NATURAL HISTORY OF WINDS. 249 



constant and fixed names of winds, according to the order 

 and disposition of the regions of the heavens : we do not 

 set much by the comments of authors, since the authors 

 themselves have little in them. 



Free Winds. 



To the sixth article. 



1. There is not a region of the heaven from whence the 

 wind doth not blow. Yea, if you divide the heaven into as 

 many regions as there be degrees in the horizon, you shall 

 find winds sometimes blowing from every one of them. 



2. There are some whole countries where it never rains, 

 or at least very seldom ; but there is no country where the 

 wind doth not blow, and that frequently. 



General Winds. 



To the second article. 



1. Concerning general winds experiments are plain ; and 

 it is no marvel, seeing that (especially within the tropics) 

 we may find places condemned among the ancients. 



It is certain, that to those who sail between the tropics 

 in a free and open sea, there blows a constant and settled 

 wind (which the seamen call a breeze) from east to west. 

 This wind is not of so little force, but that, partly by its 

 own blowing, and partly by its guiding the current of the 

 sea, it hindereth seamen from coming back again the same 

 way they went to Peru. 



2. In our seas in Europe, when it is fair dry weather, 

 and no particular winds stirring, there blows a soft kind of 

 gale from the east, which followeth the sun. 



3. Our common observations do admit that the higher 

 clouds are for the most part carried from east to west ; and 

 that it is so likewise when here below upon the earth, either 

 there is a great calm or a contrary wind ; and if they do not 

 so always, it is because sometimes particular winds blow 

 aloft which overwhelm this general wind. 



A caution. If there be any such general wind, in order 

 to the motion of the heaven, it is not so firm nor strong, 

 but that it gives way to particular winds. But it appears 

 most plainly amongst the tropics, by reason of the larger 

 circles which it makes. And likewise it is so when it blows 

 on high, for the same cause, and by reason of its free course. 

 Wherefore if you will take it without the tropics, and near 

 the earth (where it blows most gently and slowly), make 

 trial of it in an open and free air, in an extreme calm, and 



