doth not lye upon the waters but contrarily where the Conduits are not full the lower part is not empty but the upper part IV. Nor the Bulk of the Sea Scaliger thinks that the Waters being pressed in the channels by the Sea lying upon them do seek to get forth His Example is of a stone in a vessel But two things are here assumed 1. That the gravity is every where the same as in the weight of a stone 2. That a great part of the Sea water is out of its place V. Nor yet vapours redoubled into themselves and so drawing nor the spungy Nature of the Earth nor the veins of the Earth whereby the moysture of the water may be drawn forth For 1. attracting forces would be more fit for Champion ground than for Mountains 2. If they should attract it were for that purpose that they might have the fruition of it but from whence are there such Rivers 3 The veins of waters are no where found so full as that reason requireth whether it be for blood in living creatures or for squirts VI. The water is raised out of the Caves of the Earth to the Tops of Mountains as the Sea is raised above the middle Region of the Ayr. VII But this Elevation is made by the force of heat resolving the water into vapours Aristotle himself intimates that heat is required but that water may be made of a vapour there needs no cold but a more remisse heat VIII The heat of the Earth proceeds not from the heat of the Sun namely of the Earth in its Intralls For first it can penetrate but two yards deep and therefore the Troglodites make their Caves no deeper 2. In the hottest Summer a woodden post that is but one or two Inches thick is not penetrated 3. The entralls of the Earth about 8 or 10 yards deep are found colder in Summer then in Winter IX The Antiperistasis of the cold Ayr in the superficies of the Earth is nothing to the purpose 1. It is more weak than the cold of the firm Earth 2. What ever of the Suns heat is bred within passeth out by the pores and vanisheth 3. It perisheth being besieged by both colds to which it bears no proportion X. The heat that is in the bowells of the Earth is from a double cause For in the parts nearest the superficies it proceeds from the Sun beams but in the bowels of the Earth from other causes That passeth out by the pores of the Earth in Summer being opened by the Sun and therefore it vanisheth when as being removed from its original it is weaker but in winter it is bound in by the cold XI The heat in the bowels of the Earth is known by the heat of the Waters but these are neither hot by the Sun nor from brimstone or quicklime in the conduits but only from a subterraneal fire Not from the Sun For. 1. That cannot penetrate so far 2. If it were from thence it would be most in Summer Not from brimstone or quick lime for brimstone heats not unlesse it be actually heated and quick-lime only then when it is resolved by Water Also the vast quantity of it would be resolved in a short time and would make a change in the Channels But it may be understood some ways how it may be heated by a subterraneal fire 1. As it is actuall and so the Channels being solid stone cannot derive it 2. As it is more remote but sends forth Vapours by pipes as in Baths so also not for Vapours cannot have so great force as to make it boil 3. That the Water may run amongst the burning fire as in bituminous Channels But here the question may be why it doth not cast out the Bitumen as in Samosata a City of Comagenes Pliny saith l. 2. c. 104. and 107 that a certain lake cast forth flaming mud and fire came out at the Waters of Scantium 4. The fourth way is the truth Art doth some wayes imitate Nature but in Stills the water by the force of heat is resolved into Vapours and the Vapours fly upwards to the heads where they stick and being removed from the violent heat they return to Water again so also in the bowells of the Earth XII But Fountains that boyl seem not to be of those Waters that run but that stand still Namely Wells that have formerly been opened by the quakings of the Earth which it is no wonder that they are joyned to the Sea In a small Island against the River Timevuâ— Pliny l. 2. c. 103. writes that there is a hot spring that ebs and flows with the Sea In the Gades it is contrary Pliny l. 2. c. â—2 But if any of these hot springs do runâ— we must observe of them that their Channels are so scituated that when the Sea flowes it comes unto them or if it were come into them before it powreth forth the more And so the heat of the fire will be either proportionable and the exhalation greater or not and so lesse XIII But what Agricola writes of bituminous Waters and that yeeld a smell must be ascribed to their neernesse but it vanisheth at a farther distance The same is observed in artificiall distilled waters that in time the burntness of them will vanish away XIV But because this fire by the shaking of the Earth can do much in the superficies it can then do more in the place it is It can therefore stop up old Channels open new ones in divers caves of the Earth without sending forth of the matter combustible or propagation of fire or conflict of Vapours it can rayse new fires from whence new Rivers may be produced yet somtimes also it useeth to be extinguished or sunk so deep that it cannot send its force to the superficies This is the opinion of Lydiat which we have set down more amply that being better known it might be more exactly weighed CHAP. V. Of hot Baths THe heat of hot Baths is diversly spoken of by Authours Aristotle thought it proceeded from Thunder which is false for the force of Thunder is pestilentiall any man may know it that beholds Wine corrupt by Thunder It makes men mad or dead but these are healthfull as experience daily shews Also there are many places that were never touched with Thunder for that never descends above five foot Sennert Scient natural l. 4. c. 10. thinks it comes from two waters that are cold to be felt but grow hot in their meeting from repugnancy of the Spirits as we see in oyle of Tartar and Spirit of Vitrial and in Aquafortis and Tartar and of the butter of Antimony and Spirit of Nitre all which though they are cold to the touch yet if you mingle them they grow hot and so that if you suddenly powre oyle of Tartar into Aquafortis wherein Iron is dissolved it will not only boyle but the mixture will flame which also happeneth if you pour fast the spirit of Nitre into the
too heavy Hence it comes to passe that all Seas purge themselves in the full of the Moon Not that the attraction of the Moon is the cause of it but because the wind that was in the interim collected in the hollow places under ground strives to fly upwards or being heaped up about the putrefactions of the Sea breaks forth Lydiaâ— de orig sâ—ntium attributes it to subterraneal fire That you may know the grounds of his opinion I will set it down in a few Propositions I. The flowing of the Sea is not because of the Moon by the nearnesse of her light and of that especially which she borrowes which breeds exhalations whereby the waters swell and run over For in the full Moon her light is thwart the earth and yet there is a tide great enough II. The Sun and Moon do not by their beams cause the flowing of the Sea 1. When it flowes in one hemisphear and both the Luminaries are in the other what is the cause of that For it hath not equall forces in both 2. If Sun and Moon cause the flowing of the Sea wherefore elsewhere in the very Ocean and that between the torrid Zone where their power is extream are there no Tides at all or very small ones III. When we enquire concerning the flowing of the Sea we must suppose 1. That there is a wonderfull plenty of water in the bosome of the Earth 2. That water which is in the bosome of the Earth is not onely continued to it self but to this we see in the Sea and is joyned with it by the channels or open chaps of the Earth First it is probable from hence that it is a part of the same body Then the deeps of the Sea that were never yet certainly known are a token of it 3. When two most vaste Continents on this side Asia Africa Europe on that America divide CHAP. VII Artic. 1. Of the New World and Asia by which the passage was open to other neighbouring Islands and from the Island to all the continent which was in sight and neere to the Ocean but in the mouth of it there was said to be a Haven with a narrow entrance c After this by a wonderfull Earth-quake and a continuall inundation for a day and a night it came to passe that the Earth clave asunder and swallowed all those warlike people and the Island of Atlantis was drowned in the deep But Aristotle lib. de admirand c. 8. relates that in the Sea beyond Herculâ—s Pillars an Island was found out by the Carthagenians which had Woods and Rivers fit for shipping but it was distant many days Voyage But when more Carthagenians allured by the happinesse of the place came and dwelt amongst the Inhabitants they were condemned to death by the Commanders he adds by those that sayled thither Let us also hear Seneca lib. 7. quaest c. 31. The people that shall come after us shall know many things we know not many things are reserved for after ages when we are dead and forgotten The World is but a very small matter unlesse every age may have something to search for And again quaest 5. c. ult Whence do I know whether there may not be some Commander of a great Nation now not known that may swell with Fortun 's favours and not contain his forces within his own bounds Whether he may not provide ships to attempt places unknown How do I know whether this or that wind may bring Warr Some suppose Augustus extended his Empire so far Marianus Siculus is the Authour that there was found in the new World old Golden Money with the Image of Augustus and that it was sent to Rome to the Pope in token of fidelity by Johannes Ruffus Bishop of Consentia That is more wonderfull that the Spaniards write that there is a Town in the Province of Chili in the Valley called Cauten which they name Imperiola for this cause because in many Houses and Gates they found the Spread-Eagle as we see now a dayes in the Arms of the Roman Empire Animlanus l. 17. observes somthing not unlike it that in the obeliscks of the Aegyptians there were ingraven many Pictures of Birds and Beasts also of the other World What shall we say to these things We say they knew them but scarse ever travelled thither But if those relations are true that Plato reports of which Tertullian also speaks Apolg. c. 39. and Marcellinus l. 17. we add farther That the praediction of Seneca sounds rather of the British Islands in favour of Claudius That is false which is said of Augustus We have all the Acts of this Noble Prince if there be any thing buried in silence it is some mean matter But Novelty easily gains the name of Antiquity if there be fraud in him that forgeth it Artic. 2. Of the miracles of some Countrys PLiny relates and we out of him There is a famous Temple at Paphos dedicated to Venus into a Court whereof it never rayns Pliny l. 2. c. 96. By Harpasa a Town of Asia there stands a hard Rock which you may move with one finger but thrust it with your whole body and you cannot stirr it There is Earth in the City Parasinum within the Peninsula of Tauri that cures all wounds In the Country Ardanum Corn that is sowed will never grow At the Altars of Martia in Veii and at Tusculanum and in the Wood Ciminia there are places where things fastened into the Earth cannot be drawn forth Pliny l. 2. c. 94. In Crustuminum Hay that grows there is hurtfull but out of that place it becomes good Some Earths tremble at the entrance as in the Country of the Gabii not far from Rome about a 100 Acres when men ride upon it and likewise at Reate In the Hills of Puteoli the dust is opposed against the Sea Waves and being once sunk it becomes one stone that the waters cannot stirr and daily grows stronger also if it be mingled with the Caement of Cumae Plin. l. 35. c. 13. Such is the nature of that Earth that cut it of what bignesse you please and sink it into the Sea it is drawn forth a stone In a Fountain of Gnidium that is sweet in eight Months time the Earth turns to a stone From Oropus as far as Aulis whatsoever earth is dipped in the Sea it becomes a stone Tilling of the ground was of old of great esteem amongst the Romans they found one sowing and gave him honours whence is the surname Serranus As Cincinnatus was ploughing his four Acres in the Vatican which are called Quintus his Meadows Viator offered him the Dictator ship and as it is reported that he was naked and his whole body full of dust To whom Viator said Put on thy Cloths that I may deliver to thee the commands of the Senate and people of Rome Whence Pliny l. 18. c. 3. answers to this question Whence was it then they had so great plenty The Rulers at
North-west wind blowes the North wind makes them well again In Tercera it eats Iron and stones Bertius in Geograph Amongst the rest are the Etesia that are very moderate winds every year two dayes after the rising of the dog-star they are wont to blow 40 dayes They temper the heat with their blast and cool the Summer and defend us from the burthen of the hot moneths They rise at 3. of the clock of the day thence they are called sleepy winds and they cease at night It is likely they are bred by great heat melting the Snow that yet remains in the Northern parts It is credible that the Earth being freed from Snow and uncovered they will blow the freer The Ancients sacrificed to the winds to please them Herodotus saith That a Temple in Ilissum was built to Boreas They call'd them at Athens Boreasmi who kept the Feasts of Boreas We believe P. Victor that at Rome there was a Temple for Tempest Rhodigin l. 20. c. 25. CHAP. VII Of the Earth-quake Artic. 1. Of the rising of an Earthquake THe Ancients believed that the Earth moved by waters fluctuating in the Caves of the Earth Whence they called Neptune Earth-shaker and mover Gell. l. 2. c. 28. Others thought the wind in the surface of the Earth returning into the hollow caves of it did shake it Others again that the Sun kept the vapours within the ground and they seeking passage to come forth did wander where they could when they found none Reason and Experience are against it There is in the West part of Spain a Mountain of wonderfull height with many hollow Caves Scalig. Exerc. 38. waters fall down in them with so great noise that they are heard five miles yet there is no Earthquake there nor yet is the wind or Ayr that goes under very great it is dispersed in the largenesse of the Channels and the diverticles it finds going farther it is stopt Mineral operations shew this For they make mighty bellowes to draw the ayr lest they should be choked for want of it The contest of winds doth nothing for that rather tends to the sides or flyes upwards by its leightnesse and at the first hindrance they fly from the Earth like a whirlwind It is uncertain whether the Sea can stop the passages there are seldom any such great Caves by the Sea nor can that go in at once but it will be thrust back again The Sun cannot more easily exercise its force upon the Earth and beget an Exhalation than he can bring it forth being begotten for the Sun beams operate noâ— but by resistance Whilest they heat and dry they open the same because exhalations ascend more strongly to that place which is neer One in respect of continuity followes another but howsoever they enter in they easily come out of the Earth and more easily than they can shake it for in Mines where the powder finds but a chink when it is fired it is lost labour Wherefore Exhalation bred from fire under the Earth and shut up in the bowels of the Earth causeth an Earthquake And that is apparent by this For before an Earthquake well-Well-waters will not onely boyl but be more troubled and brimstony vapours come forth From whence The like vapours are tossed in the bowels of the Earth Pliny l. 2. Artic. 2. Of the place time and effects of an Earth-quake THose places are subject to Earth-quakes which can easily take in wind Solid places will not admit it sandy places mixed with lime do easily discuss it they want receptacles for winds Champion places have no Caves Yet the whole Earth is never shaken for the Vapours included have no proportion to the Globe of the Earth If it should happen it must be ascribed to divine power which nature would seem to challenge to her self If you consider the duration it differs as the resistance is few Vapours are sooner discussed many last longer and rage a greater time Senec. naturalâ— l. 6. c. 3. Campania trembled many dayes Livy writes that at that time when L. Cornelia and Q. Minucius neer Consuls the Earth-quakes were so frequent that men were weary not only of it but of all businesse The same Author sayes that an Earth-quake lasted 40 days others say one hath lasted two yeares and returned again and again Livy l. 44. l. 45. Aristot. l. 2. Meteor c. 8. Plin. l. 2. c. 82. Such is the condition of the effects of it that those that hear of it will be astonished at it and those that see it dye Oft times it doth not devour Houses Cities or whole famelies only but whole Nations and Countries somtimes the Earth falls upon them somtimes it takes them into its deep jaws and leaves not so much whereby it may appear that what is not now ever was Seneca L. 6. natur c. 1. The ground covers somtimes the most noble Cities without leaving any mark of their formeâ— being when as the great hollow Caves in the Earth are forced and shaken with winds and fall down oft times in the Sea a hollow pit opening drinks up the waters on the Land Rivers that both fish and shipping sink into it On the otherside the Earth lifted up into a high tumour hath caused Mountains on land and Islands at Sea somtimes the course of Rivers hath been changed that hilly ground having been removed on that side that they formerly ran Histories are full of these calamities The last yeare of Nero fields and Olive Trees that the high way passed between in the Country of the Mâ—rrucinum were transported to the other side L. Marcius and Sextus Julius being Consuls in the Country of the Mutinenses two Mountains fell together with a mighty noise Plin. l. 2. and l. 16. c. 40. Many Villages were then beaten down and Cattel killed In Parthia there is a place called Ragai from the clifts where many Towns and Villages 2000 were overwhelmed At Cajeta in Italy there is a Mountain toward the South a part whereof an Earthquake so divided that one would believe the division was made by the art of Man the Sea runs under it with a great noise Agricol in reb quae efflu ex terra The Houses of Helice and Bura two Towns in the Sinus of Corinth did appeare in the Sea In the Island Aenania a Town was so taken in that there was no appearance of it left Not far from Ptolemais the Waves of the Sea were carried into the deep and so lifted up themselves that they appeared like a great Mountain and afterwards they were carryed to the land and drownd the Army of Tryphon When Cneius Octavius and C. Scribonius were Consuls the River at Velia brake down the bridges and threw the banks of the River into the waters drove away the stones that were in the Market place in Town and Field it shook the Churches which a few days after fell down By an Earthquake the City of Lacedemon fell all down when the Mountain Taygetus was broken
made a day of 36 houres Justin Martyr in Dialog cum Tryphon Some think the Sun danceth when it riseth on Easter-day and honours our Saviours Resurrection in Triumph If that be so it is necessary for it to dance a whole day because it riseth the whole day What ever this is it must be ascribed to the Ayre interposed betwixt which about the Sun rising abounds with Vapours and if at any time most in the Spring because the pores are open and it sends forth more Vapours Camer Cent. 2. Memorab p. 39. Artic. 4. Of the inequality of Dayes and Nights WHen the Sun comes to the Horizon the Day riseth with us Night comes when the Sun departs But because it moves obliquely and is girt within the bounds of both Tropicks it keeps equality under the Equinoctiall it varies which side soever it declines yet the greater it is the farther the Countries are distant from the aequator In Arabia a Province of the new World the Dayes and Nights are alwaies equall Geographers have written the same of Peru Ovetan in Summa In a Country of Africa called Gambra in the moneth of July the Night is no shorter than 11. hours The Sun riseth suddenly without dawning The Troglodites and men of Africa have but 13. hours to their longest day Strabo l. 1. They that live under the Pole of the Stars in the spring-Equinox see the Sun rising but in the Autumnall setting Mela. l. 3. c. 2. Hence it is that they have half a year day and then half a year night The Hollanders at the Straights Vaigats from the 4th day of November to the 24. day of January have found but one continual Night under the degree of 71. Boetius in the description of the Narrow Sea Vaigats In Laponia one Night lasts 3. moneths and there is in that time no more light than the Moon-shine or clear twilights afford Zigler in Laponia In the farthest part of Norway the Sun is not hid in the night In another Northern Climate the Nights are very bright at the Summer Solstice Saxo Grammaticus The Day and Night with us are equall when the Sun enters Aries and Libra they are longer when he is in the Tropick of Cancer shorter in Capricorn The moneth of June is said to contain the longest day the shortest is assigned to the 25. of December The more superstitious are perswaded that strange things are seen the night before The Olive Tree and the white Poplar and the leaves of Willowes are said to be driven about Macrob. l. 9. c. 7. The moisture in Trees ascends upwards from out of the root The Apple-tree brings forth blossoms and unripe fruit Some strings of Instruments are strook with the fingers and the other strings sound Suetonius l. 1. Ludicra Historia The small livers of Mice are increased The kernells that are shut up in Apples are turned the contrary way Cicero lib. 2. de Divinat Artic. 5. Of the Four Parts of the Year THe motion of the Sun through the Zodiack makes a Year Mathematicians make this to be twofold The one is the space in which the Sun goes from the Spring Equinox and returns to the same again and it consists of 365 dayes five hours 49 first minutes 10 seconds The other is from the time the Sun departs from the first Star in Aries and returns to the same again and it consists of 365 6 hours 9 first minutes seconds 23. Copernicus appointed this and he deserved great thanks for it Of the former there are four parts Spring Summer Autumn Winter Spring and Autumn make the Equinoxes this the Winter Equinox that the Summer They both happen when the Sun passeth the Line The most certain sign of the Springs approach is the Butterfly being a weak creature Pliny in histor Natural Cancer makes the Summer when the Sun-beams are verticall with us It is inflamed by the rising of the Dog-star saith Pliny l. 2. c. 40. yet it were more Philosophicall to say that when the Sun repeats his Journey he raiseth hot blasts and wind whence our bodies partake of great heat Truly sometimes it is extream if we credit Histories I read in Livy l. 4. Histor. That in the year of Rome 322. not onely rain from Heaven was wanting but the Earth also wanted its inbred moysture that the Rivers that run continually were almost dry that many Fountains and Rivers wanted water that the Cattel dyed for thirst In the year 1153 the Woods were fired with over-great heat the fat Earth took fire and could be extinguished with no rain Mergerius The German Records report That in 1228 the heat was so great that the Harvest was ended I will use their own words before the Feast of St. John Baptist. Lipsius cites it in his Epistles In the year 1573. the Wood of Bohemia burnt 18. Weeks The Danube was so dryed up that in many places one might foord it And what is wonderfull there was no losse in the Corn. But in 994. in the end of July the Lakes and Waters were so hard frozen that all the Fishes dyed and there was great scarsity of water Cardan thinks it is a mark of an over-hot Summer de varietat rer l. 15. c. 38. if old sheep are very much given to lust in the Spring Men write that there was so pleasant an Autumn in the year 1584. that the Roses and young branches flourished It is our Winter when the Sun enters Capricorn then all things quake are covered with Snow and bound up with Ice The Sun foreshews a most bitter Winter in the Northern parts when he hides himself in a red clowd as a pillar of fire and casts out his beams like fiery darts That descending it is turned into black Cardan l. 1. Or when things that use to be moist seem dryer or drops dripping from houses fall more slowly And sometimes the winter hath been excessive Chronicles say that in 1234. the winter was most fierce so that in the Adriatick Sea the Venetian Factors passed over the Ice with their charge of moneys Zonaras reports the like to have happened under Constantine Copronymus so in the Pontick Sea and the Straights adjoyning Marianus Scotus In the year 32. of Charles the Great there was a great and most bitter Frost so that the Pontick Sea was frozen 100 miles in the East where it was 50 cubits from top to bottom In the year 1525. the winter was so cruel that in Brabant an infinite company of Eâ—lâ—s by reason of the Ice went forth of the Lakes which is a wonderfull thing and hid themselves in Hay-ricks and perished there with extremity of cold Robertus de Monte. The Trees had hardly any leafs afterwards in May. Sometimes the winters are so calm too In the year 1225. in December the Peach Tree budded In 1186. in December and January Crowes and other birds hatched their Eggs with young But these divers parts of the year for length and duration comes from a divers position They
be searched into Thuan. l. 53. Histor. That that appeared the 6th of the Ides of November under the Constellation of Cassiopaea some men said it was in the Firmament it self amongst the heavenly spheres It had neither Tail nor hair but like the other Stars it sent forth beams equally The Diameter of it contained the Diameter of the Earth 7. times and ½ part and it was greater than the Earth 361 times and ½ it was bigger than the Sun twice and 2 â— parts Tycho Brache 1. part Progymnas Astronom Yet this Eminency of greatnesse and light decreased afterwards by degrees untill it vanished quite away It had no motion except that which it had common with the fixed Stars it alwayes held the same Position to the neighbouring Stars in Cassiopaea It lasted 16 months What was foreshewed by it is variously determined by divers men Gemma Frisius in Cosmocritica writes That since the birth of Christ there was hardly any apparition to be compared with it whether we consider the height of the sign or the rarity or the long continuance of it The Britans ascribed it to the lamentable death of Mary An Oxford Astrologer was Authour of this opinion who by Cassiopaea the Sister to King Cepheus said That some Queen in the North must be noted out by it and by its 16 moneths continuance he foreshewed I know not according to what calculation of the Arabians and the ascending of the Star into the upper parts That that Northern Queen after 16 years should ascend up into heaven The event made good his praediction Thuan. l. 5 4 Molerus seemed to expect a new Prophet by it in the year 1590 and the conquest of the Gospel over all through the World Liborovius foretold but falsly War in 1619 and the banishment of the chief Prince in Germany in 1620 the restoring of him again by the Eastern Countries in 1627 and many such like things There is extant concerning this Star a godly and excellent Copy of Verses of a certain famous Writer which I here set down Whether that Comet without blazing tail That shines as clear as do the fixed Stars Shall in succeeding times so far prevail As to raise Dearths or Plagues or bloody Wars God onely knowes and after-times will shew But if Man's Wit can any thing foretell 'T is not amisse to search such signs are new And lift our minds above this place we dwell This is that Star which did the Wise-men bring From the East land to Bethleem and there In David's City born was the great King It now foreshewes again and doth declare That God is coming cruel Herod fear Good Men rejoyce your Redemption drawes near The fifth month after the Starre disappeared Charles died of a bloody flux The third was seen in the yeare 1577. in November and which the following yeare vanished Jannuary the 26 Mestlinus placeth this in the sphere of Venus Tycho writes that the head was 308 Germain miles diameter Dantzick was then besieged and 1578 the Warre of Moscovia began It was supposed to portend the Death of great Men. In that yeare Thuan. l. 65. after a desperate sight in Africa Sebastian King of Portugall died and Melchus Chorisius King of Morisco Trigitana whom he came to subdue And Mahomet that caused the Warre was drown'd 8000 Christians were slain and as many taken Captives allmost all the Nobility of Portugal fell into the hands of the Mores That was done in one day Portingal came neâ—t under the Government of Philip. Then in 1604 about the beginning of October a fourth new Starr appeared in the 17. degree of Sagittarius and was from the Ecliptick but 37 minutes Astronomers say it was between Saturn and the 8. Sphere yet that seems absurd Keckerman in his consultation concerning the Starre in the year 1604. Thes. 53. Also because it had its own proper motion distinct from the Sphere of Saturn and the fixed Starrs and the Starrs move in and with their Orbs but that had none Crabbius saith directly that it was from the Center of the Earth 22267636 miles and from the superficies of the Earth 22266777 miles disput de Comet Thes And hence he concludes it was greater than the Earth 91 times and hence he proves it was above Saturn being from the Earth 1007250 miles It shined full four Months and after that was to be seen from the 28 of November with Saturn from the 29. with Sol and from the 13 of December with Mercury in Conjunctions and with Mercury Mars Sol in oppositions the May following which was supposed to pâ—rtend great consultations confederacies and changes in France Spain the Low Countries England Thuan. lib. 131. But the opposition that fell out on the 6 of June was held to be Ominous and men conjectured that this Starr would cause Warrs and calamities to many Countries and chiefly to Germany in point of Religion An excellent Mathematician Keplerus writ concerning it and who was no whit guilty of Astrologicall superstition by the testimony of Thuanus See him I call these apparitions Starrs not that I am ignorant that they are referred to Comets but because I find that in the Skye they are placed amongst the second moveables and are call'd celestiall which is not agreeing to Planets and I think it more fit to call them Starrs than by naming them Comets to overthrow the doctrine of Meteors received from the Antients CHAP. VIII Of Astrologicall Praedictions COncerning Astrologicall Praedictions many men have many minds Some magnifie them others reject them as idle vanities It is certain that natural actions as the changes of dayes nightâ— yeares seasons because they have determinate causes in the position of the Starrs may be foretold by them Yet because the matter of the elements is mutable and flitting many particular causes overthrow general causes and many Starrs in both motions are yet unknown and some of them somtimes are opposite to the others forces also most experienced Artists are few and lastly there is a vast distance in placing the beginning and ends of the Houses and proprieties and therefore it is no wonder if error creep in Bartholin de caelo And if we observe particular and individuall actions the errour will be the greater for beside the generall influence of the Starrs there is a special influence which ariseth from the speciall complexion The indisposition of the matter hinders the good influence of Heaven and the goodnesse of the temper derived from the Parents keeps off the bad influence We know that Jacob and Esau were born at the same time in respect of the Heavens position yet was their fortune most different In civil actions the Starrs have nothing to do It is an elegant saying of Bodinus Lib. 4. de Repub. Cap 3. There is but one Rule saith he of all Philosophers even of those that idly dispute of what is done in the Heavens that a wiseman is not under the affection and power of the Starrs but only those who like
that fresh ayr may come if Snow and water be set about the bed if the walls be compassed about with Willow leaves or with linnen cloaths dipt in vinegar and Rose-water if the floor be sprinkled and fountains made to run in the chamber if beds saith Avicenna be made over a pit of water If beds be made of Camels hair or of linnen laying the skin under them If the Bed be strewed with herbs and lastly if fragrant fruits be placed near the bed Heurn lib 2. Medic. c. 18. CHAP. III. Of the Water Artic. 1. Of the quantity and colour of Waters SO much for Ayr Now followes the Element of Water And first we shall consider the quantity and the colour of it In the Country of the great Cham near the City Simqui there is the River Quian which is 10 miles broad and waters 200 Cities and it is so long that it cannot be sailed in 100 dayes Polus writes That he told in the Haven of it 50000 Ships Also in Moscovia the Duina is so great by the melting of the Snow that it cannot be passed over in a whole day with a well sayling Ship it is at least 50 miles broad Jovius a Lake of Genebar the Portingalâ—s call it January Thuan. histor l. 16. is so large under Capricorn that men write who have sailed thither That all the Ships in the World may well harbour there As for Colours they are different in many waters Danubius is white as milk and water which divides Noricum and Windelicia from Germany Agricol de Natur. effluent The Waters of the Mayn especially where it hath passed the Francks and is fallen into the Rheyn are yellowish The Fountain Telephus is muddy near Patâ—ra and mingled with blood In Ethiopia there are red Waters that make one mad that drinks them At Neusola in the Mountain Carpathâ—s waters runing out of an old passage under ground are green At Ilza that which comes forth of the Mountains of Bohemia and runs into Danubius is black Artic. 2. Of the Taste of Water THere is no lesse variety of Waters in their tastes Some are sweet some taste like wine you shall find every where salt Allom tasted sharp bitter waters every where The Waters of Eleus Chocops Rivers are sweet The Kings of Persia drank of them and transported them to far Countries The water of Cardia in a field called Albus is sweeter then warm milk Pausanias So is Vinosa near Paphlagonia whence so many strangers come thither to drink of it In the bosome of the Adriatick Sea where it turns to Aquileia there are 7. Fountains and all of them except one are salt Polyb. in Hist. At Malta there is one that the waters running above are very sweet but the lower waters are brackish Aristobul Cassand The small River Exampeus is so bitter that it taints the great River Hypanis in Pontus In the Lake Ascanium and some Fountains about Chalcis the upper waters are sweet and the lower taste of nitre Plin. in Hist. The Fountains are sowr about Culma and because the water though it be cold boyls they seem to be mad Agricol lib. cit In the same place there is a Mineral water which they call Furious because it boyls and roars like thunder In Cepusium at Smolâ—icium it not onely eats iron but turns it into brasse But the water about Tempe in Thessaly of the River Styx can be contained in no vessel of silver brasse iron but it eats through them nothing but a hoof can hold it Artic. 3. Of the Smell of Water and of the first and second qualities THe hot Baths that are distant from Rhegium the Town of Lepidus Aemilius 26 miles smell of so gallant Bitumen that they seem to be mingled with Camphir There was a Pit in Peloponnesus near the Temple of Diana whose water mingled with Bitumen smelt as pleasant as the unguent Cyzicenum In Hildesham there are two Fountains the one flowes out of Marble that smells like stinck of rotten Eggs and taste sweet but if any man drinks of it fasting he will belch and smell like the Marble pownded The other is from Brimstone and smells like Gun-Powder The water of this brook covers with mud the stones that lie in the channel of it scrape it off and dry it and it is Brimstone Agric. lib. cit Arethusa a Fountain of Sicily is said to smoke at a certain time At Visebad there is a Spring in the Road-way the water whereof is so hot that you may not onely boyl Eggs in it but scall'd chicken and hoggs for it will fetch off feathers or hair if you dip them in or pour it upon them Ptolomy Comment lib. 7. affirms That at Corinth there is a Fountain of water which is colder than Snow Near the Sea-Banks at Cuba there is a River so continual that you may sayl in it yet it is so hot that you cannot touch it with your hands Martyr Sum. Ind. Near the Province Tapala it runneth so hot that one cannot passe over it Ramus tom 3. At Segesta in Sicily Halbesus suddenly growes hot in the middle of the River Pontus is a River that lyes between the Country of the Medes and the Scythians wherein hot burning stones are rolled yet the water it self is cold These if you move them up and down will presently cool and being sprinkled with water they shine the more bright Lastly near the City Ethama there is a River that is hot but it is good to cleanse the Lepers and such as are ulcerated Leonius Also some waters swim above others Arsanias swims above Tigris that is near unto it so often as they both swell and overflow their banks Peneres receiveth the River Eurôta yet it admits it not but carrieth it a top of it like oyl for a short space and then forsakes it Plin. hist. Natural Artic. 4. Of the Diverse running of the Water IT is said of Pyramus a River of Cappadocia which ariseth from Fountains that break forth in the very plain ground that it presently hides it self in a deep Cave and runs many miles under ground and afterwards riseth a Navigable River with so great violence that if any man put a sphear into the hole of the Earth where it breaks forth again the force of it will cast out the sphear Strabo l. 12. Not far from Pompeiopolis in the Town Coricos in the bottom of a Den of wonderfull depth a mighty River riseth with incredible force and when it hath ran with a great violence a short way it sinks into the Earth again Mela. l. 1. c. 6. The Water Marsia after it hath run along tract from the utmost Mountains of the Peligni passing through Marsius and the Lake Fucinus it disemboggs into a Cave then it opens it self again in Tiburtina and is brought 9 miles with Arches built up into Rome Plin. l. 31. c 3. The Sabbaticall River was wont to be empty every seventh day and was dry but all the six dayes it was
full of water But that ceased when the sacrifice ceased Joseph l. 7. c. 24. There is a certain River Bocatius speaks of every ten years it makes a mighty noyse by the stones striking together and this is suddenly in a moment and the stones ran downwards for 3. dayes and 3 or 4 times a day though it be fair weather and after three dayes all is quiet Strabo writes of the Rivers of Hircania l. 11. There are in the Sea high shores that are prominent and are cut forth of Rocks but when the Rivers run out of the Rocks into the Sea with great violence they passe over a great space as the fall betwixt the Sea and the Rocks that Armies may march under the fall of the waters as under Arches and receive no hurt Trochlotes in North Norway makes such a noyse when it runs that it is heard 20 miles Olaus l. 2. c. 28. Beca in Livonia runs forth of the Rocks with such a fall that it makes men deaf Ortel in Livon Tâ—nais by a very long passage from Scythia falling into the Lake Meotis it makes it so long and broad that those that are ignorant of it take it for a great Mountain Boccatius In Solomon's Temple there ran a Spring great in Summer small in Winter Euseb. praeparat Evangel l. 9. c. 4. If you ask the cause it is taken from the Time All things are wet in Winter then are the Channels full and for want of evaporation the waters are kept in But in Summer all things are dry and the Suns heat penetrates Hence it is that they are congregated in their Fountains and run out by the Ayr inforcing them Maeander is so full of windings and turnings that it is often thought to run back again c. He that seeks more concerning Nilus and other Waters let him read Geographerrs Artic. 5. Of the change of quantity and of qualities in Waters THis great variety in Waters that I have set down is a token of the wisdome and power of God and it is no lesse wonder that the same waters should be so diversly changed It is certain that they are changed A Fountain in the Island Tenedos alwayes from 3. at night till 6. after the Summer Solstice overflowes There is another in â—odon that hath its Name from Jupiter it fails always at Noon-day And the River Po in Summer as if it took its rest growes dry saith Pliny In Italy Tophanus a Fountain of Anagnania is dry when the Lake Fucinus is frozen at other times of the year it runs with great quantity of water Agricol l. cit passim The Waters of the Lake of Babylon are red in Summer Boristhenes at some times of the year seems to be died with Verdigrease The water of the Fountain of the Tungri is boyling hot with fire subterraneal and is red The Waters of the River Caria by Neptunâ—s Temple were sweet and are now salt But in Thrace when Georgius Despota ruled a sweet Fountain grew to be bitter intolerably and whole rivers were changed at Citheron in Beotia as Theophrastus writes Men report that of the Mineral Waters which run by the Pangaeus a Mountain of Thrace an Athenian cotyle weighs in Summer 64 grains and in Winter 96. In the Province of Cyrene the Fountain of the Sun is hot at midnight afterwards it cooles by degrees and at Sun-rising it is cold and the higher the the Sun riseth the colder it is so that it is frozen at mid day then again by degrees it growes warm it is hot at Sun-set and the more the Sun proceeds the hotter it becomes The same Fountain every day as it growes cold at mid-day so it is sweet as it growes hot at midnight so it growes bitter Artic. 6. Of some other things admirable in Waters THey were wonders that are passed but greater follow In those it is easy to assign a cause mixture or some such like if you rightly consider it but here it is difficult for though you may in some yet commonly we must fly to hidden qualities I will briefly rehearse them Some drops of a Fountain of the Goths powred upon the Earth cease to move and are thickned by the ayr The waters of Cepusia in Pitchers turn into a Stone those of Rhaetid make people foolish they pull out the teeth in two years and dissolve the ligaments of the sinews which Pliny writes to be in Germany by the Sea-side Those of Islandia change things that are hollow into stones Tybur covers Wood with stone covers Zamenfes in Africa makes clear voyces Soractes when the Sun riseth runs over as though it boyled birds that then drink of it die He growes temperate who drinks of the Lake Clitorius and he forgets who drinks of a well nere the River Orchomenus sacred to the God Trophonius Philarch. He proves dull of wit that drinks of a Fountain in the Island Cea Agricola de reb 〈…〉 terra effluent gives a cause for it as for the former by reason of the bitumen For saith he the seeds of wild Parsnips wrapt in a linnen clout and put into Wine as also the powder of the flowers of Hermodactylus which the Turks use being drunk with it are the cause that it will make a man sooner and more drunk so some kind of Bitumen mixt with water is wont to make men drunk The horses drinking Sebaris are troubled with sneesing whatsoever is sprinkled with it is couloured black Clitumnus of Umbria drank of makes white Oxen and Cesiphus of Beotia white sheep but a River in Cappadocia makes the hair whiter softer and longer In Pontus Astaces waters the fields in which Mares are fed that feed the whole Countrey with black milk The waters in Gadaris make men bald and deprive Cattle of hair hooffs and horns Cicero writes that in the Marshes of Reate the hoofs of beasts are hardned The hot baths at the Fort of New-house colour the Silver Rings of such as wash in them with a Golden colour and make Gold Rings more beautifull Aniger that runs out of Lapithum a Mountain of Arcadia will nourish no fish in it till it receive Acidan and those that go then out of it into Aniger are not edible but they in Acidan are Pausanias Agrigentinum a Lake of Sicily will beare those things that do not swim in the waters In Aethiopia there is one so thin that it will not carry up leaves that fall from the next Trees In the lake Asphaltiâ—es a man bound hand and foot cannot sink The cause is held to be the great quantity of Salt Hieronymus Florentinus saw a Bankrupt bound and cast headlong from the Tower into it and it bore him up all the night Posidonius observed that bricks in Spain made of Earth with which their Silver plate is rub'd did swim in the waters Cleon and Goon were two Fountains in Phrygia either of their waters made men cry There were two in the fortunate Island they that tasted of one laught till they died
in Also Plutonium in a little hill of a Mountainous Country hath so moderate a mouth that it can receive but one Man but it is wonderfull deep It is compassed about with square pales and that so many as would compasse in half an Acâ—e which are so full of clowdy thick darknesse that the ground can hardly be seen The Ayr hurts not those who come to the outside of the pales as being clear from that darknesse when the winds blow not If a living Creature goes in he dies immediately Bulls brought in fall down and are drawn forth dead Lastly at Hierapolis in Syria as Dio in the Life of Trajan writes there is a den of a filthy and deadly smell what living creature sucks it in is destroyed by it Only Eunuchs are free from the venom and hurt of it Scaliger Exerc. 277. Sect. 4. CHAP. II. Of Comets Artic. 1. Of the Nature and Magnitude of Comets THe original and nature of Comets hath diversly troubled wise then nor yet was any man found that could decide the question Some think they are perpetuall and are carried about the Sun like Venus and Mercury and oft times they lye hid some think they are newly created and are not in sublunary but heavenly places Democritus thought they were the soules of famous men who when they had been vigorous many Ages in the earth make their triumphs when they die Bodine confesseth his ignorance yet he to this inclines and 〈…〉 lâ—st they become 〈…〉 Stars The cause The Ancients say they all vanished and did not seâ— Others said they were of two sorts false ones in the Aire true ones who foreshew'd things to come from the heavenly place What ever it be they are secret things and because they are in the Heavens they are so much the harder That which shined Anno 1456. possessed more than two signs in the Heavens that which appeared Anno 1472 for a whole moneâ—h retrogâ—ade from Libra 〈…〉 through the whole Zodiack in its motion at first 40 parts then 120 parts every day Sennert l. 4. Epitom Cap. 2. Anno 1556. There was one so great that not onely the most light and dry vapours but all Woods and Groves be they as many as are in the whole Earth would not serve for to feed it two moneths that it shined They are Bodin's words l. 2. Theatr. Anno 1543 it had a very long tayl toward the North a flame flew from it like a Dragon it drank up a River and consumed the fruits of the ground Sennert l. c. When Attalus raigned there was one so great that it was stretched out exceedingly and was equall to the milky way in the Heavens Senec. quaest natural l. 7. c. 15. Aristot. 1. Meteorol c. 7. In the time of Anaxagoras a huge great one burned 75 dayes and so great a Tempest of winds followed that it brake a stone off as great as a Chariot and the whirlwind carried it aloft and threw it into the River Aegaeum in Thracia Niceph. l. 12. c. Again in the Reign of Theodosius the elder an unusuall one appeared at midnight about Lucifer and a great multitude of Stars were gathered about it which by their mutual lustre sent out the greater light this was resolved into one flame like to a two edged sword The same day in July the Spaniards report they saw it that was fatall to them and to their Ships Cardanus l. 4. de varietat c. 63. saith it happened either by reason of the purenesse of the Ayr or the union of Light or by reason of the darknesse of the day Artic. 2. Of the Comets signification MEn say it is a fore-runner of Calamities if we look upon the Judgment and it is found so to be It foreshew'd Vespasian's death Romes Captivity by Alaricus the miserable end of Mauritius the destruction of Mahomet the destructive diminution of the Emperours of Rome the end of Charles the Great the Excursion of the Tartars into Silesia and the cutting off of Lugs Records say that Charles the Great when he saw it was frighted and reasoning with Eginhartus he said it foreshew'd the death of a Prince And when he lest he should be sad at it said Be not afraid at the signs in the Heavens He replyed We must fear none but him who created us and the Stars also but we are bound to praise his Clemency who will vouchsafe to admonish our sluggishnesse with such signs Alsted in Chronol One was held to be fortunate which appeared to Augustus when he prepared Plays for his Genitrix Venus These are his words Pliny l. 2. c. 25. The very same dayes I had my pastimes a hairy Star appeared for seven dayes in the Region of Heaven which is under the North Star It rose about the 11th hour of the day and was clear to be seen in all Lands The people believed that that Star signified that Caesar 's Soul must be received amongst the immortall Gods upon which account that Ensign was added to the Image of an head which presently was consecrated by us in the publick Judicature In the one side of an old Roman penny Caesar's Image was to be seen with these Letters Imp Caes Divi 111. Vir R.R.C. on the other side the forepart of Venus Temple with a Star and Caesar's Statue in his Robes of Inauguration and the Altar where he was wont to sacrifice make his Vowes and Controversies by interposâ—ng an Oath and these Letters were added to it Divo Jul. Delchamp add 2. Plin. c. 25. CHAP. III. Of an Ignis Fatuus Helena Castor and Pollux AN Ignis Fatuus useth to be seen about Sepulchres and Gallowses for it riseth from a birdlimy fat Exhalation It is lighted by an Antiperistasis of the ayr in the night and it is carried here and there with the Ayrs motion It seems to fly from travellers coming toward it and to follow those that run from it The Cause is in the Ayr It is driven forward in running and it drawes them forward but in flying from it it followes and keeps them company Hence are strangers travelling in so great danger oft times For they thinking that it is light from Towns fall into bogs These 3. following use to appear at Sea Pliny l. 2. c. 37. saith That these lights are dangerous if they come alone and sink the ships and burn them if they fall to the bottoms of their Vessels but two are successeful and signs of a prosperous Voyage for they by their appâ—oach drive away say they that unhappy and threatning Helena Wherefore they assign that diety to Castor and Pollux and call upon them at Sea making them the tutelar Captains for their Ships Act. 28. c. 11. Cardan de subâ—ilitat l. 2. of the Star Helena writes thus The Star of Helena is almost of the same kind about the Mast of the Ship which falling will melt brazen Vessels a certain sign of shipwrack For it appears onely in great Tempests and cannot be driven into the
ship but by great force of winds being a most grosse Exhalation and burn also whence it signifies imminent danger CHAP. IV. Of Ignis Lambens IGnis Lambens riseth from a thin and fat Exhalation and cleaves to the hairs and clothes of living Creatures and if it be of a hotter temperament it kindles by their sweat Virgil writes some such thing of Ascanius 2. Aeneid Behold a shining Crest was from Jülus head Seen to give light and so the harmlesse flame Did feel full soft and on his Temples fed Cardanus l. de varietat 10. c. 49. relates to a friend of his when he came at one a clock at night laying down his cloak as he was wont to do sparks flew forth behind his Hat but 15 dayes after he being accused of Witchcraft at his friends perswasion went into voluntary banishment Also when Servius Tullius was a little boy and was asleep a flame shined about his head as they saw it in the house Which wonder Tanaquil Wife to Tarquinius Priscus admired at and bred up Servius born of a servant Maid as if he had been her son and he was elevated to be King by her Valer. Max. l. 1. c. 6. Livy l. 35. Also one appeared on the head of L. Martius Commander of two Armies as he made an Oration the ruine of them weakned P. and Cn Scipio in Spain A Boy of Jena pulling off his shirr over the hinder part of his head he wiped many sparks off with it Liban l. 1. de origin rerum The Countesse of Caumantia whilest her hair was kemb'd in the dark it seemed to vomit forth fire We had saith Scaliger Exerc 174. a white War-Horse out of Calabria he in the dark when he was curried seemed to sparkle They give the cause to be refraction of Light in a polished subject as in the dewy Ayrs the drops are as so many Looking-Glasses so in a hairy head fat and clammy and scaly are hairs and scales Also in Insects some fiery matter is said to appear In the Island Solebe all the flyes every night seem to shine so gallantly that they represent so many Torches Libavius l. c. A Worm is found like a Star that shines like a Star in the night May be it is the Sea-Star the Chymists promise to extract light from the liquor of it From the joynts of some Worms in Hispaniola Island a great light shines forth and glitters like hoar frost There are others that will give light 100 paces and that not from their whole body but only from their joynts In Spain of the New World â—here is said to be a Fly like a Beetle for magnitude with it wings in a sheath called Cocujus whose Eyes enlighten the night that it serves for a wax Candle to give light to those that walk abroad and for a Lamp in their Chambers to read and write by and that not onely whilest they live but after they are dead Some make themselves little ropes of those Candles and tie them to their necks to give them light as they travel The cause is not in Ignis Lambens but it lyes in the humours of these Creatures and is done by way of repurcussion some are thought to have some light shining within them Truly Gloworms shut up in your fist give light if you look through a chink in the darkest night Reischius saith That Fish in their scales comprehend some fiery parts and by that they shine The Dolphin seems to confirm this for it seems gilded in the night yet is it blew on the back green on the sides white on the belly Reischius in Margarit Philoso CHAP. V. Of Lightning Thunder and Thunder-bolts HEe that would neerly understand the breeding of Thunder must consult with Chymists for so oft as a part of Salt-Peter and brimstone 〈…〉 there is made a great noise and we shall say that thundring Gold is carried with a greater force Also it is well known that if a mixture be made of Niter Brimstone Quicklime and Bitumen that it will kindle by powring on any moisture and so it is here for when the brimstony and nitrous Vapours in Summer-time are carried upwards by heat of the Sun especially the Southern wind being quiet they are united and condensed by the opposite winds and are kindled by a peculiar antiperistasis hence comes the sound and lightning Histories write that it hath been heard in a cleare Sky Senec. natural l. 2. cap. 30. Aetna somtimes hath abounded with great fire and hath cast out a wonderfull quantity of burning Sand the day was hid in dust and sudden night frighted the people They say that at that time there were great thunder claps and noises in the Sky which were made by the concourse of dry things and not of the Clouds for it is likely in so clear weather that there were none The Thunder-bolt oft times is carried into the Earth because it is cast forth of the Cloud with great violence and is made of a fast and well compacted matter yet Pliny l. 2. c. 55. saith that it never strikes above five foot deep into the Earth The effects of it are wonderful vessells of water are drank up the cover being untouched and no other token being left Gold Brasse Silver have been melted within and the bags no ways burnd nor so much as the Seal of Wax defaced Pliny l. 2. c. 51. Lucius Scipio proved that by Gold he had in a Chest of Osiers Marcia a Queen of the Romans was Thunder-stricken when she was great with Child she had no hurt at all only the Child was killed The cause is put in rarity and thicknesse that penetrates more easy this because it penetrates with more difficulty doth more harm Aristotle 3. Meteorolog c. 1. The wine somtimes stands stil the vessel being broken the cause is because the heat of the thunder thickneth the outward parts of the Wine that the wine seems to stand as shut up in a skin Sennert l. 4. Epitom c. 2. but this hardnesse will not last 3. dayes Seneca quaest natural l. 2. c. 5. That is most admirable which Meâ—rerus in Comment Meteorolog reports that a certain Minister was so suddenly taken away out of the sight of Men in the way that men passe from Lipsia to Torga that he was never seen again Those that shall be presently striken are so stupefied that they neither heare the Thunder nor the greatest claps of it That in the German Warrs hapned to Severus Master of the Horse Julian being Emperour First he was stiffe and then lither death being at hand Pliny writes that it will not touch the Bay-Tree the Sea Calf the Eagle Rhodiginus adds the fig-Tree and saith it is by reason of its bitternesse Rhodig Antig lect l. 3. c. 29. Therefore Tiberius Caesar as Suetonius saith in his life fearing thunder when the Skyes were troubled wore a Crown of Bays upon his head and for this reason saith Columella when a Hen sits they put Bay boughs under
her Therefore they were wont to make the Emperours Tents of Sea Calfs Skins And Suetonius writes that Augustus was so fearfull of Thunder and Lightning that he allwaies carried the same with him Severus the Emperour had a litter made of the same matter for the same purpose yet Vicomercatus ad 3. Meteoror c. 10. relates that the Bay Tree is somtimes stricken from Heaven and Conimbricense thinks this freedome it hath to be but imaginary but only by an instinct of nature they foreshew Thunder I need not speak much of the Thunder-bolt kept in houses of hearb and Candles at the mâ—re solemn feasts purged with holy water and of the ringing of Bells who sees not but that these things are superstitious Some of them say Remig. l. 1. daemonol c. 26 that ringing of Bells is uneffectuall and uselesse if any one of them when it is purged beare the name of the Priests Concubine For if that sound do rarify the Ayre which yet spoken absolutely is false for it neither dissipates the Clouds that are neerer to us nor doth it fly right upwards but in many places it comes forth obliquely by the Windows nor doth it come to the Cloud it were better that only the great Guns should be shot off and only the greatest Bells Rung Constant observation shews that Dogs Cats and Goats are most obnoxious to be Thunder struck Hence it is that if a Dog be by a man in an open field he will be frighted and lye between his feet Cl. Bortholinus casts the cause of it upon the Vapours breathing forth of these Creatures bodys which as a known matter and nutriment the Vapours for thunder follow especially if these Creatures be abroad that they may be freely carried into the open Ayre Hence it is that Cats are often stricken in the entry and who knows not that the Dogs and Goats smell strong And Cats send out such Plenty of Vapours by their pores that some men have fainted at their being present and the more noble Horses if they be hid in the Coach will sweat extreamly as experience teacheth Thunder seldom hapneth in the Winter For but very few or allmost no hot exhalations are lifted up yet Curtius l. 8. de Alex mentioneth that in the time of Alexander There was saith he allmost a continuall Thunder and the Thunder bolts seemed to fall in divers places then suddenly a shore of hayle was poured forth like a Torrent and force of cold froze this showre into Ice Olaâ—s l. â— c. 6. thinke that they are more vehement in Northern Climates for they kill Men and in the Kingdom of Mongall in Tartary they fall mingled with Snow In Brasile Thunder bolts fall but seldome but such lightnings that they seem lighter than the Sun Joseph Ac. sta Anno 1560. In the time of Marcus Antoninus the Philosopher we read that the Enemy was stricken with Thunder at the prayers of the Christian Souldiers whence the Christian Legion was called the Thundring Legion presently saith the Emperour of them in Epist. as they lay upon their Faces and prayed to a God I know not a cold shower fell upon us but upon our Enemies hail mingled with thunder that we found immediately that the hand of the mighty God assisted us CHAP. VI. Of the Winds Artic. 1. Of the Originall of Winds ARistot 2. Meteor c. 4. saith That the Sun is the cause of the winds by drawing up the moysture that is upon the surface of the Earth and by heating doth dry the Earth it self Lydiat likes not this opinion For the Earth moystned being dryed affords but little matter for winds For the Earth drinks in no more rain than may quench its thirst and which it may change into a dry nature from whence comes no Exhalation of the same allowance much goes to rain which is no small part of it What then shall be left for the vast winds wherefore inward heat is pleaded for And truly in Winter the Earth sends forth a smoky exhalation In the Southern parts Winds arise from Snow A breath riseth from Lakes and standing Pools and storms from the Sea though it be calm whence is this but that the Earth breathes out vapours which break forth through the depth of waters The Chymical Instrument will shew this which they use for bellowes Sennert l. 4. Epitom c. 3. A Globe is made of Copper that it may be fill'd with water and then shut a pipe with a small hole is made of one side the Glob fill'd with water is set to the fire and the pipe for bellowes is set to another As the Globe growes hot and the water rarifies the Ayr continually breathes forth and serves for bellows till all the water be consumed Winds are then bred when heat burns the moyst Earth The Sun by drying openeth the pores and the Ayr helps by its motion If it rise from the Sea the Sea at firsâ— calm making a muttring noise signifies that an exhalation that is matter for wind is already then bred in the bowels of it some fishes sport some fasten themselves to rocks then the Sea swelling a little shewes that the exhalation newly bred seeks a passage forth then when it fails it shews it is come to the superficies but in small quantity then the blasts breaking forth with all their force lift up the waves before them and cause Winds and Tempests Artic. 2. Of the Kinds and Effects of Winds THere are many kinds of Winds which were chiefly found out by Navigation and the operations of them according to the difference of their blasts and properties The North-East wind drawes clowds to it Circeius a Southern wind hinders that the North wind be not mingled with the smell of plants and the force of it is so great that it will overthrow an armed man and lift ships up from the water into the Ayr and carry away Windmills with the stones house and men to some other place Pliny l. 2. c. 47. Gel. l. 2. c. 22. Olaus l. 1. c. 4. and 2. c. 3. There is a whirlwind that causeth such Tempests to those that sail out of the Country of China to Jupan that it is a miracle to escape shipwrack In the Country of St. Vincent it roots up Woods in Hispaniola it will take up men and carry them a furlong If they arise in the Island of Ormuth they kill those they meet with heat and they part the flesh of those that are killed from the bones as boyling water doth To avoid the danger they hide themselves in the water up to the head Ovetan l. 6. Polus l. 1. c. 5. Women are wonderfully prone to lust when their privities are obvious to the South wind but the North wind is said to be fit for generation whence it is that some believe it will raise men dying with its blast Rhodigin l. 54. c. 4. l. 15. c. 23. In Lesbos at Mytilene when the South wind blowes men are sick they cough when the
In the Warr of Mithridates at Apamaea a City of Phrygia new Lakes Pools Fountains and Rivers came forth many of the old ones being suckt in and amongst these one was salt that put forth an infinite plenty of Fish and Oysters and yet Apamaea is far distant from the Sea Nicolaus Damascenus During the second Punick Warr there were such great Earthquakes at Liguria and the parts neer unto it so far as the Sea of Tyrrhenum that the Rivers ran the contrary ways The most wonderfull Earthquake was in Hereford here in England in the year of Grace after the 15 century 71 the 12 of the Calâ—nds of March at six a Clock at night the Earth parted in the Eastern part of the County and a Mountain with a Rock under it first with a wonderfull noise and roaring that the neighbour parts might hear it as if it had been raised out of a long sleep lifted up it self and ascended into an upper place leaving its deep Chamber and it carryed with it the Trees that grâ—w upon it the folds and slooks of sheep some of the Trees lay overwhelmed with the Earth others were joyned to the Mountain and grew there as well as if they had been there planted at first It left the place from whence it came with a great pit 40 foot broad and 80 els long The whole field was about twenty Acres It overthrew a Chappel in its way It carryed a Peare Tree that was planted in the Church-yard from West to East and with the same force it thrust forward high ways Paths Hedges with Trees that grew in them It made pasture ground of arable and arable again of pasture It rolled against the upper ground and being driven with greater violence it heaped it up into a high Mountain so when it had passed up and down from Saturday evening till Munday noon it rested quiet This is Cambdens description of it The Philosophers call this kind of Earthquake 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To this may be referred the Earthquake in Apulia Anno. 1627 it was open above 200 miles and overthrow great part of the City St. Severus Sarra Capreola Dragonora Procina of St. Lyander it laid hold on Assolum Bovinium Troia Andria Tranium Foggita Campus Marinus Remitium Itistonium Franca Villa Asanum Consilinum c Also it killed 17 thousand Men. It is certain that it brings with it not only present mischiefs but it is a forerunner of mischiefs to follow Rome had never any Earth-quake that did not foreshew some future eventâ— Pliny l. 2. c. 64. Socrates saith it foretells of discords in religion wherefore what the Romans did of former times by appointing holydays by injunction let us do the same They might feare lest by naming one God for an other they might induce the people to a false religion but we know that God by whose power the Earth is shaken CHAP. VIII Of Rain THere is a great difference in respect of the abundance of Rain in time and other circumstances and very wonderfull no lesse variety than there is in dayes and oft-times greater if you respect extraordinary things In Ahab's days it rained not for 3. years It never rains in Cyrenica The harvest there is onely that which for the hasty ripening of things by reason of the Sun or Ayr or Winds useth to come to passe It is reported that from sowing of Seed it is but 30 days to the harvest Maiolus Colloq 1. About Uraba a City of the New World it rains most part of the year and therefore the drops hang alwayes on the trees Hispal p. 5. c. 26. It never rains in Winter amongst the Tartars but oft in Summer But in the Country of Mexico the drops fall with such force that they are said to kill men If you consider the substance it is common water that is the matter of it yet examples shew that it hath been of another kind oft times It rained blood sometimes in Borussia Thuan. l. 27. in the Island Pelagia gold in Lucania iron before the Parthian War in which Crassus was slain Ammian l. 17. It rained Corn in Carinthia for two hours above two miles space of which they made bread Thuan. l. 5. de Anno 1548. Stones fell with rain as big as Hens eggs wherein were pictures of mens countenances and Diadems Lintur ad fascic Anno 1496. Ashes rained in the time of Leo which lay a little hands heighth upon the tyles Niceph. l. 15. c. 20. In the Wood Neuholen they say that a great piece of Iron fell out of the Ayr like to the drosse and it weighed many pounds so that it was too heavy to carry and no Cart could carry it because the wayes were unpassible Agricola observ Metal c. 8. In Egypt it frequently rains very small drops Mice breed of them that use to gnaw and cut the ears of Corn Aelian l. 6. c. 40. Also in Thebais when it rains with hail Mice are said to appear in the earth half mud half flesh Aelian l. 2. c. 56. But that is most wonderful if it be not a Fable that Olâ—us l. 18. and Ziglerus hath in Norway concerning the Northern Creatures And from them Scaliger hath it Exerc. 192. Sect. 3. Lemer bestiolae There are four-footed Creatures as big as field Mice of a divers coloured skin they fall in tempests and showers we know not whether they come from the remote Islands or from foeculent clowds Assoon as they fall you shall find herbs in their bowels raw not digested These like Locusts eat up all green things this plague continues till green herbs come again They come together like Swallows departing they either dye at the set time or are devoured by Lefrat other little Beasts We were told by our Master the famous Doctor Menelaus Vinsenius Doctor of Physick and Professor in the University of Frisia that it rained Frogs in Ameland which admits of no Frogs To conclude in Velaunium there rained from Heaven so many Caterpillars in one night that they were forced for two dayes to burn straw to kill them creeping in their houses all the men and women there were hardly sufficient to perform this work Dalechaâ—p ad l. 2. Pliny c. 56. Sennertus thinks that Creatures that can breed of putrifaction are bred either of some matter watred by rain or else they lying hid in the bowels of the Earth are called forth but more perfect Creatures and stones come another way yet he thinks that many of these ought to be referred to superiour Causes CHAP. IX Of Snow and Hail IN the Winter there is an infinite abundance of Snow with us but there is none in the deep Sea Pliny l. 2. c. 103. Nor is there any such in Aethiopia Alvarez de reb Aethiop But it is greater in the North. Sometimes great Trees being in the way it all sticks upon the boughes and the Ayr stops it that it can fall no lower making as it were a vaulted Gallery It is said to have beaten down
the Clods Diodor. Sicul. A Venemous frog is bred deep within the Earth where you can see no holes when as the futures of stones are broken with wedges Agricola Of the rayning of blood and flesh there are many Histories and that came not by the Sun drawing blood from Carkeises but by changing the humour so disposed In a ditch of the Town Beichelstein beneath out of a Willow stinking blood ran At Spira they say it came forth of bread At Suidnicium a bloody Fleece of Snow fell down like hail What shall I say more The Chymists say that of Satyrium great Comfrey Tutsan Bread and Wine a juyce may be made that is perfectly blood which by due digestions may be made into substantial flesh Of Brimstone boyled in Linseed Oyle they make a Masse like a Liver Lastly the fowls in the Orcades are said to be fruits of Trees You shall see it proved in the appendix of the sixth Classis Wherefore we conclude with Libavius that there may be Fossil Flesh and with this discourse we will shut up this Classis Setting aside those things that may be said concerning Devill in Mettalls which we shall speak of in our Thaumatographia Pneumatica which if God pleaseth we intend to publish I add one thing that I had forgot When Henry the 2. King of France was at Bononia there was brought to him from the East Indies by an unknown person but as it appeared by his gesture a Barbarous fellow a stone of a wonderfull shape and nature for it shone with light and clearnesse exceedingly and it seemed as if it were all on fire and turn it which way you would the lustre of it so enlightned the ayre with its beams that they could hardly endure to look upon it And this was strange in it that it could endure no earth upon it but if it were covered with it it would break forth with violence of its own accord no art of man could hold it in a narrow place for it delighted in the spacious Ayre it was exceedingly pure and bright no filth was upon it it had no certain figure but was inconstant and changed in a moment and being so beautifull to behold yet it was not safe to touch it and those that dealt roughly with it to hold it felt the inconvenience as many that stod by can testify If any part were broken off from it by contending with it for it was not very hard yet the vertue of it was very usefull for many things and the Stranger said it was needfull chiefly for Kings He boasted much of the miracle but refused to discover it unlesse he might first receive a mighty reward Thuan saith that he delivered these things as they were in Leters of John Pipin an eye witnesse of it who in the Family of A. Mamorantius M. E. professed Physick and sent his Leters to Antony Mizaldus a famous Physitian also to Bononia on the day before Ascension day and saith he leaves the matter to Philosophers to discusse farther For Pipinus in his Letters neither said that the Antient knew any such stone nor do I affirm it Thuan l. 5. Histor. The End of the Fourth Classis OF Naturall VVonders The Fifth Classis Wherein are the Wonders of Plants NAture daily breeds Flowers and Sents it is evident that men are much admonished thereby that those things that flourish most delightfully do soonest wither Plin. l. 21. histor Natural c. 1. CHAP. I. Of Plants in generall WEe have seen the Wonders of things without life Now let us see the Wonders of living Creatures Plants are first in order not that they are the chief but because they have that degree in common to all living Creatures They have a vegetative soul producing the nutritive augmenting and generative faculties with all things subordinate to them And besides each hath a specificall form of its own being works by it and is distinguished from others Nature hath made up their bodies of certain parts which Philosophers call the kernel the pith the bark of the root the stock the boughes the branches the flowers the fruit As these vary so is there very great difference in Plants The Earth is their Mother their faculty was given by creation and because qualities are different it is found very various in Plants also Moses speaks expresly Let the Earth bring forth grasse the herb yielding seed and the fruit tree yielding fruit after its kind whose seed is in it self upon the Earth But Porta l. 2. Phytogn c. 1. when he had heaped up much ground together which was cast forth from the foundations of houses and laid it open to the Ayr a few dayes after from the divers qualities of the Earth divers sorts of herbs sprang forth He saw these things familiarly in Naples climat and grounds some of them must needs marry The principles of Male and Female are mingled in them But that which Pliny writes is false that they are begot by the West wind They wither that fructifie most for their nourishment is consumed and beyond St. Thomas Island the South wind onely is said to blow elsewhere onely two winds by courses And it is certain that all kinds of Plants do not grow in all places For near Rome Chestnuts will hardly grow and about Cimmerian Bosphorus in the City Particapaeum King Mithridates and the rest of the Inhabitants wanted the Bay and Myrtill Tree in their solemnities Some new Plants are found in new-found places as Tobacco lately in America wild Tobacco was found in the Woods of Thuringia Libavius l. 4. de orig rerum Anaxagoras ascribes it to the ayr that hath in it the seeds of all things and sends them down in showrs and they become Plants Diogenes to the waters putrifying and mingled with the earth Others to the winds bringing them We ascribe them to Divine providence which did not produce each individual plant but disposed of the best in Paradise and left the rest without endowing some with virtues to come forth into the light at their set times As for their Life they live by heat in the earth and dye with cold Theophrastus l. 2. de Plant. c. 4. testifies that some of them will spring again if an Olive Tree be burned to the root it will grow again Some will live without the ground as Onions and Garlick which being many moneths from the Earth grow without any nutriment from thence being fortified by much grosse humour of their own Marcel l. 4. histor medic mir c. 12. The forces of Plants are wonderful It hath been observed that if men with wands travel where ill Plants grow the Ulcers will be inflamed and cured where the Plants are healthful Mathiol in Dioscor Praefat. By touching of Spleenwort Splenetick people have been helped and Jaundy-sick by putting Celandine to their naked feet in their shooes No man shall be troubled with blear-eyes so long as he keeps very clean by him the root of the wild sowr Dock He shall not
that Fig was taken from the Tree And when they all granted it was newly gathered he replied 3 dayes since was this pulled at Carthage so neere to our walls is the enemy They presently began the 3d Punick Warre wherein Carthage was rooted out In Hyrcania there are some that each of them will beare 260 Bushells Plin. l. 15. c. 18. CHAP. XX. Of the Ash Mushrooms and the Beech. THe Ash is an Enemy to Serpents none of them can â—ndure the shade of it though it be late at night Plin. l. 16. c. 13. Pliny saith he proved it that if a Serpent be compassed in with Ashwood and fire he will leap into the fire before he will passe over the Ash wood This is the great bounty of Nature that it flowers before the Serpents come forth nor do the leaves fall till the Serpents be gone to hide themselves Vessels made of the wood of it for use of meat and drink help the Splâ—â—â— and the Stone wonderfully Dom. Zean l. 1. pract At the waters 〈…〉 out of which fire breaks forth it did once prosper Pliny hist. l. 2. c. 107. Mushrooms groâ— so great in Namidia that they are thicker than Quindes In the Kingdome of Nanles the crust of the ground is thick and like Marble that being covered with earth a span deep and sprinkled with warm water in 4. dayes sends forth Mushromes Scalig. Exerc. 181. S. 1. It is of necessity that there be some seminary vertue out of whose bosome they may proceed for the water that is sprinkled on affords matter and nutriment and also a procatarctical cause Libav l. 1. Epist. Chym. 30. If they be boyled or the juice be pressed forth and poured at the roots of Trees especially Beech-Trees Mushroms will grow from thence in great abundance Sennert de cons. et disp Chym. c. 12. In the Northern parts under the Pole Beech-Trees are frequent of a magnetick vertue and the Mushroms that grow to them are changed into Loadstones saith Olaus l. 12. c. 1. CHAP. XXI Of Guaicum and Gentian GUaicum is of great vertue against the French-Pox In Italy at first they were fearful to drink it Bread and Raisins were prescribed with a moderate diet and to live 40 dayes in a dark Chamber and that so curiously that they admit not of the least Ayr Mathiol in l. 1. c. 3 The errour was observed afterwards and Hens flesh was allowed but not a drop of Wine Mathiolus was the first that tryed it with successe and others followed him Gentian called also Cruciata is the herb of S. Ladistaus a King The report is that the Tartars drove him out of Hungary and that he fled to Claudiopolis a City of Daâ—ia There he grew acquainted with a rich man and became his Godfather He helped him to drive out the Tartars They as they fled threw down moneys of Gold that they had plundered in the field of Aradium as a means to hinder those that pursued them The King pray'd unto God that they might be changed into stones and it was so Hence it is that there are so many stones there After this Hungary being afflicted with a grievous Plague He obtain'd of God that what plant an Arrow shot into the Ayr should fall down upon might be a remedy for that disease It fell upon Cruciata and by the use of that the Plague was driven out of that Country Camerar Centur. 3. Memorab s. 23. CHAP. XXII Of Broom Ginger and St. Johns-wort IN stony and sandy grounds 3. foot from Broom one moneth before and after the Calends of June there is a kind of Broomrape found that is a cubit high if this be bruised and the juice pressed forth which is like to clear wine and be kept in a glasse bottle stopt all the year it is an excellent remedy against the Plague Ginger is a root that creeps along with knots and joynts the leaves are like reed leaves that wax green anew twice or thrice a year Mathiol l. 2. c. 154. There is some difference in the taste when it is dug forth before its time to be ripe The fit time to gather it is when the root growes dry otherwise it is subject to Worms and rottennesse St. Johns-Wort both feed and flower is wonderful to heal all wounds besides those in the head Some write that the Devils hate it so much that the very smell of it drives them away I think this superstitious The same is reported of Pellitary especially for green wounds If it be bruised green and bound to a wound and taken off the third day there will need no other Medicament Mathiol in l. 4. c. 81. CHAP. XXIII Of Elecampane Turnsole and Hiuoa ELecampane is a yearly Plant that growes higher than a man Sometimes 24 foot in height it growes up in 6. moneths after the seed is sown on the top of the stalk there growes a head like an Artichoke but it is rounder and broader and it extends it self with a flower as big as a great Dish Bauhin ad lib. 4. Dioscor c. 182. Sometimes the diameter of the dish is more than a foot and half and it is compassed about with long leaves of a golden colour or as it were Sun-beams and the plain of it in the middle is purple colour The seed is disposed of in the holes of the dish it hath a black rind and sweet substance within so great is the abundance of it that sometimes you shall find above a thousand in one dish Some there are that take the tender stalks of the leaves and scraping away the Down they boyl them on a grid-iron and season them with Salt Oyl and Spices and they are better tasted than Artichokes It is a wonder that it turns with the Sun East and West for when the Sun riseth as if it did adore the Sun it bows down the head and it riseth with it alwaies pointing toward the Sun and opening it self very much at the root of it till the Sun sets Turnsole kills Pismires if you stop their holes with it If a Scorpions hole be compassed about with the juice of it he will never come forth but if you put in the herb he dies Mathiol ad l. 4. c. 186. Hiuca is as great as a mans thigh it goes about with the Sun though it be a clowdy day and at night it is contracted as sad for the Suns absence Plin. l. 22. c. 21. They break it into fine meal by rubbing it with Pumex stones or whetstones then they put it into an Hippocras bag and pour water to it and presse forth the juice The Liquor is deadly but the meal that is left is set in the Sun as they do Sugar-Candy when the meal is dry they temper it with water and make bread of it Scalig. Exâ—rc 153. l. 8. CHAP. XXIV Of Impia Juniper and Glasse-wort IMpia is thought to be a plant that no Creature will taste of and from thence it hath its name yet bruised
one is got out of Canes two ways for either it is pressed out and boyl'd to the whitenesse of Sugar or it comes forth of it self from the reeds like teares From the Indies formerly they sent it so gathered with their other Merchandise That which is called Sugar-Candy was carried about in reeds Histories testify it was made naturally For at Dathecala in the Indies it is sold for Merchandise In St. Thomas Island the reeds yeeld it every Month. In the fifth Month they are ripe and are cut down and are grund and pressed for the juyce what remaines is given to Fowle and Hogs and it will fat them wonderfully and it will make them so tender and delicate that no hens flesh can be better for those that are sick to feed on Another kind of Sugar sweats-out wonderfull strangely The Arabians and Aegyptians call it Tigala They say a little Worm doth eate the hearb whence Sugar swells forth and grows together in little peices It quencheth thirst is good for the Chest and takes away a Cough CHAP. XLVI Of other Miracles of some Trees NAture is rich and her riches are so various that they not only delight our understanding but exercise our industry Truly besides what we have said there are many wonderfull things In the Island Tylos there are Trees that beare Wool and their fruit is guords as big as Quinces these breaking when they are ripe shew balls of Down or Cotton of which they make pretious linnen garments Plin. l. 12. c. 10 In great Java they say there is a rare Tree whose pith is Iron it is very small yet runs from the top to the bottom of the Plant. The fruit that grows on it is not to be pierced with Iron Scaliger calls it Exerc. 181. s. 27. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In the Island Cimbubon there is another whose leaves fallen down upon the earth do move and creep It hath leaves like the Mulberry-Tree They have on both sides like two little feet pressed they yeeld no liquor If you touch them they flye from you One of them kept 8 dayes in a dish lived and moved so oft as one touched it Scalig. Exerc. 112 in Malavar there is a plant that contracts it self if any one puts his hand to it and if you pull back your hand it recovers it self again Garzias ab horto That which he described from Costa under the name of Mimosa hortensis put your hand to it it withers take it away it grows green again The same Authour says that there is a certain Tree that is full of faire sweet flowers all night but so soon as the Sun riseth it withers yet whatsoever this is it may be ascribed to the tenuity of the Spirits of it But Linschot saith there is one that is contrary to this In Virginia there is an hearb that the leaves are good Silk and they take it off like a thin shining Membrane It is two foot and a half high the leaves are two foot long and half a foot broad In England there vvas made a triall of this in weaving For of this plant the whole Web made vvas silk and approoved for good Arioth in Verginia In America there is the flower of Granadilla in which may be seen the instruments of Christs passion the Nails the Rod the Pillar the Crown the Wounds Mejer de Annat Scoticis That Libav l. 4. de orig rer ascribes to Imagination And saith he a friend of mine hath a Cherry-stone upon which may be seen 120 faces In the Northern Island there are Rocks of Loadstone If Beeches grow upon them they are turn'd into Loadstone Olaus l. 2. c. 1. There is also in Musicanum an Indian Tree extreme high the boughs of it are above 12 Cubits long and it not only grows downwards of it self but it fastneth in the ground of its own accord and roots anew and from thence arise new Trees the boughs do thus bow down also and cause more Trees and thus they will grow in ranks that they will make an Arbour for 400 men to walk under Not far from Malacca there is another that hath many roots and as they divide severally into parts so are they of different vertues For those parts that look toward the East are an Antidote against poyson but the parts toward the West are poyson Senar res p. 4. c. 17. A certain fiery root cut in pieces if it be set right over against a burning Candle at first it makes it blink and at last it puts it out and that hath been often proved Biker in proph s. 2. There was a firr Tree very admirable seen in a Ship which brought it from Aegypt by the command of Caius the Emperour There was a foursquare obelisk set up in the Vatican and he brought four blocks of the same stone to support it The thicknesse of that Tree was as much as four men could fathom Plin. l. 16. c. 40. The root of the hearb Aproxis takes fire a great way off Plin. l. 24. c. 17. From Trees in India as high as Cedars or Cypresse Trees and with leaves broader then Palm-Tree leaves they are called Carpiâ—n an oyle distills that is taken with wooll pressed against the Trees and you may smell it five furlongs off In the same Authour we read of the Tree Parebo that grows only in Kings Gardens it is as great as an Olive Tree without flower or fruit but under the earth the roots are as thick as a mans arm Nine inches of it will draw Gold Silver Brasse Stones or any thing but Amber but an ell of it will draw Sheep and Lambs The weight of an Obolus cast into water will make it congeal and wine also that you may work it in your hands like wax yet the day after it will resolve again Libav l. 2. debitum c. 6. this seems to be a stinking ly if it be not well interpreted but surely a Philosopher cannot want that interpretation you shall find it loc cit CHAP. XLVII Of Wonders of Trees SOme are found that bear no leafs And Pliny l. 17. c. 25. tells us of a Vine and Pomegranate Tree that did bear fruit on the body or stem not on the branches or boughes and of a Vine that had fruit without leafs and of Olive Trees that the berries remain'd when the leafs were fallen We said that an Olive Tree burn'd down quite will grow again and in Boeotia Fig-trees eaten with Worms will bud again At Pausania in Arcadia the Oke and Olive Tree will grow both upon one root Dalechamp ad loc cit The same at Corinth called Hercules Club from a wild Olive Tree took root and grew again When Xerxes came to Laodicea a Plane-Tree became an Olive Tree A Tree sank into the ground at Cumanum a strange thing a little before the Civill Wars of Pompey onely a few boughs were to be seen At Cyzicum before Mithridate's siege a Fig-Tree grew out of a Bay-Tree when he with 100000 men and
treads them and ratifies as it were the seed eaten Those hens that he treads not do bring eggs that are windy Olaus Magnus writes that in the Winter in the North the lesser Urogalli will lye hard under the Snow two or three moneths But in Pontus they say in Winter some Birds are found that neither boult their feathers nor do they feel when their feathers are pluckt out nor when they are thrust through with a spit but onely then when they wax hot at the fire It is hardly true The greater Grygallus is so deaf that he cannot hear the noise of a great Gun CHAP. XXXVI Of the Batt PLato calls the Bat a bird and no bird Valla half a Mouse He loves Caves and holes in the earth In the hollow placeâ— of Apenniâ—uâ— there were some thousands that lodged It brings forth the young ones ready formed when they are bred they are first like young Mice smooth and naked as young children She suckles her young ones with her milk and she casts them especially between the hollow places in Tiles or roofs of houses They stick so fast to her Teats that they cannot be pull'd off when she is dead She the second day after she hath disburden'd her self of them flies to find food but in the mean time she devours the secondines Sometimes she is bred of putrid matter Frisius saith she proceeds from a sickly excretion of the Ayr she flyes with leather wings or as Isidore saith born up with the membranes of her arms flying winding up and down and not far from the earth When she is weary she hangs by her claws the rudiments whereof they have in the middle of their wings she will fly also with two young ones in her bosome They eat Gnats Flies Bacon They will so eat a flitch that hangs by a beam that they will lye in the hollow place In hot Countries they will fly at mens faces In Dariene a Province of the New World they troubled the Spaniards in the night One of them fell upon a Cock and Hen and bit the Cock dead Martyr Pompilius Azalius saith That in the East-Indies some are so great that they will strike men passing by down with their wings The Argument of this is their carcases that lie all over the Vale. The Storks eggs grow barren if a Bat touch them unlesse she take â—eed by laying Plane-tree leaves in her nest It is killed by the smell and smoke of Ivy Aelian de animal Locusts will not flye over the place where Bats are hang'd on the Trees that lie open The biting of it is cured with Sea-water or other hot water or with hot ashes as hot as one can suffer it Strabo saith That in Borsippa a City of Babylon where they are greater than in other places they are pickled up for food So in St. John's Island they are skinned with hot water and they are made like chickens with their feathers pull'd off with us for their flesh is very white The Inhabitants of the Isle of Catigan in the Sea del Zur do eat them They are as great as Eagles and as good meat as Hens Scalig. Exerc. 236. s. 3. CHAP. XXXVII Of the Vulter THe Vulter hath filthy and terrible eyes and a space under his throat as broad as ones hand set about with hairs like Calfs hairs Bellonius l. 2. observ c. 1. He hunts after Cattell in Chyla a Province of the West-Indies and that not from Sun-rising till Noon but from Noon till Night Monard de Arom Some say that the males are not bred but the females conceive by the wind which is false for they have been seen between Worms and Augusta of Trevirs â—o couple and to lay eggs Alb. Mag. They are so libidinous that when they are kindled if the male be absent they will tread one the other and conceive by a mutuall Imagination of lust or else drawing dust by force of desire they will lay eggs When he wants his prey he will draw blood from his thighs to feed on Simocatta writes that they are great with eggs 3. years He hath an excellent sight for he will see when the Sun riseth from East to West and when the Sun sets from West to East He will smell Carrion 500 miles Aldrovand Avicenna saith That he sees the carcases from aloft but Aldrovanduâ— writes That the wind carries the sent of them to him He hath an exquisite sense to perceive He lives a hundred years If you pick your teeth with his quill it will make your breath sowr A kernel of a Pomegranate will kill him Plin. l. 30. c. 4. Aelian l. 6. c. 46. The End of the Sixth Classis AN APPENDIX TO The Sixth Classis Wherein some things are taken out of a Treatise of Michael Maierus a most famous Physitian concerning the Bird that growes on Trees WHen one shall read that there is a place in the World where Geese grow on Trees like Apples perchance he will be doubtfull concerning the truth of it and question the Authour And if any man shall say that living Creatures are bred not onely of one but of divers kinds from Trees and vegetables that part will fly and part will not fly hâ— will have enough to do to make good what he sayes if he would not be accounted a Lyar. Yet I think it may be easily proved by what we have said already where we have asserted from experience that Gnats are bred in Okes and mosse of Okes and Worms are bred in other Trees and Vegetables which though they be small creatures yet are they reckoned in the number of living creatures because they feel and move Yet I should not affirm the first as the words sound For Birds make their nests sometimes in Trees hedges bryars and other vegetables but that they grow there like pears is incredible There is one of the Canary Islands called Ferro where is a Fountain of sweet water concealed and there is none besides in the whole Island in some Trees by a wonderfull Indulgence of Nature the leaves do draw abundantly water out of the Earth or Ayr which they drop down for the Inhabitants to drink For should they want this boon no men nor Cattell could live there for there are no Fountains but the Ocean or salt-salt-water runs round about it The great bounty of God hath afforded water to those to whom it is denyed in other considerations As in Egypt where there never falls any rain Nilus overflowes to supply that defect and other Countries have other gifts given them So also is this bird afforded to the Isles of the Orcades and other neighbouring places which is found no where else Yet should any man look to find him growing on the Trees he might wander all the Woods over and find none nor yet do Pyrats amongst the Ferrenses find water but are forced to leave the Country for want of it nor can they find it in the Trees Concerning this bird that is no Fable that
every thing had a sufficient perfection given to it and is content with it thence we see his goodnesse They are all from God and they tend unto God thence is glory Article 2. Of the Parts of the World and the disposing of them WEe need not be over-curious for the matter of it It contains the Heaven with the Stars the Elements Meteors in the Ayr Fishes in the Waters Minerals in the secrets of the Earth Plants Animals and Man are in the upper surface They are all materiall and corporeal things which wise men include in it and they are all realities Heaven is thought to be uncompounded the Elements serve for composition Meteors are imperfectly mixt Minerals perfectly but without life Plants with life but without sense Beasts with life and sense but without reason Man with life sense and reason is the compendium of all a little world in the great world The perfection is as great as the matter could bear the Workmaster could give more but the Matter was not capable of it Scalig. Exerc. 243. s. 3. The goodnesse is confirmed by the decree of God Gen. 1. vers ult He saw and behold all things were good The manner of ordering them in this great Engine Zeno in Laertius amongst the Philosophers hath declared That God at first whilest he was alone changed all essence by Ayr into Water and as in the birth the seed is contain'd so God who is the seminal cause of the World left such a seed in the moysture that should afford an easie and fit matter for this work for the generation of things afterwards Then he first produced the four Elements Fire Water Ayr Earth c. Trismegistus in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 speaks true There was saith he infinite darknesse in the deep and the water and an intelligible spirit were by Divine vertue existing in the Chaos wherefore the holy light was taken away and the Elements were congealed and fastned beneath of a moyst substance and all these embraced and were in love with a seminall nature And when all things were undivided and not set in order they were parted and things that were leight chose the uppermost place heavy the lowest moyst the dry Land all of them being divided by the Fire and hanging in the Ayr and carried by it And the Heaven appeared in 7. circles and the gods appearing in the Aspects of the Stars with all their signs and the whole circumference was distinguished and with the gods that are in it was circumscribed with the circumambient Ayr and carried by a moving Divine spirit And every God by his own vertue produced what he was commanded and there were brought forth four-footed beasts creeping things Fishes Birds and every seminall plant and grasse and flowers and every herb contain'd in themselves seeds of regeneration and the Generations of men were for the knowledge of Divine things c. But Moses sets it down most truly Gen. Chap. 1. Heaven and Earth and Light the first day are The Firmament dividing Waters second were The third the waters parted Plants the Earth The fourth to Sun and Moon and Stars gives birth The fifth gives Fishes and all kind of Birds The sixth brought Cattell all made by Gods Words Then Man was made the seventh rest affords Danaeus in Phys. Christiana Artic. 3. Of Unity Figure and Soul of the World DEmocritus and Empedocles supposed that other worlds were made successively of some indivisible small seeds Hence Alexander complain'd that he had not yet conquered one Origines 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 said they were infinite successively that the Elementary world was made every 7 thousand years and the heavenly once in 4900 years For the Sabbath for the earth and the yeare of Jubilee was wont to return every 7th year and every 49 yeares Leo Hebraeus toucheth upon this opinion Dialog de Amore where he saith The inferior world by the opinion of the old divines is generated corrupted and renewd once in 7000 years But because we see nothing moved in it confusedly nor any thing set without it whither shall we go out of it Our desire is answered For in the end of our cogitations the same question alwaies returns Wherefore we say that there is but one world and the figure of it is plain like to a skin stretched forth very large saith Basilius But Plato held that it was like a Circumvex pointed with many Angles Sanchumates Berytius the most ancient writer of the affaires of Phoenicia said it was like to an Egge wherefore at the feasts of Bacchus they religiously adored an egg as the emblem of the world Some compare it to the greek letter Ω in which the outward lineament represents the Ocean Dalecham P. ad l. 2. Plin. hist. c. 3. But that it is made like a Globe not only the name and consent amongst men that call it so but every mans eyes can tell him for it is convex and one half look upon it which way we will Plato Of which living creatures he would have all other living creatures contain'd he framed that of such a forme that in that one all the rest might be contain'd The Stoâ—cks would have it to be a living creature endued with sense and reason Hence grew that description by its parts The Starr saith Plutarch of the face of the Moon are shining eyes in the face of the world they run their race the Sun is in place of the Heart as this affords blood and spirit so that sends forth heat and light the world useth the Earth and the Sea as a living creature doth its belly and bladder The Moon between the Sun and the Earth is as the Liver between the heart and belly or some soft bowel and attenuating its respirations by some concoction and purgation scatters them about Elegantly but not true For the world hath no known soul if we ascribe any thing to it all will be but a diffused force common to all and in proportion we may call it a soul. For what the soul is in bodies the same is force diffused in the universe Combach in Phys. cap. de Mundo Artic. 4. Of the Duration of the World past and to come THe duration of the World both past and to come is sought out by many but no certainty is proved The Aegyptians formerly boasted of 48000 years past in their History the Chaldaeans 470000 The East-Indies 700000. The Aegyptians are disproved by their disagreement one of them reported 20000 to Solon that asked him another 1300 to Herodotus The Chaldaeans alleage that in 48863 there have been only 832 luminaries But the doctrine of Astronomy shewes these to be trifles If this were not it might be yet Diodorus in Augustus his time searched for the greatest antiquity of the Aegyptians and found scarce 4000. Calisthenes Nephew to Aristotle by his sister found the Chaldaeans not to be 2000 Simplicius reports it Amongst our Chronologers the Christian Epoche is uncertain nor is there any beam so
cleare to discusse these Clowds Abraham Bucholzerus with Mirandula and Reusnerus saith it was created before the said Epoche 3970 yeares Buntingius 3968 Mercator 3967 Scaliger 3947 Beroaldus 3929 Broughtonus 3928 Pareus 3927 Pavellus 4022. Hitherto Scaliger hath been preferr'd yet it is thought that Pavellus hath discovered his imperfection The uncertainty concerning its end is greater Macrobius defines it by 15000 years Orpheus by 12000 Cassander counts 30 times 6000000. Berâ—sus as Seneca saith contends that the earth shall be burnt when all the Starrs meet in Cancer and a flood should be in Capricorn Amongst Christians Liborovius will have it to be 1666 Rossinus 1656. Libavius in declam de comet anni 1604 Cusanus 1700 or else the space that goes before 1734. That as after the first Adam they are Cusanus hiâ— words the consumption of sin came in the 34th Jubile by the waters of the flood in the days of Noah according to Philo so we conjecture that after the second Adam in the 34th Jubile shall come the consumption of sin by fire Nancelius cites it in analog Microcosm cum Macrocosmo l. ult Augustinus and Lactantius define it by 6000 yeares Alstedius holds the term to be uncertain but it is certain it shall not be before the yeare of Christ 2694 in Thesauro Chronolog c. 6. et diatrib de mille annis A certain friend dreams of some thousands Napeirus is of one mind Copernicus of another What shall we say to this It is not in man to declare these things or to know them the Angells know them not nor yet the Son of man God hath kept these times in his own power Thomas speaks true All those that undertook to determine the time of the end of the world have been found false and so shall all that shall undertake the same hereafter Be the time never so uncertain yet certain it is it shall have an end The word of God saith it The Heavens and the Earth shall passe away Luc. 21.23 Christ in Mathew 23 foreshews the forerunning signs The Stoicks set down the manner in the flood and in the consuming by fire and the Hebrews seem to consent For they affirm that the Sea should ascend above the Mountains tops 40 cubits Petrus Comestor in Nancelius Aristotle and Plato universally deny it It is known by the word of God to Christians that the world perished by the flood and the burning of it is expected For St. Peter saith c. 2. and 3. but the Heavens that now are and the earth are reserved for the fire at the day of Judgment But whether there shall be another world differing essentially from this or this shall be renewd wherein we live is a question The Apostle saith The fashion of this world passeth away the holy Fathers Basil Eusebius do imply an alteration and Seneca in his disputes Every creature shall be generated anew and a Man shall be given to the earth that knows no wickednesse and bred from better principles yet he adds Their innocence shall not last longer then while they are first bred for wickednesse will soon break in He differs from us because he makes eternal innovations which we admit not The censure of Tatianus against the Gentiles Doth any man determin God to be a Body I think He is without a Body Do's he think the world incorruptible I think It is corruptible That it shall be burnt by degrees I think it shall be but once for ever Artic. 5. Of the hidden qualities of natural bodies I Said that natural bodies were containd in the world now I say that they are so ordered that they have their peculiar vertues and in some things they are partakers Every one hath its nature they are containd in place measur'd by time defined by number they begin they perish they move augment diminish they act and suffer Amongst the rest hidden qualities are admirable according to which there is either consent in things or jarring and discord Philosophers call this sympathy and antipathy The first and second qualities are no causes of these things examples of them are spred through the whole field of Nature The raging Elephant growes calme if he see a Ram and if he see a Rhinoreros he is angry The tender flesh of sheep bitten by a Wolfe and the wooll woven also will breed Worms Cattel almost dead and men faint are revived by the smell of bread Pencerus de divin sect de Astrolog Porphyrio a bird will dye if it look on a Whore Woodpeckers will with grasse drive out wedges A Stag draws out Arrows with dittany The venome of the Tarantula is driven away by the sound of Musick and dancing by measure Alexander ab Alexan. l. 2. genial dier Many will sweat if a Cat be present Quercetan in diaetetica and make water at the sound of the harp Scalig. excerc 344. s. 6. One was driven from a feast at the sight of Apples if we credit Quercetan A boy's lips swelled by eating of eggs and his face was spotted with black spots Marcel A Monk saith Lusitanus swounded at the smell of a Rose Another hated bread and flesh and lived only upon eggs One espied an old woman at a feast and could not endure her and when he was forced to stay he was carried forth dead One swounded with the combing of his hair Demohon the builder of Alexandria was cold in the Sun or a hot Bath and hot in the shade The same is said of a certain Idiot that clothed himself with skins in Summer but went naked in Winter Pontanus his dog would eat no Cocks flesh but Scholtzius his would houl lamentably when the strings of a Lute were wound higher But when they were tuned as they should be and sounded harmoniously he was quiet I say no more Libavius de Antipathia rerum The cause of all these things is hid But it is certain that the most eminent of them arise from those qualities that both agree with their forms and are moved by the force of them The knowledg of secret forces appertaine to natural magick wherein we had need of a wonderfull caution Alvernius lib. de universo writes that Turnsoil will make men invisible and that quicksilver put between two reeds will hinder witchcraft That Rue taken away by stealth Basil planted with a feast will grow the more abundantly saith Trievius de Daemon decep and he adds that 7 grains of a certain hearb cast amongst the guests at a drinking feast will make them fight up to the eares in Blood These are fooleries and confuted by propounding them Delrius l. 1. disquis Magic c. 3. Artic. 6. Of Gods Providence in the World GOd was not pleased onely to make all these things but he would have them all under his Government and Providence Hence comes the preservation of the beings and vertues of things and the disposing of them all after the freedom of his will the wise ordering of all things In this are the ends set orderly
the means to these ends are exquisitely disposed and being disposed are most wisely directed This Providence was so often and forcibly maintain'd by the Stoicks that they became a sport and a jest to their adversaries who call'd this The fatall old Wife of the Stoicks that foretold future things Epictetus in Arrianus speaks admirably What concerns the gods some deny there is any God Some say there is but an idle carelesse Deity that provides for nothing There is a third sort that maintain there is a God and that his Providence governs yet onely in great and heavenly matters but in no earthly thing A fourth sort say That he takes care for heavenly and earthly things but in generall onely not for particulars and for every one severally But there are a fifth sort wherein Ulysses and Socrates who affirm That I cannot O God be hid or deceive thee in the smallest motion There is here no place for fortune nor for casual and needless violence That Eternal Light spreads his beams every way and at the same instant he pierceth into all the windings and depths of the Heavens Earth and Seas nor is his Divine Nature onely President over all these things but is in them all CHAP. II. Of Heaven THe Wisemen ascribed the first place amongst bodies to the Heavens both because it is simple and also is set in the highest place as principall Some write that it is of the same nature with sublunary things and not amisse for the Scripture writes Psal. 102. that it shall wax old like a garment Also the generation of new Stars seems to intimate as much All the space in these that reacheth to the fixt Stars is filled with ayr and it is so much the more pure light and hot as it comes nearer unto them c. If you consider the magnitude the Heavens are the greatest body the Earth is but a point in comparison to it The number is but one yet Astronomers have distinguished it into divers orbs Eudoxus into 23. Calippus into 30. Aristotle 47. Ptolomy 31 Regiomontanus 33. The common opinion is that there be Ten to which if you adde the Heaven of heavens Aquiba call'd it the marble Table of the World Maimon l. 1. perplex they will be eleven The consideration of the Tenth amongst them is wonderfull For they say it is ten times greater than the eighth sphere and than the earth 1960 and they say that in 24 hours it goes 469562845 miles Bodin l. 5. Theatr. The Miracles of the 9th are not small The Antients say it proceeded one degree in one hundred years the Neotericks have observed 44 minutes The period of its motion is 49000 years if we credit Alphonsus but Copernicus saith 25816. This period is call'd the great and Platonick year It is a wonderfull Engine and all the great works of men compared with it are lesse than nothing Plato l. 10. de Repub. imagined a certain spindle as bright as a Diamond contain'd in 8 wheels and he makes the Heaven to hang by that lest it should fall But alas poor man why so There is a God that supports it who gave it a power to stand fast at first when he made it yet this shall go into smoke and shews us that nothing is stable contain'd in this World CHAP. III. Of the Stars Artic. 1. Of the Force of the Stars and Nutriment of them MAhomet said That the Stars hang in the Ayr by golden chains That the Workmaster set them in the Heavens bright round we religiously acknowledge that they were made for signs and seasons All men know that they shine and communicate their vertue to sublunary things which is done by sending forth their beams the will of man and works of Artificers are out of this account There is in these no mixture of new qualities but onely an accidentall species is induced to a body ready made The mind is free from the Elements if it suffer any thing it is by the mediation of the Instruments of the body the temperament whereof Mens manners easily follow Hence you may see an errour That the characters were formed by a certain position of the Heavens and are moved by a stronger power from the Heavens Plato saith false That the Souls before they come into the bodies were made subject to some Star These are toyes That Stars are appointed for every one of us bright Stars for rich men little ones for poor men dark ones for defects and some for every mans condition Pliny l. 2. Histor. Natur. c. 8. There is not so great Society between Heaven and us that for our destiny the brightnesse of the Stars should be mortal Our chance is in Gods hand It is false That Jacob read his sons destinies in the Tables of the Heavens More writes elegantly of one White in an Epigram White in the Stars did oft his Wife behold That she was chaste and good he all men told He look't to find her in the Stars once more And then he did proclaim her for a Whore But that thy Wife was common though thou see Through all the Stars not one declares to thee Cleomedes in lib. de 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 speaks something of the nutriment of the Stars as Dalechampius cites it and the Stoicks observed the same Laertius in Lipsius in Manuduct ad Physiol Stoicam saith That these fiery Stars are fed and nourished the Sun and Moon and the rest the Sun by the great Sea as being the great Torch and a kind of burning endued with understanding But the Moon by fresh waters and such as may be drunk because it is mingled with the Ayr and is near to the Earth Wherefore Macrobius in Somnium Scipionis ascribes it to providence that the Ocean was placed under the torrid Zone That all that space which the Sun and the rest of the Planets and the Moon wander up and down in on this side and that side of the Eccliptick may have moysture for their nourishment The opinion seems absurd at first yet Ambrosius l. 2. Hex c. 3. thought so nor doth Libavius l. 5. de origin rerum seem to deny it Lucianus saith there shall be a common bone-fire for the world Whence shall this burning be but that moysture must fail and that cannot fail but for nutriment Yet see that you make not a combustion amongst the Stars by assuming an aetherial spirit into the nature of the Stars Artic. 2. Of the light of the fixt Starrs with their magnitude and motion THe 8th sphere contains the fixt Starrs and those in number numberlesse Alongtime men observed 1022 which the Phoenicians reduced to constellations Braheus added 74 Houtmannus 14 about the Antartick pole Bartholin de Coelo c. 3. Also they are of divers magnitudes yet all greater than the Earth except the sixt magnitude The magnitude will give you the vast distance we see them like sparks of fire yet Astronomers reckon 14000 diameters of the earth They have their own natural
light which shines to men in the night not that it is put out in the day by the Sun beams but that the medium being enlightned admits of the more forcible species the lesser and weaker is carried through the medium unperceived Scalig. exerc 6.2 Historians observe that they have been seen in the day-time and not without some token In Commodus his times they were seen a whole day some were drawn forth at length as though they were fastned in the Ayre The slaughter of the Parthians followed civill warrs and the killing of five Emperours in one year The same thing was seen in the raign of Constantius from Sun rising till noon about Sun set the Sun first appeared with crooked horns and then but halfe some suppose it was an Eclipse Cardanus saw two at Millan l. 14. de varietat rer c. 70. One Anno 1511 and the French were driven out of Italy another 1535 and the death of Francis Sforâ—ia followed and because he died childless the Prince was changed Charls took the Government Lastly the 9th of June this yeare there was one seen in England before noon when a solemn thanksgiving was made to God for the birth of the Prince of Wales we were certified that some French men saw the same at Diep the same time There is a wonderfull matter in their motion Besides their own which is made from North to South upon the poles of Aries and Libra they are said to be drawn by the 9th sphere from west to east Hence it comes that they are all moved from their places Braheus saith in a hundred yeares they are drawn back one degree 25 minuts Meto who florished in the 130th yeare after Thales observed the Starr of Aries to be in the Equinoctiall Timochares that it gain'd two degrees Hipparchus four and nine minuts Ptolomy 6 and 40 minuts Albategnius 18 and 12 minuts Alphonsus 23 and 48 minutes Vernerus 26 and 54 minutes Bodinus 28 and 20 minuts The bright one in the utmost tayle of the little dog which is for the pole Starr Hipparchus observed to be 12 degrees distant from the pole of the world we see it but almost three now adays Cardan saith that the heads of the motions of this Orbe will be not only in contrary places in the year 1800 but the motion will be contrary also and he collects from thence that there will be strange alterations in the Christian religion de varietat rer l. 2. c. 3. CHAP. IV. Of the Five Planets THe wandring Stars are called Planets The Ancients accounted them to be seven Those of our times have added four about Jupiter and no fewer about Saturn Each of them hath its own sphere its nodes epicycle and its aequant Their motion is more free than the rest sometimes they are present with mortals sometimes they depart from them Hence arise the names of Aux and Absis Peregaeum and Apogaeum amongst Astronomers But so great is the difference that Saturn requires 30 years Jupiter 12 Mars 2 Venus 360 dayes and Mercury as many Venus is a Planet by her sirnames that stands in aemulation with the Sun and Moon For rising before the Sun she is called Lucifer like another Sun hastening the day again shining in the West she is called Vesper or the Evening Star as prolonging the light and standing in place of the Moon Plin. l. 2. c. 9. The cause of their wandring motion some ascribe to the Sun who either by its beams sets them forward or removes them on one side oâ— departing from them lets them remain in their own places Extraordinary influences Medicaments Baths Phlebotomy Plantings choice of businesse change of the Ayr are by some tyed to the hour of their position It is observed that the Plague growes fierce about Wittenburg when Saturn moves in Leo or Sagittarius and abateâ— by the accesse of Mars the same thing is threatned to them at Norimberg by the signs of Gemini or Sagittarius Those that Mars and Saturn being in the angles assayle with a quartile aspect are short-lived if they passe their Infancy it will be difficult for them to attain the flower of youth their conjunction increaseth their force If Mars and Venus are in conjunction when one is born the concupiscible appetite is contaminated more if it be in Capricorn and Mercury be present By the concurrence of Mars Mercury and the Moon men have subtile wits Peucerus l. de divinat s. de Astrologia But this is a lesser conjunction That is a great Conjunction which is made by Saturn and Jupiter one happened in the seventy year and 200 dayes The signs of the Zodiack are run through that at the beginning of the first meeting there may be a conjunction of the Planets the Learned called it a revolution Alsted in thesauro Chronologico There are seven reckoned since the World was made and constant observation hath proved that none of them ever came without some notable alteration All things were heroicall in the first conjunction at the second men despised Noah's preaching at the third there were great pressures in Egypt The fourth was 17 years after when Rome began to be built the fifth was in the 26th year of Christ. The Bishops of Rome pretended the Donation of Pipin and Constantine when the sixth was The seventh was in the sign of Sagittarius in the year I was born in 1603. the last was in Leo 1623. what this shall produce God knowes The City of Rome about the 800th year under its fiery sight was thought to be renewed At the beginning of that happened the dispersing of the Jews what if about the end of it the calling of them again may be CHAP. V. Of the Sun Artic. 1. Of the Greatnesse and Unity of the Sun EPicurus thought the Sun to be an accidentall Globe and fire but an earthly grosse Body Anaximander thought it was red-hot Iron the Peruvians think it a GOD and so did Aurelianus a Prince of old May the gods do it and the Sun the created god in Vopisco Porphyry writes that it was adored in the East under the name of Mytra in his Comment de Nymph cultu And Macrobius shews l. 1. Saturn cap. 17. That all the gods of the Gentiles were extended to the Sun After him Cluverius Polyhistor in Germ. antiqua So great reverence was there toward it in the minds of the Gentiles It is with us the Principall Planet and the great Luminary It is greater than the Earth 167 times and it is distant from the Earth in its Apogaeum 1012868 miles Kecherm in his Astronomy It is but one and where is there room for more in so great a magnitude yet there are more also That is but one of which we speak the rest are but figures and draughts of this one beautifull Sun The Philosophers call them Parelia they have alwaies some future signification as we frequently observe and find it In 1514. there were 3. seen in each there was a bloody
sword The Reformation followed So many were seen in Helvetia in 1528 a wonderfull Famine was the sequel of it In 1532. at Venice they were seen with two Rainbowes opposed to the Sun one presently vanished but the other was seen for two hours Cardan l. 14. de varietat Rer. cap. 70. The Suns themselves were transparent the greater was Southward the lesse Northward increasing In the year 1314. before the War of Lodowick of Bavaria and Frederick of Austria more Suns were seen they signified the dissentions of the Electors and their falling to sides Peucer in Meteorol Before these troubles we saw it a Comet with a fatall tail followed Because the Empire of Nero had the same beginnings the future event might easily be foreknown Artic. 2. Of the Suns light and Eclips THe Thalmudists hold that the light of the Sun was seven times greater in the Creation but was lost afterwards We see it very great and ruling almost every where For the Sun-beams enlighten and enliven all things Cardan maintains that by the force of it the Southern parts are pressed down lower but whether it be so every one may judge And though at Rhodes or Syracuse there never be a day that the Sun is not seen in some parts of it Plin l. 1. Cap. 62. yet it is certain that the Suns light is often intercepted When Constantine was blind the Sun did not shine for 17 dayes In Plinies time â—e was often 12. dayes in Leo's time 4. dayes So never seen that Marriners lost their Course Maiol Colloq 1. But this was only a Clouding An Eclips is somwhat more when the Suns beams are turned away from by interposing of the Moon Barbarians understand not this whence Columbus foretelling the Moons Eclips won the favour of the Indians It was a Capital crime in Plath's days to maintain that the Moon could hold the Sun beams from us Alexander Aphrodis Problem 46. Some thought the Devills were the cause and therefore ran to assist it with lighted Torches Archelaus was so ignorant that the day the Eclips of the Sun was he shut up the Court and shaved his sonne as the custome was in time of adversity and of mourning Senec. l. 5. de benefic C. 6. The Eclipse of the Sun happens in the new Moon or in the Conjunction nor real but appearing so when Sun Moon and our eyes are in the same right line It it be totall it is in a moment in respect of the parts It was so when Scipio fought and overcome Hannibal at Carthage Zonaras Tom. 2. Nicephorus sayth the same happened at Augustus's death Somtimes in five yeares some are seen Maiolus thinks they produced Warrs Famines and Deaths of Popes It seemes to be certain that both of them may be Eclips'd twice in six Months and in five Months either of them and that the Suns light may be twice taken from one Country in the period of seven Months Peucer in Astrolog Some are of opinion their operation begins afterwards I dispute not but this is certaine they never appeare but they foreshew somthing When in the year 3343 an Eclips was seen the most corrupt state of the Kingdome of the Jews appeared In the yeare 3350. began the 70 yeares captivity In 3360 the Temple and Jerusalem were destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar About the Eclips in 1619 Stars were seen at noon-day and the Warre of Peloponesus began with the Athenians In the yeare 360 the Sun was Eclipsed untill noon-day and also in 592. What followed Phocas confirmed the Popes supremacy 622 wicked Mahomet sowed his mischief Alsted in Thesaur Chronol In 812 before the Death of Charls the great a Spot of a black had appeared for seven dayes witnesse Eginbartus It seems to intimate say some the darkning of the Gospel In 1415 the 7. of June so horrible was the Eclipse of the Sun that birds fell to the Earth At this time John Hus was burned in the Councell of Constance the 6. of July That was supernaturall at our Saviours passion It was a totall Eclips at a full Moon and lasted three houres Dionysius said of it Either the God of nature suffers or the frame of the World dissolves He afterwards consulting with the Philosophers built an Altar to the unknown God and was converted by St. Pauls Preaching Tertullian in Apologetico saith it was laid up amongst the publike Acts of Rome but forbidden to be published Also there is a notable use of Eclipses amongst Chronologers especially of those which with certain circumstances of time Yeare Day Month Hour Minuts and of the distance from other Eclipses were exactly taken such as was the Eclips at Arbelia in Câ—rtius or Peloponesus in Thucydides at Cambisia in Ptolomy Powel in his Consilio Chronologico For there are certain bounds and Characters of times fastned in the Heavens hence Calvisius commends Scaligers Chronology because he hath observed Phainomena and Eclipses allmost according to the years of the World out of the Tables of the Heavenly motions and are fitted to the same Hence the Calyppic period comprehended in 76 yeares in which time all conjunctions of the Planets new Moons and full Moons and Eclipses returne to the same moment of time See the famous Chronologer Pavellus treating accurately of these things I hasten to other matters Art 3. Of the Suns Motion THe Mahumetans fain that the Sun is carried with Horses and sets in the Sea and well washed rises again Daily experience sheweth us a double motion we see it rise every day and set again and every yeare it makes an Oval figure passing to North and South Yet so right under the Ecliptick that it swarves not a hair from it The complement of the motion in the Zodiack varieth with many Hipparchus assignes to it 365 days Ours 6 houres lesse Tebitius saith that there want nine minutes of the 6 houres Henricus Mechiniensis hath written that all those shall err perpetually who observe Eclipses by the Tables of Ptolomy or Albategnius Bodin 5. Theatri Naturae It is the vulgar tenent to assigne 365 days and 6 hours In that oblique course we observe the Sun to be nearer the earth whilst he passeth through the Southern signs and to be further off in the Northern That is finished in 178 dayes 21 hours and 12 minuts This requires 186 dayes 8 hours 12 minutes But because the distancâ— of the Eccentrick is variable from the centre of the World therefore Melancthon and Origanus write that the Sun is nearer to us now than in Ptolomies dayes by 9900 miles but Copernicus and Stoflerus cast it to bee 26660 miles Alsted in Theoria Planetarum Scaliger dislikes this Exerc. 99. sect 2. Nor is it probable saith Bodin l. 5. Theat in so great variety of distance that the knowledge of Eclipses could be so exactly preserved The Scripture tells us that the Sun went backward miraculously in Ezechiahs dayes as was known by the shadow on the Diall The History of Josuah witnesseth that it stood still and
that live under the Pole are 't is probable in perpetual cold and they are more hot that live under the Equinoctiall They under the Equinoctiall have a double most pleasant winter and a double Spring He that would know more of this may read Mayolus Colloqu de proprietat locor Artic. 6. Of the Sun's shadow TWo things chiefly are observable concerning the Suns shadow the operation and the diversity It can hardly be said how great it is Men skill'd in the Opticks have described it more acurately It shews the reason of Eclipses the Suns magnitude the variety of Eccentricks the condition of time hath been demonstrated by it Men are taught thereby to define the climates and parallells to prove the Earth to be round and that the Earths Globe stands exactly in the midst of the Universe to know the Earths magnitude c. Examples shew the diversity Those that dwell Northward between the Tropick of Cancer and the Arctick Circle their Noon-shadowes are cast Northward and to the Southern people Southward They of Finmarch and Groenland and that passe the degree of elevation 66 see the shadows run round about them Gauricus in Geograph In Syene a Town above Alexandria 5000 furlongs at noon-day on the solstice there is no shadow at all and a pit was made to make experiment of it and the Sun shined to every part in it Pliny l. 2. c. 73. And in India above the River Hispasis the same falls out aâ— the same time as Onesicritus hath recorded In the Island of Merce which is the chief of the Ethiopian Country the shadows fail twice a year and in Summer they are cast Southwards in winter toward the North. In the same in the most famous Haven of Patales the Sun riseth on the right hand the shadowes fly Southward It is lastly manifest that in Berenice a City of the Troglodytes and from thence for 4820 furlongs in the same Country in the Town of Ptolemais which is built on the brink of the red Sea at the first hunting of Elephants the same thing falls out 45. dayes before the Solstice and as many after it and during those 90 dayes the shadowes are cast into the South Plin. l. 1. Art 7. Of the Suns Influence on the Inferiour World IT was easie to observe how powerfully this Eye of the World would work upon Inferiour bodies by his lighter and publique motion There is nothing in the parts of the year or dayes or nights or variety of shadowes but must be ascribed to it When the Sun ariseth all things are enlightened when it sets all are in the dark Things flourish when he approacheth fade when he departeth These are generals and if we respect particulars are not much lesse It is certain that tempests and seasonable weather are from the Sun About the middle of Sagittarius and the constellation of Pisces by the help of Stars that are in them and rise it blowes warm to those that are under it and the humours that were frozen being melted and the earth being watered with them it produceth the fruitful Western blasts and stirs up the force of the Pleiades and Hyades in Taurus and of the Kids from the North from the South or Orient that is near unto it and of Arcturus that lyes opposite to it which raise up Southern winds and for some dayes do water the seed sown with continual rain Peucer in Astrol. When the Herbs are grown and want moisture again for their just magnitude it affords it and drawes it forth by it coming up toward the Stars of Cancer Pliny takes the signs of Tempests from it l. 18. c. 35. It belongs to motion for Scaliger saith That men sail faster with the Sun Exerc. 86. And Pliny l. 2. Histor. c. 71 writes That the Currior Philonides ran from Sicyon to Elis 1200 furlongs in 9. hours of the day and came back again oft-times though it were down hill at 3. a clock at night The reason was because he ran out with the Sun but returned against the course of the Sun CHAP. VI. Of the Moon Artic. 1. Of the Figures and light of the Moon THe Stoicks thought the Moon to be a dark and hairy light Cleomedes supposed it was a ball white on one side and blew on the other We acknowledge it to be a heavenly body one of the two great Lights that God made Sometimes there have been two sometimes 3. seen as when Cn. Domitius and C. Fannius were Consuls whom they called the Night-Suns Pliny l. 2. c. 82. She is lesse than the Earth thirty times 9 or 3. times 40 if we follow Copernicus She is distant from it 44916 German miles or if we credit Schrechenfuchsius whom most follow it is 28359 She borrowes her light from the Sun Whence it comes that she hath so many Aspects she is alwaies increasing or decaying and sometimes she is crook'd with horns sometimes she is equally divided sometimes she is crooked sometimes full sometimes she is suddenly wane and the same appears suddenly again Pliny l. 2. c. 9. The Ancients adored the full Moon as a type of beauty There is a merry Tale in Plutarch in his Symposiacks of Wiseman concerning the Moon decreasing That the Moon asked of her Mother a Coat fit for her and she answered How can I do that for sometimes thou art a full Moon sometime a half Moon and sometimes with two horns In Biarmia she is never seen but with a full circle toward the surface of the Earth of a fiery colour and like a cole Olaus l. 1. Artic. 2. Of the Spots and Eclipse of the Moon THe substance of the Moon is spotted if you ask the reason wise men have said that the parts of the Moon are unequally compacted The Poets thought she carryed a Boy with her whom she loved who covered his face for shame When she is deprived of the Suns light she is Eclipsed But that is only in a diametricall opposition when the Moon hath no declination from the Ecliptick or that which is lesse then 67 minuts and so it either enters the shadow of the Earth or cannot avoid it The antients thought she might be drawn from Heaven by Charms and being thrust down she might be compelled That she powereth forth her venome and force into the hearbs that are subject to her which may be more succesfully used in Magick arts Hence it was that they tinkled in Cymballs that the Charms might not be heard There are no Eclipses of Sun or Moon but there follow some changes in sublunary things There was one in the yeare 3459. And Darius at Marathon was overthrown by the Athenians with wonderfull ruine another was 3782. and Perseus King of the Macedonians was conquered by consul Aemilius and an end was put to the Kingdom of Macedonia Alsted in thesauro Chronolog Some observe them superstitiously for example Niceas of Athens Ubbo Emmius Tom. 2. vet Graec. being beaten at Epipolas in Sicilia when his Country was in danger
beasts are ruled by their appetites and desires and will not be subject to reason and good lawes whom Solomon the Master of wisdome threatned sharply with punishment of the rack yet many have adventured to make triall The Caldeans by mens actions collected the day of a mans Birth and from the day of a mans Birth the fortune of his whole life And that men should not reject them they boasted they had spent 470 thousand yeares in the experience of this Art And so bold they were that they vaunted that it was a thing as necessary to be known how the position of the Starrs and the force of the Heavens were when a man would build a house or make sow or put on his Cloths as to know how they were disposed when Children were new born Lucius Tarutius Firmianus by the acts of Romulus his Life and Death found that he was born in the first yeare of the second Olympiad the 23 day of the Month Peucer de divinat sect de Astrolog and born in the 21 day of the month Toth about Sun rising And hence he found out the first day that Rome was built and that it began when the Moon was in Libra the Sun with Mercury and Venus in Taurus Jupiter in Pisces and Saturn with Mars in Scorpio To this purpose we may refer him who by the first day of Jannuary would foretell all events If that a Rain-bow in the Sky appeare God is well pleas'd with man they need not fear If burning Meteors from the Heavens shine Of great long during heats they are the signe If Thunder Rore or Rivers overflow This foreshews Tempests as all seamen know But if the Earth be stird and seem to quake This showes Religion will be brought to 'th stake If Rivers freez it then portends great joy Each woman shall conceive and beare a Boy Mayol Colloq 1. Canicular Of such this is true These Mathematitians by a false interpretation concerning the Starrs and by their lyes cast a mist before those that are light and foollish witted for their own advantage Valer. Maxim l. We have examples of their fraud in Nicetas Chronias otherwise a prudent Historiographer In our times saith he the Emperours do nothing but by advice of Astrologers and they make choice of dayes and nights to do their businesse as the Starrs shall dictate unto them Therefore Alexius the Emperour desired long to know when he might seasonably return to Blacherna at last the day and houre were chosen according to the Starrs He returned and that so happily that the Earth opened very deep before him and he escaped but his Son in law Alexius and many of his Nobles fell into the pit and were hurt and one Eunuchus that was a favorite perished That of Manuel is more ridiculous when he was Emperour they of Sicily and Italy had possessed themselves of the Sea neere Constantinople he had somtimes sent out a Fleet but with ill successe Wherefore the Mathematicians were consulted to assigne a more prosperous time Constantinus a famous man prepares himself but he was once more called back again because the Prince had found that the inquiry was not so certainly and wisely made as it ought to be and there had been some errour The Scheme was therefore set once more and Constantinus was sent forth on the day chosen He was scarce got to Sea but he and all his forces were taken Lips in monit polit A brave art yet I wonder since I read of some that were seldome frustrate of their ends Nigidius Figulus foretold to Augustus that he should be Emperour Xiphilinus Thrasyllus foresaw the Empire of Tiberius and his own danger when he was on the Tower with the Prince and should have been cast down headlong Sueton. in Octavio Largius Proculus gave notice of the day that Domitian should dye Ascletarius foretold the kind and being required of him to answer what kind of death he himself should dye he said he should be eaten with Doggs and so it was For though Domitian to disprove him commanded that he should be burnt and he was then burning yet a tempest rose suddenly and put out the fire The spectators ran away and the Doggs came and devoured him Sueton. in Domitian Josephus that wrote the Antiquities of the Jews saith that he foretold to the Emperour Vespasian and to his Son Titus that they should be Emperours We know it was so Petrus Leontius a Physitian of Spoletanum foresaid that he himself was in danger of drowning And he was found afterwards drownd in a pit Jovius Elog. 35. The Arch-Bishop of Pisa consulted Astrologers concerning his destiny they told he should be hanged Annal. Florentin It seemed incredible when he was in so great honour yet it proved to be true For in the sedition of Pope Sixtus the fourth in a sudden uprore he was hanged Richardus Cervinus had foretold to his son Marcellus that he should come to great dignity in the Church Hence he conceiving hope of it when he was invited by his Mother Cassandra Benna to marry refused it stoutly saying He would not with the bands of Matrimony bind himself from a greater fortune that the Stars foreshew'd unto him living single and unmarried Thuan. l. 15. It so came to passe Lucius Gauricus delivered this in his Book of Nativities Which Book and it is a very wonderfull thing saith Thuan. l. 1. was published at Venice three years by Curtius Trojanus before Cervinus was proclaimed Pope This was that Pope who when the Reader as the manner is read the Scriptures or Writings of the Fathers at dinner time said He could not perceive how those that held so high a Place could provide for their own salvation These are Examples of Predictions made good by the Events Lipsius l. 1. Monitor ascribes some to inspiration Delrius refers some to compacts with the Devill l. 4. Disquisit Magic cap. 3. quaest 2. Certain it is that God sometimes suffers them for a punishment to those that are so bold and that they are true but by accident onely See Delrius who handles this Argument largely The End of the First Classis Of the Writings of Wonders in Nature The Second Classis Wherein are contained the Wonders of the Elements WHat is the chief thing in humane affairs Not to fill the Seas with Ships nor to set up standards on the shores of the red Sea not where Land is wanting to wander in the Ocean to injure other men and seek out unknown places but to see all with the mind and than which there is no greater victory to overcome our vices Seneca Natur. quaest l. 3. Praef. CHAP. I. Of Fire Artic. 1. Of the Wonderful beginning of Fire FIre was a long time unknown to the Antients especially if you respect them who in the utmost borders of Egypt dwelt by the Sea side Plin. histor Natural l. 16. c. 40. When Eudoxus found it they were so pleased with it that they would have put it in
their bosomes Fire is not unknown to us So great is the variety of it and it is so manifold that I know not what order to deliver it in Pliny saith it is from it self steel rubb'd against steel causeth fire Also the stones we call fire-stones stricken against steel or other stones send forth sparkles Therefore the Laplanders begin their Contracts of Marriage with the fire and flint Scalig. Exerc. 16. s. 1. For fire with them is the Authour of life and the flint is eternal wherein the treasure never fails It is in vain to try that in a brittle stone for the piece falling away that which should draw forth the Ayr is lost The rubbing of sticks one against another will fetch fire The Indians do so They make two sticks fast together and put another stick between them turning it swift like a wimble and so they make them take fire Ovetan l. 6. c. 5. In Apulia they wrap a Caâ—â—â— iâ— cords and draw them as fast as they can forward and backward till they fire it by motion Mayolus Colloq 2â— The Vestal Nuns did the same when their eternall fire went out if we credit Festus In Nympheus a flame goes out of a Rock which is kindled by rain Aristotle saith in Admirand it is not perceived untill you cast oyl upon it and then the flame flyes upward We find also in Authours that in the Country of the Sabins and Apulia there is a stone that will fire if you annoint it Plin. l. 2. c. 207. In Aricia if a live cole fall on arable ground the ground will burn In a Town of Picenum Egnatia if wood be laid on a certain stone that they account holy there it will flame presently Also a flame goes forth at the waters of Scantia but it is very weak at the going forth and will not last long in any other matter Also at Gratianopolis in Dauphin flame shines out when you stir the burning Fountain with a staff so that straw may be kindled by it Dalechamp ad l. c. The fire of the Mountain Chimerâ— is kindled by water Plin. l. 2. c. 106. If you hold a glasse Globe full of water in the Sun fire will rise from the repercussion of the light from the water in the coldest frost Lactan. de ira Dei c. 10. Sometimes also fire ariseth so suddenly in houses that it may be thought wonderful Cardan l. 10. de varietate c. 49. ascribes the cause to the salt and Salt-Peter that sticks to the walls of the houses Which Valerius reports concerning the Schollar of the vestall Nun Maxima Aemilia l. 1. c. 1. that she adoring Vesta when she had laid her fine linnen veil upon the hearth the fire that was out shined forth again an old wall being scraped down he writes that it might take fire onely by hot Ashes If you look in the Bible you shall find a wonderfull originall of fire in it 1 King c. 18. Elias when he offered sacrifice brought fire down from heaven which consumed the sacrifice wood stones dust and water In the Book of Judges Ch. 6. when Gideon at the command of the Angel had laid flesh and bread upon a stone and poured Frankincense upon them fire came forth of the stone and consumed them Artic. 2. Of Fires in the Waters IF we will credit Histories it is most certain that fires have been seen in the waters Pliny saith lib. 2. c. 107. That the whole Lake Thrasimenus was on fire That the Sea did burn Liv. lib. 33. when Alaricus wasted Italy and John Chrysostome was driven from his Bishoprick the Earth quaked fire fell from Heaven and a wind took it and cast it into the Sea which took fire by it and at last went out again Niceph. l. 13. c. 36. In the fields of Babylon there is a Fish-pond that burns which is about an Acre of ground Plin. lib. 2. c. 106. A stone cast into a Lake near to Denstadium of Thuringia when it sinks to the bottom it hath the form of a burning arrow Agricol lib. 4. de nat affluent c. 22. In a City of Comagena called Samosata there is a Lake that sends forth burning mud Plin. l. 2. c. 104. Posidonius saith that in his time about the Summer Solstice in the morning that between Suda and the Sea of Evonymus fire was seen lifted up to a wonderfull height and to have continued so a pretty while carried up with a continued blast and at length it sunk down Many dayes after Slime appeared that it swam on the top of the waters and that flames brake forth in many places and smoaks and soot and at length that Slime grew hard and that the lumps grown hard were like unto Milstones Julius Obsequens adds that it dispersed a great multitude of fish which the Liparenses much feeding on were spoiled by them so that the Islands were made wast with a new plague Strabo l. 6. Between Ther and Therasia which are in the Cyclades flames went out of the Sea in such abundance that is was extreme hot and seemed to burn and when it had swelled by degrees of the peices cast out that were like to Iron an Island was made which was called Hiera and Automate now it is called Vulcanellus by a very small arme of the Sea it is parted from Vulcanellus Plin. l. 2. c. 87. Artic. 3. Of Fire under the Earth I Said that fire was also in the waters now I will shew that in the bowells of the earth fire is generated When Claudius Nero was Emperour fire was seen to come forth of the Earth in the land of the Town of Colein and it burnt the Fields Villages Houses now because the matter of it was bituminous and could be quenched neither by raine nor River waters nor by any other moisture it was extinguished by Stones and old Garments In Misena a Country of Germany a Mountain of Coles burns continually the trenches falling down by degrees in the superficies which if any man behold they appear to be burning Furnaces The fire kindles any thing neere to it at four foot distance but not put close to it Agricol de natur effluent ex terr Vesuvius also a Mountain in Campania burned when Titus Vespasianus and Flavius Domitianus the seventh were Consuls First it cast out Stones from the top broken open after that it cast forth such Flames that two Towns Herculaneum and Pompeti were set on fire and it sent forth such thick smoak that it obscured the Sun and lastly it blew forth such a quantity of Ashes that like snow it covered the Neighbour Country which by force of winds was carryed into Africa Aegypt Syria Dion Cass. in Histor. When the Elder Pliny beheld this Fire the Younger in Epistol ad Tacitum the smoak so stopped his sharp artery that his breath being intercepted he was choaked There is also a mountain of late in Campania full of rises from the time the fire was bred there which burns and rores
within and sends forth smoak in many places and very hot brooks the shore smoaks at the foot of the Mountain the sand is hot the Sea boyles Agricol l. c. In the same place there are many ditches covered with sand into which some that have viewed these things carelesly have sunk in and were stifled This is in Europe In India there are no lesse burnings by fire In Ciapotulan a Province of the Kingdome of Mexico a Mountain casts forth stones as big as houses and those stones cast forth have flames of fire in them and seem to burn and are broke in pieces with a great noise Petrus Alvarad ad Cortesium In the province Quahutemallan of the same Country two Mountaines within two Leagues one of the other vomit out fire and tremble Petrus Hispalens p. 5. C. 23. In Peruacum also out of the Mountain Nanavata the Fire flies out at many holes and out of one boyling water runs of which salt is made In the same Peruacum in the Town Molahaâ—o fire is vomited forth and ashes is cast out for many dayes and covers many Towns There is an Island next to great Java in the middle of which land there burns a perpetuall fire Odoard Barbosa In the Island Del Moro there is a Fire cast forth with such a noise that it is equall to the loudest Cannon and the darknesse is like Night The Ashes so abound that houses have sunk down under them and Trees have been barren for three yeres their boughs being lopt off all places are fild with Ashes and living Creatures destroyed with hunger and pestilence also sweet waters have been changed into bitter Diat Jesuita Also there are concealed Fires namely there where the waters run forth hot warm or sower or where exhalations break forth good or bad and where places seem adust Strab. in Geograph There is a Country in Asia which is called Adust which is 500 furlongs long and 50 broad whether it should be called Misia or Meonia saith Strabo In this there grows no Tree but the Vine that brings forth burnt Wine so excellent that none exceeds it You may not think that those Fires stay only in one straight place for they pass many miles under ground Agricol l. 4. de nat Effl. c. 24. in Campania from Cunae thorough Baianum Puteoli and Naples Also out of Campania they seem to come as far as the Islands Aenaria Vulcania c. Hence Pindarus elegantly faigned that the Gigant Typâ—o being stricken with a Thunder-Bolt lay buried under these places Artic. 4. Of the Original of Subterraneall Fire WEe will now search out the original of these Fires and what it is that kindles and nourisheth them The Poets speak Fables concerning Aetna but of this more in the 4th Chapter Hyginius Mytholog cap. 152. Hell of the Earth begat Typhon of a vast magnitude and a wonderfull shape who had 100 Dragons heads that sprang from his shoulders He challenged Jupiter to strive for his Kingdome Jupiter hit him on the breast with a burning Thunder-bolt and having fired him he cast Mount Aetna upon him which is in Sicilia and from that time it is said to burn yet Isidor l. 14. c. 8. ascribes it to Brimstone that is kindled by the blasts of winds Justinus affirms that it is nourished by water Bleskenius relates of Hecla that no man knowes by what fire or what matter it burneth but since that brimstone is dug forth of all Islandia it should appear that a brimstony matter was sometimes kindled there Not far from Hecla are Pits of brimstone saith Bertius in Islandia That is certain that brimstone affords nourishment for this fire under ground and it is such as will burn in water For in these Mountains Writers make mention of waters and we have shew'd that it hath sometimes burned in the Sea But Lydiat L. de orig font thinks That in the gulfs of the Sea a most violent fire is contained and he demonstrates this by Earth-quakes Therefore the food of it cannot be dry and like to the Earth which we call Dorfa for that is quickly consumed by fire and is quenched by water Nor is it Marle for that will not burn unlesse it be sulphureous and bituminous Brimstone burns indeed but it is soon put out with water therefore it is Bitumen and this seems to be the subject of it Strabo writes That there are under this Cave Fountains of water and Pliny addes l. 2. c. 106. that it burns with water running from Bitumen Burning Bitumen sends forth fire in Hecla a Mountain in Islandia which consumes water The stones of Rivers and the sand burn at Hephestios a Mountain of Lycia and they are bituminous Naphta is very near akin to fire and it presently flames Pliny l. c. Wherefore we think Bitumen to be the food for these fires and they are kindled by a fiery vapour that takes fire if but cold thrust it forth as the Clowds thrust ouâ— lightnings or drives it into some narrow places where rolling it self up and down and seeking to come forth it burns in the conflict and flames Agricol lib. cit Artic. 5. Of the Miracles of Fire in duration burning and in being Extinguished SOme Fires are perpetuall The stone Asbestos once lighted can never be extinguished therefore Writers say it was placed in Idol Temples and the Sepulchres of the dead Solinus c. 12. There was a Monument once dug up wherein was a Candle that had burned above 1500 years when it was touched with the hands it went to fine ashes Vives ad lib. 21. de Civitat Dei Vives saw wicks at Paris which once lighted were never consumed In Britany the Temple of Minerva had a perpetual fire when it consumed it was turned into balls of stone Solinus c. 24. Polyhist The same thing is written of a certain Wood near to Urabia in the New-found World There are some fires that burn not either not at all or in some certain matter or else miraculously In Pythecusis saith Aristotle admirand c. 35. there is a fervent and hot fire that burns not An Ash that shadowes the Waters called Scantiae is alwayes green Plin. lib. 2. c. 107. In the Mountain of Puteoli consisting of Brimstone there is a fire comes forth that is neither kindled nor augmented by oyl nor wax or any fat matter nor is it quenched with water or kindled and it will not burn towe cast into it nor can any Candle be lighted by it Mayolus Colloq 22. he conceives it is not fire but fiery water Near Patara in Lycia flame is cast forth of a field you shall feel the heat if you put your hands to it but it will never burn The parts of the ambient ayr that are cold and moist are said to be the cause of it that by their thinnesse entring into the fire do hinder the burning of it Some napkins made of a kind of Flax will not burn and being durty they are never washed but being cast
Ayre is contrary But examples will hardly make that good In the Navigations of the Portugalls some Marriners under the Equinoctiall had allmost breathed their last though it were in the middle of the Sea and a in a most open ayre And when we were present saith Scaliger Exercit 31. some Italians of Lipsia in the Stoves were like to swound and you may remember from Histories concerning the death of King Cocal Wheat in Syria laid close in Mows corrupts not but is spoild shut up in Barnes if the Windows be open it takes no harme Artic. 2. Of the Infection of the Ayre The Ayre doth not allwaies retain its own qualities it is infected somtimes with hurtful things They that go out of the Province of Peru into Chila thorow the Mountains meet with a deadly ayr and before the passengers perceive it their limbs fall from their bodies as Apples fall from Trees without any corruptions Liburius de Origine rerum In the Mount of Peru Pariacacca the ayr being singular brings them that go up in despair of their lives It causeth vomit so violent that the blood follows it afflicts them most that ascend from the Sea and not only Man but Beasts are exposed to the danger It is held to be the highest and most full of Snow in the World and in three or four houres a man may passe over it In the Mountains of Chilium a Boy sustained himself three dayes lying behind a multitude of Carcases so that at last he escaped safe from the Venomous blasts In a Book concerning the proper causes of the Elements it is written that a wind killed the people in Hadramot The same Authour reports that the same thing hapned in the time of King Philip of Macedo that in a certain way between two Mountaines at a set hour what horseman soever past he fell down ready to die The cause was not known The foot were in the same condition untill one Socrates by setting on high a steel Looking-Glasse beheld in both Mountains two Dragons casting their venomous breath one at the other and whatsoever this hit upon died Liban l. cit But the true cause of this mischief was a mineral ayr stuft with nitrous and other metallick Spirits Such a one is found in some Caves of Hungary and Sweden and we know that the Common Saltpeter is full of Spirits it is moved dangerously and forcibly if fire be put to it and cast into water it cools them much But that bodies corrupt not that we ascribe to cold but it may be attributed to the Spirits of cold by mixture such as are in some Thunder-bolts for the bodies of living Creatures killed by them do not easily corrupt and they last long unlesse some more powerfull cause coming drive it out Artic. 3. Of the Putrefaction of the Ayr. THe Pestilence comes from putrefaction of the ayr which in respect of divers constitutions is divers It is observed that there never was any at Locris or Croto Plin. l. 2.99 So in that part of Ethiopia which is by the black Sea In Mauritania it ruins all It lasted so long somtimes at Tholouse and in that Province that it continued seven years It perseveres so long and oftimes amongst the Northern people and rageth so cruelly that it depopulates whole Countries Scaliger exercit 32. It is observed in the Southern parts that it goes toward the Sun setting and scarse ever but in winter and lasts but three months at most In the year 1524 it so raged at Millan that new baked bread set into the ayr but one night was not only musty but was full of Worms those that were well died in 6 or 8 hours Cardan de rer varietat l. 8. c. 45. In the year 1500 it destroyed 30000 at London somtimes 300000 at Constantinople and as many in the Cities of the Vandalls all the autumne thorow In Petrarchs dayes it was so strong in Italy that of 1000 Men scarse ten remained Alsted in Chronolog But that in divers Countries it works so variously on some men and severall Creatures that proceeds from the force of the active causes and the disposition of the passive Forest. l. 6. observ de Febre If the active cause from the uncleanness of the Earth or water be not strong it only affects those beasts that are disposed for such a venome but if it be violent it ceazeth on Mankind yet so that of its own nature it would leave neither Countrey not Cittie nor Village nor Town free This layes hold on men in one place only But if the active force be from a superiour cause or be from the ayr corrupted below Mankind alone are endangered by it But if both a superiour and an inferiour cause concur then may all living Creatures be infected with the Plague yet it must be according to the disposition of their bodies Artic. 4. Of Attraction cooling and penetrating of the Ayr. NO man almost is ignorant but that the Ayr serves for the Life of man for the branches of arteria venosa drink in blood from the whole Lungs brought to them by the arteria venosa and it is made more pure in them The Ayr drawn in at the mouth is mingled with the blood and this mixture is carried to the left ventricle of the heart to be made spirituous blood Ludovi du Gardin Anatom c. 40. But being drawn in heaps it strangles Zwinger Physiol l. 2. c. 23. For if you compasse a burning Candle in the open ayr with wine from above you put it out because it cannot attract the Ayr prepared on each side by reason the wine is betwixt and it cannot from below draw the crude and unprepared Ayr. The desaphoretick force of it will appear in an Egg when that is new a pure spirit sweats through its shell whilest it rosts like unto dew What will this do in the body of man It will make that full of chinks if it be touched by a small heat otherwise it fills and penetrates all things It pierceth thorow a brick and there it inflates the concocted lime so that the quantity of it is increased till it break it We see that the Ayr entring by the pores of a baked brick doth swell a stone that was left there for want of diligence and is turned into Lime and so puts it up till the brick breaks Zwinger Phys. l. 2. c. 25. Farther it is concluded by certain observation That a wound is easie or hard to cure by reason of the Ayr. In Fenny grounds wounds of the head are soon cured but Ulcers of the Legs are long Hence it is that wounds of the head are light at Bonnonia and Paris but wounds of the Legs are deadly at Avignon and Rome There the Ayr is of a cold constitution and is an enemy to the brain here it is more hot whereby the humours being melted run more downwards Paâ—aeâ—s l. 10. Chirurg c. 8. It may be cooled 9 wayes by frequent ventilating of it with a fan
the other was the remedy for them Anauros of Thessaly and Boristhenes send out no vapour nor exhalation many refer the cause of it to its mixture others seek it other-where Agricola l. 2. de effl ex terr c. 17. saith In what part of the Rivers the Channels in the Fords have no veins and fibres by that they can breath forth no exhalations In the snows of Mount Caucasus hollow Clods freez and contain good water in a membrane there are Beasts there that drink this water which is very good and runs forth when the membranes are broken Strab. in Geograph Nilus makes women so fruitfull that they will have 4 and 6 at one venter Pliny in Histor. There is a Well of water that makes the inhabitants of the Alps to have swollen throats Lang. l. 5. Epist. 43. But in field Rupert neer to Argentina there is a water said to be that makes the drinkers of it troubled with Bronchocele they seem to be infected with quicksilver for this is an enemy to the brain and nervs for it not only sends back flegme to the glandulous parts of the head and neck but that which is heaped up in the head it throws down upon the parts under it Sebizius de acidul s. 1. dict 6. Corol. 1. thes 12. Diana a River of Sicily that runs to Camerina unlesse a chast woman draw its water it will not mingle with Wine Solinus C. 10. Styx in Arcadia drank of kills presently it penetrates and breaks all yet it may be contained in the horns of one kind of Asse Seneca l. 3. natur c. 25. Two Rivers runs into Niger a River in Africa one is reddish the other whitish Barrens Histor. dec 1. l. 3. c. 8. If any man drink of both he will be forced to Vomit both up but if any man drink but of one he shall Vomit leasurely but when they are both run into Niger and a man drink them mingled he shall have no desire to Vomit Narvia is a River of Lithuania so soon as Serpents tast of the water they give a hiss and get away Cromer descript Polon l. 1. A Fountain of Sardinia in the Mediterranean keeps the length and shortnesse of dayes and runs accordingly In the Island of Ferrum one of the Canaries there is no water the Ayr is fiery the ground dry and man and beast are sad for want of water But there is a Tree the kind is unknown the leaves are long narrow and allways green A Clowd allwaies surrounds it whereby the leaves are so moystned that most pure liquour runs continually from it which the inhabitants fetch setting vessells round the Tree to take it in Bertius in descript Canariar Sea-waters if they be lukewarm they portend tempests before two days be over and violent Winds Lemnius de occult l. 2. c. 49. In England nere New-Castle there is a lake called Myrtous part whereof is frozen in Summer Thuan. in Histor. But I have done with these Authours have more if any man desire it especially Claudius Vendilinus whom I name for honour sake if he seek for the wonders of Nilus Artic. 7. Of some Floods or Waters and of the Universall Deluge THe Floods were signs of Gods anger and so much the more as that was greater and mens sins more grievous The greatest was that we call the generall Deluge which began about the end of the year of the World 1656. All the bars of the Channels were broken and for 40 dayes a vaste quantity of water was poured down Also the Fountains of the great Deep were cut asunder so that the Waters increased continually for 150 dayes and passed above the highest Mountains 15 Cubits At length they abated by degrees for after 70 dayes the tops began to appear The Inhabitants of the New World say they had it from their Ancestours Those of Peru say that all those Lands lay under waters and that men were drowned except a few who got into woodden Vessels like Ships and having provision sufficient they continued there till the waters were gone Which they knew by their dogs which they sent forth of doors and when the dogs came in wet they knew they were put to swim but when they returned dry that the waters were gone August Carat But they of Mexico say that five Suns did then shine and that the first of them perished in the waters and men with it and whatsoever was in the earth These things they have described in Pictures and Characters from their Ancestors giving credit to Plato's Flood which was said to have hapned in the Island Atlantis Lupus Gomara But Lydiat ascribes the cause of that universal Deluge to a subterraneal fire in a hotter degree increasing the magnitude by rarefaction so long as it could not gâ—t out of its hollow places Genesis seems to demonstrate it For the Fountains of the great Deep are said to be broken open and that a wind was sent forth after 40 dayes and the waters were quieted We must understand a wind from a dry Exhalation which a subterraneous fire much increased had most abundantly raised out of the deep of the Sea which was then thrust forth of them and did increase the motion of the ayr that it laid hold of together with the revolution of the Heavens and the vehemency of the Firmament But there were other miraculous Deluges besides this CHAP. IV. Of the Originall of Fountains Sea by passages under the Earth The Sea alone is sufficient to supply all Springs and when we see that it no wayes increaseth by the Rivers that run into it it is apparent that they run to their Fountains by secret channels But the question is of the manner how they ascend Socrates ascribes it to the Tossing of them Pliny to the wind l. 21. c. 65. Bodin l. 2. Theatr. to the weight of the Earth driving forth the water Scaliger to the Bulk of the Sea others to vapours redoubled into themselves It is a hard matter to define all things nor is it our purpose But because Thom Lydiat an English Man hath written most acutely of this Subject we will set down his opinion here contracted into a few Propositions I. The Rolling of the Water is not the cause of its ascending to the superficies of the Earth For there is no cause for its tossing and wherefore then should it not at length stand levell II. To be driven with the wind is not the cause 1. For it seems not to be raised in the Sea by a fixed Law of Nature but by way of Tempest 2. The Channels are winding and should carry it rather to the sides than to the superficies 3. If a contrary wind cannot do so much in any water what then can the wind do here Also if there were any receptacles for the waters forced upwards Miners those that dig in mines would have found them out as Vallesius saith III. The weight of the Earth squeesing out the water is not the Cause For the Earth
butter of Antimony Some impute it to the native heat of the earth or to a certain hot spirit so that these natural spirits of exhalations heating not violently but naturally in some places the secret channels of the Earth grow hot that this heat is communicated to the Walls of those concavities by reason whereof a sufficient and continuall heat may be communicated to the Baths even as in an Oven heated when all the flame is gone the bread is sufficiently baked Horstius de natur Thermar Others ascribe it to subterraneall fire but whether it be so may be known by what proceeded Bartholin de aquis Farther it may be shewed by an Example Mingle salt-water with Clay make of this clay or mud a ball and hollow it within then stop the orifice with the clay and put in a narrow pipe into it and put this ball to the fire the pipe being from the fire when the ball waxeth hot out of the ball by the pipe hot water will run Sennert l. 4. scient natural c. 10. Baths have a taste by the mixture of Earths and so have things in the Earth Hippocrates l. de natur human saith That there is in the Earth sweet sowr and bitter and in the bowels of it there are divers faculties and many humours l. 4. de Morbis Every thing drawes its nourishment from the Earth in which it is Hence in Ionia and Peloponnesus though the heat of the Sun be very sufficient yet Silphium growes not though it be sowed namely for want of such a humour as might nourish it Yet there are in that earth juices not onely for the vaporous but also for the moyst and solid substance Juices condensed are dissolved by waters the moyst are mingled Earths are dissolved and scrapings of mettals are found The goodnesse of them differs sometimes because those that in Summer are beray'd with the Suns heat and attenuated are the best In Autumn they are lesse beat upon by its beams because he is nearer to them so in the spring For the Earth is opened the waters are purified the healthfull light of the Sun approaches but in the Winter they are worst for they are heavier thicker and more defiled with earthly exhalations That they suffer changes we may learn by divers examples Fallop de Therm c. 11. Savanarola saith That the Bath waters in the Country of Pisa cause great diseases in those that drink them and the Inhabitants are warn'd of it For in March April and May when they see the waters look yellow and to be troubled they foresee they are dangerous Alcardus of Veroneus a Physitian who writ of the Calâ—erian Baths saith That the water of Apponus is sometimes deadly by the example of one Galeatius a Noble man who with his Son in Law drank of it and dyed The sharp waters of Alsatia are sometimes so sharp that they cause the dysentery and sometimes they are feeble and are deprived of their wonted vigour Sebizius de acidulis diss 50. s. 1. The causes are divers amongst the ordinary a rainy cloudy dark Southern constitution of the Ayr too violent flowing of the Sea inundations Earthquakes It is wonderfull that is written concerning some hot Baths in Germany that they grew dry when there was a tax set upon them Camerar horis subcis cent 2. c. 69. Something like this fell out in shell-fish at the Sluce for when a kind of tribute was laid upon the collecting of them they were no more found there they returned when the Tax was taken off Jacob Mayer in Annal. Flandriae CHAP. VI. Of the Sea Artic. 1. 〈…〉 Artic. 2. 〈…〉 and Hercules Pillars about Spain and France in his dayes But the North Sea for the greatest part was passed over by the happy successe of the famous Augustus We find in Velleius that Germany was surrounded by sailing so far as the Promontory of the Cimbri and from thence the vast Ocean was discovered or known by relation as far as Scythia and the parts that were frozen by the command of Tiberius The same Pliny tells us that Alexander the Great extended his Victories over the greatest part of the East and Southern Seas unto the Arabian shores whereby afterwards when C. Caesar the Son of Augustus managed the businesse the ensigns of ships were known to belong to the Spaniards that had suffered shipwrack there But when Carthage flourished 〈…〉 from the Gades to the furthermost parts of Arabia and 〈…〉 writing that Voyage and Hamilco at the same time was sent to discover the outward parts of Europe Moreover Cornelius Nepos is the Author of it in Pliny that one Eudoxus in his time when he fled from Lathyrus King of Aegypt came from the Arabian Coasts as far as Gades and Caelius Antipater long before him affirms the same that he saw him who sailed out of Spain into Aethiopia 〈…〉 Merchandize The same Author writes that the King of Sweden gave freely to Quint. Metellus Celer Pro Consul of France those Indians who sailed out of India for Traffiquâ— and were by Tempests carried into Germany That Voyage hath been attempted of late but with extream danger of life men being hindred continually by Ice and extream darknesse If these things be so then was all our World sailed about It is further questioned whether there be any passage through the North Sea to the Kingdom of Sina and to the Moluccos Jovius reportâ— that he heard it of Demetrius Moschus that Duidna with many Rivers entring into it ran into the North a wonderfull way and that the Sea was there open so that stearing the course toward the right hand shore unlesse the land be betwixt men might saile to Cathay Those of Cathay belong to the furthest parts of the East and the parallel of Thracia and are known to the Portingalls in India when they to buy spices sayled to the Golden Chersonesus through the Countries of Sina and Molucco and brought with them garments of Sabell skins Petruâ— Bertius a man that deserved well for his learning but ill for divinity reports in descrip noâ— Zembliae that he saw a Table described 〈…〉 the Russes wherein the shores of the Russes Samogetans and Tingâ—â—eri with the North Sea nere unto them and some Islands were â—â—â—ely set forth In that the Duina River was farthest West but others Rivers followed towards the East and in the first place Peisa Petchoâ—a Obiâ— Jeneseia and Peisida Therefore the passage must be open from the River Obii to Peisida The Histories of â—â—e Russes reportâ— that when the Moscovites and the Tingesi were curious to search out Countries farther toward the East they sent out discoveries over Land who passed beyond the River Obii and Jeneseia so far as Peisida ouâ— foot and there they fell amongst people that in their habit manners and speech were farr different from them There they heard the found of Bells from the East the noyse of Men the neighing of Hortes they saw say is foure square such as
hardly extinguish flames and it is easily 〈…〉 that are washed in it are quickly dryed 3. 〈…〉 as Britanny and France hotter V. The Sea is not onely salt but bitter therefore it is 〈…〉 called Mare than Sâ—â—um VI. The salt and bitternesse of the Sea iâ— from a subterraneal 〈…〉 fire 1. Bitumen is perceived so bitter in taste that it may be known to be the first subject of it 2. Bitumen hath great force to cause iâ— salt and bitter taste The bituminous Lake of Palestina is so salt and bitter that no Fish is bred in it it scours cloaths if one wet them and shake it well out 3. Pliny reports that a bituminous water thaâ— is also salt at Babylon is cast out of their Wells into salt Piâ—â— and is thickned partly into Bitumen partly into Salt VII A salt Exhalation proceeding froâ—â—hose Deâ—pâ— iâ— easily divided by the body of the Sea For as fine flower or 〈…〉 thing else casâ— into 〈…〉 boyling liquor is cast from the place that boyls unto other parts 〈…〉 on one side to the other if in the middle to the circumference 〈…〉 bituminous Exhalation from thence where it boyleth most and the Sea is most hot is cast and dispell'd into the whole body of it So 〈…〉 Artic. 5. Of the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea ANother great miracle of Nature is the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea When the Philosopher sought for the cause of it hâ— grew desperate Possidonius in Strabo l. 3. Geograph makes 3. Circuits of the Sea's motion The diurnall monethly and yearly The first is when the Moon is risen above the Horizon but one sign of the Zodiack or is gone down under the Horizon then the Sea swells untill the Moon comes to the midst of the Heaven 〈…〉 it above or beneath the Earth When it declines from thence the Sea begins to retire untill the Moon is but one sign distant from the East or West and then it stops Pliny assents thus far to him that the flowing of the Sea begins about two equinoctiall hours after the rising or setting of the Moon and ends just so long before its setting or rising He determines the other to be monethly in the conjunction when he saith That the greatest and quickest returnings of the Sea do happen about the new and full Moon the mean about the Quarters of the Moon And Marriners approve this when they call it the Living Sea by reason of the great ebbings and flowings in the new and full Moons but the dead Sea in the half Moons because of the lesser and slower motions of it Possidonius addes more That one Sâ—leucus observed a Sea that was derived from the red Sea and was different from it that kept the monethly course of returning namely according to the Lunar moneth which men call periodicall For he had observed in the Moon being in the Equinoctiall signs that the Tides were equall but in the solstices they were unequall both for quantity and swiftnesse and the same inequality held in the rest so far as any of them happened â—ear to the foresaid places Lastly Possidonius saith That he learned the yearly motions from the Mariners of Gades For they say that about the summer Solstice the ebbing and flowing of the Sea increaseth much and that he conjectured the same did diminish as far as the Equinoctial and again to increase untill Winterâ— from 〈…〉 to decrease untill the spring Equinox â— and so increase again untill the Summer solstice Pliny determines the contraâ—◠〈…〉 reason of the Equinox But Patricius witnesseth That iâ— Libâ—â—â—ia in January great part of the strandâ— are naked and continue dry for some dayes The same Pliny l. â— c. 97. observes That in every eight years in the Moons 100 circumvolution the Tides are called back to their first motions and like increasings that is to say the Sun and Moon then returning to a conjunction in the same sign and degree wherein they were in conjunction eight years before But for the daily Tides there is a differeâ—â—e amongst Writers In the Sicilian Sea 〈…〉 and flowings are twice a day and twice in the night 〈…〉 in the Sinâ—s of Aegeum repeats its motion 7. times a day and sometimes is seen thrown down from the highest Mountains and so steep down that no ships can be safe there Basil iâ— Hexaemex In England at Bristoll the Ebb is daily twice and so great that the ships that were in the Sea stand dry and are twice on dry Land twice in the Sea Pitheas Massiliensis as Pliny testifies l. 2. c. 67. writes that it swâ—lls fourscore cubits higher than Britanny In the Southern part of the New World the Sea rising flowes two Leagues Ovetan summ c. 9. But in a certain Northern Sea there iâ— no flowing or ebbing observed by the waves of it Petrus Hispan p. 5. c. 1. Not far from Cuba Promontory and by the shores of Margaret Island and Paria the Sea flowes naturally nor can ships by any means though they have a prosperous gale sayl against the floods nor make a mile in a whole day Petrus Martyâ—â—â—n sum Indiae In the Adriatick Sea formerly there was wont to be a very great flowing forth early in the morning the Sea being so advanced into the Continent that it went as far up as a strong man could run in a day Procop. l. 1. Belli Gothici â—ut singular was that Tide and a wonder of the World which in particular which proceed from whirlepools by which the waters are suckt up and spued out again by turns It is very probable this happens in Charybdis the Syrtes and Chalcydis about Eubaea This represents a true flowing and comes from winds breaking forth of the Caves of the Earth and forcing forward the waters or to the Waves running back again and sinking down But the fourth is 〈…〉 true ebbing and flowing which runs neither Eastward nor Westward but begins from the Navel of the Sea and that boyls up and as the waters rise thus they are powred forth toward the Banks more or lesse as the cause is more or lesse violent unlesse something hinder the cause whereof we shall seek last of all And true it is that Marriners in the straights of Magellan where the South Sea is seperated from the North by a notable difference marking diligently the Tydes of both Seas have observed what they could not do in the vast Ocean namely that both Seas do not begin to flow at the same time And that it is not moved by any outward cause not from the Heavens nor is it brought in from the East or West but comes from the bottom of it and boyles out from thence the superfluity running toward the Land variously as the swelling is great or small the shores high or low and the cause that moves it from the bottom upwards weaker or stronger This is confirmed by the nature of the water which casts up from the bottom whatsoever it sucks in if it be not
a City being on the top of the Mountains of Dofrinium where it first was like a ball but at last like a mighty round Mountain Olaus l. 59. c. 15. and l. â— c. 13. The tops of Mount Caucasus have scarce any lesse for they cannot be come at in Winter especially in Cambisena the quantity is so great that whole Troops of men are overthrown by it Strabo l. 11. The Armenians are in the same condition for those that passe over the Mountains are suddenly covered with clots of Snow that they cannot be seen and that in the fierce Winter Rhodigin l. 18. c. 29. In Tartary it comes on also in Summer mighty cold vast Snowes all are removed by the wind Hispal p. 4. c. 23. In the same the Champion places of Pamer do sustain so great cold that it will put out the fire for it will give no light nor can any thing be boyled with it Polus l. 2. c. 28. In Moscovia where water runs out of a high hill it is congealed before it touch ground Surius ad Anno 1501. In Armenia they are red which proceeds from the places that abound with Minium and by the force of its exhalations they are coloured Nor is this against reason for plenty of bloods yields a blood-coloured dew Homer shews that at Troy when he speaks of bloody drops of dew that of it sprang hairy rough red Creatures Apollonius calls them Worms Theophanes Mountain worms There is a liquour in them which the people love to drink Eustath in Homer Aristot. 5. Anim. Hail is a kin to Snow whereof we have nothing to say except of its greatnesse for in the time of Valens it fell like stones of unusual greatnesse at Constantinople Socrates histor Eccles. l. 4. c. 10. When Alaricus took the City it was greater than stones that can be handled and was about 8. pounds in weight Maiolus in Caâ—â—cul In France when Paschal was Pope one piece fell down that was 12 foot long Bonsinius At Augustodanum one 16 foot long 7 broad and 2 foot high Segebertus And no lesse fell in the time of Bergoma for it was compared to an Ostrich Egg and was 12 inches about Bonsinius They say in the same year at Bommel in Gelderland there fell one stone was 3 pounds weight on the 12th of June sometimes the forms of it have been wonderful Anno 1395 it had the Images of men with beards of women with Kerchers and hair At Cremona Anno 1240 it had the sign of the crosse But we are often deceived and imagine what is not so Yet the Works of God are wonderfull CHAP. X. Of Dew Manna and Honey DEw comes from a thin vapour resolved into water by the cold of the night It is first found in the light and thick leaves and flowers of plants and sometimes it is scarce lift up above two Cubits high Some say it was the daughter of Jupiter and the Moon for as Plutarch saith The full Moon makes plenty of Dew And therefore dogs in the full Moons can sent out things by the foot worst because the cold dew takes away the sent that they cannot smell them wherefore it is hard to hunt well in the Spring time Plutarch saith that fat women were wont to gather dew with cloaths or soft skins which they used to make them lean 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Christophorus Vega writes That Manna is made by some little Bees like thick Gnats from whom sitting by swarms upon Trees sweat as it were drops from them Sennertus l. 4. c. 8. thinks that they are rather drawn thither by the sweetnesse of the Manna and that they make it not The Learned make a question whether the Jews Manna was the same with ours Many things agree but in this they differ that theirs ground in a mill or bruised in a mortar was fit to make wafers If it be not prevented it will melt with any Sun for an Easterly Sun will melt it We read that it is used for Sugar with water alone to drink and to quench ones thirst amongst those Shepherds that frequent the desarts of Targa Scalig. Exerc. 164. Manna is of kin to to honey This comes out of the Ayr especially at the rising of the Stars it is made especially when the Dog-star shines nor doth it appear before the Pleiaâ—es shine in the morning Plin. l. 11. c. 12. Therefore then in the morning early the leaves of Trees are bedewed with honey and if any in the morning be in the open ayr they shall perceive their clothes anointed with the Liquour and their hair glewed together This dew is afterwards collected by Bees it is altered by them in little bladders It is put up in little Cells like pure liquor in which afterwards it grows hot and is concocted with natural heat The 20th day it growes thick then is it covered with a thin membrane which growes together by its frothing heat Pliny l. cit c. 13. Also that it is made by Wasps Pliny teacheth out of Aristotle The Spanish Navigations confirm that it is made of some Molucca flies in Trees which are lesse than Ants. Lithuania and Moscovia have great plenty The story is old concerning a Country-man that fell into a hollow Tree of honey and a Bear drew him forth We have heard that concerning honey that Aristotle speaks of grated wine for it growes so thick that it must be shaved off to drink it Amongst the Troglodites at Belgada honey is as white as Snow and hard as a stone Scaliger Exerc. 191. S. 1. It is so solid in Calicut that they carry it it in baskets Many things are preserved by honey and many things die by it for the milky humour in it is not weak wherefore that remaining uncorrupt corrupts others Wallnuts keep their nature in it for by their unctuous quality they resist their peculiar humidity but Figs Peaches Pears Apples corrupt in it Scaliger Exerc. 170. CHAP. XI Of the Rainbow THe Poets feigned the Rainbow to be Daughter of Thaumas The Ancients thought that she drew water by her two horns let down toward the Earth Hence Virgil Georgic ver 138. and the great Bowe Drank But Propertius L. 3. Why doth the Purple Bowe rain-Rain-water drink The colours are so exact that no Painter can equal them The blew colour is said to shew that the Flood is past but the fiery colour shews that which is yet to come Strabo citant Rhodigin Albertus thinks that 3 and somtimes more may be made in it When it is made at noon we cannot see it for no man ever saw a Rain-bow beyond 3 miles It is never made when the Cloud ascends but allwaies as it goes downward for so it causeth no dew but when it falls away Rhodigin l. 22. l. 12. c. 7. Celius denies that it can be made by the Moon beams Scaliger exerc 80. s. 12. approves it In the Island of St. Thomas saith he if a showr went before the Moon will make a Rain-bow the
out of the Skys Lydiat de fontib 6. c. 6. The latter is confirmed by the testimony of some Writers For the Gold of Corbachium in Westphalia every four year grows and springs again in heaps In Sclavonia a vein of Lead every 40. yeares is changed into Silver A dry scale of Brasse into Gold in one yeare Iron in Silesia at Saganum is digged a new every tenth yeare In Sweden red fâ—nny mud laid one yeare in the open Sun becomes good Iron The Mountain of Fessula in Hetruria hath lead-stones which if they be cut out will in a short time grow again Caesalpinus l. 2. de metal c. 6. relates of Iron that is dug up in Ilva an Island of the Tyrrhene Sea that all the Earth that wanted Mettal that is dug up with the Iron will the next time they dig be turned into good Iron Lastly in the Indies there is the Mountain Oromenus where salt is cut out as out of quarries and it grows again Caesalpin l. 1. de Metal c. 1. But that is wonderfull which Garzias ab horto writes of the Diamant Simpl Indiae l. 1. c. 47. The Adamaâ—ts saith he that lye deep in the bowells of the Earth and require many yeares to their perfection are bred almost on the surface of the ground and are ready in 2 or 3 yeares for dig this yeare but a cubit deep in the quarrie and you shall find Diamonds dig there after two yeares and you shall find Diamonds again But how that should be it is hard to say yet no man can speak with more care than Nature can work when especially she is prodigall and sports her self in the variety of things Pliny l. 21. praefat Yet it doth not seem unreasonable that the Vapour should congele with a fit matter and that which is not well concocted to put off to another time and so to perpetuate the generation Truly the Flux of Veins hath somthing proportionable to vegetable nature and the relation of a Physitian of Friberg that in the Lungs of such as use to dig in Mines their bodies being opened when they are dead you shall find the same Mettals grown hard wherein they laboured being alive Sennertus lib de consensu et diss Chymicorum et Galenicorum seems to intimate as much CHAP. II. Of Marle and Potters-Earth MArle is a thick fat Earth and yet is somtimes so fluxible and white that it seems like to marrow in the bones of living Creatures Of times it is hard and being drank it stops the Veins that bleed at the mouth and hath the same force that Terra Samia hath It is dug up in many places especially amongst the Saxons At Gossaria there are two sorts one is Ash-coloured and the other is whiter of which are made forms wherein your Image makers make their Pictures they cast Sharp cold will divide them both into very thin plates though the former before the cold have seazed upon it consists of thick crusts Potters Earth is thick soft it is hard to come by works are made of fat and thick matter that the force of fire will not quickly break Of the same are made Vessels that will neither drink up nor consume liquor wherein water that parts Gold from Silver is both made and kept Potters Vessells have ennobled many Countries as Asia by those were made at Pergamus those that were made at Tralleis Terra Coa and Samia are not unknown and Aretina is wonderfull Plin. l. 5. c. 13. Noriberga sends earthen Furnaces wherein Gare are and Mettals are boiled Of clay digged up at the Fort of Rottingberg are made purging Vessels wherein Alchymy is made These being cast out of the fire with the brasse do not break but are drawn and wound like burning Glasse Agricola de illis quae essodiuntur ex terra CHAP. III. Of Terra Lemnia Armenia and Silesâ—ack TErra Lemnia otherwise called sealed Earth For Diana's Priest taking it upon him for the honour of his Country offering for expiation wheat and barley brought this into the City soked with water and making it like clay he dryed it that it might be like soft wax and when it was become so he sealed it with the sacred seal of Diana Gal. l. 9. Simpl. Now it is digged up yearly not without superstition the sixth day of August onely They that dig are Greeks the pit sends forth a sweet smell It is digged after Sun-rising for 6. hours and it is laid up in one lump and it must see no light till a year be expired Then it is taken out and washt being washt it is put into a bag it is mingled with hands it is made into round Cakes and marked with the Emperours seal Then it is dryed and put into a sealed Cabinet and sent away to the Emperour to Constantinople Stephanus Albacarius in Epist. ad Busbequium It is good against deadly poysons Galen tryed it against the Sea hare and Cantharides and found it good The same Authour writes of it that in a certain hill by the City of the Ephestii where no plant lives it is dug up the ground being as it were burnt Terra Armenia was wont to be brought from that part which is adjacent to Cappadocia Galen saith it helps difficult breathing so that they die whom it cures not It is drank with Wine in a thin consistence moderately allaid if the party have none or but an easie feaver but if a strong one with water At this day there is a Bolus Toccaviensis in Hungaria it is like butter and is good against Catarrhes so that it is preferred before the Earth of Armenia Crato in Epist. Sileciaca Strigensis is also preferred before Terra Lemnia Sennert Scient natural l. 5. c. 1. Johannes Montanus Silesius was the founder of it who writ a book of the same that it is transmuted gold by the ordination of God in his providence of nature prepared and transmuted into a most excellent remedy that chiefly prevails against venome no lesse than the Medicaments that are made with great cost out of the best gold of Hungary CHAP. IV. Of Salt SAlt is either made or else it growes It is made of salt Fountains the water whereof boyled long at length is turned to salt It breeds many wayes It is dryed in the Lake Tarentinum by the Summer Suns and the whole Lake turns to salt in some places it is moderated not above knee deep In Bactria two Lakâ—s very large one toward the Scythians the other toward the Arii boyl with salt Also the tops of some Rivers and condensed into salt the rest of the River running as it were under the Ice as at the Caspian mouth that are called Rivers of Salt Amongst the Bactrians the Rivers Ochus and Oxus carry out of the opposite Mountains sholes of Salt There are also natural salt Mountains as Oxomenus in India where it is cut out of quarries and growes again and the Custome of it is more to their Kings than from gold and pearls
Pansa de prorog vitae l. 4. If a Man weare it it will be very red but pale if a woman use it Lemn l. de occult c. 22. The fuliginous Spirits in a woman are the cause of it and the faint heat in Coral In men the naturall heat is strong and evaporates Hence if Coral be covered with Mustard seed it waxeth red There are other Plants in the Sea that come from a juyce that grows into a stone About Hercules Pillars and in the outland Sea Trees grow like Bay Trees In the Indian Sea there are Bull-rushes and Reeds in the red Sea Mushrooms all which being cast forth are changed into stones Theophrastus and Pliny confirm these To this appertains Syringites that is like a joynted straw and the reed hollow CHAP. XIII Of Brimstone and Stybium BRimstone is dug up in Islandia by the Mountain Hecla and that without fire It is yellow that is digged out of a Plain of Brimstone which in Campania they call Virgin-Brimstone because women paint their faces with it It is so friendly to fire that pieces of it laid about the wood will draw the fire to them The Greeks and Romans did purifie houses with the fume of it put into the fire it will by the sent discover the Falling-sicknesse Anaxilaus made sport with it carrying it about in a red hot cup with fire under it which by repercussion made the guests look pale as if they had been dead Plin. l. 35. c. 15. The Chymists make such an effectual oyl of Balsome of Brimstone that it will suffer neither live or dead bodys to corrupt but keeps them so safe that no impression from the Heavens or corruption of the Elements or from their own original can hurt them Weck Antidot Spec. l. 1. I shall say something of Stybium It hath an exceeding purgative quality as we see by experience Mathiol ad Dioscorid l. 5. c. 59. Andreas Gallus a Physitian of Trent fell into an inflammation of the Lungs Heart and Stomack with a wonderfull thirst swelling of the Throat beating of the heart and a strangling distillation allmost from the head He took three grains of Stybium with Sugar rosat first he cast up yellow choler 4 ounces weight and afterwards 2 pound weight symptoms ceased and he recovered his former health Georgius Hendschius writes that the same thing hapned to him in the pestilence Also Lucas Contilis Senensis taking 4 grains of Stybium vomited up 12 bits of Turpentine Rosin that he had swallowed 15. dayes before But a Parish Priest of Prague that was mad of melancholy taking 12 graines of the same purged choler downwards that had like scrapings of flesh mingled with it and they appeared as great melancholly Veins called varices cut into peices CHAP. XIIII Of Juices that grow into stones I had allmost forgot juyces that harden like stones Nature hath wonderfully spoâ—ted herself in them sometimes it hardens before it touch the ground and somtimes when it is fallen down Both these ways are seen at Amberga where there are white pillars made by it Agricol l. de effl ex terra What ever drinks it in is made a stone if it be but porous Hence you shall find stony Fountaines and Wood and Bones that are dug up When the workmen in time of Warr fled into the Mines of Lydia about Pergamus the entrance being shut up they were strangled the den was afterwards made clean and there were found Vessels of stone fill'd with a stony juyce About the Coast of Elbog there are great-firr Trees with their barks in the cracks whereof a fire stone of a Golden colour growes About Cracovia in Bohemia there are Trees with boughes out of which there are Whet-stones with corners which was a Present sent from the Lords of Columbratium to Ferdinand the first Hildesham hath beames laid upon heaps the heads of these somtimes stick forth these being stricken with Iron or with another stone not unlike the marble at Hildesham they smell like the sent of burnt horn There is also Wood changed into a stone and in the cracks of it there is Ebony dug forth which Tâ—eophrastus was not ignorant of that it lay hid scattered in the hollow oâ— other stones Looking Glasses rubbing Cloths Garments Shoos being brought into a quarrey in Assus of Troas become stones Mucianus But stones that congele from juyce are commonly soft and brittle In the hot Baths of Charls the 4th many stones together are found hollow like Hives half Globe figured so great as peaâ—e they grow from the drops of the hot waters falling down But those earthen Vessells that are found in the Earth were Piâ—chers for dead mens bones because in all of them covered with lids there were ashes and in some Rings were found wee saw such a one in the Library Thoruniense It was the fashion of the Antients as all know to burn and lay up their ashes In Italy also some urns were found of glasse Caesar Carduinus had foure found in the fields of Naples but what hapned at Verona see Bertius in descâ—i agri Veronen CHAP. XV. Of the Loadstone THe Loadstone is well known The effects of it are admirable two are special its turning to the poles of the World and its dawing of another Loadstone and Iron As for the first in many places it doth nor exactly respect the poles the Declination is somtimes more or lesse This age observeth that for 10 degrees beyond the fortunate Islands where Cosmographers have set the beginning of Longitude it concurs with the poles of the World toward the East it varies more About Norimberg they count 10 degrees in Norway 16 in Zembla 17 as the Dutch observed but one Gilbertus hath found out 23 degrees variation Whence we collect the greatest variation to be 23 degrees If we ask the cause the learned are of divers opinions some say there are certain Mountains of Loadstones under the poles and they say the Loadstone moves by sympathy Others write that it turns to certain Starrs Others say there are in it two opposite points whereof the one turns to the North the other to the South Others think that it moves toward the South because the operation of all the Planets is Southward They all seem to be deceived How great and what kind of Mountains these are is yet unknown and there are many Mines of it in Aegypt It doth not directly point at the Pole unlesse it stand in the Meridian The point that is toward the South is held the stronger The work-Masters gives us a notable Maxime when in the finger of the Marriners Chart they rub that part of the neidle with the Loadstone wherewith it turns to the South Lastly there are opposite places wherein the Eccliptick declines from the Aequator toward the North and the Planets from the East make their motions by the North. It seems most probable Sennert l. 5. scient natural c. 4. that the Loadstone moves toward the South pole either only or if it
Table the spirit as was said is not hindred CHAP. XVI Of the Stones Schistos Galactites Gip Selenites Amiantos SChistos the more it shines like Iron the harder it is In Missena there are bred some knobs about the bigness of a Wallnut so hard that laid on an anvil they resist the strokes Agricola saw one of Missena that weighed 14 pounds Galactites at Hildesham is dug forth of a Sand-pit yearly it increaseth from a milky and lutinous juice so that some are found as big as ones head they say it makes Nurses full of milk that drink it in powder with water or sweet wine All Gin is hard In Saxony in the Land of Hildesham it is found like to Sugar The Inhabitants of Hercinium and Thuringum burn â—hat which is hard and grind that which is burnt and wetting it with water they use it for Lime what colour soever it be it growes white by burning Lysistratus of Syâ—e Brother to Lysippus was the first that made a Mans picture with a face in Gyp and then poured Wax melted into that form trying thereby to make it better A wall was made of Gyp in pieces of Ash-colour at Northusia in Thuringia and the Port of Algâ—â—s a Town of Mauritania Caesariensis Selenites is a stone that is wont to be found at dark night when the Moon increaseth and it represents the Moon by shining in the night and it increaseth and diminisheth with it daily It not onely shews your face but it will represent the image of a thing behind your back It endures the Suns heat and Winters cold but it cannot away with rain for it will corrupt if great pieces of it be exposed to rain Amianthus is made of an appropriate juice the fire is so far from polluting its lustre that if it be cast in it will shine the brighter Once lighted it never goes out if oyl fail not Hence it is called Asbestos and because it is like to womens full hair and to mens hoarinesse it is called Bostrychitis and Corsoides We saw saith Pliny in banqueting places napkins made of it that when the filth was burnt out of them were cleansed more with fire than they would have been with water It was found at the siege of Athens that things anointed with it would not burn under L. Sylla This stone is kembed spun and wove though with difficulty because it is short and they make not onely Napkins but Table-cloaths of it and Towels Also of old time they made the Funeral Coats for Kings which were put upon them when they were put into great fires to be burnt that so the ashes of their bodies being parted from the wood-ashes might be laid up in their Sepulchres Pliny saith that this Linnen hath been found to equall the price of the best pearls but now it is sold at mean rates CHAP. XVII Of Stones that represent divers Forms THere are many stones representing divers forms We will mention some here namely Trochites Eutrochos Encrinos Enorchis and others Trochites is like the round head of a pillar the round part is smooth but each broad part hath as it were a kind of conveyance from whence are lines unto the extream part of the Circle Put into vinegar it raiseth bubbles and some are found that move from place to place Eutrochos is made of Trochites not yet separated Whose Trochites have eminent lines in that part where two of them meet there seems to be a girdle twisted round within it But the Trochitae are so joyned that the lines of the one enter into the furrowes of the other Encrinos is like Lillies for when one part with corners is parted from the other both shew like five Lillies Enorchis in the shards is like testicles In the Diocesse of Trevirs when Cements are digged up to repair buildings they meet with blackish stones that represent the secrets of women Diphyis by an intercurrent line represents the Genitals of both Sexes The Dâ—ctyli of Ida in Crete of an iron colour are like a mans thumb There is also a stone found like a new Moon cloathed with Armour of a golden colour Haephestites represents the nature of a glasse and in the Sun it will fire dry matter At Salfelda in Thuringia there is a stone dug forth of a pit 20 fathom deep it is like a firm breast a foot and half long three hands breadth on the former part where the ribs end it is six fingers thick on the hinder part where the whirlbones are pierced through the middle but three the back-bone was empty where it should represent the marrow The outside of this stone was either black or some rare colour and the inside was like to the Lapis Arabicus It is supposed to be of great vertue Belemnites is like an Arrow with a large head and a sharp point There is in it a kind of rift it is clothed with golden coloured lines and it shines naturally like a Looking-glasse It smells like filed or burnt horn if it be rubb'd The Saxons name it by a name compounded of Ephialtes and an Arrow and they say if one drink it that it is good against suppressions and such hags in the night CHAP. XVIII Of the Eagle stone Enhydros the Touch-stone and the Pumex stone THe Eagle stone is found in divers Countries In the Country of Misenus then especially when great rains fall It smells like a Violet by the Mosse sticking upon it It hath in it little stones that being loose and shaken make a noise They commonly stick to Misenus some have earth with them as at Hildesham and some gold as those of Cyprus That which hath a little stone in its belly as the Greeks say if it be bound to the left arm of a woman great with Child through which an Artery runs from the Heart toward the ring-finger next to the little finger it will hold the Child in the womb that is ready to miscarry bound to the left thigh of one in labour it will so help her that she shall be delivered without pain but so soon as she is delivered it must be taken off that the Matrix follow not As it fell out with the Wife of a Citizen of Valencia Francis valeriola l. 1. observ 10. It helped her tyed on to be delivered but not taken away it was her death Enhydros hath water within it It is perfectly round it is white and smooth but it flotes when it is shaken There is liquour in it like as in an Egg. Also liquid Bitumen sometimes that smells sweet is found in stones shut up as in vessels The Touch-stone is that stone they prove gold by In Theophrastus's dayes they were onely found in Tmolus but at this day in the Rivers of Hildesham and Gosselar The parts of them that are found looking toward the Sun are the best for tryall the worst look toward the Earth those are the dryest but these are hindred by their moysture that they cannot take the colour of gold or silver
The Pumex stone is found in places that have been burnt baked out of the earth or stone because it hath holes in which the light ayr flotes and because it is without moysture it burns not They that have charge of Wines put it into a vessel of boyling new Wine and it presently gives off boyling Drunkards that strive for mastery in drinking arm themselves with the powder of it but unlesse they drink abundantly they are in danger saith Theophrastus CHAP. XIX Of Lapis Vitrarius and Specularis THere are three kinds of stones that will run in a burning furnace The one is like to transparent Jewels It hath their colour but is not so hard Of this kind is Alabandicus which melts in the fire and is melted for glasse The second kind is not much unlike it but hath not so many colours the third kind is lapis Vitrarius This hath its proper Veins also At Aâ—nebeâ—gum in a Silver Mine it was found in the forme of a Crosse at Priberg like to an Ape pieces of it are found also out of the Earth but by the running of the waters they are polished by rubbing against some stones of their own or of some other kind The white stone is burnt beaten to powder searsed of that they make sand of these they blow glasses The River Beluâ— at the foot of the Mount Carmel rising in Phoenicia between the Coloney of Ptolemais and the City Tyre brings those kind of Sands fit for glasse to the Sea side which being tumbled with the Waves of the Sea shine their foulness being washed off Plin. l. 6. c. 26. The report is that a ship came loaded with Nitre the Merchants provided their Victualls as they were dispersed here and there on the Sea shore and when they found no stones to make them Tables of these took fire and the Sea shoreâ—sand mingled with them thence those transparent Rivers of this noble liquor began to run and this was the beginning of Glasse But we must not think that Glasse is made of this Sand only To three parts of that they add one part of Nitre and of these melted cometh Ammâ—-â—itre If Nitre be wanting mineral salt will supply the defect If this then either Sea salt or the Ashes of the hearb Anthyllis burnt But when that the matter of glasse melts in the fire it froths and the froth is taken off with a drag when they are forthwith hardned they are made into white loafs in which there is a mixt tast more salt than bitter Men report that in Tiberius's days there was a way invented to make glasse malleable and that his whole shop was ruin'd that the price of Gold Silver Brasse and other mettles should not be brought down but the fame of it is more constant than certain In our time especially at Venice is glasse of high esteem we have seen some that have framed divers works of it as bright as a Candle When Nero raigned by the art of making glasse was found out to make small Cups with two ears they called them Pinnati or Pterota one of them was sold for 6000 Denarit I referre the lapides speculares to these because they were of a bright substance as Basilius writes it was transparent like the Ayre The Antients used it for Windows as we do glasse Nero made a Temple for Fortune of these stones so that whosoever stood without was seen though the dores were shut the light appeared though not sent through Pancirolla l. 1. de veter deperd CHAP. XX. Of Crystal Iris and the Diamond COncerning the Originall of Crystall writers differ Pliny l 37. c. 2 saith that it is made by the most violent frost from Snow or Ice Agricola l. 6. fossill saith it is some sap congealed by cold in the bowels of the Earth The former opinion seems to be true For not only the name confirms it but the place also where it is bred for it is found in those places where the Winter Snows are in such unaccessible places of the Alps that oft times they are fain to be let down with ropes to draw it to them In Asia and Cyprus it is Plow'd up and carried along with the torrents Scalig. exeâ—c 119. From the Percinian Rocks which are in the extreame parts of Noricum it is pulled off from the tops of Mountaines there that are covered with no earth Somtimes there is a kind of coorse Silver in it of the colour of lead Ore and of divers weights In India it is found so great that they make a Vessel of it somtimes that will hold four Sextaryes Livia Augusta dedicated one in the Capitol that made a Vessell that held 50 pounds They are seldom found single many of them oft times stick upon one root somtimes rising together and somtimes a part They lye somtimes so fast that it is a hard matter to pul them off Every Crystall point and the whole body of it is with 6 Angles It cannot be melted by heat of the Sun The extreame cold hath so frozen it that it is not a small thing can melt it yet can it not endure heat Bodin l. 2. Theatr Natur. For in the hottest furnaces and great flames it will run by continuance being melted it will harden again and if you poure hot liquour into a Crystal cup it will break It is thought worn about one to cure the Vertigo and for that cause Men drink out of Venice Glasses Plater l. 1. de l. f. There are made of it both Glasses and Chamber pots such a one as Pliny writes was bough by a Matron that was not very rich for H. S. C. L. M. or 150000 sestertii Pancirolla had one of so pure matter and so transparent that it seemed almost to be ayre the outsides only being opposed to the view It had an adder in it with open mouth ready to devoure a young Lamb but he was hindred by the opposite Crosse. Pancirol de veter deperd l. 1. Also Iris is a white Jewel if it have a sexangular forme held against the Sun beams entring in at the Windows it casts the colours of the Rain-bow on the wall that is over against it The Diamond is found in many Mines The Indian Diamond exceeds not the kernel of a small nut that of Cenchros is no bigger than a millet seed Agricola l. 6. de fossil The Antients speak much of it namely that it cannot be broken by hammers that it takes all virtue from the Loadstone and so resists fire that it will never waxe hot Those of our days have found the contrary Camer memorab med c. 8. M. 42. For a hammer will break it and an iron pestle will bring it to powder It yields to fire and may be calcined with a long continued flame yet though in an hour by the fire it will lose its lustre it will recover it again by polishing with some defect in the lustre It hath been found that rubbing one against the other they have
melted lead so you do it quickly with swift motion Lemnius l. 2. de occult c. 34. It is heavier than silver yet will swim upon it being melted It may be the volatil parts of evaporating Lead fly away by the fire but the silver not evaporating sinks down Libavius l. 2. Epist. Chym. Ep. 98 It is said to increase in weight and magnitude if it be hid in Câ—llars where the Ayr is troubled so that what is put there presently gathers rust The Leaden bands of Statues that bind their feet are sometimes found to grow and to swell sometimes so much that they will hang like Crystal out of the stones Experience hath proved it to be unfit for Medicament Fernel lib. de lue Vener c. 7. For when as one by the advice of an Emperick had eaten half a pound of the powder of it with his meat in 15 dayes to cure the joynt Gout those things that were taken in had a nidorous taste of Lead and what was voided by stool looked of Lead colour Yet it is found also to be for externall medicinal use For it cools Wherefore both Mortars and Pessels are wont to be made of it in which if Liquors are beaten what comes by the mixture of both is very cooling The plates are good to lay to the loyns over-heat with venery and against nocturnal pollutions in dreaming Calvus the Orator did prevent lust therewith that he might preserve his strength for his study Pliny Musicians were wont to lay them upon their breasts to sing the lowder Isidorus Nero had a plate of Lead to lay upon his breast when he slept to preserve his voice Suetonius in Nerone CHAP. XXXI Of Iron THe Mine of Iron is the greatest of all Mettals On that part of Cantabria which the Sea passeth by there is a Mountain high and cragged it is incredible to speak it it is all of Iron Ore Plin. l. 34. c. 14. It is rare in India Hence they write that 14 pounds of Iron at the Island of Zabur have been bartred for 250 pounds of Gold Pegaffetta It was formerly found in China called Azzalum Indicum of such an excellent temper in the edg that it would cut any Iron Pancirol l. de novis repertis Digged up in Sicilie and Lusatia it grows again and the earth and stocks of Trees as it grows become Iron First it is like a thick liquor and by degrees it grows hard Agricola in observat metal When it is boyled it becomes moyst like water afterwards it is broken into Spunges The more tender Iron instruments are steeped in oyle to quench them lest they should grow too hard and brittle with water Plin. lib. citat But in the Island Palmosa it cannot be melted also in Aethalia Strabo l. 15. Bertius in Descript Ilvae Smeared with Alum and Vineger it becomes like brasse At Smolnicium it is a Town of the Mount Carpathum water is drawn out of a pit and it is powred into Pipes laid in a threefold order and that pieces of Iron in them turn into brasse Agricol de metal But the piece of Iron that is put into the end of the Pipes is eaten by this water that it becomes like mud that afterwards boyled in a furnace becomes good Brasse It is most agreeing with all Copper that it will mingle with it in melting The Poets call these Mars and Venus in their Fables Minder de Vitriolo c. 1. Aristonides when he would expresse the fury of Athamas who would throw down headlong his Son Clearchus and when he had don so the manner of his sorrow he mingled Brasse and Iron that the rust of it shining through the brighter Brasse might expresse his shame and bashfullnesse Plin. lib. citat Plunged fiery hot in water it becomes Steel in Vinegar it will endure no hammering but will sooner break than draw Hence the Lacaedonians who were wont to make their coyn of Iron Rods steeped them red hot in Vinegar that being brittle they might never be put to any other use Plutarch in Lycurgo If you seek a reason we say that Vinegar goes into the heart of the Iron Bodin l. 2. Theatr In Furnaces where they make it into bars there rise such Vapours from it when it is hammerd that a certain powder increaseth sensibly and multiplyes sticking to the walls Albert. Mag in lib. de Animal It is so strong that it can never be consumed by fire In the new World there is an herb called Cabuja or Hentquen of the leavs of it there is a reddish string that with sand will cut Iron Ovetan Histor. l. 7. c. 10. Iron scales are very drying they put it in their shoos that have sweating feet The best Iron is most white and light and hath little branches somtimes like to Corall somtimes bound together with very fine strings They make bullets of it for great Guns CHAP. XXXII Of Fossil Flâ—sh ANdreas Libavius a Man exceedingly deserving in Philosophy and Physick saith that it was reported on the credit of the Jevenses Schroterori that at the rampire of Erfurd by the port of St. Andrews upon occasion of raising the Bulwark higher that great pieces of raw flesh were dug out of ground and that it was brawny much like to Oxe-flesh only it had no bones Hubnerus affirms this in Epistol ad Libavium But because those that dug it up prated that they could find it only upon Thursdays wise men began to suspect the matter and having discovered the fraud the deceivers were cast into Prison Though fraud here may be objected yet it is not against reason to say with Libavius that there may be fossil flesh Most true it is that the Earth I add the water also is the Mother of some living Creatures and of those imperfect ones that came by aequivocall generation and by the mixture of both these Clay may be made fit for the breeding of an animall principle which somtimes becomes a perfect Creature and somtimes is deficient As in the kinds of perfect Creatures somtimes rude lumps are bred somtimes provided with that supplies their defect If that be first and yet helps being present it is not frustrated of its motion it is likely that a Mole of clotted blood or somthing like flesh should be made no otherwise than as matter disposed with it for a bone becomes a bone which is called Fossil Horn. So Histories relate that shell fish have been found in the tops of the highest Mountaines of sand from Marle and Marble putrified which though some think they are the reliques of the General flood yet is it not probable that they could last so long by reason of the injury of time For Marble it self will at last dissolve And if you think it absurd that a Creature with blood should proceed from matter that is without blood I could by examples shew your absurdity When Nilus sinks down living Creatures are bred of the mud by heat of the Sun some perfect some half perfect sticking to
suffer Socrates to dispute too much because by that agitation of the mind he would grow hot Ciocompalon is a kind of Tree in Camalonga which sends forth only 4 or 5 branches from a long stalk the leaves are very great for the inhabitants weare them for a Cloke against the heat of the Sun and rayn In the top of the Tree it puts forth flowers like Bean flowers about 200 from whence grow fruit abundantly as big as ones hand breath It is a yearely Plant. It withers after it hath brought forth Coccus is the same with Tenga It is a Tree with a leaf like the Palme-tree they cover their houses with them for they make mats of them to serve for six months in China and Malabar Scalig. exerc 25. s. 13. It brings fruit in clusters as the Palme Tree doth each hath â—00 nuts When its comes forth there is water bred in it it is filled with it when it is perfect The end of this increase is the beginning of the Pith for it grows by the thickning of it The quantity is full three Cyathi It is very sweet When the Tree is come to the full growth in August they cut some of the boughs of it in the middle and leave the rest they cut off the top also a little They hang a cuâ— to each of them four great jugs are filled in one day It brings fruit that continually follow one the other it lives 30 or 40 yeares CHAP. XVII Of Doronicum Dragons Olive-honey Vipers Bugloss Eryngion Euphorhium DOronicum is Poyson that kills doggs suddenly Matthiolus gave some to his dogg and the dogg fawned on him all the time he lived in seven hours he died as of a falling sicknesse There is a 〈…〉 of Tree in the West Indies neere Carthagena the fruit whereof is perfectly like a Dragon with a long neck open mouth nostrills lifted up a long taile standing on its feet so that who sees it would think it to be a Dragon Monarel In Palmyra of Syria there runs forth oyle from a stock of a Tree that tasts sweet it is called Etaeo-meli Mathiol in l. 4. c. 73. It purgeth choler and crudities exhibited one sextarius of it with one Hemina of water They that take it grow stupid but they receive no harm if they be often rowsed that they may not sleep Dioscor l. 1. c. 32. Echion or Vipers Buglosse was found by one Alcibius Sleeping on the ground a Viper bit him Mathiol in l. 4. c. 25. When he rose up he pressed out the juyce oâ— the hearb with his teeth and drank it down the rest he laid to the wound and it cured him Nature hath made the hearb with hairs like Vipers that Men might know the use of it Eryngion if a Goat take it in the mouth the whole heard will stand still and cannot move till you take it out Plutarch in lib. quod maxinâ— cum princip disp si philos The smell of it passeth so quick that it spreads like fire to what is next and exerciseth its force upon it Suphorbium if we believe the Africans is a prickly Plant out of the root of it the fruit comes forth of a long forme like to Cucumbers somtimes two foot long when it is ripe it is pricked with an Iron and a clammy white liquâ—r comes forth of it which they let run into a bottle and they keep that Scalig exer 181. s. 2. It purgeth the belly but the patient will faint and sweat with a cold sweat Given the weight of two Oâ—boli it cures the dropsy it kills one if he take three drams weight For in 3 days it will corrode the Stomach and the Guts Mathiol in l. 3. c. 80. CHAP. XVIII Of Elaterium Hellebour Eupatorium Emitum and Fennel ELaterium lasts longest of all Physicks One had of it that was 200 yeares old The moysture is said to be the cause of it For though it be cut moyst and layd in the ashes yet for 50 yeares it will put out a Candle if it be put to it Theophil l. 9. c. 14. With the infusion of Hellebour in the midst of Winter when the cold is greatest many have been cured of a Quartane Ague Matthiolus ad l. 4. c. 146 Never saith he as I remember did we give our infusion to those had quartane Agues but at once or twice taking by Gods assistance they were cured By the smell of dryed Eupatorium venemous Creatures are driven away Hearts wounded are cured by eating this Matthiol ad loc cit c. 37. Emitus is a Tree in Trachimia if Serpents come neere and but touch it they dye Aelian l. 9. c. 27. Also Strabo saw one l. 15. that I will here mention it was like a Bay Tree beasts that tast of it grow mad some at the mouth and fall into an Epilopse In the Kingdome of Tombut which is the wilde of West Aethiopiaâ— Fennel grows so big that they make bowes of it Scalig. exerc 166. In Spain whilst it is green the Country people mowe down the stalks of it for firing Dalecamp ad Plin. l. 20 c. ult CHAP. XIX Of Fennel Gyant and the Fig-Tree FEnnel Gyant grows in hot Countries Out of the first shoots of it Shepherds take out a little pith like to the the yolk of an ege that is hard That wrapt in a wet paper and rosted under the embers and then sprinkled with Salt and Pepper tasts exceeding well and makes them busy Mathiol ad l. 3. c. 76. They are by nature of great antipathy to Lampreyes for if they but touch them they dye Plin. l. 20. c. 33. Also they are present Poyson to other Beasts yet very pleasant food for Asses The Indian Fig-Tree is wonderfull great Scaliger briefly describes it out of Theophrastus The Fig-Tree saith he beares small fruit it plants it self and is spread forth with vast boughs by the weight whereof they are so bended to the earth that in a yeares space they stick in and grow up with new branches round about their parents like to Arbouts so that seven Shepheards may summer under it being shaded and fenced about with the fence of the Tree It is pleasant to behold and from far it seems an arched circumference The upper boughs of it put forth very high and in abundance like a wood from the huge bulk of the Tree that many of them make a round of 60 paces and they will cast a shade two furlongs The broad leaves are like an Amazonian Target wherefore covering the fruit it will not let it grow It is very rare and no bigger than a beane Scalig. exerc 166. Moreover Carthage was destroyed by the Fig-Tree For Cato beareing a deadly â—ate against Carthage and being carefull to secure his posperity when he had cried out at every meeting of the Senate that Carthage must be destroyed he brought one day into the Court a early ripe Figg that was fetcht from Carthage shewing it to the Son a tours he asked them whence they thought
hatched CHAP. IX Of the Feldifare and Goat-Sucker THe Feldifare makes her nest in the thickets the walls are mosse wooll downy herbs the ground-work is heath They have six young ones and they are so unlike their old ones that they have scarce any mark like them Because he flyes he doth a little imitate the other Birds notes he catcheth those that fly to him and is easily taken himself for when he sees a bird shut up in a cage he flyes upon it to invade it The Caprimulgus goes into the folds of shepherds and sucks the Goats teats for milk the udder loseth its force by this injury and the Goats that are so suckt grow blind Pliny l. 10. c. 40. He sees little in the day but is quick-sighted at night Arist. histor l. 9. c. 30. In Candie it makes such an horrible noise that it will fright the Inhabitants Bellonius CHAP. X. Of the Cuckow THe Cuckow is a Bird of a very cold constitution of body whence she is so fearful that all the birds offend her Plin. l. 10. c. 9. she breeds in other birds nests especially the Woodculver's the hedge-Sparrow's the Lark the Red-breast and the Nightingall If their nests be empty she will not turn in there but if there be eggs she breaks some and sucks them and layes her own in the room in some nests they say she breaks them all Arist. l. 6. c. 7. The young ones hatcht and known by the bird are said to be beaten and to fly away to their own dam. Note the goodnesse of nature they say she layes in those Birds nests that feed on common meats she feeds on Worms Insects and Corn. The Grashoppers before the dog-dayes when they hear the Cuckow sing run upon her in troops and they get under her wings and kill her Isidor l. 12. c. 8. They are said to be bred of Cuckow spittle In winter she casts her feathers and changeth her colour Arist. 9. histor c. 43. In a Mountain of Greece where many Cuckowes breed it is said that a Holly Tree growes there that what living Creature soever sits upon it is glewed fast as with birdlime except the Cuckow Plin. l. 30. c. 10. In what place soever you first hear the Cuckow sing if you make a circle about your right foot and dig up that compasse of earth no fleas will breed wheresoever that is spread CHAP. XI Of the Crow IT is certain that in the New World the Crowes are white and Alphonsus King of Cicily had one They say they grow white if the eyes be anointed with the brain or fat of a Cat and be put under a white 〈…〉 in a cold place They flock together to a fruitful field but two at once where the field is not fruitfull He hath many notes they say 64 the proper note is â—roking which he makes being changed with no passion or variety of weather He longs for raw flesh and corrupt and that dyed of it self if he refuse this it is an ill omen as Thucidides observed in the Plague at Athens Julius Caesar Moderatus Ariminensis learned by experience that he vomits up again the bones and the small feet Hyginus denyes that he can drink when he eath eaten figs because then his throat is pierced thorow He casts off his young ones if they be white though they write that seven dayes after they are hatcht they become black Cassiodorus thinks out of the Psalmist that they then live upon dew A tame Crow at Erfurd took money off of the Table and kept it and did so exactly call Conrade the Cook when he was hungry that you would believe it were a mans voice then he pricked holes in a Musick-book that he found as if he understood Musick Scalig. Eâ—erc â—37 Barbarus observed that he carried fire in his mouth when Lightning fell Some think he catcheth sparks of fire instead of pieces of flesh when exhalations take fire in Lightning He is said to live 180 years Indeed in a City of France Corvatum one lived 100 years Albertus 9. hist. c. 10. A certain Physitian that was famous in Pliny his days burnt two Crowes to ashes taken out of the nest in the moneth of March and being made into fine powder gave them to people for the Epilepsie one dram weight twice or thrice in a day with water of the decoction of Castorium CHAP. XII Of the Rook and Chrysaethos IN Britany there is abundance of Rooks because the Sea washeth it on all sides and in the grounds that are moyst there breed abundance of Worms for their food Cardanus Ludovicus Rhodiginus saw a white one with a black head not far from the walls of Rhodigium l. 17. Antiq. lect c. 11. He loves Nuts chiefly which if he cannot break he lets them fall upon stones Aelian l. 3. c. 9. They do not inconsiderately couple for when one dyeth the other lives single alwayes after When Storks fly beyond Sea this leads them It is so industrious that Merthes King of Egypt had one that would carry letters whither he sent him Porphyr de abstin ab animal When she is slain and remains dead till she stincks she drawes mice if you lay her in a place where you may kill them Gesner The Chrysaethus hath a tongue like a mans armed on both sides toward the roots with two horny hooked appendices The length is sometimes from the beak to the clawes four hands breadth and a half the breadth is eight when the wings are stretched out It layes but one egg if it lay two one is rotten CHAP. XIII Of the Pigeon THe Pigeon when she layes two eggs the one egg will bring a male the other a female but because the heat is greater in the male he is said to be first hatcht Paul à Castro When the young ones are brought forth she thrusts the salt Earth into their mouthes which she hath first fitted in her own to prepare them to receive some meat and to implant fruitfulnesse into them and to raise their appetite Athen. 9. hist. c. 24. Many things prove them to be apt to learn One of them pecked corn out of Mahomet's ear When Leyden was besieged some of them carried Letters Lipsius The same was done at the siege of the Buss. Divers men use divers remedies to keep them in the Dove-houses and to allure others thither Some stir Man's blood up and down in an earthen vessell for a quarter of an hour with Pease and then anoint Pigeons with it and cast the pease to them to eat Gesner Some hang the skull of an old man in the Dove-house Albertus Some hang a piece of the halter that a man was hang'd with on rheir windows Pallad l. 3. c. 44. Pliny l. 11. c. 37 writes That there is poyson in mans teeth that will kill young unfeather'd Pigeons We have it from the secrets of the Egyptians that such as feed on Pigeons flesh will never be infected with the Plague Hence in times of
heat the Sun the great light of the World is the Father of it which it sends upon all earthly creatures enlightning and enlivening them Hence men say that the Sun and Man beget a man namely by the intermediate seed Otherwise it proceeds of another fashion when without those mediums in things are bred of putrefaction as we said before For when the solar or elemental heat incloseth any mixt body wherein natural heat is included this is raised up by that is moved and stirred to perform its operations as appears in the hatching of eggs by artificiall heat of Furnaces or natural heat of the hens For in the yolks there is a hidden naturall heat that is stirred by the external heat so that by circulation of the Elements Water is turn'd to Ayr Ayr into Fire Fire into Earth Earth into Water and the Chickens limbs and entrals are formed and made by natural heat which is the principal internal Agent The Material cause in the generation of this Tree-Goose is that clammy matter of the wood of Firre or the Rosin and Pitchy substance of it upon which the outward Suns heat doth work and the internal heat increased in the corrupt matter This matter though it be small yet may well afford the first rudiments to this Embryo which is afterwards nourished by the clammy substance of the Ocean as Oysters and other shell-fish grow and increase for neither the hard substance of the wood nor yet the weeds affords any matter for it for the one is observed to be the container and the other the conveyer of the true matter For as in the generation of Man neither the Matrix nor the umbilical vein do afford any matter but are required as necessary instruments so must we judge here of the wood and the Sea-weeds Some will have it that from the worm bred in the rotten wood there should be made some transmutation and that the worm doth afford the first matter for this generation yet that opinion is false for that Worm cannot come â—orth to the end of the weeds nor can it make shell-fish but that must breed at the end of the weeds nor doth it come thither from any other place that it can go from place to place by an animall motion before it receive its essential form Pliny writes that the Fish Pinnotheâ— is so cunning that he will hide himself in the Oyster and as he growes he will go into such as are greater but to imagine any such thing of that Worm that eats into the wood is against the nature of it But it is no doubt but that the rosinous and pitchy matter may communicate something to the end of the weeds which yet nature must do by a way we cannot perceive as nature useth in all other generations such wayes and means that we can better think and judge of by reason than see with our eyes For who can see how the heart in the generation of living Creatures is first formed What fibres and veins nature useth there for her Instruments how and by what means this is done and when it is done how she disposeth of the other bowels and makes them of a seminall and menstruall matter There was never man yet found so quick-sighted that he could see these things whilest they were doing but when they are done reason can discern them So no man could yet say how this matter that was first radical moysture in the wood could passe to the ends of those Sea weeds and should be formed there yet it is plain afterwards that so it was made Nor will that be so hard for the matter to passe through the grasse to the end of them as to passe without any medium But the greater difficulty is and most worthy to know the Formal or seminall cause of this wonderfull birth which since it is nor contain'd in seeds for here are none to be found it must needs enter into the matter otherwise than in other kinds of generations For the seeds of both Sexes in living Creatures which are mixt together in copulation are as it were the sheaths and cases of the forming spermaticall faculty which forms the prae-existent matter of the seed or blood into an essentiall form fit for that kind that the seeds belong unto howsoever they are mingled or drawn forth into act That force of nature is a blessing given to her in the creation in the word increase which word was never idle nor shall be whilest the world endures God spake and all that God said were made very good containing in themselves principles to multiply their own kinds by because individualls must perish The Heaven with its Stars shall last from the beginning to the end and the entire Elements Ayr Water and Earth But things compounded of them as they â—y so they are restored again by multiplication of seed not the same in number but in kind not by external form but by that form which is internall and essential But since that God gave this Commission for propagation to the sublunary World and this alwaies proceeds by mediums though in the production of these Barnacles there are no visible seeds whereby the matter may receive its form wherefore it is consonant to Reason and to Nature that the form must come from some other place into the matter lest any thing should seem since the Creation to be made of nothing contrary to Gods will For nothing is the cause of it selfe or forms it self but only the eternal and infinite God All other things indeed were made by him of nothing but not by themselves nor are they propagated of nothing nor from themselves but from means appointed by Nature Plato sets universal Ideas of every species of things subject to generation fixed in a certain place from whence a formative force descends to beget and make all individualls to be made This opinion is pleasant but not true For there can be no universal substances save in the conceptions of Mens minds but only individuals that cannot give what they have not and what they do give they cannot alwaies hold themselves Nature is in all things as in individuals dispersed all over which yet operates in each individual according to the condition that every one of them requires which is true in all things that have seeds for those are the very subjects and vessells that nature works upon But the question now is how that faculty is imprinted on the seeds and from whence whether from nature If this be true then of every matter she makes what she will when as she can imprint what forme she please on any matter And then how can nature in this Barnacle that hath no seed visible presupposed proceed to generation and in other such like things bred of meer putrefaction As in man there is an imagination and cogitative force which is performed by a subtile Artifice of Images conceived in the braiâ— arising first from the outward senses and so proceeding to the
in other birds But since it is not propagated ex traduce from an egg or seed it neither leaves egg nor seed nor gives more to another than nature gave to it For if it lay'd eggs that chickens might proceed from the Barnacle had been so bred her self but neither of these is so For as a Mule is not bred of a Mule but from the mingling of an Asse and Mare together so it doth not generate a Mule but continues alwaies Barren as this bird doth Bees are bred of Worms the Worms in the honey combs from honey by a wonderfull operation of nature though without any sensible body of seed yet not without virtuall seed imprinted on the Honey-Combs by the Bees which they first had from Heaven Nor is it possible that these effectual and spiritual qualities should proceed from the pure Elements or onely by propagation since the matter of the seed which is made of nutriment and blood could be extended in infinitum without diminution of it self For we observe that the Elements are but like dead and materiall receptacles of the formal vertues and that the matter of the seed is dayly supplyed and heaped up by the Elements And therefore it is necessary that the formative force should daily flow into the formed seeds or where they are wanting into a matter prepared by Nature from corruption or other operations From whence the form of this wonderfull Creature is easily drawn namely that it is an imaginative vertue of the Heavens or of the Sun actively infused into a viscous matter of that wood in those places so disposed by corruption that it may enliven it and promote it to be a new kind of living plant or bird included in a shell which so soon as it falls into the waters may swim and when the wings are grown fly about The final cause is the common ornament of the World the variety and wonderfull works of Nature the profit of those that dwell near and especially the providence omnipotence and clemency of our good and great God all whose attributes do appear to mankind as well from this creature as from the rest whilest he crowns the year with his free gifts and the whole earth with variety of Creatures So that he is far more mighty in creating and making different kinds of living Creatures than we are able to expresse them to nominate or to know them Let it suffice us that we have seen some part of the wonderfull works of God and taken a view of them for it is not possible for a mortall Man to be capable to apprehend them all yet to consider of none of them were brutish and we should so be more like unto Beasts than Men. OF Naturall VVonders The Seventh Classis Wherein are set down the Wonders of Four-footed Creatures Seneca l. 3. de ira c. 30. WE are troubled with frivolous and vain matters A red colour makes a Bull angry and a viper is stirred by a shadow A picture will make Bears and Lions fiercer All things that are cruell and ravening by nature are moved with vain things The same things happen to unquiet and foolish spirits they are stricken with jealousie and suspition of things CHAP. I. Of the Elk and the Ram. THe Elk is a four-footed beast commonly found in Scandinavia in Summer of an Ash-colour almost in Winter it turns toward black The horns are fit for footstools each of them is 12 pound weight and two foot long His upper lip hangs out so long that he cannot eat but going backwards Men write that he is subject to the falling sicknesse and that the remedy he hath is to lift up the right claw of the hinder foot and put it to his left Ear. It holds the same vertue if you cut it off when he goes to rut in August or September He is commended for his swiftnesse for he will run as much ground in one day as a horse shall in three He is very strong for a strong blow with his foot will kill the hunter The Ram for six Winter moneths sleeps on his left side but after the vernal equinoctiall he rests on his right Aelianus hath discovered this but the Butchers deny it In Camandu a Country of Tartary they are as big as Asses their tails weigh 30 pound weight One was seen in the Court of the King of the Arabians whose tail weighed 40 pound Vartom Cardanus ascribes that to its cold temperament when the rest of the bones will no more be extended Lest he should be choked with his own fat he sends down the humour unto his tail CHAP. II. Of the Asse IN the Kingdom of Persia Asses are so esteemed that one of them is sold for 30 pound of gold amongst the Pigmies they are as big as our Râ—ms Paul Venet. In Egypt they ambâ—e so swiftly that one will go 40 miles a day without any hurt Scalig. Exerc. 217. s. 1. She doth sparingly dip-in her mouth when she drinks She is afraid saith Cardanus For when she beholds the great shadow of her ears in the water she is fearfull they will be wet There are some found in Africa that do not drink She staleth when she seeth another stale or upon a dunghill For Nature doth stirre them up being slothfull by the acrimony of the smell Cardan l. 10. subtil Observation proves that where an Asse hath cropt a vine branch the vine will grow more fruitfull The monument of this matter was seen at Nauplia where an Asse of stone was set up in thankfull remembrance for posterity Vadimonius writes that there is a fruitfull Orchard in the middle whereof she was buried Aldrovand l. 1. de quadr c. 2. In Hetruria when they have eaten Hemlock they fall asleep that they seem to be dead The Countrey-men are deceived by it for oft-times they rise up and fright them when they have pull'd off their skins almost Mathiol in Dioscorid Sheep will run into the fold if you pen them in an Asses stall If one be stung by a Scorpion if he sit upon on Asse with his face toward the tayl the Asse will endure the pain and not he It is a sign of it because she will dye farting Merula Asses milk is commended Poppaea the Wife of Domitius Nero that conceived in all 500 times did wash her body in a Bath of Asses milk thinking to stretch her skin thereby Plin. l. 15. c. 40. 〈…〉 of crete being in a Consumption recovered by feeding on Asses flesh Moreover there are some in Scythia whose horn contains Stygian water for it will pierce through iron vessels Some in 〈…〉 have one horn in their forehead Who drinks out of that is preserved from a disease but if any venomous matter be drank it is caâ—t forth They are so strong that they will kill a horse to travell with them Also that was a wonderfull one that was sent as a present with other gifts by the King of Assyria to Ferdinand of Naples for the hair was
Of the Goat call'd the Evick and the Indiat Rat Ichneumon THe Evicks in the Alps are a kind of wild Goats They naturally require cold otherwise they would grow blind They have huge weighty horns that are reclining toward their backs and the elder they are so much the greater The old horns are with 20 knots grown on them and then two of them weigh above 16 pounds There is no rock so steep but they will leap upon it if they can but find place to stand some say they will climb up a steep wall Hunters say that when they are ready to die they will clamber up a very high rock and leaning one horn against the rock they will run round continually till they have broken it and fall down dead Gesner Ichneumon is a Creature in Egypt with a long tail like to a Serpents Oppian Without the Chin he hath an excrescence beset with hair when it is hot he openeth that his mouth being shut The Country men of Alexandria sell the young ones in the Market for they bring them up to catch Mice which they will do like Cats He is an Enemy to the Crocodile for when he observes him sleeping he rolles himself in clay and goes into his mouth and so into his belly and eats his Liver and then leaps forth again Gillius in Oppian but Gesner will not believe it CHAP. XXII Of the Lion THere is plenty of Lions in the Province of Gingui they are so offensive to the Inhabitants that they dare not go out of their houses by night nor come with Ships into the Haven Gesner Lions bones have no marrow in them and are so hard that they will strike fire Aelian They have teeth like Sawes Their neck is made of one stiff bone without any vertebra's they have five clawes on their forefeet and but four on the hinder feet the balls of their eyes are black Aristot. They are no gluttons for they eat but once in two dayes and drink in like manner for when they are crop-sick they will abstain one day and when they have eaten too much they will thrust in their clawes down their throats and pull it out again Aristot When they have filled themselves with the flesh of any creature they will breathe on the remainder with open mouth whence it will stink so that no Creature will touch it Aelian They sleep but little and when they do sleep their eyes are half open They bring forth but once in their life and that but one saith Herodot hist. 3. The Whelps littered sleep 3. dayes The Males roar and rouze them Gellius l. 13. c. 7. They love their young ones exceedingly In Pangeum a Mountain of Thrace a shee-Bear had killed the Lions Whelps when the Lyons were absent and she was gon and clamberd up a Tree The old Lyons followed but they could not get up so they could not be revenged The Shee-Lyon stay'd and the He went into the Mountains and found a Shepherd with an Ax the Lyon favvnd upon him who was sore afraid and makes him take up his ax and taking hold of his Cloths brought him to the Tree which being cut the Bear fell down and they tore her in peices The Lion is mild to them that yeeld He will scarse hurt those that lye down and when he is not hungry he will seaze on men rather then women but not upon Children unlesse he be extream hungry Avicenna writes that if any man throw a stone or dart at the Lyon and misse him or hurt him but little he will rather threaten him than kill him if he do revenge he will do no more hurt than he received Crantzius in Saxon l. 8. c. 24. He saith that formerly in England a Lyon could tell noble blood from base There are tame ones For in a plain Country of the Kingdom of Fez they will drive them with a staffe and in another Country of Africa they gather bones in Villages Leo African Lastly those of India are so gentle that being used to the place they will be led on hunting Aelian Marcus Antonius first yoked them they are frighted with Coach wheels running round and with the Combs and Crowing of Cocks but chiefly by fire Plin. In Armenia they are killed with the powder of deadly fish Aelian and some little Worms that are Venemous to Lyons with the powder whereof they strew flesh for them Solin CHAP. XXIII Of the Hare THe Country of Ithaca is dangerous for Hares for bring them thither they will dye But the Baleares is a pleasant place for them for heretofore they were there in such abundance that the inhabitants desired Souldiers to assist them against them from Augustus Pliny The young ones are white in the Alps in Winter Gesn. But Pausanias saw in Arcadia white ones brought from Lybia He wakes with his eye lids shut and sleeps with them unmoved Xenophon He sees but ill for the eys are stretched out the eye-lids are cut short they do not cover the pupills of the eys Albertus denies that there are of both sexes but Niptus saith That which Albertus said concerning Hares was alwaies a question with me for in hunting I observed that a Hare had both a yard and testicles and had young Hares in her belly also we observed that a Hare had a Matrix and young ones in it and did want both pisâ—le and testicles Rondeletius thinks they are little bladders full of sanies and indeed such do hang down from the beaver wherein Castoreum is contain'd They are said to live with dew they use superfaetation and bring young ones every Month. When they go to their forms they lay their young ones at least an acre of ground asunder lest if danger come they should be all in hazard Then they running about many rounds at last leap out into their form CHAP. XXIV Of the Wolf IN Sardinia Candie Olympus there are no Wolves In Scandia if they go too far on the frozen Sea the cold blinds them Jervand In the Mountains of Doffrinium they are white and go in Troops They eat Moles Mice c Olaus Their necks are pressed together so that they cannot stirre it to look about but they must move their whole bodies Aelian One that is hungry will smell his prey in the night though the wind be contrary for half a mile Stumpfius When they have fasted very long and have filled themselves again their bellies will hang down their tongues swell their mouth is stopped their ravening is abated but returns again when they become lank as they were Aelian They devour hair and bones and all and void them as they eat them Stumpf. When they are to fight in great herds they fill their bellies with earth When they are to passe over Rivers they joyn tails loaded with that weight they are not easily thrown down and the floods can hardly carry them away being joyned together Aelian When they have choice they will alwaies spare man they fight also with
hogs very cunningly One told me saith Albertus that a Woulf was seen to take a great piece of wood in his mouth of 30 or 40 pound weight in a Forrest and did use with that to run over a great stock of a Tree then when he thought he was skilfull enough in that exercise he hid himself and a wild hog coming thither by reason of Oates that were sowed there and many hogs young and old with him he brake forth and catched the hog that was about the bignesse of the block he lept behind the stock of the Tree and there devoured him They will not eat Oxen if you hang his tail at the Cratch Albert. Horses will tire under the rider if they follow on the Wolves footing if they tread on his heel they will stand still Gillius The skins of sheep slayn by Wolves will breed lice but their flesh is the sweeter Aristot. Plutarch ascribes this to his breath His words are The flesh of a sheep that is bitten by a Wolf is made the sweeter because the biting of the Wolf makes it soft and tender for the breath of the Wolf is so fiery that he will melt and consume the hardest bone in his stomack Examples shew that when he is shut in he will do no harm For in Italy one going into a Country-mans house the Country man ran away but the Wolf did his Children no hurt and falling into the same Cave with a Fox and a Woman he hurt neither Gesner CHAP. XXV Of the Lizzard VOlatteranus writes That there was a Lizzard 8. cubits long brought to Rome from Aethiopia by the command of a Cardinal of Lisbone and the mouth of it was so wide that a Child might be put into it Lerius c. 10. hist. saw one in Brasil 7. foot long as thick as a mans arm If you strike it on the soal and cut it in two pieces with a twig neither part will dye but it parts and first goes then joyns together Aelian The green ones are friends to man that they will gaze upon him obliquely and follow him when he goes they will lick up his spittle and Childrens urine Erasmus in colloq de amicitia Putt alive into a new earthen vessell and boyl'd with 3. Sextaryes of wine to one Cyathus it is excellent good for one sick of the Pâ—hisick if he drink of it in the morning fasting Marcell Seven of them suffocated in half a measure of oyl and set in the Sun for 3. dayes will so alter it that by anointing therewith it will cure the Rose Gesn. A water Lizzard if he be angry and as it were puffed up will stand upright on his feet and look terribly with open mouth on him that hurt him and will by degrees send forth a venomous white swear till he become all white Agricola When he is old and cannot see he lies by a hole in the wall against the East and looking toward the Sun rising he regains his sight Isidor To conclude 't is a wonder that Aelian speaks in his history There was saith he a man that catcht a great Lizzard and with a brazen point he put out the eyes thereof then he put it into an Earthen pot full of holes that it might have breath yet not come forth he put in also deâ—y earth and an herb whose name he mentions not then with an Iron ring wherein the stone Sogates was set in which was cut the picture of a Lizzard he made 9 seals and every day he blotted out one Lastly when he took off the 9 th seal and opened the pâ—t I saw the Lizzard and his sight was restored CHAP. XXVI Of the Lynx and Lutra or Otter THe Lynx is said to see so clearly that he will pierce through solid bodies yet too great light offends him Some say they onely suck the blood of their prey and never meddle with the flesh Erasmus saith he assaults greater four-footed beasts leaping upon them from Trees and catching them by the crown with his â—aloâ—s he will tear their heads and eat their brains not touching the other parts but he will eat lesser creatures every bit In Summer they are weak in Autumn strong They hide their pisse in heaps of sand as Theophrastus saith and it growes as hard as a pretious stone It is like Amber in colour and drawes things to it it cures pains of the Kidneys and the Kings-Evill We saw one at Lyons in the repositary of Cl. Dominus Baudartius Men say that in Carpathus they burn their claws and their skins for to be drunk effectually by men in powder against all obscenenesse and against too great lust in women Plin. The flesh eaten with the broth cures quartan Agues and the bones burnt cure Ulcers Collinus In the Tower of London there was once a living Creature that Gesner refers to a Lynx It was alwaies moving and would never stand still as John Gaius an Englishman writes but it would stand still at the voice of a Hickeway Lutra hath a Dogs head the Beavers ears a Foxes legs but these are somewhat thicker they are more prevalent in Water than on Land The hinder parts are plain with a membrane to fence them His Cottage is near the waters it is made of boughes that it cannot be weâ— Sometimes it is so full of Fish that they stink It is so quick-sented that he will smell fish by water that comes forth of a â—ivuleâ— at some miles distance and will go to the Fish-ponds and destroy them In Scandinavia he is so tame that he will bring fish out of the water to the Cooks in the Kitchins but because he is greedy of his prey and kills too many he is seldom used CHAP. XXVII Of the Mouse AMongst the Allobroges the Mice are white and the Inhabitants think they live by Snow Scaliger In the Island of Cyprus they will gnaw Iron and in another Island Gold therefore they are cut in pieces for mettal Aristot. in mirab Their generation is wonderfull If they do but lick salt some think they will conceive without copulation Aristot. A shee Mouse great with young staying some time in a vessel of Millet seed when the vessel came to be opened there were found 120 Mice Plin. In a part of Persia she-Mice were opened that had she-mice with young ones in their bellies They first perceive when a House will fall Helice is an Example of it for five dayes before it happened the Mice and Serpents were seen to go away in Troops Aelian â—n variis When they fall into a vessell of water and can hardly come forth they lay hold one by the tail of another and so clamber forth Elephants cannot endure the smell of them for they will not feed on any thing that Mice have touched They will â—lye away if one be gelded or let run away with the skin of his head pull'd off Avicenna when they cry they foreshew tempests they cry either because they perceive the Ayre cold or because
their skin is fine and they cannot endure to tread on the cold earth and therefore they leap up Aratus Some think they will not be taught yet Albertus saith in upper Germany he saw a Mouse hold a Candle at supper time to give light to those that sate at Table when his Mr. commanded him If a Mouse fall into new Wine and be drown'd put him into hot ashes and he will recover Colâ—mel 12.31 There are many kinds of Mice A rat is four times as big as a Mouse Agricola saw one taken in the mid'st of Aprill that was white with red eyes sticking out and it was all hairy and had a beard with very long haires Men say that there are none to be found at Auspurg about the Temple of St. Huldericus when they are lustfull they are furious so that iâ— they pisse on any naked part of a Man it will rot to the bones nor will the Ulcer be cured Albert Aquatic They will hunt fish and diving under water they will find some holes to come to land another way The field-Mice that breed of putrefaction have one right gut and no more A Physitian that dissected one observed that Gesner When Nilus runs back again little Mice are found imperfect part of their body being alive from the mixture of earth and water and part dead earth In some places they come so suddedly in abundance that they will eate up all the Corn Pliny The Wood-Mice steep from the ending of Autumne till the Spring begins Gesnerus In Norway it is called Citellus it dwells in the Caves of the earth There are found somtimes 40 in one hole with abundance of small nuts They eate them fresh or dried in the Chimney Agricola The Cricotus or Hamester is referred to Mice his haire sticks so fast to his skin that the skin will sooner come from the flesh than the hairs from the skin He will not easily be drawn out of his hole but by scalding water The male is false for when there is meat enough within he shuts out the female But she revengeth his falsenesse with fraud for possessing her self of some hole not far from him she will gather Corn he knows not of and live upon that Agricola Mice in the Alps are as big as Hares or else betwixt a Coâ—ey and a Hare It will foreshew a tempest with a very shrill voyce like a pipe and that not only in the Mountains but when he is kept in the House He hath three holes in his cave at one he enters and comes out again in another he rests and dwells in the third he â—ays his excrements When Mountains are covered with snow he hides himself in his Cave and shuts the holes he stops in the earth so fast and rams it in that it is easier to dig up the earth on either side than where it is rammed into the holes CHAP XXVIII Of the Wesil and the Sable Wesil WEesils carried into Baeotia will run away in a certaine Island they will not be taken out for if they be they dye Albertus There was a man that affirmed he saw a Weesil passing over the River Limagus constantly leaping so that he never swam but leaped upon the surface of it It is an Aegyptian Hieroglyphick for they say it ingenders by the eare and is delivered by the mouth this emblem shews the nature of speech His genitalls are bony and is a speciall remedy against the stone Yet that must not saith Albertus be understood as if it were so indeed but only by proportion that it hath The Germans call the best sort of them Zobella This skin is of very great price for sometimes 2000 Crowns at Constantinople will hardly buy a coat of them Jovius But the nature of them is such that laid in the Sun to dry they will consume more than if they be worn a whole yeare This creature whilst it lives alwaies lurks in a shady grove and watcheth for Coneys They are nimble and use their taile for a helme as squirrils do and will leap from Tree to Tree CHAP. XXIX Of the Sheep SHeep are creatures known to all The Arabian Sheep have a very broad taile and the fatter it is the thicker it will be Some tails weigh ten pounds some 20 and it naturally grows faâ— Johannes Africanus saw one above 80 pound weight some have seen them above 150 pound weight In Africa Rams are bred with Horns presently and also Sheep as there are some with Horns in England Albertus saw a Ram that had 4 great Horns growing on his head and two long ones on his legs that were like to Goats Horns yet in Pontus in the Province of Scythia they have no Horns Aristot. And they have no gall But in the Island Naxus they have two and men say the Pontic Wormwood is the cause of it Plin. In cold Countries when the snow abounds they lose it but recover it again in the Spring Aelian Anno 1547 one was given to the French King that was very fat in Picardy one of the claws namely the inward claw of both feet was eight inches long the extream part of it turned upwards and it had a Horn like to wild Goats Gesner In the Country of Prasy they yeeld most sweet milk for it rayns liquid honey that they feed on Aelian The milk is very fat in the Isle Erythea for it hath no whey and to make cheese they temper it with abundance of Fountain water The cause is the plenty of pasture It grows so fat and full that in 30 days the Sheep will be choked if it be not let blood Pliny About Calimos a Village of India they smell like fish for wanting grasse they eate fish and they that feed on fish give them dry fish to eate Arrian When the North wind blows males are chiefly conceived when the Southwind females For such is the force of the North wind that it will change those that yean none but females and cause them to bring males Plin. When a noise is made they flock together and if when it thundereth one that is with lamb be left alone she will miscarry Arist. In the Orcades Islands they all almost yean twins and oft times 3 lambs Boetius Though their bodies be very soft yet they are free of the plague Columella One was seen to run mad which a mad Cow had hit with her Horn. In England they rot in their bowells if in rainy Summers they feed on moyst ground and lick the dew Gesner In France if they eate the herb Duva they breed black Creatures in their Livers and this disease is incurable The French in Normandy call that hearb Duva that is like to the sharp dock but the leaves are narrovver and stand alvvaies upright and the middle nerve is almost red and serves for Causticks Gesner Meadovv vvater drank breeds Horseleeches shut up in bladders in the same place they are a finger and half long and almost halfe as broad CHAP. XXX Of the
grunt and grow so mad that they will rend those that come near unto them Aristotle They will miscarry They are friends with the Crocodile and will come to the banks of Nilus without offence Calcagn They mightily hate some kind of Barley in Thrace for they do not onely forbear to eat it but they refuse all excrements that proceed from it Aristot. in admirand· The Measils is a common disease amongst them and there is scarce any Hogg that hath not three kernels The Druides make mention of a famous remedy an herb that growes in moyst grounds but because they command us to gather it with the left hand and that he that gathers it must not look back and must lay it no where but in their trough that they drink having first bruised it it is superstitious CHAP. XXXVIII Of the Mole THere is great store of Moles in Boeotia in the Country Orchomenia Arist. In Lebadia that is near unto it there are none and brought from other places they will not earth Aristotoles saith they want eyes but Gesner saith their eyes are plain and putting forth without the skin like black spots as great as Millet seed and fastned to their nerves Also a Learned man in Gesner saith That he found young ones in one that he dissected with great heads and they had eyes They delight in Toads and Albertus testifieth it by his own example but he also knew Frogs and Toads to eat a dead Mole Johan averlin Consul Gedanensis was cured of a Fistula in the corner of his eye by the powder of a Mole that was burnt and given him in powder to drink CHAP. XXXIX Of Tatus and the Tyger TAtus is a four-footed Creature that is a stranger to us It hath a thick covering and a scaly shell so that his flesh may be easily taken forth of it I first saw this Creature at St. Andrews in Scotland it is an Archiepiscopall City and there is a famous University in it in the place for rarities of the most noble and most courteous Gentleman John Arnet Protonotary for the Office of the Commissary in the Archbishoprick of St. Andrews at whose house I lodged But because it drawes it self into its shell it is thought to be a kind of Brasilian Urchin It is like to that which in new Spain is called Avitochli it is as big as a Cat having a bill like a Duck feet like a Hedge-hog a long neck and men report that it grunts like a Sow I have little to say of the Tyger unlesse I should set down the history of Peter Martyr of one in Dariene an Island of the new World It did so afflict the whole Island with killing people that no man could go safe out of his house afterwards it fell into a Pit that was dug and stuck upon sharp stakes that were fastned in the bottom and was yet so strong that it would break Spears cast upon it into a thousand pieces but in the end it was killed with stones Ledesma a Spaniard saith they boyl'd the flesh of it and he eat part thereof and it was as good as Ox-flesh It is a Creature so swift that Oppianus compares it to the West wind CHAP. XL. Of the Tortoise TOrtoises in Taprobana are so great that one of them will weigh 300 pound Scalig. Pliny saith that some are so great that men may dwell under them And between the Islands especially of the red Sea they rowe in them for Boats The Sea Tortoises have no tongue nor teeth they break all things with the edge of their snowe In Hispaniola at what time they are given to venery they come forth of the Sea Sand being cast into a deep pit she lays 3. or 400 eggs there when she hath laid all she covers her eggs with sand and returns to the Sea taking no more care for her young ones At the time appointed they come forth as out of an Ant-hill in great multitudes onely by heat of the Sun without help of the old ones Martyr The eggs are as big as Goose egs When the head of one is cut off it doth not die presently but sees and will shut its eyes if you put your hands before them and if you put them near it will bite them Aelian Bellonius saw a kind of Tortle brought out of Turky that the Ancients knew not of The shell of it is thin and Transparent like to the colour of a Chrysolite The Turks make hafts for knives of them they are so pretious that they adorn them with studs of gold There is an Island in the Sea found by Jambolus toward the South that brings forth little Creatures that are of admirable vertue for their blood and nature Their bodies are round and like to Tortles with two overthwart lines cutting one the other in the middle in the end of each of them there is an ear and an eye so that they see with four eyes and hear with as many ears It hath but one belly without any gut and what it eats runs into that They have many feet round about and walk both wayes The blood is said to be of wonderfull vertue For every body that is wounded will grow together again if it be smeered with this blood Johan Boemus CHAP. XLI Of the Bear IN the farthest part of Arabia they devour flesh Strabo l. 1◠But in Mysia it is otherwise for when they are hunted they send forth a breath that will corrupt the flesh of the Hunter and if they come nearer they will cast a flegme out of their mouthes that kills or blinds dogs and men Aristot. in mirab Sometimes they are very great five cubits long There was one brought to Maximilian that was as great as a large Ox Vadianus His head is so weak that a sound blow will strike him dead Pliny He eats his water when he drinks and having tasted of the Apples of Mandragora he recovers by licking at an Ant-hill She is said to bring forth a young one bigger than a Rat but lesse than a Cat that is both naked and unformed in its parts Gillius and Pliny a rude masse But one that was cut forth in Polonia was sent to Gesner it was above ones finger long and as thick as ones thumb the body had joynts except the hinder feet Gesnerus When he is fa◠he creeps into his den upon his back and so takes away his footsteps that the hunters may not perceive them In this den he will grow lean in 40 dayes and he will keep himself alive lying still and sneking his right foot 14 dayes When he perceives that his 〈…〉 is grown so empty that it cleaves almost together he comes forth and feeds on Cuckow-pint Aelian Then there is no shew of meat left but onely a little moysture in his belly and some small drops of blood about his heart Theophrastus thought that during that time the flesh was digested and the Bear grew bigger by it The Males love women Amongst the
exerc 9.6 Amongst the Brachmans they are 4 fingers breadth in greatnesse in new Spain they are as big as Beetls Amongst the Dardae which is a mighty Nation in the Mountains of India there is said to be a hill of 3000 furlongs in compasse there are Gold Mines under it that Ants as big as Foxes do dig into Plin. I think as Strabo doth that it is a fable In Baia Salvatoris there is an infinite company of them they have in their mouths somthing like pinsers and with that they so crop the Plants that they dye with their biting of them Aldrovand In the same West-Indies they are called Comixen half Pismires and half-Worms that creep with a white tail They eat into the Wood and do great harm to houses When they creep up a wall or house they are covered with earth a finger thick and they live under this Ovied in sum Ind. occid c. 52. In Brasil when they are bruised they smell like Cedar Their head is so small that they have no eys in it but above it there are some additionalls like two hairs coming forth It is a sign that these are their eys because when these are cut off they mistake their way Albert. tract 4. l. 6. c. 1. When this kind grows old it comes to have wings They breed eggs that have Worms in them in white coverings these being exposed to the Sun breed Pismires Alb. l. 2.6 But in the new World it is otherwise for when the old one is dead innumerable Worms breed from the body of it and they living after a wonderfull fashion come forth at last out of their subterraneal habitations in a wonderfull manner Their Ant-hills is made wonderfull artificially no City is made more curiously Aldrovand Lud. describes what he saw thus It seemed like a City with four square sides four foot almost in length and above a fooot broad and the Ants like Pismires ran up and down about their businesse in it as if they had been Citizens the sides and angles were drawn directly in the length of the City there was a way in the middle a fingers breadth and depth this was cut crosse with 3 other ways a fingers breadth and depth as the former very directly In the outmost corners of these ways their eggs were layd together as in narrow turnings of the streets On the other part of the City were dens fill'd with Corn that they abounded so far as the very ways All the paths were most clean Lastly in the middle of the length of the City there was one gate right against the West CHAP. XII Of the Horsleech and Hippocampus STrabo writes That in a River of Mauritania Horsleeches breed seven cubits great Their throat is hollow that they breathe through in all of them there is a little hole in the middle and from the Mouth to the Belly there is but one continued passage In putrid Feavers they are of great use for being applyed to the veins of the fundament and setting on a cupping glasse that the orifices of the veins may appear they help much to ease the pains of the head and to assist concoction Some have drunk them down in drink saith Galen but the smell of Wiglice will drive them forth The Hippocampus or Sea-horse is a fish not to be eaten of a singular form for it hath a head like a horse and a snowt and a Mane the rest of the body is rough with grisly indentures On the back it hath a tail with a sin that is four square and pliable It is in length a span being taken it shortly dyes and when it is fresh it shines in the night CHAP. XIII Of the Locust that is an Insect ABout Brundusium there is an infinite company of Locusts In the Island Lemnos there is a certain measure set for men that shall kill them and they must bring it to the Magistrate In Cyrene thrice a yeer they are to be killed and he that refuseth is punished for his default Plin. Amongst the Nigretae every 3. years there are such abundance that they shadow the skie at least 12 miles In Hispaniola they want wings Aloysius Cadamustus Vincentius reports that a woman bred up one when it grew up it was found to be with young ones of it self Anno 852 when they wasted France 20 miles in one day they went as it were in Troops and pitched their Tents upon the earth The leaders with a few more went before the whole Army a dayes journey as if they went to take up quarters the next day at the same hour they all arrived They did not march till Sun-rising when the Sun arose they marched by bands In the sixth year of the Emperour Argyropolus the Locusts did so much mischief in the Provinces of the East that the Inhabitants were forced to sell their Children and to passe away into Thrace The wind afterwards cast them into Hellespont but the next year they revived again and having spoyled the Provinces three years they perished at Pergamus Cedrenus CHAP. XIV Of the Sea-Hare the Lobster with his shell and the Calamarie THe Sea-Hare hath a body all white you would think it to be a little box or congealed flegme It is seldom taken but in great heat of weather for then all things are troubled by the extream heat even those things that lye at the bottom of the Sea And though very few water-Creatures are found to be venomous because they dwell in moysture which for the general is contrary to venome and some creatures contain their venome in some part onely as the Spider-fish in its prickles the Sea-Ray in the radius yet the Hare is poyson all over Titus the Emperour was reported to be poyson'd with this by his Brother Domitian For when the Oracle was consulted concerning the manner of his death The answer was He should perish as Ulysses did by the Sea Now Ulysses was killed by the sting of the Ray. They that die by the venom of it will be so many dayes in dying as the Hare lived Licinius Macer in Pliny l. 31. c. 2. Lobsters will not breed in the Sea Euripus if we credit Aristotle hist. 9. c. 37. but in the Indian Sea they are 4 cubits long Pliny l. 9. c. 3. Concerning the Calamaries Pliny writes out of Trebius Niger that they fly sometimes in such multitudes that they will drown Ships But Albertus l. 24. de animal saith That in Sexus a River of Mauritania a Calamarie is five cubits long and near the Sea he will fly like an arrow Rondeletius thinks that this is nothing incredible when as they swim many together holding one upon the other and therefore many are taken together CHAP. XV. Of Pearls PEarls are in some Shell-fish like the upper crust in others like to the Off-spring in some like hail There are many in them and of great weight In a bosom of the Sea of the New World there are some as big as a Bean in the Island Solon
bigger than Turtles Eggs. Martyr writes he took an Oyster there that the meat of it weighed above 47 pounds The King of the Island Eubagna had one so big as a Wallnut it weighed 31. caracts and it was sold for 1200 pieces of Castile Gonzalvus Oviedus saith that one was sold at Panama that weighed 26 caracts it was round and as big as the knob of a Pillar It is said that neere the Island Borneo there was one as great a Goose egge and so round that lay'd on a Table it will hardly stay in one place Peter Martyr Decad 1. l. 8. saith That in his presence when he was invited to dine with the famous Duke of Medina Sidonia at Baetica they brought one to sell unto him that weighed above a hundred ounces Heaps are cast up of shells in Summer some of them have Pearls in them that are ready others not yet perfect out of a River that runs by the Village of Hussin in Bohemia These they give their bucks to devoure then they gather up purer being clensed in their Bellies Gesner Five or six are sound in one Vesputius saith he found 130 in some Indian Oysters Somtimes some small ones are found behind like to small kernells But the question is how these are bred Some think they are bred of the dewy ayre but this opinion seems to be false For some lye in the bottom of the deepest waters and some are black some yellow some green some blew Oviedus hist. Ind. l. 9. c. 8. But they say that the white ones are bred of pure dew the pale ones of that which is troubled Androstenes in Athenaeus saith that as kernells are bred in hogs so Pearls breed in shell-fish Juba as Pliny saith subscribes to this The Indians that inhabit the Island Cabagna say they breed as eggs do in them For the greater of them are next the orifice and are first thrust forth but in the more inward parts of the Matrix the lesser Pearls lye hid Rondeletius and Alexander Benedictus compare their originall to that of stones in some greater living creatures We saw saith he stones voided forth of ones bladder as big as a hens egge over which a clammy matter grew by degrees covering them like to a crust of divers colours somtimes and they were hardned by a fiery heat and so they are said to increase by little and little Pearls in shell-fish are reported to grow the same way and the Jewellers can discover by a turning instrument divers coats in them as we see in Onions And Rondeletius saith he thinks that Pearls grow the same manner in shell-fish as kernells do in hogs and the stone in the Reins and the Bladder The yeare wee writ this there was one died that had a Stone in his Reins that had so many partitions as there were branches of small Veins in his Reins The little stone with these partitions was like the outmost knob of a round white marble or like a great Pearl for its figure and brightnesse I think it was compacted of a vitreous flegme Therefore it is no wonder if in Oysters and shell-fish when they grow old Pearls are to be found They may also be dissolved the Chymists shew how Cardanus saith you must first wash them being entire and strain the juyce of Lemmons twice or thrice then put them in and set them in the Sun in five or six days they will dissolve CHAP. XVI Of Flyes IN Cyrene there are found many kinds of Flyes distinguished by their forms and colours Some have broad foreheads like to Weasils others are like to Vipers They say that in Sicilie and Italy they bite so sharply that they will kill whom they bite At Toledo in the shambles somtimes one Flye will appeare for a whole yeare that is notable for its whitenesse Rhodigin l. 17. lect antiq c. 11. In Hispaniola they are green and painted especially in the City of St. Domingo they are as great as Wasps and dig the earth with their feet to make themselves houses under ground Strabo saith the Spaniards have a flye peculiar to them in great numbers and it alwaies comes with the Plague that in Cantrabia the Romans appointed some to catch these Flyes and gave them a set reward for it by number In Carina a Mountain of Crete that is 9 miles about there are none Plin. l. 21. c. 14. Nor was there ever any seen at Rome in Hercules Temple nor yet in the Island Paphos in Venus Temple Apollonius Lasty Emma the wife of the Duke of lower Saxony promised a fruitfull pasture ground to the Church of Breine not far from the City that had this praerogative that no Flyes should molest the Cattel there Crantzius l. 4. Saxon. l. 29. The Hebrews saith Tostatus invent old wives tales concerning them for they say that David inquired of God why he made Fools Spiders Flyes with other things that seeme not only to be superfluous but dangerous and God promised to make it appeare to David that these three things were profitable for some things For foolishnesse it was manifest for unlesse he himself had counterfeited the fool's part before King Achis he had been taken captive and perhaps perished And the Flye was usefull when he descended from the hill Hacbilla into Sauls camp when all were a sleep and took away Sauls spear for then he set his feet between Abner his feet who lay about Saul and when he feared least he should be taken if he should violently draw out his foot God sent a Flye who bit Abners legs and so Abner gave way and yet did not wake Abner so David escaped Lastly the Spider did him good service because she hanged her Web on the mouth of the Cave wherein David hid himself when Saul searched after him To drive them away many men have invented divers means If a peice of an Onyon be laid upon flesh some think the Flyes will not come at it Miraldus cent 7. Aphor. 72. saith they will not come into a house if a Wolfs head be hanged up in it Dioscorid l. 4. c. 3. saith that the fume of Loostrife will drive them away Plin. l. 23. c. 8. saith that white Hellebour bruised with milk and sprinkled will drive them away Those Flyes that live on the branches of Napellus are good against any venemous bitings if we credit Scaliger Exerc. 85. CHAP. XVII Of the Boat-fish BEllonius gives an exact description of the Boat-fish The shell of it seems to consist of 3. pieces namely the Keel and the sides and yet it is but one entire piece the side-pieces whereof seem to be joyn'd on both sides as to the Keel It is commonly as great as we can clasp in both hands and as broad as the space between the thumb and the forefinger but they all in thicknesse do not exceed a piece of parchment and with ridges drawn to the borders they are plaited with indentures ending in a round form The hole by which the Boat-fish is
nourished is very great at the place he comes forth of his shell This is very brittle milk white shining polished altogether representing the form of a round ship for it swims on the top of the Sea arising from the bottom and the shell comes the bottom upwards that it may ascend the better and sail with an empty Boat and when she is come above the water then she turns her shell Moreover there is a membrane that lyes between the fore-legs of the Boat-fish as there is between the toes of water-fowl but this is more thin like a cobweb but strong and by that she sails when the wind blowes the many tufts she hath on both sides she useth for rudders and when she is afraid then she presently sinks her shell full of Sea water Farther she hath a Parrots bill and she goes with her tufts as the Polypus doth and after the same manner she conceives in hollow partitions CHAP. XVIII Of Oysters and Muscles THough Oysters love sweet waters yet Pliny reports that they are found in stony places but Aristotle saith that though they live in water and cannot live without it yet they take in no moysture nor Ayre When in the time of the Warr with Mithridates the earth parted at Apumaea a City of Phrygia Rivers did suddenly appeare and not only sweet but salt waters brake out of the bowels of the earth though the Sea were farr distant so that they filled all that Coast with Oysters Athen. l. 8. The Oysters are of divers colours In Spain they are red in Sclavonie brown in the red Sea they are so distinguished with flaming Circles that by mixture of divers colours it is like the Rainbow Aelian l. 10. c. 13. At the beginning of Summer they are great and full of milk At Constantinople they cast this wheish matter into the water which cleaving to stones will beget Oysters Gillius writes it and it is very probable For of the decoction of Mushroms powred on the ground it is certain that Mushroms will grow the Crabfish doth wonderfully desire the meat of them but he comes hardly by them because they have a strong shell by nature wherefore he useth his cunning For when in places where the wind blows not he sees them taking pleasure in the Sun and to open their shells against the Suns beams he privately casts in a stone that they cannot shut again and so he conquers them CHAP. XIX Of the Butterflye and the Polypus THe Butterflies couple after August the male dying after copulation the female lays egs and dieth also How they are preserved in winter is hardly discovered by any man except by Aldrovandus de Insectis But he enquired of Country people and they hold him that the leaves were great with the Butterflies seed at what time they plowed the ground they were hid in the bowells of it and fostered by its heat yet he thinks that they only are preserved that lye hid in the hollow barks of Trees but what lyes on leaves is quickned the same yeare And Aldrovandus adds I saw eggs layd under the leaves of Chamaeficus out of which about the end of August little Catterpillars naturally came forth They were wrapped in a thin down that the ayre might not hurt them and these little Catterpillars falling did not fall to the ground but hung by a small thred like Spiders in the Ayre When they lay under leaves they fold them so that the rain cannot hurt them and lay them up as under a penthouse I twice observed one Catterpillar that I took amongst the Coleworts first to lay yellow eggs wrapt up also in fine down and when they were laid she turned into a Chrysalis of the same colours that she was that is yellow green and black and that which seemed strange to me out of those eggs little flying creatures came forth that I could hardly see them such as are wont to be found in the bladders of Elms when they are in great abundance they shew contagion of the Ayre Anno 1562 they flew at Bannais neere the waters in such multitudes that they darkned the course of the River especially after Sun set then coming hither about night they wandred through the Villages as in Battel aray little differing from Moths Cornelius Gemma testifieth that that was a tempestuous yeare The Polypus in time grows so great that it is taken for a kind of Whale In the bowells of them there is a strange thing like a Turbane that you would say it had the nature of the Heart or of the Liver but it suddenly dissolves and runs away They exceedingly love the Olive-Tree For if a bough on which Olives hang be let down into the Sea and held there you may catch abundance of them hanging about the bough Somtimes they are taken sticking to Figg-Trees growing by the Seaside and they eat the fruit of them They also delight wonderfully in Locusts of which you shall find a cleare Testimony in Petrus Berchorius I have heard saith he that some Fishermen in the Sea of Province had set Locusts on the shore to boyle over burning coles and a Polypus smelling the Locust came forth of the Sea and coming to the fire would with his foot have taken a Locust forth but he feared the heat of the fire and so went back to the Sea and filâ—'d a coat which he had on his head like a Friers cowle with water and went and came so often with it and cast it on the fire that he put the fire out and so taking the Locust he had carryed it to the Sea unlesse one of the Fishermen that saw him had caught him and broyl'd him to eat instead of the Locust CHAP. XX. Of a Lowse and a Flea SOme think that Lice are bred of flesh others of blood but both opinions are false For first they breed in the skin of the head and we know they abound in the second and third kind of hectick feavers when as there is little flesh and here they are almost consumed Again in putrid Feavers they breed not and things bred do confirm their principles Their colour shews they proceed not from blood Wherefore some think they breed from putrid matter that is cold and moyst which abounds in the skin in places where they cannot be blown away Experience teacheth that they will leave those that are dead either because the blood is cold in the body when the heat is gone or because the dead body is cold and they fly from the cold Nolanus Problem 225. They that eat figs often are thought to be troubled with them Nolanus makes the juice of them to be the cause For this increasing in the veins heats the blood and makes it moyst and frothy which because it naturally tends to the skin and retain'd under that it putrefies it turns to lice Truly they that feed on figs have little knots and warts on their skins A Flea is a small Creature yet Africanus a cunning
Salmon striving to overcome the precipice of the water be frustrated at the second or third leap he swims to the foard and there he will lye hid under stones and gravel and pine away he is full of brasse colour'd spots and his beck is bent like a great hook In Scotland in Autumn they meet in little Rivers or places fordable where they joyne bellies and lay eggs and cover them in the gravel at which time the male is so spent spending his milt and seed and the female with her spawn that they are nothing but bones and prickels and skin That leannesse is infectious for they will infect all the Salmons they come neere It is an argument thereof that oft times they are taken and one side is consumed the other not so From their eyes covered in the sand little fishes breed the next spring that are so soft that untill they be no bigger than a mans finger if you presse them with your fingers they will run as from congeled moysture Then first as Nature leads them they hasten to the Sea and in 20 days or a little more it is incredible how great they will grow when they come from the Sea against a River that runs thither they shew a wonder For the Rivers that are straightned with Rocks and Banks on every side and therefore run down swiftly when they fall with a great fall the Salmons do not presently swim forth by the Channel but they fling themselves up crooked by force of the water and so are carried in the Ayre before they fall That they are lively is seen by their heart taken forth Robertus Constantinus testifies that he saw the heart of a Salmon that was unbowelled that was wet with a moyst sanies and it lived after it was taken forth above a day There are some different kinds of Turdi Some have as it were some skiny yellowish Apophyses hanging down from their lower chop somtimes they vary and are all for the most part Gold colour or colour of the Amethyst or blew Their eyes are extreme great and a black circle goes about a Golden Apple a Golden circle about the black and lastly a black circle goes about them all The fins by the gills are wholly Gold colour but of the brest they are all blew except their nervs that are Gold colour'd The fin that is from the anus and that which is on the back and taile where they are joyn'd to the rump are Gold colour'd but sprinkled with little red blood spots the rest are blew CHAP. XX. Of the Torpedo and the Tunie I Have nothing to say of the Torpedo but that he benums the hands and hence he hath his name And he doth this so effectually that before he is taken he will do it by the net or the rod. He useth this cunning that covering himself with mud and dirt he will catch little fish very strangely Plin. l. 1. utr anim The Tunies though they be caught in many places yet chiefly about Constantinople for when they come to the Islands Cyaneae and are past by the shore of Chalcedonia a certain white rock appears to them and doth so terrifie the Tunies that immediately they put over to the farther bank and being taken away with the swift current of the waters the natural fitnesse of the place turns the course of the Sea to Constantinople and the winding thereof so that being driven thither by force of Nature it is no wonder that they fall into snares They are also ingendred in the Lakes of Maeotis and when they are a little grown they break forth of the mouth of the Lake in sholes and run by the Asiatick shore so far as Trapezunda but because they cannot endure tempests and cold weather whereby their eyes grow dim they stay in a very deep place of the Thracian Sea that harbours them it is called Melas and it hath hollow and muddy places fit to cherish fish in and they grow till the Spring They seem to understand the blowings of the winds For Pliny saith they stay for the North wind that they may get out of the Pontick Sea with the flowing of the water to help them They enter into Pontus one way and go forth another For Aristotle l. 8. Histor. c. 13. saith they lye on their right side next the Earth when they no in and come forth on the contrary side for they turn on the left side which saith he they are therefore said to do because naturally they see clearest with their right eye and duller with the left The old Oracle of the Prophet Amphyllus in Herodotus proves that they go forth in the night And this is again confirmed by ancient medalls such as Bellonius writes that he saw at Paris on one side was an Ear of Corn and on the other side the Tunie and above this the Moon with an Inscription of Phillips They sleep so soundly that they may be taken napping CHAP. XXI Of the Uranoscopus and the Sword-fish URanoscopus is a fish that swims alone and eats flesh so lively saith Bellonius that if you take out all his Entrals yet he will move still It is the greediest eater of all fish he hath an apophysis hanging forth of his mouth and with that he ensnares the fish This shews he is an insatiable paunch that if you cast meat to him he will feed so long till the meat come up to his throat The Sword-fish hath a beck on both chaps but the lower of them is short and triangular the upper is more bony and harder and far longer sometimes two cubits long In the Indian Sea they grow so great that they will pierce the sides of the strongest Ships a hand and half in thicknesse sometimes Jovius Gesner writes from the relation of a faithfull friend of his who saw a man when he sailed into Syria that swam by the Ship side and he was cut in the middle by the beck of this fish He fears a Whale and when he sees one he claps his sword into the earth or some place of the Foard that he can and so forms himself like to a log and the Whale neglects him and swims by him CHAP. XXII Of some other Wonders concerning Fishes IN Minerals and Quarreys also fishes are found especially if the places be moyst though there be no water Theophrastus observed this in many places of Pontus Eudoxus in Paphlagonia Agricola at Orterantum beyond the Albis There is a plain by the River Narbon by this run the Rivers Iliberis and Roschinus there are fossil fish found therein The earth is tender there and brings much grasse about two or three cubits under this runs the water of the Rivers that hath dilated it self If at any time they overflow they fill the plain with fish from underground Polyb. in Histor. There are two sorts of them some round like to Eels but they want a tuff skin they are scaly as Gudgeons their flesh is hard and not well savoured The
part hurt be thrust into that place where Cocks use to be gelt a hole being cut open Platerus l. 2. de vit c. 5. proved it and found it so A noble Matron stayd bleeding at the nose by holding a bit of white chalk under the ring-finger on that side the nostrill bled Forest. l. 13. c. 10. Osorius writes also of Nahodaguca a Prince in the Kingdome of Malacca who was hurt with many wounds and fell down yet not one drop of blood came forth when he was stript and a bracelet of gold was taken off then it began to run That stone was said to have power to stop blood that was set in it It is taken out of beasts which the Sinenses call Cabrisias Osor. l. 7. de reb Afric et Indicis That it comes forth of a vein cut the distending of the vessels is the cause For the continuall motion of the arteries added to the veins doth presse the veins but if the veins be opened the blood comes forth because there is nothing to hinder it Hence when a vein is opened if one swoond the blood stops For the vitall spirit doth no longer distend the vessels Bartholin Probl. 5. It is observed that when a man is killed it will run forth if the murderer be present but when a man is drown'd it runs forth when friends are present When you ask the cause it is either motion and agitation that opens the orifices of the veins or Sympathy and Antipathy The revenge of the person is put for an Argument He that is grievously wounded becomes the Assailer saith Rhodigiâ— Thought greedily desires revenge choler burns suddenly for it the blood is presently inflamed with it and runs with all its force to the wound both to foment it and to revenge The spirits fly together and by an inbred leightnesse do fly about the Author of it by whose heat they continue and remain for some time Rhodig 3. Antiq. c. 12. It was of old thought to be a remedy for the Falling-sicknesse to drink man's blood yet warm It was the Devil's Invention who delights in the slaughter of men and to do them mischief The Wife of Marcus Antonius the Philosopher fell in love with a Fencer the Wizards were enquired of and they gave counsel to kill him and that Faustina should drink his blood the next time she lay with Caesar. It was so done and her love was ended but the boy born was of a fighting disposition and destroy'd the Common-wealth Jul. Capitolin Langius reports that the Son of a certain shepherd was faint-hearted for robberies but when he had eaten a crust of bread dipt in mans blood he was flesh'd for all villany The Carmani had this custom that at Feasts they would open a vein in their face and mingle the blood that ran forth with wine and so drink it holding it the end of their friendship to taste one the others blood But these things belong to the description of Wonders in Customes There is compounded a Lamp of life and death with mans blood whereof Ernestus Burgravius writes thus This Lamp or Light once lighted burns continually so long as that man of whose blood it was made doth live and at the very same moment that he diâ—s it will go out Know also that if the flame be bright rising high and quiet that Man feels nothing that troubles his Mind or Body But if it be otherwise and the flame rising twinckles diversly or is lower and clowdy and troubled it gives thee a sign of great sorrow and other passions For perpetually from the coelestiall influences bred with the Microcosme and from the naturall inclinations since that blood is nourished by the blood of that man and the body of the same from the substance of this very blood from which blood was as it were mutually taken to prepare it that flame shines according to the state and habit of that man in prosperity or adversity and so shews it self Sennertus and Deodate call this Pyromantia Artic. 4. Of Urine and Reins MAny things perswade us that there is somthing else contain'd in Urines beside the watery substance For in diseases they are made plentifully though men have drank nothing And it is observed that creatures that drink nothing will make water Physitians foretell many things by their colours thinnesse and thicknesse And Chymists find salt in Urine resolved But whatsoever that is it is call'd Serum and it is the superfluous salt matter in meats and drinks and is not fit for nutriment Salt is hid in meats to season them and that plants are full of salt you may find by distilling them It is very well known that divers kinds of salt may be fetched out of Urines Aegineta saith that artificiall Chrysocolla is made with Urine Nitre is made of earth moystned with the Urine and dung of living creatures Baccius shews the way His words are Saltpeter is made now a days by industry of a most sharp Lixivium that drains forth from old dung or rotten ordure from the matter of Churchyards and some earths that are rotted together the sane water being often powred on in wodden Vessels This Lixivium is boyld in great Cauldrons and Salt-peter is made long fibres growing hard in the bottom like to salt Hence Ruffus Ephesmus said that Urine was a nitrous humour that falls into the bladder de appel corp human c. 36. The Arabians write that in the Urine of those are bit with mad dogs the pictures of dogs may be seen Abenzoar But that seems to be attributed to the force of the Venom because it changeth exceedingly a mans constitution and makes it like to a doggs For the humours are so corrupted by it that some little creatures like to puppies are bred in the body Sennert l. 2. p. 2. s. 2. c. 4. Truly we find Worms to breed in the bladder for a woman voided one a span long and a noble maid voided many as great as wiglice Schenck l. 3. obs Also Charls Count of Mansfield voided one like a Magpie Duretus like a Hog-louse But one that had the stone of the bladder voided two with a sharp head with horns the back and belly were crusty and they were black and like Tortoises but that their belly was red Pareus l. 19. c. 3. Holler de morb intern Another voided a living Scorpion another shell-fish Schenk observ All know the urinary passage yet somtimes other things are voided by it The Sonne of Boninus made water a little beneath the glans and a Maid of a noble family at the Hague urin'd her Navel An old Vine dresser had it coming forth at an Ulcer of his left buttock a Souldier Voided it by his hip and thigh others by their belly Schenk in obser Fernel l. 6. Pathal c. 13. As for the Kidneys Gemma saw 3 or 4 Lib. 6 Cyclogn Wolphius and Columbus l. 15. Anatom saw but one They were seen fastned to the Liver by Holtzapfelius at Auspurg The fat of them
he read and preached openly Furthermore being made Doctor of the Laws in the University of Colen he read there and expounded the Civil and Canon Law repeating by heart the texts which he had never read and at last died at Colen in the yeare 1492. We will conclude this Chapter with an example of one borne blind in whom nature made supplie of that defect with a marvelous recompence other ways The story is mentioned by Antonius de Palermo thus I learnt saith he of King Alphonsus that there was a Sicilian borne blind living still at that time in the Citie Gergento called in old time Agrigentum who had followed him oftentimes a hunting shewing to the Hunts-men who had their sights well ynough the retraits and repairing places of the wild beasts He added further touching the industry of this blind man that having by his sparing and scraping gotten together about five hundred Crowns which put him to a great deale of care he resolved at last to hide them in a field As he was making a hole in the ground to that end a gossip of his being his neighbour espied him who so soon as the blind man was gon searched in the earth found the money and caried it cleane away Two or three dayes after the blind man returning thither to visit his cash and finding nought there like one altogether forlorne he frets and torments himselfe and after much debating and discoursing concludes that no man but his gossip could have played him such a trick Whereupon finding him out he thus began to say unto him Gossip I am come to you to have your opinion I have a thousand Crowns and the one half of them I have hid in a safe place and for the other halfe I know not what to do with them having not my sight and being very unfit to keep any such thing therefore what think you might I not hide this other halfe with the rest in the same place of safetie The gossip approved and commended his resolution and going speedily to the place carried back againe the five hundred Crowns that he had taken away before hoping that he should have all the whole thousand together A while after the blind man goes to his hole and finding there his Crowns againe took them up and comming home calleth for his gossip saying unto him with a cheerfull voice Gossip the blind man hath seen better than he that hath two eyes Article 9. Of Nations of divers forms WHat I said in the 8th Article of Monstrous Births happens but seldom yet some thought that happened commonly amongst some Nations Not far from the Troglodites in Aethiopia there is a people that have no heads and their eyes are in their breasts Augustine saw them Serm. ad Fratr in Eremo Solinus confirms it c. 53. Pliny l. 5. c. 8. In Peru in the Province of Caraqui Hispalensis sayes they want the forepart and hinder part of the head Sylvius p. 5. c. 35. For he adds That so soon as they are born they make their heads level with boards Rawleigh in his Navigations to Guiana speaks of some that are call'd Epumerocaci The Circades a people beyond Taprobana are long visaged with horse heads if we credit Arrianus Ramus tom 1. In the Mountains of the Indies they have Dogs heads and claws and hides like beasts they cannot speak but bark saith Megastenes Aelian l. 10. c. 26. saith they are in Egypt in the way to Ethiopia and he describes them that they are black visaged having no voyce they make a thrill noise and their chin is so far beneath their beards that it is like to a Serpent They live by hunting Oxen and Does Augustin de civitate Dei l. 16. c. 6. thinks that is not incredible Amongst the Scythians there are some with such large ears that they will cover all their bodies Isidor l. 11. c. 3. Some have their feet so broad that they can shadow their whole bodies with them when they lie down from the heat I may here adde that there are Sea-Men Anno 1403 a Sea-Woman was taken in the Lake of Holland and brought to Harlem she was ready to learn some things that women do but she could not speak Anno 1526 in Frisland a Sea-Man was taken with a beard and hairy he lived some years but could never speak Libav l. 6. de universitat rerum And not long since when the Denmark Ambassadors sail'd into Norway they saw a man in the Sea that had a swathband of corn they took him and put him into the Ship and he dyed they cast him into the Sea again and he revived Historians approved do write these things We will not here add what we think onely the Devill hath many wiles and great is the force of Imagination and sometimes beasts are taken for men if they be but like them We read in the Scotch History that the Kings Embassadours were brought by a storm into Norway and saw hairy beasts in the Mountains wandring like to men they thought they had been men the Inhabitants told them they were wild beasts Let every man think what he please I may have occasion to speak more of this elsewhere Article 10. Of a wonderfull Antipathy betweeen the Father and the Sonne THere was a Father that hated his child as much as some men do Cats for if he were present though he saw him not he would swoond Georgius Mylius a Divine of Jena related it Libavius sought the cause diligently And if the reason of antipathy in naturall things be worth enquiry that is most worthy to be searched out that is between children and parents This is certain that the cause of this discord cannot be found nor in the rational nor the sensual part For he wished his son no harm nor can sympathy or antipathy be called love or hatred in parents For they are to be found in things that are not living and if they be in living creatures they are not in them as they are living but as they are natural things Yet because he did not abhor his other son nor hate his off-spring for which cause he married it is certain that was no hereditary infirmity It is probable the son was changed into a disposition the father could not away with and that might proceed from the seminary body ill disposed from the womb or by the confluence of impure blood that had in it some ground for this alteration or from the blood the Embryo was nourished with For this growes divers from the matter of the nourishment or may degenerate from some other inward cause or from the place sometimes the spirits that assist the blood and the whole nature cause a change Therefore either the mother had a great longing for some meat the father hated or else she was frighted at something the father could not endure To say nothing of the Midwife or of hidden causes So a Maid at Uratislavian drank Cats blood and became of a Cats qualities and
that time tilled their grounds â—ith their own hands as it is fit to beleive The Earth enjoying a plow Crownd with Laurel and a Victorious plowman whether it were that they managed their Corn with the same care they did their wars and disposed of their fields with the same diligence they did their Camps or because by honest labour all things prosper better because they are don more carefully CHAP. VIII Of the Islands Artic. 1. Of the Originall and destruction of Islands ISlands are parts of the Earth compassed about with the Sea They have many causes of their beginnings Some came forth of the Sea some were broke off from the continent some were made by matters heaped together One was made in the Aegaean Sea whilst Seneca beheld it Seneca quaest l. 6. c. 21. He adds that another came forth of the Sea in his Forefathers dayes The Sea saith he foâ—â—ed continually and a smoke ascended from the deep for at last it did disclose a fire not continual but shinning by times as lightâ—ings do as oft as the heat of that was under had vanquished the weight that lay a top At length stones were rolled together and Rocks partly untouched which the vapour had driven forth before they were transformed and partly corroded and turned to be as light as a pumex-stone last of all appeared the top of a burnt Mountain c. Strabo l. 6.1 Geograph writes that between Thera and Therasia flames first brake forth of the Sea for four days together as if the Sea burnt then by little and little came forth an Island that was twelve furlongs wide and it was all made of fire-stones Atalanta a City of Locris that was fast and contiguous to it was out off by a sudden violence of the Sea and was made an Island by it self Oâ—osius l. 2. c. 18 â—nder Leo the Emperour an old Historian Evagriuâ— l. 2. c. 14 hath said that at Constantinople and Bithynia there was such abundance of Rain that in the Lake Beana which is not far from Nicomedia by the frequent filthy matter cast into it Islands were made thus begaâ— the Island Tyberina For Lucretia being violated by Tarâ—uin when Brutus had given counsel to plunder the Kings goods and to cast them into Tyber an Island was made So Livy l. 2. Historâ—â— By 〈…〉 some standing Corn was then of Wheat or Barley that was readâ— for the harvest which fruit of the field because it was unlawfull to destroy they cut the Corn down with the straw by the help of many men coming together and powred iâ— out of baskets into Tybur when it raâ— but slowly as it is 〈…〉 to do in the hot weather and so the heaps of Corn remained in the foards wrapâ— over with mud whence by degrees and by other things cast in by accident an Island was made Also some Islands have ceased to be as Pliny saith lib. 2. c. 89. Antissa first an Island was joyned to Lesbos Zephyrâ—â— to Halicarnassus Aethusa to Myndus Narthecusa to Parthenius Promontory Hybanda was once an Island of Ionia now it is 200 furlongs from the Sea Ephesus hath Syrien in the Mediterranean Artic. 2. Of the Miracles of some Islands AS Nature hath given Islands so she hath bestowed on some singular prerogatives There is an Island in a certain Lake about the entring of Nilus that hath Groves Woods and great buildings upon it yet they flote and it is driven every way with the wind Mela l. 1. c. 5. In the Lake Vadimonis and Cutilia there is a dark Wood that is never seen a night and a day in the same place Plin. l. 2. c. 95. Of the latter Macrobius speaks l. 1. Satur. c. 7. The Pelagi found an Island in the Lake Curilia for there are large feilds for grasse whether it were a continent or the mud of the Lake it is handsomly trimmed up and fitly joyned with twigs and Trees like a vaste Wood and floats every way with the Sea floods that from hence we may credit the relation of Delus which hath high Mountaines and large Champion ground yet floats on the Sea The Calaminae so called in Lydia are not only driven by the winds but by long poles whither one please and many Citizens escaped by that means in Mithridates Warr Plin l. 2. c. 95. In the great Lake Tarquiniense in Italy there are two that carry woods sometimes they are of a three square figure sometimes round in compasse when the winds drive them but they are never four square In Garumna a River in Spain the Island Aâ—ros is pendulous and lifted up with the waters increasing Mela l. 3. c. 1. Also in Nymphaeum there are small ones called Saltuares because in singing of a consort they move at the strokes of the musicall paces Besides these in the Fortunatae Fennel gigant growes as big as a Tree Solin c. 58. In Madera grapes hang down upon four branches the skins fill'd with juice want a kernel they are ready to gather in March Cadamustâ—s when Columbus found out the Island Hispaniola he mowed Wheat on the 30 of March that was sowen in the beginning of February In this short time the ears grew so great that they were as long and a big as a mans Arm Each of them contain'd 2000 grains Peter Martyr in Sum. Indiae There are fresh Melons every quarter of the year Ovetan Sum. c. 81. Historiar l. 11. c. 1. so great that one man can hardly carry one upon his shoulders Grasse mowed will in five dayes grow a cubit high again Tyles two Islands in the Persian Gulph the Land of them exceeds all other places for this rarity that no Tree that growes there ever wants leaves Solin c. 53. In the Island Ormutium no living creature is found nor any Fountain-water Manna falls down with the night dew Polus l. 3. c. 4. Dogs will not come into Sigaron an Island of Arabia Foelix put them there and they die running mad Plin. l. 6. c. 28. In Ithaca Hares brought thither from other places cannot live Aristot. histor Animal l. 8. c. 28. Ebusus one of the Baleares hath no Serpents at all Plin. l. 10. c. 29. In Creta there lives no Owl bring one thither it will die and in the same Island there is no mischievous living Creature besides the Spider Philangium Cyprus in former times was so impatient of graves that it would cast forth the next night bodies buried in the day Ericus the first Danish King was brought dead to Jerusalem by the winds who was intended for the same place Saxo Gram. l. 12. In the Island Cephalonia there is a River that hath on one side an infinite multitude of Grashoppers but none on the other side Aristot. histor Animal l. 8. c. 28. In Cumana an Island of the New World the Cobwebs of Spiders are knit so fast that they cannot be broken Hispan p. 5. c. 15. Iron that is dug up in Ilva cannot be melted there Bertius in descript Ilvae To