A TreMife ofKODlES. Chap. 19. 



rhe funne then in the fliade; and they continue longer,when the 

 aire is cleared by North or by Eaftern winds. They require to 

 be polifhed, either bccaufe the rubbing which polifheth them, 

 doth take off from their furfaces the former cmanations,which re- 

 turning back do ftick upon them, and fo do hinder the pafTage 

 of thofe that are within; or elfc, becaufe their outfides may be 

 foul ; or laftly, becaufe the pores may be dilated by that fmoo- 

 t'ning. Now that hardnefle and folidity is required, doth argue 

 that thefe fpirits muft be quick ones, that they may return fmart- 

 ly, and not be loft through their languifhing in the aire. Like- 

 wife, that all bodies which are not either exceeding rare, or elfc 

 fet on fire, may be drawn by thefe iimftuous thrids; concludeth 

 that the quality by which they do it, is a common one that hath 

 no particular contrarieties; fueh a one as we fee is in grcafeor in 

 pitch to ftick to any thing; from which in like manner nothing 

 is exempted but fire and aire. And laftly, that they work moil 

 eflficacioufly, when they are heated by rubbing, rather then by 

 fire; fheweth that their fpirits are excitated by motion, and are 

 thereby made to file abroad; in fuch manner as we fee in po- 

 nunders, and in other perfumes , which muft be heated if you 

 will have them communicate their fent:& alike effe ft as in them, 

 agitation doth in jet,yellow amber,& fuch other Eleclricall bo- 

 dies; for if upon rubbing them, you put them prefemly to your 

 nofe.you will dtfcern a ftrong bituminous fmell in thcm;all w ch 

 circumftances do fhewthatthis cle$ricall virtue.confifts in a cer- 

 tain degree of rarity or dcnfity of the bodies unftuous emanations 

 Now if thefe refined and vifcuous thrids of jet or amber, do 

 in their ftrcaming abroad meet with a piece of ftraw, or of hay, 

 or of a dried leaf, or fome fi ch light and fpungie body; it is no 

 marvail if they glew.themfelvcs unto it like birdlime; and that 

 in their fhrinking back (by being condenfed again and rcpul(ed, 

 through the coldnefle of the airej they carry it along with them 

 to their entire body. Which they that onely fee the effect, and 

 cannot penetrate into a pofTibility of a naturall caufe thereof, 



. are much troubled withall. 



i.is opi- And this fccmtth unto me to bear a fairer femblance of truth, 

 erninq the then what Cabeus delivereth for thecaufcof Ele&ricaU atcrafti- 

 c of B. ons< whofc (peculation herein, though I cannot allow for folid, 



Jcttncall mo- n r A i . i 



yet I muft ror ingenious. And certainly even errours are to be 



commended, 



