laftly the Gnats and Flies fhall continue their flight indifferently towards all parts, and never be driven together towards the fide of the Cabin next the Prow, as if wearied with following the fwift motion of the Ship. And if by burning a few grains of Incenfe, you make a little Smoak, you fhall perceive it to afcend on high, and hang like a Cloud, moving indifferently this way and that, without any inclination to one fide more than another. The caufe of which correfpondence of the Effects, is, that the Ship's motion is common to all things contained in it, and to the Air alfo: I mean when those things are shut up in the Cabin: but when they are above Deck in the open Air, and not obliged to follow the Ship's courfe, differences more or less may arife among the forenamed Effects.

Tнus Galileo by this one Obfer vation hath anfwered the most confi derable Objections deduced from Philosophy against the Motion of the b 4

Earth

Earth,

And thus much fhall fuffice for the Explication and Proof of the Copernican Syfteme, especially that part of it relating to the Solar Systeme. Which things I have more largely than ordinary insisted on, for the fatisfaction of many that I am fenfible doubt of them, and particularly fome of my Friends (and those not unlearned too) who may be apt to read my following Book with prejudice wherefoever I favour the Copernican Notions.

Of the New Syfteme.

AND now I pafs from the Second Syfteme to the Third, which is called the New Syfteme; which extends the Universe to a far more immense compafs, than any of the other Syftemes do, even to an indefinite Space; and replenishes it with a far more grand Retinue than ever was before afcribed unto it. THIS

THIS New Systeme is the fame with the Copernican, as to the Syfteme of the Sun and its Planets; as may be seen by the Scheme of it in Fig. 3. But then whereas the Copernican Hypothefis fuppofeth the Firmament of the Fixt Stars to be the Bounds of the Universe, and to be placed at equal Distance from its Center the Sun; the New Syfteme fuppofeth there are many other Syftemes of Suns and Planets, befides that in which we have our refidence: namely, that every Fixt Star is a Sun, and encompaffed with a Syfteme of Planets, both Primary and Secondary, as well as ours.

THESE feveral Syftemes of the Fixt Stars, as they are at a great and fufficient diftance from the Sun and us; so they are imagined to be at as due and regular diftances from one another. By which means it is, that those multitudes of Fixt Stars appear

to

to us of different Magnitudes, the nearest to us large; those farther and farther lefs and lefs.

Or those Systemes of the Fixt Stars I have given a rude reprefentation in Fig. 3. together with that of the Sun; which may ferve to give an unskilful Reader fome conception of the ftate of the Universe, altho' there be but little likeness in it, for want of room to lay out all the feveral Syftemes in due proportion; which is neceffary to a true reprefentation of

the matter.

IN this 3d Fig. the Fixt Stars with their Syftemes (reprefented by little Circles about thofe Stars, which Circles fignify the Orbits of their refpective Planets) are placed without the limits of the Solar Syfteme, and the Solar Syfteme is fet in the Center of the Universe,and figured as a more grand and magnificent part thereof. And fo it may be looked upon by us,

by

by reason of its proximity and relation to us. But whether it be really so, whether it be in the Center of the Universe, and whether among all the noble Train of Fixt Stars, there be no Syfteme exceeding ours in its magnificent Retinue of Planets both Primary and Secondary, and other admirable Contrivances,is a difficulty as out of the reach of our Glaffes, fo confequently above our ability to fathom, although not at all improbable. But be the various Syftemes of the Universe as they will as to their Dignity, it is fufficient that in all probability there are many of them, even as many as there are Fixt Stars, which are without number.

THIS Systeme of the Universe, as it is phyfically demonftrable, so is what, for the moft part, I have followed in the ensuing Book, but not fo rigorously and obftinately, as utterly to exclude or oppugne any other

Sy