a certain watry thing and yet is not water so Exhalation hath a certain earthly nature in it but yet it is not earth For the better understanding of Vapors understand that they be as it were fumes or smokes warme and moist which will easily bee resolved into water much like to the breath that proceedeth out of a mans mouth or out of a pot of water standing on the fire These vapours are drawn up from the waters and watery places by the heat of the Sun even unto the middle region of the aire and there after divers manner of meeting with coldnesse many kind of moist Meteors are generated as sometimes clouds and raine sometime snow and hail and that such Vapours are so drawn up by the Sunne it is plaine by experience for if there be a plash of water on a smooth and hard stone standing in the heat of the Sun it will soon be drie which is none otherwise but that the Sun draweth up the water in thinne Vapors for no man is so fond to say that it can sink into stone or mettal and it is as great folly to think it is consumed to nothing for it is a general rule That that which is once a thing cannot by changing become nothing wherefore it followeth that the water on the stone as also on the earth is for the most part drawn up when the stone or earth is dryed Exhalations are as smokes that be hot and dry which because they be thinne and lighter then Vapors passe the lowest and middle Region of the aire and are carryed up even to the highest Region where for the excessive heat by neerness of the fire they are kindled and cause many kind of impressions They are also sometimes viscose that is to say clammy by reason whereof they cleaving together and not being dispersed are after divers sorts set on fire and appear sometimes like Dragons sometimes like Goats sometimes like candles sometimes like spears By that which is spoken of Vapours and Exhalations it is evident that out of the fire and aire no matter whereof Meteors should consist can be drawn because of their subtilty and thinnesse For all Exhalation is by making a grosser body more thinne but the fire we mean the elemental fire and not the fire of the Kitchin chimney is so subtil and thinne that it cannot be made thinner likewise the aire is so thinne that if it be made thinner it is changed into fire and as the fire if it were made thicker would become aire so the aire being made grosser would be turned into water Wherefore to conclude this part the great quantity of matter that causeth these Meteors is taken out of the earth and the water As for the aire and the fire they are mixed with this matteâ— as with all other things but not so abundantly that they may be said thâ— material cause of any Meteor thougâ— without them none can be generated The efficient cause of all Meteors is thaâ— caus which maketh them even as the Carpenter is the efficient cause of an house This cause is either first or second The first and efficient cause is God the worker of all wonders according to that testimonie of the Psalmist which saith Fire haile snow ice wind and storme doe his will and commandment he sendeth snow like wooll c. Almightie God therefore being the first principall and universall cause efficient of all natural works and effects is also the first cause of these effects whose profit is great and operation marvellous The second cause efficient is double either remote that is to say farre off or next of all The farther cause of them as of all other naturall effects is the same the Sun with the other Planets and Stars and the very heaven it self in which they are moved But chiefly the Sunne by whose heat all or at least wise the most part of the vapors and Exhalations are drawn up The next cause efficient as the first qualities are heat and cold which cause divers effects in Vapors Exhalations But to return to the heat of the Sun which is a very neere cause it is for this purpose two wayes considered One way as it is meane and temperate Otherwise as it is vehement and burning The meane is by which he draweth vapors out of the water and exhalations out of the earth and not onely draweth them out but also lifteth them up very high from the earth into the aire where they are turned into divers kinds of Meteors The burning heat of the Sunne is by which he burneth dissipateth and consumeth the vapors and exhalations before he draweth them up so that of them no Meteors can be generated These two heats proceed from the Sun either in respect of the place or the time but most properly according to the casting of his beames either directly or undirectly In place where the Sunnes beames strike directly against the earth and the water the heat is so great that it burneth up the Exhalations and Vapours so that there are no fiery Meteors much lesse watery as it is in the South parts of the world under and neere to the Equinoctiall line But in places where the beames are cast indirectly and obliquely and that where they are not too nigh to the direct beams nor too far off from them there is a moderate heat drawing out great abundance of matter so that in those Countries many Meteors of many sorts are generated as in the far North parts are few but watry impressions Also in Autumn and Spring are oftner Meteors seene then in Summer and Winter except it be in such places where the Summer and Winter are of the temper of the Spring and Autumne Let this be sufficient for the Efficient causes of impressions as well first and principall as second and particular Concerning the formal and finall cause we have little to say because the one is so secret that it is known of no man the other so evident that it is plaine to all men The essentiall Form of all substances Gods wisedome comprehendeth the universall chiefe and last End of all things is the glory of God Middle Ends if they may be so called of these impressions are manifold profits to Gods creatures to make the earth fruitfull to purge the aire to set forth his power to threaten his vengeance to punish the world to move to repentance all which are referred to one end of Gods eternall glory ever to be prased Amen Of the places in which they are generated THe places in which Meteors are caused be either the aire or the earth in the air be generated rain hail snow dew blazing stars thunder lightning c. In the earth be welles springs earthquakes metals minerals c. made and as it were in their mothers belly begotten and fashioned But for the better understanding hereof such as have not tasted the principles of Philosophy must consider that there be foure
sufficient to have shewed the natural Causes of all Fiery Meteors THE THIRD BOOK Of Airy Impressions UNder the name of Airy Impressions be comprehended such Meteors whose matter is most of the Air. Of this sort be Winds Earthquakes Thunder Lightnings Storme-Winds Whirlwinds Circles Rainbowes The White Circle called of some WATLING street many Suns many Moons Of Winds THe Wind is an Exhalation hot and dry drawn up into the Air by the power of the Sun and by reason of the weight thereof being driven down is laterally or sidelong carried about the Earth And this Definition is not to be understood of general Winds that blow over all the Earth or else some great Regions but besides these there be particular Winds which are known but only in some Countries and them not very large These Winds oftentimes have another manner of generation and that is on this manner It must needs be confessed that within the globe of the Earth be wonderfull great holes caves or dungeons in which when Air aboundeth as it may by divers Causes this Air that cannot abide to be penned in findeth a little hole in or about those Countries as it were a mouth to break out of and by this meanes bloweth vehemently yet that force and vehemency extendeth not far but as the wind that commeth forth of bellows neer the comming forth is strong but far off is not perceived so this Particular Wind in that particular Country where it breaketh forth is very violent and strong in so much that it overthroweth both trees and houses yet in other Countries not very far distant no part of that boysterous blast is felt Wherefore this Wind differeth from the general Winds both in Qualities and Substance or Matter for the Matter of them is an Exhalation and the Qualities such as the nature of the Exhalation is very Airy but not Air indeed but of this particular Wind the Matter and Substance is most commonly Air. There is yet a third kinde of Wind which is but a soft gentle and cool moving of the Air and commeth from no certain place as the general Wind doth yea it is felt in the shadow under trees when in the hot light and shining of the Sun it is not perceived It commeth whisking suddenly very pleasant in the heat of Summer and ceaseth by and by this properly is no Wind but a moving of the Air by some occasion As for the general Winds they blow out of divers Quarters of the Air now East now West now South now North or else inclining to one of the same Quarters Among which the East-wind following the nature of the Fire is hot and dry the South-wind expressing the quality of the Air is hot and moyst the Western blast agreeing with the Waters property is cold and moyst the North that never was warmed with the heat of the Sun being cold and dry partaketh the condition of the Earth The middle Winds have middle and mixed qualities after the nature of those Four principal Winds more or less as they incline toward them more or less Generally the profit of all Winds by the wonderfull wisdom of the Eternal God is very great unto his Creatures For besides that these Winds alter the Weather some of them bringing rain some driness some frost and snow which all are necessary there is yet an universal Commodity that riseth by the only moving of the Air which were it not continually stirred as it is would soon putrify and being putrified would be a deadly infection to all that hath breath upon the Earth Wherefore this wind whose sound we hear and know not from whence it commeth nor whither it goeth for who can affirm from whence it was raised or where it is laid down as all other Creatures beside does teach us the wonderfull and wise providence of God that we may worthily cry out with the Psalmist and say O Lord how manifold are thy works in wisdome hast thou made them all c. Let this be sufficient to have shewed the generation of the Winds Of Earthquakes AN Earthquake is a shaking of the Earth which is caused by meanes of wind and Exhalations that be enclosed within the caves of the Earth and can find â—o passage to break forth or else so narrow a way that it cannot soon enough be dilivered Wherefore with great force and violence it breaketh out and one while shaketh the Earth another while rendeth and cleaveth the same somtime it casteth up the Earth a great hight into the Air and somtime it causeth the same to sink a great depth down swallowing both Cities and Townes yea and also mighty great Mountaines leaving in the place where they stood nothing but great holes of an unknown depth or else great lakes of Waters Of divers kinds of Earthquakes DIvers Authors write diversly of the kinds of Earthquakes some making more and some less but we shall be content at this time to comprehend them in four sorts The first kind is when the Earth is shaken laterally to one side which is when the whole force of the wind driveth to one place and there is no other contrary motion to let it This wind if it be not great shaketh the Earth that it trembleth as a man that hath a fit of an ague and doth no more harme but if it be great and violent it looseth the foundations of all buildings be they never so strong and overthroweth whole Cities but especially the great buildings and not only such buildings but somtimes also casteth down great Hilles that cover and overwhelm all the valleys under them Many noble and great Cities have been overthrown by this kind of Earthquake It is written that twelve of the most beautifull Cities and most sumptuous buildings in all Asia were overthrown and utterly destroyed with an Earthquake How often Antiochia yea within short time was destroyed they which have read the Histories can testifie How terrible was the Earthquake that shook Constantinople a whole year together that the Emperour and all the people were fain to dwell abroad in the fields under tents and pavilions for fear their houses would fall on their heads it is recorded in the Chronicles and worthy to be remembered The second kind is when the Earth with great violence is lifted up so that the buildings are like to fall and by and by sinketh down again this is when all the force of the winds striveth to get upward after the nature of gunpowder and finding some way to be delivered out of bondage the Earth that was hoysied up returneth to his old place The third kind is a gaping rending or cleaving of the Earth when the Earth sinketh down and swalloweth up Cities and Townes with Castles and Towers Hilles and Rocks Rivers and Floods so that they be never seen again Yea the Sea in some places hath been drunk up so that men might have gone over on
is a Well that maketh men dull-witted that drink thereof There is another that causeth men to abhor lust Lechnus a Spring of Arcadia is good against abortions In Sicilia are two Springs of which one maketh a woman fruitful and the other barren In Sardinia be hot Wells that heale sore eyes In an Isle of Pontus the River Astares overfloweth the fields in which whatsoever sheep be fed doe alwaies give black milke In Aethiopia is a Lake whose water is like oyle Also many Springs of Oyl have broken forth of the Earth which commeth of the viscosity or fatnesse of the same earth The Lake Clitory in Italy maketh men that drink of it to abhor wine The Lake Pentasium as Solinus saith is deadly to Serpents and wholsome to men Seneca writeth of certain Lakes that will bear men which cannot swim And that in Syria is a Lake in which bricks do swim and no heavy thing will sinke It is said that the River Rhene in Germany will drown bastard Children that be cast in it but drive aland them that be lawfully begotten The River in Hypanis in Sythia every day brings forth little bladders out of which flyes do come that die that same night Matrona the River of Germany as the common people saie never passeth day but he taketh some prey Of the Sea THe Sea in this treatise hath place as a mixed substance for else the element of Waters being simple were not here to be spoken of The Sea is the naturall place of the Waters into which all Rivers and other Waters are received at the length And here it is to be understood that the very proper and naturall place of the water were to cover all the Earth for so be the elements placed the Earth lowest and round about the Earth the Water about the Water the Air and about the Ayr the fire But God the most mighty and wise creator of all things that the Earth might in some parts be inhabited of men and beasts commanded the Waters to be gathered into one place that the dry land might appeare and called the dry land Earth and the gathering of Waters he called Seas In the Sea are these two things to be considered the saltnesse and the ebbing and flowing Of the saltnesse of the Sea THe saltnesse of the Sea according to Aristotles mind is caused by the Sun that draweth from it all thin and sweet Vapors to make raine leaving the rest as the setling or bottome which is salt But men of our time peradventure more truely doe not take this for the only and sufficent cause to make so great a quantity of water salt but say that the Sea by Gods wisdom is gathered into such valleyes of the Earth as were otherwise barren and unfruitfull such Earths are salt the Sea Water then mixed with that Earth must needs be Salt else Rivers by Aristotles mind should be salt as well as the Sea The Reader may choose which opinion is most probable Of the ebbing and flowing THe ebbing and flowing of the Sea as Aristotle sermeth to teach is by reason of Exhalations that be under the Water which driveth it to and fro according to contrary bounds and limits as upward and downeward wide and narrow deepe and shallow This opinion of Aristotle also as more subtil then true experience teacheth men to mislike and to ascribe the cause of ebbing and flowing to the course of the Moone which ruleth over moysture as the Sunne doth over heat for from the new Moone to the full all humors do encrease and from the full to the new Moone decrease againe Also the very true time of the ebbing and flowing may be known by the course of the Moone with whom as the Lady of moysture we will close up the fourth book of mâ—yst and watery impressions The fifth Book Of earthly Meteors or bodies perfectâ—y mixed THis last Treatise containeth such bodies whose chiefe matter is the earth and are called perfectly mixed because they are not easily resolved into the chief matter whereof they are generated These are divided into four Kinds The first be divers sorts of Earth The second be Liquors concrete The third be Metalls and Metallikes The fourth be Stones This division is not altogether perfect both for that there be many of these Minerals which partake of two kinds and also for that the names of these kinds may be said of others Yet minding as plainly as can be to declare the things themselves the controversie and cavillation of names shall not greatly trouble us especially seeing we pretend not to teach Philosophers but such as need a ruder and plainer instruction They may therefore be content with this division which shall not serve them to dispute of these matters but to understand the truth of these things that they desire Of these foure therefore we will speak orderly and generally not minding to treat of every particular kind for that were infinite but to open such universall causes as they which have wit may learn if they list to apply unto all particulars Of Earths THe Earth is an element one of the four cold and dry most gross and solid most heavy and weighty the lowest of all other in place When I say an Element I meane a simple body uncompounded This Earth is no Meteor but as it was shewed in the water to the end there should be generation of things There is no Element that we have which is pure and simple but all are mixed and compound Our fire is grosse and compound so is our aire our water and our earth but the earth notably and above the rest is mixed For the pure and naturall Earth is dry and cold but we see much to be moist and much to be hot The natural earth is black of colour but we see many Earths white many yellow and many red So that first the greatest part of the Earth is mixed with water that maketh it to cleave together with aire and some fire which make an oylie fat or clammy earth as is clay made c. Another great part is dried not into the naturall drinesse of the first quality but as a thing once mixed and after dryed either by cold as sand gravell c. or else by heat as chalke oaker c. And yet somewhat more plainly and particularly to discourse upon these causes admitting the natural colour of the Earth to be black of the water to be blue of the aire to be white and of the fire to be ruddy it followeth that upon the mixtion of these colours or chiefe domination of them all things have their colour The grosse substance of the Earth therefore being diversly mixed with other Elements and those mixtures again being eftsoones altered by divers and sometime contrary qualities hath brought forth so many kinds of earth as clay marble chalke sand
evident that the starres of the firmament cannot fall for GOD hath set them fast for ever he hath given them a Commandement which they shall not passe And though they should fall into the clouds yet could they not rest there but with their weight being driven down would cover the whole earth For the least starre that is seen in the firmament is greater then all the earth Here will step forth some merrie fellow which of his conscience thinketh them not to be above three yards about and say it is a loud lie for he can see within the compasse of a bushell more then 20 stars But if his bushell were on firâ— 20 mile of I demand how bigge it would seeme unto him He that hath any wit will easily perceive that starres being by all mens confession so many thousand miles distant from the earth must needs be very great that so far off should be seen in any quantity Thus much for the shooting or falling starres Of burning Candles WHen the Exhalation carried up into the highest part of the ayre is in all parts thereof of equall and like thinness and also long but not broad it is set on fire and blazeth like a candle until the Exhalation be quite consumed Of burning Beames and round Pillars THese are caused when the Exhalation being long and not very broad is set on fire all at once and so burneth like a great beame or logge The difference of Beames and Pillars is this for beams are when they seeme to lie in length in the ayre but they are called Pillars when they stand right up the one end neerer to the earth then the other Of Burning Speares BUrning speares are generated when a great quantity of exhalations which may be called a dry cloud is set on fire in the middest and because the cloud is not so compact that it should suddenly rend as when thunder is caused the fire breaketh out at the edges of the cloud kindling the thin Exhalations which shoot out in great number like fiery speares or darts long and very small wherefore they continue not long but when they fayle within a short while after more fire breaking out they shoot as many more in their place and likewise when they are gone others succeed if the quantity of the matter will suffice more then a douzen courses This impression was seene in London Anno Dom. 1560. the thirty day of Ianuary at eight of the clock at night the ayre in all other places being very darke but in the North-east where this cloud burned it was as light as when the day breaketh toward the Sunne rising in so much that plaine shaddow of things opposite was seene The edge of this cloud was in the fashion like the Raynebow but in colour very bright and oftentimes casting forth almost innumerable darts of wonderfull length like squibs that are cast into the ayre saving that they move more swiftly then any squibs Of Shields Globes or Bowles THese Meteors also have their name of their fashion because they are broad and appeare to be round otherwise their generation differeth not from the cause of the like impressions before mentioned Of Lampes THe Lampe consisteth of an Exhalation that is broad and thick but not equally extended namely smaller at one end then at another which being kindled about the middest thereof burneth like a lampe The cause why as well this impression as many other appeareth round is not for that alwaies they are round indeed but because the great distance causeth them to seem so For even the square formes far off seem to be round 〈◊〉 is written that a Lamp fell down at Rome when Germanicus Caesar set forth forth the fight of sword players Of flying Dragons or fire Drakes Flying Dragons or as Englishmen call them fire-Drakes be caused on this manner When a certaine quantity of â—apors are gathered together on a heap â—eing very neere compact and as it were â—ard tempered together this lump of â—apors ascending to the region of cold â—forcibly beaten back which violence â—f moving is sufficient to kindle it â—lthough some men will have it to be â—used between 2 clouds a hot and a â—â—ld then the highest part which was â—iming upward being by reason more â—btill and thin appeareth as the Draâ—ns neck smoking for that is was â—ely in the repulse bowed or made â—â—oked to represent the Dragons belly â—e last part by the same repulse turned â—ward maketh the tayle appearing â—aller for that it is both further off â— also for that the cold bindeth it â—is dragon thus being caused flyeth â—ng in the ayre and sometime turneth â—nd fro if it meet with a cold cloud eat it back to the great terrour of 〈◊〉 that behold it of whom some 〈◊〉 it a fire Drake some say it is the â—ill himselfe and so make report â—thers More then 47 yeeres agoâ— on May day when many young folk went abroad early in the morning remember by six of the clocke in thâ— forenoone there was newes come to London that the Devill the same morning was seen flying over the Thames afterward came word that he lighteâ— at Stratford and there was taken anâ— set in the Stockes and that though hâ— would fane have dissembled the matteâ— by turning him selfe into the likenesâ— of a man yet was he known well enougâ— by his cloven foot I knew some theâ— living that went to see him and returning affirmed that he was seen flying in the ayre but was not takeâ— prisoner I remember also that somâ— wished he had been shot at with Gunâ— or shafts as he flew over the Thameâ— Thus do ignorant men iudge of the things that they know not As for thâ— Devill I suppose it was a flying Drâ—gin whereof we speake very fearefuâ— to looke upon as though he had 〈◊〉 because he moveth whereas it is nâ—thing else but clouds and smoake 〈◊〉 mighty is God that he can feare 〈◊〉 enemies with these and such like opâ—rations whereof some examples may be found in holy Scripture Of the Pyramidall Pillar like a spire or broached Steeppe THis sharpe poynted pillar is generated in the highest region of the ayre and after this sort When the Exhalation hath much earthly matter in it the lighter parts and thinner as their nature is ascending upward the grosser heavier and thicker abide together in the bottome and so is it of fashion great beneath and small poynted above and beeing set on fire it is so seene and thereof hath his name Of fire scattered in the ayre FIre scattered in the ayre or illuminations are generated in the lowest region of the ayre when very drie and hot Exhalations are drawne up and meeting with cold clouds are sent back again which motions doe set them a fire whose parts being not equally thick or ioyned together seeme as though fire were scattered in the ayre Yea sometimes the whole ayre seemeth to burne as though it
burning on a light fire and himself not ware of it Thus much concerning these Flames Of Comets or Blazing Stars A Comet is an exhalation hot and dry of great quantity fat and clammy hard-compact like a great lump of pitch which by the heat of the Sun is drawn out of the Earth into the highest region of the Air and there by the excessive heat of the place is set on fire appearing like a star with a blazing tayl and somtime is moved after the motion of the Air which is circular but it never goeth down out of the compass of sight though it be not seen in the day-time for the brightness of the Sun but still burneth until all the matter be consumed An argument of the greatness is this that there was never any Comet yet perceived but at the least it endured 7 days but much longer they have been seen namely forty days long yea fourscore days and some six months together Wherefore it must needs be a wonderfull deal of matter that can give so much nourishment for so great and fervent fire aud for so long a time There are considered in a Comet specially the Colour and Fashion which both arise of the disposition of the matter Their Colours be either white ruddy or blew If the matter be thin the colour is white if it be meanly thick then is the Comet ruddy after the colour of our fire but when the matter is very thick it is blew like the burning of brimstone And as the matter is more or less after this disposition so is the Comet of colour more or less like to these three principal colours some yellowish some duskish some greenish some watchet c. In Fashion are noted three differences for either they seem to be round with beams round about or with a beard hanging downward or else with a tayl stretched out sidelong in length The first fashion is when the matter is thickest in the midst and thin round about the edges the second is when the Exhalation is upward thick and in length downward also meanly thick the third form is like the second saving that the tayl hangeth not down but lyeth aside and is commonly longer then the beard The time of their generation is oftnest in Autumn or Harvest for in the Spring there is too much moisture and too little heat to gather a Comet in Summer is too much heat which will disperse and consume the matter that it cannot be joined together as for Winter it is clean contrary to the nature of a Comet which is hot and dry Winter being cold and moyst therefore no time so meet as Autumn Now for so much as many Learned men have gone about to declare the signification of Blazing stars we will omitt nothing that hath any shadow of Reason but declare what is written of them Such things as are set forth of the betokening of Comets are of two sorts The first is of natural The second of Civil or Politick Effects They are said to betoken Drought Barrenness of the Earth and Pestilence Drought because a Comet cannot be generated without great heat and much moysture is consumed in the burning of it Barrenness because the fatness of the Earth is drawn up whereof the Comet consisteth Pestilence for so much as this kinde of Exhalation corrupteth the Air which infecteth the bodies of men and beasts The Second sort might well be omitted saving that Aristotle himself disdaineth not to seek out Causes for some of them Generally it is noted of all Historiographers that after the appearing of Comets most commonly follow great and notable Calamities Beside this they betoken say some Wars Seditions Changes of Commonwealths and the Death of Princes and Noble men For what time Comets do shine there be many hot and dry Exhalations in the Ayr which in dry men kindle heat whereby they are provoked to Anger of Anger commeth brawling of brawling fighting and war of war victory of victory change of Commonwealths then also Princes living more delicately then other men are more subject to infection and therefore dye sooner then other men If it were lawfull to reason of this sort we might enduce them to betoken not only these few things but all other things that chance in the world Yet these predictions have a shew of Reason though it be nothing necessary but it is a wonder to see how the Astrologians dote in such devices they are not ashamed to an earthly substance to ascribe an heavenly influence and in order of judgment to use them as very stars Surely by as good reason as to the Celestial stars they attribute Divine influences and effects But this their folly hath been sufficiently detected by divers godly and learned men and this place requireth no long discourse thereof Wherefore this shall suffice both for the natural Causes of Blazing stars and also for all Flames in general It followeth therefore that with like brevity we declare the Causes of Fiery Apparitions Of Apparitions AN Apparition is an Exhalation in the lowest or highest Region of the Air not verily burning but by refraction of light either of the Sun or of the Moon seeemeth as though it burned which appearance of colour riseth not of the mixtion of the four qualities as it doth in bodies perfectly mixed as Herbs Stones c. but only the falling of light upon shadow the light is instead of white and the shadow of darkness instead of black These diversly mixed according to the divers dispositions of the Exhalation which ministreth variety by thickness or thinness cause divers Colours There be commonly recited three kindes of Fiery Apparitions Colours Wide-gapings and Deep holes which appear in the Clouds Of Colours Colours are here meant when there is nothing else to be noted but the Colours of the clouds and they are caused as it is said by casting the light into the shadowy Cloud according as it exceedeth more or less in thickness whereof some be very bright-white and that is when the Exhalation is very thin some yellowish when the Exhalation is thicker some ruddy when it is meanly thick and very black when it is very thick The red and ruddy Colours are seen in the morning and evening when the light of the Sun is not in his full force for at other times of the day his light is too vehement clear strong and peircing Thus much of Colours Of Wide-gaping Wide-gaping is caused when an Exhalation is thick in the midst and thin on the edges then the light being received into it causeth it to appear as though the sky did rend and fiâ—e break out of it Of round opening Hiatus These holes called Hiatus differ from Wide-gapings in nothing but that they be less and therefore seem as though they were deep pits or holes and not rending or gaping And these be those Apparitions that appear Fiery and yet be not so indeed Therefore let this be
foot untill the time of tide or flood returning covered the place with Waters again But in the land where this Earthquake swalloweth up any City or Country there appeareth nothing in the place thereof but a marvellous wide and deep gulfe or hole Aristotle maketh mention of divers places and regions that were overthrown with this kind of Earthquake The fourth kind is when great mountaines are cast up out of the Earth or else when some part of the land sinketh down and in stead thereof arise Rivers Lakes or Fires breaking out with smoake and Ashes It causeth also overflowings of the Sea when the Sea bottome is lifted up and by this means arise many Islands in the Sea that never were seen before These and other such miracles are often found In the Writers of Histories also in the Philosophers as Aristotle Seneca and Plinius Nevertheless the effects of some as most notable it shall not be unprofitable to recite Plato in his Dialogue intituled Timeus maketh mention by the way of a wonderfull Earthquake whereby not only Africa was rent asunder from Europe and Asia as it is indeed at this day except a little neck by the red Sea the Sea entring between them that now is called Mare Mediterraneum but also a wonderfull great Island which he affirmeth was greater then Africa and Asia both called Atlantis was swallowed up and covered by the Waters in so much that on the Sea called Atlanticum for a great while after no Ship could sayl by reason that the same huge Sea by resolution of the Earth of that mighty Iland was all turned into mudde The famous I le of Sicilia was also somtime a part of Italy and by Earthquake rent asunder from itâ— Seneca maketh mention of two Ilands Theron and Therea that in his time first appeared It should seeme both by Aristotle and also by Herodotus that Egypt in ancient time was a gulph of the Sea and by Earthquake made a drie land During the reignâ— of Tiberius the Emperor twelve notable Cities of Asia were overthrown in one night c. How so great VVinds come to be under the Earth THe great Caves and Dennes of the Earth must needs be full of Ayr continually but when by the heat of the Sunne the moysture of the Earth is resolved many Exhalations are generated as well within the Earth as without and whereas the places were full before so that they could receive no more except part of that which was in them were let out in such countries where the Earth hath few pores or else where they are stopped with moysture it must needs follow that these Exhalations striving to get out must needs rend the Earth in some place or lift it up so that either they may have free passage or else room enough to abide in Of signes and tokens that go before an Earthquake most commonly THe first is the raging of the Sea when there are no tempestuous Winds to stirre it yea when the Ayr is most calme without Wind. The caus why the Sea then rageth is that the wind beginneth to labour for passage that way and finding none is sent back and soon after shaketh the land The second signe is calmness of the Ayr and cold which commeth to pass by reason that the Exhalation that should be abroad is within the Earth The third signe is said to be a long thinne strake of cloud seen when the skie is clear after the setting of the Sun This say they is caused by reason that the Exhalation or Vapor which is the matter of clouds is gone into the Earth Others affirm that it is the Exhalation that breaketh out of some narrow hole of the Earth out of which the rest of the wind cannot issue neither will it waite the time wherefore within a while after it seeketh and maketh it self by sudden eruption a broader way to be delivered out of prison Also the Sunne certaine daies before it appeareth dimme because the Winds that should have purged and dissolved the grosse Ayr that causeth this dimness to our eyes is enclosed within the bowels of the Earth The Water in the bottome of deepe wells is troubled and the savour thereof infected because the pestilent Exhalations that have been long inclosed within the Earth doe then beginne a little to be sent abroad For thereof cometh it that in many places where Earthquakes have been great abundance of smoak flame and ashes is cast out when the abundance of brimstone that is under the ground through violent motion is set on fire and breaketh forth Finally who knoweth not what stinking Minerals and other poysonous stuff doe grow under the Earth wherefore it is no wonder if Well-water before an Earthquake be infected but rather it is to be marvelled if after an Earthquake there follow not a grievous Pestilence when the whole mass of infection is blown abroad Last of all there is heard before it in the time of it and after it a great noise and sound under the Earth a terrible groaning and a very Thundring yea somtimes when there followeth no Earthquake at all when as the wind without shaking of the Earth findeth a way to passe out at And these for the most part or at least some of them are forewarnings that the most fearfull Earthquake will follow then the which there is no naturall thing that bringeth men into a greater feare Cato was very curious to confesse himselfe that he repented that ever he went by water when as he might have gone by land But what land can be sure if it be the Lords will by this work of his to shake it what building so strong that can defend us when the more strong the more danger the higher the greater fall Of Thunder THunder is a sound caused in the clouds by the breaking out of a hot and dry Exhalation beating against the edges of the cloud It is often heard in Spring and Summer by reason that the heat of the Sun then draweth up many Exhalations which meeting in the middle region of the Air with moyst and cold Vapors are together with them inclosed in a hollow cloud but when the hot Exhalation cannot agree with the coldness of the place by this strife being driven together made stronger and kindled it will straight break out which sudden and violent eruption causeth the noyse which we call Thunder A Similitude is put by great Authors of moist wood that cracketh in the fire we may adde hereunto the breaking of an egge in the fire of an apple or any like thing for whatsover holdeth and withholdeth inclosed any hot wind so that it can have no vent it will seek it self a way by breaking the skin shell or case It were no ill comparison to liken Thunder to the sound of a gun which be both caused of the same or very like causes The sound of Thunder is divers
after which men have divided the Thunder into divers kinds making first two sorts that is smal Thunder and great But as for the diversity of sounds generally it comes of the divers disposition of the clouds one while having more holes then at another somtime thicker in one place then in another The smal or little Thunder is when the Exhalation is driven from side to side of that cloud making a noise and either for the smal quantity and less forcibleness or else for the thickness of the clouds walls is not able to break them but rumbleth up and down within the cloud whose sides be stronger then the force of the Exhalation is able to break it runneth up and down within and striking against the cloud and moist sides maketh a noise not unlike the quenching of hot iâ—on in cold water And if the Exhalation be meanly strong and the cloud not in all places or like thickness it breaketh out at those thin places with such a buzzing as wind maketh blowing out of narrow holes But if the cloud be so thin that it cannot keep in the Exhalation although it be not kindled then it bloweth oâ—t with like puffing as wind commeth out of a pair of bellowes A great Thunder is when the Exhalation is much in quantity and very hot and dry in quality the clouds also very thick and strong that easily will not give place to the wind to escape out Wherefore if the Exhalation do vehemently shake the cloud though it do not at the first disperse it it maketh a long and fearfull rumbling against the sides of the cloud untill at the last being made stronger by swifter motion it dissolveth the cloud and hath liberty to pass out into the open Air the cloud dissolved droppeth down and then followeth a showre of Rain Otherwhiles it shaketh the cloud not long but straight way rendeth it a long space and time whose sound is like the rending of a Broad-cloth which noyse continueth a pretty while And sometime it discusseth the cloud at once making a vehement and terrible crack like a gun sometime with great force casting out stones but most commonly fire which setteth many high places on fire As in the year of our Lord 1561. the Fourth day of June the steeple of Saint Pauls Church in London was set on fire as it hath been once or twice before and burned The noyse of Thunder though it be great in such places over which it is made yet is not hard far off especial-against the wind Whereof we had experience also in the Year of our Lord 1561. on Saint Matthias day in February at the evening when there was a great flash of Lightning and a very terâ—ible crack of Thunder following they that were but 15 Miles from London Westward heard no noise nor sound thereof the Wind that time was Western The effect of Thunder is profitable to men both for that the sweet showre doth follow it and also for that it purgeth and purifieth the Air by the swift moving of the Exhalation that breaketh forth as also by the sound which dividing and peircing the Air causeth it to be much thinner which may be verified by an History that Plutarch in the life of Quincius Flaminius reporteth that there was such a noyse made by the Grecians after their Liberty was restored that the Birds of the Air that flew over them were seen fall down by reason that the Air divided by their Cry was made so thin thaâ— there was no firmity or strength in iâ— to bear them uâ— And let this suffice for Thunder which Lightning succeedeth in treaty that seldom is from it in nature Of Lightning AMong the divers kinds of Lightnings which Writers in this knowledg do number we shall treat only of four kinds yet so that under these Four all the rest may be comprehended The names we must borrow of the Latine Tongue the first is Fulgetrum the second Coruscatio the third Fulgur the fourth Fulmen Of Fulgetrum FUlgetrum we call that kinde of Lightning which is seen on Summer nights and evenings after a hot day The generation hereof is such when many thin light and hot Exhalations by the immoderate heat have been drawn up from the Earth and by the absence of the Sun be destitute of the force whereby they should have been drawn further upward yet something ascending by their own nature in that they be light and hot they meet with the cold either of the night in the lowest region or else of the Air in the middle region and so by resistance of contraries as it hath been oft before rehearsed they are beaten back and with vehement moving set on fire This Lightning commonly goeth out in the Air terrible to behold not hurtfull to anything except sometime when the matter is earthy and gross being stricken down to the earth it blasteth corn and grass with other smal hurt Sometime it setteth a barn or thatched house on fire The Colour of this Lightning as of all other is divers partly according to the matter and partly according to the light If the matter be thin it is white if the substance be gross it is ruddy like flames of fire In great light as in the day it appeareth white in the night ruddy yet sometime in the day time we may see it yellow wich is a token that the matter is wonderfull thick and gross Old Wives are wont to say that no night in the year except one passeth without Lightning but that is true as the rest of their Tales whereof they have great store Of Coruscation Coruscation is a glistering of fire rather then fire indeed and a glimering of Lightning rather then Lightning itself which is two manner of ways One way when clouds that be lower then the upper part of the Earth without the compass of our fight are enflamed and the reflection of that flame is cast up into our sight appearing in all points like Lightning saving that the Air where it appeareth is so clear that we are perswaded no Lightning can be there caused Another way is when there be thick clouds over us and commonly a double order of clouds one above another if Lightning or any other Inflammation be in the upper part of these clouds the light of them peirceth thorow the lower parts as thorow a glass and so appeareth as though it Lightned when perhaps it did Lighten indeed yet that which we saw was but the shadow thereof and this is often without Thunder Of Fulgur FUlgur is that kinde of Lightning which followeth Thunder whereof we have spoken before For when that violent Exhalation breaks forth making a noyse as it beateth against the sides of the cloud with the same violence it is set on fire and casteth a great light which is seen far and neer And although the Lightning appear unto us a good pretty while before
and to make it Malleable the mass thereof is laid to drie in the Sun and that which is Earthy doth soften and moulder with the Rain as that which is moist doth melt with the Sun which as the venome of it is consumed in the Furnace by the fire by how much more it is purged in the fire by so much the more it is pure in its goodnesse in such sort as that which is earthy doth at last turn to schales and dross and the most subtil part thereof doth convert into Steel CHAP. 10. Of Steel THe common Steel is artificiall extracted Iron Iron more excellently purged and a little Marble added thereunto but in many places there is Naturall Steel namely in Persia very good and in the Chaldean Isle and neer Damascus whereof the best Cemiters and Faulchions in the world are made which cut so well that there is no Rasor be it never so well steeled and tempered that hath a more keene and sharper edge for this cause some say That there are some kinds of Steel and Iron so excellent that weight for weight they are esteemed of greater price then Gold CHAP. 11. Of Lead LEad is a gross dull Metall Procreated and Consistent of more impure Quicksilver and more feculent and crass Sulphur it least indures the fire of any Metall and therefore soonest melteth Galen saith Lead buryed long in moist subterranean Caves and holes increaseth in magnitude and weight and therefore is a Cover if wel considered lesse proper for any buildings but where the Roofs are of infinite strength There be divers kinds of Lead some red some white some balck and a fourth sort of a mâ—an quality betwixt white and black found in the mountaines of Bohemia The Ore of Lead is melted in furnaces and is let runne through pipes out of the furnace whether the Workmen will Lead is an incongruent and malignant Metal to all others and if but one ounce be mixt incorporated with one hundered ounces of Silver or Gold the mixture will reader the whole mass brittle and fragil and so it will be in all like proportions CHAP. 12. Of Tinne TIn is a white Metal somwhat like to Silver for iâ—s splendor whiteness and yet not much above Lead for its softnesse and porosity And this is the difference betwixt Tinne and white Lead that the one is ingendered where there is some Silver mine or veine but the other is generated apart without the company of so rich a Neigbour CHAP. 13. Of Brasse BRass is a more impure Metal which composed of much sulphurous matter is more hot light and less pory and so less subject to corruption and rust by reason of all moisture and humidity almost consumed in it In times past it was very usuall to make Shields and Bucklers and Pikeâ— Launces therof as Homer reports how Menelaus pursued Paris with a brazen Launce This Metal is proper for â—rumpets because it maketh a great noise in Dorick musick and inflameth men to Combat That of Cyprus is harder and therefore better then any other CHAP. 14. Of Copper COpper or Orichalcum is Latten or as some call it as factitium artificiall brass it represents with it a golden Complexion but is somwhat more yellow then Gold some because of Copper make two kinds of Brass the one Natural the other Artificial the best hath spots of shining Gold intermin gled and the Merchants tell us that in Nova Hispania in America a peice of it hath bin found of two hundered pound weight The Artificial brass commonly called Copper or Latten is very ordinary and the most excellent is that which in foure pounds of brass doth containe in it one pound of white Lead Also when the white Lead is mixed to the eight part of brass then is the Copper very good but it is base when mixed with black Lead the use of Copper is chiefly for faire instruments as Ordinance Cauldrons and such like wherein it is more excellent then brass and it giveth no ill taste or smell to meat boyled in it FINIS The Table OF the Earth in general Chap. 1 page 159 Of Metalls Chap. 2. p. 161 Of the number of Metalls Chap. 3. p. 162 Of Gold Chap. 4. p. 163 Where Gold is found Ch. 5. p. 165 Of Silver Ch. 6. p. 166 Of Quick-silver Ch. 7. p. 167 Of Electrum or Amber Ch. 8. p. 168 Of Iron Ch. 9. p. 170 Of Steel ibid. Of Lead Ch. 11. p. 171 Of Tinne Ch. 12. p. 172 Of Brasse Ch. 13. p. 173 Of Copper ibid. Printed or sold by William Leake at the signe of the Crown in Fleetstreet between the two Temple Gates These Bookes following YOrk's Heraldry Folio A Bible of a very faire large Roman letter 4â— Orlando Furioso Folio Callis learned Readings on the Stat. 21. Hen. 8. Cap. 5. of Sewers Perkins on the Laws of England Wilkinsons Office of Sheriffs Persons Law Mirrour of Justice Topicks in the Laws of England Sken de significatione verborâ— Delaman's use of the Horizontal Quadrant Wilby's 2 d set of Musick 3 4 5 6 Parts Corderius in English Exercitatio Scholastica Nyes Gunnery and Fire-works Cato Major with Annotations Mel Helliconium by Alex. Ross. The History of Vienna and Paris Lazarillo de Tormes two Parts Posing of the Accidence Man become guilty by John Francis Senalt and Englished by Henry Earl of Monmouth The Ideot in 4 books The life and Reign of Hen. the eighth written by the L. Herbert Aula 〈◊〉 or the house of Light The Forâ— Royall of â— ly-Scriptures by 1. H. â— A Tragedy of Christs Passion written by the most learned Hugo Grotius Englished by Geo. Sands Mathematical Recreations with the generall Horologicall Ring and the double Horizontall Dial by William Outhtred The Garden of Eden or an Accurate description of all Flowers Fruits now growing in England with particular rules how to advance their Nature and Growth as well in Seeds and Herbs as the secret ordering of Trees and Plants by Sir Hugh Plat. Knight the 2 d Edition enlarged PLAYES Hen. the Fourth Philaster The Wedding The Hollander Maids Tragedy King and no King The gratefull Servant The strange Discovery Othello the Moor of Venice The Merchant of Venice Aristot. The materiall cause What be vapors and what exhalations What the middle region is shall bee told afterward A generall rule What Exhalations be The efficient cause What the regions of the aire be Sparks of fire Torches Dancing Goats Shooting Starres The Epicurians Opinion Ps. 148 The greatnes of Starres A proofe of the Starres greatness Burning candles Burning Beames and round pillars Burning Speares Shields Globes or Bowles Lampes Flying Dragons or fire Drakes Of Spires Fire scattered Light that goeth before men followeth them in the night Helena Castor Pollux Flames upon haires of men and beasts Livius Servius Tullius Comets or blazing Starres The temper of the four quarters The signification of Comets Aristot. Apparitions Colours in the Aire Wide gaping of clouds in
elements Earth Water Aire and Fire one compassing another round about saving that the waters by Gods commandement are gathered into one place that the land might appear The highest is the spheare of the Fire which toucheth the hollownesse of the moons heaven the next is the aire which is in the hollownesse of the fire the aire within his hollownesse comprehendeth the water and the earth which both make but one spheare or Globe or as the common sort may understand it one ball So each element is within another as scales of a perch are one above anothes or to use a grosse similitude as the peeles of an Onion are one within another after the same sort from the highest heaven to the earth that is lowest one part that is greater compasseth round about another that is lesser But for this present purpose it is to be knowne that the aire is divided into three regions the highest the middle and the lowest The highest because it is next to the region of the fire is exceeding hot the lowest being next the earth and waters is temperate and by repercussion or striking backe of the Sunne beames waxeth hot and by absence of them is made cold being subject to winter and summer The middle region of the aire is alwaies exceeding cold partly because the sunne beames cannot be cast back so high and partly because the cold that is there betweene the heat above and the heat beneath it is so kept in that it can not get out so that it must needs be excessively cold for the water and the earth being both cold Elements after the Sunne setting in the night season doe coole the aire even to the middle region But in the morning the Sunne rising warmeth the aire so farre as his beames which are beaten backe from the earth and the water can extend and reach which is not so high as the middle region and by heat on both sides is inclosed and kept saving that a little thereof falleth downe in the night which the next day with much more is driven back againe Wherefore this region being so cold is dark and cloudy in so much that some doting Divines have imagined purgatory to be there in the middle region of the aire In the highest region be generated Comets or blazing stars and such like of divers sorts In the middle region clouds rain stormes winds c. In the lowest region dew frost hoar-frost mists bright rods candles burning about graves and gallowses where there is store of clamy fattie or oily substance also lights and flaming fires seen in fields c. And thus much for the general causes of all Meteors THE SECOND BOOKE Of Fiery Meteors A Fiery impression is an Exhalation set on fire in the highest or lowest region of the aire or else appearing as though it were set on fire and burning They are therefore divided into flames and Apparitions Flames are they which burn indeed and are kindled with fire These are discerned by four ways by the fashion of them by their place by the abundance of their matter and by the want of their matter Their placing is after the abundance and scarcity of the matter whereof they consist for if it be great heavy and grosse it cannot be carried so far as the middle region of the ayre and therefore is set on fire in the lowest region if it be not so great light and full of heat it passeth the middle region and ascendeth to the highest where it is easily kindled and set on fire According to their divers fashions they have divers names for they are called burning stubble torches dauncing or leaping Goates shooting or falling starres or candles burning beames round pillars spears shields Globes or bowles firebrands lampes flying Dragons or fire drakes painted pillars or broched steeples or blazing starres called Comets The time when these impressions doe most appeare is the night-season for if they were caused in the day time they could not be seen no more then the stars be seen because the light of the Sunne which is much greater dimmeth the brightness of them being lesser Of the generation of the impression called burning stubble or sparkles of fire The generation of this Meteor is this when the matter of the Exhalation is in all parts alike thin but not compacted or knit together then some part of it being caryed up into the highest Region by the fiery heat is set on fire before another part that cometh up after it and so being kindled by little and little flieth abroad like sparkles out of a chimney insomuch that the common people suppose that an infinite number of stars fall down whereas it is nothing else but the Exhalation that is thin kindled in many parts sparkling as when sawdust or cole-dust is cast into the fire Of Torches TOrches or firebrands are thus generated when the matter of the exhalation is long and not broad being kindled at one end thereof in the highest region of the aire it burneth like a torch or firebrand and so continueth till all the matter be burnt up and then goeth out none otherwise then a Torch when all the stuffe is spent must needs burne no longer Of dancing or leaping Goates DAncing Goates are caused when the exhalation is divided into two parts as when two torches be seen together and the flame appeareth to leap or dance from one part to the other much like as bals of wild fire dance up and down in the water Of shooting and falling stars A Flying shooting or falling star is when the exhalation being gathered as it were on a round heape and yet not throughly compacted in the highest part of the lowest region of the ayre being kindled by the sodaine cold of the middle region is beaten backe and so appeareth as though a starre should fall or slide from place to place Sometime it is generated after another sort for there is an exhalation long and narrow which being kindled at one end burneth swiftly the fire running from end to end as when a silk thred is set on fire at the one end Some say it is not so much set on fire as that it is direct under some Star in the firmament and so receiving light of that star seemeth to our eies to be a Star Indeed sometimes it may be so but that iâ— is not so alwayes nor yet most commonly it may be easily demonstrated The Epicureans as they are very grosse in determining the chiefe goodness so they are very fond in assigning the cause of this Meteor For they say that the stars fall out of the firmament that by the fall of them both thunder and lightning are caused for the lightning say they is nothing else but the shining of that Starre that falleth which falling into a waterie cloud and being quenched in it causeth that great thunder even as hot Iron maketh a noise if it be cast into cold water But it is
would rayne fire from Heaven and so it hath come to passe burning both Cities and Townes Then iudge how easy it was for God to raine fire upon Sodom and Gomorra for their sins and wickedness Of lights that goe before men and follow them abroad in the fields by the night season THere is also a kind of light that is seen in the night season seemeth to goe before men or to follow them leading them out of their way into waters and other dangerous places It is also very often seene in the night of them that saile on the Sea and sometime will cleave to the mast of the Shippe or other high parts sometime slide round about the Shippe and either rest in one part till it goe out or else be quenched in the water This impression seene on the land is called in Latine Ignis fatuus foolish fire that hurteth not but onely feareth fooles That which is seene on the Sea if it be but one is named Helena if it be two it is called Castor and Pollux The foolish fire is an Exhalation kindled by meanes of violent moving when by cold of the night in the lowest region of the ayre it is beaten downe and then commonly if it be light seeketh to ascend upward and is sent down againe so it danceth up and downe Else if it move not up and downe it is a great lumpe of glewish or oyly matter that by moving of the heat in it selfe is enflamed of it selfe as moyst hay will bek indled of it selfe In hot and fennie Countries these lights are often seene and where is abundance of such unctuous and fat matter as about Church-yards where through the corruption of the bodies there buried the earth is full of such substance wherefore in Church-yards or places of common buriall oftentimes are such lights seene which ignorant and superstitious fooles have thought to be soules tormented in the fire of Purgatory Indeed the Devill hath used these lights although they be naturally caused as strong delusions to captive the minds of men with feare of the Popes Purgatory whereby he did open injury to the blood of Christ which onely purgeth us from all our sins and delivereth us from all torments both temporall and eternall according to the saying of the wise-man The soules of the righteous are in the Hands of God and no torment toucheth them But to returne to the lights in which there are yet two things to be considered First why they lead men out of their way And secondly why they seeme to follow men and goe before them The cause why they lead men out of the way is that men while they take heed to such lights and are also sore afraid they forget their way then being once but a little out of their way they wander they wot not whither to waters pits and other very dangerous places Which when at length they hap the way home will tell a great tale how they have beene led about by a spirit in the likenesse of Fire Now the cause why they seeme to goe before men or to follow them some men have said to be the moving of the ayre by the going of the man which ayre moved should drive them forward if they were before and draw them after if they were behind But this is no reason at all that the Fire which is oftentimes three or foure miles distant from the man that walketh should be moved to and fro by that ayre which is moved through his walking but rather the moving of the ayre and the mans eyes causeth the fire to seeme as though it moved as the Moone to children seemeth if they are before it to run after them if she be before them to run before them that they cannot overtake her though she seeme to be very neere them Wherefore these lights rather seeme to move then that they be moved indeed Of Helena Castor and Pollux WHen the like substance in the lowest region of the ayr over the Sea by the like occasion is set on fire if be one only it is called Helena if their be two they are called Castor and Pollux These impressions will oftentimes cleave to the mast and other parts of Ships by reason of the claminesse and fatnesse of matter Helena was of the Heathen men taken as a Goddesse the daughter of Jupiter and Leda Castor and Pollux were her brethren Helena was the occasion that Troy was destroyed therefore the Mariners by experience trying that one flame of fire appearing along signified tempest at hand supposed the same flame to be the goddesse Helena of whom they look'd for nothing but destruction But when two lights are seen together they are a token of fair weather and good luck the Mariners therefore beleeved that they were Castor and Pollux which sayling to seek their sister Helena being carried to Troy by Paris were never seen after and thought to be translated into the number of the Gods that gave good successe to them that sayl as we read in the last Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles that the Ship wherein S. Paul sayled had a badge of Castor and Pollux A naturall cause why they may thus foreshew either tempest or calmnesse is this One flame alone may give warning of a tempest because that as the matter thereof is compact and not dissolved so it is like that the matter of the tempest which never wanteth as wind and clouds is still together and not dissipated then is it like not long after to arise By two flames together may be gathered that as this Exhalation which is very thick is divided so the thick matter of tempests is dissolved and scattered abroad by the same cause that this is divided Therefore not without a reason the Mariner to his mates may promise a prosprous course Of flames that appeare upon the haires of men or beasts THere is another kind of fiery impression which is flames of fire upon the haires of men and beasts especially horses These are sometime clammy Exhalations scatered abroad in the air in small parts which in the night by resistance of the cold are kindled cleaving on horses eares on mens heads and shoulders that ride or walke In that they cleave upon hayres it is by the same reason that the dew will be seen also upon haires or garments whose wooll is high as frize mantels and such like Another sort of these flames are caused when mens or beasts bodies being chafed send forth a â—at and clammy sweat which is in like manner kindled as the sparks of fire that are seene when a black horse is curried Livius reporteth of Servius Tullius that as he lay asleep being a child his hair seemed to be all on a flame which for all that did not burn his hair or hurt him The like history he reciteth of one Marius a Knight of Rome that as he made an Oration to his Soldiers in Spain they saw his head
the Thunder-clap be heard yet it is not caused before the noyse if any Thunder at all follow but either is after it or with it Wherefore that we see it before we hear the Thunder may be ascribed either to the quickness of our Sight that preventeth the Hearing or else to the swift moving of the fire and the light thereof to our eyes and the slow motion of the Sound unto our ears and Hearing These three kindes of Lightnings are more fearfull then hurtfull but the fourth seldom passeth without some dammage doing Of the fourth kind called Fulmen THe most dangerous violent and hurtfull kind of lightning is called Fulmen whose generation is such as followeth What time a hot Exhalation is enclosed in a cloud and breaking the same burâ—reth forth it is set on fire and with wonderfull great force stricken down toward the Earth The crack of thunder that is made when this Lightning breaketh out is sudden short and great like the sound of a Gunne And oftentimes a great stone is blowne out with it which they call the Thunder-bolt which is made on this maner In the Exhalation which is gathered out of the Earth is much Earthly matter which clortering together by moysture being clammy by nature consisting of brimstone and other metalick substance by the excessive heat is hardened as a brick is in the fire and with the mighty force of the Exhalation strongly cast toward the Earth and striketh down steeples and high buildings of stone and of wood passeth thorow them and setteth them on fire it cleaveth trees and setteth them on fire and the stronger the thing is that resisteth it the more harme it doth to it It is sharp-poynted at one end and thick at the other end which is caused by reason that the moyster part as heavier goeth to the bottome of it so is the top small and the bottome thick Men write that the thunder-bolt goeth never above five foot deep when it falleth upon the Earth which standeth with reason both because the strength of it is weakned before it come so neer the ground and also because the continual thicknesse of the Earth breaketh the force were it never so great Both Aristotle Seneca and Plinius divide this lightning into three kinds Of the first THe first is drie which burneth not to be felt but divideth and appeareth with wonderful swiftnesse For being subtil and pure it passeth thorow the pores of any thing be they never so small and such thingâ— as give place unto it it hurteth not but such things â—s resist it divideth and peirceth For â—t will melt money in mens purses the purses being whole and unharmed Yea â—t will melt a sword in the scabberd and not hurt the scabberd at all A wine â—essell it will cleave and yet the wine shall be so dull that by the space of three dayes it will not runne out It will hurt a mans hand and not his glove It will burne a mans bones within him â—o ashes and yet his skinne and flesh shall appearefaire as though nothing had come to him Yet otherwise the whole man in the moment of an houre shall be burned to ashes whereas his clothes shall not seeme to have been touched It will also kill the childe in the mothers belly and not hurt the mother And all because the matter is very subtill and thinne burning and passing thorow whatsoever it be that will not give it free passage Of the second kind The Second kinde is moyst and because it is very thin it burneth not to ashes but only it blasteth or scorcheth trees corn and grass and by reason of the moystness it maketh all things black that it commeth neer as moyst wood burning is smoaky and maketh things neer it to be black and smoaky Of the Third kinde THe Third kinde is most like our common fire that wee have here on the earth of gross and earthly substance wherefore it leaveth a print where it hath been or else consumeth it into ashes if it be such a body as will be burned with fire Of the Marvels of Lightning and their causes BEside the wonderful effects of lightning that have been already remembred there be many other which hereafter ensue with the reason and causes unto them belonging as thus The nature of Lightning is to poyson beasts that are stricken therewith as though they had been bit by a Serpent The cause of this is that the matter of Lightning is much infected with Brimstone other poysonous metallike substance because it is thin and giveth them passage into every part of the body It is notable that Seneca writeth how winevessels of wood being burned with lightning the wine would stand still and not run out the reason hereof is the swift alteration and change whereby also all the clamminesse of the wine is drawne to the outward most part and so keepeth in the wine as in a skin that by the space of three days it will not run It will also poyson wine insomuch that they which drink thereof shall either be mad or dye of it the cause hereof was setâ— forth before Lightning that striketh a poysonous beast purgeth it from the poyson in so much that it causeth a Serpent or Snake which it killeth to breed worms which otherwise it would not do but being purged from the natural poyson by the swift peircing of the Lightning nothing letteth but that it may breed wormes as all other corrupt flesh will doe If Lightning strike one that sleepeth it openeth his eyes and of one that waketh it shutteth the eyes The cause is this that it waketh him that sleepeth and killeth him before he can close his eyes againe And him that waketh it so amazeth that he winketh as he will doe at any sudden chance so he dyeth before he can open his eyes againe All living things turne their face toward the stroke of the lightning because it is their nature to turne their head if any thing come suddenly behind them The rest that have their face toward it when it commeth never turn before they be killed The Reason why it killeth the child in the mothers womb not hurting the mother is the tenderness of the one and the strength of the other when the lightning is not vehement otherwise both should dye together Sometime Lightning burneth onely the garments shooes or hair of men not hurting their bodies and then the Exhalation is nothing vehement Sometime it killeth a man and there appeareth no wound without neither any hurt within no not so much as any sign of burning for then the Exhalation which being kindled is called Lightning is wonderfull subtil and thin so swiftly passing thorow that it leaveth no mark or token behind it They that behold the Lightning are either made blind or their face swelleth or they become Lepers for that Fiery
but consisteth of innumerable smal drops so that except the light of the stars were stronger it can in them express no uniform images of them as it doth in glasses and in the water Notwithstanding in Writers of Wonders we read some such likething sometime to have chanced There hath been often seen many Suns in the day-time and after the Sun setting at the rising of the full Moon there have appeared many Moons which was by this means that the same Cloud that received the Sun-beams in the morning tarried in the same place and at the Moons rising was ready also to receive her image Of Wonderfull Apparitions WE will close this Book with a brief declaration of the natural Causes of many things that are seen in the Air very wonderfull and strange to behold which in these latter Years have been often seen and beheld to the great admiration of all men not without the singular providence of God to forewarne us of many dangers that hang over us in these most Perillous Times The apparitions of which as it is most wonderfull so the searching of the Cause to us is most difficult a great deal the rather because no man hath hitherto enterprised to my knowledge to seek out any cause of them but all men have taken them as immediate miracles without any natural meane or cause to procure them And I truly do acknowledge that they are sent of God as wonderfull signs to declare his Power and move us to amendment of life indeed miraculous but not yet so that they want a natural cause for if they be well weighed and considered it is not hard to find that they differ much from such Miracles as are recorded in the Scripture and admitted of Divines So that as I abhorre the Opinion of Epicurus to think that such things come by Chance but rather by the determined purpose of Gods providence so I consent not with them that suppose when any thing is derived from any natural caus God the chief and best Cause of all things is excluded Some of these Wonderfull Apparitions consist of Circles and Rainbowes of divers fashions and placings as one within another the edge of one touching another one dividing or going thorow another with like placing of small Circles about great Circles or parts of small Circles some with the ends upward some downward some aside and some across but all for the most part in uniform order constituted or placed for the order of them pleasant to behold but for the strangness somwhat fearfull Such a like Apparition is made with the Suns or Moons images joined unto these Circles set also in good and uniform order The cause of all these is the meeting together of all those several Causes that make the Circles Rainbowes Streames and Images of the Sun or Moon which joined all together make the wonderfull sight of Rainbowes positions of Circles Crosses and divers Lights which pertain to the knowledg of Optice and Catoptrice that teach how by divers refractions and reflects ons of beams such visions are caused So that he which will know how they are generated must return into the several Treatises of Rainbowes Circles Streams Images of the Sun or Moons and if in them he find not knowledg sufficient to instruct him I must send him to the Demonstrations of Perspective where he shall want nothing Another sort of them no less often beheld within these few years then the former but a great deal more strange and wonderfull to look upon are the Sights of Armies fighting in the Air of Castles Cities and Towns with whole Countries having in them Hils Vallies Rivers Woods also Beasts Men and Fouls Monsters of which there are no such kindes on the Earth and finally all manner of things and actions that are on the Earth as Burials Processions Judgments Combates Men Women Children Horses Crowns Armes of certain Noble men and Countries Weapons of all sorts somtimes Starsâ— Angels as they are painted with the Image of Christ crucified beseiging of Castles and Townes many things and gestures done by men or beasts thevery Similitude of Persons known to the Beholders as of late was seen the very Image of the Emperour Charles insomuch that they which beheld it put off their Caps thinking verily it had been he and of John Frederick Prince Elector of Saxony who that time was Prisoner with the Emperour Also the Image of smal Crosses which hath been not only in the Air but also on the Earth on mens apparell on dishes platters pots and all other things so that the Jewes have been full angry that they could neither wash nor rub them out of their apparell In Germany also Fires and many such things as it were long stories seen in the Air. All these wonderfull Apparitions may be caused two manner of ways the one Artificially the other Naturally Artificially by certain glasses and Instruments made according to a secret part of that knowledg which is called Catoptrice and so peradventure some of them have been caused but The most part doubtless Naturally when the disposition of the Air hath been such that it hath received the image of many things placed and done on Earth And because it is apt to receive divers images as well in one place as in another these monstrous forms and strange actions or stories proceed of the joining of divers forms and actions as if two Histories were confusedly painted in one the whole Picture would be strange or as the Poet saith if a Painter to a mans head should sett a horses neck and after divers feathers Sometimes also one image is multiplyed in the Air into many or infinite as are letters and crosses which fill the Air even beneath And the light of the Sun received into little parts maketh to appear as it were many smal stars Let this suffice concerning these wonderfull Apparitions once again admonishing the Reader though I have enterprised to declare these by natural Reason yet verily believing that not so much as one Sparrow falleth to the ground without Gods providence I do also ackowledg Gods providence bringeth these to pass to such ends as before I have shewed using these causes as meanes and instruments to do them The Fourth Book Of Watery Impressions THose be Watery Impressions that consist most of Water In the Treaty of them are wont to be handled these Impression namely Clouds Rain Dew hoar Frost Hail Snow Springs and the great Sea it self Of Clouds A Cloud is a Vapor cold and moist drawn out of the Earth and Waters by the heat of the Sun into the middle region of the Air where by cold it is so knit together that it hangeth untill either the weight or some resolution causeth it to fall down The place wherein the Clouds do hang is said to be in the middle region of the Air because men see it is necessary that there should be a cold which should make those Vapors
to the body of a tree also with armesâ— branches leaves and fruits This Metal Silver lacketh sufficient heat and therefore commeth neither to the colour solidity nor perfection of Gold and is generated in cold countries neer unto the North and South Poles in so great quantity that the Husbandmen when they plow their ground turn up silver among he clods in their daily labours which they do hide and conceal least the greedy Princes for Coveteousness of the Mettal should overturn and destroy their land The Gold Mines are contrariwise most found in the hot Countries of India and Aethiopia because in them is sufficient of heat for that unhappy generation This Silver also the Alchymists would fain make by Aiâ— but Mercury the chief Master of the Work is so subtile and so sly that nothing can hold him nothing can kill him for if the glass be not very thick he will soon break out of prison and so there is nothing left Of Copper COpper in colour comming neerest to Gold being not so solid nor massy for of all Metal Gold is the heavyest giveth way to Corruption being infected with that green Mineral Copperas Hereof be divers kindes Brass Latin and such like which differ in digestion the Copper being purest is of best digestion and neerest unto Gold and so the rest in like degrees Copper is most like Silver in the weight and in the hammering wherefore the Alchymists have learned to make it white that it deceiveth mens sight and handling but the Gold miths do easily try it and by the taste of counterfeit Silver make Copper again Copper or Brass doth always grow neer to the Mine of Copperas which running with it in the digestion or natural concoction hindereth it of perfection maketh it to stink and to be eaten of a green rust Much adoe the Alchymists have to tuâ—n it into Gold if it might be they dispute very reasonably and conclude almost necessarily in their Talk that it may be converted into Gold as a body that wanteth little of perfection which may be easily added unto it but in conclusion of the work it is an harder matter to bring to pass then it was to purpose before they had done it to build an Abbey at every Miles end upon Salisbury Plain as one was minded Of Tinne TInne whereof great plenty groweth in the West parts of England in beauty and colour commeth neerest to Silver and of Silver wanteth nothing but solidity and hardness for Tinne is raw and undigested metall also very porose and compact which causeth it to crash when it is broken or bitten so it faileth of heat in the commixtion and also sufficient digestion in the Earth otherwise it is a fair and profitable metall to serve the use of them unto whom Silver and Gold are not so plentifull Of Lead LEad also found in great abundance within this Realm is a raw and undigested metall as Tinne is but yet of better digestion then commixtion for it is mixed with a gross earthy substance which maketh it to be in colour so black and so fowl to corrupt so that of the same Fumes and Exhalations which if they had been pure and well digested if the place and matter would have suffered should have ben concrete into Silver for lack of the same Lead is generated which comming plentifully doth better service then Silver Of Iron IRon the most necessary and profitable of all other metals and yet as ill used of many as any other is generated of such substance as Silver is but mixed with a red Mineral which â—ateth it with red rust and also being of too extreame digestion passing â—ll other metals in hardness And as other metals to the perfection of Silver want sufficient concoction whereby â—hey come not to the same hardness â—o Iron passeth and exceedeth Silver in â—mmoderate digestion But though it â—ome not to the perfection of Silver God forbid that all Iron had been turâ—ed into Silver for then we should â—ore have missed it then silver or gold â—e want of which would hinder us â—othing at all Of Quick-silver THough Quick-silver be no metal yet because it is the mother of all metals something is here to be spoken of it There be divers and sundry opinions both of the generation and also the qualities of it which make the generation hard to find out For if the quality were certainly agreed upon there were an easier way found to try out the generation Some affirm that it is exceeding hot and that they would prove by the swift peircing thereof into other things that be porose Others say it is exceeding cold and that they prove by the exceeding weight of it As for the peircing they say it is caused of the exceeding moistness of which quality both parts dâ— grant that it is Concerning the generation some have said that it is purâ— and Elemental water some again have thought that it droppeth out oâ— heaven and is a part of the heavenlâ— stance And others say that it is generated in the Clouds and falleth down in the feilds in a Circle on those round Circles which are seen in many feilds that ignorant People affirm to be the rings of the Fairies dances It is certain that Quick-silver hath divers times faln out of the Clouds as we have declared in the Treatise of Wonderfull and Marvellous Raine but whether it so fall in â—ircles it is doubtfull The most probable opinion is that it is generated of moyst Vapors of the Earth coacted by cold much like to Water as Brimstone is of hot fumes coacted by cold much like to fire And thus much of metals Of Stones STones the fourth kind of Earthly mixed bodies have two manner of generations by most contrary qualities for heat doth harden moist bodies into stones and we see that clay it maketh exceeding hard brick Also the Thunderbolts in the clouds are generated by heat as before hath been shewed But cold doth by congealing generate many more stones then heat doth for the most part of all the stones that are digged out of the Earth are generated by cold which is able to convert any other kind of mixed substance into stone as hath beene partly shewed in the nature of wels and springs of which there be some in England which by their cold turne wood or any like thing into stones I have seene a peece of rotten wood which to sight was very light and like wood but in handling a very stone that was taken out of such a Wel. Also of other things taken out of the Earth turned into stones I have seene and found my selfe flâ—â—s with head and wings very hard stones also I have seen a heart a birds tongue a beasts stone a peare a plumme and divers other things turned into hard stones Of divers kinds of stones STones may first be divided into rude and beautifull the rude containe those great Rocks which are generated by many small parts