MOunt-Ætna, or Monte Gibello, a Movntain so renowned throughout the world for its height and greatness, but much 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 [...]ummer) covered with Snow, has been for many Ages ob­served once, or sometimes oftner, in the space of about fifteen [...]ea [...]s, to throw up more than ordinary flames, with much [...]m [...]ak and stones, and great quantity of ashes; which (though terrible to the neighbouring Towns and Villages) was yet wont [...] little time to abate of its fury, and prove but seldom more [...]rous to the Countrey near it, than by communicating largely [...] [...]shes, which though for the present it did somewhat incom­modate them, they had afterwards a considerable compensation [...] the product of their Lands, which by this means were [...]en­dred more fruitful.

But on Friday the 18th of March, 1669. the Sun was observed before its setting to appear of a pale and dead colour, which (be­ing contrary to what it ever before appeared to us) struck no small terrour into the Inhabitannts, all objects appearing also of [Page 7]the same colour, with a palness received from that of the Sun. The same night happened in this City, as well as the whole Coun­trey here abouts, a terrible and unusual Earthquake, whose strong and unequal motions, joyned with horrible roaring from Monte Gibello, exceedingly frighted the Inhabitants, but was so extraordinary violent in the Country 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 Nacolosi was of all others the most dread­fully handled by this furious Earthquake, the Houses and other Buildings being shaken all in pieces, and buried in their own ruines; 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 ruine of their habitations. But observing that by these violent concussi­ons the earth begun to open in several places, and to threaten them with inevitable ruine, they fled, though with much trouble and amazement to this City. These shakings of the Earth being so frequent and violent, that 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 have seen and suffered, they appeared at their arrival in this Citty, as so many distracted people, wholly insen­sible of what they did.

The dreadful convulsion of the Earth was immediatly followed on Monday March 11th about ten at night, by three terrible erup­tions much about the same time, and at a little distance one from the other.

The said Eruptions was observed there on the side of Monte Gibello, about two miles beyond the Mountain, called Montpile­ri, with a terrible noise it threw its flames with much fury and violence about a hundred yards in height, its noise not roaring only inwardly from the belly of the Mountain as before, but violently cracking like peals of Ordnance or Thunder, from the side of it throwing out vast Stones, some of them three hundred [Page 8]pound weight, which being as it were shot through the air, f [...]l [...] sseveral miles distant from the place, whilst the whole air was fil­led with Smoak, burning Cinders, and Ashes which fell like a flie [...]y Rain upon the Country.

In the mean time issued from the side of this prodigious Moun­ [...] a vast torrent of melting and burning matter, which like an [...]dation drowned, as in a flood of fire, the Country on this [...] of it.

This burning River ran down upon the Mountain Monpileri, [...]ich, opposing us direct course, it divided it self into two [...]ams, which encompassed the said Mountain, one of them ta­ [...]g its way by La-Guardia, the Convent of St. Anne, and Mal­ [...]; the other by the Towns of Monpileri and Falicchi, which in [...] ho [...]rs were wholly destroyed and lost, not so much as any sign [...] [...]hem remaining, with several lesser Villages and Farms, and [...] them the famous Image of the blessed Lady of the Annuncia­ [...] which though highly reverenced throughout the whole [...]land, esteemed the wonder of Sicily and the whole world, and [...] which the people with much devotion resorted in pilgrimage [...] the remotest parts, was also swallowed and consumed by [...] dreadful Torrent.

This fiery and burning Deluge immediatly spread it self to a­ [...] six mile in breadth, seeming to be somewhat of the colour [...] [...]elted and burning Glasse, but as it cools, becomes hard [...] [...]ocky, and every where in its passage leaves, Hills and Pyra­ [...]s of that matter behind it.

At the same time monte Gibell [...] from it's top raged with dread­ [...] [...]lames, which with its noise and concusions of the Earth still [...]tinuing, added not a little to the terror of the People, who [...] with [...]es and lamentations about the City and Country, en­ [...]ting nothing but to be swallowed or consumed by [...]ire, having [...] other apprehensions but of 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 one the West side branched it self into several streams, and over-ran Cam [...] [...] ­tund [...], St. Pie [...] and M [...]torbianc [...], with La Potielli and St. Antoni­ [...]: [Page 9]And on the East-part ruine [...]d the lower pa [...]t of [...] and Le Placchi, taking its way towards this City.

On Thursday the 14th the wind came East-wards, [...] day fell abundance of Rain, which abated not the prog [...] the Fire, which on the East-side had from Mascaluc [...] made [...] way to St. Giovanni di Galermo, the lower part whereof is de­stroyed, and passing on seemed to threaten this City on the o [...]e 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, espe­cially those of St. Agatha, the famous martyr of Catania in which they reposed no small confidence, followed by great multiutdes 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 Thieves and Robbers had taken the opportunity of this general distraction to make a prey of the already distressed people, and that they had murther­ed several of them for their goods, and that it was to be feared 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 party of Spaniards to se­cure the Country and City against those Robbers, who immedi­atly sent out several parties with his Provost Marshal, with order to seize on 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 Gallows to be set up up for their speedy execution, one before the Gate, D [...] A [...], a second in the market-place, and a third before the Gate D [...]ll [...] D [...] ­cima, setting strong Guards before the Gates of the City, and [Page 10]causing all suspected houses to be searched, an account to be given [...] of all Lodgers, and such persons to be secured as could any [...] [...]all under a suspicion.

The poor people out of the Country being by this prodigious [...] stript out of all then esta [...]e, and reduced to great ex­ [...]mity, fled most of them for refuge and relief to this City, with [...] lamentation, moving the charity of the magistrate, which [...] readily inclined to give them the best assistance they were [...]; and the Citize [...]s, moved by their complaints and sufferings, [...] opened their doors, filling their houses with as many of [...] distressed people as they could possibly receive, the Bishop [...] all persons of quality and estate contributing largely for their [...]port, till better order could be taken for the disposing of [...]em.

The City of Messina also, and several other Cities informed of [...] extrao [...]dinary calamity, sent hither large supplies of provasi­ [...]s, [...]ffering their best assistance to thi [...] place in case of extremity.

All the Elements seemed at this time to make war against us, [...]d to conspire together for the punishment of the Inhabitants, the Air was c [...]ntinua [...]ly dark [...]ed with clouds and smoak agitated [...] great and violent winds, and oftentimes showred down great [...] insomuch as the Sun f [...]om the beginning of these erupti­ [...] very seldom appeared to us, and when it did (with extraor­ [...]a [...]y pa [...]e [...]e [...]) for a little time only, and (as it were abhorring [...]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 [...]traordi [...]a [...]y roaring, and in some places over-flowing its banks, [...]ded not a little to our constern [...]ion; the Land every where [...] with Thieves, insomuch, that till by the extraordinary [...] taken by the magistrates and officers several executions was [...] upon such as were apprehended in the fact, no person was [...] to [...] abroad without danger of his life, whilst the fire by [...] prodigious over-flowing of the mountain threatned to take possession of them all.

On Friday the 15th, the stream of fiery matter which destroy­ed the lower part of St. Giovanni di Ga [...]lermo, divided it self into two parts, one of its branches taking its way toward M [...]sterbianco, [Page 11]the other threatning the City of Catania, but this last was obser­ved to move with more slowness than before, having in twenty four hours time [...]carcely gained one mile.

On the 30th being monday, the to [...]en [...]s being still seen to draw nearer and nearer unto this City, the Senate & monsegu [...]r Cam [...]uchi, 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 m [...]nte di St. S [...]phia, carrying out with greatest devotion thei [...] choi [...]est Re [...]icts, and upon a [...] Altar e [...]ected in view of the mountain, exposed them, where they celebrated mass, and used the exorcismes accustomed upon such extraordina­ry o [...]ca [...]ions, all which time the mountain ceased ntr as before with excessive roaring to throw up its smoak and flame, with extraordinary violence, and abundance of great stones which we [...]e 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, aswell on this City as on the Country ad [...]acent, every where i [...] the Fields with Cinders, and the heat of the s [...]id Ashes destroyed the gra [...], which obliged the people to drive away their Cattle to a futher distance, which would otherwise have perished for wa [...]t of food.

There streams of ruine daily crept nearer and nearer to this City, but b [...] unevea and irregular motions, according as it was more or less supplied from its foundation. But on Wedne [...]day the 20th we perceived that that branch of it which seemed most to threaten this City from St. Gi [...]vanni de Gale [...]mo wa [...] wh [...]lly extinguisht, and that which bent its course towards M [...]ste [...] [...]ia [...] ran but slowly, and gave us some hopes that its fury was also near spent; but the other torrent which had before over-thrown M [...] ­ [...]terbianco continued its motion with as much violence as ever, be­ing in breadth above a musquet-shot over, but in p [...]obability [...]ould not easily over-flow to the West-wards, which was defend­ed by its rocky scituation: Another branch which [...]an by S [...] Pietro was observed to be much larger than the rest, and [...]s [...]eam more quick and active, but meeting with some [...]pp [...]on [...] its way, it made some stop, only sending out a R [...]v [...]let towards the East-ward about three of four yards wide of its mo [...] [...] [Page 12]active matter, which directed its course toward a small village about a furlong distant from its main stream; another branch threatned Campo R [...]tund [...], but bent its course Westwards to­wards the Farm of Valcorrente, where its fiery body was scattered [...]to several deep and rocky places, without any considerable da­ [...]age.

About this time we had hopes that the violence of this erupti­on had been over, the mountain not throwing out its flames [...] that violence as before, and its noise and roaring in a great [...] ceased.

Those who at nearest distance took a view of the mountain, in­ [...]med, that the top of it was falle [...] in; the mountain supposed [...] want near a mile of its former height, that the largest of the [...]ouths from whence these fiery streams were vented, was about [...] in compass, but the view of this dreadful inundation [...]ied so much terror in it as they were not able to express, from all these mouths were vomited Rivers of a thick and fiery sub­ [...]ce stone and mettals melted, whose depth was various, according to the several places it filled in its passage, in some places four, in [...]thers eight, twelve or fifteen yards and upwards, its breadth in [...]me places, [...] miles, in others much more, its flame like that of [...], and its motion like that of Quick-silver, advancing [...]dina [...]ly very slowly, unless where it was provoked by the ad­ [...]tion of a fresh torrent or some considerable descent; whereso­ever it passed it left large heaps of its congealed matter, with [...]ich it covered and burnt the earth, melting the walls of Castles and Houses, throwing down and consuming all before it, nothing [...]eing yet found able to resist its force, nor any thing able to [...]ench burning, water being observed rather to add to its fury, wheresoever it had passed, it had left its dreadful marks behind it, [...]velling some Hills and raising others, so much changing the Sci­ [...]ations, that not the least trace of any place or Town remains, nothing being to be seen but confused heaps of ragged Stones, which yielding a noisome fume, strike terror and astonishment into all that behold it.

On Friday the 22th the mountain roared with much loudness, and threw up from it's mouths a vast quantity of matter, which formed two large hills higher and larger than that of Monpilori, 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 Ruins of those Towns, [...]iving furiously towards M [...]ianco, the other stream by Santo [...]nni de [...]o being wholy diverted and extinguish't?

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 Pele [...] of Ordnance, and so forcible and lasting as for 24 hours it caused a shaking and trembling in our buildings, the Aire so filled with smoake and Ashes as darkned the face of the Skye?

The Birds and Fowle about this time, either through want of food or illness of Aire 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 neer the City as far as the old Capucins 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 magazin, and all the Artillery from the Castle.