A
Prodigious
,
and
most
lamentable
accident
,
Lately
befallen
the
Citie
of
PLEVRS
,
Belonging
to
the
Signiorie
of
VENICE
:
Which
happened
in
the
beginning
of
September
last
past
,
1618.
SUch
is
the
prauitie
of
our
nature
,
that
wee
alwayes
rather
feele
the
smart
of
Gods
Diuine
vengeance
falling
vpon
vs
,
than
weigh
the
counsels
and
purpose
of
his
heart
,
which
hee
aymeth
at
in
the
midst
of
his
wrath
,
punishing
and
correcting
vs
for
our
just
deserts
,
by
which
wee
haue
coustrained
him
to
turne
his
mercy
into
justice
,
and
fauour
and
benefits
,
into
rods
and
scourges
.
The
effects
whereof
falling
out
daily
before
our
eyes
,
in
this
behalfe
,
tende
to
none
other
ende
,
but
to
rowze
vs
out
of
that
lethargie
of
sin
into
which
wee
bee
fallen
,
and
to
let
out
the
swelling
of
our
pride
:
that
at
the
length
wee
may
carefullie
aduise
our selues
,
before
our
finall
desolation
fall
vpon
our
heads
.
But
(
alas
)
wee
are
so
hood-winked
,
and
senselesse
,
in
the
middest
of
this
our
miserie
,
that
for
want
of
a
discerning
eye
,
wee
are
readie
to
attribute
all
misse-happe
to
secondarie
causes
,
and
to
extraordinarie
effectes
:
rather
than
wiselie
to
bethinke
vs
,
in
judging
,
that
the
roote
from
whence
all
our
euils
spring
,
is
from
our selues
.
From
none
other
cause
proceedeth
all
the
casualities
which
happen
euerie
day
in
our
sight
:
but
especiallie
of
late
yeares
,
as
well
by
the
last
effectes
of
Fire
,
Aire
,
and
Water
,
as
by
other
vnawonted
accidentes
,
proceeding
from
the
elementes
,
which
God
vseth
as
his
roddes
to
afflict
man
withall
.
Wee
know
,
that
within
a
yeare
,
or
there
abouts
,
what
hath
hapned
both
in
France
,
and
elsewhere
,
to
the
great
astonishment
of
mortall
men
,
who
are
but
dust
and
ashes
,
and
whereat
indeed
the
greatest
wits
haue
stood
amazed
.
Spaine
was
at
her
wittes
ende
,
in
admiring
that
Deluge
which
befell
in
the
Earledome
of
Barcellonne
,
with
much
ruine
and
losse
in
this
verie
moneth
and
time
of
the
yeare
.
France
it selfe
hath
had
no
cause
to
mocke
at
her
Neighboures
harmes
,
but
to
bee
whollie
taken
vp
with
feare
,
hauing
seene
,
the
Lenton
last
past
,
1618.
the
wonderfull
burning
and
consumption
of
the
Pallace
of
her
head
Citie
;
the
Sanctuarie
of
the
Innocent
,
the
terrour
of
the
guiltie
,
where
the
Oracles
of
Trueth
were
euerie
daye
to
bee
hearde
,
by
vncorrupt
ARISTIDES
,
inflexible
in
the
cause
of
Equitie
,
and
a
just
conseruer
of
Right
and
Reason
.
But
all
this
is
but
a
little
,
in
respect
of
that
,
which
as
wee
heare
,
hapned
vpon
the
Countreyes
belonging
to
the
Signiorie
of
VENICE
,
in
the
beginning
of
this
present
moneth
of
September
,
to
the
ruine
and
vtter
losse
of
the
Towne
,
or
Citie
,
of
PLEVRS
:
namelie
,
that
about
that
time
,
the
fourth
,
or
the
fifth
,
of
this
present
moneth
,
happened
vpon
the
Territories
of
the
saide
Cittie
such
a
fearfull
and
prodigious
storme
,
mingled
with
thundring
and
lightnings
,
with
winde
and
tempest
,
that
it
seemed
Heauen
and
Earth
woulde
haue
gone
together
,
and
that
the
last
times
,
fore-tolde
by
Daniel
,
were
nowe
inflicted
there
:
and
that
which
is
worthy
of
greatest
wonder
and
astonishment
,
was
an
exceeding
vehement
winde
,
enclosed
and
shutte
vppe
within
the
bowels
&
hollownesse
of
the
earth
,
with
certaine
fires
burning
vnder
the
grounde
,
which
with
their
violent
encountering
each
of
other
,
with
blasts
,
&
counter-blasts
,
made
such
an
hideous
noyse
within
those
holes
and
narrow
places
,
wherewith
the
Countrey
was
filled
,
that
it
caused
a
verie
strange
shaking
,
or
trembling
,
of
the
Earth
:
yea
,
so
fearfull
,
that
the
effects
ensuing
thereof
are
incredible
:
Thence
came
the
totall
and
deplorable
losse
of
the
said
Citie
of
PLEVRS
,
somewhat
greater
,
and
better
peopled
,
than
is
S.
Denis
in
France
.
For
the
Earth
opening
it selfe
,
by
the
vehemencie
of
these
fires
vnder
the
ground
,
and
the
blusteringes
of
these
winds
inclosed
within
her
bowels
,
and
in
seeking
vent
,
that
in
this
opening
and
trembling
of
the
earth
,
the
said
City
was
wholly
sunken
and
swallowed
vp
,
with
all
and
euery
one
of
the
houses
and
buildings
,
with
the
losse
of
moe
than
two
thousande
soules
,
crauing
for
mercy
in
so
great
,
so
sudden
,
and
vnexspected
a
calamity
.
And
within
the
said
Territorie
,
many
Trees
,
Woods
,
&
Forrests
,
were
some
of
them
ouerthrowne
by
the
windes
,
and
othersome
were
consumed
and
burnt
,
aswell
by
the
fire
of
heauen
,
as
by
the
flames
issuing
foorth
,
and
vomited
from
out
of
the
bowels
of
the
earth
:
Which
strucke
such
an
astonishment
into
the
neighbour
Countreyes
,
that
all
fell
to
prayers
,
made
publicke
and
solemne
processions
:
taking
it
for
a
certain
forewarning
of
Gods
mercy
turned
into
fury
,
and
for
a
sure
vndoubted
token
,
that
his
anger
is
kindled
against
the
sonnes
of
men
:
seeking
hereby
to
appease
him
in
the
midst
of
his
just
conceiued
displeasure
.
The
former
Relation
,
More
particularly
set
foorth
,
in
an
Aviso
,
of
the
Lordes
of
the
States
of
HELVETIA
and
the
GRISONS
.
Faythfully
translated
,
according
to
the
Copie
Printed
at
MILLAINE
,
1618.
THE
effects
of
Nature
are
of
so
deepe
comprehension
,
as
the
most
subtill
Philosophers
haue
lost
themselues
in
the
admiration
thereof
.
The
flowing
and
ebbe
of
an
Eurypus
made
him
lose
all
his
reason
,
who
laboured
to
settle
the
principles
and
groundes
therof
:
And
he
who
so
searched
into
the
course
and
originall
of
it
,
returned
from
thence
astonished
with
wonder
,
and
besotted
with
ignorance
.
In
briefe
,
her
secrets
are
so
darke
and
hidden
,
as
mortall
eyes
can
make
no
discouerie
thereof
:
God
,
the
Author
of
Nature
,
reseruing
,
as
a
particular
to
himselfe
,
the
knowledge
of
those
mysteries
,
with
a
barre
to
all
others
to
enter
into
them
.
And
if
man
can
challenge
to
himselfe
any
little
taste
thereof
,
he
hath
it
by
purchase
from
that
great
distributer
of
knowledge
,
and
with
the
price
of
paines
and
trauels
innumerable
.
Dii
laboribus
omnia
vendunt
.
The
accident
which
happened
in
fresh
memorie
,
about
a
moneth
since
,
in
a
certaine
Towne
called
Pleurs
,
subject
to
the
State
of
the
Grisons
,
a
people
confining
with
the
Territorie
of
Millaine
,
and
with
Switzer-land
,
cannot
but
beget
in
vs
both
astonishment
and
admiration
together
:
astonishment
,
for
the
strangenesse
:
admiration
,
in
that
we
are
not
able
to
comprehend
the
cause
and
ground
thereof
.
This
is
not
the
fable
of
remouing
mountaines
,
&
heaping
one
vpon
the
top
of
another
by
Ouids
gyants
,
to
scale
Heauen
withal
:
but
a
true
fact
,
which
as
it
made
the
Earth
to
tremble
,
so
may
it
doe
the
heartes
of
the
most
couragious
men
,
and
make
them
shake
,
by
shaking
things
,
to
all
mens
thought
,
immooueable
:
so
as
nowe
wee
can
grounde
no
firme
assurance
vpon
Rockes
,
and
Chaunge
reigneth
by
course
ouer
all
thinges
.
This
Towne
of
Pleurs
,
aboue
named
,
seated
vpon
the
land
,
and
amongst
the
people
of
the
Grisons
,
is
subject
for
the
Temporalities
,
vnto
the
Lordes
of
that
State
:
and
for
the
Spiritualities
,
in
as
much
as
it
is
whollie
Popish
,
(
excepting
onelie
three
or
foure
houses
,
)
it
is
vnder
the
jurisdiction
of
the
Bishop
of
Como
.
It
is
rich
,
well
peopled
,
famous
for
Trade
,
the
Kirkes
(
well
recommended
for
their
building
,
rich
Ornamentes
,
and
Treasure
,
)
seeme
sufficientlie
to
witnesse
the
pietie
of
that
people
.
One
of
them
was
consecrate
vnder
the
name
of
Sainct
Iohn
of
Silan
:
and
the
other
,
more
renowned
than
that
,
by
the
name
of
Sainct
Cassian
.
The
particulars
as
well
of
this
Countrey
,
as
of
this
Towne
,
which
are
not
indeede
of
our
discourse
,
cannot
but
bee
tedious
to
the
Reader
,
who
attendeth
with
impatience
the
newes
of
a
case
so
strange
as
this
is
.
This
Towne
is
in
a
Valley
,
vnder
the
mountaine
Chrouena
,
in
neare
neighbourhood
,
and
not
aboue
the
distance
of
two
leagues
from
the
confines
of
Millaine
:
and
of
like
nearenesse
to
the
Porte
of
Tuentes
;
standing
vpon
the
banke
of
the
Lake
of
Como
,
where
passeth
the
Riuer
of
Mora
:
which
Riuer
,
although
it
carrie
a
strong
and
violent
current
,
yet
can
it
not
,
in
anie
reason
,
be
presumed
to
haue
beene
the
cause
of
this
ruine
whereof
wee
are
to
speake
.
Nature
had
fortified
this
Towne
,
and
immured
it
,
as
it
were
,
betwixt
two
mountains
:
the
one
whereof
was
singularlie
fertile
in
Winter
,
and
other
Fruites
of
the
Earth
making
her
appeare
with
another
countenan e
,
than
of
an
hideous
Rock
:
which
could
promise
no
pleasure
nor
delight
,
but
of
such
an
Hill
as
supplyed
the
Inhabitantes
with
infinite
commodities
,
vnder-ground
Caues
,
&
Gardens
,
Store-houses
;
and
other
commodious
places
,
which
they
found
within
the
bosome
of
this
mountaine
,
with
all
sorts
of
pleasures
,
delightes
,
and
delicates
.
This
other
Hill
,
which
is
aboue
Silano
,
and
beyond
the
Riuer
,
is
somewhat
more
distant
from
the
Town
,
which
,
it
seemeth
,
Nature
had
purposely
remooued
from
the
same
,
lest
it
might
(
perhaps
)
too
much
shadow
and
obscure
it
,
that
the
great
multitude
of
trees
wherewith
this
Hill
was
replenished
,
being
of
it selfe
higher
and
steeper
than
the
former
,
and
yet
bearing
(
notwithstanding
the
steepenesse
)
both
hay
and
wood
,
for
the
supply
of
this
Towne
.
Close
to
this
mountaine
there
stood
another
,
much
higher
than
the
same
,
and
wholly
barrend
and
desarted
:
a
fatall
Hill
,
and
destined
to
the
ruine
of
this
miserable
Towne
,
and
all
her
inhabitants
.
The
fourth
day
of
this
instant
month
of
September
,
this
great
and
steepe
Hill
was
shaken
,
either
by
some
windes
vnder
the
ground
,
or
by
some
secret
tempest
which
Nature
raised
from
within
her
bowels
:
in
such
fort
,
as
about
six
a
clock
in
the
euening
,
that
which
seemed
to
be
vnmoueable
,
was
seene
in
a
short
space
to
be
pulled
vp
by
the
roots
,
and
borne
away
by
the
fury
of
the
windes
.
A
strange
case
,
there
neuer
hauing
beene
seene
so
great
and
fearfull
an
Earth-quake
.
This
mountaine
then
being
shaken
with
his
fury
,
fell
with
such
violence
vpon
that
vnhappy
Towne
,
as
it
buried
both
it
,
and
all
the
inhabitants
together
.
It
was
about
Supper-time
,
at
what
time
the
most
parte
of
the
Townesmen
were
set
at
Table
,
when
they
found
themselues
ouerwhelmed
with
these
so
mightie
ruines
,
vnder
which
,
at
an
instant
they
gaue
vppe
the
ghost
.
Scarcelie
was
any
man
exempted
,
for
of
three
thousand
&
six
hundreth
persons
,
which
at
that
time
were
reckoned
to
bee
in
the
Towne
,
there
escaped
onelie
foure
,
of
whome
wee
will
speake
more
particularlie
heereafter
.
The
losse
of
goods
was
exceeding
great
,
inasmuch
as
the
esteemate
thereof
passeth
three
Millions
of
Golde
.
The
rage
and
tempestuous
force
of
the
windes
was
so
outragious
,
as
they
that
were
in
the
fieldes
felt
themselues
thereby
transported
into
places
whollie
vnknowne
.
The
Lord
Laurence
Scandolera
reporteth
,
that
being
in
a
Garden
of
his
,
with
his
Niece
,
hee
was
borne
by
the
violence
of
that
tempest
aboue
and
beyonde
the
Riuer
:
and
hee
was
found
on
a
little
Hill
,
called
Ronco
,
hauing
a
Napkin
at
his
Shoulder
,
and
his
Legges
broken
off
.
In
the
same
place
were
likewise
founde
the
little
Belles
of
Sainct
Maries
Kirke
,
borne
by
the
like
violence
out
of
the
Steeple
to
that
place
,
being
halfe
a
league
from
the
saide
Kirke
.
To
conclude
,
this
bounsing
was
so
terrible
,
and
the
bruit
spread
so
farre
,
that
all
the
neighbouring
Countreyes
presently
took
the
cry
,
and
stood
affrighted
with
the
horror
thereof
.
The
people
comming
a
little
to
themselues
,
ran
to
beholde
this
spectacle
,
where
in
stead
of
finding
a
Towne
,
in
the
Valleye
before
mentioned
,
they
found
an
high
and
fearfull
mountaine
,
hauing
within
its
entralls
swallowed
the
whole
company
of
its
poore
inhabitants
:
no
man
escaping
,
saue
only
four
,
as
were
saide
,
whom
wee
will
name
in
particular
,
to
giue
more
assurance
to
the
trueth
of
the
fact
.
A
Mother
there
desirous
to
saue
her
Childe
,
lost
her
legges
,
yet
could
not
recouer
him
whome
shee
held
dearest
in
the
worlde
.
A
young
man
,
called
Francis
Torno
,
who
was
gone
down
into
one
of
the
Vaults
vnder
ground
(
which
before
we
mentioned
,
and
described
in
the
first
Mountaine
)
to
draw
wine
.
Another
young
fellow
,
who
a
little
before
was
gone
to
a
Vineyarde
,
on
the
same
mountaine
,
to
gather
Peaches
.
And
the
fourth
was
the
Lord
Scandolera
,
of
whom
we
before
recounted
that
miraculous
story
.
The
Riuer
Mora
,
which
watered
all
this
Valley
,
hath
thereby
lost
its
naturall
and
ordinary
current
:
and
hath
beene
enforced
to
recouer
its
course
more
than
a
league
from
the
place
.
This
is
the
summe
of
what
happened
in
the
places
afore
said
,
being
in
trueth
a
wonder
vnmatchable
in
any
Age.
The
Deeps
below
,
and
Fire
aboue
,
hold
some
extraordinary
power
of
Nature
:
but
to
see
mountains
remoue
,
and
change
their
places
,
wee
must
in
trueth
auouch
,
that
this
thing
is
so
high
,
and
the
causes
so
hidden
,
as
humane
wit
cannot
pierce
into
the
depth
of
these
profound
mysteries
.
To
make
Nature
so
potent
,
as
to
giue
occasion
for
the
world
to
thinke
,
that
this
accident
proceeded
from
the
force
of
the
winds
,
which
perhaps
were
shut
vp
within
the
womb
of
the
Earth
,
and
there
had
intermixed
with
some
enclosed
fire
,
which
hauing
vndermined
this
mountaine
,
did
in
such
sort
ouerturne
it
,
were
to
attribute
vnto
Nature
too
much
force
and
strength
.
To
call
to
remembrance
another
Sodome
,
wherof
this
is
the
image
,
the
colours
only
excepted
,
I
meane
the
forme
of
their
destruction
:
to
ascribe
this
calamitie
to
the
judgement
of
God
,
were
to
partake
with
the
secrets
of
the
Highest
,
and
as
companions
to
his
Throne
,
to
giue
sentence
against
his
people
.
Therefore
,
suspending
our
judgements
,
let
vs
humble
our selues
before
God
,
lest
the
like
thing
happen
vnto
vs
.
FINIS
.