tion given us by Salviatus;Though the annual motion assigned to the Earth answerth to the Phænomena of the solar spots, yet doth it not follow by conversion that from the Phænomena of the spots one may infor the annual motion to belong to the Earth. yet do I not find that my Logick, whilst I have a regard to form, teacheth me, that that kind of argumentation affords me any necessary reason to conclude in favour of the Copernican Hypothesis, that is, of the stability of the Sun in the centre of the Zodiack, and of the mobility of the Earth under its circumference. For although it be true, that the said conversion of the Sun, and cirnition of the Earth being granted, there be a necessity of discerning such and such strange extravagancies as these in the spots of the Sun, yet doth it not follow that arguing per conversum, from finding such like unusual accidents in the Sun, one must of necssity conclude the Earth to move by the circumference, and the Sun to be placed in the centre of the Zodiack. For who shall assertain me that the like irregularities may not as well be visible in the Sun, it being moveable by the Ecliptick, to the inhabitants of the Earth, it being also immoveable in the centre of the same? Unlesse you demonstrate to me, that there can be no reason given for that appearance, when the Sun is made moveable, and the Earth stable, I will not alter my opinion and belief that the Sun moveth, and the Earth standeth still.
Sagr.Simplicius behaveth himself very bravely, and argueth very subtilly in defence of the cause of Aristotle and Ptolomy; and if I may speak the truth, mythinks that the conversation of Salviatus, though it have been but of small continuance, hath much farthered him in discoursing silogistically. An effect which I know to be wrought in others as well as him. But as to finding and judging whether competent reason may be rendered of the apparent exorbitancies and irregularities in the motions of the spots, supposing the Earth to be immoveable, and the Sun moveable, I shall expect that Salviatus manifest his opinion to us, for it is very probable that he he hath considered of the same, and collected together whatever may be said upon the point.
Salv.I have often thought thereon, and also discoursed thereof with my Friend and Guest afore-named; and touching what is to be produced by Philosophers and Astronomers, in defence of the ancient Systeme, we are on one hand certain, certain I say,The Pure Peripatetick Philosophers will laugh at the spots and their Phænomena, as illusions of the Chrystals in the Telescope. that the true and pure Peripateticks laughing at such as employ themselves in such, to their thinking, insipid fooleries, will censure all these Phænomena to be vain illusions of the Christals; and in this manner will with little trouble free themselves from the obligation of studying any more upon the same. Again, as to the Astronomical Philosophers, after we have with some diligence weighed that which may be alledged as a mean between those two others, we have not been able to find out ananswer
