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IT is now past Midnight, and being call'd out of my Bed by the People of the House where I lodge, I knew not how to bestow my Time better, than in giving thee an Account of this Occurrence.
Here is now so violent a Tempest of Thun∣der, Lightning and Rain, that the whole He∣misphere seems to be on Fire, and the Super∣stitious are overwhelmed with Panick Fears, concluding this Storm will usher in the Day
of Judgment. It has continued these two Hours; and, they tell me, that no less than Twenty Houses are burnt to Ashes already. I had scarce taken my Pen from the last Word, when a Flash of Lightning dyed all the Pa∣pers and Books, on the Table whereon I now write, as black as Soot; whereof this scorch'd Paper may be a Testimonial, which I send en∣closed. Observe but the Colour and Smell, and thou wilt say, 'tis stamp'd with the Mark of the Thunderer. 'Tis that whereon I had begun to write to thee; but, this thirsty Fire, at a Moment, lick'd up all the Ink, so that the Impression is wholly effac'd.
The Reason of their calling me out of my Bed was, to go to Prayers with them, accor∣ding to the Custom of these Infidels, who in Time of Thunder, light certain Consecrated Candles, and fall on their Knees round about them, imagining, that whilst they are with∣in the Room where these Candles are, the Thunder cannot hurt them. I excused my self from keeping them Company, by telling them, I had a Hallowed Candle in my Cham∣ber, which I would light and say my Prayers there. They were satisfied with this Answer, and sprinkling me with Holy Water, to bless me from the Danger impending, I retired.
There is a private Stair-Case in my Cham∣ber, which leads to a Terrass on the Top of the House. My Curiosity carried me thither, where methought I beheld Nature in her Fro∣licks and Rants. The greatest part of the Sky was clear and serene, and innumerable
Stars appeared; but, round the Brims of the Horizon, a growing Bulk of Clouds encom∣passed the Earth, spouting forth Cataracts of Fire from opposite Parts. One would have thought they were impregnated with Bombs and Carcasses, and that some Armies were im∣battell'd in the Air.
After this, as if these had been the Heralds of the last and fiercest Combat, the Clouds drew up into a Point, and mingling with each other, shot forth such Showers of Fire, as made the World look like a Furnace. For my Part, I had not Courage enough to stand longer in the open Air, but came down to my Chamber, and falling prostrate on the Ground, recommended my self to the Great Creator of all Things, Lord of Nature, and Sovereign Dis∣poser of the Lives of Men.
Neither do I think my self Superstitious in this, any more than I should be, in hum∣bling my self in the Dust, before the Terrible Ibrahim when he is out of Temper.
Methinks, Nature seems to be in a Chole∣rick Fit, when it Thunders; and, 'tis neither good Manners nor Policy, to draw her Fury on our Heads by daring Carriage.
Our Holy Law, which prescribes Prayer to us at the first Appearance of the Sun and Moon, seems to intimate, that on any Emer∣gency which gives us a peculiar Occasion to contemplate an Omnipotent Power, we ought to fall down and adore the High and Eter∣nal One.
I am almost deaf with the Bells, which are rung in every Church of the City on this Ac∣count. It being the Opinion of the Nazarenes, that this Noise will chase away the Tempest, with all Evil Spirits that infest the Air. And this Opinion is grounded, on the Ceremonies which are used at the Consecratioa of their Bells. For, the Bishop, or, in his Absence, the Priest, hallows them with a kind of Bap∣tism, and a Form of Prayer; wherein, among other Petitions, they desire of God, to endue them with a Virtue to resist the Devils.
I am no Friend to Superstition, neither do I give much Credit to Charms; yet I cannot deny, but the ringing such a vast Number of Bells, must needs cause a violent Concussion of the Air; even to the dispersing of the Clouds, and producing a Calm. And Expe∣rience assures us, that this is the common Ef∣fect of a Battle, which if it happen in Tem∣pestuous Weather, yet the Discharge of many Thousand Great and Small Shot, has quieted the Storm, and hush'd the Elements into a very serene Condition.
Though this Noise of Bells be very trouble∣some, in a Time when People should take their Repose, yet here we are used to it in a less Degree, every Night throughout the Year.
For, the Christians Law, requires the Der∣vises to rise at Midnight, to say their Prayers in their Chappels; and, some are so devout and regular, as to make this their constant Custom: so that assoon as the Clocks have struck Twelve, the small Bells in some Con∣vents
begin to jangle. About Two or Three Hours afterwards, other Religious Houses ring their Bells, and so continue at certain Hours Day and Night all the Year long.
The Storm is now quite blown over, the Clouds dispers'd, and all Things hush and quiet.
He that brings forth Light out of Darkness, and converts the Terrors and Sadness of the Night, into the chearful Joys of a fair and propitious Morning, have thee in his keeping, and perpetuate our Friendship.
Paris, 24th. of the 7th. Moon, of the Year 1642.