In 1388 it was badly shattered; in 1417, and again in 1489, the wooden spire surmounting it was utterly consumed; it was again greatly injured in 1548, 1565, 1653, and in 1745 was struck so powerfully that the whole tower, which had been rebuilt of stone and brick, was shattered in thirty-seven places.

Although the invention of Franklin had been introduced into Italy by the physicist Beccaria, the tower of St.Mark's still went unprotected, and was again badly struck in 1761 and 1762; and not until 1766--fourteen years after Franklin's discovery--was a lightning-rod placed upon it; and it has never been struck since.( 262) (262) For reluctance in England to protect churches with Franklin's rods, see Priestley, History of Electricity, London, 1775, vol.i, pp.
407, 465 et seq.
So, too, though the beautiful tower of the Cathedral of Siena, protected by all possible theological means, had been struck again and again, much opposition was shown to placing upon it what was generally known as "the heretical rod," but the tower was at last protected by Franklin's invention, and in 1777, though a very heavy bolt passed down the rod, the church received not the slightest injury.

This served to reconcile theology and science, so far as that city was concerned; but the case which did most to convert the Italian theologians to the scientific view was that of the church of San Nazaro, at Brescia.

The Republic of Venice had stored in the vaults of this church over two hundred thousand pounds of powder.

In 1767, seventeen years after Franklin's discovery, no rod having been placed upon it, it was struck by lightning, the powder in the vaults was exploded, one sixth of the entire city destroyed, and over three thousand lives were lost.( 263) (263) See article on Lightning in the Edinburgh Review for October, 1844.
Such examples as these, in all parts of Europe, had their effect.