s.

1 The naturall heavinesse of the earth and water is such, as they
will never cease mooving downewards till they come to the lowest
place; Now the center or middle point of the world is the lowest
place, and _ergo_ they must needs moue thither, as for example.

Let (_O_) be the center of the world, (_CDE_) the heauens: it is
manifest that the lowest place from the heauens on all sides is
(_O_). Ssuppose the earth to be in (_A_) or in (_B_) some where
out of the center, I say it is not possible (vnlesse it be
violently held vp) that it should abide there, but it will
descend till it come to (_O_) the middle point.

[Illustration]

2 If the earth stood any where but in the midest we should not
see halfe the heauens aboue vs, as now we alway doe, neither
could there be any AEquinox, neither would the daies and nights
lengthen and shorten in that due order and proportion in all
places of the World as now they doe; againe Eclipses would never
fall out but in one part of the heavens, yea the Sunne and Moone
might be directly opposite one to another and yet no Eclipse
follow, all which are absurd. As for example, let the center of
the World be (_O_) let the earth stand in (_A_), a good way
distant from the center, it is manifest that the greater halfe of
the Heauens (_CIB_) will alwaies be aboue, and the lesser halfe
(_CDB_) below, which is contrary to experience. Thence also it
followes that the daies and nights will never be equall, for the
Sunne (_B_) will be alwaies longer aboue the earth whil'st he
moues from (_B_) to (_C_) then below, mouing from (_C_) to (_B_).
Againe the Sunne (_B_) may stand iust opposite to the Moone (_X_)
and yet noe Eclipse follow, the earth which makes the Eclipse,
standing out of the midst.

[Illustration]

3 The shadowes of all bodies on the earth would not fall in that
orderly vniformity as they now doe: for if the earth stood
towards the East, the shadowes would be shortest before noone, if
toward the west afternoone, if towards the North, the shadowes
would still fall Northward, if towards the South, Southwards, all
which experience shewes to be false. As for example, let the
earth stand Eastwards in (_A_) the shadow of any body vpon the
earth, as of the body vnder (_E_) will be shorter in the morning
when the sunne is in (_C_), then at noone when the sunne is in
(_X_). If the earth stand Southward in (_W_) the shaddow of any
body will alwaies fall south, as it doth in the figure