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BEside the wonderful effectes of light∣nyng,* 1.1 that haue been already remem¦bred, there be many other whiche here∣after ensue, with the reason and causes vnto them belonging, as thus.
The nature of lyghtning is,* 1.2 to poy∣son beastes that are stryken therewith, as though they had béen bytten by a ser¦pent. The cause of this is, that the mat∣ter of lightnyng, is muche infected with
brymstone, and other poysonous metal∣like substances, whiche will poyson the rather in lightening, because it is thinn & geueth thē passage into euery part of the body. It is notable, that Seneca wri∣teth, howe wyne vessels of wood beinge burned with lightning,* 1.3 the wyne wold stande styll, and not runne out, the rea∣son hereof, is the swyfte alteration and chaunge, wherby also, all the clammy∣nes of the wyne, is drawen to the out∣ward moste part, and so kéepeth in the wyne, as in a skynne, that by the space of thrée dayes, it wyll not ronne. It wyl also poyson wyne, in so muche that they whiche drynke thereof, shall eyther be madde or dye of it. The cause hereof was set foorth before.
Lightning that striketh a poysenous beaste purgeth it from the poyson,* 1.4 in so muche that it causeth a serpent or snake whiche it kylleth, to breade wormes, whiche otherwyse it would not doe, but beyng purged from the naturall poyson by the swyfte percyng of the lightning: nothyng letteth, but that it may breade wormes,* 1.5 as all other corrupte fleshe wyll doe.
If lyghtning strike one that slepeth, it openeth his eyes, and of one that wa∣keth, it shytteth the eyes.* 1.6 The cause is this, that it waketh hym that sléepeth, and kylleth hym before he can close his eyes agayne. And hym that waketh, it so amaseth, that he wynketh, as he wyll doe at any sodayne chaunse, so he dyeth before he can open his eies agayne.
All lyuynge thynges, turne their face towarde the stroke of the lyghte∣nyng,* 1.7 because it is their nature, to turne their head if any thīg com sodēly behind them. The reste that haue theyr face to∣ward it, when it commeth, neuer turne before they be kylled.
The reason why it kylleth the child in the mothers wombe, not hurtynge the mother, is the tendernes of the one, and the strengthe of the other, when the lightenyng is not vehement, other∣wyse both should dye together.
Sometyme lyghtening burneth on∣ly the garmentes,* 1.8 shoes, or heare of mē, not hurtynge theyr bodyes, and then the Exhalation is nothyng vehement. Some time it kylleth a man & there apereth no
wounde without, neyther anye hurte within, no not so muche as any signe of burnyng: for then the Exhalation whiche being kindled is called lyghtning is wō¦derfull subtill and thinne, so swiftly pas∣sing through that it leaueth no marke or token behinde it.
They that beholde the lightening, are either made blynd, or their face swel¦leth, or els become lepers,* 1.9 for that fyery Exhalation, receiued into the pores of their face and eyes, maketh their face to swel, and breake out into a leprosie, and also drieth vp the Christalline humor of their eyes, so that consequētly they must néedes be blynde.
Eutropius sheweth,* 1.10 that the same day in whiche Marcus Tullius Cicero,* 1.11 was borne, a certeine virgine of Rome ryding into Apulia,* 1.12 was striken with lighte∣ning, so that all her garmentes beinge taken from her without any rendinge, she laye starke naked, the lasing of her brest being vndone, & her hose garters vntied: yea, her bracelettes collers and rynges, being also loosed from her. Ly∣kewyse her horse laye dead with his bri∣dle and girtes vntied.
The places of them that are burnt with lightning are colder then the reste of their bodies,* 1.13 other because the grea∣ter heat draweth away the lesser, or els because, that by the great violence the vitall heate is quyghte extinguished in that place.
The sea Calfe is neuer hurt with lyghtening,* 1.14 wherfore the Emperoures tentes, were wonte to be couered with their skinnes.
The Baye trees, and boxe trees, are neuer or seldom strykē with lyghtning.* 1.15 The cause of these may be, the hardnes of their skinne, which hath so fewe pore holes, that the Exhalation can not enter into them.
The eagle also among fowles is not stryken with lightening, wherfore the Poetes fayne, that the Eagle carieth Iupi∣ters armur,* 1.16 whiche is lightnyng. The reason may be the thicknes and drienes of her fethers, whiche wyll not be kin∣dled with so swift a fyre.
The mar∣ueiles of lightning
Light poy¦soneth.
Senecae. Wyne not ronning the vessels being bro∣ken.
Lightnīg purgeth a poysonous beast.
A snake breadeth no worms.
Lightnīg openeth his eyes that slepeth & closeth his that wa∣keth.
Lyuinge thinges turn their face towa¦rde lyght∣ning.
Garments burnt the body vn∣hurt.
Lightning causeth blindnes swelling or leprosy
Eutropi∣us.
M. Tulli∣us Cicero.
Apulia.
The woū∣des of ligh¦tning cold
Sea calfe not hurt with ligh¦tening.
Bayes & boxe sel∣dom hurt with ligh∣tning.
The Ea∣gle Iupi∣ters har∣nes bearer