For the cleare proofe of this Proposition, I shall first reckon up and refute the opinions of others concerning the matter and forme of those spots, and then shew the greater probability of this present assertion, and how agreeable it is to that truth, which is most commonly received; As for the opinions of other concerning these, they have beene very many; I will only reckon up those which are common and remarkable.
Some there are that think those spots doe not arise from any deformity of the parts, but a deceit of the eye, which cannot at such a distance discerne an equall light in that Planet; but these doe but only say it, and shew not any reason for the proofe of their opinion: Others think that there are some bodies betwixt the Sunne and Moone,1 which keeping off the light in some parts, doe by their shadow produce these spots which we there discerne.
Others would have them to be the figure of the seas or mountaines here below, represented there as in a looking-glasse. But none of those fancies can be true, because the spots are still the same, and not varied according to the difference of places; and besides, Cardan thinks it is impossible that any image should be conveyed so farre as there to be represented unto us at such a distance.2 But ‘tis commonly related of Pythagoras, that he by writing what he pleased in a glasse, by the reflexion of the same species, would make those letters to appeare in the circle of the Moone, where they should be legible by any other, who might at that time be some miles distant from him.3 Agrippa affirmes this to be possible, and the way of performing it not unknowne to himselfe, with some others in his time. It may be, that Bishop Godwine did by the like meanes perform those strange conclusions, which he professes in his Nuncius inanimatus, where he pretends, that he can inform his friends of what he pleases, though they be an hundred miles distant, forte etiam, vel milliare millesimum, (they are his owne words) and, perhaps, a thousand, and all this in a little space, quicker than the Sunne can move.
Now, what conveyance there should be, for so speedy a passage, I cannot conceive, unlesse it be carried with the light, than which wee know not any thing quicker; But of this only by the way; however, whether those images can be represented so or not, yet certaine it is, those spots are not such representations. Some think that when God had at first created too much earth to make a perfect globe, not knowing well where to bestow the rest, hee placed it in the Moone, which ever since hath so darkned it in some parts; but the impiety of this is sufficient confutation, since it so much detracts from the divine power and wisedome.
The4 Stoicks held that Planet to be mixed of fire and ayre, and in their opinion, the variety of its composition caused her spots: Being not ashamed to stile the same body a Goddesse, calling it Diana, Minerva, &c. and yet affirme it be an impure mixture of flame, and smoke, and fuliginous ayre.
—But this Planet cannot consist of fire (saith Plutarch) because there is not any fewell to maintaine it. And the Poets have therefore fained Vulcan to be lame, because hee can no more subsist without wood or other fewell than a lame man without a staffe.
Anaxagoras thought all the starres to be of an earthly nature, mixed with some fire; and as for the Sunne, he affirmed it to be nothing else but a fiery stone; for which later opinion, the Athenians sentenc’d him to death;5 those zealous Idolaters counting it a great blasphemy to make their God a stone,6 whereas notwithstanding, they were so senslesse in their adoration of Idols, as to make a stone their God. This Anaxagoras affirmed the Moone to be more terrestriall than the other Planets, but of a greater purity than anything here below, and the spots he thought were nothing else, but some cloudy parts, intermingled with the light wch belonged to that Planet; but I have above destroyed the supposition on which this fancy is grounded.7 Plinie thinks they arise from some drossie stuffe, mixed with that moysture which the Moone attracts unto her selfe; but he was of their opinion who thought the starres were nourished by some earthly vapours, which you may commonly see refuted in the Commentators on the books de Coelo.