THE RESPECTIVE POINT. 



217 



exists. He cannot, however, fix its position until "the 

 expert travailer have made certaine observation of the 

 Declyning of the Needle in other places, " but considers 

 that it will " be great or little, according as the distance 

 of the point Respective is from the place where the triall 

 is made." Of one thing, however, he is sure, and that is 

 that "this stone hath wholy and fully in himselfe Power, 

 Action, Propertie and Vertue of his own Appetite to shewe 



NORMAN'S DIPPING NEEDLE. 1 



and to cause the Needle to shewe the point Respective, 

 without any Attractive qualitie or external cause of Rockes 

 of the Magnes stone, or by Attraction in the Heavens or 

 elsewhere whatsoever." If one presses him further, how- 

 ever, he announces that the end of his explanations is 

 reached. "I am no more able," he says finally, "to 

 satisfie you heerein, than if you should aske me howe and 

 by what means the celestiall Spheres are moved." 



1 From The Newe Attractive. 



