2 4 A Tre&tije cj 15 O D 1 b 5. <^nap. 21. 



j 2> The ninth pofition is, that the nature of a loadftone doth not 



The main globe fink deeply into the main body of the earth, as to have thefub- 

 no-^ioadftonc ftance of its whole body be magneticall , but onely remaineth 

 near the furface of it. And this is evident by the inequality in 

 virtue of the two cndsjfor if this magnetick virtue were the na- 

 ture of the whole body, both ends would be equally ftrong. Nor 

 would the difpofition of one of the ends be different from the 

 difpofuion of the other. Agam,there could be no variation of the 

 tending towards the north: for the bulk of the whgle body 

 would have a ttrength fo eminently greater then the prominen- 

 ces anddifparities ofhils or fcas, as the varieties ofthefe would 

 be abfolutely infenfible. Again, if the morion of the loadftonc 

 came from the body of the earth, it would be perpetually from 

 the cemer,and not from the poles;and fo,there could be no decli- 

 natio more in one part of the earth, then in another.Ner would 

 the loadfton tend from north to fouth,but from the center to the 

 circumference; or rather from the circumference to the center. 



And io we may learn the difference between tbeJoadftone 

 and the earth in their attractive opcrations;to wit, that the earth 

 doth not receive its influence from another body, nor doth its 

 magnetikc virtue depend of another magnctike agent, that im- 

 prellech it into it : which nevcrtheletfe, is the moft remarkable 

 condition of a load/tone. Again,the ftrongeft virtue of the load- 

 ftone,is from pole to polerbut the flrongeft virtue ofthe earth, is 

 from the center upwards, as appeareth by fireforks gaining a 

 much greater magnetikc ftrength in a fhort time, then a load- 

 ftone in a Jcnger.Neither can it be thence objered,that the load- 

 ftone fhould therefore receive the earths influences more ftrong- 

 Jy from the centerwards, then from the poles ofthe earth, (which 

 by its operation, and what we have difcourfed of it, is certain it 

 doth not; }hncc the beds where loadftoncs lie and are formed be 

 towards the bottome of that part or bnck ofthe earth which is 

 imbued with magnetike virtue. Again, this virtue which we fee 

 in a load/tone, is lubftantiall to it; whereas the like virtue is but 

 accidental! to the earth, by means ofthe iuns drawing the nor- 

 ^ l ! them and tbuthern exhalations to the equator. 

 \> encr 3 a tcdin The laft portion is, that the loadftone muft be found over all 

 ii parlor cii- t hc earth, and in every country. And fo we fee it isrboth becaufe 



matt of the r . /. - /- \ i n. u 



ei:th. iron mines arc found (in fome meafurc^almolt in all countncs:& 



becaufe, 



