menacing the subversion of the whole Island all which quickly after came to pass by their own intestine wars and the invasion made by Julius Cesar who subdued it to the State of Rome the people subjugated to the Tyranny of the ensuing Emperours As for the forerunning signs of calamities this Island groaned under there were seen in the Air globes of fire and dreadfull screaks and noises heard to the astonishment of the people Anno 1558. began deformed reformation whose infatuated doctrine was attended with a prodigious and fatal Comet hanging over their heads as a messenger of God's wrath In these times there fell out of the Air such multitudes of strange and monstruous proportion'd flies that for many miles in Germany they destroyed the corn in the fields and all vegetables until with want they died the corruption of whose bodies infected the Air and so begot an Epidemical disease in testimony of the protestation made In the year of Christ 1588. it is reported by Snellius how that at Amsterdam a little before Sun-setting there was beheld in the Air the form of a Seafight which continued the space of an hour where the conquered were seen to flie this was little before the Spaniards proud Armado came insulting into our narrow Seas who presuming of their strength to captive England were by the blessing of God frustrated of their design and put to flight being severed with a puffe of wind and many thrown upon our coast with shipwrackt fortunes craving mercy of us whom they presum'd to conquer under the disguise of Religion when it was to enlarge their Dominions by enthralling us An Embleme of humane greatness and how imbecile it is a story paralleld by Xerues both in their pride and successe Of these portentions apparitions and direful forewarnings of God's just wrath against the finful World there be many fearful examples over-long to be rehearsed in this Treatise so that all of this kind I will here forbear and conclude with those immediately following the death of Julius Cesar Dictator murdered by the Senators in the Senate house at which time there appeared a Blazing Star with divers other prodigious signs of ensuing woe and effusion of bloud which presently after followed For seven nights after his death there was heard hideous howling of Dogs and Wolves neer their great Towns fatal Birds screaking in their Cities Beasts did speak the Images in their Temples did sweat Mount Aetna brake forth with dreadful globes of fire where stones were melted the Earth gap'd Rivers stood still the Alpes trembled armed bands appear'd in the Air Trumpets were heard to sound the Sun pale and wan and almost obscured for a year following and of Cesar's slaughter thus writeth Ovid. Metam Lib. 15. Arma ferunt inter nigras crepitantia nubes Terribilesque tubas auditaque cornua coelo Praemonuisse nefas Solis quoque trist is imago Lurida solicitis praebebat lumina terris Of this writeth Virgil. Geor. Lib. 1. and also Tibullus lib. 2. Ele. 5. Of Parelii Lunary Rain-bows and some stupendious Eclipses of the Luminaries also light nights and dark days Before the bloudy conflict between Cesar and Pompey in the fields of Pharsaelia where blind Fortune was arbitrator which of these two fond ambitious Men should rule the subingated World at that time there appeared 3 Suns or 2 Parelii as if declaring the greatnesse and glory of these two Potentates who were but as false lights for they both soon vanish'd In the year of Grace 1525 there appeared 6 Suns or 5 Parelii all visible at one time Gem. Phri Lib. 1. cap. 8. and quickly after this was Francis King of France overthrown in Battall and of a great Prince made a captive by the Spaniards about this time also many false Prophets did arise Pliny Lib. 2. in his natural History writes of 3 Suns or 2 Parelii that were seen in Bosphorus but neither registers the age nor records the event He mentions also 3 when Lu. Plancus and Marc. Lepidus were Consuls and when Claudius Cesar was Consul and when C. Domitius and Ca. Fannius were Consuls there appeared at one time 3 Moons he affirms also some nights so light as that they were not but in respect of time easily distinguished from the day but what followed he relates not But this happned about the Nativity of our Lord and Saviour who was the light of the World and did disperse the clouds of errour and idolatry which had a long time infatuated the Heathens in their benighted understandings and now to be illuminated with the Truth and this recorded to be seen not only in Judaea but in Spain and other places of Europe Aristotle lib. 3. cap. 2. Mete writeth of two Rain-bows made by the rays of the Moon in the night season these were seen in his days Thimon writes of two Rain-bows seen in the night and both in the space of 3 years Albertus records one in his time the Moon not at full in the Sgn of ♑ the Sun in ♉ ready for to enter ♊ the time of year being about the middle of April the ☽ in the South and the Rain-bow in the North part of the hemisphere Americus who gave the West Indies its name writes of one Rain-bow which he did see in the north part of the Horizon about midnight but very pale Gemma Phri lib. 2. cap. 2. Cosmo writes of one that was seen the 12. of March about midnight the Air clear and temperate this Rain-bow was described with perfect colours as those that we see in the day And Daniel Sennertus a famous Physitian of Wittenberg reports of one Rain-bow which himself did behold about Midsommer-time in the year of Christ 1599 immediately after a direful Tempest of Thunder and Rain this Rain-bow appeared very beautiful between the North and East part of the Horizon by which it should seem 't was after 12 at night Snellius lib. de Cometa 1618 writes how that in the year of our Lord God 1617 and in the month of December the Moon neer the full there did appear a Rain-bow in the night and upon the 30. day of December following going towards the Hague he did see another continuing from 5 to 6 in the evening these were a little before the beginning of the Palatinate wars fatal unto Germany and hurtful to all Christendome Divers portentious Eclipses both of Sun and Moon have happened according to the course of Nature although prodigious and Egyptian darkness too hath benighted us continuing 3 or 4 days as John Stow in his Annals testifieth and that some days in Holland were not distinguished from the nights and divers men in the time of artificial day did miscarry by reason of darkness having lost their ways mistook their Inns and so fell into their graves shortning their voyages to their journeys end And Sleidanus records the like of this in Germany in the year of Christ 1547 in the moneth of April when the Sun was obscured to their Horizon for
Vera effigies THOMAE WILLSFORD Aetatis suae 46. Omnia videntur formata ratione Numerorum Boetius Mans shadow oft does first appeare And so does his Effigies heere Looke in his Bookes and there you 'l finde Him in the Mirrour of his Minde M Boteler Ro Vaughan sculp NATURES SECRETS OR The Admirable and wonderfull HISTORY Of the generation of Meteors Particularly describing The temperatures and qualities of the Four Elements the Heights Magnitudes and Influences of the fixt and wandring Stars the efficient and finall causes of Comets Earthquakes Deluges Epidemicall Diseases and Prodigies of precedent times Registred by the Students of Nature Their Conjecturall presages of the Weather from the Planets mutuall Aspects and Sublunary bodies with the proportions and observations on the Weather-glass with Philosophicall paraphrases rendred explicitely usefull at Sea and Land By the industry and observations of THOMAS WILLSFORD Gent. Venite videte opera Domini quae posuit prodigia super terram Psal 45. v. 8. LONDON Printed for Nath. Brook at the Angel in Cornhill 1658. A DEDICATION TO The Right Honourable the Lady Stafford Sister to the Lord Henry Stafford deceas'd Lineally descended from the eminent and ancient Earles thereof and sole Heir surviving the most illustrious Dukes of Buckingham Madam THe splendor of your renowned Family and the influence of Celestiall Graces illuminating the moral vertues you inherit attracts me and my Meteors as the Sun does Exhalations and Atomes although many have been observ'd more illustrious to vulgar eyes and more stupendious to common capacities gaz'd upon by the gaping Multitude with terror and admiration yet some of them now totally eclipst others prov'd but Ignes fatui the greatest and highest like enflamed Comets elevated on the wings of Ambition consume themselves with their own glory discover'd by their Horoscopes through the Perspectives of Reason Demonstrated by the Parallaxes of their Spheres and by Experience found that the most exalted are but Falling Stars whose coruscations shew their gross extractions something sublim'd from the faeces of the Earth whereas I look upon your Honour like a benevolent Planet Culminant which may be eclipst for some time and also set yet will rise again recover its former lustre and dissipate those Meteors that mask the face of little Stars and thus Serene Lady a smile from you by vertue of your Rays will calme the most rigid brow clear the frowns and cloudy aspects of malignant readers convert the aspersions of palli'd Envy into Pearls and scatter the misty Exhalations risen from splenitick bodies to obtenebrate the weaker inspection of others but if it be judg'd presumption to require so honourable a Protection in defence of so mean a Peece vouchsafe me leave to prostrate this at your Honours Feet whereby your shadow may prove as propitious and tutelary as the Laurel whose shade is held a Sanctuary against storms of Thunder and Lightning I have compendiously render'd here most auspicious Lady the prognostication of Meteors with sundry observations plaine and conspicuous as in a Mirrour in favour of your Sexe to whom I hope 't will be acceptable reflecting on the providence of Nature and in imitation of her dictates providing best for those who are in most danger to be damnified by the assaults and suddain incursions of angry storms and this her motherly affection not only visible in Sensitive Creatures but in all Vegetables vailing their bonners to salute the Sun while their blossoms receive his vivificating beams and if too hot for their natures their leaves fan the Air or their Husks make Vmbrelloes against the inflammation of his Rays and at other times contract them like traverse curtains whereby to shelter their infant Buds and tender Blooms from being storm'd or injur'd by the excesse or fury of the weather but the nobler Creatures endow'd with the use of Reason as your Honour with an ample portion fortifi'd with knowledge those are refer'd to search and argue the cause or by precursing signs deriv'd from the effects prefage the events as the collections of Experience Upon these animadversions in order to Natures Instincts I compos'd this treatise your tender and beautiful Sexe transcending her pleasant and odoriferous Flowers and since the better sort are often now expos'd to rude and boysterous storms by the abortive production of a more blustering uncivil Age the precepts of Gratitude obliged me to dedicate these Observations to your Honour as the Noblest in my eye that the World may witnesse my sincere and grateful intentions for sheltring me In testimony whereof it is sign'd by Your affectionate kinsman and most devoted servant Thomas Willsford A GENERAL PREFACE TO The Ingenious and Judicious speculators of Nature illustrating here the Antiquity of this Meteorological subject in prognosticating their effects Benevolent Reader I Shall present you here with a small compendium of a mighty subject offer'd up to the glory of God and intended for your benefit in the description of the Heavens the Heights Magnitudes Periods and Aspects of the fixt and wandring Stars the natural qualities and greatness of the four Elements the generation of Meteors and Prognostications of the Weathers variable transmutations with the alterations of Sensitive and Vegetable Creatures in their dispositions and inclinations a subject into which the Wise and Learned of precedent Ages have made serious and diligent inquisitions omitting Catalogues of Philosophers from Aristotle and his Disciples on the speculative part continued by succession to these times and for the practical observations of many I will record a few Thales one of the Athenian Wise-men a grand contemplator of Nature and so judicious a proficient in this Art that he said he could be rich when he would by prognosticating Weathers temper in succeeding years from thence presaging plenty or scarcity of Fruits after him divers made observations of the Stars aspects and those grave Experience ratified as in relation to particular Countries or regions after a long tract of time this knowledge was made more universal by being contracted into general Rules and those again much illustrated by the industry of Ptolomaeus the Alexandrian whose fame survives his Funeral Since his time very many have writ of this Subject in a continual succession unto this present Age yet never render'd till now in our vulgar tongue And that I may please all Sexes and Ages the Ignorant and Learned diversity of predictions are here inserted from the Heavens to the Elements from the lofty Pine to the humble Shrub and little Vegetables from Birds and Beasts and Fishes in the deep down to the Minerals in the Earths pregnant womb besides ocular Demonstrations to preserve you from the injury or assaults of the Weather Yet some perhaps will bluster and make a noyse like Thunder without Lightning because dedicated to a Woman should I name her Vertues they would be calm'd or charm'd by their own Reasons to silence but 't will displease her Modesty so I will only intimate her Favours reflecting upon
my mind as the Sun upon a Cloud which he rais'd represented this Impression having imprinted in my memory her Nobleness indelible not convenient to be publish'd at this present time As for the subject of this Treatise it appertains to the Astronomer in part 't is true yet who understands the Characters and Aspects of the Signs and Planets by this will know them in any Ephemeris or Annual Kalender whereby you may judge of the future Weather For our present purpose Mr. William Lillies is the best extant As for apparitions in the Airy Regions you have here the Observations upon them and for the nature of Vegetables they are more essentially observ'd and better known in general then the influence of the Stars or the nature of Meteors are discovered to learned Men especially all tender and redolent Flowers that embroyder the Earth or perfume the Air whose natural instincts each Florist observes as Kalenders of the Weathers mutability besides these here 's Birds and Beasts that are domestick Creatures or familiarly seen which if they satisfie not the beholders I have presented them with a Glasse not to see their features in but to view the state of the Air whether Dropsical or Feaverish Hot or Cold and by a member sequestred from the Element confin'd within a transparent Glasse where behold its contraction or rarefaction and from thence you may visibly presage the approaching weather the fourth and last Part is historical so there is something in every ones Sphere or Element The Tables of the Stars natural qualities in their tempers seem oppugnant to themselves as ♄ cold and dry with ♃ hot and moist likewise in pag. 82 line 28 and 29 and such like seeming contradictions in general but not in particular respects these are the observations of others faithfully recollected and transfer'd to your judgements as Moderators whereby I will not deceive you if you be deceiv'd The Cosmical rising and setting of some Stars are mention'd here when as to many Places and whole Countries those Asterismes can neither rise nor set In all such cases 't is to be understood if visible when neer the Horizon of that place or direct North the Sun ascending or descending that Hemisphere at the same time As for terms Latine words and quotations not explain'd they are known unto the Lady for whom this is chiefly intended and if they do eclipse or offuscate the subject as in relation to others the next Impression shall delucide them And as for those who only know how to find fault I can with more facility remit then such as they can censure So all such malignant spirits I leave to themselves and reconvert my discourse from them to the Ingenious as the Heliotrope from its shade to court the Sun and if they are satisfied I am pleas'd by subscribing Your friend and coadjutor THOMAS WILLSFORD To his honoured Uncle Mr. Thomas Willsford upon his Book of Meteors HEav'n is by earth epitomiz'd The greater world by th'lesse Comprisd The sacred Harmony o' th spheres Made audible to mortal ears Nature's Anatomy displayd The universal frame survayd The Elements complexions shown And every Star's Dominion The Weathers watr in glasses cast Speaks how her fits may change or last Whence bearded Comets have their births And strong Convulsions shake the Earth Whence all portentous symptomes rise Bad Omens and sad prodigies These are thy tracks pervious to none But to thy better thoughts alone Whose mystique Causes do'st explore Seeing implum'd effects in store Who Can'st the Cabala of Fate And energy of Planets state While stupid we on Terrene Regions move But Looking up see Stars and Thee above Edward Boteler AN INTRODUCTION TO THE WORLDS EPITOMY AND THE Generation of Meteors ACcording to my Talent received from the sole Creator of the Vniverse whose Fiat alone made this great and stupendious Machine of the World for whose excellency Man cannot find an attribute but Supereminent in all beginnings Eternal Immense Omnipotent c. which we cannot comprehend Who in the beginning created Heaven and Earth Gen. 1. cap. 1. And by his omnipotent Word alone made on the first Day Light which He divided from darknesse whose Divine assistance I now implore to illuminate my understanding and to dissipate the clouds of Error involving humane Learning deviated in diversity of Tracts in which obtenebrated ways we grope for what we seek in the bewildred cogitations of others whereof some do think they see so well as Argus when they are as blind as Moles Phantasmes undermining their wilful benighted judgements Others there be whose sordid minds are buried deep in Earth or so propense on vanities that they reflect not upon Natures dayly works much lesse on the Sacred Deity from whence she was ordained herself should but any stupid man that hath a glimmering light in the use of Reason behold the Heavens he must needs read there an immense Creator if his Reason enters into judgement for to examine the cause or contemplate on the effects observe the illuminated Orbs how by an orderly course and succession they rise and set distinguishing Days from Nights and Seasons of the Year contracting their Lights or distributing their Rays impartially to the Pesant as the Prince they cannot but confesse the Providence Goodnesse and Bounty of an Infinite and universal Opificer Which moved Ovid though a Heathen wavering like a weather-cock turn'd with Air of poetical fictions yet from them converts himself to point at the original Author Metam lib. 1. describing of the Chaos Quia corpore in uno Frigida pugnabant calidis humentia sice is Mollia cum duris sine pondere habentia pondus Hanc Deus melior litem Natura diremit And a little after Ille Opifex rerum mundi melior is origo Declining here the Poets and Philosophers authority let any rational man but contemplate of the least vegetable or sensitive creature a time there was it had no being it increases to maturity and perfection at a period declines again returning unto Earth from whence extracted according to the course and conception of Nature which evidently demonstrates that She and the World had an original as by their Fruits and off-spring the subjects of mortality and consequently must have an end Eccles-cap 3. consider then the omnipotency of an Eternal Creator by whose sacred Word alone 't was made by whose Providence it continues and by whose Power it shall perish all things declaring the Almighty Deity and so apparently that there are not any but must see it except wilfully blinded in their understandings and thus writeth the Apostle of the Gentiles S. Paul inspired by the holy Ghost ad Roma cap. 1. ver 20. Invisibilia enim Dei à creatione Mundi per ea quae facta sunt intellecta conspiciuntur sempiterna quoque ejus virtus Divinitas ita ut sint inexcusabiles Now to return from whence I came and look back to the Creation on the second Day God made the Firmament
Planets in their mean motions with the distance of the four Elements from the Earth's centre THe Firmament or 8. Sphere in which the fixed Stars are placed is affirm'd by Astronomers to be in distance from the Worlds centre the Earths diameter 9327 times from the Terrestial Globes superficies 18653 semi-diameters the distance from us in miles 65285 500 the least Star in this Sphere is conceived greater than the Globe compos'd of Earth and Water and that all the Stars of the first magnitude are 100. times as great in relation to their Cubes Under the starry Firmament there are imagined 7. peculiar Spheres involv'd within one another on these the ancient Astronomers did fancy little circles called Epicycles whose centres were in the superficies of those Orbs in whose circumferences they plac'd the centre of each Planet according to its proper Sphere thereby to solve the irregular motion of each wandring Star in their various courses and excentrick motions that point which is most remote from the centre of the Earth is called Apogaeon the lowest Perigaeon the difference between them is termed the mean motion the Planet being then on the superficies of his own Sphere Saturn the highest of all the Planets in his mean motion is in distance from the superficies of the Earrh 10358 1 10 Semidiameters in proportion to it as 31 to 11. being greater than the Terrestrial Globe 22 3 10 according to cubical numeration and is in distance above us in our Hemisphere 36153318 Miles this later age by Telescopes hath discovered 2 Stars that attend him interposing themselves sometimes betwixt him and us Jupiter in his mean motion is in distance from the Earth 3917 4 10 semi-diametrs and is in proportion to it as 12 to 5. and greater than the Terrestrial Globe according to the Cubes made of their diameters 13 8 10 and in distance from us 13711090 he hath 4 Stars discovered that make a progress with him through the 12 Signes but keep no equal distance and do often interpose themselves and us Mars in his mean motion is above the Earth 1713 2 10 semi-diameters and is in distance from the superficies of the terrestrial Globe 5996200 Miles and according to Tycho Brahe the Cube made of his Diameter is less then that of the Earth 13 times and a little more Sol in his Apogaeon is from the superficies of the Earth 1169 semi-diameters in his Perigaeon 1089 and consequently in his mean motion 1129 and according to his Cube 139 times greater then the cube made of the terrestrial Globes diameter and is in distance from the Earths superficies 3951500 Miles Venus is in proportion unto the terrestrial Globe as 6 to 11. and she is lesser then the globe of Earth 6â— 1 1 times and in her mean motion is in distance from thence so much as the Sun is or very neer Mertury is held less then the terrestrial Globe 19 times very neer and in his mean motion hath the same distance allowed him almost as the Sun hath in his mean motion Luna in her mean motion is in distance from the Earth's superficies 58 9 10 semi-diameters in Miles 206050 and the cube made of the terrestrial Globes diameter will contain that made of the Moon 's 42 8 10 the proportion being as 2 is unto 7 and so much greater is the Globe of Earth then that of the Moon Vnder the Moon 's Sphere is the Element of Fire conceived for to be in thickness 154050 Miles whose concave or neerest distance from the superficies of the Earth and Water is conjectured 52000 Miles and from the center 55500 Miles The upper Region of the Air being next unto the Element of Fire is suppos'd to contain in thickness 51994 Miles and the concave of it in distance from the superficies of the Earth 6 Miles the Middle Region 4 Miles and the lowest two Miles which is the distance from the Earth to the highest watery clouds and this is the Region of Air in which we mortals draw our vital breath in The two lowest Elements do make one Globe consisting of Earth and Water whose Diameter is 7000 Miles and the whole circumference 22000 Miles and according to this proportion 61 1 9 miles upon this Globe will answer unto one degree in the Heavens but expect no exactness in the dimensions Here I could have shown you a great assembly of various opinions but not assisted with any convincing Reasons or grounded upon undeniable demonstrations as in the magnitudes and distances of the Stars most supposing them for to be in a further distance from the Earth and of greater magnitudes in which proportions I have followed Tycho Brahe but not altogether in their heights Some deny these several Spheres and the motions called Accessus and Recessus others will have them moved by Angelical powers and this opinion is assisted by the great Doctor and light of the Catholike Church St. Augustine lib. 83. p. 74. saying Every visible thing in this World is under the charge of an Angelical power And so writeth St. Jerome cap. 28. On Ezech. That there is an Element of Fire some reject others do affir it but deny that either the Fire or the Air have any morion with the Heavens from East to West Aristoile affirms the Air to be naturally of a hot quality the Stoiks and Cardanus do think it cold Turnebius neither but apt for either heat or cold The common received opinion is that the upper Region of the Air is naturally hot and dry the second cold and moist the lowest Region temperate according unto the place and Season of the year but generally the whole Element of Air is thought to be hot and moist Now as for the two lower Elements Earth and Water as united together they do make one Globe and this assertion generally ratified and unanimously consented unto by the ablest men in all Ages yet something in approbation of this shall be said hereafter But as for the greatness of this Globe it is doubted of by many although not with such dissonant and diversity of opinions as for the magnitude and height of the Spheres and the other two Elements for some do seem to prove by Eclypses of the Sun and Moon and voyages at Sea what part or how many leagues or miles upon this Globe will answer unto one degree of the Heavens the common opinion is 20 leagues or 60 miles and by this account the terrestrial Globe is in compass 21600 miles Ptolemaeus accounts 500 Stadiums for 1 degree that is 22500 miles if the Stadium in Egypt did not exceed that in Italy others will have it 66 miles allowed for one degree and in compass then 23760 miles but I have in this allowed for the whole circumference of the Earth 22000 miles Thus numerous are the opinions of learned Philosophers Geometritians Astronomers Geographers Cosmographers and Navigators and their ways so ambiguous seldome agreeing in any thing often crossing one another that if there
be a truth in them it is hard for to discover which it is and being found difficult to follow but whether this admired and stupendious machine of the World be greater or lesser 't is not for me to argue And thus I will conclude Psal 135. ver 6. Omnia quaecunque voluit Dominus fecit in Coelo in Terra in mari in omnibus abyssis The 7 Planets or wandring Stars with their Characters colour motion period and courses FIrst under the Firmament or Starry Heaven is plac'd the planet Saturn ♄ who is the highest of them his colour is pale his course is finished through the 12 Signes in 29 years 5 moneths 2 weeks 1 day and 8 hours The next Orbe to this is Jupiter ♃ a fair and bright planet he passeth through the 12 Signs of the Zodiack in a 11 years 11 moneths 5 days and 17 hours or very neer Mars ♂ appeareth in his proper Sphere of a red or fiery colour marching through the 12 Signs in 1 year 11 moneths 1 week 6 days and 22 hours or thereabouts The Sun ☉ is next being placed in the middle of the planets the better to distribute his light unto the rest they being illuminated by him their bright and glorious Prince and is called Sol quasi solus for this Planet is as Monarch of the Skies all the Stars receiving their lustre from Him his progress through the Zodiack is finished in a year consisting of 365 days 5 hours 49 minuits and 16 seconds almost for the odd hours and minuits is allowed a day every fourth year Venus ♀ is a very bright and clear shining Planet she finisheth her course in a year sometimes rising before the ☉ she is called the morning Star and at other times will follow the ☉ and then is called th◠〈◊〉 Stars she seldome goeth 4 degrees from the ☉ and can never exceed two whole Signs or 60 degrees Mercuny ☿ posting to and fro in the sixth Sphere but cannot exceed 30 degrees or one whole Sign in distance at any time from the ☉ and so is seldome visible being obscured by the Sun beams and when seen he is not bright and finisheth his course in something lesse then the space of a year The Moon ☽ is the lowest of all the Planets and consequently swiftest in her motion She passeth through the 12 Signs of the Zodiack in 27 days 7 hours 43 minuits and 5 seconds but from one new Moon unto another it is 29 days and odd hours by reason of the ☉ proper motion from the West Eastward in those 27 days The mutual Aspects or positions of the 7 Planets THe Planets are called wandring Stars both for their various courses and not keeping any certain distance one from another each of them moving in a proper peculiar Sphere the Sun only keeping under the Ecliptick line but all the other 6 according to their motions changing continually their latitudes being sometimes Southward of the Ecliptick as was said before which mutability of their courses you may plainly behold by the Moon who passes by all other Planets in less then 30 days and so do all the other 5 Planets according to their proper motions mutually aspect one another and are conceived by Astronomers to have the more force in their influences upon all sublunary things according to their positions and the powerful effects of their natures are supposed to be hindred or further'd by the interposition of another which in things of this nature ought to be judiciously and circumspectly considered weighing with reason the position of the Planets their natures the Seasons of the year with the temperature of the Signs they are in and the intervening Aspects of the other Stars of which Aspects there be many observed by Astronomers but those which may concern this Treatise are these following Conjunction of any two Planets is when they have one Longitude both of them being under one Sign and degree of the Zodiack Sextile aspect is when any two Planets are in distance one from another in respect of their Longitudes ⅙ part of the 12 Signs that is two whole Signs or 60 degrees Quartile aspect is when the difference of two Planets Longitudes shall be ¼ part of the Zodiack that is 3 Signes being a quadrant or 90 degrees Trine is the aspect of any two Planets that differ in Longitude one from another ⅓ part of the Zodiack that is 4 whole Signs or 120 degrees Opposition is the aspect of two Planets directly opposite differing in Longitude 6 of the 12 Signs that is 180 degrees and for brevity are charactered thus according to their Aspects A Table of the 7 Planets aspects The Characters ☌ Conjunction Degrees of the Zodiack 00  ⚹ Sextile  60  □ Quartile  90  △ Trine  120  ☠Opposition  180 The natures and qualities of the four Elements AN Element is a beginning out of which all bodies are compos'd mixed with some part of all the four which are these viz. 1 Fire 2 Air 3 Water and 4 Earth these four do fill up the whole Orbe from the center of the Heavens to the Moons Sphere whereby a vacuum or an emptiness is avoided which Nature doth abhor and so hath curiously made them as to be the bounds of the connex superficies of one another and consequently to the concaves of their Spheres and are described in order thus Fire Under the Moon 's Sphere is plac'd the Element of Fire void of all weight and most remote from the center of gravity this Element is of nature extremely hot and dry Air. Next unto the Fire is placed the Element of Air which is also light and is by nature hot and moist Earth and Water The other two that is the Water and the Earth as joyned and commixt together do make one Globe for the Water is heavy and by nature cold and moist the Earth extremely cold and dry but heavier then the Water yet both these Elements pressing to the center of the Spheres To prove the Earth's roundnesse NAture in all her admirable works does aim at that which is most convenient and attains unto the greatest perfection which is a spherical figure being most capacious and uniform of all others one part counterposing the other thus Nature hath made the center of the Heavens the seat of Gravity to which all heavy things must naturally tend unto and so consequently if it were of any form but round the fluxible waters would be divorced from the Earth dissenting it to run unto the center But some will object that it is not round by reason of some high exalted hills spacious plains and deep depressed vallies and do conceive these a sufficient demonstration but this Argument will be of no force if you consider the greatness of the terrestrial Globe For Mount Pelion was observed by Dicaearchus whose perpendicular height was sound to be but 12 Stadiums that is but an Italian mile and a half and
descension is said of any Star that sets with the ☉ as the little Dog-star the 5. day of June but this is also said of any Star that sets in the night time The Heliacal rising of any Star is to be understood of those that have been obscured with the Sun-beams and the Sun moving according to the succession of the signs the Star begins again to appear at his rising a little before the Sun as you may see in the Latitude of 52. g 0. And on the seventh of August the Lions heart quite obscured and a few days after will be seen to rise before the Sun and the Heliacal setting is any Star that is seen presently after the Sun setting and a few days after will be quite obscured with the glory of his beams as the 28. of August you may behold Spica Virginis in the West and in a few days after offuscated with the resplendent radius of the Sun his proper motion being East-ward This I do desire may satisfie most courteous Reader as an abstract of the world and if further satisfaction be desired vouchsafe to look over my books of Astronomy and for the better recording in your memory the apparition and occultation of the Stars accept of these verses though from a rude Minerva Ascention Cosmicall as Poets say Are Stars that rise with Sol or in the day Those asterismes Acronycall they call That in the night do either rise or fall And those Heliacall Astraea says Whom Phoebus does offuscate with his rays AN INTRODUCTION TO THE Second Part of Meteors AS for the word Meteors it signifies an apparition in the Air as taken in the common or usual sense or high and lifted up but in general there are two sorts one risen from Vapours and Exhalations termed by the Philosophers imperfect mixt bodies by reason they are easily reduced into their first nature or proper Element as Hail or Snow quickly resolving into Water and all those which are accounted perfectly mixt are thunder bolts c. and the reason they do give is because that such as these will not so soon be converted into their first Elements from whence they were extracted or derived the material cause of all are hot and moist vapours or hot and dry exhalations from Water and Earth the efficient cause under God is from the fixed and wandering Stars by vertue of whose beams a light rarifi'd substance is extracted from gross and heavy bodies as vapours from water and exhalations from Earth their qualities are heat and moisture which causeth diversity of effects especially in those lesse perfectly mixt which are the subjects now intended Vapours do consist of the four Elements but the substance water as the steam of a boyling Pot which hangs like a dew upon the lid or cover over it And Exhalations are commonly like smoak of nature hot and dry as you may behold in a Summers day to offuscate the Air or make it seem dusky with the ascending of thin sumes and after this comes usually thunder which shews from whence these exhalations were extracted for out of Fire and Air only no Meteor can consist as wanting matter the Fire of it self as being an Element is so subtile that it cannot be purified whereas all exhalations and vapours must be refined and consequently extracted from some grosser body for the Air if much rarified would turn to Fire as you may see in violent and circular motions of wheels or such like things that are set on fire by rarification of the Air where the matter is dry and combustible and when the Air becomes grosse it turns to Water as you may see by your breath in the winter time or the Air inclosed in vaults or other hollow places will quickly be condensed by opposition of the outward Air or coldnesse of the place especially against rainy weather but lot us now ascend to unmask some other doubtful quaeries The places where Meteors are generated is generally held for to be in all or any Region of the Air which are three viz. the upper from the Element of Fire to the clouds the middle Region containing the clouds the lowest from the clouds unto the Earth but Tycho Brahe with some others do conceive the Element of Air for to be delated up into the Firmament or fixed Stars but that above the Element of Fire to be of a Celestial nature differing from the inferiour Air and their reasons are derived from the height of Comets observed not only above the Element of Fire but with the Planets and some higher then the Sphere of Saturn even with the fixed Stars as the new Star in Cassiopaeia which was seen and the height taken by Ticho himself in the year of the World's Redeemer 1572 without parallax The proof of the altitude of Comets is deduced from their Parallaxes that is the difference between the true and apparant height of any blazing Star being observed from the superficies of the terrestrial Globe and not from the center of the Heavens and this difference is discovered several ways First as by observing some noted and fixed Stars ascending the Horizon with it or presently before or after and if they do keep the same distance or neer unto it that Comet must needs be very high or by several observations made in other Countries for if neer the Firmament those fixed Stars will appear with it in all Hemispheres alike But if the distance between them varies and in a small distance of place or time it argues those blazing Stars are very low And thus the Parallaxis of any thing visible under the Firmament will be found greater or lesser according to the height of it As the Star in Cassiopaeia appearing in the year of Grace 1972. differing but little or nothing in the Parallax or the observations made by divers Astronomers in several Countries in the year of the Virgin 's being a 1585 there was a Comes appeared in the Sphere betwixt Saturn and Jupiter and an other in the year of the Incarnation of the Son of God 1618. between Jupiter and Mars Aristotle with Regiomontanus and many others of his followers do affirm all Comets to be sublunary and this their Schollars do alledge that if the Astronomical hypotheses be true the Star in Cossiopaeia was greater then the fixed Stars of the first magnitude and consequently by their own demonstrations bigger then the whole Globe of Earth and Water above 100. times and a greater body cannot be extracted from a lesse from whence then say they could the matter be drawn or exhaled to feed so great a light for the space of a year and four months but to this Galilaeus answers that the highest Sky under the Firmament hath matter in it for the generation of these blazing Stars Licetus to defend the height of Comets doth argue that the Sky hath hard condensed knots in it made and enlightned by the rays both of the fixed and wandring Stars Gemma Phrysius did diligently observe in
Air and out of the inferior part of the lower Region For it is generally conceived the rain that falls from the middle Region descends in little orbs whereby to preserve it self and resist the violence of the Air through which it passeth and becomes small by reason of the distance and time in falling for the Hall does demonstrate both the bignesse and rotundity of the drops which from humide exhalations drawn up unto the middle Region and there converted into water and immediately as the drops do distill down they are contracted into Ice by the Airs coldnesse in that part which is called Hail derived from the high Dutch Hagell opparadventure from the Hebrew Egell which signifies congealed drops In the Winter season it is seldome observed to Hail by reason the cold in the middle Region is more remisse then in warm weather and in Sommer-time it is also rare upon any very hot day because the heat of the lower Region will not permit it for to pass without dissolving of it before it comes unto the Earth but frequently in the Spring and Autumn the heat being then sufficient to elevate the matter and yet not so violent as to dissolve it in the fall yet sometimes it happens that great Hail-stones are precipitated at Mid-Sommer or in very hot seasons and are then the greater if the matter be sufficient by how much the more it is opposed by the lower Region made hot by reflection of the Sun for in all times of the year you may find if observed more and greater storms of Hail to fall in the day time then in the night And some do conceive that there is a fiery nature included in them besides the heat of that subtile vapour which made it to ascend that middle Region for by contraries it is undoubtedly congealed as you may see in Salt which is hot and dry to be made of water whose natural temperature is directly opposite being cold and moist in open weather or by the fire-side or in Sommer-time take a little Salt and mix some Snow with it stir them together till they do incorporate and they will contract themselves into Ice which is done by Antiperistasis or repulsion on every part as the middle Region of the Air is cold and these frigide Meteors are ingenerated there Many other things might be here inserted which for brevity sake are omitted The lower Region of the Air and the effects it produceth THis Region of Air receives all the former qualities by course according to the seasons of the year and by the former means out of waterish places there are exhaled from the Earth moist and crude vapours the grosser part of them being earthly and containing but little heat they are unable to ascend unto the middle Region yet with the help of that heat included in those vapours and the attractive vertue of the celestial Orbs they are raised above the Earth and there often times congealed before they can be dissolved into water and these are called Frosts whereof there be many kinds according to the matter exhaled and the temperature of the season as some times of the year the ground in the mornings will be hoary like the head of Time and the grasse crisped with the Frost at other times rine-frosts or congealed mists hanging like pendants on the trees there be also black or windfrosts which are not so wholsome for they are grosse and earthly vapours exhaled out of more undigested humors and not so easily discovered by the sight as by the sense of feeling There be some vapours exhaled which are called mists the name derived as from the mixture of Air and Water of these there be several sorts as some vapours thin and sterile and have not moisture sufficient to beget water nor the heat in them is not prevalent to elevate the grosse humor and cause them to ascend but they hang upon the earth untill the Sun rises which if he chases away and dissipates by the vertue of his beams it argues a fair day There be besides all these gross mists or fogs which are more earthly then the former composed of crude and undigested vapors drawn from corrupted places as out of fennes and marish grounds these are very unwholsome and very unpleasant to the sense of smelling but are usually the worse according to the places from whence they were extracted or after much calm and moist weather The nature of Dews in general are these DEws are defined for to be liquid vapours extracted from the water or earth these have an affinity unto frost as Rain unto Snow and are alike in the material cause the efficient cause is attributed unto the Stars and the coldnesse of the Air These Dews are conceived to be very earthly and ponderous for they do not ascend high but are converted into a watry substance so soon almost as extracted being observed much more upon low and wet grounds then upon high and dry hills and thicker upon the humble shrub then upon trees or any exalted plant as the lofty Cedar The usual time of these Dews is in the evening the heat of the Sun declining being unable to support the Meteors which he raised and he deserting the Hemisphere those that were more elevated must likewise fall and the hotter the day was the greater are the exhalations and the nights are usually then cooler to convert them into water All Dews are commonly observed the greater the Moon increasing or at the full most of all the season of the year is to be considered and the weather for the hotter the day is the cooler will be the night by reason of the shadow which the terrestrial Globe then makes As for an instance you may see by the shade of trees or any other interposed body which are cooler in Sommer-time then in Winter as in respect of the Air in general for in shadowed places in the heat of Sommer the Air as in opposition to the Heat doth contract it self into a grosser body from whence some conjecture as by the parts that the whole Element of Air is by nature cold The Virgins thread There is a Dew that flies in the Air like small untwisted Silk or Yarn and falling upon the ground or plants it does convert it self into a form like Spiders Webs the matter they consist of is held for to be an earthly and slimy matter or exhalation something dry these are observed for to be both in the Spring Sommer and Autumn but in these Northern Countrys they are most frequent the Sun neer Libra the days being temperately warm the earth not exceeding dry nor yet over-charged with moisture Mell-dews Honey-dews some conjecture for to be earthly exhalations mixed with waterish vapours and many suppose them for to be exhalations from plants and all sorts of flowers and vegetables and this does evidently appear in Sugar-canes and divers kinds of Indian Reeds that have in the morning a Dew hanging upon them in taste resembling honey
is inlightned in manner of a misty circle which equally will appear about the Sun Moon or Stars but these are rarely under any of the fixed Stars but common under any of the Planets yet not so usual under the Sun for by reason of his fervour and heat the exhalation cannot so easily get directly under it and being got together it cannot long subsist but the matter will be disperst by vigour of his beams which the Moon cannot effect for want of heat and so the oftner she hath those circles about her they continue longer the same reason it is with the other Stars yet the circles made about them are conceived to be weak and sterile exhalations neither so apt to beget wind or rain as the former are for in thick and waterish exhalations the rays of the Stars are unable to illuminate them but will be observed by those and such like spissous and dark clouds Impressions in the Clouds representing the Sun or Moon THe cause of these apparitions doth proceed from thick clouds regular and uniform as were the former from whence are caused circles about the Sun or Moon yet these exhalations are more condensed then be the others and not situated under the Sun or Moon as be the last but placed obliquely on either side which clouds are apt to be converted into rain and by refraction of the Sun beams it does expresse the form or image of it as you may see in a mirrour of glasse or polished steel these clouds must be condensed for the beams of the Sun to reflection and not under the Sun for then his refracted rays will not be visible unto us and if it be not regular and uniform in all the parts the cloud cannot portrait and expresse the whole and perfect image of it and in this manner there may be represented in clouds the figure of the Moon but those are much more rare to be seen because her rays are weaker and there may be many Suns or Moons appear at once upon these former alledged reasons Of the Rain-Bow and the causes thereof RAin-Bows are generated in waterish clouds ready to be dissolved into rain these are observed to be always directly opposite to the Sun or Moon as if the ☉ be in the South the Rain-bow will be in the North and when the ☉ is in the East the Rain-bow will appear in the West and the contrary so in any part of the Hemisphere and the lower or neerer the Horizon that the Sun is the Rain-bow will appear the greater but never can exceed a semicircle but lesse according to the height of the Sun above in any Sphere which is the reason at noon day we rarely see any especially the ☉ being in the Sommer Solstice or nigh the Tropick of ♋ excepting all places far Northward or toward the pole Antartick where for some weeks there is continual day but the ☉ in Winter neer ♑ may cause a Rain-bow at noon day in these our climates for they are formed by the light rays of the Sun falling upon vapours and waterish exhalations opposite unto him and but little elevated above the earth and by reason of the great distance or remotenesse of the Sun the illuminated beams describe his form after an obscure and imperfect manner portraiting only an arch of a circle adorned usually with three colours viz. Red Green and Purple or inclining unto a Blewish colour the distinction of these proceeds from the Radius of the Sun reflecting upon these vapours for those colours are lightest in it which are neerest to the Sun and those which are remotest do tend more to obscurity As for a demonstration you may behold in the commixture of such like colours and the form of the Rain-bow you may experimentally try by casting water in a circular manner against the Sun when he shines But some doe think the red colour to be only made by his rays the second by reflection and the third by the second all contained within some condensed hollow cloud commixed with Aiery and waterish exhalations for if more Rain-bows do appear then one at any time it is conceived that they are made by reflection of one another but the colours in the second will be weaker then those in the first and the third Rainbow more pallid then the second If there happens to be three which is very seldome seen then the colours in the first will be counterchanged in the second and the third again like the first These arches in the clouds or Rain-bows do continue longer then do the circles about the Sun because the distance in these is so great that his beams cannot so soon dissipate the exhalation which caused them Rain-bows in the night time are exceeding rare because they are made by the Moon whose beams are usually too weak to cause such a reflection upon any cloud at so great a distance and are so rarely seen that I will cease to describe them any further The causes and diversities of Winds WInds by the vertue of the Sun are generated of hot and dry exhalations evaporated from the Earth and striving to ascend are repulsed by the obvious coldnesse of the Air and forced collaterally about and upon the superficies of this terrestrial Globe moving as they are compelled by the cold and do receive names as from whence they blow and are divided into 32. distinct winds according to the divisions or points of the Mariners Compass The four chief are these East and West opposite and so the North and South point which four do divide the Horizon into four equal parts and are compared by some to the nature and temperature of the four seasons But as for these exhalations they are naturally dry resolved into Air by vertue of the Sun as the moist vapours are into rain sometimes these exhalations are mixed with moist vapours which the Sun convers at one time both into rain and wind the more these windy exhalations are restrained by so much they will rage and the more violent they are by how much they are repulsed and stricken down with the coldnesse of the Air which makes them often times rebound upon the Earth which commonly are called whirl-winds from revolving and throwing up all light things that are in the way where they move these are also caused by the meeting of two contraries Winds are the greatest in open weather in Frosts exhalations are inclosed within the pores of the Earth and so likewise by excessive heat The generation of Waters THere is undoubtedly a continual flux and reflux of waters both upon the superficies of the Earth and in the channels within it as you may see by the veins in the bodies of men a Microcosmus in it self for the Earth being by nature extream dry without water would be sterile and quite unapt to produce any vegetables or Minerals within her now pregnant womb and so the waters to supply this defect do continually move as from their Springs to little
Brooks and those united making Rivers running along in fruitful Valleys cooling the superficies of the Earth and supplying what the fervour of the Sun exhales this office being performed and living creatures in it nourished by the streams the rest falls into the Ocean and from thence returns into the veins of the Earth again one water still following of another and this is confirmed by the undeniable authority of the sacred Scriptures Eccles cap. 1. Yet many exhalations and vapours are by the Sun extracted from the waters and those converted by the vertue of his rays into several Meteors as moist and windy exhalations which the Air gratefully does repay again unto the waters as in a continual course of amity and inseparable league between them the Air which is included within the pores of the Earth is by nature subtile and gets into all the corners and hollow places whereby to avoid a vacuum which Nature does abhor the Air here with cold that in the Earth does abound is easily condensed and turned into drops of water which falls from their heads into little channels and so discends into the valleys for these sometimes are observed at the bottoms or sides of hills to bubble forth and the bigger mountains do afford the greater Springs and the more plenty of water especially such as are pregnant with Minerals The higher and greater that the mountains be the vaster are their caverns and hollow places in them to receive the Air and as it turns into water it is supplied with more And besides hills being more exposed to the Sun beams must of necessity be fuller of pores then the lower grounds and plain places and yet it does not follow that all high places must have Springs because the soyl may differ and the Earth not pory there will want receptacles for the Air whereby the water should be generated For a demonstration of this you may see in the Winter time or against wet weather the stones do become moist with a Dew hanging upon them and in close and cold rooms drops of water will hang upon the walls observe then but the alterations and fluxibility of the Air the condensed coldnesse of the Earth and this will easily be credited which makes Springs generally lowest in Autumn as from hence and being exhausted with the Sommers heat The wonderful vertues and effects of Waters FOuntains there be which naturally have marvelous qualities of which I will briefly relate some of their strange operations As a Fountain in Baeotia which being drunk of does stupifie the senses and causeth forgetfulnesse And one in Cilicia which quickens the wits as M. Varro writes Ovid. Metam lib. 15. writeth the River Lyncestus will inebriate and the water of the Stygian Lake in Arcadia will cat through any mettal and is held deadly poyson In Dedons the Fountain of Jupiter will extinguish a torch that is lighted and being immediately put in again it will illuminate it So writes S. Augustine of a Well in Aegypt in some waters nothing will easily sinck as Mare mortuum in Judaea Here be waters in England that will turn wood into stone but one of the most remarkable stories is recorded by Albertus Magnus neer Lubeck in Saxony where birds in a nest being touched with a stick taken out of the Sea metamorphosed the young ones into stone There is a River in Hungary that will give Iron a tincture of Copper Theophrastus writeth of waters that will change the colour of birds or beasts if they do drink of it as from black to white The waters of Peutasium as Solinus writes is good and wholesome for men to drink of but deadly poyson to venomous serpents In Libiu there is a Spring that at the Sun rising and setting is temperately warm at noon-day exceeding cold and at midnight excessive hot Some Springs do rise and fall every six hours as the Seas do ebbe and flow As for the taste colour and temperature of waters they are according to the veins and minerals through which they pass whereof some are hot and drying as the Bathes having a taste of Brimstone coming through some sulphurious minerals famous they are for curing of aches in the bones and all cold diseases Those that turn wood into stone or other materials into mettal do participate much of their natures and the mines from whence they run some being hot others cold some salt others fresh some wholesome to drink others hurtful and unpleasant with divers other strange operations retaining more or lesse of the nature and qualities from whence they are derived Yet as we said before all waters are not conceived for to run through the hollow veins of the Earth but some are generated there in the caverns of hills and all hollow subterranian places by the condensed Air and this is not oppugnant to the sacred Scriptures Eccle. cap. 1. ver 7. for that is the general course of all rivers and the other but particular which is demonstrable in man the little world for by learned Physitians it is observed that such bodies as are inclined to a Dropsie or any phlegmatick disease their Urine will be more in quantity and weight then all that they do eat and drink and this observed not only for a few days but many months together and the reason which they give is that not only their meat and drink converts to water by reason of the coldnesse of those phlegmatick stomachs but the very Air in those bodies does turn to water and those parts supplied with more Air as it converts to the other element and such cold causes and waterish effects may be in the Earth and likewise in discolouring of water as by making it black pale green high-coloured or the like but howsoever these are but peculiar and from accidental causes for the general course of waters is from the Springs unto the Sea and so to those heads again Thus wonderful are the works of the Omnipotent God every thing magnifying His Greatnesse Daniel 3. Benedicite fontes Domino Conjectures of the Seas saltnesse with the Ebbs and Flouds THe Seas are conceived to be made salt and brackish by the fervour of the Sun's rays with the permixion of burnt exhalations and chafed with the violent and perpetual motion of the flux and reflux of the waters for by experience we find that liquid things if hot and burnt their tafte will be bitter and with commotion will prove brackish but it is very likely that the Seas were brackish from the creation and by this means continued so but some does object that if the rain-water were exhaled from the Seas and that the Springs did flow from thence the waters would retain a saltnesse in their taste but as for that it appears evidently that the Rain is refined by vertue of the Sun and the Spring-waters by their Meanders in passing through the Earth and this you may try by distilling of Salt-water or putting it into Earth so as it may drain forth
â—6 degree are turbulent their natures being of ♂ and ☿ the Northern parts are hot the Southern moist â™ The former parts of Sagittarius from the 26. unto the 6. degree of ♑ the Stars are moist and colder then in former ages the middle part of â™ from the 6. degree of ♑ unto the 16 the Stars are of the nature of ♃ and ♂ yet temperate inclining to cold the hinder part of â™ from the 16. of ♑ to the 28. fiery the Northern part of this constellation is windy the South part moist and inconstant ♑ The first part of Capricornus from the 28. degree to the 7. of â™’ the Stars do participate of ♂ and ♀ which are hot and hurtful the middle of ♑ from the 7. degree of â™’ unto the 15 more temperate lastly from the 15. degree to the 21. of â™’ is observed rainy weather for the Northern and Southern part of this asterism is generally held moist and also hurtful â™’ The beginning of Aquarius is from the 21. degree unto the end of the same very moist the middle of it unto the 8. degree of ♓ temperate of the nature of ♄ and ♃ the end of this sign in the 15. degree of ♓ windy the Northern part of this constellation is hot the Southern part snow or cold weather ♓ The former parts of Pisces from the 15. degree unto the 30. more cold then in former ages the middle parts from the beginning of ♈ unto the 15. degree moister then formerly and lastly from the 15. degree of ♈ unto the 28. causing a thick and dark air the Northern part windy and the Southern is held waterish which concludes the 12. Signs and the properties of them in particular Aphorismes or selected places out of Cardanus CArdan 7 Aph. 73. does propound these ♓ and ♈ do cause winds and the half of ♉ the other part of ♉ being more aireal participating of ♊ doth produce suddain and fruitful showres ♊ Author of winds ♋ and ♌ produceth great heat and storms of Hail â™ remisse heat and giveth showres ♎ and â™ inequality of Air â™ Snow and Rain ♑ cold weather does produce and â™’ waters especially in the beginning Stadius and the later observers collects these properties of the 12. Signs of the first mover and 8. Sphere conformable to this Age. ♈ OF the Primum mobile lesse subject to Thunder but apter to hail then in the times of Ptolomy ♉ Hot and moderately moist ♊ Temperate inclining to heat and also to drought ♋ Cloudy and not the parent of fair weather in times past ♌ Hot with a scorching drought and suffocating â™ Thunder with moisture but more temperate then in former ages ♎ Various and mutable inclining something unto drought â™ Flery but more remisse then in the time of Ptolomy â™ Windy but moister then formerly ♑ Temperately cold and a little moist â™’ Cold and watery ♓ More cold then in former ages The natures properties and operations of the 7. Planets upon sublunary bodies in causing Meteors ♄ SAturn by nature is more cold then dry especially being East-ward of the ☉ and in earthly signs producing then both clouds and coldnesse of the Air in time of heat it lessens it and in frosty weather it much increases the cold when he passes from one sign into another for many days together he causeth red clouds and fiery apparitions in the Air inundations earth-quakes snow frosts and much cold according to the season of the year and situation of the Country Card. ♃ Jupiter is of nature hot and moist and is accounted the parent of fair weather being temperate both in heat and moisture mittigating the cold of Winter and the heat of Sommer causing gentle winds and a temperate Air with much serenity being East-ward of the ☉ he increaseth heat and West-ward moisture Card. ♂ Mars is hot and dry in excesse and in fiery Signs in Sommer he causeth much heat and in Winter-time remisse mittigating the coldnesse of the weather he is accounted as Lord paramount of tempests violent and suddain storms of Rain Hail Thunder Lightning excessive heat in fiery Signs and much Rain in passing by the Pleiades as is observed by Stadius ☉ Sol is by nature hot and dry but more or lesse according to the Sign he is in or aspected with the other six Planets or assisted by the fixed Stars in his annual revolution his greatest force is in making Hail moderate in Rain little Frosts and Snow the general motive of vapours and exhalations the destributer of light unto the rest of the Stars Monarch of the skies inabling them with his rays and the earth with fruitfulnesse ♀ Venus is temperately cold and moist yet Argol says moderately warm predominating over humors she warmeth little and moistneth much especially when she is the morning Star in Winter she maketh the Air temperate but moist and in Sommer she lessens the drought and causes great Dews and gentle showres but chiefly when she is in the beginning of ♋ Card. ☿ Mercury is by nature mutable and doubtful according to the Sign or nature of the Star he is withal or the Aspect of any other Planet participating of their natures with whom he is associated he is held the father of winds in earthly and watery Signs and causeth Thunder and Lightning often in fiery or airy Signs ☽ Luna the lowest Planet is of nature cold and moist and but little warm she naturally moveth the waters having much force over all phlegmatick bodies and cold humors and increaseth them according to her place in the Zodiack the Aspect with the ☉ and the other Planets her association with the fixed Stars and her latitude from the Ecliptick Astrologers do allow the Moon these temperatures from the ☌ to the first of â–¡ cold and moist from the first â–¡ unto ☠moist and something warm from ☠to the last â–¡ dry and a little warm from the last â–¡ to the ☌ cold and something dry but in general she is held to increase the humors in all bodies from the new unto the full and decreasing for to dry them up or lessen them yet more or lesse according to her place and season of the year and the full ☽ is conceived cold in Sommer and temperate in the Winter season the new ☽ warm in Sommer and produceth the coldest nights in Winter and in general the conjunctions of the Luminaries bringeth the fairest weather and their oppositions the greatest store of Rain Card. And thus far for the particular observations of the Planets properties and natures Proper and peculiar observations of the weather in every one of the four Seasons or Quarters of the Year Spring IN the conjunction or opposition of the Luminaries immediately or the last before the Vernal Equinox if ♂ were in ☌ with either the ☉ or ☽ expect much Thunder and Lightning for to follow if ♀ in March or April be retrograde expect much wet weather to follow Sommer If the 5. Planets be direct
in watery Signs prognosticates rain in fiery Signs drought and scatters over the heavens with red and yellowish clouds causing often times rain and as in Signs that are aireal it makes the weather warm Particularly they cause in the Spring and Autumn showres in Sommer thunder lightning and hail in Winter remisse heat and oftentimes extendeth the celestial bow a premonitor of following rain but usually not much The Sun and Venus in conjunction SOl and ♀ in ☌ do generally prognosticate moist weather especially in watery Signs and particularly in the Spring and Autumn rain in Sommer thunder and showres and in the Winter quarter moist and foggy weather The Sun and Mercury in conjunction SOl and ☿ in ☌ do commonly beget winds in airy Signs with moisture in watery Signs rain in fiery Signs drought warm winds with corruption these two Planets do always accompany the Sun neither of them exceeding 60. degrees in their greatest distances and this not 30. The Sun and Moon in conjunction or aspected SOl and ☽ in ☌ □ or ☠in moist Signs produce rain reddish clouds and great drops of water and in fiery Signs fair weather and altereth the Air according to the season of the year and the present temperature of the time at the new and full she causeth the greatest flux of the Sea and all waterish humors and much the more if aspected with the Hyades or Pleiades at the same time with other circumstances to be considered as the other Planets and what hath been said before Venus and Mercury in conjunction VEnus and ☿ in ☌ do commonly beget in moist Signs showres and generally at all times of the year moist winds and if this conjunction shall happen when the two luminaries are in ☌ □ or ☠or within an hour it will cause an inundation or very much rain if not hindred with other intervening causes Venus in conjunction or aspected with the Moon VEnus and ☽ in ☌ □ or ☠presage generally mild and gentle showres or moist weather with some cold according to the season and much increases the flowing of the Seas causing violent Tides especially with Hyades or Stars of their own natures Particularly in the Spring moist and cloudy time in Sommer remisse heat in Autumn they produce dark clouds and in the Winter season a cold and troubled Air if not snow sleet or rain Mercury in conjunction or aspected with the Moon Mercury and ☽ in ☌ □ or ☠do signifie winds clouds rain with various and unconstant weather and generally in all seasons of the year if it happens in watery Signs rain or moist weather is presaged in airy Signs wind in fiery Signs drought in earthly Signs cold they cause also many times pale uncontinued clouds resembling the colour of smoak but the effects of these are not durarable or of long continuance without the assistance of the higher Planets The fixed and wandring Stars are observed diligently by some in administring Physick Phlebotomy c. which I will omit in prescribing any Rules being out of my element but leave it to the learned Practitioners Others do vigilantly regard the Planets in Agriculture and above all the Moon predominating most over vegetables but this is also out of my rode excepting my Predictions of the Weather and seasons of the year as for other things Experience is the best instructor yet those that will may satisfie themselves with Virgils Georgicks with Pliny lib. 17. 18. and divers others of that kinde but being this you have and those not always at hand peruse these few collections if you please they being held general Observations in Agriculture TO plant or sow the Moon in these Signs is held the best viz. in ♈ ♉ ♊ ♠♎ ♑ ♓ and if the ☽ be aspected with ♀ it is the better as causing the more moisture Plant or graft trees the ☽ increasing in ♉ ♎ and ♒ Sow all seeds after the new ☽ but round seeds neer the opposition ☽ is generally held the best but all moist seeds in wet grounds the ☽ decreasing Gather fruits the ☽ decreasing before the last quarter The Eclipses of the two Luminaries are generally observed prejudicial to this kind of husbandry and the bloming of Corn. Any Planet that is retrograde and in ☌ with the ☽ is accounted hurtful to planting graffing or sowing The wind in the North or in the East is held destructive or hurtful to planting graffing or felling of timber Cut hair and shear sheep the ☽ increasing Presages of the weather by Experience collected from the inflamation of Comets fiery impressions influences and apparitions of the Stars reflecting on sublunary Meteors HItherto I have discovered according to my ability the effects of the fixed and wandring Stars selected from their aspects by the registers of Experience conceived by them the efficient cause under God of Wind Rain Hail Snow c. But all men not being Astronomers and my intentions generall to whom I indeavour the dedication of my discourse therefore I will demonstrate the weathers transactions by signs derived more directly from the immediate dictates of Nature beginning with Comets being generally supposed to be sublunary and so descend unto those more inferiour according to my prescribed order intending to treat of falling Stars Rainbows and all fiery apparitions in the Air and then our terrestrial fires for although they are compounded of the 4. Elements yet I will rank them amongst these because the flames of all combustible matters do naturally of their own accords ascend towards the Element of fire the seat of lenity whereas all heavy and ponderous things do tend downwards pressing toward the seat of gravity and centre of the Earth The effects of Comets 1. ALl fiery impressions and Comets do presage violent tempests of long continuance and also they do denote much heat and inflamation of the Air Pliny lib. 2. cap. 25. 2. Frequent and many Comets do foreshew sterility of the Earth famine plague burning feavers and many other pestiferous diseases by reason they do consume the humidity of vapours and exhalations and so from thence they ingender choler inclining men prone to discentions and civil wars it threatens Princes and great men with death and all such as are of tender or fiery constitutions to this consents Cardanus lib. 1 cap. 1. but the effects of these are the more violent and of longer continuance by how much the greater and permanent they are and the like judge of all unusual fiery Meteors 3. The shooting or glancing of seeming Stars through the Air do presage rain snow or tempestious weather quickly after to ensue and observe what point of the Heavens these Metoors point at from that quarter will the wind proceed if there be many of them falling often and sevaral ways it is a sign the weather will be variable but if they be numerous and all tending one way then expect great winds much snow or rain and probably to continue long for it argues
Meteors seldome seen little observed in prognostication of the weather and so I shall lead you no further until a better discovery of their natures be made and their effects better known which are generally held unwholesome and so let them pasle as Ignes fatui By terrestial fires 49. WHen our common fires do burn with a pale flame they presage foul weather 50 If the fire do make a huzzing noise it is a sign of tempests neer at hand 51. If the flame of a candle lamp or any other fire does wave or wind it self where there is no sensible or visible cause expect some windy weather 52. When candles or lamps will not so readily kindle as at other times it is a sign of wet weather neer at hand 53. When the fire sparkleth very much it is a sign of rain 54. If the ashes on the herth do clodder together of themselves it is a sign of rain 55. When candles or lamps do sparkle and rise up with little fumes or their wicks swell with things on them like mushrums are all signs of ensuing wet weather 56 When pots are newly taken off from the fire if they sparkle the soot upon them being incensed it presages rain 57. When the fire scorcheth and burneth more vehemently then it useth to do it is a sign of frosty weather but if the living coals do shine brighter then commonly at other times expect then rain 58. If wood or any other fuel do crackle and break forth wind more then ordinary it is an evident sign of some tempestuous weather neer at hand the much and suddain falling of soot presages rain A Paraphrase THe natural cause of these as I suppose is this the Air in the lower Region being apt for either heat or cold does alter according to the inclination of the weather whether it be disposed to heat cold rain or wind the Air thus altering when it becomes waterish makes the flaming fire appear pale candles nor lamps apt to light their cotten-wicks to swell with tumors upon them like horse-shooes or mushrums the moist air being got into them which by opposition makes the fire to sparkle or being cold inclining to frost it causes it to scorch the Air which does infuse it self into the pores of the fewel being moist and rarified by the fire turns into wind and so wanting room breaks a passage forth which makes the wood to crackle the flame to wave and sparkles to fly and this in brief is the cause of them so far as I conceive our fewel being commixed of the four Elements and so by opposition or participation these effects are caused and this makes the soot in chimneys for to fall being by nature dry and loosned by the moistnesse of the Air. By Air Winds Clouds and Mists THe Air in which we breath being commixt and no pure Element doth generate several Meteors as was said already in the second part and the presages these if the Air seem dusky hotter then ordinary and unapt to breath in expect then thunder and lightning 60. When the ringing of Bells or other sounds are heard more plain then at other times and if by intervals it shews the Air to be dilated and disturbed which presages either wind or rain if not both 61. A sharp and cold wind after rain foresheweth more to come the exhalation or vapour not being spent in the former showre 62. Winds that do continue long in any one point will cause the weather for to be generally the same whether it be fair or soul but if it shifts often in changing the place it presages rain quickly after to ensue but in times of frost it is a sign that the weather will break 63. Whirlwinds do predict approaching storms usually of rain or hail these you may foresee by raising the dust or any such light materials and and oftentimes these whirlwinds are forerunners of great tempests for it is a windy exhalation driven obliquely upon the horizontal plain and forced down by the coldnesse or moisture of the present Air in the lower Region this repercursion of the Air causeth chimneys to smoak more then usually they do at other times presaging rain or great winds 64. Sometimes these whirlwinds are caused by the meeting of one another and so raising light things as in contention hurling them to and fro at the pleasure of the prevailing party and such as these do usually presage tempests as you see when the clouds are moved several ways at once and from the same cause above as it is below 65. It is probable that there is also many exhalations which do suddenly break out of the Earth and do produce these whirlwinds which are by nature held hot and dry the cause how these do predict storms and tempests is conceived this against rain or any wet weather the pores of the Earth does naturally open and so gives a passage to them they being hot and dry do strive for to ascend and so much the more then the exhalation being opposed by the moistnesse and the coldness of the Air infused into the Earth which changes as the Element does 66. These whirlwinds are precursors of tempests when the Air inclosed in the Earth is apt for to convert it self into these windy exhalations and there increasing so as it cannot be contained yet not so restrained as to cause an Earth-quake but finds an easie passage through the pores of the Earth whereby to evaporate and free it self from restraint into the open Air. 67. These exhalations when they happen for to be frozen in with extream cold weather in winter and venting themselves in waterish places as in the bottome of great ponds meers or rivers where by Antiperistafis or opposition of the cold waters it does congeal the bottome when the outward air cannot freeze the top or superficies of the water by reason of the motion but in the deeps where it is still and quiet these are called anchor or subterranean frosts they are not usual neither will they endure long but when they do happen it is most commonly extream cold weather and little or no snow these are generally held very hurtful unto plants and destructive to the fishes and by freezing up the channels make the rivers overflow 68. When the Air is dilated or rarified it is a sign of much heat or against rain which by your smelling you may know when shoars nasty places or things corrupted are more offensive then at other times 69. When the clouds be dark deep and very spissious it is a sign of rain and sometimes tempestuous weather 70. Many scattering clouds wandering in the Air and moving swiftly argues wind or rain and from the North or South it is the worse but if the racke rides both wayes it foreshews a tempest 71. If the racke in the forenoon rides in the Air from the East westward it argues rain at night but if from the West it does foreshew a cloudy morning if not rain and at any
same account If Saint Paul 's day be fair and clear It does betide a happy year But if it chance to snow or rain Then will be dear all kind of grain If clouds or mists do dark the Skie Great store of birds and beasts shall die And if the winds do fly aloft Then wars shall vex that Kingdome oft A Conclusion with a Paraphrase upon the presages by sensitive Creatures in general SIgns both of the weather and the seasons I have hewn you yet have omitted many but such as are best known to those who are sensible of them and of these there be some who supprest with the heavy burden of many years are forced to stoop and strike sail to time their bodies almost worn out with old decrepit age scarcely tenentable to the vital parts which Nature can hardly inable for to keep possession being dayly in danger to be ejected by rigid Death who admits no bail such as these are sensible of the Airs alteration like an old ruined tenement that lies open unto the assaults of every little storm and may unhappily know the weather and seasons of the year Others there be in the glory and prime of their youth that do know all this and more certainly then can the dictates of old age deliver it having in every joynt a Calender that shews them the weather with the Spring and Fall as a Memorandum of their fond and licentious youth wherein they have incurred the displeasure of just Heaven and rewarded with the fruits of sin Yet in this I do not censure all for some knows it through the crimes of others and many by casualties fractures of bones bruises old sores aches cramps gouts corns of their feet agues and almost innumerable diseases and imperfections of Nature incident to frail man for excepting such like accidents or signs derived from experience or grounded upon some reason to be held weather-wise is an argument of folly The cause why Ideots can so well fore-know the weathers alteration is partly they being defective in their understandings as wanting the use of reason Nature does the more assist them or they being cold and phlegmatick as appears by their slavering they are the more sensible of the Airs change as it is agreeable or oppugnant to the temperature and constitution of their bodies whereas Man endowed with the use of reason and discourse contemplates of the cause and nature of things which so implies the senses that the Air infused into the poars of such bodies cannot have any powerful operation and besides their constitutions are composed with a better concord of the 4 Elements so that the Airs alteration cannot so soon and sensibly work those effects in such bodies being perfectly in health and reason of their counsel For 't is Natures care to provide best for those things which are in most danger of shortest life or can least help or shift for themselves as to some she gives strength in arms to others swiftnesse of feet or wings agility of body and the like some little creatures are made a prey by others or their lives but short to these she gives a fruitful offspring as for example what multitudes of little Birds more then Eagles or fowls of prey Herrings in number exceeding Whales with comparison behold also the providence of the immense Creator that all these several kinds do subsist and in such Springs or Sommers whose temperatures of heat shall produce cold Winters there Nature does commonly provide plenty before hand as Akorns Hipps Hawes and divers other sorts of Berries for the subsistance of sundry sorts of little birds animals that otherwise would have perished with cold and for want of meat which is armour of proof against the weather By Natures instinct from these Man as in a Calender may read the weather and the seasons of the year every body having small poars into which the Air does continually infuse it self and as it is rarified or condensed it alters the disposition of the body but more or lesse according to the constitution and as it is agreeable or oppugnant to the natural temperature thereof as for an instance Bees and Emmots being of a fiery nature as appears by their choler and industry the Air infused into their little members towards rain being moist and opposite to their natures stupifies their senses and makes them heavy and not apt to labour or go abroad This is the cause that Bees keep in their hives or will not go far from thence when the Air grows moist and the weather inclining to rain from hence is the motive that the laborious Emmots desire rest and withdraw themselves into the caverns of the earth carrying their eggs with them as by a natural instinct whereby to preserve their progeny for by the fervour of the Sun they must be disclosed and by a storm of rain they would be chill and perish the reason is generally the same in other sensitive creatures whose corps are sensible of the Airs change that alters them according to the natural temperature and disposition of their bodies some creatures requiring heat others moisture what pleases one distasts some other and so of all living things Salamanders love Fire Birds Air Fishes Water and Beasts Earth So these Elements as they are mixt and predominating do offend or please the natural disposition of the creature This Monarchy and Common-wealth I choose as for an explanation of the rest they being the most industrious the most sensible and most subject for to be prejudiced by the incursions or suddain assaults of the weather and so here I will conclude with Virgil Geor. lib. 1. Haud equidem credo quia sit divinitus illis Jngenium aut rerum fato prudentia major Verum ubi tempestas coeli mobilis humor Mutavere vias Jupiter humidas austris Densat erant quae rara modo quae densa relaxant Vertuntur species animorum pectora motus Nunc alios alios dum nubila ventus agebat Concipiunt Hinc ille avium concentus in agris Et laetae pecudes ovantes gutture corvi The Weather Glass or perpetual Kalender Bâ— this artificial means you may at any time â—ither in the day or night discover certainly the Airs alteration as it does condense or rarifie and â—o from thence presage the future weather which the better and the more sensible to effect I will prescribe a proportion for the Glass the manner how to devide it and make a water that will not freez much more beautiful and conspicuous then ordinary water First provide a Bolts head of a cleer transparent Glasse in form as you see the figure the end at A like a Globe in content to the whole ¾ or â…˜ let the shanke be in circumference ¼ or â…• of the head at A then 1 ½ or 1 ¾ of the Globes circle the length unto B where must be a Glasse in content about half of the bolts head as for a cestern to
by the perfidious Jews condemned by Pontius Pilate then Presedent of Judea under Tiberius Caesar and crucified at whose passion the World did tremble with an Earthquake and the greatest that ever was or as it is thought ever shall be untill His coming again to judge the quick and the dead but some say this was miraculous and not universal these are the words of Didymus Mei Christi tempore non privatus aliquis terrae motus sed tota terra conquassutâ— centro convulsa fuit In the year of grace 1117. there was in Lombardy and Earth-quake which continued 40. days in which time it overthrew many buildings but the greatest wonder was it removed one Town from its seat and set it in another place a good distance from the former situation with many of the houses standing this story you may read in Floriacensis these are evident demonstrations of an Omnipotent power Job cap. 9. ver 5. Qui transtulit montes nescierunt hi quos subvertis in furore suo In the year of grace 1509. the City of Constantinople was shaken with an Earth-quake in whose ruines there was overwhelmed 13000 Men Women and Chridren In the year 1531 the City of Lixborn trembled with an Earth-quake which ruined 1500. dwelling houses Fromondus lib. 4. Meteo does affirm how that in the year 1570. Ferraria was miserably shaken with an Earthquake which had continued in Italy the space of two years as some Authors do write and in the year following being 1571 the Turks presuming of their strength and the divisions of Europe by reason of the Sects and Schisms raised a mighty Army intending to invade Europe both by Sea and Land for which design a fleet was rigged And for the prevention of this general calamiy it pleased God to unite all the Christian Princes as against the common enemy who provided another and put to Sea and upon the 6. day of October the Christians gave the Turks battail which Sea fight continued that day and the next and then the Antichristians fled and many of them did run their Gallies a ground whereby to save their lives The Christians in this Sea-fight sunck and took 230 Gallies and slew 30,000 Mahumetans and multitudes were taken prisoners who with the prizes and spoils were divided amongst the contibutors according to their adventures In this fight 12000 Christians were redeemed from the Turkish slavery The Christian Princes lost in this fight 8 gallies and 8000 Souldiers This was called the famous Battail of Lepauto In the year 1601. there was a general Earthquake through Europe which made it all to tremble but not the people nor yet so much as moved them to repentance for their transgressions against Heaven In the year of the Worlds Redemption 1638. March the 27. S. N. between 3 and 4 in the afternoon the Kingdome of Naples was violently shaken with an Earth-quake which subverted houses and Castles the City of Necosia standing by the Sea side was made an Island and five miles divided from the Continent the Earth finking Nature brought in the waters to fill the lower grounds and cover her entrails there perished in this Earth-quake of men women children so neer as could be gathered the number of 40,000 this was a forerunner of implacable tumults and commotions of the people besides the bloudy Tragedies acted there betwixt the Kings of Spain and France Many prodigies I have here omitted as partly fearing to be prolix some again I have found but not their sad events and others I have let passe as from doubtful Authors as the Earthquake and Tempest at the taking of Constantinople by Mahumet the great from Constantine the last Christian Emperour of Greece in storming this City there happned a direful Tempest of Thunder and Lightning and an Earth-quake that killed 3000 Men Women and Children and ruined 800 houses but Authors do not well agree in this nor yet of the time When it was taken one saith Anno Domini 1452 May the 27. which was Whitsunday Eve Knolls writes 1453 May the 29. which was the Tuesday after Trinity Sunday that year But all agrees the City was quite depopulated putting all to the Sword but what were reserved for Mahumet's pleasure and those led away into a miserable captivity the Tyrant intending this for his Antichristian seat called in the Jews to inhabit it Here you may see Heavens just revenge against a stubborn people perversly maintaining that diabolical Heresy against the Sacred and ever blessed Trinity at which time Feast the Empire had a fatal period and the Grecians delivered into the hands of the most barbarous enemy These fatal Meteors are great motives to humble Man to make him repent his iniquities and soberly remember the most dreadful day of Judgement of which these prodigies are forerunning fignes according to Isaia cap. 24. ver 1. Ecce Dominus dissipabit terram nudabit eam affliget faciem ejus disperget habitatores ejus Plagues and Epidemical Diseases EArth-quakes are often forerunners of Plague and Famine Heavens direful revenge and just runishments proceeding from excesse or defect and presag'd sometimes from subterranean vapours restrained in the Earth and by rarifaction being grown over great to be contained they do make violent irruptions and so by infecting the Air in which we breath they do breed pestiferous diseases but these exhalations are generally held most infectious to beasts For their heads being prone towards the Earth and neer it they do draw in with their breath those crude exhalations into their bodies much more then Man who stands erect but beasts being genepally infected with the viciated Air and their bloud contaminated the eating of their flesh breeds contagious Deseases in Man and in such times the greedy Grasier sends those to the slaughter which he thinks to be infected fearing they should die in his hands and keeps the soundest still for store Of these general calamities I could instance many but fearing lest I should weary you with reading as I am with writing I will briefly relate these Before the Nativity of Jesus Christ the Worlds Redeemer 18â— there happned a Plague in Africa that swept away 30000 Romane Souldiers and of the Natives 1080,000 which depopulated not onely many Towns and Cities but some whole Provinces In the year of Christ 171. Antoninus Emperour of Rome it pleased God to visit the World with a Plague which made whole Countrys like a Charnel house This general Pestilence began at Babylon but spread its infection over a great part of Europe In the year of Grace 254. there happned an Epidemical disease that raged violently and continued in several Countries the space of 15 years all which time the Church of God was persecuted by the Pagan and Tyrannical Emperours possesed with infernal spirits in Rome at these times it rained bloud where this Plague continued three years while the living in the City were not able to bury the dead From the Sacred Virgin 's
being a Mother 316. Maxentius in the Eastern Countries raised a terrible Persecution putting all Christians to death that he could find and with severall kinds of tortures to force them from their allegiance and service to the Son of God This persecution constrained many to fly their Countries and divers for fear of Maxentius and his unhumane competitours obscured themselves in Caves of beasts in the Desarts where from savage Creatures they found more mercy then from Man But this Christ reveng'd persecuting the Tyrants with Plague and Famine which so consumed many Countrys that they were destitute almost of Men Women or Children until the Emperour had nothing but beasts to rule over and not many of them neither From the Birth of our Lord and Saviour 1346. there happned in that year three great conjunctions of the higher Planets viz. ♄ ♃ and ♂ and these three all in ☌ in ♒ this year produced one of the most universal and destructive Plagues that ever was inflicted upon wretched mortals this pestiferous infection took the original in the East Indies and past over the world no people safe either by Land or Sea the Air being generally contaminated as with a deadly poyson many that year went to Sea hoping by that means to avoid it but in vain for there they were surprised with their whole families this Epidemical disease was so dreadful that it banished all humanity and perverted man from being a sociable creature Friends forsaking their Friends and Alies Parents unnaturally forsook their Children and ungrateful Children their Parents This general disease continued 9. years in several Countreys and was as mortiferous and raging as ever was Plague in any Countrey Some writers affirm how that this Plague began from fiery Exhalations risen out of the Earth whose malignancy infected the Air and from those distempers begot raging Feavers in Men untill the sword made incision of their inflamed veins a remedy worse then the disease Others say this Plague took its sad Exordium from fire that fell from Heaven the most authentick Chronologers record it thus Lamech a City of Arabia now known by the name of Mecha the Metropolitan of the Antichristian Mahumetans superstition in this City it rained Bloud and Snakes the space of three days and nights together the Serpents soon after perished in such multitudes that the stench of their corrupted bodies contaminated the Air in all the adjacent Regions this stupendious storm raz'd Mahumets Temple to the ground and sever'd into many pieces the Sepulchre of that infernal Impostor The next year the Earth denyed her accustomed fruits introducing a Famine more mortiferous then the former these direful calamities not moving man to repentance O incredulous and obdurate hearts but contemning those dreadful judgements were pleased with their enemies fall until they fell themselves Piety expulsed fled into exile while envy and confusion in Arms put the world in an uproar the sword licensed in the hands of Furies making a rude decimation of those who had espaced both Plague and Famine These three last deplorable afflictions were the most universal and destructive that the world ever felt or the Inhabitants groaned under since the general Deluge when in 40. days all living souls were destroyed from off the face of the Earth but what the Ark was fraighted withal whereby to replant the world again and those for many months were wafted over the angry waves that lav'd the Earth polluted with enormous crimes and transgressions of unbelieving licentious men only under the Law of Nature to which brute Beasts subject themselves This Ark represented the figure of Baptism 1 Pet. 3.20 21. And moreover St. Hierome calls it a Type of the Catholike Church the raging storms and tumultuous billows in opposition to one another resemble Herefies and Persecutions the Ark out-lived the fury of the Deluge and so shall the other to the worlds consummation all perished that were not in the first so I need say no more of the last Historiographers conjecture that more Men Women and Children perished in one of these Epidemical diseases then in the universal Flood the World being conceived more populous then in the days of Noah and the continuance much longer many will not believe these being but humane traditions and 't is not strange since they want faith in divine Records whereof some object that if the Deluge were 15. cubits above the highest Hills the superficies of the Waters on which the Ark floated was swell'd up to the middle Region of the Air in which no living creature can subsist besides they make queries from whence should these magazins of Waters be extracted the Fountains of the Earth they conceive not sufficient the Clouds are but thin dilated vapours the Waters mentioned above the Firmament could not descend so low in 100. years without a miracle To their objections I might answer 't was the providence of God which preserved them to whom nothing is impossible being sole Creator and Moderator of the Universe but since an Omnipotent and divine power condescended to make Mans preservation by a humane means humane reasons may be expected for which I refer the over curious unto the learned Expositors of Genesis yet not to leave them in a Sea at last something I will say not positively affirmed but conjecturally intimated only As for their Suppositions the whole Element of Air is held naturally hot and moist and the middle Region cold but by accident which frigid and restringent cause being chang'd the quality must cease and so the Air in general might convert to vapours innumerable and the waters in the Earth peradventure were dilated and so made more fluxible whose Fountains were opened for 40. continued days the Catarracts descending from their overburthned clouds which time to humane apprehension might encrease the inundation to submerge the terrestrial Globe 15. Cubits above the highest hills whereof 't is probable the Armenian mountains were most exalted above the Earths center and as the clouds were exonerated by the waters that fell 't is like this inferiour Air did ascend and assume the middle Regions Sphere and so made apt for all living creatures to breath in The Deluge ebbing Mount Ararat appear'd on whose firm foundation the Ark rested the Waters by an orderly summons retreated some to replenish the Earths entrails and exhausted veins others confin'd to channels of spacious Rivers ample Lakes and Oceans almost unterminated a great part by the influence of Stars might be sublim'd and reconverted to vapours thence rarifying to Air ascend their proper Orbs again the grosser parts sink to their seats of gravity and so will I this being above my Sphere yet pleased in recollecting my preservation past the hope of one in future transports my mind beyond a Deluge the landing Eternity A Compendium of Meteors and Signs observed in former Ages as at this present most prodigious in Nature stupendious to Mortals and portentious in their dismal events THe Symptomes of Natures distempers I have
the building For the pressure or violence upon one stone the pavements being connext must continue to some end or dividuum that the Air may vent it self The poarinesse of the Earth and volubility of the Air is made by this apparent In a still Evening place upon the ground a Drum to which lay your ear and you shall plainly hear the Air beating upon the Drum representing the motion by which t' was made whether it be Men or Carriages and this may be perceived at two or three Miles distance especially where the Number is great or the Motion violent upon open Plains or barren heaths most of all for the ground being poary in such places where the soyl is dry and hath ascents with hollow hills These sounds will not be so plainly heard at a distance over arrable lands as it will upon any heath because the turffe is as the Skin to the Earth restraining the subtile Air from evapourating forth and by reason of the concavity it contains the more and gives the freer passage Herodotus writes how Egypt was once Sea Seneca lib. 6. cap. 21. does record how the Isle Therasia did rise out of the Egaeon sea the Mariners beholding it the like of Thia in the days of Pliny and now a firm Island one of the Sporades And in the year of Grace 1538 in the fields of Puteoli there was a new mountain did rise neer a mile high from the foot of the hill Mountains and lower grounds have been removed from their places where Nature hath fixed them as you may read in Pliny lib. 2. cap. 83. how two mountains did remove and run together with a terrible noyse as if assaulting or contending with one another In the last year of Nero Cesar the meadows and Olive gardens of Vectius Marcellus were removed over a common high-way and contrary in their motions mutually changing their seats and situations And in the moneth of April An. Domini 1586 the like happned in Ireland where the ground was removed with the trees and all the lower plants growing upon it This shews the Omnipotent Creator as we read in Job cap. 9. ver 6. Qui commovet terram de loco suo columnae ejus concutiuntur The Cities of Hellice and Buris were buried with an Earth-quake and nothing remaining of them but the bare name onely And if Plato may be believed Aeon in the Atlantick was equal unto Asia and now all deep under water the Sea retaining yet the name and it is very probable that many Countries thus have suffered whose foundations have been shaken with Earth-quakes and so subjected to the insulting waves For if the terrestrial globe had been thus divided in the days of Noah how could America and divers remote Islands from any continent have been planted as now they are whose originals the Natives knows not But som do object to this that America might be planted by the North or South parts of the World First it is doubtful whether Greenland be part of that continent or no besides it is unlikely they should seek for a plantation through so cold unhospitable a Countrey that can afford no relief nor any thing but hunger and cold Others do better conjecture the first Colonies might pass by the straights of Magellune and thither out of Asia by Java or into new Guinea but admit it were so it is not probable they carried savage Beasts or venemous Serpents with them to a Plantation but for that beasts might grow wild with running in Desart places at their liberties and serpents breed out of the slime of the Earth as Eeles and other living and sensitive Animals produced from corruption and yet afterwards engender and beget others of their form But it is generally conceived there hath been many more Lands then there be at this present and divers Islands by which at first they passed and now devoured by the Seas and supposed by some that this British Isle hath been severed from France Spain from Asrica Sicily from Italy and Ossa from Olympia Some do inferr how that God promised Noah not to drown the World any more and that He had put bounds to the waters which they should not passe 'T is true but yet part of it may be submerged of which I could instance you many precedents as Rye and other places in England under the Seas irrecoverable their Steeples visible at a low water within this hundred years and those now quite swallowed up with the yawning waves For where these bounds are which God hath placed 't is known to Him and and not to us nor need we care if we serve the Omnipotent Creator Propterea non timebimus dum turbabitur terra transferentur montes in cor maris Psal 45. ver 2. Before the Nativity of our Sacred Redeemer Jesus Christ 374. Brennus a potent Prince whose territories being over-peopled raised a puissant Army to gain renown and seek new plantations in which design he was assisted by the then over-populous Gauls through whose Country he marched into Greece with 300,000 Men as some writes on mount Parnassus stood the City of Delphos famous in those days of darkness for the Temple of Apollo whom those Idolatrous people worshipped whose dubious responses had drawn from all Nations a great concourse of people by which means it was made the richest place of all Greece and by Nature fortified the taking of this City was the sole ambition of Brennus partly by reason of the wealth and partly it being the chief City which being subdued all the other Provinces would easily submit unto his power So this Prince with his multitudes of men Storm'd the City with Fire and Sword at which time part of the Mountain fell down with an Earthquake and overwhelmed multitudes of his most valiant and forward men this calamity was seconded by a violent tempest of Thunder Lightning and Hail which destroyed a great part of those that had escaped the former Brennus sore hurt and in despair of future good with his sword slew himself as it is recorded by Justine This story I have related to shew the judgement of God upon him for his covetousnesse and pride not done as against the worshippers of the Divel but as in contempt of a Deity Proper lib. 3. Torrida sacriligunt testantur limina Brennum Dumpetit intonsi Pythia regna Dei Three years before the Birth of the Worlds Redeemer when Herod was King of the Jews there happened an Earth-quake in Judea by which there prished of Men Women and Children to the number of 30000. precursor of the massacre and number of Infants as some records do testifie In the 15. year of our Lord and Saviour and in the beginning of Tiberius his Empire there were 12. Cities in Asia in one night overwhelmed with the inhabitants and which is more all swallowed up in the bowels of the Earth In the 18. year of this Empire the Son of God as a sacrifice for the World was accused