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
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
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
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
setting are they all dead so that these by due proofe are knowne not to lyue aboue a day 37. The ryuer Matronas Celtas deuydeth it selfe from that riuer Belgas which for the straunge propertie greatly to be wondred at in that the common sort affirme that this riuer to be as a destinie or mighty hazarde of lyfe to manye for so much thys ryuer daylie purchaseth to it some pray as hath bene noted of a long tyme by those dwelling fast by 38. In the Mountaynes of Modena in Lumbardie in a place named Mount Zibbius is there a Well out of which runneth a lyuely and singuler water in thys doe men at this day gather a mightie quantitie of Oyle which is knowne of many to be of a miraculous vertue in that the same worketh so maruailous effects on mans bodye as in healing al aches the most griefes and diseases of the body and in the healing also of woundes and sores not inferiour to the artificiall Baulme this of most men named the true Oyle of Peter 39. In the Countrie of Burgony there is a certaine burning Lake in which if a flaming or burning fyrebrande be quenched the same immediately goeth out or is quenched through the moysture consisting in it and a fyrebrand readie quenched dipped in this doth immediatly kindle burne through the fierie Brimstonie heate consisting also in it which is found hote and dry in the fourth degrée 40. There be certaine waters knowne at this day which haue the taste of Wine in that they runne by some swéete iuyce in the earth As by a like in Paphlagonia is reported to be a Well of a wynie taste which causeth the persons drinking of the water to become soone after dronke The cause of which dronkennesse is that the same containeth much of the spirites of the Brimstonie passages which on such wise fill the braine of the creatures with sumes ▪ And a like to this is reported that the ryue◠Lincestius to haue waters comming to it of such a propertie that they make persons dronke euen like Wine 41. In the Countrie of Boëmia is a Well of sharpe tast neare that Citie which they name Bilen the water of which the inhabiters thereabout vse in the morning in the stéede of burning Wyne or Aqua vitae 42. Aristotle also wryteth that in the Countrie of Sicilia to be a soower Well which the poore people vse in the stéede of Vinigar as others wytnesse of the same 43. In Scythia also some report that there to be a bitter Well the water of which running into the ryuer not farre distaunte causeth it to taste bitter 44. Certaine Welles and riuers there be excéeding hote especiallye those which issue and runne out by Brimstonie veynes of the earth and other hote places the waters of which are much pierceing and drying by reason of the propertie through which these profite vnto the drying vp of corrupt and rotten humours in diseased bodies And such hote or bathwaters are at certaine times dronke that they may supply euacuations and clensings of the body and reduce it vnto a suit temperatnesse Of certaine fyerie impressions and first of the same named of most men the foolish fyre THe light going before and folowing after men in the ayre especially in the night doe later wryters report to be the foolishe fyre in that the same often appéereth to saylers and men traueyling by lande as eyther going before or following them and maketh a man a foole by seducing him This light also is named Helena when it as one Candle is séene or appeareth alone which besids is reported to be the fyrebrand and pestilence of Saylers For as Helena brought destruction on Asia and Greece euen so hath it bene obserued that when this light hath bene séene alone to haue caused great daunger to saylers Yet such fyres oftentimes are but fantasticall sightes and méere illusions of spirites as the Author prooueth by sundry reasons And this is not named the foolishe fyre of the burning onely but for the longer continuing going before and folowing any person in the ayre For those two Candels or lightes are often tymes séene to go before or to follow men walking or ryding especially in the night and such trauayling on the Sea not without some terrour or feare The foolishe fyre is ingendred of a vapour conglutinated or compact togither in hys partes which then are kindled so that not of the clowde méeting it but of the vehement beating or smyting togyther of the partes in themselues And these two Castor and Pollux be ingendred in the lowest region of the ayre of a fatter fume vnctuous and inflammable which through the coldnesse of the night ayre is so dryuen togither thickned The place where the foolishe fyre doth appéere is knowne to be oftner by the report of wryters in hote places and Countries Yet some agrée that this light is oftner séene in moyst places and regions In that out of Marishe and fumous places or out of a clammy grounde the thick and fat exhalation is eleuated being soone kindled and according to the proportion of the heat doth it ascende eyther more or lesse Or thus out of a clammye earth as in Churchyardes Kitchines and low valleys the thicke and fatte substaunce is eleuated which may soone be kindled and according to the proportion of the heate doth this eyther more or lesse ascende The substaunce is kindled through the concourse of two contrarie qualities which contende in themselues for the vapour is hote and the night ayre colde The reason also why this light doth both folow and flie from men is through the motion of the ayre which by the walking or running is forced So that the faster the man runneth towarde it so much the faster both the same impression flie from him but if he runneth from it then doth it follow him in that the ayre moued doth force the same substaunce An Hystoricall example of this Meteorū may a man read in Plutarchus which he affirmeth in the life of Lysander The cause of Castor and Pollux and where these engendred THese two Castor and Pollux appéers like a double fyre in forme of two burning Candels caused of the exhalation or fatter vapour and vnctuous raysed vnto the lowest region of the ayre in the night which contending with the night colde is so kindled that cleaueth sometimes to the crosse yardes of shippēs and continuing so long burning through the thicknesse and fatnesse of it vntill the substaunce shall be spent And by a peculiar and vayne superstition the people in auncient time supposed and ascribed Castor and Pollux to be the brethren of Helena in that when the Saylers and Maryners had obserued these sitting on both the crosse yardes they supposed and hoped that a more happie course and fortunate successe of the ship to insue through the help as they thought of the two brethren which they beléeued to delyuer them from perill and hazard of perishing and for the same accompted
last finding issue to passe causeth the earth swelled vp to fal and settle agayne in the proper place What the fourth kinde is THe same is when a mightie and huge substance of earth like to a Mountaine is throwne out of the earth or when anye part of the earth sincketh déepe downe thorowe which eyther floodes lakes or riuers or else fires brast forth This kinde doth Aristotle verie well open where he vttereth that the motion of the earth now caused in certaine places doth not cease before that winde which had moued forwarde to cast vp the earth on a great heigth aboue grounde and lyke a storme of smoke and ashes issued forth which like lately hapned by the Sea Heraclea and before néere the Iland Hiera which is one of them which at this day they name Aeolias For in this a part of the earth swelled and rose vp with a noyse into the kinde of a light hill which at the last breaking a sunder much winde issued that sent vp fyre and ashes This also procureth the ouerflowings of the Sea when the bottome of the same is raysed and swollen vp through which manye Ilandes appeare that were neuer seene before The learned Aristotle reporteth that the Countrie Egypt in time past was a great Goulfe of the Sea which through an Earthquake as it shoulde séeme procured to be drye lande and remayning in the same maner vnto this day a like reporteth Herodotus What the materiall cause is THe materiall or effectiue cause neare to the Earthquake is the exhalation hote and drie or the winde engendred and included within the caues or dennes of the earth which séeking a violent issue at hys naturall places breaketh forth of the earth and causeth in this maner a violent shaking of the earth And that the earth of hys proper nature is drie and prepareth vapours and exhalations the same in a maner at this day séemeth a maruell to fewe of any knowledge For the same is sufficiently knowne that it is caused by accidence Yet further the true cause of the earthquake or trembling of the earth is the winde or drie vapour grosse and earthly included of the earth and otherwise sent in or there ingendred so that manifest it is that such spirites or winde to be ingendred in the earth For well knowne is this that the earth of it selfe is drye but the same moystened with daylie showers of rayne and the poores shut harde togither that the exhalation ingendred or conceyued brasteth not forth and salt or sea waters cause the like in that these through the saltnesse close or shut the poores of the earth with which the same is on euerye side compassed and in a maner swimmeth or runneth ouer it and after with the beames of the sunne heating doth ingender a great aboundance of exhalations which not so much breaketh vp into the ayre but that within it selfe often retayneth drye spirites or vapours both grosse and earthly which cause the Earthquake This sentence of Plynie of the materiall cause doe the Philosophers affirme and prooue that the same through the gathering of the spirites is ingendred and Aristotle in these coniectures proueth by a lyke reason that the Earthquake may so be caused The first reason is taken of mans body in which windy spirites when in it they are included are woont to cause a trembling or shaking where the venting forth could not be caused A second reason he gathereth and taketh of the condition of a quyet or caulme ayre and season when as the tyme is cléere and a great stilnesse in the night and at Noone Here or at that time the spirites included in the earth can not breath forth A thirde reason through the plentye of matter which caused greater in the spring and haruest than in the other quarters or partes of the yere Of which in those tymes for the more part are Earthquakes caused A fourth reason he vttreth of experience for so much as the same by vse is found that the agitation not to cease vntill the whole force of spirites shall haue breathed forth The fift and last of the precedent sounde for the earth causeth a roring or sounde thorowe the windie spirite met before the same be smytten resisted The selfe same confirmeth the reason of the tyme and places For these are caused a little before the Sunne rysing at what tyme the windes are woont for the more part to arise In the Equinoctials also when the greater force of vapours consisteth than in the Solstices and through the straight or narrow places of the Sea in which straight places the winde is included is wont there to be violenter and séeking the caues or hollow places doth so smite and shake the earth What the formall cause is THe formall cause is the agitation and smyting of the earth for the drie vapours and windes there included by hys vertue are lifted or forced vp séeking issue forth but when this is no where open thorowe the passages of the earth stopped are driuen and sent back warde with no meane force through which stryuing the earth in the ende is smitten and shaked For by the ouermuch heate or colde is the issue of vapours procured of which the smyting is caused A sure an euident note of this are the windes in mans bodye included For those shake euen the whole body when by force at the last they breake forth and the lyke is caused in the belching and refting and in all other agitations of the bodye of what condition soeuer they be So that the same which procureth the winde aboue the earth and in the clowds thunder the same causeth a trembling or shaking in the passages of the earth Which the obiect or place is of the Earthquake THe great Earthquakes are caused in the Sea coastes where many exhalations may be included For the Sea entreth into the earth as it were by certayne pypes and holloweth the same where after the spirites or windes are ingendred which when they contende to issue forth are repelled or driuen back of the Sea floodes and are on such wise hid againe in the bowels of the earth which after increased nor with those séeketh issue doe then smite against the sides of the earth Aristotle reporteth that the most mightie Earthquakes to be there caused where the Sea daylie floweth or the Countrie is spungeous or the same aboundeth wyth hollow places caues and déepe dennes For which cause he affirmeth that such tremblings to happen oftner about Hellespontus Achaia Sicilia and Euboea through the Sea running neare by which as by certaine pypes entreth into these places and through his coldenesse dryueth inwarde the exhalations The Countrie of Hollande and other hollow places through the multitude of caues and inwarde holes rightlye named Holeland which both the same and others like are subiect to this euill In places farre from the Sea are fewer Earthquakes caused in that the earth there is not so hollowed and the Sea causeth not
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