I Have oftentimes considered with my selfe in the depth of my serious Meditations , the most remarkable Prodigies , and Accidents that have happened since the Birth of our Saviour Christ , to this very Time wherein wee now are : and though I confesse , that old Authors have left them to us in the writings both terrible and fearefull , and so horrid to the Learned of those times , and to the Aged of those dayes , that it afforded them matter and Subiect sufficient of relating and writing the same to the Ages and Times that shall succeed them , and were accompanied with such terrours to those that then were the Eye-witnesses thereof , that the same caused them to be , as the Scripture hath it , at their wits end , and tooke from them as then , all manner of life and motion , bringing therewith to those that onely heard thereof , though farre distant , both a wonderfull amazement and an exceeding astonishment , both of body and minde : the most notable that have beene observed , have fallen out and happen'd contrary to the usuall and common course of Nature , as the apparition of many Sunnes at one and the selfe-same instant of time , and that happened in the yeere of our Lord 64. and in the yeere of our Lord 438. besides the three Sunnes that appeared and was manifested to the view of all beholders , wherein the figure of a naked Monster appeared , whose body bore three Heads of humane forme . The said strange Accidents in the Firmament by the apparition of many Sunnes was also seene in the yeeres 1429 , 1452 , and 1480. accompanied alwayes with horrible Tempests , cruell Lightnings , and with violent Thundrings and rumors in the Ayre . Besides which , at other times were seene Dragons with three Heads , with many Basilisks and flying Serpents , combatting and fighting against Armies of Horse and Foote , as in the yeeres of our Lord 984. and 995. At other times also were seene fiery Pillars of immeasurable greatnesse and length , the most remarkable of which happened Twelve yeeres after the comming of our Redeemer Christ Jesus , and so also the same in the yeeres of 372. 1560. and 1569.

Againe , at one and the selfe-same time were seene flying Bafilisks and siery Pillars , as in the yeeres of our Lord 1585. and oftentimes have been seene Swords , Darts , and other Martiall Weapons ; and armed Horse and Foote-men which have combatted together , and have beene seene the one side to overthrow and put to rout the other , as in the yeere of our Lord 71. and in the yeere 1526.

In the Island of Cyprus , now under the Subiection of the Grand Turke , in the yeere of our Lord 78. did appeare in the Firmament , to the terrour of the beholders , Foure men of a large stature and greatnesse , cloathed with Fire , and armed with horrible Darts , and Comets : Likewise it is recorded that in Constantinople , the Metropolis of the present Empire of the Turkes , in the yeere of our Lord 432. it powred downe or hailed ( if I may so tearme it ) a storme of Stones : and in the City of Tolledo in Spaine in the same yeere was seene in the Ayre strange Diabolicall figures and shapes , which moved much the beholders both to feare and horrour .

At other times have beene also seene many Crosses in the Firmament , sometimes to the number of Seven and Eight , with fiery Comets , accompanied with other prodigies , and this happened in the yeere of our Lord , 1228. and 1321. and in conclusion to avoid prolixity in the recounting and numbring of so many strange and terrible Accidents , ( that Marble it selfe would be affraid if it were any way capable of feare and frighting ) To see it raine a quantity of humane Corps , and to fall from the Skies to the number of two Hundred in one place , would doubtlesse affright the most hardy and undaunted courage of the most resolute and valiant : and what living Soule would not be affraid thereat ? and this happened in the yeere 570. in Italy , and some yeeres after in the Kingdome of France .

In our times to heare of Earthquakes , and see the motion and removall of the Land in this or in that part of the World , to see the Ayre infected , to feele the contagious Plague and Pestilence , and to understand of the great Mortality of Mankind is ordinary : to heare the Stones of that flaming and evaporating Hill Vesuvius neare the City of Naples , some yeeres past , who thrust and belched from its bowells such abundance of flame , smoake , and ashes , with so much hurt , harme , and universall preiudice to the poore neighbouring Inhabitants , and to the Citizens of that flourishing City is every where published . I therefore willingly here omit the Relation of those other remarkable & memorable Earthquakes which have happened in sundry parts , and divers Kingdomes of the World , which though they are confessed to be great , and horrid , and accompanied with the Mortality and Death of many persons , yet notwithstanding the terrour thereof , the same hath not so much daunted and amazed the hearts and courages of men as this now late Earthquake hath done , that happened the 27. day of March last , 1638. according to the Romane Account , about the Houres of 21. and 22. according to their Computation ; and according to the English the 17. of March , 1637. and betweene Three and Foure of the Clocke in the Afternoone , being Saturday , and accounted the Feast-day of Saint Patricke the Irish Saint , in the Province of Callabria the Inferiour , part of the notable and plentifull Countrey and Kingdome of Naples , which hath proved so universall a scourge to that Province , and unto that part of the Countrey , that the Tongue of Man cannot possibly recount the same , nor the least part of the affliction which that miserable people , the Inhabitants which are yet remaining thereabouts , have suffered : what sudden and unexpected suffocations by water did some endure ! What openings of the Earth were seene , where the bodies of some were in part or in whole imprison'd and stifled ! how many are distraught with the terrour of the motions of the Hills and Mountaines ! and how many slain and ruin'd with the fall of their Habitations and Mansions ! how many he cover'd now in Death with that covering , which in Life defended them by Night and Day both from the Summers Sun and the Winters cold ! how many were within doores slaine , before they could get out , and how many perished in the fields ere they could returne to their Cities and Houses . The husband was aswell unmindfull of his dearest Wife , as the tender Mother was of her nearest and dearest Children : The Master commanded in vaine ; and the Servant had no time to obey for feare of death : some ranne to the House tops for safety , and some to their Vaults and Sellers , yet both found their ruine alike : so that those horrours this Earthquake was accompanyed with , attended upon the inhabitants both at home and abroad , both within their doores , and abroad in their fields ; here was no leasure for to send for a Priest , nor no time for administration of the Sacrament ; but onely that is in Christian Charity to be beleeved , that every one beseeched the pitty and goodnesse of the Almighty and most mercifull God for pardon for their sinnes , who though he sometimes in Iustice chastiseth and scourgeth , yet willeth notwithstanding our totall perdition , and especially of so many soules redeemed by the power of his precious blood , and by him so dearely loved .

We then , like loving Children towards so gracious and good a Father , with correspondent sincere affection , and pure hearts , ought alwaies so to live , as to be prepared for such , or the like suddaine accidents and dangers , having recourse to the footestoole of his mercy Seate , imploring there his aide , helpe , and protection , and flying and avoyding all occasions of offending so gracious and mercifull a God , who is bent ever to punish the wicked , and to be merciful to the iust and penitent , thereby mitigating his iust wrath and vengeance , the which by how much it is for-flowed , is by so much the more to bee feared to increase .

THe City of Nicastero , which is wholly destroyed and ruined downe to the ground .

The City of Monterane also wholly destroyed .

The City of Nocera also wholly destroyed .

The City of Castalione wholly destroyed : the Prince thereof was here residing , whose corpse are neither found alive nor dead , but some part and members of his Lady is found , and distinguished from the rest of her Ladies .

The famous City of Cossensa , is the one halfe ruined and destroyed , with the Countrey-houses thereabouts in the territory adjoyning ; also the Palace of the Prince , the famous Convent of the Jesuites , and the much noted Convent of the Capuchin Friers .

A great part of the City of Poala .

The Balliwicke belonging to the Knights of Malta is wholy destroied and of a place of firme land , is become a standing Lake and Water .

The City of Sancta Eufemia , wholly destroyed .