C3) 
The continual Fiery Eruptions of Mtna (of which 
the firft that we have any Account of, happened 500 
Years before the Deftruftion of troy, as Diodortu SicH* 
lus relates) have been taken for the moft likely Caufes 
of the horrible (hakes that from time to time have laid 
wafte the Ifland of Sicilia, as is obferved by Fazello^ M 
the firft Decade in the li?. Book, Cap. d^. and in the 
xoth. Book of the laft Decade. Where he remembers 
that of the Year 1541. which on the \oth, of Decern^ 
hr at the 23^. hour fliook the whole Mand, and efpe- 
cially ValdiUotOy Syracufa^ Lentiniy Sortini^ Mililli^ 
Catania^ Jgofla, Noto, Caltagirone^ Militello ; and in 
ftiort, the lame Cities and Caftles which were miferably 
ruined by the two late violent Earthquakes of this pre- 
fent Year 1693. 
The firft of which was at Five a Clock the next Night 
after the ^th, of January. Its Motion was of that fort 
which Ariftotk and Pliny call the Firft Species^ and is by 
them likened to the lhaking Fit of an Ague, caufing 
fuch a motion as lhakes the Earth from fide to fide. In 
this firft almoft all the Edifices in the Country were 
thrown down, whereof feme were very high, and ftrong 
built Towers. A great part of the City of Catania , 
with many other was demoliiht, and a great many 
Buildings in Fal di Note, Syracufa was alfo much Ihat- 
tered, but not ruined. This was not preceded by any 
darknefs in the Air, but a pleafmg ftrene warm time, 
which was the more obfervable, as being unufual at that 
time of the Year, yet it was not to any excefe. 
Some Perfons which the Evening before were Tra- 
velling in the Country^ obferved a great Flame or Light, 
at about an Italian Mile's diftance, and fo bright, tlist 
they took it for a real Fire made by fome of the Coun- 
try People ; and though they went directly towards it,, 
yet it feemed to keep at the fame diftance from them. 
Whilft they were obfcrving of this Appearance the Earth- 
A % quake 
