is that the Air in Water-cranes and pumps being sucked out the waters from profound springs are forced to rise contrary to their course and gravity and as the Air is sucked up the Water ascends whereby to avoid a Vacuum so repugnant to Nature the reason is the same in this for the outward Air being condensed with cold that contained in the globe of the glasse must also contract it self being a member or part of the whole Element and so consequently the water in the glasse must ascend to avoid a vacuum which it readily will doe having a vent below to supply the defect of water in the lower vessel This is the sole cause that glasses break in frosty weather being close stopp'd and not full of liquor for the Air contracting and having no pores or passage for a supply of more the vessel of necessity must crack and by rarifaction the same may be effected as common experience proves in glasse Alembicks or other close and concave vessels which are burst by restraint of the rarified inclosed Air and if these bodies could extend themselves like bladders the included air might be dilated unto an irruption at last with a noyse like Meteors swell'd to Tympanies in the wombs of pregnant clouds from rarifaction of Air proceeds this experiment Take a globe or round glasse luted up close and having rarified the confined air by natural or artificial heat you may throw the glasse against a stone 't will bound and not break by any violence that exceeds not the extension of the dilated imprison'd air And here in these small things I have briefly prov'd how active this Element is in avoiding either excess or defect superfluity or a vacuum and in an instant contracts or rarifies as Nature sees aptest or most facile to be effected and thus avoids vacuity in all bodies for if any place be empty 't will be found in some extravagant defendants or in orbicular heads enemies to order emblemes of a Chaos Natures abortives or false conceptions but lest this discourse should be so much dilated for to make some break into choller I will return to the Weather glass my former subject not so fragile as they The falling of this inclosed Water is according to the natural property and course of all ponderous bodies inclining towards the center and seat of gravity if not hindred by some greater force or natural affection to attract them so this tends downwards accordingly as the inclosed Air can dilate it self for the Element rarifying as against rain or hot weather that contained above the water in the glass must imitate it in the same proportion which appears by this for to be â…• or â…™ part more in the extreme heat of Sommer then in the greatest cold of Winter but not to be understood as general for the extreams of heat and cold in the Winter and Sommer-Season in every year nor Country is alike as regions under the Torrid Zone admits of no frost and parts neer either Pole receives but little heat some places enjoy a mean and divers in excess of both extreams The divisions of this glass are intended chiefly for England or such Countries as are neer this temperature of Air yet they may be made for any other Climate but the observations must not be in all points the same for the former reason delivered The temper of your body you may try by laying your hand upon the head of the glass for the hotter you are the more the water will fall and take your hand off the water will presently rise recovering its former place or temper and for a demonstration let this suffice I have presented to your view as in a glass both natural and artificial presages of the weather for all knowledge meerly humane is but as a shadow of Science or a superficial learning reflecting upon mans imagination as objects represented on a mirrour and not substantially comprehending the least thing created so expect not from me the meanest of men infallible predictions but conjectures and most of those collected from the observations of others bound up in this little Volume and order'd in the best form I could devise as for better reasons in these natural causes and effects of Metcors I will refer them unto your calm and serene censure for to paraphrase upon and explain the obscure and hidden mysteries of Natures secrets and yet She not absolute of her self but strictly tyed to the precepts of the Immense Creator to whose Sacred name be all Honour Praise and Glory These and all other being under the command of His Omnipotent word And thus it is recorded in the Regal Psalmist cap. 148.8 Ignis grando nix glacies spiritus procellarum quae faciunt verbum ejus AN INTRODUCTION TO The Fourth PART Shewing The direful effects of some prodigious Meteors Epidemical diseases and Memorable accidents with brief Historical observations of their events and final causes as just motives to the love and fear of God Benevolent Reader THe formal and material cause of Meteors I have compendiously delivered you already according to my ability selected from the ablest Astronomers and Philosophers amongst whom I will not rashly presume to give a verdict in such stupendious conceptions but willingly do attend their Dictates and Hypotheses which in many things do not concur a common vice in humane learning to vary many men having many minds with opinions so oppugnant as not to be reconcil'd Some affirming Comets to be of a Celestial nature other sublunary and extracted from the Elements Some denie their motions to be equal about their center but sometimes high and at other times low according to the matter that feeds them so moving up and down in the Air like an Ignis fatuus And thus by refractions deceive humane sight and frustrate these seeming demonstrations But leaving their ambiguous arguments and dubious opinions of men prone unto errour since the matter and form of them is undoubtedly held natural their effects portentious and observed as the forerunners of great calamities to be inflicted upon whole Kingdoms and parts of the habitable World And thus the Poet Silius Lib. 8. Non unus crine corusco Regnorum eversor rubuit lethale Cometes Pliny in his natural History makes a series or catalogue of these fiery apparitions which he divides into Ten kinds but my intention in this little treatise is to comprehend them under the title of Comets Blazing-Stars or fiery Impressions in general They are the hidden and secret mysteries of Nature portentious in their heights magnitudes courses and periods various and manifold in their colours and form but are generally observed representative lights and figures of Stars and their effects according to the opinion of Philosophers are to purge the Air by consuming those Meteors whether exhaled or ingendred in the Skies But these combustions inflame that Element by which we draw our vital breath and so begetteth Choler and makes us prone unto dissentions and civil broiles if
in watery Signs prognosticates rain in fiery Signs drought and scatters over the heavens with red and yellowish clouds causing often times rain and as in Signs that are aireal it makes the weather warm Particularly they cause in the Spring and Autumn showres in Sommer thunder lightning and hail in Winter remisse heat and oftentimes extendeth the celestial bow a premonitor of following rain but usually not much The Sun and Venus in conjunction SOl and ♀ in ☌ do generally prognosticate moist weather especially in watery Signs and particularly in the Spring and Autumn rain in Sommer thunder and showres and in the Winter quarter moist and foggy weather The Sun and Mercury in conjunction SOl and ☿ in ☌ do commonly beget winds in airy Signs with moisture in watery Signs rain in fiery Signs drought warm winds with corruption these two Planets do always accompany the Sun neither of them exceeding 60. degrees in their greatest distances and this not 30. The Sun and Moon in conjunction or aspected SOl and ☽ in ☌ □ or ☠in moist Signs produce rain reddish clouds and great drops of water and in fiery Signs fair weather and altereth the Air according to the season of the year and the present temperature of the time at the new and full she causeth the greatest flux of the Sea and all waterish humors and much the more if aspected with the Hyades or Pleiades at the same time with other circumstances to be considered as the other Planets and what hath been said before Venus and Mercury in conjunction VEnus and ☿ in ☌ do commonly beget in moist Signs showres and generally at all times of the year moist winds and if this conjunction shall happen when the two luminaries are in ☌ □ or ☠or within an hour it will cause an inundation or very much rain if not hindred with other intervening causes Venus in conjunction or aspected with the Moon VEnus and ☽ in ☌ □ or ☠presage generally mild and gentle showres or moist weather with some cold according to the season and much increases the flowing of the Seas causing violent Tides especially with Hyades or Stars of their own natures Particularly in the Spring moist and cloudy time in Sommer remisse heat in Autumn they produce dark clouds and in the Winter season a cold and troubled Air if not snow sleet or rain Mercury in conjunction or aspected with the Moon Mercury and ☽ in ☌ □ or ☠do signifie winds clouds rain with various and unconstant weather and generally in all seasons of the year if it happens in watery Signs rain or moist weather is presaged in airy Signs wind in fiery Signs drought in earthly Signs cold they cause also many times pale uncontinued clouds resembling the colour of smoak but the effects of these are not durarable or of long continuance without the assistance of the higher Planets The fixed and wandring Stars are observed diligently by some in administring Physick Phlebotomy c. which I will omit in prescribing any Rules being out of my element but leave it to the learned Practitioners Others do vigilantly regard the Planets in Agriculture and above all the Moon predominating most over vegetables but this is also out of my rode excepting my Predictions of the Weather and seasons of the year as for other things Experience is the best instructor yet those that will may satisfie themselves with Virgils Georgicks with Pliny lib. 17. 18. and divers others of that kinde but being this you have and those not always at hand peruse these few collections if you please they being held general Observations in Agriculture TO plant or sow the Moon in these Signs is held the best viz. in ♈ ♉ ♊ ♠♎ ♑ ♓ and if the ☽ be aspected with ♀ it is the better as causing the more moisture Plant or graft trees the ☽ increasing in ♉ ♎ and ♒ Sow all seeds after the new ☽ but round seeds neer the opposition ☽ is generally held the best but all moist seeds in wet grounds the ☽ decreasing Gather fruits the ☽ decreasing before the last quarter The Eclipses of the two Luminaries are generally observed prejudicial to this kind of husbandry and the bloming of Corn. Any Planet that is retrograde and in ☌ with the ☽ is accounted hurtful to planting graffing or sowing The wind in the North or in the East is held destructive or hurtful to planting graffing or felling of timber Cut hair and shear sheep the ☽ increasing Presages of the weather by Experience collected from the inflamation of Comets fiery impressions influences and apparitions of the Stars reflecting on sublunary Meteors HItherto I have discovered according to my ability the effects of the fixed and wandring Stars selected from their aspects by the registers of Experience conceived by them the efficient cause under God of Wind Rain Hail Snow c. But all men not being Astronomers and my intentions generall to whom I indeavour the dedication of my discourse therefore I will demonstrate the weathers transactions by signs derived more directly from the immediate dictates of Nature beginning with Comets being generally supposed to be sublunary and so descend unto those more inferiour according to my prescribed order intending to treat of falling Stars Rainbows and all fiery apparitions in the Air and then our terrestrial fires for although they are compounded of the 4. Elements yet I will rank them amongst these because the flames of all combustible matters do naturally of their own accords ascend towards the Element of fire the seat of lenity whereas all heavy and ponderous things do tend downwards pressing toward the seat of gravity and centre of the Earth The effects of Comets 1. ALl fiery impressions and Comets do presage violent tempests of long continuance and also they do denote much heat and inflamation of the Air Pliny lib. 2. cap. 25. 2. Frequent and many Comets do foreshew sterility of the Earth famine plague burning feavers and many other pestiferous diseases by reason they do consume the humidity of vapours and exhalations and so from thence they ingender choler inclining men prone to discentions and civil wars it threatens Princes and great men with death and all such as are of tender or fiery constitutions to this consents Cardanus lib. 1 cap. 1. but the effects of these are the more violent and of longer continuance by how much the greater and permanent they are and the like judge of all unusual fiery Meteors 3. The shooting or glancing of seeming Stars through the Air do presage rain snow or tempestious weather quickly after to ensue and observe what point of the Heavens these Metoors point at from that quarter will the wind proceed if there be many of them falling often and sevaral ways it is a sign the weather will be variable but if they be numerous and all tending one way then expect great winds much snow or rain and probably to continue long for it argues
Earth are both one for in long continued calms the material cause of winds is detain'd within the bowels of the Earth and there being rarified searches the veins caverns and hollow subterranean places to get a passage but finding readily none and not able to contain it self it forces a way and according to its quantity disturbs the Waters and shakes the Land or breaks forth into a tempest with horrid noises according to the resistance made or which is aptest and most facile to be effected By sensitive Creatures but first by Beasts and Reptiles 99. BEasts eating greedily and more then they use to do prenotes foul weather and all small cattel that seem to rejoyce with playing and sporting themselves foreshews rain 100. Oxen and all kind of Neat if you do at any time observe them to hold up their heads and snuffle in the Air or lick their hooves or their bodies against the hair expect then rainy weather 101. Asses or Mules rubbing often their ears or braying much more then usually they are accustomed presages rain 102. Hogs crying and running unquietly up and down with hay or litter in their mouths foreshews a storm to be neer at hand 103. Dogs tumbling and wallowing themselves much and often upon the earth if their guts rumble and stinke very much are signs of rain or wind for certain 104. Cats coveting the fire more then ordinary or licking their feet and trimming the hair of their heads and mustachios presages rainy weather 105. Moles plying their works in undermining the Earth foreshews rain but if they do forsake their trenches and creep above ground in Sommer time it is a sign of hot weather but when on a fuddain they doe forsake the valleys and low grounds it foreshews a flood neer at hand but their coming into meddows presages fair weather and for certain no floods 106. Spiders creep out of their holes and narrow receptacles against wind or rain Minerva having made them sensible of an approaching storm 107. The Common-wealth of Emmets when busied with their egs and in ordering their State affairs at home it presages a storm at hand or some foul weather but when Nature seems to stupifie their little bodies and disposes them to rest causing them to withdraw into their caverns least their industry should engage them by the inconveniency of the season expect then some foul and winterly weather 108. The little sable beast called a Flea if much thirsting after blood it argues rain 109. The lamentable croaking of Frogs more then ordinary does denote rainy weather 110. Glow-worms Snayles and all such creatures do appear most against fair weather but if Worms comes out of the earth much in the day time it is a presage of wet weather but in the Sommer evenings it foreshews dewy nights and hot days to follow and here ends the prognostications of the weather by Beasts and reptiles By winged Creatures 111. THe vigilant Cock a bird of Mars the good house wives clock and the Switzers alarum if he crows in the day time very much or at Sun setting or when he is at roost at unusual hours as at 9 or 10 expect some change of weather and that suddainly but from fair to foul or the contrary but when the Hen crows good men expect a storm within doors and without if the Hens or Chickings in the morning come late from their roosts as if they were constrained by hunger it presages much rainy weather 112. The offspring or aliance of the Capitolian guard when they do make a gaggling in the Air more then usual or seem to fight being over-greedy at their meat expect then cold and winterly weather 113. Birds that do haunt the Fens if they often wash themselves it presages rain or wind and so in most birds or fowls that do prune their feathers with an oyly substance as a provision of Nature in preparing themselves against a storm 114. Cormorants Gulls Ducks Mallards and all water-fowls when they bathe themselves much prune their feathers and flicker or clap themselves with their wings it is a sign of rain or wind 115. Cormorants and Gulls flying from the Sea and standing lakes presages a storm 116. Cranes soaring aloft and quietly in the Air foreshews fair weather but if they do make much noise as consulting which way to go it foreshews a storm that 's neer at hand 117. Herons in the evening flying up and down as if doubtful where to rest presages some evill approaching weather 118. Ravens and Crows when they do make a hoarse hollow and sorrowful noise as if they sobbed it presages foul weather approaching 119. Crows flocking together in great companies or calling early in the morning with a full and clear voice or at any time of the day gaping against the Sun foreshews hot and dry weather but if at the brinck of ponds they do wet their heads or stalk into the water or cry much towards the evening are signs of rain the Woodpeckers cry denotes wet 120. Jack-daws if they come late home from forraging presages some cold or ill weather neer at hand and likewise when they are seen much alone 121. Buzards or Kites when they do soar very high and much to lessening themselves making many plains to and again foreshews hot weather and that the lower Region of the Air is inflamed which for coolnesse makes them ascend 122. Swallows flying low and touching the water often with their wings presages rain 123. Owls whooping after Sun set and in the night foreshews a fair day to ensue but if she names her self in French Huette expect then fickle and unconstant weather but most usually rain 124. Peacooks crying loud and shrill for their lost Jo does proclaim an approaching storm 125. Sparrows in the morning early chirping and making more noise then ordinary they use to do foretels rain or wind The Titmouse cold if crying Pincher 126. Doves coming later home to their houses then they are acustomed to do presages some evil weather neer approaching 127. Sea-mews early in the morning making a gaggling more then ordinary foretokens stormy and blustering weather 128. Halcyon at the time of breeding which is about 14. days before the Winter Solstice foreshews a quiet and tranquil time as it is observed about the coast of Sicily from whence the Proverb is transported the Halcyon days Pliny 129. Bats or flying Mice coming out of their holes quickly after Sun set and sporting themselves in the open Air premonstrates fair and calm weather 130. Birds in general that do frequent trees and bushes if they do fly often out and make quick returns expect some bad weather to follow soon after 131. Bees in fair weather not wandring far from their hives presages the approach of some stormy weather 132. Wasps Hornets and Gnats biting more eagerly then they use to do is a sign of rainy weather 133. Flies in the Spring or Sommer season if they grow busier or blinder then at other times or that
my mind as the Sun upon a Cloud which he rais'd represented this Impression having imprinted in my memory her Nobleness indelible not convenient to be publish'd at this present time As for the subject of this Treatise it appertains to the Astronomer in part 't is true yet who understands the Characters and Aspects of the Signs and Planets by this will know them in any Ephemeris or Annual Kalender whereby you may judge of the future Weather For our present purpose Mr. William Lillies is the best extant As for apparitions in the Airy Regions you have here the Observations upon them and for the nature of Vegetables they are more essentially observ'd and better known in general then the influence of the Stars or the nature of Meteors are discovered to learned Men especially all tender and redolent Flowers that embroyder the Earth or perfume the Air whose natural instincts each Florist observes as Kalenders of the Weathers mutability besides these here 's Birds and Beasts that are domestick Creatures or familiarly seen which if they satisfie not the beholders I have presented them with a Glasse not to see their features in but to view the state of the Air whether Dropsical or Feaverish Hot or Cold and by a member sequestred from the Element confin'd within a transparent Glasse where behold its contraction or rarefaction and from thence you may visibly presage the approaching weather the fourth and last Part is historical so there is something in every ones Sphere or Element The Tables of the Stars natural qualities in their tempers seem oppugnant to themselves as ♄ cold and dry with ♃ hot and moist likewise in pag. 82 line 28 and 29 and such like seeming contradictions in general but not in particular respects these are the observations of others faithfully recollected and transfer'd to your judgements as Moderators whereby I will not deceive you if you be deceiv'd The Cosmical rising and setting of some Stars are mention'd here when as to many Places and whole Countries those Asterismes can neither rise nor set In all such cases 't is to be understood if visible when neer the Horizon of that place or direct North the Sun ascending or descending that Hemisphere at the same time As for terms Latine words and quotations not explain'd they are known unto the Lady for whom this is chiefly intended and if they do eclipse or offuscate the subject as in relation to others the next Impression shall delucide them And as for those who only know how to find fault I can with more facility remit then such as they can censure So all such malignant spirits I leave to themselves and reconvert my discourse from them to the Ingenious as the Heliotrope from its shade to court the Sun and if they are satisfied I am pleas'd by subscribing Your friend and coadjutor THOMAS WILLSFORD To his honoured Uncle Mr. Thomas Willsford upon his Book of Meteors HEav'n is by earth epitomiz'd The greater world by th'lesse Comprisd The sacred Harmony o' th spheres Made audible to mortal ears Nature's Anatomy displayd The universal frame survayd The Elements complexions shown And every Star's Dominion The Weathers watr in glasses cast Speaks how her fits may change or last Whence bearded Comets have their births And strong Convulsions shake the Earth Whence all portentous symptomes rise Bad Omens and sad prodigies These are thy tracks pervious to none But to thy better thoughts alone Whose mystique Causes do'st explore Seeing implum'd effects in store Who Can'st the Cabala of Fate And energy of Planets state While stupid we on Terrene Regions move But Looking up see Stars and Thee above Edward Boteler AN INTRODUCTION TO THE WORLDS EPITOMY AND THE Generation of Meteors ACcording to my Talent received from the sole Creator of the Vniverse whose Fiat alone made this great and stupendious Machine of the World for whose excellency Man cannot find an attribute but Supereminent in all beginnings Eternal Immense Omnipotent c. which we cannot comprehend Who in the beginning created Heaven and Earth Gen. 1. cap. 1. And by his omnipotent Word alone made on the first Day Light which He divided from darknesse whose Divine assistance I now implore to illuminate my understanding and to dissipate the clouds of Error involving humane Learning deviated in diversity of Tracts in which obtenebrated ways we grope for what we seek in the bewildred cogitations of others whereof some do think they see so well as Argus when they are as blind as Moles Phantasmes undermining their wilful benighted judgements Others there be whose sordid minds are buried deep in Earth or so propense on vanities that they reflect not upon Natures dayly works much lesse on the Sacred Deity from whence she was ordained herself should but any stupid man that hath a glimmering light in the use of Reason behold the Heavens he must needs read there an immense Creator if his Reason enters into judgement for to examine the cause or contemplate on the effects observe the illuminated Orbs how by an orderly course and succession they rise and set distinguishing Days from Nights and Seasons of the Year contracting their Lights or distributing their Rays impartially to the Pesant as the Prince they cannot but confesse the Providence Goodnesse and Bounty of an Infinite and universal Opificer Which moved Ovid though a Heathen wavering like a weather-cock turn'd with Air of poetical fictions yet from them converts himself to point at the original Author Metam lib. 1. describing of the Chaos Quia corpore in uno Frigida pugnabant calidis humentia sice is Mollia cum duris sine pondere habentia pondus Hanc Deus melior litem Natura diremit And a little after Ille Opifex rerum mundi melior is origo Declining here the Poets and Philosophers authority let any rational man but contemplate of the least vegetable or sensitive creature a time there was it had no being it increases to maturity and perfection at a period declines again returning unto Earth from whence extracted according to the course and conception of Nature which evidently demonstrates that She and the World had an original as by their Fruits and off-spring the subjects of mortality and consequently must have an end Eccles-cap 3. consider then the omnipotency of an Eternal Creator by whose sacred Word alone 't was made by whose Providence it continues and by whose Power it shall perish all things declaring the Almighty Deity and so apparently that there are not any but must see it except wilfully blinded in their understandings and thus writeth the Apostle of the Gentiles S. Paul inspired by the holy Ghost ad Roma cap. 1. ver 20. Invisibilia enim Dei à creatione Mundi per ea quae facta sunt intellecta conspiciuntur sempiterna quoque ejus virtus Divinitas ita ut sint inexcusabiles Now to return from whence I came and look back to the Creation on the second Day God made the Firmament
â—6 degree are turbulent their natures being of ♂ and ☿ the Northern parts are hot the Southern moist â™ The former parts of Sagittarius from the 26. unto the 6. degree of ♑ the Stars are moist and colder then in former ages the middle part of â™ from the 6. degree of ♑ unto the 16 the Stars are of the nature of ♃ and ♂ yet temperate inclining to cold the hinder part of â™ from the 16. of ♑ to the 28. fiery the Northern part of this constellation is windy the South part moist and inconstant ♑ The first part of Capricornus from the 28. degree to the 7. of â™’ the Stars do participate of ♂ and ♀ which are hot and hurtful the middle of ♑ from the 7. degree of â™’ unto the 15 more temperate lastly from the 15. degree to the 21. of â™’ is observed rainy weather for the Northern and Southern part of this asterism is generally held moist and also hurtful â™’ The beginning of Aquarius is from the 21. degree unto the end of the same very moist the middle of it unto the 8. degree of ♓ temperate of the nature of ♄ and ♃ the end of this sign in the 15. degree of ♓ windy the Northern part of this constellation is hot the Southern part snow or cold weather ♓ The former parts of Pisces from the 15. degree unto the 30. more cold then in former ages the middle parts from the beginning of ♈ unto the 15. degree moister then formerly and lastly from the 15. degree of ♈ unto the 28. causing a thick and dark air the Northern part windy and the Southern is held waterish which concludes the 12. Signs and the properties of them in particular Aphorismes or selected places out of Cardanus CArdan 7 Aph. 73. does propound these ♓ and ♈ do cause winds and the half of ♉ the other part of ♉ being more aireal participating of ♊ doth produce suddain and fruitful showres ♊ Author of winds ♋ and ♌ produceth great heat and storms of Hail â™ remisse heat and giveth showres ♎ and â™ inequality of Air â™ Snow and Rain ♑ cold weather does produce and â™’ waters especially in the beginning Stadius and the later observers collects these properties of the 12. Signs of the first mover and 8. Sphere conformable to this Age. ♈ OF the Primum mobile lesse subject to Thunder but apter to hail then in the times of Ptolomy ♉ Hot and moderately moist ♊ Temperate inclining to heat and also to drought ♋ Cloudy and not the parent of fair weather in times past ♌ Hot with a scorching drought and suffocating â™ Thunder with moisture but more temperate then in former ages ♎ Various and mutable inclining something unto drought â™ Flery but more remisse then in the time of Ptolomy â™ Windy but moister then formerly ♑ Temperately cold and a little moist â™’ Cold and watery ♓ More cold then in former ages The natures properties and operations of the 7. Planets upon sublunary bodies in causing Meteors ♄ SAturn by nature is more cold then dry especially being East-ward of the ☉ and in earthly signs producing then both clouds and coldnesse of the Air in time of heat it lessens it and in frosty weather it much increases the cold when he passes from one sign into another for many days together he causeth red clouds and fiery apparitions in the Air inundations earth-quakes snow frosts and much cold according to the season of the year and situation of the Country Card. ♃ Jupiter is of nature hot and moist and is accounted the parent of fair weather being temperate both in heat and moisture mittigating the cold of Winter and the heat of Sommer causing gentle winds and a temperate Air with much serenity being East-ward of the ☉ he increaseth heat and West-ward moisture Card. ♂ Mars is hot and dry in excesse and in fiery Signs in Sommer he causeth much heat and in Winter-time remisse mittigating the coldnesse of the weather he is accounted as Lord paramount of tempests violent and suddain storms of Rain Hail Thunder Lightning excessive heat in fiery Signs and much Rain in passing by the Pleiades as is observed by Stadius ☉ Sol is by nature hot and dry but more or lesse according to the Sign he is in or aspected with the other six Planets or assisted by the fixed Stars in his annual revolution his greatest force is in making Hail moderate in Rain little Frosts and Snow the general motive of vapours and exhalations the destributer of light unto the rest of the Stars Monarch of the skies inabling them with his rays and the earth with fruitfulnesse ♀ Venus is temperately cold and moist yet Argol says moderately warm predominating over humors she warmeth little and moistneth much especially when she is the morning Star in Winter she maketh the Air temperate but moist and in Sommer she lessens the drought and causes great Dews and gentle showres but chiefly when she is in the beginning of ♋ Card. ☿ Mercury is by nature mutable and doubtful according to the Sign or nature of the Star he is withal or the Aspect of any other Planet participating of their natures with whom he is associated he is held the father of winds in earthly and watery Signs and causeth Thunder and Lightning often in fiery or airy Signs ☽ Luna the lowest Planet is of nature cold and moist and but little warm she naturally moveth the waters having much force over all phlegmatick bodies and cold humors and increaseth them according to her place in the Zodiack the Aspect with the ☉ and the other Planets her association with the fixed Stars and her latitude from the Ecliptick Astrologers do allow the Moon these temperatures from the ☌ to the first of â–¡ cold and moist from the first â–¡ unto ☠moist and something warm from ☠to the last â–¡ dry and a little warm from the last â–¡ to the ☌ cold and something dry but in general she is held to increase the humors in all bodies from the new unto the full and decreasing for to dry them up or lessen them yet more or lesse according to her place and season of the year and the full ☽ is conceived cold in Sommer and temperate in the Winter season the new ☽ warm in Sommer and produceth the coldest nights in Winter and in general the conjunctions of the Luminaries bringeth the fairest weather and their oppositions the greatest store of Rain Card. And thus far for the particular observations of the Planets properties and natures Proper and peculiar observations of the weather in every one of the four Seasons or Quarters of the Year Spring IN the conjunction or opposition of the Luminaries immediately or the last before the Vernal Equinox if ♂ were in ☌ with either the ☉ or ☽ expect much Thunder and Lightning for to follow if ♀ in March or April be retrograde expect much wet weather to follow Sommer If the 5. Planets be direct
mist the Southern winds will rage and if the Southern Ass be hidden from your sight then look for storms and tempests from the North or East 4. The Dolphin setting Acronycally produceth cold winds 5. Vindemiatrix rising Acronically causeth cold Northerly winds 6. The Cosmical Rising of the Pleiades is a sign of Westerly winds the Acronycal setting bringeth Southerly winds 7. Sirius setting Acronycally causeth South west winds and sometimes tempests 8. The Caniculare days bring the Easterly winds and the Cosmical setting Southerly weather and tempests the Heliacal rising or apparition of Sirius did begin the Graecian year 9. The Cosmical setting of the Eagle produceth Eastern winds 10. Regulus setting Acronycally doth cause Westerly winds lasting oftentimes for 9. days but seldome very violent 11. Vindemiatrix rising Cosmically produceth North-west winds and white frosts if the first day of September be fair it betokens a dry Autumn 12. The Cosmical rising of the Northern Crown produceth cold winds 13. Virgiliae setting Cosmically bringeth Northern-winds if at this time the Sky be dark or cloudy it foreshews a wet Winter and very cold if dry and clear 14. Arcturus setting Acronycally produceth Southerly winds and much rain to follow if it rains at his Heliacal setting or occultation Saturn ♃ ♂ ☉ ♀ or any one of these rising or setting with the Triangle with ♒ with the belly of the Southern Fish with the right shoulder of Auriga with the foremost head of ♊ with Praesepe and the two Asses with Orions Girdle or ♠the Crown Arcturus with Hereules or with the Ballance all these produceth winds and many times violent tempests especially the aforesaid Planets being stationary or retrograde 16. Mercurius doth produce winds if he riseth or setteth with the thigh of Pegasus with Auriga with the Triangle with the Rams head sharp and cold winds with the Pleiades wind and rain with ♊ with Orion tempests and often thunder and lightning and so likewise with Praesepe either Dog or Regulus the Hydras heart Arcturus and Spica ♠winds and cloudy weather and likewise rising or setting with the Vulture the Ballance the Eagle or the Dolphin ascending or descending the Horizon with ☿ causeth often winds and cloudy weather with the cloudy Stars of ♠lowring weather but with Acarner clear days and warm winds and usually so with most Stars of the nature of ♃ and so much for this Generall Aphorisms in Prognosticating storms and tempests selected out of Cardanus Maginus and Durret THe twelve Signes of the Zodiack doe contain the nature of the four Elements and these twelve Signes by transmutation of their places are divided into four Trigones each of them containing the temperature and qualities of one Element as was declared already in the Worlds Epitomy and being they are conceived to have their severall effects in producing of particular winds I will once again insert them v.z. ♈ ♌ ♠produceth Northwest winds ♊ ♎ ♒ produceth Northeast winds ♋ ♠♓ causeth Southwest winds ♉ ♠♑ raiseth Southeast winds and thus are the twelve Signs appropriated to the four points of the horizon equally between the four cardinall winds yet you must consider the nature of the fixed and wandring Stars ascending with them in every particular Horizon The presaging of the winds depends upon many causes and are as various as they be inconstant and besides all this you must know the winds are appropriated unto each proper Planet as the East to ♄ the North to ♃ the West to ♂ the South to ♀ and ☉ also to the East and ☽ to the West as for ☿ he is indifferent to the other six according to the conjunction of his rays with them For if he applies himself to ♄ he produceth great winds cloudy or rainy weather if to ♃ warm gales with some rain to ♂ or ☉ hot and corrupt winds and with ☿ or ☽ moist winds If ☿ changes his latitude it argues winds if stationary or retrograde or going from one sign and entring the other betokeneth great winds ♄ also doth alter the weather for many days together in his removing from any one sign into another especially being retrograde and having latitude towards the pole elevated and the Apogaeon or Perigaeon of the Planets is to be considered There is never any great mutation of the Air without the ☌ or aspect either of ♄ ♃ or ♂ by reason their motions are so slow great ☌ of Planets that are of contrary naures do cause contrary winds much rain hail or snow according to the season of the year hail is multiplied by the ☌ of hot Planets in fiery Signs the wandring Stars in their swift motions do beget drought and likewise if they be direct and Oriental but if slow retrograde or occidental they do produce rain excepting ♂ and stationary they do generally cause winds and ☿ instability of the Air and likewise many ☌ or Aspects of the Planets concurring at one time do pronounce great mutability of the weather and do usually very much distemper the Element in this Cardanus is oppugnant to Leupold Here we are arrived having past many ambiguous Meanders and obscure Laborinths of humane Hypothesis concerning the nature and effects of the fixed and wandring Stars through which I cannot guide you in a direct line with a thread but am forced to follow the observations of others and the rules by them prescribed and delivered to Astronomers by succession from one ensuing Age unto another yet with several opinions according to the diversity of men and the Countrys they lived in as Aegypt Italy Germany and the like These several temperatures of Climates have caused errors in our later observations whereas their rules were true perhaps in those Regions where they did inhabite I have therefore delivered some things twice to shew how several mens opinions do concur others again I have given you almost oppugnant yet may be in some things reconciled which to do I refer to your candid Judgement to choose correct or reject as you please I have shewn you rules and prognostications of the weather both for days years and the several seasons thereof as by the fixed Stars and Planets with the effects of their influences commixt according to humane conjectures And now I will place before your eyes predictions of the weather by mutual Aspects of the Planets only with themselves which way is generally held and approved for to be the best and most assured tract to follow as in things that depends upon so many and uncertain causes yet it is convenient to ponder in your judgement the former rules prescribed and those well weighed and considered I will leave it to your application and so proceed to the observations of Maginus with some diligent collections of my own annexed thereunto But first there ought to be considered whether either Planet were retrograde at the time of conjuction or in any other Aspect of which these are the chiefest and held of
at his setting be mixed with sky-colour or purple expect then immoderate tempests and storms of wind and rain 34. If the Sun at his rising seem to be as it were affronted with clouds in tumults moving towards him observe from what quarter of the Heavens they come from thence will the storm arise and if they come from the South expect then both wind and rain especially if the clouds were fiery red or mixt 35. If the Sun doth cast his beams a far of amongst the clouds at his rising and some of them seem refracted or the middle void it presages rain 36. If he spread his beams before he rises above the Horizon expect both wind and water 37. If at his setting there appear a white circle about him there will be some troublesome weather the ensuing night but withal if there be a thick mist invirons him the tempest may be outragious both wind and rain 38. If there be red clouds about the Sun at his rising which do become black or dark soon after he is up it presages rain 39. If the Sun all day or before his setting an hour or two appeareth with a purple colour and coming to the Horizon descending seems greater then at other times it foreshews both wind and rain A Paraphrase HEre with the setting Sun I will end his presages and now behold the Luminary of the night for what hath been said of his rising is or may be applied for the most part as rules in presaging the weather at the time of his descending the Horizon of any place but not so certain and effectual as his first apparition in the morning because there be more grosse and undigestâ—d vapours raised in the night or fall for want of heaâ— to concoct and dispose of them according to their qualities the reason of all these presages is grounded upon the colour of the vapour or exhalation on which the Sun reflecting doth cause these fiery and diversity of apparitions elevated above the superficies of the Earth but neer us interposed between the Sun and our sight which by the vertue of his rayes he converts according to their qualities and quantities into several Mereors for if they seem pale they are watery if red windy if black and mixt both if his rays seem refracted broken or crooked it is by reflection of one cloud upon another which argues their number to be many and if unpenetrable it shews them to be great and grosse And so much for the Sun By the Moon 40. THe Aegyptians whom Virgil and Pliny follow did observe the fourth day of the Moon after the Conjunction to be the surest sign for if she does appear after Sun-setting pure and bright it argues fair weather and if red wind if dim or cloudy storms and wet weather also if the tips of her horns be blunt it foreshews foul weather and if very sharp pointed it presages winds fair or frosty weather 41. If her Northern horn be only sharp-pointed it presages wind from that coast but if her lower or Southern horn be only so the wind will be Southward and if she hath a red circle about her it is a sign of wind and rain But Varra who maketh these observations also of the weather says That if the Moon hath a circle or garland about her and the same clear and bright it promises fair weather until the Full. 42. If the Moon after the change appear not until her fourth day and the wind blowing West expect then cold and winter-like weather the reason that the fourth day is observed in these is this her fourth time ascending the Horizon reckoned from the New Moon inclusive is but three days compleat in which time she does recover light and hath then entered another sign of a different nature from that at her change But some would have these rules observed when her age is â— 8 part of her whole course that is three days and sixteen hours very neer but this cannot be strictly observed the Moon not being then always visible above any one Horizon 43. The Moon increasing and rising with her upper or Northern horn blackish presageth much rainy weather after the Full but if the tip of her lowermost horn be so aspected then it will rain before the Full but if it appears blackish between her horns that is in the middle of her body according to Varre it will be wet weather about the time of her being Full. 44. When the Moon is at the Full if her body seem very fair and bright it is a sign of good weather but if red it argues wind if inclining to black rain and if a mist about her it is a sign of snow rain or wind and if two or more of these circles it is the worse and presages storms and where the circle is brightest or most transparent from that part of the Heavens expect the winds 45. Lastly the eight points or angles which the Moon maketh with the Sun are observed by many and are these days viz. 3 7 11 15 19 23 27. and the day in which the two great Luminaries do happen in Conjunction 46. Observe what weather it is when the Moon comes to be South any day if the weather changes not then it is like to continue that day whether it be sair or foul This would also be observed in the other Planets at what time they do come unto the Meridian of any place so well as their rising and setting But to find the ☽ coming to the Meridian multiply her age by 4 and divide the product by 5 the quotient will be the time required Example admit the Moons age were 5 which multiplied by 4 the product will be 20 and that divided by 5 the quotient will be 4 the hour of her being South that day and so for any time By Rain-bows 46. THere have been Rain-bows in the night-time seen made by the Moon and as for their effects being seldome known they shall be omitted only as signs conceived prodigious but those of the Sun made by his rays are usual and are these a Rain-bow appearing presently after rain is held a sign of fair weather and that the storm is past but if two or more be seen at once it is a presage of future rain for it argues the clouds to be very waterish when the reflection of the one can form the impression and figure of another in several clouds as it were in mirrours a Rain-bow broken presages tempests Of the Ignis fatuus 48. THese pallid fires appear but at some times of the year and that in certain places and in those parts where they are most usual they are not commonly seen but as fore-runners of fultry heat in Sommer and wet in the Winter they are usually observed to appear in open weather yet I have seen one in a very cold feason both for frost and snow moving but a little before me and within a few days after the frost did break they are
Meteors seldome seen little observed in prognostication of the weather and so I shall lead you no further until a better discovery of their natures be made and their effects better known which are generally held unwholesome and so let them pasle as Ignes fatui By terrestial fires 49. WHen our common fires do burn with a pale flame they presage foul weather 50 If the fire do make a huzzing noise it is a sign of tempests neer at hand 51. If the flame of a candle lamp or any other fire does wave or wind it self where there is no sensible or visible cause expect some windy weather 52. When candles or lamps will not so readily kindle as at other times it is a sign of wet weather neer at hand 53. When the fire sparkleth very much it is a sign of rain 54. If the ashes on the herth do clodder together of themselves it is a sign of rain 55. When candles or lamps do sparkle and rise up with little fumes or their wicks swell with things on them like mushrums are all signs of ensuing wet weather 56 When pots are newly taken off from the fire if they sparkle the soot upon them being incensed it presages rain 57. When the fire scorcheth and burneth more vehemently then it useth to do it is a sign of frosty weather but if the living coals do shine brighter then commonly at other times expect then rain 58. If wood or any other fuel do crackle and break forth wind more then ordinary it is an evident sign of some tempestuous weather neer at hand the much and suddain falling of soot presages rain A Paraphrase THe natural cause of these as I suppose is this the Air in the lower Region being apt for either heat or cold does alter according to the inclination of the weather whether it be disposed to heat cold rain or wind the Air thus altering when it becomes waterish makes the flaming fire appear pale candles nor lamps apt to light their cotten-wicks to swell with tumors upon them like horse-shooes or mushrums the moist air being got into them which by opposition makes the fire to sparkle or being cold inclining to frost it causes it to scorch the Air which does infuse it self into the pores of the fewel being moist and rarified by the fire turns into wind and so wanting room breaks a passage forth which makes the wood to crackle the flame to wave and sparkles to fly and this in brief is the cause of them so far as I conceive our fewel being commixed of the four Elements and so by opposition or participation these effects are caused and this makes the soot in chimneys for to fall being by nature dry and loosned by the moistnesse of the Air. By Air Winds Clouds and Mists THe Air in which we breath being commixt and no pure Element doth generate several Meteors as was said already in the second part and the presages these if the Air seem dusky hotter then ordinary and unapt to breath in expect then thunder and lightning 60. When the ringing of Bells or other sounds are heard more plain then at other times and if by intervals it shews the Air to be dilated and disturbed which presages either wind or rain if not both 61. A sharp and cold wind after rain foresheweth more to come the exhalation or vapour not being spent in the former showre 62. Winds that do continue long in any one point will cause the weather for to be generally the same whether it be fair or soul but if it shifts often in changing the place it presages rain quickly after to ensue but in times of frost it is a sign that the weather will break 63. Whirlwinds do predict approaching storms usually of rain or hail these you may foresee by raising the dust or any such light materials and and oftentimes these whirlwinds are forerunners of great tempests for it is a windy exhalation driven obliquely upon the horizontal plain and forced down by the coldnesse or moisture of the present Air in the lower Region this repercursion of the Air causeth chimneys to smoak more then usually they do at other times presaging rain or great winds 64. Sometimes these whirlwinds are caused by the meeting of one another and so raising light things as in contention hurling them to and fro at the pleasure of the prevailing party and such as these do usually presage tempests as you see when the clouds are moved several ways at once and from the same cause above as it is below 65. It is probable that there is also many exhalations which do suddenly break out of the Earth and do produce these whirlwinds which are by nature held hot and dry the cause how these do predict storms and tempests is conceived this against rain or any wet weather the pores of the Earth does naturally open and so gives a passage to them they being hot and dry do strive for to ascend and so much the more then the exhalation being opposed by the moistnesse and the coldness of the Air infused into the Earth which changes as the Element does 66. These whirlwinds are precursors of tempests when the Air inclosed in the Earth is apt for to convert it self into these windy exhalations and there increasing so as it cannot be contained yet not so restrained as to cause an Earth-quake but finds an easie passage through the pores of the Earth whereby to evaporate and free it self from restraint into the open Air. 67. These exhalations when they happen for to be frozen in with extream cold weather in winter and venting themselves in waterish places as in the bottome of great ponds meers or rivers where by Antiperistafis or opposition of the cold waters it does congeal the bottome when the outward air cannot freeze the top or superficies of the water by reason of the motion but in the deeps where it is still and quiet these are called anchor or subterranean frosts they are not usual neither will they endure long but when they do happen it is most commonly extream cold weather and little or no snow these are generally held very hurtful unto plants and destructive to the fishes and by freezing up the channels make the rivers overflow 68. When the Air is dilated or rarified it is a sign of much heat or against rain which by your smelling you may know when shoars nasty places or things corrupted are more offensive then at other times 69. When the clouds be dark deep and very spissious it is a sign of rain and sometimes tempestuous weather 70. Many scattering clouds wandering in the Air and moving swiftly argues wind or rain and from the North or South it is the worse but if the racke rides both wayes it foreshews a tempest 71. If the racke in the forenoon rides in the Air from the East westward it argues rain at night but if from the West it does foreshew a cloudy morning if not rain and at any
they are observed to shroud themselves in warm places expect then quickly for to follow either Hail told storms of Rain or very much wet weather and if those little creatures are noted early in Autumn to repair unto their Winter quarters it presages frosty mornings cold storms with the approach of hoary Winter 134. Atomes or little flies swarming together and sporting themselves in the Sun beams is a good omen of fair weather And so here I will end the predictions by sensitive creatures upon the Land and turn to the Seas to behold the wonders of the deep By Fishes 135. POrpaises or Sea-Hogs when observed to sport and chase one another about ships expect then some stormy weather 136. Dolphines in fair and calm weather persuing one another as one of their waterish pastimes foreshews wind and from that part whence they fetch their frisks but if they play thus when the Seas are rough and troubled it is a sign of fair and calm weather to ensue 137. Cuttles with their many legs swimming on the top of the water and striving to be above the waves do presage a storm offended with the Meteor and the disturbed waters in the deep 138. Sea Vrchins thrusting themselves into the mud or striving to cover their bodies with sand foreshews a storm for the windy exhalations disturb the lowest waters first in the bottome of the Sea which makes the other fishes rise and trust in their swimming and the Vrchin unapt for that and fearing to be hurried away with the tumultuous waves gets neer the shoare and there stays it self by creeping into the earth 139. Cockles and most shell fish are observed against a tempest to have gravil sticking hard unto their shells as a providence of Nature to stay or poise themselves and to help weigh them down if raised from the bottome by the surges 140. Fishes in general both in salt and fresh waters are observed to sport most and bite more eagerly against rain then at any other time as agreeing best with their flegmatick constitutions many other observations there be of these creatures as concerning winds tides floods and seasons of the year well known unto Fisher-men but not to me By Vegetables 141. Trefoile or Clavergrasse against stormy and tempestuous weather will seem rough and the leaves of it stare and rise up as if it were afraid of an assault 142. Tezils or Fullers Thistle being gathered and hanged up in the house where the Air may come freely to it upon the alteration of cold and windy weather will grow smoother and against rain will close up his prickles 143. Heliotropes and Marigolds do not only presage stormy weather by closing or contracting together their leaves but turn towards the Sun's rays all the day and in the evening shut up shop 144. Pine apples hanging up in the house where they freely may enjoy the Air will close themselves against wet and cold weather and open against hot and dry times 145. The leaves of trees and plants in general will shake and tremble against a tempest more then ordinary 146. All tender buds blossoms and delicate flowers against the incursion of a storm do contract and withdraw themselves within their husks and leaves whereby each may preserve it self from the injury of the weather A Paraphrase IN these vegetables there be certain strings or nerves which by the alteration of the outward Air distilled into them like a thin fume do display or open their leaves or contract them like convulsion fits according to that thin vapours disposition infused into their veins being grateful or oppugnant to the natural temperature of the vegetable c. these vapours do make them smell more fragrantly as forerunners of dew or rain especially all odoriferous flowers to whom such dews are a comfort By Minerals 147. MEttals in general against much wet or rainy weather will seem to have a dew hang upon them and be much apter to sully or foul any thing that is rubbed with the mettal as you may see in Pewter dishes against rain as if they did sweat leaving a smutch upon the table-cloaths with this Pliny concludes as a sign of tempests approaching 148. Stones against rain will have a dew hang upon them but the sweating of stones is from several causes and sometimes are signs of much drought and the reason from hence is derived the inflamation of the Air over-heating the superficies of the Earth attracts vapours from below whereby to cool it according to the nature of all things that are dry and one part still supplies another which makes our wells and fountains low and tides high at or about Michaelmas the Sommer past the Sun having exhausted so many vapours and exhalations from the treasury of the Earth the sign of wet in Mettals as is in stones proceeds from the moistnesse of the outward Air turned into water by the coldnesse of the Earth Mettal or Stone the Air being waterish and apt unto it and this it does most usually presage 149. Glasses of all foots will have a dew upon them in moist weather Glasse windows will also shew a frost by turning the Air that touches them into water and then congealing of it for the Air within the house being warmer then that without is by opposition and the coldnesse of the glasse between them quickly converted from Air into water and so to Ice within-side the outward being predominant by an Antiperistasis 150. Salt extracted out of the Earth Water or any Mineral hath these properties to foreshew the weather for if well kept in fair weather it will be dry and apt to dissolve against wet into its proper Element boards that it hath lain upon and got into the pores of the wood it will be dry in fair and serene weather but when the Air inclines to wet it will dissolve and that you shall see by the board venting his brackish tears and Salt-sellers will have a dew hang upon them and those made of mettal look dim against rainy weather But some here doe question me for deserting my former intended tract and method as in placing Salt with Minerals being imperfectly mixt and composed of fire and water oppugnant to their natural qualities as if I intended for to delude men with words or blind their fights with casting Salt into their eyes or dust raised with a whirl wind against an approaching storm No this was not my intention but being this could not well stand with the first signs of the weather it made me leane or incline to the Chymick Philosophers which make this a Principle both in Vegetables and Minerals and my conclusion whereby to relish all the rest being general in all according to the Adage Sal sapit omnia Natural signs of the four Seasons A Stronomers do divide the year into four quarters or seasons with certain and prefixed times the Sun entering four cardinal points as was said already in the Worlds Epitomy others again do divide it into two parts
Captain James searching for the N. W. passage into the South Sea This last discovery was attempted without success in the Raign of Charls the first of England Some would seem to demonstrate this by a round glass like a globe which fill'd with water and suspended in a dark room where placing a candle under it and then t' will represent the form thereof upon the sealing or place the light above and some water underneath it Or in a room made very dark cause an augure hole to be bored through into the open air and so as that the Sun may shine in or upon it Take a globe glass fill'd with fair water and hold it at the hole thus perforated and within the room by reflection of this you shall see many rays representing the form of a Blazing Star or fiery impression and this some thinks to be a sufficient demonstration that Comets are but illuminated parts of the darkned Air or condensed parts of the enlightned Spheres Rothmannus conceives that Comets are really enflamed Meteors and that they are moved by Angels as for a terrour unto mortals but as for this supposition God does commonly use and employ natural means unto natural causes but yet an Omnipotent Creator not confined to one nor the other Galilaeus doth suppose these Comets for to consist of a Celestial nature and generated in the Spheres but dilated as are the clouds Lodovicus Molina in his 5. disputation of the Worlds Creation would seem to gather from thence and out of Genesis that the Heavens both in Species and Matter do agree with sublunary things and Thomas Fiennus inclines to this as by his writings concerning the Comet which appeared in the year of Christ 1618 whereby he urges that there may be matter in the Heavens both to generate and corrupt and that there is daily permutations in the Spheres although not visible to our weak sights and this his erroneous opinion seems something to be confirmed by divers apparitions of new Stars that have been made visible in sundry Ages since the Creation as they instance who incline to him in the Constellation called the Pleiades accounted but 6 Stars before the Trojan Wars and since as now commonly known by the name of the seven Stars This some Historiographers do testifie and likewise Homer Pliny and thus Ovid lib. 4. Fast derived from a false conception of the sight Pleiades incipient humeros revelare pateruos Quae septem dici sex tamen esse solent After many and great conjunctions of the Planets Comets and fiery impressions are often seen which moveth some to suppose them to be the cause in raising the exhalation which produceth the Meteor and according to the Matter it riseth the higher and by the vertue of the fixed Stars it may be drawn up above the Planets even to the Firmament But if this were granted it must require an extraordinary time to elevate the Matter to that height when as a stone let fall from the Firmament and supposed continually to descend 100 miles an hour this stone could not fall to the ground in 70 years And as for these Comets which are sublunary if they be enlightned by the Sun they would at some time happen of necessity to be eclipsed moving within the conical shadow of the Terrestrial globe if their motions be caused or attracted by any one Star or constellation they could not have contrary motions to them as we have said already in the second part of this Book nor could these Meteors change their places so much nor be so violently swift as they are observed Some moving parallel with the Horizon and others in the Azimuths rather then describing parallels with the Aequator which the Stars doe Some fiery Meteors have seem'd fixt and many so rapide in their stupendious accelerated motions that they cannot be attracted by the Stars nor Planets As the Comet in the year of Grace 1618. did passe from one Tropick to another that is from ♑ to ♋ in the space of 10 natural days which the ☽ that is the lowest Planet cannot perform in lesse then 13 days 15½ hours and something more But le ts return to the final cause and fatal events of stupendious Meteors delivered by reverend Antiquity Of fiery Impressions SOzomenus writes of a Blazing Star as it were uspended in the Air with one end extending almost down unto the Earth this was visible over the City of Constantinople Some again have been seen to fall from the Heavens of these Scaliger affirms one in his time that did descend From the falling of the fiery Meteors is derived as some conceives the poetical fiction of Phaeton but Tertullian otherwise Of these fiery precipitated impressions thus writeth Claudian lib. Praeceps sanguineo delabitur igne Cometes Prodigiale rubus Pliny lib. 2. cap. 35. writeth how Licinius Syllanus did see a sparkle falling from the Heavens and in its descent to encrease unto the bignesse of the Moon and this Meteor again drawn up appeared like a lamp or burning torch About the year of Grace 1450 being 3 years before the barbarous Turks invaded Vrope and took the famous City of Constantinople there appear'd a fiery impression representing the form of a two-hand Sword which passing under the Moon then at full obscur'd her light about this time divers Countries under the Patriark of Greece were miserably infected with the most diabolical herefie against the incomprehensible and Sacred Mystery of the ever blessed Trinity which errour soon after put a period to that Empire and brought all those Countries into a miserable captivity and their servile necks to the yoke of a heathenish Tyrant Many dreadful apparitions in the Air are recorded in the Books of Machabees lib. 2. cap. 5. how for 40 days there was seen over the City Jevusalem horse-men running in the Air having golden robes with spears like armed bands charging one another in order and manner of a fight as hand to hand motions of bucklers multitudes of glittering helmets drawn swords throwing of darts splendor of golden armes and coats of Maile This shewed the forerunning miseries of the Jews persevering in their disobedience to God and neglecting his just Precepts until left unto the pleasure of the insulting foe Antiochus giving Commission to his Souldiers to slay whomsoever they should meet sparing neither Men Women nor Children where there was killed in three days space the number of 80000 40000 put in bands and sold Besides this they committed sacriledge and violently took away the vessels and ornaments of the Temple with their profane and polluted hands and left governours there more barbarous then himself There were also strange portentious apparitions in the Air before the Destruction of this City of Titus Vespatian as a fiery sword hanging over Jerusalem the space of a whole year with many other prodigious visions of which you may read in Josephus There happened in the Isle of Britain many portentious signs presaging the effusion of much bloud and
which while he lived was lockt up in his breast resolved never to be published till after his death being experiments in Physick and Chyrurgery compounding Medicines c. 50 Culpepper's Semiotica or his Astrological judgement of Diseases much enlarged from the Decumbiture of the sick the way to find out the cause change and end of the disease also whether the sick be likely to live or die with the signs of life and death by the body of the sick party according to the judgement of Hippocrates with a Treatise of Urines by N. Culpepper 51. Cornelius Agrippa his fourth book of Occult Philosophy or Geomancy Magical Elements of Peter de Abbona the nature of Spirits made English by R. Turner 52. A Glimpse of Divine Light being an Explication of some passages exhibited to the Commissioners of Whitehall for approbation of publick Preachers against Joh. Harrison of Lund Chap. Lancash 53. The Queens Closet opened Incomparable Secret in physick chyrurgry preserving candying cooking as they were presented to the Queen transcribed from the true copies of her Majesties own Receipt books by W. M. one of her late servants 54. The Conveyancers of Light or the compleat Clerk and Scriveners Guide being an exact draught of all Presidents and Assurances now in use as they were penned and perfected by divers learned Judges eminent Lawyers and great conveyancers both ancient and modern whereunto is added a Concordance from K. Rich. 3. to this present 55. A Satyre against Hypocrites 4. 56. Iron Rod put into the L. Protectors hand to break in pieces all antichrist power by J. Sanders 57. Wits Interpreter the English Parnassus or a guide to those admirable accomplishments that compleat our english Gentry in the most acceptable qualifications of Discourse or Writings also the whole mystery of those pleasing Witchcrafts of Eloquence and Love are made easie in the Art of Reasoning Theatre of Courtship Labyrinth of Fancies Love songs Drollery the perfect inditer of Letters a la mode by J. C. 58. The Floating Island a Trage-comedy acted before the King by the Students of Christ Church in Oxford By Dr. Stroude 59. Paracelsus Occult Philosophy of the mysteries of Nature and his secret Alchimy 60. Wit and Drollery with other Jovial Poems by Sir I.M. â—am 1. Sym. 5. W.D. Never before printed 61. Illustrious Shepherdess the imperious Brother translated out of Spanish a famed Romance 62. Monarchy no Monarchy with the Prophefies of the White King and other explained to which is added several Hieroglyphicks by W. Lilly Student in Astrology With his other Works 63. Short-hand writing made most plain and easiest that ever was newly published by J. Rich Mr. in short-writing 64. Tectonicon shewing the exact measuring all manner of land-squares timber stone steeples pillars globes also the making and use of the Carpenters rule c. fit to be known by all Surveyors Land-meters Joyners Carpenters and Masons by L. Diggs 65. Heaven and Earth shaken a Treatise shewing how Kings Princes and their governments are turned and changed by J. Davis Minist in Dever 66. The Tears of the Indies being an Historical Relation of the cruelties of the Spaniards in the Islands of Hispaniola Cuba Jamaica c. in the West Indies by Cosaus B. in Spain an eye-witness 67. Them is Aurea the Laws of the Fraternity of the Rosie Cross written by Count Mayerus and now Englished for to inform that honourable Society by T. H. 68. Compleat Midwifes practise in the high and weighty concernments of the Birth of Mankind or perfect Rules derived from the Experiences and Writings not only of our English but the most accomplished and absolute practise of many French Spanish Italians and other Nations fitted for the weakest capacities in a short time to attain the knowledg of the whole Art by T. C. and others 69. Sportive Wit the Muses Merriment a new spring of Drollery Jovial Fancies c. 70. J. Tradescan's Rarities published by himself 71. Most approved Medicines Remedies for the diseases in the body of Man by A. Read Dr. in Ph. 72. Art of simpling an introduction to the knowledge and gathering of Plants wherein the Definitions Divisions Places Descriptions Differences Names Vertues times of flourishing and gathering Uses Temperatures signatures of plants To which is added a Discovery of the lesser World by W. C. 73. Willsfords Arithmetick made plain to the easiest capacity in two books viz. Natural Decimal being most useful for all Gentlemen Merchants Shop-keepers and all others by T. Willsford Gent. 74. Adam in Eden the paradise of Plants a Description of all our English plants wild or otherwise with their Signatures applied to the parts of the body of Man with their Physical use that a man may be his own Physitian the ingredients being to be had in every field and garden made publick by W. Coles M. D. for the benefit of all English men 75. The perfect Cook a right method of the Art of Cookery restoring the whole practice to a more finer way then ever before extant 76. Medicina Magica tamen Physica the method of curing diseases by Sympathy and Antipathy a work fit to be known by all by S. Bolton 77. The Treasury of the Soul 78. The expert Doctors Dispensatory the whole Art of Physick restored to practice The Apothecaries Shop and Chyrurgians Closet with all safe practises are maintained a useful piece 79. The History and Nature of Meteors with the weathers prediction by T. Willsford Gent. 80. The proceeding of the High Court of Justice against the late King Charls with his Speech upon the Scaffold and other proceedings Jan. 30. 1648. 81. Commentary on the 15. Psalm by Mr. Christopher Cartwright Min. of the Gospel in York 82. Sir Kellum Digby's and other Ladies of Honour their Physick and Chirurgery with preferving c. 83. Cabinet of Jewels mans misery God's mercy Christ's treasury c. in eight Sermons with an Appendix of the nature of Tythes under the Gospel with an Expediency of Marriage in publick Assembly by J. Cragg Min. of the Gospel 84. The mysteries of Love and Eloquence or the Arts of Wooing and Complementing in which are discovered the pleasures recreations of perswasive Language whether by Letters or other usual or more secret Dispatches c. FINIS