brought them home to Biscay Here the Vistiors of the Inquisition came aboard the Ship put them on Examination but by the Master's Favour and some general Answers they escaped for the present But fearing a second search they shifted for themselves and going twelve Miles by Night into France and so safely arrived in England Thus as the Psalmist speaks They which go down into the Sea and occupy in great Waters these Men see the Works of the Lord and his Wonders in the Deep Hackluit's English Voyages Vol. 3. Pag. 163. Full. Worth Pag. 282. in Devonshire 5. Dr. VVilliam Johnson late Chaplain and Subalmoner to King Charles I. going aboard from Harwich on Michaelmas-Day Sep. 29. 1648. was seized presently with a dull sadness of Spirit and was to use his own Words in a strange Anguish and Propassion so that he suffered Shipwreek in his Mind and all the terrors thereof before it came so really sick that to be drown'd in his Thoughts had been no Affliction to him After some time and not long about four a Clock in the Afternoon the Ship sprung a leak the Doctor crawled upon the Deck sees the sad Sight one fell to his Prayers another wrung his Hands a third wept after all they fell to work but in vain for the Wound was incurable At last they cast out their Long-boat shot off eight or nine Guns to give notice to the Master of the Ship that went out with them leap'd all into the Boat and in leaping the Doctor had like to have been drown'd No Mr. Cook who was Master of the Ship came to their Relief he and all his Men perished at the same time Now it blew half a Storm and they in a small Vessel many Leagues from any Shoar without Compass to guide them or Provision to sustain them starved with Cold and Night growing upon them without any thing in their Boat but a small Kettle which serv'd as a Scoop to cast the Water out and three Bags of pieces of Eight to the value of 300 l. sterling nothing to help them but their Prayers In this extremity of Danger see the Goodness of God a Ship made towards them and they with their two Oars towards it but the Sea was boisterous the Waves raging so that they were fain to keep out the Sea with their Backs sitting close to one another and to make use of their Kettle and for a long time were not able to reach the Ship nor the Ship them Tho' the good Man the Skipper hung on the Lee and did what he could to retard the Course of his Ship and hung out a Light to them at last they got into the Ship but the Doctor being weak and his Hands made useless and numb with cold and wet was left in the Boat till with the help of a Rope the Seamen pull'd him up Now they began to think over their Losses in the Shipwreck but they were not considerable when God had so graciously spared their Lives The next day Thursday it blew very fair for Norway whither their Ship was bound and about 12 a Clock at Noon they came within view of it but to escape the Rocks they thought to keep off the Coast till Morning and so sat down to eat the Doctor not having made a Meal in five Days About ten a Clock at Night when they had set their Watch and prayed with secure Thoughts they laid themselves to rest some of them upon their Bed but God appointed a harder Lodging for them such a one as for Jacob in his Journey to Padan Aram Gen. 28.11 for the Ship with full Sails ran upon a Rock and gave such a Crack that it was able to have awaken'd the most dead asleep among them The Mariners cried out Mercy Mercy Mercy the Master bid the Doctor pray for them pray for them for they should certainly perish The Ship stuck so fast in the Cleft of the Rock and brake in the hinder parts and one of the Seamen with a Rope in his Hand fastened to one of the Masts leaped from the Bow of the Ship to the Rock the rest following him 28 in number the Doctor being left alone upon the Deck began to wonder what was become of his Company and perceiving that they had all crowded to the Head of the Ship he went to see and there found a Dane who took pity on him and help'd him to get down with hird and being got down the Rope with much difficulty and danger he climb'd up on all four to his Company on the Rock Immediately the Ship began to decline and the Master being left last of all in the Ship made lamentable Moan to them to help him but too late for the Ship brake and sunk immediately and he good Man with a Light in his Hand who had been so kind in saving others but a little before was now with four of the Mariners drown'd himself Now the rest were upon a little Rocky Island unhabitable where they passed a sad Night the Country People call the Rock Arn-scare next Morning they were hungry one of the Boys brought the Doctor a Leaf of Scurvy-Grass some of them went a Fishing with a long Arm and a bended Finger and drew up some small Muscles Fresh Water was not to be had the Doctor being in a Fever was forced to lap salt Water which he still vomited up again and this he was told was both a present Cure of his Sickness and future Preservation of his Health A Danish Ship passed by but tho' they waved their Hats to them came not near them Then to their Prayers and singing Psalms after which some of them made a Raft and ventured to Sea upon it and it proved to be then a great Calm and the Goodness of God appear'd miraculous in that after the Loss of two great Ships he should save them by a swimming Plank for by this means several Shawls came rowing towards them before Night and brought Provision with them so that they got all once more to Land in Waller-Island where they were lodged in the Parson's House who was a Lutheran and shewed them no little kindness the People weeping bitterly at the Relation of their misfortunes and setting before them Meat and Drink Rye-Pancakes for Bread and good Lubeck Beer and after Sermon a doubtful Meal full of Variety in one Dish as Beef Mutton Lard Goat Roots and so many of God's Creatures that it seem'd the First Chapter of Genesis in a Dish From Ostersound they came for England in a Ship which presently had almbst fallen foul upon a Rock afterward sprang a Leak so that they were forced to pump for their Lives till at last they got safe but thro' Dangers and Troubles to Yarmouth See the Narrative it self called Deus Nobiscum with a Sermon by W. Johnson D. D. 6. Dr. Baily of St. John's Colledge in Oxford had a Son who was Servant to Sir John Robinson Alderman of London and afterwards Lieutenant of the
both in publick Repositories and in private Hands two such as these the one 10 foot long were presented not long ago to the King of Denmark being taken near Nova Zembla and I have seen some full 15 foot long some wreath'd very thick some not so much others almost plain some largest and thickest at the End near the Head others are largest at some distance from the Head some very sharp at the end or point others blunt My Honoured Father Sir Tho. Brown had a very fair piece of one which was formerly among the Duke of Curland's Rarities I have seen a Walking Staff a Scepter a Scabbard for a Sword Boxes and other Curiosities made out of this Horn c. But of these Unicorns the King of Denmark and his Father had so many that he was able to spare a great number of them to build a Magnificent Throne out of Unicorn's Horns Dr. Browns Trav. p. 101. c. CHAP. XXXIX Strange Fish I remember when I was a little Boy and went first a Angling I brought home two or three small Dace and Breams with no little Joy and a secret promise of Applause to my self for my Success in the Game but my Mother with some Indignation refused to give her consent fro the Dressing of them I have not served my Reader so here No the Watry Element is so stored with such abundance of these Animals and the Sea takes up so great a part of this lower World that I have passed by all the common Species and present my Reader with the Huge Leviathan the Loving Dolphin the great Manaty and others strange and admirable for some Property or other that I promise my self my Reader will not serve me now as my Mother did then 1. The Whale is the greatest and chief of all Fishes That Whale taken in the Scheld 10 Miles from Antwerp Anno 1677 was of a blackish blue colour he had a Snout on his Head wherewith he belch'd up Water with great force he was 58 foot long 16 foot high his Tail was 14 foot broad from his Eye to the tip of his Nose 16 foot his lower Chap 6 foot of each side armed with 25 Teeth and there were as many holes in the Upper Chap where Teeth had been the longest of his Teeth 6 Thumbs long A Whale taken at Sceveling near the Hague was 60 foot long Johnston Class 9. cap. 3. p. 290. In the 6th year of Queen Elizabeth in the Month of December at Grimsby in Lincolnshire was driven on shoar a Monstrous Fish in length 19 Yards his Tail 15 foot broad and 6 yards between the Eyes 12 Men stood upright in his Mouth to get out the Oyl In the 17th Year a vast Whale was cast upon Thanet Isle in Kent 20 Ells long and 13 foot broad from the Belly to the Back-bone and 11 foot between the Eyes one of his Eyes being taken out of his Head was more then 2 Cart with 6 Horses could draw the Oyl being boiled out of his Head was Parmacittee Bakers Chron. The ordinary Dimension of the Whale is 36 Cubits in length and 8 in thickness yet Nearchus in Arianus is said to have measured one in the Indian Seas 50 Cubits long and proportionably broad Pliny exceeds all bounds of Credibility when he tells of some 960 foot or 4 Acres long Heylin's Cosmogr p. 876. 2. The Dolphins are so swift that they swim faster then a Shp under Sail before the Wind saith Bellonius when they play on the calm Sea they foreshew which way the Wind will blow and when they cast up Water the Sea being troubled they foreshew a Calm Thomas thinks that Exhalations rising from the bottom of the Sea when a Storm is at hand in Winter is the cause of it and he thinks that the Dolphin feels heat thereby and so breaks forth the oftner but Rondeletius thinks they are affected in the Water with the motion of the Air as those that are Sick are wont to be when the South Wind begins to blow Johnston p. 294. The last Year of King Edward VI. was taken at Quinborough three Dolphins and at Blackwall 6 more the last of which was bigger then a Horse Baker 3. The Manaty is a great Fish taken in the Rivers of Hispaniola his Head is like an Ox-head or bigger his Eyes in respect of his body are small he hath two thick Feet like Wings in the place of Gills with which he swims he hath a thick Skin and no Scales He is so great that there needs a Yoke of Oxen to carry him sometimes he is 14 or 15 foot long and 8 hands thick he hath two stones or rather bones in his Head so great as little hand-balls he wants Ears but in their place he hath small holes by which he hears His Skin is like the Skin of a shrevell'd Ox a Finger thick Ash colour and thin of Hairs the Tail is all Nervous which being boiled or fryed it resolves into fat Johnston p. 296. 4. The Swordfish hath a beck on both Chaps but the lower of them is short and triangular the upper is more bony and harder and far longer sometimes two Cubits long In the Indian Sea they grow so great that they will pierce the sides of the strongest Ship a hand and a half in thickness sometimes Gesner writes that a faithful Friend of his saw a Man when he sailed to Syria thar swam by the Ships side and he was cut in the middle by the beck of this Fish Johnston p. 304. 5. The Torpedo has his name because he benums the Hands and he doth this so effectually that before he is taken he will do it by the Net or the Rod. Johnston p. 303. 6. The â—unies are chiefly caught about Constantinople for when they are past Chalcedon a certain white Rock appears to them and so terrifies them that immediatly they put over to the farthest Bank and being taken by the swift Current of the Waters turns their course to Constantinople so that they are tkane in their Snares in great numbers they are bred in the Lakes of Maeotis 9. The Remora is said to stay Ships Petrus Melaras of Bononia reports That the Ship of Francis Cardinal of Troas when he went by Sea out of France was held frst in the swiftness of its course Many have sought the cause but no Man hath certainly found it Saith Johnston Hist Nat. Class 9. c. 7. p. 331. 8. Tritons or Fishes having the Face Lineaments and shape of Man's body one was seen in the days of Tiberius another in the time of Augustus a third under Nero Aelian Theodor. Gaza Trapezuntius Alex. ab Alex. Scaliger and divers others affirm the Truth of this yet these Tritons or Nereides cannot be called nor are they Men though they have the outward shape for it is not the matter nor outward Lineaments but the form that gives Essence and Denomination Ross Arcana Microcosin l. 2. p. 18. In King John's Reign such a Fish was taken
extraordinary Carps Trouts Tenches Pikes c. There is that substantial large Fish called Scheiden or Silurus Gesneri larger than Pike Salmon or any of our River Fishes but the great Fishes called Hausons or Husons in Jonston for largeness exceeds all others some being 20 foot long Some think this to be the Fish which Aelian names Antacetus and speaks largely of the Fishing for them in Ister I was saith he at the Fishing places for Hausons in Schiit Island between Presburg and Comora for they come not usually higher especially in Shoals and it is much that they come so high for they are perceived to come up the Stream out of the Euxine Sea They Eat them both fresh and salted they taste most like Sturgeon It is a Cartilaginous Fish consisting of Gristles and they have a hollow nervous chord the down the Back which being dried serves for a Whip When they Fish for them they blow a Horn or Trumpet and know where they go by the moving of the Water Dr. Browns Trav. p. 154. 19. Chatagne de Mer or Sea Chest-Nuts found in Canada of New France are the most delicious Fish that possibly can be Nova Francia p. 265. CHAP. XL. Strange Serpents THere is no kind of living Creature that we have a greater Antipathy against then this of Serpents and the Reason will easily appear to the Reader upon perusal of this Chapter so that they seem to me very fit Emblems of Satans Malice and Cunning and fit Engines for that Evil Spirit to make use of in the Delusion and Destruction of Human Nature insomuch that a due consideration of the Resemblance will serve pretty well to solve the difficulty of the History of our Fall 1. The Asp Their Poison is so great that they are not used in Medecines That of Chalidonia is the most Poisonous Death straight-way following The Cure of their Poison is by Incision Cauteries Cuppings and Cocks Rumps applied c. It is like to a Land-Snake but broader on the Back their Teeth are long and full of holes which are covered with a Skin that slides up when they Bite letting out their Poison Salmons Dispensatory p. 247. 2. The Ammodite its Poison is not inferiour to that of the Asp some dying within 3 hours after the Wound received none living above 7 days The Biting of the Female is most Venemous It is a kind of Viper of a Cubit long having black spots on the Skin small lines on the Back and hard Wart like a Horn on the upper Chap and very fierce Ibid. 3. Amphisbaena It is a venemous Serpent making a Wound so small that it can scarce be discerned causing Inflammation and a lingring Death It s Body is of an equal thickness the Eyes commonly shut the Skin rough hard spotted and of an Earthly colour They go both ways Ibid. 4. The Boa It is a Serpent which goes upon its Belly and grows to be above an hundred foot long It kills not Cattle till their Milk is dried up and then it Eats them destroying Herbs It s Poison causes Tumours Swellings and Iastly Death Ibid. 248. 5 Caecilia The Slow-Worm is a Creature which has a very strong Poison If their Wound swell prick and apply a Cataplasm of Fullers Earth and Vinegar It is called the Blind-Worm but it hurts not unless provoked Ibid. 6. Cenchrus the Millet It is a Serpent about two Cubits long of a dark colour spotted like the Millet-Seed They go strait and are avoided by an oblique Motion It is a dangerous and strong Beast when it seizes its Prey it sucks the Blood whilst it beats the Body with its Tail Ibid. 7. Cerastes the Horned Serpent 'T is a yard long of a sandy colour with two Horns and Teeth like a Viper its Poison is deadly It make the patient made Eyes dim Nerves immoveable causes a pricking like Needles Ibid. 8. Chelidrus Druina Hicinus Querculus Cheresidial the Druin it s among the first Ranks of Serpents for Poison 'T is about a yard long full of Scales under which breed a sort of Flies which destroy it The Back is blackish Head broad and flat Their Captain hath a white Crown or Comb on his Head It s very smell stupifies and almost strangles Ibid. 9. Coluber the Adder is a hotter Serpent than a Snake of a dark blacker colour of about a Cubit long Their Biting causes Swelling Paleness and Swounding The Cure is Venice-Treacle or Mithredate with Wine or Juice of Rice c. Ibid. 10. Dipsas Ammoatis Situla Melanurus Causon It is a burning fiery Serpent insomuch that they that are bit thirst most intolerably and drink so much till they burst It is less than a Viper but kills sooner about a Cubit long the Head and Tail are very little small and black the other parts whitish with black and yellow sports Ibid. p. 249. 11. Draco the Dragon It hurts more by its Biting and Tail than by its Poison 12. The Haemorrhe Affodius Sabrine is about a Foot long of a sandy colour spotted all over with black flaming Eyes small Head with the appearance of Horns having Scales rough and sharp making a noise as he goes Its biting causes a continual bleeding sweat violent torture Pain in the Stomach difficulty of Breathing Convulsions c. The Cure is by Scarification c. Ibid. 13. Lacerta the Lizard is of a changeable colour and an Enemy to the Spider and Toad The Eggs kill speedily except a sudden remedy be exhibited made of Falcons Dung and Wine If they Bite they leave their Teeth behind them which cause continual aking till taken out The Green Lizard living in Meadows are not Venomous Ibid. 14. Lacerta Aquatica the Neute is Venemous and hardly dies by blows but Salt kills them presently Their Eggs are about the bigness of Pease If provoked they shut the Mouth and stand upon their hinder Legs till their Body be all white or pale by which is shown their ill Nature Ibid. 15. Pelias by Biting causes Putrification but such as is easily Cured by drinking Poisan with Oil and anointing with Balm of Perue Ibid. 16. Prester That which Junius and Tremelius think to be the fiery Serpent in the Wilderness is a hot and fiery Beast and goes panting with open Mouth of a very malignant Poison The Cure is by the Juice of Pursley and Castorcum Drunk with Opoponax and Juice of Rue in Canary Ibid. 17. Plyas the most Poisonous Asp kills by Spitting Touch or Smell wounding almost invisibly They Prick not much bigger that the stinging of a Bee without swelling it causes heaviness of the Eyes pain of the Body with some kind of Pleasure Stupidity Deafness Convulsion Vomiting and Death 'T is about a yard long ash-colour flaming and greenish 18. Regulus Sibulus Basiliscus the Cockatrice is the King of al Serpents infecting the Air round about so that no Creature can live near it It is said that he kills both by touching and sight casting forth a burning
cited for what is more strange That in an Earthquake an hundred Cities in Lybia were destroyed tit Livius Hist Josephus records that about 29 Years after the Birth of Christ there happened a tremendous Earthquake in the Country of Judea whereby divers Beasts were slain many People overwhelmed in the Ruins of their Houses and perished to the number of about 30000. 2. To relate those Earthquakes that have happened since our Saviour's Birth as I find them mentioned by several Authors of which that which happened at his Crucifixion is said to be the greatest that ever was which shook not only one part of the Earth as in other Cases but the whole World trembled at once if famous Authors may be credited In the tenth Year of Christ was a great Earthquake in Cyprus which overthrew many Cities and in the 17th Year thirteen Cities in Italy were destroyed and the River Tyber overflowed Rome In the Year 59 was a great Earthquake in Rome at which time Nero's Supper was burned with Lightning 3. In the Reign of Trajan the Emperour Anno 105 there happened a most terrible Earthquake at Antioch which destroyed many Cities and People and extended it self very far with fearful Lightnings which made the Night as light as Day preceded with dreadful Thunderbolts that threw down stately Buildings killed many People strong and unusual Storms of Wind the Sea wrought the Waves swelled the Earth shaken Trees pluck'd up by the Roots multitudes buried in the Ruins of their own Houses In Anno 107 a very great Earthquake happened in Asia with many prodigious Sights in the Air as fighting of Men c. Another in Galatia and Rome where Lightning from Heaven consumed the Temple of their Gods with strong Winds and horrible Noises in the Earth In Anno 120 an Earthquake in Nice and two terrible Ones in Palestina In Anno 162 was a very great Earthquake in Bithynia 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 4. In Anno 244 the Sun was totally Eclipsed and there was so horrid an Earthquake that certain Cities together were swallowed up and exceeding great Darkness happened for many Days together In the Year 300 there were great Earthquakes by one whereof 13 Cities in Campania were overthrown and another in Asia Many Cities in the East fell to the Ground by an Earthquake and Neo Caesarea was overturned and all its Inhabitants perished except only such as were saved with the Bishop in the Church Dyracchium was demolished by an Earthquake Rome trembled for three Days and three Nights successively And indeed it was to General that all Europe and Asia were shaken at once 5. In the Year 366 in the Reign of Julian the Emperour who was first a Christian and after revolted to Paganism for which he was hamed the Apostate in despight and contempt of our blessed Saviour who had prophesied the Temple of Jerusalem should be destroyed and never rebuilt he impiously resolved to invalidate the same and designed to build it magnificently with excessive Cost and Charges when they had digged up the Remainders of the old Buildings from the lowest Foundation and had cleared the Ground so that there was not a Stone left upon a Stone according to our Blessed Saviour's Prediction The next Day coming to the Place there was a great Earthquake insomuch that the Stones were cast out of the Foundation so that many of the Workmen were slain The publick Buildings which were nearest the Temple were likewise loosen'd and falling down with great Violence buried those who were in them in their Rains some who attempted to fly away were found half dead The Earthquake was scarce over but those who remained fell to work again but when they attempted it the second time sudden Flashes of Fire came violently out of the Foundations and other Fire fell furiously from Heaven and destroyed more than before the Flame continuing a whole Day together 6. In the Year 367 in the Reign of Valens and Valentinian Emperours of Rome there happened such horrible Earthquakes throughout the Western Empire A little after the Day-dawning there was a great Tempest of Thunder and Lightning which was followed by such a dreadful trembling of the Earth that the Sea was shaken therewith and deserted the Shore and its ancient Bounds for a great space many Ships were left on dry Ground and swarms of People flew thither to catch Fish when suddenly the Sea as disdaining to be imprisoned returned to its former Station with such Impetuosity that it over-ran its former Bounds and with the Fury thereof overthrew a multitude of Towns and Houses with many Thousands of People 7. In the Year 430 a great Earthquake reged in divers places and overturned many Cities some Authors affirm it was so terrible as to affect almost the whole World the Earth gaped and swallowed up many Villages Fountains were dried up and Waters brake forth in places formerly dry Great Trees were torn up by the Roots heaps of Trees were so shaken together that they were raised into Mountains The Sea threw up dead Fishes many Islands sunk and overwhelmed Ships sailing on the Sea were suddenly left on the dry Ground In short many places in Bythinia the Hellespont and both the Phrygia's were distressed thereby This continued six Months without intermission and the People of Constantinople not daring to stay in the City for fear of the fall of their Houses continued together with their good Emperour and their Patriarch in the Fields instant in Prayers to the Almighty for the Removel of so dreadful a Judgment 8. In the Year 454 a great Earthquake at Rome another at Vienna Wolves and other Beasts wander all the Year through the City and devour Men. An Earthquake in Russia and at Constantinople with two wonderful Blazing-Stars In the Year 458 a great Earthquake happened at Antioch which the Citizens had cause to remember Before it began some of the Inhabitants were seized with extraordinary Madness such as seemed to exceed the Fury of Wild Beasts and to be the Presage of that Calamity which followed soon after For about the fourth Hour of the Night in September almost all the Buildings of the new City were overturned which was well People and none of it forsaken or empty being curiously built by the Magnificence of divers Emperours who strove to Excel each other in the Adornment of it 9. In the First Century was a terrible Earthquake in Arabia another in Palestina and a third at Constantinople six Weeks together 10. In the sixth seventh and eighth Centuries an Earthquake at Antioch another at Palestina another in England and Normandy and divers dreadful Prodigies About the same time there was a violent Earthquake in Constantinople which lasted many Days and every Hour the City suffered extraordinary Shocks Many Houses were thrown down but the People betook themselves to Prayer
himself under this Representation as 1 Kings 19.11 12. to Elijah in a still small Voice Qu. only the whistling Noise of a calm Air But Acts 2 2. to the apprehension in the sound of a rushing mighty Wind. I have one thing more to remark upon this Meteor as tending very much to set forth the Glory of God and that is its divers Uses and Effects 'T is a wonder that such a thin tenuious invisible Body as that is should serve for such divers and excellent Purposes Consider them and wonder It carries all the Fowls of the Air which would be no more able to fly without it than the Fishes of the Sea to swim without Water it bears up the heavy Clouds and fans purges and transports them from place to place so that we say truly as Psal 18.10 That the Divine Glory doth ride upon the Cherubs and flies upon the Wings of the Wind It is a faithful Messenger in the Hand of the Almighty to bring Tokens of Kindness or Judgments to a People One while Flies and Caterpillars innumerable Frogs and Lice Plagues and Pestilential Infections another while Quails and Manna Flesh and feather'd Fowl Rain Plenty and Prosperity In short it fans our Lungs and walks to and fro through our Nostrils every moment and we are not able no breath without it And yet this so useful so necessary so common a Creature we cannot see we cannot comprehend In God we live move and have our Being he is within us and without us and we know him not And no Absurdity in all this 4 I might add to these Storms and Tempests not as specifically different from them but yet such as may require a Consideration by themselves I mean those more violent Irruptions of Wind and Vapours or other watry Exhalations commixed as either by their suddeness or violence or surprizing and contrary Motion seem prodigious or prove hurtful to us These are sometimes so dreadful that they overturn Trees Houses Cities over-run whole Countries with a Deluge of Waters drowning or swallowing up the Inhabitants rending sometimes Rocks asunder and carrying them into the midst of the Sea sometimes dividing parcels of Land from the Continent and carrying them into the Ocean for Islands of which Histories are full of Examples All that I shall remark upon this Particular is that as the Storms are of God's sending so they are subject to his Government Nah. 1.3 4. The Lord hath his way in the Whirlwind c. vide Psal 107.25 26 27 29. And Psal 148.8 The stormy Wind fulfilling his Word You know the Story Mat. 8.23 24 25 26. 27. But that which I drive at in these Quotations is this That he who rules the raging of the Sea and stiâ—leth the violent Storms of the Wind and Waters is able also to appease the Madness of a People to bush the Noise and Tumult of the World into a deep Silence to turn our Spears into Pruning-hooks and our Swords into Plough-shares to give us instead of a Storm a Calm in our own Breasts in our Houses and Families in our Churches and Nations Had not we best then in such Cases arise from ouâ— sleep every one and call upon his God as Jonah 1.4 5 6. And if our Lord seem to sleep too let us go and awaken him in good earnest and say Lord save us or we perish And then he that keepeth Israel and never slumbers nor sleeps will arise and scatter our Enemies and shew himself mighty in our Salvation upon the Ungodly he will rain down Snares Fire and Brimstone and an horrible Tempest This shall be the Portion of their Cup. Psal 11.6 For the righteous Lord loveth Righteousness his Countenance doth behold the upright 5. Hail Rain Snow and Frosts c. I will not stay now to shew the particular Usefulness of all these in their Kind Order and Seasons not if I cared to spend time upon it have I Skill to do it perfectly Something might be said which perhaps every one is not well sensible of concerning the Wisdom as well as the Power and Goodness of God in using such a diverse Method in Manuring of the Earth and Nursing of Sublunary Bodies I shall conclude this with only that emphatical Exhortation of the Psalmist 147.12 ad finem Praise the Lord O Jerusalem praise thy God O Zion For he hath strengthned the Bars of thy Gates He hath blessed thy Children within thee He maketh Peace in thy Borders And filleth thee with the finest of the Wheat He sendeth forth his Commandment upon Earth His Word runneth very swiftly He giveth Snow like Wool he scattereth the Hoar-frost like Ashes He casteth forth his Ice like Morsels Who can stand before his Cold He sendeth out his Word and melteth them He causeth his Wind to blow and the Waters to flow He sheweth his Word unto Jacob His Statutes and Judgments unto Israel He hath not dealt so with any Nation And as for his Judgments they have not known them Praise ye the Lord. 6. To pass over Eclipses Conjunctions and Rain-bows c. I shall instance only in Extraordinary Signs and Apparitions as that of Angels appearing to Arbaham to Lot to Jacob to Manaoh to David to divers others the extraordinary Chasms of Light in the Heavens at our Saviour's Baptism his Transfiguration his Ascension the Cloud and Pillar of Fire to the Israelites the Darkness at our Saviour's Passion the Holy Ghost in the Likeness of a Dove the Apparition exhibited to Saul to St. Stephen the Revelations of St. John the Prodigies before the Destruction of Jerusalem Armies conflicting in the Air with a Thousand more such Wonders which I list not to relate particularly I confess they are often mixed with false incredible Relations yet not therefore all to be rejected Our Saviour hath given us warning to expect some such Mat. 24. and Acts. 2.19 20. and every Age almost is Witness of some Miracle or other of this Nature thô not so many as many would believe Even Heathen and Mahometan History as well as Christian give Suffrage to this From the whole we have this Lesson intimated to us viz. If the outward insensate Heavens that are neither endued with Sense nor Reason but are of a bruitish Nature declare to the World the Glory of God what would be expected from us Men to whom all these Creatures are given but as Servants If these mute sensless Things preach so expresly the Glory of him that made them what should not Man do who tho' he lives in place below them yet is endowed with an Excellency far above them God himself sometimes appeals to them for Testimony against us to upbraid our Disobedience Hear O Heavens and give Ear c. All the Host of the Inferiour Heavens keep their place and observe the Laws of their Creation the very Clouds and Winds obey him only Man is an unruly undutiful disingenuous obstinate Thing that will neither keep his Orb nor serve the Ends of
continued in London Teaching and Preaching the Gospel so long as the Strength of his Body would permit and at length being old and stricken in Years he died comfortably and peaceably in the Lord being about Eighty Years old January 20. A. C. 1568. See his Life CHAP. L. Remarkable Silence or Reservedness of Men c. As also of Retirement SOme People love to make a loud Noise in the World but they are rarely the most wise and solid for the deepest Waters are generally the calmest and the emptiest Barrels in a Sea the greatest Sound and a Dear Friend of mine now Deceased Mr. J. Tutte no impolitick or irreligious Man commended this as his last Farewel-Admonition to his Step-Son upon his Death-Bed That he should fear God and endeavour to pass through the World without making any great Noise as he went 1. St. Basil affected a solitary Life 2. St. Hierom was in love with a Monastick Life that he might have more freedom to attend his Studies with a good Library and Heliodorus for his Companion retired into Syria and afterwards Heliodorus leaving him he betook to a Wilderness between the Syrians and the Saracens where he continued Four Years in great Solitude Clark's Marr. of Eccl. Hist 3. Bonosus Hierom's Fellow-Student having settled his Affairs forsaking his Country Parents Friends and onely accompanied with a few Books departed into a solitary Island to extricate himself from the Snares of the World and enjoy more Freedom in the Service of Christ Ibid. 4. Fulgentius a Year before his Death retired with some Brethren into the Island of Circina and there lived a most strict Life but the Necessities of his People requiring and their Importunity prevailing he returned to them and then fell into most grievous Sickness Ibid. p. 94. 5. Gregory the Great after his Father's Death having given his Estate to the Relief of the Poor betook himself to a Monastical Life first under Hilarion and afterwards under Maximianus both famous for Learning and Piety Ibid. p. 96. 6. John Picus of Mirandula Three Years before his Death retired himself from the Pleasures Profits and Honours of the World that he might live a more private Life and made over almost all his Estate in the Earldoms of Mirandula and Concordia to his Brother's Son and distributed a great part of his Money Plate and Jewels amongst the Poor Clark in his Life 7. Thomas Aquinas was called Bos or Ox by his School-fellows because he was also silent Textor 8. Mr. Samuel Daniel the English Poet being a Servant in Ordinary to Queen Anne and thereupon having a fair Salary allowed him kept a handsome Garden-House in Old-street near London where as a Tortoise burying himself in the Ground all Winter long he lay obscure some Months together that he might in Retirement enjoy the Felicity he aimed at and then afterwards he would appear in Publick to enjoy and converse with his Friends whereof the Two principal were Dr. Cowel and Mr. Cambden In his Old Age he turned Husbandman and Rented a Farm in Wiltshire nigh the Devises it is thought not so much for the hopes of Profit as to enjoy the Retiredness of a Country-life No question he pleased himself with Contentedness and Freedom from the Troubles of City and Court his Fancy being too fine and sublimated to be wrought down only for private Profit Select Lives of Worthies in England p. 338. 9. Mr. Michael Drayton another famed English Poet was very temperate in his Life and slow of Speech and inoffensive in Company Ibid. p. 341. 10. Mr. Abraham Cowley another excellent Man to make up the Triumovirate thô he took well at Court yet seems to resent the Inconveniences that attended it for he makes this his serious Wish To retire from the Buz and Noise of the City into some place of privacy where he might enjoy the pleasant Correspondence of many Books and a few Friends and one Wife and a pleasant Garden Thus he delivers himself in one of his Poems and in a Letter to Mr. Evelyn Author of the Kalendarium Hortense he declares it more at large professing that he had been then a pretty while aiming at it but was not yet arrived at that State of Mortal Happiness 11. One of the Cato's having attained to the Age of Eight and fifty Years gave over his Publick Charge and Travel in Affairs of the Roman Common-wealth and went to wear out the remainder of his Days near to Naples in a Country Village which then was called Picenum but now it is named Marca de Aâ—â—a where he maintained his Faculties and nourished himself with such Conveniences as his poor Lands and Living afforded him This Good and Vertuous Cato keeping a simple Cottage one while perusing his Books and other whiles looking to his Vines and Plants His Neighbours had written 〈◊〉 a Coal over his Door these words How happy a Man art thou O Cato because thou only knowest what it is to live in this World amongst other Men. Treasury of Anâ— and Modern Times p. 735. 12. Lucullus the Consul and Roman Captain continued at the Wars against the Parthians Sixteen Years together during which time he won much Honour to Rome many Provinces to the Common-wealth great Renown to himself and mighty Treasures for his Houses This Man after his Return from Asia to Rome found the State full of Partialities and Dissensions through the Quarrels between Marius and Sylla he resolved to leave Rome which forthwith he did put in effect causing certain places of sumptuyous Workmanship to be builded near Naples along by the Sea-side in a place now called Castello di Lupo There he made his Sojourning for the space of Eighteen Years in quite Repose and silent Pleasure free from all the Turmoils and Travails of State and in this Contentment he ended his Days Ibid. 13. Dioclesian after he had governed Rome 18 years and had attained to very old Age he gave over the Empire from whence he dismissed himself into Nicomedia with no other Intention but only to return home to his own House and there in Peace and Quiet to spend the rest of his Life and accordingly at Salon he dealt in Husbandry 12 years together After two years spent in this Retirement the Romans sent two worthy Ambassadors to entreat him to return to Rome again The Ambassadors found him in his Garden weeding his Beds of Lettis and other Herbs whom he answered thus My Friends do not you think it more honest and better that he who digged and planted these Lettis should eat them peaceably and quietly in his own House than to forsake such wholesome Fare and return to the Tumults and Rumors of Rome I have now made good proof both what it is to command and what Benefit ensueth by labouring and deliving in the Ground Leave me then to my self I entreat you in this private State of Life for I much rather affect to maintain my Life by the labour of my Hands than to be
near Orford in Suffolk in all parts like a Man and for 6 Months was kept in the Castle whence after he escaped and went again to the Sea Others do add that he was kept with raw Flesh and Fish and because he could not speak was thrown into the Sea again Bakers Chron. He uttered not any Speech though to try him he was hung by the Heels and grievously Tormented he would get him to his Couch as Sun-set and rise again at Sun-rising one day they brought him to the Haven and let him go into the Sea but to prevent his escape they set 3 rows of very strong Nets before him to catch him again at pleasure but he diving to the bottom crept under their Nets and shewed himself again to them and so often diving he still came up and as it were mocked them at length he came back to them of his own accord and remain'd with them two Months after But afterwards being not carefully lookt to he went to the Sea and was never after seen or heard of Fabians Chron. Anno Christi 1404. Some Women of Edom in the Low-Counties as they were going in their Barks to their Cattel in Purmer-meer they often saw at the Ebbing of the Water a Sea-Woman playing up and down where at the first they were afraid but after a while encouraging one another they made with their Boats towards her and the Water at that time being not deep enough for her to dive in they took her by force and drew her into the Boat and so carried her to Edam where in time she grew familiar and fed of ordinary Meats and being sent from thence to Harlem she lived about 15 Years but never spake seeking often to get away to the Waters Belg. Common Wealth p. 102 Captain Richard Whithurn in his Description of Newfoundland writes That Anno Christi 1610. early in the Morning as he was standing by the Water side in the Harbour of St. John's he espied a strong Creature swimming very swiftly towards him like a Woman looking chearfully upon him her Face Eyes Nose Mouth Chin Ears Neck and Forehead were like a Woman it was very beautiful and in those parts well proportioned having Hair hanging down round about the Head he seeing it come within a Pikes length of him stepped back whereupon it dived under the Water swimming to another place whereby he beheld the Shoulders and back down to the middle which was as square white and smooth as the back of a Man from the middle to the hinder part it pointed in proportion like a broad hooked Arrow afterwards it came to Boat wherein some of his Men were attempting to come in to them till one of them struck it a full blow on the Head others of them saw it afterwards also Clark's Geogr. p. 208. Purchas saith many Meer-maids and Women are seen about Brasile who sometimes catch embrace kiss and crush the Indians to death Vol. 4. p. 1315. Purchas adds that many Women-Fishes are found near Soffala which from the Belly to the Neck are very like Women from the Belly downward they are like Dolphins I my self when a Young Man at Oxford saw a couple of such Fishes as these taken as was reported by them who brought them singing upon a Rock in the Irish Seas 9. The River-Horse Hippotamus the Morse found in Soffala is as big as two of our Horses living in the Water but feeding on Grass by Land with thick and short hinder Legs five Claws on each fore-foot and four on the hinder the Mouth wide and full of Teeth 4 of which are above two spans long apiece the two lower stand upright the two upper turned like Bears Tushes they have Teats thick Hides are of an Ash-colour with white Strakes on their Faces or Stars in their Fore-heads Purch Pilgr Vol. 2. p. 1544. 10. The Dog-Fish found in the River of Goa big as a Cur-dog hath a Snout like a Hog small Eyes two holes for Ears 4 feet like an Elephant flat Tail Body Head Tail and Legs covered with broad Scales as hard as Iron snorting like a Hog and rolling himself round like an Urchin Ibid. p. 1774. 11. toad-Toad-Fishes are about a span long Painted with fair Eyes snorting and swelling much out of the Water the Poysonous Skin being flayed off the Indians eat them Ibid. p. 1314. 12. Cuttle-Fish hath a Hood always full of black Water like Ink which when she is pursued by other Fishes that would devour her she casts forth and so darkens the Water that she thereby escapeth Ibid. 13. The Flying-Fish hath Fins instead of Wings and a delicate Skin interlaced with fine bones they are like Pitchards only a little rounder and bigger they flie best with a side Wind but no longer then their Wings are wet seldom above a quarter of a Mile The Dolphins and Bonitoes do continually hunt after them by Water and the Alcatrace a Fowl much like a Heron hovers in the Air to seize upon them 14. The Eagle-Fish found in the Indian Sea hath Eyes 5 quarters asunder from the end of one Fin to the end of the other are above 4 yards its Mouth and Teeth resemble a Porcullise has a small Tail and it s rather wondred at then eaten 15. The Carvel comes of the Fome of the Sea is a kind of a Sea-Spider of a round form floating upon the surface of the Ocean throwing abroad her string like so many lines to Angle for small Fishes When she sees her Web too weak she can blow a deadly infectious Breath or put forth such a Sting as if she had borrowed it from a Scorpion Herb. Trav. 16. A. Shark taken by Mr. Herbert's Men in his East-India Voyage was 9 foot and a half long they found in her Paunch 55 young ones each of them a foot in length all which go out and in at their pleasures she was armed with a double row of Venemous Teeth and is guided in her Prey by a little Musculus or Pilot-Fish that she sends to and fro do bring Intelligence the Shark for its kindness suffering it to Suck at pleasure Herb. Trav. p. 26. 17. A certain Fish or Sea-Monster in le Maire's Voyage with a Horn struck against the Ship with such violence that it shook it whereupon the Master looking over-board saw the Sea all Bloody but knew not what should be the cause till coming into Port Desire where they cleansed and trimed their Ship they found 7 foot under water a Horn sticking in the Ship for bigness and fashion like an Elephants Tooth yet not hollow but all of solid hard Bone which had pierced through three double Planks and was entered into a Rib of the Ship it stuck above half a foot deep into the Ship and by great force was broken off which caused the Monster to bleed so much as discoloured the Water Purch Pilgr vol. 1. p. 90. 18. Dr. Edward Brown in his Description of Vienna speaking of the Danube saith it affords
Fasting and Repentance and the Almighty had Compassion on them Many Cities in the East were ruined by it and the City of Alexandria was sore shaken therewith which was the more Astonishing because it seldom happens in those Parts Some Years after Constantinople was shaken so violently that not only the Walls and Churches but all Greece trembled therewith In the Year 801 whilst Charles the Great was in Italy there was an Earthquake with great Noises which shook all France and Germany but especially Italy It overthrew several Towers and Mountains and the Church of St. Paul at Rome was destroyed by it 11. In the ninth tenth and eleventh Centuries an Earthquake happened in Scotland another in France a very great one in Asia several terrible ones with Whirlwinds in Germany also a great Earthquake in England where five Suns appeared at once and after four Moons at once In the Reign of King William the Conquerour Anno 1086 happened an Earthquake with a dreadful Noise In Anno 1100 in the Reign of King Henry the First the Earth moved with such Violence in England that many Building were shaken down in divers places an hideous Noise was heard and the Earth through several Rifts cast forth Fire for many Days together which neither by Water nor by any other Means could be suppress'd In Lumbardy in Ita◠about the same time was an Earthquake which lasted about six Weeks and removed a Town from the place where it stood a great distance In the Year 1179 on Christmas-Day at Oxenhall near Darlington in the County of Durham the Earth was lifted up almost like a Tower and so continued all that Day as it were immoveable till Evening and then fell with so horrible a Noise that it affrighted the Inhabitants thereabouts and the Earth swallowing it up made in the same place three Pits of a wonderful depth which were afterwards called Hell-Kettles 12. In the Year 1180 an Earthquake ruined a great part of the City of Naples The City of Catania in Sicily is destroyed with 19000 People by an Earthquake The K. of Iconium is swallowed up by an Earthquake and in England many Buildings were thrown down by the same means amongst which the Cathedral Church of Lincoln was rent in pieces 13. In the Year 1222 there were such Earthquakes in Italy and Lumbardy that the Cities and Towns were forsaken and the People kept abroad in the Fields in Tents many Houses and Churches were thrown down much People thereby crushed to Death the Earth trembled twice a Day in Lumbardy for 14 Days together besides two Cities in Cyprus and the City of Brescia were this Year destroyed by Earthquakes In the Year 1176 about the same time that Adrian the Fourth was made Pope was a dreadful Earthquake at Millain and the Country round about In Italy there was likewise a great Earthquake and another in England and a third in Germany 14. In the Year 1300 there was such an Earthquake in Rome as never was before and 48 Earthquakes happening in one Year whereby all Lumbardy was shaken A great Earthquake in London which shook down many Buildings Anothe Earthquake did much mischief about Bath and Bristol and two more happened in England not long after In the Year 1348 a terrible Earthquake happened at Constantinople which endured six Weeks and reached as far as Hungary and Italy 26 Cities were overthrown by it 15. In the Year 1456 there arose upon the Sea of Ancona in Italy together with a thick gloomy Cloud that extended above two Miles a Tempest of Wind Water Fire Lightning and Thunder which piercing to the most deep Abysses of the Seas forced by the Waves with a most dreadful Fury and carried all before it upon the Land which caused so horrible an Earthquake some time after that the Kingdom of Naples was almost ruined and all Italy carried the dismal Marks of it A Million of Houses and Castles were buried in their own Ruins and above 30000 People crushed to pieces and a huge Mountain overturned into the Lake De la Garde Soon after was a dreadful Earthquake in Millan another in Hungary 16. In Sept. 14. 1509 there happened a terrible Earthquake at Constantinople and in the County thereabouts Bajazet the second being Emperour by the Violence whereof a great part of that Imperial City with many stately Buildings both publick and private were overthrown and 13000 People overwhelm'd and slain the Terror whereof was so great that the People generally forsook their Houses and lay abroad in the Fields yea Bajazet himself thô very aged and sore troubled with the Gout lay abroad in the Fields in his Tent. The Earthquake continued as the Turks relate for a Month with little intermission In the year 1531 in the City of Lisbon in Portugal about 1400 Houses were overthrown by an Earthquake and 600 more so sorely shaken that they were ready to fall and many Churches cast to the Ground 17. In 1538. Mr. George Sandy's gives a Relation of a Remarkable Earthquake and Burning which happened near the City of Puteoli with the New formed Mountain for September 29 1538. the Country thereabouts having for several days before been Tormented with perpetual Earthquakes that no one House was left intire but all expected an immediate ruine after the Sea had retired 200 paces from the Shoar leaving abundance of Fish and Springs of fresh Water arising in the bottom this Mountain visible ascended about the second Hour of the Night with an hideous roaring Noise horribly vomitting Stones and such store of Cinders as overwhelm'd all the Buildings thereabouts 18. In 1571 February 17 a Prodigious Earthquake happened in the Eastern parts of Herefordshire near a little Town called Kinaston about 6 in the Evening the Earth began to open and a Hill called Marckly Hill with a Rock under it made a mighty bellowing Noise heard a-far off and then lifted up it self a great height and began to Travel bearing along with it the Trees that grew upon it the Sheep-folds and Flocks of Sheep abiding thereon at the same time having thus walked from Sunday Evening to Monday Noon it left a gaping distance 40 Foot wide and 80 Ells long the whole Field about 20 Acres the same Prodigy happened about the same time in Blackmore in that County A great Earthquake at Constantinople an Earthquake and Inundation in Holland very great Thunder and Earthquake in Spain an Earthquake and Bowls of Fire in Corinthia the Sun seem'd to cleave in sunder 19. In 1580 April 6 being Easter-Wednesday about 6 in the Afternoon happened a great Earthquake in England which shook all the Houses Castles and Churches every where as it went and put them in danger of utter Ruin at York it made the Bells in the Churches jangle In 1581 in Peru in America there happened an Earthquake which removed the City of Augnangum two Leagues from the place where it stood without demolishing it in regard the Scituation of the whole Country was changed
Fr Fowling Cardan adviseth thus Nux Vomica will stupifie Birds if you mingle it with their Meat I remember I took Crows in my Hand when I had powdered that Nut and mingled it with Flesh If small Birds eat Corn steeped in Wine-Lees and the Juice of Hemlock or Aqua-vitae or only in the Lees of stronger Wine or in the Decoction of white Helebore with an Ox-Gall this will astonish them Those Birds that Fly in Flocks to it are catched in Flocks as Partridges but Geese more than they but chiefly Ducks When you would make some Tame of the wild kind you must cut their wings and make a Trench about the Waters and feed them there with Plenty of pleasant Food For Ducks amongst other things that is the best which we call Sargum In the Night when the tame Ones cry the wild Ones will comethither to Meat For all Creatures agree in four things they all seek for Meat all seek for Pleasure all Fight and all are in Fear and here they understand one the other VVherefore in your Nets you shall sometimes catch a Thousand Ducks at once This may seem strange yet it is true and there is no bette way of Fowling you must chuse tame Ducks that are most like the wild Ducks in their Colour Cardan de Subtilit But this Art of Decoying is much Improved of late Years 2. There are other ways of Fowling which are well known in some places they use low Belling that is they go about in the Night with a Net in one hand to catch Birds in a Candle to draw the Birds towards the Light into the Net a Club to beat the Hedges and drive the Birds out and a little Bell which they ring continually to drown the noise of the Fowlers In other places they use a Stalking Horse especially for the killing of Woodcocks c. 3. For Fishing Sir Philip Harcourt in Oxfordshire hath so contrived his Fish-ponds that the Stews not only feed one another and may be served by letting the Water of the upper Ponds out into the lower but by a side Ditch cut along by them and places out of each may be any of them emptied without letting the Water into or giving the least disturbance to any of the rest Plot 's Nat. Hist. Oxford c. 9. p. 234. 4. Dr. Wilkins when Warden of Wadham College contrived an Engine for Fish of but few Gallons of Water 5. Cardan hath taught us an Ingenuous way to catch Fish thus Fishes are taken with Baits now the Baits must have four Properties they must smell well for this will make them come from remote places Such things are Anniseeds Juice of Panace and Cumin is best of them all They must tast well that they may the more desire them and they may be thereby deceived such are Blood especially Hogs Blood Cheese Bread principally of VVheat Butterflies the best are golden-coloured The Bait must Fume to the Head that it may make them drunk by its violent quality as Aqua-vitae Lees of VVine Last of all it must be Stupifactive to make them sensless Such are Marigold-Flowers that are to be had new every Month for this Herb whose Flowers are yellow cut in pieces will make great Fish astonished in one Hours time So is Lime for though it corrects VVater yet it kills Fish So is the Juice of all the Tithymals and both the Nux Vomica's called Nux Metelli or the sleeping Nut. But nothing is better than that Fruit which is brought from the East and is called Coculus Indicus It is a black Berry like unto a bay Berry but smaller and rounder Our Composition to take Fish is tried to be certain Take a quarter of an Ounce of Oriental Berries Cumin-seed and Aqua-vitae of each a sixth part of an Ounce Cheese one Ounce VVheat-meal 3 Ounces make little Pellats beating all together Cardan de Subtilitate 6. For Hunting it is distinguished according to the Animals we pursue or those we hunt with Those we pursue are Deer Hares Conies Foxes wild Bores Badgers Otters and sometimes Fowl Those Creatures we hunt with are Hounds Grey-Hounds Beagles and other Dogs trained up for particular Games In Sussex is much used the hunting of Moles Hawkes are used for the hunting of Fowl and Ferrets for Conies but what Improvements have been made in these Arts I leave the Curious to enquire CHAP. XIII Curiosities in Writing Cyphering c. THE Art of handling the Pen is much more Gentile and Liberal than that of handling the Spade and therefore no wounder if we find more strokes in Wit and Ingenuity in the one than in the other I intend not now to speak much of Brachygrphy tho an excellent late Invention of Contracting Words and Sentences into short Marks and Signatures nor the Art of writing well and giving Letters their due and decent Mathematical Proportions and Flourishes but of the Subtilty and Finenss of Delineation and Cyphering 1. There was one in Queen Elizabeth's time that wrote the Ten Commandments the Creed the Pater-Noster the Queen's Name and the Year of the Lord within the Compass of a Penny and gave a pair of Spectacles of such an artifical making that by the help thereof she did plainly and distinctly discern every Letter Dr. heylin 's Life of King Charles I. 2. One Francis Alumnius was so notable in the Mystery of Writing that he wrote the Apostle's Creed and the 14 first Verses of St. John's Gospel in the compass of a Penny and in full Words This he did in the presence of the Emperor Charles the V. and Pope Clement VII as is related by Genebrand in his Chronology and Simon Mayolus out of him who said he had the same Miracle at home in his keeping Hist Man Arts. Ch. 3. Pag. 34. 3. The Effigies of King William and Queen Mary with the Lord's Prayer the Creed and Ten Commandments the Magnificat the Prayer for the King and Queen the Prayer for the Royal Family the Prayer for the Clergy and People the Prayer of St. Chrysostom and the Blessing Engraven within a Circle two Inches and a half Diameter Engraven and Sold by John Sturt in Cranes-Court in the Old-Change near St. Pauls Price 2 d. 4. An Elegy on the Death of our most Gracious Soveraign lady Queen Mary engraven with so small a Circumference that it may be set in Rings or Lockets Engraven and Sold by and set in Rings or Lockets by Thomas Sturt 5. Mr. Mason the Author of a New Short-Hand is also very famous in writing many things in a little Compass 6. The written Picture of His Majesty King Charles the I. in St. John's-College Library taking up the whole Book of Psalms in the English Tongue and the written Picture of King James the I. and the Arms of England taking up the whole Book of Psalms in Latin in the Hands of Mr. Morehead Rector of Bucknel are pretty curiosities and much admired Dr. Plot 's Nat. Hist. Ox. p. 276. 7. The Polygraphy or
Stock Here I got Money and hired a Cellar where I laid up some other of my Goods When weary of my Slavery I formed a design for my Liberty and Communicated it to John Anthony Carpenter William Adams Brick-layer John Jephs Sea-man John a Carpenter and two others Men of able Bodies and useful in the intended Project which being formed in Parcels and afterwards put together might be the means of our Escape They approved the Proposal and in my Cellar we began our Work We provided first a piece of Timber of twelve Foot long to make the Keel but because it was impossible to convey a piece of Timber of that length out of the City but it must be seen and suspected we therefore cut it in two Pieces and fitted it for Joynting just in the middle Then we provided Ribs after which to make the Boat water-tite because Boards would require much â—ammering and that noise was like to betray us we bought as much Canvas as would cover our Boat twice over upon the Canvas of the Carine we provided also as much Pitch Tar and Tallow as would serve to make it a kind of Tarpawling Cere-Cloth to swaddle the naked Body of our Infant-boat of two Pipe-staves sawed a-cross from Corner to Corner we made two things to serve for Oars and for our Provision we had a little Bread and two Leather-Bottles full of fresh Water we also remembred to buy as much Canvas as would serve for a Sail. We carry'd out all these in Parts and Parcels fitted them together in the Valley about half a Mile from the Sea whither four of our Company carried the Boat on their Shoulders and the rest follow'd them At the Sea-side we stript put our Cloaths into the Boat and carry'd it and them as far into the Sea as we could all seven got in but finding she was overladen two of them were content to stay on Shoar having bid them farewel we lanched out June 30. 1644. The Bill of Lading was John Anthony William Adams John Jephs John Carpenter and William Okeley four of us wrought continually at the Oars the fifth was to free the Boat of that Water which by degrees leaked through the Canvas our Bread was soon spoiled with soaking in salt Water our fresh VVater stunk of the tanned Skins and Owze yet we complain'd not Three days with good Husbandry our Bread lasted us but then pale Famine stared us in the Face VVater indeed we might have but it must be salt out of the Sea or that which had been strained through our own Bodies and that we chose of the two but that we must not have after a while unless we would accept of the other first and the Misery was these did not asswage our Thirst but increase it The VVind too for some time was full against us but God rebuked it made it our Friend a second Inconvenience was that our Labour was without Intermission and a third the extremity of Heat by Day the Season raging hot the beginning of July and we wanted fresh VVater to cool the Heat our Labour made it insupportable to our Bodies and our little Hope made it as grievous to our Souls one Help we had a poor one he that emptied the Boat threw the VVater on the Bodies of the rest to cool them but our Bodies thus scorched and cooled rose up in Blisters all over Great pain we felt great dangers we were in great miseries we endured great wants we were under and had nothing left but Hope Food and Strength If any ask by what Directions we steer'd our Course to Mayork whither we designed for the Day a Pocket-Dial supplied the place of the Compass by Night the Stars when they appear'd and when not we guessed our way by the Motions of the Clouds four Days and four Nights were we in this woful plight on the fifth all hope that we should be saved was perished so that we left off our Labour because we had no Strength left only emptied the Boat of VVater when God sent some Relief to us as we lay hulling up and down we discover'd a Tortoise not far from us asleep in the Sea Had Drake discovered the Spanish Fleet he could not have more rejoyced VVe took up our Oars silently row'd to our Prey took it into our Boat with great Triumph we cut off her Head and let her bleed into a Pot we drank the Blood eat the Liver and sucked the Flesh It wonderfully refreshed our Spirits and we picked up some Crumbs of Hope About Noon we thought we discovered Land 't is impossible to express the Joy of our raised Souls at this Apprehension we wrought hard and after further Labour were fully satisfied that it was Land and it was Mayork we kept within sight of it all day the sixth of July and about Ten a Clock at Night we came under the Island and crept as near the Shoar as we could and durst till we found a convenient place where we might thrust in our Weather-beaten Boat When we were come to the Land we were not insensible of our Deliverance but tho' we had escaped the Sea we might die at Land we had no Food since we eat the Liver and drank the Blood of the Tortoise therefore John Anthony and my self were sent out to scout abroad for ftesh Water because we spake some Spanish we came to a Watch-Tower of the Spaniards spake to him on the Watch told him our Condition earnestly begging some fresh Water and some Bread he threw us down an old mouldy Cake but so long as it were a Cake Hunger did not consider its Mouldiness then he directed us to fresh Water which was hard by We stood not telling Stories we remembred our Brethren left with our Boat and observing the Sentinels Directions came to a Well where there was a little Water and eat a bit of our Cake but the Passage was so disused that we had much ado to force our Throats to relieve our Clamourous Stomachs We return to our Boat acquaint them with the good Success of our Embassy and all prepare to make to the Well so tying our Boat as fast as we could to the Shoat we left her to Mercy Now we are at the Well it hath Water and we have something to draw but God must give us a Throat to swallow for William Adams attempting to drink after many Essays was not able to swallow it but still the Water return'd so that he sunk down to the Ground faintly saying I am a dead Man but after much striving he took a little so refreshed with our Cake and Water we lay down by the Well-side till the Morning when it was clear Day we again went to the Watch-man intreating him to direct us to the next House or Town where we might find Relief he civilly pointed us to one about Two Miles off and long it was e're our blister'd Feet could overcome the tediousness of that little way When we came
last of January they found their Food would last but six Weeks longer but they had recourse to God for a Supply and looking out one bright day they saw a great She-Bear with her Cub coming towards the Tent her they slew with their Lances the Cub escaping they drew her into the Tent and this Bears served them 20 Days In March the Days so lengthned that the Fowl and Foxes came abroad of which Foxes by Traps they catched fifty and sixty Fowl as big as Pidgeons and they had killed seven more Bears so that with two or three Meals a Day their Strength was much increased In May the First the Weather grew warm so that they went out to seek Provision In this Month there came two Ships of Hull into the Sound who knowing some Men had been left there the Year before and being desirous to know whether they were dead or alive the Master manned a Shallop to go as near the Shoar as they could and so over the Ice to the Tent. When these Men came near the Tent they haled them with the usual word of the Sea crying Hey to which one of them in the Tent answered again Ho which sudden Answer almost amazed them all but perceiving them to be the very Men to their Ship where they stay'd till the London Fleet came which was three Days after They went aboard the Admiral where Captain William Goodler was who made them very welcome gave them Apparel to the Value of Twenty Pounds and after fourteen Days Refreshment they grew all perfectly well Thus they continued in the Fleet till the 20th of August when they set sail and at last came safe into the River of Thames and the Muscovy Merchants dealt very well by them The Names of these eight Persons were VVilliam Fakely Gunner Edward Pelham Gunner's-Mate that wrote this Story John VVise and Robert Goodfellow Seamen Thomas Ayres Whale-cutter Henry Beer Cooper John Dawes and Richard Kellet Land-men Clark's Mirr C. 105. P. 512 513. c. Stow's Annals P. 1017. 3. Horrible was that Tragedy which the Western Indies beheld in the Persons of seven Englishmen the Relation of it take as followeth The fore-mention'd seven being in St. Christopher's-Istand had prepared themselves for a Voyage of one Night and had taken with Provisions for no longer a time but a Tempest intercepted their Return and carried them so far off into the Sea that they could not find Land in less than seven Days in which they were so sparing of their one Nights Provision that they made it serve them to the fifth day that past they must wrestle with meer Famine which was so much the more grievous to them in regard the Sun was extream hot that dried up their parched Throats exhaled the Saltness from the troubled Sea They had now little Hope of retrieving themselves from their intricate Error and were therefore forced O cruel Necessity to cast Lots among themselves to see whose Flesh and Blood should satisfie the Hunger and Thirst of the rest The Lot fell upon him who first gave the Counsel who was not only unaffrighted at his hard Fortune but encouraged the rest who had a kind of Horror as to what they went about he told them that Fortune was a Favourer of the Bold that there was no possibility of Escape unless they immediately staid their slying Life by humane Flesh that for his part he was well content and that he thought himself happy if he could serve his Friends when he was dead With such Words as these he so perswaded them that one drawn out by Lot also cut his Throat of whose Carcass I tremble to relate it each of them was so desirous of a piece that it could scarce be divided so quickly They fell to the Flesh wirh eager Teeth and sucked out the Blood into their thirsty Stomachs One only was found amongst them who being nearly related to the dead Person resolved to endure all things rather than to pollute himself with the Blood of his Friend but the next day his Famine drove him into such a Madness that he threw himself over-board into the Sea His Associates would not suffer so delicate a repast as his Carcass to be so unseasonably snatched from them But this Madness had already so vitiated his Blood and the Flesh all about the Veins that in the whole Body there was scarce any thing found fit to eat save only his Bowels At last it pleased God to shew them Mercy in their wandering and distress and brought their small Ship to the Isle of St. Martin in which they were kindly receiv'd by the Dutch Garrison and sent back to the rest of their Friends where scarce had they set Foot on the Shoar but they were accused of Murder but inevitable Necessity pleading in their Behalf they were set free by the Magistrate Nich. Tulpii Observ Med. L. 1. C. 43. P. 81. Wanley's Wonders of the Little World P. 638. 4. Richard Clark of Weymouth in Dorsetshire was a known Pilot and Master of the Ship called the Delight which Anno Dom. 1583. went with Sir Humphrey Gilbert for the discovery of Norembege It happened that without any Neglect or Default of his the Ship struck on Ground and was cast away on Thursday August 29. in the same Year Of them that escaped Shipwrack sixteen got into a small Boat of a Tun and a half which had but one Oar to work withal they were seventy Leagues from Land and the weather so foul that it was not possible for a Ship to brook half a Course of Sail. The Boat being over-burden'd one of them Mr. Hedley made a Motion to cast Lots that those four which drew the shortest should be cast over-board provided if one Lot fell on the Master he notwithstanding should be preserved in whom all their Safety was concerned The Master disavowed the Acceptance of any such Priviledge replying They would live or die together On the fifth day Mr. Hedly who first mention'd Lot-drawing and another died whereby their Boat was somewhat alighted Five Days and Nights they saw the Sun and Stars but once so that they only kept up their Boat with their single Oar as the Sea did drive it They continued four Days without sustenance save what the Weeds which swam into the Sea and salt Water did afford On the Seyenth Day about Eleven of the Clock they had sight of and about Three they came on the South part of New-found-land All the time of their being at Sea the Wind kept continually South if it had shifted to any other Point they had never come to Land but it turn'd North within half an Hour of their Arrival Being all come to Shoar they kneel'd down and gave God praise for their miraculous Deliverance There they remained three Days and Nights having their plentiful Repast upon Berries and wild Pease After five Days rowing along the Shoar they happened on a Spanish Ship of Sir John de Luz which courteously
long as might be The seven in the Boat apprehended themselves to be in a condition little better than that of them in the Ship having neither Sail nor Oars neither Bread nor Water and no Instrument of any sort except a Knife and a piece of Deal-board with which they made sticks and set them up in the sides of the Boat and cover'd them with some Irish-Cloth of their own Garments to keep off the spray of the Sea as much as could be by so poor a matter In this condition they drave with an hard VVind and high Sea all that day and the night following But in the next Morning about six a Clock they saw a Ketch the Master was Mr. Edmund Henfield of Salem in New-England under Sail which Ketch coming right with them took them up and brought them safe to New-England And it is yet further remarkable that when the Ship Foundred the Ketch which saved these Persons was many Leagues to the VVestward of her but was by a contrary VVind caused to stand back again to the Eastward where these distressed Persons were as hath been said met with and relieved 11. January 13. 1670. Three VVomen viz. the VVives of Lieut. Filer and of John Drake and of Nathaniel Lomas having crossed Connecticut-River upon a necessary and neighbourly Account and having done the work they went for were desirous to return their own Families the River being at that time partly shut up with Ice new and old and partly open There being some Pains taken aforehand to cut a way through the Ice the three VVomen abovesaid got into a Canoo with whom also there was Nathaniel Bissel and an Indian There was likewise another Canoo with two Men in it that went before them to help them in case they should meet with any Distress which indeed quickly came upon them for just as they were getting out of the narrow passage between the Ice being near the middle of the River a great part of the upper Ice came down upon them and struck the end of their Canoo and broke it to pieces so that it quickly sunk under them The Indian speedily got upon the Ice but Nathaniel Bissel and the abovesaid Women were left floating in the middle of the River being cut off from all manner of humane Help besides what did arise from themselves and the two Men in the little Canoo which was so small that three Persons durst seldom if ever venture in it they were indeed discern'd from one Shoar but the dangerous Ice would not admit from either Shoar one to come near them All things thus circumstanced the suddenness of the Stroke and Distress which is apt to amaze Men especially when no less than Life is concern'd the extream Coldness of the Weather it being a sharp Season that Persons out of the Water were in danger of freezing the unaptness of Persons to help themselves being mostly Women one big with Child and near the time of her Travel who was also carry'd away under the Ice the other as unskill'd and unactive to do any thing for self-preservation as almost any could be the Waters deep that there was no hopes of footing no passage to either Shoar in any Eye of Reason neither with their little Canoo by reason of the Ice nor without it the Ice being thin and rotten and full of holes Now that all should be brought off safely without the loss of Life or wrong to Health was counted in the day of it a Remarkable Providence To say how it was done is difficult yet something of the manner of the Deliverance may be mentioned the abovesaid Nathaniel Bissel piercing their Danger and being active in swimming endeavour'd what might be the preservation of himself and some others he strove to have swum to the upper Ice but the Stream being too hard he was forced downwards to the lower Ice where by reason of the slipperiness of the Ice and disadvantage of the Stream he found it difficult getting up at length by the good Hand of Providence being gotten upon the Ice he saw one of the Women swimming down under the Ice and perceiving an Hole or open place some few Rods below there he waited and took her up as she swum along The other two VVomen were in the River till the two Men in the little Canoo came for their Relief at length all of them got their Heads above the water and had a little time to pause tho' a long and difficult and dangerous way to any Shoar but by getting their little Canoo upon the Ice and carrying one at a time over hazardous Places they did though in a long while get all safe to the Shoar from whence they came 12. Very memorable was the Providence of God towards Mr. Ephraim How of New-Haven in New-England who was for an whole twelve Month given up by his Friends as a dead Man but God preserved him alive in a desolate Island where he had suffer'd Shipwreck and at last return'd him home to his Family The History of this Providence might have been mention'd amongst Sea-Deliverances yet considering it was not only so I shall here Record what himself being a godly Man did relate of the Lord 's marvellous Dispensations towards him that so others might be encouraged to put their trust in God in the times of their greatest Straits and Difficulties On the 25th of August in the Year 1676. the said Skipper How with his two eldest Sons set sail from New-Haven for Boston in a small Ketch Burden 17 Tun or thereabout After the Dispatch of their Business there they set Sail from thence for New-Haven again on the 10th of September following But contrary winds forced them back to Boston where the said How was taken ill with a violent Flux which Distemper continued near a Month many being at that time sick of the same Disease which proved mortal to some The Merciful Providence of God having spared his Life and restored him to some measure of Health he again set Sail from Boston Octob. 10. By a fair wind they went forward so as to make Cape Cod but suddenly the weather became very Tempestuous so as that they could not seaze the Cape but were forced off to Sea when they were endanger'd in a small Vessel by very fearful Storms and outragious VVinds and Seas Also his eldest Son fell sick and died in about Eleven Days after they set out to Sea He was no sooner dead but his other Son fell sick and died too This was a bitter Cup to the good Father It is noted in 1 Chron. 7.22 that when the Sons of Ephraim were dead Ephraim their Father mourned many days and his Brethren came to comfort him This Ephraim when his Sons were dead his Friends on Shoar knew it not nor could they come to comfort him But when his Friends and Relations could not the Lord himself did for they died after so sweet gracious and comfortable a manner as that their Father
reacheth to all Mankind but is most illustriously visible in watching over Kings and Princes those Great Instruments of Good to Mankind and so we find it Recorded in more Capital and Legible Characters by the Pen-Men of S. Scripture and so we may find it too in Humane Histories It would be too wide a Field to walk in to take a Prospect of Foreign Nations I shall in this place confine my self to my Own and Remark a little what signal Deliverances our Princes have received since the Reformation I. In the Reign of Queen Elizabeth 1. Pope Paulus Quintus a Man of a fierce Nature and Disposition A. C. 1569. was so far wrought upon That in the most Solemn manner that could be he Excommunicated and Anathematized our Blessed Queen and caused a Brief thereof with his Leaden Bull annexed thereto to be fastned to the Gate of the Bishop of London's Palace near Pauls Church by one John Felton who being Apprehended confessed the Fact and received the reward of his Treason on a Gibbet before the said Gate This Excommunication caused much Trouble on Man's part but manifold Preservations and Deliverances on God's part 2. A C. 1563. Arthur Poole of the Race of George Duke of Clarence of the House of York with sundry of his Kindred and Alliance Conspired to set on foot again the Title of Mary Queen of Scots and to bring an Army out of France into Wales to back the same but before they could bring their Plot to maturity it was discovered and themselves Condemned 3. A. C. 1570. the Earls of Northumberland and Westmoreland encouraged by Promises of Aid from the Pope and Spaniard raised a Rebellion against the Queen in the Northern Parts but the Fire was soon quenched the Earl of Northumberland being taken and Beheaded and the Earl of Westmoreland flying beyond Sea ended his Days in a poor and mean Condition 4. A. C. 1570 John Story Doctor of Law a Spy to the Duke de Alva Conspired with one Prestol a Man much addicted to Magick and a Subject to the King of Spain against the Life of Queen Elizabeth He gave Intelligence to the said Duke how he might Invade England and cause Ireland to revolt But God brought this Treason to light Story and Prestol were by the Parliament Condemned for Treason and accordingly Executed 5. A. C. 1571. The Bishop of Rosse practised with sundry English Men to intercept Queen Elizabeth and to trouble the Parliament then sitting that so another Queen might be set up instead of Elizabeth but there fell out such mutual Mistrust amongst the Conspirators that their Plot turned to their own Confusion 6. A. C. 1578. Thomas Stukely an English Fugitive plotted with Pius V. and Gregory XIII to Lead Forces into Ireland to Assist the Rebels and to Conquer it for the Pope's Natural Son for which purpose he was made General of 8000 Italian Soldiers but by the persuasion of Sebastian King of Portugal he first led his Troops into Mauritania and was there Slain 7. A. C. 1580. Nicholas Sanders an English Priest had a Consecrated Banner given him by the Pope and an Army of Spaniards wherewith he entred Ireland and joyning with the Rebels caused a great Insurrection but it proved the Ruin of himself and of all his Accomplices 8. A. C. 1581. Robert Parsons Edmond Campion with other Seminary Priests were sent by the Pope from Rome to England to with-draw the Queen's Subjects from their Allegiance and to prepare them to take part with Foreign Powers when sent into England but their design was frustrated Campion Shâ—rwin Kirby and Bryant were Convicted Condemned for High Treason and accoadingly Executed 9. A. C. 1583. John Somervil was Apprehended as he came in a desperate manner to have killed the Queen being moved thereto as himself confessed by the Reading of certain Popish Books published by certain Priests After his Condemnation he Strangled himself in Newgate 10. A. C. 1585. Will. Parry Doctor of Law made a promise to kill the Queen upon promise of Absolution from the Pope but through Terror he deferred till his Treason was discovered and he received a due Reward for the same A. C. 1586. John Ballard a Romish Priest persuaded some Gentlemen to kill the Queen as she was going to take the Air which they vowed to do but being discovered before the Effect Fourteen of them were Executed as Traitors A. C. 1587. William Stafford a young Gentleman and one Moody a desperate Ruffian were Suborned by a Foreign Ambassador then in England to kill the Queen but were prevented 13. A. C. 1588. Philip formerly of England then King of Spain endeavoured by his Invincible Armado to recover England the Strength of which take out of Ranzovius's Com. Bell. l. 1. c. 8. The Navy consisted of 130 Ships and carried 57868 Lasts Soldiers c. 19295. Sea-Men 8052. great Guns 2441. Pilas seu glandes Tormentarias I know not well whether my Author means Mortar-Pieces or Cannon-Bullets 123090. Hundreds of Powder 1151. a great quantity of fresh Water Dishes Candles Lamps Clubs Leather Tow Flax and Straw to stop the chinks of the Ships great Plenty Shields Wax-Candles Tallow-Candles long Sacks a great Number for carrying of the great Guns 40 Mules together with Wagons Wheels c. Field-Pieces 1500. long Guns 7000. Forked and Crooked at the Handle 1000. Halbards and Axes 1000. Short Pikes 6000. Pioneers 700. Persons needful for such an Expedition Stipendiary Soldiers Gunners Physicians Chirurgeons Priests Monks Nobles Servants Governours Judges Admirals Mariners Seamen Cooks c. almost 30693. Provision for 6 Months thus Hundreds of Bisket 11000 Barrels of Wine 21255 Hundreds of Salt Flesh 6000 Hundreds of Cheese 3433 Hundreds of Salt Fish 8000 Hundreds of Oats 3000 Hundreds of Beans c. 6320 Baths of Oil 11398 Baths of Vinegar 13687 Pipes of Potable Water 11870 Paid to the Soldiers for Stipend 12000 Ducats besides a great quantity of Gold and Silver for carrying on and maintaining the War And yet saith my Author the English discharged upon this Fleet 10000 Guns Pant. Attic. Bellar. par 2. p. 208 209. ex Comment Bell. Ranzov l. 1. c. 8. 14. A. C. 1593. Patrick Cullin an Irish Fencer was hired by English Fugitives in the Low Countries to kill the Queen and with that purpose came over but Intelligence being given thereof he was Apprehended and Executed 15. The same Year Edmond York and Richard Williams were hired in like manner to kill the Queen and to burn her Navy with Balls of wild Fire but the mischief was prevented and they deservedly Executed 16. A. C. 1598. Edward Squire being in a Ship on the Sea was taken by the Spaniards and by them carried into Spain where he was suborned and directed by Richard Whalepool and English Fugitive and a Jesuit to destroy the Queen by laying a strong Poyson which the Jesuit then gave him on the pummel of the Sadle whereon the Queen should ride that she laying her Hand thereon might carry the
him he was to acquaint him with it that he might the better understand it when it should come to be heard in Court Upon which the Lord Chief Baron interrupted him and said He did not deal fairly to come to his Chamber about such Affairs for he never received any Information of Causes but in open Court where both Parties were to be heard alike so he would not suffer him to go on Whereupon his Grace for he was a Duke went away not a little dissatisfied and complain'd of it to the King as a Rudeness that was not to be endured But his Majesty bid him content himself that he was no worse used and said He verily believed he would have used himself no better if he had gone to sollicite him in any of his own Causes Another passage fell out in one of his Circuits which was somewhat censured as an Affection of an unreasonable Strictness but it flowed from his Exactness to the Rules he had set himself A Gentleman had sent him a Buck for his Table that had a Tryal at the Assizes so when he heard his Name he asked if he was not the same Person that had sent him Venison And finding he was the same he told him he could not suffer the Tryal to go on till he had paid him for his Buck To which the Gentleman answer'd That he never sold his Venison and that he had done nothing to him which he did not do to every Judge that had gone that Circuit which was confirmed by several Gentlemen then present but all would not do for the Lord Chief Baron had learned from Solomon that a Gift perverteth the ways of Judgment and therefore he would not suffer the Tryal to go on till he had paid for the present upon which the Gentleman withdrew the Record And at Salisbury the Dean nnd Chapter having according to the Custom presented him with six Sugar-Loaves in his Circuit he made his Servants pay for the Sugar before he would try their Cause Dr. Burnet in his Life CHAP. XXXII Remarkable Temperance in Meats THE Vse of a sober and moderate Diet is none of the least Virtues commended to us by our Religion The ancient Hebrews summ'd up their Victuals in that short Bill of Fare Bread and Water Flesh and Milk Wine and Oyl were extraordinary Daniel fed upon Pulse and so did the three Children and did well and appear'd plump and in good liking with such Food Solomon adviseth us when we were set down at the Table of Great Men and see Dainties before us to direct our Knife not to the Trencher but to our Throat especially if we have not got a Habit of Temperance but are Persons of a greedy Appetite and our Saviour bids us beware of Surfeiting and some Christians we may find not unskilful this way 1. Ambrose was very Abstinent full of Watchings and Prayer never dining but on the Sabbaths Clark's Marr. of Eccl. Hist. 2. Chrysostom seldom went to Feasts when invited Ibid. Luther grudged at the Expence of his time upon the same Score Fuller 3. S. Augustine's Diet was usually Broth and Roots using to say that he feared not the Vncleanness of Meat so much as the Vncleanness of Appetite for for his Guests and Kinsfolk he had better His Dishes for his Meat were of Earth Wood or Marble his Table was more for Disputation than rich Banquetting Clark's Marr. of Eccl. Hist 4. Gregory the Great was very abstenious in his Diet frequent in Fasting and Prayer and so studious of the Sacred Scriptures that he could scarce find leisure to eat his Food till necessity urged him thereunto and indeed his Abstinence was so great that he much impair'd his Health thereby yet would he not give over his Employments of Praying Reading Writing or Dictating to others Ibid. 5. Philippus Nerius at Nineteen Years of Age made it a Law to himself that he should refresh his Body but once a day and that only with Bread and Water and sometimes he would abstain even from these cold Delights unto the third Day Being made Priest his manner was to eat some small thing in the Morning and then abstain till Supper which never consisted of more than two poched Eggs or instead of these some Pulse or Herbs He would not suffer more Dishes than one to be set upon his Table he seldom eat of Flesh or Fish and of white Meats he never tasted his Wine was little and that much diluted with Water and which is most wonderful he seemed never to be delighted with one Dish more than another Drexel Oper. tom 2. de Jejun Abstin Part. 1. Chap. 11. Sect. 8. P. 796. 6. Cardinal Carolus Borromoeus was of that Abstinence that he kept a daily Fast with Bread and Water Sundays and Holydays only excepted and this manner of Life he continued till his Death He kept even Festivals with that Frugality that he usually fed upon Pulse Apples or Herbs Pope Gregory the Thirteenth sent to him not only to advise but to command him to moderate these Rigours But the Cardinal wrote back to him that he was most ready to obey but that withal he had learned by Experience that his spare-eating was conducing to Health and that it was subservient to the drying up the Flegm and Humours wherewith his Body did abound Whereupon the Pope left him to his Pleasure He persisted therein therefore with so rigid a Constancy that even in the heat of Summer and when he had drawn out his Labours beyond his accustomed time he would not indulge himself so far as to taste of a little Wine nor allow his Thirst so much as a drop of Water Ibid. 7. The Meat upon which Mr. Eliot lived was a Cibus Simplex an homely but a wholesome Diet rich Varities costly Viands and Poinant Sawces came not upon his own Table and when he found them upon other Men's he rarely tasted of them One Dish and a plain one was his Dinner and when invited to a Feast I have seen him sit magnifying of God for the Plenty which his People in this Wilderness were within a few Years risen to but not more than a Bit or two of all the Dainties did he take into his own Mouth all the while And for a Supper he had learned of his Loved and Blessed Patron old Mr. Cotton either wholly to omit it or make but a small Sup or two the utmost of it Cotton Mather in the Life of Mr. Eliot p. 32 33. 8. Fulgentius tho he had been tenderly and delicately brought up in his Youth yet after he entred into a Monastery he wholly abstained from Wine and Oyl and was so rigorous in Fasting that it much debilitated and weakned his Body and brought some Diseases upon him But his Heart being wholly set upon the working forth his Salvation with Fear and Trembling he committed himself to God's Providence saying The daintiest Feeders cannot prevent Sickness and having a while habituated himself to this course of
utterly unable to declare any thing Anne Baldwin deposed the same VII Jane Bockin who was too weak to be at the assizes but her mother testified That her Daughter having formerly been afflicted with Swooning Fits and recovered of them was now taken with a great Pain in her Stomach and new Swoooning Fits That she took little Food but every Day Vomitted crooked Pins In her first Fits she would extend her Arms and use Postures as if she catched at something and when her clutched Hands were forced open they would find several Pins diversly crooked unaccountably lodged there She would also maintain a Discourse with some that were invisibly present when casting abroad her Arms she would often say I will not have it but at last say Then I will have it and closing her Hand which when they presently after opened a Lath-Nail was found in it but her great Complaints were of being Visited by the Shapes of Amy Duny and Rose Cullender VIII As for Susan Chandler her Mother testified That being at the Search of Rose Cullender they found on her Belly a thing like a Teat of an Inch long which the said Rose ascribed to a Strain but near her Privy Parts they found three more that were smaller than the former At the end of the long Teat there was a little Hole which appeared as if newly sucked and upon straining it a white Milky Matter issued out The Deponent further said That her Daughter being one Day concerned at Rose Cullender's taking her by the Hand she fell very sick and at Night cry'd out That Rose Cullender would come to Bed unto her Her Fits grew violent and in the Intervals of them she declared That she saw Rose Cullender in them and once having a great Dog with her She also Vomited up crooked Pins and when she was brought into Court she fell into Fits She recovered herself in some time and was asked by the Court Whether she was in a Condition to take an Oath and give Evidence She said she could but having been Sworn she fell into her Fits again and Burn her burn her were all the Words that she could find power to speak Her Father likewise gave the same Testimony with her Mother as to all but the Search IX Here was the Summ of the Evidence which was not thought sufficient to Convict the Prisoners For admitting the Children were Bewitched yet said he it can never be apply'd unto the Prisoners upon the Imagination of the Parties only afflicted inasmuch as no Person whatsoever could then be in safety Dr. Brown a very Learned Person then present gave his Opinion that these Persons were Bewitched He added That in Denmark there had been lately a great Discovery of Witches who used the very same way of afflicting People by conveying Pins and Nails into them His Opinion was That the Devil in Witchcrafts did work upon the Bodies of Men and Women upon a Natural Foundation and that he did extraordinarily afflict them with such Distempers as their Bodies were most subject unto X. The Experiment about the Usefulness yea or Lawfulness whereof Good Men have sometimes disputed was divers Times made that though the Afflicted were utterly deprived of all Sence in their Fits yet upon the Touch of the Accused they would so screech out and fly up as not upon any other Persons And yet it was also found that once upon the Touch of an innocent Person the like Effect followed which put the whole Court unto a stand altho' a small Reason was at length attempted to be given for it XI However to strengthen the Credit of what had been already produced against the Prisoners one John Soam testifi'd That bringing home his Hay in three Carts one of the Carts wrenched the Window of Rose Cullender's House whereupon she flew out with violent Threatnings against the Deponent The other two Carts passed by twice loaded that Day afterwards but the Cart which touched Cullender's House was twice or thrice that Day overturned Having again loaded it as they brought it through the Gate which leads out of the Field the Cart stuck so fast in the Gate 's Head that they could nor possibly get it through but were forced to cut down the Post of the Gate to make the Cart pass through altho' they could not perceive that the Cart did of either side touch the Gate-post They afterwards did with much Difficulty get it home to the Yard but could not for their Lives get the Cart near the place where they should unload They were fain to unload at a great Distance and when they were tired the Noses of them that came to assist them would burst forth a Bleeding so they were fain to give over 'till next Morning and then they unloaded without any difficulty XII Robert Sherringham also testified That the Axle-tree of his Cart happening in passing to break some part of Rose Cullender's House in her Anger at it she vehemently threatned him His Horses should suffer for it And within a short time all his four Horses died after which he sustained many other Losses in the sudden dying of his Cattle He was also taken with a Lameness in his Limbs and so vexed with Lice of an extraordinary Number and Bigness that no Art could hinder the Swarming of them 'till he burnt up two Suits of Apparel XIII As for Amy Duny 't was testifi'd by one Richard Spencer that he heard her say That the Devil would not let her Rest until she were Revenged on the Wife of Cornelius Sandswell And that Sandswell testifi'd That her Poultry dy'd suddenly upon Amy Duny's threatning of them and that her Husband's Chimney fell quickly after Duny had spoken of such a Disaster And a Firkin of Fish could not be kept from falling into the Water upon suspicious Words of Duny's XIV The Judge told the Jury They were to Inquire now First Whether these Children were Bewitched And Secondly Whether the Prisoners at the Bar were guilty of it He made no doubt there were such Creatures as Witches for the Scriptures affirmed it and the Wisdom of all Nations had provided Laws against such Persons He prayed the God of Heaven to direct their Hearts in the weighty thing they had in hand for to condemn the Innocent and let the Guilty of free were both an Abomination to the Lord. The Jury in half an Hour brought them in Guilty upon the several Indictments which were Nineteen in Number The next Morning the Children with their Parents came to the Lodgings of the Lord Chief Justice and were in as good Health as ever in their Lives being restored within half an Hour after the Witches were Convicted The Witches were Executed and Confessed nothing which indeed will not be wondred by them who consider and entertain the Judgment of a Judicious Writer That the unpardonable Sin is most usually committed by Professors of the Christian Religion falling into Witchcraft We will now proceed says Mr. Mather unto several of
Bolton at first with an Ugly Intanglement sometime in the form of a great Snake sometime of many little ones full of Nastiness Vermin and noisome Smell and that which is most to be admired and never Age saw before pricked with a Needle they yielded bloody Drops This first began in Poland afterwards entred into Germany and all that then cut off this horrible snaky Hair either lost their Eyes or the Humour falling down upon other Parts tortured them extreamly Methinks saith our Author Our monstrous Fashionists Maies and Females the one for nourishing their horrid Bushes of Vaity the other for cutting their Hair should fear and tremble c. Bolton's Preparation to Death 8. Mr. John Mackerness born at Brickstock-Park in Northamptonshire in a Narrative published by his own Hand A. D. 1676. confesses That God had â—orely handled him by Melancholy and Fretfulness and such Fluctuation of Thoughts and Temptations that he was not far from being mad or possessed which he especially imputed to his Pride and Discontent as the Cause and begs the Prayers of others for himself CHAP. CXXVII Divine Judgments upon Boasting AS thâ—se Sticks that send forth most Smoak offerd the least Heat so the greatest Boasters are the least Doers saith Mr. Spencer according to our English Proverb Great Boast and small Roast Erasmus in his Adagies tells us of a young Man and Traveller that being returned home began to praise himself in all Company and amongst other excellent Feats boasted that in the Isle of Rhodes he out-jump'd all the Men that were there as all the Rhodians could hear him Witness Whereupon a stander-by said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Suppose this to be Rhodes and jump here and then he could do just nothing Alas What are Words without Deeds but Vanity and a Lye 1. When Alcibiades then but young was boasting himself of his Riches and Lands Socrates took him into a Room and shewed him the Map of the World Now said he where is the County of Attica When Alcibiades had pointed to it Lay me then said he your Finger upon your own Lands there When the other told him they were not there described And what said Socrates do you boast your self of that which is not a part of the Earth He that hath most hath nothing to boast of and great Boasts for the most part as they betray great Folly so they end in as great Derision Wanley's Wonders of the little World p. 433. 2. Oromazes had an inchanted Egg in which this Impostor boasted that he had enclosed all the Happiness in the World but when it was broken there was found nothing in it but Wind. Causin's Holy Court Tom. 2. p. 465. 3. Mr. John Carter Vicar of Bramford in Suffolk an excellent Scholar and a modest Person being at Dinner at Ipswich in one of the Magistrates Houses where divers other Ministers were also at the Table one amongst the rest who was old enough and had learned enough to have taught him more Humility was very full of Talk bragged much of his Parts and Skill c. and made a Challenge saying Here are many Learned Men if any of you will propound any Question in Divinity or Philosophy I will dispute with him resolve his Doubts and satisfie him fully All at the Table except himself were silent for a while Then Mr. Carter when he saw that no other would speak to him calling him by his Name I will said he go no further than my Trencher to puzzle you here is a Soal Now tell me the Reason why this Fish that hath always lived in the salt Water should come out fresh To this the forward Gentleman could say nothing and so was laughed at and shamed out of his Vanity Clark's Lives of Ten Eminent Divines p. 12. 4. Eunomius the Heretick boasted That he knew the Nature of God at which time notwithstanding St. Basil puzzled him in 21 Questions about the Body of an Ant. Ful. Hol. Stat. l. 2. c. 4. p. 57. Wanley's Wonders of the little World p. 433. 5. Paracelsus boasted that he could make a Man immortal and yet himself died at 47 Years of Age. Ful. Hol. Stat. l. 2. c. 3. p. 54. 6. Pompey the Great at such times as the News of Caesar's passing Rubicon came to Rome boasting That if he should but once stamp with is Foot upon the Earth of Italy forthwith armed Troops of Horse and Foot would leap out thence yet was he put to a shameful Flight by that Enemy he so much despised Clark's Mirr c. 102. 471. 7. See the Story of Sigismund King of Hungary in the preceding Chapter on Pride Ambition c. 8. Abel by Bribes bestowed in the Court of Rome from the Archdeacon of St. Andrews got himself to be preferred Bishop there and was Consecrated by Pope Innocent the IV. At his Return he carried himself with great Insolence They write of him That in a vain-glorious Humour one day he did with a little Chalk draw this Line upon the Gate of the Church Haec mihi sunt tria Lex Canon Philosophia Bragging of his Knowledge and Skill in those Professions and that going to Church the next day he found another Line drawn under the former which said To levant absque tria Fraus Favour Vanasophia This did so gall him that taking his Bed he died within a few Days having sate Bishop only ten Months and two Days This was about Anno 1238. Bish Spots Hist of the Churck of Scotland l. 2. p. 44. CHAP. CXXVIII Divine Judgments upon Curiosity TO be wise unto Sobriety is an excellent Rule prescribed us by the Apostle and the Reason is obvious enough to any Man of competent Sense and Brains For Adam by an affectation of knowing more than was necessary came to know more than was comfortable and an insatiate Desire of Wisdom is certainly a Symptom of the Hereditary Disease derived to us from him God hath set us Bounds to all our Disquisitions and if we do not keep within compass we forfeit our Faculties and expose our selves to all the Dangers that are out of ken Whatever we do let us do prudently and have a regard to some good End For whatsoever is more than this is more than is needful or safe or honourable 1. There is saith Mr. Baxter now in London a Youth the Son of a very Godly Conforming Minister who reading a Book of that called Conjuration coming to the Word and Actions which that Book said would cause the Devil to appear was presently very desirous to try and desirous that the Apparition might be accordingly He came saith he to me in terrour having before opened his Case to a Parish-Minister and affirmed to me That the Devil had appeared to him and sollicited him with a Knife to cut his Throat and told him he must do it suddenly for he would stay no longer I told him how safe he was if he truly repented and begged Pardon through Christ and
rise up in Judgment against you My Lord I profess my self a True and Obedient Son to the Church of England to that Church wherein I was born and wherein I was bred Prosperity and Happiness be ever to it And wherein it hath been said That I have been enclined to Popery If it be an Objection worth answering let me say truly That from the Time I was One and twenty Years of Age till this Hour going up Nine and forty I never had thought in my Heart to doubt of the Truth of my Religion in England and never any had the boldness to suggest to me the contrary to the best of my Remembrance and so being reconciled to the Mercies of Christ Jesus my Saviour into whose Bosom I hope shortly to be gathered to enjoy those Eternal Happinesses that shall never have end I desire heartily the Forgiveness of every Man both for any rash or unadvised Word or Deed and desire your Prayers And so my Lords Farewel Farewel all the Things of this World Lord strengthen my Faith give me Confidence and Assurance in the Merits of Christ Jesus I desire that you would be silent and joyn in Prayers with me and I trust in God we shall all meet and live eternally in Heaven there to receive the Accomplishment of all Happiness where every Tear shall be wiped from our Eyes and every sad Thought from our Hearts and so God bless this Kingdom and Jesus have Mercy upon my Soul After this he prayed twice and with a low Obeysance took his Leave submitting to the Block The Relat. of his Execut. 113. Archbishop Laud made this his last Speech on the Scaffold Jan. 10. 1644. GOod People this is an uncomfortable time to preach yet I shall begin with a Text of Scripture Hebr. 12.2 Let us run with patience the race c. I have been long in my Race and how I have look'd to Jesus the Author and Finisher of my Faith he best knows I am now come to the end of my Race and here I find a Cross a Death of Shame but the Shame must be despised or no coming to the Right of God Jesus despised the Shame for me and God forbid but I should despise the Shame for him I am going apace as you see towards the Red Sea and my Feet are now upon the very brink of it an Argument I hope that God is bringing me into the Land of Promise for that was the way through which he led his Prophets but before they came to it he instituted a Passover for them a Lamb it was but to be eaten with sour Herbs I shall obey and labour to digest the sour Herbs as well as the Lamb and I shall remember it is the Lord 's Passover I shall not think of the Herbs nor be angry with the Hand that gathers them but look only to Him who instituted that and governs these for Men can have no more power over me than what is given them from above I am not in love with this Passage through the Red Sea for I have the Weaknesses and Infirmities of Flesh and Blood plentifully in me and I have prayed with my Saviour that this Cup of Red Wine might pass from me but if not God's Will not mine be done And I shall most willingly drink of this Cup as deep as he pleaseth and enter into this Sea yea and pass through it in the way that he shall lead me But I would have it remembred Good People that when God's Servants were in this boisterous Sea and Aaron among them the Egyptians which persecuted them and did in a manner drive them into that Sea were drowned in the same Waters while they were in pursuit of them I know the God whom I serve is able to deliver me from this Sea of Blood as the Three Children from the Furnace And I most humbly thank my Saviour for it my Resolution is now as theirs was then they would not worship the Image the King had set up nor will I the Imaginations which the People are setting up nor will I forsake the Temple and the Truth of God to follow the Bleating of Jeroboam's Calf in Dan and in Bethel And as for this People they are at this Day miserably misled God of his Mercy open their Eyes that they may see the right way for at this Day the Blind lead the Blind and if they go on both will certainly fall into the Ditch For my self I am and I acknowledge it in all Humility a most grievous Sinner many ways by Thought Word and Deed and I cannot doubt but that God hath Mercy in store for me a poor Penitent as well as for other Sinners I have now upon this sad Occasion ransacked every corner of my Heart and yet I thank God I have not found among the many any one Sin which deserves Death by any known Law of this Kingdom And yet hereby I charge nothing upon my Judges for if they proceed upon Proof by valuable Witnesses I or any other Innocent may be justly condemned and I thank God tho' the weight of this Sentence lie heavy upon me I am as quiet within as ever I was in my Life and tho' I am not only the first Archbishop but the first Man that ever died by an Ordinance in Parliament yet some of my Predecessors have gone this way tho' not by this means For Elphegus was hurried away and lost his Life by the Danes 3. and Simon Suabury in the Fury of Wat. Tyler and his Fellows before these St. John Baptist had his Head danced off by a lewd Woman and St. Cyprian Archbishop of Carthage submitted his Head to a persecuting Sword Many Examples great and good and they teach me Patience for I hope my Cause in Heaven will look of another dye than the Colour that is put upon it here and some Comfort it is to me that I go the way of these Great Men in their several Generations and also that my Charge as foul as it is made looks like that of the Jews against St. Paul Act. 25.3 for he was accused for the Law and the Temple i. e. Religion and like that of St. Stephen Act. 6.14 for breaking the Ordinances which Moses gave i. e. Law and Religion the Holy Place and the Temple v. 13. But you will say Do I then compare my self with the Integrity of St. Paul and St. Stephen No! far be that from me I only raise a Comfort to my self that these Great Saints and Servants of God were laid at in their times as I am now and 't is memorable that he who helped on this Accusation against St. Stephen did after all fall under the very same himself Yea but here 's a great Clamour that I would have brought in Popery I shall answer that more fully by and by In the mean time you know what the Pharisees said against Christ himself If we let him alone all men will believe in him venient Romani
and in Epiphany all those several times heard the Child that was in her Womb who Cry'd with that noise that it was heard by the Neighbours they Throng'd together in great Numbers to hear so unusual a Crying both such as knew the Woman and such as knew her not The Magistrates in the mean time caused the Woman to be carefully watch'd that afterwards the birth of that Cryer might be the more certain Divers spent their Judgments before hand of what shap'd Monster she should be delivered but at last the Woman was safely brought to Bed of a perfect Female Chlid Bartholin took this Relation from the Mothers Mouth Hist Anat. c. 1. p. 4. 3. A Noble Lady in Cheshire sitting after Meat in the Dining-room with her Husband their Domestick Chaplain and divers others She was sensible of an extraordinary stirring in her Belly which so lift up her Cloaths that it was easily discernable to those that were present she was then with Child and it was the seventh Month upon the sudden there was a voice heard but whence it should come they were not able to Conjecture this was uttered a second and third time to the great Amazement of the Persons present the third time it was so manifest that the Cry came from her Womb that they doubted no longer of it The Girl was living at the Relation which was made by the Lady her self to Dr. Walter Needham Disquisit Anat. c. 3 p. 84. 4. Anno 1640. In Belgia a Woman near Vessalia who then had gone 3 years entire big with a Child that Child of hers was heard to Cry by many Persons worthy of Credit Barth Hist Anat. c. 1. Hist 1 p. 3. 5. Bartholin tells of another at Wittenberg Anno 1632. Another at Leyden a third near Argentina all which had Children that Cryed in their Wombs ibid. p. l. 1 2 3. 6. Schenckius tells of another at Rath-stad in the Noric Alpes Wanrichius of one in the City of Brescia Sennertus of one in his own Town Anno 1596 whose Child Cryed once the 42d day before its birth the Mother dying in Travel but the Daughter living The Author of the History of the Netherlands tells of a Child in Holland that Cryed 15 days before its Birth Wanleys Wonders p. 1 2. I Query whether any Males have been observed to Cry thus For all that I can come to the knowledge of have been Female Children CHAP. VII Monstrous Births and Conceptions of Mankind SO long at Nature deviates on the plausible or less dishonourable Side we can bear with some Patience but when the Aberrations are Opprobrious and carry some notable Deformity and Reproach in their Face they are Affrightful and Stupefactive we stand and wonder at the Product and enquire with some Concernedness of Spirit what God means by such an angry and partial or imperfect Concurrence of his Providence and the Exercise of his Divine Attributes And certainly it is every one's Duty in such Cases to make use of his Intellectuals and enquire seriously whether he hath done his part with that Prudence and Piety as he ought since the Almighty hath not co-operated with the same Wisdom and Kindness or Power as he commonly useth 1. Buchanan tells of one having beneath the Navel one Body but above it two distinct ones when hurt beneath the Navel both Bodies felt the Pain if above that Body only felt that was hurt These two would sometimes differ in Opinions and Quarrel the one dying before the other the Surviving pined away by degrees It lived 28 Years could speak divers Languages and was by the King's Command taught Musick Sandys on Ovid. Metam l. 9. p. 173. 2. Anno 1538 there was one born that grew up to the Stature of a Man he was double as to the Head and Shoulders in such a manner as that one Face stood opposite to the other both were of a Likeness and resembled each other in the Beard and Eyes both had the same Appetite and both hungred alike the Voice of both was almost the same and both loved the same Wife Sch. Obs Med. l. 1. obs 1. p. 7. 3. Bartholinus tells of a Genean which he saw then 28 Years of Age who had a little Brother growing out at his Breast who was in that Posture born with him the Bone as he thought called Xyphoides in both of them grew together his lest Foot alone hung downwards he had two Arms only three Fingers upon each Hand Some appearance there was of the Secret Parts he moved his Hands Ears and Lips and had a little beating in the Breast This little Brother voided no Excrements but by the Mouth Nose and Ears and is nourished by that which the greater takes He has distinct Animal and Vital Parts from the greater since he sleeps sweats and moves when the other wakes rests and sweats not Both received their Names at the Font the greater that of Lazarus the lesser Johannes Baptista The Natural Bowels as to Liver Spleen c. are the same in both Johannes hath his Eyes for the most part shut his Breath small so that holding a Feather at his Mouth it scarce moves but holding the Hand there we find a small and warm Breath his Mouth is usually open and always wet with Spittle his Head is bigger than that of Lazarus but deformed his Hair hanging down while his Face is in an upward Posture Lazarus is of a just Stature a decent Body courteous Deportment and gallantly Attired he covers the Body of his Brother with his Cloak Nor could you think a Monster lay within at your first Discourse with him Barth Hist. Anat. Cent. 1. Hist. 66. p. 103. 4. Lemnius tells of a Monster that a certain Woman was delivered of which at the appearing of the Day filled all the Chamber with roaring and crying running all about to find some Hole to creep into but the Women at length stifled and smother'd it with Pillows Lem. de Nat. Mir. l. 1. c. 8. p. 38. 5. A Noble Polonian tells Bartholin That he had seen two little Fishes without Scales which were brought forth by a Woman and as soon as they came out of her Womb did swim in the Water as other Fish Bar. Hist. Anat. Cent. 1. Hist 10. p. 20. 6. There lived a Woman at Elsingorn who prepared all Things for Child-birth her time of Travail being come she was delivered of a Creature very like unto a Dormouse of the greater size which to the amazement of the Women present with marvelous Celerity sought out and found a Hole in the Chamber into which it crept and was never more seen Barth Hist. Anat. Cent. 1. Hist. 10. p. 19. 7. Anno 1639 Norway afforded an unheard-of Example of a Woman who having often before been delivered of Humane Births and again big after strong Labour was delivered of two Eggs one of them was broken the other was sent to Dr. Olaus Wormius in whose Study it is reserved to be seen of as many
the strongest of them when she hath them aloft she lets them fall and then she flies and meets them and takes them up again When they are old enough she drives them out of her Nest and Quarter The Female is so salacious that being trod 30 times in a day if the Male come to her again she will run to him She is so quick-sighted that flying over the Sea out of man's view she will discern the smallest Fish and smells Carcasses 500 miles distant When she is become extream hot she plunges into the Water then she flies to her Nest grows fevorish casts her Feathers is fed by her young ones and renews her self but sooner if she can find Serpents to feed on Jonston Hist Nat. p. 168. 2. The Hawk is of divers Magnitudes according to its Sex and Country the Females are the greater it casts its Feathers four times it is so venerious that the Female will return 30 times a day She flies from Carrion In the Air she will turn on her Back and stretch out her Tail Back and Wings and lies upon them She seems to lament the Death of a Man and will cast Earth on his Eyes The Thigh Bone of it pat towards Gold doth draw it to it with Delight Pigeous so soon as they hear its noise fly away Hens Eggs if they sit will be spoiled Small Birds are so frighted at the sight of her that you may take them off the Hedge with your hands Ibid. 3. The Manucodiatae or Birds of Paradise are said by Aldrovandus to be of five Kinds Their Bodies not being much bigger than a Swallow and their Heads like to them They are said to live always in the Air and to rest firm without any but a Tonick Motion for they want Feet and never come to the Ground but when they are Dead This is a Fable for they could hardly sleep there when their Senses are bound up for all their exercise is in a Tonick Motion It is likely that there is a hole in their Back in the Muscles where the Female that hath a hollow Belly lays her Eggs. Aldrovandus who saw these Manucodiatae never found any such thing The Mahumetans are perswaded that they came from Pardise as tokens of the delights of that place Johnston's Hist of Nat. Class 6. p. 184. Our later Writers say that they have found these Birds on the Ground dead and their Legs eaten off with some Vermin which is supposed to give occasion to the aforesaid fabulous Tradition 4. The Ostrich hath a small Head like a Goose not covered with Feathers with cloven Feet he is too big to flie yet sometimes he runs swiftly the Wind entring under his Wings and extending them like sails he will out-run a Man on Horseback he will swallow pieces of Iron he makes a Nest of Sand that is low and hollow and fenceth it against the Rain She lays above 80 Eggs yet the Young ones are not hatcht all at one time the Eggs are as big as a Young Childs Head weighing about 15 pounds and are extream hard the Young are bred of them by heat of the Sun she is wonderful simple when she hides her Neck in a Bush she thinks she is all hid Ibid. Class 6. cap. 32.191 5. The Heron if they dung upon a Hawke they burn and corrupt its Feathers they swallow Shell-fish shells and all but when they think their heat hath opened them they cast them up again and eat the Fish They lie in wait to catch Fish cunningly for they stand so against the Sun-beams that their shadow may not be seen to drive them away some say they have such a force that if they put but a foot into the Water they will draw the Fish to them as with a bait Ibid. p. 169. 6. The King's Fisher is reported to build their Nests of the hardest Fish-bones and to breed about the middle of Winter Wherefore when it is a calm Winter they call it Halcyon days the Nest is made like a Pine Apple it is so Artificially made that it cannot be easily cut with a Sword That the Water may not enter into it she makes her hole of a spungy matter that will swell and the swelling shuts up the entrance when they go in they press against it and so press out the Water and find passage Johnston's Class 6. p. 171. 7. The Cranes are great Travellers when they flie they keep a Triangular sharp-angled Figure that they may the easilier pierce through the Air when they light on the Earth to feed the Captain of them holds up his Head to keep watch for the rest and they feed securely before they take rest they appoint another Centinel who may stand and ward with his Neck stretched forth whilst the rest are asleep with their Heads under their Wings and standing upon one Leg the Captain goes about the Camp and if there be any danger he claries Lest they should sleep too soundly they stand upon one foot and hold a Stone in the other above Ground that if at any time being weary they should be oppressed with sleep the Stone falling might awaken them Johnston's Hist Nat. Class 6. cap. 18. p. 180. 8. Swallow's where they live in Winter is diversly described some say that in hollow Trees many lying close together they preserve themselves by mutual heat But Olaus Magnus Episcop Vpsal saith that in the Northern Parts where Men die of Cold in Winter the Swallows live in the Water yet in these parts Swallows are often drawn up by Fishermen by accident like a congeal'd Mass and then have united themselves together bill to bill foot to foot wing to wing after the beginning of Autumn to go amongst the Reeds c. When that Mass is drawn forth and put into a Hot-house the Swallows are thawed by heat coming to them and so begin to flie but they last but a very short time because they are not made free but Captives by being taken too soon Johnston's Hist Nat. Class 6. c. 20. p. 182. 9. The Ospreys or Sea Eagles are said to have one foot like an Engle and hooked the other plain like a Goose to swim withal that it hath also a costly Fat in his Tail and that he flies in the Air and hangs there as it were and le ts drop some of this Fat into the Water whereby the Fish are astonished that they turn upon their back and so he catcheth them Ibid. p. 183. 10. The Ibis is a Bird so loving to Egypt that it will live no where else so soon as it is hatcht if it be weighed it weighs two drams Plutarch de avib l. 4. c. 9. The Heart is greater then is proportionable to the body The Gut is 96 Cubits long and that in the Wain of the Moon of pressed together till the Light of it increaseth again saith Gaudentius Merula The Lakes of Arabia send forth Multitudes of winged Serpents these Birds by a kind of foresight are stirred up and
coming in publick remembring the hot Pavement when one plays on the Taber they will lift up their Feet and dance The swiftest kind are called by the Affricans Ragnail Johnston Hist Nat. Class 7. cap. 6. p. 209. 9. The Beaver is a most strong Creature to bite his hinder-feet are like a Gooses and his fore-feet like an Apes his fat Tail is covered with a scaly Skin and he useth it for a Rudder when he pursues Fish he comes forth of his Holes in the Night and biting off boughs of Trees about the Rivers he makes his Houses with an upper loft and when the Water riseth he lies there Johnston p. 211. 10. The Bear when he is Hunted will send forth a Breath that will corrupt the Flesh of of the Hunters and if they come nearer they will cast a Flegm out of their Mouths that kills or blind Dogs and Men. Aristot de Mirab. she brings forth her Young somewhat bigger then a Rat that is both anked and unformed in its parts a rude Mass When he is Fat he creeps into his Den on his back and so takes away his Footsteps that the Hunters may not perceive them In this Den he will grow lean in 40 days and he will keep himself alive lying still and sucking his right Foot 14 days Johnston p. 237. In Brasil is the Ant Bear as big as a g reat Dog the Tail twice as long as the Body and so full of Hair that under it he shelters himself from Rain Heat Cold and Wind his Tongue 3 quarters of a Yard long which he thrusts into Ant hills upon which they run and when full he licks them in Pur. Pilgr Vol. 4. v. 1301. 11. Whether the Vnicorn be Authors are of divers Opinions some affirm it and some deny it Ludovicus Vartomanus saith that he saw two of them sent to the Sultan at Mecha out of Ethiopia they were shut up in Lattises and were not fierce the Horns of this Creature are shewed in many places at the Monastery of St. Dennis there is one also at St. Mark 's Church in Venice and another at Rome Cardan describes it That it is a rare Creature as big as an Horse a Head like a Stag that hath one Horn growing on it 3 Cubits long it stands in the middle of the Forehead it is straight and is broad at the bottom it hath a short Neck a thin Mane with Feet like a Goat A Portuguese affirms that he saw them in the Abyssine Empire as large as a handsome Horse of a dark brown Colour with the Mane and Tail black with a fair beautiful Horn in the Forehead 5 palms long the Colour inclining to white they live in close Woods and Thickets sometimes venture into the Champion not often seen being timerous are not many and those conceal'd in the Woods A Portuguese Captain with 20 Soldiers in Company designing to breastfast while their Horses graz'd a Vnicorn described as before sprang among the Horses the Spectators had sufficient time to see and observe him See the Relation Printed by the Order of the Royal Society Anno 1669. by Sir Peter Wyche 12. The Baboon is a Creature with a Head like a Dog But in shape like a Man he will Fish cunningly for he will dive all day and bring forth Fish abundantly he takes wonderful delight to wear a Garment he hurts no Man he understands the Indians he will gently feed Sheep for their Milks sake Pliny l. 7. c. 7. Strabo l. 15. Two things are most wonderful in him that in the two Equinoctials 12 times a Day he will make Water once every Hour and doth the same at Night hence the Egyptians had the Picture of a Baboon Pissing upon their Dials The second is that when the Moon hath been sometimes in Coniunction with the Sun and loseth her Light the Male will not look not feed but holds down his Face to the Earth nor will the Female move her Eyes any way casting withal her Sperm forth therefore are they held Sacred and fed unto this day that by them the set time of the Moon 's Conjunction with the Sun may be known by them Johnston's Nat. Hist Clas 7. c. 13. 13. The marmaset is a larger kind of Monkey the Tail 5 Cubits long his Hair hanging down from his Forehead by their Legs Face Genitals they look like Countrey Men they are elsewhere all over Hairy they love Children and Women and desire to embrace them saith Cardan When they eat up the Ears of Corn one of them lies perdue in the Field and makes an out cry when he spies a Countrey-man the rest flie They so hate a Crocodile that they can't endure to see his Skin at a g reat distance In the Borders of Cariai there are some will leap from bough to bough as if they flew Ibid. 14. The Cocus is a 4 footed wild Beast in Slythia and Sarmatia for greatness between a Stag and a Ram white and very swift drinking with their Nostrils and bearing it for some days so that they will feed well enough in Pastures where no Water is Strabo l. 7. About About Easter you may see 2000 together upon eating a Venerious Herb in March they lie for a day as half dead Johnston Ibid. out of Gesner 15. The Buff is bigger then an Ox with a bunch on his Back with a very large Forehead curled with Hair that smells like Musk the Flesh fattest in Summer but tasting of Garlick that it feeds on so strong it will take up a Horse and his Rider The Blood redder then Purple so hot that it will soften the Iron of the Hunters Spear and in the greatest Cold it will Corrupt in two hours In the Scotch Woods they will not touch the Shrubs that Men have touched for many days being taken by Art they will die for Grief Camd. in Scotia 16. The Haut or Cercopithecus is a Creature in America mighty Ill-favoured as big as a Monkey his Belly touching the Ground his Head and Face like a Child and when taken he Sighs like a Child Three Claws hang to his hinder-feet like the great prickly Bones of a Carp and by these he creeps up upon Trees when tame he will love a Man and climb upon his Shoulders Thevet lift one in the open Air which yet was never wet Johnston Nat. Hist chap. 7. c. 3. 17. The Elk is a 4 Footed Beast commonly found in Scandinavia in Summer of an Ash colour almost in Winter enclining to black his Horns fit for Footstools each of them 12 pound weight and two Foot long his upper Lip hangs out so long that he cannot eat but going backwards He will run as much Ground in one day as a Horse in three a strong blow with his Foot will kill the Hunter Ibid. ch 1. 18. Bonasus is a kind of Bugle which dungs extream hot when the Hunter follows him Philip King of Macedon kill'd one with a Dart at the foot of Mount Orbclus The Horns
Nat. Hist p. 210. c. 10. True Nitre is now little known which was anciently made of the Water of the River Nilus Albertus Magnus saith that in Goselaria was a Mountain that contained a very Rich Mine of Copper and that the Water that issued out at the bottom of it being dried became Nitre we know little also of Aphronitrum which is as it were the Froth of Nitre It is bitterer then Salt but less Salt Ibid. The Egyptians strowed their Rhadishes with Nitre as we with Salt 11. Salt-Peter is the means between them two and consists of very dry ad subtle parts it grows on the Walls of Old Houses and in Stables Cow-houses and Pidgeon-houses it will grow again in the same Earth it was taken out of if that Earth be thrown into Earth and not stirred and taken care of the use of it is well known in making Gun-powder Aqua Fortis it is used also in melting Mettle Ibid. It is disputed variously whether the Nitre of the Ancients be of the same Species with our Salt-Peter Ibid. 12. Alom is either Congeal'd or Liquid the Congeal'd is of many Figures that which is called Scissum is the Flower of Alom in Clods and is prest together like Plank or it flourishes severally like Gray-hairs round Alom like Bubbles or is like a Sponge by reason of the holes in it the Liquid Alom send out of it self such a Vapour that smells like Fire as Sones when rubb'd together to cause Fire when burnt it swells into bubbles and loseth something of its substance Johnston's Nat. Hist Clas 4 c. 5. 13. Amber has been reputed by some a Gum by others the Sperm or Dung of Whales hardned by the Sea but Dr. Heylin affirms it to be the juice of a Stone growing like a Coral in Poland in a Mountain of the North-Sea clean covered with Water and rent thence in the Winter and so cast into the Neighbouring Havens hardening like Coral when taken out of the Water burning like Pitch attracting Straws and Iron good for stopping the Blood Agues c. Tavernier saith that 't is a certain Congelation found only upon the Coast of Prussia in the Baltick Sea Farm'd out by the Elector of Brandenbourg for 20000 Crowns a Year or more Hevelius in a Letter to Mr. Oldenbourg from Dantzick July 5. 1670 saith he had received a piece of Amber so soft that he had Printed his Seal on it yellowish transparent and burning as other Amber but of a stronger seent yet had been cast up from the Baltick the year before In China their great Lords at their Feasts throw a vast quantity of Amber into persuming Pots set upon the Table burning it partly for the scent and partly because they adore the Fire there are several sorts of Amber pale black spotted c. The Shops know only the white which is best and the yellow Sir Tho Pope Blunts Nat. Hist p. 13. 24. Jet Gagates Obsidianus is a black Bitumen hardned in the Sea which the Floods use to cast upon the Shores of the Estyii with Amber Earthen Vessels that are glased with it are not defaced lin l. 36. c. 19. When burnt it smells like Brimstone it kindles with Water but is extinguished with Oyl it is found great and of a pale colour at the Town of Ganges in Licia Strabo saith creeping things flie from the scent of it it is called Earthy Bitumen otherwise burning Stone because it will flame it is called Ampelitis because it kills little Worms called Enipaes it is dug up in Scotland and in the Jurisdictions of Leids they make Chaplets of it to say their Prayers upon In Collaum a Province of Peru there is a place all bare not Tree nor Plant upon it the Earth being Bituminous out of which the Indians extract a Liquor good for many Diseases the way this they cut the Ground into Turss lay it upon Rods or great Reeds putting Vessels under it to receive it the Sun Melts this Bitumen and the dry Turfs are fit to make Fires 15. Coal or Sea-Cole so called because carryed by Sea from several places as Wales and New-Castle to other Parts for Fewel is dug out of Pits or Mines where it is found in manner of a continued Black-Rock or hard Bitumen well known in England there being no less then 50000000 Chaldrons yearly gotten in the Nation the greatest remarkable concerning them is that there is a Species of it in Cheshire and some other Parts of a more Fat and Unctuous substance called Cannal-Coal which gives a pleasant flaming Light in the Burning like a Lamp or Câ—ndle But there are often found in these subterrauean Vaults such Stagnations of Vapours that for want of a due Ventilation produce very strange and dangerous Damps of which we shall speak more hereafter 't is called Carbo petrae Lithanthaeax or New-Castle Coal the chief Fewel in England and Germany the Chymical Spirit or Oyl is no ways inferior to that of Amber healing Wounds softning Tumours c. 16. Sulphur or Brimstone is dug up in an Island by the Mountain Hecla and that without Fire It is yellow that is digged out of the Plain of Brimstone which is called in Campania Virgin-Brimstone because Women Paint their Faces with it It is so Friendly to Fire that pieces of it laid about the Wood will draw the Fire to it put into Fire it will by the Scent discover the Falling-Sickness Johnston's Nat. Hist Clas 4. c. 13. Mr. Salmon makes 5 kinds of Mineral Sulphures Brimstone Arsnick or Orpiment Amber-Grease Amber and Bitumen Sulphur Vive is a Resinous Fatness of the Earth full of a Vitriolick Acidity being Gray or Greenish inflamable with a Blue and Suffocating Fume An Artificial is made of Sulphur Vive being Porous and Yellow or boyled out of Sulphurous Water the Foeces of either of which is the Sulphur Cabaline or Horse-Brimstone besides which there are other Artificial Brimstones drawn out of Copper Cinnaber and Vitriol which as it is rarer so it is better For in Chimneys where Vitriol is commonly boyled you may find Flower of Sulphur elevated all Sulphur of Brimstone is hot and dry Aperitive Cutting Discussive c. 17. Arsnick is a Mineral coagulated Juice or Fat made of Combustible Sulphur and corrosive Salts being Natural or Artificial the Natural is either yellow or red the yellow is called Orpiment the red is called Risgalum Real-gal and Sandaracha the Artificial is white and is made of the yellow sublimed with Salt of each equal quantities and this is that which is properly called Arsnick which being pure hard heavy and white like Milk or Chrystal is good Unprepated it is one of the greatest Poysons and a perfect Enemy to the Balsom of Life causing Heat Thirst Torment Corrosion Vomitting Palpitation Cold Sweats Intollerable burning Pains Convulsions and Death Outwardly it is used in Amulets and Cauteries with good Success it eats away proud and dead Flesh takes off Hair Salmon Disp p. 400. Spirit and
of in this Disputing Age viz. That they are a Congestion of Vapours or Exhalations in the Clouds inkindled there by an Antiperistasis and so moving and diffusing themselves till they burst the Clouds and break forth with a loud Eruption and quickness of Flame to the Astonishment of us who live beneath But sure I am with the Psalmist They are the Voice of the Lord and bring mighty Things to pass sometimes to our Terrour and Amazement 1. In the time of Marcus Antonius the Philosopher we read that the Quadi his Enemies were stricken with Thunder at the Prayers of the Christian Soldiers whence the Christian Legion was called The Thundering Legion presently saith the Emperour of them in that Epistle as they lay upon their Faces and prayed to God I know not whom a cold Shower fell upon us but upon our Enemies Hail mingled with Thunder that we found immediately that the Hand of the mighty God affisted us Johnst Nat. Hist cl 3. c. 5. p. 79. 2. About Anno 105 in the Reign of Trajan who raised the 3d Persecution Octob. 22 there arose furious and violent Winds which tore up Trees by the Roots uncovered and overthrew many Houses c. Then followed Thunder and Lightnings which made the Night like Noon-Day then fearful Thunderbolts which brake down stately Buildings and slew many Men c. Clark's Mir. p. 489. Dion 3. July 1654 at Salisbury in New-England one Partridge was killed by Thunder and Lightning his House being set on Fire thereby himself with others endeavouring to quench it by a second Crack was struck dead and never spoke more Ten others were struck and lay for dead but they all revived except Partridge in whose Clothes and Skin were Holes found like Shot-holes Remarkable Providences p. 73. 4. Octob. 21. Anno 1638 at Withycomb in Devonshire being Sabbath-day whilst the People were attending the Publick Worship of God a black Cloud coming over the Church there was suddenly an amazing Clap of Thunder and with it a Ball of Fire came in at the Window whereby the Church was much damnified and many of the People struck down Some of the Seats in the Body of the Church were turned upside down yet they that sate in them received no hurt One Mr. Hill sitting in his Seat by the Chancel had his Head suddenly smitten against the Wall by which Blow he died that Night Another had his Head cloven his Skull rent in three pieces and his Brains thrown on the Ground whole The Hair of his Head by the Violence of the Blow stuck fast to the Pillar that was near him A Woman attempting to run out of the Church had her Clothes set on fire and her Flesh on her Back torn almost t the very Bone Clark's Examples Vol. 1. ch 104. p. 501. 5. Anno 1613 June 26 in the Parish of Christchurch in Hampshire one John Hitchell a Carpenter lying in Bed with his Wife and a young Child by them was himself with his Child burnt to Death by a Flash of Lightning no Fire appearing outwardly upon him and yet lay burning for the space of three Days till he was quite consumed to Ashes Clark's Prodigies p. 579. 6. Anno 1665 in February there was a great Tempest accompanied with Thunder and Lightning in divers places at which time the stately Spire of Coventry fell and beat down a great part of the Church killing one Man And in Hampshire a Justice of the Peace riding by t the way was slain and burnt by Lightning Ibid. p. 570. 7. Dr. Beard saith That a Man travelling between two Woods in a great Tempest of Thunder and Lightning rode under an Oak to shelter himself but his Horse would by no means stay under that Oak but whither his Master would or no went from that Tree and stayed very quietly under another Tree not far off he had not been there many Minutes before the first Oak was torn all to fitters with a fearful Clap of Thunder and Lightning Beard 's Theat p. 443. 8. Acosta saith That it seldom Thunders about Brasil but such Lightnings are frequent there as make the Night appear brighter than the Noon-day On some Snowy Mountains in Africa the Cracks of Thunder are so loud that they are heard 50 Miles off at Sea Mather's Remarkable Prov p. 131. 9. An Adversary of Mr. Bolton's riding abroad when it Thundred very dreadfully observing that his Wife a Pious Woman was not at all afraid when he himself trembled greatly answering That it was the Voice of her Heavenly Father c. Thereupon went to Mr. Bolton begg'd his Pardon and Prayers for the Wrong he had done him and desired to know what he should do to be saved Upon which he became a very reformed Man Ibid. 10. Meurerus in Comment Meteorolog speaks of a Man that going between Lipsia and Torga was suddenly carried out of sight by a Thunder-storm and never seen more Ibid. p. 128. When Matthew Cole was killed with the Lightning at Northampton the Demons which disturbed his Sister Anne Cole 40 Miles distant in Hartford spoke of it intimating their Concurrence in that terrible Accident Ibid. CHAP. LVI Earthquakes OUR Saviour hath told us That one jot of his Word shall not perish till all be fulfilled that Heaven and Earth shall sooner pass away And we have reason to suspect it when we find the Pillars of the Earth shake so terribly as sometimes they do and the Earth we tread upon which one would think firm in its Foundations tossed with such frequent and sometimes very dreadful Concussion̄s What Lesson methinks so natural in this Case as Arise let us go hence Let us cast Anchor within the Veil and place our Treasures in that City which hath lasting Foundations 1. Before the Birth of our Savour Plato mentions a wonderful Earthquake whereby in a Day and Night a vast Island without the Stroights of Gibralter called Atlantis and bigger than Asia and Africa together was wholly overwhelmed and afterward covered by a great Inundation of Water He also writes that by another terrible Earthquake the Continent of Africa was rent asunder from Europe and Asia as it is at this Day being not only contracted by a little Neck of Land at the Red Sea The famous Isle of Sicily was likewise formerly a part of Italy and by an Earthquake divided from it And our Island of Great-Britain is supposed to be broken off from the Centinent of France by that means Herodotus saith that Egypt in ancient time was a Gulph of the Sea and by an Earthquake made dry Land The River Indus in Asira which receives Fifteen other Rivers into it altered its Channel and the Neighbouring Country turned into a Wilderness by a lamentable Earthquake The Isle of Delphos famous for the Oracle and Temple of Apollo was wholly ruined by an Earthquake Strabo mentions a City situate about Sydon that was wholly swallowed up thereby Pliny writes of twelve Cities ruined in in one Night and St. Augustine is
another Earthquake in the same Country that reached 300 Leagues along the Sea-shore and 70 Leagues in Land and Levelled the Mountains along as it went threw down Cities turn'd the Rivers out of their Channels and made an universal Havock and Confusion all this was done saith the Author in the space of seven or eight Minutes sometime before this above 40000 People perished in an Earthquake about Puel and Naples 20. In 1590 happened a terrible Earthquake which made Austris Bohemia and Moravia to Tremble in 1591. In St. Michael Island in the West-Indies there was an Earthquake which continued about 16 days to the extream Terror of the French which inhabit there especially when by force thereof they perceiv'd the Earth to move from place to place and Villa Franca their Principal Town overthrown the Ships that then rode at Anchor trembled and quaked insomuch that the People thought the day of Judgment was come In 1593 another terrible Earthquake happened in Persia which overturn'd 3000 Houses in the City of Lair crushing to Death above 3000 Persons in their Ruins In 1614 there was a great Earthquake in Vercer one of the largest of the Azor's Islands belonging to the King of Portugal overturning the City of Agra 11 Churches 9 Chappels besides many private Houses and in the City of Praga hardly an House was left standing not long after a dreadful Earthquake happened in St. Michael another Island of the Azores the Sea opened and thrust forth an Island above a League and a half in length at the place where there was above 150 Fathom Water 21. In 1622 was a great Earthquake in Italy the shape of an Elephant was seen in the Air and three Suns Armies Fighting Monstrous Births Waters turned into Blood unusual and impetuous Tempests which overthrew several Towers 22. In 1627 an Earthquake happened in England and a great Fiery Beam was seen in the Air in France Six Suns in Cornwall at once and five Moons in Normandy In the same year July 31 happened an Earthquake in Apulia in Italy whereby in the City of Severine 10000 Souls were taken out of the World and in the Horrour of such infinite Ruins and Sepulchre of so many Mortals a great Bell thrown out of the Steeple by the Earthquake fell so fitly over a Child that it inclos'd him doing him no harm made a Bulwark for him against any other danger 23. In the year 1631 there happened a Terrible Earthquake in Naples and the Mountain of Soma after many terrible Bellowings Vomitted out burning streams of Fire which tumbled into the Adriatic Sea and cast out huge deal of Ashes the like happened the year following with great Damage and Loss to the Neighbouring places in Houses People and Cattle and in Apulia 17000 Persons were destroyed by the same 24. In the year 1631 there happened a Terrible Earthquake in the Island of St. Michael one of the Terceres in the Atlantick Ocean Westward upon June the 26th this Island began universally to shake which continued eight days so that the People leaving the cities Towns and Castles were forc'd to live in the open Fields which was attended with a dreadful breaking out of Fire that had not the Wind by Divine Providence blown from the Isle into the Sea and drove back this outragious Fire without doubt the whole Country had been burnt up and destroy'd 25. In 1560 about five a Clock about the County of Cumberland and Westmorland was a general Earthquake wherewith the People were so affrighted that many of them forsook their Houses and some Houses so shaken that their Chimneys fell down The same year the Island of Santorim at the bottom of the Streights in the Mediterranean Sea not far from Candia had formidable Earthquakes and Fires it was most remarkable upon September 24 1650 which shook the Isle till the 9th of October with such mighty and frequent Earthquakes that the People fearing their immediate Ruin was approaching were on their Knees Night and Day before the Altars it cannot be expressed what Horrour seized all Men especially when the Flames breaking through all Obstacles strove to make themselves away through the midst of the Waters of the Ocean about four Mites Eastward from Santorin for the Sea all on a suddain swelled thirty Cubits upward and extending it self wide through the Neighbouring Lands overturn'd all in its way 26. In 1657 the Spaniards felt a terrible blow in Peru which if it were not a Mark of the Wrath of Heaven saith the Author was at least a Sign that the Earth is weary of them especially in those Parts where they have stain'd it with so much Innocent Blood The City of Lima was swallowed up by an Earthquake and Calao another City not far from it was consumed by a Shower of Fire out of the Clouds 11000 Spaniards lost their Lives in this Calamity and the Earth devoured an 100 Millions of refin'd Silver which the Lucre of the Spaniards had forc'd out of her Bowels 27. In 1660 an Earthquake happened at Paris in France and at the same time we had News that part of the Pyrenean Mountains had been overthrown some days before they are certain Mountains that divide France and Spain it did great Mischief there overwhelm'd some Medicinal Baths many Houses and destroying much People one Church which sunk into the Caverns below was thrown up again and stands very firm but in another place this was look'd upon as a great Miracle especially by the French who have disputed with the Spaniard about a Church standing upon the Frontier-Line but now is removed near half a League within the acknowledged Limits of France 28. In 1665 there was a great Tempest accompanied with Thunder Lightning and an Earthquake in divers places in England at which time the stately Spire of Trinity Church in Coventry fell down and demolished a great part of the Church 29. In 1668 in Autumn a great part of Asia and some parts of Europe were infested with extraordinnry Earthquakes the Cities of Constantinople and Adrianople felt its effects but not with that Violence and continuance as in other places In some parts of Persia it continued for above fourscore days Torqueto and Bolio two considerable Cities were by its great Violence laid even to the Ground and all or most of their Inhabitants buryed in the Ruins above 6000 Persons Perished in the first of them and above 1800 in the latter and in all the Adjacent Cities it raged with extraordinary Fury destroying and ruining the Buildings killing many of the People and the rest were forced to quit the Towns and take up their Lodgings in the Fields 30. In 1687 October 20 the London Gazette gives a sad Relation of another Earthquake in the Kingdom of Peru in America whereby the City of Lima was totally overthrown and not an House left standing burying many of its inhabitants under its Ruins at the same time Callao Fenettei Pisco Chancay Los Florillos c. Most of the Sea-port
Towns were destroyed by an Inundation of the Sea which carryed several Ships above 9 Miles into the Countrey and great numbers of People and Cattle were drowned there being found when the Water fell at one place near the Sea side above 5000 People dead and every day more were found so that no account could be given of their number 31. In 1688. a Dreadful Earthquake happened at Naples in Italy which was attended with the Rage and Roaring of Mount Vesuvius On Saturday June 5 about the 22th hour happened there a Terrible Earthquake thó it lasted not long which frightned the Inhabitants out of their Houses with the Terror of inevitable destruction they betook themselves to the Piaza's and open Publick places of the City there is scarce a Pallace or a House that has not received some considerable damage the next day there was another shook which threw down many of the Houses In The Neighbourhood of Vdico a City 16 Miles distant from hence a Mountain opened and we have an account it was all Ruined and that of 6000 Inhabitants there are but few left alive and great damages in several other places 32. In the same Year and Month we have a Dreadful Account of an Earthquake and Fire at Smyrna in a Letter from an English Gentleman at Constantinople dated July 8 1688. On June 30 Between 11 and 12 at Noon there happened at Smyrna a violent Earthquake which in a Minute threw down many and shattered all the Houses in the City it reached all the Adjacent parts and Metelone and Scio where it did but small hurt about 4 hours after a dreadful Fire broke out and consumed all the Town except the Skirts and the Houses on the side of the Hill the most moderate computation of People destroyed is 5000. 33. In December following several Earthquakes happened about Naples and Beneventum but without such infortunate Accidents which attended them some Months before nevertheless that accident being fresh in memory it is not to be imagined what a Consternation the People were in and how they fell to their Prayers in several Churches the Monks in those quarters made use of the opportunity to Preach that the end of the World was at hand and for that Reason endeavoured to give Alms but the People are not now to be imposed upon as formerly when they used such ways to rear such costly Foundations that are scattered over all Europe they resolved to keep what they had not finding the Monks to make better use of their Money then they themselves could do May not these dreadful shakings of the Earth seem plainly to presage those Convulsions that happened soon after and presignifie good as well as bad events not only the happy Revolutions in these three Kingdoms but also the horrid Ruins Devastations and Miseries which the Ambition and Barbarity of the French King has occasioned lately in Christendom and which do still continue 34. Dismal was the Calamity and Judgment which befel the Inhabitants of the Island of Jamaica in the West-Indies upon Tuesday June the 7th 1692 by a dreadful Earthquake about 11 a Clock in the Morning the Earth suffered a great Trepidation which in a Minutes time was such that several Houses began to tumble down and in 6 or 7 Minutes or a quarter of an hour at most made terrible Havock and Devastation it threw down almost all the Houses and Mountains and threw them into the Sea but Port-Royal had much the greatest share in this astonishing Judgment of God the Minister of that place relates that the same Morning he had been at Prayers in the Church which he never neglected to keep up some shew of Religion amongst a most ungodly and debauch'd People and was gone to a place near to the Church where the President of the Council was designing to Dine with one Captain Buden but his House upon the first Concussion sunk first into the Earth and then into the Sea with his Wife and Family and others that were to Dine with him the Minister staying some time with the President escaped the Danger Yet soon after they found the Ground rowling and moving under their Feet Sir says the Minister what 's this He replied very composedly It is an Earthquake be not afraid it will soon be over but it increased and they heard the Church and Tower fall upon which they ran to save themselves the Minister makes towards Morgan's Port which being a wide open place might be thought securest from falling Houses but as he came near he saw the Earth open and swallow up a Multitude of People and the Sea mounting over the Fortifications he then laid aside all thoughts of escaping resolving to make towards his own Lodgings where he found all all things safe he went to the Balcony to view the Street in which his House stood and saw never an House down there not the Ground so much as crackt the People desired him to come down and Pray with them he perswaded them to kneel down and make a large Ring which they did Pray'd with them near an Hour and after seriously exhorted them to Repentance the Earth working all the while with New Motions and trembled like the Rowling of the Sea insomuch that when he was at Prayer he could hardly keep himself when he came to the Sea he saw it had swallowed up the Wharf with all those goodly brick Houses upon it and two intire Streets beyond that he walked upon the Tops of some Houses which lay Level with the Surface of the Water from whence he got into a Canoo and then into a Long-boat which put him aboard a Ship called the Siam Merchant where he found the President safe They could not Sleep that Night for the return of the Earthquake almost every hour which made all the Guns in the Ship jar and rattle The shaking of the Earth still continued with Thunder and Lightning stormy and foul Weather The morning of this day was very fair and clear affording no suspicion of the least evil but in the space of 3 minutes about half an hour after 11 in the morning Port Royal the fairest Town of all the English Plantations was staken and shattered to pieces and sunk into and covered by the Sea as to the greatest part It is reckoned there were lost 1500 Persons From St. Anns there was News That above 1000 Acres of Wood-Land were turn'd into the Sea and carried with it whole Plantations but no place suffered like Port-Royal where whole Streets were swallowed up by the opening of the Earth and the Houses and Inhabitants went down together Some of them were driven up again by the Sea which arose in those Breaches and wonderfully escaped Some were swallowed up to the Neck and then the Earth shut on them and squeezed them to Death and in that manner several were left Buried with their Heads above-ground only some Heads the Dogs had eaten Great noises and bellowings were heard some time after in
the Mountains which made them apprehensive of Fire but thanks be to God no ill event hath yet succeeded We have a further Account from the Parish of Vere in that Island some Leagues from Pâ—rt-Royal dated the 30th of June 1692. On Tuesday the 7th of June about 11 in the morning it pleased the Just God to visit us with a Terrible Earthquake which continued with much Violence and Terrour for about a quarter of an hour as most say in which it overthrew all the Brick and Stone-Buildings in the Country whereof several in this Parish of Vere are levelled with the Ground or standing Monuments of the Wrath of God so shattered and torn that they are irreparable whilst these were tumbling the Earth opened in this place in multitudes of Places and through their dire Charms spewed out Water to a considerable height above-ground in such quantities in some places that it made our Gullies run on a suddain though before exceeding dry insomuch that some were afraid of being over-whelmed at once by the River and Sea joyning together to swallow up the Country these gaping Mounths being no less than 12 20 or more foot deep under the Earth and above two miles up in the Country especially nigh the River in the purest mould which had no Clay nor other Consolidating matter beneath where that was we do not find any cracks of the Earth at all Our noted Town of St. John de la Vega or the Spanish-Town is utterly down to the Ground and its Church devoured in the same Ruins Our Magazine and only Store-House of Port-Royal is 3 parts swallowed up in the Sea A whole Street called the Wharf where most of the noted Merchants lived sunk at once from one end to the other with a general Crack at the beginning of the Earthquake together with two Forts and Guns c. thereon and all that were upon or nigh it perished in an instant without any warning Soon after 2 or 3 more Streets in their whole length tottered and fell and were immediately sunk Ground and all together deep into the Sea as far as the Jews-street All the Upper part of the Town with the Church and all above the Palissadoes is under Water even the very Palissado's it self where their Burying place was is now no longer Earth but Sea and the Dead Corps floated from them to all parts of the Harbour The Houses that yet remain are many of them so rent and torn and others so deeply sunk into the Wavers even up to their Balconies that they are unserviceable The Wall at the Palissadoes is utterly ruined with the Port belonging and tho' Morgan's Line and Walker's Fort yet stand they are sorely shaken and rent and so sunk that they are not Tenable the whole place that is yet above Water sinking daily by those Earthquakes we have ever since had sometimes 4 5 6 times more or less in 24 hours The reputed number of the Dead for perhaps there will never be an exact account is reckoned about 1500 Persens besides Negroes who are said to be 6 or 700 more a multitude of whose black Corps floated many days from one side of the Water to the other which caused such an intolerable stench that the Dead were like to destroy the Living till at last some were sunk and others dispersed by the Sea-Breeze Likewise Ligania the first and principal Town for Planting and imitating if not exceeding the stately Building of Port-Royal is now brought to terrible Desolation and its fine new-built and yet unfinished Church buried in the same Ruines with the Houses By the fall of a Mountain into the Channel of the River which supplies both this Town and Port-Royal the River became dry for 16 hours together to the terrour of the Inhabitants Other Letters aâ—d these particulars That this terrible Earthquake came from the North and attack'd Port-Royal on the Harbour-side on which was the Wharf the whole length of the place where stood the King's-House a Bastion of 207 Guns Carlisle Battery of 119 Guns and the Houses of the greatest Merchants all those sunk in a moment from 3 to 5 Fathom Water some were sunk in their Houses others Buried in the Rubbish some who were got into clear Water and could Swim were carried away with drifts of Timber nothing else was seen but the dead and dying nothing heard but Shreiks and Cries the living were covered with Wounds Bruises and Blood the Thunder roared over their heads the Earth trembled under their feet the Rocks and Mountains were rent in sunder and Fire-Balls day and night fell from Heaven it is impossible for Tongue to speak or Pen to write the Sorrows and Terrors of that day 35. In the same year 1692. on the 8th of September an Earthquake was felt in London and in several parts of Essex Kent Sussex Hamshire c. as Sheerness Sandwich Deal Maidstone Portsmouth c. the People leaving their Houses in many places It shook Leeds Castle in Yorkshire so violently that all in the Castle even the Lady her self went out of it and expected its falling A Person being in the Field hard by the Ground shook so under him that he could not stand and being forced to lie down on the ground was so tossed up and down that he received several Bruises At Maidstone in Kent the People generally got out of their Houses feraing they would fall It happened at London about 4 Minutes past two and was felt in most parts of the Dutch and Spanish Netherlands as also in Germany and France c. We have this Account from Holland That on the 8th of September between 2 and 3 a Clock in the afternoon all Holland was sensible of a trembling of the Earth which lasted about 3 Minutes At Middleburg in Zealand it continued some time and caused the Earth to move so much that the People were forced to hold by what was next them in the Street It caused the Bells in the great Church there and at the Hague to jangle and the Ships at Sea were sensible of it The Gazette relates That our Gracious Soveraign King William being encamp'd at Grammon in Flanders at the same time there happened an Earthquake which lasted near a Minute and was very sensible to the whole Camp The King being at Dinner in an old decay'd House which shaking very much and every one apprehending it was ready to fall His Majesty was prevailed with to rise from Table to go out of the House but the surprise was soon over 36. On the 7th of January 1692. about 10 at night Mount Aetna in Sicily began to roar in a most horrible manner which usually presages some dismal calamity to ensue It continued for two days and about an hour after the People of Catania which was nearest to the Mountain felt a trembling under them for near 3 minutes during which no noise was heard from Mount Aetna but within a Minute after the roaring of the Mountain was redoubled with