For the hand of God that first 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;9 wherein as in all other, carrying a common aspect, it concurreth but unto predisposed effects, and only suscitates those forms, whose determinations are seminal, and proceed from the idea of themselves.

9 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.

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.

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

and therefore spiders do not frequent in the west parts of England, to differthem. 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 medicinal (of all others) which rise into the easte, for this very reason here alleaged: hence

VOL. III.

ence 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.

R

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 villa; 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 hast chosen, and towards the house which I have chosen to build for thy name, then hear thou in heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause." Now the

observation hereof, unto the Jews that are dispersed westward, and such as most converse with us, directeth their regard unto the east; but the words of Solomon are appliable unto all quarters of heaven, and by the Jews of the east and south must be regarded in a contrary position. So Daniel in Babylon looking toward Jerusalem had his face toward the west. So the Jews in their own land looked upon it from all quarters for the tribe of Judah beheld it to the north; Manasses, Zabulon, and Napthali unto the south; Reuben and Gad unto the west; only the tribe of Dan regarded it directly or to the due east. So when it is said, "When you see a cloud rise out of the west, you say there cometh a shower, and so it is;"* the observation was respective unto Judea; nor is this a reasonable illation, in all other nations whatsoever. For the sea lay west unto that country, and the winds brought rain from that quarter; but this consideration cannot be transferred unto India or China, which have a vast sea eastward, and a vaster continent toward the west. likewise, when it is said in the vulgar translation, "Gold cometh out of the north," it is no reasonable inducement unto us and many other countries, from some particular mines septentrional unto his situation, to search after that metal in cold and northern regions, which we most plentifully discover in hot and southern habitations.

So

For the Mahometans, as they partake with all religions in something, so they imitate the Jews in this. For in their observed gestures, they hold a regard unto Mecca and Medina Talnaby, two cities in Arabia Felix, where their prophet was born and buried, whither they perform their pilgrimages, and from whence they expect he should return again. And therefore they direct their faces unto these parts; which, unto the Mahometans of Barbary and Egypt, lie east, and are in some point thereof unto many other parts of Turkey. Wherein notwithstanding there is no oriental respect; for with the same devotion on the other side, they regard these parts toward the west, and so with variety wheresoever they are seated, conforming unto the ground of their conception.

Fourthly, whereas in the ordering of the camp of Israel, the east quarter is appointed unto the noblest tribe, that is, the tribe of Judah, according to the command of God, "In the east side toward the rising of the sun shall the standard of the tribe of Judah pitch ;"* it doth not peculiarly extol that point. For herein the east is not to be taken strictly, but as it signifieth or implieth the foremost place; for Judah had the van, and many countries through which they passed were seated easterly, unto them. Thus much is implied by the original, and expressed by translations which strictly conform thereto. So Tremellius, Castra habentium ab anteriore parte Orientem versus, vexillum esto castrorum Judæ: so hath R. Solomon Jarchi expounded it; the foremost or before is the east quarter, and the west is called behind. And upon this interpretation may all be salved that is allegeable against it. For if the tribe of Judah were to pitch before the tabernacle at the east, and yet to march first, as is commanded, Numb. x, there must ensue a disorder in the camp, nor could they conveniently observe the execution thereof. For when they set out from Mount Sinai, where the command was delivered, they made northward unto Rithmah; from Rissah unto Eziongaber about fourteen stations they marched south; from Almon Diblathaim through the mountains of. Abarim and plains of Moab toward Jordan the face of their march was west. So that if Judah were strictly to pitch in the east of the tabernacle, every night he encamped in the rear; and if (as some conceive) the whole camp could not be less than twelve miles long, it had been preposterous for him to have marched foremost, or set out first, who was most remote from the place to be approached.

Fifthly, that learning, civility, and arts, had their beginning in the east, it is not imputable either to the action of the sun, or its orientality, but the first plantation of man in those parts, which unto Europe do carry the respect of east. For on the mountains of Ararat, this is, part of the hill Taurus, between the East Indies and Scythia, as Sir W. Raleigh accounts it, the ark of Noah rested; from the east they travelled that

* Numb. ii.