6 MOTIONS OF THE STARS. 



LlB - r - his beames shine not. If then it be so, that the sunne 

 passeth no farther, neyther doth cast his beames on the 

 other part of the earth, but onely turnes about, and returnes 

 to his setting, making a ridge vpon the earth by his 

 turning (the which he must of force confesse that shall 

 denie the roundnes of the heaven, seeing (according to their 

 saying) the heaven as a bason doth onely couer the face of 

 the earth), it should then plainly follow that wee could not 

 obserue the difference betwixt the daies and nights, the 

 which in some regions be short and long according to the 

 seasons, and in some are alvvaies equall, the which S. Au- 

 August., p-ustine noteth in his bookes De Genes, ad litteram. That 



lib. do 



!ittCTam d we ma y easily comprehend the oppositions, conversions, 

 cap. 19. elevations, descents, and all other aspects and dispositions 

 of planets and starres, when we shall vnderstaiid they move, 

 and yet notwithstanding the heaven remaines firme and 

 immoveable. The which seemeth to me easie to compre 

 hend, and will be to all others, if it may be law full to im 

 agine that which my fancy doth conceive ; for if we suppose 

 that every star and planet be a body of it selfe, and that it 

 Dan. xiv. ]j G j e d and guided by an Angell, as Habacuc was carried 

 into Babilon, who I pray you is so blind but seeth that all 

 the diverse aspects which we see appeare in planets and 

 starres may proceede from the diuersity of motion which he 

 that guides them doth voluntarily giue them. We cannot 

 then with any reason affirm e but that this space and region 

 by which they faine that stars do continually march and 

 rowle is eleinentarie and corruptible, seeing it divides it 

 selfe when they pass, the which vndoubtedly do not passe 

 by any void place. If then the region wherein the starres 

 and planets move be corruptible, the stars and planets of 

 their owue motion should be by reason likewise corruptible, 

 and so by consequence they must alter, change, and be 

 finally extinct ; for naturally that which is conteined is no 

 more durable then that which conteineth. And to say that 



