The French academie Fully discoursed and finished in foure bookes. 1. Institution of manners and callings of all estates. 2. Concerning the soule and body of man. 3. A notable description of the whole world, &c. 4. Christian philosophie, instructing the true and onely meanes to eternall life. This fourth part neuer before published in English. All written by the first author, Peter de la Primaudaye, Esquire, Lord of Barre, Chauncellour, and Steward of the French Kings house.

Of earth-quakes. Chapter 56.

ACHITOB.

FOrasmuch as the earth is not only heauy by nature, but euen the heauiest of all elements, and is heaped vp and compacted together in the midst of the great vniuersall world, as the point and center thereof, it therefore followeth that it is immooueable, and without any naturall motion. For if it had any, as the other elements haue, it is certaine, that it must bee downewards. But because that God hath placed the earth in the midst of all his workes, towards which all heauy things tende and descend; it cannot descend lower then it is by the nature thereof. And therefore because it is solide and thicke, and not liquide and fluent as the water and the aire, it cannot glide as they doe, nor remooue out of one place into another, if it bee not by some violence else∣where mooued and made to stirre, and tremble somewhere, as it hath happened through diuers and maruellous earthquakes, of which histories and the holy scripture it selfe doe giue euidence. Wee must note then, that there are diuers sorts of motions, by which the earth is so shaken, that it lifteth and casteth some parts, sometimes vpwards, sometimes downewards. And it is long of such motions and tremblings, that there haue such masses * 1.1 and heapes beene cast out of it, that great isles haue beene newely made, ar Geo∣graphers doe witnesse, namely the isle of Rhodes, and of Selos. It sometimes also happe∣neth, that the motions of the earth bee such, that it openeth like a great gulph, wherein to some parts thereof are cleane swallowed vp and deuoured, together with the countries, and twones scituate therein; so that there hath beene no marke left of them, no more then as if they had neuer beene. And it hath often hapned in such cases, that some mountaines haue fallen one against another, because the earth, which was betwixt them hath suncke, and beene swallowed cleane vp. And then one might say, that the prouerbe is not euer true, which saith, that two mountaines neuer meete. That is yet another kinde of motion, wher∣in the earth mooueth and shaketh, sometimes one way, sometimes another way, and tot∣tereth like a ship that floateth on the water. VVhich kinde of trembling is most dangerous as also when all the motion runneth one way. Then is there yet another motion, which philosophers properly call (trembling) to wit, when two motions are opposite one to ano∣ther. And this is least daungerous of all: although indeede they bee all very fearefull, yet the feare is much greater, when the tremblings continue with horrible and fearefull sounds like the bellowing of buls, and as if the earth and all nature quaked and groaned, beeing sore pressed and forced, as is oftentimes seene.

Now for the causes of all these kindes of earthquakes, I may well say, that there is no point in all naturall philosophie, wherein the professors of this science finde themselues * 1.2 more intricately intangled, nor wherein they more differ in opinions then in this. For the Chaldeans and Astronomers referre the causes of motions and earthquakes, to the hea∣uen, to starres, and to the planets, and many philosophers assigne it to the water: And yet those which are of this opinion differ amongst themselues. For some suppose that the earth floateth vpon the water like a ship because it is enuironed with water, according to the na∣turall order of the disposition of the elements: whereby it is diuersly mooued. Others do attribute the cause of earth quakes to those waters onely which are inclosed within the vaines and caues of the earth. Some also to the fire: and some to the windes shut vp within it: and some to the heate chased by the cold, which striueth against it, and causeth it to search an issue out. For as the water vndermineth the earth, and those places through which it doth passe: euen so may the fire doe: and if either of them be so enclosed, that they cannot finde an easie issue, they striue then to doe it by force and violence. So doe the windes, and the heate chased by the cold. So then, if the earth by vndermined, it is no maruell if the vpper part sinke and fall downe, being swallowed vp, as into a gulphe, consi∣dering that the earth, because of the heauinesse thereof, tendeth alwaies downeward towards the center thereof, which is the midst of it, and of all the world. And if the wa∣ters, or the fire or the windes inclosed and shut vp in the earth, or the contrary qualities, which contend one with another, cannot finde a passage or issue, their power is so great,

that they constraine the earth, which resisteth them, and by forcing it, make it to cleaue and open, and to remooue, and to shake in those places, wherein it is forced: Concerning all which things one may make a neere coniecture, by the force and violence which is seen * 1.3 in ordinance and artillerie. For euery one beholdeth what force there is by meanes of fire and of the matter inclosed within, to wit, powder, and of the contrarie qualities where∣of it is compounded, and of the winde that therein is ingendred, not onely to driue out with maruellous violence all the charge that therein is, but also many times to burst the peece it-selfe, if there bee any resistance to hinder it that it discharge not quickely, or if it be not well made, and very strong, and well proportioned to the charge. Wee behold also, what a winde there issueth out, and what noise it maketh, and how the noise makes the earth to sound and tremble: and oftentimes it happeneth, that this onely winde kil∣leth those that stand neere the cannons mouth, such is the violence thereof, although they bee not touched at all with the bullet, that it shooteth. But wee beholde more cleerely in mines, which are made vnder ground, the violence of this powder, when it is therein inclosed with the fire, which is set thereto by traines. For there is neither towne nor castle, be they neuer so well founded, nor any fortresse, which is not onely sha∣ken, but ouerturned also, like as by an horrible earth-quake. Wherein wee may note, how that it hath not bin sufficient for men, to counterfeit thunders, and lightnings in ar∣tillerie, but they haue also inuented the meanes to represent the motions and shakings of * 1.4 the earth: in such manner as we haue signified. There are some philosophers also, who haue taught, that the same reason is in earthquakes, as there is in the shaking of mens bodies: and that they are like feuers and maladies of the earth, which come vnto it through diuers causes, saue that they bold not all the body thereof, as they doe in men, but onely some parts of it. For they argue that the water is in the earth, as the blood, which hath his course through the veines of mans body; and the winde is as the vitall spirits, which passe through the arteries thereof. And as there happen diuers stoppings in the bodie, which hinder the blood, and vitall spirits, that they cannot keepe their right course and ordinarie passage, whereupon their order is troubled, and the body pained, in such sort that groanes ensue, and difficultie of breathing, shakings, and such like acci∣dents: So is it with the body of the earth, when any thing happens to it contrarie to the naturall disposition thereof, by the meanes which wee haue already heard, whether by water, by fire, by winde and such like. Whereto we will adde also this opinion of those, who attribute the cause of such motions and tremblings, either to the drinesse of the earth which is the occasion, that it cleaueth and chappeth, and by this meanes giues open way to the aire and to the windes, which penetrate thereinto; or else because of the older age thereof, to which they esteeme all creatures subiect: whereupon it happeneth to it, as to old buildings, which beeing ruinous and almost rotten, doe fall downe in some places of themselues.

These are the diuers opinions of men vpon this matter: wherein if we desire to take a very short & sure way to attaine to the true cause, we must referre it to the wrath and iudge¦ments * 1.5 of God, because that what causes soeuer the learned can inuent, the Eternall sheweth himselfe very powerfull, and to bee feared therein, considering that he hath disposed all of them, and that they all depend vpon him alone. And surely this is a worke of the omni∣potent worthie to bee woondred at, and which may well cause men to mooue and trem∣ble before his maiestie. For it hee shewe him selfe terrible and fearefull by deluges of water, by haile, thunder, lightning, stormes and tempests, he doth no lesse by the motions and sha∣kings of the earth, which are in regarde therof, as thunders are in the aire. For seeing that the earth is as the foot of the world, and that it is assigned to men for their habitation, whither is it that they may haue recourse, if it quake vnder them, and faile to sustaine them? Whi∣ther shall they retire, if shee will allow them no more dwelling in her: but will spue them * 1.6 out as the scripture saith? For if it be hard for them to flie before fire, and before water, and to finde harbour against windes, thunders, and tempests; whither shall they flie, if the earth will not receiue, nor beare them? And what dread may inuade them, when some∣times it quaketh in sort that it openeth, and is swallowed vp, as into a bottomlesse pitte; as * 1.7 it came to passe, when it swallowed Corah, Dathan, and Abiram, and their families? Who will not be astonished when it riseth vp, ouerturning all, euen the highest mountaines, and hardest rocks, and mooueth it selfe in such sort, that it maketh houses and buildings dance like tammes and sheepe, that would one butte at another, wherewith many are vtterly de∣stroied:

as it happened in the yeare 1531. in the Realme of Portugall, which was so * 1.8 shaken by an earth-quake, that at Lisbone the chiefe citie thereof, there were ouerthrown almost twelue hundred houses, besides a great number of others which were greatly spoi∣led. This horrible earth quake continued the space of eight daies, and gaue very furious as∣saults fiue or sixe times a day. And in the time of the Emperour Tiberius, twelue cities in A∣sia were quite ruinated in one night by an earth-quake. And Iosephus recordeth that by ano∣ther * 1.9 thirtie thousand Iewes died. So Iustine recounteth, that by another earth quake many cities were destroyed, and an hundred and seuentie thousand persons perished in the raigne of Tigranes in Armenia. What causes then soeuer there may be in nature of so many terri∣ble euents; yet we must alwaies haue recourse to the Author and Gouernour thereof, with∣out whom it can performe nothing: and he it is, that bringeth earth quakes out of his trea∣sures, * 1.10 as hee doth the winds; either by his commandement without a meanes; or by his mi∣nisters ordayned thereto; or else by some power infused into things, the which may accor∣ding to his good pleasure display it selfe in effect, to denounce his iudgements on men. For hee it is of whome the prophet speaketh. [The earth trembled and shaked, and the foun∣dations * 1.11 of the mountaines were mooued and quaked, and the foundations of heauen were bowed and trembled, because he was angrie.] Wherefore we may very well conclude, that as God declareth his magnificence and wonderful glorie in heauen, which is assigned to be his seat (as his word teacheth vs, and as wee haue heretofore amply discoursed) so like∣wise hee doth manifest it no lesse in the earth: which is his footstoole, when hee causeth it to shake and remooue, as if beeing supprised with some great and strong feauer, it shooke and trembled before him. And therefore Iob also saith: [The Eternall is wise in heart and * 1.12 mightie in strength; who hath beene fierce against him, and hath prospered? He remooueth mountaines, and they feele not when he ouerthroweth them in his wrath. Hee remooueth the earth out of her place, that the pillers thereof do shake: the pillers of heauen tremble and quake at his reproofe.] But now let vs note, that all that, which wee haue here deliuered, * 1.13 disprooueth not the the earth to remaine alwaies firme and immoueable in it selfe, in so much as it mooueth not out of the place which was appointed to it by God, neither doth it swerue neuer so little: considering that the moouings and tremblings are not vniuersall, but particular onely in some places, in such sort that the foundations thereof are not any whit altered. And if we consider well of these things, the Earth will serue no lesse for a prea∣cher vnto vs, then the aire and the fire, yea then all heauen to denounce vnto vs the soue∣raigne maiestie of the Almightie, ruling aboue all his workes: as I hope tomorrow, wee may haue goodly testimonines entreating of the water, which is dispersed throughout the earth, and afterwards speaking of the excellent commodities and precious riches, that these two elements doe yeeld to men, into which matter you (ASER) shall enter with your discourse.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Of diuers sorts of earth∣quakes.
• * 1.2

  Of the causes of earth∣quakes.
• * 1.3

  Of the force and violence in artillerie.
• * 1.4

  Earthquakes compared to agues.
• * 1.5

  The true cause of earth∣quakes, & the profit that we may reepe thereby.
• * 1.6

  Leuit. 19.
• * 1.7

  Numb. 16.
• * 1.8

  Examples of maruellous earth-quakes.
• * 1.9

  Li. 1. de bello. Iud.
• * 1.10

  Psalm. 135.
• * 1.11

  2. Sam. 22. Psalm. 18. Isay 66. Matth. 5. Acts 7.
• * 1.12

  Iob 9.
• * 1.13

  Iob 26.