A TRUE DESIGNE OF THE LATE ERUPTION OF MOVNT ÆTHNA IN SICILY A&osup; 1669.

Mountaines raysed by y&esup; Eruption. y&esup; Eruptions Arch of M: Marcello y&esup; Castle of Catania The Fiery Current falling into y&esup; Sea

Mt. Etna erupting and the surrounding area

A True and Exact RELATION Of the Late Prodigious Earthquake & Eruption OF Mount Ætna, Or, MONTE-GIBELLO; As it came in a LETTER Written to His Majesty from Naples By the Right Honorable The Earle of Winchilsea, His Majesties late Ambassador at Constantinople, who in his Return from thence, Visiting Catania in the Island of Sicily, was an Ey-witness of That Dreadfull Spectacle. Together with a more particular Narrative of the same, as it is Collected out of severall Relations sent from CATANIA.― Published by Authority.― Printed by T. Newcomb in the Savoy, 1669. A true and exact Relation of the late prodigious Earthquake and Erup&rehy;tion of the Mount Ætna, or Monte&rehy;Gibello, as it came in a Letter writ&rehy;ten to His Majesty from Naples, by the Right Honourable the Earl of Winchilsea, His Majesties late Am&rehy;bassador at Constantinople, who in his return from thence, visited Catania, an eye witness of that dreadful spectacle.― May it please your Majesty,

&Iic;N 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 horrid&rehy;ness in the aspect, for the vast quantity thereof, (for it is 15 miles in length, and 7 in breadth) for its monstrous devasta&rehy;tion, and quick progress, may be termed an Inundation of Fire, a Floud of Fire, Cin&rehy;ders and burning Stones, burning with that Rage as to advance into the Sea 600 yards, and that to a mile in breadth, 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 it self, some parts liquid and mo&rehy;ving, and throwing off, not without great violence, the stones about it, which like a crust of a vast bigness, and red hot, fell into the Sea every moment, in some place or other, causing a great and horrible noise, smoak and hissing in the Sea; and thus more and more coming after it, making a firm foundation in the Sea it self. I stayed there from nine a Clock on Saturday morning, to seven next morning, and this Mountain of Fire and Stones, with Cinders, had advanced into the Sea 20 yards at least, in several places; in the middle of this Fire, which burn'd 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 red hot, swimming upon the fire of a great magni&rehy;tude; from this River of Fire doth pro&rehy;ceed under the great Masse of the Stones which are generally three fathom high all over the Country, where it burns and in other places much more, there are secret Conduits or Rivulets of this liquid mat&rehy;ter, which Communicates Fire and heat into all parts more or less, and melts the Stones and Cinder by fits in those places where it toucheth them, over and over a&rehy;gain; 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 in&rehy;formed.) The composition of this Fire, Stones and Cinders, are Sulphur, Nitre, Quick-silver, Sal-Armoniac, Lead, Iron, Brass, and all other Mettals. 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 flame to ascend as high and as big as one of the highest and greatest Steeples in Your Ma&rehy;jesties 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 red colour, and stones of a paler Red, 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, smoaking like to a violent furnace of Iron melted, making a noise with the 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 pa&rehy;ces high, a piece, and one is four miles in compass, as Your Majesty will see by the draught that I take the boldness to send herewith; it was the best I could get, but hath nothing of the Progress into the Sea; the confusion was so great in the City, which is almost surrounded with Moun&rehy;tains of Fire, that I could not get any to draw one, but I have taken care to have one sent after me for Your Majesty. 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 send also to Your Sacred Majesty a Relation in Print which the Bishop gave me, wherein the Beginning is Related, and several Curious Passages. I most hum&rehy;bly beseech Your Pardon for the hin&rehy;dring 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.

&Mic;Ount Ætna, or Monte Gibello, a Moun&rehy;tain so Renowned throughout the World for its height and greatness, but much more for those Prodigious Flames, Smoak, and Ashes which it hath cast out from the top of it, whilst the other parts are continually (even in the midst of Summer) cover'd with Snow, has been for many Ages observ'd once, or sometimes oftner, in the space of about fifteen years, to throw up more than ordinary Flames, with much Smoak and Stones, and great quantities of Ashes, which (though terrible to the neighbouring Towns and Villa&rehy;ges) was yet wont, in little time, to abate of its fury, and prove but seldom more injurous to the Countrey near it, than by communicating large&rehy;ly its ashes, which though for the present it did somewhat incommode them, they had after&rehy;wards a considerable Compensation in the pro&rehy;duct of their Lands, which by this means were render'd more fruitful.

But on Friday the 18/8&thsup; of March 1669. the Sun was observed before its setting to appear of a pale and dead colour, which (being con&rehy;trary 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 Countrey hereabouts, a terrible and unusual Earthquake, whose strong and une&rehy;qual motions, joyned with horrible Roarings from Monte Gibello exceedingly frighted the Inhabitants, but was so extraordinarily violent in the Countrey adjacent, that the people were forced to abandon their houses and to fly into the Fields to avoid the danger threatned them from the falling of their houses. The Village of Nicolosi was of all others the most dreadful&rehy;ly handled by this furious Earthquake, the houses and other buildings being shaken all in pieces, and buried in their own Ruines; 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 ruine of their habitations: but observing that by these violent concussions, the Earth began to open in several places, and to threaten them with inevitable ruine, 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 were forced to take in travelling, and the great terrors im&rehy;printed on them by what they had seen and suf&rehy;fered, 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 height, its noise not roaring only in&rehy;wards from the belly of the Mountain as be&rehy;fore, but violently cracking like peales of Ord&rehy;nance 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 smoak, burning Cinders, and ashes, which fell like a fiery rain upon the Country.

In the mean time issued from the side of this Prodigious Mountain a vast Torrent of Melt&rehy;ed and burning Matter, which, like an Inunda&rehy;tion, Drowned, as in a Flood of Fire, the Countrey on this side of it.

This Burning River ran down upon the Mountain Monpileri, which, opposing its direct course, it divided it self into two Streames, which encompassed the said Mountain; one of them taking its way by La Guardia, the Convent of St. Anne, and Malpasso, the other by the Towns of Monpileri, and Falicchi, which in few hours were wholly destroyed and lost, not so much as any sign of them remaining, with se&rehy;veral lesser Villages and Farmes, and with them the Famous Image of the blessed Lady of the Annunciata; which, though highly Re&rehy;verenced throughout the whole Island, esteem&rehy;ed 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 immediate&rehy;ly spread it self to above six mile in breadth, seeming to be somewhat of the colour of melt&rehy;ed and burning Glass; but, as it cooles, be&rehy;comes 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 ra&rehy;ged 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, ha&rehy;ving no other apprehensions but of Death, and a General Conflagration.

The two Torrents of Fire forward, de&rehy;stroying all things in their way, and by Wed&rehy;nesday, March 13th, had on the West side branched it self into several Streams, and over&rehy;ran Campo Rotundo, St. Pietro, and Mostorbian&rehy;co, with La Potielli, and St. Antonino; and on the East part ruin'd the lower part of Masca&rehy;lucia, and Le Placchi, taking its way towards this City.

On Thursday the 14th, the Wind came East&rehy;wards, 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 destroy'd; and passing on seem'd to threatned 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 Reliques, especially those of St. Agatha, the famous Martyr of Catania, in which they reposed no small confidence, fol&rehy;lowed by great Multitudes of People, some of them Mortifying themselves with Whips, and other signes of Penance, with great Com&rehy;plaints and Cryes, expressing their dreadful ex&rehy;pectation of the Events of those Prodigious Fiery Inundations.

Whil'st the People were thus busied in their Devotions, and astonisht by their Feares, News was brought to the Magistrates of the City, that a considerable number of Thieves and Robbers had taken the opportunity of this ge&rehy;neral 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 fear'd, that the City of Catania it self 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 Or&rehy;dered with a considerable number of Horse, and a Party of Spaniards, to secure the Country and City against these Robbers; who imme&rehy;diately sent out several Parties with his provost&rehy;Marshall, 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 Martial-Law, without any farther Tryal, and accordingly caused three pair of Gallowes to be set up for their speedy Execu&rehy;tion; 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 searched, and Account to be given in of all Lodgers, and such persons to be secu&rehy;red, as could any wayes fall under a Suspiti&rehy;on.

The poor People out of the Country being by this Prodigious Calamity stript out of all their Estates, and reduced to great extremity, fled most of them for refuge and reliefe 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 open'd their Doores 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 sup&rehy;port, till better Order could be taken for the disposing of them.

The City of Messina also, and several other Cities (informed of this extraordinary Cala&rehy;mity) sent Hither large Supplies of Provisi&rehy;ons, offering their best assistance to this place, in case of extremity.

All the Elements seemed at this time to make War upon us, and to conspire together for the punishment of the Inhabitants: The Ayre was continually darkened with Clouds and Smoke, agitated by great and violent Winds, and often&rehy;times showred down great Raines, insomuch as the Sun from the begining of these Eruptions, very seldome appeared to us, and when it did, (with extraordinary paleness,) for a little time only, and (as it were, abhorring so dreadful a Spectacle) soon hid its face again under a thick Cloud.

The Sea ran much higher than it was wont to do, and by its extraordinary Roaring, and in some places over-flowing its Bankes, added not a little to our consternation. The Land eve&rehy;ry where infested with Thieves, insomuch, 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 stirr abroad without danger of his life; whilst the Fire by this prodigious overflowing of the Mountain, threatned to take possession of all.

On Friday the 15th. the stream of fiery Matter which destroyed the lower part of St. Giovanni di Galermo divided it self into two parts, one of its branches taking its way to&rehy;ward Mosterbianco, the other threatning the City of Catania, but this last was observed to move with more slowness then before, ha&rehy;ving 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 Senate with Monsegnior Cam&rehy;buchi the Bishop of this place, followed by all the Clergy Secular and Regular, and an infi&rehy;nite number of people went in a solemn Pro&rehy;cession out of this City to Monte de St. Sofia, carrying out with greatest Devotion their choicest Relicks, and upon an Altar erected in view of the Mountain, exposed them, where they celebrated Mass and used the Exorcismes accustomed upon such extraordinary occasi&rehy;ons, all which time, the Mountain ceased not as before with excessive roaring to throw up its smoak and flames with extraordinary vio&rehy;lence, 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 Countrey 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 Cattle to a farther distance, which would otherwise have perish&rehy;ed for want of food.

These streams of ruine daily crept neerer and neerer to this City, but by uneven and irregular motions, according as it was more or less supply'd from its fountain; but on Wednesday the 20th we perceived that that branch of it which seem&rehy;ed most to threaten this City from St. Giovanni di Galermo was wholly extinguisht, and the other which bent its course towards Moster-bi&rehy;anco ran but slowly and gave us some hopes that its fury was also near spent, but the other Torent which had before overflown Mosterbian&rehy;co, continued its motion with as much violence as ever, being in breadth above a Musquet shot over; but in probability could not easily over&rehy;flow to the Westwards which was defended by its Rocky scituation; another branch which ran by Santo Pietro was observed to be much larger then the rest, and its stream more quick and active, but meeting with some op&rehy;position in its way, it made some stop, one&rehy;ly sending out a Rivolet toward the East&rehy;wards about three or four yards wide, of its most subtle and active matter, which direct&rehy;ed its course towards a small Village about a furlong distant from its main stream; another Branch threatned Campo Rotundo, but bent its course westwards towards the Farme of Val&rehy;corrente, where its Fiery body was scattered into several deep and rocky places, without any considerable damage.

About this time we had hopes that the vio&rehy;lence of this eruption had been over, the Mountain not throwing out its flames with that violence as before, and its noise and roar&rehy;ing 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 the largest of the Mouths from whence these Fiery streams were vented, was about halfe 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 stone and Metals melted, whose depth was various according to the se&rehy;veral places it filled in its passage, in some places 4, in others 8, 12 or 15 yards and up&rehy;wards; its breadth in some places 6 miles, in others much more; its flame like that of Brim&rehy;stone, and its motion like that of Quicksilver; advancing ordinarily very slowly, unless where it was provoked by the addition of a fresh Torrent or some considerable descent. Where&rehy;soever it passed, it left large heaps of its con&rehy;gealed 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 it, levelling some hills and raising others, so much chan&rehy;ging the scituation, that not the least trace of any place or Town remains, nothing being to be seen but confused heaps of ragged stone, which yielding a noisome fume, strikes terror and astonishment into all that behold it.

On Friday the 22, the Mountain again roar&rehy;ed with much loudness, and threw up from its Mouths a vast quantity of matter, which form&rehy;ed two large hills higher and larger then that of Monpilori, with a large bank of the same matter to the Eastwards, sending down a vi&rehy;olent stream of its liquid matter towards Mal&rehy;passo, much enlarging the former Current, and passing thence to Campo Rotundo and Santo Pi&rehy;etro compleated the ruines of those Towns, driving furiously towards Moster-bianco; the other stream by Santo Giovanni de Galermo be&rehy;ing wholly diverted and extinguisht.

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 Peales of Ordnance, and so forcible and lasting, as for 24 houres it caused a shaking and trembling in our Buildings, the Ayre so filled with Smoak and Ashes, as dark&rehy;ned the Face of the Sky.

The Birds and Fowle about this time, either through want of Food, or illness of Ayre, which was corrupted with the noysome smells arising from these Burnings, were observed to lye dead in all places.

On the 28th. the Grand Current was advan&rehy;ced 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 Of&rehy;ficers remaining with such persons as were un&rehy;der 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.

&Tic;He Dreadful Inundation from Monte Gi&rehy;bello having destroyed many Castles and Towns, with an infinite loss, and utter ruine to the Inhabitants, arrived lately with a renewed Force at Mostor-bianco, which it has whol&rehy;ly ruin'd; from thence passing on to Alba&rehy;nelli, in four Dayes space destroyed all the Gardens and Vineyards, with 63 Thousand Vines.

On Wednesday, April 16. With an Impetu&rehy;ous 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 and burning Brass, about ten Ells wide, running with swiftness to the Arch of Marcus Marcellus, a Famous Piece of Antiqui&rehy;ty, and passing under it ruin'd 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 entred in at one Gate, and passed through another, without any considerable hurt, and running through the Gate Della Decima, filled all the Plaine Di Schiara Viva, where it was above six 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 Appre&rehy;hensions, least it may that way Invade the City it self: Nor is there less Danger on the side Del Tindaro, where there runs a great Torrent of the same Active matter, which drawes near, and seemes to threaten the Walls, and is in that place about a mile in breadth, having over-flowed and de&rehy;stroyed all the Gardens, from the Gate Della Decima, as farr as Madonna delli A&rehy;mellati.― ―