The most likely opinion is, that the motion of the water is mixt neither directly streight, or circular, but partly one, partly the other.  Or if it be circular, it is in a circle whose center is a little distant from the Center of the whole globe.  Let vs place fountaines then neither in (C) nor (D) but in (F) I say the water runnes either partly streight by the (FS) and partly circular, from (S) to (B) which motion will not be inconuenient, for the water descending continually from (F) to (S) will cause it still to runne forward; or else wholy circular in the circle (FXB.) And this is most agreeable to truth.  For so it shall both runne round as it must doe if wee will escape the otherwise vnauoidable inconueniences of the first opinion and yet in running still descend, and come neerer to the Center, as is most befitting the nature of water, so that wee need not seeke for any violent cause that moues it.  Let vs then see what is the hight of (F) the fountaines of Nilus, aboue (C) that is (B) the mouth or outlet of it into the Sea.  The vsuall allowance in watercourses is one foot in descent for 200. foot in running, but if this bee thought to much because water will runne awaie vpon any inequality of ground, for euery 500. foote allow one for descent, & so much we may with reason, in regard of the swiftnes of many riuers, yea the most, which in many places runnes headlong, in all places very swiftly (especially Nilus whose cateracts or downfalls are notable) which cannot bee without some notable decliuity of the ground.  Thus then the whole course of Nilus being 2700. miles from (F) to (B) the perpendicular or plumb descent of it (CF) will be 5. miles.  And so high shall the fountaine stand aboue the mouth, and the surface of the plaine Land (for riuers commonly arise at foot of hills) which is (BXF) swell vp aboue the surface of the Sea (BWC) or (BY) which hight of the Land aboue the Sea although it bee greater then is the height of the highest mo[u]taines aboue the plaine Land, yet it is nothing in comparison of the whole Earth.  And this being granted (as with most probabilitie of reason it may) it will appeare that God in the beginning of the world imposed noe perpetuall violence vpon nature, in gathering togeather, the waters into one place, and being so gathered in keeping them from runing backe to cover the earth.  At the first so soone as those hollow channells were prepared, the water did naturally slide downe 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