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CHAP. XXX.
Of Astronomy.
IN the next place, Astrology offers it self, otherwise called Astronomy; an Art altogether fallacious, and more to be derided than the Fables of the Poets; whose Professors are a sort of confident persons, Authors of Prodigies; who with an impious Confidence and Cu∣riosity, at their own peasures, beyond humane ability, undertake to erect Celestial Orbs, and to describe the measures, motions, figures, shapes, number, and re∣ciprocal harmony of the Stars, as if they had long convers'd in Heaven, and were but newly descended thence: however, among themselves of most different and dissenting Opinions, even concerning those things by which they say all things are kept up and subsist: that I may well say with Pliny, that the incertainty and inconstancy of this Art, plainly argues it to be no Art at all; of whose very Fundamentals the Indians think one thing, the Egyptians another, the Moors another, the Caldeans another, the Jews another, the Arabians another, the Latins another, the Antients another, the Moderns another. For Plato, Proclus, Aristotle, A∣verroes, and almost all the Astrologers before Alphon∣sus, treating of the number of the Spheres, reckon up but onely eight Spheres; though Averroes and Rabbi Isaac aver, that one Hermes and some Baby∣lonians
Page 83
did adde a ninth: to which Opinion Azarche∣les the Moore adheres, with whom Albertus Teutoni∣cus agreed, in his time, for what notorious fact I know not, called the Great; and all those that approve the accesses and recesses of the Spherical Motions. But the later Astrologers have constituted and appoin∣ted ten Orbs; which Opinion the same Albertus be∣lieves that Ptolomy also held. But Alphonsus follow∣ing the judgment of Rabbi Isaac, sirnamed Bazam, held onely nine Spheres; but four years after, in an Edition of his Tables, adhering to the Opinions of Albuhassen the Moore, and Albategnus, he reduc'd them to the number of eight. Rabbi Abraham Avenezra, Rabbi Levi, and Rabbi Abraham Zacutus, believe no moveable Orb above the eighth Sphere. But they dif∣fer very much about the motion of the eighth Orb, and of the fixed Stars. For the Caldeans and Egyp∣tians are of opinion, that it is mov'd by onely one motion; with whom Alpetragus, and among the Mo∣dern Writers Alexander Aquilinus agree: but all the other Astronomers from Hipparchus even unto these times, affirm the same to be turn'd with various moti∣ons: The Jewish Talmudists assigne thereunto a double motion: Azarcheles, Tebeth, and Johannes Regiomonta∣nus, added the motion of Trepidation, which they call approachings and recedings, upon two little Circles, about the heads of Aries and Libra: but in this dif∣fering one from another, for that Azarcheles affirms, that the moveable head is distant from the fix'd not more than ten parts. Tebith asserts them to be di∣stant one from the other not above four parts, with some minutes. Johannes Regiomontanus makes them distant more than eight parts, which is the reason given that the fixed Stars do not always incline to the same part of the Sky, but sometimes they return to the place where they began. But Ptolomy, Albategni,
Page 84
Rabbi Levi, Avenezra, Zacutus, and among the later Authors Paul the Florentine, and Austin Ritius my fa∣miliar Acquaintance in Italy, affirm that the Stars do always move according to the successions of the Signes. The later Astrologers make a threefold mo∣tion of the eighth Sphere; the one which is most pro∣per, and is the motion of Trepidation, which is finished once in seven thousand years; the second they call the motion of Circumvolution, being the motion of the ninth Sphere, and is finished in forty nine years: The last is made by the tenth Orb, and is called the motion of the Primum mobile, or the rapid and diurnal motion, which turns round in the Compass of one natural day. However, among them that give a double motion to the eighth Sphere, there is great diversity of Opinions; for all the Modern Authors, and they who admit the motion of Trepidation, say that the Sphere is carried a∣bout by a superior Sphere. But Albategni, Albuhas∣sen, Alfraganus, Averroes, Rabbi Levi, Abraham Za∣cutus, and Austin Ritius, say, that the Diurnal motion, which they call the Rapid motion, is not proper to any Sphere, but that it is made by the whole Heaven. Aver∣roes also confirms it, that Ptolomy in his Book intitled Narrations, doth deny the motion of Gyration: and Rabbi Levi saith, that Averroes was in the same opi∣nion with Ptolomy, that the Diurnal motion was the motion of the whole Heaven. Again, there is not less difference among them about the measure of the motion of the eighth Sphere, and of the fixed Stars: For Ptolomy believes that the fixed Stars do move one degree in a hundred years. Albategnus will have them to move so far in sixty six Egyptian years; with whom Zacutus, Rabbi Levi, and Alphonsus in the cor∣rection of his Tab•es, give their assent. Azarcheles the Moore says that they move one degree in seventy five years; Hipparchus, in seventy eight. Many of the
Page 85
Hebrews, as Rabbi Josua, Moses, Maymon, Rabbi Aven∣ezra, and after them Hay Benrodam, in seventy years; Johan• Regiomontanus in eighty. Augustin Ritius took the middle way between the opinions of Albategni and the Hebrews, delivering his opinion that the fixed Stars do not move one degree in less than sixty years, nor in more than seventy. But Rabbi Abraham Zacutus, as Ritius declares, by a tradition of the Indians dis∣covers to us, that there are two fixed Stars most dia∣metrically opposite one to another, which do not fi∣nish their course, contrary to the order of the Signes, in less time than a hundred and forty years. And Alpetra∣gus is of opinion, that there are many motions of the Heavens which are yet unknown to men; which if it be true, then there may be also Stars and Bodies pro∣per to those motions, which men have either not been able to behold by reason of the hight, or else they have not fallen within the discovery of any observation. To which opinion Phavorinus the Philosopher assents, in his Oration mention'd by Geliius against Genethliacks. So that it remains most apparent, that never any Astro∣nomer was ever yet in Heaven, to teach us the certain and true motions thereof. Neither is the certain mo∣tion of the Planet Mars known to this day: of which Johannes de Monte regio complains, in an Epistle to one Blanchinus: the errour also of the motion of that Planet, a certain famous Astrologer, named William of St. Clou, above two hundred years ago hath left dis∣cover'd, but never any one as yet corrected. As truly impossible it is to find out the ingress of the Sun into the Equinoctial points, as Rabbi Levi proves by many reasons. But what shall we say of things since brought to light, and what strange errours were committed about those things in former times? For many, with Tebith, thought the greatest variation of the Sun to be continually varied; which we know now to ke•p
Page 86
always one certain measure. And although Ptolomy thought otherwise thereof, yet Albates, Rabbi Levi, Avenezra, and Alphonsus, found otherwise by experi∣ence. Otherwise also have they found out concerning the motion of the Sun, and the measure of the year, quite different to what either Ptolomy or Hipparchus deliver'd. Also concerning the motion of the Aux of the Sun, Ptolomy is of one opinion, Albategnus and the rest of another. Concerning the Figures of the Signes, and the considerations and observations of the fixed Stars, the Indians have thought one thing, the Egyptians another, the Caldeans another, the Hebrews another, and Arabians another; Timotheus is of one minde, Hipparchus of another, Ptolomy of another, and the later Authors of another. I omit their mad contentions, which is the right, or which is the left side of Heaven; concerning which when Tho. Aquinas and Albertus the Teutonick endeavour to say something seriously, they are yet altogether unable to deliver any thing of certainty. Again, what the Galaxy or Milky way should be, is yet controverted among Astrologers. I omit also all their vain disputes about Eccentricks, Con∣centricks, Epicycles, Retrogradations, Trepidations, ac∣cesses, recesses, swift motions, and Circles of motion, as being the works neither of God nor Nature, but the Fiddle-faddles and Trifles of Mathematicians, taking their beginnings from corrupt Philosophy and the fables of the Poets: Yet which the Professors of this Art believe as true, created by God, and established by Nature; from these Fictions deducing the causes of inferior accidents, asserting those feigned motions to be the principles of all inferiour motions. These Astronomers a Serving-maid of Anaximenes very seasonably tax'd with a sharp reply. This Maid was wont to walk with her Master, who one day going out a little later than ordinary to look upon the Sky, while he was gazing among the Stars
Page 87
ne're minding the scituation of the place, fell into a Ditch. Then quoth the Maid, I wonder Sir how you can pretend to foreknow things in Heaven, that can∣not tell those things that are just before your Nose? Thales Milesius was reprehended with a like witty say∣ing, by his Maid-servant Thressa. Neither does Tully much vary from either: Astrologers, saith he, while they search and prie into every Coast of Heaven, are ig∣norant of that which is just before their feet. I my self learnt this Art from my Parents, and have lost not a little time and pains therein; but at length I found that the whole Art had no other foundation than the meer figments and trifles of imagination: and it ve∣ry much repents me of the time which I have wasted, and I wish I could absolutely forget and abolish the memory thereof in my minde; and would wholly a∣bandon the use thereof, unless the violent intreaties of great personages, who oftentimes make use of noble Ingenuities to bad purposes, did not compel me to continue my studies therein; and that domestick pro∣fit did not over-perswade me to enjoy the folly thereof, and with toys to please those that seek after and are covetous of trifles; I say, Trifles! for what hath A∣strology in it worth notice, unless the Fables of the Poets, their monsters and wonders with which they have fill'd the whole Region of Heaven? Neither do any sort of people more agree one among another, than the Astro∣logers and Poets; onely in that one thing of Lucifer and Vesperus; the Poets affirming that what day Lucifer ap∣pears before the Rising Sun, that day he follows the Set∣ting Sun; which all the Astrologers deny can be done in one and the same day, onely those that place Venus above the Sun, because those Stars that seem to be at greatest distance from us, seem to appear soonest in their rising, and to set most slowly. But this discord between the Astrologers about the scituation of the
Page 88
Stars and Planets I had quite forgot, had I not had this occasion to remember them, the handling whereof has been more particular to Philosophers than Astro∣logers. For Plato places the Sphear of the Sun next about the Sphear of the Moon; and the Aegyptians do the like, placing the Sun between the Moon and Mer∣cury. Archimedes and the Caldaeans make the Sun to be the fourth in Order. Anaximander, Metrodorus, Chius, and Crates, constitute the Sun uppermost, below him the Moon, beneath her the other Planets and fixed Stars. Zenocrates will have all the Stars to move in one Superficies. No less contention there is among them about the distance and bigness of the Sun, Moon, and the rest of the Stars fixed and wandring: Nei∣ther is there indeed any constancy of Opinions among them, nor truth of Assertion: and no wonder, when the Heaven it self, which they so much endeavour to search and dive into, is the most inconstant of all, and crowded with Fables and Fictions: for all the Twelve Signes, with the Northern and Southern Constellations, got all into Heaven by the help of Fables, and by these Fables Astrologers live, cheat, and get money, while the Poets their Inventors are ready to starve for hauger.
Of Astronomy.
IN the next place, Astrology offers it self, otherwise called Astronomy; an Art altogether fallacious, and more to be derided than the Fables of the Poets; whose Professors are a sort of confident persons, Authors of Prodigies; who with an impious Confidence and Cu∣riosity, at their own peasures, beyond humane ability, undertake to erect Celestial Orbs, and to describe the measures, motions, figures, shapes, number, and re∣ciprocal harmony of the Stars, as if they had long convers'd in Heaven, and were but newly descended thence: however, among themselves of most different and dissenting Opinions, even concerning those things by which they say all things are kept up and subsist: that I may well say with Pliny, that the incertainty and inconstancy of this Art, plainly argues it to be no Art at all; of whose very Fundamentals the Indians think one thing, the Egyptians another, the Moors another, the Caldeans another, the Jews another, the Arabians another, the Latins another, the Antients another, the Moderns another. For Plato, Proclus, Aristotle, A∣verroes, and almost all the Astrologers before Alphon∣sus, treating of the number of the Spheres, reckon up but onely eight Spheres; though Averroes and Rabbi Isaac aver, that one Hermes and some Baby∣lonians
Page 83
did adde a ninth: to which Opinion Azarche∣les the Moore adheres, with whom Albertus Teutoni∣cus agreed, in his time, for what notorious fact I know not, called the Great; and all those that approve the accesses and recesses of the Spherical Motions. But the later Astrologers have constituted and appoin∣ted ten Orbs; which Opinion the same Albertus be∣lieves that Ptolomy also held. But Alphonsus follow∣ing the judgment of Rabbi Isaac, sirnamed Bazam, held onely nine Spheres; but four years after, in an Edition of his Tables, adhering to the Opinions of Albuhassen the Moore, and Albategnus, he reduc'd them to the number of eight. Rabbi Abraham Avenezra, Rabbi Levi, and Rabbi Abraham Zacutus, believe no moveable Orb above the eighth Sphere. But they dif∣fer very much about the motion of the eighth Orb, and of the fixed Stars. For the Caldeans and Egyp∣tians are of opinion, that it is mov'd by onely one motion; with whom Alpetragus, and among the Mo∣dern Writers Alexander Aquilinus agree: but all the other Astronomers from Hipparchus even unto these times, affirm the same to be turn'd with various moti∣ons: The Jewish Talmudists assigne thereunto a double motion: Azarcheles, Tebeth, and Johannes Regiomonta∣nus, added the motion of Trepidation, which they call approachings and recedings, upon two little Circles, about the heads of Aries and Libra: but in this dif∣fering one from another, for that Azarcheles affirms, that the moveable head is distant from the fix'd not more than ten parts. Tebith asserts them to be di∣stant one from the other not above four parts, with some minutes. Johannes Regiomontanus makes them distant more than eight parts, which is the reason given that the fixed Stars do not always incline to the same part of the Sky, but sometimes they return to the place where they began. But Ptolomy, Albategni,
Page 84
Rabbi Levi, Avenezra, Zacutus, and among the later Authors Paul the Florentine, and Austin Ritius my fa∣miliar Acquaintance in Italy, affirm that the Stars do always move according to the successions of the Signes. The later Astrologers make a threefold mo∣tion of the eighth Sphere; the one which is most pro∣per, and is the motion of Trepidation, which is finished once in seven thousand years; the second they call the motion of Circumvolution, being the motion of the ninth Sphere, and is finished in forty nine years: The last is made by the tenth Orb, and is called the motion of the Primum mobile, or the rapid and diurnal motion, which turns round in the Compass of one natural day. However, among them that give a double motion to the eighth Sphere, there is great diversity of Opinions; for all the Modern Authors, and they who admit the motion of Trepidation, say that the Sphere is carried a∣bout by a superior Sphere. But Albategni, Albuhas∣sen, Alfraganus, Averroes, Rabbi Levi, Abraham Za∣cutus, and Austin Ritius, say, that the Diurnal motion, which they call the Rapid motion, is not proper to any Sphere, but that it is made by the whole Heaven. Aver∣roes also confirms it, that Ptolomy in his Book intitled Narrations, doth deny the motion of Gyration: and Rabbi Levi saith, that Averroes was in the same opi∣nion with Ptolomy, that the Diurnal motion was the motion of the whole Heaven. Again, there is not less difference among them about the measure of the motion of the eighth Sphere, and of the fixed Stars: For Ptolomy believes that the fixed Stars do move one degree in a hundred years. Albategnus will have them to move so far in sixty six Egyptian years; with whom Zacutus, Rabbi Levi, and Alphonsus in the cor∣rection of his Tab•es, give their assent. Azarcheles the Moore says that they move one degree in seventy five years; Hipparchus, in seventy eight. Many of the
Page 85
Hebrews, as Rabbi Josua, Moses, Maymon, Rabbi Aven∣ezra, and after them Hay Benrodam, in seventy years; Johan• Regiomontanus in eighty. Augustin Ritius took the middle way between the opinions of Albategni and the Hebrews, delivering his opinion that the fixed Stars do not move one degree in less than sixty years, nor in more than seventy. But Rabbi Abraham Zacutus, as Ritius declares, by a tradition of the Indians dis∣covers to us, that there are two fixed Stars most dia∣metrically opposite one to another, which do not fi∣nish their course, contrary to the order of the Signes, in less time than a hundred and forty years. And Alpetra∣gus is of opinion, that there are many motions of the Heavens which are yet unknown to men; which if it be true, then there may be also Stars and Bodies pro∣per to those motions, which men have either not been able to behold by reason of the hight, or else they have not fallen within the discovery of any observation. To which opinion Phavorinus the Philosopher assents, in his Oration mention'd by Geliius against Genethliacks. So that it remains most apparent, that never any Astro∣nomer was ever yet in Heaven, to teach us the certain and true motions thereof. Neither is the certain mo∣tion of the Planet Mars known to this day: of which Johannes de Monte regio complains, in an Epistle to one Blanchinus: the errour also of the motion of that Planet, a certain famous Astrologer, named William of St. Clou, above two hundred years ago hath left dis∣cover'd, but never any one as yet corrected. As truly impossible it is to find out the ingress of the Sun into the Equinoctial points, as Rabbi Levi proves by many reasons. But what shall we say of things since brought to light, and what strange errours were committed about those things in former times? For many, with Tebith, thought the greatest variation of the Sun to be continually varied; which we know now to ke•p
Page 86
always one certain measure. And although Ptolomy thought otherwise thereof, yet Albates, Rabbi Levi, Avenezra, and Alphonsus, found otherwise by experi∣ence. Otherwise also have they found out concerning the motion of the Sun, and the measure of the year, quite different to what either Ptolomy or Hipparchus deliver'd. Also concerning the motion of the Aux of the Sun, Ptolomy is of one opinion, Albategnus and the rest of another. Concerning the Figures of the Signes, and the considerations and observations of the fixed Stars, the Indians have thought one thing, the Egyptians another, the Caldeans another, the Hebrews another, and Arabians another; Timotheus is of one minde, Hipparchus of another, Ptolomy of another, and the later Authors of another. I omit their mad contentions, which is the right, or which is the left side of Heaven; concerning which when Tho. Aquinas and Albertus the Teutonick endeavour to say something seriously, they are yet altogether unable to deliver any thing of certainty. Again, what the Galaxy or Milky way should be, is yet controverted among Astrologers. I omit also all their vain disputes about Eccentricks, Con∣centricks, Epicycles, Retrogradations, Trepidations, ac∣cesses, recesses, swift motions, and Circles of motion, as being the works neither of God nor Nature, but the Fiddle-faddles and Trifles of Mathematicians, taking their beginnings from corrupt Philosophy and the fables of the Poets: Yet which the Professors of this Art believe as true, created by God, and established by Nature; from these Fictions deducing the causes of inferior accidents, asserting those feigned motions to be the principles of all inferiour motions. These Astronomers a Serving-maid of Anaximenes very seasonably tax'd with a sharp reply. This Maid was wont to walk with her Master, who one day going out a little later than ordinary to look upon the Sky, while he was gazing among the Stars
Page 87
ne're minding the scituation of the place, fell into a Ditch. Then quoth the Maid, I wonder Sir how you can pretend to foreknow things in Heaven, that can∣not tell those things that are just before your Nose? Thales Milesius was reprehended with a like witty say∣ing, by his Maid-servant Thressa. Neither does Tully much vary from either: Astrologers, saith he, while they search and prie into every Coast of Heaven, are ig∣norant of that which is just before their feet. I my self learnt this Art from my Parents, and have lost not a little time and pains therein; but at length I found that the whole Art had no other foundation than the meer figments and trifles of imagination: and it ve∣ry much repents me of the time which I have wasted, and I wish I could absolutely forget and abolish the memory thereof in my minde; and would wholly a∣bandon the use thereof, unless the violent intreaties of great personages, who oftentimes make use of noble Ingenuities to bad purposes, did not compel me to continue my studies therein; and that domestick pro∣fit did not over-perswade me to enjoy the folly thereof, and with toys to please those that seek after and are covetous of trifles; I say, Trifles! for what hath A∣strology in it worth notice, unless the Fables of the Poets, their monsters and wonders with which they have fill'd the whole Region of Heaven? Neither do any sort of people more agree one among another, than the Astro∣logers and Poets; onely in that one thing of Lucifer and Vesperus; the Poets affirming that what day Lucifer ap∣pears before the Rising Sun, that day he follows the Set∣ting Sun; which all the Astrologers deny can be done in one and the same day, onely those that place Venus above the Sun, because those Stars that seem to be at greatest distance from us, seem to appear soonest in their rising, and to set most slowly. But this discord between the Astrologers about the scituation of the
Page 88
Stars and Planets I had quite forgot, had I not had this occasion to remember them, the handling whereof has been more particular to Philosophers than Astro∣logers. For Plato places the Sphear of the Sun next about the Sphear of the Moon; and the Aegyptians do the like, placing the Sun between the Moon and Mer∣cury. Archimedes and the Caldaeans make the Sun to be the fourth in Order. Anaximander, Metrodorus, Chius, and Crates, constitute the Sun uppermost, below him the Moon, beneath her the other Planets and fixed Stars. Zenocrates will have all the Stars to move in one Superficies. No less contention there is among them about the distance and bigness of the Sun, Moon, and the rest of the Stars fixed and wandring: Nei∣ther is there indeed any constancy of Opinions among them, nor truth of Assertion: and no wonder, when the Heaven it self, which they so much endeavour to search and dive into, is the most inconstant of all, and crowded with Fables and Fictions: for all the Twelve Signes, with the Northern and Southern Constellations, got all into Heaven by the help of Fables, and by these Fables Astrologers live, cheat, and get money, while the Poets their Inventors are ready to starve for hauger.