moue in one houre from (X) to (V) but a thousand miles, which motion although it bee swifter then any arrow or bullet from a Cannons mouth, yet is it incomparably slower then that of the Heauens, where so many Millions are posted ouer in an houre.

Now for the saluing of all the cælestiall Phænomena, or appearances, the truth is the same, if wee suppose the earth to moue, as if wee beleeue it to stand still. The riseing of the Sunne and Starres, the motions of all the Planets, will keepe Correspondence that now. Nor neede wee feare logging, or that steples and towers would totter downe, for the motion is regular, and steady without rubbes, and knocks. As if you turne a globe about, it will goe steadyly, and a fly will set fast vpon it, though you moue it apace. Besides the whole body the ayre is carryed about with the whirlinge of the earth, so that the earth will make noe winde, as it turnes swiftly about; as a wheele will, if it bee turned apace.

Notwithstanding all this, most are of another opinion, that the earth standeth still without all motion, rest rather befittinge so heauy and dull a body then motion. The maine reason brought to establish it is this. Let a stone bee throwne downe out of the ayre from (W:) if the earth stand still, it is manifest it will fall vpon (X) iust vnder it; as wee see it doth by common experience, a stone will fall downe from any height vpon the place wee aymed at, but let the earth moue, the stone will not light vpon (X) but some where else as one (S:) for (X) will bee moued away, and gone to (V.)

So againe let two peices of ordinance that will shoote at equall distance bee discharged one iust towards the East, the other towards the West; if the earth moue (as they say it doth) towards the West, the bullet that is discharged Eastward will fly farther then that Westward. For by the contrary motion of the earth hee will gaine ground. But experience hath proued this to bee false, shewing that the bullets, will both fly at equall distance.

To salue this, answere is made that the earth by its swift motion carries with it and that steadily not only all bodies resting or moueing vpon it, but also the whole Sphære of Aire (WEQ) with all things whatsoeuer that are moued in it naturally or violently, as clouds, birds, stones hurled vp or downe, arrowes, bullets, and such like things violently shott forth: as may appeare in the figure.

The fourth rule.

The earth, though it bee of exceeding greate quantity being considered in itselfe, yet being compared to the Heauens, especially the higher sphæres, is of noe notable bignes, but may be accounted as a point or pricke in the middest of the world.

That the earth is noe bigger then a point or pinns head in comparison of the highest heauens will easily appeare vnto vs, by these reasons.

1. The starres which are many times bigger then the earth, seeme yet to vs to bee noe bigger then a greate pinns head, or such like quantity; therefore much lesse shall the earth appeare to bee of any sensible magnitude.

2. Wee alwaies beholde halfe the heauens aboue vs, which could not bee if the earth had any sensible proportion to the heauen.

3. All obseruations of hights and distances of the cœlestiall bodies, which are made on the superficies of the earth, are as exact, and true, as if they were made in the very center of the earth. Which were impossible, vnlesse the thicknes of the earth were insensible in regard of the Heauens.

4. All Sunn Dialls which stand on the superficies of the earth, doe as truely cast the shadowes of the houres, as if they stood in the Center. As for example.

The starre (S) appeares like a point or pricke to them that dwell in (A) wherefore the earth (OX) will appeare much lesse to the sight of him that should behold it from (S), nay it would not bee seene at all. Againe halfe the Heauens (BFE) are alwayes seene to thẽ that dwell in (A) wanting some two minutes, betweene (ED) and (BC) which difference is alltogether insensible. Againe if wee obserue the height of the starre (S) aboue the Horizon (BE) it will bee all one namely (BS) whether wee obserue it in the topp of the earth, in (A) or in the middle in (O.) For, (A) and (O,) are so little distant one from another, that (AS,) and (OS) will bee paralell lines, and bee esteemed but as one line. The fourth reason concerning Dialls, is cleare by the framing and construction of them: wherein either the lower end of the Cocke (or Gnomon) whereat all the houre lines meet, or the vpper end and knobb (as in many Dialls) is supposed to bee the Center of the earth.

The properties of the earthly Globe haue beene handled in the former chapter wee come now to the parts which are two in generall.

• The more notable parts of the Earth are these.

  1. A Continent or maine Land, or as some call it firme Land, which is not parted by the Sea running betweene.

  2. An Iland, a land compassed about with waters.

  3. A Peninsula, a land almost surrounded by waters saue at one place, where ioynes by a narrow necke of land to the Continent; this is also called Chersonesus.

  4. An Isthmus, a streight necke of land which ioynes two countreys together, and keepes the Sea from compassing the one.

  5. A Promontorie or head land running farre out into the Sea like a wedge.

  6. A Mountaine         }

  7. A Valley               } All easie to bee knowne without any definition.

  8. A Champion plain }

  9. A Wood               }

• The more notable parts of the Water are these

  1. Mare the Sea, or Ocean, which is the gathering together of all waters.

  2. Fretum a streight or narrow sea running betweene two lands.

  3. Sinus a Creeke, Gulfe, or Bay, when the sea runnes vp into the bosome of the land by a narrow enterance but openeth it broader when it is within; if it bee very litell it is called a Hauen, Portus.

  4. Lacus a Lake, a little sea with in the land hauing riuers running into it, or out of it, or both. If it hath neither it is called Stagnum a standing Poole, also Palus; a fenne.

  5. Fluvius a Riuer, which from the pleasantnesse is also called Amnis; from the smalnesse of it Rivus.

Now concerning these parts diuers questions are moued; whether there bee more Sea or Land? whether the sea would naturally ouerflow the land, as it did in the first creation, were it not withheld within his bankes by