,qualities which cannot well be refer'd to any of these ,substances1 as if they primarily resided in it and belong'd to it2 and some other qualities1 which though they seem to have their chief and most ordinary residence in some one of these ,principles or ,elements of mixt ,bodies1 are not yet so deducible from it1 but that also some more general ,principles must be taken in to explicate them4 ,if1 ,i say1 the ,chymists 7continues ,eleutherius7 be so ,liberall as to make you these three ,concessions1 ,i hope you will1 on your part1 be so civil and ,equitable as to grant them these three other propositions1 namely2 ,first1 that divers ,mineral ,bodies1 and therefore probably all the rest1 may be resolv'd into a ,saline1 a ,sulphureous1 and a ,mercurial part2 ,and that almost all ,vegetable and ,animal ,concretes may1 if not by the ,fire alone1 yet1 by a skilfull ,artist ,employing the ,fire as his chief ,instrument1 be divided into five differing ,substances1 ,salt1 ,spirit1 ,oyle1 ,phlegme and ,earth2 of which the three former by reason of their being so much more ,operative than the ,two ,later1 deserve to be ,lookt upon as the ,three active ,principles1 and by way of ,eminence to be call'd the three principles of mixt bodies4 ,next1 that these ,principles1 ,though they be not perfectly ,devoid of all ,mixture1 yet may without inconvenience be stil'd the ,elements of ,compounded bodies1 and bear the ,names of those ,substances which they most ,resemble1 and which are manifestly predominant in them2 and that especially for this reason1 that none of these ,elements is ,divisible by the ,fire into ,four or ,five differing substances1 like the ,concrete whence it was separated4 ,lastly1 ,that ,divers of the ,qualities of a mixt ,body1 and especially the ,medical ,virtues1 do for the most part lodge in some ,one or ,other of its principles1 and may ,therefore usefully be sought for in ,that ,principle sever'd from the others4 ,and in this also 7pursues ,eleutherius7 methinks both you and the ,chymists may easily agree1 that the surest way is to ,learn by particular ,experiments1 what differing parts particular ,bodies do consist of1 and by what wayes 7either ,actual or potential fire7 they may best and most ,conveniently be ,separated1 as without relying too much upon the ,fire alone1 for the resolving of ,bodies1 so without fruitlessly contending to force them into more ,elements than ,nature made ,them up of1 or strip the sever'd ,principles so naked1 as by making ,them ,exquisitely ,elementary to make them almost useless1 ,these things 7subjoynes ,eleu47 ,i propose1 without despairing to see them granted by you2 not only because ,i know that you so much preferr the ,reputation of ,candor before that of subtility1 that your having once suppos'd a truth would not hinder you from imbracing it when clearly made out to you2 but because1 upon the present occasion1 it will be no disparagement to you to recede from some of your ,paradoxes1 since the nature and occasion of your past ,discourse did not oblige you to declare your own opinions1 but only to personate an ,antagonist of the ,chymists4 ,so that 7concludes he1 with a smile7 you may now by granting what ,i propose1 add the ,reputation of ,loving the truth sincerely to that of having been able to oppose it subtilly4 ,carneades's haste forbidding him to answer this crafty piece of flattery2 ,till ,i shal 7sayes he7 have an opportunity to acquaint you with my own ,opinions about the controversies ,i have been discoursing of1 you will not1 ,i hope1 expect ,i should declare my own sence of the ,arguments ,i have employ'd4 ,wherefore ,i shall only tell you thus much at present2 that though not only an acute ,naturalist1 but even ,i my self could take plausible ,exceptions at some of them2 yet divers of them too are such as will not perhaps be readily answer'd1 and will ,reduce my ,adversaries1 at least1 to alter and ,reform their ,hypothesis4 ,i perceive ,i need not minde you that the ,objections ,i made against the ,quaternary of ,elements and ,ternary of ,principles needed not to be oppos'd so much against the ,doctrines ,themselves 7either of which1 especially the latter1 may be much more probably maintain'd than hitherto it seems to have been1 by those ,writers for it ,i have met with7 as against the unaccurateness and the unconcludingness of the ,analytical ,experiments vulgarly ,relyed ,on to ,demonstrate them4 ,and therefore1 if either of the two examin'd ,opinions1 or any other ,theory of ,elements1 shall upon rational and ,experimental grounds be clearly made out to me2 ',tis ,obliging1 but not irrational1 in you to ,expect1 that ,i shall not be so farr in ,love with my ,disquieting ,doubts1 as not to be content to change them for undoubted truths4 ,and 7concludes ,carneades smiling7 it were no great disparagement for a ,sceptick to confesse to you1 that as unsatisfy'd as the past discourse may have made you think me with the ,doctrines of the ,peripateticks1 and the ,chymists1 about the ,elements and ,principles1 ,i can yet so little discover what to acquiesce in1 that perchance the ,enquiries of others have scarce been more unsatisfactory to me1 than my own have been to my self4 ,,finis4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,authors constant ,absence from the ,presse1 whilst the former ,treatise was ,printing1 and the ,nature of the ,subject it self1 wherewith ordinary ,composers are not wont to be at all acquainted1 will1 'tis hop'd1 procure the ,readers ,excuse1 till the next ,edition1 if the ,errata be somewhat numerous1 and if among them there want not some grosser mistakes1 which yet are not the only ,blemishes these lines must take notice of and acknowledg2 ,for the ,author now perceives that through the fault of those to whom he had committed the former ,treatise in loose ,sheets1 some ,papers that belonged to it1 have altogether miscarryed4 ,and though it have luckily enough happen'd1 for the most part1 that the ,omission of them does not marr the ,cohaerence of the rest2 yet till the next design'd ,edition afford an opportunity of inserting them1 it is thought fit that the ,printer give notice of one ,omission at the ,end of the first ,dialogue2 and that to these ,errata there be annex'd the ensuing sheet of ,paper1 that was casually lost1 or forgotten by him that should have put it into the ,presse2 where it ought to have been inserted1 in the #ahg4 printed ,page1 at the break1 betwixt the words1 ,nature in the #acth4 line1 and ,but in the next line after4 ,though it is to be noted here1 that by the mistake of the ,printer1 in some ,books1 the number of #ahg is placed at the top of two somewhat distant pages2 and in such copies the following addition ought to be inserted in the latter of the two1 as followeth4 ,and on this occasion ,i cannot but take notice1 that whereas the great ,argument which the ,chymists are wont to employ to vilify ,earth and ,water1 and make them be look'd upon as useless and unworthy to be reckon'd among the ,principles of ,mixt ,bodies1 is1 that they are not endow'd with ,specifick ,properties1 but only with ,elementary qualities2 of which they use to speak very sleightingly1 as of qualities contemptible and unactive3 ,i see no sufficient ,reason for this ,practice of the ,chymists3 ,for 'tis confess'd that ,heat is an ,elementary ,quality1 and yet that an almost innumerable company of considerable ,things are perform'd by ,heat1 is manifest to them that duly consider the various ,phaenomena wherein it intervenes as a principall ,actor2 and none ought less to ignore or distrust this ,truth then a ,chymist4 ,since almost all the operations and ,productions of his ,art are performed chiefly by the means of ,heat4 ,and as for ,cold it self1 upon whose account they so despise the ,earth and ,water1 if they please to read in the ,voyages of our ,english and ,dutch ,navigators in ,nova ,zembla and other ,northern ,regions what stupendious ,things may be effected by ,cold1 they would not perhaps think it so despicable4 ,and not to repeat what ,i lately recited to ,you out of ,paracelsus himself1 who by the help of an intense ,cold teaches to separate the ,quintessence of ,wine2 ,i will only now observe to ,you1 that the ,conservation of the ,texture of many ,bodies both animate and inanimate do's so much depend upon the convenient motion both of their own ,fluid and ,looser ,parts1 and of the ambient ,bodies1 whether ,air1 ,water1 c4 that not only in humane ,bodies we see that the immoderate or unseasonable coldness of the ,air 7especially when it finds such ,bodies overheated7 do's very frequently discompose the ,oeconomie of them1 and occasion variety of ,diseases2 but in the solid and durable ,body of ,iron it self1 in which one would not expect that suddain ,cold should produce any notable change1 it may have so great an operation1 that if you take a ,wire1 or other slender piece of steel1 and having brought it in the fire to a white heat1 ,you suffer it afterwards to cool leasurely in the ,air1 it will when it is cold be much of the same hardnesse it was of before3 ,whereas if as soon as ,you remove it from the fire1 you plunge it into cold water1 it will upon the sudden ,refrigeration acquire a very much greater hardness then it had before2 ,nay1 and will become manifestly brittle4 ,and that you may not impute this to any peculiar ,quality in the ,water1 or other ,liquor1 or ,unctuous matter1 wherein such heated steel is wont to be quenched that it may be temper'd2 ,i know a very skillful ,tradesman1 that divers times hardens steel by suddenly cooling it in a ,body that is neither a liquor1 nor so much as moist4 ,a tryal of that ,nature ,i remember ,i have seen made4 ,and however by the operation that ,water has upon steel quenched in it1 whether upon the ,account of its coldness and moisture1 or upon that of any other of its qualities1 it appears1 that water is not alwaies so inefficacious and contemptible a ,body1 as our ,chymists would have it passe for4 ,and what ,i have said of the ,efficacy of ,cold and ,heat1 might perhaps be easily enough carried further by other considerations and experiments2 were it not that having been mention'd only upon the ,bye1 ,i must not insist on it1 but proceed to another ,subject4 ,,errata4 ,pag4 #e4 line4 #f4 read so qualify'd1 #ae4 #ai4 ,ratiocinations1 #be4 #ae4 for a1 #cc4 #ag4 in a parenth4 7that is no more71 #ea4 #bd4 besides another ,caput1 #gi4 #aj4 employ1 #hf4 #ac4 structure1 #ig4 #ac4 ,sack1 ibid4 #bb4 ,sack1 #ajd4 #bi4 instead of appear it1 will1 leg4 appear1 it will1 #aah4 #bj4 leasure1 ibid4 principal1 #abf4 #bj4 and till it suffer1 #abi4 #c4 leg4 in parenth4 7notwithstanding1 c4 #aca4 #ae4 so1 #add4 #ae4 ,greek3 ,synchysis1 #aea4 #e4 nor have been resolved1 #ahj4 #be4 ,magistram1 #ahe4 #ae4 lately1 #ahh4 #ae4 tunned1 #bjj4 #a4 intolerable1 ibid4 #b4 in1 #bji4 #ba4 tegularum1 #baj4 #g4 distill'd from1 #bae4 #be4 dele the1 #bbj4 #a4 bodies1 #bbh4 #aa4 ,transcriber's ,note3 #ba4 fugitive1 #bca4 #ag4 instead of all lege a pound1 #bcg4 #f4 ,chymist1 #bdh4 #ah4 ,ashes off1 #bea4 #bc4 ,deopilative71 #bei4 #f4 it self1 #bfi4 #aj4 ,greek3 ousia analogos1 ibid4 ,greek3 astron stoicheio1 #bgf4 #be4 make a parenth4 at the words1 by the1 and shut it after the words in the #bg4 line at all1 #bhj4 #aa4 ,corals1 #bhh4 #f4 ascribes1 #bid4 #bb4 porosity1 ibid4 #bh4 noted1 #bif4 #a4 ,bodies1 #cje4 #h4 7attended1 #cjg4 #ab4 dele to1 #cjh4 #ab4 devisers1 #cab4 #ad4 and1 #cac4 #c4 too1 #cad4 #bd4 fugitivenesse1 #ccc4 #ac4 origine1 ibid4 #bd4 contrivance of1 #cci4 #a4 ,nay1 ,barthias1 #adb4 ,transcriber's ,note3 #cdb4 #c4 in2 ,i will1 #cej4 #bf4 absurd1 #cef4 #aa4 ,transcriber's ,note3 #ba4 ,goutieres1 #ceh4 #f4 antea1 #cfj4 #a4 compertissimum1 ibid4 #ah4 ,joachimica1 ibid4 #ai graminis1 ibid4 #bc4 sua ,transcriber's ,note3 this appears to be correct on the original page #cfj1 #cfb4 #f4 ,dutch account1 #cfc4 #b4 diggers71 ibid4 #aa4 and #ab4 lin4 read damp as the ,englishmen also call it1 #cff4 #be4 a height1 #cfh4 #ai4 in use1 #cgj4 #i4 latter2 ,and1 ibid4 #bd4 ,water2 ,i1 #cgg4 #bb4 ,rest1 ibid4 #be4 know71 #cgh4 #bc4 after ,aggregate insert or complex1 ibid4 #bg4 dele 71 ibid4 #bh4 dele 71 #cgi4 #d4 before as begin a parenth4 which ends lin4 #i4 at ,gold1 ibid4 instead of ,which1 put ,this1 ibid4 #ab4 with the word ,texture should be connected the next line1 ,though1 and this word ,though is to have put before it a parenthesis1 which is to end at the word ,fluid in the #afth4 line1 #chc4 #c4 ,regulus ,martis ,stellatus1 #chb4 #c4 ,relations1 ibid4 #i4 ,chymist1 #chf4 #bi4 confesse by teaching it1 #cia4 #h4 and yet may1 #cib4 #a4 an1 ibid4 #ab4 of1 #cic4 ,transcriber's ,note3 line #e distinct ,tasts1 #cig4 #ac4 ,talck1 #cih4 #ah4 ,earth1 #cii4 #ah4 parts1 #djd4 #h4 sal-petrae1 #dai4 #bj4 after it put in ,sal4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,publisher doth advertise the ,redaer ,transcriber's ,note3 ,reader1 that seeing there are divers ,experiments related in this ,treatise1 which the ,author is not unwilling to submit to the consideration also of ,forraign ,philosophers1 he believes this piece will be very soon translated into ,latin4 ,,end4