2813The Hiſtory of Life and Death.
ing, and that though they be expoſed to the open air;
much more if they be buried
in the earth. Notwithſtanding Stones gather a kind of Nitre, which is to them inſtead
of Ruſt. Precious Stones and Cryſtals exceed Metalls in long laſting; but then they
grow dimmer and leſs Orient, if they be very old.
in the earth. Notwithſtanding Stones gather a kind of Nitre, which is to them inſtead
of Ruſt. Precious Stones and Cryſtals exceed Metalls in long laſting; but then they
grow dimmer and leſs Orient, if they be very old.
It is obſerved, that Stones lying to wards the North do ſooner decay with age than
114. thoſe that lie to ward the South; and that appears manifeſtly in Pyramids, and Churches,
and other ancient Buildings: contrariwiſe, in Iron, that expoſed to the South, gathers
Ruſt ſooner, and that to the North later; as may be ſeen in the Iron-bars of windows.
And no marvel, ſeeing in all putrefaction (as Ruſt is) Moiſture haſtens Diſſolutions;
in all ſimple Arefaction, Drineſs.
114. thoſe that lie to ward the South; and that appears manifeſtly in Pyramids, and Churches,
and other ancient Buildings: contrariwiſe, in Iron, that expoſed to the South, gathers
Ruſt ſooner, and that to the North later; as may be ſeen in the Iron-bars of windows.
And no marvel, ſeeing in all putrefaction (as Ruſt is) Moiſture haſtens Diſſolutions;
in all ſimple Arefaction, Drineſs.
In Vegetables, (we ſpeak of ſuch as are fell’d, not growing) the Stocks or Bodies of
225. harder Trees, and the Timber made of them, laſt divers ages. Butthen there is diffe-
rence in the bedies of Trees: ſome Trees are in a manner ſpongy, as the Elder, in which
the pith in the midſt is ſoft, and the outward part harder; but in Timber-trees, as the
Oak, the inner part (which they call Heart of Oak) laſteth longer.
225. harder Trees, and the Timber made of them, laſt divers ages. Butthen there is diffe-
rence in the bedies of Trees: ſome Trees are in a manner ſpongy, as the Elder, in which
the pith in the midſt is ſoft, and the outward part harder; but in Timber-trees, as the
Oak, the inner part (which they call Heart of Oak) laſteth longer.
The Leaves, and Flowers, and Stalks of Plants are but of ſhort laſting, but diſſolve into
336. duſt, unleſs they putrefie: the Roots are more durable.
336. duſt, unleſs they putrefie: the Roots are more durable.
The Bones of living Creatures laſt long, as we may ſee it of mens bones in Charnel-
447. houſes: Horns alſo laſt very long; ſo do Teeth, as it is ſeen in Ivory, and the Sea-horſe
Teeth.
447. houſes: Horns alſo laſt very long; ſo do Teeth, as it is ſeen in Ivory, and the Sea-horſe
Teeth.
Hides alſo and Skins endure very long, as is evident in old Parchment-books:
Paper
558. likewiſe will laſt many ages, though notſolong as Parchment.
558. likewiſe will laſt many ages, though notſolong as Parchment.
Such things as have paſſed the Fire laſt long, as Glaſs and Bricks;
likewiſe Fleſh and
669. Fruits that have paſſed the Fire laſt longer than Raw: and that not onely becauſe the
Baking in the Fire forbids putrefaction; but alſo becauſe the watry humour being drawn
forth, the oily humour ſupports it ſelf the longer.
669. Fruits that have paſſed the Fire laſt longer than Raw: and that not onely becauſe the
Baking in the Fire forbids putrefaction; but alſo becauſe the watry humour being drawn
forth, the oily humour ſupports it ſelf the longer.
Water of all Liquors is ſooneſt drunk up by Air, contrariwiſe Oil lateſt;
which we
7710. may ſee not onely in the Liquors themſelves, but in the Liquors mixt with other Bodies:
for Paper wet with water, and ſo getting ſome degree of tranſparency, will ſoon after
wax white, and loſe the tranſparency again, the watry vapour exhaling; but oiled Paper
will keep the tranſparency long, the Oil not being apt to exhale: And therefore they
that counterfeit mens hands, will lay the oiled paper upon the writing they mean to
counterfeit, and then aſſay to draw the lines.
7710. may ſee not onely in the Liquors themſelves, but in the Liquors mixt with other Bodies:
for Paper wet with water, and ſo getting ſome degree of tranſparency, will ſoon after
wax white, and loſe the tranſparency again, the watry vapour exhaling; but oiled Paper
will keep the tranſparency long, the Oil not being apt to exhale: And therefore they
that counterfeit mens hands, will lay the oiled paper upon the writing they mean to
counterfeit, and then aſſay to draw the lines.
Gums all of them laſt very long;
the like do wax and Honey.
8811.
8811.
But the equal or unequal uſe of things conduceth no leſs to long laſting or ſhort laſt-
9912. ing, than the things themſelves; for Timber, and Stones, and other Bodies, ſtanding con-
tinually in the water, or continually in the air, laſt longer than if they were ſometimes
wet, ſometimes dry: and ſo Stones continue longer, if they be laid towards the ſame
coaſt of Heaven in the Building that they lay in the Mine. The ſameis of Plants re-
moved, if they be coaſted juſt as they were before.
9912. ing, than the things themſelves; for Timber, and Stones, and other Bodies, ſtanding con-
tinually in the water, or continually in the air, laſt longer than if they were ſometimes
wet, ſometimes dry: and ſo Stones continue longer, if they be laid towards the ſame
coaſt of Heaven in the Building that they lay in the Mine. The ſameis of Plants re-
moved, if they be coaſted juſt as they were before.
Obſervations.
L Et this be laid for a Foundation, which is moſt ſure, That there is in every Tangible
10101. body a Spirit, or body Pneumatical, encloſed and covered with the Tangible parts;
And that from this Spirit is the beginning of all Diſſolution and Conſumption, ſo as
the Antidote againſt them is the detaining of this Spirit.
10101. body a Spirit, or body Pneumatical, encloſed and covered with the Tangible parts;
And that from this Spirit is the beginning of all Diſſolution and Conſumption, ſo as
the Antidote againſt them is the detaining of this Spirit.
This Spirit is detained two ways:
either by a ſtreight Incloſure, as it were in a Pri-
11112. ſon: or by a kind of free and voluntary Detention. Again, this voluntary ſtay is
perſwaded two ways: either if the Spirit it ſelf be not to moveable or eager to depart;
or if the external Air importune it not too much to come forth. So then, two ſorts of
Subſtances are durable, Hard Subſtances, and Oily: Hard Subſtance binds in the
Spirits cloſe; Oily partly enticeth the Spirit to stay, partly is of that nature that it is
not importuned by Air; for Air is conſubſtantial to Water, and Flame to Oil. And
touching Nature Durable and not Durable in Bodies Inanimate, thus much.
11112. ſon: or by a kind of free and voluntary Detention. Again, this voluntary ſtay is
perſwaded two ways: either if the Spirit it ſelf be not to moveable or eager to depart;
or if the external Air importune it not too much to come forth. So then, two ſorts of
Subſtances are durable, Hard Subſtances, and Oily: Hard Subſtance binds in the
Spirits cloſe; Oily partly enticeth the Spirit to stay, partly is of that nature that it is
not importuned by Air; for Air is conſubſtantial to Water, and Flame to Oil. And
touching Nature Durable and not Durable in Bodies Inanimate, thus much.
The Hiſtory.
HErbs of the colder ſort die yearly both in Root and Stalk;
as Lettice, Purſtane;
121213. alſo VVheat and all kind of Corn: yet there are ſome cold Herbs which will
121213. alſo VVheat and all kind of Corn: yet there are ſome cold Herbs which will
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