1thoſe admirable conſequences which are derived from the Earths
annual motion, to the other Planets, that is to ſay, of the ^{*}
ons and retrogradations of the three uppermoſt in particular; he
ſubjoyneth, that this apparent mutation (which is diſcerned more
in Mars than in Jupiter, by reaſon Jupiter is more remote, and
yet leſſe in Saturn, by reaſon it is more remote than Jupiter) in
the fixed Stars, did remain imperceptible, by reaſon of their
immenſe remoteneſſe from us, in compariſon of the diſtances of
Jupiter or Saturn. Here the Adverſaries of this opinion riſe up,
and ſuppoſing that fore-named imperceptibility of Copernicus, as
if it had been taken by him, for a real and abſolute thing of
thing, and adding, that a fixed Star of one of the leſſer
tudes, is notwithſtanding perceptible, ſeeing that it cometh
der the ſence of ſeeing, they go on to calculate with the
vention of other falſe aſſumptions, and concluding that it is
ſary by the Copernican Doctrine, to admit, that a fixed Star is much
bigger than the whole grand Orb. Now to diſcover the vanity
of this their whole proceeding, I ſhall ſhew that a fixed Star of the
ſixth magnitude, being ſuppoſed to be no bigger than the Sun,
one may thence conclude with true demonſtrations, that the
ſtance of the ſaid fixed Stars from us, cometh to be ſo great, that
the annual motion of the Earth, which cauſeth ſo great and
notable variations in the Planets, appears ſcarce obſervable in
them; and at the ſame time, I will diſtinctly ſhew the groſs
fallacies, in the aſſumptions of Copernicus his Adverſaries.
annual motion, to the other Planets, that is to ſay, of the ^{*}
ons and retrogradations of the three uppermoſt in particular; he
ſubjoyneth, that this apparent mutation (which is diſcerned more
in Mars than in Jupiter, by reaſon Jupiter is more remote, and
yet leſſe in Saturn, by reaſon it is more remote than Jupiter) in
the fixed Stars, did remain imperceptible, by reaſon of their
immenſe remoteneſſe from us, in compariſon of the diſtances of
Jupiter or Saturn. Here the Adverſaries of this opinion riſe up,
and ſuppoſing that fore-named imperceptibility of Copernicus, as
if it had been taken by him, for a real and abſolute thing of
thing, and adding, that a fixed Star of one of the leſſer
tudes, is notwithſtanding perceptible, ſeeing that it cometh
der the ſence of ſeeing, they go on to calculate with the
vention of other falſe aſſumptions, and concluding that it is
ſary by the Copernican Doctrine, to admit, that a fixed Star is much
bigger than the whole grand Orb. Now to diſcover the vanity
of this their whole proceeding, I ſhall ſhew that a fixed Star of the
ſixth magnitude, being ſuppoſed to be no bigger than the Sun,
one may thence conclude with true demonſtrations, that the
ſtance of the ſaid fixed Stars from us, cometh to be ſo great, that
the annual motion of the Earth, which cauſeth ſo great and
notable variations in the Planets, appears ſcarce obſervable in
them; and at the ſame time, I will diſtinctly ſhew the groſs
fallacies, in the aſſumptions of Copernicus his Adverſaries.
Litigious Lawyers
that are
ed in an ill cauſe,
keep cloſe to ſome
expreſſion fallen
from the adverſe
party at unawares.
that are
ed in an ill cauſe,
keep cloſe to ſome
expreſſion fallen
from the adverſe
party at unawares.
* Or progreſſions.
Suppoſing that a
fixed Star of the
ſixth magnitude is
no bigger than the
Sun, the diverſitie
which is ſo great
in the Planets, in
the fixed Stars is
almost inſenſible.
fixed Star of the
ſixth magnitude is
no bigger than the
Sun, the diverſitie
which is ſo great
in the Planets, in
the fixed Stars is
almost inſenſible.
And firſt of all, I ſuppoſe with the ſaid Copernicus, and alſo
with his oppoſers, that the Semidiameter of the grand Orb, which
is the diſtance of the Earth from the Sun, containeth 1208
diameters of the ſaid Earth. Secondly, I premiſe with the
ance aforeſaid, and of truth, that the ^{*} apparent diameter of the
Sun in its mean diſtance, to be about half a degree, that is, 30.
min. prim. which are 1800. ſeconds, that is, 108000. thirds.
And becauſe the apparent Diameter of a fixed Star of the firſt
magnitude, is no more than 5. ſeconds, that is, 300. thirds, and
the Diameter of a fixed Star of the ſixth magnitude, 50. thirds,
(and herein is the greateſt errour of the Anti-Copernicans)
fore the Diameter of the Sun, containeth the Diameter of a
fixed Star of the ſixth magnitude 2160 times. And therefore
if a fixed Star of the ſixth magnitude, were ſuppoſed to be really
equal to the Sun, and not bigger, which is the ſame as to ſay, if
the Sun were ſo far removed, that its Diameter ſhould ſeem to
be one of the 2160. parts of what it now appeareth, its diſtance
ought of neceſſity to be 2160. times greater than now in effect it
is, which is as much as to ſay, that the diſtance of the fixed Stars
of the ſixth magnitude, is 2160. Semidiameters of the grand
with his oppoſers, that the Semidiameter of the grand Orb, which
is the diſtance of the Earth from the Sun, containeth 1208
diameters of the ſaid Earth. Secondly, I premiſe with the
ance aforeſaid, and of truth, that the ^{*} apparent diameter of the
Sun in its mean diſtance, to be about half a degree, that is, 30.
min. prim. which are 1800. ſeconds, that is, 108000. thirds.
And becauſe the apparent Diameter of a fixed Star of the firſt
magnitude, is no more than 5. ſeconds, that is, 300. thirds, and
the Diameter of a fixed Star of the ſixth magnitude, 50. thirds,
(and herein is the greateſt errour of the Anti-Copernicans)
fore the Diameter of the Sun, containeth the Diameter of a
fixed Star of the ſixth magnitude 2160 times. And therefore
if a fixed Star of the ſixth magnitude, were ſuppoſed to be really
equal to the Sun, and not bigger, which is the ſame as to ſay, if
the Sun were ſo far removed, that its Diameter ſhould ſeem to
be one of the 2160. parts of what it now appeareth, its diſtance
ought of neceſſity to be 2160. times greater than now in effect it
is, which is as much as to ſay, that the diſtance of the fixed Stars
of the ſixth magnitude, is 2160. Semidiameters of the grand