from the Aequator is 23 Degrees, 31 Minutes:
And by the Obliquity of the Ecliptick Line with
the Horizon, the inequality of the Days and
Nights are known; also it distinguisheth the time
and season of the Months and Year, as likewise
the Degrees at which the Stars rise and set.
The Zodiack is divided into 12 equal Parts,
which are called the 12 Signs, which are noted
by certain Names and Characters, as followeth,
Aries, or the Ram ♈; Taurus, or the Bull ♉ [ 10]
Gemini, or the Twins ♊ Cancer, or the Crab ♋;
Leo, or the Lion ♌; Virgo, or the Virgin ♍;
Libra, or the Ballance ♎; Scorpio, or the Scorpion ♏;
Sagittarius, or the Archer ♐; Capricorn, or the
Goat ♑; Aquarius, or the Pourer of Water ♒;
and Pisces, or the Fish. ♓. Of these Signs the
first six are called Northern, by reason of their
being on the North-side of the Aequator; and
the other six last named are called Southern Signs,
as being on the South-side of the Aequator. And [ 20]
every Sign is divided into 30 Parts, called De∣grees,
each Degree containing on Earth 60 Eng∣lish
Miles, so that the Sun is 30 Days (or there∣abouts)
in each Sign; entring on the 10th of
March into Aries, on the 10th of April into
Taurus, on the 11th of May into Gemini, on the
11th of June into Cancer, on the 13th of July
into Leo, on the 13th of August into Virgo, on
the 13th of September into Libra, on the 13th of
October into Scorpio, on the 12th of November into [ 30]
Sagittarius, on the 11th of December into Capricorn,
on the 10th of January into Aquarius, and on
the 8th of February into Pisces.
The Zodiack contains in Breadth 16 Degrees,
that is, 8 on each side of the Ecliptick, in which
the Planets, as also the aforesaid Signs do
move.
Now all these Circles of the Sphaere are divi∣ded
into two equal Parts, each containing 360
Degrees, so called from the Motion of the Sun [ 40]
in the Zodiack, making almost all the Spaces by
its Diurnal Motion. Again, each Degree is di∣vided
into 60 other Proportions, which are cal∣led
the first Scruples or Minutes: Each of these
are again divided into 60 Seconds, every Second
into 60 Thirds, every Third into as many Fourths,
and so consequently into Decimats, or Tenths, so
that one Minute is the 60th part of a Degree, one
Second the 60th part of a Minute, one Third
the 60th part of a Second; and so consequently [ 50]
according to the Multitudes produced of an
Vnite.
500 Furlongs on Earth is equavalent to each
Degree in one of the Great Circles in the
Sphaere, so that the Zodiack is divided (according
to Longitude) into four equal parts, which are
called Quadrants, as all the other Great Circles of
the Sphaere.
The QVADRANT is likewise divided into
three Signs, each Sign into 30 Degrees, each De∣gree [ 60]
into six Minutes, and each Minute as afore∣said,
and so to Decimats; from whence may be
observed, that all before Minutes are intire Spaces,
or Distances; but those that follow are but parts
of the Intire.
All the Circles of the Sphaere were invented to
separate the Heavens into certain Spaces and
Regions, called Zones and Climates; and as we
imagine them in the Regions of the Heavens, in
like manner are they described on the Surface of
the Earth: And hence it may be concluded, that
the four little Circles (which hereafter shall be dis∣coursed
of) distinguish five Spaces in the Surface
of the Heavens and Earth, which are called
Zones from their likeness to a Girdle.