doth not oblige us to receive those Precepts which they have not so much as in their intentions enjoyned But if they did reflect and consider thereon they would long since have condemned it if they had judged it erroneous which we do not find that they have done Nay after that some Divines have began to consider it we find that they have not deem'd it erroneous as we read in the Commentaries of Didacus a Stunica upon Job in Cap. 9 v. 6. on the words Qui commovet Terram de loco suo c. Where he at large discourseth upon the Copernican Hypothesis and concludeth That the Mobility of the Earth is not contrary to Scripture Withal I may justly question the truth of that determination namely That the Church enjoyneth us to hold such like Natural Conclusions as matters of Faith onely because they bear the stamp of an unanimous Interpretation of all the Fathers And I do suppose that it may possibly be that those who hold in this manner might possibly have gone about in favour of their own Opinion to have amplified the Decretal of the Councils which I cannot finde in this case to prohibit any other save onely Perverting to Senses contrary to that of Holy Church or of the concurrent consent of Fathers those places and those onely that do pertain either to Faith or Manners or concern our edification in the Doctrine of Christianity And thus speaks the Council of Trent Sess. 4. But the Mobility or Stability of the Earth or of the Sun are not matters of Faith nor contrary to Manners nor is there any one that for the stablishing of this Opinion will pervert places of Scripture in opposition to the Holy Church or to the Fathers Nay Those who have writ of this Doctrine did never make use of Texts of Scripture that they might leave it still in the breasts of Grave and Prudent Divines to interpret the said Places according to their true meaning And how far the Decrees of Councills do comply with the Holy Fathers in these particulars may be sufficiently manifest in that they are so far from enjoyning to receive such like Natural Conclusions for matters of Faith or from censuring the contrary Opinions as erronious that rather respecting the Primitive and primary intention of the Holy Church they do adjudge it unprofitable to be busied in examining the truth thereof Let your Highness be pleased to hear once again what S. Augustine answers to to those Brethren who put the Question Whether it be true that Heaven moveth or standeth still To these I answer That Points of this nature require a curious and profound examination that it may truly appear whether they be true or false a work inconsistent with my leasure to undertake or go thorow with nor is it any way necessary for those whom we desire to inform of things that more nearly concern their own salvation and The Churches Benefit But yet although in Natural Propositions we were to take the resolution of condemning or admitting them from Texts of Scripture unanimously expounded in the same Sense by all the Fathers yet do I not see how this Rule can hold in our Case for that upon the same Places we read several Expositions in the Fathers Dionysius Areopagita saying That the Primum Mobile and not the Sun stand still Saint Augustine is of the same Opinion All the Celestial Bodies were immoveable And with them concurreth Abulensis But which is more amongst the Jewish Authors whom Josephus applauds some have held That The Sun did not really stand still but seemed so to do during the short time in which Israel gave the overthrow to their Enemies So for the Miracle in the time of Hezekiah Paulus Burgensis is of opinion that it was not wrought on the Sun but on the Diall But that in short it is necessary to Glosse and Interpret the words of the Text in Joshua when ever the Worlds Systeme is in dispute I shall shew anon Now finally granting to these Gentlemen more than they demand to wit That we are wholly to acquiesce in the judgment of Judicious Divines and that in regard that such a particular Disquisition is not found to have been made by the Ancient Fathers it may be undertaken by the Sages of our Age who having first heard the Experiments Observations Reasons and Demonstrations of Philosophers and Astronomers on the one side and on the other seeing that the Controversie is about Natural Problems and Necessary Dilemma's and which cannot possibly be otherwise than in one of the two manners in controversie they may with competent certainty determine what Divine Inspirations shall dictate to them But that without minutely examining and discussing all the Reasons on both sides and without ever comming to any certainty of the truth of the Case such a Resolution should be taken Is not to be hoped from those who do not stick to hazzard the Majesty and Dignity of the Sacred Scripture in defending the reputation of their vain Fancies Nor to be feared from those who make it their whole businesse to examine with all intensness what the Grounds of this Doctrine are and that only in an Holy Zeal for Truth the Sacred Scriptures and for the Majesty Dignity and Authority in which every Christian should indeavour to have them maintained Which Dignity who seeth not that it is with greater Zeal desired and procured by those who absolutely submitting themselves to the Holy Church desire not that this or that opinion may be prohibited but onely that such things may be proposed to consideration as may the more ascertain her in the safest choice than by those who being blinded by their particular Interest or stimulated by malitious suggestions preach that she should without more ado thunder out Curses for that she had power so to do Not considering that all that may be done is not alwayes convenient to be done The Holy Fathers of old were not of this opinion but rather knowing of how great prejudice and how much against the primary intent of the Catholick Church it would be to go about from Texts of Scripture to decide Natural Conclusions touching which either Experiments or necessary Demonstrations might in time to come evince the contrary of that which the naked sense of the Words soundeth they have not only proceeded with great circumspection but have left the following Precepts for the instruction of others In points obscure and remote from our Sight if we come to read any thing out of Sacred Writ that with a Salvo to the Faith that we have imbued may correspond with several constructions let us not so farre throw our selves upon any of them with a precipitous obstinacy as that if perhaps the Truth being more diligently search't into it should justly fall to the ground we might fall together with it and so shew that we contend not for the sense of Divine Scriptures but our own in that we
would have that which is our own to be the sense of Scriptures vvhen as vve should rather desire the Scriptures meaning to be ours He goeth on and a little after teacheth us that no Proposition can be against the Faith unlesse first it be demonstrated false saying T is not all the while contrary to Faith until it be disproved by most certain Truth which if it should so be the Holy Scripture affirm'd it not but Humane Ignorance supposed it Whereby we see that the senses which we impose on Texts of Scripture would be false when ever they should disagree with Truths demonstrated And therefore we ought by help of demonstrated Truth to seek the undoubted sense of Scripture and not according to the sound of the words that may seem true to our weaknesse to go about as it were to force Nature and to deny Experiments and Necessary Demonstrations Let Your Highnesse be pleased to observe farther with how great circumspection this Holy Man proceedeth before he affirmeth any Interpretation of Scripture to be sure and in such wise certain as that it need not fear the encounter of any difficulty that may procure it disturbance for not contenting himself that some sense of Scripture agreeth with some Demonstration he subjoynes But if right Reason shall demonstrate this to be true yet is it questionable whether in these words of Sacred Scripture the Pen-man would have this to be understood or somewhat else no lesse true And in case the Context of his Words shall prove that he intended not this yet will not that which he would have to be understood be therefore false but most true aad that which is more profitable to be knovvn But that which increaseth our wonder concerning the circumspection wherewith this Pious Author proceedeth is that not trusting to his observing that both Demonstrative Reasons and the sense that the words of Scripture and the rest of the Context both precedent and subsequent do conspire to prove the same thing he addeth the following words But if the Context do not hold forth any thing that may disprove this to be the Authors Sense it yet remains to enquire Whether the other may not be intended also And not yet resolving to accept of one Sense or reject another but thinking that he could never use sufficient caution he proceedeth But if so be we finde that the other may be also meant it vvill be doubted which of them he would have to stand or which in probability he may be thought to aim at if the true circumstances on both sides be weighed And lastly intending to render a Reason of this his Rule by shewing us to what perils those men expose the Scriptures and the Church who more respecting the support of their own errours than the Scriptures Dignity would stretch its Authority beyond the Bounds which it prescribeth to it self he subjoyns the ensuing words which of themselves alone might suffice to repress and moderate the excessive liberty which some think that they may assume to themselves For it many times falls out that a Christian may not so fully understand a Point concerning the Earth Heaven and the rest of this Worlds Elements the Motion Conversion Magnitude and Distances of the Stars the certain defects of the Sun and Moon the Revolutions of Years and Times the Nature of Animals Fruits Stones and other things of like nature as to defend the same by right Reason or make it out by Experiments But it s too great an absurdity yea most pernicious and chiefly to be avoided to let an Infidel finde a Christian so stupid that he should argue these matters as if they were according to Christian Doctrine and make him as the Proverb saith scarce able to contain his laughter seeing him so far from the Mark. Nor is the matter so much that one in an errour should be laught at but that our Authors should be thought by them that are without to be of the same Opinion and to the great prejudice of those whose salvation we wait for sensured and rejected as unlearned For when they shal confute any one of the Christians in that matter vvhich they themselvs thorovvly understand and shall thereupon express their light esteem of our Books hovv shall these Volumes be believed touching the Resurrection of the Dead the Hope of eternal Life and the Kingdom of Heaven vvhen as to these Points vvhich admit of present Demonstration or undoubted Reasons they conceive them to be falsly vvritten And how much the truly Wise and Prudent Fathers are displeased with these men who in defence of Propositions which they do not understand do apply and in a certain sense pawn Texts of Scripture and afterwards go on to encrease their first Errour by producing other places less understood than the former The same Saint declareth in the expressions following What trouble and sorrow weak undertakers bring upon their knowing Brethren is not to be expressed since vvhen they begin to be told and convinced of their false and unsound Opinion by those vvho have no respect for the Authority of our Scriptures in defence of vvhat through a fond Temerity and most manifest falsity they have urged they fall to citing the said Sacred Books for proof of it or else repeat many vvords by heart out of them vvhich they conceive to make for their purpose not knovving either what they say or vvhereof they affirm In the number of these we may as I conceive account those who being either unwilling or unable to understand the Demonstrations and Experiments wherewith the Author and followers of this Opinion do confirm it run upon all occasions to the Scriptures not considering that the more they cite them and the more they persist in affirming that they are very clear and do admit no other senses save those which they force upon them the greater injury they do to the Dignity of them if we allowed that their judgments were of any great Authority in case that the Truth coming to be manifestly known to the contrary should occasion any confusion at least to those who are separated from the Holy Church of whom yet she is very solicitous and like a tender Mother desirous to recover them again into her Lap Your Highness therefore may see how praeposterously those Persons proceed who in Natural Disputations do range Texts of Scripture in the Front for their Arguments and such Texts too many times as are but superficially understood by them But if these men do verily think absolutely believe that they have the true sence of Such a particular place of Scripture it must needs follow of consequence that they do likewise hold for certain that they have found the absolute truth of that Natural Conclusion which they intend to dispute And that withal they do know that they have a great advantage of their Adversary whose Lot it is to defend the part that is false in regard that he
shall forbear to exasperate and attempt to reconcile such persons to this Hypothesis as devout esteem for Holy Scripture and dutifull Respect to Canonical Injunctions hath made to stand off from this Opinion and therefore for their sakes I have at the end of the Dialogues by way of supplement added an Epistle of Galileo to Her Most Serene Highness Christina Lotharinga the Grand Dutchesse Mother of Tuscany as also certain Abstracts of John Kepler Mathematician to two Emperours and Didacus à Stunica a famous Divine of Salamanca with an Epistle of Paulo Antonio Foscarini a learned Carmelite of Naples that shew the Authority of Sacred Scripture in determining of Philosophical and Natural Controversies hoping that the ingenious impartial Reader will meet with full satisfaction in the same And least what I have spoken of the prohibiting of these Pieces by the Inquisition may deterre any scrupulous person from reading of them I have purposely inserted the Imprimatur by which that Office licenced them And for a larger account of the Book or Author I refer you to the Relation of his Life which shall bring up the Reare in the Second Tome What remains of this is that Excellent Discourse of D. Benedetto Castelli Abbate di San Benedetto Aloysio concerning the Mensuration of Running Waters with other Treatises of that Learned Prelate of the Superintendent Corsini Some may alledge and I doe confess that I promised to publish the Life of Galileo in this place But the great miscarriages of Letters from some Friends in Italy and else where to whom I am a Debtor for several Remarques from whom I daily expect yet greater Helps concerning the History of that famous Personage these disappointments I say joyned with the undeniable Request of some Friends who were impatient to see Castelli in English together with a consideration of the disproportionate Bulk that would otherwise have bin betwixt the two Volumes perswaded me to this exchange This deviation from my Promise I hope is Venial and for the expiating of it I plead Supererrogation having in each Tome made so large Aditions though to my great expense that they make neer a third part more than I stood by promise bound to Publish That this is so will appear by comparing the Contents I here prefix with the Advertisment I formerly Printed For not to mention those Epitomes of Kepler and à Stunica the whole second and following Books of Castelli were not come to my hands at the time of my penning that Paper yet knowing how imperfect the Volume would be without them they being partly a supplement to the Theoremes and Problemes which the Abbot had formerly Printed and partly experiments that had procured him and his Doctrine a very great Reputation knowing this I say I apprehended a necessity of publishing them with the rest and hope that if you think not the service I have done therein worth your acknowledgement you will yet at least account the encrease of my expence a sufficient extenuation of the Trespass that those Additions have forced me to commit upon your Patience in point of Time As for the second Tome I have only this to assure the Generous Readers 1 that I am very confident I shall be much more punctual in publishing that than for the reasons above related I was able to be in setting forth this 2 that they shall not be abused in advancing of their moneys as hath bin used in the like case by selling the remaining Copyes at an under rate and 3 that I have a very great care that no disesteem may by my means arise unto this way of publishing Books for that it is of excellent use in ushering Great and Costly Volumes into the World To say nothing of the disadvantages of Translations in general this of mine doubtless is not without it's Errours and oversights but those of the Printer discounted I hope the rest may be allowed me upon the score of Human Imbecilitie The truth is I have assumed the Liberty to note the Mistakes in the Florid Version of Berneggerus in the Margent not so much to reproach him as to convince those who told me that they accounted my pains needless having his Latine Translation by them The like they said of the whole two Tomes but they thereby caused me to question their Understanding or Veracity For some of the Books were yet never extant As for instance the Mechanicks of Monsieur Des Cartes a Manuscript which I found amongst the many other Rarities that enrich the well-chosen Library of my Learned and Worthy Friend Dr. Charles Scarburgh the Experiments of Gravity and the Life of Galileo both my own Others were included in Volumes of great price or so dispersed that they were not to be purchased for any money as those of Kepler à Stunica Archimedes Tartaglia and the Mechanicks of Galileo And the remainder though easyer to procure were harder to be understood as Tartaglia his notes on Archimedes Torricellio his Doctrine of Projects Galileo his Epistle to the Dutchesse of Tuscany and above all his Dialogues de Motu never till now done into any Language which were so intermixt of Latine and Italian that the difficulty of the Stile joyned with the intricatnesse of the Subject rendered them Unpleasant if not wholly Vnintelligible to such as were not absolute Masters of both the Tongues To conclude according to the entertainment that you please to afford these Collections I shall be encouraged to proceed with the Publication of a large Body of Hydrography declaring the History Art Lawes and Apendages of that Princely Study of Navigation wherein I have omitted nothing of note that can be found either in Dudley Fournier Aurigarius Nonius Snellus Marsennus Baysius Morisetus Blondus Wagoner abroad or learnt amongst our Mariners at home touching the Office of an Admiral Commander Pilot Modellist Shipwright Gunner c. But order requiring that I should discharge my first Obligation before I contract a second I shall detein you no longer in the Portall but put you into possession of the Premises Novemb. 20. 1661. T. S. THE AUTHOR'S INTRODUCTION Judicious Reader THere was published some years since in Rome a salutiferous Edict that for the obviating of the dangerous Scandals of the present Age imposed a seasonable Silence upon the Pythagorean Opinion of the Mobility of the Earth There want not such as unadvisedly affirm that that Decree was not the production of a sober Scrutiny but of an illinformed Passion one may hear some mutter that Consultors altogether ignorant of Astronomical Observations ought not to clipp the Wings of Speculative Wits with rash Prohibitions My zeale cannot keep silence when I hear these inconsiderate complaints I thought fit as being thoroughly acquainted with that prudent Determination to appear openly upon the Theatre of the World as a Witness of the naked Truth I was at that time in Rome and had not only the audiences but applauds of the most Eminent Prelates of
think a greater part should rather be imployed than a lesser 105 PRINCIPLES By denying Principles in Sciences any Paradox may be maintained 28 Contrary Principles cannot naturally reside in the same Subject 211 PROJECT c. The Project according to Aristotle is not moved by virtue impressed but by the Medium 130 Operation of the Medium in continuing the Motion of the Project 131 Many Experiments and Reasons against the Motions of Projects assigned by Aristotle 132 The Medium doth impede and not conferre the Motion of Projects 134 An admirable accident in the Motion of Projects 135 Sundry curious Problems touching the Motion of Projects 137 Projects continue their Motion by a Right Line that follows the direction of the Motion made together with the Projicient whilst they were conjoyned therewith 154 The Motion impressed by the Projicient is onely in a Right Line 170 The Project moveth by the Tangent of the Circle of the Motion preceeding in the instant of Seperation 172 A Grave Project assoon as it is seperated from the Projicient beginneth to decline 173 The Cause of the Projection encreaseth not according to the Proportion of Velocity encreased by making the Wheel bigger 189 The Virtue which carrieth Grave Projects upwards is no lesse Natural to them than the Gravity which moveth them downwards 211 PTOLOMY c. Inconveniences that are in the System of Ptolomy 309 Ptolomies System full of defects 476 The Learned both of elder and later times dissatisfied with the Ptolomaick System 477 PYTHAGORAS c. Pythagorick Mistery of Numbers fabulous 3 Pythagoras offered an Hecatombe for a Geometrical Demonstration which he found 38 Pythagoras and many other Ancients enumerated that held the Earths Mobility 437 468 R RAYS Shining Objects seem fringed and environed with adventitious Rays 304 REST. Rest. Vide Motion Rest the Infinite degree of Tardity 11 RETROGRADATIONS Retrogradations more frequent in Saturn lesse frequent in Jupiter and yet lesse in Mars and why 311 The Retrogradations of Venus and Mercury demonstrated by Apollonius and Copernicus 311 S SATURN Saturn for its slownesse and Mercury for its late appearing were amongst those that were last observed 416 SCARCITY Scarcity and Plenty enhanse and debase the price of all things 43 SCHEINER Christopher Scheiner the Jesuit his Book of Conclusions confuted 78 195 seq 323 A Canon Bullet would spend more than six dayes in falling from the Concave of the Moon to the Center of the Earth according to Scheiner 195 Christopher Scheiner his Book entituled Apelles post Tabulam censured and disproved 313 The Objections of Scheiner by way of Interrogation 336 Answers to the Interrogations of Scheiner 336 Questions put to Scheiner by which the weaknesse of his is made appear 336 SCIENCES In Natural Sciences the Art of Oratory is of no use 40 In Natural Sciences it is not necessary to seek Mathematical evidence 206 SCRIPTURE c. The Caution we are to use in determining the Sense of Scripture in difficult points of Phylosophy 427 Scripture studiously condescendeth to the apprehension of the Vulgar 432 In dicussing of Natural Questions we ought not to begin at Scripture but at Sensible Experiments and Necessary Demonstrations 433 The intent of Scripture is by its Authority to recommend those Truths to our beliefe which being un-intelligible could no other wayes be rendered credible 434 Scripture Authority to be preferred even in Natural Controversies to such Sciences as are not confined to a Demonstrative Method 434 The Pen-men of Scripture though read in Astronomy intentionally forbear to teach us any thing of the Nature of the Stars 435 The Spirit had no intent at the Writing of the Scripture to teach us whether the Earth moveth or standeth still as nothing concerning our Salvation 436 Inconveniencies that arise from licentious usurping of Scripture to stuffe out Books that treat of Nat. Arguments 438 The Literal Sense of Scripture joyned with the universal consent of the Fathers is to be received without farther dispute 444 A Text of Scripture ought no lesse diligently to be reconciled with a Demonstrated Proposition in Philosophy than with another Text of Scripture sounding to a contrary Sense 446 Demonstrated Truth ought to assist the Commentator in finding the true Sense of Scripture 446 It was necessary by way of condescension to Vulgar Capacities that the Scripture should speak of the Rest and Motion of the Sun and Earth in the same manner that it doth 447 Not onely the Incapacity of the Vulgar but the Current Opinion of those times made the Sacred Writers of the Scripture to accommodate themselves to Popular Esteem more than Truth 447 The Scripture had much more reason to affirm the Sun Moveable and the Earth Immoveable than otherwise 448 Circumspection of the Fathers about imposing positive Senses on Doubtful Texts of Scripture 451 T is Cowardice makes the Anti-Copernican fly to Scripture Authorities thinking thereby to affright their Adversaries 455 Scripture speaks in Vulgar and Common Points after the manner of Men. 462 The intent of Scripture is to be observed in Places that seem to affirme the Earths Stability 464 Scripture Authorities that seem to affirm the Motion of the Sun and Stability of the Earth divided into six Classes 478 Six Maximes to be observed in Expounding Dark Texts of Scripture 481 Scripture Texts speaking of things inconvenient to be understood in their Literal Sense are to be interpreted one of the four wayes named 81 Why the Sacred Scripture accommodates it self to the Sense of the Vulgar 487 SEA The Seas Surface would shew at a distance more obscure than the Land 49 The Seas Reflection of Light much weaker than that of the Earth 81 The Isles are tokens of the unevennesse of the Bottoms of Seas 383 SELEUCUS Opinion of Seleucus the Mathematician censured 422 SENSE He who denieth Sense deserves to be deprived of it 21 Sense sheweth that things Grave move ad Medium and the Light to the Concave 21 It is not probable that God who gave us our Senses would have us lay them aside and look for other Proofs for such Natural Points as Sense sets before our Eyes 434 Sense and Reason lesse certain than Faith 475 SILVER Silver burnished appears much more obscure than the unburnished and why 64 SIMPLICIUS Simplicius his Declamation 43 SOCRATES The Answer of the Oracle true in judging Socrates the Wisest of his time 85 SORITES The Forked Sylogisme called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 29 SPEAKING We cannot abstract our manner of Speaking from our Sense of Seeing 461 SPHERE The Motion of 24 hours ascribed to the Highest Sphere disorders the Period of the Inferiour 102 The Sphere although Material toucheth the Material Plane but in one point onely 182 The Definition of the Sphere 182 A Demonstration that the Sphere toucheth the Plane but in one point 183 Why the Sphere in abstract toucheth the Plane onely in one point and not the Material in Concrete 184 Contact in a Single Point is not
although unjustly be oppressed than those from whence he may receive just incouragement it was no hard matter to find those Complices who for such that is for Damnable and Heretical did from their Pulpits with unwonted confidence preach it with but an unmerciful and less considerate injury not only to this Doctrine and to its followers but to all Mathematicks and Mathematicians together Hereupon assuming greater confidence and vainly hoping that that Seed which first took root in their unsound mindes might spread its branches and ascend towards Heaven they went scattering rumours up and down among the People That it would ere long be condemned by Supreme Authority and knowing that such a Censure would supplant not onely these two Conclusions of the VVorlds Systeme but would make all other Astronomical and Physical Observations that have correspondence and necessary connection therewith to become damnable to facilitate the business they seek all they can to make this opinion at least among the vulgar to seem new and peculiar to my self not owning to know that Nicholas Copernicus was its Authour or rather Restorer and Confirmer a person who was not only a Catholick but a Priest Canonick and so esteemed that there being a Dispute in the Lateran Council under Leo X. touching the correction of the Ecclesiastick Calender he was sent for to Rome from the remotest parts of Germany for to assist in this Reformation which for that time was left imperfect onely because as then the true measure of the Year and Lunar Moneth was not exactly known whereupon it was given him in charge by the Bishop of Sempronia at that time Super-intendent in that Affair to search with reiterated studies and pains for greater light and certainty touching those Coelestial Motions Upon which with a labour truly Atlantick and with his admirable Wit setting himself again to that Study he made such a progress in these Sciences and reduced the knowledge of the Coelestial Motions to such exactnesse that he gained the title of an Excellent Astronomer And according unto his Doctrine not only the Calendar hath been since regulated but the Tables of all the Motions of the Planets have also been calculated and having reduced the said Doctrine into six Books he published them to the World at the instance of the Cardinal of Capua and of the Bishop of Culma And in regard that he had re-assumed this so laborious an enterprize by the order of The Pope he dedicated his Book De Revolutionibus Coelestibus to His Successour namely Paul III. which being then also Printed hath been received by The Holy Church and read and studied by all the World without any the least umbrage of scruple that hath ever been conceived at his Doctrine The which whilst it is now proved by manifest Experiments and necessary Demonstrations to have been well grounded there want not persons that though they never saw that same Book intercept the reward of those many Labours to its Authour by causing him to be censured and pronounced an Heretick and this only to satisfie a particular displeasure conceived without any cause against another man that hath no other interest in Copernicus but only as he is an approver of his Doctrine Now in regard of these false aspersions which they so unjustly seek to throw upon me I have thought it necessary for my justification before the World of whose judgment in matters of Religion and Reputation I ought to make great esteem to discourse concerning those Particulars which these men produce to scandalize and subvert this Opinion and in a word to condemn it not only as false but also as Heretical continually making an Hipocritical Zeal for Religion their shield going about moreover to interest the Sacred Scriptures in the Dispute and to make them in a certain sense Ministers of their deceiptful purposes and farthermore desiring if I mistake not contrary to the intention of them and of the Holy Fathers to extend that I may not say abuse their Authority so as that even in Conclusions meerly Natural and not de Fide they would have us altogether leave Sense and Demonstrative Reasons for some place of Scripture which sometimes under the apparent words may contain a different sense Now I hope to shew with how much greater Piety and Religious Zeal I proceed than they do in that I propose not that the Book of Copernicus is not to be condemned but that it is not to be condemned as they would have it without understanding it hearing it or so much as seeing it and especially he being an Author that never treateth of matters of Religion or Faith nor by Reasons any way depending on the Authority of Sacred Scriptures whereupon he may have erroniously interpreted them but alwaies insists upon Natural Conclusions belonging to the Celestial Motions handled with Astronomical and Geometrical Demonstrations Not that he had not a respect to the places of the Sacred Leaves but because he knew very well that his said Doctrine being demonstrated it could not contradict the Scriptures rightly and according to their true meaning understood And therefore in the end of his Epistle Dedicatory speaking to The Pope he saith thus If there should chance to be any Mataeologists who though ignorant in all the Mathematicks yet pretending a skill in those Learnings should dare upon the authority of some place of Scripture wrested to their purpose to condemn and censure this my Hypothesis I value them not but shall slight their inconsiderate Judgement For it is not unknown that Lactantius otherwise a Famous Author though mean Mathematician writeth very childishly touching the Form of the Earth when he scoffs at those who affirm the Earth to be in Form of a Globe So that it ought not to seem strange to the Ingenious if any such should likewise now deride us The Mathematicks are written for Mathematitians to whom if I deceive not my self these Labours of mine shall seem to add something as also to the Common-weale of the Church whose Government is now in the hands of Your Holiness And of this kinde do these appear to be who indeavour to perswade that Copernicus may be condemned before his Book is read and to make the World believe that it is not onely lawfull but commendable so to do produce certain Authorities of the Scripture of Divines and of Councils which as they are by me had in reverence and held of Supream Authority insomuch that I should esteem it high temerity for any one to contradict them whilst they are used according to the In stitutes of Holy Church so I believe that it is no errour to speak so long as one hath reason to suspect that a person hath a desire for some concern of his own to produce and alledge them to purposes different from those that are in the most Sacred intention of The Holy Church Therefore I not onely protest and my sincerity shall manifest it self that I intend to submit my self freely to renounce
for the Reasons alledged admit in many places Expositions far from the Sense of the words and moreover we not being able to affirm that all Interpreters speak by Divine Inspiration For if it were so then there would be no difference between them about the Senses of the same places I should think that it would be an act of great prudence to make it unlawful for any one to usurp Texts of Scripture and as it were to force them to maintain this or that Naturall Conclusion for truth of which Sence Demonstrative and necessary Reasons may one time or other assure us the contrary For who will prescribe bounds to the Wits of men Who will assert that all that is sensible and knowable in the World is already discovered and known Will not they that in other points disagree with us confess this and it is a great truth that Eaquae scimus sint minima pars corum quae ignoramus That those Truths which we know are very few in comparison of those which we know not Nay more if we have it from the Mouth of the Holy Ghost that Deus tradidit Mundum disputationi eorum ut non inveniat homo opus quod operatus est Deus ab initio ad finem One ought not as I conceive to stop the way to free Philosophating touching the things of the World and of Nature as if that they were already certainly found and all manifest nor ought it to be counted rashness if one do not sit down satisfied with the opinions now become as it were commune nor ought any persons to be displeased if others do not hold in natural Disputes to that opinion which best pleaseth them and especially touching Problems that have for thousands of years been controverted amongst the greatest Philosophers as is the Stability of the Sun and Mobility of the Earth an opinion held by Pythagoras and by his whole Sect by Heraclides Ponticus who was of the same opininion by Phylolaus the Master of Plato and by Plato himself as Aristotle relateth and of which Plutarch writeth in the life of Numa that the said Plato when he was grown old said It is a most absurd thing to think otherwise The same was believed by Aristarchus Samius as we have it in Archimedes and probably by Archimedes himself by Nicetas the Philosopher upon the testimony of Scicero and by many others And this opinion hath finally been amplified and with many Observations and Demonstrations confirmed by Nicholaus Copernicus And Seneca a most eminent Philosopher in his Book De Cometis advertizeth us that we ought with great diligence seek for an assured knowledge whether it be Heaven or the Earth in which the Diurnal Conversion resides And for this cause it would probably be prudent and profitable counsel if besides the Articles which concern our Salvation and the establishment of our Faith against the stability of which there is no fear that any valid and solid Doctrine can ever rise up men would not aggregate and heap up more without necessity And if it be so it would certainly be a preposterous thing to introduce such Articles at the request of persons who besides that we know not that they speak by inspiration of Divine Grace we plainly see that there might be wished in them the understanding which would be necessary first to enable them to comprehend and then to discuss the Demonstrations wherewith the subtiler Sciences proceed in confirming such like Conclusions Nay more I should say were it lawful to speak my judgment freely on this Argument that it would haply more suit with the Decorum and Majesty of those Sacred Volumes if care were taken that every shallow and vulgar Writer might not authorize his Books which are not seldome grounded upon foolish fancies by inserting into them Places of Holy Scripture interpreted or rather distorted to Senses as remote from the right meaning of the said Scripture as they are neer to derirision who not without ostentation flourish out their Writings therewith Examples of such like abuses there might many be produced but for this time I will confine my self to two not much besides these matters of Astronomy One of which is that of those Pamphlets which were published against the Medicean Planets of which I had the fortune to make the discovery against the existence of which there were brought many places of Sacred Scripture Now that all the World seeth them to be Planets I would gladly hear with what new interpretations those very Antagonists do expound the Scripture and excuse their own simplicity The other example is of him who but very lately hath Printed against Astronomers and Philosophers that the Moon doth not receive its light from the Sun but is of its own nature resplendent which imagination he in the close confirmeth or to say better perswadeth himself that he confirmeth by sundry Texts of Scripture which he thinks cannot be reconciled unlesse his opinion should be true and necessary Neverthelesse the Moon of it self is Tenebrose and yet it is no lesse lucid than the Splendor of the Sun Hence it is manifest that these kinde of Authors in regard they did not dive into the true Sence of the Scriptures would in case their authority were of any great moment have imposed a necessity upon others to believe such Conclusions for true as were repugnant to manifest Reason and to Sense Which abuse Deus avertat that it do not gain Countenance and Authority for if it should it would in a short time be necessary to proscribe and inhibit all the Contemplative Sciences For being that by nature the number of such as are very unapt to understand perfectly both the Sacred Scriptures and the other Sciences is much greater than that of the skilfull and intelligent those of the first sort superficially running over the Scriptures would arrogate to themselves an Authority of decreeing upon all the Questions in Nature by vertue of some Word by them misunderstood and produced by the Sacred Pen-men to another purpose Nor would the small number of the Intelligent be able to repress the furious Torrent of those men who would finde so many the more followers in that the gaining the reputation of Wise men without pains or Study is far more grateful to humane Nature than the consuming our selves with restless contemplations about the most painfull Arts. Therefore we ought to return infinite thanks to Almighty God who of his Goodness freeth us from this fear in that he depriveth such kinde of persons of all Authority and reposeth the Consulting Resolving and Decreeing upon so important Determinations in the extraordinary Wisdom and Candor of most Sacred Fathers and in the Supream Authority of those who being guided by his Holy Spirit cannot but determin Holily So ordering things that of the levity of those other men there is no account made This kinde of men are those as I believe against whom not without Reason Grave and Holy Writers do so much
who maintaineth the Truth may have many sensible experiments and many necessary Demonstrations on his side whereas his Antagonist can make use of no other than deceitful appearances Paralogisms and Sophisms Now if they keeping within natural bounds producing no other Weapons but those of Philosophy pretend however to have so much advantage of their Enemy why do they afterwards in coming to engage presently betake themselves to a Weapon inevitable dreadful to terrifie their Opponent with the sole beholding of it But if I may speak the truth I believe that they are the first that are affrighted and that perceiving themselves unable to bear up against the assaults of theit Adversary go about to find out ways how to keep them far enough off forbidding unto them the use of the Reason which the Divine Bounty had vouchsafed them abusing the most equitable Authority of sacred Scripture which rightly understood and applyed can never according to the common Maxime of Divines oppose the Manifest Experiments or Necessary Demonstrations But these mens running to the Scriptures for a Cloak to their inability to comprehend not to say resolve the Reasons alledged against them ought if I be not mistaken to stand them in no stead the Opinion which they oppose having never as yet been condemned by Holy Church So that if they would proceed with Candor they should either by silence confess themselves unable to handle such like points or first consider that it is not in the power of them or others but onely in that of the Pope and of Sacred Councils to censure a Position to be Erroneous But that it is left to their freedome to dispute concerning its falsity And thereupon knowing that it is impossible that a Proposition should at the same time be True and Heretical they ought I say to imploy themselves in that work which is most proper to them namely in demonstrating the falsity thereof whereby they may see how needlesse the prohibiting of it is its falshood being once discovered for that none would follow it or the Prohibition would be safe and without all danger of Scandal Therefore first let these men apply themselves to examine the Arguments of Copernicus and others and leave the condemning of them for Erroneous and Heretical to whom it belongeth But yet let them not hope ever to finde such rash and precipitous Determinations in the Wary and Holy Fathers or in the absolute Wisdome of him that cannot erre as those into which they suffer themselves to be hurried by some particular Affection or Interest of their own In these and such other Positions which are not directly de Fide certainly no man doubts but His Holiness hath alwayes an absolute power of Admitting or Condemning them but it is not in the power of any Creature to make them to be true or false otherwise than of their own nature and de facto they are Therefore it is in my judgment more discretion to assure us first of the necessary and immutable Truth of the Fact over which none hath power than without that certainty by condemning one part to deprive ones self of that authority of freedome to elect making those Determinations to become necessary which at present are indifferent and arbitrary and rest in the will of Supreme Authority And in a word if it be not possible that a Conclusion should be declared Heretical whilst we are not certain but that it may be true their pains are in vain who pretend to condemn the Mobility of the Earth and Stability of the Sun unlesse they have first demonstrated it to be impossible and false It remaineth now that we consider whether it be true that the Place in Joshuah may be taken without altering the pure signification of the words and how it can be that the Sun obeying the command of Joshuah which was That it should stand still the day might thereupon be much lengthened Which businesse if the Celestial Motions be taken according to the Ptolomaick Systeme can never any wayes happen for that the Sun moving thorow the Ecliptick according to the order of the Signes which is from East to West which is that which maketh Day and Night it is a thing manifest that the Sun ceasing its true and proper Motion the day would become shorter and not longer and that on the contrary the way to lengthen it would be to hasten and velocitate the Suns motion insomuch that to cause the Sun to stay above the Horizon for some time in one and the same place without declining towards the West it would be necessary to accelerate its motion in such a manner as that it might seem equal to that of the Primum Mobile which would be an accelerating it about three hundred and sixty times more than ordinary If therefore Joshuah had had an intention that his words should be taken in their pure and proper signification he would have bid the Sun to have accelerated its Motion so that the Rapture of the Primum Mobile might not carry it to the West but because his words were heard by people which haply knew no other Celestial Motion save this grand and common one from East to West stooping to their Capacity and having no intention to teach them the Constitution of the Spheres but only that they should perceive the greatness of the Miracle wrought in the lengthening of the Day he spoke according to their apprehension Possibly this Consideration moved Dionysius Areopagita to say that in this Miracle the Primum Mobile stood still and this stopping all the Celestial Spheres did of consequence stay of which opinion is S. Augustine himself and Abulensis at large confirmeth it Yea that Joshua's intention was that the whole Systeme of the Celestial Spheres should stand still is collected from the command he gave at the same time to the Moon although that it had nothing to do in the lengthening of the day and under the injunction laid upon the Moon we are to understand the Orbes of all the other Planets passed over in silence here as also in all other places of the Sacred Scriptures the intention of which was not to teach us the Astronomical Sciences I suppose therefore if I be not deceived that it is very plain that if we allow the Ptolemaick Systeme we must of necessity interpret the words to some sense different from their strict signification Which Interpretation being admonished by the most usefull precepts of S. Augustine I will not affirm to be of necessity this above-mentioned since that some other man may haply think of some other more proper and more agreeable Sense But now if this same passage may be understood in the Copernican Systeme to agree better with what we read in Joshuah with the help of another Observation by me newly shewen in the Body of the Sun I will propound it to consideration speaking alwaies with those safe Reserves That I am not so affectionate to my own inventions as to
touching the necessity delight thereof hath bin so sparingly imparted to our Countrymen in their native English especially the nobler and sublimer part that in Compliance with the Solicitations of several of my noble and learned Friends and the Inclinations of such as are Mathematically disposed more especially those who either want Time or Patience to look into the vulgar and unstudied Languages I did adventure upon this Work of Collecting Translating from amongst the excellent Pieces that are so abounding in the Italian and French Tongues some of those that my own observation and the intimation of Friends were most usefull and desired and with all most wanting in their Own I was indeed at first seriously Conscious and am now by experience fully convinced how disproportionate the weight of the Enterprize is to the weakness of the Vndertaker but yet the Passion I ever had to be subservient to my Friends and Compatriots in their Inquisition after these Sublime Studies and a Patience which I owe to the Flegme that is predominant in my Constitution joyned with a nine-years conversence in these Languages as also an unhappy and long Vacation that the persecutions of the late Tyrants gave me from more advantagious employments so prevailed with me that I resolved to improve even my very Confinement to serve those Friends whom as the Times then stood I could not see The Book being for Subject and Design intended chiefly for Gentlemen I have bin as careless of using a studied Pedantry in my Style as careful in contriving a pleasant and beautiful Impression And when I had considered the hazard and computed the charge of the undertaking I found it to exceed the ability of a private Purse especially of mine that had bin so lately emptied by the hand of violent enemies and perfidious friends not to make mention here of the Sums that a Loyal Reflexion upon my Princes Affairs had at the same time drawn from me and judg'd that the most safe easy and reasonable way was to invite those Persons who had appeared desirous of the Book to be contributary to their own Contentment by subscribing towards the charge of this Publication And for the better management of the Work I joyned to my self a Printer whose Genius having rendered him Mathematical and my overtures of profit having interessed his diligence I was induced to promise my self a more than common Assistance from him and at his door I with reason lay all miscarriages that concerns his Profession in the Business In this Work I found more than ordinary Encouragement from that publick spirited Person the Reverend and Learned Dr. Thomas Barlow Provost of Queens Colledge Oxford and Margaret Professor in that Vniversity as also from those two able Mathematicians and my Reall Friends Major Miles Symner and Mr. Robert Wood of Trinity Colledge Dublin and some few others whose Modesty hath expresly enjoin'd me a concealment of their Names Well at length I have got to the end of my first Stage and if I have not rid Post let my excuse be that my long stay for my Warrant caused me to set out late and being ill mounted and in a road full of rubbs I could not with any safety go faster but hope to get it up in the next Stage for in that I intend to shift my Horses The names of those Authors and Treatices which I judged would most grace our Language and gratify Students are particularly exprest in the General Title of the two Tomes Distinct Tomes they are as consisting of several Pieces Collections I call them because they have bin so published disperst and worn out of Print that they very rarely meet in one hand and Translations I own them to be as not pretending to any thing more than the disposure and conversion of them those Tracts only excepted which compose the second Part of the second Tome The first Book which offers it self to your view in this Tome is that singular and unimitable Piece of Reason and Demonstration the Systeme of Galileo The subject of it is a new and Noble pâ—rt of Astronomy to wit the Doctrine and Hypothesis of the Mobility of the Earth and the Stability of the Sun the History whereof I shall hereafter give you at large in the Life of that famous Man Only this by the by that the Reader may not wonder why these Dialogues found so various entertainment in Italy for he cannot but have heard that though they have been with all veneration valued read applauded by the Iudicious yet they were with much detestation persecuted suppressed exploded by the Superstitious I am to tell him that our Author having assigned his intimate Friends Salviati and Sagredo the more successfull Parts of the Challenger and Moderater he made the famous Commentator Simplicius to personate the Peripatetick The Book coming out and Pope Urban the VIII taking his Honour to be concern'd as having in his private Capacity bin very positive in declaiming against the Samian Philosophy and now as he supposed being ill delt with by Galileo who had summed up all his Arguments and put them into the mouth of Simplicius his Holiness thereupon conceived an implacable Displeasure against our Author and thinking no other revenge sufficient he employed his Apostolical Authority and deals with the Consistory to condemn him and proscribe his Book as Heretical prostituting the Censure of the Church to his private revenge This was Galileo's fortune in Italy but had I not reason to hope that the English will be more hospitable on the account of that Principle which induceth them to be civil to I say not to dote on Strangers I should fear to be charged with imprudence for appearing an Interpreter to that great Philosopher And in this confidence I shall forbear to make any large Exordium concerning him or his Book the rather in regard that such kind of Gauderies become not the Gravity of the Subject as also knowing how much coming from me they must fall short of the Merits of it or him but principally because I court only persons of Judgement Candor that can distinguish between a Native Beauty and spurious Vernish This only let me premise though more to excuse my weakness in the menaging than to insinuate my ability in accomplishing this so arduous a Task that these profound Dialogues have bin found so uneasy to Translate that neither affectation of Novelty could induce the French nor the Translating humour perswade the Germans to undertake them This difficulty as I conceived was charged either upon the Intricacy of this manner of Writing or upon the singular Elegance in the stile of Galileo or else upon the miscarriage of the unfortunate Mathias Berneggeius who first attempted to turn them into Latine for the benefit of the Learned World I shall not presume to Censure the Censure which the Church of Rome past upon this Doctrine and its Assertors But on the contrary my Author having bin indefinite in his discourse I