1lar figures, and ſeem to us like flakes of ſnow, or flocks of
wooll, or moaths flying: they vary ſite amongſt themſelves,
and one while ſever, another while meet, and moſt of all
neath the Sun, about which, as about their Centre, they
tinually move. But yet, muſt we not therefore grant, that
they are generated or diſſolved, but that at ſometimes they are
hid behind the body of the Sun, and at other times, though
remote from it, yet are they not ſeen for the vicinity of the
immeaſurable light of the Sun; in regard that in the eccentrick
Orb of the Sun, there is conſtituted, as it were, an Onion,
poſed of many folds one within another, each of which, being
^{*}ſtudded with certain ſmall ſpots, doth move; and albeit their
motion at firſt ſeemeth inconſtant and irregular, yet
leſſe, it is ſaid at laſt, to be obſerved that the very ſame ſpots,
as before,” do within a determinate time return again. This
ſeemeth to me the fitteſt anſwer that hath been found to aſſigne
a reaſon of that ſame appearance, and withal to maintain the
incorruptability and ingenerability of the Heavens; and if this
doth not ſuffice; there wants not more elevated wits, which will
give you other, more convincing.
wooll, or moaths flying: they vary ſite amongſt themſelves,
and one while ſever, another while meet, and moſt of all
neath the Sun, about which, as about their Centre, they
tinually move. But yet, muſt we not therefore grant, that
they are generated or diſſolved, but that at ſometimes they are
hid behind the body of the Sun, and at other times, though
remote from it, yet are they not ſeen for the vicinity of the
immeaſurable light of the Sun; in regard that in the eccentrick
Orb of the Sun, there is conſtituted, as it were, an Onion,
poſed of many folds one within another, each of which, being
^{*}ſtudded with certain ſmall ſpots, doth move; and albeit their
motion at firſt ſeemeth inconſtant and irregular, yet
leſſe, it is ſaid at laſt, to be obſerved that the very ſame ſpots,
as before,” do within a determinate time return again. This
ſeemeth to me the fitteſt anſwer that hath been found to aſſigne
a reaſon of that ſame appearance, and withal to maintain the
incorruptability and ingenerability of the Heavens; and if this
doth not ſuffice; there wants not more elevated wits, which will
give you other, more convincing.
Sundry opinions
touching the Solar
ſpots.
touching the Solar
ſpots.
* The Original
ſaith [tempeſtata ſi
muove] which the
Latine
on, (Miſtaking
Tempectata, aword
in Heraldry, for
Tempeſtato,)
dereth [incitata
movetur] which
ſignifieth a violent
tranſportmeut, as
in a ſtorm, that of
a Ship.
ſaith [tempeſtata ſi
muove] which the
Latine
on, (Miſtaking
Tempectata, aword
in Heraldry, for
Tempeſtato,)
dereth [incitata
movetur] which
ſignifieth a violent
tranſportmeut, as
in a ſtorm, that of
a Ship.
SALV. If this of which we diſpute, were ſome point of Law,
or other part of the Studies called Humanity, wherein there is
neither truth nor falſhood, if we will give ſufficient credit to
the acuteneſſe of the wit, readineſſe of anſwers, and the
ral practice of Writers, then he who moſt aboundeth in theſe,
makes his reaſon more probable and plauſible; but in Natural
Sciences, the concluſions of which are true and neceſſary, and
wherewith the judgment of men hath nothing to do, one is to
be more cautious how he goeth about to maintain any thing that
is falſe; for a man but of an ordinary wit, if it be his good
tune to be of the right ſide, may lay a thouſand Demoſthenes and
a thouſand Ariſtotles at his feet. Therefore reject thoſe hopes
and conceits, wherewith you flatter your ſelf, that there can be
any men ſo much more learned, read, and verſed in Authors,
than we, that in deſpite of nature, they ſhould be able to
make that become true, which is falſe. And ſeeing that of all
the opinions that have been hitherto alledged touching the
ſence of theſe Solar ſpots, this inſtanced in by you, is in your
judgment the trueſt, it followeth (if this be ſo) that all the reſt
are falſe; and to deliver you from this alſo, which doubtleſſe is a
moſt falſe Chimœra, over-paſſing infinite other improbabilities
that are therein, I ſhall propoſe againſt it onely two experiments;
one is, that many of thoſe ſpots are ſeen to ariſe in the midſt of
the Solar ring, and many likewiſe to diſſolve and vaniſh at a great
diſtance from the circumference of the Sun; a neceſſary
or other part of the Studies called Humanity, wherein there is
neither truth nor falſhood, if we will give ſufficient credit to
the acuteneſſe of the wit, readineſſe of anſwers, and the
ral practice of Writers, then he who moſt aboundeth in theſe,
makes his reaſon more probable and plauſible; but in Natural
Sciences, the concluſions of which are true and neceſſary, and
wherewith the judgment of men hath nothing to do, one is to
be more cautious how he goeth about to maintain any thing that
is falſe; for a man but of an ordinary wit, if it be his good
tune to be of the right ſide, may lay a thouſand Demoſthenes and
a thouſand Ariſtotles at his feet. Therefore reject thoſe hopes
and conceits, wherewith you flatter your ſelf, that there can be
any men ſo much more learned, read, and verſed in Authors,
than we, that in deſpite of nature, they ſhould be able to
make that become true, which is falſe. And ſeeing that of all
the opinions that have been hitherto alledged touching the
ſence of theſe Solar ſpots, this inſtanced in by you, is in your
judgment the trueſt, it followeth (if this be ſo) that all the reſt
are falſe; and to deliver you from this alſo, which doubtleſſe is a
moſt falſe Chimœra, over-paſſing infinite other improbabilities
that are therein, I ſhall propoſe againſt it onely two experiments;
one is, that many of thoſe ſpots are ſeen to ariſe in the midſt of
the Solar ring, and many likewiſe to diſſolve and vaniſh at a great
diſtance from the circumference of the Sun; a neceſſary
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