22 NATURAL HISTORY. 



festly, that flame burneth more violently towards the 

 sides than in the midst : and which is more, that 

 heat or fire is not violent or furious, but where it is 

 checked and pent. And therefore the Peripatetics^ 

 howsoever their opinion of an element of fire above 

 the air is justly exploded, in that point they acquit 

 themselves well : for being opposed, that if there 

 were a sphere of fire, that encompassed the earth so 

 near hand, it were impossible but all things should 

 be burnt up ; they answer, that the pure elemental 

 fire, in its own place, and not irritated, is but of a 

 moderate heat. 



Experiment solitary touching the decrease of the natu 

 ral motion of gravity, in great distance from the 

 earth ; or within some depth of the earth. 

 33. It is affirmed constantly by many, as an 

 usual experiment ; that a lump of ore, in the bottom 

 of a mine, will be tumbled and stirred by two men s 

 strength ; which if you bring it to the top of the 

 earth, will ask six men s strength at the least to stir 

 it. It is a noble instance, and is fit to be tried to 

 the full ; for it is very probable, that the motion of 

 gravity, worketh weakly, both far from the earth, 

 and also within the earth : the former, because the 

 appetite of union of dense bodies with the earth, in 

 respect of the distance, is more dull : the latter, be 

 cause the body hath in part attained its nature when 

 it is some depth in the earth. For as for the mov 

 ing to a point or place, which was the opinion of the 

 ancients, it is a mere vanity. 



