The English globe being a stabil and immobil one, performing what the ordinary globes do, and much more / invented and described by the Right Honorable, the Earl of Castlemaine ; and now publish't by Joseph Moxon ...

OPERATION II. How to find the Latitude and Longitude of any Place.

THe Latitude of a Place is its nearest distance from the Ae∣quator;* 1.1 If therefore you would know the Latitude of, (suppose) Constantinople, draw the String from the Pole over the said City, and placing thereon the Bead, bring it to the gra∣dual devision of the Colurus Aequinoctiorum, or 6 a clock Hour Circle, and it will lye on the 43 Degrees, and about 5 minutes more, for the Latitude required.

The Longitude of a Place is the number of Degrees (reckon'd* 1.2 Eastwardly in the Aequator) from the grand Meridian to the Hour Circle, or particular Meridian that passes through the Place required.

As for the said Grand or General Meridian, 'tis that from* 1.3 whence we begin our Reckoning; and since it matters not (as you will plainly see in the Memorandum of the third or follow∣ing Operation) where we commence, to wit whether from the

Meridian that runs thro' London, or that thro' Paris, Rome or any other place, if people be acquainted with it before hand; I say, since this is so, what wonder is it, (there being by reason of some accidental Proprieties and Causes infinit fit Places) if Geographers and other Learned men quarrel in the Affair, and earnestly strive to have the Prerogative granted that Countrey, which they are pleased to propose.

Of all places, the Hesperides, Azores and Canaries, (by rea∣son* 1.4 of their Westerly Site, or the pretended non-variation of the Needle in some of them) have had the most vogue; but since each of the said Places make not one but many Isles, they afforded new occasion of Dispute; for among the Hesperides, or Isles of Cape Verd, some would have Fuego to carry away the Bell, some St. Nicholas, but others St. Vincent, as appears by Hondius's Globe. Now Langrenius, in his, begins from St. Mary and St. Michael in the Azores; Johnsonius in his Uni∣versal Map, counts from Corvo and Flores, whereas the Learn∣ed Dudley (the late Titular Duke of Northumberland) gives the honour to Pico, and has as much reason for it as the rest. Nor is there less do about the Canaries, for the French fix it at Ferro, several of the Hollanders at Teneriffa, and many other Nations at Palma, which is the Place I would willingly choose, (since the great Ptolomy thought fit at last to assign it there) were it as convenient for my present purpose as St. Vincent.

'Tis St. Vincent then I here pitch upon for this Meridian to* 1.5 pase throu', because it differs in Longitude from London within less than 20 Minutes of just 30 Degrees, or 2 Hours, so that the 2 a Clock Circle will represent it (within almost a Minute in time) without need of drawing a Particular one, and the said Meridi∣an is (as I told you in the beginning) distinguished from the rest by Pricks, which being distant from each other a quarter of a De∣gree, are useful on several occasions.

Having thus fixt our Grand Meridian, or first Longitude,* 1.6 that of other Places follow's with ease; for if you would know the Longitude of Constantinople, draw but your String from the Pole over it, and it will cut the Aequator neer the 62. De∣gree for the Longitude required, as you may readily percieve by the lower little Aequinoctial Figures.

Notes

• * 1.1

  What the La∣titude of a Place is, and how to find it.
• * 1.2

  What the Lon∣gitude is.
• * 1.3

  Of the Grand Meridian.
• * 1.4

  Of the most noted Places where Au∣thor's have plac't the grand Meri∣dian.
• * 1.5

  Where we fix our Grand Meridian.
• * 1.6

  How to find the Longitude of any place.