Every penſil and
librated, body
ryed round in the
circumference of a
circle, acquireth of
it ſelf a motion in
it ſelf contrary to
that.
librated, body
ryed round in the
circumference of a
circle, acquireth of
it ſelf a motion in
it ſelf contrary to
that.
An eminent
Doctor of Phyſick,
our Countreyman,
born at Coloheſter,
and famous for this
his learned
tiſe, publiſhed
bout 60 years ſince
at London, The
Magnetick
loſophy of William
Gilbert.
Doctor of Phyſick,
our Countreyman,
born at Coloheſter,
and famous for this
his learned
tiſe, publiſhed
bout 60 years ſince
at London, The
Magnetick
loſophy of William
Gilbert.
SALV. I am for certain, and think that all thoſe that have
ſeriouſly read his Book, and tried his experiments, will bear me
company therein; nor ſhould I deſpair, that what hath befallen
me in this caſe, might poſſibly happen to you alſo, if ſo be a
rioſity, like to mine, and a notice that infinite things in Nature
are ſtill conceal'd from the wits of mankind, by delivering you
from being captivated by this or that particular writer in natural
things, ſhould but ſlacken the reines of your Reaſon, and
lifie the contumacy and tenaceouſneſſe of your ſenſe; ſo as that
they would not refuſe to hearken ſometimes to novelties never
before ſpoken of. But (permit me to uſe this phraſe) the
nimity of vulgar Wits is come to that paſſe, that not only like
blind men, they make a gift, nay tribute of their own aſſent to
whatſoever they find written by thoſe Authours, which in the
infancy of their Studies were laid before them, as authentick by
their Tutors, but refuſe to hear (not to ſay examine) any new
Propoſition or Probleme, although it not only never hath been
confuted, but not ſo much as examined or conſidered by their
Authours. Amongſt which, one is this, of inveſtigating what is
the true, proper, primary, interne, and general matter and
ſtance of this our Terreſtrial Globe; For although it never came
into the mind either of Ariſtotle, or of any one elſe, before
liam Gilbert to think that it might be a Magnet, ſo far are
ſtotle and the reſt from confuting this opinion, yet nevertheleſſe
I have met with many, that at the very firſt mention of it, as a
Horſe at his own ſhadow, have ſtart back, and refuſed to
courſe thereof, and cenſured the conceipt for a vain Chymæra,
yea, for a ſolemn madneſſe: and its poſſible the Book of Gilbert
had never come to my hands, if a Peripatetick Philoſopher, of great
fame, as I believe, to free his Library from its contagion, had not
given it me.
ſeriouſly read his Book, and tried his experiments, will bear me
company therein; nor ſhould I deſpair, that what hath befallen
me in this caſe, might poſſibly happen to you alſo, if ſo be a
rioſity, like to mine, and a notice that infinite things in Nature
are ſtill conceal'd from the wits of mankind, by delivering you
from being captivated by this or that particular writer in natural
things, ſhould but ſlacken the reines of your Reaſon, and
lifie the contumacy and tenaceouſneſſe of your ſenſe; ſo as that
they would not refuſe to hearken ſometimes to novelties never
before ſpoken of. But (permit me to uſe this phraſe) the
nimity of vulgar Wits is come to that paſſe, that not only like
blind men, they make a gift, nay tribute of their own aſſent to
whatſoever they find written by thoſe Authours, which in the
infancy of their Studies were laid before them, as authentick by
their Tutors, but refuſe to hear (not to ſay examine) any new
Propoſition or Probleme, although it not only never hath been
confuted, but not ſo much as examined or conſidered by their
Authours. Amongſt which, one is this, of inveſtigating what is
the true, proper, primary, interne, and general matter and
ſtance of this our Terreſtrial Globe; For although it never came
into the mind either of Ariſtotle, or of any one elſe, before
liam Gilbert to think that it might be a Magnet, ſo far are
ſtotle and the reſt from confuting this opinion, yet nevertheleſſe
I have met with many, that at the very firſt mention of it, as a
Horſe at his own ſhadow, have ſtart back, and refuſed to
courſe thereof, and cenſured the conceipt for a vain Chymæra,
yea, for a ſolemn madneſſe: and its poſſible the Book of Gilbert
had never come to my hands, if a Peripatetick Philoſopher, of great
fame, as I believe, to free his Library from its contagion, had not
given it me.
SIMP. I, who ingenuouſly confeſſe my ſelf to be one of
thoſe vulgar Wits, and never till within theſe few dayes that I
have been admitted to a ſhare in your conferences, could I
tend to have in the leaſt withdrawn from thoſe trite and
lar paths, yet, for all that, I think I have advantaged my ſelf ſo
much, as that I could without much trouble or difficulty, maſter
the roughneſſes of theſe novel and fantaſtical opinions.
thoſe vulgar Wits, and never till within theſe few dayes that I
have been admitted to a ſhare in your conferences, could I
tend to have in the leaſt withdrawn from thoſe trite and
lar paths, yet, for all that, I think I have advantaged my ſelf ſo
much, as that I could without much trouble or difficulty, maſter
the roughneſſes of theſe novel and fantaſtical opinions.
SALV. If that which Gilbert writeth be true, then is it no
pinion, but the ſubject of Science; nor is it new, but as antient
as the Earth it ſelf; nor can it (being true) be rugged or
cult, but plain and eaſie; and when you pleaſe I ſhall make you
feel the ſame in your hand, for that you of your ſelf fancy it to
pinion, but the ſubject of Science; nor is it new, but as antient
as the Earth it ſelf; nor can it (being true) be rugged or
cult, but plain and eaſie; and when you pleaſe I ſhall make you
feel the ſame in your hand, for that you of your ſelf fancy it to