1from the increaſing Lake, would not ſuffer it to increaſe in
height: I ſay therefore, that if we would rightly conſider this
doubt here propoſed, we ſhould, in the very conſideration of it,
ſee it reſolved; for, it being ſuppoſed that that liſt or border of
Banks which was to be occupied by the increaſe of the Lake, be
a Brace in breadth quite round the Lake, and that by reaſon of
its dryneſs it ſucks in water, and that by that means this propor
tion of water co-operates not in raiſing of the Lake: It is abſo
lutely neceſſary on the other hand, that we conſider, That the
Circuit of the water of the Lake being thirty miles, as its com
monly held, that is to ſay, Ninety thouſand Braces of Florence
in compaſs; and therefore admitting for true, that each Brace of
this Bank drink two quarts of water, and that for the ſpieading
it require three quarts more, we ſhall finde, that the whole agre
gate of this portion of water, which is not imployed in the raiſing
of the Lake, will be four hundred and fifty thouſand Quarts of
water; and ſuppoſing that the Lake be ſixty ſquare miles, three
thouſand Braces long, we ſhall finde, that to diſpence the water
poſſeſt by the Bank about the Lake, above the total ſurface of
the Lake, it ought to be ſpread ſo thin, that one ſole quart of
water may over-ſpread ten thouſand ſquare Braces of ſurface:
ſuch a thinneſs, as muſt much exceed that of a leaf of beaten
Gold, and alſo leſs than that skin of water which covers the Bub
bles of it: and ſuch would that be, which thoſe men would have
ſubſtracted from the riſing of the Lake: But again, in the ſpace
of a quarter of an hour at the beginning of the rain, all that
Bank is ſoaked by the ſaid rain, ſo that we need not for the
moiſtning of it, imploy a drop of that water which falleth into
the Lake. Beſides we have not brought to account that abun
dance of water which runs in time of rain into the Lake, from
the ſteepneſs of the adjacent Hills and Mountains; which would
be enough to ſupply all our occaſions: So that, neither ought
we for this reaſon to queſtion our pretended riſing. And this
is what hath fallen in my way touching the conſideration of the
Thraſimenian Lake.
height: I ſay therefore, that if we would rightly conſider this
doubt here propoſed, we ſhould, in the very conſideration of it,
ſee it reſolved; for, it being ſuppoſed that that liſt or border of
Banks which was to be occupied by the increaſe of the Lake, be
a Brace in breadth quite round the Lake, and that by reaſon of
its dryneſs it ſucks in water, and that by that means this propor
tion of water co-operates not in raiſing of the Lake: It is abſo
lutely neceſſary on the other hand, that we conſider, That the
Circuit of the water of the Lake being thirty miles, as its com
monly held, that is to ſay, Ninety thouſand Braces of Florence
in compaſs; and therefore admitting for true, that each Brace of
this Bank drink two quarts of water, and that for the ſpieading
it require three quarts more, we ſhall finde, that the whole agre
gate of this portion of water, which is not imployed in the raiſing
of the Lake, will be four hundred and fifty thouſand Quarts of
water; and ſuppoſing that the Lake be ſixty ſquare miles, three
thouſand Braces long, we ſhall finde, that to diſpence the water
poſſeſt by the Bank about the Lake, above the total ſurface of
the Lake, it ought to be ſpread ſo thin, that one ſole quart of
water may over-ſpread ten thouſand ſquare Braces of ſurface:
ſuch a thinneſs, as muſt much exceed that of a leaf of beaten
Gold, and alſo leſs than that skin of water which covers the Bub
bles of it: and ſuch would that be, which thoſe men would have
ſubſtracted from the riſing of the Lake: But again, in the ſpace
of a quarter of an hour at the beginning of the rain, all that
Bank is ſoaked by the ſaid rain, ſo that we need not for the
moiſtning of it, imploy a drop of that water which falleth into
the Lake. Beſides we have not brought to account that abun
dance of water which runs in time of rain into the Lake, from
the ſteepneſs of the adjacent Hills and Mountains; which would
be enough to ſupply all our occaſions: So that, neither ought
we for this reaſon to queſtion our pretended riſing. And this
is what hath fallen in my way touching the conſideration of the
Thraſimenian Lake.
After which, perhaps ſomewhat raſhly, wandring beyond my
bounds, I proceeded to another contemplation, which I will re
late to you, hoping that you will receive it, as collected with
theſe cautions requiſite in ſuch like affairs; wherein we ought
not too poſitively to affirm any thing of our own heads for cer
tain, but ought to ſubmit all to the ſound and ſecure delibera
tion of the Holy Mother-Church, as I do this of mine, and all
others; moſt ready to change my judgement, and conform my
ſelf alwaies to the deliberations of my Superiors. Continu
bounds, I proceeded to another contemplation, which I will re
late to you, hoping that you will receive it, as collected with
theſe cautions requiſite in ſuch like affairs; wherein we ought
not too poſitively to affirm any thing of our own heads for cer
tain, but ought to ſubmit all to the ſound and ſecure delibera
tion of the Holy Mother-Church, as I do this of mine, and all
others; moſt ready to change my judgement, and conform my
ſelf alwaies to the deliberations of my Superiors. Continu