1to all the Stars, as is this diurnal one: yet I believe that in few
dayes they perceived that the Moon was inconſtant in keeping
company with the other Stars; but yet withal, that many years
paſt, before that they diſtinguiſhed all the Planets: And in
ticular, I conceit that Saturn by its ſlowneſs, and Mercury by
ſon of its ſeldom appearing, were the laſt that were obſerved to
be wandring and errant. It is to be thought that many more
years run out before the ſtations and retrogradations of the three
ſuperiour Planets were known, as alſo their approximations and
receſſions from the Earth, neceſſary occaſions of introducing the
Eccentrix and Epicicles, things unknown even to Ariſtotle, for
that he makes no mention thereof. Mercury, and Venus, with
their admirable apparitions; how long did they keep
mers in ſuſpence, before that they could reſolve (not to ſpeak of
any other of their qualities) upon their ſituation? Inſomuch
that the very order onely of the Mundane bodies, and the
gral ſtructure of the parts of the Univerſe by us known, hath been
doubted of untill the time of Copernicus, who hath at laſt given
us notice of the true conſtitution, and real ſyſteme, according to
which thoſe parts are diſpoſed; ſo that at length we are certain
that Mercury, Venus, and the other Planets do revolve about
the Sun; and that the Moon revolveth about the Earth. But
how each Planet governeth it ſelf in its particular revolution, and
how preciſely the ſtructure of its Orb is framed; which is that
which is vulgarly called the Theory of the Planets, we cannot as
yet undoubtedly reſolve. Mars, that hath ſo much puzled our
Modern Aſtronomers, is a proof of this: And to the Moon her
ſelf there have been aſſigned ſeveral Theories, after that the ſaid
Copernicus had much altered it from that of Ptolomy. And to
deſcend to our particular caſe, that is to ſay, to the apparent
tion of the Sun and Moon; touching the former, there hath been
obſerved a certain great irregularity, whereby it paſſeth the two
ſemicircles of the Ecliptick, divided by the points of the
noxes in very different times; in paſſing one of which, it
eth about nine dayes more than in paſſing the other; a difference,
as you ſee, very great and notable. But if in paſſing ſmall arches,
ſuch for example as are the twelve Signs, he maintain a moſt
gular motion, or elſe proceed with paces, one while a little more
ſwift, and another more ſlow, as it is neceſſary that it do, in caſe
the annual motion belong to the Sun onely in appearance, but
in reality to the Earth in company with the Moon, it is what hath
not hitherto been obſerved, nor it may be, ſought. Touching
the Moon in the next place, whoſe reſtitutions have been
cipally lookt into an account of the Eclipſes, for which it is
ficient to have an exact knowledge of its motion about the Earth,
dayes they perceived that the Moon was inconſtant in keeping
company with the other Stars; but yet withal, that many years
paſt, before that they diſtinguiſhed all the Planets: And in
ticular, I conceit that Saturn by its ſlowneſs, and Mercury by
ſon of its ſeldom appearing, were the laſt that were obſerved to
be wandring and errant. It is to be thought that many more
years run out before the ſtations and retrogradations of the three
ſuperiour Planets were known, as alſo their approximations and
receſſions from the Earth, neceſſary occaſions of introducing the
Eccentrix and Epicicles, things unknown even to Ariſtotle, for
that he makes no mention thereof. Mercury, and Venus, with
their admirable apparitions; how long did they keep
mers in ſuſpence, before that they could reſolve (not to ſpeak of
any other of their qualities) upon their ſituation? Inſomuch
that the very order onely of the Mundane bodies, and the
gral ſtructure of the parts of the Univerſe by us known, hath been
doubted of untill the time of Copernicus, who hath at laſt given
us notice of the true conſtitution, and real ſyſteme, according to
which thoſe parts are diſpoſed; ſo that at length we are certain
that Mercury, Venus, and the other Planets do revolve about
the Sun; and that the Moon revolveth about the Earth. But
how each Planet governeth it ſelf in its particular revolution, and
how preciſely the ſtructure of its Orb is framed; which is that
which is vulgarly called the Theory of the Planets, we cannot as
yet undoubtedly reſolve. Mars, that hath ſo much puzled our
Modern Aſtronomers, is a proof of this: And to the Moon her
ſelf there have been aſſigned ſeveral Theories, after that the ſaid
Copernicus had much altered it from that of Ptolomy. And to
deſcend to our particular caſe, that is to ſay, to the apparent
tion of the Sun and Moon; touching the former, there hath been
obſerved a certain great irregularity, whereby it paſſeth the two
ſemicircles of the Ecliptick, divided by the points of the
noxes in very different times; in paſſing one of which, it
eth about nine dayes more than in paſſing the other; a difference,
as you ſee, very great and notable. But if in paſſing ſmall arches,
ſuch for example as are the twelve Signs, he maintain a moſt
gular motion, or elſe proceed with paces, one while a little more
ſwift, and another more ſlow, as it is neceſſary that it do, in caſe
the annual motion belong to the Sun onely in appearance, but
in reality to the Earth in company with the Moon, it is what hath
not hitherto been obſerved, nor it may be, ſought. Touching
the Moon in the next place, whoſe reſtitutions have been
cipally lookt into an account of the Eclipſes, for which it is
ficient to have an exact knowledge of its motion about the Earth,