480 NATURAL HISTORY. 



is mistaken. Take a pot, or better a glass, because 



therein you may see the motion, and set a candle 



lighted in the bottom of a bason of water, and turn 



the mouth of the pot or glass over the candle, and it 



will make the water rise. The ascribe it to the 



drawing of heat ; which is not true : for it appeareth 



plainly to be but a motion of nexe, which &quot;they 



call ne detur vacuum; and it proceedeth thus. 



The flame of the candle, as soon as it is covered, 



being suffocated by the close air, lesseneth by little 



and little ; during which time there is some little 



ascent of water, but not much : for the flame 



occupying less and less room, as it lesseneth, the 



water succeedeth. But upon the instant of the 



candle s going out, there is a sudden rise of a 



great deal of water ; for that the body of the flame 



filleth no more place, and so the air and the water 



succeed. It worketh the same effect, if instead 



of water you put flour or sand into the bason : 



which sheweth, that it is not the flames drawing 



the liquor as nourishment, as it is supposed ; for all 



bodies are alike unto it, as it is ever in motion 



of nexe ; insomuch as I have seen the glass, being 



held by the hand, hath lifted up the bason and all ; 



the motion of nexe did so clasp the bottom of the 



bason. That experiment, when the bason was 



lifted up, was made with oil, and not with water : 



nevertheless this is true, that at the very first setting 



of the mouth of the glass upon the bottom of 



the bason, it draweth up the water a little, and then 



standeth at a stay, almost till the candle s going 



