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.

Parag. 3. Of that other office given to the starres; viz. that they were appointed to be heavenly clocks, and remark∣able measurers of time and the parts thereof. This office is laid down in these words, And let them be for seasons, and for dayes, and yeares.

Artic. 1. Of Seasons.

IF we take seasons, dayes, and yeares together, it is no hard thing to see how the whole and parts are joyned. For Tempus is the whole: and Annus is pars temporis: and Dies is pars anni. Not that these are the onely parts of time; but because the other do chiefly consist of these. Howbeit, seeing they be laid down severally, it is fit they be explained sunderly. And first of Seasons.

We need not with the Jews understand here their feasts onely, and anniversarie dayes of solemnitie; for then this distinction of seasons had not been in use till af∣ter the coming out of Egypt: neither is it enough to ap∣plie them to the monethly revolution of the moon, or to the sunnes changing into a new signe or partition of the Zodiack. But by the name of Seasons, we ought rather to be led unto those Quatuor anni Cardines, or foure Quarters of the yeare, when the reviving sunne crosseth the Equinoctiall, and again toucheth upon either solstice: which last, is (as it were) solis statio, because the dayes seem to stand at a stay: and the two other have their names from equall day and night, because the dayes and nights are then of equall length, Sol cheerfully riding in his gold-like fierie chariot, just in the middest between the Artick and Antartick Poles. For these were those seasons which God again established for ever, when he

renewed that face upon the decayed world, which by the impartiall Floud was blemished: saying, (as it is in Gen. chap 8. 22.) While the earth remaineth, seed-time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter shall not cease.

And as for us, we commonly call these times by the names of Spring, Summer, Autumne, and Winter.

The Spring is a time never unwelcome, nor unwished: for the weather begins then to appeare like a pitifull and truely kinde-hearted cherisher; and Sol ascending, disperseth the superfluous humours, stirreth up the bloud in our bodies, and sap in herbs and trees; clothing the earth with sweet new liveries, and plants with boughs and beauteous branches: nay the harmlesse choristers of the rebounding woods and echoing groves, do then be∣gin to tune again their sugred throats, and ravish revi∣ved mortalls with their melodious aires; bidding good morning to the day, and morrow to the morn. For no sooner can Aurora wake, and peep above the purple verges of the Eastern hills, but cheerfully they chaunt her out a mirthfull cantilene: whilest in the mean time, sweet-breathing Zephyrus playes with the wanton tres∣ses of his late dead, and decayed, but now again revived mistris; and in comely hue doth beauteous Flora prank her self, cheerfully coming forth to meet her kinde sweet-causing lover. The prettie lambes are now at play, whilest the watchfull shepherd sits piping on an hill to please that queen of his heart, his dearest shep∣herdesse, whom ruthfully he moveth to grant his suit, and pitie his complaint.

Ver praebet flores, saith the Poet; and from † viresco it may well be said to take the name. For will you heare?

The mealie mountains which were late unseen, Change now their coats, all into lustie green.

The gardens prank them with their flowrie buds; The ••••••ds with grasse, with leaves the naked woods. Sweet Zephyrus begins to busse his Flora, Swift-winged fingers to salute Aurora; And wanton Cupid, through this universe, With pleasing wounds, each creatures heart' gins pierce. "Yea Titans presence doth again revive "As well things sensible as vegetive.

But next after Spring we reckon Summer; which may well be called the mother of plentie and daughter of bountie. For the earth hath now her lap full of eve∣ry kinde of grain, her belly is bigge and ready to be de∣livered, that she might thereby enrich the weary labour∣er, and feed each hungry soul. Formosa est messibus Aestas, saith Ovid: Summers beautie consisteth in his fruitfull fields of corn.

—For now he crowns his Ceres With gilded eares, as yellow as her hair is; Till th'reaper, panting both for heat and pain, With crooked rasor crops the tufted plain.

In Latine we call it Aestas; which is, because this season derives the name ab aestu, from the exceeding heat: and so also doth the English word Summer expresse it. For Summer is a word taken out of the Germane language; and in the Germane tongue it is said to be Sunne-mehr, that is, plus solis, or more sunne then at other times.

And now come to Autumne (for Autumne is the next Quarter) and this is a season which bringeth that to perfection, which the Spring and Summer hath but be∣gun. For now the barns are full, the presses and fats overflow with an abundance of wine and oyl, and men do now eat the late gathered labours of their hands, and joy in the surpassing plentie that the earth hath brought them. This time is indeed the yeares very barbour; or (if you will) it is like unto a kinde-hearted prodigall,

who by little and little gives all away so freely, that in conclusion there is nothing left him. He takes his name therefore from Autumno, which signifieth to make ripe; for as fast as he can see the fruits ripened or brought to perfection, he yeelds them up to others. Or else it is Autumne, à bonorum anni augmentatione; as some suppose.

Th' earth by degrees her lovely beautie ba•…•…es, Fills others full with her deare delicates: The apron and the osier-basket (both) Catch dainty fruits to please each daintie tooth: Untill at last trees, gardens, meads and all, Are naked stript and robbed quite of all.

And here in this Quarter was undoubtedly the begin∣ning of the first yeare: For that it should be so, we have grounds both in reason, Scripture, and other writings; as in the second chapter of this book I have proved at large.

But leaving Autumne, look now at Winter: it is a season which can boast of little. For it lies entrenched with gloomie mists of night, and weeps almost as often as it wants the sunne, or findes it hid within the compasse of a close cloud. Nay see but with what a palsie pace it cometh. He that of late was sweating in the fields, cast∣ing off his clothes, & fainting through heat, is now glad to call for more and thicker garments, and not ashamed by the help of fire to mitigate the freezing cold. For Winter is like unto an old man with a gray head and white beard; insomuch that when hoarie-headed Hy•…•…ms doth but brush or shake his hairs, the trees and herbs, (as I may so say) in stead of leaves, are periwigd with snow: Or if he doth but let his churlish breath blow out upon us, the waters are turned soon into a crystall crust, and without wonder men are seen to walk upon it,

Et celsis dependet stiria tectis; yea and the drops hang fro∣zen then at the eaves of houses.

That therefore of Ovid must needs be true, Igne leva∣tur Hyems. To which let that † Bacchi massicus humor be also added: For these two will now do wondrous well; according to that of the noble Poet,

All lusks in sloth; and till this quarters end, Bacchus, and Vulcan both, must us befriend.

This season is called by the Latines Hyems, which seem∣eth to be derived from the Greek word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, signifying to make moist or wet: And in Hebrew (as some affirm) it is called Choreph, coming of the root Charaph, which signi∣fieth to reproach or disgrace; because when winter co∣meth, the earth is as it were disgraced and exposed to re∣proach, in being spoiled of all its pleasant greennesse, beauty and splendour.

And in a word to shut up all, thus you may remember these seasons, together with their sundry qualities;

Poma dat Autumnus: Formosa est messibus Aestas: Ver praebet Flores: Igne levatur Hyems. Ovid.

Autumne gives fruit: And corn makes Summer fair: Spring shews us gayes: Fire helps cold Winters aire.

Artic. 2. Of Dayes.

A Day is either artificiall or naturall.

1. The artificiall is from sunne-rising to sunne∣setting, agreeable to the words of our Saviour, when he demanded if there were not twelve houres in the day.

Now this kinde of day is not alwayes equall, but va∣ries according to the sunnes unequall time of rising and setting: and thereupon the houres likewise are to be reckoned according to the dayes proportionable differ∣ence; being (even as the dayes) longer in Summer then in Winter.

Also for this artificiall day, Ioannes de sacro Bosco di∣vides it into foure quarters; calling the first rubens, the se∣cond splendens, the third urens, and the fourth tepens.

2. And as for that which is a day naturall, it evermore containeth the just number of 24 equall houres; in which space of time the sunne is carried by the motion of the Primum Mobile from any one part of heaven un∣till it comes to the same point again.

This kinde of day amongst divers nations hath divers beginnings.

England, the 17 Provinces, some part of Germanie, the Mysians, and the Romanes, account from midnight untill midnight; because at that time (as is supposed) our Lord was born: and from hence, as Verstegan thinketh, came the word Seanight, being a week of dayes and nights, or a Sennight.

The Babylonians, Persians, Norimbergians, &c. begin at sunne-rising, (and so do our † lawyers in England, end∣ing again at sunne-setting: for he who hath a summe of money to pay on a set day by bond, neither before nor af∣ter sunne need tender his money:) These, I say, begin at one sunne-rising, accounting untill the next; according to that of Plinie, Babylonii (saith he) inter duos solis exortus.

And as for the Umbrians, Arabians, and Astronomers, they reckon from noon untill noon again.

But the Athenians, Jews, Silesians, Italians, Bohemi∣ans, &c. account alwayes from the evening or setting of the sun; beginning their day when the night approach∣eth and the sunne departeth, being as it were gone to his bed or western rest.

1. They who begin from midnight may seem to have this warrant, viz. that the sunne is then again returning towards our Hemisphere; and (as I said before) midnight is that time when the sunne of righteousnesse arose to the world. For it is supposed that Christ † was born about

the middle of the night, whilest the shepherds were keeping watch over their flocks. The day therefore be∣ginneth from midnight.

2. Again, they who account from the time of sunne∣rising have this plea, saying that the day is fitly to take beginning, when the cause thereof, viz. the sunne, doth first appeare and shew himself to the inhabitants of the world, calling them out unto their daily labours, and sum∣moning them by his beauteous light to arise, and leave their sleepie beds. Therefore when the sunne ariseth, the day beginneth.

3. Also, they who reckon from noon, suppose that they ought to account from that time when the sunne is in the most eminent place of heaven, and hath the great∣est number of eyes enlightned by it. And as for Astrono∣micall calculations, this also is the fittest time, because it falleth alwayes at one and the same certaintie. The day therefore beginneth from noon.

4. Last of all, they who begin from the setting of the sunne have the truest and strongest plea. For this begin∣ning is agreeable to the whole progresse of the worlds creation, and best fitteth the divine institution of natu∣rall dayes; being in very deed a true 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of night and day, as of right it ought to be. For darknesse was be∣fore the diurnall light: and God (saith the Apostle) com∣manded that light should shine out of darknesse. And so the evening, as well as the morning, was pertinent to one and the same day; of which see more in the first dayes work.

Artic. 3. Of Yeares.

A Yeare, being the chief and most usuall part of time, whereby the ages of men, of the world, and other things are principally measured, is the periodicall revolu∣tion

of the sunne through Mazzaroth, or the twelve signes of the Zodiack, Job 38. 32. For by the sunnes uncessant motion, a set number of dayes are as it were wheeled about to terminate one yeare, and to give each season his due period of time. And in a true measured yeare, there is not alwayes a set or cer∣tain equalitie: For there is either the great, or the lesser quantitie. In the greatest quantitie a yeare hath 365 dayes, 5 houres, 56 minutes, and 53 seconds; And in the least quantitie, 365 dayes, 5 houres, 44 minutes, and 38 seconds.

But if we reckon according to the course of the moon, then a yeare is that space of time wherein the moon, after some conjunctions with the sunne, is again in conjunction with him, not farre from that place where she first met him. Or if we reckon by the other starres, it is then that space of time which the sunne spendeth after his departure from any starre, untill he returneth to the said starre again.

And in all these, the sunne hath the chiefest prehemi∣nence, is the only guide, and most remarkable measurer. Whereupon I may not omit what I finde observed by Expositours, viz. that a yeare hath the name in Hebrew from Shanah, signifying a changing or iteration: which is in regard of the sunnes returning, after a yeares end, to the same point of heaven where it began. And as for the circuit of the moon, which we commonly tearm a moneth, it is derived from another word signifying to ronew; because in that space the moon is again renewed: neither is it found in any place of Scripture, that these names are perverted, or the one of them taken to signi∣fie the other; but by the one (say they) is meant a yeare, and by the other a moneth. See Gib. on Gen. chap. 5.▪ quest. 2. and Ainsworth on Gen. 1. 14.

In Latine the yeare is called Annus, because we may

say of it, revolvitur ut annulus. For as in a ring the parts touch one another, circularly joyning each to other; so also the yeare rolleth it self back again by the same steps that it ever went; whereupon it came to passe that the Egyptians, amongst other their hieroglyphicks, used to paint out the yeare like a snake winding her self as round as a ring, holding her tail in her mouth: Et sic sua per vestigia volvitur annus. The name likewise 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which it hath from the Greek, is agreeable to the fore∣said derivation. And all this concerning naturall yeares.

But as for Politicall yeares, they be those which are diversly used by divers nations in their accounting of times: and they differ in lengths according as the com∣putatours fail in skill to regulate them to the motion of the heavens.

That which we now use is the Julian yeare, in∣stituted by Iulius Cesar, who, by the help of Sosi∣gines an Egyptian, an expert Mathematician, amend∣ed the old Romane yeare, and brought it to that form in which we now have it, making it to con∣sist of 365 dayes, and 6 houres: which 6 houres are not reckoned every yeare, but once every fourth yeare, being then increased to the just length of a day, which is alwayes inserted or put in the next be∣fore the 6 Calends of March, causing the said Calends to be twice repeated: from whence that yeare is cal∣led Bissextile of bis and sex, twice six; or Leap-yeare, because by this adding of a day, from thenceforth the fixed holydayes and the like, do as it were skip or leap one day further into the week then they were the former yeare.

Now the mean length of the Tropicall yeare be∣ing defined to have no more then 365 dayes, 5 houres, and 49 minutes, sheweth that this Julian

yeare is somewhat greater then it should be, exceeding the exactest measure which can be had, by the quantitie of eleven minutes or there abouts; causing thereby by little and little to be an apparent anticipation of the Equinoctiall and Solstitiall points: insomuch that the Vernall equinox, whose place at the first Councel of Nice, was upon the 21 day of March, is now come to be upon the 10 day of March. The reforma∣tion of which errour hath been wished for by divers learned men; and in some sort performed by Pope Gre∣gorie the 13 (using likewise in it the help of Christo∣pher Clavius, and some others) who in the yeare 1582, brought back the Equinoctiall day to the same place it was at the said Nicene Councel, by cutting off 10 dayes in the moneth of October, writing in the Ca∣lender next after the fourth day the fifteenth day: by means whereof all their moneths begin ten dayes sooner then ours, as do also all those feasts whose place is fixed and not moveable.

Now in this reformation it was likewise ordered, that the yeare should consist of 365 dayes, 5 houres, and 49 minutes. And, that the Equinox might not be subject any more to anticipation in 400 yeares, they thought it fit to omit three Leap-yeares; The first whereof will fall into the yeare of Christ 1715; the second into the yeare 1848; and the third into the yeare 1982, if God suffer the frame of the world to stand so long.

Howbeit in thus doing, although the alteration will be very little, yet the reformation is not exactly true, be∣cause there is an inequalitie of anticipation in the Equi∣noctiall, as the great Masters in Astronomie teach us, be∣ing (as they say) in some ages more, and in some lesse. But seeing (as I said) the alteration will be very little, if it ever come to that, it is fit the Leap-year be then omitted.

And thus am I come now to the end likewise of this fourth dayes work, wherein, after my plain manner, I have discoursed upon every such thing as is pertinent to the work done in it. Let me therefore concluding say with Moses.

The Eve and Morn confine the fourth of dayes, And God gives to his work deserved praise.

Notes

• Spring.
• †

  Or thus, 〈◊◊◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊◊◊〉 & 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ &•…•….
• Partly out of Du Bart.
• Summer.
• Autumne
• Winter.
• †

  A cup of good wine.
• Which in La∣tine is Pl•…•….
• Joh. 11. 9.
• Midnight.
• Sun-rising.
• †

  Which in them or all within the Parenthesis, though it be here inserted, is meant of the artificiall day.
• Lib. 2. cap. 77.
• Noon.
• Evening.
• †

  Which is but an uncertain supposi∣tion.
• Which they suppose to be the place it was first let in when it was made.
• The naturall be∣ginning of the day is from sun∣setting. Gen. 1.