A True and Exact RELATION Of the Late Prodigious Earthquake and Eruption OF Mount Aetna, Or, MONTE-GIBELLO: As it came in a LETTER Written to his Majesty from Naples By the Right Honourable The earl of Winchilsea, His Majesties late Ambassador at Constantinople, who in his Return from thence, Visiting Catania in the iceland of Sicily, was an Eye-witnesse of That dreadful Spectacle. Together with a more particular N●rrative of the same as it is Collected out of several Relations sent from Catania. Published by Authority. EDINBURGH, Re-printed in the Year, 1669. A true and exact Relation of the late prodigious Earthquake and Eruption of the Mount Aetna, or Monte-Gibello, as it came in a Letter written to His Majesty from Naples, by the right Honourable the Earl of Winchilsea, His Majesties late Ambassador at Constantinople, who in his return from thence, visited Catania, an eye-witnesse of that Dreadful Spectacle. May it please your MAjESTY, IN my Voyage from Malta to this place, wherein I have used all the diligence the season hath given me leave, I touched at the City of Catania in Sicily, and was there most kindly invited by the Bishop to lodge in his Palace which I accepted, that so I might be the better able to inform Your Majesty of that extraordinary Fire, which comes from Mount Gibel 15 miles distant from that City; which for its horridness in the asp●ct, for the vast quantity thereof,( for it is 15 miles in length, and 7 in breadth) for its monstrous devastation, and quick progress, may be termed an Inundation of Fire, a flood of Fire, Cinders and burning Stones, burning with that Rage as to advance into the Sea 600 yards, and that to a mile in bread●h, which I saw; and that which did augment my admiration was, to see in the Sea this matter like ragged rocks, burning in four fathom water, two fathom higher then the Sea itself, some parts liquid and moving, and throwing off, not without great violence, the stones about it, which like a crust of a vast bigness, and read hot, fell into the Sea every moment, in some place or other, causing a great and horrible noise, smoke and hissing in the Sea; and thus more and more coming after it, making a firm foundation in the Sea itself. I stayed there from nine a Clock on Saturday morning, to seven next morning, and this Mountain of Fire and Stenes, with Cinders, had advanced into the Sea 20 yards at least, in several places; in the middle of this Fire, which burned in the Sea, it hath formed a passage like to a River, with its Banks on each side very steep and craggy, and in this Channel moves the greatest quantity of this Fire which is the most liquid, with Stones of the same composition and Cinders all read hot, swimming upon the fire of a great magnitude; from this River of fire doth proceed under the great mass of the Stones which are generally three fathom high all over the Country where it burns, & in other places much more: there are secret Conduits or Rivulets of this liquid matter which communicates fire and heat into all parts more or less, and melts the stones & cinders by fits in those places where it toucheth them, over and over again; where it meets with Rocks or Houses of the same matter( as many are) they melt and go away with the Fire; where they find other compositions they turn them to lime or ashes,( as I am informed.) The composition, of this Fire, Stones and Cinders, are Sulphur, Nitre, Quick-silver, Sal-Armoniac, led, Iron, brass, and all other metals. It moves not regularly, nor constantly down hill; in some places it hath made the Valleys Hills, and the Hills that are not high are now Valleys. When it was night I went upon two Towers in divers places, and could plainly see at 10 miles distance, as we judged, the Fire to begin to run from the Mountain in a direct line, the flamme to ascend as high and as big as one of the highest and greatect Steeple in Your Majesties Kingdoms, and to throw up great Stones into the Air; I could discern the River of Fire to descend the Mountain of a terrible fiery or read colour, and stones of a paler read, to swim thereon, and to be, some as big as an ordinary Table. We could see this Fire to move in several other places, and all the Country covered with Fire, ascending with great Flames, in many places, smoking like to a violent furnace of iron melted, making a noise with great pieces that fell, especially those which fell into the Sea. A Cavalier of Malta, who lives there, and attended me, told me, that the River was as liquid where it issues out of the Mountain, as water, and came out like a Torrent with great violence, and is five or six fathom deep, and as broad, and that no stones do sink therein, I assure your Majesty, no Pen can express how terrible it is, nor can all the Art and Industry of the world quench, or divert that which is burning in the Country. In 40 dayes time it hath destroyed the habitations of 27 thousand persons, made two Hills of one, 1000 paces high, a piece, and one is four miles in compass. Of 20000 persons which inhabited Catania, 3000 did only remain; all their Goods are carried away the Cannons of brass are removed out of the Castle, some great Bells taken down, the City-Gates Walled up next the Fire, and preparation made all to abandon the City. That Night which I lay there, it Rained Ashes all over the City, and Ten Miles at Sea it troubled my Eyes. This Fire in its progress met with a Lake of four Miles in compass, and it was not only satisfied to fill it up, though it was four fathom deep, but hath made of it a Mountain. I sand also to Your Sacred Majesty a Relation in Print which the Bishop gave me, wherein the Beginning is Related & several curious Passages. I most humbly beseech Your Pardon for the hindering Your Majesty so long from Your better Employments: And I beseech You, Great Sir ever to believe I Love and Reverence Your Person above All Expression: for, I am Your Majesties Most Obedient Most Humble, and Most Faithful Subject and Servant, WINCHILSEA. Naples the 27 of April, 7 of May. 1669. A Particular NARRATIVE Of the late Dreadful Earthquake, AND IRRUPTION As it is Collected out of several Relations from CATANIA. MOunt Aetna, or Monte Gibello, a Mountain so Renowned throughout the World for its height and greatness, but much more for those Prodigious Flames, smoke, and Ashes which it hath cast out from the top of it, whilst the other parts are continually( even in the midst of Summer) covered with Snow, has been for many Ages observed once, or sometimes oftener, in the space of about fifteen years, to throw up more than ordinary Flames with much smoke and stones, and great quantities of Ashes; which( though terrible to the neighbouring Towns and Villages) was yet wont, in little time, to abate of its fury, and prove but seldom more injurious to the Country near it, than by communicating largely its ashes, which though for the present it did somewhat incommode them, they had afterwards a considerable Compensation in the product of their Lands, which by this means were rendered more fruitful. But on Friday the 18 / ● of March 1669. the Sun was observed before its setting to appear of a pale and dead colour, which( being contrary to what it ever before appeared to us) struck no small terror into the inhabitants, all Objects appearing also of the same colour, with a paleness received from that of the Sun. The same night happened in this City as well as the whole country hereabouts, a terrible and unusual Earthquake, whose strong and unequal motions, joined with horrible Roarings from Monte Gibello exceedingly frighted the Inhabitants, but was so extraordinarily violent in the country adjacent, that the people were forced to abandon their houses and to fly into the Fields to avoid the danger threatened them from the falling of their houses, The Village of Nicolosi was of all others the most dreadfully handled by this furious Earthquake, the houses and other buildings being shaken all in pieces, and butted in their own ruins; the poor People( who had preserved their lives by a timely flight, with such little of their Goods as their hasty fears would permit them to carry out with them) continued a night or two in the fields, beholding with grief and astonishment the ruin of their habitations: but observing that by these violent concussions, the Earth began to open in several places, and to threaten them with inevitable ruin, they fled, though with much trouble and amazement to this City. These shakings of the Earth being so frequent and violent, that the People went reeling and staggering, with much difficulty supporting one another from falling, in so much as what with their want of sleep, the pains they wereforced to take in traveling, and the great terrors imprinted on them by what they had seen and suffered; they appeared at their arrival in this City as so many distracted People, wholly insensible of what they did. This dreadful convulsion of the Earth was immediately followed on Monday March 11. about 10, at night by 3. terrible Eruptions, much about the same time, and at little distance one from the other. These said Eruptions were observed to be on the side of Monte Gibello, about 2 miles beyond the Mountain called Montpileri, from whence, with a terrible noise it threw up its flames, with much fury and violence about a hundred yards in hight, its noise not roaring only inwards from the belly of the Mountains as before but violence cracking like peals of Ordinance or thunder, from the side of it throwing out vast stones, some of them of 300. pound weight, which being( as it were) shot through the air, fell several miles distant from the place, whilst the whole air was filled with smoke, burning Cinders, and ashes, which fell like a fiery rain upon the country. In the mean time issued from the fide of this prodigious Mountain, a vast Torrent of Melted and burning Matter, which, like an Inundation Drowned, as in a flood of Fire, the country on this side of it. This Burning River ran down upon the Mountain Montpileri, which, opposing its direct course, it divided itself into two streams, which, encompassed the said Mountain; one of them taking its way by La Guardia the Convent of St. Anne, & Malpasso, the other by the towns of Montpileri, and Falicchi, which in few hours were wholly destroyed and lost, not so much as any sign of them remaining, with several lesser Villages and farms, and with them the Famous Image of the blessed Lady of the Annunciata: which, though highly Reverenced throughout the whole iceland, esteemed the Wonder of Sicily and the whole World, and to which the People with much Devotion resorted in Pilgrimage from the remotest parts, was also swallowed up and consumed by this dreadful Torrent. This Fiery and burning Deluge immediately spread itself to above six mile in breadth, seeming to be somewhat of the colour of melted and burning Glass; but, as it cools, becomes hard and Rocky, and every where in its passage leaves Hills and Pyramids of that Matter behind it. At the same time Monte Gibello from its top raged with dreadful Flames, which with its Noise and Concussions of the Earth still continuing, added not a little to the Terror of the People, who ran with Cries and Lamentations about the City and Country, expecting nothing but to be swallowed up, or consumed by Fire, having no other apprehensions but of Death, and a General Conflagration. The two Torrents of Fire forward, destroying all things in their way, and by Wednesday, March 13th, had on the West-side branched itself into several Streams, and over-ran Campo Rotundo, St. Pietro, and Mostorbianco, with La Potielli. and St. Antonino; and on the East-part ruined the lower part of Mascalucia, and Le Placchi, taking its way towards this City. On Thursday the 14th, the Wind came Eastwards, on which day fell abundance of Rain, which abated not the progress of the Fire; which on the East-side had from Mascalucia made its way to St. Giovanni di Galermo, the lower part whereof it destroyed; and passing on, seemed to threaten this City on one side, as did that on the West-side the other. As the Fire approached, the Religious every where appeared with much Devotion, carrying in Procession their relics, especially those of St. Agatha, the famous Martyr of Catania, in which they reposed no small confidence, followed by great Multitudes of People, some of them Mortifying themselves with Whips, and other signs of Pennance, with great Complaints and cries, expressing their dreadful expectation of the Events of those Prodigious Fiery Inundations. whilst the People were thus busied in their Devotions, and astonished by their fears. News was brought to the Magistrates of the City, that a considerable number of Thieves and Robbers had taken the opportunity of this general Distraction, to make a Prey of the already distressed People, and that they had Murdered several of them for their Goods; and that it was to be feared, that the City of Catania itself might run some danger from the great numbers of them which were about the Country, and from thence took their opportunities to get into the Town. Whereupon, consultation being had for the prevention of farther mischief from them, the Commander of the Castle was Ordered with a considerable number of Horse, and a party of Spaniards, to secure the Country and City against these Robbers, who immedately sent out several Parties with his Provost-Marshal, with Order to seize on all suspected Persons, and such as were not able to give a good account of themselves: and, for such as were taken in the Fact Robbing, to Execute them by Martiall-Law, without any farther trial; and accordingly caused three Pair of gallows to be set up for their speedy Execution; one before the Gate Di Aci. a second in the Market place, and a third before the Gate Della Decima, setting strong Guards upon the Gates of the City, and causing all suspected Houses to be preached, an Account to be given in of all Lodgers, and such persons to be secured, as could any ways fall under a suspicion. The poor people out of the country being by this prodigious Calamity stripped out of all their Estates, and reduced to great extremity, fled most of them for refuge and relief to this City, with great Lamentations, moving the Charity of the Magistrates, which was readily inclined to give them the best assistance they were able; and the Citizens moved by their Complaints and sufferings, freely opened their Doors, filling their Houses with as many of those distressed people, as they could possibly receive; the Bishop, and all persons of Quality and Estate contributing largely for their support till better Order could be taken for the disposing of them. The City of Messina also, and several other Cities( informed of this extraordinary Calamity) sent hither large Supplies of provision, offering their best assistance to this place in case or extremity. All the Elements seemed at this time to make War upon us and to conspire together for the punishment of the Inhabitants: The air was continually darkened with Clouds and Smoke, agitated by great and violent Winds, and oftentimes showered down great reins, insomuch as the Sun from the beginning of these Eruptions, very seldom appeared unto us, and when it did,( with extraordinary paleness) for a little time only and( as it were, abhorring so dreadful a ●pecta●e) soon hide its face again under a thick Cloud. The Sea ran much higher then it was wont to do and by its extraordinary Roaring, and in some places over-flowing its Banks, added not a little to our consternation. The Land every where infested with thieves, in so much, that till by the extraordinary care taken by the Magistrates and Officers, severe execution was done upon such as were apprehended in the Fact, no person was able to stir abroad without danger of his life: whilst the Fire by this prodigious over-flowing of the Mountain, threatened to take possession of all. On Friday the 15th. the stream of fiery Matter which destroyed the lower part of St. Giovanus di Galermo divided itself into two parts, one of its branches taking its way toward Mosterbianco, the other threatening the City of Catania, but this last was observed to move with more flownesse then before, having in 24. hours time scarcely gained one mile. On the 18th being Monday, the Torrents being still seen to draw nearer and nearer to this City, the Senat with Monsegnio Camluchi the Bishop of this place, followed by all the Clergy Secular and Regular, and an infinite number of people went in a solemn procession out of this City to Monte-de St. Sofia, carrying out with greatest Devotion their choicest relics, and upon an Altar erected in the view of the Mountain, exposed them, where they celebrated Mass & used the Exorcisms accustomed upon such an extraordinary occasions, all which time the Mountain ceased not as before with excessive roaring to throw up its smoke and flames with extraordinary violence, and abundance of great stones, which were carried through the Air, some of them falling within their view, though at ten miles distance from the Eruption: the Ashes which proceeded from thence were scattered in great abundance as well on this City as on the Country adjacent, every where in the Fields with Cinders, and the heat of the said Ashes destroying the Grass, which obliged the people to drive away their Gattle to a farther distance, which would otherwise have perished for want of food. These streams of ruin daily crept nearer and nearer to this City, but by uneven and irregular motions, according as it was more or less supplied from its fountain; but on wednesday the 20th we perceived that that branch of it which seemed most to threaten this City from St. Giovanni di Galermo wholly extinguished, and the other which bent its course towards Moster-bianco ran but slowly and gave us some hopes that its fury was also near spent, but the other Torent which had before overflowen Mosterbianco, continued its motion with as much violence as ever, being in breadth above a musket shot over; but in probability could not easily over-flow to the Westwards which was defended by its Rocky situation; another branch which ran by Santo Pietro was observed to be much larger than the rest, and its stream more quick and active, but meeting with some opposition in its way, it made some stop, onely sending out a charet towards the Eastwards about three or four yards wide off its most subtle and active matter which directed its course towards a small Village about a furlong distant from its main stream: another Branch threatened Campo Rotundo, but bent its course westwards towards the farm of Valcor●ente, where itis Fiery body was scattered into several deep and rocky places, without any considerable damage. About this time we had hopes that the violence of this eruption had been over, the Mountain not throwing out its flames with that violence as before, and its noise and rooring in a great measure ceased. Those who at nearest distance took a view of the Mountain, informed, that the top of it was fallen in, and the Mountain supposed to want near a mile of its former height; that that largest of the Mouths from whence these Fiery streams were vented, was about half a mile in compass, but the view of this dreadful inundation carried so much terror in it as they were not able to express; from all these Mouths were vomited Rivers of a thick and fiery substance of ston and Metals melted, whose deep was various according to the several places it filled in its passage, in some places 4. in others 8, 12, or 15. yards and upwards; its breadth in some places 6 miles, in others much more, its flamme like that of Brimstone, and its motion like that of Quicksilver, advancing ordinarily very slowly unless where it was provoked by the addition of a fresh Torrant or some considerable descent. Wheresoever it passed, it left large heaps of its congealed matter, with which it covered and burnt the earth, melting the walls of castles and Houses, throwing down and consuming all before it, nothing being yet found able to resist its force, nor any thing able to quench its burning, water being observed rather to add to its fury: wheresoever it has passed, it has left its dreadful marks behind i●, leveling some hills and raising others, so much changing the situation, that not the least trace of any place or Town remains, nothing being to be seen but confused heaps of ragged ston, which yielded a noisome fume, strikes terror and astonishment into all that behold it. On Friday the 22, the Mountain again roared with much loudness, and threw up from its mouths a vast quantity of matter, which formed two large hills higher and larger then that of Montpelori, with a large bank of the same matter to the Eastward, sending down a violent stream of its liquid matter towards Malpasso, much enlarging the former Current, and passing thence to Campo Rotundo and Santo Pietro completed the ruins of those Towns, driving furiously towards Moster-biance; the other stream by Santo Giovanni de Galermo being wholly diverted and extinguished. From this time till the 25th the Mountain continued silent, but then it burst out again with more force than ever before, its noise much louder, like Peals of ordinance, and so forcible and lasting, as for 24 hours it caused a shaking and trembling in our buildings, the air so filled with smoke and Ashes, as darkened the Face of the Sky. The Birds and Fowls about this time, either through want of Food, or illness of air, which was corrupt with the noisome smells arising from these Burnings, were observed to lie dead in all places. On the 28th the Grand Currant was advanced near the City as far as the old Capucins, which struck so great a Terror into the People, that most of them left the City, only some Officers remaining with such persons as were under their command, who have secured and sent away the Magazine and all the Artillery from the Castle. A Later Relation from Catania, bearing Date the 27th of April, gives us this farther Account: viz. THe Dreadful Inundation from Monte Gibello having destroyed many Castles and Towns with an infinite loss, and utter ruin to the Inhabitants, arrived lately with a renewed Force at Mostor-bianco which it has wholly ruined, from thence passing on to Albanelli, in four Dayes space destroyed all the Gardens and Vineyards with 63 Thousand Vines. On Wednesday, April 16. With an Impetuous Fiery Torrent it came towards Sardanello, where all the remainder of the Inhabitants of this City were Spectators of it, which resembled a River of melted & burning Brass about ten Ells wide, running with swiftness to the Arch of Marcus Marcellus, a Famous Piece of Antiquity, and passing under it ruined about 6 Ells of it, which was the breadth of the Current in that place: from thence it ran to Madonna di Monserrato, which it wholly destroyed: then falling down to Madonna delle Gratie, it entered in at one Gate, and passed through another, without any considerable hurt and running through the Gate Della Decima, filled all the plain Di Schira Viva, where it was above fix Ells deep. Then taking its way towards the Bulwark, on the Sea-side, under the Castle of this City, it ran by two Ells deep into the Sea; in which,( to the great wonder of all that saw it) it has made its progress a mile in length and as much in breadth, and is drawing towards the Gate of the Channel which gives us great Apprehensions, lest it may that way Invade the City itself: Nor is there less Danger on the side deal Tindaro where there runs a great Torrent of the same Active matter, which draws near, and seems to threaten the Walls and as in that place about a mile in breadth, having overflowed and destroyed all the Gardens, from the Gate Della Decima, as far as Madona delli Amellati. A LIST of the most considerable Towns and places ruined and destroyed by the dreadful Earth-quake and Eruptions. THe Town of Nicolosi wholly ruined by the Earthquake. The Towns of Padara Tre Castagne, the greatest part destroyed by the Earthquake. The Towns of La Guardia, Malpasso, Campo Rotundo, La Potielli, St. Antonino, St. Pietro, Mostorbiance, Montpileri, La Annunciata, Falicchi, Placchi, Wholly Overflowed, Consumed and lost in this Fiery Inundation, with all the Lands belonging to them, no Footsteps of them remaining. The Towns of Mascalucia, The Towns of S. Giovanni de Galermo, ruined in part. The Large Gardens and Vineyards of Albanelli Overflown and Destroyed. The Famous Piece of Antiquity of Mareus Marcellus much ruined. Madonna de Monserrato destroyed besides many Castles, farms, and other Places, which have the same Fortune, whose Names we for brevity pass over. FINIS.