The Full and True RELATION Of a Dreadful Storm or Tempest Accompanied with Thunders, Lightnings, and Hailstones, some of them being above Two pounds in weight: As likewise a terrible Earthquake, continuing for above half an hour, giving three furious onsets, the which happened on the 16th of August 1680, in the City of Milan, and the Villages adjacent; so that in the space of Three hours and a half, it quite demolished Twenty stately Houses, and ruined about one hundred and fifty more, and greatly Endamaged Two Churches, by blowing off their Steeples, and unleading them.  
As likewise An Account of Barns and Reeks fired by Lightning, Trees blown up by the Roots, and Villages adjacent destroyed; with about Sixty persons killed, and a Hundred wounded, besides a number of Cattle that perished: the like not having been known to happen: The Damages sustained upon view of several worthy persons, being granted to be One Million and a half.  
With several other Remarkable Accidenrs (strange and dreadful) as they were faithfully transmitted by a person of worth, who was upon view of the sad accident, and gave his report as to the losses sustained.  
WHen angry Heaven designs to punish man for Disobedience, and to make him know he is but dust, sundry means are used; and wise Omnipotence forewarns before he strikes, or gives his vengeance reins to overwhelm with ruin irrevocable the Sons of Men: for sure it is, Divine Justice is always tempered with Mercy, and many times some fall, to give the rest an opportunity for to repent, and so avoid the danger imminent, which otherwise would fall heavy on their heads: And truly through all Ages it has been observed, that the Almighty has been loath to destroy the work that his right hand has form; for as the holy Psalmist does declare, that loud Thunder is his voice among the waters, so may it be understood, that Tempests and Earthquakes are his warning-pieces, and as Heralds, gives us notice of wrath designed to fall; of which more dreadful has not happened, than what I shall here relate, which happened in the City of Milan, and the Villages adjacent, on the 16th of August, 1680, the Circumstances of which are as followeth.  
About Noon an unusual paleness overcast the Sun, and all the Clouds seemed of a white Amber-colour, their motions being many times contrary to the Winds, that about Three of the clock in the Afternoon began to blow strong from the North-West, when on a sudden, it Thundered, and darted Lightning so swift, as made the Heavens seem all on fire, whilst a gathering blackness made it seem as night, that people could not discern each other, so as to be known the space of six yards; which put all to a great amazement, and caused them to imagine that Doomsday was at hand: but long their wonder had not lasted, ere from the breaking Clouds a storm of Hail descended, the stones of which were of such Magnitude, as has not been seen in any Age, many of them weighing two pounds or more; which surprising many in the fields, and other places shelterless, killed them in a moment, whilst in vain they strove to fly, and Cattle without number perished; all the Fruit-trees and others were broken in pieces for the space of forty miles, as if they had been battered with Cannon-Bullets, or the Branches torn with violent hands: nor fared the City and Villages much better, for in many places the Spires were beaten off Church-steeples, the Leads broken through, and all the Ornaments therein quite spoilt; whilst the Houses went to wrack, scarce either Tiles or Slates being left upon them, but loosened or broke off by the furious Storm, they were by the violence of the winds carried like Leaves in the Air, far distant from their proper places; stacks of Chimneys likewise being blown down, whose fall demolished several stately Buildings; so that the wretched people in amazement knew not where to fly for safety, but as they strove to avoid one danger, fell soul of another as great if not greater than the former; for leaving their ruined Houses, in the open streets the Hail was worse, and the Storm raged more, accompanied with hot flashes of Lightning, and volleys of Thunder, so prodigious loud as was never heard before; so that multitudes being struck down, lay sprawling and crying for help in vain; each one preferring his safety before that of his friends.  
Whilst this was doing, several Barns and Reeks of Corn and Hay near adjoining to the City, took fire, supposed to be done by Lightning, whose Flames, notwithstanding all the Rain and Hail, burnt fierce, and being carried with the wind, whole sheets of that devouring Element were hurled in the Air, not without greatly endangering the Churches and Buildings on that side the City.  
The Storm and great Confusion having continued for the space of three hours, Rending and Tearing what e'er opposed it, immediately an unusual Portent more dangerous, began to assault the tottering Ruins: for whether caused by the violence of the Tempest, or Whirlwinds enclosed in Nature's Caverns, is not certain; but certain it is, the Earth began to Tremble more and more, till at last it fell into so terrible a shaking fit, as made the Buildings skip like Rams, and the People stagger as if drunk, that nothing but Confusions and Amazements were spread among them, whilst the Crying Children followed their woeful Parents, for to shelter them from Heaven's wrath, which the angry Skies sent down. The Earthquake gave Three several onsets, which each time increased so, that the last seemed to have unhinged all Nature, and to have overturned her deep Foundations, the like never having been in any of these parts before. It continued for half an hour or somewhat more, doing infinite damage to those Buildings the Storm had loosened; so that above Twenty fell flat to the ground, and about one hundred and fifty spoiled and ruined, that they must be quite plucked down; besides a number, almost numberless, that received less damage, though very considerable.  
The two Churches on the Westside, have almost all the Led blown off them, and their Steeples half way blown down: Nor are the Villages less ruined, though they lie much lower, and are in several places sheltered with small rising Hills, and high-grown Trees; but Trees availed them not, for they, as well as Barns, Hay-reeks, Corn-reeks, and Houses, were torn up by the Roots, some of them being tossed up in the Air, and made the sport of winds. After the continuance of almost four hours, on a sudden all was whist and still; which put some into a great admiration, which might have been spared, had they considered what the Holy Scriptures saith, That both Winds and Waves, and all Created things obey, and at the voice of God desist to rage.  
The next morning being very fair, several went to view the Ruins, and take a particular account of the Damages done, as well in the City as other Villages; which they found to be very great, and that the loss and spoil of Hay, Corn, and Cattle only, amounted to half a Million; and the Damages the Churches, Houses, Outhouses, and Barns had sustained at the lowest value, about one Million more. It is said there was about Sixty persons killed, and about a hundred wounded, with the fall of Hail, Tiles, Stones, and Timber. Several persons of great Quality have come to be Spectators of our devastations, and with admiration bless themselves, to see how many goodly Structures are demolished and defaced; and all conclude never to have beheld the like; so that it was thought fit by all our Magistrates, that a public Fast should be Solemnised here at all the Churches, thereby to appease the wrath of Heaven, and entreat him with supplications to turn away his conceived displeasure; which was accordingly performed on the 18th of the instant , with great Observance and Solemnity.   

LONDON: Printed for T. Davies. 1680.