THE USE Of the ASTRONOMICAL Playing-Cards Teaching any Ordinary Capacity by them to be acquainted with all the STARS in HEAVEN To know their Place in Heaven Colour Nature and Bigness As also the Poetical Reasons for every CONSTELLATION Very Useful Pleasant and Delightful for all Lovers of INGENIETY By Joseph Moxon Hydrographer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty LONDON Printed by J. Moxon and are to be Sold at his Shop at the Sign of the Atlas in Warwick Lane 1692. OF THE Stars in HEAVEN THE Stars are divided into six sorts or sizes called Magnitudes which are you may see distinguisht with six several sizes of Asterisks made like Stars as seÌ„t down in a Table on the Card over Dorado whither I â—efer you Astronomers have computed the sizes of these Stars by comparing them either to the Diameter or â—lse to the whole Globe of the Earth The Diameâ—…er of the Earth is 6872 of our common Miles viz. â—uch Miles as the whole Circumference of the Earth â—nd Water makes 21600 Miles allowing for every â—egree of the greatest Circle 60 Miles Now the Diameter of a Star of the first Magnitude compared with the Diameter of the Earth hath such proportiâ—…n to it as 19 hath to 4 therefore it containeth â—he Diameter of the Earth 4 times and ¾ The Diameter of a Star of the second Magnitude â—s unto the Diameter of the Earth as 269 is to 60 â—herefore it containeth it 4 28 90 times The Diameter of a fixed Star of the third Magniâ—ude is unto the Diameter of the Earth as 25 unto 6 â—herefore it containeth it 4 â…™ times The Diameter of a fixed Star of the fourth magâ—itude is unto the Diameter of the Earth as 19 unto 〈◊〉 therefore it containeth it 3 â…˜ times The Diameter of a fixed Star of the fifth Magnitude is unto the Diameter of the Earth as 119 unto 36 therefore it containeth it 3 11 36 times The Diameter of a fixed Star of the sixth magnitude is unto the Diameter of the Earth as 21 unto 8 therefore it containeth it â… times As for the proportions of the cloudy and obscure Stars they are not expressed because they are but few and of no great account in respect of their smalness The proportions of the fixed Stars compared with the Globe of the Earth are as follow A Star of the first Magnitude is to the Globe oâ— the Earth as 6859 to 64 therefore it containeth the Globe of the Earth 107 â…™ times A Star of the second Magnitude is to the Globe oâ— the Earth as 19465109 is to 216000 therefore iâ— containeth it 90 â…› times A Star of the third Magnitude is to the Globe oâ— the Earth as 15625 is unto 216 therefore it containeth it 72 â…“ times A Star of the fourth Magnitude is to the Globe oâ— the Earth as 6850 is unto 125 therefore it containeth the Globe of the Earth 54 11 12 times A Star of the fifth Magnitude is to the Globe oâ— the Earth as 1685159 is unto 46656 therefore iâ— containeth the Globe of the Earth 36 8 1 times A Star of the sixth Magnitude is to the Globe oâ— the Earth as 9261 is unto 511 therefore it containeth the Globe of the Earth 18 1 10 times I confess all this may seem matter of incredulity to those whose understanding is swayed by their visual sence because they cannot perhaps conceive it possible that the Heaven which appears so small to the bare eye should be able to contain so great a number of such great bodies as is here spoken of yet if those be capable to consider the vast distance of this Heaven and consequently of the Stars placed in it from the face of the Earth and also the Diminutive quality of distance their reason will be rectified and their incredulity turn'd into an acknowledgment of the unspeakable wisdom of Almighty God and they will say with the Psalmist Great is our Lord Great is his Power his Wisdom is Infinite Psal. 147.5 The distance of the Stars therefore from the Earth is according to Mr. John Dee's computation 2008 1 ½ semidiameters of the Earth The semidiameter of the Earth containeth of our common miles 3436 4 11 such miles as the whole Earth and Sea round about is 21600 allowing for every degree of the greatest circle 60 miles so that the distance of the Stars from the Earth is in miles 69006540 a distance so vastly great that were there a path for a Footman to walk in of that length he must have set forth 9452 years 347 days ago and have travelled 20 miles every day to have been just now at his Journeys end Now as Mr. Dee saith almost in the same words if you weigh well with your self this little parcel of fruit Astronomical as concerning the bigness and distance of the Stars c. and the huge massiness of the Starry Heaven you will find your Consciences moved with the Kingly Prophet to sing the confession of Gods Glory and say The Heavens declare the Glory of God and the Firmament sheweth the works of his Hands Of the Constellations in Heaven A Constellation is a certain number of Stars placed by God Almighty neer one another in Heaven and by Astronomers circumscribed in one Figure depicted about them as Aries the Ram is a Constellation Taurus the Bull is another Constellation c. Astronomers brought them into these figures for instructions sake things cannot be taught without names to give a name to every Star had been troublesom to the Master and for the Schollar for the Master to devise and for the Schollar to remember and therefore the Astronomers have reduced many Stars into one Constellation that thereby they may tell the better where to seek them and being sought how to express them And they brought them into these figures and none other being moved thereto by these three Reasons first these figures express some properties of the Stars that are in them as those of the Ram to be hot and dry Andromeda chained betokeneth imprisonment the head of Medusa cut off signifieth the loss of that part Orion with his terrible and threatning gesture importeth tempest and terrible effects The Serpent the Scorpion and the Dragon signifie poyson The Bull insinuateth a melancholly passion The Bear inferreth cruelty c. Secondly the Stars if not precisely yet after a sort do represent such a figure and therefore that figure was assigned them as for example the Crown both North and South the Scorpion and the Triangle represent the figures which they have The third cause was the continuance of the memory of some notable men who either in regard of their singular pains taken in Astronomy or in regard of some other notable deed had well deserved of mankind The first Author of every particular Constellation is uncertain yet are they of great antiquity we receive them from Ptolomy and he followed the Platonicks so that their antiquity is great Moreover we may perceive them to be
ancient by the Scriptures and by the Poets In the 38 Chapter of Job there is mention made of the Pleiades Orion and Arcturus and Mazzaroth which some interpret the 12 Signs Job lived in the time of Abraham as Syderocotes maketh mention in his Book de Commensurandis locorum distantiis Now besides all this touching the reason of the invention of these Constellations the Poets had this purpose viz. to make men fall in love with Astronomy And to that intent have to every Constellation invented strange conceited stories as you may read hereafter therein imitating Demosthenes who when he could not get the people of Athens to hear him in a matter of great moment and profitable for the Common-wealth he began to tell them a tale of a fellow that sold an Ass by which tale he so brought on the Athenians that they were both willing to hear his whole Oration and to put in practice what he exhorted them to The like intent had the Poets in inventing of those stories they saw that Astronomy being for its commodity singular in the life of man was almost of all men utterly neglected Hereupon they began to set forth that Art under Fictions that thereby such as could not be perswaded by commodity might by the pleasure be induced to take a view of these matters and thereby at length fall in love with them For commonly you shall note this that he that is ready to read the stories cannot content himself therewith but desireth also to know the Constellation or at leastwise some principal Star therein All the Constellations formerly notified by the Antients were in number 48 because no more were seen in our Hemisphere though in this latter Age there are 12 more discovered about the South Pole which because it may be somewhat more pleasant for reading and much more helpful for your memory I shall give you their Names in plain English Rhythmes The Constellations of the Fixed Stars THE Army of the Starry Skie Declares the Glory of God most high Seen and perceived of all Nations In eight and fourty Constellations First near unto the Northern Pole The Dragon and two Bears do role Whose hinder parts and Tails contain The lesser and the greater Wain The Hair the Bear-ward and the Crown And then comes Hercules kneeling down And next below a place doth take Great Serpentarius with his Snake Under the Harp of Orpheus The Eagle and Antinous The Silver Swan her Wings doth spread Above the Dart and Dolphins head Then Pegasus comes on amain Andromeda follows in her Chain The Triangle below her stands And at her feet in Perseus hands The Gorgon's head Above are seen Her Parents Cepheus with his Queen Cassiope Not far below Heniochus his Goat doth show On his left shoulder in his hand He doth the stormy Kids command Of the Zodiack Here in the Zodiaque begins The Ram the Bull the Loving Twins The Crab the Lyon and Virgin tender The Ballance Scorpion and Bow-bender Goat Waterman then Fishes twain Shall bring you round to th' Ram again Fifteen Images appear In the Southern Hemisphere The Monstrous Whale before the rest Eridanus scarce wets his brest Over the Hare Orion bright Sparkles in a Winters night Then comes the Great Dog at whose tail The famous Argo spreads her sail Above the Little Dog doth flame For whom the Latines had no name Long Hydra on her tail allow Carries the Pitcher and the Crow The Centaure holds the Wolf by th' heel The Altar and Ixions Wheel Are never seen of us but here The Southern Fish brings up the rear Southern Constellations About the Southern Pole there be Twelve Constellations we can't see Which Frederick Houtman did survay Upon the Island Sumatrae They 'r call'd the Crane the Phoenix and The Indian with three Darts in 's hand The Bird of Paradice the Fly The Peacock the Camelion sly The South Triangle and South Snake The Toucan Goose with its long Beak The Flying Fish and Dorado Two Magellanick Clouds also Of the Nature of the Stars To many of the Principal Stars there is in planetical Characters prefixed their Planetical Natures The Astrologers make great use of them for knowing the nature of the Stars for those Stars that have the character of ♄ adjoined are said to be of the nature of ♄ those that have ♃ adjoyned are of the nature of ♃ and so of the rest If a Star have the characters of two Planets adjoyned that Star participates of both their Natures but most of that Planets whose character is first placed The use Astronomers make of those characters is for knowing the colour of any Star as if a Star have ♄ adjoyned it is of the colour of ♄ if ♃ it is the colour of ♃ c. The fixed Stars are known from the Planets by their continual twinckling for the Planets never twinckle but the fixed Stars do How you may learn to know all the Stars in Heaven by these Playing Cards To each of these Cards I have set down the day of the month that the Constellation in it rises at the Time of Sun-setting as also the point of the Compass it rises on so that if you will observe it when the Sun sets you will see the Constellation rising upon that point of the Compass set down on the Card with the letters of the point of the Compass For Example If you would know when the Little Dog rises in the Evening look in the bottom of the Card and you will find Jan. 11. E. by N. which shews that on the 11 th of January at Sun-set the Constellation of the Little Dog rises East and by North therefore looking into that part of Heaven you shall see the Constellation rising and the Stars placed in Heaven just as you find them placed on the Card. But if the Constellation be risen some considerable time you must know the time since it rose and estimate how high it may be above the Earth by allowing about the twelfth part of Heaven for every hour since Sun-set and about that esteemed height look for it and when you find a number of Stars placed in Heaven like those on your Card you may conclude that to be the Constellation and to your great delight and satisfaction See in what part of the Constellation each particular Star lies and of what Nature Colour and magnitude it is These Cards are divided into four Suits as other Playing Cards are viz. Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs And Astronomers have divided the whole face of Heaven into four Colures viz. The Vernal Colure or Spring The Aestival Colure or Summer The Autumnal Colure or Autumne The Hyemnal Colure or Winter Because when the Sun comes to any of these Colures the Season of the year alters into Spring Summer Autumn Winter and so have I divided these Cards for all the Constellations that are in the Vernal Colure are known by the suit of Spades in the Aestiral Colure are Hearts in the Autumnal Colure
Diamonds and in the Hyemnal Colure are Clubs which are placed on the top at the left hand of every Card and the number of each suit is marked on the top of the Card close by it with Numerical Letters thus I II III IV V c. to X and the Kings Queens and Knaves of each suite are also depicted on the top in the middle of the Card. Of Via Lactea or the Milky-way This Circle is not set down on the Cards because it takes up the whole compass of Heaven but it is so plain to be seen every clear night that it needs no picture Yet I shall tell you what Constellations it passeth through so that you may easily find any part of it that is above the Horizon when you please VIA LACTEA or Circulus Lacteus by the Latines so called and by the Greeks Galaxia and by the English the Milkey way It is a broad white Circle that is seen in the Heaven In the North Hemisphere it beginneth at Cancer on each side the head thereof and passeth by Auriga by Perseus and Cassiopeia the Swan and the head of Capricorn the tail of Scorpio and the feet of Centaur Argo the Ship and so unto the head of Cancer Some in a sporting manner do call it Watling-street but why they call it so I cannot tell except it be in regard of the narrowness that it seemeth to have or else in respect of that great High-way that lyeth between Dover and St. Albans which is called by our men Watling-street Concerning this Circle as there are sundry opinions so there is great difference among some writers both touching the place matter and efficient cause thereof Aristotle dissenteth from all other both Philosophers and Poets in the place matter and cause of this Circle saying that it is a Meteor ingendred in the Air made of the vapors of the earth drawn up thither by the heat of the Sun and there set on fire But his opinion is of all men confuted First touching the place it cannot be in the Air whatsoever is in the Air is not seen of all men at all times to be under one and the same part of Heaven If we see it in the South they that are in the West shall see it under the East side of the Heaven and they that are in the East shall see it in the West part of the Heaven but this Circle is of all men seen always under the same part of Heaven and to be joined with the same Stars therefore it cannot be in the Air. Again for the matter it cannot be made of that which Aristotle nameth i. e the vapours of the Earth because of the long continuance of the thing and that without any alteration for it is impossible that any Meteor made of vapours drawn up from the Water or exhalations from the Earth should last so long as may be seen in Blazing Stars which though they have continued long as namely 16 months some more some less yet at the length they have vanished away whereas this Circle hath continued from the beginning unto this day Besides put case it were made of these exhalations whence will they infer the uniformity thereof The Comets do alter diversly both in the fashion of their Blazing and also in their several quantities whereas in this Circle there is nothing but the same part always of one form and of one bigness In the efficient cause thereof he must needs erre for if it be neither in the Air nor made of the exhalations of the Earth it cannot be caused by the Sun for the one is the place and the other the matter wherein and whereupon the Sun sheweth his power All other besides Aristotle agree in the place but differ in the efficient cause thereof and rhey are either Philosophers or Poets Both these affirm that it is in the Firmament i. e. in the eight Sphere but they disagree in the cause thereof The Philosophers and chiefly Democritus affirm the cause of the thing to be the exceeding great number of Stars in that part of Heaven whose beams meeting together so confusedly and not coming distinctly to the eye causeth us to imagine such a whiteness as is seen But the best opinion is this that this Milkey way is a part of the Firmament neither so thin as the other parts thereof are nor yet so thick as the Stars themselves If it were as thin as the other parts of the Heaven besides the Stars then could it not retain the light but the light would pass through it and not be seen if it were as thick as the Stars then would the light be so doubled in it that it would glister and shine as the Stars themselves do but being neither so thin as the one nor so thick as the other it becometh of that whiteness we see Thus far Dr. Hood But Our modern Philosophers conceive this Lactean whiteness ariseth from a great number of little Stars constipated in that part of Heaven flying so swiftly from the sight of our eyes that we can perceive nothing but a confused light this the Telescope more lately found out doth evidently demonstrate to us by the benefit of which little Stars otherwise inconspicuous to our eyes are there clearly discerned About the Southern Pole are seen two white spots like little Clouds coloured like the Via Lactea One of which is trebble the latitude of the other some Mariners call them Nubeculae Magellani Here follows the ANCIENT STORIES Of the several Stars and Constellations Shewing the Poetical Reasons why such Various FIGURES are placed in HEAVEN Collected from Dr. HOOD And First Of the Northern Constellations URSA MINOR This Constellation hath the preheminence because it is nearest of all the rest unto the North Pole and is called of the Greeks Arctos whereupon the Pole is called the Pole Artick for that it is near unto this Constellation It is also called Helice minor because of the small Revolution which it maketh round about the Pole or rather of Elice a Town in Arcadia wherein Calisto the great Bear and Mother to the less was bred It is called Cynosura because this Constellation though it carry the name of a Bear yet it hath the tail of a Dog Last of all it is termed Phaenice because that Thales who first gave the name to this Constellation was a Phaenician And therefore the Phaenicians being taught how to use it in their Navigations did call it by the name of the Countrey wherein Thales was born It consisteth of Seven Stars which the Latines call Septentriones because by their continual motions those Seven Stars do as it were wear the Heaven The Spaniards do call them all Bosina that is an Horn because they may be very well brought into that form whereof that which is the end of the Tail is called the Pole-Star by reason of the nearness thereof unto the Pole of the World for it is distant according to the opinion
of most from the true Pole but 3 degrees 30 minutes The Arabians call it Alrukaba And of the Scythians it is said to be an Iron nail and is worshipped by them as a God The two Stars that are in the shoulders of the Bear are called the Guards of the Spanish word Guardare which is to behold because they are diligently to be looked unto in regard of their singular use which they have in Navigation The reason why this Constellation was brought into the Heavens is diversly set down and first in this manner Saturn having received of the Oracle that one of his Sons should banish him out of his Kingdom determined with himself to kill all the Men-children that he should beget whereupon he gave command to Ops his Wife being then great that she should shew him the Child so soon as ever it was born But she bringing forth Jupiter and being greatly delighted with his hair gave the Child unto two Nymphs of Creet dwelling in the Mount Dicte whereof this was one and was called Cynosura the other was Helice Jupiter after that according to the Oracle he had bereft his Father of his Kingdom in recompence of their pains and curtesy translated them both into the Heavens and made of them two Constellations the lesser Bear and the greater Bear Other-some say that it was Arcas the son of Calisto and they tell the Tale on this manner Calisto a Nymph of singular Beauty Daughter to Lycaon King of Arcadia induced by the great desire she had of hunting became a follower of the Goddess Diana After this Jupiter being enamoured with her Beauty and out of hope by reason of her profession to win her love in his own person counterfeited the shape of Diana lay with Calista and got her with Child of whom was born a Son which was called Arcas Diana or rather Juno being very much offended herewith turned Calisto into a Bear Arcas her Son at the age of fifteen hunting in the Woods by chance lighted on his Mother in the shape of a Bear who knowing her Son Arcas stood still that he might come near unto her and not be afraid but he fearing the shape of so cruel a Beast bent his Bow of purpose to have slain her whereupon Jupiter to prevent the mischief translated them both into Heaven and of them made two several Constellations unto the Lesser Bear there belongs but one Star unformed 2. VRSA MAJOR the Greater Bear called also of the Greeks Arctos and Helice consisteth of 27 Stars Among the which those seven that are in the hinder part and tail of the Bear are most observed the Latines call them Plaustrum and of our met they are called Charles Wayn because the Stars do stand in such sort that the three which are in the taiâ— resemble the Horses and the other four which are in the flank of the Bear stand after a manner like the Wheels of a wagon or Chariot and they are supposed by some to be greater than the Sun The reason of the translation of this Constellation into the Heaven is at large set down in the other Constellationâ— and therefore needs not here to be repeated This Constellation was first invented by Nauplius the Father of Palamedes the Greek and in great use among the Grecians and this is to be noted both in this and the former Constellation that they never set under the Horizon in any part of Europe which though it falâ— out by reason of their scituation in the Heavens Yeâ— the Poets say that it came to pass through the displeasure and hatred of Juno who for that she was by Calisto made a Cuckquean and they notwithstanding as she took it in despight of her ' were Translated into Heaven requested her brother Neptune that hâ— should never suffer those Stars to set within hiâ— Kingdom To which request Neptune condescendedâ— so that in all Europe they never come near unto thâ— Sea or touch the Horizon If any one marvel thaâ— seeing she hath the form of a Bear she should have a tail so long imagine that Jupiter fearing to come too nigh unto her teeth laid hold on her tail and thereby drew her up into Heaven so that she of her self being very weighty and the distance from the Earth to the Heaven very great there was great likelyhood that her tail must stretch The Unformed Stars belonging to this Constellation are Eight 3. DRACO the Dragon of some named the Serpent of others the Snake by the Arabians Aben and by Junctinus Florentinus Vrago because he windeth his tail round about the Ecliptick Pole it containeth 31 Stars This was the Dragon that kept the Golden Apples in the Orchard of the Hesperides now thought to be the Islands of Cape de Virde and for his diligence and watchfulness was afterwards Translated into Heaven Yet others say that he came into Heaven by this occasion when Minerva withstood the Gyants fighting against the Gods they to terrifie her threw at her a mighty Dragon but she catching him in her hands threw him presently up into Heaven and placed him there as a memorial of that her resistance Others would have it to be the Serpent Python whom Apollo slew after the Deluge 4. CEPHEVS containeth in him 11 Stars and hath two unformed This was a King of the Aethiopians and Husband unto Cassiopeia and Father of Andromeda whom Perseus married He was taken up into Heaven with his Wife and Daughter for the good Deeds of Perseus his Son in Law that he and his whole stock might be had in remembrance for ever The Star which is in his right shoulder is called by the Arabians Alderahiemin i. e. his right Arm. 5. BOOTES the driver of the Oxen for so I suppose the name to signifie rather than an Herdsman for he hath not his name because he hath the care of any Cattel but only because he is supposed to drive Charles his Wain which is drawn by 3 Oxen he is also called Arctophilax the keeper of the Bear as tho' the care of her were committed to him This Constellation consisteth of 22 Stars Some will have Bootes to be Arcas the Son of her who before was turned into the Great Bear and they tell the Tale thus Lycaon the Father of Calisto receiving Jupiter into his house as a Guest took Arcas his Daughters Son and cut him in pieces and among other Services set him before Jupiter to be eaten for by this means he thought to prove if his Guest were a God as he pretended to be Jupiter perceiving this heinous fact overthrew the Table fired the house with lightning and turned Lycaon into a Wolf but gathering setting together again the limbs of the child he committed him to a Nimph of Aetolia to be kept Arcas afterwards coming to mans estate and hunting in the Woods lighted at un-awares upon his Mother transformed by Juno into the shape of a Bear whom he pursued into the Temple of Jupiter Lycaeus whereunto by
18. EQVICVLUS is the little Horse and it consisteth of 4 Stars This Constellation is named almost of no Writer saving Ptolomeus and Alphonsus who followed Ptolemy and therefore no certain Tale or History is delivered thereof by what means he came into Heaven 19. EQUUS ALATUS the Winged Horse or Pegasus it containeth 20 Stars This Horse was bred of the blood of Medusa after that Perseus had cut off her head and was afterwards taken and tamed by Bellerophon whiles he drank of the River Pirene by Corinth and was used by him in the conquest of Chimera after which exploit Bellerophon being weary of the earthly affairs endeavoured to fly up into Heaven But being amazed in his flight by looking down to the earth he fell from his Horse Pegasus notwithstanding continuing his course as they feign entred into Heaven and there obtained a place among the other Constellations 20. ANDROMEDA She consteth of 23 Stars but one of them is common both unto her and Pegasus This was the daughter of Cepheus and Cassiopeia and the Wife of Perseus the reason why Minerva or Jupiter placed her in the Heavens is before expressed Novidius referreth this Constellation unto Alexandria the Virgin whom S. George through the good help of his Horse delivered from the Dragon 21. TRIANGULUM the Triangle called also Deltoton because it is like the fourth Letter of the Greek Alphabet Δ which they call Delta it consisteth of four stars They say it was placed in Heaven by Mercury that thereby the head of the Ram might be the better known Others say that it was placed there in honour of the Geometricians among whom the Triangle is of no small importance Others affirm that Ceres in times past requested Jupiter that there might be placed in Heaven some Figure representing the form of Sicily an Island greatly beloved of Ceres for the fruitfulness thereof now this Island being triangular at her request was represented in the Heaven under that form Thus much concerning the Constellations of the Northern Hemisphere Now follow the Poetical Stories of the Constellations of the Southern Hemisphere Secondly Of the Southern Constellations 1 CETUS the Whale it is also called the Lyon or Bear of the Sea This is that monstrous Fish that should have devoured Andromeda but being overcome by Perseus was afterwards translated into Heaven by Jupiter as well for a token of Perseus his manhood as for the bigness of the Fish it self This Constellation consisteth of 22 Stars 2. ORION this hath 38 Stars The Poetical reason of his translation into the Heavens shall be shewn in the Scorpion amongst the Zodiacal Constellations The Ancient Romans called this Constellation Jugala because it is most pestiferous unto Cattel and as it were the very cut-throat of them There are bright Stars in his girdle which we commonly call our Ladies yard or wand Novidius applying this sword of Orion unto Scripture will have it to be the Sword of Saul afterwards called Paul wherewith he persecuted the Members of Christ which after his Conversion was placed in Heaven In his left shoulder there is a very bright Star which in Latine is called Bellatrix the Warriour in the Faeminine Gender I cannot find the reason except it be this that Women born under this Constellation shall have mighty tongues the reason of the Ox hide which he hath in his hand may be Gathered out of the next story 3. FLUVIUS the River it comprehendeth 34 Stars It is called by some Eridanus or Pagus they say that it was placed in Heaven in remembrance of Phaeton who having set the whole Earth on fire by reason of misguiding his Father Phoebus his Chariot was slain by Jupiter with a thunder-bolt and tumbling down from Heaven fell into the River Eridanus or Padus which the Italians call Po. Others say that it is Nilus and that that figure was placed in Heaven because of the excellency of that River which by the Divines is called Gihon and is one of the Rivers of Paradice Others call it Flumen Orionis the flood of Orion and say that it was placed there to betoken the off-spring from whence Orion came for the tale is thus reported of him Jupiter Neptune and Mercury travelling upon the Earth in the likness of Men were requested by Hyerus to take a poor lodging at his house for a Night they being overtaken with the evening yeilded unto his request Hyreus made them good cheer killing an Ox for their better entertainment The Gods seeing the good heart of the old man willed him to demand what he would in recompence of his so friendly cheer Hyerus and his Wife being old requested the Gods to gratify them with a Son They to fulfil his desire called for the hide of the Ox that was slain and having received it they put it into the Earth and made water into it all three together and covering it willed Hyreus within ten months after to dig it out of the Earth again which he did and found therein a Man-child whom he called Ourion ab Urania of piss although afterwards by leaving out the second letter he was named Orion At such time therefore as he was placed in Heaven this flood was joyned hard to his heels and the Ox hide wherein the Gods did piss was set in the left hand in memorial of his Off-spring 4. LEPUS the Hare which consisteth of 12 Stars This Constellation was placed in Heaven between the legs of Orion to signifie the great delight in hunting which he had in his life time but others think it was a frivolous thing to say that so notable a fellow as Orion would trouble himself with so small and timorous a Beast as the Hare and therefore they tell the tale thus In times past there was not a Hare left in the Isle Leros a certain youth therefore of that Island being very desirous of that kind of beast brought with him from another Country thereabout an Hare great with young which when she had brought forth they in time became so acceptable unto the other Country men that every one almost desired to have and keep a Hare By reason whereof the number of them grew to be so great within a short space after that the whole Island became full of Hares so that their Masters were not able to find them meat whereupon the Hares breaking forth into the fields devoured their Corn. Wherefore the Inhabitants being bitten with hunger joyned together with one consent and though with much adoe destroyed the Hares Jupiter therefore placed this Constellation in the Heavens as well to express the exceeding fearfulness of the Beast as also to teach men this lesson that there is nothing so much to be desired in this life but that at one time or another bringeth with it more grief than pleasure Some say that it was placed in Heaven at the request of Ganimedes who was greatly delighted with hunting the Hare 5. CANIS MAJOR the Great Dog it consisteth of 18
of them being in his hand let one of them fall upon his foot and being greatly tormented not only by the anguish of the Poyson working in the Wound but much more because he knew himself to be immortal and his wound not to be recovered by Medicine he was enforced to make request unto the Gods that he might be taken out of the World who pitying his case took him up into Heaven and made him one of the 12 Signs 10. CAPRICORNVS the Goat it consisteth of 28 Stars The Poets say that this was Pan the God of the Shepherds of whom they feign in this manner The Gods having War with the Gyants gathered themselves together into Aegypt Typhon the Gyant pursued them thither whereby the Gods were brought into a quandary that well was he that by changing his shape might shift for himself Jupiter turned himself into a Ram Apollo became a Crow Bacchus a Goat Diana lurked under the form of a Cat Juno transformed her self into a Cow Venus into a Fish Pan leaping into the River Nilus turneth the upper part of his body into a Goat and the lower part into a Fish Jupiter wondring at the strange device would needs have that Image and Picture translated into Heaven and made one of the 12 Signs In that the hinder part of this Sign is like a Fish It betokeneth that the latter part of the month wherein the Sun possesseth this Sign inclineth unto Rain 11. AQVARIVS the Waterman it hath 42 Stars whereof some make the Figure of the Man othersome the Water-pot and some the stream of water that runneth out of the pot This is feigned to be Ganimedes the Trojan the son of Oros and Callirhoe whom Jupiter did greatly love for his excellent favour and beauty and by the service of his Eagle carried him up into Heaven where he made him his Cup-bearer and called him Aquarius Others notwithstanding think it to be Deucalion the son of Prometheus whom the Gods translated into Heaven in remembrance of that mighty deluge which hapned in his time whereby mankind was almost utterly taken away from the face of the earth The unformed stars belonging unto this Sign are three 12. PISCES the Fishes these together with the line that knitteth them together contain 24 Stars The Poets say that Venus and Cupid her son coming upon a certain time unto the River Euphrates and sitting upon the bank thereof upon a sudden espied Typhon the Gyant that mighty and fearful enemy of the gods coming towards them upon whose sight they being stricken with exceeding fear lept into the River where they were received by two Fishes and by them saved from drowning Venus for this good turn translated them into Heaven Gulielmus Postellus would have them to be the two Fishes wherewith Christ fed the 5000 Men. The unformed Stars of this Constellation are four Thus have I briefly run over the Poetical reasons of the Constellations It remains now that I speak of the Milky Way VIA LACTEA or Circulus Lacteus by the Latines so called and by the Greeks Galaxia and by the English the Milkey Way It is a broad white Circle that is seen in the Heaven In the North Hemisphere it beginneth at Cancer on each side the head thereof and passeth by Auriga Perseus Cassiopeia the Swan and the head of Capricorn the tail of Scorpio the feet of Centaur Argo the Ship and so to the head of Cancer Some in a sporting manner do call it Watling-street but why they call it so I cannot tell except it be in regard of the narrowness that it seemeth to have or else in respect of that great high way that lyeth between Dover and St. Albons which is called by our men Watling-street Ovid saith it is the great Causey and High-way that leadeth unto the Pallace of Jupiter but he alledgeth not the cause of the whiteness belike he would have us imagine that it is made of White Marble Others therefore alledg these causes Jupiter having begotten Mercury of Maia the daughter of Atlas brought the child when he was born to the breast oâ— Juno lying asleep But Juno awaking threw the child out of her lap and let the milk run out of her breast in such abundance that spreading it self about the Heaven it made that Circle which we see Others say that it was not Mercury but Hercules and that Juno did not let the milk run out of her breast but that Hercules suckt them so earnestly that his mouth run over and so this Circle was made Others say that Saturn being desirous to devour his children his wife Ops presented him with a stone wrapped in a clout instead of his Child This stone stuck so fast in Saturn's Throat as he would have swallowed it that without doubt he had therewith been choaked had he not been relieved by his wife who by pressing the milk out of her breasts saved his life the milk that missed his mouth whereof you must suppose some sufficient quantity fell on the Heavens and running along made this Circle Dr. Hood Commenting upon Constellations saith the Stars are brought into Constellations for Instruction sake things cannot be taught without names to give a name to every Star had been troublesome to the Master and for the Scholar for the Master to devise and for the Scholar to remember and therefore the Astronomers have reduced many Stars into one Constellation that thereby they may tell the better where to seek them and being sought how to express them Now the Astronomers did bring them into these Figures and not into other being moved thereto by these three reasons first these Figures express some properties of the Stars that are in them as those in the Ram to be hot and dry Andromeda chained betokeneth imprisonment the head of Medusa cut off signifieth the loss of that part Orion with his terrible and threatning gesture importeth tempest and terrible effects The Serpent the Scorpion and the Dragon signifie Poyson The Bull insinuateth a melancholy passion The Bear inferreth cruelty c. Secondly the Stars if not precisely yet after a sort do represent such a Figure and therefore that Figure was assigned them as for example the Crown both North and South the Scorpion and Triangle represent the figures which they have The third cause was the continuance of the memory of some notable Men who either in regard of their singular pains taken in Astronomy or in regard of some other notable deed had well deserved of Mankind The first Author of every particular Constellation is uncertain yet are they of great antiquity we receive them from Ptolomy and he followed the Platonicks so that their antiquity is great Moreover we may perceive them to be ancient by the Scriptures and by the Poets In the 38 Chapter of Job there is mention made of the Pleiades Orion and Arcturus Mazzaroth which some interpret the 12 Signs Job lived in the time of Abraham as Syderocrates maketh mention in his