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 the ascention and descention, that is the rising and set∣ting of the starres, aswell according to the Astronomers, as ac∣cording to the Poets. Chap. 30.

DOe the Astronomers and Poets differ touching this matter?

Yea they differ greatly, aswell in name as in matter: for whereas of the Poets it is called ortus & occasus Signorum, that is to say, the rising and falling of the Signes, so of the Astronomers it is called Ascentio & descentio Signorum, that is to say, the ascention and descen∣tion of the Signes, againe they differ in matter, or rather in man∣ner, for that the Astronomers do consider the rising and falling of the starres more exactly then the Poets, for the Astronomers do consider the degrées and minutes of the same, and also do ground their ascention and descention vpon more certain demonstrations then the Poets. Moreouer whereas the Poets by their manner of rising and falling, doe simply set downe the time of thinges done or to be done, the Astronomers doe the same a great deale more exactly, and by their manner of ascention and descention doe consider the increase and decrease of the dayes, of which Astrono∣micall ascention and descention, I mind here to treate first in ge∣nerall and then in particular.