Peripatetick
loſophers condemn
the Study of
metry, and why.
loſophers condemn
the Study of
metry, and why.
SIMP. To tell you true, I do not very well know; perhaps,
becauſe I have not ſo much as learnt the reaſons that are by
my produced, of thoſe effects, I mean of thoſe ſtations,
dations, acceſſions, receſſions of the Planets; lengthenings and
ſhortnings of dayes, changes of ſeaſons, &c. But omitting the
conſequences that depend on the firſt ſuppoſitions, I find in the
ſuppoſitions themſelves no ſmall difficulties; which ſuppoſitions,
if once they be overthrown, they draw along with them the ruine
of the whole fabrick. Now foraſmuch as becauſe the whole
module of Copernicus ſeemeth in my opinion to be built upon
firm foundations, in that it relyeth upon the mobility of the earth,
if this ſhould happen to be diſproved, there would be no need of
farther diſpute. And to diſprove this, the Axiom of Ariſtotle
is in my judgment moſt ſufficient, That of one ſimple body,
one ſole ſimple motion can be natural: but here in this caſe, to
the Earth, a ſimple body, there are aſſigned 3. if not 4. motions,
and all very different from each other. For beſides the light
motion, as a grave body towards its centre, which cannot be
nied it, there is aſſigned to it a circular motion in a great circle
about the Sun in a year, and a vertiginous converſion about its
own centre in twenty four hours. And that in the next place
which is more exorbitant, & which happly for that reaſon you paſs
over in ſilence, there is aſcribed to it another revolution about
its own centre, contrary to the former of twenty four hours,
and which finiſheth its period in a year. In this my
ing apprehendeth a very great
becauſe I have not ſo much as learnt the reaſons that are by
my produced, of thoſe effects, I mean of thoſe ſtations,
dations, acceſſions, receſſions of the Planets; lengthenings and
ſhortnings of dayes, changes of ſeaſons, &c. But omitting the
conſequences that depend on the firſt ſuppoſitions, I find in the
ſuppoſitions themſelves no ſmall difficulties; which ſuppoſitions,
if once they be overthrown, they draw along with them the ruine
of the whole fabrick. Now foraſmuch as becauſe the whole
module of Copernicus ſeemeth in my opinion to be built upon
firm foundations, in that it relyeth upon the mobility of the earth,
if this ſhould happen to be diſproved, there would be no need of
farther diſpute. And to diſprove this, the Axiom of Ariſtotle
is in my judgment moſt ſufficient, That of one ſimple body,
one ſole ſimple motion can be natural: but here in this caſe, to
the Earth, a ſimple body, there are aſſigned 3. if not 4. motions,
and all very different from each other. For beſides the light
motion, as a grave body towards its centre, which cannot be
nied it, there is aſſigned to it a circular motion in a great circle
about the Sun in a year, and a vertiginous converſion about its
own centre in twenty four hours. And that in the next place
which is more exorbitant, & which happly for that reaſon you paſs
over in ſilence, there is aſcribed to it another revolution about
its own centre, contrary to the former of twenty four hours,
and which finiſheth its period in a year. In this my
ing apprehendeth a very great
Four ſeveral
motions aſſigned to
the Earth.
motions aſſigned to
the Earth.
The motion of
deſcent belongs not
to the terreſtrial
Globe, but to its
parts.
deſcent belongs not
to the terreſtrial
Globe, but to its
parts.
SALV. As to the motion of deſcent, it hath already been
cluded not to belong to the Terreſtrial Globe which did never
move with any ſuch motion, nor never ſhall do; but is (if there be
ſuch a thing) that propenſion of its parts to reunite themſelves
to their whole. As, in the next place, to the Annual motion,
cluded not to belong to the Terreſtrial Globe which did never
move with any ſuch motion, nor never ſhall do; but is (if there be
ſuch a thing) that propenſion of its parts to reunite themſelves
to their whole. As, in the next place, to the Annual motion,
and the Diurnal, theſe being both made towards one way, are
very compatible, in the ſame manner juſt as if we ſhould let a
Ball trundle downwards upon a declining ſuperficies, it would in
its deſcent along the ſame ſpontaneouſly revolve in it ſelf. As
to the third motion aſſigned it by Copernicus, namely about it
ſelf in a year, onely to keep its Axis inclined and directed
towards the ſame part of the Firmament, I will tell you a thing
worthy of great conſideration: namely ut tantum abeſt (although
it be made contrary to the other annual) it is ſo far from having
any repugnance or difficulty in it, that naturally and without any
moving cauſe, it agreeth to any whatſoever ſuſpended and
ted body, which if it ſhall be carried round in the circumference
of a circle, immediate of it ſelf, it acquireth a converſion about
its own centre, contrary to that which carrieth it about, and of