well-approved rules in our Art of navigation,
let us take them for no lesse then they effect, and
give them that credit in our imagination, which
tract of time hath gained to those forged circles
in the heavens: that albeit their chiefest essence
consisteth in conceit and supposall; yet foras∣much
as they serve to direct our knowledge to a
certainty in that variety and seeming inconstan∣cy
of motion, we esteem of them as they effect,
and not as they are.
Considering then the globe of the world, as it
maketh a right sphear (for in that position the
Naturalists chiefly understand celestiall influ∣ence
to have operation in this liquid element of
the water) it is divided by the Horizon and Me∣ridian
into four quarters: the first quarter is that
between the east horizon and the noon meridian,
which they call a flowing quarter; the second
from the noon meridian to the west horizon,
which they make an ebbing quarter; the third
from the west horizon to the midnight meridian,
which they likewise call a flowing quarter; and
again from the midnight meridian to the east ho∣rizon,
the second ebbing quarter: And so they
make two flowing quarters, and two ebbing
quarters of the whole circuit of heaven. The in∣struments
of these sensible qualities and contra∣ry
effects are the sun and the moon, as they are
carried through these distinct distinct parts of
the heaven. And although experience hath noted
the moon to be of greatest power in watry moti∣ons;
yet we may not omit to acknowledge the
force which the sun yieldeth in this miracle of na∣ture.
First therefore we are to understand, that
when the moon or the sun begin to appear above
the right horizon, and enter into that part of the
heaven which I termed the first flowing quarter,
that then the sea beginneth to swell: and as they
mount up to their meridian altitude, so it increa∣seth
untill it come to a high floud. And again,
as those lights passing the meridian decline to the
west, and run the circuit of the ebbing quarter,
so the water decreaseth and returneth again
from whence it came. Again, as they set
under the west horizon, and enter into the
second flowing quarter, so the sea beginneth a∣gain
to flow, and still encreaseth untill they come
to the point of the night meridian: and then a∣gain
it refloweth, according as the sun and
moon are carried in the other ebbing quar∣ter
from the night meridian to the west horizon.
And hence it happeneth that in conjunction or
new of the moon, when the sun and the moon
are carried both together in the same flowing and
ebbing quarters, that then the tides and ebbs are
very great: and likewise in opposition or full of
the moon, when these lights are carried in oppo∣site
quarters, which we have described to be of the
same nature, either ebbing or flowing, that then
in like manner the tides are great: forasmuch as
both these Planets, through the symbolizing quar∣ters
wherein they are carried, do joyn their forces
to make perfect this work of Nature in the ebbing
and flowing of the Sea. And contrariwise in a
quadrate aspect (as the Astronomers call it) or
quarter age of the moon, whenas the moon is car∣ried
in a flowing quarter, and at the same instant
the sun doth happen to be in an ebbing or decrea∣sing
quarter, as the course of Nature doth neces∣sarily
require, then are the tides lessened, as daily
experience doth witnesse.
And forasmuch as both the right horizon and
the meridian also divide every diurnall circle,
which either the sun or the moon make in their
revolutions, into equall parts; it followeth that
every tide is continually measured with the quan∣tity
of six houres: and therefore that which Cae∣sar
here saith must needs be true, that in the space
of twelve houres there are alwayes two high tides.
And least any man should imagine that every
inland City standing upon an ebbing and flow∣ing
river, may take the computation of the tide
according to this rule; let him understand that
this which I have delivered is to be conceived
principally of the sea it self, and secondarily of
such ports and havens as stand either near or up∣on
the sea: but where a river shall run many
miles from the sea, and make many winding Me∣anders
before it come to the place of calculation,
it must needs lose much of this time before men∣tioned.
And thus much I thought convenient to
insert in these discourses touching the ebbing and
flowing of the sea, as not impertinent to martiall
knowledge.
Concerning the shipping of the Romans,
whereof posterity hath only received the bare
names, and some few circumstances touching the
manner of their Equipage, the Criticks of these
times have laboured to set forth a fleet answerable
to that which the terms and title mentioned in
history seem to report: but yet the gain of their
voyage doth not answer their charge. For ma∣ny
men rest unsatisfied, first touching the
names themselves, whereof we find these kindes;
Names
- Longas.
- Onerarias.
- Actuarias.
- Triremes.
- Quadriremes.
- Quinqueremes.
The first we may understand to be Gallies or
ships of service; the second ships of burthen; the
third ships that were driven forward with force
of oares; and the rest sounding according to
their Names, for I dare not intitle them with a
more particular description. Now whether these
Names Longas and Actuarias, were a severall
sort of shipping by themselves, or the gene∣rall
Names of the Quadriremes, Triremes and
Quinqueremes, forasmuch as every kind of these
might be called both Longas and Actuarias; as
it yet remaineth in controversy, so it is not much
materiall to that which we seek after. But that
which most troubleth our sea-Criticks is, in what