1mum mobile) therefore the Earth moving about its own centre,
being placed in the middle, muſt of neceſſity have two byaſſes,
and foreſlow. But if this were ſo, it would follow, that there
ſhould be a variation in the riſing and ſetting of the fixed Stars,
which we do not perceive to be done: Therefore the Earth doth
not move, &c. Here is the Paralogiſme, and to diſcover it, I will
argue with Ariſtotle in this manner. Thou ſaiſt, oh Ariſtotle,
that the Earth placed in the middle of the World, cannot move
in it ſelf (i. e. upon its own axis) for then it would be requiſite
to allow it two byaſſes; ſo that, if it ſhould not be neceſſary to
allow it more than one Byas onely, thou wouldeſt not then hold
it impoſſible for it to move onely with that one; for thou would'ſt
unneceſſarily have conſined the impoſſibility to the plurality of
byaſſes, if in caſe it had no more but one, yet it could not move
with that. And becauſe that of all the moveables in the World,
thou makeſt but one alone to move with one ſole byas; and all
the reſt with more than one; and this ſame moveable thou
firmeſt to be the firſt Sphere, namely, that by which all the
ed and erratick Stars ſeem harmoniouſly to move from Eaſt to
Weſt, if in caſe the Earth may be that firſt Sphere, that by
ving with one by as onely, may make the Stars appear to move
from Eaſt to Weſt, thou wilt not deny them it: But he that
firmeth, that the Earth being placed in the midſt of the World,
moveth about its own Axis, aſcribes unto it no other motion,
ſave that by which all the Stars appear to move from Eaſt to Weſt;
and ſo it cometh to be that firſt Sphere, which thou thy ſelf
knowledgeſt to move with but one by as onely. It is therefore
ceſſary, oh Ariſtotle, if thou wilt conclude any thing, that thou
demonſtrate, that the Earth being placed in the midſt of the
World, cannot move with ſo much as one by as onely; or elſe,
that much leſſe can the firſt Sphere have one ſole motion; for
therwiſe thou doeſt in thy very Sillogiſme both commit the falacy,
and detect it, denying, and at that very time proving the ſame
thing. I come now to the ſecond Poſition, namely, of thoſe
who placing the Earth far from the midſt of the Univerſe, make
it moveable about the ſame; that is, make it a Planet and
tick Star; againſt which the argument is directed, and as to
form is concludent, but faileth in matter. For it being granted,
that the Earth doth in that manner move, and that with two
aſſes, yet doth it not neceſſarily follow that though it were ſo,
it ſhould make alterations in the riſings and ſettings of the fixed
Stars, as I ſhall in its proper place declare. And here I could
gladly excuſe Ariſtotle; rather I could highly applaud him for
ving light upon the moſt ſubtil argument that could be produced
againſt the Copernican Hypotheſis; and if the objection be
being placed in the middle, muſt of neceſſity have two byaſſes,
and foreſlow. But if this were ſo, it would follow, that there
ſhould be a variation in the riſing and ſetting of the fixed Stars,
which we do not perceive to be done: Therefore the Earth doth
not move, &c. Here is the Paralogiſme, and to diſcover it, I will
argue with Ariſtotle in this manner. Thou ſaiſt, oh Ariſtotle,
that the Earth placed in the middle of the World, cannot move
in it ſelf (i. e. upon its own axis) for then it would be requiſite
to allow it two byaſſes; ſo that, if it ſhould not be neceſſary to
allow it more than one Byas onely, thou wouldeſt not then hold
it impoſſible for it to move onely with that one; for thou would'ſt
unneceſſarily have conſined the impoſſibility to the plurality of
byaſſes, if in caſe it had no more but one, yet it could not move
with that. And becauſe that of all the moveables in the World,
thou makeſt but one alone to move with one ſole byas; and all
the reſt with more than one; and this ſame moveable thou
firmeſt to be the firſt Sphere, namely, that by which all the
ed and erratick Stars ſeem harmoniouſly to move from Eaſt to
Weſt, if in caſe the Earth may be that firſt Sphere, that by
ving with one by as onely, may make the Stars appear to move
from Eaſt to Weſt, thou wilt not deny them it: But he that
firmeth, that the Earth being placed in the midſt of the World,
moveth about its own Axis, aſcribes unto it no other motion,
ſave that by which all the Stars appear to move from Eaſt to Weſt;
and ſo it cometh to be that firſt Sphere, which thou thy ſelf
knowledgeſt to move with but one by as onely. It is therefore
ceſſary, oh Ariſtotle, if thou wilt conclude any thing, that thou
demonſtrate, that the Earth being placed in the midſt of the
World, cannot move with ſo much as one by as onely; or elſe,
that much leſſe can the firſt Sphere have one ſole motion; for
therwiſe thou doeſt in thy very Sillogiſme both commit the falacy,
and detect it, denying, and at that very time proving the ſame
thing. I come now to the ſecond Poſition, namely, of thoſe
who placing the Earth far from the midſt of the Univerſe, make
it moveable about the ſame; that is, make it a Planet and
tick Star; againſt which the argument is directed, and as to
form is concludent, but faileth in matter. For it being granted,
that the Earth doth in that manner move, and that with two
aſſes, yet doth it not neceſſarily follow that though it were ſo,
it ſhould make alterations in the riſings and ſettings of the fixed
Stars, as I ſhall in its proper place declare. And here I could
gladly excuſe Ariſtotle; rather I could highly applaud him for
ving light upon the moſt ſubtil argument that could be produced
againſt the Copernican Hypotheſis; and if the objection be