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CHAP. LVI.
Great accidents, before they happen to any City or Province, are commonly pro∣gnosticated by some sign, or predicted by some men.
HOw it comes to pass, I know not; but by ancient and modern example it is evident, that no great accident befalls a City or Province, but it is presaged by Divination, or Prodigy, or Astrology, or some way or other; and that I may not go far for my proof, every one knows what was foretold by Frier Girolamo Savonarola before the Expedition of Charles viii into Italy; besides which it was reported all over Tuscany, that there were arm'd men seen fighting in the air over the Town of Arezzo, and that the clashing of their arms in the conflict was heard by the people.
It is generally known in Florence, that before the death of the old Laurence de Medici the Duomo or chief Church in that City was struck with lightning, and the people destroyed: and before Piero Sodermi (who was made Gonfaloniere for his life by the people) was ba∣nished and degraded, the Palace was burn'd by lightning likewise: many other instances might be produced, which I omit for brevity sake: I shall only add one which is mentioned by Livy before the coming of the French to Rome. Marcus Ceditius a Plebeian acquainted the Senate, that passing one night about twelve a clock thorow the Via-nova, he heard a voice (bigger than a mans) which advised him to let the Senate know, the French were up∣on their march to Rome. How these things could be, it is to be discoursed by persons well versed in the causes of natural and supernatural events; for my part I will not pretend to understand them, unless (according to the opinion of some Philosophers) we may believe, that the air being full of intelligences and spirits, who foreseeing future events, and com∣miserating the condition of mankind, gives them warning by these kind of intimations, that they may the more timely provide and defend themselves against their calamities. But what-ever is the cause, experience assures us, that after such denuntiations, some extra∣ordinary thing or other does constantly happen.