Lib. III. Of the Advancement of Learnincr, 



'93 



from Eaji to fVeB, and the contrary : Laftly ofrrogrejjlons^ flat ions and 

 Retrogradations, of the Elevation and Declination of Motions, by the Apo- 

 gee, or middle point 5 and Perigee or lovceji point oj heaven 5 Co of the ob' 

 lique windings of Motions, either byflexHOus Spires, weaving and unrvca- 

 ving themfelves, as they make their approach or rece^from the Tropicks 5 

 or by ferpentine fimtations, which they call Dragons, fo ofthefixt Poles of 

 Rotations or wheeling motions, why theyjfjould be placed in fuch a point of 

 the heavens, rather than in any other 5 do of the alligation of fome Planets 

 at a certain dijiancefrom the Sun: I fay an inquiry of this kind, hath 

 fcarce been attempted, fave that fome labour hath been taken therein 

 only in Mathematical obfervations and Dcmonftrations. But thefe ob- 

 (ervations only (hew how wittily all thefe motions may be contrived 

 and cleared from oppofition 5 not how they may truly fubfift in Nature 5 

 and reprcfent only feeming Motions, and their fi(5titious Fabrick, and 

 framed at pleafure, not their caufes, and the real truth of Things. 

 Wherefore Aflronomy, fuch as now it is made, may well be counted in 

 the number oi Mathematical Arts, not without great diminution ofthe 

 Dignity thereof; feeing it ought rather (if it would maintain its own 

 right) be conftitute a branch, and thatmoft principal of Natural Philofb- 

 phy. For whoever (hall rejed: the feigned Divorces of fnperlunary and 

 fublunary bodies'^ and Jliall intentively obferve the appetencies of Alatter 

 andthe mo!i univerfalPajJions, (which in either Globe are exceeding Po- 

 tent, and transverberate the univerfal nature of things^ he JJjaU receive 

 clear information concerningcelefiial matters from the things feen here with 

 vs : and contrarywife from thofe motions which are praffifed in heaven 5 

 hefjall learn many obfervations which now are latent, touching the motions 

 cf bodies here below : not only fo far as thefe inferiour motions are modera' 

 tedbyfuperiour, hut in regard they have a mutual inter courfe by pajjions 

 common to them both. Wherefore this part oi Aflronomy which is natU' 

 ral wefet down as Deficient, And this we will call Living Aflronomy, 

 to di(tingui(h it from Prometheus Ox ftuft with ftraw, which was an Ox 

 in outward (hape only. 



§ But Ajirology is corrupted with much fuperftition, fo as there is 

 hardly to be found any found part therein. Yet in our judgment it 

 fliould rather be purged5than clean caft away. But if any contend,that 

 this fcience is not grounded upon reafon, and Phyfical contemplations 5 

 but in blind experience, and the obfervation of many Ages ; and there- 

 fore rejed a trial by natural Arguments (which the Chaldee Aftrolo- 

 gers boafted) he may by the fame reafbn revoke Auguries, Divination, 

 and Prediftion s from beads entrals, andfwallow down all kind of Fa- 

 bles 3 for all thefe fuperftitious vanities were avoucht, as the Didlates 

 of long experience, and of Dilcipline delivered over by tradition. But 

 we do both accept Ajirology, as a Portion of Natural Philofophy ; and 

 yet attribute unto it no more credit, than reafon and the evidence of 

 Particulars doevince, letting afidefuperftitions and fiftions. And that 

 we may a little more ferioully conlider the matter. 



(j Firji what a vainfartcy is thif, that every Planet pould reign for cer^ 



tain hours by turn, fo as in thefpace of twenty four hours, they jjjould re- 



fume their Dominions thrice over, three fupernuwerary hours refervcd? 



Yet this conceit brought forth unto us the Divifion of the week, a 



eomputation very ancient, and generally received, as from the inter- 



changcabk 



