The Earth twice shaken wonderfully OR AN Analogical Discourse of Earthquakes its Natural Causes Kinds and manifold Effects OCCASIONED By the last of these which happened on the Eighth Day of September 1692. at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon Divided into Philosophical Theorems pick'd out of many Famous Modern and Ancient TREATISES Translated into English With Reference to that unusual One that happened in Queen Elizabeth's Reign on the same Day 8th of September 1601. at the same Hour which was sensibly felt throughout all Europe and some part of Asia in the same Moment as much as it is found out A DORNED With an Account of many stupendious and wonderful Events in Germany Italy and other Kingdoms WHEREIN Some Observations are made upon the Circumstances wherein these Two Earthquakes agree and the others wherein they differ By J. D. R. French Minister Joel 3.16 The Lord shall roar out of Sion and utter his Voice from Jerusalem and the Heavens and the Earth shall shake but the Lord will be the Hope of his People c. LONDON Printed for the Author at Sion's Colledge near Cripplegate and to be Sold at Mr. Cockrel Bookseller at the Sign of the Three Legs in the Poultry and at Mr. Vaillant French Bookseller in the Strand over-against the French Savoy's Church 1693 4. IMPRIMATUR January the 1st 1693 4. Edward Cooke For the ever Honoured and Worthy Thomas Brown of Alsey in the County of Bedford Esq a Member of the Honourable House of Commons in this present Parliament SIR 'T IS the custom with those that Dedicate any thing to adorn their Frontispieces with the Panegyrick Praises of their Mecenas In which thâ—y create Favours and Illustrate their own Eloquence unto which I was always averse But forasmuch as the great Demonstrations of your Civilities and Benevolence towards my Family are always in my Memory my Affections could not but be moved with the Earth and the Divine Providence at last afforded me an occasion which I had long sought for in vain to repay some small acknowledgment of a grateful Mind by offering unto you the first Fruits of a new Language the Knowleâ—ge of which I attained to in your Neighbourhood then Dedicate any thing new to you Nay 't is very reasonable that this Treatise should see again the same Country where it began to speak or rather to stutter Yet if there were any need to mention more weighty Reasons and pass by these how innumerable of them might be afforded known both to me and the whole Nation in the enumerating of which a whole Volum might be defective But that which hath been the greatest Motive with me was the Piety innate to all your Noble Family and to your Illustrious Lady excelling all others both in Beauty of Body and in great Parts of Mind To which may be added the Candor and Constancy of your Mind free from all secular blemish which Vertues you know how prudently to use in the exercise of Justice and the distribution of Right to every one in punishing Vice and Vicious Persons On which and on many other things is founded His Majesty's the most Prudent of Kings and his Counsel Judgment in conferring on you the Magistracy The unanimous Concord of the whole Country in chusing you to sustain their Parts in the most August English Parliament was upheld by this Foundation On this incorrupted Sincerity leans the hope of its Patronage and the Affection of a sincere and faithful Mind for the Conservation and Promotion of the Present State of Affairs But many Words become not the Candidate of a Foreign Tongue especially in so sublime a Matter Pray Sir respect not so much the external Meanness of the Person as the Gratitude of his inmost Affection after the Example of that Prince who disdained not willingly to accept of cold Water offered to him in the Hand of a Countryman his Subject But having perused this Work be pleased to accept of it as a Pledge of the eternal Deference I owe to you and disdain not to embrace it in your Patronage In the mean time that God will grant an Accomplishment of this and many other Years attended with his most gracious Benediction to you and all your honour'd Family and that the effluxion of this Age may be free from all Commotion and fatal Alteration either of the Earth or of the Present Affairs of this Kingdom is the Prayer of SIR Your most devoted humble Servant J. D. R. April 9. 1693. THE PREFACE TO THE READER THAT common Saying Objects move Powers doth not want its Foundation An Earthquake hath served for the Subject Matter for the exercising of so many and so great Wits in Old Times that it may seem needless to bring it upon the Stage again The Earth was no sooner shook on the 8th of September last but that that stupendious Event became the common Argument of the Discourse and Writings of the Learned Men of this Nation I betook also my self to the Consideration thereof and so set out the following English Treatise for my private improvement in this Tongue without any design of publishing it which should never have come in print had I not been overcome by the Perswasions of many qualified Persons and of several others of no ordinary Learning to whose Notice it came without my Privity when it was finished which was about the end of December last and before the Evangelical Exhortation to Repentance occasioned by the Earthquake writ by Mr. Beverly and the Book of the Learned Mr. Ray concerning the Changes in the World came forth And altho' it seems that I ought now to be more against printing this Treatise by how much the more the number of Writers upon this Subject is increased yet many things being left untouch'd by them which may give occasion to Publick Curiosity and to the Wits of this Nation to exercise themselves about I have here yield to propound to the World And as there are many Circumstances in which the late Earthquake seems to agree with that which happened in the Year 1601. both in the Conjunction of Constellations and the Influence of the Planets if we may credit Mr. Patridge I thought it not amiss for the satisfaction of the Reader to give him my thoughts thereon though I do protest that I am very averse to the Observation of Omens and that I am of a very different Opinion from those who have dared to foretel that such an Earthquake will be itterated here as was in Sicily God forbid that we should by our sins draw down his Judgments so heavily upon our own Heads but rather in our Prayers to beg that God Almighty the Maker and Upholder of Heaven and Earth would be pleased to grant unto our Monarch and Monarchy the most flourishing Prosperity that the Constitution of this Kingdom and these happy Islands may be at quiet firm and unmoveable till the end of Ages THE TABLE OF CONTENTS That all Earthquakes in themselves are
which Eâ—tropius notes about the time the Arrian Heresie and Tyrâ—nny spreâ—d through the East that there were frequent Earthquâ—kes and that those places shook grievously Neither is that which the same Aâ—thor relates less remarkable that presently after the Death of the Apostles Paul Laodicea and Collossus were swallowed up by an Earthquake so that the punishement of those that contemned the Doctrine of Paul might be conspicuous And I seem not to have spoken rashly when I said that no punishment or calamâ—ty is more grievous than an Earthquake seeing 't is an evil that can neither before seen nor easily averted by any Remedies Pliny lib. 2. cap. 82. prescribes two Remedies against Earthquakes viz. to dig many holes in the Earth and make many passages there but this is both labourious and almost as dangerous to Cities and Towns as an Earthquake But perhaps some body will say we shall be safe in Rivers against Earthquakes I confess there is some safety in Rivers and Synecius whom I cited before Writ is that in a great Earthquake he thought the Sea more secure than the Land but that doth not want its dangers neither for the bottoms of Rivers are obnoxious to Earthquakes as we shall shew in our Problems and the Earth may easily gape under the Water or some heap of Earth plunged into the River from the Neighbouring shore may overwhelm us and sometimes Rivers us'd to be dried by Earthquakes so that they that seek safety in the Rivers against an Earthquake may find their Death and Grave But I cannot conjecture what should be the meaning of that which Agathias lib. 5. says is the true Platonic Opinions that he that perished by an Earthquake is to be esteemed more happy than he that saved from it For if an Earthquake be a most grievous punishment which the Scripture attests he cannot be happy who is involved in an Evil grievous in it self and terrible to all Mankind 75. Lastly The Scripture speaks of an Earthquake as of a Sign or the forerunner of the last decretorial Judgment at which a little before the end of the World that great Judge will appear with the Angels of his Power who himself say Luke 21.11 That there will be great Earthquakes in every place before his coming And Matth. 24.7 He makes use of almost the same Words The Prophesies of future Signs respects both the destruction of the Temple and City of Jerusalem and the end of the World Therefore that which is asserted of great Earthquakes may be accommodated to both those times For Josephus diligently observes how great Earthquakes preceded the last sacking of Jerusalem 76. Of this sorts of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 good Men think that was of which we are now treating by which the Son of God in this last Age of the World would warn and excite Mens minds that they might seriously and timely prepare themselves for the great Sessions and hear that Sentence either of Eternal Life or Death never to be revoked I see no reason why we should doubt that some Signs nearer and greater forerunners of the coming of Christ to Judgment than others And therefore although this Earthquake be to be numbred among those Signs as the ingenious and learn'd Mr. Beverly elegantly insinuates yet 't is likely there will be some other Earthquake more terrible meerly miraculous and nearer the Day of Judgment Which he may be applied to other Signs as darkning of the Sun and Moon may be gathered from 24 of Matth. and 21 of Luke and from Acts 2.19 where Peter cites that of Joel I will give Miracles in Heaven above and Signs in the Earth below Blood and Fire and the Vapour of the Smoak The Sun shall be changed into Darkness and the Moon into Blood before that great and glorious Day of the Lord comes c Thou Lord Jesus come comâ— quickly or if it seems good to thee to delay grant that while the Earth shakes and Hell rages while Kingdoms Empires and Kings are shaken and dashed one against the other the Church thy little Flock may enjoy at least a moderate quiet and rest both here in England and throughout the whole World Amen CHAP. IV. Of the likeness or unlikeness of these two Earthquakes 77. IT remaineth now that we may examine in what these two Earthquakes do agree and in what they do differ as well in their Forms and Causes as in their Effects As to the Form 't is said in the 15th Theorem that the first was partly trembling and partly pulsative according to the diversity of the plainness or unplainness of the Fields But all do agree that this last was some kind of panting or brandishing Motion for the Earth was shaken lateraly according to its Latitude now that don't befall so in the Pulse or Vibration and that sort of Earthquake is more frequent Upon the lassing of the first all Authors do not agree But as to this last 't is Witnessed from all places that it did last two Minutes I will only mention these words of Mr. Edward d' Auvergne Chaplain to my Lord John Bathe Governour of the Cittadel of Plimouth in his Relation of the most â—â—markable Transactions of the last Campaign in the Confederate Army where he was pag. 61. We felt an Earthquake says he which lasted about two Minutes and shook the Earth very violently It was felt at the same time all over Flanders in many parts of England and France and in other places of Europe we had it about two of the Cloek It caused a great Consternation in our new Garison of Dixmuyde some thinking at first that the French had undermined several parts of the Town and were in Ambuscades going to blow them up 78. We may observe among the other Conformities of these two Earthquakes these two chiefly the Conformity of the Month and the Conformity of the Day Nay we should make some consideration of the Time on the Day on both to wit that the first happened at two of the Clock in the Morning the last at two of the Clock in the Afternoon so 't is only the intercalation of 12 hours which Event is remarkable enough But now in regard of the Conformity of the Month We have observed in the 45 Theorem that amongst the Planets the Efficacy of Saturn did prevail that year The same is happened this last year as 't is clear by the Observations of Mr. John Partridge that Famous Mathematician upon the Month of September He says so the Month of September begins with Quartile of Saturn and Venus The Trine Jupiter and Mercury with a wet and windy Air. 2dly 'T is observed in the 46 and 47 Theorems that the Power of the three superious Planets Saturn Jupiter and Mars is the most eminent in producing Earthquakes Besides 't is constantly affirmed that the first Earthquake happened when the Sun was in Virgo So were all these things disposed at the time of this last Earthquake These are the very words
contrary to Nature Their Consideration is lawful CHAP. I. HOw many sorts of Earthquakes there are and in regard of Natural Causes what sorts of Earthquake this was that we speak of as well in regard of its Circumstances as in regard of its Effects pag. 3. CHAP. II. What was the nearest natural Cause of this Earthquake as in regard of its breadth as in regard of its celerity videl the qualities and dispositions of some fiery and subtil Vapours hidden towards the Center of the Earth To which may be added the various influences of the Celestial Bodies as far as their qualities do prevail or resist pag. 9. CHAP. III. The Earthquake by its Nature hath not an end properly yet the effects thereof are commonly three specially evinced both by Experiences and Observations of Examples to wit Sickness Inundation and Sterility To which some would joyn the Prâ—sages of some wonderful and unusual Changes c. pag. 17. CHAP. IV. An examination of the Circumstances wherein these two Earthquakes do agree or differ both in their Form and second Causes in regard of the different Aspects of Planets as well as in their effects p. 30. As a Corollary Ten Problems are set rising Naturally from that Matter 1. Whether that be true which Pliny doth assert that France and Egypt are seldom shaken by reason of the cold of the one and the heat of the other p. 33. 2. Why Rivers decrease by Earthquakes p. 34. 3. Why those places that are either lying upon or encompassed by the Sea or some River be obnoxious to Earthquakes p. 36. 4. What credit may one give to the relation of Plato of the Island Atlantis drowned by an Earthquake p. 39. 5. Whether exteriour wind entring the Eartâ— from above is able to move it p. 41. 6. Whether Subterraneous Exhaltations are generated by the Sun Beams p. 43. 7. Whether some more sullen times of Earthquakes are to be appointed for any certain reasons p. 44. 8. Why are Birds frighted in an Earthquake p. 45. 9. Whether the Vaults in Houses are safest against Earthquakes Ibid. 10. If iâ— the late Earthquake is so ended that the soleâ—â— Countries through which it went are secure from its itteration p. 46. THE EARTH Twice Shaken WONDERFULLY THEOREMS AS Rest is contrary to the Nature of Heaven so is Motion against the Nature of the Earth 2. But in this they differ that although no Natural Cause stops the Motion of the Heaven yet it may give some Motion to the Earth 3. The Heaven never rested but once Josh 10.13 since the Creation that we know of and then not totally neither but only in that part which is a Vehicle to the solar Body but the Earth is often moved 4. And altho' the rest of the Heaven be in it self a thing as much to be wondered at as Motion in the Earth yet the later seems to move and terrifie mens minds more 5. For the Earth doth more nearly touch us than Heaven and we are more sensible of danger when the Foundation of the World trembles and is shaken under us as tho' it were falling then if any thing happen above our heads or that which was moved above us move no more 6. Which Events as they do affect mens minds with a singular and as it wâ—re an amazing Admiration so they excite and stir them up more dilâ—gently to enquire after the Cause of the which besides our own experience Aristâ—tle Witnesseth in the 1st Book of his Metaphysickt Cap. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Because of Admiration Men began both now and of old to Philosâ—phize 7 Seeing therefore that that Earthquake which formerly happened on the 8th of September 1601. between one and two of the Clock at Night struck almost all the Inhabitants of Europe with Admiration I doubt not but that which happened lately on the 8th day of September last excites many to the search of the Cause and Nature of them 8. Neither is this tracing even of wonderful and unaccuâ—â—omed Events by their causes any ways displeasing to God seeing Effects themselves are more clearly understood when the Cause is known and the clearer Knowledge of Divine Works begets clearer notice of God himself and excites in us a greater fear and awe of him for clearness in the Understanding begets efficacy in the Will and Ardour in the Affections 9. Whilst therefore the Learned communicate to the World their Thoughts and Observations of that unusual Earthquake which no small part of the World felt which Observations they gather from the Remarks they make of the different Events that happened here and there especially since that Town in Jamaica was almost swollowed up by an Earthquake I have been likewise prevailed upon to put forth something that might be as an earnest if by chance by the comparing of Opinions the cause of this so stupendious an Event might more truly and plainly appear 10. I shall distribute the whole Matter into Four Chapters The First of which shall be of the Kind and Form of this Earthquake The next of the efficient Causes and the Third of the Effects and of their Signification and Presage at least as ordinary and common Fourth To which shall be joyned an Examination of Unformity or Disparity of one from another both in their Form and in their Causes and Effects CHAP. I. Of the Kind and Form of this Earthquake II. THere are two sorts of Earthquakes Trembling and Pâ—lsation The differences of Earthquakes or their several Kinds may be derived either from the Force of the Spirit issuing out of the Superficies of the Earth or from the sound then made and from other accidents and effects Hence it is that in Lib. de Mun. There are reckon'd eight sorts of Earthquakes Georgius Agricola lib. 2. de ortu subter Makes four sorts of 'em a Trembling when it quivers lateraly Concussion when 't is moved on high and shelving in sublime devexum arietation when contrary blows shake it Lastly inclination when it is rowled like Water and the Waves But the same Author in his fourth Book of those things that proceed out of the Earth pag. 14. more accurately divides Earthquakes into simple and compounded and then subdvides both into their Species Aristotle 2. Metaphys reduces all sorts of Earthquakes to two general Heads to wit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a trembling and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pulsus which division I thought good to follow in this place 12. A Trembling is a Motion of the Earth according to its Latitude to the right and left side Aristotle in the forecited place says that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. trembling is towards the sides and calls it also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies to brandish for the leaping of the Earth is as it were a brandishing And this sort of Earthquke is frequent but Pulsus and Arietation as they call them are more seldom which Aristotle testifieth in his
which was at the suffering of Christ who says Terrae Motus c. Earthquake often happened but those which were before and after Christ were only in some part of the Earth but in the time of my Saviour Jesus Christ it was not some particular Earthquake but the whole Earth was shaken and torn from its Center But I know not what credit one may give to this Opinion of Dydimus The Scripture says the Earth is so founded that he shall never be moved viz. as to its Profundity and Center Psal 104.5 He hath founded the Earth upon its basis that it should not be removed for ever A paralel place to which is in Eccles 1.4 That Earthquake also happened at the Resurrection of Christ is to be referred to those that are purely miraculous Matth. 28.2 as is also that spoken of in the 4th of Acts 31. and that Acts 16.26 and also that which happened a little before the Promulgation of the Divine Law Exod. 19.18 and that opening of the Earth that swallowed up Corah Dathan and Abiram Numb 16.21 And that which is mentioned Amos 1.1 and Zac. 14.5 Yea ye shall flie like as you fled from before the Earthquake in the days of Vzziah King of Judah which Josephus lib. 9. antiq cap. 2. describes 19. A mixt Earthquake is that which hath a Natural cause but extraordinarily as it were increased by God and in some sort enlarged beyond the Power of Nature God often makes use of Natural Causes in the production even of miraculous Events lest the Agents might not be hindered without necessity and that he might shew that the Power of Nature and second Causes are not at all repugnant to the Divine Power but subordinate to it And Lastly That he might shew that he hath the Power of Nature in his own hands and disposal and that he can either augment their force or diminish it 20. And this Earthquake is observed to be twofold 21. One is restrained to some certain Place and included within some tract of Ground so that it hath an unusual vehemency of Spirits under-ground and wonderfully increased from which arises destructive and great hurt Of which sort was that Earthquake which happened in the 20th or as other reckon the 22th year of Christ of which we spoke before whereby 14 Cities of Asia perished Such a one was that also that happened in the Reign of Herod the Great by which many Cities Towns and Villages being demolished in Judea 30000 Jews perished as Josephus says in his 1st Book of the Wars of the Jews chap. 14. So from the year of Christ 1170. to the year 1345. all Germany was four times most grievously shaken as one may see from Funccius Stumpsius Sigonius Cedrenus and others 22. Some Earthquakes are unusual and remarkable in respect of their Latitude and Celerity so that a great part of the World is shaken and that some time quickly as it were in an Hour or in a Moment Which sort of Earthquake History mentions to have happened in the time of Valentinian the Emperor in the year of our Lord 369. by which the whole Earth was moved in so much that many Islands in the East with a great multitude of Men perished by Inundation which is attested by Socrat. lib. 4. Hist Eccles cap. 32. Amianus Marcellinus in the end of his 26 Book Paul Orosius lib. 7. Hist cap. 32 Funccius in Chronol so in the year of our Lord 1117. almost all the World shook many Buildings being demolished every where by it as Stumpsius relates lib. 4. cap. 40. but in the year 1443. an Earthquake shook Poland Hungary and Bohemia King Ladistaus being not long after killed by the Turks with a great overthrow of the Christians 23. To this sort of Earthquakes is referred that wonderful and unusual one which happened in the year 1601. on the 8th of September between one and two of the Clock at Night 24. For â—â—s not probable that so great a Tract of this terren Globe as that Earthquake passed through could be moved by the ordinary and accustomed force of Nature which not only our European Hemisplâ—â—e Germany France Italy Hungary Bohemia Thraoe but Asia it self is râ—ported to have felt We have not yet heard for certain lâ—â—w â—â—r thâ—t â—arthqâ—â—ke reached into Asia and Africa but this is certain that the greâ—tâ—st part of Europe trembled and that almost 〈◊〉 the same â—â—omâ—nt Some Reports have lately been hatched that 〈◊〉 that two Towns called by the Turks Tartos and Copera were sâ— allowed up by the gaping of the Earth caused by that Earthquake to the â—râ—at Consternation of the Turks who from that time belieâ—â—â— thâ—t siâ—â—istroâ—s and unlucky Events were pretended tâ—â— their Empire which if true may make it apparent that this Earthquake was not every where a Tremor but in some places a Pulsus and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to wit where the Spirits abound or the Ground is porous or graâ—â—lly as it is about the Euxine Sea and at Constantinople which City if any in Europe is infested with frequent and pernicious Earthquakes In the year of our Lord 1356. it was so grievously shaken that a great part of the Walls where it looks into the Sea fell down with many Towers and Buildings so that 13000 Men perished in the City the Earthquakes lasting incessantly for 18 days Agathias lib. 5. pag. 541. relates a dreadful Earthquake that happened in this City A little while before these thing happened in the time of Justinian the Earth was so dreadfully shaken at Bizantium that almost all the City fell down after which another Earthquake ensued that was so great that I think there never was nor will be the like again 25. There are therefore two things in that Earthquake which make it extraordinary and very miraculous the breadth and that it penetrated those places which are not subject to Earthquakes and the Celerity of it And although the Mischiefs it caused in some Parts may assure us olâ—â—iâ—s vehemency yet 't is not so stupendious for its Mischiefs as for its Latitude Celerity and Presage For we read in History of far more dreadful havock and destruction made by some other Earthquakes and moreover we know from Physical Principles that those â—â—â—â—bâ—iâ—gs â—hat extend farthest are not so highly distrustful For the force of Subterraneous Spirits the more 't is dissipated the more â—â—â—guiâ— it is CHAP. II. Of the Cause 26. VVHether a Natural Cause can be assigned for both effects we must now enquire 27. That there was a Natural Cause although not alone is evident from Observation 28. For the time it self is such at is convenient for a Natural Earthquake to wit Autumn and also near the Equinox for about that time Earthquakes are wont to happen Aristotle 2 Meteor cap. 8. says tâ—uly Earthquakes happen chiefly in Autumn because those times are most Windy Which Pliny also relates lib. 2. cap. 8. 29. It was also two of the Clock in the Morning which is
especially adapted for Earthquakes So Aristotle in the forecited place says there are more and greater Earthquakes in the Night and adds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 especially in the Morning And Pliny in the forecited place says the Morning and Evening Earthquake are very great but at the approach of day they are frequent for the heat of the day dissolves and dissipates their matter Natural cold contracts and binds it 30. The consequent effects also do Evince that the Power of Nature was present 31. For â—oâ—ses and fragors issuing out of the Caverns of Earth were heard about that time in the Neighbourhood which is a certain discovery of the Spirits and Winds agitated in the Cavities of the Earth and as it were there striving reciprocally If but a little Wind blows inâ—o a Vâ—ssel a sound and as it were a bellowing is heard One from whence may conclude what happen in so spacious Caverns as those oâ— the â—arth Hence it is that Aristole says The Spiritus maâ—es aâ—nâ—ise under the Earth as the Air being beaten up souâ—â—s variously for there is no difference between this Spiritus and the Aiâ—â— as to the effect of the sound foâ— this Spiritus verberatiâ—g upon every thing is it self verberatâ—d upon And Pliny lib. 2 cap. 8 says There goes before and accompanies them a terrible noise otheâ—wise a murmuring like to bellowing or the cry of Men and the sound fragouâ— of clashing of Arms according to the quality of the Matter receiving it and the form either of Caâ—â—n or â—uniculus through which it permeates c. 32 〈◊〉 gâ—â—at Win is have raâ—â—â— after an Earthquake when a Caâ—â— has immediately pâ—eceded it This is also witnessed by experience and by Ariâ—â—â—tle and Pliny in the forecited places that Winds 〈◊〉 after an â—â—â—thquakâ—â— because those Winds which 〈◊〉 beforâ— shâ—t in the Eartâ— do brake out of it into the Air. Aâ—d 〈…〉 do assert the same concerning the Calm to wit that it commonâ—y goes before an Earthquake In a Calm towards 〈…〉 â—aâ—y â—ays Aristotle there happen very many and very great Earthquakes because most of the Matter of the Winds is so restrained in the Caverns of the Earth that it cannot more the Air Yet we must not deny that even sometimes in windy Weather Earthquakes have happened because all the Matter of them doth enter into the Caverns of the Earth together And even at the time of our Earthquake about three hours before it was observed to be somewhat râ—en and I will not here make any tedious dispute with Geor. Agric. who says lib 4. de Naâ—ura eorum que efâ—luantâ—e terra That Aristotle when he mentions the darkness of the Sun the calmness of the Weather cold a thin Cloud extended in length did not intend to discover â—he signs of Earthquakes which Aristotle's Interpreters affirm but prove by those things which sometimes happen that Wâ—â—d is the Cause of Earthquakes But both may be asserted without â—bsurdity â—owiâ— thaâ— they are signs of Earthquakes to come and also evince that they are occasioned by Wind. But hâ—â—e we do noâ— only acknowledge Nature but joyn with it a singular force of Divine Power neither ought we to sepâ—â—â—te Divine Operations even from those that are usual and often happen seeing tâ—e very Heathens believed that there was no Earthquake tho never so small but had something Divine in it as it is testified by Gellius lib. 2. cap 28 But â—s often as the Scripture speaks of Earthquakes which is often so often do they divert our minds from the consideration of Nature alone to the acknowledgment of the Omnipotent Power of the Lord as Psal 60 2. Thou had made the Earth to tremble thou had broken it and Psal 77.19 Psal 114 4 and 7. Tremble that Earth at the presence of the Lord at the presence of the God of Jaâ—â—â— Also Psal 10.32 He looketh on the Earth and it trembleth he toucheth the Halls and they smoke Job 9.6 Which shaketh the Earth out 〈…〉 place and the Pillars thereof tremble Nahâ—m 1.5 The 〈…〉 quake at him and the Hills melt 33. But what should be the next Natural Cause of so stupendious Effects to wit so great Latitude and so great Celerity in this Earthquake This I confess is difficulte to Trace but I hope I shall have leave to enquire diligently into it 34. Which that I may do I will first set down some Principles where one may have good assurance for oâ—e Credit 35 Seeing the Earth is round like a Globe it hath Lines drawn from the Center to the Circumference 36. These Line meet nearer about the Center then at the Circumference where they are farther distant 37. Therefore the nearer any thing is the Center of the Earth the mere closely is it contracted rashing violently from thence to the Circumference 't is extended farther and occupiâ—â— mere râ—om 38. The Spiritâ—â—or Vâ—pours are sometimeâ— more deeply hid towards the Center of the Earth but sometimes and that more frequently they are generated in Caverns and Passages meatus nearâ—r the Superficies of the Earth From the general Doctrine of Earthquakes in this place I presuppose the Earth is not otherwise moved then by Winds and Spirits engendred in its Cavitieâ— thence seeking an Exitus according to the quality of their Natures I know the Ancient Philosophers before Aristotle assigned other Causes of Earthquakes whose different Opinions concerning them are recited by Plutarch lib. 3. De Placitis Philosophorum cap. 2. Seneca lib. 6. Mat. quest Cap 4. Pliny lib. 2. Cap. 79. but especially Aristotle 2 Meteor cap. 7. But amongst modern Authors Joannes Franciseus Picus Mirandula lib. 1. examinis doctinae vanitatis gentium cap. 12. among which we must reckon Nicholaus Cusanuâ— who lib. 1. de Docta ignorantia is of opinion that the Earth is neither of an Oval form nor altogether Unmovable of it self But no Opinion is more evident from Nature and Experience than Aristotle who asserts that Winds and subterraneous Spirits are the Causeâ— of Earthquakes for the heaviest Bodies are only to be moved by that which hath the strongest Power to move But among all inferiour Beings the Wind or Spiritus is that which according to the qualifications of its own Nature hath in iâ— a Power more effective of Motion than any other body 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is expresly testified by Holy Writs when it assimilates Angels to the Winds Heb. 1.7 and many experiments do alâ—o evince it For with how great a force doth a little Gâ—n-Powdâ—â— dissâ—lvâ—d into Spirits by the heat of Fire burst out of the smallest Machines So we see the Spirit of new Wine when seething if the Fuâ—nell be stoped do penetrate the Vessels that they may break â—orth It is sufficiently known of what Power they are in our Bodies and what great Coâ—vulâ—oâ—â— Sympâ—oâ—ns and Pains they are the causes of So that Aristotle use hâ— thiâ— Example chiefly to confirm his Opinion of the Cause of Earthquake 39.
of showers faâ—â—ing onâ—â— â—t hath likewise much moisture which proceeds from the 〈◊〉 and â—â—re which is in it self and engenders much Spirits both wiâ—hin and without it self Neither is there any reason why any one should obâ—â—â—â— wâ—â—t Seneca says in quâ—st natâ— That no rain is so great â—s to 〈◊〉 to or Weâ— tâ—e Earth above two Foot For that is not true of everâ— shower of â—ain nor of much and continued rain neither in the Superficies of thâ— Earth the only conveyance of rain into the Earth but it also is carried through the Caves of the Earth that are open and is in great plâ—â—ry infuâ—'d into the in 〈◊〉 Recesses of the Earth by Fountains Wells and Rivers which are increased by raiâ— 52. To which rainy Weather was added an unusual coâ—d in the Dog Days by which the Passages and Pores of it were so shut up that the Humours gathered together in the Earth could not evaporatâ— 53. And the South West wind blowed for many days together so that the Vapours accommodated for an Eâ—rthquake were enâ—â—eâ—â—d and nourished For the South Wind is warm and moist so that iâ— hath been rightly observed by Aristotle that it is apt both to excite and nourish the matter that causes an Earthquake and as the â—outh-West Wind is near in place so in temper and effect 54. Which cold Weather was presently followed by a caâ—mness and heat a little before the end of August So that the Vapoâ—â—s which had been generated by continual Rain within the Caveâ—ns of the Earth grew dry And a Vapour made warm bâ—câ—â—â—â—es a slâ—tuous And when there arise such contention between cold 〈◊〉 or and heat in which the cold is neither qâ—ite overcome and consumed nor the heat is altogether conquâ—rouâ— winds are engâ—ndâ—ed Which is rightly observed by Physicians in the Bodies of Men when heâ—t acting upâ—n Phlegâ—n cannot totally consume it then are generated Wâ—nds 55. It could not be but that the Vapours contracted within the Earth by the â—pposing cold both proper to the Earth and also caused by the iâ—â—â—â—â—al Constitution of the Air should be deeply laid No otherwiâ—e tâ—an it the Spirits are more deeply concealed and constrainâ—d when the coldness of the Clouds doth resist and constrain more sâ—iffly 56. The subterraneous Fire scattered through the Cavities of the Earth so heated these Vapours shâ—t up in the Earth very deeply that it made them more subtil and more aâ—ilâ— the Caverns thrâ—ugh Europe and other places being disposed for it for the Reasâ—â—s a â—ore mentâ—oâ—eâ— That there is â—ire every where scattered through the Cavities of the Earth boâ—h the Fire which in many places breake forth out of the most prâ—found Câ—ves of the Earth doth evince as also the hot Waters or Baths which rise in many places to add nothing of the engendâ—ing of Sâ—â—phur Brimstone and other Minerals in which there is an igneous force and nature The burning of Aetna equally celebrated by Peers and Gâ—ographers is described by Soinâ—us câ—p 2 Heny the Nephew of that â—â—iâ—y by his Sister whose death the Vâ—suvian Mountain caused say lib. 2 Epict. Not long â—â—nâ—e the Island Georgia one of those isles they câ—ll the Third shaken by a dreadful Earthqâ—ake and gapâ—ng there â—ssuâ—d out some much Fâ—ame so many â—ot Stores so much Sulphâ—r and burning â—rimstones which were tâ—rown into the Air that many Houses were Buâ—nt Inhabitants destroyed Vine-yards and Gardens quite defeced But whence come so many Flames under the Earth From the dry Vapours which being so closely press'd in the Earth and from several motions and agitattions in it Fire doth necessarily Kindle For Fire says Aristotle is â—ighâ—ed smoke About the year 1541 Fire broke out of a fouâ—tain named Elisâ—um Gregor Agricola dâ—â—â— squae â—ffâ—uunt è terrâ—lâ—b 4. pag. 152. â—nd Straâ—o Writes that so great â—â—re issued out of the Earth that some Towns were consumed and among thâ—m Sâ—dom at the Lake â—â—phaltites But we are tâ—ught better by Mâ—ses in his sacred History Moreover as our Fire whâ—â— 't is shut in is moved up and down by a various Reciprocation some doubt not buâ— suâ—teâ—raâ—â—ous â—ire is diversly excited and sometimes slies downwards â—nto the most profound Caâ—eâ—nes and sometimes â—pwarâ—s towards the highest Parts of the Earth as the â—arth is variously changed and dispoâ—ed by Heaven and the Air. 57 â—nâ— these I take to be the second Causes of that Spiâ—it which lately shooâ— the Earth so swiftly and so deeply which yet could not â—â—kâ—ly produce to unusual an Earthquake by its Natural Power alone 58. To which was added that chief and first Cause God who by an extraordinary way of aâ—â—ing wonderfully â—nerâ—â—sed the sâ—râ—â—â—th of that Spiritâ—s generaâ—ed within the Earth anâ— added one dâ—â—râ—e of force to â—t beâ—ond its own Power which Nâ—ture câ—uld no add so that this Earthquake may be reckoâ—ed not purely Naâ—ural but mixt with both as we aâ—â—erted before For ad Miracles do not exclude Nâ—ture but many include it so that they increase its force and vertue and extâ—rd it to that degree to which it could not attain unless the Aâ—n â—gâ—â—y Powâ—r 〈…〉 were superadded The Scripture doth prepose uâ—to is â—n evident Eâ—â—â—â—pâ—e of it in Sampson whose predigious strength by his bâ—ddy Tempâ—r and all his Sinews and Musâ—les were so exceedingly streng However God himself did reinforce and increase them so much that be could rent into pieces a young roaring Lion like a Kid Judg. 14.7 that he could break the strongest Cords like a Linnen-thread or Flax that he could slay a Thousand Men with the Jaw of an Aâ—s Judg. 15. That he could take the Doâ—rs of the Gates of the City and the two Posts and carry them upon his Shoulders to the tep of an Hill Judg. 16. So the Divine Power of God did increase the natural strength of David that he could overthrew this prodigious and Stronglined body Goliah with a Sâ—ing only 1 Sanâ—ud 17. To the same kind of Miracle we may refer the Example of â—lijah 1 King 19. where it is said that having eat a Cake and drank Water out of a Cruise he was so sustained that in the strength of that Meat he went forty days and forty nights unto Hereb the Mount of God There are evidences enough throughout all the Doctrines of Divines concerning the variety of Miracles their many â—orts and their ends to shew that these strengthning and reinforcing of Natural Faculties though supplied by God may fall out also on err Ages as we have observed in a few words before in the nineteenth Theorem CHAP. III. Of the Effects and Presages 59. ALthough those things which happen contrary to Nature have not an end properly and perse out of Nature yet they have their effects presages and portentaâ— When Earthquake happâ—ns besides its Nature it cannot have an end properly and pâ—â—se in respect of the Earth For the end of every thing is according to its Nature 2. Phys 3. But in respect
of our forementioned Mathematician All the mutual Aspects of the Planets in this Month are Sol and Virgo Luna and Libra Saturnus and Sagittarious Jupiter and Gemini Mars in Libra Venus in Virgo Mercurious in Libra Cancer in Libra At last he doth conclude thus his Observations upon that Month. The Quartile of the Sun and Saturn and the Sun and Jupiter will in some measure influence September also c. To which we may joyn the Temper of the Air in that very Month whose first part was warm and wet by turns but the most part warm and windy so if we confer these things with what is said in the 52 and 53 Theorems we shall see that the Dispositions of the Air were the same to wit rainy Wheather in the dog-Dog-days There was also a very high South-west wind in that Month tho 't is true that the Air was calm enough that very day when the Earth was shaken Lastly As these two Earthquâ—kes had their Conformities in their Causes so had they in their Effects though not in such a high degree 'T is observed that there are three Effects proceeding from Earthquakes 1. Universal Sickness 2. Overflowing of Rivers 3. Scarcity of Fruit or Barrenness As to the first we did hear from many parts of France and Italy that some Malignant Feaver did appear and 't was reported that some kind of Plague hath been discovered in the Province of Languedoc We must adore the Divine Providence who hath kept this Kingdom from all these Mischiefs wherein it was involved by so many Sicknesses when the first Earthquake happened in the last year of Queen Elizabeth's Reign Buâ— as to the overflowing of Rivers we had lately too many proofs of this effect so that I need not to enlarge in the recital of many particular mischances that happened in many places almost overwhelmed where several Persons have been lost by the Flood We should now come to examine the third effect of Earthquakes in reference to the first that is the scarcity and barrâ—nness But we leave it to be felt and proved in France where we know it is great And though all sorts of Provisions are grown so dear since the Month of December last in this Kingdom and especially in London yet that cannot be call'd scarcity every one knows well enough the difference between dearness and scarcity The continuance of bad Weather may always cause the same effect without any former Earthquake We hope then that the same Divine Mercy which has preserved this Kingdom and gathered therein so many thouâ—andâ— of Foreign Souls and provided them with Bread seven years long by Miracle will continue to send the same Blessings of Plenty unto this Nation who hath pitied his distracted People The past Events being a kind of Security for the future Whereupon we trust that God will spare these Islands wherein the Candlestick of his Gospel hath been kept fast against all the Attempts of Popery And so we conclude that the seven past years of Plenty are observable enough to put us in mind of the extraordinary and miraculous Providence of God for our Relief in a strange Land So 't is to be feared also that his design hath been to warn us by this present dearness to be wary afterward and to turn our selves from any abusing profuseness of his Graces otherwise the Bread staff of shall certainly be broken it will be without strength 'T is the threatning he makes by Ezekiel against the Land which hath sinned and grievously trespassed against him Ezek. 14.13 Some Problems as a Corollary both General and Special which seem Naturally to rise from this Matter 1. VVHether that be true which Pliny asserts lib. 2. cap. 8. that France and Egypt are seldom shaken by reason of the cold of the one and the heat of the other 'T is certain that in there the cold and Northern Countries Earthquakes are more rare because the Earth being not so porous and loose doth not so easily open a passage for the Wind which is confirmed by Olans Magnus lib. 1. cap. 13. But yet Northern Countries are not free from Earthquakes which History and Experience abundantly testifie For in the year 1572. about the 6th of January a grievous Earthquake shook many both publick and private Buildings in the County of Borussia to their great damage And in the year 1200. a great Earthquake threw down many Houses every where through Poland as is related among others by Funccius lib. 7. Chro. And even Sweedland and Denmark have felt Earthquakes so that France which is more meridional and hotter cannot be free from Earthquakes And altho' Vapours and Winds are not easily generated in hot Countries and if they are they are easily dissolved yet are these infested with Earthquakes 'T is true some write of Egypt that there never was any Earthquake because 't is composed of the Mud that Nile when it overflows carries along with it and so fitted to the former that the Spiritus can find no Receptacles Yet Seneca Lib. 6. Natur. quaest says he dares affirm against the Authority of great Men that Egypt is sometimes shaken And there is a remarkable Disputation extant concerning this in Agathias Lib. 2. Hist Fol. 435. Where he says About that time in the great City Alexandria soâ—tuated by the River an Earthquake was felt which was short and smâ—ll which all tâ—e Inbabitaâ—ts especially the more Ancient esteemed as a great Miracle becaâ—se there never was any before yet all being astonish'd at the wâ—nâ—â—râ—ul and sudden Câ—ntingency for fear came all out which fear also â—â—â—d dâ—ne who was there for the sake of Laws and Litterature Moreover tâ—ose that talk according to the Nature of things say that Egypt canâ—ot be filled with Vapours seeing it is low even but that Opinion was then discovered to be weak At the same time the Island of Cos in the Câ—nfines of the Aegean Sea were shaken by an Earthquake but a little part thereof was preserved the rest being levelled to the Ground and variously and almost beyond Credit afflicted with Destruâ—tion and when I did navigate from Alexandria to Bizancy or Constantinople bâ—ing carried by chance to that Island such a lamentable Sight did fall under my Eyes that it cannot be expressed by Words c. so says Agathyas 2. Why Rivers decrease by Earthquakes Pliny lib. 2. cap. 8. Among other Effects of Earthquakes mentions the adverse Courses of Rivers others say backwards because they understand it as if Rivers ran back to their Fountains by reason of the lifting up of the Earth in the Channel which obliges the Rivers to a retrograde Motion 'T is commonly experienced that Rivers are lessened and considerably decreased by Earthquakes for the first days which is within a few Months after followed by an Inundation Rusa by Lucern no contemptible Rivâ—r of Switzerland was so lessened by an Earthquake in that place where it first delivers it self out of the Lake and where it used to be the
which are seldom shaken because they commonly have Caverns as iâ— observed in Germany and France as Georg. Agricol lib. 4. de effluentibus â—â—terra observes But Constantinople and Basill in that part that borders on the Sâ—a or a great River are examples of this the one of which of all the European and the other of all the German Cities is most infested with Earthquakes as we shewed before of Constantinople out of Agathias's History but Procopious plainly attests that Constantinoâ—le shook for forty days together in the year 554. and in the year 740. it was shaken twelve months together beginning on the 7th of November as is noted among others by Funccius But in later Ages evea in our own and Fathers memory we have heard of frequent Earthquakes in that City which was felt by A. Gilpin Busbequiuâ— among others and writ by him in the Epistles of his Turkish Embassy And Stumpsius and others have writ how often and grievously Basill hath been shaken Benedictus Arretius in the aforesaid Problem reckons up ten times that Basill was shâ—ken with great danger and loss in the space of 800 Years In the Years 801 824 829 1021. when the whole City was almost destroyed the Chuâ—ch with many Houses being thrown into the Rhine And again in the Year 1062 when a grievous Plague ensued upon the Earthquakes again in the Year 1356 on the 18th of October it shook ten times about Evening so that the Church Walls Towers and a great part of the City being destroyed by it there were a 100 Men killed Stumpsius says Liv. 12. cap. 28. That the Earthquake continued all that year and that Basill shook ten times in an hour In the following Year 1357. there happened another also in the Year 1444. as likewise in the Year 1456. it shook again but in the Year 1533. most terribly as we read in Munster not without great Commotion of Mind The laâ—e Earâ—hquake was not a little perceived at Basill And Mentz hath sometimes been dâ—ngerously shaken by Earthquakes and that thrice between the Year 855 and 880. and the first time the Walls and the Church of Vrban fell down Constance also by the Lake of the Rhine trembled nineteen times the same day in the Year 1295. The People of Strasburg often ran to their Tents out of the City by reason of the danger they were under from an Earthquake especially in the Year 1357. But I think there is no City upon the Rhine or in Germany that is more frequently or dangerously shaken than Basill the reason whereof a Traveller seriously thought when he was viewing its Scituation than which a more pleasant one he never had seen nor was like to see and he thus considered with himself that the Cause of so great and so many Earthquake in that place was partly common with other Cities seated by Rivers and partly proper and peculiar to that place The common Cause is that the River passing by the City makes the Earth chinky and then pours in Water into those Caverns it hath made which deeply penetrating the Earth engenders Vapours which being obstructed by the cold of the Water 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cannot evaporate but being kept within the Earth longer time and varicusly agitated are turned into blasts and winds adapted for Earthquakes but the peculiar and proper Cause of Earthquakes in that City is first because the Rhine is there narrower and more contracted and being thus imprisonned seeing it cannot overflow the Banks it is carried more impetuously the force of the Water being contracted within it self and as it were by undermining it makes the deepest places of the Channel and Banks hollow and more cavernous than in other places so that more Vapours are apt to be generated and tarry there where they sind a receptacle being also enclosed and shut in by the cold of the Water or River Another Cause is the many Dens and Caverns that are in a high Hill by the Rhine adapted for the reception of Vapours the Passage of which is easie and plain through the Pores of the Earth leading to the Rhine To which may be added that this Hill scituate on the Rhine whereon a great part of the City is built hath every where a solid Superficies which is stony so that many Vapours being engendred by the River flowing by and imprisonned within the porous and cavernous Earth cannot conveniently exhale through those ways which they naturally seek but being denied a passage and collected and coarcted by their striâ—e and reciprocation and so gathering strength by their heat and â—aâ—ity they impetuously invade and shake that which hinders them from above Lastly 'T is probable there is much Subterraneous fire where Basill stands or not far from thence as there is at Baden which is distant but one days Journey from Basill where there are many and great Bâ—ths as is usual in such places Exhaltations sallying out of the Earth even under the Waters of Limage that flows by it which grows hot at the bottom by the Subterraneous Exhalations as is often selft by those that go naked into that River Moreover reason it self discovers and the examples of flames often breaking out in an Earthquake testifie what great power Subterraneous fires have to move the Earth if they be shut up within the Earth So that Geor. Agricol truly says lib. 2. de ortu cau Subter pag. 27. That hot places and where there are many hot Vapours are obnoxious to Earthquakes because Subterraneous fire is apt to beget a quantity of smoaky Exhalations sooner than a little heat Yet Baden that hath so much Subterraneous fire is seldom shaken which is because the Exhalations there break out in great quantity through the looser and thinner Superficies of the Earth in regular Ways and convenient to their Nature And if the Superficies of the Earth were so dispos'd at Basill that the hot Water which are perhaps in the Earth could have a passage and sâ—lly into the open Air their Vapours would exhale in a suitable way and would be a certain remedy against frequent and dangerous Earthquakes Which since nature hath denied perhaps it might be effected by Art by every where digging and opening Caves towards the City which might exhale the preconceived Spiritus which is observed in some Towns which are seldom shaken having some Caves digged to make a passage for the Water which remedy Pliny prescribes lib. 2. cap. 82. But I hope God who hath vouchsafed to commit the heavenly Doctrine and Academy as a precious pledge and gage to it will hereafter preserve that remarkable City from those grievous Concusions whereby Cities use to be destroyed 4. What credit may one give to the Relation of Plato of the Island Atlantis drowned by an Earthquake Pliny lib. 2. cap. 9. where he says an Earthquake took away all the Ground where Atlantick Sea is if we credit Plato Which relation of Plato's that Pliny hints at is extant in Timeus where
the Caverns of the Earth is mingled with the Subterraneous Vapours and so conjoyntly with them shakes the Earth when it could never separately and by it self To this I will add that those that attribute Earthquakes to internal flatus differ in their Opinions for some say that the Earth being void of all Life and Sense hath some Spiritus engendred together with it which Opinion is constantly defended by Aristotle But there were others formerly who attributed such a Life and Spiritus to the Earth as in the bodies of Plants and vital and animal Spirits as there is in Animals which Opinion is espoused by one of the Physical Writers all other Philosophers that I have seen are of Aristotles's Opinion as being most constant to reason and experience For seeing the Earth is a Principle and Element of all mixt bodies consequently every mixt body would live yea the Earth would be no longer an Element if it had life for living bodies have received their last complection and perfection which cannot be asserted of Elements which are designed by Nature for the constitution of fuller bodies as the Principles of all mixt bodies But let us see how the Earth is moved supposing it lives as in the Body of Man say those who are of that Opinion when 't is well the Veins through which the Blood and Spiritus pass are not disturbed but when 't is not well they never leave panting so the Earth when 't is in its natural situation Vapours are quickly diffus'd through its Veins is obnoxious to no Earthquakes but when it hath not its own situation and the Vapours intangled with Ruin and Mud find not a free passage through the Veins then there must necessarily happen a shaking of the Body of the Earth so the Earth is therefore moved by them because 't is in a Feaver Sene. lib. 6. natur quaest thus attacks that Opinion If says he the Earth like an Animal is moved from this Cause it will all feel vexation for a Feaver in us doth not more moderately impel some parts and others more quickly but runs through all with an equal degree But Physicians will think this reason of Seneca's weak for one Member of an Animal may be infested 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with a trembling or palpitation so that if we grant the Earth lives part of it may tremble and be shaken alone for altho' it hath not either Nerves or Muscles yet it hath Veins and as it were Pipes on every side sill'd with Spirits 6. Whether Subterraneous Exhaltations are generated by the Sun Beams Aristotles constant Opinion is they are generated partly by the heat of the Sun influecing them from above partly by the heat of Subterraneous fire every where dispersed through the Caverns of the Earth as he speaks lib. 2. Meteor cap. 8. The Earth of it self says he is dry but it receives great moisture from Rains which growing hot by the Sun and the heat in the Earth begets much Vapours both without and within the Earth which Opinion is therefore disaproved of by Geor. Agricol lib. 2. de ortu Subter pag. 25. because the Sun draws all the Vapours it begets out of the Earth But Aristotle will easily answer That some Vapours are therefore heated by the Sun that they may be drawn out but some are engendred so deep within the Earth that they cannot be drawn out I confess heat draws moisture to it self doth not drive it away but it doth not draw out all its draws to it Neither doth that presently obtain the end that acts for an end The Refiners of Metals and Mines fetched out of the Veins of the Earth must needs says Agricola To hew a Ditch on the Earth under the Crucible to draw thither all dampness for fear lest otherwise the strength of fire drawing out the moistness of the Earth into the Crucible it would grow swelled and burst to pieces with sudden loss and squandering away of the Metal If the heat doth draw to it self the moistness much more can it put in a motion an Exhalation and draw to it a Vapour which is of the same kind with it self This is true yet they do not evince that which they were to prove that the heat of the Sun doth draw out presently that Exhalation and set it at freedom which it draws to it that 's not altogether in the power of the Sun there are these things that detain that Exhalation engendred within the Earth that it cannot fly whither it is drawn 7. Whether Aristotle for any certain Reasons appoints more solemn times â—oâ— Earthquakes We noted before in the 28 Theorem that Arislotle waâ— of opinion that Earthquakes commonly happen about the Equinox in Spring and Autum but the accurate Searcher of Subterraneous things Geor. Agric. pag. 29. is of another opinion where he says Whâ—n I examine his Reasonâ— why Earthquakes happen oftner in Spring and Autumn than in Summer and Winter by night than day in the night time at the breaking of the day oftnest in the day â—ime at noon I find them weak and of little force for he attributes all to the Sun which he doth because if it be without this the Earth at all times of the year would have the same disposition in it The Sun says Agricola cannot be the Cause much less the Moon 's Ecclipse because if the presence of the Sun conduced to this more Earthquakes would happen in Summer than in the Spring or Autumn more in day time than in the night and if its absence be influential there would be more at midnight than at break of day in Winter than in the Spring or Autumn Aristotle observed not that the scorching of the Sun heating the Earth draws those Vapours out of the Earth not shats them in it that were neither generated by it or were touched by internal heat after their generation But this is that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of which we disputed in the preceding Problem The Sun engenders Exhalations which when they fly into the Air of their own accord are said to be drawn and extracted by the Sun but I do not grant that speaking properly the Sun draws forth Exhalations But let us speak as the custom is that the Sun doth draw Exhalations towards it does it therefore draw them out of the Earth Agricola excepts There is no stopping says he that hâ—nders those which the Sun produces for it would not engender them unless its vertue could pierce into the upper part of the Earth and the Sun excites the Exhalations out of the Earth by the same way the power of the Sun penetrates into the â—arth and so doth not imprison them within the Earth The Reader sees how ready an Answer is for Aristotle The Sun says Agricola would not beget Exhalations unless it could bring them forth out of the Earth yea it begets many not to extract them but to afford matter for the generation of Metals within the Earth as Gold Silver and
also for the generation of Minerals as Sulphur Brimstone whose form is so exeellent and profitable that it may be called the end for which that Celestial Body efficaciously operates in and under the Earth by its Rays But as we answered before Natural Agents are not so ordered as always to attain the end of their operation because they act not deliberately and cannot suspend the Action The Sun engenders Exhalations by the innate power of its Rays whither it be able to bring them into open Air or not neither doth the eduction of them belong to the nature or perfection of the Sun but of the Exhalation whose natural place that is that which it most desires is in the Air. But seeing the frequency of Earthquakes both in Autumn and Spring is attested by the experience of all Times what reason shall we assign for it if that which Aristotle hath given is not available Agricola answers Because the internal heat of the Earth sometimes procreates many Vapours sometimes few and where many are imprisoned they cause Earthquakes in all times of the year and day But with the leave of so great a Man this is nothing else than to ask what is in the Principle or in Question for why sometime more sometimes fewer Vapours are generated is that that is inquired after which cause is not within the Earth but altogether depends upon a Celestial Body which as it is first so it is most efficacious both on the Earth and other Bodies 8. Why are Birds frighted in an Earthquake as is attested by Pliny lib. 2. cap. 81. Birds also says he sit not without fear in an Earthquake 'T is no wonder if Terrestial Animals are frighted while the Earth trembles but how can Birds while they pass through the Air perceive what the Earth suffereth Birds have a thin and subtil that is to say an airy constitution of body so that they easily perceive every little alteration of the Air and it is past doubt that the Air may be affected and altered by an Earthquake especially in Asia and those places where the Air is more thin the subtil 9. Whither the Vaults in Houses are safest Pliny doth affirm it in his 2d Book cap. 83. Where prescribing Remedies and Aids against Earthquakes he says Vaults and corners of Walls and Posts alternatively thrusting against one another where he speaks I believe of Subterraneous Vaults in which the Vapours being received in a more capacious place do not rage so much as in a narrow one altho' a greater Percussion may be in a hollow and round place than in a level Those Roof and Arches that are above the Earth are not a little infested with Earthquakes which we see by experience in the late Earthquake in Switzerland where the Roofs of many Churches were very much cracked At Lucern the Francician's Church was so shaken that the Roof hanging over the Chorus was so demolished that it must all be repaired a new and no doubt many such like things happened in other places by the same Earthquake 10. Was the late Earthquake so ended that the Countries through which it went are secure from its itteration We observed before two sorts of Earthquakes some are continual that is either continually ceasing or lasting and some interrupted or itterated at distinct times In the year 554. Constantinople shook forty days together as Procopius attests and in the year 740. a great Earthquake beginning on the 7th of November lasted there a whole year as is observed by Funccius pag. 128. Chro. But this I believe was an interrupted and not a continual one In the year 480. as is related by Eutropiu lib. 10. an Earthquake shook Germany a Month together And remarkable is that which is related lib. 4. Hâ—stor tripar In the year 344. an Earthquake shook first Antiochia and then almost all the East a year together when the preceding year the Arrian Faction assisted with the protection of Constantius had most cruelly persecuted both Athanasius and the whole Orthodox Church which we also mentioned before In the 19th year of Friderick the I. Syria and Sicily begun and afterwards continued for many years together to shake some Towns being indamaged others demolished and a dreadful slaughter made of living Creatures as George Agricola relates out of the History of those times lib. 4. de nat efflu è terra pag. 151. where he adds that an Earthquake happened at Seville and Cordoua in Spain which lasted three years which is very remarkable In the year 741. twenty Earthquakes almost continued shook Wiritzbourgh as Funccius observes In the year 1276. twelve Earthquakes shook Germany there being but a little space of time between them as is witnessed by Stumpfius lib. 5. cap. 1. In the year 1295. an Earthquake was repeated at Constance 19 times In the year 1531. a great Earthquake was itterated 8 times at Olysippa or Lisburn in Portugal In the year 177. Basill was shook 9 times in 9 months That Earthquake which happened in Queen Elizabeth's Reign was also interrupted that is to say was repeated so that between the first and second time at which time it was not so vehement in these places as at the first it interposed about a quarter of an hour But that which was inquired after in the propounded Problem was whither the matter of an Earthquake reaching so far was consumed in those two shakes I would not here rashly assert any thing nor frighten my self with sinistrous Omens I will only mention that which if not necessarily yet truly may be determined for Physical Principles of interrupted Earthquakes I will lay the Theorems in order First When there happenâ— a great Earthquake that reaches far and near all the Vapours collected in the Earth shake it not together and at once but are interrupted for forty days then for a year and sometimes they threaten another Earthquake in the same place for two years for Vapours may be contain'd so long within the Earth This Aristotle asserts almost in so many words which is also confirmed by the experience of these examples we have cited and by such others which also Aristotle explains by a very apt Similitude As the unnatural Pulses in our Bodies says he do not presently but by degrees and interruptedly end with the Disease so winds no not sooner leave off shaking the Earth than the Relicks of them are consumed Another Physical Theorem is That interrupted Earthquakes commonly return in a more vehement manner for the longer the Vapour contends within the Earth the stronger 't is rendred The third Theorem is likely That as Pliny writes of the Plague Lib. 7. cap. 59. That it hath been a long time experienced that it goes from East to West and if it happens otherwise it every where prevails So an Earthquake goes from the South to the North from East to West This is also certain that there are two sorts of Interruptions one quick when 't is suddenly itterated the other slow when 't is repeated after many Days and Months The last Earthquake had not any sudden renew all but we have reason to fear a slow one To which we may add that the Eclipse of the Sun on the 27th of December threatens us with its effects and the Conjunction of Saturn and Mars in Scorpio may add to it of which this is their Rule Saturn in Mars shakes the Earth which Rule experience confirmed in the year 1542. when after the same Conjunction a great Earthquake shook Constantinople And there will be a Conjunction of Saturn and Mars in July as there was in October 1531. when Portugal was grievously shaken But we must refer the care of futurities to God 'T is our duty to rest on his eternal presence to correct past things and live now more chastly and piously as Mr. Beverly learnedly and fervently exhorts in his Treatise of Trepidations of the Earth pag. 132. which that we may do God Almighty grant who alone can move Mens Hearts as he doth the Earth FINIS