[64] _To be seen in_ Licet. de reconditis veterum lucernis. How the bulk of a man should sink into so few pounds of bones and ashes, may seem strange unto any who considers not its constitution, and how slender a mass will remain upon an open and urging fire of the carnal composition. Even bones themselves reduced into ashes, do abate a notable proportion. And consisting much of a volatile salt, when that is fired out, make a light kind of cinders. Although their bulk be disproportionable to their weight, when the heavy principle of Salt is fired out, and the Earth almost onely remaineth; Observable in sallow, which makes more Ashes then Oake; and discovers the common fraud of selling Ashes by measure, and not by ponderation. Some bones make best Skeletons,[65] some bodies quick and speediest ashes: Who would expect a quick flame from Hydropical _Heraclitus_? The poisoned Souldier when his Belly brake, put out two pyres in _Plutarch_.[66] But in the plague of _Athens_,[67] one private pyre served two or three Intruders; and the _Saracens_ burnt in large heaps, by the King of _Castile_,[68] shewed how little Fuel sufficeth. Though the Funeral pyre of _Patroclus_ took up an hundred foot,[69] a peece of an old boat burnt _Pompey_; And if the burthen of _Isaac_ were sufficient for an holocaust, a man may carry his own pyre. [65] _Old bones according to_ Lyserus. _Those of young persons not tall nor fat according to_ Columbus. [66] In vita. _Gracc._ [67] Thucydides. [68] Laurent. Valla. [69] Ἑκατόμπεδον ἔνθα ἥ ἔνθα. From animals are drawn good burning lights, and good medicines[70] against burning; Though the seminal humor seems of a contrary nature to fire, yet the body compleated proves a combustible lump, wherein fire findes flame even from bones, and some fuel almost from all parts. Though the Metropolis[71] of humidity seems least disposed unto it, which might render the sculls of these Urnes less burned then other bones. But all flies or sinks before fire almost in all bodies. When the common ligament is dissolved, the attenuable parts ascend, the rest subside in coal, calx or ashes. [70] Sperm ran. Alb. Ovor. [71] _The brain._ Hippocrates. To burn the bones of the King of _Edom_[72] for Lyme, seems no irrational ferity; But to drink of the ashes of dead relations,[73] a passionate prodigality. He that hath the ashes of his friend, hath an everlasting treasure: where fire taketh leave, corruption slowly enters; In bones well burnt, fire makes a wall against it self, experimented in copels, and tests of metals, which consist of such ingredients. What the Sun compoundeth, fire analyseth, not transmuteth. That devouring agent leaves almost alwayes a morsel for the Earth, whereof all things are but a colony; and which, if time permits, the mother Element will have in their primitive mass again. [72] _Amos_ 2. 1. [73] _As_ Artemisia _of her Husband_ Mausolus.