Geographie delineated forth in two bookes Containing the sphericall and topicall parts thereof, by Nathanael Carpenter, Fellow of Exceter Colledge in Oxford.

2 The rugged and vnequall parts of the Earth, hinder not the Sphericall roundnesse of it.

It is thought by ignorant people, that the Earth is not round, because of the rugged and vneuen parts of the superfi∣cies of it: For some-where it swells with great and high moun∣taines, rocks, and hills; Other-where it seemes indented, and (as it were) trenched into valleyes, & concauities; all which seeme to detract from a true Sphericall superficies; because in such a one, euery line drawne from the Center to it, should bee equall one to the other. Indeed that the Globe of the Earth is not Abso∣lutely and Geometrically round, as an Artificiall Spheare, is con∣fessed by Eratosthenes, cited by Strabo in his 1 booke of Geogra∣phie▪ whence Pliny in his •• booke, cap. 21. saith,* 1.1 that the Earth & Water make one Globe, not so absolutely round as the Hea∣uens, but much different, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 also Strabo confirmes. This propo∣sition depending on these 3 reasons which follow, will shew that this Inequality, how great soeuer it seeme to the sight, is altogether insensible, and bearing no proportion with the huge vastnesse of the whole Earth. The first is taken from the per∣pendicular hight of the greatest and highest mountaine, which is seldome or neuer found to exceed 10 miles, (although few Mathematicians will grant so much) whereas the whole Dia∣meter of the Earth containes no lesse th••n 7200 English miles; so that these hils compared to the thicknes of the Earth are but ••s 10 to 7200: which indeed hath no sensible proportion. The se∣cond is taken from the Ecclipse of the Moone, which being caused by the shadow of the interposed Earth, is described by a Sphericall figure, without any vnequall or rugged parts, which no doubt, would appeare, if these parts challenge any due proportion▪ or sensible quantity, in respect of the whole Earth. Thirdly, some haue illustrated this by a round bowle, or ball, whose externall surface, although vnequall, and indented here & there with scotches, other-where swelling with knobs, will notwithstanding being interposed betwixt the Sun-beame and a wall, or such place, giue a round or Sphericall shadow in the same wall or plaine, in regard of the little quantity of these small parts in respect of the whole Body. In like sort must wee imagine the mountaines and vnequall parts in the face of the Earth, to bee no otherwise then as so many warts or pimples in

the face of man, which cannot alter his du•• proportion or sym∣metry of the parts.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Lib. 1.