be a truth in them it is hard for to discover which it is and being found difficult to follow but whether this admired and stupendious machine of the World be greater or lesser 't is not for me to argue And thus I will conclude Psal 135. ver 6. Omnia quaecunque voluit Dominus fecit in Coelo in Terra in mari in omnibus abyssis The 7 Planets or wandring Stars with their Characters colour motion period and courses FIrst under the Firmament or Starry Heaven is plac'd the planet Saturn ♄ who is the highest of them his colour is pale his course is finished through the 12 Signes in 29 years 5 moneths 2 weeks 1 day and 8 hours The next Orbe to this is Jupiter ♃ a fair and bright planet he passeth through the 12 Signs of the Zodiack in a 11 years 11 moneths 5 days and 17 hours or very neer Mars ♂ appeareth in his proper Sphere of a red or fiery colour marching through the 12 Signs in 1 year 11 moneths 1 week 6 days and 22 hours or thereabouts The Sun ☉ is next being placed in the middle of the planets the better to distribute his light unto the rest they being illuminated by him their bright and glorious Prince and is called Sol quasi solus for this Planet is as Monarch of the Skies all the Stars receiving their lustre from Him his progress through the Zodiack is finished in a year consisting of 365 days 5 hours 49 minuits and 16 seconds almost for the odd hours and minuits is allowed a day every fourth year Venus ♀ is a very bright and clear shining Planet she finisheth her course in a year sometimes rising before the ☉ she is called the morning Star and at other times will follow the ☉ and then is called th◠〈◊〉 Stars she seldome goeth 4 degrees from the ☉ and can never exceed two whole Signs or 60 degrees Mercuny ☿ posting to and fro in the sixth Sphere but cannot exceed 30 degrees or one whole Sign in distance at any time from the ☉ and so is seldome visible being obscured by the Sun beams and when seen he is not bright and finisheth his course in something lesse then the space of a year The Moon ☽ is the lowest of all the Planets and consequently swiftest in her motion She passeth through the 12 Signs of the Zodiack in 27 days 7 hours 43 minuits and 5 seconds but from one new Moon unto another it is 29 days and odd hours by reason of the ☉ proper motion from the West Eastward in those 27 days The mutual Aspects or positions of the 7 Planets THe Planets are called wandring Stars both for their various courses and not keeping any certain distance one from another each of them moving in a proper peculiar Sphere the Sun only keeping under the Ecliptick line but all the other 6 according to their motions changing continually their latitudes being sometimes Southward of the Ecliptick as was said before which mutability of their courses you may plainly behold by the Moon who passes by all other Planets in less then 30 days and so do all the other 5 Planets according to their proper motions mutually aspect one another and are conceived by Astronomers to have the more force in their influences upon all sublunary things according to their positions and the powerful effects of their natures are supposed to be hindred or further'd by the interposition of another which in things of this nature ought to be judiciously and circumspectly considered weighing with reason the position of the Planets their natures the Seasons of the year with the temperature of the Signs they are in and the intervening Aspects of the other Stars of which Aspects there be many observed by Astronomers but those which may concern this Treatise are these following Conjunction of any two Planets is when they have one Longitude both of them being under one Sign and degree of the Zodiack Sextile aspect is when any two Planets are in distance one from another in respect of their Longitudes ⅙ part of the 12 Signs that is two whole Signs or 60 degrees Quartile aspect is when the difference of two Planets Longitudes shall be ¼ part of the Zodiack that is 3 Signes being a quadrant or 90 degrees Trine is the aspect of any two Planets that differ in Longitude one from another ⅓ part of the Zodiack that is 4 whole Signs or 120 degrees Opposition is the aspect of two Planets directly opposite differing in Longitude 6 of the 12 Signs that is 180 degrees and for brevity are charactered thus according to their Aspects A Table of the 7 Planets aspects The Characters ☌ Conjunction Degrees of the Zodiack 00  ⚹ Sextile  60  □ Quartile  90  △ Trine  120  ☠Opposition  180 The natures and qualities of the four Elements AN Element is a beginning out of which all bodies are compos'd mixed with some part of all the four which are these viz. 1 Fire 2 Air 3 Water and 4 Earth these four do fill up the whole Orbe from the center of the Heavens to the Moons Sphere whereby a vacuum or an emptiness is avoided which Nature doth abhor and so hath curiously made them as to be the bounds of the connex superficies of one another and consequently to the concaves of their Spheres and are described in order thus Fire Under the Moon 's Sphere is plac'd the Element of Fire void of all weight and most remote from the center of gravity this Element is of nature extremely hot and dry Air. Next unto the Fire is placed the Element of Air which is also light and is by nature hot and moist Earth and Water The other two that is the Water and the Earth as joyned and commixt together do make one Globe for the Water is heavy and by nature cold and moist the Earth extremely cold and dry but heavier then the Water yet both these Elements pressing to the center of the Spheres To prove the Earth's roundnesse NAture in all her admirable works does aim at that which is most convenient and attains unto the greatest perfection which is a spherical figure being most capacious and uniform of all others one part counterposing the other thus Nature hath made the center of the Heavens the seat of Gravity to which all heavy things must naturally tend unto and so consequently if it were of any form but round the fluxible waters would be divorced from the Earth dissenting it to run unto the center But some will object that it is not round by reason of some high exalted hills spacious plains and deep depressed vallies and do conceive these a sufficient demonstration but this Argument will be of no force if you consider the greatness of the terrestrial Globe For Mount Pelion was observed by Dicaearchus whose perpendicular height was sound to be but 12 Stadiums that is but an Italian mile and a half and
this the highest hill that was then known and so writeth Pliny lib. 1. cap. 65. but in the same Chapter he falls into a great absurdity conceiving the Alpes to be 50 miles high Eratosthenes a famous Geometrician found the perpendicular of mount Atlas not to exceed 10 Stadiums a small proportion in respect of the Globes rotundity And that the superficies of the Water is also round it doth evidently appear by every little bubble or drop of water falling from any place or lying upon some dust it will immediately contract into a spherical or round form whereby to preserve it self from drought this naturally and voluntarily doing so argues the roundness and form of the whole Element whose parts they are the ☽ eclipst demonstrates the Earth's rotundity and let this suffice as not requisite in this Treatise conducing to our purpose The concord and disagreement of the four Elements THis Globe composed of Earth and Water is suspended in the center of the Heavens equidistant on every side counterpoised with its own weight circumvolved with the Element of Air and that within the Fire these 4 Elements have naturally a peculiar quality in themselves participating with some and contrary to others as the Fire in hot the Air most the Water cold and the Earth dry in this the Fire and Water be naturally opposite as heat and cold the Air and Earth be in opposition as wet and drought these 4 Elements do also participate of one anothers qualities as thus the Fire is of nature hot and dry the Air hot and moist the Water cold and moist the Earth cold and dry So the Air agrees with the Fire in respect of heat and with the Water in respect of moisture The other medium is the Water in combination with the Air in moisture and in coldness with the Earth the two extreams as Earth with Water in respect of coldness and agreeing with the Fire in dryness By the commixtion of these 4 Elements all bodies are ingendred and by their mutual affininities do subsist and if any one predominates or be defective it turns the other 3 into discord and if not in time united it subverts the frame and destroys for want of concord what it should preserve in peace for if the Fire prevails it burns and turns to Feavers and if defective the heat of the Air being equally opposed with the cold of the Water moisture in them both predominates equalled with the drought of the Earth So that the cold then onely rules with which nothing can live The nature and temperature of the 4 Seasons THe 4 Seasons of the year are compared to the four Ages in every Man and his complexion or constitution unto the four Elements and first the Spring is compared to Infancy being Airy hot and moist 2. Summer to youth as being Fiery hot and dry grown to full perfection of strength and vigour of body every part and member ripe 3. Autumne is likened to elder Age the body and strength in Man declining being Watery cold and moist his beauty withering 4. Winter resembling old and decrepit Age being cold and dry But some do suppose the 4 Seasons of the year to be in opposition one unto another for what one Season does produce the contrary will destroy And so they conceive as the Spring is hot and moist that Autumne is cold and dry and as the Summer is naturally hot and dry so Winter is opposite unto it being cold and moist But these Seasons vary as the Climates doe The Complexions in Man are these 1 Choler like Fire hot and dry 2 Sanguine Air hot and moist 3 Phlegme Water cold and moist 4 Melancholy Earth cold and dry THus one does qualifie and allay the violence of the other but yet you must conceive they are not equally commixt in every Man Beast or vegetable Creature but all differing and every member or part participating much more of one then of another as the vital Spirit of Fare the Flesh of the Air the Humidity of the Water and the Bones in more affinity with the Earth yet these compositions not alike infused as you may see in the diversity of Spirits and conditions of Men by the agility of some Beasts and the slownesse of some others the mildnesse of one creature and the fury of another as the servile Asse dull and slow Horses valiant and nimble Lions indomitable always raging as with a perpetual feaver inflamed with choler And so it is in all other Creatures differing in their temperatures both in their several kinds and species and the like we see in Vegetables and Minerals in their compositions yet participating in all four of the Elements but in some of them more then in others As in Plants the roots are most Earthly their leaves in affinity with the Water their Blossoms do participate of the Air and their seeds of the Fire for without heat nothing can be produc'd all Stones do generally partake most of the Earth yet there be exceptions as Flint-stones and Thunderbolts are of a fiery quality Crystal and Pearls of a Watry and in others the Air and Water most predominates as the Pumice-stone made of the froth of the Sea and flotes upon it being exceedingly light which argues it participates but little of Earth and lesse of Fire from whence the old Adagie is derived To strike fire out of a Pumice-stone is to expect an impossibility in Nature But this discourse here is not in season and so let us return The 4 Seasons EVery one of the four Seasons is conceived to be qualified with the Signs as they are commixt with their several temperatures called the triplicity three Signs being in every Season as we have said already but for your more ease I will place it here again but not intending to induce or perswade any for to believe that which I do not confidently credit my self as that their natural tempâ—ratures are known yet I doubt nor but that the Stars by their aspects and influences are causes of distemperatures and alters the Air and all sublunary bodies Yet by what means it is not certainly demonstrated unto Reason being but extracted from bare effects where doubtful Experience is only Mistris For if it were a truth that the nature and temperature of them were discovered to man we could not egregiously err so often as we doe besides the aspects being general the effects would be so too the Climate considered but this is quite otherwise when the weather will alter in a little space or few miles and there may be at one time in four neer adjacent places Rain Snow Hail and fair weather yet to satisfie some Experience having thus delivered it I will neither approve nor quite reject it but leave it indifferent to every ones judgement as they please to peruse or omit it And here I will subject to your view the Signs Temperatures Complexions and Natures of the four Seasons observed by many The sympathy of the twelve Signs
Lower Region of the Air the first and uppermost is close adjoyning to the Element of Fire and hath a circular motion with it from East to West carried about by the Primum Mobile this Region of Air is perpetually hot and dry by the reason of its violent motion and proximity to the Fire In this Region there are no clouds because of the heat and remotenesse of the Earth from whence they are extracted their matters being grosse and moist but to this place are lifted up exhalations being by nature hot and dry which do easily ascend to that heighth by reason of their heat and levity these imperfect bodies by the heat of the Sun and influence of the Stars are conceived to be exhaled from the Earth or out of lakes rivers seas and other watery places and this Meteor as it does ascend it leaves the grosser part in the lowest and the middle region and as it rarifies it elevates it self unto the upper region like a subtile and thin fume These exhalations having penetrated the middle region and attained unto the height of the Elements and circumvolved with a slimy matter oylie and apt to be inflamed thus having assumed a body is violently carried about with the Air until with the motion and vicinity of the Fire it is inflamed and then nourished with more exhalations continually drawn unto it that it burns and converts it self into divers forms according to the disposition of the matter as resembling Dragons Lances Torches Comets or Blazing Stars c. And some again that seems to fall and slide through the Air the lightest part being consumed extracted or drawn away by some other means or the levity of it unable to support the grosser part lets it descend which gliding through the Air and enlightned appears like a falling Star some conceives that these ascend not so high being of a grosse body yet hot and striving to ascend is repulsed by the coldnesse of the middle Region or the moistnesse of the clouds and so by the reason of its own weight and opposition of the Element it is thrown down again the substance of them is like a gelly transparent and apt to be illuminated Comets and all fiery Meteors are usually moved with the Region they are in and from East to West according to the raptile motion of the Spheres but Seneca affirms that he did see one which moved parallel to the Horizon from the North by the West into the South and so by the East into the North again and the contrary likewise may be so the exhalations moving as the Air and according to the matter which does nourish it as you may see fire in a stubble and others have been seen to remove suddenly from one place to another casting forth sparkles like fire these by some are called Goats and some have seemed as fixt both in respect of their Latitudes and Longitudes They may be also generated in any part of the Heavens and at all times of the year but in cold Countries rarely but in Autumn for then the heat is sufficient to raise up the matter and the temperature of the Air is apt to suffer the exhalation to draw to it a slimy substance which cannot be in the Spring time the heat being not sufficient to elevate them and in the Sommer season the exhalations are not so grosse by reason of the Sun's heat dissipating those vapours and rarifying the Air and if it could be got together the middle Region is so cold that it cannot ascend to the uppers and the Winter quarter is cold and moist oppugnant to all such exhalations and so consequently quite unapt for those generations or any other of that kind as Philosophers affirm though experience proves the contrary many times The middle Region of Air and what is there generated THis Region or middle part of the Air is generally conceived to be vehemently cold and moist by Antiperistasis and the effects do also prove the same and this we see in all things that are oppugnant inclosed and comprehended by their contraries being of greater force doth cause the contrary inclosed not being able to break forth and withall repulsed by its opposite to contract and fortifie it self as by experience you may see in all living and sensitive Creatures that their inward parts are much hotter in Winter then in Sommer and their stomachs apter and abler to digest and the cause is for that the heat is then repulsive to the inward parts by the opposition and coldnesse of the outward air and besides you may see that the fire and all combustible things will burn more violently in Winter then in Sommer and the colder the weather is the more it scorches the reason is the same in these for the fire grows more violent by how much the more it is opposed with the contrary quality of the subdued cold The case is the same in the middle Region of the Air for the upper part is made hot by the violent motion of it and the neernesse unto the Element of fire and the lower Region is made hot by reflection of the Sun-beams and so the cold included between them is the more violent by how much the lower Region is inflamed with the Suns reflection and so by that means is colder in the heat of Sommer then in Winter But these divisions or portions of the Air have no determined bounds nor hath the Water in respect of quantity for by the motion of the celestial bodies cold and moisture getting together the Element of Water will increase and the Air of necessity must then diminish and with the coniunction of heat and moisture the Sphere of the Water will be diminished and the Air as much increased so by this means the Air does more abound in Sommer then in Winter and the Water more in Winter then in Sommer and thus the middle Region is greater at one time then at another By the heat of the Sun-beams and influence of the Stars Meteors are elevated to the middle Region of the Air those which by nature are temperately hot and moist are extracted from wet and waterish places yet have so much heat as is sufficient to elevate them unto the height of the middle Region where by reason of the coldnesse of that place they are condensed and do generate there several kinds of mixt imperfect bodies the clouds thus incorporated are with the cold turned into Snow congealed many times before it does ingender Water And to prove this assertion you may observe that Snow if compacted or beaten together is not so soon dissolved into water as Ice will be by the Sun or any other means which argues had it been water first it would have been the sooner reduced These vapours or thick exhalations drawn up into the middle Region are often digested and turned into water from thence distilling down like mists or in very small drops for the greatest rain is thought not to fall far through the
as the bounds unto this great work for the Empyreal-Heaven or his blessed Seat is an Orb unlimited whose Centre is everywhere and the Circumference nowhere and since that Genesis doth mention the Heavens as the nobler part of this admired Architecture I desire here to begin where I hope for to conclude having finished my Pilgrimage through this transitory Desart and in what I shall err may it be ascrib'd to my weaknesse and not my will and that we may always remember our imbecillities and reflect on the Glory and Majesty of the sole eternal God Behold the Regal Psalmist 75. ver 1. Confitebimur tibi Deus confitebimur invocabimus nomen tuum narrabimus Mirabilia tua The subject of my intended discourse is Meteors originally deriv'd from the Creation of the 4 Elements their conceptions extracted from thence by Nature with a continual succession from Corruptions to Generations and from hence Reason assisted with Experience discusses their Qualities and from their material cause prognosticates their effects the Stars are generally conceiv'd the efficient cause in elevating and digesting the matter which Nature imploys to what 't is aptest for thus the wandring Planets and fixed Constellations over-looks their transmutations and by their mutual aspects do generate the Meteors from whence Man does prognosticate the Weather either at the present or by calculation of their places for any time in future yet the nature of these Stars being known but by the effects depending much upon Experience on Demonstration little this presciential knowledge is often subjected unto errors besides the course is more uncertain by reason so few do concur and not an Age free from extravagant opinions of Philosophers and Astronomers started up in opposition to what hath been maintain'd and generally receiv'd before the World 's inviron'd in obscurity for the pride of Knowledge which transgression made humane Sciences conjectural under the tuition of Experience yet since we are allowed to argue and dispute upon it conclusions may be deduced and made apt for humane use and Nature beheld through the Meteoroscopes of Reason although with mists before our eyes the Scouts to our understandings yet some are sharper-sighted than others and many think they discover more than they doe and multitudes magnifie and multiply things greater then they are or more than is true so I will record here a few supposed both Wise and Learned men and so proceed Empedocles the Philosopher of Sicilia a man famous for wit and endow'd with a profound talent of humane learning imploying all the faculties of his mind to discover the secrets of Nature and the substance of the Celestial orbes in which the Elements are involv'd he maintain'd to consist of Water of this opinion he had many disciples which flourished until buried with the Author's and in this later Age his paradoxes are reviv'd again unto which Galilaeus doth much incline others conceive them to be form'd out of a refined Element of Air and the Stars of Fire many urges that the arched vaults of Heaven are compos'd out of Natures Quintessence as it were a sublim'd substance refin'd from the 4 Elements yet differing essentially in their Qualities as by being neither Hot nor Cold Drie nor Moist Ponderous nor Light to be brief a body which they fancie but understand it not Aristotle conceiveth the Stars to be a thicker part of their Spheres in which they are infixt not differing in matter nor Species any more than knots in a piece of timber and these condensed Orbes apt to receive light being void of lustre in themselves like the common people of the Skies but as they are illuminated by the influence of the Sun nor have they heat but by reflection nor colour but by participation of divers phaenomenons or appearances of sundrie colours but all this cannot be admitted since sage Experience in peculiar motions by demonstration overthrows their Arguments and Reason denies their conclusions In the Firmament are plac'd all the fixed Stars accounted in number but 1143 and of those there are 14 rarely visible besides multitudes without peradventure that never were or shall be seen to Mortals since by Perspectives some have been discovered in this later age to attend particular Planets never observ'd before and by several mediums undoubtedly have influences on sublunary bodies yet by what means 't is in dispute but least my cogitations should wander with those Stars it shall ascend to the fixed distinguished by their Magnitudes whose differences are 6. as by these paradigmas following 1 The number of Stars of the first Magnitude are accounted 15. viz. as the Scorpions and Lions heart c. 2 Those of the second Magnitude are reckoned 45. viz. the north Horne of Taurus and the Foot of Gemini c. 3 Of the third Magnitude there are numbred 208 Stars as the Breast and Knees of Cassiopeia 4 The fourth Magnitude doth list 474. as the Northern and Southern Asse c. 5 The fifth Magnitude or difference doth number 217 as the least in the Pleiades and the Ram. 6 Of the sixth and last Magnitude 49 Stars as those in the mouth and on the back of Capricornus c. There are accounted besides all these 14 little cloudy or obscured Stars that seldome do appear viz. Praesepe in the breast of Cancer the sum of these is 1022. to which if you add 121 Stars of several magnitudes discovered by the Portugalls in their voyages to the East-Indies the totall will be 1143 in several Constellations according to Astronomers observations but I believe not true since the Sacred Records puts to man this quaery Who can number the Stars but these are more than we know or shall use in our observations here although there were none created unnecessary nor can there be less without an error The fixed Stars are so called for never changing their positions or latitudes and their longitudes not one minuit in a year as all the Planets daily doe to distinguish the fixed and avoid confusion they are contracted into several Constellations or Asterismes the easier to be remembred the sooner to be found and the better for observation these Celestial Configurations are now numbred 58. representing the formes and names of Men Beasts Birds Fishes c. deriving their Pedegrees from Astronomers Poetical fictions or their natural effects as when the Sun enters the Sign of Aquarius these northern Countries to expect much rain or snow Canis major or Sirius at his Heliacal occultation or setting inflames the Air and makes Dogs apt to run mad as Pliny testifies lib. 1. cap. 40. the Egyptians call'd their river Nilus Siris from the Dog star observing their inundations to happen constantly every year when this Star ascended their Horizon with the Sun and those floods over-running their valleys untill his Haliacal rising or apparition summon'd those extravagant but fertile waves to retreat into their confined channels Hypotheses of Astronomers concerning the heights and magnitudes of the fixed Stars and also the
Planets in their mean motions with the distance of the four Elements from the Earth's centre THe Firmament or 8. Sphere in which the fixed Stars are placed is affirm'd by Astronomers to be in distance from the Worlds centre the Earths diameter 9327 times from the Terrestial Globes superficies 18653 semi-diameters the distance from us in miles 65285 500 the least Star in this Sphere is conceived greater than the Globe compos'd of Earth and Water and that all the Stars of the first magnitude are 100. times as great in relation to their Cubes Under the starry Firmament there are imagined 7. peculiar Spheres involv'd within one another on these the ancient Astronomers did fancy little circles called Epicycles whose centres were in the superficies of those Orbs in whose circumferences they plac'd the centre of each Planet according to its proper Sphere thereby to solve the irregular motion of each wandring Star in their various courses and excentrick motions that point which is most remote from the centre of the Earth is called Apogaeon the lowest Perigaeon the difference between them is termed the mean motion the Planet being then on the superficies of his own Sphere Saturn the highest of all the Planets in his mean motion is in distance from the superficies of the Earrh 10358 1 10 Semidiameters in proportion to it as 31 to 11. being greater than the Terrestrial Globe 22 3 10 according to cubical numeration and is in distance above us in our Hemisphere 36153318 Miles this later age by Telescopes hath discovered 2 Stars that attend him interposing themselves sometimes betwixt him and us Jupiter in his mean motion is in distance from the Earth 3917 4 10 semi-diametrs and is in proportion to it as 12 to 5. and greater than the Terrestrial Globe according to the Cubes made of their diameters 13 8 10 and in distance from us 13711090 he hath 4 Stars discovered that make a progress with him through the 12 Signes but keep no equal distance and do often interpose themselves and us Mars in his mean motion is above the Earth 1713 2 10 semi-diameters and is in distance from the superficies of the terrestrial Globe 5996200 Miles and according to Tycho Brahe the Cube made of his Diameter is less then that of the Earth 13 times and a little more Sol in his Apogaeon is from the superficies of the Earth 1169 semi-diameters in his Perigaeon 1089 and consequently in his mean motion 1129 and according to his Cube 139 times greater then the cube made of the terrestrial Globes diameter and is in distance from the Earths superficies 3951500 Miles Venus is in proportion unto the terrestrial Globe as 6 to 11. and she is lesser then the globe of Earth 6â— 1 1 times and in her mean motion is in distance from thence so much as the Sun is or very neer Mertury is held less then the terrestrial Globe 19 times very neer and in his mean motion hath the same distance allowed him almost as the Sun hath in his mean motion Luna in her mean motion is in distance from the Earth's superficies 58 9 10 semi-diameters in Miles 206050 and the cube made of the terrestrial Globes diameter will contain that made of the Moon 's 42 8 10 the proportion being as 2 is unto 7 and so much greater is the Globe of Earth then that of the Moon Vnder the Moon 's Sphere is the Element of Fire conceived for to be in thickness 154050 Miles whose concave or neerest distance from the superficies of the Earth and Water is conjectured 52000 Miles and from the center 55500 Miles The upper Region of the Air being next unto the Element of Fire is suppos'd to contain in thickness 51994 Miles and the concave of it in distance from the superficies of the Earth 6 Miles the Middle Region 4 Miles and the lowest two Miles which is the distance from the Earth to the highest watery clouds and this is the Region of Air in which we mortals draw our vital breath in The two lowest Elements do make one Globe consisting of Earth and Water whose Diameter is 7000 Miles and the whole circumference 22000 Miles and according to this proportion 61 1 9 miles upon this Globe will answer unto one degree in the Heavens but expect no exactness in the dimensions Here I could have shown you a great assembly of various opinions but not assisted with any convincing Reasons or grounded upon undeniable demonstrations as in the magnitudes and distances of the Stars most supposing them for to be in a further distance from the Earth and of greater magnitudes in which proportions I have followed Tycho Brahe but not altogether in their heights Some deny these several Spheres and the motions called Accessus and Recessus others will have them moved by Angelical powers and this opinion is assisted by the great Doctor and light of the Catholike Church St. Augustine lib. 83. p. 74. saying Every visible thing in this World is under the charge of an Angelical power And so writeth St. Jerome cap. 28. On Ezech. That there is an Element of Fire some reject others do affir it but deny that either the Fire or the Air have any morion with the Heavens from East to West Aristoile affirms the Air to be naturally of a hot quality the Stoiks and Cardanus do think it cold Turnebius neither but apt for either heat or cold The common received opinion is that the upper Region of the Air is naturally hot and dry the second cold and moist the lowest Region temperate according unto the place and Season of the year but generally the whole Element of Air is thought to be hot and moist Now as for the two lower Elements Earth and Water as united together they do make one Globe and this assertion generally ratified and unanimously consented unto by the ablest men in all Ages yet something in approbation of this shall be said hereafter But as for the greatness of this Globe it is doubted of by many although not with such dissonant and diversity of opinions as for the magnitude and height of the Spheres and the other two Elements for some do seem to prove by Eclypses of the Sun and Moon and voyages at Sea what part or how many leagues or miles upon this Globe will answer unto one degree of the Heavens the common opinion is 20 leagues or 60 miles and by this account the terrestrial Globe is in compass 21600 miles Ptolemaeus accounts 500 Stadiums for 1 degree that is 22500 miles if the Stadium in Egypt did not exceed that in Italy others will have it 66 miles allowed for one degree and in compass then 23760 miles but I have in this allowed for the whole circumference of the Earth 22000 miles Thus numerous are the opinions of learned Philosophers Geometritians Astronomers Geographers Cosmographers and Navigators and their ways so ambiguous seldome agreeing in any thing often crossing one another that if there
descension is said of any Star that sets with the ☉ as the little Dog-star the 5. day of June but this is also said of any Star that sets in the night time The Heliacal rising of any Star is to be understood of those that have been obscured with the Sun-beams and the Sun moving according to the succession of the signs the Star begins again to appear at his rising a little before the Sun as you may see in the Latitude of 52. g 0. And on the seventh of August the Lions heart quite obscured and a few days after will be seen to rise before the Sun and the Heliacal setting is any Star that is seen presently after the Sun setting and a few days after will be quite obscured with the glory of his beams as the 28. of August you may behold Spica Virginis in the West and in a few days after offuscated with the resplendent radius of the Sun his proper motion being East-ward This I do desire may satisfie most courteous Reader as an abstract of the world and if further satisfaction be desired vouchsafe to look over my books of Astronomy and for the better recording in your memory the apparition and occultation of the Stars accept of these verses though from a rude Minerva Ascention Cosmicall as Poets say Are Stars that rise with Sol or in the day Those asterismes Acronycall they call That in the night do either rise or fall And those Heliacall Astraea says Whom Phoebus does offuscate with his rays AN INTRODUCTION TO THE Second Part of Meteors AS for the word Meteors it signifies an apparition in the Air as taken in the common or usual sense or high and lifted up but in general there are two sorts one risen from Vapours and Exhalations termed by the Philosophers imperfect mixt bodies by reason they are easily reduced into their first nature or proper Element as Hail or Snow quickly resolving into Water and all those which are accounted perfectly mixt are thunder bolts c. and the reason they do give is because that such as these will not so soon be converted into their first Elements from whence they were extracted or derived the material cause of all are hot and moist vapours or hot and dry exhalations from Water and Earth the efficient cause under God is from the fixed and wandering Stars by vertue of whose beams a light rarifi'd substance is extracted from gross and heavy bodies as vapours from water and exhalations from Earth their qualities are heat and moisture which causeth diversity of effects especially in those lesse perfectly mixt which are the subjects now intended Vapours do consist of the four Elements but the substance water as the steam of a boyling Pot which hangs like a dew upon the lid or cover over it And Exhalations are commonly like smoak of nature hot and dry as you may behold in a Summers day to offuscate the Air or make it seem dusky with the ascending of thin sumes and after this comes usually thunder which shews from whence these exhalations were extracted for out of Fire and Air only no Meteor can consist as wanting matter the Fire of it self as being an Element is so subtile that it cannot be purified whereas all exhalations and vapours must be refined and consequently extracted from some grosser body for the Air if much rarified would turn to Fire as you may see in violent and circular motions of wheels or such like things that are set on fire by rarification of the Air where the matter is dry and combustible and when the Air becomes grosse it turns to Water as you may see by your breath in the winter time or the Air inclosed in vaults or other hollow places will quickly be condensed by opposition of the outward Air or coldnesse of the place especially against rainy weather but lot us now ascend to unmask some other doubtful quaeries The places where Meteors are generated is generally held for to be in all or any Region of the Air which are three viz. the upper from the Element of Fire to the clouds the middle Region containing the clouds the lowest from the clouds unto the Earth but Tycho Brahe with some others do conceive the Element of Air for to be delated up into the Firmament or fixed Stars but that above the Element of Fire to be of a Celestial nature differing from the inferiour Air and their reasons are derived from the height of Comets observed not only above the Element of Fire but with the Planets and some higher then the Sphere of Saturn even with the fixed Stars as the new Star in Cassiopaeia which was seen and the height taken by Ticho himself in the year of the World's Redeemer 1572 without parallax The proof of the altitude of Comets is deduced from their Parallaxes that is the difference between the true and apparant height of any blazing Star being observed from the superficies of the terrestrial Globe and not from the center of the Heavens and this difference is discovered several ways First as by observing some noted and fixed Stars ascending the Horizon with it or presently before or after and if they do keep the same distance or neer unto it that Comet must needs be very high or by several observations made in other Countries for if neer the Firmament those fixed Stars will appear with it in all Hemispheres alike But if the distance between them varies and in a small distance of place or time it argues those blazing Stars are very low And thus the Parallaxis of any thing visible under the Firmament will be found greater or lesser according to the height of it As the Star in Cassiopaeia appearing in the year of Grace 1972. differing but little or nothing in the Parallax or the observations made by divers Astronomers in several Countries in the year of the Virgin 's being a 1585 there was a Comes appeared in the Sphere betwixt Saturn and Jupiter and an other in the year of the Incarnation of the Son of God 1618. between Jupiter and Mars Aristotle with Regiomontanus and many others of his followers do affirm all Comets to be sublunary and this their Schollars do alledge that if the Astronomical hypotheses be true the Star in Cossiopaeia was greater then the fixed Stars of the first magnitude and consequently by their own demonstrations bigger then the whole Globe of Earth and Water above 100. times and a greater body cannot be extracted from a lesse from whence then say they could the matter be drawn or exhaled to feed so great a light for the space of a year and four months but to this Galilaeus answers that the highest Sky under the Firmament hath matter in it for the generation of these blazing Stars Licetus to defend the height of Comets doth argue that the Sky hath hard condensed knots in it made and enlightned by the rays both of the fixed and wandring Stars Gemma Phrysius did diligently observe in
3. or 4. Comets that their tails did stream or extend out directly contrary to the Sun as if it were by him inlightned But others do rather conceive from hence that these are Meteors whose matter is drawn together and set on fire by some Star or Planet which it follows and turns unto it by some attractive power and their bodies not round but dilated according to the matter Some do think that these Stars were not new but from the creation although unvisible to the world before as that observed by Hipparchus or that in the brest of the Swan in the year 1600. or that which appeared in the year 1604. in Sagittarius and these observed without parallaxes in the year of Christianity 1625. towards the latter end of August a bright Star did appear at noon-day to the admiration of the people in the City of Antworpe which Star many Astronomers did behold and affirmed that it was the Planet Venus From the Nativity of our Lord and Saviour Anno 1630. May the 29. being the birth-day of Prince Charls there was a bright Star appeared at mid-day the decrees of just Heaven I dare not presume for to enter into So here I will end this discourse of blazing Stars the cause and their effects not being certainly known unto mortal man And thus writes St. Damascene lib. 2. cap. 7. Fidei Ortho. Cometae Dei imperio certis temporibus conflantur rursusque dilabuntur The middle Region of Air contains watry Meteors as Hail Snow and Rain but some conceives that those clouds which causeth rain to be the bounds unto the middle and lowest Region of the Air the midlemost is thought not to exceed four miles in depth and that the lowest is but so high as the Sun can reflect from the superficies of the terrestrial Globe so one of these regions must decrease by the increasing of the other and yet the lowest region when highest not to exceed two miles and when least or the lowest clouds not above an Italian mile for there be hills whose heads are perpetually covered with Snow and yet their perpendiculars are found by the observations of able Geometricians not to exceed a mile and a half that is 12. Stadiums or 1500. Geometrical Pases as was said before But some do urge that Tenariffe is higher then Pliny fains the Aspes to be others do affirm that 't is visible at Sea 4. degrees or 240. miles from whence Snellius would seem to demonstrate the perpendicular height for to be miles 9½ and others 4. miles There is a mountain in Pera called Periacqca by the Indians which hill Josephus Acostae in his History of the Indies doth advance so high in the description of it as he makes the Aspes in Italy for to seem but like mole-hills unto it and that the Air was so subtile on the tops of them that it was unapt to breath in and that he had almost vomited up his life And some erroneously do conceive the heads or tops of these mountains for to be exalted above the middle region of Air. Cradanus in his 17. Book De Subtilitatibus affirmeth the highest clouds not to exceed two miles and the lowest not above half a mile from the superficies of the terrestrial Globe being by common experience found to be under the tops of ordinary mountains Some would seem to prove it by thunder and lightning in this manner observe when a cloud breaks over your head the space of time between the flash of lightning and the clap of thunder for to be equal unto the firing of a Cannon and the report it gives at a miles distance neither is it heard much further then great Ordnances are as it hath been often observed in great tempests both of thunder and lightning that in 30. or 40. miles distance nothing hath been heard or seen but a fair day and tranquil Sky Some men do think the matter which causes this thunder and lightning to have an affinity with Gun-powder one being compounded by Nature and the other imitated by Art which opinions are various both in Philosophers and Chymists for Paracelsus and most of his disciples do affirm that it is caused by Sulphur and Salt-peter commixed with a great contrariety of Mercury unto either and these three they alledge to be the chief causes of Meteors Others do say that they are sulphurious exhalations confused in the clouds and by opposition of the vapours and coldnesse of the place it gets into a body where taking fire by antiparistasis it violently forces a passage through the condensed clouds with a roaring noise to the astonishment of mortalls Others do think that tempests are caused by the wicked condemned spirits and for this cause bells are hallowed and rung probable it is that it may be often times so permitted by the Creator as Psal 77. ver 49. and in the 7. of the Revelation yet all is in the power of God as Jer. 10.13 Psal 134.7 Qui producit ventos de thesauris suis Nothing in this world is certain or permanent opinions of men have their births periods coursees and revolutions as you may read in all ages where the opinions of Philosophers have been buried and again revived from their funerals armed with new demonstrations and fortified with arguments yet besieged and overthrown at last by the offspring of others which shews these are but disputations nothing being certain but the greatnesse of the Creator yet useful conclusions are derived from hence and necessary observations may be selected from humane conceptions although the essential part cannot be comprehended by us And here I will end this Introduction Ecclesiastes cap. 3. ver 11. Cuncta fecit bona in tempore suo mundum tradidit disputationi eorum ut non inveniat homo opus quod operatus est Deus ab initio usque ad finem The second Part. A brief discourse of Meteors imperfect mixt bodies and their causes FIrst you ought to observe that the Fire Air Water and Earth which here we have for our use cannot be called pure Elements but rather Elementarie bodies for Fire and Water Air and Earth are oppugnant and irreconcileable one to another as they are contrary in their own natures and can neither generate nor corrupt simply of themselves but as mixt they doe for if these were pure Elements which here we have the Fire would be immoderate for our use the Air to subtile and not fit for living Creatures to breath in the Water would be without taste and not good to drink the Earth would be sterile and could neither bring forth nor cherish and we being all mixt bodies compounded of the four Elements could not be nourished or sustained with Simples Of the severall divisions and dispositions of the Air. THe Element of Air is divided into three several regions or distinguished in three several parts variously qualified in which are generated many imperfect and mixt bodies and these divisions are thus nominated the Vpper Middle and
which argues by their sweetnesse that they are extracted from thence These Honey-Dews do afford plenty unto the ware-houses of the industrious Bees with quick returns their purveyers are going for to seek provant nor their labourers much trouble to get their loading These Honey-Dews as they are good for Bees so they are as destructive to divers kind of beasts as Sheep Goats c. and in general to all fruits and blooming flowers especially to Hops and Grapes they are also obnoxious to Corn and often blasts it in the blooming For diverting these sad effects Numa one of the Roman Kings superstitiously instituted a Feast called Rubigalia and Floralia in the year from the building of Rome 516. Pliny lib. 18. cap. 29. which Feast was observed upon the 28. day of April 3. Kalend. Moy He was advised so to do by the Oracles of Sybilla This Heathenish Feast the Catholique Church did alter into Ascention Week calling it Rogation from asking a blessing upon the fruits of the Earth The nature of Rain water RAin Water is much more insipide at one time then at another and hath very often a brackish and unpleasant taste yet comfortable to vigetables and by reason of the warmth it does nourish them much better and more natural for them then spring-water or out of wells being cold and too earthly whereas the other participates of the Air which is hot and moist but by reason of this commixture of the Elements it is apt to form divers bodies especially in calm times the Air wanting motion may corrupt and so consequently generates many things according to the undigested matter exhaled from the earth as Frogs falling upon the tops of houses and Churches immediately after a storm and there they will perish in a short time for want of sustenance which argues they were not there produced Corn I have seen that was after a showre found upon the leads of Churches and on the ground in divers places it had the form of Wheat but small and without taste the colour of it pure white both within and without The lowest Meteor in the Air is the burning candle or as some call it Ignis Fatuus This is a hot and moist vapour which striving to ascend is repulsed by the cold and fiered by Antiperistasis movâ—s close by the earth caried along with the vapours that feed it keeping in low or moist places the light is of an exceeding pale colour very unwholsome to meet withal by reason of the evil vapours it attracts unto it which nourishes the pallide flame and will often ascend as those exhalations do and as suddainly fall again from whence the name is derived Thunder and Lightning and the causes from whence they proceed THese are conceived to be vapours hot and moist commixed with exhalations that be hot and dry involved thus within one another they do ascend by vertue of their heat unto the middle region of the Air where the exhalation by Antiperistasis grows inflam'd and strives to get forth of the cloud in which is involved and the upper part of the cloud where the heat would passe by opposition grows the strongest and the exhalation grown over-hot by being constrained with violence breaks forth of the weakest place against the weather that is in the lowest part and by reason of the cold above it the heat and subtilenesse of the exhalation with its own violence in breaking forth it glances down upon the earth without doing any harm if unresisted as consuming a Sword without hurting the Scabbard and many other things of this kind unnecessary and too long for to relate The clap of Thunder is first but the Lightning soonest appears by reason our sense of seeing is much quicker then our hearing As you may perceive at a distance a Man driving a Stake or felling of Timber you may behold him ready to strike again before you hear the former blow and in shooting or discharging of a Gun you may see the fire before the report With the conjunction of these compound vapours and exhalations stones are generated in the Air as other Minerals are in the Earth but more fiery by nature and these are called thunder-bolts in their formes perfect cones like the flame of fire which did generate them out of the terrene exhalation it strikes not above five feet into the earth as some do affirm The remedies against Thunder and Lightning all hard things will preserve whas is soft and liquid as Iron laid upon Vessels will keep the Liquor from sowring by the former alledged reasons besides this it is naturally resisted by a cover made of Seals skins and preserving that on which 't is pâ—aced upon any creature and the like does the Laurell tree which caused many of the Roman Emperors in time of Thunder and Lightning to wear a garment made of Laurel boughs The pale lightning is most unwholsome but the red aptest to burn the best and most assured remedy against these tempests is the protection of Heaven A fulgure tempestate libera nos Domine But note there may be Thunder without Lightning and Lightning without Thunder for when these hot and dry exhalations are inflam'd and the cloud weak in which they are involv'd the incensed exhalation breaks forth without violence in not being restrained but the coldnesse of the middle Region strikes the falshes downwards upon us but not always upon the earth but glittering and reflecting on the watry clouds makes it seem close by as you may see by the Sun beams or any other suddain light falling upon the water will reverberate the lustre and dazle your eyes especially if the water be moved with any wind these coruscations are usual in hot Countries or in the heat of Sommer Thunder without Lightning does happen when these hot and dry exhalations break violently through the clouds in which they are circumvolved but not inflamed yet making a roaring noise in the burst of the cloud which restrained it as you may see little bladders filled with wind will give a crack or report at the suddain and violent breaking of them sometimes Thunder will happen and yet no Lightning appear by reciprocal winds the clouds violently breaking themselves in meeting with one another and this may often happen with insurrections of several mutinous exhalations disturbing the Air with several commotions these usually proceed after much calm weather but are very wholsome to purge the Air lest with too much quietnesse it should corrupt Apparitions in the Air made by reflections of the Sun Moon fixed Stars or Planets upon condensed Clouds Of Circles about the Sun Moon or Stars SUndry apparitions in the Air are made by the Stars reflecting upon waterish exhalations for when they happen uniform in all the parts equally rarified and supposited under the Sun Moon or Stars that their beams cannot penetrate the cloud in any part by which means the rayes are refracted and the cloud being uniform and round the extreams or outward part
Meteors seldome seen little observed in prognostication of the weather and so I shall lead you no further until a better discovery of their natures be made and their effects better known which are generally held unwholesome and so let them pasle as Ignes fatui By terrestial fires 49. WHen our common fires do burn with a pale flame they presage foul weather 50 If the fire do make a huzzing noise it is a sign of tempests neer at hand 51. If the flame of a candle lamp or any other fire does wave or wind it self where there is no sensible or visible cause expect some windy weather 52. When candles or lamps will not so readily kindle as at other times it is a sign of wet weather neer at hand 53. When the fire sparkleth very much it is a sign of rain 54. If the ashes on the herth do clodder together of themselves it is a sign of rain 55. When candles or lamps do sparkle and rise up with little fumes or their wicks swell with things on them like mushrums are all signs of ensuing wet weather 56 When pots are newly taken off from the fire if they sparkle the soot upon them being incensed it presages rain 57. When the fire scorcheth and burneth more vehemently then it useth to do it is a sign of frosty weather but if the living coals do shine brighter then commonly at other times expect then rain 58. If wood or any other fuel do crackle and break forth wind more then ordinary it is an evident sign of some tempestuous weather neer at hand the much and suddain falling of soot presages rain A Paraphrase THe natural cause of these as I suppose is this the Air in the lower Region being apt for either heat or cold does alter according to the inclination of the weather whether it be disposed to heat cold rain or wind the Air thus altering when it becomes waterish makes the flaming fire appear pale candles nor lamps apt to light their cotten-wicks to swell with tumors upon them like horse-shooes or mushrums the moist air being got into them which by opposition makes the fire to sparkle or being cold inclining to frost it causes it to scorch the Air which does infuse it self into the pores of the fewel being moist and rarified by the fire turns into wind and so wanting room breaks a passage forth which makes the wood to crackle the flame to wave and sparkles to fly and this in brief is the cause of them so far as I conceive our fewel being commixed of the four Elements and so by opposition or participation these effects are caused and this makes the soot in chimneys for to fall being by nature dry and loosned by the moistnesse of the Air. By Air Winds Clouds and Mists THe Air in which we breath being commixt and no pure Element doth generate several Meteors as was said already in the second part and the presages these if the Air seem dusky hotter then ordinary and unapt to breath in expect then thunder and lightning 60. When the ringing of Bells or other sounds are heard more plain then at other times and if by intervals it shews the Air to be dilated and disturbed which presages either wind or rain if not both 61. A sharp and cold wind after rain foresheweth more to come the exhalation or vapour not being spent in the former showre 62. Winds that do continue long in any one point will cause the weather for to be generally the same whether it be fair or soul but if it shifts often in changing the place it presages rain quickly after to ensue but in times of frost it is a sign that the weather will break 63. Whirlwinds do predict approaching storms usually of rain or hail these you may foresee by raising the dust or any such light materials and and oftentimes these whirlwinds are forerunners of great tempests for it is a windy exhalation driven obliquely upon the horizontal plain and forced down by the coldnesse or moisture of the present Air in the lower Region this repercursion of the Air causeth chimneys to smoak more then usually they do at other times presaging rain or great winds 64. Sometimes these whirlwinds are caused by the meeting of one another and so raising light things as in contention hurling them to and fro at the pleasure of the prevailing party and such as these do usually presage tempests as you see when the clouds are moved several ways at once and from the same cause above as it is below 65. It is probable that there is also many exhalations which do suddenly break out of the Earth and do produce these whirlwinds which are by nature held hot and dry the cause how these do predict storms and tempests is conceived this against rain or any wet weather the pores of the Earth does naturally open and so gives a passage to them they being hot and dry do strive for to ascend and so much the more then the exhalation being opposed by the moistnesse and the coldness of the Air infused into the Earth which changes as the Element does 66. These whirlwinds are precursors of tempests when the Air inclosed in the Earth is apt for to convert it self into these windy exhalations and there increasing so as it cannot be contained yet not so restrained as to cause an Earth-quake but finds an easie passage through the pores of the Earth whereby to evaporate and free it self from restraint into the open Air. 67. These exhalations when they happen for to be frozen in with extream cold weather in winter and venting themselves in waterish places as in the bottome of great ponds meers or rivers where by Antiperistafis or opposition of the cold waters it does congeal the bottome when the outward air cannot freeze the top or superficies of the water by reason of the motion but in the deeps where it is still and quiet these are called anchor or subterranean frosts they are not usual neither will they endure long but when they do happen it is most commonly extream cold weather and little or no snow these are generally held very hurtful unto plants and destructive to the fishes and by freezing up the channels make the rivers overflow 68. When the Air is dilated or rarified it is a sign of much heat or against rain which by your smelling you may know when shoars nasty places or things corrupted are more offensive then at other times 69. When the clouds be dark deep and very spissious it is a sign of rain and sometimes tempestuous weather 70. Many scattering clouds wandering in the Air and moving swiftly argues wind or rain and from the North or South it is the worse but if the racke rides both wayes it foreshews a tempest 71. If the racke in the forenoon rides in the Air from the East westward it argues rain at night but if from the West it does foreshew a cloudy morning if not rain and at any
being a Mother 316. Maxentius in the Eastern Countries raised a terrible Persecution putting all Christians to death that he could find and with severall kinds of tortures to force them from their allegiance and service to the Son of God This persecution constrained many to fly their Countries and divers for fear of Maxentius and his unhumane competitours obscured themselves in Caves of beasts in the Desarts where from savage Creatures they found more mercy then from Man But this Christ reveng'd persecuting the Tyrants with Plague and Famine which so consumed many Countrys that they were destitute almost of Men Women or Children until the Emperour had nothing but beasts to rule over and not many of them neither From the Birth of our Lord and Saviour 1346. there happned in that year three great conjunctions of the higher Planets viz. ♄ ♃ and ♂ and these three all in ☌ in ♒ this year produced one of the most universal and destructive Plagues that ever was inflicted upon wretched mortals this pestiferous infection took the original in the East Indies and past over the world no people safe either by Land or Sea the Air being generally contaminated as with a deadly poyson many that year went to Sea hoping by that means to avoid it but in vain for there they were surprised with their whole families this Epidemical disease was so dreadful that it banished all humanity and perverted man from being a sociable creature Friends forsaking their Friends and Alies Parents unnaturally forsook their Children and ungrateful Children their Parents This general disease continued 9. years in several Countreys and was as mortiferous and raging as ever was Plague in any Countrey Some writers affirm how that this Plague began from fiery Exhalations risen out of the Earth whose malignancy infected the Air and from those distempers begot raging Feavers in Men untill the sword made incision of their inflamed veins a remedy worse then the disease Others say this Plague took its sad Exordium from fire that fell from Heaven the most authentick Chronologers record it thus Lamech a City of Arabia now known by the name of Mecha the Metropolitan of the Antichristian Mahumetans superstition in this City it rained Bloud and Snakes the space of three days and nights together the Serpents soon after perished in such multitudes that the stench of their corrupted bodies contaminated the Air in all the adjacent Regions this stupendious storm raz'd Mahumets Temple to the ground and sever'd into many pieces the Sepulchre of that infernal Impostor The next year the Earth denyed her accustomed fruits introducing a Famine more mortiferous then the former these direful calamities not moving man to repentance O incredulous and obdurate hearts but contemning those dreadful judgements were pleased with their enemies fall until they fell themselves Piety expulsed fled into exile while envy and confusion in Arms put the world in an uproar the sword licensed in the hands of Furies making a rude decimation of those who had espaced both Plague and Famine These three last deplorable afflictions were the most universal and destructive that the world ever felt or the Inhabitants groaned under since the general Deluge when in 40. days all living souls were destroyed from off the face of the Earth but what the Ark was fraighted withal whereby to replant the world again and those for many months were wafted over the angry waves that lav'd the Earth polluted with enormous crimes and transgressions of unbelieving licentious men only under the Law of Nature to which brute Beasts subject themselves This Ark represented the figure of Baptism 1 Pet. 3.20 21. And moreover St. Hierome calls it a Type of the Catholike Church the raging storms and tumultuous billows in opposition to one another resemble Herefies and Persecutions the Ark out-lived the fury of the Deluge and so shall the other to the worlds consummation all perished that were not in the first so I need say no more of the last Historiographers conjecture that more Men Women and Children perished in one of these Epidemical diseases then in the universal Flood the World being conceived more populous then in the days of Noah and the continuance much longer many will not believe these being but humane traditions and 't is not strange since they want faith in divine Records whereof some object that if the Deluge were 15. cubits above the highest Hills the superficies of the Waters on which the Ark floated was swell'd up to the middle Region of the Air in which no living creature can subsist besides they make queries from whence should these magazins of Waters be extracted the Fountains of the Earth they conceive not sufficient the Clouds are but thin dilated vapours the Waters mentioned above the Firmament could not descend so low in 100. years without a miracle To their objections I might answer 't was the providence of God which preserved them to whom nothing is impossible being sole Creator and Moderator of the Universe but since an Omnipotent and divine power condescended to make Mans preservation by a humane means humane reasons may be expected for which I refer the over curious unto the learned Expositors of Genesis yet not to leave them in a Sea at last something I will say not positively affirmed but conjecturally intimated only As for their Suppositions the whole Element of Air is held naturally hot and moist and the middle Region cold but by accident which frigid and restringent cause being chang'd the quality must cease and so the Air in general might convert to vapours innumerable and the waters in the Earth peradventure were dilated and so made more fluxible whose Fountains were opened for 40. continued days the Catarracts descending from their overburthned clouds which time to humane apprehension might encrease the inundation to submerge the terrestrial Globe 15. Cubits above the highest hills whereof 't is probable the Armenian mountains were most exalted above the Earths center and as the clouds were exonerated by the waters that fell 't is like this inferiour Air did ascend and assume the middle Regions Sphere and so made apt for all living creatures to breath in The Deluge ebbing Mount Ararat appear'd on whose firm foundation the Ark rested the Waters by an orderly summons retreated some to replenish the Earths entrails and exhausted veins others confin'd to channels of spacious Rivers ample Lakes and Oceans almost unterminated a great part by the influence of Stars might be sublim'd and reconverted to vapours thence rarifying to Air ascend their proper Orbs again the grosser parts sink to their seats of gravity and so will I this being above my Sphere yet pleased in recollecting my preservation past the hope of one in future transports my mind beyond a Deluge the landing Eternity A Compendium of Meteors and Signs observed in former Ages as at this present most prodigious in Nature stupendious to Mortals and portentious in their dismal events THe Symptomes of Natures distempers I have
greatest power in altering the Airs temperature viz. ☌ hath the most force and the effects of longest continuance the next is ☠and then the â–¡ the â–³ and âš¹ much weaker and seldome observed in prognostication of the weather except in ♄ and ♃ or when the others are stationary or else ♀ ☿ ☽ any one of these parting with ♃ to joyn with ♄ or ♂ portends a turbulent air and stormy weather neer at hand also in ☠or ill aspected will effect the same or worse Prognostications of the weather by the mutual Conjunctions and Aspects of the Planets according to Maginus Argoll c. Saturn conjoyned or aspected with Jupiter SAturn and ♃ in ☌ âš¹ â–¡ â–³ or ☠are according to the nature of the Signs as in fiery Signs they generally cause drought in moist Signs rain hail with winds and great mutations of the Air both before and after if other causes do not interpose Particularly causing in the Spring a troubled or moist Air in Sommer hail and thunder in Autumn winds or rain in Winter frost or snow a turbulent Air and durable storms Saturn conjoyned or aspected with Mars SAturn and ♂ in ☌ â–¡ or ☠do produce these effects for some days both before and after especially if ♂ be in his slow motion and properly hail in his â–¡ or ☠rain with lightning and tempests in moist Signs cloudy and dark weather corrupteth the Air and is generally hurtful but more or lesse as aspected with the fixed Stars Particularly in the Spring rain or thunder in Sommer time hail or thunder in Autumn wind or rain and in Winter remisse cold yet sometimes snow Saturn conjoyned or aspected with the Sun SAturn and ☉ in ☌ â–¡ or ☠do cause generally rain hail and cold weather both before and after especially in watry Signs or in â™ and ♑ and is called Apertio portarum or opening the Cataracts of Heaven Particularly their effects in the Spring are cold showres in Sommer producing much thunder and storms of hail in Autumn rain and cold in Winter snow or moist dark and cloudy weather and oftentimes frost Saturn conjoyned or aspected with Venus SAturn and ♀ in ☌ â–¡ or ☠begetteth cold showres especially in watery Signs with sometimes hail but not much yet unconstant weather generally Particularly producing in the Spring cold rains in the Sommer season suddain showres in Autumn cold storms and in Winter it portends snow sleet or rain Saturn conjoyned or aspected with Mercury SAturn and ☿ in ☌ â–¡ or ☠do generally produce cold winds in moist Signs rainy and cloudy weather in dry Signs drought in aiery Signs great winds in earthly Signs cold and drought hurtful to all vegetables Particularly in the Spring season these aspects do cause winds with some rain in Sommer lesse wet but some wind in Autumn it begetteth clouds and in Winter snow and often violent storms Saturn conjoyned or aspected with the Moon SAturn and ☽ in ☌ â–¡ or ☠in moist Signs do cause cold and cloudy weather in aiery Signs and in â™ or in ♑ it increases the cold and often causeth hail especially at the full and at the new Moon drought in dry times she causeth frosts or dark and obscure clouds yet sometimes pleasant quiet and gentle showres but with some cold and withal she does much at these times increase the Tides Particularly in the Spring these conjunctions or aspects do cause a troubled and moist Air and likewise in the Sommer with remisse heat and sometimes hail in Autumn cloudy weather with some frosts in Winter cloudy and venemently cold weather especially if either of them be aspected with ☿ Jupiter in conjunction or aspected with Mars JVpiter and ♂ in ☌ â–¡ or ☠do properly foreshew thunder lightning flashes of fire and rain in moist Signs thunder corruscations and rain in fiery Signs scorching heat and if rising with any of the tempestuous Stars it may cause hail in Winter and if otherwise storms and snow Particularly in the Spring and Autumn whirlewinds in Sommer thunder tempests and combust heat in Winter remisse cold and a temperate Air. Jupiter in conjunction or aspected with the Sun JVpiter and ☉ in ☌ â–¡ or ☠do generally produce wholesome winds or gales fair clear warm and temperate weather especially in aiery Signs in watery or moist Signs it begetteth fertile showres in fiery Signs it increaseth heat and assures us constant fair weather but in earthly Signs lesse Particularly in the Spring and in Autumn winds in the Sommer season thunder and lightning and in Winter remisse cold and a temperate Air. Jupiter in conjunction or aspected with Venus JVpiter and ♀ in ☌ â–¡ or ☠do beget a wonderful pleasing tranquile calm and temperate Air with grateful fair weather in watery Signs gentle and wholesome showres and in other Signs generally pleasing gales and clear weather much fertility plenty of fruits wholesome weather in any quarter of the year according to the season Jupiter in conjunction or aspected with Mercury JVpiter and ☿ in ☌ â–¡ or ☠do generally generate winds and often great tempests without rain in fiery Signs drought and warm winds in airy Signs fair weather and pleasant gales winds are usually his effects in every quarter or season of the year Jupiter in conjunction or aspected with the Moon JVpiter and ☽ in ☌ â–¡ or ☠doth generally groduce serene weather propitious and favourable winds in ♄ and â™ white clouds spreadeth over the Skyes but in all quarters of the year it affordeth usually fair and temperate weather and very calm Mars in conjunction or aspected with the Sun MArs and ☉ in ☌ â–¡ or ☠do usually cause thunder lightning rain hail with vehemency and hurt especially in Sommer in fiery Signs it begetteth heat and drought in airy Signs a dark Sky and spissious clouds and many diseases it produces especially in the Spring Particularly in the Spring and Sommer they cause whirlewinds and drought especially if the Signs did participate of both their natures the effects will be diseases and cause cloudy weather in Sommer time vehement heat with thunder and lightning and in the winter it lessens the cold Mars in conjunction or aspected with Venus MArs and ♀ in ☌ â–¡ or ☠in watery Signs causeth much rain opening the floud-gates of Heaven in other Signs lesse rain generally Particularly in the Spring and Autumn they generate rain in Sommer often showres and makes the winter season not very cold but alters the present state of the weather Mars in conjunction or aspected with Mercury MArs and ☿ in ☌ â–¡ or ☠in fiery Signs do declare heat and excessive drought in watery Signs rain and often showres in airy Signs warm winds and those usually violent Particularly do generate hail and cloudy winds in Autumn in the Spring and Winter snow in the Sommer tempests of thunder lightning and hail and often violent storms Mars in conjunction or aspected with the Moon MArs and ☽ in ☌ â–¡ or â˜
in watery Signs prognosticates rain in fiery Signs drought and scatters over the heavens with red and yellowish clouds causing often times rain and as in Signs that are aireal it makes the weather warm Particularly they cause in the Spring and Autumn showres in Sommer thunder lightning and hail in Winter remisse heat and oftentimes extendeth the celestial bow a premonitor of following rain but usually not much The Sun and Venus in conjunction SOl and ♀ in ☌ do generally prognosticate moist weather especially in watery Signs and particularly in the Spring and Autumn rain in Sommer thunder and showres and in the Winter quarter moist and foggy weather The Sun and Mercury in conjunction SOl and ☿ in ☌ do commonly beget winds in airy Signs with moisture in watery Signs rain in fiery Signs drought warm winds with corruption these two Planets do always accompany the Sun neither of them exceeding 60. degrees in their greatest distances and this not 30. The Sun and Moon in conjunction or aspected SOl and ☽ in ☌ □ or ☠in moist Signs produce rain reddish clouds and great drops of water and in fiery Signs fair weather and altereth the Air according to the season of the year and the present temperature of the time at the new and full she causeth the greatest flux of the Sea and all waterish humors and much the more if aspected with the Hyades or Pleiades at the same time with other circumstances to be considered as the other Planets and what hath been said before Venus and Mercury in conjunction VEnus and ☿ in ☌ do commonly beget in moist Signs showres and generally at all times of the year moist winds and if this conjunction shall happen when the two luminaries are in ☌ □ or ☠or within an hour it will cause an inundation or very much rain if not hindred with other intervening causes Venus in conjunction or aspected with the Moon VEnus and ☽ in ☌ □ or ☠presage generally mild and gentle showres or moist weather with some cold according to the season and much increases the flowing of the Seas causing violent Tides especially with Hyades or Stars of their own natures Particularly in the Spring moist and cloudy time in Sommer remisse heat in Autumn they produce dark clouds and in the Winter season a cold and troubled Air if not snow sleet or rain Mercury in conjunction or aspected with the Moon Mercury and ☽ in ☌ □ or ☠do signifie winds clouds rain with various and unconstant weather and generally in all seasons of the year if it happens in watery Signs rain or moist weather is presaged in airy Signs wind in fiery Signs drought in earthly Signs cold they cause also many times pale uncontinued clouds resembling the colour of smoak but the effects of these are not durarable or of long continuance without the assistance of the higher Planets The fixed and wandring Stars are observed diligently by some in administring Physick Phlebotomy c. which I will omit in prescribing any Rules being out of my element but leave it to the learned Practitioners Others do vigilantly regard the Planets in Agriculture and above all the Moon predominating most over vegetables but this is also out of my rode excepting my Predictions of the Weather and seasons of the year as for other things Experience is the best instructor yet those that will may satisfie themselves with Virgils Georgicks with Pliny lib. 17. 18. and divers others of that kinde but being this you have and those not always at hand peruse these few collections if you please they being held general Observations in Agriculture TO plant or sow the Moon in these Signs is held the best viz. in ♈ ♉ ♊ ♠♎ ♑ ♓ and if the ☽ be aspected with ♀ it is the better as causing the more moisture Plant or graft trees the ☽ increasing in ♉ ♎ and ♒ Sow all seeds after the new ☽ but round seeds neer the opposition ☽ is generally held the best but all moist seeds in wet grounds the ☽ decreasing Gather fruits the ☽ decreasing before the last quarter The Eclipses of the two Luminaries are generally observed prejudicial to this kind of husbandry and the bloming of Corn. Any Planet that is retrograde and in ☌ with the ☽ is accounted hurtful to planting graffing or sowing The wind in the North or in the East is held destructive or hurtful to planting graffing or felling of timber Cut hair and shear sheep the ☽ increasing Presages of the weather by Experience collected from the inflamation of Comets fiery impressions influences and apparitions of the Stars reflecting on sublunary Meteors HItherto I have discovered according to my ability the effects of the fixed and wandring Stars selected from their aspects by the registers of Experience conceived by them the efficient cause under God of Wind Rain Hail Snow c. But all men not being Astronomers and my intentions generall to whom I indeavour the dedication of my discourse therefore I will demonstrate the weathers transactions by signs derived more directly from the immediate dictates of Nature beginning with Comets being generally supposed to be sublunary and so descend unto those more inferiour according to my prescribed order intending to treat of falling Stars Rainbows and all fiery apparitions in the Air and then our terrestrial fires for although they are compounded of the 4. Elements yet I will rank them amongst these because the flames of all combustible matters do naturally of their own accords ascend towards the Element of fire the seat of lenity whereas all heavy and ponderous things do tend downwards pressing toward the seat of gravity and centre of the Earth The effects of Comets 1. ALl fiery impressions and Comets do presage violent tempests of long continuance and also they do denote much heat and inflamation of the Air Pliny lib. 2. cap. 25. 2. Frequent and many Comets do foreshew sterility of the Earth famine plague burning feavers and many other pestiferous diseases by reason they do consume the humidity of vapours and exhalations and so from thence they ingender choler inclining men prone to discentions and civil wars it threatens Princes and great men with death and all such as are of tender or fiery constitutions to this consents Cardanus lib. 1 cap. 1. but the effects of these are the more violent and of longer continuance by how much the greater and permanent they are and the like judge of all unusual fiery Meteors 3. The shooting or glancing of seeming Stars through the Air do presage rain snow or tempestious weather quickly after to ensue and observe what point of the Heavens these Metoors point at from that quarter will the wind proceed if there be many of them falling often and sevaral ways it is a sign the weather will be variable but if they be numerous and all tending one way then expect great winds much snow or rain and probably to continue long for it argues
same account If Saint Paul 's day be fair and clear It does betide a happy year But if it chance to snow or rain Then will be dear all kind of grain If clouds or mists do dark the Skie Great store of birds and beasts shall die And if the winds do fly aloft Then wars shall vex that Kingdome oft A Conclusion with a Paraphrase upon the presages by sensitive Creatures in general SIgns both of the weather and the seasons I have hewn you yet have omitted many but such as are best known to those who are sensible of them and of these there be some who supprest with the heavy burden of many years are forced to stoop and strike sail to time their bodies almost worn out with old decrepit age scarcely tenentable to the vital parts which Nature can hardly inable for to keep possession being dayly in danger to be ejected by rigid Death who admits no bail such as these are sensible of the Airs alteration like an old ruined tenement that lies open unto the assaults of every little storm and may unhappily know the weather and seasons of the year Others there be in the glory and prime of their youth that do know all this and more certainly then can the dictates of old age deliver it having in every joynt a Calender that shews them the weather with the Spring and Fall as a Memorandum of their fond and licentious youth wherein they have incurred the displeasure of just Heaven and rewarded with the fruits of sin Yet in this I do not censure all for some knows it through the crimes of others and many by casualties fractures of bones bruises old sores aches cramps gouts corns of their feet agues and almost innumerable diseases and imperfections of Nature incident to frail man for excepting such like accidents or signs derived from experience or grounded upon some reason to be held weather-wise is an argument of folly The cause why Ideots can so well fore-know the weathers alteration is partly they being defective in their understandings as wanting the use of reason Nature does the more assist them or they being cold and phlegmatick as appears by their slavering they are the more sensible of the Airs change as it is agreeable or oppugnant to the temperature and constitution of their bodies whereas Man endowed with the use of reason and discourse contemplates of the cause and nature of things which so implies the senses that the Air infused into the poars of such bodies cannot have any powerful operation and besides their constitutions are composed with a better concord of the 4 Elements so that the Airs alteration cannot so soon and sensibly work those effects in such bodies being perfectly in health and reason of their counsel For 't is Natures care to provide best for those things which are in most danger of shortest life or can least help or shift for themselves as to some she gives strength in arms to others swiftnesse of feet or wings agility of body and the like some little creatures are made a prey by others or their lives but short to these she gives a fruitful offspring as for example what multitudes of little Birds more then Eagles or fowls of prey Herrings in number exceeding Whales with comparison behold also the providence of the immense Creator that all these several kinds do subsist and in such Springs or Sommers whose temperatures of heat shall produce cold Winters there Nature does commonly provide plenty before hand as Akorns Hipps Hawes and divers other sorts of Berries for the subsistance of sundry sorts of little birds animals that otherwise would have perished with cold and for want of meat which is armour of proof against the weather By Natures instinct from these Man as in a Calender may read the weather and the seasons of the year every body having small poars into which the Air does continually infuse it self and as it is rarified or condensed it alters the disposition of the body but more or lesse according to the constitution and as it is agreeable or oppugnant to the natural temperature thereof as for an instance Bees and Emmots being of a fiery nature as appears by their choler and industry the Air infused into their little members towards rain being moist and opposite to their natures stupifies their senses and makes them heavy and not apt to labour or go abroad This is the cause that Bees keep in their hives or will not go far from thence when the Air grows moist and the weather inclining to rain from hence is the motive that the laborious Emmots desire rest and withdraw themselves into the caverns of the earth carrying their eggs with them as by a natural instinct whereby to preserve their progeny for by the fervour of the Sun they must be disclosed and by a storm of rain they would be chill and perish the reason is generally the same in other sensitive creatures whose corps are sensible of the Airs change that alters them according to the natural temperature and disposition of their bodies some creatures requiring heat others moisture what pleases one distasts some other and so of all living things Salamanders love Fire Birds Air Fishes Water and Beasts Earth So these Elements as they are mixt and predominating do offend or please the natural disposition of the creature This Monarchy and Common-wealth I choose as for an explanation of the rest they being the most industrious the most sensible and most subject for to be prejudiced by the incursions or suddain assaults of the weather and so here I will conclude with Virgil Geor. lib. 1. Haud equidem credo quia sit divinitus illis Jngenium aut rerum fato prudentia major Verum ubi tempestas coeli mobilis humor Mutavere vias Jupiter humidas austris Densat erant quae rara modo quae densa relaxant Vertuntur species animorum pectora motus Nunc alios alios dum nubila ventus agebat Concipiunt Hinc ille avium concentus in agris Et laetae pecudes ovantes gutture corvi The Weather Glass or perpetual Kalender Bâ— this artificial means you may at any time â—ither in the day or night discover certainly the Airs alteration as it does condense or rarifie and â—o from thence presage the future weather which the better and the more sensible to effect I will prescribe a proportion for the Glass the manner how to devide it and make a water that will not freez much more beautiful and conspicuous then ordinary water First provide a Bolts head of a cleer transparent Glasse in form as you see the figure the end at A like a Globe in content to the whole ¾ or â…˜ let the shanke be in circumference ¼ or â…• of the head at A then 1 ½ or 1 ¾ of the Globes circle the length unto B where must be a Glasse in content about half of the bolts head as for a cestern to
receive the water which you may thus provide if you would have a red water take Vermilion a green colour is more pleasant and visible which is thus made take Verdigrease and ½ so much Roman vitrial beaten small and put them into the best white Wine vinegar the quantity as you shall see convenient the colour and bignesse of the cestern consider'd these being infus'd and sturr'd together let them stand 2 or 3 days until the water be coloured to your mind if it proves too deep a green pour in a little more Vinegar or strong Water to it This being provided take the circumference of the globe at A with ¼ part more or 4 diameters if you can and place it on the shank with a string equidistant from the head as at the cestern there make two marks and divide that space into what parts you please 15 degrees or equal parts I conceive the best 8 being the Arithmetical medium if the shank be not taper'd write the figures on paper and past them upon the glasse in a continued Arithmetical Progression ascending from 1 to 15 make a Frame that the glasse may stand fast and about the cestern a rock or what you fancy best This done put the water into the Bolts head and holding that in your hand put it into the Frame and Cestern then turn it suddenly the right way and upon the bottome let it rest awhile Observe at what figure the water stands let it at the first be too high then raise up gently the long glasse so that the water may fall down into the cestern and try it for two or three days and when it is at a place that fits the temperature of the Air and Season of the year viz. 1 2 or 3. if it be in the heat of Sommer but at 13 14 or 15. in the cold of Winter if a little frost such as we have in September place it at 9 or 10 but if very temperate weather as between hot and cold the water must stand at 8 a medium having tri'd and fitted it well according to the temperature of the outward Air for it must be kept from fire and accidental heat close it or lute it up at the neck of the cestern leaving onely some cane for a vent as you see at C whereby the Air may passe in or out of the cestern accordingly as the water doth rise or fall for the long glasse must always stand in the water and almost touch the bottome of the receiver or lower vessel as at B if the Air gets into the long glasse anywhere after it is placed according to the weather the work is frustrated A PERPETUAL KALENDER OR Diurnal for the weather with general and particular observations diligently selected and compendiously inserted demonstrating perspicuously in a Glasse the Airs mutability and the weathers vicissitude with the present temper and Season of the year observing the water on serene days at these degrees Viz. 1 2 3 Shews the extreme heat of Sommer 4 5 Is excessive hot and sultry weather 6 7 Is more hot than cold a pleasant season 8 The medium betwixt Sommer Winter 9 10 More cold than hot with gentle frosts 11 12 Is excessive cold and frosty weather 13 14 15 Shews the extreme cold of Winter 1. THe efficient cause why this water riseth and falls is from the condensing or dilating of the outward Air made visible by a sympathetical imitation of the parts here inclos'd upon any alteration of the weather presag'd from hence by experience observing that Cold and Drought do contract Heat and Moisture rarifies 2 The sudden salling of the water foreshews an immediate approaching Storm of Thunder Lightning Rain Hail or Snow 3 If the water falls a degree in 6 hours it will Rain within 12 hours after if not misty close or sultry weather for the Season 4 If the water fals much in the day and riseth but little in the night yet the weather continuing fair expect then excessive heat if not Thunder and Lightning 5 If the water falls never so little between Sun-setting and his rising next day it will Rain or Snow before 12 the following night if the Meteor converts not to what is worse a Calydonian Mist 6 If the water falls not in the time of artificial day it prognosticates northerly winds a cold night to ensue or storms of Hail at hand 7 If the water keeps neer any degree a natural day the weather will continue whether it be fair or foul but if it rises or falls a degree and stands the weather will quickly change to some excess 8 If the water falls no more in the day then it did rise in the night it is a sign that the Air is temperate the heat of the day equally qualifying the coldnesse of the night or else it argues the weather to be at a doubtful stay 9 The often rising and falling of the water shews the outward Air very mutable the temper various and the weather unconstant 10 When the water riseth not in the night-time expect then Mists dark foul and foggy weather the next day if not Thunder and Lightning in Sommer 11 The water rising any day in fair weather presages a frost the following night or cold windy weather for the Season if no immediate storm of Hail invades the earth 12 If the water riseth in foul weather whether it be day or night it prognosticates the storm is nigh past and fair weather will consequently ensue 13 The more that the water riseth or falls at any time the more violent will be the change of weather and of longer continuance whether fair or foul hot or cold as if it ascends 2 degrees in the day or 3 in the night or falls 2 in the night or 3 degrees in the day 14 Observe at what figure or degree the water did rise or fall when the weather chang'd for the Airs temper will continue in the same state until the water returns to that place again excepting the extreams of Winter and Sommer 15 So long as the water shall continue above 10 ascending 't will be frost if it falls below 9 't will break unlesse it rises within 12 hours after if from above 12 it descends a degree or two and stands expect then Snow Sleet cold or slabby weather If the Bolts-head be not prepar'd neer the dimensions given the water will rise and fall as the inclosed air contracts or rarifies but not in proportion to satisfie curious expectation nor exactly ratifie all the 15 prescribed observations Besides Countries particular places houses and rooms according to their situations or accidental causes will change the Airs temper all which with other circumstances I refer to the ingenious and my following Paraphrase to their exposition A Paraphrase upon the Weather GLASSE NAture in all her works abhors a Vacuum so that no sublunary place can be empty or void but is supplyed by one of the four Elements from hence it
menacing the subversion of the whole Island all which quickly after came to pass by their own intestine wars and the invasion made by Julius Cesar who subdued it to the State of Rome the people subjugated to the Tyranny of the ensuing Emperours As for the forerunning signs of calamities this Island groaned under there were seen in the Air globes of fire and dreadfull screaks and noises heard to the astonishment of the people Anno 1558. began deformed reformation whose infatuated doctrine was attended with a prodigious and fatal Comet hanging over their heads as a messenger of God's wrath In these times there fell out of the Air such multitudes of strange and monstruous proportion'd flies that for many miles in Germany they destroyed the corn in the fields and all vegetables until with want they died the corruption of whose bodies infected the Air and so begot an Epidemical disease in testimony of the protestation made In the year of Christ 1588. it is reported by Snellius how that at Amsterdam a little before Sun-setting there was beheld in the Air the form of a Seafight which continued the space of an hour where the conquered were seen to flie this was little before the Spaniards proud Armado came insulting into our narrow Seas who presuming of their strength to captive England were by the blessing of God frustrated of their design and put to flight being severed with a puffe of wind and many thrown upon our coast with shipwrackt fortunes craving mercy of us whom they presum'd to conquer under the disguise of Religion when it was to enlarge their Dominions by enthralling us An Embleme of humane greatness and how imbecile it is a story paralleld by Xerues both in their pride and successe Of these portentions apparitions and direful forewarnings of God's just wrath against the finful World there be many fearful examples over-long to be rehearsed in this Treatise so that all of this kind I will here forbear and conclude with those immediately following the death of Julius Cesar Dictator murdered by the Senators in the Senate house at which time there appeared a Blazing Star with divers other prodigious signs of ensuing woe and effusion of bloud which presently after followed For seven nights after his death there was heard hideous howling of Dogs and Wolves neer their great Towns fatal Birds screaking in their Cities Beasts did speak the Images in their Temples did sweat Mount Aetna brake forth with dreadful globes of fire where stones were melted the Earth gap'd Rivers stood still the Alpes trembled armed bands appear'd in the Air Trumpets were heard to sound the Sun pale and wan and almost obscured for a year following and of Cesar's slaughter thus writeth Ovid. Metam Lib. 15. Arma ferunt inter nigras crepitantia nubes Terribilesque tubas auditaque cornua coelo Praemonuisse nefas Solis quoque trist is imago Lurida solicitis praebebat lumina terris Of this writeth Virgil. Geor. Lib. 1. and also Tibullus lib. 2. Ele. 5. Of Parelii Lunary Rain-bows and some stupendious Eclipses of the Luminaries also light nights and dark days Before the bloudy conflict between Cesar and Pompey in the fields of Pharsaelia where blind Fortune was arbitrator which of these two fond ambitious Men should rule the subingated World at that time there appeared 3 Suns or 2 Parelii as if declaring the greatnesse and glory of these two Potentates who were but as false lights for they both soon vanish'd In the year of Grace 1525 there appeared 6 Suns or 5 Parelii all visible at one time Gem. Phri Lib. 1. cap. 8. and quickly after this was Francis King of France overthrown in Battall and of a great Prince made a captive by the Spaniards about this time also many false Prophets did arise Pliny Lib. 2. in his natural History writes of 3 Suns or 2 Parelii that were seen in Bosphorus but neither registers the age nor records the event He mentions also 3 when Lu. Plancus and Marc. Lepidus were Consuls and when Claudius Cesar was Consul and when C. Domitius and Ca. Fannius were Consuls there appeared at one time 3 Moons he affirms also some nights so light as that they were not but in respect of time easily distinguished from the day but what followed he relates not But this happned about the Nativity of our Lord and Saviour who was the light of the World and did disperse the clouds of errour and idolatry which had a long time infatuated the Heathens in their benighted understandings and now to be illuminated with the Truth and this recorded to be seen not only in Judaea but in Spain and other places of Europe Aristotle lib. 3. cap. 2. Mete writeth of two Rain-bows made by the rays of the Moon in the night season these were seen in his days Thimon writes of two Rain-bows seen in the night and both in the space of 3 years Albertus records one in his time the Moon not at full in the Sgn of ♑ the Sun in ♉ ready for to enter ♊ the time of year being about the middle of April the ☽ in the South and the Rain-bow in the North part of the hemisphere Americus who gave the West Indies its name writes of one Rain-bow which he did see in the north part of the Horizon about midnight but very pale Gemma Phri lib. 2. cap. 2. Cosmo writes of one that was seen the 12. of March about midnight the Air clear and temperate this Rain-bow was described with perfect colours as those that we see in the day And Daniel Sennertus a famous Physitian of Wittenberg reports of one Rain-bow which himself did behold about Midsommer-time in the year of Christ 1599 immediately after a direful Tempest of Thunder and Rain this Rain-bow appeared very beautiful between the North and East part of the Horizon by which it should seem 't was after 12 at night Snellius lib. de Cometa 1618 writes how that in the year of our Lord God 1617 and in the month of December the Moon neer the full there did appear a Rain-bow in the night and upon the 30. day of December following going towards the Hague he did see another continuing from 5 to 6 in the evening these were a little before the beginning of the Palatinate wars fatal unto Germany and hurtful to all Christendome Divers portentious Eclipses both of Sun and Moon have happened according to the course of Nature although prodigious and Egyptian darkness too hath benighted us continuing 3 or 4 days as John Stow in his Annals testifieth and that some days in Holland were not distinguished from the nights and divers men in the time of artificial day did miscarry by reason of darkness having lost their ways mistook their Inns and so fell into their graves shortning their voyages to their journeys end And Sleidanus records the like of this in Germany in the year of Christ 1547 in the moneth of April when the Sun was obscured to their Horizon for