CHAP. V.
Of the Remarkables of the Italian Vulcan鈥檚, and their prodigious Eruptions in particular; with particular Relations.
How Italy of all Lands, especially Continents, has been most notorious 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, witht the Phlegraean Plain, now called Sulfatara; and the Vesuvian; All within the Kingdom of Naples, (which has near communication and commerce with the Aetnean in Sicily) namely in Terradi Lavoro; which Land was anciently called Campania Foelix, from the wonderful fertility therof. 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 cevet. And yet all this Campania, as before was shew鈥檇, is, or has been, obnoxious to Fires; and abounds with sulphureous and combustible Earth and Materials; which no doubt tend to it fructification. To begin with the Phlegraean fields. Concerning which,
Here first, what Mr. Sandys, in his Travels, sayes.
Vulcan鈥檚 Court described.
The Court of Vulcan, call鈥檇 the Phlegraen fields heretofore; for that Hercules here overthrew the Gyants, for their inhumanity and insolencies; assisted with Lightning and Heaven:
Th鈥橢arth with imbowell鈥檇 Flames, yet fuming glows;
And Water with Fire, Sulphur mixt, upthrows.
Whereupon grew the Fable of their warring with the Godds. But here we Petronius describing it:
A place deep sunk in yawning Cliffs, 鈥榯wixt great
Dicharchea and Parthenope, repleat
With black Cocytus waves: For Winds that strain
To rush forth there, a deadly heat contain.
Th鈥橢arth fruits in Autumn bears not, nor glad Field
Once puts on Green; or sprouting branches yield
Their Vernal Songs. But Chaos and ragg鈥檇 Stone,
Smircht with black Pumice, there rejoice, o鈥檙egrown
With mournful Cypress, Dis his head here raises,
Cover鈥檇 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 transported by the Winds, to places far distant. You would think, and not 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 to 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, conjoining together, as if one were fuel to the other: here and there bubling up, as such time as the Sea is inraged with tempests. In some places; of the colour of Water, which is mingled with Soot; in other, as if with Lime, according to the complexion 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 receive 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 mollifieth the sinews, sharpneth the sight, asswageth the pains of the head and stomach, makes the barren pregnant, cures violent feavers, itches, ulcers, &c. From January to October, the Husbandmen 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 best of the World. In the top of the Mountain are certain little veins of 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 everywhere, excellent, and transparent; with white and red Niter. This place is said by the Roman Catholics 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 Monastary of Saint January, reprt that they often do hear fearful shreeks and groanings. They tell also of a late story of a certain youth of Apulia, a Student of Naples; who desperate in his fortunes, advised with the Devel, 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 cam unto this place, with that execrable Writing: when affrighted with the multitudes of Devils that appear鈥檇 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 accustomed to arise from hence on a sudden in the evening of the Sabbath; And to be seen until the dawning of the day, stalking on the tops of the hills, stretching out their wings, and pruning their feathers; never observ鈥檇 to feed, nor to be taken by the art of the Fowler: when upon the croaking of the Raven that chased them, they threw themselves into these filthy waters: Sain to damned souls, tormented all the week long, and suffered to refresh themselves on the Sabbath, in honour of our Saviour鈥檚 Resurrection. This he reports from the mouth of the Archbishop Umbertus. But if this be Hell, what a desperate end made that unhappy German, who not long since slipt into these Fornaces? Or what had his poor Horse committed that fell in with him, that he should be damned; at least retained in Purgatory? The matter that doth nourish these Subterranean 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 Ignes Admirabiles, or Admirable Waters.
Nigh hereunto are the ruines of a magnificent Amphitheater, environing in an Oval, a Court, an hundred threescore and twelve feet long, and fourscore and eight over: thrown down by an Earthquake not many ages since; which here happen not seldem, by the violence of enflamed and suppressed vapoars. Dedicated it was to Vulcan; and not without cause, he seeming in these parts to have such a Sovereignty. A latter relation and a count we have of these Plains by Kercher, which we will give you also; and is as follows.
A Description of the Phlegraen Plain, in the Fields of Putzol, or Puteoli, near Naples, by Athanas. Kircher, his own Observation, An. 1638.
In the Year 1638, passing by Naples, I could not let slip the opportunity of inquiring and looking into these sulphureous Plains, so much celebrated in all Ages: Which the Antients called the Phlegraean Plains. Having therefore got through a subterraneous passage, which they commonly call the Grotte (which we have elsewhere describ鈥檇) Arched, and made hollow, or vaulted between the Mountain 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 say 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鈥檚 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 inflammable matter, and therefore called Sulfatara. A place where also some fable the Giants to have been overcome by Hercules. Little Hills are beheld there to burn and flame in the very bottom; for they always 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. Therefore that which was one 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, theretofore indeed, as Dion Cassius witnesteth, vomited forth fires and flames in greater quantity. The neighbour Mountains also did continually 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 cavernous, with an infinite number of holes, and are every where yellowish with a sulphureous matter and colour. The soil also when it is touch鈥檇 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 greate crackling noise, through Piper and Subterraneous Caverns, made by the force of the hot Exhalations. VVich 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 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 boyling with Pitch and Rosin. VVith forthwith changes place; and the waters growing hard on the brim of the Calron, is made narrower 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 hight, in the fashion of a Pyramid, and those fat and clayie, and almost of a sulphureous color. VVich even the Inhabitants of Putzol do confess; who affirm, that these boyling water 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 marvelous effects of the exalted liquor, proceed 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; 鈥榯is no wonder, that a Liquor, no knowing how to contain itself in its own narrow bounds, should be darted forth on high; beyond its limits, constituted thereunto by nature. By so much indeed 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 Mienral Juices; Namely, 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 flames, belch forth; does plainly teach. But the Sea being still cam, none of these things are perceiv鈥檇; but the waters are only beheld fat, or oyly; and filthy with a black coaly soot; together with a certain effervency or boyling.
What shall I say of the Moutains 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; were all things appear horrid, sad and lamentable, with a most formidable face of things. Also you are almost struck even breathlaess, 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 Sulphur, Niter, Virtiol, &c. reap much profit thereby.
Further; we must not omit here Mr. Sandys鈥榮 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鈥檇 with it on one side) to the deadly sulphureous Lake Avernus, suppos鈥榙 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, choadk鈥檇 up by the horrible and astonishing eruption of the new Mountain; whereof as oft as I think, I am casie to credit whatsoever is wonderful.
For who here knows not, or who elsewhere will believe, that a Mountain should arise (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 adjoining? In the year of our Lord 1538, on the 29th of September, when for certain dayes foregoing, the Country hereabout was so vexed with perpetual Earthquakes, as no one house was left so intire, as not to expect an immediate ruine; After that the Sea had retired two hundred paces from the shoar (leaving abundance of Fish, and Springs of fresh-water rising 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 hereabout, and the salubrious Baths of Tripergula for so many ages celebrated; 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 detecting their calamities. Maniforld mischiefs had they suffered by the Barbarous, yet none like this which Nature inflicted. But hear we it describ鈥檇 by Borgius.
What gloomy fumes dayes glorious Eye obscure?
The pitchy Lake effus鈥榙 through Sulphury Caves,
Higher than Aetna鈥檚 Fire, throws flaming waves;
Hath Phleg鈥檛on 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鈥檇.
Lout roarings from Earths smoaking womb arise,
And fill with fearful groans the darkned Skies.
A sad sour face doth minace from the West;
Whence (harper plagues the Latian Towns infest.
Then furious Winds to Skies huge stones eject;
Which, like a Compass turn鈥檇 about, erect
A round Amphitheatral. Flouds of Stone,
From belching Gulf, in Millions straight forth thrown.
Nor can what they then suffered ever be forgotten, having such a testimony still in view as is this strange Mountain; advancing his top a mile above his basis. The stones thereof 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 hollowness of the soil: whereby easily engendred exhalations, 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 attributed: who struggling to break forth, do ratifie and so raise the Earth, which thereby also as it were made thirsty, suck 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 apparent by such means: however, divers of the Vulcanello鈥檚 or Liperitan Islands were without peradventure; All of them having flam鈥檇 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 other disgorging rivulet of hot waters; keeping within a terrible rumbling: and many miserably perished; that ventured to descend into the hollowness above. But that hollow on the top, is at this present an Orchard; And the Mountain thorow-out is bereft of his terrors.
Of Vesuvious, a Vulcanian Mountain, in the Kingdom of Naples likewise, now called Monte di Somma.
The most noted Vulcano of the Mountain Vesuvious, is also in this happy Country of Campania, a little further remov鈥檇 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 wonderful, fruitness; 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 injuris and prejudices by its Cinders and violent hurling 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 fist, and then to belch forth an huge force of Cinders, with the manifest danger of passers by. But if a more vehement Wind ply upon it, the Ashes or Cinders are rais鈥榙 so high, and drove so far in length, that 鈥榯is 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鈥檚 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 descended into, in form of an Amphitheatre; in the midst a pit which leads into the entrails of the Earth, from whence the Moutain in times past did breath forth terrible flames; the mouth whereof is almost choaked with broken Rocks and Trees that are fallen therein. Next to this; the matter thown up is ruddy, light, and soft: more removed, black and ponderous: the uttermost brow that declineth like the seats in a Theatre, flourishing with Trees and excellent Pastorage. The midst of the Hill is shaded wit Cesnut-trees, and others bearing sundry fruits. The lower parts admirably cloathed with Veins, that afford the best Greek-Wines of the World: which hath given to the Mountain the name of Di Sommo, in regard of their excellency; affording to the Owners the yearly revenue of three hundred thousand Duckats. So now it hath lost the name of Vesuvius, with the cause why it was give, which signifieth a Spark, as Veseus a Conflagraion.
But never any thing appear鈥檇 so horrible, as that which happened in te first or third years Reign of the Emperour Titus, eighty years after Christ. For then it discgorg鈥檇 such boyling waves and flous of Fire, as consum鈥檇 th e neighbouring Cities; and then also it was that Pliny the Second, that great searcher of Nature, and famous Author of the Natural History, and then Admiral of the Roman Navy, desirous to discover the Reason, was suffocated in his too near approaches, and research after so great a Mystery of Nature; As witnesseth his Nephew, in an Epistle to Cornel. Tacitus. Not indeed willfully, and on set purpose, as 鈥榯is said, (but I think falsly) of the other grand Philosopher, that he threw himself into the contrary Element, because he could not understand the strange Mystery therof. At that time not only issued forth such store of Smoak, that the very sun seem鈥檇 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 adjoining cities, Herculanum and Pompeios, with the people sitting in the Theater. There were heard dismal noises all about the Province, 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. Hieonymus Borgius touching the horrible roarings and thunderings of this Mountain, thus sets it forth in sutable Verse;
Then remot Africk suffer鈥檇 the dire heat
Of twofold Rage, with showrs of Dust repleat:
Scorcht Egypt, Memphis, Nius felt, amaz鈥檇,
The woful Tempest in Campania rais鈥榙.
Not Asia, Syria, nor the Towers that stand
In Neptune鈥檚 surges; Cyprus, Creet, (Joves Land
The scatter鈥檇 Cyclads; nor the Muses seat,
(Minerva鈥檚 Town) that vast Plague scap鈥檇: Such
Such vapours break forth from full jaws, then shone;
When Earth-born, horrible Orimendon
Hot, vomits ire, beneath Vesuvius thrown.
Dion affirms in a manner as much. But Bodin, the censurer of all Historians, doth deride it. Nothwithstanding Cassiodorus writes as great matters of a later Conflagration; whereupon Theodoricus (first King of the Goths in Italy) did remit his Tribute to the damnified Campanians. Marcellinus further observes, that the Ashes thereof transported in the Air, obscured all Europe: and that the Constantinopolitans being wonderfully affrighted therewith, (insomuch as the Emporer 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 time as Bellisarious took Naples; (which was about the year 540) and groaned, but ejected 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 rapines, and deaths of Princes. During the Papacy of two other Benedicts, 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 devestations; yet the fruitful Ashes thrown about, did seem to repair the foregoing lsses with a quick and marvelous fertility. At the foot of the Hill there are divers vents, out of which exceeding cold winds do continually flue; such as by Venteducts from the vast Caves above Padua, they let into their Rooms at their pleasure, to qualifie the heat of Summer. It seems Records of History reach beyond the Beginnings and fast Eruptions of this Mountain. For Spartacus the Fencer, 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 straragem, with bonds made of Vines, descended into the bottom of the Hill, (being long before it first began to flam) and finding out a private passage, issued suddenly upon the unsuspecting Romans鈥� seiz鈥檇 on their Tents; and pursuing his Victory, over-ran all Campania.
Since, The year 1610 has been memorable, for the burning flames of the Mountain Vesuvium; wht 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; wereby 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 Earthquke in Messina; as likewise again in 1638. And indeed not quite appeas鈥榙 and extinct all that time, most likely. The same year 1634, or 35, (but this occasionally by the by) even England shook, and trembled about London; a Marsh there boyling with black waters, &c. Also at Wittenberg 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鈥檚 particular relation 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 outrageous with most devouring Eruptions. Where, observing things past all belief in all of them, could do so much with them, that from thence he took occasion and beginning of happily setting upon that glorious work of his Subterraneous World; since accomplished.
Of an exact Search and Enquiry made into the Mountain Vesuvious, by Kircher, in the year 1638.
Having a very earnest desire, a long time, to understand the Miracles 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 worthy Cardinal, whose confessor I was. Entring therefore into Sicily, I found such a Theatre of Nature, displaying here self under wonderful variety of things, as I had with so many desire 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鈥檇 the Vulcanello鈥檚, or Vulcanian Islands. And above all the rest; Stongylus (now Stromboli) and Vulcano. And search鈥檇 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 Charabdis, 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 Oiranto; At the time of those horrible Earthquakes, and strivings of Nature, then outrageous 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 afterwards; passing them by here, to give first his particular account of Vesuvius, (thought 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 desire to know whether Vesuvius also had not some secret commerce and correspondence with Strongylus and Aetna, in so powerfull a was 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 Country-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 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 forthwich being astonished at the unusual sight of the thing; Methoughts I beheld the habitation of Hell; wherein nothing else seemed to be much wanting, besides the horrid fantasms and apparitions of Devils. There were perceived horrible bellowings and roaring of the Mountain; An unexpressible stink; Smoaks mixt with darkish globes of Fires; which both the bottom and sides of the Mountain continually belch鈥檇 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 Knowledge of God! How incomprehensible are thy wayes! If thou shewest thy power against the wickeness of mankind in so formidable and portentous Prodigies and Omens of Nature; What shall it be in that last day, wherein the Earth shall be drown鈥檇 with the Ire of thy Fury, and the Elements melt with fervent heat? Morning therefore waxing light, that I might search out the Constitution 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 raking forth my Pantometer, (or universal Measurer) I set upon the dimension 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 hollow directly and straight. And although the Bottom seemed to the eye to be contained in a more narrow circumference; yet according to Optick Accounts and Laws, That happened from the exceeding great distance, and profundity, from the innermost surface of the Crater or mouth. In the Center of the Bottom, Nature seem鈥檇 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 flames; and imply鈥檇 in decocting of Sulphur, Bitument, and melting and burning other kinds of Minerals; and by a certain secret endeavour and enterprise, preparing for deadly ruines and slaghter afterwards to be committed. Sith the vapours included within; as they know not how to be contained: so they did discuse, or scatter the burden that lay upon them, with so great force and violence, accompanied with horrible cracklings and noise, that the Mountain seem鈥檇 to be tost with an Earthquake or trembling. Which whensoever 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 reflextion 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 furrows, or hollow channels; which the various ebullition of the melted Minerals, stowing into all parts of the circumference; of a creenish colour now; from Brass; presently of a yellow colour, from Sulphur, Arsenick, and Sndarack: Now red; from Cinnabar, Minium or Red Lead, and Vermilion; then black; from Vitriol mixt with Water; or of an Ashy colour, from the very Cinders; did as it were, by the ingenious 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 its 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 obtained of old; unless it be destroyed by some new burning supervening: Which hat happened in this very same year I now write these things, in the year 1660. For that the Mountain outrageous 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 bestook my self into the Island Aenaria, which they call Ischia; of much not, and celebrated with great fame by ancient writers. And thence into the Phlegraean Plain, of Putzol Fields, Vulcan鈥檚 Market-place or Theater; (of which before.) And whatsoever, 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 also 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.
