about the circumference, and of reftauration at the center, 

 where it fucketh in the fevvell : and then we will enquire of 

 him, what brccmeth of that body of flame which fo continual- 

 ly dieth and is renewed, and leaveth no remainder behind it; 

 as well as he doth of us, what becometh of our body of light, 

 which in like manner is alwayes dying and alwayes fpringing 

 frefli ? And when he hath well confidcrcd it, he will find that 

 one anfwer will (erve for both. 



Which is, That as the fire ftreameth out from the fountain of 

 it, and growcth more fubtilc by its dilatation, it finketh tht 

 more cafily into thofe bodies it meetcth withall : the firft of 

 which and that environcth it round about, is aire. With airc 

 then it mingleth and incorporatcth it felf, and by confequencc 

 with the other little bodies that are mingled with the aire : and 

 in them it receiveth the changes which nature worketh : by 

 which it may be turned into the other elements, if there be oc- 

 cafion; or be ftill confcrved in bodies that require heat. 



Upon this occafion, I remember a rare experiment that a j 4 

 noble man of much fincerity, and a fingular friend of mine, An experiment 

 told me he had feen: which was, That by means of glafles made JceS W th 

 in a very particular manner, and artificially placed one by ano- light may be < 

 ther, he had feen the fun-beams gathered together , and preeipi- 

 tated down into a brownifh or purplifh red powder. There 

 could be no fallacy in this operation : for nothing whatfocver 

 was in the glafles when they were placed anddifpofed for this 

 intent : and it murt be in the hot time of the yeare, elfe the ef- 

 fect WQuld not follow. And of this Magiftry he could gather 

 fornc dayes near two ounces in a day. And it was of a ftnnge 

 volatile nature, and would pierce and imprint his fpirituall qua- 

 lity into gold it felf (the heavicft and moft fixed body we 

 converfe withall ) in a very fhortcime. If this be plainly fo, 

 without any miftaking ; then niens eyes and hands may tell 

 them what becotncth of light when it dieth, if a great deal of 

 it were fwcpt together. But from what caufe foever this experi- 

 ence had its effect, our rcafon maybe fatisfied with what we 

 have faid above: for I confefle, for my part, I believe the appea- ^ 

 ring body might be fomething that came along with the fun- 

 beams, and was gathered by them; but not their pure fubftance. 



Some pcradvcnture will ob;e chofc lamps, which both an- 

 cient 



