The vulcano's, or, Burning and fire-vomiting mountains, famous in the world, with their remarkables collected for the most part out of Kircher's Subterraneous world, and exposed to more general view in English : upon the relation of the late wonderful and prodigious eruptions of Ætna, thereby to occasion greater admirations of the wonders of nature (and of the God of nature) in the mighty element of fire.

CHAP. V. Of the Remarkables of the Italian Vulcano's, and their prodigious Eruptions in particular; with particular Relations. (Book 5)

HOw Italy of all Lands, especially Continents, has been most no∣torious for Vulcanian Eruptions and Combustions, has already been observed. It remains therefore, now only to take notice of the most remarkable; which are those about Putzol, with the Phle∣graean Plain, now called Sulfatara; and the Vesuvian; All within the Kingdom of Naples, (which has near communication and com∣merce

with the Aetnaean in Sicily) namely in Terra di Lavoro; which Land was anciently called Campania Foelix, from the won∣derful fertility thereof. So exceeding fruitful in Wines and Wheat, that it is called by Florus, the Land of Strife between Bachus & Ceres, and deservedly: For in this noble Region, one may see large and beautiful Fields, overshaded with rich Vines, thick and delightful Woods, sweet Fountains, and most wholsom Springs of running Waters, as well for health, as delight and pleasure; and in a word whatsoever a covetous mind can possibly aim at, or a carnal covet. And yet all this Campania, as before was shew'd, is, or has been, obnoxious to Fires; and abounds with sulphureous and combusti∣ble Earth and Materials; which no doubt tend to its fructification. To begin with the Phlegraean fields. Concerning which,

Hear first, what Mr. Sandys, in his Travels, sayes.

Vulcan's Court described.

The Court of Vulcan, call'd the Phlegraean fields heretofore; for that Hercules here overthrew the Gyants, for their inhumanity and insolencies; assisted with Lightning from Heaven:

Th' Earth with imbowell'd Flames, yet fuming glows; And Water with Fire, Sulphur mixt, upthrows.

Whereupon grew the Fable of their warring with the Godds. But hear we Petronius describing it:

A place deep sunk in yawning Cliffs, 'twixt great Dicharchea and Parthenope, repleat With black Cocytus waves: For Winds that strain To rush forth there, a deadly heat contain. Th' Earth fruits in Autumn bears not, nor glad Field Once puts on Green; or sprouting branches yield Their Vernal Songs. But Chaos and ragg'd Stone, Smircht with black Pumice, there rejoyce, o'regrown With mournful Cypress. Dis his head here raises, Cover'd with Ashes pale, and Funeral blazes.

A naked Level it is, in form of an Oval, twelve hundred forty and six foot long, a thousand broad, and invironed with high cliffie hills,

that fume on each side, and have their Sulphurous savour transport∣ed by the Winds, to places far distant. You would think, and no doubt think truly, that the hungry Fire had made this Valley with continual feeding; which breaks out in a number of places. And strange it seemeth to a stranger, that men dare walk up and down with so great a security: The Earth as hot, as sufferable, being hollow underneath; where the Fire and Water make a horrible rumbling, conjoyning together, as if one were fuel to the other: here and there bubling up, as if in a Caldron over a Fornace; And sprouting aloft into the Air, at such time as the Sea is inraged with tempests. In some places; of the colour of Water, which is ming∣led with Soot; in others, as if with Lime, according to the com∣plexion of the several Minerals. The flames do many times shift places, abandoning the old, and making new Eruptions, (the mouths of the vents invironed with yellow cinders) arising with so strong a vapour, that Stones thrown in, are forthwith ejected. Yet for all these terrors, it is hourly trod upon both by men and horses: and resorted unto by the diseased in May, June and July, who re∣ceive the fume at their mouths, ears, nostrils, and such other parts of their bodies, as are ill affected; which heateth, but hurteth not: that being only sovereign that evaporateth from Brimstone: It mol∣lifieth the sinews, sharpneth the sight, asswageth the pains of the head and stomach, makes the barren pregnant, cures violent fea∣vers, itches, ulcers, &c. From January to October, the Husband-men hereabout do stir their Glebe at such time as much smoak doth arise, and that they know that it proceedeth from Sulphur: which doth add to the soyl a marvelous fertility. From hence they exact yearly three thousand pounds weight. Another kind of Sulphur is gotten here, not taken from the Fire; but found in the Earth: of especial use for the dying of Hair, and familiarly experimented by Women. White Salt-Armoniack is here found also. At the foot of this Mountain that regardeth the East, are Minerals of Allome, and the best of the World. In the top of the Mountain are certain little veins of a white matter like Salt; much used by Skinners: whereof a Water is made, that forthwith putteth out all characters that are written in Paper. The flower of Brass is here found every where, excellent, and transparent; with white and red Niter. This place is said by the Roman Catholicks to be disquieted with Devils: and that the fire underneath, is a part of Purgatory, where departed souls have a temporal punishment. The Fryers that dwell hard

by in the Monastery of Saint January, report that they often do hear fearful shreeks and groanings. They tell also a late story of a certain youth of Apulia, a Student in Naples; who desperate in his fortunes, advised with the Devil, and was perswaded by him to make him a Deed of Gift of himself, and to write it in his own Blood; in doing whereof he should in short time recover his losses. Believing the Deluder, according to appointment he came unto this place, with that execrable Writing: when afflighted with the mul∣titudes of Devils that appear'd unto him, he fled to the aforesaid Monastery, and aquainted the Prior with all that happened, He communicated it to the Bishop, (now or late living) who informed the Pope thereof: by whose command he was cast into Prison, and after condemned to the Gallies. Possible it is that this may be true; but Damianus the reporter of that which followeth, (though a Cardinal) might have had the Whetstone, if he had not alledged his Author: who telleth of a number of hideous Birds, which ac∣customed to arise from hence on a sudden in the evening of the Sab∣bath; And to be seen until the dawning of the day, stalking on the tops of the hills, stretching out their wings, and pruning their fea∣thers; never observ'd to feed, nor to be taken by the art of the Fow∣ler: when upon the croaking of the Raven that chased them, they threw themselves into these filthy waters: Said to be damned souls, tormented all the week long, and suffered to refresh themselves on the Sabbath, in honour of our Saviour's Resurrection. This he re∣ports from the mouth of the Archbishop Umbertus. But if this be Hell, what a desperate end made that unhappy German, who nor long since slipt into these Fornaces? or what had his poor Horse com∣mitted that fell in with him, that he should be damned; at least re∣tained in Purgatory? The matter that doth nourish these Subter∣ranean Fires, is Sulphure and Bitumen. But there it is fed by the latter, where the flame doth mix with the water, which is not by water to be extinguished: approved by the composition of those Ig∣nes Admirabiles, or Admirable Waters.

Nigh hereunto are the ruines of a magnificent Amphitheater, en∣vironing in an Oval, a Court, an hundred threescore and twelve feet long, and fourscore and eight over: thrown down by an Earth∣quake not many ages since; which here happen no, seldom, by the violence of enflamed and suppressed vapours. Dedicated it was to Vulcan; and not without cause, he seeming in these parts to have such a Sovereignty. A latter relation and account we have of these

—Plains by Kercher, which we will give you also; and is as follows.

A Description of the Phlegraean Plain, in the Fields of Putzol, or Puteoli, near Naples, by Athanas. Kir∣cher, his own Observation, An. 1638.

In the Year 1638. passing by Naples, I could not let slip the op∣portunity of inquiring and looking into these sulphureous Plains, so much celebrated in all Ages: Which the Antients called the Phle∣graean Plains. Having therefore got through a subterraneous passage, which they commonly call the Grotte (which we have elsewhere de∣scrib'd) Arched, and made hollow, or vaulted between the Moun∣tain Pausilippus; not far from Putzol, between the Jaws of the Mountains, a Plain stretched forth far and wide, presents it self to view. A Plain altogether formidable and full of horror; in length they lay 1200 foot, in breadth a 1000. Pliny writes, that they were called the Phlegraean Plains, from their flames and burning; (for so the word signifies.) But Cornel. Strabo calls it, Vulcan's open Market place (publick Theater or Court.) For in manner of a huge Theater, as it were, it sends forth perpetual fires; and begets much Sulphur and combustible and inflamable matter, and therefore called Sulfatara. A place where also some fable the Giants to have been o∣vercome by Hercules. Little Hills are beheld there to burn and slame in the very bottom; for they alwayes exhale forth great smokes every where, with a sulphureous stench through many holes, which are carried by the Winds through all the neighbouring Regions, even unto Naples also. This whole Plain is surrounded with Hills, or high & steep Rocks; whereof the top or Pick, once very high, being at length devoured by perpetual fires, is concluded from the very form of the place, to have sunk into a most profound Vale. There∣fore that which was once the top, is now a deep ditch, or hole, in a plain Vale. And what were the coasts or sides of the Mountain heretofore, are now the tops of Cliffs and Rocks. And these, here∣tofore indeed, as Dion Cassius witnesleth, vomited forth sires and flames in greater quantity. The neighbour Mountains also did con∣tinually burn, and cast forth thick fumes and fiery Waters, as it were, out of Furnaces. But now the very Plains, no otherwise then the Phlegraean Hills, being exhausted with perpetual flames, are ca∣vernous, with an infinite number of holes, and are every where

yellowish with a sulphureous matter and colour. The soil also, when it is touch'd by such as walk thereupon, sounds and rattles like a Drum, as it were, by reason of the concavities; and you may feel, as it were, not without astonishment, boyling waters under your feet, and thick and fired fumes, to hiss and flow hither and thither, with a great crackling noise, through Pipes and Subterraneous Ca∣verns, made by the force of the hot Exhalations. VVhich force, how great it is, you may try, by stopping any hole, with a heavy stone, or so; for then you shall see the violent force of the smoke presently to belch it forth again.

Yet an huge Laky-ditch in the same Plain did wonderfully affect * 1.1 me: For it is found full of boyling waters, and ready to fright one with their blackness. You would say, it was a Kettle or Caldron boy∣ling with Pitch and Rosin. VVhich forthwith changes place; and the waters growing hard on the brim of the Caldron, is made nar∣rower or wider, as the force and impetuousness of the Exhalation is greater or lesser.

That also is wonderful; That that swallowing Gulph, casts forth waters on high, eight or ten foot above a mans height, in the fashion * 1.2 of a Pyramid, and those fat and clayie, and almost of a sulphureous colour. VVhich even the Inhabitants of Putzol do confess; who affirm, that these boyling waters are shot forth on high, to sixteen, or even twenty four palm height sometimes. And this especially when the Sea rages; but not so likewise when it is calm. A most clear sign certainly, that these marvellous effects of the exalted liquor, pro∣ceed from no where else, but from the Sea: For the Sea being tossed with the storms of winds, whilst through subterraneous passages it sollicites, as it were, the Steward or dispenser of this melted liquid matter; 'tis no wonder, that a Liquor, not knowing how to contain it self in its own narrow bounds, should be darted forth on high, beyond its limits, constituted thereunto by nature. By so much in∣deed the more violently, by how much the impetuous afflux of the Sea thrusts it forth with greater violence. Yea, and the divers colour of the waters at that time; compounded of the various mixture of the Sea-water, with the various mixture of the Mineral Juices; Name∣ly, of those waters, which, from the more profound boyling Springs of the Earth, the subterraneous winds, agitated by the ragings of the Sea, and growing stronger and stronger amidst the slames, belch forth; does plainly teach. But the Sea being still calm, none of these things are perceiv'd; but the waters are only beheld sat, or

oyly; and filthy with a black coaly soot, together with a certain effervency or boyling.

What shall I say of the Mountains and Rocks, with which this Vulcanian Plain is encompassed and guarded. There are beheld in these conveyances or passages, as it were, of Chimneys, not a few breathing-holes, some of which belch forth a perpetual wind, with a formidable sound, and crackling noise; and with such a force, that if you cast a stone thereinto, it being struck back presently, you shall receive it cast forth again with great force. Some dart forth smoak mixt with flames. You would think your self almost in the midst of Hell; where all things appear horrid, sad and lamentable, with a most formidable face of things. Also you are almost struck even breathless, with the stench of Sulphur, Bitumen, Napthe, and other Earths, Clayes, Marles, and Minerals. And yet although the place be so horrid; yet those who labour in making of Sulphur, Niter, Vitriol, &c. reap much profit thereby.

Further; We must not omit here Mr. Sandys's relation of a most memorable both Earthquake and Burning, which happened not far from these Plains, near unto the City Putzol, in the year 1538. with the new-formed Mountain. For the famous Lake Lucrinus, near Putzol, extended formerly (it seems indeed to have been joyn'd with it on one side) to the deadly sulphureous Lake Avernus, sup∣pos'd the entrance into Hell by ignorant Antiquity; where they offered infernal sacrifice to Pluto and the Manes, there said to give Answers; is now no other than a little sedgy plash, choak'd up by the horrible and astonishing cruption of the new Mountain; where∣of as oft as I think, I am easie to credit whatsoever is wonderful.

For who here knows not, or who elsewhere will believe, that a Mountain should atise (partly out of a Lake, and partly out of the Sea) in one day and a night, unto such an height, as to contend in altitude with the high Mountains adjoyning? In the year of our Lord 1538, on the 29th of September, when for certain dayes fore∣going, the Country hereabout was so vexed with perpetual Earth∣quakes, as no one house was left so intire, as not to expect an imme∣diate ruine; After that the Sea had retired two hundred paces from the thoar (leaving abundance of Fish, and Springs of fresh-water ri∣sing in the bottom) this Mountain visibly ascended about the second hour of the night, with an hideous roaring, horribly vomiting stones, and such store of cinders, as overwhelmed all the buildings here∣about, and the salubrious Baths of Tripergula for so many ages ce∣lebrated;

consumed the Vines to Ashes, killing Bird: and Beasts: The fearful inhabitants of Putzol flying through the dark with their wives and children, naked, defiled, crying out, and detesting their calamities. Manifold mischiefs had they suffered by the Barbarous, yet none like this which Nature inslicted. But hear we it describ'd by Borgius.

What gloomy fumes dayes glorious Eye obscure? The pitchy Lake effus'd through Sulphury Caves, Higher than Aetna's Fire, throws flaming waves: Hath Phleg'ton broke into Avern; with groans Whirling the horrid flouds, and rumbling stones? The Baian waves resound; fresh streams ascend; And several wayes their speedy currents bend. Misenus lets his Trumpet fall, scarce heard, Sick Prochyta a second ruine fear'd. Loud roarings from Earths smoaking womb arise, And fill with fearful groans the darkned Skies. A sad sour face doth menace from the West; Whence sharper plagues the Latian Towns infest. Then furious Winds to Skies huge stones eject; Which, like a Compass turn'd about, erect A round Amphitheatral. Flouds of Stone, From belching Gulf, in Millions straight forth thrown.

Nor can what they then suffered be ever forgotten, having such a testimony still in view as is this strange Mountain; advancing his top a mile above his basis. The stones hereof are so light and pory, that they will not sink when thrown into the water. The cause of this accident is ascribed unto the neighbourhood of the Sea and hol∣lowness of the soil: whereby easily engendred exhallations, being hurried about with a most violent motion, do inflame that dry and bituminous matter; casting it upward, and making way for their fiery expirations. To those also is the retiring of the Sea to be attri∣buted: who strugling to break forth, do ratifie and so raise the Earth, which thereby also as it were made thirsty, sucks the water through crannies into her spungy and hot intrails: increasing the vapours, not decreasing the fire; by reason of the Bitumen. Perhaps Delos and Rhodes, unseen in the first Ages, were made apparant by such means: however, divers of the Vulcanello's or Liperitan Islands were without peradventure; All of them having slam'd, and being

now more in number than observed by the Ancients. This new Mountain, when newly raised, had a number of issues, at some of them smoking, and sometimes flaming: at others disgorging rivo∣lets of hot waters; keeping within a terrible rumbling: and many miserably perished, that ventured to descend into the hollowness a∣bove. But that hollow on the top, is at this present an Orchard; And the Mountain thorow-out is bereft of his terrors.

Of Vesuvius, a Vulcanian Mountain, in the Kingdom of Naples likewise, now called Monte di Somma.

The most noted Vulcano of the Mountain Vesuvius, is also in this happy Country of Campania, a little further remov'd from Naples; whose ragings and eruptions have been wonderfully remarkable in all Ages: And yet notwithstanding all its fires and burnings, its Hills are full of Vines and Olives; and all its Fields about, of won∣derful fruitfulness; save only the Top alone, where it hath a great Plain bare, and bearing no manner of fruit at all. The face of the Earth like Cinders or Ashes, and old ruinated and wasted Rocks; undoubted signs of its ancient and often Burnings.

Vesuvius then is a Mountain of Campania Foelix, about eight miles from Naples; which also hath received great injuries and prejadices by its Cinders and violent burling forth of Stones, flung even to its Walls and Edifices. This Mountain has vast Fountains of Fire; And heretofore was on every side high, before the inward parts were consumed with fires. It utters usually smoak by day; but by night flames. Its manner is to send forth a loud sound or roaring noise, and bellowing first; and then to belch forth an huge force of Cin∣ders, with the manifest danger of passers by. But if a more vehe∣ment Wind ply upon it, the Ashes or Cinders are rais'd so high, and drove so far in length, that 'tis certain, they have sometimes been carried, as Procopius testifies, even as far as Constantinople it self; and All at length so affrighted, that they ran to their prayers for many years, to avert the wrath of God. Thus Coel. Rhodigin.

Mr. Sand's Relation runs thus:

This Mountain hath a double top; that towards the North doth end in a plain: the other towards the South aspireth more high, which when hid in clouds, prognosticates rain to the Neopolitans. In the top there is a large deep hollow, without danger to be de∣scended

into, in form of an Amphitheatre; in the midst a pit which leads into the entrails of the Earth, from whence the Mountain in times past did breath sorth terrible flames; the mouth whereof is almost choaked with broken Rocks and Trees that are fallen therein. Next to this; the matter thrown up is ruddy, light, and soft: more removed, black and ponderous: the uttermost brow that de∣clineth like the seats in a Theater, flourishing with Trees and excel∣lent Pastorage. The midst of the Hill is shaded with Chesnut-trees, and others, bearing sundry fruits. The lower parts admirably cloa∣thed with Veins, that afford the best Greek-Wines of the World: which hath given to the Mountain the name of Di Sommo, in re∣gard of their excellency; affording to the Owners the yearly re∣venue of three hundred thousand Duckats. So now it hath lost the name of Vesuvius, with the cause why it was given, which signifieth a Spark, as Veseus a Conflagration.

But never any thing appear'd so horrible, as that which happened in the first or third years Reign of the Emperour Titus, eighty years after Christ. For then it disgorg'd such boyling waves and slouds of Fire, as consum'd the neighbouring Cities; And then also it was that Pliny the second, that great searcher of Nature, and famous Au∣thor of the Natural History, and then Admiral of the Roman Navy, desirous to discover the Reason, was suffocated in his too near ap∣proaches, and research after so great a Mystery of Nature; As wit∣nesseth his Nephew, in an Epistle to Cornel. Tacitus. Not indeed wilfully, and on set purpose, as 'tis said, (but I think falsly) of the other grand Philosopher, that he threw himself into the contrary E∣lement, because he could not understand the strange Mystery thereof. At that time not only issued forth such store of Smoak, that the very Sun seem'd to be in the Eclipse; but also huge Stones; and of Ashes such plenty, that Rome, Africk and Syria, were even covered: And besides Beasts. Fish and Fowl, it overwhelmed with Pumice-stones, two adjoyning Cities, Herculanum and Pompeios, with the people sitting in the Theater. There were heard dismal noises all about the Pro∣vince, and Giants of incredible bigness seen to stalk up and down the top and edges of the Mountain (or rather in peoples extravagant fancies;) which extraordinary Accident was adjudged either a cause or presage of the future Pestilence, which raged in Rome and Italy long after. Hieronymus Borgius touching the horrible roarings and thundrings of this Mountain, thus sets it forth in sutable Verse;

Then remote Africk suffer'd the dire heat Of twofold Rage, with showrs of Dust repleat: Scorcht Egypt, Memphis, Nilus felt, amaz'd, The woful Tempest in Campania rais'd. Not Asia, Syria, nor the Towers that stand In Neptune's surges; Cyprus, Creet, (Joves Land The scatter'd Cyclads; nor the Muses seat, (Minerva's Town) that vast Plague scap'd: Such 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Such vapours break forth from full jaws, then shone; When Earth-born, horrible Orimedon Hot, vomits ire, beneath Vesuvius thrown.

Dion affirms in a manner as much. But Bodin, the censurer of all Historians, doth deride it. Notwithstanding Cassiodorus writes as great matters of a later Conflagration; whereupon Theodoricus (first King of the Goths in Italy) did remit his Tribute to the dam∣nisied Campanians. Marcellinus further observes, that the Ashes thereof transported in the Air, obscured all Europe: and that the Con∣stantinopolitans being wonderfully affrighted therewith, (insomuch as the Emperor Leo forsook the City) in memorial of the same, did yearly celebrate the 12th of November. It also burnt in the sixth year of Constantine the fourth; which was about the year of Christ 640: and at such times as Bellisarius took Naples; (which was about the year 540) and groaned, but elected no Cinders: and again when the Saracens invaded Africa, sometime after, &c.

Plautina writes that it flamed in the year 685; prognosticating the death of Pope Benedict the second, with ensuing slaughters, ra∣pines, and deaths of Princes. During the Papacy of two other Be∣nedicts, the 8th and the 9th, it is said to have done the like. The later, the last flaming thereof, which was in the year 1024; (yet often since it hath been wonderfully feared;) excepting of late years again. And although it hath made sundry dreadful devastations; yet the fruitful Ashes thrown about, did seem to repair the forego∣•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with a quick and marvellous fertility. At the foot of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 there are divers ve••s, out of which exceeding cold winds do 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉; such as by Venteducts from the vast Caves above 〈◊〉〈◊〉, they le•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 their Rooms at their pleasure, to qualifie the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉. It seems Records of History reach beyond the Be∣•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of this Mountain. For Spartacus the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and Ring-leader of the fugitive Bond-slaves (which was

about the year of the Word 3880, and before Christ about 70.) no less a terror unto Rome, than Hannibal, did make this Mountain the seat of his War; where besieged by Clodius, he by a strange stra∣ragem, with bonds made of Vines, descended into the bottom of the Hill, (being long before it first began to flame) and finding out a private passage, issued suddenly upon the unsuspecting Romans; seiz'd on their Tents; and pursuing his Victory, over-ran all Cam∣pania.

Since, The year 1610 has been memorable, for the burning flames of the Mountain Vesuvium; the which being renewed on the month of February, brought a very large wasting; but a great affrightment to the Neapolitans; who, solemn supplications being proclaimed, went in Procession with the Head of Januarius, their Patron, and Defender of their City, carried about; whereby the silly people were made to believe, the destruction hanging over their heads to have been turned away; even as they are to this day.

Also in the year 1631 was a new Eruption; Earthquakes and Roarings as usually) preceding. And again in a flame in 1635, with an Earthquake in Messina; as likewise again in 1638. And indeed not quite appeas'd and extinct all that time, most likely. The same year 1634, or 35, (but this occasionlly by the by) even England shook, and trembled about London; a Marsh there boy∣ling with black waters, &c. Also at Witteberg it rained Brimstone; And in the month of May 1644, a great Wood, belonging to the Dukedom of Norimberg, of eight thousand Acres of Land, burned in a flame; with divers other like Prodigies. Petav. Hist.

Lastly, in 1660, Vesuvius again brake forth with Combustions.

There remains nothing more to add, but Kircher's particular re∣lation and account thereof; who in the year 1638, ventured up to observe its nature and workings; As he had done Aetna and Strumboli before in the same year, when all those Mountains were outragious with most devouring Eruptions. Where, observing things past all belief in all of them, could do so much with him, that from thence he took occasion and beginning of happily setting upon that glorious work of his Subterrantous World; since accomplished.

Of an exact Search and Enquiry made into the Moun∣tain Vesuvius, by Kircher, in the year 1638.

Having a very earnest desire, a long time, to understand the Mi∣racles of Subterraneous Nature, it happened that at the same time, by command of my Superiours, I undertook a voyage into Sicily and Malta, in attendance on the most excellent Prince Frederick, Land-grave of Hassia, at that time chief Admiral, now a most wor∣thy Cardinal, whose Confessor I was. Entring therefore into Sicily, I found such a Theater of Nature, displaying her self under won∣derful variety of things, as I had with so many desires wished for. Sith what ever thing occurs, in the whole body of the Earth that is wonderfull, rare, unusual, and worthy of Admiration, I found contracted here, as it were, in an Epitomie, by a certain industry of wise and sagacious Nature.

Being inflamed therefore with an huge desire of searching out all things particularly. Above all things, first I ascended Aetna, the fountain of all other Prodigious Effects in Sicily; that I might by my own experience, and with my own eyes, find out the wonderful things, which Historians of all ages have writ thereof. Then with utmost diligence I searched the Aeolian or Hophaestian, that is, the Laparitan Islands, now call'd the Vulcanello's, or Vulcanian Islands. And above all the rest; Strongylus (now Stromboli) and Vulcano. I search'd out also the Sicilian Straits, called Faro di Messina, no less dangerous for the incredible Reciprocations of its Ragings, than infamous for Shipwracks; with the wonderful motions of Scylla and Charybdis, and vicissitudes of their Ebollitions. And whatsoever things stupendous did occur, were presently committed to Table-Books; and after return home, seriously weighed and deliberated by solid and exact Reason, &c.

But in return home, with some certain private persons, we were by wonderful and unusual storms and ragings of the Sea, to the danger of our lives, forced upon the Shoars of Calabria, or Terra di Otranto; At the time of those horrible Earthquakes, and strivings of Nature, then outragious in those places; to the greatest peril of our lives. But had thereby opportunity of learning many Secrets of Nature. After the happening of all which, I had then a desire, being in those parts, to visit the famous Vesuvius also.

The Relation of which wonderful Earthquakes, now mentioned; we, according to our present method reserve to another place after∣wards; passing them by here, to give first his particular account of Vesuvius, (though last with him) which is our present Argument.

The RELATION.

After therefore so great dangers sustained by Sea and Land; After having diligently searched out the incredible power of Nature working in subterraneous burrows and passages, I had a great de∣sire to know whether Vesuvius also had not some secret commerce and correspondence with Strongylus and Aetna, in so powerfull a war and strife of Nature, as I had every where experience of before. I went therefore unto Porticus, (the Porch or Entrance) a Town scituated at the foot of the Mountain. Hence hiring an honest Coun∣try-man, for a true and skilfull companion, and guide of the wayes; (not without indeed an ample reward) I ascended the Mountain at midnight, through difficult, rough, uneven, and steep passages. At whose crator or mouth, when I had arrived, I saw what is horrible to be expressed, I saw it all over of a light fire, with an horrible combustion, and stench of Sulphur and burning Bitumen. Here forthwith being astonished at the unusual sight of the thing; Me∣thoughts I beheld the habitation of Hell; wherein nothing else seem∣ed to be much wanting, besides the horrid fantasms and apparitions of Devils. There were perceived horrible bellowings and roarings of the Mountain; An unexpressible stink; Smoaks mixt with darkish globes of Fires; which both the bottom and sides of the Mountain continually belch'd forth out of Eleven several places; and made me in like manner, ever and anon, belch, and as it were, vomit back again, at it. O the depth of the Riches of the Wisdom and Know∣ledge of God! How incomprehensible are thy wayes! If thou shewest thy power against the wickedness of mankind in so formi∣dable and portentous Prodigies and Omens of Nature; What shall it be in that last day, wherein the Earth shall be drown'd with the Ire of thy Fury, and the Elements melt with fervent heat? Morn∣ing therefore waxing light, that I might search out the Constitu∣tion of the whole Interiours of the Mountain, with all the diligence I could, I chose a safe and secure place to set my feet sure upon; which was an huge Rock, of a plain surface; to which there lay open an Avenue, by a descent of the Mountain very far; And so I

went down unto it. Here taking sorth my Pantometer, (or universal Measurer) I set upon the dimensions of the Mountain; and found by a Geometrical Computation, the compass of the Crater to contain almost three hundred paces, but the depth eight hundred. The Mountain all up and down every-where, cragged and broken. No gradual declining for any passage to the inward parts; but descended in its compass or circuit, after the manner of a Cylinder, made hol∣low directly and streight. And although the Bottom seemed to the eye to be contained in a more narrow circumference; yet accord∣ing to Optick Accounts and Laws, That happened from the exceed∣ing great distance, and prosundity, from the innermost surface of the Crater or mouth. In the Center of the Bottom, Nature seem'd to have constituted, as it were, her Harth of Fire: And to say truth, a Shop or Workhouse to make a Vulcanian Kitchin; boyling with an everlasting gushing forth, and streamings of Smoak and slames; and imploy'd in decocting of Sulphur, Bitumen, and melt∣ing and burning other kinds of Minerals; and by a certain secret endeavour and enterprise, preparing for deadly ruines and slaugh∣ters afterwards to be committed. Sith the vapours included within; as they know not how to be contained: so they did discuse, or scat∣ter the burden that lay upon them, with so great force and violence, accompanied with horrible cracklings and noises, that the Mountain seem'd to be tost with an Earthquake or trembling. Which when∣soever it happened, the supream and softer parts of the Mountain, which clung together of Ashes, Cinders, Rains, and other Refuses of Minerals; being shook in pieces, and loosened by the trembling; and so falling like Hills, into the bottom of the Hellish Gulph; did from that various reslexion of the sound, stir up that crackling noise: So great and fearful a one, as that any, even of the stoutest and most undaunted heart, would scarce venture to suffer. The matter which was continually belched forth from the center of the Mountain, made as it were, a new Mountain, indued with wonderful variety of fur∣rows, or hollow channels; which the various ebullition of the melted Minerals, flowing into all parts of the circumference; of a greenish colour now; from Brass; presently of a yellow colour, from Sul∣phur, Arsenick, and Sandarack: Now red; from Cinnabar, Mini∣um or Red Lead, and Vermilion; then black; from Vicriol mixt with Water; or of an Ashy colour, from the very Cinders; did as it were, by the ingonious Pencil of Nature, form. This little Mountain, after the last burning of the Mountain, which happened

in the year 1631, (at which time proceeded great Earthquakes, as well as Noises and Roarings and Tremblings; as is its custom) hath grown so big, that we may thence very reasonably conjecture that it is hereafter likely to rise unto the same height, which it once ob∣tained of old; unless it be destroyed by some new burning superve∣ning: Which hath happened in this very same year I now write these things, in the year 1660. For that the Mountain outragious with a new and horrible burning, hath so cast down its top, and Crator; that it appears now much lower at this day, then what I a little before described it to be. And consequently, as it is found of greater circumference; so of lesser profundity. Having taken a view of all these things duly; and returning to Naples; the next day I betook my self into the Island Aenaria, which they call Is∣chia; of much note, and celebrated with great fame by ancient wri∣ters. And thence into the Phlegraean Plain, of Putzol Fields, Vul∣can's Market-place or Theater; (of which before.) And whatso∣ever, either the Antients or Moderns, have related wonderfull of those places, I found to be most true.

It is also taken notice of in History, that there was an Eruption and great Burning, near Carignole in Terra di Lavoro, which laid three Acres of Ground, all in meer Ashes and Cinders. Tuscany al∣so hath a burning Mountain in the Apennine; and another in the Fields of Bononia. There are also Laky Ditches, Pits, and Dens, between Pistorium and Petra Mala, belching forth perpetual Globes of Flames, especially by night. There are noted also in the Fields of Mutina, two famous places full of Burnings, &c. But these with the rest of Italy, have been barely enumerated before; of which we have nothing further remarkable to add.

And so we are at last come to the main Fountain and Spring-head, in a manner, as we may say, of all the subterraneous Fire, of these Parts, with their manifold desolating Eruptions, Aetna, now Monti Gibello.

Notes

• * 1.1

  An horri∣ble stink∣ing Ditch and Pond.
• * 1.2

  A marvel∣lous force of jetting or darting∣forth Wa∣ters.