The gentlemans recreation in two parts : the first being an encyclopedy of the arts and sciences ... the second part treats of horsmanship, hawking, hunting, fowling, fishing, and agriculture : with a short treatise of cock-fighting ... : all which are collected from the most authentick authors, and the many gross errors therein corrected, with great enlargements ... : and for the better explanation thereof, great variety of useful sculptures, as nets, traps, engines, &c. are added for the taking of beasts, fowl and fish : not hitherto published by any : the whole illustrated with about an hundred ornamental and useful sculptures engraven in copper, relating to the several subjects.

The Figure of the Earth.

THat the Earth is a round Figure, is proved by several Arguments. First, by the rising of the Stars; for in their rising they appear first to those that live most Easternly; next by the Elevation of the Pole; for the nearer any one comes to the Pole, the higher he is elevated above the Horizon; another Egregious proof is this, [ 10] That a Perpendicular falls in any part whatsoever at right Angles upon the Earth, which could not be if the Earth were plain, and not round according to this Figure. Moreover, If the Superficies of the Earth were plain, and not round, as the Chineses are of opinion, it would not [ 20] be every where habitable, in regard few Men would be able to stand upright in it; for as ex∣perience makes it out, they only can stand up∣right upon the Earth, whose Longitude of Body is in the Line of Direction; for thence it is that they stand Perpendicularly upon the Center of the World, excepting in this case, those that possest the middle of the plain of the Earth; which the better to demon∣strate [ 30] observe this Figure, where there is described a right Line for that right Pavement, which tends directly to that Point of Heaven, which answers to the Horizon. Next there are imagined to pro∣ceed from the Center of the Earth, Lines passing at rights Angles through the Superficies of the said Earth.

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The Earth excavated in several parts takes in the Waters, so that the Water together with the [ 40] Earth makes one perfect Globe, which is thereup∣on called the Terraqueous Globe; However some are of opinion, that the Globe of the Earth is distinct from that of the Water, but the absurdi∣ty of this opinion is easily evinc't by the Eclipse of the Moon, whereas it is plainly evident, that there is but one Shadow of Earth and Water, and that Conical, and consequently that the Globe of the Earth and Water is one and the same, which the better to confirm, it must be consider∣ed, [ 50] that there is but one Center, to which both the weight of the Earth and Water tend; for let Water be thrown down any where, it will certain∣ly fall the same, as Earth directed from the same place. Nor can it be imagined, if there were two Globes, how there could be any passing from the Globe of Water to that of the Earth. And those that frequent the Seas easily from the sight of either Pole, shew that they are carried a∣bout the same Center with that of the Earth. [ 60] Moreover it is certain; that the Sea in its out∣wards Superficies is of a Form so Spherical, that it makes but one rotundity, and consequently but one Globe with the Superficies of the Earth; and this is very manifest by a Ship homeward bound, and returning into the Haven, when those aboard her see first the Turrets and Battlements of publique Edifices, and afterwards the lower parts, which can proceed from no other cause, but from the swelling, and rotundity of the Water. as appears by this Figure, And for the same reason the Pole appears by De∣grees more and more elevated above the Horizon to him that Sayls towards it, under the same Meridian.

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Note, that the Superficies of the Sea towards the extream Shoars falls more sensibly from its main bulk, than from any part of the Superficies of the Earth; in regard there is a descent to the Sea from all parts of the Earth, as the fall of Rivers demonstrates; for the Waters by their own natural gravity descend not but from a high∣er place to a lower, and consequently it may be laid down for a Maxim, That the whole Mass of Water, or Sea in its utmost Superficies is low∣er than the whole Superficies of the Earth; for were that part of the Sea which is near the Shoar, higher than the Shoar, it cannot be otherwise i∣magined, but that it must needs pour it self up∣on it; and by the Rule of Proportion, the same may be affirmed of any other part of the Sea; for were one part more imminent than another, the higher part according to its fluxible nature would still fall upon the lower, as tending to a Level, and to keep an equal distance from the Cen∣ter of the World. And whereas to those that look upon the Sea from the Shoar it seems to rise, and swell up more and more. This ariseth from the fallacy of the Sight, as by the Rules of Opticks may be more plainly demonstrated.