The Major Works (English Library) (38 page)

This Reticulate or Net-work was also considerable in the inward parts of man, not only from the first
subtegmen
or warp of his formation, but in the netty
fibres
of the veins and vessels of life; wherein according to common Anatomy the right and transverse
fibres
are decussated, by the oblique
fibres
; and so must frame a Reticulate and Quincunciall Figure by their Obliquations,
⁸⁰
Emphatically extending that Elegant expression of Scripture, Thou hast curiously embroydered me, thou hast wrought me up after the finest way of texture, and as it were with a Needle.
⁸¹

Nor is the same observable only in some parts, but in the whole body of man, which upon the extension of arms and legges, doth make out a square, whose intersection is at the genitals. To omit the phantastical Quincunx in
Plato
of the first Hermaphrodite or double man, united at the Loynes, which
Jupiter
after divided.
⁸²

A rudimentall resemblance hereof there is in the cruciated and rugged folds of the
Reticulum
, or Net-like Ventricle of ruminating horned animals, which is the second in order, and culinarily called the Honey-comb. For many divisions there are in the stomack of severall animals; what number they maintain in the
Scarus
and ruminating Fish, common description, or our own experiment hath made no discovery. But in the Ventricle of
Porpuses
there are three divisions. In many Birds a crop,
Gizard, and little receptacle before it; but in Cornigerous
⁸³
animals, which chew the cudd, there are no less then four of distinct position and office.
⁸⁴

The
Reticulum
by these crossed cels, makes a further digestion, in the dry and exuccous
⁸⁵
part of the Aliment received from the first Ventricle. For at the bottome of the gullet there is a double Orifice; What is first received at the mouth descendeth into the first and greater stomack, from whence it is returned into the mouth again; and after a fuller mastication, and sali-vous mixture, what part thereof descendeth again, in a moist and succulent body, it slides down the softer and more permeable Orifice, into the Omasus or third stomack; and from thence conveyed into the fourth, receives its last digestion. The other dry and exuccous part after rumination by the larger and stronger orifice beareth into the first stomack, from thence into the
Reticulum
, and so progressively into the other divisions. And therefore in Calves newly calved, there is little or no use of the two first Ventricles, for the milk and liquid aliment slippeth down the softer Orifice, into the third stomack; where making little or no stay, it passeth into the fourth, the seat of the
Coagulum
, or Runnet, or that division of stomack which seems to bear the name of the whole, in the Greek translation
⁸⁶
of the Priests Fee, in the Sacrifice of Peace-offerings.

As for those Rhomboidal Figures made by the Cartilagineous parts of the Wezon, in the Lungs of great Fishes, and other animals, as
Rondeletius
discovered, we have not found them so to answer our figure as to be drawn into illustration; Something we expected in the more discernable texture of the lungs of frogs, which notwithstanding being but two curious bladders not weighing above a grain, we found interwoven with veins not observing any just order. More orderly situated are those cretaceous and chalky concretions found sometimes in the bignesse of a small fech
⁸⁷
on either side their spine; which being
not agreeable unto our order, nor yet observed by any, we shall not here discourse on.

But had we found a better account and tolerable Anatomy, of that prominent jowle of the
Sperma Ceti
Whale, then questuary
⁸⁸
operation, or the stench of the last cast upon our shoar,
⁸⁹
permitted, we might have perhaps discovered some handsome order in those Net-like seases
⁹⁰
and sockets, made like honey-combs, containing that medicall matter.

Lastly, The incession or locall motion
⁹¹
of animals is made with analogy unto this figure, by decussative diametrals, Quincunciall Lines and angles. For to omit the enquiry how Butterflies and breezes
⁹²
move their four wings, how birds and fishes in ayre and water move by joynt stroaks of opposite wings and Finnes, and how salient
⁹³
animals in jumping forward seem to arise and fall upon a square base; As the station of most Quadrupeds, is made upon a long square, so in their motion they make a Rhomboides; their common progression being performed Diametrally, by decussation and crosse advancement of their legges, which not observed begot that remarkable absurdity in the position of the legges of
Castors
horse
⁹⁴
in the Capitol. The Snake which moveth circularly makes his spires in like order, the convex and concave spirals answering each other at alternate distances; in the motion of man the armes and legges observe this thwarting position, but the legges alone do move Quincuncially by single angles with some resemblance of an V measured by successive advancement from each foot, and the angle of indenture great or lesse, according to the extent or brevity of the stride.

Studious Observators may discover more analogies in the orderly book of nature, and cannot escape the Elegancy of her hand in other correspondencies. The Figures of nails and
crucifying appurtenances, are but precariously made out in the
Granadilla
or flower of Christs passion: And we despair to behold in these parts that handsome draught of crucifixion in the fruit of the
Barbado
Pine.
⁹⁵
The seminal Spike of
Phalaris
, or great shaking grasse, more nearly answers the tayl of a RattleSnake, then many resemblances in
Porta
: And if the man
Orchis
of
Columna
⁹⁶
be well made out, it excelleth all analogies. In young Wallnuts cut athwart, it is not hard to apprehend strange characters; and in those of somewhat elder growth, handsome ornamental draughts about a plain crosse. In the root of
Osmond
or Water fern, every eye may discern the form of a Half Moon, Rain-bow, or half the character of Pisces.
⁹⁷
Some finde Hebrew, Arabick, Greek, and Latine Characters in Plants; In a common one among us we seem to reade
Aiaia, Viviu, Lelil.
⁹⁸

Right lines and circles make out the bulk of plants; In the parts thereof we finde Helicall or spirall roundles, voluta’s,
⁹⁹
conicall Sections, circular Pyramids, and frustums of
Archimedes
;
¹⁰⁰
And cannot overlook the orderly hand of nature, in the alternate succession of the flat and narrower sides in the tender shoots of the Ashe, or the regular inequality of bignesse in the five-leaved flowers of Henbane, and something like in the calicular leaves of
Tutson
. How the spots of
Persicaria
do manifest themselves between the sixt and tenth ribbe. How the triangular capp in the stemme or
stylus
of Tuleps doth constantly point at three outward leaves. That spicated flowers do open first at the stalk. That white flowers have yellow thrums or knops. That the nebbe of Beans and Pease do all look downward, and so presse not upon each other; And how the seeds of many pappous or downy flowers lockt up in sockets after a gomphosis or
mortis
-articulation,
¹⁰¹
diffuse themselves circularly into
branches of rare order, observable in
Tragopogon
or Goats-beard, comformable to the Spiders web, and the
Radii
in like manner telarely
¹⁰²
inter-woven.

And how in animall natures, even colours hold correspondencies, and mutuall correlations. That the colour of the Caterpillar will shew again in the Butterfly, with some latitude is allowable. Though the regular spots in their wings seem but a mealie adhesion, and such as may be wiped away, yet since they come in this variety, out of their cases, there must be regular pores in those parts and membranes, defining such Exudations.

That
Augustus
had native notes on his body and belly,
¹⁰³
after the order and number in the Starres of
Charles wayne
, will not seem strange unto astral Physiognomy, which accordingly considereth moles in the body of man, or Physicall Observators, who from the position of moles in the face, reduce them to rule and correspondency in other parts. Whether after the like method medicall conjecture may not be raised, upon parts inwardly affected; since parts about the lips are the critical fears of Pustules
¹⁰⁴
discharged in Agues; And serophulous tumours about the neck do so often speak the like about the Mesentery,
¹⁰⁵
may also be considered.

The russet neck in young Lambs
¹⁰⁶
seems but adventitious, and may owe its tincture to some contaction
¹⁰⁷
in the womb; But that if sheep have any black or deep russet in their faces, they want not the same about their legges and feet; That black Hounds have mealy mouths and feet; That black Cows which have any white in their tayls, should not misse of some in their bellies; and if all white in their bodies, yet if black-mouth’d, their ears and feet maintain the same colour, are correspondent tinctures not ordinarily failing in nature, which easily unites the accidents of extremities, since in some generations she trans
mutes the parts themselves, while in the
Aurelian
¹⁰⁸
Metamorphosis
the head of the canker becomes the Tayl of the Butterfly. Which is in some way not beyond the contrivance of Art, in submersions and Inlays, inverting the extremes of the plant, and fetching the root from the top, and also imitated in handsome columnary work, in the inversion of the extremes; wherein the Capitel, and the Base, hold such near correspondency.

In the motive parts of animals may be discovered mutuall proportions; not only in those of Quadrupeds, but in the thigh-bone, legge, foot-bone, and claws of Birds. The legs of Spiders are made after a sesqui-tertian proportion,
¹⁰⁹
and the long legs of some locusts, double unto some others. But the internodial parts
¹¹⁰
of Vegetables, or spaces between the joints, are contrived with more uncertainty; though the joints themselves in many plants, maintain a regular number.

In vegetable composure, the unition
¹¹¹
of prominent parts seems most to answer the
Apophyses
¹¹²
or processes of Animall bones, whereof they are the produced parts or prominent explantations.
¹¹³
And though in the parts of plants which are not ordained for motion, we do not expect correspondent Articulations; yet in the setting on of some flowers, and seeds in their sockets, and the lineal commissure
¹¹⁴
of the pulpe of severall seeds, may be observed some shadow of the Harmony; some show of the Gomphosis or
mortis
-articulation.

As for the Diarthrosis
¹¹⁵
or motive Articulation, there is expected little Analogy, though long-stalked leaves doe move by long lines, and have observable motions, yet are they made by outward impulsion, like the motion of pendulous bodies,
while the parts themselves are united by some kinde of
symphysis
¹¹⁶
unto the stock.

But standing vegetables, void of motive-Articulations, are not without many motions. For beside the motion of vegetation upward, and of radiation unto all quarters, that of contraction, dilatation, inclination, and contortion, is discoverable in many plants. To omit the rose of
Jericho
, the ear of Rye, which moves with change of weather, and the Magical spit, made of no rare plants,
¹¹⁷
which windes before the fire, and rosts the bird without turning.

Even Animals near the Classis of plants, seem to have the most restless motions. The Summer-worm of Ponds and plashes makes a long waving motion; the hair-worm seldome lies still. He that would behold a very anomalous motion, may observe it in the Tortile and tiring stroaks of Gnatworms.
¹¹⁸

CHAPTER IV
¹

As for the delights, commodities, mysteries, with other concernments of this order, we are unwilling to fly them over, in the short deliveries of
Virgil, Varro
, or others, and shall therefore enlarge with additionall ampliations.

By this position they had a just proportion of Earth, to supply an equality of nourishment. The distance being ordered, thick or thin, according to the magnitude or vigorous attraction of the plant, the goodnesse, leannesse, or propriety of the soyle, and therefore the rule of
Solon
,
²
concerning the territory of
Athens
, not extendible unto all; allowing the distance of six foot unto common Trees, and nine for the Figge and Olive.

They had a due diffusion of their roots on all or both sides,
whereby they maintained some proportion to their height, in Trees of large radication.
³
For that they strictly make good their profundeur or depth unto their height, according to common conceit, and that expression of
Virgil
,
⁴
though confirmable from the plane Tree in
Pliny
,
⁵
and some few examples, is not to be expected from the generallitie of Trees almost in any kinde, either of side-spreading, or tap-roots: Except we measure them by lateral and opposite diffusions; nor commonly to be found in
minor
or hearby plants; If we except Sea-holly, Liquorish, Sea-rush, and some others.

They had a commodious radiation in their growth; and a due expansion of their branches, for shadow or delight. For trees thickly planted, do runne up in height and branch with no expansion, shooting unequally or short, and thinne upon the neighbouring side. And therefore Trees are inwardly bare, and spring, and leaf from the outward and Sunny side of their branches.

Whereby they also avoided the perill of συ
νο
λЄ
θρ
σ
μ
òς
⁶
or one tree perishing with another, as it happeneth oft-times from the sick
effluviums
⁷
or entanglements of the roots, falling foul with each other. Observable in Elmes set in hedges, where if one dieth the neighbouring Tree prospereth not long after.

In this situation divided into many intervals and open unto six passages, they had the advantage of a fair perflation
⁸
from windes, brushing and cleansing their surfaces, relaxing and closing their pores unto due perspiration. For that they afford large
effluviums
perceptible from odours, diffused at great distances, is observable from Onyons out of the earth; which though dry, and kept until the spring, as they shook forth large and many leaves, do notably abate of their weight. And mint
growing in glasses of water, until it arriveth unto the weight of an ounce, in a shady place, will sometimes exhaust a pound of water.

And as they send forth much, so may they receive somewhat in: For beside the common way and road of reception by the root, there may be a refection and imbibition from without; For gentle showrs refresh plants, though they enter not their roots; And the good and bad
effluviums
of Vegetables, promote or debilitate each other. So
Epithymum
⁹
and
Dodder
, rootlesse and out of the ground, maintain themselves upon Thyme, Savory, and plants, whereon they hang. And
Ivy
divided from the root, we have observed to live some years, by the cirrous
¹⁰
parts commonly conceived but as tenacles and holdfasts unto it. The stalks of mint cropt from the root stripped from the leaves, and set in
glasses
with the root end upward, & out of the water, we have observed to send forth sprouts and leaves without the aid of roots, and
scordium
¹¹
to grow in like manner, the leaves set downward in water. To omit severall Sea-plants, which grow on single roots from stones, although in very many there are side-shoots and
fibres
, beside the fastening root.

By this open position they were fairly exposed unto the rayes of Moon and Sunne, so considerable in the growth of Vegetables. For though Poplars, Willows, and severall Trees be made to grow about the brinks of
Acharon
,
¹²
and dark habitations of the dead; Though some plants are content to grow in obscure Wells; wherein also old Elme pumps afford sometimes long bushy sprouts, not observable in any above-ground: And large fields of Vegetables are able to maintain their verdure at the bottome and shady part of the Sea; yet the greatest number are not content without the actual rayes of the Sunne, but bend, incline, and follow them; As large lists of solisequious and Sun-following plants. And some observe the method of its motion in their owne growth and conversion twining towards the West by the South, as Bryony, Hops,
Woodbine, and several kindes of Bindeweed, which we shall more admire; when any can tell us, they observe another motion, and Twist by the North at the
Antipodes
. The same plants rooted against an erect North-wall full of holes, will finde a way through them to look upon the Sunne. And in tender plants from mustard seed, sown in the winter, and in a pot of earth placed inwardly
¹³
against a South-window, the tender stalks of two leaves arose not erect, but bending towards the window, nor looking much higher then the Meridian Sun. And if the pot were turned they would work themselves into their former declinations,
¹⁴
making their conversion by the East. That the Leaves of the Olive and some other Trees solstitially
¹⁵
turn, and precisely tell us, when the Sun is entred
Cancer
,
¹⁶
is scarce expectable in any Climate; and
Theophrastus
warily observes it;
¹⁷
Yet somewhat thereof is observable in our own, in the leaves of Willows and Sallows, some weeks after the Solstice. But the great
Convolvulus
or white-flower’d
Bindweed
observes both motions of the Sunne, while the flower twists Æquinoctionally
¹⁸
from the left hand to the right, according to the daily revolution; The stalk twineth ecliptically
¹⁹
from the right to the left, according to the annual conversion.

Some commend the exposure of these orders unto the Western gales, as the most generative and fructifying breath of heaven. But we applaud the Husbandry of
Solomon
, whereto agreeth the doctrine of
Theophrastus
. Arise O North-winde, and blow thou South upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out;
²⁰
For the North-winde closing the pores, and shutting up the
effluviums
, when the South doth after open and relax
them; the Aromatical gummes do drop, and sweet odours fly actively from them. And if his garden had the same situation, which mapps, and charts afford it, on the East side of
Jerusalem
, and having the wall on the West; these were the windes, unto which it was well exposed.

By this way of plantation they encreased the number of their trees, which they lost in
Quarternio
’s, and square-orders, which is a commodity
²¹
insisted on by
Varro
, and one great intent of nature, in this position of flowers and seeds in the elegant formation of plants, and the former Rules observed in naturall and artificiall Figurations.

Whether in this order and one Tree in some measure breaking the cold, and pinching gusts of windes from the other, trees will not better maintain their inward circles, and either escape or moderate their excentricities,
²²
may also be considered. For the circles in Trees are naturally concentricall, parallell unto the bark, and unto each other, till frost and percing windes contract and close them on the weatherside, the opposite semicircle widely enlarging, and at a comely distance, which hindreth oft-times the beauty and roundnesse of Trees, and makes the Timber lesse serviceable; whiles the ascending juyce not readily passing, settles in knots and inequalities. And therefore it is no new course of Agriculture, to observe the native position of Trees according to North and South in their transplantations.

The same is also observable underground in the circinations
²³
and sphærical rounds of Onyons, wherein the circles of the Orbes are ofttimes larger, and the meridionall lines stand wider upon one side then the other. And where the largenesse will make up the number of planetical Orbes, that of
Luna
, and the lower planets excede the dimensions of
Saturne
, and the higher:
²⁴
Whether the like be not verified in the Circles of the large roots of Briony and Mandrakes, or why in the knotts of Deale or Firre the Circles are often eccentricall, although not in a plane, but vertical and right position, deserves a further enquiry.

Whether there be not some irregularity of roundnesse in most plants according to their position? Whether some small compression of pores be not perceptible in parts which stand against the current of waters, as in Reeds, Bullrushes, and other vegetables toward the streaming quarter,
²⁵
may also be observed, and therefore such as are long and weak, are commonly contrived into a roundnesse of figure, whereby the water presseth lesse, and slippeth more smoothly from them, and even in flags of flat-figured leaves, the greater part obvert
²⁶
their sharper sides unto the current in ditches.

But whether plants which float upon the surface of the water, be for the most part of cooling qualities, those which shoot above it of heating vertues, and why? whether
Sargasso
for many miles floating upon the Western Ocean, or Sea-lettuce, and Phasganium at the bottome of our Seas, make good the like qualities? Why Fenny waters afford the hottest and sweetest plants, as Calamus, Cyperus, and Crowfoot, and mudd cast out of ditches most naturally produceth Arsmart, Why plants so greedy of water so little regard oyl? Why since many seeds contain much oyle within them, they endure it not well without, either in their growth or production? Why since Seeds shoot commonly under ground, and out of the ayre, those which are let fall in shallow glasses, upon the surface of the water, will sooner sprout then those at the bottome? And if the water be covered with oyle, those at the bottome will hardly sprout at all, we have not room to conjecture.

Whether Ivy would not lesse offend the Trees in this clean ordination, and well kept paths, might perhaps deserve the question. But this were a quæry only unto some habitations, and little concerning
Cyrus
or the Babylonian territory; wherein by no industry
Harpalus
could make Ivy grow: And
Alexander
hardly found it about those parts to imitate the pomp of
Bacchus
.
²⁷
And though in these Northern Regions we are too much acquainted with one Ivy, we know too little of another, whereby we apprehend not the expressions of Antiquity, the Splenetick medicine of
Galen
,
²⁸
and the Emphasis of the Poet, in the beauty of the white Ivy.
²⁹

The like concerning the growth of Misseltoe, which dependeth not only of the
species
, or kinde of Tree, but much also of the Soil. And therefore common in some places, not readily found in others, frequent in
France
, not so common in
Spain
, and scarce at all in the Territory of
Ferrara
: Nor easily to be found where it is most required upon Oaks, lesse on Trees continually verdant. Although in some places the Olive escap-eth it not, requiting its detriment, in the delightfull view of its red Berries; as
Clusius
observed in
Spain
, and
Bellonius
about
Hierusalem
. But this Parasiticall plant suffers nothing to grow upon it, by any way of art; nor could we ever make it grow where nature had not planted it; as we have in vain attempted by inocculation and incision,
³⁰
upon its native or forreign stock. And though there seem nothing improbable in the seed, it hath not succeeded by sation
³¹
in any manner of ground, wherein we had no reason to despair, since we reade of vegetable horns, and how Rams horns will root about
Goa
.
³²

But besides these rurall commodities, it cannot be meanly delectable in the variety of Figures, which these orders open, and closed do make. Whilest every inclosure makes a
Rhombus
, the figures obliquely taken a Rhomboides, the intervals
bounded with parallell lines, and each intersection built upon a square, affording two Triangles or Pyramids vertically conjoyned;
³³
which in the strict Quincunciall order doe oppositely make acute and blunt Angles.

And though therein we meet not with right angles, yet every Rhombus containing four Angles equall unto four right, it virtually contains four right. Nor is this strange unto such as observe the naturall lines of Trees, and parts disposed in them. For neither in the root doth nature affect this angle, which shooting downward for the stability of the plant, doth best effect the same by Figures of Inclination; Nor in the Branches and stalky leaves, which grow most at acute angles; as declining from their head the root, and diminishing their Angles with their altitude: Verified also in lesser Plants, whereby they better support themselves, and bear not so heavily upon the stalk: So that while near the root they often make an Angle of seventy parts,
³⁴
the sprouts near the top will often come short of thirty. Even in the nerves and master veins of the leaves the acute angle ruleth; the obtuse but seldome found, and in the backward part of the leaf, reflecting and arching about the stalk. But why ofttimes one side of the leaf is unequall unto the other, as in Hazell and Oaks, why on either side the master vein the lesser and derivative channels stand not directly opposite, nor at equall angles, respectively unto the adverse side, but those of one part do often exceed the other, as the Wallnut and many more deserves another enquiry.