Epistle

THE
VULCANO’S:
OR,
Burning and Fire--vomiting Mountains,
Famous in the World:

With their Remarkables.
Collected for the most part out of KIRCHER’S
Subterraneous World;

And expos‘d to more general view in English, upon the Relation
of the late Wonderful and Prodigious Eruption of AETNA.

Therby to occasion greater admirations of the Wonders of Na--
ture (and of the God of Nature) in the mighty Element of Fire.

Res semper aliquid apportat novi.

None sadlier knows the unresisted Ire,
Then Thou, Poor London! Of th’all- raging Fire.
But these occasion’d kindlings are but Blazes,
To th’mighty burnings, which fierce Nature raises.
If then a Town, or Hills blaze be so dire;
What will be th’ last, and universal Fire?

Licensed and Entred according to Order.

London, Printed by J. Darby, for John Allen; and are to sold by him at the White Horse in Wentworth Street near Bell Lane; and by Benjamin Billingsly at the Printing-Press in Broad-street near Gresham College, 1669.

The Epistle to the Reader.

Here are presented to thee in English, the most wonderful, most prodigious, and even miraculous Operations of Nature, in the Geocosm, or Terrestrial World. ‘Tis confess‘d ‘tis not an exact, or compil’d History; But rather a scatter’d Collection of Historical Relations by others, of most remarkable passages. Which so came to pass: First, upon so fair an occasion given, by the late incredible Eruptions of Aetna, and past all belief: Had they not been confirmed by so honourable a Testimony, past all mistrust. And yet there were not wanting some such persons, so unknowing and faithless; as to question, not-withstanding at first, all for Rodamontado, or Isle of Pines, &c. Therfore, secondly also, by reason of so general and universal Ignorance of these Matters found among our Countreymen; as sufficiently appeared at the first coming forth of that late wonderful Relation. As if some such strange thing had hapned, as never before in the World; at least never so great, so prodigious and portentous. That therefore men might be more generally acquainted with the Wonders of Nature, (in this particular also of Fire) has this been undertaken. And then because there had yet been none in English of the Subject, for the general information of men, or of such as were desirous to know fuller of these matters. And yet there is a method sufficient for an exact History. Nor is there any thing Material, or Remarkable; that is not, in brief, at least taken notice of. Lastly, The Subject and Argument so admirable and curious, may excuse other defects. For thou no so much the Philosophy of these Matters, (yet there is a sprinkling of that too, as occasionally it occur’d in our Author) as the mighty Effects and Things themselves are here intended for the English Reader. ‘Tis therefore an Historical Narration of the Worlds Volcano’s, and their Wonders and Remarkables. But for the grand Literado’s and such as are past their English Tongue, let them be satisfied; that it was never calculated for men of their Degree and Elevation. So not to weary thee with Complements of a long Epistle, or to hang out Invitations of greater pretences, then realities; we leave thee to what entertainment the Book itself will afford. And if thou findst any occasion, not to repend, of so much time and labour as the perus. By so much the farther will the Author be from repenting of his pains, or thinking his labour lost, that is for no good or benefit to his Countreymen, in Englishing so wonderful things. He presumes to say; Read, and admire, and take the pleasure therof. Farwel.

The Explication of the Schemes, out of Kircher.

I.

The Central Fire A, through certain Fire-ducts, or Channels, diffuses round about, every where, far and near fiery exhalations and spirits. These driven into the Water-houses, it partly disposes into hot Baths; partly attenuates or rarifies into vapours; wich dashing, as it were, against the Arches or Vaults of Concavous Dens, and condens‘d by the coldness of the place, and lastly dissolved into Waters, generate Fountains and Rivers; and then partly derived into fit Matrices and Receptacles, fruitful of other kind of Juyces, of several Minerals, contract fast together, and harden into Metallick Bodies; or else are ordered tfora ne Conception, and fructifying of combustible Matter, to nourish, and still feed and maintain the Fire. You see there also, how the Sea, by the Winds and pressure of the Air, or motion of the aestuating Tides, ejaculate and cast forth the Water, through Subterraneous, or under-ground Burrows, into the highest Water-houses of the Mountains. You see also the Sea and the Plains in the utmost surface of the Earth, to take place next to the Subterraneous World; and the Air next to them, as the Scheme teaches: Yet you are not to image, that the Fires and Waters, &c. are really thus disposed. But this onely was to signifie, according to the best imagination of the Author, that they are after some well ordered and artificial, or organiz’d way or other, contriv’d by Nature; and that the Under-ground World was a well fram’d House, with distinct Rooms, Cellars, and Store-houses, by great Art and Wisdom fitted together; and not, as many think a confused and jumbled heap or Chaos of things, as it were, of Stones, Bricks, Wood, and other Materials, as the rubbish of a decayed House, or an House not yet made.

And to the perpetuation of these hidden and unsearchable operations of Nature, there is a constant circulation and return round thereof. The Constellations, Sun, Moon, and Stars, cause the reciprocal flowings and Tides of the Sea to and fro. By the impetuousness of the Seas rage and Tides, an immense bulk of Waters, being, through hid and occult passages at the bottom of the Ocean protruded or thust forcibly into the intimate bowels of the Earth, excite and stirs up also Subterraneous Fire by the impetuousness of Winds, and restores it with new conveyance of Nutrient. The Subterraneous Fire not knowing how to be idle, being enkindled by the reciprocation, or return to and fro, of the Tides, as it were by certain Bellows; and raging does, by these, and those, and the other Fibres, or Veins of occult passages, which are replenished with Metallick and Mineral Juyces, carry, whiles it passes by, an huge plenty of vapors with it self; which protruded partly through the Terrestrial Conveyances of the Mountains, partly through the bottom of the Ocean, in to the uttermost Surface ;and there dilated and spread wider, do again, with their blasts, solicite and provike the Air, the Ocean, and Seas. And what is again insinuated through the Orifices of the Oceans bottom, doth convey new Provanr to the Subterraneous Fire, nourish and conserve it; and by this mians also doth sypply new matter to provoke and stir up the Sea again; as but now was declar’d) You see therefore the manner and way of the Circulation of Nature. You see how Water, Fire; Fire, Water; mutually, as it were, cherish one another; and by a certain unanimous consent, conspire to the Conservation of the Geochosm, or Terrestrial World. For if Subterraneous Fire should emit no vapours for matters of Winds; The Sea, as it were torpid, and void of motion, would go into a putridness, to the ruine of the whole Globe. And consequently destitute of the aid of Winds, could neither also succour Subterraneous Fire, with necessary nutriment. Whence the Fire extinct, being the life of the Macrocosm, as spirituous blood is of the Microcosm, Universal Nature must necessarily perish. Lest therefore Nature, undergoing so great a detriment, should fail; Hereupon God most good and great, by provident Nature, the Hand-maid of the Supream Work-master, would have both Elements be in perpetual Motion, for admirable ends, elsewhere shewn. Fore the Water sliding through the secret passages underground, supplies moisture; and together therewith carries a mixture of Terrestrial portion to the Fire-houses, for their food. And these again swelling with hot Spirits, carried upwards, and elevated through wonted Fire-ducts, do with their heat cherish the Water houses, and other kind of Receptacles, whether of Air, or several Juyces of Minerals and Earths, (for there are Store-houses of all undergournd) and do animate them for the Generation both of Minerals, and also of Vegetables, to be promoted, or furthered by exhalations. And so in an everlasting, and circulatory motion, all things which are beheld in Nature, do exist and abide. And so Subterraneous Fire, together with Water, are the Effectors and Generators, we may say, of all things, &c.

II.

This Scheme expresses the Nests of Heat only, or, which is all one, the Fire-houses, variously distributed through the Universal Bowels of the Earth, by the admirable Workmanship of God; lest any where should be wanting, what would be so greatly necessary to the Conversation of the Geocosm. But let none perswade himself, as if the Firese were constituted, as here represented; and the Firehouses forthwith disposed in that order. In no wise this. We would onely hereby shew, that the bowels of the Earth are full of Aestuaries, that is places overflown, and raging with Fire, which we call Under-ground Fire-houses, or Concervatories; whether after such, or any other manner disposed. From the Centre therefore we have deduc’d the Fire, through all the Paths (to be supposed) of the Terrestrial World; even to the very Vulcanian Mountains themselves, in the Exteriour Surface. The Central Fire is signed with the letter A. The rest are the Aestuaries, or Fire-houses, signed with B. The Fire-ducts, C. But the least Channels, are Fissures, or clefts of the Earth, which the Fiery Spirits pass, and make their way through.

A. The Central Fire
B. The Fire-houses
C. The Fire-ducts
Fissures of the Earth, the rest.

The TABLE

CHAP. I
Of Subterraneous Fire-houses; That is, Abysses, or deep Storehouses of Fire: or, if you will, Aestuaries (that is, places overflown and raging with; or, as it were, Creeks of Fire) underground.

CHAPT. II
Of the Volcano’s or Ignovomous, that is Fire-vomiting Mountains in General.

CHAP. III
Of the Manifold Volcano’s of Italy in Particular.

CHAP. IV
Of the Remakables of Volcano’s and their Eruptions in General.

CHAP. V
Of the Remarkables of the Volcano’s of Italy, and their notorious Eruptions in particular, &c. Viz.
Of the Phlegraean Plains, or Volcano’s Court.
Of the Mountain Vesuvious, &c.

CHAP. VI
Of the Prodigious and Wonderful Aetna in Special; and of the Vulcanian Islands adjoining
Aetna’s Crater of Fire-Cup.
A Chronicle of Aetna’s Fires, &c.
Of the Volcanello’s; Strombolo, and Volcano, &c.
A sad story of a Spanish Priest, &c.
A foolish Story of Sir Thomas Gresham.