1where alſo I give the reaſon thereof, ^{*} Coroll. 14. The ac
cident is this, That there coming a Land-Flood, for example,
into Arno, which maketh it to riſe above its ordinary Mouth
wthin Piſa, or a little above or below the City ſix or ſeven Bra
ces; this ſame height becometh alwaies leſſer and leſſer, the more
we approach towards the Sea-ſide; inſomuch, that near to the
Sea the ſaid River ſhall be raiſed hardly half a Brace: Whence
it followeth of neceſſary conſequence, that ſhould I again be at
the Sea-ſide, and knowing nothing of what hapneth, ſhould ſee
the River Arno raiſed by the acceſſion of a Land-flood, one third
of a Brace; I could certainly infer, that the ſame River was raiſed
in Piſa thoſe ſame ſix or ſeven Braces. And that which I ſay of
Arno, is true of all Rivers that fall into the Sea. Which thing
being true, it is neceſſary to make great account of every ſmall
riſing, that Fiume morto maketh towards the Sea-ſide by fal
ling into Serchio. For although the riſing of Fiume morto, by
being to diſgorge its Waters into Serchio, towards the Sea, were
onely a quarter of a Brace; we might very well be ſure, that fart
from the Sea, about Piſa, and upon thoſe fields the riſe ſhall be
much greater, and ſhall become two or three Braces: And be
cauſe the Countrey lyeth low, that ſame riſe will cauſe a conti
nual Innundation of the Plains, like as it did before; I cauſed the
Mouth to be opened into the Sea. And therefore I conclude
that the Mouth of Fiume morto, ought by no means to be opened
into Serchio; but ought to be continued into the Sea, uſing all
diligence to keep it open after the manner aforeſaid, ſo ſoon as
ever the Wind ſhall be laid. And if they ſhall do otherwiſe, I
confidently affirm, that there will daily follow greater damages;
not onely in the Plains, but alſo in the wholeſomneſs of the
Air; as hath been ſeen in times paſt. And again, It ought with
all care to be procured, that no waters do by any means run or
fall from the Trench of Libra, into the Plain of Piſa, for theſe
Waters being to diſcharge into Fiume morto, they maintain it
much higher than is imagined, according to that which I have de
monſtrated in my conſideration upon the ſtate of the Lake of
Venice. I have ſaid but little, but I ſpeak to you, who under
ſtandeth much, and I ſubmit all to the moſt refined judgment of
our moſt Serene Prince Leopold, whoſe hands I beſeech you in all
humility to kiſs in my name, and implore the continuance of his
Princely favour to me; and ſo deſiring your prayers to God for
me, I take my leave.
cident is this, That there coming a Land-Flood, for example,
into Arno, which maketh it to riſe above its ordinary Mouth
wthin Piſa, or a little above or below the City ſix or ſeven Bra
ces; this ſame height becometh alwaies leſſer and leſſer, the more
we approach towards the Sea-ſide; inſomuch, that near to the
Sea the ſaid River ſhall be raiſed hardly half a Brace: Whence
it followeth of neceſſary conſequence, that ſhould I again be at
the Sea-ſide, and knowing nothing of what hapneth, ſhould ſee
the River Arno raiſed by the acceſſion of a Land-flood, one third
of a Brace; I could certainly infer, that the ſame River was raiſed
in Piſa thoſe ſame ſix or ſeven Braces. And that which I ſay of
Arno, is true of all Rivers that fall into the Sea. Which thing
being true, it is neceſſary to make great account of every ſmall
riſing, that Fiume morto maketh towards the Sea-ſide by fal
ling into Serchio. For although the riſing of Fiume morto, by
being to diſgorge its Waters into Serchio, towards the Sea, were
onely a quarter of a Brace; we might very well be ſure, that fart
from the Sea, about Piſa, and upon thoſe fields the riſe ſhall be
much greater, and ſhall become two or three Braces: And be
cauſe the Countrey lyeth low, that ſame riſe will cauſe a conti
nual Innundation of the Plains, like as it did before; I cauſed the
Mouth to be opened into the Sea. And therefore I conclude
that the Mouth of Fiume morto, ought by no means to be opened
into Serchio; but ought to be continued into the Sea, uſing all
diligence to keep it open after the manner aforeſaid, ſo ſoon as
ever the Wind ſhall be laid. And if they ſhall do otherwiſe, I
confidently affirm, that there will daily follow greater damages;
not onely in the Plains, but alſo in the wholeſomneſs of the
Air; as hath been ſeen in times paſt. And again, It ought with
all care to be procured, that no waters do by any means run or
fall from the Trench of Libra, into the Plain of Piſa, for theſe
Waters being to diſcharge into Fiume morto, they maintain it
much higher than is imagined, according to that which I have de
monſtrated in my conſideration upon the ſtate of the Lake of
Venice. I have ſaid but little, but I ſpeak to you, who under
ſtandeth much, and I ſubmit all to the moſt refined judgment of
our moſt Serene Prince Leopold, whoſe hands I beſeech you in all
humility to kiſs in my name, and implore the continuance of his
Princely favour to me; and ſo deſiring your prayers to God for
me, I take my leave.
Rome 1. Feb.
1642.
1642.
D. BENEDETTO CASTELLI.