90 History of Nature. [BoOK II. 



melted in the Bags, and the Bags themselves unscorcbed ; 

 and not even the Wax of the Seal defaced. Martia, a noble 

 Lady of Rome, being great with Child, was struck with 

 Lightning : the Child she went with was killed within her, 

 and she survived without any Harm. Among the Catiline 

 Prodigies it is found upon Record, that M. Herennius (a 

 Counsellor of the incorporate Town Pompeianum) was in a 

 fair and clear Day smitten with Lightning. 



CHAPTER LII. 

 Of Observations touching Lightning. 



IT is held in the Writings of the ancient Tuscans 1 , that 

 there be nine Gods that send forth Lightnings, and those 

 of eleven Sorts : for Jupiter (say they) casteth three at once. 

 The Romans have observed two of them, and no more; attri- 

 buting those in the Day-time to Jupiter, and those of the 

 Night to Summanus or Pluto. And these verily be more 

 rare, for the Cause before-named ; namely, the Coldness 

 of the Air above. In Etruria, they suppose that some 

 Lightnings break out of the Earth, which they call Infera, 

 or Infernal ; and such be made in Midwinter. And these 

 they take to be earthly, and of all most mischievous and exe- 

 crable : neither be those general and universal Lightnings, 

 nor proceeding from the Stars, but from a very near and 

 more troubled Cause. And this is an evident Argument 

 for Distinction, that all such as fall from the upper Sky strike 

 obliquely : but those which they call earthly, smite straight. 

 But the Reason why these are thought to issue from the 

 Earth is, because they fall from out of a Matter nearer to 

 the Earth ; forasmuch as they leave no Marks of a Stroke 



1 This people was famed for the study of prognostications from natural 

 appearances : an art they had probably derived from Egypt or Assyria, 

 and which the neighbouring nations learned from them. It consisted in 

 minutely observing every unusual occurrence, and in deducing thence, 

 according to rules known only to the proper authorities, the will of the 

 gods, or the indications of a fixed necessity. This science is farther spoken 

 of in the seventh book. Wern. Club. 



