Section II, Book 3, member 1, chapters 1–2: The admirable effects of sympathy

The Third BOOK.

Which toucheth many practicall Proofs, and experimentall Conclusions, to confirm the loving Microcosmicall Attraction, or sympatheticall Coition, and antipatheticall Expulsion or hatred, by the magnetick and expulsive property of the Macrocosmicall Load-stone.

The first Member of this Book, intreating of the admirable effects in Sympathy, which are brought to pass by the Magneticall Attraction of like unto like.

CHAP. I. Herein is expressed, how by comparing the Mineral Load-stone, and his attractive Virtues with those of the Animal and Vegetable, we may find out and bring to a demonstrable light, the wonderfull effects that do lurk in them both.

SInce it is a thing most worthy of observation among wisemen, that there is nothing in the celestiall Orbe, which hath not his like in the terrestriall; So verily, there is nothing in the minerall kingdom which hath not his like in the vegetable; and again, the likness of the vegetable Sphere is found in the animal, I mean in love and hatred; in attraction and expulsion; in union and divorce. But, because in the mineral kingdom, there is found nothing in all the world, so neare in virtue unto the action and life of the animal, as is the Magnet or Load-stone; Since that it affecteth sensibly, his ferruginous like, it seemeth to wooe and lust after it, and attracteth it eagerly, and lasty, uniteth it self unto it after a marvellous manner, even as the the female and male do in the animal kingdom. For this reason every like particle in the animal or vegetable kingdom, that worketh after the same manner, are justly tearmed Magneticall. Hereupon the well experimented Doctor, Paracelsus, when he writeth of the mysticall Mummies, as well corporal as spirituall, and of the attractive means or manner to extract them, as well out of the living as dead bodie; He, for the better instruction of his Schollers, and such as he termeth filios Artis, the children of Art, expresseth examples, drawn from the Load-stone and the Iron: For by it he doth sufficiently declare the manner of extracting the said Mummy, and consequently doth open after his fashion, what the Microcosmicall, or Animal Magnet is, by means whereof it is extracted out of the body, namely that it is a corporall or substantiall thing, as he seemeth to justify in these words: Spiritualis Mummia non operatur nisi per corporalia media: The spirituall Mummy worketh not but by corporall means. Where he intimateth by corporall means, those secret Magneticall bodies, which suck it forth of the living animal, and make it to operate, as well at home by an immediate contract as abroad, namely in or at an unlimitted distance; that is to say, by a naturall and convenient transplantation. He therefore who is wise and profound in these mysteries of Nature, and unto whom the Sympatheticall Concordance, abstruce properties, nature, virtues, and originall of the Load-stone, and the Iron, is well known, will know that their example may fitly be applied unto man: For by it he may easily discern the Microcosmicall Magnets, and understand the manner of their extraction of the spirituall Mummy out of man, and withall conceive the proper end and usage thereof. That thetefore these things may be the better dilated and enucleated unto the well-wishing Reader, I think it fit in the first place, to touch a little the same string of one symphoniacall Concordance, that doth concern the nature and Originall of the Load-stone, and the Iron, which we have more fully mentioned in the precedent Book of this our discourse, that thereby we may with the greater facility, gather what the Microcosmicall Magnets are.

As I told you before, in the third Chapter of the second Book of this Treatise, that it was evident, that the Load-stone, otherwise called the Calamite, or minerall Magnes, proceedeth, not of any naturall beginning, but rather of a monstrous birth and originall, forasmu[…]h as it seemeth after the manner of a Mule, to be procreated of unequall and unlike genitors or parents, being that his mother, or corporeal and passive mass appeareth evidently to be a common, Saturnine, stony, Mercuriall substance; and his father, or active form, a mettallick or sulphureous Martiall spirit: Now after what manner the mixtion of these two are made, I beseech you to observe in a word: When the Saturnine Mercuriall liquor of the stony nature was as yet in his first matter, near unto the Mercury of Mars, (for these two are most commonly found together) namely, the Magneticall nature, and the Iron mine; for this reason, to wit, because of their near alliance, and propinquity in exidence, there was required but a light and easie transmutation, to unite them into one body, and therefore it seemeth to enjoy a middle nature, between a metall and a stone. And it may well be called a half transmuted Saturnine Mercury, into the which, when […]he spirit of the Martiall sulphur, as a metallick form, hath entred, it receiveth it as his passive mother, and conserveth it within it self, and is coagulated into a stony body, whi[…]h is called the Calamite, Magnet, or Loadstone. Now since every spirit doth p[…]in[…]ipally affect and covet, to be nourished with that which is nearest […]nd likest unto his nature, the which nature and spirit is found to be onely in Iron; and therefore they are observed to proceed from one Mine, or the same terrene matrix; yea, that out of the Magnet body, the perfectest Iron or Steel is extracted, it ariseth from the consideration, that the Martiall and Saturnine spirit of the Load-stone, sucketh and attracteth from his center the body of Iron unto it, drawing forth of it his formall beams, as it were his spirituall food; but because the Iron-body will not forsake so easily his inward spirit, it followeth and is su[…]ked unto it. And again, the Iron finding the like spirits in the Load-stone, doth covet as fast to be possessor of them, by an equall coition or desire, and so a conjunction or union is made no otherwise between them, than between man and wife. But because the Loadstone is fuller of the Saturnine stony Mercury than the Iron, which is purified from it by fire, and consequently more near unto the property of the male, therefore it sucketh not the Load-stone so greedily unto it, as the Load-stone doth the Iron. For it is an old confirmed axiom, That Matter doth desire and long after Form, and as eagerly doth draw and allure it, as the female doth the male. But that the Iron is in lieu of the male, it appeareth, in the strength that it addeth unto the Load-stone, for if the Load-stones pole be capped with steel, it doth so far animate it beyond his own proper nature, that it causeth it to draw unto it a far greater proportion of Iron, then otherwise it was able. This therefore being rightly considered, we may with the greater facility collect, what that micro[…]osmicall Load-stone should be, that is able to extract the microcosmicall spirit, without any dammage or debilitation of the body.

If therefore we would attempt to effect this excellent exploit, we must do it by such a corporall Magnet, as shall be taken out of the Microcosm, or Man, whose production and generation must in every respect accord and agree with that of the macrocosmical, or terrene mineral Loadstone, which is mentioned before; the which I purpose onely by circumlo[…]u[…]ion, and not in plain tearms, to expresse unto you, that thereby so great a secret as this key, to unlock the balsamick cabinet of mans Mummiall nature, may be hidden from the unworthy, and yet sufficiently made manifest unto the worthy and religious Philosopher, by evident circumstances; for if that such hidden mysteries in nature were vulgarly discovered, there would be no difference had between a wise man and a fool. And therefore Solomon did teaeh us, Quod sit sapientis celare rem, It is the part of a wise man to hide the thing. And the wise Philosophers in their Writings, did so considerately express the secret of nature, that they might hide it from the ignorant and uncapable vulgar, and yet speak plainly to such as are the children of art, and sons of true learning. But this is not all, for I would have you to understand, that the property of the magnetick microcosmicall work is so universall, that it sheweth the way, as well to infect the Mummiall spirits of man with a venomous and pernicious antipatheticall nature, as to extract it in its wholsome and sympatheticall condition, whereby it may be employed in good and salutary usages. And for that reason, namely, because evill-minded persons, as well witches and sorcerers, whom the devill hath instructed in the abuse of this excellent mystery, as also wicked minded-men, I mean incarnate devills, may do great mischief in the world, by the publick revelation thereof; for most men are proner unto mischief, than inclined to do goodness; I think it to be the wisest part, not to name the internall microcosmicall Magnet openly, but onely to express it in more generall tearms. I would have therefore each wise man to understand, that the magnetick nature, as well antipatheticall as sympatheticall, of all things, consisteth onely in the sulphureous vertue of the vitall spirits, which by reason of their incarceration, are apt to attract their like unto them, by contracting of it self from the circumference unto the center: Even so the animal, vegetable, and mineral salt, which is the immediate receptacle of this sulphureous spirit, that by reason of its pure, Saturnine, Mercurial earth, sucketh and draweth by the act of the included spirits their like from the circumference, whereby they vegetate and multiply, both in their airy volatill salt, which by a Saturnine or northern condition, is like snow or frost condensed, and in their aetheriall or celestiall fire. And again, the sulphureous spirit flyeth back, or reflecteth his beams into its centrall salt, after it did emanate unto the circumference of the body by northern accidents, namely, by externall cold, as it appeareth by the fiery or heavenly seeds included in the aire, that is retained within the Weather-glass, which when the north-wind bloweth is contracted, by reason that the expansed spirits of the celestiall sulphure, or the heavenly fire which is in it, flying from his cold opposite, betaketh it self unto the center of the aire, compassing, as it were it self with a clowd, or making it a house, to resist the northern blasts inclemency. For (as hereafter I will shew you in my magnetick demonstration) that the sulphureous Aequator is an enemy to the cold Mercurial poles. Also in mans body, when a northern or stupid fear possesseth it, the sulphureous spirits contract themselves, and leave the externall aspect pale, blewish, and wan, and in so doing, contract the internall spirits of the body unto the center; but this motion is antipatheticall, and caused by unnaturall passion. Again, those sulphureous included spirits being at liberty, they dilate and expanse themselves into the open aire, as having no evident magnet to attract or contract them into a narrower room. To conclude therefore, the microcosmicall Magnet must issue and be ingendred from the microcosmicall sulphureous spirits in his proper salt, which is his form, & from a more strange Mercury, which by his vicinity and propinquity, is most familiar with it, and, as it were, akin unto it by adoption, and this is his passive matter. Wherefore of these two microcosmicall portions, I mean, the formall and materiall, our secret Magnes is framed, by the which, the spirituall Mummy is extracted out of the living man, by means whereof, admirable cures, and pernicious harms may be effected, as well ad distans, or afar off, as near at hand, or by an immediate contact or administration. Moreover, the same internall Magnet, or attractive salt in man, in whose interior the sulphureous vivifying spirit doth dwell, and of whose condition and root, our foresaid microcosmicall Magnet is, will perform the self same salutary effects, and many other rare experimentall conclusions, if it be conveyed into the blood by transplantation from the alive person by an effluxion; or in the nails and hair, separated from him to another subject. There is also another microcosmicall Magnet, which is taken from the dead man, by the means whereof, the spirituall Mummy may be drawn out of the living man, and applyed for mans health, as well by an immediate administration, as by transplanting of it into a vegetable plant, herb, or tree, as in the progress of this Book shall be more amply declared. But because the order of these things in our demonstration, à posteriori, or by progression from the effect unto the originall cause of these things, will be most convenient for the common and vulgar capacity, I will begin to ascend in this mine explication from grosser elements, unto more subtle, intricate, and abstruce things, as if by proportionate degrees I should mount from the earth into heaven. I purpose therefore first to express and demonstrate unto you, those things magnetically, which are onely wrought by the corporall contact of two severall bodies of the same naturall condition. But before I will begin with the Mummy, which is taken out of mans dead body, I think it in the first place most necessary, to entreat of the dead carcase his mystery, that we may proceed the more methodically in our intent.

CHAP. II.

That there are four sorts of corporall Mummy, whereof one onely is usefull and necessary for salutary purposes. In this Chapter also is set down an experiment, with certain ocular Demonstrations, confirming the magneticall or a tractive vertue of the Basamick spirits, which are in the usefull Mummy.

SUch as have profoundly considered, and deeply respected, as well the externall as internall nature of man, have perceived, that the microcosmicall Mummy is of two conditions, namely, corporall or spirituall; of the first, I purpose to speak in this present Chapter; the second shall be handled hereafter, and that at large. Touching the corporall Mummy, it is either naturally sympatheticall, or unnaturally antipatheticall. We find therefore by experience, that the naturall Mummy is onely medicinable and salutiferous, after his due preparation, which is effected chiefly by his own magnetick property; the rest are apter to breed diseases, and to infect such persons as are in health, than to afford them any salutary relief or consolation; for, as according unto the nature of the four elements, there are four kinds of corporall and substantiall Mummyes, so also are they distinguished according unto those elements, whose natures they have endued; of the which, three of these are corruptible, and inducers of death and sickness, namely, the earthly, the watery, and the fiery; and onely that which is airy, is util to mans life, and amicable unto his nature. Concerning those three kinds of Mummy which breed corruption, the reason why they prove corruptible, is this: We must hold it first for a generall axiom in Philosophy, Quod corruptum corrumpentis naturam in se induit, That the thing corrupted, doth endue the nature of the thing corrupting: As for example, If the dead carcase of a man be corrupted in the earth, it is changed and passeth into the nature of the earth, and becommeth inutil for mans health, and indeed rather destructive then constructive or wholsome. Again, if the corruption be made in the water, then the corrupted flesh or dead body will acquire or endue a waterish and masseluginous disposition, which also will prove very incommodious or unprofitable, for the conservation of the vitall spirits. And lastly, by the inordinate violence of fire, the spirits in the Mummiall body will be consumed, wasted, or expired. Now the reason why these said corporall Mummie's in those estates, are inconvenient for the conservation of health, is, Because the foresaid three do so destroy and corrupt the body of them, that they make and constrain his earth, his water, and his fire, to return unto their first matter; so that whereas the earth and the water are ordained, to be the recepta[…]les of two vivifying elements, namely, of fire and aire, which onely can be conserved in a body that is incorrupted, it must of necessity follow, that in the three foresaid Mummies, those vivifying spirits must needs vanish and fly away, for want of a naturall body, which is now become corrupted and destroyed, and therefore unnaturall. Seeing therefore nothing is required in the true Mummy, more then that which is apt and proper for the conservation of life, yea, for life it self, which is the aire, which is banished and expelled from the three forsaid Mummies, therefore nothing can be extracted out of them, but sickness, death and destruction, and consequently antipatheticall effects; so that if a sound, murthered, o[…] strangled body, do rot under the earth, or in the water, it is not fit or proper for the wholsome use of mans body. The very self-same regard is to be had unto such bodies, as die through infirmityes and diseases, and although they are not visibly corrupted by the three foresaid externall elements, yet nevertheless it happeneth so, that a certain invisible corruptible influence and impression, is made or caused from the externall elements, into the internall. From hence therefore proceedeth that intestine war in mans body, whereby the elements do kill and corrupt one another, but after a divers fashion, namely, otherwise in one body than in another, according as one element or elementall alteration, is said to have dominion or rule over the other. And this is the reason, that such variety of diseases do haunt mans body: as for example, The Dropsie commeth of the strong impression of water, the Hectick or burning Feavor of fiery insultations, and the Leprosie of the dominion of earth, &c. And therefore also, where any such elementary corruption happeneth unto the body, there the wholsome spirit of the corporall Mummy, with his habitacle or dwelling mansion, is utterly overthrown, and the spirit is forced to depart, and consequently contrary Mummiall spirits, do dominere, and are ready to operate antipathetically as shall be expressed in the second member of this Book.

But if the sound body, that is, not haveing any infirmity be killed onely by and in the Element of aire; that is to say, through strangling or by hanging, then there will be found no impression of the foresaid Elements in the corporall Mass of mans carcass. And for that reason it will remain incorrupted, and will not suffer any Elementall resolution, so long as it is conserved in the aire. If therefore the body or tabernacle of the spirits, and vital Balsom remaineth entire, then that aereall vitall Balsom is not compelled to depart from his lodging, so long as the body is not resolved by nature or art, But if it be resolved, then it will forsake the body, as the soul doth; as also the animal astral spirit, which did reconcile the one with the other. But the vitall, vegetable and Balsamick spirit, remaineth in the incorrupted body: It followeth therefore, that this airy kind of Microcosmicall Mummy, is most proper for the conservation of vitall spirits in the living man, being extracted, prepared, and rightly after preparation to be applied, I will therefore come briefly unto our Magneticall Experiences, touching this Mummiall Subject.

The Proposition.

If this salutary kind of airy Mummy, with his vehicle or Magneticall instrument, be taken, or chosen, or selected rightly, it will indue by reason of the absence of actuall life, and the dominion of cold, the condition of the Northern pole, and consequently by that reason, those airy included spirits, which were whilst the body was living, of an hot aequinoctiall nature, and therefore more dilative from the Center of the Circumference than attractive, are now by death made to act from the Circumference to the Center, if they be excited by their like spirits, which are aequinoctiall and lively, and then they become attractive of the aequinoctiall Mummy, namely by contracting themselves into the Center, and consequently this airy microcosmicall Mummy, must be indued with the Magneticall property of the Northern pole, and therefore by a contactuall application of it to his like the living man, it will suck and attract greedily his like nature; and having drawn it in, will retain it; So that it may, by a due preparation, be made sympatheticall, and reduced into a singular medicine for mans health and conservation: Or it may be so contaminated, and made antipatheticall with the impure and infectious Mummy, of the infirm living creature, that it may free the infirm, by extracting out the poyson which did infect it, and infect a wholsome and sound body, unto the which it shall be given inwardly.

An Experiment upon this.

I collected a portion of this Northern Mummy, namely of the flesh of a man strangled in the aire, in which the spritual Mummy, was Centrally contracted by cold, and I applied it typically unto the part of my body, which was nearest unto it in naturall position. I found it in the contact passing cold, and as it were ice and Northern. After it had remained on, a certain time, I found, that in the exciting of his frozen and Northernly contracted spirits, by the aequinoctiall heat of my body, they drew off my Mummiall and vivifying spirits greedily, and at some times, and as it were by fits, I felt them in their Magnetick operation sensibly, and after a kind of dolorous fashion, to tug and pull some adjacent parts close about it; in conclusion, after a certain time I took it off, and found it much altered in smell and view, by reason of the quantity of my spirits, which they attracted unto them; both which Mummiall spirits, so Magnetically congregated together, I extracted, and prepared after my manner, for the use of mine own body. But because my assertion will perchance be of little credit, I will prove the feisibility of it, and probability of every particle or member hereof, by many and sundry examples or Demonstrations.

I. Demonstration or Proof, made by a Relation unto the Microcosmicall nature.

To prove and demonstrate, that the airy spirit of the Microcosme, is apt to take any polar impression, as well as the aire of the Macrocosm, and by consequence is more Magneticall, or attractive in his Northern or cold property, than in his aequinoctiall or Southern habit. Look considerately upon the aire included in the Wether-glass, which served as a catholick demonstration unto my precedent Philosophy, and you shall see, that when the aequinoctiall, namely the Eastern and Southern winds do blow in the aire, the particular included aire, and therefore the universall Element of air excluded, is less Magnetick or attractive, than when the Northern winds do blow. The proof is made evident, because that when those winds do blow, the externall aire, and therefore the internall, is more apt to be dilated, by reason of the Emanation of the Sulphureous or celestiall spirits, which are included in each airy spirit, from the Center unto the Circumference, making thereby a certain expulsion, or rather expansion of airy parts, by ratifying of the body of it. And therefore it is observed in the Instrument, not to draw the water higher then the figure 1. but to repell it down lower: Contrariwise when the North winds blow, the dilated and mobil aire is by attraction or condensation, contracted into immobil snow; that is to say, into an earthly condition, So that we see that the aire in this estate is admirably contractive, as it is expressed to the life, in the demonstrative Instrument or Wether-glass: For the included spirit attracteth the ponderous water upward, and contracteth it self out of a large room or place, into a narrow Angle or space, as it appeareth when the Northern Snow and Frosts, have had long dominion in the Macrocosmicall world, by a Northern breath, at which time we shall find the water against his nature, to be sucked up unto the upper figure 7. The reason whereof I have shewed you before, namely because the occult Sulphurous nature or spirit, which is the Sun of light, and the actor in life, being carried in his airy vehicle, flieth from the persecuting cold, which is his adversary, and armeth it self about in the Center, with a condensed aire, to hinder or break the universall assault of cold, which is the impe of darknesse, and therefore hath his seat at the pole, which is furthest off from the presence of the Sun. In like manner, the dead and cold Mummial spirits being for this reason Centrally contracted, and as it were mortified and congealed by application of it to the lively Spirits, as the cold Northern aire, or spirit unto the aequinoctiall or Southern Sun then reviving, and incited by the living man's contactuall or contiguous presence, do greedily draw them in, as imploring their aid against their cold adversary, and having the possession of them seemeth better satisfied. I will prove this to be so by this demonstrative Example, taken from the Load-stone.

II. Demonstration.

That the dead spirits in a body, will not attract unto them dead spirits; nor, that lively spirits in a body, will not suck unto them Magnetically lively spirits, but very moderatly; it is argued by the operation of the Load-stone, in this manner.

Problem 1.

The Southern pole of one Load-stone doth with a certain hatred flie from, and eschew the Southern pole of another, and will by no means be joyned together in friendship, but avoideth by a naturall antipathy, the contact of one another. But if the Northern pole of the one be applied unto the Southern pole of the other, they will sticke and cleave together by a strong attraction.

As for Example.

Take a Load-stone with his distinct poles, namely his Australl and Boreall pole being marked out; put it into a little vessell or boat to flote in a basin, or cestern, or tub of water, in such a manner, that the two poles thereof be disposed unto the plain of the Horizon: then hold in your hand another Load-stone, whose poles are well known unto you; So that the South-pole of that in your hand, be directed to the North of that which floteth, the two not being far from one another, and you shall find that the boat will follow your hand whither soever it moveth, and will not leave untill it cleaveth unto it. But if contrariwise you shall offer or apply the North-pole of that in your hand, unto the North-pole of that in the boat, or the south-pole of the one unto the south pole of the other, you shal perceive that the one Stone wil by his aspect drive away the other, & the little Bark will forthwith turn from it, as if the Helm thereof were moved another way.

Application.

Even so the northern natur'd Mummy will not at all, or but weakly, operate on his like; nor the southern, or hot lively flesh, on his like; but contrary poles will act, and by a magnetick vertue will be united unto one another, by the attractive faculty of the northern, or cold dead mans flesh or blood, which coveteth by a secret instinct the hot nature of the Aequinoctiall south.

III. Demonstration.

Touching the fortification and augmentation of spirits in the dead and impotent, or northern Mummy, by the contact of the southern or lively Mummy or flesh, it is magnetically maintained to be possible and probable, by this problematicall Demonstration, which proveth, that the northern Magnet, or airy Mummy, is exalted in his power by the southern.

Problem 2.

The stronger Magnet or Load-stone, and the bigger in quantity, doth augment the force of the lesser; as also of Iron, by putting the lesser Magnet upon the pole of the greater, so that the northern pole will become stronger in his attraction. As for example, A piece of Iron being put on the pole of the lesser Stone in that position, it will hold it up perpendicularly on the north point A. which on the pole B. will no way be effected.

[Figure]

In like manner the northern Mummy, by the conjunction of it unto the southern nature, is exalted in strength, and sucketh new spirits and vigour unto it, by drawing power from the stronger, and so leaving the stronger weaker, which is better proved by this third Problem.

Problem 3.

If two Magnets, armed by two Iron steely teeth a piece, be set before you, the one being strong, the other weak, or much less, whose axis or diameter between the teeth are equall, and of a like length; then set the teeth of these together, that come from contrary poles and parts, and the stronger will apprehend and lift up the weaker; and the weaker being united and incorporated with the stronger, by the vertue that it receiveth from the stronger, will lift up from the ground, and retain the stronger and greater very firmly, although he be much heavier than the weight the small Stone doth ordinarily lift up.

Application.

Even so the weaker or northern Mummy being lesser in quantity, will gather force, and multiply spirits, by his faculty of attraction from the stronger and bigger mass, of the southern or lively Mummy. Lastly, that by the application of this dead, northern, or congealed Mummy, unto the lively, southern, or aequinoctiall Mummy, the most evident and strangest attraction proceedeth from the northern Mummy; it is manifested by this example in the Load-stone.

Problem 4.

There is a magneticall attraction from the aequator of the Load-stone, but far different from that of the northern pole, both in violence, and in manner of attraction; for the aequinoctiall attraction is more naturally mild, as if it were a mean betwixt the two poles; and yet in substance, all is but one earth, though various in formall execution: As for example, The erection of a piece of Iron will be the less perpendicular, and the attraction will be the weaker, by how much the nearer it approcheth from the pole unto the a[…]quinoctiall. Again, all that have written the magneticall History, do ascribe the greatest force of attraction unto the northern pole of the Magnet, as shall also hereafter be declared and proved more at large.

I will conclude with a demonstration taken from the like Mummy of beasts; and it is this.

The fourth demonstration, which is Animal.

It is a common thing, and vulgarly in use, to take a piece of raw beef, and apply it unto the nape of the neck, to draw away rheumes or defluxions out of the eyes: And I was informed by one of credit and learning, that when a simple fellow that was troubled with sore and watering eyes, was counselled to apply raw beef behind in his neck, to draw back and divert the humour; he mistaking the business, applyed the raw cold beef upon both his eyes, and it was his bad chance, that it attracted so strongly, that instead of drawing out the rheum, it pulled forth his eye-holes. Also, a worthy Gentlewoman of mine acquaintance, had (as she telleth me) raw beef applyed unto her neck, for to divert the rheum from her eyes; but she confessed, that it drew so strongly unto it, that she felt her eyes, as it were, sucked or drawn into her head, and will not be perswaded to this day, but that her eyes are deeper in her head than they were. Whereby it is argued, that by far greater reason, the experiment above mentioned is in every respect demonstrated to be true, being the Magnet of it, is composed of subtle aire, Mummiall spirits, coagulated by an internall and centrall vertue, in the magneticall mass.

Another relative Animal Demonstration.

A Noble-man of Bohemia named Burgravius, did use for his Gowt this medicine; He took a piece of Beef, and did moisten it a little with wine, and laid it on the place affected, renewing the same medicine every six hours space, and it drew forth a great deal of filthy and sordid matter. And if afterward the same flesh be given to be eaten of dogs, it will infect them with the same Gowty disease as it did the man: and this was tryed upon a couple of that Lord's dogs, as Hans Tanker, the Minister of the Lord Hofman, did relate it from the said Burgravius his own mouth, and also he himself saw it effected on a dog.

If this grosse mass of magneticall stuffe in its simple nature, could draw so strongly unto it, much more should our faith be grounded on a more spirituall and airy animal Mummy, or mummiall Magnet, which I know, but am not disposed at this time, neither do I think it fit in this place, openly to reveal, or to express, either its manner of preparation, or diversity in usage, because by the abuse thereof, wicked and naughty-minded persons may do as much harm thereby, in inducing of diseases, as the honest Physitian may do good, in expelling or curing of them. A third of Mr. Cotton's Dog.

A fourth relative animal-Demonstration.

It is esteemed to be an excellent magneticall cure in the plague; when the sore or carbuncle doth appear, to take a dry'd Toad, macerated in vinegar, and afterward to apply it to the infected place of the body: for it is reported, to suck or draw the venom to it strongly. This hath been often tryed, and it may be proved, by reason that the Toad is magnetically attractive, and stiptick, partly because of her cold venom, and Boreall, dull and heavy, or melancholly disposition, and then forasmuch as it is observed to stench blood. So that this gross and terrestriall venomous Magnet performeth his office, in attracting from the Botch or Carbuncle his like, though not so subtilly and spiritually, as the Elementary or airy Northern Mummy doth from the lively or Southern natured man. I could tell you of many vegetables, which have a Magnetick property, to suck and draw unto them, being applied unto the soles of the feet, or pulses of the wrists or armes, for divers Aguish distempers. But that I should in so doing, prove perchance too tedious, unto you; and therefore I will proceed unto the second degree of the Magneticall virtue in the Mummy, which is to draw or suck unto it his like; not by contact or touch onely, but ad distans, and that by a spirituall attraction in the aire, and at an unknown longitude, as shall better appeare in these Chapters following.