not forget that the Comet in the later part of his period was North-west after sunne-set which gaue occasion to some not skilfull in Astronomie to affirme a second Comet But from the beginning I fore-told which was no great matter to doe that if the Comet continued awhile it would aduance neere to the tayle of Vrsa maior and be seene in the euening after the Sunne Now are we come to that from which Comets or Blazing-stars are denominated the tayle or rather the blazing streame which in this Comet was very remarkable and is truely pourtraied in the planisphere as it appeared in the heauens being alwaies in opposition to the Sunne or extended in length according to a right line issuing from the Sunne through the Comets body For plainer remonstrance whereof I specially invented this new manner of proiecting the Spheare in plano and haue caused the Elipticke to be protracted to the beginning of Capicorne and in it the Suns place exactly noted on seuerall daies of the Comets apparition also from the Sunnes Center proceede right lines through the body of the Comet which doe precisely shew the true prospect of his bushie lockes The 27. of Nouember in the morning the Comets haire was spread ouer the faire starre Arcturus betwixt the thighes of Arctophylax or Bootes Now the planispheare doth shew that a right line drawne from the Sunne then in the 15 degree of Sagittarie through the Comets body 〈◊〉 approach the said Starre So the last of November about midnight following the Comets bush ouer-shadowed a starre of the third light in the left hinder knee of Vrsamaior Which doth manifestly appeare in the planispheare by a line extended from the Sunne then in 19. degrees of Sagittarie through the Comets body the like may be seene in other places In-sooth this Comets forelock was a better Ephemeris for the Sunnes place then many in great request Hence is detected the grosse ignorance of those writers who neuer or seldome cast vp their eies towards those glorious lights but onely delighting in solitary contemplation doe much busie their wits in searching the cause of Cometary streamings affirming them to be of the same matter but more rare and thin with the head Which with many other absurdities may be refuted by this present obseruation which doth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by geometricall and lineall necessitie certainely demonstrate that the Comets taile is nothing else but an irradiation of the Sunne through the pellucide head of the Comet For though the Sunne-beames be not of themselues conspicuous in the pure aëry or aetheriall regions yet passing through the Comets more condensed substance and there by refraction recollected and more neerely vnited they did not onely illustrate the Comet it selfe but also a long tract beyond him According to the refraction and recollection of the Sunnes beames so was the illustration and illumination of the Comet which appeared to vs more or lesse as the Comet was neerer or farther from the earth and these be the true reasons why the Comet which at first was illustrate with a bright resplendence did euery day more and more loose his radiant lustre till at length it appeared like a faint shadow and quite vanished out of our sight for neither could the Sun beames be any longer vnited by refraction in the Comets now dissolute and sluide substance neither could that little glimpse if any were be perceiued being so farre remote from the earth as shall be anon remonstrate By the same reasons did the Comets streaming bush also by little and little vanish away and so much the rather by how much the Sunne rayes were there alwayes more dissipate then in the Comet and those locks euer lesse relucent then the head The dilatation of the Comets fore-locke was caused by a second refraction of the Sunne beames by which refraction they were brought to an intersection after which they beganne againe to diverge or display themselues in that forme which appeared in the heauens and is delineate in the planispheare This dilatation was nothing so strange as the extent in length being sometimes more then 45. degrees and namely the 1. of December ouershadowing the left hinder knee of Vrsa maior Though in the end the Comet did as it were winde vp this long haire about his head Some haue doubted if this long streame of light had touched the earth whether it would haue caused any combustion Surely no Indeede the Sun beames may by reflexion or refraction bee so concentred vnited that though it were through a peece of ice framed into a burning glasse they shall easily set any combustible matter on fire but that happens onely in the center of vnion or concourse of the recollected beames but this Comets lockes being diverged or displaied rayes could haue no such power though they had touched the earth From this one obseruation of the Sunnes irradiation through the Comet many more strange and excellent conclusions may be collected which neither my leasure will suffer mee to examine particularly neither can these pages well containe them Wherefore now I will tye vp this Comets radiant lockes with admiration of that glorious lampe wherewith He that inhabits the light inaccessible doth illustrate and enlighten this whole world 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psal 19. Hee hath set his Tabernacle in the Sunne and it as a Bridegroome commeth out of his chamber and reioyceth as a Gyant to runne a race his going forth is from the end of the heauen and his circuits vnto the ends of it and there is nothing hid from the heate thereof This is the true 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the onely harth of inquenchable fire which so many thousand leagues oft warmeth the earth enlightneth these refulgent bodies and with them this new Planet I haue at large shewed the Comets places as they appeared in the surface of Heauen both in his owne circle and also referred to the Ecliptick and Aequinoctiall but there is another place of more difficult inquisition and greater admiration and that is the Comets distance from this our habitable Orbe Common schooles treading the wrie steps of that great and witty but often mis-leading Peripateticke would confine this and other Comets within the higher region of the aire neither could his palpable error in the place of Galaxia or the milkie-way in Heauen acknowledged by most bring them into suspition of the like deuiation from the high aetheriall region of Comets into the Elementary vallies of Meteors where and with whom to place this Comet were to hide so glorious a candle vnder a bushell and not to set it in a candlesticke that all in the house may see to set a beacon not on an hill but in a dale especially if wee consider that the highest region of the aire by the Optickes demonstration from the time of twilight is not many aboue 50. english miles from the earth Wherefore I may
more Southward This Cometary line cutteth the Aequinoctiallline in the 8 degree almost of Scorpio and 15 of Northerne latitude making with it an angle of 81 degrees 23 towards Libra and the Pole Arctick If this angle had heene right 90 degrees the line of the Comets motion would haue runne into the very Pole but making some inclination towards Libra it fell as I sayd a little Southwards from the Pole This line also and the Ecliptique towards Capricorne and the North comprehended an angle of 116 degrees So that the Pole of the Comets proper motion was about 15 ½ degrees of Aquarius with 25 degrees ⅔ of Northerne latitude The motion it selfe reckoned in this line from my first obseruation on Wednesday morning the 18 of Nouember to Wensday the 16 of December when I last saw the Comet amounted almost to 73 degrees in 28 dayes which is not 2 degrees ⅔ one day with another but the Comets apparant motion at the first was somewhat swifter though not much and in the end a little slower I haue for the further remonstrance heereof graduated the Cometary line beginning at the intersection with the Aequinoctiall both wayes and by the Comets place set downe the time Heere I would haue those who ranke Comets amongst inconstant Meteors to take speciall notice of this Comets constant regularity for that the inequality of his motion was not onely little but ordinate successiuely decreasing sensim sine sensa by so little and little that it could not be perceiued but by comparing many dayes obseruations Let them also obserue that his motion in this line was scarse at the swiftest one fourth part of the Moones celerity but of this anon I will also propound to Masters in Astronomy this Comets exact and direct description by his apparant motion of a great circle without any deuiations What was the true line of his motion in the aetheriall Ocean What inclination it kept to this our habitable Orb By what Primum Mobile this Comet keeping so iust a line was whirled about the earth euery foure and twenty houres These considerations bee onely fit for those who haue beene rapt vp aboue the elementary regions of vulgar Schooles and slept not in Parnassus but Olympus vnder the spangled canopy of Vrania I can hardly keepe within the spheare of this little Treatise and scarsely refraine from the Samian Philosophy of Aristarchus in the earths motion were it not I feared another Aristarchus his broach and that I must reserue these mysteries for a more learned language Wherefore to prosecute our present description Vpon the inclination of this Cometary circle or line to the Ecliptique and Aequinoctiall depend the Comets places and motion in longitude latitude right ascension and declination as appeares in the Planispheare wherein is manifest that the Comets motion of longitude was continually retrograde contrary to the order of the signes from the middle almost of Scorpio through Libra into Virgo which retrogression hath beene noted in many other Comets as I shall elsewhere relate but the cause of their retrogression hath laien hid in the mysticall cabinet of Astronomy It were vaine to affirme Saturne now also retrograde in his Acronichiall opposition in Gemini to hale backe this Comet by the haire after him as simple Astrologians conceit for that these planetary retrogressions and stations of Planets bee but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 appearances the Planets still making progresse in their owne circles as is well knowen to them who are well versed in the Labyrinths of Astronomy but this Comets retrogression depends on the inclination of his true line in the aetheriall Regions which though it appeared to vs circular in the concaue of Heauen yet in it selfe was right but I may not breake Pythagorean silence This retrograde motion being referred to the Ecliptique in longitude was contrary to the motion in his proper circle slow in the beginning and much swifter in the end which is caused from the great inclination of the Cometary line to the Ecliptique which plainely appeareth in the Chart by which you shall easily finde the Comets place in longitude and latitude for any day of his tearme The Comet also euery day changed his parallel of declination mounting continually Northwards and therewith his verticall passage ouer the Earth The common sort at his first appearing thought him to bee ouer Spaine making I know not what prognosticks thereof but their eyes deceiued them they aimed many thousand miles too short At my first obseruation he declined twelue degrees towards the South making his diurnall gyre ouer that terrestiall circle wherein lie Noua Guinea the Iles Timor and Iaua in the East the north part of St. Laurence Mozambique in Africa the middle of Brasilia Peru in the west About the twentie two of Nouember it entred the aequinoctiall plaine ouer the Moluccas Malaca Sumatra Abassia St. Thomas Guiana euery day ascending higher towards our Pole Arctick about the 30. entring the Tropick of Cancer afterward passing ouer all the regions of the earth euen ouer the vtmost limites of the British Empire By the Comets declination is easie to know ouer what place the Comet was euery day verticall for if his declination be equall to the Latitude or Poles elevation which may be knowne by Tables or Mappes then of necessity did the Comet passe ouer head in that place The middle of Spaine lyes in fortie degrees of Latitude from the equinoctiall northward but the Comets declination was not so much till about the sixt of December and therefore could not be verticall to them before that time About the eleuenth of December his declination was fiftie one degrees and halfe and therefore passed ouer London in the morning and so hasted more Northwards euen as farre as the Orcades The Comets declination may be had in the chart by the line of his motion being graduated on both sides the aequinoctiall for the distance from the aequinoctiall is with a little correction the declination for from one degree to twentie the distance is within a few minutes the declination but from twentie degrees to fortie substract one fourth part of a degree from fortie to fiftie substract halfe a degree and from fiftie to sixtie substract one degree from the Comets distance from the aequinoctiall and there remaines his declination which whether it were South or North the Plani-sphere will shew On the third of December his distance in his own line from the aequinoctiall was 30. degrees 40. min. from whence 15. min. substracted there remaines 30. degrees twenty fiue minutes the declination By reason of this mounting Northwards the Comet did euery day rise sooner then other withall changing his azimuth or point of compasse in his rising from South-east and by East towards the north vntill at length it made continual abode aboue our Horizon I may
iustly vse the Lacedemonian 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 walke not in the errors of those wandring Philosophers Let this Comets regular and ordinate motion for a month together neuer deuiating from one right line keepe you in the way of verity This very reason alone many ages agoe perswaded diuine Seneca and in our Fathers daies that ingenious and subtile Cardane to place all Comets aboue the elementarie regions wherein only inconstant and momentany Meteors make their sickle vagaries The analogie also obserued in the starres betwixt their distance from the earth and their motion about the same doth eleuate this Comet aboue the Lunary regions his proper motion being scarse at any time the fourth part of hers This argument was sometimes accounted a firme demonstration before that conglomeration of solide orbes was with the Aries or engines of Astronomicall obseruations battered and demolished neither is it yet reiected by those who well deserue the first place in the restauration of this celestiall Art for though those Babylonian wals be ruinated yet is the analogie of motion and distance stil preserued It was the saying of diuine Plato 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God is the great Master of Geometrie hauing created all things in waight measure and number as holy writ doth witnesse The most accurate and refined Astronomie doth confesse and professe that flow Saturne is farthest from the earth and swift Luna neerest the rest intermediating in their motion according to their distance from this little terrell for whose vse especially those vast planetarie globes were created But that abstruse admirable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 most irrefragable and infallible remonstrance drawn from the parallax doth place this Comet farther beyond the Moone then she is from the earth yea many times her apogaeall or greatest distance But because this huge distance may seeme strange to many being as I haue shewed contrary to the long receiued opinion of common Philosophers and the doctrine of parallax to most no lesse vnknowne then the word it selfe I will for their better satisfaction with as much breuity and perspicuity as I can vnfold obscure but sure argument Parallax in Astronomy is a commutation or changing of any Planets or Comets true place pointed out by a line drawne from the Earths center through the Planets or Comets into another place appearing to our eye on the superficies of this terrestriall speculatorie Or parallax is the difference of these two places This commutation or difference ariseth from that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 reason or to vse the vulgar tearme though here vnproper proportion which the earths semidiameter or thicknesse from the center to his superficies hath to the planets or Comets distance from the earth for if this semidiameter hold any sensible proportion to the distance it is not possible that the eye vpon the earth should see the Comet or Planet in the same place which it hath in respect of the center but there will be a parallax commutation or difference more or lesse according to the distance So the Moones perigaeal or shortest distance being not much more then fiftie two semidiameters of the earth fals into a notorious parallax or difference of her true and apparant place and that of one degree and 6. minutes for the proportion of one to fiftie two or 1 52 part is very sensible but the Sun being remote when he is perigeall no lesse then 1100◠Semidiameters from the earth by all Astronomers consent hath very little parallax of 3 m. for the proportion of 1 m. to 1100 〈◊〉 is very little or nothing but according to the more accurate late obseruations of Keplerus Mathematician to two Emperors the Sun being 1800 〈◊〉 Semidiameters of the earth from it shall haue but 2 min of parallax But the vpper Planets Iupiter Saturne are so exceedingly remote that the earths semidiameter can cause in them no parallax at all much lesse in the fixed stars which are almost infinitely remote from the earth retaining their mutuall distances and situations in what place of the earth soeuer they be obserued yea from their first creation being set by the Almighty as so many markes whereunto the terrestriall inhabitants might refer the seuen Planets or any other celestiall light as Comets and new Stars For the better vnderstanding of this parallacticall discourse I must entreat you to examine this following Diagram Where o l is the earths semidiameter 1 2 3 be three Planets or Comets diuersely remote from the earth and all in one line from o the earths center which refers them all to one place in v amongst the fixed Stars but the eye being on the earths superficies in l doth cause a parallax or change of place more or lesse as they be distant from the earth for 1 the neerest to the earth doth from l appeare in a making a great parallax the angle v 1 a or more plainely the arch v a which in the eighth Spheare is equall to the angle but the 2 being further from the earth doth from l appeare in b. hauing v b lesse parallax then the former but 3 being yet further from the earth doth from l appeare in c hauing v c but a little parallax Any of these parallaxes are greatest when the Planet is in the Horizon as 1 is the other being a little aboue but in the Zenith or Verticall poynt ouer our heads there can be no parallax at all for then the line from the Center doth runne into the line from the Superficies making one line as you see z l o. So that the parallax doth from the Horizon vpwards continually decrease and at length vanish away in the Zenith By this which hath beene sayd is manifest that the farther any visible thing is from the earth the lesse parallax it must needes haue but the finding of the parallax is not so easie Hic labor hoc opus est this requires more then ordinary skill in Astronomy There bee two speciall wayes to finde the parallax The one is by two obseruations made at one time in two remote places of the earth for if the Comet doth in both of them appeare in one and the same place amongst the fixed starres then cannot the earths semidiameter haue any proportion to the distance of the Comet but if the Comet doth appeare diuersly amongst the fixed starres then hath it parallax more or lesse according to his distance from the earth In the former Diagram let L be London R be some other remote place 1 the Comet which from L will appeare amongst the fixed starres in A but from R it will appeare in V so that the difference is A. V. very much because 1 is neere the earth Let there be also another Comet 3 which from L will appeare in C but from R in V the difference V C very little because 3 is very farre from the earth I haue beene very diligent in obseruing all the
aboue the spheare of Mercury Wherefore it is no such strange distance from the earth that I assigne to this our Comet 600. semidiameters of the earth which is but â…“ of the Suns distance I might iustly account this Comet higher but I will keepe within the limites of my obseruations And for your better satisfaction reduce this distance into english miles allowing by the statute of 25. Elizabethae 5280. foote to a mile 3834. of these miles to the earths Semidiameter therein following the late ingenious and painefull measurations of Willebrordus Snellius Wherefore the Comets distance from the earth was uot lesse then 2300000. english miles whereas the Moone when she is neerest is little more then 200900. miles The irradiation also of this Comets streame though in the end it seemed very short was sometime extended to a wonderfull length more then 2000000. miles which is nothing to the Sunnes ejaculation of his beames vpon the earth more then 6900000. miles From the Comets distance doth necessarily follow the vast globositie of his body though to vs his diameter seemed but a few minutes which being no lesse then 4. minutes will extend to 2668. miles which is â…“ almost of the earths diameter and therefore the Comets bulke was at least 1 27 of the whole earth and not fully twice greater then the Moone but the Comet compared to the Sunne was scarce 1. to 8000. so little is this great Comet in respect of that glorious lampe and yet the Sunne but a point to the immense spheare of fixed starres and all this lesse then nothing in comparison of that infinite Circle Cuius centrum est vbiquè circumferentia nusquam The center of whose presence and prescience is euery where and his limits no where That great 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Creator who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand meeted out heauen with a spanne comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure watghed the mountaines in scales and the hills in a balance O Lord when I consider the Heauens the worke of thy fingers the Moone and the Starres which thou hast ordained what is man that thou art mindfull of him and the sonne of man that thou visitest him This Comets huge distance from the earth and vast magnitude will cause to vanish all these smoakie exhalations which by common opinion being by the caelestiall light attracted from the earth into the higher regions of the aire are there condensed and by motion set on fire continually burning in the forme of a Comet vntill all the materiall be spent But this Comet was farre aboue the highest ascent of grosse and sulphurous exhalations his quantitie more then could be caused by a great part of the earth turned into smoake his motion too regular and his durance too long for such wandring and soone vanishing exhalations Those Philosophers who still walke in the way of the Gentiles are afraide to induce generation or any other mutation into the heauens rather choosing to follow their blinde guide who denied the world to haue any beginning or ending then to beleeue the infallible truth of sacred Scripture Others haue beene scrupulous to conceit any creation since that first Saboth But whether this Comet and the like were caused by efficacie of nature the ordinary power which God hath put into all his creatures compacting the liquid aetheriall substance or whether by the immediate power of the worlds Architect qui dixit facta sunt mandauit creata sunt Spake and they were made commanded and they were created a new matter was presently created I will not here curiously dispute either of these waies doth acknowledge a celestiall matter and diuine prouidence It were vaine to refute those who haue imagined Comets and new starres to be made of the Galaxia or milkie way for so before this day would all that milke haue beene turned into curds neither is that way any whit more condense then the rest of the heauen but onely an irradiation of innumerable starres close together as the Telescopium doth ocularly demonstrate Neither shall I need to reproue those ancient Philosophers who in the dawning of Astronomie thought Comets to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a co-apparition of Planets seeming to touch one another or as our simple vulgar still doe some planet especially Merc. or Venus appearing after a long latitat vnder the Sun beames or some fixed starre disguised I know not how with borrowed locks Not much vnlike to some late writers who suppose Comets to be starres from the beginning created but hidden in the deepe abysse of heauen and at certaine times descending lower become visible to the earth But whatsoeuer was the materiall of this Comet howsoeuer compact and dissolued I am enforced in conclusion of this Astronomicall part to lie prostrate at the Almighties power in the globositie thereof to admire his wisdome in the motion and adore his goodnesse in the present apparition MORALL PROGNOSTICKS or Applications of the late Comet or Blazing-Starre Tu Iupiter me ducito Fatalitas Great God that doest all future things effect Inspire my thoughts with truth my pen direct IT now remaines with my readers friendly censure to point a Mercuriall finger in the Prognosticks especially the morall applications of this new Comet by diuine prouidence set on the high Olympian Mount to some the Herald of wrath but to others the ioyfull Embassador of peace and mercy the place and body thereof farre surmounting the region and no lesse excelling the matter of common Meteors the signification also doth as much transcend their effects being not so much a cause as they be of elementary alterations as a colestiall signe of greater consequents There be not yet lacking some who erect Chancels to the blinde Goddesse Chance sacrificing to that abominable Idoll not without impious contumelie of the omnipotent God vile contempt of his power and prouidence in the fabrique and regiment of the world These true Epicuri de grege pâ—rci filthy and brutish swine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whose God as the Apostle saith is their bellie wallowing in the mire of voluptuous sensualitie little regard the apparition of these new celestiall signes taking more care to frizle and brisle their superfluous haire than of this Comets blazing lockes These Epicurean pigs in stead of sober Elegies grunt forth their wanton Ditties Viuamus mea Lesbia atque amemus Rumoresque senum seueriorum Omnes vnius aestimemus assis Soles occidere redire possunt Nobis cùm semel occidit breuis lux Nox est perpetuò vna dormienda Come Lesbia let vs liue and loue What though grim Sires vs reproue A doyt for all their wise aduise The Sunne may set and eftsoones rise But when our wastfull blase is past Darke night with vs for aye will last Procul procul ô prophani Deus En Deus
Alwaies in opposition to the Sun The bushie lockes not of the same matter with the Comets head What it is How the Comet varnihed The forelockes dilatation from whence The exceeding length of it It had no burning qualitie Many strange conclusions may be drawne from the Sunnes irradiation through the Comet The wonderfull light of the Sun The Comets distance from the earth The error of Aristotle and his followers How high the aire is from the earth The Comets place about the Moone argued from the rigularitic of his motion 2 From the quantity therof God hath created all things in waight measure and number 3 From infallible demonstration by parallax Euplication of the Diagram Parallax greatest in the Horizon Nothing in the Zenith So much lesse as the Comet is farther from the earth To finde the parallax 1 By obseruations in two diuers places at one time At London 2. In one place by two obseruations in one night An easie and certaine way to finde the parallax Refraction here no hindrance An obseruation of the Comets parallax Found much lesse than the Moones parallax Not aboue 6. m. Proued also from prospect of the Comets fore-locke History of new starres and Comets far aboue the Moone This Comet 600. semidiameters of the earth from it How many English miles the earths semidiameter is How many miles the Comet was from the earth How many miles the forelocke extended How many miles the Comet was in thicknesse How much the globositie thereof was compared to the Earth Moone and Sunne The infinitenesse of the Almightie The Comet was not compact of exhalations What was the Comets materials The Comet not made of Galaxia The Comet not made of Galaxia Not a co-apparition of planets Nor morning-starre Not created from the beginning A religions conclusion This Comet a signe of more then elementarie alterations Against Epicurean chance And neglect of these celestiall signes God doth appeare in these signes Mutations ensuing them If any euill follow wee our selues are in fault Sinne being banished these signes need not be feared Charlemaines fearefulnesse Vespasians answer concerning a Comet The wicked haue only cause to seare Comets rayes of diuine fauour to the godly God only knowes what this Comet doth signifie in particular The Star which led the Wisemen to Christ Comets signifie the light of the Gospell Fiue Comets in 10. yeares about the preaching of Luther Sybillaes prophesie against Rome The Comet 1558 a good signe to the Protestants The new Starre 1572. and the Comet 1577. The Gospell hath shined amongst the Jndians The late new Stars in Ophiuclius and Cygnus The Gospell shall be preached through the whole world Calling of the Iewes Against vulgar Astrologie Morall application of the Comets motion amongst the constallations This Comet followed in his motion a happie signe to great Britaine The Comets coniunction with Mercurie This Comet brings vs hope of good from the East Indies The Comets passage through the constellation of Libra Commendeth Iustice and Equitie vnto vs. Distributiue Iustice Equalitie dangerous Pride of apparel Exhortation to equitie The Comet by spreading his haire ouer Virgo doth enforce his commendation of Iustice The Comet presents a crowne to the Prince and a spike of plenty to the people for reward of Iustice The Comets long residence in Arctophylax Great Britaine gouerned with the scales of Iustice florisheth with her spike of plentie Her Imperiall Diadem vnited and preserued from Heauen Two Protectors of Crowne and Spike Serpents eye of vigilancie 2. An Achillean speare Serpents types of wisedome Neuer'more need of the Serpents eye Epicharmus his counsell His Maiesties searching eye of wisedome preserued the whole Kingdome Lyons Symbole of magnanimity coupled with Serpents Excellence of peace Warre to be remembred in peace Voluptuousnesse hindreth warlike meditations Muskets turned into Tabacco pipes The effeminate valour of the old French Rage rather then courage Encomion of London Her military discipline Her voluntaries Coincidence of this Comet with the Syned at Dort Comets often appeare that the workes of God may be manifested Commendation of Astronomie Endeuour of Hipparchus in Astronomie This diuine Art neglected and destitute of Patrons Conclusion
Comets places amongst the fixed starres that so hereafter comparing them with those which appeared in other countries the true parallax of this Comet may be knowne which I dare say by this triall will proue little or none In the meane time I haue not neglected the second way of finding the parallax which is by comparing two apparant places of the Comet in one and the same night one place being neere the Horizon and the other neere the Zenith For the difference of these two places will manifest the parallax where regard must be had of the starres proper motion in the interuall of time which is very easie to performe There be many kindes of obseruations by altitudes declinations ascensions c. which are very difficult and perplexed with diuers species of parallaxes besides refraction And therefore omitting them I will acquaint you with an easie and most certaine way to search forth any Comets parallax that without error of 5 or 6 mi. which is nothing to 66 mi. of the Moones parallax This is by obseruing the Comet a very little ouer or vnder some starre neere the Horizon and afterwards the same night neere the Zenith or verticall point For if the Comet hauing parallax neere the Horizon appeare a little vnder the starre it will towards the Zenith appeare neere yea it may be eclipse the star or be a little aboue him which is plaine by the Diagram for the Comet 3 appearing from l in c vnder the starre v will in z the verticall point bee in coniunction with him and eclipfe him from your sight Here the Comet is supposed to haue no motion besides that from the primum mobile but if hee haue any as this Comet had it is easie to make allowance for the same especially being so little in 5 or 6 houres betwixt the two obseruations As for refraction neere the Horizon it cannot bring any incumbrance for that it doth as well eleuate the Starre as the Comet The night before the third of December about one houre after midnight I obserued the Comet not yet 10. degrees aboue the Horizon vnder two little starres of the fourth light in the girdle of Arctophylax The distance of these starres is but 50. min. which serued as a ready and certaine measure wherunto I might compare the distance of the Comet from them for the more perspicuous distinction whereof I vsed the Telescopium or Trunke-spectacle The Comet appeared from the vppermost starre which was directly in his way the distance of the two stars moreouer ⅓ part thereof in all one deg 6. min. Towards morning the Comet being mounted 53. degrees aboue the Horizon the Comet appeared from the said starre a little more then ⅔ of the two stars distance about 36 mi so that in 5. houres the Comet was come but 30. minutes neerer to the starre no more then his proper motion in that time according to former and following nights obseruations required Wherefore remouing this proper motion he would haue appeared at both times a like distant from the starre and therefore had none or little parallax For suppose the Comet to haue had as much parallax as the Moone in her perigaeon which is in 10. degrees aboue the Horizon 65. min. and in 53. deg of altitude scarce 40. m. the difference is 25. m. and so much should the Comet by alteration of his parallax haue appeared neerer the starre at the second obseruation then at the first to which if you adde his proper motion in the mean space it will be 55. m. so the Comet should haue been but ⅕ part of the 2 stars distance from the vpper starre whereas he was more then ⅔ which is a notorious difference and could not escape the sight and therfore had not so great parallax as the moone and by necessary consequence was aboue her yea many times her distance from the earth which I might easily confirme by the like obseruation the night following when the Comet had ouertaken the starre more then a degree but especially by my obseruations the nights preceding the 10. 11. and 12. daies when the Comet was very neere vnto a little starre in the left arme of Arctophylax at the first vnder him and after aboue and also by his distance from another obscure star which I found by the Telescopium 15 mi. aboue the Comet this little starre I could finde in no globe nor mappe but onely in the excellent Vranimetria of that diligent and industrious Beyerus By diligent and curious noting the Comets distance from these starres first neere the Horizon and afterwards towards the Zenith in the same nights I dare be bold to conclude that this Comet had not 6. minutes of parallax for within these limites I may confine the incertaintie of my obseruations and therefore more then 600. semidiameters of the earth distant from it How strange so euer this may seeme yet is it enforced from most certaine demonstration parallacticall Which may moreouer be confirmed from the prospect and irradiation of this Comets forelocke Which if the head had any notable parallax must of necessitie haue twice so much and so could not appeare in one line with the Comet and the Sunne as I haue formerly demonstrated But least the Reader not acquainted with Mathematicall demonstrations should thinke it a nouell position yea 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a strange vncouth neuer heard of opinion to elevate Comets so far aboue the Elementary yea lunary regions I must relate vnto them that besides those famous new stars the one in Cassiopaea 1572. and the other in the foot of Ophiuchus 1604. both which lasted more then a yeere and that in Cygnus continuing many yeeres all three from all places of the earth appearing in one and the same position amongst the fixed stars an argument of their huge distance aboue the Moone besides these and that new starre noted by Hipparchus 2000. yeeres almost since diuers excellent Mathematicians of this age haue by certaine remonstrances shewed many Comets farther aboue the Mone then I affirme this to be Amongst others that second Hipparchus Tycho Brahe in the Comets 1577. 1580. 1582. 1585. 1590. could not with all his admirable sumptuous and exquisite Vranical engines finde the least parallax no not of one minute and therefore iustly affirmed them far beyond the Moone yea which is most remarkable and caused no small admiration and delight in the Heroicke Lantgraue of Hessen as it pleased him by letters to signifie to Tycho Rothmannus the Lantgraues Mathematician obseruing the Comet in 1585. agreed with Tycho in the place thereof to a scruple at one and the same instant and yet the one was remote from the other almost 300. English miles the distance betwixt Cassels and Vrani-burge which punctuall agreement had been impossible if the Comet had not beene exceedingly remote beyond the moone I must also remember that Albumasar 1000. yeares almost since obserued a Comet