A LETTER sent by a Gentleman of England, to his friend, containing a confutation of a French man's errors, in the report of the miraculous star now shining.   symbolic celestial configuration 
Anno Domini. 1573.   

Misopseudolugos Philomathei, Salutem.  
SIr, whereas ye require my opinion touching the French Pamflet of a blazing star lately Englished: Surely I cannot but condemn the rashness of him that did translate the same, for that at one time he offered two injuries. First to the French man that made the same, for whom it had been sufficient that France had known his dotings, & not England also to have been made partaker of his follies. Secondly the ill opinion he seemed to have of his own countrymen, that among the abundant choice of so many excellent Mathematicians, would rather publish such a toy, then use thadvise of such as might have taught a verity. For the Book although it have few lines, yet hath it many errors & that of all sorts. Geometrical, Astronomical, Physical, Cosmographical and Historical First in the portraiture of Cassiopeia the very stars are mistaken, and the new star misplaced. For the three other stars that frame a figure with him of Geomitricianes commonly called Rhombus, are these, one of the third light in her breast, an other of the same light in her chair nigh unto the thigh of Cassiopeia, the third in the middle ascense or back of her Chair, this being of the third light also, is by him quite misplaced, and in steed thereof another little star of the fift light placed, and the new star that is beneath the foot of her seat, is there situate far higher. He wanteth also one star in the top of her chair, and an other in her foot, and notwithstanding he hath clapped in one where never any was, yet wanteth he one of his number, which although he had never red Aratus Ptolomey, Copernicus or other Mathematicianes, yet of poets as Palingenius, he might have learned how Cassiopeia decem atque tribus stat lucida flammis. He proceedeth to his observations, and declareth this new stars distances from Alrucuba commonly called the Pole star, and another of Queen Cassiopeia inferring that such as be skilful in the doctrine of triangles Spherical, will soon find his place to be in the end of ♓ about the 29. grave, whereby it appeareth that his own knowledge in Spherical triangles was very small, for admitting his own distances true, it falleth out in the first face of ♉, but his true longitude and place in deed, is easily by sight without Instrument within one degree to be conjectured, of the meanest scholar in observations Astronomical, being more than that In sedis pede, a little star hard by him whose longitude by Copernicus is delivered 8. grades. 20. minutes, and less than that other by him mentioned in Cassiopeia her thigh whose longitude is also. 10. grades. This star therefore being very nigh in the mean between these two, is soon found within 10. minutes of nine grades in longitude, making account as Copernicus doth from the little star in the horn of the Ram, which in the old Astronomers time stood in the very intersection of the line Ecliptic and Equinoctial, but sithence by the stealing course of the stars fixed, or rather of the earth as Copernicus with better reasons proveth, is removed since that time 27. grades 49 minutes, which I have by certain Calculation found to be Precessio Aequinoctiorum vera, for the nativity of our Saviour last passed, nine grades therefore the longitude of this new star in the eight sphere by sight only collected, as I have before declared, unto that number of the true Praecession adjoined, produceth 6. grades 49. minutes in ♉ for his longitude or place, and therefore I muse the more that any man should so much err that would presume in a cause Mathematical to writ, but perhaps his meaning was that this stars right Ascension should be about that grave, wherein though it be very unproper to apply the Computation of right Ascension to the line Ecliptic, yet had his error been that way the less, but not contented with these inferior causes being in deed but Elementa artis, he ascendeth to discover a Parallaxe, & produceth observations flat repugnant between themselves. I mean not so much for that he giveth his new star several distances from Alrucuba at his greatest height, (which in deed is nothing so) but he attributeth also unto him his greatest Parallaxe above the Pole, and his lesser underneath, which is a matter so absurd, as our Mathematical infants will laugh to scorn. And these he saith are the principal matters he noted in him since his first appearance the 15 of November, wherein his credit may something be doubted also, considering others of as good judgement as he seemeth to be, observing the same figure of Cassiopeia could see no such star the 16. night of the same month: His Mathematical causes thus handled he entereth to judge of the effects ensuing, and for discovery thereof translateth the opinions of other writers concerning Comets, which by Aristotle in his book of meteors are affirmed to be in the Region of the air, and within the concavity of the moons Orb engendered, affirming them to be nourished with vapours and resolutions from the ball of earth and ocean, and therefore rather to signify then to cause scarcity and sterility ensuing, but by this authors own Parallaxis allowing him his own witnesses, they give it to be above the Moon, as any man may know that hath any mean sight, I say not in Sphaerickes triangles, but plain and right lined, & therefore unless he will make war with natural Philosophers and explode Aristotle, he cannot term him a Comet. Also Comets are into three kinds divided, Crinitas, Barbatas & Caudatas: And this surely by any sound sight to be well found none of them: for though he do suppose it hath a tail reaching into the Orient, whereupon he foundeth his fantastical divinations. truly the star is troubled with no such thing, howsoever his head was at the viewing thereof. Again whereas he conjectureth by his imagined tail, that his effect should fall out in the Orient & East parts of the world, he seemeth also therein to be as slender a Cosmographer, that knoweth not no part of the world to be East or West simply or of itself: But the thing he harpeth on and hath belike hard some talk of, as of the Parallaxe also, is this: Astronomers first by the sign wherein the Comet is, his Parallel, his situation in respect of the intersection of the Horizon and Meridian, his latitude, and by many other means also pronounce first of the provinces whereon their effect shall light▪ and then by the direction of the tail judge of the parts of those provinces and the countries adjoining, and so in respect of some one place determined, others may be called East or West, Occident or Orient, at pleasure. Again where he pronounceth horrible effects always to ensue Comets, Histories would have taught him that sometime they promise' unto some great felicity, as justine when he speaketh of the Comet at Methridates' birth saith: Huius quoque viri magnitudinem Coelestia portenta nuntiabant, and at the invasion of Tamberlane, that famous Captain that took the Turk and vanquished his Empire (ascending by militare virtue from base estate) had also a Comet which is noted to signify his felicity. But had all his Physical Collections been true, yet unfitly are the significations of Comets applied to stars, or Phaenomena that are about the Region Elementare. To conclude because you require my opinion of the book & the Author's knowledge etc. For the matter as ye may perceive, it is farced so full of errors apparent, that every one that savoureth any thing in the sciences Mathematical, shall soon find them. Of the man I cannot judge but ab affectu, and so take his audacity much more than either his learning, or his discretion, that would presume to put himself in press to tell a tale in presence of such a number of Geometers, Philosophers, Astronomers Cosmographers, and that of a matter in part concerning all their sciences, and proceed so weakly furnished. It had been better for him to have first red Erasmus Apothegmata, where he should have found how Apelles to a Shoemaker that presumed to talk in his science jest this Proverb Ne suitor ultra crepidam, which well noted might have caused this Author to content himself to look on, and give others leave to play that part on the Mathematical stage.  
His conclusion is not to be disliked for that it containeth both piety & verity, & no doubt it is as he saith a forewarning of God's inscrutable pleasure, which will fall out to be no less strange and miraculous in effect, than this sign whereby it is forewarned is rare and supernatural, I commend therefore herein his modesty, that he would not give judgement whether the same should happen in France or else where. For surely it were hard for a man of greater science than he seemeth to be, so to do: But wheresoever any heinous outrage hath been committed, either by great or small, head or foot, they have as he truly collecteth, great cause to stand in horror of this miraculous sign, as a forerunner of God's just judgement. And thus exhorting you to proceed in the passing pleasant studies of the noble sciences Mathematical fit only for fire and noble minds that stoop not at filthy lucre I commit you to the protectino, of the Almighty.   

Imprinted at London by Thomas Marsh.