Book VII, chapters 10–25: The wonders of the loadstone

CHAP. X.

The greater the Loadstone is, the greater is the force of it.

ANd you must know, that the bigger Loadstone will cast forth its force at a farther distance, and brandish it, and attract the opposite Loadstone with more violence, and draw it to it, and that in the same sort of stone; as if a Loadstone be a pound weight, and another Loadstone be a good distance from it, it will presently leap, and meet the other that draws it. If we cut off half that stone, the force of it will decay, and be dull as if it were dead, and the vigor of it is taken away by the proportion of the part taken from it. If any man will not believe it, let a stone be fetcht for trial; for a part being taken away, part of the vertue is lost also: join the part taken away as it was, and the force will be restored, and become more lively, and will be as powerful as formerly, that it will leap at a Loadstone that meets it at a great distance, and presently embrace it. This argument confirms it, that the greater the stone is, the greater force it hath, even in the same sort of stones: for I have seen divers Loadstones, brought from divers parts of the world, to have divers properties. I saw at Rome, a Loadstone weighed an Ounce, that drew two Ounces of Iron, and held it so fast as it drew, that it could scarce be pulled from it. I have seen others of forty Pound weight, that were so feeble, that they would scarce stir an Ounce. But that I may the more oblige the curiosity of Students in this matter, I shall teach in the following Chapters, how the Vertue of the Stone may be tried and equally balanced.

CHAP. XI.

That the force of this Stone will pass into other Stones, that sometimes you may see as it were a rope of Stones.

THe Stone with us is commended for another property; for when it hath taken hold of another Stone, it not only holds that fast, but it sends into the Body of it an effluxion of its forces; and that having got more forces, draws another, and gives it the like faculty: the third made to partake of the same vertue, draws others that are neer or far off, and cast forth and brandisheth the same vertue; and this draws another: and so, by a reciprocal ejaculation, by the same force it is held, by the same it holds others; and from each of them to the other, are their darts flying, as it were endowed with the vertue of them: and if you lift them up on high, they seem to hang in links like a Chain, that they will not easily be drawn one from the other; that we must needs wonder exceedingly, how that internal and invisible force can run from one to the other, and pass through them: and the more vertue it hath, to the more it doth communicate it. Yet I thought fit to forewarn you that you fail not in your trial, that the Stones must stick the one to the other by the parts that agree, and not by contrary parts; for so would not one impart his vertues to another, but by the meeting with an opposite part, would be held back, and cease from doing its Office; namely, that the North point of the one, must stick to the South point of the other, as I said; and not contrarily: for the South point applied to the South, and the North point to the North point, is contrary and the faculty will faint and decay at the presence of its Adversary. Nor yet will we omit to remember those that are curious to try this, that the Stones must successively be proportionable, that the great one must draw a less, and a little one must draw one less then it self: for so they will hang the faster, and not be so easily pulled asunder.

CHAP. XII.

That in the Loadstone that hairyness is contused.

HEnce comes that hairiness of little Hairs, that we mentioned before, that sticks so fast to the Stone, that it can hardly be pulled off: for when one is rubbed against the other, or is beaten off with a light blow of the Hammer, those small pieces being rubbed one against another, do not fall to the Earth by their own weight, but are held up by the force of the Stone: and that one may stick fast to the other, turning its friendly countenauce to it, it can by no other means commodiously fasten to its sympathizing part, nor be joyned with it, but like a Hair or small Threed; and if you rub one Stone long against another, that heap of Sand will so augment, that it will appear all hairy, or like the down on a mans chin, or as it were beset round with a heap of pricks. Nor is this to be passed without admiration, That if any man puts another Loadstone to it, or neer it, that is greater then i[…], and more powerful; they will appear presently to turn about, and to direct their friendly parts to the like parts in the Stone that is put neer them, and to strive to come to it; and if they cannot do it, for want of strength, they will fall to the ground.

CHAP. XIII.

The attractive part is more violent then the part that drives off.

WE must tell the Reader of another thing before-hand, that having laid the foundation of what we shall say, we may proceed to greater matters. The part that attracts, draws more vehemently; and that which drives away, doth it more faintly; namely, the part opposite to it: for if the South part of the Stone, stick to the North part of the other, it will draw at greater distance and more force: but contrarily, if you turn the disagreeing parts together, namely, the South parts to the South, and the North parts to the North parts, the natural force is made dull, and as though it were feeble and weak, it loseth its force, that it cannot so well perform its Office; and if they be not very neer, the force is stopped, and can do very little. If any man desires to try, let him hang them up with threads, or balance them on a pin, or put them in Boats, and he shall finde their readiness to draw, and their feebleness and sluggishness to drive off from them.

CHAP. XIV.

The contrary parts of the Stones are contrary one to another.

THe parts we speak of, if they be joyned friendly together, they will as it were, enter a league, and help one the other, and will gain more force and vertue. But if they be contrary, they are at such opposition by their Nature, and such secret hatred there is between them, that being put together by their disagreeing points, as if their Adversary were present, they will cease from all their attraction, and lose all their force. As, if you have Loadstones in your hands, that have the opposite parts united, the North and South together; if another stone be put to them, neither of these stones will move or get the Victory; for they neither draw to, nor drive from; especially, if both their forces be equal. But if one be stronger then another, the stone that is put to it, will move and stir, and will either come forward or go backward. But if you take up his contrary Companion, he will either be drawn after, or will flie from it willingly; for it will either go along with the part it agrees with, or will go from that part it is contrary to: by which Reason you may know, that one hinders the other. We may also by another Experiment, be made more certain of the same thing: If you draw one Loadstone with another, and let it hang in the Air; if to the place where they joyn, you apply the contrary force of another Loadstone; by this meeting with their Enemy, both their forces will fail and faint: and if the same be of a great force, the stone that drew will let the other go, and falls from it. And also, not without mirth and admiration, you shall see a Chain of many pieces of Loadstones hanging together; and if you apply the contrary side to the third or fourth stone, the Chain is presently broken, and the part falls off, and will not hang fast: but the other parts, whither the force of it comes not, will yet stick fast together in a Link, unless you put the end of the contrary part to them.

CHAP. XV.

How to know the Polar points in the Loadstone.

VVE may know by another and more certain way then that I set down before, which are the vertical points in the Loadstone, which turn to the North, which to the South; and especially, that point that sends forth the attractive vertue, will be discovered. Thus: That point that most vehemently draws unto it the South point of another stone, and sticks fast to it, that is the North point; and that point the North part of another stone willingly joyns with, is the South point. The same also may be known by the driving off: That point that drives off from it, and refuseth the North part of the stone put against it, is the North point; and the […] point, that drives from it the South point. And he that would have the true pole more exactly demonstrated, let him do thus: Put a little bit of a Loadstone, not much greater or lesser then a Millet-Seed, to the Loadstone; and if it presently draw it at a distance, and when it is drawn, it sticks fast and is hardly taken from it, it is an Argument of the true end whence that force proceeds. You may also draw about a little bit about that point, to see if it will draw weakly or strongly, and whether it will part from that place of it self, or unwillingly. Briefly, That point that draws with most force, and will hardly let loose what it hath attracted, is the true point of attraction; giving you to understand,

That the Pole sends its force to the Circumference.

I have known it so, as from the Centre to the Circumference. And as the light of a Candle is spread every way, and enlightens the Chamber; and the farther it is off from it, the weaker it shines, and at too great a distance is lost; and the neerer it is, the more cleerly it illuminates: so the force flies forth at that point; and the neerer it is, the more forcibly it attracts; and the further off, the more faintly: and if it be set too far off, it vanisheth quite, and doth nothing. Wherefore for that we shall say of it, and mark it for, we shall call the length of its forces the compass of its vertues.

CHAP. XVI.

That the force of drawing and driving off, can be hindred by no hindrance.

BUt this is above all wonder, that you can never wonder so much as you should, That the force of the stone for attraction and repelling, can be included in no bounds, can be hindered by nothing, or held back; but it will penetrate invisibly, and will move and stir those stones that are sympathizing with it, if they be put to it, and will exercise its forces, as if there were nothing between: but this must be within the compass of its vertue: for if you hang some Loadstone fitly upon a Table of wood, stone, or metal, or lying equally balanced, and you shall put your Loadstone under the Table, and stir it there, the vertue of it will pass from this body like a Spirit penetrating the solid Table, and move the stone above it, and stir it as it self is moved; as this moves, so moves that; and when this rests, that doth the same. But if the Table be made of Loadstone or Iron, the vertue is hindred, and can do nothing: we shall shew the reasons of it in their proper places. Of so many strange miracles in Nature, there is none more wonderful then this.

CHAP. XVII.

How to make an Army of Sand to fight before you.

ANd it is as pleasant as wonderful, that I shewed to my Friends, who beheld on a plain Table an Army of Sand divided into the Right and Left Wings, fighting, to the wonder of the Spectators: and many that were ignorant of the business, thought it was done by the help of the Devil. I pouned a Loadstone into powder, some very small, some somthing gross: and I made some of little bits, that they might better represent Troops of Horse, or Companies of Foot: and so I set my Army here and there. The Wings were on the Right and Left, and the main Body was in the middle, accompanied with Troops of Horse: under a smooth Table I put a very principal Loadstone with my Hand. When this was put there, the Left Wing marched; and on the Right Hand, with another stone, the Right Wing marched: when they drew neer together, and were more neer the Loadstone, the Sands trembled; and by degrees, they seemed like those that take up their Spears; and when the Loadstone was laid down, they laid down their Spears, as if they were ready to fight, and did threaten to kill and slay: and the better the Loadstone was, the higher would these hairs stretch forth themselves: and as I moved my Hands by little and little, so the Army marched on: and when the stones came neer to one the other, they seemed to fight, and run one within the other; so the other Wings and Troops came on, and shewed the form of a Battle; and you might see them sometimes retreat, sometimes march forward; sometimes to conquer, and sometimes to be conquered; sometimes to lift up their Spears, and lay them down again, as the Loadstone was put neer to them, or farther off; and the more force there was to send forth every way. But this is the greater wonder, because what is done on a plain Board, may be done hanging in the Air, that you may see them like the Antipodes in Battel: for stretching out a Paper, or setting a Table aloft, the Loadstones moved above the Table, will do the same thing we speak of, and shew it to the Spectator. But if one that is ingenious do the business, he will do more and greater Feats then we can write of.

CHAP. XVIII.

The Situation makes the Vertues of the Stone contrary.

IT cannot want wonder, as it doth reason, That the position should shew the Vertues contrary to all that we have said: for the stone put above the Table will do one thing, and another thing if it be put under the Table: for if you fit the stone by equally poising it to make it move freely, or put it into a Boat, and put a stone above it, it will attract it, or reject it, as we said before: but if you put it under the stone, it will work contrarily; for that part that drew above, will drive off beneath; and that will draw beneath, that drove off above: that is, if you place the stone above and beneath in a perpendicular. By which Experiments, one may see cleerly, That the situation will work contrary operations, and change the forces of it by turns. Wherefore in the operations of it, you must chiefly mark the position, if you put the Loastone above or beneath.

CHAP. XIX.

How the attractive force of the Loadstone may be weighed.

WE can also measure that attracting or expelling vertue of the Loadstone, or poise it in a balance: which will be of no small consequence in the following considerations; and especially, for a perpetual motion, and to make Iron hang pendulous in the Air, when the true and certain attractive Vertue is found our from the Circumference to the Centre. The Art is this: Put a piece of a Loadstone into a balance, and in the other scale as much weight of some other matter, that the scale may hang equal: then we apply a piece of Iron lying on a Table, that it may stick to the Loadstone that is in the scale: and that they may stick fast by their friendly points, you shall by degrees cast some sand into the other scale, and that so long, till the scale and iron part; so by weighing the weight of the sand, we have the Vertue of the Loadstone we sought to finde. We may also put the iron into the scale, and lay the Loadstone on the Table.

CHAP. XX.

Of the mutual attraction, and driving off of the Loadstone, and of Iron.

NOw are we come to the other part of our Treaty, wherein we discourse of the mutual union of Loadstones, and of their differences one with the other: the effects whereof are so known, that they are in the mouths of all men, nor will any man almost say that he knows them not. The operation is this: Because there is such a Natural concord and sympathy between the iron and the Loadstone, as if they had made a League; that when the Loadstone comes neer the iron, the iron presently stirs, and runs to meet it, to be embraced by the Loadstone. And that embraceth it so fast, that with tossing of it up and down, you can scarce part them. And the Loadstone runs as fast to the iron, and is as much in love with that, and unity with it; for neither of them will refuse to be drawn. But the weaker still runs willingly to meet the other. That you may believe this, you shall try it thus: Either hang them both by a thread, or put them in boats, or balance them on the needle. Pliny speaking of this, saith, For what is more wonderful? or wherein is Nature more wanton? what is more sluggish than a cold stone? yet Nature hath given this both sense and hands. What is more powerful than hard iron? yet it yields and submits: for the Loadstone draws it; and that matter that conquers all things, runs after I know not what; and as it comes neer, it stops, and lays fast hold, and stays constantly to be embraced. Lucretius, seeking the cause of this effect,

How it should be that Loadstone Iron draws:

And Orpheus in his Verses relates, that iron is drawn by the Loadstone, as a Bride after the Bridegroom, to be embraced; and the iron is so desirous to joyn with it as her husband, and is so sollicitous to meet the Loadstone: when it is hindred by its weight, yet it will stand an end, as if it held up its hands to beg of the stone, and flattering of it, as if it were impatient that it cannot come at it by reason of its ponderosity; and shews that it is not content with its condition: but if it once kist the Loadstone, as if the desire were satisfied, it then is at rest; and they are so mutually in love, that if one cannot come at the other, it will hang pendulous in the air. Wherefore Albertus very ignorantly told Frederick the Emperour, that a friend of his shew'd a Loadstone that did not attract iron, but was attracted by it: since the lighter of these two will stir, when the heavier approaches neer it.

CHAP. XXI.

The Iron and Loadstone are in greater amity, then the Loadstone is with the Loadstone

THe exceeding love of the Iron with the Loadstone, is greater and more effectual and far stronger, then that of the Loadstone with the Loadstone; and this is easily proved: For lay on a Table, pieces of iron, and Loadstone of the same weight; and let another Loadstone be brought neer; when it comes to a fit distance, the iron will presently stir, and runs toward the Loadstone and embraceth it. And it is proved better thus: Let a Loadstone embrace a Loadstone, and be set softly neer the iron; when the force of its circumference comes to the iron, the Loadstone will presently let fall the Loadstone, and lay hold on the iron: but let iron and that be joyned, no Loadstone can ever take them asunder to stick there.

CHAP. XXII.

The Loadstone doth not draw on all parts, but at certain points.

YEt we must not think that the Loadstone draws the iron with every part, but at a set and certain point; which is to be searched out, with great reason, care, and diligence. You shall find it thus: either hang up the iron, or balance it on a Table, that it may presently leap to be embraced from them: then carry your Loadstone round about it; and when you see the iron tremble, and run toward the Loadstone, touching it, that is the very point of attraction, and the beams of its vertue are sent round about from that point: wherefore, the farther from that point the iron is, the more faintly and weakly will it move; for the more forcible vertue nests in the Centre, as in its Throne.

CHAP. XXIII.

That the same Loadstone that draws, doth on the contrary point drive off the iron.

THat no man might be deceived, thinking the Loadstone that draws iron, to be different from that stone that drives it off; I tell him of it beforehand, and I shall by experiments dissipate this cloud. Pliny saith, the Loadstone that draws iron to it, is not the same with that which drives iron from it. And again, In the same Ethiopia, there is a mountain that produceth the stone Theamedes, that drives off iron, and rejecteth it. Pliny not knowing this, erred exceedingly, thinking that they were two stones that had these contrary operations; whereas it is but one and the same stone, that by sympathy and similitude, draws the willing iron to it; but with the opposite part, by antipathy of Natures, it drives it off. And you may be easily assured of this: for let iron be balanced equally, and let one end of the Loadstone draw it, if you turn the other end to it, it will fly back, and turn to the contrary part: these points run in a right line through the middle of the stone. Yet observe this, that the iron which is drawn by one point of the Loadstone, or is within the compass of its vertue for a while, obtains presently this vertue: that what is drawn by the one end of it, will be driven off by the other. You shall know these differences of attraction more clearly by the following experiment.

CHAP. XXIV.

How iron will be made leap upon a Table, no Loadstone being seen.

BY reason of this consent and discord of the Loadstone, I use to make pretty sport to make my friends merry. For casting the iron on the Table, and not putting any Loadstone neer it, that the spectators can see, the iron will seem to move it self: which is very pleasant to behold. I do it thus: divide a needle in the middle, cast one half of it upon the Table, but first rub the head of it with one end of the Loadstone. Put your hand with the Loadstone privately under the Table, and there where the head of the needle lyeth, the Loadstone will stick, and the needle will presently stand upright: and standing so, to the wonder of the beholders, will walk over the Table, and follow the motion of the hand that guides it: when it hath gone thus a while, presently turn the stone upside down, and put the contrary part of the Loadstone to the needle; and (which is strange) the needle will turn about: and if it went on the head before, it will now go on the point; and draw your hand which way you will, the needle will follow it: and if you turn the stone three or four times, putting sometimes the south point, sometimes the north point of the stone to it, the needle will turn as often, and sometimes stand on the head, sometimes on the point upright, or walk so as you please; and sometime it will go with that part it stood upon, sometimes it will stand on the part it went. I can present my friends with the same sight, in a more strange manner: for if you put the two pieces of a needle upon a paper or Table, whereof one hath touched the north point, the other the south point of the stone, I can so place two stones, that one of the needles shall go upon the head, the other upon the point; and sometimes one shall turn, then both at once, or they shall dance orderly, and move when any musick is playd on. And this is a pretty sight to shew your friends, that cannot but admire it.

CHAP. XXV.

That the vertue of the Loadstone, is sent through the pieces of Iron.

THat vertue that is imparted to the iron, by the Loadstone, doth not stay in the iron, but is sent from one to another. For if you draw a […]eel needle by the touch of the Loadstone, and put another needle to the end of that needle, that part will draw the needle, and hold it hanging in the air; and if you apply another needle to that, it will do the same.

You may do this with as many needles, as the force of the Loadstone can reach unto; but when it grows faint, the needle will let the other needle fall, as not having strength enough to bear its weight. And thus you may hang a great many needles in a chain in the air. Plato knew this vertue, for he speaks of it in Ione: which stone, not onely draws iron rings, but infuseth vertue into the rings themselves, that they can do the same, and attract rings as the one doth: whence sometimes you shall see a long concatenation of iron rings, and all the vertue of them is attracted from that stone. Lucretius knew it also.

A Stone there is that men admire much,
That makes rings hang in chains by touch.
Sometimes five or six links will be
Fast joyn'd together, and agree.
All this vertue from the Stone ariseth,
Such force it hath—

Pliny speaking of the same vertue, saith, Onely this matter receives strength from another stone, and holds it a long time; laying hold of another iron, that sometimes you shall see a chain of rings, which the ignorant vulgar call Live iron. Galen. You may see in the Loadstone, that when it toucheth iron, it will […]ick to it, without any bands: and if that was first touched, touch another, that will […]ick as the first doth; and likewise a third to the second. Augustine de civitate Dei, speaking of this wonder, said, We know that the Loadstone will wonderfully draw iron; which when I first saw, I trembled at it exceedingly. For I saw an iron-ring drawn by the stone, that hung in the air by it, that communicated the same force to others: for another ring put to the first, made that hang also; and as the first ring hung by the stone, so the second ring hung by the first ring. In the same manner was there a third and fourth ring applied, and fastned; and so their rings hung together by the outsides, not fastned inwardly, like to a chain of rings. Who would not admire at the vertue of this stone? that was not onely within it, but ran through so many rings, that hung by it, and held them fast with invisible bands. But the greater the vertue of the Loadstone is, the more rings it will hang up: I have hang'd ten needles with a stone of a pound weight. But he that would draw many needles, let him rub the heads onely against the Loadstone, and they will all hold the heads by their points.