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Artic. 2. Of the light of the fixt Starrs, with their magnitude and motion.
THe 8th sphere contains the fixt Starrs, and those in number numberlesse. Alongtime men observed 1022, which the Phoeni∣cians reduced to constellations. Braheus added 74, Houtmannus 14, about the Antartick pole. Bartholin. de Coelo. c. 3. Also they are of di∣vers magnitudes, yet all greater than the Earth, except the sixt mag∣nitude. The magnitude will give you the vast distance: we see them like sparks of fire, yet Astronomers reckon 14000 diameters of the earth. They have their own natural light which shines to men in the night, not that it is put out in the day by the Sun beams, but that the medium being enlightned admits of the more forcible species, the lesser and weaker is carried through the medium unperceived. Scalig. exerc. 6.2. Historians observe that they have been seen in the day∣time, and not without some token. In Commodus his times they were seen a whole day, some were drawn forth at length, as though they were fastned in the Ayre. The slaughter of the Parthians fol∣lowed, civill warrs, and the killing of five Emperours in one year. The same thing was seen in the raign of Constantius, from Sun rising till noon, about Sun set the Sun first appeared with crooked horns, and then but halfe, some suppose it was an Eclipse. Cardanus saw two at Millan, l. 14. de varietat. rer. c. 70. One Anno 1511, and the French were driven out of Italy: another 1535, and the death of Francis Sfor••ia followed, and because he died childless, the Prince was changed, Charls took the Government. Lastly the 9th of June, this yeare there was one seen in England before noon, when a solemn thanksgiving was made to God for the birth of the Prince of Wales. we were certified that some French men saw the same at Diep the same time. There is a wonderfull matter in their motion. Besides their own, which is made from North to South upon the poles of Aries and Libra, they are said to be drawn by the 9th sphere from west to east. Hence it comes that they are all moved from their places. Braheus saith in a hundred yeares they are drawn back, one degree, 25 minuts. Meto, who florished in the 130th yeare after Thales, ob∣served the Starr of Aries to be in the Equinoctiall. Timochares, that it gain'd two degrees, Hipparchus four and nine minuts, Ptolomy 6, and 40 minuts, Albategnius 18, and 12 minuts, Alphonsus 23, and 48 minutes, Vernerus 26, and 54 minutes, Bodinus 28 and 20 minuts; The bright one in the utmost tayle of the little dog, which is for the pole Starr, Hipparchus observed to be 12 degrees distant from the pole of the world, we see it but almost three now adays. Cardan saith, that the heads of the motions of this Orbe will be not only in contrary places, in the year 1800, but the motion will be contrary also, and he collects from thence that there will be strange alterations in the Christian religion, de varietat. rer. l. 2. c. 3.