An essay for the recording of illustrious providences

These things being Read and Considered; the Author of this Essay, was desired to begin the work which is here done; and I am Engaged to many for the Materials, and Informations which the following Collections do consist […] It is not easy to give an Account […] things, and yet no circumstantial mistakes ⟨image ?⟩attend what shall be related. Nor dare I aver, that there are none such in what follows. Only I have been careful to prevent them; and as to the substance of each passage, I am well assured it is according to Truth. That rare accident about the Lightning which: caused a wonderful change in the Compasses of a Vessel then at Sea, was as is in the Book expressed Page 91.92. Only it is uncertain whether they were then exactly in the Latitude of 38. For they had not taken an Observation for several days, but the Master of the Vessel affirms that to be the Latitude so near as they could conjecture. Since the Needle was changed by the Lightning, if a lesser Compass be set over it, the Needle therein (or any other touched with the Load-stone) will alter its polarity & turn about to the South, as I have divers times to my great admiration experimented. There is near the North point a dark spot, like as if it were burnt with a drop of Brimstone, supposed to ⟨image ?⟩be caused by the Lightning. Whether the Magnetic impressions on that part of the Needle being dissipated by the heat of the Lightning, and the effluvia on the South end of the Needle only remaining untouched thereby, be the true natural reason of the marvellous alteration; or whither it ought to be ascribed to some other cause, the Ingenious may consider.

These things being Read and Considered; the Author of this Essay, was desired to begin the work which is here done; and I am Engaged to many for the Materials, and Informations which the following Collections do consist 〈…〉 It is not easie to give an Account 〈…〉 things, and yet no circumstantial mistakes ⟨image ?⟩attend what shall be related. Nor dare I averr, that there are none such in what follows. Only I have been careful to prevent them; and as to the substance of each passage, I am well assured it is according to Truth. That rare accident about the Lightning which: caused a wonderful change in the Compasses of a Vessel then at Sea, was as is in the Book expressed Page 91.92. Only it is uncertain whether they were then exactly in the Latitude of 38. For they had not taken an Observation for several dayes, but the Master of the Vessel affirms that to be the Latitude so near as they could conjecture. Since the Needle was changed by the Lightning, if a lesser Compass be set over it, the Needle therein (or any other touched with the Load-stone) will alter its polarity & turn about to the South, as I have divers times to my great admiration experimented. There is near the Northpoint a dark spot, like as if it were burnt with a drop of Brimstone, supposed to