of Venerable Antiquity and proved many of their greattest and weightiest Opinions to be vain and false The Doctrine of the Antipodes by many of the Antients of approved Wisdome and Learning was held a Paradox no less absurd than this Our Opinion of the Earths Motion may seem to be as likewise that of the Habitablenesse of the Torrid Zone Of these Opinions the first was accounted unpossible by many but the latter was absolutely denyed by the unanimous consent of all But later Authors to the great felicity and perpetual Glory of their Age have not so much by Authority as by accurate diligence and indefatigable study to finde out the truth proved them both to be undoubtedly true Thus I affirm that the Antients were deceived and that in too lightly challenging Credid and Authority for their Inventions they discovered too much folly Here for brevities sake I pass by many Dreams lately detected both of Aristotle and other of the antient Philosophers who in all likelihood if they had dived into the Observations of Modern Writers and understood their Reasons would by changing their judgements have given them the precedency and would have subscribed to their manifest Truth Hereby we see that we are not to have so high a respect for the Aâ—tiens that whatever they assert should be taken upon trust and that Faith should be given to their sayings as if they were Oracles and Truths sent down from Heaven But yet which indeed is chiefly to be regarded in these matters if any thing be found out that is repugnant to Divine Authority or to the Sacred Leaves that were dictated by the Holy Ghost and by His Inspiration expounded by the Holy Doctors of the Church in this case not onely Humane reason but even Sense it self is to submitt which though by all manner of weighty Conditions and circumstances it should hold forth any thing contrary to Divine Authority which indeed is so plain that there is no way left to evade the right understanding of it yet is it to be rejected and we must conclude our selves deceived by it and believe that that is not true which Sense and Reason represents unto us For however we judge of things we have both in this and all other cases a more certain knowledge which proceeds from Divine Faith as S. Peter hath most excellently exprest it Who though with his Senses he saw and perceived the Glory of our Lord in his Transfiguration and heard his words manifesting his great Power yet nevertheless all these things compared with the Light of Faith he adds We have also a more sure word of Prophecy c. Wherefore since this Opinion of Pythagoras and Copernicus hath entred upon the Stage of the World in so strange a Dress and at the first appearance besides the rest doth seem to oppose sundry Authorities of Sacred Scripture it hath this being granted been justly rejected of all men as a meer absurdity But yet because the common Systeme of the World devised by Ptolomy hath hitherto satisfied none of the Learned hereupon a suspition is risen up amongst all even Ptolemy's followers themselves that there must be some other Systeme which is more true than this of Ptolemy For although the Phaenomena of Celestial Bodys may seem to be generally resolved by this Hypothesis yet they are found to be involved with many difficulties and referred to many devices as namely of Orbes of sundry Forms and Figures Epicicles Equations Differences Excentricks and innumerable such like fancies and Chymaera's which savour of the Ens Rationis of Logicians rather than of any Realem Essentiam Of which kinde is that of the Rapid Motion than which I finde not any thing that can be more weakly grounded and more easily controverted and disproved And such is that conceit of the Heaven void of Stars moving the inferior Heavens or Orbes All which are introduced upon occasion of the variety of the Motions of Celestial Bodyes which seemed impossible by any other way to be reduced to any certain and determinate Rule So that the Assertors of that common Opinion freely confess that in describing the Worlds Systeme they cannot as yet discover or teach the true Hypothesis thereof But that their endeavours are onely to finde out amongst many things what is most agreeable with truth and may upon better and more accomodate Reasons answer the Celestial Phaenomena Since that the Telescope an Optick Invention hath been found out by help of which many remarkable things in the Heavens most worthy to be known and till then unthought of were discovered by manifest sensation as for instance That the Moon is Mountainous Venus and Saturn Tricorporeal and Jupiter Quadricorporeal Likewise that in the Via Lactea in the Pleiades and in the Stars called Nobulosae there are many Stars and those of the greatest Magnitude which are by turns adjacent to one another and in the end it hath discovered to us new fixed Stars new planets and new Worlds And by this same Instrument it appears very probable that Venus and Mercury do not move properly about the Earth but rather about the Sun and that the Moon alone moveth about the Earth What therefore can be inferred from hence but that the Sun doth stand immovable in the Centre and that the Earth with the other Celestial Orbes is circumvolved about it Wherefore by this and many other Reasons it appears That the Opinion of Pythagoras and Copernicus doth not disagree with Astronomical and Cosmographical Principles yea that it carryeth with it a great likelihood and probability of Truth Whereas amongst the so many several Opinions that deviate from the common Systeme and devise others such as were those of Plato Calippus Eudoxus and since them of Averroe Cardanus Fracastorius and others both Antient and Modern there is not one found that is more facile more regularly ahd determinately accommodated to the Phaenomena and Motions of the Heavens without Epicycles Excentrix Homocentricks Deferents and the supputation of the Rapid Motion And this Hypothesis hath been asserted for true not onely by Pythagoras and after him by Copernicus but by many famous men as namely Heraclitus and Ecphantus Pythagoreans all the Disciples of that Sect Miceta of Syracuse Martianus Capella and many more Amongst whom those as we have said that have attempted the finding out of New Systemes for they refused both this of Pythagoras and that of Ptolemy are numberless who yet notwithstanding allowed this Opinion of Pythagoras to carry with it much probability and indirectly confirmed it inasmuch as that they rejected the common one as imperfect defective and attended with many contradictions and difficulties Amongst these may be numbered Father Clavius a most learned Jesuite who although he refutes the Systeme of Pythagoras yet acknowledgeth the Levity of the common Systeme and he ingeniously confesseth that for the removal of difficulties in which the common Systeme will not serve the turn Astronomers are forced to enquire
filched from the Ancients and somewhat altered 99 Aristotle his Arguments for the Earths Quiescence and Immobility 107 Aristotle were he alive would either refute his Adversaries Arguments or else would alter his Opinion 113 Aristotles first Argument against the Earths Motion is defective in two things 121 The Paralogisme of Aristotle and Ptolomy in supposing that for known which is in question 121 Aristotle admitteth that the Fire moveth directly upwards by Nature and round about by Participation 122 Aristotle and Ptolomy seem to confute the Earths Mobility against those who think that it having along time stood still began to move in the time of Pythagoras 168 Aristotle his errour in affirming falling Grave Bodies to move according to the proportion of their gravities 199 Aristotle his Demonstrations to prove the Earth is finite are all nullified by denying it to be moveable 294 Aristotle maketh that Point to be the Centre of the Universe about which all the Celestial Spheres do revolve 294 A question is put if Arist. were forced to receive one of two Propositions that make against his Doctrine which he would admit 294 Aristotle his Argument against the Ancients who held that the Earth was a Planet 344 Aristotle taxeth Plato of being over-studious of Geometry 361 Aristotle hâ—ldeth those Effects to be miraculous of which the Causes are unknown 384 ASTRONOMERS Astronomers confuted by Anti-Tycho 38 The principal Scope of Astronomers is to give a reason of Appearances and Phaenomena 308 Astronomers all agree that the greater Magnitudes of the Orbes is the cause of the tardity in their Conversions 331 Astronomers perhaps have not known what Appearances ought to follow upon the Annual Motion of the Earth 338 Astronomers having omitted to instance what alterations those are that may be derived from the Annual Motion of the Earth do thereby testifie that they never rightly understood the same 343 ASTRONOMICAL Astronomical Observations wrested by Anti-Tycho to his own purpose 39 Astronomical Instruments are very subject to errour 262 ASTRONOMY Astronomy restored by Copernicus upon the Suppositions of Ptolomy 308 Many things may remain as yet unobserved in Astronomy 415 AUCUPATORIAN An Aucupatorian Problem for shooting of Birds flying 157 AXIOME or Axiomes In the Axiome Frustra fit per plura c. the addition of aequae bene is super fluous 106 Three Axiomes that are supposed manifest 230 Certain Axiomes commonly admitted by all Philosophers 361 B BODY and Bodies Contraries that corrupt reside not in the same Body that corrupteth 30 GRAVE BODY If the Celestial Globe were perforated a Grave Body descending by that Bore would passe and ascend as far beyond the Centre as it did descend 203 The motion of Grave Bodies Vide Motion The Accelleration of Grave Bodies that descend naturally increaseth from moment to moment 205 We know no more who moveth Grave Bodies downwards than who moveth the Stars round nor know we any thing of these Courses more than the Names imposed on them by our selves 210 The great Masse of Grave Bodies being transferred out of their Place the seperated parts would follow that Masse 221 PENSILE BODY Every Pensile Body carried round in the Circumference of a Circle acquireth of it self a Motion in it self contrary to the same 362 CELESTIAL BODIES neither heavy nor light according to Aristotle 23 Celestial Bodies are Generable and Corruptible because they are Ingenerable and Incorruptible 29 Amongst Celest. Bodies there is no contrariety 29 Celestial Bodies touch but are not touched by the Elements 30 Rarity and Density in Celestial Bodies different from Rarity and Density in the Elements 30 Celestial Bodies designed to serve the Earth need no more but Motion and Light 45 Celestial Bodies want an interchangeable Operation on each other 46 Celestial Bodies alterable in their externe parts 46 Perfect Sphericity why ascribed to Celestial Bodies by Peripateticks 69 All Celestial Bodies have Gravity and Levity 493 ELEMENTARY BODIES Their propension to follow the Earth hath a limited Sphere of Activity 213 LIGHT BODIES easier to be moved than heavy but lesse apt to conserve the Motion 400 LUMINOUS BODIES Bodies naturally Luminous are different from those that are by nature Obscure 34 The reason why Luminous Bodies appear so much the more enlarged by how much they are lesser 304 Manifest Experience shews that the more Luminous Bodies do much more irradiate than the lesse Lucid. 306 SIMPLE BODYES have but one Simple Motion that agreeth with them 494 SPHERICAL BODIES In Spherical Bodies Deorsum is the Centre and Sursum the Cirference 479 BONES The ends of the Bones are rotund and why 232 BUONARRUOTTI Buonarruotti a Statuary of admirable ingenuity 86 C CANON A shameful Errour in the Argument taken from the Canon-Bullets falling from the Moons Concave 197 An exact Computation of the fall of the Canon-Bullet from the Moons Concave to the Centre of the Earth 198 CELESTIAL Celestial Substances that be Vnalterable and Elementary that be Alterable necessary in the opinion of Aristotle 2 CENTRE The Sun more probably in the Centre of the Vniverse than the Earth 22 Natural inclination of all the Globes of the World to go to their Centre 22 Grave Bodies may more rationally be affirmed to tend towards the Centre of the Earth than of the Vniverse 25 CHYMISTS Chymists interpret the Fables of Poets to be Secrets for making of Gold 93 CIRCLE and Circular It is not impossible with the Circumference of a small Circle few times revolved to measure and describe a line bigger than any great Circle whatsoever 222 The Circular Line perfect according to Aristotle and the Right imperfect and why 9 CLARAMONTIUS The Paralogisme of Claramontius 241 The Argument of Claramontius recoileth upon himself 245 The Method observed by Claramontius in consuting Astronomers and by Salviatus in refuting him 253 CLOUDS Clouds no lesse apt than the Moon to be illuminated by the Sun 73 CONCLUSION and Conclusions The certainty of the Conclusion helpeth by a resolutive Method to finde the Demonstration 37 The Book of Conclusioâ—s frequently mentioned was writ by Christopher Scheiner a Jesuit 195 323. CONTRARIES Contraries that corrupt reside not in the same Body that corrupteth 30 COPERNICAN Answers to the three first Objections against the Copernican System 303 The Copernican System difficul to be understood but easie to be effected 354 A plain Scheme representing the Copernican Systeme and its consequences 354 The proscribing of the Copernican Doctrine after so long a Tolleration and now that it is more than ever followed studied and confirmed would be an affront to Truth 444 The Copern System admirably agreeth with the Miracle of Joshuah in the Literal Sense 456 If Divines would admit of the Copernican System they might soon find out Expositions for all Scriptures that seem to make against it 459 The Copernican System rejected by many out of a devout respect to Scripture Authorities 461 The Copernican System more plainly asserted in Scripture than the Ptolomaick 469 COPERNICANS Copernicans are
that Court nor was that Decree Published without Previous Notice given me thereof Therefore it is my resolution in the present case to give Foraign Nations to see that this point is as well understood in Italy and particularly in Rome as Transalpine Diligence can imagine it to be and collecting together all the proper Speculations that concern the Copernican Systeme to let them know that the notice of all preceded the Censure of the Roman Court and that there proceed from this Climate not only Doctrines for the health of the Soul but also ingenious Discoveries for the recreating of the Mind To this end I have personated the Copernican in this Discourse proceeding upon an Hypothesis purely Mathematical striving by all artificial wayes to represent it Superiour not to that of the Immobility of the Earth absolutely but according as it is mentioned by some that retein no more but the name of Peripateticks and are content without going farther to adore Shadows not philosophizing with requisit caution but with the sole remembrance of four Principles but badly understood We shall treat of three principall heads First I will endeavour to shew that all Experiments that can be made upon the Earth are insufficient means to conclude it's Mobility but are indifferently applicable to the Earth moveable or immoveable and I hope that on this occasion we shall discover many observable passages unknown to the Ancients Secondly we will examine the Coelestiall Phoenomena that make for the Copernican Hypothesis as if it were to prove absolutely victorious adding by the way certain new Observations which yet serve only for the Astronomical Facility not for Natural Necessity In the third place I will propose an ingenuous Fancy I remember that I have said many years since that the unknown Probleme of the Tide might receive some light admitting the Earths Motion This Position of mine passing from one to another had found charitable Fathers that adopted it for the Issue of their own wit Now because no stranger may ever appear that defending himself with our armes shall charge us with want of caution in so principal an Accident I have thought good to lay down those probabilities that would render it credible admitting that the Earth did move I hope that by these Considerations the World will come to know that if other Nations have Navigated more than we we have not studied less than they that our returning to assert the Earths Stability and to take the contrary only for a Mathematical Capriccio proceeds not from inadvertency of what others have thought thereof but had we no other inducements from those Reasons that Piâ—ty Religion the Knowledge of the Divine Omnipotency and a consciousness of the incapacity of mans Vnderstanding dictate unto us With all I conceived it very proper to express these conceits by way of Dialogue which as not being bound up to the riggid observance of Mathematical Laws gives place also to Digressions that are sometimes no less curious than the principal Argument I chanced to be several years since at several times in the Stupendious Citty of Venice where I conversed with Signore Giovan Francesco Sagredo of a Noble Extraction and piercing wit There came thither from Florence at the same time Signore Filippo Salviati whose least glory was the Eminence of his Blood and Magnificence of his Estate a sublime Wit that fed not more hungerly upon any pleasure than on elevated Speculations In the company of these two I often discoursed of these matters before a certain Peripatetick Philosopher who seemed to have no geater obstacle in understanding of the Truth than the Fame he had acquired by Aristotelical Interpretations Now seeing that inexorable Death hath deprived Venice and Florence of those two great Lights in the very Meridian of their years I did resolve as far as my poor ability would permit to perpetuate their lives to their honour in these leaves bringing them in as Interlocutors in the present Controversy Nor shall the Honest Peripatetick want his place to whom for his excessive affection towards the Commentaries of Simplicius I thought fit without mentioning his own Name to leave that of the Author he so much respected Let those two great Souls ever venerable to my heart please to accept this publick Monument of my never-dying Love and let the remembrance of their Eloquence assist me in delivering to Posterity the Considerations that I have promised There casually happened as was usuall several discourses at times between these Gentlemen the which had rather inflamed than satisfied in their wits the thirst they had to be learning whereupon they took a discreet resolution to meet together for certain dayes in which all other business set aside they might betake themselves more methodically to contemplate the Wonders of God in Heaven and in the Earth the place appointed for their meeting being in the Palace of the Noble Sagredo after the due but very short complements Signore Salviati began in this manner The CONTENTS of the FIRST TOME PART THE FIRST Treatise I. GALILEUS GALILEUS his SYSTEME of the WORLD in Four DIALOGUES II. HIS EPISTLE to her SERENE HIGHNESSE CHRISTIANA LOTHERINGA GRAND DUTCHESSE of TUSCANY touching the Ancient and Modern DOCTRINE of HOLY FATHERS and JUDICIOUS DIVINES concerning the AUTHORITY of SACRED SCRIPTURE in PHYLOSOPHICAL CONTROVERSIES III. JOHANNES KEPLERUS his RECONCILINGS of TEXTS of SACRED SCRIPTURE that seem to oppose the DOCTRINE of the EARTHS MOBILITY abstracted from his INTRODUCTION unto his LEARNED COMMENTARIES upon the PLANET MARS IV. DIDACUS A STUNICA a learned SPANISH DIVINE his RECONCILINGS of the said DOCTRINE with the TEXTS of SACRED SCRIPTURE abstracted from his COMMENTARIE upon JOB V. PAULUâ— ANTONIUS FOSCARINUS a CARMELITE his EPISTLE to SEBASTIANUS FANTONUS the GENERAL of his ORDER concerning the PYTHAGOREAN and COPERNICAN OPINION of the MOBILITY OF THE EARTH and STABILITY OF THE SUN and of the NEW SYSTEME or CONSTITUTION of the WORLD in which he reconcileth the TEXTS OF SACRED SCRIPTURE and ASSERTIONS of DIVINES commonly alledged against this OPINION A Table of the most observable Persons and Matters mentioned in the First Part. PART THE SECOND I. D. BENEDICTUS CASTELLUS ABBOT OF S. BENEDICTUS ALOYSIUS his DISCOURSE of the MENSURATION OF RUNNING WATERS The First BOOK II. HIS LETTER to GALILEUS representing the state of the Lake of PERUGIA in TUSCANY III. HIS GEOMETRICAL DEMONSTRATIONS of the MEASURE of RUNNING WATERS IV. HIS DISCOURSE of the MENSURATION OF RUNNING WATERS The Second BOOK V. HIS CONSIDERATIONS concerning the LAKE OF VENICE In two DISCOURSES VI. HIS RULE for computing the quantity of MUD and SAND that LAND-FLOODS bring down to and leave in the LAKE of VENICE VII HIS LETTER to Father FRANCESCO DI S. GIVSEPPE wherein at the instance of PRINCE LEOPALDO he delivereth his judgment concerning the turning FIUME MORTO a River near PISA in TUSCANY into the SEA and into the River SEARCHIO VIII HIS second LETTER in answer to certain OBJECTIONS proposed and DIFFICULTIES observed
amongst the Furies but when he is telling merry tales amongst the Meonion Damosels Ah unheard of sordidnesse of servile souls to make themselves willing slaves to other mens opinions to receive them for inviolable Decrees to engage themselves to seem satisfied and convinced by arguments of such efficacy and so manifestly concludent that they themselves cannot certainly resolve whether they were really writ to that purpose or serve to prove that assumption in hand or the contrary But which is a greater madnesse they are at variance amongst themselves whether the Author himself hath held the affirmative part or the negative What is this but to make an Oracle of a Log and to run to that for answers to fear that to reverence and adore that SIMPL. But in case we should recede from Aristotle who have we to be our Guid in Philosophy Name you some Author SALV We need a Guid in unknown and uncouth wayes but in champion places and open plains the blind only stand in need of a Leader and for such it is better that they stay at home But he that hath eyes in his head and in his mind him should a man choose for his Guid. Yet mistake me not thinking that I speak this for that I am against hearing of Aristotle for on the contrary I commend the reading and diligently studying of him and onely blame the servile giving ones self up a slave unto him so as blindly to subscribe to what ever he delivers and without search of any farther reason thereof to receive the same for an inviolable decree Which is an abuse that carrieth with it another great inconvenience to wit that others will no longer take pains to understand the validity of his Demonstrations And what is more shameful than in the middest of publique disputes whilest one person is treating of demonstrable conclusions to hear another interpose with a passage of Aristotle and not seldome writ to quite another purpose and with that to stop the mouth of his opponent But if you will continue to study in this manner I would have you lay aside the name of Philosophers and call your selves either Historians or Doctors of Memory for it is not fit that those who never philosophate should usurp the honourable title of Philosophers But it is best for us to return to shore and not lanch farther into a boundlesse Gulph out of which we shall not be able to get before night Therefore Simplicius come either with arguments and demonstrations of your own or of Aristotle and bring us no more Texts and naked authorities for our disputes are about the Sensible World and not one of Paper And forasmuch as in our discourses yesterday we retriev'd the Earth from darknesse and exposed it to the open skie shewing that the attempt to enumerate it amongst those which we call Coelestial bodies was not a position so foil'd and vanquish't as that it had no life left in it it followeth next that we proceed to examine what probability there is for holding of it fixt and wholly immoveable scilicet as to its entire Globe what likelihood there is for making it moveable with some motion and of what kind that may be And forasmuch as in this same question I am ambiguous and Simplicius is resolute as likewise Aristotle for the opinion of its immobility he shall one by one produce the arguments in favour of their opinion and I will alledge the answers and reasons on the contrary part and next Sagredus shall tell us his thoughts and to which side he finds himself inclined SAGR. Content provided alwayes that I may reserve the liberty to my self of alledging what pure natural reason shall sometimes dictate to me SALV Nay more it is rhat which I particularly beg of you for amongst the more easie and to so speak material considerations I believe there are but few of them that have been omitted by Writers so that onely some of the more subtle and remote can be desired or wanting and to investigate these what other ingenuity can be more fit than that of the most acute and piercing wit of Sagredus SAGR. I am what ever pleaseth Salviatus but I pray you let us not sally out into another kind of digression complemental for at this time I am a Philosopher and in the Schools not in the Court. SALV Let our contemplation begin therefore with this consideration that whatsoever motion may be ascribed to the Earth it is necessary that it be to us as inhabitants upon it and consequently partakers of the same altogether imperceptible and as if it were not at all so long as we have regard onely to terrestrial things but yet it is on the contrary as necessary that the same motion do seem common to all other bodies and visible objects that being separated from the Earth participate not of the same So that the true method to find whether any kind of motion may be ascribed to the Earth and that found to know what it is is to consider and observe if in bodies separated from the Earth one may discover any appearance of motion which equally suiteth to all the rest for a motion that is onely seen v. gr in the Moon and that hath nothing to do with Venus or Jupiter or any other Stars cannot any way belong to the Earth or to any other save the Moon alone Now there is a most general and grand motion above all others and it is that by which the Sun the Moon the other Planets and the Fixed Stars and in a word the whole Universe the Earth onely excepted appeareth in our thinking to move from the East towards the West in the space of twenty four hours and this as to this first appearance hath no obstacle to hinder it that it may not belong to the Earth alone as well as to all the World besides the Earth excepted for the same aspects will appear in the one position as in the other Hence it is that Aristotle and Ptolomy as having hit upon this consideration in going about to prove the Earth to be immoveable argue not against any other than this Diurnal Motion save onely that Aristotle hinteth something in obscure terms against another Motion ascribed to it by an Ancient of which we shall speak in its place SAGR. I very well perceive the necessity of your illation but I meet with a doubt which I know not how to free my self from and this it is That Copernicus assigning to the Earth another motion beside the Diurnal which according to the rule even now laid down ought to be to us as to appearance imperceptible in the Earth but visible in all the rest of the World me thinks I may necessarily infer either that he hath manifestly erred in assigning the Earth a motion to which there appears not a general correspondence in Heaven or else that if there be such a congruity therein Ptolomy on the other
confession of its obscurity as also by his at two several times taking two different wayes to make it out And I ingenuously confesse that I understood not his explanation till such time as another method more plain and manifest had rendred it intelligible and yet neither was that done without a long and laborious application of my thoughts to the same SIMP Aristotle saw the same scruple and makes use thereof to oppose certain of the Ancients who held that the Earth was a Planet against whom he argueth that if it were so it would follow that it also as the rest of the Planets should have a plurality of motions from whence would follow these variations in the risings and settings of the fixed stars and likewise in the Meridian Altitudes And in regard that he propoundeth the difficulty and doth not answer it it must needs be if not impossible at least very difficult to be resolved SALV The stresse and strength of the knot rendereth the solution thereof more commendable and admirable but I do not promise you the same at this time and pray you to dispense with me therein till too morrow and for the present we will go considering and explaining those mutations and differences that by means of the annual motion ought to be discerned in the fixed stars like as even now we said for the explication whereof certain preparatory points offer themselves which may facilitate the answer to the grand objection Now reassuming the two motions ascribed to the Earth two I say for the third is no motion as in its place I will declare that is the annual and diurnal the first is to be understood to be made by the centre of the Earth in or about the circumference of the grand Orb that is of a very great circle described in the plain of the fixed and immutable Ecliptick the other namely the diurnal is made by the Globe of the Earth in it self about its own centre and own Axis not erect but inclined to the Plane of the Ecliptick with the inclination of 23. degrees and an half or thereabouts the which inclination is maintained all the year about and that which ought especially to be observed is alwayes situate towards the same point of Heaven in so much that the Axis of the diurnal motion doth alwayes remain parallel to it self so that if we imagine that same Axis to be continued out until it reach the fixed stars whilst the centre of the Earth is encircling the whole Ecliptick in a year the said Axis describeth the superficies of an oblique Cylinder which hath for one of its bases the said annual circle and for the other a like circle imaginarily described by its extremity or if you will Pole amongst the fixed stars And this same cylinder is oblique to the Plane of the Ecliptick according to the inclination of the Axis that describeth it which we have said to be 23 degrees and an half the which continuing perpetually the same save onely that in many thousands of years it maketh some very small mutation which nothing importeth in our present businesse causeth that the Terrestrial Globe doth never more incline or elevate but still conserveth the same state without mutation From whence ensueth that as to what pertaineth to the mutations to be observed in the fixed stars dependant on the sole annual motion the same shall happen to any point whatsoever of the Earths surface as befalleth unto the centre of the Earth it self and therefore in the present explanations we will make use of the centre as if it were any whatsoever point of the superficies And for a more facile understanding of the whole let us design the same in lineal figures And first of all let us describe in the Plane of the Ecliptick the circle ANBO in Fig. 7. and let us understand the points A and B to be the extreams towards the North and South that is the beginning of or entrance into Cancer or Capricorn and let us prolong the Diameter AB indeterminately by D and C towards the Starry Sphere I say now in the first place that none of the fixed stars placed in the Ecliptick shall ever vary elevation by reason of any whatsoever mutation made by the Earth along the said Plane of the Ecliptick but shall alwayes appear in the same superficies although the Earth shall approach and recede as great a space as is that of the diameter of the Grand Orb as may plainly be seen in the said figure For whether the Earth be in the point A or in B the star C alwayes appeareth in the same line ABC although the distance BC be lesse than AC by the whole diameter AB The most therefore that can be discovered in the star C and in any other placed in the Ecliptick is the augmented or diminished apparent magnitude by reason of the approximation or recession of the Earth SAGR. Stay a while I pray you for I meet with a certain scruple which much troubleth me and it is this That the star C may be seen by the same line ABC as wel when the Earth is in A as when it is in B I understand very well as also furthermore I apprehend that the same would happen in all the points of the line AB so long as the Earth should passe from A to B by the said line but it passing thither as is to be supposed by the arch ANB it is manifest that when it shall be in the point N and in any other except those two A and B the said star shall no longer be observed in the line AB but in others So that if the appearing under several lines ought to cause apparent mutations some difference must needs appear in this case Nay more I will speak it with that Philosophical freedom which ought to be allowed amongst Philosophick friends methinks that you contradicting your self deny that now which but even now to our admiration you proved to be really true and considerable I mean that which happeneth in the Planets and particularly in the three superiour ones that being constantly in the Ecliptick or very near unto it do not onely shew themselves one while near unto us and another while remote but so deformed in their regular motions that they seem sometimes immoveable and sometimes many degrees retrograde and all upon no other occasion than the annual motion of the Earth SALV Though by a thousand accidents I have been heretofore assured of the wittinesse of Sagredus yet I had a desire by this one experiment more to ascertain me of what I may expect from his ingenuity and all this for my own interest for in case my Propositions stand but proof against the hammer and furnace of his judgment I shall be confident that they will abide the test of all Touch-stones I say therefore that I had purposely dissembled this objection but yet not with any intent to deceive you and
Earth answered by Examples of the like Motions in other Celestial Bodies 236 A fourth Argument of Claramontius against the Copernican Hypothesis of the Earths Mobility 239 From the Earths obscurity and the splendor of the fixed Stars it is argued that it is moveable and they immoveable 239 A fifth Argument of Claramontius against the Copernican Hypothesis of the Earths Mobility 240 Another difference between the Earth and Celestial Bodies taken from Purity and impurity 240 It seems a Solecisme to affirme that the Earth is not in Heaven 241 Granting to the Earth the Annual it must of necessity also have the Diurnal Motion assigned to it 300 Discourses more than childish that serve to keep Fools in the Opinion of the Earths Stability 301 The Difficulties removed that arise from the Earths moving about the Sun not solitarily but in consort with the Moon 307 The Axis of the Earth continueth alwayes parallel to it self and describeth a Cylindraical Superficies inclining to the Orb. 344 The Orb of the Earth never inclineth but is immutably the same 345 The Earth approacheth or recedeth from the fixed Stars of the Ecliptick the quantity of the Grand Orb. 349 If in the fixed Stars one should discover any Mutation the Motion of the Earth would be undeniable 351 Necessary Propositions for the better conceiving of the Consequences of the Earths Motion 354 An admirable Accident depending on the not-inclining of the Earths Axis 358 Four several Motions assigned to the Earth 362 The third Motion ascribed to the Earth is rather a resting immoveable 363 An admirable interne vertue or faculty of the Earths Globe to behold alwayes the same part of Heaven 363 Nature as iâ— sport maketh the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea to prove the Earths Mobility 379 All Terrene Effects indifferently confirm the Motion or Rest of the Earth except the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea 380 The Cavities of the Earth cannot approach or recede from the Centre of the same 387 The Hypothesis of the Earths Mobility taken in favour of the Ebbing and Flowing opposed 399 The Answers to those Objections made against the Earths Motion 399 The Revolution of the Earth confirmed by a new Argument taken from the Aire 400 The vaporous parts of the Earth partake of its Motions 400 Another observation taken from the Ayr in confirmation of the motion of the Earth 402 A Reason of the continual Motion of the Air and Water may be given by making the Earth moveable rather then by making it immoveable 405 The Earths Mobility held by sundry great Philosophers amongst the Antients 437 468 The Fathers agree not in expounding the Texts of Scripture that are alledged against the Earths Mobility 450 The Earth Mobility defended by many amongst the Modern Writers 478 The Earth shall stand still after the Day of Judgement 480 The Earth is another Moon or Star 486 The Earths several Motions according to Copernicus 491 The Earth secundum totum is Immutable though not Immoveable 491 The Earths Natural Place 492 The Earths Centre keepeth her in her Natural Place 493 The Earth in what Sense it may absolutely be said to be in the lowest part of the World 496 EBBING and Ebbings The first general Conclusion of the impossibility of Ebbing and Flowing the Immobility of the Terrestrial Globe being granted 380 The Periods of Ebbings and Flowings Diurnal Monethly and Annual 381 Varieties that happen in the Diurnal Period of the Ebbings and Flowings 382 The Causes of Ebbings and Flowings alledged by a Modern Phylosopher 382 The Cause of the Ebbing and Flowing ascribed to the Moon by a certain Prelate 383 The Cause of the Ebbing c. referred by Hyeronimus Borrius and other Peripateticks to the temperate heat of the Moon 383 Answers to the Vanities alledged as Causes of the Ebbing and Flowing 383 It s proved impossible that there should naturally be any Ebbing and Flowing the Earth being immoveable 386 The most potent and primary Cause of the Ebbing and Flowing 390 Sundry accidents that happen in the Ebbings and Flowings 391 Reasons renewed of the particular Accidents observed in the Ebbings and Flowings 393 Second Causes why in several Seas and Lakes there are no Ebbings and Flowings 394 The Reason why the Ebbings and Flowings for the most part are every Six Hours 395 The Cause why some Seas though very long suffer no Ebbing and Flowing 395 Ebbings and Flowings why greatest in the Extremities of Gulphs and least in the middle parts 396 A Discussion of some more Abstruce Accidents observed in the Ebbing and Flowing 396 The Ebbing and Flowing may depend on the Diurnal Motion of Heaven 404 The Ebbing and Flowing cannot depend on the Motion of Heaven 405 The Causes of the Periods of the Ebbings and Flowings Monethly and Annual at large assigned 407 The Monethly and Annual alterations of the Ebbings and Flowings can depend on nothing save on the alteration of the Additions and Subtractions of the Diurnal Period from the Annual 408 Three wayes of altering the proportion of the Additions of the Diurnal Revolution to the Annual Motion of the Ebbing and Flowing 409 Ebbings and Flowings are petty things in comparison of the vastnesse of the Seas and the Velocity of the Motion of the Terrestrial Globe 417 EFFECT and Effects Of a new Effect its necessary that the Cause be likewise new 370 The Knowledge of the Effects contribute to the investigation of the Causes 380 True and Natural Effects follow without difficulty 387 Alterations in the Effects argue alteration in the Cause 407 ELEMENTS and their Motions Vide MOTION ENCYCLOPEDIA Subtilties sufficiently insipid ironically spoken and taken from a certain Encyclopedia 153 EXPERIMENTS Sensible Experiments are to be preferred before Humane Argumentations 21 33 42. It is good to be very cautious in admitting Experiments for true to those that never tryed them 162 Experiments and Arguments against the Earths Motion seem so far concluding as they lye under Equivokes 162 The Authority of Sensible Experiments and necessary Demonstrations in deciding of Physical Controversies 436 EYE The Circle of the Pupil of the Eye contracteth and enlargeth 329 How to finde the distance of the Rays Concourse from the Pupil of the Eye 329 F FAITH Faith more infallible than either Sense or Reason 475 FIRE Fire moveth directly upwards by Nature and round about by Participation according to Aristotle 122 It is improbable that the Element of Fire should be carried round by the Concave of the Moon 405 FIGURE and Figures Figure is not the Cause of Incorruptibility but of Longer Duration 66 The perfection of Figure appeareth in Corruptible Bodies but not in the Eternal 69 If the Spherical Figure conferred Eternity all things would be Eternal 69 It is more difficult to finde Figures that touch in a part of their Surface then in one sole point 185 The Circular Figure placed amongst the Postulata of Mathematicians 186 Irregular Figures and Formes difficult to be introduced 187 Superficial figures increase in proportion
think a greater part should rather be imployed than a lesser 105 PRINCIPLES By denying Principles in Sciences any Paradox may be maintained 28 Contrary Principles cannot naturally reside in the same Subject 211 PROJECT c. The Project according to Aristotle is not moved by virtue impressed but by the Medium 130 Operation of the Medium in continuing the Motion of the Project 131 Many Experiments and Reasons against the Motions of Projects assigned by Aristotle 132 The Medium doth impede and not conferre the Motion of Projects 134 An admirable accident in the Motion of Projects 135 Sundry curious Problems touching the Motion of Projects 137 Projects continue their Motion by a Right Line that follows the direction of the Motion made together with the Projicient whilst they were conjoyned therewith 154 The Motion impressed by the Projicient is onely in a Right Line 170 The Project moveth by the Tangent of the Circle of the Motion preceeding in the instant of Seperation 172 A Grave Project assoon as it is seperated from the Projicient beginneth to decline 173 The Cause of the Projection encreaseth not according to the Proportion of Velocity encreased by making the Wheel bigger 189 The Virtue which carrieth Grave Projects upwards is no lesse Natural to them than the Gravity which moveth them downwards 211 PTOLOMY c. Inconveniences that are in the System of Ptolomy 309 Ptolomies System full of defects 476 The Learned both of elder and later times dissatisfied with the Ptolomaick System 477 PYTHAGORAS c. Pythagorick Mistery of Numbers fabulous 3 Pythagoras offered an Hecatombe for a Geometrical Demonstration which he found 38 Pythagoras and many other Ancients enumerated that held the Earths Mobility 437 468 R RAYS Shining Objects seem fringed and environed with adventitious Rays 304 REST. Rest. Vide Motion Rest the Infinite degree of Tardity 11 RETROGRADATIONS Retrogradations more frequent in Saturn lesse frequent in Jupiter and yet lesse in Mars and why 311 The Retrogradations of Venus and Mercury demonstrated by Apollonius and Copernicus 311 S SATURN Saturn for its slownesse and Mercury for its late appearing were amongst those that were last observed 416 SCARCITY Scarcity and Plenty enhanse and debase the price of all things 43 SCHEINER Christopher Scheiner the Jesuit his Book of Conclusions confuted 78 195 seq 323 A Canon Bullet would spend more than six dayes in falling from the Concave of the Moon to the Center of the Earth according to Scheiner 195 Christopher Scheiner his Book entituled Apelles post Tabulam censured and disproved 313 The Objections of Scheiner by way of Interrogation 336 Answers to the Interrogations of Scheiner 336 Questions put to Scheiner by which the weaknesse of his is made appear 336 SCIENCES In Natural Sciences the Art of Oratory is of no use 40 In Natural Sciences it is not necessary to seek Mathematical evidence 206 SCRIPTURE c. The Caution we are to use in determining the Sense of Scripture in difficult points of Phylosophy 427 Scripture studiously condescendeth to the apprehension of the Vulgar 432 In dicussing of Natural Questions we ought not to begin at Scripture but at Sensible Experiments and Necessary Demonstrations 433 The intent of Scripture is by its Authority to recommend those Truths to our beliefe which being un-intelligible could no other wayes be rendered credible 434 Scripture Authority to be preferred even in Natural Controversies to such Sciences as are not confined to a Demonstrative Method 434 The Pen-men of Scripture though read in Astronomy intentionally forbear to teach us any thing of the Nature of the Stars 435 The Spirit had no intent at the Writing of the Scripture to teach us whether the Earth moveth or standeth still as nothing concerning our Salvation 436 Inconveniencies that arise from licentious usurping of Scripture to stuffe out Books that treat of Nat. Arguments 438 The Literal Sense of Scripture joyned with the universal consent of the Fathers is to be received without farther dispute 444 A Text of Scripture ought no lesse diligently to be reconciled with a Demonstrated Proposition in Philosophy than with another Text of Scripture sounding to a contrary Sense 446 Demonstrated Truth ought to assist the Commentator in finding the true Sense of Scripture 446 It was necessary by way of condescension to Vulgar Capacities that the Scripture should speak of the Rest and Motion of the Sun and Earth in the same manner that it doth 447 Not onely the Incapacity of the Vulgar but the Current Opinion of those times made the Sacred Writers of the Scripture to accommodate themselves to Popular Esteem more than Truth 447 The Scripture had much more reason to affirm the Sun Moveable and the Earth Immoveable than otherwise 448 Circumspection of the Fathers about imposing positive Senses on Doubtful Texts of Scripture 451 T is Cowardice makes the Anti-Copernican fly to Scripture Authorities thinking thereby to affright their Adversaries 455 Scripture speaks in Vulgar and Common Points after the manner of Men. 462 The intent of Scripture is to be observed in Places that seem to affirme the Earths Stability 464 Scripture Authorities that seem to affirm the Motion of the Sun and Stability of the Earth divided into six Classes 478 Six Maximes to be observed in Expounding Dark Texts of Scripture 481 Scripture Texts speaking of things inconvenient to be understood in their Literal Sense are to be interpreted one of the four wayes named 81 Why the Sacred Scripture accommodates it self to the Sense of the Vulgar 487 SEA The Seas Surface would shew at a distance more obscure than the Land 49 The Seas Reflection of Light much weaker than that of the Earth 81 The Isles are tokens of the unevennesse of the Bottoms of Seas 383 SELEUCUS Opinion of Seleucus the Mathematician censured 422 SENSE He who denieth Sense deserves to be deprived of it 21 Sense sheweth that things Grave move ad Medium and the Light to the Concave 21 It is not probable that God who gave us our Senses would have us lay them aside and look for other Proofs for such Natural Points as Sense sets before our Eyes 434 Sense and Reason lesse certain than Faith 475 SILVER Silver burnished appears much more obscure than the unburnished and why 64 SIMPLICIUS Simplicius his Declamation 43 SOCRATES The Answer of the Oracle true in judging Socrates the Wisest of his time 85 SORITES The Forked Sylogisme called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 29 SPEAKING We cannot abstract our manner of Speaking from our Sense of Seeing 461 SPHERE The Motion of 24 hours ascribed to the Highest Sphere disorders the Period of the Inferiour 102 The Sphere although Material toucheth the Material Plane but in one point onely 182 The Definition of the Sphere 182 A Demonstration that the Sphere toucheth the Plane but in one point 183 Why the Sphere in abstract toucheth the Plane onely in one point and not the Material in Concrete 184 Contact in a Single Point is not
a Philosopher determining the original of the Nerves Requisites to fit a man to philosophate well after the manner of Aristotle A cunning way to gather Philosophy out of any book whatsoever * A word signifying works composed of many fragments of verses collected out of the Poets Invention of the Telescope taken from Aristotle Chymists interpret the Fables of the Poets to be secrets for making of Gold Some of Aristotles Sectators impare the reputation of their Master in going about to enhanse it A ridiculous passage of a certain Statuary A brave resolution of a certain Peripatetick Philosopher The servile spirit of some of Aristotles followers Too close adhering to Aristotle is blameable It is not just that those who never philosophate should â—surp the title of Philosophers The Sensible World The motions of the Earth are imperceptible to its inhabitants The Earth can have no other motions than those which to us appear commune to all the rest of the Vniverse the Earth excepted The Diurnal Motion seemeth commune to all the Vniverse save onely the Earth excepted Aristotle and Ptolomy argue against the Diurnal Motion attributed to the Earth Why the diurnal motion more probably should belong to the Earth than to the rest of the Vniverse Motion as to the things that equally move thereby is as if it never were so far operates as it hath relation to things deprived of motion A proposition taken by Aristotle from the Antients but somewhat altered by him The first discourse to prove that the diurnal motion belongs to the Earth Nature never doth that by many things which may be done by a few The diurnal motion causeth no mutation amongst the Coelestial Bodies but all changes have relation to the Earth A second confirmation that the diurnal motion belongs to the Earth Circular motions are not contrary according to Aristotle * As you see in a Mill wherein the implicated cogs set the wheels on moving A third confirmation of the same Doctrine The greater Orbs make their conversions in greater times The times of the Medicean Planets conversions The motion of 24 hours ascribed to the highest Sphere disorders the period of the inferiour The fourth Confirmation Great disparity amongst the motions of the particular fixed stars if their Sphere be moveable The fifth Confirmation The motions of the fixed stars would accelerate and grow slow in divers times if the starry Sphere were moueable The sixth Confirmation The Seventh Confirmation The Earth a pendent Body and equilibrated in a fluid Medium seems unable to resist the rapture of the Diurnal Motion A single moveable hath but onely one natural motion and all the rest are by participation Motion cannot be made without its moveable subject One single experiment or sound demonstration batereth down all arguments meerly probable Of an infinite power one would think a greater part should rather be imploy'd than a lesse Of infinity one part is no bigger than another although they are comparatively unequal In the Axiome Frustra fit per plura c. the addition of aeque benè is superfluous Aristotles Arguments for the Earths quiessence * Restiâ— indietzâ— which is meant here of that motion which a bowl makes when is born by its by as to one side or other and so hindered in its direct motion â— Two kindes of Arguments touching the Earths motion or rest Arguments of Ptolomy and Tycho and other persons over and above those of Aristotle The first argument taken from grave bodies falling from on high to the ground Which is confirmed by the experiment of a body let fall from the round top of a Ship * That is at the foot of the Mast upon the upper deck The second argument taken from a Projection shot very high The third argument taken from the shots of a Cannon towards the East and towards the West This argument is confirmed by two shots towards the South and towards the North. And it is likewise confirmed by two shots towards the East and towards the West Copernicus his followers are not moved through ignorance of the arguments on the other part Christianus Vurstitius read certain Lectures touching the opinion of Copernicus what ensued thereupon The followers of Copernicus were all first against that opinion but the Sectators of Aristotle Ptolomy were never of the other side Motion and rest principal accidents in nature Vntruths cannot be demonstrated as Truths are For proof of true conclusions many solid arguments may be produced but to prove a falsity none Aristotle would either refute his adversaries arguments or would alter his opinion An argument taken from the Clouds and from Birds An argument taken from the air which we feel to beat upon us when we run a Horse at full speed An argument taken from the whirling of circular motion which hath a faculty to extrude and dissipate True and fair are one and the same as also false and deformed The answer tâ— Aristotles first argument That which is violent cannot be eternal and that which cannot be eternal cannot be natural Two things requisite to the end a motion may perpetuate it self an unlimited space and an incorruptible moveable Right motion cannot be eternal and consequently cannot be natural to the Earth * Terminatissimo * By this expression he every where means the preceding Dialogue or Giornata The answer to the second argument * Subdeficere * Or Centre Aristotles argument against the Earthâ— motion is defective in two things * The same word which a little aâ—â—ve I tendred stay behind as a bowle when it meets with â—ulâ—s The answer to the third argument The answer to the fourth argument Thâ— Paralogism of Aristotle and Ptolomey in supposing that for known which is in question Aristotle admitteth that the Fire moveth directly upwards by nature and round abent by participation The disparity between the fall of a stone from the round top of a ship and from the top of a tower * That you may not suspect my translation or wonder what Oars have to do with a ship you are to know that the Author intends the Gallies used in the Mediterrane The part of the Air inferiour to the higher mountains doth follow the motion of the Earth The motion of the Air apt to carry with it light things but not heavy The stone falling from the Mast of a ship lights in the same place whether the ship doth move or ly still The project according to Aristotle is not moved by vertue impressed but by the medium Operation of the medium in continuing the motion of the project Many experiments and reasons against the cause of the motion of projects assigned by Aristotle The medium doth impede and not confer the motion of projects An admirable accident in the motion of projects * By the length of the mast he means the distance between the upperdeck and Round-top * La palla Sundry curious Problems touching the motions of projects * Vertâ—gine *
Litigious Lawyers that are extertained in an ill cause keep close to sâ—me exâ—ression fallen from the adverse party at unawares * Or progressions The apparent diversity of motion in the Planets is insensible in the fixed Stars Supposing that a fixed Star of the sixth magnitude is no bigger than the Sun the diversitie which is so great in the Planets in the fixed Stars is almost insensible The distance of the Sun containeth 1208 Semid of the Earth * The Diameter of the Sun half a degree The Diameter of a fixed Star of the first magnitude and of one of the sixth The apparent Diameter of the Sun how much it is bigger than that of a fixed star The distance of a fixed star of the sixth magnitude how much it is the star being supposed to be equal to the Sun In the fixed stars the diversitie of aspect caused by the grand Orb is little more then that caused by the Earth in the Sun A star of the sixth magnitude supposed by Tycho and the Authour of the Book of Conclusions an hundred and six milions of times bigger than needs The computation of the magnitude of the fixed Stars in respect to the grand Orb. A common errour of all the Astronomers touching the magnitude of the stars Venus renders the errour of Astronomers in determining the magnitudes of stars inexcusable A way to measure the apparent diameter of a star * Rendred in Latine Corum that is to say North-west * i. e. Is subtended by The diameter of a fixed star of the first magnitude not more than five sec. min. The circle of the pupil of the eye enlargeth and contracteth * Panicum a small grain like to Mill I take it to be the same with that called Bird Seed * Strisce How to find the distance of the rays concourse from the pupil All Astronomers agree that the greater magnitudes of the Orbes is the cause of the tardity of the conversions By another supposition taken from Astronomers the distance of the fixed Stars is calculated to be 10800 semidiameters of the grand Orb. By the proportion of Jupiter and of Mars the starry Sphere is found to be yet more remoâ—e Immeâ—se magnitudes and numbers are incomprehensible by our understanding God Nature do imploy themselves in caring for men as if they minded nothing else An example of Gods care of mankind taken from the Sun It is great rashnesse to censure that to be superfluous in hâ—ll verse which we do not perceive to be made for us By depriving Heaven of some star one might come to know what influence it hath upon us Many things may be in Heaven that are invisible to us Great small immense c. are relative terms Vanity of those mens discourse who judg the starry sphere too vast in the Copernican Hypothesis * Spelloncola which is here put for the lâ—ast of Fishes The space assigned to a fixed star is much lesse than that of a Planet A star is called in respect of the space that environs it The whole starry sphere behold from a great distance might appear as small as one single star Instances of the Authour of the Conclusions by way of interogation * Or Gulph Answers to the interrogatories of the said Authour The Authour of the Conclusions confound and contradicts himself in his interrogations Interrogatories put to the Authour of the Conclusions by which the weaknesse of his is made appear That remote objects appeare so small is the defect of the eye as is demonstrated Tycho nor his followers ever attempted to see whether there are any appearances in the Firmament for or against the annual mâ—tion Astronomers perhaps have not known what appearances ought to follow upon the annual motion of the Earth Copernicus understood not some things for want of Instruments Tycho and others argue against the annual motion from the invariable elevation of the Pole * Christophorus Rothmannus Motion 〈◊〉 it is common is as if it never were An example fitted to prove that the altitude of the Pole ought not to vary by means of the Earths annual motion * Corsia the bank or bench on which slaves sit in a Gally Upon the annual motion of the Earth alteration may ensue in some fixed star not in the Pole The equivoke of those who believe that in the annual motion great mutations are to be made about the elevation of a fixed star is confuted The right line and circumference of an infinite circle are the same thing Enquiry is made what mutations in what stars are to be discovered by means of the annual motion of the Earth Astronomers having omitted to instance what alterations those are that may be derived from the annual motion of the Earth do thereby testifie that they never rightly understood the same The mutations of the fixed stars ought to be in some greater in others lesser and in others nothing at all * Bandola that end of a skeen wherewith housewives fasten their hankes of yarn thread or silk The grand difficulty in Copernicus his Doctrine is that which concerns the Phaenomena of the Sun and fixed stars * Pettine it is the stay in a Weavets Loom that permitteth no knot or snarle to passe it called by them the Combe of the Loom Aristotles argument against the Ancients who held that the Earth was a Planet The annual motion made by the centre of the Earth under the Ecliptick and the diurnal motion made by the Earth about its own centre The axis of the Earth continueth alwayes parallel to it self and describeth a Cylindraical superficies inclining to the grand Orb. The Orb of the Earth never inclineth but is immutably the same The fixed stars placed in the Ecliptick never elevate nor descend on account of the annual motion but yet approach and recede Objections against the Earths annual motion taken from the fixed stars placed in the Ecliptick * Or will prove of good alloy The station direction and retrogradation of the Planets is known in relation to the fixed stars An Indice is the fixed stars like to that which is 〈◊〉 in the Planeâ—s is an argument of the Earths annual motion The fixed stars without the Ecliptick elevate and descend more or lesse according to their distance from the said Ecliptick * i. e. of the Ecliptick The Earth approacheth or recedeth from the fixed stars of the Ecliptick the quantity of the Diameter of the Grand Orb. The stars nearer to us make greater differences than the more remote The Epilogue of the Phaenomena of the fixed stars caused by the annual motion of the Earth In objects far remote and luminous a small approach or recession is imperceptible If in the fixed stars one should discover any annual mutation the motion of the Earth would be undeniable It is proved what small credit is to be given to Astronomical Instruments in minute observations * Braccia Italian * Or Miâ— Ptolomy did not trust to an Instrument made by Archimedes Instruments