which are seldom shaken because they commonly have Caverns as iâ— observed in Germany and France as Georg. Agricol lib. 4. de effluentibus â—â—terra observes But Constantinople and Basill in that part that borders on the Sâ—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 Constantinoâ—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 Busbequiuâ— 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 shâ—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 Chuâ—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 laâ—e Earâ—hquake was not a little perceived at Basill And Mentz hath sometimes been dâ—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 striâ—e and reciprocation and so gathering strength by their heat and â—aâ—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 Bâ—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 sâ—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
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 â—oâ—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 inâ—o a Vâ—ssel a sound and as it were a bellowing is heard One from whence may conclude what happen in so spacious Caverns as those oâ— the â—arth Hence it is that Aristole says The Spiritus maâ—es aâ—nâ—ise under the Earth as the Air being beaten up souâ—â—s variously for there is no difference between this Spiritus and the Aiâ—â— as to the effect of the sound foâ— this Spiritus verberatiâ—g upon every thing is it self verberatâ—d upon And Pliny lib. 2 cap. 8 says There goes before and accompanies them a terrible noise otheâ—wise a murmuring like to bellowing or the cry of Men and the sound fragouâ— of clashing of Arms according to the quality of the Matter receiving it and the form either of Caâ—â—n or â—uniculus through which it permeates c. 32 〈◊〉 gâ—â—at Win is have raâ—â—â— after an Earthquake when a Caâ—â— has immediately pâ—eceded it This is also witnessed by experience and by Ariâ—â—â—tle and Pliny in the forecited places that Winds 〈◊〉 after an â—â—â—thquakâ—â— because those Winds which 〈◊〉 beforâ— shâ—t in the Eartâ— do brake out of it into the Air. Aâ—d 〈…〉 do assert the same concerning the Calm to wit that it commonâ—y goes before an Earthquake In a Calm towards 〈…〉 â—aâ—y â—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 râ—en and I will not here make any tedious dispute with Geor. Agric. who says lib 4. de Naâ—ura eorum que efâ—luantâ—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 â—he signs of Earthquakes which Aristotle's Interpreters affirm but prove by those things which sometimes happen that Wâ—â—d is the Cause of Earthquakes But both may be asserted without â—bsurdity â—owiâ— thaâ— they are signs of Earthquakes to come and also evince that they are occasioned by Wind. But hâ—â—e we do noâ— only acknowledge Nature but joyn with it a singular force of Divine Power neither ought we to sepâ—â—â—te Divine Operations even from those that are usual and often happen seeing tâ—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 â—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 Jaâ—â—â— 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 Nahâ—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 oâ—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 occupiâ—â— mere râ—om 38. The Spiritâ—â—or Vâ—pours are sometimeâ— more deeply hid towards the Center of the Earth but sometimes and that more frequently they are generated in Caverns and Passages meatus nearâ—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 Cavitieâ— 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 Cusanuâ— 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 Causeâ— 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 iâ— 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 alâ—o evince it For with how great a force doth a little Gâ—n-Powdâ—â— dissâ—lvâ—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 Fuâ—nell be stoped do penetrate the Vessels that they may break â—orth It is sufficiently known of what Power they are in our Bodies and what great Coâ—vulâ—oâ—â— Sympâ—oâ—ns and Pains they are the causes of So that Aristotle use hâ— thiâ— Example chiefly to confirm his Opinion of the Cause of Earthquake 39.
second Book of his Metaphys chap. 8. Pulsus seldom shake the Earth for beginnings are not so easily multiplied c. 13. Pulsus is a motion of the Earth according to its Longitude to wit when it is moved up or down Aristotle says 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and divides it into 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Systole and Diastole to wit either when the Vapour or Exhalation going up with violence heaps up great Piles like Mountains or removes or breaks Mountains themselves or lastly sucks them into the Earth in its vasts gaping as Pliny Speaks 14. But that Earthquake whereof we have spoken in the begining was different according to the diversity of places where iâ— was 15. In plain places 't was a Trembling because it shook the Earth lâ—â—eraly to the right and the left Those who then felt the Quaking aâ—â—irm it to have been a lateral one like 〈◊〉 â—ocking of a Cradle â—nd that thâ—se who lay in the same Bed that night it happened wâ—re violently justled one against the other the cloaths being carried from side to side but wheither or no there were the same sort of Qâ—aâ—ing in all the places where it was I am not very farward to affirm But onâ— may be bold to conclude from the Event that in most placâ—s the Earth was not violently thrâ—st forward but did mostly treâ—ble And although this trembling Tremor be counted less perilâ—ous than either Pulsus Arietation or Inclination yet it doth not want its dangers as those specially then experienced that lived in the highest Hâ—â—ses and in Castles from whence the Voices and Exclamations of the Guards were heard every where throughout the Country for when the Cradle is moved too much either to the right or left there is danger of the Child's falling out so when the Fondations or Buildings be moved laterally both the Walls are in danger especially in Towers where the substerraneous Spirit being included within the Arches doth as it were force the Tower more either to this or that side otherwise the higâ—er the Walls are the more sensible is the shaking called Vibratio This is certainly apparent from History that the Town of Scarp not far distant from Florence in the Valley of Magellum between the Vesuvian and Apennine Mountains in the year 154 on the 3. of July did first Quake by such a sort of Vibration and afterwards was so shâ—ken that most of the Houses were ruined great Cracks and Chinks being made in them and 500 of tâ—e Inhabitants were dâ—stroyed which Eartâ—quake is related by Geor. Agricol lib. de Natura rerum è terra effluentium pag 151. who Wrâ—t his Book the same year the Town was made ruinous 16. Bâ—t in Mâ—uâ—tainous places to this Trembling was added a Pulse Eartâ—quakes are more noxious in Mountains than in Valleys â—y reason the more frequent subterraneous Cavities which there lye hid into which the Spirits are more copiously gathered and prevail more strongâ—y but espâ—cially where the superâ—icies is solidly compacted and smoothly leveâ—led Plinius lib. 2. cap. 8. says Nec moâ—tâ—sa talicarent malo neither do the Mountains are without such an inconvenience evil I am sure the Alpes and Apennine Mountains hâ—ve offâ—en trâ—mbled which â—â—ve occasion to that of Virgil Insolitis â—â—â—â—crâ—nt Mâ—tibâ—s Aâ—pes And the H. Scripture says Naham 1. 〈◊〉 Moâ—â—tains are moveâ— by God Switzerland also felt it at the very same time A noted Wiâ—ness of which speaks after this manner Whilst I was Travelling in Switzerland in September and October I found Men's minds terrifiâ—d more by that Earthquake than I perceâ—ved they were in the more close parts of Germany And that it was noâ— a simple Trembling of the Earth but a certain Pulsus and Concussion joyned with a Trembling those things that I saw eveâ—y where in those parts the Effects of this Earthquake sufficiently demonstrated to me of which I will mention but one There is a hâ—gh and scraggy Mountain two Hours Journey distant from Lucern not vâ—ry remote from that stupendious Mountain which Pomponius Mela callâ— Fractum Montem the Vulgar I know not by what sort of superstition Pilat's Mountains but the Inhabitants call it Burka if I do remember under this Mountain on the Eight of September about Two a Clock at Night there arose a dreadful Bellowing and Fragor to the great Coâ—sternation of the Inhabitants that live thereabouts there were elevated into the Air as it were thick Fumes which filled all the Neighbourhood at lenghth the greatest part of the â—op of the Mountain was broke off with a great noise and tumbled down into the Lake of Lucern which runs by it but from the other part of the Mountain which other People called Vnderwaldensers inhabit some part also being violently thrown down is reported to have buryed seven of the Inhabitants so in the 85th year of the last Age part of the Mountain was broken off three hours Journey distant from a certain Village called Hyborn under the Jurisdiction of the Canton of Bern's situated above the Lake Lemanus from which issued a vehement Wind which carried with it Stones Clods and Trees so that having passed over the interjacent Hills at the length the mesurable Village it self was overwhelmed and oppressed which the Destruction of its Inbabitants The like Examples do every where occurr in History and Seneca lib. 6. Nat. quest reports out of Thucidides that Aâ—las was cleft and broken by an Earthquake not far from Locris 17. Moreover one Earthquake is less frequent than another and more extraordinary one being purely miraculous the other compounded both of Miracle and Nature 18. An Earthquake meerly miraculous is when the Earth is shaken by the immediate power of God without the intervention of any Natural Cause Of which sort was that which happened at the suffering of Christ Matth. 27 51. Pliny mentions a certain great Earthquake lib. 2. Cap. 84. in the time of Tiberius Caesar Maximus say he terrae memoria mortalium motus accidit Tiberii Caesaris principatu duodecim Vrbibus Asiae una nocte prostratis i. e. The greatest Earthquake in the Memory of Men happened in the Reign of Tiberius Caesar Twelve Cities of Asia being laid level in one Night Cornelius Tacitus in the end of his second Book names them But Niaphorus lib. 1. Cap. 17. saies Fourteen were destroyed Saint Austin lib. 2. de mirabilibus Seripturae Writes that Eleven Cities in Thrace were destroyed by that Earthquake which happened at our Saviour's Crucifixion Eusebius reports from Phlegon an old Author that many Houses in the City of Nissa in Bithynia fell down by the same Earthquake But that Earthquake which Pleny mentions could not be that which happened at Christ's Crucifixion for they do'nt agree in the numbers of years for those Twelve Asiatick Cities fell in the third year of Tiberius's Reign but Christ suffered in the 18th years of the Reign of that Emperor or thereabouts Moreover the saying of Dydimus is quoted concerning that miraculous Earthquake
which was at the suffering of Christ who says Terrae Motus c. Earthquake often happened but those which were before and after Christ were only in some part of the Earth but in the time of my Saviour Jesus Christ it was not some particular Earthquake but the whole Earth was shaken and torn from its Center But I know not what credit one may give to this Opinion of Dydimus The Scripture says the Earth is so founded that he shall never be moved viz. as to its Profundity and Center Psal 104.5 He hath founded the Earth upon its basis that it should not be removed for ever A paralel place to which is in Eccles 1.4 That Earthquake also happened at the Resurrection of Christ is to be referred to those that are purely miraculous Matth. 28.2 as is also that spoken of in the 4th of Acts 31. and that Acts 16.26 and also that which happened a little before the Promulgation of the Divine Law Exod. 19.18 and that opening of the Earth that swallowed up Corah Dathan and Abiram Numb 16.21 And that which is mentioned Amos 1.1 and Zac. 14.5 Yea ye shall flie like as you fled from before the Earthquake in the days of Vzziah King of Judah which Josephus lib. 9. antiq cap. 2. describes 19. A mixt Earthquake is that which hath a Natural cause but extraordinarily as it were increased by God and in some sort enlarged beyond the Power of Nature God often makes use of Natural Causes in the production even of miraculous Events lest the Agents might not be hindered without necessity and that he might shew that the Power of Nature and second Causes are not at all repugnant to the Divine Power but subordinate to it And Lastly That he might shew that he hath the Power of Nature in his own hands and disposal and that he can either augment their force or diminish it 20. And this Earthquake is observed to be twofold 21. One is restrained to some certain Place and included within some tract of Ground so that it hath an unusual vehemency of Spirits under-ground and wonderfully increased from which arises destructive and great hurt Of which sort was that Earthquake which happened in the 20th or as other reckon the 22th year of Christ of which we spoke before whereby 14 Cities of Asia perished Such a one was that also that happened in the Reign of Herod the Great by which many Cities Towns and Villages being demolished in Judea 30000 Jews perished as Josephus says in his 1st Book of the Wars of the Jews chap. 14. So from the year of Christ 1170. to the year 1345. all Germany was four times most grievously shaken as one may see from Funccius Stumpsius Sigonius Cedrenus and others 22. Some Earthquakes are unusual and remarkable in respect of their Latitude and Celerity so that a great part of the World is shaken and that some time quickly as it were in an Hour or in a Moment Which sort of Earthquake History mentions to have happened in the time of Valentinian the Emperor in the year of our Lord 369. by which the whole Earth was moved in so much that many Islands in the East with a great multitude of Men perished by Inundation which is attested by Socrat. lib. 4. Hist Eccles cap. 32. Amianus Marcellinus in the end of his 26 Book Paul Orosius lib. 7. Hist cap. 32 Funccius in Chronol so in the year of our Lord 1117. almost all the World shook many Buildings being demolished every where by it as Stumpsius relates lib. 4. cap. 40. but in the year 1443. an Earthquake shook Poland Hungary and Bohemia King Ladistaus being not long after killed by the Turks with a great overthrow of the Christians 23. To this sort of Earthquakes is referred that wonderful and unusual one which happened in the year 1601. on the 8th of September between one and two of the Clock at Night 24. For â—â—s not probable that so great a Tract of this terren Globe as that Earthquake passed through could be moved by the ordinary and accustomed force of Nature which not only our European Hemisplâ—â—e Germany France Italy Hungary Bohemia Thraoe but Asia it self is râ—ported to have felt We have not yet heard for certain lâ—â—w â—â—r thâ—t â—arthqâ—â—ke reached into Asia and Africa but this is certain that the greâ—tâ—st part of Europe trembled and that almost 〈◊〉 the same â—â—omâ—nt Some Reports have lately been hatched that 〈◊〉 that two Towns called by the Turks Tartos and Copera were sâ— allowed up by the gaping of the Earth caused by that Earthquake to the â—râ—at Consternation of the Turks who from that time belieâ—â—â— thâ—t siâ—â—istroâ—s and unlucky Events were pretended tâ—â— their Empire which if true may make it apparent that this Earthquake was not every where a Tremor but in some places a Pulsus and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to wit where the Spirits abound or the Ground is porous or graâ—â—lly as it is about the Euxine Sea and at Constantinople which City if any in Europe is infested with frequent and pernicious Earthquakes In the year of our Lord 1356. it was so grievously shaken that a great part of the Walls where it looks into the Sea fell down with many Towers and Buildings so that 13000 Men perished in the City the Earthquakes lasting incessantly for 18 days Agathias lib. 5. pag. 541. relates a dreadful Earthquake that happened in this City A little while before these thing happened in the time of Justinian the Earth was so dreadfully shaken at Bizantium that almost all the City fell down after which another Earthquake ensued that was so great that I think there never was nor will be the like again 25. There are therefore two things in that Earthquake which make it extraordinary and very miraculous the breadth and that it penetrated those places which are not subject to Earthquakes and the Celerity of it And although the Mischiefs it caused in some Parts may assure us olâ—â—iâ—s vehemency yet 't is not so stupendious for its Mischiefs as for its Latitude Celerity and Presage For we read in History of far more dreadful havock and destruction made by some other Earthquakes and moreover we know from Physical Principles that those â—â—â—â—bâ—iâ—gs â—hat extend farthest are not so highly distrustful For the force of Subterraneous Spirits the more 't is dissipated the more â—â—â—guiâ— it is CHAP. II. Of the Cause 26. VVHether a Natural Cause can be assigned for both effects we must now enquire 27. That there was a Natural Cause although not alone is evident from Observation 28. For the time it self is such at is convenient for a Natural Earthquake to wit Autumn and also near the Equinox for about that time Earthquakes are wont to happen Aristotle 2 Meteor cap. 8. says tâ—uly Earthquakes happen chiefly in Autumn because those times are most Windy Which Pliny also relates lib. 2. cap. 8. 29. It was also two of the Clock in the Morning which is
of the Vapours or Spiritus by which the Earth is moved this end is assigned by Naturalists that the nature of that Spiâ—itus may be preserved whilst sallying out of the Earth it ascends into the open Air making its own way out of the Caverns oâ— the Earth in which it was included as in its Prison so gâ—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 sâ—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 liâ—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 Reâ—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 thâ—cker and not without a loath some smell which odour is Sulphuâ—eoâ—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 mâ—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 bâ—gâ—n or its Modas so that they may happen wâ—â—ho 〈◊〉 future Earthquake 64. 〈…〉 Earch are therefore wont to ensue Earthquake 〈…〉 â—â—olently sâ—lying out of the Earth 〈…〉 Caverns waâ—â—reâ—â— the 〈◊〉 â—eous Waters are 〈…〉 Water is 〈◊〉 more abound 〈◊〉 manner driven into 〈…〉 and 〈◊〉 of Fountains and Râ—vers 〈…〉 by Aâ—â—â—â—â—le 2. 〈◊〉 cap. 8. Exhalations 〈…〉 with great Force câ—â—â—y along with 〈◊〉 whatsoever Waâ—â—◠〈…〉 and heâ—â—â—ds in the same place that 〈◊〉 Wills that blow the coâ—â—ary way are the Cause of it because 〈…〉 Eâ—â—th it cannot repel the Sea brought agaiâ—â—t it by another Wind Examples also observed in History 〈◊〉 the â—am For Pâ—â—câ—pâ—uâ— lib. 3. de bello Gothorâ—n pag. 3â—3 〈◊〉 ribes the unusual Inâ—nâ—aâ—â—on of Egypt as arising from an Earthquake About 〈◊〉 time 〈◊〉 Earthquake â—â—ppeâ—ed which shook 〈…〉 Achâ—ia and the other places about the Sâ—nas Gâ—â—seâ—s an◠〈…〉 â—uitâ— number of other places and levelled eiâ—ht Citiâ—â—oth Ground And the Earth in some places when it had gaped 〈◊〉 camâ— again to its former state but in other places 〈◊〉 so much cleâ—t that the People of that Country were 〈◊〉 mâ—kâ— a large Circuit to converte with one another But in 〈◊〉 Sea between Theâ—â—aly and Beotia there arose so great 〈◊〉 Coâ—mâ—â—â—ion 〈◊〉 so great an inâ—ndation that great desolation was 〈◊〉 of Mâ—â—ataiâ—s Edâ—â—ices and Men. In the see and year 〈…〉 of Flev Vaâ—aâ—iâ—iam and Valeâ—s the Sea to sâ—â—led that oâ—erflowing Sicily it Buried in its Waves â—â—â—â—nal Towas and Vâ—lagâ—s In the year 1508. aâ— Earthquake was so 〈◊〉 most gâ—eâ—ou Iâ—â—dation tâ—rougâ—out all Italy and Germany And wish we might take example and experiment of that calamâ—y 〈◊〉 the late Earthquake that we migâ—t be brought to repenta 〈◊〉 In the same place 't is sad We have neâ—s daily of â—ae 〈◊〉 ous Inundations through the Butchy of Juliers and Clavâ—s and
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 Câ—â—â—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 wiâ—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 soâ—â—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 â—â—iâ—o had Tâ—ins sive times by hâ—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 Cavitiâ—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 thiâ—ker and moister Wind being as with a Whirl wind thrust into
the Caverns of the Earth is mingled with the Subterraneous Vapours and so conjoyntly with them shakes the Earth when it could never separately and by it self To this I will add that those that attribute Earthquakes to internal flatus differ in their Opinions for some say that the Earth being void of all Life and Sense hath some Spiritus engendred together with it which Opinion is constantly defended by Aristotle But there were others formerly who attributed such a Life and Spiritus to the Earth as in the bodies of Plants and vital and animal Spirits as there is in Animals which Opinion is espoused by one of the Physical Writers all other Philosophers that I have seen are of Aristotles's Opinion as being most constant to reason and experience For seeing the Earth is a Principle and Element of all mixt bodies consequently every mixt body would live yea the Earth would be no longer an Element if it had life for living bodies have received their last complection and perfection which cannot be asserted of Elements which are designed by Nature for the constitution of fuller bodies as the Principles of all mixt bodies But let us see how the Earth is moved supposing it lives as in the Body of Man say those who are of that Opinion when 't is well the Veins through which the Blood and Spiritus pass are not disturbed but when 't is not well they never leave panting so the Earth when 't is in its natural situation Vapours are quickly diffus'd through its Veins is obnoxious to no Earthquakes but when it hath not its own situation and the Vapours intangled with Ruin and Mud find not a free passage through the Veins then there must necessarily happen a shaking of the Body of the Earth so the Earth is therefore moved by them because 't is in a Feaver Sene. lib. 6. natur quaest thus attacks that Opinion If says he the Earth like an Animal is moved from this Cause it will all feel vexation for a Feaver in us doth not more moderately impel some parts and others more quickly but runs through all with an equal degree But Physicians will think this reason of Seneca's weak for one Member of an Animal may be infested 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with a trembling or palpitation so that if we grant the Earth lives part of it may tremble and be shaken alone for altho' it hath not either Nerves or Muscles yet it hath Veins and as it were Pipes on every side sill'd with Spirits 6. Whether Subterraneous Exhaltations are generated by the Sun Beams Aristotles constant Opinion is they are generated partly by the heat of the Sun influecing them from above partly by the heat of Subterraneous fire every where dispersed through the Caverns of the Earth as he speaks lib. 2. Meteor cap. 8. The Earth of it self says he is dry but it receives great moisture from Rains which growing hot by the Sun and the heat in the Earth begets much Vapours both without and within the Earth which Opinion is therefore disaproved of by Geor. Agricol lib. 2. de ortu Subter pag. 25. because the Sun draws all the Vapours it begets out of the Earth But Aristotle will easily answer That some Vapours are therefore heated by the Sun that they may be drawn out but some are engendred so deep within the Earth that they cannot be drawn out I confess heat draws moisture to it self doth not drive it away but it doth not draw out all its draws to it Neither doth that presently obtain the end that acts for an end The Refiners of Metals and Mines fetched out of the Veins of the Earth must needs says Agricola To hew a Ditch on the Earth under the Crucible to draw thither all dampness for fear lest otherwise the strength of fire drawing out the moistness of the Earth into the Crucible it would grow swelled and burst to pieces with sudden loss and squandering away of the Metal If the heat doth draw to it self the moistness much more can it put in a motion an Exhalation and draw to it a Vapour which is of the same kind with it self This is true yet they do not evince that which they were to prove that the heat of the Sun doth draw out presently that Exhalation and set it at freedom which it draws to it that 's not altogether in the power of the Sun there are these things that detain that Exhalation engendred within the Earth that it cannot fly whither it is drawn 7. Whether Aristotle for any certain Reasons appoints more solemn times â—oâ— Earthquakes We noted before in the 28 Theorem that Arislotle waâ— of opinion that Earthquakes commonly happen about the Equinox in Spring and Autum but the accurate Searcher of Subterraneous things Geor. Agric. pag. 29. is of another opinion where he says Whâ—n I examine his Reasonâ— why Earthquakes happen oftner in Spring and Autumn than in Summer and Winter by night than day in the night time at the breaking of the day oftnest in the day â—ime at noon I find them weak and of little force for he attributes all to the Sun which he doth because if it be without this the Earth at all times of the year would have the same disposition in it The Sun says Agricola cannot be the Cause much less the Moon 's Ecclipse because if the presence of the Sun conduced to this more Earthquakes would happen in Summer than in the Spring or Autumn more in day time than in the night and if its absence be influential there would be more at midnight than at break of day in Winter than in the Spring or Autumn Aristotle observed not that the scorching of the Sun heating the Earth draws those Vapours out of the Earth not shats them in it that were neither generated by it or were touched by internal heat after their generation But this is that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of which we disputed in the preceding Problem The Sun engenders Exhalations which when they fly into the Air of their own accord are said to be drawn and extracted by the Sun but I do not grant that speaking properly the Sun draws forth Exhalations But let us speak as the custom is that the Sun doth draw Exhalations towards it does it therefore draw them out of the Earth Agricola excepts There is no stopping says he that hâ—nders those which the Sun produces for it would not engender them unless its vertue could pierce into the upper part of the Earth and the Sun excites the Exhalations out of the Earth by the same way the power of the Sun penetrates into the â—arth and so doth not imprison them within the Earth The Reader sees how ready an Answer is for Aristotle The Sun says Agricola would not beget Exhalations unless it could bring them forth out of the Earth yea it begets many not to extract them but to afford matter for the generation of Metals within the Earth as Gold Silver and
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. Hâ—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 happenâ— 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