Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	great_a	know_v	world_n	2,795	5	4.3351	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A58144	The earth twice shaken wonderfully, or, An analogical discourse of earthquakes its natural causes, kinds, and manifold effects : occasioned by the last of these, which happened on the eighth day of September 1692, at two of the clock in the afternoon : divided into philosophical theorems, pick'd out of many famous, modern, and ancient treatises, translated into English : with reference to that unusual one that happened in Queen Elizabeth's reign, on the same day, 8th of September 1601 ... : with an account of many stupendious and wonderful events in Germany, Italy, and other kingdoms ... / by J.D.R., French minister.	J. D. R., French minister.	1693 (1693)	Wing R37; ESTC R4234	44,661	64

contrary to Nature Their Consideration is lawful CHAP. I. HOw many sorts of Earthquakes there are and in regard of Natural Causes what sorts of Earthquake this was that we speak of as well in regard of its Circumstances as in regard of its Effects pag. 3. CHAP. II. What was the nearest natural Cause of this Earthquake as in regard of its breadth as in regard of its celerity videl the qualities and dispositions of some fiery and subtil Vapours hidden towards the Center of the Earth To which may be added the various influences of the Celestial Bodies as far as their qualities do prevail or resist pag. 9. CHAP. III. The Earthquake by its Nature hath not an end properly yet the effects thereof are commonly three specially evinced both by Experiences and Observations of Examples to wit Sickness Inundation and Sterility To which some would joyn the Pr●sages of some wonderful and unusual Changes c. pag. 17. CHAP. IV. An examination of the Circumstances wherein these two Earthquakes do agree or differ both in their Form and second Causes in regard of the different Aspects of Planets as well as in their effects p. 30. As a Corollary Ten Problems are set rising Naturally from that Matter 1. Whether that be true which Pliny doth assert that France and Egypt are seldom shaken by reason of the cold of the one and the heat of the other p. 33. 2. Why Rivers decrease by Earthquakes p. 34. 3. Why those places that are either lying upon or encompassed by the Sea or some River be obnoxious to Earthquakes p. 36. 4. What credit may one give to the relation of Plato of the Island Atlantis drowned by an Earthquake p. 39. 5. Whether exteriour wind entring the Eart● from above is able to move it p. 41. 6. Whether Subterraneous Exhaltations are generated by the Sun Beams p. 43. 7. Whether some more sullen times of Earthquakes are to be appointed for any certain reasons p. 44. 8. Why are Birds frighted in an Earthquake p. 45. 9. Whether the Vaults in Houses are safest against Earthquakes Ibid. 10. If i● the late Earthquake is so ended that the sole●● Countries through which it went are secure from its itteration p. 46. THE EARTH Twice Shaken WONDERFULLY THEOREMS AS Rest is contrary to the Nature of Heaven so is Motion against the Nature of the Earth 2. But in this they differ that although no Natural Cause stops the Motion of the Heaven yet it may give some Motion to the Earth 3. The Heaven never rested but once Josh 10.13 since the Creation that we know of and then not totally neither but only in that part which is a Vehicle to the solar Body but the Earth is often moved 4. And altho' the rest of the Heaven be in it self a thing as much to be wondered at as Motion in the Earth yet the later seems to move and terrifie mens minds more 5. For the Earth doth more nearly touch us than Heaven and we are more sensible of danger when the Foundation of the World trembles and is shaken under us as tho' it were falling then if any thing happen above our heads or that which was moved above us move no more 6. Which Events as they do affect mens minds with a singular and as it w●re an amazing Admiration so they excite and stir them up more dil●gently to enquire after the Cause of the which besides our own experience Arist●tle Witnesseth in the 1st Book of his Metaphysickt Cap. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Because of Admiration Men began both now and of old to Philos●phize 7 Seeing therefore that that Earthquake which formerly happened on the 8th of September 1601. between one and two of the Clock at Night struck almost all the Inhabitants of Europe with Admiration I doubt not but that which happened lately on the 8th day of September last excites many to the search of the Cause and Nature of them 8. Neither is this tracing even of wonderful and unaccu●●omed Events by their causes any ways displeasing to God seeing Effects themselves are more clearly understood when the Cause is known and the clearer Knowledge of Divine Works begets clearer notice of God himself and excites in us a greater fear and awe of him for clearness in the Understanding begets efficacy in the Will and Ardour in the Affections 9. Whilst therefore the Learned communicate to the World their Thoughts and Observations of that unusual Earthquake which no small part of the World felt which Observations they gather from the Remarks they make of the different Events that happened here and there especially since that Town in Jamaica was almost swollowed up by an Earthquake I have been likewise prevailed upon to put forth something that might be as an earnest if by chance by the comparing of Opinions the cause of this so stupendious an Event might more truly and plainly appear 10. I shall distribute the whole Matter into Four Chapters The First of which shall be of the Kind and Form of this Earthquake The next of the efficient Causes and the Third of the Effects and of their Signification and Presage at least as ordinary and common Fourth To which shall be joyned an Examination of Unformity or Disparity of one from another both in their Form and in their Causes and Effects CHAP. I. Of the Kind and Form of this Earthquake II. THere are two sorts of Earthquakes Trembling and P●lsation The differences of Earthquakes or their several Kinds may be derived either from the Force of the Spirit issuing out of the Superficies of the Earth or from the sound then made and from other accidents and effects Hence it is that in Lib. de Mun. There are reckon'd eight sorts of Earthquakes Georgius Agricola lib. 2. de ortu subter Makes four sorts of 'em a Trembling when it quivers lateraly Concussion when 't is moved on high and shelving in sublime devexum arietation when contrary blows shake it Lastly inclination when it is rowled like Water and the Waves But the same Author in his fourth Book of those things that proceed out of the Earth pag. 14. more accurately divides Earthquakes into simple and compounded and then subdvides both into their Species Aristotle 2. Metaphys reduces all sorts of Earthquakes to two general Heads to wit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a trembling and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pulsus which division I thought good to follow in this place 12. A Trembling is a Motion of the Earth according to its Latitude to the right and left side Aristotle in the forecited place says that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. trembling is towards the sides and calls it also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies to brandish for the leaping of the Earth is as it were a brandishing And this sort of Earthquke is frequent but Pulsus and Arietation as they call them are more seldom which Aristotle testifieth in his

especially adapted for Earthquakes So Aristotle in the forecited place says there are more and greater Earthquakes in the Night and adds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 especially in the Morning And Pliny in the forecited place says the Morning and Evening Earthquake are very great but at the approach of day they are frequent for the heat of the day dissolves and dissipates their matter Natural cold contracts and binds it 30. The consequent effects also do Evince that the Power of Nature was present 31. For ●o●ses and fragors issuing out of the Caverns of Earth were heard about that time in the Neighbourhood which is a certain discovery of the Spirits and Winds agitated in the Cavities of the Earth and as it were there striving reciprocally If but a little Wind blows in●o a V●ssel a sound and as it were a bellowing is heard One from whence may conclude what happen in so spacious Caverns as those o● the ●arth Hence it is that Aristole says The Spiritus ma●es a●n●ise under the Earth as the Air being beaten up sou●●s variously for there is no difference between this Spiritus and the Ai●● as to the effect of the sound fo● this Spiritus verberati●g upon every thing is it self verberat●d upon And Pliny lib. 2 cap. 8 says There goes before and accompanies them a terrible noise othe●wise a murmuring like to bellowing or the cry of Men and the sound fragou● of clashing of Arms according to the quality of the Matter receiving it and the form either of Ca●●n or ●uniculus through which it permeates c. 32 〈◊〉 g●●at Win is have ra●●● after an Earthquake when a Ca●● has immediately p●eceded it This is also witnessed by experience and by Ari●●●tle and Pliny in the forecited places that Winds 〈◊〉 after an ●●●thquak●● because those Winds which 〈◊〉 befor● sh●t in the Eart● do brake out of it into the Air. A●d 〈…〉 do assert the same concerning the Calm to wit that it common●y goes before an Earthquake In a Calm towards 〈…〉 ●a●y ●ays Aristotle there happen very many and very great Earthquakes because most of the Matter of the Winds is so restrained in the Caverns of the Earth that it cannot more the Air Yet we must not deny that even sometimes in windy Weather Earthquakes have happened because all the Matter of them doth enter into the Caverns of the Earth together And even at the time of our Earthquake about three hours before it was observed to be somewhat r●en and I will not here make any tedious dispute with Geor. Agric. who says lib 4. de Na●ura eorum que ef●luant●e terra That Aristotle when he mentions the darkness of the Sun the calmness of the Weather cold a thin Cloud extended in length did not intend to discover ●he signs of Earthquakes which Aristotle's Interpreters affirm but prove by those things which sometimes happen that W●●d is the Cause of Earthquakes But both may be asserted without ●bsurdity ●owi● tha● they are signs of Earthquakes to come and also evince that they are occasioned by Wind. But h●●e we do no● only acknowledge Nature but joyn with it a singular force of Divine Power neither ought we to sep●●●te Divine Operations even from those that are usual and often happen seeing t●e very Heathens believed that there was no Earthquake tho never so small but had something Divine in it as it is testified by Gellius lib. 2. cap 28 But ●s often as the Scripture speaks of Earthquakes which is often so often do they divert our minds from the consideration of Nature alone to the acknowledgment of the Omnipotent Power of the Lord as Psal 60 2. Thou had made the Earth to tremble thou had broken it and Psal 77.19 Psal 114 4 and 7. Tremble that Earth at the presence of the Lord at the presence of the God of Ja●●● Also Psal 10.32 He looketh on the Earth and it trembleth he toucheth the Halls and they smoke Job 9.6 Which shaketh the Earth out 〈…〉 place and the Pillars thereof tremble Nah●m 1.5 The 〈…〉 quake at him and the Hills melt 33. But what should be the next Natural Cause of so stupendious Effects to wit so great Latitude and so great Celerity in this Earthquake This I confess is difficulte to Trace but I hope I shall have leave to enquire diligently into it 34. Which that I may do I will first set down some Principles where one may have good assurance for o●e Credit 35 Seeing the Earth is round like a Globe it hath Lines drawn from the Center to the Circumference 36. These Line meet nearer about the Center then at the Circumference where they are farther distant 37. Therefore the nearer any thing is the Center of the Earth the mere closely is it contracted rashing violently from thence to the Circumference 't is extended farther and occupi●● mere r●om 38. The Spirit●●or V●pours are sometime● more deeply hid towards the Center of the Earth but sometimes and that more frequently they are generated in Caverns and Passages meatus near●r the Superficies of the Earth From the general Doctrine of Earthquakes in this place I presuppose the Earth is not otherwise moved then by Winds and Spirits engendred in its Cavitie● thence seeking an Exitus according to the quality of their Natures I know the Ancient Philosophers before Aristotle assigned other Causes of Earthquakes whose different Opinions concerning them are recited by Plutarch lib. 3. De Placitis Philosophorum cap. 2. Seneca lib. 6. Mat. quest Cap 4. Pliny lib. 2. Cap. 79. but especially Aristotle 2 Meteor cap. 7. But amongst modern Authors Joannes Franciseus Picus Mirandula lib. 1. examinis doctinae vanitatis gentium cap. 12. among which we must reckon Nicholaus Cusanu● who lib. 1. de Docta ignorantia is of opinion that the Earth is neither of an Oval form nor altogether Unmovable of it self But no Opinion is more evident from Nature and Experience than Aristotle who asserts that Winds and subterraneous Spirits are the Cause● of Earthquakes for the heaviest Bodies are only to be moved by that which hath the strongest Power to move But among all inferiour Beings the Wind or Spiritus is that which according to the qualifications of its own Nature hath in i● a Power more effective of Motion than any other body 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is expresly testified by Holy Writs when it assimilates Angels to the Winds Heb. 1.7 and many experiments do al●o evince it For with how great a force doth a little G●n-Powd●● diss●lv●d into Spirits by the heat of Fire burst out of the smallest Machines So we see the Spirit of new Wine when seething if the Fu●nell be stoped do penetrate the Vessels that they may break ●orth It is sufficiently known of what Power they are in our Bodies and what great Co●vul●o●● Symp●o●ns and Pains they are the causes of So that Aristotle use h● thi● Example chiefly to confirm his Opinion of the Cause of Earthquake 39.

of the Vapours or Spiritus by which the Earth is moved this end is assigned by Naturalists that the nature of that Spi●itus may be preserved whilst sallying out of the Earth it ascends into the open Air making its own way out of the Caverns o● the Earth in which it was included as in its Prison so g●ning a place proper and agreablee to its own Nature 60. And seeing this Earthquake is mixed with Nature and Miracle it hath Natural effects and also its presages from the supernatural Ordination of God 61. The effects will be as is the Cause to wit Praeternatural that is contrary to Nature 62. Three of which effects are more especially to be feared which both the Nature of Earthquakes and Experience and the Observation of Examples do evince to wit Sickness Inundations and Sterility 63. Earthquakes cause Epidemical and Contagious Distempers because the Vapours in the Caverns of the Earth either contract rottenness or some venemous qualities especially if shut up in it for any considerable time and thence sallying out they make impressions in the Air that surrounds us which when drawn into our Bodies by breathing there must needs be impressed the like qualities in the inmost Bowels of our Bodies Neither do they only infect the Air but also the Water without which we cannot be That the quality of subterraneous Vapours is very prejudiciable to our Health is testified by experience in those places where the Earth abounding with Minerals s●nds into the Air frequent Exhalations but especially if the Earth be porous and loose Neither need we go very far for Examples Those Caverns which are at the Sharp and the Fountains of Schwalbuh may testifie it which are so much infested with venemous Exhaltations that Dogs or Hens carried into them die sooner than any one can imagine Geor. Agric. hath Writ accurately lib. 2. de nat rer è terra effluent When at the beginning of the Book he Writes the Air which is shut up a long time in any Concavity of the Earth rots and is made pestilent And a li●te after there are in many places of the Earth serobes exhaling mortiferous Vapours but no where more then in Italy c. Cardanus also in the Appendix of his Work de Re●um varietate explains the thing by some Histories and Examples Moreover the History of all Times teacheth us what grievous and pestilent Distempers have been caused by Earthquakes Seneca lib. 6. quoest natu attests that a Flock of 600 Sheep was destroyed by an Earthquake in the Province called Pompeia Sheep being of a very soft nature and carry their heads near the Ground In the 19th years from the building of Rome after an Earthquake followed a Plague which lasting three years there died at Rome 30000 men So in the year of our Lord 748. after an Earthquake in Palestine a great Sickness was prevalent in Sicily Greece and Thrace And in the year 801. when Charles the Great was invested with the Empire Upper Germany was infested with a vehement Earthquake but especially the Coast of the Rhine which was followed by a Pestilence which dreadfully afflicted Germany and other Places Stump lib. 4. cap. 21. So in the year 1309. on the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul all Germany shook and the Plague afterwards raged throughout the Country so that 60000 men are reported to have died at Florence and 90000 at Lubeck That God the Father of all Mercy would grant that no such consequence may happen from our late Earthquake and that the Epidemical Disease which now infest these Places so near to a kind of a putrid and malignant Feaver may not be converted into a more dangerous Distemper The unlucky Eclipses and Positions of the heavenly Bodies this years portend some such things in other Countries The Northern Latitude of Saturn in the Sign of Scorpius and those four Eclipses of the foregoing year two of which happened in the Month of June whereof that of the Sun was a stupendious one for its Magnitude will exert their Operations this year as the Masters do reckon But that the Waters are also polluted by those Vapours is known by the Fountains which both before and after Earthquakes are wont to be impurer and thicker Which is also attested by Pliny lib. 2. cap. 81. where he says The Water in Wells is th●cker and not without a loath some smell which odour is Sulphu●eo●s and metalline from whence one may certainly conclude that some Vapours sallying out of the Earth have mingled themselves with the Water Hence it is that Pherecydes Pythagoras his Master foretold an Earthquake by drawing some Water out of a Well concerning which Pliny Writes as by some Divine Presage lib. 2. cap. 29. Which Cicero m●ntions 1. de Divinat Geor. Agricol lib. 4. de efflu è terr pag. 153. think that muddy Water in Wells is most commonly a Sign of an Earthquake already begun and he believes that no proper and certain Sign of future Earthquake can be assigned for those that are delivered by Writers are either the Sign of an Earthquake just b●g●n or its Modas so that they may happen w●●ho 〈◊〉 future Earthquake 64. 〈…〉 Earch are therefore wont to ensue Earthquake 〈…〉 ●●olently s●lying out of the Earth 〈…〉 Caverns wa●●re●● the 〈◊〉 ●eous Waters are 〈…〉 Water is 〈◊〉 more abound 〈◊〉 manner driven into 〈…〉 and 〈◊〉 of Fountains and R●vers 〈…〉 by A●●●●●le 2. 〈◊〉 cap. 8. Exhalations 〈…〉 with great Force c●●●y along with 〈◊〉 whatsoever Wa●●● 〈…〉 and he●●●ds in the same place that 〈◊〉 Wills that blow the co●●ary way are the Cause of it because 〈…〉 E●●th it cannot repel the Sea brought agai●●t it by another Wind Examples also observed in History 〈◊〉 the ●am For P●●c●p●u● lib. 3. de bello Gothor●n pag. 3●3 〈◊〉 ribes the unusual In●n●a●●on of Egypt as arising from an Earthquake About 〈◊〉 time 〈◊〉 Earthquake ●●ppe●ed which shook 〈…〉 Ach●ia and the other places about the S●nas G●●se●s an● 〈…〉 ●uit● number of other places and levelled ei●ht Citi●●oth Ground And the Earth in some places when it had gaped 〈◊〉 cam● again to its former state but in other places 〈◊〉 so much cle●t that the People of that Country were 〈◊〉 m●k● a large Circuit to converte with one another But in 〈◊〉 Sea between The●●aly and Beotia there arose so great 〈◊〉 Co●m●●●ion 〈◊〉 so great an in●ndation that great desolation was 〈◊〉 of M●●atai●s Ed●●ices and Men. In the see and year 〈…〉 of Flev Va●a●i●iam and Vale●s the Sea to s●●led that o●erflowing Sicily it Buried in its Waves ●●●●nal Towas and V●lag●s In the year 1508. a● Earthquake was so 〈◊〉 most g●e●ou I●●dation t●roug●out all Italy and Germany And wish we might take example and experiment of that calam●y 〈◊〉 the late Earthquake that we mig●t be brought to repenta 〈◊〉 In the same place 't is sad We have ne●s daily of ●ae 〈◊〉 ous Inundations through the Butchy of Juliers and Clav●s and

which are seldom shaken because they commonly have Caverns as i● observed in Germany and France as Georg. Agricol lib. 4. de effluentibus ●●terra observes But Constantinople and Basill in that part that borders on the S●a or a great River are examples of this the one of which of all the European and the other of all the German Cities is most infested with Earthquakes as we shewed before of Constantinople out of Agathias's History but Procopious plainly attests that Constantino●le shook for forty days together in the year 554. and in the year 740. it was shaken twelve months together beginning on the 7th of November as is noted among others by Funccius But in later Ages evea in our own and Fathers memory we have heard of frequent Earthquakes in that City which was felt by A. Gilpin Busbequiu● among others and writ by him in the Epistles of his Turkish Embassy And Stumpsius and others have writ how often and grievously Basill hath been shaken Benedictus Arretius in the aforesaid Problem reckons up ten times that Basill was sh●ken with great danger and loss in the space of 800 Years In the Years 801 824 829 1021. when the whole City was almost destroyed the Chu●ch with many Houses being thrown into the Rhine And again in the Year 1062 when a grievous Plague ensued upon the Earthquakes again in the Year 1356 on the 18th of October it shook ten times about Evening so that the Church Walls Towers and a great part of the City being destroyed by it there were a 100 Men killed Stumpsius says Liv. 12. cap. 28. That the Earthquake continued all that year and that Basill shook ten times in an hour In the following Year 1357. there happened another also in the Year 1444. as likewise in the Year 1456. it shook again but in the Year 1533. most terribly as we read in Munster not without great Commotion of Mind The la●e Ear●hquake was not a little perceived at Basill And Mentz hath sometimes been d●ngerously shaken by Earthquakes and that thrice between the Year 855 and 880. and the first time the Walls and the Church of Vrban fell down Constance also by the Lake of the Rhine trembled nineteen times the same day in the Year 1295. The People of Strasburg often ran to their Tents out of the City by reason of the danger they were under from an Earthquake especially in the Year 1357. But I think there is no City upon the Rhine or in Germany that is more frequently or dangerously shaken than Basill the reason whereof a Traveller seriously thought when he was viewing its Scituation than which a more pleasant one he never had seen nor was like to see and he thus considered with himself that the Cause of so great and so many Earthquake in that place was partly common with other Cities seated by Rivers and partly proper and peculiar to that place The common Cause is that the River passing by the City makes the Earth chinky and then pours in Water into those Caverns it hath made which deeply penetrating the Earth engenders Vapours which being obstructed by the cold of the Water 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cannot evaporate but being kept within the Earth longer time and varicusly agitated are turned into blasts and winds adapted for Earthquakes but the peculiar and proper Cause of Earthquakes in that City is first because the Rhine is there narrower and more contracted and being thus imprisonned seeing it cannot overflow the Banks it is carried more impetuously the force of the Water being contracted within it self and as it were by undermining it makes the deepest places of the Channel and Banks hollow and more cavernous than in other places so that more Vapours are apt to be generated and tarry there where they sind a receptacle being also enclosed and shut in by the cold of the Water or River Another Cause is the many Dens and Caverns that are in a high Hill by the Rhine adapted for the reception of Vapours the Passage of which is easie and plain through the Pores of the Earth leading to the Rhine To which may be added that this Hill scituate on the Rhine whereon a great part of the City is built hath every where a solid Superficies which is stony so that many Vapours being engendred by the River flowing by and imprisonned within the porous and cavernous Earth cannot conveniently exhale through those ways which they naturally seek but being denied a passage and collected and coarcted by their stri●e and reciprocation and so gathering strength by their heat and ●a●ity they impetuously invade and shake that which hinders them from above Lastly 'T is probable there is much Subterraneous fire where Basill stands or not far from thence as there is at Baden which is distant but one days Journey from Basill where there are many and great B●ths as is usual in such places Exhaltations sallying out of the Earth even under the Waters of Limage that flows by it which grows hot at the bottom by the Subterraneous Exhalations as is often selft by those that go naked into that River Moreover reason it self discovers and the examples of flames often breaking out in an Earthquake testifie what great power Subterraneous fires have to move the Earth if they be shut up within the Earth So that Geor. Agricol truly says lib. 2. de ortu cau Subter pag. 27. That hot places and where there are many hot Vapours are obnoxious to Earthquakes because Subterraneous fire is apt to beget a quantity of smoaky Exhalations sooner than a little heat Yet Baden that hath so much Subterraneous fire is seldom shaken which is because the Exhalations there break out in great quantity through the looser and thinner Superficies of the Earth in regular Ways and convenient to their Nature And if the Superficies of the Earth were so dispos'd at Basill that the hot Water which are perhaps in the Earth could have a passage and s●lly into the open Air their Vapours would exhale in a suitable way and would be a certain remedy against frequent and dangerous Earthquakes Which since nature hath denied perhaps it might be effected by Art by every where digging and opening Caves towards the City which might exhale the preconceived Spiritus which is observed in some Towns which are seldom shaken having some Caves digged to make a passage for the Water which remedy Pliny prescribes lib. 2. cap. 82. But I hope God who hath vouchsafed to commit the heavenly Doctrine and Academy as a precious pledge and gage to it will hereafter preserve that remarkable City from those grievous Concusions whereby Cities use to be destroyed 4. What credit may one give to the Relation of Plato of the Island Atlantis drowned by an Earthquake Pliny lib. 2. cap. 9. where he says an Earthquake took away all the Ground where Atlantick Sea is if we credit Plato Which relation of Plato's that Pliny hints at is extant in Timeus where

he boasts of the Antiquity of the Athenians who waged War for many thousands of years before with the Inhabitants of the Island Atlantis which he says was greater than all Africa and Asia and was afterwards buried in an Earthquake the Atlantick Ocean being let in upon it The Island Atlantis was swallowed up in a great Gulph which made it unnavigable by reason of the Mud of the Island that was suck'd in Then that Atlantick Sea was Navigable for it had an Island before its Mouth which you call the Pillars of Hercules Which Island was bigger than Lybia and Africa together from whence there was a passage to other Islands and to all the Continent over against it round about scituated near the vast Sea There are those that would erect two great Geographical Theses from these Words of C●●●ias First That the America or that which we call the New World was known to the Ancients especially to Plato 2dly That the first Inhabiters of it came from the Continent of Asia into America viz. by the Atlantick Isle To gain Credit to which Assertion of their own and the Authority of Plato they make the Scituation of places so that they say the Island Atlantis possessed a great part of that Sea that is now called the Atlantick that the Islands to which they ascended from Atlantis were those that are by the Marriners at this day called Barlovent Cuba Spanish St. John Boiquen and Tamaica From these places there was a way to the Continent now called Terra firma and so to the Kingdom of Peru and America If you ask what that Continent is which Plato says is scituated about Pontus They answer 'T is that Southern Sea commonly called Sur which is called Pontus by Plato in respect of its greatness if compared with the Mediterranean and Atlantick Sea Those that more nearly consider the thing it self and the Relation of Critias think all this is asserted more out of a too great deference to the Authority of Plato than any probability in the thing it self For that which he asserts of the unnavigableness of it by reason of the drawing of Atlantis in the Ocean is refuted by frequent Navigations thither and those Wonders Critias relates of the Origin of Atlantis are altogether fabulous as also of its uncredible felicity and their waging War with the Europeans of their Temple built in the length of a Furlong whose external Parts were filled with Silver the highest with Gold and within there was in Ivory Arch chequered wi●h Gold Silver and Copper What Ruines of Atlantis are now to be seen under Water as he asserts to wit by those that cannot sail thither but what Earthquake is so great in which a Country bigger than Africa and Asia may be sucked in or what Sea is so great that could swallow up so great a Country so that its bottom can be so●●dee by no Hummer which Seamen attest But say they Critias tells Timens before that his Discourse would be wonderful but yet true But what if things answer not words who would believe that to be true where he says That Neptune falling in Love with ●●i●o had T●ins sive times by h●r divided one Hill into five Orbs two of Earth and three of Sea and that the Atlantick Sea can derive its Name from nothing but Atlantis is too weak to be credited For there is the Mountain Atlas in the middle of Manritania from which it is called the Atlantick Ocean as Pliny says Lib. 6. cap. 5. Where he also asserts the little and contemptible Island Atlantis was scituated over-against that Mountain Yet we must confess that oftentimes great part of the Earth is swallowed up by an Earthquakes Examples of which Pliry recites lib. 2. cap. 91 92. And not a few received their Birth from the same Cause as Nature would be even with her self as Delos that received from thence its Name Rhodes Nea Thera Therusia Aanaria which the Greeks call Pitheusa and three others not notified by any proper Names of which the first rises up among the Acolian Islands the other near Crete the third in the Toscan Bay Sometimes the Sea hath broke in upon the Land by an Earthquake So Sicily was separated from Italy Cyprus from Syria Eubaea from Baotia Pliny lib. 2. cap. 88. And perhaps England from France Servius explaining that Verse in Virgil Et penitus toto divisos orbe Britaunos seems to be of this Opinion formerly says he Britain was joined to the Continent the Sea between Kent and Calice lifts it self up so high and is so closely contracted that many are of Opinion that the Ground being dug there let in the Sea that was before excluded which is also alledged by William Cambden that accurate Writer in his Chorographical Description of England and Scotland yet he puts off that Question from himself as also another which is Whether Islands were before the Flood Of which may be consulted Benedictus Bordonius who writ a Description of all the Islands of the World 5. Whether exterior Wind entring the Earth from above is able to move it Of which Opinion were not a few of the Ancient Philosophers Archelaus Callisthenes and Metrodorus Chius think that the Wind which enters the Earth through those Foramina which lie open either to the Sea or to the Air is the Cause of Earthquakes Yet Archelaus doth not explain by what passages the Wind that moves the Earth penetrates into it either through those secret ones that lie hid under the Sea or through the open ones or both Callisthenes was of Opinion 't was by the latent passages under the Sea But Metrodorus thought the Wind fell from above on the Earth which is included in the Caverns So they both were of opinion that some Wind insinuated it self into the Caverns of the Earth which was followed by more and more which so pressed and straitned the former that finding no exitus it turned its force against the Earth and shook it Which opinion of the Ancients Geor. Agricol lib. 2. de ort subt battering to pieces says The exterior Wind doth not seem able to effect an Earthquake because its Particles entring into the vast Caverns are dissipated or being contracted together have not so much force for the Cold in so long a space of Air extinguisheth its heat Arist lib. 2 Meteor cap. 7 and 8. makes no mention of exterior Wind but ascribes Earthquakes totally to the Vapours engendred within the Caverns of the Earth In Lib. de Mund. if that be Aristotle's cap. 4. he thus writes It often happens that exterior Wind breaking into the Caviti●s of the Earth being excluded any Exitus by turning it self within shakes the Earth with great force which may I think be thus reconciled if we say an Earthquake regularly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is caused by Vapours which are engendred within the Earth but sometimes it may happen that an exterior thi●ker and moister Wind being as with a Whirl wind thrust into

also for the generation of Minerals as Sulphur Brimstone whose form is so exeellent and profitable that it may be called the end for which that Celestial Body efficaciously operates in and under the Earth by its Rays But as we answered before Natural Agents are not so ordered as always to attain the end of their operation because they act not deliberately and cannot suspend the Action The Sun engenders Exhalations by the innate power of its Rays whither it be able to bring them into open Air or not neither doth the eduction of them belong to the nature or perfection of the Sun but of the Exhalation whose natural place that is that which it most desires is in the Air. But seeing the frequency of Earthquakes both in Autumn and Spring is attested by the experience of all Times what reason shall we assign for it if that which Aristotle hath given is not available Agricola answers Because the internal heat of the Earth sometimes procreates many Vapours sometimes few and where many are imprisoned they cause Earthquakes in all times of the year and day But with the leave of so great a Man this is nothing else than to ask what is in the Principle or in Question for why sometime more sometimes fewer Vapours are generated is that that is inquired after which cause is not within the Earth but altogether depends upon a Celestial Body which as it is first so it is most efficacious both on the Earth and other Bodies 8. Why are Birds frighted in an Earthquake as is attested by Pliny lib. 2. cap. 81. Birds also says he sit not without fear in an Earthquake 'T is no wonder if Terrestial Animals are frighted while the Earth trembles but how can Birds while they pass through the Air perceive what the Earth suffereth Birds have a thin and subtil that is to say an airy constitution of body so that they easily perceive every little alteration of the Air and it is past doubt that the Air may be affected and altered by an Earthquake especially in Asia and those places where the Air is more thin the subtil 9. Whither the Vaults in Houses are safest Pliny doth affirm it in his 2d Book cap. 83. Where prescribing Remedies and Aids against Earthquakes he says Vaults and corners of Walls and Posts alternatively thrusting against one another where he speaks I believe of Subterraneous Vaults in which the Vapours being received in a more capacious place do not rage so much as in a narrow one altho' a greater Percussion may be in a hollow and round place than in a level Those Roof and Arches that are above the Earth are not a little infested with Earthquakes which we see by experience in the late Earthquake in Switzerland where the Roofs of many Churches were very much cracked At Lucern the Francician's Church was so shaken that the Roof hanging over the Chorus was so demolished that it must all be repaired a new and no doubt many such like things happened in other places by the same Earthquake 10. Was the late Earthquake so ended that the Countries through which it went are secure from its itteration We observed before two sorts of Earthquakes some are continual that is either continually ceasing or lasting and some interrupted or itterated at distinct times In the year 554. Constantinople shook forty days together as Procopius attests and in the year 740. a great Earthquake beginning on the 7th of November lasted there a whole year as is observed by Funccius pag. 128. Chro. But this I believe was an interrupted and not a continual one In the year 480. as is related by Eutropiu lib. 10. an Earthquake shook Germany a Month together And remarkable is that which is related lib. 4. H●stor tripar In the year 344. an Earthquake shook first Antiochia and then almost all the East a year together when the preceding year the Arrian Faction assisted with the protection of Constantius had most cruelly persecuted both Athanasius and the whole Orthodox Church which we also mentioned before In the 19th year of Friderick the I. Syria and Sicily begun and afterwards continued for many years together to shake some Towns being indamaged others demolished and a dreadful slaughter made of living Creatures as George Agricola relates out of the History of those times lib. 4. de nat efflu è terra pag. 151. where he adds that an Earthquake happened at Seville and Cordoua in Spain which lasted three years which is very remarkable In the year 741. twenty Earthquakes almost continued shook Wiritzbourgh as Funccius observes In the year 1276. twelve Earthquakes shook Germany there being but a little space of time between them as is witnessed by Stumpfius lib. 5. cap. 1. In the year 1295. an Earthquake was repeated at Constance 19 times In the year 1531. a great Earthquake was itterated 8 times at Olysippa or Lisburn in Portugal In the year 177. Basill was shook 9 times in 9 months That Earthquake which happened in Queen Elizabeth's Reign was also interrupted that is to say was repeated so that between the first and second time at which time it was not so vehement in these places as at the first it interposed about a quarter of an hour But that which was inquired after in the propounded Problem was whither the matter of an Earthquake reaching so far was consumed in those two shakes I would not here rashly assert any thing nor frighten my self with sinistrous Omens I will only mention that which if not necessarily yet truly may be determined for Physical Principles of interrupted Earthquakes I will lay the Theorems in order First When there happen● a great Earthquake that reaches far and near all the Vapours collected in the Earth shake it not together and at once but are interrupted for forty days then for a year and sometimes they threaten another Earthquake in the same place for two years for Vapours may be contain'd so long within the Earth This Aristotle asserts almost in so many words which is also confirmed by the experience of these examples we have cited and by such others which also Aristotle explains by a very apt Similitude As the unnatural Pulses in our Bodies says he do not presently but by degrees and interruptedly end with the Disease so winds no not sooner leave off shaking the Earth than the Relicks of them are consumed Another Physical Theorem is That interrupted Earthquakes commonly return in a more vehement manner for the longer the Vapour contends within the Earth the stronger 't is rendred The third Theorem is likely That as Pliny writes of the Plague Lib. 7. cap. 59. That it hath been a long time experienced that it goes from East to West and if it happens otherwise it every where prevails So an Earthquake goes from the South to the North from East to West This is also certain that there are two sorts of Interruptions one quick when 't is suddenly itterated the other slow when 't is repeated after many Days and Months The last Earthquake had not any sudden renew all but we have reason to fear a slow one To which we may add that the Eclipse of the Sun on the 27th of December threatens us with its effects and the Conjunction of Saturn and Mars in Scorpio may add to it of which this is their Rule Saturn in Mars shakes the Earth which Rule experience confirmed in the year 1542. when after the same Conjunction a great Earthquake shook Constantinople And there will be a Conjunction of Saturn and Mars in July as there was in October 1531. when Portugal was grievously shaken But we must refer the care of futurities to God 'T is our duty to rest on his eternal presence to correct past things and live now more chastly and piously as Mr. Beverly learnedly and fervently exhorts in his Treatise of Trepidations of the Earth pag. 132. which that we may do God Almighty grant who alone can move Mens Hearts as he doth the Earth FINIS