Speculum mundi· Or A glasse representing the face of the world shewing both that it did begin, and must also end: the manner how, and time when, being largely examined. Whereunto is joyned an hexameron, or a serious discourse of the causes, continuance, and qualities of things in nature; occasioned as matter pertinent to the work done in the six dayes of the worlds creation.

Artic. 5. Of Circles or Crowns.

CRowns, Garlands, or Circles, are seen sometimes about the Sunne, sometimes about the Moon, and sometimes about the brightest Planets, as Iupiter & Venus. This appearance is commonly calleda 1.1 Halo; and the mat∣ter or subject of it is a cloud, which must be endued* 1.2 with three properties: First, that it be thin and not thick; Secondly, that it be equall and uniform, not in one part more thinne then in another; And thirdly, that it be di∣rectly under the Sunne, Moon, or any such starre whose* 1.3 beams cause the circle: Unto which adde this last, name∣ly that it be not disquieted by any winde. And being thus placed and composed, look how a stone cast into the wa∣ter makes a circle untill the force of the blow be wasted; So this watery cloud being struck with the force of the Sunnes, Moons, or starres beams, doth retain their light in form and manner of a circle. Or rather thus; the beams of the starre, &c. equally dispersing themselves so farre as they can, do at their utmost extent make a refra∣ction in the cloud, which must of necessitie be round, because the body of the starre it self is round, and can∣not possibly send out his beams further in one place then in another. This therefore made Du Bartas say,

Sometimes a fiery circle doth appeare, Proceeding from the beauteous beams and cleare Of Sunne and Moon and other starres aspect, Down-looking on a thick-round cloud direct; When, not of force to thrust their rayes throughout it, In a round crown they cast it round about it.

And note that sometimes it appeareth greater, some∣times lesser: which is in regard of the qualitie of the matter whereof the cloud consisteth. For if it be grosse, the beams piercing it can spread or dilate it but a lit∣tle way. If it be thin, they then are able to dilate it further.

And as for their significations, they sometimes signifie* 1.4 rain, sometimes winde, sometimes fair, cleare, and calm weather, sometimes frost, sometimes tempest, and sometimes snow.

• 1. Rain, if the circle wax altogether thicker and darker.
• 2. Winde, when the circle breaketh on the one side: The reason whereof is, because the circle is broken by the winde which is above and not yet come down to us here below: But by this effect above, we may gather both that it will come, and also from what quarter; namely from that quarter where the circle breaketh first.
• 3. But if it vanish away and be dissolved altogether, or in all parts alike, then it is a token of fair weather:
• 4. Or of frost, in winter, when it is great about the f 1.5 Moon:
• 5. Of snow, when at the same time of the yeare it seemeth to be craggie and rockie:
• 6. Or of tempestuous weather, when it looketh rud∣die, and is grosse, and broken in many parts.

And thus much concerning Circles.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Halo, Graecis 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.2

  nominatur, hoc est, Area: quoniam (ut Seneca testatu•…•…) apud veteres terendis frugibus loca desti∣nata fere rotunda suerunt.
• * 1.3

  Latini Coronam vocant, quia rotun∣dâ plerumque con∣stat figurâ, & sidera cingere atque coro∣nare videtur.
• * 1.4

  The signification of Circles.
• f 1.5

  They are very seldome seen about the Sunne, because of winde in the day time; or because the Sunne either draweth the va∣pours too high, or else disperseth them too much. In the yeare 1104 there was a bla∣zing starre and 4 circles about the Sunne, which was a signe of the new kindling ma∣lice again be∣tween Henry the first, King of Eng∣land, and his bro∣ther Duke of Normandy. Stow in his chron.