into them, and out of them without miraculous power they cannot returne. For if the sea (BY) should overflow the land towards (F) the water must ascend in running from (B) to (F) which is contrary to its nature. Certainly the midland countries, whence springs of great rivers vsually arise, doe ly so high, that the sea cannot naturally overflow them. For as for that opinion that the water of the sea in the middle lies on a heape higher then the water that is by the shore; and so that it is a harder matter to saile out of a Haven to seaward, then to come in (because they goe vpward): this is an empty speculation contray to experience, and the grounds of nature it selfe, as might easily be shewed. All the difficulty that is in this opinion, is to giue a reason how the waters mount vp to (F,) and whence the water comes that should flow out of so high a place of the earth, wherein I thinke as in many other secrets of nature we must content our selues with ignorance, seeing so many vaine conjectures haue taken no better successe.

In a round body as the earth is, there can be no distinction of parts, & places, without the helpe of some lines drawen or imagined to be drawen vpon it. Now though there are not, nor can be any circles truly drawen vpon the earth, yet because there is a good ground in nature and reason of things for them, we must imagine them to be drawen vpon the earth, as truly as we see them described vpon a Globe or in a plaine paper. Further this must be noted, that all circles on the earth haue the like opposite vnto them conceaved to be the Heavenes, vnder which they are directly scituated. Thus knowen, the circles that wee are to take the speciall notice of are of two sorts, Greater and Lesser.

The greater circles are those which devide this earthly globe into equall halfes or Hæmispheres.

The lesser are those which devide it into two vnequall parts, one bigger, another lesse.

1.  
   

   Of the former sort there are foure, the	{ 1 Æquator.
   	{ 2 Meridian.
   	{ 3 Horizon.
   	{ 4 Zodiack, or Eclipticke.

   1. The Æquitor or Æquonoctiall line, is a line drawen iust in the midst of the earth, from East to West, which compasseth it as a girdle doth a mans body, and devidith it into two equall parts, one on the North side, the other on the South The two points in the earth that are every way farthest distant from it North, & South are called the Poles of the earth which doe directly stand vnder the two like points in the Heaven, so called because the Heaven turnes about vpon them, as the Earth doth in a Globe that's set in a frame. This circle is of the first & principall note and vse in Geography, because all measurings for distances of places and quarters of the Earth are reckoned in it, or from it. It is called the Æquinoctiall, because when the Sunne in the Heavens comes to be directly over that circle in the earth, the daies & nights are of equall length in all parts of the world. Marriners call it by a kind of excellency, The line. Vpon the Globe it is easily discerned being drawen bigger then any other circles from East to West, and with small divisions.

   2. The Meridian, if a line that is drawen quite crosse the Æquinoctiall, and passeth through the Poles of the Earth, going directly North and South. It is called the Meridian, because when the Sunne stands just over that circle it is Meridies i.d. noone day. It may be conceaued thus, at noone day, when it is just twelue a clocke, turne your face towards the South, and then imagine with your selfe two circles drawen, one in the Heavens, passing from the North iust over your head through the body of the Sunne downe to the South, and so round vnder the earth vp againe to the North Pole. Another vpon the surface of the earth passing through your feete just vnder the Sunne, and so compassing the earth round till it meete at your feete againe, and these are Meridians answering one to another. Now the Meridian is not one only, as was the Æquinoctiall, but many still varying according to the place wherein you are, as for example. At London there is one Meridian, at Oxford another, at Bristow another, & so along Eastward or Westward. For it is noone at London sooner then at Oxford, and at Oxford sooner then at Bristow. Vpon the globe there are many drawen, all which passe through the poles, and goe North and South, but there is one more remarkeable then the rest, drawen broad with small divisions, which runneth through the Canary Ilands, or through the Ilands of Azores Westward of Spaine, which is counted the first Meridian in regard of reckoning and measuring of distances of places one from another; for otherwise there is neither first nor last in the round earth. But some place must bee appointed where to beginne the account and those Ilands haue beene thought fittest, because no part of the World that lay westward was knowne to the Ancients further then that: and as they began to reckon there, we follow them. This circle is called in greeke Μεσημβρινοσ.

   3.  
      

      The Horizon is two fold:	{ Sensible or appearing.
      	{ Intelligible or true.

      1. The Sensible or appearing Horizon is the space of the earth so farre as in an open plaine, or vpon some Hill a man may see round about him. The brim or edge of the earth further then which you cannot see, that is the Horizon, or as some call it the Finitor. Because finet or terminat visum it setts the limits or bounds to your sight, beyond which nothing can bee seene vpon the earth. This is greater or lesser, according as the height of the eye aboue the plaine superficies of the earth, is more or lesse. The most exact triall hereof is at Sea, where there are no mountaines nor any vnequall risings of the water to hinder the sight, as there are at land. For example let (CBAF) be the superficies of the Sea and let a mans eye bee placed in (X) aboue the Sea; as the eye stands higher or lower so will the distance seene be more or lesse, [Sidenote: See Wright of Navigation p. 229.] as if the hight of (XA) be 6 foot which is ordinary the height of a man, the eye looking from (X) to (B) shall see 2 miles and 3 quarters, if (X) be 20 foote high (BA) will bee fiue miles, if 40 foote 7 miles, if 50 foote 8 miles. So that from the mast of a ship 50 foote high, a man may see round about at sea 8 miles every way, toward (BG) and (F). So farre may the water it selfe be seene, but any high thing on the Water may be seene farther, 16, or 20 miles according as the height is, as the ship at (C) may be seene from (X) as far more as it is from (A) to (B). There can be therefore no certaine quantity and space set downe for this sensible Horizon, which continually varies according to the height of the eye aboue the plaine ground or sea. This Horrizon is not at all painted on the globe nor can be.