Of the ponders of the Loadstone . 20p

and sailing under the Equator, we do observe the chief motions of the Needle, andthe declinations of it,and shall accommodate the same to the proportion of our Voy-agesiwe shall eauly know the Longitude of the Wotld,beginning from the Fortunateislands. Whence both Longitude and Latitude in dark nights,and the greatest Tem-pests may be certainly discovered Wherefore it is false that Cardanm faith,'Thar theNeedle in the Compass declines from the Meridian Line, because it iaclines to thePole Star in the little Bears Tail: whereas, the Needle declines nine Degree?, andthe Polar Inclination is not so much.

Chap. XXXIX.

If the (Mariners Needle stand stilly and the Loadstone move, or contraliljy they will

move contrary ways.

I F the Loadstone lie on the Table , and you put the North point of the Mari-ners Needle to tire $outh point of the stone, and shall carry it round about bythe right hand, the Needle will draw to the left : but moving the Box to the lefthand , the Needle will run to the right; and it will go so far, until it stand in themiddle between those two opposite points. The fame will be seen in a Sun-Dial,if that stand, and the Loadstone be carried about : for if you decline to the righthand, the Neddie will follow the same part; and likewise, if you turn to the left.Hence it is apparent, That the Needle in the Compass is drawn by the North-Pole:for those that fail toward the East, have it turned toward the East • and so comra-rily to the West, it wilUnove to the same point of the Heaven : and if the Load-stone be turned about, the Iron will turn about also, as a pair os Compasses aboutthe Centre.

Chap. XL.

The Loadstone imparts a contrary force to the Needle.

N Ow I will speak of the Needle touched with the Loadstone, and of the won-derful operations of it. The first is • That when the Iron is touched bythe Northern point of the Loadstone, and equally balanced ; if you put thatpart to it from which it received its force, it will not endure it, bur drivesit from it, and draws to it the contrary and opposite part; namely, the Southernpart: the reason whereof, I set down before. The fame falls out if you touchthe Needle with the South part of the Loadstone for if you presently put thesame to it, it will resist it, and draw to it the North point. Hence the partsthat arc alike, are at enmity, and rejected as Adversaries ; and the parts thatare unlike do agree as Friends. Whence it is apparent, That the Loadstone im-parts to the Iron a contrary force from what the end it self is , and the Steelreceives the force of that point of the Loadstone which it toucheth not. And Iprove it thus : Take two Needles, and put them in Boats, or hang them byThreeds ; that being touched with the Loadstone, they may move freely :they are contrary one to the other , and they will joyn in the parts thatwere touched with contrary ends of the Loadstone, and will not endure theends that are alike.

CHAP. XL I.

Two Needles touched by the Loadstone , obtain contrary Forces.

J Will relate a strange thing, yet not far from Reason. If you touch two Needleswith a Loadstone together, and set them on the fame point of it ; the otherparts that hang on the Loadstone, will abhor and flie one from the other : and ifyou force them together with your hands, so soon as you let them alone, they

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