Earthquake and a strange Bird of a notable greatness was seen at Rome also a blazing Star and two Eclipses of the Moon and contrary to Astronomical demonstration she appeared black and bloody Armed men were seen in the Air and many strange and wonderful Voices were heard in the Heavens In 77 another great blazing Star or Comet appeared and three Cities in Cyprus sell to the ground by an Earthquake A little before Nero slew his Mother Agrippina the Sun was strangely darkned as abhorring to behold such a sight and a Woman in Rome brought forth a Serpent In 81 A Terrible Comet appeared The Tomb of Augustus Caesar opened of it self and blood â—aâ—ned in Germany Three Suns were seen at once in Poland and there happened much Lightning and Thunder which consumed many brave buildings An Elm Tree saluted Apollonius Tyaneus and spake to him with an audible voice The Sun is this year Eclipsed and there was a great Earthquake in Naples These Prodigies were judged to portend the following accidents The Emperor Otho killeth himself Dardanus Tyrannizeth in Scotland and was slain by Corbred A very great Pestilence in Rome Most part of England is subdued by Agricola he putteth Karenoth the King to flight and the Scots also Vespasian dyeth of a Flux Haldanus the Sweed is restored to his Kingdom from which he was expelled The Emperor Titus dyeth Lynius a Bishop of Rome Martyred Domitian turns away his Wife and marries the Widow of Titus He sends two Armies against the Goths and they are both routed Philosophers and Mathematicians are Banished out of Rome Brittain is reduced into a single Province and at the Emperors own dispose Cocceius Nerva dyeth Two Saxon Kings rebel against Froto he overcomes them and makes them his Tributaries St. John writes his Epistles Rome and France fall at difference The third Heathen Persecution against the Christians began About the Year 105 in the Beign of Trajan who raised the third Persecution against the Christians October 22. there fell out one of the most terrible Earthquakes that ever was First there arose furious and violent winds which tore up trees by the roots made Birds fall to the Earth uncovered and overthrew many houses Then followed Thunder and Lightning which made the night like noon day then dreadful Thunder-bolts which broke down stately buildings and slew many men The Sea was wonderful tempestuous after which came such violent heat that people not being able to indure it stript themselves and then hid themselves under ground The Sky was so dark and the dust so great that one could not see another so that rushing together many fell down dead Divers Cities were ruined much people perished Several Mountains and Hills sunk and became Plains many Rivers were dryed up Fountains and Springs broke out where never were any before Almost all the houses in Antioch were destroyed Dion Hist VIII From the Year of our Lord 107 to 167 those following Prodigies happened A very great Earthquake in Asia many prodigious fights in the Air as fightings c. observed in Spain An Earthquake in Galatia At Rome Lightning from Heaven consumes the Temples of the Gods An Earthquake at Antioch Great Lightnings strange unusual winds together with horrible noises in the Earth Two great Earthquakes at Nice and two others in Palestine Milk rained at Rome and an Earthquake happened there and Three Hundred and Forty Houses though inviâ—oned with water were destroyed by a great Fire in that City A great Serpent was seen in Arabia and it rained Frogs at Constantinople three Suns likewise appearing and at the same time a Star and a Rainbow A very great Earthquake in Bythinia The waves of the Mediterranean Sea in a Calm elevated themselves to the top of a Mountain far distant from it and cast the foam a great way upon the main Land In this space of time the French and Saxons plant Colonies in Germany The Saracens and Arabians are subdued A Bishop of Jerusalem is Crucified Babylon and Seleucia are taken Nero's house is burnt The Jews rebel in Egypt and kill Two Hundred Thousand Men Ptolomy King of Egypt encounters them slayes Thirty Thousand Jews at once and forced those who survived to eat up their dead Carcases About the same time the Jews slay Two Hundred and Forty Thousand in Cyprus and at last are slain themselves The Chaldeans Brittains Scots and Picts rebel Christians are put to death in Asia Apollodorus is Cain by Hadrians Rollearpus is Martyred Aurelius Caesar seeing a wonderful Fire at Rome causeth the Persecution to cease by an Edict from himself Hermogenes ran out of his wits and dyed The Brittains repine against the Roman oppression and rebel Agricola subdueth them The Fourth Persecution began IX From 167 to 219 were these unusual Accidents A wonderful fire was seen in the Heavens which seemed to pass from East to West Wolves came in flocks near to Rome howling hideously Crosses were seen to sweat with Tears Rain mingled with Fire falls from Heaven at Prema A great and terrible Earthquake and many inundations at Rome Divers strange fires seen in the Air and some to fall from thence Great swarms of Locusts covered the ground and destroyed many Fields and Meadows A great Earthquake in Asia The Stars were seen all the day long at Rome and some apparitions hung streaming down in the very middle of the Air And there fell a wonderful Lightning from Heaven upon the Capitol and the fire increasing burnt the Library and all the houses near it All kinds of Creatures contrary to their natures brought forth prodigious Births this year Flames of Fire descend from Heaven There were seen at Rome three Stars about the Sun very glorious An Eagle alighted on the Image of a Souldier Bees wrought their Combs upon Souldiers Ensigns A sudden fire in the Air toward the North A great lowing and fire in the Earth A Whale comes ashore in the Haven of Augustus A Comet for many dayes together was seen at Rome A wonderful Lightning fell from Heaven upon the Image of Severus and blotted out three Letters of his name These things were judged to portend the ensuing effects The Germans with an Army enter Italy Pertinax is sent against them and beats them back The Senate adjudges Cassius an enemy to the State and he is slain by the Souldiers About this time was great jarring among the Bishops and Churchmen of most Nations concerning Religion Smyrna in Asia is quite destroyed Perennius and his son are executed for Treason Apollonius being accused for a Christian is sentenced and executed Cleander who succeeded Perennius is executed to please the People Two Thousand dye in a day of the Plague at Rome The Emperor Commodus removeth the head from a Colossus or Great Image and putreth one of his own upon it he grows ridiculous and the People taking notice thereof he executeth many of them he is at last strangled by Martia his Concubine In his Reign there appeared in the Sky
in the open Fields After which this Prâ—â—digy succeeded Six miles distant from the 〈◊〉 or Pick of 〈◊〉 at a place called 〈◊〉 where Fishermen with their Boats use to fish in Summer They at this time caught such a multitude that no Boat returned with less than Ten Thousand Fish At this very place in July this year Fire broke forth with such unexpressable violence notwithstanding the depth of the Ocean which had been fathomed one hundred and twenty foot deep that the very Sea it self was not sufficient to extinguish such mighty flames The space of this boyling Fire was about two Acres and the Fire arose with such mighty force that it reached even to the clouds carrying with it Water Sand Earth Stones and much other matter which like Feather-beds flew into the Air to the terror of the Beholders afar off and falling down again into the water resembled a kind of Pultis or Frumeatie and had not the Wind by divine Providence blown off from the Isle into the Sea and thereby driven back this outragious Fire without doubt the whole Countrey had been utterly burnt up and destroyed by this formidable Combustion soon after it cast forth stones of so vast a bigness to the height of above three lances that they seemed rather like entire Mountains than Stones which in their fall meeting and dashing against others they broke into a Thousand pieces with a terrible noise and Ratling which afterward being taken up mouldred into a black Sand. Moreover out of this vast quantity of matter thrown out a new Island arose even in the midst of the deep Ocean In the beginning it was not above five Acres but increasing continually in four days after it took up the length of five mile so vast a multitude of fish perished by this burning that eight Ships of Jndia could hardly contain them and being dispersed about all parts of the Island were gathered together and buried in deep Ditches by the Inhabitants for eighteen miles round about to prevent any Contagion which might arise from them but the Sulphur or Brimstone was smelt twenty four miles This year the Hollanders beat the Spanish Fleet upon the Coast of England LXV The same year 1638. the Learned Kircherus made a search and discovery into the burning Mountain of Vesuvius in the Kingdom of Naples so famous for fiery Irruptions for many Ages which being one of the most tremendous Miracles of Nature I shall relate in his own words After so great Dangers sustained by Sea and Land in diligently searching out the incredible power of nature working in Burroughs and Passages under ground I had a great desire to inform my self concerning Vesuvius I went therefore to Porticus the Porch or Entrance a Town scituate at the Foot of the Mountain where hiring an honest Countreyman for a true and skilful Companion and guide in the way not without a considerable reward I ascended the Mountain at midnight through difficult rough uneven and steep Passages when I came to the top or mouth I saw what is horrible to be expressed I saw it all over of a light Fire with a dreadful combustion and stench of Sulphur and burning Bitumen whereat being astonished methoughts I beheld the habitation of Hell wherein nothing seemed to be wanting but the Apparitions of Ghosts Devils and damned Spirits I then observed horrible bellowings and roarings in the mountain and unexpressible stink smoaks mixt with darkish Globes of Fire which both the bottom and sides of the Mountain continually belched forth from eleven several places and made me belch and ready to vomit O the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How incomprehensible are thy ways If thou shewest thy power against the wickedness of mankind in such formidable and portentous Prodigies and Omens of nature What shall it be in that last day wherein the Earth shall be destroyed by thy wrath and the Elements shall melt with fervent heat In the morning as soon as it was light that I might with the more diligence search into the Bowels of the Mountain I chose a place to set my feet secure upon which was an huge Rock plain on the top where talting forth my Pantometer or Vniversal Measure I took the dimensions of the Mountain and found by Geometrical Computation the compass of the Mouth to be almost three hundred paces but the depth thereof eight hundred paces The Mountain was every where up and down cragged and broken yet no gradual declining for any passage to the inward parts but descended in its compass of an equal bigness like a Well and although the bottom seemed narrower yet I judged it only to proceed from the exceeding great depth and distance from our sight In the very middle of the bottom Nature seemed to have made a Shop or Workhouse of Fire with everlasting gushings forth and streamings of smoak and flames which seem to be imployed for boyling of Sulphur Bitumen and other Minerals in preparation for deadly ruins and slaughters afterward to be committed since the vapours contained therein not having room endeavour to free themselves with such great force and violence accompanyed with horrible cracklings and noise that the Mountain seems to be tost with an Earthquake or trembling upon which the higher and softer parts of the Mountain that are clung together of Ashes Cinders Rains and other Refuses of Minerals being shook in pieces and loosned by this quaking and so falling like Hills into the bottom of this Hellish Gulph cause such terrible noises as are often heard which are so great and fearful as may daunt the most stout and couragious Spirit The matter which was continually belched forth from the center or bottom of the Mountain made as it were a new Mountain which had wonderful variety of Furrows or hollow Channels with various kinds of melted Minerals formed as it were by the ingenious Pencil of Nature sometimes of a greenish colour from Brass then yellow from Sulphur Arsnick and Sandarack presently after Red from Cinabar Red-Lead and Vermilion afterward Black from Vitriol mixt with water or of an Ashy colour from the very Cinders Thus far the laborious Kircher LXVI Hear now what our ingenious Countryman Mr. G. Sandys relates of this fiery Mountain Vesuvius It is scituate in Campania Faelix about eight miles from Naples which City hath received great injuries and prejudices by its Cinders and violent throwing out of stones even to its Walls and Houses This Mountain has vast Fountains of Fire and was heretofore high on every side before the inward parts were consumed it usually utters smoak by day but by night Flames its manner is to send forth a loud sounding or roaring noise and bellowing first and then to belch forth a huge quantity of Cinders to the great danger of those who pass by but if a vehement wind blow upon it the Ashes or Cinders are raised so high and driven so far in length that 't is certain they
threatned imprisoned and abused the Magistrates till they condescended At Cryphenberg they kept the Senators shut up in the Common Hall vexing and tormenting them so long with Hunger and Smoak that some of them dyed In Heidelburg Castle many Burgers and Reverend Ministers were imprisoned and fed with Bread and Water till the Charity of the Reformed Churches could relieve them After those at Frankendale had upon necessity surrendred that Town they could not enjoy the Articles granted them by the Enemy but the grave Councellors and other Magistrates were forced to accept of such Conditions as were fitter for Slaves and Dogs than men some were thrown into Prison and so severely used that many of them dyed through grief and sorrow others though much impoverished were forced to redeem themselves with unreasonable Ransoms The Goods of those which fled were confiscated and though the Inhabitants would willingly have left their Houses and rich Furniture as plunder to those bloody Villains yet they were detained in the City and their destruction was most cruellyplotted and designed After the same manner they dealt with many others as well contrary to all Oaths and Promises as to the Laws and Common Faith of all Nations LVII But not to insist on these let us in the second place consider the Tortures and Torments which the Licentious Souldiers exercised upon the Persons of the Inhabitants without the least respect to Age Quality or Sex which discovered them to be rather Turks and Infidels than Men of Arms For even Princes whose Persons are sacred though they never bore Arms as the old Lantgrave of Hesse and others yea some of the Female Sex as the old Dutchess Dowager of Wittenburg have without any regard or pity been imprisoned reviled and abused by these Miscreants Some of Tillies Souldiers caused the D. of Saxonys Subjects to be tortured by half strangling them and pressing their Thumbs with wheels they forced others to eat their own Excrements which if they refused they thrust down their Throats thereby choaking some of them and those they suspected to have money were exquisitely tortured to make them confess yea Princely Personages have suffered the like cruelty with meaner men They tyed strong Matches or Cords about the heads of some which were twisted till the blood came out of their Eyes Ears and Noses yea till their Eyes started out of their heads Others had burning Matches tyed betwixt their Fingers to their Noses Tongues Jaws Cheeks Breasts Legs and Secrets even those parts which Nature hideth they either filled with Powder or tyed bags of Powder to them and so giving fire to them in an horrible manner burst their bellies and killed them They pierced and raced the skin and flesh of some as Artificers deal with Leather and have drawn Cords through their Thighs Legs Arms Noses Ears and Lips Others they hung up in the smoak drying them with small Fires and for fear they should dye too soon they sometime refreshed them with small drink or cold water Some they burned or smothered in hot Ovens and rosted others with straw Fires so that it was a great favour to be hanged or strangled they bound the hands and fee of some so hard that the Blood sprouted out at the end of their Fingers and Toes and tyed the hands and feet of others backward together stopping their Mouths with Clouts to hinder them from Praying Some were hanged up with Ropes tyed to their Privy parts and hearing their roaring they have endeavoured to out-roar and drown their cryes as in sport yea which is yet more detestable when they found any poor Creatures troubled with Ruptures or burstness they have inlarged them and then filling those parts with Gunpowder have villanously blown them up as with a Mine Many they trussed up on high hanging Stones and Weights on their Feet to stretch out their bodies They have planed the Faces of others with Chisels and other Instruments pretending to make it even some men they have openly gelded in the presence of their Wives and Children The Mouths of some they opened with Gags and then poured stinking water piss or other nasty Liquors down their Throats saying it was a Swedish draught whereby growing sick and their Bellies swelling like a Tun they have dyed by leasure with the greater Torment They thrust a knotted clout down the Throats of others and plucked it up again with a string thereby even moving the very Bowels out of their places by which cruel Torments they made some Deaf Dumb and Blind others Lame and miserable Cripples if they did not kill them outright If a Husband intreated for his Wife or a Woman for her Husband they then tortured the Petitioner before the others Eyes and which seems almost incredible when these poor Creatures were dying under their merciless hands and cryed to God in their pain and anguish these hellish Executioners would command and force them to call upon and pray to the Devil Infinite almost and unspeakable indeed were the Cruelties exercised by the outragious Souldiers on all sides nay some were so damnably wicked as to make it their study to invent new Tortures they took an ancient Reverend Divine and stripping him bound him upon a Table on his back and fastened a great strong Cat upon his Belly beating and pricking the Cat to make her fix her Teeth and Claws in the poor mans Belly So that the Man and Cat partly through Famine and partly through pain and anguish both dyed under their Tormentors some of the cursed Croats or Crabats endeavoured to teach their Horses to eat the flesh of Christians and contrived worse Tortures than Phalaris Nero Dionysius or any of those monstrous Tyrants of former ages ever arrived to so that we may say Caucasus bred them Tygers fed them and Hell taught them the last of which without deep repentance was probably their eternal Lot LVIII I have said much of the former particular though not the Tenth part of what was acted I will now thirdly speak a little of the ensuing Abomination Rapes and Ravi hments hardly to be imagined and beyond all humane modesty did they commit Virgins Matrons Widows and Wives without distinction have they violated and forced even in the presence of their Parents Husbands and Neighbours yea Women with Child and even in Childbed No Ghappel Church or other place hath been free from their filthiest pollutions and barbarisms The very Hospitals and Bedlam-houses have not been spared their Devilish Debaucheries have there found Subjects for their Lusts In the Land of Hesse a poor lean mad woman who had been kept in chains above Twenty years was by these Hell-hounds let loose to whom they brought divers others like her self some mad others dumb all wretched Creatures they tyed their Coats about their ears and then shamefully abused them In Pomerania they ravished the handsomest Virgins of that Countrey before their Parents faces forcing their Friends to sing Psalms to them all the while In Italy I
In December 1664 In Iannuary 1664 5 In April 1663 In August 1682. In December 1680 The Five Blazing Stars seen in England since the year 1663. Page 154.160.182.18 London Printed for Nath Crouch 〈◊〉 THE SURPRIZING MIRACLES OF Nature and Art In TWO PARTS Containing I The Miracles of Nature or the Strange Signs and Prodigious Aspects and Appearances in the Heavens the Earth and the Waters for many Hundred years past with an Account of the most famous Gomets and other Prodigies since the Birth of our Blessed Saviour and the dreadful Effects of many of them Also a particular Description of the five Blazing Stars seen in England within Eighteen years last past and abundance of other unaccountable Accidents and Productions of all kinds till 1682. II. The Miracles of Art describing the most Magnificent Buildings and other Curious Inventions in all Ages as Solomons Temple The Seven Wonders of the World and many more Excellent Structures and Rarities throughout the whole Earth Beautified with divers Sculptures of many Curiosities therein By R. B. Author of the Hist of the Wars of England Remarks of London Wonderful Prodigies Admirable Curiosities in England and Extraordinary Adventures of several famous Men. London Printed for Nath. Crouch at the Bell next Kemp's Coffee-House in Exchange-Alley over against the Royal Exchange in Cornhil 1683. To the READER THere is no Person of any Age or Vnderstanding but must needs acknowledge that the last Forty Years has been as it were an Age of Prodigies and Wonders in these three Kingdoms so that it may be no former time can parallel so many strange Transactations as have happened in so little space and therefore as an Ingenious Person says A Book of Prodigies is fit In times Prodigious to be writ And another Learned Author says The wise Creator of Heaven and Earth is wont when the measure of our wickedness comes to the height rather to inflict upon us Temporal than Eternal punishments and to use for our Amendment the Occasion of these Natural Effects thereby to affright us from the Terrour of those sights to a Repentance and dutiful respect of him And if we consult History we shall find that there hath never been any notable Apparition or Prodigy seen in the Heavens but it hath been attended in the sequel with more than Ordinary Changes or Troubles here on Earth Neither is there any one except he hath no Religion who is not affrighted at Lightning the clashing noise of Thunder or an horrible Comet For God speaks to men not only with the Tongues of men by Prophets Apostles and Teachers but sometimes also by the Elements and other Extraordinary signs in the Heavens Earth or Sea Vpon these Considerations this small Collection of the most remarkable Prodigies since the Creation cannot surely be unseasonable or ungrateful but may by the Blessing of Heaven cause some Profligate Persons to forsake their evil ways and thereby divert the just Judgments of the Almighty from being poured down upon this wicked and adulterous Generation Here are also added many wonders of Art in the Magnificent Structures and Curious Inventions of all Ages and it is very apparent that notwithstanding our high Conceits of the knowledge of this last Age yet we are obliged to our Ancestors for many if not most of our present useful and Profitable Arts and Sciences R. B. The Surprizing Miracles of Nature in the Heavens Earth and Waters STrange and Wonderful have been the Miraculous Productions of Nature in all Ages or rather of the God of Nature and Divine Providence St. Auflin that Famous and Reverend Father of the Church defineth Miracles to be those things which happen beyond the Expectation or thought of the Beholder and begets in him a Miraculous Contemplation yea oftentimes horrour and amazement whereof there are two kinds True and False the false Miracles are such as are not really as they seem to be but meerly acted by the Power of Nature although obscure and hid The True are performed by the Power of God above and beyond all the Faculties of created Nature partly to procure Admiration and partly to confirm the Faith of Men such were the bringing back of the shadow Ten Degrees in the Dial of Ahaz for Hezekiah A Virgin to conceive with Child and yet remain a Virgin To draw water out of a hard Rock To cause the Sea to divide asunder The Sun to stand still To cause Manna to fall from Heaven To turn Water into Wine and many of the like kind recorded in the Holy Scriptures And these were formerly used for the Confirming of the Faith both of Jews and Christians but are not now necessary since the Writings of the Prophets Evangelists and Apostles are so generally preached unto all Yet hath not the Almighty left himself without Witness nor mankind without warnings of approaching Judgments and Desolations by Prodigious Signs and Wonderful Appearances in all times of the World thereby if possible to deter them from their Evil Practices and to induce them to repentance and Reformation of which the very Heathens were sensible for we may find in the Roman Histories that there never happened any Remarkable Prodigy but the People of every Sex Age and Quality flockt and ran to their Temples and Altars making Prayers and offering Sacrifices to their Gods for appeasing and pacifying their incensed Wrath which may condemn the neglect and Contempt that is in those who pretend to own the true Christian Religion and may teach us to repair to the true God and implore his mercy and forbearance of pouring his Wrath upon us In order whereunto it cannot surely be unseasonable nor unprofitable to Collect out of very approved Authors the most Remarkable Prodigies or Miracles that have appeared cither in the Heavens Earth or Waters for some Thousands of years in this Kingdom and many other parts of the World with the Tremendous Consequences that have succeeded divers of them as to Wars Fires Famines and other dreadful Calamities in several Nations upon some of which the Famous Dubartas thus Ingeniously Comments page 14. Here in the night appears a flaming Spire There a fierce Dragon folded all in Fire Here a bright Comet there a fiery Stream Here Flying Lances there a burning Beam Here seems a Horned Goat inviron'd round With fiery flakes about the Air to bound There with long bloody Hair a Blazing-Star Threatens the World with Famine Plague and War To Princes Death to Kingdoms many Crosses To all Estates Inevitable Losses To Herdsmen Rot To Ploughmen hapless seasons To Saylers storms To Cities Civil Treasons I shall therefore proceed to give an Account of the most Famous and surprizing Signs and Wonders which I find recorded in History I. In the time of the Carthaginian War a River in Italy was observed for near the space of a day to run perfect Blood no accident that might cause it being perceived by any In Hetruria the Heavens were seen to burn In the City of Arimini
divers fearful signs Stars were seen continually in the day time and blazing Comets of a huge length hanging as it were in the midst of the Air All sorts of Creatures contrary to their kinds brought forth monstrous and deformed Births but that which most grievously afflicted the City of Rome and amazed them with the presage was that the Temple of Peace the most stately and dainty Monument in Rome was on a sudden without any Tempest foregoing but only a little Earthquake quite burnt to the ground whether by Lightning or Fire out of the Earth was uncertain That Temple was the richest and strongest of all others and was curiously adorned with gifts of massy Gold and Silver yea all Persons of Quality had there deposited and laid their Principal Treasures but the fire happening in the night made many rich men suddenly poor When the fire had consumed the Temple it burned down also many of the most beautiful buildings in the City continuing its rage for many days together Horodian Imp. History Pertinax is Emperor 87 dayes and then is slain by the Souldiers The King of Scots is slain by a Musician for causing one of his Kindred to be executed Severus goeth against Niger whom he beat three times and then slew him at Antioch Herod besiegeth Byzantium now Constantinople three years together Satrahel coming to rule Scotland kills many of the old Lords of the Kingdom Constantinople is taken by Famine Satrahel is strangled by his Servants The Brittains are beaten by Severus and the head of Albinus is sent to Rome About this time Scotland received the Christian Faith The fifth Persecution began Many fled from Jerusalem into the Wilderness to avoid the Persecution The Romans wast Arabia Strange Heresies broached by Praxeus Severus went into Brittain but never returned thence Fifty Thousand of his Army dye Many of the Scots upon a Rebellion were cruelly massacred X. From 219 to 257 the following signs appeared which were accompanied with remarkable Accidents An Eagle flying takes away the Cap of Diadumenus and he is slain within 14 months after The Brittains rebel and invade the Roman Territories Streams of fire and strange Lightnings are seen at Rome Armed men appear in the Air in Muscovia and Poland the Persians invade Armenia and wast the Roman Territories Alectus is slain in Battel The King of Scots is killed by his Guard the Emperor goeth into Persia and is overcome A Blazing Star is seen at Rome which exteâ—â—â—d it self a very great length and was seen both to burn and blaze many nights together Maximilian comes out of Germany and is slain by his own Souldiers his body is given to be torn and devoured of Dogs The Goths at this time became terrible to the Roman Empire In 241 was an Eclipse of the Sun which saith my Author was so great that it made the day seem as dark as the night Athirco King of Scotland kills himself strange Heresies spread themselves The Persians are vanquished and expelled Syria In 244 the Sun was totally Eclipsed and there was a great Earthquake which caused the Earth to gape so exceedingly that several Cities together with their Inhabitants were swallowed up and destroyed great Thunder is heard in the Earth with terrible darkness and another Earthquake The Goths take Chalcedon and Nice and ruin them both The Plague rageth in the Roman Army The Goths burn the Temple of Ephesus and enter Macedonia and Asia The Thirty Tyrants about this time engrossed and parcelled out the Roman Empire among themselves And the Sarmates subdued and robbed all Austria and Hungaria The Germans passing through France entred Spain to the City of Terragona which they ruined and the Empire was almost utterly destroyed Yea it was not only thus molested by men but the very Heavens and Elements conspired against it to plague it For the Heavens were darkened in such a manner that for many dayes space they never saw the Sun and the Earth opened and discovered great Vaults and Caves out of which there issued great streams of salt-Salt-water and such horrid noises were heard as many dyed for fear The Sea broke its bounds overflowing and drowning many Cities After which there fell out the most woful Pestilence that ever was read or heard of so that in Rome there dyed thereof Five Thousand Persons in one day Imper. Hist Pag. 158. XI In 257 the Sea overwhelmed many Cities in Europe and Afriâ—a This year there were many exceeding great Earthquakes and darkness for many days together spears also were seen in the Element at Rome The Germans and Scythians wast the Empire The French destroy Italy Claudius Censorinus was made Emperor in Italy and slain there Donald usurped the Crown of Scotland and kept the Nobility in fear by threatning to kill their kindred whom he had got into his hands In 300 there was an horrible Earthquake in Tyre which destroyed many buildings and an innumerable Company of People Many Monsters were also born this year Dioclesian the Roman Emperor assumeth the Title of a God and would have Divine Honours given him Many Christians are burnt in a House in Nicodemia The Tenth bloody Persecution began One Hundred and Forty Four Thousand Christians are put to death in Egypt and Seven Hundred Thousand Banished In 314 a Banner with a Cross was seen in the Air and divers Armies fighting A hand was seen in Lateran at Româ— without a body which in the sight of many men writ upon the Wall these words Hodie venenum Ecclesiae infusurus To day is poyson poured into the Church This was interpreted to foretell the extraordinary Indulgence of Constantine the Emperor toward the Christian Bishops and his heaping Estates Riches and Honours upon them whereby they soon after lost their former Piety and Humility He was sirnamed the great and was the first Christian Emperor who publickly countenanced and imbraced the Gospel which he is said to have done on this occasion At the same time that he was saluted Emperor in Brittain Maxentius was chosen at Rome by the Praetorian Souldiers being pensive and sollicitous upon these Distractions he cast his Eyes up toward Heaven where he saw in the Air a lightsome Pillar in the form of a Cross wherein he read these words in Greek In this thou shalt overcome and the next night a vision appeared to him commanding him to bear that figure in his Standard and he should overcome all his enemies this he performed and was accordingly victorious from which time he not only favoured the Christians but became a zealous Professor of the Faith and Gospel Before his time it is observable that few if any at all of the Roman Emperors dyed a natural death they being 40 in all from the time of Julius Caesar though after they generally did Rome was likewise beautified by Constantine and Lamps and Wax Candles were first used in the Church in the day time Arius begins to broach his Heresies and is condemned by the Council of
the greatest part of the year gave so little light aâ— was only equal to that of the Moon though the Sky was clear and no Clouds or any thing to overshadow it After which there followed a great Famine Earthquakes and much War and bloodshed Narses winneth Liguria and Venice from the French The Romans rout the Persians at Phasido The Jews and Samaritans persecute the Christians and burn their Churches in Caesarea In 570 at York in England the Fountains ran blood Likewise blood fell from the Clouds in Lombardy in Kent a Boy laughed in his Mothers Belly and at London Trees seemed to be on fire This year the Persians begin a war with the Romans The Huns break into Germany and are expelled by the French There was so great a Famine in England that the People assembled together in flocks to throw themselves into the Sea In 590 was a great inundation in Constantinople there was a Comet this year which Blazed a Month together In the River Tyber at Rome was seen a Dragon and many Serpents and the water thereof overflowed the City an infinite company of Grashoppers are seen in Lombardy and many Locusts in France Not long after so great a Plague was in Rome that eight hundred men fell dead in an hour in the time of Procession Antharis is poysoned at Papia The Huns invade Italy and France the Emperor goes against them but was forced to return In 597 a dreadful Comet is seen at Constantinople the Elements seem to burn in Poland a fiery lance is seen in the Heavens at Rome An horrible Earthquake in Palestine A sign in the Heavens like a sword flamed thirty days together A Comet was seen for a month together at Jerusalem Soon after the Sclavi wast Thrace The Brittains and Scots invade the Saxons France and Poland are miserably wasted Brunchild a Daughter of the Royal Blood of France being found guilty of the death of Ten Kings she is tyed by the hair of the head and by the Arms to wild horses and torn to pieces The Romans and Persians differ and the Emperor is defeated in Thrace XV. In 639 was an Earthquake at Antioch and Horsemen were seen in the Air in Muscovia and blood rained at Naples A wonderful storm at Constantinople which spoiled the Fields and Gardens a fiery Dragon was seen in the Air there also After this the Saracens or Turks become Lords of all Mesopotamia Sigebert King of the East-Angles dies Dagobert becomes sole Monarch of France the Pope is imprisoned at Constantinople and afterward banished and starved In 674 appeared so horrible a fire and a Rainbow in the Element that many cryed out the world was at an end this was accompanied with Rain Thunder and Lightning which slew both Men and Beasts in Italy This year the Saracens besieged Constantinople and the sâ—ege continued 7 years till at last thirty thousand of them were slain and their Fleet is fired by Cariniceus who revolted from them Bamba warreth against the French Egbert of Kent dyeth King Lothari is slain with a dart The Goths overcome the Gascoigns In 687 there was a very great Comet at Christmass and several Mocksuns were seen in England the next year it rained blood seven days together through all Brittain In Campania Wheat rained from Heaven also Barly and Pulse in other parts of Italy two Comets of great magnitude were seen this year It rained blood seven days together through all Brittain and the milk cheese and butter turned into blood Soon after happened great controversy in Rome about a new Pope The King of Scots is slain by the Picts The Emperor defeateth the Sclavonians Kenwin the West-Saxon dyeth The French enter into Germany and subdue the Bavarians and Almains Italy began to choose themselves several Dukes this year In 735 a most Prodigious Hail fell in England Fire was seen to flame in the Heavens at Rome About this time Gregory the great being sent to the Emperor at Constantinople about some Ecclesiastical Affairs at his return to Rome the River Tyber swelled to such an immeasurable height that it ran over the Walls of the City and drowned a great part of it breaking into divers great houses and overthrowing many Antient Monuments flowing into the Granaries that belonged to the Church and carried away many thousand measures of Wheat Presently after which inundation there came down the River an innumerable company of Serpents and amongst the rest one so monstrous that it was as big as a great beam all which swimming down the River into the Sea were there choaked and their Carcasses being cast upon the shoar rotted there by the stink whereof the Air was infâ—â—â—ed so that a dreadful Plague followed whereof th◠〈◊〉 many Thousands Yea Arrowes were visibly seen sâ—◠〈◊〉 Heaven and whoever was struck with them dâ—ed immediately and among others Pelagius Bishop of Rome This Judgment so raged in the City that many houses were wholly emptied of their Inhabitants An inundation likewise happened in Constantinowe Oyl raired in Spain a Comet appeared in the fashion of a sword Croâ—â—â— fell from Heaven upon mens Garments An Earthquake in Palestim Fire rained from Heaven in many parts of France The French about this time enter the territories of the Goths and destroy their Caâ—â—â—es A mighty Pestilence in Constantinople for three years which devoured so many that they wanted men to bury their dead Selred the East-Saxon is slain The Emperor beats the Saracens in Cyprus the Huns General slain in Transilvania XVI In 761 in the month of September happened a very great Eclipse of the Sun A Blazing Star was seen in the East for many dayes together This year the King of Scotland invadeth Northumberland and is slain There was a Rebellion in Galloway The Bulgarians invade the Empire Dominico the great Duke is deposed by the Venetians for his Tyranny and his eyes put out About this time the Turks brake forth from the Caspian Sea and there was such an extraordinary cold Winter that the Euxine Sea was frozen thirteen foot thick and men walked on the see for an Hundred Miles into the Sea Yea all the Countreys from Lycia to Danubius and on the other â—â—de as far as to Euphrates were so joined together by the Frost as if they had been all one Continent And at the end of Winter began a very dry Summer so that the Fountains of water were dryed up Some pieces of Ice as big as Mountains fell upon and beat down the Walls of several Cities Stars were seen falling from Heaven so that men thought the end of the world had been come In 778 was another great Eclipse of the Sun Armies of men were seen in the Heavens in France This year it rained blood also Earth and Ashes fell from Heaven at Rome There were Meteors in the Air like unto fiery Serpents which fell in many parts of England Soon after Telerick King of Bulgaria is expelled by his people King Etheldred flyes from England
said to have poysoned the Fountains of water for which they were every where seized upon and burned About the same time likewise it rained blood and two Mountains were swallowed up by an Earthquake strange fires flames and a burning beam were seen in the Air. XXIV In 1382 A. Bishop Ceurtney appointed a Convocation to be held in London principally against Wickliff and those who declared against the many corruptions of the Romish Church at which time this memorable accident fell out when they were all met together at the Gray-Friers in London just at that very instant when they were beginning there business against Wickliff there fell out a wonderful and terrible Earthquake throughout all England whereupon divers of the Bishops being affrighted with the terror of it thought good to leave off their further proceeding therein In 1388 a Blazing Star appeared in the Heavens which burned for two Months together At Oxford the Image of a head spake thus Caput decidetur c. The head shall be cut off The head shall be lift up The feet shall be elevated above the Head This was followed by a Sedition in Oxford among the Schollers many of whom dislike the Government an Army of Forty Thousand are raised by the Duke of Glocester Earls of Warwick Derby and Nottingham Fifty Thousand Christians are slain in the Plains of Casovia very great Factions are at this time in France In 1390 a great Comet appeared after which King John of Castile dyed with a fall from his horse Presently after John Hus and Jerom of Prague oppose the Pope Mary Queen of Hungary dyes In 1399 a running River in Bedfordshire divides it self a Blazing Star was visible this year which shot wonderful Beams of fire from it About this time Scotland is wasted by the English The Frizons in Holland rebel King Sigismund executed 32 of the Nobles in Hungary The Pope is imprisoned by the King of France the Duke of Hereford being banished returns into England and soon after King Richard II is deposed and murthered the Duke succeeding by the name of King Henry IV. In 1402 a mighty Comet was seen in the Heavens and so the year after at this time Tamerlane Emperor of the Tartars enters Asia calling himself Iram Dei Vastitatem Terrae The wrath of God and the Destroyer of the earth He kills Two Hundred Thousand Turks takes Bajâ—zet Prisoner shackles him and puts him in an â—ron Cage and earries him Captive through all Asâ—a making him his Footstool when he ascended his horse John Hus is condemned and burnt for an Heretick at Constans In 1415 strange Prodigies were seen in Brittain a Dragon encountring a Lyon in the air armies of fire were seen fighting and one party overcoming in the Heavens a great Eclipse of the Sun at which time the English fight with the French under King Henry V. at Agincourt the French lose twenty thousand men ten thousand bâ—â—ng killed upon the place and as many taken Prisoners Pope Gregory dyes the English invade Normanâ—â— The King of Spain sells the Canaries to the King of Sevil the Valentians are made Tributary to the Turks In 1421 another Comet appears in the Heavens King Henry V. of England dyeth and the next year Charls VI. King of France dyeth Zisca routs the Emperors Forces and burns Cathna which place for the sake of the Silver Mines he called The Purse of Antichrist he commanded that after his death his skin should be flead off and put upon a drum supposing that as he had been victorious against his enemies while he lived so that might have the same effect against them after his decease Not long before this there was such a terrible Earthquake at Lar in Persia as overthrew Five Hundred Houses XXV Very great Snows fell in Germany in the year 1428 and a mighty Earthquake happened in Italy The Winter was wonderful cold especially in all the Northern Countreys after this the Danes spoil Thirty Ships of great value which belonged to the Vandals and Hambnrgers the Turks take Thessalonica from the Venetians The English lose much in France In 1439 a Comet of a mighty magnitude is seen in Poland Swarms of Bees in England go in progress a great Earthquake happened in Hungaria Soon after an Universal Pestilence rageth throughout the whole world Albertus the Emperor dyeth and likewise the King of Bohemia The Marshal of France is burnt for Sorcery and Witchcraft Amurath the Great Turk wasts Hungary but is at last expelled by Corvinus Huniades The French are twice beaten by the English in Normandy The Polanders wast Silesia In 1450 another great Comet appeared Amurath Emperor of the Turks dies at the siege of Croia Scanderbeg the great overcometh Mustapha his Competitor XXVI In the month of June 1456 appeared two Comets and the same year August 24 there happened most tempestuous winds in Tuscany such as never had been before heard of which wrought most marvellous and memorable effects for an hour before day there arose from the Sea toward Ancona a great and dark cloud crossing Italy and entring the Sea toward Pisa stretching two Miles in compass This storm was furiously carryed either by natural or supernatural force and seemed divided into many parts as it were fighting among themselves and of those broken clouds some were hoised up toward Heaven some violently cast down and others with wonderful speed were turned round but always before these Clouds came a Wind with Lightnings and flashings of fire such as cannot be exprest of these broken and confused Clouds and of those furious Winds and great Flames there grew so strange a noise as moved the People to greater fear than any Earthquake or Thunder ever had done insomuch that every man thought the World was ended and that the Earth the Water and the Heavens would have returned to its first Chaos and Confusion this fearful storm wheresoever it passed wrought marvellous and wonderful offects but the most remarkable of all happened about the Castle of St. Cassiano This Castle is built upon a Hill which parteth the vales of Pisa and Greive 8 Miles distant from Florence Betwixt this Castle and the Town of St. Andrea built upon the same Hill this furious Tempest passed not coming to St. Andrea but at St. Cassiano threw down divers Turrets and Chimnies and near to it subverted whole houses even to the ground and carried away the roofs of the Churches of St. Martino a Bagnolo St. Maria della pace whole bearing them from thence unbroken above a Mile one man a Carrier was taken up and in the Valley near the Highway both he and his Mules were found dead Also all the greatest Oaks and â—strongest Trees which would not bend at the fury of the Tempest were not only blown down but violently carryed from the places where they grew The next day after this horrible tempest when some of the Inhabitants who fled for fear thereof returned they were strangely astonished for they found the
year the strong City of Strignnium in Hungary being besieged by the Turks during the siege there appeared a dreadful fiery Meteor in the Air in fashion much like a Rainbow of a bloody red colour which arising some heigth and continuing for a space of time at length vanished away In 1611 three Suns were seen in the Firmament over Vienna in Germany and three years after the Heavens over the same Town grew so red and soon after so fearfully dark on a sudden that the Inhabitants were much amazed apprehending either the last day was come or that there would follow some horrible effusion of blood In 1616 about the same time which was not many years before Frederick Prince Elector Palatine was chosen King of Bobemia about the midst of October there appeared in the Firmament over the City of Prague a Crown which gave a very great Light and about it Armies of men fighting as if it were who should have it divers Mocksuns were seen in the West of England An Inundation happened in Holland The Shape of an Elephant appeared in the Air in Germany A Lyon was heard as my Author saith to roar in the Air the Venetians at this time make war with Ferdinand of Austria The Hollanders beat the Spaniard in the South Sea The Tartars invade Podolia burning four Cities and four hundred Villages carrying with them thence much booty J. Gad. of Comets XXXVI In 1618 a mighty Blazing Comet appeared in the Heavens it was first seen Novemb. 18. and continued till the Decemb. 16. following taking its compass over most parts of the known world in twenty eight days time and sometimes extending its Blazing Locks forty five degrees in length Towards its Declination December 11 it passed over London and so more Northwards even as far as the Orcades in Scotland What miserable effects of war ruin and devastation followed thereupon over all Europe especially to Germany of which I shall give a more particular account hereafter was obvious to all men There likewise was seen this year in the night over Constantinople a Comet in the form of a crooked sword of a vast bigness at the first appearance it was somewhat whitish but the higher it rose the redder it was even like unto bloud There were also strange sights seen in other places inundations of Rivers and the Ocean Earthquakes monstrous births waters turned into blood unusual and impetuous Winds and Tempests which overthrew several Towers and tore up many Trees by the Roots Pleurs a Town in Rhetia near Switzerland was overwhelmed by an Earthquake a great Hill falling suddenly upon the City and destroyed Fifteen Hundred Persons This year the Emperor Matthias and soon after his Empress together with Anne Q. of England dye J. Gad. of Prodigies XXXVII Mr. Knowls in his Turkish History Page 1348 relates that in the year 1620 there was a strange Apparition or Vision seen by the Turks at Medina where there Prophet Mahomet lyes buried which continued three weeks together and exceedingly terrified the whole Countrey and it was this About September 20 there fell a very great Tempest about midnight attended with dreadful Thunder but when the Clouds were dispersed and the Element clear the People might read in Arabick Characters these words in the Firmament O why will ye believe in Lyes and between two and three a Clock in the Morning there appeared a Woman in white compassed about with the Sun having a cheerful countenance and a Book in her hand and over against her were Armies of Turks Persians Arabians and other Mahometans in battel array ready to fight with her but she keeping her Station only opened the book at the sight whereof the Armies fled away and presently all the Lamps about Mahomets Tomb were put out For as soon as the Vision vanished which was commonly an hour before Sun-rising a murmuring wind was heard unto which they imputed the extinguishing of the Lamps The antient Pilgrims of Mahomets race who after they had visited this place never use to cut their Hair were much amazed because they could not concieve the meaning of this Vision only one of the Dervices or Priests which is a strict Religious Order among the Turks like the Capuchins among the Papists and live in Contemplation stepped up very boldly and made the following Speech to the Company That the World had never but Three true Religions every one of which had a Prophet First God chose the Jews and did wonders for them in Egypt and brought them forth by their Prophet Moses who prescribed them a Law wherein he would have maintained them if they had not been obstinate and rebellious and fallen to Idolatry whereupon he gave them over and scattered them upon the face of the Earth Then presently after God raised a new Prophet who taught the Christian Religion This good man the Jews condemned and Crucified for a Seducer of the People being not moved with the piety of his Life his great miracles nor his Doctrine yet after his death the preaching of a few Fishermen did so move the hearts of men that the Great Monarchs of the world bowed to his very Title and yielded to the commands of his Ministers But it seems they in process of time grew as corrupt as the Jews their Church being disjointed with the Title of Eastern and Western committing Idolatry again by setting up Images with many other idle Ceremonies besides the corruption of their Lives so that God was weary of them too and not only sent divisions among them but forsook them and dispossest them of their chiefest Cities Jerusalem and Constantinople Yet God is still the Governour of the world and himself hath raised up another Prophet and People even our great Mahomet giving way to our Nation so as no doubt we shall be happy for ever if we can serve this God aright and take warning by the fall of others But alas I tremble to speak it we have erred in every point and wilfully broke our first Institutions so that God hath manifested his wrath by evident Signs and Tokens keeping our Prophet from us who prefixed a time to return with all happiness to his People so as there are now forty years past by our account wherefore this strange and fearful vision is a prediction of some great Troubles and Alterations For either the opening of the Book in the womans hand doth foretell our falling off from the first intent of our Law whereat these armed men departed as confounded with the guilt of their own Consciences Or else it signifies some other book wherein we have not yet read and against which no power shall prevail So that I fear our Religion will be proved corrupt and our Prophet an Impostor and then this Christ whom they talk of shall shine like the Sun and set up his Name everlastingly Hitherto the Company was silent but hearing him speak so boldly they were much incensed against him charging him with Blasphemy which their Law makes
Tilly lost in the whole by these encounters near seven thousand men In this year 1631 upon the fatal seventh of September in the bloody battle of Leipswick General Tilly himself was wounded twice or thrice with Pistol shot and his whole Army routed as aforementioned Upon the place of Battle which the Enemy had left for the King of Sweden there sate a flock of Birds which springing up at the King 's coming took their flight directly over Tillies Army and fetching a Circle about them which the Romans would have counted a happy presage they turned again toward the Kings Army as it were to fetch him victory But the King had a better presage on his side than a Flock of Birds God with us was his Watch-word which together with his Valour and his Sword obtained him the Victory XLVII In 1632 General Tilly received another shot of a Musket a little above his Knee at a skirmish between the King of Sweden and himself whereof he dyed April 20 after having 4 splinters cut out of his Thigh A few years before that long cruel and bloody battle was fought at Lutzen the water of the Ditch in that Town was turned to blood which Prodigy seemed accomplished November 6 this year wherein the Swedes after nine hours continual fighting absolutely overthrew the Imperial Army The morning wherein this great battle was fought was very misty the King of Sweden had a Divine to pray with him and other Ministers at the head of every Regiment about 10 a Clock the Fog cleared up and the King going first to his own Subjects spake to this purpose My dear Brethren carry your selves bravely this day fight valiantly in Gods Name for your Religion and your King which if you do Gods Blessing and the Peoples praises shall be your Reward and 〈◊〉 shall for ever retain an honourable memorial nor will I forget to reward you Nobly But if you play the Cowards I here take God to witness not a bone of you shall ever return again to Sweden To the Germans who joyned with him he thus expressed himself My Brethren Officers and Fellow-Souldiers I most earnesily intreat and beseech you to make full Tryal of your valour this one day fight manfully against your enemies this day both with me and for me be not faint-hearted in the battle nor upon any account discouraged set me before your eyes even me who without the least fear or dread am ready for your cause to adventure both Life and Bloud if you do this no doubt God himself will reward you from Heaven with a most glorious victory of which your selves and your posterity shall have the benefit if you do not farewel for ever to your Religion and your selves must for ever remain in slavery The Souldiers of both Nations answered the King with joyful Acclamations who thereupon added Now my hearts let us fall bravely on our enemies and the God of Heaven prosper our endeavours and so casting up his Eyes to Heaven with a loud voice he said Jesus vouchsafe this day to be my strong helper and give me courage to fight for thy glory and for the honour of thy Name Then drawing his sword he waved it over his head and advanced the foremost of all his Army Amongst the Kings own Guard were several English and Scottish Gentlemen He himself was attired in a plain Buff Coat without Armour and being required to put on his Corslet he said The Lord God is my Armour His word was God with us The Imperialist was Jesus Maria The King said I thank God I have both Wind and Sun to favour me The Field where the Battle was fought was a plain Champian Countrey but yet it had many Ditches which served Wallestein the Imperial General for Breast-works and the Kings Horse in passing over them were some of them overthrown there were likewise two little Hills upon which Wallestein had planted his Great Guns and his Army was so large that it extended 2 Miles in length the Armies coming within view the Canon began to play on both sides but those of the Imperialists being planted upon steady and fixt Batteries did very great Execution Whereas the Kings gave fire in motion which he observing and not liking the sport caused his Army to advance upon the very mouth of the Canon The Imperialists kept their ground expecting the Swedes fury would be over before they could get over the Ditches and beat out the Musqueteers yet they overcame these difficulties and their left Wing engaged with Wallesteins right Then the Ring advancing with his right Wing and observing where the Croats or Crabats stood and where the Curassiers were who were covered with black Armour from head to foot calling Colonel Stalbansh to him he said As for those Fellowes the Crabats I care not for them 〈◊〉 charge me those black Fellows soundly for they are the men that will undo us The King fought at the head of his Squadron himself being foremost with his Pistol in one hand and his Sword in the other and thus charging upon the Curassiers he was there overlaid with numbers insomuch that his men being in danger to be incompassed were forced to give ground and retire towards their body where the King received a snot in his Left Arm which he not feeling at first would have led on still but soon after perceiving the blood to issue out abundantly and that part of his bone was broken he called to Duke Albert of Saxon Lavoenburg saying Coren I am sore wounded help me to make my retreat which whilst the Duke and his Assistants were about to do an Officer of the Curassiers who too well knew the King comes up and said This is the right Bird and so discharging his Pistol shot him through the body and himself was presently shot dead upon the place The King was held up in his saddle but presently fell His horse also was shot and so ran away without his Master Just at this time fell a great mist the Sun which before shined very brightly on a sudden muffling up his face in a mourning Cloud as if not able to look upon the fall of the King of Sweden The Imperialists being now masters of the Kings Body fell to stripping it one getting his spurs another his sword another his Ring and another his Buff-coat c. every one being greedy to get some part of his spoils But before they could carry away his Body the Swedes returned and so charged their Enemies that they were forced to retreat whereupon Stalhaush recovering his Body carryed it away in an Ammunition Waggon privately so that few of his own Army knew of his death All this while the four Swedish Brigades of Foot were hotly ingaged and got ground of the Imperialists The horse likewise after an hours fight drove them back and got possession of seven Pieces of their Ordinance but by this time the mist was so extreamly thickned by the smoak that the Swedes could not
high rates Dogs Cats and Vermin were counted as good as Venison For all Commerce and Trade being hindred bread-corn was at an excessive rate and hardly to be purchased for money In February 1633. at Dobenshutz a Village in Althenburg blood sprang out of a Fish-pond with such a filthy savour that if it were touched they could not wash off the stink in 2 or 3 days This Countrey was the same year lamentably ruined and plundred and the beastly cruelty and licentiousness of the Souldiers was exceeding monstrous Many fine Towns and Villages were robbed and burnt to Ashes for defending themselves and the Inhabitants thereof as well as of Dobenshutz miserably slaughtered The Women yea Ladies and Gentlewomen were tyed and coupled together like Beasts and â—ogs and sent into the Woods to be ravished and for making resistance they had their cloaths stript off their Bodies whipt and their ears cut off and in this deplorable posture were sent home again The Souldiers and Crabats got many Thousand head of Cattel together and what beast soever did not readily follow them they killed them lest they should serve some Hereticks many other horrid Barbarisms were committed by them as if they had believed that a Countrey was never throughly conquered till it were utterly destroyed by Sword and Fire L. In 1633. March 6. about 8 a Clock in the Evening over the Town of Bibrach two long swords were seen in the Air one Fiery and the other red as blood many fierce encounters happened about this time and place between the Swedes and Imperialists Count Horn the Swedish Field Marshal killing near fix hundred Crabats and as many more Spanish and Italian Souldiers who came to aid the Emperor perished by Cold Famine and Sword by the way that betwixt Vlm and Bibrach a thousand dead Carcases were found so that a third part of the Army were lost some Months after four Regiments of the Imperialists were surprized and killed by the Swedes betwixt this Town and Isne and six hundred other Imperialists being abroad were also taken and most of them slain In March 1634 Gustavus Horn besieged the City of Bibrach wherein were thirteen hundred men offering the Imperial Governour good conditions upon his first approach which being refused he battered the Town so long with his Ordnance that he won the Enemies works and made a breach into the Walls Then the Governour sending out a Trumpet desired reasonable Terms or else he would defend it to the last man and threatning first of all to blow up all the Protestant Citizens whom he had already lockt up in the Town-house and into a Cellar But having already refused fair ofters the Swedes denyed them now and prepared all things ready for another assault advancing toward the Breach when at the same instant the Protestant Ministers with several Women came out of the Town making most pitiful Lamentation to the Swedish General signifying that it would certainly cost them all their Lives because the Town-house was already undermined and the Mine filled with Powder and that they fearfully expected to be blown up immediately Out of Commiseration therefore to these poor people another Agreement was offered to the Governour and Liberty granted them to march out with their Swords only which was accepted and the Protestants thereby saved LI. In 1634 June 23. another Prodigy happened at Dresden in Saxony About five a Clock in the Evening the Sun first appeared white as Snow and then suddenly became dark as if covered by a Mist It appeared first in the form of a Crown and then like a Feather and then red as blood in which posture it continued for about half an hour and then returned to its natural shape but retained its sanguine colour till it went down and the Moon at her rising retained the same bloody Aspect till she was no longer seen in that Horrison About the same time at Berlin in the Marquisate of Brandenburg it rained blood and brimstone and the next year in November at Itzâ—â—o a Town in Holsiein it rained thick blood whose drops being used as Ink represented true natural blood in writing It is scarce credible how many bloody Conflicts and Encounters happened between these two Countreys the same year and the next following but more especially that sore and bloody Battel at Witstock wherein seven Thousand Imperialists were slain by the Swedes six whole Regiments being wholly cut off with several great Commanders Fifteen Hundred Prisoners Fourteen Pieces of Ordnance and Eight Thousand Waggons were also left to the Swedish Conqueror Of the Swedes likewise were a Thousand slain upon the place of Battel In the same year 1634. July 24. at Melnick where the Saxon Army quartered there was a strange Apparition in the Air which was thus related by Eye-witnesses About Evening when the Elector of Saxonys Chaplain was at Prayers there appeared a sign in the sky like a fiery Beam and a while after another in the form of a Scepter fiery red just over the House where he was Preaching assoon as Sermon was ended and the Chaplain had pronounced Amen the sign vanished out of sight After this the same Apparition was seen again of divers others That year and some others following the Crabats like Vermine in a warren ransacked plundred and pillaged what places soever they came to sparing neither Churches Cloysters nor Noble mens Houses but robbed and dismembred the Countrey people ravished the Women defloured the Maids burnt the Villages and Towns and committed all manner of mischievous Insolencies and Villanies LII About this time Man and Beast and Fowls of the Air all seemed now to be at irreconcileable difference and Germany was the Stage wherein they acted their Tragedies At Hessen in March 1635. there met together two Armies of strange Birds which fought as it were in a set Battel And near Straubinge upon the River of Danube multitudes of Dogs had their Rendevouz who fought so furiously that all the Neighbourhood were affrighted at the Prodigy And as if they would admit of no Agreement but such as pleased themselves when the Governour of Ratisbone had sent out against them four Companies of his Foot Souldiers with Muskets and other Arms to assault and slay them they left their hostility among themselves and joyned together against the Common Enemy falling upon the Souldiers and in despight of their shot and weapons killed and devoured nine of them This year 1635. A great Inundation of Water happened at Rome and after that a mortal sickness Five Moons were seen at once in Normandy and in Italy many Monstersâ— were brought forth At this time there began Divisions in Scotland about Religion The Hollanders and Spaniards fight at Sea There was a great Plague at Venice the Spaniards beat the French J. Gadbury of Prodigies LIII The next year strange Prodigies terrifyed the hearts of the People For while the Princes and Peers were in their jollity at the Diet at Ratisbone War with its grim Attendants Famine
have sometimes been carried as far as Constantinople though many hundred miles distance and so affrighted them that they have all ran to their Prayers to implore the averting of Divine Wrath The Mountain hath a double top that toward the North ends in a Plain the other toward the South aspires higher which when covered with Clouds prognosticates rain to the Neopolitans In the top there is a large deep hollow in form of an Amphitheater in the midst is a Pit which leads into the Entrails of the Earth the matter thrown up is ruddy light and soft the uttermost brow of the Hill flourishes with Trees and excellent Pasturage the midst is shaded with Chesnut Trees and others bearing divers fruits The lower parts are admirably clothed with Vines which afford the best Greek Wines in the World It hath at divers times made dreadful Eruptions and Devastations which as well as Mount Aetna of which hereafter have been accounted ominous and to portend some woful Calamities to ensue But never any thing appeared so horrible faith my Author as what happened in the Reign of the Emperor Titus eighty years after Christ For then it disgorged such boyling Waves and Flouds of Fire as consumed the Neighbouring Cities And then it was that Pliny the Second that great searcher into Nature and the famous Author of the Natural History and then Admiral of the Roman Navy being desirous to discover the reason thereof was choaked and suffocated in approaching too near to discover so great a mystery of Nature yet not wilfully I suppose though some Authors â—â—sert that he threw himself into it because he could not understand the natural cause of 〈…〉 Condagration At that time there issued 〈◊〉 so great a 〈◊〉 that the very Sun seemed to be 〈◊〉 an 〈◊〉 and likewise huge Stones and such plenty of 〈◊〉 that Rome Africk and Syria were even covered with them and besides Beasts Fish and Foâ—l which were desirâ—â—ed it overwhelmed Herculanâ— and Pumptins two adioyning Cities with Pumiâ—e Stones together with all the People sitting in the Theater There were also heard dismal noises all about the Province and Giants of incredible bigness were seen to stalk up and down the top and edges of the Mountains if the Peoples sanâ—ies were not imposed upon 〈◊〉 their astonishment which extraordinary 〈…〉 was judged either a cause or Presage of a 〈…〉 which reigned in Rome and Italy long 〈…〉 the Roman Historian relates 〈◊〉 the 〈…〉 transported in the Air obsoured and darkned â—â—l Europe and that the Inhabitants 〈…〉 wonderfully affrighted therewith 〈…〉 their Emperor Leo forsook the City and that in memorial of the same they celebrated yearly the 12 of November It likewise burnt in the 6 year of Constantine the Fourth and groaned but ejected no Cinders Platina writes that it flamed in 685 prognosticating the Death of Pope Benedict 2. with the insuing Slaughters Rapines and Deaths of Princes During the Papacy of Benedict 8 and 9. it is said to have done the like and though it hath made divers dreadful devastations yet the fruitful Ashes thrown about did seem to repair the foregoing losses with a quick and marvellous fruitfulness At the foot of the Hill there are divers holes and vents out of which exceeding cold winds do continually issue and which at Padua they let into their Rooms at pleasure to qualifie the heat of Summer In the year 1610 in February Vesuvius began to flame to the great affrightment of the Neapolitans and solemn Prayers and Supplications being ordered they went in Procession with the head of Januarius their Patron and the defender of their City carryed before them whereby the deluded people were perswaded that the destruction which hung over their heads was prevented In 1631 was a new Eruption and again in 1635 was an Earthquake in 〈◊〉 LXVII In the year 1633 likewise the industrious Kircher made a discovery of the Phlegrean or Fiery Plains in the Fields of 〈◊〉 near Naples which being another wonderful Prodigy of Nature may be worth relating Passing by Naples saith he I could not let slip the opportunity of inquiring and looking into those Sulphurous Plains so much celebrated in all Ages Having therefore gone through a Passage under ground called the Grotte arched and made hollow to the Mountain Pausilippus not far from Puteoli between the Jaws of the Mountains a large Plain presents it self to view altogether dreadful and full of horrour in length about Twelve hundred Foot in breadth a Thousand The whole Plain is surrounded with Hills of high and steep Rocks which were formerly very lofty but are since devoured by perpetual Fires In the bottom little hills are seen to burn and flame with a strong smell of Brimstone which is carryed by the Winds through all the Neighbouring Regions even as far as Naples some parts of the Plain have an infinite number of holes and are yellow with a Sulphurish matter the ground when it is touched by those who walk thereon sounds and rattles like a Drum by reason of the hollowness thereof and you may feel as it were not without astonishment boyling waters under your feet and thick fiery fumes to hiss and flow from one place to another with a great crackling noise through the Pipes and Passages under ground which are made by these fiery Exhalations the force of this is very great as you may experience by stopping any of these holes with an heavy stone or the like for then you shall observe the violence of the smoak presently to throw it up and belch it forth again But an huge Laky Ditch in the same plain did wonderfully affect me It is full of boyling waters very frightful for their blackness that one would imagine it were a Kettle or Caldron boyling with Pitch and Rosin It is likewise admirable that the swallowing Gulph casts forth these boyling waters eight or ten foot above a mans height in the fashion of a spire Steeple or Pyramid In the Mountâ—â—ns and Rocks wherewith this Vulcanian Plain is incompassed there are Pasâ—aâ—es like Châ—mneys some whereof breath out a continual Wind with a terrible sound and raâ—ling and also with such strength that if you cast a stone thereinto it is struck back again to your hand with great fury some of these breathing holes dart forth smoak mixt with flames you would here think your self almost in the midst of Hell where all things appear horrid sad and lamentable and you are even struck breâ—â—hless with the stench of Sulphur Bitumen Napthe and other Earths Clays Marls and Minerals We must not here omit Mr. Sandys his Relation of aâ—most memorable Earthquake and burning which happened near the City Puteoli in 1538. with the new formed Mountain For the famous Lake Lucrinus hard by extended formerly to the deadly Sulphurous Lake Avernus supposed the entrance into Hell by ignorant Antiquity where they offered Infernal Sacrifices to Pluto their God of Hell and to the Manes or Ghosts of their deceased Friends who were
such a destruction as is impossible to bedâ—scribed and at present 't is not throughly known what damage it hath done upon the eighth of this Moneth it pleased God not by any extraordinary rains from Heaven to our thinking to open the Mountains like Fountains and to cause the Seaso to swell that in less than four hours it overflowed the Town throughout sixteen foot high which prevented us not only from saving our Goods but also with great hazard of our lives have we escaped yet many lost their Lives with great destruction both of the Houses and Walls For my own part I feared my life for my house trembled under me extreamly so that not only my self but my whole Family had been destroyed had it continued but a small time longer though the Water ebbed not for Twenty four hours Many Iron Mills were destroyed many Thousand Loads of Charcoal were carryed away many bags of Wool spoiled All their Shops with their Goods were much damaged God knows the trouble we underwent and still I am every day in the mud half my height looking after my Goods and am fain to keep many men digging to find them and am looking out for bread to maintain my Family a little Chicken costs us two shillings in Spanish Plate In brief neither Horse Mule Hog nor any other Living Creature that goes upon the ground hath escaped drowning but only such as fled to the tops of the Mountains The destruction and losses of â—his Town are unspeakable the very pavement and ground being carryed away at least Ten Foot deep and the River hath altered its Chanel The first work that we now set upon by command of Authority is to throw away the Fish which the water brought with it which being tainted smells so abominably that we fear it will bring the Plague amongst us but we hope by to morrow night to throw it all into the River and thereby be rid of this stink and our next work must be to cleanse the River LXXII In 1652 There was a great Eclipse of the Sun and Two Eclipses of the Moon A Two handed Sword was seen in the Air in Cheshire and Armies of men encountring each other appeared in the North a Comet was visible in the Signs Gemini and Taurus from December 11 to the 30. This year the English subdued Scotland and beat the Dutch at Sea They beat the French at Sea this year also The English Parliament firnamed the Long are turned out of Doors by their own Army In 1653 Oliver Cromwell a private Gentleman by Birth but then General of the Army assumes the Government of Great Britain by the Title of Lord Protector of England Scotland and Ireland The King of the Romans and the Pope in two years after dye strange and unheard of Alterations in Law and Government here in England new Courts of Justice Council of State Major Generals In 1654 was another Eclipse of the Sun and an Earthquake in the West of England Apparitions are visible in the Air in the North of England A very great Rain falls in Bohemia At this time the English take Jamaica and make War with Spain The English and Swedes unite In 1655. Castles Cities and Towns appear in the Air in England and seem to be besieged the different Actions and Gestures of Men both Commanders and Souldiers being plainly visible This year Cardinal Guisi is made Pope by the Title of Innocent the 10. The Polanders are routed by the Swedes In 1656 An Earthquake happened in Cheshire doing much harm sinking the Ground and rending up many Trees by the Roots to the great damage of the Countrey In November a fiery Dragon was seen in the Air in Scotland This year the English land in Flanders and take Mardike from the Spaniards they become angry thereat and Wars between them grow high The King of Denmark was twice invaded by the King of Sweden There fell such abundance of Rain at Vienna in Germany that the River Danubius swelling above its banks the violence of the Waters broke down all the Bridges and most of their Mills Yea the Water came into their Suburbs called The Jews Suburbs drowning many Persons and carrying away a very great number of Cattel and did so great mischief to the Countrey that the loss was thought inestimable there being sixteen Towns and Villages swept away by the Flood Gadbury de Comet LXXIII In 1658 A great Whale came up to Greenwich near London a thing seldom known before This year Dunkirk was taken by the English Sir Henry Slingsby and Dr. Heuit being condemned by an High Court of Justice as they called it were beheaded at Towerhill and Sept. 3. following which used to be a great day of Triumph in Olivers Court for two great Victories at Dunbar and Worcester was turned into a day of Mourning by the Death of their Protector who dyed about 4 or 5 a Clock that day and Richard Cromwel confidently succeeds him in the Government as if it had been his just due Nay some People in England send such sugred Addresses to him that he believed himself to be what they flatteringly stiled him The King of Sweden loses much this year and dyes In 1659 there was a very great Inundation in Holland which overflowed Thirty Six Thousand Acres of Ground Also a great Eclipse of the Sun in Scorpio November 4. Lofty and strange unwonted Winds In May 1659 the Long Parliament returned and turned out Richard Cromwell but were soon after turned out themselves by Lambert and the Army A Committee of safety is set up The L. General Monk being troubled to behold the Confusions of the English Proceedings marched out of Scotland and after the Committee of Safety was fallen brings in the secluded Members of the Long Parliament who soon after dissolve themselves and call another Parliament who restore His Royal Majesty King Charles 2. to His just Rights and Priviledges whom God preserve with a Long and Happy Reign over us Gadbury of Prodigies LXXIV In 16â—0 Feb. 20. At Dantzick in Poland when the Sun was going down there were seen seven Suns together very distinctly in the Heavens three of them coloured and three white besides the True Sun it self about which was a Circle much like a Rainbow In 1661. Jan. 28. There is a Relation that near Worsup in Nottinghamshire there was an appearance of a gallant Troop of Horse marching which a Justice of Peace having notice of related to a Person of Honour thinking them to be real Men and Horses but upon a strict inquiry it was concluded to be only an Apparition The same Relation says about that time there happened a strange and dreadful storm of Hail at Northampton and fire mingled with the hail in some places and that it did run upon the ground in great sheets of Fire for a considerable way together It fell upon some part of Wellinborough Town in Northamptonshire Upon February 18. this year very early in the morning began a
such great Miracles In several Ages after it made woful irruptions as from the year 1160 to 1169 all Sicily was shaken with huge Earthquakes and the Mountain Aetna foaming mightily overthrew all the circumjacent places with incredible Desolation with the ruine of the Cathedral Church of Catania about ten miles distant in which Abbot John and his Monks were overwhelmed Many other fearful burnings have happened since that time but none more horrible for its mighty devastations than that in the year 1669 The Right Honourable the Earl of Winchelsea His Majesties late Ambassador at Constantinople in his return from thence visiting Catania was an Eye-witness of this Prodigious Judgment whereof he gave the following Account to His present Majesty King Charles the second as soon as he came to Naples May it please Your Majesty In my Voyage from Malta to this place I touched at the City of Catania in Sicily and was there most kindly Invited by the Bishop to lodge in his Palace which I accepted that so I might be the better able to inform your Majesty of that extraordinary Fire which comes from Mount Gibel 15 miles distant from that City which for its horridness in the aspect for the vast quantity thereof for it is 15 miles in length and 7 in breadth for its monstrous devastation and quick progress may be termed an Inundation of Fire a Flood of Fire Cinders and burning Stones burning with that Rage as to advance into the Sea 600 yards and that to a mile in breadth which I saw and that which did augment my admiration was to see in the Sea this matter like ragged Rocks burning in sour fathom water two fathom higher than the Sea it self some parts liquid and moving and throwing off not without great violence the stones about it which like a crust of a vast bigness and red hot sell into the Sea every moment in some place or other causing a great and horrible noise smoak and hissing in the Sea and thus more and more coming after it making a firm foundation in the Sea it self I stayed there from nine a Clock on Saturday morning to seven next morning and this Mountain of Fire and Stones with Cinders had advanced into the Sea 20 yards at least in several places in the middle of this Fire which burn'd in the Sea it hath formed a passage like to a River with its Banks on each side very steep and craggy and in this Channel moves the greatest quantity of this Fire which is the most liquid with stones of the same composition and Cinders all red hot swimming upon the Fire of a great magnitude From this River of Fire under the great Masse of the Stones which are generally three fathom high all over the Country where it burns and in other places much more there are secret Conduits or Rivulets of this liquid matter which Communicate Fire and heat into all parts more or less and melts the Stones and Cinders by fits in those places where it toucheth them over and over again where it meets with Rocks or Houses of the same matter as many are they melt and go away with the Fire where they find other compositions they turn them to lime or ashes as I am informed The composition of this Fire Stones and Cinders are Sulphur Nitre Quick-silver Sal-Armoniac Lead Iron Brass and all other Mettals It moves not regularly nor constantly down hill in some places it hath made the Valleys Hills and the Hills that were not high are now Valleys When it was night I weat upon two Towers in divers places and could plainly see at 10 miles distance as we judged the Fire to begin to run from the Mountain in a direct line the flame to ascend as high and as big as one of the highest and greatest Steeples in Your Majesties Kingdoms and to throw up great Stones into the Air I could discern the River of Fire to dâ—scend the Mountain of a terrible â—â—ery or red colour and stones of a paler Red to swim thereon and to be some as big as an ordinary Table We could see this fire to move in several other places and all the Country covered with Fire ascending with great Flames in many places smoaking â—â—â—e to a violent furnace of Iron melted making a noiâ—e with the great picces that fell especially those which fell iâ—to the Sea A Cavalier of Malta who lives there and attended me told me that the River was as liquid where it issues out of the Mountain as water and came out like a Torrent with great violence and is five or six fathom deep and as broad and that no stones do sink therein I assure Your Majesty no Pen can express how terrible it is nor can all the Art and Industry of the world quench or divert that which is burning in the Country In 40 days time it hath destroyed the habitations of 27 thousand persons made two Hills of one 1000 paces high a-piece and one is four miles in compass Of 20000 persons which inhabited Catania 3000 did only remain all their Goods are carryed away the Cannons of Brass are removed out of the Castle some great Bells taken down the City-Gates Walled up next the Fire and preparation made all to abandon the City That night which I lay there it rained Ashes all over the City and 〈◊〉 Miles at Sea it troubled my Eyes This Fire in its Progress 〈…〉 â—ith a Lake of Four Miles in compass and iâ— was not only satisâ—â—â—d to fill it up though it was four fathâ—â— deep but hatâ— made 〈◊〉 it a Mountain I send also to Your Sacred Majesty the following Account in Print which the Bishop save me as it is â—â—â—ected one of divers Relations from Caâ—ama Mount 〈…〉 Gibello a Mountain so Renowned throughout the World for its heightand greatness but more for â—hosâ— Prodigious Flames Smoak and Ashes which it hath cast out from the top of it whilst the other parts are continually even in the midst of Sâ—mmer cover'd with Snow has been for many Ages observ'd once or sometimes oftner in the space of above fifteen years to throw up more than ordinary â—lames with much Smoak and Stones and great quantities of Aâ—â—es which though terrible to the Neighbouring Towns and Villages was yet wâ—nt in little time to abate of its fury and prove but seldom more inâ—urious to the Country â—ear it than by communicating largely its ashes which though for the present it did somewhat incommode them they had afterwards a considerable Compensation in the product of their Lands which by this means were rendred more fruitful But on Friday the 18th of March 1669. the Sun was observed before its setting to appear of a pale and dead colour which being contrary to what it ever before appeared to us struck no small terror into the Inhabitants all Objects appearing also of the same colour with a paleness received from that of the Sun The same night happened in this City as well
Sufferings freely open'd their Doores filling their Houses with as many of those distressed People as they could possibly receive the Bishop and all persons of Quality and Estate contributing largely for their support till better Order could be taken for the disposing of them The City of Messina also and several other Cities informed of this extraordinary Calamity sent hither large Supplies of Provisions offering their best assistance to this place in case of extremity All the Elements seemed at this time to make War upon us and to conspire together for the punishment of the Inhabitants The Air was continually darkened with Clouds and Smoke agitated by great and violent Winds and oftentimes showred down great Rains insomuch as the Sun from the beginning of these Eruptions very seldom appeared to us and when it did with extraordinary paleness for a little time only and as it were abhorring so dreadful a Spectacle soon hid its face again under a thick Cloud The Sea ran much higher than it was wont to do and by its extraordinary Roaring and in some places over-flowing its Banks added not a little to our consternation The Land every where infested with Thieves insomuch that till by the extraordinary care taken by the Magistrates and Officers severe execution was done upon such as were apprehended in the Fact no person was able to stir abroad without danger of his life whilst the Fire by this prodigious overflowing of the Mountain threatned to take possession of all On Friday the 15th the stream of fiery Matter which destroyed the lower part of St. Giovanni di Galermo divided it self into two parts one of its branches taking its way toward Mosterbianco the other threatning the City of Catania but this last was observed to move with more slowness than before having in 24 hours time scarcely gained 20 paces On the 18th being Monday the Torrents being still seen to draw nearer and nearer to this City the Senate with Monsegnior Cambuchi the Bishop of this place followed by all the Clergy Secular and Regular and an infinite number of people went in a solemn Procession out of this City to Monte de St. Sofia carrying out with greatest Devotion their choicest Relicks and upon an Altar erected in view of the Mountain exposed them where they celebrated Mass and used the Exorcismes accustomed upon such extraordinary occasions all which time the Mountain ceased not as before with excessive roaring to throw up its smoak and flames with extraordinary violence and abundance of great stones which were carried through the Air some of them falling within their view though at ten miles distance from the Eruption the Ashes which proceeded from thence were scattered in great abundance as well on this City as on the Country adjacent every where in the Fields with Cinders and the heat of the said Ashes destroying the Grass which obliged the people to drive away their Cattle to a farther distance which would otherwise have perished for want of food These streams of ruine dayly crept nearer and nearer to this City but by uneven and irregular motions according as it was more or less supplyed from its fountain but on Wednesday the 20th we perceived that that branch of it which seemed most to threaten this City from St. Giovanni di Galermo was wholly extinguisht and the other which bent its course toward Moster-bianco ran but slowly and gave us some hopes that its fury was also near spent but the other Torrent which had before overflown Mosterbianco continued its motion with as much violence as ever being in breadth above a Musquet shot over but in probability could not easily overflow to the Westwards which was defended by its Rocky scituation another branch which ran by Santo Pietro was observed to be much larger than the rest and its stream more quick and active but meeting with some opposition in its way it made some stop only sending out a Rivulet toward the Eastwards about three or four yards wide of its most subtle and active matter which directed its course towards a small Village about a Furlong distant from its main stream another Branch threatned Campo Rotundo but bent its course westwards towards the Farm of Valcorrente where its Fiery body was scattered into several deep and rocky places without any considerable damage About this time we had hopes that the violence of this eruption had been over the Mountain not throwing out its flames with that violence as before and its noise and roaring in a great measure ceased Those who at nearest distance took a view of the Mountain informed that the top of it was fallen in and the Mountain supposed to want near a mile of its former height that the largest of the Mouths from whence these fiery streams were vented was about half a mile in compass but the view of this dreadful Inundation carried so much terror in it as they were not able to express from all these Mouths were vomited Rivers of a thick and fiery substance of stone and metals melted whose depth was various according to the several places it filled in its passage in some places 4 in others 8 12 or 15 yards and upwards its breadth in some places 6 miles in others much more itsflame like that of Brimstone and its motion like that of Quick-silver advancing ordinarily very slowly unless where it was provoked by the addition of a fresh Torrent or some considerable descent Wheresoever it passed it left large heaps of its congealed matter with which it covered and burnt the Earth melting the Walls of Castles and Houses throwing down and consuming all before it nothing being yet found able to resist its force nor any thing able to quench its burning water being observed rather to add to its fury wheresoever it has passed it has left its dreadful marks behind it levelling some hills and raising others so much changing the scituation that not the least trace of any place or Town remains nothing being to be seen but confused heaps of ragged stone which yielding a noisome fume strikes terror and astonishment into all that behold it On Friday the 22 the Mountain again roared with much loudness and threw up from its Mouths a vast quantity of matter which formed two large hills higher and larger than that of Monpileri with a large bank of the same matter to the Eastward sending down a violent stream of its liquid matter towards Malpasso much enlarging the former Current and passing thence to Campo Rotundo and Santo Pietro compleated the ruines of those Towns driving furiouflyi towards Moster bianco the other stream by Santo Giovanni de Galermo being wholly diverted and extinguisht From this time till the 25th the Mountain continued silent but then it burst out again with more force than ever before its noise much louder like Peales of Ordnance and so forcible and lasting as for 24 hours it caused a shaking and trembling in our Buildings the Air so filled with Smoak and Ashes as
the Deâ—ks in several places which immediately burst forth into dreadful Flames and with all their diligence could not be quenched so that they were all forced to betake themselves to their Long-boat and happily escaped to another English Ship not far off In the Cazelt it is related That the Letters from Mâ—sâ—o the chief City of Russia of July 25. give an Account That the late Czar or Emperor Alexis who married with a Polish Lady having by her means taken a great Affection to the manners and customes of that Nation and designed to introduce them among his own Subjects the more to civilize them had thereby raised a great hatred in the Boyars or Nobility and other great Men against him who resolved to poyson him and his Queen and accordingly effected it by the means of a Jew He had two Brothers the eldest named John about 20 years old who had the same Mother and was born blind of one Eye the other named Peter about 9 years old who was born of a second Marriage and his Mother the Princess Natalia was living The Emperor being dead in few hours after suffering great Torments The Chancellor of the Kingdom joyning with the Princess Natalia and several Boyers and other great Men proclaimed the young Prince Peter Emperor and at the same time the Princess Sophia Sister to Prince John General Komanski and many others espoused the cause of the Elder Brother and drew the Guards and Souldiers to their side by perswading them that the late Czar was poysoned and that there was a design likewise to destroy them whereupon the said Guards rose and fell upon the Boyers and others who had proclaimed Prince Peter and destroyed a great many of them After which Prince John was proclaimed Emperor but without deposing Prince Peter so that there are now two Emperors who were both Crowned June 24. last past The Emperor Alexis left a young Son of whom it seems no notice was taken he being yet in the Cradle The two Emperors seem hitherto to agree very well and things at present are very calm and quiet there LXXXVIII In 1682. The Gazett of July 31. gives an Account that on the sixth of that Month at Tortorica a Town in Sicily about seven a Clock in the Evening after so great darkness that they could not discern each other four paces asunder there arose a great storm of Rain Lightning and Thunder which lasted 36 hours that about one a Clock next morning great Torrents of Water caused by these Rains fell from the Mountains with so great violence that they carryed with thâ—â—â— Trees of an extraordinary bigness which threw 〈◊〉 the Wall and Houses of the Town they happened to beat against The Waters were so furious that they 〈◊〉 the Church of St. Niâ—â—â—las and the Arch-Deacon of the Town who retired thither perished there with many other Persons There only remained one Abby and about fifty Housâ—s and those so shattered that they fell down soon after about 600 of the Inhabitants were drowned the rest being abroad in the Fieldâ— gathering their Silk fled to the Mountains where they suffered very much for want of Provisions The Goods Trees Stones Sand and other Rubbish which the Waters carryed away were in so great abundance that they made a Bank above the Water two miles in length near the Mouth of the River where the Water before was very deep several other Towns were likewise destroyed by this great Flood It is added that Mount Aeâ—â—â— cast forth such abundance of Water that all the Neighbouring Countrey was drowned They write likewise from Rome of July 4. That after having been two Moneths without Rain it began to Rain on Sunday June 25 at night and that an hour before day there fell a Thunderbolt in the Popes Pallace of St. Peter which ran through several Rooms and broke down the Châ—mny-Peice of the Apartment of Cardinal Cibo LXXXIX In the weekly Memorials published at Lordâ—â— we have the Extract of two Letters sent to the Publisher by Richard Gips Esq from Weltham-Hall in Suffolk dated the 22 and 29 of July 1682 concerning a groâ—ing peice of Wood to this Effect Sir Myself and many hundreds of Ingenious Men have seen at St. Edmundsbury in Suffolk a groning peice of Wood it was of an Elm-Tree sawn in the middle as I conceive and I guess it to be of a very great Age As soon as a hot Iron was put on this Wood it greaned like a dying man so that it might be heard a great way It was very surprizing to me when I heard it for I could not be perswaded to believe any such thing The Wood was very firm on one side of it knotty and crackt in some places nor would it groan when the Iron was put twice in the same place but it would at some little distance from it At the time when the hot Iron was put upon it I layd my hand nigh the Iron and perceived something gather to the Iron before the Wood groaned the groan was no longer than that of a dying Man This Wood was first discovered by a little Girl who playing with the Fire by accident scattered a Coal on this Board which lay very nigh the Fire and it groaned so extraordinarily that it frighted the Child The second Letter was thus Sir since my last to you the Groaning Plank is removed from Bury but being informed of another Groaning Plank I this day went to see it and was much more surprized at it than at the former the groaning being much more audible than the other This peice of Wood was Witch-Elm as the other also was though much less and thinner it was about an Inch or two in thickness a yard and an half in length and 3 Foot broad It was an old and firm peice of Wood as the former Sir if you see any Witch-Elm that is very old you may assure your self that if you burn it with a very hot Iron it will groan extraordinarily I discoursed with a very ingenious Gentleman who thinks it is occasioned by reason of some Glutinoâ—s matter which is included in that sort of Wood so that when the Fire comes it rarifies it and occasions that noise but in regard I could not perceive any Glutinous matter but on the contrary that it was extraordinary dry I could hardly acquiâ—sâ—â— in his Opinion XC In 1682. August 14. Another Comet or Blazing Star was visible in London at nine a Clock at night about North and by West from that City Its head was large much like the Star Venus at the height it was seen several Nights after and having about 30 Degrees of North Latitude it did never set having continued for some time it disappeared Aug. 25. the Gazett informs us from Naples that the Mountain Vesuvius did cast out Fire accompanied with a most terrible and hideous noise which from an hour after Sunset on Saturday till 3 a Clock next morning was so great that it caused a
Egyptian Kings intended these for their Sepulchres yet it happened that they were not buried therein For the People being inraged against them for the slavery and toilsomness of the work and for their Cruelty and oppression they threatned to tear in peices their dead Bodies and with scorn and ignominy to throw them out of their Sepulchres whereupon these Princes commanded their Friends that when they were dead they should bury them in some obscure place The Tomb is cut smooth and plain without any sculpture or ingraving The outsides contain in length 7 Foot 3 Inches and half in depth 3 foot 4 Inches and the same breadth the hollow part within is about six foot long the depth two foot whereby it appears that mens bodies are as big now as they were Three Thousand year ago for it is near so long since this Tomb was made The charge whereof was so great that though the workmen had no other Food but Garlick Radishes and Onions yet it cost that King eighteen Hundred Talents Some with great labor and pains have climbed to the top of this Pyramid but being above they have seemed as it were to lose their sight by looking down judging themselves to be above the clouds whereby their Brains were much troubled Next to this in bulk and beauty is said to be the Pyramid of a Daughter of Cheops who as Authors report to finish her Fathers undertaking and raise her own to the height prostituted her body to all Comers requiring but one stone toward the work from each one of her Customers Treasury of Time Not far from this Pyramid are the Egyptian Mummies which are the Graves of the ancient Egyptians into which are descents like the narrow mouths of Wells some near Ten Fathoms deep leading into long Vaults hewn out of the Rock with Pillars of the same Between every Arch lye the Corps ranked one by another of all sides which are innumerable shrouded in a number of Folds of Linnen and swathed with Bands of the same the breasts of many being marked with strange Hieroglyphick Characters The Linnen being pull'd off the bodies appear solid uncorrupt and perfect in all their dimensions To keep these from Putrefaction they draw the Brains out at the Nostrils with an Iron Instrument filling the head with preservative spices then cutting up the Belly with an Ethiopian Stone they take forth the Bowels cleanse the inside with wine and so stuffing it with a composition of Myrrhe Cassia and other odours they closed it up again The same the poorer sort effected with Bitumen fetched from the Lake of Sodom whereby they have been preserved to this day having lain there for above Three Thousand years Clarks Mirrour First Part. On the Bank of the River Nilus stood that famous Labyrinth built by Psammiticus King of Egypt situate on the South side of the Pyramids and North of Arsinoe It contained within the compass of one continued Wall a Thousand Houses Herodotus says three Thousand five hundred and twelve Royal Palaces all covered with Marble and had one only entrance but innumerable turnings and returnings sometimes one over another and all very difficult to such as were not acquainted with them The Building was more under ground than above the Marblestones being laid with such Art that neither wood nor cement was imployed in any part of the Fabrick The chambers were so ordered that the doors upon there opening gave a Report no less terrible than a crack of Thunder The chief entrance was all of white Marble adorned with stately Columns and most curious Imagery Having got to the end of it a pair of stairs of ninety steps conducted into a gallant Porch or Portico supported with Pillars of Theban Marble which was the entrance into a fair and stately Hall the place of the General Convention or meeting of the Nobles of the Kingdom all of polished marble set out with the Statues of their Gods A work which afterward was imitated by Dedalus in the Cretan Labyrinth though it fell as short of the Glories of this as Minos the King who was at the charge thereof was inferiour to Psammiticus in power and Riches Heylins Cosmography The lake of Maeris was likewise a most admirable work undertaken and finished by Maeris one of the Egyptian Kings which for greatness and colour is like the Sea It is about six hundred furlongs from the City of Memphis the circumference thereof containing some hundreds of furlongs the depth fifty fathom or three hundred feet many Millions of men were imployed several years about it the benefit of it to the Egyptians and the wisdom of that King cannot be sufficiently commended for since the rising of the River Nilus is not alwayes alike and the Countrey is more fruitful by the moderateness thereof He digged this Lake to receive the superfluity of the waters that neither by the greatness of the Inundation it should cause Marishes or by the scarcity of water the Earth should not yield her strength â—he therefore cut a ditch from the River to this Lake fourscore furlongs long and three hundred feet in breadth by which sometimes receiving in and sometimes diverting the River he gave at his pleasure a sufficient quantity of water to the Husbandmen In the midst of this Lake King Maeris built a Sepulcher and 2 Pyramids each of them an hundred fathoms high placing upon them two Marble Statues fitting on a Throne one representing himself the other his wife designing hereby to make his Memory Immortal The Revenues which rise by the Fish of this Lake he gave to his wife to buy sweet Ointments Ornaments and Jewels which was so great that it amounted to above a Thousand pound a day For it was mightily replenished with Fish of Twenty sorts so that very many were continually imployed in catching and salting of them Diodorus Siculus Hist 5. The Fourth Marvel or Wonder of the World was the Tomb of Mausolus King of Caria a Province in the Greater Asia built by his Queen Artemisia who as Historians report so dearly affected her husband that she is by many recorded as an absolute pattern of Conjugal Affection After his death she lamented his loss with extraordinary Sorrow and Complaints and resolved to erect a Tomb or Sepulcher for him answerable to the extream Love she had for him and such indeed it proved to be being accounted for rare workmanship and costly magnificence one of the Worlds Wonders The Stone of the whole Structure was of most curious Marble four hundred and eleven foot in Circuit and 25 Cubits high supported with Thirty gallant Pillars excellently ingraven This building was open on all sides with Arches 73 foot wide framed by the most exquisite workmen of that Age and the perfection of the work was so admirable that ever after all sumptuous and beautiful Tombs were called Mausolaea of which Martial thus writeth Mausolus Tomb which hangeth in the skie The Men of Caria's Praises Deifie It is recorded that Artemisia after
give a guess at the Riches and Ornaments of it by this that there was spent only upon its gilding above Twelve Thousand Talents It was all guilded over not the inner roof only but the outward covering which was of brass or Copper and the doors of it were overlay'd with thick Plates of Gold which remained to the Reign of Honorius After the great overthrow of the Romans by the Gauls near the River Allia those that escaped fled to Rome for security filling all the City with trouble and fear but the People not judging themselves safe there got all away out of the Town only a small number of the most resolute put themselves into the Capitol resolving to indure all extremities The rest escaped to the City of Veios where assembling together they chose Furius Camillus whom some time before they had disobliged to be their Dictator but he would not accept of the Dignity unless the Senators in the Capitol gave their Legal consent thereunto This was very difficult because the Gauls had environed it round about with their Troops yet one Pontius undertook this dangerous enterprize and coming to the River Tyber he swom over upon a piece of broad Cork and landing on the other side he went softly that way where he saw no light and therefore supposed there was no watch kept and so climbing up the steep craggy rocks he with much ado got to the top where being espied by the Roman Centinels they assisted him and brought him to the Senators who received his Message and immediately dispatched him with an answer so that he returned back to Camillus the same night Next day one of the Gauls walking about that place chanced to espy the prints and footsteps of a man upon the Rocks and Grass which grew thereon this he discovered to his Fellows who thinking the Romans had now shew'd them the way they took the opportunity of a dark night and ascended the Hill the same way without being discovered either by the Men or the Dogs who both kept guard there but were now all fast asleep But it was the good fortune of the Romans that there were certain Geese dedicated to Juno and kept at the Publick Charge near her Temple they being fearful by nature and easily affrighted by the least noise in the night and being also kept very hungry by reason of the scarcity in the Capitol may be supposed to have slept the more lightly so that perceiving the Enemies with their glittering Armour they flew against them and filled the whole place with a fearful and unusual cry which awakened the Romans who suspecting the matter ran presently to the wall and beat back their Enemies throwing them down headlong by which unusual means the Capitol was saved all the Gauls being forced to hasten off or to leave their dead bodies at the foot of the Hill they had newly climbed In remembrance whereof for a great while after upon one day in the year they carried about in Procession a Dog hanged on a Gallows and a Goose sitting in a little chair of state upon a rich and sumptuous Cushion Camerareus Medit. 12. Suctonius thus describes that house of Nero which Nero himself called Domum Auream The Golden House In the Porch was set a Colossus or Image shaped like himself of one hundred and Twenty foot high The spaciousness of the House was such that it had in it three Galleries each of them a mile long a standing Pool like a Sea beset with buildings in manner of a City Feilds in which were arable grounds Pastures Vineyards and Woods with a various multitude of tame and wild Beasts of all kinds In the other part thereof all things were covered with gold and distinguished with precious stones as Mother of Pearl c. The Supping Rooms were roofed with Ivory planks that were moveable for the casting down of Flowers and had Pipes in them for the sprinkling of Ointments The Roof of the Principal Supping Room was round which like the Heavens wheeled about perpetually day and night This House when he had thus finished and dedicated he so mightily approved of that he said He then began to live like a Man Suetonius Hist Lib. 6. XIII The Amphitheatre begun by Vespasian but finished and dedicated by Titus was most famous the height whereof was such that saith Marcellinus the Eye of man could hardly reach it It was built and reared up saith Cassiodore with Rivers of Treasure poured out It contained only upon the Steps and Degrees sufficient and easie Seats for fourscore and seven Thousand Persons so as the vacant Places besides might well contain Ten or Twenty Thousand more And it is admirable to consider saith the L. Montaign in his Essays what mighty magnificence the Roman Emperors used in their Theaters It was wonderful saith he to cause a great quantity of large Trees all full of green branches to be brought from far and planted in Plots yeilding nothing but dry gravel representing a wild shady Forrest divided in due and seemly proportion And the first day to put into the Theatre a Thousand Estriges a Thousand Stags a Thousand Wild Boars and a Thousand Bucks which were hunted and baited by the common people The next day in the presence of all the People an hundred great Lyons an hundred Leopards and three hundred huge Bears were baited and torn to peices The third day three hundred couple of Gladiators or Fencers combated and murdered one another as in the Reign of the Emperor Probus It was also an exlent sight to see those huge wondrous Amphitheatres all inchased with rich Marble and curiously inriched on the outside with carved statues and all the inside glistering with precious and rare Imbellishments All the sides round about were invironed and replenished from the ground to the very top with three or fourscore ranks of steps and seats all of Marble covered with gallant Cushions where might be conveniently placed an hundred thousand men and all sit at ease The plain groundwork of it where Sports were acted were so ordered by Art as to open asunder with holes and gaps like hollow Caves out of which issued wild Beasts appointed for the Plays After which the whole floor of the Theatre was immediately overflown with a very deep Sea wherein were all manner of strange Fishes and Sea Monsters with a great Navy of Ships ready rigged and provided for a Sea-fight In an Instant all was dry and smooth again and the Fencers entred and fought with each other Lastly to compleat the last Act of one day only the whole floor was forthwith cleansed and strowed over with Vermilion and Storax instead of Gravel and a solemn banquet brought forth enough to entertain that almost infinite number of People they have sometimes caused an huge steep Mountain to arise in the midst of the Amphitheatre all overspread with fruitful and flourishing Trees of all sorts on the top whereof gushed out streams of water as from a Fountain Other
times they have brought forth a great tall Ship floating up and down which opened and split asunder of it self from whence issued out four or five hundred wild Beasts to he baited and then closing again it vanished away without any visible help sometimes they caused water to spout gently from the bottom of the Theatre which bubbling up to the very top sprinkled and refreshed that vast multitude And to preserve themselves from the violence of the weather they caused that huge compass to be overspread sometimes with purple Sails all curiously wrought with the Needle sometimes of Silk and other colours all which was done in the twinkling of an Eye either to spread or draw it back again The Nets likewise which they used to put before the people to save them from the danger of the wild baited Beasts were all woven of Gold Thred Montaigns Essays lib. 3. XIV The Bridge of Caligula was a new and unheard of Spectacle it reached from Puteoli to Bauli three miles and a quarter he built it upon Ships in a few days Over this he marched with the Senate and Souldiery in a Triumphant manner and in the view of the People Upon this he feasted and passed the night in dalliance and Gaming A Marvellous and great work indeed but such as the vanity thereof deprived it of Commendation for to what end was it raised but to be demolished Thus sported he saith Seneca with the Power of the Empire and all in imitation of Xerxes a Foreign Frantick unfortunate and proud King Hakewels Apology XV. Wales anciently extended it self Eastward to the River Severn till by the valour of Offa the great King of the Mercians the Welch or Brittains were driven out of the plain Countrey beyond that River and forced to betake themselves to the Mountains where he caused them to be shut up and divided from England with an huge Ditch called Offa's Dike which began where the River Wie comes into the Severn not far from Chepstow and extended fourscore and four miles in length even as far as Chester where the River Dee is mingled with the Sea which was a very stupendious work Concerning this Ditch there was a Law made by K. Harold That if any Welshman was found with a Weapon on this side of it he should have his right hand cut off by the Kings Officers Heylins Cosmography XVI China is bounden on the North with Altay and the Eastern Tartars from which it is separated by a continued Chain of Hills and where that Chain is broken off with a great Wall of four hundred Leagues or Twelve hundred English miles in length It was built as they say by Zaintzon the 117 King thereof it was six fathom high and 12 yards thick and was twenty seven years in building by the continued labour of seven Millions and Fifty Thousand men Herberts Travels XVII Ptolomeus Philopater built a Ship saith Pancirollus that the like was never seen before nor since It was two hundred and eighty Cubits in length fifty two Cubits in height from the bottom to the upper Decks It had four hundred Banks or Seats for Rowers four hundred Marriners and four thousand Rovers And on the Decks it could contain Three Thousand Souldiers There were also Gardens and Orchards on the top of it as Plutarch relates in the life of Demetrius XVIII The Escurial or Monastery of St. Lawrence in New Castile in Spain was built by K. Philip 2. A place of such Magnificence that no building in times past or the present is comparable to it The Front toward the VVest is adorned with three stately Gates the middlemost whereof leadeth into a most magnificent Temple or Monastery wherein were one hundred Monks of the Order of St. Jerom and a Colledge the Gate on the right hand openeth into divers Offices belonging to the Monastery that on the left hand to the Schools and outhouses belonging to the Colledge At the four Corners are four Turrets of excellent Workmanship and for height Majestical Towards the North is the Kings Pallace on the South part are divers beautiful and Sumptuous Gallerys and on the East side several Gardens and Walks very pleasant and delectable It containeth in all eleven several Quadrangles every one incloistered and is indeed so brave a Structure that a Voyage to Spain were well imployed were it only to see it and return Heylins Cosmography FINIS Advertisements There are lately published by R. Burton five very useful pleasant and necessary books which are all sold by N. Crouch I. EXtraordinary Adventures of several Famous Men with the strange Events and many signal Mutations and Changes in the Fortunes of many Illustrious Places and Persons in all Ages Being an account of a Multitude of Stupendious Revolutions Accidents and Observable matters in many Kingdoms States and Provinces throughout the whole World Namely The Adventures of Christoph Columbus and the manner of his Discovery of America or the New World How Bajazet Emp. of the Turks was carried about in an Iron Cage by the Emp. Tamerlane The Cruelties used by the Turks upon the Christians at Argiers their manner of selling Slaves c. The Travels of an Engglish Man into Barbary and Morocco with the Rarities thereof and of the Villany of the English Renegadoes The dreadful Mutiny in the City of Naples about their Priviledges in 1647 and how Massanello a Fisher-boy ruled there for 10 days with greater Power than any King or Emperour An Account of several Nations destroyed or driven from their Habitations by Gnats Moles Pismires Sparrows Locusts Hares Conies Fleas Frogs Mice Gâ—asshoppers Serpents Worms and other inconsiderable Creatures The Tragical Deaths of John and Cornelius de Wit at the Hague in Holland The strange Revolution in Portugal in 1640. The woful Deaths of the Emp. of China his Wife and Daughter in 1640 Remarks on the Life and Death of Sir W. Rawleigh with his last Speech and Behaviour on the Scaffold with abundance of other Remarkable Instances of various kinds some of them being lively described in Picture for their better Illustration Price One Shilling II. ADmirable Curiosities Rarities and Wonders in England Scotland and Ireland or an account of many remarkable persons and places and likewise of the battels sieges prodigious Earthquakes tempests inundations thunders lightnings fires murders and other considerable occurrences and accidents for many hundred years past and among others The Preaching of K. Hen. 3. to the Monks at Winchester The manner of the horrid murther of King Edward 2. The battle of Bosworth and the miserable death of Crook-backt Richard The beheading of the L. Cromwel and the E. of Essex with their last Speeches The Rebellion of the Papists in Cornwal c. against the Common Prayer in King Edw. 6. time and the K. letter to them The Rebellion under Kett the Tanner and his Laws Ordinances in the Oak of Reformation near Norwich The Association in Q. Eliz. time The proceedings against Mary Q. of Scots Mother