foot untill the time of tide or flood returning covered the place with Waters again But in the land where this Earthquake swalloweth up any City or Country there appeareth nothing in the place thereof but a marvellous wide and deep gulfe or hole Aristotle maketh mention of divers places and regions that were overthrown with this kind of Earthquake The fourth kind is when great mountaines are cast up out of the Earth or else when some part of the land sinketh down and in stead thereof arise Rivers Lakes or Fires breaking out with smoake and Ashes It causeth also overflowings of the Sea when the Sea bottome is lifted up and by this means arise many Islands in the Sea that never were seen before These and other such miracles are often found In the Writers of Histories also in the Philosophers as Aristotle Seneca and Plinius Nevertheless the effects of some as most notable it shall not be unprofitable to recite Plato in his Dialogue intituled Timeus maketh mention by the way of a wonderfull Earthquake whereby not only Africa was rent asunder from Europe and Asia as it is indeed at this day except a little neck by the red Sea the Sea entring between them that now is called Mare Mediterraneum but also a wonderfull great Island which he affirmeth was greater then Africa and Asia both called Atlantis was swallowed up and covered by the Waters in so much that on the Sea called Atlanticum for a great while after no Ship could sayl by reason that the same huge Sea by resolution of the Earth of that mighty Iland was all turned into mudde The famous I le of Sicilia was also somtime a part of Italy and by Earthquake rent asunder from itâ— Seneca maketh mention of two Ilands Theron and Therea that in his time first appeared It should seeme both by Aristotle and also by Herodotus that Egypt in ancient time was a gulph of the Sea and by Earthquake made a drie land During the reignâ— of Tiberius the Emperor twelve notable Cities of Asia were overthrown in one night c. How so great VVinds come to be under the Earth THe great Caves and Dennes of the Earth must needs be full of Ayr continually but when by the heat of the Sunne the moysture of the Earth is resolved many Exhalations are generated as well within the Earth as without and whereas the places were full before so that they could receive no more except part of that which was in them were let out in such countries where the Earth hath few pores or else where they are stopped with moysture it must needs follow that these Exhalations striving to get out must needs rend the Earth in some place or lift it up so that either they may have free passage or else room enough to abide in Of signes and tokens that go before an Earthquake most commonly THe first is the raging of the Sea when there are no tempestuous Winds to stirre it yea when the Ayr is most calme without Wind. The caus why the Sea then rageth is that the wind beginneth to labour for passage that way and finding none is sent back and soon after shaketh the land The second signe is calmness of the Ayr and cold which commeth to pass by reason that the Exhalation that should be abroad is within the Earth The third signe is said to be a long thinne strake of cloud seen when the skie is clear after the setting of the Sun This say they is caused by reason that the Exhalation or Vapor which is the matter of clouds is gone into the Earth Others affirm that it is the Exhalation that breaketh out of some narrow hole of the Earth out of which the rest of the wind cannot issue neither will it waite the time wherefore within a while after it seeketh and maketh it self by sudden eruption a broader way to be delivered out of prison Also the Sunne certaine daies before it appeareth dimme because the Winds that should have purged and dissolved the grosse Ayr that causeth this dimness to our eyes is enclosed within the bowels of the Earth The Water in the bottome of deepe wells is troubled and the savour thereof infected because the pestilent Exhalations that have been long inclosed within the Earth doe then beginne a little to be sent abroad For thereof cometh it that in many places where Earthquakes have been great abundance of smoak flame and ashes is cast out when the abundance of brimstone that is under the ground through violent motion is set on fire and breaketh forth Finally who knoweth not what stinking Minerals and other poysonous stuff doe grow under the Earth wherefore it is no wonder if Well-water before an Earthquake be infected but rather it is to be marvelled if after an Earthquake there follow not a grievous Pestilence when the whole mass of infection is blown abroad Last of all there is heard before it in the time of it and after it a great noise and sound under the Earth a terrible groaning and a very Thundring yea somtimes when there followeth no Earthquake at all when as the wind without shaking of the Earth findeth a way to passe out at And these for the most part or at least some of them are forewarnings that the most fearfull Earthquake will follow then the which there is no naturall thing that bringeth men into a greater feare Cato was very curious to confesse himselfe that he repented that ever he went by water when as he might have gone by land But what land can be sure if it be the Lords will by this work of his to shake it what building so strong that can defend us when the more strong the more danger the higher the greater fall Of Thunder THunder is a sound caused in the clouds by the breaking out of a hot and dry Exhalation beating against the edges of the cloud It is often heard in Spring and Summer by reason that the heat of the Sun then draweth up many Exhalations which meeting in the middle region of the Air with moyst and cold Vapors are together with them inclosed in a hollow cloud but when the hot Exhalation cannot agree with the coldness of the place by this strife being driven together made stronger and kindled it will straight break out which sudden and violent eruption causeth the noyse which we call Thunder A Similitude is put by great Authors of moist wood that cracketh in the fire we may adde hereunto the breaking of an egge in the fire of an apple or any like thing for whatsover holdeth and withholdeth inclosed any hot wind so that it can have no vent it will seek it self a way by breaking the skin shell or case It were no ill comparison to liken Thunder to the sound of a gun which be both caused of the same or very like causes The sound of Thunder is divers
or else two or three small springs meet together in one channell Of Rivers RIvers are caused by the meeting together not only of many springs but also of many brookes and fords which being received in divers places as they passe are at the length caried into the broad Sea for the most part Howbeit some Rivers as swallowed up into the Earth which perchance run into the Sea by some secret and unknowne channels some Rivers there be that hide their heads under the Earth and in another place far off breake out againe They Write also that some Rivers being swallowed up of the Earth in one Island do run under the bottome of the Earth and Sea and breake forth in another Island There be also many great Rivers that run under the Earth in great Caves which never breake forth Aristotle sheweth of ponds and lakes that be under the Earth And Seneca speaketh of a pond that was found by such as digged in the Earth with fishes in it and they that did eat of them dyed As Eeles that be found in darke places as Wells that have beene dammed up c. are poyson Of Lakes LAkes are made by the meeting together of many Rivers Brooks and Springs into one deep valley whereof some are so great that they have the name of the Seas as the Lake called Hircane or Caspian Sea These Lakes sometimes unlade themselves into the Sea by small Rivers sometimes by passages under the Earth The cause of the swiftnesse of Rivers is double for they are swift either for the great abundance of waters or else because they 〈◊〉 down from an hilly place as the River Rhene falleth down from the top of wonderful high hills Of hot Bathes SOme waters that are generated and flow out of veines of Brimstone are sensibly warm and some very hot because they run out of hot places These waters being also drying by nature are wholesome for many infirmities specially breaking forth of scabs c. Such are the Baths in the West Country and S. Anne of Buck-stones well in the North part of England and many other elsewhere Of the divers tastes that are perceived in Wells FOr a generall reason the waters receive their taste of that kinde of earth thorow which they run as thorow a strayner Some salt that run thorow salt veines of the earth some sweet that be well strained or run thorow such mineralls as be of sweet taste some bitter that flow out of such earth as is bitter by adustion or otherwise Some sowre or sharpe like vineger which run thorow veines of Allome coperas or such minerals Aristotle writeh of a Well in Sicilia whose water the Inhabitants used for Vineger In Bohemia neare to the City called Bilen is a Well that the people used to drink of in the morning in stead of bunrt wine And in divers places of Germany be Springs that taste of such sharpeness Some have the taste of Wine as in Paphlagonia is a Well that maketh men drunk which drink thereof which is because that water receiveth the â—â—â—osity of Brimstone and other Minerals thorow which it runneth and so filleth the brain as wine doth A recitall of such Rivers and Springs as have marvellous effects whereof no naturall cause can be assigned by most men although some reason in a few may be found CLitumnus which maketh Oxen that drink of it white is a River or Spring in Italy Propert lib. 3. This may be the quality of the water very flegmatick In Boetia is a River called Melas that maketh sheep black if they drink thereof Seneca speaketh of a River that maketh red hairs These two with the first may have some reason that the quality of the reason may alter complexion and so the colour of hairs may be changed as we see in certain diseases In Lybia is a Spring that at the Sun rising and setting is warme at mid-day cold and at mid-night very hot This may be by the same reason that wel-water is colder in Summer then it is in Winter Seneca writeth that there be Rivers whose waters are poyson this may be naturally the water running thorow poysonous Mineralls taking much fume of them Other Wells that make wood and all things else that can be cast into them stones such wells be in England the cause is great cold Another Well maketh men mad that drinke thereof This also may have as good reason as that which maketh men drinke As also that Well which maketh men forgetfull by obstruction of the brain The same Seneca speaketh of a Water that being drunke provoketh unto lust and lechery And why may not that quality be in a Water which is mixed with divers Mineralls and kinds of earth which is in herbs roots fruits and liquors S. Augustine speaketh of a Well in Egypt in which burning Torches are quenched and being before quenched are lighted Among the Garamants is a Well so cold in the day that no man can abide to drink of it in the night so hot that none can abide to feel it It is incredible that is written of a Well in Sicilia whereof if Thieves did drink they were made blind In Idumea was a Well that one quarter of a year was troubled and muddy the next quarter bloody the third green and the fourth cleer Seneca writeth of another Well that was six hours full and running over and six hours decreasing and empty perchance because it ebbed and flowed with the Sea or some great River that was neer it In the Hill Anthracius is said to be a Well which when it is full signifieth a fruitfull Year when it is scarce and empty a barren and dear Year The sufficiency of moisture maketh fertility as the want causeth the contrary Men say there is a River in Hungary in which Iron is turned into Copper which may well be seeing Inke in which is but smal Coperas and artificially mixed of Iron doth counterfeit Copper in colour In this stream may be much Copperas and that is naturally mixed Both Seneca and Theophrastus witness that waters there be which within a certain space being drunk of sheep as Seneca saith or of birds as Theophrastus will have it changeth their colours from black to white and from white to black Vitruvius writeth that in Arcadia is a Water called Nonacrinis which no Vessel of Silver Brasse or Iron can hold but it breaketh in peices and nothing but a Mules hoof will hold it and contain it In Illyria Garments that are holden over a most cold Well are kindled and set on fire In the Isle of Andros where the Temple of Bacchus stood is a Well that the fifth day of January flowed wine Isidore saith there is a Well in Italy that healeth the wounds of the eyes In the Isle of Chios
is a Well that maketh men dull-witted that drink thereof There is another that causeth men to abhor lust Lechnus a Spring of Arcadia is good against abortions In Sicilia are two Springs of which one maketh a woman fruitful and the other barren In Sardinia be hot Wells that heale sore eyes In an Isle of Pontus the River Astares overfloweth the fields in which whatsoever sheep be fed doe alwaies give black milke In Aethiopia is a Lake whose water is like oyle Also many Springs of Oyl have broken forth of the Earth which commeth of the viscosity or fatnesse of the same earth The Lake Clitory in Italy maketh men that drink of it to abhor wine The Lake Pentasium as Solinus saith is deadly to Serpents and wholsome to men Seneca writeth of certain Lakes that will bear men which cannot swim And that in Syria is a Lake in which bricks do swim and no heavy thing will sinke It is said that the River Rhene in Germany will drown bastard Children that be cast in it but drive aland them that be lawfully begotten The River in Hypanis in Sythia every day brings forth little bladders out of which flyes do come that die that same night Matrona the River of Germany as the common people saie never passeth day but he taketh some prey Of the Sea THe Sea in this treatise hath place as a mixed substance for else the element of Waters being simple were not here to be spoken of The Sea is the naturall place of the Waters into which all Rivers and other Waters are received at the length And here it is to be understood that the very proper and naturall place of the water were to cover all the Earth for so be the elements placed the Earth lowest and round about the Earth the Water about the Water the Air and about the Ayr the fire But God the most mighty and wise creator of all things that the Earth might in some parts be inhabited of men and beasts commanded the Waters to be gathered into one place that the dry land might appeare and called the dry land Earth and the gathering of Waters he called Seas In the Sea are these two things to be considered the saltnesse and the ebbing and flowing Of the saltnesse of the Sea THe saltnesse of the Sea according to Aristotles mind is caused by the Sun that draweth from it all thin and sweet Vapors to make raine leaving the rest as the setling or bottome which is salt But men of our time peradventure more truely doe not take this for the only and sufficent cause to make so great a quantity of water salt but say that the Sea by Gods wisdom is gathered into such valleyes of the Earth as were otherwise barren and unfruitfull such Earths are salt the Sea Water then mixed with that Earth must needs be Salt else Rivers by Aristotles mind should be salt as well as the Sea The Reader may choose which opinion is most probable Of the ebbing and flowing THe ebbing and flowing of the Sea as Aristotle sermeth to teach is by reason of Exhalations that be under the Water which driveth it to and fro according to contrary bounds and limits as upward and downeward wide and narrow deepe and shallow This opinion of Aristotle also as more subtil then true experience teacheth men to mislike and to ascribe the cause of ebbing and flowing to the course of the Moone which ruleth over moysture as the Sunne doth over heat for from the new Moone to the full all humors do encrease and from the full to the new Moone decrease againe Also the very true time of the ebbing and flowing may be known by the course of the Moone with whom as the Lady of moysture we will close up the fourth book of mâ—yst and watery impressions The fifth Book Of earthly Meteors or bodies perfectâ—y mixed THis last Treatise containeth such bodies whose chiefe matter is the earth and are called perfectly mixed because they are not easily resolved into the chief matter whereof they are generated These are divided into four Kinds The first be divers sorts of Earth The second be Liquors concrete The third be Metalls and Metallikes The fourth be Stones This division is not altogether perfect both for that there be many of these Minerals which partake of two kinds and also for that the names of these kinds may be said of others Yet minding as plainly as can be to declare the things themselves the controversie and cavillation of names shall not greatly trouble us especially seeing we pretend not to teach Philosophers but such as need a ruder and plainer instruction They may therefore be content with this division which shall not serve them to dispute of these matters but to understand the truth of these things that they desire Of these foure therefore we will speak orderly and generally not minding to treat of every particular kind for that were infinite but to open such universall causes as they which have wit may learn if they list to apply unto all particulars Of Earths THe Earth is an element one of the four cold and dry most gross and solid most heavy and weighty the lowest of all other in place When I say an Element I meane a simple body uncompounded This Earth is no Meteor but as it was shewed in the water to the end there should be generation of things There is no Element that we have which is pure and simple but all are mixed and compound Our fire is grosse and compound so is our aire our water and our earth but the earth notably and above the rest is mixed For the pure and naturall Earth is dry and cold but we see much to be moist and much to be hot The natural earth is black of colour but we see many Earths white many yellow and many red So that first the greatest part of the Earth is mixed with water that maketh it to cleave together with aire and some fire which make an oylie fat or clammy earth as is clay made c. Another great part is dried not into the naturall drinesse of the first quality but as a thing once mixed and after dryed either by cold as sand gravell c. or else by heat as chalke oaker c. And yet somewhat more plainly and particularly to discourse upon these causes admitting the natural colour of the Earth to be black of the water to be blue of the aire to be white and of the fire to be ruddy it followeth that upon the mixtion of these colours or chiefe domination of them all things have their colour The grosse substance of the Earth therefore being diversly mixed with other Elements and those mixtures again being eftsoones altered by divers and sometime contrary qualities hath brought forth so many kinds of earth as clay marble chalke sand
Meteors OR A plain Description of all kind of Meteors as well Fiery and Ayrie as Watry and Earthy BRIEFLY Manifesting the Causes of all Blazing-Stars Shooting-Stars Flames in the Aire Thunder Lightning Earthquakes Rain Dew Snow Clouds Springs Stones and Metalls By W. F. Doctor in Divinitie LONDON Printed for William Leake at the Crown in Fleet-street between the two Temple Gates 1655. To the Reader I Shall not beg your pardon for publishing this Book for as 't is none of mine being written by a famous and learned Divine so I doe not set it forth relying on my own judgement but had the opinions â—nd approbation of divers persons of known abilities who knew best what is most usefull for publique Benefit And I may without breach of Modesty affirm that there is not in our Language any Booke of so small a bulke containes so much of the Doctrine of the Meteors We daily behold and view divers Meteors but very few are skill'd in their Causes but those that are not may be informed And I must tell you also that this Book on perusall hath been found so advantagious that a person of quality hath lately taken paines to make divers worthy Observations upon it which here I have subjoyned because you should not pay for two Books instead of one These Observations were never published till now and I trust thou wilt find the Author did thee a Courtesie Farewel The Table The first Booke WHy Meteors be called Unperfectly mixed 3. Why they be called perfectly mixed 3. The generall cause of all Meteors and first of the materiall cause 4. The places in which they are generated 10. The Second Book of fiery Meteors 13. The generation of the Impression called Burned Stubble or Sparkles of fire 14 Torches 15 Dancing or leaping Goates ibid. Shooting and falling Stars 16 Burning Candles 18 Burning beams and round pillars ibid. Burning Spares ibid. Shields Globes or Bowles 20. Lâ—mps ibid. Flying Dragons or fire Drakes ibid. The Pyramidal pillar like a Spire or broched steeple 23 Fire scattered in the Aire ibid. Lights that goe before men and follow them abroad in the fields in the night season 24 Helena Castor and Pollux 27. Flames that appeare upon the haires of men and beasts 29. Comets or blazing Stars 30 Apparitions 35 Colours wide gapings and deep holes which appear in the clouds 36. Wide gaping ibid. Round openiâ—g Hiatus 37. The third Book of Airy Impressions 37. Of Winds 38. Earthquakes 41. Divers kinds of Earthquakes 43 How so great winds come to be under the earth 46 The signs and tokens that go before an Earthquake most commonly 47 Thunder 50 Lightning 55 Fulgetrum ibid. Coruscation 57 Fulgur 58 The fourth kind called Fulmen 59. The first kind 60 The second kâ—nd 62 The third kind ibid. The marvailes of Lightning and their causes ibid. Storme Winds 67 Whirle winds 70 The fired Whirlewind 72 Circles 73 The Rainbow 77 The Milk way called of some the way to S. James and Watling-street 81 Beames or streames of light appearing through a cloud 86 Of Many Suns 89 Many Moons 92 Wonderfull apparitions 94 The fourth Booke Of watry Impressions 100 Of Clouds 101 Mists 103 Empty clouds 104 Raine 106 The signes of Raine 109 Monstrous or prodigious Raine 111 Dew 115 Hoare frost 117 Haile Snow 118 120. Springs and Rivers 121 Fountaines Brooks Rivers 123 Lakes 125 Hot Baths ibid. The divers tasts that are perceived in wells 126 A recitall of such Rivers and Springs as have marvelous effects whereof no natural caus can be assigned by most men although some reason in a few may be found 127 Of the Sea 132 The saltnesse of the Sea 133 The ebbing and flowing thereof 134 The fifth Booke Of earthly Meteors or bodies perfectly mixed 135 Of Earthâ— 136 Liquors concrete 139 Metals 142 Gold 143 Silver 145 Copper 146 Tynne 148 Lead ibid. Iron 149 Quicksilver 150 Stones 151 The divers kinds of stones 153 The vertue of stones 154 FINIS THE FIRST BOOK FOr as much as wee intend in this Treatise to declare the causes of all those bodies that are generated in the earth called Fossilia as well as those other Impressions named of their height Meteors which no writer hitherto hath done that we have seen the common definition given by the most Writers in no wise will serve us and whether we may borrow the name of Meteoron to comprehend the whole subiect of our worke we are not altogether out of doubt although the Philosopher deriving it from doubtfulnes givethâ—us some colour so to take it and peradventure we might be as well excused to apply it to Minerals as other authors are to use it for earthquakes yet to avoid all occasions of cavilling at words we shall both define and also describe the subject of our matter on this manner It is a body compound without life natural and yet to stop one hole because here wanteth the name of the thing to be defined it is no new thing to them that have read Aristotles workes to find a definition of that whereof there is no name But what need you be so precise will some man say meane you so to proceed in all your discourse no verily but because many of quick iudgement not considering the stile to bee attempered to the capacitie of the readers will impute the plainesse to the ignorance of the Author wee thought good in the beginning to pluck the opinion out of their minds that as the common saying is they may know wee have skill of good manners though we little use them The Meteors are divided after three manner of wayes First into bodies perfectly and imperfectly mixed Secondly into moist impressions and drie Thirdly into fiery airy watry and earthly According to this last division we shall speake of them in foure bookes following but first we must be occupied a little in the generall description of the same that afterward shall be particularly treated of Why they be called imperfectly mixed THey are called imperfectly mixed because they are very soon changed into another thing and resolved into their proper elements of which they do most consist as do all impressions fierie airie watry as snow into water clouds into waters c. Why they be called perfectly mixed THe last sort namely earthly Meteors are called perfectly mixed because they will not easily be changed and resolved from that form which they are in as be stones metalls and other mineralls According to the qualitie of the matter they are divided into moist and drie impressions consisting either of Vapors or Exhalations Vapors are called moist and exhalations drie which termes must be well noted because they must be much used Of the general causes of all Meteors and first of the material cause THe matter whereof the most part of Meteors doth consist is either water or earth for out of the water proceed vapors and out of the earth come exhalations Vapor as the Philosopher saith is
but consisteth of innumerable smal drops so that except the light of the stars were stronger it can in them express no uniform images of them as it doth in glasses and in the water Notwithstanding in Writers of Wonders we read some such likething sometime to have chanced There hath been often seen many Suns in the day-time and after the Sun setting at the rising of the full Moon there have appeared many Moons which was by this means that the same Cloud that received the Sun-beams in the morning tarried in the same place and at the Moons rising was ready also to receive her image Of Wonderfull Apparitions WE will close this Book with a brief declaration of the natural Causes of many things that are seen in the Air very wonderfull and strange to behold which in these latter Years have been often seen and beheld to the great admiration of all men not without the singular providence of God to forewarne us of many dangers that hang over us in these most Perillous Times The apparitions of which as it is most wonderfull so the searching of the Cause to us is most difficult a great deal the rather because no man hath hitherto enterprised to my knowledge to seek out any cause of them but all men have taken them as immediate miracles without any natural meane or cause to procure them And I truly do acknowledge that they are sent of God as wonderfull signs to declare his Power and move us to amendment of life indeed miraculous but not yet so that they want a natural cause for if they be well weighed and considered it is not hard to find that they differ much from such Miracles as are recorded in the Scripture and admitted of Divines So that as I abhorre the Opinion of Epicurus to think that such things come by Chance but rather by the determined purpose of Gods providence so I consent not with them that suppose when any thing is derived from any natural caus God the chief and best Cause of all things is excluded Some of these Wonderfull Apparitions consist of Circles and Rainbowes of divers fashions and placings as one within another the edge of one touching another one dividing or going thorow another with like placing of small Circles about great Circles or parts of small Circles some with the ends upward some downward some aside and some across but all for the most part in uniform order constituted or placed for the order of them pleasant to behold but for the strangness somwhat fearfull Such a like Apparition is made with the Suns or Moons images joined unto these Circles set also in good and uniform order The cause of all these is the meeting together of all those several Causes that make the Circles Rainbowes Streames and Images of the Sun or Moon which joined all together make the wonderfull sight of Rainbowes positions of Circles Crosses and divers Lights which pertain to the knowledg of Optice and Catoptrice that teach how by divers refractions and reflects ons of beams such visions are caused So that he which will know how they are generated must return into the several Treatises of Rainbowes Circles Streams Images of the Sun or Moons and if in them he find not knowledg sufficient to instruct him I must send him to the Demonstrations of Perspective where he shall want nothing Another sort of them no less often beheld within these few years then the former but a great deal more strange and wonderfull to look upon are the Sights of Armies fighting in the Air of Castles Cities and Towns with whole Countries having in them Hils Vallies Rivers Woods also Beasts Men and Fouls Monsters of which there are no such kindes on the Earth and finally all manner of things and actions that are on the Earth as Burials Processions Judgments Combates Men Women Children Horses Crowns Armes of certain Noble men and Countries Weapons of all sorts somtimes Starsâ— Angels as they are painted with the Image of Christ crucified beseiging of Castles and Townes many things and gestures done by men or beasts thevery Similitude of Persons known to the Beholders as of late was seen the very Image of the Emperour Charles insomuch that they which beheld it put off their Caps thinking verily it had been he and of John Frederick Prince Elector of Saxony who that time was Prisoner with the Emperour Also the Image of smal Crosses which hath been not only in the Air but also on the Earth on mens apparell on dishes platters pots and all other things so that the Jewes have been full angry that they could neither wash nor rub them out of their apparell In Germany also Fires and many such things as it were long stories seen in the Air. All these wonderfull Apparitions may be caused two manner of ways the one Artificially the other Naturally Artificially by certain glasses and Instruments made according to a secret part of that knowledg which is called Catoptrice and so peradventure some of them have been caused but The most part doubtless Naturally when the disposition of the Air hath been such that it hath received the image of many things placed and done on Earth And because it is apt to receive divers images as well in one place as in another these monstrous forms and strange actions or stories proceed of the joining of divers forms and actions as if two Histories were confusedly painted in one the whole Picture would be strange or as the Poet saith if a Painter to a mans head should sett a horses neck and after divers feathers Sometimes also one image is multiplyed in the Air into many or infinite as are letters and crosses which fill the Air even beneath And the light of the Sun received into little parts maketh to appear as it were many smal stars Let this suffice concerning these wonderfull Apparitions once again admonishing the Reader though I have enterprised to declare these by natural Reason yet verily believing that not so much as one Sparrow falleth to the ground without Gods providence I do also ackowledg Gods providence bringeth these to pass to such ends as before I have shewed using these causes as meanes and instruments to do them The Fourth Book Of Watery Impressions THose be Watery Impressions that consist most of Water In the Treaty of them are wont to be handled these Impression namely Clouds Rain Dew hoar Frost Hail Snow Springs and the great Sea it self Of Clouds A Cloud is a Vapor cold and moist drawn out of the Earth and Waters by the heat of the Sun into the middle region of the Air where by cold it is so knit together that it hangeth untill either the weight or some resolution causeth it to fall down The place wherein the Clouds do hang is said to be in the middle region of the Air because men see it is necessary that there should be a cold which should make those Vapors
so gross and thick which for the most part are drawn so thin from the Earth that they are invisible as the Air is And although they are known often times as Aristotle witnesseth to be in the lowest region of the Air neer to the Earth insomuch that sometimes they fall down to the Earth with great noise to the great fear of men and no less loss and danger yet may it be reasonably thought that these Clouds were generated in the middle region of the Air far distant from the Earth which by their heaviness do by little and little sink down lower into the lowest region and sometimes also fall down to the Earth The Common Opinion is that they goe not higher then nine mile which because it leaneth to no reason is uncertain Albertus Magnus whose reason also is to be doubted of affirmeth that the Clouds do scarce exceed Three miles in height when they are highest And some let not to say that oftentimes they ascend not past the half of One mile in height Again Others pretending to finde out the truth by Geometrical Demonstrations make it aboue Fifty mile to the place where the generation of Clouds is How these men take the distance from the Earth it is uncertain whether that they assigne the least distance and meane it from the highest parts of the Earth as are hill tops or from the common playn Again whether they that assign the highest distance to be from the lowest valleys of the Earth or from the hill tops The Reason before shewed moveth me to think that the most usual and common generation I mean the condensation or making thick of these thin Vapors into Clouds is in the middle region of the Air but for the distance of the Clouds when they be generated I think they be sometime Nine mile sometime Three mile sometime Half a mile and sometime less then a Quarter of a mile from the Earth Of Mists THere be Two kindes of Mists the one ascending the other descending That which ascendeth goeth up cut of the Water or the Earth as Smoak but doth not commonly spread over all other parts it is seen in Rivers and moist places The other Mist that goeth down toward the Earth is when any Vapor is lifted up into the Air by the heat of the Sun which being not strong enough to draw it so high that the Cold may knit it suffereth it after it is a little made thick to fall down again so it filleth all the Air with the gross Vapors and is called Mists being usually a Sign of fair Weather Of empty Clouds THere be certain Cloudes that are empty and send no Rain they come of two sorts One sort are the Remnants of a Cloud that hath rained which cannot be converted into water for their dryness Another sort is of them that are drawn up out of wett and dry places and be rather Exhalations then Vapors that is they be dry hot and light so that it were hard for them to be turned into Rain they look white like flocks of wooll when the light striketh into them There be also empty Clouds which when the Winds have dispersed abroad any Cloud are scattered over all the sky but these Clouds though for a time they be empty yet because they consist of such a substance as is watry they may be and are oftentimes gathered together and give plentifull Rain Of the Colours of Clouds we have spoken in the Second Book of Fiery Meteors where those Colours and the causes of them are described which seem to be Fiery or may be thought to be Inflammations or burnings as to be Red Fiery and Yellowish But besides those there be White Black Blew and Green White clouds be thin and not very Watry so that the light received in them maketh them to appear White Black clouds be full of thick gross and earthly matter that makes them look so dark Blew clouds be full of thick drose and earthly as the Black so the light received in them maketh them to seem Blew Green clouds are altogether watry resolved into water which receiving into them the night appear Green as Water doth in a great vessel or in the Sea and Rivers Of Rayne AFter the generation of clouds is well knowne it shall not be hard to learne from whence the Rayne commeth For after the matter of the cloud being drawne up and by cold made thick as is said before heat following which is most commonly of the Southerne wind or any other wind of hot temper doth resolve it againe into Water and so it falleth in drops to give increase of fruit to the Earth and move men to give thankes to God There be small showers of small drops aud there be great stormes of great drops The showres with small drops proceed either of the small heat that resolveth the clouds or else of the great distance of the clouds from the Earth The streames with great drops contrariwise doe come of great heat resolving or melting the cloud or else of small distance from the Earth Whereof we see a plaine experiment when Water is powred forth from an high place the drops are smal but if it be not from high it will either have no droppes or very great The caus why raine falleth in round drops is both for that the parts desire the same forme that the whole hath which is round and also that so it is best preserved against all contrary qualities like as we see Water powred upon dry or greasy things to gather it selfe into roundels to avoid the contrariety of heat and drynesse It is not to be omitted that raine Water although a great part of it be drawne out of the Sea yet most commonly it is sweet not salt The caus is becaus it is drawn up in such small Vapors and that salt part is consumed by the heat of the Sunne The raine water doutlesse doth more encrease and cherish things growing on the Earth then any other Water wherewith they may be Watered becaus the raine Water retaineth much of the Sunnes heat in it that is no small comfort to all growing plants The Water that commeth from Heaven in raine will sooner come to putrifaction or stinking then any other becaus it hath been made very subtill by heat and also for that it is mixed with so many Earthly and corruptible substances Rain water that falleth in the summer by Avicens judgement is more wholesome then other Water becaus it is not so cold and moyst as other Waters be but hotter and lighter Sometime there is salt rayne when some Exhalation which is hot and dry is commixed with the Vapor whereof the rayne consisteth Somtime it is bitter when some burnt Earthly moysture is mixed with it This rayne is both unwholesome and also unfruitfull In these countreys there is great store and plenty of rayne becaus the Sunne is of such temperate heate that it
In Arabia as Plinius writeth is a very precious kinde of Dew that is called Ladanum which falling upon the herb Cusus and mixed with the juice of that herb which Goats do eate is gathered off Goats hairs and kept for a treasure There is another kinde of sweet Dew that falieth in England called the Meldews which is as sweet as honey being of such substance as honey is it is drawn out of sweet herbs and flowers There is also a bitter kinde of Dew that falleth upon herbs and lieth on them like branne or meal namely because it is of an Earthly Exhalation and so remaineth when the moisture is drawn away This Dew killeth herbs The common Dew drunk of Cattle doth rott them because the matter is full of viscosity bringing them to a fluxion There be Three things that hinder Dew from falling that is great heat great cold and wind for Dew falleth in the most temperate calme time Of Hoare-Frost HOare frost or white frost is nothing else but dew congealed by overmuch cold The South and East wind do cause dew but the North and Northern winds do freeze the Vapors and so it becommeth hoar frost which if that excessive cold had not beene should have turned into dew The dew and the hoare frost agree in three things namely in matter in quality of time and place of the generation In matter they agree for they are both generated of a subtill and thin Vapor and also small in quantity In quality of time they consent for both are made in a quiet and calm time for if there were great wind it would drive away the matter and so could there be no generation Thirdly they are both generated in the lowest Region of the Air for as Aristotle affirmeth upon the high hills there is neither dew nor hoar frost They differ also in three things For the hoare frost is congealed before it be turned into water so is not the dew Secondly The dew is generated in temperate weather the white frost in cold weather Last of all hot Winds as the South and East do cause dew but cold winds as the North and West do cause hoare frost Hoare frost doth often stinke because of the stinking matter whereof it consisteth which is drawn out of lakes and other muddy and stinking places Of Hayle HAyle is a hote Vapor in the middle Region of the Air by the cold of that Region made thick into a cloud which falling down to the sudden cold of the lowest Region is congealed into Ice There be so many kinds of Haile as there be of raine The fashion of haile is sometime round which is a token that it was generated in the middle region of the Air or very near it for falling from high the corners are worn away When the Haile stones are square or three-cornered the haile was generated neere the earth Oftentimes there is heard a great sound in the Cloud as it were of Thunder before haile or of an Army fighting c. The cause is That Vapors of contrary qualities being inclosed in the Cloud do strive to break out and make a noyse even as cold water doth being put into a seething pot In Spring and Harvest-time is often haile seldome in Summer and Winter In winter there want hot Vapors in Summer the lowest region is too hot to congeale the raine falling down In Spring and Autumne there want neither hot Vapors to resist the cold nor sufficient cold to harden the drops of that hot shower of raine The haile stones are sometimes greater and sometimes lesser greater with greater cold and lesser with lesser cold There is seldom haile in the night for want of hot vapors to be drawn up Sometime haile and rain fall together when the latter end of the cloud for want of cold in the lowest region is not congealed Haile-stones are not so cleare as Ice because they are made of grosse and earthy vapours Ice is congealed of clear water Haile is sooner resolved into water then Snow because it is of a more sudden and swift generation Of Snow SNow is a cold congealed by great cold before it be perfectly resolved from vapours into water Snow is white not of the proper colour but by receiving the light into it and so many small parts as in fome or the white of an egge beaten Snow is often upon high hills lyeth long there because their tops are cold as they be neer to the middle Region of the Air for oftentimes it raineth in the valley when it showeth on the Hills Snow melting on the high Hills and after frozen again becommeth 〈◊〉 hard that it is a stone and is called Christall Other matter of Snow because they are common with Rain are needlesse to be spoken of To be short feet is generated even as Snow but of lesse cold or else beginneth to melt in the falling Snow causeth things growing to be fruitfull and encrease because the cold driveth heat unto the roots and so cherisheth the plants Of Springs and Rivers THe generation of Springs is in the bowels of the Earth and therefore something must be said of the body of the earth The earth though it be solid and massie yet hath it many hollow gutters and veines in which is alwaies aire to avoid emptinesse for the ignorant in Phylosophie must be admonished that all things are full nothing is empty for nature abhorreth emptinesse so that where nothing else is there is Air and Vapors which by cold as it hath often been said will be resolved into drops as we see experience in marble Pillars and such like hard stones toward raine This Air and Vapors therefore being turned into drops of water these drops sweat out of the earth and find some issue at the length where many being gathered together make great abundance of water which is called a Fountaine or Spring The cause why such Springs do run continually is because that Air can never want in those veines which by cold will alwaies be turned into water so that as fast as the water runneth forth so fast is aire againe received into the place whereby it commeth to passe that so many Springs are perpetuall and never dryed but if any be dryed up it is in a hot Summer and such Springs also they be whose generation is not deep in the earth and therefore the Vapors may be made dry and the earth warm so the Spring may fail There be foure kinds of springs fountaines brookes Rivers and lakes Of Fouutaines FOuntaines be small springs which serve for wels and conduits when there is but one place where the Water is generated and that is not very abundant either because it is of small compasse or small veines and not many Of Brookes BRookes boornes or fordes be small streames of Water that run in a channell like a river They are caused when either the spring occupieth a great compasse
would rayne fire from Heaven and so it hath come to passe burning both Cities and Townes Then iudge how easy it was for God to raine fire upon Sodom and Gomorra for their sins and wickedness Of lights that goe before men and follow them abroad in the fields by the night season THere is also a kind of light that is seen in the night season seemeth to goe before men or to follow them leading them out of their way into waters and other dangerous places It is also very often seene in the night of them that saile on the Sea and sometime will cleave to the mast of the Shippe or other high parts sometime slide round about the Shippe and either rest in one part till it goe out or else be quenched in the water This impression seene on the land is called in Latine Ignis fatuus foolish fire that hurteth not but onely feareth fooles That which is seene on the Sea if it be but one is named Helena if it be two it is called Castor and Pollux The foolish fire is an Exhalation kindled by meanes of violent moving when by cold of the night in the lowest region of the ayre it is beaten downe and then commonly if it be light seeketh to ascend upward and is sent down againe so it danceth up and downe Else if it move not up and downe it is a great lumpe of glewish or oyly matter that by moving of the heat in it selfe is enflamed of it selfe as moyst hay will bek indled of it selfe In hot and fennie Countries these lights are often seene and where is abundance of such unctuous and fat matter as about Church-yards where through the corruption of the bodies there buried the earth is full of such substance wherefore in Church-yards or places of common buriall oftentimes are such lights seene which ignorant and superstitious fooles have thought to be soules tormented in the fire of Purgatory Indeed the Devill hath used these lights although they be naturally caused as strong delusions to captive the minds of men with feare of the Popes Purgatory whereby he did open injury to the blood of Christ which onely purgeth us from all our sins and delivereth us from all torments both temporall and eternall according to the saying of the wise-man The soules of the righteous are in the Hands of God and no torment toucheth them But to returne to the lights in which there are yet two things to be considered First why they lead men out of their way And secondly why they seeme to follow men and goe before them The cause why they lead men out of the way is that men while they take heed to such lights and are also sore afraid they forget their way then being once but a little out of their way they wander they wot not whither to waters pits and other very dangerous places Which when at length they hap the way home will tell a great tale how they have beene led about by a spirit in the likenesse of Fire Now the cause why they seeme to goe before men or to follow them some men have said to be the moving of the ayre by the going of the man which ayre moved should drive them forward if they were before and draw them after if they were behind But this is no reason at all that the Fire which is oftentimes three or foure miles distant from the man that walketh should be moved to and fro by that ayre which is moved through his walking but rather the moving of the ayre and the mans eyes causeth the fire to seeme as though it moved as the Moone to children seemeth if they are before it to run after them if she be before them to run before them that they cannot overtake her though she seeme to be very neere them Wherefore these lights rather seeme to move then that they be moved indeed Of Helena Castor and Pollux WHen the like substance in the lowest region of the ayr over the Sea by the like occasion is set on fire if be one only it is called Helena if their be two they are called Castor and Pollux These impressions will oftentimes cleave to the mast and other parts of Ships by reason of the claminesse and fatnesse of matter Helena was of the Heathen men taken as a Goddesse the daughter of Jupiter and Leda Castor and Pollux were her brethren Helena was the occasion that Troy was destroyed therefore the Mariners by experience trying that one flame of fire appearing along signified tempest at hand supposed the same flame to be the goddesse Helena of whom they look'd for nothing but destruction But when two lights are seen together they are a token of fair weather and good luck the Mariners therefore beleeved that they were Castor and Pollux which sayling to seek their sister Helena being carried to Troy by Paris were never seen after and thought to be translated into the number of the Gods that gave good successe to them that sayl as we read in the last Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles that the Ship wherein S. Paul sayled had a badge of Castor and Pollux A naturall cause why they may thus foreshew either tempest or calmnesse is this One flame alone may give warning of a tempest because that as the matter thereof is compact and not dissolved so it is like that the matter of the tempest which never wanteth as wind and clouds is still together and not dissipated then is it like not long after to arise By two flames together may be gathered that as this Exhalation which is very thick is divided so the thick matter of tempests is dissolved and scattered abroad by the same cause that this is divided Therefore not without a reason the Mariner to his mates may promise a prosprous course Of flames that appeare upon the haires of men or beasts THere is another kind of fiery impression which is flames of fire upon the haires of men and beasts especially horses These are sometime clammy Exhalations scatered abroad in the air in small parts which in the night by resistance of the cold are kindled cleaving on horses eares on mens heads and shoulders that ride or walke In that they cleave upon hayres it is by the same reason that the dew will be seen also upon haires or garments whose wooll is high as frize mantels and such like Another sort of these flames are caused when mens or beasts bodies being chafed send forth a â—at and clammy sweat which is in like manner kindled as the sparks of fire that are seene when a black horse is curried Livius reporteth of Servius Tullius that as he lay asleep being a child his hair seemed to be all on a flame which for all that did not burn his hair or hurt him The like history he reciteth of one Marius a Knight of Rome that as he made an Oration to his Soldiers in Spain they saw his head
Exhalation received into the pores of their face and eyes maketh their face to swell and break out into a Leprosy and also dryeth up the Chrystalline humour of their Eyes so that consequently they must needs be blind Eutropius sheweth that the same day in which Marcus Tullius Cicero was born a certain Virgin of Rome riding into Apulia was stricken with Lightning so that all her garments being taken from her without any rending she lay starke naked the lasing of her breast being undone and her hose-garters untyed yea her bracelets collars and rings being all loosed from her Likewise her horse lay dead with his bridle and girts untyed The places of them that are burnt with Lightning are colder then the rest of their bodyes either because the greater heat draweth away the lesser or else because that by the great violence the vital heat is quite extinguished in that place The Sea-Calf is never hurt with Lightning wherefore the Emperours Tents were wont to be covered with their skins The Bay Trees and Box Trees are never or seldom stricken with Lightning The Cause of these may be the Hardness of their Skinne which hath so few Pore-holes that the Exhalation cannot enter into them The Eagle also among Fouls is not stricken with Lightning Wherefore the Poets feigne that the Eagle carrieth Jupiters Armour which is Lightning The Reason may be the thickness and dryness of her feathers which will not be kindled with so swift a fire Of Storme Winds A Storme Wind is a thick Exhalation violently moved out of a Cloud without inflammation or burning The Matter of this Storme is all one with the Matter of Lightning that hath been spoken of namely it is an Exhalation very hot and dry and also gross and thick so that it will easily be set on fire but then it hath another name and other Effects The Form or Manner of the generation is such When abundance of that kinde of Exhalation is gathered together within a Cloud which needs will have one way out or other it breaketh the cloud and causeth Thunder as it hath been taught before but if the matter be very thick and the Cloud somewhat thin then doth it not rend the Cloud but falling down beateth the Cloud before it and so is carried as an arrow out of a bowe It doth always goe before a great sodain showre For when the Cloud is broken the water must needs fall down Also it is so gross and so thick that it darkneth the Air and maketh all the Lowest Region of the Air to be in a manner as a dark Smoaky Cloud It causeth Tempests in the Sea and Wonderfull great Danger to them that bear Sayle whom if it overtake it bringeth to utter destruction So sodain is this kinde that it cannot be resisted with sodain helpe so violent it is that seeble force cannot withstand it Finally It is so Troublesome with Thunder Lightning Rayne and Beasts besides these Darkness and Cold that it would make men at so neer a Pinch to be at their Wits End if they were not accustomed to such Tumultuous Tempests Wherefore it were profitable to declare the Signes that goe before it to the End Men might beware of it But they are so common to other Tempests that either they are known well enough or else being never so well known in a Seldom Calamity they would little be feared The Sea-ships subject to more Danger have more Helpe if it be used in Time But no Signes foreknowne can profit the Dweller of the Land to keep his House from Ruine except it were to save his Life from the fall of his Mansion The sudden violence of this Tempest to him is more seldome times but more incurable when it commeth then to the Mariner who hath some Ayd to look for by his comming the other if he escape with his life may comfort himself that he was neer a great danger and cast with himself to build up his House again Of Whirlwinds A Whirlwind is a Wind breaking out of a Cloud Rouling or Winding round about overthrowing that which standeth neer it and that which commeth before it carrying it with him aloft in the Air. It differeth from a Stormy Wind in three points First in the Matter which is less in Quantity and of thinner Substance Secondly in the Moving which is Circular Winding about whereas the Storme bloweth Aslope and Sidelongs Also a Whirlwind in the Moving divideth not it self abroad and bloweth Directly as the Storme doth And Thirdly in the manner of the generation for a Storme doth always come out of one Cloud but a Whirlwind sometime is Caused by means of two Contrary Winds that meet toether In like manner as we see in the streets of Cities where the wind is beaten back from two walles meeting in the middest of the street there is made a little whirle-wind which whisking round about taketh up the dust or strawes and bloweth it about after the very similitude of the great and fearefull whirlewind The reason of the going about is this that when the walls beat back the wind from them which aboundeth in that place and those winds when they meet by reason of equall force on both sides can neither drive one the other back againe nor yet passe thorrow one the other it must needs be that they must both seek a way on the side at once and consequently be carried round about the one as it were pursuing the other untill there be space enough in the aire that they may be parted asunder The matter of a whirlewind is not much differing from the matter of storme and lightning that is an Exhalation hote and drie breaking out of a cloud in divers partes of it which causeth the blowing about Also it is caused as it hath been said by two or more windes blowing from divers places which may be of particular causes that have been shewed before in the Chapter of windes this tempest is noysome to man and beast Sea and Land things living and life lacking For it will take up both men and beasts stones and clods of earth which when it hath borne a great way will not be so curteous as to set them downe againe but negligently letteth them fall from a great height or else violently throweth them downe to the earth It breaketh Trees winding them about and pulling them up by the roots It turneth about a Ship and bruiseth it in peeces with other mischiefes besides Of fired Whrlewinds SOmetime a whirlewind is set on fire within the cloud and then breaking forth flyeth round like a great cart-wheele terriblie to behold turning and over browing all drie things that it commeth neer as Houses Woods Corn Grasse and what soever else standeth in the way It differeth not from a whirlewind saving that it is kindled and set on fire so appearing else the generation of both is called one Of Circles THe Circle called Halon is
the cloud is thicker some yellow and whitish when the cloud is thinner and so other colours are caused likewise whereof you may read the proper cause in the colours of clouds and other like parts of this Treatise The common people call it the descending of the holy Ghost or our Ladies Assumption because these things are painted after such a 〈◊〉 Others say that it is raine striking down in another place as though they 〈◊〉 see the drops falling And they are 〈◊〉 altogether deceived but in the time for soon after it will raine because this impression appeareth out of a watry cloud They are called by divers names as Rods Wands Cords of Tents unto which they are not touch unlike staves and little pillars when they seeme greater and thicker many being ioyned together The Rainebow the Circles and these light Beams are all of one manner of generation in so much that if you divide the Circle it shall be a Rainbow if you draw it streight in length it maketh streames or beames Herein they agree namely in forme and matter but they differ in outward form which we may call fashion as the one is round the other halfe round and the third direct straight or falling aslope Also they differ in place about which they stand for streames are onely about the Sunne Rainebowes about the Sunne often and seldome about the Moon but circles both about the Sunne and the Moon and also about any other of 〈◊〉 the Starres yet rather and oftner about bright Starres To make an end of these streams they appear diversly after the fashion and place wherin the cloud hangeth in respect of the sunne for sometimes they are seen only in the edge of a cloud all the breadth of that cloud sometime thorow the midst of a cloud being thinner 〈◊〉 then in other parts and then they are spred round about like a tent or pavillion used in War They are most commonly seen in such times as there 〈◊〉 abundancee of raine which they by their apparition do signifie not yet to be ended And thus much concerning direct light beames called Roddes c. Of many Sunnes IT is strange and marvelous to behold the likelyhood of that which Alexander the Great sending word to Darius said to be impossible that Two Sunnes should rule the World But oftentimes men have seen as they thought in the firmament not only two Sunnes but oftener three Sunnes and many more in number thought not so often appearing These how wonderfull soever they appear proceed of a natural cause which we will endevour to expresse They are nothing else but Idols or Images of the Sun represented in an equall smooth and watery cloud placed on the side of the Sunne and somtimes one both sides into which the Sunne beams being received as in a glasse expresse the likenesse of fashion and light that is in the Sunne appearing as though there were many Sunnes whereas indeed there is but one and all the rest are images This thick and watery cloud is not said to be under the Sunne for then it would make the Circles called crowns or garlands it is not opposite to the Sunne for then would it make the Rainbow but it is said to be on the side where the image may be best represented Also it may not be too far off for then the beams will be too feeble to be reflected neither yet too neer for if it so be the Sunne will disperse it but in a competent and middle distance for so representation of many Sunnes is caused They are most often seene in the morning and evening about the rising or going down of the Sunne seldome at noone time or about the midst of the day because the heat will soone dissolve them yet have there been some seen which began in the morning and continnued all the day long unto the evening Somtimes there appeare many little Suns like unto little starres which are caused after the same sort as we do see a mans face to be expressed in all the pieces of a broken glasse So when the cloud hath many separations there appeare many Sunnes on one side of the true Sun somtimes great and somtimes little as the parts of the cloud separated are in quantity They do naturally betoken tempest and rayne to follow because they cannot appeare but in a watery disposition of the Ayre Also if they appeare on the South-side of the Sunne they signifie a greater tempest then if they appeare on the North-side The reason is alleadged because the Southerne Vapor is sooner resolved into Water then is the Northerne For a supernaturall signification they have oftentimes been noted to have portended the contention of Princes of kingdomes As not long before the Contention of Galba Otho and Vitellius for the Empire of Rome there appeared three Sun Also of late toward the slaughter of Lewis King of Hungary were seen three Suns betokening three Princes that contended for the kingdome namely Ferdinnando since Emperour John Vayvode and the great Turke Of many Moones AFter the treaty of many Suns it were not hard for any man without farther instruction to know the natural Cause of many Moons For they are likewise Images of the Moon represented in an equal Cloud which is watry smooth and polished even like a glass Some call them as Plinius saith night-Suns because they joined with the light of the true Moon give a great shining light to drive away the shadow and darkness of the night It were superfluous to write more of their Causes or Effects which are all one with those that have been declared of the Suns It may be doubted why the other stars do not likewise expness their image in watry Clouds and so the number of them as to our sight should be multiplyed It may be Answered that their light or beams are too feeble and weak to express any such Similitude or likeness in the watry Clouds For although they have garlands or circles about them that are caused in a Vapour that is under them yet it is manifest that this Apparition hath not need of so strong a light as is required to print the images of them in the Clouds Again the Garlands are direct under and therefore apter to receive such Apparition It may be again Objected that the Stars have their Image perfectly and sufficiently expressed in glasses here on the Earth yea and at the day-time when their light is either none or most feeble and weak as we see it is used at Midsummer to behold that great star called Syrius in a glass even at Noon-days Also we see every night the image of the Stars in calm and quiet standing waters then what should let but that their images might also be expressed in watry Clouds Hereto may be answered that the Let is in the Cloud which is neither so hard as is the glass nor yet so continual as is the water
gravell c. Clay is mixed with fat moysture taking his Colour of the mixture with red from white but being cold it is not so fruitful as Marble which is not alwaies so moist as it Chalke is an Earth by heat concocted after divers mixtions and dried up Oker both yellow and red with such like are of the same nature with mixtion of red more or lesse Sand and gravell are dryed Earths as it were frozen by cold gravell is grosse and apparent sand though it be finer is of the same generation consisting of many small bodies which are congealed into stones Sand seemeth to be clay dryed by cold and clotted together into small stones whereof some are thorow-shining which were the moist parts the thick were of the grosse part the same is gravell but of greater stones consisting The like judgment is to be given of all other kinds of Earth whose generation by the similitude of these will not be very hard to find out They that list to know the divers kindes of Earths must have recourse to Plinius Cardanus and other Writers that recite a great number of them but these are the chiefe and most common kindes Of Liquors concrete WE take not liquors concrete so largely as the word doth signifie for then should we comprehend both the other kinds following But only those liquors called in Lattine Succi which are as it were middle betweene metalls and stone of which some being fat and oyly doe burne as Brimstone Sea-coles Jet bitumen c. and the kinds of all these Othersome do not burne as Salt Allum Copperas Saltpeeter c. and the kinds of these Of the first sort which are generated of Earthy and Airy Vapors Fumes and Exhalations the chief and most notable is Brimstone which seemeth to be the matter of all dry and hot qualities that are in Earthly Meteors The rest are generated of such like Vapors as Brimstone is but then they be diversly mixed as the coles have much Earth mixed with Brimstone Jet seemeth to be all one but better concocted then coles Of Amber is great contention whether it be a minerall or the sperme of a Whale for it is found in the Sea cast upon the shore Now the Whales seed being of the very same qualities is taken more and lesse concrete of divers hardness some almost as hard as Amber some softer and some liquid yet Cardan plainly defineth that Amber is a Mineral Whether he have reason or experience contrary to the vulgar opinion let them consider that list to contend These Minerals that will resolve with fire it is apparent that they were concrete with cold in that they burnt it is manifest they have a fat and clammy substance mixed with them as the other kind hath not which will not resolve so well with fire as with Water which be salt copperas saltpeeters c. These burne not being watery Earthy and not fat unctuous nor clammy These be of divers colours black as Coles and Jett because there is much Earthy substance mixed with their sulphurous matter Some be sheere as Salt and Allome having a substance Watery dryed and concrete Copperas is greene because it hath much cold matter that is blue mixed with it Salt the most common and necessary of all these liquors concrete that be moist and not fatty hath two manner of generations one natural and the other artificial The natural generation is when it is first generated in the Earth after commeth the water of the Sea and is infected with it out of which the Salt is againe artificially gathered Of these liquors concrete be those strange welâ— and springs infected of which was spoken in the latter end of the fourth book Most notably Brimstone causeth the hot Bathes and burneth in Aetna of Sicilia and Vesuvius of Italy casting up the Pumice stones of which is no place here to treat Of Metals MEtals be substances perfectly mixed that will melt with heat and be brought into all manner of fashions that a man will Of these the Alchymists say there be Seven kinds to answer to the Seven Planets Gold Silver Copper Tinne Lead Iron and Quick-silver that they call Mercury But saving their Authority Quick-silver is no more a Metal then Brimstone which is as necessary to the generation of Metal as Quick-silver is For they all agree that all Metals are generated of Sulphur that is Brimstone which because it is hot they call the father and Mercury that is Quick-silver which because it is moist they call the mother so by as good reason may they call Brimstone a Metall as Mercury Then there remaineth but Six perfect Metals Gold Silver Copper Tinne Lead and Iron Of Gold THat most unprofitable and hurtfull of all Metals Gold which most men dispraise and yet all men would have is of all other Metals the rarest it is only perfect the rest are corruptible Gold never corrupteth by rust because it is pure from poysonous infection and most solid that it receiveth not the Air into it which causeth all things to corrupt It is perfectly concocted with sufficient heat and mixture of Sulphur all other Metals either are not so well concocted or else they have not the due quantity of Brimstone This opinion hath also place among the Alchymists that because Nature in all her Works seeketh the best End she intendeth of all Metals to make Gold but being lett either for want of good mixture or good concoction she bringeth forth other Metals indeed not so precious but much more profitable and the less precious the more profitable for there is more use to the necessities of mans life in Iron and Lead then in Gold and Silver but either the beauty or the perfection or at least the rareness of Gold and Silver have obtained the estimation of all men so that for them is sold all manner of things holy and profane bodily and spiritual What paines do not men take to win Gold Every man hath one way or other to hunt after it but the Alchymist despising all other ways as slow unnatural and unprofitable laboureth either to help Nature in her work as of unperfect Metals to make perfect or else to force Nature to his purpose by his Quintessences and Elixars so that whatby purging what by concocting what by mixing of Sulphur and Quick-silver and much other like stuff at length he turneth the wrong side of his gown outward all the teeth out of his head and his body from health to a Palsey and then he is a Philosopher and so he will be called Of Silver SIlver the most pure Metal next unto Gold hath indifferent good concoction in the Earth but it wanteth sufficient heat in the mixture that maketh it pale It is found as they say running into divers veins as all other Metals be but this most specially after the shape and fashion of a tree lieing along with a body or stock of proportion like
the Aire Round opening in the Aire Winds The second kind of winds The third kind of Winde The qualities of the winds and the four quarters of the world The quality of middle wind The profit of wind Joh. 3. Psal. 104. Earthquakes Divers kinds of Earthquakes Twelve Cities overthrown with one Earthquake Constantinople the chiefest City of Greece now the Turks Palace The second kind The third kind Earthquake on the Sea Aristot. The fourth kind New Islands in the Sea Aristot. Seneca Plinius Plato A wonderfull Earthquake Africa Europe Asia the three parts of the earth Maremediterraneum because it goeth thorow the midst of the earth Atlantis an Island Senecca Theron Therea Arist. Herodotus Egypt sometime a gulph of the Sea The signes of an earthquake Thundering under the earth Cato Thunder A similitude Divers kinds of Thunders Small Thunder and the kinds thereof Great thunder and the kinds whereof How far thunder is heard The profit of thunder Plutarchus T. Quincius Flaminius Lightning FulgetruÌ„ Coruscatio Fulgur Fulmen Fulgetrum The colour of this Lightning Coruscation Fulgur The lightning is not before the thunder though it seeme so Sight preventeth hearing The thunder-bolt cast out of the clouds Strongest things are most hurt of lightning How deep a thunder-bolt goeth into the earth Aristot. Seneca Plinius Day lightning Money melted in mens Purses and swords in Scabberds Moyst lightning Why it maketh black Grosse lightning The mmrvell of lightning Lightning poysoneth Seneca Wine not running the Vessels being broken Lightning purâ—eth a poysonous beast A Snake breedeth no Worms Lightning openeth his eyes that sleepeth and closeth his that waketh Living things turn their face toward lightning Garments burnt the body unhurt Lightning causeth blindnesse swelling or Leprosie Eutropius Marcus Tullius Cicero Apulia The wounds of Lighting cold Sea Calfe not hurt with lightning Bayes and Box Trees seldome hurt with Lightning The Eagle Jupiters harnesse-bearer Storm winds Whirlewinds The troubles of whirlewinds Fired whirlewinds Circles about the Sunne the Moone and other Starres Jupiter Venus Planets Circles in the water The colours of circles Circles at bout a candle The fignes of these circles Virgilius Aratus Poets Signe of Frost Signe of faite weather Signe of tempest Signe of raine Ptolomeus Sign of faire weather Signe of Snow Aristotle Antipho Raynebow Possidonius A 〈◊〉 stone 〈…〉 A similitude The similitude of the Rainebow Rainbow of the Sun Rainbow of the Moone The white circle seed in the night pythagoras Anaxagoras Democriâ—â—â— Cardanus Phaeton Ovid. Meâ—a Hebe Apollo Theophrastus Diodorus Possidonius Zodiake Aristotle Sporades Possidonius Plinius The breadth of this circles Beames or streames Many Sunnes at once Alexander the great Darius Many smâ—l Sunnes like stars Similitude The signification of many Sunnes Galba Otho and Vitellius Many Moones Plinius Why other stars are not so represented Objection Syrius a great Star seen at noone in Summer An answer Wonderfull apparitions Optice Catoptrice Catoptrice Horarius Clouds Astristor The height of the Clouds Albertus Magnus Mists Empty oleuds Of the colours of Clouds Raine Why rain water is not salt Avicen Salt raine Bitter raine The River Nilus Seneca Signes of Raine Of Monstrous Raine Worms Frogs Fishes Milke Blood Flesh. Avicen Stones Brick Wheat Wooll Quicksilver Chalke T. Livius Iron Avicen Dew Manna Plinius Arabia Ladanum Cusus Bitter dew Hoare frost Aristot. Hayle Snow Originalâ— of Christall Nothing is empty Fountaines Brookes Rivers Astristot Seneca Lakes Hot Baths Tastes of waters Aristotle Well water used for Vineger Bohemia Paphlagonia Marvelous waters Clitumnus Propert. Boetia Melas Seneca Libia Seneca S. August Garamants Sicilia Idumea Seneca Anthracius Hungaria Seneca Theophrastus Vitruvius Arcadia Nonacrinis Illyria Andros Bacchus Isidore Chios Lechnus Sicilia Sardinia Pontus Astares Aethiopia Clitory Pentasium Solinus Syria Rhene Hypanis Sythia Matrona The Sea The naturall place of the water Gen. 1. Aristot. Ebbing flowing Aristot. Earthly bodies Of Earths Plinius Cardanus Aetna and Vesuvius Metals Mercury Gold Why Gold rusteth not The opinion of the Alcumists Silver Tinne Lead Iron Quick-silver Stones Rockes Pibble stones Marble Aehates Jasper Prassios Diamond Saphir Emerald The praise of precious Stones The vertue of Stones The vertue of Stones either naturall or magicall Magnes Jet and Amber draweth chaffe Astroites a Stone moveth in vineger Albertus Magnus * Ils l'appelloient lamere grand la mere de dieux Antoine du verdier En la Relligions de Pagens Ops.