ip2 Natural Magick. ‘ Booltf .

stone and iron, as an iron stone, or a stone of iron. Yet do nor think the stone isso changed into iron, as to lose its own Nature, nor that the iron is so drowned in thestone, but it preserves it self; and whilst one labours to get the victory of the other,the attraction is made by the combat between them. In that body, there is more ofthe stone, then of iron ; and therefore the iron, that it may not be subdued by thestone, desires the force and company of iron ; that being not able to resist alone, jtmay be able by more help to defend it self. For all creatures defend their being :Wherefore, that it may enjoy friendly help, and not lose its own perfection, it wil-lingly draws iron to it, or iron comes willingly to that. The Loadstone draws riotstones, because it wants thetftnOt, for there is stone enough in the body of it; andif one Loadstone draw another , it is not for the stone, but for the ikon that is in it.What.I said, depends on these Arguments. Thepits.of Loadstone are where theveins of iron are : these are described by Galen, and such as deal in Minerals , andin the confines of them both ; of the stone and the iroifthey grow , and the Load-stones are seen, wherein there is more stone, and others in which there is moreiron. In Germany a Loadstone is digged forth, out of which they draw the bestiron; and the Loadstone, whilst it lies in the filings of iron, will get more strength ;and ifit be smeered or neglected, it will lose its forces. I oft saw with great delighta Loadstone wrapt up in burning coles, that sent forth a blue flame, that smelt ofbrimstone and iron ; and that being dissipated, it lost its qualityof. its foul that Was«one, namely, its attractive venue. It is the stink of iron and brimstone, as suchwho destroy iron by reducing it to a Calx, or u e other Chymical operations,can easirly try. Ana I thought that the fame soul, put into another body, must necessarilyobtain the fame faculty.

* Chap. III.

'That the Loadstone hath two opposite Poles,the North and South,and how they may he known.

B Ecause the effects of the Loadstone are many and divers , 1 stiall begin to distin-guish from the effects of it, that the Readers may receive more benefit aud dire-ction. The effects of the Loadstone, are of the Hone onely, or of the iron touchedwith the stone,or of them both,the iron and the stone.The simple effects of the stbnd,are to draw the stone, to respect the Poles of the world, and such like: also they'arenjixt and compounded.We say therefore first, that the stone hath two points, that standopposite one to the other, be it in a great or small stone,which we call the Poles i oneof them is directed to the North, the other to the South : For if the stone be ac li-berty, and hangs that it may play, without any impediments from its weight, onepart turns freely to the North,and the contrary part to theSoutb.The way to try it isthus: Take a little piece of Cork, or Fennel-gigant, or some other light wood, andmake it like a Boat, that it may serve to bear up the weight of the stone. Pur thestone into this vessel, that it maybe equi-distant from the bottom. Put the Boat intoa vessel full of water, that it may move here and there, and find no impediment { letit so alone,and the Boat will never rest, until the point of the stone stand full North,and the opposite point full c outh. When the Boat stands still, turn it about twice orthrice with your finger, and so it will come again to rest, and return to the fame po-sture ; and this shall make you more certain of the North and South Poles of it.Thereare many more ways to prove it, for letting it hang equally, as in the Mariners Com-pass ; for where it can move of it self freely,it still directs to the fame points: and youmay do the fame if you hang it by a small thread. Hence we may easily learn,

To know which Loadstone is the more perfeSt.

Which a man may easily do by the former trial, and find out what Loadstone is voidof vertue , or most forcible. For that Loadstone that doth soonest bring about theBoat to the points, and having found the north Pole, stands still, is certainly the mostforcible stone.But that which slowly works, and comes softly about to its place, andslops oft, is more weak and feeble. Also we may be certified another way : for thatwhich can turn about the greater piece of wood, or boat, not slowly, but quickly, tsthe best stone. And though there be more ways to try it, yet let these suffice *t pre-tent: we shall speak os the rest in other places- Chap.