1courſe of the Waters upwards very leaſurely, perſwadeth me
more readily to believe that Sig. Bartolotti knoweth very well,
that the Mouth of Fiume morto let into Serchio is hurtful: for
by this he acknowledgeth that the Mouth towards the Sea doth
in ſuch ſort drain the Countrey of the Waters, as that they be
come very low; and therefore upon every little impetus the wa
ters turn their courſe: And from the motions, being exceeding
ſlow, is inferred, that the abundance of Sea-water that com
eth into Fiume morto, is ſo much as is believed, and as Sig. Bat
tolotti affirmeth.
more readily to believe that Sig. Bartolotti knoweth very well,
that the Mouth of Fiume morto let into Serchio is hurtful: for
by this he acknowledgeth that the Mouth towards the Sea doth
in ſuch ſort drain the Countrey of the Waters, as that they be
come very low; and therefore upon every little impetus the wa
ters turn their courſe: And from the motions, being exceeding
ſlow, is inferred, that the abundance of Sea-water that com
eth into Fiume morto, is ſo much as is believed, and as Sig. Bat
tolotti affirmeth.
9. After that Sig. Bartolotti hath ſaid what he promiſeth a
bove, namely, that when the Windes blowing ſtrongly do ſtop
up Fiume morto, and not onely retard but turn the courſe up
wards, the time being Rainy, and the Mouth of Fiume morto ſhut
up, the Waves of the Sea paſſe over the Bank of Fiume morto; at
that time, ſaith Signore Bartolotti, the Champain ſhall know the
benefit of Fiume morto diſcharged into Serchio, and the mouth A
ſhall ſtand alwayes open; and Fiume morto may alwayes con
ſtantly run out, as alſo the Rains and Rain-waters, although the
hurtful Tempeſt ſhould laſt many dayes, &c. And I reply, that
all the Art conſiſts in this; for the benefit of thoſe Fields doth
not depend on, or conſiſt in ſaying, that Fiume morto is alwayes
open, and Fiume morto draineth continually; But all the buſi
neſſe of profit lyeth and conſiſteth in maintaining the Waters
low in thoſe Plaines, and thoſe Ditches, which ſhall never be ef
fected whilſt the World ſtands, if you let Fiume morto into Ser
chio; but yet it may, by opening the mouth into the Sea: and
ſo much reaſon and nature proveth, and (which importeth) Ex
perience confirmeth.
bove, namely, that when the Windes blowing ſtrongly do ſtop
up Fiume morto, and not onely retard but turn the courſe up
wards, the time being Rainy, and the Mouth of Fiume morto ſhut
up, the Waves of the Sea paſſe over the Bank of Fiume morto; at
that time, ſaith Signore Bartolotti, the Champain ſhall know the
benefit of Fiume morto diſcharged into Serchio, and the mouth A
ſhall ſtand alwayes open; and Fiume morto may alwayes con
ſtantly run out, as alſo the Rains and Rain-waters, although the
hurtful Tempeſt ſhould laſt many dayes, &c. And I reply, that
all the Art conſiſts in this; for the benefit of thoſe Fields doth
not depend on, or conſiſt in ſaying, that Fiume morto is alwayes
open, and Fiume morto draineth continually; But all the buſi
neſſe of profit lyeth and conſiſteth in maintaining the Waters
low in thoſe Plaines, and thoſe Ditches, which ſhall never be ef
fected whilſt the World ſtands, if you let Fiume morto into Ser
chio; but yet it may, by opening the mouth into the Sea: and
ſo much reaſon and nature proveth, and (which importeth) Ex
perience confirmeth.
10. In the tenth place I come to conſider the anſwer that
was made to another Propoſition in the Letter which I writ to
Father Franceſco, which prudently of it ſelf alone might ſerve
to clear this whole buſineſſe. I ſaid in my Letter, That great
account is to be made of every ſmall riſing and ebbing of the
Waters neer to the Sea in Fiume morto, for that theſe riſings and
fallings, although that they be ſmall neer to the Sea-ſide, yet ne
vertheleſſe, they operate and are accompanied by notable riſings
and fallings within Land, and far from the Sea-ſide, and I have
declared by an example of Arno, in which a Land-flood falling,
that made it increaſe above its ordinary height within Piſa ſix or
ſeven Braces, that this height of the ſame Flood becometh ſtill
leſſer, the neerer we approach to the Sea-coaſts. Nor ſhall the
ſaid River be raiſed hardly half a Brace; whereupon it neceſſ
rily followeth, that if I ſhould return to the Sea-ſide, and not
knowing any think of that which happeneth at Piſa, and ſeeing
was made to another Propoſition in the Letter which I writ to
Father Franceſco, which prudently of it ſelf alone might ſerve
to clear this whole buſineſſe. I ſaid in my Letter, That great
account is to be made of every ſmall riſing and ebbing of the
Waters neer to the Sea in Fiume morto, for that theſe riſings and
fallings, although that they be ſmall neer to the Sea-ſide, yet ne
vertheleſſe, they operate and are accompanied by notable riſings
and fallings within Land, and far from the Sea-ſide, and I have
declared by an example of Arno, in which a Land-flood falling,
that made it increaſe above its ordinary height within Piſa ſix or
ſeven Braces, that this height of the ſame Flood becometh ſtill
leſſer, the neerer we approach to the Sea-coaſts. Nor ſhall the
ſaid River be raiſed hardly half a Brace; whereupon it neceſſ
rily followeth, that if I ſhould return to the Sea-ſide, and not
knowing any think of that which happeneth at Piſa, and ſeeing