An entire body of philosophy according to the principles of the famous Renate Des Cartes in three books, (I) the institution ... (II) the history of nature ... (III) a dissertation of the want of sense and knowledge in brute animals ... / written originally in Latin by the learned Anthony Le Grand ; now carefully translated from the last corrections, alterations, and large additions of the author, never yet published ... by Richard Blome.

CHAP. II. The Earth is moved by the fluid Heaven, that encompasseth it round.

I. The Com∣mon People 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to 〈…〉〈…〉 the 〈…〉〈…〉 World. THe Common People are not more obstinate in any Persuasion, than they are in that of the Earths Immobility; for they cannot imagine, that that which is the foundation and support of all things, should be moved; or that a Body of such prodigious Weight and Bulk should be carried about by another. Hence it is they believe, that the Sun and fix'd Stars are whirl'd round about us, and that the Earth rests immovable in the midst of the Heaven. Indeed our Eyes are not wanting to confirm this Persuasion; for we see that the Stars turn towards us from the East to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 West, and that the Sun after the same manner 〈◊〉〈◊〉 approacheth to us.

II. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••ust 〈…〉〈…〉 to•• ••••t t•• trust our 〈◊〉〈◊〉. But we ought to remember, that we must not too much rely upon the report of our Senses. For in this case it is with us, as with those that are in a Ship, who think that the Shoar departs from them, when indeed they themselves do depart from the Shoar. For to make a thing appear as if it were moved, it is all one, as ARISTOTLE saith, Whether the Motion be in the Spectator, or in the thing that is moved. Wherefore neither must it seem strange to us, who are carried about with the Earth, from whence we see nothing but the Roof of Heaven, and the Stars in a manner resting in their several Stations, that they do seem to draw near, pass by, and depart from us, the motion of the Earth being most steady and even. This is the Reason, that whilst Men look upon the Earth; they cannot conceive it to be moved; but when they turn their Eyes to any other Object, with regard to which the Interval is either increased or diminished, then indeed it seems to be moved: But our Sight, or rather our Mind, is more apt to ascribe it to the thing seen, tho' it be at rest, than to the thing that is moved, which it finds to be at no distance from it self. But that we may not seem to assert this without any grounds, we will enquire, Whether the Earth in it self have any Repugnance to motion; and if we find it hath not, Why should not we conclude that it is moved?

III. The Obje∣ctions that are made against the Motion of the Earth. Two things are only alledg'd against the Mo∣tion of the Earth, viz. its Bulk, and its Weight. For they Object, that all the parts of the Earth tend to the Center, where they are kept by the force of their Gravity. As we see that Stones and Metals rest in their several places, whence they cannot be removed without force, by reason of the propension they have to the Center. But that this Reason is not conclusive, appears from hence, that round Bowls or Bullets, made of Iron or Steel, are by a small Force made to trundle along a Plain or Level. Stones therefore and Metals continue in their places, not because they strive to tend towards the Center, but because they are firmly joyned to the Bodies whereon they lye; which Impediment is not to be found in the Earth, as being surrounded with the Fluid Hea∣ven.

IV. There is no inward Heaviness in the Earth. Besides, we know that there is no Inward Gra∣vity in the Earth, seeing that all Gravitation is caused by the Heavenly Globuli, which drive Ter∣restrial Bodies towards the Center; so that if we should suppose all the Space about the Earth to be fill'd with such Bodies, as did neither promote nor hinder the motion of other Bodies, and the Earth to be turn'd about its Axis in 24 Hours, all its Parts, which did not very closely stick together, would fly away on every side; as we find that Sand, which is cast into a Whirlpool, is every way dissipated. And accordingly we may rather ac∣count the Parts of the Earth to be Light, than Heavy.

V. The Hea∣viness 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Earth cann••t hi••der 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Motion. Neither do I see what else can be understood by the Heaviness of the Earth, than a Quality whereby Bodies tending towards the Center of the Earth, have a tendency also to lye closer and cling together. Now such a Heaviness cannot hinder the Earth from being whirl'd about with the motion of the Heaven that surrounds it; no more than a Company of Men, being in a Boat that is whirl'd round, could hinder their turning round, by their mutual embracing and holding fast to one another.

VI. Its 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 no 〈◊〉〈◊〉 t•• its Motion. Neither can the Bulk or Magnitude of the Earth hinder its motion: For the Bigness of a Body doth not deprive it of Mobility, which is a Property of all Bodies, and cannot be removed from them, except we should own all motion to be violent.

VII. The Earth is tur••'d round ••y a year•••• and 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. We must conclude therefore, that the Earth can be carried round by the Coelestial matter that sur∣rounds it. For seeing that according to our Sup∣position, the Vortex of the Earth hath been swal∣low'd up by that of the Sun; and that by this means the Earth hath been thrust down to that place where it now is, where it is surrounded with the Fluid Heavenly matter, always turning round, it cannot be otherwise but that the Earth must be carried about with it. This is clear of it self. Secondly, from the Nature of the Earth, which being a Planet, must not only be carried round by an Annual motion, in the surrounding Coelestial matter; but also by a daily Circumvolution: For the Earth having formerly been a Star, may easily be conceived to have retain'd the motion it had before; and seeing that the subtil Matter in its Center doth turn round, it communicates that motion to the other Parts of the Earth, and makes the whole to turn round likewise.

VIII. An Obje∣ction a¦gainst the Earths be∣ing a Pla∣net. But youl'l say, What resemblance is there be∣tween the Earth and the Planets, seeing that it is the meanest of all other Bodies?

IX. The Pro∣perties o•• a Planet do belong to the Earth. Yet for all this, if we consider the Form and Nature of the Earth, we shall meet with several Arguments to persuade us, that it is a Planet. For it is very like to the Planets in its bulk and bigness. Its figure also and situation prove the same; for it is as round as they are, and hangs pois'd in the midst of the Air. So also like them, it wants Light of its own, and shines only with a borrowed Reful∣gency from the Sun: And lastly, It is subject to the same Appearances, Aspects, Directions, Stations, Retrogradations, &c. For to pass by its various Reciprocations with the Moon, whatsoever Mer∣cury and Venus do appear to the Earth, the same doth the Earth appear to Mars, Jupiter, and Sa∣turn: And as Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn appear to her, so doth she appear to Venus and Mercury. Wherefore since the Planets are moved, why may not we conclude that the Earth, forasmuch as it

is like them, must likewise move about its own Axis, and about the Center of the Universe. How does it appear then, that the Earth is the meanest and most ignoble of all Bodies; but only from that mistaken Opinion, that the Matter of Heaven is something that is Divine, and that the Earth is no∣thing else but the very Sink of the World? What can hinder the Earth from being as Noble a Body as Venus, Mercury, or any other Planet?

X. According to Tycho's Hypothesis t•••• Earth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 moved 〈◊〉〈◊〉 o•• all. This Opinion will not seem strange to those that follow TYCHO BRAHE; for upon exa∣mining of his Hypothesis they will find, that he attributes more Motion to the Earth than we do. For supposing the Earth to be immovable, the Heaven and Stars must whirl round it in 24 hours; but this cannot be done, except that the Parts of the Earth be translated out of the Neighbourhood of those Parts of the Heaven which they touch; and forasmuch as Motion is nothing else than such a Translation, we may well conclude, that accord∣ing to his Hypothesis, a motion must be attributed to the Earth. Yea, if we consider rightly of the Matter, we must conclude that the Earth is more moved than the Heaven it self; forasmuch as the Earth, according to its whole Surface, doth recede from the Body that surrounds it; whereas the Hea∣ven only removes according to its hollow Surface, which is very little if compar'd with its Convex Surface. And thus according to TYCHO's Hy∣pothesis, there is an evident Reason for attributing a motion to the Earth; whereas the Reason where∣by he attributes Motion to the Heaven, and Rest▪ to the Earth, is altogether uncertain, and forged by his own Imagination.

XI. The Motion of the Earth pro∣du••••th no diversity 〈◊〉〈◊〉 A••p••ct in the fix'd Stars, because of their vast distance. You'l say, If the Sun has its position amongst the fix'd Stars, and the Earth be moved round it, it is necessary that the Earth must at some times be nearer to them, by the whole Space of its Orb, than at other times; but the Appearances make out no such thing to us.

To which I Answer, That this Difficulty will vanish, if we consider the vast Distance that is be∣tween us and the fix'd Stars, which is so very great, that the whole Orb, which is describ'd by the Earth about the Sun, is but a Point compared with it. Which tho' it may seem to be incredible to those, who are not used to consider the wonder∣ful Works of GOD, and who look upon the Earth as the chiefest part of the World, and the Habita∣tion of Man, for whose sake all other things were made: Yet can it not seem so to Astronomers, who are well acquainted with these things.

XII. The Globe of the Earth is of an imper∣ceptible Magnitude, when com∣pared with the vast Compass of the Starry Heaven. From hence also we may easily answer the Ob∣jection of some Astronomers, alledging, That if the Earth were not in the midst of the World, the whole Hemisphere could not appear to us, or the one half of the Heaven, and especially of the Zo∣diack, which always contains 6 Signs. For these Men do not consider, that the whole Earth, com∣par'd to the Heaven, is of an insensible Bulk. Which thing PYTHAGORAS and COPER∣NICUS do not only affirm concerning the Earth, but also of the Annual Orb, compar'd with the Heaven of the fix'd Stars: For they assert, That 2 Plains, whereof the one being drawn through the Sun, the other through the Surface of the Orb, as Horizontal, would appear to meet toge∣ther, because of the vast Distance: So that by that time they reach the Heaven, notwithstanding that they are terminated at Circles so greatly distant from each other, as is the Sun from the Earth, they will seem to end at the same indivisible Point; neither doth the amplitude of the great Orb, hinder us from seeing the whole Hemisphere, and whole 6 Signs of the Zodiack.

XIII. How it comes to pass, that this Motion of the Earth, doth not over∣turn Houses and Build∣ings. In the second place you'l Object, That it hath been asserted in the General Physicks, that a Body which is turn'd round, doth endeavour, as much as in it lies, to recede it from the Center: How then comes it to pass, that Castles and Steeples are not cast off into the Air by this Circular motion of the Earth?

XIV. The An∣swer. It is Answered, That all the Parts of the Earth are on all sides prest down towards the Center, and hindred from flying loose and being scatter'd abroad: For the Heavenly Globuli moving by right Lines, or such as little deviate from them, drive with great force against the Earth; and thus thrusting all its Parts towards the Center, hinder it from flying out towards the Heaven: For seeing that the Heaven, which lies between the Earth and the Moon, is much more swiftly carried about the Earth, than the Earth is carried about its Axis: And since the Particles whereof the Heaven con∣sists, are most fluid and variously agitated in Right Lines, or approaching thereto, they with great force strike against the Earth, by which means all the parts of the Earth are comprest and thrust to∣wards the Center.