the difmal accounts that have been lately given of these terrible Vifitations of God.

I have been the more incouraged to proceed in Printing these small Manuals by the acceptance that others of this nature have already met with, which, I find, bas occafioned many, Cefpecially young People) to lay afide thofe vain and idle Songs and Romance's wherewith they were formerly Converfant, and to divert their vacant hours with reading the real Tranfa&tions, Revolutions and Accidents that are recorded by Authors of the greatest Veracity, to have happened in divers Ages and Countries. And this being of that kind, I have no cause to doubt, but it may meet with a civil Treatment as thofe that have already been made publick by

R. B.

[5]

THE

General History

O. F

EARTHQUAKES.

A

Mong the feveral Plagues and Judgments wherewith the Almighty vifiteth, and punifheth the Enormities and Sins of Mankind, that of Earthquakes may be accounted the most Dreadful and Tremendous, which in an inftant fwalloweth up thousands of people of all Qualities and Ages, together with the moft fuperb and ftately Edifices that Pride and Ambition can raife, in a moment, even in the twinkling of an Eye, to convince Men of the Greatnefs and Power of the Supream Creator, and how vain it is to value themfelves upon any mundane enjoyments; Of which we have lately had very aftonishing Inftances in feveral parts of the World.

II. But before I proceed to give a Relation of them, it may be neceffary to discover the Natural Caufes of this dreadful Concuffion of the Earth, which the God of Heaven makes use of to fignify his Difpleasure for the provoking Crimes of Nation and People; Of which a Learned Divine gives the following account.

III. An Earthquake is a fhaking of the Earth, occafioned by Wind and Exhalations inclofed within the Caves and Bowels of the Earth, which can find no paffage, or at least none long enough to discharge themselves, and therefore breaking forth with great force and violence; it fometimes fhaketh the Earth, another while rendeth and openeth the fame, fometimes cafting up Earth a great height into the Air, otherwhile caufing the ground to fink down a great depth, fwallowing Cities, Towns, Palaces, Caftles, yea prodigious high Mountains, leaving in the place nothing but deep holes, or long and unfathomable Lakes of Water.

IV. Authors write differently of the feveral kinds of Earthquakes, but they ufually comprehend them under four; The firit kind is when the Earth is fhaken laterally or to one fide, the whole force of the inclofed Wind and Vapours driving to one Place, and there is no contrary motion to hinder it. This Wind, if it be not great, caufeth the Earth to tremble like a Man in an Ague Fit, and doth no more harm, but if it be ftrong

ftrong and violent, it loofeth the Foundations of all Buildings though never fo firm, oyerthrows whole Cities, and fometimes throws down great Hills, fo that they overwhelm all the Valleys under them. The fecond kind is, when the Earth is lifted up with great violence fo that the Buildings are like to fall, and inftantly fink down again, and this is caufed by the force of the Winds which ftrive to get upward like Gunpowder, and finding fome deliverance from confinement, the Earth falls down to its former place. The third fort is the opening, rending or gaping of the Earth, which finking down fwallows up Cities, Towns, yea Rocks, Rivers and Flouds, and fo that they never appear again; Nay the Sea in fome places hath been drunk up, fo that People have gone over on foot, till the returning Tyde hath covered the place with Water again. The laft kind is, when great Mountains arife out of the Earth, or elfe when fome part of the Land finketh down, and instead thereof arife Rivers, Lakes or Fires, breaking out with Smoak and Afhes; Sometimes the bottom of the Sea is lifted up, whereby many Islands are made that were never feen before; Of which History gives large Accounts.

V. If it be asked how fuch mighty Winds come to be under the Earth, the Philofo phers anfwer, that the great Caves and Dens of the Earth being always full of Air, when

the heat of the Sun refolves the moisture of the Earth many Exhalations are generated, both within and without the fame : and the places being full before, can receive no more, unless fome part be let out, fo that in thofe Countries where the Earth hath but few Pores, or where they are stopt with moisture, it must neceffarily happen, that thefe Exhalations ftriving to get out, muft needs rend the Earth, or lift it up, either to get free paffage, or to make room enough to abide within.

VI. It has been observed That there are ufually feveral Signs and Prefages of this terrible Calamity. As firft the raging of the Sea when there are no Tempestuous Winds to move it, yea in the greatest Calm, which is occafioned by the Winds labouring to get paffage that way, but being repelled, foon after thakes the Earth. Again, the Water in the bottom of deep Wells is troubled and infected with a Sulphurous fmell, from the peftilent Exhalations long inclofed within the Earth, which now begin to spread abroad; And hereupon, in divers places an Earthquake has caufed abundance of Smoak, Flame and Afhes to iffue forth, by reafon that the vast quantity of Brimftone under ground is by the Violent motion fet on Fire and burfteth out, fo that it is a Wonder if after an Earthquake fome grievous Peltilence does not follow, the whole Mafs of the Poisonous Minerals within the Bowels of

the