320
G. Galilæus, his Systeme.
answer that sufficeth to satisfie at once the course of the spots, and the discourse of the Mind. I will explain unto you so much as I remember thereof, that so you may judge thereon as seems best unto you.
Supposing that the apparent motions of the Solar spots are the same with those that have been above declared, and supposing the Earth to be immoveable in the centre of the Ecliptick, in whose circumference let the center of the Sun be placed; it is necessary that of all the differences that are seen in those motions, the causes do reside in the motions that are in the body of the Sun: Which in the first place must necessarily revolve in it self (i. e. about its own axis) carrying the spots along therewith;If the Earth be immoveable in the centre of the Zodiack, there must be ascribed to the Sun four several motions, as is declared at length. which spots have been supposed, yea and proved to adhere to the Solar superficies. It must secondly be confest, that the Axis of the Solar conversion is not parallel to the Axis of the Ecliptick, that is as much as to say, that it is not perpendicularly erected upon the Plane of the Ecliptick, because if it were so, the courses and exitions of those spots would seem to be made by right lines parallel to the Ecliptick. The said Axis therefore is inclining, in regard the said courses are for the most part made by curve lines. It will be necessary in the third place to grant that the inclination of this Axis is not fixed, and continually extended towards one and the same point of the Universe, but rather that it doth alwayes from moment to moment go changing its direction; for if the pendency should always look towards the self same point, the courses of the spots would never change appearance; but appearing at one time either right or curved, bending upwards or downwards, ascending or descending, they would appear the same at all times. It is therefore necessary to say, that the said Axis is convertible; and is sometimes found to be in the Plane of the circle that is extreme, terminate, or of the visible Hemisphere, I mean at such time as the courses of the spots seem to be made in right lines, and more than ever pendent, which happeneth twice a year; and at other times found to be in the Plane of the Meridian of the Observator, in such sort that one of its Poles falleth in the visible Hemisphere of the Sun, and the other in the occult; and both of them remote from the extreme points, or we may say, from the poles of another Axis of the Sun, which is parallel to the Axis of the Ecliptick; (which second Axis must necessarily be assigned to the Solar Globe) remote, I say, as far as the inclination of the Axis of the revolution of the spots doth import; and moreover that the Pole falling in the apparent Hemisphere, is one while in the superiour, another while in the inferiour part thereof; for that it must be so, the courses themselves do manifestly evince at such time as they areequi
