An essay for the recording of illustrious providences

In special Gilbert, Ward, Cabeus, Kepler, and of late Kircherus. I know many Fabulous things have been related concerning the Load-stone by inexperienced Philosophers, and so believed by many others, E. G. that Onions, or Garlic, or Ointments will cause it to lose its virtue. Johnston, (and from him Dr. Brown in his vulgar Errors) hath truly asserted the contrary. Every one knoweth that the head of a Needle touched therewith will continue pointing towards the North Pole: so that the Magnet leaveth an impression of its own nature and virtue upon the Needle, causing it to stand pointed as the Magnet it self doth. The Lodestone it self is the hardest Iron; and it is a thing known that such Mines are naturally so (notwithstanding the Report of one who saith, that lately in Devonshire, Lodestones ⟨p. 104⟩were found otherwise) posited in the Earth. Just under the Line the Needle lieth Parallel with the Horizon, but Sailing North or South it begins to incline and increase according as it approacheth to either Pole, and would at last endeavour to erect it self, whence some ascribe these strange effects to the North Star, which they suppose to be very magnetical. There is reason to believe that the Earth is the great Magnet. Hence (as Mr. Seller observes) when a Bar of Iron has stood long in a Window, that end of it which is next to the Earth will have the same virtue which the Load-stone it self has. Some place the first Meridian at the Azores, because there the Needle varies not: but the like is to be said of some other parts of the World; yea under the very same Meridian in divers Latitudes there is a great variation as to the pointing of the Needle. It is affirmed, that between the shore of Ireland, France, Spain, Guinea, and the Azores, the North point varies towards the East, as some part of the Azores it deflecteth not. On the other side of the Azores, and this side of the Equator, the North point of the Needle wheeleth to the West; so that in the Lat.36. near the shore, the variation is about 11 gr. but on the other side of the Equator it is quite otherwise, for in Brasilia the South point ⟨p. 105⟩varies 12 gr. unto the West, but Elongating from the Coast of Brasilia toward the Shore of Africa it varies Eastward, and arriving at the Cape Delas Aquilas, it rests in the Meridian and looketh neither way. Dr. Brown in be Psudodoxia Epidemica P. 63.

In special Gilbert, Ward, Cabeus, Kepler, and of late Kircherus. I know many Fabulous things have been related concerning the Load-stone by inexperienced Philosophers, and so believed by many others, E. G. that Onions, or Garlick, or Ointments will cause it to lose its vertue. Johnston, (and from him Dr. Brown in his vulgar Errors) hath truly asserted the contrary. Every one knoweth that the head of a Needle touched therewith will continue pointing towards the North Pole: so that the Magnet leaveth an impression of its own nature and vertue upon the Needle, causing it to stand pointed as the Magnet it self doth. The Loadstone it self is the hardest Iron; and it is a thing known that such Mines are naturally so (notwithstanding the Report of one who saith, that lately in Devonshire, Loadstones