I have receeved the perspective Cylinder that you promised me and am
sorrie that my man gave you not more warning, that I might have had
also the 2 or 3 more that you mentioned to chuse for me. Hence forward
he shall have order to attend you better and to defray the charge of
this and others, that he forgot to pay the worke man. According as you
wished I have observed the Mone in all his changes. In the new I
discover manifestlie the earthshine, a little before the Dichotomic,
that spot which reprefents unto me the Man in the Moone (but without a
head) is first to be feene. a little after neare the brimme of the
gibbous parts towards the upper corner appeare luminous parts like
starres much brighter then the rest and the whole brimme along, lookes
like unto the Description of Coasts in the dutch bookes of voyages, in
the full she appeares like a tarte that my Cooke made me the last
Weeke. here a vaine of bright stuffe, and there of darke, and so
consufedlie al over. I muft confesse I can see none of this without my
cylinder. Yet an ingenious younge man that accompanies me here often,
and loves you, and these studies much, sees manie of these things even
without the helpe of the instrument, but with it sees them most
plainielie. I meane the younge Mr. Protherbe.
Kepler I read diligentlie. but therein I find what it is to be so far
from you. For as himfelf, he hath almoft put me out of my wits, his
Aequanes, his sections of excentricities, librations in the diameters
of Epicycles, revolutions in ellipses, have fo thoroughlie seased upon
my imagination as I do not onlie ever dreame of them, but oftentimes
awake lose my selfe, and power of thinkinge with to much wantinge to
it. not of his caufes for I cannot phansie those magnetical natures,
but aboute his theorie which me thinks (although I cannot yet
overmafter manie of his particulars) he eftablifheth soundlie and as
you say overthrowes the circular Aftronomie.
Do you not here startle, to see every day some of your inventions taken
from you ; for I remember long since you told me as much, that the
motions of the planets were not perfect circles. So you taught me the
curious way to observe weight in Water, and within a while after
Ghetaldi comes out with it in print, a little before Vieta prevented
[anticipated] you of the gharland of the greate Invention of Algebra,
al these were your deues and manie others that I could mention ; and
yet to great reservednesse had robd you of these glories, but although
the inventions be greate, the first and last I meane, yet when I survei
your storehouse, I see they are the smallest things and such as in
comparison of manie others are of smal or no value. Onlie let this
remember you, that it is possible by to much procrastination to be
prevented in the honor of some of your rarest inventions and
speculations. Let your Countrie and frinds injoye the comforts they
would have in the true and greate honor you would purchase your selfe
by publishing some of your choise workes, but you know best what you
have to doe. Onlie I, because I wish you all good, with this, and
sometimes the more longinglie, because in one of your letters you gave
me some kind of hope therof.
But againe to Kepler I have read him twice over cursoridlie. I read him
now with Calculation. Some times I find a difference of minutes,
sometimes false prints, and sometimes an utter confufion in his
accounts, these difficulties are so manie, and often as here againe I
want your conference, for I know an hower with you, would advance my
studies more than a yeare heare, to give you a taft of some of thes
difficulties that you may judge of my capacitie, I will send you onlie
this one [upon the _Locum Martis_ out of Kepler’s Astronomy, de motibus
Stella: Martis, etc. Pragæ, 1609, folio Ch. xxvi, page 137.] For this
theorie I am much in love with these particulars;
1° his permutation of the medial to the apparent motions, for it is
more rational that all dimensions as of Eccentricities, apogacies,
etc.. . . should depend rather of the habitude to the sun, then to the
imaginarie circle of orbis annuus.
2° His elliptical iter planetarum. for me thinks it shiews a Way to the
folving of the unknown walks of comets. For ai his Ellipfis in the
Earths motion is more a circle _[here endeth Dr Zacb’s fragment, and
here beginneth the continuation from tie original in the Britith
Museum]_ and in Mars is more longe and in some of the other planets may
be longer againe so in thos commets that are appeard fixed the ellipsis
may be neere a right line.
3. His phansie of ecliptica media or his via regia of the sun, vnto wch
the walke of al the other planets is obliqj more or lesse; even the
ecliptica uera under wch the earth walkes his yeares journie; by wch he
solues handsomelie the mutation of the starres latitudes. Indeed I am
much delighted with his booke, but he is so tough in rnanie places as I
cannot bite him. I pray write me some instructions in your next, how I
may deale with him to ouermaster him for I am readie to take paines, te
modo jura dantem indigeo, dictatorem exposco. But in his booke I am
much out of loue with thes particulars. I. First his manie and
intolerable atechnies, whence deriue thos manie and vncertaine assayes
of calculation. 2. His finding fault with Vieta for mending the like
things in Ptol: Cop..... but se the justice Vieta speakes sleightlie of
Copernicus a greater then Atlas. Kepler speakes as slightlie of Vieta,
a greater then Appollonius whom Kepler everie wher admires. For
whosoever can doe the things that Kepler cannot doe, shalbe to him
great Appollonius. But enough of Kepler let me once againe intreate
your counsel how to read him with best profit, for I am wholie
possessed with Astronomical speculations and desires. For your
declaration of Vieta’s appendicle it is so full and plaine, as you haue
aboundantlie satisfyed my desire, for wch I yield you the thankes I
ought, onlie in a word tell me whether by it he can solue Copernicus, 5
cap: of his 5. booke. The last of Vieta’s probleames you leaue to
speake of because (you say) I had a better of you, wch was more
vniuersal and more easilie demonstrated, and findeth the point, E. as
wel out of the plaine of the triangle giuen, as in the plaine. I pray
here helpe my memorie or vnderstand-inge, for although I haue bethought
my selfe vsq ad insaniam, I cannot remember or conceaue what
proposition you meane. If I haue had such a one of you, tel me what one
it is and by what tokens I may know it ; If I haue not had, then let me
now haue it, for you know how much I loue your things and of all wayes
of teaching for richnesse and fullnesse for stuffe and forme, yours
vnto me are incomparablie most satisfactorie. If your leasure giue you
leaue imparte also unto me somewhat els of your riches in this
argument.
Let me intreate you to advise and direct this bearer Mr. Vaughan wher
and how to prouide himselfe of a fit sphere ; that by the contemplation
of that our imaginations here may be releued in manie speculations that
perplexe our vnderstandings with diagrammed in plano. He hath monie to
prouide doe you but tell him wher the are to be had and what manner of
sphere (I meant with what and how manie circles) wilbe most vsefull for
vs to thes studies. After all this I must needs tell you my sorrowes.
God that gaue him, hath taken from me my onlie sun, by continual and
strange fits of Epelepsie or Apoloxie, when in apparence, as he was
most pleasant and goodlie, he was most healthie, but amongst other
things, I haue learnt of you to setle and submit my desires to the will
of god ; onlie my wife with more greife beares this affliction, yet now
againe she begins to be comforted. Let me heare fro you and according
to your leasure and frindshippe haue directions in the course of studie
I am in. Aboue al things take care of your health, keepe correspondence
with Kepler and wherinsoeuer you can haue vse of me, require it with
all libertie. Soe I rest ever,