then in the day time through the Sunnes presence by whose beames and light aboue the earth euen great lightnings are hidden in the ayre to be séene Here note that many persons are often made blynde or euer after molested with a dimnesse of sight which doe looke but with winking eies on the lightnings much more daungerous thought to looke on it with open eyes The fishes and any maner cattle smitten with the mightier lightning is daungerous to eate in that the fleshe and meate of such are infected with a venimous qualitye as by triall hath bene obserued Of the fearefull and violent lightning THis that the Phisitions properly name lightning is a common name which is referred and applied vnto euery exhalation which burning brasteth forth of the clowds So that the lightning is referred vnto the same exhalation which thickned and gathered rounde in the middle of the clowde smyteth or beateth the clowde by a longer space and through the motion kindled it at the last cleaueth breaketh through the clowde and is sent violently to the earth For the fyre forced of the clowde is cast to the earth euen as the motion caused in the burning of gréene wood For that cause is this rightly named lightning when the fire sent forth of the clowdes is caried euen vnto the earth and eyther doth it burne eyther breake or hurt somewhat on the earth The flashing light and the lightning doe not differ in the substance but rather in the forme and maner for the flashing light is a fyre lightlier kindled which sparsed vnder the clowdes higher shyneth in the aire But the lightning is that exhalation which when the same is sent forth of the clowde falleth to the earth The engendring of the lightning thus appeareth that when the vapour driuen or moued in the clowde is kindled and brasteth out of the moyst clowde then moystened agayne and gathered togyther as it were into a certain Masse which stirred and moued agayne is so hardened euen as clay dryed and hardned by the heate of fyre This Masse on thys wise baked and hardned is named the lightning So that the same is ingendred of a thicke vapour dry and viscouse which is gathered rounde togyther of the colde vapours and breaking forth by great force and noyse and discending euen to the earth cleaueth ouerthroweth windeth about scattereth into manye partes yea destroyeth and consumeth by diuers meanes bodyes there found hard and solyde through the motion light and blast Howe many kindes of lightning there are can hardly be vttered in that the nature of the lightning is so dyuers and marueylous through which a sufficient reason of the same can scarcely be giuen Yet marueylous are the workes of lightnings if a man well consider them and nothing to be doubted at but that a secret and diuine power consisteth in them Also certaine it is that the lightnings not to procéede or come by hap nor onely caused through the motion of the matter in that these sometimes are caused and sent downe by the almightie God gouerning nor such can be applyed vnto natural causes in that they often foreshew some euill and cal men to repentaunce Yet is their studie to be commended which after the possibilitie of mans nature haue diligently sought out the causes of these matters To be briefe Aristotle Plynie Seneca and others doe make thrée differences of lightnings and these according to the diuersitie of the matter and effect vnto which al the other kinds may be referred and reduced For the one kinde is cutting a sunder an other making swartishe and the thirde burning or there is one astonishing or causing stiffe an other blacke burning or fumous and an other cléere or flaming 1. The lightnings cutting are those which doe not burne but doe pierce and part in sunder things resisting through the qualitie of the matter of which consist the great drowte and plentie of windes and spirites which they violently take wyth them For these breake and part into small péeces the obiect matter before that it can be burned of the lightning In that the vapour is swifter then the lightning Otherwise is the same named astonishing not burning but pierceing and parting into small péeces For such is the purenesse and thinnesse of the flame that it maye pierce through most straight places and for the mightie sturdinesse of the matter maye especially part into peeces For the spirite or drie vapour is carted forth of the clowde with a most swift motion and thus entred into bodies full of poores and penetrable it parteth them in péeces So that this kinde of lyghtning is named the astonishing lightning throughe the colde expelled by heat for that it consisteth of the mightiest vertues and is of a marueylous nature and by a most swifte motion also doth the spirite or drie vapour consume all thinges This burneth man inwarde and consumeth the bodie to ashes without harming the garments it slayeth the yongling in the wombe without harme to the mother it consumeth money the purses remayning whole it melteth the sworde the sheath being whole it harmeth the hande the gloue not perished and the vessell broken it so astonisheth the wine that for thrée dayes after the wine sheddeth or runneth not forth For the matter of this lightning is verie subtill and lightly pierceing the thing striken so that it burneth those matters which resist it as stones yron and such like Here note an example of one Martia an honorable woman of Rome who being with child had the yongling striken and kylled of the lightning in hir wombe and she abode without harme and if the hystories be true she escaped after without harme Eutropius reporteth that a marueylous kinde of lightning hapned on the birth day of Cicero which was on this wise a certayne Mayden of Rome iourneying into Apulia was smitten by the way with the stroke of lightning all the garments shifted from hir body without cutting a sunder and both the Tyre and knittings on the breast legges and féete consumed the Bracelets Kings and other ornamentes molten so that shée lay naked on the grounde the body not harmed And the horse with the same slayne lay bare hauing neyther brydle saddle nor no furnyture on hym c. 2. The lightning making swartishe is the same which burneth not but for the paucytie and thinnesse of matter onely maketh swartishe or darke browne the resistaunt matters euen like the smoked partes couloured of fyre that can not burne Otherwise is the same named blackishe to smoke in that all thinges which this smyteth both wythin and without it maketh blackishe euen like soote of a small time made and leaueth behinde a shew note of a fyrie smoke and for the ouermuch subtilnesse and thynnesse it flyeth out and pierceth before that it can burne the resistaunt matter As may euidently appéere by the vines trées corne and herbes blasted with this lightning 3. The lightning burning is the same which hauing much of the earthly
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
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
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
in the day time through the Sunnes heate thinned and sometimes spent whereof with such a force as in the night it can not blowe The Haruest and Spring are the aptest tymes of the yeare for the wyndes seing in those partes of the yeare manye exhalations are drawne vp which when of the Sunne beames they can not be spent through his absence they then gyue matter to the winds But in the Sommer and Winter doe the windes lesser blow For in the Sommer time the exhalations are burned by the Sunnes heate and in the Winter tyme the powers of the earth are shut so close or hard togither thorowe the intensed colde that no matter can breath forth And this worthie to be noted and marueyled at that at the blowing of the North winde Welles and deepe pittes of water sende vp more fumes then at the blowing of the South winde The cause why the Northerly windes and Southerly doe oftner blowe but the Easterly and Westerly sildomer is for that the exhalations drawne vp by the Sunne and flying the heate of the Sunne fall vnto the sides Or otherwise that in these places they finde a space and are not consumed or spent by the heate of the Sunne which is caused in the East and Weast which places the Sunne occupyeth twise in the daye and consumeth there the vapours After when the Sunne departeth into the Northerly signes he is then higher than that he can let or hinder the ascending of the exhalations But when he departeth into the Southerly signes through his néerenesse vnto the earth the beames then stretch thwarte and through this thwartnesse they be so weake that they can not waste or spende the exhalations The cause why the windes at the beginning arise softer and blow weaker is for that as we haue afore taught of the causes of the thwarte course of the windes Aristotle vttereth the cause of the circulare motion of the ayre For the ayre togither with the swift motion of heauen is drawen about So that it is manifest that all thinges to bée moued togither which be in it Seing the exhalation is hote and dry and through his lightnesse drawne vpwarde and by the cold of the middle region so letting depressed it can not of this discende downe right For thys through his lightnesse alwayes ascendeth And caried by a thwart maner that it can not of the same descende downe right For which cause it must néedes insue that the winds are caried by a thwart course The cause of the vehemencie of the windes is that the breath or winde forced through the fortitude of the colde sendeth forth the exhalation For how mightier the same depresseth the exhalation ascending so much the stronger doth the same mooue forewarde the ayre The windes also are caused the vehementer through the multitude of the exhalation ascending which with the same descending is matched or ioyned For on such wise the strengthes are increased and of the same it muste néedes force the ayre the mightier The cause why in the great heate and extreme colde little winde bloweth is for that in the same Sea soone the exhalation the foode of the winds is then spent by the Sunne but in this the earth shut with the colde can not then breath forth fumes Or playner to wryte the intensed or mightie heate of the Summer burneth and wasteth the vapour or exhalation drawne vp before it may giue or yéelde matter for the windes And in the time of the cold winter through the contrarie cause the windes lesse blow For the extreame colde of the winter shutteth the poores of the earth that nothing can then breath forth the cause that winds cease after showers of raine is for that before the raine the powers of the earth are opened out of which the matter of the windes issueth which of the raine especially of the more aboundaunt showers are then shut togither stopped that nothing may more breath forth wherof the winde must néedes cease The cause that after the blowing of the North winde the other windes ceasse is for that the same winde is colde and drye which then shutteth the powers of the earth and letteth the breathing forth except in the spring tyme For in the same time through the order of nature and the Sunne comming then vnto vs the earth opening it selfe subdueth the matter for the more part with the Northerly winds And why the windes be oftner colde is for that the windes although they be ingendred and procéede of a hote and drie vapour yet doe they breath colde The same hapneth or is caused through the farre motion of the ayre by colde places euen as by the mouth the winde or hote breath farre of moued or extended cooleth Why the West winde blowing the Dogs then euill hunt is for that it especially confoundeth the ayre and of all the windes it is the most contynuall or longest lasting and toucheth especially the earth Certaine obseruations of the windes MOst marueylous is the highest God which alone made all thinges both in heauen and earth and in the vse of the winds he would in many maners that the testimonies of his prouidence to be known to vs For when the earth néedeth watering it onely not vseth and needeth raine but the windes to helpe so that the winde ariseth by which the clowdes are gathered that showers may shed and be sprinckled on the earth and the earth sufficiently fed Further that the strengths of the earth quayle not through the raynie superfluousnesse it needeth with the drying the Sunne beames and wyndes agréeable which taketh vp the vnprofitable moysture that the same may be dried vp that like a spunge the earth may soke drinke in and digest the raine 2. It much auayleth the Phisition to coÌ„sider and foreknowe the approching tempestes and windes the natures and workings of them agréeable vnto eche places that he may hereof foresee the sicknesses or disseases publikely kylling in haste how by Arte he may eyther let and remoue them or if he can not stay them by his skil then maye he â—éeke an apt waye and order for the curing of such sicknesses Of which matter maye you reade a like instruction vttered of Hypocrates in the tyme of the pestilence 3. A rednesse about the Sunne Moone is a note of windes to insue 4. Where in the Sommer time lightnings and thunder happen there a strong winde shortly after bloweth 5. In the Haruest and Winter lightnings doe cease winds and how mightier the lightnings and thunder are so much the more doe they cease the windes 6. Any dreaming of byrdes the nexte day winde to follow as some report 7. In the Wynter windes about the the morning blowâ— but in the Sommer about the Euening In the winter from the East part but in the Sommer from the West 8. Those temporall North windes in the Sommer when they shal blow a long tyme togither and the Haruest is windie doe declare a caulme Winter to insue
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