wledge of Seasons, and
for Distinctions of Dayes, and yeares. Many wordes nede not. But I wish,
euery man should way this word, _Signes_. And besides that, conferre it
also with the tenth Chapter of _Hieremie_. And though Some thinke, that
there, they haue found a rod: Yet Modest Reason, will be indifferent
Iudge, who ought to be beaten therwith, in respect of our purpose.
Leauing that: I pray you vnderstand this: that without great diligence
of Obseruation, examination and Calculation, their periods and courses
(wherby _Distinction_ of Seasons, yeares, and New Mones might precisely
be knowne) could not exactely be certified. Which thing to performe, is
that _Art_, which we here haue Defined to be _Astronomie_. Wherby, we
may haue the distinct Course of Times, dayes, yeares, and Ages: aswell
for Consideration of Sacred Prophesies, accomplished in due time,
foretold: as for high Mysticall Solemnities holding: And for all other
humaine affaires, Conditions, and couenantes, vpon certaine time,
betwene man and man: with many other great vses: Wherin, (verely), would
be great incertainty, Confusion, vntruth, and brutish Barbarousnes:
without the wonderfull diligence and skill of this Arte: continually
learning, and determining Times, and periodes of Time, by the Record of
the heauenly booke, wherin all times are written: and to be read with an
_Astronomicall staffe_, in stede of a festue.

+%Musike%+, of Motion, hath his Originall cause: Therfore, after the
motions most swift, and most Slow, which are in the Firmament, of Nature
performed: and vnder the _Astronomers Consideration_: now I will Speake
of an other kinde of _Motion_, producing sound, audible, and of Man
numerable. _Musike_ I call here that _Science_, which of the Grekes is
called _Harmonice_. Not medling with the Controuersie betwene the
auncient _Harmonistes_, and _Canonistes_. +Musike is a Mathematicall
Science, which teacheth, by sense and reason, perfectly to iudge, and
order the diuersities of soundes, hye and low.+ _Astronomie_ and
_Musike_ are Sisters, saith _Plato_. As, for _Astronomie_, the eyes: So,
for _Harmonious Motion_, the eares were made. But as _Astronomie_ hath a
more diuine Contemplation, and commodity, then mortall eye can perceiue:
So, is _Musike_ to be considered,

[1.]

that the * Minde may be preferred, before the eare. And from audible
sound, we ought to ascende, to the examination: which numbers are
_Harmonious_, and which not.