The lecond Boolce of 



fifl if. XI. 



G 



}^ ofthema^mtnde of Starts. 



He reafon of this lifteth iip mens minds into heaven ? and as jfthey'belrddand 

 looked downefrom thence, dilcovei^utito them,the magnitude of the thice 

 grcateft parts of the whole wqtld. For the Siinnes lightcoiiid not wholly be ta^ 

 ken away from the earth, by the Moonecomming betweenejin cale the earth 

 PJl^ w were bigger than the Moonc. But the huge grcatneffeof the Sun is more cer- 

 tainely knownCjboth by the (hadow of the Eartb^and the Bodie of the Moont : 



fo as it is needlefle to fearch and inquire into the largcnefle thereofjeither by proofe of eiefight, H 

 or by conjedure of the mind. How UnmeafurabJe it is, appeareth evidently by this. That trees 

 which are planted in limits from Ea ft to Wcft^cafteth iT:)addowes equal! in proportion^ albeic 

 they be never fo many miles afunder in length : as if the Sunne were m the middcfl of them aD. 

 This appeareth alfo about t!ic time of the equinodiall in all regions metidionall, when the fun 

 fhineth direftly plumbe over mens heads^and caufeth no fhadow. In like manner,the fliaddows 

 ofthem that dwell Northerly under the Solftitiall circle in fummer, falling all at noonc-tidc, 

 Northward,butat fun rifing,Weftward,doing the fame demonftration. W hich pofTibly could 

 not be,unleflc the fiinne were farre greater than the earth.Moreover,in that jwhcn he rifethjhec 

 furpairethin breadth the hill Ida, compaffing the fame at large both on the right hand and the 

 lett,and namely ,beingfo flirre diftant as he is . The ecliple of the Moone doth lliewalfo the big- I 

 nefle of the Sun, by an infallible demonftration ; like as himfelfe eclipfed, declareth the little- 

 nes of the earth.For whereas there be offbadcfws three formes and figures : and evident it is^that 

 if the darke material! bodie which cafteth a fhadow, bee equall in bignefTc to the light,then the 

 fhaddowisfalliionedlikeacolumneorpiller, and hath no point at the end: if it bee greater, it 

 yeeldetha fhadowlikeatop diredly ftandingupon thepointjfoas the nether pare therof is nar- 

 roweft,and then the fhadow likewife is of infinite length : but if the faid bodie bee lefle than the 

 light,then is reprefented a py^amidall figure like an hey-cock, falling out fharpe pointed in the 

 top;which manner of lliadow appearethin the Moones eclipfe ;it is plaine, manifeft,and with- 

 out all doubt,that the funne is much bigger than the earth. The fame verily is feencby the fccret 

 and covert proofes of Nature it felfe. Forwhy in deviding thctimcsofrheyeere, departeththc % 

 Sunnefrom us in the winter? marry, cvenbecaufe by meanesof the nightsleiigth and coolc- 

 nefte,he would refrefhthe earth,which otherwile no doubt he (hould have burnt up ; forjitnoc- 

 withftandingjhe burneth it in fome meafure/o exceflive is the greatnefle thereof. 



Chap. XII. 



The inventions of men as touching the ohfervathn of the heavens. 



He reafon verily ofboth eclipfesjthe firft Romane that publifhed abroad and di- 

 vulgedjwas^/;///?///^ Gj///^,who afterwards was Confull,togetherwith 

 celhts : but at thattime beinga Colonell,the day before that king P^^/?/^ was van- ^ 

 quilTied by Puulm^ he was brought forth by the Generall into open audience be- 

 _^ ^ fore the whole hoaft, to fore-tell the eclipfe which Ihould happen the next mor- 

 row: whereby he delivered the armie from all penfivenefte and fear, which might have troubled 

 them in the time of battaile,and within a while after hec compiled alfo a booke thereof. But a. 

 mong the Greekes, Thales MtUfim was the firft that found it out, who inthe 48 Olympias, and 

 thefourthyeere thereof, did prognofticate andforefhew the Sunnes eclipfe that happened in 

 theraigneof ^^/yd//^/, and in the 1 70 yeere after the foundation of thecitieofRome . After 

 them, Hipparchu4 compiled hisEphemerides,containingthecourfeandalpe(5tsof boththefe 

 planetSjfor fixe hundred yeares enf^iing -.comprehending withall the moneths according to the 

 calculation and reckonings of fundric nations,thedaies,the houres,the fituation of places, the M 

 afpecSsjand latitud^sof divers townes and countries 5 as the world will beare him witnefle : and 

 that no lefle aflliredlyjthan if he had been privie to Natures counlcls. Great perfons and excel- 

 lent thele were doubtleffe, who above the reach of all capacitie of mortall men, found out the 

 reafon of the courfe of fo mightie ftarres and divine powers : and whereas the filie mind of men 

 ' ' ' " ' " was 



