1the Solar ſpots? for as to the Comets, I for my own particular
little care to make them generated under or above the Moon;
nor did I ever put much ſtreſſe on the loquacity of Tycho; nor
am I hard to believe that their matter is Elementary, and that
they may elevate (ſublimate) themſelves at their pleaſure,
out meeting with any obſtacle from the impenetrability of the
Peripatetick Heaven, which I hold to be far more thin, yielding,
and ſubtil than our Air; and as to the calculations of the
rallaxes, firſt, the uncertainty whether Comets are ſubject to
ſuch accidents, and next, the inconſtancy of the obſervations,
upon which the computations are made, make me equally
pect both thoſe opinions: and the rather, for that I ſee him
you call Anti-Tycho, ſometimes ſtretch to his purpoſe, or elſe
reject thoſe obſervations which interfere with his deſign.
little care to make them generated under or above the Moon;
nor did I ever put much ſtreſſe on the loquacity of Tycho; nor
am I hard to believe that their matter is Elementary, and that
they may elevate (ſublimate) themſelves at their pleaſure,
out meeting with any obſtacle from the impenetrability of the
Peripatetick Heaven, which I hold to be far more thin, yielding,
and ſubtil than our Air; and as to the calculations of the
rallaxes, firſt, the uncertainty whether Comets are ſubject to
ſuch accidents, and next, the inconſtancy of the obſervations,
upon which the computations are made, make me equally
pect both thoſe opinions: and the rather, for that I ſee him
you call Anti-Tycho, ſometimes ſtretch to his purpoſe, or elſe
reject thoſe obſervations which interfere with his deſign.
Anti-Tycho
ſteth Aſtronomical
obſervations to his
own parpoſe.
ſteth Aſtronomical
obſervations to his
own parpoſe.
SIMPL. As to the new Stars, Anti-Tycho extricates himſelf
finely in three or four words; ſaying, That thoſe
dern new Stars are no certain parts of the Cœleſtial bodies, and
that the adverſaries, if they will prove alteration and
tion in thoſe ſuperior bodies, muſt ſhew ſome mutations that
have been made in the Stars deſcribed ſo many ages paſt, of
which there is no doubt but that they be Cœleſtial bodies,
which they can never be able to do: Next, as to thoſe
ters which ſome affirm, to generate and diſſipate in the face of
the Sun, he makes no mention thereof; wherefore I conclude,
that he believed them fictious, or the illuſions of the Tube, or
at moſt, ſome petty effecs cauſed by the Air, and in brief, any
thing rather than matters Cœleſtial.
finely in three or four words; ſaying, That thoſe
dern new Stars are no certain parts of the Cœleſtial bodies, and
that the adverſaries, if they will prove alteration and
tion in thoſe ſuperior bodies, muſt ſhew ſome mutations that
have been made in the Stars deſcribed ſo many ages paſt, of
which there is no doubt but that they be Cœleſtial bodies,
which they can never be able to do: Next, as to thoſe
ters which ſome affirm, to generate and diſſipate in the face of
the Sun, he makes no mention thereof; wherefore I conclude,
that he believed them fictious, or the illuſions of the Tube, or
at moſt, ſome petty effecs cauſed by the Air, and in brief, any
thing rather than matters Cœleſtial.
SALV. But you, Simplicius, what anſwer could you give to
the oppoſition of theſe importunate ſpots which are ſtarted up
to diſturb the Heavens, and more than that, the Peripatetick
Philoſophy? It cannot be but that you, who are ſo reſolute a
Champion of it, have found ſome reply or ſolution for the
ſame, of which you ought not to deprive us.
the oppoſition of theſe importunate ſpots which are ſtarted up
to diſturb the Heavens, and more than that, the Peripatetick
Philoſophy? It cannot be but that you, who are ſo reſolute a
Champion of it, have found ſome reply or ſolution for the
ſame, of which you ought not to deprive us.
SIMPL. I have heard ſundry opinions about this particular.
One ſaith: “They are Stars which in their proper Orbs, like as
Venus and Mervury, revolve about the Sun, and in paſſing
der it, repreſent themſelves to us obſcure; and for that they
are many, they oft happen to aggregate their parts together,
and afterwards ſeperate again. Others believe them to be
aerial impreſſions; others, the illuſions of the chryſtals; and
thers, other things: But I incline to think, yea am verily
ſwaded, That they are an aggregate of many ſeveral opacous
bodies, as it were caſually concurrent among themſelves. And
therefore we often ſee, that in one of thoſe ſpots one may
number ten or more ſuch ſmall bodies, which are of
One ſaith: “They are Stars which in their proper Orbs, like as
Venus and Mervury, revolve about the Sun, and in paſſing
der it, repreſent themſelves to us obſcure; and for that they
are many, they oft happen to aggregate their parts together,
and afterwards ſeperate again. Others believe them to be
aerial impreſſions; others, the illuſions of the chryſtals; and
thers, other things: But I incline to think, yea am verily
ſwaded, That they are an aggregate of many ſeveral opacous
bodies, as it were caſually concurrent among themſelves. And
therefore we often ſee, that in one of thoſe ſpots one may
number ten or more ſuch ſmall bodies, which are of