Speculum mundi· Or A glasse representing the face of the world shewing both that it did begin, and must also end: the manner how, and time when, being largely examined. Whereunto is joyned an hexameron, or a serious discourse of the causes, continuance, and qualities of things in nature; occasioned as matter pertinent to the work done in the six dayes of the worlds creation.

FRom clouds I proceed to speak of rain. And rain is nothing else but as it were the melting of a cloud turned into water. Or, according to Aristotle, it is the flux of a fertill cloud resolved by the heat of the sunne into distilling drops of water, which being depressed with their own weight, fall down to the earth. For when the matter of the cloud, being a cold vapour, and earthly humour, is drawn from the earth and waters, in∣to the middle Region of the aire, and there thickened through the cold, dwelling in the confines of that place, it is at the last dissolved, and cannot therefore but fall down in drops: which drops, if they be great, are caused,

either by the quick resolution of the cloud, or else by the little distance of it from the earth. But if they be small∣er, then either the a 1.1 great distance or slow resolution ma∣keth them of no ample quantitie.

The first of these is named nimbus; the other is called imber.

And note that the dissolution (as hath been said) pro∣ceedeth out of heat; which is not onely of the sunne, but of windes also of an hot temper: as is seen in the sou∣thern winde, which bloweth up rain sooner then any other winde. And as for rains which come from cold coasts, and at cold times of the yeare, if the cloud be not at such times (as some may think) dissolved through the heat of any winde, it dissolveth it self through its own weight, (being a little holpen by the sunne) for it conti∣nueth in the aire even whilest it can stay no longer. And at these times also, if we consider all aright, we shall finde that the winde somewhat helpeth, although not so speedily as from hotter coasts: for naturally there is a kinde of heat in every winde, (because it is an Exhala∣tion hot and drie) although by accident (as from the na∣ture of the place over which it passeth) it may be altered: of which I shall speak more afterwards. And besides all this, the secret influence of the Planets worketh greatly towards the dissolution of the foresaid vapours.

But I proceed. And now it followeth that I divide all sorts of rain into two kindes: First, such as are ordina∣ry;* 1.2 secondly, such as be extraordinary.

I call those ordinary when nothing but water falleth. And I call those extraordinary which others call prodi∣gious rains: as when worms, frogs, fish, wheat, milk,* 1.3 flesh, bloud, wooll, stones, iron, earth, &c. fall from the clouds. Plinie makes mention of many such prodigies as these, in the 56 chapter of his second book; setting down the times when they happened.

Concerning all which, next under God (the causer of the causes causing them) these or the like reasons may be urged to shew how it is possible they should be pro∣cured, and upon what causes they naturally depend.

1. And first for the raining of worms; it may be thought* 1.4 that the putrefaction of some dead carcasses or other hath been drawn up into the aire as fumes and vapours are, where it breedeth such worms as use to breed out of the like matter here below.

2. The like may be said of frogs, when the vapour is* 1.5 exhaled out of marish grounds at such times as they en∣gender.

3. So also of fishes; excepting that (as is supposed) the* 1.6 force of windes may suddenly sweep away little frey out of ponds upon montanous places: and so also little young frogs, with many the like things, may be taken up. Some write of a whole calf falling from the clouds; and have been thereupon perswaded that it is possible, of Vapours and Exhalations, with the power of heaven∣ly bodies concurring, a calf may be made in the aire. But this is idle. It was therefore (as others write) taken up in some storm of whirl winde, and so let fall again.

4. As for wheat and other grain, it hath been observed* 1.7 that their raining down hath often come in case of ex∣tremitie, to the great preservation and refreshment of the distressed: in which regard it may be supposed that it was an immediate work of God, wrought without the rule of nature: so, that were all the wits in the world prest into one, yet were they all too weak to shew a true cause of such a prodigie. Which made Du Bartas write concerning such;

Let them declare what cause could yerst beget Amid the aire those drizzling showres of wheat, Which in Carinthia twice were seen to shed; Whereof that people made them store of bread.

To speak therefore as I think, I will not boldly affirm how this was caused, but onely touch at the possibilitie of it; namely, that it might be effected like unto other strange rains, first drawn from the earth into the aire, and then sent down again. For (as I have b 1.8 already said) in shewing probable reasons for such things as are strange, we do also include God the chief and best cause of all things. And so also we reade, that when the Red sea was bayed up with a double wall, to give the children of Israel safe and free passage through it, God sent a strong East-winde all that night, &c. by which the wa∣ters were divided. Exod. 14. 21. And again, when the Quails came and filled their tents, being as it were rained round about them; they were brought from the sea with a winde, and let fall a dayes journey on this side, and a dayes journey on that side, even round about their camp. Numb. 11. 31.

He that hath seen (saith c 1.9 one) an egge-shell full of dew drawn up by the sunne into the aire, in a May morning, will not think it incredible, that wheat and other grain should be drawn up in much hotter coun∣treys then ours is, much rather the meal or flower which is lighter.

5. By the like reason also it sometimes raineth milk:* 1.10 for when the intensissimus solis calor, the vehement heat of the sunne, shall either draw milk from the udders * 1.11 of cattell, and shall mix it with the other parts of the cloud; or shall so throughly trie, purifie, digest or con∣coct the vapour, that it may look something white, then will the drops look as if it rained milk.

6. As for the raining of flesh, it is supposed to be after* 1.12 this manner, namely through the drawing up of bloud from places where much bloud hath been shed, which being clottered together seemeth as if it were flesh.

7. And so also it may rain bloud; namely when it is* 1.13

not clottered together, but thinner, &c. In the yeare of Christ 480 was such a rain. As also in the yeare 864, neare unto Brixia in Italie, was the like. Yea and before either of these times, our own d 1.14 chronicles tell us that in the dayes of Rivallo King of the Britains, we also had bloud rained; upon which ensued great mortalitie of peo∣ple. Histories make mention of the like wonders at other times.

But, say some, there is often great store of bloud spilt,* 1.15 and yet no prodigie appeareth.

To which is answered, that it is not the ordinarie ex∣haling* 1.16 vertue which resteth in the starres and Planets that can draw up such bloudy vapours, although much bloud be spilt; but then onely when there is a more un∣usuall concurrence of causes: for sometimes they are disposed to one thing, sometimes to another. And for the working of any strange thing, it must be when there is a strange kinde of combination amongst them. To which purpose we know (although we cannot alwayes directly see and demonstrate how they are mixed and combined) that they principally intend and cause at the same time other changes, of which the visible prodigie is but the proclaimer or fore-runner: as, if you look but a little before concerning Comets, you may see, and so rest satisfied.

And unto this also adde, that there may be drops like unto bloud, and yet no bloud drawn up: And this may be, either when the Sunne draweth vapours out of pu∣trified watery places, in which (as I have often seen) in a drought resteth much slimie and red-coloured corrupted water; or else when the Sunnes immensive heat doth so boyl the water in the cloud, that like unto the urine which a man maketh in a burning fever, it looketh red when it falleth. The like cause I gave before unto the water of a white colour: but know that it must then

be of another qualitie, the matter of the vapour I mean: for there are some kinde of waters, as is well known, which being boyled turn to white salt, &c. And as for a red colour, the ordinarie rain sheweth that it is possible: for we see that ordinary rain-water looketh alwayes more brown then spring or river-water, being as if a more powerfull operation would turn it into red.

Notes

• a 1.1

  This may be seen if any will but assay to poure water from an high place.
• * 1.2

  Ordinary and ex∣traordinary rains.
• * 1.3

  Prodigious rain.
• * 1.4

  Worms.
• * 1.5

  Frogs▪
• * 1.6

  Fishes▪
• * 1.7

  Wheat.
• b 1.8

  Paragraph •…•…. art. 3. and else∣where.
• c 1.9

  Fulk, in his Meteors.
• * 1.10

  Milk▪
• * 1.11

  Which may the sooner be done in sum∣mer, and in hot countreys.
• * 1.12

  Flesh.
• * 1.13

  Bloud.
• d 1.14

  Lanquet▪ •…•…tow, &c.
• * 1.15

  Object.
• * 1.16

  Answ.