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.

[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 fr