CHAP. V. Of Lightning, Thunder, and Thunder-bolts.

HEe that would neerly understand the breeding of Thunder must consult with Chymists, for so oft as a part of Salt-Peter and brim∣stone 〈…〉, there is made a great noise, and we shall say that thun∣dring Gold is carried with a greater force. Also it is well known that if a mixture be made of Niter, Brimstone, Quicklime, and Bi∣tumen, that it will kindle by powring on any moisture; and so it is here, for when the brimstony and nitrous Vapours in Summer-time, are carried upwards, by heat of the Sun, especially the Southern wind being quiet, they are united and condensed by the opposite winds, and are kindled by a peculiar antiperistasis; hence comes the sound and lightning. Histories write that it hath been heard in a cleare Sky. Senec. natural. l. 2. cap. 30. Aetna somtimes hath abounded with great fire, and hath cast out a wonderfull quantity of burning Sand, the day was hid in dust, and sudden night frighted the people. They say that at that time there were great thunder claps and noises in the Sky, which were made by the concourse of dry things, and not of the Clouds; for it is likely in so clear weather, that there were none. The Thunder-bolt oft times is carried into the Earth, because it is cast forth of the Cloud with great violence, and is made of a fast and well compacted matter, yet Pliny, l. 2. c. 55. saith, that it never strikes above five foot deep into the Earth. The effects of it are wonderful; vessells of water are drank up, the cover being untouched, and no other token being left: Gold, Brasse, Silver have been melted with∣in, and the bags no ways burnd, nor so much as the Seal of Wax de∣faced; Pliny, l. 2. c. 51. Lucius Scipio proved that, by Gold he had in a Chest of Osiers. Marcia a Queen of the Romans was Thunder-stricken, when she was great with Child, she had no hurt at all, on∣ly the Child was killed. The cause is put in rarity and thicknesse; that penetrates more easy, this because it penetrates with more diffi∣culty doth more harm. Aristotle, 3. Meteorolog. c. 1. The wine som∣times stands stil the vessel being broken, the cause is because the heat of the thunder, thickneth the outward parts of the Wine, that the wine seems to stand, as shut up in a skin; Sennert. l. 4. Epitom. c. 2. but this hardnesse will not last 3. dayes, Seneca quaest. natural. l. 2. c. 5. That is most admirable which Me•rerus in Comment Meteorolog. reports that a certain Minister was so suddenly taken away out of the sight of Men, in the way that men passe from Lipsia to Torga, that he was never seen again. Those that shall be presently striken, are so stupefi∣ed, that they neither heare the Thunder, nor the greatest claps of it. That, in the German Warrs, hapned to Severus Master of the Horse, Julian being Emperour. First he was stiffe, and then lither, death being at hand; Pliny writes that it will not touch the Bay-Tree, the Sea Calf, the Eagle; Rhodiginus adds, the fig-Tree: and saith it is by Page  79 reason of its bitternesse, Rhodig Antig, lect. l. 3. c. 29. Therefore Tiberius Caesar, as Suetonius saith in his life, fearing thunder, when the Skyes were troubled, wore a Crown of Bays upon his head, and for this reason saith Columella, when a Hen sits they put Bay boughs under her. Therefore they were wont to make the Emperours Tents of Sea Calfs Skins. And Suetonius writes that Augustus was so fearfull of Thunder, and Lightning that he allwaies carried the same with him. Severus the Emperour had a litter made of the same matter for the same purpose: yet Vicomercatus, ad 3. Meteoror, c. 10. relates that the Bay Tree is somtimes stricken from Heaven, and Conimbricen∣se thinks this freedome it hath to be but imaginary, but only by an in∣stinct of nature, they foreshew Thunder. I need not speak much of the Thunder-bolt, kept in houses, of hearb, and Candles, at the m•re solemn feasts purged with holy water, and of the ringing of Bells▪ who sees not but that these things are superstitious. Some of them say, (Remig. l. 1. daemonol. c. 26), that ringing of Bells is uneffectuall and uselesse, if any one of them when it is purged, beare the name of the Priests Concubine. For if that sound do rarify the Ayre, (which yet spoken absolutely is false, for it neither dissipates the Clouds, that are neerer to us, nor doth it fly right upwards, but in many places it comes forth obliquely by the Windows, nor doth it come to the Cloud) it were better that only the great Guns should be shot off, and only the greatest Bells Rung. Constant observation shews that Dogs, Cats, and Goats are most obnoxious to be Thunder struck. Hence it is that if a Dog be by a man in an open field, he will be frighted and lye between his feet, Cl. Bortholinus casts the cause of it upon the Vapours breathing forth of these Creatures bodys, which as a known matter and nutriment, the Vapours for thunder follow, especially if these Creatures be abroad, that they may be freely carri∣ed into the open Ayre; Hence it is that Cats are often stricken in the entry, and who knows not that the Dogs and Goats smell strong? And Cats send out such Plenty of Vapours by their pores that some men have fainted at their being present, and the more noble Horses, if they be hid in the Coach, will sweat extreamly, as experience teacheth. Thunder seldom hapneth in the Winter. For but very few or allmost no hot exhalations are lifted up, yet Curtius, l. 8. de Alex, mentioneth that in the time of Alexander, There was saith he allmost a continuall Thunder, and the Thunder bolts seemed to fall in divers places, then suddenly a shore of hayle was poured forth like a Torrent, and force of cold froze this showre into Ice, Ola•s, l.•. c. 6. thinke that they are more ve∣hement in Northern Climates, for they kill Men; and in the King∣dom of Mongall in Tartary they fall mingled with Snow; In Brasile Thunder bolts fall but seldome, but such lightnings that they seem lighter than the Sun; Joseph Ac. sta, Anno, 1560. In the time of Mar∣cus Antoninus the Philosopher, we read that the Enemy was stricken with Thunder at the prayers of the Christian Souldiers, whence the Christian Legion was called the Thundring Legion, presently (saith the Emperour of them in Epist.) as they lay upon their Faces and prayed to Page  80 a God I know not, a cold shower fell upon us; but upon our Enemies, hail mingled with thunder, that we found immediately that the hand of the mighty God assisted us.