In the yeare of our Lorde 1555. were séene in the citie of Duringia thrée sunnes the tenth day of February in the same Duringia was a gaping open of the earth out of which came a mightie stinck which verie much molested the lookers on wyth the beating paines of the head yet certaine further examining the place obserued and sawe wythin that great clift straunge formes in the night and many great matters besides heard At Luneberge was séene this straunge sight in the ayre a great company of Souldiars at the right hande of which company stoode by an Aungell holding a fyrie sworde in his hande and a childe was there in presence among the people by a sodaine meanes who did earnestly exhort euery one to harty repentance affirming Gods iudgement at hand and to be the day of yre and the day of calamitie misery and that the same to be a verie great and bitter daye when he had thus exhorted the people he vanished sodainly awaye and out of sight so that no man after could tell where he became In this yeare hapned at Duringia the harde and daungerous birth of a woman who had a sore trauaile in the birth of hir childe for after long trauayles the chyld◠brast forth with a great crack and noyse and deade borne after which issued great plentie of fyre which so harmed the yongling in the neather partes that blisters arose on the skinne so bigge swollen as an Egge in sight and hir owne face harmed with the fyre that fyre besides issuing forth of hir body infected the proper place with a Brimstony stinck In the Dukedome of Brunswike was a marueylous and straunge sight marked of many there which was on this wise A certaine husbandman which accustomed daylie to go vnto the wood to fetch wood home and drawing néere to the accustomed place of the wood at a certaine time sawe a farre off a great companie of horsemen which séemed to come ryding in great haste towarde the village This seing the husbandman returned for the great feare hastily backward againe and being come home so amased was demaunded the cause of hys hastie returning who answered that there were certaine companies of horsemen néere the towne approched but from whence they came or whether they would he could not say therfore greatly to be doubted said he that these newe guestes will set vpon vs in the night time Which tale so amazed the elders of the towne that for the great feare they tooke councell togither what was best to doe in the matter after the well debating on the fearefull newes they issued altogither out of the towne to knowe and vnderstande further the intent of these newe guestes what they were from whence they came and whether they purposed to go and being thus come forth togither out of the towne founde and sawe a like company of horsemen as the husbande man had before reported drawing towards them which séemed to their sight to be in number foure hundred horsemen ryding and comming towardes them in due order after which they sawe the fore frunt turned and readie prest to fight and the other company comming ryding a farre off addressed in like order which companies thus preparing forwarde to come togither and standing yet in a readinesse to fight two black men to their sight alighted from their horses which séemed to be Captaines and eche appéered valyauntly to encourage his companye to fight they thus boldened to fight behelde one the other as readie prest and in a readinesse after which the two Capitaynes againe lept on horseback Whiles these two companies yet stoode in a readinesse a marueylous darknesse hastily came in the place that it séemed farre in the night by which these husbandmen perceyued y this sight of the horsemen was none other then a deuillish illusion or méere falsehood of spirites In the bownds of Polonia were séene a marueylous company of Dogs barcking and fighting togither insomuch that manye were torne in that broyle to péeces After which folowed great warres and slaughter betwéene them of Polonia and the Muscouites In Duringia being a bright day there appéered in the ayre a bright and glittering sworde much like to a Fauchine or Turkie blade directing the point toward the South and the edge toward the East And in Cleuelande fell so great aboundance of fyre from heauen into the Rhene that the Riuer began to swell as though it had boyled In the yeare of our Lorde 1557. and in the ninth daye of March there were séene thrée sunnes and a verie faire Rainebow In the .xvij. daye of March there fell fyre from heauen and in an other place a fyrie Globe was séene it rayned also bloud and lumpes of bloud vnto the bignesse of ones hande dropped from heauen vnto the sight of many and in all the drops were séene like to mens faces And on saint Laurence daye the Sunne appeared wholy bloudy after which the French king fought a great battaile with Philip king of Spaine and after that S. Quintins takē by king Philip. In the yeare of our Lorde 1558. appeared a Comete verie fearefull which continued burning manye wéekes after which was séene a straunge sight fearefull to beholde For in the .xxj. day of August the day being cleare and caulme weather and sufficient temperate two houres before noone and a quarter the Sunne very cleare shyning was then séene inclosed about with a great circle which appéered of many colours like to the Rainebow and continued in like condition for foure howers and a halfe vnto the great feare and amazement of all such which regarded the same sight for it is written that such straunge sightes haue in times past béene séene which alwayes were foreshewers of fearefull daungers at hande as appéered by the same which Plutarche writeth that such a fearefull sight foreshewed the death of the mightie Cesar and the great scarcitie and dearth of all fruites of the earth that insued the same yere and euen the like hapned when Octauius abode at Rome that the Sunne was compassed with suche a cyrcle after which often commosions and tumults the lamentable harmes of lyghtnings ensued Such a Rainebow also appéered timely in the morning about the Sunne in the sixt Calendes of February in the yere of our Lorde 1074. after which folowed the great conspiracie of Princes against Henry the fourth of the name Emperor of the Germains In the yeare of our Lorde 1107. a lyke cyrcle about the Sunne was séene after which insued the great dissention among christian Princes In the yere also of our Lord. 1157. on the thirde Calendes of Iune about noone such a straunge shew was séene after which the euersion or destruction of many cities the scarcitie of fruites of the earth through the great distemperance of the ayre insued Many cities also were pittifully burned in Suetia after the appearance of such a sight hapning in the yeare of our Lord. 1322. In the yere of our Sauiour Christ. 1387.
backe behinde sprang sparckes scatteringly and whiles he remooued and layde the cloake downe againe such sparckles lept forth as before Who at the sight of these was stricken with a double feare and by good reason for within fiftéene dayes after was he accused of enimies for the detestable practise of poysoning and for the same earnestly layde in wayght to be slaine To conclude it appeareth that such fyres are séene in moyst Kitchins Sinckes or Guttours and where the Orfall of beastes killed are throwne or in such places most commonly are woont to be séene Such fires cleauing doe marueylously amase the fâ—arfull Yet not all fires which are séene in the night are perfite fiers in that many haue a kinde without a substaunce and heate as those which are the delusions of the Deuill well knowne to be the Prince of the world and flyeth about in the ayre Of the fearefull gaping and deepe opening of the Elements The definitions THis gaping or large opening of the aire is when heauen by a sodaine light of the great exhalation kindeled vnder the Clowdes is as it were opened 2 The gaping is when any space of heauen descendeth and by a sodaine light of the great exhalation kindeled vnder the Clowdes as if heauen were opened appeareth or that heauen parted a sunder without crack or noise gapeth and the same part séemeth to throwe or cast forth fire which sheweth as it were the mightie burning of some place to the great terror and feare of the beholders this at the appearaunce pronounceth drye tempestes to follow 3 The gaping is when fyre as out of heauen parted a sunder séemeth to fall cast forth through a thicke clowde 4 The gaping or wide opening is when fire out of heauen parted a sunder séemeth as it were to fall forth of a holow Caue A difference betweene the gaping and deepe opening MAny Philosophers doe briefely distinguishe them on this wise when the partyng a sunder in heauen is but small then is the same named a déepe opening But when the parting in heauen is large and the déepenesse of the Clowdes great then is the same named a gaping So that this Clowde comming in the middle betwéene if it shall be small then is the same named the opening if great then the same named the large or wyde gaping What the efficient cause is THe efficient cause of this gaping is the onely beames of the Sunne and the other starres for it hath drawne to the ayre a light and rare fume which through his tenuitie or thinnesse or for the heate forcing within the clowde or for the agitation of the Clowde néere is it kindled euen as the Gunpowder made of brimstone and Nyter that lighlye taketh and forciblie burneth What the matter and forme is THe matter is an exhalation thinne and light which as it is sodainely kindled euen so doth it sodainely burne This fume doth lightly take fire and is scattered The formall cause is that agitation of the fume in the aire which kindleth it Although this fume maye heate by the owne accorde yet heateth it more when the same flyeth vp vnto the vpper region of the ayre where lightly it is kindled This forme is diuers according to the diuersity of the matter and place For when the exhalatioÌ„ falleth thorow a thick clowde the déepenesse in heauen appéereth greater and the greater truely when the middle partes of the exhalation are thick and in the compasse about thin And lesser it appeareth when the thicknesse of the middle clowdes is not so much Or thus the forme is an agitation of the exhalation kindeled which if it fall thorow a thicke clowde the déepenesse in heauen appéereth the greater Yea greater when the middle partes of the exhalation thicke and in the compasse about shall be thin Or otherwise by a thick clowde the colour black the gaping shall appéere purple or bloudie As the lyke purple colour is séene when the black shall be mixed with a whyte clowde Or as the sunne sometimes at his rysing is séene or the fyre in a grosse smoke Otherwise the cause of the white colour is the clearenesse of the ayre through which the light is séene for when through a cleare and not so black a clowde it is fallen the light then is named as a flame shyning Of these may you reade more in Seneca What the ende of the gapings be PLynie wryteth that the Gapings to be foreshewers of mightie perils not that as causes go before but for the same go before that these euils may inuade and come that is happen certaine and for the more part as be battels seditions and infinite like calamities And such rare sights of the Gapings and others often are shewed to vs yea without Phisick causes that these may moue christian mindes to repentance Yet doe many Physically denote at the appearaunce drie tempests to insue And this is worthie to be noted that the Astrologians pronounce battels to arise and come out of the same place where this gaping is séene Certaine examples of lyke effect hapned in our time as first in the yere 1529. and in the ninth day of Ianuary betwéene the hower of nine ten of the night a mighty Gaping was séene throughe Germany reaching from the East into the North vnto the Sommer setting in the West After which in the same yere insued that violent breaking in of the Turkes into Germany And the Nystoriographers haue noted the same that in the time of Tiberius Caesar a mightie Gaping was séene after which such a fyre fell to the earth when Philiâ— king of Macedonie brought Greece in subiection Virgill doth account this large Gapingâ— to be among the number of the feareful toâ—kens in that the death of the valiant Turâ—nus slayne by Aeneas was by the same foreshewed The Commentatour vpon thâ— second booke of Plynie wryteth that an other fearefull Gaping was séene in the yerâ— 1536. and in the sixtene day of December betwéene sixe and seauen of the clock in the night stretching from the North into the Winter West setting after which within a short time ensued but a small lightning with thunder so that little harme succéeded at that time The Author sawe a terrible Gaping in the East in the yere .1565 and in the .26 daye of Nöuember after fiue of the clock in the morning How many Rainebowes may be sene togither at one time ARistotle whom Plynie followeth supposeth that thrée Rainebowes can hardlye be caused nor more then thrée at anye time bicause the one is euermore darcker than the other in suche manner that the thirde reflection is caused the weakest that it cannot attaine or reach vnto the Sunne But experience reproueth both Aristotle and Plynie in that thrée Rainebowes may well appéere or be séene togither yea more sometimes in this our age haue bene séene but such accounted for woonders by which God sheweth to men matters to come as maye rightly be gessed And that the same may be Vitellio also witnesseth although
them among the number of the Gods. So that these two appearing togither were euermore foreshewers of a safe and prosperous course of the ship in that by the comming of them they supposed that other threatning impression appéering alone named Helena to be driuen awaye And for the same they assigned that power to Castor and Pollux and named them the Gods of the Sea. For that impression appéering alone is knowne to threaten euermore daunger in that the exhalation as yet compact can not immediatly be scattered and spent whereof through the long tariance in sight and thick substaunce of burning is the great hazarde of perishing at hande But the two lights or candels appéering doe contrariwise signifie in that these declare that the thicke substaunce to be in a maner spent and the tempest which began to aryse broken and quyeted or brought caulme So that after the appéeraunce of them no daunger at all remayneth but a quiet or caulme Sea rather to ensue To conclude the solitarie lights doe note matter to abound in the ayre of which the tempests are ingendred For when the thick substaunce of the exhalations and cause of the vntemperatnesse is in a maner spent then caulmnesse of the Sea insueth But where the exhalation is ouermuch compact which immediatly is not scattered through the long continuance and the grosse substaunce of burning there doth it declare a perillous tempest Wherof Seneca writeth that when in a great tempest Starres or lightes appeared as they were cleauing to the Sayle the Maryners in ieopardie thought and affirmed themselues then to be holpen by the power of Castor Pollux But the cause of a better hope is it appéereth euen then that the tempest to be broken and the winds to cease Of the flying Dragon in the ayre what the same is Or thus the vapour on such wise kindled expelled from a cold clowde is in the middle bended like the belly of a Dragon but in the forepart is the vapor stretched narrow representeth the figure of the neck from it do sparks as it were by brething issue forth The flying Dragon is ingendred of a vapour not vehemently hote drawne vp mightely coagulated and pressed togither and placed betwéene a colde hote clowde Or thus this great impression of the ayre is wrought and caused beneath the middle region when the exhalation drawne vp vnequall not vehemently hote and stronglye coniealed the two contrarie clowdes place betwéene the one a colde clowde expelling the vapour as contrarie to it from whence the belly of the Dragon beginneth the other a hote clowde receyuing it and through the smalenesse this expresseth the forme of the neck and the vttermost or furthest part nere the colde clowde appéereth as a taile drawne narrow togither For the propertie of colde is to gather or binde hard and narrow togyther To conclude the two clowdes doe here concurre as the hote and cold clowde For that cause the exhalation placed in the middle inclyneth it selfe vnto the hote clowde for the plentie of fyre and doth in the middle concurre and is there bended For the beginning and ende are néere matched or ioyned to the cold clowde So that it séemeth in the beginning to breath smoke forth through the nighnesse of the moyst clowde The first part séemeth the grosser or bigger in that the same is newe kindled but the furthest part or ende appeareth the straighter or smaller in that the same is nighe to the quenching out through which is this bended And the reason why at the vanishing of the Dragon a smoke is scattered abrode is for that the hote and burning clowde contrarie to the colde procureth a smoke as the like appéereth in gréene woode burning or for that the matter scattered through the colde clowde smoketh Of the Dragon inuented of the wicked which they vse in dyuers maners to purchase them vnlawfull gayne Phisick of the same doth here vtter no reason as that the same is prepared and made of a vapour and exhalation For well knowne it is that their Dragon to be wrought by the pollicie of Deuils and inchantments of the wicked as sundrie examples lamentable doe make manifest at this day As the like in the yere 1532. in manye Countries were Dragons crowned séene flying by flocks or companies in the ayre hauing Swines snowtes sometimes were there séene foure hundred flying togither in a companie Of the fire cleauing and hanging on the partes of men and beastes THis impression for troth is prodigious without any Phisicke cause expressing the same when as the flame or fire compasseth about anye persons heade And this straunge woonder and sight doth signifie the royall assaultes of mightie Monarchies and kinges the gouernmentes of the Emperie and other matters worthie memory of which the Phisicke causes sufficient can not be demonstrated Seing then such fyers or lightes are as they were counterfets or figures of matters to come it sufficiently appeareth that those not rashely to appeare or showe but by Gods holy will and pleasure sent that they maye signifie some rare matter to men This light doth Virgill write of in the seconde booke of Aeneados of Ascanius which had a like flame burning without harme on his heade Also Liuius in his first booke and Valerius Maxi. reporte of Tullius Seruius a childe who sléeping on bedde such a flame appeared on his heade and burned rounde about the heade without harme to the woonder of the beholders which sight pronounced after his ripe age the comming vnto royall estate What is to be thought of the flame or fyre which cleaueth to the heares of the heade and to the heares of Beastes EXperience witnesseth that the fyre to cleaue manye times to the heades and eares of beastes and often times also to the heades and shoulders of men ryding and going on Foote For the exhalations dispearsed by the ayre cleaue to the heares of horses and garments of men which of the lightnesse doe so ascend and by the heate kindled Also this is often caused when men and other beastes by a vehemēt and swift motion wax very hote that the sweate fattie and clammye is sent forth which kindled yeldeth this forme And the like maner in all places as afore vttered as eyther in moyst and clammie places and marishes in Churchyards Cloysters Kitchins vnder Galosses valleys and other places where many deade bodies are laide doe such burnings lightes often appeare The reason is in that these places the earth continually breatheth forth fatte flumes grosse and clammy which come forth of dead bodyes and when the fume doth thus continually issue forth then is the same kindled by the labouring heate or by the smiting togither euen as out of two flint stones smitten togither fyre is gotten Cardanus in his .14 booke and .69 Chapter of the varietie of things reporteth that a certaine friende of his after his comming home about an houre past in the night put of the cloake that he customably ware from whose
9. If the Haruest be caulme the Winter folowing shall be windie 10. The South winde bloweth when Virgiliae aryse that is in the Moneth of May. 11. The North winde bloweth at the rysing of Orion which is the day folowing after the Dogge starre risen 12. The South west winde bloweth in the Moneth of February when that named Fidicula beginneth to set and it is confirmed by the rysing of Cinguli Orionis for after this the earth openeth and beginneth to sende vp plants 13. When the Moone is ioyned to Iupiter as the Astrologians affirme newe winds are caused Euen so the Moone running in Cancer procureth windes When the Moone commeth vnto Iupiter in Cancer you shall sée windes to arise without doubt 14. The Sunne in Capricorno the Moone in eyther Scorpio Capricorno Tauro or Virgine doe cause most colde windes The same doth the Sunne moue in Aquarius when Saturne shall be right against that the Moone beholdeth eyther of these Saturne also retrograde in an earthly signe seaseth windes The selfe same causeth Mars 15. Windes are wont to blowe for the more part at the morning and euening But at noone for the greater heate of the Sunne the winds then cease And lyke at midnight are extinguished through the extreme coldnesse 16. When the windes begin from the morning to blow then doe the windes longer continue 17. The South winde not beginning but leauing or ceasing bringeth a showre For when out of a hote place the wynde bloweth the selfe same ayre at the winde beginning is yet hote 18. One and the selfe same winde may cause contrarie effectes as both chiefe and weake and by it selfe one and an other by accidence Euen the like the East winde from the beginning is drie but the ending of it is waterie The North winde by it selfe cooleth yet by accidence may it heat â–ª 19. All mightie windes coole and drie and procure or cause fayre weather but thâ— weake windes heate and moystine and ingender rayne 20. The longer contynuing and stronger windes are caused which begin from the daye than those which beginne in the night 21. When the North wynde blowing moueth many clowds signifieth a drought to folow or great heate 22. The Easterly windes be drie thorow the combustion of the vapours wrought by the sunne for which cause they produce and cause a drougth 23. The Westerly windes doe moystine through the grosse vapours left behinde of the Sunne in the night time 24. Raine hastily comming is foreknowne by a great clowde arysing from that part of the worlde from which the windes arise or come And howe much the thicker and greater the clowde shall be so much the sooner and certayner shall it gyue the testimony of a boysterous raine soone after to follow 25. The South winde when it bloweth fiercely or sturdilye and the North winde after beginneth to blowe is a note of a most great tempest especially on the Sea. 26. Lightnings with a Northerly wind doe signifie raine to folow 27. Thunder with an Easterly or Westerly winde declare raine or a mightie tempest to follow 28. A Northerly yeare after the minde of the auncient obseruers is farre better then a Southerly 29. It is good and profitable to take a purgation at the blowing of the South and East winde For then are the members soluble and lose and giue place to medicine but the North winde blowing doth then mightily stop and let the working of a purgation 30. The auncient in times past haue obserued the first night of Ianuary which iâ— the same were cleare wythout rayne and caulme without winde promised a fruitfull and prosperous yere to follow If with an Easterly winde then was the yeare to come daungerous to cattle If wyth a Westerly winde then was the yere folowing deadly to kings If with a Southerlye winde the people dyed that yere folowing If with a Northerly winde the yeare to come was knowne barraine with the scarcitie of victuals Of the impressions named Parelia and Paraeselinae The definitions PArelius is a thick impression in a clowde caused at the one side of the Sunne thorowe the refraction of the Sunne beames which then representeth the sunnes ymage 2. Parelius is a dewie clowdie thicke whole placed vnto the one side of the sunne and representing his similitude and figure For the clowde nere to the Sunne and turned into water in which the Sunne by the broken beame for the dewe thicknesse and his wholenesse frameth then a similitude euen the lyke in a cleare ayre as the same in a polished Glasse which ymage thus appearing at the one side named Parelius 3. Parelius is an ymage and figure of the Sunne expressed in a dewie clowde and bright when the subtill moysture betwéene our sight and the Sunne concurreth into one bodye of a round equall clowde and the like fashyoned standing right afore the sunne from which the sunne beames are broken open as from a Glasse vnto the eye So that these then frame and cause a lyke figure to the sunne 4. Parelius is an ymage of the sunne placed by the side in an equal clowde eyther of the East or West which is the cause why many sunnes sometimes are séene which truely are caused when a thicker clowde shal be drawne vnto the one side of the sunne in which the Sunne beames broken open doe leaue the kinde forme of a true lyght So that the first figure is a representation of the perfite and true sunne But the seconde and thirde is through the breaking open of the sunne beames placed in the clowde on the one side 5. Parelius is as affirmed Seneca a rounde clowde and bright and lyke to the sunne 6. Parelia are named to be those when manye Sunnes are séene to shyne in the clowds vnder the East or West Parelius is then caused when a clowde of y one side of the Sunne shall be placed eyther of the East or West especially equall and a like thicke which as a Glasse receaueth and expresseth the ymage or fygure of the sunne For we sée both in the water and in a thicker ayre and in other bodyes which consist with a light vpper face and equall that the matters placed by a iust proportion to be expressed vnto them as in a Glasse 7. Paraselinae be ymages of the Moone caused by the refractioÌ„ of the Moones beames in a moyst clowde néere to a light equally thick in which the bodye of the first or true Moone is the lyke séene as any other body â—n a Glasse 8. Paraselinai are named many Moones â—f which onely one is true the others be â—ut figures and ymages of the Moone cauâ—ed by the refraction of the Moones beames â—n the clowde For these reflexions are oneâ—y caused of the effectuous beame lyke as is 〈◊〉 the Sunne or Moone The efficient cause is the celestiall vertue â—nd starrie propertie that is the Sunnes â—nd Moones beames drawing vp and preâ—aring a matter vnto such a figure that
matter when it is sent downe striketh and entreth into the thinner bodyes and smyting into solyde bodyes forthwith dissolueth destroyeth and wasteth whose force for troth is to be marueyled at Otherwise is the same reported to be cléere and flaming This lightning is diuersly caused For the matter otherwise of the lightning hath verie much of the earthly and viscous matter For which cause it burneth the resistaunt matters especially if of the same substaunce which may be burned they consist and imprinteth or sheweth the notes of burning yet the matter sometimes of the lightning consisteth of the vapours verie subtill and impure Hereof the bodyes thinne and hauing poores this entereth without any note or shewe of hurte and corrupteth the inner members and the solyde bodyes resisting doth it part into péeces consumeth them So that this slayeth a man or anye lyuing beast wythout any wounde appearing or note of hurt And this also melteth the golde or siluer in mens purses the purses remayning vnperished Albertus magnus applyeth vnto the lightnings of this kinde the depriuing of sight and the swelling of the face For so much as we often sée men beholding the lightnings become blynde yea and the face by that meanes so swollen that a man can hardly knowe after the person The same is caused through the thinnesse and porositie of our skinne and eyes which lightly receiue the subtil vapour so that this corrupteth the radicall moysture of the face and swelleth the face and dryeth also the radicall moysture of the eyes through which dryed blindnesse of necessitie must insue In what time of the yere the lightnings oftner happen is here vttered For the sightnings in Winter sildome appeare to vs and the reason as Plynie reporteth is in that the materiall cause is not so copious as in other times the same is woont to be for in the Winter tyme the exhalation is onely moyst and colde which gathered into the clowdes receyueth a verie hote force and although the same shall not be perceyued yet is it sodainely extinguished through the force of the colde Further euery vapour of the earth is stiffe and verie colde For which cause in Scythia and in the Countries farther North it is to be supposed that it sildome lightneth And in Sommer in the hotter Countries fewe lightnings are cauâ—sed for that in the Sommer the exhalatioâ— is onely hote and dry which in no maner oâ— verie hardly can be gathered and thickneâ— into a clowde Whereof in Aethiopia â—â—gypt and in the Countries vnder the Trâ—â—pick of Cancer for the excéeding heat lighâ—â—ning doe sildome happen But with vs iâ— the Sommer time dwelling Northwardâ— lightnings are oftner caused in that the heate of sommer is not so great that it can consume all the matter or substaunce of the clowdes Euen so in the meane seasons of the yere as in the spring time and haruest lightnings are oftner caused in that the constitution of these seasons ministreth to the ayre much matter as wel dry as moyst The cause why man or beast is so slayne that no token of the hurt or wounde appeareth is for that the force and subtilnesse of the kindled vapour by which at a 〈◊〉 pierceth through the skinne and penetrable fleshe through out porouse and blasteth the vitall members with a pestilent poyson and wyth the venymous qualitie and vertue which all lightnings are named to haue it slayeth The same may verie well be applyed vnto the foote hurt and the shooe not perished and to the sap of trées corrupted the trée remayning whole without any corruption of the woode The cause why money is so molten with the lightning the purse or money bagge remayning whole and the sworde in like maner the sheath abyding vnperished is for that these bodies are porouse which lightly yéelde to the mighty spirite and subtill lightning vapour in which if such a mighty force of striking be through the great violence it then parteth into small péeces the resistaunt and harde bodyes if such a force of burning it then melteth Such is the violence of this that it throweth downe pinnacles of stone yea Towers most stronglye wrought and other buyldings mightie stones also it parteth in péeces such matters which haue anye resistaunce and hardnesse in them this ouerthroweth The cause why lightnings often smyte most highe places as stéeples towers and among trées the high Oke in especiall and highe Mountaynes is for that such which be the higher are the more open to iniuries of the clowdes in the ayre and by the course running here and there these bodies in the waye resisting happen to be striken and spoyled And euerye agent mightier worketh néere hand then that which by a great space is distaunt The other cause deuine is in that euill spirits dwelling in the ayre doe often stirre vp and cause through Gods suffraunce cruell tempestes and spoyle lyke places by Gods due vengeaunce The cause why nettes lying in the water may be burned of the lightning is for that the flame of the same hath much of the Brimstonie and viscous matter so that fallen into water it may burne the same hauing attayned the due matter And the same doe our Artificers proue in Gunpowder of which the whole Arte insueth the celestiall lightnings And the lyke in a maner may a man sée in lyme which through the powring vpon of water waxeth hote and is kindled The cause why the lightning cutteth or parteth a vessell in péeces or is burnt with the lightning the Wyne remayning whole togither for a certaine space as if the same were coagulated is through the lightning which hath verye much of the Brimstonie substance and viscositie in it which by piercing into the whole substance of the Wine is sparsed hereof through the heate what soeuer is fast holding is forced and sent into the furthest extending of the Wine both dryed and boyled agayne through the fyrie spirite of the lightning that worketh a certaine skinne which stayeth the Wine from running forth for a certaine time and the same as it were with a skinne compassed about retayneth So that these miraculously are caused by one inforcement and as it were in a moment The same iudgement may be vttered of the others lyke What the lightning Dart is THe same is the stone of the lightning as the later wryters report which sometimes in wedge forine sometimes rounde and sometimes in piller forme falleth with a mightie force into the earth and both cleaueth scattreth destroyeth and burneth the resistaunt bodyes and matters The manner of the ingendring of the Stone THe vapour of the lightning is drye and sometimes somewhat clammy of a certayne Metallyne matter earthly and thick which through the much motion and diuers agitation falling into a moyst clowde is conglutynated euen like meale tempered with water and baked and in the ende hardned into a solyde yronnie or stonnie Masse euen lyke potters clay baked into a stone This exhalation aswell flashing forth of
last finding issue to passe causeth the earth swelled vp to fal and settle agayne in the proper place What the fourth kinde is THe same is when a mightie and huge substance of earth like to a Mountaine is throwne out of the earth or when anye part of the earth sincketh déepe downe thorowe which eyther floodes lakes or riuers or else fires brast forth This kinde doth Aristotle verie well open where he vttereth that the motion of the earth now caused in certaine places doth not cease before that winde which had moued forwarde to cast vp the earth on a great heigth aboue grounde and lyke a storme of smoke and ashes issued forth which like lately hapned by the Sea Heraclea and before néere the Iland Hiera which is one of them which at this day they name Aeolias For in this a part of the earth swelled and rose vp with a noyse into the kinde of a light hill which at the last breaking a sunder much winde issued that sent vp fyre and ashes This also procureth the ouerflowings of the Sea when the bottome of the same is raysed and swollen vp through which manye Ilandes appeare that were neuer seene before The learned Aristotle reporteth that the Countrie Egypt in time past was a great Goulfe of the Sea which through an Earthquake as it shoulde séeme procured to be drye lande and remayning in the same maner vnto this day a like reporteth Herodotus What the materiall cause is THe materiall or effectiue cause neare to the Earthquake is the exhalation hote and drie or the winde engendred and included within the caues or dennes of the earth which séeking a violent issue at hys naturall places breaketh forth of the earth and causeth in this maner a violent shaking of the earth And that the earth of hys proper nature is drie and prepareth vapours and exhalations the same in a maner at this day séemeth a maruell to fewe of any knowledge For the same is sufficiently knowne that it is caused by accidence Yet further the true cause of the earthquake or trembling of the earth is the winde or drie vapour grosse and earthly included of the earth and otherwise sent in or there ingendred so that manifest it is that such spirites or winde to be ingendred in the earth For well knowne is this that the earth of it selfe is drye but the same moystened with daylie showers of rayne and the poores shut harde togither that the exhalation ingendred or conceyued brasteth not forth and salt or sea waters cause the like in that these through the saltnesse close or shut the poores of the earth with which the same is on euerye side compassed and in a maner swimmeth or runneth ouer it and after with the beames of the sunne heating doth ingender a great aboundance of exhalations which not so much breaketh vp into the ayre but that within it selfe often retayneth drye spirites or vapours both grosse and earthly which cause the Earthquake This sentence of Plynie of the materiall cause doe the Philosophers affirme and prooue that the same through the gathering of the spirites is ingendred and Aristotle in these coniectures proueth by a lyke reason that the Earthquake may so be caused The first reason is taken of mans body in which windy spirites when in it they are included are woont to cause a trembling or shaking where the venting forth could not be caused A second reason he gathereth and taketh of the condition of a quyet or caulme ayre and season when as the tyme is cléere and a great stilnesse in the night and at Noone Here or at that time the spirites included in the earth can not breath forth A thirde reason through the plentye of matter which caused greater in the spring and haruest than in the other quarters or partes of the yere Of which in those tymes for the more part are Earthquakes caused A fourth reason he vttreth of experience for so much as the same by vse is found that the agitation not to cease vntill the whole force of spirites shall haue breathed forth The fift and last of the precedent sounde for the earth causeth a roring or sounde thorowe the windie spirite met before the same be smytten resisted The selfe same confirmeth the reason of the tyme and places For these are caused a little before the Sunne rysing at what tyme the windes are woont for the more part to arise In the Equinoctials also when the greater force of vapours consisteth than in the Solstices and through the straight or narrow places of the Sea in which straight places the winde is included is wont there to be violenter and séeking the caues or hollow places doth so smite and shake the earth What the formall cause is THe formall cause is the agitation and smyting of the earth for the drie vapours and windes there included by hys vertue are lifted or forced vp séeking issue forth but when this is no where open thorowe the passages of the earth stopped are driuen and sent back warde with no meane force through which stryuing the earth in the ende is smitten and shaked For by the ouermuch heate or colde is the issue of vapours procured of which the smyting is caused A sure an euident note of this are the windes in mans bodye included For those shake euen the whole body when by force at the last they breake forth and the lyke is caused in the belching and refting and in all other agitations of the bodye of what condition soeuer they be So that the same which procureth the winde aboue the earth and in the clowds thunder the same causeth a trembling or shaking in the passages of the earth Which the obiect or place is of the Earthquake THe great Earthquakes are caused in the Sea coastes where many exhalations may be included For the Sea entreth into the earth as it were by certayne pypes and holloweth the same where after the spirites or windes are ingendred which when they contende to issue forth are repelled or driuen back of the Sea floodes and are on such wise hid againe in the bowels of the earth which after increased nor with those séeketh issue doe then smite against the sides of the earth Aristotle reporteth that the most mightie Earthquakes to be there caused where the Sea daylie floweth or the Countrie is spungeous or the same aboundeth wyth hollow places caues and déepe dennes For which cause he affirmeth that such tremblings to happen oftner about Hellespontus Achaia Sicilia and Euboea through the Sea running neare by which as by certaine pypes entreth into these places and through his coldenesse dryueth inwarde the exhalations The Countrie of Hollande and other hollow places through the multitude of caues and inwarde holes rightlye named Holeland which both the same and others like are subiect to this euill In places farre from the Sea are fewer Earthquakes caused in that the earth there is not so hollowed and the Sea causeth not
A contemplation of Mysteries contayning the rare effectes and significations of certayne Comets and a briefe rehersall of sundrie Hystoricall examples as well diuine as prophane verie fruitfull to be reade in this our age with matter delectable both for the Sayler and Husbandman yea and all traueylers by Sea and lande in knowing aforehande howe daungerous a tempest will succeede by the sight of the clowd coming ouer the head and other matters fruitful to be read as shal appere in the Table next after the Preface Gathered and englished by Thomas Hyll ¶ Imprinted at London by Henry Denham TH Aetatis svae 42 Virescit vulnere veritas To his singuler friend mayster Henrie Fynche Marchant Thomas Hyll wisheth health and felicitie IF among friendes there needes great and ample giftes then will not my pouertie furnishe your expectation Large giftes I haue none the greatest I am able to shewe is good will the which is gift great ynough among right friendes Therefore forasmuch as I haue alwayes counted you as one of my dearest friendes and you likewise haue accepted mee among your friendly fraternitie I thanke you therefore I trust this my remembraunce shall be a sufficient token and pledge of my good will. It is not long since I for want of better furniture offred you the like token the which was of you so gently receyued as I am not able to tell well whether I were more sorie I had no better gift to gratifie you withall or wheather I more marueyled at your curtesie in so well esteeming so small a thing If I had had better at that tyme better would I haue bestowed as nowe I would also but as you receyued that simple and rude thing then in good part at my handes of I againe trust you will doe nowe no lesse at thys time renuing that friendship which vnequally of person had almost seperated and losed in so doing I can but wishe you well the which prayer as I am bounde I will alwayes bestow vpon you Thus in few wordes I ende committing you to God who graunt you long health and prosperitie in this life Yours most bounden Thomas Hill. The Preface to the gentle Reader Thought it good gentle Reader to admonishe I thee in two or three lynes what mine intent meaning is in renuing againe of this little Treatise for although an indifferent reader may iudge therof yet all mens natures not being a like to auoyde the cauils of busie heades and the byting speaches of Zoylus broode I am aduised to interpret mine owne meaning My purpose according to my duetie is to doe good nature bindeth my countrie chalengeth euery good man according to his talent power ought to fulfil the same God thretneth the deuine to such as will heare cryeth repentaunce to such as can not away wyth that kinde of speache but desireth sweeter and more delectable geare the Player with his stage matters by an other kinde of more pleasant meanes admonisheth and by a plaine demonstration putteth euery man in minde of his vocation I professing no diuinitie nor yet acquainted with playing inuention haue by an other meanes if it were possible put thee in remembraunce of thy duetie to Godward we see Gods mercifulnesse hee seldome punisheth but sendeth before his messengers tokens and wonders to forewarne vs if we were not dulheades we might perceyue the same but if we had grace we woulde indeuour our selues to amendment Before God destroyed his owne Citie Ierusalem he caused to appeare in the element wonderfull and terrible visions Before the imperiall seate of Constantine was translated signes and tokens were seene in the ayre God as wee maye reade in Cronicles seldome or neuer made alterations in kingdomes but he before sent in Ambassage his threatning Creatures To seeke for olde and forraine examples we neede not seeing we haue ynough of late dayes at home freshe in our memories as first he by burning his owne house brought a present terrour into the mindes of many and forced them to call on his name and generally foreshewed that as he spared not that place wherein his name was dayly called on no more would he spare the people that despised his lawes and ordinaunces and soone after it came so to passe for when the warninâ— woould not be taken he punished more seuerely hee sent a greâ— mortalitie and sweeped or tooke away a great number God is iust and mercifull for iust he is in punishing and mercifull in forgiuing The continual bearing of monsters the troublesome Elements these last two Summers the vnseasonable weather and last of all the late straunge and wonderfull inunâ—ations doe threaten Gods iustice in punishing the offenders and his clemencie and mercie by fauouring vs so gently God notwithstanding that he threatned Niniuie by the mouth of his Prophete yet did hee mercifully forgiue them vpon their repentance God poure out hys spirite vpon vs and giue vs his grace to acknowledge and bewaile our offences so shall we be spared with Niniuie and the Lorde will turne away all his threatnings into forgiuenesse It is high time we repent God threatneth we are in daunger compassed on euery side all things are readie nothing wanteth but Gods permission I haue bene somewhat longer gentle Reader than at the beginning I promised or purposed yet take this for breuitie sake but for an enteraunce of a great deale more that might aptly be here vttered the rest vntouched I commit to thy iudgement and vnderstanding Thus resting I craue none other than your friendly report in furthering this Treatise Vale feliciter The Table THe sundrie definitions effects and significations of Comets Fol. 1 The explication or plaine declaration of the definition 1 Of the coÌ„tinuance motioÌ„s of Comets 2 The place where Cometes often ingendreth 2 How some interprete the motion of Comets 3 The ende effect and significations of Comets 3 Sundrie examples of Comets 5 Other prodigious tokens 7 Of the maruellous nature of Welles Riuers Lakes and waters c. 15 Of certaine fierie impressions and first of the same named of most men the foolish fire 21 The cause of Castor and Pollux and where these ingendred 24 Of the flying Dragon in the ayre what the same is 25 Of the fire cleauing and hanging on the partes of men and beastes 26 What is to be thought of the flame or fire which cleaueth to the heares of the head and to the heares of beastes 27 Of the feareful gaping and deepe opening of the Elements The definitions 28 A difference betweene the gaping and deepe opening 29 What the efficient cause is 29 What the matter and forme is 29 What the ende of the gapings be 30 How many rainebowes may be seene togither at one time 31 Whereof many Rainebowes proceede 31 That three Rainebowes maye appeare at one time 32 In what time of the yeare Rainebowes for the more part are caused 32 Are not the Rainebowes caused through the beames of the other starres 33 Of the
windes 34 Certaine properties of the windes 34 Certaine obseruations of the windes 37 Of the impressions named Parelia and Paraeselinae The definitions 48 The similitude 42 The ende and effect of these 42 Certaine examples of these 43 Of thunder what the same is 45 The kindes of thunder 46 What the finall cause of the thunder 48 What the coulours of the clowdes warne and foreshew in the thunders 48 Certaine foreknowledges of thunder 50 Of that lightning named Fulgur what the same is and of the others 52 Of the fearefull and violent lightning 54 What the lightning Dart is 60 The manner of the ingendring of the Stone 60 Of the maruellous force nature and miracles of the lightnings 61 What an Earthquake is 65 How manye kindes of Earthquakes there are 66 What the ruine is 66 What the Gaping is 66 What the Pulsation is 67 What the fourth kinde is 67 What the materiall cause is 68 What the formall cause is 69 Which the obiect or place is of the Earthquake 70 How the ingendring is or of the maner of the ingendring of Earthquakes 71 What the finall causes are 72 What the effects are 74 Which the signes be of an earthquake 74 FINIS ¶ A briefe Catologue of rare wonders and fearefull sightes seene aswell on earth as in the element The sundrie definitions effects and significations of Comets A Comet after the opinion of Albertus is an earthlye grosse vapour whose partes much gather to it ascending from the lowest parte of heat vnto the vpper part of the same where the fire that toucheth the holownesse there shed forth and burning so that it often sheweth long sheddeth out 2. A Comet is a hote and drie matter fatte discous and earthly whose partes be thicke drawne vp by vertue of the celestiall bodies vnto the vpper regioÌ„ of the aire where through the nearenesse of the fire and might of the substaunce set on fire and caried circularely with the motion of the vpper region of the aire which drawne by that motion is so caried about 3. A Comet after the opinion of Leopoldus is an earthly vapour hauing grosse partes mightily thickning togither ascending by vertue of starres vnto the vpper parte of heate where being kindled and caried circularely with the aire signifieth the alteration of kingdomes and other great matters in this worlde 4. A Comet is an earthly exhalation hote and drie fatte and clammie with the partes thicke gathered by vertue of the starres and drawne from the bowels of the earth by little and little and perticularlye vnto the vpper region of the aire where nighest the fire through the disposition and multitute of the matter is dilated being kindled burneth wyth a long tract shedde forth is circularly moued after the condition and maner of a starre vnder which it is gathered or vnder the circulare motion of the vpper region of the aire The explication or plaine declaration of the definition THis larger definition and description contayneth the causes and maner of the increasing of the Comet and the same sufficient clearly for it must nedes insue that the substaunce of a Comet to be an earthly and viscous exhalatioÌ„ or otherwise it would soone be wasted of the burning colour and the space of time is most short in which a Comet is séene as not continuing aboue seuen dayes yet a Comet appeareth and is séene manye tymes for 40. dayes togither or somewhat longer vntill all the substance of it in the burning be in the end consumed being also drawne with this circulare motion most swift Although Plinie witnesseth that Comets haue beene séene which were as immooueable in the place Of the continuance and motions of Comets CArdanus writeth that the longest time of them except by miracle doth scarcely exceede six moneths so that for the most part the substance of a Comet is spent by the thirtie day or sooner but neuer ending before the seuenth day The motion of a Comet is thrée maner of wayes the one from the Cast into the West the seconde from the West into the East and the thirde diuers as from the West into the South or from the North into the West the excéeding greatnesse and most spéedie increase of them is marueylous in that appearing at the first but a foote brode doe after a fewe dayes occupie a fourth part of the Zodiacke The place where a Comet often ingendreth A Comet after the minde of Cardanus is oftner engendred in the North and especiallye in that part of heauen named the Milkie way from the Tropickes without yet are they gathered and caused somtimes vnder the Equinoctiall somtimes nighe the Winter Tropicke and else where but oftner as I haue sayde about the North in which part I obserued sayth Cardanus thrée Comets in thrée seuerall yeres In the night after the Euening are Comets apparantly séene yet not the like in the day except by a mightie meanes and occasion It is manifest that many Comets may be séene togither as in the age of Carolus Martellus in the month of Ianuarie were two Comets séene within fourtéene dayes togither of which the one went before the Sunne and the other folowed him with the â—ayles looking and stretched toward the North and this hapned in the yeare of mans redemption seuen huÌ„dred twentie and sixe Two other Comets appeared togither in the yeare of mannes health 1337. which not in a short time in that as companions they ended togither after two monthes complete And to the learned it is well knowne that if they happen with an Eclips then through the vertues doubled they produce much more and daungers long continuing How some interprete the motion of Comets THere be some sayth Cardanus which thus write of Comets that if they tende toward the South such signifie raine to insue if vnto the North then drought to follow if vnto the East then the pestilence and other mightie daungers if vnto the West then the best or a happie yeare and temperate And the like Porphirius that worthie Philosopher wrote but as I suppose deceyued in this séeing a Comet procéeding against the order of the signes doth signifie the mutation of lawes for that cause the Comet which tendeth from the East into the West signifieth the alteration of lawes in that it is caried agaynst the order of the signes so that when it may signifie the same alone it happeneth that a temperate yeare followeth yet doth it not signifie the temperament of the yeare The kinds and sundrie formes of Comets maye you learne in my booke of the Myrrour of time with other profitable matters The ende effect and significations of Comets THe ende of Cometes is to prepare drought the Pestilence hunger battels the alteration of kingdomes and common weales and the traditions of men Also windes earthquakes dearth landâ—louds and great heate to follow The sayde Comets portende both many other harmes and that mightie to men 2 A Comet is the note of a great drougth in
that a meane heate cannot resolue such â— matter out of the earth and draine thâ— same vp 3 The second effect of a Comet is barrennesse of the earth hunger and the dearth of vittayles in that the earth is caused barren through much drougth and lack of moysture for drougth is as the stepmother vnto all fruites and corne of the earthâ— but moysture is the apt mother vnto all fruites and crescent things on the earth So that such a mightie heat doth excéedinglye drie vp the earth and consumeth the moysture in plantes and trées through which they decay and heare no yéelde noâ—store of fruite Or thus A Comet doth cause harrennesse of the earth in that vnto a Comet a great and much exhalation is required by whose eleuation from the earth the fatnesse of the earth is so drawne vp which thus eleuated the earth after becommeth harren of yéeld and the moysture with which the earth ought to be battened is then through the ouermuch drougth vtterly depriued For whiche cause a Comet is the fore note of hunger and dearth in the same Realme which it specially beholdeth or stretcheth the tayle towardes and from whence it gathered and tooke his substance 4 Comets doe portend the murraine of beastes in that the ayre ensuing is infected and euill disposed through the hote grosse and clowdy exhalations which when beasts draw thereof are then intoxicated and infected and so die Also for that the time then is excéeding hote and the radicall moysture is on such wise drawne vp by the hote aire from the bodies of men and beastes in whoÌ„ the naturall moysture is placed as in the proper seate of the same beastes and other liuing creatures die for which cause it is the minde and councell of the learned Phisitions to vse in the same time moyst and colde meates wherby the radicall moysture may so be increased and preserued 5 Comets mooue battels and seditions and alter Emperies and kingdomes for that in the time of a Comet are many exhalations in the ayre hote drie which doe drie men and kindle heat in them by which they are lightly prouoked to yre after which yre ensueth variance next of the same followeth battell and after battell succéedeth the translation or alteration of gouernements when as the Emperie ensueth the conquerour 6 Comets do portend the death of princes kings gouernors other Magistrates of a coÌ„mon weale in that these leade a more daintie life and féede on finer meates continuallye through which they sooner be infected The death besides of princes and heade gouernors through the difference of many is of worthier report and fame and for that cause more obserued To these I adde that the Choloricke persons are then vehementer mooued through which the perturbations or troubles of mind ensue that procure seditions and battels after which procéede oftentimes the slaughter of many and death of princes for that these many tymes be present in battailes and are lightly prouoked to yre by which the battell ensueth the fiercer and on such wise many come to their death Macrobius left in writing that the death of Constantine was indicated by a Bushie starre of an excéeding bignesse that appeared in the yeare after Christes birth 304. Sundrie examples of Comets THat singuler Philosopher Augustinus Niphus writeth that after the appearing of a Comet in the yeare 1506. there followed within two yeares such a mightie drougth in Lumbardie that from Ianuary vnto the moneth of Nouember there fell no raine at all in that Countrie In the yeare of our Lorde 1165. appeared a mightie Comet or blasing starre in Scotland reaching burning out with two most long beames or tayles after which within .xiiij. dayes Malcolmus the fourth king by name of the Scottes dyed a mayden as the Chronicle reporteth In the yeare of our Lorde 1214. in the moneth of March appeared two fearefull Comets in Scotland the one going before the Sunne and the other following him after which the same yeare when as that most happie and good king William had reigned 49. yeares he then dyed an olde man. In the yeare 1268. there appeared a Comet of a maruellous bignesse about the noonestéede which was séene for manye dayes togither in Scotlande And in the yeare of our Lorde 1271. after and in the ix day of Ianuarie there arose such a cruell winde and mightie tempest withall and hayle stones of such a bignesse that through the same many houses in Scotlande were throwne down burned with fire through the windes which kindled after the same that they there kept in their houses for the vse of fire that the whole Country in a maner was wasted by the fire In the yeare of our Lord. 1538 and in the eightéene day of Ianuarie there appeared a Comet after the setting of the Sunne which was placed in the signe Pisces and the tayle looking or stretching towarde the East after which died immediately the Duke of Saronie In the yeare of our Lorde 1539. and the sixt daye of the moneth of Maye appeared a Comet in the signe Taurus not farre from the head of the Dragon which indured burning for thrée wéekes in a maner after which died Isabell of Portugall the wife of Charles the fift Emperor in the trauaile of childe In that yeare died George Duke of Saronie of an olde and crude rupture before whose death as some write there appeared thrée Comets after the appearaunce of which died the Duke of Cleaue the bishop of Trident and diuers other noble persons and Capitaines In the yeare 1540. began a great coniunction of Saturne and Mars which hapned in Cancer after which followed a marueilous drougth aboue many sommers before so that hay corne and all kinde of pulses became very scarce And this drougth folowed rather as some write after the apperaunce of a Comet the same yeare and great Eclips of the Sunne which happened the seuenth day of Aprill whose beginning was before the Sunne rising and endured in this Eclips two whole houres after the Sunne was risen vppon which followed at Prage a noble Citie in the kingdome of Boheme that the Castell with the Cathedrall Church were burned with fire and many fearefull fiers hapned often in sundrie places as the same had bene by a diuine punishment from heauen And a Commotion hapned the same yeare among the Citizens of Gaunt which Charles the fift Emperour stayed by hys wisedome Many examples more of Comets might here be vttered which for breuitie in so smal a treatise omitted and the rather for that I haue at large written of them and other weightie matters right necessarye in my booke to come forth named the Myrrour of tyme. Other prodigious tokens IN the yeare 1542. were many straunge children and monstruous beastes séene and in that yeare it rayned bloud at Sassen burge in Germanie And in Phriseland that yeare arose a certaine Prophet named George Dauid declaring himselfe to bée Gods nere kinsman and one that coulde counterfaite
he may denie any more Rainebowes than two in speaking Physicallie that may be séene differing in the standing of the colours That is although thrée Rainebowes shall sometimes appeare yet more differ not in the standing of the coulours than two or two onely haue the extreme colours transposed in such maner that the vttermost of the inner Rainebow and the innermost of the outwarder Rainebow is of a red colour And contrariwise the innermost of the inner and the vttermost of the outwarder is of a purple colour the gréene colour alwayes possessing his proper place that is the middle Whereof many Rainebowes proceede THey are caused of the refraction or breaking againe of the Sunne beames from the clowde made bright and couloured by the first that is the inner Rainebow into the néerer clowde And the beames conioyned with the beames from the Sunne into the same place falling doe so imprint or forme newe colours of the Rainebow in the same maner as the colours are caused in the inner Rainebow So that this is the cause why of the outwarder Rainebow the innermost colour is red in that the same is nighest to the sight and for the same cause that light is sent or appeareth to our eye the clearer The other colours are caused by a light imprinted or formed in the déeper partes of the Clowde and so much the more is it mixed of the shadowes and waterie darknesse For which cause these doe a little decline vnto a blacknesse That three Rainbowes may appeare at one time THe first Rainebow is caused through the refraction of the sunne beames and â—his is brightest of all the others 2 The seconde Rainebow is the ymage â—nely of the first for which cause also it is â—he weaker in that the same is caused thoâ—ow the refraction of the beames of the first Rainebow So that the colours of thys Rainebow appeare in the opposite or order â—â—ght against vnto the colours of the first â—ainebow 3 The third Rainebow is the figure and â—mage of the second and this can scarcely be séene in that the same is caused through the refraction of the second Rainebow So that the colours of this Rainebow doe appeare in the opposite order vnto the colours of the second Rainebow and in the lyke order by which the colours of the first Rainebow are séene for the aboue sayde reason Thus in breuitie thrée Rainebowes may appéere at one time in that the clowde may be so thicke that the reflection of beames may the larger stretch forth it selfe In what time of the yeare Rainebow 〈◊〉 for the more part are caused PLynie reporteth in his second booke anâ— 59. Chapiter that in the Sommer on thâ— South part they are not séene after thâ— Equinoctiall haruest at anye hower Iâ— the haruest and Winter are they especiallâ— engendred vnder the East and West partâ— through the abounding or mightie substancâ— of the rayne which the Sunne from ouâ— highest noonestéede descending occupyinâ— then the Sowtherly halfe of the Zodiakâ— runneth lower wherby it cannot consuâ—â— by the proper heate Contrariwise in thâ— Sommer are the seldome séene when as is of lesser substance then that which may be scattered by the heate of the Sunne and the Sunne also at that time ascendeth vnto the highest ouer our heads for which cause the Rainebowe in the Southquarter cannot be séene as aboue vttered Are not the Rainebowes caused through the beames of the other starres OF the Moone we haue said that through hir beames especiallye of the full a Rainebow may be caused And euen lyke in our remembraunce or tyme as in the yeare of Christ .1523 a night Rainebowe was séene After which incontinent folowed a conspiracie of the rusticall sort in Alsatia against the Magistrates In the yere folowing a commotion of the rusticall sort in the Dukedome of the noble Prince of Wirterbergensis An other night Rainbow was séene in the yere .1524 in which yere folowed sone after a most raging and â—ruell sedition which grieuously afflicted and spoyled manye partes of Germany And in the yeare .37 about the ninth houre â—n Paulme Sunday at night being the â—ext day before the full of the Moone a like night Rainebowe was obserued and séene of manye That the Rainebowes are not ingendred through the beames of the other starres may apeare in that such a distance there is of the starres from the earth that no impression of light can be brought to this dewie vapour Or thus their beames through the greatest or furthest distaunce be weaker then that they maye imprint his light with the small bodyes of the dewie vapour Here note that by the beames of the Moone especially at the full a Rainebowâ— may and is wont to be caused hauing like colours in a maner as the Sunnes sauinâ— that the night Rainebow draweth néereâ— vnto a whitenesse as with intensed coloursâ— bicause the darkenesse of the night increaâ—seth the darkenesse of the clowde througâ— which the increased light appéereth the whâ—â—ter euen as a fyre or light that is furtheâ— séene in the night tyme than in the daâ— So that of this Moones Rainebow is oâ— onely colour as the whyte not vnlyke 〈◊〉 mylke when as the clowde of the nigâ—â— colde may be ioyned togither heaped aâ— thickned more than that the Moones ligâ—â— can pierce for which cause a whytenesse appeareth on the hyghest playnnesse of the same Of the windes THe winde is an exhalation hote and dry moued thwartly or laterally about the earth which for the grauitie of the exhalation can not be caried upwarde it therefore falleth downewarde is ouerthwartly caried Or the winde is an agitation of a drie vapour drawne vp into the ayre by the vertue of the Sunne beames Or the winde is a thwart agitation of the ayre through a hote and drie exhalation which drawne vp by the vertue of the starres is sent backe and downewarde through the colde of the middle region ordeyned by naâ—ure that through the same motion the ayre may be dryuen and cleane or pure purged â—n the breathing the corne also by it rypeâ—ed and the Arte besides of sayling exerâ—ised amongst men The matter or subâ—taunce of the windes is a hote and dry exâ—alation grosse and earthly forced downeâ—arde through the coldnesse of the middle â—egion of the ayre whose note is in that the winde dryeth Certaine properties of the windes THe cause why any beast at the South winde blowing lesser hungereth is for that the heate then openeth the powers of the skinne that the inner hote spirite maye breath forth and be dissolued Whereof digestion and naturall strength is caused the weaker and by it bodies filled with a superfluous earthly moysture And the cause why the Southwinde is woont to be vehementer in the night time than in the daye is for that the exhalation of thys wynde is so hote that through the coldnesse of the night it can not be depressed So that by the proper heate drawne vp it ryseth and rageth the vehementer But
in the day time through the Sunnes heate thinned and sometimes spent whereof with such a force as in the night it can not blowe The Haruest and Spring are the aptest tymes of the yeare for the wyndes seing in those partes of the yeare manye exhalations are drawne vp which when of the Sunne beames they can not be spent through his absence they then gyue matter to the winds But in the Sommer and Winter doe the windes lesser blow For in the Sommer time the exhalations are burned by the Sunnes heate and in the Winter tyme the powers of the earth are shut so close or hard togither thorowe the intensed colde that no matter can breath forth And this worthie to be noted and marueyled at that at the blowing of the North winde Welles and deepe pittes of water sende vp more fumes then at the blowing of the South winde The cause why the Northerly windes and Southerly doe oftner blowe but the Easterly and Westerly sildomer is for that the exhalations drawne vp by the Sunne and flying the heate of the Sunne fall vnto the sides Or otherwise that in these places they finde a space and are not consumed or spent by the heate of the Sunne which is caused in the East and Weast which places the Sunne occupyeth twise in the daye and consumeth there the vapours After when the Sunne departeth into the Northerly signes he is then higher than that he can let or hinder the ascending of the exhalations But when he departeth into the Southerly signes through his néerenesse vnto the earth the beames then stretch thwarte and through this thwartnesse they be so weake that they can not waste or spende the exhalations The cause why the windes at the beginning arise softer and blow weaker is for that as we haue afore taught of the causes of the thwarte course of the windes Aristotle vttereth the cause of the circulare motion of the ayre For the ayre togither with the swift motion of heauen is drawen about So that it is manifest that all thinges to bée moued togither which be in it Seing the exhalation is hote and dry and through his lightnesse drawne vpwarde and by the cold of the middle region so letting depressed it can not of this discende downe right For thys through his lightnesse alwayes ascendeth And caried by a thwart maner that it can not of the same descende downe right For which cause it must néedes insue that the winds are caried by a thwart course The cause of the vehemencie of the windes is that the breath or winde forced through the fortitude of the colde sendeth forth the exhalation For how mightier the same depresseth the exhalation ascending so much the stronger doth the same mooue forewarde the ayre The windes also are caused the vehementer through the multitude of the exhalation ascending which with the same descending is matched or ioyned For on such wise the strengthes are increased and of the same it muste néedes force the ayre the mightier The cause why in the great heate and extreme colde little winde bloweth is for that in the same Sea soone the exhalation the foode of the winds is then spent by the Sunne but in this the earth shut with the colde can not then breath forth fumes Or playner to wryte the intensed or mightie heate of the Summer burneth and wasteth the vapour or exhalation drawne vp before it may giue or yéelde matter for the windes And in the time of the cold winter through the contrarie cause the windes lesse blow For the extreame colde of the winter shutteth the poores of the earth that nothing can then breath forth the cause that winds cease after showers of raine is for that before the raine the powers of the earth are opened out of which the matter of the windes issueth which of the raine especially of the more aboundaunt showers are then shut togither stopped that nothing may more breath forth wherof the winde must néedes cease The cause that after the blowing of the North winde the other windes ceasse is for that the same winde is colde and drye which then shutteth the powers of the earth and letteth the breathing forth except in the spring tyme For in the same time through the order of nature and the Sunne comming then vnto vs the earth opening it selfe subdueth the matter for the more part with the Northerly winds And why the windes be oftner colde is for that the windes although they be ingendred and procéede of a hote and drie vapour yet doe they breath colde The same hapneth or is caused through the farre motion of the ayre by colde places euen as by the mouth the winde or hote breath farre of moued or extended cooleth Why the West winde blowing the Dogs then euill hunt is for that it especially confoundeth the ayre and of all the windes it is the most contynuall or longest lasting and toucheth especially the earth Certaine obseruations of the windes MOst marueylous is the highest God which alone made all thinges both in heauen and earth and in the vse of the winds he would in many maners that the testimonies of his prouidence to be known to vs For when the earth néedeth watering it onely not vseth and needeth raine but the windes to helpe so that the winde ariseth by which the clowdes are gathered that showers may shed and be sprinckled on the earth and the earth sufficiently fed Further that the strengths of the earth quayle not through the raynie superfluousnesse it needeth with the drying the Sunne beames and wyndes agréeable which taketh vp the vnprofitable moysture that the same may be dried vp that like a spunge the earth may soke drinke in and digest the raine 2. It much auayleth the Phisition to coÌ„sider and foreknowe the approching tempestes and windes the natures and workings of them agréeable vnto eche places that he may hereof foresee the sicknesses or disseases publikely kylling in haste how by Arte he may eyther let and remoue them or if he can not stay them by his skil then maye he â—éeke an apt waye and order for the curing of such sicknesses Of which matter maye you reade a like instruction vttered of Hypocrates in the tyme of the pestilence 3. A rednesse about the Sunne Moone is a note of windes to insue 4. Where in the Sommer time lightnings and thunder happen there a strong winde shortly after bloweth 5. In the Haruest and Winter lightnings doe cease winds and how mightier the lightnings and thunder are so much the more doe they cease the windes 6. Any dreaming of byrdes the nexte day winde to follow as some report 7. In the Wynter windes about the the morning blowâ— but in the Sommer about the Euening In the winter from the East part but in the Sommer from the West 8. Those temporall North windes in the Sommer when they shal blow a long tyme togither and the Haruest is windie doe declare a caulme Winter to insue
cleaueth then the aire méeting it and breaketh open the same through which it causeth a little or low noise of thunder euen like the noyse that are heard sometimes in the ayre after the maner of armed horsemen swift ryding What the finall cause of the thunder THe finall causes and effects of the thunder are well wayed and knowne in that the ayre first by the thunder is purged and the euill vapours consumed yea the pestilence and other contagiousnesse often clensed and put away In the seconde for that the thunders doe often bring showres with them through which the earth plentifully yéeldeth In the thirde the almightie God thundereth in the clowdes to the ende that men may be procured vnto a due reuerence and feare towardes him and they abashed and warned of the deuine yre may heartily repent them as it is written in the .104 Psalme at the voyce of the thunder shall the people be afrayde In the fourth that the wicked obstinà te and impenitent which euen like Gyaunts wage battle against heauen maye be destroyed eyther with lightning Thunder Hayle and such darts of God as the Historie mencioneth of the people in Egipt vnto the Mount Synay What the colours of the clowdes warne and foreshew in the thunders THe clowde in the thunder being whyte is little or nothing to be feared For it signifieth the exhalation to be weake and the great abundance of vapours 2 The clowde in the thunder being very blacke pressing the vapour strongly togyther through his thicknesse sendeth a noyse lightly forth very feareful especially when the inner fume copious and thicker can not be broken or deuided a sunder wythout a great inforcement 3. The clowde from black waxing red or being red procureth a mightier cracke and noyse than the black clowde For thys is verie thick and hath or contayneth much of the fyrie vapour 4. The clowde with a blackish rednesse waxing gréene or appearing gréene is the most perillous of all and verie much to be feared if the same consisteth or abydeth directly ouer any Citte or house This clowde for the rednesse hath many fyrie vapours For the blacknesse an aboundant vapour thickned togither For the gréenenesse the mightie aboundance of water Of these a mightie and fearefull rumbling is to be looked for in the ayre 5. The same clowde often sheddeth and sendeth downe mightie hayle and prodigious stories in the lightnings not wythout most grieuous losse and destruction both of men beasts Cities and other matters The cause why before and after the thunder mightie or stormy windes arise is forhat the hotter and drier part of the exhalaâ—â—n pressed togither of the colde clowde compassing about which through his drynesse â—iercing the clowde and issuing forth doth â—ooue the ayre and causeth the winde So â—hat after the clowde broken and the vapour driuen or sent forth in the ayre expeâ—â—ence teacheth that the windes by a great â—â—forcement to be mooued or driuen forâ—arde The cause why the verie often thundeâ—â—gs threaten the Pestilence most grieuous and murrayne to beastes and the corruption also to crescent things which we féede vpon is for that the corrupt vapours grosse and clammy drawne vp with the vapour and exhalation corrupting the lowest region of the ayre are shed againe and infect the ayre Cardanus writeth that those thundrings be daungerous which contynue about an houre and they foreshew to that region in which they happen battailes and seditions for the more part and a most great desolation to come The daylie experience instructeth vs that through the thunder vehemently rumbling and the lightning both Wyne and Beere sellars are greatly harmed For the Wines lose their colour and naturall tast through the fyrie heate and vertue pierceing and burning The Béere or Ale also through the mightie noyse and violent motion purchaseth an egernesse by which it is caused lesse apt to be drunke And although the Sommer heate be the especiall cause that drinkes and liquors sowre or be eager ye the thunder and lightning procure a sodaine alteration yea in the Winter Moneths when the heate by little and little causeth the same The drinkes and Wines layde in a déepe seller vaulted receyue lesser harme of the thunder than those layde a highe in a bourded seller The Vinters vse plates of yron with salt or with Flint-stones or with the braunches of the Bay or Walnut trée and put them on the vessels when the béere or Ale hath lost the naturall taste or waxeth sowre you maye help eche with Phisick and swéete smelling things purchase the proper taste of these as with the roote of the Flower de Luce the Ginger the Nutmegge the Cloues the Bay berries and the drie leaues of the same the Calamus odoratus the Organy the Béetes c. The Wines sowred and hauing lost the naturall colour through the mightie noyse of the thunder may be recouered both of the colour and proper tast if â—o be the Wines shifted into other vessels being well washed and this decoction that is of the Bay leaues the Myrtill tree the Fennell the Iuniper berries and Orminium infused before for a tyme in the vessels and after the drying the Wines ponred in Certaine foreknowledges of thunder THe prognosticatings of tempestes are not onely pleasaunt to be knowne but right profitable to be learned as well of husbandmen as of those trauelling by sea and lande Of which onely certayne generall of Thunders shall here briefely be vttered that may rightly be applyed 1. The Sunne in the morning or at Euening in the Sommer tyme and vnto these the haruest beginning and the spring quite gone with an accustomed heate shyning séene also in a hollow and bigge or verie thick clowde threatneth great thunder to follow 2. The shootings in the night out of the foure quarters of the world a black clowde arysing out of the South wastingly running doe eyther foreshew thunder lightnings to followe or a mightie comming of windes verie tempestious blowing in that region and these according to the season of the yere 3. If a boysterous whirle winde vehemently blowing hapneth eyther in the Sommer the spring or haruest that shall lift or take vp strawes dust other things by a sodaine and the element spred or couered with black clowdes doth portend thunder and showres of raine to be at hande 4. If the Sommer and hote dayes and those which went before them of the spring and the haruest dayes that folow waxe and be hote aboue the season of the yeare and a Rainebow sheweth it selfe at the Weste in the going downe of the Sunne pronosticateth fearefull thunder lightnings greatly to be doubted 5. The morning thunder and in the Winter time doth pronounce winde and showers of raine but the noone tyme thunders especially foreshew great showers 6. Thunderings moued and heard in the last houre of the daye as at Euening doe eyther demonstrate a mightie tempest of the Sea or the celestiall yre 7. In the Sommer if it lesse
clifts nor beating or shaking with the great floods of waters yet the sounder and faster any grounde of the earth is so much the more harmed at the shaking for so much it mightier shutteth in the exhalations and compelleth an inforcement in the cause The Ilands and the valleys are sildome molested with the Earthquake for so much as the partes of the earth in themselfe are pressed togither and are but a little porouse so that these cannot enter in An earthquake is sildome caused in moyst places for so much as the moysture hindreth or letteth the exhalation to come vnto strength of which the Philosopher reporteth that in the floodes of the Sea Pontus a lesse Earthquake to be caused for so much as the huge sea about cooleth the exhalations and on such wise letteth them In the sandie and grauily places as are the places Northerly farre sildomer is an Earthquake caused yea scarcely any Earthquake at all caused in those places for so much as the same grounde is a thinner earth and lesser solyde nor so thicke compact and that the fumes ascend by little and little without force How the ingendring is or of the maner of the ingendring of Earthquakes THe Earthquake is caused when the exhalations and vapours included in the caues and hollowe places or passages of the earth contende togither and by his nature séeke on highe to breake forth but through the earth close stopped not finding way by force shake the same and cause it to tremble and in the ende breake forth so that the earth oftentimes causeth eyther a gaping or déepe caue or goulfe or the same throwne vp on heigth after the maner of a hill or Mountayne of which great Mountayne◠happen to be suncke and swallowed vp in a Goulfe as sundrie lyke we reade in the Hystories yea great waters and ryuers drunke vp and the course of waters chaunged and lande floodes caused in the mayne lande Or thus the earth contayneth in it selfe a much exhalation which it heating conceaueth through the fierie efficacie and vertue of the Sunne the Planets and fixed starres This spirite for that the same is subtill is most apt to be inforced So that when by it this drie spirite runneth included within the earth séeking issue is so by his force lifted vp and driuen from one hollownesse into another Of which this when for the solyde nature of the earth and stopped passages of the earth can not issue or passe forth procureth lightly and soone a trembling in it selfe caused through the beating and driuing back so that retayned this strongly moueth and shaketh the earth or séeking his waye and the spirite driuen by a narrow body of the earth laboreth with a most strong contention For into the proper and naturall place this contendeth to flie which through the mightie stopping letted of the compact earth is the same driuen backe into the earth which at the length laboureth to issue causing the same to tremble and casteth vp the earth ▪ in the breaking forth like to a hill vntil it be issued yea this sometimes cleaueth the same and openeth it in the issuing forth at two sides Aristotle vttereth other notes for after the earth beaten vp he reporteth that great windes to breath and flie vp and that fyre and ashes to be cast forth So that water not to be the special cause of the earthquake for the water should otherwise be still if the same were not blowne and driuen Nor such a swiftnesse or hastinesse of the trembling coulde be caused if so much could be procured in the waters swelling and that the earth could very often breake But it often breaketh not in the tremblings shakings of the earth Yet doth this pronounce the great plentie of vapours included in the caues of the earth driuen like windes by their force and agitation sparsed by certain places which when the same is caused it instructeth that those places to tremble thorowe the might of the vapours forced For it is manifest that the earth to be full of vapours the thundring or rumbling which is heard in the shaking of the earth is a note of the flying vapours And for so much as the vapours open the passages of the earth a water sometimes is shed out of the earth of which no such plentie consisteth or is in the great Mountaynes that might like smite them Howe so great a heape of earth of so thinne and light a body as the winde may be cast vp doth the Philosopher Aristotle here vtter by a similitude as in our bodies spirites included are cause of the tremblings or shakings and beating of the pulses euen so hapneth in the same earth when a great force of the vapours gathered mooue and shake it wyth their force What the finall causes are THe finall cause of an Earthquake is the signification verie sad heauie of matters and haps to come as of battels landfloodes mutation of Emperies the dearth of victuals c. For the Earthquakes alwayes pronounce great calamities as Plynie witnesseth where he reporteth that the Citie of Rome neuer trembled but that the same was a foreshewe of some happe to come or insue so that the Romanes curiously obserued the Earthquakes as the same is manifest in their Hystories Of the earthquake Cardanus reporteth that the earth to be cleaued through a vapoure and not to be doubted but that the same to prognosticate great sedicions Yea the great earthquakes denounce eyther a Battayle or the Plague or a Tirannicall oppression these also cause a dearth of corne and famine Yet the earthquakes somtimes threaten no other euils than the ouerthow of proper Cities and Townes and destruction or mortalitie of those persons which dwell in them These hitherto Cardanus The holy Scriptures vtter the same that in these motions the Lorde God exerciseth and sheweth his most seuere ire punishing with these the peoples sinnes by a iust iudgment vnlesse they spéedily repent For it is written in the seconde booke of Kinges and xxij Chapter that the ire of God was mooued and the earth trembled for so much as the Lorde God was angrie with them Euen so before the Turckes tooke Gréece for thrée whole dayes togither the Earthquake shooke the borders néere bounding and many buildings fell downe Before the Peloponesian Battayle the countrie of Laconia was so fearefully shaken with an Earthquake that whole townes fell and much people destroyed and ouerwhelmed in the fall of them Eutropius writeth that in the next yeare after the death of Paule the Apostle Laodicoea and Colossa were suncke with an Earthquake in which example both a punishment of the wicked was séene which contemned Paules doctrine and a signyfication of calamities to come on Asia bordering néere by and of the crueltie which Domitianus exercysed in the same part of the worlde when he compelled S. Iohn the Apostle to liue in exile The like hapned an Earthquake before the death of Theodosius the second which endured for sixe monethes