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. III. The Earths Motion established by other Arguments.

I. FOrasmuch as it is evident from what hath been said already, that the Earth of it self hath no repugnance to Motion; and that neither its Bulk, or Heaviness, can hinder it from being 〈◊〉〈◊〉 about by the fluid Heaven: It remains no•• that we superadd some Reasons, which have no•• only induced our Modern Mathematicians, but also the Ancients, to favour this Opinion.

But before I enter upon these Arguments, I would desire such as are free from Prejudice, to contemplate the vast extension of the Heavens, and compare the same with the small Bulk of the * 1.1the Earth, which is so many Thousand times less: (For even the Common Opinion admits the Cir∣cumference of the Firmament to exceed that of the Earth 50000 times.) Next, let them consider the swiftness of that Motion, which we must necessa∣rily allow to those high Bodies, if we suppose them to be whirl'd about the Earth in the space of 24 Hours. Which being attentively consider'd, I question not but they will be more inclin'd to think the Heavens immovable, and that the Earth by its Diurnal motion is turn'd round the Sun, than that the whole Universe is snatch'd round about it, with a swiftness that is altogether uncon∣ceivable.

III. The Motion of the Stars is incredible. For the Mathematicians do allow, that the fix'd Stars are distant from us 14000 Semidiameters of the Earth. And since, according to ARCHI∣MEDES his Computation, the Semidiameter of the Earth consists of 859 German Miles, every one of which contains 4000 Geometrical Paces, or 20000 Foot, the Circumference of the Sphere

of the fix'd Stars will be of 75592984 German Miles. And seeing all this Space must be run over in 24 hours, in 1 hour the 24th part of it must be dispatch'd, that is, 3149066 German Miles; in the 60th part of an hour, or a first Minute, 52494 German Miles; in a second minute, that is, the 3600th part of an hour, 874 German Miles, that is, 3496 Italian Miles, or 3496000 Geometrical Paces, or 174900000 Foot, which is inconceivable in so short a Space.

IV. The Earths Motion, proved by an Argu∣ment drawn r••m the Ptolomaick Hypothesis. A strong Argument for the Earths Motion, may likewise be drawn from the PTOLOMAICK Hypothesis. For according to it, the Heavenly Bodies are moved more slowly or swiftly, according to their Bulk; they that are less in Bulk perform∣ing their Revolution in less time, than those that are of a greater Bulk. Thus Saturn, the highest and biggest of all the Planets, takes up almost 30 years in running through his Orb; Jupiter 12, Mars 2•• and so of the rest, according as the Orbs they are to run over, are nearer or further from the Earth: But if we suppose the Immobility of the Earth, all this Order must be overthrown, since not only Saturn, but all the Intermediate Planets between him and the Earth, must be hurl'd about in 24 hours: All which things are contrary to the Phaenomena.

V. The Motion o•• t•••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 makes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the ••••••uty and Order o•• t••e World. But supposing the Earth to be moved, all these things are salv'd, and the comely Order of the Uni∣verse preserv'd and establish'd. Seeing that we may proceed from the Earth, to those Bodies that are more slowly moved, without any confusion, till we come to the Heaven of fix'd Stars. Or if any one should assert the fix'd Stars also to be moved, thence will follow another Absurdity, viz. that their Motions will be unequal. For some of them that are in the Greatest Circles will be most swiftly moved, and others in the least Circles, with a very slow motion, according as the said Circles shall be further from the Ecliptick, and nearer to the Poles. Now what can be more absur'd, than to suppose Bodies to be moved at the remotest distances from the Center, and yet to assign the least Spaces to their motions?

VI. I•• the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••e immovable, there must be two contrary Motions in the Heavens. Moreover, all those who are of the contrary Opinion, hold, that the Determination of a motion towards one part, and its meeting of another Body, resting, or otherwise moved, are contrary to one another: Now supposing that the Heaven is moved, we shall find divers motions in it, one from East to West, and another from West to East. For the Heaven, according to them, is most swiftly whirl'd towards the West; and the Planets from West to East; which two motions are Diametri∣cally opposite. Now, it is impossible for one and the same Body to be carried divers ways by con∣trary Motions: For if a Body be carried from East to West, it cannot at the same time be carried from West to East.

VII. These Diffi∣culties are removed by the Motion of the Earth. But what still more surpasseth our Apprehen∣sion is, How it is possible that whilst the Heaven is with such incredible swiftness hurl'd about, the Planets should in spight of it perform their Courses in a quite contrary motion to it; especially seeing that their motion, compared with that of the Heaven, is very slow, and therefore may be 〈…〉〈…〉 by a stronger motion. But by 〈…〉〈…〉 a Motion to the Earth, all this contrariety 〈…〉〈…〉 and we have no more than one motion, viz. from West to East, which way the Earth and all the Planets are carried.

VIII. 'Tis incre∣dible that all the Heavens should be moved a∣bout the Earth, and that i•• should be unmov••∣able. The great Force also of the Motion of the Heavens, asserted by the Followers of PTOLO∣MAEUS his Opinion, is a strong Argument to prove the Diurnal Circumvolution of the Earth; for they must allow it to be so powerful, as to whirl about with it not only the Planets, but also the fix'd Stars. Now if it be so that all Inferiour Bodies are forc'd to follow the motion of the Highest Heaven; and that the Element of Fire, and a great part of the Air, cannot resist its motion, how is it possible that the Earth that hangs in the midst of the Air, and is indifferent to Motion, or Rest, and surrounded with fluid Matter, should for all that alone remain immovable, and resist so vast a Force? This, according to my sense, seems utterly inconceivable; for by what Ropes or other Holdfasts, is it kept immovable in this Aethereal Ocean? For altho' the Heavenly Matter be li∣quid, and doth not push against other Bodies, with as much force as hard Bodies do; yet neither can it be denied, but that the motion of fluid Bodies, when determin'd to some one part, doth carry along with them whatsoever Matter is contained in them, how solid or compact soever it may be, except it be detained by some outward Force. As we see that great Stones, by the strong Current of Rivers, are carried along to a vast distance, except they be stopt by the unevenness of the Bottom, or some other Obstacle. Now all these Difficulties vanish by ascribing to the Earth, which is a very little Body, yea, imperceptible, if compar'd with the Universe, and unable to cause any Change in the World, a motion round its own Cen∣ter.

IX. It is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 contra••i∣ctory to the Order of Nature. Moreover, what shall we assign to be the Cause, that keeps the Earth immovable? Is it by some Force? But where shall we look for this Force? or what is it? Is it a Natural Force, depending on the Divine Order and Constitution, setled in the first Creation, and consequently the ordinary Pro∣vidence of GOD? Or is it an immediate Hand of GOD? It cannot be the ordinary Power of GOD: For the Order of Nature is this, that where Bo∣dies that are near and far off, are hurried away by another Body, there also that which intervenes be∣tween those that are near and far off, must be carried about also, except something hinder it. Let us suppose Lines to be drawn from the Sun through the Earth and Planets; by which Lines we are to conceive the Sun-beams to be diffused, according to TYCHO, that by them he may carry about with him the Upper and Lower Pla∣nets; if therefore he snatcheth the superiour Pla∣nets along with him, must not he of necessity do the same for the Earth, which is in the midst be∣tween them? Neither can this be said to be done by the immediate Power of GOD, since TYCHO himself never thought fit to have recourse to any such▪ Power, for the making out of his Hypo∣thesis.

X. The Sun being the great Lamp of the World, it would be absurd to conceive i•• pla••'d in a 〈◊〉〈◊〉. The Light of Nature also seconds our Opinion; for those Bodies are supposed to be of different Natures, which are endued with different Affecti∣ons: Thus Lucid and Opake Bodies are distin∣guish'd in their Composition, because they have distinct Properties. Wherefore seeing that the Planets, of whose number the Earth is, are solid

and destitute of all Light; it is necessary that the Sun and fix'd Stars should continue unmoved, and that the Earth and the rest of the Planets, should move round him, to partake of his Light. For as it would be absurd to place a Light, that is to enlighten a Church, in some Corner of it, and not in the midst: So the Sun being design'd to be the Great Light of the Universe, by which other Bo∣dies were to be illuminated, it was to be placed in the Center, and not in one of the Sides of it. And accordingly we must conclude, that the Sun stands still, and that the Earth, with the rest of the Planets, are carried round him.

XI. The same Effects follow, whether the Earth be supposed to move or stand still. Besides, I cannot conceive what Reason some Philosophers could have, to maintain the Earths Immobility, seeing that the same Effects follow, whether its motion be allow'd or deny'd. For the Sun seems to us to run through the Zodiack after the same manner, notwithstanding that he rests in the Center of our Vortex: For wheresoever the Earth is, the Sun being look'd upon from it, will always hide that Sign, in opposition to which the Earth is placed. Thus when the Earth is in Libra, the Sun is seen in Aries; and when the Earth passeth from Cancer to Leo, the Sun is seen to pass out of Capricorn into Aquarius.

XII. Some Body must rest, or stand still, for to be able to judge of the motion of another Body. For seeing that no relation can be fixt between Bodies that are in motion, and it is necessary that some be moved, and others stand still, that we may be able to form some respect between them: The same Appearances happen to us, whether we sup∣pose the Earth only to be moved, or the Heaven with the Circumambient Bodies; forasmuch as by this means the Relation only of a Body moving and at rest, is varied, the same effect being indifferently produc'd by either of them, as to us. Now this being supposed, it will not be easie for any one to believe, that Nature, which always proceeds the most short and compendious way, should have chosen to perform that by the unconceivable mo∣tion of so many vast Bodies, which she might, without all that ado, have brought about by the alone motion of the Earth.

XIII. The Air and Water are whirl'd about with the Earth. These and other like Arguments, which I might alledge, are sufficient, as I suppose, to prove that the Earth moves, at least to those who listen to Reason, rather than Authority; especially if they consider, that the Globe of the Earth is turned round together, with the Neighbouring Bodies of Water and Air. For as the Water, as hath been said already; so likewise the Air makes a part of the Terrestrial Globe, and may be conceived to have the same respect to the Earth, as the soft Down that grows upon a Body hath to it.

Notes

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