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cause_n	king_n	prince_n	see_v	2,897	5	3.5419	3	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A01313	A goodly gallerye with a most pleasaunt prospect, into the garden of naturall contemplation, to behold the naturall causes of all kynde of meteors, as wel fyery and ayery, as watry and earthly, of whiche sort be blasing sterres, shooting starres, flames in the ayre &c. tho[n]der, lightning, earthquakes, &c. rayne dewe, snowe, cloudes, springes &c. stones, metalles, earthes &c. to the glory of God, and the profit of his creaturs.	Fulke, William, 1538-1589.	1563 (1563)	STC 11435; ESTC S102684	57,855	146

e raynbow though not so euidēt because y e reflexion is not so strong They varie in collours some ar more purple or ruddy when the cloud is thicker som yealow whitish when the cloude is thinner so other collors ar caused likewise wherof you may reade the proper causes in the collours of cloudes and other lyke parts of this treatise The common people cal it the descēding of the holy ghost or our Ladies Assumption because these thinge are painted after suche a sort Other say that it is rayne stryking downe in another place as though they could sée the droppes fallyng And they are not altogether deceiued but in the time for sone after it wyll rayne because this impression appeareth out of a watry cloude They are called by dyuerse names as roddes wandes coardes of tents vnto whiche they are not much vnlyke staues and lytle pyllers when they séeme greater and thicker many beyng ioyned together The rayne bowe the circles and these lyghtbeames are all of one maner of generation in so muche that if you deuide the circle it shalbe a raynbowe if you drawe it streyght in lengthe it maketh streames or beames Herein they agrée namely in form and matter but they differ in outwarde forme whiche we may call fashion as the one is round the other half round the thirde directe streyght or fallynge a slope Also they differ in place aboute whiche they stande for streames are only about the sunne raynbowes about the sonne often and seldome about the Moone but circles both about the sunne and the Moone and also about any other of all the sterres yet rather and oftener about bryght sterres To make an ende of these streames they apeare diuersly after the fashion and place wherein the cloude hangeth in respect of the sunne For some tyme they are séen only in the edge of a cloude all the breadth of that cloude Sometyme through the middes of a cloude being thynner there then in other partes and then they are spreade rounde about lyke a tente or pauilon vsed in warre They ar moste commenly séen in suche tymes as there is great aboundance of rayne whiche they by their apparition doe signifie not yet to be ended And thus muche concerninge direct lyght beames called roddes c. ¶ Of many Sonnes IT is straunge and marueilous to beholde the lykelyhode of that whiche Alexander the great sending woorde to Darius sayde to be impossible that two sonnes should rule the worlde But oftentimes mē haue séen as they thought in the firmament not only two sonnes but oftener thre sunnes and many more in nomber though not so often appearing These how wonderful soeuer they appeare proceade of a naturall cause whiche we will endeuour to expresse They are nothing els but Idols or Images of the sunne represented in an equall smooth and watry cloude placed on the side of the sunne sometime on both sydes into which the sunn beames being receiued as in a glasse expresse y e likenes of fashion light that is in the sunne appearing as though there were many sunnes where as in dede there is but one all the rest are images This thicke watry cloude is not sayde to be vnder the sunne for then it wolde make the circles called crownes or garlonds it is not opposit to the sunn for thē wold it make the rainbow but it is sayd to be on the side wher the imaꝑt may be best represented Also it may not be to far of ▪ for then the beames will be to feble to be reflected neither yet to neare for if it so be the sunne wil disperse it but in a cōpetent midle distance for so representation of many sunnes is caused They are most often séen in the morning euening about the rysing or going downe of the sunn seldome at noonée tyme or about the middest of the day because the heat will soon dissolue thē Yet hath there béen some séen which began in the morning continued all the daye long vnto the euening Somtimes ther apeare many litle sunnes like vnto litle starres which are caused after the same sort as we doe sée a mans face to be expressed in all the peces of a brokē glasse So when the cloude hath many separations there appeare many sunnes on one syde of the true sunne sometimes great and sometimes litle as the parts of the cloude separated are in quantitie They doe naturallye betoken tempest and rayne to followe because they can not appeare but in a watry disposition of the ayre Also if they apeare on the Southside of the sunne they signifie a greater tempest then if they appeare on the Northsyde The reason is alledged because y e Southerne vapor is sooner resolued into water then is the Northerne For a supernaturall signification they haue often tymes béen noted to haue portended the contention of Princes for kingdomes As not longe before the contention of Galba Otho and Vitellius for the Empire of Rome ther appeared thrée sunnes Also of late toward the slaughter of Lewes kyng of Hongary were séen thrée sonnes betokening thre prynces that contended for the kyngdō namely Ferdinando nowe Emperour Iohn Vayuode and the great Turke ¶ Of many Moones AFter the treatie of many sunnes if weare not harde for any man without farther instruction to knowe the naturall cause of many Moones For they are lykewyse Images of the Moone represented in an equall cloude which is watry smothe and polyshed euen lyke a glasse Some call thē as Plinius saieth night sunnes because they ioyned with the light of the true Moone geue a great shynning light to dryue awaye the shadowe and darkenes of the nyght It were superfluous to wryte more of their causes or effectes whiche are al one with those that haue béen declared of the sunnes It may be doubted why the other starres doe not lykewyse expresse theyr image in watry cloudes and so the nōber of them to our sight should be multiplied it may be aunswered that their lyght or beames are to feble weake to expresse any suche similitude or lykenes in the watry cloudes For although they haue garlandes or circles aboute them that are caused in a vapor that is vnder them yet it is manifest that this apparition hath not néede of so strong a lyght as is requyred to prynt y e images of them in the cloudes Agayne the garlandes are direct vnder and therfore apter to receyue suche apparition It may be agayne obiected that the starres haue their image perfectly and sufficiently expressed in glasses here on the earth yea and at the day tyme whē their lyght is eyther none or moste feble weake as we sée it is vsed at mid-sommer to beholde that great starre called Sirius in a glasse euen at noone days Also we sée euery night the image of the starres in calme and quiet standing waters then what shoulde let but that

A GOODLY GALLERYE WITH A MOST PLEAsaunt Prospect into the garden of naturall contemplation to behold the naturall causes of all kynde of Meteors as wel fyery and ayery as watry and earthly of whiche sort be blasing sterres shooting starres flames in the ayre c. thōder lightning earthquakes c. rayne dewe snowe cloudes springes c. stones metalles earthes c. to the glory of God and the profit of his creaturs ¶ PSALM 148. Prayse the Lorde vpon earth Dragons and all deepes Fyre Haile Snowe Ise Wyndes and stormes that doe his wyll LONDINI Anno. 1563. ❧ TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE THE LORDE Robert Dudley Maister of the Quenes maiesties horse Knight of the most Noble order of the garter and one of the Quenes maiesties priuie Counsell William Fulce wisheth increase of grace and heauenly giftes in perfect health and true honor long to continue THe moost myghtye Monaychie of the Romain Empire Octauius Augustus ryghte honourable Lord did shewe so great liberalitie or rather magnificence towardes all them that bare him good will that he also most largely rewarded sondry persones y t had tought Popingayes and other birdes to pronounce some salutation as he passed by them in his prayse commendation At the length a poore yonge man allured as it séemed by his bountifull remuneration of other had tought a Crowe an vntowardly byrde after the same manner to salute themperour Who perceiuing his purpose that it was rather for hope of gayne then testimony of good wyll answered that he had store inough already of suche saluters at home meaning those Popingayes other birdes which at the first for their strangenes he had dearly payed for In lyke manner right honorable Lorde when I present the salutation of this myne vntowardly byrde a Crowe in comparison of suche pleasaunt popingayes as haue béen hetofofore offered vnto your honorable Lordship you may haue iust cause of suspition that being moued with your former liberalitie magnificence towards other I doe as the Poet sayeth Occulium cautus decurrere piscis ad hamum And so if your gentle nature and noble dispositiō could suffer as a crauer of vndeserued benefites to reiect both me my present But sith my state is such that I can not testifie the good wyll of myne heart towardes your honour otherwyse then by such meanes as this I was bolde to referre that suspition to the iudgement of your wysdome and humanitie knowing my selfe cleare from suche intent and to commit this vnbewtifull byrd vnder the wynges of youre honorable protection trusting that the same whiche I take as a commen defence of all good learning shall not only at this time be my stay refuge but also hereafter to more worthy attempts a continual encouragement But specially at this tyme I was bolde to enterprise the matter for that one Iames Rowbothum a man of notable impudens that I saye no worse of him abusinge your singular humanitie and gentlenes expressing thexample of one Bathillus or rather that I may continue in the allegorie of birdes of Esopes crowe hath not ben ashamed to dedicate vnto your Lordship of late a treatise of myne which I gathered out of diuerse writers concerning the Philosophers game notwithstanding he was streightly commaunded to the contrary by the right honorable and reuerent father my Lord of London of whome also I was exhorted and encouraged to dedicate the same vnto your honour my selfe Whiche though nowe through his importunitie disobediēce it be intercepted and the booke defaced with his rude rythmes peuish verses yet I thought best to geue your Lordeship vnderstanding that your honorable protection which is and should be the defence of learning learned men might no more be a boldening to such ignorant and vnhonest persones And like wyse most humbly to desire your honour that though myne Epistle dedicatory be not annexed to that booke yet considring by what pertinacitie I was hindered you would accept that booke also together w t this as an homely present of myne of which I may conclude as one did in like case Illum ego cōposui librū tulit alter honorē Sic vos non vobis lacte tumetis oues Sic vos non vobis praeda agit ampla canes Sic vos non vobis conditis antra ferae Sic vos non vobis pondera a fertis equi Thus sparing to trouble your honour any lōger either w c cōplaint or excuse I desyre almightie God to multiplie his blessinges toward you that abounding in all good giftes bothe bodely and ghostly you may haue long life in health and honour to his glory the profit of other and your endles comfort Amen A GOODLY GALLERY ¶ The first Booke FOr as muche as we entend in this treatise to declare y e causes of all those bodyes that are generatede in the earthe called Fossilia as well as thos other Impressiones named of ther height Meteora which no wryter hetherto hath done y t we haue sene the comen definicion gyuen by most wryters in no wyse wyll serue vs whether we maye borowe y e name of metcoron to comprehende the whole subiect of oure woorke we are not all together out of doubt all thoughe y e philosopher deryuinge it from doutfullnes geueth vs som collore so to take it and paduenture we myght be as wele excused to aplye it to mineralls as other auters ar to vse it for earthequakes yet to auoyde all occasions of cauellynge at wordes we shall bothe defyne and also describe the subiect of oure matter on thys manner yt is a body compounde with out lyfe naturalle and yet to stoppe one hole because heare wanteth y e name of y e thinge to be destinede yt is no newe thinge to theim that haue redde Aristoteles workes to fynde a diffinition of that whereof ther is no name But what nede you be so precise wil some man say mean you so to proceade in all your discourse no verely but because many of quicke iudgement not cōsidering the stile to be attempered to the capacitie of the Readers will impute the plaines to the ignoraunce of the authors we thought good in y e beginning to pluck that opinion out of their mindes that as the cōmon saying is they may know we haue skill of good maners though we litle vse them These meteors are deuided after thre maner of ways first into bodies ꝑfectly imꝑfectly mixed Secondly into moist impressiōs drie Thirdly into fiery aery watery and earthly According to this last diuisiō we shall speake of them in fowre bookes followyng But first we must be occupied a litle in the general descriptiō of the same y t afterward shalbe particularly intreated of ¶ Why they be called vnperfectly mixed THey are called vnperfectly mixed because they are very sone chaūged into another thing and resolued into their proper elementes of whiche they do moste consist as do all impressious fyrie ayrie watrie as snowe into water

or any other sterre specially about Iupiter or Venus for their greate bryghtnes It is called of the Greeks a compassed platte of the Latines a crowne or garlande The matter wherin it is made is a cloude of equall thicknes or thinnes cōming directly vnder y e body of the sunn the Moone or other sterres into whiche the lyght of the heauenly body is receyued and so appeareth rounde because the sterre is rounde or as a stoone caste into the water maketh many round circles dilatyng in breadth vntyll the violence of the mouyng is ended so is it in the ayre the lyght beames percynge it causeth broade Circles to be delated whiche appeare whyght purple black redde gréene blewe and other collors according to the disposition of y e cloudes mater The cause of suche collours is shewed before in the peculiar treatie of collours This circle is oftener séen about the Moone then about the Sunne because the heate of the Sunne draweth the vapors to hyghe where it can not be made Also because the nyght is a more quiet tyme then the daye from wynde it is more often in the nyght thē in the daye Syldome about other sterres because their lyght beams ar to weake often to perse a cloud yet oftner about smal sters then the Sunne because the lyght of y e Sunne perceth the cloude more forcively then that this Halon can many tymes be cause Otherwhyles it is séen about a candell which must be in a very thicke and grosse ayre of suche proportionate thicknes that it may receiue the lyght as the cloude doth frō the sterres as in smoky places or whotehouses This kynde of Circle is sometimes lyke a raynbowe sauynge that it is a whole circle vnlesse the sterre vnder whiche it is caused be not all rysen or els the cloude in whiche it is séen be not al come vnder the sterre or after it hath come vnder some parte thereof be dissolued from the rest These Circles be signes of tempest and wyndes as wytnesse bothe Virgile and Aratus The wynde shall blowe from that quarter where the circle first beginneth to breake The cause whereof is this that the circle is broken by the wynde that is aboue whiche is not yet come downe towardes vs but by this effecte aboue we may gather both that it wyll come and also from what quarter A great Circle about the Moone betokeneth great colde and frost to follow after But if it vanyshe awaye and be dissolued altogether it is a signe of fayre weather If it be brooken in many partes it signifieth tempest If it wax altogether thicker darker it is a fore warnyng of rayne One alone after Ptolomee pure and whyte vanyshing away by lytle litle is a token of fayre weather Twoo or thrée at once portendeth tempest if they be ruddy they shewe wynde to come and toward snowe they séeme as it were kroken and rockye Being darke or dymme they signifie all these forsayde euentes with more force and abundaunce it is oftener caused in Autumne and spring then in wynter or sommer the cause is the temperatnes of the tyme. The cause why it apeareth somtime greater and sometyme lesser is in the qualititie of the matter whiche as it is grosse or thynne wyll more or lesse be dylated and stretched abroade and also as some wil haue it of the weakenes of mens syght Of whiche Aristotle bryngeth an example in one Antipho whiche dyd alwayes sée his owne image before hym in the ayre as in a glasse whiche he affyrmeth to haue béen for the weakenes of his syght beames that coulde not pearce the ayre so that they weare reflected agayne to hym selfe And thus muche for Halone and the causes signes or tokens of it ¶ Of the Raynbowe THe Raynbowe is the aparition of certain collours in a cloude opposite against the sunne in fashion of halfe a Circle Possidonius sayde it was the sunnes lookyng glasse wherein his image was represented and that the blewe colloured was the proper collour of the cloude the redde of the sunne all the other collours of commixtion It differeth manifoldly from Halone for the raynbowe is alwayes opposite against the sunne but Halone is directly vnder it They differ not onely in place but also in fashion the raynbowe is but halfe a Circle the Halon is a whole Cyrcle Lykewyse they vary in colloure for the raynebowe is more dymme and of purple collour the Halone whyter and bryghter Also in continuaunce for the raynebowe may cōtinue longer then Halone The image of the raynbowe may be séen on a walle y e sunn striking through a sixe pointed stoone called Iris or anye other Christall of the same fashion also through some glasse wyndowe Halone is séen aboute candelles in smoky places as are bathes kychenes The manner of the generation of the raynbowe is suche there is opposit againste the sunne a thycke watrye cloude whiche is alreadye resolued into dewye droppes of rayne as for a grosse similitude is séen on the potlidde when the water in the vessell hath sodden or is very whote the lydde wylbe al full of small droppes of water whiche come frō the water in the vessell fyrst by heat resolued into smoke after when it cannot goe at large it is resolued agayne Wherfore vpon such a cloude the sunne beames strykynge as vppon a smoothe glasse doe expresse the image of y e sunne vnperfectly for the great distāce Or els the sunne beames strike into an hollow cloude where they are refracted or broken and so cometh to the eyes of hym y e beholdeth the raynbowe The similitude thereof is séen whē men sayle or rowe in boates the sunne shyneth vpon the water whiche casteth on the vessels syde the collours image of the raynbowe Lykewyse water in an vrinall holdē against the sunne receyueth the lyght sheweth collours on the walle There be two kindes of rainbowes one of the sunne another of the Moone the one by daye the other by nyght the raynbowe of the sunne often but of the Moone very seldome in so muche that it can be but twyse at the mooste in fiftye yeares and that when the Moone is in the East or West full in perfect opposition It hath not béen many tymes séen sence the wryting of histories yet some tymes and for the rarenes is takē for a great wonder Yet is it in collour nothyng so beutiful as the sunnes but for the moste part whight as mylke other diuersities of collours are scant perceyued When it appeareth it is sayd to signifie tempest The tyme of the raynbowe is often after the poynt of Autumne both for the placing of the sunne in competent lownes and also for abundance of matters seldome or neuer is the raynbowe séen about the middest of sommer There may be many raynbowes at one tyme yet commenly but one pryncipall of

their images myght also be expressed in watry cloudes Hereto may be aunswered that the let is in the cloude which is neyther so harde as is the glasse nor yet so continuall as the water but consisteth of innumerable small droppes so that except the light of the starres were stronger it can in thē expresse no vniforme images of them as it doth in glasses and in the water Notwithstanding in wryters of wonders we reade some such like thing sometime to haue chaunsed There hathe béen often séen manye sunnes in the daye tyme and after the sunne settinge at the rysing of the full Moone there haue appeared manye Moones whiche was by this meanes that the same cloude that receiued the sunne beames in the morning taried in the same place at y e Moones rising was ready also to receiue her image ¶ Of wonderfull apparitions WE wil close this booke with a brief declaration of the natural causes of many thinges that are séen in y t ayre very wonderfull straunge to beholde which in these later yeares haue béen often séen and behelde to the great admiration of all men not without the singular prouidēce of God to forwarne vs of many daungers that hange ouer vs in these moste perilous tymes The aparition of which as it is most wonderfull so the serching of the cause to vs is moste harde difficulte A great deale the rather because no mā hath hetherto enterprysed to my knowledge to séeke out any cause of them but all men haue taken them as immediat myracles without any naturall meane or cause to procure them And I truly do acknowledge y t they ar sent of God as wonderfull signes to declare his power moue vs to amēdement of life in dede miraculus but not yet so y t they want a natural cause For if they be wel weyghed cōsidered it is not harde to finde y t they differ much frō such miracles as ar recorded in y e scripture and admitted of diuines So that as I ahhorre the opiniō of Epicures to thinke that suche thinges come by chaunce but rather by y e determined purpose of gods prouidence so I cōsent not with them that suppose when any thing is deriued from any naturall cause God the chiefe and best cause of al thynges is excluded Some of these wonderfull apparitions consist of circles and rainbowes of diuerse fashions placings as one with in another the edge of one touching another on deuiding or going through another with lyke placing of small circles about great circles or partes of smal circles some with the endes vpward som downward some asyde some acrosse but all for the most part in vniforme order constituted or placed for the order of them pleasaunt to beholde but for the strangenes somewhat fearfull Suche a lyke apparition is made with the sunns or Moones images ioyned vnto these circles set also in good vniforme order The cause of these is the meting together of all those seuerall causes that make the circles rayn bowees streames and images of the sunn or moone which ioyned altogether make the wonderful sight of strange raynbowes positions of circles crosses diuerse lyghtes which perteyne to the knowledge of Optice and Catroptice that teache howe by diuerse refractiōs and reflectiōs of beames such visions are caused So that he whiche wyll knowe howe they are generated must returne vnto the seuerall treatyses of raynbowes circles streames images of the sunne or Moone and if in thē he finde not knowledge sufficient to instructe him I must send hym to the demonstrations of perspectiue where he shall want nothyng Another sort of them no lesse often behelde within these fewe yeares then y e former but a great deale more straūge and wonderfull to looke vpon are the sightes of armies fighting in the ayre of Castels Cities and Townes with whole countries hauing in them hills valies ryuers woodes also beastes mē and foules monsters of whiche ther are no suche kyndes on the earth and fynally all maner of things and actions that are on the earthe as burialles processions iudgementes combates men women childrē horses crownes arme of certayne noble men contries weapons of all sortes sometymes starres angels as they ar painted w t the image of Christ crucified besieging of castels and townes many thynges and gesturs done by men or beastes the very similitude of persones knowen to the beholders as of late was séen the very image of the Emperour Charles insomuche that they whiche behelde it put of their cappes thinking verely it had béen he of Ihō Frederick prince Elector of Saxon who y e time was prysoner with thēperour Also the image of small crosses which hath ben not only in the ayre but also on the earth on mens apparell on dishes platters pottes al other things so that the Iewes haue béen full angry that they could neither washe nor rub them out of their aparell In Germany also fyers and many suche thinges as it were long stories séen in the ayre All these wōderfull aparitions may be caused two maner of wayes the one artificially the other naturally Artificially by certein glasses and instrumēts made according to a secret part of that knowledge whiche is called Catoptrice and so peraduenture some of them haue béen caused but the most part doubtlesse naturally when the disposition of the ayre hath béen suche that it hath receiued the image of manye thinges placed and done on the earth And because it is apte to receyue dyuerse images as well in one place as in another these monstruous formes and straunge actions or stories proceade of the ioyninge of dyuerse formes and actions as if twoo histories were confusely paynted in one the whole picture would be straunge or as the Poet sayeth if a paynter to a mans head should set a horses neck after dyuerse fethers Sometymes also one image is multiplied in the ayr into many or infinite as ar letters crosses whiche fill all the ayre euen beneathe And the light of the sunne receiued into litle partes maketh to apeare as it wer many smal starres Let this suffice concerning these wonderfull apparitions once agayne admonishyng the Reader thoughe I haue enterprysed to declare these by naturall reason yet beleuing y t not so much as on sparrow falleth to y e grounde without Gods prouidence I doe also acknowledge Gods prouidence bryngeth these to passe to suche ende as before I haue shewed vsing these causes as meanes and instrumentes to doe them ❧ The fourth booke of watry impressions THose be watry impressions that consist moste of water In y e treaty of thē are wont to be handled these impressiōs namely cloudes rayne dew hore frost hayle snowe springes ryuers and the great sea it selfe ¶ Of cloudes A Cloude is a vapor colde and moyste drawen out of the earth or waters by the heate of the sunne into the mydle region of the ayre where by

colde it is so knit together that it hangeth vntill either y e waight or some resolution cause it to fall downe The place wherein the cloudes doe hange is sayde to be in the midle region of the ayre because men sée it is necessary that there shoulde be a colde whiche should make those vapors so grosse and thycke whiche for the most part are drawen so thinne from the earth that they ar inuisible as the aier is And although they are knowen oftentime as Aristotle wytnesseth to be in the lowest region of the ayre neare to the earth in so muche that sometymes they fall downe to the earth with great noyse to y e great feare of men and no lesse losse and daunger Yet may it be reasonably thought that these cloudes were generated in y e midle region of the ayre farre distant from the earth whiche by their heuines doe by litle and litle sinke downe lower into y e lowest region and sometymes also fall downe to the earth The commen opinion is that they goe not hygher then nyne myle whiche because it leaneth to no reason is vncertayne Albertus Magnus whose reason also is to be doubted of affirmeth that the cloudes doe scarse exceade thrée myle in heyght when they are hyghest And some let not to saye that oftentymes they ascend not past the halfe of one myle in heyght Agayne other pretending to find out the truth by Geometical demonstrations make it aboue fiftie myle to the place where the generation of cloudes is Howe these men take the distaunce from the earth it is vncertain whether that they assigne y e least distance meane it from the hyghest part of the earth as are hyll toppes or from the commen playne Againe whether they y t assigne the hyghest distaunce to be from the lowest vallyes of the earth or from the hylle toppes The reason before shewed moueth me to thynke that the moste vsuall cōmen generation I meane the condensation or making thick of these thinne vapors into cloudes is in the midle region of the ayer But for the distaunce of the cloudes whē thei be generated I thinke they be somtime nine mile somtime in myle somtime halfe a myle somtyme lesse then a quarter of a myle from the earth ¶ Of Mystes THere be two kyndes of mistes y e one ascending the other descending That whiche ascendeth goeth vp out of the water or y e earth as smoke but doth not cōmenly spred ouer all other parts it is séen in ryuers and moyst places The other mist that goeth down toward the earth is when any vapor is lifted vp into the ayre by the heate of the sunne which not being strong enough to drawe it so high that the colde maye knitte it suffereth it after it is a lytle made thicke to fall downe agayne so it filleth al the ayre with the grosse vapors is called mistes being vsually a signe of fayre weather Of empty cloudes THere be certen cloudes y t ar empty send no raine they come of ij sortes For one sorte are the remnantes of a cloude that hath rayned whiche can not be cōuerted into water for ther dryenes Another sort is of them that are drawen vp of wett and drye places and be rather Exhalations then vapors that is they be daie whot light so that it wer harde for them to be turned into rayne They looke whyte lyke flocks of woile when y e lyght striketh into thē Ther be also empty clouds when y e wyndes haus dispersed abrode any cloud they ar scatered ouer al the skie but these cloudes though for a time they be emptye yet because they consist of such a substaunce as is watrye they may be and are often tymes gathered together and geue plētifull rayne Of the collours of cloudes we haue spoken in the second booke of fyry Meteors where those collours and the causes of them are described whiche séeme to be fyerye or may be thought to be inflamations or burninges as be redde fyry and yealowysh But besyde those there be whyte black blewe and greane Whyte cloudes be thynne and not very watery so that the lyght receiued in them maketh thē to appeare whyte Black cloudes be ful of thick grosse and earthely matter that maketh them looke so darke Blew cloudes be ful of thick grosse and earthly as the blacke so the light receiued in them maketh them to séeme blewe Grene cloudes are altogether watry resolued into water whiche receyuing into them the lyght appear grene as water doth in a great vessell or in the sea and ryuers ¶ Of Rayne AFter the generatiō of cloudes is wel knowen it shall not be hard to learn from whence the rayne commeth For after the matter of the cloud being drawen vp and by cold made thick as is sayde before heate followynge which is moste commenlye of the Southerne wynde or any other wynde of hotte temper doth resolue it againe into water so it falleth in droppes to geue encrease of fruit to the earth and moue men to geue thankes to God There be small showers of small droppes and there be great stormes of great droppes The showers with small drops proceade either of the small heat that resolueth the cloudes or els of the great distaunce of the cloudes from the earth The streames with great droppes contrariwyse doe come of greate heate resoluing or melting the cloude or els of smal distaunce from the earth Wherof we sée an experiment when water is powred forth from an highe place the droppes are smalle but if it be not from height it wyll either haue no droppes or very great The cause why rayne falleth in roūdroppes is both for that y e partes desire the same forme that the whole hathe whiche is round ▪ also that so it is best preserued against all cōtrary qualities like as we sée water powred vpon drye or greasy thinges to gather it selfe into roundels to auoyde the contrarietie of heate and dryenes It is not to be ommitted that raine water although a great part of it be drawen out of the sea yet moste commenly it is sweet and not salt The cause is because it is drawne vp in suche small vapors and that salt part is consumed by the heat of the sunne The rayn water doubtles doth more encrease and cherishe thinges growyng on the earth thē any other water wher with they may be watered because the rain water reteineth much of the sunns heate in it that is no smal comfort to all growyng plantes The water that commeth from heauen in rayne wyll sooner come to putrefaction or stinking then any other because it hath béen made very subtile by heate and also for that it is mixed with so many earthly corruptible substaunces Rayne water that falleth in the sommer by Auicens iudgemēt is more holsome then other water because it is not so colde and moist as other waters be but whotter and lighter

Somtime ther is salt rain whē som Exhalatiō which is whot drie is cōmixd w e the vapor wherof the raine cōsisteth Sometime it is bitter when summe burnt earthly moisture is mixed with it This rayne is both vnholsom also vnfruictful In these coūtries ther is great store plenty of rayn because the sunne is of such tēperat heat y t it gathereth many vapors by immoderat heat doth not consume them But in y e East partes in some whot cōtries it neuer or seldom is séen to rain as in Egipt Siria but insteade of rain Egipt hath y e ryuer Nilus whose ouerflowings doth maruelously fatten y e earth In Syria other like coūtries they haue more plentifull dewe then we haue which doth likewyse make their earth exceading fruictfull Seneca testifieth that y e rayn soketh no deper into the earth thē tenn foot depe ¶ Of the signes of Rayne FIrst if the skie be redd in the morning it is a token of rayne because these vapors which cause the rednes wylbe shortly resolued into rayne If a darke cloude be at the sunne rysing in whiche the sunne soone after is hidde it wyll desolue it and rayn wyll followe If then appeare a cloude and after vapors are séen to ascend vp to it that betokeneth rayne If the sunne or Moone loke pale loke for rayne If the sunne in the East séem greater then commonly he appeareth it is a signe of many vapors whiche will bryng rayne If the sunne be séen very earlye or fewe starres appeare in the nyght it be tokeneth rayne The often chaunging of the wynds also sheweth tempest The moste suer and certaine signe of rayne is the southerne wynde whiche with his warmenes alwayes resolueth the cloudes into rayne When there is no dewe at such tymes as by nature of the tyme ther shold be rayne followeth for the mater of the dewe is turned into the matter of watrie cloudes If in the West about the sunne setting there apeare a black cloude it wyl rayne that nyghte because that cloude shall wante heate to disperse it When muche dust is raysed vp and when the woddes make a great noyse some tempest is towards Hard stoones wylbe moist and sweat against rayne lamps and candles by sparcling frogges crying trées breaking leaues falling and dust clottering forewarne vs of a tempest Flees flyes and gnats byght sore toward a tēpest kyne féed greadely birds séeke their vitels more besilie for in the grosse ayer disposed to rayne their stomack is whoter and they more hongry But these kynde of signes perteine not so properly to Meteorologie as to maryners and husbādrie which haue a great many more then these And Virgil in his first booke of Georgikes hath a great nomber for them that lyst to learne Wherfore let these hetherto suffice ¶ Of monstruous or prodigious rayne HEtherto we haue made mentiō only of naturall rayne that which is cōmon whiche no man doth marueile at But ther is somtime such rain that worthely may be wondred at as when it raineth wormes frogs fishes blood milke flesh stones wheat iron wol brick and quicksiluer For histories make mentiō that at diuerse times it hath rained such thinges whose naturall cause for the moste parte we will goe about to expresse notwithstandinge accomptinge them amonge suche wonders as God sendeth to be considered for such endes as we haue before declared Wormes frogges may thus be generated when fat Exhalations ar drawen vp into y e ayre by a temperature of whott moist such vermyn may be generated in the ayr as they are on the earth without copulatiō of male female Or els that with the Exhalations vapors their séede egges are drawen vp which being in y e clouds brought to form fal down amōg y e rain Likewyse the spawne of fishes being drawne vp maketh fishes to rayn out of the cloudes The vehement heate of the sunne in sommer and specially in whot contries draweth mylke out of the pappes of beastes cattel whiche being caried vp in vapors and resolued again into mylke falleth downe lyke rayn After the same maner the sunne also from places where bloud hath ben spilt draweth vp great quantitie of bloud so it rayneth bloud It raineth flesh when great quantitie of bloud being drawen vp it is clottered together and séemeth to be flesh Auicen sayeth that a whole calfe fel out of the aire and some wold make it seme credible that of vapors and Exhalations with the power of the heauenly bodies concurring a calfe myght be made in the cloudes But I had rather thynke that this calfe was takē vp in som storm of whrlewynd and so let fall again thē agrée to so monstruous a generation It is a great deale more reasonable that stones of earthly matter gathered in cloudes shoulde be generated as we haue said befor of y e thōderbolt Yet som men thinke y e wynd in caues of y e earth breakīg vpward violētly carieth before it earth stones into y e ayre which can long abide but fall downe and are compted amōg prodigius rayne Exhalations that be earthy and drawne out of claye haue muche grosse substaunce in them which gathered together by gret heat burned in the clouds make brick which is no great meruayle He that hath séen an egges shell full of dewe drawen vp by the sunne into the ayre in a May morninge wyll not thynke it incredible that wheat other grayne should be drawen vp in muche whotter countries then ours is muche rather the meale or flower whiche is lighter A certayne mossynes lyke woll as is vpon quinses wyllowes and other yonge fruictes and trees is drawen vp of the sunne among the vapors and Exhalations which being clottered together falleth downe lyke lockes of wolle Quicksiluer all men knowe with small heate wylbe resolued into moste thinne vapors Whereof when quantitie is drawent vp it falleth down agayne As it is redde that once at Rome it rayned quicksyluer wherewith the brasen mony being rubbed it looked like siluer Titus Liuius maketh mention that it rayned chalke whereof the cause can not be hydde to them that reade howe stoone and brick come into the ayre Iron hath also rayned out of y e clouds and sundry tymes as histories wytnesse Whereof this hath ben the cause The generall matter of all metalles with is quicksiluer and brymstone which the speciall matter of mixtion that maketh irone weare all drawen vp together there concocted into the metall so came the straunge rayne of iron Auicen sayeth he sawe a piece of irō that fel out of the cloudes that weighed about an hundred pound weyght wher of very good swerdes were afterwardes made ¶ Of Dewe DEwe is that vapore whiche in spring and Autumne is drawen vp by the sunne in the daye tyme whiche because it is not caried into