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.

[Illustration]

CAP. 4.

Of the circles of the earth.

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 Haemispheres.

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

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

1 The AEquitor or AEquonoctiall 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 AEquinoctiall, 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.