q. v The ^(jtural Uiflory 



colour, entire and well determined, which continued fo for a- 

 bouthalf an hour after Ifirftfaw it. The reafon why fuch' ap- 

 pear not of divers colours, as Rain-bows do that are made by 

 the Sun, has been alwaies afcribed by Philofophers, to the weak- 

 nefs of the Moons raies, not entring fo deeply into the opacity 

 of the clouds. But if we may give credit to ' Van: Smnzrtws, 

 it has once to his knowledge happened otherwife, vi^. in the 

 year 1593, wnen ^ tev a g reat ftorm of Thunder and Lightning, 

 he beheld an Iris Lunaris adorned with all the colours of the 

 Rain-bow. As for ours, though I could not perceive in any 

 part of it, that it had the leaft ftiade of any colour but white ; 

 however, I thought it not 'unworthy our notice, not only for 

 the infrequency of the thing(they never happening but at or near 

 the Moons full, and then but fo very feldom too, that m Arislotk 

 profeffes, that hefawbuttwo in above fifty years ; and I know 

 feveral learned and obferving Men, that never faw fuch an Iris 

 in their lives) but alfo becaufe of the great clemency of the wea- 

 ther, that followed upon it at that time of the year ; there fal- 

 ling not one drop of rain, nor any wind ftirringfor fixtecn days 

 after, but fo great a ferenity, that the waies were as clean and 

 paffable then, as we could wifh or ever enjoyed them at Mid- 

 fummer. 



8. From the Firmament (waving all confiderations of the 

 pure /Ether, of which we know fo little, that I lhall fay nothing) 

 I naturally defcend to the loweft Heaven, I mean that fubtile Bo- 

 dy that immediatly incompafles the Earth, and is filled with all 

 manner of exhalations, and from thence commonly known by 

 the name of the Atmoffihere. Whether befidcthefe exhalations, 

 there be any peculiar fimplebody, called Air, Heave to the more 

 fubtile Philofophers, and confider it here only, as 'tis the fub- 

 jeft of ftorms, of thunder and wind, of Echo's, and as it has 

 relation to ficknefs and health. 



9. As to Tempefts that have happen'd in this County,though 

 perhaps there have been fome heretofore attended with as deplo- 

 rable effe&s as any where elfe yet becaufe they are no where 

 tranfmitted to pofterity, I (hall only mention two within our 

 memory, vi%. The ftorm of wind that happen'd one night in 

 February, Anno i66* 2i which though general (at leaft all over 



1 Si'tiTtertUsinEpitom.Vhyf. m E 'trtr., .* : mf. Meteor- lib. 3. C*p- 2. 



England") 



