the Thunder-clap be heard yet it is not caused before the noyse if any Thunder at all follow but either is after it or with it Wherefore that we see it before we hear the Thunder may be ascribed either to the quickness of our Sight that preventeth the Hearing or else to the swift moving of the fire and the light thereof to our eyes and the slow motion of the Sound unto our ears and Hearing These three kindes of Lightnings are more fearfull then hurtfull but the fourth seldom passeth without some dammage doing Of the fourth kind called Fulmen THe most dangerous violent and hurtfull kind of lightning is called Fulmen whose generation is such as followeth What time a hot Exhalation is enclosed in a cloud and breaking the same burâ—reth forth it is set on fire and with wonderfull great force stricken down toward the Earth The crack of thunder that is made when this Lightning breaketh out is sudden short and great like the sound of a Gunne And oftentimes a great stone is blowne out with it which they call the Thunder-bolt which is made on this maner In the Exhalation which is gathered out of the Earth is much Earthly matter which clortering together by moysture being clammy by nature consisting of brimstone and other metalick substance by the excessive heat is hardened as a brick is in the fire and with the mighty force of the Exhalation strongly cast toward the Earth and striketh down steeples and high buildings of stone and of wood passeth thorow them and setteth them on fire it cleaveth trees and setteth them on fire and the stronger the thing is that resisteth it the more harme it doth to it It is sharp-poynted at one end and thick at the other end which is caused by reason that the moyster part as heavier goeth to the bottome of it so is the top small and the bottome thick Men write that the thunder-bolt goeth never above five foot deep when it falleth upon the Earth which standeth with reason both because the strength of it is weakned before it come so neer the ground and also because the continual thicknesse of the Earth breaketh the force were it never so great Both Aristotle Seneca and Plinius divide this lightning into three kinds Of the first THe first is drie which burneth not to be felt but divideth and appeareth with wonderful swiftnesse For being subtil and pure it passeth thorow the pores of any thing be they never so small and such thingâ— as give place unto it it hurteth not but such things â—s resist it divideth and peirceth For â—t will melt money in mens purses the purses being whole and unharmed Yea â—t will melt a sword in the scabberd and not hurt the scabberd at all A wine â—essell it will cleave and yet the wine shall be so dull that by the space of three dayes it will not runne out It will hurt a mans hand and not his glove It will burne a mans bones within him â—o ashes and yet his skinne and flesh shall appearefaire as though nothing had come to him Yet otherwise the whole man in the moment of an houre shall be burned to ashes whereas his clothes shall not seeme to have been touched It will also kill the childe in the mothers belly and not hurt the mother And all because the matter is very subtill and thinne burning and passing thorow whatsoever it be that will not give it free passage Of the second kind The Second kinde is moyst and because it is very thin it burneth not to ashes but only it blasteth or scorcheth trees corn and grass and by reason of the moystness it maketh all things black that it commeth neer as moyst wood burning is smoaky and maketh things neer it to be black and smoaky Of the Third kinde THe Third kinde is most like our common fire that wee have here on the earth of gross and earthly substance wherefore it leaveth a print where it hath been or else consumeth it into ashes if it be such a body as will be burned with fire Of the Marvels of Lightning and their causes BEside the wonderful effects of lightning that have been already remembred there be many other which hereafter ensue with the reason and causes unto them belonging as thus The nature of Lightning is to poyson beasts that are stricken therewith as though they had been bit by a Serpent The cause of this is that the matter of Lightning is much infected with Brimstone other poysonous metallike substance because it is thin and giveth them passage into every part of the body It is notable that Seneca writeth how winevessels of wood being burned with lightning the wine would stand still and not run out the reason hereof is the swift alteration and change whereby also all the clamminesse of the wine is drawne to the outward most part and so keepeth in the wine as in a skin that by the space of three days it will not run It will also poyson wine insomuch that they which drink thereof shall either be mad or dye of it the cause hereof was setâ— forth before Lightning that striketh a poysonous beast purgeth it from the poyson in so much that it causeth a Serpent or Snake which it killeth to breed worms which otherwise it would not do but being purged from the natural poyson by the swift peircing of the Lightning nothing letteth but that it may breed wormes as all other corrupt flesh will doe If Lightning strike one that sleepeth it openeth his eyes and of one that waketh it shutteth the eyes The cause is this that it waketh him that sleepeth and killeth him before he can close his eyes againe And him that waketh it so amazeth that he winketh as he will doe at any sudden chance so he dyeth before he can open his eyes againe All living things turne their face toward the stroke of the lightning because it is their nature to turne their head if any thing come suddenly behind them The rest that have their face toward it when it commeth never turn before they be killed The Reason why it killeth the child in the mothers womb not hurting the mother is the tenderness of the one and the strength of the other when the lightning is not vehement otherwise both should dye together Sometime Lightning burneth onely the garments shooes or hair of men not hurting their bodies and then the Exhalation is nothing vehement Sometime it killeth a man and there appeareth no wound without neither any hurt within no not so much as any sign of burning for then the Exhalation which being kindled is called Lightning is wonderfull subtil and thin so swiftly passing thorow that it leaveth no mark or token behind it They that behold the Lightning are either made blind or their face swelleth or they become Lepers for that Fiery
Meteors OR A plain Description of all kind of Meteors as well Fiery and Ayrie as Watry and Earthy BRIEFLY Manifesting the Causes of all Blazing-Stars Shooting-Stars Flames in the Aire Thunder Lightning Earthquakes Rain Dew Snow Clouds Springs Stones and Metalls By W. F. Doctor in Divinitie LONDON Printed for William Leake at the Crown in Fleet-street between the two Temple Gates 1655. To the Reader I Shall not beg your pardon for publishing this Book for as 't is none of mine being written by a famous and learned Divine so I doe not set it forth relying on my own judgement but had the opinions â—nd approbation of divers persons of known abilities who knew best what is most usefull for publique Benefit And I may without breach of Modesty affirm that there is not in our Language any Booke of so small a bulke containes so much of the Doctrine of the Meteors We daily behold and view divers Meteors but very few are skill'd in their Causes but those that are not may be informed And I must tell you also that this Book on perusall hath been found so advantagious that a person of quality hath lately taken paines to make divers worthy Observations upon it which here I have subjoyned because you should not pay for two Books instead of one These Observations were never published till now and I trust thou wilt find the Author did thee a Courtesie Farewel The Table The first Booke WHy Meteors be called Unperfectly mixed 3. Why they be called perfectly mixed 3. The generall cause of all Meteors and first of the materiall cause 4. The places in which they are generated 10. The Second Book of fiery Meteors 13. The generation of the Impression called Burned Stubble or Sparkles of fire 14 Torches 15 Dancing or leaping Goates ibid. Shooting and falling Stars 16 Burning Candles 18 Burning beams and round pillars ibid. Burning Spares ibid. Shields Globes or Bowles 20. Lâ—mps ibid. Flying Dragons or fire Drakes ibid. The Pyramidal pillar like a Spire or broched steeple 23 Fire scattered in the Aire ibid. Lights that goe before men and follow them abroad in the fields in the night season 24 Helena Castor and Pollux 27. Flames that appeare upon the haires of men and beasts 29. Comets or blazing Stars 30 Apparitions 35 Colours wide gapings and deep holes which appear in the clouds 36. Wide gaping ibid. Round openiâ—g Hiatus 37. The third Book of Airy Impressions 37. Of Winds 38. Earthquakes 41. Divers kinds of Earthquakes 43 How so great winds come to be under the earth 46 The signs and tokens that go before an Earthquake most commonly 47 Thunder 50 Lightning 55 Fulgetrum ibid. Coruscation 57 Fulgur 58 The fourth kind called Fulmen 59. The first kind 60 The second kâ—nd 62 The third kind ibid. The marvailes of Lightning and their causes ibid. Storme Winds 67 Whirle winds 70 The fired Whirlewind 72 Circles 73 The Rainbow 77 The Milk way called of some the way to S. James and Watling-street 81 Beames or streames of light appearing through a cloud 86 Of Many Suns 89 Many Moons 92 Wonderfull apparitions 94 The fourth Booke Of watry Impressions 100 Of Clouds 101 Mists 103 Empty clouds 104 Raine 106 The signes of Raine 109 Monstrous or prodigious Raine 111 Dew 115 Hoare frost 117 Haile Snow 118 120. Springs and Rivers 121 Fountaines Brooks Rivers 123 Lakes 125 Hot Baths ibid. The divers tasts that are perceived in wells 126 A recitall of such Rivers and Springs as have marvelous effects whereof no natural caus can be assigned by most men although some reason in a few may be found 127 Of the Sea 132 The saltnesse of the Sea 133 The ebbing and flowing thereof 134 The fifth Booke Of earthly Meteors or bodies perfectly mixed 135 Of Earthâ— 136 Liquors concrete 139 Metals 142 Gold 143 Silver 145 Copper 146 Tynne 148 Lead ibid. Iron 149 Quicksilver 150 Stones 151 The divers kinds of stones 153 The vertue of stones 154 FINIS THE FIRST BOOK FOr as much as wee intend in this Treatise to declare the causes of all those bodies that are generated in the earth called Fossilia as well as those other Impressions named of their height Meteors which no writer hitherto hath done that we have seen the common definition given by the most Writers in no wise will serve us and whether we may borrow the name of Meteoron to comprehend the whole subiect of our worke we are not altogether out of doubt although the Philosopher deriving it from doubtfulnes givethâ—us some colour so to take it and peradventure we might be as well excused to apply it to Minerals as other authors are to use it for earthquakes yet to avoid all occasions of cavilling at words we shall both define and also describe the subject of our matter on this manner It is a body compound without life natural and yet to stop one hole because here wanteth the name of the thing to be defined it is no new thing to them that have read Aristotles workes to find a definition of that whereof there is no name But what need you be so precise will some man say meane you so to proceed in all your discourse no verily but because many of quick iudgement not considering the stile to bee attempered to the capacitie of the readers will impute the plainesse to the ignorance of the Author wee thought good in the beginning to pluck the opinion out of their minds that as the common saying is they may know wee have skill of good manners though we little use them The Meteors are divided after three manner of wayes First into bodies perfectly and imperfectly mixed Secondly into moist impressions and drie Thirdly into fiery airy watry and earthly According to this last division we shall speake of them in foure bookes following but first we must be occupied a little in the generall description of the same that afterward shall be particularly treated of Why they be called imperfectly mixed THey are called imperfectly mixed because they are very soon changed into another thing and resolved into their proper elements of which they do most consist as do all impressions fierie airie watry as snow into water clouds into waters c. Why they be called perfectly mixed THe last sort namely earthly Meteors are called perfectly mixed because they will not easily be changed and resolved from that form which they are in as be stones metalls and other mineralls According to the qualitie of the matter they are divided into moist and drie impressions consisting either of Vapors or Exhalations Vapors are called moist and exhalations drie which termes must be well noted because they must be much used Of the general causes of all Meteors and first of the material cause THe matter whereof the most part of Meteors doth consist is either water or earth for out of the water proceed vapors and out of the earth come exhalations Vapor as the Philosopher saith is
or else two or three small springs meet together in one channell Of Rivers RIvers are caused by the meeting together not only of many springs but also of many brookes and fords which being received in divers places as they passe are at the length caried into the broad Sea for the most part Howbeit some Rivers as swallowed up into the Earth which perchance run into the Sea by some secret and unknowne channels some Rivers there be that hide their heads under the Earth and in another place far off breake out againe They Write also that some Rivers being swallowed up of the Earth in one Island do run under the bottome of the Earth and Sea and breake forth in another Island There be also many great Rivers that run under the Earth in great Caves which never breake forth Aristotle sheweth of ponds and lakes that be under the Earth And Seneca speaketh of a pond that was found by such as digged in the Earth with fishes in it and they that did eat of them dyed As Eeles that be found in darke places as Wells that have beene dammed up c. are poyson Of Lakes LAkes are made by the meeting together of many Rivers Brooks and Springs into one deep valley whereof some are so great that they have the name of the Seas as the Lake called Hircane or Caspian Sea These Lakes sometimes unlade themselves into the Sea by small Rivers sometimes by passages under the Earth The cause of the swiftnesse of Rivers is double for they are swift either for the great abundance of waters or else because they 〈◊〉 down from an hilly place as the River Rhene falleth down from the top of wonderful high hills Of hot Bathes SOme waters that are generated and flow out of veines of Brimstone are sensibly warm and some very hot because they run out of hot places These waters being also drying by nature are wholesome for many infirmities specially breaking forth of scabs c. Such are the Baths in the West Country and S. Anne of Buck-stones well in the North part of England and many other elsewhere Of the divers tastes that are perceived in Wells FOr a generall reason the waters receive their taste of that kinde of earth thorow which they run as thorow a strayner Some salt that run thorow salt veines of the earth some sweet that be well strained or run thorow such mineralls as be of sweet taste some bitter that flow out of such earth as is bitter by adustion or otherwise Some sowre or sharpe like vineger which run thorow veines of Allome coperas or such minerals Aristotle writeh of a Well in Sicilia whose water the Inhabitants used for Vineger In Bohemia neare to the City called Bilen is a Well that the people used to drink of in the morning in stead of bunrt wine And in divers places of Germany be Springs that taste of such sharpeness Some have the taste of Wine as in Paphlagonia is a Well that maketh men drunk which drink thereof which is because that water receiveth the â—â—â—osity of Brimstone and other Minerals thorow which it runneth and so filleth the brain as wine doth A recitall of such Rivers and Springs as have marvellous effects whereof no naturall cause can be assigned by most men although some reason in a few may be found CLitumnus which maketh Oxen that drink of it white is a River or Spring in Italy Propert lib. 3. This may be the quality of the water very flegmatick In Boetia is a River called Melas that maketh sheep black if they drink thereof Seneca speaketh of a River that maketh red hairs These two with the first may have some reason that the quality of the reason may alter complexion and so the colour of hairs may be changed as we see in certain diseases In Lybia is a Spring that at the Sun rising and setting is warme at mid-day cold and at mid-night very hot This may be by the same reason that wel-water is colder in Summer then it is in Winter Seneca writeth that there be Rivers whose waters are poyson this may be naturally the water running thorow poysonous Mineralls taking much fume of them Other Wells that make wood and all things else that can be cast into them stones such wells be in England the cause is great cold Another Well maketh men mad that drinke thereof This also may have as good reason as that which maketh men drinke As also that Well which maketh men forgetfull by obstruction of the brain The same Seneca speaketh of a Water that being drunke provoketh unto lust and lechery And why may not that quality be in a Water which is mixed with divers Mineralls and kinds of earth which is in herbs roots fruits and liquors S. Augustine speaketh of a Well in Egypt in which burning Torches are quenched and being before quenched are lighted Among the Garamants is a Well so cold in the day that no man can abide to drink of it in the night so hot that none can abide to feel it It is incredible that is written of a Well in Sicilia whereof if Thieves did drink they were made blind In Idumea was a Well that one quarter of a year was troubled and muddy the next quarter bloody the third green and the fourth cleer Seneca writeth of another Well that was six hours full and running over and six hours decreasing and empty perchance because it ebbed and flowed with the Sea or some great River that was neer it In the Hill Anthracius is said to be a Well which when it is full signifieth a fruitfull Year when it is scarce and empty a barren and dear Year The sufficiency of moisture maketh fertility as the want causeth the contrary Men say there is a River in Hungary in which Iron is turned into Copper which may well be seeing Inke in which is but smal Coperas and artificially mixed of Iron doth counterfeit Copper in colour In this stream may be much Copperas and that is naturally mixed Both Seneca and Theophrastus witness that waters there be which within a certain space being drunk of sheep as Seneca saith or of birds as Theophrastus will have it changeth their colours from black to white and from white to black Vitruvius writeth that in Arcadia is a Water called Nonacrinis which no Vessel of Silver Brasse or Iron can hold but it breaketh in peices and nothing but a Mules hoof will hold it and contain it In Illyria Garments that are holden over a most cold Well are kindled and set on fire In the Isle of Andros where the Temple of Bacchus stood is a Well that the fifth day of January flowed wine Isidore saith there is a Well in Italy that healeth the wounds of the eyes In the Isle of Chios
ioyned together and the common pibble stones that be found every where in the Earth among gravell and on the shore of the Sea or bancks of the Rivers These are generated of grosse and Earthly humours congealed by cold and because they be neither faire of colour nor thorow shining and also common they are contemptible The faire or beautifull stones be either great or small The great be as marble of divers kinds and colours alablaster and such like which being hard and well concocted may be polished and become beautifull Their colour is as they are mixed being uncongeled so is their purenesse The small are more precious and they be either thick or pellucide The thick be neither so faire nor so precious as the Achates the Tasper Prassios c. These consisting of a pure matter and not very watery are congealed into such stones The clear stones be liquore concrete as the Diamond the Saphir the Emerald c. they are praised for their greatnesse hardnesse clearnesse and faire colours of which enough hath bin spoken saving that some be of opinion that these be generated by heat becaus the best are found in hot countries in the East and in the South Answer may be made that the hotter the Air is the colder is the Earth so that reason is of small force Of the vertue of Stones SOme perchance would looke that we should make a long discourse of the vertue of stones and would be well content that we should treat of divers properties of gemmes and precious stones which matter though it be out of our purpose which considereth only the generation yet seeing it is not out of their expectation some thing briefly and yet sufficiently shall be said of the vertue of stones That vertue that is ascribed unto them is either Natural or Magical Naturall vertue is either that which is known to have a natural cause or a natural effect as the Magnes or Loadstone to draw Iron which is by a simitude of nature such an appetite as is between the Male and the Female Also the said Magnes moveth toward the North and as some say there is another kind found in the South that draweth toward the South They say that there are great hils of this stone in the North and South which maketh it look that way Others bring a Mathematicall reason which because it is more curious then can be understood of the common sort not exercised in Geometry I omit The Jet and Amber draw hairs chaffe and like light matter but being before chafed for heat is attractive Also the precious Stone called Astroites moveth it self in Vinegar the sharpnesse of the Vineger peircing it and the aire excluded driving it forward These vertues because I have seen I have set for an example generally all other like naturall vertues proceed of like naturall causes which by their effect the ingenious must seek to find out As for Magical Vertues they be they which are grounded on no reason or natural cause which if they take effect it is rather of the superstition and credulity of him that useth them then of the vertue of the stones As that an Emerald encreaseth love a Saphir favour a Diamond strength and such like vertues of which Alberius in his Age surnamed the Great took paines to write a Book which I suppose to be Englished To conclude with the cause why Stones melt not as Metalls do may be gathered by that which hath been said before because they are congealed past that degree and also because there is left in them no unctuous or clammy matter Let this suffice for Stones and and so the whole purpose is at an end OBSERVATIONS On Dr. F. his BOOKE OF Meteors By F. W. LONDON Printed for William Leake at the Crown in Fleet-street CHAP. I. Of the Earth IT is a great Question amongst Philosophers Whether the External and Visible Riches and Plenty which groweth and springeth on the face of the Earth or the Internal and Hidden Treasure be more precious and valuable Flowers and Fruits Corn and Cattel and all other external terrestrial Births are of most rare and exquisite use for mankind but the Earth is an Element not only beautified without but most richly stored within with great Varieties of admirable Creatures both pleasant rare and profitable for humane Content and Conservation From this very Consideration the Philosophers of Old reckoned and esteemed the Earth as the first and most antient of all the Gods and so stiled her The Grandmother or Mother of all the Gods And the Heashens did not only honor the Earth as a Mother but did adore her as a Goddess giving her the names of Ops Cibele Rhea Proserpina Vesta Ceres and other Appellations to signify the diversities and several effects and vertues which she produced The Earth was called Ops which signifyeth Aid because she affordeth aid and comfort to all Creatures inhabitant on her And Pausanias reports that neer the River Crasside in Greece there stood a little Temple dedicated to the Earth wherein she was adored Dea largi pectoris as the Goddess of the open and large brest freely feeding all her Children which in numerous companies were ranged by her Her Robe was rich aud glorious embroidered with the most pleasant flowers of all colours and she was adorn'd with a Mantle of Tissue whose ground was a beautifull Green signifying her great Plenty of all things wherewith Man-kind might be affected as most valuable and precious and such are her rich Mines of Gold Silver Copper Brasse and Iron or yet more highly priz'd Commodities as precious Stones and rare rich Gems of all kinds CHAP. 2. Of Metalls THe visible beauty of the Earth is obvious to every eye which is not the subject here in hand Her abstruse and hidden riches Preciosa periculaterrae as Boetius calls them her precious Metalls and Mines which force men to be so bold and ingenious are the matter of this Discourse These Aristotle calls Corpora perfectè mixta inanimate bodies of compleat mixture made up of Sulphur and Quick-silver the veines of the Earth being composed of a fit temper for such production Some Philosophers make the 〈◊〉 of Metallum from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies a change effected in the Subterranean Veines with long labour and much difficulty Some Naturalists are more short and seem more plain affirming That Metalls is that which is plyable by the hammer and hard Stones are hard but not plyable and Wax and Mud are plyable but not hard CHAP. 3. Of the number of Metalls MEtalls are seven in number as the Planets are Gold Silver Amber Iron Lead Brasse Copper Gold presenteth the Sun Silver the Moon Amber called Electrum Mercury Iron Mars Lead Saturn Brasse Venus and Copper Jupiter or else the seven may be distinguished thus All Metall is perfect soft and pure as Gold or it is pure and hard as Silver or
a certain watry thing and yet is not water so Exhalation hath a certain earthly nature in it but yet it is not earth For the better understanding of Vapors understand that they be as it were fumes or smokes warme and moist which will easily bee resolved into water much like to the breath that proceedeth out of a mans mouth or out of a pot of water standing on the fire These vapours are drawn up from the waters and watery places by the heat of the Sun even unto the middle region of the aire and there after divers manner of meeting with coldnesse many kind of moist Meteors are generated as sometimes clouds and raine sometime snow and hail and that such Vapours are so drawn up by the Sunne it is plaine by experience for if there be a plash of water on a smooth and hard stone standing in the heat of the Sun it will soon be drie which is none otherwise but that the Sun draweth up the water in thinne Vapors for no man is so fond to say that it can sink into stone or mettal and it is as great folly to think it is consumed to nothing for it is a general rule That that which is once a thing cannot by changing become nothing wherefore it followeth that the water on the stone as also on the earth is for the most part drawn up when the stone or earth is dryed Exhalations are as smokes that be hot and dry which because they be thinne and lighter then Vapors passe the lowest and middle Region of the aire and are carryed up even to the highest Region where for the excessive heat by neerness of the fire they are kindled and cause many kind of impressions They are also sometimes viscose that is to say clammy by reason whereof they cleaving together and not being dispersed are after divers sorts set on fire and appear sometimes like Dragons sometimes like Goats sometimes like candles sometimes like spears By that which is spoken of Vapours and Exhalations it is evident that out of the fire and aire no matter whereof Meteors should consist can be drawn because of their subtilty and thinnesse For all Exhalation is by making a grosser body more thinne but the fire we mean the elemental fire and not the fire of the Kitchin chimney is so subtil and thinne that it cannot be made thinner likewise the aire is so thinne that if it be made thinner it is changed into fire and as the fire if it were made thicker would become aire so the aire being made grosser would be turned into water Wherefore to conclude this part the great quantity of matter that causeth these Meteors is taken out of the earth and the water As for the aire and the fire they are mixed with this matteâ— as with all other things but not so abundantly that they may be said thâ— material cause of any Meteor thougâ— without them none can be generated The efficient cause of all Meteors is thaâ— caus which maketh them even as the Carpenter is the efficient cause of an house This cause is either first or second The first and efficient cause is God the worker of all wonders according to that testimonie of the Psalmist which saith Fire haile snow ice wind and storme doe his will and commandment he sendeth snow like wooll c. Almightie God therefore being the first principall and universall cause efficient of all natural works and effects is also the first cause of these effects whose profit is great and operation marvellous The second cause efficient is double either remote that is to say farre off or next of all The farther cause of them as of all other naturall effects is the same the Sun with the other Planets and Stars and the very heaven it self in which they are moved But chiefly the Sunne by whose heat all or at least wise the most part of the vapors and Exhalations are drawn up The next cause efficient as the first qualities are heat and cold which cause divers effects in Vapors Exhalations But to return to the heat of the Sun which is a very neere cause it is for this purpose two wayes considered One way as it is meane and temperate Otherwise as it is vehement and burning The meane is by which he draweth vapors out of the water and exhalations out of the earth and not onely draweth them out but also lifteth them up very high from the earth into the aire where they are turned into divers kinds of Meteors The burning heat of the Sunne is by which he burneth dissipateth and consumeth the vapors and exhalations before he draweth them up so that of them no Meteors can be generated These two heats proceed from the Sun either in respect of the place or the time but most properly according to the casting of his beames either directly or undirectly In place where the Sunnes beames strike directly against the earth and the water the heat is so great that it burneth up the Exhalations and Vapours so that there are no fiery Meteors much lesse watery as it is in the South parts of the world under and neere to the Equinoctiall line But in places where the beames are cast indirectly and obliquely and that where they are not too nigh to the direct beams nor too far off from them there is a moderate heat drawing out great abundance of matter so that in those Countries many Meteors of many sorts are generated as in the far North parts are few but watry impressions Also in Autumn and Spring are oftner Meteors seene then in Summer and Winter except it be in such places where the Summer and Winter are of the temper of the Spring and Autumne Let this be sufficient for the Efficient causes of impressions as well first and principall as second and particular Concerning the formal and finall cause we have little to say because the one is so secret that it is known of no man the other so evident that it is plaine to all men The essentiall Form of all substances Gods wisedome comprehendeth the universall chiefe and last End of all things is the glory of God Middle Ends if they may be so called of these impressions are manifold profits to Gods creatures to make the earth fruitfull to purge the aire to set forth his power to threaten his vengeance to punish the world to move to repentance all which are referred to one end of Gods eternall glory ever to be prased Amen Of the places in which they are generated THe places in which Meteors are caused be either the aire or the earth in the air be generated rain hail snow dew blazing stars thunder lightning c. In the earth be welles springs earthquakes metals minerals c. made and as it were in their mothers belly begotten and fashioned But for the better understanding hereof such as have not tasted the principles of Philosophy must consider that there be foure
would rayne fire from Heaven and so it hath come to passe burning both Cities and Townes Then iudge how easy it was for God to raine fire upon Sodom and Gomorra for their sins and wickedness Of lights that goe before men and follow them abroad in the fields by the night season THere is also a kind of light that is seen in the night season seemeth to goe before men or to follow them leading them out of their way into waters and other dangerous places It is also very often seene in the night of them that saile on the Sea and sometime will cleave to the mast of the Shippe or other high parts sometime slide round about the Shippe and either rest in one part till it goe out or else be quenched in the water This impression seene on the land is called in Latine Ignis fatuus foolish fire that hurteth not but onely feareth fooles That which is seene on the Sea if it be but one is named Helena if it be two it is called Castor and Pollux The foolish fire is an Exhalation kindled by meanes of violent moving when by cold of the night in the lowest region of the ayre it is beaten downe and then commonly if it be light seeketh to ascend upward and is sent down againe so it danceth up and downe Else if it move not up and downe it is a great lumpe of glewish or oyly matter that by moving of the heat in it selfe is enflamed of it selfe as moyst hay will bek indled of it selfe In hot and fennie Countries these lights are often seene and where is abundance of such unctuous and fat matter as about Church-yards where through the corruption of the bodies there buried the earth is full of such substance wherefore in Church-yards or places of common buriall oftentimes are such lights seene which ignorant and superstitious fooles have thought to be soules tormented in the fire of Purgatory Indeed the Devill hath used these lights although they be naturally caused as strong delusions to captive the minds of men with feare of the Popes Purgatory whereby he did open injury to the blood of Christ which onely purgeth us from all our sins and delivereth us from all torments both temporall and eternall according to the saying of the wise-man The soules of the righteous are in the Hands of God and no torment toucheth them But to returne to the lights in which there are yet two things to be considered First why they lead men out of their way And secondly why they seeme to follow men and goe before them The cause why they lead men out of the way is that men while they take heed to such lights and are also sore afraid they forget their way then being once but a little out of their way they wander they wot not whither to waters pits and other very dangerous places Which when at length they hap the way home will tell a great tale how they have beene led about by a spirit in the likenesse of Fire Now the cause why they seeme to goe before men or to follow them some men have said to be the moving of the ayre by the going of the man which ayre moved should drive them forward if they were before and draw them after if they were behind But this is no reason at all that the Fire which is oftentimes three or foure miles distant from the man that walketh should be moved to and fro by that ayre which is moved through his walking but rather the moving of the ayre and the mans eyes causeth the fire to seeme as though it moved as the Moone to children seemeth if they are before it to run after them if she be before them to run before them that they cannot overtake her though she seeme to be very neere them Wherefore these lights rather seeme to move then that they be moved indeed Of Helena Castor and Pollux WHen the like substance in the lowest region of the ayr over the Sea by the like occasion is set on fire if be one only it is called Helena if their be two they are called Castor and Pollux These impressions will oftentimes cleave to the mast and other parts of Ships by reason of the claminesse and fatnesse of matter Helena was of the Heathen men taken as a Goddesse the daughter of Jupiter and Leda Castor and Pollux were her brethren Helena was the occasion that Troy was destroyed therefore the Mariners by experience trying that one flame of fire appearing along signified tempest at hand supposed the same flame to be the goddesse Helena of whom they look'd for nothing but destruction But when two lights are seen together they are a token of fair weather and good luck the Mariners therefore beleeved that they were Castor and Pollux which sayling to seek their sister Helena being carried to Troy by Paris were never seen after and thought to be translated into the number of the Gods that gave good successe to them that sayl as we read in the last Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles that the Ship wherein S. Paul sayled had a badge of Castor and Pollux A naturall cause why they may thus foreshew either tempest or calmnesse is this One flame alone may give warning of a tempest because that as the matter thereof is compact and not dissolved so it is like that the matter of the tempest which never wanteth as wind and clouds is still together and not dissipated then is it like not long after to arise By two flames together may be gathered that as this Exhalation which is very thick is divided so the thick matter of tempests is dissolved and scattered abroad by the same cause that this is divided Therefore not without a reason the Mariner to his mates may promise a prosprous course Of flames that appeare upon the haires of men or beasts THere is another kind of fiery impression which is flames of fire upon the haires of men and beasts especially horses These are sometime clammy Exhalations scatered abroad in the air in small parts which in the night by resistance of the cold are kindled cleaving on horses eares on mens heads and shoulders that ride or walke In that they cleave upon hayres it is by the same reason that the dew will be seen also upon haires or garments whose wooll is high as frize mantels and such like Another sort of these flames are caused when mens or beasts bodies being chafed send forth a â—at and clammy sweat which is in like manner kindled as the sparks of fire that are seene when a black horse is curried Livius reporteth of Servius Tullius that as he lay asleep being a child his hair seemed to be all on a flame which for all that did not burn his hair or hurt him The like history he reciteth of one Marius a Knight of Rome that as he made an Oration to his Soldiers in Spain they saw his head
burning on a light fire and himself not ware of it Thus much concerning these Flames Of Comets or Blazing Stars A Comet is an exhalation hot and dry of great quantity fat and clammy hard-compact like a great lump of pitch which by the heat of the Sun is drawn out of the Earth into the highest region of the Air and there by the excessive heat of the place is set on fire appearing like a star with a blazing tayl and somtime is moved after the motion of the Air which is circular but it never goeth down out of the compass of sight though it be not seen in the day-time for the brightness of the Sun but still burneth until all the matter be consumed An argument of the greatness is this that there was never any Comet yet perceived but at the least it endured 7 days but much longer they have been seen namely forty days long yea fourscore days and some six months together Wherefore it must needs be a wonderfull deal of matter that can give so much nourishment for so great and fervent fire aud for so long a time There are considered in a Comet specially the Colour and Fashion which both arise of the disposition of the matter Their Colours be either white ruddy or blew If the matter be thin the colour is white if it be meanly thick then is the Comet ruddy after the colour of our fire but when the matter is very thick it is blew like the burning of brimstone And as the matter is more or less after this disposition so is the Comet of colour more or less like to these three principal colours some yellowish some duskish some greenish some watchet c. In Fashion are noted three differences for either they seem to be round with beams round about or with a beard hanging downward or else with a tayl stretched out sidelong in length The first fashion is when the matter is thickest in the midst and thin round about the edges the second is when the Exhalation is upward thick and in length downward also meanly thick the third form is like the second saving that the tayl hangeth not down but lyeth aside and is commonly longer then the beard The time of their generation is oftnest in Autumn or Harvest for in the Spring there is too much moisture and too little heat to gather a Comet in Summer is too much heat which will disperse and consume the matter that it cannot be joined together as for Winter it is clean contrary to the nature of a Comet which is hot and dry Winter being cold and moyst therefore no time so meet as Autumn Now for so much as many Learned men have gone about to declare the signification of Blazing stars we will omitt nothing that hath any shadow of Reason but declare what is written of them Such things as are set forth of the betokening of Comets are of two sorts The first is of natural The second of Civil or Politick Effects They are said to betoken Drought Barrenness of the Earth and Pestilence Drought because a Comet cannot be generated without great heat and much moysture is consumed in the burning of it Barrenness because the fatness of the Earth is drawn up whereof the Comet consisteth Pestilence for so much as this kinde of Exhalation corrupteth the Air which infecteth the bodies of men and beasts The Second sort might well be omitted saving that Aristotle himself disdaineth not to seek out Causes for some of them Generally it is noted of all Historiographers that after the appearing of Comets most commonly follow great and notable Calamities Beside this they betoken say some Wars Seditions Changes of Commonwealths and the Death of Princes and Noble men For what time Comets do shine there be many hot and dry Exhalations in the Ayr which in dry men kindle heat whereby they are provoked to Anger of Anger commeth brawling of brawling fighting and war of war victory of victory change of Commonwealths then also Princes living more delicately then other men are more subject to infection and therefore dye sooner then other men If it were lawfull to reason of this sort we might enduce them to betoken not only these few things but all other things that chance in the world Yet these predictions have a shew of Reason though it be nothing necessary but it is a wonder to see how the Astrologians dote in such devices they are not ashamed to an earthly substance to ascribe an heavenly influence and in order of judgment to use them as very stars Surely by as good reason as to the Celestial stars they attribute Divine influences and effects But this their folly hath been sufficiently detected by divers godly and learned men and this place requireth no long discourse thereof Wherefore this shall suffice both for the natural Causes of Blazing stars and also for all Flames in general It followeth therefore that with like brevity we declare the Causes of Fiery Apparitions Of Apparitions AN Apparition is an Exhalation in the lowest or highest Region of the Air not verily burning but by refraction of light either of the Sun or of the Moon seeemeth as though it burned which appearance of colour riseth not of the mixtion of the four qualities as it doth in bodies perfectly mixed as Herbs Stones c. but only the falling of light upon shadow the light is instead of white and the shadow of darkness instead of black These diversly mixed according to the divers dispositions of the Exhalation which ministreth variety by thickness or thinness cause divers Colours There be commonly recited three kindes of Fiery Apparitions Colours Wide-gapings and Deep holes which appear in the Clouds Of Colours Colours are here meant when there is nothing else to be noted but the Colours of the clouds and they are caused as it is said by casting the light into the shadowy Cloud according as it exceedeth more or less in thickness whereof some be very bright-white and that is when the Exhalation is very thin some yellowish when the Exhalation is thicker some ruddy when it is meanly thick and very black when it is very thick The red and ruddy Colours are seen in the morning and evening when the light of the Sun is not in his full force for at other times of the day his light is too vehement clear strong and peircing Thus much of Colours Of Wide-gaping Wide-gaping is caused when an Exhalation is thick in the midst and thin on the edges then the light being received into it causeth it to appear as though the sky did rend and fiâ—e break out of it Of round opening Hiatus These holes called Hiatus differ from Wide-gapings in nothing but that they be less and therefore seem as though they were deep pits or holes and not rending or gaping And these be those Apparitions that appear Fiery and yet be not so indeed Therefore let this be
foot untill the time of tide or flood returning covered the place with Waters again But in the land where this Earthquake swalloweth up any City or Country there appeareth nothing in the place thereof but a marvellous wide and deep gulfe or hole Aristotle maketh mention of divers places and regions that were overthrown with this kind of Earthquake The fourth kind is when great mountaines are cast up out of the Earth or else when some part of the land sinketh down and in stead thereof arise Rivers Lakes or Fires breaking out with smoake and Ashes It causeth also overflowings of the Sea when the Sea bottome is lifted up and by this means arise many Islands in the Sea that never were seen before These and other such miracles are often found In the Writers of Histories also in the Philosophers as Aristotle Seneca and Plinius Nevertheless the effects of some as most notable it shall not be unprofitable to recite Plato in his Dialogue intituled Timeus maketh mention by the way of a wonderfull Earthquake whereby not only Africa was rent asunder from Europe and Asia as it is indeed at this day except a little neck by the red Sea the Sea entring between them that now is called Mare Mediterraneum but also a wonderfull great Island which he affirmeth was greater then Africa and Asia both called Atlantis was swallowed up and covered by the Waters in so much that on the Sea called Atlanticum for a great while after no Ship could sayl by reason that the same huge Sea by resolution of the Earth of that mighty Iland was all turned into mudde The famous I le of Sicilia was also somtime a part of Italy and by Earthquake rent asunder from itâ— Seneca maketh mention of two Ilands Theron and Therea that in his time first appeared It should seeme both by Aristotle and also by Herodotus that Egypt in ancient time was a gulph of the Sea and by Earthquake made a drie land During the reignâ— of Tiberius the Emperor twelve notable Cities of Asia were overthrown in one night c. How so great VVinds come to be under the Earth THe great Caves and Dennes of the Earth must needs be full of Ayr continually but when by the heat of the Sunne the moysture of the Earth is resolved many Exhalations are generated as well within the Earth as without and whereas the places were full before so that they could receive no more except part of that which was in them were let out in such countries where the Earth hath few pores or else where they are stopped with moysture it must needs follow that these Exhalations striving to get out must needs rend the Earth in some place or lift it up so that either they may have free passage or else room enough to abide in Of signes and tokens that go before an Earthquake most commonly THe first is the raging of the Sea when there are no tempestuous Winds to stirre it yea when the Ayr is most calme without Wind. The caus why the Sea then rageth is that the wind beginneth to labour for passage that way and finding none is sent back and soon after shaketh the land The second signe is calmness of the Ayr and cold which commeth to pass by reason that the Exhalation that should be abroad is within the Earth The third signe is said to be a long thinne strake of cloud seen when the skie is clear after the setting of the Sun This say they is caused by reason that the Exhalation or Vapor which is the matter of clouds is gone into the Earth Others affirm that it is the Exhalation that breaketh out of some narrow hole of the Earth out of which the rest of the wind cannot issue neither will it waite the time wherefore within a while after it seeketh and maketh it self by sudden eruption a broader way to be delivered out of prison Also the Sunne certaine daies before it appeareth dimme because the Winds that should have purged and dissolved the grosse Ayr that causeth this dimness to our eyes is enclosed within the bowels of the Earth The Water in the bottome of deepe wells is troubled and the savour thereof infected because the pestilent Exhalations that have been long inclosed within the Earth doe then beginne a little to be sent abroad For thereof cometh it that in many places where Earthquakes have been great abundance of smoak flame and ashes is cast out when the abundance of brimstone that is under the ground through violent motion is set on fire and breaketh forth Finally who knoweth not what stinking Minerals and other poysonous stuff doe grow under the Earth wherefore it is no wonder if Well-water before an Earthquake be infected but rather it is to be marvelled if after an Earthquake there follow not a grievous Pestilence when the whole mass of infection is blown abroad Last of all there is heard before it in the time of it and after it a great noise and sound under the Earth a terrible groaning and a very Thundring yea somtimes when there followeth no Earthquake at all when as the wind without shaking of the Earth findeth a way to passe out at And these for the most part or at least some of them are forewarnings that the most fearfull Earthquake will follow then the which there is no naturall thing that bringeth men into a greater feare Cato was very curious to confesse himselfe that he repented that ever he went by water when as he might have gone by land But what land can be sure if it be the Lords will by this work of his to shake it what building so strong that can defend us when the more strong the more danger the higher the greater fall Of Thunder THunder is a sound caused in the clouds by the breaking out of a hot and dry Exhalation beating against the edges of the cloud It is often heard in Spring and Summer by reason that the heat of the Sun then draweth up many Exhalations which meeting in the middle region of the Air with moyst and cold Vapors are together with them inclosed in a hollow cloud but when the hot Exhalation cannot agree with the coldness of the place by this strife being driven together made stronger and kindled it will straight break out which sudden and violent eruption causeth the noyse which we call Thunder A Similitude is put by great Authors of moist wood that cracketh in the fire we may adde hereunto the breaking of an egge in the fire of an apple or any like thing for whatsover holdeth and withholdeth inclosed any hot wind so that it can have no vent it will seek it self a way by breaking the skin shell or case It were no ill comparison to liken Thunder to the sound of a gun which be both caused of the same or very like causes The sound of Thunder is divers
Exhalation received into the pores of their face and eyes maketh their face to swell and break out into a Leprosy and also dryeth up the Chrystalline humour of their Eyes so that consequently they must needs be blind Eutropius sheweth that the same day in which Marcus Tullius Cicero was born a certain Virgin of Rome riding into Apulia was stricken with Lightning so that all her garments being taken from her without any rending she lay starke naked the lasing of her breast being undone and her hose-garters untyed yea her bracelets collars and rings being all loosed from her Likewise her horse lay dead with his bridle and girts untyed The places of them that are burnt with Lightning are colder then the rest of their bodyes either because the greater heat draweth away the lesser or else because that by the great violence the vital heat is quite extinguished in that place The Sea-Calf is never hurt with Lightning wherefore the Emperours Tents were wont to be covered with their skins The Bay Trees and Box Trees are never or seldom stricken with Lightning The Cause of these may be the Hardness of their Skinne which hath so few Pore-holes that the Exhalation cannot enter into them The Eagle also among Fouls is not stricken with Lightning Wherefore the Poets feigne that the Eagle carrieth Jupiters Armour which is Lightning The Reason may be the thickness and dryness of her feathers which will not be kindled with so swift a fire Of Storme Winds A Storme Wind is a thick Exhalation violently moved out of a Cloud without inflammation or burning The Matter of this Storme is all one with the Matter of Lightning that hath been spoken of namely it is an Exhalation very hot and dry and also gross and thick so that it will easily be set on fire but then it hath another name and other Effects The Form or Manner of the generation is such When abundance of that kinde of Exhalation is gathered together within a Cloud which needs will have one way out or other it breaketh the cloud and causeth Thunder as it hath been taught before but if the matter be very thick and the Cloud somewhat thin then doth it not rend the Cloud but falling down beateth the Cloud before it and so is carried as an arrow out of a bowe It doth always goe before a great sodain showre For when the Cloud is broken the water must needs fall down Also it is so gross and so thick that it darkneth the Air and maketh all the Lowest Region of the Air to be in a manner as a dark Smoaky Cloud It causeth Tempests in the Sea and Wonderfull great Danger to them that bear Sayle whom if it overtake it bringeth to utter destruction So sodain is this kinde that it cannot be resisted with sodain helpe so violent it is that seeble force cannot withstand it Finally It is so Troublesome with Thunder Lightning Rayne and Beasts besides these Darkness and Cold that it would make men at so neer a Pinch to be at their Wits End if they were not accustomed to such Tumultuous Tempests Wherefore it were profitable to declare the Signes that goe before it to the End Men might beware of it But they are so common to other Tempests that either they are known well enough or else being never so well known in a Seldom Calamity they would little be feared The Sea-ships subject to more Danger have more Helpe if it be used in Time But no Signes foreknowne can profit the Dweller of the Land to keep his House from Ruine except it were to save his Life from the fall of his Mansion The sudden violence of this Tempest to him is more seldome times but more incurable when it commeth then to the Mariner who hath some Ayd to look for by his comming the other if he escape with his life may comfort himself that he was neer a great danger and cast with himself to build up his House again Of Whirlwinds A Whirlwind is a Wind breaking out of a Cloud Rouling or Winding round about overthrowing that which standeth neer it and that which commeth before it carrying it with him aloft in the Air. It differeth from a Stormy Wind in three points First in the Matter which is less in Quantity and of thinner Substance Secondly in the Moving which is Circular Winding about whereas the Storme bloweth Aslope and Sidelongs Also a Whirlwind in the Moving divideth not it self abroad and bloweth Directly as the Storme doth And Thirdly in the manner of the generation for a Storme doth always come out of one Cloud but a Whirlwind sometime is Caused by means of two Contrary Winds that meet toether In like manner as we see in the streets of Cities where the wind is beaten back from two walles meeting in the middest of the street there is made a little whirle-wind which whisking round about taketh up the dust or strawes and bloweth it about after the very similitude of the great and fearefull whirlewind The reason of the going about is this that when the walls beat back the wind from them which aboundeth in that place and those winds when they meet by reason of equall force on both sides can neither drive one the other back againe nor yet passe thorrow one the other it must needs be that they must both seek a way on the side at once and consequently be carried round about the one as it were pursuing the other untill there be space enough in the aire that they may be parted asunder The matter of a whirlewind is not much differing from the matter of storme and lightning that is an Exhalation hote and drie breaking out of a cloud in divers partes of it which causeth the blowing about Also it is caused as it hath been said by two or more windes blowing from divers places which may be of particular causes that have been shewed before in the Chapter of windes this tempest is noysome to man and beast Sea and Land things living and life lacking For it will take up both men and beasts stones and clods of earth which when it hath borne a great way will not be so curteous as to set them downe againe but negligently letteth them fall from a great height or else violently throweth them downe to the earth It breaketh Trees winding them about and pulling them up by the roots It turneth about a Ship and bruiseth it in peeces with other mischiefes besides Of fired Whrlewinds SOmetime a whirlewind is set on fire within the cloud and then breaking forth flyeth round like a great cart-wheele terriblie to behold turning and over browing all drie things that it commeth neer as Houses Woods Corn Grasse and what soever else standeth in the way It differeth not from a whirlewind saving that it is kindled and set on fire so appearing else the generation of both is called one Of Circles THe Circle called Halon is
but shaddows and images the second shaddow of the first the third of the second as appeares by placing of their colours It remaineth to shew why it is but halfe a circle or lesse and never more and why the whole cloud receiveth not the same colours that the Raynebow hath The cause of the first is because the center or middle part of the Raynebow that is Diametrally opposite to the center of the same is alwayes either in the Horizon that is the circle cutting off our fight of Heaven by the earth or under it The cause why the whole cloud is not coloured is because that in the middest the beames as strong peirce thorow but on the edges where they are weaker they are reflected or refracted Now for so much as GOD made the Raynebow a sign and Sacrament of the promise some think it was never seene before the flood their reason may be this that the earth after the first creation was then so fruitfull that it needed hone or very little Raine so that such dark clouds were not often gathered the fruitfull ground not so easily remitted his moysture that then was fat and clammy hard to be drawne up so it might be that there was no Rainebow before as we cannot find that ever it rained before But whether it were or not it is certaine that then it became a Sacrament whereas it was none before which when we behold it behoveth us to remember the truth of God in all his promises to his glory and our comfort The milke way called of some the way to S. James and Watling Streete THe milke way is a white circle seen in a cleare night as it were in the firmament passing by the sings of Sagittarius and Gemini The cause thereof is not agreed upon among Philosophers whose opinons I thought best to report before I come to the most probable causes First of all Pythagoras is charged with a Poeticall fable as though it had been caused by reason that the Sun did once run out of his path way and burned this part whereof it looketh white Others as Anaxagoras and Democritus sayd that it was the light of certaine Starres shining by themselves of their owne light which in the absence of the Sun might be seene But this opinion is also false for the Starres have no light of themselves but of the Sun also if it were so it should appear about other Starres Democritus is also reported to have said that it was nothing else but innumerable little Starres which with their confuse light caused that whitenesse to this opinion Cardane seemeth to subscribe The Poets have foure fables of it one of Phaeton which on a time guided the Chariot of the Sunne and wandring out of the way did burne that place wherefore of Jupiter he was striken downe with lightning The second That it is the high street in Heaven that goeth streight to Jupiters palace and both sides of it the common sort of gods doe dwell The third that Hebe one which was Jupiters Cupbearer on a time stumbled at a straw and shed the Wine or Milke that was in the Cup which coloured that part of Heaven to this day wherefore she was put out of her office The fourth That Apollo stood there to fight against the Giants which Jupiter made to appear for a perpetual memory Theophrastus a Philosopher affirmed That it was the joyning together or came of the 2 half Globes which made â—t appeare more light in that place then anothers Others said it was the reflexion of the shining light of fire or starre light â—s it is seen in a glasse but then it should â—e moveable Diodorus affirmed that it was Heavenly fire condensed or made thick into a circle and so became visible whereas the rest for the pureness clearnesse and thinnesse could not be seen Possidonious whose mind to many seemeth very reasonable said it is the â—nfusion of she heaâ— of the Stars which therefore is in a Circle contrary to the Zodiake out of which the Sun never wandereth because it might tempâ—â— the whole compass with vital and livelâ—hea Although in my mind he hath rather expressed the finall cause then thâ— efficient Aristotles opinion is that it should be the beames of a great Circle which 〈◊〉 caused by a cloud or Exhalation drawâ— up by those Starres which be calleâ— Sporades This opinion of Aristotles 〈◊〉 misliked of most men that have travailed in this science and worthilâ— For if it were of the nature of elements as Exhalations are it would be at length consumed But this circlâ—â— never corrupteth therefore it is not 〈◊〉 Exhalations Also it neither increaseâ— nor diminisheth which is a plain proâ—â— that it consisteth not of elemental matter although Aristotle seem to make double circle one celestiall another elemental The last opinion is of them that 〈◊〉 it is the nature of heaven thicker 〈◊〉 substance then other parts of Heaven be having some likenesse to the substance of the Moon which being light â—â—ed by the same as all the Starres bâ— appeareth white And this opinion I take to be most probable because that sentence of Starre light seemeth not so reasonably to be only in that place and not elsewhere The finall cause of this Milke-white circle hath beene already touched in the opinion of Possidonius whereunto also Plinius in the 18. Book and 29. Chapter of his natural History agreeth affirming that it is very profitable for the generation and fruitfull increase of things that grow on the earâ—h The Mathematitians that have measured the breadth thereof affirme that toward the north it passeth over the Ecliptical line of the ninth spheare from the 18. degree of Gemini unto 2 degrees of Cancer which is 13. degrees and toward the South from the 8 degree of Sagittarius to the 13 degree of the same signe and because it is there divided into two branches as may easily be seen in a cleare night it reacheth from 24 of Sagittarius to the 2 degree of Capricorne This circle if it be of the nature of Heaven is unproperly placed among Meteors or impressions but because of Aristotles mind who will have it to be an impression kindled and their opinion which think it proceedeth of the light of Starres it is not without good cause in this place treated of Of beames or streames of light appearing thorow a Cloud THere is yet another kind of impression caused by the beames of the Sunne stricken through a watery cloud being of unequall thinnesse and is thinner in one part then in another so that it cannot receive the beames in any other forme then that they appeare direct or slope downeward of divers colours and the same that are the colours of the Rainebow though not so evident because the reflexion is not so strong They vary in colours some are more urple or ruddy when