154 



a;rc is the p/c- 

 clominar.t H!c- 

 n.cnt. 



'A TreMtfc of B O D I E S. Chap. 14. 



Let the next proportion of cjceefle in a \vatry compound, be 

 of aire, whfch v>hcii it prevatleth, it incorporated) it felf chiefly 

 with earth, for the other Elements would nocfo well retain k. 

 Now, becauft its pans are fubtile(by reafon of the rarity it 

 fmh } and flicking, ( becaufeof KS humidity ) it driveth the 

 earth and water likewife into leffer parts. The refult of fuch t. 

 mixture Is, that the parts of a body compounded by it areclofe, 

 catching, flowing (lowly, glibbe, and generally it will burn, 

 and be eafily converted into flame. 



Of this kind, are*tho& which we call oyly or unftuous bo- 

 dies \\hofe great parts are eafily feparated, ( that is, they arc 

 eafity drnfrble in btrJk,) but riw fmall ones very hardly. Next 

 the imalnefle-, and well- working of the parts, by means of the 

 aires penetrating erery depone, & flicking clofe toerery one 

 ofthcm,arrd confecpenrly, joy ning them without any uneven* 

 nefle; caufeth that there can fc>e no ruggednefie in it; and there- 

 fore, it is glibbe in Irke ma-nner as we fee platter or March be- 

 come fmoorh when they are well wrought. Then, the hatnidi- 

 ty of it caufeth it to be catching, a-nd rhe fliortneflJe ofevery 

 part.maketh that where it ftickech>itis not eafily parted thence* 

 Now, the rarity ofaire next unto fire, admitccth it to be ( of 

 all the other Elements ) moft eafily brought to die height of 

 fire, by the operation of fire- upon it. And therefore, oyla arc 

 the proper food of that Element. And accordingly we lee, chat 

 if a drop ofoyl be fpilPed upon a fheet of paper, and the papei 

 be let on fire at a corner ; as the fire comerh near die oyl, d*e 

 oyl will difpcrie and fpread it felf pon rhe paper t a broader 

 compaflfe then it had; which is,becaufethe heat rarifyeth it; and 

 fojinoyl it felf, the fire rarifymg the aire, makcch ic penrrrare 

 the earthy parts adjoyned unto it, more then it did ; and {b 

 fubtilizeth them, till they be reduced to fucli a height as they 

 are within the power of fire to communicate his own nature 

 unto them : ana thus, he tunreth them into fire, and carrieth 

 them tip in his flame. 



But if fire be predominant over earth and aire inawatry 

 compound ; itrrrakeththebody Co proportioned, to befubtilc, 

 rare, penetrative, hot in operation, liglu in weight, and lubjeft 

 to burn. Of this kind are all forts- of wines,*nd diftilterf fpirits, 

 commonly called ftrong waters or Aquavitet ; in Latine Aqu 



ardences. 





