The Discovery of a World in the Moone | Page 4

are said to goe through all the earth, because they went
through all the knowne world, hee replies, that this is not sufficient,
since Christ would have all men to be saved, and come to the
knowledge of his truth,[4] and therefore 'tis requisite that they should
have travelled thither also, if there had been any inhabitants, especially
since he did expressely command them to goe and teach all nations,
and preach the Gospell through the whole world,[5] and therefore he
thinkes that as there are no men, so neither are there seas, or rivers, or
any other conveniency for habitation: 'tis commonly related of one
Virgilius, that he was excommunicated and condemned for a Heretique
by Zachary Bishop of Rome, because hee was not of the same opinion.
But Baronius saies,[6] it was because hee thought there was another
habitable world within ours. How ever, you may well enough discerne
in these examples how confident many of these great Schollars were in
so grosse an errour, how unlikely, what an incredible thing it seemed to
them, that there should be any Antipodes, and yet now this truth is as
certaine and plaine, as sense or demonstration can make it. This then
which I now deliver is not to be rejected; though it may seeme to
contradict the common opinion.
[Sidenote 1: Comment. in 1. Cap. Gen.]
[Sidenote 2: Psal. 24. 2.]
[Sidenote 3: Comment. in 1. Genes.]
[Sidenote 4: 1 Tim. 2. 4.]
[Sidenote 5: Mat. 28. 19]

[Sidenote 6: Annal. Eccles. A.D. 748.]
2. Grosse absurdities have beene entertained by generall consent. I
might instance in many remarkeable examples, but I will onely speake
of the supposed labour of the Moone in her eclipses, because this is
neerest to the chiefe matter in hand, and was received as a common
opinion amongst many of the ancients, and therefore Plutarch speaking
of a Lunary eclipse, relates, that at such times 'twas a custome amongst
the Romanes (the most civill and learned people in the world) to sound
brasse Instruments, and hold great torches toward the heaven. +Tôn de
Rômaiôn (hôsper estô enomismenon) chalkou te patagois
anakaloumenôn to phôs autos kai pura polla dalois kai dassin
anechontôn pros ton ouranon+,[1] for by this meanes they supposed the
Moone was much eased in her labours, and therfore Ovid calls such
loud Instruments the auxiliaries or helpes of the Moone.[2]
Cum frustra resonant æra auxiliaria Lunæ.
and therefore the Satyrist too describing a loud scold, saies, she was
able to make noise enough to deliver the labouring Moone.[3]
Vna laboranti poterit succurrere Lunæ.
[Sidenote 1: In vita Paul. Æmil.]
[Sidenote 2: Metam. l. 4.]
[Sidenote 3: Iuven. Sat. 6]
Now the reason of all this their ceremonie, was, because they feared the
world would fall asleepe, when one of its eyes began to winke, and
therefore they would doe what they could by loud sounds to rouse it
from its drowsinesse, and keepe it awake by bright torches, to bestow
that light upon it which it began to lose. Some of them thought hereby
to keepe the Moone in her orbe, whereas otherwise she would have
fallen downe upon the earth, and the world would have lost one of its
lights, for the credulous people believed, that Inchanters, and Witches
could bring the Moone downe, which made Virgil say,

Cantus & è coelo possunt deducere Lunam.
And those Wizards knowing the times of her eclipses, would then
threaten to shew their skill, by pulling her out of her orbe. So that when
the silly multitude saw that she began to looke red, they presently
feared they should lose the benefit of her light, and therefore made a
great noise that she might not heare the sound of those Charmes, which
would otherwise bring her downe, and this is rendered for a reason of
this custome by Pliny and Propertius:
Cantus & è curru lunam deducere tentant, Et facerent, si non æra
repulsa sonent.[1]
[Sidenote 1: Nat. hist. lib. 2. c. 12.]
Plutarch gives another reason of it, and he sayes, 'tis because they
would hasten the Moone out of the darke shade wherein shee was
involv'd, that so she might bring away the soules of those Saints that
inhabit within her, which cry out by reason they are then deprived of
their wonted happinesse, and cannot heare the musicke of the Spheares,
but are forced to behold the torments, and wailing of those damned
soules which are represented to them as they are tortured in the region
of the aire, but whether this or what ever else was the meaning of this
superstition, yet certainly 'twas a very ridiculous custome, and
bewrayed a great ignorance of those ancient times, especially since it
was not onely received by the vulgar, such as were men of