The general history of earthquakes being an account of the most remarkable and tremendous earthquakes that have happened in divers parts of the world, from the creation to this time, as they are recorded by sacred and common authors, and perticularly those lately in Naples, Smyrna, Jamaica and Sicily : with a description of the famous burning mount, Ætna, in that island, and relation of the several dreadful conflagrations and fiery irruptions thereof for many ages : likewise the natural and material causes of earthquakes, with the usual signs and prognosticks of their approach, and the consequents and effects that have followed several of them / by R.B.

The General HISTORY OF Earthquakes.

I. AMong the ſeveral Plagues and Judgments wherewith the Almighty viſiteth, and puniſheth the Enormities and Sins of Mankind, that of Earthquakes may be accounted the moſt Dreadful and Tremendous, which in an inſtant ſwalloweth up thouſands of people of all Qualities and Ages, together with the moſt ſuperb and ſtately Edifices that Pride and Ambition can raiſe, in a moment, even in the twinkling of an Eye, to convince men of the Greatneſs and Power of the Supream Creator, and how vain it is to value themſelves upon any mundane enjoyments; Of which we have lately had very aſtoniſhing Inſtances in ſeveral parts of the World.

II. But before I proceed to give a Relation of them, it may be neceſſary to diſcover the Natural Cauſes of this dreadful Concuſſion of the Earth, which the God of Heaven makes uſe of to ſignifie his Diſpleaſure for the provoking Crimes of Nation and People; Of which a Learned Divine gives the following account.

III. An Earthquake is a ſhaking of the Earth, occaſioned by Wind and Exhalations incloſed within the Caves and Bowels of the Earth, which can find no paſſage, or at leaſt none long enough to diſcharge themſelves, and therefore breaking forth with great force and violence, it ſometimes ſhaketh the Earth, another while rendeth and openeth the ſame, ſometimes caſting up Earth a great height into the Air, otherwhile cauſing the ground to ſink down a great depth, ſwallowing Cities, Towns, Palaces, Caſtles, yea prodigious high Mountains, leaving in the place nothing but deep holes, or long and unfathomable Lakes of Water.

IV. Authors Write differently of the ſeveral kinds of Earthquakes, but they uſually comprehend them under four; The firſt kind is when the Earth is ſhaken laterally or to one ſide, the whole force of the incloſed Wind and Vapours driving to one place, and there is no contrary motion to hinder it. This Wind, if it be not great, cauſeth the Earth to tremble like a man in an Ague Fit, and doth no more harm, but if it be ſtrong and violent, it looſeth the Foundations of all Buildings though never ſo firm, overthrows whole Cities, and ſometimes throws down great Hills, ſo that they overwhelm all the Valleys under them. The ſecond kind is, when the Earth is lifted up with great violence ſo that the Buildings are like to fall, and inſtantly ſink down again, and this is cauſed by the force of the Winds which ſtrive to get upward like Gunpowder, and finding ſome deliverance from confinement, the Earth falls down to its former place. The third ſort is the opening rending or gaping of the Earth, which ſinking down ſwallows up Cities, Towns, yea Rocks, Rivers and Flouds, and ſo that they never appear again; Nay the Sea in ſome places hath been drunk up, ſo that People have gone over on foot, till the returning Tyde hath covered the place with Water again. The laſt kind is, when great Mountains ariſe out of the Earth, or elſe when ſome part of the Land ſinketh down, and inſtead thereof ariſe Rivers, Lakes or Fires, breaking out with Smoak and Aſhes; Sometimes the bottom of the Sea is lifted up, whereby many Iſlands are made that were never ſeen before; Of which Hiſtory gives large accounts.

V. If it be asked how ſuch mighty Winds come to be under the Earth, the Philoſophers anſwer, that the great Caves and Dens of the Earth being always full of Air, when the heat of the Sun reſolves the moiſture of the Earth many Exhalations are generated, both within and without the ſame: and the places being full before, can receive no more, unleſs ſome part be let our, ſo that in thoſe Countries where the Earth hath but few Pores, or where they are ſtopt with moiſture, it muſt neceſſarily happen, that theſe Exhalations ſtriving to get out, muſt needs rend the Earth, or lift it up, either to get free paſſage, or to make room enough to abide within.

VI. It has been obſerved That there are uſually ſeveral Signs and Preſages of this terrible Calamity. As firſt the raging of the Sea when there are no Tempeſtuous Winds to move it, yea in the greateſt Calm, which is occaſioned by the Winds labouring to get paſſage that way, but being repelled, ſoon after ſhakes the Earth. Again the Water in the bottom of deep Wells is troubled and infected with a Sulphurous ſmell, from the peſtilent Exhalations long incloſed within the Earth, which now begin to ſpread abroad; And hereupon, in divers places an Earthquake has cauſed abundance of Smoak, Flame and Aſhes to iſſue forth, by reaſon that the vaſt quantity of Brimſtone under ground is by the violent motion ſet on Fire and burſteth out, ſo that it is a wonder if after an Earthquake ſome grievous Peſtilence does not follow, the whole Maſs of the Poyſonous Minerals within the Bowels of the Earth being by this furious ſhock blown abroad into the Air. Another preſage is the calmneſs and coldneſs of the Air, by reaſon the Exhalation that ſhould be abroad is within the Earth. Another is ſaid to be, a long thin ſtrake of Cloud ſeen when the Sky is clear after Sun ſet, which, they ſay, is cauſed by the Vapour or Exhalation which is the matter of Clouds, being gone into the Earth. Others affirm that it is the Exhalation which iſſueth from ſome narrow paſſage out of which the reſt of the Wind cannot come, and therefore ſoon after by a ſudden Eruption makes a broader way to deliver it ſelf out of Priſon. Likewiſe the Sun appeareth dim certain days before, becauſe the Winds that ſhould purge and diſſipate the groſs Air, which cauſeth this dimneſs, is incloſed within the Bowels of the Earth. Alſo the Birds perceiving a certain trembling and ſhaking at the Roots of the Trees, forſake them, and fit trembling on the ground. Laſtly, there are heard before, at, and after an Earthquake great noiſes and ſounds under the Earth, with terrible groanings and thunderings; Yea ſometimes when no Earthquake follows, the Wind without any other effect finding a way to vent it ſelf; Some of theſe are the general prognoſticks and forewarnings of a dreadful Earthquake to follow.

VII. And certainly no other Calamity produces greater terror and aſtoniſhment in Mankind than this. For to have the Earth rock under one with that ſingular kind of motion which no humane art nor force can imitate, muſt needs be extream ſurprizing; For though death may be familiar to ſome men in any other form, yet it appears very horrible to be buried alive, and to ſink on a ſudden into an unknown Grave they know not whether, perhaps they may fall into ſome dark Lake of Water, or it may be drenched in a River of fire, or be daſhed on a Rock; for who can tell the diſpoſitions of the Caverns below, or what ſort of the Apartments there are under the Surface of the Earth? We walk on the Battlements of a marvellous ſtructure, a Globe full of Tremendous ſecrets.

VIII. But though we have given ſome account of the Natural Cauſes of Earthquakes, yet it is very apparent that many have been ſupernatural, and cauſed by the immediate hand of God, of which we find ſeveral inſtances in holy Scripture, that we might dread and tremble before the Almighty who needs neither Vapours nor Exhalations to Execute his Vengeance upon incorrigible Offenders.

IX. The firſt of this kind that we read of was at the Promulgation of the Law at Mount Sinai, Exodus 19, 20. And the Lord ſaid unto Moſes, go unto the People and Sanctify them to day and to morrow, and be ready againſt the third day, for then the Lord will come down in the ſight of all the People upon Mount Sinai, and thou ſhalt ſet bounds to the People round about, ſaying, Take heed to your ſelves that ye go not up into the Mount, or touch the border of it, whoſoever toucheth the Mount ſhall ſurely be put to death; There ſhall not an hand touch it, but he ſhall ſurely be Stoned or Shot through, whether it be Man or Beaſt, it ſhall not live, when the Trumpet ſoundeth long they ſhall come up to the Mount. And it came to paſs on the third day in the Morning that there were Thunders and Lightnings and a thick Cloud upon the Mount, and the Voice of the Trumpet exceeding loud, ſo that all the People in the Camp trembled. And Mount Sinai was altogether on a Smoak, becauſe the Lord deſcended upon it in Fire, and the ſmoak thereof aſcended as the ſmoak of a Furnace, and the whole Mount quaked greatly. And all the People ſaw the Thundring and the Lightnings, and the noiſe of the Trumpet, and the Mountain ſmoaking, and when the People ſaw it they removed afar off. And they ſaid unto Moſes ſpeak thou with us and we will hear, but let not God ſpeak with us leaſt we dye. And Moſes ſaid unto the People Fear not; for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your Faces that you Sin not. Thie happened in the year from the Creation of the World, 25 13.

X. Another terrible Earthquake we find recorded Number 16. Now Korah, Dathan and Abiram, with certain of the Children of Iſrael, two hundred and fifty Princes of the Aſſembly, famous in the Congregation, Men of Renown roſe up, and gathered themſelves together againſt Moſes and againſt Aaron, and ſaid unto them, Ye take too much upon you ſeeing all the Congregation is Holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them, wherefore then lift you up your ſelves above the Congregation of the Lord. And when Moſes heard it, he fell upon his Face. And he ſpake unto Korah and unto all his Company, ſaying, Even to Morrow the Lord will ſhew you who are his, and who is holy; and will cauſe him to come near to him, even him whom he hath choſen will he cauſe to come near to him. This do; Take ye Cenſers, Korah and all his Company. And put Fire therein, and put Incenſe in them before the Lord to Morrow! and it ſhall be that the man whom the Lord doth chuſe, he ſhall be holy, Ye take too much upon you, ye Sons of Levi; ſeemeth it a ſmall thing unto you that the God of Iſrael hath ſeparated you from the Congregation of Iſrael, to bring you near unto himſelf, to do the ſervice of the Tabernacle of the Lord, and to ſtand before the Congregation to Miniſter unto them? And he hath brought thee near unto him, and all thy Brethren the Sons of Levi with thee: and ſeek ye the Prieſt-hood alſo? For which Cauſe both thou and thy Company are gathered together againſt the Lord: and what is Aaron that ye murmur againſt him? And Moſes ſent to call Dathan and Abiram the Sons of Eliab: which ſaid, we will not come up. Is it a ſmall thing that thou haſt brought us up out of a land that flouriſheth with Milk and Honey to Kill us in the Wilderneſs, except thou make thy ſelf altogether a Prince over us? Moreover thou haſt not brought us into a Land that floweth with Milk and Honey, or given us Inheritance of Fields and Vineyards; wilt thou put out the Eyes of theſe men? we will not come up. And Moſes was very wrath, and ſaid unto the Lord, Reſpect not thou their offering: I have not taken one Aſs from them, neither have I hurt one of them. And Moſes ſaid unto Korah, Be thou and all thy Company before the Lord, thou, and they, and Aaron to Morrow. And take every Man his Cenſer, and put Incenſe in them, and bring ye before the Lord every Man his Cenſer, two hundred and fifty Cenſers; thou alſo, and Aaron each of you his Cenſer; and put Fire in in them, and lay Incenſe thereon, and ſtand in the Door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and the Glory of the Lord appeared unto all the Congregation. And the Lord ſpake unto Moſes, and unto Aaron ſaying, ſeparate your ſelves from among this Congregation that I may conſume them in a moment, And they fell upon their faces and ſaid, O God, the God of the Spirits of all Fleſh, ſhall one Man ſin, and wilt thou be wrath with all the Congregation? And the Lord ſpake unto Moſes ſaying, ſpeak unto all the Congregation ſaying, Get you up from about the Tabernacle of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. And Moſes roſe up, and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the Elders of Iſrael followed him. And the ſpake unto all the Congregation ſaying, Depart I pray you from the Tents of theſe Wicked Men, and touch nothing of theirs leaſt you be conſumed in all their Sins. So they gat them up from the Tabernacle of Korah, Dathan and Abiram on every ſide: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and ſtood in the Door of their Tents, and their Wives, and their Sons, and their little Children. And Moſes ſaid, Hereby ſhall ye know that the Lord hath ſent me to do all theſe works: for I have not done them of my own mind. If theſe men dye the common Death of all men, or if they be viſited after the viſitation of all men; then the Lord hath not ſent me. But if the Lord make a new thing, and the Earth open her Mouth, and ſwallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the Pit; then ye ſhall underſtand that theſe Men have provoked the Lord. And it came to paſs as he had made an end of ſpeaking all theſe words, that the ground clave aſunder that was under them: And the Earth opened her Mouth, and ſwallowed them up, and their Houſes, and all the Men that appertained unto Kerah, and all their Goods. They and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the Pit, and the Earth cloſed upon them: and they periſhed from among the Congregation. And all Iſrael that were round about them, fled at the cry of them: for they ſaid, Leſt the Earth ſwallow us up alſo. And there came out a Fire from the Lord, and conſumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered Incenſe.

Joſephus in his Hiſtory of the Antiquities of the Jews gives the following account of this dreadful Judgment; That Moſes making a large Prayer, intermixt with Tears, while he was ſpeaking, the Earth inſtantly trembled, and ſhaking began to move like a Billow of the Sea raiſed by the violence of Wind; at which all the People were ſorely amazed, after which an horrible and ſhattering Noiſe was made about their Tents, and inſtantly the Earth opened and ſwallowed up both them and all that belonged to them, inſomuch that nothing which was theirs remained to be ſeen; And the Earth in a moment cloſing again the vaſt gaping immediately was ſhut, ſo that there was not the leaſt appearance of what had happened; Thus periſhed they all, leaving behind them an example of Gods Power and Judgment, and this accident was the more miſerable in that there were none, even of their Kinsfolks and Allies that had compaſſion of them, ſo that the whole People forgetting what was paſſed, allowed Gods Juſtice with joyful Acclamations; eſteeming them unworthy to be bewailed, but to accounted as the Plague and Perverters of the People. After this, ſaith he, there ſuddenly appeared ſo bright a Fire that the like was never kindled by the hand of man, nor ever broke forth from the Bowels of burning Mountains, nor could proceed from any natural cauſe, but ſuch as ſeemed to be kindled from Heaven, exceeding light and flaming, by the fury and violence of which thoſe two hundred and fifty, together with Korah, were ſo conſumed that there ſcarce appeared any relicks of their Carcaſes; Only Aaron remained untouched, to the end that it might appear this Fire came from Heaven. This was in the year of the World, 2515.

XI. A third tremendous Earthquake cauſed by the immediate Power of God without any apparent or natural Cauſe, and whereby the Iſraelites gain'd a great Victory over the Philiſtines, is in 1 Samuel 14. And it came to paſs on a Day that Jonathan the Son of Saul ſaid unto the Young Man that bare his Armour, come and let us go over to the Philiſtines Garriſon that is on the other ſide, but he told not his Father. And between the paſſages by which Jonathan ſought to go over to the Philiſtines there was a ſharp Rock on the one ſide, and a ſharp Rock on the other ſide. And Jonathan ſaid to the young man that bare his Armour, come and let us go over unto the Garriſon of theſe uncircumciſed, it may be that the Lord will work for us, for there is no reſtraint to the Lord to ſave by many or few; And his Armour-bearer ſaid unto him, Do all that is in thine Heart, turn thee, behold I am with thee according to thy Heart; Then ſaid Jonathan, behold we will paſs over unto theſe Men, and we will diſcover our ſelves unto them, if they ſay unto us, Tarry until we come to you; then we will ſtand ſtill in our place, and will not go up unto them. But if they ſay thus, Come up unto us then we will go up, for the Lord hath delivered them into our hand and this ſhall be a ſign unto us. And both of them diſcovered themſelves to the Garriſon of the Philiſtines, and the Philiſtines ſaid; Behold the Hebrews come forth out of their holes, where they had hid themſelves, And the men of the Garriſon anſwered Jonathan and his Armour bearer, and ſaid, Come up to us, and we will ſhew you a thing. And Jonathan ſaid unto his Armour bearer, Come up after me, for the Lord hath delivered them into the hand of Iſrael. And Jonathan climbed up on his Hands and upon his Feet, and his Armour bearer after him, and they fell before Jonathan, and his Armour bearer ſlew after him. And that firſt ſlaughter which Jonathan and his Armour bearer made was about twenty men within as it were an half Acre of Land, which a yoak of Oxen might Plow. And there was trembling in the Hoſt, in the Field, and among all the People: the Garriſon and the Spoilers they alſo trembled, and the Earth quaked ſo that it was a very great trembling (a trembling of God.) And the Watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and behold the multitude melted away, and they went on, beating down one another. Then ſaid Saul unto the People that were with him, Number now and ſee who is gone from us. And when they had numbred, behold Jonathan and his Armour-bearer were not there. And Saul ſaid unto Ahiah, Bring hither the Ark of God; (for the Ark of God was at that time with the Children of Iſrael.) And it came to paſs that while Saul talked unto the Prieſt, that the noiſe that was in the Hoſt of the Philiſtines went on, and increaſed; and Saul ſaid unto the Prieſt, withdraw thine hand. And Saul and all the People that were with him aſſembled themſelves, and they came to the Battel: and behold every mans Swords was againſt his fellow, and there was a great diſcomfiture. Moreover the Hebrews that were with the Philiſtines before that time, which went up with them into the Camp from the Countrey round about, even they alſo turned to be with the Iſraelites that were with Saul and Jonathan. Likewiſe all the men of Iſrael which had hid themſelves in Mount Ephraim when they heard that the Philiſtines fled, even they alſo followed hard after them in the Battel. So the Lord ſaved Iſrael that day: and the Battel paſſed over unto Beth-haven. This was about the year of the World, 2940. And Joſephus thus deſcribes this Battel; The Philiſtines had pitched their Tents on an pointed Rock which extended it ſelf in length with three Angles, and was on each ſide begirt with a Bank, like a Wall or Fortification againſt the incurſion of their Enemies; The place was fortified by Nature ſo that no man might aſcend or attack them without much hazard; yet only Jonathan and his Armour-bearer, climbing upon their Hands and Feet invaded their Camp, and ſlew about twenty of them which filled their whole Army with terror and amazedneſs, who throwing away their arms, fled amain. Others being ignorant who were their Friends or Foes, invaded one another as Enemies, for imagining with themſelves that only two Hebrews durſt never aſcend and enter their Camp, they addreſt themſelves to their mutual murder and ſlaughter, ſo that ſome of them were ſlain, others fled to eſcape the Sword, and fell headlong down the Rocks; The terrible trembling and quaking of the Earth at the ſame time, being doubtleſs very contributary to their deſtruction.

XII. A fourth terrible Earthquake happened from an immediate Divine Power, in the days of Uzziah King of Judah, of whom we read in the 2 Chronicles 26. (and this Earthquake is likewiſe mentioned by the Prophets Amos and Zachariah) And Uzziah did that which was right in the ſight of the Lord. And he ſought God in the days of Zechariah who had Underſtanding in the Viſions of God, and as long as he ſought the Lord, God made him to proſper. And he went forth and Warred againſt the Philiſtines, and God helped him againſt them, and againſt the Arabians, and the Ammorites gave him gifts, and his name ſpread abroad even to the entring in of Egypt, for he ſtrengthned himſelf exceedingly. Moreover Uzziah had an Hoſt of fighting men, and the whole number of the Fathers of the mighty men of valour, were two thouſand and ſix hundred. And under their hand was an Army, three hundred thouſand, and ſeven thouſand and five hundred, that made War with mighty power to help the King againſt the Enemy. But when he was ſtrong his heart was lifted up to his deſtruction, for he tranſgreſſed againſt the Lord his God, and and went into the Temple of the Lord to burn Incenſe upon the Altar of Incenſe. And Azariah the Prieſt went in after him, and with him fourſcore Prieſts of the Lord that were valiant men: and they withſtood Uzziah the King, and ſaid unto him, It appertaineth not unto thee Ʋzziah to burn Incenſe unto the Lord; but to the Prieſts the Sons of Aaron that are conſecrated to burn Incenſe: Go out of the Sanctuary, for thou haſt treſpaſſed, neither ſhall it be for thine honour from the Lord God. Then Uzziah was wrath, and had a Cenſer in his hand to burn Incenſe, and while he was wrath with the Prieſts, the Leproſie even roſe up in his Forehead before the Prieſts in the Houſe of the Lord from beſide the Incenſe Altar. And Azariah the Cheif Prieſt, and all the Prieſts looked upon him, and behold he was Leprous in his Forehead and they thruſt him out from thence, yea he himſelf haſted alſo to go out becauſe the Lord had ſmitten him. And Uzziah the King was a Leper unto the Day of his Death.

Now though here is no mention made of the Earthquake that happened in his Reign, which is recorded by Amos and Zachariah as aforeſaid, particularly by the laſt in Chapter 14. And ye ſhall flee like as ye fled before the Earthquake in the days of Uzziah; yet Joſephus in his Hiſtory of the Jews makes it very evident that it was at this time, and upon this occaſion; Uzziah, ſays he, upon a certain ſolemn Feaſt day, wherein all the People were aſſembled together, attired himſelf in the High Prieſts Veſtmente, and entred into the Temple to offer Sacrifice unto God upon the Golden Altar, notwithſtanding the High Prieſt Azariah, accompanied with fourſcore Prieſts prohibited the ſame, telling him, that it was not lawful for him to Sacrifice, ſince it was only allowed to thoſe that were of the Poſterity of the High Prieſt Aaron, whilſt after this manner Azariah expoſtulated with him, commanding him to go out of the Temple, and not to invade the Ordinances of God; The King waxed wrath, and threatned to take his life from him, unleſs he kept himſelf quiet. Whereupon there fell a great Trembling and Earthquake, and the Temple cleft in twain, and a great light of the Sun entred thereinto, and reflected on the Kings Face in ſuch manner that all his body was covered with a Leproſy: And before the City, in a place called Eroge, the half of a Mountain that ſtood to the Eaſtward brake and fell, and rolled and removed for the ſpace of four Furlongs, toward the Oriental Mountain where it reſted; So that the publick ways were ſtopt and choaked up, and the Kings Gardens of Pleaſure were wholly ruinated and disfigured. When the Prieſts beheld the Kings Face covered with a Leproſie, they told him what inconvenience had happened to him, and enjoyned him to depart out of the City, according to the cuſtom of men that were polluted; Whereupon he wholly confuſed at ſo grievous an accident, and having no farther courage to reply, obeyed the commandment that was given him, enduring a pittiful and lamentable puniſhment for being proud and presumptuous, in committing ſuch Impiety againſt God. Finally he died through grief and diſcontent, and was Buried in his own Garden. In the year of the World, 3194.

XIII. The next Earthquake that we read of, is that which happened at the death of our bleſſed Lord and Saviour, and was a very convincing demonſtration of his Deity and that he was the Son of God. As we find in St. Matthew 27. Now from the ſixth hour there was Darkneſs over all the Land until the ninth hour. Jeſus when he had cried again, gave up the Ghoſt. And behold the Vail of the Temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom, and the Earth did quake, and the Rocks rent. And the Graves were opened, and many Bodies of Saints which ſlept aroſe. And came out of the Graves after his Reſurrection, and went into the Holy City and appeared unto many. Now when the Centurion and they that were with him watching Jeſus, ſaw the Earthquake and thoſe things that were done, they feared greatly, ſaying, Truly this was the Son of God.

And theſe prodigious effects that were produced upon our Saviour's Crucifixion, were acknowledged and atteſted as well by Heathens as Chriſtians. At the time of his Death a very great darkneſs happened in the Day time, which continued from ſix a Clock till nine, and yet there was no Ecclipſe of the Sun, for it was at a Full Mood; ſo that it was Miraculous, and contrary to the Order of Nature, and only by the immediate Power of God, who deprived the Sun of its Light for that ſpace of time. And therefore Dyoniſius the Arcopagite being that Day in Athens, and ſeeing the Sun ſo darkned; and alſo knowing, as a Man learned in the courſe of the Heavens, that ſuch an Ecclipſe muſt needs be contrary to the Rule of Nature, ſpake with a loud voice, ſaying, Either the World is at an end or the God of Nature Suffers.

We like wiſe read of another Supernatural Earthquake at the Reſurrection of Chriſt St. Matthew 28. In the end of the Sabbath as it began to dawn toward the firſt day of the Week, came Mary Magdalen and the other Mary to ſee the Sepulchre. And behold there was a great Earthquake; for the Angel of the Deſcended from Heaven, and came and rolled back the Stone from the Door, and ſate upon it. His countenance was like Lightning, and his Raiment white as Snow. And for fear of him, the Keepers did ſhake, and became as dead men. This was in the year of the World 4036.

XIV. Laſtly, We read of two Earthquakes in the Acts of the Apoſtles, which can be attributed to no other cauſe but that of the Power of God, for the confirmation of the Goſpel, and the Reſurrection of his Son Jeſus Chriſt our Lord. The firſt is in Acts 4.31. And when they had prayed the Earth was ſhaken where the Apoſtles were aſſembled together, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghoſt, and they ſpake the Word of God with boldneſs. The ſecond is in Acts 17. And at Midnight Paul and Silas Prayed and Sang Praiſes to God, and the Priſoners heard them. And ſuddenly there was a great Earthquake, ſo that the Foundations of the Priſon were ſhaken; and immediately all the Doors were opened, and every ones Bands were loſed. And the Keeper of the Priſon awaking out of his ſleep, and ſeeing the Priſon Doors open, he drew out his Sword and would have Killed himſelf, ſuppoſing that the Priſoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice ſaying, Do thy ſelf no harm; for we are all here. Then he called for a Light, and ſprang in and came trembling and fell down before Paul and Silas. And brought them out and ſaid, Sirs, what muſt I do to be ſaved? and they ſaid believe on the Lord Jeſus, and thou ſhalt be ſaved and thy Houſe. And they ſpake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his Houſe. And he took them the ſame hour in the Night, and waſhed their ſtripes, and was baptized he and all his ſtraightway. And when he had brought them into his Houſe, he ſet meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his Houſe. This was in the 55 year after our Saviours Incarnation.

XV. Theſe are all the Earthquakes that we find mentioned in Holy Scripture, to have actually happened, but there are others ſpoken of, which may be termed Metaphorical Earthquakes, and may ſignify great Alterations and Commotions in the ſeveral States and Kingdoms of the World; wherein, by the ſhaking, moving, removing, breaking down and diſſolving the Earth, we may underſtand the Inhabitants of the Earth, and the puniſhments that God would inflict upon them for their repeated Sins and Provocations; ſuch as theſe we find Iſaiah threatning the Narion of the Jews withal, in the 29th Chapter of that Prophecy. Thou ſhalt be viſited of the Lord of Hoſts with Thunder, and with Earthquakes, and great noiſe, with Storm and Tempeſt, and the flame of devouring Fire. And in Chapter 24. And it ſhall come to paſs, that he who fleeth from the noiſe of the fear ſhall fall into the Pit: and he that cometh out of the midſt of the Pit ſhall be taken in the ſnare, for the Windows from on high are open, and the Foundations of the Earth do ſhake. The Earth is is utterly broken down, the Earth is clean diſſolved, the Earth is moved exceedingly. The Earth ſhall real too and fro like a Drunkard, and ſhall be removed like a Cottage, and the tranſgreſſion thereof ſhall be heavy upon it, and ſhall fall and not riſe again.

XVI. And our bleſſed Saviour foretelling the deſtruction of the Temple, and what great Earthquakes ſhall be before it, and of the Signs of his coming to Judgment. St. Mat. 24. he ſays; And ye ſhall hear of Wars and Rumours of Wars, For Nation ſhall riſe againſt Nation, and Kingdom againſt Kingdom; and there ſhall be Famines, and Peſtilences, and Earthquakes, in divers places, and the Sun ſhall be darkned, and the Moon ſhall not give her Light, and the Stars ſhall fall from Heaven, and the Powers of the Heavens ſhall be ſhaken. And then ſhall appear the Sign of the Son of Man, and he ſhall ſend his Angels with a great ſound of a Trumpet, and they ſhall gather together his Elect from the four Winds, from one end of Heaven to the other.

XVII. Such Metaphorical Earthquakes are thoſe thought to be, which are Propheſied of in ſeveral places of the Revelations, as Chapter 6. And I beheld when the Lamb had opened the ſixth Seal, and lo, there was a great Earthquake, and the Sun became black as Sack-cloth of Hair, and the Moon became as Blood. And the Stars of Heaven fell unto the Earth, even as the Fig-tree caſteth her untimely Figs, when ſhe is ſhaken of a mighty Wind. And the Heaven departed as a Scrowl when it is rolled together, and every Mountain and Iſland were moved out of their places. And the Kings of the Earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief Captains, and the mighty Men, and every Bondman, and every Freeman hid themſelves in the Dens, and in the Rocks of the Mountains; And ſaid to the Mountains and Rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the Face of him that ſitteth on the Throne, and from the Wrath of the Lamb; For the great day of his Wrath is come; and who ſhall be able to ſtand. So in Chapter 8. And the Angel took the Cenſer and filled it with Fire of the Altar, and caſt it into the Earth: and there were Voices, and Thundrings, and Lightnings, and an Earthquake. And again in Chapter 11. And they heard a great Voice from Heaven ſaying unto the Witneſſes, Come up hither, and they aſcended up to Heaven in a Cloud, and their Enemies beheld them. And the ſeventh Angel ſounded, and there were great Voices in Heaven ſaying, The Kingdoms of this World are become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Chriſt, and he ſhall Reign forever and ever. And the four and twenty Elders which ſate before God on their Seats, fell upon their Faces and Worſhipped God, ſaying, We give thee thanks O Lord God Almighty, which art and waſt, and art to come; becauſe thou haſt taken; to thee thy great Power and haſt Reigned, ver. 18. And the Nations were angry, and thy Wrath is come, and the time of the Dead that they ſhould be Judged, and that thou ſhouldeſt give reward to thy Servants the Prophets, and to the Saints and them that fear thy name ſmall and great, and ſhouldeſt deſtroy them which deſtroy the Earth. And the Temple of God was opened in Heaven, and there was ſeen in his Temple the Ark of his Teſtament; and there were Lightnings, and Voices, and Thundrings, and an Earthquake, and great Hail. Likewiſe in Chapter 16. And the ſeventh Angel poured his Vial into the Air, and there was a great Earthquake, and there came a great Voice out of the Temple of Heaven from the Throne, ſaying, It is done. And there were Voices, and Thunders, and Lightnings, and there was a great Earthquake, ſuch as was not ſince men were upon the Earth, ſo mighty an Earthquake and ſo great. And the great City was divided into three parts, and the Cities of the Nation fell, and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the Cup of the Wine of the fierceneſs of his Wrath, And every Iſland fled away, and the Mountains were not found. And there fell upon Men a great Hail out of Heaven, every Stone about the weight of a Talent: and men Blaſphemed God becauſe of the Plague of the Hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great. Theſe and ſuch other Scriptures may denote the future Calamities that will befal the Inhabitants of the Earth about the end of the World, and do alſo demonſtrate the great power and alſufficiency of Almighty God, who as Job ſaith Chapter 9. Is wiſe in Heart, and mighty in Strength, who removeth the Mountains, and overturneth them in his anger. Who ſhaketh the Earth out of her place, and the Pillars thereof tremble

XVIII. Having given an account of the Supernatural and Metaphorical Earthquakes recorded in Holy Writ; I ſhall now relate thoſe that are mentioned by other Hiſtorians of the former and latter Ages, and likewiſe of ſome of the Conſequents which have ſucceeded them as to Wars, Peſtilence, Famines and other dreadful Calamities, and were judged to be the effects of them; wherein I ſhall be obliged to repeat ſome of thoſe already publiſhed in a Book called, ſurprizing Miracles of Nature, &c.

XIX. Before the birth of Saviour Plato mentions a wonderful Earthquake, whereby in a Day and a Night a vaſt Iſland without the Streights of Gibralter called Atlantis, and bigger than Aſia and Africa together, was wholly overwhelmed, and afterward covered by a great Inundation of Waters, inſomuch that on the Atlantick Ocean for a great while after no Ship could Sail, by reaſon that the ſame huge Sea by reſolution of the Earth of that mighty Iſland was all turned into Mud. 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 now only connected 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 Brittain is ſuppoſed to be broken off from the Continent of France by that means. Herodotus ſaith that Egypt in ancient time was a Gulph of the Sca, and by an Earthquake made a dry Land. The River Indus in Aſia which receives fifteen others Rivers into it, altered its Channel and the neighbouring Countrey was turned into a Wilderneſs by a lamentable Earthquake. Before the Peloponeſian, or Civil Wars among the Grecians, one of their Iſlands called Delphos famous for the Oracle and Temple of Apollo ſcituated therein, was wholly ruined by an Earthquake, which was thought to portend thoſe remarkable alterations which ſoon after happened in Greece. A little before the Wars between the Lacedemonians and the Ilotae, who were their Slaves and Bondmen in the Countrey of Laconia, there happened in the City of Sparta a moſt terrible and fearful Earthquake, for the Earth in many places of the Countrey opened and fell in as into a bottomleſs Pit. The Mountain Taygetum ſhook ſo terribly that parts of Rocks fell down from it, and Sparta with two other Cities with the violence of it were thrown to the ground, five hundred Houſes only exceptcepted; And great flouds of Water following it, the Countrey was almoſt utterly deſtroyed thereby. Tyre and Sydon ſuffered exceedingly by Earthquakes, and an infinite number of People were buried under the ruins. And Strabo mentions a City ſcituate about Sidon that was wholly ſwallowed up thereby. Pliny writes of twelve Cities ruined in one Night, and St. Auguſtine is cited for what is more ſtrange, That in a ſamous Earthquake a hundred Cities in Lybia were deſtroyed. In the Veliternean Fields the Earth rent aſunder in ſuch huge and frightful breaches, that Trees and whole Houſes were ſwallowed up in them, and it Rained Bloud for two whole days together, about which time Hannibal received that notable overthrow by Scipio, which was the deſtruction of the famous City and Republick of Carthage, and the Conqueſt of that Country to the Romans. Tit. Livius. Hiſt. Joſephus records that about twenty nine years before the birth of Chriſt, there happened a tremendous Earthquake in the Country of Judea, whereby divers Beaſts were ſlain, and many People overwhelmed in the ruins of their Houſes, and periſhed, to the number as ſome write of about thirty thouſand.

XX. I now proceed, in a Chronological Order, to relate all the Earthquakes that have happened ſince our Saviours 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 Would trembled at once, if ſome famous Authors are to be credited. In the tenth year of Chriſt was a great Earthquake in Cyprus, that overthrew many Cities, and in his ſevententh year thirteen Cities in Italy were deſtroyed, and the River Tyber overflowed Rome. The effects whereof were thought to be, That Sejanus the Favourite to Tyberius was executed for his Ambition, his Son ſtrangled, his Daughter firſt Deflowred by the Hangman, then put to death. Druſius is Poiſoned; Tyberius turn'd Tyrant. In 59. was a terrible Ecclipſe of the Sun, ſo that the Stars were ſeen, Nero's Supper was burned with Lightning, and a great Earthquake happened at Rome. At this time the Brittains ſlay ſeventy thouſand Romans, and Suetonius deſtroys eighty thouſand Brittains as he comes from Angleſey. Rome is fired by Nero who rejoices in that Villany, he commits Inceſt with his own Mother, afterwards Murders and Rips her up to view the place where he lay before he was born. Cartiſmunda Queen of the Brittains rejecteth her Huſband, the King of Scots takes her, and baries her alive.

XXI. In the reign of Trojan the Emperor 105. there happened a moſt terrible Earthquake at Antioch which deſtroyed many Cities and People, and extended it ſelf very far; Frightful Lightnings which made the Night as light as Day, preceded with dreadful Thunderbolts that threw down ſtately buildings, killed many men; Alſo ſtrong and unuſual Storms of Wind, after which were heard great and ſudden Noiſes, the Sea wrought, the Waves ſwelled, the Earth was ſhaken, buildings trembled, others were lifted up and fell down, whereby ſo thick a duſt and darkneſs was raiſed that People could not ſee nor hear one another, nor ſcarcely breath: Trees were pluckt up by the Roots, and multitudes buried in the Ruins of their own Houſes. After which came ſuch violent heats that People not being able to indure it, ſtript and hid themſelves naked under ground, where many were famiſhed, by reaſon the continual ſhaking of the Earth ſo diſtracted them that they durſt not come forth for relief. In 107. A very great Earthquake happened in Aſia, with many Prodigious ſights in the Air, as ſighting of Men, &c. Another in Galatia and Rome where Lightning from Heaven conſumed the Temple of their Gods, with ſtrong unwonted Winds, and horrible Noiſes in the Earth. In 120. A great Earthquake in Nice; and two terrible ones in Paleſtina. Milk in a Prodigious manner rained in Rome, and a great Fire deſtroyed two hundred and forty Houſes. In 162. A very great Earthquake in Bithynia; The Waves of the Mediterranean Seas 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. At this time Mogul King of Scots growing odious to the Nobility for his Tyranny they Murder him. Smyrna in Aſia is quite deſtroyed. The Emperor Commodus groweth rediculous, and the People taking notice thereof, he executed many of them, he is ſtrangled by Martia his Concubine, and Pertinax ſucceeding, after having Reigned only eighty ſeven days is ſlain by the Souldiers.

XXII. In 244. The Sun was totally Ecclipſed, and there was ſo horrid an Earthquake, the Earth gaped ſo extreamly that certain Cities, together with their People, were ſwallowed up, and exceeding great darkneſs happened for many days together. Now the tenth Perſecution began wherein one hundred forty four thouſand Chriſtians were put to Death in Egypt and ſeventy thouſand baniſhed, and many burned in an Houſe in Nicomedia. In the year 300. there were great Earthquakes, by one whereof thirteen Cities in Campania were overthrown, and another in Aſia. A hand was ſeen in the Church of Lateran in Rome without a Body, which in the ſight of many men writ upon the Wall theſe words, Hodie venenum in Eccleſia infuſurus. To day is Poiſon poured into the Church; Which was thought to intend the extraordinary indulgence of Conſtantine the Great, and firſt Chriſtian Emperor upon the Biſhops, and his heaping Honours and Eſtates upon them, whereby they degenerated from their Primitive ſimplicity and humility. Soon after many Cities in the Eaſt fell to the ground by an Earthquake, and Neo-Caeſarea was overturned and all its Inhabitants periſhed, except ſuch as were ſaved by the Biſhop in the Church. Dyracchium was demoliſhed by an Earthquake, and Rome trembled for three Days and Nights ſucceſſively, and Antioch was indangered by an Earthquake of a whole years continuance. Rhodes and Sicily were likewiſe endamaged thereby, and likewiſe Cilicia, and indeed it was ſo general that all Europe and Aſia were ſhaken at once.

XXIII. In 366. in the reign of Julian the Emperor, who was firſt a Chriſtian and afterward revolted to Paganiſm, for which he was named the Apoſtate, and became a bitter Enemy to the Chriſtians, and in deſpight and contempt of our bleſſed Saviour, who had Propheſied that 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, committing the care thereof to one Alypius, who did vigorouſly apply himſelf to the Work, being aſſiſted therein by the Governour of the Province. But there brake out dreadful Balls of Fire near the Foundation of the Walls, which with their frequent Irruptions, made the Place unapproachable, ſeveral Workmen being conſumed by the Fire, and in this manner a full period was put to their further proceeding therein; But Niciphorus Caliſtus gives a more large and full Narrative thereof as followeth. The Jews, ſaith he, having got together as many as were skilful in the Art of Building, and having provided Materials for it, and fully cleanſed the place, they prepared Spades made of Silver, their charges being allowed out of the publick ſtock: with ſuch Earneſtneſs and Alacrity did they labour herein, that the very Women carried away the Rubbiſh in their Laps, and whatſoever Jewels, or precious Ornaments they had, they expended on the buſineſs. When they had digged up the remainders of the old Building from the loweſt Foundations, and had cleared the ground, ſo that there was not a ſtone left upon a ſtone, according to our Bleſſed Lords Prediction, The next day coming to the place, there was a great Earthquake, inſomuch that the ſtones were caſt our of the Foundation, ſo that many of the Jews were ſlain, who either came to ſee the work, or had the overſight thereof. The Publick buildings which were neareſt the Temple, were likewiſe looſned, and falling down with great violence, buried thoſe who were in them in their ruines; ſome who attempted to fly away, were found half dead; others loſt their Legs, Arms, Hands, and other Members, according as the force of that ſudden accident ſeized upon them. 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 violently iſſued out of the Foundations, and other Fire fell furiouſly from Heaven, and deſtroyed more than before, conſuming to Aſhes the Hammers, Graving Tools, Saws, Hatchets, Axes, and all other Inſtruments which the Workmen had brought for their Service; the flames continuing a whole day together. When Cyril, who was at that time Biſhop of Jeruſalem, ſaw theſe things, he conſidered in his mind the words of the Prophet Daniel, to which Chriſt alſo had ſet his Seal in the Holy Goſpel, and then told them all; That now was the time, when the Oracle of our Saviour had its accompliſhment, which ſaid, That a Stone ſhould not be left upon a Stone in the Temple; which when he had ſaid, a dreadful Earthquake aſſailed the remaining Foundations, and caſting out all the reſt of the Stones, diſperſed them abroad, and a fearful Storm aroſe, which whirled in the Air many Thouſand Buſhels of Lime and Plaiſter, and ſudden flames of Fire flaſhing from beneath, burnt up in a moment an innumerable Company of People, who were either labouring in the work, or coming to behold it. Thus did the wicked Julian fulfil Chriſts Predictions concerning Jeruſalem, by the ſame means whereby he deſigned to make them void.

XXIV. In 367. in the Reign of Valens and Valentinian Emperors of Rome, there happen'd ſuch horrible Earthquakes throughout the Weſtern Empire, as neither True Hiſtorians have related the like, nor Fables themſelves repreſented to us. A little after the day dawned there was a great Tempeſt of Thunder and Lightning, which was followed by ſuch a dreadful trembling of the Earth, that the Sea alſo was ſhaken therewith, and deſerted the ſhore and its ancient bounds for a great ſpace, and the depths of its Channels were diſcovered; multitudes of Fiſh were ſeen to ſtick in the Mud, and many plowed Fields became Navigable, the inequality of the Seas bottom appeared, here Hills, and there Vallies which had never before ſeen the Sun, ſince, at the original of all things, they were firſt overwhelmed with the Flouds. Many Ships were left on the dry ground, and ſwarme 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, and great numbers of Ships were overwhelmed, ſome of which, with the violence thereof, were blown upon the tops of Houſes. Soon after a great Rebellion happened, and the Northern Nations came in like a Floud, and over-ran the Roman Empire, which was thought to be preſaged by this lamentable accident.

XXV. In 430. A great Earthquake raged in divers places, and overturned many Cities, the Wall of Conſtantinople, though but new built, it threw to the ground with 57 Turrets; Alſo Stones of great bulk, lately placed there, fell down, many Town, were ruined. Yea ſome Authors affirm that 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 Earth were ſo ſhaken together that they were raiſed into Mountains. The Sea threw up dead Fiſhes, many Iſlands were ſunk and overwhelmed, Ships ſailing on the Sea were ſuddenly left on dry ground. In ſhort many places of Bythinia, the Helleſpont, and both the Phrygin's were grievouſly diſtreſt thereby. This diſaſter 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 Emperor, and their Patriarch, in the Fields, inſtant in Prayers to the Almighty for the removal of ſo dreadful a Judgment. After the danger was over, the Emperor repaired the Walls of Conſtantinople which were much endamaged thereby. This was judged a Sign of the Death of Theodoſius which ſoon after followed, and of ſeveral changes which happened at the ſame time in divers parts of the World.

XXVI. In 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. About this time the Brittains beat the Saxons, and drive them into the Iſle of Thanet. The Jews Rebel in Egypt and Kill two hundred thouſand Men, and forced thoſe that ſurvived to eat the dead. They ſlay two hundred and forty thouſand in Cyprus, and at laſt are ſlain themſelves. A great Famine in Conſtantinople. The Goths waſt Thrace, Theſſaly and Epirus: Gratian killeth thirty five thouſand Germans; Maxinius ſlayeth Gratian treacherouſly, and poſſeſſeth Brittain, France, Spain and Africk. The Temple of Apollo Daphneus is burnt. The Heathen Temples are ſhut up by the Chriſtian Emperors, and their Idols deſtroyed. In 458. A great Earthquake happened at Antioch which the Citizens had ſad cauſe to remember. Before it began ſome of the Inhabitants were ſeized with an 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 peopled and none of it forſaken or empty, being curiouſly built by the Magnificence of divers Emperors, who ſtrove to exceed each other in the adornment of it. The firſt and ſecond Fabricks in the Palace were alſo caſt down, the reſt ſtanding together with a Bath, which having formerly been neglected now when by the Earthquake the reſt were choaked up ſtood the Citizens in very good ſtead.

XXVII. In the firſt Century was a terrible Earthquake in Arabia, and another in Paleſtina and a third at Conſtantinople for ſix weeks together. It rained Bloud in Piedmont, and at York the Fountains ran Bloud: a Dragon and many Serpents were ſeen in the River Tyber. After this ſo terrible a Famine raged in Brittain that the People aſſembled in great numbers to caſt themſelves into the Sea; A Plague ſo great in Rome that 800 men fell dead in an hour in the time of Proceſſion. Brunchild, a Daughter of France, being found guilty of the death of ten Kings; She is tyed by the Hair of the Head and the Arms to Wild Horſes, and torn to pieces. The Jews and Samaritanes Perſecute the Chriſtians, and burn their Churches in Caeſaria.

XXVIII. In the ſixth ſeventh and eighth Centuries, an Earthquake at Antioch; Another in Paleſtina, another in England and Normandy; a fiery Dragon was ſeen in the Skies, and divers other dreadful Prodigies. About the ſame time there was a violent Earthquake at 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, 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 again ſhaken ſo violently that not only the Walls and Churches but all Greece trembled therewith. The Saracens about this Age, Beſieged Conſtantinople for ſeven years and at laſt thirty thouſand of them were ſlain. The King of Scots is ſlain by the Picts. A Peſtilence in Conſtantinople, for three years, which devoured ſo many that the living were not ſufficient to bury the Dead. Alphonſus King of Portugal killeth ſeventy thouſand Moors and taketh, Lisbon from them. The Danes Invade England, but all of them almoſt periſhed. The Brittains Invade Scotland, Conſtantine their King was killed. The Saracens take Armoricum and many Captives; Lothair Wars with his Brethren, and an hundred thouſand men are ſlain. In 801. while 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 even Mountains; and the Church of St. Paul at Rome was deſtroyed by it, whereupon Pope Leo III. appointed ſolemn Feaſts and Proceſſions. Theſe Prodigies were followed with furious Tempeſts and Contagious Diſeaſes which affected the Cattel throughout Italy; ſo that moſt of their Beaſts died. A great Famine and Peſtilence in France. The King of England is ſlain by the Eaſt Angles. The Danes enter the Thames with two hundred and fifty Ships, they take Canterbury and London, and expel the King.

XXIX. In the Ninth, Tenth and Eleventh Centuries, an Earthquake happened in Scotland, another in France, a very great one in Aſia, and ſeveral terrible ones with mighty Whirlwinds in Germany; Alſo a great Earthquake in England, where five Suns appear at one; and afterward four Moons at once. Horrible groans and noiſes in the ground at Rome. Syracuſe in Sicily was extreamly ſhaken with an Earthquake; A wonderful Hail at Oxford in England, with many other terrible appearances, as Fire riſing out of the River Rhyne, and many places in Germany the Sun appears for certain days as if it bled. In the Reign of King William the Conqueror. 1086. happened an Earthquake with a dreadful noiſe. In 1100 in the Reign of King Henry I. the Earth moved with ſo great violence in England, that many buildings where ſhaken down; and Malmesbury the Hiſtorian writes, That the Houſe wherein he ſate was lifted up with a double remove, and at the third time ſetled again in its proper place. In divers places a hideous noiſe was heard, and the Earth through ſeveral rifts caſt forth Fire for many days together, which neither by Water, nor any other means could be ſuppreſt. In Lumbardy in Italy about the ſame time was an Earthquake which laſted above ſix weeks, and removed a Town from the place where it ſtood a great diſtance. Matthew Paris mentions another Earth, quake, and a great Darkneſs in England about twenty years after; And another in the Reign of King Henry II. in the Eaſtern parts of England, which threw down many Perſons who were ſtanding or walking, and made the Clocks to ſtrike and Bells to ring in the Steeples. In 1179. on Chriſtmas day at Oxenhall near Darlington in the County of Durham, the Earth was lifted up aloft 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 thereabout, and the Earth ſwallowing it up, made in the ſame place three Pits of a wonderful depth, which were afterward called Hell-Kettles. It is reported that Biſhop Tonſtal put a Gooſe into one of theſe Pits, having firſt given her a mark, and the ſame Gooſe was found in the River Tees, which if true, theſe Kettles have paſſages under Ground.

XXX. In 1180. an Earthquake ruined a great part of the City of Naples. Great Stones were Rained from Heaven, and a Hill of an immenſe magnitude is removed out of his place. The City of Catania in Sicily is deſtroyed with nineteen thouſand People by an Earthquake. A multitude of Snakes were ſeen at Rome, a fiery Dart ran up and down in the Heavens, Women appeared in the Heavens of admirable ſhapes to the great amazement of the Spectators. About this time the Hungarians Invade the Empire of Germany, but are reconciled. The Biſhop of Saltsburg calls an hundred thouſand Hungarians into Bavaria, which are all ſlain there and the Emperors Eyes pluckt out. A great Famine in Germany and France. The Pruſſians Invade Poland, and fifteen thouſand of them are ſlain, and twenty thouſand made Priſoners. The Saxons Rebel againſt the Emperor, twenty ſix thouſand of them are Drowned in a Pitfall by the Stratagem of two Biſhops in Holland as they came againſt the Earl of Flanders. Gonſalmus King of Spain Poiſons King Sancho with an Apple. The Danes Land in Scotland and waſt divers places, the Scots put them to flight. They Land in Kent and ſpoil the Iſle of Thanet. The King of Denmark is ſlain by one of his Servants; The Danes being defeated at Oxford fly to the Church, and are there burnt. Otho Emperor of Germany is Poiſoned with a pair of Gloves. Pedro King of Spain taketh Oſcu, and killeth thirty thouſand Moors. The Engliſh Invade Normandy. Harold Earl of Caithnes in Scotland cuts out the Biſhops Tongue for which the King puts out his Eyes, hangs him, and cauſeth his Male Children to be Gelt. The K. of Ioenium is ſwallowed up by an Earthquake, and in England many Buildings are thrown down by the ſame means, amongſt which the Cathedral Church of Lincoln was rent in pieces.

XXXI. In 1222. There were ſuch Earthquakes in Italy and Lombardy, 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 Lombardy for fourteen days together; beſides two Cities in Cyprus, and the City of Breſcia were this year deſtroyed by Earthquakes. In 1176. About the time that Adrian the Fourth was made Pope, was a dreadful Earthquake at Millain, and all the Country round about. A noiſe like Trumpets in the Air was heard in Italy, where was likewiſe a great Earthquake, another in England; and a third in Germany. The Conſequents were thought to be, the ſlaying of two hundred thouſand Moors by the Spaniards about that time. The Pope giveth the Kingdom of England to Philip King of France, Excommunicating King John. The French ſtrive to take poſſeſſion of it, but the Flemiſh with the Engliſh take three hundred ſail of Ships from them, and burn an hundred more. The King of Arragon is ſlain. The King of Bulgaria plucks out the Emperors Eyes. The Infidels take Jeruſalem and ſlay many Priſoners. The Turks win all the lower Aſia from the Greeks. The Pope is ſlain by a Fall. The Emperor Kills fourteen thouſand Bohemians. The King of England brings the Welſh under intire ſubjection.

XXXII. Remarkable is what is related by divers Authors, which happened in a Town called Hamel in the Dutchy of Brunſwick in Germany in 1248. June 26. This Town being very grievouſly troubled with Rats and Mice, there came to them a Pied Coat Piper, who agreed with the Burgers that for ſo much Money he would quite clear them from thoſe Vermine, nor would he demand it till a year and a day after. The agreement being made, he began to play on his Pipes, going from one Street to another, and all the Rats and Mice followed him, whom he led to a great Lake hard by, where they all went in and were drowned, ſo that the Town was Infected no more. At the end of the year the Pied Piper returned for his reward. The Burgers put him off with ſlightings and neglect, offering him ſome ſmall matter, which he refuſing, and ſtaying ſome few days in Town; On Sunday Morning at High Maſs when moſt People were at Church, he fell to Play on his Pipes, and began another Tune, whereupon there followed him one hundred and thirty Boys out of the Town to a great Hill called Koppen, ſcituate on the Road hard by, when they approached the Mountain, it rent in twain and opening let him and the Children in, and then cloſed again, ſo that he nor they were ever ſeen after. This Hiſtory is writ and religiouſly kept by them in their Annals at Hamel to this day, is read in their Books, and painted in their Windows, and their Churches; they date their Bills, Bonds and other Inſtruments in Law, From the year of the going out of the Children; Beſides there is a great Pillar of Stone at the Foot of that Hill whereon the Story is Ingraven. It is alſo obſerved in the memory thereof, that in the Streets the Children paſſed out of, no Piper is admitted to live ever ſince, and if a Bride live in that Street, till ſhe is come out of it no Dancing is to be ſuffered. Howel's Epiſtles, page 272.

XXXIII. In 1300. When the Turkiſh Empire began to be conſiderable, there was ſuch an Earthquake at Rome as never was before, and forty eight Earthquakes happened in one year, whereby all Lombardy was ſhaken. A great Earthquake in London, which was eſpecially felt on the Banks of the River Thames, which ſhook and threw down many buildings, and was the more terrible becauſe the Weſtern parts are leſs accuſtomed to Earthquakes, and there was little ebbing or flowing of the Sea obſervable as at other times, for about three months after. Another Earthquake did much miſchief about Bath and Briſtol, and two more happened in England not long after. Alſo two in France and one in Savoy. An Earthquake at Rome in the time of Pope Boniface the eight, who fainted away for fear, and afterward publiſhed a Jubilee. In 1348. a terrible Earthquake happened at Conſtantinople, which indured ſix weeks, and reached in the extent of it as far as Hungary and Italy; Twenty ſix Cities were overthrown by it; Mountains were torn up by the Roots, and ſeveral Men, Women and Beaſts by that ſtrong Exhalation were turned into Statues of Salt. In Perſia five hundred Houſes were thrown by an Earthquake in the City of Lair. In England for ſix hours together the Sun appeared as Bloud. In Germany was a very great Earthquake. Graſhoppers cover Switzerland like Snow. At Oxford the Image of a Head ſpake thus, Caput decidetur, Caput Elevabitur, Pedes elevabuntur ſuper Caput; The Head ſhall be cut off; The Head ſhall be lift up; The Feet ſhall be elevated above the Head. Which was thought to preſage the Depoſing and Death of King Richard II. At this time fifty thouſand Chriſtians were ſlain by the Turks in the Plains of Caſovia. Scotland is waſted by the Engliſh. The Emperor Sigiſmond executed thirty two of the Nobles in Hungary. The Pope is impriſoned by the French King. A great Battle between King Henry the V. and the French, wherein they loſt twenty thouſand men, ten thouſand being killed upon the place, and as many made Priſoners. The French burn Rye and Haſtings in Suſſex, and Plunder the Iſle of Wight. In Gaunt five thouſand Houſes were burnt; and ſeventeen Towns drowned in Flanders. A very great Earthquake in France, and Graſhoppers deſtroy almoſt every green thing there. The World was ſhook with terrible Earthquakes, Cities, Caſtles, Villages and a multitude of People were ſwallowed up in the Caverns of the Earth: Many at Liege deſtroyed by Thunder, while they were paying their Veneration to the Saints for ſafety. Mountains were cleft, and Rivers were dried up.

XXVIV. In 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 peircing to the moſt deep Abyſſes of the Sea, forced up 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 thirty thouſand People cruſhed to pieces, and a huge Mountain overturned into the Lake de la Garde. Soon after was a dreadful Earthquake in Millain another in Hungary. In Poland there was ſeen (ſaith my Author) an Image of Chriſt crucified with a Sword to paſs along the Air from Weſt to South for two hours. In Germany Hailſtones fell as big as Gooſe Eggs. At this time the Hungarians defeat the Turks, and take thirty thouſand Captives from them. The Spaniſh Inquiſition is firſt inſtituted in Caſtile againſt the Moors and Jews. The Jews are expelled Spain. The Turks expel the Chriſtians from Adrianople. King Henry VI. is taken Priſoner at North-hampton: Great Inundations in England. The Sun is darkned without an Ecclipſe.

XXXV. In 1509. Sept. 14. There happened a terrible Earthquake at Conſtantinople and in the Countrey thereabout, Bajazet II. being Emperor, by the violence whereof a great part of that Imperial City with many ſtately Buildings both Publick and Private were overthrown; and thirteen thouſand People overwhelmed and ſlain; The terror thereof was ſo great that the People generally forſook their Houſes, and lay abroad in the Fields; Yea Bajazet himſelf, though very Aged, and ſore troubled with the Gout, for fear thereof went from Conſtantinople to Adrianople, but finding himſelf in no more ſafety there than before, he left the City, and lay abroad in the Fields in his Tent. This Earthquake endured by the ſpace of eighteen days, or as the Turks relate, for a month with little intermiſſion; which was then accounted ominous, as portending the miſerable Calamities which afterward happened in the Ottoman Family. After this Earthquake enſued a great Plague, wherewith Conſtantinople was grievouſly Viſited and almoſt depopulated; After the Earthquake ceaſed, the Emperor imployed eighty thouſand Men to repair it, who in four months time re-edified the ruins thereof with much Beauty and Magnificence. It is ſtrange to Relate (ſaith my Author) that in this year 1510, there fell twelve hundred ſtones from Heaven, ſome weighing Sixty pound, others more. An Earthquake in Apulia whereby above Sixteen thouſand Perſons were overwhelmed, after which enſued a War betwixt the French and the Duke of Savoy which devoured above a Million of Men. In Holland four hundred and four Pariſhes are drowned with all their People and Cattel. The Turks take Buda in Hungary. King Henry VIII. writes againſt the Pope; Cardinal Woolſey dies: The Engliſh Clergy are fined and pay the King an hundred thouſand pound for divers Miſdemeanors. In 1531. In the City of Lisbon in Portugal about fourteen hundred Houſes were overthrown by an Earthquake, and Six hundred more ſo ſorely ſhaken that they were ready to fall and many of their Churches were caſt to the ground.

XXXVI. In 1538. Mr. George Sandys gives the following Relation of a moſt remarkable Earthquake and Burning which happened near the City Puteoli with the new formed Mountain; For the famous Lake Lucrinus hard by, extended formerly to the deadly Sulphurous Lake Avernus, ſuppoſed the entrance into Hell by ignorant Antiquity, where they offered Infernal Sacrifices to Pluto their God of Hell, and to the Manes or Ghoſts of their deceaſed Friends, who were there ſaid to have returned anſwers to what they have demanded of them: This place is now only a little watry plaſh choaked up by the horrible and aſtoniſhing eruption of a new Mountain, whereof as often as I think, I am apt to give credit to whatſoever is wonderful; For who is there in this place but knows, or who elſewhere will believe, that a Mountain ſhould ariſe partly out of a Lake, and partly out of the Sea, in one day and anight to ſuch an height, as to contend in altitude with the higheſt Mountains adjoyning, yet ſo it was: For Sept. 29. 1538. the Courtrey hereabout having for ſeveral days before been tormented with perpetual Earthquakes, that no one Houſe was left intire, but all Men expected an immediate ruin; After the Sea had retired two hundred Paces from the Shoar, leaving abundance of Fiſh and Springs of freſh water riſing in the bottom, this Mountain viſibly aſcended about the ſecond hour of the Night, with an hideous roaring noiſe, horribly vomiting Stones, and ſuch ſtore of Cinders, as overwhelmed all the buildings thereabout, and the healthful Baths of Tripergula celebrated for ſo many Ages, conſuming the Vines to Aſhes, and killing Birds and Beaſts; The fearful Inhabitants of Puteoli flying away in the dark, with their Wives and Children, naked, defiled, crying out and deteſting their Calamities, Manifold miſchiefs had they ſuffered by the Turks and Barbarians, yet none like that which Nature inflicted. This Mountain is to be ſeen at this day, the top whereof is above a Mile from the Foundation, the ſtones upon it are ſo light and pory, that they will not ſink when thrown into Water; when it was newly raiſed, it had a vaſt number of Vents or Iſſues, ſome of them ſmoaking and likewiſe flaming, others diſgorging little Rivers of hot water, keeping a dreadful rumbling, and many miſerably periſhed who ventured to go down into the hallowneſs above; But that hollow on the top is now an Orchard, and the Mountain throughout is bereft of its Terrors, no more ſmoak, fire or flames iſſuing therefrom.

XXXVII. In 1571. Feb. 17. A prodigious Earthquake happened in the Eaſtern Parts of Herefordſhire near a little Town called Kinaſton: About Six in the Evening the Earth began to open, and an Hill called Marcley Hill with a Rock under it, made at firſt a mighty bellowing noiſe which was heard afar off, and then lifted up it ſelf a great heighth and began to travel; bearing along with it the Trees that grew upon it, the Sheepfolds and Flocks of Sheep abiding thereon at the ſame time; In the place from whence it firſt moved it left a gaping diſtance forty Foot wide and eighty Ells long, the whole Field was about twenty Acres. Paſſing along it overthrew a Chappel ſtanding in the way, removed an Ew • -Tree growing in the Church yard from the Weſt to Eaſt. With the like violence it thruſt before it Highways, Houſes and Trees, it made Tilled ground Paſture, and again turned Paſture into Village. Having thus walked from Sunday in the Evening till Monday Noon it then ſtood ſtill, and moved no more; mounting to an Hill twelve fathoms high. The like prodigy happened about the ſame time at Blackmore in that County, where a Field of three Acres with the Trees and Fences moved from their place, and paſſed over another Field, travelling in the Highway that goeth to Herne and there ſtayed. A great Earthquake fell out at Conſtantinople about this time, a while before a terrible Fire in that City which burnt the Gaol, and conſumed ſeven hundred Priſoners. An Earthquake and Bowls of Fire in Carinthia. The Sun ſeemed to cleave in ſunder. Corn rained from Heaven. An Earthquake and Inundation in Holland. At this time was the Swearing Sickneſs in England. Nine thouſand French were ſlain at Dreux in Normandy, among whom the King of Navar. The Turkiſh Pyrates carry Six Thouſand Captives out of the Iſle of Gaul, near to Malta. A great Plague in England. Very great Thunder and an Earthquake in Spain.

XXXVIII. In 1580. April 6. being Eaſter Wedneſday about ſix a Clock 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; yet through the Divine Clemency it overthrew few or none, ſave certain Stones, Chimneys, Walls and Pinacles of high Buildings both in London and divers other places; and a Boy and a Girl being at Sermon among a great number of People at Chriſt-Church in Newgate-Street the Boy was killed outright with the fall of a Stone from the Roof of the Church; and the Girl ſo fore bruiſed by another that ſhe dyed ſoon after. At York it made the Bells in the Churches jangle. This Earthquake had ſuch influence upon the mind of the People. That a Prayer was Publiſhed by Queen Elizabeth to be uſed of all Houſholders with their whole Family, every Evening before thy went to Bed, that it would pleaſe God to turn his wrath from us, threatned in the laſt terrible Earthquake. In 1581. Joſephus Acoſta relates, That 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 Countrey was changed. The ſame Author gives an account of another Earthquake in the ſame Countrey that reached three hundred Leagues along the Sea-ſhore, and ſeventy Leagues in Land; and levelled the Mountains all along as it went, threw down Citys, turned the Rivers out o • their Channels, and made an Univerſal • avock and confuſion. All this he ſaith was done within the ſpace, of ſeven or eight Minutes. Some time before this, above forty thouſand People periſhed in an Earthquake about Puel and Naples.

XXXIX. In 1590. The Election of Pope Urban VII. was ſignalized by an Earthquake which made Auſtria, Bohemia and Moravia to tremble, and was followed by an extraordinary Dearth; Gregory XIV. quickly ſucceeded and died in ten months. There was ſuch a Famine and Plague in Italy that year that above threeſcore thouſand Perſons died. In 1591. In St. Michaels Iſland in the Weſt Indies, there happened an Earthquake which continued about ſixteen days, to the extream terror of the French who inhabite there, eſpecially when by the force thereof they perceived the Earth to remove from place to place, and Villa Franca their principal Town overthrown, the Ships that then road at Anchor in the Bay, trembled and quaked; inſomuch that the People thought the Day of Judgment was come. In 1593. Another terrible Earthquake happened in Perſia, which overturned three thouſand Houſes in the City of Lair cruſhing to Death above three thouſand Perſons in their ruins; yea the Caſtle though built upon a ſolid Rock groaned under the like affrighting downfall. In 1614. there was a great Earthquake in Vercer, one of the largeſt of the Iſlands called Azores, belonging to the King of Portugal, overturning in the City of Agra, eleven Churches, nine Chappels, beſides many private Houſes: and in the City of Praga hardly an houſe was left ſtanding. Not long after ſo horrible an Earthquake happened in another of the Iſlands of Azores called St. Michael aforementioned, that not far from thence the Sea opened, and thruſt forth an Iſland above a League and half in length at a place where there was above a hundred and fifty Fathom Water.

XL. In 1618. The Town of Pleurs in Switzerland was overwhelmed by an Earthquake of which we have the following account in the late Travels of a Reverend Divine in that Countrey. This place conſiſted in about two thouſand two hundred Inhabitants and magnificently built, for beſides the great Palace of the Francken that coſt ſome Millions, there were many other Palaces, erected by ſeveral Rich Factors both of Milan, and other Parts of Italy, who liked the Scituation and Air as well as the freedom of the Government of this place; ſo they uſed to come hither during the Heats, and here they gave themſelves all the Indulgences that a vaſt wealth could furniſh; By one of the Palaces that was a little diſtant from the Town, which was not overwhelmed, one may judg of the reſt; It was an Out-houſe of the Family of the Francken, and yet it may compare with many Palaces in Italy, and certainly Houſe and Gardens could not coſt ſo little as one hundred thouſand Crowns. The Voluptuouſneſs of this Place became very crying, and Madam de Salis told me, ſaith my Author, that ſhe often heard her Mother relate ſome Paſſages of a Proteſtant Miniſters Sermons, who Preached in a little Church which thoſe of the Religion had there, and warned them frequently of the terrible Judgments of God, that were hanging over their heads, and that he believed would ſuddenly break in upon them. On the 25 of Auguſt 1618. an Inhabitant came and perſuaded them to be gone, for he ſaw the Mountains cleaving, but he was laughed at for his pains; He had a Daughter whom he prevailed with to leave all and go with him, but when ſhe was gone out of the Town with him, ſhe called to mind that ſhe had not lockt the Door of a Room in which ſhe had ſome things of value, and ſo ſhe went back to do that, and was buried with the reſt; for at the hour of Supper the Hill fell down, and buried the Town and all the Inhabitants, ſo that none eſcaped. The fall of the Mountains did ſo fill the Channels of the River that the firſt news thoſe of the Chavennes had of it, was by the failing of the River, for three or four hours there came not a drop of Water, but the River wrought for it ſelf a new courſe and returned to them. I could hear no perticular Character of the Man who eſcaped, ſo I muſt leave the ſecret reaſon of ſo ſingular a preſervation to the great diſcovery at the laſt day, of thoſe ſteps of Divine Providence that are now ſo unaccountable. Some of the Family of the Francken, got ſome Miners to work underground to find out the Wealth that was butied in their Palace; for beſides their Plate and Futniture, there was a great Caſh and many Jewels in the Houſe: the Miners pretended they could find nothing: But they went to their Countrey of Tirol and built fine Houſes, and a great Wealth appeared, of which no other viſible account could be given but this, that they had found ſome of that Treaſure.

XLI. 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 bloud, unuſual and impetuous Tempeſts which overthrew ſeveral Towers. At this time began the third Civil War in France, the Prince of Conde is taken and ſhot to Death with a Piſtol. The Earls of Northumberland and Weſtmorland rebel. The Popiſh Clergy are expelled Antwerp by the People. The Emperor Prohibiteth the Proteſtant Religion at Atken. The Spaniards Invade Ireland but are beaten thence. The Turks loſe Alba Regalis and threeſcore thouſand men. The Perſians Invade Babylon and kill twenty thouſand men. The King of France is ſlain. Nine hundred thouſand Moors are expelled Spain. The Hollanders beat the Spaniards in the South Sea. The Tartars Invade Podolia, they burn four Cities and four hundred Villages, and carry from thence a vaſt booty. The Jeſuits and Papiſts are expelled the Netherlands. 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 1627. July 31. happened an Earthquake in Apulia in Italy, whereby in the City of Severine alone ten thouſand Souls were taken out of the World, and in the horror 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 incloſed him, and doing him no harm made a Bulwark for him againſt any other danger. Strange and wonderful were the Prodigies that were ſeen in Germany both in the Heavens, Earth and Waters, before the beginning of that Bloody War in thoſe Countreys, and which plainly preſaged the enſuing miſeries and deſolations which happened there, and began about 1631. In which year, not long before the troubles of Naples, there happened a terrible Earthquake in and about that City; and the Mountain of Soma after many terrible bellowings, vomited out burning ſtreams of Fire which tumbled into the Adriatick Sea; and caſt out an huge deal of Aſhes. The like happened the year following with great damage and loſs to the Neighbouring places both in Houſes, People and Cattel. And in Apulia ſeventeen thouſand Perſons were deſtroyed by the ſame.

XLII. In the year 1638. Six Suns were ſeen at once in Cornwall, and ſeveral Apparitions of men in the Heavens preparing to fight with each other; Alſo Navys of Ships were viſible in the Sky. The Scots at this time make an Inſurrection, the King goes in Perſon to appeaſe them, they renounce the Biſhops and Prelacy, and ſet up Presbytery in Scotland. In this year 1638. happened a Terrible Earthquake in the Iſland of St. Michael one of the Azores, or Tercera's belonging to the Spaniards in the Atlantick Ocean Weſtward. Upon June 26. this Iſland began unverſally to quake and tremble, which continued eight days, ſo that the People leaving the Cities, Towns and Caſtles, were forced to live in the open Fields: After which this Prodigy ſucceeded; Six miles diſtant from the Hill or Pick of Camerine, at a place called Ferriera; where Fiſhermen with their Boats uſe to fiſh in Summer, they at this time caught ſuch a multitude, that no Boat returned with leſs than Ten Thouſand Fiſh. At this very place in July this very year, Fire broke forth with ſuch unexpreſſible violence, notwithſtanding the depth of the Ocean, which had been fathomed one hundred and twenty foot deep, that the very Sea it ſelf was not ſufficient to extinguiſh ſuch mighty flames; The ſpace of this boyling Fire was about two Acres, and the Fire aroſe with ſuch mighty force, that it reached even to the Clouds, carrying with it Water, Sand, Earth, Stones and much other matter, which like Feather-Beds flew into the Air to the terror of the Beholders afar off, and falling down again into the water, reſembled a kind of Pultis or Frumentie; and had not the Wind by Divine Providence blown off from the Iſle into the Sea, and thereby driven back this outragious Fire, without doubt the whole Countrey had been utterly burnt up and deſtroyed by this formidable Combuſtion; ſoon after it caſt forth ſtones of ſo vaſt a bigneſs, to the height of above three lances, that they ſeemed rather like entire Mountains than Stones, which in their fall meeting and daſhing againſt others they broke into a Thouſand pieces, with a terrible noiſe and ratling, which afterward being taken up mouldred into a black Sand. Moreover out of this vaſt quantity of matter thrown out, a new Iſland aroſe, even in the midſt of the deep Ocean. In the beginning it was not above five Acres, but increaſing continually in four days after, it took up the length of five mile; ſo vaſt a multitude of Fiſh periſhed by this burning, that eight Ships of India could hardly contain them, and being diſperſed about all parts of the Iſland were gathered together, and buried in deep Ditches by the Inhabitants for eighteen miles round about to prevent any Contagion which might ariſe from them, but the Sulphur or Brimſtone was ſmelt Twenty four Miles. This year the Hollanders beat the Spaniſh Fleet upon the Coaſt of England.

XLIII. The ſame year 1638, the Learned Rircherus made a ſearch and diſcovery into the burning Mountain of Veſuvius in the Kingdom of Naples, ſo famous for fiery irruptions for many Ages, which being one of the moſt tremendous Miracles of Nature I ſhall relate in his own words; After ſo great dangers ſuſtained by Sea and Land in diligently ſearching out the incredible power of Nature working in Burroughs and Paſſages under ground, I had a great deſire to inform my ſelf concerning Veſuvius. I went therefore to Porticus (the Porch or Entrance) a Town ſcituate at the Foot of of the Mountain, where hiring an honeſt Countreyman for a true and skilful Companion, and Guide in the way, not without a conſiderable reward, I aſcended the Mountain at midnight through difficult, rough, uneven, and ſteep Paſſages; when I came to the top or mouth I ſaw what is horrible to be expreſſed; I ſaw it all over of a light Fire with a dreadful combuſtion, and ſtench of Sulphur and burning Bitumen; whereat being aſtoniſhed, methoughts I beheld the habitation of Hell, wherein nothing ſeemed to be wanting but the Apparitions of Ghoſts, Devils and Damned Spirits; I then obſerved horrible bellowings and roarings in the Mountain, and unexpreſſible ſtink, ſmoaks mixt with darkiſh Globes of Fire, which both the bottom and ſides of the Mountain continually belched forth from eleven ſeveral places, and made me belch and ready to vomit; O the depth of the riches of the Wiſdom and knowledge of God! How incomprehenſible are thy ways! If thou ſheweſt thy power againſt the the wickedneſs of mankind in ſuch formidable and potentous Prodigies and Omens of Nature: What ſhall it be in that laſt day wherein the Earth ſhall be deſtroyed by thy wrath, and the Elements ſhall melt with fervent heat? In the morning as ſoon as it was light, that I might with the more diligence ſearch into the Bowels of the Mouutain, I choſe a place to ſet my feet ſecure upon, which was an huge Rock, plain on the top, where taking forth my Pantometer (or Univerſal Meaſure) I took the dimenſions of the Mountain, and found by Geometrical Computation, the compaſs of the Mouth to be almoſt three hundred paces; The Mountain was every where up & down cragged, and broken, yet no gradual declining, for any paſſage to the inward parts, but deſcended in its compaſs of an equal bigneſs like a Well, and although the bottom ſeemed narrower, yet I judged it only to proceed from the exceeding great depth and diſtance from our ſight. In the very middle of the bottom Nature ſeemed to have made a Shop or Workhouſe of Fire with everlaſting guſhings forth and ſtreamings of Smoak and Flames, which ſeem to be employed for boyling of Sulphur, Bitumen and other Minerals in preparation for deadly ruins and ſlaughters afterward to be committed, ſince the Vapours contained therein not having room, endeavoured to free themſelves with ſuch great force and violence, accompanyed with horrible cracklings and noiſe, that the Mountain ſeems to be toſt with an Earthquake or trembling, upon which the higher and ſofter parts of the Mountain that are clung together of Aſhes, Cinders, Rains and other refuſes of Minerals being ſhook in pieces, and looſned by this quaking, and ſo falling like Hills into the bottom of this Helliſh Gulph, cauſe ſuch terrible noiſes as are often heard, which are ſo great and fearful as may daunt the moſt ſtout and couragious Spirit. The matter which was continually belched forth from the center or bottom of the Mountain made as it were a new Mountain, which had wonderful variety of Furrows or hollow Channels, with various kinds of melted Minerals, formed as it were by the ingenious Pencil of Nature, ſometimes of a greeniſh colour from Braſs; then yellow from Sulphur, Arſnick, and Sandarack; preſently after Red from Cinabar, Read Lead and Vermilion; afterward Black from Vitriol mixt with Water, or of an Aſhy colour from the very Cinders. Thus far the laborious Kircher.

XLIV. Hear now what our ingenious Countryman Mr. G. Sandys relates of this fiery Mountain Veſuvius, it is ſcituate in Campania Faelix, about eight miles from Naples, which City hath received great injuries and prejudices by its Cinders, and violent throwing out of Stones even to its Walls and Houſes; This Mountain has vaſt Fountains of Fire, and was heretofore high on every ſide before the inward parts were conſumed; it uſually utters ſmoak by day, but by night, Flames; its manner is to ſend forth a loud ſounding or roaring noiſe and bellowing firſt, and then to belch forth a huge quantity of Cinders to the great danger of thoſe who paſs by, but if a vehement wind blow upon it, the Aſhes or Cinders are raiſed ſo high and driven ſo far in length, that 'tis certain they have ſometimes been carried as far as Conſtantinople, though many hundred miles diſtance, and ſo affrighted them that they have all ran to their Prayers to implore the averting of Divine Wrath. The Mountain hath a double top, that toward the North ends in a Plain, the other toward the South aſpires higher, which when covered with Clouds, prognoſticates rain to the Neopolitans, in the top there is a large deep hollow in form of an Amphitheater, in the midſt is a Pit which leads into the Entrails of the Earth, the matter thrown up is ruddy, light and ſoft, the uttermoſt brow of the Hill flouriſhes with Trees, and excellent Paſturage, the midſt is ſhaded with Cheſnut Trees and others, bearing divers fruits; The lower parts are admirably clothed with Vines which afford the beſt Greek Wines in the World; It hath at divers times made dreadful Eruptions and Devaſtations which (as well as Mount Aetna of which hereafter) have been accounted ominous, and to portend ſome woful Calamities to enſue.

But never any thing appeared ſo horrible (ſaith my Author) as what hapned in the Reign of the Emperor Titus eighty years after Chriſt, For then it diſgorged ſuch boyling Waves and Flouds of Fire as conſumed the Neighbouring Cities; And then it was that Pliny the Second, that great ſearcher into Nature, and the famous Author of the Natural Hiſtory, and then Admiral of the Roman Navy, being deſirous to diſcover the reaſon thereof, was choaked and ſuffocated in approaching too near to diſcover ſo great a myſtery of Nature, yet not wilfully I ſuppoſe, though ſome Authors aſſert that he threw himſelf into it, becauſe he could not underſtand the natural cauſe of this mighty Conflagration; At that time there iſſued forth ſo great a ſmoak that the very Sun ſeemed to be in an Eclipſe, and likewiſe huge Stones, and ſuch plenty of Aſhes, that Rome, Africk, and Syria were even covered with them, and beſides, Beaſts, Fiſh, and Fowl which were deſtroyed, it overwhelmed Herculanum and Pompeios two adjoyning Cities with Pumice Stones, together with all the People ſitting in the Theater; There were alſo heard diſmal noiſes all about the Province, and Giants of incredible bigneſs were ſeen to ſtalk up and down the top and edges of the Mountains (if the Peoples fancies were not impoſed upon by their aſtoniſhment) which extraordinary Accident was judged either a cauſe, or preſage of a terrible Peſtilence which reigned in Rome and Italy long after; Marcellinus the Roman Hiſtorian relates, That the Aſhes of Veſuvius tranſported in the Air, obſcured and darkned all Europe, and that the Inhabitants of Conſtantinople were wonderfully affrighted therewith, inſomuch that their Emperor Leo forſook the City, and that in memorial of the ſame they celebrated yearly the 12 of November. It likewiſe burnt in the ſix year of Conſtantine the Fourth, and groaned, but ejected no Cinders; Platina, writes, that it flamed in 685. prognoſticating the Death of Pope Benedict II. with the inſuing Slaughters, Rapines, and Deaths of Princes; During the Papacy of Benedict VIII, and IX. it is ſaid to have done the like, and though it hath made dreadful devaſtations, yet the fruitful Aſhes thrown about did ſeem to repair the foregoing loſſes with a quick and marvellous fruitfulneſs; At the foot of the Hill there are divers holes and vents, out of which exceeding cold wind, do continually iſſue, and which at Padua they let into their Rooms at pleaſure, to qualifie the heat of Summer; In the year 1610. in February, Veſuvius began to flame, to the great affrightment of the Neapolitans, and ſolemn Prayers and Supplications being ordered, they went in Proceſſion with the Head of Januarius their Patron, and the defender of their City carried before them; whereby the deluded people were perſuaded that the deſtruction which hung over their heads was prevented. In 1631. was a new Eruption, and again in 1635. was an Earthquake in Meſſina.

XLV. In the year 1638. likewiſe the induſtrious Kircher made a diſcovery of the Phlegrean, or Fiery Plains in the Fields of Puteoli near Naples, which being another wonderful Prodigy of Nature, may be worth relating; Paſſing by Naples (ſaith he) I could not let ſlip the opportunity of inquiring and looking into thoſe Sulphurous Plains ſo much celebrated in all Ages; Having therefore gone through a Paſſage under ground, called the Groote, arched and made hollow, to the Mountain Pauſilippus; not far from Puteoli, between the Jaws of the Mountains, a large Plain preſents it ſelf to view, altogether dreadful and full of horrour, in length about twelve hundred Foot, in breadth a thouſand; The whole Plain is ſurrounded with Hills of high and ſteep Rocks, which were formerly very lofty, but are ſince devoured by perpetual Fires; In the bottom little hills are ſeen to burn and flame, with a ſtrong ſmell of Brimſtone which is carried by the Winds through all the Neighbouring Regions, even as far as Naples; ſome parts of the Plain have an infinite number of holes, and are yellow with a Sulphuriſh matter; the ground wheh it is touched by thoſe who walk thereon, ſounds and rattles like a Drum by reaſon of the hollowneſs thereof: and you may feel as it were, not without aſtoniſhment, boyling Waters under your feet, and thick fiery fumes to hiſs and flow from one place to another with a great crackling noiſe through the Pipes and Paſſages under ground which are made by theſe fiery Exhalations; the force of this is very great as you may experience by ſtopping any of theſe holes with an heavy ſtone, or the like; for then you ſhall obſerve the violence of the ſmoak preſently to throw it up, and belch it forth again; But an huge Laky Ditch in the ſame plain did wonderfully affect me; It is full of boyling Waters, very frightful for their blackneſs, that one would imagine it were a Kettle, or Caldron boyling with Pitch and Roſin; It is likewiſe admirable that the ſwallowing Gulph caſts forth theſe boyling Waters eight or ten foot above a Mans height, in the faſhion of a ſpire Steeple, or Pyramid; In the Mountains and Rocks wherewith this Vulcanian Plain is incompaſſed, there are Paſſages like Chimneys, ſome whereof breath out a continual Wind, with a terrible ſound and ratling, and alſo with ſuch ſtrength, that if you caſt a ſtone thereinto, it is ſtruck back again to your hand with great fury; ſome of their breathing holes dart forth ſmoak mixt with flames; you would here think your ſelf almoſt in the midſt of Hell, where all things appear horrid, ſad and lamentable, and you are even ſtruck breathleſs with the ſtench of Sulphur, Bitumen, Napthe, and other Earths, Clays, Marls and Minerals, In 1640. all the Low Countreys and a great part of Germany were ſhaken by a ſudden Earthquake.

XLVI. In 1650 about five a Clock in the Afternoon in the Countys of Cumberland and Weſtmorland was a general Earthquake wherewith the People were ſo affrighted, that many of them forſook their Houſes, and ſome Houſes were ſo ſhaken that the Chimneys fell down. The ſame year, 1650. the Iſland of Santorin, at the bottom of the Streights in the Mediterranean Sea, not far from Candia, had formidable Fires and Earthquakes. This Iſland was formerly called Thera, but now Santorin, and ſtarted up out of the Sea, for Baronius out of Pliny thus writes; In the year 726. a Vapour was ſeen to bubble forth out of a Chimney of Fire, between the Iſlands of Thereſia, or Santorin from the very bottom of the Sea, which continued ſome days and the Fire and Smoak growing thicker by degrees, ſpread it ſelf abroad with mighty flames, and with the vaſtneſs of its ſtrength, it caſt out huge Rocky Pumice Stones, and great heaps of other matter, which it carried through all Aſia, Lesbos, and Abydus, and the Sea-Coaſts of Macedonia, ſo that the whole Surface of the Sea was covered with theſe Pumices; But in the middle of ſo great a Fire, there was an Iſland made from the heaping up of that matter, and and joyned to the Iſland, called The Sacred, which never was in being before; There was likewiſe another Iſland next to this formed in 1670. not without great terror to thoſe of Santorin; ſince the burning laſted for a year, as ſome ancient People who ſaw it with their Eyes did lately teſtifie; But in the middle of this ſmaller new Iſland which is now called little Camena, there is to be ſeen at this very day an huge deep Ditch, which being narrow toward the bottom, grows bigger by degrees like a Funnel, out of which as out of a Chimney thoſe mighty Stones and Rocks did burſt forth, which being mixt with Cinders and Aſhes compoſed the reſt of that Iſle.

XLVII. But if ever theſe Fires pent up in the Bowels of the Earth exerciſed their force, it was moſt remarkable upon September 24. 1650. which ſhook the Iſland till the ninth of October, with ſuch mighty and frequent Earthquakes that the People of Santorin fearing that their immediate ruin was approaching, were on their Knees night and day before their Altars; It cannot be expreſſed what an horror invaded all men; eſpecially when thoſe victorious Flames breaking through all Obſtacles, ſtrove to make themſelves a way through the midſt of the Waters of the Ocean about four miles Eaſtward from Santorin; For the Sea all on a ſuddain ſwelled Thirty Cubits upward, and extending it ſelf wide through the Neighbouring Lands, overturned all in its way; Inſomuch that it broke in pieces ſeveral Ships and Galleys in the very Haven of Candia, with its extraordinary violence, though fourſcore miles diſtant from thence; The Air being darkned with thoſe ſulphurous ſtinking Vapours, put on innumerable Forms and Appearances, as of Fiery Lances, and Swords brandiſhed and ſhaken, bright and glittering Arrows darting forth; Here terrible Serpents and Dragons ſeemed to be flying, There hideous Thunderclaps, Lightnings and Thunderbolts; And yet they could ſcarce ſee, for the Peoples Eyes were ſo hurt with thoſe ſharp, pricking ſulphurous ſmoaks, and vapours that almoſt all became blind for three days, with ſuch grievous pains in their Eyes, that they wept continually, and bewailed their moſt miſerable Fate; But when their Eye-ſight returned, they ſaw all their Silver and Gold, both Veſſels and Garments, and Pictures, ſpread over with a yellow colour; and ſuch a vaſt multitude of Pumice ſtones, did this fiery Gulph vomit forth, that it covered the Sea, ſo that they could ſcarce paſs in a Veſſel; It is moſt certain that they were carryed many hundred Miles, even to Smyrna and Conſtantinople, and all the Shoars and Coaſts were filled therewith. The fury of this Burning was greateſt for the firſt two months, which cauſed the Neighbouring Sea to bubble like a boyling Pot, and night and day huge Globes and Flakes of Fire, and exceeding thick Smoak mounted up to the Heavens; which if at any time it was carryed by contrary winds to any places near at hand, beſides a moſt grievous ſtink, it brought certain deſtruction upon Birds and Beaſts, yea, upon men themſelves. As it happened in October and November this year, that fifty Husbandmen miſerably periſhed thereby, beſides an innumerable multitude of Birds, Sheep, Oxen and Aſſes; The like happened to nine Marriners, who paſſing that way in their Ship by night, after three days were all found half burnt, and were buried in the Iſland Nio threeſcore Miles from Santorin; But the other four months (for it flamed ſix in all) though that Helliſh Hearth or Furnace abated much of its vigour and fierce heat, and could ſcarce lift it ſelf above the waves, yet it ſtill ſeemed to caſt out Pumice ſtones, and to be labouring to form a new Iſland, which though it does not yet appear above Water, yet in a calm Sea it is obſerved to be very ſhallow thereabout, the Water being in that place not above eight Cubits deep.

XLVIII. In 1657. The Spaniards felt a terrible blow in Peru, which if it were not a Mark of the Wrath of Heaven, (ſaith my Author,) was at leaſt a Sign that the Earth is weary of them, eſpecially in thoſe parts where they have ſtained 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, eleven thouſand Spaniards loſt their lives in this calamity, and the Earth devoured an hundred Millions of refined Silver, which the lucre of the Spaniards had forced out of its Bowels. All the Mountains of Potoſi from whence they dug their choiceſt mettal were levelled with the Plain, and no more hopes of Gold was left to their inſatiable avarice.

XLIX. In 1660 an Earthquake happened at Paris in France, and at the ſame time they 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, overwhelming ſome Medicinal Baths, many Houſes, and deſtroying hundreds of People, only one Church which ſunk into the Caverns below was thrown up again, and ſtands very firm, but in another place. This was looked upon as a great Miracle, eſpecially by the French, who have diſputed with the Spaniard about this Church as ſtanding on the Frontier Line, but now is removed near half a League within the acknowledged limits of France.

L. 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. The next year Sir Rob. Holms deſtroyed above one hundred and fifty ſail of Dutch Ships at the Vly in Holland, and burnt the Town of Bandaris in the Iſland of Schelling, containing at leaſt a thouſand Houſes. Sept. 2. about One a Clock in the Morning a ſudden and lamentable Fire broke out in the City of London, beginning in a place called Puddinglane, near New-Fiſh-Street which in four days time burnt down thirteen thouſand two hundred Houſes.

LI. In 1668 in Autumn, a great part of Aſia, and ſome parts of Europe were infeſted with extraordinary Earthquakes; The Cities of Conſtantinople and Adrianople felt its ſad 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 the Inhabitants buried in the Ruins, above ſix thouſand Perſons periſhed in the firſt of them, and above eighteen hundred 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. About the beginning of Auguſt 1669. there came two Whales and a Grampas up the River of Thames, whereof one of the Whales, and the Grampas were killed, and the other Whale which was the bigger, returned back into the Sea.

LII. In 1669. there happened a moſt dreadful Earthquake and Irruption of Mount Aetna in Sicily, of which before I give a particular Account, it may not be unproper to deſcribe the Mountain itſelf, as it has been related by divers famous Hiſtorians; Aetna or Mount Gibello, called by Pindar the Celeſtial Column or Pillar, is the higheſt Mountain in Sicily, from whence all the Iſland may be ſeen at once, and in a clear day the Eye may even reach Africa; it rears up its Top or Spire thirty miles into the Sky, and may be ſeen forty or fifty miles at Sea, but its compaſs is ſixty, others ſay an hundred miles ſpace, it appears Eaſtward with two ſhoulders, having an eminent head in the middle, The lower parts are luxuriouſly fruitful, and the abundance of fat oily matter which is caſt out of it, makes the Soil thereof as well as of the whole Iſland Incredibly fruitful in the beſt Wine, Oil, Honey, Saffron, Minerals alſo of Gold, Silver, Silks and Allom, with variety of excellent and delicious Fruits, and abundance of all ſorts of Grain, ſo that it was called in old time, The Granary of the Roman Empire; The middle of the Mountain is woody and ſhady, the upper part rocky, ſteep, and almoſt covered with Snow; yet ſmoaking in the midſt like many conjoyned Chimneys, and vomiting intermitted flames, uſually diſcernable only of a night, as if heat and cold had left their Contentions, and imbraced one another, for though it continually burns, with moſt fervent ſmoak and fire, yet round about the top are ſeen perpetual and moſt deep ſnows, the uppermoſt top is broken and cragged with unſtable Cinders and Pumice ſtones, and cleaves open with a moſt vaſt Crater or mouth twelves miles in compaſs, which in a ſteep deſcent ſtreightens it ſelf narrower even to the bottom of Hell as it were; A moſt horrible precipice it is, exceeding formidable with flames and fumes from the very bottom and ſides of the Mountain, with an horrendous roaring and bellowing not unlike the burſting forth of Thunders, ſo that the very imagination and thoughts of the Fire and Ruins ſo nigh at hand, cannot but at firſt ſight amaze, and afright any humane Creature, and make him ſtart from it, as from the Infernal Gulph of Hell; On one ſide within are moſt dark and dreadful Dens, one whereof is ſo vaſt, as to be capable to contain thirty thouſand Men; In many places you may ſee the tracts and paths of huge Torrents of melted matter; in the very top, Snow and Aſhes, or Cinders, as if they had concluded an Eternal Wedlock, are ſeen to overwhelm all things with a ſad and doleful countenance, which are very dangerous to unwary Viſitors, becauſe under them there lye concealed deep holes, and devouring Gulphs, without bottom or end, which have ſwallowed up very many, coming unadviſedly too near without a Guide, and by their ruin have left warnings to others not raſhly to venture upon theſe hidden deceits which have cheated mortals of their Lives; in the utmoſt bottom of this Helliſh Gulf the Fire is at no time extinguiſhed, but always ſends forth either boyling heat, ſmoak or flame, yet outwardly it begins to grow fierce and terrible only at certain intervals of time more or leſs according to the combuſtible matter heaped together; and by how much longer it hath ceaſed, by ſo much it burſts forth with greater violence, and together with the Flame ſends forth huge heaps of Sands, and Prodigious Stones of wondrous weight.

LIII. Theſe Fires have broke forth in ſeveral Ages of the World, to the great terror and deſtruction of the Inhabitants, and all the adjacent Countries; As in the year of the World 2600. when the Poſterity of Janus went to ſeek new Colonies, they firſt entered Sicily, where at that time there was ſo great a burning of the Mountain, that the new Planters leaving the Iſland for fear of Deſplation, went to ſeek new habitations in Italy; after them followed the Sicaneans, who were likewiſe driven away from theſe Eaſtern Parts, to the Weſtern by theſe dreadful Aetnean burnings. In the year 3180. and for above four hundred years after, this Mountain was all on fire with three huge burnings. A little after the Mountains raging anew, it is ſaid to have drawn Pythagoras himſelf into the higheſt admiration; Alſo in the Reign of Hiero, at which time Hiſtories deliver that Empedocles an Obſerver of the Mountain was deſtroyed. In the time of Julius Caeſar, about fifty years before Chriſt, Diodorus relates, That Aetna, raged moſt violently, which they ſaid portended the Death of Caeſar; It is reported to have been ſo great, that the Sea, with its fervour and boyling heat burnt the very Ships, even as far as the Vulcanello's All the Fiſh being deſtroyed and boyled to death; yea within twenty years, the Mountain burnt four times. In the Reign of Caius Caligula forty nine years after Chriſt, the Mountain raged ſo, that the Emperor at that time in Sicily was ſo affrighted, that he betook himſelf to ſafer ſtations; yet they relate, that the Emperor Adrian out of the greatneſs of his mind did aſcend the Mountain very far, to conſider more nearly ſuch great Miracles; In ſeveral Ages after, it made woful irruptions, as from the year 1160. to 1169. all Sicily was ſhaken with huge Earthquakes, and the Mountain Aetna foaming mightily, overthrew all the circumjacent places with incredible Deſolation, with the ruin of the Cathedral Church of Catania about ten miles diſtant, in which Abbot John and his Monks were overwhelmed; Many other fearful burnings have happened ſince time, but none more horrible for its mighty devaſtations than that in the year 1669. The Earl of Winchelſea late Ambaſſador at Conſtantinople, in his return from thence, viſiting Catania, was an Eyewitneſs of this Prodigious Judgment, whereof he gave the following Account to King Charles the ſecond, as ſoon as he came to Naples.

May it pleaſe Your Majeſty,

In my Voyage from Malta to this place, I touched at the City of Catania in Sicily, and was there moſt kindly invited by the Biſhop to lodge in his Palace, which I accepted, that ſo I might be the better able to inform your Majeſty of that extraordinary Fire which comes from Mount Gibel, fifteen miles diſtant from that City; which for its horridneſs in the aſpect, for the vaſt quantity thereof, (for it is fifteen miles in length, and ſeven in breadth) for its monſtrous devaſtation and quick progreſs, may be termed an Inundation of Fire, a Flood of Fire, Cinders and burning Stones, burning with that Rage as to advance into the Sea ſix hundred yards, and that to a mile in breadth, which I ſaw; and that which did augment my admiration was, to ſee in the Sea this matter like ragged Rocks, burning in four fathom Water, two fathom higher than the Sea it ſelf; ſome parts liquid and moving, and throwing off, not without great violence, the ſtones about it, which like a cruſt of a vaſt bigneſs, and red hot, fell into the Sea every moment, in ſome place or other, cauſing a great and horrible noiſe, ſmoak, and hiſſing in the Sea; and thus more and more coming after it, making a firm foundation in the Sea it ſelf. I ſtayed there from nine a Clock on Saturday morning, to ſeven next morning, and this Mountain of Fire and Stones, with Cinders, had advanced into the Sea twenty yards at leaſt, in ſeveral places; in the middle of this Fire, which burn'd in the Sea, it hath formed a paſſage like to a River, with its Banks on each ſide very ſteep and craggy, and in this Channel moves the greateſt quantity of this Fire, which is the moſt liquid, with ſtones of the ſame compoſition, and Cinders all red hot, ſwimming upon the Fire of a great magnitude;

From this River of Fire (under the great Maſſe of the Stones which are generally three fathom high all over the Country, where it burns and in other places much more,) there are ſecret Conduits or Rivulets of this liquid matter, which Communicate Fire and Heat into all parts more or leſs, and melts the Stones and Cinders by fits in thoſe places where it toucheth them, over and over again; where it meets with Rocks or Houſes of the ſame matter (as many are) they melt and go away with the Fire; where they find other compoſitions they turn them to lime or aſhes, as I am informed. The compoſition of this Fire, Stones and Cinders, are Sulphur, Nitre, Quick-ſilver, Sal-Armoniac, Lead, Iron, Braſs, and all other Mettals. It moves not regularly, nor conſtantly down hill; in ſome places it hath made the Valleys Hills, and the Hills that were not high are now Valleys. When it was night I went upon two Towers in divers places, and could plainly ſee at ten miles diſtance, as we judged, the Fire to begin to run from the Mountain in a direct line, the flame to aſcend as high and as big as one of the higheſt and greateſt Steeples in Your Majeſties Kingdoms, and to throw up great Stones into the Air; I could diſcern the River of Fire to deſcend the Mountain of a terrible fiery or red colour, and ſtones of a paler Red, to ſwim thereon, and to be ſome as big as an ordinary Table. We could ſee this fire to move in ſeveral other places, and all the Country covered with Fire, aſcending with great Flames; in many places, ſmoaking like to a violent furnace of Iron melted, making a noiſe with the great pieces that fell, eſpecially thoſe which fell into the Sea. A Cavalier of Malta, who lives there, and attended me, told me, that the river was as liquid where it iſſues out of the Mountain, as water, and came out like a Torrent with great violence, and is five or ſix fathom deep, and as broad, and that no ſtones do ſink therein. I aſſure Your Majeſty, no Pen can expreſs how terrible it is, nor can all the Art and Induſtry of the World quench, or divert that which is burning in the Country. In forty days time it hath deſtroyed the habitation of twenty ſeven thouſand perſons, made two Hills of one, a thouſand paces high apiece, and one is four Miles in compaſs. Of twenty thouſand perſons which inhabited Catania, three thouſand did remain; all their Goods are carried away, the Cannons of Braſs are removed out of the Caſtle, ſome great Bells taken down, the City-Gates Walled up next the Fire, and preparation made all to abandon the City.

That night which I lay there, it rained Aſhes all over the City, and ten Miles at Sea it troubled my Eyes. This Fire in its progreſs met with a Lake of Four Miles in compaſs, and it was not only ſatisfied to fill it up, though it was four fathom deep, but hath made of it a Mountain. I ſend alſo to Your Sacred Majeſty the following Account in Print which the Biſhop gave me, as it is collected out of divers Relations from Catania.

LIV. Mount Aetna, or Monte Gibello, a Mountain ſo Renowned throughout the World for its height and greatneſs, but more for thoſe Prodigious Flames, Smoak, and Aſhes which it hath caſt out from the top of it, whilſt the other parts are continually (even in the midſt of Summer) covered with Snow, has been for many Ages obſerved once, or ſometimes oftner, in the ſpace of about fifteen years to throw up more than ordinary Flames with much Smoak and Stones, and great quantities of Aſhes; which (though terrible to the Neighbouring Towns and Villages) was yet wont, in little time to abate of its fury, and prove but ſeldom more injurious to the Country near it, than by communicating largely its aſhes, which though for the preſent it did ſomewhat incommode them, they had afterwards a conſiderable compenſation in the product of their Lands, which by this means was rendred more fruitful. But on Friday the 18th of March 1669. the Sun was obſerved before its ſet-ſetting to appear of a pale and dead colour, which (being contrary to what it ever before appeared to us) ſtruck no ſmall terror into the Inhabitants, all Objects appearing alſo of the ſame colour, with a paleneſs received from that of the Sun: The ſame night happened in this City as well as the whole Countrey hereabouts, a terrible and unuſual Earthquake, whoſe ſtrong and unequal motions joyned with horrible Roarings from Monte Gibello exceedingly frighted the the Inhabitants, but was ſo extraordinary violent in the Countrey adjacent, that the People were forced to abandon their Houſes, and to fly into the Fields to avoid the danger threatned them from the falling of their Houſes. The Village of Nicoloſi was of all others the moſt dreafully handled by this furious Earthquake, the Houſes and other Buildings being ſhaken all in pieces, and buried in their own Ruins; the poor People (who had preſerved their Lives by a timely flight, with ſuch little of their goods as their haſty fears would permit them to carry out with them) continued a Night or two in the Fields, beholding with grief and aſtoniſhment the ruin of their habitations: but obſerving that by theſe violent concuſſions, the Earth began to open in ſeveral places, and to threaten them with inevitable ruin, they fled, though with much trouble and amazement to this City. Theſe ſhakings of the Earth being ſo frequent and violent, that the the People went reeling and ſtaggering, with much difficulty ſupporting one another from falling, inſomuch as what with their want of ſleep, the pains they were forced to take in travelling, and the great terrors imprinted on them by what they had ſeen and ſuffered, they appeared at their arrival in this City as ſo many deſtracted People wholly inſenſible of what they did.

This dreadful convulſion of the Earth was immediately followed on Monday March 11. about Ten at Night by Three Terrible Eruptions, much about the ſame time, and a little diſtance one from the other.

Theſe ſaid Eruptions were obſerved to be on the ſide of Monte Gibello, about two Miles beyond the Mountain called Montpileri, from whence with a terrible noiſe it threw up its flames with much fury and violence about a hundred yards in height; its noiſe not roaring only inwards from the belly of the Mountain as before, but violently cracking like peals of Ordinance or Thunder, from the ſide of it, throwing out vaſt ſtones, ſome of them 300, pound weight, which being (as it were) ſhot through the Air, fell ſeveral miles diſtant from the place, whilſt the whole Air was filled with Smoak, burning Cinders, and Aſhes, which fell like a fiery rain upon the Countrey. In the mean time iſſued from the ſide of this Prodigious Mountain a vaſt Torrent of Melted and Burning Matter, which like an Innundation, Drowned, as in a Flood of Fire, the Countrey on this ſide of it. This Burning River ran down upon the Mountain Mentpileri. which, oppoſing its direct courſe, it divided it ſelf into two ſtreams, which encompaſſed the ſaid Mountain; one of them taking its way by La Guardia, the Convent of St. Ann and Malpaſſo: the other by the Towns of Montpileri, and Falicchi which in few hours were wholly deſtroyed and loſt, not ſo much as any ſign of them remaining, with ſeveral leſſer Villages and Farmes, and with them the famous Image of the beſſed Lady of the Annunciata; which, though highly Reverenced throughout the whole Iſland, eſteemed the wonder of Sicily and the whole World; and to which the People with much Devotion reſorted in Pilgrimage from the remoteſt parts, was alſo ſwallowed up and conſumed by this dreadful Torrent.

This Fiery and Burning Deluge immediately ſpread it ſelf to above ſix Mile in breath, ſeeming to be ſomewhat of the colour of melted and burning Glaſs; but, as it cools, becomes hard and Rocky, and every where in its paſſage leaves Hills and Pyramids of that matter behind it.

At the ſame time Monte Gibello from its top raged with dreadful Flames, which with its noiſe and Concuſſions of the Earth which ſtill continued, added not a little to the Terror of the People, who ran with Cries and Lamentations about the City and Country, expecting nothing but to be ſwallowed up or conſumed by Fire, having no other apprehenſions but of Death, and a General Conflagration. The two Torrents of Fire came forward, deſtroying all things in their way, and by Wedneſday, March 13th. had on the Weſt ſide branched it ſelf into ſeveral Streams, and over-ran Campo Rotundo, St. Pietro, and Moſtorbianco, with La Potielli, and Sr. Antonino; and on the Eaſt-part rain'd the lower part of Maſcalucia, and Le Placchi, taking its way towards this City.

On Thurſday the 14th, the Wind came Eaſtwards, on which fell abundance of Rain, which abated not the Progreſs of the Fire; which on the Eaſt-ſide had from Maſcalucia made its way to St. Giovanni di Galermo, the lower part whereof it deſtroyed; and paſſing on, ſeemed to threaten this City on one ſide, as did that on the Weſt-ſide the other. As the Fire approached, the Religious every where appeared with much Devotion, carrying in Proceſſion their Reliques, eſpecally thoſe of St. Agatha, the famous Martyr of Catania, in which they repoſed no ſmall confidence, followed by great multitudes of People, ſome of them mortifying themſelves with Whips, and other ſigns of Penance, with great Complaints and Cryes, expreſſing their dreadful expectation of the Events of thoſe Prodigious fiery Inundations.

Whilſt the People were thus buſied in their Devotions, and aſtoniſht by their Fears, News was brought to the Magiſtrates of the City, that a conſiderable number of Thiefs and Robbers had taken the opportunity of this general deſtraction, to make a Prey of the already diſtreſſed People, and that they had murdered ſeveral of them for their Goods; and that it was to be fear'd, that the City of Catania it ſelf, might run ſome danger from the great numbers of them which were about the Country, and from thence took their opportunities to get into the Town. Whereupon, Conſultation being had for the prevention of farther miſchief from them, the Commander of the Caſtle was ordered with a conſiderable number of Horſe, and a Party of Spaniards, to ſecure the Countrey and City againſt theſe Robbers; who immediately ſent out ſeveral Parties with his Provoſt-Marſhal, with Order to ſeize upon all ſuſpected Perſons, and ſuch as were not able to give a good account of themſelves: And for ſuch as were taken in the Fact Robbing, to Execute them by Martial-Law, without any farther Tryal; and accordingly cauſed three pair of Gallowes to be ſet up for their ſpeedy Execution; one before the Gate Di Aci, a ſecond in the Market-place, and a third before the Gate Della Decima, ſetting ſtrong Guards upon the Gates of the City, and cauſing all ſuſpected Houſes to be ſearched, an Account to be given in of all Lodgers, and ſuch Perſons to be ſecured as could any ways fall under a Suſpition. The poor People out of the Countrey being by this Prodigious Calamity ſtript out of all their Eſtates, and reduced to great extremity, fled moſt of them for refuge and relief to this City, with great Lamentations, moving the Charity of the Magiſtrates, who were readily inclined to give them the beſt aſſiſtance they were able; and the Citizens moved by their Complaints and Sufferings, freely open'd their Doors, filling their Houſes with as many of thoſe diſtreſſed People as they could poſſibly receive; the Biſhop and all Perſons of Quality and Eſtate, contributing largely for their ſupport, till better Order could be taken for the diſpoſing of them.

The City of Meſſina alſo, and ſeveral other Cities (informed of this extraordinary Calamity) ſent hither large Supplies of Proviſions offering their beſt aſſiſtance to this place, in caſe of extremity. All the Elements ſeemed at this time to make War upon us, and to conſpire together for the puniſhment of the Inhabitants; The Air was continually darkned with Clouds and Smoak, agitated by great and violent Winds, and oftentimes ſhowred down great Rains, inſomuch as the Sun from the beginning of theſe Eruptions, very ſeldom appeared to us, and when it did, (with extraordinary paleneſs,) for a little time only and (as it were abhorring ſo dreadful a Spectacle) ſoon hid its face again under a thick Cloud.

The Sea ran much higher than it was wont to do, and by its extraordinary Roaring, and in ſome places overflowing its Banks, added not a little to our Conſternation. The Land every where infeſted with Thieves, inſomuch, that till by the extraordinary care taken by the Magiſtrates and Officers, ſevere execution was done upon ſuch as were apprehended in the Fact, no perſon was able to ſtir abroad without danger of his Life; whilſt the Fire by this prodigious overflowing of the Mountain, threatned to take poſſeſſion of all.

On Friday the 15th. the ſtream of fiery Matter which deſtroyed the lower part of St. Giovanni di Galermo divided it ſelf into two parts, one of its branches taking its way toward Moſterbianco, the other threatning the City of Catania, but this laſt was obſerved to move with more ſlowneſs than before, having in 24 hours time ſcarcely gained 20 paces.

On the 18th. being Monday, the Torrents being ſtill ſeen to draw nearer and nearer to this City, the Senate with Monſegnior Cambuchi the Biſhop of this place, followed by all the Clergy Secular and Regular, and an infinite number of People went in a ſolemn Proceſſion out of this City to Monte de St. Sofia, carrying out with greateſt Devotion their choiceſt Relicks, and upon an Altar erected in view of the Mountain, expoſed them, where they celebrated Maſs and uſed the Exorciſmes accuſtomed upon ſuch extraordinary occaſions, all which time, the Mountain ceaſed not as before with exceſſive roaring to throw up its Smoak and Flames with extraordinary violence, and and abundance of great ſtones; which were carried through the Air, ſome of them falling within their view, though at ten miles diſtance from the Eruption; the Aſhes which proceeded from thence were ſcattered in great abundance, as well on this City as on the Country adjacent, every where in the Fields with Cinders, and the heat of the ſaid Aſhes deſtroying the Graſs, which obliged the People to drive away their Cattel to a farther diſtance, which would otherwiſe have periſhed for want of food.

Theſe ſtreams of ruin daily crept nearer and nearer to this City, but by uneven and irregular motions, according as it was more or leſs ſupplyed from its fountain; but on We dneſday the twentieth we perceived that that branch of it which ſeemed moſt to threaten this City from St. Giovanni di Galermo was wholly extinguiſht, and the other which bent its courſe toward Moſterbianco ran but ſlowly, and gave us ſome hopes that its fury was alſo near ſpent, but the other Torrent which had before overflown Moſterbianco, continued its motion with as much violence as ever, being in breath above a Muſquet ſhot over; but in probability could not eaſily overflow to the Weſtward which was defended by its Rocky ſcituation; another branch which ran by Santo Pietro was obſerved to be much larger than the reſt, and its ſtream more quick and active, but meeting with ſome oppoſition in its way, it made ſome ſtop, only ſending out a Rivulet toward the Eaſtwards about three or four yards wide, of its moſt ſubtle or active matter, which directed its courſe towards a ſmall Village about a Furlong diſtant from its main ſtream; another Branch threatned Campo Rotundo, but bent its courſe Weſtwards towards the Farm of Valcorrente, where its Fiery body was ſcattered into ſeveral deep and rocky places, without any conſiderable damage.

About this time we had hopes that the violence of this Eruption had been over, the Mountain not throwing out its flames with that violence as before, and its noiſe and roaring in a great meaſure ceaſed.

Thoſe who at neareſt diſtance took a view of the Mountain, informed that the top of it, was fallen in, and the Mountain ſuppoſed to want near a Mile of its former heighth; that the largeſt of the Mouths from whence theſe fiery ſtreams were vented, was about half a mile in compaſs; but the view of this dreadful Inundation carried ſo much terror in it as they were not able to expreſs; from all theſe Mouths were vomited Rivers of a thick and fiery ſubſtance of ſtone and metals melted, whoſe depth was various according to the ſeveral places it filled in its paſſage, in ſome places four, in others eight, twelve or fifteen yards and upwards; its breadth in ſome places ſix miles, in others much more; its flame like that of Brimſtone, and its motion like that of Quickſilver; advancing ordinarily very ſlowly, unleſs where it was provoked by the addition of a freſh Torrent or ſome conſiderable deſcent. Whereſoever it paſſed, it left large heaps of its congealed matter, with which it covered and burnt the Earth, melting the Walls of Ciſtles and Houſes, throwing down and conſuming all before it, nothing being yet found able to reſiſt its force, nor any thing able to quench its burning, water being obſerved rather to add to its fury; whereſoever it has paſſed, it has left its dreadful marks behind it, levelling ſome hills and raiſing others, ſo much changing the ſcituation, that not the leaſt trace of any Place or Town remains, nothing being to be ſeen but confuſed heaps of ragged ſtone, which yielding a noiſome fume, ſtrikes terror and aſtoniſhment into all that behold it.

On Friday the 22. the Mountain again roared with much loudneſs, and threw up from its Mouth a vaſt quantity of matter, which formed two large hills higher and larger than that of Menpileri, with a large bank of the ſame matter to the Eaſtward, ſending down a violent ſtream of its liquid matter towards Malpaſſo, much enlarging the former Current, and paſſing thence to Campo Rotundo and Santo Pietro compleated the ruines of thoſe Towns, driving furiouſly towards Moſterbianco; the other ſtream by Santo Giovanni de Galermo being wholly diverted and extinguiſht. From this time till the 25th, the Mountain continued ſilent, but then it burſt out again with more force than ever before, its noiſe much louder, like Peales of Ordnance, and ſo forcible and laſting, as for twenty four hours it cauſed a ſhaking and trembling in our Buildings, the Air ſo filled with Smoak and Aſhes, as darkned the Face of the Sky. The Birds and Fowl about this time, either through want of Food, or illneſs of Air, which was corrupted with the noiſome ſmells ariſing from theſe Burnings, were obſerved to lye dead in all places.

On the 28th. the Grand Current was advanced near the City as far as the old Capuchins, which ſtruck ſo great a Terror into the People, that moſt of them left the City, only ſome Officers remaining with ſuch perſons as were under their command, who have ſecured and ſent away the Magazine, and all the Artillery from the Caſtle.

LV. A Latter Relation from Catania, of April 27. gives this further Account, The dreadful Inundation from Monte Gibello having deſtroyed many Caſtles and Towns, with an infinite loſs, and utter ruin to the Inhabitants, arrived lately with a renewed Force at Moſtor-bianco, which it has wholly ruin'd, from thence paſſing on to Albanelli, in four days ſpace deſtroyed all the Gardens and Vineyards with ſixty three thouſand Vines. On Wedneſday April 16. With an Impetuous Fiery Torrent it came towards Sardanello, where all the remainder of the Inhabitants of this City were Spectators of it, which reſembled a River of melted and burning Braſs, about ten Ells wide, running with ſwiftneſs to the Arch of Marcus Marcellus, a famous Piece of Antiquity, and paſſing under it, ruin'd about ſix Ells of it, which was the breadth of the Current in that place: from thence it ran to Madonni di Monſerrato, which it wholly deſtroyed: then falling down to Madonna delle Gratie, it entred in at one Gate, and paſſed through another, without any conſiderable hurt, and running through the Gate Della Decima, filled all the Plain Di Schiara Viva, where it was above ſix Ells deep. Then taking its way towards the Bulwark, on the Seaſide, under the Caſtle of this City, it ran by, two Ells deep into the Sea; in which, (to the great wonder of all that ſaw it) it has made its Progreſs a mile in length, and as much in breadth, and is drawing towards the Gate of the Channel, which gives us great Apprehenſions, leaſt it may that way Invade the City it ſelf: Nor is there leſs danger on the ſide Del Tindaro, where there runs a great Torrent of the ſame Active matter, which draws near, and ſeems to threaten the Walls, and is in that place about a mild in breadth, having overflowed and deſtroyed all the Gardens, from the Gate Della Decima, as far as Madonni delli Amellati.

The names of the moſt conſiderable Towns and places ruined and deſtroyed by the dreadful Earthquakes and Irruptions were, The Town of Nicoloſi, wholly ruined; Badara and Tre Caſtagne the greateſt part deſtroyed; The Towns of La Guardia, Malpaſſo, Campo Rotundo, Potielli, St. Antonino. St. Pietro, Maſterbianco, Montpileri, La Anunciata, Falicchi, Placchi, all wholly overflowed conſumed, and loſt in this fiery Inundation with all the Lands belonging to them, no foot-ſteps of them remaining; The Towns of Maſculucia, and St. Giovanni de Galermo ruined in part; The large Gardens and Vineyards of Albanelli overflown and deſtroyed: The famous piece of Antiquity of Marcus Marcellus, much ruined; Madonna de Monferrato deſtroyed, beſides many Caſtles, Farms, and other Places, which have run the ſame Fortune, whoſe names we for brevity paſs over.

LVI. Weſt of the Iſle of Sicily in the Tuſcan Sea, within ſight of Meſſina, and one hundred and fifty miles diſtant from Mount Aetna are the Aeolian Iſlands, ſo called from Aeolus King thereof, who firſt taught the uſe of the Sail, and by obſerving the Fire and Smoak which aſcended from theſe Iſlands, (for heretofore they all flamed) was from thence fabled to be the God of the Winds; Theſe were anciently ſeven, but are now eleven Iſlands, of which Liparis is the greateſt, being ten miles in circuit, the Fire went out here about an Age ago, So that at this day Strombolo only burns, (though another called Vulcaeno ſmoaks continually) It was formerly called Strongile, but by corruption Strombolo from the roundneſs thereof, for it ſeems like an high round Mountain in the Sea, out of the top whereof iſſueth continually a flame like a burning Beacon, and exceeding clear, ſo that by night eſpecially it is to be diſcerned a wonderful way, A place ſo full of horror to the neighbouring Iſlanders, that the more ignorant Papiſts are made to believe it is the very Jaws of Hell it ſelf; The aforenamed Kircher made Obſervation of this Mountain likewiſe, which he thus relates; That on a certain day viewing Strombolo very curiouſly, about threeſcore miles diſtant, he obſerved it to be more than ordinarily furious, for it appeared wholly overwhelmed with Fire in ſo great plenty, that it ſeemed to belch out flaming Mountains, a moſt horrendous Spectacle; And then, ſaith he, I heard a ſtrange kind of dull murmur from the Mountain ſo far off, which ſeemed to come towards us under the Earth, till it reached the ſubterrancous place where we ſtood, and there uttered ſuch horrible Thundrings within the Earth, with ſuch formidable Earthquakes, that none of them were able to ſtand on their Feet; After the violence was over, getting up again with unſpeakable Conſternation, they beheld the deſtruction and lamentable ſubverſion of the famous Town of St Euphemia three miles off, which happened at that inſtant, the City being wholly ſwallowed up, for ſeeking for the Town, they found inſtead thereof, what is wonderful to be related, nothing but a dark ſtinking Lake ſprung up in its place, they could find no men nor Inhabitants; Thence paſſing on their Journey, they found nothing elſe for Two Hundred miles, but the Carcaſes of Cities, horrid ruins of Caſtles, Men ſtragling up and down in the open Fields, and through horror and famine pining and withering away.

LVII. In April 1669. The Mountain Veſuvius aforementioned caſt up more Smoak and Aſhes than formerly, and for ſeveral Nights the neighbouring places were much affrighted with the great Flames which iſſued from it, accompanied with unuſual noiſes; At the ſame time they write, That the Vice-Roy of Sicily having compaſſion upon the miſerable condition of above thirty thouſand poor People, who by their Flight had ſaved themſelves from the Fire of Mount Aetna aforementioned, which had deſtroyed ſeventeen or eighteen Towns or Villages, and by the daily approaches to the City of Catania, ſeemed to threaten it with inevitable ruine, ſo that the Inhabitans were leaving the place; And that he thereupon ſent one of his Officers to take order for the maintenance of thoſe diſtreſſed Creatures, and diſpoſing of them into places of ſafety. June 20. this year at Jnſpurg in Germany, a little after Noon, there was a very violent Tempeſt with extraordinary Hail, Rain, Thunder and Lightning, accompanied with an Earthquake, which had ſuch terrible Effects at Schnatz a Town about three miles diſtant from Jnſpurg, where the Emperor of Germany had ſome Silver Mines, that the River which runs through it overflowing, drowned all the adjacent Fields, driving down, and deſtroying above thirty Houſes, endamaging many more, and drowning above two hundred People.

LVIII. In 1682. Aug. 25. The Mountain Veſuvius did caſt out Fire accompanied with a moſt terrible and hideous noiſe, which from an hour after Sunſet on Saturday, till three a Clock next morning was ſo great, that it cauſed a kind of Earthquake, the houſes in that City being plainly obſerved to ſhake; The Mountain likewiſe caſt out Aſhes in great abundance, which were diſperſed many miles by the Wind, and the Sunday, all the Streets of Naples were covered with them, as if it had been a deep Snow. Theſe Prodigies very much terrified the People, and Publick Prayers were made for appeaſing the Wrath of Heaven; It is added, That many great Coals of Fire fell alſo, the dread whereof wrought ſo much upon the Inhabitants, that they removed to other Cities; That the terrible Earthquakes have thrown down near three thouſand Buildings all about the foot of the Mountain, and it roared ſo loud as to be heard forty miles diſtance in a ſtill night. The ſame year an Earthquake happened in France and Switzerland, which affected all the Cities and places for many hundred miles about.

LIX. In 1685. a very wonderful Prodigy happened in France, which though it may not ſeem ſo properly inſerted among theſe Relations of Earthquakes, yet the ſtrangeneſs and reality thereof, may excuſe the account I ſhall give of it; and not being generally known may be the more acceptable. It is notorious to all Chriſtendom that the French King, after a multitude of Infractions of his moſt ſolemn Edicts, Oaths and Proteſtations for ſecuring to the Proteſtants of his Kingdom the free exerciſe of their Religion, began about the year 1684. openly and without the leaſt provocation, to uſe all manner of Cruelties toward them, to oblige them if poſſible to renounce their Faith and Profeſſion, declaring, That he would no longer ſuffer any Proteſtants in his Kingdom, but that they muſt reſolve either to change their Religion or elſe to ſuffer the utmoſt Torments that could be inflicted upon them. In proſecution of this inhumane reſolution, Dragoons were imploy'd, firſt to ſeize the Goods of thoſe that continued conſtant in their Religion, after which they proceeded to further cruelties, hanging ſome Men and Women up by the Hair of the Head or the Feet within their own Chimneys, ſmoaking them with Wiſps of Wet Straw; Others they threw into the Fire, and pluckt them thence half roaſted; They tied them on the Rack, and poured Wine down their Throats till the ſame had deprived them of their reaſon, and then made them ſay, They would be Catholicks. They ſtript them ſtark naked and Larded them all over with Pins from Head to Foot. They kept them from ſleeping ſeven or eight days and nights together. They tied Parents to Bed-poſts and raviſhed their Daughters before their Eyes. They pluckt off the Nails from the Hands and Toes of others, with moſt intolerable pains, and after theſe and a thouſand other indignities, if they ſtill refuſed to abjure the Truth, they threw them into cloſe, dark, and ſtinking Dungeons, exerciſing upon them all manner of Barbarities. Their Miniſters were baniſhed, their Churches demoliſhed, their Houſes pluckt down their Wives and Children ſeized and put into Monaſteries, and ſeveral ſuffered moſt cruel Deaths.

Among the baniſhed Miniſters was the famous Monſieur Jurieu, who retiring into Holland, writ ſeveral Paſtoral Letters to the Poor Perſecuted Proteſtants in France for the ſtrengthening and confirming them in the True Faith of Chriſt, and for reducing thoſe who through fear of trouble and danger had ſeemingly reconciled themſelves to the Romiſh Church, and were afterward termed New Converts. In one of theſe Letters Monſieur Jurieu gives a very ſurprizing Relation of Songs and Voices which were heard in the Air, the year 1685. of which I ſhall give an account in his own words.

The Hiſtorians of all Ages have been of opinion that the great Revolutions which have happened in the Societies of men have been preceded by the extraordinary Events, ſuch as Earthquakes, Signs in Heaven, and Prodigies on Earth, of which I could give an infinite number of matters of Fact, very well atteſted, which have been Preſages of Events little leſs conſiderable than thoſe at preſent in the World; and though it ſeems to me that Earthquakes have their Natural Cauſes, and ſo have Famines Peſtilences and Wars; nevertheleſs Jeſus Chriſt puts theſe among thoſe things which are to preſage his coming; Not that I believe all Ecclipſes and all Earthqukes are Preſages, but there are ſuch circumſtances of time and place and concomitant ſigns in ſome, that no man I think without raſhneſs can deny but the providence of God doth diſpenſe them to ſtrike the minds of Men with aſtoniſhment, and make them attentive to his Judgments; and among other times this year 1685 has been as abundant in Prodigies as any for a long while; wherein we have heard of nothing but extraordinary Storms, Fires falling from Heaven, others coming out of the Earth, of Signs in the Air, and Inſects of unknown ſhaps which have been believed to have fallen from Heaven; And particularly the Singing of Pſalms and Voices in the Air.

It is near a year ſince we firſt heard any Speech concerning it, and they told us that theſe Singings had been heard in Bearns, the firſt Province whether the Dragoons were ſent. Behold our Witneſſes, every one will judge of what worth they are Monſieure Magendy Paſtor of the Church of Orthez having been queſtioned concerning this Affair has interrogated divers Perſons, according as it appears by his Cirtificate.

I do declare that Moſieure Bazin a younger Brother, and an Inhabitant of Orthez in Bearne hath told me, that walking with ſome of his Friends after mid-day near the City of Orthez, he heard voices which Sung Pſalms; and as he imagined that it might be ſome Women that waſht Linnen, he ran to demand of them whither it was they that Sung; they told him no, and that they themſelves had for a long time heard the ſame Singing of Pſalms. This happened ſome Months before the Interdiction of our Church. The ſaid Monſieur Bazin is a very honeſt man, very judicious, and of integrity; I add that Mademoiſſelle de Caſenaue of Orthez ſaid to Perſons worthy of credit, That being not able to believe that which was ſaid concerning this Singing of Pſalms, a Woman ſayd to her, That if She had the curioſity to hear them Sing, She would call on her at her own Houſe at a time convenient, which ſhe did; for this Woman being at a eleven at night in the uttermoſt part of the City, with multitudes of other Perſons, to hear theſe voices which Sung in the Air the Praiſes of God; having heard this ſinging of Pſalms, She ran to Mademoiſelle Caſenaue, who immediately gets out of her Bed, cauſes one of her Neighbours to riſe; and they ran to that quarter of the City which was far removed from her Houſe, where they found multitudes of Perſons who were raviſhed with that pleaſant melody which they heard in the Air; they themſelves return'd to their Houſes with this great conſolation to have heard thoſe Pſalms Sung in the Air which they could no more Sing in their Church, which had been interdicted for ſome months paſt: They added, That they ſeemed to hear them Sing after the ſame manner which they uſed to Sing in their Church, and after the Singing ceaſed, there was a Voice which ſpake but after a manner inarticulate and confuſed, ſo that they could not diſtinguiſh what was ſaid. This Gentlewoman is very well worthy of credit. Moreover I atteſt that an infinite number of Perſons of Orthez do ſay, that they heard the Singing of Pſalms, which they call the Singing of Angels; and that they exhorted each other in the day to be preſent in the night in certain places of the City to ſatisfie this Holy Curioſity, which was the reaſon that the Magiſtrates of Orthez publiſhed an Ordinance, whereby they forbad all Perſons from going out of their Houſes, or aſſembling themſelves by night to hear theſe Voices; which filled this poor afflicted People with joy, and extraordinary conſolation. This is that which has heen told me concerning this Singing of Pſalms, to which I find no difficulty to give a full conſent becauſe the Perſons that have reported it are of great ſincerity.

Given at Amſterdam November 23. 1686. Signed Magendie, heretofore Miniſter of Orthez in Bearne.

Monſieure Garſin another Miniſter of the ſaid Church of Orthez, declares what follows.

I whoſe Name is hereunder written, heretofore Paſtor of the Reformed Church of Orthez in in Bearne, Do certifie to all thoſe whom it may concern, that my Brother-in-Law De Roux a Lawyer told me that between the hours of Eleven and Twelve at night, being on the backſide of his Houſe in the City of Orthez; he heard the Singing of Pſalms above him, and then a little after he heard the ſame Singing come from a place at a greater diſtance; After which he was fully convinced of the truth of this Singing of Pſalms ſo much diſcourſt of all the World over: Moreover he thought ſometimes during the whole night when his Gout hindred him from ſleeping, that he he heard the ſame Singing after a manner leſs diſtinct and unintelligible. I am informed by Monſieur Clarier a Lawyer of the ſame City of Orthez, that the Curate of the place and a certain Prieſt called Duſan, and Monſieur Lichigarai another Lawyer, as alſo a Brother of the Curate called Monſieure De la Roque ſent to ſearch out a certain Popiſh Damoſel to know of her if it were true that ſhe had ſaid, that ſhe had heard this Singing of Pſalms, and that ſhe told them, Yea. And having demanded of her how ſhe knew it was the Singing of Pſalms, ſhe replyed, That ſhe had heard the ſame Singing in the Church of thoſe of the Reformed Religion; And being askt how ſhe came to hear Singing there, anſwered, She had been once there at Baptiſm: But that going to a certain Fountain ſhe had often heard this Singing as ſhe paſſed by the Church at the hours of Preaching and Prayer. After this Monſieur Clarier told me, that the Curate and others ſtrictly forbad her to ſay any more that ſhe had heard the ſaid Singing of Pſalms.

Given at Amſterdam, Septemb. 23. 1689. Signed Garſin Miniſter.

One Peter Mauperg of the ſaid City of Orthez Signed the following Certificate.

I whoſe Name is underwritten certifie to all whom it may concern that in the year 1685. about the Months of Auguſt or September, I heard in the Air the Singing of Pſalms, with different Voices and very melodious; and this at two ſeveral times; The firſt time before the Houſe of Poye, where I was lying upon a Bank half aſleep, I was awakened by this Singing of Pſalms, which continued almoſt half an hour. Afterward I went into the Houſe of Monſieur de Poye a Merchant-Draper, with whom I wrought in that Imployment; Having told this to Mademoiſelle du Poye and her Daughters, they were much offended at me, that I had not given them notice of it at the time I heard the ſame Singing: The ſecond time I and many others about an hour after midnight, having gone on purpoſe to a place moſt high and raiſed in the City named the Poſterle, I heard many Voices in the Air, ſometimes on one ſide and ſometimes on the other: Withdrawing my ſelf a little I found Mademoiſelle des Pagnon an eminent Merchants Wife accompanied with many other Women of the Neighbourhood; I asked them from whence they came; They told me from the bank of the River Le Gaur, which paſſes by this City near the New Mill. I asked if they had heard the Singing of Pſalms, they replyed yea, and that it ſeemed to come from the place called Poſterle. I told them I came frome thence, and had heard thoſe Voices in the Air which ſeemed to me to go from one ſide of the New Mill, and we all agreed that they were in the Air, and that they never had heard voices ſo pleaſant and charming. My Father who had changed his Religion about two years before, accompanied with a Papiſt called Marſhal Mareſque, inquired of thoſe Women the truth of it, they replied yes, and I heard it too ſaid my Father, the Marſhal added, That he had never heard better ſinging, Let men ſay what they will, for my part, ſaid he, I am perſuaded that it is a true ſinging of Pſalms. They heard it in another place called De Part, near to Orthez. I alſo add that I heard a Prohibition publiſhed to all ſorts of Perſons, at the ſound of a Trumpet by the Crier of the City called Mouleres, forbidding any to go out at night to hear the finging of Pſalms, under the penalty of Impriſonment, In witneſs whereof I have Signed the preſent Certificate, as it was deſired of me.

Given Nov. 22. 1686. Signed Peter Mauperg of Orthez in Bearne aged 23 years.

One Monſieur Bergerit hath declared under his Signet this which follows.

About the Month of September laſt 1685. being in my Mothers Houſe, ſhe told me that the Evening before they had heard ſinging of Pſalms in the Air. I believed nothing thereof, but went away to Bed becauſe I was weary, this was about eight at night; about half an hour after, ſome of the Neighbours came to inquire whether I was ſo great a Fool to ſing Pſalms, conſidering the ſtrict Prohibition againſt it, and at the ſame inſtant my Mother came to tell me that Pſalms were ſung in the Air. I awaking heard this ſinging, and thought it had been in the Garden belong to the Houſe, I aroſe and went into the ſtreet Moncade at Orthez, where all the Neighbourhood were come together, and we heard the ſinging of Pſalms repeated two or three ſeveral times.

Signed Bergerit. 1686.

John de la Bordette hath declared under his Signet that which follows.

About September laſt 1685. being in my own houſe at Orthez, and having heard that Pſalms were ſung, I went into the ſtreet about eight in the Evening, and heard in the Air Voices which formed a Vocal Muſick perfectly like the ſinging of Pſalms, but was not able to diſtinguiſh what Pſalm it was, and many Perſons of the Neighbourhood were Witneſſes of the ſame; Another time about ten as Night, I, with ſeveral other Perſons heard the ſame ſinging among the Vines.

Signed John de la Bordette.

Madamoiſelle Deformalagues hath declared under Signet in theſe words.

I underwritten do declare in the preſence of God, that being at Orthez in Bearn the place of my Habitation. I heard clearly at three ſeveral times in October 1685. this which follows. On a Friday in that month, about eight or nine at night, being in my Chamber, ſome Neighbours called me with earneſtneſs ſaying that I muſt haſten to hear the Angels ſinging Pſalms. I haſtily went out of the houſe, and going to the ſtreet St. Gill I there found a great number of People who had ran from all parts to hear this Heavenly Muſick; And at that inſtant my Ears were entertained with a melody ſo raviſhing that I never heard any thing like it. I could very well diſcern it to be in the Air and Tune of our Pſalms, which were ſung admirably well, I heard many Perſons ſay they could plainly and diſtinctly hear the firſt verſe of the 42 Pſalm,

Like as the Hart doth breath and bray The Well Springs to obtain, So doth my Soul deſire alway With thee Lord to remain, &c.

There were others that confirmed the ſame, and aſſured us moreover, that they had heard the whole Pſalm ſung.

Leſs grief it is to be exil'd From mine own Houſe than thine. Oh! how I wiſh t'approach the place Where all thy Glories ſhine. This makes my ſorrow to increaſe, And Tears become my Food, To hear my Foes reproach my Faith And ſay, Where's now thy God? Paſt joys renew my grief, to think How to thine Houſe we came In Troops to Feaſt and Praiſes ſing In Conſort to thy name, &c.

I conſeſs I only heard a charming Muſick which repreſented a great number of Voices that agreed exceeding well, but I could not diſtinguiſh the words. There was one that raiſed his Voice above the reſt, and made himſelf obſerved when the reſt had done. After I had a long while heard this Melody with raviſhment, I perceived that theſe Voices drew off, and abated by little and little till they were inſenſibly loſt in the Air. The ſame Evening returning to my own Houſe, and diſcourſing at the Gate with many of my Neighbours of the marvellous things we had heard, on a ſudden the ſame Voices again ſaluted our Ears, and filled us with new delight for a quarter of an hour, and then withdrew as before. The Tueſday following in the Evening being with one of my Relations at the Door of my own Houſe, we both heard a great number of Voices in the Air, which reſou ••… 〈…〉 , and made themſelves heard with the greateſt clearneſs; Upon which I ran haſtily to a Popiſh Phyſitian who lodged in my Houſe, and was that year one of the Magiſtrates of Orthez, to invite him to hear this Divine Melody, who following me, pretended to hear nothing, though the night being calm and ſerene the ſinging ſounded clearly. A while after the Voices reinforced themſelves, whereupon I preſſed him to tell me whether he heard them, It is true, ſaid he aloud, I hear very lovely ſinging, I think I hear the voice of ſuch and ſuch a one, naming ſeveral Perſons in Orthez that ſung very well; I replied, Monſieur if men hold their peace the very Stones will ſpeak; But he as if troubled at the confeſſion he had made, complains, Alas I obſerve here a crafty Wile of the Devil, he cauſes theſe Voices to be heard in the Air to keep the World in Error, and hinder this poor People from Converting and Imbracing the Catholick Faith. I asked him, whether he had ever heard the Devil ſung the Praiſes of God; he ſmiled, and retired haſtily to his lodgings; Nevertheleſs we bleſs God for his great goodneſs towards us in admoniſhing us of our duty by theſe heavenly voices, who melodiouſly ſung thoſe Holy Hymns that we were wont to ſound forth in our Church, which was then laid waſt and deſtroy'd. I proteſt before God that theſe things are ſo as I have reported them, and I am very glad to make known theſe truths for the edification of all thoſe that fear the Lord,

In Teſtimony whereof I ſubſcribe my ſelf at Amſterdam, Sept. 4. 1686. V. Deformalagnes.

I ſhall next inſert the Memorial of Monſieur de Braſſalay, a Gentleman of Honour, and acknowledged ſuch by all that know him. Some days before the Interdiction of the Churches of Bearn, there were many Perſons that heard the ſinging of Pſalms in the City of Orthez. The firſt that heard it was Lichagaray Brunier a Lawyer, revolted ſome years ſince, the moſt malignant of the Perſecutors, and who continually ſtir'd up troubles to thoſe of the reformed Religion. He roſe from his Bed to tell the Curate that there was an Aſſembly of People who ſung Pſalms without the City. He alſo went to a Serjeant named Gowlan to conduct him to the place where he thought to ſurprize them, but this Popiſh Serjeant having laid his Ear to the Window, ſaid there was nothing to be done, for he plainly perceived the ſinging was in the Air. Afterward it was often heard for above a month by divers Perſons, both by night and day, Among others M. Canneille an Elder of the Church of Orthez proteſted to me that ſitting reading on the Rivers Bank about a mile from the City, he heard a great ſinging of Pſalms on that ſide the Church ſtands, which is in the midſt of the City, and not at all doubting but it was an ordinary Aſſembly met together to Evening Prayers, which was then very numerous becauſe of the hazardous conjuncture, and conſiſted at the leaſt of two or three thouſand Souls, he haſtned thither, and heard a great ſinging of Pſalms all along till he was entered into the City, but finding the Doors ſhut, the Neighbours told him that it was not yet the hour of Prayer. It is to no purpoſe to alledge that they ſung in ſome Cavern or Cave, for there is nothing but Houſes, Vineyards, Meadow and Fields thereabout, and the ſtrict prohibition againſt the Proteſtants ſinging of Pſalms, under very ſevere penalties, makes it highly improbable. Moreover this Elder told me that he never heard more lofty ſinging in the Church. 〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉 This Monſieur Braſſalay declared as a moſt certain truth in the preſence of many honeſt men.

After the Church of Orthez was razed to the Ground this ſinging ceaſed till about October following, and then was again heard by moſt of that City, and by many that came out of the Countrey to Market and ſtaid till night on purpoſe. It ordinarily happened about the ſame hour, between eight and nine at night, ſome heard the words others the Tune of the Pſalm, and there is ſcarce a Houſe in Orthez of which ſome of the Family hath not heard it. Monſieur Brunier aforementioned went one night with two or three others to the uſually place without the City, and they all three heard the ſinging for a long time over their heads the Tune of the 138 Pſalm, whereof they could hear diſtinctly theſe words.

Toward thy Holy Temple I Will look and worſhip thee, And praiſed with my thankful voice Thy Holy name ſhall be. Even for thy loving kindneſs ſake, And for thy Truth withal, For thou thy Name haſt by thy Word Advanced over all.

Dr. Faur a Phyſitian and Magiſtrate of the City another Papiſt, heard it divers times, but their malice made them ſay they were Sorcerers and Devils. A young Damſel of Moncade heard this ſinging being in her Bed; She aroſe and cauſed above 50 perſons to go out, who having heard it, fell on their Knees, and wept through the joy they conceived to hear ſuch incomparable melody in the Air, which continued above half an hour. The place of this ſinging was raiſed above the City, even as a very high Mountain, and the People heard this ſinging over their heads, as if it had been in the Clouds. I have heard an honeſt man make this Relation, who poured out tears when he ſpake of it. The ſame thing I heard from other places. To conclude it is impoſſible to doubt of a truth which the far greateſt part of the Inhabitants of Orthez are able to certify. And to which the Parliament of Bearn have alſo given their Teſtimony by a Decree which forbids men to go hear theſe Pſalms, or to ſay they have heard it on the forfeiture of 500 Crowns, and the Conſuls of Orthez publiſhed theſe Ordinances in their City.

The ſame thing hath happened in Cevennes. As this Countrey is full of Mountains where there are Eccho's which multiply and return the voice, and as Night Aſſemblies have continually been made there, where they ſing Pſalms with aloud voice, therefore the relations of ſingings may ſeem the more doubtful. But the Affair of Orthez which is a Countrey cloſe and without Mountains being well proved, I ſee no reaſon (ſaith Monſieur Juvieu) to queſtion that of Cevennes, and ſhall therefore without ſcruple produce the Certificates which come from that Country.

The firſt runs thus.

I Certifie that one of my Siſters wrote to me on Feb. 8. laſt, from a place called Collet in Cevennes where ſhe then was, in theſe words. My dear Brother, you would be informed touching the ſinging of Pſalms, which men have told you they hear in this Country, there is nothing more true. Monſieur the late Baron of Cedorve heard it two or three hours in the Night with his whole Family. I my ſelf, and almoſt all the World in this Country have heard this Voice, but we have not been able to diſcern whether they were Pſalms or no, It ſeems to us that it is a complaint, and even now at the hour I write to you I hear and am ſenſible of it.

La Roquette Miniſter of Manoblet in Cevennes. Given at Lauſanna March 30. 1686.

The ſecond Ceatificate.

I atteſt that Monſieur of the Dark Valley, a Gentleman of Cevennes, living near Sir John de Gardonengue writ to me Sept. 17. 1685. this which follows. We ſee ſtrange things in all the places of the Cevennes, we hear ſinging of Pſalms in the Night as if it were in the Church. Wedneſday laſt I was lying alone in my Chamber, and about midnight I heard upon the Roof a voice very ſhrill which awoke me, and afterwards five or ſix other voices that aſſiſted it, and they ſung five or ſix verſes of the fifth Pſalm.

O Lord unto my words give ear, My Meditation weigh, My King, my God, my crying hear For unto thee I pray. Thou wilt deſtroy them that are proud To utter Tales and Lies, God will abhor the Bloody one And ſuch as fraud deviſe. But to thy Houſe I will draw near In thine abundant Grace, And Worſhip in thy holy fear Toward thy holy place. Lord lead me in thy Righteouſneſs▪ Becauſe of all my Foes, And thy ſtrait paths, leaſt I tranſgreſs Before my face diſcloſe. For in their mouth no truth appears, Their Heart with miſchief throngs, Their Throats are open Sepulchres, They flatter with their Tongues. Deſtroy them Lord, deſtroy them all, Let them be overthrown And into juſt deſtruction fall By Counſels of their own. And let them be caſt out and queld For their exceſſive ſin, For they have wickedly rebell'd Againſt the Lord therein. But let O Lord all thoſe rejoyce That put their Truſt in thee, Let them with ſhouts lift up their voice And ever joyful be. Let them likewiſe that love thy name, Which is their confidence, Be ever joyful in the ſame Since thou art their defence. For to the Righteous man no doubt Thou wilt thy bleſſing yield, And ever compaſs him about With favour as a ſhield.

All thoſe of the Houſe heard it many times. The ſaid Monſieur of the Dark Valley confirmed me in this belief by a ſecond Letter Jan. 27. 1686. that this ſinging doth continue conſtantly. The ſaid Monſieur adds, Now the beating of a Drum is heard, as if Souldiers were marching, and this is heard at mid-day in many places.

Signed Barjune Miniſter of St. Marſelle in Cevennes, now fled to Lauſanna in Switzerland.

The third Certificate.

Toward the end of September laſt being with Monſieur d'Eſperies a Gentleman of merit, who is of Vigan in Cevennes, and we flying to the Caſtle of a Gentleman of our friends, named M. de Montualian, we heard in the Air a conſiderable number of Drums. Five or ſix days after being with the ſame Gentleman at Ablataz in Cevennes, whither my Family was Fled for refuge; we heard in the Air a Holy Harmony, Singing the Holy 'Praiſes of God. This I certifie to be true, forasmuch as I heard it.

Signed Saligne de Marnis in Cevennes.

The fourth Certificate is the Extracts of two Letters written to Lanſunna to Mademoiſelle Louiſe des Vignoles, by her Couſin M. Jane des Vignoles. Dated Jan. 3. 1686. How happy are you my dear Couſin that you can Pray and Sing the Praiſes of God in Publick, when in the mean time ſo many good Souls have their Souls ſtopped, and dare not diſcover what paſſes in their mind; But as to the Buſineſs of Singing the Praiſes of God, it is neceſſary that I ſpeake to you of the Miracle which makes ſo much noiſe in this Countrey, which is that ſince the entire loſs of our Churches and our Paſtors, there has been heard in the Air Voices and Sounds of Inſtruments very melodious, and that which is moſt extraordinary is, that many Perſons diſtinguiſh the Tunes of the Pſalms; and I can aſſure you of the truth thereof, ſince I my ſelf have diſtinguiſhed more than thirty; It has been told me that my Brother (M. de Mont Vaillant) diſtinguiſhes them all perfectly well. Can you imagine that we hear theſe Voices Night and Day, and that we can ſo much as doubt that they are Troops of Angels which God ſends to us for our conſolation, to aſſure us that he hath not utterly forſaken us, and that our deliverance is at hand; God grant that we may make profit by theſe things. I had forgotten to tell you that the noiſe of a Drum is here heard ſo clearly that no Body can doubt thereof, no more then about the Singing of Pſalms; for there are ſo many Perſons of good underſtandings convinced thereof, that we ought to give up our ſelves to the power of Truth. I do avow that the thing paſſes all imagination, but be aſſured that all care imaginable has been taken to prevent deluſion.

To conclude, ſaith my Author, how ought we diſtreſſed Proteſtants to give thanks to God that he approves our Worſhip by a ſign ſo conſiderable? Let not our Enemies tell us that all this is nothing but deluſion, for all Illuſions come from the Father of Lies, and who hath the Praiſes of God in in horror and deteſtation; In ſhort, behold this Event as a happy Preſageope, God will not ſuffer our Voices nor our. Songs to die: The Angels have taken them up, and will ſhortly reſtore them that we our ſelves made ſound them forth in the Air: The time of our deliverance is at hand, and the Spirit of Life will return, when the Spirit of Repentance and Piety is re-entred into our Souls.

LX. In 1687. Octob. 20. The London Gazett gives a ſad Relation of another Earthquake in the Kingdom of Peru in America, whereby the City of Lima was totally overthrown, and not one Houſe left ſtanding, burying many of the Inhabitants units ruins; At the ſame time Callao, Fanette, Piſco, Chancay, Los Florillos, &c. Moſt of them Seaport Towns were deſtroyed by an Inundation of the Sea, which carried ſeveral Ships above nine Miles into the Countrey; and great numbers of People and Cattel were drowned, there being found when the water fell, at one place near the Seaſide above five thouſand People, dead, and every dry more were found; ſo that no account could be given of their number.

LXI. In 1688. A dreadful Earthquake happened at Naples in Italy, which was attended with the rage and roarings of Mount Veſuvius; of which the London Gazett gives likewiſe the followinwing Account in a Letter from that City; Dated June 8, On Saturday June, 5. about the twenty ſecond hour happened here a terrible Earthquake, though it laſted not long, which frightning the Inhabitants out of their Houſes with the terror of an inevitable deſtruction, they betook themſelves to the Plazza's and open publick places of the City. The old College of the Jeſuits was ruin'd by it, alſo the great Chappel of their New Colledge, together with three other Chappels adjoining, Three of the Fathers were killed there, beſides manneſs hers whoſe numbers are not yet known: The Front of another great Church of the Jeſuits opened in many cracks, and the great Tower or Steeple ſeemed ready to fall. In the Theatins Convent of the Holy Apoſtles, a whole Dormitory fell down, beſides other conſiderable damage they received: And the magnificent Arch erected before the Church of St. Paul, belonging to the ſaid Fathers fell, together with thoſe great and ancient Columns that formerly made part of the Temple Caſtor and Pollux; there there remaining only four of them ſtanding, and thoſe in a tottering condition; Out of theſe ruins there have been already dug 19. Perſons that were dead, and there was reaſon to fear that the miſchief might have been much greater, it being ſo near to a publick Market where there were great throngs of People. The Walls of the great Church of St. Dominick opened in many places; and great part of the Refectory fell down, as alſo part of adjoyning Palace, where many were killed; ſeveral other Churches of Auguſtins, &c. were ruined; and in ſhort there is ſcarce a Palace or Houſe that has not received ſome conſiderable damage. This occaſioned very devout Proceſſions of Perſons of all Ranks. The next day was another great Shock which threw down many of the Houſes that were before the moſt weakned; and Yeſterday there was another perceived, but without much damage; but this day we have felt nothing of it; However the Proceſſions continue in great numbers, and the Perſons of Quality are all retired from hence. In the Neighbourhood of Ʋdico, a City ſixteen Miles diſtant from hence, a mountain opened, and a Courier from Benevento a City belonging to the Pope, brings an Account that it was all ruined, and that of Six thouſand Inhabitants there were but few left alive; The Arch-biſhops Palace there was thrown down, and the Arch-biſhop himſelf drawn out of the ruins, being hurt in his Head and Arm. And there are Accounts of the like damages in ſeveral other places.

In a Letter from Rome June 12. 1688. There was this further Account; We have had nothing conſiderable to entertain us here this Week but the ſad Relations of the terrible Earthquakes at Naples, and ſeveral places about it. It happened at Naples on Sunday laſt about 21. hours and a half (which at the ſame inſtant was perceived by a great many here) On Sunday too it returned. Several Churches, Palaces, and Houſes are ruin'd, among the reſt the famous Church of the Jeſuits, reckoned the fineſt in Italy, is all tumbled down, except the Walls and the High Altar. The particular number of thoſe killed and buried in the ruins is not known. The laſt Letters ſay, many of the Inhabitants ſie abroad under Tents, in Couches, &c. and continually Prayers, Proceſſions, publick Penances, &c. are performed; and every one runs about crying Miſerecordia, Mercy, Mercy, Mercy; Three Ships were Sunk in the Harbour, and the Water in the Wells roſe many handfuls. Benevento is almoſt totally ruined and of ten thouſand Inhabitants, they ſay there remains ſcarce ſix hundred alive. Cardinal Ʋrſini their Arch-biſhop was taken out of the Ruins alive, but hurt. Several other Places and Seats are quite ruined and moſt of the Inhabitants ſwallowed up. This City and the Countrey hereabout juſt felt the Shock but received no harm. The damage is ſaid to be above fifty Millions.

LXII. In the ſame year and Month, 1688. The London Gazett gave an Account of a dreadful Earthquake and Fire at Smyrna; In a Letter from an Engliſh Gentleman at Conſtantinople, Dated July 8. 1688. As followeth. On June thirty 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 that City; It reached all the adjacent Parts, and Motelone and Scio, where it did ſome ſmall harm: and at the ſame time that day it was felt here, though the force of it being ſpent by the diſtance, it was not generally taken notice of. About four hours after the Earthquake, a Fire broke out in the Frank-Street from an Houſe called the Genoveſe-Houſe, which by the ſtrength of the Wind, and in that Conſternation, having no oppoſition ſoon conſumed the Frank-Street and all the Town, except the Skirts and the Houſes on the ſide of the Hill, which ſtand ſcattering and not contiguous. The moſt moderate computation of People deſtroyed is 5000. Some make it double the number, of which 400. Jews, and one of the moſt famous Chaccham Rabbies of the Eaſt, Aaron Aben Haim, who as he was much reverenced by them in his life, ſo particular lamentations are made here for his Death. The Metropolite of Smyrna with ſome Papa's, went to the Church to Prayers, and were killed by its falling on them. The Patriarch alſo of Alexandria had the ſame Fate. And many poor People were buried in the ruins before they could get help. Of the French Nation, only the Conſul was killed. Of the Dutch one Merchant: And of the Engliſh three, and ſeveral others were bruiſed and hurt, but not dangerouſly. The Conſul and half of the Nation, it being Saturday, were abroad, but perceiving the Earthquake came immediately to the City, and all went aboard their Ships in Port. In the interim betwixt the ſhock of the Earthquake, and the breaking out of the Fire, great quantities of Goods were ſaved. So that the Engliſh as to their loſs in Merchandiſe have eſcaped much better than the Dutch, who had no Ships in Port. All the lower Ware-houſes in Viſerchan are ſaved, but thoſe above Stairs, either by Windows left open, or by the Fire getting in at the Clefts of the Walls ſuffered much and are moſt fallen. The Caſtle at St. Giacomo-Point is quite ſunk under ground. A Capigee Baſſa is ſent from hence to Smyrna to look after the Grand Seigniors Intereſt in taking the Eſtates of thoſe dead without Heirs, which will add affliction to affliction, but the publick neceſſities here are great. And the Lord Ambaſſador of England has ſent down an Officer, with command from the Grand Viſier to be aſſiſting perticulary to our. Nation in looking after their concerns.

LXIII. In December following ſeveral Earthquakes happened about Naples and Beneventum, but without ſuch unfortunate Accidents as attended them ſome months before. Nevertheleſs that accident being freſh in memory, it is not to be imagined in what a conſternation the People were, 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 a waken the People to give Alms. But in regard (ſaith my Author) that the People are not now to be impoſed upon as formerly, when they uſed ſuch ways to rear thoſe coſtly Foundations that are ſcattered over all Europe, they reſolved to keep what they had; not finding the Monks made better uſe of their Money than they themſelves could do.

I ſuppoſe it will not be deemed preſumption to aſſert, that theſe dreadful ſhakings of the Earth, did ſeem plainly to preſage thoſe Convulſions that happened ſoon after, and may preſignify 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.

LXIV. Diſmal was the Calamity and Judgment which befel the Inhabitants of the Iſland of Jamaica in the Weſt-Indies upon Tueſday June 7. 1692. by a dreadful Earthquake. For about eleven a Clock in the morning the Earth ſuffered a great Trepidation, which in a minutes time was increaſed to that degree that ſeveral Houſes began to rumble down, and in ſix or ſeven minutes or a quarter of an hour at the moſt, made terrible havock and devaſtation. It threw down almoſt all the Houſes, Churches, Sugar-works, Mills and Bridges through the whole Country. It tore the Rocks 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, debauched People, and was gone to a place hard by the Church where the Merchants uſe to meet, and where the Preſident of the Council was, deſigning to dine with one Captain Ruden, but his Houſe upon the firſt concuſſion ſunk firſt into the Earth and then into the Sea, with his Wife and Family and ſome others that were come to dine with him, but the Miniſter ſtaying ſome time with the Preſident, eſcaped the danger, yet ſoon after they found the ground rowling and moving under their feet; Lord Sir, ſays the Miniſter, What's this? He replied very compoſedly, being a ſober grave man, 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 quickly loſt the Preſident and made toward Morgans Fort, which being a wide open place he thought to be 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 in over the Fortifications; He then laid aſide all thoughts of eſcaping, and reſolved to make towards his own Lodgings, and there to meet death in as good a poſture as he could, and in his way was forced to run through two or three very narrow ſtreets, where the Houſes and Walls fell on each ſide of him, and ſome Bricks came rowling over his Shoes, but none hurt him. When he came to his Lodgings he found all things ſafe, not a Picture, of which there were ſeveral fair ones in his Chamber, diſplaced. He went to the Balconey to view the ſtreet in which his Houſe ſtood, and ſaw never an Houſe down there, nor the Ground ſo much as crackt. The People ſeeing him there, cryed out for him to come down and pray with them. When he came into the ſtreet every one laid hold on his Cloths and embraced him, ſo that with their fear and kindneſs he was almoſt ſtifled. He perſuaded them at laſt to kneel down and make a large ring, which they did, he pray'd with them near an hour, when being almoſt ſpent with the heat and the exerciſe, they brought him a Chair, the Earth working all the while with new motions and tremblings like the rowling of the Sea, inſomuch that when he was at Prayer he could hardly keep himſelf upon his Knees. By that time he had been about half an hour with them, aggravating their ſins and provocations, and feriouſly exhorting them to repentance, there came ſome Merchants of the place who deſired him to go aboard ſome Ship in the Harbour & refreſh himſelf having got a Boat to carry him off, ſo when he came to the Sea, he ſaw it had ſwallowed up the Wharf, with all thoſe goodly brick Houſes upon it, moſt of them as fine as thoſe in Cheapſide, and two intire Streets beyond that. He walked upon the tops of ſome houſes that lay level with the ſurface of the Water, from whence he gotfirſt into a Canoo, and then into a Long-Boat, which put him a Board a Ship called the Siam Merchant, where he found the Preſident ſafe, who was overjoyed to ſee him, they could not ſleep that night for the returns of the Earthquake, almoſt every hour, which made all the Guns in the Ship jar and rattle. The next day he went from Ship to Ship to viſit thoſe that were bruiſed and dying, and to pray with them, and likewiſe to do the laſt Office at the ſinking of ſeveral Corps that came floating from the Point. The ſhakings of the Earth ſtill continued with Thunder and Lightning and foul Weather, and the People continued ſtill as deſperately wicked as before, for that very day this terrible Earthquake happened, as ſoon as night came on, a Company of lend Rogues called Privateers fell to breaking open Warehouſes and Houſes deſerted. To rob and rifle their Neighbours whilſt the Earth trembled under them, and ſome of the Houſes fell on them in the Act, and thoſe audacious Whores that remained upon the place were as impudent as ever. He went again aſhoar to pray with the bruiſed and dying people, and to Chriſten Children, where he met too many Drunk and Swearing, he did not ſpare them, nor the Magiſtrates neither, who had ſuffered wickedneſs to grow to ſuch a height. In the laſt Sermon he preached in the Church, he plainly repreſented to them the danger of their impenitence and wickedneſs, with ſo much zeal and earneſtneſs that many now confeſſed, It was more like a Prophecy than a Sermon. He ſays he had many times before, an impulſe upon his Spirit to Preach thoſe things which he never premeditated at home, and could not, he thought, do otherwiſe. The morning of this dreadful day was very fair and clear, affording no ſuſpicion of the leaſt evil, but in the ſpace of three minutes about half an hour after eleven in the morning, Port-Royal the faireſt Town of all the Engliſh Plantations the beſt Emporium and Mart of that part of the World, exceeding in its riches, plentiful of all good things, was ſhaken and ſhattered to pieces, and ſunk into and covered for the greateſt part by the Sea. Few of the Houſes that ſtood were left whole. So that by their falling, the opening of the Earth, and the Inundation of the Waters, it is reckoned there were loſt fifteen hundred Perſons. The Sunday after, the Miniſter Preached to them in a Tent, not daring to venture among the ſhattered Houſes, the People were overjoyed to ſee him among them, and wept bitterly when he Preached to them. It was a ſad ſight to ſee all that Harbour, one of the faireſt and goodlieſt in America, covered with the dead bodies of People of all conditions, floating up and down without burial; for the great and famous Burial-place called the Palliſadoes, was deſtroyed by the Earthquake, and the Sea waſhed the Carcaſſes of thoſe that were buried out of their Graves, their Tombs being daſhed to pieces by the Earthquake, of which there were hundreds in that place. Multitudes of Rich men were utterly ruined, whilſt many that were poor, by watching opportunities and ſearching the wrack'd and ſunk Houſes, even almoſt while the Earthquake laſted, and terror and amazement was upon all the conſiderable People, have gotten great riches. From St. Anns there was news that above a thouſand Acres of Wood-land were turned 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 upon 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. Others were covered with duſt and Earth by the remaining People to avoid the ſtench Great bellowing and noiſes were heard ſometime after in the Mountains, which made them apprehenſive of an Eruption of Fire; but thanks be to God, no ill Event hath yet ſucceeded.

By a ſecond Letter from another worthy Divine and a Miniſter of the pariſh of Vere in that Iſland, ſome Leagues from Port-Royal; we have this further Relation of that tremendous Judgment, Dated June 30. 1692. On Tueſday June 7. about 11. in the morning it pleaſed the Juſt God to viſit us with a terrible Earthquake, which continued with much violence and terror for about a quarter of an hour, as moſt ſay, but in my opinion not above 6. or 7. minutes, in which time it overthrew all the Brick and Stone Buildings in the Countrey, whereof ſeveral in my own Pariſh, which now are either levelled with the ground, or ſtanding Monuments of the wrath of God, ſo ſhattered and torn that they are irreparable; while theſe were tumbling, the Earth opened in my Pariſh in multitudes of places, and though their dire Chaſms ſpewed out Water to a conſiderable height above ground, in ſuch quantities in ſome places that it made our Gullies run on a ſudden, though before exceeding dry, inſomuch that ſome were afraid of being overwhelmed at once by the River and Sea joyning together to ſwallow up the Countrey; theſe gaping mouths being no leſs than 12, 20. or more foot deep under the Earth, and above two miles up in the Countrey, eſpecially nigh the River in the pureſt mould, which had not Clay nor other conſolidating Matter beneath to oppoſe the force of the Fountains of the Deep breaking up: for where that was, we do not find any cracks of the Earth at all: And yet it pleaſed God that we in this Pariſh have eſcaped the danger much better than our Neighbour Pariſhes; for happening to content our ſelves with mean and low-built Houſes, generally of Timber and Boarded, or with Cratches ſet deep in the ground and plaiſtred, ſuch Houſes are generally ſtanding. So that we have means to aſſiſt one another, whilſt in other parts hundreds of Souls are caſt out of their dwellings, and have not a place to hide their Heads in, except in Booths and Tents which they have ſince built to ſhade themſelves from the Sun. 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 three parts ſwallowed up in the Sea, Ships and Shallops now riding at Anchor where great numbers of fine Fabricks ſtood not long ſince. Many eminent Merchants worth thouſands, have ſcarce any thing left but the blue Linnen on their backs; ſeveral are dead, either overwhelmed with their Houſes, or drowned in the Sea, which flowed in ſuddenly upon them. For while they fled from the Sea, the Earth devoured them in her gaping Jaws, or they were killed with the falling Houſes; and while they fled from the gaping Chaſms of the Earth, or the tottering buildings, the Sea met and ſwept them away. A whole Street called the Wharf, (where moſt of the noted Merchants lived, and where much of the Planters goods were landed, for convenience of Sale and Shipping; particularly Sugar and Cotten) ſunk at once from one end to the other with a general crack at the very begining of the Ear thquake, together with two Forts Guns, &c. thereon; and all that were upon or nigh it periſhed in an inſtant without warning: and ſoon after while the People were in the greateſt horror and conſternation imaginable, not knowing whither to fly for ſafety, two or three more Streets in their whole length rottered and fell, and were immediately funk, 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 Palliſadoes is under Water, even the very Palliſadoes it ſelf where their burying place was, is now no longer Earth but Sea; and the dead Corps floated from thence 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 Water, even up to their Balconies, that they are unſerviceable. The Wall at the Palliſadoes is utterly ruin'd, with the Port thereto belonging; and though Morgans Line, and Walkers Fort yet ſtand, they are ſorely ſhaken and rent, and ſo ſunk 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. I my ſelf while I am now writing, expecting when the Earth will tremble under me, though in other parts of the Countrey through Gods mercys we do not hear of any further damage ſince the firſt. The reputed number of the Dead, (for perhaps there will never be an exact Account) is reckoned about 1500 perſons, beſides Negro's, who are thought to be 6. or 700 more, a multitude of whoſe Black Corps floated many days from one ſide of the Harbour to the other, which cauſed ſuch an intollerable ſtench that the dead were like to deſtroy the Living; till at laſt ſome were ſunk, and others diſperſed by the Sea-breeze.

Imediately upon the Ceſſation of the Earthquake, your heart would abhor to hear of the Robberyes and Violences committed in an inſtant upon the place, by the vileſt and baſeſt of the People. No man could call any thing his own, for they that were ſtrongeſt and moſt wicked ſeized what and whoſe they pleaſed without regard to the Owners, Gold and Silver, Jewels, Plate or Goods was all their own if they could lay hands on them. Nothing but breaking open Houſes, ruſhing into Shops, and taking from the owners what they pleaſed even before their faces; Yea Robbing them of Money and goods in the open Street, as they were carrying them to other places for ſecurity: whilſt others in Canoes, Wherries, Shipboats, &c. were plundring Cheſts, Boxes, Scriptores, &c. of what they could find in them upon the Water: Even the very Slaves thinking it their time of Liberty, committed many barbarous Inſolencies and Robberyes, till they were ſuppreſt by the Death of ſome and puniſhment of others. And indeed our firſt fears were concerning our Blacks, thoſe irreconciliable and yet inteſtine Enemies of ours, who are no otherwiſe our Subjects than as the whip makes them, who ſeeing our ſtrongeſt Houſes demoliſht, our Army broken, and hearing of the deſtruction of our greateſt dependency the Town of Port-Royal, might in hopes of Liberty be ſtirred up to riſe in Rebellion againſt us; which is a War always the more terrible, by how much there is no quarter given in it, but they kill and ſlay all the Whites, Men, Women and Children that they can Conquer; But God be praiſed thoſe fears are now blown over. Many days did theſe Depredations laſt, eſpecially upon the Water, where the dead were Rob'd of what they had about them, ſome ſtript, others ſearched, their Pockets pick'd, their Fingers cut off for their Rings, their Gold Buttons taken out of their ſhirts, and then they were turn'd adrift again. From thence was taken all manner of ſtores that would ſwim, every one taking that for his own which he could lay his hands on, as Pork, Beef, Mackril, Saltfiſh, Coaca, Candle, Soap, Wine, Beer, Brandy, and a vaſt deal of other things, not to be thought of, or reckoned up. So that the richeſt became pooreſt, and the meaneſt of the people were inriched by the loſſes of others, to eſtimate which ſeems as difficult as to reckon the number of the People loſt, and deſtroyed.

Port-Royal in its flouriſhing condition was a famous Empory and Mart Town for the Weſt Indle's and the Archinto being ſetled there, a very large ſhare of the riches of Mexico and Peru were brought thither, and vaſt ſums of Coin and Bullion yearly tranſported for England, to the great inriching of the Jamaican Merchants and Factors, ſo that it was hard to compare what was loſt, but many think, at leaſt, the value of four hundred Thouſand Pound at Port-Royall only; Yet in the midſt of this woful Calamity, ſome People were miracolouſly preſerved from Death, being ſwallowed down into the Bowels of the Earth alive, yet ſpued up again and ſaved by the violent Eruption of Water through thoſe Gaps, Others, as themſelves affirm, (if they were then capable of knowing what was done to them,) were ſwallowed up in one place, and by the ruſhing of the Waters to and fro, by reaſon of the Agitartion of the Earth at that time; were caſt up again by another Chaſm at places far diſtant. But the general means of Preſervation was by Peoples flying as faſt as they could toward the back Sea ſide, or ſpeedily getting aboard the Ships in the Harbour, which were croudded with Men, Women and Children: Among others a Man of War, the Swallow then in Harbour was ſo damaged by the fall of the Houſes that ſhe became utterly unſerviceable, and Twelve Shallops were ſunk by the ſame means.

Likewiſe Ligania, the firſt and principal Town for Planting, and imitating if not exceeding, the ſtately Buildings of Port-Royal, is now brought to moſt terrible Deſolation, and its fine New Built and yet Unfiniſhed Church buried in the ſame ruin with the Houſes. Above which place the Coſtly Blue Mountains lift up their heads, but are now ſo rent and torn, that they are fearful to behold and ſtand like laſting marks of Divine Wrath; which hath alſo happened in other parts of the Countrey which is very Hilly in the middle, ſo that by the fall of a Mountain into the Channel of the River which ſupplies both this Town and Port-Royal, with Water, the River became dry for ſixteen hours together, to the terror of the Inhabitants, fearing the Deſertion as well as Deſolation of the place, till it afterwards Run again as formerly, and they were informed of the cauſe of the Stoppage of the Water for ſo long a time.

This, among other reaſons, was the Cauſe why the People that were ſaved at Port-Poyal were almoſt periſhed for Thirſt in their deep Extremity; their own Water-casks being either ruined or ſwam away into the Sea, and no Boats to fetch any in that Diſmal Conſternation, or otherwiſe imployed to ſave Peoples Lives, or to get Plunder. Or if any did go, there was no Water to be had; ſo that it was hard to be gotten and very dear, many paying great rates only to quench their Thirſt. And yet for all theſe Woful Diſaſters, great Numbers of People are not all Reformed of their Wickedneſs which brought them upon us, but there is the ſame Whoring and Drinking, the ſame Curſing and Swearing, if not worſe, than formerly; So that we have cauſe to fear the Judgment of Sodom may be our next puniſhment.

In the midſt of our Diſtreſs it pleaſed God to give us a Signal Victory over our Enemies the French, who happened at that time to make the Sharpeſt Attack upon us ſince the War, having Landed, as we hear, Two Hundred men on the North ſide of the Iſland, which is but weakly furniſht with men, where they intrenched themſelves, but were ſhamefully beaten out by a Vigorous Attack in the Night by a Party of about Thirty Men, who Slew Seven or Eight outright, and the reſt flying to their Boats, Thirty of them were drowned; While in the mean time our Fleet, which was ſet out on purpoſe, perſuing theirs, we took one Shallop, and made them deſperately blow up their great Ship; ſuch as were ſaved remaining our Priſoners, and others fled home to give an Account of their overthrow.

To conclude, God in his Diſpleaſure remembred Mercy, for though ſuch Numbers periſht at Port-Royal, where they were thronged together in an Iſthmus of Land; yet I cannot hear of fifty Perſons both Whites and Blacks that were loſt beſide throughout all the Iſland.

Other Letters add theſe particulars; That this terrible Earthquake came from the North, and attacked Port-Royal on the Harbour ſide, on which was the Wharf the whole length of the place, where ſtood the Kings Houſe, a Baſtion of 207. Guns, Carlile Battery of 119. Guns, and the Houſes of the greateſt Merchants; All thoſe Sunk down in a moment from three to five fathom of 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 and tops of Houſes, driven by a ſteering carreer and there periſhed. Nothing elſe was ſeen but the Dead and Dying, nothing heard but Shrieks 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 Firebals fell by day and night from Heaven, ſo that the moſt hardened Atheiſts might have conſidered that there was a God who Governed the World. In ſhort (ſays my Author) it is impoſſible for Tongue to ſpeak or Pen to write the Sorrows and Terrors of that day, of which I my ſelf, who eſcaped to a Miracle, was an Eye-witneſs.

Becauſe ſome may be deſirous to know the Names of thoſe that periſhed in this terrible Calamity, I thought fit to give an Account of them who were of moſt note (though doubtleſs great numbers were loſt of which no publick notice has been given.) Attorney General Muſgrove, Provoſt Marſhal Reeves, Captain Ruden who with his Wife and Family, with ſeveral others in it ſunk firſt into the Earth, Captain Agar, Dr. Boy, Capt. Waile, Capt. Warder and his Family; Mr. Nuſhall and his Family, Mr. Croſts Family, Mr. Alcoks Family, Capt Wiliſon and his Son, Dr. Trapham a Phiſician by hanging by hands upon the Rack of a Chimney, and one of his Children hanging about his Neck, were both miraculouſly ſaved in a Boat, but his Wife with the reſt of his Children and Family were all loſt; ſo was Mrs. Robinſon, Mrs. Gifford, Mrs. Enllers Mr. Fyrme, Mr. Brown, Mr. Stephens, Mr. Reeves and his wife, Mr. Pryer, Mr. Lambſpert. Mr. Atwell, Mrs. Radburn and her Family, Mr. Ryvers and his Family, Mrs. Eeylin and her Child, Mrs. Elizabeth Beckford, Sir Jame Coſ • ybyes Daughter, Mrs. Dowingtons Child, Capt. Cunnings Capt. Tokely, Capt. Martin, Capt. Woody, Mr. Naſh, Mr. Meares, Mr. George Philips, Mr. Norbery's Wife, Mr. Jonanathan Wood, Mrs. Corbet, Collonel Read, Collonel Reeves's Lady, Mr. Magirah, Mr. Joys Child, Mr. Diggins. Cap. Watſon, Mr. Stockton and Family, Mr. Ralph Knights Widdow and Neice, Mrs. Sweeting, Mrs. Suſanna Cdrſon, Mr. Keene, Mr. Hellinwood and Family, Mr. John Lake and Wife, Mr. John Perks Wife and Child, Mr. Hayward and Family, Mr. Dean, Mr. William Turner, Mr. Watts and Mr. Beckfords two Daughters.

LXV. In the ſame year 1692. Sept. 8. an Earthquake was felt in London, and in ſeveral parts of Eſſex, Kent, Suſſex, Hampſhire, &c. as Sheerneſs, Sandwick, Deal, Maidſtone, Poriſmouth, &c. the People leaving their houſes in many places leaſt they ſhould fall on their heads, but it laſted only a minute. 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 lye 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 fearing they would fall. It happened at London about four minutes paſt two, and was felt in moſt part of the Durch and Spaniſh Netherlands, as alſo in Germany, France, &c. The account from Holland runs thus. On Sept. 8. between two or three a Clock in the Afternoon all Holland was ſenſible of a trembling of the Earth which laſted about three minutes. The ſhog, or joiting, which it cauſed three times one after another, was not violent, for it did no damage, but it was plainly perceptible and very much alarm'd the People: At Middleburg in Zealand it continued for ſome time, and cauſed the Earth to move ſo much, that the people was forced to hold by what was next in the Street, and it was feared that the Steeple of the great Church by its motions, would have fallen, it cauſing the Bells both there and at the Hague to jahgle, and the Ships at Sea were ſenſible of it.

The Gazaet relates, that our Gracious Sovereign King Willium being encamped at Grammen 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 was then at Dinner in an old decayed 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 ſurprize was ſoon over.

An ingenious Gentleman has made obſervation that this Earthquake affected places moſt on the Seacoſts, and near great Rivers, which ſeems to favour the opinion of another learned Perſon, That Water and not Wind is the cauſe of Earthquakes, which the Ancient Philoſophers did alſo aſſert. And therefore ſaith he, the exceſſive Rains which fell that Summer, in far greater quantity than what the Earth could poſſibly receive, being ſhut up in the hollow Caverns and Bowels of the Earth, and ſtriving to get out again, may have cauſed theſe Univerſal ſhivering Fits in our European parts: and there is this Argument to corroborate this Conjecture, for that very great Earthquakes indeed, are many times attended with violent Inundations, the Rivers being ſwell'd with the Water which the Earth has let out. Another odd accident that followed this Earthquake was the effect it had upon the Spa Waters in Germany, which are ſo famour and ſo wholeſom, and are now become much more improved ſince that happened. Spa is a Burrough in the Countrey of Liege, where there are ſeveral Mineral Fountains, to which a great number of people reſort at all ſeaſons of the Year. Among all the Springs belonging to that noted Burrough, that in the middle out of which the Bottles are fill'd that are ſent over all Europe every year, is changed after a very extraordinary manner. The ſource of it is as big again as it was, and the Water which before was ſeldom clear is become extreamly Limpid, and is of that ſtrength that the Bottles if they be ſtopt immediately after they are hil'd, break all in pieces, which never happened till ſince this late Earthquake. The reſt of the Springs are alſo become much clearer and better. This will be a ſubject for thoſe to exerciſe their Pens, who make it their buſineſs to dive into the ſecrets of Nature.

This Earthquake went not beyond 52 Degrees and 40 Minutes of Northern Latitude. How far it reached South and Eaſt is not yet certainly known. It has been traced beyond, Paris to the 48 degree of North Latitude, and beyond the Rhyne on the Eaſt to Franckfort, ſo that 260 Miles ſquare were ſhaken by it. The time of its happening here, and beyond the Seat ſeem to vary ſome minutes, but that may eaſily be accounted for, by the difference of Meridians. So that the inflamed Damp; ſaith Mr. Ray, which cauſed this Earthquake was lodged ſleep in the Earth, the Caverns that contained it paſſing under the bottom of the Sea.

The ſame year, 1692. Oct. 15. about three a Clock in the Morning they felt an Earthquake at Bale and Schaffouſe in Switzerland, which was very violent as to the motion, but did no harm at all.

LXVI. I have already given an Account of divers Earthquakes and Irruptions of the dreadful Burning Mount Aetna in Sicily for many years paſt, but that which lately happened in this unfortunate Iſland is of ſo aſtoniſhing a Nature that it may be more eaſily imagined than expreſt, and which can hardly be parallel'd in any former Age; Both for the ſuddenneſs of it, and the mighry defolations it did produce? This tremendous Eauthquake (a greater than which we read not of either in Ancient or modern Hiſtory) Was upon Jan. 7. 1692, At which time about ten at night, Mount Aetna began to roar in a moſt horrible manner, which uſually preſages ſome diſmal Calamity to enſue. Its loud bellowings continued for two days. and then began to ceaſe and fall lower; and about an hour after the People of Catania. which was neareſt to the Mountain felt a trembling under them for near three Minutes, during which no noiſe was heard from Mount Aetna, ſo that it only affrighted the Inhabitants: but within a Minute after the Roaring of the Mountain was redoubled with infinite terror, and the top thereof appeared all in Flames, and the Weſt Wind carried away a great quantity of burnt Aſhes; This trembling of the 9th. was felt in the Cities of Mineo, Palaonia, Ragoſa, Licodia and moſt of the South parts of Sicily at the ſame inſtant with that of Catania. But the moſt tremendous ſhake of all happened on Jan. 11. which affected the whole Iſland in a more or leſs degree, even from Meſſina North, to Cape Coio the fartheſt Southern point of Sicily; and though it continued but Six Minutes, yet made horrible Ravage throughout the whole Countrey. Under which dimal Calamity the Ancient City of Catania, pleaſantly Seated, and full of Inhabitants of Quality, with an Univerſity, and about 24000. People, in a Minute was ſunk out of ſight, with a noiſe as loud as if thouſands of Cannons had been diſcharged at once; and ſome Moments after, to the Eaſt where the City ſtood, a little Mountain, advanced it ſelf ſeveral times a conſiderable height above the ſurface of the adjacent ground, but ſoon after became likewiſe iuviſible. The diſmal bellowing of Mount Aetna was louder both before and after, and appeared more than ever in Flames; Yet a few Minutes after Catania was ſwallowed up, there was neither Flames viſible, nor for five or ſix hours any Roarings to be heard. After which it began to rage and throw out more Black and Smoaky Flaſhes than at any time before. Theſe particulars were obſerved by ſome Fiſhermen who happened at that time to be in their Boats in the Bay to the South, and within three Miles of the City, who expected every moment to have been ſwallowed up by the wonderful Agitation of the Waves; But upon the ſinking of the imaginary Mountain aforementioned the Sea became inſtantly Calm; It is computed that not above 2000. of the Inhabitants of this City eſcaped, and thoſe of the Gentry, who by the ſhake of the 9th. inſtant, and the hideous roaring of Mount Aetna the 11th. in the morning, which is the uſual preſage of ſome diſmal Tragedy were frighted away; all the reſt of the People periſhing in this lamentable ruin. In the place where Catania ſtood ſome heaps of rubbiſh and a great Lake of Water appear at a diſtance.

Some Letters add, That juſt as the Earthquake in Catania began to be perceived, the Sea retired about two Miles from the Shoar; which put the People into ſuch a terrible fright, that every one betook himſelf to what he thought might beſt ſecure him from this dreadful Scourge of Heaven; Away they flew to the Cathedral where one of the Cannous carryed about the Reliques of St Agatha the Patroneſs of that City, but neither the Reliques nor the Prayers of the Patroneſs could prevent the impending ſtroke, for the whole City was deſtroyed in a moment after, and all the People therein.

Under the ſame diſmal Calamity fell the Ancient City of Syracuſe, ſo famous in Hiſtory that it was formerly reckoned one of the greateſt in the World; having for many Centuries been the Metropolis of a Renowned Republick, and ſtill retained ſome marks of its preſtine Grandeur, ſeated in a Rich and pleaſant Soil, with a ſtrong Caſtle, and about 16000. Inhabitants. By the Earthquake of the 9th. many principal Houſes and moſt part of the Caſtle were torn in divers places, and the next night it was again ſhaken with ſo terrible a ſtorm of Wind, that the great Bell in one of the Churches made a noiſe by the violent Motion of the Steeple. Many were killed by the Tempeſt, and the reſt fled out of the City for ſafety in the Night, and ſo eſcaped the horrible devaſtation of the 11th, wherein two thirds of the buildings were thrown down, and above 7000. People buried in the Rubbiſh; a great number were digged out of the Ruins, but ſo bruiſed that there was little hope of their Recovery. The Chief Magiſtrates and People of Condition fled for ſecurity into the great Church, but there met with Death by the fall of the Stone-Roof and Steeple at once.

Neither did Noto though built upon a very high Bock, almoſt inacceſſible on all ſides but one narrow way, and a City which formerly contended with Syracuſe for dignity, partake of a leſs diſmal fate. It has one of the largeſt and beſt Harbours in Sicily, and is the Key of the Countrey on that ſide; and though the hardneſs of the Rock whereon it ſtood ſeem'd to ſecure it, yet the trembling of the 9th did very much affect it, and on the 11th laid it in heaps in a minute, all the Inhabitants, except ſome few who fled from thence on the 9th were buried under the ruins of their own Houſes, being reckoned about 7000. a part of a Church, and very little more, remaining ſtanding in the whole Town Auguſta, a City in a Peni-inſula, on the Eaſt of Sicily, with a large proſpect to the Sea, ſafe Harbours and conſiderable Trade, was much damaged on the 9th inſtant and about 600 People kill'd by the downfal of the Houſes. The next day the ſhake was renewed, which cauſed moſt of the Gentry to fly to the Caſtle for ſecurity, but there being terrible Lightning, a Magazine of Powder took Fire and about 1100 Perſons who ſought for ſafety were ſlain there in the deſtruction of the Caſtle which was blown up in the Air, and the following day the reſt of the Town and the remaining Inhabitants by another dreadful ſhake, were utterly deſtroyed and buried in rubbiſh, ſo that of 6000 People none were left alive. Lentini the ancient Lecotium, a Town of about 3000 Families was burnt to the ground on the 11th and nothing to be ſeen but ſeveral great heaps of Earth in the beautiful Lake upon which it ſtood, the Water whereof is now become brackiſh, and of a bituminous taſt, which was before very clear. And great quantity of Fiſh are found dead on the ſhoar. Calatgirmie a Town well built of Free-ſtone, by the ſhake on the 11th had a fifth part of the buildings and two Monaſteries demoliſhed, but of 7000 People 5000 made their eſcape. Mineo was ſtriken both the 9th and 11th, of the former the Heavens were ſealene without the leaſt Cloud, but on the latter there was a terrible ſtorm of Lightning and Thounder for ſix hours together. At both times ſeveral houſes and a large Church were overthrown, and it was judged about 4000 People periſhed. The ſhake of the 11th did likewiſe greatly ſhatter the Cathedral Church of Monreal, one of the moſt famous ſtructures in the World. The Dome above the high Altar falling, •••… ied in pieces four curious Braſs Pillars, and many Images of Saints of rare workmanſhip. Part of the Archbiſhops Palace was burnt with Lightning, and ſome few of the Inhabitants were killed by the fall of Houſes. Parermo, where the Viceroy of Sicily keeps his Court, received ſome damage in its Cathedral, and another Church was ruined, which obliged the Viceroy, his Family, and the Archbiſhop to go aboard the Galleys in the Harbor, where they expected death every moment from the violent motion of the Waves, ſome part of the great Mole being ſhattered, yet not above 100 People were killed in this famous City, who lived in a Suburb built of Wood. The Town of Paſceni of about 200 Inhabitants was ſo entirely ruined, that not one houſe or perſon was ſaved. The ſpacious Valley adjoining, which was formerly full of excellent Vines being turned into a new Lake, whoſe Water is brackiſh and like Brimſtone. In Patuzolo a place of about 1000 people all were ſwallowed up. Furla another Town of about the ſame number of Souls, had the like fate, and the Rocks adjacent which formerly were white as Marble, are now black and as if burne with Fire and Gunpowder, and the Fountains of fair Water are become muddy and taſt of Brimſtone. Sciorti a bigger Town than the three laſt, was totally demoliſhed and the Inhabitants which were reckoned about 2000 ſo utterly deſtroy'd that none were left to tell the news. No more than there were at Militello, where of 6000 People no one is left to give tydings how or when its calamity happened The Countrey People who dwell in the Mountains about it affirm that for three days before they could not diſcern the Town by reaſon of a thick Fog which ſurrounded it, but that on the 11th in the morning it was no more to be ſeen. A great part of the Mountain on the North ſide is torn aſunder, and the one half overwhelmed the Town, leaving a deep Gulph betwixt that and the other part of the Mountain.

Luechela had better fortune for of 2000 near half eſcaped, having happily had warning by ſome former ſhakes, and by the Earths ſwallowing up an old Caſtle which ſtood on a riſing ground two miles from thence, in a minutes time, no ſign of its ſtation remaining, but inſtead thereof a vaſt quantity of Waters iſſued out, which in a little time made a large Lake. Upon ſight whereof half the Inhabitants of this Town fled from thence, and the reſt with all the buildings were utterly deſtroy'd. Palonia another ſmall Town received much damage by the fall of a Church one of the beautifulleſt in Sicily, which was ſhattered to pieces on the 11th, and the Dome falling cruſhed to Death 300 Perſons and the Prieſt that was ſaying Maſs, moſt of the remaining Inhabitants got into the Fields, and many other Houſes did not fall, ſo that the loſs was not ſo great as in other places. Buchino another large Village alſo, eſcaped without much ſlaughter of People, though moſt of the Houſes fell, at Seodia a Village about the ſame bigneſs 150 people were kill'd by the fall of the Church, and the buildings much ſhaken. Likewiſe a Lake about a mile thence, which was two miles about, and very deep was on the 11th wholly ſwallowed up by the opening of the Earth in the middle of it, and the Channel left dry Land, which ſtill continues. Chirramonte another Village, was utterly overthrown and 3 or 400 hundred of the Inhabitants buried in the ruins. Monteruſſo was ſhaken, but 200 people flying to the Caſtle for ſecurity were with that buried in the ground, and a Pool of faltiſh Water aroſe in the place. Vizzini a fine Town built on the ſide of a Hill of the hardeſt ſtones like marble which ſeemed to enſure it from ſuch accidents, yet felt ſome ſhakes on the 9th, which affrighted the Chief Inhabitants, ſo that they lived in Tents in the Fields, but hearing no more the next day, they returned home on the 11th in the morning and in a few hours the Town and themſelves conſiſting of about 3500 Souls, were ſwallowed up in the Earth. Modica a large Village was the only place that was utterly ruined by the ſhake of the 9th, and that ſo very ſuddenly that of about 1400 People not one was left alive. A River about two miles from thence was overwhelmed by the fall of a Mountain, but afterwards found a new paſſage underneath it, as hath likewiſe happened to divers other Rivers in Sicily, the Earth being thrown over them like a Bridge or Vault. Biſenti another Village loſt 200 Perſons and ſome few houſes were ſnaken down. A little Town called Francofome built moſt of Timber, though not much damaged by the Earthquakes, yet a dreadful ſtorm of Thunder and Lightning for three days together burnt down the ſpire of the Church Steeple, which was of Wood covered with Lead. The Nunnery of the Carmelites was almoſt ruined, ſo ſuddenly that five Nuns were ſmothered in Bed. But not above 12 or 14 Houſes more burnt.

The Town of Carlontoni was ſhaken on the 9th, and ſome Houſes and People were deſtroyed, which ſo alarmed the Biſhop and Magiſtrates that they perſuaded the Inhabitants to go into the Fields; About four a Clock next day moſt of them with the beſt things they could carry away deſerted the Town, and the Morning after the whole Town was overturned in a momens, and of 4000. People not above 800. were killed, by reaſon of their happy removal. Raguſa a renowned City for Scituation, Buildings and all other Humane Delights, had a great ſhare in this common Calamity. On Jan. 8. it had ſeveral ſhakes with a terrible ſtorm of Thunder and Lightning, but on the 11th. the Town Houſe, a ſtately Building with, two Churches and divers Houſes were deſtroyed; One of the beſt Streets in the Town, inhabited by Rich Merchants and Tradeſmen, ſunk into the Earth in a moment leaving a mighty Chaſma or Gaping in the place; One of the Churches ſunk alſo, but the other fell down, the modeſteſt Calculations reckon eight thouſand People ſlain, moſt of them of principal Quality. Within this Gap the tops of ſome Houſes are viſible, from whence proceeds a Noxious Sulphury ſmell. In Scodia only the Biſhops Palace, newly built was overturned and 24. Perſons were buried in the Rubbiſh, the Biſhop himſelf being abſent, the reſt of the Town eſcaping. Specaſurno another conſiderable Town was ſhaken the 9th, whereby the Convent of the Capuchint was deſtroyed. All the next day ſo horrible a ſtorm of Thunder and Lightning happened as is not to be expreſt or imagined, whereby the Town-Houſe a very fine ſtructure, and ſome other Buildings were ruined; which frighted a few of the Inhabitants into the Flields, but the next morning in one Minute the whole Town was laid in vaſt heaps of Rubbiſh, and the Freſh-water Lake a Mile off was made almoſt dry Land, the remaining Water being Black and Brackiſh, the Fiſh wherewith it abounded lying all dead on the Shoar; The Inhabitants that periſht were accounted at leaſt 3500. and about 300 ſaved themſelves by going away the day before. The Town of Scichilo ſuffered 20. ſhakes ſucceſſively on the 8th, each greater than the other; and on the 11th. in leſs than two Minutes was wholly brought to deſolation, and vaniſht out of ſight, a ſtinking Pool of Water ſucceeding, wherein the Cathedral of St. Stephen and part of St. Salvator Steeple appears above Water. It was judged to contain about ſix or ſeven Thouſand People of which, it is thought not one made their eſcape; An old ſtrong Caſtle at the Eaſtſide of the Town likewiſe fell, and thirty People periſht therein. At Cafamero a Village of 200. Houſes the People were ſo affrighted at the ſhake three days before ſucceſſively, that on the 11th, moſt of them fled to the Church to beg the aſiſtance of St. Katherine of Sienna in a Chappel held venerable among them, but there they met with death altogether, the Roof of Lead falling and cruſhing 200, of them in the Church, and about 20. more were killed in the Village. In Cafamero only the Timber Houſes ſuffered and about an hundred Inhabitants were deſtroyed, the reſt flying into the Fields. In the little Town of Giamontano about 400. Perſons periſhed in that Quarter of the Town next the River, the other part eſcaped. In the Tower of Livodia, all the Timber Houſes and three hundred of the Inhabitants were deſtroyed, the Cathedral was burnt down by Lightning, and likewiſe the famous Pine-Trees on an Hill near ajoyning. The large Town of Ja •• was ſo ſhaken that by the fall of Houſes and two Churches in the time of Maſs above 2000. People periſhed. The Village of La Motta famous for the Summer Houſes of the Citizens of Palermo, was wholly overthrown, a pond of water now filling up the the place and about 200 People were thought to be loſt. Laſtly M • ſſina a great and famous City for Buildings Trade and Riches, was ſo ſenſibly ſhaken on the 9th. that above half the Inhabitants abandoned it, and retired into the Fields; The reſt imployed themſelves in Prayers and Vows, and the Churches were filled with multitudes of all Ages; Fourty Eight hours Prayers were Ordered, and many Relicks were carried in Proceſſion through the Streets. On the 11th. Twenty Six Palaces, and many Timber Houſes were overturned, and the whole City ſo fearfully ſhaken that every one expected preſent Death, and the Archbiſhop and the other Prieſts having given the People Abſolution they all endeavoured to avoid the preſent peril by flying into the Fields where yet they ſuffered much by the horrible Thunder, Lightning and Rain which continued three days together, ſo that they were obliged to ſet up Tents for ſecurity; So that few were killed, but moſt of the Churches much damaged.

Neither was there ſecurity from this terrible Viſitation of God, even upon the VVater, ſeveral ſmall Ships and veſſels being caſt away all along the Coaſt by the fury of the VVaves; the Tydes being three foot higher in moſt parts than was ever known before. The damage and loſs in this terrible ſudden and ſurprizing Deſolation in Money, Goods, Houſes and Lands is unaccountable; The leaſt that has been computed amounts to the value of ſix Millions of Ducates, and an 100 years will ſcarce repair the damage: But the greateſt loſs was of People, of whom there periſht by this dreadful Judgment at leaſt an Hundred and Twenty Thouſand Souls, beſides a multitude maimed and wounded by the fall of buildings which died afterward, and may be reckoned Twenty Thouſand more.

In ſhort amore Aſtoniſhing, a more Univerſal and more Swift Deſtruction was never known; And Sicily that was one of the moſt Beautiful, Rich and Fruitful Iſlands in the World, is now an heap of Rubbiſh, and a continued Deſolation.

LXVII. I have before menrioned ſome of the Natural Cauſes of Earthquakes, and the Philoſophers of Italy are apt to aſſign the Cauſes of this aſtoniſhing Calamity to proceed from the unſeaſonable Summer preceeding, and that the many great Rains and Heats which often ſucceeded each other in Sicily the laſt year might occaſion great ſtore of vapours to enter into the Bowels of the Earth, which afterward dilating themſelves for want of room forced their way into the Air with the deſtruction of all that oppoſed them. But theſe are only the gueſſes of ſhort-ſighted Men, for the hand of Heaven ſeemed viſible in this terrible Devaſtation; And as I have before related ſome of the Preſages that uſually preceed ſuch ſweeping Judgments; ſo the Prognoſticks which uſhered in this horrible deſolation, and of which there were a Multitude of Witneſſes; may be judged intimations, and Effects of the Divine Vengeance theſe following being very remarkable; That in June the Summer before Mount Aetna's Roarings and Noiſe was extraordinary dreadful, which is always reckened the forerunner of ſome Irruption, either of the Mount it ſelf or ſome part thereabout; And May 15. preceeeding, two hours before Sunſet the Sky being Clear, the Heavens ſuddenly appeared all in Flames, without either Lightning or Thunder, which continued about a quarter of an hour; And at the ſame time two Rainbows were ſeen in the Air directly above the City pointing as uſually toward the Earth, and a third with the points upward toward Heaven, being all three extream bright; and that which occaſioned aſtoniſhment in the Spectators, and made it really Supernatural, was, that during the whole time of the appearance of the Rainbows, not the leaſt Cloud was viſible in any part of the Horizon; In July following in one of the Churches of Carania, Father Baletti a Perſon much Reverenced by the Common People, lay buried. whoſe Tomb was much adored, and daily Prayers and Offerings made at his Shrine; It happened that one merning when the Doors of the Church were opened, the Image of this Saint which was erected on his Tomb, was fallen flat on the ground. It was thought at firſt to be a common accident, but being again ſet up in its place for ſeven or eight nights together it was found conſtantly fallen on the ground, and at laſt was ſorted to be ſaid flat upon the Tomb; where it continned till the ruin of the Church and City together; The People were taught to believe. that about an hundred twenty years ſince, a Flood of Brimſtone and Fire breaking out of Mount Aetna, and approaching with great fury and the deſtruction of all in its paſſage toward the Gates of Catania, the Citizens expecting nothing but immediate Ruin from it, this Holy Man by his Prayers and Exorciſms put a ſtop thereto in the preſence of all the People, and thereby prevented the approaching deſolation. Again in February before, about Sunſet the Counntrey People about Alari a ſmall village within three Miles of Catania verily thought they ſaw that Village all in Flames which ſhewed at firſt but little, yet in a quarter of an hour all the Houſes ſeemed on a light Fire; which appearance continued about ſix minutes, and then ſeemed to decay for want of Fuel. The People that ſaw it ran with all ſpeed thither to help to quench it, and all along the Road they imagined it increaſed, but being come thither they found all but an Apparition, or rather Prognoſtick of the Calamity that ſome Months after befel the place.

LXVIII. This terrible Earthquake communicated it ſelf to the Iſland of Malta on the one ſide and to Calabria on the other. All the account we have of the Deſolations in the former, is in a Letter dated from thence Jan. 16. 1692. publiſhed by Authority. They began to perceive it on the ninth, and next day they felt five or ſix ſhakes, and on the 11th about 3 afternoon it was ſo violent and laſted ſo long that the Inhabitants believed the whole City would have been inſtantly deſtroyed, the Bells of the Metropolis of the Iſland rung, the Roof of the Church of our Lady de Pelay was thrown down, with part of that of St. Laurence. The Church and Colledge of the Jeſuits alſo ſuffered very much, but the Cathedral and the Church of la Guſmane received the greateſt damage, and are ſo ruined that they can hardly be repaired, The reſt of the Churches and moſt of the Houſes are extreamly ſhattered and deferted by the Inhabitants. The Great Maſter of the Order was then abroad a hunting, with a great number of other Perſons, who were all in danger to have been buried in the Gulph that was made in the midſt of a Rock almoſt under their feet. It is reckoned that the loſſes occaſioned by this Earthquake in the Iſle of Malta amount to two hundred thouſand Crowns. The Grand Maſter having underſtood what had happened in Sicily, and that their principal Cities from whence they had their ſuſtenance were ruined, he inſtantly diſpatcht away ſeveral Galleys laden with Corn to relieve thoſe wretched People but arriving at the Port of Syracuſe there were ſuch mighty Thunders and Lightnings that they could not enter in. They went back to Sea and ſtaid for better weather, and then made a ſecond attempt, but there aroſe ſo violent a Wind that they were forced to return for fear of being caft away.

LXIX. The Monthly Mercury gives an account that toward the end of September 1693. Another great Earthquake happened at Catania, and the Parts adjoining, but, the damage that enſued was very ſmall, Nevertheleſs it was obſerved that during the moſt violent ſhakes the top of Mount Aetna was conſiderably ſunk. The Duke of Canaſtra Vicar General who was then about Catanea, ſent certain Perſons to view the Mount, who perceived that the top was fallen in above 600 foot within the compaſs of about 2000 feet, and that all the Earth was tumbled down into the gaping Chaſm which was about ſix miles in circumference. At the ſame time all the Fountains of Taurmina and parts adjacent dried up, and the Earth opened at the foot of an Hill which is about a mile diſtant, and out of it iſſued forth five or ſix Torrents of Sulphurous Waters of different colours. Theſe new Accidents have put the trembling Inhabitants of Sicily into freſh Conſternations of ſome impending miſchief ready again to overwhelm them.

LXX. I ſhall conclude theſe Relations with ſome natural Reflections of an ingenous Author. Theſe two or three years paſt (ſaith he) have been general for Earthquakes they have been felt all over Europe, as well as in America. Some have been of opinion that the Earth was a great Animal, and that the ſhivering of ſome Ague Fit was the Cauſe of his trembling. The greateſt part of the Heathen Philoſophers accuſed the Stars of theſe diſorders. But to ſpeak one word of the Cauſes of them, I ſay there are two which are Natural, the ſubteraneal Fires and Winds are the firſt cauſe. The Bowels of the Earth are full of Mines of Coal, Sulphur and Salt Petre, and when it happens that one Stone falling upon another ſtrikes Fire by Colliſion, thoſe combuſtible matters being kindled, and the Winds blowing up the flame, they cauſe moſt terrible overturnings of the Earth, unleſs they find Outlets as in Aetna, Veſuvius, and other Mountains of the ſame Nature. The ſecond natural cauſe proceeds from the Water that is under the Earth, which undermining the Foundations that ſupport the ſubterraneal Vaults which extend themſelves for ſeveral Leagues together in divers parts, theſe Vaults deprived of their uſual ſupport overpreſſed by their own weight, ſink down, and all of a ſudden impetuouſly puſhing forward the Air and the Water encloſed in the Earth, give the upper part ſuch violent and hoiſtrous jolts as quickly overturn the weaker ſtructures of human Art, which muſt of neceſſity give way to thoſe more than Gygantick Impetuoſities, that rend and ſhatter the more ſolid frame of Nature it ſelf. And of this there is no queſtion to be made, conſidering what ſo many Authors have written of the vaſt Regions that are under the Earth, they ſay, that there is in the Iſland of Malta a Hill within the Concavities whereof inhabits a famous Plantation of People that have no other day but what they ſee through the Clefts of the Rocks, this place is called Gaar Kebir, or the Great Cavern. In the Territory of Viterbo in Tuſcany there is a large ſubterraneal Burrough called Meonia, over which there are Meadows, through which you ſhall ſee the ſmoak of that B • rrough ariſe. But all this is nothing in compariſon of what Martin Martinius relates in his Chymical Atlas. He reports that there is a Mountain in China which is full of great Concavities in ſeveral places, which are as it were bored through, and ſerve as Roads from one Province to another. That there are within this Mountain Lakes, Rivers, Fiſh, Meadows and Animals of ſeveral ſorts, and that it would require half a years time to ſurvey and deſcribe all theſe Caverns.

LXXI. To cloſe all with ſome Moral and Divine Reflections. Who doth not ſtart at the thought of ſuch tremblings of the Earth, as we have already given large accounts of? In what condition can a man be ſafe (ſaith Seneca, ſpeaking of Earthquakes) when the World it ſelf is ſhaken, and the only thing that paſſes for fixt and immoveable in the Univerſe, trembles and deceives us? Whither ſhall we fly for ſecurity if whereſoever we are the danger be ſtill under our feet? Upon the cracking of an Houſe every man takes himſelf to flight, and leaves all to ſave his life, but what retreat is there where that which ſhould ſupport fails us, when the ſoundations not only of Cities but even of the World it ſelf opens and wavers, what help or what comfort where fear it ſelf can never carry us off? An Enemy may be kept at a diſtance with a Wall, a Caſtle may put a ſtop to an Army, a Port may protect us from the fury of a Tempeſt. Fire it ſelf doth not follow him that runs away from it, a Vault may defend us againſt Thunder, and we may quit the place in a Peſtilence, there is ſome Remedy in all theſe evils. Or however, no man ever knew a whole Nation deſtroy'd by Lightning. A Plague may unpeople a Town, but it will not carry it away, there is no Evil of ſuch an extent, ſo inevitable, ſo greedy ſo publickly Calamitous as an Earthquake. For it does not only devour Houſes and ſingle Towns but ruins whole Countreys and Nations either overturning or ſwallowing them up, without ſo much as leaving any Footſtep or Mark of what they were. Some People have a greater horror for this Death than any other. To be taken away alive out of the number of the living. As if all Mortals by what means ſoever were not to come to the ſame end, death, and it is not to be regarded whether I am cruſhed to death by one Stone or by a whole Mountain. Whether I periſh by the fall of an Houſe or fall under the burthen of the whole Earth, whether I be ſwallowed up alone or with a thouſand more for Company. We ſhould therefore arm our ſelves againſt that blow, which can neither be avoided nor foreſeen. It is not the abandoning thoſe places that we find infeſted with Earthquakes which will ſecure us, for there is no Place can be warrant againſt them. What if the Earth be not moved? It is moveable, for the whole body of it lies under the ſame Law and expoſed to danger, only ſome at one time and ſome at another. As it is in great Cities where all the Houſes are ſubject to ruintho' they do not all fall together. So in the body of the Earth, now this part fails and then that. Tyre was formerly ſubject to Earthquakes. In Aſia 12 Cities were ſwallowed up in one night. Achaia and Maccdonia have had their turns, and now Compagnia. The Fate goes round and ſtrikes at laſt where it hath a great while paſſed by. It falls out: oftner, 'tis true, in ſome places than in others, but no place is totally free and exempt. And it is not only men, but Cities, Coaſts, nay the ſhores and the very Sea it ſelf that ſuffers under the dominion of Fate. And yet we are ſo vain as to promiſe our ſelves ſome kind of aſſurance in the goods of Fortune never conſidering that the very ground we ſtand upon is unſtable, and it is not the frailty of this or that Place, but the quality of every ſpot of it, for not one inch of it is ſo compacted as not to admit many cauſes of its Reſolution. And though the Earth remain entire, the parts of it may yet be broken.

Thus the three Heathen Philoſophers ſtrove to ſortifie themſelves againſt theſe calamities which they judged inevitable, not conſidering them as puniſhments of their ſins and enormities inflicted upon them by Divine Juſtice. Hear now what Chriſtians who are inſtructed in a better School ſay of them.

How aſtoniſhing (ſaith a worthy Perſon of our Nation) are the fearful Effects which Earthquakes have had produced in all Ages? as we may find them in Hiſtories and Philoſophical Diſcourſes, where you may read of Rocks torn in pieces, Mountains not caſt down only, but removed; Hills raiſed not out of Valleys only, but out of Seas; Fires breaking out of Waters; Stones and Cinders belched up; Rivers Changed; Seas Diſlodged; Earth opening, Towns Swallowed up, and many other ſuch hideous Events. Of which kind our own Memories can furniſh us with many at home, although theſe colder Climates are more rarely infeſted with ſuch frightful Accidents.

And of all the Animadverſions that Divine Juſtice gives men, there is none more horrid or leſs Evitable than this of Earthquakes; For what aſſurance can we hope for here below, if the Earth quake under our feet? where can we think to eſcape danger, if the moſt ſolid thing of all the World do ſhake? If that which ſuſtains all other things above us, threaten us with ſinking under our feet? What Sanctuary ſhall we find to defend us from an Evil that doth incompaſs us round? And whither can we withdraw, if the Gulphs which open themſelves ſhut up our paſſages on all ſides? With what horror are Men ſtruck when they hear the Earth groan? When her trembling ſucceeds her complaints, when Houſes are looſned from their Foundations, when the Roofs fall upon their heads Heads, and their Pavement ſinks under their Feet? VVhat hope is there to be had in ſo general a diſorder when fear cannot be fenced by flight? In other Caſes there is ſome outlet whereby to eſcape an Evil. An Enemy is beaten from the Bulwark he had poſſeſs'd himſelf; of Earthworks are oppoſed to the Thundring Cannon; VVinds which raiſe Tempeſt. deliver us from them, and after having a long time toſſed us to and fro, they caſt us on the Shore; Houſes ſerve us for Sanctuaries againſt the injuries of the Air and VVeather; If a Man will reſign his goods to the Fi •• he may ſave his Perſon; Thunder hurts not thoſe who hide themſelves in Caverns; VVhen the Peſtilence infects whole Cities, we may ſhun the Contagion by going into the Countrey; And if it diſpeople Towns it doth not throw down Houſes. But an Earthquake incloſes what it overthrows, and wages VVar not with ſome few Houſes only, but whole Provinces, and ſometimes leaves nothing behind it to inform poſtery of its Outrages; More Inſolent than Fire which ſpar ••… Rocks; More Gree • y than the Sea which vomits up Shi • wracks; Mnre Cruel than the Conqueror who ſpares VValls; it ſwallows and devours whaeſoever it oVerturns. The Sea is Subject to its Empire, and Marriners confeſs that thoſe Storms are moſt dangerous which are occaſioned by Earthquakes.

This misfortune is common to all Kingdoms; Since Man became Criminal, all parts of the Earth are become moveable, and ſtedfaſtneſs muſt be no longer lookt for in the VVorld, ſince Innocency is baniſhed thence by Injuſtice. This diſorder is the puniſhment of our Sin; and Reaſon a well as Faith doth ſufficiently aſſure us, that the Univerſe would never have been agitated with theſe furious Accidents during the ſtate of Original Righteouſneſs; VVherefore ſhould Gods Anger have Armed the Elements againſt his Faithful and Obedient Subjects? VVherefore ſhould he have overthrown all this works to deſtroy Innocent Men? VVhy ſhould it have overwhelmed the Inhabitants of the Earth with the ruins thereof, if they had not been ſinful? VVhy ſhould it have buried thoſe in the Bowels of the Earth who were not to dye? Let us then conclude that Earthquakes are the Effects of Sin.