302 HISTORY OF DENSITY AND RARITY. 



thing, and that by course of nature this can never be done. 

 Therefore the sum of the total matter stands still whole, 

 nothing is added, nothing is diminished ; yet that this 

 sum is divided by portions amongst the bodies is unques 

 tionable, for there can no man be so much beside himself 

 through any subtile abstractions, as to think that there is 

 as much matter in one vessel of water as in ten vessels of 

 water, nor likewise in one vessel of air as much as in ten 

 vessels of air ; but in the same body there is no question 

 but that the abundance of matter is multiplied according 

 to the measure of the body, in divers bodies it is question 

 able. And if it be demonstrated that one vessel of water 

 turned into air will yield ten vessels of air (for we take this 

 computation for a received opinion, though that of a hundred 

 fold be the truer), it is well ; for now they are no more divers 

 bodies, water and air, but the same body of air in ten ves 

 sels; but one vessel of air (as it was but now granted) is 

 but only the tenth part of ten vessels. Therefore it cannot 

 be contradicted but that in one vessel of water there is ten 

 times more matter than in one vessel of air : therefore if 

 one should affirm, that one whole vessel of water could be 

 converted into one vessel of air, it were as much as if one 

 should affirm that something could be reduced to nothing; 

 forasmuch as one tenth part of water would suffice to do it, 

 and the other nine parts must of necessity be reduced to 

 nothing; and contrariwise, if one should affirm that one 

 vessel of air could be turned into a vessel of water, it would 

 be as much as if he should say, that something could be 

 created out of nothing ; for one vessel of air can attain and 

 reach but unto the tenth part of a vessel of water, and the 

 other nine parts must needs proceed from nothing. In the 

 mean time we will plainly acknowledge and confess, that 

 to understand the true means of the reasons and calcula 

 tions of the how much part of the quantum, or how much 

 of the matter which is in divers bodies, and by what industry 

 and sagacity one may be truly informed thereof, is a high 

 matter to be inquired ; but such as the great and largely 

 extended profit which will accrue thereby will largely re 

 compense. For to know the densities and rarities of the 

 body, and much more, how to procure and effect the con 

 densations and rarefactions, is of great importance and 

 moment both to contemplative and to the practic. Seeing, 

 then, it is a thing (if any there be at all) merely fundamental 

 and universal, we must go carefully and prepared about it, 

 seeing that all philosophy without it is loose and disjointed. 



