CHAP. VII.]

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was, first, a mistake in the apprehension of east and west, considering thereof as of the north and south, and computing by these as invariably as by the other. But herein, upon second thoughts, there is a great disparity: for the north and southern pole are the invariable terms of that axis whereon the heavens do move, and are therefore incommunicable and fixed points, whereof the one is not apprehensible in the other. But with east and west it is quite otherwise: for the revolution of the orbs being made upon the poles of north and south, all other points about the axis are mutable; and wheresoever therein the east point be determined, by succession of parts in one revolution every point becometh east. And so, if where the sun ariseth that part be termed east, every habitation, differing in longitude, will have this point also different, in as much as the sun successively ariseth unto every one.5

The second ground, although it depend upon the former, approacheth nearer the effect; and that is, the efficacy of the sun, set out and divided according to priority of ascent; whereby his influence is conceived more favourable unto one country than another, and to felicitate India more than any after. But hereby we cannot avoid absurdities, and such as infer effects controlable by our senses. For first, by the same reason that we affirm the Indian richer than the American, the American will also be more plentiful than the Indian, and England or Spain more fruitful than Hispaniola or golden Castile ; in as much as the sun ariseth unto the one sooner than the other; and so accountably unto any nation subjected unto the same parallel, or with a considerable diversity of longitude from each other. Secondly, an unsufferable absurdity will ensue; for thereby a country may be more fruitful than itself. For India is more fertile than Spain, because more east, and that the sun ariseth first unto it; Spain likewise by the same reason more fruitful than America, and America than India; so that Spain is less fruitful than that country, which a less fertile country than itself excelleth.

5

Lastly, if we conceive the sun hath any advantage by

every one.] Every generall meridian hath a several east pointe and west (in their horizon) that live under itt.-Wr.

Castile.] Virginia is about 7 houres distant from London, for when 'tis noone heere, 'tis 5 in the morne with them.-Wr.

priority of ascent, or makes thereby one country more happy than another, we introduce injustifiable determinations, and impose a natural partiality on that luminary, which being equidistant from the earth, and equally removed in the east as in the west, his power and efficacy in both places must be equal, as Boëtius hath taken notice, and Scaliger hath graphically declared. Some have therefore forsaken this refuge of the sun, and to salve the effect have recurred unto the influence of the stars, making their activities national, and appropriating their powers unto particular regions. So Cardan conceiveth, the tail of Ursa Major peculiarly respecteth Europe: whereas indeed once in twenty-four hours it also absolveth its course over Asia and America. And therefore it will not be easy to apprehend those stars peculiarly glance on us, who must of necessity carry a common eye and regard unto all countries, unto whom their revolution and verticity is also

common.

The effects therefore, or7 different productions in several countries, which we impute unto the action of the sun, must surely have nearer and more immediate causes than that luminary. And these if we place in the propriety of clime, or condition of soil wherein they are produced, we shall more reasonably proceed, than they who ascribe them unto the activity of the sun. Whose revolution being regular, it hath no power nor efficacy peculiar from its orientality, but equally disperseth his beams unto all which equally, and in the same restriction, receive his lustre. And being an universal and indefinite agent, the effects or productions we behold receive not their circle from his causality, but are determined by the principles of the place, or qualities of that region which admits them. And this is evident not only in gems, minerals, and metals, but observable in plants and animals; whereof some are common unto many countries, some peculiar unto one, some not communicable unto another. For the hand of God that first

* De gemmis exercitat.

7 or.] Reade of.-Wr. The Dr.'s is the true reading; see it repeated a few lines further on.

luminary.] Cald by God the greate lighte.-Wr.

CHAP. VII.]

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created the earth, hath with variety disposed the principles of all things; wisely contriving them in their proper seminaries, and where they best maintained the intention of their species; whereof if they have not a concurrence, and be not lodged in a convenient matrix, they are not excited by the efficacy of the sun; nor failing in particular causes, receive a relief or sufficient promotion from the universal. For although superior powers co-operate with inferior activities, and many (as some conceive) carry a stroke in the plastick and formative draught of all things, yet do their determinations belong unto particular agents, and are defined from their proper principles. Thus the sun, which with us is fruitful in the generation of frogs, toads, and serpents, to this effect proves impotent in our neighbour island; wherein as in all other, carrying a common aspect, it concurreth but unto predisposed effects, and only susci9 which with us, &c.] Itt is a true and remarkable thing that wheras Islip and Bletchinton, in Oxon shire, are not distant above 2 miles, and noe river between, yet noe man living remembers a snake or adder found alive in Bletchinton (which abounds with frogs and toods), and yf they bee brought from Islip, or other partes, unto that towne, they dye, as venemous things doe on Irish earthe, brought thence by ship into our gardens in England: nor is this proper to Irish earthe, but to the timber brought thence, as appeares in that vast roof of King's College Chappel in Cambridge, where noe man ever saw a spider, or their webs, bycause itt is all of Irish timber.-Wr.

On reading the preceding passage, I wrote to a friend in Cambridge requesting that some inquiry might be made as to the matter of fact. I subjoin an extract from his reply:

:

"Ever since I was a boy, I have heard the traditional account of the roof, and more particularly the organ loft of King's College Chapel, being formed of Irish oak, and that no spiders or their webs are to be found upon it. I yesterday took an opportunity of making a personal enquiry and examination-two curators had, I found, since passed to the silent tomb, a third whom I now met with had not even heard of the circumstance, though an intelligent man, and who seemed to enter at once into the nature of my enquiries. He wished me to go up to the roof and examine for myself, assuring me, that no trouble was taken to sweep it over at any time; I went up and could not succeed in discovering the least appearance of a cobweb, much less of a spider; from the stone roof, which is underneath the wooden roof, he informed me that in some parts the spider's webs were very abundant and troublesome.

"I saw the organist, who seemed to be aware of the tradition, though almost forgotten, and who told me there was plenty of dust for want of proper care of the place, but he believed there were no spiders; he had officiated many years, but had never seen one.

tates those forms, whose determinations are seminal, and proceed from the idea of themselves.

Now, whereas there be many observations concerning east, and divers considerations of art which seem to extol the quality of that point, if rightly understood they do not really promote it. That the astrologer takes account of nativities from the ascendant, that is, the first house of the heavens, whose beginning is toward the east, it doth not advantage the conceit. For he establisheth not his judgment upon the orientality thereof, but considereth therein his first ascent above the horizon; at which time its efficacy becomes observable, and is conceived to have the signification of life, and to respect the condition of all things, which at the same time arise from their causes, and ascend to their horizon with it. Now this ascension indeed falls out respectively in the east; but, as we have delivered before, in some positions there is no eastern point from whence to compute these ascensions. So is it in a parallel sphere; for unto them six houses are continually depressed, and six never elevated; and the planets themselves, whose revolutions are of more speed, and influences of higher consideration, must find in that place a very imperfect regard; for half their period they absolve above, and half beneath the horizon. And so, for six years, no man can have the happiness to be born under Jupiter: and for fifteen together all must escape the ascendant dominion of Saturn.

That Aristotle, in his Politicks, commends the situation of a city which is open towards the east, and admitteth the rays of the rising sun, thereby is implied no more particular efficacy than in the west: but that position is commended, in regard the damps and vaporous exhalations, engendered in the absence of the sun, are by his returning rays the sooner dispelled; and men thereby more early enjoy a clear and healthy habitation. Upon the like considerations it is, that "The curator has promised to bring me a spider or web if he can find one, and seemed much pleased with the, to him, novel information." The Hon. D. Barrington (in the Philosophical Transactions, vol. lix. p. 30) says, that he had examined several ancient timber roofs, without being able to detect any spider's webs. He accounts, however, for this, on the principle that flies are not to be found in such situations, and therefore spiders do not frequent them. How would this remark agree with the number of cobwebs found in the stone roof of King's College?

1 habitation.] The waters of those springs are held to bee most medi

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Marcus Varro* commendeth the same situation, and exposeth his farm unto the equinoxial ascent of the sun; and that Palladius adviseth the front of his edifice should so respect the south, that in the first angle it receive the rising rays of the winter sun, and decline a little from the winter setting thereof. And concordant hereunto is the instruction of Columella, De positione ville; which he contriveth into summer and winter habitations, ordering that the winter lodgings regard the winter ascent of the sun, that is south-east; and the rooms of repast at supper, the equinoxial setting thereof, that is, the west; that the summer lodgings regard the equinoxial meridian: but the rooms of cenation in the summer, he obverts unto the winter ascent, that is, south-east; and the balnearies, or bathing-places, that they may remain under the sun until evening, he exposeth unto the summer setting, that is, north-west; in all which, although the cardinal points be introduced, yet is the consideration solary, and only determined unto the aspect or visible reception of the sun.

Jews and Mahometans in these and our neighbour parts are observed to use some gestures towards the east, as at their benediction, and the killing of their meat. And though many ignorant spectators, and not a few of the actors, conceive some magick or mystery therein, yet is the ceremony only topical, and in a memorial relation unto a place they honour. So the Jews do carry a respect and cast an eye upon Jerusalem, for which practice they are not without the example of their forefathers, and the encouragement of their wise king; for so it is said that Daniel "went into his house, and his windows being opened towards Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed." + So is it expressed in the prayer of Solomon: "What prayer or supplication soever be made by any man, which shall spread forth his hands towards this house; if thy people go out to battle, and shall pray unto the Lord towards the city which thou

cinal (of all others) which rise into the easte, for this very reason here alleaged: hence in the west parts of England, to difference such from all others, they call them by a significant name, East-up-springs, intimating by that proper name, a proper kind of excellencye, above other springs, especially yf the soile from whence they rise bee chalke, or pure gravell.-Wr.