A briefe description of vniuersal mappes and cardes, and of their vse and also the vse of Ptholemey his tables. Necessarie for those that delight in reading of histories: and also for traueilers by land or sea. Newly set foorth by Thomas Blundeville, of Newton Flotman in the countie of Norffolke. Gent.

THE FLIE, THE VSE VVHERE∣of here follovveth.

[illustration]

THis Flie containeth two quar∣ters of the Mariners Compasse▪ the middle line whereof mar∣ked with a Crosse, signifieth the line which runneth East and West. For if the place whereto you goe, be on your right hand, then the Crosse signifieth the east point, but if it bee on your left hand, then turning the Flie towardes your left hand, the Crosse doth signifie the West point, and the right downe line crossing the foresaide middle line with right angles in the very Center, is the Meridian line shewing the North and South, according as you turne the Crosse East or West.

The vse of which Flie is thus; first with a pin or a née∣dle, being thrust through the center of the Flie, pricke the pin down in the very place from whence you go, called be∣fore

the first place, and if the second place bee on your right hand, then turne the crosse of your Flie that way, but so as the Meridian of the Flie may be a true Paralel to the next Meridian of the Mappe that is on your left hand, which your compasse will quickly perfourme by taking therewith a iust space at both ends of the Flie be∣twixt the two foresayd Meridians. That doone, extend your thread so as it may passe through both the Center of the Flie hard by the pinne, and also through the second place, and then looke vppon what winde or coast of the Flie the thread lieth, and that wind sheweth how the se∣cond place beareth from you. And the opposite winde thereof sheweth by what winde you haue to sayle thi∣ther.

But if the second place be on your left hand, then you must turne the crosse of the Flie towards your left hand, and hauing set downe the Center of the Flie in the first place, and with your Compasse made the Meridian of the Flie a iust Paralell to the next Meridian of the Map that is on your right hand, lay your thread to the two places as before, and marke vpon what wind of the Flie it striketh, and you shall haue your desire. The lesser that your flie be, the better, for being great it would couer too many places of the Carde or Mappe. But if the two pla∣ces stand so nigh togither, as the Fly dooth couer them both, then hauing set downe your pinne in the first place, make your thread with a Noose, & hauing put the same ouer the pin, draw the thread through y^e second place som∣what beyond the Compasse of the Flie, and holde it there fast vntill you haue also put the Center of the Flie ouer the sayd pin or néedle, and duely placed the same in such fourme as is before taught: and in so dooing, that line of the Flie which lieth vpon the thread will shewe your course and direction aswell as if the thread lay aboue the Flie.

Trulie I doe thinke the vse of this Flie a more easie

and spéedie way of direction, then the manifolde tracing of the Mappes or Mariners cards with such a number of crosse lines, as commonly are drawen therein, causing rather a confusion then otherwise: for in such Cardes as are made with right Meridians, you shall find the Flie to to bee much more seruice-able then these manifolde lines.

The vse of Ptolomeis Tables.

THus much touching the vse of Mappes and Cards, now accor∣ding to my promise, I wil brief∣lie shew you the the vse of Pto∣lomeis Tables, or of any other ta∣ble made in the forme. The chie∣fest point wherof is redily to find out any place that you séeke, and to know where it standeth. For the accomplishment whereof, you must first knowe what longitude and latitude that place hath.

The longitudes and latitudes of all places described by Ptolomey, are set downe in his second, third, fourth, fift, sixt, and seuenth booke of Geographie. For in his se∣cond booke he describeth the West part of Europe, contai∣ning Ireland, England, and Scotland, Hispania, Gallia, Ger∣manie, Hungarie, and Slauony. In his third booke, he descri∣beth the East part of Europe, as Italie, Sicilia, Corsica, Sar∣dignia, Sarmatia, Taurica, Peninsula, Datia, Misia, Thracia, Macedonia, Achaia, Peloponesus, Candia, Rubia, & diuers other Lands and Islands. And hee containeth all Europe in ten Tables. In his fourth booke he describeth Affrike, that is to say, so much as was known in his time, contai∣ning the same in 4 Tables. In his 5.6. and 7. booke he describeth all Asia and the East Indians, whereof hee maketh 12 Tables, and in describing any Region or pro∣uince,

he sheweth how it is bounded both North, South, East, and West. And also what notable Cities, Flouds, Lakes, or Mountaines bee in euerie Region, and there∣with setteth downe the longitude and latitude of euerie place: To which his booke, diuers haue made certaine Alphabeticall tables, containing the names of all the pla∣ces that are mentioned in the foresaid books, shewing in what leafe to finde the same: to the intent that you may the more readily find out, not onely the place, but also the longitude and latitude thereof, and in what Table it is contained.

Notwithstanding, I knowe by good triall, that there are a number of places mentioned in the saide bookes, which you shall not finde in the foresaid Alphabet.

Werefore I wish that Mercator, Ortellius, Barnar∣dus, Brugensis, or any other of the latter Cosmographers and setters foorth of Mappes and Cards, would take the paine to make a generall Alphabet, containing all the names that are to bee found and knowen, both auncient and moderne, of Regions, Cities, Seas, Floods, Lakes, Riuers, Portes, Baies, Hedlandes, Ca••es, Mountaines, and all other notorious places contained in their Maps and Cardes, togither with the true longitude and lati∣tude annexed to euerie place, & agréeable to their Maps, to the intent, that euerie man delighted with the reading of Histories, may in their Mappes both generall and spe∣ciall, easilie finde out anie place that hee seeketh. Which worke in mine opinion would bee most thankfullie re∣ceiued of all those that delight in Geographie, to the great commendation and prayse of the Authours there∣of.

For though Ptolomey, Appian, Gemma Frizius, Gastal∣dus, Orontius, Munsterus, Ortellius and others haue set downe certaine names, both auncient and moderne to∣gither with their longitudes and latitudes, yet they are but very fewe in comparison of all the names that

are wanting, yea or of those that are comprehended in their own Cards and Mappes, all which Maps I would wish to agree in their longitudes and latitudes: for other∣wise a man shall hardly finde the place which hee see∣keth.

Wherefore I pray God with all my heart, that some good man that is a skilfull Cosmographer may shortlie traueile hearein to the profit of all Students in Geogra∣phie.

But now to returne to my matter, which is to shew how to find out any place contained in Ptolomeis tables, I say that you must first finde out the name of the place in the Alphabet, and that will direct you to the booke wher∣in it is set down, togither with the longitude and lati∣tude thereof. And there also you shall find in what table it is contained.

Then hauing taken a note of the longitude and lati∣tude, and also the number of the table wherein it is to be sought, resort to that table, bee it in Europe, Affrike or A∣sia. In the front of euerie which table, and also in the base are set down certaine numbers of longitudes, in such sort as the vttermost and nethermost be like numbers, and do directly answere one another. Againe, on both sides of the table are set downe certaine numbers of latitude like in quantity, and directly answering one another.

Then séeke out the longitude of the place which you would find in the front, and also in the base, and marke the same with two prickes, one aboue, another beneath. From which two pricks, lay a ruler or extend a thread, holding it fast there vntill you haue found out the lati∣tude of the place on both sides of the table, which beeing also marked on each side with a pricke, extend another thread from those two last prickes, and in that very point wheras the two threads do crosse, you shall find the place to be which you séeke, or at least should be there. Moreo∣uer, on the right hand of euerie table, Ptolomey setteth

downe most commonlie vnder what Clime and Paralel euerie place is, and by that meanes you may also knowe the longest day that any Paralell hath. For as I haue sayd before in my Sphere, euery Paralell procéeding from the Equinoctiall towardes the Pole, encreaseth by one quarter of an hower, and euery Clime containing two Paralels, encreaseth by halfe an hower.

Of which Climes Ptolomey setteth downe but seuen, but of Paralels he maketh 21 in such order as this ta∣ble following sheweth, which Table consisteth of foure Columns, whereof the first containeth the seuen Climes togither with their names, and also howe many miles e∣uery Clime hath in breadth. And the second containeth 63 degrées of latitude, further then which Northward, Ptolomey his Tables do not extend.

The third containeth the numbers of the 21 Para∣lels, and the fourth the howers and minutes of the longest day in euerie Paralell.

The seuen Climes, their names, and miles in breadth.	The de∣grees of latitude.	The 21. Paralels.	Of the longest day in euery Paralell. The howers & m.
		63	*	21	19 30
60	■	20	19 0
■	19	18 30
■	18	18 0
7	Dia Riphios. 195. Miles.	50	■	17	17 30
■	16	17 0
6	Dia Boristenes. 225	■	15	16 30
■	14	16 0
13	15 30
5	Dia Romes. 240.	■	12	15 0
40	■	11	14 45
4	Dia Rhodou. 350.	■	10	14 30
9	14 15
3	Dia Alexandrias. 370.	■	8	14 0
30	■	7	13 45
2	Dia Sienes. 420.	■	6	13 30
■	5	13 15
1	Dia Meroes. 465	20	■	4	13 0
■
	765.	■	3	12 45
■	2	12 30
10	■
■	1	12 15
■
■
*The Equinonctiall line, vnder vvhich those that dwell haue no Latitude, and therfore they haue alwaies 12. howers day, and 12 hovvers night.

But you haue to vnderstand, that whereas Ptolomey maketh the furthest North part of his seuenth Clime cal∣led Dia Ripheos to haue but 50 degrees and 30 minutes of latitude, the moderne Cosmographers doe allowe to those mountaines 70 degrées of latitude, affirming the same to bee those selfe Mountaines which are otherwise called Montes Hiperborei, which because they enclose a great part of the North side of the world, are called Or∣bis terrae cingulum, that is to say, the girdle of the worlde, the wrong latitude whereof and of diuers other, I thinke Ptolomey had from others and not from himselfe.

For being brought vp in so warme a soile as Alexan∣dria standeth in, he could neuer endure to go so far north∣ward, to take the latitude of those colde Riphean Moun∣taines, and therefore if you list to knowe what latitude doth truly belong vnto euerie Clime and Paralell, then resort to Orontius his Table of Climes and Paralels set downe in my Sphere, which sheweth how many degrées of latitude euery Paralell hath, togither with the long∣est day, euen from the Equinoctiall to the very Pole, wherefore I leaue to speake heere any further thereof, and so for this time ende this Treatize, which if I shall perceiue to bee thankfully taken, I minde (God willing) to put in print, the description and vse of the Sphere and of the Globe, both Celestiall and Terrestiall. Also a verie plaine and briefe Arithmetike, togither with the discrip∣tion, and certaine vses of the Tables of Sines, called in Latin Tabulae Sinuum. And finally, the principles of Na∣uigation more plainely (I beleeue) than euer there haue beene heretofore taught, onely to helpe and further such as bee desirous to traueile by Sea, and haue not bene ex∣ercised in the Mathematicall Disciplines, with∣out some knowledge whereof, it is hard to bee skilfull in that Art.

FINIS.