I Hope there bee none so farre more precize then wise, as to thinke it vnlawfull to looke on this celestiall Signe with other then vulgar and pore­blinde eyes: (which were still to maintaine ignorance mother of deuotion.) Or if any such there be, I shall meet with them in the clo­sure of this Treatise, and therefore without further tedious Prologue;

May it please you to suruay this celestiall Planis­spheare, whose lineaments are optically proiected How the Planis­spheare is deli­neate. vpon a plaine touching the Ecliptique in the twen­tieth degree of the dodecatemory of Libra, the eye being placed in the center of the Spheare, from whence all the great circles doe appeare right lines, as they are in the chart protracted. Which thing is of speciall vse in our present businesse (as you shall anon perceiue) for which cause I preferred this new [Page 2] manner of proiection (though to my greater paines) before any other in common practise.

The Ecliptique. The lowest line of all is the Ecliptique line, from which the Sunne (as other Planets doe to some few degrees) neuer strayeth.

Parallels of lati­tude. The crooked prickt lines bee parallels of latitude from the Ecliptique towards the Articke Pole ther­of: the space betwixt euery two lines is fiue degrees.

Circles of longi­tude. The other right lines falling down perpendicular on the Ecliptique be circles of longitude; beginning at the fifth degree of Virgo, and so forwards to the fifth of Sagittary: the spaces be also fiue degrees: by these two kinde of lines, it is easie to finde the lon­gitude and latitude of any starre in the chart, and al­so of the Comer.

These circles of longitude do in the Spheare con­curre in the pole, but this proiection in plano doth keep them parallel, or at a continued equall distance each from other.

Aequinoctiall line. From the beginning of Libra towards Capricorne, is extended the aequinoctiall line, to whose interse­ctions with the Ecliptique when the Sun commeth, the nights and dayes bee equall; as alwayes in all places of the earth vnder the same.

From this line, towards each Pole, is counted the declinations of Stars, the greatest part of this Planispheare is on the Arcticke or Northerne side: but these things are plainely remonstrate to the eye in the chart, and therefore I will make no further ex­planation Pictured Con­stellations. of them; neither of the Constellations emblematically pourtrayed according to the mysti­call Hieroglyphicks of ancient Sages.

[Page 3] The stars places. The place of each particular starre is correspon­dent to the most accurate obseruations of the illu­strious Prince William late Lant Graue of Hessen, and that tresnoble Dane Tycho Brahe, of whose ad­mirable Vranicall instruments many honourable witnesses are still suruiuing.

But it (for whom all this preparation is made) is the late Comet, whose delineation is taken from mine owne vigilant and diligent obseruations with Geometricall instruments, especially the Radius, or How the Comet was obserued. Crosse-staffe, eternized by the heroike Poet:

Who with his Iacobs staffe suruay'd the ground,

Did measure times, and all the Heauens round. The first occasion and particular manner of which obseruations with the scrupulous and punctuall pla­ces (of the Comet) from them by necessity of sphe­ricall triangles deducted, I leaue to my Latine Co­metography, which (if these labours finde accep­tance at home) I will adorne for Franckfurt: of whose more curious and ample demonstrations, this little chart is a true Synopticke Epitome; wherein may at once bee seene the Comets place, as it daily appeared in the concaue surface of Heauen: the The Cometary line. line of his proper motion (appearing in the Heauens to be the arch of a perfect great circle) crosseth the Ecliptique in the 15 degree, with ½or thereabouts of Scorpio, running through the Constellation of Libra, ouerthwart Arctophylax, along the extent of Amongst what Constellations. his left arme by the taile of Vrsa maior, towards the Pole Arctick, but a little more Southward.

[Page 4] This Cometary line cutteth the Aequinoctiallline Inclination to the Aequino­ctiall. in the 8 degree almost of Scorpio, and 15 of Nor­therne latitude: making with it an angle of 81 de­grees ²³ towards Libra and the Pole Arctick. If this angle had heene right 90 degrees, the line of the Co­mets motion would haue runne into the very Pole, but making some inclination towards Libra, it fell (as I sayd) a little Southwards from the Pole.

To the E­cliptique. This line also and the Ecliptique (towards Capri­corne and the North) comprehended an angle of 116 degrees. So that the Pole of the Comets pro­per motion was about 15 ½. degrees of Aquarius▪ with 25 degrees ⅔ of Northerne latitude.

The Comets mo­tion in this line. The motion it selfe (reckoned in this line) from my first obseruation on Wednesday morning the 18 of Nouember, to Wensday the 16 of December when I last saw the Comet, amounted almost to 73 degrees in 28 dayes: which is not 2 degrees ⅔ one A little swifter at the first. day with another: but the Comets apparant moti­on at the first was somewhat swifter, though not much, and in the end a little slower.

I haue for the further remonstrance heereof gra­duated the Cometary line; beginning at the inter­section To finde it by the Planispheare. with the Aequinoctiall both wayes: and by the Comets place set downe the time.

Heere I would haue those who ranke Comets a­mongst inconstant Meteors, to take speciall notice Note ther gu'a­rity thereof. of this Comets constant regularity, for that the ine­quality of his motion was not onely little, but ordi­nate, successiuely decreasing sensim sine sensa, by so little and little, that it could not be perceiued, but by comparing many dayes obseruations.

[Page 5] Scarse one fourth part of the Moones motion. Let them also obserue that his motion in this line was scarse at the swiftest one fourth part of the Moones celerity: but of this anon.

I will also propound to Masters in Astronomy this Comets exact and direct description (by his ap­parant In one exact great circle. motion) of a great circle without any deui­ations. What was the true line of his motion in the aetheriall Ocean? What inclination it kept to this our habitable Orb? By what Primum Mobile this Co­met (keeping so iust a line) was whirled about the Astronomicall propositions cocerning the Comets motion. earth euery foure and twenty houres?

These considerations bee onely fit for those who haue beene rapt vp aboue the elementary regions of vulgar Schooles: and slept not in Parnassus, but Olympus, vnder the spangled canopy of Vrania; I can hardly keepe within the spheare of this little Trea­tise, and scarsely refraine from the Samian Philoso­phy of Aristarchus in the earths motion, were it not I feared another Aristarchus his broach: and that I must reserue these mysteries for a more learned language. Wherefore to prosecute our present de­scription: Vpon the inclination of this Cometary The Comets mo­tion in Longi­tude and lati­tude. circle or line to the Ecliptique and Aequinoctiall, de­pend the Comets places and motion in longitude, latitude, right ascension and declination, as appeares in the Planispheare; wherein is manifest, that the Co­mets motion of longitude was continually retro­grade, Continually retrograde. contrary to the order of the signes, from the middle almost of Scorpio, through Libra into Virgo▪ which retrogression hath beene noted in many o­ther Comets, as I shall elsewhere relate; but the cause of their retrogression hath laien hid in the my­sticall [Page 6] cabinet of Astronomy. It were vaine to af­firme But not from Saturne. Saturne now also retrograde in his Acroni­chiall opposition in Gemini, to hale backe this Co­met by the haire after him (as simple Astrologians conceit) for that these planetary retrogressions and stations▪ of Planets bee but [...], appearances; the Planets still making progresse in their owne cir­cles, (as is well knowen to them who are well versed From whence was caused his retrogression. in the Labyrinths of Astronomy) but this Comets retrogression depends on the inclination of his true line in the aetheriall Regions, which though it ap­peared to vs circular in the concaue of Heauen, yet in it selfe was right: but I may not breake Pythago­rean silence.

This retrograde motion being referred to the E­cliptique in longitude was (contrary to the motion Slower in the beginning. in his proper circle) slow in the beginning, and much swifter in the end; which is caused from the great inclination of the Cometary line to the Ecliptique, which plainely appeareth in the Chart, by which you shall easily finde the Comets place in longitude and latitude for any day of his tearme.

Comets declina­tion from the Aequinoctiall. The Comet also euery day changed his parallel of declination (mounting continually Northwards) and therewith his verticall passage ouer the Earth.

The common sort, at his first appearing, thought him to bee ouer Spaine, making I know not what prognosticks thereof: but their eyes deceiued them, Was not at first ouer Spaine. they aimed many thousand miles too short: At my first obseruation he declined twelue degrees towards the South, making his diurnall gyre ouer that terre­stiall circle wherein lie Noua Guinea, the Iles Timor [Page 7] and Iaua in the East, the north part of S ^t. Laurence, Mozambique in Africa, the middle of Brasilia, & Peru Ouer what place. in the west. About the twentie two of Nouember it entred the aequinoctiall plaine ouer the Moluccas, Malaca, Sumatra, Abassia, S ^t. Thomas, Guiana; euery day ascending higher towards our Pole Arctick, a­bout the 30. entring the Tropick of Cancer, after­ward passing ouer all the regions of the earth, euen ouer the vtmost limites of the British Empire.

How to know ouer whose head it was eueryday. By the Comets declination is easie to know ouer what place the Comet was euery day verticall: for if his declination be equall to the Latitude, or Poles elevation, (which may be knowne by Tables or Mappes) then of necessity did the Comet passe ouer head in that place. The middle of Spaine lyes in fortie degrees of Latitude from the equinoctiall When ouer Spaine. northward; but the Comets declination was not so much, till about the sixt of December; and there­fore could not be verticall to them before that time.

Over London. About the eleuenth of December his declination was fiftie one degrees and halfe, and therefore passed ouer London in the morning, and so hasted more Northwards euen as farre as the Orcades.

The Comets declination may be had in the chart by the line of his motion being graduated on both sides the aequinoctiall: for the distance from the ae­quinoctiall is (with a little correction) the declina­tion: for from one degree to twentie, the distance is within a few minutes the declination: but from To finde the Co­mets declination by the plani­sphere. twentie degrees to fortie substract one fourth part of a degree, from fortie to fiftie substract halfe a de­gree, and from fiftie to sixtie substract one degree [Page 8] from the Comets distance (from the aequinoctiall) and there remaines his declination, which whether it were South or North the Plani-sphere will shew.

On the third of December his distance in his own line from the aequinoctiall was 30. degrees 40. min. from whence 15. min. substracted there remaines 30. degrees & twenty fiue minutes the declination.

The alteration of his rising. By reason of this mounting Northwards, the Co­met did euery day rise sooner then other, withall changing his azimuth, or point of compasse (in his rising) from South-east and by East towards the north vntill at length it made continual abode aboue our Horizon.

Seen after Sun­set. I may not forget that the Comet in the later part of his period was North-west after sunne-set, which gaue occasion to some not skilfull in Astronomie to affirme a second Comet. But from the beginning I fore-told (which was no great matter to doe) that if the Comet continued awhile, it would aduance neere to the tayle of Vrsa maior, and be seene in the euening after the Sunne.

The Comets blazing stream. Now are we come to that from which Comets, or Blazing-stars are denominated; the tayle, or rather the blazing streame, which in this Comet was very remarkable, and is truely pourtraied in the plani­sphere, as it appeared in the heauens, being alwaies in opposition to the Sunne, or extended in length according to a right line issuing from the Sunne Alwaies in oppo­sition to the Sun. through the Comets body. For plainer remon­strance whereof I specially invented this new man­ner of proiecting the Spheare in plano, and haue caused the Elipticke to be protracted to the begin­ning [Page 9] of Capicorne, and in it the Suns place exactly noted on seuerall daies of the Comets apparition, also from the Sunnes Center proceede right lines through the body of the Comet which doe precise­ly shew the true prospect of his bushie lockes.

The 27. of Nouember in the morning the Co­mets haire was spread ouer the faire starre Arcturus betwixt the thighes of Arctophylax or Bootes. Now the planispheare doth shew that a right line drawne from the Sunne then in the 15 degree of Sagittarie through the Comets body [...] approach the said Starre. So the last of November about midnight following the Comets bush ouer-shadowed a starre of the third light in the left hinder knee of Vrsama­ior. Which doth manifestly appeare in the plani­spheare by a line extended from the Sunne (then in 19. degrees of Sagittarie) through the Comets bo­dy; the like may be seene in other places.

In-sooth this Comets forelock was a better Ephe­meris for the Sunnes place then many in great re­quest.

The bushie lockes not of the same matter with the Comets head. Hence is detected the grosse ignorance of those writers who neuer or seldome cast vp their eies to­wards those glorious lights, but onely delighting in solitary contemplation doe much busie their wits in searching the cause of Cometary streamings; affir­ming them to be of the same matter (but more rare and thin) with the head. Which with many other absurdities may be refuted by this present obseruati­on; which doth [...] by geometricall and lineall necessitie certainely demonstrate that the What it is. Comets taile is nothing else but an irradiation of the [Page 10] Sunne through the pellucide head of the Comet. For though the Sunne-beames be not of themselues conspicuous in the pure aëry or aetheriall regions, yet passing through the Comets more condensed substance and there by refraction recollected and more neerely vnited they did not onely illustrate the Comet it selfe, but also a long tract beyond him.

According to the refraction and recollection of the Sunnes beames, so was the illustration and illu­mination of the Comet; which appeared to vs How the Comet varnihed. more or lesse as the Comet was neerer or farther from the earth: and these be the true reasons why the Comet (which at first was illustrate with a bright resplendence) did euery day more and more loose his radiant lustre till at length it appeared like a faint shadow, and quite vanished out of our sight: for neither could the Sun beames be any longer vnited by refraction in the Comets now dissolute and slu­ide substance, neither could that little glimpse (if any were) be perceiued, being so farre remote from the earth, as shall be anon remonstrate.

By the same reasons did the Comets streaming bush also by little and little vanish away, and so much the rather, by how much the Sunne rayes were there alwayes more dissipate then in the Co­met, and those locks euer lesse relucent then the head.

The forelockes dilatation from whence. The dilatation of the Comets fore-locke was caused by a second refraction of the Sunne beames, by which refraction they were brought to an inter­section, after which they beganne againe to diverge, [Page 11] or display themselues in that forme which appeared in the heauens, and is delineate in the planispheare.

The exceeding length of it. This dilatation was nothing so strange, as the ex­tent in length, being sometimes more then 45. de­grees, and namely the 1. of December, ouersha­dowing the left hinder knee of Vrsa maior.

Though in the end the Comet did as it were winde vp this long haire about his head.

Some haue doubted, if this long streame of light had touched the earth, whether it would haue caused any combustion? Surely no: Indeede the Sun beames may by reflexion or refraction bee so It had no bur­ning qualitie. concentred & vnited, that (though it were through a peece of ice framed into a burning glasse) they shall easily set any combustible matter on fire; but that happens onely in the center of vnion, or con­course of the recollected beames: but this Comets lockes being diverged, or displaied rayes, could haue no such power though they had touched the earth.

Many strange conclusions may be drawne from the Sunnes irra­diation through the Comet. From this one obseruation of the Sunnes irradia­tion through the Comet many more strange and ex­cellent conclusions may be collected, which neither my leasure will suffer mee to examine particularly, neither can these pages well containe them.

Wherefore now I will tye vp this Comets radiant lockes with admiration of that glorious lampe, wherewith He that inhabits the light inaccessible doth illustrate, and enlighten this whole world. [...]. Psal. 19. Hee hath set The wonderfull light of the Sun. his Tabernacle in the Sunne, and it as a Bridegroome commeth out of his chamber, and reioyceth as a Gyant [Page 12] to runne a race; his going forth is from the end of the heauen, and his circuits vnto the ends of it; and there is nothing hid from the heate thereof. This is the true [...], the onely harth of inquench­able fire, which so many thousand leagues oft warm­eth the earth, enlightneth these refulgent bodies, and with them this new Planet.

I haue at large shewed the Comets places as they appeared in the surface of Heauen, both in his owne circle, and also referred to the Ecliptick, and Aequi­noctiall; The Comets di­stance from the earth. but there is another place of more difficult inquisition, and greater admiration, and that is the Comets distance from this our habitable Orbe.

Common schooles treading the wrie steps of that great and witty, but often mis-leading Peripateticke, The error of Aristotle and his followers. would confine this, and other Comets within the higher region of the aire; neither could his palpable error in the place of Galaxia (or the milkie-way in Heauen) acknowledged by most bring them into suspition of the like deuiation from the high aethe­riall region of Comets into the Elementary vallies of Meteors; where, and with whom to place this Comet were to hide so glorious a candle vnder a bushell, and not to set it in a candlesticke, that all in the house may see; to set a beacon not on an hill, but in a dale, especially if wee consider that the highest How high the aire is from the earth. region of the aire (by the Optickes demonstration from the time of twilight) is not many aboue 50. english miles from the earth.

The Comets place about the Moone argued from the rigularitic of his motion. Wherefore I may iustly vse the Lacedemonian [...], walke not in the errors of those wan­dring Philosophers. Let this Comets regular and [Page 13] ordinate motion (for a month together) neuer de­uiating from one right line, keepe you in the way of verity.

2 From the quantity therof. This very reason alone many ages agoe perswa­ded diuine Seneca, and in our Fathers daies that in­genious and subtile Cardane to place all Comets a­boue the elementarie regions, wherein only incon­stant and momentany Meteors make their sickle vagaries.

The analogie also obserued in the starres betwixt their distance from the earth, and their motion a­bout the same, doth eleuate this Comet aboue the Lunary regions, his proper motion being scarse at any time the fourth part of hers.

This argument was sometimes accounted a firme demonstration, before that conglomeration of so­lide orbes was with the Aries or engines of Astro­nomicall obseruations battered and demolished: neither is it yet reiected by those who well deserue the first place in the restauration of this celestiall Art; for though those Babylonian wals be ruinated, yet is the analogie of motion and distance stil preserued. God hath crea­ted all things in waight, measure and number. It was the saying of diuine Plato, [...], God is the great Master of Geometrie, hauing created all things in waight, measure, and number, as holy writ doth witnesse. The most accurate and re­fined Astronomie doth confesse and professe, that flow Saturne is farthest from the earth, and swift Luna neerest, the rest intermediating in their motion, according to their distance from this little terrell, for whose vse especially those vast planetarie globes were created.

[Page 14] 3 From infalli­ble demonstra­tion by parallax. But that abstruse & admirable [...], most irrefragable and infallible remonstrance drawn from the parallax doth place this Comet farther beyond the Moone, then she is from the earth, yea many times her apogaeall or greatest distance. But because this huge distance may seeme strange to ma­ny (being as I haue shewed contrary to the long re­ceiued opinion of common Philosophers) and the doctrine of parallax to most no lesse vnknowne, then the word it selfe; I will for their better satisfa­ction, with as much breuity and perspicuity as I can, vnfold obscure, but sure argument.

Parallax (in Astronomy) is a commutation or changing of any Planets or Comets true place (poin­ted out by a line drawne from the Earths center through the Planets, or Comets) into another place appearing to our eye on the superficies of this terre­striall speculatorie. Or parallax, is the difference of these two places.

This commutation or difference ariseth from that [...], reason, or (to vse the vulgar tearme, though here vnproper) proportion, which the earths semidi­ameter (or thicknesse from the center to his superfi­cies) hath to the planets or Comets distance from the earth: for if this semidiameter hold any sensible proportion to the distance, it is not possible that the eye vpon the earth should see the Comet or Planet in the same place which it hath in respect of the cen­ter, but there will be a parallax, commutation, or difference more or lesse according to the distance. So the Moones perigaeal or shortest distance being not much more then fiftie two semidiameters of the [Page 15] earth, fals into a notorious parallax (or difference of her true and apparant place) and that of one de­gree and 6. minutes, for the proportion of one to fiftie two, or 1/52 part is very sensible: but the Sun be­ing remote when he is perigeall, no lesse then 1100 [...] Semidiameters from the earth (by all Astronomers consent) hath very little parallax of 3 m. for the pro­portion of 1 m. to 1100 [...] is very little, or nothing: but according to the more accurate & late obseruati­ons of Keplerus (Mathematician to two Emperors) the Sun being 1800 [...] Semidiameters of the earth from it, shall haue but 2 min: of parallax: But the vpper Planets, Iupiter & Saturne, are so exceedingly remote, that the earths semidiameter can cause in them no parallax at all, much lesse in the fixed stars, which are almost infinitely remote from the earth, retaining their mutuall distances and situations (in what place of the earth soeuer they be obserued) yea from their first creation, being set by the Almighty, as so many markes, whereunto the terrestriall inha­bitants might refer the seuen Planets, or any other celestiall light, as Comets and new Stars.

[Page 16] For the better vnderstanding of this parallacti­call discourse, I must entreat you to examine this following Diagram.

Diagram of pa­rallax.

Where o, l, is the earths semidiameter, 1, 2, 3, be three Planets or Comets diuersely remote from the earth, and all in one line from o, the earths center, which refers them all to one place in v, amongst the Euplication of the Diagram. fixed Stars: but the eye being on the earths super­ficies in l, doth cause a parallax or change of place, more or lesse, as they be distant from the earth: for 1 the neerest to the earth doth from l appeare in a, making a great parallax, the angle v, 1, a, or more plainely the arch v, a, which (in the eighth Spheare) [Page 17] is equall to the angle, but the 2 being further from the earth, doth from l appeare in b. hauing v, b, lesse parallax, then the former: but 3 being yet further from the earth, doth from l appeare in c, hauing v, c, but a little parallax.

Parallax grea­test in the Hori­zon. Any of these parallaxes are greatest when the Pla­net is in the Horizon, as 1 is, the other being a little aboue: but in the Zenith or Verticall poynt ouer our heads, there can be no parallax at all, for then the line from the Center doth runne into the line from the Superficies, making one line. as you see z, l, o. So that the parallax doth from the Hori­zon vpwards continually decrease, and at length Nothing in the Zenith. vanish away in the Zenith.

So much lesse as the Comet is farther from the earth. By this which hath beene sayd is manifest, that the farther any visible thing is from the earth, the lesse parallax it must needes haue: but the finding of the parallax is not so easie; Hic labor, hoc opus est: this requires more then ordinary skill in Astro­nomy.

To finde the parallax. There bee two speciall wayes to finde the paral­lax: The one is by two obseruations made at one time in two remote places of the earth, for if the Comet doth in both of them appeare in one and the 1 By obseruati­ons in two diuers places at one time same place amongst the fixed starres, then cannot the earths semidiameter haue any proportion to the di­stance of the Comet: but if the Comet doth appeare diuersly amongst the fixed starres, then hath it paral­lax more or lesse according to his distance from the earth. In the former Diagram let L be London, R be some other remote place, 1 the Comet, which from L will appeare amongst the fixed starres in A, but [Page 18] from R it will appeare in V: so that the difference is A. V. very much, because 1 is neere the earth: Let there be also another Comet 3 which from L will appeare in C, but from R in V, the difference V C very little, because 3 is very farre from the earth. I At London. haue beene very diligent in obseruing all the Co­mets places amongst the fixed starres, that so here­after comparing them with those which appeared in other countries, the true parallax of this Comet may be knowne, which I dare say by this triall will proue 2. In one place by two obserua­tions in one night. little or none. In the meane time I haue not negle­cted the second way of finding the parallax, which is by comparing two apparant places of the Comet in one and the same night, one place being neere the Horizon, and the other neere the Zenith. For the difference of these two places will manifest the pa­rallax: where regard must be had of the starres pro­per motion in the interuall of time, which is very easie to performe. There be many kindes of obser­uations, by altitudes, declinations, ascensions, &c. which are very difficult, and perplexed with diuers species of parallaxes, besides refraction. And there­fore An easie and certaine way to finde the pa­rallax. omitting them, I will acquaint you with an easie and most certaine way to search forth any Comets parallax, & that without error of 5 or 6 mi. which is nothing to 66 mi. of the Moones parallax. This is by obseruing the Comet a very little ouer or vnder some starre neere the Horizon, and afterwards the same night neere the Zenith or verticall point. For if the Comet (hauing parallax) neere the Horizon ap­peare a little vnder the starre, it will towards the Ze­nith appeare neere, yea (it may be) eclipse the star, [Page 19] or be a little aboue him, which is plaine by the Dia­gram, for the Comet 3 appearing from l in c vnder the starre v will in z the verticall point bee in con­iunction with him, and eclipfe him from your sight. Here the Comet is supposed to haue no motion, be­sides that from the primum mobile: but if hee haue any, as this Comet had, it is easie to make allowance for the same, especially being so little in 5 or 6 houres betwixt the two obseruations. As for refra­ction Refraction here no hindrance. neere the Horizon, it cannot bring any incum­brance, for that it doth as well eleuate the Starre, as the Comet.

An obseruation of the Comets parallax. The night before the third of December, about one houre after midnight, I obserued the Comet not yet 10. degrees aboue the Horizon, vnder two lit­tle starres of the fourth light in the girdle of Arcto­phylax. The distance of these starres is but 50. min. which serued as a ready and certaine measure, wher­unto I might compare the distance of the Comet from them, for the more perspicuous distinction whereof I vsed the Telescopium or Trunke-spectacle.

The Comet appeared from the vppermost starre (which was directly in his way) the distance of the two stars, & moreouer ⅓ part thereof, in all one deg. 6. min. Towards morning, the Comet being moun­ted 53. degrees aboue the Horizon, the Comet ap­peared from the said starre a little more then ⅔ of the two stars distance, about 36 mi: so that in 5. houres the Comet was come but 30. minutes neerer to the starre; no more then his proper motion in that time (according to former and following nights obser­uations) required. Wherefore remouing this pro­per [Page 20] motion, he would haue appeared at both times a like distant from the starre; and therefore had none or little parallax. For suppose the Comet to haue had as much parallax as the Moone (in her pe­rigaeon) which is (in 10. degrees aboue the Horizon) 65. min. and in 53. deg. of altitude scarce 40. m. the difference is 25. m. and so much should the Comet by alteration of his parallax haue appeared neerer the starre at the second obseruation, then at the first, to which if you adde his proper motion in the mean space, it will be 55. m. & so the Comet should haue been but ⅕ part of the 2 stars distance from the vpper starre; whereas he was more then ⅔, which is a no­torious difference, and could not escape the sight; and therfore had not so great parallax as the moone, Found much lesse than the Moones parallax. and by necessary consequence was aboue her, ▪yea many times her distance from the earth, which I might easily confirme by the like obseruation the night following, when the Comet had ouertaken the starre more then a degree; but especially by my obseruations the nights preceding the 10. 11. and 12. daies, when the Comet was very neere vnto a little starre in the left arme of Arctophylax, at the first vnder him and after aboue, and also by his di­stance from another obscure star (which I found by the Telescopium 15 mi. aboue the Comet: this little starre I could finde in no globe nor mappe, but one­ly in the excellent Vranimetria of that diligent and industrious Beyerus. By diligent and curious noting the Comets distance from these starres, first neere Not aboue 6. m. the Horizon, and afterwards towards the Zenith in the same nights, I dare be bold to conclude that [Page 21] this Comet had not 6. minutes of parallax (for within these limites I may confine the incertaintie of my obseruations) and therefore more then 600. semidiameters of the earth distant from it.

Proued also from prospect of the Comets fore­locke. How strange so euer this may seeme, yet is it en­forced from most certaine demonstration parallacti­call. Which may moreouer be confirmed from the prospect and irradiation of this Comets forelocke. Which if the head had any notable parallax, must of necessitie haue twice so much, and so could not appeare in one line with the Comet, and the Sunne as I haue formerly demonstrated.

But least the Reader not acquainted with Mathema­ticall demonstrations, should thinke it a nouell posi­tion, yea [...], a strange vncouth & neuer heard of opinion to elevate Comets so far a­boue the Elementary, yea lunary regions. I must re­late vnto them that besides those famous new stars, the one in Cassiopaea 1572. and the other in the foot History of new starres, and Co­mets far aboue the Moone. of Ophiuchus 1604. both which lasted more then a yeere, and that in Cygnus continuing many yeeres; all three from all places of the earth appearing in one and the same position amongst the fixed stars, (an argument of their huge distance aboue the Moone) besides these and that new starre noted by Hipparchus 2000. yeeres almost since, diuers excel­lent Mathematicians of this age, haue by certaine remonstrances shewed many Comets farther aboue the Mone, then I affirme this to be. Amongst, o­thers, that second Hipparchus, Tycho Brahe in the Co­mets 1577. 1580. 1582. 1585. 1590. could not with all his admirable, sumptuous, and exquisite V­ranical [Page 22] engines finde the least parallax, no not of one minute; and therefore iustly affirmed them far beyond the Moone: yea, which is most remarkable, and caused no small admiration, and delight in the Heroicke Lantgraue of Hessen, as it pleased him by letters to signifie to Tycho▪ Rothmannus the Lantgraues Mathematician, obseruing the Comet in 1585. a­greed with Tycho in the place thereof to a scruple, (at one and the same instant) and yet the one was remote from the other almost 300. English miles, the distance betwixt Cassels, and Vrani-burge, which punctuall agreement had been impossible if the Co­met had not beene exceedingly remote beyond the moone. I must also remember that Albumasar 1000. yeares almost since obserued a Comet aboue the spheare of Mercury.

This Comet 600. semidiameters of the earth from it. Wherefore it is no such strange distance from the earth that I assigne to this our Comet, 600. semi­diameters of the earth; which is but ⅓ of the Suns distance. I might iustly account this Comet higher, but I will keepe within the limites of my obserua­tions.

And for your better satisfaction, reduce this di­stance into english miles, allowing (by the statute How many En­glish miles the earths semidia­meter is. of 25. Elizabethae) 5280. foote to a mile; & 3834. of these miles to the earths Semidiameter, therein following the late ingenious and painefull measura­tions of Willebrordus Snellius. Wherefore the Co­mets How many miles the Comet was from the earth. distance from the earth was uot lesse then 2300000. english miles, whereas the Moone (when she is neerest) is little more then 200900. miles.

The irradiation also of this Comets streame, [Page 23] (though in the end it seemed very short) was some­time How many miles the forelocke ex­tended. extended to a wonderfull length, more then 2000000. miles, which is nothing to the Sunnes ejaculation of his beames vpon the earth, more then 6900000. miles. From the Comets distance doth necessarily follow the vast globositie of his body, How many miles the Comet was in thicknesse. though to vs his diameter seemed but a few mi­nutes, which being no lesse then 4. minutes will ex­tend to 2668. miles, which is ⅓ almost of the earths diameter, and therefore the Comets bulke was at least 1/27 of the whole earth; and not fully twice grea­ter How much the globositie there­of was, compared to the Earth, Moone, and Sunne. then the Moone; but the Comet compared to the Sunne was scarce 1. to 8000. so little is this great Comet in respect of that glorious lampe; and yet the Sunne but a point to the immense spheare of fixed starres; and all this lesse then nothing in com­parison of that infinite Circle, Cuius centrum est vbi­què, The infinitenesse of the Almightie. circumferentia nusquam, The center of whose pre­sence, and prescience is euery where, and his limits no where: That great [...], and Creator, who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, meeted out heauen with a spanne, comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, watghed the mountaines in scales, and the hills in a balance. O Lord when I consider the Heauens, the worke of thy fingers, the Moone, and the Starres, which thou hast ordained, what is man that thou art mindfull of him, and the sonne of man that thou vi­sitest him?

The Comet▪ was not compact of exhalations. This Comets huge distance from the earth, and vast magnitude will cause to vanish all these smoakie exhalations which by common opinion being by the caelestiall light attracted from the earth into the [Page 24] higher regions of the aire, are there condensed, and by motion set on fire, continually burning in the forme of a Comet, vntill all the materiall be spent. But this Comet was farre aboue the highest ascent of grosse and sulphurous exhalations, his quantitie more then could be caused by a great part of the earth turned into smoake, his motion too regular, and his durance too long for such wandring, and soone vanishing exhalations.

Those Philosophers, who still walke in the way of the Gentiles, are afraide to induce generation, or any other mutation into the heauens, rather choosing to follow their blinde guide (who denied the world to haue any beginning, or ending) then to beleeue the infallible truth of sacred Scripture.

Others haue beene scrupulous to conceit any creation since that first Saboth.

What was the Comets mate­rials. But whether this Comet and the like were caused by efficacie of nature (the ordinary power which God hath put into all his creatures) compacting the liquid aetheriall substance, or whether by the imme­diate power of the worlds Architect (qui dixit, & facta sunt, mandauit, & creata sunt: Spake and they were made, commanded and they were created) a new matter was presently created:

I will not here curiously dispute▪ either of these waies doth acknowledge a celestiall matter, and di­uine prouidence.

It were vaine to refute those who haue imagined The Comet not made of Ga­laxia. Comets, and new starres to be made of the Galaxia, or milkie way; for so before this day would all that milke haue beene turned into curds; neither is that [Page 17] way any whit more condense then the rest of the The Comet not made of Galaxia heauen, but onely an irradiation of innumerable starres close together, as the Telescopium doth ocu­larly demonstrate.

Neither shall I need to reproue those ancient Phi­losophers, who (in the dawning of Astronomie) thought Comets to be [...], a co-apparition of Not a co-appa­rition of planets. Planets seeming to touch one another; or (as our simple vulgar still doe) some planet, especially Merc. Nor morning­starre. or Venus appearing after a long latitat vnder the Sun beames; or some fixed starre disguised (I know not how) with borrowed locks. Not much vnlike to some late writers, who suppose Comets to be starres Not created from the beginning. from the beginning created, but hidden in the deepe abysse of heauen, and at certaine times descending lower, become visible to the earth.

But whatsoeuer was the materiall of this Comet, howsoeuer compact, and dissolued, I am enforced in conclusion of this Astronomicall part, to lie pro­strate A religions con­clusion. at the Almighties power in the globositie thereof, to admire his wisdome in the motion, and adore his goodnesse in the present apparition.