16. Granting that the clouds may be frozen, it is no wonder if the moon have been seen eclipsed at such time as she hath been almost two degrees above the horizon, the sun at the same time appearing in the horizon; for such an eclipse was observed by Mæstlin, at Tubingen, in the year 1590. For it might happen that a frozen cloud was then interposed between the sun and the eye of the observer. And if it were so, the sun, which was then almost two degrees below the horizon, might appear to be in it, by reason of the passing of his beams through the ice. And it is to be noted that those, that attribute such refractions to the atmosphere, cannot attribute to it so great a refraction as this. Wherefore not the atmosphere, but either water in a continued body, or else ice, must be the cause of that refraction. [Sidenote: By what means many suns may appear at once.] 17. Again, granting that there may be ice in the clouds, it will be no longer a wonder that many suns have sometimes appeared at once. For looking-glasses may be so placed, as by reflections to show the same object in many places. And may not so many frozen clouds serve for so many looking-glasses? And may they not be fitly disposed for that purpose? Besides, the number of appearances may be increased by refractions also; and therefore it would be a greater wonder to me, if such phenomena as these should never happen. And were it not for that one phenomenon of the new star which was seen in Cassiopea, I should think comets were made in the same manner, namely, by vapours drawn not only from the earth but from the rest of the planets also, and congealed into one continued body. For I could very well from hence give a reason both of their hair, and of their motions. But seeing that star remained sixteen whole months in the same place amongst the fixed stars, I cannot believe the matter of it was ice. Wherefore I leave to others the disquisition of the cause of comets; concerning which nothing that hath hitherto been published, besides the bare histories of them, is worth considering. [Sidenote: Of the heads of rivers.]