an allarm to europe, by a late prodigious comet seen november and december, with a predictive discourse : together with some preceding and some succeeding causes of its sad effects to the east and north eastern parts of the world, namely, england, scotland, ireland, france, spain, holland, germany, italy, and many other places / by john hill, physitian and astrologer. hill, john, physitian and astrologer. approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing h estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) an allarm to europe, by a late prodigious comet seen november and december, with a predictive discourse : together with some preceding and some succeeding causes of its sad effects to the east and north eastern parts of the world, namely, england, scotland, ireland, france, spain, holland, germany, italy, and many other places / by john hill, physitian and astrologer. hill, john, physitian and astrologer. [ ] p. printed by h. brugis for william thackery ..., london : [ ] reproduction of original in huntington library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng comets -- . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - scott lepisto sampled and proofread - scott lepisto text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion an allarm to europe : by a late prodigious comet seen november and december , . with a predictive discourse . together with some preceding and some succeeding causes of its sad effects to the east and north eastern parts of the world. namely , england , scotland , ireland , france , spain , holland , germany , italy , and many other places . by john hill physitian and astrologer . the form of the comet with its blaze or stream as it was seen december the th : anno . in the evening . astrological scene of a comet passing by earth london printed by h. brugis for william thackery at the angel in duck-lane . the epistle to the reader , courteous reader , i shall wave the divers opinions of phylosophers , concerning the generation of commets , and proceed to my intended matter thus , viz. that the romans who had the benefit of christ's doctrine long before we the inhabitants of these northern isles : ( to whose shame be it said ) that they are now since become christian idolaters , and have shaken hands with that blessed and saving doctrine , and trode down those pious precepts of the apostles , and only use the name of christ , and his chosen twelve , to in snare mankind into their damnable idolatrous and inhuman principles ; their murders , their idolatries , their blasphemies , their actions against god , the laws of nations and nature enforces me to stile her the very essence of antichrist : and surely god hath a scourge in store for this monstrous beast ; but yet it hath many times fallen out that the righteous and wicked have suffered together , and let us remember the frustration that the antient people called jews , laboured under in construing the effects of those many signs and tokens that were visible to them , to be a forerunner of their enemyes destruction ; let us not glory in the ruine , but rather in the reformation of our enemies , protestant christians have offended , slighted , and committed sins against the god of heaven that hath abounded in mercy towards them , therefore for the slighting of mercy , judgment is near taking place . let it be remembred that on the th . of may anno . that the prodigious storm of haile fell in and about the city of london , and the effects of such kind of haile , we have upon record in the last year of the reign of queen mary , in and about the town of nottingham which was indeed a very great mortality , & in the same & succeeding year abundance of people dyed , amongst which the queen was one , and indeed this latter storm hath had pretty smart e●…s since the above mentioned date , and this prodigious comet being of such signification and concurring in nature with that haile , must of necessity have extream effects upon the bodies of man-kind . the description . the first appearance of it was in the sign sagitarius or the latter end of scorpio when we had advice of it from falmouth in the london gazzet , about the beginning of november , and since it hath past sagitarius and is now in the sign capricorn about the degree , for it was observed on the th . of december by a very worthy person to be about degrees of capricorn & its diuerall motion about deg. minutes , & by the addition of its diurnall motion it reaches to the d . as aforesaid , at the time of writing being the th . of december the starr hath about degrees north latitude , and about the bigness of a starr of the th . magnitude with a stream or blaze pointing easterly of about degrees in length , the star of a pale leaner colour , and also the stream or blaze by way of judgment according to art , there are two things to be considered , first the place of the comet in the zodiack , secondly , where the stream poynts . to the first i do believe it hath past part of scorpio and all sagitarius , therefore let part of france , and part of germany , and spain look to it , for they either offensively or defensively shall batter themselves or some other people , and in as much as it is gotten into capricorn , i pray , god keep the dominion of great brit●an in peace because in 〈◊〉 capr●…o● is the 〈…〉 part of scotland , for it is much to be 〈…〉 that the 〈◊〉 once more rebell against england , and i must farther take a cognisance of its passing sagitarius , a signe opposite to london's asdendant , where that great ●onjunction fell of saturn and jupiter in the year . from which mr. richard ●…lin predicted that great plague which hapned in . in short i fear england , but more especially london will be incident to an infectious air , from thence proceed raging pestilentall diseases , rumours and real wars and home bred divisions , poysoning open and private murders , let england beware of flatterers and treat its neighbours in a posture of defence . to conclude this part let the inhabitants of london prepare for death , for indeed a plague is threatened , and god keep back the fury of bloody m●nded men. then considering that the poynt at its disappearing tended south-east , let the inhabitants of other place prepare to feel its effects as well as we , but not so soon by way of digretion , if i consider the two great conjunctions of saturn and jupiter which fall in the signe leo , the ascendant of rome in the years . and . i cannot but think there will be a totall desolution of the popish power within a small time after , for i am perswaded that the work is begun already as to the humane part , and according to former observations much after the nature as it was in one great conjunction in leo , when rome was taken and the then present pope confin'd , but these two conjunctions being in one , and the same signe hapening in the space of one year , which configurations have not hapened for the space of above years , therefore it must needs shake rome and change that place in qualitie , and indeed these conjunctions have relation to all the whole world , for it is an undoubted truth that the destruction of one state is the advancing of another , and by how much the conquered lose in power and treasure , by so much may the conqueror behold his own victory . the world was never alwayes in one position , ●or hardly ever will. the reverend mr. perkins one of the fathers of the church in his reading of the duration of kingdoms and states , in many places that they do not for the most part continue above or years at the most , without being sack't by strangers , then let the reader consider whether a great part of europe is not near great alterations , england according to that dostrine cannot but be very sensible of the sad effects . i shall now conclude with this astrological prediction , that within this five years all europe shall go near to be up in armes . multi , multe , sciunt , sed nemo , ommia . finis . the certain predictions of the great alcos, astrologer and mathematician in ordinary to the duke of parma upon the two comets which have appeared in our hemisphere . alcos. approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing a a estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) the certain predictions of the great alcos, astrologer and mathematician in ordinary to the duke of parma upon the two comets which have appeared in our hemisphere . alcos. broadside. s.n., [london? : ] "according to the original printed at parma by john zapate." reproduction of original in the harvard university library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng comets -- . prophecies (occultism) astrology -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - andrew kuster sampled and proofread - andrew kuster text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the certain predictions of the great alcos , astrologer and mathematician in ordinary to the duke of parma , upon the two comets which have appeared in our hemisphere , after having diligently considered the course of the planets , made observations upon the malignant influences of the stars , and passed whole nights in contemplation of the comet which appeared in the heavens , in the close of the evening , and of that which appeared in the morning before break of day ; and having considered by the rules of astrology , that the evening comet entring into capricorn , and going out by the scorpions tayl , which extends it self leagues , threatens a general plague , terrible earthquakes , and prodigious thunders , by which several towns in christendom will be swallowed up and laid in ashes . the comet which appears in the morning , having cancer reverst underneath it , visibly declares that the angel abiron , punisher of the sins of the world hath a sword drawn for the destruction of a maritine prince , who hath drawn on himself the just anger of god , but that the presence of the sun which hides this angry and fiery comet from our sight , assures us , that the religious valour of the knights of maltha , encouraged by the extraordinary zeal of our holy father the pope , will appease the god of mercy and bounty , and that their armes will be so victorious over the turks , that their success shall amaze all the world. the approaching summer shall be dry so long , that the greatest rivers shall be dried up , and the ground so hot , that the beasts , serpents and other animals , shall be forced to come out of their dens and holes ; and men shall be afflicted with burning feavers , swellings and bloody fluxes . the ram ascending towards libra shews us , that the last year in the month of august , the mart is entred into the barr before gri riere after shews , that in april of this present year the sovereign abesse of franconia shall be delivered of a son , which shall neither be of cap nor ville , but of mart and of rig , who shall be an astrologer in our dutchy of parma , and shall one day be acknowledged prince of franconia . the july mars following at the heels of sagittary with his dart , we may expect so general a hail , that it will be very prejudicial to all grain that is not gotten in ; and bacchus will be so afflicted , that he exhorts his good children not idly to empty all the vessels this year . in fine , heaven is so angry , and the whole world so laden with sins , disorders and abominations , that nature her self shall be ready to expire , and the earth hold as it were but by a thread ▪ vices , as ambition , jealousie , envy , impiety , and irreligion of all nations ingeneral , and every man in particular have drawn down the just anger of god upon us europe will fall quickly ; i know no estate whose ruine we may not fear . this age perhaps shall be the last of all empires , and ( may be ) we shall hear , that the universe is at its end ; all mountains shall be brought low , the alpes shall be thunder-stricken , the pireneans beaten down and levelled ; the sins of men are grown so great , and their disorders so monstrous and prodigious , that we may well expect to see this last moment , if we repent not , and mortifie our selves ; which only can avert the severity of these terrible judgments of god. god through his love to us doth show , by th' stars what he intends to do ; that thereby knowing his intent , we may of our ill works repent . according to the original printed at parma by john zapate . cometomantia, a discourse of comets shewing their original, substance, place, time, magnitude, motion, number, colour, figure, kinds, names, and more especially, their prognosticks, significations and presages ... : where also is inserted an essay of judiciary astrology, giving satisfaction to this grand question, whether any certain judgments and predictions concerning future events, can be made from the observation of the heavenly bodies : both occasioned by the appearance of the late comets in england and other places. edwards, john, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing e estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) cometomantia, a discourse of comets shewing their original, substance, place, time, magnitude, motion, number, colour, figure, kinds, names, and more especially, their prognosticks, significations and presages ... : where also is inserted an essay of judiciary astrology, giving satisfaction to this grand question, whether any certain judgments and predictions concerning future events, can be made from the observation of the heavenly bodies : both occasioned by the appearance of the late comets in england and other places. edwards, john, - . [ ], p. printed for brab. aylmer ..., london : . attributed to j. edwards. cf wing. errata: p. [ ]. reproduction of original in harvard university libraries. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng comets. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - olivia bottum sampled and proofread - olivia bottum text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion cometomantia . a discourse of comets : shewing their original , substance , place , time , magnitude , motion , number , colour , figure , kinds , names , and , more especially , their prognosticks , significations and presages . being a brief resolution of a seasonable query , viz. whether the apparition of comets be the sign of approaching evil ? where also is inserted an essay of iudiciary astrology , giving satisfaction to this grand question , whether any certain iudgments and predictions concerning future events , can be made from the observation of the heavenly bodies ? both occasioned by the appearance of the late comets in england and other places . london , printed for brab . aylmer , at the three pigeons over against the royal exchange in cornhill . . to the right reverend father in god , seth , lord bishop of salisbury , and chancellour of the most noble order of the garter . my lord , i dedicate this to your lordship , and if any shall ask the reason , i know no other than what all england knows as well as i , and that is the place you hold in the church , and in the esteem of the learned world , your great and admired worth , your skill in the profoundest sciences , of which your excellent works of astronomy , and particularly your praelections of comets are an undeniable demonstration . those that know either your lordship or me , will not say i flatter you ; for your vast merits command all that can be said , and for my part i am not inclined to fawn upon any person . i cannot expect , my lord , you should approve of this inconsiderable present , yet i persuade my self your lordship will not be displeased at the good meaning of the offerer . i need not acquaint your lordship that it is part of one of the canons of our church , that poor beneficed men may go in short gowns . we mean folks , my lord , must doe as well as we can . i submit the whole to your lordship's censure , and hope you will not lay open those faults which , it may be , none but your self can see . but i will usurp no farther on your lordship's patience , than onely by begging your pardon that i have done it so far already . i am , my lord , your lordship 's most dutifull son and obedient servant . the preface to the reader . thou seest here that i have sent a short essay into the world ; and i doubt not but it will be an evident conviction to all sober minds of the presaging nature of comets . that which i have to say in behalf of the piece is this , that i never met with so much on this theme in any writer , whether english or latin , or of any other language . if i had , i protest to thee seriously i would not have troubled thee with this essay of mine . to be plain , if what is here presented be not the most rational and impartial , the fullest and best account that hath hitherto been given of the doctrine of comets , and of judiciary astrology , i am sure it is that which i intended should look something like it . nor do i pronounce this in ostentation , for i have considered the point it self , and i have likewise read other mens accounts . i may say with seneca , ( in the book where he purposely treats of comets ) that i have searched and enquired nec cum fiducia inveniendi , nec sine spe. i abandoned all confidence and presumption in this present inquisition , but withall i despaired not of attaining to true notions and sentiments in this matter . i hope it will not be looked upon as an unpardonable crime , that i have got out of the common road sometimes , or when i light into it , that i keep not pace with other travellers . i declare i am for a free and rational way of thinking and discoursing . i have a great fancy for rabbi achiva's advice , ne coquas in eadem olla in qua socius tuus jam coxerit , do not blindly adhere to what others have maintained . brag not of other mens inventions , but shew something of thy own . i might tell the reader that i have endeavoured to proceed with all caution and modesty , and have avoided the imputation which generally lies upon those who handle this subject , viz. their fond and idle way of pointing peremptorily at such and such particular events which shall certainly follow the appearance of comets . besides , i have in other things studied to deliver my self with all moderation , which i am sure will not be displeasing to those who are masters of reason and prudence . i could have said much more upon the subject . the reader may perceive from the numerous heap of particulars here inserted , that i might have spun this discourse into a far greater length , and swelled it into a larger size . i have hinted arguments , and contracted some topicks , which i could easily have enlarged . but i was unwilling to be tedious , and i had a mind the reader should rise with an appetite . as for the idle and envious , and such who resolve that none shall see any thing of theirs in publick , i expect that they should cavil at my endeavours . they that sit still and cannot afford to write , are the dreadfullest objectors , the sorest criticks of all . i have nothing to add now , but to bid defiance to them , and to wish the ingenuous and candid reader to doe so too . the absence of the authour hath occasioned the omission of these two clauses , which the reader is desired in his perusal to insert in the following places : viz. page . line . insert [ and , which is the greatest lustre and credit of this opinion , i find it espoused by that profound philosoper , and reverend prelate of this nation , the present lord bishop of sarum : he asserteth that comets are perpetual bodies , and that no new comets appear , but the very same which were seen before . ] page . line . insert [ and i might tell you here what a great light of our church and of astronomy saith in the conclusion of his excellent discourse concerning comets : taedet me divinationis in re tam incerta : i am weary of divining ( saith he ) upon this uncertain subject : all our philosophy here is but conjectures and surmises . errata . page . line . read manilius , p. . l. . r. iulius caesar scaliger , p. . l. . r. libertus fromondus , l. . r. assert . p. . l. . r. the force , p. . l. . r. conick , p. . l. . r. disquisition , p. . l. . r. turning , p. . l. . r. impostures , p. . l. . r. and assistant , p. . l. r. divinitùs , p. . l. ult . r. vacavi . cometomantia . a discourse of the original , substance , place , time , magnitude , motion , number , colour , figure , kinds , names , and more especially the prognosticks , significations and presages of comets . i have observed that some of late , who think they make no inconsiderable figure in the age , have bore up very briskly against that common and so long received opinion , that the appearance of comets is ominous , and ▪ portends some calamitous events to the world. they look upon this as a mere vulgar errour , and will not be persuaded that it hath any other foundation than the prejudicate fancy and imagination of the deluded people . i must freely profess my self to be one that hath other notions of this matter ; and having satisfied my self about it , i will try whether i can do the same to others : for i take it to be a laudable endeavour , and at present a seasonable one , ( we having so lately been allarmed by the sight of such glaring bodies in the heavens ) to propogate the sentiments which i have of this doctrine , and to reduce those that are mistaken to right apprehensions of it . four things then i design : . to enquire into the nature of comets , that is , ( as the title of this treatise gave it you ) their original , substance , place , motion , figure , ( which last contains the different species or kinds ) and whatever other circumstances and phaenomena belong to them , and from all these , and the different disputes , controversies and clashing opinions concerning them , to evince them to be extraordinary and portentous . . i will from the consideration of the true nature of causes and signs prove them to be both effectual and significant , and particularly that they bode calamities and evils to the world. . i will add the numerous suffrage of sacred and prophane authours to back my opinion ; for though i confess i never thought the cause of truth was to be decided by majority of votes , yet in this case i dare venture to put it to the poll. lastly , i will answer the objections which are brought to invalidate my assertion , and there among my replies to other cavils , i will purposely encounter iudiciary astrology , and soberly and impartially give my notion of it ; which if it prove not to be exactly adjusted to some mens measures , yet i hope it will be found to answer to the standard of reason , which i reckon to be much better . in the first place i am to enquire into the nature of comets : and here i must begin with the substance or matter of them . but behold ! ( as an eviction of what i have already suggested , and what will more evidently appear in the sequel , viz. the dubious and uncertain sentiments of philosophers and others about these bodies ) there were some of old who would by no means allow them to have any substance or consistency at all , but to be mere appearances : which is as much as to say , there are no such things in reality . this opinion is thus represented by seneca the philosopher , in that book which i shall have occasion often to cite , quidam nullos esse cometas existimant , sed species illorum per repercussionem vicinorum siderum , aut per conjunctionem cohaerentium reddi . they held that the phaenomena which are called comets , are caused by the reflexion or refraction of the beams of the sun , or moon , or the neighbouring stars , or by a conjunction of many stars together . they tell us at other times , that their production is the same with that of the rain-bow , the parelion , and halo , and that they are not distinct from those luminous bodies which they are near to . but certainly it is a great piece of philosophick folly to think that they are mere shews , and not of a real consistency . this might be confuted from several topicks , but especially from these two : namely , first , their duration , their constant and continued appearance for so long a time : whereas , if they were onely seeming and phantastick spectacles , they would not hold out ( as they do ) so many days , nay weeks , not to say months . again , if they were images they would not be seen alike , and in the same shape to all persons in what situation soever ; the angles of incidence must needs vary . but it is well known that they appear with the same figure in divers and distant countries to all spectatours : whence it is proper to conclude that they are real physical beings . well then , granting them to be substances , what kind of ones are they , spirit or matter ? some have had so high an esteem of comets , that they have ranked them among immaterial and intellectual spirits . pliny , the elder , in the second book of his natural history , and the five and twentieth chapter , ( which likewise i shall frequently quote in the following discourse ) acquaints us that the comet which was seen seven nights together after the assassinating of iulius caesar in the senate house , was believed by the vulgar to be that great man's soul received up into heaven among the number of the gods. eo sidere significari vulgus credidit caesaris animam , &c. the same is testified by suetonius and plutarch , in the account which they give of caesar's life and death . nay , this was not onely the conceit of the roman rabble , but the said pliny tells us , that democritus , who one would think should have laughed at this among the other follies of mankind , espoused this persuasion , viz. that comets are the souls of deceased heroes . and ( to see how taking such dreams and whimsies are with some heads ) bodinus seems to be hugely pleased with it , and is very inclinable to believe that those blazing lights are the souls of brave men departed , and carried up to heaven , and there triumphing . i might suggest here ( as somewhat relating to this purpose ) that the transmigration of souls into stars was an ancient ethnick dream , and so might be the occasion to some of thinking also that departed spirits ( if very brisk and generous ) mount aloft , and presently turn into coments , and in those fiery mansions display their pristine vigour and mettle . others , though they hold them not to be souls of men , or departed ghosts , yet they forsake not the notion of their being spirits : that is , they maintain that they are spirits of a lower rank and quality , near of kin to the finest and subtilest matter : thus i remember the high-flown chymist asserts them to be a certain compound of spirits , but what he means i am not so skilfull an adept as to understand . this only i apprehend , that he , and much more those who make them to be irradiated souls above , exalt the nature of comets too high . it is enough that they are of the order of corporeal beings . and being so , it will be asked in the next place . what are the materials of these great streaming bodies ? are they of terrestrial or celestial matter ? which of these two are they , earth or aether ? here likewise philosophers are divided , and cannot agree on their verdict . aristotle and his partisans declare , that they are of earthly extraction , and no other than meteors , raised from great heaps of dry and viscous exhalations . many of the stoicks are pleased to side with the aristotelians , and generally all those that hold them to be bare meteors , and to be placed under the moon , say they are of a terrestrial origine . but here again they are subdivided , for some maintain that they are earthly matter inflamed : thus the great aristotle , and some late astrenomers , as regiomontanus , a groat promoter of all mathematical and astronomical studies ▪ and that learned frenchman piso , and others , hold that comets are set on fire by the rays of the sun. whereas others , as heraclides ponticus of old , and some of late will have them to be subtile and diaphanous matter exhaled from the earth into the air , and there , by reason of the sun-beams which they receive into them , enlightened and made bright , but not enflamed . but that comets are of earthly original , though it was credited of old , and by a few of the moderns , yet it will hardly gain belief at this time of day . it is now generally asserted , that most of them are above the moon ( of which you shall hear more anon : ) and if their seat be so high , it will be difficult to persuade men that they were exhaled from the earth . it is impossible so much matter should be amassed together as must serve for a comet , which is of so great a bulk , and lasts so long as some of them have done . it the diametre of some of them be four times , nay , of the larger sort of them , be ten times greater than the earth , ( as one who was professor of mathematicks at leyden hath calculated it , the earth and sea cannot afford matter enough to make one of them . this opinion then being exploded , another is to take place , according to which the chaldeans among the ancient philosophers , and the moderns generally , as cardan , tycho brahe , galilaeus , des cartes , and many others , affirm that comets are constituted of celestial matter . but alas ! though they agree in this in the general , yet in the particular explication of it they are found to dissent from one another ; for it is hotly disputed whether these unusual lights are bred from the effluvia of all the planets , or from the sun alone , or from the other stars . hevelius the learned professor of mathematicks at dantzick undertakes to decide the controversie by avowing that they are made of the effluvia and evaporations of both erratick and fixed stars , but especially of the sun , there being so great an exhalation of matter from this vast body , that it is able it self alone in one year to make innumerable comets . so that according to this gentleman , these uncommon sights in the heavens are so far from being wonders , that it is rather a wonder , and against the course of nature , that they do not always and in numberless companies appear . an assertion unworthy of so acute and ingenious a philosopher ! for he renders the most glorious luminary of heaven , and that which is the master-piece of all the works of the creation , the most irregular and monstrous body in the world , whilst he would offer this to our belief , that whereas by its natural make , it ought to afford matter for infinite comets , yet it perpetually acts contrary to its frame and constitution , and produces not one comet sometimes in twenty years . in my judgment this is but mean philosophy , and it can never prove good astronomy , though i have otherwise a profound respect for that worthy person , who by his excellent and elaborate writings hath both merited and purchased a great name and repute among all those who are addicted to mathematical studies , and hath particularly obliged the virtuosi in england by communicating his notions to them with so much freedom . thus i have in some measure shewed the disagreement of the learned tribe about that part of the doctrine of comets which respects their original , whence i shall afterwards prove them to be extraordinary and presaging : but it is little i have hitherto effected ; i must hasten to dispatch what is yet behind of the same argument . let us then ask these men of skill , what were comets before they appeared to us in this shape , and under this name and character ? our great mathematicians and philosophers are at odds , as to this point . if you enquire of the famous monsieur renatus des cartes , ( that man of france who was as great a reformer in philosophy as calvin , his country-man , was in divinity , he whose philosophy was so taking and charming , that a wise queen quitted her crown to be at leisure to study it , ) this great man tells you they were fixed stars ; for his hypothesis in brief is this , that those fixed lights have their maculae , or thick matter , which he calls the third element ; and being freed from these , sometimes some of them come into view , and go for new stars ; but being over-run by them , they are absorped into another vortex , and become comets . so that comets are fixed stars first incrassated , and then apostatized . this is the noble romantick philosopher , who mingles heaven and earth together , or rather , confounds one with the other ; and he that could imagine this earth of ours once to have been a sun , may be pardoned if he presents us with such a notion of comets as you have heard . others are very vigorous in defending them to be planets , or wandring stars , but distinct from the seven celebrated ones , ( for they hold that there are more than those which are ordinarily reckoned . ) the dogmatists of this persuasion were the pythagorean philosophers of the italick sect , the chaldeans ( as stobaeus relates , ecolg . physic. c. . ) hippocrates , diogenes , phavorinus , epicurus , lucretius , &c. and of late cardan , the noted physician of milan , fracastorius an excellent professor of the same faculty in verona , fienus , vallesius , ( l. . de philos. sacr. ) and some others . these , i say , contend that they are planets , that is , that they are thick , dark , opake bodies in themselves , and that they borrow all their light from the sun. and herein the learned hevelius agrees with them , who will not allow comets to have the least light of their own , but they receive it all , as other planets do , from the great source of light , and propagate it to us by reflexion , as is the guise of planets : and hence he gathers ( and consistently enough with his own hypothesis ) that the tails of comets must needs be made by the sun , of which i shall speak immediately . and the french philosoper before named , though otherwise a dissenter , strikes in here , and declares that they receive all their light from the sun , and in that resemble planets . you must know likewise , that , according to the judgment of the forementioned philosophers , these planets or comets ( call them which you please , for it is come to that ) have existed always from the first creation , but have been hid in the heavens for a time , and at length come into view . they seem to us to be new , but they are really of the same date with the first origine of all things . seneca lets you know this was his opinion , non existimo cometen subitaneum ignem , sed inter aeterna opera naturae a comet is a temporary planet , in regard of the people to whom it appears , but otherwise it is from eternity , supposing the world ( as that philosopher doth , but falsly ) to be so . a comet is a wandring star , that after a certain revolution wheels about , and comes into sight : after it hath lost it self a great while , it finds its way into our hemisphere . it is a planet that hath gone incognito a long time , and hath been seen by none but the sun , if our natural philosopher represents it aright : sunt qui haec sider a perpetua esse credunt , suóque ambitu ire , sed non nisi à sole cerni . they come into our sight after a long circuit and risque , and then vanish , and retire to those remote places where they were at first . and there i leave them and proceed . according to the assertion last propounded , comets are single planets not before known , seen and observed by us . now in the next place you shall see that another pack of philisophers will not suffer them to be single stars : no , they must be several stars or planets intermingling their lights . the patrons of this were zeno , anaxagoras , democritus ( even that democritus who held they were the souls of heroes ; for you must take notice , that one philosopher may hold two or more opinions of the same thing , ) these would needs have comets to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a coapparition of divers errant stars together , viz. when they seem to touch one another by reason of their neighbourhood ; as the great stagyrite hath presented us with their doctrine , l. . meteor . c. . or as seneca more briefly ; comets according to them ( saith he ) are conjunctio cohaerentium siderum , ( nat. qu. l. . c. . ) a club of many stars : and plures stellae quae currant , many stars running into one , nat. quaest. l. . c. . or , according to the astronomical poet , subjuncta sidera , marilius , l. . astron. another thus , a comet is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a synod , or an assembly of stars joyning their light together . plutarch . de placit . philos. this , it seems , was the sense of that historian who gives an account of a comet of a dreadfull aspect which visited the eastern part of the world in the year . and he expresseth it thus , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , &c. a great company of stars ( saith he ) was gathered together , and the light which came from them all with great violence made up one huge flame , which appeared in the likeness of a sword. some of the moderns undertook to solve the phaenomenon of a comet after the same manner , as cysatus professor of mathematicks in the university of ingoldstadt , and licetus a philosopher of genua lib. de novis astris & cometis . after the rate of these mens astronomy a comet is an association or fellowship of stars , which seem to be but one star , because they stick so close to another . it is a congeries of numberless lights which lovingly mingle their rays together , and so make as it were one long stragling star. this hath some affinity with their fancy who think a comet to be a kind of galaxy , and perhaps they might borrow their conceit from father of philosophers , who treats of the milky circle and comets in the same chapter , and seems to solve one by the other . from what hath been said it is evident that it is not agreed among the knowing and curious , whether comets be fixed or wandring stars , and if they be of this latter sort , whether they be single , or several ones . that they are not a congeries or heap of stars is excellently well proved by one who treats on this theme designedly : and i am clearly of the judgment that it may as substantially be demonstrated that they are no stars at all . for weigh the nature both of the planets and fixed luminaries , and you will find that comets have nothing of their qualities and properties . it is not the nature of either of those kind of stars to be greater at first , and then to decay and dwindle , and at last to be extinct , or ( as some few comets have been , as seneca and pontanus report ) to be little at sirst , afterwards to grow greater , and at length to lose both their greater and lesser bulk . this never was of the constitution of stars : nor have comets any thing of the motion or other properties of stars ( as i shall shew afterwards , ) and therefore i cannot discern how they can properly be called , or thought to be stars . having thus far spoken of the original matter whereof comets are thought , according to the different genius and sentiments of men , to consist , i come now to consider their place and situation , though i have intimated something already of these , and it was necessary to doe so , because their original and place are so nearly related and depend upon each other . but i will now treat of this more designedly , and from the wondrous variety and inconsistency of opinions concerning comets i will advance to prove that they really are and ought to be reckoned as prodigies . and first let us attend to those who place all comets below the moon . these are the peripateticks , and many of the stoicks ; and they are followed by philosophers and mathematicians of later time , as regiomontanus , iunctinus , fracastorius , iulius caesar , scaliger , claramontius , and several others , whose persuasion is this , that comets are sublunary meteors , i. e. exhalations mounted up to the upper and highest region of the air , and that there they hover , and at last are set on fire and blaze . but certainly we might be brought off from imbracing such a tenet as this , by considering , that if comets were meteors , they would jump and skip here and there , as other meteors are observed to doe ; and they must needs be subject to such a motion , both because they are often driven with the wind , and because they cannot but be set on running and leaping by their own fire . such considerations as these have mov'd divers great philosophers and astronomers to reject the aristotelian way , and to enter upon another more probable and rational . they think it a degrading of comets to thrust them down into the elementary region , and therefore they have universally agreed to exalt them above the moon . this was practised before aristotle by the old chaldean and pythagorean philosophers , by democritus , anaxagoras and zeno ; and after their time by the judicious seneca , and since that by the acutest and most discerning moderns , as cardan , tycho , galilaeus , keplar , longomontanus , cartesius , and great numbers of other learned men. they prove their point by the paralax , which is the diversity of sight , or change of aspect , or the difference between the true and seeming place of a star or any other thing hanging in the region above us . this in all the comets that have been observed by them was lesser than that of the moon ; ergò they are above the moon : for it is certain that that body is by so much the more elevated from the earth , by how much the lesser its paralax is , as the greater this is ▪ the thing seen is the nearer ; and on the other side , the lesser this is , that is the further off . and for this reason the ingenious french philosopher places comets in the liquid aether , between the regions of the planets and the fixed stars , because ( saith he ) they have none , or an unspeakably small paralax or variation of sight to those divers spectators that look on them at the greatest distance . i know the greatest astronomers have differed about the doctrine of paralaxes , whereof the incomparable tycho brahe , and that noble italian philosopher and mathematician claramontius , are a famous instance . the renowned galilaeus , iulius scaliger , and bodinus laugh at the proof which is brought from the paralax . and a skilfull person of late , who undertakes to be umpire between the aristotelians and tychonists , concludes peremptorily that there is no mathematical demonstration for comets being above or below the moon . but it may be they mean no more than this , that paralaxes are uncertain , or rather , that the taking of them truly and exactly is extreme difficult , the instruments are not every way good ; and several refractions which happen may hinder the just sight . and now one would imagine there should be no farther disagreement than this , that some comets are above , and some below the moon , some in the heavens , and others in the air. but we shall find it otherwise ; for a third sort acquaint us , that the very same comets are sometimes below and at other times above the moon : so christopher clavius , libertus , fromondus , licetus , resta , caboeus professor of mathematicks at genua , bulialdus that eminent gallick astronomer , and particularly the sagacious kepler asserts that a comet may come down from the aether into the air. though it was generated above the moon , yet there is good reason to believe that it may fall down ; and such a one was that which appeared a. d. . and eclipsed the whole body of the moon , as the histories and catalogues of comets inform us . such was that which was seen at christ's nativity ( if it were a comet , ) and such was the famous sword-flame which appeared over the city of ierusalem a year together . we are sure that two of these were sublunary comets . some comets then are situated as aristotle saith they are , and whilst the astronomers , that came afterwards , endeavour to prove the contrary , and that all the comets that ever appeared are celestial , this attempt of theirs is to be looked upon as an extreme on the other hand . it is enough to say that most comets have been high and lofty ; and indeed it was fit they should be so , that the world might take the greater notice of them . as i hope i convinced the reader before , that the generation and production of comets is a difficult search , so from what hath been since delivered , i doubt not but their situation and place appears to be of the same quality . so perplexed are these points , that no less than a douzen opinions are reckoned up by a modern astronomer concerning the matter and place of comets . there is still another great difficulty to be considered , and that is the motion of comets , which by all astronomers is look'd on as extravagant and unaccountable . whether these bodies take their journey in a direct line , or a circular one , and arch-wise ( as the planets ) is disputed by them ; and at last it is commoly said , that the way they take is transverse and oblique . you may hear them cry out very despairingly , that they imitate neither the motion of the sun , nor other settled luminaries , but are perfectly sui juris , they take their own course , and that commonly is very unnatural . some go on directly in the true course of the zodiack , but others run through it backward , as bodinus ( theatr. nat. l. . ) and hevelius ( prod. comet ) observe . and not onely one comet differs from another in its motion , but oftentimes from it self : nay , sometimes it remains fixed in the same place , and stirs not one way or other ; which our naturalist so often alledged takes notice of , when he saith , moventur autem alii errantium modo , alii immobiles haerent , nat. hist. l. . this onely is observed , that though some at one time or other have moved to all the points of the heavens , yet they generally and usually veer by their own proper motion towards the poles . but why they appear rather without the tropicks than within , and why they make their passage through boötes , and the great bear , and for the most part are seen about the poles either southern or northern , but especially the northern , and why they do not shew themselves in the height of the heavens ; these are all unaccountable , that their motion may be answerable to all other things observed in them , and that there may be some proof made of what i have undertaken , viz. that comets are an irregular and anomalous sort of lights set up on purpose in the heavens to invite the inhabitants of the earth to behold them , and to bid them doe something more than that , as i shall shew afterwards . but the main thing that puzzles is the figure which comets appear in , the affrightning brush or stream which they shew . first , how came they to have any such thing at all ? and , secondly , how comes it to pass that this stream or blaze is always opposite to the sun ? and after i have examined this , i will speak of the more particular figures or several species of comets . first then , what philosophy can give an account of the flaming brush which issues from them ? but here , before i pass any farther , it must be remembred that astronomers speak of three sorts of comets : . that which they call the hairy one , viz. when the rays are spread on all sides alike , and are equally in a circle expanded , like the hair of a mans head. . that with a beard , which is when a comet emits its rayes towards that part of the heaven to which it moves . . that which appears with a tail , viz. when its beams are extended towards that part of heaven from which it recedes : or the difference between the bearded and tailed comet is onely from the different aspect to the sun : the one shewing itself before the sun riseth , looks towards the west ; the other appearing after the sun is down , turns its stream eastward . i know some make the distinction otherwise , namely , as to the erection of the figure , it is like a beard or mustaches ; and as to the depression of it , or hanging down , like a tail. but the old dictatour of philosophy reduces those three kinds into two , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . a comet ( saith he ) is generated according to the figure and shape of the exhalation which is drawn up by the sun : if this be set on fire on all sides alike , and be exactly round , then it is properly called a comet , or hairy star ; but if it be extended in length ▪ then 't is a bearded one : and this comprehends under it all the blaze and stream of light which proceeds from comets , call it beard , or tail , or what you please . the former of these ( which aristotle saith is the true comet ) is seldom seen , and i do not remember that i ever read above two or three instances of it . the latter is the more known and celebrated kind , and may , by that great philosopher's leave , be properly called a comet , according to the true etymology of it expressed by the poet , flamma comas imitata volat , tenuésque capillos . now it may deservedly be asked , what is the reason of this strange figure ? why do not comets appear to us round , ( be they flat or disciform in themselves , as some imagine , that is not much to the purpose , but ) why do not the whole bodies of the comets appear to be globous , as all other stars , both fixed and erratick , seem to be ? what makes those differ from these ? why are the rays and splendour of a comet carried further than that of other stars ? why sends it forth such stragling beams ? since the figure of all stars is globular or sphaerical , what causes a comet ( if it be a star ) to be of a long figure ? why do not all other stars shoot out such streams as this ? i desire not to make difficulties , but certainly these questions have not been solved to the satisfaction of any diligent and curious enquirer . such reasons as the learned have suggested i will set down , and i am confident that it will be made clear from them , as from all other things appertaining to comets , that they are a sort of phaenomena which were made to puzzle the world , and that their strange nature signifieth to us their more strange events . i am to let you know then , that , according to the different hypotheses taken up , some write , that the tail or beard is part of the comet ; others on the contrary as stifly maintain , that it is not part of it , but is onely the rays of the sun shot through the comet 's head. first , it is said , that the tail is part of the comet , or ( as seneca represents apollonius his judgment ) the long tail is the form of this kind of planet : the body of the star is made of this figure . but , according to aristotle , i. e. if it be a peripatetick comet , the head of it is supposed to be troubled with fumes and vapours , and these being over-heated by the sun , are set on fire , and so the tail is no other than the flame of the burning meteor . but seeing a flame by its natural lightness tends upwards , why is not the tail of every comet exactly erect ? for they suppose comets to be low , and their flame to be seen in its just proportion , whereas the fixed stars and others are not supposed to appear shaerical , because of their vast distance from us , which confoundeth all distinction of figures . one very astronimically skill'd solves it thus : the flame of the comet ( saith he ) doth not move directly upwards , and appear erect because of the solid orb above it ; ( for he believes these comets with tails or beards are in the concavity of the orb of the moon : ) hence the flame is forced downwards , just as the flame in an oven or fornace , beaten from above , strikes towards the sides . but if it be so , how happens it that the flame is not seen on both sides or ends , but onely on the hinder part of the comet ? how comes that part which is next to the sun to be always without a train or stream ? the flame of the comet is driven by the wind towards one side , as we see plainly in torches when the wind blows , so the peripateticks give an account of the tail or bush of a comet . but if it were caused by the wind , then there must be always a great wind stirring as long as comets appear , and the blaze of these would increase as that increases ; but i never read that any such observation was made , and we know by experience that calms have accompanied the appearance of comets , whatever violence of weather happened afterwards . besides , if the long train were occasioned by the wind , it would also disappear when the wind is allaid . moreover , the wind hath not blown from the same point of heaven all the time of the comet 's appearing . and that it should doe so to all comets is yet stranger : you may as well say , and maintain it , that the wind is ever in the same corner . but , after all , if i should add , that comets are above the wind , as it is hugely probable they are , then this way of solving the difficulty is quite overthrown . in short , according to the aristotelian hypothesis of a comet being a heap of inflamed exhalations , i do not see how the tail can be made out ; for this being a flame , and lighter and rarer matter than the head of the comet , it should tend upwards in the form of a pyramid , as it fares with all other flames . again , such a heap of viscous vapours must needs burn on all sides , if it be equally kindled , and then the long train is spoiled : or if the matter doth not burn equally , then certainly there where the fuel is most capable ; and how can that be supposed to be always just opposite to the sun ? but if the wind cannot solve the phaenomenon the sun must : accordingly kepler , gassendus , and others say , that the tail , being of the same matter with the head , onely more rare and subtile , is driven and thrust by that force of the suns rays towards that part of the heavens which is contrary to the sun. it was soon seen that this thrusting and shoving of sun-beams was a very precarious notion ; and therefore the most judicious astronomers go another way to work . they abandon their opinion who think the tail belongs to the substance of the comet , and is a flame issuing from it , and in stead of that they defend this for truth , that the tail or beard is no other than the beams of the sun transmitted through the diaphanous head of the comet . this is embraced by cardan , longomontanus , scaliger , and that famous triumvirate of astronomers , tycho , kepler , galilaeus . if these say true , the transparent body of the comet is illuminated by the solar rays , and the sun , thus shining through it , and causing a various refraction and repercussion of light , makes that splendour which we call the tail or tresses of a comet . in order to this they fancy the body of the comet to be like a globe or ball of glass , which by its diaphanousness imbibes the beams received from the sun , and those beams passing through it appear on the reverse of it . such a kind of trajection or striking of the sun's rays through the head or body of a comet , is the cause of its beard or tail. but this will not clear the point ; for then the tail should not be of that figure it appears , but of a comick one , as the rays appear behind a glass-ball , viz. broad towards the glass , but narrower and sharper the other way . but the trains of comets appear otherwise , they being large and wide at the cuspis , or end , but lesser and more contracted towards the head of the comet . thus the laws of opticks and the rules of perspectives will be indangered if we tie our selves to this hypothesis . besides , this is attended with other insuperable difficulties ; for if the comet be diaphanous , where are the suns rrays terminated , and by that means reflected to us ? there ought to be some opake matter to stop the rays , and so to reverberate them to us . say that by the transparency of the head of the comet the sun's rays are transmitted , and so the train is in a fair way to be made , yet there is required moreover an opacity to receive and turn back those rays to our eyes , that we may see them . this is done , if tycho brache's saying so will suffice : the rays of the sun ( saith he ) passing through the comets head meet with some matter in the aethereal region which is darkish , and so reflects them back to us : thus the blazing stream is produced . but , first , this supposes thick and opake matter in the aether , which ever before passed for pure , subtile , and perspicuous . then , suppose there were such matter in the aethereal regions , yet if this reflexion were from the aether , why are we so long without comets ? for in that impure aether , which lies behind the comets , the beams are reflected constantly . likewise , if the beard of a comet had no other production , it would be spread not onely towards that part of the heavens which is directly opposite to the sun , but on every side . and this also leads me to enquire after an answer to the other question i started , viz. why the bush or main of the comet always turns it self from the sun , and consequently if it appears before sun-rising , it points towards the west , and if it be seen in the evening it stretches itself towards the east , sometimes directly , at other times with some deviation more or less , either northward or southward ? i having invalidated that tenet of the suns beams passing through the head of the comet , and being reflected to us from i know not whence , there can no solid reason be given of their direct opposition to the sun. and then as for those who say the comets propagate and transmit such a glaring light to us by reflection ( as all the planets do ) from the sun , ( for according to hevelius , and some others , the head and tail of comets are dark bodies , ) it is certain that if they borrow all their light and blaze from the sun , there is yet a more desparate and forlorn account given both of the tail of a comet , and of its opposition to the sun , and then also the moon , and saturn and all the other planets would be bearded or tailed . i might now enquire into the different species , the various 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ( as the philosopher calls them ) of comets . for this stream which i have been discoursing of is not always of the same configuration , but hath appeared in divers shapes and resemblances . these several species are set down by an ancient astronomical poet in a very elegant manner , and by a philosopher almost as ancient , ( i mean him whose treatise of comets i have occasion often to use ) who reckons up twelve several species of them , nat. hist. . l. . c. but i foresee it will be more proper to enlarge on this particular when i come to the next general head of this discourse , where i shall handle comets as real signs . in the mean time i will entertain the reader with some other matter which is pertinent to our business , and which will give him a further insight into the nature and quality of these marvellous appearances , and serve to advance the knowledge of such as are inquisitive searchers into the works of god. of the number of comets somewhat may be said ; i will give you the sum total of the catalogue which baptista ricciolus hath made , and that is . for so many comets had appeared in the world from years before christ's nativity to the year of our lord . his catalogue reaches no further either backward or forward ; but hevelius takes a wider compass , for the comets ( saith he ) recorded by the historians , or philosophers , or others , from the time of noah's floud ( of what was before that , he pretends not to give any account ) to this day ( and he writ his cometographia in the year ) are in number . it is not unlikely that some others have appeared , and even from the beginning of the world , as when god cast adam out of paradise , ( of which anon , ) but they have not been registred and transmitted to the notice of posterity . that which i shall observe to you is this , that many of these comets , and others that appeared since , have fallen to our share in a short time . we have seen five or six of them in less space than twenty years . for , not to go back so far as the year . when four comets appeared one after another , ( some or all of which are discoursed of in the writings of the greatest astrologers of that time ) we can with ease remember the years . and . both which are memorable for the dreadfull appearances in each of them , but they are the rather to be mentioned by me now , because they are most signal instances of the direfull events which insue comets , if such a pestilence and fire as presently after happened may be styled so . afterwards , in the year / ; , we were visited with another comet , and again , in ; and lately , in this present year . these in so short a time , in less than the space of eighteen years , are very notable . if i prove that these strange lights are boding , ( which i am hastning to ) i cannot see but that we shall be very much concerned . i might add one word of the time , which is another apendage or circumstance of the doctrine of comets . it hath been observed that they appear indifferently at all times of the year , the spring and fall , summer and winter , as is evident from the tables of comets which are extant , which agrees with that of seneca , non magis certum est illis ( i. e. cometis ) tempus quo appareant , quàm locus ullus ultra quem non exeant . cap. . but the autumn generally is the time of their appearing , say the most astronomers : but if you demand a reason to be rendred of it , it will be impossible to offer one that is satisfactory , especially if comets be acknowledged ( as they have been for a considerable time ) to be situated above the moon , and even among the highest planets ; for earthly exhalations cannot mount in a short time to so high a place . so that it is in vain to enquire into the reason of the time , as well as other circumstances , of their appearance . i could say something also of the colour of comets , for history is full of variety here , representing some as pale and wan , others as darkish and cloudy : some as golden or yellow , others , as silver like , bright , clear , and so transparent that stars have been plainly seen through them : some of a ruddy complexion , and bloudy , and fiery , others of a leaden and livid hue , all differing according to the mixture of more or less light. lastly , the smell as well as colour of comets hath been taken notice of ; and this hath happened onely then when they have hung hovering near the earth ; an instance whereof historians give us in that comet which was seen a. d. . in which they acquaint us that a strong and sulphureous smell was felt . and thus i have , in pursuance of the first task i set my self , enquired into the nature of these heavenly bodies : i have particularly considered their origine , make , figure , situation , motion , and the rest of the phaenomena appertaing to them . and i may with confidence aver in the close of all , that he who sees not how difficult , if not impossible , it is to unriddle the nature of comets , sees nothing in philosophy and the nature of things . what contrary accounts do philosopher give of them ? those that will not wholly grant the efficacy and operation of comets , must , whether they will or no , confess their influence in this , that they have caused grievous wars and feuds among astronomers , who ( we see ) are engaged with great vigour against one another , and in the conclusion purchase nothing but obscurity and uncertainty . the variety of their opinions , and the interfering of some of them with themselves , undeniably prove to us , that the things they search into are rather to be admired than explained . i think i have at one time or other read a good round company of authours that treat of comets , and i could never yet find that the most knowing and judicious among them are confident and peremptory in the asserting of their hypothesis about them : no , they unanimously acknowledge their ignorance and shallowness , they own themselves to be non-pluss'd , and have no other esteem and apprehension of these strange sights than of things most wonderfull and astonishing . one of the greatest natural ( as well as moral ) philosophers that ever the world bred , speaketh in the beginning of his book of comets after this manner concerning his intended disposition of comets : quae an vera sint dii sciunt , quibus est scientia veri . nobis rimari illa & conjecturare in occulto tantùm licet . he pretends not to science , but contents himself with bare guessing . and ( in the same book ) he gives this reason of it , quàm multa praeter hos ( i. e. cometas ) per secretum eunt , nunquam humanis oculis orientia ? neque enim omnia deus humanis oculis nota fecit quota pars operis tanti nostris oculis committitur ? the great governour of the world hath thought fit to hide many things from us , and amongst them the account of these phaenomena is one . more particularly he ingenuously confesses , that that of the tail or bush must be attributed to the nature of comets , ( so he expresses it , ) and ( as he explains himself ) to causes which are occult to us . though others have thought they have been able to solve these phaenomena , yet our great philosopher was not ashamed to confess his inability , and therefore he chose to resolve them into some secret virtue and wonderfull power ; which also made him style a comet novum è coelo miraculum . tycho brahe , allied to the chief nobility of denmark , but more related to generous truth , speaks thus , cum iis non invitè sentio qui cometas intra naturae secreta nondum explanata reponunt , eósque ex occultis causis provenire asseverant . comets are rightly ranked in the number of those secrets of nature which are kept close to this very day , and it is very rational to believe , that they are the products of hidden causes . both this excellent astromer , and another clebrated mathematician , whom germany boasts of , frankly acknowledge the shallow notices they have of these bodies , and , like true philosophers and christians , confess , that the wonderfull works of god surpass man's profoundest knowledge . and hear the faint words of that admirable astrologer , who is so famous for his several learned treatises , quia quantum volo non possum , liceat ergo quantum possum proestare ; since i cannot , by reason of the difficulty of the performance , make what discoveries i would about the nature of comets , i will sally out as far as i am able , though i know ( alas ) my attempts will be very feeble and imperfect , where the subject i treat of is so lofty and arduous . what saith that modern meteorologist ? ego cometas in maximis & abditissimis naturae miraculis pono : if any one would know ( saith he ) what account i make of comets , i declare , that i rank them among the greatest and most hidden miracles of nature . and after he had been rendring a reason of the tails of comets , and refuting other mens opinions , he complaineth that he remains unsatisfied , and that such lank accounts would rather starve than satiate an inquisitive mind , haec tamen non omnino mihi mentem implent , sed abeundum tamen jam est vel semifamelico . and speaking there of other phaenomena of the beard or tail , he concludes at last most devoutly and ingeniously in these words , sed quàm neque hoc , neque quicquid aliud prospicio , mihi intellectum in tranquillo ponit ! ite nunc , mortales , & acie illâ divina rimamini & penetrate , quam unius etiam cometae barba vobis hebetat & obtundit . neither this hypothesis , nor any other , that i ever met with , yields me satisfaction . how then can ye , fond wretches , pretend to search , and even pierce into divine mysteries with that sorry wit of yours , which you see one hair of a comet is able to blunt and turn the edg of ? and so he goes on to confess and bewail the defects of philosophy and our understandings . another writer , on the same subject , talks after this rate , haec quidem possibilia sunt , sed non nisi divinando determinari possit qualiter de facto res se habeat : perhaps this way of explaining the nature of cometh is not altogether impossible , but in my mind there is no man can directly tell us how things really are , unless he had the art of divining . a late astronomer , in imitation of the great men before cited , reckons comets inter arcana mundi , & abditissima naturae miracula : and in the same place he makes bold ( and yet with a great share of modesty ) to say , that god propounds this splendidum aenigma nunquam solvendum : he puts this riddle to the world which no philosophy will be ever able to explain . this subtile jesuite , who had set down and examined whatever others had writ concerning the production of a comets train , and its turing it self constantly from the sun , as if he despaired of solving the difficulty in a philosophical way , at length betakes himself to this freak , viz. that the face of the comet is turned towards the sun like an heliotrope , or as one face of the loadstone turns it self to one of the poles . would not one imagine that he might as well have said , to solve all , that the head of the comet had brains , and knew when it was to face about ? there is another who refers the business to a secret antipathy between the rays of the sun , and those of a comet , insomuch that these latter are , as it were , afraid of the former , and consequently flie away from them . but the jesuite grows more sober afterwards , and finding , after all his exquisitive searches , that the doctrine of comets was obscure and unaccountable , at last he ascribes the make and whole regimen of them to god , or some intelligences ; and in the close of his learned tractate of comets he ends thus , in re adeò incerta liceat tandem nobis ex hoc labyrintho si non exire , at certè evolare . it is impossible ( saith he ) in such a perplexed maze as this , to find my way out fairly and orderly ; and therefore i hasten to get out how i can . you hear in what humble and despairing language they utter themselves . and it is certain , that the persons who speak after this manner had great insight into philosophy , and were the chief favourites and confidents of nature . it had been an easie thing for them to have pitched upon an hypothesis , and gone through with it against all opposers ; and they had credit and authority enough to back what they had a mind to avow . this was not the course they took , but they suspended their judgments , and nothing but mighty dissatisfaction and amazement appear in their writings ; and instead of being positive and decretory , they confessed themselves silenced and puzzled . these great dictators in philosophy would not be found in this odd posture , if the matter of their disquisition were not some thing extraordinary and wonderfull , nay , if every thing in these bodies were not rare and astonishing : which is a demonstration that they were set up in the heavens on purpose to call our eyes to them , that they were designedly placed there to create wonder , and to be taken notice of , and that they are the amazing finger of god to the world. but though the wisest and subtilest heads were backward in giving an account of the natural philosophy of comets , yet ( as you shall be convinced afterwards ) they are plain and peremptory in delivering their opinions concerning the effects , ends and events of them , the consideration of which is my next , and indeed my main business . having then dispatch'd our enquiry into the matter , figure , and other properties of comets , i am to shew you in the second place , that they carry in them the true nature of causes and signs , or ( as others are pleased to word it ) of operative and indicative signs . some have stifly denied both these , but i doubt not but i shall make it evident to any considerative man , that they lie under a great mistake . i assert then that comets signifie both naturally and arbitrarily , that is , in themselves , and likewise by divine institution . whether you consider them physically or theologically , they are certain indications and signs of future evils . to prove them to be causes or operative signs i will treat of them first physically , and here i will offer to you these two things ; . that they have a connexion with the nature of the things produced . . that they are plain representations and resemblances of the things signified , as signs ought to be . first , i say , they have some agreement and connexion with the nature of those things of which they are said to be omens . and it is necessary that this be cleared unless we will step directly into magick and divination . the things which lead us to the knowledge of future events must have a natural connexion with the things they are said to point at , or else they may justly be reckoned to be vain and fantastick : as tully excellently proves the vanity of the gentile divination from this , that those means which they used , as the bowels of animals , the chattering of birds , and the like , had no cognation and alliance with the fortuitous things , the knowledge and foresight of which they pretended was acquired by them . he shews that there is not any consent or sympathy between these things , and thence concludes they are cheats and impostors . and so here , it may be justly asked , are future evils produced by comets as by their proper causes ? what certain connexion is there between those calamities and these apparitions , so as that we should be able to gather from these , that such effects will assuredly follow ? we are certain that the philosophers of old thought there was some affinity between them , and that comets were both signs and causes . it is vouched by them once and again , that great and vehement winds , and excessive drougth , are the physical effects of these appearances . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , if they appear often , they portend winds and drougth . and immemediately after , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , if they be frequently seen , the years are remarkably dry and tempestuous . our philosopher in his natural questions is of this persuasion , and observeth , that after comets ( and he gives particular instances ) great and continued tempests ( accompanied with earthquakes ) followed , as the natural effects of them . and not onely the ancient , but modern sages aver the same . thus the learned kepler , ( lib. de cometis ) and cardan ( lib. de rerum varietate , l. . c. . ) prove the natural effects of comets , and the latter of these is not confuted by his acute opposer , ( scalig. exercit . . &c. ) according to these it is no uneasie thing to make it evident , how by the extraordinary and hurtfull heat which is produced by a comet , both when it is in sight , and after its extinction , several other evils are caused in a natural way . from the air and earth being infected , how easie a consequence is there of barrenness and unfruitfull seasons ! if it once be admitted that comets distemper and inflame the air , and exhaust the succus of the earth , it will necessarily follow , that a barren soil , and the corrupting and blasting of the fruits , must be the products of them : and from these will naturally ensue dearth , scarcity and famine . and , as the inevitable effect of both , we must expect sickness , diseases , mortality , and more especially the sudden death of many great ones , because these are sooner and more easily hurt than others , for their delicate feeding , and luxurious course of life , and sometimes their great cares and watchings , which weaken and infeeble their bodies , render them more obnoxious than the vulgar sort of people . hence it is that comets may deservedly be said to presage the death of mighty monarchs and princes , to be funeral torches to light kings to their tombs . and because by their noxious and infectious irradiations , mens bloud is apt to be heightned into fevers and calentures , and all malignant distempers , and even into the most contagious diseases , the consequence of a raging pestilence from a comet is very easie and natural , if not almost necessary . thus it is plain , that the greatest and most dreaded calamities have a dependence on these prodigies , and are the real and physical effects of them . and whereas it is objected , that the effects of comets ( as they are presented to us by those that treat of them ) are contrary to one another , this is soon answered ; for that there should be contrary effects from the same cause is no unusual thing in philosophy ; wherefore great inundations likewise ( no less than drought ) may be the product of these causes ; for that intemperate weather which the flames of comets beget , causeth an extraordinary heap of vapours and exhalations to be drawn up , which form themselves naturally into clouds , and those clouds in a short time must needs fall down in excessive showres and immoderate rains. and it might be shewed also that great calms , as well as storms and tempests , cold and frost , no less than extreme heat , may be the effects , i. e. secondary effects of the same cause . moreover , it is no hard enterprize to shew how comets are the causes of civil and political , as well as natural events . for from what hath been said before , viz. that they portend the death of princes , it follows , that they probably bode great changes and vicissitudes in kingdoms , in reference to religion and other matters ; for history abundantly informs us , that these are oftentimes the consequences of a new prince's succeeding in the throne . besides , from the inflamed spirits of men , caused by a distempered air , wars and tumults , broils and seditions naturally proceed . so that comets have been the causes and forerunners , not onely of great storms and concussions in the air , but of turbulent and tempestuous seasons in the state , of confusion , massacres , slaughter , bloudshed , and mischiefs of all dimensions , both at home and from foreign quarters . these have been thought , by men of sober philosophy , to have been the significations and presages of comets . i will sum up all their dire effects in these plain verses which i lately met with : dira cometarum proles pestisque famésque , seditio , regum foedera , vincla , neces . excidium patriae , ventorum praelia , morbi insoliti , caedes , funera , nulla fides . dissidium nubis , tremulae telluris hiatus , fulgetra cum tonitru , fulmineaeque faces . aestates siccae , aut nimio mox imbre madentes , externo infuso milite vastus ager . dira locustarum volucrúmque examina , regum translata hostili sceptra videnda loco . abdacti ex patria populi , civilia bella , diluvia , & pecorum non abolenda lues . when once a direfull comet spreads its train , contagious deaths , and pining famine reign . monarchs make leagues to render empire sure , sedition now keeps gaols and deaths in ure . countreys are sack'd , impetuous storms arise , and bodies feel unheard-of maladies : slaughter grows bold , faith seeing this expires ; the heated clouds disclose their inbred fires , and now by sympathy in thunder groan , th' earth quakes and trembles at the dismall tone . heaven mourns in scorching droughts , and then again despairing weeps in lavish showres of rain . a foreign foe in glittering arms appears , and dries up the poor remnant of our tears . the airy region then displays its host of scarce-known fowls which hover o'er the coast. see next how sceptres here and there are hurl'd , and regal globes are tost about the world. some are led captive to a foreign strand , whilst wars at home afflict their native land. great deluges come next : and ' cause the fate is vniversal from a comet 's date , not onely men but beasts must in it share : hence rot and murrain are the cattels fare . such effects as these may be expected from those causes ; and i do not see why they may not be called physical events , since they proceed from those as from natural causes and agents . nor doth the eminently knowing kepler dissent from this , though ( when he speaks of the comets , that appeared in the years , and . ) he holds they are the causes of disorders and calamities here below , by a certain kind of sympathy which the sublunary elements have with the heavenly bodies : for notwithstanding his expressing himself after that manner , he means no other than what aristotle , ptolemy , cardan , and others , did , viz. that there is a natural connexion between comets and those evils which are seen to ensue them ▪ though it must be granted that these portentous sights are not necessary causes , i. e. those dismall effects do not certainly and infallibly follow them : one is not necessarily and always the product of the other , ( of which more hereafter . ) but that which i say , and i think i have proved , is this , that they are commonly chained together like natural causes and effects , and that the natural power of those causes is able to produce , and generally doth actually produce such effects ; and this is enough to prove them to be true causes . secondly , they are ( as signs ought to be ) plain representations of the things signified . we may learn from the very make of comets what they are designed for . their figure is representative of that which is meant by them . sometimes they display themselves in the shape of besoms , as if they taught us by that homely embleme , what we ought to doe , viz. to remove our defilements and pollutions , not to say , as if they were sent to tell a nation that they shall be swept away and destroyed for their sins . how often ( without any help of fancy ) doth this prodigious light appear in the likeness and proportions of a rod , to acquaint us that it was designed to correct and discipline a froward people , and that we ought to submit to it's pedagogy ? when we see it at another time representing it self like a torch or flambeau , how can we think otherwise than that it is sent to give more light to the dark world , or if it despise that , to shew that it deserveth to be burnt up ? i know that all this will pass with some for mere moral reflexions or divine fancies . it will be said that some devout fools will make things to be like any thing they please . but then i desire to know whether the old pagan philosophers were a sort of religious fools , whether seneca and pliny ( whom i have often brought on the stage , ) especially the latter of them , whose writings let us understand he was one of those fools who say in their heart there is no god , whether these , and all the profound astronomers who have writ of the figures of comets , and did it not to exercise their fancies , but to display their judgments , whether these , i say , were religious and fancifull fools ? untill this be answered i proceed . who knows not that these strange flames appear most commonly in the shape of military weapons , and instruments of war and bloud ? you may see one appear like a dart or arrow ; another like a lance or spear ; a third bowed like a warlike horn or trumpet ; as it were to sound an allarm from heavens a fourth in the figure of a sword , a known weapon of bloud and slaughter . the head of this last represents the hilt , and the train the blade of the sword , which sometimes is streight , and sometimes like a falchion . several of this sort have been seen in the world. it is very probable that that at the beginning of things , i mean that flaming sword which turned every ways at the entrance of paradise , belonged to this species . indeed this could not have been better expressed than by the original 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and by the version of the seventy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; especially with the addition of the adjective 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 anceps , bipennis , two edged , representing a sword which cutteth both ways , i. e. both the sides of that comet 's tail were alike , and of equal make : and whereas the text saith that cherubims were placed at the entrance of paradise , it lets us understand that angles were particularly administring in shewing this extraordinary prodigy , and perhaps for this reason among others these ministring spirits are called a flaming fire , psal. . . this comet ( as it is the nature of them ) produced barrenness ; the earth ( according to the curse ) brought forth thorns and thistles . this likewise presaged all the other sad and deplorable effects of our first parents expulsion out of paradise . such a sword-comet appeared in the year of our lord , or , being the first year of the emperour vespasian . it hung over ierusalem a whole year before it was taken and sack'd by titus , as one who was an eye-witness of it assures us . but lest that should be thought to be god's peculiar and singular ensign , and not to be parallel'd , or to be made use of in the present case , ( as some will not permit us to alledge this instance of ierusalem's comet , ) i will produce some others , and the most remarkable i have read of are these which follow : a terrible xiphias , or sword-comet , appeared when the civil war between octavius and mark antony began , which was years before christ's birth . another of the like figure shewed it self a. d. . or ( as others ) . in the reign of theodosius : this appeared days , and was a little before valentinian was slain , and eugenius invaded the western empire . such another flaming sword was seen over the city of constantinople , about the year of our lord . this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ( as the historian calls it ) was so great , that it reached from the horizon to the zenith . nicephor . eccl. hist. l. . c. . and of this likewise speak other historians . this happened when the so much dreaded gainas , the barbarous and tyrannical commander of the gothes , brought the gothish army into thrace , and miserably wasted the greatest part of greece , and was about to encompass constantinople , and take it . an ensiformis , but of lesser size , appeared days in the year , or . before persia was taken by the saracens . these were no fantastick shapes , such as the feigned images and iconisms of the constellations of the dog and bear , &c. but they were real and substantial , and no man need nourish any lavish fancy to make out these shapes and resemblances ; from which we may certainly infer that they are truly significant and presaging . i must confess that gaffarel ( in his book of curiosities ) and cornelius gemma ( de nat. charact. divin . ) are too fantastical in their interpreting the figures of comets , and too punctual in determining the effects from such likenesses and shapes . but , as i am no slave of these cosmocriticks , so i must needs profess that it is irrational and impious to disregard the finger of god in the peculiar shape of some comets , because some idle writers have indulged their fancy and humour , and have shewed themselves conceited in the account they give of the figures of comets . thus far i have considered these heavenly bodies naturally , and as they are in themselves : now it remains that i treat of them theologically , as they are by divine appointment and institution rendred significative . it is the pleasure of the great moderatour of all things , ( and that is sufficient ) that these should be set up as signs . and this is acknowledged even by those who will not be brought to confess the former . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . the heavenly bodies are not constituted causes , but signs of wars , saith a religious man. future occurrences are discovered by these heavenly lamps , non naturali causarum nexu & ordine , sed dei natu & auxilio , saith another . nego cometam ( saith fromondus , meteor . l. . c. . ) calamitatum physicam causam , non nego tamen signum ex institutione divina esse , quam omnium temporum historia affirmat . but i will make it plain , that both these are very consistent , and that the consideration of comets in both these respects is rational and accountable . we may treat of them not onely as natural philosophers , but as pious men and christians . i know god sometimes speaketh to the world by supernatural signs , without making use of second causes , and even against the course and order of nature . these are divine signs onely ; but now i am speaking of such as are natural signs and causes , i. e. produced in a natural way wholly or partly , and are physical causes of such and such effects , and yet are divine signs likewise : for it may be worth your observing , that the same things may be natural causes and effects , and yet divine tokens . the rainbow signifies the covenant between god and man , and therefore is styled the token of the covenant , . gen. . but withall it is a meteor that hath a natural production , and the cause of it is made out by philosophy . fire and brimstone from heaven burnt up the lewd sinners of sodom and gomorrah , and yet when i reade in gen. . . and in profane writers , that these cities were near to many pits of slime , and fat and pitchy clay , i can well conceive also how that dreadfull conflagration was carried on even by natural causes , how the fire broke out of the earth to meet that which rained from heaven , and consequently how the destruction of those places may partly be attributed to the nature of the soil , and the combustible matter it afforded . the tower of babel was without doubt demolished by the signal hand of the almighty ; yet it may be true which iosephus relates , and after him eusebius , that that great pile was thrown down by a tempest and extraordinary force of wind. with which agrees the sybil's verse , — 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . — in elias his time the drought which happened in syria and iudaea , was a calamity which is wont to be produced by natural causes , and from it naturally followed a famine ; but both these were peculiar signs of the divine anger , and by these god shewed his wrath against the sins of the people . the thunder and lightning which were procured by samuel were in harvest time , ( sam. . . ) which is supposed to be a warm season , and therefore according to the natural course of things a fit time for that sort of meteors ; yet we know that they were designed to be marks of god's displeasure and anger . and the holy scripture informs us how at other times god hath created awe and terrour by them . the jews received their law in thunder and lightning , and on other occasions were affrighted into a remembrance of their duty by the same means . the voice of thunder rouzes some stupid souls into the serious belief of a divine power . coelo tonantem credimus iovem . nothing in nature leaves such impressions of fear as loud and repeated thunderclaps . some emperours who were in a manner atheists , ( and notwithstanding that ( which is strange ) made themselves gods ) yet used to tremble at this horrible allarm from heaven , and to confess a greater power than themselves , which is as much as to disown their self-divinity . this made caligula get under his bed. and tiberius , another of iupiter's brothers and fellow-gods , was glad of his chaplet of laurel to secure him from lightnings . these few instances above named are sufficient to convince us , that the same things are not onely natural causes or effects , but that they signifie by god's appointment . and this may be applied to comets , which as they are produced themselves in a natural way , viz. from a collection of matter in the heavens , though after some uncertain and unaccountable spaces of time , so they produce effects in the same natural course : and yet god uses them as tokens of his wrath , and appoints them to be divine signs , and to bode extraordinary things to come . which was the sense of one of the writers of the byzantine history . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . the comets ( saith he ) which are seen in the air are produced in a natural way , yet withall they proclaim the deaths of kings or other illustrious personages : and for this he quotes st. basil the great . from which it is evident that the same things may have certain and manifest causes in nature , and are likewise appointed by the authour of nature to presignifie future events , so that it is possible not onely to attain to a physical knowledge of them , but a kind of divination . but my main business at present is to make good this latter , and to prove that comets are signs of future calamities ex instituto divino , that it is god's will and pleasure they should signifie such things . in order to this i will onely premise that god gives notice before-hand by evident tokens what he intends to doe afterwards , supposing there be no prevention by amendment of mens lives . this is the meaning of the whole sixth chapter of the book of the revelation , which is an account of the opening of the seals , and sets before us the forerunners of the iudgments which were to follow . and though it is presented in the way of a vision , yet if mens eyes were open it would be seen to be the usual method of the most high in the world. accordingly i aver , that comets are warnings and harbingers of god's wrath and displeasure against the wickedness of mankind , and also of the effects of that displeasure , which are some ensuing calamities . they are undeniable arguments that there is some great disorder in the world , and that things are exceedingly amiss . they are signal testimonies that sin and vice are predominant ; for these are the onely things that provoke god to anger . now those prodigious appearances in the heavens are fitted to this purpose , ( viz. of allarming us , and giving notice of ensuing evils ) because they are both unusual and affrighting . first , as they are rare and unusual , they are serviceable to this purpose . for it happeneth , it seems , by the make , or rather the perverse disposition of humane nature , that what is common and frequent , and according to the ordinary course of things , is slighted by us , and thence it is necessary that we should sometimes be surprized and extraordinarily moved by objects that are rare and uncommon . sol spectatorem nisi cum deficit non habet . — si quid turbatum est , aut praeter consuetudinem emicuit , spectamus , interrogamus , ostendimus . adeò naturale est magis nova quàm magna mirari . it is an ecclipse that makes the sun to be gazed at . if we espie any thing that is strange and out of order we presently stare at it , we start many queries about it , we point at it , and shew it to others . so natural a thing is it become to admire what is rare , rather than what is great . but the appearances we are speaking of are both rare and great , and therefore doubly deserve to be taken notice of , and to be made the subject of our deepest admiration . worthily did our philosopher begin his book of comets with those excellent words , nemo usque eò tardus & hebes & demissus in terram est ut ad divina non erigatur , ac totâ mente consurgat , utique ubi novum aliquod è coelo miraculum fulsit . he must be a sot indeed , and sunk into the very earth who doth not lift up his soul to god , and what is divine and heavenly , as soon as he beholds such a miraculous apparition as a comet . again , these great bodies are affrighting , and that on a double account . first , the rarity of them ( which i before spoke of ) makes them so . for to what purpose are these unusual spectacles shewn by god to the world ? to what end are these strange shapes set before us ? there are innumerable lights of heaven of an entire round figure which we constantly behold , but what mean these which appear but seldom , with fiery scrolls or flaming labells issuing from them ? it is downright sottishness to think that these are set up for vain shews and useless sights . it is unworthy of providence to defend this . but it is highly reasonable to think that they are appointed by god to affright and terrifie the world , to denounce future judgments , and to forewarn men of the wrath to come , and to let them expect the emptying of the vials of god's anger upon them . secondly , their posture and figure , ( as hath been partly suggested already ) render them terrible . they have such a frame and shape given them by god as is apt to stir up fear and dread . you have read in what images they appear : and though i know it may be said that there are other shapes ( besides those i mentioned ) which are not danting and affrighting , yet , as those bodies themselves are irregular and monstrous , and of a figure different from all the luminaries of heaven , they are on that score terrible . and you may remember that all the phaenomena belonging to comets ( of which i have given a particular narrative ) breed an unspeakable amazement and consternation . wherefore are these strange lights hung up so high in the great and spatious theatre of heaven , but that all eyes should behold them , and tremble at them ? in short , the eternal being looks angrily upon the world in the blaze of a comet . if it be asked why god gives warning of future calamities by such harbingers ? i answer , he doth it , . that men may expect and provide in time against those unhappy events . and the mercifull governour of the universe bids us by such monitors prepare for his judgments , either by making our selves ready to receive them with patience and contentment , or by what wise expedients we can to guard and defend our selves against them . appositely whereunto saith the byzantine annalist , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . god indulges to men certain signs by which they may have a prospect of what shall be , and so by that means consult their safety when the storm cometh : according to that remark of the wisest head , a prudent man foreseeth the evil , and hideth him self . or , . we are admonished by these heavenly nuncio's wholly to prevent and divert the evils which are threatned . and this is to be effected by humble prayer and supplication , by repentance and turning unto god. these celestial prodigies are purposely set up by the omnipotent creatour to fright the wicked out of their sins . they are admonitions to them that they should not indulge their pride , lust , oppression , covetousness , profaneness , and that they should not think because of their greatness and riches to goe unpunished . as often as a comet appeareth , a solemn fast and humiliation should be observed , devout and earnest prayers should be put up , to divert the storm from falling on our heads , and that utter confusion and destruction may not be our portion . pope calistus , above years agoe , ordered the litany and publick prayers to be solemnly said several days together , merely upon the appearance of these signs . the nicest protestant may safely follow this order , i mean , have recourse to his prayers upon the same account . a christian divine cannot have a better text to preach repentance from then a comet . hence he may with a becoming warmth and zeal invite men to amend their ways , and to be reconciled to the incensed majesty of heaven , and so to flee from the wrath and vengeance which otherwise would fall upon them . this finger of god beckoneth from heaven to call us thither . these signs above are to make us better who are below . they are sent for the sake of the good , even the wise virgins , who are sometimes inclined to slumber , and to be forgetfull of their duty : for the sake likewise of the worst and most secure sinners , who run greedily into all excess of riot , and refuse to be reclaimed by the usual means which are afforded them . such wretches may haply be startled out of their security , and have their eyes opened by these unusual and strange flashings of fire from above ; these flames from heaven may be serviceable to keep them out of hell. if this sounds like popular preaching , and be counted pulpit-harangue , i will be cantent to sit down a while ; and let us hear what kind of doctrine a lay-astronomer ( and he one of the most accomplished and judicious that this latter age can boast of ) will deliver on this subject . thus he preacheth on the comet that appeared in the year . affirmo cometam hunc à deo inter sidera exhibitum , ut esset testimonium universis & singulis mortalitatis suae , utque admoneantur decretum esse deo brevi bonam generis humani partem promiscuae conditionis , quacunque fati lege , ex hoc mundo transferre . — monere itaque coelestem praeconem ut pro se deo quilibet reconcilietur , migrationi se paret . the sum of this great man's astrological theology is this , that the appearance of comets , those celestial heralds and criers , is for such weighty purposes as these ; namely , to remind men effectually of their mortality and unsetled duration of life , to acquaint them that it is the design of heaven in a short time to snatch the present inhabitants out of this world , and to translate them to another : and therefore that all ranks and conditions of men are concerned to fit themselves for their departure , and to make their peace with god before they go hence . what an admirable funeral discourse doth this christian astronomer make on a comet ! let us hear another sermon on the same text , a text which i have already , and shall yet farther prove to be the word and voice of god. thus then i will give you in english the sense of what you may reade in another language of that modern glory of mathematicks , comets ( saith he ) are ordained by divine providence , that we should lift up our eyes to heaven , and admire god in his visible tokens there , that we may be invited to a dread and reverence of the divine majesty , by beholding such wonderfull and unusual signs , that we may daily expect some great thing in our own and other countreys , and provide for such tidings ; that we may , by the fear and awe of god wrought in us , betake our selves speedily to repentance and a holy life : and lastly , that hence we might have some representation and specimen ( as it were ) of the sign of the son of man , and of those terrible wonders in heaven and earth , which shall precede the coming of christ to judgment . lo ! what excellent divinity a comet affords ! how devoutly do these sons of vrania discourse ! but you do not hear them talk thus of the sun , moon and stars , the ordinary and leiger luminaries of heaven . no : they know there is a vast difference between them and the other extraordinary heralds that make their appearance to us . these are made for other uses and purposes , and as they are fatal in themselves , and in their own nature , so they are signs set up by god ex instituto , to foretoken future evils . but how can we certainly know that comets are appointed for such purposes ? if they are divine signs , where hath god told us so ? i answer , god speaks to and instructs mankind not onely by his written laws , the sacred scriptures , but by the dictates of reason , by the course of nature , and by acts of providence . god speaks by these as well as by his word . these are plain intimations of his mind , and hereby he is used to discover to us what he would have us doe or forbear . i may know god's will and pleasure by the order and frame of things which he hath constituted in the world , and by the frequent results and consequences of them . from the consideration that comets are of a peculiar make and figure , and in all respects different from the other heavenly bodies , and also from the general and perpetual observation that they prove fatal to countries and kingdoms , ( as kepler , and several other eminent persons have observed , and particularly set down the publick miseries and calamities which have insued in divers nations soon after the appearing of comets : and the history of all ages hath given abundant proof of it ) from these considerations i am sufficiently authorized to look upon them as god's hand . i am forced by this to take notice of the divine pleasure and design in them . but if any one shall still urge the question , and ask me , where are we told that these comets and prodigies are divine signs ? i answer , we are told so directly in the infallible and holy book , by one who was an accurate observer of the works of god ; thou hast given ( saith he ) a banner ( or ) a sign , a token unto them that fear thee , psal. . . thou , o god , who are mercifull to all mankind , but in a special manner to those who fear and serve thee , art pleased to give warning of approaching evils , and as it were to hold up a signal , that thy servants may be admonished to avoid the impendent danger , even when hardned sinners are overtaken and crushed with it . such a banner was that which appeared to constantine the great , presaging , as victory to his army , so confusion to that of his enemies . such a signal and token is every bearded light that sheweth it self in the heavens , though 't is difficult to bring some prejudiced minds to believe it . i answer again , that the scripture expresly abetts this doctrine in the th of deuteronomy , where moses , or rather god , threatens the people , that if they will not observe to doe all his commandments , all these curses shall come upon them , viz. scarcity , famine , drought , pestilence , sword , blasting , &c. now these calamities are the signs of god's wrath , for they are denounced and threatned here as such : whence it undeniably follows that the causes and procurers of them , which i have proved comets to be , are no less the signs and marks of the divine displeasure ; for no rational man can deny , that the cause here must be of the same nature with the effect : so then these menaces and threatnings in scripture prove those appearances to be significative , and that they are appointed by god to portend evil tidings to the world. you see then what it is i defend , viz. that comets are signs of approaching calamities , and monitors of god's anger to mankind . if upon some difficulties which might be alledged , i should be induced to wave the one , yet i persuade my self the other is impregnable : but i have proved both , especially the latter , which i most insist upon . and i may lawfully , without being over-bold , conclude from the premisses , that these extraordinary lamps of heaven are presages of future evil , and that god hath instituted and impowered them for that end . i have now dispatched my second task , and in that i have partly prevented my self as to the third which i propounded , which was to shew what abundant suffrage my assertion hath from all ranks of writers . but now i will purposely pursue that undertaking , and i will be the shorter in it because i have done so much towards it already . that it may appear then that i maintain no paradox , and that i dote not on an opinion by my self , i will let you see that what i have offered concerning the presages and dreadfull effects of comets , is the sense of the wise and judicious ; and if authority be an argument , we must needs close with the side i have taken . let the poets stand forth first , who were the earliest philosophers , naturalists , astronomers , nay , the first divines , and therefore competent judges in the case . the prince of poets ( and therefore i will begin with him ) enumerating the several prodigies which fore-signified the death of iulius caesar , and the civil wars which afterwards followed , makes this remark among the rest , — nec diri toties arsere cometae . never so many cursed lights were seen before to plague the nights . and in another book , — cometae sanguinei lugubrè rubent . — these comets blush in gore to think what deluges of bloud they drink . marcus manilius , an ancient poetick astrologer who lived in caesar augustus his days , and dedicated his books of astronomy to him , relates the dismal effects of comets in the close of the first book of his excellent poem , nunquam futilibus excanduit igninibus aether . with lights of such a fiery train the heavens never burnt in vain . and then he proceeds to particularize the horrid effects of them , squalidáque elusi deplorant arva coloni et steriles , &c. — and afterwards , quin & bella canunt ignes , subitóque tumultus , et clandestinis surgentia fraudibus arma. it would be too tedious an employment to transcribe all , or to translate any thing in that place . the affrighting and fatal nature of comets is excellently deciphered by silius italicus ( who flourished in vespatian's time ) in these words , though he brings them in by way of comparison , crine ut flammifero terret fera regna cometes sanguineum spargens ignem , vomit atra rubentes fax coelo radios , & saevâ luce coruscum scintillat sidus , terríque extrema minatur . as when a comet with its flaming beard appears , at which the fiercest realms are scar'd , scattring abroad its bloudy fire , and soon the heavenly torch being more dismal grown vomits out deeper-coloured flakes , and then , having disgorged thus , clears up again , and shines with brisker but more cruel light , threatning the world with death and its last night . though i know some will have this spoken of three several sorts of appearances , and they hold that a comet cannot be said scintillare ( as fixed stars do , ) according to that of cornelius gemma , nullus cometarum unquam visus est scintillante lumine visum ferire , sed tristis semper & lugubris tranquillo effluvio . but i onely reply that poets do not speak like philosophers . the same person relating the prodigies that foreran the horrible slaughter at the battel of cannae , speaks directly and positively . — non unus crine corusco regnorum eversor rubuit lethale cometes . see! sholes of comets their bright tresses wave , blushing to send whole kingdoms to their grave . another giving an account of the portentous sights that appeared before the civil wars which happened between caesar and pompey , adds this black character of a comet , — crinémque timendi sideris & terris mutantem regna cometen . lo ! at it s wild dishevel'd hair kingdoms run mad , and statesmen stare . i might add claudian's , — cometes prodigiale rubens . — and again , et nunquam coelo spectatum impunè cometem . and tibullus his — belli mala signa cometen . that likewise of another astronomical poet , apparere solent , regalia fata , cometae . a comet in the heavens burns to light great monarchs to their vrns. i might add to these a piece of venerable antiquity , viz. part of the sybills verses , ( now they may deservedly be called oracles ) which speak of the signs and presages of future distresses . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . look what strange lights do mount the hemisphere , and in the skies what bearded flames appear ; sure omens ever of a labouring state , of bloudy battels , and a hostile fate . and in another place , ( l. . ) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . what can these blazing tapers else portend , but sword , and famine , and the fatal end of some great warriors , who are wont to call and by bold actions court their sudden fall ? i conclude this rank of authours with that plain determination of some ancient sage , now scarce known , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . there never yet a comet shone but evil followed thereupon . but perhaps it will be said that poets are a fancyfull sort of people , and for that reason are not much to be heeded . they talk of men and women turn'd into stars , and indeed they have a gift of extolling persons to heaven when they please . they will make a head of hair a constellation , as they did berenice's , and what will they not then doe with the shagged locks of a comet ? we know what they have done in that case : they have represented them ( as they ought ) fierce and terrible , and though they cloath their matter in verse , yet they are as serious as any prose . if it be said that they speak according to the sense of the vulgar , ( whom it is their work to please , ) and therefore are the less to be attended to , i answer for them and my self together , that though i do not find my self inclined to be led by popular humour and caprice , yet i see no reason to reject and explode an opinion because it is common , and hath had the general suffrage of mankind to vouch it . this should rather prompt us to embrace it with the greater seriousness , and induce us to believe , that what hath thus gained the universal vogue of the world , is certainly founded on some clear deductions of reason which are common to the whole race of men. but i will pass from the poets to others who are thought to be of profounder judgments . expect now no fancies and raptures , but solid and judicious determinations . to begin with the great oratour and philosopher , he backeth the prince of poets , acquainting us that in the civil war between octavius augustus and mark anthony , it was observed that comets were the harbingers of the miseries that then befell them : stellae quas graeci cometas , nostri cincinnatas vocant , nuper bello octaviano magnarum fuerunt calamitatum praenunciae . cicero . l. . de nat. deor. and in the same place he leaveth this serious memoire for posterity to consider of , that this is a truth which hath been confirmed by various examples ( many of which he instances in ) from all antiquity . next let us hear the two excellent natural philosophers who writ purposely of comets ( if i may once again bring them in to testifie in this cause , after i have done it so often . ) a comet ( saith pliny , l. . c. . ) is terrificum magna ex parte sidus , ac non leviter piatum . a star ( so he calleth it ) which in a huge manner terrifies and astonishes the world , and never goes off without great mischief . and he sheweth the truth and experience of this in the foregoing age and in his own . take seneca's thoughts in those few but plain words , nat. qu. l. . c. . cruenti quidam , minaces , qui omen post se futuri sanguinis serunt . some comets ( he would have said all , but that his master nero was not to be offended , as you shall perceive afterwards ) are very cruel , and threaten us with the worst of mischiefs : they bring with them and leave behind them the seeds of bloud and slaughter . next , let us look into a few historians , and see whether they were of the same mind . the comet which was seen in nero's time is thus mentioned by one that writes his life , stella crinita , quae summis potestatibus exitium portendere vulgò putatur . but this being an account onely of the vulgar opinion , let us hear him speak his ownsense ; which he doth in another place thus : praesagia mortis ejus praecipua fuerunt exortus crinitae stellae , quam cometen vocant . the chief and most considerable presage of the emperour claudius his death was a comet which was observed to rise in the heavens . the ecclesiastical historian gives us this note upon gainas ( that bloudy arian ) his beseiging constantinople , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . so great was the danger which hung over the city , that it was presignified and portented by a huge comet that reached from heaven to earth , the like to which no man ever saw before . what saith another in his relation of a comet which appeared before the death of iohannes tzimiscas the emperour of the east ? 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . it foreshewed the death of the emperour , and those immediate calamities which were to befall the roman dominions by reason of their civil wars . and of a wonderfull large comet that was seen in the reign of constantine , sirnamed monomachus , he speaketh thus , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it portended calamities that were to befall the world in a short time after . shall i set down here the memorable words of anna comnena , that learned lady , the daughter of alexius , the greek emperour , whose life she writ , and call'd it alexias ? she , speaking of a great comet that was taken notice of before the breaking in of the galls upon them , thus delivereth her sense : 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . this happened ( saith she ) by the usual administration of providence in such cases , for it was not fit that so great and strange an alteration of things as was brought to pass by that coming of theirs should be without some previous denunciation and admonishment from heaven , alexiad . l. . and this noble female historian tells us , that all the enquiry then of spectatours was , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; what evils doth this new light in the heavens come to warn us of ? what strange tidings doth this messenger from above arrive with ? let me adjoin the remarkable words of machiavel , that great master of history and policy , who thus speaks of comets , vt ut se res habeat , experientiâ certè compertum habemus talia signa sequi solere magnos aliquos motus . however it cometh to pass , so it is , that we have it vouched by experience , that some great commotions are the consequents of such signs as these . disp. l. . c. . now i will produce professed mathematicians and astronomers who have maintained the presage of comets . and not to name claudius ptolemaeus , the prince of astrologers , who flourished about years after christ , and settled this doctrine in the , , and aphorisms of his centiloquium ; i will onely make use of such as are enemies to the judiciary part of astrology , and some of whom have professedly , writ against it . such a one was the admirable tycho brahe , who yet denieth not the presage of comets , it being irrational ( saith he ) to think that god and nature shew these unusual lights to no purpose , and that they are of no use to the world : and accordingly he sets down his conjectures and prognostications of the new appearances then in the heavens . onely he condemns those who are peremptory , and imagine their conjectures to be infallible , and in the close of the first tome of his progymnasmata ( where he delivers this ) he laments the weakness and shallowness of our knowledge concerning the stars , much more of those that are extraordinary luminaries . i forbear to transcribe the words of another modern astronomer , a learned dane , and contemporary with the assistant to the noble tycho . you may consult his appendix ad astronomiam danicam . a third great ornament of mathematicks his few words to this purpose are very observable . writing concerning the new appearance in , it a mihi persuadeo ( saith he ) stellam illam vel tunc à deo opt. max. procreatam esse ut magnum aliquod portenderet , quod cujusmodi sit adhuc ignoratur . which though , it is confessed , was not spoken of a comet , yet it is sufficient to discover the sentiment of that profound astronomer , as to the presaging nature of vnusual sights in the heavens , and particularly of the bearded lights we are discoursing of . a fourth learned mathematician , who writ of the comet that appeared a. d. . and saith little there in favour of the significancies of those phaenomena , yet at last he shuts up with these notable words , it is not my design , notwithstanding what i have delivered of comets , to reckon them as vain scare-crows and bugbears , but let there be , for all me , this opinion fixed in mens minds , that there are portended by them great evils and calamities , whereby god ( who hears and sees what we doe , and is both judge and avenger ) is wont to revenge the injuries which are done to him . i could give you several passages ( savouring of a christian philosopher ) out of the works of that learned professour of mathematicks in maidenberg , who commented with so great credit on the second book of pliny's natural history : take that short one thus , ideò perterrefacti & attoniti spectamus cometas quia tot seculorum observatio testatur magnas clades orbi terrarum , excidia civitatum , regnorum mutationes , & alias publicas calamitates per cometas denunciari . there is good ground for the usual behaviour of men as to comets , for they have reason to gaze at them with so much terrour and astonishment as they do , because it hath been proved by a large induction of experience and observation , that they denounce great slaughters to the world , sacking of cities , subversion of kingdoms , and other publick disasters . i will adjoyn also the suffrage of the skilfull in theology , who cannot be denied to be competent judges of these heavenly objects . one of the ancient and most renowned fathers telleth us that a comet foresignified the death of constantine the great ; and he proceeds to pronounce more generally , that as often as those rare spectacles visit the world they are the signs of the succession of kings , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . and another speaks home to the point , saying , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . when we see a comet or bearded star , we know thence that the invasion of enemies , or the destruction of cattel , or a great mortality among men are approaching . those venerable lights of the primitive church , tertullian , augustine , chrysostome , professed they were persuaded that these new appearances are immediately sent by god as fore-runners of some dismal effects ; but i forbear to set down their particular words : and the rather because i am sensible that the ancient fathers are little regarded by our youthfull opiniators , who are wont as rudely to pluck at these reverend beards as at those of comets . i will give these men a taste then of some divines of latter times . besides what hath been already alledged out of the writings of the learned professor of divinity at lovaine , this may be added out of the same authour , that the end and design of all comets is comminatio divinae manûs & flagelli imminentis , , a threatning the inhabitants of the earth with some wonderfull stroke and scourge which they shall in a short time feel from god's hand . an honest preaching frier will tell you as much in an astrological essay of his , where he admires the sottishness of those persons who cannot be brought to an admiration of comets , and will by no arguments be persuaded of a truth which shines so bright , viz. that these extraordinary bodies bode disasters to the world. another modern clergy-man of great note ( and who might also have been ranked among the mathematicians ) delivers his sense after this manner , ista quidem quae rariùs eveniunt , neque ratis ac descriptis intervallis existunt , ut cometas , igneas effigies armorum , ac reliqua ejusmodi , arbitror signa esse malorum ingruentium divitùs , & ex alto edita ad perterrendos & commonendos homines — non temerè creduntur crinita illa sidera certis temporibus ostendi divinitùs , velut ex alto signa quaedam impendentium malorum , cujus rei plenae sunt historiae . nec is sensus est mathematicorum tantùm ac divinaculorum , sed etiam piorum & gravissimorum hominum , quos omnes ( ut de vulgi tam altè conceptâ opinione taceam ) falli ac decipi , non est asseverare prudentis . the attestation of this person is the more considerable , because he was a professed enemy not onely to genethliacal predictions , but to all other astrological divinations , which he undertakes to confute in the d tome of his dogmata theologica , book . chap. . the import of his noble testimony is no other than this , that these rare and unusual bodies , which have no set and periodical time of appearing , are certain signs of future events . it is no rash and groundless belief that these are on purpose set up on high to be as it were beacons to give notice of some imminent danger , and to be looked upon as significations of very dreadfull occurrences . this is confirmed by the history of all ages , and this is the sense not onely of judiciary astrologers , and such as pretend to divination , but of the most godly and serious heads , who certainly make a considerable number in the world : and no man in his right wits will say that all these ( not to speak now of the vulgar ) are deceived , and conspire in one grand errour . i will offer you the words of a late learned italian divine , professour of ethicks in padua ; they are these : it is assured ( saith he ) from the known experience of all times , that whensoever comets appear , they portend some changes , slaughters and calamities , but the cause of such things is not easily assigned , nor hath it been sufficiently searched into by any . and afterwards , when he had enumerated several comets which appeared in divers foregoing ages , and had assigned the particular fatal accidents which were portended by them and presently broke out , he concludes in such general words as these : in every age of the world comets have been observed to give notice of publick and common evils which were forthwith to follow them , nor is it necessary or expedient to quote the particular annals of all times to make this farther evident . and the suffrage of this learned church-man is the more to be valued because the design and aim of his whole book is to invalidate the presages of all other heavenly bodies ; so that it was the mere conviction of reason and truth that made him except these , and declare that they are really portentous . thus you hear what poets , oratours , philosophers , historians and politicians , mathematicians and divines have said of this matter . i have one testimony more to add , and it is of a person , who was all these , i had almost said , more than these . for though he was no divine by function and profession , yet how vastly accomplished he was in the study of theology and the scripture , his works have proclaimed to the world. and it is as well known how excellent a poet , oratour , historian , statesman , &c. and how great a master of reason and all usefull learning he was . this man , who was himself a prodigy ; thus gives us his thoughts in few but decisive words concerning these wonderfull ostenta we have been treating of , solent magnas rerum conversiones praecedere cometae , gladii ardentes , aliáque signa ejusmodi . comets , and fiery swords , and such like signs are wont to be the fore-runners of great changes in the world . i have done now with my testimonies , and truly i am heartily glad of it , for i affect not to muster up the writers , and to see authours stand in rank and file . i know that good sense will defend itself without a bead-roll of learned names . but it was necessary on this occasion to heap up quotations , because those of the contrary opinion are pleased to brag of their authours . but i hope it will now appear that all the world is not of their side , and that the assertion which i maintain is not onely the sense of the many , but of the grave and wise , the sober and judicious , and those whose sedate judgments over-rule their imaginations . men of all studies agree in this ; humanity and divinity concenter here ; heathens and christians , the popish and the reformed , and some of every persuasion are heard to declare that comets are supernatural signs , and were appointed to terrifie and admonish this inferiour world , and to be precursors of approaching miseries . but that which i most mind , is , that we have on our side the ablest judges and best advocates of this cause , for such i reckon the truly pious and vertuous to be . i have observed both in mens studied writings and ordinary speakings , that those who favour this point are generally found to be persons of a greater inclination to piety and goodness than others are . they seem to have minds more divinely enlightned , and more inwardly touched with the sense of religion and the providence of god in managing the world. and who are they that defend the contrary ? commonly ( i do not say always ) they are men of greater wit than conscience , they know how to blanch a bad cause , they delight to shew their skill in maintaining an argument and weathering a paradox . they are likewise great flatterers and parasites , and love to humour the age. they nourish the sottishness of people , and give narcoticks and opiates to those that are of themselves drowsie and stupid . and if this be done by those who are of that holy functioon which engages them to give warning to their flock of imminent dangers , to discharge the office of watchmen , and not to sow pillows under a soft and effeminate generation of men ; the crime is yet more black and intolerable . they carry on the plot of atheists and epicures , to root out the notion of a god , to extirpate providence , to debauch mens lives and manners , and to blot out the sense of another world. i am now to enter upon the fourth and last general part of my discourse , which is to answer the objections which are levelled against the foresaid doctrine . for so it is that there are a sort of people who in defiance of the nature of things , the clear discoveries of reason , the direction of providence , the divine testimony of scripture , and a cloud of humane witnesses are resolved to maintain their post , and in order to that they discharge with great fury several severe cavils against the opposite side , and think thereby to fright others from coming over to us , and imbracing our assertion . first , it is objected that our doctrine proceeds from pride and a haughty spirit . these men ( say they ) have an over-fond conceipt of themselves , as if god took especial care of them in every thing that happeneth . can't a star appear , but it must be for their sakes ? what is the reason they are so concerned ? it proceeds from no other bottom than this , viz. the unsufferable vanity which some abound with , who think themselves such persons to whom prodigies ( forsooth ) must be sent . i answer , . that this is a gross mistake , that comets or the like prodigies appear for the sake of one sort of persons onely , or that any intelligent man ever said so . . whereas it is said that it proceeds from the pride and vain conceit of men , that comets are thought to signifie , i retort with undeniable truth , that it is the effect of pride and arrogance to reckon them as needless and trivial , and to despise the manifest work of god. nay , . this is an argument of gross profaneness as well as pride . this is clear from the present cavil that the patrons of that cause carry on ( as i said ) the plot and design of atheistical spirits , who would exclude god from the government and care of the world. whereas it is certain that all ranks of beings , but especially rational creatures , are under the eye and conduct of heaven . the stoicks said well , that as man was made for god , so all things were made for man. the whole mass of the creation is serviceable to this darling and delight of the almighty . man is as it were the centre of the world in respect of final causes , saith an understanding person . the celestial bodies as well as those of a lower order administer to his best advantages . when the man after god's own heart had considered the heavens , the work of god's fingers , the moon and the stars which he had ordained , he cried out , ( as himself tells us ) what is man that thou art mindfull of him ? and the son of man that thou visitest him ? as if there were no greater argument and demonstration of the divine care and providence over mankind , than what is to be observed in the heavenly bodies . and if it be said that those words speak of the natural and regular appearances in the heavens , as the sun , and moon , and ordinary stars , i reply that the argument is the stronger on our side ; for if the usual and ordinary luminaries are a proof of god's mindfulness of the inhabitants of this inferiour world , then much more the strange and extraordinary ones are such . and this is sufficient ground to consider the heavens ( as that holy man did , ) to regard and take notice of the works of the lord , and the operation of his hands , especially to observe and admire those signs in the heavens which so seldom appear . to look up towards them , and take an exact view of them , is most suitable to the piercing nature of man's soul , and to the erect figure which god hath bestowed on his body . it is so far from savouring of vanity and pride to think that those prodigies are sent for his sake , that it is his duty to believe so , and to attend seriously to the import of them . for by comets god is pleased as by new arguments to urge and inculcate his presence in the world , that when the ordinary course of nature and providence doth not move men , they may be rouzed by these wonderous and rare objects , and have their eyes effectually opened to see and confess a god. a second cavil is of this nature , viz. that it hath been observed that great advantages have been the events to some persons and places after a comet hath appeared , and therefore there is no reason to reckon it as a sign of god's anger , but rather of his favour . doth not the philosopher thus speak of the comet which was seen at the beginning of augustus's reign , cometes in uno totius orbis loco colitur in templo romae , admodum faustus divo augusto judicatus ab ipso . and afterwards , si verum fatemur , salutare id terris fuit . it was thought to be so auspicious that it was worshipped by the people of rome , and the emperour himself judged it to be a most happy phaenomenon . i answer , . if any one hath maintained that no good effects or advantages have ever followed the appearance of comets , it is nothing to me , i do not defend it , neither is there any reason for it . it is my opinion that the very rise and production of them in those parts of the heavenly regions where they are generated is to good and excellent purposes ; for it is probable that the acute kepler is in the right , who conceiveth a comet to be a long collection of corrupt and filthy matter , a kind of an apostem in the heavens , that as in man's body putrid humours often gather into one part , so they do in the heavenly ones . and these superfluous and excremental humours breaking out , the aether ( like the body of man ) is thereby kept sound and hale , the unwholsome matter is purged and drained away by these catharticks . by this means the heavens exonerate themselves of noxious qualities which had been long gathering , and would in time corrupt them . so that the evacuating of this matter is for the preservation of the heavens . the sun and other luminaries fare the better for the expulsion of this gross stuff which would otherwise over-run them with thick maculae . thus the very production of comets is advantageous to the heavens . but that is not all ; they are so likewise to the inhabitants below . i have in the foregoing discourse granted that comets are sent out of kindness and favour to mankind , as well as to a contrary end. they are to call the offending world to repentance , and to remind them of their greatest concern , which things , if they be heartily pursued , will produce unspeakable advantages and blessings . . i grant that comets have not been without good and advantageous consequences ; and indeed it cannot be otherwise . for the calamities which happen to some prove beneficial to others . with evil effects there are good ones always joined ; such is the excellent mixture of providence in the administration of the world. blessings then may follow comets . as suppose the plague ( which none will deny to be a great evil ) be the natural issue of these prodigies , yet by this a city and whole countrey may receive great advantage . a sweeping pestilence made way for queen elizabeth to the crown , by removing those who were her most implacable and potent enemies . by this means a considerable number of bad men may be carried off ; and some of those who remain and are spared , may by that mercy be reduced to a better understanding of themselves , and a thorough amendment of their lives , which are good and desirable effects . or suppose war to be the consequence of a comet , who knows not that if one party is vanquished , the other overcomes ? though violence , death and ruine be the allotment of the former , yet joy and victory are the purchase of the latter . thus that portentous apparition which constantine the great beheld in the heavens , though it was auspicious to him and his army , as the inscription of it told , yet it proved most fatal to maxentius and his forces . or say that some great prince is cut off by the malign influence of one of those heavenly signs , then what follows but this , that as he loses his crown , so another gets it ? and as his being cut off may prove a deplorable loss and calamity if he were good , so it may happen to administer the greatest matter of joy , and actually produce the most happy consequences imaginable if he were of a contrary quality ; and much more , if he be succeeded by a person who wants none of the accomplishments belonging to the character of a king. so that those who started the objection have gained no more than this , that what is good to one is oftentimes of a contrary nature to another ; those very events which some find to be fortunate , others experience to be unlucky and fatal . where there is the death of princes there will be the succession of new ones . and shew me any man that hath the confidence to deny this . . i grant also , that though comets portend and bring evil upon men , yet the all-wise maker and disposer of the universe can derive the greatest good to them thence . and on this divine consideration it must be acknowledged that they are heavenly evangelists , and messengers of glad tidings , they are propitious flames , and in a remote manner signs of the divine favour and good-will . but . i answer directly , that though they may be followed with some good events , yet this is merely accidental ; because it is almost impossible that any evil should happen without some good . if we remember what was said before , viz. that these heavenly preachers are sent to give notice of god's displeasure for the sins of the world , we cannot but acknowledge that their primary token is the evil of punishment , that they are divine presages of wrath and vengeance , if men will not repent and amend . particularly , to reply to the instance mentioned in the objection . it is no wonder that the comet which appeared after iulius caesar's death , was thought by augustus to be auspicious , since by his death he came to succeed in the empire . but he that shall reade the relation of the bloudy wars and horrid commotions which the people of rome had experience of immediately after the rising of that comet , will be of another judgment , and not call it ( as pliny flatteringly doth ) salutary and lucky . the grave stoick ( whose morality one would imagine should not teach him to be a parasite ) saith that the comet which shone in the beginning of nero's joyfull and happy reign , neronis principatu laetissimo cometis detraxit infamiam , took away from that sort of prodigies the infamy which they lay under . it seems then they had before an ill name , they were thought till that time to be unlucky and ominous . yes , and they were thought so then , and ever after ; onely nero it seems was to be flattered , and seneca was to let him know that that strange spectacle in the heavens assured great happiness to the whole world by reason of his reign . but will not any one who hath read the passages of that emperour's life abhor such rank flattery , and with greater reason conclude that that comet , and others that appeared in his time , ( as no less than four appeared , one whereof lasted six months ) presaged the monstrous and unheard of villanies committed by him when he ruled ? that as he came into the world with his feet forward , which made his birth ominous , so the unusual blazes in the heavens rendred his whole life portentous ? who will not say that they fore told the world of his cruel , inhumane and barbarous exploits , void of all compassion and remorse ? viz. his setting rome on fire that he might better conceive the flames of troy , and sing to his harp the destruction of that city : his killing his own mother , his putting his own wife to death , his dispatching with a kick of his foot his mistress ( or rather his wife afterwards ) poppaea , his slaying his aunt , his killing his tutour and master seneca , ( the very man who here flattereth him and his comet , ) his bloudy rage against all his kindred and friends , ( as suetonius saith of him , nullum adeò necessitudinis genus est quod non scelere perculerit , ) his madness against the christians , on whom he maliciously laid the firing of rome , his implacable hatred of christianity it self , which he shewed in being the first that ever made an edict against it . it was rightly therefore said of an historian , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . to all his other villanies he added this , that he fought against heaven , and was the first persecutor of the word of god. and , as notorious instances of this cursed and hellish rage , those two great apostles and pillars of the church , st. paul and st. peter fell by his hands . pliny had reason then to call this emperour humani generis hostem , one that had bid defiance to all ranks of mankind , and to style one of the comets that was seen in his reign sidus saevum , a furious and outragious star , l. . c. . nay , we are told that upon the sight of a comet he found himself enflamed afresh to bloudshed : and he used to put some noblemen to death to expiate and purge away the hurt which these prodigies procure , as an astrologer taught him , saith suetonius . and the same is averred by another credible historian , sidus cometes , sanguine illustri semper neroni expiatum . and who will not likewise think that the unusual and strange appearance in the heavens in his days signified his unheard-of and prodigious lust , his filthyness and lasciviousness of so monstrous a nature , described partly by the authour who writes his life , and it may be reflected on by st. paul , in rom. . , ? who is not enclined to believe that the strange ostenta in those days seen at rome , pointed at this execrable emperour , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , who practised all kind of lasciviousness and wickedness to the full ? lastly , may it not be thought that they portended his violent and tragical end , the just guerdon of his bloudy life ? thus maugre the flattering humour of a few vain men , these sights were boding and prophetick , the forerunners and signs both of moral and penal evils . and the same may be pronounced of all the bearded flames that ever shone in the world , nay even of the star which appeared at christ's nativity ; for though the officious sages who came from the east rejoyced at its appearance , yet without controversie , when it appeared more openly and universally , ( as it is probable it did afterwards , as i may have occasion to shew at another time , and on another subject , ) it threatned woe and misery to the unbelieving world , and likewise presignified the bloudy persecutions which the devil and his instruments would be authours of against the followers of our saviour . a third objection is formed thus : many comets have been seen by us , but they have been followed with no mischief throughout all europe : besides , many eminent and illustrious men have dyed , kingdoms and principalities , and noble families have been destroyed without any notice given by a comet . here are two grievous impeachments together of the doctrine of comets . as to the former , viz. that it hath been observed that no hurt hath followed comets , i answer , . that notwithstanding what this daring objector suggests , you have heard what others , and those of great credit and fame , have said and writ . the renowned kepler hath set down the fatal events of many comets . ricciolus , and hevelius after him , give us a catalogue of all the comets that appeared before and since christ's birth , with the remarkable occurrences that ensued upon them in the world. and now judge whether scaliger ( who was a man that would say any thing for his cause ) outweigheth this tripple testimony of persons of so good account : besides that others might be made use of here to attest the ill effects of comets in the several ages of the world. . whereas some tell us that no evils have been the consequences of the comets which they have seen , i have this to say to them , that it is none of my fault that they do not live to see those consequences . they profess they behold no hurtfull effects of comets , and thence rashly infer there are none . but i retort upon them with that which is satisfactory to me , ( and may be so to them , ) that the hurt and evil are deferred , but may come at last . this may happen thus , because of the nature of things themselves , comets do not always operate presently , by reason of some indispositions and alterations in the elements , and the dependence they often have on several causes . for this reason it may be we feel at this very hour part of the effects of those comets , which visited us in , and . and it may be we shall not experience the full influence of the two last which appeared , till some years hence . say not then , because you see not the effects of these strange shews , that they are vain sights , and because they are not followed forthwith with notable alterations , that therefore there are no evils that issue from them . moreover , it is against the nature of these prodigies that they should have a speedy effect , for ( as hath been said ) they are sent to warn men of the judgments which their repeated crimes deserve , and to stir them up effectually to be sensible of their condition , and to mourn for their offences , and implore the divine favour , and betake themselves to newness of life . for the performance of these the great lover of mankind allots them some considerable time , and accordingly doth not presently inflict the punishments which he threatneth , but expecteth and waiteth for their amendment . and if that happens , he wholly averteth his wrath and indignation . which directs me to another answer to the objection , and it is this , suppose the observation had some truth in it , viz. that fatal changes and calamitous accidents have not ever been seen to be the consequences of comets , who is there that cannot dive into the reason of it ? which is no other than this , that the divine goodness and philanthropy , and man's timely repentance and conversion prevent the inflicting of those calamities which were portended by the appearing of the heavenly prodigies . god sends not those evils which he threatned . that is all that can be gathered . how idly and incoherently then do they discourse who deny all presage of comets , because they do not presently feel the effects of them ? nay , how impiously and blasphemously do they talk who assert it ridiculous that god should intend these to be monitors of repentance , and yet not let us see the fatal events produced by them ? and thus i think the first part of the objection is pretty well cleared : and men may sometimes look for the effects of comets , and not espie them , not because comets are not by god's appointment threatning and presaging , but because the infinite compassion of heaven deferreth or averteth the impendent judgments . which agreeth with what was maintained before , viz. that comets are not presages wholly of evil , but they are likewise collaterally and remotely tokens of mercy to mankind , i. e. if they repent : otherwise they denounce nothing but vengeance . these bodies then do not necessarily and vnalterably signifie evil , but conditionally , i. e. if it shall seem good to god , and if the inhabitants of the earth do not repent of their sins . and indeed it was rightly said by a celebrated jewish doctor , all the evils that god threatneth to men , are threatned with this condition , if they do not repent . so that comets speak not the absolute and inevitable futurity of such events , but let the persons know to whom they are shewed what they are to expect , and what shall certainly happen unless god be pleased , for reasons and inducements best known to himself , to interpose between the sign and the events . the great and excessive drought in . may be reasonably looked upon as the effect of the comet in . and we may remember what was the consequent of that unusual driness of the earth , viz. the price of hay in a months time , or a little more , was risen from s. a load to s. and we were in expectation of more dismal effects of that drought . but the price of the aforesaid commodity fell in few months to its ordinary rate , and we were delivered from our other fears . thus the god of heaven shewed us what we deserved , and then was pleased to remove it . thus it is possible some expected events may be frustrated , and yet comets in their own nature , and by god's appointment , are ominous and prognostick . and as for the latter part of the objection , viz. that it is observed sometimes that god sends calamities where comets have not been the forerunners , and therefore it is likely no calamities are caused or signified by them . i have these two things to answer : first , it doth not follow that , because comets foresignifie wars , pestilence , famine and the death of princes , therefore a comet must necessarily appear as often as famine or plague approach , or whenever wars and deaths of princes allarm the world ; for it dependeth wholly on god's free will and pleasure , whether there shall be any signs or no : and as to the time of exhibiting them , that also is at god's disposal . besides , the argument is fallacious , for though every plague , or war , or dearth be not ushered in with a comet , yet it doth not follow thence that none are , or may be . secondly , though all the great and publick calamities that happen be not presaged by comets , ( as i readily grant ) yet they may be , and usually , if not always , are by some other forerunners and signs , if not in the heavens , yet in the air , or earth , or waters ; for there are other omens beside those above . this then doth not in the least disanul what i assert , that some great and extraordinary events ( and such are supposed to be rare as comets themselves are ) are presignified and procured by those bodies , and that at what time soever they appear , future perils and distresses , of one kind or other , are threatned to the world , and though they are not seen or felt in one part of it , yet they may be in another . and under this head likewise , and by virtue of what hath been said here , the frivolous objection of those men is removed , who deny all significancy of comets , because they are not such signs as directly and positively point at particular evils and events , because we cannot learn from them what certain evil will befall the world. hence they are styled by the objectours useless and fallacious signs , and it is unbecoming god's wisedom ( say they ) to set up such in the world. thus they irreverently and wickedly teach men to despise god's works . and ( which is the more to be lamented ) such language falls from the pens of great pretenders to divinity and philosophy . fourthly , it is objected that some comets travell many countries , and pass over the heads of divers people , as particularly the dreadfull comet in . was seen not onely all over europe , but in the most remote parts of the world : how then can it be known what particular place it was designed for ? who can tell where its influence is to light ? is there any reason why we of this island should be concerned ? many things may be said to silence this cavil : . if a comet be universal ( as is supposed in the objection ) then its influence is such likewise , and then we are certain that we , as well as other countries , are concerned but , . suppose we cannot tell to what place a comet hath a special respect , and at which nation it doth as it were levell its malign rays , yet the appearance it self ought to make us carefull , and to provide against such events as may happen , because we may be ( for ought we know ) particularly concerned . and this is the whole design of this treatise . yet let it be remembred , . that though a comet travells through several countries , and sheweth its flaming train among many people , yet they are not all equally under its influence . for though it may be seen by several countries , yet it is not directly and vertically placed over them all , but darts its beams perpendicularly on one or some onely . and whereas some curiously observe which way these blazing lights cast their rays and spread their train , i look on it as the product of vulgar errour and mistake , ( though i know too that some of the learned are pleased with it ) for this sort of bodies always turn their faces to the sun , and their tails from it : so that there can be no ground to make any judgment of their looking towards this or that countrey or kingdom . but it is reasonable to observe how high they mount , and whether they hang perpendicularly over our heads ; for the farther they climb in our hemisphere , the more powerfull are their rays , and their influence the more pregnant . this too is to be considered that the longer time they stay with us , and the oftner they appear , the greater undoubtedly is the presage which we may expect from them . and we are to consider the magnitude of a comet as well as the time of its duration ; for the greater it is , the effects of it are proportionably so too , and they continue the longer . all these things must be attended to , and then we shall easily be induced to grant that the influence of comets is not alike as to all countries and people . to instance in the comet in . whatever influence and aspect it had on other regions and inhabitants , we of this island may be convinced from the premisses that it nearly concerned us : for its apparent greatness , height of ascension , and continuance are so many demonstrations of it . how large must it needs be when , being situated not far from the horizon , it almost reached with its tail to the zenith , or mid-heaven ? how great think you was it when it was seen to extend it self in length about , nay , sometimes degrees of our hemisphere ? and the time of its stay also was very considerable , and made it the more portentous and terrible : for it appeared two whole months together , unless when the clouds hindred it from being seen ; and it was three months visible in one place or other , which is the utmost and longest duration generally of a comet . i have read but of two that attained to this , viz. that sword-comet which hung over ierusalem , and that which was seen in the beginning of nero's reign , which lasted six months , if seneca may be credited ( nat. qu. l. . c. . ) though pliny , who lived at that time , tells us , ( nat. hist. l. . c. . ) that fourscore days is the longest space of time any comet continueth , which wanteth a hundred days of six months . it is certain that the extraordinary continuance and duration of that late terrible spectacle , signified that the events which were to insue it should continue long . and the last which appeared , viz. in the year . made a considerable stay , and tarried many weeks with us , and though its magnitude was not to be compared with that of the former , yet its aspect and influence are to be accounted the more significant , because it visited us with such quick returns , i. e. not onely in the evenings , but in the mornings . . i add , that even all those countries and nations which comets successively visit , may successively , and in due time , feel the effects of them . the influence may reach every one of them at last : for there is at the same time a circular and periodical motion in bodies politick as well as natural : and countreys by sympathy communicate evils to one another , particularly we may gather that that astonishing comet in . which was visible to all europe , and other parts of the world , shall be of universal influence , and many nations shall share in the revolutions and occurrences which it shall produce . common artists take occasion to speak of the signs it passed through , and there they are full of roving conjectures and uncertainties ; but we may safely infer this from its passing through so many , viz. seven signs and an half , that it is probable a very considerable part of the world is concerned in the effects and consequences of it . general distresses and troubles shall be complained of , there shall happen catholick and spreading calamities , and ( which is always to be implied , if god or man do not interpose , the one by infinite clemency and forbearance , or the other by repentance and amendment ) evils of a very vast circumference shall environ the world. a fifth objection is plausibly raised from . ier. . thus faith the lord , learn not the way of the heathen , and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven , for the heathen are dismayed at them . whence it may be inferred that it is wicked and paganish to imagine any signs or tokens in the heavens , and that it is the guise onely of the deluded gentile world to be afraid of them , and therefore the presage of comets is hereby cashiered . i reply , . it is nonsense to argue from this place that there are no signs in the heavens , when the very text supposes and grants it , expresly calling them the signs of heaven . . these signs are the ordinary heavenly bodies , called in the holy style the host of heaven , the sun , moon and stars ; and to these may be adjoined the extraordinary bodies which are seen in the heavens , as comets . now god commands his own people not to be dismayed at any of these , as the heathens were wont to be , who believed these heavenly bodies to be alive , and that they governed all things here below by their great power : they thought that all their affairs depended wholly on these , and therefore they were put into great disorders by such notions , and were struck with strange affrightment and astonishment . their fearing of them put them upon worshipping them as gods , and as if they had divine power . thus the heathens thought and practised , but god's chosen people are forbid the superstitious reverencing and worshipping of these . and not onely an idolatrous fear is disallowed them but any other that is unbecoming and disorderly : they must not be troubled and cast down , dismayed and dejected at any unusual appearance in the heavens , so as to distrust god's providence , and act things unworthy of their holy profession . the heavenly bodies are signs , and some of them very terrible ones , but they must by no means fright good men out of their duty , or into a disesteem of god's governing the world. queen elizabeth's iacia est alea , was very brave and becoming upon occasion of one of her courtiers dissuading her from looking on a comet which appeared when the lay at richmond . but she commanded the windows to be set open , and uttered those gallant words , iacta est alea , the die is cast ( saith she ) by the divine hand ; as we cannot disappoint , so neither ought we to be unchristianly afraid of it . comets being signs , they must be taken notice of , for they were set up for that end , or rather not they , but the hand and voice of god in them are to be observed and dreaded . most apposite to which purpose is that which i have read in the life of charles the great . a vast and dreadfull comet shone in the close of this great monarch's reign : upon the rising of which new light in the heavens , he asked what it foretold ? imagining ( what indeed happened , and is often foresignified by such apparitions ) that his death was near at hand . eginardus , with whom he held conference at that time , ( a great philosopher and his secretary , who writ this prince's life ) answered him more like a divine than a philosopher , in those words of scripture which i just now descanted upon , be not dismayed at the signs of heaven . to which the emperour replied , that he was not dismayed at such kind of signs , but feared and reverenced the powerfull cause and divine framer of them , who being incensed with anger against a people or prince , is wont by these to admonish them of his wrath , and to call them to repentance that they may avoid it . and this is the sum of all that i have said concerning the presages of comets . sixthly , and lastly , it is objected that if comets be significative and portentous , then there is as much reason to believe that the other heavenly bodies , as the planets and the fixed luminaries , and their several motions and aspects are so too , and by this means we open a door to all the superstitious observations , and groundless prognostications of iudiciary astrology , whereby some men pretend to divine the greatest events that shall happen , and to foretell the fate of kingdoms and common-wealths . having delivered my sentiments freely and impartially concerning those great and glaring lights and their presages , which i undertook chiefly to treat of , it remaineth now that in answer to this objection , i do with the same freedom present you with my thoughts concerning the iudiciary part of that noble science of astrology , and that i enquire whether there can be any real presaging from the ordinary bodies of heaven , as the sun , moon and stars , and what insight into futurities any man of reading , study and observation may gain by being acquainted with their motions . i know very well that it is the humour of writers to oppose and flatly deny all that their adversaries say , and to run counter with every proposition they lay down , and for no other reason oftentimes than because they are theirs . and the main and onely design of these persons being this , to be victours ; it is not to be wondred at , that they behave themselves after this rate . but i ( having no other design than that truth onely may have the victory ) will not tread in their steps . and indeed it is fond and absurd custome , and such as is unbecoming rational minds , to hold all or nothing of an opinion about which the dispute is raised . i am sure if this had not been wilfully kept up , there had been an end e'er this of most of the controversies that trouble the world. i will endeavour therefore to silence and compose this quarrel which i am now entring upon by going another way to work , namely , by fairly granting something , that i may more impregnably hold the rest . how zealous are some in discarding the whole host of heaven from influencing in the least on things here below , even the meanest occurrences of man's life ? they think they are bound to run down all the orders of heavenly bodies at once . the sun ( say they ) which is the greatest luminary , hath no way to act but by its light and heat , and its business is onely with the earth , minerals , plants , and mere animals . the moon and the rest of the planets are heavy , dull things ; they cannot doe more than the earth , that being as good a planet as any of them , and the earth influenceth as much on them as they upon it . the fixed stars are too far off , besides that the situation of them is ever the same . and thus they are all uncapable of doing any feats in this lower world wherein we live . but i must declare for my part , that i look upon this as too high and ranting . i am willing to grant that the heavenly bodies act on things and persons on earth , and that they are likewise signs : and yet this is no prejudice to our fore-established doctrine . to prove this let us look into the first creation and institution of the heavenly bodies : and there it is most likely we shall find the true ends and vses of them . and these are no less than five , according to the authentick and canonical account which is given of them in gen. . . &c. i will not set them down in the order they are in there , yet i will be exact in the enumerating of them . the first end of them is to give light upon the earth , ( v. . ) that men may see how to dispatch their affairs with ease and chearfulness . an ineffable blessing certainly ! and such as the wisest man takes particular notice of , when he saith , truly the light is sweet , and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun , eccl. . . of this the learned jew speaks , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what were these glittering lights set up for , unless it were for the service of the eyes , to see by them ? a second use of these luminaries is to be for seasons , ( v. . ) those commentatours that interpret it of the season of weather , shew that they attend not to the genuine sense of the original word , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . but the true meaning is , that those heavenly luminaries were appointed for distinction of times and seasons , whether they be for natural , civil or religious affairs thus among the jews the feasts of the new-moons , and sabbaths , and other sacred solemnities depended on the returns and courses of these bodies . and still the orderly service of god is kept up by observing the first day of the week , and other periods of time , either expressed by the first founder of the christian religion , or laudably constituted by the church . understand here also other seasons and opportunities , viz. of several professions and employments in the life of man. husbandmen learn hence to plow , sow , plant , lop trees , &c. according to the right season ; of which you may reade in virgil's georgicks , and hesiod's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . and as the luminaries of heaven are usefull in husbandry , so are they no less in navigation , to direct mariners to guide their vessels with safety and success . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; what but the knowledge of the periodical motions and revolutions of the stars opened and shewed the way to seamen in so many vast and spacious seas ? and not only the husbandman and mariner , but the masters of medicks gratefully acknowledge those luminaries to be for seasons . hippocrates and galen assert the usefulness , nay , the necessity of astrology in physick . they acquaint us that diseases are rendred critical by such and such returns of planets , and according to this they give directions at what seasons to administer medicines . marcilius ficinus , that noble platonick philosopher and physician , wrote a piece de medicina astrologiae jungenda . fernelius that learned french physician , his judgment and practice in this case are well known . i question not but the carefull observing and due attending of the times of the heavenly aspects and influences are very usefull in physick , though now that course be laid aside generally by practitioners . a third end of these lights in the heavens is to be for days and years . v. . that is , by the constant motion of these bodies time is measured and numbred , by these time is divided and distinguished into greater and lesser portions , as years , months , weeks , days , hours , &c. by these we keep an account of our actions , we call to mind , reckon , compute , forecast : we understand the duration of beings , the certain intervalls and distances of things , the ages and generations of the world , which is of singular use in man's life . their fourth use is to divide the day from the night , v. . or ( as it is said afterwards , v. . ) to divide the light from the darkness , and to rule over the day and over the night . these heavenly bodies by their setting and rising , cause light and darkness , and consequently are the authours of the successive returns of day and night to us . this is set them as an immoveable and never failing constitution , and therefore is styled the covenant of the day and night , ier. . . and the ordinance of heaven , ier. . , . and under this vse of the heavenly bodies is comprehended their warming and chearing virtue , ( especially of the sun , which brings to us day and this together , and of which the great observer of god's works thus speaketh , there is nothing bid from the heat thereof , ) and also their fructifying , generative and prolifick faculty , whereby they may justly be said to rule , and bear sway in the world. the fifth and last use of these glorious lights in the firmament of heaven ( and which is the use of them wherein we are most concerned at present ) is to signifie something to the world : let them be for signs , v. . and in the place before commented upon they are called the signs of heaven . which an astronomical poet expresseth thus , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . — here then may business is to shew how they are said to be for signs , or what it is that they signifie to the world. accordingly i assert that they signifie three forts of occurrences , viz. natural , civil and divine . first , they give notice to us of natural things , as rain or drought , storms or calms , heat or cold , winter or summer , with the other seasons of the year , the ebbing and flowing of the sea , plenty or scarcity of the fruits of the earth ; in short , the change of weather , and alteration of the temper of the elements . these are signified by the sun 's rising or setting with such and such stars or constellations , by the access or recess of the planets to and form the sun , and among themselves . this , it seems , is a thing which was thought worthy to be mentioned by a divine pen-man , for he biddeth the rebellious jews seek him that maketh the seven stars and orion , i. e. god , who by the appearing of these , and other constellations at certain times , gives notice of the different seasons of the year . and this was a way of speaking which well became amos the herdsman , who had been used to keep his cattel , and watch in the fields all night , and there had leisure and opportunity to observe how the several seasons were ushered in by these lamps of heaven . but hear what another inspired searcher into the heavenly bodies saith of the great creatour , viz. that he maketh arcturus , orion , and pleiades , and the chambers of the south . that is , he maketh the year , the parts of which are signified and known by the rising of these constellations ; for arcturus , or the bear 's tail , a star of the first magnitude in the northern hemisphere , is said to arise in autumn . orion , a southern constellation , made up of many splendent stars , arises in winter . it is called nimbosus orion by virgil , and is accordingly deemed by astrologers to be the cause of great storms and tempests . it s name in hebrew is kesil , whence perhaps the month kisleu among the jews ( which answers to november ) had its denomination , this constellation rising in that month. and by the bye let me shove in this criticism , when we reade that the same word kesil signifies a fool , ( as in solomon's proverbs and other places ) we need not wonder that a constellation which causes change of weather , gives name to a foolish , light , and unconstant person . the pleiades , or seven stars , arise in the spring . and iob makes mention of the chambers of the south , which perhaps are the stars which arise in the summer : and so the four several quarters of the year are set down . aratus and hyginus , and other ancients , discourse of this kind of prognosticks . of these philo the jew speaks , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . the stars were made not onely to enlighten the earth , but to be signs of future accidents , i. e. ( as he there explaineth himself ) of different seasons of weather . which is his meaning in another treatise , where he saith , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the signs of all these things that you see upon earth , are set up and erected in the heavens . and i am mistaken if the learned father speaketh not of these prognosticks when he telleth us , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the observation of the luminaries of heaven is usefull and even necessary for man's life , unless people will beyond measure , and with an unlawfull curiosity , search into the signs which those bodies afford us . secondly , these heavenly bodies were created not onely to signifie natural things , but humane and civil occurrences , and these either private or publick , the concerns of families or kingdoms . all sorts of actions and events , whether good , or evil , or indifferent , may ( at one time or other ) be partly discerned from the observation of the natural and usual motions of the host of heaven . for though i cannot make out the dependence and affinity between them and these , as of effects and causes , and though the knowledge which is gained thence is usually uncertain ; yet i cannot assert with the boldness which i see others do , that there are no natural effects following from such positions and situations of the stars , but i have reason to believe on the contrary , that their various motions and aspects are in some measure significant . let us consider then that the seven planets are always in one or other of the twelve signs , or ( which is the same thing ) they are directly under some part of the zodiack , ( which is divided into parts in all , ) or ( to speak plainer yet ) the wandring stars move under some particular fixed ones , and the mutual habitude which those have to one another as they are placed under these ( or , as artists speak , as they move through these signs ) causeth several aspects . and these aspects are either right or collateral . a right aspect is when one planet hath a relation to another in a right line . and this is either conjunction or opposition . conjunction is when two planets meet together in the same sign of the zodiack : its mark is this , ☌ . opposition ( marked thus , ☍ ) is when planets are in diametrical or opposite signs , viz. when they are distant from one another half the circle of the heavens , i. e. six signs , or degrees . a collateral aspect is when planets look on one another in collateral and oblique lines ; and this is threefold , namely , sextile ⚹ , when they are distant from one another a sixth part of the zodiack , i. e. two signs , or degrees . quadrate □ , when planets are removed from one another degrees of the zodiack , or signs , which is a fourth part of the circle . trine , or triangular △ , when one planet is distant from another a third part of the zodiack , which contains signs , or degrees . these configurations , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aspects ( no less than five in all ) happen according to the different parts of the zodiack which the planets are in , or move under . hence arise the dignities and infirmities , the fortitudes and debilities of the planets , for they are supposed to help or hinder , to promote or indamage one another , according to their various situation , aspects and agreements with other planets . and among the forenamed aspects , opposition and quadrate are reckoned as malign : the rest are thought to be favourable and benign . and among these latter , conjunction is the most effectual of all the radiations of the planets , and sextile is the weakest and faintest . now i propound it fairly and peaceably to any considerative person , whether he can imagine that the heavens ring all these changes to no purpose , and shift their postures so often without some effect ? i might add , that the planets in regard of their motion are direct , retrograde and stationary ; whence must arise different sites and postures of them , and from these different effects and consequences . and particularly , as for the aspects and phases of the moon , there are more of them , and those likewise more observable and lasting , than of all the other stars . mark how often this proteus changeth shapes , and according to its various access unto and recess from the sun , appeareth in divers figures and countenances . let us recount the several metamorphoses of this fickle creature . when she is in conjunction with the sun , i. e. when she is exactly between us and the sun , her enlightned part ( which is more than half the moon always , the sun exceeding her in magnitude ) is towards the sun altogether , insomuch that no part of her is seen by us . this is new-moon , which lasts three days , all which time it shineth not to us . soon after its conjunction , viz. on the fourth day , and when it is about degrees distant from the sun , it is horned , and it sets soon after night cometh . on the seventh or eighth day a moiety of her appeareth , and she is called bisect , or a half-moon : she now riseth about a clock in the morning , and she is distant from the sun about degrees . hitherto is her first quarter . then tending to her opposition to the sun , she sheweth a little more than half of her enlightned body , and on the th day is bunched , being degrees from the sun. then on the th or th day it comes to its opposition to the sun , viz. when it is degrees distant from it , and when we are just between the sun and it . this is full-moon , and is called her second quarter . these are the shapes she hath in her increase ; and she hath the very same in her decrease , according to her various aspects to the sun. she appeareth bunched on the th day after ▪ full-moon , bisect on the th , horned on the th , till at last she comes to turn her self wholly to the sun , and to shew no light to us , and then it is new-moon . onely this difference is to be observed between the aspects of the moon in her increase , and those in her decrease , that her horns are turned towards the west in the latter , but eastward in the former , because that that part of the moon which is enlightned is always towards the sun. these are the usual transfigurations of the moon ; and what wise man can think that all these changes and shiftings throughout the whole year , have no influence upon things below , and work not considerable alterations and changes on the bodies and minds of men ? their operation as to weather , and as to some inferiour animals is freely confessed by all , long observation and experience having extorted that acknowledgment . and there is as good ground to own their influence on the tempers and dispositions of reasonable and humane creatures , for the returns of madness and a distempered mind are observed by the exact practitioners in medicks , to be according to the revolutions of this planet . and what reason can be rendred why the sober and well-ordered actions of man's life , which are more natural , and easie to be governed , receive not some impressions from the same mover ? say not that the several phases of the moon , though they seem to be different apparitions , yet are but accidental changes , and the moon is always the same , notwithstanding all her change of apparel , and consequently that no real effects ought to be expected from onely seeming revolutions . this plausible cavil is easily taken off by replying that the moon in going her monthly circuit about the earth , turns her self variously to the sun , and really changes her situation , and there are different transmissions of the solar rays from her , and we receive new reflexions and refractions of light thence , and let it be considered both in respect of the aspects of the moon , and those which are common to the other planets ( of which i spoke before ) that the greatest effects in the world are produced by the frequent changing of a few things . though i am not of the philosopher's mind , who contends that matter and motion solve all phaenomena , yet thus far i agree with him , ( and i have the suffrage of all intelligent men ) that new modifications , as change of place , figure , motion , and the like , effect most of the considerable things that happen in the world. upon which account it must needs be that the different situations , new configurations , mutual mixtures and repeated vicissitudes of the heavenly bodies prove some ways effectual and operative . and as for eclipses ( which may be reckoned here ) i cannot but say in behalf of this part of astrology , that these and the foresaid aspects are in a natural way signs of future things , and productive of considerable events ; and upon long and faithfull observation , we may find out what kind of accidents happen in the several quarters of the world where they are seen . i conclude this head with the memorable words of a foreign divine , ( a person of great moderation and judgment , ) hic ergo est usus verae astrologiae , ut multorum effectuum qui in terris fiunt causas quae in coelo sunt cognoscant ; aliquando etiam antequam fiunt , ipsos effectus in suis causis praevideat . this is the use of true astrology to understand from it the causes which are in the heavens of many effects that are on earth ; and sometimes to foresee those effects in their causes before they come to pass . thirdly , the heavenly bodies are signs ( as of natural and political affairs , so ) of things divine , and above nature's order . and as the two former are signified by the ordinary motions of these bodies , so the last are discovered by the extraordinary and unusual aspect of them . when those great luminaries are disturbed and out of order , then , and onely then they , as well as those extraordinary bodies in heaven which this discourse hath designedly treated of , are certain indications of the exerting of some divine power , and the bringing to pass some strange things in the world. for this i take to be an unquestionable maxim , that those accidents which exceed the ordinary course of nature , and are above the usual laws and power of it , are the particular finger of god , and are for extraordinary ends and purposes . from whence i gather , that the constant courses of the celestial luminaries portend not evil and hurt to mankind ; but they are the unnatural motions , alterations and appearances of them , which render them prodigious . as when the sun hath been extraordinarily deficient , as at that darkness which was one of the plagues of egypt , when the sun and moon have stood still , as when ioshuah was taking vengeance on his enemies : when the stars fought against the host of sisera : when the sun went back in king hezekiah's days . not onely poets but historians take notice of , and transmit to posterity the remarkable obscuring of the sun which was observed almost that whole year in which iulius caesar was unfortunately killed . — solis quoque tristis imago lurida sollicitis praebebat lumina terris . from heaven a shadow onely then was hurl'd of the sun's light , to scare the won dring world. and another poet thus , — caput obscurâ nitidum ferrugine texit , impiáque aeternam timuerunt secula noctem . a rusty scum eclips'd sol's glorious light , and th'impious age dreaded an endless night . and we are told by a grave . historian too , that this presaged and accompanied that horrid murther . the eclipse at christ's passion was a miraculous darkning of the sun's body ; for against the course of nature it was obscured in full-moon . great signs from heaven ( as it was prophesied by our saviour ) were the forerunners of ierusalem's destruction , luk. . . there was an example of an extraordinary defect in the sun about an hundred years after , saith a learned father . seventeen days darkness was the attendant of constantine's death , who had his eyes put out by his mother irene , if some historians may be believed . we have it from the testimony of him who is infallible , and truth it self , that there stall be signs in the sun , and in the moon , and in the stars , before his last coming , luk. . . the sun shall be darkned , and the moon shall not give her light , and the stars shall fall from heaven , and the powers of the heaven shall be shaken , mat. . . we see then what it is that makes the ordinary heavenly bodies prodigious and presaging , viz. their being disordered , and going against their natural course . when they are thus , they are of the nature of those extraordinary and preternatural lights which i have before discoursed of , whose very appearance is ominous . by this we may know what notions to frame of the aspects of the stars , the particular phases of the moon , and the eclipses of the sun and moon , before spoken of . it is certain that these , although they may signifie in general , and cause several events , yet contain not any thing in them , i. e. in their own nature , which is boding and unfortunate . nor are they designed ( as comets are ) to be signs of some remarkable evils and calamities . for i build on this ground , that extraordinary events are not foresignified by ordinary and natural accidents : but such are the aspects of the planets , and particularly the conjunction of saturn and iupiter this year , so much talked of by the common prognosticatours . these are made and come to pass by the usual and fixed motion of the planets . they fall of themselves into these figures . these are the natural shiftings of the stars . and ( as a demonstration of it ) these , like the rising and setting of the sun , and the entry of it into the equinoctial and solstitial points , and the phaenomena of that nature are certainly discerned , and may be foretold many hundred years before hand . and therefore they are not in themselves portentous , they are no tokens of god's wrath , there is nothing signified of the divine displeasure by them . but this cannot be said of comets , because they are preternatural appearances , and being such cannot possibly be foreknown by art. i never read that any astrologer put out ephemerides of them . nor can the shiftings of the moon be said to be presaging , and in themselves ominous , and that for the foresaid reason . for though i deny not her influence on the bodies and minds of men , and as to her producing of changes in the world , yet it is plain that she was not set up in the firmament to portend approaching distresses by her various figures and faces which she sheweth , for all these are natural , and of course . she is constant and unvariable in her changes : they may be all known and told long before . besides , any man of common sense will grant me this , that what is usual and frequent cannot be prodigious . i might here say something of eclipses , and it is this ; i declare against the doctrine of those well-willers to the mathematicks , who generally reckon these as ominous . from what hath been said it may be gathered , that they are not to be judged as such ; for they are not contrary to the usual course of nature : and what is not so , cannot carry any ill omen with it . if an eclipse ( particularly that of the sun ) be portentous in it self , then every night , which is no other than the interposition of the earth between the sun and us , is of that nature also , and consequently we have an unlucky time of it all our lives . it was the ignorance of the cause of eclipses which first gave occasion to people to think they presignified some evil ; and hereupon the foolish pagans were mightily disturbed at this sight ; and as for the moon , they imagined she was in labour , and accordingly came with great noise and officiousness ( no other than the midwifery of pans and kettles ) to relieve the teeming lady . but we know that the sun and moon come naturally to this situation and posture ; and the time of their eclipses may certainly be foreknown , for they depend on the determined and unerring motions of the heavenly bodies : they must happen at such times , and no others . the eclipse of the sun can onely be in new-moon , i. e. when the sun and moon are together in either of the two points , caput or cauda draconis , for the moon cuts or crosses the ecliptick but in these two nodes . the moons eclipse is onely when she is at the full , viz. when the earth is exactly interposed between the sun and her , which is called opposition . if i were purposely furnished , and had all the implements of the art about me , i could infallibly foretell and set down all the eclipses that shall happen from this day to the end of the world. the ordinary defections then of these luminaries , being natural and foreknown events , are not prodigious and fatal . and though the common astrologers reckon them among presages , yet i am well satisfied that they doe it onely to amuse the people , and to make themselves and their art more formidable . thus we see there is a vast difference between the ordinary luminaries of heaven , and those that are extraordinary , as comets . though the former are not divine presages ( unless when they are disordered , and extraordinarily obscured , ) yet the latter always are so in their own nature , and by the appointment of heaven . i presume this is a satisfactory answer to the objection , and gives a true and impartial account of the nature of both sorts of celestial bodies . the ordinary luminaries may sometimes be put out of their courses , to be signs to the world of what the great ruler of it is acting ; but comets are the onely heavenly bodies which , as to their make , and original , and all other considerations whatsoever , discover themselves to be portentous . for as for the strange apparitions of armies and skirmishes seen in the air , i rank them not among the bodies of heaven , because they are placed in a lower region . and as for those appearances which are called parelia , and paraselene's , i. e. mock-suns , and mock-moons , halo's , &c. they are onely reflexions of the clouds , and are not real things , but mere images . you have heard then at large the ends of god's creating the ordinary luminaries of heaven . i have set down both the natural and instituted , the common and extraordinary uses of them . one common use ( and that is it wherein astrology is concerned chiefly ) is to be signs of natural and humane actions of all kinds , to influence by their motion and aspects on this inferiour world. they are deservedly styled the host of heaven not onely because of their great multitude , and their exact order , but for their force and power . shall every creeping plant and drug , every fading herb and flower , have their certain virtues , and proper offices , and shall we deny the glorious and exalted stars of heaven a peculiar power to be serviceable to the world ? have we not equal reason to persuade us that every planet hath its ▪ particular property , and all the fixed lights have their several faculties and distinct powers ? i must needs profess i am of that wise man's opinion , who said , the stars are of far greater use than to yield an obscure light , and for men to gaze on them after the sun is set . yes certainly , god makes use of the ministery of the heavenly bodies in the oeconomy of the lower world. we are surrounded with stars , shut up within the heavenly circle . all things that happen in this world have a near affinity with that other . so thought the great soul of philosophy ▪ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . this inferiour world is in a manner necessarily tied to the motions of the upper one , in so much that all its powers are governed by it . and therefore it is not to be denied that the glorious lights of heaven were constituted by the first framer of them , to act and influence upon humane bodies as well as others . there is then a lawfull natural knowledge of the influence of the stars , and of the position of the heavens , which is serviceable to it . astrology is a part of natural philosophy , which from the knowledge of celestial bodies prognosticateth of events in the sublunary bodies below : and consequently the actions of men , who are partly made of those , depend in some manner on their influences . but iudiciary astrology hath heard ill , because by it some make a judgment of the inclinations of mens wills , on which depend the chief events of humane life , and all the remarkable affairs of states and kingdoms . wherefore the great question is , whether the heavenly bodies have an influence on the mind and thoughts , the free-will and determinations of men ? in satisfaction to this main demand i assert , that the heavenly bodies act upon the bodies of men , and these influence upon their minds . i do not say that the celestial luminaries act immediately and directly on the soul of man ; for after that manner onely they work on his body : but this is it which i maintain , that the motions and aspects of the heavens incline the mind and will by mediation of the sensitive appetite , which is stirred by the constitution of the body . for i take it to be an indisputable truth , that bodies strong in humours , and weak in vertue or grace , draw and incline the mind and affections : and therefore those creatures that are guided by their natural and sensual appetites , as brutes and wicked men , do most of all feel the force of the heavenly bodies . and for this reason the astrologers of this degenerate age , these dreggs of time , have the better of most of those who have been their predecessors . now they may come the nearest to certainty in their prognosticks . they may the more easily tell true , because so few resist their own vitious inclinations . one would think on this score that judiciary astrology were now at its height and utmost culmination . it must needs prove succesfull now or never , for the debauched lives of men acquaint us , that they follow their own natural genius and pronity of mind , they are led wholly by their depraved wills and affections . wicked and dissolute men , whom an inspired writer calleth wandring stars , know no other conduct but their extravagant lusts , and those inbred inclinations and propensions which they derive from their fleshly constitutions and bodily tempers : and thus the stars may be said to influence on the natural inclinations of men , and consequently such acts as proceed from them : for they act on the body , and the body worketh on the weak and ungoverned mind , and so evil actions are produced . from what hath been hitherto discoursed , we may in some part understand the true vse of astrology , and likewise the abuse of it , which is no other than this , viz. attributing too little or too much to the stars : we may frequently see men running into these extremes either of defect or excess . the abuse of astrology on one hand is depriving the heavenly bodies of all influence and operation on the sons of men : and this i have spoken of already . on the other hand this science is abused whilst too great a power and too exorbitant a regency is ascribed to those bodies . this is done when such an agency and virtue is given to them by us , as is prejudicial and derogatory , . to god's universal power and government . . to the agency of man's will : and , . to the concurrence of other causes . in these three the judicious reader will find the whole abuse of astrology ( as to this latter extreme of it ) summ'd up . for they who immeasurably and proudly brag of this science , defend the stars to be , as it were , divine agents , or that they are instead of god : and they go so far as to destroy the native or acquired freedom of man's faculties : and they exclude all other causes ( but the stars ) from having a share in mens actions . on the contrary , if we would avoid the excess and extravagancy of astrology , if we would correct so wild a folly we must let god , man's will , and ioynt causes have their due place . first , i say , astrology is shame fully abused when men attribute such a power to the heavenly bodies as to deny god's government and superintendency , or , ( which is all one ) when they deprive god of his sovereign power and dominion to give it to the stars . some of the high-flown of this faculty have been guilty of excluding the divine providence and concourse , whilst they have defended the influence or rather efficiency of the celestial powers . this is a kin to that pagan persuasion , that these bodies have a certain divinity in them , and that they fatally and necessarily act upon us . hence the chaldeans and others offered sacrifice to the stars , and expected all good or evil from them ( which is making them gods. ) the epicureans held that every one had his proper star , as a peculiar daemon or ▪ numen . and not onely the gentiles but iews polluted themselves with the worship of the host of heaven , manasses being their chief perverter herein , chron. . . but if some who pretend to astrological studies are not directly guilty of this , ( as i cannot prove they are ) yet they act almost as profanely , whilst they extravagantly and impiously extoll the power of those bodies above , even so far as to deny god to be the principal moderatour and disposer of all affairs ; and whilst they assert that extraordinary and preternatural events , and such as depend wholly on god's mere pleasure , and have no relation at all to natural and common causes , are the effects of the motions and aspects of the stars , and might have been foretold and prognosticated by them . a most intolerable arrogance and blasphemy ! for though i have above granted ( and am always ready to grant what is reason and good sense ) that god may and doth make use even of natural instruments in the production of supernatural effects , yet this is a thing that is exceeding rare ; and then also it is impossible that these arbitrary effects should be foretold by any knowledge that men have of the stars . but there are some supernatural effects and productions which depend not in the least on second causes , but are wrought by god himself , without the assistence of instruments or any means , nay , even in defiance of all secondary causes , as most of the miracles of the old and new testament , and these could never be prognosticated by the stars . and therefore the insolency and impiety of those is to be abhorred , who have told the world in print , that the judgment of god in the deluge of old , and all the appearances of angels afterwards , and the prophesies and wondrous dispensations to the jewish people were from the particular influence and operation of the stars at those times ; and that all christ's actions , life and death , and consequently our redemption , depended on the figure of the heavens at his nativity : in short , that christianity itself was beholding to the constellations , that the gospel was indebted to the aspects of the stars , and that all things of religion are from the position of the heavens . if the reader pleaseth to cast his eye on the margent , he will see that this cursed doctrine was patronized not onely by professed atheists , but by great divines and church-men ; but let not that offend him , for they were such as belonged to that church which is said by some to be the nurse of atheism and profaneness , witness the swarms of atheists in italy and the adjacent countries . but sober reason as well as religion will inform us , that the things before named are above the power of nature , and therefore out of the reach of astrology . this art hath nothing to doe with supernatural events , with the divine oeconomy , and god's immediate will and pleasure . and though in respect of things of another nature i grant the heavenly bodies to have an influence , yet this must be remembred , that they cannot act without the almighty's order . he telleth the number of the stars , and calleth them all by their names , i. e. he hath the full command and disposal of them . it is no dream , but a reality , that the sun , moon and stars come , and bow down , and make obeysance to him. which indeed is after the rate of the sober philosophy of the stoicks , viz. that the first cause is not tied to the stars . these are subject to the prime and omnipotent being , who can suspend their influences whensoever he pleaseth . this i suppose is the meaning of what the hebrew doctors tell us god said to abraham in chaldaea , when he studied judiciary astrology there , abraham , egredere de astrologia tua , nullum enim est sidus israeli : trouble not thy self about the stars , for there is not one of them can be unlucky to israel . and on this consideration it might be made evident , that no man can be positive in foretelling future events by the stars . secondly , astrology is abused and perverted by those who attribute such a power and sovereignty to the heavenly bodies , as whereby they destroy the liberty of mans will , and introduce a kind of fatal necessity , whereupon they ground the certainty of their prognostications . for these men fondly hold , that we are all fatally tied to the stars : whereas , man being a free agent , it is folly to imagine that his will can be constrained . this faculty remaineth arbitrary and unconsined , and therefore no artist can divine what the acts and exertments of it shall be . it is true that reason and wisedom have the dominion but in few men. the generality are led by their sensitive and brutish part , which is immediately subject to the influence of the heavens . but it is not impossible , nay , it is easie by the aid of divine grace , and by a resolute resisting , to avoid their operation upon us . prayers and endeavours frustrate the stars , for their influence is not inevitable , so as to force any man's will : and hereupon it is undeniably consequent , that voluntary actions cannot be infallibly foretold . i have shewed already that supernatural actions cannot be predicted by the stars : now i believe it will as palpably appear , that free and voluntary ones cannot . as the things which depend on the mere power and pleasure of god , so those that issue from the freedom and election of man are beyond the reach , and out of the ken of astrological predictions . mens wills are the planets that guide them , and make them erratical . it is not in the power of astrologers to fix these , and to bring them within the sphere of their knowledge . we see and observe that their conjectures are uncertain concerning the change of weather . how often may they be confuted in their predictions of rain , snow , frost , winds , & c ? some have writ down the weather quite contrary to their prognosticks ( as buchanan dealt with his almanack above fifty years together , and as the earl of mirandula hath observed ) and have found that what they set down came nearest to the truth . if an astrologer then faileth so mnch in telling the weather , how much more in undertaking to determine those events which depend on the will and choice of man ? if he cannot exactly foretell the changes of the clouds and elements , how will he be able to acquaint us before-hand with the alterations in families and kingdoms , which are more uncertain ? it is by reason of such bold pretenders and undertakers , that astrology is rendred vile and scandalous , and the professours of it looked upon as lyars and impostours . for what can be more like cheating , than for a man to take upon him to determine certainly of future contingencies , when the objects of his predictions are every minute alterable by the interposal of free agents , who have power to interrupt the causality of the stars ? for though men may be thus and thus disposed and inclined , according to the different constellations and their aspects , yet they are left free , and are not constrained and forced to doe this or that . and if this be true , the most sagacious artist on earth cannot punctually determine their actions , this being an impregnable proposition , that nothing can be certainly foretold by man , which is in the power of a free agent . thirdly , astrology is abused not onely when the free agency of god and man are infringed , but when the concurrence of those other causes which are requisite in the life of man is wholly neglected . this then must be laid down as a necessary proposition , that the tempers and constitutions of men , and consequently their dispositions and actions , and all humane affairs which are the issue of them , depend upon several conjoyned causes . it is true that we receive our complexion and temperature from the quality of the heavenly bodies , but not from them only , but from other causes and authours . i have granted once and again , that there is a great consent and intercourse between the upper and lower world. heaven and earth are confederate . many things are derived to our natures from above , many of our inclinations are received from thence , many events and accidents are depending on the astral revolutions , but they do not derive their force from them alone . there are other causes besides the prime efficiency of god , and the free agency of men , which powerfully influence on humane actions . say then that the stars act on the body of man , and say that the complexion of the body swayeth the mind , ( as is acknowledged , ) yet this complexion depends on the temper of the parents , and the quality of their seed ; on the temper of the air of that countrey which he was born in , and afterwards lived in ; on his diet and food he constantly takes ; on his education and manner of life . all these , and several other things make a great difference in men : and the influence of the stars may be hindred by any of them , much more by all of them together . though the heavens dispose to such and such temperatures of body , yet they are easily changed and over-ruled by the concurrence of these . to speak freely , the stars act , as all other natural causes do , according to the capacity and disposition of the matter they work upon . now the disposition of inferiour bodies is very different , and on that account they receive not the heavenly influences alike . just as we see the effects of diseases are according to the diversities of mens bodies , and therefore no certain judgment can be made of the issue of one man's distemper , from what is observed in another . for example , a physician sees such and such signs of death in two persons who have high fevers , but though the prognosticks are equal in both , yet the natural temper of one may be stronger than the others , and so be too hard for the disease and overcome it : but it was not possible for the master of medicks to foresee this . the case is the same here , and it is confirmed by experience . all persons who were born under the same planets are not of the same condition and fortune in the world , and on the contrary , the conditions and fates of men are alike ( as when many thousands fall in battel in one day ) though different stars reigned at their births : and the reason is , because all men are not alike capable of the influence of heaven , for there may be wanting a concurrence of several causes ( which i have before named ) to make them equal : and it is undeniably true , that the heavens are not the integral causes of mens conditions and actions . i infer then irrefragably , that no astrologer can certainly foretell future events which depend upon so many causes , whilst he is carefull onely to be acquainted with one sort of them . and from all the premised heads it is easie to conclude how shallow and imperfect the judgments of common astrologers are , and what little reason they have to be absolute and peremptory in their predictions . for the actions of mens lives , and the different events that happen to them , are derived from several springs and originals , besides the heavenly bodies . a judgment cannot be made of a man's life from one of these onely , but from all . the prime source and fountain of all is god , or the divine providence , which commandeth the sun , and it riseth not , and sealeth up the stars , job . . which can countermand the ordinary course of nature , and particularly that of the celestial bodies . or , the same infinite power can change the temper which was received from the stars , and cause his grace to check and controll the influence of their aspects , so that it shall be out of the reach of any humane science , to make a steddy judgment of any actions or events that belong to such persons . and as for that other spring of mens actions , their wills , these being free and arbitrary cannot be confined by art ; and whatever actions depend on voluntary choice and determination , cannot be foreknown , unless they be revealed by him who is the onely knower and searcher of hearts . it is his sole pretogative to foresee future contingencies which depend on free causes : though it is true the devil hath claimed this in all ages , ( witness the many ways of divination by oracles , auguries , &c. ) and for this he hath been consulted and adored by the gentile world. besides , it is above humane art to foretell certainly future contingencies , because the actions of men , and the events which follow them are not always , or for the most part according to their wills and inclinations : for they may be swayed and over-ruled by providence , they may act against their purposes and resolves . not to mention this also , that hypocrisie often puts a veil and disguise on mens doings . lastly , those other associate causes and springs of actions and events in the life of man , as the first principle of generation derived from the parents , and the like , may prove too strong for the influence of the heavens , and so make all prognosticks uncertain . but it will be said , that those who divine by the stars are consulted frequently , and it is known that they sometimes exactly foretell what shall come to pass . i answer , i am not unwilling to grant that they doe so , and by virtue of their art. for i have intimated before , that i am none of those who cut down a whole art right or wrong , who admit of no limitations and cautions in the subject they treat of , and in the cause they undertake , a sort of men that spoil all sciences , and have done as much harm in divinity as in any thing whatsoever . i make no question but the stars point out some futurities to us , but it seldom happens that we know what they are , because the persons who are truly skilfull and can direct us , are very few and scarce : because the art is intricate , and taketh up much time , and requireth a singular honesty joyned with an exquisite knowledge . for it is not every well-willer to the mathematicks can set up for prognosticks . an astrologer must not onely be skilled in the starry revolutions , but ought to be a profound philosopher , politician , historian , physician , divine , and in a word , universally instructed ; for he is to look into , and be acquainted with other causes and springs of actions besides those above ; he is to attend to divers things , and not to pronounce rashly : hear what a wise head uttereth to this purpose , ' h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the study of the heavenly bodies is not the employment of a rude and barren mind , but of one that is extremely ingenious and docile , and pregnant with the most complete and accomplished notions . an astrologer must be a man of great thoughtfulness and study , of mighty wisedom and sagacity , of long trial and experience , of exact and wary observation , and in order to this latter he should constantly reside in a place proper for his employment , a plain champain countrey , a clear and uncloudy skie , fit to promote the observations of the heavens : and on this account i question whether the accurate notice of the stars can be attained to in islands and such like places . when the person is rightly accomplished for his work , and when all things belonging to the art favour and befriend him , ( which is very rare ) his astrological judgments may prove successfull . but even then he cannot promise and assure any man of the certainty and infallibility of what he saith , but must desire people to be contented with likelihood and probability . this is the true scale of astrology , and he that takes its height otherwise deceiveth the world. i answer again , it is no wonder that they seem sometimes to foretell aright things to come , for this they may doe merely by chance . it will happen so at one time or other . but then how often do they feed those who consult them with lies ? though the art be fallacious , yet it may hit sometimes , and so events may answer to the predictions . why may they not light on truth by chance ? of so many things foretold some one will come to pass . but if the number of the things which happen , and of those which do not , be compared , for one truth you will find a thousand falshoods . this also i have to answer , that sometimes they are thought to foretell , because they speak ambiguously ; and fond people are prone to interpret in favour of the fortune-teller . thus nostrodamus ( who was physician to three kings of france successively ) his prognostications are so obscure and equivocal , that some of them have been thought to be fulfilled when they were not , and that merely because they are so shaped , that they may be understood and applied divers ways . moreover , there is reason to believe , that they sometimes foretell things from a confederacy and compact with spirits . i am confident i am not uncharitable in thinking that some of those who take upon them to predict future events by judiciary astrology , step beyond the bounds of their art , and hold correspondence with lucifer , that great fallen star. by his means they may shrewdly foretell ( as some of them have done ) the exact time and manner of their own and others deaths . as suetonius , in the life of domitian , tells of an astrologer , who having foretold the emperour's fortune , which it seems was not pleasing to him , and being asked by the emperour what should be his own , he said he was to be devoured by dogs . to frustrate his prediction the emperour ordered he should presently be killed and buried : but whilst they were burying him a great storm arose , and made them relinquish the corps , and by that means it was left to the dogs , who came and tore it in pieces and devoured it . cardan foretold the year and day of his own death . one warned iulius caesar of the ides of march , which were approaching , and it is well known that they proved fatal to him . picus mirandula , who by his writings shewed himself the greatest adversary that ever astrology had , ( as one who was the greatest patron , and learnedst defender of judiciary astrology , styleth him ) was told by lucius bellantius , and two other astrologers , that he should die in the three and thirtieth year of his age , and he did so . this might fall out by chance , as i have said : or , as i am now suggesting , by the devil's help , for he is ready to assist in predictions those that too narrowly prie into such mysteries , and thereby he promotes his kingdom and interest . and that some futurities of great moment may be discovered by his assistence is evident , because he is ( as the sacred writ calleth him ) the god of this world , and ruleth in the children of disobedience , because he is engaged in all the black crimes men are guilty of , and stirreth them up to the commission of those horrid villanies which are acted : he may in a manner be said to doe them , and therefore can tell that they are to be done . or , he being prosent at the clubs and consults of the wicked , heareth such and such things from the mouths of those who design to act them , or , evil spirits can guess futurities by what is past or present . they can partly see the things to come in those that have been already . these subtile creatures ponder the nature and effects of all things , and by their long continuance and experience are skilled in the temper of the elements , and of mens bodies , and the inclinations proceeding thence , insomuch that they can foresee famine , pestilence , and other diseases , wars and deaths . or god may permit evil spirits to foretell events , suffering them thereby to seduce the wicked , and to punish them , or for other reasons which are hid to us . from such considerations as these it is not unreasonable to gather . that the consulting of ghosts and familiar spirits , in plain terms , devils , is too often palliated under the pretence of astrology . i have it from the pen of paracelsus , ( who some think was a competent judge in this case , ) that the devil often insinuateth himself into astrologers . nor is it necessary that he should formally and solemnly converse with them , ( though it is probable he doth so with some : ) it is enough for their purpose , and the devil 's too , that they tacitly hold commerce with him : an implicit compact may suffice sometimes . and thus the daemon , or evil spirit , who actuateth them , keeps them in pay with constant intelligence , till at last he gives them the full reward of their serving him in the regions of darkness forever . i hope i have by this time made it manifest , that future events may be predicted in some measure , or seem to be so , and yet that this is not to be attributed to astrological skill . no : this art , as it is managed ; seldom reacheth so far . if it had light into the hands of persons who were both knowing and good , it might have come to some thing : but as it hath been used , or rather abused and perverted , no great matter can be expected from it . and to offer yet a farther conviction of this , and to prove that it is not in the power of astrology , as it is now framed , to foretell future contingencies , nay , not natural occurrences with any certainty , i will lead you to a clear apprehension of it by these following steps : . the hypotheses they commonly go upon , are not the same that we reade of heretofore . . they proceed upon seigned and precarious principles . . and more particularly , their doctrine of genitures is fond and groundless . . they go beyond the rules of the wisest in the art. . they pretend to tell others of their affairs , but in the mean time know not their own . in the first place , i tender this to be considered , that the hypotheses which the old astrologers and the new ones proceed upon , are not the same , but differ toto coelo , and therefore it is impossible that the astrological judgments made from them should be true , or at least , if they be true on one side , they are false on the other . ricciolus in his astronomia reformata , hath learnedly shewed the variety of astronomical hypotheses , and the uncertainty of them ; and from thence he moves for a reformation in the principles of astronomy and astrology . that excellent writer will inform us , that the ancient astrology was false and frivolous , because it was grounded on gross mistakes in philosophy , on palpable errours concerning the systeme of the world , as the ptolemaick hypothesis , which is now laughed at . the moderns will tell you that the fixed stars have altered their places , and do not set and rise at the same time they did of old , but a month later . for example , the dog star arose about the middle of iuly heretofore , but now in the middle of august . the fixed stars of scorpio and taurus have changed their site . the star in the tail of the lester bear , called the pole star , hath insensibly crept nearer the pole. it was heretofore the most southerly star in that constellation , but is now the most northerly . hipparchus , a famous pythagorean philosopher , who lived in egypt in the reign of ptolemaeus philadelphus , saith it was degrees from the pole in his days : but now it is not above or . and the planets are altered as well as the fixed lights . the entrance of the sun into the cardinal points ( a mighty considerable thing in astronomy , and whence the judgments of artists concerning the quarters of the year take their measures ) is determined by some otherwise than it was heretofore . nay , it is known that the moderns do not agree about the punctual time of the sun's entrance , copernicus and other mathematicians say the sun is come nearer to the earth than it was heretofore by vast proportions ; some say ten thousand miles . the centre of the sun was distant from the centre of the earth ▪ diameters of the earth in ptolemy's time : now it is distant . the sun 's apogaeum in ptolemy's days was in the th degree of gemini , now according to tycho it is in the th degree of cancer . some likewise are of opinion , that the reason why so many eclipses appear , is because the equinoxes are transposed , and remain not what they were at first . now this i say , if there , be not the same distance of the earth from the heavens that was heretofore , and if the stars are displaced , there will follow thence an increase or abatement of their influences : or , though they be not altered ( as i cannot tell whether my authours fail me or no in their accounts ) yet if some modern artists have thought so , and have framed their conclusions accordingly , there must needs be some alteration in judgments made thence . and yet these moderns ( which is very strange ) adhere to the aphorisms of the ancients in the judiciary part of astrology . the old hypotheses are exploded , and yet no new rules and maxims are introduced . the antiquated aphorisms must hold on still , though the heavens are not now conformable to the old systeme of them . who would not think that the new discoveries in the heavens must needs make some alteration in the judgments made from them ? since many things concerning the stars are known and acknowledged now which former times were ignorant of , how can it otherwise happen than that there should be sometimes different , if not contrary observations ? secondly , their art is founded , as on suspected hypotheses , so upon false and feigned principles . as to instance , they build upon the groundless suppositions of the zodiack , that great and spatious circle which containeth the several roads and inns which the sun turns into in his travelling round the world. having named this , perhaps it will be expected i should declame against the imaginary signs in that circle , for they confess themselves that there is not the least similitude of a lion , a scorpion , or a crab in the heavens . if it had pleased the first nomenclators , the lion might have been a jaccal , the scorpion a crocodile , and the crab a whale . one of the constellations in this circle is called libra , but it is no more like a balance than a pair of bellows , nor so much neither . but libra is a symbol of justice , ergò they that are born under this sign shall prove just and even men. this it is to argue from arbitrary and fictitious things , as if real effects were like to be produced from chimaera's . those that remonstrate against judiciary astrology , use to be very brisk here , and fly with great zeal at these imaginary and feigned signs in the heavens . but i have premised before , that i design not conquest but truth in this short essay . my work is not to run at all adventures against an opinion , but to strike at so much of it onely as ought to be opposed . i hold therefore , that though those constellations have imaginary names , yet they may be indued with a real influence . and the reason why they call them by such names , is because it is likely those figures from whence they are denominated , ( as a ram , a bull , &c. ) express something of the nature and effects , the power and operation of those stars on the body of man. however , these names and figures were appropriated to them to distinguish them from one another . waving then these , let us consider the distribution of the signs of the zodiack , and here indeed we shall find mere fictions and delusions . take this convincing demonstration of it : astrologers teach , that the several countries and regions of the world are under their particular and proper signs , that they are all provided and served with their different configurations : and so their way is , when there are conjunctions , eclipses , and the like in these signs , to see what countreys and cities are liable to the dominion of these constellations . but you must note that when the astrologers made the distribution of the signs , there were but three parts , or rather half of the world known , and the regions of that known world shared all the signs among them ; so that if any other parts should be found out afterwards , they were to shift for themselves , and be contented without signs . now it happened that america was discovered since , and this is as large as the other three parts of the world , and hath not one sign allotted it . an astrologer still proceeds as if there were no such place in nature ; for if he should allow it any signs then this new world must rob the old one of half its constellations , and by this means the ancient rules of astrology ( on which they still proceed ) are baffled and cashier'd . it is clear then that the dividing of these signs was an idle and foolish invention . or , to couch the matter in short thus , the old division of the signs among the nations of the earth was either right or wrong . if it was right , then one half of the world hath engrossed all the signs , which is as ridiculous and absurd as can be , and the poor people of america , though they be a moiety of the world , can have no prognosticks made upon them . or if the ancient way of dividing the signs was wrong , then all the astrological judgments of places of the world before two hundred years agoe , were mere shams : and as for the modern astrologers , if they follow that division , they are deluded , and if they make a new one , they thereby disgrace and abuse the greatest patrons of their art , and they may as well renounce their other hypotheses and principles as this , and so the whole fabrick of astrology will be in danger of tumbling down . the order of the regimen of the twelve signs , in respect of man's body , will be call'd in question , viz. why the head is governed by this sign , and the neck by that ? why such members are under the dominion of such particular constellations , and not others ? and the division of these signs into hot and cold , dry and moist , according to the qualities of the four elements , or , which is the same , the division of them into four trigons , the fiery trigon ( aries , leo , sagittarius , ) the earthly ( taurus , virgo , capricorn , ) the aerial ( gemini , libra , aquarius , ) and the watry ( cancer , scorpio , pisces , ) may be looked on as groundless and precarious . next , i am not satisfied about their distribution of the heavens into the twelve houses , which they talk much of , and of which they make as much use in the erection of their schemes . when they are to judge of the events that appertain to any person they fly to these houses presently , to see what planets , or other stars , were situated in any of these at the birth of him they enquire about . the first house begins at the east-horizon , and is to be numbred according to the series of the signs eastward . in nativities it is called the horoscope , and the house of life . it is also named the ascendent , because the sun ascends there in this first house : and according to the quality of any man's ascendent they tell you what his fortunes shall be . this and the other eleven houses with their virtues and properties , are represented in order in the following distich , vita , lucrum , fratres , genitor , nati , valetudo , vxor , mors , pietas , regnum , benefactáque carcer , these houses ( say they ) have their particular and distinct relation to all things that can happen to man , and according to these the various events of life and death are to be judged of . but what can be more imaginary and fancyfull ? it is a mere arbitrary invention that there should be just twelve houses , and no more or less . and what is there in one of these houses more than in another that signifies these distinct natures and properties ? what reason can be given why the first house should be the horoscope , and why judgment must be made there of the birth of the child ? and not onely in this , but in every one of these houses there are many things wholly feigned , fabulous and precarious . when you come to take an account of them from the artist , you hear nothing but a mere jargon and unintelligible gibberish . but this is plain english , and easie to be understood , that from consulting of imaginary and fictitious houses nothing is to be expected but imaginary predictions . and so for the planetary hours , which are the equal parts which astrologers divide the artificial day and night into , be it long or short . there are planetary hours constantly in a day before noon , and after ; and in these a planet is said to reign or rule , and the hours take their denomination from the planets , beginning with luna , and so proceeding to saturn , and then beginning again with luna , &c. this , no less than the position of the twelve houses , seemeth to be wholly arbitrary , and founded on no solid bottom ; and i could never find that the stoutest champion that the stars ever had , could keep his ground here . thirdly , and more particularly , their doctrine of genitures is fond and ridiculous . but here first i will ( according to the method i always prescribed my self ) grant what is to be granted , viz. that as the heavenly bodies , which are so great and vast , and always surround and incircle us , shed their influence and efficacy continually upon us , so they do it especially at our first entring into the world , when our bodies are moist , soft and tender . then chiefly they receive impressions from the heavens , and so the temperament is partly derived from above , and if long custome of acting be added to the natural temper and complexion , here is some ground for astrological judgments in a sober manner . but the common doctrine of the genethliaci , and their boasts and undertakings are vain upon these following accounts ; because , . the judgment concerning the complexion and inclination of men should be made not onely from their nativity , but from the time of their generation and conception , when the first lineaments of their temper were drawn , and the ground work of nature was laid . if any thing be impressed on men by the stars , it is rather done upon the seed in conception , than on the foetus at the birth : and therefore the judgment should rather be taken from that principle , and from the time of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , when the infant first of all moveth and liveth , than from the hour of the nativity . and yet i could never observe that these diviners trouble their heads about this , which is the foundation of all . . the knowledge of the efficacy of the stars , as to the nativity of persons , is very hard to come by , for the exact time of birth is seldom known and set down . many can assign the day or night , the forenoon or afternoon , or perhaps the hour in any of these , but not one in a million directly knoweth the just and precise time when he was born . and yet many of those who maintain the judgment of genitures say , that the day or hour are not enough , but it is necessary to know the true minute of the nativity , for on that depends the exact judgment of the person and his actions . thus we see ( say they ) that the little distance between the birth of twins causeth a vast difference in their respective fortunes and course of life , as in the examples of iacob and esau , remus and romulus , and others . these twins , though they may be said to be born together , yet because they came not into the world at the very same moment , differed exceedingly in their conditions , and all circumstances of their lives ; for every single minute the influence of the heavens altereth . so that according to the concessions of astrologers themselves there is no accurate judging from the nativity . if the clocks went false at the time of the midwifery , all is gone . the hour ( if that would serve ) cannot be perfectly told , much less the quarter and minute : and yet if there be any failing in the least portion of time , the stars change their influences . nor can they salve the matter ( but rather give farther proof of their groundless confidence ) by saying that if the just time of the nativity be forgot , or not known , they can by a rule of hermes ( which sir christopher heydon sets down in his defence of judiciary astrology , p. . ) help themselves and supply the defect . but others , who are not so punctual , say it sufficeth that they have a more general account of the time of birth . and these men see they must be forced to acknowledge this , because it is impossible sometimes that the exact minute of the nativity should be known , as when the birth is retarded by some accident or other . nay , every child is born by parts , he comes successively into the world , so that there is a great latitude in the time of nativity . the head may have received its impression from the heavenly bodies before the breast or the belly have theirs , and these before the feet and lower parts can come to have their doom . thus the several regions and members of the body will be diversly affected by the stars . if twins were not born under the same constellation , because not born in the same moment , but one after another , then for that reason no one man is born under the same constellation , for he cometh not all at once into the world. moreover , it is against the nature of astrology it self , to judge of the course of mens lives from their nativity , because that teacheth that a diversity of aspects causeth divers inclinations in humane bodies . now it is known that the aspects of the planets vary much in one day in divers countries . it is vain then to judge of persons of divers countries and regions from their nativities . though many are born about the same time , yet the places being different , there must be a diversity of position of the heavens , and what star ariseth in one place in such an instant , sets in another ; therefore the judgments of astrologers in this case are uncertain . farther , though i cannot disprove what one hath related , viz. that two persons born at the same time were observed afterwards to be of the same genius , they were philosophers of the same school and sect , and died both in the same moment ; and it is known , that as some twins came into the world , so they went out together , yet it is as evident also , that those who had the same stars at their births , proved to be of different qualities and success in their lives ; and on the contrary , they who were born under different stars met with the same fortunes . an example of this latter is given us by the great roman pleader , and thus urged by him , as a full eviction of the vanity of the genethliack divination , omnésne qui cannensi pugnâ ceciderunt , uno astro fuerunt ? exitus quidem omnium unus & idem fuit . in some battel ( as suppose at cannae ) there fell at the same time , and by the same kind of death , twenty thousand men. if this happened from the stars , then they were all born under the same constellation ; but none hath the impudence to say so : and therefore to argue from the stars reigning at mens births to their future adventures and success , is irrational . it is absurd to believe that all which happeneth in the whole life , dependeth on that moment in which the child was born , or that as the stars stood affected at that time , so ever after he should act . lastly , you may see how liable the doctrine of genitures is to fraud and deceit , from the general use that is made of it by those who undertake to erect astrological schemes : for a person and his actions being once known , they presently make some star , house , aspect or other , answer to his actions , and make those to be certain arguments of these . richard cromwell his nativity is one of the meanest and poorest that ever i saw , saith a student in this art ; there is not one planet here essentially dignified . major general lambert began his march . nov. . h. . m. towards the north , against general monk. the position of the heavens was most sad , saith the same person ; the moon was in a watry sign , therefore he had like to have been drowned in yorkshire , riding through a river towards his army . but you may take notice by the bye , ( from the same hand ) that those who are born under pisces , shall fall into a river some time or other , but not be drowned , because forsooth fishes swim . cardinal signs possessing the angles of a nativity make the person most eminent and famous in his generation , saith the same artist , ( the greatest actions of the world depending on the cardinal points of the heavens , viz. aries , cancer , libra , capricorn . ) thus tullius cicero , gustavus adolphus , late king of sweden , archbishop laud and oliver cromwell ( are they not well suited by him ? ) had the cardinal points upon the angles of their nativities . peter gassendus , poor man , because he writ against judiciary astrology , and checked and confuted the art of genitures , hath all things naught in his nativity . his ill habit of body , and worser ( if this censor is to be credited ) of mind , is plainly to be seen in the heavens . never was wretch so bespattered by man of art. what work would this man make with the nativity of the worthy dr. henry more , if he could get a sight of it ? he would reade his life and all his writings in it at the first view . he would make the lord of his ascendent plainly shew him to be a retired , melancholick collegian all his days , a philosopher , and particularly of the platonick sect , and ( which is as ugly a thing as can be in any man's geniture ) a professed adversary of the church of rome , and all its corruptions . thus , but more grievously , he should smart for writing against dear vrania , for daring to insert his confutation of judiciary astrology into the mystery of godliness , and for printing it lately by it self . but look you now , because vincent wing published a piece against gassendus , ( wherein this excellent person 's objections against astrology are pretended to be answered ) and was himself a well-willer and brother philomathemat . his nativity hath all things good and laudable in it . but then again he tells us that william lilly , his enemy , though fellow astrologer , had the moon in pisces , a wet and drinking sign , which made him a piece of a good fellow . but i am weary of such light and ludicrous stuff , and have more serious and weighty matter to set before the reader . onely from this it appeareth , that astrological observations and genethliacal judgments are oftentimes the products of a capricious and fancifull , and ( as you see here ) of a spightfull and malitious brain . and for this reason , as well as some others , ( particularly because these men have undertaken to calculate the nativity of buildings , as well as of humane bodies , of hard stones no less than of soft flesh , ) the most learned and judicious astrologers have not asserted the doctrine of genitures , although in other things they have defended astrological judgments . thus i have searched into those feigned hypothese and fallacious principles on which a great part of judiciary astrology is founded . and though i do not think the whole art is rendred altogether vain and useless by them , yet i assure my self that there can be no true predictions from any thing that is false in any art : and for that reason the common astrologers ought not to be confident of their undertakings , and those that consult them may justly suspect their performances . fourthly , these pretenders to astrology go beyond the wisest patriarchs and founders of their art : they exceed the limits of their science , and the sentence is passed against them by their own judges . i will name onely two of them , but they are the chiefest , and of the greatest renown . the first is ptolemy , the prince of astrology , whose first and leading aphorism is this , that generals onely can be foretold by this art , and that those alone who are divinely inspired are able to predict particular events . an astrologer may tell the propension and inclination of a man from his natural temperament , and this from the stars ; but he cannot from that general inclination tell what determinate effects will ensue . he ought to content himself with a general judgment , and not to be definitive in special cases , in particular and individual accidents . this is the decision of the great father of astrologers . what then becomes of their horary questions , which descend even to the most particular and personal affairs ? what resolution is to be expected of the queries about the marriage of such an individual couple , the particular events of this seaman's voyage , that counsellor's cause , this merchant's adventure , that soldier 's engagement , the time of the death of any of these , and ( rather than they will stand out ) the retrieving of any neighbour's silver spoon lost or stollen ? again , it is confessed by the same master and dictatour of astrology , that the influence of the stars is not necessary and unavoidable , but may be evaded by mens industry and care. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . a wise man ( saith he ) is able to avert the effects of the stars when he knoweth the nature of them : and he adjoineth socrates as an example of this , who , when an astrologer had told him his natural inclinations , confessed them true , but these ( saith he ) are all conquered by prudence and vertuous endeavours ; my soul hath got the mastery of my body , philosophy and moral discipline have corrected my natural propensions . a wise man hath dominion over the stars , he subdueth those motions which come to him from thence , and they are fools onely who are led by them . the second great judge and rabbi of this art , is that noted florentine iunctinus , an authour that judiciary astrologers deal very much in , and therefore i will alledge four or five set determinations of his , wherein the vanity and ( i may say ) nullity of the common and irrational way of astrologizing are discovered and condemned . and what he saith is the more observable , because i take it out of that treatise which is intituled , the defence of astrologers . those astrologers ( saith he there ) who will needs know and predict all kinds of particulars are fools . and in the same place , an astrologer can tell nothing certainly as to such things as concern man's will. this is often repeated by him . excellently again in the same treatise , the significations of the stars are not like the commands and edicts of praetors , ( i. e. necessary and indispensable , ) but are in subjection to the command and will of god. and what the sense of all sober astrologers is , we may learn from those words of his , viz. astrologers do not hold that the heavens are wholly and altogether the cause of our fortunes or misfortunes , but that they act onely according to the subject matter , which accordingly as it is disposed , doth more or less receive the celestial influence . it might be added that iunctinus ingenuously confesseth , that the wonders and miracles of the old and new testament , being works brought to pass by god himself , and not depending on second causes , cannot be foretold by astrology . this is the sense of the two great dictatours of judiciary astrology , and all the sober of that study acquiesce in it . thus though the hebrew rabbies ( several of whom were notable students and proficients in astrology , as aben ezra in particular , the greatest divine and astrologer the jews ever had , ) say proverbially , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all things depend on the stars , yet it is plain that they do not think their influence is necessary and inevitable , and such as carrieth force and constraint along with it ; for none are more for free-will than the rabbies and the jewish doctours . and this adage of theirs may be qualified with that other which they make use of , viz. the stars neither make a man poor nor rich ; and with that known one already mentioned , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 no star shines with an evil aspect upon israel , the felicity or infelicity of the pious depend not on the host of heaven . those that are good need not dread being planet-struck . fifthly , there cannot be a greater proof of the uncertainty and vanity of astrological judgments than this , that those men who profess to tell others what shall happen to them even in relation to their secretest and most concealed affairs , yet in the mean time know not what shall befall themselves , and are ignorant about their own concerns . these bold diviners have not so much skill as to reade the destiny of their own families , and yet they will undertake to tell others whether they shall be rich or poor , whether they shall be long-liv'd or no. whilst they soar alott , and with a mene tekel pronounce the fate of kingdoms , they are blind about their own little affairs , of which without doubt they might have a better insight , than of the intrigues that relate to the publick ; for it is far easier to dive into their own private fortunes at home , than those which relate to princes and states , and great communities . i may take leave then to collect , that those who cannot foresee the evils which may befall themselves , are unable to foretell contingent events to others . and this is the case of the men i am speaking of , and it appears from thence how groundless their predictions are . even the great iulius caesar , who had throughly studied this part of astrology , and in the very time of war and business , used to set some hours apart for it , as he is brought in by the poet , speaking of himself : — media inter praelia semper stellarum coelique plagis , superisque vacari . in midst of battels and of bloudy wars i could find leisure for the heavens and stars . this great proficient in astrology , after all his study , had not so well conned the alphabet of the stars , as to spell out his own destiny , nay , not to reade it after he had been taught it by spurina . if it shall be said here , that the prophets of the old and new testament were able to inform the world of future things of the highest moment , and yet oftentimes fore-saw not what should befall themselves : i answer , that these holy persons were extraordinarily inspired by god for the good of the world , and the great purpose of religion in it . it was in order to this that they were enabled to foretell futurities : still they were like other men , as to their own private notices of things . but these men who started the objection , pretend not to be extraordinarily assisted , they proceed according to their art : and if so , this would direct them as certainly to a knowledge of their own affairs , as to that of others , nay more certainly . many other things might be heaped up together , to evince the uncertainty of the vulgar prognostications of astrologers , as namely , that if we consult several of them , we shall be sure to hear our doom in a different , nay contrary manner : that those astrologers who are subject to a bad fate ( though their skill may be good ) are apt to err in their judgments : ( it is one of the astrological aphorisms in gadbury : a ticklish business indeed ! we had need first consult mr. astrologer's nativity , before we desire him to search into our own : ) that this sort of men generally are made up of vain boastings , and their art is calculated for pride and ostentation . any one that readeth cardan , who was the chiefest of their order , will find that he vaunted of more than he did , or ever could doe . but it happened that the lies he telleth in one place are confuted by him ( having forgotten them ) in another , as concerning several cures of diseases , his familiar spirit , and astrological achievements . and this is the fault of all the tribe , i mean of those who are guilty of abusing the astrological science , and there cannot be a greater argument of their folly and vanity . on all these considerations aforesaid , the unlawfull use of astrology hath been condemned by decrees , and anathematized by councils . it was prohibited by the edicts of constantine the great , the odosius , iustinian , and other christian emperours and kings . ars autem mathematica damnabilis est , & interdicta omnino , and a capital punishment by the same imperial law was inflicted on those who consulted these mathematici ; for that was the word then for all kinds of unlawfull diviners and soothsayers , whether they practised by the stars , or any other ways ; not that mathematicks was damnable , and that every one who described a circle , setched the devil into it presently , but because some of those who were conversant in geometrick figures , and other mathematical studies , practised also in unwarrantable divination , and thence mathematici became the name of all that did so . the ancient fathers speak freely against these rash astrologers , who tie the actions of men to the stars , and pretend to foretell future contingencies and events , that are free. one of them especially , and he of as great learning as any , and ( which is yet more ) who in his youth had been of the tribe of diviners and astrologers , being at length converted took occasion often in his writings to condemn the folly and impiety of their practices ; though he was still willing to give astrology its due , as when he said , in illa perspicuitate corporum coelestium non omnes omnino motus animi latere : which is no other than what i have asserted , viz. that it is possible to arrive to a notice of some motions and inclinations of the mind from the astral influences on the body . and thus it appeareth that the indirect and unwarrantable course of divining by the heavenly bodies was disallowed by the church , forbid by councils and synods , punished by the imperial constitutions , confuted by the learnedst and most pious fathers , it being an impious and foolish enterprize , directly against the doctrine of divine providence , and the exercise of christian faith ; it being the mother of superstition , the guide to distrusting in god , and in some to downright atheism . nay , picus mirandula hath shewed in several citations , that even the great philosophers and wits among the pagans despised the follies of astrology and prediction from the stars . it is the joint testimony of historians , that the mathematici were often expelled the city of rome , and even banished out of italy by the emperours ; though we are told indeed that they were sometimes called back again , as tacitus speaking of these astrologers , saith they are a sort of men quod in civitate nostra & vetabitur semper & retinebitur . hist. l. . thus among all wise and sober persons whether christians or gentiles , the common prognosticatours have been odious and execrable . if my business lay in this sort of studies , i would present the reader with the excellent sense of those authours who have with equal solidity and acuteness , encountred this imposture . such were sextus empiricus of old , in his hypoiyp . pyrrhon . cicero , l. . de divinat . phavorinus in an oration against astrologers , in a. gellius , l. . plotinus , l. . ennead . . marcilius ficinus , that learned platonick philosopher and astronomer , who writ contra iudicia astrologorum . iohn picus , count of mirandula : thomas erastus , a physician and philosopher : causinus the jesuite , de domo dei : the admirable gassendus ▪ chamber ( publick lecturer of astronomy in oxford ) his treatise against judiciary astrology : barclay in his argenis , where nicopompus is introduced , making an ingenious speech on this subject . i could mention others , and set before you the summ of their several topicks , but that it would seem to savour something of the vanity of those i am confuting , who are wont to boast of authority , great names and numerous arguments . but waving these , let it satisfie the religious enquirer , that the astral influences , in that sense which i have explained them , are disallowed by the infallible test of all verity , the holy scriptures . when the divine law saith , there shall not be found among you any one that useth divination , or more exactly , according to the original , in the plural , he that divineth divinations , deut. . . the unlawfull foretelling by the stars is here forbid among other ways of divining . and to this prohibition perhaps may allude that jewish saying , ( though i know it admits of another sense ) the law is not found among astrologers and genethliacks . this impious art is reckoned among the abominations of the gentiles in that fore-named place , ier. . . where the israelites who were shortly to be captives among the chaldeans are forbid , not onely to learn their idolatrous astrology , and worshipping the heavenly host , but even to attend to their divination by those ordinary stars , which being natural and usual cannot be ominous . this likewise is condemned in isa. . , , . where , after god by the prophet had told the chaldeans ( who were hugely addicted to astrology , and first brought in the abuse of it ) that evil should come upon them , and they should not know from whence it riseth , ( whereas they pretended to spy the cause of all events in the stars ) and mischief should fall upon them , and they should not be able to put it off : ( whereas the guise of the great star-gazers was to flatter those who consulted them with promises and assurance of happy occurrences ) in an ironical and upbraiding manner he addeth , let now the astrologers and star-gazers and monthly prognosticatours , stand up and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee . in which bitter sarcasm that astrology which ascribes all to the stars is exploded , and their folly is laid open who trust not in god , but in the heavenly bodies , or rather in those who pretend to know by observing them when kingdoms shall be saved or destroyed . and thus i have largely set down the true vse of the heavenly bodies , and also the too frequent abuse of the knowledge of them . i have endeavoured rightly to state the controversie , and to distinguish between art and imposture , between true knowledge and vain pretences . and if this were impartially done in all sciences , we should see an unspeakable advancement of all sorts of learning , and truth would have an uncontrollable dominion in the world. i have made it my business to fix the true limits and boundaries of astrology ( a thing which i saw was very much neglected . ) it hath also offended me to see how some writers treat all the sons of vrania with contempt and derision , and affect jeering rather than arguing : therefore i have been carefull to carry my self inoffensibly as to this . it becomes sober persons to dispute with civility . it is best to confute an opinion without railing at them that hold it . in short , i have been so just and equal as to give astrology its due , and no more . it was truly said by an observing person , est astronomiae nobilis & gloriosa scientia , si clientelam suam intra moderationis metas cohibeat : quam si licentiore vanitate excedat , non tam philosophiae species quàm impietatis decipula est . the knowledge of the stars is a noble and glorious science , if it keepeth its retainers within the bounds of moderation ; but if it once leaps over those , and runs into vanity and extravagancy , it is no longer a part of philosophy but becomes a wicked engine to entrap mankind . here is the right and the wrong side of the art. take it in the former representation , and it is worthy of our thoughts and studies , as without doubt it was of those who lived in the first and best times . it is not improbable that adam delivered it to his children . thus the iewish antiquary relateth , he instructed seth in it , and that seth left the rudiments of it inscribed on two pillars . a learned man telleth us of a book yet extant of enoch concerning astrology . and the iewish historian in his antiquities before quoted acquainteth us that abraham was skilled in this art , and was the first that taught it to the egyptians , a people rude and unlearned in that and all sciences , till he came among them . this was the good and lawfull , the natural and usefull astrology , but it was soon abused and corrupted , as philosophy , natural magick , and other studies were . the devil at last stept in , and with superstition and lies depraved the practice of it . and now many pretend to doe that by this art which it is utterly impossible to doe , either by it , or any other . especially the masters of genethliacal predictions are rash and daring , and deliver things false and absurd , having no ground for their principles and conclusions . how often do these barchocabs , sons of the stars , prove barcoziba's , sons of a lye and imposture ? how frequently do those ignorant or inconsiderable people who consult them , those who affect to have their purses emptied , so their heads may be filled with pleasing fancies , how frequently are they heard to complain of these cheating oracles ? nor do i speak this to disparage and blacken the whole science , for i know it is usual with the professours of an art to carry it farther than is fitting and lawfull . the common astrologers undertake more than they know they can give a fair account of : and they are not the onely people that doe so . some physicians and lawyers will put their patients and clients on mad adventures , and some that pretend to divinity will assert any thing . it is unreasonable therefore to condemn all , because frauds and cheats may be espied in some . if some astrologers attribute more to the art than they should , that is no disparagement to the art it self . the abuse of the doctrine of the stars must not make us discard the science . though most of judiciary astrology be vain , yet all may not be so . though i have offered reasons which are able to diminish mens fond opinions of that study , and to take off the certainty which some pretend to in their astrological judgments , nay , though all the rules and aphorisms of ptolemy and the rest of the astrologers were vain and false , yet there may be some divination from the heavenly bodies , and that innocent and lawfull ; but this is such a one as is not derogatory to man's free acting : it doth no more impair the liberty of mens actions than the prophecies in the old testament of future things infringed the freedom of those who were to act afterwards according to those unerring predictions . and this i will add , that if god's decrees and concourse are reconcilable with man's free actions , so may the influence of the stars be likewise . if the abuse then of astrology be taken away , and it keepeth it self within its due limits ( which i have set down ) it may be made serviceable to good and lawfull ends , and may justly be recommended to the world as the choicest accomplishment of all natural philosophy . i have been the longer on this theme , because the right understanding of it is necessary , not onely for settling our minds and judgments about so celebrated a problem as this is , but principally for the full and complete answering of the last objection which was levelled against the foregoing discourse . it was necessary to shew the true difference between the ordinary luminaries of heaven , and those strange and vnusual lamps which are lighted and set up there sometimes , and to make it evident , that the prognosticks which are made from the aspects and configurations of the stars , are nothing allied to those which are made from the appearance of comets . in defiance then of all cavils and objections , our assertion stands unshaken and immoveable , that these rare and amazing sights in the heavens portend some strange and unusual thing to the inhabitants of the earth . a comet is the prodromus of some notable calamity , and is sent on purpose to give notice and warning of it . take then the conclusion of all ( which will chiefly relate to our present condition and circumstances in this nation ) in these following particulars , . let us remember that we have felt the effects of comets , and upon that consideration let us not be tempted to dis-believe what hath been suggested in this discourse . it hath been proved to us experimentally , that comets are denunciations of god's anger , and that the products of these apparitions are direfull and fatal , if fire and pestilence , if bloudy conspiracies and intestine divisions and separations be any proofs . we have found that these monitors have not been sent in vain , that they were no bruta fulmina , no idle and insignificant flashes , but that they have really done execution . and if we are not convinced of this , but still remain incredulous and senseless , the wife disposer of all things may hereafter multiply these prodigies , and cause two or more of them to appear together , on purpose to upbraid our incredulity and unbelief , and to force our assent for the future . aristoteles tradit & simul plures ( cometas ) cerni : nemini compertum alteri , quod equidem sciam . though a certain philosopher reporteth concerning comets , that more than one of them have been seen at a time , yet i cannot find ( saith the natural historian , who had made a collection out of all histories that were extant ) that any one hath observed this besides himself . but who knoweth but that we ( who boggle at this doctrine ) may see a pair of them at once , as pharaoh's dream ( which was the sign and forerunner of a great calamity that was to ensue ) was doubled , to render the belief of the thing more firm and certain ? i do the rather think this not to be improbable , because both our sins and our insensibleness exceed those of former ages , and therefore the divine hand may shew that to us which was never known before . . although we do not yet perhaps feel the sensible effects of the comets which appeared last , yet we have no reason to be confident that we shall not experience any . the god we have to doe with is long-suffering and slow to wrath : he threatneth before he striketh . besides , a comet may not visibly and apparently opperate for a considerable time . the evil which a comet portendeth seizeth oftentimes by degrees . it is a great mistake to imagin that it shall never come because it hath not visited us already . or , the fatal season of its operating may be just entring , but not yet accomplished ; as spurina replied to iulius caesar , who merrily said the ides of march were come , that they were not yet past. . when i speak of black events which are the consequents of comets , it is to be known that it is intolerable folly and presumption to determine peremptorily what particular ones they shall be . many have fondly and rashly set down before hand the particular events of such and such comets , but they have thereby rendred themselves obnoxious to the censure of all sober persons . strange vicissitudes , distractions , perils and mischiefs are the attendants of these dreadfull spectacles , but it surpasseth all humane knowledge to define particularly and absolutely of what kind they shall be . great distresses for mens sins and miscarriages are threatned , but we know not certainly whether pestilence , or war , or famine , or which of the many other judgments is to be our allotment . all comets are not alike , but of different , and it may be contrary qualities , and consequently the effects are so too . and though one comet may seem to be of the same nature with another as to bigness , colour , motion and duration , yet it may be very unlike in figure , place , time , and other circumstances . and perhaps there never were any two comets of a like nature as to all things . there is therefore no judging of the particular effects of this or that comet , because we saw such events follow another of that likeness . indeed by our undertaking to specifie directly before hand the individual evils that shall come , we are so far from making a good use of these signs from heaven , that we rather provoke the divine anger by our being so daring and presumptuous . onely this may be done by us ; we may with modesty guess ( but go no farther ) that god will trie us with those evils which we have not very lately experienced and groaned under , and this not onely that we may feel all kinds of scourges for our offences , but that our new and unheard of debaucheries may be punished with fresh calamities . we may ( without limiting and confining god's hand ) expect famine and scarcity after so great plenty , nay , not onely a famine of bread , but of hearing the word of the lord. we may look for invasion from abroad , when we are so divided and distracted at home , and that under so gracious a prince . and truly this seemeth to be the vniversal and epidemick plague designed for all christendom . the mahometan crescent may in time grow to the full. the turkish cymetar , though often blunted , may be so edged once and again , as at last to doe fatal execution over all those spatious territories where christianity is professed , and ( which i am loth to add ) where the professours of it dishonour the religion it self by their lives . to be brief , the age we live in hath been already an age of great and wonderfull occurrences , and we may expect that the remainder of it will produce great and tremendous changes to the world : so that if diogenes were alive , he might now more eagerly desire than once he did to be buried with his face downward , and that for the same reason which he then gave , viz. because the world would in a short time be turned upside down . but lest i should be mistaken , and some should think i am positive and definitive in what i say , . that which i have asserted before must be called to mind here in the close of all , viz. that though comets are certain signs of god's displeasure , yet they are not necessary causes of the evils they threaten . our doom , i hope , is not irreversible . nay , it is certain that he who sheweth us the tokens of his anger , can divert it when he pleaseth . how glad should i be if all the intimations i have given of approaching evils should be frustrated ! i shall not , like ionas , be angry because nineveh is not destroyed . lastly , if all that hath been said amounts not to a demonstration , ( as i do not pretend it doth , and above half the subjects that are treated of in the world , and that have evident truth on their sides , never reached to that : if i have not demonstrated ) that comets are signs of impendent evils , yet this ought to be remembred , that no man can be certain that they signifie nothing , and that they stand for cyphers in the heavens . the rashest . determiners have not concluded that it is impossible they should be forerunners of calamities , and messengers of divine vengeance . now if they prove to be so ( as the abundant reasons and arguments above produced solicite us to believe ) it will be a heinous offence if we take no notice of them . however it will be best for us to look upon them as such , and then , if we are mistaken , it will be on the safest side , and we shall err with the wisest and soberest persons . at least it becometh us to suspend our iudgments in a dubious case . it is inconsistent with the wisedom and piety of a christian philosopher peremptorily to deny what hath some shew of probability . much less will it become him to make a mock of that which may be a serious truth , and the greatest reality in the world : as vespasian ( they say ) made himself merry with a comet that appeared in his days ? for being told by one that it portended ill to him , he jestingly said , that that star with long hair concerned the kings of persia , who wore long shaggy hair , and not bald emperours , such as he was . which is thus expressed by an historian : 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . although dio relateth that he spoke it of the king of parthia , yet it is most probable that he reflected on the persians , who were known by their long hair , and thence were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the father of history . far be it from us , who are a civilized people , and ( which is yet higher ) a nation professing christianity to jest with heaven , and exercise our drollery on those rare and stupendious appearances which we have so great reason to be persuaded are the almighty's messengers , a sort of mute prophets sent to instruct us in our duty , and to be forewarnings to us of the wrath to come . let us rather be directed by these heavenly signs , as the magi were of old by an unusual star that appeared to them , to seek our saviour . let us prepare for god's judgments by repentance and amendment of life , and by these excellent preparatives let us endeavour , if it be possible , to prevent them . let us abandon those sins and vices which we may justly believe are pointed at by these signs from heaven . those , those are the direfull prodigies which threaten christendom at this day . those are as ominous and presaging as all the glaring comets that have shaked their fiery trains over our heads . let us therefore , as we are desirous that god's judgments may be averted , and his blessings conferred upon us , as we are willing that christianity should thrive and get ground in the world , as we tender the well-fare of the church , which is the pillar and ground of truth , as we hope to have the best and purest religion ( derived from christ and his apostles ) continued amongst us to all succeeding generations , and as we wish well to our countrey , the most flourishing and happy region under heaven , let us break off our sins by repentance , and a speedy reformation of our manners ; which was the principal thing designed , and i hope will partly be effected by this discourse . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e can. . notes for div a -e sen. nat-qu . . . c. . notes for div a -e praelect . de comet . notes for div a -e senec. nat. quaest. l. . cap. . theatr. natur. l. s . paracels . iid. de meteor . meteor . l. . c. . snellius de cometa anni . cometograph . l. . nat. quaest. l. . c. . plin. nat. hist. l. . c. . nicephor . eccles. hist. l. . c. . aristot. l. . meteor . c. . senec. nat. quaest. l. . c. , , . ricciolus almagest . lib. de cometis . in cometar . physiolog . phranza . chronic. l. . c. . ricciol . almagest . aristot. meteor . l. . c. . manilius piso's specul . comet . astronom . instaur . progymnasm . manilii astronom . . l. senec. nat. quaest. l. . c. . cap. . cap. . tychon . progymnasm . tom . . regiomontanus . kepler optic . astron. fromondus . meteorolog . l. . c. . franc resta meteorol . l. . c. . ricciol . almagest . tom. . pars poster . ricciol . tom. . de cometis . fancisc . fernandez . tom. . pars poster . aristot. meteor . l. . c. . lib. . . c. . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , & ensiformis . gen. . . joseph . de bell. iudaic . l. . c. . nicephor . eccles. hist. l. . c. . socrates eccl. hist. l. . c. . sozomen l. . c. . funccius spondanus damascen . de fid. orthod . l. . c. . petav. theol . dogm . tom. . l. . antiquit. l. . c. . de praep. evang. l. . c. . lib. . orac. horat. mich. glycas . annal. pars . senec. nat. quaest. l. . cap. . mich. glyc . annal . par . . prov. . . platina in vit . calist. kepler de physiologia cometarum , l. . p. . bapt. ricciol . almagest . nov. tom. . par . poster . l. . signum , syr. arab. castal . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seventy interp. significationem , vulg. lat. virgil. georg . . aeneid . . manil. astronom . . l. silius , l. . punic . punic . l. . lucan . l. . pharsal . de raptu . lib. . e. leg . . palingen . l. . zodiack . sibyl . l. . sueton. in nerone . sueton. in claudio . socrates eccl. hist. l. . c. . cedren . hist. com . pend . longomontanus . christoph. clavius . piso. specul . cometae . milichius commentar . basil the great . hexaëmer . theodoret quaest. . in genes . fromond . meteor . l. . c. . campanella , astrolog . l. . dionys. petav. theol . dogm . tom. . l. . c. . maraviglia . pseudomant . ex. plos . dissertat . . dissertat . . grotius in proph. joel . cap. . v. . gassend . meteor . bacon's sapient . ve●er . psal. . , . plin. nat. hist. l. . c. . senec. nat. quaest. l. . cap. . cedren . hist. compend . tacit. annal . l. . sueton. in nerone . c. , . theodoret . de cur. graec. affectib . serm. . j. scaliger . exercitat . . sect . . r. kimchi in jon. eginhardus in vit . car. mag. philo de abrahamo . philo de monarch . aratus . amos . . job . . l. de mundi opificio . lib. de monarchia . basil. hexa●mer . zanchius de astronom . ovid. metamorph . l. . virgil. georg . l. . plutarch . in jul. caesar . tertullian ad scapulam , c. . sir w. raleigh's essays . aristot. meteor . l. . ep. jude , . v. plin. nat. hist. l. . c. . albumasar , pomponatius , cardan , vaninus . albertus magnus , lucas gauricus , prelates . petrus de aliaco , cusanus , cardinals . psal. . . philo de nomin . mutat . sir christoph . heydon . def. of iud. astrol. p. . l. de praesagiis . hackwell's apol. l. . sect. . valer. max. l. . c. . cicero . l. . de divinat . gadbury's collectio genitur arum . ibid. ptolem. centiloq . aph. . centiloq . ibid. alchish in . c. job . decret . . pars . c. . concil . tolet . . lateran . conc. sub jul. & leone . codex de malefic . & mathemat . leg . . leg. , & . origen . l. contra fatum . greg. nyss. l. de fato . euseb. de praep. evang . l. . augustin . de gen. l. . c. . liv. tacitus . valer. m. dio. sepher . hammus . johan . sarisb . de nug. cur. l. . c. . joseph . antiq. l. . c. . vossius de scient . mathemat . joseph . antiq. l. . c. . plin. nat. hist. l. . c. . xiphilinus aurel. victor . sueton. in vespas . c. . herodot . l. . c. . memento's to the vvorld, or, an historical collection of divers wonderful comets and prodigious signs in heaven, that have been seen, some long before the birth of christ, and many since that time in divers countries, with their wonderful and dreadful effects together, with ample discourses, and profitable observations, upon that admirable star which appeared at the birth of christ, to the eastern magi : as also upon that comet which appeared in the constellation of cassiopea, after the horrid massacre of the french-protestants, anno , and several other comets, with their effects to this present time / by w.g., minister of the gospel ; likewise, stella nova, or, the new star, or, an account of the natural signification of the comet, or blazing-star, that hath so long been visible in england, and other countreys, and is yet hanging over our heads, by william knight ... greene, william. approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing g estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) memento's to the vvorld, or, an historical collection of divers wonderful comets and prodigious signs in heaven, that have been seen, some long before the birth of christ, and many since that time in divers countries, with their wonderful and dreadful effects together, with ample discourses, and profitable observations, upon that admirable star which appeared at the birth of christ, to the eastern magi : as also upon that comet which appeared in the constellation of cassiopea, after the horrid massacre of the french-protestants, anno , and several other comets, with their effects to this present time / by w.g., minister of the gospel ; likewise, stella nova, or, the new star, or, an account of the natural signification of the comet, or blazing-star, that hath so long been visible in england, and other countreys, and is yet hanging over our heads, by william knight ... greene, william. knight, william, fl. - . stella nova. [ ], p. printed by t. haly, for t. passinger ..., [london] : [ ] includes bibliographical references. usually ascribed to william green, the author of abyssus mati. reproduction of original in huntington library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng comets. halley's comet. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - david karczynski sampled and proofread - david karczynski text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion memento's to the vvorld ; or , an historical collection of divers wonderful comets and prodigious signs in heaven , that have been seen , some long before the birth of christ , and many since that time in divers countries , with their wonderful and dreadful effects . together , with ample discourses , and profitable observations , upon that admirable star which appeared at the birth of christ , to the eastern magi . as also upon that comet which appeared in the constellation of cassiopea , after the horrid massacre of the french-protestants , anno . and several other comets , with their effects to this present time . by w. g. minister of the gospel . likewise , stella nova ; or , the new star , or , an account of the natural signification of the comet , or blazing-star , that hath so long been visible in england , and other countreys , and is yet hanging over our heads . by william knight , student in astrology . men in vain did never gaze , when a comet in the heavens blaze . printed by t. haly , for t. passinger , at the three bibles , on london-bridge , . to the right honourable sir patience ward , lord-mayor of the city of london . my lord , idedicate unto you this historical collection , or catalogue of comets , and other prodigious appearances and signs in heaven : these are the torches and voices of god speaking and preaching out of heaven : for not only his majesty is in a lively manner set forth unto us , in the generation , magnitude , figure , and motion of these bodies , but also something is propounded to be further learned by them ; for whatsoever doth not come to pass after the usual manner , although it hath natural causes , yet it altogether portendeth something or other , and is put for a sign of certain events . therefore let us neither despise nor deride these fore-messengers of the lord ; neither let us imitate vespasian the emperour , of whom suetonius relates in his life , that when a comet had been shewed unto him , he answered jestingly , that that hairy comet , or prodigy , did belong to the king of the parthians , who nourished long hair : as if he had said , it appeareth not to me , because i am not hairy ; but he was suddenly punished for his insolence , for he dyed shortly after ; admonishing us by his example , that it is better sporting with any thing than with the works of god. it is a great contempt of an artificer , if he set before us an admirable piece of work , and we will not behold nor regard it , the contempt of the creature redoundeth unto the creator . let us therefore imitate the emperour ludovious pius , son of charles the great ; for when he had beheld a great comet , and egmundus the astrologer being unwilling to make him sad , alleadged those words of jeremiah , be not dismayed at the signs of heaven , for the heathen are dismayed at them , jerem. . . he devoutly answered , let us fear the maker of this comet , not the comet it self ; and let us praise his clemency , who seeing we are sinners , reproveth our sluggishness by these signs . it is gods clemency before he punisheth us , to send some messengers to fore warn us . herodotus saith , when god is about to punish a city or nation , he is wont first of all to signifie it by signs and wonders . and a certain famous astronomer thus writeth ; as god is affected towards us , the stars in his stead do shine as the face and eyes of god , that in them , as in a glass , we may be able to see what shall come to pass . moreover , these signs are looking-glasses of gods wrath , who speaketh to us not onely by mans tongue , by prophets , apostles , and ministers , but sometimes also by the elements themselves , composed into divers forms and images for the terrour of men : that the name of god is neer , ( that is the wisdom , power , goodness of god ) his wondrous works do declare to all judicious beholders ; better it were for us not to see the works of god , than not to have a sight of god in them : now that all gods works may lead us unto god himself , is the prayer of your lordships most affectionate servant , vv. g. memento's to the world . in the year of the world upon demetrius his death , there appeared a comet no less in shew than the sun. at first the orb was fiery and ruddy , and casting a clear light , whereby the night was enlightened . afterwards it began to lessen in bigness , and it's brightness vanished , and at last quite disappeared . this was a little before the achauk war. in the same year that mithridates was born there appeared a great comet . the very same doth seneca speak of . in the time of attlus his reign , there appeared a comet at first but small ; but afterwards it elevated and spread it self , and came as far as the equinoctial circle : so that its extent equalized that region of the heaven which we call the milky way . there also appeared another comet in the first year of the reign of mithridates , which shined so bright night and day for lxx days together , that the whole heaven seemed to be all on fire . for , both the tayl of it covered the fourth part of the heaven ( or degrees of the upper hemisphere ) and outvyed the sun in brightness : and also it 's rising took up the space of four hours , this hapned in the year of the world , . in the year from the building of the city of rome , blood was seen to issue from the earth , and milk to slow from heaven in the likeness of rain . a great pestilence followed in the city ; and the number of those that perished was more than those that remained alive . three suns appeared the next day after the death of julius caesar , which by little and little were brought back into one solar body . in the year of the world , on the kalends of may , octavianus having heard of caesar's death , came to naples , and as he was coming to rome , a vast company of his friends met him , and when he entred the city , the globe of the sun seemed upon his head equally bent , and rounded like a bow ( as it were putting a crown upon the head of him that hereafter was to be so great a man. and julius obsequens de prodigiis , saith ; when he entred the city with a great multitude about him , the sun being included in the round of a pure and unclouded sky , comp●ssed about with the utmost part of the circle ( as the rainbow is wont to be bent in the clouds ) namely , a circle of diverse colours , as is wont to be in the rainbow , did at that time compass about the sun , as it is in seneca . in the year of the world , on the vi kalends of october , octovianus , to gain the peoples favour , made those plays that were instituted for the finishing of venus's temple , at his own charges , as pertaining to him , by reason he came from that stock , and which some during caesar's life-time had undertook that they should solemnize , but yet neglected them . which whilst he was setting forth , seneca sheweth . that a comet suddenly brak forth , where he relateth these words of octavianus himself . in the very days of my plays ( saith he ) there was a comet seen seven days together in the north-part of the heaven : it arose about the eleventh hour of the day , it was clear and conspicuous in all lands . the people then generally thought , that by this star was signified caesar's soul to be received into the number of the gods. and under that notion was that mark added to the image of his head , that we ( saith he ) newly consecrated in the market place ; which is also to be seen in some coyns that were stamped after his death , with the inscription . djvl julii , and signified in that of virgil , thy fathers star appeared in the north. dio reporteth , that many prodiges fore-ran the bondage of egypt under the romans ; for it rained ( as he saith ) in those places , in which before there never any drop had fallen , and that not only with water , but with blood also ; neither did water alone drop from the clouds , but there appeared armies there also . a dragon of an huge vastness was suddenly seen among the egyptians , which hissed horribly : there appeared also comets , and the images of the dead : the statues seemed to be sorrowful , and apis made a mournful lowing , and shed tears . of the star that appeared to the eastern magi after the birth of christ. one notable consequent of christ's birth was the apparition of a star unto the wise men of the east , the magi of persia ; whereby it was manifested unto them , that there was born a king of the jews ; which , ( doubtless ) the spirit of god did reveal unto them by his inward light , without which this star-light had not been sufficient . these wise men were such as had knowledge in astronomy , and such profound sciences , which the ordinary sort were unacquainted with . but they had as much need of christ as the poor shepherds of bethlehem . hereupon they take an exceeding long journey to visit , yea to worship an infant , which to the eye of the world was of a poor despised estate ; for now at his birth there was no room for him in the inne . these eastern magi , or privy-counsellours to the king of persia , ( as is probable ) come to the court of the king of judah , and there they ask the question ; where is he that is born king of the jews ; for we have seen his star in the east , and are come to worship him , math. . strange news in a princes court , that men of that dignity of a countrey so far distant , and of that wisdom and learning , should come to worship a child that was born king of the jews , a people sometime in captivity under the persian state , and now in likelihood despised by them , and that his star should appear unto them in their own countrey . the gentile prophet balaam prophesied , that there should arise a star out of jacob , &c. numb . . . and zoroastres king of the bactrians , a man excellent in all learning , left this as a tradition among the gentiles . and afterwards it was was more plainly published by the sybiles , that a day-star should appear before the rising of the sun of righteousness , this was fresh among the gentiles until the coming of christ ; for virgil ( though misapplying the same ) saith , ecce dionaei praec●ss●t caesaris astrum . rightly applyed thus ; that the glorious star long expected should precede , and foreshew the coming of the messias , yet fulgentius saith , puer natus novam stell●m fabricav●t , christ being born did of nothing frame this new star. his star , because he made it , and his star because it bare witness of him ; for the magi being upon the mountain victorialis worshipping their god ( as chrysostom saith ) a star did appear unto them in the similitude of a little child , and so shewed unto them and to all others , that this child , even the son of god was born . and as the poet saith , this star still shining through the heavens doth glide , and to the sun which never sets doth guide . this star was no common star , for , . all stars ( as we see ) are carryed from the east into the vvest , but this went from the east into the south , for palestine stands southward from persia . . a star loseth his light in the day-time , the sun a greater light obscuring it but this star was seen night and day , becoming the more bright in the midst of the sun 's bright shining . . this star shined not continually ; but intermiting for a certain time appeareth again . they saw it all the way till they came to palestine , as the guide of their journey . but when they were come to herod , it was hidden , and then it appeared again : when they stood still , it stood still , being ordered for the best benefit of them in their journey . and being instructed at jerusalem , that bethlehem was the place where christ should be born ; the wisemen hereupon go to bethlehem , and there by the conduct of the star they find the babe and his mother , and down they fall and worship him , and forth they bring their presents , or gifts , of gold , frankincense , and myrrhe . when they had heard the king ( who charged them to go , and bring him word when they had sound the young child , &c. ) they departed , and lo the star which they saw in the east , went before them , and stood over where the young child lay . either ( it seemeth ) this star appeared unto them being in the east , and then vanished out of their sight ( which is probable ) because it is said , the star which they saw in the east , or else , it ceased to be seen when they came to jerusalem , when they saw the star , they rejoyced with exceeding great joy , math. . . the star did but appear before , now it goes leisurely ( as it were ) and directeth them in their way to the house where the babe lay . this star ( as one observeth ) was not placed where the rest of the stars are , but in the lower region of the air , for otherwise they could not have known by it the place where christ was , seeing that a star by reason of the great height , seemeth to be over one house as well as another within a great compass . moreover it is noted , that this star went and stood over the place where christ was . one observeth , to bethlehem the magi come to make enquiry after christ , whom none ever sincerely sought but they found him . this star by moving ( probably in the low region of the air , ) sheweth them their way , by standing still at the end of their journey ; coming into the house they find the royal babe , and present him with gifts . of other great lights , comets , and ominous stars , &c. appearing after the birth of christ . saul breathing out threatnings and slaughter against the disciples of the lord , obtains of the high-priest annas , ( as it is act. . . ) and the councel , of which he was then president , letters to the synagogue of damascus , that if he found any that were christians , he should bring them bound to jerusalem , that they might be punished . and as he came nigh to damascus , at midday a light from heaven , above the brightness of the sun , shined round about him , and them that journeyed with him : and when they were all fallen to the earth , he heard a voice speaking to him in the hebrew tongue , saul , saul , why persecutest thou me ? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks , & c.. but the men that journeyed with saul , were so amazed , that they were speechless , seeing indeed a light , and hearing a sound of words , but neither seeing christ which spake , nor understanding any thing that he spake , act. . , . xxii . . . xxvi . . . saul arose from the earth , and being blinded with the glory of the light , being led by the hand , he comes to damascus , act. . . & . . and he was three days without sight , and did neither eat nor drink . ananias being sent unto saul , entred into the house , and laying his hands on him , said , brother saul , the lord jesus which appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest , hath sent me that thou maist receive thy sight , and be filled with the holy-ghost , and presently there fell from his eyes as it were scales , and he received his eye sight forthwith , act. . . . and ananias said , the god of our fathers hath chosen thee , that thou shouldest know his will , and see that just one , and should'st hear the voice from his mouth ; for thou shalt be a witness before all men of those things that thou hast heard and seen , &c. and saul arose , and was baptized , and when he had received meat he was strengthened . but what was revealed from the lord to saul at damascus that he should do , st. luke sheweth not in the acts ; but out of those things which in the epistle to the galathians he saith hapned to him immediatly after his conversion , it appears , that among other things it was commanded him that he should not confer with flesh and blood , nor return to jerusalem , to them that were apostles before him , but that he should go for some time into arabia , or places near damascus , where he should receive the knowledge of the gospel : not being taught of men , but by the revelation of jesus christ , gal. . , , . saul then returns to damascus , verse . and tarries with the disciples there a few days , and straitway in the sinagogue he preached that christ is the son of god. of the signs that appeared before the destruction of the city and temple of jerusalem by the romans . eusebius saith , that seducers and authours of lies against god , deceived that wretched people of the jews before the destruction of the city and temple at jerusalem ; so that they neither marked those prodigious signes foreshewing the desolations to come , nor gave any credit thereunto ; but as astonished , both blind and senseless contemned the divine demonstrations . a star stood over the city like a sword , and a comet enduring the space of a whole year . again , at the feast of unleavened bread , on the eighth day of the moneth of april ( a little before their rebellion and warlike tumult ) in the night at nine of the clock , so great a light overspread the altar and the temple , that it seemed to be clear day , continuing the space of half an hour . at the same feast the east gate of the inner temple , though of brass , and most strong , so that in the evening twenty men could scarce shut it , being bolted with iron bars , and strengthened with long posts and pillars : in the night-time about the sixth hour was seen to have opened voluntarily of it self . a few days after the feast ( viz. may . ) there was seen the figure and shape of the devil . before sun-set there were seen in the air throughout the countrey , chariots and armed souldiers marching in the clouds , and encompassing the city round about . in the feast of pentecost , when the priests ( after their manner ) went into the temple in the night season to offer sacrifice ; they reported that they heard a commotion , and a ratling sound with this voice , migremus hinc , let us go hence . the afflictions which followed hereupon were correspondent to the signs . eleven hundred thousand of the jews perished in the six moneths siege of jerusalem . but for those that perished out of jerusalem , lipsius hath made a large catalogue out of josephus the jew , who was a commander in that war , and wrote the history of it , which number of the dead being added to the eleven hnndred thousand that perished at the siege of jerusalem , makes up the number of . an innumerable company , being ommitted , that perished through famine , banishment , and other miseries . whilst diverse men were plotting and conspiring against the emperour domitian ; among other signs which then were seen , there appeared for many dayes together round about the sun a great bright shining crown , that did compass it about , which resembled the rain-bow against foul weather , but that was a whole crown that did environ the sun in such manner , as it bereaved and eclipsed the same of its brightness . which signal , men did interpret to signifie a change and alteration in the empire , with the death of domitian . and in as much as stephanus in greek signifies a crown , there were some which conceived , that stephanus who was steward to his wife and empress domicilla should kill him , notwithstanding thev knew nothing of the conspiracy of stephanus and others then against him , by whom he was shortly after slain . when constantine the emperour prepared to sight with maxentius , and stood in fear and doubt of the issue of the battel , as well for the great number of the enemies , as for maxentius his enchantments , wherewith he amazed the world , he was in great care and perplexity . and as he gave credit to the christians , and was their protector and defender , ( albeit , he was not yet baptized ) but had a firm stedfast hope in jesus christ . ) eusebius cassiodorus , and others write , that he saw in the heavens a lightsome pillar , of a fiery colour , in form of a cross , and therewith he heard this voice , in hoc signo vinces , ●n , or by vertue of this sign thou shalt overcome . the which vision so amazed the emperour , that he mistrusting his own sight , demanded of them that were present , whether they perceived the vision , which when all with one consent had assirmed , the wavering mind of the emperour was setled with that wonderful sight , so as he presently assured himself of victory , and therefore caused the sign of the cross to be made in his imperial standard ; and joyning with the enemy right over against rome , near to a bridge over the river tiber , called pons milvius , at the beginning of the fight maxentius was overcharged by constamius his vantgard , and fled : and entring upon the bridge which he had made of barks and boats near to the other ; both he and his horse fell into the river , where he was drowned , which bridge himself had caused to be made ; to the end therewith , to have deceived his enemy . in the dayes of sigebert , chitperic , and gunthran , kings of france , certain comets and prodigious signs were seen in the heavens . a fire falling from heaven , consumed the city of orleans ( whereof , and the territory about it , gunthran was king ) and the city of bourdeaux , together with the fruits of the earth . there followed atmost throughout all france a malignant cough and bloody flux , which destroyed multitudes of men and women ; by which means that evil woman austigildis , wife of king gunthran , perished . the said king gunthran died within a year following . after the death of theodoricus , who had made himself lord of all italy , there appeared many signs in heaven : in the north the heaven seemed fiery , and certain shining spears were seen , and the moon was much obscured . and a comet appeared at tholouse . terrible signs were seen by night in italy in the year of our lord . for fiery swords appeared in the heavens , and blood distilled from the clouds , which signified the effusion of much blood , which hapned afterwards , and many great storms continuing many dayes . the river tiber was increased with so great a force of waters , that many people that lived in low places were drowned . two animals appeared in the form of a man and woman , from the morning till nine of the clock , with long hair hanging down to the loynes . the water covered their other parts . and they write , that a mountain in france , with a great noise was cleft asunder . in the time of the emperour justinian the first , ( as procopius writeth , ) for the greatest part of one whole year , the sun gave so little light , that it was but equal to , or little more then the light of the moon , the sky being clear , and without clouds , or any other thing to shadow the same . and so without any apparent occasion it was obscured all that time ; which ( as it was afterward conjectured ) was the prognostick of the famine and want of grain , which generally ensued throughout all the world , and of the wars and effusion of blood which followed in italy ; and of the taking , burning , and destruction of rome by totila . in the time of the emperour heraclius , ( who took upon him the government of the empire in the year of our lord . ) at constantinople fire fell from heaven , and there appeared a great bow in the heavens , so that men thought that the end of the world was at hand , by reason of the great thundrings and lightnings . there followed a most grievous pestilence , which consumed many in the summer months . and many prodigies , and dreadful things appeared at this time in greece , which seemed to portend the future calamities under mahomet . and in one and the same year a very bright comet was seen at constantinople , and a child was born with four feet . and in the isle delon , two very great monsters were seen , having altogether humane shape . and many other things here and there like unto this did appear . in the reign of the emperour constantine iv. an hairy comet appeared three months , which was the forerunner of great slaughters : and there happened so many , and so great tempests and alterations in the air , as it seemed , that the four elements had conspired against mankind ; for the winds were so furious and violent , as that they overthrew many buildings , and rent up many trees by the roots , and the rain likewise was so great , and tempestuous , as it destroyed all their tillage , as well for bread-corn as all other kinds of herbs and seeds . and therewith fell an infinite number of thunderbolts , and fires from heave , which slew a great number of men and cattel , especially on this side of the alps. and after a great eclipse of the sun and moon , the city of papia was almost utterly destroyed by a raging pestilence , so that the people which survived , fled to the mountains , and grass grew in the city . about the time of king luitprand king of the lombards , two comets appeared in the month of january , and the sun was darkned , and lost his light for fifteen dayes , whereof one went before the sun , the other followed it in the evening . about the death of pope leo tho third , who crowned and declared charles the great , king of france to be emperour , a comet appeared , and the sun lost his light for fifteen dayes . this pope died , anno . in the second year of lotharius , son of the emperour ludovicus pius , and grandson to charles the great , there appeared a comet ; hail of great bigness fell in france , which slew many men , and much cattel . there was also seen in those hail-stones corn of a wonderful length ; and of an hard substance . an earthquake also shook italy , and in certain places divers mountains were overwhelmed , and divers cities perished . lotharius warred against his brethren lewes , and charles ; and a great battel being fought , the flower of the french nobility was slain , and in number more men died , than in any other battel had hapned in france ever since the battel which was fought between ecius and attila , king of the hunnes in the fields of catalonia . about this time , an innumerable company of locusts , having six wings , and two teeth harder than stones , covered the earth in france like snow . at length being cast into the sea , and upon land by the shore , there followed great putrefaction ; which infecting the air , caused a general destruction of men . in the beginning of the reign of the emperour lewes the second , for three dayes it rained blood at the city of brescia in lombardy so fresh , and so perfect , as if it had been of a bull , or of some other beast lately killed . in the time of edward the son of edgar king of england appeared a comet , after which followed a great dearth and mortality to men , and murrain upon beasts , and there arose a great contention between the priests and monks . in the days of pope leo , vii . the sun seemed to reign blood , as masseus writeth . and after it followed a great pestilence among men . in the first year of pope martin iii. a great blazing star appeared in italy , after which followed an extream famine . and again , the sun appeared very dreadful . martin died , anno . a little before the death of the emperour otho the second , many prodigies appeared in italy ; for a stone of wonderful bigness fell from heaven in the midst of a great storm and tempest . and the sign of the cross appeared on the garments of many ; and some of them were of a bloody colour ; which many did interpret to portend great slaughters , and the calamity of the church . in italy a comet of wonderful bigness appeared , presaging the famine which followed . in the time of pope john xvi . appeared a comet , after which followed both famine and pestilence , with terrible earthquakes , which shook both benevent and capua . john died anno . in the third year of the emperour henry the second , a comet appeared dreadful to behold , dispersing his flames hither and thither . and in the seventh year of his reign there was a great eclipse of the sun , and the moon seemee to be turned into blood ; and there was a great earthquake , and a burning torch like a bow fell from heaven with great noise ; there suddenly followed a great famine , and a little after a great pestilence raged almost all the world over , but chiefly in italy , so that the dead were accounted more than the living ; and in lorrain there was a fountain turned into blood. henry the third came to the empire , anno ▪ and in his time there was seen a fiery beam of wonderful greatness between the south and the east , running upon the sun , which at the sun setting fell upon the earth . in the reign of herold king of england , a fearful comet appeared , which lasted seven days , the english being now ready for a war. in the time of king william the conqueror , a blazing star appeared upon palm sunday , being the th . of april , . about six of the clock , when the air was fair and clear . about the same time was a general earthquake in england , and in the winter following , a frost that continued from the first of november , until the middle of april . in the time of baldwin the second , king of jerusalem , an unusual star appeared the first week in lent , in the evening in the south west , and shined at one and the same hour for twenty five dayes . after this , were seen two moons a little before day , one in the east , and the other in the west ; and not long after a comet putting forth long and flaming hairs , appeared , which elmerus the monk beholding , said , did threaten the destruction of that countrey . in the year ▪ in the reign of william refus , king of england , many hideous sights were seen in england , as hosts of men fighting in the air , flashes of fire , comets , and falling stars , and such like prodigies . and the same year both england and normandy were sore vexed with mortality both of men and beasts , insomuch that tillage of the ground was laid aside in divers places , by reason whereof there followed great dearth and famine . about the year of our lord . fiery swords appeared in heaven , which being dispersed through the whole heaven , were seen the greatest part of the night , and very many stars seemed to fall from heaven upon the earth . and the smoak went out with an hissing , as by waters poured upon it . a most sharp winter followed , and a great famine followed it , and a mortality of men , and murrain of beasts , both wild and tame ; and birds fighting together in great numbers , destroyed one another ; moreover , a great earthquake in italy lasted the space of forty days ; so that divers towns and villages were overthrown . and the moon being in an eclipse , was turned into a bloody colour . and a woman brought forth a monster , having a double body , having also before the face of a man , and behind the face of a dog. about this time died johannes de temporibus , who had been an esquire to the emperour charles the great , having lived years . in the seventh year of henry the first , king of england , upon a friday night in the first week in lent , there was seen a strange star between the south and the west , which appeared every night at an hour , and so continued for the space of twenty five dayes ; and over against that star out of the east appeared a great and bright beam , which stretched it self toward the said star. and not long after were seen two moons , one in the east , the other in the west . in the thirteenth year of the same kings reign , at shrewsbury was a great earthquake , and at nottingham from morning until evening . the river of trent was so dryed up , that men went over on foot dry . thereupon followed an hard vvinter , great mortality of people , and scarcity of victuals by reason of the great murrain of beasts . a comet , or blazing star appeared in a strange form , for rising in the east , when once it came aloft in the firmament , it kept not its course forward , but seemed to go backward , as if it had been retrograde . about the year three suns appeared together in the west ; after two hours the other sailing , that which was in the middle did also set . after the same manner in the next year three moons appeared , and in the middle of one the sign of the cross . these signs were interpreted by some to be a token of the grievous discord of the cardinals in the election of the pope ; and of the princes in the election of the emperour . earthquakes about this time where almost every where , and did shake some provinces many years , especially syria , and silicia ▪ in which many cities did long shake , and some of them were overwhelmed with great destruction of people . in the third year of john , king of england , there were seen in yorkshire five moons ; one in the east , the second in the vvest , the third in the north , the fourth in the south , and the fifth ( as it were ) set in the midst of the other , having many blazing stars about it , and went five or six times encompassing the other , as it were the space of one hour , and shortly after vanished away . the following vvinter was extreamly cold , more than the natural course had been aforetime ; and in the spring time there fell such abundance of rain , as caused the rivers to swell with higher floods then they had been accustomed , which caused great inundations . this kings reign was full of troubles ; pope innocent iii. excommunicated and deposed him , and put england in interdict , bestowed it upon philip august , king of france , upon condition of conquering it , and afterwards takes off the interdict , receives homage from king john , and makes england a fee of the roman see , and that king his vassal . in the year of our lord ▪ in the reign of king henry iii. many wonders hapned . a comet appeared ; the sea rose with most high tides ; rivers were so filled with abundance of water by reason of the great and continued rain , that wonderful flouds followed therethereupon ; and many high buildings were beaten down by the force of tempests . in the same kings reign , there appeared a comet very dreadful to behold , for the space of days together . moreover on the coast of england , there was a great battel among the fishes of the sea , so that there were eleven whales cast on land , beside other huge and monstrous fishes , which appeared to be dead of some hurts received : and one of those mighty fishes coming into the thames alive , was pursued by the fisher men , and it could scarce pass through the arches of london-bridge . at length with darts and other such weapons , they slew him before the kings mannor at mortlack whither they followed him . there was also a great sound heard the same year in sundry parts of england at one and the same time , as if it had been the noise of some mighty mountain that had fallen into the sea. a comet of notable magnitude appeared in the heavens in the year , rising from the east , above three months with great brightness , and did send forth his rays to the midst of heaven , setting towards the west : when he first appeared pope vrban iv ▪ began to be sick , but in the same night that vrban dyed , he began to disappear . soon after the corronation of edward i. king of england , there hapned such an earth-quake with lightning and thunder , and therewithal the appearing of a burning-drake , and a blazing-star , or comet , that the people were filled with great fear and astonishment . in the time of wenceslaus the third , king of bohemia , there appeared in the heaven a large comet , which did presage the great destruction which followed ; in which year upon saint andrew's day there hapned a great earth-quake , which lasting divers days by intervals , overthrew many buildings . in the year , three moons appeared together in the heaven , and a comet was seen in the north , which lasted three months : it vanishing , in the same year in the month of november , phillip king of france dyed , a boar breaking the legs of his horse as he was hunting , he fell from his horse , of which fall he dyed shortly after . in the ninth year of king edward the second , before christmas , a blazing-star , or comet , appeared in the north part of the firmament , for the space of a month together : after it followed a woful famine , for victuals was so scant and dear , and other grain raised to so high a price , that the poor people were constrained through famine , to eat the flesh of horses , dogs , and other wild beasts , and many starved , having nothing to feed upon throughout the land. after this dearth and scarcity of victuals , ensued a great mortality of people ; so that what with the war with the scots , and with the famine and pestilence , the people of england were wonderfully wasted and consumed . in the year , in the tenth year of the reign of king edward iii. a comet , or blazing-star appeared with long and terrible streams passing from it , which continued thirty days . soon after the french burnt south-hampton , which they almost wholly consumed to ashes , and did many other mischiefs with their ships on the coasts of england . in the year , in the north there appeared a comet in the month of december , which being extinct , violent winds followed , and a coelestial beam was seen to glide along the heavens , the former part of it burning . and they write , that before the death of pope innocent vi. there was so great a refection of the sun , as the like had not been before seen . in the month of march , in the year of our lord , and third year of henry iv. king of england , there appeared a blazing-star , first between the eastern part of the firmament , and the north flashing forth fire and flames round about , and lastly , shooting forth fiery streams towards the north , foreshewing ( as was thought ) the great effusion of blood which followed about the parts of wales and northumberland . in the year , there was a great eclipse of the sun , and divers wars and dissentions followed . a comet also appeared , and there followed a slaughter of men in liege . in the three and thirtieth year of the reign of henry vi. king of england , during the civil wars between the houses of lancaster and york , a comet appeared in the month of june , the beams whereof extended it self into the south , of which king henry and his son felt the sad effects . in the year , a comet was seen in the east in the month of june , in the fifteenth degree of cancer , a very great earthquake followed on the th day of december , at eleven a clock at night ; and another on the thirtieth day of the same month , such as in the memory of man there had not any where been seen the like for vehemency ; especially in apulia , naples , beneventum , and many other cities and towns round about , many temples and pallaces , and other houses , were overwhelmed , with the destruction of many men and cattel . the like hapned at cajeta , capua , aversa , and the rest of the cities of old campania . in the year . another followed , which they called a black comet , in the month of june , in the degree of pisces , which was seen for the space of a month , and did variously affect the minds of men. a great comet appeared throughout the month of january , in the beginning of the year , in a fiery colour , with long and black hairs bending towards the west , whose body was about the entrance of libra ; afterwards it bended it self onely in the north , that it might be judged that it went out without the zodiack , and it continued fourscore days . but this comet being scarce dissolved , another appeared , of a fiery hair , which seemed to be seated in the sign of aries , and its tayl stretched out it self towards the east : a grievous drought followed , and a pestilence , and most cruel and bloody wars in many places . there were two comets seen before the battel of crescy in france , where though the english got a great victory over the french by the sword , so it seemeth ( as our chronicles do relate ) that the sword of the destroying angel slew a multitude of the english at home . phillip the first , king of spain , and father to the emperour charles v. being at tudele of duero , there appeared a strange comet in the firmament , foreshewing ( as they said afterward ) the approaching death of king phillip , which happened soon after in the city of burgos , to the general grief of all his subjects ; the comet still appearing , whereunto he did attribute his death , saying often in his pains and agonies , ha cometa , ha cometa . he dyed in the year of our lord , , haveing reigned one year and ten months : his body was laid many years after by his son charles in the royal chappel of granado , having remained in divers places . in queen maries reign , in the year of our lord , , a blazing-star was seen at all times of the night , on the sixth , seventh , eighth , ninth , and tenth of march , a little before the burning of thomas cranmer , arch-bishop of canterbury . the horrid massacre of the protestants in france , being acted august , &c. , a grave writer relates , that about a quarter of a year after , viz. november . there appeared a star in the constellation of cassiopea , mirae magnitudinis , & perspicua luce praefulgida , of wonderful bigness , and very resplendent with a perspicuous light ; he saith , that many men passed their judgments upon it , eruditorumque hac dere jactati versus ; beza hath divers verses upon it , i take it the last was this , tuvero herodes sangui notente cave . and thou bloody herod beware . pointing ( i suppose ) to the french king , charles the ix . and others , authors of and actors in that barbarous and bloody tragedy . he addeth , illa totos novem menses in coeto emicait . that star shined clearly for the space of nine whole months in the heaven . the king himself dyed may . . about one year and three quarters after the massacre ; and one year and an half after the appearing of the comet . of whom my author saith ; profluvio sanguinis illum laborasse certum est . constans vero fert fama , illum dum evarijs corporis partibus sanguis emanaret , in lecto saepè volutatum , inter horribilium blasphemiarum diras , quibus ab ineunte aetate assuetus erat , monmoren ciorum nomen saepè concitatâ excandescentiâ solitum appelare . quum vero magna erat veneni suspitiorut vomitus facilior esset , ajunt pulvinaribus impositum , cernuo capite , & paulo erectoribus sursum pedibus , tantam sanguinis vim projecesse , ut paucas post horas mortuus fuerit : inter ultimas autem voces meras blasphemias auditas fuisse . it seemeth before he died he laid siege to rochel , because the protestants there stood upon their guard , and would not put themselves into the butchers hands ; where the duke of aumerle , uncle to the duke of guise , was slain , and about twenty thousand others ; whereof many ( not most of them ) were actors in that prodigious cruelty : and the rest seemed to have made themselves accessary to it by this after act , in joyning with the murtherers to root out the remainders of the protestants . henry duke of anjou , and king of poland , succeeded his brother charles , by the name of henry the third , and became very despicable ; the duke of guise giving him check-mate , his subjects slighting him , and adhering to guise . the king finding him too strong for him , took a course to entrap him , sending for him to blois , under pretence of making him governour over the kingdom under him , and caused him there to be stabbed with his brother the cardinal . and thus fell another principal contriver of , and agent in the massacre ; and it is thought in the same chamber where that cockatrice-egg was hatched . but upon this execution the french were more enraged against their king then ever , taking the government of the kingdom out of his hands , as if he had been already dead , and setting up the duke of mayenne , brother to guise , as their chief , who by the help of the spaniard , headed the faction , and carried on the design . the king reduced to great extremity , was constrained to desire aid from the king of navar , and his protestant followers , whom he had so cruelly persecuted ; who proved faithful to him , being in a likely way to have re-established him : but one james clement a jacobine monk , stabbed him about the year . his younger brother the duke of alenzon , being chosen by the netherlanders for their governour , and protector against the spaniards , and most unworthily taking advantage of that trust , they reposed in him to oppose their liberty , and tyrannize over them : the plot being discovered , and both his design and honour being lost , he dyed in the flower of his age , as was thought , of grief , before his elder brother . thus these three sons of king henry the second , were taken away in the space of seventeen years after the massacre , or thereabout , without issue male , besides an elder brother francis the second , who dyed very young before that tragedy : and the crown was translated to another family , namely , that of bourbon . henry of navar being called by his predecessor from the remote parts of the kindom ( providence so ordering it ) as it were to receive the royal diadem on the other side the protestants , who seemed almost extinguished ( divers of the popish nobility joyning with them for politick ends , and aid coming in from germany , especially under castmire of the palatine family ) they obtained better conditions , and enjoyed their liberty in a more setled way than formerly . upon the th . day of october , in the two and twentieth year of the reign of queen elizabeth , anno , immediately after the new moon , there appeared a blazing-star in the south , pointing towards the east with its streams ; which was seen every night ( the air being clear ) more than two months : shortly after there arrived upon the west-coast of ireland , a certain company of italians and spaniards , sent by the pope to the aid of the earl of dasmond in his rebellion , which were defeated by the lord gray of wilton , deputy of ireland . in the reign of king james , in the year of our lord , . there appeared a comet with a very long tayl , seen here in england , and in other countries , for almost two months together . after it followed the dreadful calamity of germany ; prague was taken in the year . and the palatinate was lost . and the edicts of the emperour ferdinand the second , were published in bohemia and moravia , in the year , against all the gospel ministers , commanding , that whosoever refused to forsake their heresie ( as their gospel-profession was called ) and come into the bosome of the church ( namely of rome ) should depart from their native country , and never return more . of the comet that appeared in the year aforesaid , antonius de dominis , bishop of spalato , who saw it , saith thus : cometes qui his diebus pobis fulget , est unum xe phenomenis astronomicis , ex ijs quae phenomena vera sunt , non phantastica , et oculum fallentia : et tamen res est vera et realis , exhalatio nempe acc●nsa et ardens . a terrible comet appeared in the year . which the mother princess , the mother of racoci , prince of transylvania , saw with her court , living , and being then in the castle of munkary , there came forth the debates of divers astrologers , describing his pale face , and the compasses of his most swift course , as scarce was ever of any comet before . comenius tells us , that himself hapned to see the judgments of four divers authors , not disagreeing in the event ; michael guller the silesian very neer touching the mark. this proved ominous to the house of prince racoci . in the year and . the prince going with an army into poland , and not entring into an agreement with the turk and tartar , but hiding his enterprize from the turk he conceiving a suspition of rebellion , sent the tartar upon his back ; and shortly after came letters in a threefold course from c. s. the secretary of the prince of transylvania , historically relating the ruine of his prince . and for the two comets that appeared in the year . divers astrologers then gave their judgements , conceiving , that that in the morning being red and fiery , portended war ; that in the evening being of a pale and melancholick colour , signified death and mortality ; and some of them did shake their heads , fearing sad consequents upon the appearance of two such stars so suddenly after each other ; and ye know what sad effects followed the next summer ensuing , viz. in the year . namely , the of the english with the war dutch , and that devouring plague that swept away above an hundred thousand persons in the city of london and many hundreds also in divers other places of this kingdom . anno . a comet appeared in april , the next year the hellish popish-plot , was by the mercy of god happily discover'd . and now again , god hath shewed us other signs in heaven , by the appearance of two new prodigies , one appeared in the south-east in the morning , the other in the evening . what else ( i pray ) doth god by these signs seek to shew , than his wrath to an impenitent world ? he is the god that maketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth , dan. . . therefore whosoever feareth god , let him say with david , come , and see the works of the lord , how terrible he is in his doings towards the children of men. now seeing these signs in the heavens are of god , let us take heed that we do not despise god in his works . among the romans , when the general caused a purple coat to be hung out over his pavilion , and the trumpet to sound , what souldier in the camp durst to neglect it , and not take notice of it as a sign of battel ? how much more when the lord of hosts holds forth his flagg , and displayeth his ensignes , signifying what he is about to do ; and if not making it known what it is in particular , yet shewing , that he hath some special work in hand , how carefully should we observe these things , and prepare for the worst that may happen . but the blindness of carnal reason darkens the minds of many worldly-wise persons , that they cannot see far off , as the apostle speaks in another case . carnal reason is of too low a stature in this case , our thoughts must climb the sycamore-tree like zacheus ; or we must get up into our watch-tower like the prophet habakkuk ; we must take our standing higher , and look above the whole creation , and seriously think of the creatour , god himself , the first mover and principal worker in all these things . moreover , men and women are so generally in love with the world , and do so earnestly desire , mind , seek , and affect earthly things , either their pleasures , profits , or earthly hopes , &c. that they have no leisure to mind the special works of god , which are signs of the times , and give warning of things at hand . therefore , saith solomon , eccl. . . man knoweth not his time ; as the fishes that are taken in an evil net , and as the birds that are caught in the snare , so are the sons of men snared in an evil time , when it falls suddenly upon them . as the bird wholly minding the bait , is taken in the snare which it minded not : so the sons of men wholly minding the profits or pleasures , or other things of this world , heed not the signs of the times , and so are snared in an evil time . the love of sin also possessing the hearts of men , keeps many from discerning the works of god : it is wonderful to consider , how the people of israel were besotted this way , so as not to see the visible and apparent signs of the times , as they had before their eyes ; the thunderings and lightenings upon mount sinai , the sound of the trumpet exceeding loud , the voice of god striking an awful terrour into their hearts , the cloudy pillar every day , the pillar of fire every night was continually as a shining light before their faces ; the glory of the lord often appearing : bread sent them down all the six days of the week from heaven ; the rock becomming as a fountain of water to them in the wilderness , which water followed them in their several stations : were not these signs to them of an extraordinary time , wherein god was more than in an ordinary manner present with them , and would be sanctified in them , si●h he had brought them so neer unto himself : and yet , as if it had been but an ordinary time , and as if they had had no more to do with the onely true god than other people ; nor any more special relation to him , as if he had done no more for them than for the aegyptians ; they gave themselves over to divers sins , as to foul idolatry ( it seemeth ) in the sight of mount sinai , to lusting after quails and delicates , to commit fornication with the daughters of idolaters , and then also to joyn with them in spiritual whoredom and service of their idols : some of them to ambition , contending with aaron for the priesthood , whom god had called and consecrated to that office ; so strangely had the love of sin bewitched and blinded their minds , that without regarding the signs of the times , they ran into the snare , and oftentimes brought many stroaks upon themselves . great also is the security of men and women : this is a general disease to which the world is subject , and as the old world was in a dead sleep of wretched security , until the flood-gates of heaven , with the noise of an unresistable judgment awakened them , when they awoke to see themselves perish ; neither noah's preaching , nor the knocking about the ark before , could awaken them ; so there are many who lye slumbering and sleeping in deep security , and no loud crys from the word do awaken them to make them open their eyes , to see the signs of the times , that they might either avoid the evil which the time is about to bring forth , or embrace the good which the opportunity of the time offereth to them . gods judgements are there most heavy , where his greatest mercies are most abused : jerusalem had had such mercies , as no city under heaven since the beginning of the world in some respect ; and these she most grievously abused , and was most unthankful to the giver ; and therefore the lord brought on her such misery as no city ever felt : no city had sinned like jerusalem , none had such mercies against which they could sin ; no city suffered like to her , when once the lords abused patience turned into anger and heavy displeasure : this should awaken england , which is the field which god hath sowed in his love , but through our unthankfulness seemeth to have buried or lost a multitude of mercies : no nation under heaven at this present , hath so many mercies to reckon for as we : if the lord should deal in justice with us , what people since the beginning of the world hath deserved greater punishments ? if every parish , every family , every person , would look into themselves , and see what mercies , what means they have had , or might have had for soul or body , what catalogues might they make , and what wrath might they think they had deserved ? let us all look home , and know , that nothing shall plead more strongly against impenitent and unthankful persons at the last day , than mercies themselves . the great god of heaven and earth doth not onely speak to men with the tongues of prophets , apostles , and teachers ; but sometimes also by the elements , composed or wrought into divers forms and shapes . if we will believe what is credibly reported , the heavens have been of late chequered with strange and prodigious sights : but what is most remarkable , is , that a comet or blazing-star , for many weeks have been visible to all , or most parts of europe , and other places , as the gazettes testifie ; and there 's so many people in england , nay in london , that by occular experience can subscribe to the truth of it , that there needs no further narrative . when god intends to punish a nation , country , or city , he is first pleased to give them notice thereof by apparitions or prodigies ; and there hath never been any notable apparition or prodigy seen in the heavens , but it hath been attended in the sequel with some more then ordinary troubles , or change here on earth , according to this illustration of dubartas : viz. here in the night appears a flaming spire , there a fierce dragon , folded all in fire : here a bright cornet , there a fiery stream , here flying launces , there a burning beam : here seems a horned goat , environ'd round with fiery flakes , about the air to bound ; there with long bloody hair , a blazing-star , threatning the world with famine , plague , and war : to princes death , to kingdoms many crosses , to all estates , inevitable losses : to herds-men rot , to plow-men hopless seasons , to saylors storms , to cities civil treasons . thus much of prodigies in general , now to know the signification of each particular comet , for they have not all one and the same portences ; we must , according to the documents of astrologers , observe their colours , place , and motion in the heavens , &c. and that i may be well understood by those for whose sakes i undertook this task , viz. the vulgar or common people of this kingdom ; i shall not strive to use any cramp words or quaint language , but in a homely and plain stile , deliver unto them , the signification of this blazing-star , according to the rules of art ; as followeth . by the account we had of this comet first from falmous , in the west of england ; it was then of a bright and clear colour , but its tail was of a pale colour towards the end . so then we may conclude , the star was then of a jovial nature , but its tail of a saturnian hue ; and by the said account , it was then in the caelestial sign scorpio , but is now in the sign aries , and the star really saturnian so well as its tail : it is true , when it had but newly past the conjunction of the sun , and first became occidental , its tail was very red , and at least sixty degrees long ; but there was then a tincture , or mixture of the aforesaid colours in it . it s tail is not forty degrees long now , and will be shorter as the star gets further from the sun. now it being since its first appearance , of the colour of the planets before nominated , and likewise of the colour of mars and mercury , for mars claims the redness of its tail , and mercury will put in for a share , by reason of its various colours ; therefore we may expect , that according to the nature of those four planets , will the effects of this new star be : which is as followeth . a comet of the nature of saturn , signifies many frights and fears among people , trouble , vexation , murmuring , and repining ; exile or banishment to many : scarcity of food , penury , grievous sicknesses , plague , consumptions , agues , and other lingring distempers : tempestuous winds , shipwracks , inundations , great frosts and snows ; a destruction of fruits by worms or catterpillars . a comet of the nature of jupiter , as this was at its first appearance , denotes much strugling among men for matters of religion , laws and priviledges , strivings , wrastling and encountering each other : it signifies a plentiful and fertile time , pleasant salubrious air , seasonable winds and showers ; and truly it is well we have some significations of good , to buoy us up under the many mischiefs portended . now its tail being sometimes red , viz. of the nature of mars , signifies wars , quarrels , sea-fights , slaughters , bloodshed , tumults , massacres , in some places change of governours and governments ; pestiferous winds , terrible thunder and lightnings ; tempests , shipwacks , thieves and robbers will abound on the land , and pyrates at sea ; excessive hot weather at sometimes , drying up rivers and fountains : scarcity of the fruits of the earth , firing or burning of houses , and violent feavers among men. it being of various colours for sometime , as i told you before , mercury will have a share in its effects , and then it denotes much wit and policy among men , and as much business to imploy it about : astrologers say , that it signifies the death of great men , wars , sicknesses and scarcity of food : many men will imploy their wits about vild and treacherous things , and when they have done , if questioned for the same , pretend to be as innocent as lambs ; and truly so they may , as romish lambs , which are always of a more infernal quality , than heretick-lyons , as they call them . in the next place i shall give you the signification of this star , in relation to the signs of heaven it has already past through , which is , scorpio , sagitarius , capricorn , aquarius , pisces , and is now in aries ; but how much farther it will go , time must be the informer . a comet or blazing-star in scorpio , signifies wars , contentions , controversies , alterations and changes in the world , and chiefly among men of martial discipline ; trouble and animosities among princes ; a scarcity of waters , and fruits of the earth , damage to merchants by pyrates , and much grief to teeming women . in sagitary , it denotes evil to great men , controversies about religion and laws , feavers and other dangerous infirmities . in capricorn , a comet doth signifie many wicked actions among men , murders , thefts , robberies , wars , plague and famine in many places ; troubles and calamities to most sort of people ; the death of great men by poyson , or other violent means : persecution of many for religion , and contempt of religion it self ; great frosts , snows , hails , &c. in aquary , it denotes long lasting wars , terrible slaughters , many kinds of crosses and cruelties ; and in some places a sweeping plague or pestilence ; dark obscure air , great winds , thunder and lightnings . when a comet appears in pisces , it signifies eminent strife and contentions about religion , devisions , seperations , and alienations of relations , and former friends : strange and prodigious apparitions in the air ; scarcity of fish , losses and crosses in sea-voyages , much troubles amongst great and potent persons . lastly , this comet being in aries , is the fore-runner of much mischief , troubles , war-like preparations ; the death of some eminent person , which will cause or occasion great consternation in the country where it shall happen : sharp diseases in the head and eyes of people , and a rot or murrain among small cattel . stella barbata , or caudata ; a star with a beard , or long tayl , as this comet hath , denotes the death of great and noble men , and wars in those countries unto which it points its tayl : and we may conclude , that in regard from its first appearance , it took its progress towards the sun , its effects will be manifested in a great measure on eminent persons , and ineminent actions ; and i need not go about to tell where , or in what countries the significations of this star will appear ; but in short acquaint you , that it hath already taken up a large part of europe , so well as other parts , for its theatre . thus far have i adventured to speak of this blazing-star unto the world , and in so doing i well hope i have offended none that i ought not to have offended . i would have none to be constartned or affrightned at those presages , though they be according to the true and experienced rules of art ; but observe the prudent and wise saying of charles the great , when he was beholding the new star that presaged and preceeded his death , he was very inquisitous and desirous to know what it signified ; one who stood by answers him in the words of the prophet jeremiah , chap. . ver . . fear not the signs of heaven , though the heathen be afraid of them ; vnto which the emperour replyed , that he did not indeed fear any signs of that nature , but the maker or cause of those signs . a wise saying , and deserves to be written in letters of gold. i know some critical persons will be ready to say , that i have given no mathematical , or astronomical accout of this star ; to which i answer , neither can it reasonably be expected that i should , any more than i have , considering the streightness of my limits : i leave that therefore to those that shall write a more large discourse hereof , to certisfie the learned . to conclude this discourse , my prayer shall be , that venus and jupiter i' th heavens may agree . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e senec. natur . quest . l. . ca. . justin . lib. . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . vellieus lib. . ca. . senec. natur . quaest . lib. . ca. . dio. lib. senec. natur . quaest . lib. . ca. . s●●ton . in julio . ca. . aemed . . dio. lib. . pag. . justin . lib. . fulgent . . . oper . imperfect . in math. ● . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fullers pisgah sight . lib. cap. . eusib . eccles . hist. lib. . ca. . joseph . de bello judaic . lib. . ca. . just . lips . lib. . de constant . cap. . pedocot . mexio . histor . roman . imperat. holinsheds chronicle in will. conqueror . fabian . chronicle . spalat . de ecclesiast . repub. li . p. . comen . histor . german . prophet . an astronomicall description of the late comet from the . of nouemb. . to the . of december following. with certaine morall progosticks or applications drawne from the comets motion and irradiation amongst the celestiall hierglyphicks. by vigilant and diligent obseruations of iohn bainbridge doctor of physicke, and louer of the mathematicks. bainbridge, john, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; 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(eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) an astronomicall description of the late comet from the . of nouemb. . to the . of december following. with certaine morall progosticks or applications drawne from the comets motion and irradiation amongst the celestiall hierglyphicks. by vigilant and diligent obseruations of iohn bainbridge doctor of physicke, and louer of the mathematicks. bainbridge, john, - . [ ], , [ ] p., folded plate printed by edward griffin for henry fetherstone, london : . the last leaf is blank. a variant of the edition with imprint: london, printed by edward griffin for iohn parker. . reproduction of the original in emmanuel college (university of cambridge). library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every 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reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion an astronomicall description of the late comet from the . of nouemb. . to the . of december following . with certaine morall prognosticks or applications drawne from the comets motion and irradiation amongst the celestiall hieroglyphicks . by vigilant and diligent obseruations of iohn bainbridge doctor of physicke , and louer of the mathematicks . יהוה lift up your eyes on hie , and behold who hath created these things . isai : . london , printed by edward griffin for henry fetherstone . . to the imperiall maiesty of great britaines monarch james &c. most gracious soueraigne , it was the counsell of aristides , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . to worship god with consecration of temples , but to honour noble personages with dedication of bookes : following this aduice , i beganne not long since the description of great britaines monarchy in three columnes , historicall , panegyricall , and prophylacticall ; intending thereby to stir vp your leige people to a religious admiration of gods wonderfull prouidence in vniting these two famous kingdomes into one monarchy ; to a iust acknowledgement of our exceeding happinesse therein : as also to an vnanimous desire , and endeauour for the absolute vnion and perpetuall preseruation thereof . in the meane time heauen it selfe offered a faire occasion to manifest the feruent zeale long smothered in my loyall breast towards your maiesty , the late strange , and admirable comet , which hath filled so many eies with his rayes , and their thoughts with meteors , or doubts . an astronomicall description whereof delineated in a celestiall planisphere , with some briefe touches in the prognostickes , and morall applications thereof , i humbly offer to your princely excellence , beseeching you to proiect the beames of your sweete , and gracious influence both on it , and the authour ; that , as the glorious sunne of heauen with his resplendence enlightned this ( otherwise obscure ) comet : so your maiestie our terrestiall all phaebus would vouchsafe to illustrate your maiesties most humble , and loyall subiect . iohn bainbridge . sereniss . britanniarvm maiestati xaīpe coeleste . rex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dijs charissime , salue britannis optime : saluere iussit nuncius coeli comatus , regia spargens eoi munera . quacunque transit , sydera salue canūt rex maxime , salue britannis optime . nec non amoris tesseras iungunt saluti nobiles , hermes potentē virgulam , et libra iustè pendulas lances , aristam floridam virgo , & coronā gnossiam , serpens ocellum prouidū , fortis bootes hastulam , arctusque regno saecula optat beato plurima . rex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dijs charissime , salue britannis optime . i. b. errata . pag. . l. . for head read taile . pag. . l. . put out of planets . pag. . l. . for . read . pag . l. . for eleuenth read twelfth . p. . l. . for . read . p. . l. . for vnfold obscure read vnfold this obscure . deo opt : max : sacrum . augustiss : brittanniarum monarchae franciaeque regi iacobo . foelix noui anni auspicium et d : astronomiae tandem instaurandae symbolum fecit vouitque ioh : bambridgius med : doctor . cometae qui effulsit anno descriptio a nou : ad decemb. an astronomicall description of the late comet , or blazing-star . i hope there bee none so farre more precize then wise , as to thinke it vnlawfull to looke on this celestiall signe with other then vulgar and poreblinde eyes : ( which were still to maintaine ignorance mother of deuotion . ) or if any such there be , i shall meet with them in the closure of this treatise , and therefore without further tedious prologue ; may it please you to suruay this celestiall planisspheare , whose lineaments are optically proiected vpon a plaine touching the ecliptique in the twentieth degree of the dodecatemory of libra , the eye being placed in the center of the spheare , from whence all the great circles doe appeare right lines , as they are in the chart protracted . which thing is of speciall vse in our present businesse ( as you shall anon perceiue ) for which cause i preferred this new manner of proiection ( though to my greater paines ) before any other in common practise . the lowest line of all is the ecliptique line , from which the sunne ( as other planets doe to some few degrees ) neuer strayeth . the crooked prickt lines bee parallels of latitude from the ecliptique towards the articke pole therof : the space betwixt euery two lines is fiue degrees . the other right lines falling down perpendicular on the ecliptique be circles of longitude ; beginning at the fifth degree of virgo , and so forwards to the fifth of sagittary : the spaces be also fiue degrees : by these two kinde of lines , it is easie to finde the longitude and latitude of any starre in the chart , and also of the comer . these circles of longitude do in the spheare concurre in the pole , but this proiection in plano doth keep them parallel , or at a continued equall distance each from other . from the beginning of libra towards capricorne , is extended the aequinoctiall line , to whose intersections with the ecliptique when the sun commeth , the nights and dayes bee equall ; as alwayes in all places of the earth vnder the same . from this line , towards each pole , is counted the declinations of stars , the greatest part of this planispheare is on the arcticke or northerne side : but these things are plainely remonstrate to the eye in the chart , and therefore i will make no further explanation of them ; neither of the constellations emblematically pourtrayed according to the mysticall hieroglyphicks of ancient sages . the place of each particular starre is correspondent to the most accurate obseruations of the illustrious prince william late lant graue of hessen , and that tresnoble dane tycho brahe , of whose admirable vranicall instruments many honourable witnesses are still suruiuing . but it ( for whom all this preparation is made ) is the late comet , whose delineation is taken from mine owne vigilant and diligent obseruations with geometricall instruments , especially the radius , or crosse-staffe , eternized by the heroike poet : descripsit radio totum qui gentibus orbem , tempora quae messor , quae curuus arator haberet . who with his iacobs staffe suruay'd the ground , did measure times , and all the heauens round . the first occasion and particular manner of which obseruations with the scrupulous and punctuall places ( of the comet ) from them by necessity of sphericall triangles deducted , i leaue to my latine cometography , which ( if these labours finde acceptance at home ) i will adorne for franckfurt : of whose more curious and ample demonstrations , this little chart is a true synopticke epitome ; wherein may at once bee seene the comets place , as it daily appeared in the concaue surface of heauen : the line of his proper motion ( appearing in the heauens to be the arch of a perfect great circle ) crosseth the ecliptique in the degree , with ½or thereabouts of scorpio , running through the constellation of libra , ouerthwart arctophylax , along the extent of his left arme by the taile of vrsa maior , towards the pole arctick , but a little more southward . this cometary line cutteth the aequinoctiallline in the degree almost of scorpio , and of northerne latitude : making with it an angle of degrees towards libra and the pole arctick . if this angle had heene right degrees , the line of the comets motion would haue runne into the very pole , but making some inclination towards libra , it fell ( as i sayd ) a little southwards from the pole. this line also and the ecliptique ( towards capricorne and the north ) comprehended an angle of degrees . so that the pole of the comets proper motion was about ½ . degrees of aquarius ▪ with degrees ⅔ of northerne latitude . the motion it selfe ( reckoned in this line ) from my first obseruation on wednesday morning the of nouember , to wensday the of december when i last saw the comet , amounted almost to degrees in dayes : which is not degrees ⅔ one day with another : but the comets apparant motion at the first was somewhat swifter , though not much , and in the end a little slower . i haue for the further remonstrance heereof graduated the cometary line ; beginning at the intersection with the aequinoctiall both wayes : and by the comets place set downe the time . heere i would haue those who ranke comets amongst inconstant meteors , to take speciall notice of this comets constant regularity , for that the inequality of his motion was not onely little , but ordinate , successiuely decreasing sensim sine sensa , by so little and little , that it could not be perceiued , but by comparing many dayes obseruations . let them also obserue that his motion in this line was scarse at the swiftest one fourth part of the moones celerity : but of this anon . i will also propound to masters in astronomy this comets exact and direct description ( by his apparant motion ) of a great circle without any deuiations . what was the true line of his motion in the aetheriall ocean ? what inclination it kept to this our habitable orb ? by what primum mobile this comet ( keeping so iust a line ) was whirled about the earth euery foure and twenty houres ? these considerations bee onely fit for those who haue beene rapt vp aboue the elementary regions of vulgar schooles : and slept not in parnassus , but olympus , vnder the spangled canopy of vrania ; i can hardly keepe within the spheare of this little treatise , and scarsely refraine from the samian philosophy of aristarchus in the earths motion , were it not i feared another aristarchus his broach : and that i must reserue these mysteries for a more learned language . wherefore to prosecute our present description : vpon the inclination of this cometary circle or line to the ecliptique and aequinoctiall , depend the comets places and motion in longitude , latitude , right ascension and declination , as appeares in the planispheare ; wherein is manifest , that the comets motion of longitude was continually retrograde , contrary to the order of the signes , from the middle almost of scorpio , through libra into virgo ▪ which retrogression hath beene noted in many other comets , as i shall elsewhere relate ; but the cause of their retrogression hath laien hid in the mysticall cabinet of astronomy . it were vaine to affirme saturne now also retrograde in his acronichiall opposition in gemini , to hale backe this comet by the haire after him ( as simple astrologians conceit ) for that these planetary retrogressions and stations ▪ of planets bee but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , appearances ; the planets still making progresse in their owne circles , ( as is well knowen to them who are well versed in the labyrinths of astronomy ) but this comets retrogression depends on the inclination of his true line in the aetheriall regions , which though it appeared to vs circular in the concaue of heauen , yet in it selfe was right : but i may not breake pythagorean silence . this retrograde motion being referred to the ecliptique in longitude was ( contrary to the motion in his proper circle ) slow in the beginning , and much swifter in the end ; which is caused from the great inclination of the cometary line to the ecliptique , which plainely appeareth in the chart , by which you shall easily finde the comets place in longitude and latitude for any day of his tearme . the comet also euery day changed his parallel of declination ( mounting continually northwards ) and therewith his verticall passage ouer the earth . the common sort , at his first appearing , thought him to bee ouer spaine , making i know not what prognosticks thereof : but their eyes deceiued them , they aimed many thousand miles too short : at my first obseruation he declined twelue degrees towards the south , making his diurnall gyre ouer that terrestiall circle wherein lie noua guinea , the iles timor and iaua in the east , the north part of st. laurence , mozambique in africa , the middle of brasilia , & peru in the west . about the twentie two of nouember it entred the aequinoctiall plaine ouer the moluccas , malaca , sumatra , abassia , st. thomas , guiana ; euery day ascending higher towards our pole arctick , about the . entring the tropick of cancer , afterward passing ouer all the regions of the earth , euen ouer the vtmost limites of the british empire . by the comets declination is easie to know ouer what place the comet was euery day verticall : for if his declination be equall to the latitude , or poles elevation , ( which may be knowne by tables or mappes ) then of necessity did the comet passe ouer head in that place . the middle of spaine lyes in fortie degrees of latitude from the equinoctiall northward ; but the comets declination was not so much , till about the sixt of december ; and therefore could not be verticall to them before that time . about the eleuenth of december his declination was fiftie one degrees and halfe , and therefore passed ouer london in the morning , and so hasted more northwards euen as farre as the orcades . the comets declination may be had in the chart by the line of his motion being graduated on both sides the aequinoctiall : for the distance from the aequinoctiall is ( with a little correction ) the declination : for from one degree to twentie , the distance is within a few minutes the declination : but from twentie degrees to fortie substract one fourth part of a degree , from fortie to fiftie substract halfe a degree , and from fiftie to sixtie substract one degree from the comets distance ( from the aequinoctiall ) and there remaines his declination , which whether it were south or north the plani-sphere will shew . on the third of december his distance in his own line from the aequinoctiall was . degrees . min. from whence . min. substracted there remaines . degrees & twenty fiue minutes the declination . by reason of this mounting northwards , the comet did euery day rise sooner then other , withall changing his azimuth , or point of compasse ( in his rising ) from south-east and by east towards the north vntill at length it made continual abode aboue our horizon . i may not forget that the comet in the later part of his period was north-west after sunne-set , which gaue occasion to some not skilfull in astronomie to affirme a second comet . but from the beginning i fore-told ( which was no great matter to doe ) that if the comet continued awhile , it would aduance neere to the tayle of vrsa maior , and be seene in the euening after the sunne . now are we come to that from which comets , or blazing-stars are denominated ; the tayle , or rather the blazing streame , which in this comet was very remarkable , and is truely pourtraied in the planisphere , as it appeared in the heauens , being alwaies in opposition to the sunne , or extended in length according to a right line issuing from the sunne through the comets body . for plainer remonstrance whereof i specially invented this new manner of proiecting the spheare in plano , and haue caused the elipticke to be protracted to the beginning of capicorne , and in it the suns place exactly noted on seuerall daies of the comets apparition , also from the sunnes center proceede right lines through the body of the comet which doe precisely shew the true prospect of his bushie lockes . the . of nouember in the morning the comets haire was spread ouer the faire starre arcturus betwixt the thighes of arctophylax or bootes . now the planispheare doth shew that a right line drawne from the sunne then in the degree of sagittarie through the comets body 〈◊〉 approach the said starre . so the last of november about midnight following the comets bush ouer-shadowed a starre of the third light in the left hinder knee of vrsamaior . which doth manifestly appeare in the planispheare by a line extended from the sunne ( then in . degrees of sagittarie ) through the comets body ; the like may be seene in other places . in-sooth this comets forelock was a better ephemeris for the sunnes place then many in great request . hence is detected the grosse ignorance of those writers who neuer or seldome cast vp their eies towards those glorious lights , but onely delighting in solitary contemplation doe much busie their wits in searching the cause of cometary streamings ; affirming them to be of the same matter ( but more rare and thin ) with the head . which with many other absurdities may be refuted by this present obseruation ; which doth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by geometricall and lineall necessitie certainely demonstrate that the comets taile is nothing else but an irradiation of the sunne through the pellucide head of the comet . for though the sunne-beames be not of themselues conspicuous in the pure aëry or aetheriall regions , yet passing through the comets more condensed substance and there by refraction recollected and more neerely vnited they did not onely illustrate the comet it selfe , but also a long tract beyond him . according to the refraction and recollection of the sunnes beames , so was the illustration and illumination of the comet ; which appeared to vs more or lesse as the comet was neerer or farther from the earth : and these be the true reasons why the comet ( which at first was illustrate with a bright resplendence ) did euery day more and more loose his radiant lustre till at length it appeared like a faint shadow , and quite vanished out of our sight : for neither could the sun beames be any longer vnited by refraction in the comets now dissolute and sluide substance , neither could that little glimpse ( if any were ) be perceiued , being so farre remote from the earth , as shall be anon remonstrate . by the same reasons did the comets streaming bush also by little and little vanish away , and so much the rather , by how much the sunne rayes were there alwayes more dissipate then in the comet , and those locks euer lesse relucent then the head . the dilatation of the comets fore-locke was caused by a second refraction of the sunne beames , by which refraction they were brought to an intersection , after which they beganne againe to diverge , or display themselues in that forme which appeared in the heauens , and is delineate in the planispheare . this dilatation was nothing so strange , as the extent in length , being sometimes more then . degrees , and namely the . of december , ouershadowing the left hinder knee of vrsa maior . though in the end the comet did as it were winde vp this long haire about his head . some haue doubted , if this long streame of light had touched the earth , whether it would haue caused any combustion ? surely no : indeede the sun beames may by reflexion or refraction bee so concentred & vnited , that ( though it were through a peece of ice framed into a burning glasse ) they shall easily set any combustible matter on fire ; but that happens onely in the center of vnion , or concourse of the recollected beames : but this comets lockes being diverged , or displaied rayes , could haue no such power though they had touched the earth . from this one obseruation of the sunnes irradiation through the comet many more strange and excellent conclusions may be collected , which neither my leasure will suffer mee to examine particularly , neither can these pages well containe them . wherefore now i will tye vp this comets radiant lockes with admiration of that glorious lampe , wherewith he that inhabits the light inaccessible doth illustrate , and enlighten this whole world . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . psal . . hee hath set his tabernacle in the sunne , and it as a bridegroome commeth out of his chamber , and reioyceth as a gyant to runne a race ; his going forth is from the end of the heauen , and his circuits vnto the ends of it ; and there is nothing hid from the heate thereof . this is the true 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , the onely harth of inquenchable fire , which so many thousand leagues oft warmeth the earth , enlightneth these refulgent bodies , and with them this new planet . i haue at large shewed the comets places as they appeared in the surface of heauen , both in his owne circle , and also referred to the ecliptick , and aequinoctiall ; but there is another place of more difficult inquisition , and greater admiration , and that is the comets distance from this our habitable orbe . common schooles treading the wrie steps of that great and witty , but often mis-leading peripateticke , would confine this , and other comets within the higher region of the aire ; neither could his palpable error in the place of galaxia ( or the milkie-way in heauen ) acknowledged by most bring them into suspition of the like deuiation from the high aetheriall region of comets into the elementary vallies of meteors ; where , and with whom to place this comet were to hide so glorious a candle vnder a bushell , and not to set it in a candlesticke , that all in the house may see ; to set a beacon not on an hill , but in a dale , especially if wee consider that the highest region of the aire ( by the optickes demonstration from the time of twilight ) is not many aboue . english miles from the earth . wherefore i may iustly vse the lacedemonian 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , walke not in the errors of those wandring philosophers . let this comets regular and ordinate motion ( for a month together ) neuer deuiating from one right line , keepe you in the way of verity . this very reason alone many ages agoe perswaded diuine seneca , and in our fathers daies that ingenious and subtile cardane to place all comets aboue the elementarie regions , wherein only inconstant and momentany meteors make their sickle vagaries . the analogie also obserued in the starres betwixt their distance from the earth , and their motion about the same , doth eleuate this comet aboue the lunary regions , his proper motion being scarse at any time the fourth part of hers . this argument was sometimes accounted a firme demonstration , before that conglomeration of solide orbes was with the aries or engines of astronomicall obseruations battered and demolished : neither is it yet reiected by those who well deserue the first place in the restauration of this celestiall art ; for though those babylonian wals be ruinated , yet is the analogie of motion and distance stil preserued . it was the saying of diuine plato , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , god is the great master of geometrie , hauing created all things in waight , measure , and number , as holy writ doth witnesse . the most accurate and refined astronomie doth confesse and professe , that flow saturne is farthest from the earth , and swift luna neerest , the rest intermediating in their motion , according to their distance from this little terrell , for whose vse especially those vast planetarie globes were created . but that abstruse & admirable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , most irrefragable and infallible remonstrance drawn from the parallax doth place this comet farther beyond the moone , then she is from the earth , yea many times her apogaeall or greatest distance . but because this huge distance may seeme strange to many ( being as i haue shewed contrary to the long receiued opinion of common philosophers ) and the doctrine of parallax to most no lesse vnknowne , then the word it selfe ; i will for their better satisfaction , with as much breuity and perspicuity as i can , vnfold obscure , but sure argument . parallax ( in astronomy ) is a commutation or changing of any planets or comets true place ( pointed out by a line drawne from the earths center through the planets , or comets ) into another place appearing to our eye on the superficies of this terrestriall speculatorie . or parallax , is the difference of these two places . this commutation or difference ariseth from that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , reason , or ( to vse the vulgar tearme , though here vnproper ) proportion , which the earths semidiameter ( or thicknesse from the center to his superficies ) hath to the planets or comets distance from the earth : for if this semidiameter hold any sensible proportion to the distance , it is not possible that the eye vpon the earth should see the comet or planet in the same place which it hath in respect of the center , but there will be a parallax , commutation , or difference more or lesse according to the distance . so the moones perigaeal or shortest distance being not much more then fiftie two semidiameters of the earth , fals into a notorious parallax ( or difference of her true and apparant place ) and that of one degree and . minutes , for the proportion of one to fiftie two , or / part is very sensible : but the sun being remote when he is perigeall , no lesse then ● semidiameters from the earth ( by all astronomers consent ) hath very little parallax of m. for the proportion of m. to 〈◊〉 is very little , or nothing : but according to the more accurate & late obseruations of keplerus ( mathematician to two emperors ) the sun being 〈◊〉 semidiameters of the earth from it , shall haue but min : of parallax : but the vpper planets , iupiter & saturne , are so exceedingly remote , that the earths semidiameter can cause in them no parallax at all , much lesse in the fixed stars , which are almost infinitely remote from the earth , retaining their mutuall distances and situations ( in what place of the earth soeuer they be obserued ) yea from their first creation , being set by the almighty , as so many markes , whereunto the terrestriall inhabitants might refer the seuen planets , or any other celestiall light , as comets and new stars . for the better vnderstanding of this parallacticall discourse , i must entreat you to examine this following diagram . diagram of parallax where o , l , is the earths semidiameter , , , , be three planets or comets diuersely remote from the earth , and all in one line from o , the earths center , which refers them all to one place in v , amongst the fixed stars : but the eye being on the earths superficies in l , doth cause a parallax or change of place , more or lesse , as they be distant from the earth : for the neerest to the earth doth from l appeare in a , making a great parallax , the angle v , , a , or more plainely the arch v , a , which ( in the eighth spheare ) is equall to the angle , but the being further from the earth , doth from l appeare in b. hauing v , b , lesse parallax , then the former : but being yet further from the earth , doth from l appeare in c , hauing v , c , but a little parallax . any of these parallaxes are greatest when the planet is in the horizon , as is , the other being a little aboue : but in the zenith or verticall poynt ouer our heads , there can be no parallax at all , for then the line from the center doth runne into the line from the superficies , making one line . as you see z , l , o. so that the parallax doth from the horizon vpwards continually decrease , and at length vanish away in the zenith . by this which hath beene sayd is manifest , that the farther any visible thing is from the earth , the lesse parallax it must needes haue : but the finding of the parallax is not so easie ; hic labor , hoc opus est : this requires more then ordinary skill in astronomy . there bee two speciall wayes to finde the parallax : the one is by two obseruations made at one time in two remote places of the earth , for if the comet doth in both of them appeare in one and the same place amongst the fixed starres , then cannot the earths semidiameter haue any proportion to the distance of the comet : but if the comet doth appeare diuersly amongst the fixed starres , then hath it parallax more or lesse according to his distance from the earth . in the former diagram let l be london , r be some other remote place , the comet , which from l will appeare amongst the fixed starres in a , but from r it will appeare in v : so that the difference is a. v. very much , because is neere the earth : let there be also another comet which from l will appeare in c , but from r in v , the difference v c very little , because is very farre from the earth . i haue beene very diligent in obseruing all the comets places amongst the fixed starres , that so hereafter comparing them with those which appeared in other countries , the true parallax of this comet may be knowne , which i dare say by this triall will proue little or none . in the meane time i haue not neglected the second way of finding the parallax , which is by comparing two apparant places of the comet in one and the same night , one place being neere the horizon , and the other neere the zenith . for the difference of these two places will manifest the parallax : where regard must be had of the starres proper motion in the interuall of time , which is very easie to performe . there be many kindes of obseruations , by altitudes , declinations , ascensions , &c. which are very difficult , and perplexed with diuers species of parallaxes , besides refraction . and therefore omitting them , i will acquaint you with an easie and most certaine way to search forth any comets parallax , & that without error of or mi. which is nothing to mi. of the moones parallax . this is by obseruing the comet a very little ouer or vnder some starre neere the horizon , and afterwards the same night neere the zenith or verticall point . for if the comet ( hauing parallax ) neere the horizon appeare a little vnder the starre , it will towards the zenith appeare neere , yea ( it may be ) eclipse the star , or be a little aboue him , which is plaine by the diagram , for the comet appearing from l in c vnder the starre v will in z the verticall point bee in coniunction with him , and eclipfe him from your sight . here the comet is supposed to haue no motion , besides that from the primum mobile : but if hee haue any , as this comet had , it is easie to make allowance for the same , especially being so little in or houres betwixt the two obseruations . as for refraction neere the horizon , it cannot bring any incumbrance , for that it doth as well eleuate the starre , as the comet . the night before the third of december , about one houre after midnight , i obserued the comet not yet . degrees aboue the horizon , vnder two little starres of the fourth light in the girdle of arctophylax . the distance of these starres is but . min. which serued as a ready and certaine measure , wherunto i might compare the distance of the comet from them , for the more perspicuous distinction whereof i vsed the telescopium or trunke-spectacle . the comet appeared from the vppermost starre ( which was directly in his way ) the distance of the two stars , & moreouer ⅓ part thereof , in all one deg . . min. towards morning , the comet being mounted . degrees aboue the horizon , the comet appeared from the said starre a little more then ⅔ of the two stars distance , about mi : so that in . houres the comet was come but . minutes neerer to the starre ; no more then his proper motion in that time ( according to former and following nights obseruations ) required . wherefore remouing this proper motion , he would haue appeared at both times a like distant from the starre ; and therefore had none or little parallax . for suppose the comet to haue had as much parallax as the moone ( in her perigaeon ) which is ( in . degrees aboue the horizon ) . min. and in . deg . of altitude scarce . m. the difference is . m. and so much should the comet by alteration of his parallax haue appeared neerer the starre at the second obseruation , then at the first , to which if you adde his proper motion in the mean space , it will be . m. & so the comet should haue been but ⅕ part of the stars distance from the vpper starre ; whereas he was more then ⅔ , which is a notorious difference , and could not escape the sight ; and therfore had not so great parallax as the moone , and by necessary consequence was aboue her , ▪ yea many times her distance from the earth , which i might easily confirme by the like obseruation the night following , when the comet had ouertaken the starre more then a degree ; but especially by my obseruations the nights preceding the . . and . daies , when the comet was very neere vnto a little starre in the left arme of arctophylax , at the first vnder him and after aboue , and also by his distance from another obscure star ( which i found by the telescopium mi. aboue the comet : this little starre i could finde in no globe nor mappe , but onely in the excellent vranimetria of that diligent and industrious beyerus . by diligent and curious noting the comets distance from these starres , first neere the horizon , and afterwards towards the zenith in the same nights , i dare be bold to conclude that this comet had not . minutes of parallax ( for within these limites i may confine the incertaintie of my obseruations ) and therefore more then . semidiameters of the earth distant from it . how strange so euer this may seeme , yet is it enforced from most certaine demonstration parallacticall . which may moreouer be confirmed from the prospect and irradiation of this comets forelocke . which if the head had any notable parallax , must of necessitie haue twice so much , and so could not appeare in one line with the comet , and the sunne as i haue formerly demonstrated . but least the reader not acquainted with mathematicall demonstrations , should thinke it a nouell position , yea 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a strange vncouth & neuer heard of opinion to elevate comets so far aboue the elementary , yea lunary regions . i must relate vnto them that besides those famous new stars , the one in cassiopaea . and the other in the foot of ophiuchus . both which lasted more then a yeere , and that in cygnus continuing many yeeres ; all three from all places of the earth appearing in one and the same position amongst the fixed stars , ( an argument of their huge distance aboue the moone ) besides these and that new starre noted by hipparchus . yeeres almost since , diuers excellent mathematicians of this age , haue by certaine remonstrances shewed many comets farther aboue the mone , then i affirme this to be . amongst , others , that second hipparchus , tycho brahe in the comets . . . . . could not with all his admirable , sumptuous , and exquisite vranical engines finde the least parallax , no not of one minute ; and therefore iustly affirmed them far beyond the moone : yea , which is most remarkable , and caused no small admiration , and delight in the heroicke lantgraue of hessen , as it pleased him by letters to signifie to tycho ▪ rothmannus the lantgraues mathematician , obseruing the comet in . agreed with tycho in the place thereof to a scruple , ( at one and the same instant ) and yet the one was remote from the other almost . english miles , the distance betwixt cassels , and vrani-burge , which punctuall agreement had been impossible if the comet had not beene exceedingly remote beyond the moone . i must also remember that albumasar . yeares almost since obserued a comet aboue the spheare of mercury . wherefore it is no such strange distance from the earth that i assigne to this our comet , . semidiameters of the earth ; which is but ⅓ of the suns distance . i might iustly account this comet higher , but i will keepe within the limites of my obseruations . and for your better satisfaction , reduce this distance into english miles , allowing ( by the statute of . elizabethae ) . foote to a mile ; & . of these miles to the earths semidiameter , therein following the late ingenious and painefull measurations of willebrordus snellius . wherefore the comets distance from the earth was uot lesse then . english miles , whereas the moone ( when she is neerest ) is little more then . miles . the irradiation also of this comets streame , ( though in the end it seemed very short ) was sometime extended to a wonderfull length , more then . miles , which is nothing to the sunnes ejaculation of his beames vpon the earth , more then . miles . from the comets distance doth necessarily follow the vast globositie of his body , though to vs his diameter seemed but a few minutes , which being no lesse then . minutes will extend to . miles , which is ⅓ almost of the earths diameter , and therefore the comets bulke was at least / of the whole earth ; and not fully twice greater then the moone ; but the comet compared to the sunne was scarce . to . so little is this great comet in respect of that glorious lampe ; and yet the sunne but a point to the immense spheare of fixed starres ; and all this lesse then nothing in comparison of that infinite circle , cuius centrum est vbiquè , circumferentia nusquam , the center of whose presence , and prescience is euery where , and his limits no where : that great 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and creator , who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand , meeted out heauen with a spanne , comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure , watghed the mountaines in scales , and the hills in a balance . o lord when i consider the heauens , the worke of thy fingers , the moone , and the starres , which thou hast ordained , what is man that thou art mindfull of him , and the sonne of man that thou visitest him ? this comets huge distance from the earth , and vast magnitude will cause to vanish all these smoakie exhalations which by common opinion being by the caelestiall light attracted from the earth into the higher regions of the aire , are there condensed , and by motion set on fire , continually burning in the forme of a comet , vntill all the materiall be spent . but this comet was farre aboue the highest ascent of grosse and sulphurous exhalations , his quantitie more then could be caused by a great part of the earth turned into smoake , his motion too regular , and his durance too long for such wandring , and soone vanishing exhalations . those philosophers , who still walke in the way of the gentiles , are afraide to induce generation , or any other mutation into the heauens , rather choosing to follow their blinde guide ( who denied the world to haue any beginning , or ending ) then to beleeue the infallible truth of sacred scripture . others haue beene scrupulous to conceit any creation since that first saboth . but whether this comet and the like were caused by efficacie of nature ( the ordinary power which god hath put into all his creatures ) compacting the liquid aetheriall substance , or whether by the immediate power of the worlds architect ( qui dixit , & facta sunt , mandauit , & creata sunt : spake and they were made , commanded and they were created ) a new matter was presently created : i will not here curiously dispute ▪ either of these waies doth acknowledge a celestiall matter , and diuine prouidence . it were vaine to refute those who haue imagined comets , and new starres to be made of the galaxia , or milkie way ; for so before this day would all that milke haue beene turned into curds ; neither is that way any whit more condense then the rest of the heauen , but onely an irradiation of innumerable starres close together , as the telescopium doth ocularly demonstrate . neither shall i need to reproue those ancient philosophers , who ( in the dawning of astronomie ) thought comets to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a co-apparition of planets seeming to touch one another ; or ( as our simple vulgar still doe ) some planet , especially merc. or venus appearing after a long latitat vnder the sun beames ; or some fixed starre disguised ( i know not how ) with borrowed locks . not much vnlike to some late writers , who suppose comets to be starres from the beginning created , but hidden in the deepe abysse of heauen , and at certaine times descending lower , become visible to the earth . but whatsoeuer was the materiall of this comet , howsoeuer compact , and dissolued , i am enforced in conclusion of this astronomicall part , to lie prostrate at the almighties power in the globositie thereof , to admire his wisdome in the motion , and adore his goodnesse in the present apparition . morall prognosticks or applications of the late comet or blazing-starre . tu iupiter me ducito , & fatalitas . great god , that doest all future things effect , inspire my thoughts with truth , my pen direct . it now remaines ( with my readers friendly censure ) to point a mercuriall finger in the prognosticks , especially the morall applications of this new comet , by diuine prouidence set on the high olympian mount , to some the herald of wrath , but to others the ioyfull embassador of peace and mercy ; the place and body thereof farre surmounting the region , and no lesse excelling the matter of common meteors , the signification also doth as much transcend their effects , being not so much a cause ( as they be ) of elementary alterations , as a colestiall signe of greater consequents ▪ there be not yet lacking some , who erect chancels to the blinde goddesse chance , sacrificing to that abominable idoll , not without impious contumelie of the omnipotent god , & vile contempt of his power and prouidence in the fabrique and regiment of the world . these true — epicuri de grege p●rci , filthy and brutish swine , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whose god ( as the apostle saith ) is their bellie , wallowing in the mire of voluptuous sensualitie , little regard the apparition of these new celestiall signes , taking more care to frizle and brisle their superfluous haire , than of this comets blazing lockes . these epicurean pigs in stead of sober elegies , grunt forth their wanton ditties , viuamus mea lesbia , atque amemus , rumoresque senum seueriorum omnes vnius aestimemus assis : soles occidere & redire possunt , nobis cùm semel occidit breuis lux , nox est perpetuò vna dormienda . come lesbia , let vs liue and loue ; what though grim sires vs reproue ? a doyt for all their wise aduise , the sunne may set , and eftsoones rise , but when our wastfull blase is past , darke night with vs for aye will last . procul , procul ô prophani : deus ! en deus ! away , away prophane , irreligious wretches : it is god , it is god omnipotent , and omniscient , to the wicked most fearfull and terrible , to the repentant most gracious and mercifull , that appeares in these celestiall signes . i might easily fill a volume with verses of holy enraged poets , who haue sounded a loud alarme of these blazing starres ; yea and confirme their propheticke lines with particular histories of the strange mutations ensuing these presages both in church and common ▪ weale . let that epiphonema of manilius to augustus caesar suffice : nunquam futilibus excanduit ignibus aether : the earth in vaine did neuer gaze , when comets in the skie doe blaze . but i list not to be an ominous scrich-owle : i had rather be the halcyon of calme serenitie , which doubtlesse i shall be if our selues hinder not . ne mirere graueis rerumque hominumque ruinas : saepè domi culpa est , nescimus credere coelo . maruell not if strange ruines men doe greeue : the fault 's at home , heauen we not beleeue . my deare countrimen , heauen forbid that i should be to you a cassandra , but a calchas . will you haue my lines the comfortable raies of phoebus , more true then those delphicke oracles ? will you not haue this comet an infortunate helene , and wofull messenger of tempest ? then cast ouer boord sleepie disobedient ianas ; let no rebellious transgressions , no sinfull fugitiues lurke and snort in your cabines . preuent the diuine anger with timely and serious repentance , then dare i say to you with ieremiah , feare not the signes of heauen , at which the heathen are dismaide . indeede charlemaine did religiously answere in this very case ; that he feared not the signe , but the great and potent creator thereof ; yet i suppose that iealous feare wrought much in the emperours feeble spirits , ready of themselues to vanish through age . it was more couragiously replied by vespasian ( as dion reports ) when the apparition of a comet was thought to portend his death . no , said he , this bushie starre noteth not me , but the parthian king , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . for he hath the comets lockes , i am bald . and insooth those gorgons heads , whose snakie haires of filthy and loathsome sinnes affright earth , and prouoke heauen , haue only or speciall cause to suspect these caelestiall signes ; but others that can be content to cut off these monstrous and vicious lockes , yea preferre the baldnesse of innocencie before the curles of iniquity ; need not to feare , but rather hope , that these new starres be to them the rayes of diuine fauour , and goodnesse . what this comet doth in particular signifie is not possible to declare without an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or diuine inspiration . — nouit deus omnia solus quae sunt , quae fuerint , quae mox ventura trahantur . god onely knowes , and none , but he what is , what was , and what shall be . yet to discend somewhat lower then vniuersalities : that blessed starre , which conducted the magi to christs poore , but sacred nurcery ( of whose incarnation , and happinesse to mankinde thereby that starre was an heauenly harbenger ) doth enforce me often to thinke that those many new stars and comets , which haue beene more this last century of the world , then in many ages before , did amongst other things signifie that glorious light of the gospell , which hath lately illumined the whole world . about the preaching of luther were at least fiue comets in tenne yeares , after which followed the happy departure of germany , england , and many other northerne parts from the spirituall babylon . this new comet doth giue vs hope , that the rest of christendome before long will follow ; and so at length shall be verified the prophesie of sybilla vpon occasion of these new stars . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rome shall againe become a forlorne and desert village , or sheep-coat . did not our fathers finde the comet in . to be a signe of much happinesse to the persecuted protestants in england , and germany ? yea did not that admirable new starre in cassiopaea . and that remarkable comet . plainly from heauen remonstrate , that howsoeuer the euangelicall churches in france , and the low-countries might be for a time greiuously afflicted , yet maugre sathan , and all his hellish furies they should at length flourish , and triumph ouer their cruell aduersaries . besides these regions of europe , a blessed light hath in this age shined to another world , which did long fit in most fearefull darkenesse ; i meane the east and west indies . i am verily perswaded that the new star which appeared so long from september . to ianuary , . in the foot of serpentarius , hauing coincidance with the great coniunction of the three superiour planets , and that other so many yeares in cygnus , doth promise ( being with this present comet conformed ) a more cleare illustration of those remote regions with the resplendent light of saluation : according to our sauiours oracle ; praedicabitur euangelium hoc in vniuerso terrarum orbe : and this gospell shall be preached throughout the whole earth . which giues vs hope , that his other gracious promise shall shortly be accomplished . and ierusalem shall be troden downe by the gentiles , vntill the time of the gentiles be fulfilled . which certainly shall precede the second comming of our blessed sauiour ; fore runners whereof ( he saith ) shall be signes in the sunne , moone , and starres . to draw neerer home , not by the rules of vulgar astrologie , whose precepts i esteeme no better then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , phantasticke dreames ( as metrocles said of his bookes , which hee consecrated to vulcan ) but directed by these celestiall hieroglyphickes , in which i may say as the poet long agoe : sapientibus per ambages fata eloqui ; fatuis magistrum prorsus esse inutilem . the fates by winding riddles wisemen teach , in vaine to fools though ne'r so plain you preach . directed ( i say ) by this hieroglyphicke doctrine , as by a sure cynosure , and conducting pole-starre : i dare boldly affirme , that this comet being followed in his emblemated motion is to great britaines maiestie , and monarchie , signum foelix , faustum , & fortunatum : an auspicious signe of great honour and happinesse . about the . of nouember , the comet was in coniunction with mercury , supposed by the ancients the messenger , and interpreter of heauen , patrone of arts and trafficke : this fortunate meeting was neere the ecliptique on this northerne side ; as if royall phaebus had sent him to entertaine this new embassador with ioyfull embraces , and honourably to receiue him into these arcticke regions : yea , as it were to giue him some speciall charge from the great monarch of the starrie empire . and here ( me thinks ) the east indies do by these two legates present great britaine with her odoriferous and healthfull spices , her precious iewels , and other orientall riches . the place of this congresse is most remarkable , amidst the balance of libra ; which the comet passing through doth withall , as it were from heauen , proclaime to prince and people : — discite iustitians moniti . iustice by learned politicians is diuided into geometricall , or distributiue , and arithmeticall or correctiue iustice ; and both of these doth this heauenly embassador commend to mortall men , especially the inhabitants of these british iles. and for the first doth tell them that cyclopicall anarchy is dangerous , and no lesse is anabaptisticall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or equalitie : and thankes be to god our church , and common-weale are well rid of these saucie mates . but this messenger of heauen doth warne vs of another proud parity , which beginnes to affront all degrees in sumptuous , and presumptuous apparell , with strange , and inconstant fashions ; a disorder much reproued by god himselfe , and withstood in well gouerned common-weales . the other is correctiue iustice , an indifferent and equall administration of right to all . when the lawes be not as anacharsis said , like spiders webs , which the great hornets breake through , but the silly flies are intangled ; when the widow and fatherlesse are protected , and the poore mans cause gratis pleaded ; where the scant measure ( so abhominable to god ) is made vp ; where there is no wicked balance ( which he will not iustifie ) nor secret bagges of deceitfull waights . wherefore my countrimen , doe iustly one with another , and shew mercy ; so shall you bee more acceptable to god , then if you offred a thousand hecatombs , or tenne thousand riuers of oyle . behold , behold this celestiall messenger from heauen doth bring you an euen poysing balance , & equall waights , receiue and vse them , so shall it be the signe of good to you and yours : ô excellent iustice . te duce si qua manent sceler is vestigia nostri , irrita perpetuâ soluent formidine terr as . thee being guide , if sinfull steps appeare , they now don out , shall free the world frō feare . pauca tamen suberunt priscae vestigia fraudis . it may be yet some little staine , of the old deceit will still remaine . o would it were no worse , ô that wee were so purged of this deceitfull iniquitie ; then might wee with cheerefull eies behold this embassador from heauen , and with ioyfull hearts receiue his message . but least wee should without waighing their worth , neglect these golden balances of right and equitie , the comet doth another way againe , and againe inforce the necessitie of this excellent virtue of virtues . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 iustitia in sese virtutes continet omnes . to iustices most gracious court all other virtues doe resort . which this starre would blazen forth by displaying his golden lockes ouer the skirts of virgo , that iust astraea , which last of all the virtues forsooke the earth , polluted with so many vices . vltima coelestûm terras astraea reliquit . iustice last of all the gods did flie , from earth polluted with impiety . but this sydereus nuncius doth as it were intreat her to returne with her flourishing spike , and aduise vs to giue her content , least as in former times our corrupt manners make her wearie of the earth . from libra the comet posting ouer the aetheriall plaines camposque liquentes , at length comes neere to ariadnes crowne , which hee taketh to him for a princely reward of iustice , reseruing the virgins spike for the people . o all preseruing iustice , fructificas solum & firmas solium : thou fructifiest the ground , and establishest the throne ! blessed are they that doe iustice at all times ( saith the royall psalmist ) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the iust mans seede shall neuer perish , but flourish like the palme-tree . with these rich presents the comet enters the celestiall mansion of arctophylax ( mightie guardian of the northerne beares ) where finding gracious welcome , he makes a long residence . it is great britaines royall court , which diuine astraea doth illustrate with her gracious and healthfull rayes , it is this fortunate iland that is gouerned with her scales of iustice , and enriched with her spike of plentie . the worlds great monarch hath crowned his maiestie with the imperiall diademe of all the british iles ; and by this his embassador doth promise him a long and happie possession thereof , and to his posteritie for euer . as for his enemies , he hath and will cloath them with shame , but on him and his shall his crowne flourish in this life , and an immortall crowne of glory in the heauens . but i may not forget two associates of iustice , ( and with her sure protectors of this crowne and spike ) which this celestiall legate doth together with them present : the one a iewell of inestimable value , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a sharpe piercing eye of vigilancy and circumspection , wherewith the subtill serpent did congratulate his passage by : the other an inchanted achillean speare in the hand of arctophylax , to defend our arcticke beares , and offend all barking currs and sauage wolues ; as the serpents eye will watch the craftie foxes . serpents both in sacred and humane writings are the symboles or types of wisdome and prudent vigilancie . yea , without this serpents eie , strength is but an one-eyd polyphemus , mole suâ ruens , destroying himselfe with his owne corpulencie . neuer was there more need of circumspection , then in this faeculent and tartareous age , wherein many are so farre from numa's erecting a temple to fidelitie , that they come neerer to these perfidious spartans , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who haue neither altar , faith , nor oath . or if they haue any religion at all , the chiefe articles there of be equiuocation , fraud , periurie , treacherie , assasinations , and murders : against whom there is no other but that epicharmian prouision ; 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be watchfull , and remember to suspect ; these be the armes which wisdomes selfe protect . and in sooth had not our wise and learned salomon with this serpents eye searched into the secret vaults , and darke cauernes of that hellish gunpowder-treason , de britannia actum esset , there had been a sudden vnexpected end of great britaines glory . with these winding serpents the ancient sages coupled lions the symbole of magnanimitie , neither may they be separate , but conioyned doe compleat a royall guardian and protector . which is excellently typed forth by those who first reduced the starres into symbolicall constellations , placing virgo in the midst of libra and leo. i will not follow the allegorie in great britaines royall lions , hauing done it elsewhere ; but applie the present embleme traced in this comets motion , which with the serpents eye ioyneth a defensiue and offensiue weapon in the hand of arctophylax . let none here expect from me an alarme ; no , my panegyricall part of great britaines monarchie will shew our singular and vnparallelled happinesse in this gracious peace . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 said the high-soaring poet ; inexpert thoughts are vaine and light . dulce bellum inexpertis , was the royall motto of englands greatest warriour , and france's terror , edward the third . it is an ill peace which i would not preferre before the most glorious warre ; and with martian the emperour , dum liceat in pace viuere , non licet arma sumere : whilest wee may liue in peace , wee may not take vp hostile armes . yet for all this , would i not counsell to deliuer vp our armes to our enemies , as the foolish shepheards sometimes did their dogges to the wolues . oh how are wee degenerate from the generous spirits and warlike meditations of our victorious ancestors ! nimia foelicitate mergimur in voluptates : our ouer-much felicitie hath almost drencht vs in voluptuousnesse . et patimur long ae pacis mala , saeuior armis luxuria incumbit . we feele the breeding euils of long peace ; now riot worse then wars begins t' increase . i will not aske where are the bowes and arrowes wherewith our fathers conquered france , and releened spaine : but where are our muskets ? are they not turned into tabacco pipes ? where are our english valour and courage ? are they not with that outlandish weed vanished into smoake ? may i not say as it was sometimes said of those degenerate milesians , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : the english were once valiant and warlike . who may not from these smoakie parents feare a fumish generation , whose courage may perhaps be soone inflamed , but sooner quenched ? like as florus describes the old french ; whose first assault ( saith he ) was maior quàm virorum , more then for men ; but presently minor quàm foeminarum , lesse then for women . or as iulius celsus reports of them , their courage was hastie , but effeminate , and vnable to resist . and in sooth what other can we expect from this fumish age , then a furious , but soone exhaling rage , rather then courage ? i might iustly take vp a satyricke , and sharpe reproofe of this degenerate custome . but this noble citie giues vs better hope , and ( though not forgotten in great britaines panegyricke , yet here also ) enforces me to a iust encomion of her ciuill censure and martiall discipline . london ( if any ) may assume that braue motto , tam marti , quàm mercurio . being not only the rich staple of trade and trafficke , but also the compleat armorie of all martiall accoutrements . her flagge hath waued with all the foure windes , in the frozen north , torrid south , odoriferous east , and hopefull west . her crosse hath beene aduanced against turke and infidell , and her dagger died in the bloud of domestick rebels , and forraine enemies . her worthy citizens , pacis bellique ministri , who seruiceable are , in peace , and also warre , doe not only by thousands in their yeerely gallant musters , reioyce their citie , and strike a secret terror into their enemies , but also by their voluntarie and priuate martiall meditations ( each other weeke ) giue a goodly testimonie of their generous spirits , seruiceable skill , and good affection to their king and country . truly these noble mindes , and warlike exercises , doe well deserue from the commons imitation , and from the state encouragement . thus much ( if not too much ) of arctophylax his speare , and the comets emblemated motion amongst the celestiall hieroglyphicks . i may not forget the coincidence of this celestiall messenger with the present synode at dort , diuine prouidence actually with the rayes of this new comet dispelling those foggie mists which began to ouer-shadow the glorious light of euangelicall veritie . neither may i omit that comets doe often appeare , that the workes of god may be made manifest in them ( as our sauiour said in another case ) or as s. paul , that by these visible things we may know the inuisible ; god by these new celestiall blazons labouring to eleuate our deiected eyes and base cogitations , from earth to the contemplation of his power , wisdome , and goodnesse in these glorious lights most apparant : coeli enarrant gloriam dei , the heauens declare the glorie of the lord , saith the royall prophet . how often is he rapt vp in the contemplation of the starres ? yea doth not god himselfe ( expostulating with iob ) make mention of the celestiall hieroglyphicks , the sweet influence of the pleiodes , the bonds of orion , mazzaroth , the sonnes of arcturus , and the crooked serpent . s. paul reprouing the athenians blinde deuotion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , to the vnknowne god , doth refute them by testimonie of their owne poet ; 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , for we are also his ofspring : the very words of aratus the greeke poet , and in that very poeme , wherein he at large deciphereth the emblematicall configurations of the starres . certainly if s. paul were now againe on the earth , and should to some alleadge this astronomicall poet , they would not faile with the athenians to say , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , he seemes to be a setter forth of strange gods ; or exclaime with festus , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : paul thou art beside thy selfe , too much learning doth make thee mad . but these madde ignoramus must be cured with hellebore , and not with words . more commendable was the endeuour of hipparchus , who vpon occasion of a new starre was stirred vp to such admiration , that hee attempted ( a more then humane act ) to number the starres vnto posteritie , to measure their distances , and set forth their respectiue situations , yea to leaue the heauen it selfe as it were an inheritance to all men , if any in future times would be found to vnderstand so rare a complot . but how few in so many after ages ( two thousands of yeeres ) haue taken possession of this heauenly heritage ? how few caesars and alphonses haue patronized this noble science ? i cannot but bewaile this great neglect . but i hope this new messenger from heauen doth bring happie tidings of some munificent and liberall patron to these rauishing ( but impouerishing ) studies , by whose gracious bountie the most recondite mysteries of this abstruse and diuine science shall at length be manifested . now for a finall closure to this impolished discourse : whatsoeuer euill this new comet may presage , the signe be to them that hate vs , and the interpretation thereof to our enemies : but whatsoeuer good it can promise , the god of heauen ( who there placed it ) confirme them all to his royall maiestie , and great britaines monarchie . amen . from my house in london neere all-hallowes in the wall , this last of decemb. . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e how the planisspheare is delineate . the ecliptique . parallels of latitude . circles of longitude . aequinoctiall line . pictured constellations . the stars places . how the comet was obserued . the cometary line . amongst what constellations . inclination to the aequinoctiall . to the ecliptique . the comets motion in this line . a little swifter at the first . to finde it by the planispheare . note ther gu'arity thereof . scarse one fourth part of the moones motion . in one exact great circle . astronomicall propositions cocerning the comets motion . the comets motion in longitude and latitude . continually retrograde . but not from saturne . from whence was caused his retrogression . slower in the beginning . comets declination from the aequinoctiall . was not at first ouer spaine . ouer what place . how to know ouer whose head it was eueryday . when ouer spaine . over london . to finde the comets declination by the planisphere . the alteration of his rising . seen after sun-set . the comets blazing stream . alwaies in opposition to the sun. the bushie lockes not of the same matter with the comets head . what it is . how the comet varnihed . the forelockes dilatation from whence . the exceeding length of it . it had no burning qualitie . many strange conclusions may be drawne from the sunnes irradiation through the comet . the wonderfull light of the sun. the comets distance from the earth . the error of aristotle and his followers . how high the aire is from the earth . the comets place about the moone argued from the rigularitic of his motion . from the quantity therof . god hath created all things in waight , measure and number . from infallible demonstration by parallax . euplication of the diagram . parallax greatest in the horizon . nothing in the zenith . so much lesse as the comet is farther from the earth . to finde the parallax . by obseruations in two diuers places at one time at london . . in one place by two obseruations in one night . an easie and certaine way to finde the parallax . refraction here no hindrance . an obseruation of the comets parallax . found much lesse than the moones parallax . not aboue . m. proued also from prospect of the comets fore-locke . history of new starres , and comets far aboue the moone . this comet . semidiameters of the earth from it . how many english miles the earths semidiameter is . how many miles the comet was from the earth . how many miles the forelocke extended . how many miles the comet was in thicknesse . how much the globositie thereof was , compared to the earth , moone , and sunne . the infinitenesse of the almightie . the comet ▪ was not compact of exhalations . what was the comets materials . the comet not made of galaxia . the comet not made of galaxia not a co-apparition of planets . nor morning-starre . not created from the beginning . a religions conclusion . notes for div a -e this comet a signe of more then elementarie alterations . against epicurean chance . and neglect of these celestiall signes . god doth appeare in these signes . mutations ensuing them . if any euill follow , wee our selues are in fault . sinne being banished , these signes need not be feared . charlemaines fearefulnesse . vespasians answer concerning a comet . the wicked haue only cause to seare . comets rayes of diuine fauour to the godly . god only knowes what this comet doth signifie in particular . the star which led the wisemen to christ . comets signifie the light of the gospell . fiue comets in . yeares about the preaching of luther . sybillaes prophesie against rome . the comet ▪ a good signe to the protestants . the new starre . and the ▪ comet . the gospell hath shined amongst the jndians . the late new stars in ophiuclius and cygnus . the gospell shall be preached through the whole world . calling of the iewes . against vulgar astrologie . morall application of the comets motion amongst the constallations . this comet followed in his motion a happie signe to great britaine . the comets coniunction with mercurie . this comet brings vs hope of good from the east indies . the comets passage through the constellation of libra . commendeth iustice and equitie vnto vs. distributiue iustice . equalitie dangerous . pride of apparel . exhortation to equitie . the comet by spreading his haire ouer virgo doth enforce his commendation of iustice . the comet presents a crowne to the prince , and a spike of plenty to the people , for reward of iustice . the comets long residence in arctophylax . great britaine gouerned with the scales of iustice , florisheth with her spike of plentie . her imperiall diadem vnited , and preserued from heauen . two protectors of crowne and spike . serpents eye of vigilancie . . an achillean speare . serpents types of wisedome . neuer'more need of the serpents eye . epicharmus his counsell . his maiesties searching eye of wisedome preserued the whole kingdome . lyons symbole of magnanimity coupled with serpents . excellence of peace . warre to be remembred in peace . voluptuousnesse hindreth warlike meditations . muskets turned into tabacco pipes . the effeminate valour of the old french. rage rather then courage . encomion of london . her military discipline . her voluntaries . coincidence of this comet with the syned at dort. comets often appeare that the workes of god may be manifested . commendation of astronomie . endeuour of hipparchus in astronomie . this diuine art neglected and destitute of patrons . conclusion . lectures and collections made by robert hooke. hooke, robert, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing h estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without 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(eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) lectures and collections made by robert hooke. hooke, robert, - . [ ], p., [ ] folded leaves of plates : ill. printed by j. martyn, printer to the royal society, london : . reproduction of original in the bodleian library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng microscopy -- early works to . microscopes -- early works to . comets. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - judith siefring sampled and proofread - judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion lectures and collections made by robert hooke , secretary of the royal society . cometa . containing observations of the comet in april , . fragments of several lectures about those of . and . sir chr. wren's hypothesis and geometrical problem about those comets , a discourse concerning the comet of . mr. boyle's observation made on two new phosphori of mr. baldwin , and mr. craft . mr. gallet's letter to mr. cassini , together with his observation of ☿ sub ☉ . mr. cassini ' reflections upon those of gassendus , and hevelius , and upon this . mr. hally's letter and observation of the same made at st. hellena . mr. cassini's observation of the diurnal motion of ♃ , and other changes happening in it . microscopivm . containing mr. leeuwenhoeck's two letters concerning some late microscopical discoveries . the author's discourse and description of microscopes , improved for discerning the nature and texture of bodies . p. cherubine's accusations answered . mr. young's letter containing several anatomical observations . london : printed for j. martyn , printer to the royal society , at the bell in st. paul's church-yard . . viro perillustri d no josepho williamson equiti aurato , serenissimo carolo ii o. mag. britan. fran. & hibern . regi , a consiliis secretioribus , et a secretis status , nec non societatis regalis londinensis , ad scientiam naturalem promovendam praesidi dignissimo . nec potui , nec debui , nobilissime vir , cujusquam aliûs nomen his chartis inscribere , praeter tuum . sub te natae , tibi vitam debent ; tibi quoque debebunt quod lucem aspiciant . egregius ille tuus animus ad instaurandam philosophiam artesque adeo omnes utiles , mihi homini , alioquin subtimido , audaciam hujus dedicationis fecit . ego quae nunc potui , profero , magis ad gratulationem ostendendam , quàm eruditionem . spero autem , quemadmoduni sub tuo praesidio majora indies augmenta scientiarum in hâc gente fiunt , ita exorituros viros doctos , qui tibi justa praeconia laudum persolvant ; quod ego prae tenuitate ne conari quidem audeo , quanquam cum primis sim dignitatis & honoris tui studiosissimus , robertus hooke . synopsis . the comet seen april . . between the triangle and the cloud of ♈ , its tail not directly opposite to the ☉ , its magnitude , brightness , head , nucleus , blaze , ( . ) why sometimes shorter , sometimes longer ; without sensible motion of parts . explanation of the first figure , as seen by the eye . ( . ) of the second figure , as seen through a glass , of a parabolick termination , differing from the representations of mr. hevelius . ( . ) the medulla , and blaze with the manner of shortning and lengthening , explained by the third figure ; not seen the d . but the d . the bigness of the nucleus and head through a telescope , compared with the top of a tower. ( . ) the place it then appeared in . why the motion was not more exactly observed . it s blaze still not opposite to the sun. the th . not seen , nor th . ( . ) though the sky clear by reason of the height of vapors . how they do lengthen the crepusculum . why physical remarks only were made . ( . ) published in order to understand objections , and propound pertinent queries . some observations , notes , queries , &c. concerning the comets in . and . here . collected out of several scattered papers and lectures of them formerly read here imperfect . queries of its substance , magnitude , density , mutability , dissolution , fluidity , gravity , light , figure , motion bended or straight , ( . ) with equal or unequal velocity , in the atmosphere or aether , above or below the moon . whether it wasts , or lasts to return . the star of a compacted light ( . ) varied possibly from position , partly from real change , tail transparent , body supposed more dense , side toward the sun evenly defin'd , encompassed with a fluid yielding to motion , but dissolving its parts . it s light from its self . ( . ) it s nucleus supposed dense possibly as the middle part of the earth , of which some conjectures . dissolved by the aether as in our atmosphere . ( . ) argument for the looseness of the central parts of the earth from the variation of magnetical direction . ( . ) the nucleus of comets possibly the same . internal motion may weaken gravitation . parts separated may be agitated by the gravitation of the ☉ . tail made not so much by the particles receding as the stars approaching the sun. ( . ) how the comet may first lose its orb in the universe , and passing through the spheres of activity of several central bodies is deflected and attracted by them , and the blaze raised to a prodigious length . ( . ) the bodies being attracted by some gravity , blaze expelled by levity , explained by smoke , and steams . somewhat for positive levity . ( . ) a digression concerning the method of speculating the great and first principles of the universe . the coma and blaze like smoke or flames . ( . ) shining particles a shining point , not a line of light . considerations and experiments about the ways light is augmented by , as by swift motion , adjacent dark medium , flame explained . why the particles coalesce into a stream . ( . ) enquiry about the magnitude and place of comets . many supposed them sublunary . tycho and kepler proved them coelestial . how far we may rely upon observations for parallax . parallax and its effects described . ( . ) tycho supposed the comet of . to move about the sun. kepler that of . to move in a straight line ; that of . had no sensible parallax by what means it was found . ( . ) refraction in this way varies little . theory of comets defective as to parallax hitherto . parallax not to be enquired from the observations of several men . errors creep in from the press and the graver , as in p. gottignies plates . ( . ) nothing to be concluded from observations made by persons in differing places for want of accurate instruments , and observations . ( . ) even the best as hevelius , gottignies , petit , or auzout err . some reason for this assertion . most of the rest altogether insignificant . ( . ) want of observers , instruments , and tables the cause . how these wants are to be supplied . what the world expects from mr. hevelius . ( . ) and of how great use his tables and projections made by them will be . parallax from diurnal motion failing . ( . ) other parallaxes arising from other hypotheses of the proper motions either of the earth , or comet , or both together considered arise to a certainty . ( . ) others depending upon other suppositions define nothing of the magnitude or distance of comets . the inconvenience of tycho's , and also of kepler's hypotheses explained . a third way i have taken . what consequences follow from it , ( . ) as that it moves in a circle that comes within the earth orb in ♌ , and without ♃ orb in ♒ , a sextant in days , &c. this not relied on , because there may be other hypotheses to solve the phaenomena ; as that the earth is unmoved , and the comet moved in a circle , whose convex side is toward the earth . ( . ) this hypothesis explained by the sixth figure . ( . ) the distance and bigness of the circle of the comet undeterminable this way without a diurnal parallax , since the appearances may be solved by circles of any bigness , proved by the eighth figure , ( . ) allowing inequality of motion , or more compound curve lines , nothing can be determined . the circular orb it seemed the most probable solves kepler's acceleration , according to the increase of a line of tangents . ( . ) a gravitation towards the sun makes out the motion of the comet , and planets , and of the blaze . the blaze explained by experiment of ♂ dissolved in oyl of virt. ( . ) this experiment and hypothesis farther explained , and applied to explain the blaze which is from thence bent , brighter on one side than the other , not direct from the sun. ( . ) cometical body and motion as old as the world , yet wasting in the aether ; explained by fire . dissolution by menstruums . ( . ) thence the proprieties of comets conjectured , and the sum of the foregoing discourse repeated , being the end of a lecture . recourse to tycho brahe's observation ( . ) for making out the comets orb. his supposing its motion unequal without reason a shift . mr. horrox his hypotheses in the ninth figure a product of chance . ( . ) a discourse on it , and some objections against tycho's . ( . ) kepler's hypothesis examined by these observations of tycho's , found the most likely , but with some alteration . line of trajection bent a little . motion accelerated towards the sun , retarded from it . ( . ) the swifter and further off the comet from the sun , the less the bend , explained by the tenth figure . ( . ) the way of enquiring parallax by telescopes , ( . ) further explained . a second way by two observers in distant places propounded . the third way of sir chr. wren his majesties surveyor-general , ( . ) set down and demonstrated by a geometrical problem . ( . ) how exactly all those observations he had were made out by it , together with his own schemes ; both which i had in the beginning of feb. - . ( . ) some other papers about comets added , being reflections on mr. descartes and kepler's hypotheses , from particular tracings of the comets of . and . a scheme of the later observations of that of . added , and some reflections , being all the papers could be found about those comets . ( , . ) animadversions on this of april last . why the former conjectures were adhered to concerning the light of comets . ( . ) several sorts of shining bodies enumerated . ( ) to which the light of the comet seems to have most affinity , and how produced . ( . ) further described and explained . ( . ) the reason of its parabolick figure demonstrated from the proprieties of motion from or toward a gravitating body , as the sun. ( . ) concerning the wasting and lasting of the cometical body . the bigness and nature of the particles that compose the blaze . ( . ) some difficulties in this supposition concerning the action of the aether in levitation and ascent , dissolution , shining , &c. cleared and explained by experiments . ( , , . ) but would have been further examined by observation if there had been opportunity . ( . ) that these assertions about the light of comets may not seem too paradoxical , some further considerations and observations about light are added , and some new ways propounded . ( , . ) mr. boyle's memorial concerning a phosphoros , written for his own use , inserted ; in which he first names the author of it , and describes his apparatus . ( , . ) then the observables . . two spoonfuls of matter enlighten a large glass sphere . . a little enlightens a large cylinder . . liquor shaken had a smoke and flasht . . a dry substance affirmed to have continued shining years , flashed . ( . ) . some dust of this on a carpet twinckled like stars . writing on paper with it shin'd , and smelt of sulphur and onions . ( . ) . the hand on which it was rubbed , shin'd , but felt no heat . ( . ) it fired gun-powder first warm'd . ( . ) and white paper held over coals . other tryals propounded , but refused . ( . ) some experiments made on the phosphoros baldwini in vacuo , and in the open air . ( . ) preserved in vacuo , but destroyed in air. ( , . ) monsieur gallet's letter to monsieur cassini , acquainting him with his apparatus for observing ☿ in ☉ . ( , . ) his observation of sour spots in ☉ . ( . ) the particulars observed . ( . , . ) monsieur cassini's reflections on these observations . ( , . ) mr. hally's letter to sir jonas moore , containing an account of his observations of ☿ sub sole , three southern stars . the two nubeculae , &c. ( , , . ) mr. cassini's farther discoveries about the diurnal motion , and several new appearances in ♃ . ( , , . ) a second discourse called microscopium , or some new discoveries with microscopes , in a letter of mr. leeuwenhoeck . ( . . ) a confirmation of some of them by observations here . ( . ) mr. leeuwenhoeck's second letter , containing observations of the globules of blood , milk , flegm , gums first dissolved , then precipitated out of the spirit of wine ; eels a thousand times thinner than a hair . ( , , , , , . ) the ways how these discoveries were made here . . by holding the liquor in small pipes , how fill'd , how made . the lamp , pipe , oyl , manner , materials for making them described . ( , . ) muscovy-glass used instead of these pipes , and how the microscope was fitted for this purpose . ( . ) what light convenient . surfaces of bodies not perfectly fluid apt to delude an observer . ( . ) plates removing that deluding cause , and what farther use of them . ( . ) how to find the figure and texture of animal and vegetable parts . instance in a ligament of beef . ( . ) the figure of muscles hinted , and an instrument stretching them before the glass described . ( . ) a description of the microscopes used , . of the single microscope , and its advantages and difficulties , ( . ) another sort more easie described , and the ways how to make and use it explained . ( . ) causes that vary the distance of objects from the globule . the use of selenites and looking-glass-plates , for holding the liquor . a microscope of one single refraction . ( . ) the only inconvenience of them hinted , how prevented by double microscopes . where these are made . ( . ) the double microscope , and its parts , uses , and advantages described . ( . ) the benefit of a dark room , and appropriated lights . and a digression in answer to p. cherubines accusation . ( . ) some observations made with this microscope hinted . animalcules in the steeping of other grains besides pepper . their smallness estimated , and compared to a whale . muscular fabrick hinted . milk , blood , fat , sugar , allum , &c. viewed . ( , . ) mr. young's letter of one who trying to cure a colick by leaden pills , slipt one into his lungs ; grievous symptoms ensue . ( . ) helps of skilful physicians in vain attempted , and particularly of dr. mayow , of suspending with the head downward ; though in the interim he married and had children , yet it kill'd him . ( , . ) his body diffected , and remarkables taken notice of , and their causes explained by mr. young , ( from . to . ) cometa , or , remarks about comets . on saturday morning , april . . i first saw the comet , of which i had been advertised the day before . it appeared in the sign taurus , between the base of the triangle , and the unformed stars in the cloud of aries , dignified by p. pardies , with the figure of the flower-de-luce . the head of it was in a right line , with the heart of cassiopea , and alamak , or the south foot of andromeda . and as near as i could judge by my naked eye ( having no instrument or help by me ) it was ⅙ of the distance between the feet and the girdle of andromeda , distant from the said alamak towards the south . it s tail sometimes as the air was clearer and darker , extended about three quarters of its distance from the aforesaid alamak , and pointed directly at the star in the nose of cassiopea of the fourth magnitude , and consequently the head of the comet pointed not directly at the sun ( the sun then being about the eleventh degree of taurus ) but rather towards the fourteenth degree of the same sign . it s appearance was very small and slender , and as people commonly ghessed , about two yards long ; and the head about the bigness of a star of the first magnitude , but of a much fainter and duller light . it s blaze about three o' the clock seemed to rise straight upward , before that about half an hour after two it leaned a little eastwards , or towards the right hand , and after three , as it rose higher , inclined towards the left side or westwards . the head to the naked eye was brighter than the blaze , and seemed to be somewhat bigger than that part of it which immediately joyn'd to the head ; but those parts of it which were farther distant , were of a much greater breadth ; spreading wider and wider , as they were more remote from the head , and in the same proportion also growing fainter and fainter in their light , especially towards the outsides : but the middle parts of medulla appear'd much longer , and the brightness much greater , which made the whole blaze to seem to taper , or be pointed towards the top . the length of the blaze appeared sometimes shorter , and sometimes longer , by several vicissitudes ; and as the day-break , or dawning increased , so the blaze shortened , and especially towards the sides near the top , and shortly after before the sun rose , disappeared . but notwithstanding this shortning and lengthening of the blaze , i could not perceive any kind of motion in the parts of it , such as is observable in flame , smoke , or other steams rising from a burning or hot body : but the same parts of the blaze seemed to appear and disappear in their proper places as if they had been fixed and a solid body . the first figure i have here annexed will with some short explications , represent the appearance of it to the eye , more plainly than by a multitude of words , without it 't is possible to express . a , represents the head of the comet , the middle of which appeared brighter than any other part ; about which was a hazy light somewhat like the shining of a star through a thin cloud ; the lower part of which was pretty round and defined . b , the neck of it , which seemed to the naked eye of less diameter , and less bright than the head , but through a six-foot glass , as i shall mention by and by , it appeared bigger , though not so bright . the middle of this was very bright , and seemed to issue from the nucleus or star in the middle of the head . c , the brushy parts which were fainter and paler towards the sides , especially nearer the top , which made the whole seem to taper and resemble the figure here exprest : observing it with telescopes ( one of which was fifteen foot , and the other six foot long ) i found the shape of it much like this , which i have represented in the second figure . it had a pretty bright star ( if i may so call it ) near the middle of the head , seeming much about the brightness of ♄ when near the horizon , and was about seconds in diameter ; as is represented by a , not perfectly defined , but hazy ; the cloudy part or beard of the body encompassing it on all sides : but that part of the coma b , which was next towards the sun , was the narrowest : nor was this coma well defined , but the outward parts of it were fainter and fainter . however they were regularly enough terminated to make the outwardmost bounds of it of a kind of parabolical figure ; the most bent part of which was towards the sun , and most defined : and the bright star of it was , as i have expressed it about four of its diameters distant from the said parabolical limb . the light parts of the ambient cloud seemed to spread gradually towards that side of it , which was opposite to the sun ; but those which were next the middle were the brightest : and always as they were farther and farther from the star in the head , the fainter and paler they were . i could not observe any representations like those which are given us by mr. hevelius , in his cometography , neither in the head , nor the blaze , no more than i could in those which appeared in the years . and . as may be easily taken notice of by comparing these which i have delineated with those . the middle part of the blaze cc , which ascended from the star in the middle , seemed the brightest , and of this medulla or stem , those parts were brightest which were nearest situated to the said star. the sides of it grew fainter and fainter , as they were farther from the head ; and though they had brightness enough to make them appear in a dark and clear sky , yet the dawning quickly made them vanish , and disappear , as did any haziness of the sky : and according as the light increased , so was the blaze diminished , after the order of the tapering prickt lines exprest in the third figure by aaa , bbb , ccc , ddd , &c. and even in a clear and dark sky , towards the farther end of the blaze they often disappeared for some short space of time , though the middle or stem continued ; and so it caused the remaining appearance to resemble the figure of a very slender birchen whisk or brush , much like that represented in the first figure . the . from half an hour after two , till half an hour after three , the north-east part of the heavens to me was cloudy , and the sky between the clouds was hazy , and the dawning struck much higher than the day before , so that i could not find it . the . with several friends i observed it again , the sky being clear , and confirmed my self in all my former observations , taking again diligent notice of all circumstances remarkable , both with my naked eye , and with perspective-glasses . and i had this morning a very notable observation in order to measure the bigness of the star and its coma which encompassed it , by comparing it with somewhat fixt : for some few minutes before three of the clock the head of it past just behind the type or top-post of a tower not far distant , and was quite eclipsed by it ; and as soon as it appeared to have past it , seeming yet contiguous , i observed it with my six foot telescope , and found the coma or whole head to appear full as big as the said type or timber post , and the nucleus or star in the middle of it , to be very near of the same bigness of the iron spindle , upon which the weather-cock was fixt . whence upon examining the bigness of the said parts , since by an accurate instrument i judge the head or coma was about ⅙ minutes in diameter , and the nucleus or star about seconds . i took notice this morning that it had much altered the position in the heavens , which it had upon saturday morning , and that the blaze of it was very much deflected out of the line it appeared in the last time . and with a small crossstaff , taking the distance of it from alamak , and from genib , in the left side of perseus . i judged it to be in the mid-way between the flower-de-luce aforesaid , and algol , or the head of medusa , that is , about degrees of ♉ , and degrees of northern latitude : so that i judged its motion almost east , but a little deflecting south . i was not much solicitous of making observations of its true place , as not designing my present enquiry to be for what kind of motion it had , conceiving its motion to be towards the sun , and so of very little duration : and expecting to hear an account of that from other places , and persons that were better furnished with instruments and conveniences for observations of that kind than i was then . the blaze extended it self in a right line towards the star in the right thigh of cassiopea , being a star of the third magnitude . it s length at first was about or degrees , and did sometimes seem longer , sometimes shorter , as i noted before , without seeming to have any other motion in it but the diurnal motion , the same with the fixt stars on earth . whence i collected , that the head of it pointed towards the seventeenth degree of taurus in the ecliptick , though the sun at that time was about the thirteenth degree of the same sign . the . with several others , i attended the appearance of it , but the sky in that part of the heavens was over-cast with clouds . the . i expected to have a farther observation of it from half an hour after two , till a quarter after four ; but notwithstanding the south-easterly wind , and the clarifying quality of the air , which before half an hour after three had partly carried off , and partly dissolved the black thick clouds ( with which the north-east parts of this horizon was over-cast about three of the clock ) and left that part of the heavens where the comet should have appeared clear , and without clouds . yet the air being very high and heavy , as the barometer shewed , the upper parts of it were so filled with the dawning light of the morning , that neither the blaze head or star of the comet appeared to me in the least : nor had i any sight of it since . the like appearance of the great height of vapors in the air , when it is very heavy , i have often taken notice of , and have observed , that the twy-light and dawning between the night , and appearing of the sun is very much altered thereby . and that a heavy air , when the vapors are raised high , will make the length of them much greater , and consequently the night shorter . and a light air , on the contrary , shortning them , doth lengthen the night . these were the most remarkable circumstances i took notice of in this comet , being altogether physical , and designed only for enquirng into the constitution of these wonderfull bodies : the accounts and opinions we have hitherto had of them of that kind , being very unsatisfactory . though other observations , to wit , mathematical , of the way , celerity , and magnitude of comets have been prosecuted with very much care , and great skill ; such as those of the noble tycho , and the learned and diligent hevelius , insomuch that i could not expect to have better ; yet as to physical remarks , i wanted much information to be able to satisfie many difficulties that occurr'd to my thoughts , upon enquiry into the particular natures of them . i did therefore , as i designed , employ all the time i could get of observing this comet , in taking notice of such circumstances as i judged would be pertinent to resolve any of those queries i had formerly made , in order to find out the nature of comets in general . and though the little opportunity i now had , and the disadvantageous appearance of this last were very short of giving me that satisfaction in many particulars which i wish'd for , and expected at first , yet since they may possibly serve for hints to others that may hereafter have better oportunity than i , and that i might understand what material objections could be made by observers from preceding comets , and that they might for the future more diligently take notice of what from these queries and hints may be judged significant to this design , such as they are i have here published as i had done formerly by my lectures in gresham-colledge , those which i had made of those in . and . now before i come to make reflexions upon these remarks , i thought it might not be improper to add some few of those things concerning those two former comets observed by me in the said years . i say , some few , because it would be needless to set down all , especially such of mine as do agree with others since published . i did therefore soon after i had seen the first comet , to wit , december . . propound to my self certain queries necessary to be answered , in order to find out a true theory of them , and directed my observations accordingly ; and they were these . of what substance its body , beard , and blaze is ? and next , of what magnitude each of those parts appear , and of what real magnitude they are ? other queries were concerning its density and rarity , its mutability or immutability ; that is , whether it dissolved and wasted or not ? whether it were fluid or solid ? whether it participated of gravity or levity ? whence it had its light , colour , &c. what was the figure of the star , radiation , blaze , &c. whether the blaze were always opposite to the sun , or deflected ? whether straight or bended , &c. what kind of motion it was carried with ? whether in a straight or bended line ? and if bended , whether in a circular or other curve , as elliptical or other compounded line , whether the convex or concave side of that curve were turned towards the earth ? whether in any of those lines it moved equal or unequal spaces in equal times ? through what parts of the universe it moved , and how far distant it was at several times ? whether in the lower regions near the earth in the atmosphere , or near it , or in the heavens , or fluid aether , with which the space of the heavens is filled ? whether above or below the moon , &c. whether it wasts , and is dispersed and consumed ? or whether it lasts and endures for a longer time ? if it lasts , whether it ever appears again , being moved in a circle ; or be carried clear away , and never appear again , being moved in a straight or paraboloeidical line ? whether it be collected or generated when it first appears ? and dissipated or destroyed when it disappears ; or whether the several distances of it do not make that appearance ? whether it may not have some such propriety , as the star in cete , whereby it may shine and appear for a certain period , and again lose its light , and disappear by several vicissitudes ? and whether that may not give some account of the appearance of so many comets about aries ? first , as concerning the matter or substance of the nucleus star or body , of the hazy shining part encompassing it , and of the tail or blaze : i say , that by comparing all the circumstances that i was able to take notice of from the beginning to the end , i found that the star in the head was of a very compacted and dense light , and almost equalled that of saturn ; though it were not like that confined by an equal limb : that there were some parts distinguishable in this body , some having a brighter , others a fainter light . that these parts did not continue the same , but considerably varied , which might in part be caused by the differing position of those parts which were seen before , from the same seen afterwards , in respect of the eye , situate on the surface of the earth , moved one way , and the comet moved another ; though i do not conceive it wholly ascribable to that , but partly also to a real alteration of the parts of the comet . that i did very diligently watch to observe if it were possible , when it pass'd over any fix'd star to find whether it were transparent ; as i had several times observed the tail of it to be even in its brightest parts , but i had not the opportunity ; but that i did several times observe the tail of it transparent , not only with the naked eye , but through a telescope : if at least the fixed stars be above it , which i think few doubt , that the light diminish'd by degrees towards the extremes of the hazy part encompassing it ; and yet the extremes of it as to that part of it which respected the sun , seemed pretty evenly and smoothly defined , especially through a telescope : from all which remarks , and from the velocity of its motion , i conjecture it to be made up of solid matter , not fluid ; that the body of it especially , is considerably dense , but that the haziness or coma about it is much more rarified , and the tail thereof is most of all . that this body is encompassed with a body most fluid , and easily permeable , and which doth with very little resistance give way to the motion of it , or any other body through it , that it doth easily admit at least ( if not actually take into it self ) the parts of this body , coma , and blaze . i say , admit at least , ( though there may be many reasons alledged that it doth actually prey upon , and dissolve those parts into it self , as i shall shew by and by ) because that we find that the extreme parts do extend but to such a distance , and beyond that there is no appearance of light , and that the light is from it self , and not produced by refraction or reflexion of the beams of the sun , i shall shew reasons by and by . and consequently , where there is most light appears , there are the greatest number , and there is the greatest density of the cometical parts . the middle of the body may be as dense as the body of the earth ; and i have not observed my self , nor met with any body else that hath taken notice of any thing to the contrary : if i could have seen any comet to have covered any star in its way , it would have afforded a very circumstantial information , especially if for this purpose it had been taken notice of with a good telescope . what the density of the innermost parts of this earth we live on is , none knows ; for though we find the parts on which we tread to be very compact , and though by the industry of miners it hath been proved so also to the depth of many hundred foot , as georgius agrieola relates : and though it hath been found so even to a greater depth by the soundings of the bottom of the sea , yet none can bring an undeniable proof that the same is so solid to miles deep ; much less that it is so to the center : if therefore the external shell of this globe were broken , and removed , 't is not impossible but that the middle parts thereof may be of the same nature with the middle parts of the comets body ; and that those parts ( were the superficial parts or shell removed ) might , like these of comets expand themselves into the encompassing aether . nay we find , that notwithstanding the compactedness of the superficial parts of this earth , yet the aether is able to take up into it self vast quantities of them , and to keep them suspended , some of them , even to the height of many miles , if any argument may be drawn from the height or length of the dawning o● 〈◊〉 ; and this , notwithstanding the attraction of the earth in its perfect vigor , or the gravitation of these parts thus taken up , or their endeavour towards the center of the earth . how much more freely then might we imagine the encompassing aether to prey upon , and take up into it self the internal parts , if they were of a loose and pervious texture , and almost in a state of fluidity , like a heap of sand , or a vessel of alabaster-dust in boyling , and were not so firmly united by the bonds of gravity , and the vinculum of petrifaction , as we find the superficial parts of the earth now are . there is one argument to prove to us , that there may be such a looseness of the internal parts of the earth , and that is that the magnetical virtue varies , which virtue without controversie diffused through the whole body of the earth , and which hath a relation to the whole globe , and to every magnetical part ther●of . for by observation 't is found , that the magnetical virtue , acts upon a needle without it , as the magnetical virtue of a round loadstone doth on a needle applied without that , which , as i may elsewhere shew , hath a respect to the center of the stone differing from all the respects that authors have hitherto ascribed to it , even of gilbert , kepler , kircher , descartes , and our country-man mr. bond , who i think was the first man that endeavoured to reduce the variations observed by wright , gellibrand , coster , &c. into a theory and calculation . now this magnetical virtue , ( which may be called one emanation of the anima mundi , as gravity may be called another ) being diffused through every part of it , and seeming to be , as it were tota in toto & tota in qualibet parte , and to be more spiritual , and to act more according to magical and mystical laws than light , sound , or the like , it giving to every magnetical body , and every piece of it , though infinitely divided , the same proprieties it hath it self ; this magnetical virtue , i say , having such a relation , and being forced thus to vary , 't is very probable that the internal parts to which it hath a respect , have a variation likewise ; and consequently , that these internal parts which are supposed generally very dense , compact , and very closely and solidly united , may be notwithstanding more loose , and ununited , and movable from certain causes . to proceed therefore , i say , that it seems very probable to me , that the body of comets may be of the same nature and constitution with that of the internal parts of the earth , that these parts may , by the help of the aether , be so agitated and blended together , as to make them work upon , and dissolve each other in the same manner , as we have often had examples of some of the parts of the earth ; a late instance of which was at mongibel or aetna in sicily , where the fire continued for a long time , and produced very considerable effects . that this internal agitation may confound the gravitating principle , and so leave the parts in a greater freedom to be dissolved by the encompassing aether , which is the agent that sets the other two at work to destroy each other , that it may at length prey upon both , and dissolve them both into it self ; and consequently , not only the parts thus dissolved are elevated to a greater distance from the center of the star or nucleus , or the superficies of it , whose gravitating or attractive principle is much destroyed , the coma being in this comet four or five diameters of the star or nucleus : but having given those parts leave thus far to ramble , the gravitating principle of another body more potent acts upon it , and makes those parts seem to recede from the center thereof , though really they are but as it were , left behind the body of the star , which is more powerfully attracted than the minuter steaming parts : for , i suppose the gravitating power of the sun in the center of this part of the heaven in which we are , hath an attractive power upon all the bodies of the planets , and of the earth that move about it , and that each of those again have a respect answerable , whereby they may be said to attract the sun in the same manner as the load-stone hath to iron , and the iron hath to the loadstone . i conceive also that this attractive virtue may act likewise upon several other bodies that come within the center of its sphere of activity , though 't is not improbable also but that as on some bodies it may have no effect at all , no more than the load-stone which acts on iron , hath upon a bar of tin , lead , glass , wood , &c. so on other bodies , it may have a clean contrary effect , that is , of protrusion , thrusting off , or driving away , as we find one pole of the magnet doth the end of a needle touched on the opposite part ; whence it is , i conceive , that the parts of the body of this comet ( being confounded or jumbled , as 't were together , and so the gravitating principle destroyed ) become of other natures than they were before , and so the body may cease to maintain its place in the universe , where first it was placed . whence instead of continuing to move round some central body , whether sun or planet , as it did whilst it maintained it self entire , and so had its magnetical quality ( as i may so call it ) unconfounded , it now leaves that circular way and by its motion ( which always tends to a straight line , and would be so were it not bended into a curve by the attractive virtue of the central body ) it flies away from its former center by the tangent line to the last place , where it was before this confusion was caused in the body of it . in this line ( 't is probable ) it passes from one part of the heavens to another , and so passes through the spheres of the activity of multitudes of central bodies ; in the passing through which spheres , 't is not improbable that those parts which by their dissolution are made of a nature differing from the body in the center , are rather expelled from , than attracted towards it ; and so being by this dissolution rarified , and loosened from the middle , and by their acting upon one another , and dissolution of the aether made of another nature , after they have every way dispersed themselves to a considerable distance from their proper body , are converted and driven in a way almost opposite to that expelling body , and so continue to be driven away to such a vast distance , as to make out that prodigious length of the tail or blaze of some comets ( such as was that of . which , as kepler reports , was extended to degrees from the body or head of it ) till at last they are dissolved also , and commixed with the aether within them . so that though i suppose the attractive power of the sun , or other central body may draw the body towards it , and so bend the motion of the comet from the streight line , in which it tends , into a kind of curve , whose concave part is towards the sun , by reason that there are some central parts of it , which are not yet destroyed , and so retain somewhat of its gravitating principle : yet i conceive that all those parts of the comet which are thus wrought upon by the other , and changed into another state , and are very much rarified , and produce light , are of a clean contrary nature , and recede from the center of the sun : much after the same manner as we find any combustible body with us ; as coal , &c. where we find that the body of the coal , before it be resolv'd into smoke , is a very dense , and very heavy body , and tends to the center of the earth ; but the parts thereof agitated by the air and aether into steams and smoke , and those yet farther dissolved into flame , do tend upwards , and from the center of the earth . now though one cause of the recess of flame from the center of the earth be the gravity of the ambient air. yet 't is not impossible , but that there may be somewhat also of positive levity conjoyned therewith . most certain it is , that there must be a tendency of receding , as well as a tendency of approaching the center of the earth , and other attracting body . and there may be much said for the supposition , that the recess of the purest aether , from the center , is the cause of the motion of the grosser aether , and of all other bodies towards it , though there are also very considerable arguments against it . but this discourse is not my present business , though it may hereafter be the subject of a lecture in this place ; for upon it do depend some of the greatest operations in the universe . and as in the history of the creation , we have an account of the production of light , immediately after the making of matter , which is a motion of recess from the center of the shining body . next that , a firmament which divided between the waters or the fluids of the one , and the fluids of another part of the world . and in the third place , the collections of particular fluids to one center , as the center of the earth : and lastly , out of that collection of fluids appeared the dry and solid land . so i conceive the most proper way of speculating on these great productions of the omnipotent creator , may be to begin with the consideration of light , or the motion of recess from the center of a body . next , with the consideration of the cause of the separating of fluid from fluid , as aether from aether , as i may so call differing aethers ; because we have not yet distinct names in use , and the reason of their conglobation , the aether from the air , the air from the water , the water from quicksilver , oyl , or other fluid . thirdly , the cause of the conglobating property of each of these fluids when separated , how they accept and embrace homogenea , and reject or expel heterogenea . and fourthly , how they condense and settle together , and produce a solid body : whence proceeds the confirmation of attraction or gravitation , &c. but to digress no further , but conclude this part of enquiry in short , i suppose the nucleus or star of the comet may be much of the like nature with the central parts of the earth , moon , mars , jupiter , saturn , or other planets , but much impaired in its attractive or gravitating power . next , that the coma or hazy cloud about it , may be of the nature of the atmosphere or air about the earth , or the smoke or steams about a heated or burning body , before they are quite kindled , converted into flame , or dissolved into the ambient air. thirdly , that the tail or blaze is much of the nature of the parts of flame , though with those differences i conceive , that the parts of these steams are not so close together , as are those of smoke : nor doth the motion of them , though much swifter upwards than that of our flame , serve to make them appear a shining line ; but being at that distance , they appear much slower to the eye , and so discontinue the appearance ; whence every shining particle appears only a shining point , though in the parts of flame ( where notwithstanding the motion be much flower , yet being nearer , and so varying the position to the eye much quicker ) each of the shining parts makes an appearance of a line of light , and all of them passing pretty near together , make the appearance of a continued fluid flame ; though that indeed be nothing but a great number of single parcels of the burning body , raised up in the particles of smoke . this will appear evident if we consider the appearances easily to be taken notice of in light : for 't is obvious from multitudes of experiments , that any shining body , as a candle or brands end , being moved very quick , makes the same impression on the eye , that a line of light doth standing still : and as obvious also that any very light body incompassed with a dark medium appears to the eye under an angle bigger than really it is , and a dark body encompassed with a light medium much less . this any one may presently find , if he make a small hole through a thin plate of metal , and holding it first between the light and the eye , and so seeing the light appear through it , and then placing it so as there is nothing but darkness appears through the said hole , for he will plainly perceive that the same hole will appear much bigger in the former position than in the latter . upon this account indeed each of the shining parts of the comet seems to fill and occupy a much greater space than really it doth : and so , as 't is observable in the milky way , a great number of these small shining bodies though dispersed at a pretty distance one from another , yet by reason of the imperceptibleness of each of them they all seem to coalesce into a stream or blaze of light , the brightness of which is yet farther augmented by a clear and unenlightened air , and by such a part of the heaven wherein there appears fewest of the stars , whether they be greater or lesser . to the query , of what magnitude the body , coma , and blaze of comets may be ? no answer can be given until another question be first answered ; and that is , what is the place of comets , and what is their distance from the earth ? it was the opinion of most modern writers before tycho brahe and kepler ( i know divers of the antients thought otherwise ) that comets were sublunary meteors , drawn up into the higher regions of the air , and there set on fire , and so continued burning till the meteor were consumed ; and as the matter increased , or wasted , so did the appearance of the comet . but this noble dane , and several others about that time found by accurate observations made , that its parallax was less than that of the moon ; and consequently , that it was farther distant from the earth : that it must be a body of another magnitude , and nature , than most before that time had imagined ; and therefore that it ought to be otherwise thought of than the generality of mankind believed concerning it . many had been the attempts of former writers concerning them , to find out their parallax ; and whether from their unaccurate instruments , or from their less skill and diligence in using them , or from an imagination of the solidity , and impenetrability of the coelestial orbs , or from error in their calculations , or from comparing observations made at distant places , one or both whereof were unaccurate , or from a prepossession of tradition or common fame , or from what other cause soever it were is uncertain ; but 't was generally concluded by them , that all comets were sublunary meteors : and there are not even at this day wanting some of the same opinion , though for what reason i know not . 't will be hard to convince some of these , that the opinion they have hitherto received for good , is not so , because they will hardly give themselves the trouble of examining strictly into the matter : and to understand the nature of parallaxes , and how significant they are in determining the distances of bodies from the surface of the earth , to certain degrees thereof ; beyond which , by reason of the imperfections in instruments , and observations , and the exceeding niceness and curiosity necessary , they signifie very little . it is not my present design to explain what parallax is , that i would suppose my reader to understand ; otherwise there can be no reason shewn him to convince him that 't is possible to prove that this or that comet was not nearer than so many semidiameters of the earth , nor farther off than so many . there are then two ways , by which we may come to some certainty of what distance a comet is ; and those are , first the parallax of its diurnal motion , or its parallax caused by the diurnal motion of the earth . and secondly , the parallax of its proper motion compared with the periodick or annual motion of the earth . the first of these may be observed two ways ; either by two observers at parts of the earth very far distant from each other , but as near as may be under the same meridian : as suppose the one in london , the other in st. helens ; both conspiring in their observing of the place of the comet amongst the fix'd stars at the same time . or secondly , by one observer in the same place , by observing the place of it amongst the fix'd stars , in its rising or setting , and in a greater , or if it may be , its greatest height : the noble tycho by very accurate observation of the parallax , proves the comet of . to be above the moon . kepler by his own observations proves that of . at its beginning to be four times farther distant ; and i doubt not but some may have been above forty times farther . but i do not yet find that any observations have accurately determined that which is indeed the great help by which we are inabled to judge of the nature , and all the other accidents and proprieties of comets . the aristotelian philosophy for a long time prevailing , made the world believe them to be nothing but exhalations from the earth , drawn up into the higher regions of the air. but tycho by his observations of their parallax , raises them out of that confinement , but yet he seems to place them in an orb about the sun. but kepler frees them from that confinement , and assigns them the universe to expatiate in . but none of all these do accurately prove the true distance of them , their parallax being for the most part so very small , that i fear instruments with common lights will hardly reach them . but we must expect from future observations made with telescopical instruments to receive a certain answer to this query . certain i am , that the comet which began to appear in november . and disappear'd in march following , was far removed beyond the distance assigned by kepler . for by my own observations divers times repeated , i could not find any sensible parallax , though i endeavoured by a new method to make my observations more accurate . now though i had not the convenience of making use of a quadrant , or any such instrument , to observe its place when near the horizon , yet the way i took , would , i think , be as good ; which was this : with a very good six foot perspective-glass or telescope , i observed the place of the comet , in respect of the adjacent small stars , as soon as it appeared , and so traced its way till it disappeared in the vapors of the horizon : the like i did several other days successively , taking notice by what degrees , in what times it made its progress , to see whether by its parallax , when near the horizon , it would have been deprest below that line of its motion , which it kept , when at a greater height above it . but though i tried this several times , yet i was not able to discern that the parallax of it caused either any sensible bending of the line , or any sensible inequality in its progress , by which i should have sooner found it , than by taking its altitudes with common instruments : though i confess these observations were made when the motion of the comet was slow , and consequently , when in probability it was far distant from the earth . to me there seems no doubt but that it was a long way removed above the moon when i made these observations : for had it been of an equal distance with that they allow the moon , it must this way have manifested a very sensible parallax of divers minutes : but whereas i could not certainly distinguish any sensible at all , it must be many times higher than the moon . now that this way is abundantly to be preferred before an observation made with a quadrant for the taking of its altitude , is pretty evident ; because , by this means the greatest part of the irregularity , caused by the refraction or inflection of the air is removed ; for by this means , though the parallax be very large , yet the refraction or inflection of the air will not amount to many seconds , both the objects being almost equally raised by refraction , especially when or degrees high ; nearer than which the small stars vanished out of sight by the thickness of our air . it follows therefore that a semidiameter of the earth must be a very inconsiderable measure in its distance . this part therefore of the theory of comets hath been much defective hitherto . if we enquire the parallax of them from the observation of divers men made in differing places ▪ we shall find them so differing one from another , that there is great reason to suspect them all : nay , not only so , but in this comet of . by comparing two tables or charts of the stars , and constellations of that part of the heavens , through which the comet past , on which was also markt out its way and place from day to day , both of them printed from copper plates , i find that strange errors and mistakes may be created , notwithstanding all the authors care and accurateness possible , from the carelesness or neglect of the graver : this i noted in the two tables of the learned and accurate mathematician , p. aegidius franciscus de gotignies , ( whose skill and care from other works of his and other observations of this comet i am sufficiently assured of ) and found that by the first table upon the / of december , . it was in ½ of ♊ in longitude , and in ⅔ of southern latitude ; but by the second it is placed at the same time in o ♊ for its longitude , and in ½ of south latitude . and this error is not only committed in the place of the comet , but also in the place of the fix'd stars : for riget in the first table is placed in ¾ south latitude , and in ¼ ♊ for longitude , but in the second in ½ south latitude , and in ½ ♊ for longitude : both which differ considerably from the place of it assigned by riccioli and grimaldi ; according to whose observations it should be in . ′ south latitude , and ° . ′ . ″ . ♊ in longitude . now if there be these differences to be remarked in the observations of one , we cannot but expect that much more disagreement should be found between those which have been made by differing persons in differing places , and with differing ways , and differing instruments . and upon examination i have found it no better : for from comparing such observations as i have received from several parts of the world , even of those which have seemed more than ordinarily exact , i find them for the most part so unaccurate , that though they sufficiently manifest that the comet of . which lasted above four months , was visible in most parts of the world , and seen to pass in all those places pretty near in the same way amongst the fixed stars . yet they are so far from manifesting the parallax , that some of them make the place of the comet to be quite contrary to what parallax would make it ; some of the southern observators placing it much more southwardly than those of the north. others indeed of them make the parallax so great , that one might ghess it to be not so far removed from the earth . something indeed in the general might be ghest of the way of that comet amongst the fix'd stars , especially when it approaches them pretty near : but for exactness of calculation for parallax , they were no way useful . and even in the former use too it seems very doubtful for comparing the charts of the comets way amongst the fix'd stars published by that diligent and unwearied observer mr. hevelius of dantzick , the above-mentioned p. gottigies , professor at rome , and monsieur petit of paris , i find , that the two former make the way of the comet to lie below the star in the bill of corvus ; whereas the later , though in a latitude interposed between the parallels of the former , makes it to lie above , or to the north of it : and with him agree some observations which i have seen of monsieur hugenius . other disserences i found between those tables in the way of the comet of . near the middle of its arch ; wherein monsieur hevelius all the way places it more southward than either monsieur petit , or p. gottignies : for whereas both p. gottignies , and mounsieur petit make it pass above the star of the third magnitude in the right shoulder of lepus , monsieur hevelius makes it move below it , which seem to be ascribable to parallax . but i fear much cannot be concluded of certainty from them . i shall not trouble the reader with a multitude of other histories , which i have received concerning that comet of . nor with the disagreements of them one with another , and perhaps of most with the truth . they have given me sufficient trouble in the examination of them , having little other benefit from them , save only this , that i was thereby informed what a man might think of a great number of astronomical observations that have been made : for , saving the exact observations of some few such , as mr. hevelius , mr. aurout , p. gottingnies , &c. truly diligent and accurate men , the greater the collections of observations are , the more trouble and difficulty is created to the examiner ; they not only confounding one another , but perplexing those also which are real and perfect . now the reasons or causes of these inconveniences seem to be these . first , the want of accurate and knowing observators . secondly , the scarcity of convenient instruments . thirdly , the imperfection of the tables of the fix'd stars . for the observators , 't is not enough to know how to manage an instrument , or to have a good eye , or a dextrous and steady hand ; but with these there must be joyned a skilfulness in the theorical and speculative part , and add to all a love and delight in the thing it self ; and even all these will signifie but little , without convenient and accurate instruments , such as may be easily manageable and sufficiently exact . the first of these the love of the study being in it self the most excellent , or the encouragement of princes , noblemen , and other patrons of this learning must procure : and where both of these concur , thence most is to be expected , and most fruit hath hitherto been proceeded ; though there are not wanting divers eminent instances where the first reason hath been the only inducement . as to the second , i have already in some of my former lectures described several convenient ones for these purposes ; and therefore i shall not here add any more concerning it . but as to the third , i hope the indefatigable labour and skill of monsieur hevelius will shortly supply the present defect , though it had been much to be wish'd , that the instruments he had made use of had been fitted with telescopical sights . these tables , if well done , will alone ( as to the business of comets at least ) supply the place of all other instruments almost , save only a thread , especially if they be so delineated in tables after the tangent projection , as that the minutes of every degree may be very distinguishable , which will not swell the maps of the heavens into an extraordinary large volume , and may possibly be the cheapest instrument for this purpose an astronomer can be furnished withal ; for having such a volume of tables , it will be very easie with a thread and one's eye , screen'd only with a spectacle made of a thin plate of brass , with a small hole through it , instead of a glass , to observe what place the comet possesseth amongst the fixt stars : for having by the help of the said thread observed what two stars lie in the same line with the comet on one side of it , and what other two stars lie in a line with it , which is at right angles ( as near as may be ) with the former line , by finding out those four stars in the tables , ordered according to the tangent projection , and with a ruler , drawing lines over them respectively , where those lines do intersect , there will be the true place of the comet , from which it will not be difficult to find out the true longitude and latitude of it by a sector with tangents . now as these tables of all the fixt stars visible to the naked eye , would serve for finding its place whilst very big and swift of motion ; so the like tables of the small telescopical stars that lie near its way , when almost disappearing , and moving very slow , will by the help of a pair of measuring compasses placed within the eye-glass of the telescope , and a straight line or hair drawn cross it , serve to find the true motion and way of it , when only visible with a telescope : according to which method i made the annexed schemes , and observations of the last appearances of the comet . now since neither from my own , nor from any other observations that i have hitherto met with , there can be any certain conclusion drawn of the distance of these comets , save only this , that their distance was very great , and much higher than the body of the moon , because else there must have been a considerable parallax caused by the diurnal motion . the next enquiry will be , what other ways there are of knowing its distance . now though none could be more demonstrative than the parallax found this way by the diurnal motion , yet there are some other which seem more easie arising from the consideration of the motions that may be thought to be concern'd in the producing the appearances . and though they be wholly hypothetical , and so need some other arguments to prove the ground and principles on which they are founded , yet since there are not very many considerable ones wanting to make them probable and rational , i shall here add somewhat of my inquiries after the distance , position , motion , magnitude , &c. of these comets by these means . of these ways there are several depending upon several suppositions which produce very differing effects , as to the magnitude , distance , motion , and way of the same comet . the suppositions are these : either that the earth moves in an annual orb about the sun , as the sun is supposed by others to move about the earth : or that the earth is perfectly fix'd , and hath no such motion . next , that the comet moves either in a straight line ▪ or in a curve line ; and the curve is either a circle , or some other regular or irregular curve . further that the motion of the comets in these lines is either by equal or unequal spaces in equal times . now according as we take this , or those of these differing suppositions , and compound them together , so will the product of them be strangely differing . amongst the great variety of compositions of these principles or suppositions , these seem the most simple , and consequently being any otherwise proved , will best determine the true distance and way of the comet . first , to suppose the earth to stand still , and the comet to move equal spaces in equal times in a circle . secondly , to suppose the earth to move in an annual orb about the sun , and the comet to move through the aether or expansum , equal spaces in equal times in a straight line . thirdly , to suppose the earth to move ( as above ) in its annual orb , and the comet also to move equal spaces in equal lines in a circle . the other are indeterminate and infinite , and nothing can be concluded from them as to the distance , magnitude , motion , &c. of comets ; for the line or way of the comet may be placed at any distance , if we will suppose it moved in an uncertain curve , with unequal degrees of velocity : and indeed , upon a supposal of an inequality of motion , nothing of its way or distance can by any of these suppositions be found out . this fault had that of tycho brahe , where he supposed an unequal motion of it in its orb about the orb of venus , which was founded upon the first hypothesis , but had introduced into it some inequality of motion ; besides his own supposition , that it was moved about the sun , and the sun about the earth . see the fifth figure . keplers way , which was after the second hypothesis , had the same fault ; for he supposed the annual motion of the earth , and the motion of the comet in a straight line , but introduces an acceleration of motion in the tangent towards the latter end . the third way i have here taken , and from the best observation i could meet with , i have delineated its respects or angles to the sun : and accordingly supposing it to move equal spaces in equal times , in a curve which for so much of it as the comet was observed to pass was very near a circle , i found this circle would fall as it is express'd in the seventh figure , where 't is obvious to take notice , that when the comet was nearest to the earth , namely , about the . or . of december , that it was not nearer than an eleventh part of the distance of the sun ; that on the , it was twice as far , that on the . it was four times as far ; that on the . of january it was as far as the sun , and on the . of february it was above twice as far distant as the sun. that this way or orb of the comet is here bended so as ( if it were an entire circle ; ) one part of it would go without the orb of jupiter , as the other which is here delincated comes within the orb of the earth ; that the plain of this orb is inclined to the plain of the ecliptick about degrees , that if from several parts this orb perpendiculars be let fall upon the plain of the ecliptick , those perpendiculars shall fall in an ellipsis , part whereof shall fall within the orb of the earth in ● , and the opposite without the orb of ♃ in ♒ . that the comet moves a sextant of this orb in about days , and consequently if its motion should continue the same in such a circle , it would appear about february , march , or april , . but being so far removed towards the south pole , will here hardly be seen : but by those that live towards the south , it may appear to have some such motion by the south pole , as that of . had by the north. and 't is not impossible , but that the comet of . might be the same with this , if we suppose the nodes of it to have a motion contrary to the order of signs : and that the same node which in this comet , according to this supposition was in ♊ , was then about ♍ or ♐ : but these as conjectures i shall not insist on , because neither in this , nor in that have we observations sufficiently accurate to build any theory upon . now though upon these suppositions the motion and appearances of the comet seem to be very regularly , and very naturally made out , yet 't is not the only hypothesis for that design : nor do i believe it so evident a demonstration for that end , as some would suppose ; though for other reasons i am apt enough to think that opinion of the earths motion very probable : but the motion of this comet is so well made out , by the contrary supposition , that i think it may be alledged for a greater argument against the motion of the earth , than for it : for if we only grant one of the former postulata , namely , that the body of the comet is moved equal spaces in equal times , and a quite contrary postulatum to the former ; namely , that the earth remains fix'd as to an annual motion , we may find all the observations of this comet , especially the most accurate of them , to happen so , that the comet being supposed to be moved in a great circle , whose convex side is turned towards the earth , whose center is extended towards the fix'd ✴ in ♋ and whose semidiameter is about sixscore times the nearest distance of the comet from the earth , and the comet be supposed to be moved very near equal spaces in equal times , we shall find , i say , all the appearances most exactly solved , and indeed much more exactly than by the other supposition i was able to find any ; for by this supposition both the magnitude , longitude , latitude , retrogradation , station , and direction of the comet is most exactly made out as any one might have found that should have by this means examined with me the observations i have hitherto either made or met with : and indeed all the observations hitherto have so well answered this hypothesis , that i do almost promise my self to be able to see this comet a month or six weeks hence , after the sun has past by it ; if by its exceeding elongation it be not quite grown out of sight , as it is now indeed already so exceeding dim , and faint , that it cannot be seen without a very good glass , which will endure an exceeding big aperture : nor could i these two last nights perceive it , though the air were clear ; but the reason i attribute to its nearness to a fixed ✴ of ♈ : this hypothesis is explained in the seventh figure . by this supposition the return of the comet will be much longer , and the time of seeing of it much more uncertain ; because the curvature is so little that the making the circle a twentieth , or a sixteenth part bigger or less , does not much alter the regularity ; whence 't is exceeding difficult , unless we had much more accurate observations than i have hitherto met with , to determine exactly the bigness of the circle , and consequently the time of the return . and by this supposition the comet may be supposed either nearer or farther from the earth at any distance , which is not contradicted by a diurnal parallax ; that is , it may be supposed either above saturn , or below the moon , or in any place between ; by supposing only , that the farther the nearest part of the circle is distant from the earth , the greater must that circle be , and the swifter the motion of the comet in it : to prove which affirmation , let in the eighth figure a be the earth , bcd the orb of the comet supposed very near the earth , and efg the orb of it supposed at a greater distance : let h be the center of bcd , and i of efg , and let ac , be to ch , as af , to fi , all the lines drawn from the point a , so as to cut the circles bcd and efg , shall divide those circles efg , and bcd , into similar segments : as let abe be a line drawn cutting those circles in b and e : i say , the arch bc shall be similar to ef. in which hypothesis if we have together with the place of the comet when stationary , the place of it when in its greatest celerity , perige , or the places of it when of the same celerity on each side of its perige , we have from thence the proportion of the radius of its orb to the perigean distance , and consequently all the other distances , the line in which it appears when stationary , being the tangent to the circle in which it moves , as abe , to which a perpendicular raised at bbe , and produced till it cut the line ac , ( produced ) at hhi , it gives the center of its orb hhi , and the proportions of the lines ab , ac , bh = hc , or of ae , af , ei = fi , the angle bac , being given by observation . so that by this hypothesis the phaenomena of the motion and bigness of the comet will be solved , though supposed of any distance . nor are these the only hypotheses by which the hitherto observ'd phaenomena may be solv'd : for if we will admit an unequal motion , such as is now granted to all the planets : and if further we will admit it to be moved in an elleipsis , or other such like curve , there may be divers other hypotheses that will solve the phaenomena ; so that the comet may be supposed to have no motion at all as to longitude , but only as to latitude : that is , it may be supposed to be moved in an elleipsis , described in a plain which shall be at right angles with the plain of the ecliptick , and the ways of the earth in it : it may be supposed also to have been mov'd direct , according to the order of the signs , that is , to have been first about gemini , in respect of the sun , and to be now in some part of leo : and it is not impossible to solve the phaenomena of its periodick or proper motion , though it be supposed not so high as the moon , and that the motion of the earth passing by it did really alter its motions , had there not been made some observations about the parallax of it , which prove it higher : so that according to this or that hypothesis which we take , the time of its return , if permanent , will be longer or sooner . and these hypotheses may be so various , that till regulated by very exact observation of the parallax , 't is not to be hoped that the appearance of a comet can be certainly predicted : so that i fear the prophetick saying of seneca , erit qui demonstret aliquando in quibus cometae partibus errent , cur tam seducti à caeteris eant , quanti qualesque sint , will hardly be verified at this time by the help of this present comet . though in truth i cannot find by the examination of several of them , but that they all seem to promise very fairly a return of it : for all the calculations i have hitherto made of its motion , seem to cast it into a circular , and not a into straight line , as kepler supposed ; and indeed upon examining even keplers own calculations of those comets which he observed , and has endeavoured to make to move in a straight line , i cannot find that any of them will be found to move equally in such a line : but to solve the appearances , he is fain to make them move in such supposed straight lines , by a line of tangents , that is , to make the motion of comets accelerated the further they are moved ; all which phaenomena may be very easily solved by supposing them to have moved equal spaces in a curve or circle . the physical reason indeed seems pretty difficult , by what means it should be confin'd or bound so as to move in a circle : but this is no more than is usually supposed in all the planets , and without supposing a kind of gravitation throughout the whole vortice or coelum of the sun , by which the planets are attracted , or have a tendency towards the sun , as terrestrial bodies have towards the center of the earth . i cannot imagin how their various motions can with any satisfaction be imagined , but that being granted ( for which had i now time , i could alledg many reasons , and may do it hereafter on another occasion ) not only the reason of all the irregular motion of the planets may be easily found , but the reason also of the strange and various motions of the comets . the reason why its beard is for the most part opposite to the sun , which was another query , of which i have already said somewhat of my suppositions , and shall now add , that the brighter spot or kernel in the middle did seem to be some kind of body , which though it be not actually burnt , may yet by the encompassing fluid aether be dissolved and wasted , and those dissolved parts may ascend upwards , or from the center of the sun , ( which seems indeed to be the center of gravitation throughout the whole systeme of it . ) to illustrate which explication , i could produce several experiments which would make a perfect representation of the phaenomena of the body , and beard of the comet : i shall only instance in one . take a very clear long cylindrical glass , which may hold about a quart of water ; fill it three quarters full with water , and put into it a quarter of a pound of oyl of vitriol , and in the midst of this suspend by a small silver wire , a small wax-ball , rould in filings of iron or steel , and you may plainly observe a perfect representation of the head , halo , and beard of the comet ; for the menstruum falling on , or dissolving the iron , there is a continual eruption of small bubbles , and dissolv'd particles from all the sides of this body ; and after the eruption they all ascend upwards from the center of the earth ; for being of a much lighter consistence than the anbient liquor , they are by the greater gravity of that , continually protruded upwards . the same appearance may be made with any kind of menstruum , and a convenient dissoluble body suspended in it ; so that if we suppose the aether to be somewhat analogous to a menstruum , and that there is a gravitation towards the center of the sun , if the nucleus or head of the comet be supposed such a dissoluble substance , the phaenomena of the shape of the comet may , i think , be rationally explained . now that the aether may have such a kind of propriety , seems to me to be argued from this , that the air about the earth seems to owe its original to it , it being only a dissolution of terrestrial bodies into the aether , the aether being the principal fluid body , and greatest part of this dissolution ; and the substance of the air , some very few and small saline and earthy particles : of which elsewhere . by this hypothesis the phaenomena of the comet may be solved ; for hence 't is easie to deduce the reason why the beard grows broader and broader , and sainter and fainter towards the top : why there is a halo about the body ; for this will appear clearly in the experiment : why the beard becomes a little deflected from the body of the sun ; for if the dissolving ball be by the wire mov'd either this way or that way , the arising stream or bubbles will bend the contrary : and to countenance this supposition , both in those comets observed by tycho , kepler , and also in this last the beard was contrary to the motion ; so that the head or body going faster , seemed to leave the beard or tail somewhat behind : by this supposition also 't will be easie to explicate why the beard is sometime bended , and not straight , and why it is sometimes brighter upon one side than upon another ? why the bottom of it is more round , and the other sides more undefin'd ; and divers of the like phaenomena . against this supposition it seems difficult to conceive whence so vast a body should be generated ; next , how it should be able to supply such a constant stream of ascending parts , and yet last so long as this has done , almost a quarter of a year . thirdly , whence such a newly generated body should receive so great a degree of motion . in answer to which , i say , 't is not impossible but that the body of it may be as old as the world , and that it may have then received its first determination , or laws of motion , and may have ever since preserved them , that it may have been all this time also in dissolution , and yet not be quite wasted ; and that it may continue yet for many ages before it be quite dissolved into the aether . and to make this probable , divers experiments and reasons might be alledged , as that of the slowness of the wasting of many bodies , by the dissolution made on them by the fire : the slowness also of the dissolution of multitudes of bodies in menstruums . and i have already shewn how small a quantity of dissolved particles will be able to make as great a shew of light : besides that , the motion of the ascending stream or beard being but slow , there needs no very quick supply of other parts . we see also into what a vast quantity of smoke a small parcel of a combustible body may be turn'd . from all which particulars , 't is not unlikely but that the comet may be a body moved with a regular circular or elliptical motion as the planets are , that it may be a body of such a constitution , as that the fluid aether through which it passes , may dissolve it much after the manner as a menstruum ; ( such as aquafortis , spirit of niter , &c. ) does a dissoluble body ; that by this means there may be a slow , but continual eruption of somewhat opacous parts , which may by their dissolution afford a sufficient quantity of light to make as great an appearance as any of the comets , that this stream or beard may by the resistance of the aether be a little deflected backwards in the same manner as an ascending stream of smoke will be by the resistance of the air , if the burning body be mov'd this or that way through it , that the body of the comet may be both as ancient and as lasting as the world ; and that this which has lately appeared may have appeared heretofore , and may likewise hereafter appear again ; that 't is probable the nearest distance of it was much greater than that of the moon , that the length of its beard was longer than its distance from the earth , and consequently several times longer than the distance between the earth and the moon ; that its visible way among the stars was very differing from a great circle , especially towards the latter end , when it became retrograde ; that its way through the aether could not be supposed equal in a straight line , though it might be supposed equal in a curve or circle , that the exact way of it could not be certainly determined by the best observations i have yet met with : and that therefore the best help we have to ghess of its way and distance , is by its manner of moving , as to appearance among the fixed stars , which i have already shewn to be explicable by various hypotheses : for both the earth and comet may be supposed to be moved , either both one way , or contrary ways , or cross ways , the earth may be supposed to stand still , and the comet only to be moved , and the like . these requisites therefore being hitherto wanting in the observations i have met with of this comet , all that can be said of it will at best be but conjectural and hypothetical ; since nothing can be reasonably built upon those observations where the truth of them is dubious ; wanting therefore sound materials to work upon in this comet , i had recourse to the observations of the noble dane tycho brahe , being sufficiently satisfied both of the ability , industry , and veracity of that excellent author , who left nothing unattempted for the perfecting of such observations as seem'd to him requisite for the compleating a history of that comet which appeared in . and from those observations of his i endeavoured to trace the way of it according to several hypotheses ; and found , that supposing the earth not to be moved with an annual motion , but only a diurnal about its own axis , the way of comets will fall in a line very near approaching the nature of a circle , though neither into an exact circle , nor an exact ellipse ; and therefore seems irregular , and not at all probable . again , supposing it moved about the sun , as tycho has done , we find from his calculation of it , he was fain to allow it a quicker and slower motion in its orbit , to solve the phaenomena , which seems to me but a shift , that will serve to help out any lame hypothesis whatsoever : and that granted , and the parallax of the comet unknown , i will undertake very easily to make out almost any hypothesis , which is the fault also of mr. horox his hypothesis , wherein he supposes the earth to be moved about the sun , and the comet like a rocket to be shot out of the sun , and by degrees to return to it again ; in which hypothesis indeed there seems to be much more reason for an inequality of motion , though not in the manner as he has placed it ; 't was very rational that the motion of it at first , if cast out of the sun , should be very swift ; but then it ought likewise to have accelerated its motion in the same manner in its return back to it again , which it does not in his hypothesis ; for a stone or any other heavy body being shot up into the air , does make its return back again to the earth , almost by the same degrees of velocity , by which it ascended from it : almost , i say , because the resistance of the air does so far impede the motion of the body through it , that it never suffers it to acquire the same degree of velocity with which it was first shot upward . this is sufficiently evident from a pendulum , which if it be thrown upwards , and be suffered to return back , it will never rise again on the opposite side to an equal height , with that it descended from , on that side towards which it was thrown : but besides , in his hypothesis he seems to take no notice at all of the latitude of the comet , which seemed to carry it much farther off from the sun , when he supposes it to be returning nearer . and indeed upon the whole his hypothesis seems rather a product of chance than of any contrivance . for he in endeavouring to set off the longitude of the comet according to tycho's tables , and to trace its way by supposing the earths annual motion , making use always of the same radius to set off the aspect , or apparent angle of it with the sun , his line of chords he made use of did always direct the point of his compasses to the place where he situates the comet , as may be easily found by examining the ninth figure ; where you may find that he places the comet always equally distant from the earth , and that distance is always equal to the distance of the sun , which has so many inconveniencies and improbabilities , that i shall not insist farther on it ; especially since i do not find that he bestowed any farther pains in explicating or cultivating this his hypothesis , than only the bare delineation of this ninth figure . but to return to tycho's hypothesis , if that be true , why did not the comet again appear after a certain space of time ? and why could not he have foretold when it should again appear , as well as he could predict the appearance of venus , about whose orb he supposes it to circulate ? i shall pass by several other very material objections that might be made against that his supposition , because many of them might be made also against his hypothesis of the heavens in general , which i shall the rather omit , because i do not find he has many followers in that supposition ; the generality of astronomers embracing rather the copernican system , especially as it is refined and rectified by the ingenious kepler . lastly , i endeavoured to trace the way of the comet from tycho's tables , according to keplers hypothesis ; which was , that the appearances of the motion of the comet were ascribable to two causes ; namely , the motion of the earth about the sun in its annual orbit , and the motion of the comet in a straight line , not accelerated according to the proportion of the increase of tangents ; but upon supposition that it mov'd equal spaces in equal times : ( for i cannot imagine what reason he had to suppose its motion to be accelerated , and much less why he should assert it to be according to the proportion of tangents , which in a little time must necessarily come to move infinitely swift : than which nothing is more hard to be granted . ) and i found it after many trials and essays to fall in a straight line , inclining to the plain of the ecliptick by anangle of . . and cutting it in degrees of scorpio , if computed out of the sun , and moved faster by half than the earth in its orb ; and this to so great an exactness to answer all the observations of tycho , that from a very large scheme which i drew of it on a plain , i could never find many minutes difference ; so that i concluded that to be the most likely hypothesis for that comet , it seeming to solve all the several phaenomena of the motion and magnitude of the comet , with the least imaginable difficulty , and to be most agreeable with my physical notions of comets : for , first it only supposes a solid body moved in a fluid , with an almost direct motion . i say , almost direct , because for some physical reasons , as i have said before , i imagine it not exactly straight , but inflected a little towards the curvity of a circle , which i shall presently endeavour to explain farther in this comet . next , it supposes that body to move in that line almost equal spaces in equal times ; i say , almost equal , because some of those equal spaces may be increased by an accelerating cause or principle , such as that of a gravitation towards the body of the sun , placed in the center of its vortice or system , when the motion of the comet carries it towards the sun , and may be diminish'd from other impeding causes , such as the impediment of the fluid medium through which it passes , and the attraction of the sun operating on it when its motion carries it farther and farther off from it : besides , 't is not unlikely , but that the attraction of the earth , or some of the other planets may have some kind of influence on it , especially , when its line of direction does somewhat nearer approach those attractive points . but the deflection from a straight line is always so much the less by how much the swifter the body is moved , and by how much the farther off its line of trajection is perpendicularly distant from those attracting bodies . according to this supposition of mine , i have endeavoured to make out all the appearances of this last comet , taken notice of in the best observations i have yet met with , amongst which i find no one of the parallax satisfactory , as in the tenth figure , let s represent the sun , orb , the orb of the earth , acdef , a bended or curve line in which the comet is supposed to move : the comet then coming into the sphere of the attractive power of the sun , by the straight line pag , at a , the power of the sun worketh on it , and by degrees attracting it towards its own center by that time the comet hath moved to c , the attractive power hath deflected its direct course from pag , to ch , and so the comet would continue to move in that straight line ch , but it is still deflected so , that at d , it moves towards i , but the gravitation of the sun attracting it , deflects it from that line towards e , and so from e to f , when it begins again to jet out of the attractive beams of the sun , and so it will continue to proceed , as if it had come to that point by the line mfl , the reason of which is the great velocity of these bodies , which are generally much swifter in their motions than the earth or other planets are supposed to be , in theirs . we must seek out some other way therefore of finding of the distance of comets than the commonly used : i shall therefore somewhat further explain the contrivance i newly invented for this purpose , by which not only the parallax of the comet but of the planets also may be found with great facility and exactness . having a large telescope prepared ( as i formerly directed ) with eye-glasses capable of taking in an angle of about two degrees at once , and furnished with a dividing scale , observe when the motion of the comet or planets is not too fast , the position and distances of the small fixed stars which are next adjoyning to the moved body whose parallax you would find ; of these small fixed stars you shall seldom miss a sufficient number , which will be taken into the glass at once , if at least the object-glass be allowed a very large aperture ; and having found such stars as will be convenient for your purpose , be very diligent in taking , by the help of the dividing scale , the exact distance of them one from an other , and when the body is highest above the horizon , viz. in or near the meridian , by the same means take the exact distance of it from two or three of the nearest and most conspicuous fixt stars about it , and by the help of a plumb-line , hung likewise within the cell , near the dividing ruler , find exactly the positions of all those bodies you take notice of to the perpendicular or horizon , which may be easily enough done , if together with a plumb-line or perpendicular plac'd within the glass you have also a small diagonal thred fastned to a ring , whose circumference is divided into degrees , and moveable so as by the finger easily to be turn'd any way , by which means this diagonal thred may be made to cross over any two of the bodies you observe , and by observing what division of this divided limb the perpendicular cuts , it will be easie to determine the exact position of those stars to the horizon ; this same may be done by the dividing scale also , if that be fixt in a divided circle which is movable , in the same manner as the thred is supposed to be . this observation , with all other circumstances of it is likewise to be repeated at the setting or rising of the planet or comet , and again the next night when it comes to the meridian , and in each of those observations the exact time is to be noted by a time-keeper , and the altitude by some of those i have before described , for by comparing these three observations together it will be very easie to find what irregularity in its motion is ascribable to its parallax . and this will be so much the easier because the examination and reduction of it may be done ( with as great exactness as the observation can be made , ) by the help only of ruler and compasses , for all the distances will be set off by equal divisions of straight lines , the line also of the periodick motion , whether of the comet or planet , especially if the observations be made when the body is near an opposition with the sun , which is much the best time , will be with sufficient exactness taken for a straight line , and the motion in that line may be supposed by equal spaces in equal times ; for the difference between the tangents of the centesms of a degree to two degrees is not increased much more then / that is not a quarter of a centesm of the hundredth part of a degree , which is much more exact than i fear our observations will ever be . another way of finding the parallax may be by the help of exact observations made by several persons at the same time , in places much differing in latitude , though as near as may be under the same meridian ( because of saving the trouble of calculation , and for being assured that the observations were both made exactly at the same time ) each person by the help of very long telescopes observing the exact distance of the body from the small fixt stars next adjoyning . a third way of finding the parallax of comets is wholly new , and though hypothetical ( as supposing the annual motion of the earth , and the motion of the comet in a right line through equal spaces in equal times ) yet 't is founded upon a problem in geometry ( invented by the incomparable mathematician , doctor c. wren ) which is truly noble and wholly new , and though it had been of no use in astronomy , deserves none of the meanest places in geometry , by the help of which ( which is much more than either of the other ways is capable of ) one may easily find the true parallax of the comet , from any four exact observations of it , made at differing times in the same place : nor does it require so nice and accurate instruments and observators as are altogether necessary in the other ways . the problem as i received it , is this . problema . datis quatuor lineis utcunque ductis ( quarum nec tres sunt parallelae neque ab eodem puncto ductae ) quintam ducere quae à quatuor primo datis in tres partes secetur ratione & positione datas . sint in figuris , , , , , & , quatuor rectae adc , bec , ae , bd , productae versus k , γ φ , m , oportet quintam ducere ut km , quae secetur à primo datis in segmenta kn , no , om , secundum datas rationes r , s , t. fiat ut rad s , t , simul sumptas ita cd , ad cf. rursus ut tad s , r , simul sumptas , ita ec , ad cg , ductis autem agh , bfh , à mutua intersectione h , ducantur h γ k , h φ m , parallelae nimirum lineis ac , bc , quae mediae interjacent inter extremas , bd , ae . denique inter puncta extremarum km , ducatur recta secans medias in no . dico segmenta kn , no , om , esse in data ratione rst . quoniam fd , parallela est ipsi hk , ergo ut cd , ad cf , ita k γ , ad γ h , & quoniam γ n , parallela est ipsi hm , ergo , ut k γ ad γ h , ita kn , ad nm , ergo ut kn , ad nm , ita cd , ad cf ; sed cd , ad cf , est ut rad s , t , simul sumptas , ergo kn , est ad nm , ut r , ad st , simul sumptas . similiter quoniam eg , parallela est ipsi mh , & φ o , ipsi hk , demonstratur mo , esse ad ok , ut t ad s , r , simul sumptas ▪ quare tres kn , no , om , erunt ad invicem ut r , s , t , ergo ducitur linea k m , cujus tria segmenta à quatuor lineis datis intercepta sunt in data ratione r , s , t , & servata quidem positione sive rationum ordine r , s , t , quod erat faciendum . from the invention of which problem 't will be very easie by any four observations graphically to describe , or geometrically to calculate the true distance of the line of the trajection of the comet , and consequently to answer all those questions that can be demanded concerning the bigness of the body and head , and concerning the bigness and length of the blaze , and concerning the distance of it from the earth in every part of its way when it was nearest the earth , when nearest the sun , where it cuts the plain of the ecliptick , seen from the sun , and where seen from the earth , with what angle it was inclined to the said plain , how swift the motion was , that is , what length it passed , in what time , when it must appear stationary , when retrograde , when disappear , and the like . according to this method i received at the same time , ( whilst it yet appeared very visible to the eye , and was not retrograde , ) the way of the first comet delineated by the said person , which did very near solve all the appearances preceding and subsequent , which i have therefore here annexed in the table expressed in the . . and . figures , where in the . is delineated the place of the sun in the center of the circle ♈ , n , d , i , ♎ , which represents the annual orb of the earth about the sun , the points between n and d represent the places of the earth in that orbit in the days of november , and the lines drawn from them to the points in the straight line , represent the lines in which the comet appeared in respect to the sun ; in like manner the points between d and i , the places of the earth in december , and the lines drawn from them to the straight line , as before the visible places of the comet at those times , &c. the . figure represents singly the several longitudes of the comet at several times seen from the earth . and the . represents the several latitudes , at the several times , together with the true distances of the comet at those times , both which are made out of the . figure , where e at the end of the line represents the center of the earth , from which to the figures in the prickt curve-line , are the true distances of the comet , the perpendiculars from those figures to the line ec are the signs of the latitude of the comet from the plane of the ecliptick ec , the aforesaid distances being made the radii . now though according to my former delineation the comet seemed to take a circuit , as if it would within three years return to its former position , yet i am not wholly convinced that it moves in a circle or ellipse , but i rather incline to the incomparable keplers opinion , that its natural motion tends towards a straight line , though in some other suppositions i differ from him . as first that the comet perseveres exactly in a straight line . secondly , that after it has past its perige it accelerates its motion in proportion to tangents of equal angles . thirdly , that it either is extinguisht dissipated , broken in pieces , or burnt out into ashes . fourthly , that it receives all its light from the sun. fifthly , that if the blaze were not made by the beams of the sun passing through the head of the comet , and so carrying the parts along with them , the blaze would not be opposite to the sun. sixthly , that the cause of the bending of the blaze is the refraction of the suns raies in the body , and their being bent by the aether as with a wind ( which is the opinion that the ingenious descartes follows also . ) to these i cannot consent , and i have many objections to several other of his opinions concerning this matter , which would be too tedious to insert ; only i shall add , that having traced several of the comets according to the best observations i could get , i found it very difficult to make their motion fall in a straight line , unless it be granted that their motions are really accelerated and retarded in that line , which seems not so probable , at least not in those parts of their transit where he places them . and particularly by tracing the way of this comet of . it is very evident that either the observations are false , or its appearances cannot be solved by that supposition , without supposing the way of it a little incurvated by the attractive power of the sun , through whose system it was passing , though it were not wholly stayed and circumflected into a circle , as i have already mentioned . that it is not extinguisht or quite burnt out , when it ceases to appear , i argue from this , that i was able to see it with a telescope above a month after it disappeared to the naked eye , as may be seen by the observations i have annext in fig. . and had not the cloudy weather and the light of the moon , and nearness of the crepusculum hindred , i suppose i might have seen it much longer , as i am apt to believe the great one in . might have been seen several months longer , if it had been diligently followed with telescopes , it disappearing in such a part of the heavens as might have been seen every clear night between the crepusculum and dawning . nor can i suppose it to receive all its light from the sun , since if so it would follow , that the nucleus in the head , would have a dark shadow opposite to the sun , the contrary of which has always been observed . nor can i well understand that the sun beams are like a stream of water , carrying the parts of the comet along with them so as to make its blaze , since no such effect is found of them here with us upon the earth : nor how they should come to be bended like smoke , since we observe no such property of light in a uniform medium , such as in probability the aether is . these were my thoughts about those comets which appeared in . and . which i have found in several loose papers of lectures , read in the beginning of . and i have not had the opportunity of making many observations since , concerning comets , save these two last , in which i had not the convenience of observing any thing certain concerning its motion or parallax . and therefore i applyed my self to mark as near as i could the true figure of it , through a six foot telescope , and to take notice of as many circumstances as the short time i had would permit , which though they were very short and transitory observations , and i wanted time to repeat them so often as i could have desired , yet even from them i was sufficiently satisfied , that i had reason to adhere to my former conjecture , that the light of the comet did not depend wholly from the reflection of the sun beams , from the parts thereof , but rather from its own light , for upon well considering of the form of this comet , i manifestly saw that the middle of the blaze was brighter than the side parts thereof , and especially that part which was immediatly opposite to the sun , was the brightest of all , which would have been otherwise if the light had depended wholly from the deflection of the rays of the sun , for one might rationally conclude that the nucleus or star in the middle , which reflected so great a quantity of light should have caused a darkness in the parts behind it , as we see all strong reflecting bodies do , and consequently that the middle part of the stream or blaze , especially that which was next the body should not have been so bright as those other parts to which the light of the sun had a more free access , unless it may be said that even the star it self , though it seem so bright , is notwithstanding not so dense , but that it admits rays enough to pass through it unreflected , to inlighten the parts behind it . but this seems not so likely , since be the body of the star supposed a thousand times thinner than a cloud ( which yet t is hard to suppose , since it gives so considerable a reflection , ) yet it being in all probability ten thousand times bigger in bulk , the rays in passing through so great a bulk , must needs meet with more obstruction than in the thinnest cloud , and yet we find that there is no cloud so thin , but casts shadow opposite to the sun , and therefore in probability this would do the like , but i diligently observed that there was no such appearance here , but the contrary , that is , that where the shadow should have been , there was the lightest part of all the blaze , and consequently in probability it did depend upon some other cause than a reflection of light . it is a hard matter to assign the particular cause of its light , but it seems from these circumstances to be very probable that it was ( in part at least ) from its own nature , whether that might be somewhat of that of the sun and stars , or of that of our fire , or of that of decaying fish , rotten wood , glow-worms , &c. or of that of the ignis fatuus , at land or sea , or like that of sea-water , or a diamond , or like that of the falling meteors , or star-shoots , it will be very hard to determine , unless one had a much greater stock of observations to build upon . but it may possibly be somewhat of the nature of them all , though it agree not in all particulars with any one of them . all these ways that i have named seeming to agree in one particular , and that is an internal motion of the parts which shine , whether that motion be caused by some external menstruum dissolving it as in fire , and ignes fatui , or an external motion , stroke , or impulse as in a diamond , sea-water , and possibly some ignes fatui , or from the parts of the bodies working and dissolving one another , as in decaying fish , rotten wood , glow-worms , or whether it be susceptible of a much more subtil impulse , even from light it self , as the bononian stone , and bladwines phsophorus , which seems to be so harmonious ( as i may so speak ) to the motion of light , that a new motion is thereby raised in it , and continues for some time to move of it self after the impulse or influence ceases , not much unlike the unison string , or other sounding body , which in musick receives a tremulation and sound from the motion and sound of the unison body , or string that is struck . to me it seems most probable that the body and parts of the comet are in a state of dissolution , whether that dissolution be caused by the parts of the aether through which it passes , after the manner as a torch is dissolved by the air , or whether by the internal working of the constituent parts one upon the other , as in gun-powder , shining fish and rotten wood , i cannot determine ; but i rather guess it to be in some things analogous to the one , and somewhat to the other , though not exactly the same with either . and this i conceive from the figure and make of the shining parts , for if it had been of the same nature with a torch , the blaze would have resembled that of the flame of a torch or candle , that is , the sides would have been brighter , and the middle darker , as i have shewn in my lampas ; whereas it was very manifest that the middle of the blaze was brightest , and of that blaze that which was next the star or nucleus was brighter than that which was further off : whereas in flame the contrary is very observable , as i have in the said treatise shewn . from the shape of the figure , the manner of its dissolution seems to be thus . the star or nucleus in the middle , seems to be the fomes or source from whence all the light proceeds : this we suppose to be a dense body encompast with a very fluid body ( such as the aether seems to be ) but of such a loose and spongy nature , as that the aether doth cause those parts which are contiguous to it , to be dissolved and expanded into it self . this dissolution and expansion i conceive doth generate or cause the light that seems to proceed from it , that dissolution causing such a motion of the aether , as is necessary to produce the appearance of light ; now so long as any part thereof remains in dissolution , so long doth it continue to shine , as is also observable in the flame of any body burning in the air , but when the part separated from the body is quite dissolved into the aether , the effect of shining ceases , as it doth also in the parts of flame . now i have observed that the blaze is so very much rarified , that first the aether i conceive comes very freely to every particle of the body after it is separated from it , but especially to the outermost , and continues to be incompassed with it so long as till it be quite dissolved into it , which i conceive to be at a little farther distance from the head than the greatest length of the blaze seems to be to our sight . and further i conceive that the outward parts being thus incompassed more perfectly with the free and undisturbed aether , are sooner dissolved into it than those of the middle , and consequently the sides seem first to disappear , and the middle parts continue their shining to a much greater distance from the star in the head , though somewhat also of that appearance may be ascribed to the dispersing and rarity of the parts near the sides . the nucleus or ball in the middle of the head , which i have called the star , i conceive to be dissolved equally on all sides , and the parts which are dissolved or separated from it , i conceive to fly every way from the center of it , with pretty near equal celerity or power , like so many blazing granadoes or fire-balls , these continue their motion so far toward the way they are shot , till the levitation from the body of the sun deflect them upwards , or in opposition to the sun into a parabolick curve , in which parabolick curve , every single particle continues its motion till it be wholly burnt out , or dissolved into the aether . these are continually succeeded by new separations from the aforesaid body in the same manner as t is observable in a burning , steaming , or smoaking body in our air , or a dissolving body incompassed with its proper menstruum , as i before mentioned , and will so continue until the whole be at length dissolved into the aether , through which it passes . it hath been demonstrated by torricellius , of bullets or other bodies cast or shot upwards , that the same or equal bullets discharged or shot out from the same point , with the same degree of strength , but with differing degrees of inclination to the horizon , each of them shall be moved in a parabolical line , and every one of those parabolical lines shall touch a parabolical line , whose axis is the perpendicular , and whose apex is distant from the said point , the full altitude of the perpendicular shot : so that supposing in the twenty second figure , a to be the point from whence all the shots are made with equal velocity , ac the greatest height of the perpendicular shot , and ad the greatest horizontal random at degrees of inclination , and suppose edcde a parabola passing through those points dcd , all the shots made with equal bullets , with equal velocity from a , but with all variety of inclination between the perpendicular upwards , and the perpendicular downwards that touch the said parabolical line , and consequently if there be an indefinite number of such balls continually flowing out of the point a , with equal degrees of celerity every way dispersing themselves equally in orbem , the whole aggregate of such an emanation will make a solid parabolical conoeid edcde . now about the point a , if we suppose a sphere as bbbb , and from this sphere an indefinite number of such equal balls be thrown off perpendicularly to the superficies of it , from every point thereof , with equal celerity at their leaving it , those emanations will form also a conoeid , which will be very near the same with the former : and if this ball in the middle be supposed a burning and shining body , and that all these emanations have every one of them equal light in proportion to the globe bbbba , the effect produced hereby will perfectly resemble the appearance and figure of comets , if at least the parabolical conoeid be inverted ; which will somewhat explain the manner how i conceive the figure of the cometical body is naturally , and most proportionably formed ; for if the effect of such an emanation of shining bodies be examined , it will very plainly exhibit the exact and true apparent figure of comets , as they may be seen through a good telescope , which is to me a very great argument , that 't is the genuine cause of its shape and figure : now though the comets appearance be this way caused , and so a man might conceive the globous body would in a little time ( by so copious an emanation ) be consumed , yet i do not believe that it doth in a short time wast and disperse the whole ball , nor can i conceive that the disappearing of those blazing bodies toward the latter end , does depend upon their dissolution ( though possibly that may somewhat diminish them ) but that rather is to be ascribed to their distance and position in respect of us : though this i remember i observed very manifestly in that of . that the body toward the latter end of its appearing was very much less in proportion to the radiations about it , than it seemed to be at the beginning , but whether that might not be partly ascribed to the great distance it then was from us , and the turning of the head pretty near towards us , and thence the spreading of the tail ( appearing beyond it , ) might add to the breadth of the radiation about the nucleus , i will not positively determine . now though for explication sake , i have compared the parts separated from the body of the comet to blazing granadoes or fire-balls , yet i would not be understood to suppose these parts so separated to be of any very large bulk , for i see no necessity to suppose them bigger than the atoms of smoke , or the particles of any other steaming body , or than the parts of the air , which make the body of it appear thick and hazy ; nor do i believe that all the light of the star , head , and blaze , does depend only upon the shining of the dissolving body and particles thereof : but i do suppose that it doth proceed both from the reflection of the sun-beams from those parts , and also from an innate and momentaneous light produced by the action of dissolution wrought on the parts by the incompassing aether . it may possibly seem very difficult to suppose that the dissolution of the parts of the nucleus , by the incompassing aether , should cause or impress so violent a motion into the separated parts , as to make them depart from it to the space of four or five diameters , before it be over-powered by the power of levitation from the body of the sun , and so deflected into a parabolical line upwards . it may likewise seem strange to suppose that the aether should have such power in it , as first to dissolve a body into it self , and secondly to cause a shining , and thirdly to cause a levitation of the dissolved parts upwards ; whereas i supposed before ( and i think 't is very manifest ) that they cause a gravitation downwards , towards the center of the sun : but to these for explication , i answer that we need not go far for instances to make these things probable , the atmosphere about the earth , as i have formerly mentioned in my micrographia , i take to be nothing else but the dissolution of the parts of the earth into the incompassing aether ; for the proof of which , i could bring many arguments , were it here a proper place , by which i could most evidently demonstrate the thing to be as i have asserted . it is here evident that this aether doth take up the particles of bodies to a very great distance from the surface from which they were separated , and it doth not only raise them but susteins them at those heights , nor is this peculiar only to the aether when a menstruum , but to all dissolving menstruums in general . as to give one instance , in stead of many , we find that gold ( the heaviest of all terrestrial bodies we yet know , ) being dissolved by aqua regis , is taken up into it , and kept suspended therein , though the parts of the gold be fifteen times heavier than the parts of the aqua regis . so pit-coal though very heavy , is yet taken up into the air , and kept suspended therein , though it will be found to be some thousands of times more ponderous than the menstruum of the air that keeps it suspended . many reasons i could produce to shew the great power of the aether , and the universality of its activity almost in all sensible motions , but reserving them for another discourse hereafter , i shall at present , only mention those suppositions which seem to have the greatest difficulty , in this theory , viz. how the dissolution of the parts of the star by the incompassing aether should cause light , and secondly how it should cause an actual levitation of the dissolving particles upwards . for the explication of these two difficulties , i must at present crave favour to explain them by examples taken from operations of nature in the atmosphere wherein we live , very similar and analogous to them . first , for the production of light , we find that the air incompassing the steams of bodies prepared by heat or otherwise , and made fit for dissolution , doth so operate upon them , as to make them fly and part asunder with a very impetuous motion , insomuch that the small particles or atoms of the dissolved bodies , do not only leave one another , but depart and dart out with so great an impetuosity , as to drive off all the incompassing air from their center from whence they flew , and this i take to be the cause not only of their light , but also of their levity upwards , this may be seen very plainly by the small parts of crackling char-coal , which upon the blowing them with bellows , and so crowding a great quantity of the fresh menstruum on them , fly and dart asunder with great celerity and noise , but is abundantly more evident in the kindling of gun-powder , where the impetuosity is so very great as to drive away not only all the incompassing air but all other bodies , though never so solid , that hinder its expansion , in the performing of which operation the aether hath a great share , as i may hereafter shew , 't is very probable that the aether in the same manner dissolving the particles of the star , causeth the atoms thereof to fly asunder with so great an impetuosity as to leave a vacuity even of the parts of the aether , which flying asunder doth not only cause light by impressing on the aether a stroke or pulse which propagates every way in orbem , but maketh such an agitation of the the aether , as causes a rarefaction in the parts thereof , whilst the parts that are once actually separated , by continual rebounding one against another before they come to be at rest and quietly to touch each other , prolong that first separation or vacuity between them . this explication , though it be somewhat difficult , yet i hope it is intelligible , and may be , with probability enough , supposed to be the true cause of the appearance , whilst there is nothing therein supposed which is not manifestly the method of nature in other operations ; and though the supposition even of the aether , may seem to be a chimera and groundless ; yet had i now time , i could by many very sensible and undeniable experiments , prove the existence and reality thereof , and that it doth actually produce not only as sensible effects as these i have named , but very much the same , and many others much more cosiderable , which by philosophers have hitherto been ascribed to quite different causes . had i been able to have made some other observations ( which i designed , if i had had the opportunity of seeing it , some of the succeeding nights , ) i should have hoped to have explained several other difficulties concerning the nature of the body and blaze of comets , but being therein prevented , i must leave them till i can make some further observations on some comets that may hereafter appear . in the mean time that what i have discoursed concerning the light of comets , may not seem so altogether paradoxical and unintelligible as some may imagine , i have here added an account of some trials and observations made on shining substances of natures exceedingly differing from those that are commonly to be met withal . and this i the rather do , not only because it affords an instance of shining where there is no air , but that hereby i may enlarge the limits of their imagination , who shall consider of this subject . for nothing is more apt to misguide our reasoning than a narrow and limited knowledg of causes , we are not to conclude the body of a comet a sulphureous vapour exhaled from the earth and kindled above , because here are such vapours observed and such effects produced , nor a collection of sun beams made by a lentiformed vapour , after the manner of a burning-glass ( as some eminent writers have lately done , ) because some such appearances may be artificially produced in a smoaky or thickned air ; since if we diligently inquire , we may find that light which is the most sensible quality of comets that affects our senses , may be , and really is produced by very many , and those very differing ways . in nitre and sulphur kindling each other by heat , we have one way ; in a body burning in the air a second , in a heated iron or glass a third , in a piece of iron hammered till red hot a fourth , in rotten wood and decayed fish a fifth , in glow-worms , scolopondras , and other living worms , and in the sweat and excrements of other living creatures a sixth , in a diamond rubbed a seventh , in dews ignes fatui , &c. an eighth , in sea-water a ninth , in the bononian stone , and in the phosphorus baldwini ( which i take to be much of the same nature ) a tenth , in the phosphorus of mr. kraft an eleventh , and possibly wholly differing from all these , may be the light of the sun , a twelfth , and that of the star may differ from that of sun , and the comet may be differing from all the rest . whether they be so or not , the being acquainted with the several proprieties of them will the better enable one to judg of what is pertinent to be observed in comets , in order to find out which is concerned . the phaenomena of most of these shining bodies are very common and obvious , and therefore needless to be added ; but that of the bononian stone prepared , and that of the phosphorus baldwini ( lately discovered by mr. baldwine ) are rare and hard to be got , and the effects of them are wholly differing from all the ways i have yet met with , and will therefore prove experimenta crucis , highly instructive in the theory of light , of which more hereafter . as for the phosphoros fulgurans of mr. kraft ( more scarce and rare than the other ) 't is wholly differing from any of the rest , and very strange and surprising , at least it appeared so to me , who had the good fortune to be present at a good part of the experiments made by the author in the presence and at the chamber of the honourable robert boyle , esq that great judg and promoter of all curious inquiries into nature and art , who at my earnest intreaty , was not only pleased to commit to writing what he observed , but ( for the information of curious and inquisitive naturalists , ) to give me liberty here to publish it . a short memorial of some observations made upon an artificial substance , that shines without any precedent illustration . september , . on saturday the fifteenth of this month i was after supper visited by mr. kraft , a famous german chymist , who was pleased to come and shew me a strange rarity he hath newly brought into england , to the sight whereof he allowed me to invite several members of the royal society , he being desirous , because the matter he imploys is very costly and of difficult preparation , to be a good husband of it , and by shewing it to several curious persons at once , to exempt himself from the need of showing it often . the company being met , the artist took out of a pretty large box he had brought with him , divers glass vessels and laid them in order on the table . the largest of them was a sphere of glass , which i guessed to be four or five inches in diameter , being hollow and intire , save that in one place there was a little hole , at that time stopt with sealing wax , whereat to pour in the liquor , which seemed to me to be about two spoonfuls or somewhat more , and to look like muddy water made a little reddish with brick-dust or some other powder of that colour , he also took out of his box three or four little pipes of glass sealed , or otherwise stopt at both ends , being each of them somewhat bigger than a swans quill , and about five or six inches long , and having at one end a small fragment or two of that matter that was to shine in the dark . he likewise laid upon the table three or four vials of several sizes , but none of them judged capable to hold above very few ounces of water : in each of which vials there was some liquor or other , that was neither transparent nor well coloured , which liquors i confess upon his making no particular mention of what they were to do , i was not curious to compare together , either as to quantity or as to colour . besides all these substances which were fluid , he had in a small crystalline button bottle , a little lump of matter , of which he seemed to make much more account than of all the liquors , and which he took out for a few moments to let us look upon it , whereby i saw that it was a consistent body , that appeared of a whitish colour , and seemed not to exceed a couple of ordinary pease , or the kernel of a hasel nut in bigness , some other things 't is possible mr. kraft took out of his box , but neither i or ( for ought i know ) others of the company took notice of them , partly because of his hast , and partly because the confused curiosity of many spectators in a narrow compass , kept me from being able to observe things as particularly and deliberately as i would gladly have done , and as the occasion deserved . which advertisement may i fear be but too applicable to a great part of the following narrative . the forementioned glasses being laid in order upon the table , the windows were closed with woodenshuts , and the candles were removed into another room by that we were in ; being left in the dark we were entertained with the ensuing phaenomena . i. though i noted above that the hollow sphere of glass had in it but about two spoonfuls ( or three at most ) of matter , yet the whole sphere was illuminated by it , so that it seemed to be not unlike a cannon bullet taken red hot out of the fire , except that the light of our sphere lookt somewhat more pale and faint . but when i took the liberty to hold this glass in my hand and shake it a little , the contained liquor appeared to shine more vividly , and sometimes as it were to flash . ii. i took one of the little pipes of glass formerly mentioned , into my hand , and observed that though the shining matter had been lodged but at one end , yet the whole glass was enlightened , so that it appeared a luminous cylinder , whose light yet i did not judg to be always uniform , nor did it last like that which was included in the vials . iii. in the largest of the vials next the spherical already mentioned , the liquor that lay in the bottom being shaken , i observed a kind of smoke to asscend and almost to fill the cavity of the vial , and near the same time there manifestly appeared as it were a flash of lightning that was considerably diffused , and pleasingly surprized me . iv. after this i took up that small crystaline vial that i lately called ( by a name familiar in our glass-shops ) a button-bottle , wherein was contained the dry substance which the artist chiefly valued , as that which had continued luminous about these two years , and having held that vial long in my hand , in the same position in reference to my eye , and lookt attentively at it , i had the opportunity to observe ( what i think none of the company did ) that not only this stuff did in proportion to its bulk , shine more vividly than the fluid substances , but thaat which was the phaenomenon i chiefly attended ) though i could perceive no smoke or fumes ascend from the luminous matter , yet i could plainly perceive by a new and brisker light that appeared from time to time in a certain place near the top of the glass , that there must be some kind of flashy motion in the matter that lay at the bottom , which was the cause of these little coruscations , if i may so call them . v. the artist having taken a very little of his consistent matter , and broken it into parts so minute , that i judged the fragments to be between twenty and thirty , he scattered them without any order about the carpet , where it was very delightful to see how vividly they shined ; and that which made the spectacle more taking , especially to me , was this , that not only in the darkness that invironed them , they seemed like fixt stars of the sixth or least magnitude , but twinkled also like them , discovering such a scintillation as that whereby we distinguish the fixt stars from most of the planets . and these twinkling sparks without doing any harm ( that we took notice of ) to the turky carpet they lay on , continued to shine for a good while , some of them remaining yet vivid enough till the candles being brought in again made them disappear . vi. mr. kraft also calling for a sheet of paper and taking some of his stuff upon the tip of his finger , writ in large characters two or three words , whereof one being domini , was made up of capital letters , which being large enough to reach from one side of the page to the other , and being ( at least as i guessed ) invigorated by the free contact of the external air , shone so briskly and lookt so oddly , that the sight was extreamly pleasing , having in it a mixture of strangeness , beauty and frightfulness , wherein yet the last of those qualities was far from being predominant . and this phaenomenon did in more senses than one afford us the most of light , since not only the characters shone very vividly upon the white paper , but approaching it to my eyes and nostrils , i could discern that there ascended from them a fume , and could smell that fume to be strong enough , and ( as it seemed to me ) to participate of the odour of sulphur and of that of onions . and before i past from the mention of these resplendent characters , i must not forget that either by their light , or that of the globe , or both by the one and the other a man might discern those of his fingers that were nearest the shining stuff , and that this being held to the face though without touching it , some of the conspicuousest parts , especially the nose , were discoverable . vii . after we had seen with pleasure , and not without some wonder , the fore-going particulars , the artist desired me to give him my hand , which when i had done , he rub'd partly upon the back of it , and partly on my cuff , some of his luminous matter , which as if it had been assisted by the warmth of my hand shone very vividly , and though i took not notice of any thing upon my skin , that was either unctuous or rough , yet i often times tried in vain by rubbing it with my other hand to take it off , or manifestly diminish its splendor , and when i divers times blow'd upon some of the smaller parts of it , though they seemed at the instant that my breath beat upon it , to be blown out , yet the tenacious parts were not really extinguisht , but presently after recovered their former splendor . and all this while this light that was so permanent , was yet so mild and innocent that in that part of my hand where it was largely enough spread , i felt no sensible heat produced by it . by that time these things were done 't was grown late , which made mr. kraft , who had a great way to go home , take leave of the company after he had received our deserved thanks for the new and instructive phaenomena , wherewith he had so delightfully entertained us . because mr. kraft had twice attempted to fire heated gun-powder with his phosphorus , but without success ; probably because the powder was not very good ( as by some circumstances i conjected ) and because it was not sufficiently heated before the matter that should set it on fire was put upon it , he promised me he would come another time to repair that unsuccesfulness : and accordingly , on the two and twentieth of september in the afternoon i recived a visit from mr. kraft , who told me he came to make good his promise of letting me see that his shining matter was able to kindle heated gun-powder , and because no strangers were present , i had the fairer opportunity to view it , which i was able to do better by day light , than i had done by its own light , for when he had taken it with a new pen out of the liquor with which he kept it covered to preserve it , i perceived it to be somewhat less than the nail of one of my fingers , and not much thicker than a shilling , and i observed that when it had lain a little while upon a piece of clean paper and discharged it self from its superfluous moisture , it began to emit whitish fumes which seemed to be very ponderous , since for the most part they did not ascend but surrounding the matter whence they issued , by their stagnation made as it were a little pond or small atmosphere about it ; so that lest it should wast too fast , he was obliged as soon as he had cut off a little corner less than half a pins head , to put the stuff nimbly back into the vial out of which he he had taken it ; where i observed it for a very short time to send up exhalations into the liquor that covered it , and quickly after , as it were , quencht it . this done the artist divided the little corner he had cut off into two parts , one of which he spread as far as it would reach upon a piece of white paper , which he presently after held at a distance over a chafing-dish of burning coals , by whose heat being excited it presently flasht and burnt away , and i having perceived that there was another part of the paper which though not heeded by him , had been lightly besmeared by the same matter , i held it over the coals , but at a considerable distance from them , and yet this little matter nimbly took fire and burnt a hole in the paper . and to satisfie my self that the heat did but excite the luminous matter , and that t was this its self that lighted the paper , i held the rest of the same piece of paper far nearer the fire and kept it there a pretty while without finding it at all scorched or discoloured . lastly , the other part of the divided fragment of the hitherto mentioned matter , mr. kraft put upon the tip of a quil , and having at a distance from the fire , very well dryed and warmed some gun-powder upon another piece of paper , he laid that paper upon the ground , and then holding his quill upon it , as if it had been a match , within half a minute ( by my guess ) that powder took fire and blew up . 't will not perhaps be impertinent to add that on occasion of the operation i observed the air to have on the shining substance when freely exposed to it . i took a rise to tell mr. kraft that i presumed it might be worth while to try whether his phosphorus did shine by virtue of a kind of real or ( if i may so call it ) living flame , which like almost all other flames required the presence and concourse of the air to maintain it , or whether it were of such a kind of nature as the phosphorus of the learned baldwinus , which i suspected to shine not like a flame or a truly kindled substance ; but like a red hot iron , or an ignited piece of glass , wherein the shining parts are not repaired by fewel , as in other burning bodies , but are put by the action of the fire into so vehement an agitation as whilst it lasts suffices to make the body appear luminous . this conjecture mr. kraft seemed much to approve of when i told him that the way i proposed to examine his noctiluca by , was to put a little of it into our pneumatick engine , and pump out the air , whose absence , if it were of the nature of other flames , would probably extinguish , or very much impair its light , but yet since he offered not to have the trial made ; probably because he had but very little of his shining substance left , i thought it not civil to press him . but to countenance what i said of the nature of baldwinus phosphorus , i shall recite an experiment that i purposely made , to examin whether the presence of the air were necessary to the shining of this phosphorus , as i had long since found it to that of some pieces of shining wood . we exposed for a competent time to the beams of a vigorous light , a portion of matter of about the breadth of the palm of ones hand , which we had prepared to be made luminous by them . and then causing the candles to be removed ( for we chose to make tryal by night ) we nimbly conveyed the matter into a receiver that was kept in readiness for it , presuming ( as the event shewed we might ) that by using diligence the light would last as long as the experiment would need to do ; making hast therefore to pump out the air , we heedfully watched whether the withdrawing of it would , contrary to my conjecture , notably diminish the light of the shining matter . and after we had thus withdrawn the air gradually , we tryed whether by letting it return hastily , it would produce a more sensible change in the matter ( which had been purposely put in without any thing to cover it , that it might be the more exposed to the airs action . ) but neither upon the gradual recess of the air , nor yet upon its rushing in when it was permitted to return , could we certainly observe any manifest alteration in the luminousness of the phosphorus , other than that slow decrement that might well be imputed to the time during which the experiment was making . it being well known that this luminous substance requires no long time to make it decay , and by degrees to lose all its light ; so that though once there seemed to one or two of the by-standers , upon the return of the air , to be some recovery of part of the lost splendor , yet after repeated experiments it was concluded that the presence of the air was not at all necessary to the shining of our matter , and it was judged most probable that the absence or presence of the air , had no manifest operation on it . i might add to this that perhaps the presence of the air is rather hurtful than advantagious to this sort of lights , since for having had a large phosphorus that was much esteemed , and , whilst i kept it , exactly protected from the air did very well ; a part of the glass that covered it , having by mischance been somewhat crackt , though none of the splinters appeared displaced , yet it seems some of the corpuscles of the air made a shift to insinuate themselves at these chinks ( as narrow as they were ) and in not many days made the matter cease to be capable of being made luminous as before . i cannot stay to inquire whether this unfitness or indisposition may be imputed to the bare moisture of the air , or to some other substance or quality that alone or in conjunction with the moisture , may spoil that peculiar texture , or constitution that fits the matter of the phosphorus assisted by the impressions of external light to become luminous . this , i say , i cannot stay to examine , though , that this phosphorus is of a nice and tender constitution , and easily alterable , i was induced to think , by finding that the want of circumstances , seemingly slight enough , would keep it from being made ; and i guess that a convention of circumstances did more contribute to the production than any peculiar and incommunicable nature of the matter : because having had the curiosity to make some trial upon so obvious a material as quick lime , though the success did not answer my designs , yet , neither was it so bad , but that some luminous quality was produced in the lime by the action of the fire , and a saline liquor ; and i scarce question but other materials will be found capable of being made luminous by the same or the like operation , that is imploy'd by baldwinus , when that learned man shall think fit to communicate his way to the publick . but to return to what i was saying , that the contact of the air might be rather hurtful than advantagious to the phosphorus , i shall only add here as matter of fact , ( for my conjectures about light belong to my yet unpublisht notes , of the origine of qualities ) that whereas the contact of the air , though it were not free , did in a few days destroy the luminousness of a good phosphorus , yet having included another in a receiver , whence we afterwards pumpt out the air , this matter though inferior to the other in vividness was so little spoiled by lying open in our vacuum , that at the end of not only some weeks , but some months , i found that the beams of a candle passing to it through the receiver , would notwithstanding the vacuum it yet continues in , suffice to re-excite in it a manifest light . thus far was the communication of this excellent person , who it 's hoped may be further prevailed with to communicate those other accurate observations , and curious researches he hath made concerning the light of the bononian stone , and the phosphoros baldwini , which are indeed truly admirable , and very much differing from the usual processes of nature for the exhibiting of light . before i take leave of my astronomical readers , i shall here acquaint them with some collections i have made of other astronomical matters and discoveries , which i hope will not be less pleasing to them than they were at first to me . the discoveries are new , and not less significant . the first is , a letter from johannes carolus gallet , l.l.d. and provost of the church of st. symphorean at avignon , directed thus . clarissimo eruditissimoque viro d. johanni dominico cassino , matheseos professori celeberrimo , astronomo praestantissimo & academiae regiae scientiarum alumno meritissimo . conteining an account of his observation of mercury passing under the sun. mr. gallet then acquaints mr. cassini with his observation of ☿ sub ☉ and the whole method and process of his observation . first , he fitted two excellent telescopes , the glasses of which were given him by mr. jac. borrellius , one of the academy royal of paris . the one of twenty three foot , he fitted with a glass covered with smooke , placed in the outward focus of the eye-glass : the other of three foot he fixt to the arm of his quadrant of the same radius , this was so exquisite that compared with one of divini , which was chosen by the care of honorato fabri , and procured by monsieur de beauchamps , it was found to represent the objects clearer : by this the figure of the sun was cast on an opposite table , on which he had drawn a circle of the bigness proper to the distance and magnifying of the glasses to contain the whole face of the sun , and by parallel circles had subdivided the same into digits and sexagesimals , he had also placed three threds in the interior focus of the glasses , that the middlemost went through the center , and the two outward touched the limb of the sun by their shadow on the table , he had also a pendulum clock that vibrated thrice in a second . thus accoutred he watched the fifth and sixth day , from sun rising to sun setting , and the seventh after the cloudy sky had seemed to delude his curiosity till eleven a clock almost , it then began to open and discovered to him mercury got within the eastern limb of the sun , about / of its semidiameter ; at length the clouds being dispersed , the sun being ° . high , or at h. ′ ☿ it self marked out its own place in the disk of the ☉ by its own shadow cast on the table by the shorter tube . then he disposed the shadow of the aforesaid thred so paralel to the equator , that this figure of the sun should move between the outward ones , and that the middle should mark out the paralel described by the center of the sun in motion , at the same time he took the declination of ☿ from this middle parallel and the right ascention , by the number of vibrations of the pendulum , from the western limb of the sun , taken by the shadow of a perpendicular cross-line to the other . by the same means , also he measured the diameter of the sun and of mercury . then to the end he might give less cause of doubt , according to his usual custom , he procured several friends who were present and witnesses of all the observations after the fourth mentioned in the table . during the observation he took notice of these remarkable accidents . first , that mercury through the long tube was very black , and of an elliptical figure whose longest diameter was parallel to the equator , but in the species through the lesser telecope , it appeared round and of a dusky red ( like a spot observed by him in the sun from the ninth to the fifteenth of april . ) secondly , that the diameter of mercury going out of the disc of the sun , when it toucht the periphery seemed to be of four times the diameter it appeared of through the whole phase , so that mr. beauchamp , who watched the exit with the longer tube , whilst he himself minded the quadrant in order to take the altitude of the sun , at the time of the exit cried out , o how large do i see the diameter of mercury now , it does not only leave the sun , but is confused with it , or as it were melts into it , and presently it vanisht , the sun being then . ′ . high . he further adds that before he leaves to speak of the sun , he will here insert an observation that he had made of four spots he had seen in the sun in the first of october last ( st. no. ) with this his longer telescope , one only of which was visible by the species cast with the lesser glass . octob. die. hora decinat . maculae principalis à paral . centri ☉ . differentia temp . inter limbus ☉ occident . & maculam . tempus transitus disci sonlaris . austr . aust . aust . aust . boreal . thus submitting his method to the judgment of the learned cassini , and earnestly desiring his thoughts thereon , he ends his letter , and dates it from avignon , nov. . . to this letter he subjoins the observation it self , intituled , mercurius sub sole visus avenione die . novemb . . observante me joanne carolo gallet , j. v. d. praeposito ecclesiae sancti symphoriani avenionensis . the contents of which are , that designing to observe this passage of ☿ under ☉ he with his tube watchfully looked for it in the suns place , from the th to the th . day , with a telescope of foot ( as above ) he observed a spot of an elliptical figure which had already gotten a th . part of the semidiameter of the sun within the limb , and declined a little to the south in respect of the parallel of the aequator drawn through the suns center , at hours min. but the clouds hindering he could not observe its motion till it had ascended as high as the parallel : when the suns altitude was . . or a clock minutes . from the quickness of its motion he soon found it to be ☿ and not a spot , and therefore he forsook not his quadrant to which was fitted his three foot telescope and table to receive the figure of the ☉ but observed the times of the immersions and the emersion of ☿ by the help thereof , being assisted by several of his friends who were witnesses of what passed , and particularly by the illustrious monsieur de beauchamp , who with the twenty three foot glass determined the exit of mercury , whilest he himself took the altitude of the sun with his quadrant , as in the tenth observation . the order of the observations of mercury seen under the sun. the number of the phases observed . the north declination of ☿ from the parallel of the equat . through the center . the difference of the time between the transit of west limb of the sun , and the body of ☿ under the same meridian collected from the pendulum vibrating / ● of a second . the distant of ☿ from the center of the sun. the apparent altitude of the sun. the hour collected by the altitude .   m. s. vib . pend. m. s. t. m. s. t. g. m. h. m. s. ● ● ●   the time of the transitus . the diameter in the parallel . the diameter in a great circle . of the sun.   of mercury . ½       from this observation he had the declination of mercury in respect of the parallel through the center of the sun , and thence its absolute declination from the equator , supposing the place of the sun according to hecker , and the obliquity of the ecliptick , , ′ the right ascension also of ☿ appeared by the difference of time between the transit of ☿ and the west limb of the sun by the same meridian . then from the declination and right ascension of ☿ given by trigonometrical calculation , he found out the longitude and latitude of it in every ▪ observation , and the time of its true conjunction .   the time of the phases observed . heckers place of the ☉ in ♏ the decl. of ☿ south ascen . the right ascension of mercury . the n. lat. of ☿ ascen . the long. of mercury in ♏   h. m. s. g. m. s. g. m. s. g. m. s. m. s. g. m. s. therefore the time of the true conjunction of the sun and mercury at avignon , was nov. . hor. . min. . sec. . afternoon . to this he hath adjoyned this ensuing table , to shew how much the heavens do differ from the astronomical tables . tempus datum ex tabulis novemb. differentia ab observata conjunctione .   d. h. m. d. h. m.   rudolphinis reyneri . excessus . calculis heckeri . excessus . lansbergianis . defectus . philolaicis bullialdi excessus . riccilinis juxta calculum . r. admodum patris bonifa . societatis jesu . excessus . these observations are delineated in the . figure . vpon this observation i find in the twenty third journal de scavans of the year . mr. cassini made these reflections . that having compared this observation of monsieur gallet , of . with that of mr. gassendus , of . the same day of the year , to wit the seventh of november , he found that the latitudes of ☿ at its leaving the disc of the sun , determined by these two astronomers were equal , even to the sixth part of a minute . and by consequence that ☿ was both in the one and the other observation at the same distance from its north node , and that it traced in the disc of the sun an equal line : and for that ☿ was here at the like distance from its apoge ; as the sun was also pretty near , the swiftness of its apparent motion in the sun was equal . by the observation of mr. gallet it is found considerably more slow than that which mr. gassendus hath supposed from the rudolphin tables of which he made use for the determining of it , not having been able to make observation immediately by reason of the clouds . he believes then that ☿ spent more then five hours in running through the disc of the sun , since by the observation of mr. gallet , it hath spent hours and minutes , which may serve for an advertisement for determining more exactly the time of the true conjunction of ☿ with the ☉ in the year . the same equality of latitude at mercury's leaving the sun shews that the sun was equally distant from the node of mercury at the time of these two observations . and as the sun was more advanced in that of this year from to minutes , than in that of the year , so it follows that the septentrional node of ☿ is advanced from to minutes in the space of years , as precisely as by the rudolphin tables , which agree also exactly in the epochas of the nodes : a matter of no small importance in astronomy , which hath not a little difficulty to determine with preciseness the nodes of the planets and their motions . but having compared the observation of mr. gallet , with that of mr. hevelius , in . which hapned the third of may , in a place of the zodiac opposite to that of this year , he hath found the septentrional node of ☿ less advanced than the meridional was in the preceding observation ; so that if the nodes of ☿ in regard of the sun are precisely opposite the one to the other , it appears that they have gone backward since the year . as do those of the moon , and by consequence their motion is sometimes direct , sometimes retrograde : but if their motion is supposed uniform , it will follow that the line of the nodes of ☿ doth not pass at all through the center of the sun , but that it is removed from it towards the septentrional limit about a two hundredth part of the semidiameter of the orb of mercury . thus far this knowing and accurate astronomer monsieur cassini , who we hear hath since farther discoursed concerning this matter , which we hope to procure so soon as he shall make it publick ; and to add some other curious observations made by other hands , i have as yet been able to procure but one more ; but that is one so considerable , that it will excite the skilful astronomers anew to ply their calculations , to see what the comparing of this with the rest will produce ; which as they come to my hands , i design to publish , as i shall also somewhat of my own observations thereupon : and therefore i omit to make any reflections at present . this letter is of mr. edmund hally , now residing at st. helena , directed to sir jonas moore , surveyor of his majesties ordnance ; a person to whom the learned world is very much obliged for his patronizing and promoting these coelestial enquiries ; who hath not been sparing of his own pains and purse in providing the best apparatus of instruments and other conveniences for such observations the world ever had ; from whom we may with good reason hope a great advancement towards the perfecting thereof . st. helena , novemb. . . honored sir , you may with reason wonder that i should so long be negligent to write to your worship , to give you an account of my proceedings since my departure from you , seeing that in the business i am now engaged upon , the honorable sir joseph williamson , his majesties principal secretary of state , and your self are my only patrons : but i have not been unmindful of my duty in this particular , only i delayed , that what i sent you might not be altogether inconsiderable . i hoped still that we might have some clear weather when the sun came near our zenith , that so i might give you an account that i had near hand finished the catalogue of the southern stars , which is my principal concern ; but such hath been my ill fortune , that the horizon of this island is almost always covered with a cloud , which sometimes for some weeks together hath hid the stars from us , and when it is clear , is of so small continuance , that we cannot take any number of observations at once ; so that now , when i expected to be returning , i have not finished above half my intended work ; and almost despair to accomplish what you ought to expect from me . i will yet try two or three months more , and if it continue in the same constitution , i shall then , i hope be excusable if in that time i cannot make an end . however it will be a great grief to be so far frustrated in my first undertaking : i have notwithstanding had the opportunity of observing the ingress and egress of ☿ on the ☉ , which compared with the like observations made in england , will give a demonstration of the suns parallax , which hitherto was never proved , but by probable arguments . likewise i have seen those two eclipses , one of the sun , the other of the moon in may last , both which i send you , but the mighty winds , and extraordinary swift motion of the clouds hindred the exactness of the observations . that of the moon may help for the difference of our meridians , which is about degrees to the westwards of london : but it may more curiously be found by mercury sub sole . there are three stars of the first magnitude that never appear in england , but none near the south pole of any brightness , except one of the third magnitude , which is about ten degrees distant from it . the two nubeculae called by the saylors the magellanick clouds , are both of them exactly like the whiteness of the milky way lying within the antartick circle ; they are small , and in the moon shine , scarce perceptible ; yet in the dark the bigger is very notable . i need not relate unto you the temperature of the weather for heat and cold here in the torrid zone , you your self having long since had experience of a latitude little different : only this i shall certifie you , that ever since i came to this island , we have had no weather that is hotter than the summer of england is ordinarily . mr. clark is a person wonderfully assistant to me , in whose company all the good fortune i have had this voyage consisteth , to me all other things having been cross : nevertheless i despair not of his honors and your worships favour , which alone is sufficient to encourage me to bear with patience these disappointments , and expect some fitter opportunity . i am your worships most obliged servant , and true honorer , edmund halley . st. helenae , latitudo australis , . . anno . octobris . die ☉ mane ☿ apparuit intra ☉ . h. m. s.   pars aliqua corporis ☿ ii intrasset solem decem gradus à nadir ad dextram circiter . formabat angulum contactus totus ☿ scilicet . intus limbus ☿ ii proximus dissiti à limbo solis sui diametro . limbus ☿ ii tetigit limbum ☉ . centrum ☿ exiit è sole grad . circiter à nadir ad dextram . ☉ limbus integer factus . longitudo & latitudo trium stellarum illustrium prope polum austrinum .   long. latit . canopus ♋ centauri pes ♏ alcarnar . ♓ / . the period of the revolution of jupiter upon it axis ; verified by new observations made by monsieur cassini : extracted out of the journal de scavans . the globe of jupiter , whose revolution about its axis was determined by the observations of monsieur cassini , in the year . to be hours , and minutes , is as it were a watch for visibly pointing the hours and minutes to half the earth at once ; so that it shews the same time to all under the same meridian , and a different time to different meridians , according as they differ in longitude . it hath for an index of its motion one principal spot , which is very neatly distinguished from the rest of its surface , and seems from its figure and situation to have some resemblance to the caspian sea of the terraqueous globe . by the help of good glasses it may be seen passing the under hemisphere of it , from the east to the west , with a velocity so sensible , that one may determine to one or two minutes , the time that it comes to the middle of the disc , which is the place the most fit for establishing of the epochas , and for finding the difference of longitude . there may be a great number of such revolutions observed , since in one year of days there are made revolutions . but it doth not appear in every year , but as if it were some kind of marish which is dried at certain times , and so disappears during two or revolutions ; and after it hath remained thus imperceptible for some years , it returns again to its former state . after it had been observed the last six months of the year . and some months of . it became invisible till the beginning of the year . then being returned to its former appearance , monsieur cassini compared the intervals of the six years , and limited the revolution to be made in hours , minutes , seconds ; and continuing his observations to the end of the year . he found by these two years that it was too slow by two seconds and a half : so that it appeared to be in hours , minutes , ½ seconds . this spot hath been invisible in . and . during which space there happened other very considerable changes in the body of jupiter ; for the clear interstice which was between the two dark belts of jupiter was separated into many little parts , in the manner like so many islands ; as if the two obscure belts had been two great rivers broken one into the other , and had left these parts which appeared like islands , which yet were at last all effaced , and the two dark belts , and the interjacent space at length all coalesced into one large belt . but after the coming of jupiter out of the rays of the sun in the year . the belts again took their form , and situation which they had heretofore ; to wit , the same which is described in the figure . the principal spot appeared anew after the beginning of july last . monsieur cassini found this spot in the middle of jupiter the night after the eighth of the said month , at minutes after one at night ; and hath hitherto ever since observed it at the hours proper to its revolution . having compared many observations of this year with as many others made the same days of the year . for avoiding the scruples which may arise from the inequality of times , he hath found by the intervals of twelve years that those revolutions compared the one with the other , complete themselves in hours , minutes , seconds , and or thirds . and because that in the years , . they appeared more slow by seconds and a half , during the time that jupiter was in its greatest elevation from the sun. monsieur cassini inclines to suppose that these revolutions have some little inequality depending on the variation of the distance of ♃ from the ☉ , and that they are a little slower when ♃ is more removed , and somewhat faster when nearer approached that body ; the same which several great astronomers have supposed to happen to the diurnal revolutions of the earth in the copernican hypothesis . in this account he hath separated the inequality which doth result from the variation of the two equations of jupiter ( as he hath explained in divers letters in . ) the which may amount to one half hour , besides the inequality of natural days , which according to his hypothesis may amount to minutes . for the finding then of the return of the principal spot to the middle of ♃ for many years to half an hour or thereabout , there needs nothing but adding still the time of the period to the epoche of the . of july , . and for the finding precisely , even to some minutes , the two inequalities of jupiter must be observed according to the following rule . differentiam inter medium locum jovis & appar●ntem converte in tempus dando singulis gradibus min. . hoc tempus adde tempori restitutionis maculae supputato , si locus apparens jovis excesserit medium : subtrahe vero si defecerit à medio . we have then the mean time of the return of the spot , and to get the apparent time the , equation of days according to the method of monsieur cassini ( of which a table is inserted in the ephemerides of monsieur flaminio de mezzavachi ) must be made use of . microscopivm : or , some new discoveries made with and concerning microscopes . a letter of the ingenious and inquisitive mr. leeuwenhoeck of delft , sent to the secretary fo the royal society , october . . in this letter after the relation of many curious observations made with his microscope , he adds , by some of my former letters i have related what an innumerable company of little animalcules , i have discovered in waters ; of the truth of which affirmations , that i might satisfie the illustrious philosophers of your society , i have here sent the testimonials of eight credible persons ; some of which affirm they have seen , others , others little living creatures , in a quantity of water as big as a grain of millet ( of which go to the making up the bigness of a green pea , or the quanitty of a natural drop of water ) in the desiring of which testimonials i made it my request that they would only justifie ( that they might be within compass ) half the number that they believed each of them saw in the water , and even so the number of those little creatures that would thereby be proved to be in one drop of water would be so great , that it would exceed belief . now whereas by my letter of the th . of october , . i affirmed that there were more than living creatures contained in one drop of pepper-water . i should not have varied from the truth of it , if i had asserted that there were ; for if according to some of the included testimonials there might be found in a quantity of water as big as a millet seed , no less than animalcules . it would follow that in an ordinary drop of this water there would be no less than living creatures , which number if doubled will make living creatures seen in the quantity of one drop of water , which quantity i can with truth affirm i have discerned . this exceeds belief . but i do affirm , that if a larger grain of sand were broken into of equal parts , one of these would not exceed the bigness of one of those little creatures ; which being understood , it will not seem so incredible to believe that there may be so great a number in the quantity of one drop of water . upon the perusal of this letter , being extremely desirous to examine this matter farther , and to be ascertained by ocular inspection as well as from testimonials . i put in order such remainders as i had of my former microscopes ( having by reason of a weakness in my sight omitted the use of them for many years ) and steeped some black pepper in river water , but examining that water about two or three days after , i could not by any means discover any of those little creatures mentioned in the aforesaid letter : though i had made use of small glass canes drawn hollow for that purpose , and of a microscope that i was certain would discover things much smaller than such as the aforesaid mr. leeuwenhoeck had affirmed these creatures to be ; but whether it were that the light was not convenient ( the reason of which i shall shew by and by ) having looked only against the clear sky , or that they were not yet generated , which i rather suppose , i could not discover any . i concluded therefore either that my microscope was not so good as that he made use of , or that the time of the year ( which was in november ) was not so fit for such generations , or else that there might be somewhat ascribed to the difference of places ; as that holland might be more proper for the production of such little creatures than england . i omitted therefore farther to look after them , for about five or six days , when finding it a warm day , i examined again the said water ; and then much to wonder i discovered vast multitudes of those exceeding small creatures , which mr. leeuwenhoeck had described ; and upon making use of other lights and glasses , as i shall by and by shew , i not only magnified those i had thus discovered to a very great bigness , but i discovered many other sorts very much smaller than those i first saw , and some of these so exceeding small , that millions of millions might be contained in one drop of water . i was very much surprized at this so wonderful a spectacle , having never seen any living creature comparable to these for smallness : nor could i indeed imagine that nature had afforded instances of so exceedingly minute animal productions . but nature is not to be limited by our narrow apprehensions ; future improvements of glasses may yet further enlighten our understanding , and ocular inspection may demonstrate that which as yet we may think too extravagant either to feign or suppose . of this , a later discovery of mr. leeuwenhoeck does seem to give good probabilities ; for by a letter of his since sent ( the which is hereunto annexed ) it appears he hath discovered a certain sort of eels in pepper-water , which are not in breadth above one thousandth part of the breadth of a hair ; and not above a hundredth part of the length of a vinegar eel . mr. leeuwenhoecks second letter . sir , yours of the thirtieth of november i received not till january , whereby understanding the kind reception of my former by the r.s. i here return my acknowledgment to that illustrious company for their great civility : but i wonder that in your letter i find no mention made of my observations of the second of december , st. no. which makes me doubt whether the same came to your hands . since you assure me that what i send of this nature will be acceptable to the renowned society , i have adventured again to send you some of my farther enquiries , to be communicated to that learned philosophical company . since i wrote of the blood of eels , and of young eels , i have not been idle to view blood , but especially my own , which for some time i have indefatigably examined , after that i had put it into all conceivable motions . among which observations i well saw that the globuli of my own blood took the same figure which i formerly mentioned , that the globules of the blood of eels appeared of to the eye : upon seeing which i doubted again at the cause of the smart which the blood of the eels causes in the eye . these my many times repeated observations of my own blood i made to no other end , than if it were possible , to observe the parts out of which the globules of the blood consisted : with observing this , i found the globulous blood much more pliable than i did imagine the same before . i have at several times bended these globules before my eyes , that they were three times as long as broad , without breaking the vesicule of them : and besides i saw that the globules of blood in passing by and through one another , did by reason of their pliableness receive many sorts of figures , and coming thence into a larger place , they recovered their former globulosity which was a very great pleasure to observe : and withal , that the globules of blood coming many together , and growing cold thereby , came to unite , and made a matter very smooth , wherein there were no more parts distinct to be taken notice of , much after the same manner as if we supposed a dish filled with balls of wax set over a fire , by which they would quickly be melted together , and united into one mass ; by which uniting of the globules , i concluded this to be the reason of the accident which is called the cold fire , and of that also which causes the hands or fingers to be lost by cold : but i leave this to others . and i did very clearly also discover that there were six other smaller globules of blood contained within each of the former and larger globulous vesicles : and withal , i took much pains to observe the number of the same very small globules , out of which the greater globules do consist : that at last i strongly imagined , that every of the greater globules consisted of six smaller globules , no less pliable than the aforesaid : for oftentimes i saw very clearly how the small globules joyned and adapted themselves according to the figure the vesicle or larger globule stretched at length had taken , being themselves stretched after the same manner : and thus made one of the larger globules stretcht out , to appear by the lesser within it stretched also with it , as if it consisted of long threads . moreover , i put the greater globules into so violent a motion , that their vesicles burst in pieces , and then the lesser globules appeared plainly to be scattered . this first globule i can see as plainly and great , as with the naked eye one should look upon the eggs or spawn of a cod-fish . about nine or ten years since dr. graff opened in my presence the vein of a dog , and let out so much blood that the dog grew faint ; then he opened the artery of another dog , and by a pipe transfused the blood of this second into the first , whereby the first was recovered , the second was faint . then the said doctor injected back into the artery of the second , a quantity of cows milk , supposing thereby to preserve the second dog alive , saying , milk was blood : but no sooner was the milk put into the artery , but the dog died . and whereas 't is commonly said that milk is blood , therefore i shall relate of what parts the milk consists , so far as i have hitherto discovered . i have said heretofore that the milk doth consist of globules swimming in a thin clear watery matter which we call whey : but as the great globuli of blood are all of the same bigness , so in the milk they are quite differing , being of as many sizes and magnitudes as we can imagine , between the smallest sand , and a barely corn ; all of them being as clear as crystal ; save only that through and between the same drive some irregular particles for the most part rounded : these had a fatty substance , which i imagined to be the latter : their irregularity i imagined came from the impression of the encompassing globules made on them , in which posture they grew cold . viewing the aforesaid differences of the milk globules , i supposed that the milk vessels have no other parts included but the matter out of which they are all made ; and that the same matter , so long as included in the vessels , consisted of one uniform matter , so that one could not distinguish parts ; and that the same vessels discharging this uniform matter into other vessels , containing a substance of a quite differing nature , which i suppose to be the whey , comes to be separated into these globules of so differing magnitudes . this may be represented by having two vessels filled , the one with fat , representing whey ; the other with quicksilver , resembling the uniform matter of the milk : these blended together , the quicksilver will be separated into small globules of differing magnitudes , and kept distinct by the fat . or further , it may be explained by a dissolution of some gums in spirit of wine , a drop of which being put into rain water ( which i compare to whey ) the gum becomes separated immediately into an incredible number of small clear globules , which makes it appear also as white as milk it self : and thence i suppose that the whiteness of milk hath the same cause . i have been often minded by some , that flesh was nothing else but clodded blood ; yet for all my endeavours i was never able to find the first particles of blood in the fibers of the flesh , but only such as are contained in the first globules . the last summer being sickly for some weeks , i voided much flegm , which was green , tough , and acid in the throat , which yet continues ; but nothing near so much as before : and some of it which i voided in the morning was of so heavy a matter , that it sunk in the water : the ponderosity of it i found to proceed from its not being filled with airy bubbles , which most flegms are mixed with . by this means i observed my flegm very often , and found it to consist of tough slimy moisture , mixt with many globules ; and the tougher the flegm was , the greater was the quantity of globules ; and from them also proceeded the green colour of it . all these globules were of one and the same bigness with the first globules of the blood ; and indeed the blood is of the same make , but only of a different colour : for as i observed the greater blood globules to consist of six lesser , so here i could see them more plain ; only they seemed more slender and tender than in the blood : the reason whereof i suppose to be that the vesicules of the flegm globules had already received some kind of corruption : besides , there was mixt with the tough part of the flegm great quantity of very thin cuticles : and in the same manner as i have heretofore explained how our cuticle is supplied underneath , as the upper part is rubbed off in scurf , so i suppose the inner cuticles of the gullet aspera arteria , and other vessels are taken off by the flegm . there drove also , through the flegm some other particles , which from their smallness i could not assign them a figure , but i conceived them rather cubical than round . i did last summer shut up some caterpillers to spin webs , and within these few days i broke some of these webs , when from each of them came out a flie , which from the cold were very weak , and were unable to stand ; by which i conceive that those which came not out in the latter part of the year , remain the whole winter in their webs , till the warmth makes them come out . i was pleased to understand that your self and the society had seen in so small a quantiy of water as a sand , so great a number of creatures ; as also , that i shall be partaker of what you shall observe , which i shall with longing desire expect . i cannot but mention that that small sort of creature which i heretofore could give no description of , i now see their figure . and for the pleasure i take in the various pleasing shapes , with their motions , which do now and then appear in the water , i have the fourth of this month , when it froze hard , taken a third part of beaten pepper , and / of high rain water in a clean glass , which i set the first night in my bed-chamber ; the next day , the weather being milder , i set it in my counting-house , and in three times hours discovered so great a number , and so unexpressible small creatures , that 't is hard to be conceived ; and according to my judgment , the most of them were much less than a thousandth part of the thickness of the hair of ones head , and three or four times as long as thick ; the which made , with the hinder part of their body , oft-times so swift a progress , as when we observe a pike shooting through the water , and every shoot was in length most times about half a hairs breadth ; the other sorts or kind of which were yet smaller , whose shape for brevity i omit ; only i shall say , that oft-times times in pepper-water which hath stood somewhat long , among the very small creatures , i have seen a sort of small eels which had their shapes and motions as perfect as great ones : these were to my appearance a thousand times thinner than the hair of ones head , and that if of these small eels were laid in length one behind another , the whole length would not extend to the length of the eel in vinegar : whether you have also observed these small creatures with your microscope , i shall be glad to understand . i would willingly also be informed whether my letter of the second of december mention'd above be come to your hands , and how those observations do please the gentlemen of your society ; and also to understand the receipt of this . the manner how the said mr. leeuwenhoeck doth make these discoveries , he doth as yet not think fit to impart , for reasons best known to himself ; and therefore i am not able to acquaint you with what it is : but as to the ways i have made use of , i here freely discover that all such persons as have a desire to make any enquiries into nature this way , may be the better inabled so to do . first , for the manner of holding the liquor , so as to examine it by the microscope , i find that the way prescribed by mr. leeuwenhoeck is to include the same in a very fine pipe of glass , and then to view it by the help of the microscope ; for by placing that at a due distance , whatever is contained in the said liquor will most easily be discovered : the liquor will most easily insinuate it self into the cavity of the said pipe , if the end thereof only be just put within the liquor . this as it is exceedingly convenient for many trials , so is it not very difficult to prepare ; but because every one is not instructed how to proceed in this matter , and it may cause him more trouble than needs to procure them , i will here describe the way ; and so much the rather , because the same apparatus will serve for the preparing of microscopes : as i shall afterwards shew . provide then a box made of tin , with a flat bottom , and upright on all sides ; let this have fixed within it to the bottom a small piece of tin , hollowed like a ridg tile , so that the wiek of the lamp may lie and rest upon it , and let the tin-man fix on it a cover of tin , so that there may be only left one part of the aforesaid box open , to wit , where the bent tin piece and the wiek do lie and come above the sides : this cover may be turned back on its hinges when there is occasion to raise the wiek , or put in more oyl , &c. but for the most part ought to lie flat and covered ; for whilst it is using , it is necessary to keep the flame from spreading too much , and taking fire all over . this box must stand within another box of tin , made large enough to contain it ; the use of which is to keep the former lamp box from fowling the board or table on which it stands : this stands upon a board about one foot square , into which is fastned a standard or stick upright , cleft so as to pinch and hold the sodering pipe between its clefts , which may be fastned with a screw , or a slipping ring ; through which pipe , blowing with your breath , the flame will be darted forward with great swiftness and brightness : if then into this flame you hold a small piece of a glass pipe , made of white glass , ( for green glass , or coarser glass will not be melted easily in this flame ) and keep it turning round between your fingers and thumbs , you shall find that the flame will in a very short time melt the middle part of the said pipe ; so that if you remove it out of the flame , and draw your hands one from another , you may easily draw the former pipe into a very small size , which will yet remain hollow , though drawn never so small . the best oyl for this purpose is good clean sallat oyl , or oyl olive ; but high rectified spirit of wine is yet better , and cleanlier , but much more chargeable ; and for most uses the oyl olive will serve . this i have set down , because many who are far off in the country cannot have the convenience of going to a lamp-blower as oft as they have occasion for such pipes ; which if they provide themselves with small white glass pipes from the potters , they may accommodate themselves withal , though they have nothing but a large candle , and a tobacco-pipe , instead of the aforesaid apparatus , though not altogether so conveniently . but i would rather advise them to have a lamp made , which most tin-men know how to fit and prepare ; and so it will not need much more description . but this way of mr. leeuwenhoecks , of holding the liquors in small glass pipes , though it be exceedingly ingenious , and very convenient for many examinations , yet for divers others 't is not so well accommodated as this which i contrived my self for my own trials , at least for those microscopes i make use of ; what it may be for those which mr. leeuwenhoeck uses i know not . i take then instead of a glass pipe a very thin plate of muscovy glass , this serves instead of the moveable plate which is usually put upon the pedestal of microscopes ; but because the common pedestal hitherto made use of in microscopes is generally not so convenient for trials of this nature , i lay those by , and instead thereof i fix into the bottom of the tube of the microscope , a cylindrical rod of brass or iron . upon this a little socket is made to slide to and fro ; and by means of a pretty stiff spring , will stand fast in any place . this hath fastned to it a joynted arm of three or four joynts , and at the end a plate about the bigness of a half crown , with a hole in the middle of it about three quarters of an inch wide ; upon this plate i lay the muscovy glass , and upon that i spread a very little of the liquor to be examined ; then looking against the flame of a candle , or a lamp , or a small reflection of the sun from a globular body ; all such parts of the liquor as have differing refraction will manifestly appear . by this means i examined the water in which i had steeped the pepper i formerly mentioned ; and as if i had been looking upon a sea , i saw infinite of small living creatures swimming and playing up and down in it , a thing indeed very wonderful to behold . if the flame of the candle were directly before the microscope , then all those little creatures appeared perfectly defin'd by a black line , and the bodies of them somewhat darker than the water ; but if the candle were removed a little out of the axis of vision , all those little creatures appeared like so many small pearls , or little bubbles of air , and the liquor in which they swimmed appeared dark ; but when the water began to dry off , the bending of the superficies of the liquor over their backs , and over the tops of other small motes which were in the water made a confused appearance , which some not used to these kind of examinations , took to be quite differing things from what they were really ; and the appearances here are so very strange , that to one not well accustomed to the phaenomena of fluids of differing figures and refractions , the examinations of substances this way will be very apt to mis-inform , rather than instruct him ; especially of such substances as are not perfectly fluid , and will not readily and naturally smooth their own superficies , such as tallow , concreted oyls , marrow , brains , fat , inspissated juyces , &c. for if those substances be so examined by spreading them upon this plate , and be looked upon against the candle , or other small defined light , all the inequalities left on the surface by the spreading do by the refractions of the rays of light render such odd appearances , that they will easily deceive the examinator , and make him to conceive that to be in the texture of the part which is really no where but in the make of the superficies of it . this therefore as another great inconvenience to be met with in microscopical observations , i prevent by these ensuing methods : first , all such bodies as fat , oyl , brains , rhobs , pus , tough concreted flegm , and the like , whose surfaces are irregular , and ought to be reduced to smoothness before they can be well examined , i order in this manner : first , i provide a very clear and thin piece of looking-glass plate very smooth and plain on both sides , and clean from foulness : upon the surface of this i lay some of those substances i last mentioned , then with such another piece of looking-glass plate laid upon the said substance i press it so thin as not only to make the surfaces of it very smooth , but also to make the substance of it very thin ; because otherwise , if the substance be pretty thick , as suppose as thick as a piece of venice paper , if it be a whitish substance , the multitudes of parts lying one upon another in such a thickness , do so confound the sight , that none of them all can be distinctly seen : but if by squeezing the said plates hard , and close together , it be reduced to a twentieth part perhaps of that thickness , the substance may be well looked through , and the constituent parts may be very plainly discovered . thus also 't is very visible in the globules of milk and blood , discovered by the ingenious mr. leeuwenhoeck , for when either of those substances are thick , the multitude of those little globules confound and thicken the liquor so as one cannot perceive any thing until it be run very thin ; for then all the remaining globules with their motions may very distinctly be apprehended . this therefore is an expedient by which thousands of substances may be examined ; and therefore the more fit to be communicated , that there may be the greater number of observers well accommodated for such trials . these plates therefore may be contrived so as to be pinched together by the help of screws , and a frame , that thereby they may be forced the closer and the evener together , as there shall be occasion ; and may be kept firm and steady in that posture , and then , that it may some ways or other be conveniently fastned to the former plate , so as to be moved this way or that way steadily , as there shall be occasion . but there are other substances which none of these ways i have yet mentioned will examine , and those are such parts of animal or vegetable bodies as have a peculiar form , figure , or shape , out of which if it be put , the principal thing looked after is destroyed : such are the nerves , muscles , tendons , ligaments , membranes , glandules , parenchymas , &c. of the body of animals , and the pulps , piths , woods , barks , leaves , flowers , &c. of vegetables . some of these which are not made by dissection or separation from other parts may be viewed alone ; but there are others which cannot be well examined unless they be made to swim in a liquor proper and convenient for them : as for instance , the parts of flesh , muscles and tendons : for if you view the fibres of a muscle encompassed only with the air , you cannot discover the small parts out of which it is made : but if the same be put into a liquor , as water , or very clear oyl , you may clearly see such a fabrick as is truly very admirable , and such as none hitherto hath discovered that ever i could meet with ; of which more hereafter , when i shew the true mechanical fabrick thereof , and what causes its motion . thus if you view a thred of a ligament , you shall plainly see it to be made up of an infinite company of exceeding small threads smooth and round , lying close together ; each of which threads is not above a four hundredth part of the bigness of a hair : for comparing those of beef with a hair of my head , which was very fine and small , viz. about a . part of an inch , i found the diameter thereof to be more than twenty times the diameter of these threads ; so that no less than millions , besides thousands of these must be in a ligament one inch square . i shall not here enlarge upon the admirable contrivance of nature in this particular , nor say any thing farther of the reason of the greater strength of the same substance drawn into smaller than into greater threads ; but only this in general , that the mechanical operations of these minute bodies are quite differing from those of bodies of greater bulk , and the want of considering this one thing hath been the cause of very great absurdities in the hypotheses of some of our more eminent modern philosophers : for he that imagines the actions of these lesser bodies the same with those of the larger and tractable bodies , will indeed make but aristotles wooden hand at best . this put me in mind likewise of advertising the experimenter that he provide himself with instruments , by which , to stretch and pull in pieces any substance whilst the same is yet in view of the microscope , of which there may be many which any one will easily contrive , when he hath this hint given him of the usefulness thereof in the examination of the texture of several substances ; as of tendons , nerves , muscles , &c. those i have made use of were made to open like a pair of tobacco tongues , by two angular plates of thin brass rivetted together , which by pinching the opposite end , would either open or shut at the other , as i had occasion . these having a part extended between the two tops , were fixt at a due distance from the object-glass that the body extended between them might be distinctly seen ; then with my finger squeezing together the opposite ends , the other ends opened , by which means how the parts stretched and shrunk might be plainly discovered . now as this is of use for some kind of substances , so the two glass plates are for others , and particularly for squeezing of several substances between them , so as to break them in pieces , as those little creatures in pepper-water , or the globules in blood , milk , flegm , &c. whereby the parts within them may yet farther be enquired into , as mr. leeuwenhoeck i find hath done by his latest observations . whether he makes use of this way , or some other , i know not . having thus given a description of the appurtenances , it remains that i come to the description of the microscope it self , which is the principal instrument , and without which all the rest are insignificant . the microscopes then i design here to describe , are only of two kinds , either single or double . the single microscope i call that which consisteth only of one glass , though it have a double refracting superficies ; and the double one i call that which is compounded of two glasses , though it hath for the most part a quadruple refraction of the rays . the single microscope then consisteth of one small lens so fastened into a cell , that the eye may come conveniently to look through the middle part or axis of it ; of these there are various sorts , as double convexes , or plain convexes , or perfectly spherical . i shall not need to describe the common lenses which are every where made use of for this purpose , being plano-convexes of spheres about half an inch diameter , save only this , that 't is best to turn the plain side towards the object , and the convex to the eye : nor shall i say much concerning those double convex glasses , there being no great difficulty in the making or using of them ; but that the smaller the sphere is in which they are made , the nearer do they bring the object to the eye ; and consequently the more is the object magnified , and the better and truer they are polisht in the tool , the more clear and distinct doth the object appear , but to make any of a sphere less than / of an inch in diameter is exceeding difficult , by reason that the glass becomes too small to be tractable ; and 't is very difficult to find a cement that will hold it fast whilst it be completed ; and when 't is polisht , 't is exceeding difficult to handle and put into its cell : besides , i have found the use of them offensive to my eye , and to have much strained and weakened the sight , which was the reason why i omitted to make use of them , though in truth they do make the object appear much more clear and distinct , and magnifie as much as the double microscopes : nay , to those whose eyes can well endure it , 't is possible with a single microscope to make discoveries much better than with a double one , because the colours which do much disturb the clear vision in double microscopes is clearly avoided and prevented in the single . the single microscope therefore which i shall here describe , as it is exceeding easie to make , so is it much more tractable than the double convex glasses made the common way by working them in a hollow hemisphere with water and sand ; for those , supposing them made with all the accurateness imaginable , will be far short from being so well polisht as these ; and wanting the stem or handle which these have , they are infinitely troublesome to remove , or place , or to cleanse when there shall be occasion . take then a small rod of the clearest and cleanest glass you can procure , free if possible from blebbs , sands , or veins ; then by melting it in the flame of a lamp made with spirit of wine , or the cleanest and purest sallet oyl , draw it out into exceeding fine and small threads ; then take a small piece of these threads , and in the same flame of the aforesaid lamp melt the end of it , till you perceive it to run into a little ball or globule of the bigness desired ; then suffer it to cool , and handling it by the aforesaid thread of glass , which is as it were a handle to it , fix it with a little wax upon the side of a thin plate of brass , silver , or the like , that the middle of it may lie directly over the middle of a small hole pricked through the said thin plate with a needle : then holding this plate close to the eye , look through the said little hole , and thereby you may also see very clearly through the aforesaid globule , fixed with wax on the side that is from the eye : if then either by a little joynted arm , or by a little soft wax , and a needle , or a thin plate of muscovy glass , you fix the object you would examine ; so that it may be at a due distance from the said little globule , you will perceive the minute parts thereof very distinct . the focus of a sphere looked on by the naked eye , is about half the radius of the sphere , without the superficies of it ; but this is varied much by the age of the eye that looks through it , by the imagination also of the person , and by the differing specifique refraction of the glass made use of . by this means i have prodigiously magnified some small bodies , insomuch that i have been able to see and distinguish the particles of bodies , not only a million of times smaller than a visible point , but even to make those visible , whereof a million of millions of them would hardly make the bulk of the smallest visible sand ; so prodigiously do these exceeding the little globules of glass inlarge the prospect of humane sight into the more private recesses of nature . if the things to be viewed be liquors , they may be included either in those little pipes of mr leeuwenhoeck i newly mentioned , or else they may be put upon exceeding thin plates of muscovy glass or selenites , and the other side of the plate may be made to touch the globule , or at least be fixed at such distance , as may make the parts of the liquor distinct : if you make use of a looking-glass plate to spread the liquor upon you would examine , you may turn the liquor towards the globule , and you may therein easily see all the parts very distinctly , without at all hurting the prospect by the interposition of the muscovy glass ; which though it be exceeding clear , especially if the plates be very thin , yet hath it some flaws , and some opacousnesses in it , which do somewhat cloud the prospect . if further , you would have a microscope with one single refraction , and consequently capable of the greatest clearness and brightness that any one kind of microscopes can possibly be imagined susceptible of , when you have fixt one of these little globules as i have directed , and spread a little of the liquor upon a piece of looking-glass plate , then apply the said plate with the liquor , next to the globule , and gently move it close to the globule , till the liquor touch ; which done , you will find the liquor presently to adhere to the globule , and still to adhere to it though you move it back again a little ; by which means , this liquor being of a specifique refraction , not much differing from glass , the second refraction is quite taken off , and little or none left but that of the convex side of the globule next the eye ; by which means as much of the inconvenience of refraction as is possible is removed , and that by the easiest and most practicable expedient that can be desired . i could add various other ways of making these globular bodies both of glass and other substances which will yet farther advance our prospect into nature , and are pleasant to admiration ; but those i shall yet reserve till i see what effects the publishing of these may produce , and to the end to excite other persons to be inquisitive into this matter : for let me assure them , very much more may yet be done by a way i know , than by this i have here published . and i confess i have very often wondered that no farther improvement had been made of this principle , since i publisht it in the year . in the . page of my preface to micrographia : for though some other reasons discouraged me from prosecuting those enquiries , yet i hoped that others might long before this have carried it much farther . the only inconvenience in these kinds of microscopes , is , that the object is necessarily brought so near the glass , that none but such as are transparent , and to be viewed by a through light are capable of examination by them : such therefore are to be examined by the double microscope ; which , as it is abundantly more tractable , so doth it much less strain the eye ; and from the easiness of its use , when well fitted , is much more pleasant : and if ordered as it ought , will magnifie as much more than the common ones hitherto made , as those did more than the naked eye . both these microscopes i have directed mr. christopher cock , in long-acre , how to prepare , that such as will not trouble themselves in the making of them , may know where to be accommodated with such as are good . and of the improvement of this kind of microscope , i see no limits , especially as to the augmenting the visible appearance of such objects as are capable of enduring the increase of light ; for since 't is demonstrable that light may be augmented upon any one object susceptible to any given degree , and that by the double microscope the image can be augmented to any assigned magnitude , what but the difficulty of making all things correspondent should limit the power of such an instrument . now the making of this double microscope , though it be somewhat more difficult than of the single one , yet the tractableness thereof when well fitted , and its easiness to be cleansed , and applied to use , makes amends for the extraordinary charge , especially the situation of the object ; which being capable of any reasonable distance from the object glass , so as to be fit for examination , makes it very desirable . now as in all other mechanical contrivances , that is best which is plainest , and most simple : so is it in this , wherein nothing more is required , but two plano convex glasses , the one for the object-glass , and the other for the eye-glass : the less the spheres of the glasses be , the more do they magnifie the object ; and the thinner and clearer the substance of them be , and the more exactly shaped , and the brighter they are polisht , the clearer do they represent it ; and the longer the glasses are distant from each other , the more is the image magnified , caeteris paribus , though indeed the same thing is performed by glasses of very differing magnitudes , due proportions of all things about it being kept and observed . for if as the distance of one object from the object-glass is to the distance of another object from another object-glass , so the distance of the first image be to the distance of the second image , the image in both must be equal : if therefore this image be viewed with equal glasses the image must be equally magnified at the bottom of the eye ; so that in this way the object is capable of a double way of augmenting , viz. first , the augmenting the figure in the tube , by the smallness of the object-glass , and length of the tube : and secondly , by the augmenting that image in the bottom of the eye , and that is by the eye-glass ; give therefore light enough to the object , and you may increase the image at the bottom of the eye to what proportion you shall desire . and by a way i shall shortly shew , the objects may be perceived distinct , defined , and colourless , as if seen by the naked eye . in all these ways the manner of applying the light is very significant , and provided it be very strong , the smaller the point be it proceedeth from , the more distinctly doth it exhibit the difference of refraction in the transparent bodies viewed by it , and the plainer will their parts be discovered : the light therefore of the sun either reflected from a spherical convex body , or spherical concave body , the object being placed beyond the focus , or refracted through a concave or through a convex , if the object be placed beyond the focus , do exceedingly well . but these with the help of a dark room do yet better , the object being placed in a table against the light , and all other light screen'd from the eye by the dark room . much the same thing is done by the light of a lamp or candle in the night , which is indeed the most convenient light , where colour is not so much looked after . whilest this discourse was printing i casually met with a treatise of p. cherubine , printed at paris , . entituled , lavision perfaite , ou les concours des deux axes de la vision en un sceul point de l' object ; wherein the author pretends amongst other things to have promoted microscopes extreamly by so joyning two together , as through them to see the same object distinct with both the eyes at once , and to see a large object all at one view , by which he affirms to have discovered some mistakes and untruths in some of those figures i have formerly published in my micrography . but if he had pleased to have read the description as well as looked on the figure , he might have been better informed than by his preface he would seem to be . i deny not but that there are many failures in some of those draughts , some of my own and some of the gravers committing . humanum est . but those which he charges for such are not , as he might have seen if he had made use of better glasses than those which he describes , for they are so far short of equalling those i use , that i can demonstrate from his own description of them , that those i made use of did magnifie times more than that with which he pretends to have made these great discoveries . nor is it any thing more than common to see as large an area as he mentions , with a glass that magnifies no more than his doth . but i could have shewed him how he might see the whole creature at once , and yet much more magnifie than that which i have described , nay though the creature were twice as big , and that with one eye only , which is much to be preferred before that with two . however i should be very glad to hear what discoveries he doth make with his binocular microscope more than was seen before . as also that he would please to demonstrate the truth of parallelogram prescribed for certain uses , pag. of dioptrique oculaire , and in the fourth chapter of the fourth part of this book . but to digress no farther from what i was describing . i must add that with both these kinds of microscopes have i examined several substances ; as particularly the steepings of several grains and seeds in rain-water . and though i have not yet found any one tincture more prolific than this of pepper ; yet 't is not the only tincture in which they do both breed and increase . i have seen several sorts in the steeping of wheat , barly , oats , coffee , anniseeds , pease , &c. some not above a third part of a hair in thickness ; others not above the twentieth part of the breadth of a hair , and some not more than a thirtieth part of that breadth ; so that no less than of these least must go to make an area as big as that of an hair cut transversly , and to make a cylinder as big as the hair of ones head , and of equal height with the diameter of that hair , which one may just call a visible point , and no more ; few eyes seeing things distinctly much smaller : now the diameter of a hair of my head being by examination found but the part of an inch , it follows that no less than or to use a round summ about of them may lie in the length of an inch , and consequently , that a circle an inch diameter will be to the area of one of these cut transversly as to . four hundred millions to and a cylinder one inch diameter , and one inch high , will be to one of these mites , as to one , eight millions of millions to one . if therefore we compare the magnitude of one of these animals to the magnitude of other creatures living in the water , we shall find that these will be found much smaller in comparison to the body of an ordinary whale , than the body of the same whale will be to the body of the whole earth ; which may prove an argument for an anima mundi perhaps to some . but let every one make his own inferences , and believe his own eyes , for they will make the best impression on his reason and belief . now if the creature be so exceeding small , what must we think of the muscles , joynts , bones , shells , &c. certain it is , that the mechanism by which nature performs the muscular motion is exceedingly small and curious , and to the performance of every muscular motion in greater animals at least , there are not fewer distinct parts concerned than many millions of millions , and these visible , as i shall hereafter shew through a microscope ; and those that conceive in the body of a muscle , little more curiosity of mechanism than in a rope of the same bigness , have a very rude and false notion of it ; and no wonder if they have recourse to spirits to make out the phaenomena : but of this hereafter more . further , i have examined the constitution of blood , milk , flegm , &c. and found them much the same with what mr. leeuwenhock has declared . a little fat laid upon the glass plate whilst warm , melts , and becomes transparent , but observed in a convenient posture against the light of a candle , &c. till it congeals , and shrinks , make a pleasant fluid , and shews how considerably a fluid and solid body do vary , and may give us a good hint to conjecture at the reason of the swelling and greater lightness of ice than of water . the first beginnings also of the shooting or crystallising of sugar into rectangular parallelipipeds , alum , salt , vitriol , &c. are strangely surprizing and instructive , i could enumerate multitudes of these . but ( that i may not detain the reader toolong in the perusal of these anatomical descriptions of the minute and invisible parts of animal substances ) to ease both his eyes and imagination i shall proceed to acquaint him with some anatomical observations more sensible , and which do seem more nearly to concern us . and those are contained in the ensuing discourse , being a relation communicated to me in a letter by that ingenious and experienced chirurgion mr. james young of plimouth , in the beginning of january last , of the fatal symptoms caused by a bullet swallowed into the lungs . sir , in the beginning of april , . one mr. anthony williamson of liscard in cornwal , aged about years , of a brisk , firm habit , became ( after a too liberal drinking of cyder ) afflicted with the colick , of which in four days he cured himself , by swallowing two musket bullets , and receiving some carminative clysters . on the . of the same month , his pain returning somewhat smarter than before , he attempted to swallow three pistol shot , and supposing it the easiest way , he lay on his back , and threw them all at once into his throat ; where they choaking , had almost strangled him ; constraining him to vomit , &c. when they were past down , he became seized immediately with a violent cough , wheasing , pain in the left side of his breast , a great noise in respiration , more especially after a fit of coughing for then his breast would hiss , like the sucking of a pump , when the air descends through the boxes . these accidents so suddenly occurring , without any manifest cause , did much surprize him , and the more , because he was naturally of a sound breast ; the colick was cured by clysters , potions of manna , ol . amyg . d. &c. and two of the shot were soon ejected , ex ano , and maugre the other accidents , he became indifferently well , and able to walk about house . five or six weeks after this , those symptoms became more fierce , depaupering his spirits , prostrating his appetite , disquieting his sleep with dreams , a dyspnoea , and rutling violent cough ; a straitness and load in his breast kept him in bed , extenuated his body ( which without help of milk clysters , was costive ) he frequently fainted with sweats , and a tickling sleepiness in both legs . under the tyranny of this legion of symptoms , our western apollo , dr. bidgood of exeter was consulted , who affirmed them all to be caused by the remaining bullet , which passing through the larynx , was fallen into one of the branches of the trachea , where it would abide , in despight of any endeavours to eject it : yet to alleviate the violence of the accidents , he directed to the use of emollient eclegma's , temperate cordials , &c. by help of which , and some other propitious circumstances , he not only recovered his legs , becoming able to walk , and ride a small journey , but also consummated marriage with a young woman of — who afterward brought him two children , whereof one is now alive , and very lusty ; and was seven months gone with a third , when he died : the more wonderful if the woman were just to him ( of which there appeareth no reason to doubt ) because a very little motion would so increase his difficulty of breathing , as to make him faint . after matrimony he had divers lucid intervals , at times would be very brisk , and at others very languid , and faint , like a dying man : he continually expectorated , sometimes grumous coagulated blood , otherwhiles very recent ; now purulent foetid matter , then laudable pus . his natural aversion to medicine caused him to reject what was advised by dr. bidgood , dr. lower , dr. sprage , &c. saving a few of the more slight mixtures : and although sack had been formerly very familiar to him , he was now forced to shun it , and all strong drinks , because they would infallibly produce a cardialgia , a pulsant throbbing of the heart , and labouring in his breast : the first of these perhaps proceeded from his constitution , which inclined to choler ; but the latter undoubtedly , from the effervescency , and warm motion , to which it enforced the blood , which the obstruction and pressure the bullet occasioned in the pneumatick organs , could not peaceably admit of : wherefore he resolutely fixed to small drink , and shunned , as much as possible , all evitable exercise , saving that of his hands , which he frequently employed in making net-work . in the year . he applied himself to our ingenious and learned country-man , dr mayow of bath , who agreed with dr. bidgood , that the remaining bullet lodging in the lungs , was the occasion of all those ill symptomes under which he laboured ; but seemed to dissent from his presage , by hoping he might expectorate it : to atchieve which , he directed to have the body suspended head downwards , and fumes of storax , benjamin , &c. to induce expulsive coughing , together with concussions of the body , and all preceded with an opening course , to relax , and dilate the vessels of the breast ; all which were used to no purpose , save to verifie dr. bidgoods prognostick , that no efflation , how violent soever , would be able to extrude it , and inhaunce the patients despair of being ever cured ; from which time he never attempted it : so that those symptomes before mentioned , continuing until the winter , and then gaining considerably on him , especially the haemoptysis , &c. he languished till the ninth of december last , and then died . the tenth ditto ( assisted by his son-in-law ) i opened the thorax , in presence of two other chirurgions of the place , together with divers persons of quality , whose curiosity led them to see the examination ; because the bullets being there , was so much doubted by many , and disputed as impossible by others . in the disfection the following particulars were observable , the body was extenuate and tabid , the right lobes of the lungs were replete , sound , and well coloured . the serum in the pericardium was almost all absumed , the heart strangely shrivelled and very small . under the pericardium ( the body being supine ) we found a lump of coagulated blood , as big as a pigeons egg ; near which lay also a substance , shaped like an obtuse headed muscle , having a tendon-like tail , which insinuated to the pendant lobe : its body was above an half inch thick . it s other dimensions and shape exactly like that of the figure x , of which a sheweth the head or upper end , b the tail , which in drawing out of the rotten lungs ( being also corrupted ) broke asunder . it s texture seemed fibrous , like that of the kidneys , being white one half way through , the rest of a dark red : it was very soft and plum , having a firm smooth tegument , and felt very much like a sheeps kidney . the left lobe of the lungs was cadaverous , and hollow , by an abscess which had discharged near a pint of very foetid and purulent matter , into that side of the trunk where it lay immured up , by the adhesion of the lungs on that side , to the pleura , which with the diaphragima , as far as the matter extended , was livid , and eroded . we examined this rotten part of the lungs , with what exactness and curiosity we were capable of , amidst such a crowd as were present ; and the more troublesome stench of the cadaver ; and found though the whole parenchyma were rotten , and no firmer than coagulated blood ( with which it had very near resemblance ) yet the branches of the trachea continued into it were uncorrupt , and sound ; nor in any of them could we find what we very confidently presumed to be there , viz. the bullet . wherefore i resolved to seek it the way by which it must have entred ; and accordingly dividing the trachea at its insertion to the lungs , i thrust in a bended probe to the left branch , and there felt him , lying loose about two inches within it , which with my fingers i easily expressed at the divided end of the pipe : to do which , i laid it bare so far as where the bullet had lodged ; and i protest , to my wonder , i found it not any way injured , or altered , by hardness , erosion , &c. though the bullet had divers impressions from the later . the sanguiferous vessels , though lacerated , and cut in the dissection , did yield little or no blood , either fluid or coagulate . thus far is true history , and matter of fact ; i must now beg your pardon , if i presume to give my sense , and apprehension of some of those phaenomena here related . the extenuation of the body , the absumption of the serum in the heart-bag , and the contraction of the heart , were the effects of the tabes ; and that occasioned by the bullets injuring the lungs , and pectoral vessels . the lump of coagulate blood found under the heart-bag was extravasate from the rotted veins , and arteries of the lungs . that strange substance lodged between the pericardium , and the bullet , was either a polypus , and the excrescence of some part , or it was generated by nature , and substituted for a cushion to defend the heart from injury , by so uneasie a neighbour . that polypuses have been found in the heart , is affirmed by nicolas tulpius , marcellus malpighius , g. garnarus , &c. but their shape and texture differing vastly from that of ours , giveth reason to believe this to be none ; especially considering that they all excrescing from the heart , or some carneous part , are inseparably united and radicated to their original , and are spungy ; whereas this was nothing less , having no root , nor so much as an adhesion any where , saving at the tail ; the small end of which , being rotted by the lungs , into which it continued , did easily divide upon my endeavour to draw it out : the body of it also lay loose in the aforesaid interstice , and as easily slipped out , as a wen , or a struma , when the containing parts are opened . it s substance was not fungous , but of a soft firmness , like a kidney ; and in what ever circumstances it may resemble a polypus , as it doth the figure of that of the nose , vide n. tulpii ob . med . lib. . obs . . yet it also differs from all other excrescences , besides , in what hath been mentioned , in that it was not rooted in any fleshy , bony , or muculous part ; and such the lungs are well known not to be : it must therefore be the stupendious effect of natures industry , and laid as a cushion to defend the heart , &c. it s composition being so delicately soft , and yet firm enough for such a purpose : its magnitude , situation , &c. concurring also to confirm this opinion concerning it ; besides which , i do almost remember , and believe ( though i cannot be positive ) that the pulsant pain he had so violently in his breast , toward the left side , decreased gradatim , from the time of the deglutition : if that be true , whatever the substance were , or its cause , its effects were very propitious , manifesting nature to be , not only a diligent supplier of her own defects , but as industrious to produce strange and unaccountable relief , in such emergencies as this before us : a resembling story we have from a pareus , lib. . cap. . the abscess was without doubt from a phlegmon of the lungs ; and because for the most part it was below , or beyond the bullet , it proceeded rather from its obstructing , and so stagnating the blood , and recrements in that lobe , than from extravasation . what occurred of the latter , was expectorated , or remained in such coagulums as that found under the heart . the cause of the bullets falling , rather into the left than the right ramus of the trachea , is obvious from the more supine and direct figure thereof , corresponding with the trunk , as the figure doth manifest : which consideration , together with the bullets being loose in the pipe , renders the unsuccessfulness of dr. mayow's attempt very wonderful : i am inclined to believe it was so , either for want of a more early trial , or a more skilful tryer , than him who was employed about it . the way was ingeniously contrived , and ( as the doctor himself told me ) had been successfully experienced in the like occasion . certainly , had not the distance of the doctors abode , and very important avocations , denied his personal assistance : or had any other person skilled in anatomy , &c. been substituted , the bullet from his own favourable shape , and more propitious gravity , and particularly from the strong efflations they provoked , together with the assistant posture of the body , would have been extruded . had they instead of hanging him perpendicular , made him incline a little to the right side , to have made the left ramus more prone ; and at the same time made him distend the pipes by sucking in as much breath as they could contain , their other means might have been effectual ; which i am induced to presume from the prosperous effects of the like attempt , and yet wanting many of their advantages ; i mean the reversion of a stone , when sticking , and not able , to pass through the urinary channels . let any physicians seriously perpend the difficulty of this , with the advantages for the former , and they will justifie my opinion . the erosion of the pleura , and diaphragme , was from the acidity of the matter , gnawing and corrupting them ; for though the trachea wonderfully escaped such impressions , the bullet discovered on its superficies , divers marks of erosion , which all acids produce with much facility , upon the saccharous or saline parts of lead ; as is to be seen by immersing it in vinegar . and now sir , to relieve your patience ( no less than my own ) perhaps already wearied with the prolixity of this narrative , give me leave to conclude , with suggesting , that i am of a belief ( having perused most of the publick accounts of this kind ) that scarcely a rarer accident , and accompanied with such stupendious circumstances , hath occurred to the present age than this : that an extraneous body , so large , so heavy , so hard , should slip down that difficult , and unusual way of the weason , and abide so long in the organs of respiration , in so aged a person , admitting after it such exercises , as he performed , riding , marriage , &c. that nature should so unaccountably provide such a pertinent sence against injuries accidentally accruing , and that even the smallest ramifications of the trachea , though immersed in such a cadaver , should be preserved from injury thereby . i am sure in the voluminous observations of schenckius , horstius , riverius , bartholine , burnet , &c. nor among all the stories in mr. oldenburg's transactions , or the miscellanea curiosa of the leipswick doctors , hath it a parallel . this , and whatever is else contained in this history , as my 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , i submit to the better sense , and reason of the learned , not presuming to be positive in any thing , save in affirming my self , &c. james yovng . p. s. for the plainer understanding where the bullet lodged in the wind-pipe , i have drawn and sent you an exact figure of the trachea , excarnified ; as it s to be be found in gerrard blassius , syntagma anatomicum j. veslingi . see figure y in the iii. table . c points to the trachea divided under the larynx . d the right ramus of the trachea . e the left . f the place where the lungs adhered to the pleura . g g g , &c. the extremities of those branches of the aspera arteria , divaricated into the rotten lobe . h the bullet in the pipe where it was found . errata . page . line . foot . p. . l. . ioyned , p. . l. . 〈◊〉 , p. . l. . is diffused , p. . l. . fostor , p. . l. . within the sphere of its activity , p. . l. . dele as , p. . l. . ether , p. . l. . common sights , p. . l. . 〈◊〉 , p. . l. . been produced , p. . l. . add see fig. . p. . l. . of this orb , p. . l. . ♏ , p. . l. . sixth figure , p. . l. . & perige , p. . l. . b , b , e. ib. l. , . h , h , i p. . l. . for ( . ) put ( , ) p. . l. . stream of bu●bles , p. . l. . add fig. . p. . l. . to get out of , l. . of finding the , p. . l. . baldwines p. . l. . downwards shall touch , p. . l. . scolopendra , p. l. ult . suns phase , p. . l. . for put , p. . l. . to my wonder , p. . l. . blot out first , p . l. . plano c●nnexes , p. . l. . for table put tube , p. . l. . seul , p. . l. . magnified , l. . the paralellogram , l. . page , p. . l. . for fluid put feild . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e this revolution of the body of ♃ upon its axis i first discovered in may . and published in the first transaction , which was a considerable time before it was discovered by monsieur cassini ; but we are obliged to him for the perfecting the theory , as we are also for many other rare discoveries and excellent improvements in astronomy . an astronomical description of the late comet or blazing star as it appeared in new-england in the th, th, th, and in the beginning of the th moneth, : together with a brief theological application thereof / by s.d. danforth, samuel, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing d estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) an astronomical description of the late comet or blazing star as it appeared in new-england in the th, th, th, and in the beginning of the th moneth, : together with a brief theological application thereof / by s.d. danforth, samuel, - . [ ], p. printed by samuel green, cambridge : . reproduction of original in bodleian library. attributed to samuel danforth. cf. bm. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng comets -- . comets -- religious aspects. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - celeste ng sampled and proofread - celeste ng text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion an astronomical description of the late comet or blazing star , as it appeared in new-england in the th , th , th , and in the beginning of the th moneth , . together with a brief theological application thereof . by s. d. psal . . . the works of the lord are great : sought out of all them that have pleasure therein . job . . . remember that thou magnifie his work , which men behold . exod. . . and pharaoh turned and went into his house , neither did he set his heart to this also . cambridge printed by samuel green , . du bartas . there , with long bloody hair , a blazing star threatens the world with famine , plague & war : to princes , death ; to kingdomes many crosses : to all estates , inevitable losses : to heardmen , rott : to plow-men hapless seasons : to sailors , storms : to cities , civil treasons . an astronomical description of the late comet , as it appeared in new-england . i. this comet is no sublunary meteor or sulphureous exhalation , but a celestial luminary , moving in the starry heavens . the truth hereof may be demonstrated , by the vast dimensions of it's body . some comets have been observed by astronomers to be halfe as big as the mo●n , some bigger then the moon , yea some bigger then the earth . the exact dimensions of this comet , i may not presume to determine , but it seemeth not to be of the smallest size . now 't is not easy to imagine how the earth should afford matter for a meteor of such a huge magnitude , except we grant the greater part of the lower world to be turned into an exhalation . . by the smalness of t●● parallax . the parallax is the distance between the true place of a planet and the apparent . the lower and neerer any planet is to the earth , it hath the greater parallax . the moon 's parallax in her perige , is one degree and six minutes . i could not by my observation discerne that this comet had any considerable parallax . . by it 's large circular motion . if it had moved in the upper region of the aire , it might have finished the whole visible arch of it's circle in a few houres : but wee saw it perform it 's proper motion with great constancy in a very large circle , such as the aire is not capable of . by it's long auration and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . had it been a sulphureous vapor kindled in the aire ; it might have been consumed in a short time ; as other fiery meteors are : but this continued about three months . by it's visibility to all countries and nations . we already hear that this comet was seen at virginea , jamaica st. martha , car●●gena and barbados and no doubt but it was visible to the whole habitable world. but the highest region of the aire is accounted not much above fifty engl●sh miles from the earth , and had this comet been no higher , it had been impossible that other countries and nations so far distant , should have beheld it . whether this comet was created in the beginning of the world together with the rest of the sta●s , and hath been hidden in the height and profundity of the heavens , and at a certain time descending toward the earth , becomes visible and signal to the world , i leave free to after-disquisition . ii. this comet is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 opake body , like the moon and other of the planets , but transparent and pellucid , the sun shining through 〈◊〉 . the moon is enlightened on that part onely which is next the sun , and like a looking glasse she reflects the solar beames , which are cast upon her : but the sun irradiates the comet and shines through it as through a transparent gemm , and illustrates a long tract in the heavens beyond it . as the moon , being a thick and dark body , casts a dark shaddow from the sun , so the comet being a clear and diaphanous body transmits the light and casts a bright and shining stream from the sun ; which alters and varies according to the diverse aspect of the sun. iii. the coma or blazing stream that issues from the comet , is no real flame , but the irradiation and resplendence of the sun through the transparent and pellucia body of the comet . a comet is denominated from it's coma or bushy-lock for the stream hath some resemblance of a lock of hair . now this stream is not the flagrancy of the comet , but the beames of the sun shining through the diaphanous and translucid head of the comet ; as may be argued and demonstrated , . by it's site and position , which is alwaies in opposition to the sun. had it been a natural flame , arising from it's flagrant head , it would have constantly moved upward , as the flame of a lamp or torch ; unless it had broken forth by violence : but this streaming was sometimes upward , sometimes somewhat downward , sometimes westward , sometimes northward , sometimes eastward , according to the position of the sun : neither can i imagine that any violence caused it so to move . . by the diverse form and figure of the stream according to the diverse aspect of the sun. one while it was like a beard , another while like a taile . . by the diverse dimensio●s of the stream . it was sometimes longer , sometimes shorter , sometimes broad●● , sometimes narrower , according as the comet was neerer or further from the earth . by the diverse quality and colour of the stream . it was sometimes bright and radiant , at other times obscure , du●kish and faint , according to the apparent radiation of the sun and the comets distance from us . . by it's duration . had it been a real and natural flame , it is difficult to understand how the head of the comet could have supplied it with food and fuel for so many months together . obj , if the stream be an irradiation of the sun , how comes it to be conspicuous and visible to us ? the sun-beames passing through the etherial heavens are not in themselves visible , neither do they terminate our sight . answ . the only reason thereof ( that i can yet learn ) is the refraction and reverberation of the sun-beames , as they pass through the come●'s condensed body , whereby they are so congregated and so neerly united , as that they terminate the sight and become conspicuous in the heavens . i have read of a certain semi-transparent gemme , called the heliotrope , that if it be put into faire water , opposed to the beames of the sun , it doth change it's beames , and by the repercussion of the aire , seems to shadow the clearness of it's rayes , and so induce a sanguineous colour in the aire , as if the sun by the interposition of the body of the moon , did suffer an ecliptick darkness . iv. this comet is not a new fixed star , but a planetick or erratick body , wandring up & down in the etherial firmament under the fixed stars . some learned astronomers distinguish these more noble and celestial phaenomena or appearances into fixed and erratick . several new stars have appeared which are fixed . i. e. they keep the same place in the heaven● , and the same distance from the fixed stars . one in c●ssiopeia anno . which continued a year and four months . another in antinous : another in the girale of andromeda , another in the whale , another in the brest of the swan , which continued many years . but this cemet was a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ( as jude speaks ) a wandring star , which kept not the same place in the heavens , nor the same distance from the fixed stars . v. this comet appeared first in the constellation of the raven , from whence it descended and crossing the tropick of capricorn and some part of hydra , it went southward until it arrived at the main topsaile of the ship : then it began to return , and going through the belly of canis major , it again crossed the tropick of capricorn , and p●ssing through the middle of the hare , it crossed the river eridanus and the equinoctial , and entred into the mouth of the whale , and going through his head , it crossed the ecliptick and so passed up between aries and linum septentrionale . some took notice of this comet in the beginning of november , and indeed it had passed through the middle of the asterism of co●vus , ( as i gather from it's following motions ) before i saw it . dec. . early in the morning it feemed to me to be very neer the southern tropick , about . degrees southward of the ravens bill having longit . libra . d●c . early in the morning i saw it in some part of hyara ; in virgo . lat . s. gr . the stream overshadowing a small star in hydra , that was neer . dec. . some observed it among the stars that are in the mainmast of argo navis : where it had longit . leo . lat. s. . dec. . it was seen amongst the stellae informes , which are behinde canis major : where it was apprehended to have longit . leo. . lat . s. . dec. . the comet came to sirius , i. e. the great dog , and passed through his belly . that night i saw it in cancer . lat . s. . dec. . it ascended from canis major and crossing the southern tropick it arrived at lepus , i. e. the hare . that night i saw it pass over the more northern star in the hare's hinder legs : being in gemini . lat . s. . dec. . i saw it as i supposed in taur . . lat . s. . dec. . i apprehended it to be in the equinoctial which it crossed in the th gr . entring into the mouth of balaena : hav●ng longit taur . . . lat . s. . dec. . in t●ur . . . lat . s . d●c . , i saw it in a right line between two stars in the head of the whale , almost in the middle between them : in taur . . . lat. s. . . dec. i saw it very neer to another star in the head of the whale : in taur . . lat . s. . jan. . it crossed the ecliptick in aries . . jan. . it came to aries . lat . n. . jan. . aries . lat . n. . jan. . aries . lat . n. . . feb. . aries . lat . n. . . since that i saw it not , nor any man else , that i hear of . if in these observations i have not attained that accurateness which the reader desires ▪ my want of a stronomical instruments may bespeak his indulgence therein . vi. this comet at it's first appearance was oriental and maturine , afterward it became occidental and vespertine . at first it appeared early in the morning before the rising of the sun , and then every day rose sooner then other , ( withall changing it's 〈◊〉 or point of the compass in it's rising ) until it appeared in the evening , as soon as day-light was ended . vi● this comet at first mored slowly , then more swiftly ; ●ill it came to it'● perige : since which time it hath gradually decreased in it's motion : toward the latter end of it's apparition , it hath moved most sl●wly . from dec. ● h. to the h ( which was the time between my first and second observation ) the com●t ▪ s apparent motion in it's proper line upon the 〈◊〉 sphere , was about degrees & a halfe in a day , one day with another dec. . it was observed by some to move about . deg●ees . dec. it moved , or degrees . dec. it moved about ▪ degrees . [ i cannot precisely determine it 's diurnal motion , especially when it was so exceeding swift , because i know not certainly the hour of the night , when these observations were made . j from d●c . , to it moved degrees & half in a day , one day with another . dec. . degr . dec. . degr . & halfe dec. . degr . in the beginning of ian. it moved neer degr . in a day : but toward the latter end , not one degr . in several dayes . from ian. th to feb. th according to my observation it gained scarce aegr . viii this comet was continually retrograde in it's motion , onely toward the latter end of it's apparition , it became stationary . this comet from the first time , it was taken notice of , until the latter end of ian. in it's proper motion went contrary to the serte● and order of the signes , viz. from libra to virgo and so backward to artes : but in the latter end of ianuary and in the beginning of february it kept in the same degree of longirude , onely it altered it ▪ s latitude . ix this comet hath moved constantly almost in a right line , or in a great circle , equal to the greatest circle of the celestial sphere : but towards it's disappearing , it hath deflected a little and become ellipticall . this may be demonstrated by the celestial globe . depress the southern pole degr . ( which is the complement of the comet 's greatest declination , ) and you may finde almost all the forementioned observations concerning the comets place to fall just upon the hor●zon of the globe : but toward the latter end , you shall finde the cometicall line to recede a little from a true circle . x. the proper circle of the comets motion is eccentrical , i e. it hath a center diverse from the center of the world . this is evident by the dive●sion of it's latitude , which was sometimes southe●● , and sometimes northern . by the inequality of it's apparent motion , which was sometimes swift and sometimes slow . by the diversity of it's distance from the earth , which was sometimes greater , and sometimes less . xi . t●is comet hath ascendea in meridian altitude above degr . for it 's lowest meridian altitude with us , was degr . and minutes , and it 's highest , degr . and min. xii . the cometical line descended to degr . of southern declination . xiii . the comet 's southern limit of latitude was degr . xiv . the apparent motion of the comet was anomalous and unequal , but it 's motion in it's proper orb or circle , was very neer equal and uniform . that it 's apparent motion was unequal and irregular is manifest by it's velocity or swiftnes one while , it 's mediocrity another while , and it's 〈◊〉 or slowness toward the latter end . the cause of which anomaly and inequality , was the comet 's eccentricity . that the comet 's motion in it's proper orb or circle was very neer equal and uniform , may be demonstrated by the equality of it's diurna● motion in equal d●stances from i●'s perige . for instance , i finde on the t● of december and on the t● the comet was equally distant from it's pe●ige , and that then it 's apparent motion was equal , viz. degree and a halfe in a day : and therefore it 's true moti●n in reference to it 's own proper center was very neer equal and regular . xv. the comet seemed to be in it's perige , or neerest to the earth , when it was in the belly of canis major , which was sometime on the th of december . the perige is that point of the cometical circle which is neerest to the earth . the apoge is the point fartl est distant from the earth . that the comet was in it's perige at the time and in the place forementioned may be argued . from the sw●ftness of it's apparent motion on that day . all the planets are slow in their apoge and swift in their perige . this comet was apprehended to move the most swiftly on that day . . from the equality of it's apparent motion in equal distances from thence : an instance wherof i gave before . . from the distance of the place assigned , ( viz. the middle of the belly of sirius ) to the place of the comet 's disappearing . in the cometical line the distance is about degrees ▪ now according to the theory and doctrine of comets ▪ it was never observed that any comet from the point of it's swiftest motion , ever ran beyond the fourth part of a circle , which is degrees . n. b. on the selfe same day ( viz. the ● th of december ) the sun was also in his perige . xvi . since december th , the comet hath proceeded in it's proper curricle upon the celestial sphere , . degrees : and i suppose in all , since it 's first apparition , . degrees . xvii . the cometical circle seemeth to include and encompass the earth . this may be argued . . from the length and greatness of the visible and apparent arch of the cometical circle , which was very neer to if not a true semicircle . . from the duration and long continuance of it's apparition , which was about three months . xviii . the true and real magnitude of th● comet was constantly one and the same , but it 's apparent m●gnitude was various and diverse . at it's first appearance it seemed but small , at length it appeared far greater , sometime it seemed to be very neer halfe as big as the moon after that it decreased successively , till at last it appeared like a cloudy star . the reason wherof is evid●nt ; at it 's first appearance it was very high in the heavens , and therefore it 's diamete● seemed less : afterward it descended lower and neerer to the earth , and then it 's diameter encreased : at length it went up higher & was removed further from our sight , and then it 's basis together with the angle of the optick cone was diminished , until at last it disappeared and vanished out of sight . xix the true colour and splendor of the comet was alwayes one and the same , but it 's apparent colour was various and diverse . at first appearance it's colour was pale and obscur● : afterward bright and radiant , at length it grew very obscure and faint like a cloudy star . in the west indies it appeared fiery , red and dreadfull . xx the coma or stream that came from the head of the comet , was alwayes cast into that part , which was diametrically opposite to the sun . when the c●met's irradiation was from the southeast , it 's streaming was toward the northwest , when it 's irradiation was from s. s. e. it 's streaming was toward n. n. w. when it's irradiation was from the south , it 's streaming was toward the north , when it 's irradiation was from s. s. w. it 's streaming was toward n. n. e. when it's irradiation was from the s. w. it 's streaming was toward n. e. xxi . the comet in respect of it's stream , hath been of a diverse figure according to the diverse aspect of the sun. comets in respect of their figure are distinguished into barbate , caudate and crinite . a comet is barbate , when the stream like a beard , goes before the body of the comet . caudate , when the stream like a tail follows the body of y e comet . crinite when the stream goes right up into the heavens and seems like a hairy-lock to be wound up about the comet 's head . this comet , while it was oriental , was barbate , the stream going before its body , like a beard . when the comet became occidental , it was caudate , the stream following the comet 's body like a tail . but it could not be properly crinite , in regard of the greatness of the comet 's southern latitude at the time of it's opposition with the sun. xxii . the stream hath appeared of a diverse height , breadth and extent , according to the diverse position of the sun , and the comet 's distance from us . the stream was not alwaies of the same height in the heavens with the head of the comet , but sometimes higher , and sometimes lower . neither was the 〈◊〉 of the stream alwaies one and the same , but it was sometimes broader , and sometimes narrower . the length and extent of the stream was also diverse : dec : . it was apprehended to be degr . long . dec. . degr . dec. . degr . jan. . degr . ian. . degr ian. . degr . xxiii . this comet hath been vertical to all countries , that lye between degrees of southern latitude and degrees of northern latitude . the comet is said to be vertical to any people , when the body of the comet passeth over their heads . this comet was vertical to the chief islands of the east indies , as also to guinea and to the most of the southern part of africa : likewise to peru , brasilia , guiana , castilia deloro , nova andaluzia , and to several of the islands of the west indies , as trinidada , granada , barbados , matalino , dominica and many other . xxiv . the stream which came from the comet hath turned about and pointed toward most countries and kingdomes in the habitable world. xxv . this comet is not evaporated nor dissolved , but it is ascended higher toward it's apoge and so departed out of our sight . if the comet be no vapour but a celestial planetick luminary , moving constantly in it's eccentrick orb , and if the stream thereof be no real flame , but the irradi●tion of the sun through the comet 's head , it will necessarily follow that the comet is not consumed , dissipated or exting●ish●d , but rather ascended toward it's apoge , i. e. the farthest point distant from the earth , and so being buried in the deep abyss of the heavens , becomes inconspicuous to us . xxvi . this comet hath followed upon a notable conjunction of the superiour planets , saturn and jupiter . astronomers observe , that comets do many times follow a conjunction of the superior planets . the last year , october th , was a great conjunction of saturn and iupiter in the th degr . of sagittarius . a brief theological application of this strange and notable appearance in the heavens . . the holy scriptures , which are the authentick and unerring canon of truth , teach us to look at comets , as portentous and signal of great and notable changes . joel . , . i will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth , bl●od and fire , and pillars of smoak . the sun shall be turned into darkness , and the moon into blood before the great and terrible day of the lord come . luke . there shall be signes in the sun , and in the moon , and in the stars . acts . . . i will shew wonders in heaven above , and signes in the earth beneath : blood , and fire , and vapor of smo●k . the sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the great and notable day of the lord come . ii. the histories of former ages , do abundantly testifie that comets h●●e been many times heralds of wrath to a secure and impenitent world. take a few instances . a little before the achaick warr ( as seneca reports ) there appeared a comet fiery and ruddy , which cast a clear light , whereby the night was enlightened . anno christ ▪ . there appeared a comet . the same year claudiu● died , and bloody nero succeeded who slew his mo●h●r , his wife and his master sene●● ▪ and exercised a great deal of cruelty and wickedness . anno . there were diverse comets which preceeded the pestile●● he●esie●● of arius . anno. . a comet appeared before the death of constantine the great , and innumerable evils followed . anno . a great comet appeared , which preceded , if not presaged the slaughter of mauritius the emperor , and the supremacy of the bishop of rome . anno , & . there appeared a comet moneths , at which time the saracens greatly afflicted the roman empire . anno. two comets appeared , and the same year a great plag●e invaded the world. anno . a terrible comet appeared before the death of charles the great . anno . a comet appeared a long time to the whole world : the same year england was many waies afflicted by william duke of norman●y , and at length subdued . anno . there appeared a great comet : the same year brake forth the bloody wars in g●●ma●y . anno . there appeared a comet at the beginning of mr. cottons sickness , and disappeared a few daies after his death . the next year strange and notable changes of state happened in england . 't is true , some comets have been thought to presage good to the world , as that in the dayes of augustus before the birth of christ . [ i intend not that miraculous star , which appeared to the magi. ] another before the death of nero : another before the reformation by wickliffe : another before the reformation by lut●e● : but most commonly they are observed to precede , if not portend great calamities . anno upon a comet followed horrible winds , an e●●●h-quak● and pestilence . when some sh●wed 〈◊〉 this comet , fearing it might portend his death , he answered merrily that this prod●gie noted not him , but the king of 〈◊〉 . for faith he , he nou●isheth his hair , but i am bald . but not long after , vespasian died . iii. the commination of wrath according to scripture , is to be understood after a conditional 〈◊〉 , i e. 〈◊〉 an implicite reservation for gods altering a●d revoking his threatned dispensation upon repentance intervening . jer. . , . at what instant i shall fpeak concerning a nation ●●d concerning a kingdome , to pluck up and to pull down and to destroy it : if that nation against whom i have pronounced , turn from their evil , i will repent of the evil that i thought to do unto them . jer . , . it may be the house of judah will hear all the evil , which i purpose to do unto them , that they may return every man from his evil way , that i may forgive their iniquity and their sin. it may be they will present their supplication before the lord , and will returne every one from his evil way : for great is the anger and the fury , which the lord hath pronounced against this people . jonah . . and god saw their works that they turned from their evil way , and god repented of the evil , that he had said , that he would do unto them , and he did it not . iv. this blazing star being in conjunction with diverse other awful providences and tokens of wrath , calls upon us to awake out of security , and to bring forth fruits meet for repentance . a eew instances of some late awful providences . . earth-quakes . about two years ago viz. ian. , & . , . the foundations of the earth trembled , and some of our houses rock't like a cradle , , or times did the earth shake under us in the space of or dayes . it was then thought and said , that these earth-quakes might portend the lords shaking the foundations of our churches and of our civil state . . the late removal by death of some of our eminent prophets and seers , who were as eyes unto us in the wilderness , and the charen of israel and the horse-men thereof . april th , , that burning and shining light , who shone in the church of boston , and gave light to the whole colony and country , mr. john norton , a man eminently accomplished , was taken from us , and translated to an higher orb. of whom new-england was not worthy . iuly . that bright and radiant star , a star of the first magnitude , mr. samuel stone , the strength and glory of connecticut , rested from his labours and sorrows , and fell a sleep sweetly and placidly in the lord. a little before him , mr iohn miller and mr. samuel newman , faithful , painful and affectionate preachers of the gospel , were also taken from us by death . thus our pillars are cut down , our strongest stakes pluck't up , and our breaches not repaired . is it a small thing in our eyes , y t our principal congregations & head-townes , should be so sadly bereaved , as they are at this day ? . the sad mildew and blasting , whereby we have been greatly afflicted the last summer , and some ofus the summer before : our principal grain being turned into an husk & rotteness . . severe drought this last summer , which burnt up the pastures and the latter growth . . early frosts , which smote our indian corn , and greatly impoverished our latter harvest . unto these and some other no less threatning visitations , is superadded this strange and fearful appearance in the heavens , which is now seconded by a new appearance this spring , concomitant to the translation of our honoured and aged governour , mr. john endicot , from hence to a better world : by all which doubtless the lord calls upon new-england to awake and to repent . to this end consider . . what a jealous eye the lord hath upon us , observing how we carry and behave our selves at such a time as this . ier. . . and i saw , when for all the causes , whereby backsliding israel committed adultery , i had put her away . and given her a bill of divorce : yet her treacherous sister judah feared not , but went and played the harlot also . . what the lord expects and looks for from a people so highly favoured and priviledged , and so awfully warned and threatned . zeph. . . i said surely thou wilt fear mee ; thou wilt receive instruction : so their dwelling place should not be cut off ; howsoever i punished them . . how sadly will the lord jesus expostulate with us , if we fall asleep in the hour of the passion and agony of the gospel . mat. . . he cometh unto the disciples and findeth them a sleep , and faith unto peter , what could ye not watch with me one hour ? each word is very emphatical . the danger of being surprized by temptation before we are aware . lam. . . she remembred not her last end , therefore she came down wonderfully : she had no comforter . rev. . behold i come as a thief , blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments , lest he walk naked , and they see his shame . . the singular blessing reserved for the vigilant and penitent . hab. . . when i heard my belly trembled ; my lips quivered at the voice : rotteness entred into my bones : and i trembled in my selfe , that i might rest in the day of trouble . luke . . . watch ye therefore and pray alwaies , that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass , and to stand before the son of man. to conclude : god forbid that any of us , should be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wandring stars , eccentrick and erratick in our motions , as all seducers and impostors are : for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever . jude , . ▪ but the lord , grant that we may all become fixed stars in the new jerusalem , which cometh down from god , observing the heavenly order prescribed in his holy word , and shining as light in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation , clearly reflecting that pure and preciou● light , wherewith we are irradiated by the sun of righteousness : and then we may assure ourselves , christ will still hold us in his right hand and not suffer us to be cast down from heaven but enable us to finish our course with joy , & at length translate us into the kingdome of the father , where we shall shine forth as the sun , and as the brightness of the firmament , and as the stars forever and ever . amen . finis .