too heavy Hence it comes to passe that all Seas purge themselves in the full of the Moon Not that the attraction of the Moon is the cause of it but because the wind that was in the interim collected in the hollow places under ground strives to fly upwards or being heaped up about the putrefactions of the Sea breaks forth Lydiaâ— de orig sâ—ntium attributes it to subterraneal fire That you may know the grounds of his opinion I will set it down in a few Propositions I. The flowing of the Sea is not because of the Moon by the nearnesse of her light and of that especially which she borrowes which breeds exhalations whereby the waters swell and run over For in the full Moon her light is thwart the earth and yet there is a tide great enough II. The Sun and Moon do not by their beams cause the flowing of the Sea 1. When it flowes in one hemisphear and both the Luminaries are in the other what is the cause of that For it hath not equall forces in both 2. If Sun and Moon cause the flowing of the Sea wherefore elsewhere in the very Ocean and that between the torrid Zone where their power is extream are there no Tides at all or very small ones III. When we enquire concerning the flowing of the Sea we must suppose 1. That there is a wonderfull plenty of water in the bosome of the Earth 2. That water which is in the bosome of the Earth is not onely continued to it self but to this we see in the Sea and is joyned with it by the channels or open chaps of the Earth First it is probable from hence that it is a part of the same body Then the deeps of the Sea that were never yet certainly known are a token of it 3. When two most vaste Continents on this side Asia Africa Europe on that America divide CHAP. VII Artic. 1. Of the New World and Asia by which the passage was open to other neighbouring Islands and from the Island to all the continent which was in sight and neere to the Ocean but in the mouth of it there was said to be a Haven with a narrow entrance c After this by a wonderfull Earth-quake and a continuall inundation for a day and a night it came to passe that the Earth clave asunder and swallowed all those warlike people and the Island of Atlantis was drowned in the deep But Aristotle lib. de admirand c. 8. relates that in the Sea beyond Herculâ—s Pillars an Island was found out by the Carthagenians which had Woods and Rivers fit for shipping but it was distant many days Voyage But when more Carthagenians allured by the happinesse of the place came and dwelt amongst the Inhabitants they were condemned to death by the Commanders he adds by those that sayled thither Let us also hear Seneca lib. 7. quaest c. 31. The people that shall come after us shall know many things we know not many things are reserved for after ages when we are dead and forgotten The World is but a very small matter unlesse every age may have something to search for And again quaest 5. c. ult Whence do I know whether there may not be some Commander of a great Nation now not known that may swell with Fortun 's favours and not contain his forces within his own bounds Whether he may not provide ships to attempt places unknown How do I know whether this or that wind may bring Warr Some suppose Augustus extended his Empire so far Marianus Siculus is the Authour that there was found in the new World old Golden Money with the Image of Augustus and that it was sent to Rome to the Pope in token of fidelity by Johannes Ruffus Bishop of Consentia That is more wonderfull that the Spaniards write that there is a Town in the Province of Chili in the Valley called Cauten which they name Imperiola for this cause because in many Houses and Gates they found the Spread-Eagle as we see now a dayes in the Arms of the Roman Empire Animlanus l. 17. observes somthing not unlike it that in the obeliscks of the Aegyptians there were ingraven many Pictures of Birds and Beasts also of the other World What shall we say to these things We say they knew them but scarse ever travelled thither But if those relations are true that Plato reports of which Tertullian also speaks Apolg. c. 39. and Marcellinus l. 17. we add farther That the praediction of Seneca sounds rather of the British Islands in favour of Claudius That is false which is said of Augustus We have all the Acts of this Noble Prince if there be any thing buried in silence it is some mean matter But Novelty easily gains the name of Antiquity if there be fraud in him that forgeth it Artic. 2. Of the miracles of some Countrys PLiny relates and we out of him There is a famous Temple at Paphos dedicated to Venus into a Court whereof it never rayns Pliny l. 2. c. 96. By Harpasa a Town of Asia there stands a hard Rock which you may move with one finger but thrust it with your whole body and you cannot stirr it There is Earth in the City Parasinum within the Peninsula of Tauri that cures all wounds In the Country Ardanum Corn that is sowed will never grow At the Altars of Martia in Veii and at Tusculanum and in the Wood Ciminia there are places where things fastened into the Earth cannot be drawn forth Pliny l. 2. c. 94. In Crustuminum Hay that grows there is hurtfull but out of that place it becomes good Some Earths tremble at the entrance as in the Country of the Gabii not far from Rome about a 100 Acres when men ride upon it and likewise at Reate In the Hills of Puteoli the dust is opposed against the Sea Waves and being once sunk it becomes one stone that the waters cannot stirr and daily grows stronger also if it be mingled with the Caement of Cumae Plin. l. 35. c. 13. Such is the nature of that Earth that cut it of what bignesse you please and sink it into the Sea it is drawn forth a stone In a Fountain of Gnidium that is sweet in eight Months time the Earth turns to a stone From Oropus as far as Aulis whatsoever earth is dipped in the Sea it becomes a stone Tilling of the ground was of old of great esteem amongst the Romans they found one sowing and gave him honours whence is the surname Serranus As Cincinnatus was ploughing his four Acres in the Vatican which are called Quintus his Meadows Viator offered him the Dictator ship and as it is reported that he was naked and his whole body full of dust To whom Viator said Put on thy Cloths that I may deliver to thee the commands of the Senate and people of Rome Whence Pliny l. 18. c. 3. answers to this question Whence was it then they had so great plenty The Rulers at
In the Warr of Mithridates at Apamaea a City of Phrygia new Lakes Pools Fountains and Rivers came forth many of the old ones being suckt in and amongst these one was salt that put forth an infinite plenty of Fish and Oysters and yet Apamaea is far distant from the Sea Nicolaus Damascenus During the second Punick Warr there were such great Earthquakes at Liguria and the parts neer unto it so far as the Sea of Tyrrhenum that the Rivers ran the contrary ways The most wonderfull Earthquake was in Hereford here in England in the year of Grace after the 15 century 71 the 12 of the Calâ—nds of March at six a Clock at night the Earth parted in the Eastern part of the County and a Mountain with a Rock under it first with a wonderfull noise and roaring that the neighbour parts might hear it as if it had been raised out of a long sleep lifted up it self and ascended into an upper place leaving its deep Chamber and it carryed with it the Trees that grâ—w upon it the folds and slooks of sheep some of the Trees lay overwhelmed with the Earth others were joyned to the Mountain and grew there as well as if they had been there planted at first It left the place from whence it came with a great pit 40 foot broad and 80 els long The whole field was about twenty Acres It overthrew a Chappel in its way It carryed a Peare Tree that was planted in the Church-yard from West to East and with the same force it thrust forward high ways Paths Hedges with Trees that grew in them It made pasture ground of arable and arable again of pasture It rolled against the upper ground and being driven with greater violence it heaped it up into a high Mountain so when it had passed up and down from Saturday evening till Munday noon it rested quiet This is Cambdens description of it The Philosophers call this kind of Earthquake 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To this may be referred the Earthquake in Apulia Anno. 1627 it was open above 200 miles and overthrow great part of the City St. Severus Sarra Capreola Dragonora Procina of St. Lyander it laid hold on Assolum Bovinium Troia Andria Tranium Foggita Campus Marinus Remitium Itistonium Franca Villa Asanum Consilinum c Also it killed 17 thousand Men. It is certain that it brings with it not only present mischiefs but it is a forerunner of mischiefs to follow Rome had never any Earth-quake that did not foreshew some future eventâ— Pliny l. 2. c. 64. Socrates saith it foretells of discords in religion wherefore what the Romans did of former times by appointing holydays by injunction let us do the same They might feare lest by naming one God for an other they might induce the people to a false religion but we know that God by whose power the Earth is shaken CHAP. VIII Of Rain THere is a great difference in respect of the abundance of Rain in time and other circumstances and very wonderfull no lesse variety than there is in dayes and oft-times greater if you respect extraordinary things In Ahab's days it rained not for 3. years It never rains in Cyrenica The harvest there is onely that which for the hasty ripening of things by reason of the Sun or Ayr or Winds useth to come to passe It is reported that from sowing of Seed it is but 30 days to the harvest Maiolus Colloq 1. About Uraba a City of the New World it rains most part of the year and therefore the drops hang alwayes on the trees Hispal p. 5. c. 26. It never rains in Winter amongst the Tartars but oft in Summer But in the Country of Mexico the drops fall with such force that they are said to kill men If you consider the substance it is common water that is the matter of it yet examples shew that it hath been of another kind oft times It rained blood sometimes in Borussia Thuan. l. 27. in the Island Pelagia gold in Lucania iron before the Parthian War in which Crassus was slain Ammian l. 17. It rained Corn in Carinthia for two hours above two miles space of which they made bread Thuan. l. 5. de Anno 1548. Stones fell with rain as big as Hens eggs wherein were pictures of mens countenances and Diadems Lintur ad fascic Anno 1496. Ashes rained in the time of Leo which lay a little hands heighth upon the tyles Niceph. l. 15. c. 20. In the Wood Neuholen they say that a great piece of Iron fell out of the Ayr like to the drosse and it weighed many pounds so that it was too heavy to carry and no Cart could carry it because the wayes were unpassible Agricola observ Metal c. 8. In Egypt it frequently rains very small drops Mice breed of them that use to gnaw and cut the ears of Corn Aelian l. 6. c. 40. Also in Thebais when it rains with hail Mice are said to appear in the earth half mud half flesh Aelian l. 2. c. 56. But that is most wonderful if it be not a Fable that Olâ—us l. 18. and Ziglerus hath in Norway concerning the Northern Creatures And from them Scaliger hath it Exerc. 192. Sect. 3. Lemer bestiolae There are four-footed Creatures as big as field Mice of a divers coloured skin they fall in tempests and showers we know not whether they come from the remote Islands or from foeculent clowds Assoon as they fall you shall find herbs in their bowels raw not digested These like Locusts eat up all green things this plague continues till green herbs come again They come together like Swallows departing they either dye at the set time or are devoured by Lefrat other little Beasts We were told by our Master the famous Doctor Menelaus Vinsenius Doctor of Physick and Professor in the University of Frisia that it rained Frogs in Ameland which admits of no Frogs To conclude in Velaunium there rained from Heaven so many Caterpillars in one night that they were forced for two dayes to burn straw to kill them creeping in their houses all the men and women there were hardly sufficient to perform this work Dalechaâ—p ad l. 2. Pliny c. 56. Sennertus thinks that Creatures that can breed of putrifaction are bred either of some matter watred by rain or else they lying hid in the bowels of the Earth are called forth but more perfect Creatures and stones come another way yet he thinks that many of these ought to be referred to superiour Causes CHAP. IX Of Snow and Hail IN the Winter there is an infinite abundance of Snow with us but there is none in the deep Sea Pliny l. 2. c. 103. Nor is there any such in Aethiopia Alvarez de reb Aethiop But it is greater in the North. Sometimes great Trees being in the way it all sticks upon the boughes and the Ayr stops it that it can fall no lower making as it were a vaulted Gallery It is said to have beaten down
the other was the remedy for them Anauros of Thessaly and Boristhenes send out no vapour nor exhalation many refer the cause of it to its mixture others seek it other-where Agricola l. 2. de effl ex terr c. 17. saith In what part of the Rivers the Channels in the Fords have no veins and fibres by that they can breath forth no exhalations In the snows of Mount Caucasus hollow Clods freez and contain good water in a membrane there are Beasts there that drink this water which is very good and runs forth when the membranes are broken Strab. in Geograph Nilus makes women so fruitfull that they will have 4 and 6 at one venter Pliny in Histor. There is a Well of water that makes the inhabitants of the Alps to have swollen throats Lang. l. 5. Epist. 43. But in field Rupert neer to Argentina there is a water said to be that makes the drinkers of it troubled with Bronchocele they seem to be infected with quicksilver for this is an enemy to the brain and nervs for it not only sends back flegme to the glandulous parts of the head and neck but that which is heaped up in the head it throws down upon the parts under it Sebizius de acidul s. 1. dict 6. Corol. 1. thes 12. Diana a River of Sicily that runs to Camerina unlesse a chast woman draw its water it will not mingle with Wine Solinus C. 10. Styx in Arcadia drank of kills presently it penetrates and breaks all yet it may be contained in the horns of one kind of Asse Seneca l. 3. natur c. 25. Two Rivers runs into Niger a River in Africa one is reddish the other whitish Barrens Histor. dec 1. l. 3. c. 8. If any man drink of both he will be forced to Vomit both up but if any man drink but of one he shall Vomit leasurely but when they are both run into Niger and a man drink them mingled he shall have no desire to Vomit Narvia is a River of Lithuania so soon as Serpents tast of the water they give a hiss and get away Cromer descript Polon l. 1. A Fountain of Sardinia in the Mediterranean keeps the length and shortnesse of dayes and runs accordingly In the Island of Ferrum one of the Canaries there is no water the Ayr is fiery the ground dry and man and beast are sad for want of water But there is a Tree the kind is unknown the leaves are long narrow and allways green A Clowd allwaies surrounds it whereby the leaves are so moystned that most pure liquour runs continually from it which the inhabitants fetch setting vessells round the Tree to take it in Bertius in descript Canariar Sea-waters if they be lukewarm they portend tempests before two days be over and violent Winds Lemnius de occult l. 2. c. 49. In England nere New-Castle there is a lake called Myrtous part whereof is frozen in Summer Thuan. in Histor. But I have done with these Authours have more if any man desire it especially Claudius Vendilinus whom I name for honour sake if he seek for the wonders of Nilus Artic. 7. Of some Floods or Waters and of the Universall Deluge THe Floods were signs of Gods anger and so much the more as that was greater and mens sins more grievous The greatest was that we call the generall Deluge which began about the end of the year of the World 1656. All the bars of the Channels were broken and for 40 dayes a vaste quantity of water was poured down Also the Fountains of the great Deep were cut asunder so that the Waters increased continually for 150 dayes and passed above the highest Mountains 15 Cubits At length they abated by degrees for after 70 dayes the tops began to appear The Inhabitants of the New World say they had it from their Ancestours Those of Peru say that all those Lands lay under waters and that men were drowned except a few who got into woodden Vessels like Ships and having provision sufficient they continued there till the waters were gone Which they knew by their dogs which they sent forth of doors and when the dogs came in wet they knew they were put to swim but when they returned dry that the waters were gone August Carat But they of Mexico say that five Suns did then shine and that the first of them perished in the waters and men with it and whatsoever was in the earth These things they have described in Pictures and Characters from their Ancestors giving credit to Plato's Flood which was said to have hapned in the Island Atlantis Lupus Gomara But Lydiat ascribes the cause of that universal Deluge to a subterraneal fire in a hotter degree increasing the magnitude by rarefaction so long as it could not gâ—t out of its hollow places Genesis seems to demonstrate it For the Fountains of the great Deep are said to be broken open and that a wind was sent forth after 40 dayes and the waters were quieted We must understand a wind from a dry Exhalation which a subterraneous fire much increased had most abundantly raised out of the deep of the Sea which was then thrust forth of them and did increase the motion of the ayr that it laid hold of together with the revolution of the Heavens and the vehemency of the Firmament But there were other miraculous Deluges besides this CHAP. IV. Of the Originall of Fountains Sea by passages under the Earth The Sea alone is sufficient to supply all Springs and when we see that it no wayes increaseth by the Rivers that run into it it is apparent that they run to their Fountains by secret channels But the question is of the manner how they ascend Socrates ascribes it to the Tossing of them Pliny to the wind l. 21. c. 65. Bodin l. 2. Theatr. to the weight of the Earth driving forth the water Scaliger to the Bulk of the Sea others to vapours redoubled into themselves It is a hard matter to define all things nor is it our purpose But because Thom Lydiat an English Man hath written most acutely of this Subject we will set down his opinion here contracted into a few Propositions I. The Rolling of the Water is not the cause of its ascending to the superficies of the Earth For there is no cause for its tossing and wherefore then should it not at length stand levell II. To be driven with the wind is not the cause 1. For it seems not to be raised in the Sea by a fixed Law of Nature but by way of Tempest 2. The Channels are winding and should carry it rather to the sides than to the superficies 3. If a contrary wind cannot do so much in any water what then can the wind do here Also if there were any receptacles for the waters forced upwards Miners those that dig in mines would have found them out as Vallesius saith III. The weight of the Earth squeesing out the water is not the Cause For the Earth
doth not lye upon the waters but contrarily where the Conduits are not full the lower part is not empty but the upper part IV. Nor the Bulk of the Sea Scaliger thinks that the Waters being pressed in the channels by the Sea lying upon them do seek to get forth His Example is of a stone in a vessel But two things are here assumed 1. That the gravity is every where the same as in the weight of a stone 2. That a great part of the Sea water is out of its place V. Nor yet vapours redoubled into themselves and so drawing nor the spungy Nature of the Earth nor the veins of the Earth whereby the moysture of the water may be drawn forth For 1. attracting forces would be more fit for Champion ground than for Mountains 2. If they should attract it were for that purpose that they might have the fruition of it but from whence are there such Rivers 3 The veins of waters are no where found so full as that reason requireth whether it be for blood in living creatures or for squirts VI. The water is raised out of the Caves of the Earth to the Tops of Mountains as the Sea is raised above the middle Region of the Ayr. VII But this Elevation is made by the force of heat resolving the water into vapours Aristotle himself intimates that heat is required but that water may be made of a vapour there needs no cold but a more remisse heat VIII The heat of the Earth proceeds not from the heat of the Sun namely of the Earth in its Intralls For first it can penetrate but two yards deep and therefore the Troglodites make their Caves no deeper 2. In the hottest Summer a woodden post that is but one or two Inches thick is not penetrated 3. The entralls of the Earth about 8 or 10 yards deep are found colder in Summer then in Winter IX The Antiperistasis of the cold Ayr in the superficies of the Earth is nothing to the purpose 1. It is more weak than the cold of the firm Earth 2. What ever of the Suns heat is bred within passeth out by the pores and vanisheth 3. It perisheth being besieged by both colds to which it bears no proportion X. The heat that is in the bowells of the Earth is from a double cause For in the parts nearest the superficies it proceeds from the Sun beams but in the bowels of the Earth from other causes That passeth out by the pores of the Earth in Summer being opened by the Sun and therefore it vanisheth when as being removed from its original it is weaker but in winter it is bound in by the cold XI The heat in the bowels of the Earth is known by the heat of the Waters but these are neither hot by the Sun nor from brimstone or quicklime in the conduits but only from a subterraneal fire Not from the Sun For. 1. That cannot penetrate so far 2. If it were from thence it would be most in Summer Not from brimstone or quick lime for brimstone heats not unlesse it be actually heated and quick-lime only then when it is resolved by Water Also the vast quantity of it would be resolved in a short time and would make a change in the Channels But it may be understood some ways how it may be heated by a subterraneal fire 1. As it is actuall and so the Channels being solid stone cannot derive it 2. As it is more remote but sends forth Vapours by pipes as in Baths so also not for Vapours cannot have so great force as to make it boil 3. That the Water may run amongst the burning fire as in bituminous Channels But here the question may be why it doth not cast out the Bitumen as in Samosata a City of Comagenes Pliny saith l. 2. c. 104. and 107 that a certain lake cast forth flaming mud and fire came out at the Waters of Scantium 4. The fourth way is the truth Art doth some wayes imitate Nature but in Stills the water by the force of heat is resolved into Vapours and the Vapours fly upwards to the heads where they stick and being removed from the violent heat they return to Water again so also in the bowells of the Earth XII But Fountains that boyl seem not to be of those Waters that run but that stand still Namely Wells that have formerly been opened by the quakings of the Earth which it is no wonder that they are joyned to the Sea In a small Island against the River Timevuâ— Pliny l. 2. c. 103. writes that there is a hot spring that ebs and flows with the Sea In the Gades it is contrary Pliny l. 2. c. â—2 But if any of these hot springs do runâ— we must observe of them that their Channels are so scituated that when the Sea flowes it comes unto them or if it were come into them before it powreth forth the more And so the heat of the fire will be either proportionable and the exhalation greater or not and so lesse XIII But what Agricola writes of bituminous Waters and that yeeld a smell must be ascribed to their neernesse but it vanisheth at a farther distance The same is observed in artificiall distilled waters that in time the burntness of them will vanish away XIV But because this fire by the shaking of the Earth can do much in the superficies it can then do more in the place it is It can therefore stop up old Channels open new ones in divers caves of the Earth without sending forth of the matter combustible or propagation of fire or conflict of Vapours it can rayse new fires from whence new Rivers may be produced yet somtimes also it useeth to be extinguished or sunk so deep that it cannot send its force to the superficies This is the opinion of Lydiat which we have set down more amply that being better known it might be more exactly weighed CHAP. V. Of hot Baths THe heat of hot Baths is diversly spoken of by Authours Aristotle thought it proceeded from Thunder which is false for the force of Thunder is pestilentiall any man may know it that beholds Wine corrupt by Thunder It makes men mad or dead but these are healthfull as experience daily shews Also there are many places that were never touched with Thunder for that never descends above five foot Sennert Scient natural l. 4. c. 10. thinks it comes from two waters that are cold to be felt but grow hot in their meeting from repugnancy of the Spirits as we see in oyle of Tartar and Spirit of Vitrial and in Aquafortis and Tartar and of the butter of Antimony and Spirit of Nitre all which though they are cold to the touch yet if you mingle them they grow hot and so that if you suddenly powre oyle of Tartar into Aquafortis wherein Iron is dissolved it will not only boyle but the mixture will flame which also happeneth if you pour fast the spirit of Nitre into the
that time tilled their grounds â—ith their own hands as it is fit to beleive The Earth enjoying a plow Crownd with Laurel and a Victorious plowman whether it were that they managed their Corn with the same care they did their wars and disposed of their fields with the same diligence they did their Camps or because by honest labour all things prosper better because they are don more carefully CHAP. VIII Of the Islands Artic. 1. Of the Originall and destruction of Islands ISlands are parts of the Earth compassed about with the Sea They have many causes of their beginnings Some came forth of the Sea some were broke off from the continent some were made by matters heaped together One was made in the Aegaean Sea whilst Seneca beheld it Seneca quaest l. 6. c. 21. He adds that another came forth of the Sea in his Forefathers dayes The Sea saith he foâ—â—ed continually and a smoke ascended from the deep for at last it did disclose a fire not continual but shinning by times as lightâ—ings do as oft as the heat of that was under had vanquished the weight that lay a top At length stones were rolled together and Rocks partly untouched which the vapour had driven forth before they were transformed and partly corroded and turned to be as light as a pumex-stone last of all appeared the top of a burnt Mountain c. Strabo l. 6.1 Geograph writes that between Thera and Therasia flames first brake forth of the Sea for four days together as if the Sea burnt then by little and little came forth an Island that was twelve furlongs wide and it was all made of fire-stones Atalanta a City of Locris that was fast and contiguous to it was out off by a sudden violence of the Sea and was made an Island by it self Oâ—osius l. 2. c. 18 â—nder Leo the Emperour an old Historian Evagriuâ— l. 2. c. 14 hath said that at Constantinople and Bithynia there was such abundance of Rain that in the Lake Beana which is not far from Nicomedia by the frequent filthy matter cast into it Islands were made thus begaâ— the Island Tyberina For Lucretia being violated by Tarâ—uin when Brutus had given counsel to plunder the Kings goods and to cast them into Tyber an Island was made So Livy l. 2. Historâ—â— By 〈…〉 some standing Corn was then of Wheat or Barley that was readâ— for the harvest which fruit of the field because it was unlawfull to destroy they cut the Corn down with the straw by the help of many men coming together and powred iâ— out of baskets into Tybur when it raâ— but slowly as it is 〈…〉 to do in the hot weather and so the heaps of Corn remained in the foards wrapâ— over with mud whence by degrees and by other things cast in by accident an Island was made Also some Islands have ceased to be as Pliny saith lib. 2. c. 89. Antissa first an Island was joyned to Lesbos Zephyrâ—â— to Halicarnassus Aethusa to Myndus Narthecusa to Parthenius Promontory Hybanda was once an Island of Ionia now it is 200 furlongs from the Sea Ephesus hath Syrien in the Mediterranean Artic. 2. Of the Miracles of some Islands AS Nature hath given Islands so she hath bestowed on some singular prerogatives There is an Island in a certain Lake about the entring of Nilus that hath Groves Woods and great buildings upon it yet they flote and it is driven every way with the wind Mela l. 1. c. 5. In the Lake Vadimonis and Cutilia there is a dark Wood that is never seen a night and a day in the same place Plin. l. 2. c. 95. Of the latter Macrobius speaks l. 1. Satur. c. 7. The Pelagi found an Island in the Lake Curilia for there are large feilds for grasse whether it were a continent or the mud of the Lake it is handsomly trimmed up and fitly joyned with twigs and Trees like a vaste Wood and floats every way with the Sea floods that from hence we may credit the relation of Delus which hath high Mountaines and large Champion ground yet floats on the Sea The Calaminae so called in Lydia are not only driven by the winds but by long poles whither one please and many Citizens escaped by that means in Mithridates Warr Plin l. 2. c. 95. In the great Lake Tarquiniense in Italy there are two that carry woods sometimes they are of a three square figure sometimes round in compasse when the winds drive them but they are never four square In Garumna a River in Spain the Island Aâ—ros is pendulous and lifted up with the waters increasing Mela l. 3. c. 1. Also in Nymphaeum there are small ones called Saltuares because in singing of a consort they move at the strokes of the musicall paces Besides these in the Fortunatae Fennel gigant growes as big as a Tree Solin c. 58. In Madera grapes hang down upon four branches the skins fill'd with juice want a kernel they are ready to gather in March Cadamustâ—s when Columbus found out the Island Hispaniola he mowed Wheat on the 30 of March that was sowen in the beginning of February In this short time the ears grew so great that they were as long and a big as a mans Arm Each of them contain'd 2000 grains Peter Martyr in Sum. Indiae There are fresh Melons every quarter of the year Ovetan Sum. c. 81. Historiar l. 11. c. 1. so great that one man can hardly carry one upon his shoulders Grasse mowed will in five dayes grow a cubit high again Tyles two Islands in the Persian Gulph the Land of them exceeds all other places for this rarity that no Tree that growes there ever wants leaves Solin c. 53. In the Island Ormutium no living creature is found nor any Fountain-water Manna falls down with the night dew Polus l. 3. c. 4. Dogs will not come into Sigaron an Island of Arabia Foelix put them there and they die running mad Plin. l. 6. c. 28. In Ithaca Hares brought thither from other places cannot live Aristot. histor Animal l. 8. c. 28. Ebusus one of the Baleares hath no Serpents at all Plin. l. 10. c. 29. In Creta there lives no Owl bring one thither it will die and in the same Island there is no mischievous living Creature besides the Spider Philangium Cyprus in former times was so impatient of graves that it would cast forth the next night bodies buried in the day Ericus the first Danish King was brought dead to Jerusalem by the winds who was intended for the same place Saxo Gram. l. 12. In the Island Cephalonia there is a River that hath on one side an infinite multitude of Grashoppers but none on the other side Aristot. histor Animal l. 8. c. 28. In Cumana an Island of the New World the Cobwebs of Spiders are knit so fast that they cannot be broken Hispan p. 5. c. 15. Iron that is dug up in Ilva cannot be melted there Bertius in descript Ilvae To
in Also Plutonium in a little hill of a Mountainous Country hath so moderate a mouth that it can receive but one Man but it is wonderfull deep It is compassed about with square pales and that so many as would compasse in half an Acâ—e which are so full of clowdy thick darknesse that the ground can hardly be seen The Ayr hurts not those who come to the outside of the pales as being clear from that darknesse when the winds blow not If a living Creature goes in he dies immediately Bulls brought in fall down and are drawn forth dead Lastly at Hierapolis in Syria as Dio in the Life of Trajan writes there is a den of a filthy and deadly smell what living creature sucks it in is destroyed by it Only Eunuchs are free from the venom and hurt of it Scaliger Exerc. 277. Sect. 4. CHAP. II. Of Comets Artic. 1. Of the Nature and Magnitude of Comets THe original and nature of Comets hath diversly troubled wise then nor yet was any man found that could decide the question Some think they are perpetuall and are carried about the Sun like Venus and Mercury and oft times they lye hid some think they are newly created and are not in sublunary but heavenly places Democritus thought they were the soules of famous men who when they had been vigorous many Ages in the earth make their triumphs when they die Bodine confesseth his ignorance yet he to this inclines and 〈…〉 lâ—st they become 〈…〉 Stars The cause The Ancients say they all vanished and did not seâ— Others said they were of two sorts false ones in the Aire true ones who foreshew'd things to come from the heavenly place What ever it be they are secret things and because they are in the Heavens they are so much the harder That which shined Anno 1456. possessed more than two signs in the Heavens that which appeared Anno 1472 for a whole moneâ—h retrogâ—ade from Libra 〈…〉 through the whole Zodiack in its motion at first 40 parts then 120 parts every day Sennert l. 4. Epitom Cap. 2. Anno 1556. There was one so great that not onely the most light and dry vapours but all Woods and Groves be they as many as are in the whole Earth would not serve for to feed it two moneths that it shined They are Bodin's words l. 2. Theatr. Anno 1543 it had a very long tayl toward the North a flame flew from it like a Dragon it drank up a River and consumed the fruits of the ground Sennert l. c. When Attalus raigned there was one so great that it was stretched out exceedingly and was equall to the milky way in the Heavens Senec. quaest natural l. 7. c. 15. Aristot. 1. Meteorol c. 7. In the time of Anaxagoras a huge great one burned 75 dayes and so great a Tempest of winds followed that it brake a stone off as great as a Chariot and the whirlwind carried it aloft and threw it into the River Aegaeum in Thracia Niceph. l. 12. c. Again in the Reign of Theodosius the elder an unusuall one appeared at midnight about Lucifer and a great multitude of Stars were gathered about it which by their mutual lustre sent out the greater light this was resolved into one flame like to a two edged sword The same day in July the Spaniards report they saw it that was fatall to them and to their Ships Cardanus l. 4. de varietat c. 63. saith it happened either by reason of the purenesse of the Ayr or the union of Light or by reason of the darknesse of the day Artic. 2. Of the Comets signification MEn say it is a fore-runner of Calamities if we look upon the Judgment and it is found so to be It foreshew'd Vespasian's death Romes Captivity by Alaricus the miserable end of Mauritius the destruction of Mahomet the destructive diminution of the Emperours of Rome the end of Charles the Great the Excursion of the Tartars into Silesia and the cutting off of Lugs Records say that Charles the Great when he saw it was frighted and reasoning with Eginhartus he said it foreshew'd the death of a Prince And when he lest he should be sad at it said Be not afraid at the signs in the Heavens He replyed We must fear none but him who created us and the Stars also but we are bound to praise his Clemency who will vouchsafe to admonish our sluggishnesse with such signs Alsted in Chronol One was held to be fortunate which appeared to Augustus when he prepared Plays for his Genitrix Venus These are his words Pliny l. 2. c. 25. The very same dayes I had my pastimes a hairy Star appeared for seven dayes in the Region of Heaven which is under the North Star It rose about the 11th hour of the day and was clear to be seen in all Lands The people believed that that Star signified that Caesar 's Soul must be received amongst the immortall Gods upon which account that Ensign was added to the Image of an head which presently was consecrated by us in the publick Judicature In the one side of an old Roman penny Caesar's Image was to be seen with these Letters Imp Caes Divi 111. Vir R.R.C. on the other side the forepart of Venus Temple with a Star and Caesar's Statue in his Robes of Inauguration and the Altar where he was wont to sacrifice make his Vowes and Controversies by interposâ—ng an Oath and these Letters were added to it Divo Jul. Delchamp add 2. Plin. c. 25. CHAP. III. Of an Ignis Fatuus Helena Castor and Pollux AN Ignis Fatuus useth to be seen about Sepulchres and Gallowses for it riseth from a birdlimy fat Exhalation It is lighted by an Antiperistasis of the ayr in the night and it is carried here and there with the Ayrs motion It seems to fly from travellers coming toward it and to follow those that run from it The Cause is in the Ayr It is driven forward in running and it drawes them forward but in flying from it it followes and keeps them company Hence are strangers travelling in so great danger oft times For they thinking that it is light from Towns fall into bogs These 3. following use to appear at Sea Pliny l. 2. c. 37. saith That these lights are dangerous if they come alone and sink the ships and burn them if they fall to the bottoms of their Vessels but two are successeful and signs of a prosperous Voyage for they by their appâ—oach drive away say they that unhappy and threatning Helena Wherefore they assign that diety to Castor and Pollux and call upon them at Sea making them the tutelar Captains for their Ships Act. 28. c. 11. Cardan de subâ—ilitat l. 2. of the Star Helena writes thus The Star of Helena is almost of the same kind about the Mast of the Ship which falling will melt brazen Vessels a certain sign of shipwrack For it appears onely in great Tempests and cannot be driven into the
heat the Sun the great light of the World is the Father of it which it sends upon all earthly creatures enlightning and enlivening them Hence men say that the Sun and Man beget a man namely by the intermediate seed Otherwise it proceeds of another fashion when without those mediums in things are bred of putrefaction as we said before For when the solar or elemental heat incloseth any mixt body wherein natural heat is included this is raised up by that is moved and stirred to perform its operations as appears in the hatching of eggs by artificiall heat of Furnaces or natural heat of the hens For in the yolks there is a hidden naturall heat that is stirred by the external heat so that by circulation of the Elements Water is turn'd to Ayr Ayr into Fire Fire into Earth Earth into Water and the Chickens limbs and entrals are formed and made by natural heat which is the principal internal Agent The Material cause in the generation of this Tree-Goose is that clammy matter of the wood of Firre or the Rosin and Pitchy substance of it upon which the outward Suns heat doth work and the internal heat increased in the corrupt matter This matter though it be small yet may well afford the first rudiments to this Embryo which is afterwards nourished by the clammy substance of the Ocean as Oysters and other shell-fish grow and increase for neither the hard substance of the wood nor yet the weeds affords any matter for it for the one is observed to be the container and the other the conveyer of the true matter For as in the generation of Man neither the Matrix nor the umbilical vein do afford any matter but are required as necessary instruments so must we judge here of the wood and the Sea-weeds Some will have it that from the worm bred in the rotten wood there should be made some transmutation and that the worm doth afford the first matter for this generation yet that opinion is false for that Worm cannot come â—orth to the end of the weeds nor can it make shell-fish but that must breed at the end of the weeds nor doth it come thither from any other place that it can go from place to place by an animall motion before it receive its essential form Pliny writes that the Fish Pinnotheâ— is so cunning that he will hide himself in the Oyster and as he growes he will go into such as are greater but to imagine any such thing of that Worm that eats into the wood is against the nature of it But it is no doubt but that the rosinous and pitchy matter may communicate something to the end of the weeds which yet nature must do by a way we cannot perceive as nature useth in all other generations such wayes and means that we can better think and judge of by reason than see with our eyes For who can see how the heart in the generation of living Creatures is first formed What fibres and veins nature useth there for her Instruments how and by what means this is done and when it is done how she disposeth of the other bowels and makes them of a seminall and menstruall matter There was never man yet found so quick-sighted that he could see these things whilest they were doing but when they are done reason can discern them So no man could yet say how this matter that was first radical moysture in the wood could passe to the ends of those Sea weeds and should be formed there yet it is plain afterwards that so it was made Nor will that be so hard for the matter to passe through the grasse to the end of them as to passe without any medium But the greater difficulty is and most worthy to know the Formal or seminall cause of this wonderfull birth which since it is nor contain'd in seeds for here are none to be found it must needs enter into the matter otherwise than in other kinds of generations For the seeds of both Sexes in living Creatures which are mixt together in copulation are as it were the sheaths and cases of the forming spermaticall faculty which forms the prae-existent matter of the seed or blood into an essentiall form fit for that kind that the seeds belong unto howsoever they are mingled or drawn forth into act That force of nature is a blessing given to her in the creation in the word increase which word was never idle nor shall be whilest the world endures God spake and all that God said were made very good containing in themselves principles to multiply their own kinds by because individualls must perish The Heaven with its Stars shall last from the beginning to the end and the entire Elements Ayr Water and Earth But things compounded of them as they â—y so they are restored again by multiplication of seed not the same in number but in kind not by external form but by that form which is internall and essential But since that God gave this Commission for propagation to the sublunary World and this alwaies proceeds by mediums though in the production of these Barnacles there are no visible seeds whereby the matter may receive its form wherefore it is consonant to Reason and to Nature that the form must come from some other place into the matter lest any thing should seem since the Creation to be made of nothing contrary to Gods will For nothing is the cause of it selfe or forms it self but only the eternal and infinite God All other things indeed were made by him of nothing but not by themselves nor are they propagated of nothing nor from themselves but from means appointed by Nature Plato sets universal Ideas of every species of things subject to generation fixed in a certain place from whence a formative force descends to beget and make all individualls to be made This opinion is pleasant but not true For there can be no universal substances save in the conceptions of Mens minds but only individuals that cannot give what they have not and what they do give they cannot alwaies hold themselves Nature is in all things as in individuals dispersed all over which yet operates in each individual according to the condition that every one of them requires which is true in all things that have seeds for those are the very subjects and vessells that nature works upon But the question now is how that faculty is imprinted on the seeds and from whence whether from nature If this be true then of every matter she makes what she will when as she can imprint what forme she please on any matter And then how can nature in this Barnacle that hath no seed visible presupposed proceed to generation and in other such like things bred of meer putrefaction As in man there is an imagination and cogitative force which is performed by a subtile Artifice of Images conceived in the braiâ— arising first from the outward senses and so proceeding to the
200 yeares in the water uncorrupted The Phrygians if we will credit Rhodiginus made their dainties of white fat Worms with black heads that bred from rotten Wood called Xylophagi Aelian writes that the King of the Indies used for his second course a certain Worm breeding in Plants and it was broiled at the fire Lastly in an Island call'd Talacha there are Worms like to those that breed in rotten Wood and are the chiefest dish of the Table Johannes Mandevil Tarantulae are a kind of Spiders from the City Tarentum They are harmlesse to look upon but when they bite they cause divers symptoms For those that are stung with the Tarantula some alwaies sing some laugh some cry some cry out for being infected with black Choler according as their temper is they have all these symptoms CHAP. XXIV Of Worms Article 1. Of Worms in Brute Beasts ROttennesse is the mother of Worms which whence it proceeds is known by the generall principles of naturall Philosophy Therefore because in Guiney there are great putrefactions by the continual distemper of the Ayr there are found abundance of worms Hence it appears that a hot and moyst distemper is fit to breed them that in Summer Moneths and when the blasts are warm Gardens commonly abound with Snails and flesh with Worms They are found in Cattel Plants and in men Anno 1562 There was a cruel murrain for Cattle worms breeding about the region of their Liver Cornelius Gemma A worm sticks to the forked hoofs of sheep and Rams which unlesse it be taken out when you eat the meat it causeth loathing and pain of the stomach The Mullet fish breeds but onely thrice in its life-time and is barren all the rest of the time For in the matrix of it little Worms breed that devour the seed In others some small ones breed that hinder procreation Artic. 2. Of Worms in Men. WOrms are found in Men. For sometimes the active cause is sufficient and there is matter enough in their bodies and many examples are found every where in Authors that confirm this Anno 1549 There were many men about the River Thaysa in whose bodies there were found Creatures call'd Lutrae and Lizzards Wierus saw a Country man that voided a Worm 8 foot long it had a mouth and head like to a Duck l. 3. c. 15. de praestig Daemon A Maid at Lovain saith Cornelius Gemma voided many prodigious creatures amongst the rest a living creature a foot and half long thicker than a mans thumb like to an Eagle but that the tail of it was hairy A Maid saith Dodonaeus cast forth some like to Caterpillars with many feet and they were alive Hollerius l. 1. saith he saw a Worm that bred in a mans brain Beniventus c. 100 exemp medic writes That he had a friend that was troubled with great pain in his head raving darknesse of sight and other ill symptomes at last he cast forth a Worm out of his right nostrill longer than his hand when that was gone all the pain presently ceased Theophrast hist. Plant. l. 9. c. ult writes thus of Worms in the belly Some people have belly worms naturally for the Egyptians Arabians Armenians Syrians Cilicians are in part troubled with them but the Thracians and Phrygians have none Amongst the Greeks we know that the Thebans that use to live in Schools and also the Baeotians have a worm bred in them but the Athenians have none A woman in Sclavonia cast out a very strange worm described by Amat Lusitan curat medic Cent. 6.74 It was four cubits long but not broad half so broad as ones nail of a white colour of the substance of the guts having something like an Adders skin The Head was warty and white out of which the body grew broad and grew still narrower toward the tail This Worm was but one body with many divisions the parts of this broad Worm were like to Gourd seeds that had nothing contain'd in them by reason of the compression of its broad body Artic. 3. Of Worms in Plants ALl Plants herbs shrubs and Trees have their worms a worm in the root is deadly For let the Tree be what it will and flourish yet this will make it wither saith Aldrovandus l. 6. de Insect c. 4. And there are sure witnesses that in the roots of Okes such venomous Worms will breed that if you should but tread on them with the sole of your foot it would fetch off the skin There are small white ones found in the sponge of the sweet bryer which is outwardly soft and hairy but inwardly so hard and so solid a substance that a sharp instrument will hardly peirce it In the white Daffodill some are bred which are changed into another flying and beautifull creature which when the herb begins to flourish presently eats through the cover and flyes away Pliny l. 20. c. 6. writes that some think that Basil chewed and laid in the Sun will breed Worms If you bruise the green shells of Wallnuts and put them into the water and then sprinkle them with earth Worms will breed in abundance that are good for Fishers Carol. Stephan Agricultur l. 3. c. 34. But Theophrastus 5 de caus Plant. saith that a Worm beed in one Tree and put into another will not live Joachimus Fortius reports that he saw some who affirmed that from a hazel nut that had a Worm in it there grew a Serpent for magnitude and forme For the nut being opened so farr as the Worm and the Worm not being hurt they put the nut into milk and set the vessel of milk in the Sun yet so that the Worm was not beaten upon by the Sun wherefore on that side the Sun shined they covered the Vessel and so nourished the Worm many days Afterward adding more Milk they set it to the Sun again The milk must be sheeps milk Also they report that a Worm is found in the leaves of Rue nourished the same way that lived 20 days Theophrastus writes of the cause of them plainly and fully His words are these Ill diseases happen to all seeds from nutriment and distemper of the Ayre namely when too much or too little nourishment is afforded or the Ayre is immoderately moyst or dry or else when it doth not rayne seasonably For so Worms breed in chiches vetches and pease and in rocket-seeds when as hot weather falls upon them before they be dried but in Chiches when the salt is taken from them and they become sweet For nature doth every where breed a living creature if there be heat and moysture in due proportion For matter comes from moysture for the heat to work on and concoct as we see it happens in Wheat Worms will breed in the root of it when after seed time Southern winds blow often Then the root growing moyst and the Ayre being hot the heat corrupting the root ingendreth Worms And the Worms bred eat the roots continually For nature hath appointed