PREFACE TO THE CANDID
READER, STUDIOUS OF
THE MAGNETICK
PHILOSOPHY.
learer proofs, in the discovery of secrets,
and in the investigation of the hidden causes of things, being afforded by trustworthy experiments and by demonstrated
arguments, than by the probable guesses and opinions of the ordinary professors of philosophy: so, therefore, that the
noble substance of that great magnet, our common mother (the earth), hitherto quite unknown, and the conspicuous and
exalted powers of this our globe, may be the better understood, we have proposed to begin with the common magnetick,
stony, and iron material, and with magnetical bodies, and with the nearer parts of the earth which we can reach with our
hands and perceive with our senses; then to proceed with demonstrable magnetick experiments; and so penetrate, for the
first time, into the innermost parts of the earth. For after we had, in order finally to learn the true substance of the
globe, seen and thoroughly examined many of those things which have been obtained from mountain heights or ocean depths,
or from the profoundest caverns and from hidden mines: we applied much prolonged labour on investigating the magnetical
forces; so wonderful indeed are they, compared with the forces of all other minerals, surpassing even the virtues of all
other bodies about us. Nor have we found this our labour idle or unfruitful; since daily during our experimenting, new
and unexpected properties came to light; and our Philosophy hath grown so much from the things diligently observed, that
we have attempted to expound the interior parts of the terrene globe, and its native substance, upon magnetick
principles; and to reveal to men the earth (our common mother), and to point it out as if with the finger, by real
demonstrations and by experiments manifestly apparent to the senses. And as geometry ascends from sundry very small and
very easy principles to the greatest and most difficult; by which the wit of man climbs above the firmament: so our
magnetical doctrine and science first sets forth in convenient order the things which are less obscure; from these there
come to light others that are more remarkable; and at length in due order there are opened the concealed and most secret
things of the globe of the earth, and the causes are made known of those things which, either through the ignorance of
the ancients or the neglect of moderns, have remained unrecognized and overlooked. But why should I, in so vast an Ocean
of Books by which the minds of studious men are troubled and fatigued, through which very foolish productions the world
and unreasoning men are intoxicated, and puffed up, rave and create literary broils, and while professing to be
philosophers, physicians, mathematicians and astrologers, neglect and despise men of learning: why should I, I say, add
aught further to this so-perturbed republick of letters, and expose this noble philosophy, which seems new and incredible
by reason of so many things hitherto unrevealed, to be damned and torn to pieces by the maledictions of those who are
either already sworn to the opinions of other men, or are foolish corruptors of good arts, learned idiots, grammatists,
sophists, wranglers, and perverse little folk? But to you alone, true philosophizers, honest men, who seek knowledge not
from books only but from things themselves, have I addressed these magnetical principles in this new sort of
Philosophizing. But if any see not fit to assent to these self-same opinions and paradoxes, let them nevertheless mark
the great array of experiments and discoveries (by which notably every philosophy flourisheth), which have been wrought
out and demonstrated by us with many pains and vigils and expenses. In these rejoice, and employ them to better uses, if
ye shall be able. I know how arduous it is to give freshness to old things, lustre to the antiquated, light to the dark,
grace to the despised, credibility to the doubtful; so much the more by far is it difficult to win and establish some
authority for things new and unheard-of, in the face of all the opinions of all men. Nor for that do we care, since
philosophizing, as we deemed, is for the few. To our own discoveries and experiments we have affixed asterisks, larger
and smaller, according to the importance and subtlety of the matter. Whoso desireth to make trial of the same
experiments, let him handle the substances, not negligently and carelessly, but prudently, deftly, and in the proper way;
nor let him (when a thing doth not succeed) ignorantly denounce our discoveries: for nothing hath been set down in these
books which hath not been explored and many times performed and repeated amongst us. Many things in our reasonings and
hypotheses will, perchance, at first sight, seem rather hard, when they are foreign to the commonly received opinion; yet I doubt not but that hereafter they will yet obtain authority from the
demonstrations themselves. Wherefore in magnetical science, they who have made most progress, trust most in and profit
most by the hypotheses; nor will anything readily become certain to any one in a magnetical philosophy in which all or at
least most points are not ascertained. This nature-knowledge is almost entirely new and unheard-of, save what few matters
a very few writers have handed down concerning certain common magnetical powers. Wherefore we but seldom quote antient
Greek authors in our support, because neither by using greek arguments nor greek words can the truth be demonstrated or
elucidated either more precisely or more significantly. For our doctrine magnetical is at variance with most of their
principles and dogmas. Nor have we brought to this work any pretence of eloquence or adornments of words; but this only
have we done, that things difficult and unknown might be so handled by us, in such a form of speech, and in such words as
are needed to be clearly understood: Sometimes therefore we use new and unusual words, not that by means of foolish veils
of vocabularies we should cover over the facts with shades and mists (as Alchemists are wont to do) but that hidden
things which have no name, never having been hitherto perceived, may be plainly and correctly enunciated. After
describing our magnetical experiments and our information of the homogenick parts of the earth, we proceed to the general
nature of the whole globe; wherein it is permitted us to philosophize freely and with the same liberty which the
Egyptians, Greeks, and Latins formerly used in publishing their dogmas: whereof very many errors have been handed down in
turn to later authors: and in which smatterers still persist, and wander as though in perpetual darkness. To those early
forefathers of philosophy, Aristotle, Theophrastus, Ptolemy, Hippocrates, and Galen, let due honour be ever paid: for by
them wisdom hath been diffused to posterity; but our age hath detected and brought to light very many facts which they,
were they now alive, would gladly have accepted. Wherefore we also have not hesitated to expound in demonstrable
hypotheses those things which we have discovered by long experience. Farewell.