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AS Sol or the Sunne is the Beauty, Grace, and Countenaunce of ye day: so in like sorte is Luna, or the Moone the com∣forter, light geuer, and glory of the night. And they both haue for this such their Graci∣ousnes and goodnes, the greatest prehemi∣nence and accoumpte of all other Planets. Whereupon it was not wont good cause, and consideration that in olde and auncient time, both of these when at any tyme they
were Depictures or drawen forth by any Artificer, Engrauer, or Paynter, they were then chiefly set out in ye fashion, seem∣linesse or Habite of a Virgin: and in both their handes were placed and put fine and feate Arrowes, or dartes, to signifie there∣by that the light which proceeded frō these two, was onely cleare, vndefiled, and with∣oute spot: and that these were the onely Planets which threwe as it were, and cast from them the glistering beames of cleare and comfortable lighte, as Arrowes or Dartes: whereby all things cheared, and continued the better in their Estate, wyth well lyking. This same Luna therefore is with the Poets called Lucina the Gouer∣nour or Goddesse of the nyghte. And for that she doth not onely appeare or shyne in the night time, but is seene oftentimes o∣uer our heade in our Horizon in the day time. It is growne to a custome, and brought nowe amonge vs to this passe & ef∣fect, yt shee is also of some called Diana (as if you woulde say Duana) for her thorow presence both in ye day & night: or as Tul∣ly better reasoneth, for that shee with her bright looke oftentimes causeth ye night to appeare as though it were day. This of al
ye other planets is placed lowest, & is nigh∣est to ye Earth, for which cause she sheweth forth & seemeth vnto our eyesight to bee so great: her figure or fashiō of body is roūd, & of her own nature she is fiery, although casually intermedling wt vapors, water, & so forth, she appeareth to be in colour wate∣ry, which much troubleth her: whereupō it is reported yt (were it not for such lettes, & hinderaunces, as by this meanes it is sub∣iect vnto) she would shyne forth as fully as doth the Sunne, The Hebrewes call it. TSAR, or LECANNATH: the Greekes 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. She geueth her chiefest light on yt side or part which is opposite against the Sun, & is euer darkned on yt side which is turned away frō the Sun. In ye Moone be 3. states or cōditions to be obserued & wai∣ghed: yt is to say, either as she is in coniūc∣tion wt the Sun: or els as she is on some of his sides, or els as shee departeth & goeth backe furder of from ye Sun. Whē the is in this last of 3. point, she will appeare end wise, with her hornes reaching towards ye East. Secōdly as she is in oppositiō wt the sun and draweth nighe to that pointe, shee appeareth all ouer a like rounde with the
Sūne, but her reuolution then is most to∣warde the West. And lastly as on eyther side shee turneth more or lesse towardes the Sunne, so is shee the more obscured or lightned. Marcianus sayth that there is a certayne Stayne or Spot euer seene in the Moone, which blemisheth her brightnesse greatly: especially thē, when as some mat∣ter of Mystes, or of any other Metecre is troublesome vnto her. Her house is onely in Cancer, Her exaltacion is in the fourth of Taurus, Her qualies are cold & moiste. As likewise her effectes or workinge is to make colde and moyste. Where she colou∣reth she geueth a saffron colour: & in tastes or sauoures she worketh & maketh the sal∣test. Her course or race is of all other Pla∣nets most swift: for in 28. dayes she passeth through all and singuler Signes of the Zo∣diacke. And for such her swiftnes or haste it happeneth somewhiles yt shee is vnder ye Sunne, another while aboue: one while she is before, another while behinde. And when as the Sunne is in his course or cir∣cuite by the nethermost circles of ye south, and the Moone contrariwise in the highest circle of ye North, then the top of ye Moone
appeareth like a Cockbote or small ship, and her hornes are vpwarde. But when as she is vnder the Sūne, her hornes giue downewarde towardes the earth. From ye Moone are gathered and coniectured cer∣taine probable signes, whereby we prog∣nosticate and foreshewe of the alteratiō of times & mutability of the weather to come. As when the Moone by and by after her chaunge doth appeare red, shee prognosti∣cateth wyndes and tempestuous weather, the most parte of the sayde Moones conti∣nuance. Agayne if vpon her chaunge shee incontinently at her Top or highest parte looketh blacke, or be there darckened shee foresheweth rayne, and a wet & moyste first quarter. But if shee bee onely obscured a∣bout ye middle of her, shee prognosticateth a fayre full Moone and last quarter of the same. The Eclypse of the Moone is gene∣rally caused through the interposition of ye earth betwene the Moone & our eyesight: but then especially is she Eclipsed when as the bodies both of the Sunne, Moone, and Earth are right oppositly set one ouer an∣other, in one & the selfe same contrary line: so that by such occasion, one darckeneth and
obscureth another. Her chaunge, increase, and decrease, hath much troubled the wits of ye Astronomers. As hardly also can they render a reason & geue forth the cause why one while shee croketh in to hornes, why another while she wexeth all rounde, why one while she shyneth in one parte of her, why another she geueth light al ouer why now she is seene all night, why now but a piece of ye night: why now leauing ye nighte time, shee sheweth her selfe onely in ye day time: why now shee is cleare and radiant, why anon blotted and blemished: why now caried Northwarde, why anon mooninge directly Southward. Which al and other such like meruaylons and straunge effects and properties (are reported by Plinie in his second booke and eight chapter to haue bene best obserued by Endymion being as is there sayde, rauished & in great loue for such her astonishmēt, fel so to affectionate her, that accomptinge more of her then of all the other Supercoelestiall powres, shee to requite him like loue agayne, is sayd to haue discended on a time and to haue kissed the sayd Endymion as he lay a sleepe vp∣on Latmus, & Mountayne in Caria, Plinie
in his fourtenth chapter of the aforesayde boke doth report, yt alwaies at the Moones increase, her hornes are turned from the Sunne: as contrariwise as she decreaseth shee turneth her hornes toward the Sun. There haue appeared Many Moones at once, but neuer more thē three at one time. And three appeared at one tyme manifest∣ly: as in the secōd booke of the sayd Plinie and xxxii. chapter is recorded: that is to say, in ye tyme of the preheminēce or consul∣ship of Cneius Domitius, and Lucius An∣nius: which were called of some then, the night Suns. Likewyse it hath bene seene & ye same Author doth affirm it to be true, that there hath appeared such lightes in ye night, as that it hath bene in a manner all one with the day light. As for example: In the tyme of Caius Cecilius and Cneius Papirius, they beyng consuls, such lights were seene in the night, as that the bright∣nes thereof could not be discerned from the brightnes of the noone day. And at diuers other tymes in ages and yeares synce, such straunge sights ther haue bene seene, such sightes in the Night, as men haue suppo∣sed it to haue bene day. There haue bene
also Bucklers of fyre sene glisteryng from the West to the Easte, and of all these the most greuous of others to behold, & which bred greatest wonder hapned in the tyme of the Consulship of Lucius Valerius and Cneius Marius. There hath also ben seene and be often as yet in ye night, fiery flames or burninges in the element or ayre, which haue shewed forth diuers and sundry like∣nesses: so that some of thē haue bē thought to haue resembled and to bee like vnto a Candle or Torch burning: some like vnto fiery beames: some like vnto pillers set on fire: some are after ye fashiō of speares: som shewing forth the likenes of swords: some not much vnlike horses manes: some shew¦ing forth the likenes of hornes: some as it were fiery darts. And al these & such other like apparitiōs in ye ayre which in Greeke by a general and more common name are called Eupicaumata, do appear for ye most parte in the calme & cleare night, although somewhile some of these are seene in ye day time. And all these aryse euer vnder the globe or circle of the Moone. The proofe whereof herein is manifeste, for that they continue not in one and the self same place
long, but moue with a swift passage, & are caryed away with the violēce of ye moones motion. Wee shall not therefore greatlye go astray if we gieue forth ye cause of these apparitions and sights, and do declare the maner and matter of theyr engendring.
The efficient cause of these fiery impres∣sions bred and ingendred through heat, is the sunne, and the rest of the bodies celesti∣all: which in theyr motions as they labour in their course, caste from them excessyue heate vpon these bodies, and places below here subiected: Which heat catcheth and carieth vp into the ayre all such exhalatiōs (which of thēselues also be hoat and dry) as are ready for such receipt. Then the ma∣teriall cause is nothing els but such kynd of Exhalation: euen as wodde is the mat∣ter of fyre, & oyle of the flame. Now theyr generation is after this sorte: The Earth being throughly warmed through ye sunne and the other starres, doth thereupon cast from her and send forth, a double kind of spiration of breathyng: one kynd very dry accordynge as the places from whych it is sente forthe, bee drye: and this kynd of exhalation being naturally hoate and
drye is much like vnto that fume or smoke which proceedeth from stickes or wood set on fyre and kyndled. Secondly by such heat raysed from the Sunne and Starres, a∣foresayde, there is fetched from such pla∣ces as be moyst, an other more grosse, kind of fume, hot and moyst, which is called a vapour like vnto that maner of euaporati∣on which commeth frō the seething water. These two caught vp into the ayre, and be∣yng there diuersly placed and set on worke, by the element of the sire (vnto which, the first sort called exhalations do eftsones ap∣proach and come neere) do cause straunge sightes in the Regions of the Ayre, for the exhalations beinge both ayry & fyery, are sone kyndled and set on fyre, & become flames, and fierye impressions: euen as the drie snast of a candel, or as the fare and ••lunge sticke is soone set on flame. For the flame of any thing is nothinge els, but the fume of the same already kindled: and it is so soone kindled because it is of a drye and fyery nature. Now the fashion and forme of the fiery flames seene often tymes bur∣ning in the element, do vary and differ one from another, as they haue more aboun∣dance of such matter of exhalation or lesse,
as they are placed also in other & contrary order. For when such exhalation is disper∣sed in breadth, and discontinued, there ap∣peare as it were burning lampes: & whē the same is fy••red round, and casteth from it sparcles, then such impression is after a goate, and is so called: when that doth not sparcle, but burneth greate aboue & smal below, it is called a fyrebrande. And that kynd of exhalation which burneth both in breadth and length, and moueth apace in ye ayre, leauing after it som steps of his bur∣ning, and as it were marking the way as it goeth, is called a flying starre, which is wont to appeare on a sodaine: & forthwith to vanish out of sighte. These exhalations as they come nigh to the Elemente of the fyre, or as they bee in the highest region of the ayre, which is next to the fire, bee as it were gunpowder nighe the match, or as brymstone, or towgh put hard to the fyre: which, what expedition is in them, to con∣sume all along, it is euident by experience and common sense. But these and al other impressions haue theire names of those thinges which they most figurate, and re∣present. And as in the cleere night by such matter of exhalation hot and drye, caryed
vp to the highest region of the ayre, & the•• kindled, such burning flames do eftsoones appeare: so somewhile through the lyghte onely of the sunne and starres, the element onely appeareth coloured: And these co∣lours there seene are called Phantasmata. For when the light stayed in any myst cā∣not go forth abroade, or proceede directly, but is fayne to harbour there onely, and to disperse it selfe into the sides, and nexte partes thereof: then doth there shew forth colours of all sortes: somewhiles white, somewhiles blacke: but most often a saffrō colour, and next to that a sanguine or blou∣dy colour. For these colours for this cause causeth such diuersity, as white nighe and next vnto blacke or intermedled therwith: or as the flame seemeth oftentimes moste straunge through the straungenes of the fumes thereof. So the cause of gaspynges gapynges and gulphes sene oftentimes in the ayre riseth vpō the same occasion, part∣ly that the fiery impressions or flames of fyre afore rehearsed do, and partly vpon ye occasion of the colours seene in the ayre, & last spoken of. There is seene oftentymes also in the starlight nights vnder ye moone
(as somewhiles also vnder the sunne and starres) as it were a garland called of the Greekes Halon, in Latine Corona, whych is engendred through a refraction of the sight in watery Cloudes, as diuerse other apparitions are. But then specially doth this garland shew about the Moone, whē some vniforme cloude be••ow which is on all sides alike thicke or thin, is placed di∣rectly vnder the moone: so that her beames coueting to perse and go through ye same, are there stil kept and retayned, or els are beaten backe by the force of the cloude: and so shee being letted therein to go any further directly, disperseth her beames a∣longe by the outmost sides of the clowde: by which refractiō there appeareth either right vnder her or vnder som star, a great circle, greately illumined or lightned in a maner of a white garlād This sighte also is somtimes vnder the sun, & the other pla∣nets: but most oftē vnder the Moone. For the sun through his extream & feruēt heat doth disperse & sunder ye matter of such a cloud, & doth not suffer it long to abide vn∣der him: but ye moone hath not such force of dispersing, & therfore this appartiō stay¦eth the more easely vnder her.
So like wise son••whyles wee shal see this halon or garlande about same starres▪ but that is, when betweene those starres & vs, ther is oppositely set some harren & weake clowde, which is vnfytt to the generation of wynd or rayne. For if the clowdes were thicke and warry, it were not possible for vs (as daylye experience approueth it) al∣most to haue sighte of, or to beholde the starres themselues.
Now as the poets also make mētion, ther is besydes all these straunge sightes in the element which do appeare most in the night tyme, a peece or parte of the Skye, keeping away all a longe in colour mylke whyte, of the Gretians called Galaxia, and latined via lactea. Which part of the Skye (as they say) was once burnt by the vndiscrete dealinge of Phaeton: who desi∣ring to take vpon him an enter prise which was very vnfit for him, and wherof he had no skill, that is, to rule hie father Phoebus charyots and horses, by not keeping ye due order and way in dryuing of them, ascēded and went vp so hie, nigh to the pallaice of Iupiter, yt hee had like to haue set ye same on fyre with the Sun: but as it happened
(say they) that matter beyng espyed & pre∣uented in tyme, the most misfortune yt then befel, was that this Phaeton burnt a peece of the Skye, which appeareth vnto vs, to he as it were a whole streete. But what this ymaginatiō of the poet herein purpor∣teth, that I passe and pretermit: onely the truth of this whyte coloured, milkye, and streetlyke sight of the ayre, is through this occasion. There is vndonbtedly a certayne part or portiō of heauē, in which the light of many starres ioyntly lodged, and recei∣ued by a refraction from them all do cause this whyte coloured appearaunce. Aristo∣tle sayth, that it proceedeth, or rather she∣weth forth by the meanes of some receyp•• of light, happening vpon an exhalation, yt is hot, and drye, ••••d thinne withall. The cause why these nightly sights, as also why the starres themselues are not seene of vs to skyne in the day tyme, is for that ye Sun letteth the same, by whose great light, the lesser light of the starres and other ayriall sightes are obscured and darkened, euē as the quicke cole be it neuer so litle, yet in ye night tyme is seene of vs in his full shyne, but beyng greace, and shyping out withall
& thorowly quicke, & aliue yet in ye broade day light beyng put in an open place, doth rather seme dead thē aliue, & doth neither geue light norshine vnto vs, & al is because it lyeth as it were & yeeldeth it selfe to the Sunsmore noble light, and most gloryous shyne: euē so doth the starres and al other impressions in the ayer, absēt & kepe them selues from our sight, all the tyme that ye sun is here cōuersant among vs in her such superexcellēt glory. But let vs returne to the effect of ye Mone in the other creatures here below: and first let vs begin to cōsider a little vnto what disposition shee frameth those mē which be subiected & borne vnder her constellatiō. Touching the inclination of all such parties which bee borne vnder Luna, or ye Moone, they be naturally mu∣table & mouable, without fidelity and con∣stancy, geuen to prouoke much anger and & discord betwene friends: they be also ve∣ry enuyous, agreeued with the prosperi∣ty and good fortune of others: they bee al∣so ful of hatred, and in their conuersation and manner of lyfe they be verye childish. The colbure of these commonlye is a pale or whyte colour, althoughe now and then
they haue therwtal a little red intermedled Their face is roūd, their stature indifferēt their eies black, & their browes wrinkled. And as in mā ye chiefest creature, ye Moone hath this scope or sway: so likewyse it hath as greate force in the bodyes of bruite Beastes, and in them woorketh at her owne wil such straunge effectes as bee no lesse to be meruayled at. The profe wherof the Panther geueth forth, whose body is al∣togeather ordered by the Moones dyrec∣tion: for (as Agrippa sayth) he caryeth, or weareth the very badge or patterne of the moone vppon his shoulder: which conti∣nueth and vanisheth euerye moone accor∣dingly as the Moone her selfe doth eyther encrease or decrease.
The lyke argument is of Cynocephalus, (whom some make one of the kyndes of Apes) other some English ye the Baby∣on. Of this Horus APOLLO wry∣teth, that hee pisseth twelue tymes in the Day, and twelue tymes urthe night. And that in the wane of the Moone (du∣rynge all the tyme that shee is darkened) hee coutinually lamenteth neuer eatynge
any thing at all: Whereby he playnly pro∣nounceth what parte and rule the Moone hath in him, ouer his whole hodye: vnder ye gouernemēt of the Moone is also the chā∣geable Cameleon, which turneth her selfe into what colour shee lysteth: Vnder her are also the Badger, the Otter, and what∣soeuer kindes which liue and doe engender monstruously. The Catte also whose eyes do wexe either greater or lesse at the con∣tinuance and chaunge of the Moone, doth manifestly declare what right the Moone hath in the same. Likewise waspes which arise of the deade carcases of horses: and Bees which do breede of the deade bodies of beastes or Kyne: Betels which come of the flesh of Asses, do al in their being and continuance depend vpon the Moone: And especially that kinde of Betse which hath as it were two Hornes, and which is also made and proportioned in the eucke like a bull: whose propertie is such that at the be ginng of euery new moone in the sommer and sprynge time chiefly, shee seeketh af∣ter and getteth certayne shels wherin she bestoweth some of her seede, which done, she hydeth and burieth the same in ye earth
and so leaueth the same there 28. dayes (in which time the Moone goeth throughe the whole zodiacke, & finisheth her ful course) and the 29. day which is the pryme of the Moone againe, shee retourneth to ye place where those shels were buried, and taketh them forth: and carieth them to the water, where they afterwardes take and receyue life, & come to the perfection of their kind. The Harte also and the Swine, the Dog and the Goate, bee all seruiable vnto the Moone. Amongest fowles subiected to the Moone, are the Crane, ye Gose, the Duck, the Cormorant, whose property is to diue vnder the water to take fish, and by oftē di∣uing perceiuing Signes of Tempestes to come, she sodainly wt a gret noise & cry get¦teth her away frō ye water, & seketh where to hide her. Belonging also to the Moone amongst fishes are, ye Creuis or Crabsish: The fysh Torpedo or the Torpede which maketh the takers hands num or dead for a time: Likewise Oysters, and all shaled fysh: Moreouer the fishe Echeneis whych hath prickels in stead of sins and feete, and neither swimmeth nor goeth, but rubleth. Likewyse Aelurus whose ••yen alter after
the alteration of the Moone amongest Plantes. And fyrst of Trees, in her holde is the Palme tree, which at euery chaūge shooteth forth a new slippe: lykewyse rose∣marye, the Oliue tree, and such lyke.
There is also a certayne Plant, or Herbe called of the Greekes Selenotropion, that turneth rounde with the Moone, as Heli∣otropion, lykewyse turneth rounde with ye Sunne. Chinostares an Herbe also, doth not onelye varye in her tast, goodnes, and virtue, according to the dispositione of the Moone, but getteth & loseth more or lesse, of her substance and number of leaues, as the moone getteth, or looseth of her lighte. Proper to her also amongest Pretious stones or gemmes, is the Christal, the syl∣ner Marcasite, and all those whose colour is white or greene. Moreouer the precious Selenite, which for like qualities with the Mooue, hath with her almost one, and the selfe same name: whose colour is much like hony, and which lesseneth and waxeth byg, accordinge to the pryme, and wane of the Moone. Hers is also the Magaryte, and all other perles, which engender by a cer∣tayne
heauenly dewe, within the enclosure of certayne shelfishes. In this state also is the Berill: and amongest metalles, onely Syluer: and amongest tastes and sauours that which is saltest or most fulsome: amō∣gest the superfluities, or excrements of the body, sweate, fleume, and grosnes or fat∣nes. Amongest the Elementes the water with all fountaynes, floods and such like. prouinces also and kyngdomes vnder her dominion and rule are Bythinia, Phrigia, Colchos, Numidia, Aphrick, and all Car∣thage.
LVNA hovv cal∣led.
Three stares in the Moōe to be no∣ted.
her course
Certayne prognosti∣cations from the Moone.
The Moones Eclypse.
Many Moones at once.
Three moones seene at one tyme.
lib. 2. cap. 32.
Lights in the Night like the day, vvhē,
Bucklers of fier.
Fiery flames
Torches. Fiery bea∣mes. Fiery spea¦res. Svvordes. Fery darts
Causes hereof.
Burning lampes.
Firebrand
Flying starres.
Coloures seene in the ayre.
Gaspings & gapings in the aire
Halon or garland of the moone
When it shevveth chiefely
Halo, or garland of the stars.
Galaxia, or milky vvay.
Paethon.
The Lu∣nists hovv disposed.
Panther
Cynoce. phalus.
Cameleō.
Cat.
Betell.
Cormorat
Torpede
Selenotro¦pion.
Selenite.
Countries subiect to Luna.