thundreth than lightneth signifieth raine to insue 8. The Sommer thundrings hapning at noone and at Euening is a note of raine to folow 9. If mightily thundring it then rayneth not yet doth it shewe raine comming for the more part and this hapneth according to the condition of the ayre and season of the yeare 10. Plynie affirmeth that if it shal thunder when Hennes doe sit that the Egges to perishe but this generally doe women of experience denie 11. Hermes an obseruer of celestiall matters wryteth that the thunders of Ianuarie to promise mightie windes and the aboundaunce of corne The thundring in February threatneth the death of manye and especially of the riche The thundring in the Moneth of March portendeth mightie windes firtylitie and populare battels The thunders of Aprill promise a good and ioyous yere The thundering in May thretneth famine and scarcitie The thunders of Iune signifie a fruitfull yéelde and the plentie of victuals The thunders of Iuly promise a plentifull increase of victuals but the scarcitie of fruites The thundring in August portendeth a prosperous estate of the common welth but many diseases and sicknesses The thunders of September signifieth firtilitie but the death of the Nobilitie The thundring in October pronounceth mightie windes with the scarcitie of fruites and victuals The thunders of Nouember promise the large increase of corne and ioy to men The thunders of December declare the aboundance of victuals and agréement of the people The learned Beda wryteth that if thunder be first heard comming out of the East quarter the same foresheweth before the yere go about or be ended the great effusion of bloud That if thunder first heard out of the West quarter then mortalitie and a grieuous plague to insue That if thunder be first heard out of the South quarter threatneth the death of many by shipwrack That if thunder be first heard out of the North quarter doth then portend the death of wicked persons and the ouerthrowe of many Other obseruations of the auncient that may be vsed of any that will without superstition as touching the thunder may a man further reade in my booke of the Myrrour of time Of that lightning named Fulgur what the same is and of the others IT is an exhalation kindled through the often agitation like to towe by which the matter séeketh issue which yet to the earth falleth not or the same is when the onely fyre sheweth So that the same is caused when the clowde is thinne and yéeldeth to the breaking forth of the fyre without noyse The lyke is that named Fulgetrum sauing that it sheweth weaker and of lesser light although many name the Fulgetrum to be the often repeatings togither of the fyre which the lyke are vsuall in Haruest That flashing much lyke a glistring light is the same which out of the kindled exhalation aryseth which by the sides of the clowde is forced and driuen forth Or it is the sodaine appearance through time of the subtill vapour and kindled running along by the ayre which is discerned before the thunder be heard and no marueyle in that the light is farre swifter than the noyse and the sight alwayes goeth before the hearing as by a like in the cutting of timber yet after nature is the light the later For the exhalation hote and drie is caried into the middle region of the ayre and before it higher assendeth of the vapour togither eleuated and forced into a thick clowde is the same compassed and included and when it can delate it selfe no more through the waterie and colde clowde it then wandreth about the whole clowde and séeketh issue forth which when it findeth not as disdayning breaketh then the clowde through which violent breaking forth is that noyse caused which we name the thunder and togither with that motion in which it wandred by the clowde and claue the clowde is the same kindled and when this sparseth the flame as it were abroad in the ayre then is it named Fulgur The difference betwéene the thunder and broade lightning is that the thunder is the selfe same noyse in the ayre which the vapour causeth running in the clowde and séeking issue forth But the broade lightning is the selfe same fyerie brightnesse which aryseth of the vapour issued and kindled For when it contended through the resistaunce and brake forth that flying away kindled the fyre The flashing lightning properly is none other than a brightnesse of the exhalation kindled and breaking forth of the clowde which shyneth abroade in the ayre But that named Fulgetrum is a lesser lightning and darcker flame in the aire So that the same is named Fulmen or the perillousser lightning when the whole exhalation kindled is sent downewarde But that weaker lightning named Fulgur is when the brightnesse onely of that exhalation kindled shyneth in the aire Thus Seneca reporteth in the first booke of naturall questions That the clowdes meanely smyting togyther cause the weake lightnings but the clowdes smyting togyther by a greater force cause the violent lightnings The diuersitie of colours in the lightning procéedeth of the diuersitie of matter in that one whiles whyte and cléere an other whyles yealow and darke and other whiles red and fumous or darke it appeareth euen as the dyuers colours that are discerned in the clowdes The whyte and cléere lightning procéedeth of the subtill and thinne vapour or of a thinne exhalation in a clowde ouer waterie whereof it sustaineth not a vehement heate and burning Hereof the bodyes which this toucheth doth it little or nothing burne so that more by beame than by the fyre doth it harme This sometymes is profitable to fruites and a little to the leaues of Trées if it hapneth in an apt place and time The darcke yealow lightning procéedeth of a thinne and somewhat clammye fume in which the flame is shyning and portendeth a vehement heate and perillous fyre if the same especially be sent downewarde The red lightning is caused through a thicke clowde and the exhalation well fermented or mixed togither which brasteth forth with a terrible noyse in the swelling ayre The grosser vapour of this hardly kindled procureth a verie daungerous flame which euen through the middle of the raine forceth and worketh his fearefull properties This lightning many times setteth cities on fire and burneth euen into the earth water not preuayling or able to resist it such is the mightie force of this celestiall fyre that so violently and grieuously destroyeth The fumous and somewhat black lightning procéedeth of a verie earthly and obscure yet a matter mightily burning whose clowde in that it containeth very much of the viscous moysture is woont to fabricate or forme a black or yronnie stone which in the shot sent forth burneth hastilye mightie bodyes of trées and sundrie other most solide matters without shewe or signe left behinde yea these and other matters this cleaueth destroyeth and vtterly wasteth The lightnings in the night are playner and more apparant
windes 34 Certaine properties of the windes 34 Certaine obseruations of the windes 37 Of the impressions named Parelia and Paraeselinae The definitions 48 The similitude 42 The ende and effect of these 42 Certaine examples of these 43 Of thunder what the same is 45 The kindes of thunder 46 What the finall cause of the thunder 48 What the coulours of the clowdes warne and foreshew in the thunders 48 Certaine foreknowledges of thunder 50 Of that lightning named Fulgur what the same is and of the others 52 Of the fearefull and violent lightning 54 What the lightning Dart is 60 The manner of the ingendring of the Stone 60 Of the maruellous force nature and miracles of the lightnings 61 What an Earthquake is 65 How manye kindes of Earthquakes there are 66 What the ruine is 66 What the Gaping is 66 What the Pulsation is 67 What the fourth kinde is 67 What the materiall cause is 68 What the formall cause is 69 Which the obiect or place is of the Earthquake 70 How the ingendring is or of the maner of the ingendring of Earthquakes 71 What the finall causes are 72 What the effects are 74 Which the signes be of an earthquake 74 FINIS ¶ A briefe Catologue of rare wonders and fearefull sightes seene aswell on earth as in the element The sundrie definitions effects and significations of Comets A Comet after the opinion of Albertus is an earthlye grosse vapour whose partes much gather to it ascending from the lowest parte of heat vnto the vpper part of the same where the fire that toucheth the holownesse there shed forth and burning so that it often sheweth long sheddeth out 2. A Comet is a hote and drie matter fatte discous and earthly whose partes be thicke drawne vp by vertue of the celestiall bodies vnto the vpper regioÌ„ of the aire where through the nearenesse of the fire and might of the substaunce set on fire and caried circularely with the motion of the vpper region of the aire which drawne by that motion is so caried about 3. A Comet after the opinion of Leopoldus is an earthly vapour hauing grosse partes mightily thickning togither ascending by vertue of starres vnto the vpper parte of heate where being kindled and caried circularely with the aire signifieth the alteration of kingdomes and other great matters in this worlde 4. A Comet is an earthly exhalation hote and drie fatte and clammie with the partes thicke gathered by vertue of the starres and drawne from the bowels of the earth by little and little and perticularlye vnto the vpper region of the aire where nighest the fire through the disposition and multitute of the matter is dilated being kindled burneth wyth a long tract shedde forth is circularly moued after the condition and maner of a starre vnder which it is gathered or vnder the circulare motion of the vpper region of the aire The explication or plaine declaration of the definition THis larger definition and description contayneth the causes and maner of the increasing of the Comet and the same sufficient clearly for it must nedes insue that the substaunce of a Comet to be an earthly and viscous exhalatioÌ„ or otherwise it would soone be wasted of the burning colour and the space of time is most short in which a Comet is séene as not continuing aboue seuen dayes yet a Comet appeareth and is séene manye tymes for 40. dayes togither or somewhat longer vntill all the substance of it in the burning be in the end consumed being also drawne with this circulare motion most swift Although Plinie witnesseth that Comets haue beene séene which were as immooueable in the place Of the continuance and motions of Comets CArdanus writeth that the longest time of them except by miracle doth scarcely exceede six moneths so that for the most part the substance of a Comet is spent by the thirtie day or sooner but neuer ending before the seuenth day The motion of a Comet is thrée maner of wayes the one from the Cast into the West the seconde from the West into the East and the thirde diuers as from the West into the South or from the North into the West the excéeding greatnesse and most spéedie increase of them is marueylous in that appearing at the first but a foote brode doe after a fewe dayes occupie a fourth part of the Zodiacke The place where a Comet often ingendreth A Comet after the minde of Cardanus is oftner engendred in the North and especiallye in that part of heauen named the Milkie way from the Tropickes without yet are they gathered and caused somtimes vnder the Equinoctiall somtimes nighe the Winter Tropicke and else where but oftner as I haue sayde about the North in which part I obserued sayth Cardanus thrée Comets in thrée seuerall yeres In the night after the Euening are Comets apparantly séene yet not the like in the day except by a mightie meanes and occasion It is manifest that many Comets may be séene togither as in the age of Carolus Martellus in the month of Ianuarie were two Comets séene within fourtéene dayes togither of which the one went before the Sunne and the other folowed him with the â—ayles looking and stretched toward the North and this hapned in the yeare of mans redemption seuen huÌ„dred twentie and sixe Two other Comets appeared togither in the yeare of mannes health 1337. which not in a short time in that as companions they ended togither after two monthes complete And to the learned it is well knowne that if they happen with an Eclips then through the vertues doubled they produce much more and daungers long continuing How some interprete the motion of Comets THere be some sayth Cardanus which thus write of Comets that if they tende toward the South such signifie raine to insue if vnto the North then drought to follow if vnto the East then the pestilence and other mightie daungers if vnto the West then the best or a happie yeare and temperate And the like Porphirius that worthie Philosopher wrote but as I suppose deceyued in this séeing a Comet procéeding against the order of the signes doth signifie the mutation of lawes for that cause the Comet which tendeth from the East into the West signifieth the alteration of lawes in that it is caried agaynst the order of the signes so that when it may signifie the same alone it happeneth that a temperate yeare followeth yet doth it not signifie the temperament of the yeare The kinds and sundrie formes of Comets maye you learne in my booke of the Myrrour of time with other profitable matters The ende effect and significations of Comets THe ende of Cometes is to prepare drought the Pestilence hunger battels the alteration of kingdomes and common weales and the traditions of men Also windes earthquakes dearth landâ—louds and great heate to follow The sayde Comets portende both many other harmes and that mightie to men 2 A Comet is the note of a great drougth in
In the yeare of our Lorde 1555. were séene in the citie of Duringia thrée sunnes the tenth day of February in the same Duringia was a gaping open of the earth out of which came a mightie stinck which verie much molested the lookers on wyth the beating paines of the head yet certaine further examining the place obserued and sawe wythin that great clift straunge formes in the night and many great matters besides heard At Luneberge was séene this straunge sight in the ayre a great company of Souldiars at the right hande of which company stoode by an Aungell holding a fyrie sworde in his hande and a childe was there in presence among the people by a sodaine meanes who did earnestly exhort euery one to harty repentance affirming Gods iudgement at hand and to be the day of yre and the day of calamitie misery and that the same to be a verie great and bitter daye when he had thus exhorted the people he vanished sodainly awaye and out of sight so that no man after could tell where he became In this yeare hapned at Duringia the harde and daungerous birth of a woman who had a sore trauaile in the birth of hir childe for after long trauayles the chyld◠brast forth with a great crack and noyse and deade borne after which issued great plentie of fyre which so harmed the yongling in the neather partes that blisters arose on the skinne so bigge swollen as an Egge in sight and hir owne face harmed with the fyre that fyre besides issuing forth of hir body infected the proper place with a Brimstony stinck In the Dukedome of Brunswike was a marueylous and straunge sight marked of many there which was on this wise A certaine husbandman which accustomed daylie to go vnto the wood to fetch wood home and drawing néere to the accustomed place of the wood at a certaine time sawe a farre off a great companie of horsemen which séemed to come ryding in great haste towarde the village This seing the husbandman returned for the great feare hastily backward againe and being come home so amased was demaunded the cause of hys hastie returning who answered that there were certaine companies of horsemen néere the towne approched but from whence they came or whether they would he could not say therfore greatly to be doubted said he that these newe guestes will set vpon vs in the night time Which tale so amazed the elders of the towne that for the great feare they tooke councell togither what was best to doe in the matter after the well debating on the fearefull newes they issued altogither out of the towne to knowe and vnderstande further the intent of these newe guestes what they were from whence they came and whether they purposed to go and being thus come forth togither out of the towne founde and sawe a like company of horsemen as the husbande man had before reported drawing towards them which séemed to their sight to be in number foure hundred horsemen ryding and comming towardes them in due order after which they sawe the fore frunt turned and readie prest to fight and the other company comming ryding a farre off addressed in like order which companies thus preparing forwarde to come togither and standing yet in a readinesse to fight two black men to their sight alighted from their horses which séemed to be Captaines and eche appéered valyauntly to encourage his companye to fight they thus boldened to fight behelde one the other as readie prest and in a readinesse after which the two Capitaynes againe lept on horseback Whiles these two companies yet stoode in a readinesse a marueylous darknesse hastily came in the place that it séemed farre in the night by which these husbandmen perceyued y this sight of the horsemen was none other then a deuillish illusion or méere falsehood of spirites In the bownds of Polonia were séene a marueylous company of Dogs barcking and fighting togither insomuch that manye were torne in that broyle to péeces After which folowed great warres and slaughter betwéene them of Polonia and the Muscouites In Duringia being a bright day there appéered in the ayre a bright and glittering sworde much like to a Fauchine or Turkie blade directing the point toward the South and the edge toward the East And in Cleuelande fell so great aboundance of fyre from heauen into the Rhene that the Riuer began to swell as though it had boyled In the yeare of our Lorde 1557. and in the ninth daye of March there were séene thrée sunnes and a verie faire Rainebow In the .xvij. daye of March there fell fyre from heauen and in an other place a fyrie Globe was séene it rayned also bloud and lumpes of bloud vnto the bignesse of ones hande dropped from heauen vnto the sight of many and in all the drops were séene like to mens faces And on saint Laurence daye the Sunne appeared wholy bloudy after which the French king fought a great battaile with Philip king of Spaine and after that S. Quintins takē by king Philip. In the yeare of our Lorde 1558. appeared a Comete verie fearefull which continued burning manye wéekes after which was séene a straunge sight fearefull to beholde For in the .xxj. day of August the day being cleare and caulme weather and sufficient temperate two houres before noone and a quarter the Sunne very cleare shyning was then séene inclosed about with a great circle which appéered of many colours like to the Rainebow and continued in like condition for foure howers and a halfe vnto the great feare and amazement of all such which regarded the same sight for it is written that such straunge sightes haue in times past béene séene which alwayes were foreshewers of fearefull daungers at hande as appéered by the same which Plutarche writeth that such a fearefull sight foreshewed the death of the mightie Cesar and the great scarcitie and dearth of all fruites of the earth that insued the same yere and euen the like hapned when Octauius abode at Rome that the Sunne was compassed with suche a cyrcle after which often commosions and tumults the lamentable harmes of lyghtnings ensued Such a Rainebow also appéered timely in the morning about the Sunne in the sixt Calendes of February in the yere of our Lorde 1074. after which folowed the great conspiracie of Princes against Henry the fourth of the name Emperor of the Germains In the yeare of our Lorde 1107. a lyke cyrcle about the Sunne was séene after which insued the great dissention among christian Princes In the yere also of our Lord. 1157. on the thirde Calendes of Iune about noone such a straunge shew was séene after which the euersion or destruction of many cities the scarcitie of fruites of the earth through the great distemperance of the ayre insued Many cities also were pittifully burned in Suetia after the appearance of such a sight hapning in the yeare of our Lord. 1322. In the yere of our Sauiour Christ. 1387.
A contemplation of Mysteries contayning the rare effectes and significations of certayne Comets and a briefe rehersall of sundrie Hystoricall examples as well diuine as prophane verie fruitfull to be reade in this our age with matter delectable both for the Sayler and Husbandman yea and all traueylers by Sea and lande in knowing aforehande howe daungerous a tempest will succeede by the sight of the clowd coming ouer the head and other matters fruitful to be read as shal appere in the Table next after the Preface Gathered and englished by Thomas Hyll ¶ Imprinted at London by Henry Denham TH Aetatis svae 42 Virescit vulnere veritas To his singuler friend mayster Henrie Fynche Marchant Thomas Hyll wisheth health and felicitie IF among friendes there needes great and ample giftes then will not my pouertie furnishe your expectation Large giftes I haue none the greatest I am able to shewe is good will the which is gift great ynough among right friendes Therefore forasmuch as I haue alwayes counted you as one of my dearest friendes and you likewise haue accepted mee among your friendly fraternitie I thanke you therefore I trust this my remembraunce shall be a sufficient token and pledge of my good will. It is not long since I for want of better furniture offred you the like token the which was of you so gently receyued as I am not able to tell well whether I were more sorie I had no better gift to gratifie you withall or wheather I more marueyled at your curtesie in so well esteeming so small a thing If I had had better at that tyme better would I haue bestowed as nowe I would also but as you receyued that simple and rude thing then in good part at my handes of I againe trust you will doe nowe no lesse at thys time renuing that friendship which vnequally of person had almost seperated and losed in so doing I can but wishe you well the which prayer as I am bounde I will alwayes bestow vpon you Thus in few wordes I ende committing you to God who graunt you long health and prosperitie in this life Yours most bounden Thomas Hill. The Preface to the gentle Reader Thought it good gentle Reader to admonishe I thee in two or three lynes what mine intent meaning is in renuing againe of this little Treatise for although an indifferent reader may iudge therof yet all mens natures not being a like to auoyde the cauils of busie heades and the byting speaches of Zoylus broode I am aduised to interpret mine owne meaning My purpose according to my duetie is to doe good nature bindeth my countrie chalengeth euery good man according to his talent power ought to fulfil the same God thretneth the deuine to such as will heare cryeth repentaunce to such as can not away wyth that kinde of speache but desireth sweeter and more delectable geare the Player with his stage matters by an other kinde of more pleasant meanes admonisheth and by a plaine demonstration putteth euery man in minde of his vocation I professing no diuinitie nor yet acquainted with playing inuention haue by an other meanes if it were possible put thee in remembraunce of thy duetie to Godward we see Gods mercifulnesse hee seldome punisheth but sendeth before his messengers tokens and wonders to forewarne vs if we were not dulheades we might perceyue the same but if we had grace we woulde indeuour our selues to amendment Before God destroyed his owne Citie Ierusalem he caused to appeare in the element wonderfull and terrible visions Before the imperiall seate of Constantine was translated signes and tokens were seene in the ayre God as wee maye reade in Cronicles seldome or neuer made alterations in kingdomes but he before sent in Ambassage his threatning Creatures To seeke for olde and forraine examples we neede not seeing we haue ynough of late dayes at home freshe in our memories as first he by burning his owne house brought a present terrour into the mindes of many and forced them to call on his name and generally foreshewed that as he spared not that place wherein his name was dayly called on no more would he spare the people that despised his lawes and ordinaunces and soone after it came so to passe for when the warninâ— woould not be taken he punished more seuerely hee sent a greâ— mortalitie and sweeped or tooke away a great number God is iust and mercifull for iust he is in punishing and mercifull in forgiuing The continual bearing of monsters the troublesome Elements these last two Summers the vnseasonable weather and last of all the late straunge and wonderfull inunâ—ations doe threaten Gods iustice in punishing the offenders and his clemencie and mercie by fauouring vs so gently God notwithstanding that he threatned Niniuie by the mouth of his Prophete yet did hee mercifully forgiue them vpon their repentance God poure out hys spirite vpon vs and giue vs his grace to acknowledge and bewaile our offences so shall we be spared with Niniuie and the Lorde will turne away all his threatnings into forgiuenesse It is high time we repent God threatneth we are in daunger compassed on euery side all things are readie nothing wanteth but Gods permission I haue bene somewhat longer gentle Reader than at the beginning I promised or purposed yet take this for breuitie sake but for an enteraunce of a great deale more that might aptly be here vttered the rest vntouched I commit to thy iudgement and vnderstanding Thus resting I craue none other than your friendly report in furthering this Treatise Vale feliciter The Table THe sundrie definitions effects and significations of Comets Fol. 1 The explication or plaine declaration of the definition 1 Of the coÌ„tinuance motioÌ„s of Comets 2 The place where Cometes often ingendreth 2 How some interprete the motion of Comets 3 The ende effect and significations of Comets 3 Sundrie examples of Comets 5 Other prodigious tokens 7 Of the maruellous nature of Welles Riuers Lakes and waters c. 15 Of certaine fierie impressions and first of the same named of most men the foolish fire 21 The cause of Castor and Pollux and where these ingendred 24 Of the flying Dragon in the ayre what the same is 25 Of the fire cleauing and hanging on the partes of men and beastes 26 What is to be thought of the flame or fire which cleaueth to the heares of the head and to the heares of beastes 27 Of the feareful gaping and deepe opening of the Elements The definitions 28 A difference betweene the gaping and deepe opening 29 What the efficient cause is 29 What the matter and forme is 29 What the ende of the gapings be 30 How many rainebowes may be seene togither at one time 31 Whereof many Rainebowes proceede 31 That three Rainebowes maye appeare at one time 32 In what time of the yeare Rainebowes for the more part are caused 32 Are not the Rainebowes caused through the beames of the other starres 33 Of the
the speach of beasts and birds affirming also heauen to be empty and many other blasphemies he vttered besides In the yeare of our Lorde 1545. and in the seuenth day of August about .xi. of the clock in the morning happened such a fearfull tempest at Machlin as the like was neuer heard of for a mightie thunder came which shooke the earth in such maner that the people of that Citie thought Doomes day at hande or ruine of the Citie present In that after the same was heard a horrible cracke in the cloudes and a darcke lightning very sore stinking of Brimstone hapned which so feared them that noâ—â—e knewâ—â— what to thinke or doe nor what succéeded of the same saue onely such which the tempest had striken vntill the brute and noyse raâ— in the Citie that the lightning had smitteâ—â— the Sandgate in which lay aboue .viij. hundreth Barrelles of Gunpowder whose sodaine bursting forth caused such a mightie confusion in the Citie that no man euer sawe the like destruction in that Countrie for the Sandgate was blowne vp at the turning of a hande into very small partes and not onely the foundation of the same sorent but the stones of the walles fast by likewise blowne vp and scattered abrode yea the pittes welles with water there about through the mightie heate of the powder set on fire were sodenly dryed vp And on the next morrow folowing vewing the harmes about the Citie there were found about the compasse of the scattering of the Tower of dead bodyes vnto the number of thrée hundred and halfe a hundred grieuously wounded Besides these a womaÌ„ minding at that instaunt to that the leafe wyndowes of hir Hall or Parlour for the great feare of the tempest had hir head pittifully smitten off And in a certaine Inne were at that time a certaine companye playing at Cardes which altogither were founde stricken in péeces and all the other parsons of the house pyttifully dead except the good wyfe which went at that instaunt to drawe drinke for them in a déepe seller who by that meanes was preserued And many other grieuous sightes happened in that fearefull tempest To conclude the Citie was maruellouslye spoyled thorow out and no Church in that Citie but grieuously shaken with this tempest yea whole stréetes subuerted In the yeare of our Lorde 1547. at Heluetia in Germany were séene in the ayre two hostes of men of warre and two mightie Lyons gréeuously and terribly fighting togither so long vntill it séemed that the one byt of the others head quite And in the twelfe day of Aprill the Sunne appeared at after noone for thrée dayes togyther lyke a fyrie Globe in such manner that the Starres were then séene after which folowed a grieuous battle betwéene Charles the fift Emperour and the Duke of Saxonie betwéene Mulberge and Wyteberge at the ende of which battell Iohn Frederick Electour became prisoner vnto the Emperour At that tyme also was séene in another place in a cleare day a whyte Crosse with a rodde by it in the skie In the yeare of our Lorde 1548. and in the tenth day of Februarie was séene in Saxonie a countrie of Germanie a fyre from heauen that fell on certaine cities Also two Hostes of men of warre were séene in Saxonie in the ayre running and skirmishing togyther and dyuers other straunge sightes besides were séene in the ayre in that yeare In the yeare of our Lorde 1551. and in the .xiij. day of Ianuary arose a mightie tempest in sundry places of Germanie with many showers of rayne lightnings and thunders in so much that the men of that countrie thought Domes day at hande yea to be present And in the .xxviij. daye of Ianuary at Lysebone in the chiefe citie of Portugall appeared a bloudie rodde and sundrie fearefull fyres séene in the aire and rayned there bloud after which followed such a fearefull earthquake that about two hundred houses were grieuously shaken throwne downe through the fall of which about a thousand persons were lamentably slayne And in the .xxi. day of March at Magdeburge in Germanie about seauen of the clocke in the morning were seauen Raynebowes and thrée Sunnes séene and in the euening the same day thrée Moones of which the first and perfiter Moone was séene towardes the citie of Magdeburge but the second as bloudie towardes Pago Desdorf and the thirde shyned bloudie towardes the newe citie so named in Germanie And in the .xxj. day of Aprill appeared agayne at Magdeburge thrée Sunnes and thrée Rainebowes after which by the commaundement of Charles the fift Emperor was this citie besieged by the Duke of Saxonie and Albert of Brandenburge for fiftene Moneths and at the length a peace concluded by wicked conditions For after the peace stablished certayne of the gouernours and Capitaines drewe togither a battle against Charles Emperour vpon that tytle for the defence of the Germayne libertie In the yeare of our Lorde 1553. was heard a wofull crye saying woe woe twise togither there was heard also the sounde of Belles and the noyse of Trumpets and the same tyme there happened at Duringia that the trées herbes sweate bloud and fearefull noyses heard besides sundrie nightes after which Mauricius Duke of Saxonie fought in battle with Albert of Brandenburge at which season Mauricius smitten with the pellet of a Gunne dyed the thirde day after the battle In the yere of our Lord. 1554. and in the first day of Februarie in the Citie of Cathalane in Fraunce and after the great goodly shewe and muster of souldiours by the commaundement of the French king there appéered a maruellous sight about the Moone like vnto a great fyre arysing from the East part and stretching or declyning toward the west and the Moone shewed like to a most great fyrebrande and this fyre in the ayre burned with a great noyse and often casting forth flames and sparkes of fire in the lyke maner as a hote burning yroiâ—barre beaten on an handueale by a Smith The .xxvj. day of May it rayned bloude not farre from the towne of Dunckelspull in Germanie And there were séene thrée faire Rainebowes and so many Sunnes and Moones and two bloudie crosses In another place also were séene sixe the sunne then appéering feareful in the rising as one daye gréene of colour another day blackish or swart in colour the third morning red and at the setting bloudy in other places apéered black round bodies both reddish and firie of colour as they were beating the sunne and séemed fighting with him and it rayned besides bloud in many places In the .xj. day of Iune fiue Myles from Noriberge in Germanie was séene in the sunne a bloudie rodde and many companies of horsemen dashing togither in the ayre which so contynued for two howres that it caused men greatly to feare that Domes day was at hand after which died the same yere Frederick Duke of Saxonie after the same was a notable towne in Germanie pittifully wasted by fyre
setting are they all dead so that these by due proofe are knowne not to lyue aboue a day 37. The ryuer Matronas Celtas deuydeth it selfe from that riuer Belgas which for the straunge propertie greatly to be wondred at in that the common sort affirme that this riuer to be as a destinie or mighty hazarde of lyfe to manye for so much thys ryuer daylie purchaseth to it some pray as hath bene noted of a long tyme by those dwelling fast by 38. In the Mountaynes of Modena in Lumbardie in a place named Mount Zibbius is there a Well out of which runneth a lyuely and singuler water in thys doe men at this day gather a mightie quantitie of Oyle which is knowne of many to be of a miraculous vertue in that the same worketh so maruailous effects on mans bodye as in healing al aches the most griefes and diseases of the body and in the healing also of woundes and sores not inferiour to the artificiall Baulme this of most men named the true Oyle of Peter 39. In the Countrie of Burgony there is a certaine burning Lake in which if a flaming or burning fyrebrande be quenched the same immediately goeth out or is quenched through the moysture consisting in it and a fyrebrand readie quenched dipped in this doth immediatly kindle burne through the fierie Brimstonie heate consisting also in it which is found hote and dry in the fourth degrée 40. There be certaine waters knowne at this day which haue the taste of Wine in that they runne by some swéete iuyce in the earth As by a like in Paphlagonia is reported to be a Well of a wynie taste which causeth the persons drinking of the water to become soone after dronke The cause of which dronkennesse is that the same containeth much of the spirites of the Brimstonie passages which on such wise fill the braine of the creatures with sumes ▪ And a like to this is reported that the ryue◠Lincestius to haue waters comming to it of such a propertie that they make persons dronke euen like Wine 41. In the Countrie of Boëmia is a Well of sharpe tast neare that Citie which they name Bilen the water of which the inhabiters thereabout vse in the morning in the stéede of burning Wyne or Aqua vitae 42. Aristotle also wryteth that in the Countrie of Sicilia to be a soower Well which the poore people vse in the stéede of Vinigar as others wytnesse of the same 43. In Scythia also some report that there to be a bitter Well the water of which running into the ryuer not farre distaunte causeth it to taste bitter 44. Certaine Welles and riuers there be excéeding hote especiallye those which issue and runne out by Brimstonie veynes of the earth and other hote places the waters of which are much pierceing and drying by reason of the propertie through which these profite vnto the drying vp of corrupt and rotten humours in diseased bodies And such hote or bathwaters are at certaine times dronke that they may supply euacuations and clensings of the body and reduce it vnto a suit temperatnesse Of certaine fyerie impressions and first of the same named of most men the foolish fyre THe light going before and folowing after men in the ayre especially in the night doe later wryters report to be the foolishe fyre in that the same often appéereth to saylers and men traueyling by lande as eyther going before or following them and maketh a man a foole by seducing him This light also is named Helena when it as one Candle is séene or appeareth alone which besids is reported to be the fyrebrand and pestilence of Saylers For as Helena brought destruction on Asia and Greece euen so hath it bene obserued that when this light hath bene séene alone to haue caused great daunger to saylers Yet such fyres oftentimes are but fantasticall sightes and méere illusions of spirites as the Author prooueth by sundry reasons And this is not named the foolishe fyre of the burning onely but for the longer continuing going before and folowing any person in the ayre For those two Candels or lightes are often tymes séene to go before or to follow men walking or ryding especially in the night and such trauayling on the Sea not without some terrour or feare The foolishe fyre is ingendred of a vapour conglutinated or compact togither in hys partes which then are kindled so that not of the clowde méeting it but of the vehement beating or smyting togyther of the partes in themselues And these two Castor and Pollux be ingendred in the lowest region of the ayre of a fatter fume vnctuous and inflammable which through the coldnesse of the night ayre is so dryuen togither thickned The place where the foolishe fyre doth appéere is knowne to be oftner by the report of wryters in hote places and Countries Yet some agrée that this light is oftner séene in moyst places and regions In that out of Marishe and fumous places or out of a clammy grounde the thick and fat exhalation is eleuated being soone kindled and according to the proportion of the heat doth it ascende eyther more or lesse Or thus out of a clammye earth as in Churchyardes Kitchines and low valleys the thicke and fatte substaunce is eleuated which may soone be kindled and according to the proportion of the heate doth this eyther more or lesse ascende The substaunce is kindled through the concourse of two contrarie qualities which contende in themselues for the vapour is hote and the night ayre colde The reason also why this light doth both folow and flie from men is through the motion of the ayre which by the walking or running is forced So that the faster the man runneth towarde it so much the faster both the same impression flie from him but if he runneth from it then doth it follow him in that the ayre moued doth force the same substaunce An Hystoricall example of this Meteorū may a man read in Plutarchus which he affirmeth in the life of Lysander The cause of Castor and Pollux and where these engendred THese two Castor and Pollux appéers like a double fyre in forme of two burning Candels caused of the exhalation or fatter vapour and vnctuous raysed vnto the lowest region of the ayre in the night which contending with the night colde is so kindled that cleaueth sometimes to the crosse yardes of shippēs and continuing so long burning through the thicknesse and fatnesse of it vntill the substaunce shall be spent And by a peculiar and vayne superstition the people in auncient time supposed and ascribed Castor and Pollux to be the brethren of Helena in that when the Saylers and Maryners had obserued these sitting on both the crosse yardes they supposed and hoped that a more happie course and fortunate successe of the ship to insue through the help as they thought of the two brethren which they beléeued to delyuer them from perill and hazard of perishing and for the same accompted
them among the number of the Gods. So that these two appearing togither were euermore foreshewers of a safe and prosperous course of the ship in that by the comming of them they supposed that other threatning impression appéering alone named Helena to be driuen awaye And for the same they assigned that power to Castor and Pollux and named them the Gods of the Sea. For that impression appéering alone is knowne to threaten euermore daunger in that the exhalation as yet compact can not immediatly be scattered and spent whereof through the long tariance in sight and thick substaunce of burning is the great hazarde of perishing at hande But the two lights or candels appéering doe contrariwise signifie in that these declare that the thicke substaunce to be in a maner spent and the tempest which began to aryse broken and quyeted or brought caulme So that after the appéeraunce of them no daunger at all remayneth but a quiet or caulme Sea rather to ensue To conclude the solitarie lights doe note matter to abound in the ayre of which the tempests are ingendred For when the thick substaunce of the exhalations and cause of the vntemperatnesse is in a maner spent then caulmnesse of the Sea insueth But where the exhalation is ouermuch compact which immediatly is not scattered through the long continuance and the grosse substaunce of burning there doth it declare a perillous tempest Wherof Seneca writeth that when in a great tempest Starres or lightes appeared as they were cleauing to the Sayle the Maryners in ieopardie thought and affirmed themselues then to be holpen by the power of Castor Pollux But the cause of a better hope is it appéereth euen then that the tempest to be broken and the winds to cease Of the flying Dragon in the ayre what the same is Or thus the vapour on such wise kindled expelled from a cold clowde is in the middle bended like the belly of a Dragon but in the forepart is the vapor stretched narrow representeth the figure of the neck from it do sparks as it were by brething issue forth The flying Dragon is ingendred of a vapour not vehemently hote drawne vp mightely coagulated and pressed togither and placed betwéene a colde hote clowde Or thus this great impression of the ayre is wrought and caused beneath the middle region when the exhalation drawne vp vnequall not vehemently hote and stronglye coniealed the two contrarie clowdes place betwéene the one a colde clowde expelling the vapour as contrarie to it from whence the belly of the Dragon beginneth the other a hote clowde receyuing it and through the smalenesse this expresseth the forme of the neck and the vttermost or furthest part nere the colde clowde appéereth as a taile drawne narrow togither For the propertie of colde is to gather or binde hard and narrow togyther To conclude the two clowdes doe here concurre as the hote and cold clowde For that cause the exhalation placed in the middle inclyneth it selfe vnto the hote clowde for the plentie of fyre and doth in the middle concurre and is there bended For the beginning and ende are néere matched or ioyned to the cold clowde So that it séemeth in the beginning to breath smoke forth through the nighnesse of the moyst clowde The first part séemeth the grosser or bigger in that the same is newe kindled but the furthest part or ende appeareth the straighter or smaller in that the same is nighe to the quenching out through which is this bended And the reason why at the vanishing of the Dragon a smoke is scattered abrode is for that the hote and burning clowde contrarie to the colde procureth a smoke as the like appéereth in gréene woode burning or for that the matter scattered through the colde clowde smoketh Of the Dragon inuented of the wicked which they vse in dyuers maners to purchase them vnlawfull gayne Phisick of the same doth here vtter no reason as that the same is prepared and made of a vapour and exhalation For well knowne it is that their Dragon to be wrought by the pollicie of Deuils and inchantments of the wicked as sundrie examples lamentable doe make manifest at this day As the like in the yere 1532. in manye Countries were Dragons crowned séene flying by flocks or companies in the ayre hauing Swines snowtes sometimes were there séene foure hundred flying togither in a companie Of the fire cleauing and hanging on the partes of men and beastes THis impression for troth is prodigious without any Phisicke cause expressing the same when as the flame or fire compasseth about anye persons heade And this straunge woonder and sight doth signifie the royall assaultes of mightie Monarchies and kinges the gouernmentes of the Emperie and other matters worthie memory of which the Phisicke causes sufficient can not be demonstrated Seing then such fyers or lightes are as they were counterfets or figures of matters to come it sufficiently appeareth that those not rashely to appeare or showe but by Gods holy will and pleasure sent that they maye signifie some rare matter to men This light doth Virgill write of in the seconde booke of Aeneados of Ascanius which had a like flame burning without harme on his heade Also Liuius in his first booke and Valerius Maxi. reporte of Tullius Seruius a childe who sléeping on bedde such a flame appeared on his heade and burned rounde about the heade without harme to the woonder of the beholders which sight pronounced after his ripe age the comming vnto royall estate What is to be thought of the flame or fyre which cleaueth to the heares of the heade and to the heares of Beastes EXperience witnesseth that the fyre to cleaue manye times to the heades and eares of beastes and often times also to the heades and shoulders of men ryding and going on Foote For the exhalations dispearsed by the ayre cleaue to the heares of horses and garments of men which of the lightnesse doe so ascend and by the heate kindled Also this is often caused when men and other beastes by a vehemēt and swift motion wax very hote that the sweate fattie and clammye is sent forth which kindled yeldeth this forme And the like maner in all places as afore vttered as eyther in moyst and clammie places and marishes in Churchyards Cloysters Kitchins vnder Galosses valleys and other places where many deade bodies are laide doe such burnings lightes often appeare The reason is in that these places the earth continually breatheth forth fatte flumes grosse and clammy which come forth of dead bodyes and when the fume doth thus continually issue forth then is the same kindled by the labouring heate or by the smiting togither euen as out of two flint stones smitten togither fyre is gotten Cardanus in his .14 booke and .69 Chapter of the varietie of things reporteth that a certaine friende of his after his comming home about an houre past in the night put of the cloake that he customably ware from whose
clifts nor beating or shaking with the great floods of waters yet the sounder and faster any grounde of the earth is so much the more harmed at the shaking for so much it mightier shutteth in the exhalations and compelleth an inforcement in the cause The Ilands and the valleys are sildome molested with the Earthquake for so much as the partes of the earth in themselfe are pressed togither and are but a little porouse so that these cannot enter in An earthquake is sildome caused in moyst places for so much as the moysture hindreth or letteth the exhalation to come vnto strength of which the Philosopher reporteth that in the floodes of the Sea Pontus a lesse Earthquake to be caused for so much as the huge sea about cooleth the exhalations and on such wise letteth them In the sandie and grauily places as are the places Northerly farre sildomer is an Earthquake caused yea scarcely any Earthquake at all caused in those places for so much as the same grounde is a thinner earth and lesser solyde nor so thicke compact and that the fumes ascend by little and little without force How the ingendring is or of the maner of the ingendring of Earthquakes THe Earthquake is caused when the exhalations and vapours included in the caues and hollowe places or passages of the earth contende togither and by his nature séeke on highe to breake forth but through the earth close stopped not finding way by force shake the same and cause it to tremble and in the ende breake forth so that the earth oftentimes causeth eyther a gaping or déepe caue or goulfe or the same throwne vp on heigth after the maner of a hill or Mountayne of which great Mountayne◠happen to be suncke and swallowed vp in a Goulfe as sundrie lyke we reade in the Hystories yea great waters and ryuers drunke vp and the course of waters chaunged and lande floodes caused in the mayne lande Or thus the earth contayneth in it selfe a much exhalation which it heating conceaueth through the fierie efficacie and vertue of the Sunne the Planets and fixed starres This spirite for that the same is subtill is most apt to be inforced So that when by it this drie spirite runneth included within the earth séeking issue is so by his force lifted vp and driuen from one hollownesse into another Of which this when for the solyde nature of the earth and stopped passages of the earth can not issue or passe forth procureth lightly and soone a trembling in it selfe caused through the beating and driuing back so that retayned this strongly moueth and shaketh the earth or séeking his waye and the spirite driuen by a narrow body of the earth laboreth with a most strong contention For into the proper and naturall place this contendeth to flie which through the mightie stopping letted of the compact earth is the same driuen backe into the earth which at the length laboureth to issue causing the same to tremble and casteth vp the earth ▪ in the breaking forth like to a hill vntil it be issued yea this sometimes cleaueth the same and openeth it in the issuing forth at two sides Aristotle vttereth other notes for after the earth beaten vp he reporteth that great windes to breath and flie vp and that fyre and ashes to be cast forth So that water not to be the special cause of the earthquake for the water should otherwise be still if the same were not blowne and driuen Nor such a swiftnesse or hastinesse of the trembling coulde be caused if so much could be procured in the waters swelling and that the earth could very often breake But it often breaketh not in the tremblings shakings of the earth Yet doth this pronounce the great plentie of vapours included in the caues of the earth driuen like windes by their force and agitation sparsed by certain places which when the same is caused it instructeth that those places to tremble thorowe the might of the vapours forced For it is manifest that the earth to be full of vapours the thundring or rumbling which is heard in the shaking of the earth is a note of the flying vapours And for so much as the vapours open the passages of the earth a water sometimes is shed out of the earth of which no such plentie consisteth or is in the great Mountaynes that might like smite them Howe so great a heape of earth of so thinne and light a body as the winde may be cast vp doth the Philosopher Aristotle here vtter by a similitude as in our bodies spirites included are cause of the tremblings or shakings and beating of the pulses euen so hapneth in the same earth when a great force of the vapours gathered mooue and shake it wyth their force What the finall causes are THe finall cause of an Earthquake is the signification verie sad heauie of matters and haps to come as of battels landfloodes mutation of Emperies the dearth of victuals c. For the Earthquakes alwayes pronounce great calamities as Plynie witnesseth where he reporteth that the Citie of Rome neuer trembled but that the same was a foreshewe of some happe to come or insue so that the Romanes curiously obserued the Earthquakes as the same is manifest in their Hystories Of the earthquake Cardanus reporteth that the earth to be cleaued through a vapoure and not to be doubted but that the same to prognosticate great sedicions Yea the great earthquakes denounce eyther a Battayle or the Plague or a Tirannicall oppression these also cause a dearth of corne and famine Yet the earthquakes somtimes threaten no other euils than the ouerthow of proper Cities and Townes and destruction or mortalitie of those persons which dwell in them These hitherto Cardanus The holy Scriptures vtter the same that in these motions the Lorde God exerciseth and sheweth his most seuere ire punishing with these the peoples sinnes by a iust iudgment vnlesse they spéedily repent For it is written in the seconde booke of Kinges and xxij Chapter that the ire of God was mooued and the earth trembled for so much as the Lorde God was angrie with them Euen so before the Turckes tooke Gréece for thrée whole dayes togither the Earthquake shooke the borders néere bounding and many buildings fell downe Before the Peloponesian Battayle the countrie of Laconia was so fearefully shaken with an Earthquake that whole townes fell and much people destroyed and ouerwhelmed in the fall of them Eutropius writeth that in the next yeare after the death of Paule the Apostle Laodicoea and Colossa were suncke with an Earthquake in which example both a punishment of the wicked was séene which contemned Paules doctrine and a signyfication of calamities to come on Asia bordering néere by and of the crueltie which Domitianus exercysed in the same part of the worlde when he compelled S. Iohn the Apostle to liue in exile The like hapned an Earthquake before the death of Theodosius the second which endured for sixe monethes
such a cyrcle about the Sunne foreshewed battayles hunger fyres and pittifull landfloodes A like cyrcle to Halo appéered before the battayle with the Turks in the yere 1532. by which is manifest that such sightes are foreshewers of euils to come In the yeare of our Lorde 1559. with the great tempest risen at Fryburge certaine fyrie Globes fell out of the clowds not farre from the Citie much or often lightnings with thunder which lamentably burnt the grasse hops herbes and leaues of trées the tempest increased a hande was séene stretched in the aire for an hower in a maner which at length by drawing and folding the fingers togither in grinding it selfe was turned into powder which powder falling to the earth vanished away In the yeare 1560. waters brake in and ouer ranne much grounde in sundrie places to the great hurt and losses of manye men in that their closes and Medowes were much harmed with the clamminesse of the waters bursting in The same yeare dyed that singular learned and godly man worthy memorie Philip Melanchtone who lefte behinde hym these comfortable verses that he made a little before the agonie of death which he still repeated vntill life left him Cur mortem metuaÌ„ mors non est mortis imago est Sed merito vitor Christe benigne tuo Vermis adhuc spiro moriturus forte sub horam Mors etenim certa est funeris hora later Ergo Gnate Dei iam me tibi porrigo totum Viuam seu moriar sanguine viuo tuo In the yeare of mans redemption 1561. manye Gunnes through Germanie were séene in the ayre shooting of pellets into the Sunne In the .xvij. daye of December fower sunnes were séene in the East casting forth gréene roddes on euerie side to the great feare and amazement of the beholders Heauen séemed to burne a fyrie Globe shyned from the North part with a mighty light in heauen In the kingdome of Naples were fiue Castels and a Byshoprick suncke with an Earthquake and a water nauigable vanished the whole in such maner that no monument or part at all is left to be séene yea a whole citie so sunck into the earth that no perseuerance of it at all remayning at this day From the .xvj. vnto the .xviij. day of Nouember the riuer Tyber cast vp a mighty number of dead fishes In the yeare of our Lorde 1562. Heauen séemed to burne to the sight of much people in many places of Germany And a celestiall fyrehrande stretched from the North into the South shyned by night in heauen A mightie company of armed men or souldiours were séene in the ayre which as some affirme séemed in the ayre to shed downe much bloude from heauen And the Sunne in the Moneth of Aprill séene marueylous bloudy as well at the rysing as at the setting for thrée dayes togither The ymage also of our Redéemer crucified was séene sprinckled all ouer with bloud in the Moneth of Aprill Whilst the mightie Emperour Ferdinandus kept his royall Court at Prage the chiefe citie in Bohemia it hapned that Peason were miraculously chaunged into stones after this manner A certaine husbandman had brought certaine sackes of Peason to the citie to be solde to whom a Citizen for the penurie of victuals came and required him to sell better cheape then he had accustomed to doe who that was a cruell and couetous man prayed to God that his Peason rather might be chaunged into stones then he woulde sell them one mite better cheape incontinent after the Citizen departing from him the Peason were al miraculously chaunged into stones a marueylous spectacle in déede of Gods wrath and due punishment for his canckred and wicked stomack To conclude we may by these fearefull wonderous and straunge sightes as well on earth as in the ayre learne that God by them doth marueylously foreshewe his blessed will and condigne punishment for the sinnes of the people and that in such sort to declare the calamities to come vpon vs by shewing aforehande such straunge sightes and fearefull threatnings in the ayre vnto the admonishment of vs for the correcting of sinne if by these and such lyke we wyll be warned at all Of the maruellous nature of Welles Riuers Lakes and waters to which the Phisitions denie a reason to be assigned DIuers are the natures and miracles of Welles Ryuers Lakes and waters the cause of which is eyther hid wholy from vs or in search verie harde to be vnderstanded as by Examples here vnder shall plainer appéere 1. First there is a swéete running ryuer in the Countrie of Italie which by his propertie causeth the Oxen drinking thereof to become through whyte of heare all the body ouer Propert. lib. 3. 2. In Boetia there is a ryuer named Melas being of such a propertie that shéepe drinking of the water of that ryuer chaunge and beare after black woole 3. Seneca wryteth of a Well of such a propertie that what person drinketh thereof the heare of the head shall after become yealow of colour 4. In Libia there is a Well which at the rysing and setting of the Sunne is founde hote but at noone this Well is tried most colde and at midnight verie hote 5. Seneca wryteth of certayne Welles being of straunge properties of which the one and first is a Well of such a propertie that who drinketh of the same doth dye through the mightie poysoning thereof The other is a Well of such a propertie that throwing péeces of woode into the same Well they after were turned into stones He wryteth of an other Well being of such a propertie that what persons drink of the water of the same shall after become starke mad An other Well there is of suche a propertie that what parsons drinke thereof it giueth them memorie He witnesseth also of an other Well of such a condition that by drinking therof it procureth forgetfulnesse 6. There is another Well of such a nature that what persons drinke thereof become soone after frantick 7. An other Well there is of a maruelous propertie that what persons drinke of the water it sodainely moueth and stirreth forward the lust of the body of which condition the Well of Salmacis in Caria is misreported to be the causes of which are the Herbes Stones and Mynes by which these passe in which such a hid propertie procured of so marueylous effects consisteth 8. In Egypt there is a Well of such a propertie that quencheth light fyrebrands in the same as reporteth Augustus they forthwith are put forth and those quenched are by the water of the same well kindled 9. With the black Moores named Garamantes is a Well of suche condition which in the daye time is knowne to bée so colde that no person can drinke therof and in the night time it is founde so hot that no creature is able to beare or abide the heat oâ— the same 10. In a certaine learned worke of Cosâ—mographye is reported that in the Countrie of Sicilia was in time past a