Archelogia philosophica nova, or, New principles of philosophy containing philosophy in general, metaphysicks or ontology, dynamilogy or a discourse of power, religio philosophi or natural theology, physicks or natural philosophy / by Gideon Harvey ...

CHAP. VII. Of the Circulation of the Ocean.

• 1. That the disburdening of the Eastern Rivers into the Ocean is not the cause of its Circulation; neither are the Sun or Moon the principal causes of this motion.
• 2. The periodical course of the Ocean. The causes of the high and low waters of the Ocean.
• 3. How it is possible that the Ocean should move so swiftly as in 24 hours and somewhat more to flow about the terrestrial Globe.
• 4. A further Explanation of the causes of the intumescence and detu∣mescence of the Ocean. The causes of the anticipation of the floud of the Ocean.
• 5. That the Suns intense heat in the torrid Zone is a potent adjuvant cause of the Oceans Circulation, and likewise the minima's descend∣ing from the Moon and the Polar Regions.

I. HAving in one of the Chapt. of the precedent Book posed a demonstrative and evident ground of the universal course of the great Ocean, and the straitness of that Chapt. not permitting the finishing of the fabrick intended by us upon it: Therefore this pre∣sent plain shall serve for to compleat the delineation thereof, but encountring with some rocky stones thereon, it is requisite they should be rowled aside, before the said Atlantick waves may pro∣cure a necessary assent of the true cause of their dayly circular floating.

The conceit of some Philosophers hath induced them to state the copious irreption of many large and deep Rivers into the Eoan Sea for the principal cause of its circulation, the which tume∣fying its body do thereby press it westward. This solution seems void of all reason, the evacuation of the presupposed Rivers having no proportion to the replenishing of so extended a body as the Ocean, scarce of a Lake or an inland Sea, as we have observed of the lake Haneygaban, and the Euxian Sea. Besides many great Ri∣vers disburdening themselves into the Occiduan Sea might upon

the same ground return the course of the Ocean Eastward. But imagine it was so, why should not the said tumefaction rather in∣cline the sea westward, than further eastward? Others rejecting the former opinion have in their fansie groven the ground, where∣on the sea beats, deeper and deeper towards the west, and so the ground being situated higher in the East, shelving down gradually to the west, the sea doth through its natural gravity rowl it self to the deeper & lower Plane; but then the eastern waters being arrived to the west, how shall they return to the east again for to continue the said motion? Wherefore this opinion may take its place among the Castles in the air. Shall we then ascribe the cause of this mo∣tion to the rarefaction of the sea through the beams of the Sun, which as it is successively rarefied doth swell and press its preceding parts forward? As touching the Moon she cannot come into conside∣ration here, as being rather noted for condensation than rarefaction.

First, I deny that the Sun doth any whit rarifie the Eastern Ocean; because according to their Tenent the rarefaction of the sea happens through the commotion of the subsidencies and terre∣strial exhalations contained within the bowels of the sea and scat∣tered through its substance, whereby it becomes tumefied, which I grant in case the Sun casts its beams obliquely into the depth of the Ocean; but I prove the contrary, supposing the Sun doth cast its beams directly into the Eastern waters. In AEgypt it seldom rains, because the Sun casting its beams directly into the waters doth through the same degree of heat, through which it might raise va∣pours, dissolve them again, likewise in the East Ocean the Sun sub∣tilizing the waters doth doubtless through its heat commove exha∣lations and subsidencies, but the waters being through the same heat attenuated are rendred uncapable of sustaining those terrestrial bodies, wherefore they sinking deeper to the ground rather cause a detumescence of the sea. I have alwaies observed that waters swell more through the cold than heat, and that inundations hap∣pen for the most part after a frost; besides it is obvious that Rivers are much tumefied when they are frozen, and that by reason of the foresaid tumefaction inundations happen more frequently in the winter than at any other time of the year. Des-Cartes imagineth the compression of the Moon (together with the Earths motion about her own Axis) to be the cause of the waters circular moti∣on, pressing it from East to West, and the variation of this pressure

to depend upon the various removal of the Moon from the Center of the Earth effecting the anticipation and various celerity of the waters motion: So that where the Earth is obverted to the face of the Moon there the waters must be at their lowest, being pressed to∣wards the next quarter of the Surface, where they are at their high∣est, whence they are carried about through the Earths proper mo∣tion, &c.

1. I deny his supposition of the Earths motion, as being fa∣bulous, which we have confuted elsewhere. He might as well assert, that there be as many Neptunes under water moving it cir∣cularly, as Aristotle stated intelligencies to drive the Heavens, for even this he might excuse by saying it was but an Assumption to prove a Phaenomenon of the water.

2. What needs he to affirm a tumour of the water? for since he assumes the Earth to move circularly, we cannot but grant that the water must also move with it as constituting one Globe together.

5. Why doth he in vain reassume in the 55 Sect. that out-worn Doctr. of Aristotle touching the Moons driving of the water, which argues him to be very unconstant with himself?

4. His stating the air to be so complicable and soft a body ren∣ders it very unfit for compressing and driving so vast and weighty a body as the Ocean.

5. Can any one rationally or probably conceive, that the Sun, much less the Moon, being so remore, and whose forcible effects are so little felt by sublunary bodies, should be capable of driving so deep, so large, and so heavy a body as the Ocean, which is as powerful to resist through its extream gravity, as all the Celestial bodies are potent to move through their extream lightness? What, because the Ocean and the Moon move one way, therefore the one must either follow or move the other? What, can a passion so du∣rable and constant, and so equal depend upon a violent cause? Since then such phansies are ridiculous, and not to be proposed by any Philosopher, let us now proceed in the unfolding of so difficult and admirable a matter as the course of the Ocean, which we have for∣merly demonstrated to flow about the earth once in 12 hours and somewhat more.

II. Moreover, besides this single motion making a sharper in∣spection into the drift of the Ocean, it will appear to us to absolve a

compounded periodical course in a perfixt time, namely, in 15 daies, which space may be called a marinal or nautical month. The meaning hereof is, imagining a part of the Ocean to flow circu∣larly from a certain point, or more plainly, a Bowle to rowl circu∣larly under water over the bottom of the Sea along with the course of the Ocean, from any noted point, that the same part of the Ocean or Bowl shall in the space of 15 natural daies * 1.1 arrive to the same point, and exactly at the same time begin its next periodical course thence, when it departed from that term the month before. Nevertheless the Ocean doth not omit its single course in fluctu∣ating about the Earth in somewhat more than twelve hours, but then it doth not dayly arrive to the supposed point of a compoun∣ded periodical course at the same minute, when the latter (viz. the compounded) begins its progress. Expresly, the great Ocean through its diurnal course flows the length of 348 degrees about from East to West, performing also the same circuit through its nocturnal course: That is, every twelve AEquinoctial hours it absolves 348 de∣grees of the terrestrial AEquator: Wherefore for to flow 360 de∣grees it requires 24 24/2•• minutes of an hour above the foresaid twelve hours: that is, the Ocean flows about the terrestrial AEquator in twelve hours, and 24 14/2•• minutes, absolving every hour 29 degrees. * 1.2 How this swiftness is possible to the Ocean we shall make further declaration of it anon. Besides a single diurnal, and a periodical compounded monthly motion, another must also be added, which I call an augmentative motion, through which the Ocean doth gradu∣ally accrease every high water to some certain cubits; of which more fully hereafter.

Since that time is nothing but a measure of motion, and that one time is made known to us by another, it is thence occasioned that we come to know the time of the Ocean by comparing it with the time of the Moon and of the Sun, as being general marks whereby to calculate the seasons of the Ocean. This premised it states a ground & reason of the measure of this great Sea, viz. That it is usually high water in the Ocean under the AEquinoctial and Eclip∣tick, as also upon the shores of the same at six in the morning and evening, when the Moon is in opposition to, or conjunction with the Sun, and at the same hours about the Moons quarters the waters there are at their lowest. On the other side, it is as common among Mariners to measure the motion of the Sun and Moon by

the Tides or motions of the Seas, they being exquisitely skill'd in discerning the hour of the day and night, or the season of the several aspects of the Moon by the said tides; Wherefore it may be thought as equal a consequence that the Moon in her motion de∣pends upon the course of the Ocean as pressing the air through her tumefaction, which again doth impel the Moon forward, as that the Moon should tumefie the air, and thereby impel the waters forward: But I pass by this as ridiculous.

Although the Ocean keeps so constant and exact a rule and measure in its course, as likewise the Sun and Moon, yet we must not therefore conceive the one to depend upon the other, because two great marks of their time (that is one of either, viz. The greatest height of waters and the greatest aspect of the Moon) are concurring in one day, that rather happening, because the Ocean began its course at that instant, when the Moon after her creation being placed in opposition to the Sun began hers. But pos∣sibly you will propose this instance to evince that the highest water doth depend upon the greatest compression of the Moon, because when she is at her Full, she may cause some compression and com∣motion of air and water, she then being in her greatest strength, and situated in Perigaeo of her eccentrical Aspect, and therefore nearest to the water, and so may add somewhat to the enhightning of its stream. I answer, That it is a mistake to apprehend the Moon to be nearest at the Full, most Astronomers asserting her rather to be remotest then, and to be nearest when she is in her quarters: Ergo according to that rule the highest waters should happen at the Moons quarters, and the lowest at the Full of the Moon: Or otherwise, how can the Moon further the said motion, when she is upon the extremity of her decrease, her rayes drowned by those of the Sun, and she in Apogaeo deferentis? Certainly, none can be so obtuse as to maintain her in that capacity to have a power of compressing the air, when she being most remote the air doth most enjoy its freedom; yet nevertheless some are so obstinate to assert, that the greatest altitude of the Sea because it hapneth then, doth likewise depend upon the compression of the Moon. What is more constant, certain, periodical, and equal than the course of the Sea? Whereas the Moon is vulgarly maintained to be subjected to anomalies; then in this part of the Heavens, then in another; now in Apogaeo, perigaeo, concentrical, excentrical, then swift, slow, &c.

if so, then a constant and equal effect cannot consecute the effici∣ence of an unequal cause.

III. Against our discourse touching the diurnal course of the Ocean might be objected, That it seems very improbable, that the Sea should move so swift, as in a little more than 12 hours to over∣flow the whole terrestrial Globe; whereas a ship through the ad∣vantage of her sails and a prosperous wind and weather, being supposed to out-run the Tide, can scarce accomplish that course in a Twelvemonth. Hereunto I reply, that the water takes the be∣ginning of her motion from underneath; for as I have formerly proved, that the formal cause of the waters perennal motion is her gravity, which bearing down upon the Earth for to gaine the Cen∣ter, is resisted by her, and nevertheless continuing in its motion is necessarily shoven there * 1.3 to the side; and so the same hapning to the succeeding parts are all impelled through a natural principle of gra∣vity sidewards, like unto an Arrow being shot against a stone wall, and there resisted, is shoven down the side. VVhence it is appa∣rent, that the waters take beginning of their motion underneath not far from the ground, where being pressed by the great weight of many hundred fathoms of water lying upon them, must needs cause a very swift course of waters removing underneath and withdrawing from that of the Surface, which is prevented of a swift motion, because it sinks down to that place whence the subjected parts do withdraw themselves; which gives us a reason, why the superficial parts of the Sea do not flow by many degrees so swift as the sub∣jected ones. Nevertheless some small motion is visible upon the Surface, which may accelerate or retardate the course of a ship, but not comparable to the waters in the deep. This instance will further certifie you touching the truth of the matter before said; a flat-bottomed Kettel filled up with water, having a hole at the bottom near to the side of the said Kettel doth emit the water un∣derneath spouting out with a very great swiftness through the hole, whereas the water upon the Surface moveth but very slowly towards the side near the hole, because the water moving so swiftly under∣neath doth cause that atop to sink upon it which prevents its swift motion towards the side, and that which causeth the water under∣neath to spout so violently out of the hole is the weight of the water atop pressing violently and forcibly downwards. This occasions me to call to memory that apposite Phrase of the Dutch

sea-men, who instead of saying the water ebbs, say Het water sackt, that is, the water sinks, as if they would signifie the water to move from underneath.

The Ocean then originally and primarily moving from under∣neath in a very swift current, as the forementioned instance may easily confirm to us, hath not that extent to overrun there, which we might conceive it would have atop, but is above the half shor∣tened in its periphery through its depth, and consequently through the deep excavation or extenuation of the Earth: Where∣fore observe, 1. That the Ocean underneath doth well absolve so many degrees as we have writ down before, but then they are much abbreviated and lessened in comparison to those degrees, whereby the superficial circumference of the water is mea∣sured.

2. I say, that the Ocean absolves the foresaid course of 348 in 12 equal hours only in its lower parts; But as touching its super∣ficial ones it is certain they are slow, absolving the same compass in no shorter time than six months, which may be named a Marinal year. This slow progress is evidenced to us by the slow drift of a piece of wood floating in the Ocean.

3. Although the superficial parts of the Ocean do not slow with so rapid a course, yet it hinders not, but that they may tumefie as they do throughout their whole circuit about the Earth in the space of 12 hours.

4. Since it must necessarily follow, that where the water tume∣fieth in one place, it must sink in another, therefore the water tu∣mefying once every 12 hours in the East 6 houres long, (in which space it arriveth to its height) it must sink as much in the VVest, because that moisture, which causeth the intumescence in the East, doth slow underneath from the VVest. By the same rule the Ea∣stern Ocean must also sink 6 hours in every 12 for to cause a tume∣faction in the VVest: VVhence it is, that every 6 hours we per∣ceive a change of the Tide in the Ocean.

5. VVe are not to perswade our selves, that the Eastern floud is occasioned by water returning from the VVest, and the western floud through the refluxe of the same water from the East, because the Ocean doth continually pass from east to west by way of the South, not returning the same way through the South from west to east, as appeareth by the quick Voyages of those, who setting

sail with a good wind and weather from Spain towards the West-Indies do usually make land in three or four weeks, whereas re∣turning from thence can scarce recover Spain, although having the wind very favourable, in less than three or four months. Like∣wise a voyage from Moabar in the Indies to Madagascar, other∣wise called St. Laurences Island, may be accomplisht in 20 daies, but from Madagascar to Moabar scarce in less time (although with a very prosperous wind) than three months: In the same manner one may much sooner make a voyage from this Island to Spaine, lying hence more eastward, than from Spain back again hither, or in sailing from Alicant (a City of Spaine, situated upon the Me∣diterranean Coast) towards Palestina, they usually make less speed than in returning. All which are undoubted marks of the peren∣nal course of the Ocean from East to west. VVherefore Philoso∣phers have been misled in imposing the names of Fluxus and Re∣fluxus upon the course of the Ocean as if returning the same way it went. I have taken notice, that as the Dutch used a fit word for to denote the Ebb, so the French have imposed another no less ele∣gant upon the floud, viz. La Montè de la Marè, or the rising of the Sea, exactly squaring with our foregoing discourse: Thus when it is floud they usually say, Lamarè il monte, that is, the Sea rises. The Latinists call it AEstus Maris, or heat of the Sea, because when the Sea begins to be filled with hot exhalations, it is wonted to be hot, through which it swelleth, (like hot bloud flushing into our faces and glowing causeth a puffing up and a rising) whence it is impelled to flow some part of it one way, and another another way, which caused the floud, observed through the rising of the waters upon the shores: These exhalations being dissipated, the Sea beginning to cool withdraws it self again into its former com∣pass, and leaving the shores puts them in mind of the Ebb. But this dictate being proved to be absurd doth justly advise us to reject the forementioned name.

6. VVe need not to doubt being fully informed of this Do∣ctrine, but that every floud brings in new water, that of the last Ebb flowing forwards with the course of the Sea towards the ac∣complishment of its annual period.

7. Let none be offended at us for granting an internall cause of the Seas motion against Scalig. Exer. 52. asserting the Sea to be an Animal in case it should be moved from an internal cause; were this

a Paradox, we must then believe that the Air, Fire, Heavens, and Stars are Animals, they all moving through an intrinsick prin∣ciple.

IV. My method doth now lead me to demonstrate the several Phoenomena's of the Ocean by their proper causes.

1. The Ocean flowing from East to West cannot be thought to be the sole cause of the diurnal intumescence and detumescence of the Sea, since it may be supposed to slow equally over an equal ground: Wherefore a second cause must concur, to wit, an unequal ground, or an unequal grove, through which it passeth. The waters being through the second division of the Creation separated from the Earth, which then lay in an equal round figure under the waters, these consequently equally covering it in the same figure, were afterwards through the third division collected into one place, where they must have pressed their great weighty body into two great universal groves * 1.4, whereupon the Earth must necessarily be pressed up into two great universal eminences, which are divided from one another through the said waters, and consequently constitute two great Islands, viz. of the New world or America, and the Old world, or Asia, Africa, and Europa. The Sea after this working through its great weight deeper and deeper into the Earth must necessarily thereby have formed many other deep and great cavi∣ties within the sald universal groves. The Earth, through whose recess or giving way, the said other Cavities were impressed must needs have been compressed to some other part: not towards the center, because the Earth was so very densely beset there, that it was impossible it should give way: Ergo towards the Surface, where it was moulded and compressed up into all those great mountains, which we see every where about the Sea-shores, and into all those great Banks and Rocks which Sea-men do meet withall every where; yea, some being stuffed up a great way from the shore, as witness many Ships that have run aground in the Atlantick Ocean above 60, 80, or 100 Leagues from the shore; likewise a great banke lying off the Cape of St. Austin, and extended near 70 Leagues long. Lastly, A great part of the receding earth was cast up into great and small Islands, especially those numerous ones in the East and West Indies.

Let us then suppose those said small Isles, together with the great ones of the East Indies to be accompanied with great and large

banks or shelves, whereof some are visible, others not; This sup∣position must needs force another from us, viz. That the waters passing from West, by the North to the East, are retarded and part∣ly stopt by the said Isles, shelves or banks: In the mean time du∣ring this retardation and partial stoppage, the waters flowing from East by the South to West do decurre, decrease, and evacuate themselves unto the west grove, untill such a degree, that they are run off as low as possible, at which time the other * 1.5 is at its high∣est, and then they overflow the borders of the Eastern shelves, and free themselves from the retention of the Isles, by which means the Eastern grove begins to fill and encrease, whose swift decurrence of waters being stopt and retarded by the Western borders and banks fils up until high water. This discourse may seem strange to you since the waters are never visibly stopt by any shelves or banks, these al∣waies lying covered; but were it so that they proved a stoppage, it must be imagined they should lye dry. Hereunto I answer. That sup∣posing the waters to move from underneath, they arriving at a deep grove must needs be retarded through its shelving sides, as being against their natural inclination to move upwards. This retardation of the water on the bottom of the grove must necessarily cause the waters atop to swell and become turgid or tumide, ever framing a round figure atop, which is a certain sign denoting the grove to be of a parabolical figure. This tumefaction the Ancients did abu∣sively term an exestuation, as if proceeding from a fermentation within the water. The water underneath being depressed on the bottom of the grove according to its greatest capacity, and having withall elevated the waters atop to their greatest height, doth now begin to strive to clime up the shelves of the grove, being thereunto moved through its own force continuated against the Earth, but reflected by the same upwards, and propelled by the succeding parts of the water, as also compressed and squeezed by the greatest weight of the waters atop lying upon them, which compressing is much augmented by the great force of the air and fire bearing against the water and earth for to gain the Center: Whence the waters do now begin to flow over the banks of the said shelves, making a tumefaction and gradually a high water wherever it comes, and so evacuating it self out of one great grove into another happens to cause a low and high water in the Ocean. Hence now you may easily collect the reasons and causes of these several properties

befalling the Ocean in its diurnal course.

1. Every twelve hours there appears a rising of water in either of the universal groves * 1.6, viz. South and North grove continuating the space of 6 hours, because the bottom of either grove is 6 hours in filling out of the one into the other. Likewise every 12 hours the Ocean falls for 6 hours, because its water beneath is so long in eva∣cuating it self.

2. The beginning of the swelling of the Ocean is ever slow for two hours; much quicker the next two; for one hour before the last is quickest of all: and the last moves in an equal velocity with the latter of the two first; it is at its slowest a little before the pinch of high water & at dead low water. The beginning is slow, because that part, which causeth the beginning of the tumefaction of the water, is weakest as being most remote from the central parts, and employ∣ing its greatest force in making way and mounting over the shelves loseth its strength, which it recovers when it is backt by the body or central parts of the water following it, and so promoting its course with a greater swiftness: And being with its whole body arrived to the bottom of the grove it doth as it were rest there for to recover its strength, which doth occasion its greatest slowness, the same consequently causing the greatest diminution of motion at low water in the other grove.

3. High and low water of the Ocean is retarded every natural day near three quarters of an hour, that is 34 ••4/2•• minutes of an hour in every single period or 12 hours, because it accomplisheth but 348 degrees of the terrestrial AEquator in every 12 hours, which doth want 12 degrees of its compleat circuit, and before it can absolve those 12 degrees through the beginning of a new period, there passeth 24 24/29 minutes of an hour, which gives us the true rea∣son of the Oceans retardation every day near three quarters of an hour. This course lingring every natural day so many minutes, doth in 30 periods or 15 daies stay back full 360 degrees, being the total circumference of its circuit, and so, as it were, absolves a compounded period through its retardation in 15 daies, which space agreeing with the time of the Moons middle motion be∣tween her conjunction and opposition, no wonder, if the Ocean also agrees to be at its height at a prefixt and constant time, alwaies being one and the same, when the Moon her aspect is New or Full.

4. The Ocean happens to be augmented or elevated higher than ordinary every Full or New Moon, because every thirtieth or mid∣dle period, (which ever falls accidentally, but not as if only depend∣ing upon the Moon, as upon her New or Full Aspect) it hath acqui∣red its greatest force of flowing, whereby it drives before it and carrieth along with it a greater confluence of water than at any other season. This intension of course it procures gradually more and more every period, untill at last it comes to its highest, after which in like manner it decreases again, untill it is descended to its least remission, which is upon every thirtieth circuit coincident for the most part with the Moons quarters; that is, the Ocean at its high water is in comparison to the high waters of the other prece∣dent or following courses at the lowest, when the Moon appears in her quarters, because the force of the Oceans course is then most remitted. Here we may observe the beginning of this intending or periodical compounded course to be, when the Ocean moves with the least force, causing the lowest high water, and the highest low water, which frequently happens near to the Moons quarters, whose middle is marked by the Moons Full and New Aspect, be∣ing when it flows with the greatest force causing the highest high waters, and the lowest low waters, and tends towards its ending, when it remits from its height and intends in lowness. This aug∣mentation and diminution may be resembled to the fermentation of Wine or Beer, swelling gradually untill its height, and thence decreasing again. Touching the beginning and ending of the Seas single diurnal circuit, if we consider it simpliciter, it hath none, because it is ever in motion, as never being eased by a total rest; but if agreeing to state the beginning, where the Ocean is slowest in its course, and thence tending to a swifter motion, then the Pro∣position is resolveable: And according to this Supposition, the beginning and ending must be moveable, differing every single course near 11 degrees; This by the way: Returning to explain the cause of the gradual augmentation of water, and intention of force, I am to remember you of the great proportion of the Oceans peregrin Elements consisting of most Earth, then Air, and lastly fire, of whose close coherence with the waters, their saltness is an undoubted argument: These salin particles violently detain∣ing the waters from recovering the center, must necessarily add force to the gravity of the waters, and consequently in intending

their force they must also augment them in quantity, because the more force the waters use, the more in quantity they bear along with them. The detention of the said salin particles being at their beginning of no great strength, or in no great quantity, do therefore cause no great intention of the Oceans force, but every single period piercing gradually by rarefaction upon the waters, must necessarily also augment their tumefaction gradually higher and higher every day, untill at last being arrived to their height of penetration, which ordinarily happens in 15 circuits, the Ocean is likewise elevated unto its height. Some of these salin particles, being pe∣netrated through the body of the waters, are gradually depressed to the ground through their own disposition, and the weight of the Oce∣an, others being attrited and confused through their passive motion against the water, and the decess of their heaviest particles do more and more gradually desist from their violent detention, every circuit, returning to the bottom, and so the Ocean doth also gradually every day incline nearer and nearer to its natural force and detumescence of its water, untill it is returned to its own proper course, at which season its force and intumescence are equally at their lowest. During this space those subsiding particles begin again to be expanded, rarefied and attenuated, because of the grinding of the water against them, and through the expansion of the aerial and igneous parts adunited to them do bear up again: The others elevated atop beginning to concentrate through the con∣quiescence of the Sea, are ready to be compressed downwards both which gradually striving a reciprocal meeting do in the foregoing manner gradually reunite the force and augmentation of the Water.

V. Here we cannot but admit the Suns intense hear, every day beating down the torrid Zone, to be a great instrumental and ad∣juvant cause to the stirring of the aforesaid salin particles: But this continuing in one measure, equality, and station in respect to the torrid Zone all the year long cannot in any wise be thought the prin∣cipal cause of a motion varying twice every day.

Likewise the Moon being beset with a great quantity of dampish and heavy particles, doth every day spread down some of those par∣ticles, whereby the Ocean is also gradually filled more & more every day: And like as these said particles are most apt to rain down, the nearer the Moon doth appropinquate to the Ecliptick, because the air enjoyeth a greater subtility there from the rarefaction of the

Sun; hence it is, that the Moon frees her self most of these heavy concomitants near her Conjunction and at her apposition: So they are most apt to ascend the further the Moon is declined from the Ecliptick, as happens in her quarters, when for that reason the wa∣ters are also at their lowest. That these two Lights are accidental causes of the intention of the Oceans force and daily augmentati∣on of its waters is plain enough, and their mutual concurrence to the effecting of the same effect we have confirmed beyond all doubting, whereby the absurdity of the Moons compression pro∣posed by Des-Cartes, and so disagreeing with his own position of the nature of the air, is likewise set before you.

The Moon near her Conjunction makes very high waters, because conversing with the hot rayes of the Sun sends down a great num∣ber of the foresaid bodies, and not because she is impregnated with the light of the Sun, whereby she should be grown more potent to excite vapours and exhalations: This is ridiculous, for we find other bodies to be swelled near that time not only through exhala∣tions raised out of themselves, but particularly through particles demitted by the conveyance of the air into their pores. The like happens, although in a weaker manner, when the Moon is in her full Aspect, because of her nearer approximation to the Ecliptick: But much more in a Lunar Eclipse, because she is then found di∣rectly in the Ecliptick. And most of all, yea twice higher than ordinary at the Full Moon of March and September, because the Sun being then in the AEquinoxial, and most directly over the tor∣rid Zone, under which the greatest body of the Ocean floats, and the Moon in the same way near the Ecliptick, must needs joyntly cause a vast decidence of the forenamed bodies intending and aug∣menting the waters.

Or to declare the matter plainer to you: The continuation of the Seas Motion forward is not only depending upon the pulsion of succeeding parts bending by refraction naturally forward, but also by a kind of attraction or suction of preceding parts, thus: Suppose the Earth to be excavated into certain great cavities, like to great pipes, whereof of those that are formed from the East to∣wards the West by the South the furthermost are alwaies deeper and longer than those, which are nearest to the East; Likewise conceive such Cavities framed in the same proportion to one another from West back again to the East by the North; Now I say, that the

deepest and furthermost cavity must alwaies attract the water out of the shallower and lesser, in the same manner, as the longer pipe of a sucker (a Siphon as some do call it) must attract all the moisture of the shorter, because the parts of water being continu∣ous, and consequently cleaving to one another, the lesser part must follow and yield to the greater, the which through its crastitude be∣ing pressed forwards must also draw the lesser part after: Since then the water is no sooner arrived into one cavity but is thence drawn into another, hence it is that this tumefaction of waters is not sensi∣ble to us in the Ocean. The number of these cavities we must suppose to be fifteen on each half of the terrestrial Globe; because the Sea doth in every periodical compounded course make thirty stations, or so many tumefactions, by which it must needs work it self into so many cavities. This supposed, it doth infer another assumption, viz. That since the Ocean moves over so many borders or shelves of cavities, it must necessarily move in Bores: A Bore (or more properly a Bare) is a tumefaction of water underneath moving ve∣ry swift, and elevating the waters atop into a tumefaction propor∣tionable to it underneath: An example of Bores you have in the River of Seyne, and many other Rivers, where great shallows ob∣struct the floud of the waters underneath: But of this more here∣after. The Ocean then moving in a great bore must raise a tume∣faction, wherever it passeth: This tumefaction being originally in the middle parts causes the floud by sending a proportion of waters (fal∣ling through their gravity from the top to the sides as being lower situated) to the coasts on both sides which it passeth. Hence we may collect that where ever the borders of the foresaid cavities do re∣spect the Coasts, there the Inhabitants must have a swise appulse of the floud. The Ebbe is nothing else but the waters returning from the sides to the middle parts, being left lower through the recess of the Oceans bore or tumefaction: but this by the way.

It is most certain, that the Western Ocean directs its waves to∣wards the East; but whence this continual course of water is sup∣plied may justly be doubted, and although the Eastern Ocean doth constantly flow towards the West, yet how and where Mar del Nort meets with Mar del Zur remains to be made to appear. Their visible communication through the straits of Magallan, or of Le maire, or the straites of Martin Forbisher, and of Anjan, cannot be imagined to conduce any thing considerable towards the presup∣posed

evacuation; that of Magallan little exceeding a League in breadth, or above 10 or 12 fathom in depth, besides the many turnings and windings and length of near 110 or 120 Leagues hin∣dering any considerable course of water: The others not much surpassing these either in breadth or depth seem to conduce as little. But to make the course clear beyond all dispute the West-Indian Earth is boared through deep underneath by the former compressi∣on of the Ocean, through which immense perforation the great bore of the Sea enjoys a free passage, and rowles along under the Peruvian Ocean. By means of this vast perforation the Indian Earth is much elevated, and in most places hath acquired the full height, which it obtaineth being clome up atop the Sea by many Leagues, whence it is that the Land by far overlooking the Ocean doth appear to Mariners three or fourscore Leagues off at Sea.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Or 30 sin∣gle periods.
• * 1.2

  Hence you may collect the cause of the retardation of the tide every day.
• * 1.3

  Namely at the bot∣tom under∣neath: ergo the waters must also begin to move from underneath
• * 1.4

  viz. The east & west grove.
• * 1.5

  Namely the west grove.
• * 1.6

  Take no∣tice by the way, that by Grove I do not intend any thing like to a Grove of trees, as the word is de∣rived from growing; but a ca∣vern, as the same word is derived from Gro∣ven or to grave into the earth.