1
of the Peripateticks, who grant (nor can it be denied) that our
Terreſtrial Globe is, de facto, a compound of infinite different
matters; and grant farther that of compound bodies the motion
ought to be compound: now the motions that admit of
ſition are the right and circular: For the two right motions, as
being contrary, are incompatible together, they affirm, that the
pure Element of Earth is no where to be found; they confeſſe,
that it never hath been moved with a local motion; and yet they
will introduce in Nature that body which is not to be found, and
make it move with that motion which it never exerciſed, nor
ver ſhall do, and to that body which hath, and ever had a being,
they deny that motion, which before they granted, ought
rally to agree therewith.
of the Peripateticks, who grant (nor can it be denied) that our
Terreſtrial Globe is, de facto, a compound of infinite different
matters; and grant farther that of compound bodies the motion
ought to be compound: now the motions that admit of
ſition are the right and circular: For the two right motions, as
being contrary, are incompatible together, they affirm, that the
pure Element of Earth is no where to be found; they confeſſe,
that it never hath been moved with a local motion; and yet they
will introduce in Nature that body which is not to be found, and
make it move with that motion which it never exerciſed, nor
ver ſhall do, and to that body which hath, and ever had a being,
they deny that motion, which before they granted, ought
rally to agree therewith.
The Diſcourſes
of Peripateticks,
full of errours and
contradictions.
of Peripateticks,
full of errours and
contradictions.
SALV. I beſeech you, Sagredus, let us not weary our ſelves
any more about theſe particulars, and the rather, becauſe you
know that our purpoſe was not to determine reſolutely, or to
accept for true, this or that opinion, but only to propoſe for our
divertiſement ſuch reaſons, and anſwers as may be alledged on
the one ſide, or on the other; and Simplicius maketh this
ſwer, in defence of his Peripateticks, therefore let us leave the
judgment in ſuſpenſe, and remit the determination into the
hands of ſuch as are more known than we. And becauſe I think
that we have, with ſufficient prolixity, in theſe three dayes,
courſed upon the Syſteme of the Univerſe, it will now be
nable, that we proceed to the grand accident, from whence our
Diſputations took beginning, I mean, of the ebbing and flowing
of the Sea, the cauſe whereof may, in all probability, be referred
to the motion of the Earth. But that, if you ſo pleaſe, we will
reſerve till to morrow. In the mean time, that I may not forget
it, I will ſpeak to one particular, to which I could have wiſhed,
that Gilbert had not lent an ear; I mean that of admitting, that
in caſe a little Sphere of Loadſtone might be exactly librated, it
would revolve in it ſelf; becauſe there is no reaſon why it ſhould
do ſo; For if the whole Terreſtrial Globe hath a natural
ty of revolving about its own centre in twenty four hours, and
that all its parts ought to have the ſame, I mean, that faculty of
turning round together with their whole, about its centre in
ty four hours; they already have the ſame in effect, whilſt that,
being upon the Earth, they turn round along with it: And the
aſſigning them a revolution about their particular centres, would
be to aſcribe unto them a ſecond motion much different from the
firſt; for ſo they would have two, namely, the revolving in
ty four hours about the centre of their whole; and the turning
about their own: now this ſecond is arbitrary, nor is there any
any more about theſe particulars, and the rather, becauſe you
know that our purpoſe was not to determine reſolutely, or to
accept for true, this or that opinion, but only to propoſe for our
divertiſement ſuch reaſons, and anſwers as may be alledged on
the one ſide, or on the other; and Simplicius maketh this
ſwer, in defence of his Peripateticks, therefore let us leave the
judgment in ſuſpenſe, and remit the determination into the
hands of ſuch as are more known than we. And becauſe I think
that we have, with ſufficient prolixity, in theſe three dayes,
courſed upon the Syſteme of the Univerſe, it will now be
nable, that we proceed to the grand accident, from whence our
Diſputations took beginning, I mean, of the ebbing and flowing
of the Sea, the cauſe whereof may, in all probability, be referred
to the motion of the Earth. But that, if you ſo pleaſe, we will
reſerve till to morrow. In the mean time, that I may not forget
it, I will ſpeak to one particular, to which I could have wiſhed,
that Gilbert had not lent an ear; I mean that of admitting, that
in caſe a little Sphere of Loadſtone might be exactly librated, it
would revolve in it ſelf; becauſe there is no reaſon why it ſhould
do ſo; For if the whole Terreſtrial Globe hath a natural
ty of revolving about its own centre in twenty four hours, and
that all its parts ought to have the ſame, I mean, that faculty of
turning round together with their whole, about its centre in
ty four hours; they already have the ſame in effect, whilſt that,
being upon the Earth, they turn round along with it: And the
aſſigning them a revolution about their particular centres, would
be to aſcribe unto them a ſecond motion much different from the
firſt; for ſo they would have two, namely, the revolving in
ty four hours about the centre of their whole; and the turning
about their own: now this ſecond is arbitrary, nor is there any