The Discovery of a World in the Moone

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, becaus