e of the heauen from East to West. Let (_P.Q._) bee the body
of the Sunne, (_W.S._) of the Moone in the eclipse by reason of
the earth betweene it and the Sunne. It is manifest that the
inhabitants in (_O_) shall see the eclipse before the inhabitants
in (_X_) by certaine houres, according as the distance betweene
(_X_) and (_O_) is more or lesse. They that dwell in (_O_) shall
see it in (_S_) they that dwell in (_X_) see it not till it come
to (_W_) a great deale higher.

[Illustration]

5 That the water is round besides the naturall weight and
moisture of it, which being apt to yeeld and runne abroad, will
not suffer some places to ly high, and some low, like hills, &
dales, but though it be made rough and vneuen by tempest, doth
pres[~e]tly returne to their naturall smoothnesse and euennesse:
I say besides this: it is cleare by common experience; for if wee
stand on the land, and see a ship goe forth to sea, by degrees
wee loose the sight of it, first of the bulke then of the
mast, and all. So also one the other side they that are at sea by
degrees doe loose or gaine the sight of the Land: As for example.

Let (_A_) bee some steeple vpon the land (_B_) a shipp at sea: He
that stands at (_A_) shall by little and little loose the sight
of the ship, as shee goes out, & gett sight of her as shee comes
in. Both first and last hee shall haue the sight of the top mast
(_B_) when hee sees nothing else. Because the sea riseth vp
betweene his sight and the ship.

[Illustration]

These reasons and experiments may suffice to proue the roundnesse
of the earth and water; which might bee farther demonstrated by
shewing the falshood of all other figures regular or irregular
that can be giuen vnto it; that it is neither square, nor
three-cornerd, nor Piramidall, nor conicall on Taperwise,
nor Cylindricall like a barley rowle, nor hollow like a dish,
nor of any other fashion, as some haue imagined it to bee of.
Wee come to this second rule.

2 _The tops of the highest hills, and the bottoms of the lowest
vallies although in seuerall places they make the earth vneven,
yet being compared to the vast greatnesse of the whole, doe not
at all hinder the roundnesse of it._

Among all Geometricall figures the sphaeriall or the round is the
most perfect, and amongst all naturall bodies the heauen is the
most excellent. It was therefore good reason the most beautifull
body should haue the most perfect and exquisite shape. Exact
roun