[37] “Cosmos,” 1860, Vol. II. p. 341, or prior edition, 1849, Vol. II. p. 726.
[38] “Good Words,” 1879, with a facsimile of the title-page at p. 383.
[39] According to Dr. John Davy, this “De Mundo Nostro,” which is but little known, “is a very remarkable book, both in style and matter; and there is a vigour and energy of expression belonging to it very suitable to its originality. Possessed of a more minute and practical knowledge of natural philosophy than Bacon, his opposition to the philosophy of the schools was more searching and particular, and at the same time probably little less efficient” (“Memoirs of the Life of Sir Humphry Davy,” London, 1836, Vol. I. p. 311).
[40] Gilbert’s near kinsman, Rev. William Gilbert, of Brental Ely, in Suffolk.
[41] At the first chapter of Books I., III. and IV.
[42] “Philosophia magnetica in qua magnetis natura penitus explicatur....” An important work on the loadstone, in which the author often confutes the published treatise of Dr. Gilbert of Colchester, and quotes the inedited writings of L. Garzoni, who, even before Gilbert, had made researches respecting the magnet. A curious chapter in the “Philosophia” institutes a comparison between electrical and magnetical attraction (Libri, “Catalogue,” 1871, Part. I. p. 161).
[43] It is in the afore-mentioned Book IV. chap. i. that Gilbert makes mention of Norumbega, “the lost city of New England,” regarding which latter very interesting particulars will be found in the following publications: “Magazine of Amer. Hist.” for 1877, pp. 14, 321, and for 1886, p. 291; “New England’s Lost City Found”; Lang’s “Sagas of the Kings of Norway”; “Antiquitates Americanæ,” Royal Soc. of Copenhagen; Shea’s “Catholic Church in Colonial Days”; “Narrative and Critical History of America,” by Justin Winsor, Boston, 1889, Vol. II. pp. 451, 453, 459, 472; Vol. III. pp. 169–218; Vol. IV. pp. 53, 71, 88, 91–99, 101, 152, 373, 384; Vol. V. p. 479; R. Hakluyt, “The Principal Navigations,” Edinburgh, 1889, Vol. XIII. p. 162, note; J. G. Bourinot, “Canada,” London, 1897, p. 28; Horsford, “Cabot’s Landfall in 1497, and the site of Norumbega”; “Discovery of the Ancient City of Norumbega”; also “Defences of Norumbega.”
[44] “That which first occasioned this Discourse, was the reading of a little Pamphlet, stiled, Nuntius Inanimatus (by Dr. Francis Godwin); wherein he affirms that there are certain ways to discourse with a Friend, though he were in a close Dungeon, in a besieged City, or a hundred miles off.... After this, I did collect all such Notes to this purpose, as I met with in the course of my other Studies. From whence when I had received full satisfaction, I did for mine own further delight compose them into this method.”—The Author.
[45] In the second edition of Digby’s “The Immortality of Reasonable Soules” (“a treatise on the soul proving its immortality”), published during the year 1645, are to be found attractive portraits of himself and of his wife, Venetia Anastasia Stanley, daughter of Sir Edward Stanley, of Tongue Castle, one of the celebrated beauties of her day.
[46] Libri says (“Catal.,” 1861, Pt. II. p. 701) that the learned Jesuit, Schott, seems to have been very conversant with angels, for he not only dedicated his “Magia Naturalis” to an angel, but likewise another of his works, the “Magia Arithmetica,” wherein he indicates the total number of the angels in existence, that number being composed of sixty-eight numerical figures.