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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
fire_n	earth_n	element_n	world_n	2,435	4	4.7467	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A96648	Natures secrets. Or, The admirable and wonderfull history of the generation of meteors. Particularly describing, the temperatures and qualities of the four elements, the heights, magnitudes, and influences of the fixt and wandring stars: the efficient and finall causes of comets, earthquakes, deluges, epidemicall diseases, and prodigies of precedent times; registred by the students of nature. Their conjecturall presages of the weather, from the planets mutuall aspects, and sublunary bodies: with the proportions and observations on the weather-glass, with philosophicall paraphrases rendred explicitely, usefull at sea and land. / By the industry and observations of Thomas Willsford, Gent.	Willsford, Thomas.; Vaughan, Robert, engraver.	1658 (1658)	Wing W2875; Thomason E1775_2; ESTC R204119	105,190	225

descension is said of any Star that sets with the ☉ as the little Dog-star the 5. day of June but this is also said of any Star that sets in the night time The Heliacal rising of any Star is to be understood of those that have been obscured with the Sun-beams and the Sun moving according to the succession of the signs the Star begins again to appear at his rising a little before the Sun as you may see in the Latitude of 52. g 0. And on the seventh of August the Lions heart quite obscured and a few days after will be seen to rise before the Sun and the Heliacal setting is any Star that is seen presently after the Sun setting and a few days after will be quite obscured with the glory of his beams as the 28. of August you may behold Spica Virginis in the West and in a few days after offuscated with the resplendent radius of the Sun his proper motion being East-ward This I do desire may satisfie most courteous Reader as an abstract of the world and if further satisfaction be desired vouchsafe to look over my books of Astronomy and for the better recording in your memory the apparition and occultation of the Stars accept of these verses though from a rude Minerva Ascention Cosmicall as Poets say Are Stars that rise with Sol or in the day Those asterismes Acronycall they call That in the night do either rise or fall And those Heliacall Astraea says Whom Phoebus does offuscate with his rays AN INTRODUCTION TO THE Second Part of Meteors AS for the word Meteors it signifies an apparition in the Air as taken in the common or usual sense or high and lifted up but in general there are two sorts one risen from Vapours and Exhalations termed by the Philosophers imperfect mixt bodies by reason they are easily reduced into their first nature or proper Element as Hail or Snow quickly resolving into Water and all those which are accounted perfectly mixt are thunder bolts c. and the reason they do give is because that such as these will not so soon be converted into their first Elements from whence they were extracted or derived the material cause of all are hot and moist vapours or hot and dry exhalations from Water and Earth the efficient cause under God is from the fixed and wandering Stars by vertue of whose beams a light rarifi'd substance is extracted from gross and heavy bodies as vapours from water and exhalations from Earth their qualities are heat and moisture which causeth diversity of effects especially in those lesse perfectly mixt which are the subjects now intended Vapours do consist of the four Elements but the substance water as the steam of a boyling Pot which hangs like a dew upon the lid or cover over it And Exhalations are commonly like smoak of nature hot and dry as you may behold in a Summers day to offuscate the Air or make it seem dusky with the ascending of thin sumes and after this comes usually thunder which shews from whence these exhalations were extracted for out of Fire and Air only no Meteor can consist as wanting matter the Fire of it self as being an Element is so subtile that it cannot be purified whereas all exhalations and vapours must be refined and consequently extracted from some grosser body for the Air if much rarified would turn to Fire as you may see in violent and circular motions of wheels or such like things that are set on fire by rarification of the Air where the matter is dry and combustible and when the Air becomes grosse it turns to Water as you may see by your breath in the winter time or the Air inclosed in vaults or other hollow places will quickly be condensed by opposition of the outward Air or coldnesse of the place especially against rainy weather but lot us now ascend to unmask some other doubtful quaeries The places where Meteors are generated is generally held for to be in all or any Region of the Air which are three viz. the upper from the Element of Fire to the clouds the middle Region containing the clouds the lowest from the clouds unto the Earth but Tycho Brahe with some others do conceive the Element of Air for to be delated up into the Firmament or fixed Stars but that above the Element of Fire to be of a Celestial nature differing from the inferiour Air and their reasons are derived from the height of Comets observed not only above the Element of Fire but with the Planets and some higher then the Sphere of Saturn even with the fixed Stars as the new Star in Cassiopaeia which was seen and the height taken by Ticho himself in the year of the World's Redeemer 1572 without parallax The proof of the altitude of Comets is deduced from their Parallaxes that is the difference between the true and apparant height of any blazing Star being observed from the superficies of the terrestrial Globe and not from the center of the Heavens and this difference is discovered several ways First as by observing some noted and fixed Stars ascending the Horizon with it or presently before or after and if they do keep the same distance or neer unto it that Comet must needs be very high or by several observations made in other Countries for if neer the Firmament those fixed Stars will appear with it in all Hemispheres alike But if the distance between them varies and in a small distance of place or time it argues those blazing Stars are very low And thus the Parallaxis of any thing visible under the Firmament will be found greater or lesser according to the height of it As the Star in Cassiopaeia appearing in the year of Grace 1972. differing but little or nothing in the Parallax or the observations made by divers Astronomers in several Countries in the year of the Virgin 's being a 1585 there was a Comes appeared in the Sphere betwixt Saturn and Jupiter and an other in the year of the Incarnation of the Son of God 1618. between Jupiter and Mars Aristotle with Regiomontanus and many others of his followers do affirm all Comets to be sublunary and this their Schollars do alledge that if the Astronomical hypotheses be true the Star in Cossiopaeia was greater then the fixed Stars of the first magnitude and consequently by their own demonstrations bigger then the whole Globe of Earth and Water above 100. times and a greater body cannot be extracted from a lesse from whence then say they could the matter be drawn or exhaled to feed so great a light for the space of a year and four months but to this Galilaeus answers that the highest Sky under the Firmament hath matter in it for the generation of these blazing Stars Licetus to defend the height of Comets doth argue that the Sky hath hard condensed knots in it made and enlightned by the rays both of the fixed and wandring Stars Gemma Phrysius did diligently observe in

3. or 4. Comets that their tails did stream or extend out directly contrary to the Sun as if it were by him inlightned But others do rather conceive from hence that these are Meteors whose matter is drawn together and set on fire by some Star or Planet which it follows and turns unto it by some attractive power and their bodies not round but dilated according to the matter Some do think that these Stars were not new but from the creation although unvisible to the world before as that observed by Hipparchus or that in the brest of the Swan in the year 1600. or that which appeared in the year 1604. in Sagittarius and these observed without parallaxes in the year of Christianity 1625. towards the latter end of August a bright Star did appear at noon-day to the admiration of the people in the City of Antworpe which Star many Astronomers did behold and affirmed that it was the Planet Venus From the Nativity of our Lord and Saviour Anno 1630. May the 29. being the birth-day of Prince Charls there was a bright Star appeared at mid-day the decrees of just Heaven I dare not presume for to enter into So here I will end this discourse of blazing Stars the cause and their effects not being certainly known unto mortal man And thus writes St. Damascene lib. 2. cap. 7. Fidei Ortho. Cometae Dei imperio certis temporibus conflantur rursusque dilabuntur The middle Region of Air contains watry Meteors as Hail Snow and Rain but some conceives that those clouds which causeth rain to be the bounds unto the middle and lowest Region of the Air the midlemost is thought not to exceed four miles in depth and that the lowest is but so high as the Sun can reflect from the superficies of the terrestrial Globe so one of these regions must decrease by the increasing of the other and yet the lowest region when highest not to exceed two miles and when least or the lowest clouds not above an Italian mile for there be hills whose heads are perpetually covered with Snow and yet their perpendiculars are found by the observations of able Geometricians not to exceed a mile and a half that is 12. Stadiums or 1500. Geometrical Pases as was said before But some do urge that Tenariffe is higher then Pliny fains the Aspes to be others do affirm that 't is visible at Sea 4. degrees or 240. miles from whence Snellius would seem to demonstrate the perpendicular height for to be miles 9½ and others 4. miles There is a mountain in Pera called Periacqca by the Indians which hill Josephus Acostae in his History of the Indies doth advance so high in the description of it as he makes the Aspes in Italy for to seem but like mole-hills unto it and that the Air was so subtile on the tops of them that it was unapt to breath in and that he had almost vomited up his life And some erroneously do conceive the heads or tops of these mountains for to be exalted above the middle region of Air. Cradanus in his 17. Book De Subtilitatibus affirmeth the highest clouds not to exceed two miles and the lowest not above half a mile from the superficies of the terrestrial Globe being by common experience found to be under the tops of ordinary mountains Some would seem to prove it by thunder and lightning in this manner observe when a cloud breaks over your head the space of time between the flash of lightning and the clap of thunder for to be equal unto the firing of a Cannon and the report it gives at a miles distance neither is it heard much further then great Ordnances are as it hath been often observed in great tempests both of thunder and lightning that in 30. or 40. miles distance nothing hath been heard or seen but a fair day and tranquil Sky Some men do think the matter which causes this thunder and lightning to have an affinity with Gun-powder one being compounded by Nature and the other imitated by Art which opinions are various both in Philosophers and Chymists for Paracelsus and most of his disciples do affirm that it is caused by Sulphur and Salt-peter commixed with a great contrariety of Mercury unto either and these three they alledge to be the chief causes of Meteors Others do say that they are sulphurious exhalations confused in the clouds and by opposition of the vapours and coldnesse of the place it gets into a body where taking fire by antiparistasis it violently forces a passage through the condensed clouds with a roaring noise to the astonishment of mortalls Others do think that tempests are caused by the wicked condemned spirits and for this cause bells are hallowed and rung probable it is that it may be often times so permitted by the Creator as Psal 77. ver 49. and in the 7. of the Revelation yet all is in the power of God as Jer. 10.13 Psal 134.7 Qui producit ventos de thesauris suis Nothing in this world is certain or permanent opinions of men have their births periods coursees and revolutions as you may read in all ages where the opinions of Philosophers have been buried and again revived from their funerals armed with new demonstrations and fortified with arguments yet besieged and overthrown at last by the offspring of others which shews these are but disputations nothing being certain but the greatnesse of the Creator yet useful conclusions are derived from hence and necessary observations may be selected from humane conceptions although the essential part cannot be comprehended by us And here I will end this Introduction Ecclesiastes cap. 3. ver 11. Cuncta fecit bona in tempore suo mundum tradidit disputationi eorum ut non inveniat homo opus quod operatus est Deus ab initio usque ad finem The second Part. A brief discourse of Meteors imperfect mixt bodies and their causes FIrst you ought to observe that the Fire Air Water and Earth which here we have for our use cannot be called pure Elements but rather Elementarie bodies for Fire and Water Air and Earth are oppugnant and irreconcileable one to another as they are contrary in their own natures and can neither generate nor corrupt simply of themselves but as mixt they doe for if these were pure Elements which here we have the Fire would be immoderate for our use the Air to subtile and not fit for living Creatures to breath in the Water would be without taste and not good to drink the Earth would be sterile and could neither bring forth nor cherish and we being all mixt bodies compounded of the four Elements could not be nourished or sustained with Simples Of the severall divisions and dispositions of the Air. THe Element of Air is divided into three several regions or distinguished in three several parts variously qualified in which are generated many imperfect and mixt bodies and these divisions are thus nominated the Vpper Middle and

Planets in their mean motions with the distance of the four Elements from the Earth's centre THe Firmament or 8. Sphere in which the fixed Stars are placed is affirm'd by Astronomers to be in distance from the Worlds centre the Earths diameter 9327 times from the Terrestial Globes superficies 18653 semi-diameters the distance from us in miles 65285 500 the least Star in this Sphere is conceived greater than the Globe compos'd of Earth and Water and that all the Stars of the first magnitude are 100. times as great in relation to their Cubes Under the starry Firmament there are imagined 7. peculiar Spheres involv'd within one another on these the ancient Astronomers did fancy little circles called Epicycles whose centres were in the superficies of those Orbs in whose circumferences they plac'd the centre of each Planet according to its proper Sphere thereby to solve the irregular motion of each wandring Star in their various courses and excentrick motions that point which is most remote from the centre of the Earth is called Apogaeon the lowest Perigaeon the difference between them is termed the mean motion the Planet being then on the superficies of his own Sphere Saturn the highest of all the Planets in his mean motion is in distance from the superficies of the Earrh 10358 1 10 Semidiameters in proportion to it as 31 to 11. being greater than the Terrestrial Globe 22 3 10 according to cubical numeration and is in distance above us in our Hemisphere 36153318 Miles this later age by Telescopes hath discovered 2 Stars that attend him interposing themselves sometimes betwixt him and us Jupiter in his mean motion is in distance from the Earth 3917 4 10 semi-diametrs and is in proportion to it as 12 to 5. and greater than the Terrestrial Globe according to the Cubes made of their diameters 13 8 10 and in distance from us 13711090 he hath 4 Stars discovered that make a progress with him through the 12 Signes but keep no equal distance and do often interpose themselves and us Mars in his mean motion is above the Earth 1713 2 10 semi-diameters and is in distance from the superficies of the terrestrial Globe 5996200 Miles and according to Tycho Brahe the Cube made of his Diameter is less then that of the Earth 13 times and a little more Sol in his Apogaeon is from the superficies of the Earth 1169 semi-diameters in his Perigaeon 1089 and consequently in his mean motion 1129 and according to his Cube 139 times greater then the cube made of the terrestrial Globes diameter and is in distance from the Earths superficies 3951500 Miles Venus is in proportion unto the terrestrial Globe as 6 to 11. and she is lesser then the globe of Earth 6● 1 1 times and in her mean motion is in distance from thence so much as the Sun is or very neer Mertury is held less then the terrestrial Globe 19 times very neer and in his mean motion hath the same distance allowed him almost as the Sun hath in his mean motion Luna in her mean motion is in distance from the Earth's superficies 58 9 10 semi-diameters in Miles 206050 and the cube made of the terrestrial Globes diameter will contain that made of the Moon 's 42 8 10 the proportion being as 2 is unto 7 and so much greater is the Globe of Earth then that of the Moon Vnder the Moon 's Sphere is the Element of Fire conceived for to be in thickness 154050 Miles whose concave or neerest distance from the superficies of the Earth and Water is conjectured 52000 Miles and from the center 55500 Miles The upper Region of the Air being next unto the Element of Fire is suppos'd to contain in thickness 51994 Miles and the concave of it in distance from the superficies of the Earth 6 Miles the Middle Region 4 Miles and the lowest two Miles which is the distance from the Earth to the highest watery clouds and this is the Region of Air in which we mortals draw our vital breath in The two lowest Elements do make one Globe consisting of Earth and Water whose Diameter is 7000 Miles and the whole circumference 22000 Miles and according to this proportion 61 1 9 miles upon this Globe will answer unto one degree in the Heavens but expect no exactness in the dimensions Here I could have shown you a great assembly of various opinions but not assisted with any convincing Reasons or grounded upon undeniable demonstrations as in the magnitudes and distances of the Stars most supposing them for to be in a further distance from the Earth and of greater magnitudes in which proportions I have followed Tycho Brahe but not altogether in their heights Some deny these several Spheres and the motions called Accessus and Recessus others will have them moved by Angelical powers and this opinion is assisted by the great Doctor and light of the Catholike Church St. Augustine lib. 83. p. 74. saying Every visible thing in this World is under the charge of an Angelical power And so writeth St. Jerome cap. 28. On Ezech. That there is an Element of Fire some reject others do affir it but deny that either the Fire or the Air have any morion with the Heavens from East to West Aristoile affirms the Air to be naturally of a hot quality the Stoiks and Cardanus do think it cold Turnebius neither but apt for either heat or cold The common received opinion is that the upper Region of the Air is naturally hot and dry the second cold and moist the lowest Region temperate according unto the place and Season of the year but generally the whole Element of Air is thought to be hot and moist Now as for the two lower Elements Earth and Water as united together they do make one Globe and this assertion generally ratified and unanimously consented unto by the ablest men in all Ages yet something in approbation of this shall be said hereafter But as for the greatness of this Globe it is doubted of by many although not with such dissonant and diversity of opinions as for the magnitude and height of the Spheres and the other two Elements for some do seem to prove by Eclypses of the Sun and Moon and voyages at Sea what part or how many leagues or miles upon this Globe will answer unto one degree of the Heavens the common opinion is 20 leagues or 60 miles and by this account the terrestrial Globe is in compass 21600 miles Ptolemaeus accounts 500 Stadiums for 1 degree that is 22500 miles if the Stadium in Egypt did not exceed that in Italy others will have it 66 miles allowed for one degree and in compass then 23760 miles but I have in this allowed for the whole circumference of the Earth 22000 miles Thus numerous are the opinions of learned Philosophers Geometritians Astronomers Geographers Cosmographers and Navigators and their ways so ambiguous seldome agreeing in any thing often crossing one another that if there

be a truth in them it is hard for to discover which it is and being found difficult to follow but whether this admired and stupendious machine of the World be greater or lesser 't is not for me to argue And thus I will conclude Psal 135. ver 6. Omnia quaecunque voluit Dominus fecit in Coelo in Terra in mari in omnibus abyssis The 7 Planets or wandring Stars with their Characters colour motion period and courses FIrst under the Firmament or Starry Heaven is plac'd the planet Saturn ♄ who is the highest of them his colour is pale his course is finished through the 12 Signes in 29 years 5 moneths 2 weeks 1 day and 8 hours The next Orbe to this is Jupiter ♃ a fair and bright planet he passeth through the 12 Signs of the Zodiack in a 11 years 11 moneths 5 days and 17 hours or very neer Mars ♂ appeareth in his proper Sphere of a red or fiery colour marching through the 12 Signs in 1 year 11 moneths 1 week 6 days and 22 hours or thereabouts The Sun ☉ is next being placed in the middle of the planets the better to distribute his light unto the rest they being illuminated by him their bright and glorious Prince and is called Sol quasi solus for this Planet is as Monarch of the Skies all the Stars receiving their lustre from Him his progress through the Zodiack is finished in a year consisting of 365 days 5 hours 49 minuits and 16 seconds almost for the odd hours and minuits is allowed a day every fourth year Venus ♀ is a very bright and clear shining Planet she finisheth her course in a year sometimes rising before the ☉ she is called the morning Star and at other times will follow the ☉ and then is called th● 〈◊〉 Stars she seldome goeth 4 degrees from the ☉ and can never exceed two whole Signs or 60 degrees Mercuny ☿ posting to and fro in the sixth Sphere but cannot exceed 30 degrees or one whole Sign in distance at any time from the ☉ and so is seldome visible being obscured by the Sun beams and when seen he is not bright and finisheth his course in something lesse then the space of a year The Moon ☽ is the lowest of all the Planets and consequently swiftest in her motion She passeth through the 12 Signs of the Zodiack in 27 days 7 hours 43 minuits and 5 seconds but from one new Moon unto another it is 29 days and odd hours by reason of the ☉ proper motion from the West Eastward in those 27 days The mutual Aspects or positions of the 7 Planets THe Planets are called wandring Stars both for their various courses and not keeping any certain distance one from another each of them moving in a proper peculiar Sphere the Sun only keeping under the Ecliptick line but all the other 6 according to their motions changing continually their latitudes being sometimes Southward of the Ecliptick as was said before which mutability of their courses you may plainly behold by the Moon who passes by all other Planets in less then 30 days and so do all the other 5 Planets according to their proper motions mutually aspect one another and are conceived by Astronomers to have the more force in their influences upon all sublunary things according to their positions and the powerful effects of their natures are supposed to be hindred or further'd by the interposition of another which in things of this nature ought to be judiciously and circumspectly considered weighing with reason the position of the Planets their natures the Seasons of the year with the temperature of the Signs they are in and the intervening Aspects of the other Stars of which Aspects there be many observed by Astronomers but those which may concern this Treatise are these following Conjunction of any two Planets is when they have one Longitude both of them being under one Sign and degree of the Zodiack Sextile aspect is when any two Planets are in distance one from another in respect of their Longitudes ⅙ part of the 12 Signs that is two whole Signs or 60 degrees Quartile aspect is when the difference of two Planets Longitudes shall be ¼ part of the Zodiack that is 3 Signes being a quadrant or 90 degrees Trine is the aspect of any two Planets that differ in Longitude one from another ⅓ part of the Zodiack that is 4 whole Signs or 120 degrees Opposition is the aspect of two Planets directly opposite differing in Longitude 6 of the 12 Signs that is 180 degrees and for brevity are charactered thus according to their Aspects A Table of the 7 Planets aspects The Characters ☌ Conjunction Degrees of the Zodiack 00   ⚹ Sextile   60   □ Quartile   90   △ Trine   120   ☍ Opposition   180 The natures and qualities of the four Elements AN Element is a beginning out of which all bodies are compos'd mixed with some part of all the four which are these viz. 1 Fire 2 Air 3 Water and 4 Earth these four do fill up the whole Orbe from the center of the Heavens to the Moons Sphere whereby a vacuum or an emptiness is avoided which Nature doth abhor and so hath curiously made them as to be the bounds of the connex superficies of one another and consequently to the concaves of their Spheres and are described in order thus Fire Under the Moon 's Sphere is plac'd the Element of Fire void of all weight and most remote from the center of gravity this Element is of nature extremely hot and dry Air. Next unto the Fire is placed the Element of Air which is also light and is by nature hot and moist Earth and Water The other two that is the Water and the Earth as joyned and commixt together do make one Globe for the Water is heavy and by nature cold and moist the Earth extremely cold and dry but heavier then the Water yet both these Elements pressing to the center of the Spheres To prove the Earth's roundnesse NAture in all her admirable works does aim at that which is most convenient and attains unto the greatest perfection which is a spherical figure being most capacious and uniform of all others one part counterposing the other thus Nature hath made the center of the Heavens the seat of Gravity to which all heavy things must naturally tend unto and so consequently if it were of any form but round the fluxible waters would be divorced from the Earth dissenting it to run unto the center But some will object that it is not round by reason of some high exalted hills spacious plains and deep depressed vallies and do conceive these a sufficient demonstration but this Argument will be of no force if you consider the greatness of the terrestrial Globe For Mount Pelion was observed by Dicaearchus whose perpendicular height was sound to be but 12 Stadiums that is but an Italian mile and a half and

this the highest hill that was then known and so writeth Pliny lib. 1. cap. 65. but in the same Chapter he falls into a great absurdity conceiving the Alpes to be 50 miles high Eratosthenes a famous Geometrician found the perpendicular of mount Atlas not to exceed 10 Stadiums a small proportion in respect of the Globes rotundity And that the superficies of the Water is also round it doth evidently appear by every little bubble or drop of water falling from any place or lying upon some dust it will immediately contract into a spherical or round form whereby to preserve it self from drought this naturally and voluntarily doing so argues the roundness and form of the whole Element whose parts they are the ☽ eclipst demonstrates the Earth's rotundity and let this suffice as not requisite in this Treatise conducing to our purpose The concord and disagreement of the four Elements THis Globe composed of Earth and Water is suspended in the center of the Heavens equidistant on every side counterpoised with its own weight circumvolved with the Element of Air and that within the Fire these 4 Elements have naturally a peculiar quality in themselves participating with some and contrary to others as the Fire in hot the Air most the Water cold and the Earth dry in this the Fire and Water be naturally opposite as heat and cold the Air and Earth be in opposition as wet and drought these 4 Elements do also participate of one anothers qualities as thus the Fire is of nature hot and dry the Air hot and moist the Water cold and moist the Earth cold and dry So the Air agrees with the Fire in respect of heat and with the Water in respect of moisture The other medium is the Water in combination with the Air in moisture and in coldness with the Earth the two extreams as Earth with Water in respect of coldness and agreeing with the Fire in dryness By the commixtion of these 4 Elements all bodies are ingendred and by their mutual affininities do subsist and if any one predominates or be defective it turns the other 3 into discord and if not in time united it subverts the frame and destroys for want of concord what it should preserve in peace for if the Fire prevails it burns and turns to Feavers and if defective the heat of the Air being equally opposed with the cold of the Water moisture in them both predominates equalled with the drought of the Earth So that the cold then onely rules with which nothing can live The nature and temperature of the 4 Seasons THe 4 Seasons of the year are compared to the four Ages in every Man and his complexion or constitution unto the four Elements and first the Spring is compared to Infancy being Airy hot and moist 2. Summer to youth as being Fiery hot and dry grown to full perfection of strength and vigour of body every part and member ripe 3. Autumne is likened to elder Age the body and strength in Man declining being Watery cold and moist his beauty withering 4. Winter resembling old and decrepit Age being cold and dry But some do suppose the 4 Seasons of the year to be in opposition one unto another for what one Season does produce the contrary will destroy And so they conceive as the Spring is hot and moist that Autumne is cold and dry and as the Summer is naturally hot and dry so Winter is opposite unto it being cold and moist But these Seasons vary as the Climates doe The Complexions in Man are these 1 Choler like Fire hot and dry 2 Sanguine Air hot and moist 3 Phlegme Water cold and moist 4 Melancholy Earth cold and dry THus one does qualifie and allay the violence of the other but yet you must conceive they are not equally commixt in every Man Beast or vegetable Creature but all differing and every member or part participating much more of one then of another as the vital Spirit of Fare the Flesh of the Air the Humidity of the Water and the Bones in more affinity with the Earth yet these compositions not alike infused as you may see in the diversity of Spirits and conditions of Men by the agility of some Beasts and the slownesse of some others the mildnesse of one creature and the fury of another as the servile Asse dull and slow Horses valiant and nimble Lions indomitable always raging as with a perpetual feaver inflamed with choler And so it is in all other Creatures differing in their temperatures both in their several kinds and species and the like we see in Vegetables and Minerals in their compositions yet participating in all four of the Elements but in some of them more then in others As in Plants the roots are most Earthly their leaves in affinity with the Water their Blossoms do participate of the Air and their seeds of the Fire for without heat nothing can be produc'd all Stones do generally partake most of the Earth yet there be exceptions as Flint-stones and Thunderbolts are of a fiery quality Crystal and Pearls of a Watry and in others the Air and Water most predominates as the Pumice-stone made of the froth of the Sea and flotes upon it being exceedingly light which argues it participates but little of Earth and lesse of Fire from whence the old Adagie is derived To strike fire out of a Pumice-stone is to expect an impossibility in Nature But this discourse here is not in season and so let us return The 4 Seasons EVery one of the four Seasons is conceived to be qualified with the Signs as they are commixt with their several temperatures called the triplicity three Signs being in every Season as we have said already but for your more ease I will place it here again but not intending to induce or perswade any for to believe that which I do not confidently credit my self as that their natural temp●ratures are known yet I doubt nor but that the Stars by their aspects and influences are causes of distemperatures and alters the Air and all sublunary bodies Yet by what means it is not certainly demonstrated unto Reason being but extracted from bare effects where doubtful Experience is only Mistris For if it were a truth that the nature and temperature of them were discovered to man we could not egregiously err so often as we doe besides the aspects being general the effects would be so too the Climate considered but this is quite otherwise when the weather will alter in a little space or few miles and there may be at one time in four neer adjacent places Rain Snow Hail and fair weather yet to satisfie some Experience having thus delivered it I will neither approve nor quite reject it but leave it indifferent to every ones judgement as they please to peruse or omit it And here I will subject to your view the Signs Temperatures Complexions and Natures of the four Seasons observed by many The sympathy of the twelve Signs

which argues by their sweetnesse that they are extracted from thence These Honey-Dews do afford plenty unto the ware-houses of the industrious Bees with quick returns their purveyers are going for to seek provant nor their labourers much trouble to get their loading These Honey-Dews as they are good for Bees so they are as destructive to divers kind of beasts as Sheep Goats c. and in general to all fruits and blooming flowers especially to Hops and Grapes they are also obnoxious to Corn and often blasts it in the blooming For diverting these sad effects Numa one of the Roman Kings superstitiously instituted a Feast called Rubigalia and Floralia in the year from the building of Rome 516. Pliny lib. 18. cap. 29. which Feast was observed upon the 28. day of April 3. Kalend. Moy He was advised so to do by the Oracles of Sybilla This Heathenish Feast the Catholique Church did alter into Ascention Week calling it Rogation from asking a blessing upon the fruits of the Earth The nature of Rain water RAin Water is much more insipide at one time then at another and hath very often a brackish and unpleasant taste yet comfortable to vigetables and by reason of the warmth it does nourish them much better and more natural for them then spring-water or out of wells being cold and too earthly whereas the other participates of the Air which is hot and moist but by reason of this commixture of the Elements it is apt to form divers bodies especially in calm times the Air wanting motion may corrupt and so consequently generates many things according to the undigested matter exhaled from the earth as Frogs falling upon the tops of houses and Churches immediately after a storm and there they will perish in a short time for want of sustenance which argues they were not there produced Corn I have seen that was after a showre found upon the leads of Churches and on the ground in divers places it had the form of Wheat but small and without taste the colour of it pure white both within and without The lowest Meteor in the Air is the burning candle or as some call it Ignis Fatuus This is a hot and moist vapour which striving to ascend is repulsed by the cold and fiered by Antiperistasis mov●s close by the earth caried along with the vapours that feed it keeping in low or moist places the light is of an exceeding pale colour very unwholsome to meet withal by reason of the evil vapours it attracts unto it which nourishes the pallide flame and will often ascend as those exhalations do and as suddainly fall again from whence the name is derived Thunder and Lightning and the causes from whence they proceed THese are conceived to be vapours hot and moist commixed with exhalations that be hot and dry involved thus within one another they do ascend by vertue of their heat unto the middle region of the Air where the exhalation by Antiperistasis grows inflam'd and strives to get forth of the cloud in which is involved and the upper part of the cloud where the heat would passe by opposition grows the strongest and the exhalation grown over-hot by being constrained with violence breaks forth of the weakest place against the weather that is in the lowest part and by reason of the cold above it the heat and subtilenesse of the exhalation with its own violence in breaking forth it glances down upon the earth without doing any harm if unresisted as consuming a Sword without hurting the Scabbard and many other things of this kind unnecessary and too long for to relate The clap of Thunder is first but the Lightning soonest appears by reason our sense of seeing is much quicker then our hearing As you may perceive at a distance a Man driving a Stake or felling of Timber you may behold him ready to strike again before you hear the former blow and in shooting or discharging of a Gun you may see the fire before the report With the conjunction of these compound vapours and exhalations stones are generated in the Air as other Minerals are in the Earth but more fiery by nature and these are called thunder-bolts in their formes perfect cones like the flame of fire which did generate them out of the terrene exhalation it strikes not above five feet into the earth as some do affirm The remedies against Thunder and Lightning all hard things will preserve whas is soft and liquid as Iron laid upon Vessels will keep the Liquor from sowring by the former alledged reasons besides this it is naturally resisted by a cover made of Seals skins and preserving that on which 't is p●aced upon any creature and the like does the Laurell tree which caused many of the Roman Emperors in time of Thunder and Lightning to wear a garment made of Laurel boughs The pale lightning is most unwholsome but the red aptest to burn the best and most assured remedy against these tempests is the protection of Heaven A fulgure tempestate libera nos Domine But note there may be Thunder without Lightning and Lightning without Thunder for when these hot and dry exhalations are inflam'd and the cloud weak in which they are involv'd the incensed exhalation breaks forth without violence in not being restrained but the coldnesse of the middle Region strikes the falshes downwards upon us but not always upon the earth but glittering and reflecting on the watry clouds makes it seem close by as you may see by the Sun beams or any other suddain light falling upon the water will reverberate the lustre and dazle your eyes especially if the water be moved with any wind these coruscations are usual in hot Countries or in the heat of Sommer Thunder without Lightning does happen when these hot and dry exhalations break violently through the clouds in which they are circumvolved but not inflamed yet making a roaring noise in the burst of the cloud which restrained it as you may see little bladders filled with wind will give a crack or report at the suddain and violent breaking of them sometimes Thunder will happen and yet no Lightning appear by reciprocal winds the clouds violently breaking themselves in meeting with one another and this may often happen with insurrections of several mutinous exhalations disturbing the Air with several commotions these usually proceed after much calm weather but are very wholsome to purge the Air lest with too much quietnesse it should corrupt Apparitions in the Air made by reflections of the Sun Moon fixed Stars or Planets upon condensed Clouds Of Circles about the Sun Moon or Stars SUndry apparitions in the Air are made by the Stars reflecting upon waterish exhalations for when they happen uniform in all the parts equally rarified and supposited under the Sun Moon or Stars that their beams cannot penetrate the cloud in any part by which means the rayes are refracted and the cloud being uniform and round the extreams or outward part

Earth are both one for in long continued calms the material cause of winds is detain'd within the bowels of the Earth and there being rarified searches the veins caverns and hollow subterranean places to get a passage but finding readily none and not able to contain it self it forces a way and according to its quantity disturbs the Waters and shakes the Land or breaks forth into a tempest with horrid noises according to the resistance made or which is aptest and most facile to be effected By sensitive Creatures but first by Beasts and Reptiles 99. BEasts eating greedily and more then they use to do prenotes foul weather and all small cattel that seem to rejoyce with playing and sporting themselves foreshews rain 100. Oxen and all kind of Neat if you do at any time observe them to hold up their heads and snuffle in the Air or lick their hooves or their bodies against the hair expect then rainy weather 101. Asses or Mules rubbing often their ears or braying much more then usually they are accustomed presages rain 102. Hogs crying and running unquietly up and down with hay or litter in their mouths foreshews a storm to be neer at hand 103. Dogs tumbling and wallowing themselves much and often upon the earth if their guts rumble and stinke very much are signs of rain or wind for certain 104. Cats coveting the fire more then ordinary or licking their feet and trimming the hair of their heads and mustachios presages rainy weather 105. Moles plying their works in undermining the Earth foreshews rain but if they do forsake their trenches and creep above ground in Sommer time it is a sign of hot weather but when on a fuddain they doe forsake the valleys and low grounds it foreshews a flood neer at hand but their coming into meddows presages fair weather and for certain no floods 106. Spiders creep out of their holes and narrow receptacles against wind or rain Minerva having made them sensible of an approaching storm 107. The Common-wealth of Emmets when busied with their egs and in ordering their State affairs at home it presages a storm at hand or some foul weather but when Nature seems to stupifie their little bodies and disposes them to rest causing them to withdraw into their caverns least their industry should engage them by the inconveniency of the season expect then some foul and winterly weather 108. The little sable beast called a Flea if much thirsting after blood it argues rain 109. The lamentable croaking of Frogs more then ordinary does denote rainy weather 110. Glow-worms Snayles and all such creatures do appear most against fair weather but if Worms comes out of the earth much in the day time it is a presage of wet weather but in the Sommer evenings it foreshews dewy nights and hot days to follow and here ends the prognostications of the weather by Beasts and reptiles By winged Creatures 111. THe vigilant Cock a bird of Mars the good house wives clock and the Switzers alarum if he crows in the day time very much or at Sun setting or when he is at roost at unusual hours as at 9 or 10 expect some change of weather and that suddainly but from fair to foul or the contrary but when the Hen crows good men expect a storm within doors and without if the Hens or Chickings in the morning come late from their roosts as if they were constrained by hunger it presages much rainy weather 112. The offspring or aliance of the Capitolian guard when they do make a gaggling in the Air more then usual or seem to fight being over-greedy at their meat expect then cold and winterly weather 113. Birds that do haunt the Fens if they often wash themselves it presages rain or wind and so in most birds or fowls that do prune their feathers with an oyly substance as a provision of Nature in preparing themselves against a storm 114. Cormorants Gulls Ducks Mallards and all water-fowls when they bathe themselves much prune their feathers and flicker or clap themselves with their wings it is a sign of rain or wind 115. Cormorants and Gulls flying from the Sea and standing lakes presages a storm 116. Cranes soaring aloft and quietly in the Air foreshews fair weather but if they do make much noise as consulting which way to go it foreshews a storm that 's neer at hand 117. Herons in the evening flying up and down as if doubtful where to rest presages some evill approaching weather 118. Ravens and Crows when they do make a hoarse hollow and sorrowful noise as if they sobbed it presages foul weather approaching 119. Crows flocking together in great companies or calling early in the morning with a full and clear voice or at any time of the day gaping against the Sun foreshews hot and dry weather but if at the brinck of ponds they do wet their heads or stalk into the water or cry much towards the evening are signs of rain the Woodpeckers cry denotes wet 120. Jack-daws if they come late home from forraging presages some cold or ill weather neer at hand and likewise when they are seen much alone 121. Buzards or Kites when they do soar very high and much to lessening themselves making many plains to and again foreshews hot weather and that the lower Region of the Air is inflamed which for coolnesse makes them ascend 122. Swallows flying low and touching the water often with their wings presages rain 123. Owls whooping after Sun set and in the night foreshews a fair day to ensue but if she names her self in French Huette expect then fickle and unconstant weather but most usually rain 124. Peacooks crying loud and shrill for their lost Jo does proclaim an approaching storm 125. Sparrows in the morning early chirping and making more noise then ordinary they use to do foretels rain or wind The Titmouse cold if crying Pincher 126. Doves coming later home to their houses then they are acustomed to do presages some evil weather neer approaching 127. Sea-mews early in the morning making a gaggling more then ordinary foretokens stormy and blustering weather 128. Halcyon at the time of breeding which is about 14. days before the Winter Solstice foreshews a quiet and tranquil time as it is observed about the coast of Sicily from whence the Proverb is transported the Halcyon days Pliny 129. Bats or flying Mice coming out of their holes quickly after Sun set and sporting themselves in the open Air premonstrates fair and calm weather 130. Birds in general that do frequent trees and bushes if they do fly often out and make quick returns expect some bad weather to follow soon after 131. Bees in fair weather not wandring far from their hives presages the approach of some stormy weather 132. Wasps Hornets and Gnats biting more eagerly then they use to do is a sign of rainy weather 133. Flies in the Spring or Sommer season if they grow busier or blinder then at other times or that

being a Mother 316. Maxentius in the Eastern Countries raised a terrible Persecution putting all Christians to death that he could find and with severall kinds of tortures to force them from their allegiance and service to the Son of God This persecution constrained many to fly their Countries and divers for fear of Maxentius and his unhumane competitours obscured themselves in Caves of beasts in the Desarts where from savage Creatures they found more mercy then from Man But this Christ reveng'd persecuting the Tyrants with Plague and Famine which so consumed many Countrys that they were destitute almost of Men Women or Children until the Emperour had nothing but beasts to rule over and not many of them neither From the Birth of our Lord and Saviour 1346. there happned in that year three great conjunctions of the higher Planets viz. ♄ ♃ and ♂ and these three all in ☌ in ♒ this year produced one of the most universal and destructive Plagues that ever was inflicted upon wretched mortals this pestiferous infection took the original in the East Indies and past over the world no people safe either by Land or Sea the Air being generally contaminated as with a deadly poyson many that year went to Sea hoping by that means to avoid it but in vain for there they were surprised with their whole families this Epidemical disease was so dreadful that it banished all humanity and perverted man from being a sociable creature Friends forsaking their Friends and Alies Parents unnaturally forsook their Children and ungrateful Children their Parents This general disease continued 9. years in several Countreys and was as mortiferous and raging as ever was Plague in any Countrey Some writers affirm how that this Plague began from fiery Exhalations risen out of the Earth whose malignancy infected the Air and from those distempers begot raging Feavers in Men untill the sword made incision of their inflamed veins a remedy worse then the disease Others say this Plague took its sad Exordium from fire that fell from Heaven the most authentick Chronologers record it thus Lamech a City of Arabia now known by the name of Mecha the Metropolitan of the Antichristian Mahumetans superstition in this City it rained Bloud and Snakes the space of three days and nights together the Serpents soon after perished in such multitudes that the stench of their corrupted bodies contaminated the Air in all the adjacent Regions this stupendious storm raz'd Mahumets Temple to the ground and sever'd into many pieces the Sepulchre of that infernal Impostor The next year the Earth denyed her accustomed fruits introducing a Famine more mortiferous then the former these direful calamities not moving man to repentance O incredulous and obdurate hearts but contemning those dreadful judgements were pleased with their enemies fall until they fell themselves Piety expulsed fled into exile while envy and confusion in Arms put the world in an uproar the sword licensed in the hands of Furies making a rude decimation of those who had espaced both Plague and Famine These three last deplorable afflictions were the most universal and destructive that the world ever felt or the Inhabitants groaned under since the general Deluge when in 40. days all living souls were destroyed from off the face of the Earth but what the Ark was fraighted withal whereby to replant the world again and those for many months were wafted over the angry waves that lav'd the Earth polluted with enormous crimes and transgressions of unbelieving licentious men only under the Law of Nature to which brute Beasts subject themselves This Ark represented the figure of Baptism 1 Pet. 3.20 21. And moreover St. Hierome calls it a Type of the Catholike Church the raging storms and tumultuous billows in opposition to one another resemble Herefies and Persecutions the Ark out-lived the fury of the Deluge and so shall the other to the worlds consummation all perished that were not in the first so I need say no more of the last Historiographers conjecture that more Men Women and Children perished in one of these Epidemical diseases then in the universal Flood the World being conceived more populous then in the days of Noah and the continuance much longer many will not believe these being but humane traditions and 't is not strange since they want faith in divine Records whereof some object that if the Deluge were 15. cubits above the highest Hills the superficies of the Waters on which the Ark floated was swell'd up to the middle Region of the Air in which no living creature can subsist besides they make queries from whence should these magazins of Waters be extracted the Fountains of the Earth they conceive not sufficient the Clouds are but thin dilated vapours the Waters mentioned above the Firmament could not descend so low in 100. years without a miracle To their objections I might answer 't was the providence of God which preserved them to whom nothing is impossible being sole Creator and Moderator of the Universe but since an Omnipotent and divine power condescended to make Mans preservation by a humane means humane reasons may be expected for which I refer the over curious unto the learned Expositors of Genesis yet not to leave them in a Sea at last something I will say not positively affirmed but conjecturally intimated only As for their Suppositions the whole Element of Air is held naturally hot and moist and the middle Region cold but by accident which frigid and restringent cause being chang'd the quality must cease and so the Air in general might convert to vapours innumerable and the waters in the Earth peradventure were dilated and so made more fluxible whose Fountains were opened for 40. continued days the Catarracts descending from their overburthned clouds which time to humane apprehension might encrease the inundation to submerge the terrestrial Globe 15. Cubits above the highest hills whereof 't is probable the Armenian mountains were most exalted above the Earths center and as the clouds were exonerated by the waters that fell 't is like this inferiour Air did ascend and assume the middle Regions Sphere and so made apt for all living creatures to breath in The Deluge ebbing Mount Ararat appear'd on whose firm foundation the Ark rested the Waters by an orderly summons retreated some to replenish the Earths entrails and exhausted veins others confin'd to channels of spacious Rivers ample Lakes and Oceans almost unterminated a great part by the influence of Stars might be sublim'd and reconverted to vapours thence rarifying to Air ascend their proper Orbs again the grosser parts sink to their seats of gravity and so will I this being above my Sphere yet pleased in recollecting my preservation past the hope of one in future transports my mind beyond a Deluge the landing Eternity A Compendium of Meteors and Signs observed in former Ages as at this present most prodigious in Nature stupendious to Mortals and portentious in their dismal events THe Symptomes of Natures distempers I have