A Treat?(e of B O D I E S. Chap. ip. 



of i:s own nature, comprefleth it felf together, to exclude any 

 other body lighter then it is. Now in re'peft of the whole mafic 

 of the water, thofc parts which ftick to the cotton, are to be ac- 

 counted much lighter then water ; not, becaufe in their own na- 

 ture they are to; but for the cireumftances which accompany 

 them, and do gi've them a greater difpofition to receive a motion 

 upwards then much lighter bodies, whiles they aredcftitute of 

 fuch helps. Wherefore as the bulk of water weighing and flri- 

 ving downwardsjit followeth that iftherc were any air mingled 

 with it.it would to poflefle a lefler place, drive out the aire : fb 

 here in this cafe^the water that is at the foot of the ladder of cot- 

 ton, ready to climbe with a very fmall impulfe, may be after 

 fome fort compared (in refpefl of the water) to aire by reafon 

 of the lightndTe ofitrand confequcntly is forced up by the com- 

 preffing of the reft of the water round about it. Which no fafter 

 getteth up, but other pa rts at the foot of the ladder do follow the 

 mft, and drive them ftill .upwards along the towjand new ones 

 drive the fecond, and others the third, and fo forth. So that with 

 eafc they climbe up to the top of the filter, ftill driving one ano- 

 ther forwards, as you may do a fine towell through a musket 

 barrell : which though it be too limber to be thruft ftraight 

 through ; yet cramming ftill new parts into it at the length you 

 will drive the firft quite through. 



And thus, when thefe parts of water are got up to the top of 

 the veflell on which the filter hangeth, and over it on the other 

 fide by flicking ftill to the tow, and by their naturall gravity, 

 againft which nothing prefleth on this fide thclabell ; they fall 

 down again by little and little, and by drops break again into 

 water in the veflell fet to receive them. 



But now if you ask, why it will not drop unlefle the end of 

 the labell that hangeth, be lower then the water. I conceive it 

 l * becaufe the water which is all along upon the flannen, is one 

 the u- continued body hanging togcther,as it were a thrid of wife; and 

 " ^jc^ tolike accidents as fuch a continued body is.Nowfup- 

 pofe you lay a wire upon the edge of the bafin, which the filter 

 reftcth upon; and fo make that edge the center to ballance it up. 

 on; if the end that is outermoft be heavieft, it will weigh down 

 the other;othervvife,not. So fareth it with this thrid of water : 

 if the end of it that hangeth out of the pot, that is to be 



filtrcd 



