Egyptians chiefly addicted to Mathematical Studies ATLAS King of Mauritania inventor of the Sphere and therefore by the Poets feigned to have supported Heaven PROMETHEUS Brother to Atlas instructed the Assyrians in Astronomy making his Observations on Mount Caucasus with that assiduous care and sollicitous study as gave occasion to the Fable of his being tortured by a Vultur feeding on his Liver HERMES called likewise THEUT or THOTH and MERCURIUS TRISMEGISTUS a great Propagator of Astronomy among the Egyptians Something bearing his name was printed at Norimberg 1532. His Books called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 did treat 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as we find in Eusebius and Iamblicus out of Chaeremon speaks of other his Writings upon the same subject ENDYMION a curious Observer of the Moon 's motion which on Mount Latmus he used to contemplate and for that cause was fabled to have been her Paramour BELLEROPHON Son of Glaucus Prince of Corinth who is fabled to have backed Pegasus the winged Horse and soared up to Heaven is by Lucian 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 reputed a great Astronomer for thus he writes of him I believe not at all says he the Story of his winged Horse But this I conceive of him that he being much addicted to Astronomical Contemplations and conversant in the Observation of the Stars 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was carried up to Heaven not by a Horse but by his Mind CEPHEUS King of Ethiopia a Royal Promoter and Advancer of Astronomical Studies of whom we have already made mention in our Notes upon the Constellations HERCULES called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Musarum ductor to distinguish him from the other Hercules was so well learned in the Doctrine of the Sphere that he is therefore feigned to have eased Atlas of his burthen whence Ovid Hercule supposito Sydera fulsit Atlas ATREUS Brother to Thyestes King of the Argives was according to the testimomy of Lucian 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an excellent Astronomer For when the Argives by publick consent had decreed That the Kingdom should be given to him of the two who should manifest himself the most learned in the knowledge of the Heavens Thyestes is thereupon said to have made known to them the Constellation in the Zodiack called Aries But Atreus discovered to them the course of the Sun with his various rising and setting demonstrating his Motion to be contrary to that of the Heavens Whereupon they elected him to be their King PALAMEDES found out many Observables concerning the Stars their Measures Distances and Motions as we find exprest in Sophocles SOLOMON King of Israel besides his other divinely infused knowledge was excellently skilled in the course of the Heavens and order of the Stars as it is said of him Wisdom chap. 7. v. 19. NUMA POMPILIUS second King of the Romans first Authour of the Roman year which he so disposed to the end the Lunar might agree with the Solar year that every four years there was an Intercalation of 45 Days which he divided and adjusted after this manner adding to the first 2 years 22 Days and inserting in the latter 2 years 23 Days Vid. G. Voss. de Scient Math. NECEPSO though but a petty Prince of some part of the lower Egypt was one of the greatest Instauratours of Astronomy in that Nation and brought into practice and publick use whatever Thoth or the first Mercury had invented or Siphoas Son of Vulcan the second Mercury had deposited in writing in the private Archives of their Temples In which Writings of Mercury were contained besides Hieroglyphicks and other sacred Ceremonies Cosmography Geography the course of the Sun and Moon and of the other five Planets as Clem. Alex. Strom. l. 6. testifies PETOSYRIS an Egyptian Priest and Philosopher wrote according to the testimony of Suidas of Astrology collected out of the Sacred Books of the Egyptians which he dedicated to Necepso one of the Egyptian Kings immediately before mentioned yet extant as Simler in Biblioth Gesneriana affirms in Biblioth Carpensi Sancti Angeli PHOCUS SAMIUS wrote de Astrologia Nautica as Diog. Laertius testifies This Phocus is conceived to be the same to whom Solon inscribed a Poem as Plutarch writes THALES the Milesian one of the Greek Sages first Introducer of Astronomy among the Greeks He first observed the apparent Diameter of the Sun to be the 7â—…0 th part of the Orb in which he moves first found out or at least denominated the Constellation of the Lesser Bear and first foretold Eclipses particularly that memorable one happening in the time of the Battle between Halyaties King of Lydia and Astyages King of Media recorded by Herodotus He first divided the Celestial Sphere into five Zones and composed two Treatises the one of the Trepicks the other of the Aequinoctials therein asserting the obliquity of the Zodiack and distinguishing the Seasons of the year and measured the height of the Egyptian Pyramids by their shadows OENOPIDES the Chian is highly commended by Plato Proclus and Theon Smyrnaeus for his eminent Knowledge in Astronomy Eudemus asserting him to have first found out the Obliquity of the Zodiack Aelian in his Various Histories lib. 10. c. 7. reports that he set up a Brass-Table at the Olympicks having written thereon the Astronomy of LIX years within which Term or space he comprized the Great Year or the Annus magnus vertens ANAXIMANDER Country man Companion Kinsman and Disciple to Thales first asserted the Moon to receive light from the Sun yet withall affirming that she hath a light of her own but very thin He first erected a Gnomon at Sparta to discover by the shadow of the Sun the times of the Solstices and Equinoxes The invention of the Zodiack's Obliquity is likewise attributed to him HYSTASPES Son of Arsames or Arsaâ—…es King of Persia and Father of Darius of whom thus Ammianus Marcellinus l. 24. Hystaspes was a most Wise Person who boldly penetrating into the Inner Parts of upper India came to a woody Desert whose calm Silence was possest by those high 〈◊〉 the Brach 〈◊〉 Of these he learnt the Discordant Concord of the Motions of the Stâ—…rs and â—…f Heaven and of pure Rites of Sacrifice which returning into Persia he contributed as 〈◊〉 Addition and complement to Magick CLEOSTRATUS the Tenedian is said first to have studied the Parts or Division of the Zodiack and noted the Commencement of the Sign Aries and Sagittary He invented a Luni-Solar Cycle consisting of eight Solar years thence called Octaëteris in lieu of the Tetraëteris which the Greeks before used touching which see Ricciolus Almagest l. 4. c. 19. ANAXIMENES of Miletus Friend Disciple and Successour to Anaximander first demonstrated the Eclipse of the Moon to be by the Earth's Interposition between Her and the Sun and maintained the Stars to move not only above but about the Earth HARPALUS corrected the Octaëteris of Cleostratus
years JULIUS HYGINUS whom some would have to be the Freed-man of Augustus others with more probability of Severus and Antoninus or of Iulia Severa the Empress wrote the Astronomicum Poeticum De Mundi Sphaerae partibus and the Fables of the several Asterisms yet extant SENECA the Philosopher occasionally intermingles in divers of his Writings several Astronomical Dissertations and in the seventh Book of his Natural Questions hath expresly written of Comets ANDROMACHUS CRETENSIS was Physician to Nero and about the latter end of his Reign wrote as it is affirmed by Lucas Gauricus and Clavius in Sacroboscum the first of any touching the Theory of the Planets His Writingâ—… are much commended by Galen PLINY the Elder in the second Book of his Natural History hath written many things touching the Celestial Bodies JARCHAS Prince of the Brachmannes was a famous Astronomer according to the Testimony of St. Ierome ad Paulinum whose Words are These Apollâ—… whether the Magician as vulgarly reputed or the Philosopher according to the Trâ—…dition of the Pythagoreans went to the Brachmannes that he might hear Jarchas fitting on a Throne of Gold and discoursing of the daily Revolution and Motion of the Stars Damis likewise reports that the said Iarchas gave to Apollonius seven Rings inscribed with the Names of the seven Planets which he was to wear successively every Day One. See Rantzov in Catalog Astrol. APOLLONIUS TYANAEUS wrote four Books de Divinatione Astrologica as Philostratus relates in his Life though none of them be now extant PLUTARCHUS CHAERONENSIS in his Book De facie in Orâ—…e Lunae and in his Work De Placitis Philosophorum hath shown himself studious and skilful in Astronomy MENELAUS a most eminent Mathematician and Astronomer was an Observer of the Stars for a long time both at Rhodes and at Rome He hath left Three Books Sphaericorum published by Mersennus in his Synopsis Mathemat AGRIPPA the Mathematician observed as it is reported by Ptolemy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Conjunction of the Moon with the Pleiades happening Anno Nabonassar 840. Nov. 29. ASCLETARION was an Astrologer in the time of Domitian whose fate he had predicted for which being questioned and avowing the Prediction he was asked by the Emperour what his own fate would be To which he confidently reply'd that he should be torn in pieces by Dogs Whereupon Domitian commanded that he should be immediately slain and carefully buried that the vanity of his Art might appear But a sudden and violent tempest happening at the enterment of him his body was deserted and the Dogs came and tore it in pieces See Sueton. in Domit. HADRIANUS the Emperour was singularly well skill'd in Astronomy and particularly in Judiciary Astrology according to the Testimony of Aelius Spartianus in his Life who affirms that he used yearly in the Evening of the Calends of Ianuary to calculate what ever should happen to him for the whole year following And in the Life of Verus His Successour he gives us this further Testimony which take in his own Words Fuisse Adrianum peritum Matheseôs Marius Maximus usque adeò demonstrat ut eum dicat cuncta de se scîsse sic ut omnium dierum usque ad horam mortis futuros actus antè perscripserit AQUILA PONTICUS was a learned Mathematician of Synope first a Christian but afterwards by the Church for his too great adherence to Judiciary Astrology excommunicated whereupon he became a Iewish Proselyte and translated the Old Testament though not very sincerely into Greek THEON ALEXANDRINUS Senior whom some would have to be the same with that Theon Smyrnaeus who wrote in Mathematica Platonis published by Bulialdus made several Observations of the Planet Venus in the sixteenth year of the Emperour Hadrian mentioned by Ptolemy cap. 10. Almagest In the Library at Ausbourg there is extant a Tractate of his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 PHLEGON TRALLIANUS the Freed-man of Hadrian the Emperour among other his Works wrote De Olympiadibus in which according to the testimonies of Origen and Eusebius he made a Chronological remark on the obscuration of the Sun which happened at the time of our Saviour's Passion CLAUDIUS PTOLEMAEUS a Native of Pelusium descended as some would have it of the Royal Race of the Ptolemies Kings of Egypt The Prince in his Time of Astronomers Geographers and Astrologers His Principal Works being eight Books of Geography thirteen Books 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 commonly called Almagestum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seu Quadripartita Syntaxis de judiciis Astrorum And Parapegma de Apparentiis Significationibus Inerrantium Stellarum de Analemmate c. there are likewise ascribed to him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. faciles expediti upon which Theon Alexandrinus Iun. is reported to have commented or rather as Golius in Alferganum from the Authority of Keusian Gilaeus notes to have composed himself and to have given them the Title of Canones Ptolemaici because computed according to the Hypotheses of Ptolemy SEXTUS EMPIRICUS Nephew to Plutarch the Philosopher in his Hypotyp Pyrrhon writes sharply against Iudiciary Astrology HEPHAESTION THEBANUS wrote de Configurationibus Stellarum as cited by Salmasius De Annis Climactericis and others Of whom divers Excerpta De duodecim Zodiaci Signis eorum Effectibus are published by Camerarius in Greek and Latine amongst his Astrological Collections Printed at Norimberg Of this Authour also three Books 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are by Simler affirmed to be yet extant in Bibliotheca Strozzae CLAUDIUS GALENUS Native of Pergamus in Asia the most famous Physician of his time in which Function he served three Roman Emperours Adrianus Lucius Verus and Antoninus Pius That he was learned in Astronomy and Astrology appears by his Books de Diebus Decretoriis his Epid. and his Mathemat His Father likewise being well skilled therein for thus according to the Testimony of Antonius Fumanellus cited by Rantzovius in Catalog Astronom he writes of Him Pater Meus Optimus fuit Mathematicus Exercitatus quandoque in Geometria Arithmetica Architectura Astronomia APULEIUS if the Piece bearing his name be genuine wrote De Sphaera now extant with other Astronomical Tractates amongst the Manuscripts in the Library at Westminster and in that of Nicholaus Trivisanus of Padua as cited by Thomasinus in Bibliothec. Patavin under this Title Sphaera Apuleii Platonici LUCIAN the Philosopher a Native of Samosata at this Day Scempsat a City in Syria in the Province of Comagene the facete Authour of the Ingenious Dialogues wrote a Particular Treatise of Astrology or Astronomy setting forth it 's Original Antiquity and Excellency In which Dissertation and in his Saturnalia Bourdelotius affirms he hath inserted many things taken from our Manilius ANDRUZAGAR an Arabian Astrologer is said to have flourished about
Vincula a most subtile Divine Philosopher and Mathematician wrote besides other his Works not relating to our Subject De emendatione Calendarii and De Stellarum Fixarum Canone GEORGIUS PURBACCHIUS so called from the Town of Peurbach the Place of his birth in the Confines of Bavaria and Austria was publick Professour of Mathematicks both at Ferrara and Vienna and a great Instauratour of Astronomy His first Essayes were several Tractates of Dyalling with Tables fitted for the variety of Climates a Small Piece with a Table thereto of the Sun's Altitude Astrolabial Canons as Gassendus terms them with a Table of Parallels proportioned to every Degree of the Equinoctial The making and use of Solid Spheres or Globes especially the Celestial to which he added a New Table of all the Fixed Stars with their augmentation of Longitude from Ptolemy's time to his own But his chiefest Work after his Theory of the Planets and Tables of Eclipses by which he intended to signalize his Name was the Reducing of Ptolemy's Almagest into a correct Epitome or Compendium being chiefly encouraged thereunto by Cardinal Bessarion which he lived not to complete but left the same by Testament to be fulfilled by his Scholar Iohannes Regiomontanus JOHANNES FUSOR or FUSORIUS contemporary with Purbacchius published Tables of Sines and Chords and by command of Charles VII King of France made Observations for the better composing of new Tables of the Celestial Motions as Gassendus in the Life of Purbacchius testifies extant in MS. in the Library of Nicholaus Trivisanus of Padua as Thomasinus in Bibliothec. Patavin affirms GUILELMUS BOTONER an English Knight noble by Extraction but much more ennobled by his Learning as well in History Physick as Mathematicks Published with other Works upon several Subjects a Book De Astrologiae Valore JOHANNES JOVIANUS PONTANUS a Neapolitane acquired no little honour and esteem by his Astronomical Studies and Writings He translated into Latine Ptolemy's Centiloquium and published it with an Exposition or Comment thereupon and wrote XIV Books De Rebus Coelestibus and Five others in elegant Latine Verse entitled Urania sive De Stellis and One other in Verse De Meteoris MICHAEL SCOTUS a diligent Observer of the Stars at the desire of the Emperour Frederick the Third put forth about this Time Quaestiones in Sphaeram Ioh. de Sacro Bosco as Ricciolus Chronol Astronom affirms which certainly is a great mistake for Frederick the Third came to the Empire much earlier and was deposed in the year 1323. Scotus flourishing according to Balaeus in the year 1290. about which time the Reader will find him already inserted in this Catalogue JOHANNES MULLERUS commonly called JOHANNES REGIOMONTANUS or DE MONTE REGIO from Cunisberg a Town in Franconia where he was born Disciple to Purbacchius finished the Epitome begun by his Master of Ptolemy's Almagest He published likewise Tables of Directions and Eclipses and first of all in that Age set forth Astronomical Ephemerides of many years duration Printed at Augsburg 1488. He wrote likewise De Theoricis Planetarum De Cometis and published a Treatise De Triangulis Printed at Basile in folio by Daniel Santbech and is still a Book of good accompt as containing in it divers extraordinary Cases about plain Triangles He assisted Sixtus IV. by whom he was honourably to that end invited in the emendation of the Iulian Calendar though he lived not to perfect what he had begun He dedicated his Tables of the Primum Mobile to Matthias Corvinus King of Hungary who not only rewarded him with 800. Hungarian Crowns but also made him his dayly Guest for some time at his Table justly deserving to be honoured by Posterity as the great Advancer of all Mathematical Learning especially of Astronomy as well by his own Labours as the publishing in Print at Norimberg the most eminent Authours among the Ancients in that Science particularly our Manilius Ptolemy Theon Proclus Menelaus Theodorus Firmicus Hyginus and others to the number of Thirty at least He observed the Sun's greatest Declination to be 23° 30′ He died as some write at the 33 d. or as others at the 40 th year of his Age not without the suspicion of being poysoned by the Sons of Georgius Trapezuntius the envious opposers of his merits and lies buried at Rome in the Pantheon See more of him in Gassendus who writ his Life JOHANNES BLANCHINUS was as Blancanus affirms of Ferrara but more truly as Ricciolus of Bologna and composed Astronomical Tables which he dedicated to the Emperour Frederick the Third to whom he was both well known and acceptable These Tables with new ones of his own and more correct Canons and several Additions were by Lucas Gauricus published at Venice 1526. EBERHARDUS SCHLUSINGERUS of Gasmanstorfe in Franconia Doctour of Physick at Zurick writ a Treatise of Comets and of their Significations particularly of a Comet which appeared at Zurick in the year 1472. He writ likewise an Introduction to Astrology chiefly relating to Medical Elections BESSARION by birth a Grecian Cardinal of the Roman Church and Patriarck of Constantinople a great Favourer of Astronomical Studies He left among other his various and learned Works a small Tractate whereof the Manuscript is extant in the Emperour's Library at Vienna entitled Methodus cognoscendi quot horis singulis Noctibus Luna fulgeat as the same is cited by Simler in Biblioth Gesner ABRAHAM ZAGUT or ZACUTI was first publick Professour of Astronomy at Carthage afterwards at Salamanca of whom Ricciolus affirms that he was Astronomiae consultissimus Vossius sayes he was Astrologer to Emanuel King of Portugal He wrote Fasti sive Almanach perpetuum omnium coeli Motuum Printed at Venice 1502. In the Preface of which Work he makes mention of Abenverga a Iew his Astronomical Tables but without giving any account of the Time wherein he flourished In the year 1474. he observed the Star called Spica Virginis to be in the 17° 10′ of Libra as Ricciolus from the Authority of Augustinus Riccius affirms His Almanach Perpetuum sive Ephemerides were calculated for Salamanca the Radix they began from was the year 1472. but the Places of the Planets were taken from Regiomontanus his Ephemerides his first part which whether ever Printed is uncertain beginning from that year He writ the Preface to the Bishop of Salamanca who he was doth not appear Ioannes Michael Germanus made the Problems before it Alphonsus de Corduba Hispalensis made a Canon of the Equation of Venus and discourses a little of the Errours of Zacutus In the same Book one Octavius Sfortiades Episcopus Aretinus sayes that Marcus Antonius Grimanus Patricius Venetus Iuntae Calcographiae imprimendam tradidit Novam Tabellam utpote Supplementum Aequationis Veneris in 30 Revolutionibus quam suae Celsitudini Abraham Zacutus ex Damasco destinaverat paululum antequam Diem clauderet Novissimum Gauricus being but a young Man
RAPHAEL VOLATERRANUS a Chronologer and Cosmographer who in the third Tome of his XXXVIII Books Urbanorum Commentariorum collected as himself affirms out of more than a thousand Greek and Latine Authours hath written De Philologia sive Artium Rudimentis in which those of Astronomy are included LUCIUS BELLANTIUS of Siena wrote Twenty Questions touching the truth of Astrology and Twelve Books in defence of Astrology against Picus Mirandula Printed at Florence and Basile To which are annexed the Dialogues of Gabriel Pirovanus De Veritate Astrologiae CONRADUS COCUS WIMPINAE DE BUCHONIA Professour of Theology at Francfort and Leipsick writ among divers other Tractates six Books De Corporibus Coelestibus as Simler testifies STEPHANUS ROSINUS of Ausbourg Professour of Philosophy Batchelour of Divinity and Canon at Vienna taught Astronomy there and published Tables of the Declinations of the fixed Stars with Prognosticks JOHANNES MANTZ of Plabeim a famous Theologue and Astronomer in his time wrote Prognostica ex Stellis ANDREAS STIBORIUS a Bohemian Canon and Professour of Mathematicks at Vienna a most acute Astronomer He composed an Epitome of Ptolomy's Almagest Albategnius and Geber wrote five Books touching Shadows a Book of Astronomical Instruments of the first and second Mobile with his own Canons and those of the Ancients an Introduction in sensilem Astronomiam a Book of Mathematical Authours and of the Primum Mobile divided into four parts and handled Geometricè Arithmeticè Exemplariter Instrumentaliter See more of him in Vossius de Scient Mathemat MARCUS BENEVENTANUS a Celestine-Monk wrote upon Thebit De Octava Sphaera He likewise corrected Ptolemy's Planisphere and together with Iohannes Cota of Verona Scipio Carteromachus of Pistoia and Cornelius Benigâ—…us of Viterbo sedulam navavit operam in Geographia Ptolemaei corrigenda sayes G. Voss. De Scient Mathemat BARTHOLOMAEUS VESPUCIUS a Florentine publick Professour of Astronomy in the University of Padua where he drew many into admiration of his Learning He commented in Sphaeram Sacrobosci and put forth an Oration in Laudem Quadrivii sive Quatuor Disciplinarum Mathematicarum chiefly of Astrology JOHANNES GANIVETUS of the Order of Minime Fryars at Vienna put forth a small Astronomical Treatise beginning with these words Quod Coeli enarrant c. To which he added an Abbreviation of Aben-Ezra De Luminaribus Diebus Criticis with the Astrology of Hippocrates as Gesner affirms Printed at Lyons in the year 1508. JOHANNES EZLER of Mentz published a Piece entitled Speculum Astronomicum in which he treats of the Causes of the Errours in Astrology proceeding from the neglect of the Equation of Time He put forth likewise the Theory of the Planets and of the Eighth Sphere Printed at Basil by Henricus Petri 1509. Unà cum Theoricis Purbacchii JACOBUS LOCHER PHILOMUSUS GERMANUS wrote among other things a Treatise De Cometa mentioned by Simler in Bibl. Gesner AUGUSTINUS RICCIUS of Casal wrote a learned Treatise Of the Motion of the Eighth Sphere in which he professes to have learnt Astronomy of Abraham Zaguti at Carthage and Salamanca He wrote likewise an Epistle touching the Authours of Astronomy wherein he shews the same to have come originally from the Hebrews In which Work of his sayes Simler in Bibl. Gesner are contained Platonica quaedam antiqua Magiae Dogmata JOHANNES VERNERUS of Norimberg Successour to Ioh. Regiomontanus and Bernardus Walterus commented upon Ptolemy's Geography wrote De motu Octavae Sphaerae and published Astronomical Tables In the year 1514. he observed the Sun's greatest Declination to have been 23° 28′ and the distance of the first Star in Aries from the Equinoctial Point 26° LUDOVICUS VITALIS a Bolognian Astronomer flourished about this time as Ricciolus Chronolog Astronom affirms though without any mention of his Works JOHANNES HEREMITA of Ferrara is by Ricciolus in Chronic. Astronom stiled Geometra Astronomus non vulgaris but he gives no particular account of his Works or Writings PAULUS MIDDLEBURGENSIS Bishop of Fossombrone or Forum Sempronii wrote XIV Books of the Emendation of the Calendar and Observation of Easter in which Work he not only treats of the Romane Account but also of the Iewish Egyptian and Arabian Years having therein designed the exact Doctrine of all Times He wrote likewise XIX Books of the Year and Day of our Saviour's Nativity and Passion and other Pieces of like Argument Voss. de Scient Mathemat He writ Prognosticon ostendens Anno Dom. 1524. Nullum neque Universale neque Particulare Diluvium futurum Forum Sempronii 1523. JOANNES STOEFLERUS JUSTINGENSIS Professour of Mathematicks at Tubingue wrote a Treatise De fabrica usu Astrolabii He likewise composed Ephemerides Calendarium Romanum Magnum dedicated to Maximilian the Emperour and Astronomical Tables and wrote a large Commentary in Sphaeram Procli His Death or the occasion thereof at least was very remarkable if the Story be true Having found by calculation that upon a certain Day his life was like to be endangered by some ruinous accident and the day being come to divert his thoughts from the apprehension of the danger threatning him he invites some Friends of his into his Study where after discourse entring into some dispute he to decide the controversie reaches for a Book but the Shelf on which it stood being loose came down with all the Books upon him and with its fall so bruised him that he died soon after of the hurt Voss. in Addend ad Scient Mathemat But the whole Story of his Death of which some make Calvisius the Authour is false by the Testimony of Io. Rudolphus Camerarius Genitur 69. Centur. 2. who had it from Andreas Ruttellius his Auditour for he died of the Plague at Blabira Febr. 16. 1531. in the 78 th year of his Age happening according to Calculation if you will believe it from the Direction of ☉ to ♂ ALBERTUS PIGHIUS besides his other learned Historical Works wrote of the Observation of the Solstices and Equinoxes Of the Restitution or Emendation of the Calendar and a Defence of Astrology against some Prognosticatours of his Time particularly an Apology against the New Astronomy of Marcus Beneventanus a Celestine-Monk traducing the Opinions of all Modern Astronomers touching the motion of the Eighth Sphere JOHANNES HASFURT VIRDUNGUS a Germane Astronomer set forth Tables by him entitled Tabulae Resolutae for supputation of the Celestial Motions Printed at Norimberg by Iohannes Petreius in the year 1542. He published likewise in the year 1521. Prognosticon upon the stupendious Conjunction of the Planets which was to happen in the year 1524. following with some other Prognosticks of his written in High-Dutch as Gesner affirms He writ likewise Novam Medicinae Methodum quâ ex Mathematica ratione curandi rationem ostendit Printed Helingae Hagenoae 1532. and set out afterwards with a Commentary by Ioannes Paulus Galluccius Venet.
known to the Learned We shall only insist on what more nearly relates to our present Subject as his five Books Novae Gnomonices Horologium universale de Firmamento He writ likewise upon the Phaenomena of Aratus and hath composed a History of the Lives of all the famous Mathematicians from Thales Milesius to Commandinus with a Chronology of the Times wherein they flourished and their several Eulogies Of which if we may judge as of Hercules by his Foot by that Life he hath written of Hero already published with his Belopoica We cannot but conclude them worthy of that Honour which they yet want that is a speedy Publication to the view of the Learned World And if the Manuscript now in possession of some of his Family or a Copy thereof may be obtained we may have then hopes that er'e long the Work will be communicated to the Curious of this Nation GERARDUS RUPELMUND ANUS set forth a Book which he entituled Atlas or Cosmographical Meditations De fabrica Mundi fabricati figura Printed at Duisberg in the year 1595. according to Draudius whom I conceive to be the same with Mercator JOSEPHUS ACOSTA in the year 1597. published the use of an Instrument called a Cylinder together with Astronomical Tables Printed at Colen GULIELMUS Landtgrave of Hassia merits an Elogium beyond what can be here given for his assiduous Observations for many years of the Celestial Bodies to which end at Cassells he erected an Observatory with excellent Instruments calling to his assistance two eminent Artists Christophorus Rothmannus and Iustus Byrgius His Observations were published at Leyden in the year 1618. by Willebrodus Snellius and are in part mentioned by Tycho as well in his Epistles as in the second Tome of his Progymnasm A signal example to all Princely and Heroick Minds to undertake the promoting and advancing of this truly Noble and Celestial Science NICHOLAUS RAIMARUS DITHMARSUS URSUS one of Tycho Brahe's Scholars published a Piece under the Title of Astronomical Hypotheses with a Defence thereof Printed at Prague 1597. In which he endeavours to prove himself Author or at least first Reviver of the pretended Brahean Hypothesis which he will have to be ancient ascribing the same to Apollonius Pergaeus as its first Inventor ingratefully seeking to deprive Tycho of the due honour thereof But he is answered by Tycho who hath vindicated and asserted his own right JOSEPHUS SCALIGER the Great Prince or Monarch of Universal Learning As to what concerns our present Subject his elaborate Work De Emendatione Temporum his exquisite Animadversions on Eusebius with his Canon Isagogicus Chronologiae and his accurate Comment upon Manilius's Astronomicks sufficiently evidence his admirable knowledge as well in Astronomy as in other the Mathematical Learning of the Ancients whom if we may trust the Judgment of the incomparable Vieta he alone above all others perfectly understood as the same is reported by the Learned Casaubon Epist. 586. He wrote likewise Cyclometrica Et Diatriba De Aequinoctiorum Anticipatione FEDERICUS SAMINIATUS published Astronomical Tables at Anwerp in the year 1599. 4 o. CHRISTOPHORUS FEMILLUS put forth Synoptical Tables for finding out the true place of the Planets derived from the Prutenick Tables together with the Investigation of the Festival Dayes of either Calendar Printed at Wittemberg 1599. MELCHIOR JOESTELIUS published Observations of an Eclipse of the Moon happening in the year 1599. for his Skill in Astronomy well esteemed by Tycho Brahe with whom he lived sometime a Domestick and to whom he was an Assistant in his Astronomical Observations SIBRANDUS à SICCAMA wrote De Veteri Anno Romano Antitheses and Fasti Calendar Having Successively deduced this Astronomical Catalogue thus far I hold it fit before I proceed to the next Century to insert in this Place the Names of divers Jewish Persian Arabian and some other Astronomers whose Times are Dubious and uncertain at least to me of whom yet Mention is made in Simler Hottinger's Smegm Orient Abul-Pharagius his Dynasties James his Eclog. Oxon-Cant Labbee and the Catalogue of Golius his Manuscripts c. DANIEL surnamed SAPIENS wrote an Astronomical Tractate in Syriack extant in the publick Library at Oxford RABBI JACOB BEN-MACHIR wrote De Quadrante Astrolabii Vestimentum Lucis Iter Stellarum R. JEHUDA BAR BARZILEI wrote a Book teaching the supputation of Times according to the Celestial motions R. ISAAC BEN LATAPH an eminent Philosopher wrote of the Figure of the World R. ABRAZARTH a learned Astrologer mentioned by Gesner from the authority of Pastregicus lib. De rerum Inventoribus R. AB RUSAK a great Astronomer mentioned by Gesner R. ABRAHAM an eminent Astronomer wrote a Treatise entituled Liber Intercalationis as also another called Intercalatio Annorum De Solstitiis Aequinoctiis De Lunae motu Mensibus totius Calendarii ratione Quaere whether the same with R. Abraham who wrote De Sphaera mentioned by Christmannus in Alfraganum of whom already ad annum 1115. R. ISAASCHAR BEN SUSAN writ a Treatise entituled Correctio vel Ordinatio Calendarii R. ISAAC ALCHADEB published a Work entituled Via Strata De Calendario De Festis c. R. SALOMON writ a Treatise entituled Sex Alae as also another under the title of Talmid Ephemerides comprehended in six Tables as Hottinger in Smegâ—… Orient There is likewise a Treatise under his Name called Tabula Lunae extant in MS. in the Library of Marcus Mantua Benavidius of Padua mentioned by Thomasinus in Bibl. Patav. ALGAZEL ABUHAMAD a Iewish Philosopher and Astronomer writ in Hebrew a Book De Luminibus entituled Haoroth as the same is cited by Ricciolus in Catalog Astron. JOSEPHUS CHALDAEUS wrote De Planetis as testifies Habede-Iesu in his Catalogue of Chaldeé Ecclesiastick Writers Printed at Rome R. SIMCHA Disciple to R. Solomon put forth an Astronomical Treatise KUSIANUS or KEUXIAN GILAEUS composed Universal Astronomical Tables with Demonstrations of their Canons He is cited by Golius in Alferganum ABU-SEHEL published a Treatise touching the Demonstration of the Planisphere ABDORRACHMAN of Damascus wrote Tabulae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sive Resolutiones ex Tabulis Ulug Beigi brought by the learned Golius from Constantinople He wrote likewise De Astrothesia Imaginum formis variisque Nominibus IBN-JAHIA ABBASIDES AFER published a Treatise of the Doubts and Errors of Astronomers and of the Astrolabe IBN-OMAR SOPHY wrote of Horology or Dialling ABU-SHUKER AFRICANUS wrote of the Theory of the Planets demonstrated and amended according to the newest and latest Observations MAHUMEDES CHARIKAEUS put forth a System of the Doctrine of the Sphere GEORGIANUS wrote a Treatise of the Orbe or Circle called Aequans and of the Obliquity Inclination or Reflection of Epicycles ABI ZELTUS DANITA an Andaluzian put forth an Astrological Treatise ABU MESUD wrote De Corporum Coelestium Contemplatione mentioned in Golius his Catalogue MS. IB'N SINA wrote touching the best Instruments
and made other such kind of Observations The said Instrúment being still preserved in the City Tengfang where likewise is yet standing a Tower on which he used to make his Observations called Quensing Tai or the Starry Specula as Martinius in his Atlas attests By which several Instances it may appear that the Chineses of all the Asiaticks have seemingly the most Reason to claim Precedence and Priority in Point of Antiquity as to the Study of Astronomy and Celestial Observations even before the Egyptians and Chaldeans themselves If any Credit may be given to the Histories and Chronologies of that Nation GERYON a famous Trojan Augur Companion to Brutus or Britus at his first Entrance into this Island as Pitsaeus from the Authority of Ponticus Virunnius affirms wrote among other things De Astronmia PERDIX a Britain surnamed PRAESAGUS by Pitsaeus stiled Mathematicus Insignis atque Observatione Stellarum ac Coelestium Corporum supra quam dici potest Curiosus Of his Writings I find no other mention than of one Book of Predictions HESIODUS ASCRAEUS a Poet supposed contemporary with Homer by Ioseph Scaliger stiled the most Ancient Astrologer and Theologue of the Greeks A Specimen of his Astrology yet remaining in his Poem entituled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of his Theology in that entituled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 merits a Place in this Catalogue and therefore being omitted by the oversight of the Transcriber in his due Place we have inserted him in this Supplement DEMOCRITUS besides what we have already mentioned is said to have written the several Works following relative to our present Subject although no Remains of them be now left as his Magnus Diacosmus and Parvus Diacosmus in which he not only treated of the Fabrick of this Visible World but of other Worlds which he held to be innumerable De Sideribus Vagis seu Planetis which he asserted to be more than the Seaven commonly observed and taken notice of which Assertion of his Modern Experience hath since confirmed Phanae Causae i. e. De Sole vel Apparentiis wherein he took Cognizance of the Solar Maculae or Spots as Magnenus in his life affirms for Phana or Phanes is the same with the Sun so called quòd maximè appareat of which Macrobius Certamen Câ—…epsydrae which Magneâ—… stiles a most subtle Piece because he thereby examined the Motion of the Heaâ—…ns and made as it were a commensuration or Comparison of Motion and Time 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sive Poli Descriptio qua voce nihil aliud intelligitur sayes Salmasius Exercit. Plin. p. 740 quam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Descriptio for these Ancient Sorts of â—…ials if we may relie upon Salmasius his Authority were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 à rotunda Poli Forma cujus Medio Gnomon infigebatur ORONIUS a Britain surnamed MODESTUS is by Pitsaeus from the Authority of Ponticus Virunnius about this time affirmed to have flourished of whom he thus writes Dicunt eum in Astronomia in Poesi Plenidium superasse Plenidius was a learned British Philosopher of the same time He writ both in Greek and Latin several Works among them divers Poems not now extant PROTAGORAS ASTROLOGUS not the same with Protagorâ—… the Philosopher of Adbera is celebrated by Euphorion Chaleidensis who was Keeper of the famous Library of Antiochus Magnus King of Syria and a great Historian and Poet in an Epicedium which he wrote upon his Death mentioned by Diogenes Laertius in the Life of Protagoras Abderit HYPSICLES of Alexandria in Egypt Disciple to the great Isidorus flourished in the Reign of Ptolemaeus Physion He writ De Dodecaedri Icosaedri in eadem Sphaera Descriptorum comparatione atque inter se Proportione as likewise a Treatise entituled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sive de Ascensionibus or as some MS. entitle it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this last published in Greek and Latin by Iacobus Mentelius Printed at Paris by Cramoisy together with Heliodorus Larissaeus his Opticks 1657. in 4 o. ATHELSTAN King of England was learned in Astronomy and among other Writings of which he was Author wrote one Book De Rebus Astrologicis as Pitsaeus testifies MICHAEL PSELLUS of Constantinople is by some conceived to be Author of those Astronomical Pieces ascribed to Enthymius of whom before among the Authors of uncertain Times who perhaps is the same with Euthymius Zygabenus Monachus who was in a manner Contemporary with Psellus viz. Synopsis Astronomiae De Sphaera Quod Rotunda sit Terra AVERROES besides what he wrote upon Ptolemy's Almagest already mentioned writ likewise Astrologica translated into Hebrew by R. Iacob Ben Samson extant in the French King's Library See Labbée Bibliothec. MS. NICHOLAS TREVET already mentioned in the Catalogue at this year wrote besides what is there exprest Canones de Conjunctionibus Oppositionibus Eclipsibus Solis Lunae as they are cited by Pitsaeus GEORGIUS MEDICUS CHRYSOCOCCA is by us already mentioned in the year 1240. But Scaliger l. 1. Epist. 80. places him in the year 1346. at which time he published his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sive 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at Tibena Chasariae quae Regio erat in finibus Imperii Trapezuntici in the longitude of 72° according to the said Scaliger whose Authority we willingly submit to ROGERUS SWINSETTUS or rather Swineshead vulgarly but erroneously Suisset surnamed for his Eminent Skill in Algebra Calculator Fellow of Merton Colledge in Oxford afterwards Monk of the Cistertian Order a most subtle Mathematician of whom the great Master of Subtlety Iul. Caesar Scaliger Exercitat 324. thus wrtes pene Modum excessit Ingenii humani And Exercitat 340. gives this further Elogy of him Dignus profectò quem neque Senium Senem faceret neque Naturae Lex vitâ privaret nisi meliorem Vitam apparasset He wrote two Books De Coelo Mundo one Book entituled Descriptiones Motuum Coel. stium said to be extant in MS. in the Library of Caius and Gonvile Colledge in Cambridge He put forth likewise Ephemerides and Calculationes Astronomieae this last said to have been Printed by Iohannes de Cypro at Padua Vide Pitsaeum GUALTERUS BRITHUS or BRITTE an English-man Fellow of Merton Colledge Oxon of whom Leland sayes Celebre sibi Nomen acquisivit maximè quod Astrorum Motus Corporum Coelestium Naturas Proprietates Affectiones curiâ—…sissima Sedulitate scrutatus fuerit He writ Theoremata Planetarum de Rebus Mathematicis c. Vide Pitsaeum JOANNES DE SACRO FONTE Anglicè HOLYBROOK an English man born in Surrey reduced Alphonsus his Astronomical Tables into a clear and easie Method and published Tabulae Novae Mediorum Motuum Aequationis Dierum according to the Testimony of Leland very accurately computed He put forth likewise Canones Astronomici said by Pitsaeus to be extant in the Publick Library at Oxford ALBERTUS DE
own Writings give us the clearest and the best Accompt By those that is to say his five remaining Books of Astronomicks for other Writings of his the learned World is not acquainted with he is represented to Us to have been an Excellent Mathematician Astronomer Astrologer a great Humanist Philosopher and which comprehends all the rest an admirable Poet. In Astronomy and Astrology he chiefly followed the Doctrine of the Chaldeans and Aegyptians In Philosophy though he was generally conversant in all the different Opinions of the Antients yet he more particularly adhered to that of the Stoicks with which he seems to have been throughly imbu'd as may appear by several Instances particularly that excellent Proem of his fourth Book a Taste of some Part of which We hold it not amiss to give the Reader It begins thus Quid tam sollicitis Vitam consumimus Annis Torquemurque metu caecaque Cupidine rerum c. Why waste We Life in Years of anxious Pain With fears tormented and blind Love of Gain Worn old with Cares not Age which in th' Acquest We loose and with no End of Wishes blest Act as to live still yet ne're live indeed So much more Poor as our Desires exceed What We have not We covet what We have We count not and though Nature little crave We hoard up Matter for vast Luxury And purchase Spoyl with Superfluity With Gain buy Loss as if the End of all Our Wealth were only to be Prodigal Lay Mortals Lay these Cares these Follies by All govern'd is by changeless Destiny That rules the World and Times long Courses run In a link'd Series not to be undon Ev'n in our Births We die and our last End Does on our Live's Original depend c. Of the Time or Manner of his Death We find Nothing recorded What Stock of Credit and Esteem he hath left behind him will best appear by the Censures which the ablest Criticks of these later Ages have given of him and of his Writings Some of which for the Reader 's Satisfaction we shall here enumerate JUDGEMENTS of the Learned on Manilius We begin with ALDUS MANUTIUS in his Edition of our Author Manilius sayes he was the first of all the Latines who wrote of Astronomy and therefore when in many Places of this Work he not a little glories therein deservedly to be born with for it is an Argument of no mean Wit and Industry to have explained such difficult Matter so aptly and so clearly in Verse as he hath done to have only attempted though not performed such a Design being abundantly Praise-worthy and Noble By ANGELUS POLITIANUS in Nutric He is stiled Bis Vates Doubly a Poet for describing so excellently in Verse the Babylonian and Aegyptian Astrology PETRUS CRINITUS De Poet. Latin thus speaks of Him Marcus Manilius is reputed to have been of Illustrious Extraction and flourished at Rome when Augustus happily swayed the Empire thereof and doubtless was most acceptable to so great a Prince for the Eminency of his Learning and Excellency of his Wit He employed his Study and Industry chiefly in Mathematical Arts with so much Proficiency as he thereby gained from the World no mean Applause of his Ingenuity ALEXANDER ab ALEXANDRO Genial Dierum l. 2. c. 21. speaking of several Authors signalized by Fame for their eminent Skill and Knowledge in Celestial Matters reckons among the Greeks Berosus Eudoxus Aristotle Empedocles and Aratus among the Latines Julius Firmicus and Marcus Manilius REMBERTUS DODONAEUS in Isagog Cosmogr citing the Verses of Manilius proving the Figure of the VVorld to be Spherical adds this Encomium As sings that Divine Poet. ADRIANUS TURNEBUS in Adversar gives him the Title of a Noble Poet adding withall that he was an Honour and Ornament even to Poesie it self LUDOVICUS CARRIO emendat l. 2. stiles him a most Grave and Learned Poet. MONSIEUR de MESMES in his Institutions Astronomiques written long since in French calls him The Gentile Astronomical Poet. The Incomparable JOSEPH SCALIGER to whose Learned Labours our Author ows his Second and better Life thus writes of him in his Preface to his last Edition of him As for MANILIUS I cannot say whether I should rather wish that he had been publickly read in the Schools or lament that he hath lain hitherto so neglected A most ingenious Poet and Polite Author having illustrated so Obscure a Subject in such Luculent Verse and displayed a Matter of it self Morose in such a pleasing Character All his Proemial Inductions His Transitions and Excursions are beyond Censure than those Nothing can be said more divine nothing more copious more weighty or more delightful Then coming more particularly to the Censure of this Part which We now publish Certainly sayes he it is a Piece so useful and advantagious to all Generous Youth as it ought to prepare their Way to the Elements of Spherical Learning And again in his Epistle to the Learned Stadius I exhort all knowing and worthy Professors that when ever they go about to instruct their Pupils in the first Elements of the Sphere they would initiate them therein by this first Book of our Author for whence sayes he can they better derive the Principles of that Science than from this most Disert Poet who hath omitted Nothing which may seem pertinent to that purpose The Learned ISAAC CASAUBON Annot. in Strabon alibi honours him with the Title of a most Elegant Poet. PAULUS MELISSUS in his Encomium upon Scaliger's first Edition of our Author thus sings of Him Iove pitying humane Weakness gave to Us Th'Inspector of the Stars Manilius Who to Rome's Nephews first the Knowledge brought Of Heavens high Orbs and their hid Motions taught JOANNES AURATUS upon the same Occasion describes him thus Manilius like another Atlas bears Or an Alcides on his Head the Spheres FRANCISCUS JUNIUS in the Dedicatory Epistle before his Edition gives him this following Elogy Manilius for Gravity of Stile Propriety of Language and Usefulness of Argument is to be preferred before many And again In my Judgment he expresses all Things briefly gravely sweetly and most commodiously for the Instruction of all that read him CHRISTOPHERUS SCHEINERUS in his Accurate Work entituled Rosa Ursina delivers this Censure of him Marcus Manilius whom some call Caius Manilius wrote most elegantly much above any Others of the fluidity and Liquidness of the Heavens That egregious Authour having with extraordinary Clearness Roundness and Elegancy exprest all things concerning the Heavens and the Celestial Bodies GASPAR BARTHIUS in Adversar gives him the Commendation of a most judicious and ingenious Poet and one of the most elegant of the Augustaean Age and in Animadvers in P. Statium adds that he was a Poet most consultive in Philosophy No less Praise is afforded him by JOANNES GLANDORPIUS in Onomastic Roman who gives him the Character of a Noble Mathematician and Poet and One who first of all the Latines wrote of Astronomy in Verse JULIUS NIGRONIUS de non
present in the possession of my worthy Friend George Wharton Esquire PHILIPPUS FANTONIUS a Florentine Monk afterwards Abbot of Camaldolat published a Book in Italian of the reason of reducing the Year to its true Form and Measure of whom G. Vossius sayes that he was Matheseos Scientia egregius which he publickly professed in the Academy at Pisa. See more of him in Simler Bibl. Gesner CYPRIANUS LEOVITIUS of the Leonitian Family in Bohemia Mathematician to Otho-Henry Prince Palatine of the Rhine put forth Astronomical Observations with Astrological Prognosticks upon the new Star in Cassiopaea He likewise accurately described to render Vossius's words several Eclipses from the year 1556. to the year 1606. and published Ephemerides and several other Works mentioned by Simlerus in his Bibliotheca Gesneriana among the rest Brevis perspicua Ratio judicandi Genituras ex Physicis Causis vera Experientia extracta c. to which is prefixed Admonitio de vero licito Astrologiae usu per Hieronymum Wolphium Printed at London 1558. Of Him Tycho Brahe in Progymnasm l. 1. writes at large adding withall that Pleraque ipsius Manuscripta opera ad supputationes Astronomicas praesertim primi Mobilis Tabulas copiosiores faciliores reddendas facientia Augustae in Fuggeorum Bibliotheca non sine harum Aâ—…ium promovendarum Incommodo detinentur JOHANNES DRIANDER Doctor of Physick and Professor of Mathematicks which he illustrated by his learned Writings particularly by his Book of the various Composition of Sun-Dyals by his Description of a nocturnal Instrument for taking the hour of the Night from the inspection of the Stars Astrolabial Canons and the Explication of the Quadrant with several other Astronomical Inventions as it is testified by the excellent Thuanus and Draudius in Bibl Classica GEORGIUS BUCHANANUS that learned Scotch-man hath written Five Books of the Sphere in a Latine Poem to which Iohannes Pincierus hath added a Supplement of the fourth and fifth Books and Arguments to them all RABBI ORI filius Simeonis a Iew of Palaestine put forth Calendarium Palaestinorum omnium Iudaeorum computed for forty years first Printed at Venice in Hebrew afterwards translated into Latine and illustrated with Annotations by Iacobus Christmannus and published at Francfort 1594. FEDERICUS COMMANDINUS of Urbino optimè meritus si quisquam alius de Mathematicis sayes Blancanus For besides the many other excellent Monuments of Greek Learning which we owe to his happy Traduction we are beholding to him for Aristarchus Samius De Magnitudinibus Distantiis Solis aâ—… Lunae which he illustrated by a Comment of his own He put forth likewise Ptolemy's Analemma and wrote De Lineis Horariis MICHAEL BEUTHERUS Native of Carolostadt in Westphalia not far distant from Wurstburgh Scholar to Erasmus Reinholdus afterwards Professor of Poetry History and Mathematicks in the University of Gripswaldt in the Dukedom of Pomerania read at Paris publick Lectures De Annorum Supputatione He wrote De Globo Astronomico De Circulis Of the Correction of the Gregorian Calendar Of the seventy weeks in Daniel Of the time of the World's Creation and the day of our Saviour's Passion He was Library-Keeper to Otho-Henry Prince Palatine of the Rhine and of his Council in Ecclesiastical Affairs and restored to the same Charges afterwards by Frederick the Third ELIAS VINETUS Professor at Bourdeaux besides his Notes on Pomponius Mela De situ Orbis wrote a Commentary in Sphaeram Sacrobosci for which he justly merits a room in this Astronomical Catalogue JOHANNES HONTERUS CORONENSIS of Cronstadt in Transylvania anciently called Zarmigethusa writ Four Books in Verse De Rudimentis Cosmographiae which he adorned with several Land-Tables or Maps To which he adjoyned in Prose a Treatise of the Principles of Astronomy and Geography PETRUS RAMUS first Disciple to Orontius Finaeus afterwards Regius Professor of Mathematicks in the University of Paris besides his Two Books of Arithmetick and XXVII of Geometry put forth XXXII Scholarum Mathematicarum in the first of which he treats of many things relating to the Rise and Advancement of Astronomy MICHAEL NEANDER è valle Ioachimica put forth Elementa Doctrinae Sphaericae Materiam Computi Astronomici as Ricciolus affirms in Chronolog Astron. DANIEL SANTBECH of Nimmeghen put forth according to Ricciolus Praeclara Problemata Astronomica Geometrica in VII Sectiones distributa In the first whereof he treats of several Observations of the Phaenomena of the Sun Moon and fixed Stars In the second he exhibits Canons of the Primum Mobile extracted from the Tables of Regiomontanus The third is of the Reasons of Gnomons and Shadows The other Four are upon Geometrical Subjects JOSEPHUS MOLETIUS Professor of Mathematicks at Padua besides his Comment upon Ptolemy's Geography composed out of the Prutenick Tables others which he called Tabulae Gregorianae for which by the Senate of Venice he was rewarded with 200. Ducats and promised by Pope Gregory XIII for the continuation of them 300. Crowns more He published likewise Introductio ad Ephemerides Printed together with the Ephemerides of Iosephus Scala of Sicily in the year 1589. LUCILLUS PHILALTHAEUS Doctor of Physick wrote as Ricciolus terms them Luculentos Commentarios upon Aristotle De Coelo LEONARDUS DIGGES of a generous Family in Kent besides his Stratiotices and his Mathematical Discourse of Geometrical Solids wrote an Astronomical Prognostication then Printed ALEXANDER PICOLOMINAEUS of Siena wrote Four Books De Sphaera Mundi as also a Treatise of the Fixed Stars in Italian in which Language he likewise published another of the Theory of the Planets and dedicated the same to Cosmus de Medicis and farther another De Magnitudine Terrae Aquae all rendred into Latine by Nicholaus Stupanus and Printed at Basil 1568. SAMUEL SYDEROCRATES wrote De usu Partium Coeli in Commendationem Astronomiae Printed at Strasbourg as Draudius affirms 1567. TITUS à POPMA a Friezlander wrote Tabellas in Sphaeram Elementa Astronomiae EDO HILDERICUS writ a small Treatise entituled Logistice Astronomica Printed at Wittenberg 1568. mentioned by Simler in Bibl. Gesner CHRISTIANUS VURSTISIUS of Basil Professor of Mathematicks in the University of Zurich wrote learned Questions in Theoricas Purbacchii whereto he prefixed an Introduction of his own Printed at Basil by Henricus Petri 1586. ABRAHAMUS ORTELIUS of Antwerp Geographer to Philip II King of Spain most deservedly challenges a place in this Catalogue especially for that great Work of his Theatrum Orbis Terrarum with it's Parergon and his Thesaurus Geographicus GERARDUS MERCATOR a Native of Rupelmonde in Flanders made several Mathematical Instruments for the Emperour Charles the Fifth particularly a Globe in which was comprized the Constitution of the Planets and the Celestial Signs and Constellations He likewise made for the said Emperour two other Globes the one Celestial of Chrystal the other
participating of the excessive Cold and Moisture from the upper Circle of Saturn and the immoderate Heat of Mars that is next under be by this means discharges the superfluity of either whereupon it is commonly said that Jupiter darts Lightning c. Of the Superstitious Opinions of the Antients touching Thunder and Lightning see Nardius in his 27. accurate Animadversion on the 6. Book of Lucretius de rerum Naturâ a Of the several Mundane Systems Antient and Modern see the Appendix b Who first reduced the Stars into Asterisms or Constellations is not easily to be found out As hard a Task it is to reconcile the different Morphoses or Figures in the several Spheres of the Chaldaeans Persians Aegyptians Greeks Arabibians Indians Chineses and Tartars whose various differences may appear partly by the Description of Abu Masher commonly called Albumazar partly by Aben Ezra de Decanis Signorum published by Scaliger in his Notes upon our Authour Of all which Salmatius in Praefat. ad Diatrib de Antiqu. Astrolog conceives those of the Greeks most vulgarly used amongst us to be the newest and latest As to the Names of the Stars it is not to be doubted but that they were first imposed by Adam Though those except some few preserv'd in Scripture be long since utterly lost Yet the Names we now use are most of them above two thousand years standing as is manifest by Hesiod and Homer It is not yet to be imagined that they were all impos'd about one and the same time some being of much later Denomination as particularly Coma Berenices so called by Conon Antinous and others Some report Astraeus to be the first who gave Names to the Stars whom for that reason Fama Parentem Tradidit Astrorum As Germanicus makes Aratus speak concerning which see Theon Others ascribe this to Mercury But as to the several Denominations of the Signs and Constellations see after in the following Notes c The Aspects or mutual Radiations of the Signs and Stars are the Habitudes of one unto another in a determinate distance in which they are apt to Cooperate and these commonly are reckoned five in number and are attributed peculiarly to the Stars and Signs within the Zodiack but extended likewise to the rest These Censorinus de die Natal c. 8. calls Conspectus the Antient Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the later 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Arabs Almantar Their Characteristick Notes Names and Distances thus exprest ☌ Conjunctio 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gr. 0 âš¹ Sextilis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gr. 60 â–¡ Quadratus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gr. 90 â–³ Trinus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gr. 120 ☠Oppositio 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gr. 180 To which Kepler and Mestlinus add several others But the most eminent Aspects are the great Conjunctions of the three Superior Planets and their distances in Trine Aspects of the Zodiacal Signs called therefore Triplicities The first fiery whose Angles answer to the fiery Signs Aries Leo and Sagittary The second aery answering to the aery Signs Gemini Libra Aquarius The third watry pointing to the watry Signs Cancer Scorpio and Pisces The last Earthy whose Angles are terminated in the Earthy Signs Taurus Virgo and Capricorn d Others of the Romans says Scaliger 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tentarunt essay'd to write of this Subject in Prose as Varro and Nigidius who both wrote of the Sphere as well the Barbarick as the Greek Cassiodorus in Astronom mentioning the first Servius in Georg. the other And among the Greeks Eratosthenes Aratus Hegâ—…syanax and Hermippus wrote of the Coelestial Phaenomena and Ovid after Marcus Tullius and Germanicus after him translated Aratus into Latine Verse But not any amongst the Romans before our Authour for ought appears ever wrote an Astronomical or Astrological Poem of their own Invention Nor of the later sort any among the Greeks save only Dorotheus Sidonius who wrote an Apotelesmatick Poem though now lost And therefore not unjustly does our Authour assume the Glory of this to himself from all the Latines The Original of the World according to the various Opinions of the Antients e The Opinion of Xenophanes who held the World to be eternal ungenerated uncreated and incorruptible with whom agree Parmenides Melissus and Aristotle to whose Opinion likewise Xenocrates subscribes and with them Pliny l. 2. c. 1. thus concludes Numen esse Mundum credi par est aeternum immensum neque genitum neque interiturum unquam Vide etiam Censorin de die Natal c. 4. And as to this and the several other Opinions of the Antients touching the Efficient Cause Matter and Principles of the Universe besides Plutareb de Placit Philosoph and Stobaeus in Eclog. Physic. see Paul Merula his Learned Dissertation in Q. Ennii Annal. p. 119. upon these Verses Corpore Tartarino prognata Paluda Virago Quoi par Imber Ignis Spiritus Gravi ' Terra f Our Authour here makes Chaos to disclose and separate the mixed Principles of things and to bring forth the World Claudian more conform and agreable to the Antient Theologie of the Ethnicks makes Clemency or Love to effect this Work l. 2. de Laâ—…d Stilicon Prima Chaos Clementia solvit Congeriem miserata rudem vultuque sereno Discussis Tenebris in Lucem Saecula fudit Hesiod as Plutarch delivers his Opinion l. de Iside Osyride makes the Principles of all things to be Chaos Earth Tartarus and Love By Earth understanding Isis by Love Osyris by Tartarus Typho by Chaos 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Place Region or receptacle of universal matter to which its name answers Chaos signifying no other than Hiatus seu vistitas quaedam Philo Biblius from the Writings of Sancuniathou as cited by Eusebius in prima Praeparat writes thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. i. e. The Theology of the Phoenicians makes the Principles of the Universeâ—… dark Spiritual Air or a Spirit of dark Air and confus'd Chaos involv'd in Obscurity These were infinite and for some time without Bound or Term But when the Spirit was touch'd with the love of his own Principles and a Mixtion was made there was given to that Neâ—…re the name of Love This was the beginning of the production of all things But the Spirit it self had no Generation And from this Connexion of the Spirit was begotten Mâ—…T which some call slime c. From which Theology of the Phoenicians Hesiod Ovid and others deriy'd their Fables of Chaos as the Phoenicians theirs from their Neighbours the Iews and the Writings of Moses not clearly understood See Grotius in his Notes upon his Book deveritat Relig. Christ. l. 1. Of the several acceptions of the word Chaos according to the different Notions of the Poets Philosopherâ—… and Divines See Riâ—…ciolus on that Subject in Almagest Nov. Tom. 2. lib. 9. g The Opinion of Democritus Leucippus and Epicurus and before them of Mâ—…schus or rather Mâ—…chus the Sidonian who as