swollen in the face or procured leprous The same hapneth thorowe the fyre receyued by the poores of the countenaunce and eyes which like swelleth the face and dryeth vp the christaline humour that is cause of the blindnesse 14. The places of such which are striken and burnt with the lightnings are caused colder than the other partes of the body eyther for that the greater heate draweth away with it the lesser or else in that by the great violence the vitall heate is so extinguished quite in those places by report 15. Such bodyes striken with the lightning haue or possesse after a Brimstonie sauour in that the matter of the lightning is Brimstonie as the Philosopher Niphus reporteth 16. This Niphus vttreth that the lightning spéedier burneth solyde and harde bodyes than the soft as the same of skill knowne and many tymes obserued 17. The thunderbolt sent forth with the lightning neuer déeper runneth or entreth into the earth than fiue foote after the opinion of sundrie obseruers 18. In the yeare 1553. in the Month of Iuly in a towne of Germany named Smelunicensis whyle the people before dinner were at deuine seruice a mightie light sodaynedly shyned and a lightning in the same killed two persons and about thirtie other persons with his force and vehemencie of the exhalation threwe to the earth which yet through the goodnesse of God contrarie to mans iudgement and estimation were yet preserued aliue of which also certaine had their garmentes burnt yet their bodyes vnharmed by a myracle of God. 19. The Romaynes in times past diuined and iudged of the lightnings which if those came from the left part or side of heauen and returned into the same agayne they pronounced those to be happy and prosperous For on such wise Anchyses after the Romayne maner prognosticated good luck if the lightning hapned on the left side And Cicero in his second booke de Diuinatione reporteth the same to be good luck in al matters traueyled about if the lightning shall happen on the left side But the Gréekes and Barbarians iudged the lightninges prosperous that came on the right side The Baye trée is sildome harmed with the lightning which rather of practise than by reason alowed for so much as it hath thys repulsiue vertue of the lightning through the inner cause or of heauen Of which Tiberius Caesar was woont in the tempest of lightning to weare on his head a Garlād of Bayes supposing hymselfe to be defended thereby 20. In the yeare 1551. at Crutzburge a Citie in Germany a certaine honest man hauing his house stricken with lightning sitting then at table eating perished wyth his Dogge lying flat at his féete but an Infant sitting or being néere to the father nothing at all harmed The mother of Hieronymus Fracastorius going with chylde with him dyed with the stroke of lightning the Infant remayning vnharmed which wonderfully foreshewed by it the singular fame of that childe to come What an Earthquake is AN Earthquake is a passion or affection of the earth a breaking forth or trembling a smyting or agitation when an exhalation is included in the bowels of the same séeking a violent issuing forth in the which this so smyteth shaketh the earth And of the same smiting is the Earthquake named Or it is a certaine working by which the earth is moued caused especially of winde or drie vapours inclosed within the hollownesse of the earth and through the heate of the sunne and other starres heated and enforced by which motion and enforcement this so shaketh that oftentymes houses yea whole Cities and townes are throwne downe and suncke with the same that the sinnes of men may be punished and others called vnto repentaunce How many kindes of Earthquakes there are OF the earthquake whether the same maye happen or no I beleue no man doubteth seing Hystories report so manye examples and experience of late yeares hath made the same knowne sufficiently to vs The kindes to come to the matter are knowne to be fower principally which are vttered of Plynie in his second Booke and 82. Chapiter Some report more and some vtter fewer kindes which through the dyuersitie the plentie or paucytie of the exhalations and force of the qualities aryse and are caused The first kinde is named the falling or shaking downe the seconde the gaping open the thirde the trembling beating or shaking the fourth the casting vp What the ruine is THe ruine falling or shaking downe is when much and great store of drye vapour or winde applying and dryuing by great force into one place forceth it selfe and turneth the same sodainly vpsydowne except the motion spéedily runneth on the other side which fallen no more harme insueth With thys was Smyrna the most noble Citie of the lesser Asia shaken throwne downe as appeareth in the Apocalipse in the first and second Chapiter And the sonne of God commaunded the Church of Smyrna to wryte this notable comfort Retayne fayth and beleeue stedfastlye vnto death and I shall giue to thee a crowne of lyfe Seneca nameth it an inclynation in that the earth leaneth to one side like a ship For as a ship leaning vnto one side is drowned through the mightie waight in it vnlesse the same waight spéedilye be turned vnto the other side through which the ship is so restored recouered as it were Euen so with the great plenty of spirites or winde it applyeth and driueth vnto one side of the earth doth in a maner ouerthrowe the same vnlesse the contrarie part restoreth the part inclyned Reade Liuius lib. 2. tertia Decadis What the Gaping is THe gaping is when the earth rendeth with a large opening and that a déepe hollownesse appeareth and the breath or winde mighty and vehement breaking violently forth doth on such wise sinke downe and swallowe vp Townes and Cities Or thus this gaping is a rending or cleauing of the earth when the earth sinketh downe and swaloweth vp Cities houses townes and Castels yea great hilles and mightie rockes with great ryuers and mightie lakes of water in such maner that these are neuer after séene Where this swalloweth vp any buildings fortresses or townes in the places appéere none other than large and déepe holes or goulfes What the Pulsation is THe Pulsation is when the earth as the same swelling vp aryseth by force of the windes that the buildings in that time leane from one side to the other as a Ship on the Sea and sinketh soone after downe againe which Aristotle nameth a beating or dryuing vp Otherwise is the same named an agitation shaking or trembling Or this otherwise when with great violence the earth is lifted vp in such maner that Castels and buyldings through their shaking appere ready to fall and the same doth immediatly sinke and settle downe agayne Which maner is procured when the whole force of the spirits laboureth and séeketh an issue vpwards euen as the kindled Gunpowder that searcheth way to brast forth which at the
he may denie any more Rainebowes than two in speaking Physicallie that may be séene differing in the standing of the colours That is although thrée Rainebowes shall sometimes appeare yet more differ not in the standing of the coulours than two or two onely haue the extreme colours transposed in such maner that the vttermost of the inner Rainebow and the innermost of the outwarder Rainebow is of a red colour And contrariwise the innermost of the inner and the vttermost of the outwarder is of a purple colour the gréene colour alwayes possessing his proper place that is the middle Whereof many Rainebowes proceede THey are caused of the refraction or breaking againe of the Sunne beames from the clowde made bright and couloured by the first that is the inner Rainebow into the néerer clowde And the beames conioyned with the beames from the Sunne into the same place falling doe so imprint or forme newe colours of the Rainebow in the same maner as the colours are caused in the inner Rainebow So that this is the cause why of the outwarder Rainebow the innermost colour is red in that the same is nighest to the sight and for the same cause that light is sent or appeareth to our eye the clearer The other colours are caused by a light imprinted or formed in the déeper partes of the Clowde and so much the more is it mixed of the shadowes and waterie darknesse For which cause these doe a little decline vnto a blacknesse That three Rainbowes may appeare at one time THe first Rainebow is caused through the refraction of the sunne beames and â—his is brightest of all the others 2 The seconde Rainebow is the ymage â—nely of the first for which cause also it is â—he weaker in that the same is caused thoâ—ow the refraction of the beames of the first Rainebow So that the colours of thys Rainebow appeare in the opposite or order â—â—ght against vnto the colours of the first â—ainebow 3 The third Rainebow is the figure and â—mage of the second and this can scarcely be séene in that the same is caused through the refraction of the second Rainebow So that the colours of this Rainebow doe appeare in the opposite order vnto the colours of the second Rainebow and in the lyke order by which the colours of the first Rainebow are séene for the aboue sayde reason Thus in breuitie thrée Rainebowes may appéere at one time in that the clowde may be so thicke that the reflection of beames may the larger stretch forth it selfe In what time of the yeare Rainebow 〈◊〉 for the more part are caused PLynie reporteth in his second booke anâ— 59. Chapiter that in the Sommer on thâ— South part they are not séene after thâ— Equinoctiall haruest at anye hower Iâ— the haruest and Winter are they especiallâ— engendred vnder the East and West partâ— through the abounding or mightie substancâ— of the rayne which the Sunne from ouâ— highest noonestéede descending occupyinâ— then the Sowtherly halfe of the Zodiakâ— runneth lower wherby it cannot consuâ—â— by the proper heate Contrariwise in thâ— Sommer are the seldome séene when as is of lesser substance then that which may be scattered by the heate of the Sunne and the Sunne also at that time ascendeth vnto the highest ouer our heads for which cause the Rainebowe in the Southquarter cannot be séene as aboue vttered Are not the Rainebowes caused through the beames of the other starres OF the Moone we haue said that through hir beames especiallye of the full a Rainebow may be caused And euen lyke in our remembraunce or tyme as in the yeare of Christ .1523 a night Rainebowe was séene After which incontinent folowed a conspiracie of the rusticall sort in Alsatia against the Magistrates In the yere folowing a commotion of the rusticall sort in the Dukedome of the noble Prince of Wirterbergensis An other night Rainbow was séene in the yere .1524 in which yere folowed sone after a most raging and â—ruell sedition which grieuously afflicted and spoyled manye partes of Germany And in the yeare .37 about the ninth houre â—n Paulme Sunday at night being the â—ext day before the full of the Moone a like night Rainebowe was obserued and séene of manye That the Rainebowes are not ingendred through the beames of the other starres may apeare in that such a distance there is of the starres from the earth that no impression of light can be brought to this dewie vapour Or thus their beames through the greatest or furthest distaunce be weaker then that they maye imprint his light with the small bodyes of the dewie vapour Here note that by the beames of the Moone especially at the full a Rainebowâ— may and is wont to be caused hauing like colours in a maner as the Sunnes sauinâ— that the night Rainebow draweth néereâ— vnto a whitenesse as with intensed coloursâ— bicause the darkenesse of the night increaâ—seth the darkenesse of the clowde througâ— which the increased light appéereth the whâ—â—ter euen as a fyre or light that is furtheâ— séene in the night tyme than in the daâ— So that of this Moones Rainebow is oâ— onely colour as the whyte not vnlyke 〈◊〉 mylke when as the clowde of the nigâ—â— colde may be ioyned togither heaped aâ— thickned more than that the Moones ligâ—â— can pierce for which cause a whytenesse appeareth on the hyghest playnnesse of the same Of the windes THe winde is an exhalation hote and dry moued thwartly or laterally about the earth which for the grauitie of the exhalation can not be caried upwarde it therefore falleth downewarde is ouerthwartly caried Or the winde is an agitation of a drie vapour drawne vp into the ayre by the vertue of the Sunne beames Or the winde is a thwart agitation of the ayre through a hote and drie exhalation which drawne vp by the vertue of the starres is sent backe and downewarde through the colde of the middle region ordeyned by naâ—ure that through the same motion the ayre may be dryuen and cleane or pure purged â—n the breathing the corne also by it rypeâ—ed and the Arte besides of sayling exerâ—ised amongst men The matter or subâ—taunce of the windes is a hote and dry exâ—alation grosse and earthly forced downeâ—arde through the coldnesse of the middle â—egion of the ayre whose note is in that the winde dryeth Certaine properties of the windes THe cause why any beast at the South winde blowing lesser hungereth is for that the heate then openeth the powers of the skinne that the inner hote spirite maye breath forth and be dissolued Whereof digestion and naturall strength is caused the weaker and by it bodies filled with a superfluous earthly moysture And the cause why the Southwinde is woont to be vehementer in the night time than in the daye is for that the exhalation of thys wynde is so hote that through the coldnesse of the night it can not be depressed So that by the proper heate drawne vp it ryseth and rageth the vehementer But
9. If the Haruest be caulme the Winter folowing shall be windie 10. The South winde bloweth when Virgiliae aryse that is in the Moneth of May. 11. The North winde bloweth at the rysing of Orion which is the day folowing after the Dogge starre risen 12. The South west winde bloweth in the Moneth of February when that named Fidicula beginneth to set and it is confirmed by the rysing of Cinguli Orionis for after this the earth openeth and beginneth to sende vp plants 13. When the Moone is ioyned to Iupiter as the Astrologians affirme newe winds are caused Euen so the Moone running in Cancer procureth windes When the Moone commeth vnto Iupiter in Cancer you shall sée windes to arise without doubt 14. The Sunne in Capricorno the Moone in eyther Scorpio Capricorno Tauro or Virgine doe cause most colde windes The same doth the Sunne moue in Aquarius when Saturne shall be right against that the Moone beholdeth eyther of these Saturne also retrograde in an earthly signe seaseth windes The selfe same causeth Mars 15. Windes are wont to blowe for the more part at the morning and euening But at noone for the greater heate of the Sunne the winds then cease And lyke at midnight are extinguished through the extreme coldnesse 16. When the windes begin from the morning to blow then doe the windes longer continue 17. The South winde not beginning but leauing or ceasing bringeth a showre For when out of a hote place the wynde bloweth the selfe same ayre at the winde beginning is yet hote 18. One and the selfe same winde may cause contrarie effectes as both chiefe and weake and by it selfe one and an other by accidence Euen the like the East winde from the beginning is drie but the ending of it is waterie The North winde by it selfe cooleth yet by accidence may it heat â–ª 19. All mightie windes coole and drie and procure or cause fayre weather but thâ— weake windes heate and moystine and ingender rayne 20. The longer contynuing and stronger windes are caused which begin from the daye than those which beginne in the night 21. When the North wynde blowing moueth many clowds signifieth a drought to folow or great heate 22. The Easterly windes be drie thorow the combustion of the vapours wrought by the sunne for which cause they produce and cause a drougth 23. The Westerly windes doe moystine through the grosse vapours left behinde of the Sunne in the night time 24. Raine hastily comming is foreknowne by a great clowde arysing from that part of the worlde from which the windes arise or come And howe much the thicker and greater the clowde shall be so much the sooner and certayner shall it gyue the testimony of a boysterous raine soone after to follow 25. The South winde when it bloweth fiercely or sturdilye and the North winde after beginneth to blowe is a note of a most great tempest especially on the Sea. 26. Lightnings with a Northerly wind doe signifie raine to folow 27. Thunder with an Easterly or Westerly winde declare raine or a mightie tempest to follow 28. A Northerly yeare after the minde of the auncient obseruers is farre better then a Southerly 29. It is good and profitable to take a purgation at the blowing of the South and East winde For then are the members soluble and lose and giue place to medicine but the North winde blowing doth then mightily stop and let the working of a purgation 30. The auncient in times past haue obserued the first night of Ianuary which iâ— the same were cleare wythout rayne and caulme without winde promised a fruitfull and prosperous yere to follow If with an Easterly winde then was the yeare to come daungerous to cattle If wyth a Westerly winde then was the yere folowing deadly to kings If with a Southerlye winde the people dyed that yere folowing If with a Northerly winde the yeare to come was knowne barraine with the scarcitie of victuals Of the impressions named Parelia and Paraeselinae The definitions PArelius is a thick impression in a clowde caused at the one side of the Sunne thorowe the refraction of the Sunne beames which then representeth the sunnes ymage 2. Parelius is a dewie clowdie thicke whole placed vnto the one side of the sunne and representing his similitude and figure For the clowde nere to the Sunne and turned into water in which the Sunne by the broken beame for the dewe thicknesse and his wholenesse frameth then a similitude euen the lyke in a cleare ayre as the same in a polished Glasse which ymage thus appearing at the one side named Parelius 3. Parelius is an ymage and figure of the Sunne expressed in a dewie clowde and bright when the subtill moysture betwéene our sight and the Sunne concurreth into one bodye of a round equall clowde and the like fashyoned standing right afore the sunne from which the sunne beames are broken open as from a Glasse vnto the eye So that these then frame and cause a lyke figure to the sunne 4. Parelius is an ymage of the sunne placed by the side in an equal clowde eyther of the East or West which is the cause why many sunnes sometimes are séene which truely are caused when a thicker clowde shal be drawne vnto the one side of the sunne in which the Sunne beames broken open doe leaue the kinde forme of a true lyght So that the first figure is a representation of the perfite and true sunne But the seconde and thirde is through the breaking open of the sunne beames placed in the clowde on the one side 5. Parelius is as affirmed Seneca a rounde clowde and bright and lyke to the sunne 6. Parelia are named to be those when manye Sunnes are séene to shyne in the clowds vnder the East or West Parelius is then caused when a clowde of y one side of the Sunne shall be placed eyther of the East or West especially equall and a like thicke which as a Glasse receaueth and expresseth the ymage or fygure of the sunne For we sée both in the water and in a thicker ayre and in other bodyes which consist with a light vpper face and equall that the matters placed by a iust proportion to be expressed vnto them as in a Glasse 7. Paraselinae be ymages of the Moone caused by the refractioÌ„ of the Moones beames in a moyst clowde néere to a light equally thick in which the bodye of the first or true Moone is the lyke séene as any other body â—n a Glasse 8. Paraselinai are named many Moones â—f which onely one is true the others be â—ut figures and ymages of the Moone cauâ—ed by the refraction of the Moones beames â—n the clowde For these reflexions are oneâ—y caused of the effectuous beame lyke as is 〈◊〉 the Sunne or Moone The efficient cause is the celestiall vertue â—nd starrie propertie that is the Sunnes â—nd Moones beames drawing vp and preâ—aring a matter vnto such a figure that
cleaueth then the aire méeting it and breaketh open the same through which it causeth a little or low noise of thunder euen like the noyse that are heard sometimes in the ayre after the maner of armed horsemen swift ryding What the finall cause of the thunder THe finall causes and effects of the thunder are well wayed and knowne in that the ayre first by the thunder is purged and the euill vapours consumed yea the pestilence and other contagiousnesse often clensed and put away In the seconde for that the thunders doe often bring showres with them through which the earth plentifully yéeldeth In the thirde the almightie God thundereth in the clowdes to the ende that men may be procured vnto a due reuerence and feare towardes him and they abashed and warned of the deuine yre may heartily repent them as it is written in the .104 Psalme at the voyce of the thunder shall the people be afrayde In the fourth that the wicked obstinà te and impenitent which euen like Gyaunts wage battle against heauen maye be destroyed eyther with lightning Thunder Hayle and such darts of God as the Historie mencioneth of the people in Egipt vnto the Mount Synay What the colours of the clowdes warne and foreshew in the thunders THe clowde in the thunder being whyte is little or nothing to be feared For it signifieth the exhalation to be weake and the great abundance of vapours 2 The clowde in the thunder being very blacke pressing the vapour strongly togyther through his thicknesse sendeth a noyse lightly forth very feareful especially when the inner fume copious and thicker can not be broken or deuided a sunder wythout a great inforcement 3. The clowde from black waxing red or being red procureth a mightier cracke and noyse than the black clowde For thys is verie thick and hath or contayneth much of the fyrie vapour 4. The clowde with a blackish rednesse waxing gréene or appearing gréene is the most perillous of all and verie much to be feared if the same consisteth or abydeth directly ouer any Citte or house This clowde for the rednesse hath many fyrie vapours For the blacknesse an aboundant vapour thickned togither For the gréenenesse the mightie aboundance of water Of these a mightie and fearefull rumbling is to be looked for in the ayre 5. The same clowde often sheddeth and sendeth downe mightie hayle and prodigious stories in the lightnings not wythout most grieuous losse and destruction both of men beasts Cities and other matters The cause why before and after the thunder mightie or stormy windes arise is forhat the hotter and drier part of the exhalaâ—â—n pressed togither of the colde clowde compassing about which through his drynesse â—iercing the clowde and issuing forth doth â—ooue the ayre and causeth the winde So â—hat after the clowde broken and the vapour driuen or sent forth in the ayre expeâ—â—ence teacheth that the windes by a great â—â—forcement to be mooued or driuen forâ—arde The cause why the verie often thundeâ—â—gs threaten the Pestilence most grieuous and murrayne to beastes and the corruption also to crescent things which we féede vpon is for that the corrupt vapours grosse and clammy drawne vp with the vapour and exhalation corrupting the lowest region of the ayre are shed againe and infect the ayre Cardanus writeth that those thundrings be daungerous which contynue about an houre and they foreshew to that region in which they happen battailes and seditions for the more part and a most great desolation to come The daylie experience instructeth vs that through the thunder vehemently rumbling and the lightning both Wyne and Beere sellars are greatly harmed For the Wines lose their colour and naturall tast through the fyrie heate and vertue pierceing and burning The Béere or Ale also through the mightie noyse and violent motion purchaseth an egernesse by which it is caused lesse apt to be drunke And although the Sommer heate be the especiall cause that drinkes and liquors sowre or be eager ye the thunder and lightning procure a sodaine alteration yea in the Winter Moneths when the heate by little and little causeth the same The drinkes and Wines layde in a déepe seller vaulted receyue lesser harme of the thunder than those layde a highe in a bourded seller The Vinters vse plates of yron with salt or with Flint-stones or with the braunches of the Bay or Walnut trée and put them on the vessels when the béere or Ale hath lost the naturall taste or waxeth sowre you maye help eche with Phisick and swéete smelling things purchase the proper taste of these as with the roote of the Flower de Luce the Ginger the Nutmegge the Cloues the Bay berries and the drie leaues of the same the Calamus odoratus the Organy the Béetes c. The Wines sowred and hauing lost the naturall colour through the mightie noyse of the thunder may be recouered both of the colour and proper tast if â—o be the Wines shifted into other vessels being well washed and this decoction that is of the Bay leaues the Myrtill tree the Fennell the Iuniper berries and Orminium infused before for a tyme in the vessels and after the drying the Wines ponred in Certaine foreknowledges of thunder THe prognosticatings of tempestes are not onely pleasaunt to be knowne but right profitable to be learned as well of husbandmen as of those trauelling by sea and lande Of which onely certayne generall of Thunders shall here briefely be vttered that may rightly be applyed 1. The Sunne in the morning or at Euening in the Sommer tyme and vnto these the haruest beginning and the spring quite gone with an accustomed heate shyning séene also in a hollow and bigge or verie thick clowde threatneth great thunder to follow 2. The shootings in the night out of the foure quarters of the world a black clowde arysing out of the South wastingly running doe eyther foreshew thunder lightnings to followe or a mightie comming of windes verie tempestious blowing in that region and these according to the season of the yere 3. If a boysterous whirle winde vehemently blowing hapneth eyther in the Sommer the spring or haruest that shall lift or take vp strawes dust other things by a sodaine and the element spred or couered with black clowdes doth portend thunder and showres of raine to be at hande 4. If the Sommer and hote dayes and those which went before them of the spring and the haruest dayes that folow waxe and be hote aboue the season of the yeare and a Rainebow sheweth it selfe at the Weste in the going downe of the Sunne pronosticateth fearefull thunder lightnings greatly to be doubted 5. The morning thunder and in the Winter time doth pronounce winde and showers of raine but the noone tyme thunders especially foreshew great showers 6. Thunderings moued and heard in the last houre of the daye as at Euening doe eyther demonstrate a mightie tempest of the Sea or the celestiall yre 7. In the Sommer if it lesse
clifts nor beating or shaking with the great floods of waters yet the sounder and faster any grounde of the earth is so much the more harmed at the shaking for so much it mightier shutteth in the exhalations and compelleth an inforcement in the cause The Ilands and the valleys are sildome molested with the Earthquake for so much as the partes of the earth in themselfe are pressed togither and are but a little porouse so that these cannot enter in An earthquake is sildome caused in moyst places for so much as the moysture hindreth or letteth the exhalation to come vnto strength of which the Philosopher reporteth that in the floodes of the Sea Pontus a lesse Earthquake to be caused for so much as the huge sea about cooleth the exhalations and on such wise letteth them In the sandie and grauily places as are the places Northerly farre sildomer is an Earthquake caused yea scarcely any Earthquake at all caused in those places for so much as the same grounde is a thinner earth and lesser solyde nor so thicke compact and that the fumes ascend by little and little without force How the ingendring is or of the maner of the ingendring of Earthquakes THe Earthquake is caused when the exhalations and vapours included in the caues and hollowe places or passages of the earth contende togither and by his nature séeke on highe to breake forth but through the earth close stopped not finding way by force shake the same and cause it to tremble and in the ende breake forth so that the earth oftentimes causeth eyther a gaping or déepe caue or goulfe or the same throwne vp on heigth after the maner of a hill or Mountayne of which great Mountayne◠happen to be suncke and swallowed vp in a Goulfe as sundrie lyke we reade in the Hystories yea great waters and ryuers drunke vp and the course of waters chaunged and lande floodes caused in the mayne lande Or thus the earth contayneth in it selfe a much exhalation which it heating conceaueth through the fierie efficacie and vertue of the Sunne the Planets and fixed starres This spirite for that the same is subtill is most apt to be inforced So that when by it this drie spirite runneth included within the earth séeking issue is so by his force lifted vp and driuen from one hollownesse into another Of which this when for the solyde nature of the earth and stopped passages of the earth can not issue or passe forth procureth lightly and soone a trembling in it selfe caused through the beating and driuing back so that retayned this strongly moueth and shaketh the earth or séeking his waye and the spirite driuen by a narrow body of the earth laboreth with a most strong contention For into the proper and naturall place this contendeth to flie which through the mightie stopping letted of the compact earth is the same driuen backe into the earth which at the length laboureth to issue causing the same to tremble and casteth vp the earth ▪ in the breaking forth like to a hill vntil it be issued yea this sometimes cleaueth the same and openeth it in the issuing forth at two sides Aristotle vttereth other notes for after the earth beaten vp he reporteth that great windes to breath and flie vp and that fyre and ashes to be cast forth So that water not to be the special cause of the earthquake for the water should otherwise be still if the same were not blowne and driuen Nor such a swiftnesse or hastinesse of the trembling coulde be caused if so much could be procured in the waters swelling and that the earth could very often breake But it often breaketh not in the tremblings shakings of the earth Yet doth this pronounce the great plentie of vapours included in the caues of the earth driuen like windes by their force and agitation sparsed by certain places which when the same is caused it instructeth that those places to tremble thorowe the might of the vapours forced For it is manifest that the earth to be full of vapours the thundring or rumbling which is heard in the shaking of the earth is a note of the flying vapours And for so much as the vapours open the passages of the earth a water sometimes is shed out of the earth of which no such plentie consisteth or is in the great Mountaynes that might like smite them Howe so great a heape of earth of so thinne and light a body as the winde may be cast vp doth the Philosopher Aristotle here vtter by a similitude as in our bodies spirites included are cause of the tremblings or shakings and beating of the pulses euen so hapneth in the same earth when a great force of the vapours gathered mooue and shake it wyth their force What the finall causes are THe finall cause of an Earthquake is the signification verie sad heauie of matters and haps to come as of battels landfloodes mutation of Emperies the dearth of victuals c. For the Earthquakes alwayes pronounce great calamities as Plynie witnesseth where he reporteth that the Citie of Rome neuer trembled but that the same was a foreshewe of some happe to come or insue so that the Romanes curiously obserued the Earthquakes as the same is manifest in their Hystories Of the earthquake Cardanus reporteth that the earth to be cleaued through a vapoure and not to be doubted but that the same to prognosticate great sedicions Yea the great earthquakes denounce eyther a Battayle or the Plague or a Tirannicall oppression these also cause a dearth of corne and famine Yet the earthquakes somtimes threaten no other euils than the ouerthow of proper Cities and Townes and destruction or mortalitie of those persons which dwell in them These hitherto Cardanus The holy Scriptures vtter the same that in these motions the Lorde God exerciseth and sheweth his most seuere ire punishing with these the peoples sinnes by a iust iudgment vnlesse they spéedily repent For it is written in the seconde booke of Kinges and xxij Chapter that the ire of God was mooued and the earth trembled for so much as the Lorde God was angrie with them Euen so before the Turckes tooke Gréece for thrée whole dayes togither the Earthquake shooke the borders néere bounding and many buildings fell downe Before the Peloponesian Battayle the countrie of Laconia was so fearefully shaken with an Earthquake that whole townes fell and much people destroyed and ouerwhelmed in the fall of them Eutropius writeth that in the next yeare after the death of Paule the Apostle Laodicoea and Colossa were suncke with an Earthquake in which example both a punishment of the wicked was séene which contemned Paules doctrine and a signyfication of calamities to come on Asia bordering néere by and of the crueltie which Domitianus exercysed in the same part of the worlde when he compelled S. Iohn the Apostle to liue in exile The like hapned an Earthquake before the death of Theodosius the second which endured for sixe monethes
A contemplation of Mysteries contayning the rare effectes and significations of certayne Comets and a briefe rehersall of sundrie Hystoricall examples as well diuine as prophane verie fruitfull to be reade in this our age with matter delectable both for the Sayler and Husbandman yea and all traueylers by Sea and lande in knowing aforehande howe daungerous a tempest will succeede by the sight of the clowd coming ouer the head and other matters fruitful to be read as shal appere in the Table next after the Preface Gathered and englished by Thomas Hyll ¶ Imprinted at London by Henry Denham TH Aetatis svae 42 Virescit vulnere veritas To his singuler friend mayster Henrie Fynche Marchant Thomas Hyll wisheth health and felicitie IF among friendes there needes great and ample giftes then will not my pouertie furnishe your expectation Large giftes I haue none the greatest I am able to shewe is good will the which is gift great ynough among right friendes Therefore forasmuch as I haue alwayes counted you as one of my dearest friendes and you likewise haue accepted mee among your friendly fraternitie I thanke you therefore I trust this my remembraunce shall be a sufficient token and pledge of my good will. It is not long since I for want of better furniture offred you the like token the which was of you so gently receyued as I am not able to tell well whether I were more sorie I had no better gift to gratifie you withall or wheather I more marueyled at your curtesie in so well esteeming so small a thing If I had had better at that tyme better would I haue bestowed as nowe I would also but as you receyued that simple and rude thing then in good part at my handes of I againe trust you will doe nowe no lesse at thys time renuing that friendship which vnequally of person had almost seperated and losed in so doing I can but wishe you well the which prayer as I am bounde I will alwayes bestow vpon you Thus in few wordes I ende committing you to God who graunt you long health and prosperitie in this life Yours most bounden Thomas Hill. The Preface to the gentle Reader Thought it good gentle Reader to admonishe I thee in two or three lynes what mine intent meaning is in renuing againe of this little Treatise for although an indifferent reader may iudge therof yet all mens natures not being a like to auoyde the cauils of busie heades and the byting speaches of Zoylus broode I am aduised to interpret mine owne meaning My purpose according to my duetie is to doe good nature bindeth my countrie chalengeth euery good man according to his talent power ought to fulfil the same God thretneth the deuine to such as will heare cryeth repentaunce to such as can not away wyth that kinde of speache but desireth sweeter and more delectable geare the Player with his stage matters by an other kinde of more pleasant meanes admonisheth and by a plaine demonstration putteth euery man in minde of his vocation I professing no diuinitie nor yet acquainted with playing inuention haue by an other meanes if it were possible put thee in remembraunce of thy duetie to Godward we see Gods mercifulnesse hee seldome punisheth but sendeth before his messengers tokens and wonders to forewarne vs if we were not dulheades we might perceyue the same but if we had grace we woulde indeuour our selues to amendment Before God destroyed his owne Citie Ierusalem he caused to appeare in the element wonderfull and terrible visions Before the imperiall seate of Constantine was translated signes and tokens were seene in the ayre God as wee maye reade in Cronicles seldome or neuer made alterations in kingdomes but he before sent in Ambassage his threatning Creatures To seeke for olde and forraine examples we neede not seeing we haue ynough of late dayes at home freshe in our memories as first he by burning his owne house brought a present terrour into the mindes of many and forced them to call on his name and generally foreshewed that as he spared not that place wherein his name was dayly called on no more would he spare the people that despised his lawes and ordinaunces and soone after it came so to passe for when the warninâ— woould not be taken he punished more seuerely hee sent a greâ— mortalitie and sweeped or tooke away a great number God is iust and mercifull for iust he is in punishing and mercifull in forgiuing The continual bearing of monsters the troublesome Elements these last two Summers the vnseasonable weather and last of all the late straunge and wonderfull inunâ—ations doe threaten Gods iustice in punishing the offenders and his clemencie and mercie by fauouring vs so gently God notwithstanding that he threatned Niniuie by the mouth of his Prophete yet did hee mercifully forgiue them vpon their repentance God poure out hys spirite vpon vs and giue vs his grace to acknowledge and bewaile our offences so shall we be spared with Niniuie and the Lorde will turne away all his threatnings into forgiuenesse It is high time we repent God threatneth we are in daunger compassed on euery side all things are readie nothing wanteth but Gods permission I haue bene somewhat longer gentle Reader than at the beginning I promised or purposed yet take this for breuitie sake but for an enteraunce of a great deale more that might aptly be here vttered the rest vntouched I commit to thy iudgement and vnderstanding Thus resting I craue none other than your friendly report in furthering this Treatise Vale feliciter The Table THe sundrie definitions effects and significations of Comets Fol. 1 The explication or plaine declaration of the definition 1 Of the coÌ„tinuance motioÌ„s of Comets 2 The place where Cometes often ingendreth 2 How some interprete the motion of Comets 3 The ende effect and significations of Comets 3 Sundrie examples of Comets 5 Other prodigious tokens 7 Of the maruellous nature of Welles Riuers Lakes and waters c. 15 Of certaine fierie impressions and first of the same named of most men the foolish fire 21 The cause of Castor and Pollux and where these ingendred 24 Of the flying Dragon in the ayre what the same is 25 Of the fire cleauing and hanging on the partes of men and beastes 26 What is to be thought of the flame or fire which cleaueth to the heares of the head and to the heares of beastes 27 Of the feareful gaping and deepe opening of the Elements The definitions 28 A difference betweene the gaping and deepe opening 29 What the efficient cause is 29 What the matter and forme is 29 What the ende of the gapings be 30 How many rainebowes may be seene togither at one time 31 Whereof many Rainebowes proceede 31 That three Rainebowes maye appeare at one time 32 In what time of the yeare Rainebowes for the more part are caused 32 Are not the Rainebowes caused through the beames of the other starres 33 Of the
that a meane heate cannot resolue such â— matter out of the earth and draine thâ— same vp 3 The second effect of a Comet is barrennesse of the earth hunger and the dearth of vittayles in that the earth is caused barren through much drougth and lack of moysture for drougth is as the stepmother vnto all fruites and corne of the earthâ— but moysture is the apt mother vnto all fruites and crescent things on the earth So that such a mightie heat doth excéedinglye drie vp the earth and consumeth the moysture in plantes and trées through which they decay and heare no yéelde noâ—store of fruite Or thus A Comet doth cause harrennesse of the earth in that vnto a Comet a great and much exhalation is required by whose eleuation from the earth the fatnesse of the earth is so drawne vp which thus eleuated the earth after becommeth harren of yéeld and the moysture with which the earth ought to be battened is then through the ouermuch drougth vtterly depriued For whiche cause a Comet is the fore note of hunger and dearth in the same Realme which it specially beholdeth or stretcheth the tayle towardes and from whence it gathered and tooke his substance 4 Comets doe portend the murraine of beastes in that the ayre ensuing is infected and euill disposed through the hote grosse and clowdy exhalations which when beasts draw thereof are then intoxicated and infected and so die Also for that the time then is excéeding hote and the radicall moysture is on such wise drawne vp by the hote aire from the bodies of men and beastes in whoÌ„ the naturall moysture is placed as in the proper seate of the same beastes and other liuing creatures die for which cause it is the minde and councell of the learned Phisitions to vse in the same time moyst and colde meates wherby the radicall moysture may so be increased and preserued 5 Comets mooue battels and seditions and alter Emperies and kingdomes for that in the time of a Comet are many exhalations in the ayre hote drie which doe drie men and kindle heat in them by which they are lightly prouoked to yre after which yre ensueth variance next of the same followeth battell and after battell succéedeth the translation or alteration of gouernements when as the Emperie ensueth the conquerour 6 Comets do portend the death of princes kings gouernors other Magistrates of a coÌ„mon weale in that these leade a more daintie life and féede on finer meates continuallye through which they sooner be infected The death besides of princes and heade gouernors through the difference of many is of worthier report and fame and for that cause more obserued To these I adde that the Choloricke persons are then vehementer mooued through which the perturbations or troubles of mind ensue that procure seditions and battels after which procéede oftentimes the slaughter of many and death of princes for that these many tymes be present in battailes and are lightly prouoked to yre by which the battell ensueth the fiercer and on such wise many come to their death Macrobius left in writing that the death of Constantine was indicated by a Bushie starre of an excéeding bignesse that appeared in the yeare after Christes birth 304. Sundrie examples of Comets THat singuler Philosopher Augustinus Niphus writeth that after the appearing of a Comet in the yeare 1506. there followed within two yeares such a mightie drougth in Lumbardie that from Ianuary vnto the moneth of Nouember there fell no raine at all in that Countrie In the yeare of our Lorde 1165. appeared a mightie Comet or blasing starre in Scotland reaching burning out with two most long beames or tayles after which within .xiiij. dayes Malcolmus the fourth king by name of the Scottes dyed a mayden as the Chronicle reporteth In the yeare of our Lorde 1214. in the moneth of March appeared two fearefull Comets in Scotland the one going before the Sunne and the other following him after which the same yeare when as that most happie and good king William had reigned 49. yeares he then dyed an olde man. In the yeare 1268. there appeared a Comet of a maruellous bignesse about the noonestéede which was séene for manye dayes togither in Scotlande And in the yeare of our Lorde 1271. after and in the ix day of Ianuarie there arose such a cruell winde and mightie tempest withall and hayle stones of such a bignesse that through the same many houses in Scotlande were throwne down burned with fire through the windes which kindled after the same that they there kept in their houses for the vse of fire that the whole Country in a maner was wasted by the fire In the yeare of our Lord. 1538 and in the eightéene day of Ianuarie there appeared a Comet after the setting of the Sunne which was placed in the signe Pisces and the tayle looking or stretching towarde the East after which died immediately the Duke of Saronie In the yeare of our Lorde 1539. and the sixt daye of the moneth of Maye appeared a Comet in the signe Taurus not farre from the head of the Dragon which indured burning for thrée wéekes in a maner after which died Isabell of Portugall the wife of Charles the fift Emperor in the trauaile of childe In that yeare died George Duke of Saronie of an olde and crude rupture before whose death as some write there appeared thrée Comets after the appearaunce of which died the Duke of Cleaue the bishop of Trident and diuers other noble persons and Capitaines In the yeare 1540. began a great coniunction of Saturne and Mars which hapned in Cancer after which followed a marueilous drougth aboue many sommers before so that hay corne and all kinde of pulses became very scarce And this drougth folowed rather as some write after the apperaunce of a Comet the same yeare and great Eclips of the Sunne which happened the seuenth day of Aprill whose beginning was before the Sunne rising and endured in this Eclips two whole houres after the Sunne was risen vppon which followed at Prage a noble Citie in the kingdome of Boheme that the Castell with the Cathedrall Church were burned with fire and many fearefull fiers hapned often in sundrie places as the same had bene by a diuine punishment from heauen And a Commotion hapned the same yeare among the Citizens of Gaunt which Charles the fift Emperour stayed by hys wisedome Many examples more of Comets might here be vttered which for breuitie in so smal a treatise omitted and the rather for that I haue at large written of them and other weightie matters right necessarye in my booke to come forth named the Myrrour of tyme. Other prodigious tokens IN the yeare 1542. were many straunge children and monstruous beastes séene and in that yeare it rayned bloud at Sassen burge in Germanie And in Phriseland that yeare arose a certaine Prophet named George Dauid declaring himselfe to bée Gods nere kinsman and one that coulde counterfaite
such a cyrcle about the Sunne foreshewed battayles hunger fyres and pittifull landfloodes A like cyrcle to Halo appéered before the battayle with the Turks in the yere 1532. by which is manifest that such sightes are foreshewers of euils to come In the yeare of our Lorde 1559. with the great tempest risen at Fryburge certaine fyrie Globes fell out of the clowds not farre from the Citie much or often lightnings with thunder which lamentably burnt the grasse hops herbes and leaues of trées the tempest increased a hande was séene stretched in the aire for an hower in a maner which at length by drawing and folding the fingers togither in grinding it selfe was turned into powder which powder falling to the earth vanished away In the yeare 1560. waters brake in and ouer ranne much grounde in sundrie places to the great hurt and losses of manye men in that their closes and Medowes were much harmed with the clamminesse of the waters bursting in The same yeare dyed that singular learned and godly man worthy memorie Philip Melanchtone who lefte behinde hym these comfortable verses that he made a little before the agonie of death which he still repeated vntill life left him Cur mortem metuaÌ„ mors non est mortis imago est Sed merito vitor Christe benigne tuo Vermis adhuc spiro moriturus forte sub horam Mors etenim certa est funeris hora later Ergo Gnate Dei iam me tibi porrigo totum Viuam seu moriar sanguine viuo tuo In the yeare of mans redemption 1561. manye Gunnes through Germanie were séene in the ayre shooting of pellets into the Sunne In the .xvij. daye of December fower sunnes were séene in the East casting forth gréene roddes on euerie side to the great feare and amazement of the beholders Heauen séemed to burne a fyrie Globe shyned from the North part with a mighty light in heauen In the kingdome of Naples were fiue Castels and a Byshoprick suncke with an Earthquake and a water nauigable vanished the whole in such maner that no monument or part at all is left to be séene yea a whole citie so sunck into the earth that no perseuerance of it at all remayning at this day From the .xvj. vnto the .xviij. day of Nouember the riuer Tyber cast vp a mighty number of dead fishes In the yeare of our Lorde 1562. Heauen séemed to burne to the sight of much people in many places of Germany And a celestiall fyrehrande stretched from the North into the South shyned by night in heauen A mightie company of armed men or souldiours were séene in the ayre which as some affirme séemed in the ayre to shed downe much bloude from heauen And the Sunne in the Moneth of Aprill séene marueylous bloudy as well at the rysing as at the setting for thrée dayes togither The ymage also of our Redéemer crucified was séene sprinckled all ouer with bloud in the Moneth of Aprill Whilst the mightie Emperour Ferdinandus kept his royall Court at Prage the chiefe citie in Bohemia it hapned that Peason were miraculously chaunged into stones after this manner A certaine husbandman had brought certaine sackes of Peason to the citie to be solde to whom a Citizen for the penurie of victuals came and required him to sell better cheape then he had accustomed to doe who that was a cruell and couetous man prayed to God that his Peason rather might be chaunged into stones then he woulde sell them one mite better cheape incontinent after the Citizen departing from him the Peason were al miraculously chaunged into stones a marueylous spectacle in déede of Gods wrath and due punishment for his canckred and wicked stomack To conclude we may by these fearefull wonderous and straunge sightes as well on earth as in the ayre learne that God by them doth marueylously foreshewe his blessed will and condigne punishment for the sinnes of the people and that in such sort to declare the calamities to come vpon vs by shewing aforehande such straunge sightes and fearefull threatnings in the ayre vnto the admonishment of vs for the correcting of sinne if by these and such lyke we wyll be warned at all Of the maruellous nature of Welles Riuers Lakes and waters to which the Phisitions denie a reason to be assigned DIuers are the natures and miracles of Welles Ryuers Lakes and waters the cause of which is eyther hid wholy from vs or in search verie harde to be vnderstanded as by Examples here vnder shall plainer appéere 1. First there is a swéete running ryuer in the Countrie of Italie which by his propertie causeth the Oxen drinking thereof to become through whyte of heare all the body ouer Propert. lib. 3. 2. In Boetia there is a ryuer named Melas being of such a propertie that shéepe drinking of the water of that ryuer chaunge and beare after black woole 3. Seneca wryteth of a Well of such a propertie that what person drinketh thereof the heare of the head shall after become yealow of colour 4. In Libia there is a Well which at the rysing and setting of the Sunne is founde hote but at noone this Well is tried most colde and at midnight verie hote 5. Seneca wryteth of certayne Welles being of straunge properties of which the one and first is a Well of such a propertie that who drinketh of the same doth dye through the mightie poysoning thereof The other is a Well of such a propertie that throwing péeces of woode into the same Well they after were turned into stones He wryteth of an other Well being of such a propertie that what persons drink of the water of the same shall after become starke mad An other Well there is of suche a propertie that what parsons drinke thereof it giueth them memorie He witnesseth also of an other Well of such a condition that by drinking therof it procureth forgetfulnesse 6. There is another Well of such a nature that what persons drinke thereof become soone after frantick 7. An other Well there is of a maruelous propertie that what persons drinke of the water it sodainely moueth and stirreth forward the lust of the body of which condition the Well of Salmacis in Caria is misreported to be the causes of which are the Herbes Stones and Mynes by which these passe in which such a hid propertie procured of so marueylous effects consisteth 8. In Egypt there is a Well of such a propertie that quencheth light fyrebrands in the same as reporteth Augustus they forthwith are put forth and those quenched are by the water of the same well kindled 9. With the black Moores named Garamantes is a Well of suche condition which in the daye time is knowne to bée so colde that no person can drinke therof and in the night time it is founde so hot that no creature is able to beare or abide the heat oâ— the same 10. In a certaine learned worke of Cosâ—mographye is reported that in the Countrie of Sicilia was in time past a
backe behinde sprang sparckes scatteringly and whiles he remooued and layde the cloake downe againe such sparckles lept forth as before Who at the sight of these was stricken with a double feare and by good reason for within fiftéene dayes after was he accused of enimies for the detestable practise of poysoning and for the same earnestly layde in wayght to be slaine To conclude it appeareth that such fyres are séene in moyst Kitchins Sinckes or Guttours and where the Orfall of beastes killed are throwne or in such places most commonly are woont to be séene Such fires cleauing doe marueylously amase the fâ—arfull Yet not all fires which are séene in the night are perfite fiers in that many haue a kinde without a substaunce and heate as those which are the delusions of the Deuill well knowne to be the Prince of the world and flyeth about in the ayre Of the fearefull gaping and deepe opening of the Elements The definitions THis gaping or large opening of the aire is when heauen by a sodaine light of the great exhalation kindeled vnder the Clowdes is as it were opened 2 The gaping is when any space of heauen descendeth and by a sodaine light of the great exhalation kindeled vnder the Clowdes as if heauen were opened appeareth or that heauen parted a sunder without crack or noise gapeth and the same part séemeth to throwe or cast forth fire which sheweth as it were the mightie burning of some place to the great terror and feare of the beholders this at the appearaunce pronounceth drye tempestes to follow 3 The gaping is when fyre as out of heauen parted a sunder séemeth to fall cast forth through a thicke clowde 4 The gaping or wide opening is when fire out of heauen parted a sunder séemeth as it were to fall forth of a holow Caue A difference betweene the gaping and deepe opening MAny Philosophers doe briefely distinguishe them on this wise when the partyng a sunder in heauen is but small then is the same named a déepe opening But when the parting in heauen is large and the déepenesse of the Clowdes great then is the same named a gaping So that this Clowde comming in the middle betwéene if it shall be small then is the same named the opening if great then the same named the large or wyde gaping What the efficient cause is THe efficient cause of this gaping is the onely beames of the Sunne and the other starres for it hath drawne to the ayre a light and rare fume which through his tenuitie or thinnesse or for the heate forcing within the clowde or for the agitation of the Clowde néere is it kindled euen as the Gunpowder made of brimstone and Nyter that lighlye taketh and forciblie burneth What the matter and forme is THe matter is an exhalation thinne and light which as it is sodainely kindled euen so doth it sodainely burne This fume doth lightly take fire and is scattered The formall cause is that agitation of the fume in the aire which kindleth it Although this fume maye heate by the owne accorde yet heateth it more when the same flyeth vp vnto the vpper region of the ayre where lightly it is kindled This forme is diuers according to the diuersity of the matter and place For when the exhalatioÌ„ falleth thorow a thick clowde the déepenesse in heauen appéereth greater and the greater truely when the middle partes of the exhalation are thick and in the compasse about thin And lesser it appeareth when the thicknesse of the middle clowdes is not so much Or thus the forme is an agitation of the exhalation kindeled which if it fall thorow a thicke clowde the déepenesse in heauen appéereth the greater Yea greater when the middle partes of the exhalation thicke and in the compasse about shall be thin Or otherwise by a thick clowde the colour black the gaping shall appéere purple or bloudie As the lyke purple colour is séene when the black shall be mixed with a whyte clowde Or as the sunne sometimes at his rysing is séene or the fyre in a grosse smoke Otherwise the cause of the white colour is the clearenesse of the ayre through which the light is séene for when through a cleare and not so black a clowde it is fallen the light then is named as a flame shyning Of these may you reade more in Seneca What the ende of the gapings be PLynie wryteth that the Gapings to be foreshewers of mightie perils not that as causes go before but for the same go before that these euils may inuade and come that is happen certaine and for the more part as be battels seditions and infinite like calamities And such rare sights of the Gapings and others often are shewed to vs yea without Phisick causes that these may moue christian mindes to repentance Yet doe many Physically denote at the appearaunce drie tempests to insue And this is worthie to be noted that the Astrologians pronounce battels to arise and come out of the same place where this gaping is séene Certaine examples of lyke effect hapned in our time as first in the yere 1529. and in the ninth day of Ianuary betwéene the hower of nine ten of the night a mighty Gaping was séene throughe Germany reaching from the East into the North vnto the Sommer setting in the West After which in the same yere insued that violent breaking in of the Turkes into Germany And the Nystoriographers haue noted the same that in the time of Tiberius Caesar a mightie Gaping was séene after which such a fyre fell to the earth when Philiâ— king of Macedonie brought Greece in subiection Virgill doth account this large Gapingâ— to be among the number of the feareful toâ—kens in that the death of the valiant Turâ—nus slayne by Aeneas was by the same foreshewed The Commentatour vpon thâ— second booke of Plynie wryteth that an other fearefull Gaping was séene in the yerâ— 1536. and in the sixtene day of December betwéene sixe and seauen of the clock in the night stretching from the North into the Winter West setting after which within a short time ensued but a small lightning with thunder so that little harme succéeded at that time The Author sawe a terrible Gaping in the East in the yere .1565 and in the .26 daye of Nöuember after fiue of the clock in the morning How many Rainebowes may be sene togither at one time ARistotle whom Plynie followeth supposeth that thrée Rainebowes can hardlye be caused nor more then thrée at anye time bicause the one is euermore darcker than the other in suche manner that the thirde reflection is caused the weakest that it cannot attaine or reach vnto the Sunne But experience reproueth both Aristotle and Plynie in that thrée Rainebowes may well appéere or be séene togither yea more sometimes in this our age haue bene séene but such accounted for woonders by which God sheweth to men matters to come as maye rightly be gessed And that the same may be Vitellio also witnesseth although
matter when it is sent downe striketh and entreth into the thinner bodyes and smyting into solyde bodyes forthwith dissolueth destroyeth and wasteth whose force for troth is to be marueyled at Otherwise is the same reported to be cléere and flaming This lightning is diuersly caused For the matter otherwise of the lightning hath verie much of the earthly and viscous matter For which cause it burneth the resistaunt matters especially if of the same substaunce which may be burned they consist and imprinteth or sheweth the notes of burning yet the matter sometimes of the lightning consisteth of the vapours verie subtill and impure Hereof the bodyes thinne and hauing poores this entereth without any note or shewe of hurte and corrupteth the inner members and the solyde bodyes resisting doth it part into péeces consumeth them So that this slayeth a man or anye lyuing beast wythout any wounde appearing or note of hurt And this also melteth the golde or siluer in mens purses the purses remayning vnperished Albertus magnus applyeth vnto the lightnings of this kinde the depriuing of sight and the swelling of the face For so much as we often sée men beholding the lightnings become blynde yea and the face by that meanes so swollen that a man can hardly knowe after the person The same is caused through the thinnesse and porositie of our skinne and eyes which lightly receiue the subtil vapour so that this corrupteth the radicall moysture of the face and swelleth the face and dryeth also the radicall moysture of the eyes through which dryed blindnesse of necessitie must insue In what time of the yere the lightnings oftner happen is here vttered For the sightnings in Winter sildome appeare to vs and the reason as Plynie reporteth is in that the materiall cause is not so copious as in other times the same is woont to be for in the Winter tyme the exhalation is onely moyst and colde which gathered into the clowdes receyueth a verie hote force and although the same shall not be perceyued yet is it sodainely extinguished through the force of the colde Further euery vapour of the earth is stiffe and verie colde For which cause in Scythia and in the Countries farther North it is to be supposed that it sildome lightneth And in Sommer in the hotter Countries fewe lightnings are cauâ—sed for that in the Sommer the exhalatioâ— is onely hote and dry which in no maner oâ— verie hardly can be gathered and thickneâ— into a clowde Whereof in Aethiopia â—â—gypt and in the Countries vnder the Trâ—â—pick of Cancer for the excéeding heat lighâ—â—ning doe sildome happen But with vs iâ— the Sommer time dwelling Northwardâ— lightnings are oftner caused in that the heate of sommer is not so great that it can consume all the matter or substaunce of the clowdes Euen so in the meane seasons of the yere as in the spring time and haruest lightnings are oftner caused in that the constitution of these seasons ministreth to the ayre much matter as wel dry as moyst The cause why man or beast is so slayne that no token of the hurt or wounde appeareth is for that the force and subtilnesse of the kindled vapour by which at a 〈◊〉 pierceth through the skinne and penetrable fleshe through out porouse and blasteth the vitall members with a pestilent poyson and wyth the venymous qualitie and vertue which all lightnings are named to haue it slayeth The same may verie well be applyed vnto the foote hurt and the shooe not perished and to the sap of trées corrupted the trée remayning whole without any corruption of the woode The cause why money is so molten with the lightning the purse or money bagge remayning whole and the sworde in like maner the sheath abyding vnperished is for that these bodies are porouse which lightly yéelde to the mighty spirite and subtill lightning vapour in which if such a mighty force of striking be through the great violence it then parteth into small péeces the resistaunt and harde bodyes if such a force of burning it then melteth Such is the violence of this that it throweth downe pinnacles of stone yea Towers most stronglye wrought and other buyldings mightie stones also it parteth in péeces such matters which haue anye resistaunce and hardnesse in them this ouerthroweth The cause why lightnings often smyte most highe places as stéeples towers and among trées the high Oke in especiall and highe Mountaynes is for that such which be the higher are the more open to iniuries of the clowdes in the ayre and by the course running here and there these bodies in the waye resisting happen to be striken and spoyled And euerye agent mightier worketh néere hand then that which by a great space is distaunt The other cause deuine is in that euill spirits dwelling in the ayre doe often stirre vp and cause through Gods suffraunce cruell tempestes and spoyle lyke places by Gods due vengeaunce The cause why nettes lying in the water may be burned of the lightning is for that the flame of the same hath much of the Brimstonie and viscous matter so that fallen into water it may burne the same hauing attayned the due matter And the same doe our Artificers proue in Gunpowder of which the whole Arte insueth the celestiall lightnings And the lyke in a maner may a man sée in lyme which through the powring vpon of water waxeth hote and is kindled The cause why the lightning cutteth or parteth a vessell in péeces or is burnt with the lightning the Wyne remayning whole togither for a certaine space as if the same were coagulated is through the lightning which hath verye much of the Brimstonie substance and viscositie in it which by piercing into the whole substance of the Wine is sparsed hereof through the heate what soeuer is fast holding is forced and sent into the furthest extending of the Wine both dryed and boyled agayne through the fyrie spirite of the lightning that worketh a certaine skinne which stayeth the Wine from running forth for a certaine time and the same as it were with a skinne compassed about retayneth So that these miraculously are caused by one inforcement and as it were in a moment The same iudgement may be vttered of the others lyke What the lightning Dart is THe same is the stone of the lightning as the later wryters report which sometimes in wedge forine sometimes rounde and sometimes in piller forme falleth with a mightie force into the earth and both cleaueth scattreth destroyeth and burneth the resistaunt bodyes and matters The manner of the ingendring of the Stone THe vapour of the lightning is drye and sometimes somewhat clammy of a certayne Metallyne matter earthly and thick which through the much motion and diuers agitation falling into a moyst clowde is conglutynated euen like meale tempered with water and baked and in the ende hardned into a solyde yronnie or stonnie Masse euen lyke potters clay baked into a stone This exhalation aswell flashing forth of
the clowdes as the lightning consisting for the more part in a gréene or black clowde bigge swollen with a certayne clammye matter gathered rounde through the colde moysture shed about of the clowde and a most sharpe heate folowing procured of the Sunne and starres also through the motion and colde expelled is the same hardned into a solyde and stonie bodye in the lyke order as the baked Tyles which framed before of moyst and soft clay are after through dryed and baked harde as a stone of the burning fyre in the proper Tyle fornace And the same Darte of the lightning is sharpned at the neather ende in that the moysture mixed with the dryeth searching to issue tendeth downewarde and of the same is there formed sharpe but the dry substaunce is in the vpper part gathered and framed rounde as the thicker in forme And this darte oftentimes in the lightnings worketh heauy and lamentable haps on the earth The thinges which sildome or neuer are striken wyth lightning be the Egle the Bay trée and Seale insomuch that a Garland of the Bay trée worne defendeth the person from lightning as the auncient report The Sellers vaultes or the verie déepe places vnder the earth are thought to auayle against the lightning In that the auncient affirme that the lightnings enter not aboue fiue foote into the earth Of this Augustus Caesar as Hystories report when a tempest of thunder and lightning hapned he then hasted into a déepe vault vnder the earth Here note that no lightning is wyth out fyre For fyrie it is named in that the same imprinteth and sheweth manifest signes of fire in the burning scorching making swart Also a venymous beast striken with the lightning they saye to lose the poyson or to be purged of the poyson but the lightning stryking a beast not venymous poysoneth the same and this hapneth in that of the same doing dyuers effectes are sometimes caused by reason of the matter otherwise disposed Euen as it appeareth of a certaine winde putting out one Candell and kindling or lightning an other Of the marueylous force nature and miracles of the lightnings THe lightning receaueth and hath a dyuers nature and effect in that it cutteth cleaueth burneth and sâ—ayeth beastes with the touching it sometymes hapning venymous burneth the hard and pierceth the thinke bodyes if it shall be without burning it ingendreth a violent and tempestious winde in which storme trées are winded about houses and other strong buyldings throwne downe and the Sea mightilye tossed 2. Certayne is the same by the report oâ— wryters that euery thing to be shaken and blasted before the lightning smyte it and that no person to be touched which eyther afore shall sée the lightning or heare the thunder 3. When a beast waking is striken with the lightning being dead hath the eyes fast shut but striken sléeping hath the eyes open and lying on the ground is turned by it of the other side 4. The lightning consumeth the sword or meate knife in the sheath without harme of the sheath It melteth the money in the purse as afore vttred it perisheth the foote without harme of the shooe In that it entreth the same being full of poores without resistaunce but about solyde and resisting bodyes it longer stayeth in consuming them It sometimes like hurteth the bones without spot appearing on the fleshe in that through the weake resistaunce and spéedie pierceing of the fyre the fleshe is not harmed of it as maye appeare of the hande spéedily thrust in and handling the burning flame 5. The lightning sometimes parteth asunder trées as if those were clouen with a wedge without burning and sometimes staineth and blacketh by the touching without burning and sometimes burneth both houses and barnes the cause of the first is the vehemencie of the stroke the cause of the second is the thinnesse and weakenesse of the exhalation the cause of the thirde is the thicknesse of the matter of the exhalation for that the fyre in the substaunce more thick doth stronger burne euen as it may appéere in the yron red hote but in the matter lesser or not so thicke it lesser burneth as may appeare in the Towe 6. The lightning poysoneth beasts striken euen like the bit of a Serpent and mad Dogge in that the matter of the same lightning is Brimstonie and venimous 7. The same is to be marueyled at which Seneca reporteth as that wine vessels to be burned with the lightning as afore vttered the wine remayning whole and not shedding the wine the whiles not contayned in any bodye Also the lightning doth so intoxicate the Wine striken that the drinkers of it eyther die or become franticke and madde The same is caused through the infectiue nature of the lightning and the reason of the astonishing of the Wine is the hastie alteration by which the whole clammynesse of the Wine is drawne forth into the outward vpper face where like a thin skin about retayneth the Wine that the same shed or runne not abroade for thrée dayes 8. The lightning striking a person sléeping doth open the eyes of the sléeper but of the person then waking or awake it shutteth the eyes The cause of which is in that the lightning causeth the sléeper to awake but the person awake it astonisheth in such maner that he shall sooner dye then that he can open the eyes againe for the tyme as the auncient report 9. The person stricken and touched with the lightning doth after turne the head and face towarde the stroke from whence the lightning came The cause of this doth Albertus Magnus here shewe in that the force of the stroke comming conuerteth or tourneth the striken bodyes towarde the stroke and naturall is the same to euerye creature to turne it selfe toward the harme sodaynely comming in holding the face towarde it 10. The lightning sometimes harmeth the yongling in the mothers wombe the mother remayning vnharmed the cause of which is the tendernesse of the yongling and strength of the mother as by a lyke example afore vttered of the noble woman Martia of Rome 11. A dead Serpent stricken wyth lightning becommeth full of wormes which otherwise hapneth not to it aliue The cause is in that through the lightning it is purged of the proper poyson which also is of an other nature than the lightning so that the same then hindereth not the procreation of wormes 12. The lightning sometymes burneth and consumeth the garments on the bodye yea the shooes on the féete manye tymes it onely burneth the heares on the head without harme of the body which is caused thorow the weakenesse of the exhalation But this sometymes killeth a man without any hurt or marke appearing or anye signe of burning The same caused through the subtilnesse of the exhalation which if the same shall be grosse leaueth a note of the burning 13. Such which long looke vp at the lightning and hold their faces against the lightning are eyther caused blynde or