swollen in the face or procured leprous The same hapneth thorowe the fyre receyued by the poores of the countenaunce and eyes which like swelleth the face and dryeth vp the christaline humour that is cause of the blindnesse 14. The places of such which are striken and burnt with the lightnings are caused colder than the other partes of the body eyther for that the greater heate draweth away with it the lesser or else in that by the great violence the vitall heate is so extinguished quite in those places by report 15. Such bodyes striken with the lightning haue or possesse after a Brimstonie sauour in that the matter of the lightning is Brimstonie as the Philosopher Niphus reporteth 16. This Niphus vttreth that the lightning spéedier burneth solyde and harde bodyes than the soft as the same of skill knowne and many tymes obserued 17. The thunderbolt sent forth with the lightning neuer déeper runneth or entreth into the earth than fiue foote after the opinion of sundrie obseruers 18. In the yeare 1553. in the Month of Iuly in a towne of Germany named Smelunicensis whyle the people before dinner were at deuine seruice a mightie light sodaynedly shyned and a lightning in the same killed two persons and about thirtie other persons with his force and vehemencie of the exhalation threwe to the earth which yet through the goodnesse of God contrarie to mans iudgement and estimation were yet preserued aliue of which also certaine had their garmentes burnt yet their bodyes vnharmed by a myracle of God. 19. The Romaynes in times past diuined and iudged of the lightnings which if those came from the left part or side of heauen and returned into the same agayne they pronounced those to be happy and prosperous For on such wise Anchyses after the Romayne maner prognosticated good luck if the lightning hapned on the left side And Cicero in his second booke de Diuinatione reporteth the same to be good luck in al matters traueyled about if the lightning shall happen on the left side But the Gréekes and Barbarians iudged the lightninges prosperous that came on the right side The Baye trée is sildome harmed with the lightning which rather of practise than by reason alowed for so much as it hath thys repulsiue vertue of the lightning through the inner cause or of heauen Of which Tiberius Caesar was woont in the tempest of lightning to weare on his head a Garlād of Bayes supposing hymselfe to be defended thereby 20. In the yeare 1551. at Crutzburge a Citie in Germany a certaine honest man hauing his house stricken with lightning sitting then at table eating perished wyth his Dogge lying flat at his féete but an Infant sitting or being néere to the father nothing at all harmed The mother of Hieronymus Fracastorius going with chylde with him dyed with the stroke of lightning the Infant remayning vnharmed which wonderfully foreshewed by it the singular fame of that childe to come What an Earthquake is AN Earthquake is a passion or affection of the earth a breaking forth or trembling a smyting or agitation when an exhalation is included in the bowels of the same séeking a violent issuing forth in the which this so smyteth shaketh the earth And of the same smiting is the Earthquake named Or it is a certaine working by which the earth is moued caused especially of winde or drie vapours inclosed within the hollownesse of the earth and through the heate of the sunne and other starres heated and enforced by which motion and enforcement this so shaketh that oftentymes houses yea whole Cities and townes are throwne downe and suncke with the same that the sinnes of men may be punished and others called vnto repentaunce How many kindes of Earthquakes there are OF the earthquake whether the same maye happen or no I beleue no man doubteth seing Hystories report so manye examples and experience of late yeares hath made the same knowne sufficiently to vs The kindes to come to the matter are knowne to be fower principally which are vttered of Plynie in his second Booke and 82. Chapiter Some report more and some vtter fewer kindes which through the dyuersitie the plentie or paucytie of the exhalations and force of the qualities aryse and are caused The first kinde is named the falling or shaking downe the seconde the gaping open the thirde the trembling beating or shaking the fourth the casting vp What the ruine is THe ruine falling or shaking downe is when much and great store of drye vapour or winde applying and dryuing by great force into one place forceth it selfe and turneth the same sodainly vpsydowne except the motion spéedily runneth on the other side which fallen no more harme insueth With thys was Smyrna the most noble Citie of the lesser Asia shaken throwne downe as appeareth in the Apocalipse in the first and second Chapiter And the sonne of God commaunded the Church of Smyrna to wryte this notable comfort Retayne fayth and beleeue stedfastlye vnto death and I shall giue to thee a crowne of lyfe Seneca nameth it an inclynation in that the earth leaneth to one side like a ship For as a ship leaning vnto one side is drowned through the mightie waight in it vnlesse the same waight spéedilye be turned vnto the other side through which the ship is so restored recouered as it were Euen so with the great plenty of spirites or winde it applyeth and driueth vnto one side of the earth doth in a maner ouerthrowe the same vnlesse the contrarie part restoreth the part inclyned Reade Liuius lib. 2. tertia Decadis What the Gaping is THe gaping is when the earth rendeth with a large opening and that a déepe hollownesse appeareth and the breath or winde mighty and vehement breaking violently forth doth on such wise sinke downe and swallowe vp Townes and Cities Or thus this gaping is a rending or cleauing of the earth when the earth sinketh downe and swaloweth vp Cities houses townes and Castels yea great hilles and mightie rockes with great ryuers and mightie lakes of water in such maner that these are neuer after séene Where this swalloweth vp any buildings fortresses or townes in the places appéere none other than large and déepe holes or goulfes What the Pulsation is THe Pulsation is when the earth as the same swelling vp aryseth by force of the windes that the buildings in that time leane from one side to the other as a Ship on the Sea and sinketh soone after downe againe which Aristotle nameth a beating or dryuing vp Otherwise is the same named an agitation shaking or trembling Or this otherwise when with great violence the earth is lifted vp in such maner that Castels and buyldings through their shaking appere ready to fall and the same doth immediatly sinke and settle downe agayne Which maner is procured when the whole force of the spirits laboureth and séeketh an issue vpwards euen as the kindled Gunpowder that searcheth way to brast forth which at the
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
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
windes 34 Certaine properties of the windes 34 Certaine obseruations of the windes 37 Of the impressions named Parelia and Paraeselinae The definitions 48 The similitude 42 The ende and effect of these 42 Certaine examples of these 43 Of thunder what the same is 45 The kindes of thunder 46 What the finall cause of the thunder 48 What the coulours of the clowdes warne and foreshew in the thunders 48 Certaine foreknowledges of thunder 50 Of that lightning named Fulgur what the same is and of the others 52 Of the fearefull and violent lightning 54 What the lightning Dart is 60 The manner of the ingendring of the Stone 60 Of the maruellous force nature and miracles of the lightnings 61 What an Earthquake is 65 How manye kindes of Earthquakes there are 66 What the ruine is 66 What the Gaping is 66 What the Pulsation is 67 What the fourth kinde is 67 What the materiall cause is 68 What the formall cause is 69 Which the obiect or place is of the Earthquake 70 How the ingendring is or of the maner of the ingendring of Earthquakes 71 What the finall causes are 72 What the effects are 74 Which the signes be of an earthquake 74 FINIS ¶ A briefe Catologue of rare wonders and fearefull sightes seene aswell on earth as in the element The sundrie definitions effects and significations of Comets A Comet after the opinion of Albertus is an earthlye grosse vapour whose partes much gather to it ascending from the lowest parte of heat vnto the vpper part of the same where the fire that toucheth the holownesse there shed forth and burning so that it often sheweth long sheddeth out 2. A Comet is a hote and drie matter fatte discous and earthly whose partes be thicke drawne vp by vertue of the celestiall bodies vnto the vpper regioÌ„ of the aire where through the nearenesse of the fire and might of the substaunce set on fire and caried circularely with the motion of the vpper region of the aire which drawne by that motion is so caried about 3. A Comet after the opinion of Leopoldus is an earthly vapour hauing grosse partes mightily thickning togither ascending by vertue of starres vnto the vpper parte of heate where being kindled and caried circularely with the aire signifieth the alteration of kingdomes and other great matters in this worlde 4. A Comet is an earthly exhalation hote and drie fatte and clammie with the partes thicke gathered by vertue of the starres and drawne from the bowels of the earth by little and little and perticularlye vnto the vpper region of the aire where nighest the fire through the disposition and multitute of the matter is dilated being kindled burneth wyth a long tract shedde forth is circularly moued after the condition and maner of a starre vnder which it is gathered or vnder the circulare motion of the vpper region of the aire The explication or plaine declaration of the definition THis larger definition and description contayneth the causes and maner of the increasing of the Comet and the same sufficient clearly for it must nedes insue that the substaunce of a Comet to be an earthly and viscous exhalatioÌ„ or otherwise it would soone be wasted of the burning colour and the space of time is most short in which a Comet is séene as not continuing aboue seuen dayes yet a Comet appeareth and is séene manye tymes for 40. dayes togither or somewhat longer vntill all the substance of it in the burning be in the end consumed being also drawne with this circulare motion most swift Although Plinie witnesseth that Comets haue beene séene which were as immooueable in the place Of the continuance and motions of Comets CArdanus writeth that the longest time of them except by miracle doth scarcely exceede six moneths so that for the most part the substance of a Comet is spent by the thirtie day or sooner but neuer ending before the seuenth day The motion of a Comet is thrée maner of wayes the one from the Cast into the West the seconde from the West into the East and the thirde diuers as from the West into the South or from the North into the West the excéeding greatnesse and most spéedie increase of them is marueylous in that appearing at the first but a foote brode doe after a fewe dayes occupie a fourth part of the Zodiacke The place where a Comet often ingendreth A Comet after the minde of Cardanus is oftner engendred in the North and especiallye in that part of heauen named the Milkie way from the Tropickes without yet are they gathered and caused somtimes vnder the Equinoctiall somtimes nighe the Winter Tropicke and else where but oftner as I haue sayde about the North in which part I obserued sayth Cardanus thrée Comets in thrée seuerall yeres In the night after the Euening are Comets apparantly séene yet not the like in the day except by a mightie meanes and occasion It is manifest that many Comets may be séene togither as in the age of Carolus Martellus in the month of Ianuarie were two Comets séene within fourtéene dayes togither of which the one went before the Sunne and the other folowed him with the â—ayles looking and stretched toward the North and this hapned in the yeare of mans redemption seuen huÌ„dred twentie and sixe Two other Comets appeared togither in the yeare of mannes health 1337. which not in a short time in that as companions they ended togither after two monthes complete And to the learned it is well knowne that if they happen with an Eclips then through the vertues doubled they produce much more and daungers long continuing How some interprete the motion of Comets THere be some sayth Cardanus which thus write of Comets that if they tende toward the South such signifie raine to insue if vnto the North then drought to follow if vnto the East then the pestilence and other mightie daungers if vnto the West then the best or a happie yeare and temperate And the like Porphirius that worthie Philosopher wrote but as I suppose deceyued in this séeing a Comet procéeding against the order of the signes doth signifie the mutation of lawes for that cause the Comet which tendeth from the East into the West signifieth the alteration of lawes in that it is caried agaynst the order of the signes so that when it may signifie the same alone it happeneth that a temperate yeare followeth yet doth it not signifie the temperament of the yeare The kinds and sundrie formes of Comets maye you learne in my booke of the Myrrour of time with other profitable matters The ende effect and significations of Comets THe ende of Cometes is to prepare drought the Pestilence hunger battels the alteration of kingdomes and common weales and the traditions of men Also windes earthquakes dearth landâ—louds and great heate to follow The sayde Comets portende both many other harmes and that mightie to men 2 A Comet is the note of a great drougth in
that a meane heate cannot resolue such â— matter out of the earth and draine thâ— same vp 3 The second effect of a Comet is barrennesse of the earth hunger and the dearth of vittayles in that the earth is caused barren through much drougth and lack of moysture for drougth is as the stepmother vnto all fruites and corne of the earthâ— but moysture is the apt mother vnto all fruites and crescent things on the earth So that such a mightie heat doth excéedinglye drie vp the earth and consumeth the moysture in plantes and trées through which they decay and heare no yéelde noâ—store of fruite Or thus A Comet doth cause harrennesse of the earth in that vnto a Comet a great and much exhalation is required by whose eleuation from the earth the fatnesse of the earth is so drawne vp which thus eleuated the earth after becommeth harren of yéeld and the moysture with which the earth ought to be battened is then through the ouermuch drougth vtterly depriued For whiche cause a Comet is the fore note of hunger and dearth in the same Realme which it specially beholdeth or stretcheth the tayle towardes and from whence it gathered and tooke his substance 4 Comets doe portend the murraine of beastes in that the ayre ensuing is infected and euill disposed through the hote grosse and clowdy exhalations which when beasts draw thereof are then intoxicated and infected and so die Also for that the time then is excéeding hote and the radicall moysture is on such wise drawne vp by the hote aire from the bodies of men and beastes in whoÌ„ the naturall moysture is placed as in the proper seate of the same beastes and other liuing creatures die for which cause it is the minde and councell of the learned Phisitions to vse in the same time moyst and colde meates wherby the radicall moysture may so be increased and preserued 5 Comets mooue battels and seditions and alter Emperies and kingdomes for that in the time of a Comet are many exhalations in the ayre hote drie which doe drie men and kindle heat in them by which they are lightly prouoked to yre after which yre ensueth variance next of the same followeth battell and after battell succéedeth the translation or alteration of gouernements when as the Emperie ensueth the conquerour 6 Comets do portend the death of princes kings gouernors other Magistrates of a coÌ„mon weale in that these leade a more daintie life and féede on finer meates continuallye through which they sooner be infected The death besides of princes and heade gouernors through the difference of many is of worthier report and fame and for that cause more obserued To these I adde that the Choloricke persons are then vehementer mooued through which the perturbations or troubles of mind ensue that procure seditions and battels after which procéede oftentimes the slaughter of many and death of princes for that these many tymes be present in battailes and are lightly prouoked to yre by which the battell ensueth the fiercer and on such wise many come to their death Macrobius left in writing that the death of Constantine was indicated by a Bushie starre of an excéeding bignesse that appeared in the yeare after Christes birth 304. Sundrie examples of Comets THat singuler Philosopher Augustinus Niphus writeth that after the appearing of a Comet in the yeare 1506. there followed within two yeares such a mightie drougth in Lumbardie that from Ianuary vnto the moneth of Nouember there fell no raine at all in that Countrie In the yeare of our Lorde 1165. appeared a mightie Comet or blasing starre in Scotland reaching burning out with two most long beames or tayles after which within .xiiij. dayes Malcolmus the fourth king by name of the Scottes dyed a mayden as the Chronicle reporteth In the yeare of our Lorde 1214. in the moneth of March appeared two fearefull Comets in Scotland the one going before the Sunne and the other following him after which the same yeare when as that most happie and good king William had reigned 49. yeares he then dyed an olde man. In the yeare 1268. there appeared a Comet of a maruellous bignesse about the noonestéede which was séene for manye dayes togither in Scotlande And in the yeare of our Lorde 1271. after and in the ix day of Ianuarie there arose such a cruell winde and mightie tempest withall and hayle stones of such a bignesse that through the same many houses in Scotlande were throwne down burned with fire through the windes which kindled after the same that they there kept in their houses for the vse of fire that the whole Country in a maner was wasted by the fire In the yeare of our Lord. 1538 and in the eightéene day of Ianuarie there appeared a Comet after the setting of the Sunne which was placed in the signe Pisces and the tayle looking or stretching towarde the East after which died immediately the Duke of Saronie In the yeare of our Lorde 1539. and the sixt daye of the moneth of Maye appeared a Comet in the signe Taurus not farre from the head of the Dragon which indured burning for thrée wéekes in a maner after which died Isabell of Portugall the wife of Charles the fift Emperor in the trauaile of childe In that yeare died George Duke of Saronie of an olde and crude rupture before whose death as some write there appeared thrée Comets after the appearaunce of which died the Duke of Cleaue the bishop of Trident and diuers other noble persons and Capitaines In the yeare 1540. began a great coniunction of Saturne and Mars which hapned in Cancer after which followed a marueilous drougth aboue many sommers before so that hay corne and all kinde of pulses became very scarce And this drougth folowed rather as some write after the apperaunce of a Comet the same yeare and great Eclips of the Sunne which happened the seuenth day of Aprill whose beginning was before the Sunne rising and endured in this Eclips two whole houres after the Sunne was risen vppon which followed at Prage a noble Citie in the kingdome of Boheme that the Castell with the Cathedrall Church were burned with fire and many fearefull fiers hapned often in sundrie places as the same had bene by a diuine punishment from heauen And a Commotion hapned the same yeare among the Citizens of Gaunt which Charles the fift Emperour stayed by hys wisedome Many examples more of Comets might here be vttered which for breuitie in so smal a treatise omitted and the rather for that I haue at large written of them and other weightie matters right necessarye in my booke to come forth named the Myrrour of tyme. Other prodigious tokens IN the yeare 1542. were many straunge children and monstruous beastes séene and in that yeare it rayned bloud at Sassen burge in Germanie And in Phriseland that yeare arose a certaine Prophet named George Dauid declaring himselfe to bée Gods nere kinsman and one that coulde counterfaite
such a cyrcle about the Sunne foreshewed battayles hunger fyres and pittifull landfloodes A like cyrcle to Halo appéered before the battayle with the Turks in the yere 1532. by which is manifest that such sightes are foreshewers of euils to come In the yeare of our Lorde 1559. with the great tempest risen at Fryburge certaine fyrie Globes fell out of the clowds not farre from the Citie much or often lightnings with thunder which lamentably burnt the grasse hops herbes and leaues of trées the tempest increased a hande was séene stretched in the aire for an hower in a maner which at length by drawing and folding the fingers togither in grinding it selfe was turned into powder which powder falling to the earth vanished away In the yeare 1560. waters brake in and ouer ranne much grounde in sundrie places to the great hurt and losses of manye men in that their closes and Medowes were much harmed with the clamminesse of the waters bursting in The same yeare dyed that singular learned and godly man worthy memorie Philip Melanchtone who lefte behinde hym these comfortable verses that he made a little before the agonie of death which he still repeated vntill life left him Cur mortem metuaÌ„ mors non est mortis imago est Sed merito vitor Christe benigne tuo Vermis adhuc spiro moriturus forte sub horam Mors etenim certa est funeris hora later Ergo Gnate Dei iam me tibi porrigo totum Viuam seu moriar sanguine viuo tuo In the yeare of mans redemption 1561. manye Gunnes through Germanie were séene in the ayre shooting of pellets into the Sunne In the .xvij. daye of December fower sunnes were séene in the East casting forth gréene roddes on euerie side to the great feare and amazement of the beholders Heauen séemed to burne a fyrie Globe shyned from the North part with a mighty light in heauen In the kingdome of Naples were fiue Castels and a Byshoprick suncke with an Earthquake and a water nauigable vanished the whole in such maner that no monument or part at all is left to be séene yea a whole citie so sunck into the earth that no perseuerance of it at all remayning at this day From the .xvj. vnto the .xviij. day of Nouember the riuer Tyber cast vp a mighty number of dead fishes In the yeare of our Lorde 1562. Heauen séemed to burne to the sight of much people in many places of Germany And a celestiall fyrehrande stretched from the North into the South shyned by night in heauen A mightie company of armed men or souldiours were séene in the ayre which as some affirme séemed in the ayre to shed downe much bloude from heauen And the Sunne in the Moneth of Aprill séene marueylous bloudy as well at the rysing as at the setting for thrée dayes togither The ymage also of our Redéemer crucified was séene sprinckled all ouer with bloud in the Moneth of Aprill Whilst the mightie Emperour Ferdinandus kept his royall Court at Prage the chiefe citie in Bohemia it hapned that Peason were miraculously chaunged into stones after this manner A certaine husbandman had brought certaine sackes of Peason to the citie to be solde to whom a Citizen for the penurie of victuals came and required him to sell better cheape then he had accustomed to doe who that was a cruell and couetous man prayed to God that his Peason rather might be chaunged into stones then he woulde sell them one mite better cheape incontinent after the Citizen departing from him the Peason were al miraculously chaunged into stones a marueylous spectacle in déede of Gods wrath and due punishment for his canckred and wicked stomack To conclude we may by these fearefull wonderous and straunge sightes as well on earth as in the ayre learne that God by them doth marueylously foreshewe his blessed will and condigne punishment for the sinnes of the people and that in such sort to declare the calamities to come vpon vs by shewing aforehande such straunge sightes and fearefull threatnings in the ayre vnto the admonishment of vs for the correcting of sinne if by these and such lyke we wyll be warned at all Of the maruellous nature of Welles Riuers Lakes and waters to which the Phisitions denie a reason to be assigned DIuers are the natures and miracles of Welles Ryuers Lakes and waters the cause of which is eyther hid wholy from vs or in search verie harde to be vnderstanded as by Examples here vnder shall plainer appéere 1. First there is a swéete running ryuer in the Countrie of Italie which by his propertie causeth the Oxen drinking thereof to become through whyte of heare all the body ouer Propert. lib. 3. 2. In Boetia there is a ryuer named Melas being of such a propertie that shéepe drinking of the water of that ryuer chaunge and beare after black woole 3. Seneca wryteth of a Well of such a propertie that what person drinketh thereof the heare of the head shall after become yealow of colour 4. In Libia there is a Well which at the rysing and setting of the Sunne is founde hote but at noone this Well is tried most colde and at midnight verie hote 5. Seneca wryteth of certayne Welles being of straunge properties of which the one and first is a Well of such a propertie that who drinketh of the same doth dye through the mightie poysoning thereof The other is a Well of such a propertie that throwing péeces of woode into the same Well they after were turned into stones He wryteth of an other Well being of such a propertie that what persons drink of the water of the same shall after become starke mad An other Well there is of suche a propertie that what parsons drinke thereof it giueth them memorie He witnesseth also of an other Well of such a condition that by drinking therof it procureth forgetfulnesse 6. There is another Well of such a nature that what persons drinke thereof become soone after frantick 7. An other Well there is of a maruelous propertie that what persons drinke of the water it sodainely moueth and stirreth forward the lust of the body of which condition the Well of Salmacis in Caria is misreported to be the causes of which are the Herbes Stones and Mynes by which these passe in which such a hid propertie procured of so marueylous effects consisteth 8. In Egypt there is a Well of such a propertie that quencheth light fyrebrands in the same as reporteth Augustus they forthwith are put forth and those quenched are by the water of the same well kindled 9. With the black Moores named Garamantes is a Well of suche condition which in the daye time is knowne to bée so colde that no person can drinke therof and in the night time it is founde so hot that no creature is able to beare or abide the heat oâ— the same 10. In a certaine learned worke of Cosâ—mographye is reported that in the Countrie of Sicilia was in time past a
backe behinde sprang sparckes scatteringly and whiles he remooued and layde the cloake downe againe such sparckles lept forth as before Who at the sight of these was stricken with a double feare and by good reason for within fiftéene dayes after was he accused of enimies for the detestable practise of poysoning and for the same earnestly layde in wayght to be slaine To conclude it appeareth that such fyres are séene in moyst Kitchins Sinckes or Guttours and where the Orfall of beastes killed are throwne or in such places most commonly are woont to be séene Such fires cleauing doe marueylously amase the fâ—arfull Yet not all fires which are séene in the night are perfite fiers in that many haue a kinde without a substaunce and heate as those which are the delusions of the Deuill well knowne to be the Prince of the world and flyeth about in the ayre Of the fearefull gaping and deepe opening of the Elements The definitions THis gaping or large opening of the aire is when heauen by a sodaine light of the great exhalation kindeled vnder the Clowdes is as it were opened 2 The gaping is when any space of heauen descendeth and by a sodaine light of the great exhalation kindeled vnder the Clowdes as if heauen were opened appeareth or that heauen parted a sunder without crack or noise gapeth and the same part séemeth to throwe or cast forth fire which sheweth as it were the mightie burning of some place to the great terror and feare of the beholders this at the appearaunce pronounceth drye tempestes to follow 3 The gaping is when fyre as out of heauen parted a sunder séemeth to fall cast forth through a thicke clowde 4 The gaping or wide opening is when fire out of heauen parted a sunder séemeth as it were to fall forth of a holow Caue A difference betweene the gaping and deepe opening MAny Philosophers doe briefely distinguishe them on this wise when the partyng a sunder in heauen is but small then is the same named a déepe opening But when the parting in heauen is large and the déepenesse of the Clowdes great then is the same named a gaping So that this Clowde comming in the middle betwéene if it shall be small then is the same named the opening if great then the same named the large or wyde gaping What the efficient cause is THe efficient cause of this gaping is the onely beames of the Sunne and the other starres for it hath drawne to the ayre a light and rare fume which through his tenuitie or thinnesse or for the heate forcing within the clowde or for the agitation of the Clowde néere is it kindled euen as the Gunpowder made of brimstone and Nyter that lighlye taketh and forciblie burneth What the matter and forme is THe matter is an exhalation thinne and light which as it is sodainely kindled euen so doth it sodainely burne This fume doth lightly take fire and is scattered The formall cause is that agitation of the fume in the aire which kindleth it Although this fume maye heate by the owne accorde yet heateth it more when the same flyeth vp vnto the vpper region of the ayre where lightly it is kindled This forme is diuers according to the diuersity of the matter and place For when the exhalatioÌ„ falleth thorow a thick clowde the déepenesse in heauen appéereth greater and the greater truely when the middle partes of the exhalation are thick and in the compasse about thin And lesser it appeareth when the thicknesse of the middle clowdes is not so much Or thus the forme is an agitation of the exhalation kindeled which if it fall thorow a thicke clowde the déepenesse in heauen appéereth the greater Yea greater when the middle partes of the exhalation thicke and in the compasse about shall be thin Or otherwise by a thick clowde the colour black the gaping shall appéere purple or bloudie As the lyke purple colour is séene when the black shall be mixed with a whyte clowde Or as the sunne sometimes at his rysing is séene or the fyre in a grosse smoke Otherwise the cause of the white colour is the clearenesse of the ayre through which the light is séene for when through a cleare and not so black a clowde it is fallen the light then is named as a flame shyning Of these may you reade more in Seneca What the ende of the gapings be PLynie wryteth that the Gapings to be foreshewers of mightie perils not that as causes go before but for the same go before that these euils may inuade and come that is happen certaine and for the more part as be battels seditions and infinite like calamities And such rare sights of the Gapings and others often are shewed to vs yea without Phisick causes that these may moue christian mindes to repentance Yet doe many Physically denote at the appearaunce drie tempests to insue And this is worthie to be noted that the Astrologians pronounce battels to arise and come out of the same place where this gaping is séene Certaine examples of lyke effect hapned in our time as first in the yere 1529. and in the ninth day of Ianuary betwéene the hower of nine ten of the night a mighty Gaping was séene throughe Germany reaching from the East into the North vnto the Sommer setting in the West After which in the same yere insued that violent breaking in of the Turkes into Germany And the Nystoriographers haue noted the same that in the time of Tiberius Caesar a mightie Gaping was séene after which such a fyre fell to the earth when Philiâ— king of Macedonie brought Greece in subiection Virgill doth account this large Gapingâ— to be among the number of the feareful toâ—kens in that the death of the valiant Turâ—nus slayne by Aeneas was by the same foreshewed The Commentatour vpon thâ— second booke of Plynie wryteth that an other fearefull Gaping was séene in the yerâ— 1536. and in the sixtene day of December betwéene sixe and seauen of the clock in the night stretching from the North into the Winter West setting after which within a short time ensued but a small lightning with thunder so that little harme succéeded at that time The Author sawe a terrible Gaping in the East in the yere .1565 and in the .26 daye of Nöuember after fiue of the clock in the morning How many Rainebowes may be sene togither at one time ARistotle whom Plynie followeth supposeth that thrée Rainebowes can hardlye be caused nor more then thrée at anye time bicause the one is euermore darcker than the other in suche manner that the thirde reflection is caused the weakest that it cannot attaine or reach vnto the Sunne But experience reproueth both Aristotle and Plynie in that thrée Rainebowes may well appéere or be séene togither yea more sometimes in this our age haue bene séene but such accounted for woonders by which God sheweth to men matters to come as maye rightly be gessed And that the same may be Vitellio also witnesseth although
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
Iune at Tigurie manye sunnes were séene and about them thrée circles in the next yere folowing a cruel battle fought within the Countrie of Heluetia In the yere 1532. and in the eleuenth day of Aprill in the seconde houre of the daye thrée perfite sunnes and bright with two Rainebowes were séene to many In the yere of our Lorde 1551. about the Calends of Aprill in the famous Vniuersitie of Witebergensis thrée Sunnes wyth sundrie celestiall circles were séene And in the same yeare in the. 28. day of February thrée sunnes with diuers circles were séenâ— at Antwarpe In the yeare of our Lorde 1553. on the Saterday before Palme Sunday in the morning betweene seauen and eyght thrée sunnes appeared of which the middle shyned the brighter and the other two of eyther side red and bloudie These being set and in the night tyme thrée Moones were séene In the yeare 1554. in Bauaria and in the borders of the same Countrie in the Moneth of March sundrie maner Sunnes were séene with certaine celestiall circles At Ingolstadie in Germany in the sixt day of March two Sunnes with a Rainebow betwéene eyght and nine in the forenoone At Norenberge in the 23. day of March about one at after noone both Sunnes and Arckes appeared togither included wyth christalline circles for thrée houres togither with a beame into a iust length extensed In the yere 1555. the tenth day of Februarie thrée Sunnes were séene in the yeare 1556. in the thirde Caldends of August nere Basill the firmament being cléere thrée Sunnes were séene togither In the same yeare in the sixt daye of December the singuler learned of the Vniuersitie of Witebergensis obserued thrée sunnes in the Firmament In the yere 1567. on saint Steuens day in the tenth houre before noone at Francoforde were thrée sunnes verie bright séene for an houre and a halfe of which the one towarde the East the other towarde the West placed and a celestiall Bowe in the top of heauen that turned againe the backe to the thrée sunnes And in the same yeare were séene againe thrée sunnes in the fourth daye of Maye about the seauenth houre at euening Of thunder what the â—ame is THunder is a fearefull noyse in a thicke clowde which is forced by an exhalation hote and drie included wythin a clowde which with a rumbling séeking issue forth brasteth out bâ— great violence and on eche side beateth and shaketh the clowde Plynie reporteth that it is a noyse caused through the quarter of the compact fyre breaking out of the clowde Or it may thus be defined that the thunder is a noyse caused in the clowdes through the dryuing and smyting of the exhalation vnto the sides of the clowde Albertus wryteth that it is the crack and noyse of a drie vapour issuing forth of a moyst clowde Seneca in his second booke of naturall questions thus defineth thunder it is a spirite or breath sayth he running in the clowdes that causeth the thunder and after it hath contended wyth the resistant matter brasteth out which in that running awaye kindleth the fyre And the variety of the noyses or rumbling of the thunder is caused of the same that the clowdes be vnequall and that they haue as it were certayne hollow places and are no where whole togither The kindes of thunder THe thunder is after two maner or wayes For the thunder is eyther vehement or great or else weake or small The thunder weake or small is when an exhalation runneth forth in the clowdeâ— and is driuen from side to side without rupture and breaking of the clowde And this is after thrée wayes as crashing whistling and blowing 1. The same crashing or making a noyse like to the rubbing of a coarde is caused through the smyting of clowds which euen then are chaunged into water and it is like to the noyse which is heard in the quenching of a hote burning yron in colde water 2. The same whistling is when the exhalation is not yet kindled nor forted forth and that the clowdes in thicknesse are not a like equall so that in diuers partes of them especially in the thinner doth the exhalation brast forth Of which this whisteling thunder is the like noyse as is of the winds blowing stronglye through narrow holes where the vapour not yet forced forwarde by dyuers partes of the clowde breaketh in the ende through the thinner 3. The blowing thunder is when the clowde is so weake that it can not keepe the exhalation kindled So that before the vapour is kindled the same issueth forth without anye vehement noyse euen lyke the noyse that the Smithes Bellowes cause or make The vehement or great thunder is when the exhalation strongly and vehemently cutteth or breaketh the clowde through which a fearefull noyse is caused euen like to the tearing of a broade cloth And this is fower maner of wayes as eyther it is rumbling eyther breaking or tearing a sunder eyther violent or cracking 1. The same rumbling or making a hydeous noyse is when the vapour or exhalation shaketh the clowde with a certain rumbling but medleth not togither The thunder also is a sounding which maketh a noise â–ª lyke to the humming of many men talking in a Cloyster or such like vaulted place as when the vapour doth so much smite the sides of the clowde but not cleaueth and that flame then appeareth as it were thorow a clothe torne a sunder 2. The thunder cutting is the same which first smiteth it but after cutteth out the clowde which noyse immediatly sheweth the thwart lightning brasting forth The violent thunder is the same which by one inforcement cleaueth the clowde 3. The thunder cracking or shaking is when the exhalation kindled deuydeth the clowde of which certayne partes issue This kinde of thunder maketh the lyke noyse as the cracking of wet woode burning in the fyre For it is a vapour kindled and dry which in the issuing breaketh a sunder the clowde euen like as air Egge layed on coales that brasteth The efficient cause of the thunder is the sunne working with the other hote starres as the Astrologians report For when the Sunne Iupiter Mars and Mercurie are placed in hote signes and fete places especially when Iupiter is ioyned to Mars by any condition of beames are woont to cause thunder and to prepare the matter of them The matter of the thunder is a compounde vapour or an exhalation very hote and drie conioyned with a moyst vapour This matter is drawne up by the heate of the sunne vnto the middle region of the ayre where it chaungeth into a moyste clowde or is togyther eleuated wyth a moyst vapour as affirmeth Aristotle by which compaâ—ed and thrust togither in the ende brasteth forth A question might here be moued how it hapneth that thunder is sometimes heard in the ayre and no clowds appearing The aunswere is that the same hapâ—eth when the exhalation is beaten backâ—â— by the middle region of the ayre and kindâ—â—d for so much it
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
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