I0 6* ATrettifaf BO DIES. Chap. u. 



10. But here it is not amilfe to folve a Probleme he putteth 



The ****** . \vhichbelongethto our prefent fubjeft. Hefindethby experi- 

 fcrour quarter ence, that iftwo bodies dclccnd at the fame time from the fame 

 T f ? j' r l lf l ? point, and do go to the fame point, the one by the inferiour 



body doth dcf- r D ill i 



cerd faftcr by quarter or the circle ; the other by the chord to that arch, or 

 oulter ^tien by any other lines which arc chords to pirts of that arch : he 

 by the chord of fmdeth (I fay) that the moveable goeth faftcr by the arch, then 

 by any of the chords. And the reafon is evident, if we consider 

 that the nearer any motion dotb come unto a perpendicular one 

 downwards, the greater velocity it muft hare : and that in the 

 arch of fuch a quadrant, every particular part of it inclineth to 

 the perpendicular of the place where it is, more then the part of 

 the chord anfwerableunto it doth. 



CHAP. XI. 



tAn anfaer to objettions Againft the canfet of n*tara!l mo- 



tion, Avowed in the former chapter ; And a refutation 



of tht co*tr*ry opinion. 



The fjft obje. "D ^ c to return to the thrjd of our doctrine ; there may perad- 

 aionanfwere.'.-, JD venture be objected againft it, that if the violence of a bo- 

 bod^neSd- dies defcent towards the center, did proceed onely from the den- 

 eth flower then fity of it (which giveth it an aptitude, the better to cut the me- 

 dium) and from the multitude of little atomes descending that 

 (hike upon it, and prefle it the way they go; which is down- 

 wards: then it would not import whether the inner part of that 

 body were as folid as the outward parts ; for it cutteth with 

 oncly the outward, and is fmittcn onely upon the outward. 

 And yet experience (heweth us the contrary : for a great bullet 

 of lead, that is folid and lead throughout ; defcendcth fafter 

 then if three quarters of the diameter were hollow within ; and 

 fuch a one falling upon any refitting fubftance, worketh a grea- 

 ter eflfeft then a hollow one. And a ball of brafle that hath but 

 a tli in outfide of metall will fwim upon the water, when a maf- 

 fic one finketh prefently. Whereby it appeareth, that it is rather 

 fome other quality belonging to the very bulk of the metall in it 

 fcJf ; and not thcfc outward cau(es that occafion gravity. 



But this diflficultic is eafily overcome, if you confider how 

 fubtilc thofc atomes arc which defcending downwards and ftrik- 



