Cn8] 
ciently convincing J which very much favour the opini- 
on I lately offered. That Thunder and Lightning owe 
their matter from the fble breath of the Pyrites : And al- 
though I am as loath, and as backward as any man to 
give credit to fuch Inftances, which feem rather prodi- 
gies, then the Phaenomenaof nature; yet becaufe they 
often occur in Hifliory, it is at leaft fitting to bring them 
under further enquiry and examination, that if they can 
be confuted as falfe, fo much may be done for Pofterity s 
and that we at leaft may not leave upon our Regifters, 
matters of fa£t not true, if they can befairelyfet afide. 
The firft fort of them are thofe which tell us of Iron to 
have fallen in great mafles, and alfo in powder after the 
mannet of rain, out of the Air. 
In a part Italy it rained Iron in fuch a year, and in 
Qermany a great body of Jron-ftone fell at luch a time 
the like Avicenn affirms. luUus Scaliger fay's he had by 
him a piece of Iron, which was rained in Savoy, where it 
fell in diverfe places. Cardan report? 1200 ftones to 
have fain from Heaven, and one of them weighed 120 /. 
fomeof them 30 /. fome4o /. very hard, and of the co- 
lour of Iron. 
Now that which is very remarkable (fays Gilbert where 
thofe inflances are reckoned up,) and a very probable ar- 
gument for the truth of fuch li.ie inftances, is, that it is 
no where recorded , that it ever rained Gold or Silver 
Ore,or Tinor Lead v but Copper hath been alfo faid to 
have fain from the Clouds. 
( And here I muft note by the By, that wherever the 
Tyrites is mentioned by the Antlents, it is always to be 
underftood of the CopperPyrites they fcarce having had 
any knowledge of the Iron Pyrites ) And therefore the 
raining of Copper makes it yet more probable, becaufe 
of its great Affinity with Iron ( which 1 fliall have occafi- 
6n fome other time to difcourfe of. ) 
Novi this Ferrum or Nubegnum f if there was ever a- 
ny 
