A boke named Tectonicon briefely shewynge the exacte measurynge, and speady reckenynge all maner lande, squared tymber, stone, steaples, pyllers, globes. [et]c. Further, declaringe the perfecte makinge and large vse of the carpenters ruler, conteyninge a quadrant geometricall: comprehendinge also the rare vse of the squire. And in thende a lyttle treatise adioyned, openinge the composicion and appliancie of an instrument called the profitable staffe. With other thinges pleasaunt and necessary, most conducible for surueyers, landemeaters, ioyners, carpenters, and masons. Published by Leonarde Digges gentleman, in the yere of our Lorde. 1556.

How Lengthes in pleine grounde are searched by the Carpenters or Masons Squire. THE XXI. CHAPTER. (Book 21)

TAke a staffe deuided into certaine porcions as ye list, in .100. or a. 1000. parts. At the beginning of your Length vpon the very toppe directlye standinge: set the inwarde angle of the squire: lift vp or put downe this instrument vntyle ye see the fardist parte of your longitude. I meane vntyll your sight runnynge from that angle, to the ende of your squire come vnto the fardest parte of that length. The squire so remaininge, and the staffe not remoued frome hys height, marke where the other ende of the squyre next vnto you noteh vpon the groūde. See what proporcion the staffe then beareth to the part of the grounde, which the nerest ende of the squyre poyn∣ted vnto from the staffe, the same shal the Length haue to the quan∣titie of the sayed staffe.

Ensample.

THe staffe.* 1.1 a. c. in this figure is imagined .6. fote, & the space. a. d. 2. fote, Consideringe nowe that .6. the length of the staffe con∣teinet .2. thrise, therefore the lōgitude desired. a. b. of force muste conteyne thre tymes the staffe (whiche staffe is .6. fote,) that maketh 18. fote. As this is proued true by a small groūde in the figure folow∣inge: so the arte fayleth not in a greater space, whiche the good spe∣culator and diligente practiser by anye waye canne not denye. Yet experience willeth me this to confesse, that the squire is not conue∣nient for any longe distance, but the Instrumēt Geometrical (whose makinge and vse ye may parceaue in the treatice folowinge) vnlesse ye assend some Tree or turret for your ayde, which length knowen, shall stande in the steade of youre staffe.

[illustration] carpenter's square

Carpenters Squire.

A Note.

IT behoueth you to haue a fyne coarde, made fast in the vpper parte of your staffe. c. whyche shall be tyed euen wyth the in∣warde edge of the squire, and so drawen to the grounde, where the neare ende of the square from the staffe poynted, as ye see. d. c. the other ende then truelye directinge to the fardest distaunce.

Knowe that the grounde muste be very playne and leauel, other∣wyse erroure ensueth.

Thus the vse of the Squyre is here somewhat declared, but more in my generall Prognostication, yea, mooste plentifullye hereafter (God sparinge lyfe) in a booke titled y^e rare vse of y^e Squire in practises Mathematicall: in the which boke profitable plesaunte experiences shall be playnelye opened (onelye of me practised) as well of Perspec∣tiue, as of the Mathematicals in generall.

I Had thought here folowinge to haue placed the ready hande∣lynge of the compasse, yea and to haue shewed the fygurynge and true makynge of all maner letters, bothe Texte and Ro∣mayn, wyth the best proporcyon, the quantity as ye would demaūde, besides that, so to place them in height and nearer to the sight, that they beyng of diuers magnitudes myght appeare to the eye, of one bygnes. This when I did attempt to brynge to their capacitie, semed somewhat dificulte wythout pennynge many wordes. Wherfore I omitted it, belongyng rather to the Paynter, then to the Carpenter for whose sake onely the rest afore semeth to be compiled. Here af∣ter (as I se men desirefull) my endeuour may be to adde that, and other thinges necessarie.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The cause is taken oute of Euclide. 32. pro. 1. boke: and the. 4. pro. 6. boke.