1from the Earth, continue a good ſpace of time in the Air, ſuch
as are the Clouds, Birds of flight; and as of them it cannot be
ſaid that they are rapt or tranſparted by the Earth, having no
heſion thereto, it ſeems not poſſible, that they ſhould be able to
keep pace with the velocity thereof; nay it ſhould rather ſeem
to us, that they all ſwiftly move towards the Weſt: And if
being carried about by the Earth, paſſe our parallel in twenty
four hours, which yet is at leaſt ſixteen thouſand miles, how can
Birds follow ſuch a courſe or revolution? Whereas on the
trary, we ſee them fly as well towards the Eaſt, as towards the
Weſt, or any other part, without any ſenſible difference.
over, if when we run a Horſe at his ſpeed, we feel the air beat
vehemently againſt our face, what an impetuous blaſt ought we
perpetually to feel from the Eaſt, being carried with ſo rapid a
courſe againſt the wind? and yet no ſuch effect is perceived. Take
another very ingenious argument inferred from the following
periment. The circular motion hath a faculty to extrude and
ſipate from its Centre the parts of the moving body, whenſoever
either the motion is not very ſlow, or thoſe parts are not very
well faſtened together; and therefore, if v. g. we ſhould turn
one of thoſe great wheels very faſt about, wherein one or more
men walking, crane up very great weights, as the huge maſſie
ſtone, uſed by the Callander for preſſing of Cloaths; or the
fraighted Barks which being haled on ſhore, are hoiſted out of
one river into another; in caſe the parts of that ſame Wheel ſo
ſwiftly turn'd round, be not very well joyn'd and pin'd together,
they would all be ſhattered to pieces; and though many ſtones or
other ponderous ſubſtances, ſhould be very faſt bound to its outward
Rimme, yet could they not reſiſt the impetuoſity, which with
great violence would hurl them every way far from the Wheel,
and conſequently from its Centre. So that if the Earth did move
with ſuch and ſo much greater velocity, what gravity, what
city of lime or plaiſter would keep together Stones, Buildings, and
whole Cities, that they ſhould not be toſt into the Air by ſo
cipitous a motion? And both men and beaſts, which are not
ſtened to the Earth, how could they reſiſt ſo great an impetus?
Whereas, on the other ſide, we ſee both theſe, and far leſſe
ſiſtances of pebles, ſands, leaves reſt quietly on the Earth, and
to return to it in falling, though with a very ſlow motion. See
here, Simplicius, the moſt potent arguments, taken, to ſo ſpeak,
from things Terreſtrial; there remain thoſe of the other kind,
namely, ſuch as have relation to the appearances of Heaven,
which reaſons, to confeſſe the truth, tend more to prove the
Earth to be in the centre of the Univerſe, and conſequently, to
deprive it of the annual motion about the ſame, aſcribed unto it
as are the Clouds, Birds of flight; and as of them it cannot be
ſaid that they are rapt or tranſparted by the Earth, having no
heſion thereto, it ſeems not poſſible, that they ſhould be able to
keep pace with the velocity thereof; nay it ſhould rather ſeem
to us, that they all ſwiftly move towards the Weſt: And if
being carried about by the Earth, paſſe our parallel in twenty
four hours, which yet is at leaſt ſixteen thouſand miles, how can
Birds follow ſuch a courſe or revolution? Whereas on the
trary, we ſee them fly as well towards the Eaſt, as towards the
Weſt, or any other part, without any ſenſible difference.
over, if when we run a Horſe at his ſpeed, we feel the air beat
vehemently againſt our face, what an impetuous blaſt ought we
perpetually to feel from the Eaſt, being carried with ſo rapid a
courſe againſt the wind? and yet no ſuch effect is perceived. Take
another very ingenious argument inferred from the following
periment. The circular motion hath a faculty to extrude and
ſipate from its Centre the parts of the moving body, whenſoever
either the motion is not very ſlow, or thoſe parts are not very
well faſtened together; and therefore, if v. g. we ſhould turn
one of thoſe great wheels very faſt about, wherein one or more
men walking, crane up very great weights, as the huge maſſie
ſtone, uſed by the Callander for preſſing of Cloaths; or the
fraighted Barks which being haled on ſhore, are hoiſted out of
one river into another; in caſe the parts of that ſame Wheel ſo
ſwiftly turn'd round, be not very well joyn'd and pin'd together,
they would all be ſhattered to pieces; and though many ſtones or
other ponderous ſubſtances, ſhould be very faſt bound to its outward
Rimme, yet could they not reſiſt the impetuoſity, which with
great violence would hurl them every way far from the Wheel,
and conſequently from its Centre. So that if the Earth did move
with ſuch and ſo much greater velocity, what gravity, what
city of lime or plaiſter would keep together Stones, Buildings, and
whole Cities, that they ſhould not be toſt into the Air by ſo
cipitous a motion? And both men and beaſts, which are not
ſtened to the Earth, how could they reſiſt ſo great an impetus?
Whereas, on the other ſide, we ſee both theſe, and far leſſe
ſiſtances of pebles, ſands, leaves reſt quietly on the Earth, and
to return to it in falling, though with a very ſlow motion. See
here, Simplicius, the moſt potent arguments, taken, to ſo ſpeak,
from things Terreſtrial; there remain thoſe of the other kind,
namely, ſuch as have relation to the appearances of Heaven,
which reaſons, to confeſſe the truth, tend more to prove the
Earth to be in the centre of the Univerſe, and conſequently, to
deprive it of the annual motion about the ſame, aſcribed unto it