A Goodly Gallery, Book 3
❧ The thirde Booke of aery impressions.
VNderUnder ye name of aery impressiōs, be cōprehended, such Meteores, whose matter is most of the aire. Of this sort be windes, earthquakes, thōder, lightnīgs stormewyndes, whirlewyndes, circles, raynbowes, ye white circle, called of som watlīg strete, many sūnes many mones
¶ Of Wyndes.
THe wynd is an Exhalation whote and drie,Wynde. drawne vp into ye aire by ye power of ye sunne, & by reason of ye wayght therof being driuen down, is laterally or sidelongs caried about the earth, & this diffinition is to be vnderstāded, of generall wyndes, ye blowe ouer al ye earth, or els som great regions, but beside these, there be particular wyndes, whiche are knowen but only in som coūtries, & thē not very large,The secōd kinde of wyndes. these wyndes oftētimes hauehave another maner of generatiō. And that is on this maner. It must néedes be cōfessed, ye wtin the globe of the earth, be wōderful great holes, caues, or dōgeōs, in which whē ayer abondeth (as it may by diuerse causes) this ayer, yt cannot abide to be pined in, findeth a litle hole in or about those countries, as it weare a mouth to break out of: & by this meanes, bloweth vehemētly, yet ye force & vehemens extendeth not far, but as ye wynde that cōmeth forth of bellowes, neare the comming foorthe, is stronge, but farre of, is not perceiued: So this particular wynd, in ye countrye, where it breaketh forth, is very violēt & strong, in somuch, yt, it ouerthroweth both trées, & houses, yet in other countries, not very farre distant, no part of that boisteous blast is felt. Wherfore this wynde differeth frō the generall wyndes, both in qualities & substaunce or matter, for the matter of them is an Exhalation, and the qualities suche as the nature of the Exhalation is, very ayery, but not ayere in deade: but of this particular wynde, the matter and substaunce is moste commonly ayer.
There is yet a thyrde kynde of wynde,the thirde kynd of wynde. whiche is but a softe gentle and coole mouing of the ayre, and commeth from no certaine place (as the generall wynd doth) yea it is felt in the shadowe vnderunder trees, when in the whote lyght and shining of the sunne, it is not perceiued. It commeth whisking sodenly, very pleasaunt in the heate of the sommer, and ceaseth by and by. This properly is no wynde▪ but a mouing of the ayre by som occasion. As for the generall wyndes, thei blowe out of diuerse quarters of the ayre, nowe East, nowe West, nowe South, nowe North, or els inclininge to one of the same quarters. Amonge whiche the East wynde followyng the nature of the fyre, is whote and drie, the South wynde expressing the qualitie of the ayre,the qualities of the wyndes and the fow… quarters of the worlde. is whote and moyste, the Westerne blast, agreing with ye waters propertie is colde and moyst. The Northe that neuer was warmed with the heat of the sunne, being cold and drye, partaketh the conditions of the earth. The midle wyndes hauehave midle & mixed qualities after ye nature, of those fowre principall wyndes more or lesse,the qualitie of midle wyndes as they encline toward them more or lesse.
Generally the profit of all wyndes,the profit of wynde. by the wonderfull wysdome of the eternall God, is wonderfull great, vntounto his creatures. For besydes yt these wyndes, alter the weather, some of them bryngyng rayne, some drynes, some frost and snowe, whiche all are necessary, ther is yet an vniuersall comoditie, that ryseth by the only mouyng of the ayre. Which were it not continually styred, as it is, would soone putrifie, and beyng putryfied, would be a deadly infection to all yt hath breath vponupon the earth. Wherfore this wynde whose sounde we heare,Ioan. 3. and knowe not from whence it cōmeth nor whether it goeth (for who can affirme from whence it was raysed, or where it is layde downe) as al other creaturs besyde doth teach vsus, the wonderfull and wyse prouidence of God, that we maye worthely crie out, with the Psalmist, & saye: O Lorde, howe manyfolde are thy wordes,Psal. 104. in wysdome hast thou made them all, &c. Let this be sufficient, to hauehave shewed the generation of the wyndes.
¶ Of earthquakes.
AN earthquake,Earthquakes. is a shaking of ye earth whiche is caused by meanes of wynde and Exhalations, that be enclosed, with in the caues of the earth, and can fynde no passage, to breake foorthe, or els so narrowe a waye that it can not be soone enoughe delyuered. Wherefore, with great force, and violēce it breaketh out, and one whyle shaketh the earth, another whyle rendeth and cleaueth the same, sometyme it casteth vp the earth, a great heyght into the ayre, and some tyme it causeth ye same, to synke a great depth downe, swallowyng both cyties, and townes, yea and also mightie great moūtaignes, leauing in the place wher they stoode, nothyng but great holes of an vnknowen depthe, or els great lakes of waters.
¶ Of diuerse kindes of earthquakes.
DYuerse authors wryte dyuerselye, of the kindes of earthquakes,Diuerse kyndes of earthquakes. some makyng more and some lesse, but we shall be content at this tyme to comprehende them in fowre sortes.
The first kynde is when the earth is shaken laterally, to one syde, whiche is when the whole force of the wynde dryueth to one place, and there is no other contrary motion, to let it. This wynde if it be not great shaketh the earth, that it trembleth as a man that hath a fyt of an agewe, and dothe no more harme, but if it be great and violent, it louseth the foundations of all bydinges, be they neuer so stronge, and ouerthroweth whole cyties, but specially yt great buildynges, and not onelyonly buyldinges, but some tyme also casteth downe greate hylles, ihat couer and ouerwhelme, all the valley vnderunder them. Many noble and great cities, hauehave béen ouerthrowen by this kynde of earthquake.Twelue cities ouerthrowen with one earthquake. It is wrytten that twelue of the mooste bewtifull cyties, and moste sumptuous buildyngs in all Asia, were ouerthrowne and vtterly destroyed with any earthquake. Howe often, Antiochia, yea within short tyme, was destroyed, they whiche hauehave redde the histories, can testifie. Howe terrible was the earthquake, that shooke Constantinople a whole yeare together,Constantinople the chiefest citie of Grece now the Turkes pallace. that the Emperour, & all the people, were faine to dwell abroade in the fieldes, vnderunder tentes & pauilions for feare their houses would fall on their heade, it is recorded in Chronicles, & worthy to be remēbred.
The seconde kynde is,The secōd kynde. when ye earth with great violence is lifted vp, so that the buyldinges are lyke to falle, and by and by synketh downe agayne: this is when all the force of the wyndes stryueth to get vpwarde, after the nature of gonpouder, and fyndyng some waye to be delyuered out of bondage, the earth that was hoysed vp, returneth to his old place.
The third kynde is a gapinge,The thyrd kynde. rendyng, or cleauing of the earth, when the earth synketh downe, and swalloweth vp cities, and townes, with castels, and towers,Earthquake on the sea. hylles and rockes, ryuers, and floodes, so that they be neuer seen again. Yea the Sea in some places hath béen dronke vp, so that mē myght hauehave gone ouer on foote, vntyll the tyme of tyde or flood returning, couered the place with waters againe. But in the lande, where this earthquake swalloweth vp any cytie, or countrie, there apeareth nothing in the place thereof, but a marueylous wyde and deape goulf, or hole. Aristotle maketh mention of diuers places,Aristot. and regions that were ouerthrouwen with this kynde of earthquake.
The fourth kynde,The fourth kynde. is when greate mountaynes ar cast vp out of the earth, er els when some part of the lande synketh downe, and in steade thereof aryse ryuers, lakes, or fyers, breakyng out wc smoke and ashes. It causeth also ouerflowyngs of the sea, when the sea bottom, is lyfted vp, and by this meanes, arise many Ilandes in the sea,Newe Ilandes in the sea. that neuer were séen before. These and other suche miracles, are often to be founde in the wryters of histories, also in the Philosophers, as Aristotle, Arist.Seneca, Seneca.and Plinius.Plinius.
Neuertheles, the effectes of some, as moste notable it shall not be vnprofitable to recite. Plato in his Dialogue, Plato.intituled Timens, maketh mention by the way of a wonderfull earthquake,A wōderfull earthquake. wherebye not only Africa was rent asonder from Europa and Asia (as it is indead at this daye,Africa. Europa. Asia the thre parts of the erth except a lytle necke by the redde Sea,) the Sea entring betwene them that nowe is called Mare mediterraneum:Mare mediterraneum because it goeth through the midst of the earth. But also a wonderfull great Ilande, whiche he affirmeth, was greater then Aphrica and Asia both, called Atlantis, Atlātis. an Iland.was swallowed vp, and couered by the waters, in so muche, that on the Sea called Atlanticum, for a great whyle after, no shippe could sayle, by reason that the same huge sea, by resolution of the earth of that myghty Iland, was al turned into mudde. The famous Ile of Scicilia was also some tyme a part of Italy, and by earthquake rent asonder from it. Seneca maketh mentiō of two Ilandes.Seneca. Theron and Therea, Theron & Therea.that in his tyme, first apeared. It should séeme both by Aristotle, Arist.and also by Herodotus, Herodotus.that Egypt, in aunciēt tyme, was a goulphe of the sea,Egipsom time a golphe of the sea. and by earthquake made a drye lande. During the raygne of Tyberius the Emperour, twelue notable cyties of Asia, were ouerthrowen in one nyght, &c.
¶ How so great wyndes come to be vnderunder the earth.
THe great caues and dennes of the earth, must neades be full of ayere continually, but when by the heate of the sonne, the moysture of the earthe is resolued, many Exhalations ar generate as well within the earth, as without, & where as the places were full before, so that they coulde receyue no more exepte part of that which was in them nor lett out, in suche countries, where the earth hath fewe pores, or els where they bée stopped, with moysture, it must neades followe, that these exhalations striuing to get out, must neades rende the earth in some place, or lifte it vp, so that either thei may hauehave frée passage, or els rowm inough to abide in.
¶ Of the signes and tokens that goe before an earthquake most commonly.
THe first is the raging of the sea, whē there are no tempestuous wyndes,The signes of an earthquake. to styre it, yea when the ayre is moste calme without wyndes. The cause why the Sea then rageth, is that the wynde beginneth to labour for passage, that waye, and fynding none, is sent back, and soone after shaketh the lande.
The seconde sygne is calmenes of the ayre, and colde, whiche cometh to passe by reason that the Exhalation, that shold be abroade, is within the earth.
The thirde signe, is sayde to be, a longe thine strake of a cloude seen, whē the skye is cleare, after the setting of the sonne. This (saye they) is caused, by reason that the Exhalation or vapor, whiche is the matter of cloudes, is gone into ye earth Other affirme that it is the Exhalation that breaketh out of som narrowe hole of the earth, out of whiche the rest of the wynde cannot issue, neither will it wayghte the tyme, wherfore within a whyle after, it séeketh and maketh it selfe by soden eruption a broader waye to be deliuered out of pryson.
Also the sunne certaine dayes before it, appeareth dimme, because the wynd, that should hauehave purged and dissolued ye grosse ayere, that causeth this dymnes, to our eyes, is enclosed within the bowels of the earth.
The water in the botome of deape welles, is troubled, and the sauor therof infected, because the pestilēt Exhalations yt hauehave ben long inclosed, within ye earth do thē beginne a litle to be sent abrode. For thereof cometh it, that in many places where earthquakes hauehave béen, great aboundaunce of smoke, flame, & ashes, is cast out, when the aboundaunce of brymstone that is vnderunder the grounde, through violent motion is set on fyre, & breaketh forth Finally, who knoweth not, what stynking mynerals and other poysonous stuffe doth growe vnderunder the earth? wherfor it is no wōder if well water, before an earthquake, be infected, but rather it is to be marueiled, if after an earthquake, there followe not a greuous pestilence, when the whole masse of infection is blowne abroade.
Last of all, there is harde before it, in the tyme of it, & after it, a great noyse and sounde vnderunder the earth,Thōdring vnderunder the earth. a terrible groanyng, and a verye thondryng, yea somtymes when there followeth no earthquake at all, when as the wynde without shaking of the earth, fyndeth a waye to passe out at. And these for the moste part, or at lest some of them, are forewarninges that the moste fearfull earthquake wil followe, then the which there is no natural thing, that bryngeth men into a greater feare. Cato was very curius to confesse him self,Cato. that he repented, that euer he went by water, where as he might hauehave gone by lande. But what lande, can be sure? if it be the Lordes will, by this woorke of his to shake it? what building so strong yt can defende vsus? when the more stronge the more danger, the higher ye greater fall.
¶ Of thonder.
THōder is a sound,Thonder. caused in ye cloudes by the breaking out of a whote & dry Exhalation, beating against the edges, of the cloude. It is often herde in spryng & sommer, by reason yt the heat of ye sonne, thē draweth vp many Exhalations, which meating in the midle regiō of the ayre, wc colde & moist vapors, ar together with them, inclosed in an hollowe cloud, but whē the whot Exhalatiō cannot agrée wc the coldnes of ye place, by this strife being driuen together, made stronger and kēdled, it wil neades breake out which soden & violent eruptiō, causeth ye noyse which we cal thōder. A similitude is put by gret autors of moist wood,a similitude. ye cracketh in ye fire, we may adde here vntounto ye breaking of an egge in the fire, of an apple, or any like thing, for whatsoeuer holdeth & withholdeth, enclosed any whot wind, so yt it can hauehave no vente, it wil séeke itself a way, by breaking ye skinn, shell or case. It wer no ill cōparisō to likē thōder to the sound of a gonne, which be both caused of the same or very like causes.
The soūd of thōders is diuerse, after which, men hauehave diuided ye thōders into diuerse kindes.Diuerse kindes of thonder. Making first ij. sortes, yt is, small thōder & great. But as for the diuersitie of soūdes, generally it cōmeth of ye diuerse disposition of ye cloudes, one while hauing more holes then at another, somtime thicker in one place then in another. The smal or litle thōder is,Smal thonder and the kindes therof when ye exhalatiō is driuē frō side to side, of ye cloude, making a noise, & ether for ye smal quātitie, & lesse forcibles, or els for the thicknes of ye cloudes walles, is not able to break thē, but rōbleth vp & down wtin ye cloud, whose sids ar strōger thē ye force of ye exhalation is able to breake, it rōneth vp & down wtin, & striking agaīst the cloud & moist sides, maketh a noyse not vnlike to the quēching of whote yrō in cold water.
And if ye Exhalation be meanly strōg, and the cloude not in all places of lyke thickenes, it breaketh out at those thinn places whiche suche a bussing, as wynd maketh blowyng out of narrow holes.
But if the cloude, be so thynne, that it cannot kepe in ye Exhalation, although it be not kyndled, then it bloweth out with lyke puffinge as wynde commeth out of a payre of bellowes.
A great thonder, is when the Exhalation is muche in quantitie,Great thō der and the kindes therof. and verye whote and drye in qualitie, the cloude also very thycke and stronge, that easely wyll not geue place to the wynde, to escape out.
Wherfore if the Exhalation do vehemently shake the cloude, though it doe not at the first disperse it, it maketh a longe and fearefull romblyng against the sydes of the cloude, vntill at the last being made stronger by swyfter motiō, it dissolueth the cloude, and hath lybertie to passe out into the open ayer. The cloude resolued, droppeth downe, and then followeth a showre of rayne.
Otherwhyles it shaketh the cloude, not long, but streyghtwaye rendeth it a long space & tyme, whose sounde is like the rendyng of a broade clothe, whiche noyce continueth a prety whyle.
And sometime it discusseth the cloude at once, makyng a vehement and terryble cracke lyke a gonne, sometime with great force, casting out stones, but most commenly fyre, whiche setteth manye highe places on fyre. As in the yeare of our Lorde, 1561. the fourth day of Iune, the steple of saint Paules church in Lō don was set on fyre, as it hath béen once or twyse before, and burned. The noyce of thonder though it be great in suche places ouer whiche it is made,How farr thūder is harde. yet is it not harde farre of, especially against the wynde. Whereof we had experience also in the yeare of our Lorde, 1561. on saynt Mathyes daye in February, at the euening, when there was a great flashe of lyghtnynges, and a verye terryble crack of thonder followynge, they that were but xv. myles from Londō Westwarde, hearde no noyse, nor sound therof: the wynde that tyme was Western.
The effect of thonder is profitable to men,The profit of thonder. bothe for that the swete shower doth followe it, and also for that it purgeth, and purifieth the ayre by the swyft mouynge of the Exhalation, that breaketh foorthe, as also by the sounde which deuidynge and pearcyng the ayre, causeth it to be muche thynner, which may be veryfied by an historie that Plutarchus in the life of T. Quincius Flaminius, Plutarchꝰ T. Quincius Flaminius.reporteth, that there was suche a noyce made by the Grecians after theyr lybertie was restored, that the byrdes of the ayer that flewe ouer them were séen to fall downe, by reason that the ayer deuided by theyr crye, was made so thinn, that there was no firmitie, or strengthe in it to beare them vp. And let this suffice for thonder, whome lyghtnyng succeadeth in treatie, that seildome is from it in nature.
¶ Of Lyghtninge.
AMōg the diuerse kindes of lightning,Lightnīg whiche wryters in this knowledge doe nomber, we shall entreate onelyonly of fowre kyndes, yet so, that vnderunder these fowre, all the reste maye be comprehended. The names we must borrowe of the latin tongue. The first is Fulgetrum, The seconde Coruscatio, the thyrd Fulgur the fourth, Fulmen.Fulgetiū, Coruscatio, Fulgur, Ful…
¶ Of Fulgetrum.
FVlgetrum we cal that kynde of lyghtening which is séen on sommer nights and eueninges,Fulgetrū after a whote daie. The generation hereof is suche, when many thynn, light, and whote Exhalations, by the immoderate heate, hauehave ben drawen vp from the earth, and by the absence of the sunne, be destitute of ye force, wherby they should hauehave béen drawen further vpwarde, yet somethinge ascending by their owne nature, in that they be lyght and whote they meat with the colde, either of the night in the lowest region, or els of the ayre in the midle region, & so by resistence of cōtraries (as it hath béen oft before rehersed) they ar beaten back, and with the vehement mouing set on fire. This lightning commonly goeth out in the ayre, terrible to beholde, not hurtful to any thīg. Except somtim whē the matter of it is, earthy & grosse, being striken downe to the earth, it blasteth corne, and grasse, with other small hurt. Sometyme it setteth a barne or thacked house on fyere. The collour of this lightninge,The collor of this lyghtning. as of all other, is dyuerse, partly according to the matter, & partly accordyng to the lyght. If the matter be thynne, it is whyte, if the substaunce be grosse, it is ruddy, lyke flames of fire, in great light as in the daie it appeareth whyte, in the nyght, ruddy, yet somtime in the daye tyme, we may sée it yealow, whiche is a token that the matter is wō derfull thicke and grosse. Olde wyues are, wont to saye that no nyghte in the yeare, except one passeth without lyghtnynge, but that is as true as the rest of theyr tales, whereof they hauehave greate stoore.
¶ Of Coruscation.
COruscation is a glistering of fyre,Coruscation. rather then fyre in deade, and a glymmerynge of lyghtning, rather then lightning it self. which is ij. maner of wayes, one waye, whē cloudes yt be lower then the vpper part of the earth, without the compasse of our syght, are enflamed, & the reflexion of that flame, is cast vp into our syght appearyng in all poyntes lyke lyghtning, sauinge that the ayer where it appeareth is so cleare, that we are perswaded no lightning can be ther caused. Another waye, is when there be thycke cloudes ouer vsus, and commonlye a double order of cloudes, one aboue an other, if lightninge or any other inflammatiō be in ye vpper part of these clouds, the lyght of them perceth through the lower partes, as through a glasse, and so appeareth as though it lyghtned, when perhappes it did lyghten in deade, yet that whiche we sawe, was but the shadowe therof. And this is often without thonder.
¶ Of Fulgur.
FVlgur is that kynd of lightning which followeth thonder,Fulgur. whereof we hauehave spoken before. For when that violent Exhalation breaketh foorthe, makynge a noyce as it beateth against the sydes of the cloude, with the same violence, it is set on fyre, and casteth a great lyghte, whiche is séen, farre and neare. And although the lyghtnyng appeare vntounto vsus, a good preaty whyle before the thonder clappe be harde,The lightening is not before the thond. though it seeme so. yet is it not caused before the noyce if any thonder at all doe followe, but eyther is after it or with it. Wherfore that we sée it, before we hear the thōder, may be ascribed, either to the quicknes of our syght, that preuenteth ye hearing, or els to the swyft mouinge of the fyer and the lyght thereof, to oure eyes,Sight preuenteth hearing. and the slow mouynge of the soūd vntounto our eares and hearynge. These thrée kyndes of lyghtnynges, are more feareful then hurteful, but the fourth seldome passeth wtout som damage doing.
¶ Of the fourth kynde called Fulmen
THe moste dangerus, violent, & hurtfull, kinde of lightning is called Fulmen, whose generation is suche, as followeth. What tyme, a whote Exhalation, is enclosed in a cloude, and breakynge the same, bursteth foorth, it is set on fyre, and with wonderfull greate force stryken downe toward the earthe: The cracke of thonder, that is made when this lyghtenynge breaketh out, is sodayne, shorte, and greate, lyke the sounde of a gonne. And often tymes a greate stoone is blowne out, with it, which they call the thonder bolt,The thonderbolt caste out of the cloudes. which is made on this manner. In the Exhalation, whiche is gathered out of the earthe, is muche earthy matter, with clotterynge together by moysture, beyng clammy by nature, consistynge of brymstone and other metallycke substance, by the excessiue heate, is hardened as a brycke is in the fyere, and with the myghtye force of the Exhalation, stronglye cast towarde the earthe, and stryketh downe steples, and hyghe buildynges of stoone, and of woodde, passeth through them and setteth them on fire, it cleueth trées and setteth them on fire, and the stronger the thynge be that resisteth it, the more harme it dothe to it.Strongest things are most hurt of lightenyng. It is sharpe poynted at one ende, and thycke at the other ende, whiche is caused by reason, that the moyster part, as heauyer, goeth to the bottome of it. So is the toppe smal, and the bottom thick.
Men wryte that the thonderbolt goeth neuer aboue fiue foote deepe, whē it falleth vponupon the earth,How depe thōder bolt goeth into the earth. whiche standeth with reason, both because the strengthe of it is weakened, before it com so neare the ground, and also, because the continual thicknes of the earth, breaketh the force, were it neuer so great.
Both Aristotle, Seneca and Plinius, Aristot. Plinius. Seneca.deuide this lyghtning into thrée kyndes.
¶ Of the fyrst.
THe first is drye, whiche burneth not,Drie lightening. to be felte but deuideth, and perceth with wonderfull swyftnes. For beinge subtyle and pure, it passeth through the pores of anye thynge, be they neuer so small, and suche thynges, as giuegive place vntounto it, it hurteth not, but suche thyngs as resisteth, it deuideth and perseth. For it wyll melt mony in mens purses, the purses being whole, & vnharmed. Yea, it wyl melte a swerde in the scabberde,Mony molten in mēs purses & swerds in scabberds and not hurt the scabberd at al. A wyne vessell it wyll cleaue, and yet the wyne shalbe so dull, that by the space of thrée dayes it wyll not ronne out. It wil hurt a mans hande and not his gloue. It wil burne a mans bones within hym to ashes, and yet his skynne and fleshe shall appeare fayre, as though nothinge had commen to hym. Yea otherwhyle the whole man in the momēt of an howre, shalbe burned to ashes, where as his clothes, shal not séeme to hauehave béen touched. It wyll also kyll the chylde in the mothers belly, & not hurte the mother. And all because the mater is very subtyle, and thinne, burnyng, and passinge through whatsoeuer it be, that wyll not geue it frée passage.
¶ Of the seconde kinde.
THe seconde kynde is moyste, and because it is very thinne,Moist lightninge. it burneth not to ashes, but only blasteth, or scorcheth trees, corne, and grasse: and by reason of the moistnes,Why it maketh black. it maketh all thynges black, that it commeth neare, as moyste wood burning, is smokye and maketh thynges neare it to be blacke & smokie.
¶ Of the thirde kinde.
THe thirde kynde is moste lyke oure commen fyre,Grosse lightning. that we hauehave here on the earth of grosse and earthly substāce, wherfore it leaueth a prynte where it hath béen, or els consumeth it into ashes, if it be suche a body as wylbe burned with fyre.
¶ Of the maruayls of Lightening and their causes.
BEside the wonderful effectes of lightnyng,The marueiles of lightning that hauehave been already remembred, there be many other whiche hereafter ensue, with the reason and causes vntounto them belonging, as thus.
The nature of lyghtning is,Light poysoneth. to poyson beastes that are stryken therewith, as though they had béen bytten by a serpent. The cause of this is, that the matter of lightnyng, is muche infected with brymstone, and other poysonous metallike substances, whiche will poyson the rather in lightening, because it is thinn & geueth thē passage into eueryevery part of the body. It is notable, that Seneca writeth, howe wyne vessels of wood beinge burned with lightning,Senecae. Wyne not ronning the vessels being broken. the wyne wold stande styll, and not runne out, the reason hereof, is the swyfte alteration and chaunge, wherby also, all the clammynes of the wyne, is drawen to the outward moste part, and so kéepeth in the wyne, as in a skynne, that by the space of thrée dayes, it wyll not ronne. It wyl also poyson wyne, in so muche that they whiche drynke thereof, shall eyther be madde or dye of it. The cause hereof was set foorth before.
Lightning that striketh a poysenous beaste purgeth it from the poyson,Lightnīg purgeth a poysonous beast. in so muche that it causeth a serpent or snake whiche it kylleth, to breade wormes, whiche otherwyse it would not doe, but beyng purged from the naturall poyson by the swyfte percyng of the lightning: nothyng letteth, but that it may breade wormes,A snake breadeth no worms. as all other corrupte fleshe wyll doe.
If lyghtning strike one that slepeth, it openeth his eyes, and of one that waketh, it shytteth the eyes.Lightnīg openeth his eyes that slepeth & closeth his that waketh. The cause is this, that it waketh hym that sléepeth, and kylleth hym before he can close his eyes agayne. And hym that waketh, it so amaseth, that he wynketh, as he wyll doe at any sodayne chaunse, so he dyeth before he can open his eies agayne.
All lyuynge thynges, turne their face towarde the stroke of the lyghtenyng,Lyuinge thinges turn their face towarde lyghtning. because it is their nature, to turne their head if any thīg com sodēly behind them. The reste that hauehave theyr face toward it, when it commeth, neuer turne before they be kylled.
The reason why it kylleth the child in the mothers wombe, not hurtynge the mother, is the tendernes of the one, and the strengthe of the other, when the lightenyng is not vehement, otherwyse both should dye together.
Sometyme lyghtening burneth only the garmentes,Garments burnt the body vnhurt. shoes, or heare of mē, not hurtynge theyr bodyes, and then the Exhalation is nothyng vehement. Some time it kylleth a man & there apereth no wounde without, neyther anye hurte within, no not so muche as any signe of burnyng: for then the Exhalation whiche being kindled is called lyghtning is wō derfull subtill and thinne, so swiftly passing through that it leaueth no marke or token behinde it.
They that beholde the lightening, are either made blynd, or their face swelleth, or els become lepers,Lightning causeth blindnes swelling or leprosy for that fyery Exhalation, receiued into the pores of their face and eyes, maketh their face to swel, and breake out into a leprosie, and also drieth vp the Christalline humor of their eyes, so that consequētly they must néedes be blynde.
Eutropius sheweth,Eutropius. that the same day in whiche Marcus Tullius Cicero, M. Tullius Cicero.was borne, a certeine virgine of Rome ryding into Apulia, Apulia.was striken with lightening, so that all her garmentes beinge taken from her without any rendinge, she laye starke naked, the lasing of her brest being vndone, & her hose garters vntied: yea, her bracelettes collers and rynges, being also loosed from her. Lykewyse her horse laye dead with his bridle and girtes vntied.
The places of them that are burnt with lightning are colder then the reste of their bodies,The woū des of lightning cold other because the greater heat draweth away the lesser, or els because, that by the great violence the vitall heate is quyghte extinguished in that place.
The sea Calfe is neuer hurt with lyghtening,Sea calfe not hurt with lightening. wherfore the Emperoures tentes, were wonte to be couered with their skinnes.
The Baye trees, and boxe trees, are neuer or seldom strykē with lyghtning.Bayes & boxe seldom hurt with lightning. The cause of these may be, the hardnes of their skinne, which hath so fewe pore holes, that the Exhalation can not enter into them.
The eagle also among fowles is not stryken with lightening, wherfore the Poetes fayne, that the Eagle carieth Iupiters armur,The Eagle Iupiters harnes bearer whiche is lightnyng. The reason may be the thicknes and drienes of her fethers, whiche wyll not be kindled with so swift a fyre.
¶ Of storme wyndes.
A Storme wynde,Storme wyndes. is a thycke Exhalatiō violently moued out of a cloude without inflammation or burning. The matter of this storme, is all one with ye matter of lightening, that hath béen spoken of: namely it is an Exhalation very whot and drye, and also grosse and thycke, so that it wyll easely be set on fyre, but thē it hath another name, & other effectes
The forme or maner of the generation is suche. When abondance of that kynde of Exhalation is gathered together, within a cloude, whiche nedes wyl hauehave one waye out or other: it breaketh the cloude, & causeth thonder, as it hath béen tought before, but if the matter be very thicke, and the cloude somewhat thynne, then doth it not rēde the cloude, but fallynge downe, beareth the cloude before it, and so is caried as an arrowe out of a bowe. It doth alwayes goe before a great soden showere, for when the cloude is broken, the water muste néedes fall downe. Also it is so grosse, and so thicke, that it darkeneth the ayre, and maketh all the lowest region of the ayre, to be in manner as a darke smokye cloude. It causeth tempeste in the Sea, and wonderfull great daunger to them that beare sayle, whome if it ouertake, it bryngeth to vtter destruction. So soden it is, that it can not be resisted wyth sodeyn helpe. So violent it is, that feble force canne not withstande it. Finally, it is so troublesome wyth thonder, lyghtnynge, rayne and blaste, besydes these darkenesse and colde, that it woulde make menne, at so neare a pynche to bée at their wyttes endes, yf they weare not accustomed to suche tumultuous tempest. Wherfore it weare profitable, to declare the signes that go before it, to the ende, menne myght beware of it. But they are so commen to other tempestes, that either they are knowen well enoughe, or els beynge neuer so well knowen, in a seldome calamytie they woulde lytle bée feared. The Sea shyppes subiecte to more danger, hauehave more helpe if it bée vsed in tyme, but no sygnes foreknowen, can profit the dweller of the lande, to kéepe his house from ruine, except it weare to saue his lyfe from the fall of this mansion. The soden violence of this tempest to hym, is more seldom tymes, but more incurable when it commeth then to the Maryner, who hathe some ayde to looke for, by his comming, the other if he escape with his lyfe, may comforte hym selfe, that he was neare a greate daunger, & cast with hym selfe to builde vp his house agayne.
¶ Of whyrle wyndes.
A Whirlewinde,Whirle wyndes. is a wynde breaking out of a cloude, rowling or wynding round about, ouerthrowying that which standeth neare it, and that whiche commeth befor it, carying it with him a loft in the ayre.
It differeth from a storme wynde in thre pointes.
First in the matter whiche is lesse in quantitie, and of thinner substaunce.
Secondly in the mouing, whiche is circulare wyndyng about, where as the storme bloweth a slope and sydelonges. Also a whyrlewynde in the mouinge diuideth not it selfe abroade, and bloweth dyrectly as the storme doth.
And thirdly in the maner of the generatiō, for a storme doth alwayes come out of one cloude, but a whyrlewynde some tyme is caused by meanes of twoo contrary wyndes that méete together. In lyke maner, as we see in the streates of cyties, where the wynde is beaten back from two walles, méetinge in the myddest of the streate, there is made a lytle whyrlewynde, which whiskynge round about taketh vp the dust, or strawes and bloweth it about after the very similitude of the great & feareful whirle wynde. The reason of the going about, is this, that when the walles beat back the wynde from them, whiche aboundeth in that place, and those wyndes, whē they méete by reason of equal force on bothe sydes, can neyther dryue one ye other back agayn, nor yet passe through one ye other: it must néedes be, that they must bothe séeke a waye on the syde at once, and consequently, be caried round about, the one as it were pursuing the other, vntyll there be space enough in the ayre, ye they may be parted asonder.
The matter of a whyrlewynde, is not muche differing from the matter of storme and lyghtening, that is an Exhalation whote and drye, breakyng out of a cloude, in diuerse partes of it, which causeth the blowyng about▪ also it is caused as it hath béen sayde, by twoo or more wyndes, blowyng from diuerse places, whiche may be of particular causes yt hath béen sheweth before in the chapter of wyndes.The troubles of whirlewyndes. This tempest is noysome to man and beaste, Sea and lande, thyngs lyuing, and life lacking. For it wyl take vp bothe men and beastes, stoones and cloddes of earth, whiche when it hath borne a great waye wyll not be so curtues as to sette them downe agayne, but neglygently letteth them fall from a great heyght, or els violently throweth them downe to the earth.
It breaketh trees wyndyng them about and pulling them vp by the rootes. It turneth about a shippe and brooseth it in peaces wc other mischiefes beside.
¶ Of the fyred whirle wynde.
SOmetyme a whirlewynde, is sett on fyre within the cloude,Fyered whyrlewynde. and then breakyng foorthe, flyeth rounde lyke a great cartewhyle, terrible to beholde, burnynge and ouerthrowynge all drye thinges, that it commeth neare, as houses, woodes, corne, grasse, and whatsoeuer els standeth in the waye.
It differeth not from a whirlewind, sauing that it is kindled & set on fyre, so apearing, els the generation of both is called one.
¶ Of Circles.
THe Circle called Halon, is a garland of diuerse collours that is séen about the sunne, the Moone, or any other sterre specially about Iupiter or Venus, Circles about the sunne, the moone & other sters Iupiter & Venus Planetes.for their greate bryghtnes. It is called of the Greeks a compassed platte, of the Latines a crowne or garlande.
The matter wherin it is made, is a cloude of equall thicknes, or thinnes, cō ming directly vnderunder ye body of the sunn, the Moone, or other sterres, into whiche the lyght of the heauenly body is receyued, and so appeareth rounde, because the sterre is rounde, or as a stoone caste into the water,Circles in the water maketh many round circles, dilatyng in breadth, vntyll the violence of the mouyng is ended: so is it in the ayre the lyght beames percynge it, causeth broade Circles to be delated,The collours of circles. whiche appeare whyght, purple, black, redde, gréene, blewe, and other collors, according to the disposition of ye cloudes mater. The cause of suche collours, is shewed before in the peculiar treatie of collours.
This circle is oftener séen about the Moone, then about the Sunne, because the heate of the Sunne draweth the vapors to hyghe, where it can not be made. Also, because the nyght is a more quiet tyme then the daye from wynde, it is more often in the nyght, thē in the daye. Syldome about other sterres, because their lyght beams ar to weake often to perse a cloud, yet oftner about smal sters then the Sunne, because the lyght of ye Sunne, perceth the cloude more forcively, then that this Halon can many tymes be cause.
Otherwhyles it is séen about a candell,Circles about a cā dle. which must be in a very thicke and grosse ayre, of suche proportionate thicknes, that it may receiue the lyght as the cloude doth frō the sterres, as in smoky places, or whotehouses.
This kynde of Circle, is sometimes lyke a raynbowe, sauynge that it is a whole circle, vnlesse the sterre vnderunder whiche it is caused, be not all rysen, or els the cloude in whiche it is séen be not al come vnderunder the sterre, or after it hath come vnderunder some parte thereof be dissolued from the rest.
These Circles be signes of tempest,the signes of these circles. and wyndes, as wytnesse bothe Virgile, and Aratus.Virgilius Aratus. Poetes.
The wynde shall blowe from that quarter, where the circle first beginneth to breake. The cause whereof is this, that the circle is broken, by the wynde that is aboue, whiche is not yet come downe towardes vsus, but by this effecte aboue, we may gather both that it wyll come, and also from what quarter.
A great Circle about the Moone, betokeneth great colde and frost to follow after.Signe of frost.
But if it vanyshe awaye and be dissolued altogether, it is a signe of fayre weather.Signe of fayre weather.
If it be brooken in many partes, it signifieth tempest.Signe of tempest.
If it wax altogether thicker, & darker it is a fore warnyng of rayne.Signe of rayne.
One alone after Ptolomee, Ptolomeꝰ.pure and whyte, vanyshing away by lytle & litle, is a token of fayre weather.Signe of fayre weather.
Twoo or thrée at once, portendeth tempest, if they be ruddy, they shewe wynde to come, and toward snowe, they séeme as it were kroken and rockye.
Being darke or dymme,Signe of snowe. they signifie all these forsayde euentes, with more force and abundaunce, it is oftener caused in Autumne, and spring then in wynter or sommer, the cause is the temperatnes of the tyme.
The cause why it apeareth somtime greater, and sometyme lesser, is in the qualititie of the matter, whiche as it is grosse, or thynne, wyll more or lesse be dylated, and stretched abroade, and also as some wil hauehave it, of the weakenes of mens syght. Of whiche Aristotle bryngeth an example in one Antipho, Arist. Antipho.whiche dyd alwayes sée his owne image before hym in the ayre, as in a glasse, whiche he affyrmeth to hauehave béen for the weakenes of his syght beames, that coulde not pearce the ayre, so that they weare reflected agayne to hym selfe.
And thus muche for Halone and the causes, signes, or tokens of it.
¶ Of the Raynbowe.
THe Raynbowe,Rainbow is the aparition of certain collours in a cloude opposite against the sunne, in fashion of halfe a Circle. Possidonius sayde,Possidonius. it was the sunnes lookyng glasse, wherein his image was represented, and that the blewe colloured, was the proper collour of the cloude, the redde of the sunne, all the other collours of commixtion.
It differeth manifoldly from Halone, for the raynbowe is alwayes opposite against the sunne, but Halone is directly vnderunder it.
They differ not onelyonly in place, but also in fashion, the raynbowe, is but halfe a Circle, the Halon is a whole Cyrcle.
Lykewyse they vary in colloure, for the raynebowe is more dymme and of purple collour, the Halone whyter and bryghter.
Also in continuaunce, for the raynebowe may cōtinue, longer, then Halone.
The image of the raynbowe may be séen on a walle, ye sunn striking through a sixe pointed stoone, called Iris, a pretious stone called iris.or anye other Christall of the same fashion, also through some glasse wyndowe.
Halone is séen aboute candelles, in smoky places, as are bathes & kychenes.
The manner of the generation of the raynbowe is suche, there is opposit againste the sunne, a thycke watrye cloude, whiche is alreadye resolued into dewye droppes of rayne, as (for a grosse similitude) is séen on the potlidde when the water in the vessell hath sodden,A similitude. or is very whote, the lydde wylbe al full of small droppes of water, whiche come frō the water in the vessell, fyrst by heat resolued into smoke, after when it cannot goe at large, it is resolued agayne. Wherfore vponupon such a cloude, the sunne beames strykynge, as vppon a smoothe glasse, doe expresse the image of ye sunne vnperfectly, for the great distāce. Or els the sunne beames, strike into an hollow cloude, where they are refracted or broken, and so cometh to the eyes of hym ye beholdeth the raynbowe.
The similitude thereof is séen,Similitude of the raynbowe. whē men sayle or rowe in boates, the sunne shyneth vponupon the water, whiche casteth on the vessels syde, the collours & image of the raynbowe.
Lykewyse water in an vrinall holdē against the sunne, receyueth the lyght & sheweth collours on the walle.
There be two kindes of rainbowes, one of the sunne,Rainbow of the sunn another of the Moone,Rainbow of the Moone. the one by daye, the other by nyght, the raynbowe of the sunne often, but of the Moone very seldome, in so muche that it can be but twyse at the mooste, in fiftye yeares, and that when the Moone, is in the East or West, full in perfect opposition. It hath not béen many tymes séen sence the wryting of histories, yet some tymes and for the rarenes, is takē for a great wonder. Yet is it in collour nothyng so beutiful, as the sunnes, but for the moste part, whight, as mylke, other diuersities of collours are scant perceyued. When it appeareth, it is sayd to signifie tempest.
The tyme of the raynbowe, is often after the poynt of Autumne, both for the placing of the sunne in competent lownes, and also for abundance of matters, seldome or neuer is the raynbowe séen about the middest of sommer.
There may be many raynbowes at one tyme, yet commenly but one pryncipall, of whiche the rest are but shadowes, and images, the seconde shadowe of the first, the thyrde of the seconde, as appeare by placing of their collours.
It remayneth to shew why it is but halfe a circle, or lesse, neuermore, and why the whole cloude receyueth not the same collours, that the raynbowe hath. The cause of the fyrste is, because the center, or mydle point of the raynbowe, that is Diametrally apposite to the center of the same, is alwayes either in the Horrizon (that is the circle cutting of our sight of heauen by the earth) or vnderunder it. The cause why the whole cloude is not colloured, is because that in the myddest the beames as strong, perse throughe, but on the edges where they are weaker, they are reflected or refracted.
Nowe for so muche, as God made the raynbowe a signe and Sacrament of his promyse, some thynke it was neuer séen before the floude. Theyr reason maye be this, that the earthe after the fyrst creation was then so fruictfull, that it neaded none, or very lytle rayne, so that suche darke cloudes, weare not often gathered, the fruictfull ground not so easely remitting his moysture, that then was fatte and clammye, harde to be drawen vp: so it myght be that ther was no raynbowe before, as we cannot fynde that euer it rayned before. But whether it were or not, it is certayne, that then it became a Sacrament, wher as it was none before, which when we beholde, it behoueth vsus to remember, ye truthe of God in all his promyses, to his glorie and our comfort.
¶ The mylke waye called of some the waye to saint Iames and Watlyng streate.
THe milke way, is a whyte circle séen in a cleare night,the white circle sene in the night. as it were in the firmament, passing by the signes of Sagittarius and Gemini.
The cause thereof, is not agreed vpō among Philosophers, whose opinions I thought best to reporte, before I come to the moste probable causes.
First of all Pithagoras, Pithagoras.is charged we a Poeticall fable, as though it had béen caused by reason that the sunne did once runne out of his pathway, and burned this part whereof it loketh whyte.
Other as Anaxagoras and Democritus, Anaxagoras, Democritus.sayde, that it was the light of certeine sterres, shining by them selues, of their owne light, which in the absence of the sunne, might be séen. But this opinion is also false, for the sterres hauehave no light of them selues, but of the sunne, also if it wer so, it shold apear about other sterrs,
Democritus is also reported to hauehave sayde, that it was nothing els but innumerable lytle starres, whiche with their confuse lyght, caused that whytnes, to this opiniō,Cordanus Cardane semeth to subscribe.
The Poetes hauehave fowre fables of it, one that Phaeton, Phaeton.whiche on a tyme guided the Chariot of the sunn, & wandring out of the way, did burne ye place, wherfore of Iupiter he was stryken downe wyth lyghtnyng.
The second, that it is the high strete in heauen, that goeth streight to Iupiters pallace,Ouid. Meta. Pr. and both sydes of it, the cōmen sorte of Gods do dwell.
The thirde, that Hebe, Hebe.one which was Iupiters Cupbearer, on a tyme, stō bled at a starre, and shedde the wyne or mylke, that was in the cuppe, which colloured that part of heauen to this daye, wherfore she was pout out of her office.
The fourth, that Apollo stoode there to fight against the Giantes,Apollo. which Iupiter made to appeare, for a perpetuall memory.
Theophrastus a Philosopher affirmed, that it was ye ioyning together,Theophrastus. or séeme of the two halfe globes, whiche made it appeare more light in that place then in other.
Other sayde, it was the reflexion of the shyning light of fyre, or sterre light, as it is séen in a glasse, but then it sholde be moueable.
Diodorus, Diodorusaffirmed, that it was heauenly fyre, condensede or made thick, into a circle, & so became visible, wheras the rest for the purenes, clearenes, and thinnes, could not be séene.
Possidonius whose mynde to many séemeth very reasonable,Possidonius. saide: it is the infusion of the heate of sterres, whiche therfore is in a circle, contrarie to the Zodiake, Zodiake.(out of whiche the sunne neuer wandreth) because it myght temper the whole compasse with vitall and lyuely heate. Although in my mynd he hath rather expressed the finall cause, then the efficient.
Aristotles opiniō is,Arist. that it shold be ye beames of a great circle, whiche is caused by a cloude or Exhalation drawen vp by those sterres, whiche be called Sporades Sporades.This opinion of Aristotles is myslyked of moste men, that hauehave trauayled in this science and worthely. For if it were of the nature of elementes, as Exhalations are, it would be at length consumed. But this circle neuer corrupteth, therfor it is not of Exhalatiōs. Also it nether increaseth or diminisheth, which is a playne proofe, that it consisteth not of elementall matter. Although Aristotle séeme to make a double circle, one celestiall, another elementall.
The last opiniō is of them that say, it is of the nature of heauen, thycker in substaunce then other partes of heauen be, hauing some lykenes to the substāce of the Moone, which being lightned by ye same, as al ye starres be, apereth whight. And this opiniō I take to be ye most probable, because that sentēce of sterrelight séemeth not so reasonable to be only in that place, and not els where.
The finall cause of this milkewhyte circle, hath béen already touched in the opinion of Possidonius, Possidoniꝰwherunto also in Plinius in the xviij. booke & xxix. chapter of his naturall history agréeth,Plinius. affirming yt it is very profitable, for the generation & frutefull increase of thinges that growe on the earth.The breadth of this circle The Mathematicians that hauehave measured ye breadth therof, affirme that toward the north it passeth ouer the eclipticall lyne of the ninth spheare, frō the xviij. degrée of Gemini vntounto the secōde degrée of Cancer which is xiij. degrées, & toward the South, frō the viij. degrée of Sagittarius to the xiij. degrée of the same signe, & because it is ther diuided into ij. branches (as may easly be séen in a clear might) it reacheth frō the xxiiij. of Sagittarius to the second degrée of Capricorne.
This circle if it be of the nature of heauen, is vnproperly placed amōg Meteores or impressions, but because of Aristotles mynde, who wyll hauehave it to be an impression kendled, & their opinion whiche thinke it proceadeth of ye light of sterres it is not wtout good cause in this place intreated of.
¶ Of beames or streames of light appearing through a cloude.
THer is yet another kind of impressiō caused by the beames of the sunne,Beames or streames. stryken through a watry cloud, being of vnequal thines, ye is thinner in one part thē in another, so ye it cannot receiue the beames in any other form, thē ye they appere direct or slope downward, of diuers collors, & ye same ye ar ye collors of ye raynbow, though not so euidēt, because ye reflexion is not so strong. They varie in collours, some ar more purple, or ruddy, when the cloud is thicker som yealow & whitish when the cloude is thinner, & so other collors ar caused likewise, wherof you may reade the proper causes in the collours of cloudes and other lyke parts of this treatise. The common people cal it the descēding of the holy ghost, or our Ladies Assumption, because these thinge are painted after suche a sort. Other say that it is rayne, stryking downe in another place, as though they could sée the droppes fallyng. And they are not altogether deceiued, but in the time, for sone after it wyll rayne, because this impression appeareth out of a watry cloude. They are called by dyuerse names, as roddes, wandes, coardes of tents, vntounto whiche they are not much vnlyke, staues and lytle pyllers, when they séeme greater and thicker, many beyng ioyned together. The rayne bowe, the circles and these lyghtbeames, are all of one maner of generation, in so muche that if you deuide the circle, it shalbe a raynbowe, if you drawe it streyght, in lengthe, it maketh streames or beames. Herein they agrée, namely in form and matter, but they differ in outwarde forme, whiche we may call fashion, as the one is round, the other half round, & the thirde directe, streyght or fallynge a slope. Also they differ in place, aboute whiche they stande, for streames are only about the sunne, raynbowes about the sonne often, and seldome about the Moone, but circles both about the sunne and the Moone, and also about any other of all the sterres, yet rather and oftener about bryght sterres. To make an ende of these streames, they apeare diuersly, after the fashion and place wherein the cloude hangeth in respect of the sunne.
For some tyme they are séen only in the edge of a cloude, all the breadth of that cloude. Sometyme through the middes of a cloude, being thynner there, then in other partes, and then they are spreade rounde about lyke a tente or pauilon vsed in warre. They ar moste commenly séen in suche tymes, as there is great aboundance of rayne, whiche they, by their apparition doe signifie not yet to be ended. And thus muche concerninge direct lyght beames called roddes &c.
¶ Of many Sonnes.
Manye Sunnes at once.IT is straunge and marueilous to beholde, the lykelyhode of that, whiche Alexander the great,Alexander the great. sending woorde to Darius, Darius.sayde to be impossible, that two sonnes should rule the worlde. But oftentimes, mē hauehave séen, as they thought in the firmament, not only two sonnes, but oftener thre sunnes, and many more in nomber, though not so often appearing. These how wonderful soeuer they appeare, proceade of a naturall cause, whiche we will endeuour to expresse. They are nothing els but Idols, or Images of the sunne, represented in an equall smooth and watry cloude, placed on the side of the sunne, & sometime on both sydes, into which the sunn beames being receiued as in a glasse, expresse ye likenes of fashion & light, that is in the sunne, appearing as though there were many sunnes, where as in dede there is but one, & all the rest are images. This thicke & watry cloude, is not sayde to be vnderunder the sunne, for then it wolde make the circles called crownes or garlonds, it is not opposit to the sunn, for thē wold it make the rainbow, but it is sayd to be on the side, wher the imaꝑt may be best represented. Also it may not be to far of▪ for then the beames will be to feble to be reflected neither yet to neare, for if it so be the sunne wil disperse it. but in a cō petent & midle distance, for so representation of many sunnes is caused.
They are most often séen, in the morning & euening, about the rysing or going downe of the sunn, seldome at noonée tyme, or about the middest of the day, because the heat will soon dissolue thē. Yet hath there béen some séen, which began in the morning, & continued all the daye long, vntounto the euening.Many smal suns like stars Similitude. Somtimes ther apeare many litle sunnes, like vntounto litle starres, which are caused after the same sort, as we doe sée a mans face, to be expressed in all the peces of a brokē glasse. So when the cloude hath many separations, there appeare many sunnes, on one syde of the true sunne, sometimes great, and sometimes litle, as the parts of the cloude separated are in quantitie.
They doe naturallye betoken tempest, and rayne,The significatiō of many sunnes. to followe because they can not appeare, but in a watry disposition of the ayre.
Also if they apeare on the Southside of the sunne they signifie a greater tempest then if they appeare on the Northsyde. The reason is alledged, because ye Southerne vapor is sooner resolued into water, then is the Northerne.
For a supernaturall signification, they hauehave often tymes béen noted to hauehave portended, the contention of Princes for kingdomes. As not longe before the contention of Galba, Otho, and Vitellius, Galba, Otho, and Vitelliusfor the Empire of Rome, ther appeared thrée sunnes. Also of late toward the slaughter of Lewes kyng of Hongary, were séen thrée sonnes, betokening thre prynces that contended for the kyngdō, namely Ferdinando nowe Emperour, Iohn Vayuode, and the great Turke.
¶ Of many Moones.
AFter the treatie of many sunnes, if weare not harde for any man, without farther instruction to knowe the naturall cause of many Moones.Manye Moones. For they are lykewyse Images of the Moone, represented in an equall cloude, which is watry, smothe, and polyshed, euen lyke a glasse. Some call thē (as Plinius saieth) night sunnes,Plinius. because they ioyned with the light of the true Moone, geue a great shynning light, to dryue awaye the shadowe and darkenes of the nyght.
It were superfluous to wryte, more of their causes, or effectes, whiche are al one with those, that hauehave béen declared of the sunnes.
It may be doubted why the other starres doe not lykewyse expresse theyr image,Why other sterrs are not so represented. in watry cloudes, and so the nō ber of them to our sight should be multiplied: it may be aunswered, that their lyght or beames, are to feble, & weake to expresse any suche similitude or lykenes in the watry cloudes. For although they hauehave garlandes, or circles, aboute them, that are caused in a vapor, that is vnderunder them: yet it is manifest, that this apparition hath not néede of so strong a lyght, as is requyred to prynt ye images of them in the cloudes. Agayne the garlandes are direct vnderunder, and therfore apter to receyue suche apparition.
It may be agayne obiected that the starres hauehave their image perfectly and sufficiently expressed in glasses,Obiectiō. here on the earth, yea, and at the day tyme, whē their lyght is eyther none or moste feble, & weake, as we sée it is vsed at mid-sommer to beholde that great starre called Sirius, Syrius a great star seen at noone in Sommer.in a glasse euen at noone days.
Also we sée eueryevery night, the image of the starres in calme and quiet standing waters, then what shoulde let, but that their images myght also be expressed in watry cloudes.
Hereto may be aunswered,An aunswer. that the let is in the cloude, which is neyther so harde as is the glasse, nor yet so continuall as the water, but consisteth of innumerable small droppes, so that except the light of the starres were stronger, it can in thē expresse no vniforme images of them, as it doth in glasses, and in the water. Notwithstanding, in wryters of wonders, we reade some such like thing sometime to hauehave chaunsed.
There hathe béen often séen manye sunnes, in the daye tyme, and after the sunne settinge, at the rysing of the full Moone, there hauehave appeared manye Moones, whiche was by this meanes that the same cloude, that receiued the sunne beames, in the morning, taried in the same place, & at ye Moones rising, was ready also to receiue her image.
¶ Of wonderfull apparitions.
WE wil close this booke,Wonderful aparitions. with a brief declaration of the natural causes, of many thinges, that are séen in yt ayre, very wonderfull & straunge to beholde, which in these later yeares, hauehave béen often séen and behelde, to the great admiration of all men, not without the singular prouidēce of God, to forwarne vsus of many daungers, that hange ouer vsus, in these moste perilous tymes.
The aparition of which, as it is most wonderfull, so the serching of the cause, to vsus is moste harde & difficulte. A great deale the rather, because no mā hath hetherto enterprysed (to my knowledge) to séeke out any cause of them, but all men hauehave taken them as immediat myracles, without any naturall meane or cause to procure them.
And I truly, do acknowledge yt they ar sent of God as wonderfull signes, to declare his power, & moue vsus to amēdement of life, in dede miraculus, but not yet so, yt they want a natural cause. For if they be wel weyghed & cōsidered, it is not harde to finde, yt they differ much frō such miracles, as ar recorded in ye scripture, and admitted of diuines. So that, as I ahhorre the opiniō of Epicures, to thinke that suche thinges come by chaunce, but rather by ye determined purpose of gods prouidence: so I cōsent not with them, that suppose when any thing is deriued from any naturall cause, God the chiefe and best cause of al thynges is excluded.
Some of these wonderfull apparitions consist of circles and rainbowes, of diuerse fashions & placings, as one with in another, the edge of one touching another, on deuiding or going through another, with lyke placing of small circles, about great circles, or partes of smal circles, some with the endes vpward, som downward, some asyde, & some acrosse, but all for the most part in vniforme order constituted or placed, for the order of them pleasaunt to beholde, but for the strangenes somewhat fearfull. Suche a lyke apparition, is made with the sunns or Moones images, ioyned vntounto these circles, set also in good & vniforme order.
The cause of these is the meting together, of all those seuerall causes, that make the circles, rayn bowees, streames and images of the sunn or moone, which ioyned altogether, make the wonderful sight of strange raynbowes, positions of circles, crosses, & diuerse lyghtes, which perteyne to the knowledge of Optice and Catroptice, Optice Catroptice.that teache howe by diuerse refractiōs and reflectiōs of beames, such visions are caused. So that he, whiche wyll knowe howe they are generated, must returne vntounto the seuerall treatyses of raynbowes, circles, streames, & images, of the sunne or Moone, and if in thē he finde not knowledge sufficient, to instructe him, I must send hym to the demonstrations of perspectiue, where he shall want nothyng.
Another sort of them, no lesse often behelde within these fewe yeares, then ye former, but a great deale more straūge and wonderfull to looke vponupon, are the sightes of armies fighting, in the ayre, of Castels, Cities, and Townes, with whole countries, hauing in them hills, valies, ryuers, woodes, also beastes, mē, and foules, monsters, of whiche ther are no suche kyndes on the earth, and fynally all maner of things and actions, that are on the earthe, as burialles, processions, iudgementes, combates, men, women, childrē, horses, crownes, arme of certayne noble men, & contries, weapons of all sortes, sometymes starres, angels, as they ar painted wt the image of Christ crucified, besieging of castels and townes, many thynges and gesturs done by men or beastes, the very similitude of persones knowen to the beholders, as of late, was séen the very image of the Emperour Charles, insomuche that they whiche behelde it, put of their cappes, thinking verely it had béen he, & of Ihō Frederick prince Elector of Saxon, who ye time was prysoner with thē perour. Also the image of small crosses, which hath ben not only in the ayre, but also on the earth, on mens apparell, on dishes, platters, pottes, & al other things so that the Iewes hauehave béen full angry, that they could neither washe, nor rub them out of their aparell. In Germany, also fyers and many suche thinges, as it were long stories, séen in the ayre.
All these wōderfull aparitions, may be caused two maner of wayes, the one artificially, the other naturally. Artificially by certein glasses, and instrumēts made according to a secret part of that knowledge whiche is called Catoptrice, Catoptriceand so peraduenture some of them hauehave béen caused, but the most part doubtlesse naturally, when the disposition of the ayre, hath béen suche, that it hath receiued the image of manye thinges placed and done on the earth. And because it is apte to receyue dyuerse images, as well in one place as in another, these monstruous formes and straunge actions, or stories proceade of the ioyninge of dyuerse formes and actions, as if twoo histories, were confusely paynted in one, the whole picture would be straunge or (as the Poet sayeth,) if a paynter to a mans head, should set a horses neck,Horatius & after dyuerse fethers. Sometymes also, one image is multiplied in the ayr, into many or infinite, as ar letters & crosses, whiche fill all the ayre, euen beneathe. And the light of the sunne, receiued into litle partes, maketh to apeare, as it wer many smal starres. Let this suffice, concerning these wonderfull apparitions: once agayne admonishyng the Reader, thoughe I hauehave enterprysed to declare these by naturall reason, yet beleuing yt not so much as on sparrow falleth to ye grounde, without Gods prouidence, I doe also acknowledge Gods prouidence bryngeth these to passe, to suche ende as before I hauehave shewed, vsing these causes, as meanes and instrumentes to doe them.