A compleat history of the most remarkable providences both of judgment and mercy, which have hapned in this present age extracted from the best writers, the author's own observations, and the numerous relations sent him from divers parts of the three kingdoms : to which is added, whatever is curious in the works of nature and art / the whole digested into one volume, under proper heads, being a work set on foot thirty years ago, by the Reverend Mr. Pool, author of the Synopsis criticorum ; and since undertaken and finish'd, by William Turner...

CHAP. LIII. Concerning Thunderbolts or Thunderstones.

THunderbolts and Thunderstones are nothing else but the foeculent matter of those Vapours and Exha∣lations, which are the material cause of the Thunder and Lighening; for we sea by experience, that even our Ʋrine has always some such concreted dregs belonging to it; and sometimes perfect Stones made out of it, either in the Reins or Ʋreters or Bladder; and why there may not be a p••trification in this case, I know no Reason.

1. Avicenna saith, That he saw a Thunderbolt which fell at Corduba in Spain, and that it had a Sulphurous smell, and was like Armoniac. It is possible, that not only Sulphurous and Bitu∣minous, but stony substances may be generated in the Clouds with the Lightning. George Agri∣cela writeth, That near Lurgia, a Mass of Iron, being 50 pound in weight, fell from the Clouds, which some attempted to make Swords of, but the Fire could not melt it, nor Hammers bring it into Form, Anno 1492.

2. At Ensisheimiun, a Stone of 300 pound weight fell from the Clouds, which is kept in a Mo∣nument in the Temple there. Anno 1581, a Stone came out of the Clouds in Thuringia, which was so hot, that it could not be touched, with which one might strike fire as with a Flint. There is now to be seen at Dresden, a Stone which descended out of a Cloud, and is reserved amongst the Am••anda belonging to the Elector of Saxony; some lately living were present at the sall of that Stone. Anno 1618, in Bobemia, a considerable quantity of Brass Mettal fell from the Clouds.

3. May 28, 1677, at a Village near Hana in Germany, there was a Tempest of Lightning, and a great multitude of Stones of Green and partly Caerulean Colour fell therewith, and a considera∣ble Mass of Mineral Matter, in traste like Vitriol, being ponderous and friable, having also Me∣tallick sparks like Gold Intermixt. Gesner saith, that a Gentleman gave him one of those Stones, supposing it to be a Thunderbolt, and that it was 5 digits in length, and 3 in breadth. This sort of Stone is usually in form like unto an Iron Wedge, and has an hole quite through it. Boetius reports, that many Persons worthy of Credit, affirmed, that when Houses or Trees had been broken with the Thunder, they did by digging, find such Stones in the places where the Stroke was given; nevertheless, that fulminous Stones or Thunberbolts, do always descend out of the Clouds, when such breaches are made by the Lightning, is a Vulgar Error. M••ther's remark. Prov. p. 113.