The Abyssinian philosophy confuted, or, Tellvris theoria neither sacred not agreeable to reason being for the most part a translation of Petrus Ramazzini, Of the wonderful springs of Modena : illustrated with many curious remarks and experiments by the author and translator : to which is added a new hypothesis deduced from Scripture and the observation of nature : with an addition of some miscellany experiments / by Robert St. Clair ...

CHAP. IV. (Book 4)

Of the Ancient State and Form of the Countrey on this, and the other side of the River Po. (Book 4)

THerefore having discuss'd the Opinions which take most among our Countrymen, of the Nature of this hidden Source, it may be thought fit that I should now tell my own: But before I do that, I think it worth while to enquire, and as far as Conjecture will allow to discover, what was in those times the outward Face of this Countrey which we inhabit; seeing by the digging of these VVells in the Land of Modena, 'tis known enough, that the Situation of this Countrey, which is called

Gallia Cispadana, and Transpadana, was very low and deprest in old times, in comparison of what 'tis now. Plato, when he brings in Critias speaking, writes, that there are two things which bring great and sudden Changes in the Earth, and totally abolish the Monuments of the most ancient Countreys. The VVorld felt the first Calami∣ty in the Universal Deluge, the other being reserved against the Day of Judgment, and the De∣struction of wicked M••n, as Peter says,* 1.1 when a New Heaven, and a New Earth shall ap∣pear. 'Tis most certain, that the Face of the whole Earth was most notably changed, in that Uni∣versal Drowning and Overturning of all things. But some think that such a Change follow'd, that the state of the VVorld before the Flood was quite different from what 'twas afterwards, which yet

I cannot assent to. There is lately come from England a Book, whose Title is, The Sacred Theory of the Earth, by Thomas B••••net. This Learned Man endeavours to de∣monstrate, that the Earth before the Deluge in its first Original, had another Form than now it appears to have; so that there were nei∣ther Seas nor Isles, nor Mountains nor Valleys, nor Rivers any where, but the whole Body of the VVa∣ters lodg'd in the Caverns of the Earth. Now he feign'd such a Face of the Earth, to the end that it may be perceiv'd without the Creation of new VVaters, from what Store-house a quantity of VVater may be drawn sufficient to cover the Face of the Earth, tho' it had Mountains, which we must imagine to have been higher by far than the present ones: So that, according to his Reasoning, neither Rains, how great soever,

nor Theo•••• Rabbah of Moses, viz. Abyss of VVaters hid in the Ca∣verns of the Earth, could be suf∣ficient for that Universal Deluge. But he thinks that the Mountains, Valleys, Seas, Isles and Rocks, might have appeared in that great cleaving of the whole Body of the Earth, pieces of it being broke off here and there, and swallow'd up in the great Gulph; while those, which stood in their former state, made a shew of Isles, Mountains, and Rocks; but these which were wholly covered by the VVaters, had the Name of Sea and Lakes; and so the Earth appeared after the Deluge all broken, torn, and of a quite different Aspect.

This Fancy, however it may be taken for new, yet certainly is not the Fiction of our Times, but more ancient by far. Franciscus Patri∣tius, a Man famous enough for Learning, in a certain Book of his,

Of the Rhetorick of the Ancients, written in Italian, and Printed at Venice by Franciscus Senensis, Anno 1562. The first Dialogue has a pleasant Story, which he says Iu∣lius Strozza had from Count Bal∣thazzar Castillon, and he had from a certain Abyssine Philosopher in Spain. This wise Abyssinian did say, That in the most ancient An∣nals of Aethiopia, there is a Histo∣ry of the Destruction of Mankind, and the breaking of the Earth: That in the beginning of the World the Earth was far bigger than now 'tis, and nearer to Hea∣ven, perfectly round, without Mountains and Valleys, yet all Ca∣vernous within like a Spunge, and that Men dwelling in it, and en∣joying a most pure Aether, did lead a pleasant Life; and that the Earth brought forth excellent Corn and Fruits without Labour. But when, after a long Flux of Ages, Men

were puft up with Pride, and so fell from their first Goodness, the Gods in Anger did shake the Earth, so that a great part of it fell with∣in its own Caverns; and by this means the Water, that before was shut up in dark Holes, was vio∣lently squeez'd out, and so Foun∣tains, Lakes, Rivers, and the Sea it self, took its Original: But that Portion of the Earth, which did not fall into these Caverns, but stood higher than the rest, made the Mountains: That the Isles and Rocks in the midst of the Sea, are nothing but Segments of the Earth remaining after the sudden fall of its Mass. I am willing, for the satisfaction of the Curious, to give the Author's own words, as more tending to our purpose.

In the first Ages, said the Re∣verend Old Man, after the last Renovation of the VVorld, the

Earth we dwell on was not of that Form, nor so little as 'tis at present, but far greater, and of a perfect roundness; because then it did take up as much place, as it now takes up with the whole VVater and Air together: So that between it and Heaven there was not any thing interpos'd, but a most pure Fire, which is called Aether, being of a most pure and vital Heat. The Earth then was of so large an Extent, and so near to Heaven. But within, and in the Surface, 'twas very Ca∣vernous, within which were scat∣tered the Elements of Air and VVater; and towards the Cen∣ter was scattered a Fire, to warm the places remotest from Heaven, and therefore obscure and cold. Because the other Caverns near∣er the Surface of the Earth were illuminated from Heaven by the Openings above, and by its

VVarmth filled with Life; and all these Caverns were inhabited by Men, and other Animals, for the use of which the VVater and Air were scattered over the Caverns. The Earth then was like a Spunge, and Men dwelt within it; their Life was very happy, and without any Evil, be∣cause there was not among Men either War or Sedition. Nor did they live inclos'd in Cities, as they do now, for fear of wild Beasts and other Men; but they liv'd pro∣miscuously, and the Earth pro∣duc'd its Fruits for their Necessi∣ty, without any Labour of theirs. Further, the Mildness of the Air and Aether were so great, that the Seasons did not vary as they do now: And knowing then the Truth and the Vertues of all things, they found they were good; they knew also the Ver∣tues of the Stars, their Senses be∣ing

nourished in a most pure Ae∣ther, from whence they had the Knowledge of things Celestial and Elemental. 'Tis come to our Knowledge, that in the most an∣cient Annals of Aethiopia, among many others, were found Aegypt, Aethiopia, Persia, Assyria, and Thracia. Now hearken, O Count, says the Aethiopian, attentively, what occasioned the Fall of the Earth, and the Ruine of Man∣kind. The Men of Assyria know∣ing all things, and by means of their VVisdom doing VVon∣ders, were well pleased with it; from this Self conceit grew in them a great Love of themselves; by which the Flower of their VVisdom being darkned by de∣grees, they waxed proud, and be∣gan to think themselves Gods, and to compare themselves to Saturn, that then had the Go∣vernment of the VVorld; who,

as he is slow to Anger, and ripe in Counsel, was not at all moved at the first: But when their Pride increas'd, he in Anger depriv'd them of the Influxes of his Mind; from which Privation there grew in them Ignorance, from which flow Pride and Insolence; and they began to seek how to get up into Heaven, and dethrone him: which when Saturn saw, being in his great VVisdom un∣willing to defile his Hands with Humane Blood, of himself re∣signed the Government, and gave it into the Hand of Iupiter his Son; who, after he had taken on him the Government of the VVorld, being born to Action, made a League with his Brother Pluto, who Reign'd in the Roots of the VVorld toward the Cen∣ter: The one began to shake it terribly below, and the other to thunder upon it from above, with

which terrible shaking and thun∣dering, the Earth open'd in ma∣ny places, and broke, so that it fell into its own Caverns, which by that were raised and filled up. From whence it came to pass, that it both became less, and in∣finitely further off from Heaven, and was buryed in its self, with all the things contained in it. And the Elements which stood highest, were, by its weight and restriction, squeez'd out, the lighter and purer did fly higher, and drew nigher to Heaven; but of them which were shut up in the Ruins, and were before lodg'd in the Caverns, part re∣main'd below, and part chang'd their place. And it came to pass, that where the great Bulk of Earth fell, and could not be swallowed up of the Caverns, it remained on high, and afterwards being prest hard together by its

own weight, and condens'd by the Cold, because of its distance from Heaven, became Mountains and Rocks; and where in the fall great pieces of thick Earth were swallowed up, the VVaters were by this discovered, from whence came Seas and Lakes, Rivers and Fountains, great and little Isles, and Rocks scattered up and down the wide Sea. The Gold, the Silver, and other Metals, which in the beginning had been most fair and precious Trees, were co∣vered in the Ruins. But there are some Remains of the Seeds shak'd off at that time, which now are digg'd with so great La∣bour, being neither so pure, nor of great Vertue, as formerly: And the Diamonds, Carbuncles, Rubies, Emeralds and Chryso∣liths, Saphires, Topazes, and o∣ther Jewels, which be now found, are the thickning of the Rocks of

the first Age; and they are, in memory of these first times, to this day had in great Esteem, admir'd and reverenced as the most ancient things. The Por∣phyres, the Alabasters, Serpen∣tines, and other fair Marbles of different Colours, are no other than some Particles of the Vir∣gin Earth, which was nearest to Heaven, and in the Fall were thickned, and united, either by their own Weight, or some o∣ther, or by Cold: From whence 'tis, that by the Searchers after Metals and Marble, there have been found many both Sea and Land Animals, turn'd into Stone and Volatils; yea, many times Mens Bodies that have been all taken hence, inclos'd in their first shape in most solid Stone, with∣out any opening. And from hence 'tis, that there are seen so many thousands of Fishes, Oysters, and

Cockles congealed, and Figure of divers Animals; which some through ignorance of things pa•• admir'd so much. These terri∣ble things did at that time hap••pen on the Earth; but the Ani∣mals and Men that were foun•• Dwellers in the Caves, remain'•• all bury'd by the Earth falling o•• them; and an infinite numbe•• of those who dwelt in the oute•• parts, by the terrible shaking be•• neath, and the frightful Nois•• above, died of Fear; and amon•• the others, all the Assyrians. I•• the other Countries few remain¦ed alive, and these also conti••nued, either by the Fall, or thro•• Fear, many Days in a Transe•• and without Pulse. But afte•• they were recover'd, they con••tinued astonisht and full of grea•• Fear, that shortned their ow•• Life, which at the first was ve••ry long, and their Childrens

There was also among Men a Stupidity, which made them ig∣norant of all things, and was the Effect of the first Astonishment after the Fall of their first Fa∣thers; and yet if they seem'd to know any thing, they saw it through a thick Cloud. More∣over, since the Fall, if a Man had the Truth revealed to him by chance, Fear made him keep it secret; for in all remain'd a Me∣mory, the Knowledge of Truth being the occasion of their Pa∣rents Pride, and that of their Ru∣ine. For if any had the Boldness to discover it, he darkned it a thousand ways, for fear of being reproved, and severely punisht by another. For this Reason the Sciences have been taught in dark Sayings, in Fables, in Fi∣gures and Numbers, in Sacred Rites, and in a thousand other hidden ways. And from thence

'tis belike, that Princes and o∣thers, who would be powerful in the Earth, have chosen to fol∣low the Opinion of the common People, and have persecuted with all Rigour those that would tell the Truth. Fear therefore ha∣ving possessed all Men, by which they were disperst, such as re∣main'd began to join themselves together, and to beget Children, to help them and defend them; they encompast themselves with Fences and Ditches, in which time they reverenc'd and perform'd O∣bedience to the Aged. After this as the number of their Posterity increas'd, and the Ties of Affini∣ty decreas'd, they divided their Goods that were hitherto com∣mon, and so parted Friendship. After which all things went in∣to Confusion, every one robbing, cheating, and killing another, and inventing new Tricks to defraud

his Neighbour: From this, as Boldness grew in those that were of fiercer Spirits, and more inge∣nious to hurt, others became more fearful; which Fear sharp∣ned their Wit, so that consulting together, they found out the Name of Peace and Justice. Af∣terward they contrived a long Chain of Words, with which tying Justice and Peace by the Feet, by the Arms, by the Mid∣dle, and by the Neck, in a thou∣sand ways, they thought to keep her, that she should not depart from their State, committing the keeping of these Chains, which they call'd Laws, into the Hands of wary Men, and of their own Temper, which they called Judges and Magistrates.

By these Artifices did the ti∣morous secure their Lives and Goods from the Injuries of the more powerful; till at length

one that was bolder than the rest, associating himself with the fear∣ful and weak, became their Pa∣tron. These also were thrust from their place. After this rate have the Societies of Men been managed hitherto, and so they are at present, and will be for the time to come. When the ti∣morous join'd themselves toge∣ther, there arose Counsellors; and when they were called into Judgment, there arose Judges. This now, Noble Sir, is the great History which the wise Abyssinian told the Count, worthy to be had in great Veneration, and highly to be esteem'd.

Helmont seems to have enter∣tain'd an Opinion about the Face of the Earth before the Deluge, not unlike to this; his Words are these: From whence I conceive the Earth to have been in one piece, and

undivided; for asmuch as 'twas be-wa∣ter'd with one Fountain; and lastly, to have had no Isles, but the whole Globe was Sea on one side, and Earth on the other. This was the Face of the World before the De∣luge, after which the Earth did open into several shapes, and out of the Abyss of these Chinks did the Waters break out.

But let us leave the Opinion, no less disagreeing with the Interpre∣tation of the Sacred Scriptures, than with Nature it self. Scaliger speaking of the Asserters of that Opinion, about the Generation of the Mountains, says, That they pi∣ously dote, who have told, that the Earth was pulled out of, and sav'd from the Deluge. Yet 'tis certain, that the Earth in that Universal Deluge did not suffer an ordinary Change, so that the Fortune of things being changed, Thetis and

Vesta chang'd their places; from whence Ovid says,

Quodque fuit campus, vallem decursus aquarum Fecit, & eluvie mons est deductus in aequor, E'que paludosa siccis humus aret are∣nis.

In English thus:

Torrents have made a Valley of a Plain, High Hills by Deluges born to the Main; Steep standing Lakes suckt dry by thirsty Sand, And on late thirsty Earth now Lakes do stand.

I believe it has not happened o∣therwise to this Countrey of ours: For I conceive, that in the first be∣ginning of the World, all this Plain, than which Italy has not a

greater, and which the Po does now divide into Gallia Cispadana, and Transpadana, was once a Sea, and a part of the Adriatick. So in the Universal Deluge, the Moun∣tains being par'd off, and bar'd, so that they lookt like Bodies exte∣nuated by a Disease, as Plato wrote of the Atlantick Island; we have reason to think that this Bay of the Sea was filled with Sand, and so became a Valley; and after∣wards, in process of time, by con∣tinual Descent of Waters from the Apennine, and the Alps, and other particular Deluges, (such as was that which happen'd Anno 590. in Gallia Cisalpina, than which 'tis thought there has not been a great∣er since the Days of Noah, as Pa••∣••••vin••us says in his Fifth Book of the Antiquities of Verona) this Ground did grow up by degrees, and by many Lays or Beds, to the height we do now see it of. Both

Ancient and Modern Writers judge the same of the most famous and greatest Plains in the Earth, as in Egypt, &c. which Aristottle says formerly was a part of the Sea; and Herodot calls it, the Gift of the Nile (seeing the Etymology of Nile is derived from Limus, Slime) which he likewise says of the Coun∣treys about Ilium, Teuthrania, and Ephesus, to wit, that they were sometime a part of the Sea: Yea, the same Herodot hath left it in Writing, that if the Nile turn'd its Course into the Arabick Gulph, it would at length cover it all with Slime.* 1.2 Polybi∣us says, that the Lake Maeotis and the Euxine Sea are constantly fill'd with plenty of Sand, which great Rivers do continually bring into it, and that the time would be when they should be made even with the Continent; taking an Argument from the Taste of the

Water, viz. That as Maeotis is sweeter than the Pontick, so the Pontick is sweeter than the Euxine. Modern Writers think no less of the great and plain Countreys, a∣mong whom is the most Learned Kircher, who in his Mundus Sub∣terraneus, says, from the Arabick Antiquities, and other Observa∣tions, That the great Plain, which lies between the Arabick and Per∣sian Gulph, before the common De∣luge, was covered with Sea-wa∣ters. And he also thinks, That the Sandy Desarts of Tartary were formerly the place of Waters, and all one with the Caspian Sea, and afterwards in length of time to have been rais'd to a greater height, and turned into great Fields. Nei∣ther need we to go so far off for Examples. We understand by Hi∣story, that Ravenna, as well as Venice, was plac'd in the Sea; but seeing now 'tis 5 Miles from the

Sea, no body knows how much Land has accrew'd to it by the retiring of the Sea; a Prodigy tru∣ly worthy of Wonder, that where Ships did sail before, now there are Groves of Pine-trees. Upon the same account may we call the Land of Ferrara, the Gift of Eri∣danus, by reason of the slimy Wa∣ter which this Royal River did by many Mouths discharge into the Adriatick for some Ages; by which it came to pass, that a Colony of Fishes was by a true Metamor∣phosis chang'd into an Habitation of Men; for which Ovid says,

—Vidi factas ex aequore terras, Et procul à pelago conchae jacuere ma∣rinae.

I've seen the Seas oft turned to a Plain, And Lands were tilled where was be∣fore the Main.

Tho' I dare not absolutely say, that all the Countrey which lies between the Apennine and the Alps, was a Sea formerly; yet by what is observ'd in the digging of the Wells, Oyster-shells, and other Sea Products being found in their greatest Depth, it may be not without Ground conjectured, that the Adriatick did at least come thus far, or that the Bays commu∣nicating with the Sea, did stagnate here.

Yet 'tis without doubt from the Writings of the Ancients, that be∣tween the •• Aemilian Way (in the middle of which is seated Modena) and the Po, there was a Lake reaching from the Adriatick even to Placentia, which, from the Neighbourhood of the Po, they called Padusa, into which many Rivers descending from the Apen∣nine, discharg'd a great quantity of

Waters. Virgil makes mention of this Lake in these Verses:

—Piscosove amne padusae Dant sonitum rauci per stagna loqua∣cia cygni.

Or murmuring Swans that sound their fanning Wings Padusa's Fishy Banks upon, or Ec∣choing Springs.

But Iohn Baptista Aleottus, in his most Learned Book against Cae∣sar Mengolus of Ravenna, shews, by strong Reasons and Authorities, that no River from Splacentia to the Coast of the Adriatick Sea, did come into the Channel of the Po, but that they all discharged themselves into this Padusa; for which he brings the Authority of Strabo, who writes, That this Lake was a great Hindrance to Hanni∣bal, when he would have pass'd

his Army into Etruria; which Lake being not long after, by the Dili∣gence of M. Scaurus the Surveyor, dried up, was turned into most fruitful Fields, many Rivers being brought within their own Banks to enter into the Po, as Tarus, Par∣ma, Entia, Gabellus, Scultenna, the Rheine, and other Rivers of no small Note. Upon this account we may reasonably think, that the Po was not so famous of old, nor had the Name of Royal, till by the Accession of so many Rivers he had enlarg'd his Power. And therefore Herodot, a most ancient Writer, deny'd that there was a∣ny River found, called Eridanus; which was no small matter of ad∣miration to Pliny, that when He∣rodot wrote his History at Thuri∣um in Italy, he knew no River by the Name of Eridanus. But seeing Herodot, as Pliny relates, made his History 310 Years after the

founding of Rome, we may thence conjecture, That the Po did at that time run with less Glory, and in a straiter Channel; or that the Historian spoke of another River.

There is distinct enough menti∣on made of this Lake in the fore∣cited Iohan. de Argenta, and especi∣ally in Leander Albertus in his De∣scription of Italy, who measures the Length of this Lake from La∣mon by Ravenna, even to Sculten∣na, and tells all the Rivers which within this space descended from the Mountains into this Lake, and there ended their Course; and that Hercules, the first Duke of Ferrara, suffered the Bononians to bring the Rheine within his Banks, that so he might enter into the Po; by which it came to pass, that ma∣ny Valleys of Ferrara, and also Bononia, were turned into most fruitful Lands. But when after∣ward the Rheine had broke over

his Banks in the time of Hercules the Second, when the Fields were again turn'd into Water, and ma∣ny Contentions arose among the Bononians and Ferrarians; at length the same Prince granted, that the Rheine might be again brought into the Po.

Therefore we must observe, that the Situation of this Coun∣trey, in which Modena is now plac'd, was very low, seeing this Countrey border'd upon Padusa, into which so many Rivers did run; of the lowness of which Rushes, Coals, Bones, Stocks of Trees, found in the Depths of 63 Feet, are most sure Proofs; all which make it evident, that this Ground was sometime exposed to the Air, and that it had no other Aspect than now the Valleys of Como have.

Therefore 'tis not without cause, that Cluverius, in his Description

of Italy, thinks a certain place o•• Pliny deserves amendment. For Pliny, when he had described cer∣tain Islands floating in several pla∣ces, like the Cyclades, as in the Cae∣cuban Lands, the Reatine, the Lake of Vadimon, writes, that the same is observ'd in the Land of Modena. But Cluverius for Matiensis plac'd Mutinensis; forasmuch as one may see such floating Islands made of Slime and Reeds in the Valleys of Como. Yet 'tis out of all question, that the Situation of this Town, to∣gether with the adjacent Lands, in the space of 1800 Years, has grown 14 Foot; for in this Depth Causways of Flint, and Shops of Artificers are found by digging, which certainly then was the Plain of the Town, when the Colony of the Romans was brought hi∣ther: Further, when I was wri∣ting this, there was found a Piece of Adrian the Emperours Coin, of

Corinthian Brass, in the Depth of 18 Feet.

History testifies, that Mantuae at that time was not far from the Marshes; for Appianus Alexandri∣nus tells us, that Marcus Antonius and Pansa, in the Siege of Mutina, did fight amongst the Fenns, and in Grounds overgrown with Reeds; and afterwards near Mutina, in a little Isle of the River Labinius, (when at that time the Land of Modena was extended so far) the Triumviri met, and establisht that horrible Banishment of their Coun∣trymen; when yet in this our Age there are no Vestigies either of Fenns or Islands, only most plea∣sant Fields are to be seen. So that with the Prince of Poets we may cry out,

Tantum aevi long inqua valet mutare vetustas.

Such wondrous Changes great length of time does bring.

Yet this growing up of the Ground, which is observ'd by the great Depth of these Wells, (I do not speak of the deeper parts, whe∣ther Humane Industry cannot reach) was but slowly made, and by Slices, as it were, through length of time, as the several Lays of Earth do witness, which are observed in all Wells constantly in an equal Order and Distances when they are digged; so that this growing up of the Ground so well distinguish'd, and so remark∣able in the digging of all Wells, ought to be thought rather the Product of so many Ages, than the tumultuary and confus'd Work of the common Deluge.

This doubtless then was the Face of the Countrey on this and the o∣ther

side of the Po, which being formerly covered with Waters, and not habitable, now is remarkable for its Largeness, and the Fertility of its Fields, and has in it many Towns and Cities: For if we turn over old Authors, we shall find no mention made of Towns or Ci∣ties below Brixillus and Cremona, near the Po, even to the Adriatick; but as many as were, and yet are in the Region on this side the Po, were built either near the Roots of the Apennine, or not far from them, as Bononia, Modena, Regium, Par∣ma, &c. But we may infer, both from what was said before, and also from the little that this Sandy Bed, through which these Subter∣raneous Waters do run, wants of being in the same Level with the Sea, that the Sea did cover this Countrey in the beginning of the World. For if, according to the Observation of Aleottus de Ar∣genta,

a most diligent Hydrogra∣pher, whom we before cited, the Rheine, from the Foot of the Hills near Bononia to the Po, into which it does now no more run, has a Declivity of 123 Feet, 7 Inches; and the Po from thence to the Sea has a Descent of 15 Foot 7 Inches; and therefore the whole Declivi∣ty of the Rheine, and perpendicu∣lar Height to the Sea-shore, will be 139 Foot, omitting the smaller measures, the Plain out of which these Fountains spring, and that Mutina stands on (which is distant about 10 Mile from the Roots of the Mountains) will differ no more than 20 or 40 Foot from the Level of the Sea, as one may conjecture, seeing I have not leisure to exa∣mine these matters exactly, nor is it any great matter: But if we might dig further down, other Beds would doubtless appear, till we meet at last with the Plain,

which was formerly the bottom of the Sea. But 'tis better to search into other things, and to get out of these profound Abysses, if we can go no further.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ep. 2.
• * 1.2

  Lib. 4.