the Sun doth more copiously impart his Light and Heat, when it is Summer with us, is to be imputed to the situation of the Earth, that we tread upon, and which makes the difference between us and the Antipodes, with whom it is Winter; but not all to the Sun, to whom it is meerly accidentary, that they are cold, whilst we have heat, or who darts his Beams obliquely upon them, whilst he is per∣pendicular to us.
IV. In what sense the Stars are said to be for Signs and Seasons Neither doth it contradict any thing that we have said, what the Scripture declares concerning the Sun, Moon and Stars, that they were to be for Signs and Seasons, and for Days and Years. Because these things are no otherwise signified by the Stars, than by the Swallows, who by their coming and going, do presage the Spring and Winter; or as Rainbows, Lightning, Darkness and other changes of the Air, do indicate Showers, Thunder or Fair Weather. For as Swallows are not the Cause of the Spring, nor the Rainbow of Fair Weather, but only signs of either of them: So neither is the Dog-Star a cause of the great Heats we have at the latter end of Summer, but only a sign of the time wherein they happen. As shall be declared hereafter.
V. Whether the Moon hath any Dominion ••ver Sublu∣nary things. The Moon contributes very much to the chan∣ges we have here below, for she not only raiseth violent Winds, excites Storms, and reduceth con∣densed Vapours into Rain: but moreover doth make Seeds to grow, and ripens the Fruits of the Earth, and encreaseth or lesseneth moisture, ac∣cording as she encreaseth, or is in the wane.
Tho' all these things pass with the most of Peo∣ple for indubitable, yet we have good reason to af∣firm, that they are taken up without sufficient ground or reason; because Storms are raised, Showers moisten the Earth, and Plants encrease and ripen, as well when she is opposite to the Sun, as when she is in her first, or last Quarter; except we should say that she hath the power by the weak light she draws from the Sun, of moving or stirring those humours, which she is not able to discuss, and therefore is said to foment and encrease them. But let that virtue be what it will, sure it is that it cannot with any reason be ascribed to her, seeing that it belongs only to the Sun as a Gene∣ral Cause; who by his Beams produceth all the vicissitudes of times and things, which we see here on Earth. Hence are those Rules of Astrologers, that Millet should be sown in April, whilst the Sun is in Taurus; and Wheat in October, when the Sun riseth together with Scorpius, and when the Pleiades sink out of sight, as the same is elegantly described by Virgil, in the first Book of his Georgicks.
And Millet then your Annual care awakes,
When Taurus Golden-horns open the Year;
And Syrius leaves to other Stars the Sphear.
But if for Wheat and stronger Corn, thy ground
Thou exercise, and but a Crop propound;
First let the Eastern Pleiades go down,
And the bright Star of Ariadnes Crown:
Commit due Seed to Furrows then, and here
Trust•• Earth with hope of the ensuing year.
Hence it is that the Poets call Orion, Stormy or Tempestuous; the Vergiliae or Pleiades, Showery or Cloudy, because upon their appearance the Seas are troubled with Storms, and the Earth with
Rainy and Cloudy Weather. I do not deny but that the Stars may be said to be the Signs of changes of weather and seasons; but by no means the Causes of them, as if by their Influence and Activity Plants did grow, and attain their Matu∣rity; but only point out those times, wherein the Sun is more favourable to the growth of Corn, or when the Sea is most subject to Storms.
VI. The Dog-star hath no virtue for the pro∣ducing of Heat or Diseases. The Dog-star excites extream heats, and is sometimes so malignant, as to produce dangerous and Epidemical Diseases.
But this event is to be resolved as the former; for this intense Heat doth not proceed from the Dog-star, as if there were any virtue in him, to cause, and excite some extream hot Spirits, proper to inflame and destroy the healthful temper of mens Bodies: But because this Star doth arise at that time, when the Sun by his nearness to the Earth, doth very much dry up its moisture, and draw forth those exhalations, which infecting the Air first of all, do afterwards communicate the same corruption to Bodies. Hence it is that the Air at Rome is at that time counted very unwhol∣some, because the Country thereabouts abounds with may Caves and Holes, whence the Sun raiseth many exhalations that are very prejudicial to health. But it is evident, that these effects can∣not be attributed to the Dog-star, because that Constellation, when the Heat is at the height, is not advancing towards our vertical point, but withdrawing towards that of our Antipodes, and therefore ought rather to affect them, than us. For this is common to all Stars and Constellations, that they affect most those parts of the Earth, on which they dart their more direct Rays. Which since it doth not happen in the Dog-star, and that our Antipodes, at that time, are opprest with Cold, when our Climate is scorcht with Heat; we may safely conclude, that the Heats we are sensi∣ble of, at that time, do not proceed from the Dog-star, but that there is a quite different Principle to be assigned for our heat.
VII. It is absurd to ascribe acute Dis∣eases to the Dog-star. How absurd it is to attribute Acute Diseases to the Dog-star, is evident from hence, because whereas that Constellation about 2000 years since, did arise about 23 or 24 days after the Solstice, that is, about the 7th of July, of our Style; it is still supposed to rise at the same time; whereas in∣deed the Dog-star doth not rise now till a month after, by reason of the motion of the Fixt Stars towards the East, according to the order of the Signs. And notwithstanding Acute Diseases, Fe∣vers, &c. are commonly attributed to the former term, beginning at the 7th day of July. But who can believe that those extream Heats, we are sensible of in July, will ever be translated to Ja∣nuary? When yet it is most certain, that after 10000 Years, if the World continue so long, the Dog-star will arise about that time.
VIII. The Planets do not con∣tribute to the Moi∣sture or Drought of Sublunary Bodies. The Virtue and Efficacy of the Planets are proved by certain Experiments; as that some of them influence Cold, others Heat; some under such an Aspect communicate Moisture, and under another Drought. Whence is that of PLINY, When the Grass and Herbs are grown, and that they stand in need of more Moisture, whereby they may arrive to their full growth and perfection; the Sun by entring the Constellation of Cancer, doth furnish and supply the same.