M. Blundevile his exercises containing sixe treatises, the titles wherof are set down in the next printed page: which treatises are verie necessarie to be read and learned of all yoong gentlemen that haue not bene exercised in such disciplines, and yet are desirous to haue knowledge as well in cosmographie, astronomie, and geographie, as also in the arte of navigation ... To the furtherance of which arte of navigation, the said M. Blundevile speciallie wrote the said treatises and of meere good will doth dedicate the same to all the young gentlemen of this realme.

Of Cosmography, what it is, and what kinds of Sciences it comprehendeth, and who were first inuentors thereof. Chap. 1.

WHat is Cosmography?

Cosmography is the description of the whole world, that is to say, of heauen and earth, and all that is contained therein.

What speciall kindes of knowledge are comprehended vnder this Science.

These foure, Astronomie, Astrologie, Geographie, and Chorographie.

What is Astronomy?

Astronomy is a Science, which considereth and describeth the magnitudes and motions of the celestiall or superlour bodies.

Which call you superiour bodies?

The Spheares or Heauens, and the Starres as well fixed as moueable, which we shall define hereafter in their proper places.

What is Astrologie?

It is a Science which by considering the motions, aspects, and influences of the starres, doth foresée and prognosticate things to come.

What is Geographie?

It is a knowledge teaching to describe the whole earth, and all the places contained therein, whereby vniuersall Maps and Cardes of the earth and sea are made.

What is Chorographie?

It is the description of some particular place, as Region, Ile, Citie, or such like portion of y^e earth seuered by it selfe frō the rest.

Who were first inuentors of these Sciences.

Some say that Atlas was the first inuentor, whom the Poets saine to beare vp the heauens with his shoulders, hauing his head placed in the North Pole, and his féete in the South Pole, and his right hand bearing the East part, and his left hande the West part of the world. Albeit that some apply this fiction of the Poets to an high mountaine in Affrica called Atlas, which for his great height surmounting the cloudes, is sayde to beare vp the skyes. But some say that Adam our first Parent, was the first inuen∣tor thereof: And some others affirme that Abraham was the first inuentor thereof. But whosoeuer was the first inuentor, it well appeareth by Ptolomy his booke, called Almagesti, that he hath béene no small furtherer thereof, and since his time in these latter dayes Georgius Purbacchius, Iohannes de Monte Regio, Co∣pernicus, and diuerse others haue learnedly treated thereof. But leauing to speake of the first inuentors, or of the furtherers of these sciences, I will speake of the shape, capacitie, and vnitie of the world, and because the shape thereof is likned to a round bo∣die called a Spheare, I will first define what a Spheare is.