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.

A pretty devised Story and Catholick pious Tale concerning the oc∣casian of Sir Tho. Gresham's devout Life, and pious and chari∣table Inclinations and good Deeds, and the converting his great acquired Riches, to such worthy and publick uses, Viz. From the sound of an horrid Voice, out of the mouth of one of these Hellish Volcano's, the Prodigious Mount Strombolo.

It was told me at Naples by a Country-man of ours, and an old Pensioner of the Popes, who was a youth in the days of King Henry, That it was then generally bruited throughout England, That Mr. Gresham a Merchant, setting sail from Palermo (in Sicily) where there then dwelt one Antonio, called The Rich, who at one time had two Kingdoms morgaged unto him by the King of Spain, being crossed by contrary winds, was constrained to anchor under the Lee of this Island Strombolo. Now about mid day, when for certain hours it accustomedly forbears to flame, he ascended the Mountain, with eight of the Sailers, and approaching as near the vent as they durst, among other Noises, they heard a Voice cry aloud; Dispatch, Dispatch, The Rich Antonio is a coming. Terrified herewith they descended; and anon the Mountain again evaporated fire. But from so dismal a place they made all the haste that they could; when the wind still thwarting their Course, and desiring much to know more of this matter, they returned to Palermo, and forthwith en∣quiring of Antonio, It was told them that he was dead; and com∣puting the time, did find it to agree with the very Instant that the Voice was heard by them. Gresham reported this at his return, to the King, and the Mariners being called before him, confirmed by Oath the Narration. In Gresham himself, as this Gentleman said, (for I no otherwise report it) it wrought so deep an impression, that he gave over all Traffick; distributing his Goods, part to his Kins∣folkes,

and the rest to good and publick uses; retaining only a com∣petency for himself; and so spent the rest of his Life in a solitary de∣votion.

A very ill contrived Story, attended with no probable circumstan∣ces. Tis like indeed it might be generally bruited, as the Gentle∣man says (among the Vulgar, by some that would have had it so) but never could obtain general credit, among the wiser at least, and more knowing, much less ever to be recorded, because so easily con∣sutable.