things which lie, as it were, in their way. This is certain, that winds are either inbred or strangers; for winds are, as it were, merchants of vapours, which being by them gathered into clouds, they carry out and bring in again into countries, from whence winds are again returned, as it were, by exchange. But let us now inquire concerning native winds, for those which, coming from another place, are strangers, are in another place natives. There are three local beginnings of them they either breathe, or spring out of the ground, or are cast down from above, or are here made up in the body of the air. Those which are cast down from above, are of a double generation; for they are either cast down before they be formed into clouds, or afterwards composed of rarefied and dispersed clouds. Let us now see what is the history of these things. 1. The poets feigned Eolus his kingdom to be placed under ground in dens and caves, where the winds' prison was, out of which they were at times let forth. earthquakes come but seldom, risings and swellings of waters are more frequent. 7. Likewise it is everywhere taken notice of that waters do somewhat swell and rise before tempests. 8. The weak subterraneal spirit which is breathed out scatteringly is not perceived upon the earth until it be gathered into wind, by reason the earth is full of pores; but when it issues from under the water, it is presently perceived (by reason of the water's continuity) by some manner of swelling. 9. We resolved before that in cavernous and denny places there were attendant winds; insomuch that those winds seem to have their local beginnings out of the earth. 10. In great and rocky hills winds are found to breathe sooner, (namely, before they be perceived in the valleys,) and more frequently, (namely, when it is calm weather in the valleys,) but all mountains and rocks are cavernous and hollow. 2. Some philosophical divines, moved by those 11. In Wales, in the county of Denbigh, a words of Scripture, "He brings forth the winds mountainous and rocky country, out of certain out of his treasures," think that the winds come caves (as Gilbertus relateth) are such vehement out of some treasuries; namely, places under eruptions of wind, that clothes or linen laid out ground, amongst the mines of minerals. But there upon any occasion, are blown up, and carried this is nothing; for the Scripture speaketh likewise of the treasures of snow and hail, which, doubtless, are engendered above. 3. Questionless, in subterraneal places there is great store of air, which it is very likely sometimes breathes out by little and little, and sometimes, again, upon urgent causes, must needs come rushing forth together. An indirect experiment. In great droughts, and in the middle of summer, when the ground is cleft and chopped, there breaks out water many times in dry and sandy places; which, if waters (being a gross body) do, though it be but seldom, it is probable that the air (which is a subtile and tenuous body) may often do it. 4. If the air breathes out of the earth by little and little, and scatteringly, it is little perceived at the first; but when many of those small emanations, or comings out, are come together, there is a wind produced, as a river out of several springs. And this seems to be so, because it hath been observed by the ancients, that many winds, in those places where they begin, do at first blow but softly, which afterward grow stronger and increase in their progress like unto rivers. 5. There are some places in the sea, and some lakes also, which swell extremely when there is no wind stirring, which apparently proceeds from some subterraneal wind. 6. There is great quantity of subterraneal spirit required to shake or cleave the earth; less will a great way up into the air. 12. In Aber Barry, near Severn in Wales, in a rocky cliff, are certain holes, to which if you lay your ear, you shall hear divers sounds and murmurs of winds under ground. An indirect experiment. Acosta hath observed that the towns of Plata and Potosi, in Peru, are not far distant one from the other, and both situated upon a high and hilly ground, so that they differ not in that; and yet Potosi hath a cold and winter-like air, and Plata hath a mild and spring-like temperature, which difference it seems may be attributed to the silver mines which are near Potosi ; which showeth that there are breathing-places of the earth, as in relation to hot and cold. 13. If the earth be the first cold thing, according to Parmenides, (whose opinion is not contemptible, seeing cold and density are knit toge ther by a strict knot,) it is no less probable that there are hotter breaths sent out from the central cold of the earth than are cast down from the cold of the higher air. 14. There are certain wells in Dalmatia, and the country of Cyrene, (as some of the ancients record,) into which if you cast a stone, there will presently arise tempests, as if the stone had broken some covering of a place, in which the force of the winds was enclosed. An indirect experiment. Ætna and divers other mountains cast out serve turn for the raising of water. Wherefore fire; therefore it is likely that air may likewise break forth, especially being dilatated and set into | of the cloud; but that darting and occultation of motion by heat in subterraneal places. the lesser stars is in fair and clear weather. 15. It hath been noted, that both before and after earthquakes there hath blown certain noxious and foreign winds; as there are certain little smothers usually before and after great firings and burnings. Monition. The air shut up in the earth is forced to break out for several causes: sometimes a mass of earth, ill joined together, falls into a hollow place of the earth; sometimes waters do ingulf themselves; sometimes the air is extended by subterraneal heats, and seeks for more room: sometimes the earth, which before was solid and vaulted, being by fires turned into ashes, no longer able to bear itself up, falls. And many such like causes. And so these inquisitions have been made concerning the first local beginning of winds. Now followeth the second origin, or beginning from above, namely, from that which they call the middle region of the air. Monition. But let no man understand what hath been spoken so far amiss, as if we should deny the rest of the winds also are brought forth of the earth by vapours. But this first kind was of winds which come forth of the earth, being already perfectly framed winds. 22. When the wind comes out of a cloud ready formed, either the cloud is totally dispersed, and turned into wind, or it is torn and rent in sunder, and the winds break out, as in a storm. 23. There are many indirect experiments in the world concerning the repercussion by cold. So that, it being certain that there are most extreme colds in the middle region of the air, it is likewise plain that vapours, for the most part, cannot break through that place without being joined and gathered together, or darted, according to the opinion of the ancients, which in this particular is true and sound. The third local beginning of winds is of those which are engendered here in the lower part of the air, which we also call swellings or overbur denings of the air; a thing very familiar and frequent, yet passed over with silence. A Commentation. The generation of those winds which are made up in this lower part of the air, is a thing no more obscure than this: namely, that the air newly composed and made up of water, and attenuated and dissolved vapours, joined with the first air, cannot be contained within the same bounds as it was before, but groweth out and is turned, and takes up further room. 16. It hath been observed, that there is a mur-Yet there are in this two things to be granted: muring of woods before we do plainly perceive the winds, whereby it is conjectured that the wind descends from a higher place, which is likewise observed in hills, (as we said before,) but the cause is more ambiguous, by reason of the concavity and hollowness of the hills. 17. Wind follows darted, or (as we call them) shooting stars, and it comes that way as the star hath shot; whereby it appears that the air hath been moved above, before the motion comes to us. 18. The opening of the firmament and dispersion of clouds, are prognostics of wind before they blow here on earth, which also shows that the winds begin above. 19. Small stars are not seen before the rising of winds, though the night be clear and fair; because (it should seem) the air grows thick, and is less transparent, by reason of that matter which afterward is turned into wind. 20. There appear circles about the body of the moon, the sun looks sometimes blood-red at its setting, the moon rises red at her fourth rising: and there are many more prognostics of winds on high, (whereof we will speak in its proper place,) which shows that the matter of the winds is there begun and prepared. 21. In these experiments you must note that difference we speak of, namely, of the twofold generation of winds on high; that is to say, before the gathering together of vapours into a cloud, and after. For the prognostics of circles about, and colours of the sun and moon, have something First, that one drop of water turned into air, (whatsoever they fabulously speak of the tenth proportion of the elements,) requires at least a hundred times more room than it had before. Secondly, that a little new air, and moved, added to the old air, shaketh the whole, and sets it into motion; as we may perceive by a little wind that comes forth of a pair of bellows, or in at a little crevice of a window or wall, that will set all the air which is in a room in motion, as appears by the blazing of the lights which are in the same room. 24. As the dews and mists are engendered here in the lower air, never coming to be clouds, nor penetrating to the middle region of the air: in the like manner are also many winds. 25. A continual gale blows about the sea, and other waters, which is nothing but a small wind newly made up. 26. The rainbow, which is, as it were, the lowest of meteors, and nearest to us, when is doth not appear whole, but curtailed, and, as it were, only some pieces of the horns of it, is dissolved into winds, as often, or rather oftener than into rain. 27. It hath been observed, that there are some winds in countries which are divided and separated by hills, which ordinarily blow on the one side of the hills, and do not reach to the other, whereby it manifestly appears that they are engendered below the height of the said hills. 28. There are an infinite sort of winds that blow in fair and clear days, and also in countries where it never rains, which are engendered where they blow, and never were clouds, nor did ever ascend in the middle region of the air. Indirect experiments. of wind, from the walls and banks, so that one would imagine the wind to come the contrary way from that whence it really comes. 6. If hills enclose a country on the one side, and the wind blows for some space of time from the plain against the hill, by the very repercussion of the hill, either the wind is turned into rain, if it be a moist wind, or into a contrary wind, which will last but a little while. 7. In the turnings of a promontory, mariners do often find changes and alterations of winds. Extraordinary Winds and sudden Blasts. Whosoever shall know how easily a vapour is dissolved into air, and how great a quantity of vapours there are, and how much room a drop of water turned into air takes up more than it did before, (as we said already,) and how little the air will endure to be thrust up together, will, questionless, affirm, that of necessity winds must be everywhere engendered, from the very superficies of the earth, even to the highest parts of the Some men discourse of extraordinary winds, air. For it cannot be, that a great abundance of and derive the causes of them; of clouds breakvapours, when they begin to be dilatated and ex-ing, or storms, vortice, typhone, prestere; or, in panded, can be lifted up to the middle region of English, whirlwinds. But they do not relate the the air, without an overburdening of the air, and thing itself, which must be taken out of chronimaking a noise by the way. We call those accidental generations of winds which do not make or beget the impulsive motion of winds, but with compression do sharpen it, by repercussion turn it, by sinuation or winding do agitate and tumble it, which is done by extrinsical causes, and the posture of the adjoining bodies. 1. In places where there are hills which are not very high, bordering upon valleys, and beyond them again higher hills, there is a greater agitation of the air, and sense of winds, than there is in mountainous or plain places. 2. In cities, if there be any place somewhat broader than ordinary and narrow goings out, as portals or porches, and cross streets, winds and fresh gales are there to be perceived. To the tenth article. Connexion. cles and several histories. 1. Sudden blasts never come in clear weather, but always when the sky is cloudy and the weather rainy. That it may justly be thought that there is a certain eruption made; the blasts driven out and the waters shaken. 2. Storms which come with a mist and a fog, and are called Belluæ, and bear up themselves like a column, are very vehement and dreadful to those who are at sea. 3. The greater typhones, who will take up at some large distance, and sup them, as it were, upward, do happen but seldom, but small whirlwinds come often. 4. All storms and typhones, and great whirlwinds, have a manifest precipitous motion or darting downwards, more than other winds, so as they seem to fall like torrents, and run, as it were, in channels, and be afterwards reverberated by the earth. 3. In houses cool rooms are made by winds, or happen to be so where the air bloweth through, and comes in on the one side and goeth out at the other. But much more if the air comes in several ways and meets in the corners, and hath one common passage from thence: the vaulting like. wise and roundness doth contribute much to cool-nary force or great vehemency of wind. ness, because the air, being moved, is beaten back in every line. Also, the winding of porches is better than if they were built straight out. For a direct blast, though it be not shut up, but hath a free egress, doth not make the air so unequal and voluminous, and waving, as the meeting at angles and hollow places, and windings round, and the like. 5. In meadows, haycocks are sometimes carried on high and spread abroad there like canopies; likewise in fields, cocks of pease, reaped wheat, and clothes laid out to drying, are carried up by whirlwinds as high as tops of trees and houses, and these things are done without any extraordi 4. After great tempests at sea an accidental wind continues for a time, after the original is faid, which wind is made by the collision and percussion of the air, through the curling of the waves. 5. In gardens commonly there is a repercussion VOL. III.-57 6. Also, sometimes there are very small whirlwinds, and within a narrow compass, which happen also in fair, clear weather; so that one that rides may see the dust or straws taken up and turned close by him, yet he himself not feel the wind much, which things are done questionless near unto us, by contrary blasts driving one another back, and causing a circulation of the air by concussion. 7. It is certain, that some winds do leave manifest signs of burning and scorching in plants; bu presterem, which is a kind of dark lightning, and hot air without any flame, we will put off to the inquisition of lightning. 2 P 2 Helps to Winds; namely, to Original Winds; for of accidental ones we have inquired before. To the eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth articles. Connexion. 5. It hath been observed by men, that about the conjunctions of planets greater winds do blow. 6. At the rising of Orion there rise commonly divers winds and storms. But we must advise whether this be not because Orion rises in such a season of the year as is most effectual for the generation of winds; so that it is rather a concomitant than causing thing. Which may also very well be questioned concerning rain at the rising of the Hyades and the Pleiades, and concerning storms at the rising of Arcturus. And so much concerning the moon and stars. Those things which have been spoken by the ancients, concerning winds and their causes, are merely confused and uncertain, and for the most part untrue; and it is no marvel, if they see not clear that look not near. They speak as if wind were somewhat else, or a thing several from moved air; and as if exhalations did generate and make up the whole body of the winds; and as if the matter of winds were only a dry and hot exhalation; and as if the beginning of the motion of winds were but only a casting down and per-likewise vapours and exhalations. cussion by the cold of the middle region, all fantastical and arbitrary opinions; yet out of such threads they weave long pieces, namely, cobwebs. But all impulsion of the air is wind; and exhalations mixed with the air contribute more to the motion than to the matter; and moist vapours, by a proportionate heat, are easier dissolved into wind than dry exhalations, and many winds are engendered in the lowest region of the air, and breathe out of the earth, besides those which are thrown down and beaten back. 7. The sun is, questionless, the primary effi cient of many winds, working by its heat on a twofold matter, namely, the body of the air, and 1. The natural wheeling of the air, (as we said in the article of general winds,) without any other external cause, bringing forth winds perceptible within the tropics, where the conversion is in greater circles. 2. Next to the natural motion of the air, before we inquire of the sun, (who is the chief begetter of winds,) let us see whether any thing ought to be attributed to the moon, and other asters, by clear experience. 3. There arise many great and strong winds some hours before the eclipse of the moon; so that, if the moon be eclipsed in the middle of the night, the winds blow the precedent evening; if the moon be eclipsed towards the morning, then the winds blow in the middle of the precedent night. 4. In Peru, which is a very windy country, Acosta observes, that winds blow most when the moon is at the full. Injunction. It were certainly a thing worthy to be observed, what power the ages and motions of the moon have upon the winds, seeing they have some power over the waters. As, for example, whether the winds be not in a greater commotion in full and new moons, than in her first and last quarters, as we find it to be in the flowings of waters. For, though some do conveniently feign the command of the moon to be over the waters, as the sun and planets over the air, yet it is certain, that the water and the air ale very homogeneal bodies, and that the moon, next to the sun, hath most power over all things here below. 8. When the sun is most powerful, it dilatates and extends the air, though it be pure and without any commixion, one-third part, which is no small matter; so that, by mere dilatation, there must needs arise some small wind in the sun's ways; and that rather two or three hours after its rising, than at his first rise. 9. In Europe the nights are hotter, in Peru, three hours in the morning, and all for one cause, namely, by reason of winds and gales ceasing and lying still at those hours. 10. In a vitro calendari, dilatated or extended air beats down the water, as it were, with a breath; but, in a vitro pileato, which is filled only with air, the dilatated air swells the bladder, as a manifest and apparent wind. 11. We have made trial of such a kind of wind in a round tower, every way closed up. For we have placed a hearth or fireplace in the midst of it, laying a fire of charcoal thoroughly kindled upon it, that there might be the less smoke, and on the side of the hearth, at a small distance, hath been a thread hung up with a cross of feathers, to the end that it might easily be moved. So, after a little stay, the heat increasing, and the air dilatating, the thread, and the feather cross which hung upon it, waved up and down in a various motion; and, having made a hole in the window of the tower, there came out a hot breath, which was not continual, but with intermission and waving. 12. Also, the reception of air by cold, after dilatation, begets such a wind, but weaker, by reason of the lesser force of cold. So that, in Peru, under every little shadow, we find not only more coolness than here with us, (by antiperi stasis,) but a manifest kind of gale through the reception of air when it comes into the shade. And so much concerning wind occasioned by mere dilatation or reception of air. 13. Winds proceeding from the mere motion of the air, without any commixion of vapours are but gentle and soft. Let us see what may be said concerning vapoury winds, (we mean such as are engendered by vapours,) which may be so much more vehement than the other, as a rising of the dogstar, are held to come from the dilatation of a drop of water turned into air ex-frozen ocean, and those parts about the arctic circeeds any dilatation of air already made: which it doth by many degrees, as we showed before. 14. The efficient cause of vapoury winds (which are they that commonly blow) is the sun, and its proportionate heat; the matter is vapours and exhalations which are turned and resolved into air. I say air, (and not any thing but air,) yet at the first not very pure. 15. A small heat of the sun doth not raise vapours, and consequently causes no wind. 16. A mean and middle heat of the sun raiseth and excites vapours, but doth not presently dissipate them. Therefore, if there be any great store of them, they gather together into rain, either simply of itself, or joined with wind: if there be but small store of them, they turn only to wind. 17. The sun's heat in its increase, inclines more to the generation of winds, in its decrease to rains. 18. The great and continued heat of the sun attenuates and disperses vapours and sublimes them, and withal equally mixes and incorporates them with the air, whereby the air becomes calm and serene. 19. The more equal and continuate heat of the sun is less apt for the generation of winds; that which is more unequal and intermitted is more apt. Wherefore in sailing into Russia they are less troubled with winds than in the British sea, because of the length of the days; but in Peru under the equinoctial are frequent winds, by reason of the great inequality of heat, taking turns night and day. 20. In vapours is to be considered both the quantity and quality. A small quantity engenders weak winds, a mean or middle store stronger; great store engenders rain, either calm or accompanied with wind. 21. Vapours out of the sea and rivers, and overflown marshes, engender far greater quantity of winds than the exhalations of the earth. But those winds which are engendered on the land and dry places, are more obstinate, and last longer, and are, for the most part, such as are cast down from above. So that the opinion of the ancients in this, is not altogether unprofitable; but only that it pleased them, as in a manner dividing the inheritance, to assign rain to vapours, and to winds exhalations only, which things sound handsomely, but are vain in effect and substance. 22. Winds brought forth out of the resolutions of snow lying upon hills, are of a mean condition between water and land winds; but they incline more to water, yet they are more sharp and movable. 23. The dissolution of snow on snowy hills (as we observed before) always brings constant winds from that part. 24. Also, yearly northern winds about the cle, where the dissolutions of snow and ice come late when the summer is far spent. 25. Those masses or mountains of ice which are carried towards Canada and Greenland do rather breed cold gales than movable winds. 26. Winds which arise from chalky and sandy grounds, are few and dry, and in hotter countries they are sultry, smoky, and scorching. 27. Winds made of sea vapours do easilier turn back into rain, the water redemanding and claiming its rights; and if this be not granted them, they presently mix with air, and so are quiet. But terrestrial, smoky, and unctuous vapours are both hardlier dissolved and ascend higher, and are more provoked in their motion, and oftentimes penetrate the middle region of the air, and some of them are matter of fiery meteors. 28. It is reported here in England, that in those days that Gascoine was under our jurisdiction, there was a petition offered to the king by his subjects of Bordeaux, and the confines thereof, desiring him to forbid the burning of heath in the counties of Sussex and Southampton, which bred a wind towards the end of April which killed their vines. 29. The meeting of winds, if they be strong, bring forth vehement and whirling winds; if they be soft and moist, they produce rain, and lay the wind. 30. Winds are allayed and restrained five ways. When the air, overburdened and troubled, is freed by the vapours contracting themselves into rain; or when vapours are dispersed and subtilized, whereby they are mixed with the air, and agree fairly with it, and they live quietly; or when vapours or fogs are exalted and carried up on high, so that they cause no disturbance until they be thrown down from the middle region of the air, or do penetrate it; or when vapours, gathered into clouds, are carried away into other countries, by other winds blowing on high, so that for them there is peace in those countries which they fly beyond; or, lastly, when the winds, blowing from their nurseries, languish through a long voyage, finding no new matter to feed on, and so their vehemency forsakes them, and they do as it were expire and die. 31. Rain, for the most part, allayeth winds, especially those which are stormy; as winds, contrariwise, oftentimes keep off rain. 32. Winds do contract themselves into rain, (which is the first of the five, and the chiefest means of allaying them,) either being burdened by the burden itself, when the vapours are copi ous, or by the contrary motions of winds, so they be calm and mild; or by the opposition of mountains and promontories, which stop the violence of the winds, and, by little and little, turn them |