a mile in breadth which I saw and that which did augment my admiration was to see in the Sea this matter like ragged Rocks burning in four fathom Water two fathom higher than the Sea it self some parts liquid and moving and throwing off not without great violence the stones about it which like a crust of a vast bigness and red hot fell into the Sea every moment in some place or other causing a great and horrible noise smoak and hissing in the Sea and thus more and more coming after it making a firm foundation in the Sea it self I stayed there from nine a Clock on Saturday morning to seven next morning and this Mountain of Fire and Stones with Cinders had advanced into the Sea twenty yards at least in several places in the middle of this Fire which burn'd in the Sea it hath formed a passage like to a River with its Banks on each side very steep and craggy and in this Channel moves the greatest quantity of this Fire which is the most liquid with stones of the same composition and Cinders all red hot swimming upon the Fire of a great magnitude From this River of Fire under the great Masse of the Stones which are generally three fathom high all over the Country where it burns and in other places much more there are secret Conduits or Rivulets of this liquid matter which Communicate Fire and Heat into all parts more or less and melts the Stones and Cinders by fits in those places where it toucheth them over and over again where it meets with Rocks or Houses of the same matter as many are they melt and go away with the Fire where they find other compositions they turn them to lime or ashes as I am informed The composition of this Fire Stones and Cinders are Sulphur Nitre Quick-silver Sal-Armoniac Lead Iron Brass and all other Mettals It moves not regularly nor constantly down hill in some places it hath made the Valleys Hills and the Hills that were not high are now Valleys When it was night I went upon two Towers in divers places and could plainly see at ten miles distance as we judged the Fire to begin to run from the Mountain in a direct line the flame to ascend as high and as big as one of the highest and greatest Steeples in Your Majesties Kingdoms and to throw up great Stones into the Air I could discern the River of Fire to descend the Mountain of a terrible fiery or red colour and stones of a paler Red to swim thereon and to be some as big as an ordinary Table We could see this fire to move in several other places and all the Country covered with Fire ascending with great Flames in many places smoaking like to a violent furnace of Iron melted making a noise with the great pieces that fell especially those which fell into the Sea A Cavalier of Malta who lives there and attended me told me that the river was as liquid where it issues out of the Mountain as water and came out like a Torrent with great violence and is five or six fathom deep and as broad and that no stones do sink therein I assure Your Majesty no Pen can express how terrible it is nor can all the Art and Industry of the World quench or divert that which is burning in the Country In forty days time it hath destroyed the habitation of twenty seven thousand persons made two Hills of one a thousand paces high apiece and one is four Miles in compass Of twenty thousand persons which inhabited Catania three thousand did remain all their Goods are carried away the Cannons of Brass are removed out of the Castle some great Bells taken down the City-Gates Walled up next the Fire and preparation made all to abandon the City That night which I lay there it rained Ashes all over the City and ten Miles at Sea it troubled my Eyes This Fire in its progress met with a Lake of Four Miles in compass and it was not only satisfied to fill it up though it was four fathom deep but hath made of it a Mountain I send also to Your Sacred Majesty the following Account in Print which the Bishop gave me as it is collected out of divers Relations from Catania LIV. Mount Aetna or Monte Gibello a Mountain so Renowned throughout the World for its height and greatness but more for those Prodigious Flames Smoak and Ashes which it hath cast out from the top of it whilst the other parts are continually even in the midst of Summer covered with Snow has been for many Ages observed once or sometimes oftner in the space of about fifteen years to throw up more than ordinary Flames with much Smoak and Stones and great quantities of Ashes which though terrible to the Neighbouring Towns and Villages was yet wont in little time to abate of its fury and prove but seldom more injurious to the Country near it than by communicating largely its ashes which though for the present it did somewhat incommode them they had afterwards a considerable compensation in the product of their Lands which by this means was rendred more fruitful But on Friday the 18th of March 1669. the Sun was observed before its set-setting to appear of a pale and dead colour which being contrary to what it ever before appeared to us struck no small terror into the Inhabitants all Objects appearing also of the same colour with a paleness received from that of the Sun The same night happened in this City as well as the whole Countrey hereabouts a terrible and unusual Earthquake whose strong and unequal motions joyned with horrible Roarings from Monte Gibello exceedingly frighted the the Inhabitants but was so extraordinary violent in the Countrey adjacent that the People were forced to abandon their Houses and to fly into the Fields to avoid the danger threatned them from the falling of their Houses The Village of Nicolosi was of all others the most dreafully handled by this furious Earthquake the Houses and other Buildings being shaken all in pieces and buried in their own Ruins the poor People who had preserved their Lives by a timely flight with such little of their goods as their hasty fears would permit them to carry out with them continued a Night or two in the Fields beholding with grief and astonishment the ruin of their habitations but observing that by these violent concussions the Earth began to open in several places and to threaten them with inevitable ruin they fled though with much trouble and amazement to this City These shakings of the Earth being so frequent and violent that the the People went reeling and staggering with much difficulty supporting one another from falling insomuch as what with their want of sleep the pains they were forced to take in travelling and the great terrors imprinted on them by what they had seen and suffered they appeared at their arrival in this City as so many destracted People wholly
to the Manes or Ghosts of their deceased Friends who were there said to have returned answers to what they have demanded of them This place is now only a little watry plash choaked up by the horrible and astonishing eruption of a new Mountain whereof as often as I think I am apt to give credit to whatsoever is wonderful For who is there in this place but knows or who elsewhere will believe that a Mountain should arise partly out of a Lake and partly out of the Sea in one day and anight to such an height as to contend in altitude with the highest Mountains adjoyning yet so it was For Sept. 29. 1538. the Courtrey hereabout having for several days before been tormented with perpetual Earthquakes that no one House was left intire but all Men expected an immediate ruin After the Sea had retired two hundred Paces from the Shoar leaving abundance of Fish and Springs of fresh water rising in the bottom this Mountain visibly ascended about the second hour of the Night with an hideous roaring noise horribly vomiting Stones and such store of Cinders as overwhelmed all the buildings thereabout and the healthful Baths of Tripergula celebrated for so many Ages consuming the Vines to Ashes and killing Birds and Beasts The fearful Inhabitants of Puteoli flying away in the dark with their Wives and Children naked defiled crying out and detesting their Calamities Manifold mischiefs had they suffered by the Turks and Barbarians yet none like that which Nature inflicted This Mountain is to be seen at this day the top whereof is above a Mile from the Foundation the stones upon it are so light and pory that they will not sink when thrown into Water when it was newly raised it had a vast number of Vents or Issues some of them smoaking and likewise flaming others disgorging little Rivers of hot water keeping a dreadful rumbling and many miserably perished who ventured to go down into the hallowness above But that hollow on the top is now an Orchard and the Mountain throughout is bereft of its Terrors no more smoak fire or flames issuing therefrom XXXVII In 1571. Feb. 17. A prodigious Earthquake happened in the Eastern Parts of Herefordshire near a little Town called Kinaston About Six in the Evening the Earth began to open and an Hill called Marcley Hill with a Rock under it made at first a mighty bellowing noise which was heard afar off and then lifted up it self a great heighth and began to travel bearing along with it the Trees that grew upon it the Sheepfolds and Flocks of Sheep abiding thereon at the same time In the place from whence it first moved it left a gaping distance forty Foot wide and eighty Ells long the whole Field was about twenty Acres Passing along it overthrew a Chappel standing in the way removed an Ewâ—-Tree growing in the Church yard from the West to East With the like violence it thrust before it Highways Houses and Trees it made Tilled ground Pasture and again turned Pasture into Village Having thus walked from Sunday in the Evening till Monday Noon it then stood still and moved no more mounting to an Hill twelve fathoms high The like prodigy happened about the same time at Blackmore in that County where a Field of three Acres with the Trees and Fences moved from their place and passed over another Field travelling in the Highway that goeth to Herne and there stayed A great Earthquake fell out at Constantinople about this time a while before a terrible Fire in that City which burnt the Gaol and consumed seven hundred Prisoners An Earthquake and Bowls of Fire in Carinthia The Sun seemed to cleave in sunder Corn rained from Heaven An Earthquake and Inundation in Holland At this time was the Swearing Sickness in England Nine thousand French were slain at Dreux in Normandy among whom the King of Navar. The Turkish Pyrates carry Six Thousand Captives out of the Isle of Gaul near to Malta A great Plague in England Very great Thunder and an Earthquake in Spain XXXVIII In 1580. April 6. being Easter Wednesday about six a Clock in the Afternoon happened a great Earthquake in England which shook all the Houses Castles and Churches every where as it went and put them in danger of utter ruin yet through the Divine Clemency it overthrew few or none save certain Stones Chimneys Walls and Pinacles of high Buildings both in London and divers other places and a Boy and a Girl being at Sermon among a great number of People at Christ-Church in Newgate-Street the Boy was killed outright with the fall of a Stone from the Roof of the Church and the Girl so fore bruised by another that she dyed soon after At York it made the Bells in the Churches jangle This Earthquake had such influence upon the mind of the People That a Prayer was Published by Queen Elizabeth to be used of all Housholders with their whole Family every Evening before thy went to Bed that it would please God to turn his wrath from us threatned in the last terrible Earthquake In 1581. Josephus Acosta relates That in Peru in America there happened an Earthquake which removed the City of Augnangum two Leagues from the place where it stood without demolishing it in regard the Scituation of the whole Countrey was changed The same Author gives an account of another Earthquake in the same Countrey that reached three hundred Leagues along the Sea-shore and seventy Leagues in Land and levelled the Mountains all along as it went threw down Citys turned the Rivers out oâ— their Channels and made an Universal â—avock and confusion All this he saith was done within the space of seven or eight Minutes Some time before this above forty thousand People perished in an Earthquake about Puel and Naples XXXIX In 1590. The Election of Pope Urban VII was signalized by an Earthquake which made Austria Bohemia and Moravia to tremble and was followed by an extraordinary Dearth Gregory XIV quickly succeeded and died in ten months There was such a Famine and Plague in Italy that year that above threescore thousand Persons died In 1591. In St. Michaels Island in the West Indies there happened an Earthquake which continued about sixteen days to the extream terror of the French who inhabite there especially when by the force thereof they perceived the Earth to remove from place to place and Villa Franca their principal Town overthrown the Ships that then road at Anchor in the Bay trembled and quaked insomuch that the People thought the Day of Judgment was come In 1593. Another terrible Earthquake happened in Persia which overturned three thousand Houses in the City of Lair crushing to Death above three thousand Persons in their ruins yea the Castle though built upon a solid Rock groaned under the like affrighting downfall In 1614. there was a great Earthquake in Vercer one of the largest of the Islands called Azores belonging to the King of Portugal overturning in
the City of Agra eleven Churches nine Chappels besides many private Houses and in the City of Praga hardly an house was left standing Not long after so horrible an Earthquake happened in another of the Islands of Azores called St. Michael aforementioned that not far from thence the Sea opened and thrust forth an Island above a League and half in length at a place where there was above a hundred and fifty Fathom Water XL. In 1618. The Town of Pleurs in Switzerland was overwhelmed by an Earthquake of which we have the following account in the late Travels of a Reverend Divine in that Countrey This place consisted in about two thousand two hundred Inhabitants and magnificently built for besides the great Palace of the Francken that cost some Millions there were many other Palaces erected by several Rich Factors both of Milan and other Parts of Italy who liked the Scituation and Air as well as the freedom of the Government of this place so they used to come hither during the Heats and here they gave themselves all the Indulgences that a vast wealth could furnish By one of the Palaces that was a little distant from the Town which was not overwhelmed one may judg of the rest It was an Out-house of the Family of the Francken and yet it may compare with many Palaces in Italy and certainly House and Gardens could not cost so little as one hundred thousand Crowns The Voluptuousness of this Place became very crying and Madam de Salis told me saith my Author that she often heard her Mother relate some Passages of a Protestant Ministers Sermons who Preached in a little Church which those of the Religion had there and warned them frequently of the terrible Judgments of God that were hanging over their heads and that he believed would suddenly break in upon them On the 25 of August 1618. an Inhabitant came and persuaded them to be gone for he saw the Mountains cleaving but he was laughed at for his pains He had a Daughter whom he prevailed with to leave all and go with him but when she was gone out of the Town with him she called to mind that she had not lockt the Door of a Room in which she had some things of value and so she went back to do that and was buried with the rest for at the hour of Supper the Hill fell down and buried the Town and all the Inhabitants so that none escaped The fall of the Mountains did so fill the Channels of the River that the first news those of the Chavennes had of it was by the failing of the River for three or four hours there came not a drop of Water but the River wrought for it self a new course and returned to them I could hear no perticular Character of the Man who escaped so I must leave the secret reason of so singular a preservation to the great discovery at the last day of those steps of Divine Providence that are now so unaccountable Some of the Family of the Francken got some Miners to work under-ground to find out the Wealth that was butied in their Palace for besides their Plate and Futniture there was a great Cash and many Jewels in the House the Miners pretended they could find nothing But they went to their Countrey of Tirol and built fine Houses and a great Wealth appeared of which no other visible account could be given but this that they had found some of that Treasure XLI In 1622. Was a great Earthquake in Italy The shape of an Elephant was seen in the Air and three Suns Armies fighting Monstrous births Waters turned into bloud unusual and impetuous Tempests which overthrew several Towers At this time began the third Civil War in France the Prince of Conde is taken and shot to Death with a Pistol The Earls of Northumberland and Westmorland rebel The Popish Clergy are expelled Antwerp by the People The Emperor Prohibiteth the Protestant Religion at Atken The Spaniards Invade Ireland but are beaten thence The Turks lose Alba Regalis and threescore thousand men The Persians Invade Babylon and kill twenty thousand men The King of France is slain Nine hundred thousand Moors are expelled Spain The Hollanders beat the Spaniards in the South Sea The Tartars Invade Podolia they burn four Cities and four hundred Villages and carry from thence a vast booty The Jesuits and Papists are expelled the Netherlands In 1627. An Earthquake happened in England and a great fiery Beam was seen in the Air in France Six Suns in Cornwall at once and five Moons in Normandy In 1627. July 31. happened an Earthquake in Apulia in Italy whereby in the City of Severine alone ten thousand Souls were taken out of the World and in the horror of such infinite ruins and sepulchre of so many Mortals a great Bell thrown out of the Steeple by the Earthquake fell so fitly over a Child that it inclosed him and doing him no harm made a Bulwark for him against any other danger Strange and wonderful were the Prodigies that were seen in Germany both in the Heavens Earth and Waters before the beginning of that Bloody War in those Countreys and which plainly presaged the ensuing miseries and desolations which happened there and began about 1631. In which year not long before the troubles of Naples there happened a terrible Earthquake in and about that City and the Mountain of Soma after many terrible bellowings vomited out burning streams of Fire which tumbled into the Adriatick Sea and cast out an huge deal of Ashes The like happened the year following with great damage and loss to the Neighbouring places both in Houses People and Cattel And in Apulia seventeen thousand Persons were destroyed by the same XLII In the year 1638. Six Suns were seen at once in Cornwall and several Apparitions of men in the Heavens preparing to fight with each other Also Navys of Ships were visible in the Sky The Scots at this time make an Insurrection the King goes in Person to appease them they renounce the Bishops and Prelacy and set up Presbytery in Scotland In this year 1638. happened a Terrible Earthquake in the Island of St. Michael one of the Azores or Tercera's belonging to the Spaniards in the Atlantick Ocean Westward Upon June 26. this Island began unversally to quake and tremble which continued eight days so that the People leaving the Cities Towns and Castles were forced to live in the open Fields After which this Prodigy succeeded Six miles distant from the Hill or Pick of Camerine at a place called Ferriera where Fishermen with their Boats use to fish in Summer they at this time caught such a multitude that no Boat returned with less than Ten Thousand Fish At this very place in July this very year Fire broke forth with such unexpressible violence notwithstanding the depth of the Ocean which had been fathomed one hundred and twenty foot deep that the very Sea it self was not sufficient to extinguish
such mighty flames The space of this boyling Fire was about two Acres and the Fire arose with such mighty force that it reached even to the Clouds carrying with it Water Sand Earth Stones and much other matter which like Feather-Beds flew into the Air to the terror of the Beholders afar off and falling down again into the water resembled a kind of Pultis or Frumentie and had not the Wind by Divine Providence blown off from the Isle into the Sea and thereby driven back this outragious Fire without doubt the whole Countrey had been utterly burnt up and destroyed by this formidable Combustion soon after it cast forth stones of so vast a bigness to the height of above three lances that they seemed rather like entire Mountains than Stones which in their fall meeting and dashing against others they broke into a Thousand pieces with a terrible noise and ratling which afterward being taken up mouldred into a black Sand. Moreover out of this vast quantity of matter thrown out a new Island arose even in the midst of the deep Ocean In the beginning it was not above five Acres but increasing continually in four days after it took up the length of five mile so vast a multitude of Fish perished by this burning that eight Ships of India could hardly contain them and being dispersed about all parts of the Island were gathered together and buried in deep Ditches by the Inhabitants for eighteen miles round about to prevent any Contagion which might arise from them but the Sulphur or Brimstone was smelt Twenty four Miles This year the Hollanders beat the Spanish Fleet upon the Coast of England XLIII The same year 1638 the Learned Rircherus made a search and discovery into the burning Mountain of Vesuvius in the Kingdom of Naples so famous for fiery irruptions for many Ages which being one of the most tremendous Miracles of Nature I shall relate in his own words After so great dangers sustained by Sea and Land in diligently searching out the incredible power of Nature working in Burroughs and Passages under ground I had a great desire to inform my self concerning Vesuvius I went therefore to Porticus the Porch or Entrance a Town scituate at the Foot of of the Mountain where hiring an honest Countreyman for a true and skilful Companion and Guide in the way not without a considerable reward I ascended the Mountain at midnight through difficult rough uneven and steep Passages when I came to the top or mouth I saw what is horrible to be expressed I saw it all over of a light Fire with a dreadful combustion and stench of Sulphur and burning Bitumen whereat being astonished methoughts I beheld the habitation of Hell wherein nothing seemed to be wanting but the Apparitions of Ghosts Devils and Damned Spirits I then observed horrible bellowings and roarings in the Mountain and unexpressible stink smoaks mixt with darkish Globes of Fire which both the bottom and sides of the Mountain continually belched forth from eleven several places and made me belch and ready to vomit O the depth of the riches of the Wisdom and knowledge of God! How incomprehensible are thy ways If thou shewest thy power against the the wickedness of mankind in such formidable and potentous Prodigies and Omens of Nature What shall it be in that last day wherein the Earth shall be destroyed by thy wrath and the Elements shall melt with fervent heat In the morning as soon as it was light that I might with the more diligence search into the Bowels of the Mouutain I chose a place to set my feet secure upon which was an huge Rock plain on the top where taking forth my Pantometer or Universal Measure I took the dimensions of the Mountain and found by Geometrical Computation the compass of the Mouth to be almost three hundred paces The Mountain was every where up down cragged and broken yet no gradual declining for any passage to the inward parts but descended in its compass of an equal bigness like a Well and although the bottom seemed narrower yet I judged it only to proceed from the exceeding great depth and distance from our sight In the very middle of the bottom Nature seemed to have made a Shop or Workhouse of Fire with everlasting gushings forth and streamings of Smoak and Flames which seem to be employed for boyling of Sulphur Bitumen and other Minerals in preparation for deadly ruins and slaughters afterward to be committed since the Vapours contained therein not having room endeavoured to free themselves with such great force and violence accompanyed with horrible cracklings and noise that the Mountain seems to be tost with an Earthquake or trembling upon which the higher and softer parts of the Mountain that are clung together of Ashes Cinders Rains and other refuses of Minerals being shook in pieces and loosned by this quaking and so falling like Hills into the bottom of this Hellish Gulph cause such terrible noises as are often heard which are so great and fearful as may daunt the most stout and couragious Spirit The matter which was continually belched forth from the center or bottom of the Mountain made as it were a new Mountain which had wonderful variety of Furrows or hollow Channels with various kinds of melted Minerals formed as it were by the ingenious Pencil of Nature sometimes of a greenish colour from Brass then yellow from Sulphur Arsnick and Sandarack presently after Red from Cinabar Read Lead and Vermilion afterward Black from Vitriol mixt with Water or of an Ashy colour from the very Cinders Thus far the laborious Kircher XLIV Hear now what our ingenious Countryman Mr. G. Sandys relates of this fiery Mountain Vesuvius it is scituate in Campania Faelix about eight miles from Naples which City hath received great injuries and prejudices by its Cinders and violent throwing out of Stones even to its Walls and Houses This Mountain has vast Fountains of Fire and was heretofore high on every side before the inward parts were consumed it usually utters smoak by day but by night Flames its manner is to send forth a loud sounding or roaring noise and bellowing first and then to belch forth a huge quantity of Cinders to the great danger of those who pass by but if a vehement wind blow upon it the Ashes or Cinders are raised so high and driven so far in length that 't is certain they have sometimes been carried as far as Constantinople though many hundred miles distance and so affrighted them that they have all ran to their Prayers to implore the averting of Divine Wrath. The Mountain hath a double top that toward the North ends in a Plain the other toward the South aspires higher which when covered with Clouds prognosticates rain to the Neopolitans in the top there is a large deep hollow in form of an Amphitheater in the midst is a Pit which leads into the Entrails of the Earth the matter thrown up is ruddy light and soft
with the vastness of its strength it cast out huge Rocky Pumice Stones and great heaps of other matter which it carried through all Asia Lesbos and Abydus and the Sea-Coasts of Macedonia so that the whole Surface of the Sea was covered with these Pumices But in the middle of so great a Fire there was an Island made from the heaping up of that matter and and joyned to the Island called The Sacred which never was in being before There was likewise another Island next to this formed in 1670. not without great terror to those of Santorin since the burning lasted for a year as some ancient People who saw it with their Eyes did lately testifie But in the middle of this smaller new Island which is now called little Camena there is to be seen at this very day an huge deep Ditch which being narrow toward the bottom grows bigger by degrees like a Funnel out of which as out of a Chimney those mighty Stones and Rocks did burst forth which being mixt with Cinders and Ashes composed the rest of that Isle XLVII But if ever these Fires pent up in the Bowels of the Earth exercised their force it was most remarkable upon September 24. 1650. which shook the Island till the ninth of October with such mighty and frequent Earthquakes that the People of Santorin fearing that their immediate ruin was approaching were on their Knees night and day before their Altars It cannot be expressed what an horror invaded all men especially when those victorious Flames breaking through all Obstacles strove to make themselves a way through the midst of the Waters of the Ocean about four miles Eastward from Santorin For the Sea all on a suddain swelled Thirty Cubits upward and extending it self wide through the Neighbouring Lands overturned all in its way Insomuch that it broke in pieces several Ships and Galleys in the very Haven of Candia with its extraordinary violence though fourscore miles distant from thence The Air being darkned with those sulphurous stinking Vapours put on innumerable Forms and Appearances as of Fiery Lances and Swords brandished and shaken bright and glittering Arrows darting forth Here terrible Serpents and Dragons seemed to be flying There hideous Thunderclaps Lightnings and Thunderbolts And yet they could scarce see for the Peoples Eyes were so hurt with those sharp pricking sulphurous smoaks and vapours that almost all became blind for three days with such grievous pains in their Eyes that they wept continually and bewailed their most miserable Fate But when their Eye-sight returned they saw all their Silver and Gold both Vessels and Garments and Pictures spread over with a yellow colour and such a vast multitude of Pumice stones did this fiery Gulph vomit forth that it covered the Sea so that they could scarce pass in a Vessel It is most certain that they were carryed many hundred Miles even to Smyrna and Constantinople and all the Shoars and Coasts were filled therewith The fury of this Burning was greatest for the first two months which caused the Neighbouring Sea to bubble like a boyling Pot and night and day huge Globes and Flakes of Fire and exceeding thick Smoak mounted up to the Heavens which if at any time it was carryed by contrary winds to any places near at hand besides a most grievous stink it brought certain destruction upon Birds and Beasts yea upon men themselves As it happened in October and November this year that fifty Husbandmen miserably perished thereby besides an innumerable multitude of Birds Sheep Oxen and Asses The like happened to nine Marriners who passing that way in their Ship by night after three days were all found half burnt and were buried in the Island Nio threescore Miles from Santorin But the other four months for it flamed six in all though that Hellish Hearth or Furnace abated much of its vigour and fierce heat and could scarce lift it self above the waves yet it still seemed to cast out Pumice stones and to be labouring to form a new Island which though it does not yet appear above Water yet in a calm Sea it is observed to be very shallow thereabout the Water being in that place not above eight Cubits deep XLVIII In 1657. The Spaniards felt a terrible blow in Peru which if it were not a Mark of the Wrath of Heaven saith my Author was at least a Sign that the Earth is weary of them especially in those parts where they have stained it with so much innocent blood The City of Lima was swallowed up by an Earthquake and Calao another City not far from it was consumed by a shower of Fire out of the Clouds eleven thousand Spaniards lost their lives in this calamity and the Earth devoured an hundred Millions of refined Silver which the lucre of the Spaniards had forced out of its Bowels All the Mountains of Potosi from whence they dug their choicest mettal were levelled with the Plain and no more hopes of Gold was left to their insatiable avarice XLIX In 1660 an Earthquake happened at Paris in France and at the same time they had news that part of the Pyrenean Mountains had been overthrown some days before They are certain Mountains that divide France and Spain it did great mischief there overwhelming some Medicinal Baths many Houses and destroying hundreds of People only one Church which sunk into the Caverns below was thrown up again and stands very firm but in another place This was looked upon as a great Miracle especially by the French who have disputed with the Spaniard about this Church as standing on the Frontier Line but now is removed near half a League within the acknowledged limits of France L. In 1665. There was a great Tempest accompanied with Thunder Lightning and an Earthquake in divers places in England at which time the stately Spire of Trinity-Church in Coventry fell down and demolished a great part of the Church The next year Sir Rob. Holms destroyed above one hundred and fifty sail of Dutch Ships at the Vly in Holland and burnt the Town of Bandaris in the Island of Schelling containing at least a thousand Houses Sept. 2. about One a Clock in the Morning a sudden and lamentable Fire broke out in the City of London beginning in a place called Pudding-lane near New-Fish-Street which in four days time burnt down thirteen thousand two hundred Houses LI. In 1668 in Autumn a great part of Asia and some parts of Europe were infested with extraordinary Earthquakes The Cities of Constantinople and Adrianople felt its sad Effects but not with that violence and continuance as in other Places In some parts of Persia it continued for above fourscore days Torqueto and Bolio two considerable Cities were by its great violence laid even to the ground and all or most of the Inhabitants buried in the Ruins above six thousand Persons perished in the first of them and above eighteen hundred in the latter And in all the adjacent Cities it raged with extraordinary
fury destroying and ruining the Buildings killing many of the People and the rest were forced to quit the Towns and take up their Lodgings in the Fields About the beginning of August 1669. there came two Whales and a Grampas up the River of Thames whereof one of the Whales and the Grampas were killed and the other Whale which was the bigger returned back into the Sea LII In 1669. there happened a most dreadful Earthquake and Irruption of Mount Aetna in Sicily of which before I give a particular Account it may not be unproper to describe the Mountain itself as it has been related by divers famous Historians Aetna or Mount Gibello called by Pindar the Celestial Column or Pillar is the highest Mountain in Sicily from whence all the Island may be seen at once and in a clear day the Eye may even reach Africa it rears up its Top or Spire thirty miles into the Sky and may be seen forty or fifty miles at Sea but its compass is sixty others say an hundred miles space it appears Eastward with two shoulders having an eminent head in the middle The lower parts are luxuriously fruitful and the abundance of fat oily matter which is cast out of it makes the Soil thereof as well as of the whole Island Incredibly fruitful in the best Wine Oil Honey Saffron Minerals also of Gold Silver Silks and Allom with variety of excellent and delicious Fruits and abundance of all sorts of Grain so that it was called in old time The Granary of the Roman Empire The middle of the Mountain is woody and shady the upper part rocky steep and almost covered with Snow yet smoaking in the midst like many conjoyned Chimneys and vomiting intermitted flames usually discernable only of a night as if heat and cold had left their Contentions and imbraced one another for though it continually burns with most fervent smoak and fire yet round about the top are seen perpetual and most deep snows the uppermost top is broken and cragged with unstable Cinders and Pumice stones and cleaves open with a most vast Crater or mouth twelves miles in compass which in a steep descent streightens it self narrower even to the bottom of Hell as it were A most horrible precipice it is exceeding formidable with flames and fumes from the very bottom and sides of the Mountain with an horrendous roaring and bellowing not unlike the bursting forth of Thunders so that the very imagination and thoughts of the Fire and Ruins so nigh at hand cannot but at first sight amaze and afright any humane Creature and make him start from it as from the Infernal Gulph of Hell On one side within are most dark and dreadful Dens one whereof is so vast as to be capable to contain thirty thousand Men In many places you may see the tracts and paths of huge Torrents of melted matter in the very top Snow and Ashes or Cinders as if they had concluded an Eternal Wedlock are seen to overwhelm all things with a sad and doleful countenance which are very dangerous to unwary Visitors because under them there lye concealed deep holes and devouring Gulphs without bottom or end which have swallowed up very many coming unadvisedly too near without a Guide and by their ruin have left warnings to others not rashly to venture upon these hidden deceits which have cheated mortals of their Lives in the utmost bottom of this Hellish Gulf the Fire is at no time extinguished but always sends forth either boyling heat smoak or flame yet outwardly it begins to grow fierce and terrible only at certain intervals of time more or less according to the combustible matter heaped together and by how much longer it hath ceased by so much it bursts forth with greater violence and together with the Flame sends forth huge heaps of Sands and Prodigious Stones of wondrous weight LIII These Fires have broke forth in several Ages of the World to the great terror and destruction of the Inhabitants and all the adjacent Countries As in the year of the World 2600. when the Posterity of Janus went to seek new Colonies they first entered Sicily where at that time there was so great a burning of the Mountain that the new Planters leaving the Island for fear of Desplation went to seek new habitations in Italy after them followed the Sicaneans who were likewise driven away from these Eastern Parts to the Western by these dreadful Aetnean burnings In the year 3180. and for above four hundred years after this Mountain was all on fire with three huge burnings A little after the Mountains raging anew it is said to have drawn Pythagoras himself into the highest admiration Also in the Reign of Hiero at which time Histories deliver that Empedocles an Observer of the Mountain was destroyed In the time of Julius Caesar about fifty years before Christ Diodorus relates That Aetna raged most violently which they said portended the Death of Caesar It is reported to have been so great that the Sea with its fervour and boyling heat burnt the very Ships even as far as the Vulcanello's All the Fish being destroyed and boyled to death yea within twenty years the Mountain burnt four times In the Reign of Caius Caligula forty nine years after Christ the Mountain raged so that the Emperor at that time in Sicily was so affrighted that he betook himself to safer stations yet they relate that the Emperor Adrian out of the greatness of his mind did ascend the Mountain very far to consider more nearly such great Miracles In several Ages after it made woful irruptions as from the year 1160. to 1169. all Sicily was shaken with huge Earthquakes and the Mountain Aetna foaming mightily overthrew all the circumjacent places with incredible Desolation with the ruin of the Cathedral Church of Catania about ten miles distant in which Abbot John and his Monks were overwhelmed Many other fearful burnings have happened since time but none more horrible for its mighty devastations than that in the year 1669. The Earl of Winchelsea late Ambassador at Constantinople in his return from thence visiting Catania was an Eye-witness of this Prodigious Judgment whereof he gave the following Account to King Charles the second as soon as he came to Naples May it please Your Majesty In my Voyage from Malta to this place I touched at the City of Catania in Sicily and was there most kindly invited by the Bishop to lodge in his Palace which I accepted that so I might be the better able to inform your Majesty of that extraordinary Fire which comes from Mount Gibel fifteen miles distant from that City which for its horridness in the aspect for the vast quantity thereof for it is fifteen miles in length and seven in breadth for its monstrous devastation and quick progress may be termed an Inundation of Fire a Flood of Fire Cinders and burning Stones burning with that Rage as to advance into the Sea six hundred yards and that to
insensible of what they did This dreadful convulsion of the Earth was immediately followed on Monday March 11. about Ten at Night by Three Terrible Eruptions much about the same time and a little distance one from the other These said Eruptions were observed to be on the side of Monte Gibello about two Miles beyond the Mountain called Montpileri from whence with a terrible noise it threw up its flames with much fury and violence about a hundred yards in height its noise not roaring only inwards from the belly of the Mountain as before but violently cracking like peals of Ordinance or Thunder from the side of it throwing out vast stones some of them 300 pound weight which being as it were shot through the Air fell several miles distant from the place whilst the whole Air was filled with Smoak burning Cinders and Ashes which fell like a fiery rain upon the Countrey In the mean time issued from the side of this Prodigious Mountain a vast Torrent of Melted and Burning Matter which like an Innundation Drowned as in a Flood of Fire the Countrey on this side of it This Burning River ran down upon the Mountain Mentpileri which opposing its direct course it divided it self into two streams which encompassed the said Mountain one of them taking its way by La Guardia the Convent of St. Ann and Malpasso the other by the Towns of Montpileri and Falicchi which in few hours were wholly destroyed and lost not so much as any sign of them remaining with several lesser Villages and Farmes and with them the famous Image of the bessed Lady of the Annunciata which though highly Reverenced throughout the whole Island esteemed the wonder of Sicily and the whole World and to which the People with much Devotion resorted in Pilgrimage from the remotest parts was also swallowed up and consumed by this dreadful Torrent This Fiery and Burning Deluge immediately spread it self to above six Mile in breath seeming to be somewhat of the colour of melted and burning Glass but as it cools becomes hard and Rocky and every where in its passage leaves Hills and Pyramids of that matter behind it At the same time Monte Gibello from its top raged with dreadful Flames which with its noise and Concussions of the Earth which still continued added not a little to the Terror of the People who ran with Cries and Lamentations about the City and Country expecting nothing but to be swallowed up or consumed by Fire having no other apprehensions but of Death and a General Conflagration The two Torrents of Fire came forward destroying all things in their way and by Wednesday March 13th had on the West side branched it self into several Streams and over-ran Campo Rotundo St. Pietro and Mostorbianco with La Potielli and Sr. Antonino and on the East-part rain'd the lower part of Mascalucia and Le Placchi taking its way towards this City On Thursday the 14th the Wind came Eastwards on which fell abundance of Rain which abated not the Progress of the Fire which on the East-side had from Mascalucia made its way to St. Giovanni di Galermo the lower part whereof it destroyed and passing on seemed to threaten this City on one side as did that on the West-side the other As the Fire approached the Religious every where appeared with much Devotion carrying in Procession their Reliques especally those of St. Agatha the famous Martyr of Catania in which they reposed no small confidence followed by great multitudes of People some of them mortifying themselves with Whips and other signs of Penance with great Complaints and Cryes expressing their dreadful expectation of the Events of those Prodigious fiery Inundations Whilst the People were thus busied in their Devotions and astonisht by their Fears News was brought to the Magistrates of the City that a considerable number of Thiefs and Robbers had taken the opportunity of this general destraction to make a Prey of the already distressed People and that they had murdered several of them for their Goods and that it was to be fear'd that the City of Catania it self might run some danger from the great numbers of them which were about the Country and from thence took their opportunities to get into the Town Whereupon Consultation being had for the prevention of farther mischief from them the Commander of the Castle was ordered with a considerable number of Horse and a Party of Spaniards to secure the Countrey and City against these Robbers who immediately sent out several Parties with his Provost-Marshal with Order to seize upon all suspected Persons and such as were not able to give a good account of themselves And for such as were taken in the Fact Robbing to Execute them by Martial-Law without any farther Tryal and accordingly caused three pair of Gallowes to be set up for their speedy Execution one before the Gate Di Aci a second in the Market-place and a third before the Gate Della Decima setting strong Guards upon the Gates of the City and causing all suspected Houses to be searched an Account to be given in of all Lodgers and such Persons to be secured as could any ways fall under a Suspition The poor People out of the Countrey being by this Prodigious Calamity stript out of all their Estates and reduced to great extremity fled most of them for refuge and relief to this City with great Lamentations moving the Charity of the Magistrates who were readily inclined to give them the best assistance they were able and the Citizens moved by their Complaints and Sufferings freely open'd their Doors filling their Houses with as many of those distressed People as they could possibly receive the Bishop and all Persons of Quality and Estate contributing largely for their support till better Order could be taken for the disposing of them The City of Messina also and several other Cities informed of this extraordinary Calamity sent hither large Supplies of Provisions offering their best assistance to this place in case of extremity All the Elements seemed at this time to make War upon us and to conspire together for the punishment of the Inhabitants The Air was continually darkned with Clouds and Smoak agitated by great and violent Winds and oftentimes showred down great Rains insomuch as the Sun from the beginning of these Eruptions very seldom appeared to us and when it did with extraordinary paleness for a little time only and as it were abhorring so dreadful a Spectacle soon hid its face again under a thick Cloud The Sea ran much higher than it was wont to do and by its extraordinary Roaring and in some places overflowing its Banks added not a little to our Consternation The Land every where infested with Thieves insomuch that till by the extraordinary care taken by the Magistrates and Officers severe execution was done upon such as were apprehended in the Fact no person was able to stir abroad without danger of his Life whilst the Fire by this prodigious overflowing of
re-entred into our Souls LX. In 1687. Octob. 20. The London Gazett gives a sad Relation of another Earthquake in the Kingdom of Peru in America whereby the City of Lima was totally overthrown and not one House left standing burying many of the Inhabitants units ruins At the same time Callao Fanette Pisco Chancay Los Florillos c. Most of them Sea-port Towns were destroyed by an Inundation of the Sea which carried several Ships above nine Miles into the Countrey and great numbers of People and Cattel were drowned there being found when the water fell at one place near the Sea-side above five thousand People dead and every dry more were found so that no account could be given of their number LXI In 1688. A dreadful Earthquake happened at Naples in Italy which was attended with the rage and roarings of Mount Vesuvius of which the London Gazett gives likewise the followinwing Account in a Letter from that City Dated June 8 On Saturday June 5. about the twenty second hour happened here a terrible Earthquake though it lasted not long which frightning the Inhabitants out of their Houses with the terror of an inevitable destruction they betook themselves to the Plazza's and open publick places of the City The old College of the Jesuits was ruin'd by it also the great Chappel of their New Colledge together with three other Chappels adjoining Three of the Fathers were killed there besides manness hers whose numbers are not yet known The Front of another great Church of the Jesuits opened in many cracks and the great Tower or Steeple seemed ready to fall In the Theatins Convent of the Holy Apostles a whole Dormitory fell down besides other considerable damage they received And the magnificent Arch erected before the Church of St. Paul belonging to the said Fathers fell together with those great and ancient Columns that formerly made part of the Temple Castor and Pollux there there remaining only four of them standing and those in a tottering condition Out of these ruins there have been already dug 19. Persons that were dead and there was reason to fear that the mischief might have been much greater it being so near to a publick Market where there were great throngs of People The Walls of the great Church of St. Dominick opened in many places and great part of the Refectory fell down as also part of adjoyning Palace where many were killed several other Churches of Augustins c. were ruined and in short there is scarce a Palace or House that has not received some considerable damage This occasioned very devout Processions of Persons of all Ranks The next day was another great Shock which threw down many of the Houses that were before the most weakned and Yesterday there was another perceived but without much damage but this day we have felt nothing of it However the Processions continue in great numbers and the Persons of Quality are all retired from hence In the Neighbourhood of Vdico a City sixteen Miles distant from hence a mountain opened and a Courier from Benevento a City belonging to the Pope brings an Account that it was all ruined and that of Six thousand Inhabitants there were but few left alive The Arch-bishops Palace there was thrown down and the Arch-bishop himself drawn out of the ruins being hurt in his Head and Arm. And there are Accounts of the like damages in several other places In a Letter from Rome June 12. 1688. There was this further Account We have had nothing considerable to entertain us here this Week but the sad Relations of the terrible Earthquakes at Naples and several places about it It happened at Naples on Sunday last about 21. hours and a half which at the same instant was perceived by a great many here On Sunday too it returned Several Churches Palaces and Houses are ruin'd among the rest the famous Church of the Jesuits reckoned the finest in Italy is all tumbled down except the Walls and the High Altar The particular number of those killed and buried in the ruins is not known The last Letters say many of the Inhabitants sie abroad under Tents in Couches c. and continually Prayers Processions publick Penances c. are performed and every one runs about crying Miserecordia Mercy Mercy Mercy Three Ships were Sunk in the Harbour and the Water in the Wells rose many handfuls Benevento is almost totally ruined and of ten thousand Inhabitants they say there remains scarce six hundred alive Cardinal Vrsini their Arch-bishop was taken out of the Ruins alive but hurt Several other Places and Seats are quite ruined and most of the Inhabitants swallowed up This City and the Countrey hereabout just felt the Shock but received no harm The damage is said to be above fifty Millions LXII In the same year and Month 1688. The London Gazett gave an Account of a dreadful Earthquake and Fire at Smyrna In a Letter from an English Gentleman at Constantinople Dated July 8. 1688. As followeth On June thirty between 11. and 12. at Noon there happened at Smyrna a violent Earthquake which in a Minute threw down many and shattered all the Houses in that City It reached all the adjacent Parts and Motelone and Scio where it did some small harm and at the same time that day it was felt here though the force of it being spent by the distance it was not generally taken notice of About four hours after the Earthquake a Fire broke out in the Frank-Street from an House called the Genovese-House which by the strength of the Wind and in that Consternation having no opposition soon consumed the Frank-Street and all the Town except the Skirts and the Houses on the side of the Hill which stand scattering and not contiguous The most moderate computation of People destroyed is 5000. Some make it double the number of which 400. Jews and one of the most famous Chaccham Rabbies of the East Aaron Aben Haim who as he was much reverenced by them in his life so particular lamentations are made here for his Death The Metropolite of Smyrna with some Papa's went to the Church to Prayers and were killed by its falling on them The Patriarch also of Alexandria had the same Fate And many poor People were buried in the ruins before they could get help Of the French Nation only the Consul was killed Of the Dutch one Merchant And of the English three and several others were bruised and hurt but not dangerously The Consul and half of the Nation it being Saturday were abroad but perceiving the Earthquake came immediately to the City and all went aboard their Ships in Port. In the interim betwixt the shock of the Earthquake and the breaking out of the Fire great quantities of Goods were saved So that the English as to their loss in Merchandise have escaped much better than the Dutch who had no Ships in Port. All the lower Ware-houses in Viserchan are saved but those above Stairs either by Windows
Heaven being all three extream bright and that which occasioned astonishment in the Spectators and made it really Supernatural was that during the whole time of the appearance of the Rainbows not the least Cloud was visible in any part of the Horizon In July following in one of the Churches of Carania Father Baletti a Person much Reverenced by the Common People lay buried whose Tomb was much adored and daily Prayers and Offerings made at his Shrine It happened that one merning when the Doors of the Church were opened the Image of this Saint which was erected on his Tomb was fallen flat on the ground It was thought at first to be a common accident but being again set up in its place for seven or eight nights together it was found constantly fallen on the ground and at last was sorted to be said flat upon the Tomb where it continned till the ruin of the Church and City together The People were taught to believe that about an hundred twenty years since a Flood of Brimstone and Fire breaking out of Mount Aetna and approaching with great fury and the destruction of all in its passage toward the Gates of Catania the Citizens expecting nothing but immediate Ruin from it this Holy Man by his Prayers and Exorcisms put a stop thereto in the presence of all the People and thereby prevented the approaching desolation Again in February before about Sunset the Counntrey People about Alari a small village within three Miles of Catania verily thought they saw that Village all in Flames which shewed at first but little yet in a quarter of an hour all the Houses seemed on a light Fire which appearance continued about six minutes and then seemed to decay for want of Fuel The People that saw it ran with all speed thither to help to quench it and all along the Road they imagined it increased but being come thither they found all but an Apparition or rather Prognostick of the Calamity that some Months after befel the place LXVIII This terrible Earthquake communicated it self to the Island of Malta on the one side and to Calabria on the other All the account we have of the Desolations in the former is in a Letter dated from thence Jan. 16. 1692. published by Authority They began to perceive it on the ninth and next day they felt five or six shakes and on the 11th about 3 afternoon it was so violent and lasted so long that the Inhabitants believed the whole City would have been instantly destroyed the Bells of the Metropolis of the Island rung the Roof of the Church of our Lady de Pelay was thrown down with part of that of St. Laurence The Church and Colledge of the Jesuits also suffered very much but the Cathedral and the Church of la Gusmane received the greatest damage and are so ruined that they can hardly be repaired The rest of the Churches and most of the Houses are extreamly shattered and deferted by the Inhabitants The Great Master of the Order was then abroad a hunting with a great number of other Persons who were all in danger to have been buried in the Gulph that was made in the midst of a Rock almost under their feet It is reckoned that the losses occasioned by this Earthquake in the Isle of Malta amount to two hundred thousand Crowns The Grand Master having understood what had happened in Sicily and that their principal Cities from whence they had their sustenance were ruined he instantly dispatcht away several Galleys laden with Corn to relieve those wretched People but arriving at the Port of Syracuse there were such mighty Thunders and Lightnings that they could not enter in They went back to Sea and staid for better weather and then made a second attempt but there arose so violent a Wind that they were forced to return for fear of being caft away LXIX The Monthly Mercury gives an account that toward the end of September 1693. Another great Earthquake happened at Catania and the Parts adjoining but the damage that ensued was very small Nevertheless it was observed that during the most violent shakes the top of Mount Aetna was considerably sunk The Duke of Canastra Vicar General who was then about Catanea sent certain Persons to view the Mount who perceived that the top was fallen in above 600 foot within the compass of about 2000 feet and that all the Earth was tumbled down into the gaping Chasm which was about six miles in circumference At the same time all the Fountains of Taurmina and parts adjacent dried up and the Earth opened at the foot of an Hill which is about a mile distant and out of it issued forth five or six Torrents of Sulphurous Waters of different colours These new Accidents have put the trembling Inhabitants of Sicily into fresh Consternations of some impending mischief ready again to overwhelm them LXX I shall conclude these Relations with some natural Reflections of an ingenous Author These two or three years past saith he have been general for Earthquakes they have been felt all over Europe as well as in America Some have been of opinion that the Earth was a great Animal and that the shivering of some Ague Fit was the Cause of his trembling The greatest part of the Heathen Philosophers accused the Stars of these disorders But to speak one word of the Causes of them I say there are two which are Natural the subteraneal Fires and Winds are the first cause The Bowels of the Earth are full of Mines of Coal Sulphur and Salt Petre and when it happens that one Stone falling upon another strikes Fire by Collision those combustible matters being kindled and the Winds blowing up the flame they cause most terrible overturnings of the Earth unless they find Outlets as in Aetna Vesuvius and other Mountains of the same Nature The second natural cause proceeds from the Water that is under the Earth which undermining the Foundations that support the subterraneal Vaults which extend themselves for several Leagues together in divers parts these Vaults deprived of their usual support overpressed by their own weight sink down and all of a sudden impetuously pushing forward the Air and the Water enclosed in the Earth give the upper part such violent and hoistrous jolts as quickly overturn the weaker structures of human Art which must of necessity give way to those more than Gygantick Impetuosities that rend and shatter the more solid frame of Nature it self And of this there is no question to be made considering what so many Authors have written of the vast Regions that are under the Earth they say that there is in the Island of Malta a Hill within the Concavities whereof inhabits a famous Plantation of People that have no other day but what they see through the Clefts of the Rocks this place is called Gaar Kebir or the Great Cavern In the Territory of Viterbo in Tuscany there is a large subterraneal Burrough called Meonia over which there