THRASIMENVS where Hanibal gave a fatal overthrow to the Roman Legions in that sweet and fertile part of happy ITALY called the Territory of PERUGIA a branch of the Dukedome of TUSCANY which at present submitteth to the Jurisdiction of the Church as being a part of St. PETER'S Patrimony His Parents who were more zealous of the good of his Soul than observant of the Propension of his Genius dedicated him according to the Devotion of that Country to the Service of the Church and entered him into the Flourishing Order of Black-Friers called from the place Moncks of Monte Casino and from the Founder Benedictines Nature that She might consummate the Profusion of her Favours upon him sent him into the World in an Age that was so ennobled and illuminated with Eminent Scholars in all Kinds of Literature that hardly any Century since the Creation can boast the like § In particular the SCIENCES MATHEMATICAL had then got that Fame and Esteem in the Learned World that all men of Spirit or Quality became either Students in or Patrons of those Sublime Knowledges On this occasion the Curiosity of our AUTHOUR being awakened his Active Wit could not endure to be any longer confined to the Slavish Tuition of Hermetical Pedagogues but in concurrence with the Genius of the Age he also betook himself to those most Generous and Liberal Studies His helps in this his design were so many and so extraordinary that had his Inclination been weaker or his Apprehension lesser he could hardly have failed attaining more than a Common Eminency in these Sciences For besides the Deluge of Learned and Vseful Books which the Presse at that time sent forth from all parts of EUROPE he had the good Fortune to fall into the Acquaintance and under the Instruction of the most Demonstrative and most Familiar Man in the World the Famous GALILEO whose successe being no lesse upon this his Pupil than upon the rest of those Illustrious and Ingenious Persons that resorted from all parts to sit under his Admirable Lectures he in a short time attained to that Name in the Mathematicks that he was invited to ROME Complemented and Preferred by his then Holinesse the Eighth URBAN upon his very first Accession to the Papacy which was in the Year 1623. § This Pope being moved with a Paternal Providence for the Concerns of his Subjects in that part of ITALY about BOLOGNA FERRARA and COMMACHIO lying between the Rivers of PO and RENO which is part of Lo Stato della Chiesa or the Church Patrimony appoints this our CASTELLI in the Year 1625 to accompany the Right Honourable Monsignore CORSINI a most observant and intelligent person in these affaires and at that time Superintendent of the General Draines and President of ROMAGNA in the Grand Visitation which he was then ordered to make concerning the disorders occasioned by the Waters of those parts § CASTELLI having now an Opportunity to employ yea more to improve such Notions as he had imbued from the Lectures of his Excellent MASTER falls to his work with all industry and in the time that his Occasions detained him in ROMAGNA he perfected the First Book of this his Discourse concerning the Mensuration of Running Waters He confesseth that he had some years before applyed himself to this part of Practical Geometry and from several Observations collected part of that Doctrine which at this time he put into Method and which had procured him the Repute of so much Skill that he began to be Courted by sundry Princes and great Prelates In particular about the beginning of the Year 1623. and before his Invitation to ROME he was employed by Prince Ferdinando I Grand Duke of TUSCANY to remedy the Disorders which at that time happened in the Valley of PISA in the Meadows that lye upon the Banks of Serchio and Fiume Morto and in the presence of the Grand Duke Grand Dutchesse Mother the Commissioners of Sewers and sundry other Persons in a few hours he made so great a progresse in that affair as gave his Most Serene Highnesse high satisfaction and gained himself much Honour § No sooner had he in his fore-mentioned Voiage to ROMAGNA which was but few Moneths after in the same Year committed his Conceptions to paper but he communicated them to certain of his Friends In which number we finde Signore Giampoli Secretary of the Popes Private Affaires whom in the beginning of the First Book he gratefully acknowledgeth to have been contributary in his Purse towards defraying the charge of Experiments and in his Person towards the debating and compleating of Arguments upon this Subject Some few years after the Importunity of Friends and the Zeal he had for the Publique Good prevailed with him to present the World with his First Discourse accompanied with a Treatise of the Geometrical Demonstrations of his whole Doctrine What Reception it found with the Judicious must needs be imagined by any one that hath observed how Novelty and Facility in conjunction with Verity make a Charm of irresistable Operation § New it was for that no man before him had ever attempted to Demonstrate all the three Dimensions to wit the Length Breadth and Profundity of this Fluid and Current Element And he detecteth such grosse Errours in those few that had untertook to write upon the Subject of which he instanceth in Frontinus and Fontana as those that include the rest and delivereth such singular and unheard of Paradoxes for so they sound in Vulgar Eares as cannot but procure unspeakable delight to his Reader § Easie it is likewise and True and that upon so Familiar Experiments and Manifest Demonstrations that I have oft questioned with my self which merited the greater wonder he for discovering or all men that handled the Argument before him for not discovering a Doctrine of such strange Facility and Infallibility But yet as if our Authour designed to oblige the whole World to him by so excellent a Present he selects a Subject that he knew would be carressed by all persons of Nobler Souls upon the accounts afore-named and by all Mankind in General as gratifying them in their much adored Idol Utility And to render his Art the more profitable he reduceth the lofty and easie to-be-mistaken Speculations of the Theory into certain and facile Directions for Practice teaching us how to prevent and repaire the Breaches of Seas and Inundations of Rivers to draine and recover Fenns and Marches to divert conveigh and distribute Waters for the Flowing and Stercoration of Grounds strengthening of Fortifications serving of Aquaducts preserving of Health by cleansing Streets and scowring Sewers and maintaining of Commerse by defending Bridges cleering Rivers and opening Pores and Channels with innumerable other Benefits of the like nature And that I may omit no circumstance that may recommend my Authour the Fortune of this his Treatise hath been such that as if he intended a Plus ultra by it or as if all men despaired to out-do it or lastly as if
MATHEMATICAL Collections and Translations In two TOMES THE SYSTEME OF THE WORLD IN FOUR DIALOGUES Wherein the Two GRAND SYSTEMES OF PTOLOMY and COPERNICUS are largely discoursed of And the REASONS both Phylosophical and Physical as well on the one side as the other impartially and indefinitely propounded By GALILEUS GALILEUS LINCEUS A Gentleman of FLORENCE Extraordinary Professor of the Mathematicks in the UNIVERSITY of PISA and Chief Mathematician to the GRAND DUKE of TVSCANY Englished from the Original Italian Copy by THOMAS SALUSBURY ALCINOUS 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 SENECA Inter nullos magis quam inter PHILOSOPHOS esse debet aequa LIBERTAS LONDON Printed by WILLIAM LEYBOURNE MDCLXI To the most Serene Grand DUKE OF TUSCANY THough the difference between Men and other living Creatures be very great yet happly he that should say that he could shew little less between Man and Man would not speak more than he might prove What proportion doth one bear to a thousand and yet it is a common Proverb One Man is worth a thousand when as a thousand are not worth one This difference hath dependence upon the different abilities of their Intellectuals which I reduce to the being or not being a Philosopher in regard that Philosophy as being the proper food of such as live by it distinguisheth a Man from the common Essence of the Vulgar in a more or less honourable degree according to the variety of that diet In this sence he that hath the highest looks is of highest quality and the turning over of the great Volume of Nature which is the proper Object of Philosophy is the way to make one look high in which Book although whatsoever we read as being the Work of Almighty God is therefore most proportionate yet notwithstanding that is more absolute and noble wherein we more plainly deserne his art and skill The Constitution of the Vnivers among all Physical points that fall within Humane Comprehension may in my opinion be preferred to the Precedency for if that in regard of universal extent it excell all others it ought as the Rule and Standard of the rest to goe before them in Nobility Now if ever any persons might challenge to be signally distinguished for Intellectuals from other men Ptolomey and Copernicus were they that have had the honour to see farthest into and discourse most profoundly of the World 's Systeme About the Works of which famous Men these Dialous being chiefly conversant I conceived it my duty to Dedicate them only to Your Highness For laying all the weight upon these two whom I hold to be the Ablest Wits that have left us their Works upon these Subjects to avoid a Solecisme in Manners I was obliged to address them to Him who with me is the Greatest of all Men from whom they can receive either Glory or Patrociny And if these two persons have so farre illuminated my Understanding as that this my Book may in a great part be confessed to belong to them well may it also be acknowledged to belong to Your Highness unto whose Bounteous Magnificence I owe the time and leasure I had to write it as also unto Your Powerful Assistance never weary of honouring me the means that at length I have had to publish it May Your Highness therefore be pleased to accept of it according to Your accustomed Goodness and if any thing shall be found therein that may be subservient towards the information or satisfaction of those that are Lovers of Truth let them acknowledge it to be due to Your Self who are so expert in doing good that Your Happy Dominion cannot shew the man that is concerned in any of those general Calamities that disturb the World so that Praying for Your Prosperity and continuance in this Your Pious and Laudable Custome I humbly kiss Your Hands Your Most Serene Highnesses Most Humble and most devoted Servant and Subject GALILEO GALILEI To the Noble and most perfectly Accomplished Sr. JOHN DENHAM Knight of the Noble Order of the BATH And Surveyor General of his Maties Works c. SIR I Humbly begge your Pardon for bringing this Book under your Protection Were it a VVork of my own or I any thing but the Translatour I should master my Thoughts to a meaner Dedication But being a Collection of some of the greatest Masters in the VVorld and never made English till now I conceived I might sooner procure their VVelcome to a person so eminent for Noble Candor as well as for all those Intellectual Excellencies wherewith Your Rich Soul is known to be furnished I resolv'd to be as kind to this Book as I could and seriously considering which way to effect it I at last concluded to prefix Your Name whom His Majesty and all his Subjects who have a higher Sense and Judgement of Excellent Parts know best able to defend my Imperfections And yet I confess there 's one thing makes against me which is your eminent Integrity and great Affection to Truth whereby my Lapses in a VVork of this Nature might justly despair of Shelter but that the Excellency of Your Native Candor strives for Predominancy over all Your great Abilities For 't is all-most impossible to think what Your Matchless VVit is not able to Conquer would Your known Modesty but give leave therefore Galileus Kepler and those other Worthies in Learning are now brought before You in English Habit having chang'd their Latine Italian and French whereby they were almost Strangers to our Nation unless to such as You who so perfectly master the Originals I know you have so much and great imployment for His Majesty and his good Subjects that I shall not robb you of another Minutes loss besides the liberty of subscribing my Self SIR Your Honours Most Humble and Most obedient Servant THOMAS SALUSBURY MATHEMATICAL COLLECTIONS AND TRANSLATIONS THE FIRST TOME IN TWO PARTS THE FIRST PART Containing I. GALILEUS GALILEUS His SYSTEM of the WORLD II. GALILEUS His EPISTLE to the GRAND DUTCHESSE MOTHER concerning the Authority of Holy SCRIPTURE in Philosophical Controversies III. JOHANNES KEPLERUS His Reconcilings of SCRIPTURE Texts c. IV. DIDACUS à STUNICA His Reconcilings of SCRIPTURE Texts c. V. P. A. FOSCARINUS His Epistle to Father FANTONUS reconciling the Authority of SCRIPTURE and Judgments of Divines alledged against this SYSTEM By THOMAS SALUSBURY Esq. LONDON Printed by WILLIAM LEYBOURN MDCLXI MATHEMATICAL COLLECTIONS AND TRANSLATIONS THE FIRST TOME THE FIRST PART Containing I. GALILEUS GALILEUS His SYSTEME of the World II. GALILEUS his EPISTLE to the GRAND DUTCHESSE Mother concerning the Authority of Sacred SCRIPTURE in Phylosophical Controversies III. JOHANNES KEPLERUS his Reconcilings of SCRIPTURE Texts c. IV. DIDACUS a STUNICA his Reconcilings of SCRIPTURE Texts c. V. P. A. FOSCARINUS his Epistle to Father FANTONUS reconciling the Authority of Sacred SCRIPTURE and Judgments of Divines alledged against c. By THOMAS SALUSBURY Esq. LONDON Printed by WILLIAM LEYBOURNE MDCLXI READER MAthematical Learning to speak nothing
although unjustly be oppressed than those from whence he may receive just incouragement it was no hard matter to find those Complices who for such that is for Damnable and Heretical did from their Pulpits with unwonted confidence preach it with but an unmerciful and less considerate injury not only to this Doctrine and to its followers but to all Mathematicks and Mathematicians together Hereupon assuming greater confidence and vainly hoping that that Seed which first took root in their unsound mindes might spread its branches and ascend towards Heaven they went scattering rumours up and down among the People That it would ere long be condemned by Supreme Authority and knowing that such a Censure would supplant not onely these two Conclusions of the VVorlds Systeme but would make all other Astronomical and Physical Observations that have correspondence and necessary connection therewith to become damnable to facilitate the business they seek all they can to make this opinion at least among the vulgar to seem new and peculiar to my self not owning to know that Nicholas Copernicus was its Authour or rather Restorer and Confirmer a person who was not only a Catholick but a Priest Canonick and so esteemed that there being a Dispute in the Lateran Council under Leo X. touching the correction of the Ecclesiastick Calender he was sent for to Rome from the remotest parts of Germany for to assist in this Reformation which for that time was left imperfect onely because as then the true measure of the Year and Lunar Moneth was not exactly known whereupon it was given him in charge by the Bishop of Sempronia at that time Super-intendent in that Affair to search with reiterated studies and pains for greater light and certainty touching those Coelestial Motions Upon which with a labour truly Atlantick and with his admirable Wit setting himself again to that Study he made such a progress in these Sciences and reduced the knowledge of the Coelestial Motions to such exactnesse that he gained the title of an Excellent Astronomer And according unto his Doctrine not only the Calendar hath been since regulated but the Tables of all the Motions of the Planets have also been calculated and having reduced the said Doctrine into six Books he published them to the World at the instance of the Cardinal of Capua and of the Bishop of Culma And in regard that he had re-assumed this so laborious an enterprize by the order of The Pope he dedicated his Book De Revolutionibus Coelestibus to His Successour namely Paul III. which being then also Printed hath been received by The Holy Church and read and studied by all the World without any the least umbrage of scruple that hath ever been conceived at his Doctrine The which whilst it is now proved by manifest Experiments and necessary Demonstrations to have been well grounded there want not persons that though they never saw that same Book intercept the reward of those many Labours to its Authour by causing him to be censured and pronounced an Heretick and this only to satisfie a particular displeasure conceived without any cause against another man that hath no other interest in Copernicus but only as he is an approver of his Doctrine Now in regard of these false aspersions which they so unjustly seek to throw upon me I have thought it necessary for my justification before the World of whose judgment in matters of Religion and Reputation I ought to make great esteem to discourse concerning those Particulars which these men produce to scandalize and subvert this Opinion and in a word to condemn it not only as false but also as Heretical continually making an Hipocritical Zeal for Religion their shield going about moreover to interest the Sacred Scriptures in the Dispute and to make them in a certain sense Ministers of their deceiptful purposes and farthermore desiring if I mistake not contrary to the intention of them and of the Holy Fathers to extend that I may not say abuse their Authority so as that even in Conclusions meerly Natural and not de Fide they would have us altogether leave Sense and Demonstrative Reasons for some place of Scripture which sometimes under the apparent words may contain a different sense Now I hope to shew with how much greater Piety and Religious Zeal I proceed than they do in that I propose not that the Book of Copernicus is not to be condemned but that it is not to be condemned as they would have it without understanding it hearing it or so much as seeing it and especially he being an Author that never treateth of matters of Religion or Faith nor by Reasons any way depending on the Authority of Sacred Scriptures whereupon he may have erroniously interpreted them but alwaies insists upon Natural Conclusions belonging to the Celestial Motions handled with Astronomical and Geometrical Demonstrations Not that he had not a respect to the places of the Sacred Leaves but because he knew very well that his said Doctrine being demonstrated it could not contradict the Scriptures rightly and according to their true meaning understood And therefore in the end of his Epistle Dedicatory speaking to The Pope he saith thus If there should chance to be any Mataeologists who though ignorant in all the Mathematicks yet pretending a skill in those Learnings should dare upon the authority of some place of Scripture wrested to their purpose to condemn and censure this my Hypothesis I value them not but shall slight their inconsiderate Judgement For it is not unknown that Lactantius otherwise a Famous Author though mean Mathematician writeth very childishly touching the Form of the Earth when he scoffs at those who affirm the Earth to be in Form of a Globe So that it ought not to seem strange to the Ingenious if any such should likewise now deride us The Mathematicks are written for Mathematitians to whom if I deceive not my self these Labours of mine shall seem to add something as also to the Common-weale of the Church whose Government is now in the hands of Your Holiness And of this kinde do these appear to be who indeavour to perswade that Copernicus may be condemned before his Book is read and to make the World believe that it is not onely lawfull but commendable so to do produce certain Authorities of the Scripture of Divines and of Councils which as they are by me had in reverence and held of Supream Authority insomuch that I should esteem it high temerity for any one to contradict them whilst they are used according to the In stitutes of Holy Church so I believe that it is no errour to speak so long as one hath reason to suspect that a person hath a desire for some concern of his own to produce and alledge them to purposes different from those that are in the most Sacred intention of The Holy Church Therefore I not onely protest and my sincerity shall manifest it self that I intend to submit my self freely to renounce
while to another and that there is a great difference between commanding a Methametitian or a Philosopher and the disposing of a Lawyer or a Merchant and that the demonstrated Conclusions touching the things of Nature and of the Heavens cannot be changed with the same facility as the Opinions are touching what is lawful or not in a Contract Bargain or Bill of Exchange This difference was well understood by the Learned and Holy Fathers as their having been at great pains to confute many Arguments or to say better many Philosophical Fallacies doth prove unto us and as may expresly be read in some of them and particularly we have in S. Augustine the following words This is to be held for an undoubted Truth That we may be confident that whatever the Sages of this World have demonstrated touching Natural Points is no waies contrary to our Bibles And in case they teach any thing in their Books that is contrary to the Holy Scriptures we may without any scruple conclude it to be most false And according to our ability let us make the same appear And let us so keep the Faith of our Lord in whom are hidden all the Treasures of Wisdom that we be neither seduced with the Loquacity of false Philosophy nor scared by the superstition of a counterfeit Religion From which words I conceive that I may collect this Doctrine namely That in the Books of the Wise of this World there are contained some Natural truths that are solidly demonstrated and others again that are barely taught and that as to the first sort it is the Office of wise Divines to shew that they are not contrary to the Sacred Scriptures As to the rest taught but not necessarily demonstrated if they shall contain any thing contrary to the Sacred Leaves it ought to be held undoubtedly false and such it ought by all possible waies to be demonstrated If therefore Natural Conclusions veritably demonstrated are not to be postposed to the Places of Scripture but that it ought to be shewn how those Places do not interfer with the said Conclusions then it s necessary before a Physical Proposition be condemned to shew that it is not necessarily demonstrated and this is to be done not by them who hold it to be true but by those who judge it to be false And this seemeth very reasonable and agreeable to Nature that is to say that they may much more easily find the fallacies in a Discourse who believe it to be false than those who account it true and concludent Nay in this particular it will come to passe that the followers of this opinion the more that they shall turn over Books examine the Arguments repeat the Observations and compare the Experiments the more shall they be confirmed in this belief And your Highness knoweth what happened to the late Mathematick Professor in the University of Pisa Who betook himself in his old age to look into the Doctrine of Copernicus with hope that he might be able solidly to confute it for that he held it so far to be false as that he had never studied it but it was his fortune that as soon as he had understood the grounds proceedings and demonstrations of Copernicus he found himself to be perswaded and of an opposer became his most confident Defender I might also nominate other Mathematicians who being moved by my last Discoveries have confessed it necessary to change the formerly received Constitution of the World it not being able by any means to subsist any longer If for the banishing this Opinion and Hypothesis out of the World it were enough to stop the mouth of one alone as it may be they perswade themselves who measuring others judgements by their own think it impossible that this Doctrine should be able to subsist and finde any followers this would be very easie to be done but the business standeth otherwise For to execute such a determination it would be necessary to prohibite not onely the Book of Copernicus and the Writings of the other Authors that follow the same opinion but to interdict the whole Science of Astronomy and which is more to forbid men looking towards Heaven that so they might not see Mars and Venus at one time neer to the Earth and at another farther off with such a difference that the latter is found to be fourty times and the former sixty times bigger in surface at one time than at another and to the end that the same Venus might not be discovered to be one while round and another while forked with most subtil hornes and many other sensible Observations which can never by any means be reconciled to the Ptolomaick Systeme but are unanswerable Arguments for the Copernican But the prohibiting of Copernicus his Book now that by many new Observations and by the application of many of the Learned to the reading of him his Hypothesis and Doctrine doth every day appear to be more true having admitted and tolerated it for so many years whilst he was lesse followed studied and confirmed would seem in my judgment an affront to Truth and a seeking the more to obscure and suppresse her the more she sheweth her self clear and perspicuous The abolishing and censuring not of the whole Book but onely so much of it as concerns this particular opinion of the Earths Mobility would if I mistake not be a greater detriment to souls it being an occasion of great scandal to see a Position proved and to see it afterwards made an Heresie to believe it The prohibiting of the whole Science what other would it be but an open contempt of an hundred Texts of the Holy Scriptures which teach us That the Glory and the Greatnesse of Almighty God is admirably discerned in all his Works and divinely read in the Open Book of Heaven Nor let any one think that the Lecture of the lofty conceits that are written in those Leaves finish in only beholding the Splendour of the Sun and of the Stars and their rising and setting which is the term to which the eyes of bruits and of the vulgar reach but there are couched in them mysteries so profound and conceipts so sublime that the vigils labours and studies of an hundred and an hundred acute Wits have not yet been able thorowly to dive into them after the continual disquisition of some thousands of years But let the Unlearned believe that like as that which their eyes discern in beholding the aspect of a humane body is very little in comparison of the stupendious Artifices which an exquisite and curious Anatomist or Philosopher finds in the same when he is searching for the use of so many Muscles Tendons Nerves and Bones and examining the Offices of the Heart and of the other principal Members seeking the seat of the vital Faculties noting and observing the admirable structures of the Instruments of the Senses and without ever making an end of satisfying his curiosity and wonder contemplating