[Sidenote 1: _Plat. de conviviis._ _Macrob. Somn. Scip. lib. 1. ca. 11._] [Sidenote 2: _Exercit. 62._] [Sidenote 3: _De facie Lunæ._] [Sidenote 4: _Instit. ad discip._ Plat. _Cæl. Rhodig. l. 1. c. 4._] [Sidenote 5: _Azoara. 57. & 65._] [Sidenote 6: _Cusa. de doct. ign. l. 2. cap. 12._] [Sidenote 7: _Philos. epicur. part. 434._] But the opinion which I have here delivered was more directly proved by _Mæslin_, _Keplar_, and _Galilæus_, each of them late writers, and famous men for their singular skill in Astronomy.[1] As for those workes of _Mæslin_ and _Keplar_ wherein they doe more expresly treate of this opinion, I have not yet had the happinesse to see them. However their opinions appeare plaine enough from their owne writings, and the testimony of others concerning them. But _Iulius Cæsar_, whom I have above quoted, speaking of their testimony whom I now cite for this opinion,[2] _viz._ _Keplar_ and _Galilæus_ affirmes that to his knowledge they did but jest in those things which they write concerning this, and as for any such world, he assuredly knowes they never so much as dreamt of it. But I had rather believe their owne words, then his pretended knowledge. [Sidenote 1: _In Thesibus_ _dissertatio cum Nic. Hill._ _Nuncius Sydereus._] [Sidenote 2: _De phænom. lunæ. c. 4._] ’Tis true indeed, in many things they doe but trifle, but for the maine scope of those discourses, ’tis as manifest they seriously meant it, as any indifferent Reader may easily discerne; otherwise sure _Campanella_ (a man as well acquainted with his opinion, and perhaps his person as _Cæsar_ was) would never have writ an apologie for him. And besides ’tis very likely if it had beene but a jest, _Galilæus_ would never have suffered so much for it as afterwards he did. But as for the knowledge which hee pretends, you may guesse what it was by his confidence (I say not presumption) in other assertions, and his boldnesse[1] in them may well derogate from his credit in this. For speaking of _Ptolome’s_ _Hypothesis_ he pronounces this verdict, _Impossibile est excentricorum & epicyclorum positio, nec aliquis est ex Mathematicis adeo stultus qui veram illam existimet._ “The position of _Excentricks_ and _Epicycles_ is altogether impossible, nor is there any Mathematician such a foole as to thinke it true.” I should guesse hee could not have knowledge enough to maintaine any other Hypothesis who was so ignorant in Mathematicks, as to deny that any good Authour held this. For I would faine know whether there were never any that thought the Heavens to be solid bodies, and that there were such kindes of motion as is by those feined Orbes supplyed; if so, then _Cæsar la Galla_ was much mistaken. I thinke his assertions are equally true, that _Galilæus_ and _Keplar_ did not hold this, and that there were none which ever held that other. [Sidenote 1: _Cap. 7._]