MOunt Aetna, or Monte Gibello, a Mountain so Renowned throughout the World for its height and greatnesse, 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 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 render'd 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 smal terror into the inha­bitants, all Objects appearing also of the same colour, with a palenesse 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 unequal motions, joyned with horrible Roar­ings from Monte Gibello exceedingly frighted the Inhabitants, but was [Page 6]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 dreadfully 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 wereforced to take in travelling, 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 immediatly 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 peales 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, whilest the whole air was filled with smoak, burning Cinders, and ashes, which fell like a fiery rain upon the Countrey.

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 Countrey on this side of it.

This Burning River ran down upon the Mountain Montpileri, 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, & 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 [Page 7]Farmes, and with them the Famous Image of the blessed Lady of the An­nunciata: which, though highly Reverenced throughout the whole Island, 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 dreadfull Torrent.

This Fiery and burning Deluge immediately spread it self to above six mile in breadth, seeming to be somewhat of the colour of melted and burning Glass; but, as it cooles, 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 dreadfull 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 13^th, had on the West-side branched it self into several Streams, and over-ran Campo Rotundo, St. Pietro, and Mostor­bianco, with La Potielli. and St. Antonino; and on the East-part ruin'd the lower part of Mascalucia, and Le Placchi, taking its way towards this City.

On Thursday the 14^th, the Wind came Eastwards, on which day fell abundance of Rain, which abated not the progresse 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 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 Reliques, especially those of St. Agatha, the famous Martyr of Catania, in which they reposed no smal confidence, followed by great Multitudes of People, some of them Mortifying themselves with Whips, and other signes of Pennance, with great Complaints and Cryes, expressing their dreadful expectation 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 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 fear'd, that the City of Catania it self might run some danger from the great numbers of them which were about the [Page 8]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 Tryal; and accordingly caused three Pair of Gallowes 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 searched, an Account to be given in of all Lodgers, and such persons to be secured, as could any wayes fall under a Suspition.

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 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 open'd 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 Ayre was con­tinually darkened with Clouds and Smoke, agitated by great and violent Winds, and oftentimes showred down great Rains, insomuch as the Sun from the beginning of these Eruptions, very seldome 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 hid 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 stirr abroad without danger of his life: whilst the Fire by this prodigious over-flowing of the Mountain, threatned to take possession of all.

On Friday the 15^th. the stream of fiery Matter which destroyed the lower part of St. Giovanus di Galermo divided it self into two parts, one of its branches taking its way toward Mosterbianco, the other threatning 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 18^th 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 Relicks, and upon an Altar erected in the view of the Mountain, exposed them, where they celebrated Mass & used the Exorcisms accustom'd upon such an extraordinary occasions, all which time the Mountain ceased not as before with excessive roaring to throw up its smoak 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 wel 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 ruine daily crept nearer and nearer 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 seemed most to threaten this City from St. Giovanni di Galermo wholly extinguisht, 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 Musquet shot over; but in probability could not easily over-flow to the Westwards which was defended by its Rocky scituation; 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 Rivolet towards the Eastwards about three or four yards wide off its most subtile and active matter which directed 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 Valcor­ [...]ente, where its 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 veiw 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 compasse, but the view of this dreadfull inundation carried so much terror in it as they were not able to expresse; from all these Mouths were vomited Rivers of a thick and fiery substance of stone and Metals melted, whose deep was various according to the severall 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 flame like that of Brimstone, and its motion like that of Quicksilver, advancing ordinarily very slowly unlesse 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 Castels 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 dreadfull marks behind i [...], levelling some hills and raising others, so much changing 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 yeelded a noisome fume, strikes terror and astonishment into all that behold it.

On Friday the 22, the Mountain again roared with much loudnesse, 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 compleated the ruines of those Towns, driving furiously towards Moster-biance; the other stream by Santo Giovanni de Galermo being 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 Peals of Ordenance, and so forcible and lasting, as for 24 hours it caused a shaking and trembling in our buildings, the Ayre so filled with Smoak and Ashes, as darkned the Face of the Sky.

The Birds and Fowls about this time, either through want of Food, [Page 11]or illness of Aire, which was corrupt with the noisome smells arising from these Burnings, were observed to lye dead in all places.

On the 28^th 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.

THe Dreadful Inundation from Monte Gibello 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 wholly ruin'd, 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 swiftnesse to the Arch of Marcus Marcellus, a Famous Piece of Antiquity, 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 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 it selfe: 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 seems to threaten the Walls and as in that place about a mile in breadth, having over-flowed and destroy­ed all the Gardens, from the Gate Della Decima, as farr as Madona delli Amellati.