There where the Celestial fire is all clear and shining as a lamp, whose flame should bee nourished with water of Life, mingled with a certaine composition of _Camphire_, _Salnitre_, and other inflamative matters. So that these combustible substances, whereof there are infinite varieties, may endure very long, but it is true that it will bee but a gentle and weak flame. And of the like, but more subtill without comparison, the Celestiall bodies are nourished and fed, that need but little nourishment, as approaching from spirituality. I can tell you, being at any other time brought, to make the fashion of a shining Sunne, in the darke, (it was a fire of a Lampe) so glittering, that a whole great Hall might bee therewith rather dazled, then lightened; _for this did more effect then two or three dozen of great Torches, and yet in 24 houres used no more oile then I gave it, with matches corresponding thereunto, which held no more then a nut shell, for this was a Lampe of Glasse, plunged or dipped within a Globe of Crystall as great as a head filled with vinegar, distilled three or foure times; for there is nothing more transparent, nor more splendent. Sea water is also good thereto, and much better then fresh water, how pure soever it may bee; It it the Salt mingled among that gives it this luminous brightnesse._ [Sidenote: ἰχὼρ] [Sidenote: P. 75.] [Sidenote: Tuffe p. 76. a kind of white Sand, or soft and brittle Stone.] But to returne to our discourse, some have thought that sith the Starres receive nourishment, they should also vanish in certaine periods of time, and others come in their stead; which were no other thing then a separation of their clearnesse and light, with their Globe of substance more grosse and materiall, by which they come to dissipate themselves, and to vanish within the heaven; as vitall spirits within the aire: whilest they are absented from some animated body, and leave it void of life. So that by this meanes, their Globe from this time forward would remaine darke as a Lampe, whereby light, which before gave it light, should bee quenched for lacke of nourishment, or other accident. This light or luminous fire is in the Starres, as the bloud is in animals, or juice in vegetables, whereto _Homer_ seemes willing to grant in the 5. of his Iliads, where he puts, that for as much as the Gods do not live by bread and wine, as mortalls, but by _Ambrosia_ and _Nectar_, so they have no bloud, but in lieu thereof, a substance which they call ἰχὼρ which is as it were a subtill saltish waterishnesse: hindering corruption in animals, and all other composed Elements; but wee must here a little better cleare this, for the great affinity that the Sunne and Fire have together: Wee must then understand, that the Sunne arising by its attraction elevates the spirits of the earth, which are of two natures, (a moist vapour including, and a dry vapour included) are together exalted, (saith the Philosopher in the 5.