Gregorii posthuma, or, Certain learned tracts written by John Gregorie. Together with a short account of the author's life and elegies on his much-lamented death published by J.G.

About this Item

Title
Gregorii posthuma, or, Certain learned tracts written by John Gregorie. Together with a short account of the author's life and elegies on his much-lamented death published by J.G.
Author
Gregory, John, 1607-1646.
Publication
London :: Printed by William Du-gard for Laurence Sadler,
1649.
Rights/Permissions

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. Searching, reading, printing, or downloading EEBO-TCP texts is reserved for the authorized users of these project partner institutions. Permission must be granted for subsequent distribution, in print or electronically, of this text, in whole or in part. Please contact project staff at eebotcp-info@umich.edu for further further information or permissions.

Subject terms
Church of England -- Collected works.
Theology -- 17th century.
Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A42079.0001.001
Cite this Item
"Gregorii posthuma, or, Certain learned tracts written by John Gregorie. Together with a short account of the author's life and elegies on his much-lamented death published by J.G." In the digital collection Early English Books Online 2. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A42079.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 16, 2024.

Pages

Page [unnumbered]

Page 257

[illustration] decorative header with animals and plants

The Description and Ʋse of the Terrestrial Globe.

THe Terrestrial or Earthlie Globe is an ar∣tificial Representation of the Earth and Water under that form and figure of Roundness which they are supposed to have, describing the Situation, and measuring the Compass of the Whole Frame, and describing the Situation and measuring the Distances of all the Parts.

This Description is either of the Earth and Water both together, and it is don by Circles; or of the Water consi∣dered by it self; and is not so much a Description of that, as of the Mariner's cours upon it, or to shew The Waie of a Ship upon the Sea. And this is don by lines called Rumbes, which are not all Circles, but otherwise drawn according to the Point of the Compass, at which the Mariner set's forth. But of the Compass and these lines in the second Place; and first of the Description of the Whole Frame by Circles. Now look what Circles were imagined upon the Earth, the same are expressed upon, or framed without the Globe; and they are the Greater, or the Less. The Great Circles with∣out the Globe are two; the Meridian and the Horizon: the one of Brass, the other of Wood. Circles indeed they are not so properly called; for, in the rigorous sens, no Line is supposed to have anie breadth, as both these have: But that was for the more convenience; for somthing more

Page 258

then ordinarie was to bee written upon them. And more∣over they could not have been so disposed of, as they are, without the Globe, if they had not been exact Lines. But Use will have it so, and wee must call them the Meridian and Horizontal Circles.

Of the Meridian without the Globe.

THe Brass Meridian is divided into 4 equal Parts or Quadrants, and each of them subdivided into 90 De∣grees, that is 360 for the whole Circle. The reason why this Circle is not divided into 360 Degrees throughout, but still stopping at the 90th, and then again begining 10, 20, 30, &c. is, becaus the Uses of this Meridian, so far as in Degrees they are concern'd, require not above that Number. As for an Example: One use of the Meridian is to shew the Elevation of the Pole, but the Pole cannot bee elevated above 90 Degrees. Another is to shew the Lati∣tude or Distance of a Place from the Equator, which also can never exceed the 4th part of the Circle; for no Place can bee further distant from the Equator then the Pole, which is just that Number of 90 Degrees.

Upon one of the North Quadrants of this Meridian, of som Great Globes, the Climes are set to the several Degrees of Latitude; and the Length of the longest Daie under the several Climes: which (if the Geographers would think so) might very fitly bee placed on the Lesser Globe's; for it were but dividing a Quadrant of the wrong side of the Meridian into 90 Degrees, and there would be room enough. In som other Globes the Climes are cast into a Table, and pi∣ctured upon som void space of the Globe. But the Division upon a Quadrant of the Meridian, is much more artificial, as hereafter shall bee understood. And the reason why a North Quadrant onely need to bee divided, is, becaus for the Climes of the Southern Latitude the reason is the same. And the reason why the Division is made upon a North Quadrant rather then the South, is, becaus our Globes are

Page 259

fitted for our Selvs, and all our share of the Earth lieth in the North Latitude.

Of the Axel and Poles of the Globe and of the Hour Circle.

FRom the North and South Ends of this Meridian a strong Wyer of Brass or Iron is drawn, or supposed to bee drawn (for the Artificers do not alwaies draw it quite through) by the Center of the Globe representing the Axel of the Earth. The North End whereof standeth for the North, the South End for the South Pole of the Earth. Upon the North End, a small Circle of Brass is set, and divided into two equal parts, and each of them into twelv, that is, twentie four in all. This Circle is the onelie one above the Globe, which is not imagined upon the Earth, but is there placed to shew the hour of the daie and night, in anie place where the Daie and night exceed not 24 hours: there∣fore it is called Cyclus Horarius. The Hour Circle, for which purpose it hath a little Brass pin turning about upon the Pole, and pointing to the several hours, which therefore is called the Index Horarius.

The small Circle is framed upon this ground, that in the Diurnal Motion of the Heaven 15 Degrees of the Equino∣ctial rise up in the space of everie one hour, that is 360 De∣grees, or the whole Circle in the space of 24. So that the Cyclus Horarius is to bee framed to that Compass, as that everie 24th part of it, or one hour is to bear proportion to 15 Degrees of the Equator below it. And so in turning the Globe about, one may perceiv, that while the Pin is moved from anie one hour to another, just 15 Degrees of the Equi∣noctial will rise up above the Horizon upon one side, and as manie more go down below it on the other side. But this Circle is not much for the Geographer's use.

Page 260

Of the Horizon.

THe other Great Circle without the Globe is the Horizon; upon which (yet not as due to this Circle more then anie other, but becaus there is more room) the Geographers set down the 12. Signs with their Names and Characters.

And becaus everie Sign of the Zodiack containeth 30 De∣grees, which is 360 for the whole Circle, the Horizon is divided into 360 Degrees indeed as it ought, but not from 10, 20, 30, 40, so throughout, but by Thirties, that is, 10, 20, 80. and 10, 20, 30. and so along to make the division conform to the 12 Signs, to each of which, as I said, is allotted the Number of 30 Degrees. And the reason of that is in reference to the Suns Annual Motion, in the Cours whereof hee dispatcheth everie daie one degree under or over. So that hee passeth through each of the Signs in, or in much about the space of 30 Daies. So that, though som of the 12 Moneths, answering to the 12 Signs, consist of one Daie more then thirtie, and one of 2 Daies less, yet take them one with another, and the Daies of everie Moneth correspond to the several Degrees of everie Sign, or without anie considerable difference. And after that rate, or much about it, they are placed upon the Horizon, to shew in what Degree, of what Sign the Sun is everie daie of the year. And to this purpose there is set down upon the same Horizon a Calendar, and that of three sorts in som Globes: Of two in the most, the one whereof is called the Julian, or Old, the other the Gregorian, or New Accompt, reckon∣ing this latter 10 daies before the former, and the third sort, where it is found, thirteen. Now though it bee true that the greatest part of that which is written upon the Horizon, more nearly concerneth the Celestial then the Terrestrial Globe; yet it is not altogether unuseful here: and especi∣ally it will bee nothing out of the Geographer's way to take along with him the ground of Difference in the 3, princi∣pally in the 2 sorts of Calendars.

Page 261

The Reason of the Difference in Computation be∣twixt the Old and New Accompts.

A Year is that space of time in which the Sun goeth through the whole Circle of the Zodiack, as from the Tropick of Cancer, to the Tropick of Capricorn, and so to the Tropick of Cancer again, or from the Equinoctial to the Equinoctial, or from anie other Point of the Zodiack to the same again. Now, becaus of the unequal Motion of the Sun (depending upon reasons deeply engaged in the Theo∣rical Part of the Spheer, and therefore here to bee taken up∣on trust) it ever was, and yet is, a very hard matter to de∣termine exactly in what space of time this Revolution of the Sun in the Zodiack is made; insomuch that one said,* 1.1 that the Year consisted of so manie daies, and how much more or less no bodie knoweth.

This uncertaintie brought so much confusion upon the Old Romane Calendars, that Time with them was grown a Commoditie, and bought and sold at a price. Their Priests, who had to do with this Affair, having in their power to make anie year longer or shorter at their pleasure; which the Emperor Julius Caesar looking upon as a mat∣ter no waie below his greatest consideration, advised with som Egyptian Mathematicians about it, by whose Instru∣ctions hee found that the Sun's yearlie Motion in the Zodi∣ack, was performed in the space of 365 daies, and one 4th part of a daie, or 6 hours.

The 6 odd hours hee caussed to bee reserved in store till everie fourth year, that is, till they made 24 hours, or one whole daie; so accounting, that the 3 first years should consist of 365 daies, and the fourth of 366, one daie more; and everie fourth year was therefore (as still it is) called the Leap Year, and the thing it self Intercalation, or putting in betwixt the Calendar.

'Twas verie much that the Emperor did, and hee left as much to do; for though it cannot yet bee found out ex∣actly

Page 262

in what space of the time the Sun goeth his yearlie cours, yet thus much is made good by infallible experience that the Emperor's Mathematicians allotted too much for the Number of daies: they were in the right, for it is certain no year can consist of more then 365, but for the odd hours it is as certain that they cannot bee fewer then five, nor so manie as 6; so that the doubt is upon the Minutes, 60 whereof go to the making up of an Hour; a small matter one would think, and yet how great in the recess and con∣sequence wee shall see.

Julius Caesar allotted 365 daies and 6 hours to this Revo∣lution, but the Sun goeth about in less time, that is, (ac∣cording to the most exact Accompt) in 365 daies, 5 hours, 49 Minutes, and a little more; so that the Emperor's year is much about 10 Minutes greater then the Sun's, which must of necessitie breed a difference of so manie Minutes everie year, betwixt the Year, which the Sun it self de∣scribe's in the Zodiack; and That, which is reckoned upon in the Calendar, which though for a year or two may pass in∣sensibly, yet in the space of 134 years it will rise to an whole daie, that is the Begining of the year in the Calen∣dar must bee set one daie back. As for Example: Let the year begin at the Vernal Equinox or Spring: In the Empe∣ror's time that fell out to bee at the 24th of March, but now this year it fell out upon the 10th of March, 13 daies back∣wards, and somwhat more, and so if it bee let alone will go back to the 1 of March, and 1 of Februarie, till Easter com to bee on Christmas Daie, and so infinitely.

To reform this difference in the Accompt, som of the later Romane Bishops earnestly endeavoured. And the thing was brought to that perfection it now standeth in (so much as it is) by Gregorie the 13th, in the Year 1582. His Ma∣thematicians (whereof Lilius was the chief) advised him thus: That considering there had been an Agitation in the Councel of Nice somwhat concerned in this matter upon the motion of that Question about the Celebration of Easter: And that the Fathers of that Assemblie after due delibera∣tion with the Astronomers of that time, had fixed the Ver∣nal

Page 263

Equinox at the 21 of March, and considering also that since that time a difference of 10 whole daies had been past over in the Calendar, that is, that the Vernal Equinox or Spring; which began upon the 21 of March, had prevented so much as to begin in Gregorie's daies at the 10th of the same, 10 daies difference or thereabouts; they advised that 10 daies should bee cut off from the Calendar, which was don, and the 10 daies taken out of October of that Year 1582, as being the Moneth of that Year in which that Pope was born; so that when they came to the 5 of the Moneth, they reckoned the 15, and so the Equinox was com up to it's place again, and hapned upon the 21 of March, as at the Councel of Nice. But that Lilius should bring back the Begining of the Year to the Times of the Ni∣cen Councel, and no further, is to be marvelled at. Hee should have brought it back to the Emperor's own time, where the mistake was first entered, and, instead of 10, cut of 13 daies; however this is the Reason why these 2 Calendars, written upon the Horizon, differ the space of 10 daies one from the other. And as the Old Accompt was called the Julian, from the Emperor; so the New is called from Gre∣gorie the Pope and Lilius the chief Agent, the Gregorian or Lilian Accompt: and the Julian is termed the Old Style, the Gregorian the New, as in the conversation of Letters betwixt Us and Those on the other side of the Seas wee may per∣ceiv; Theirs to Us bare date (for the most part) such a daie of such a Moneth, Stylo Novo; Ours to them such a daie, Stylo Veteri: And Theirs may bee dated There, by their Accompt, and received here, before they were written by Ours.

For the third Calendar there need not much bee said, though it bee more absolute then the second; for it redu∣ceth the Beginings of the Year to the Emperor's own Time, and so leaveth the Old Style 13 daies behinde as it ought to do. But it is very rarely found upon the Horizons of anie Globes, neither as yet translated to anie Common Use. In the outermost Limb of the Horizon are set down the Names

Page 264

of the 32 Windes of the Compass; to what end will bee shewed hereafter.

Why the Meridians and Horizons which are so several upon the Earth, are but single without the Globe.

THe Reason of this will bee plain, if it bee considered that the Horizons and Meridians, in the use of the Globe, are to be a fitted to anie particular place at pleasure; at Oxford, Woodstock, Abingdon, &c. this could never have been don upon the Globe it self; for there must a several Horizon and a several Meridian have passed through everie Citie, Town, or Castle upon the Globe, which if it had been don, besides the confusion, the Circles would have put out the Places; therefore it was ingenuously devised of those who first thought upon it, to set one Meridian and one Horizon without the Globe to serv for all: For in this case the Globe it self may bee turned and applied to the Ho∣rizon and Meridian with as much eas, as the Horizon and Meridian with impossibilitie could not bee applied to the Globe, as it will hereafter more plainly appear, then it can do yet.

Of the Quadrant of Altitude, and the Compass.

MOreover then the Circles framed without the Globe, two other Appendents are to bee noted upon; the one relating to the Meridian, the other to the Horizon: the first is the Quadrant of Altitude, and is a thin brass Plate repre∣senting the fourth part of a Great Circle, and so divided into 90 Degrees, called therefore the Quadrant; and the Quadrant of Altitude, becaus it measureth the height of the Stars upon the Celestial Globe, to which it most proper∣ly

Page 265

belongeth. The business it hath to do in Geographie, is to set out the Zenith of anie Place, and consequently to shew the Angle of Position, or Bearing of one Place to ano∣ther, as hereafter shall bee taught. It is therefore affixed to the Meridian with a little Screw-pin, to bee removed at pleasure from anie Vertical Point of anie Place, to the Ver∣tical Point of anie other. The second is the Compass, which is a Needle touched with a Loadstone, and set in a Box upon the Foot of the Horizon, upon the South side, such ano∣ther as wee see in ordinarie Pocket Dyals for the Sun. The Use of it here (as in those) is to point out the North and South for the Rectification of the Globe, as shall bee more plainly said hereafter.

Of the Great Circles upon the Globe, and first of the Meridians.

THe Great Circles painted upon the Globe are the Meridi∣ans, the Equator, and the Zodiack; where wee must not think much to hear of the Meridians again. That of Brass without the Globe is to serv all turns, and the Globe is fra∣med to applie it self thereto. The Meridians upon the Globe will easily bee perceived to bee of a new and another Use. They are either the Great, or the Less; not that the Greater are greater then the Less, for they have all one and the same Center, and equally pass through the Poles of the Earth: but those which are called Less, are of less use then that, which is called the Great, though it bee no greater then the rest. The Great is otherwise called the Fixt and First Meridian, to which the Less are second, and respe∣ctively moveable. The Great Meridian is as it were the Land∣mark of the whole Spheer, from whence the Longitude of the Earth, or anie part thereof is accounted And it is the onelie Circle, which passing through the Poles, is gradu∣ated or divided into Degrees; not the whole Circle, but the one half, becaus the Longitude is to bee reckoned round about the Earth. This Great Meridian might have been

Page 266

planted in anie place, as at York, or at Richmond, but must of necessitie bee set in one certain place of the Globe or other, as it is in everie several Globe, though not in the same place in all.

Concerning the Difference of Geographers in the pla∣cing of their Great Meridian, and the Caus∣ses pretending thereto.

IN assigning the place of this First or Great Meridian, I observ that the Geographers, whatsoever, still fix it in the Western Parts: And the Reasons are, not onely becaus those were more discovered then the Eastern, to those who had first to do in this matter; but more especially for that the Proper Motion of the Sun and Moon is from the West to the East, contrarie to their diurnal or dailie Motion; and therefore the Eclipses of the Moon are to bee observed from that Part, which is the most learned and certain Rule for the finding out of the Longitudes of Places, by observing how much sooner the Ecclips begineth in a Place more or less West then another. And moreover, wheresoever they place their Great Meridian, they still reckon the Longitude from West to East, that is, till they com up to 180 De∣grees, or the Semicircle; where som of them staie and be∣gin the Longitude again towards the East, calling the first Half, Eastern, the other, Western Longitude. But this Cours, howsoever Artificial enough, yet is not used by the later Geographers, for they account the Longitudes in the whole Circle throughout from West, by the East to West again, som few Spanish Geographers excepted, who, in the Descri∣ptions of their New Indies, reckon the Longitudes quite con∣trarie, from East to West, but which was thwartly in it self, and, in the proof, inconsiderably don. But as the Geogra∣phers well enough agreed in the placing of this Great Me∣ridian in the Western Parts; so they have differed much more then it becomed them in assigning out the Particular Place.

Page 267

The Autor of the Greek Geographie intituled to Ptolomie fixeth the Great Meridian (as Marinus the T••••ian (cited by Him) and the Antients before them) in Hra;* 1.2 or Junonia one of the Fortunate Islands, as they were termed of old, from an opinion of som singular Blessings imagined by the Antients upon the Genius of those Parts. They are now called by the Spaniard, Islas de Canaria: The Canarie-Isles, better known to us by the Wines of that Name, for the most part falsly so called. Ptolomie, as Plinie also, out of Juba the Affrican King findeth out but Six of these: but the late Discoverers meet with Seven: that is, Lançerotta, Forte∣ventura, Teneriffa, Gomera, Fierro, Palma, and the Gran Ca∣narie, which giveth Name to the rest. For the Situation of these Islands they lie not as Ptolomie placed them, within one Degree of Longitude, or little less, but more scattering, and lifted up a little above the Tropick of Cancer about the 30th Degree of the Northern Latitude, in that Part of the We∣stern (otherwise called the Atlantick) Oceän which trendeth upon the Coast of Affrick, and are therefore reckoned by Geographers to the Affrican Isles. This was the furthest part of the Earth discovered towards the West to those of about Ptolomie's time: therefore the Great Meridian was fixed there, in the Isle Hera, or Junonia, as then it was called, now Tenariff: And from this Meridian all the Longitudes in the Greek-Geographie are taken.

This the Arabian-Geographers knew well enough;* 1.3 but holding themselvs not to bee inferior (as indeed they were not) either to the Indefatigation or Skill of the Greek-Geographers, they hoped to have the begining of Longitude taken from them, which therefore they appointed to bee drawn up on the uttermost Shoar of the Western-Oceän 10 Degrees more East then that of Ptolomie:* 1.4 but they deceived themselvs doubly; for first, Their Meridian would not bee brought into Example by others: and again, It was not so improvidently intended, as not to serv themselvs. For according to the loss, or gains of the Sea upon that Shore, their Longitudes have proved to bee importantly different, rightly enough assign'd, but falsifying with the Place, as

Page 268

they are justly served. There is not, for the present, anie verie great Use to the Geographer of the Apabick-Meridian more then to know it; for the Turkish Histories are not so com∣pletely derived down to us as to Describe the Territories by Longitude, or Latitude. And for the Arabick-Nubian-Geogra∣phie Translated into Latine by the Maronites, though other∣wise of a rare, and pretious esteem, yet is not commend∣ed for this, That the Distances of Places are there set down by a gross Mensuration of Miles: and John Leos Af∣frica is not so well. But when the Learned, and long promised Geographie of Abulfedea the Prince shall com to light, there can bee nothing don There, without this Me∣ridian. The Prince setteth down the Longitude of Mecca 67 Degrees. The Greek Geographie 77: and they are both right, and yet they differ 10 Degrees: for so much were their Meridian set East, or West one then the other. Yet nei∣ther is this Meridian presently altogether unuseful, for besides the Longitudes of som places noted by Saracenus, Al∣bategni and others, there is a Catalogue of Cities annexed to the Astronomical Tables of the King Alphonsus accounted all from this Great Meridian, but with this difference, That whereas Abulfedea the Prince setteth down but 10 De∣grees distance betwixt the Fortunate Isles, and the Western Shore. The Catalogue reckoneth upon 17, and 30 Minutes: a Difference too great to bee given over to the Recesses of the Ocean from that Shore, and therefore I know not as yet what can bee said thereto.

* 1.5Our own Geographers, the later especially, have affected to transplant this great Meridian out of the Canarie Isles in∣to the Açores, or Azores, for so the çerilla will endure to bee pronounced. They were so called from Açor, which in the Spanish Tongue signifie's a Goss-Hawk, from the great number of That Kinde, there found at the first Discoverie, though now utterly disappearing. And it is no stranger a thing, then that December should bee called by our Saxon Fore-fathers ƿolfe Monat, that is, Wolfe Moneth; for that in those Daies this Isle was mischievously pestered with such Wilde-Beasts, and in that Moneth more ragingly,

Page 269

though now such a sight is grown so forreign to these parts, that they are looked upon with the Strangeness of a Camel, or an Elephant. The Azores are otherwise termed Insu;lae Flandricae, or the Flemish Isles, becaus som of them have been famously possessed, and first Discovered by them. They are now in number Nine: Tercere, St. Michaël, S. Ma∣rie, S. George, Gratiosa, Pico, Fayall, Corvo, Flores; they are situate in the same Atlantick Ocean, but North-West of the Canaries, and trending more upon the Spanish Coast, under the 39 Degree of Latitude, or therebouts. Through these Isles the Late Geographers will have the Great Meridian to pass, upon this conceit of reconciling the Magnetical Pole to That of the World. Their meaning is, That the Needle of the Mariner's Compass, which touched with the Magnet, or Loadstone, in dutie ought to point out true North, and South Poles of the World in all other Places, performeth it onely in these Isles, whereas for the most part elswhere it swerveth, or maketh a Variation from the true Meridian to∣wards the East, or West, according to tht unequal temper of the Great Magnet of the Earth: therefore notwithstan∣ding that the Greek Meridian was placed well enough in the Canaries, (as indeed it was, and best of all, becaus once fix∣ed there) yet it pleased them to think that it would bee more Artificial, and Gallant to remove it into the Azores, where (as they would bear us in hand) the Magnetical Needle precisely directeth it self towards the North, and South of the Whole Frame without the least Variation, which might seem to bee a Natural Meridian, and therefore to bee yielded unto by that of Art, wheresoever placed before.

This Coincidencie of the Magnetical Meridian with that of the World, Som of them will have to bee in the Isles Corvo, and Flores, the most Western: Others in S. Michaël,* 1.6 and S. Marie, the more Eastern of the Azores. 'Tis true indeed that the Variation is less in these Isles, then in som other Places, yet it is by experience found, that the Needle in Cor∣vo North-Westeth 4 Degrees: in S. Michaël it North-Easteth 6 Degrees: And therefore the Great Meridian

Page 270

should rather have been drawn through Fayal, where the Variation is but 3 Degrees to the East; Or especially through the Cape of good hope, where the Needle precisely pointeth to the True North without any Variation at all by a River side there, which therefore the Portugals have called Rio de las Agulias, The River of the Needles.

But which is more, the Magnetical Needle hath no cer∣tain Pole in the Earth at all, and under the verie same Meridian is found to varie in som places but 3, or 4 De∣grees; in other 17, and more; and which is wors (if it bee true) the Variation it self hath been lately charged up∣on with a verie strange and secret inconstancie by the Pro∣fessor in Astronomie of Gresham-College. Hee saith that the Variation of the Needle at Limehous near London, which Mr Burrows found to bee 11 Degrees, 15 Minutes, in the year 1580: M Gunter in the year 1622 found it to bee but 6 Degrees 13 Minutes. But Hee himself in the year 1634 found it to bee but 4 Degrees, or verie little more; which in the space of 54 years is a difference of 7 Degrees to the Less. So little reason is there why the Greek Meridian should give place to the Magnetical, besides the great confusion which must needs follow, as it hath.

* 1.7But yet more impertinently, the Spanish Describers remem∣bred before, not onely account their Longitude from East to West, utterly against all other Geographie, but not content∣ed with the Greek, Arabian, or any Magnetical Meridian, must needs reckon their Indies from that of Toledo. But they are verie few that take this cours, and this Pragmatical Meridian is onely found upon a Map, or two, but hath not as yet gotten (nor is it like to do) any relation to the Globe.

* 1.8As the case standeth with the Great Meridian, the ad∣vice and counsel of Stevinus a Dutch Geographer is very much to the purpose: That the Great Meridian should bee brought back to the Fortunate Isles again, that one certain Isle of the seven should bee chosen; and in That, one cer∣tain place; Exiguus quidem, sed notabilis & perpetuus, As smal, but as notable and perpetual as 'tis possible. The Island hee assigned was Teneriff, thought to bee the same with

Page 271

Ptolomie's Hera, or Junonia. The place Pico de Teide, or el pico, The Peak, a Mountain so called from the sharpness of the top, and therefore the place is Locus exiguus, as Smal as could bee, and 'tis Perpetual, for Hils are everlasting; and as notable, for by the reports of som in Julius Scaliger it riseth above threescore Miles in height, which though it bee more then is generally believed, yet thus much is, That it is the highest Mountain in the World.

This Johnson a great Master of this Art considering with himself, though in his lesser Globe of the year 1602 hee had made the Great Meridian to pass through the Isles Cor∣vo and Flores; yet since that, in his Greater of the year 1616 hee hath it drawn upon the Peak in Tenariffe, as hee ex∣presseth himself in a void place of the Globe. Onely, whereas hee addeth that by this means the Arabick Meridian, and That of Ptolomie will bee all one upon the matter (which hee saith was fit to bee admonished) it must needs bee mista∣ken. 'Tis true, that the Canaries lie near upon the Coast of Affrick: But the Arabians mean not this so much by the uttermost Shore, as the uttermost Points of the Western Land runing along by the Streights of Gebal Taric, or Ta∣ric's Hill, as they rightly (wee Gibralter) call it, where the Pillars of Hercules were set of old, as our Stories deliver, but of Alexander they saie, to whom, and not to Hercules the Arabick Nubian Geographer asscribeth this Labor, naming there the verie Artificers which that great King provided himself of to force out the Streight; which may possibly bee the reason, why the Arabians (over and above their am∣bition of Change) draw their Great Meridian by this Part, in honor to Alexander, whom therefore they call not so, but Dhilcarnain, that is, The man of the two Horns, for that hee joined the Ends of the Known World together by those Pillars in the East upon one side, and these in the West on the other. Which seeing it is so, the Reduceing of the Great Meridian to Tenariff again will bee so far from closing with that of the Uttermost Western Shore, that ac∣cording to the Account of som they will stand at 15 De∣grees distance one from the other, which also maketh show

Page 272

of som reason of the Disagreement betwixt Abulfeda the Prince, and the King Alphonsus in assigning the difference of the Arabick Meridian from the Greek, the Prince allowing but 10, The Catalogue 17 Degrees, which was noted before.

For any concurrence therefore of the Greek, and Arabick Meridians by this means, wee are not to take the Ge∣ographer's word; but nevertheless to embrace this Alterati∣on of his Cours in bringing the Greek Meridian to his place again.

The same advice of Stevinus is commended and taken by Wil. Bleau (a man very like to, if not the very same with John∣son himself) Cap. 4 of his first Part, which teacheh the Use of the Globes according to the Improper Hypothesis of Ptolomie (as the Title termeth it) per terram quiescentem. For the se∣cond Part maketh good the same Use of the Celestial and Terrestrial Spheres by the Supposition of Copernicus per ter∣ram mobilem. His words are Longitudo alicujus loci, &c. The Longitude of anie place is an Arch of the Equator compre∣hended between two half Meridians, the one passing through the Place it self, the other through the High Mountain called Pico de Teide in Tenariffe, Qui tam in maximo nostro Glo∣bo Terrestri (saith hee) quàm in variis Tabulis Geographicis à no∣bis editis pro Initio Longitudinis terrae assumptus est, & pro eo in bac descriptione semper assumatur, &c. And 'twill never bee well with Geographie till this bee believed in, and made the common and unchangeable Practice.

What Cours is to bee taken with this Varietie of Meridians, and how followed, or neglected by the Geographers.

ANd now if one may make so bold as to give Law to the Geographers, it cannot bee denied but that the readiest and least entangling waie of reckoning the Longitudes is to meet again upon the first Meridian in Tenariffe, but for want of this, and til it can bee rellish't universally, the likest waie

Page 273

to the Best is for the Describers either of the Whole, or any Part of the Earth not to fail of setting down the se∣veral Meridians obteining as then. Also the Difference of Longitude betwixt these Meridians, and lastly which of those they mean to go by. If I were to draw up (If I could) a New Geographie of the Whole Earth, This, or the like to this ought to prepare to the Description.

That the Great Meridian by the most Antient Greek Geo∣graphers was made to pass through the Fortunate Islands, now called The Canaries. That from thence it was translated by the Arabians to the uttermost Point of the Western-Shore. That our own Geographers removed it into the Azores pla∣cing it som of them in S. Michaël, others in Corvo. That the Best of them brought it back to the Canaries again, and drew it upon the Pico in Tenariffe; The same, or thought to bee the same with Ptolomie's Junonia. That the Difference of Longitude from El Pico to the Arabick Meridian is 10 De∣grees more East, according to Abulfeda the Prince. From Pi∣co to the Isle of S. Michaël 9 Degrees. From Pico to Corvo 15, and both so much more West. And such, or such a Meridian I mean to follow.

To this very purpose the same Abulfeda in the Intro∣duction to his Geographie. It is received by Traditon (saith hee) that the Inhabited Earth begineth at the West in the Fortunate Isles, as they are called, and lying waste as now. From these Islands som take the Begining of Longitude. Others from the Western Shore. The Difference of Longi∣tude is 10 Degrees accounted in the Equator, &c. As for the Longitudes reckoned in this Book, they are all taken from the Shores of the Western Oceän, and therefore they are 10 Degrees short of those which are taken from the Fortu∣nate Isles, &c.

If wee now exact (as I think wee may) to this Rule, which hath been lately don by our own Describers espe∣cially, wee may perhaps finde it otherwise then wee thought for.

Here it will not need to take much notice of those who have described the Situation of Countries by the Climes and

Page 274

Paralells. Thus much onely, That they had as good as said nothing. I confess I conclude under this Censure, the verie good Autor of the Estates du Mond, translated by Grimstone. But it was to bee noted. For what if I saie that Great Bri∣tain lieth under the 9th and 13 Climates of the Northern Temperate Zone (as 'tis no otherwise Describ'd to the Site by a Geographer of our own) is this to tell where England is? No more then to tell where the Streights of Anian are much about the same Clime and Paralel, and yet 160 De∣grees distant and more.

They are not much more accurate who Describe the Si∣tuation of Countries by their Latitudes onely as the Gentle∣man in his Description of Huntingdon Shire inserted into M. Speed. And the most learned Sir Henrie Spelman in his Description or Northfolk. It is no more to saie the Situation of this, or that place then of anie other in the Whole Sphere lying under the same Parallel. But to saie the truth, By reason of the Varietie of Meridians. The Longitudes were grown to such an uncertain and confused pass, that it was not everie man's work to set them down.

Mr Carew in his Survey of Cornwall setteth down that Shire in the Longitude of 6 Degrees (I believ hee mean't 16) as most men account. But what doe's hee mean by that; or what manner of account is it which most men use in this case? Norden in the Introduction to his Speculum Britanniae saith, That the Center of this Land, which hee taketh to bee about Titburie Castle in Stafford-Shire is 21 Degrees and 28 Minutes of Longitude. But from what Meridian all this while? for the Longitude may bee manie Degrees more, or less, or just so much as hee saith, and yet all may bee true.

M. Speed more particularly professeth to follow Merca∣tor; as in assigning the Longitude of Oxford, hee saith, that it is distant from the West 19 Degrees 20 Minutes by Mer∣cator's Measure. So M. William Burton in the Description of Leicester-Shire. But how are wee the wiser for this? Merca∣tor's Measure was not the same, for in his Globe dedicated to the Lord Granvella the great Meridian passeth through

Page 275

the Canaries; but in his great Map through the Azores. M. Ga∣briel Richardson in the State of Europe yet more distinctly telleth his Reader, That the Longitudes in his book shall bee taken from that Meridian, which passeth through the Azores. But whether from that in S. Michaël, or from the other in Corvo is not set down, and yet the Difference is 7 Degrees, and more: But hear lastly the Kingdom's Geo∣grapher in the Preface to his Britannia. At insimulabunt jam Mathematici & in crimen vocabunt quasi in Geographicis Latitu∣dinis & Longitudinis Dimensionibus toto Coelo aberrârim. Audi quaeso: Tabulas Astronomicas, novas, antiquas, manuscriptas, Oxonienses, Cantabrigienses, Regis Henrici Quinti dili∣genter contuli. In Latitudine à Ptolomeo plurimùm discrepant inter se ferè conspirant: nec tamen Terram è suo Centro dimotam esse cum Stadio existimo. His igitur usus sum, In Longitudine autem nullus consensus, concentus nullus. Quid igitur facerem? Cum Recentiores perpendiculum navigatoria pyxide Magnete illi∣tum inter Azores insulas rectà Polum Borealem respicere deprehen∣derim, indè Longitudinis Principium tanquam à Primo Meridiano cum illis dixi quam nec ubique 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 permensus sum. So the Learned Cambden. Where note by the waie, that if the Translator hath rendered the Book no better then hee hath this Claus of the Preface, the best cours will bee for those that can, to read it in the Latine. The Autor's meaning I think was this.

But now (saith hee) the Mathematicians will accuse and call mee in question, as if I were altogether out in my Geo∣graphical Dimensions of Latitude and Longitude. But praie heare mee: I diligently compared the Manuscript Astrono∣mical Tables of Henrie the Fifth, as well the old, as the new, Calculated for the Meridians som of Oxford, others for that of Cambridg. In Latitude I found them to differ from Ptolo∣mie very much, but well enough agreeing among themselvs: and yet I cannot think that the Earth is any whit startled aside from it's Center, as Stadius did. These Tables there∣fore I made use of. But in the Longitude I found no agree∣ment at all. What should I do? Considering that the Mo∣dern Geographers had found that the Needle of the Mariner's

Page 276

Compass touched with the Loadstone directly pointeth to the North-Pole by the Azorian Isles, I did as they did, and took the begining of Longitude from thence, as from the First Me∣ridian, but which I have not alwaies set down exactly, or to a Minute.

And now the least that can bee exspected is, that the Longitudes of all Places in the Britannia are accounted from the Meridian which passeth by the Azores. But from which of the Meridians? If it bee as the book expresseth ab Ʋlti∣mo Occidente, 'tis from that of Corvo: then the Mathema∣ticians have caus to complain, for all the Longitudes are fals. But I can perceiv that the Geographer, though otherwise most accomplished, yet was not so well seen in this piece of the Skill; for though it bee pretended in the Preface that all the Longitudes in the Description shall bee taken from the Azores, yet in setting down the Longitude of Oxford, hee saith, That as hee hath it from the Mathematicians of the Place, it is 22 Degrees from the Fortunate Islands which can never bee true, for 'tis but 19 from the Azores reckoning by S. Michaël: But this is not all: In assigning the Longi∣tude of Pen-von-las; or, The Land's-end in Cornwall, Hee saith that is 17 Degrees à Fortunatis Insulis vel potiùs Azoris, from the Fortunate Islands or rather from the Azores. But is is the Difference so small did hee think? But 9 De∣grees at least.

But I finde by the Longitudes that Mercator was the Man that set up all these for Geographers.

Mercator first of all kept himself to the Greek Meridian, as, Appian, Gemma Frisius, Maginus, and others; but under∣standing by Francis of Deip, an experienced Mariner, that the Compass had no Variation in the Islands of Capo Verde. And by others, that it had very little in Tercera, and S. Marie of the Azores, but not anie at all in the Isle Corvo, that hee might go a mean waie to work, and compile with the Common Meridian of the World (as hee took it to bee). Hee made his Great Meridian to pass (as himself saith) be∣twixt the Isles of Capo Verde and the Azores; that is, Through the Isles of S. Michaël and S. Marie, which was

Page 277

afterwards taken for Example by Plancius, Saunderson, and the common sort of others, so that little or no notice at all was taken of the Meridian by Corvo, no not by those of the biggest: exspectation, as M. Carpenter, M. Camden, M. Speed, and the rest; although this also was the known Meridian of som Globes of the very same Times; and before that, that is, before they had set their last hand to their Descriptions. And 'tis no mervail, for Mercator's Longitudes were more exactly accounted then before, and therefore they might well take his Meridian along with them. And 'twas not amiss to go by the most received, but then they should have said so, and withall, have set down the three severall Meridians at least, and the difference of Longitude betwixt them; and all this with more distinction then so, that ano∣ther man should com after them to tell themselvs what Me∣ridian they went by.

And thus much of the First, or Great Meridian.

Of the Lesser Meridians.

THe Lesser are those Black Circles, which you see to pass through the Poles, and succeeding to the Great at 10 and 10 Degrees as in most Globes; or as in som, at 15 and 15 Degrees Difference.

Everie place, never so little more East, or West then ano∣ther, hath a several Meridian. Shot-over hath a distinct Meri∣dian from Oxford, becaus more East; Osney hath not the same as near as it is, for it lieth West of the Citie: The exact Meridian whereof must pass directly through the middle; yet becaus of the huge distance of the Earth from the Hea∣vens, all these Places, and Places much further off may bee said to have the same Meridian, as the Almanack-makers Calculate their Prognostications to such, or such a Meridian where they pretend to make their Observations: But saie too, that it may generally serv, &c. And indeed there is no verie sensible Difference in less then 60 Miles, upon which ground the Geographers, as the Astronomers allow a New Meridian to everie other Degree of the Equator, which would

Page 278

bee 130 in all, but except the Globes were made of an Ex∣treme and Unuseful Diameter, so manie would stand too thick for the Description. Therefore most commonly they put down but 18; that is at 10 Degrees distance one from the other, the special use of these Lesser Meridians beeing to make a quicker dispatch in the account of the Longitudes. Som others, as Mercator set down but 12 at 15 Degrees dif∣ference, aiming at this, That the Meridians might bee distant one from the other a full part of time, or an hour: for seeing that the Sun is carried 15 Degrees off the Equi∣noctial everie hour, as was said before. The Meridians set at that Distance must make an hours difference in the Rising or Setting of the Sun to the several places, as if the Sun Rise at such an hour, such a daie of the year at Oxford. In a place 15 Degrees more distant towards the East the Sun riseth an hour sooner. In a place 15 Degrees distant towards the West, an hour later, the same daie of this, or that year.

Now becaus the Spaces of time are reckoned by the same Degrees of the Equator as the Distances of Place, The De∣grees of Longitude have been called Tempora; which word Camden somtimes delighteth to use, as in the Longitude of Bath hee saith it is 20 Temporibus, 20 Times, that is 20 Degrees distant from the Great Meridian. Hee expresseth by the same word in setting down the Latitude, but not so cun∣ningly as I think.

Of the Equator, and the Lesser Circles.

THe Equator is the Middle Circle betwixt two Poles gra∣duated throughout, and plainly dividing the Globe into two equal Parts, from North to South, This is the Circle of Longitude, as the Meridian of Latitude; for Lon∣gitude is reckoned in the Equator from the Meridian: Lati∣tude in the Meridian from the Equator.

Crossing this Circle obliquely in the Middle is the Zodi∣ack, the utttermost extent whereof towards the North no∣teth out the Tropick of Cancer; towards the South, the

Page 279

Tropick of Capricorn, each of them distant from the Equator 23 Degrees, or not much more, as may bee accounted in the Great Meridian. Equi-distant from these, and at the same distance from the Poles as the Tropicks from the Equator, are set down the Artick and Antartick Circles; all offering themselvs to sight by their Names, and distinction of Bredth, and Color, more notably then the rest: by the rest I mean the black blinder Circles equi-distantly remooved from the Equator at 10 Degrees difference, and serving the same turn in the accounting of Latitude, as the Meridians at the same distance in the reckoning of the Longitude. And these are called the unnamed Parallels.

And so much of the Description of the Earth and Water together; Now of the Waterie-Part by it self.

The Description of the Waterie-Part of the Globe by the Rumbes of the Mariner's Compass.

THe Cours of a Ship upon the Sea dependeth upon the Windes. The Designation of these, upon the certain Knowledg of one Principal; which considering the Situ∣ation and condition of the whole Sphere, ought in nature to bee North, or South. The North to us upon this side of the Line, the South to those in the other Hemisphere; for in making this observation, Men were to intend them∣selvs towards one fixed part of the Heavens, or other, and therefore to the one of these. In the South Part there is not found anie Star so notable, and of so near a distance from the Pole, as to make anie precise or firm Direction of that Winde. But in the North wee have that of the second Ma∣gnitude in the Tail of the Lesser Bear, making so smal, and, for the Motion, so insensible a Circle about the Pole, that it cometh all to one, as if it were the Pole it self. This pointed out the North-winde to the Mariners of old especially; and was therefore called by som the Load, or Lead-Star. But this could bee onely in the night, and not alwaies then. It is now more constantly and surely shewed by the Needle

Page 280

touched with the Magnete, which is therefore called the Load or Leadstone, for the same reason of the leading and di∣recting their Courses: in the Nature and Secret of which Stone, becaus the whole business of Navigation is so throughly concern'd, somthing is to bee borrowed out of that Philosophie.

The Original of the Mariner's Compass from the Magnetical Constitution of the Earth.

A Magnetical Bodie is described to bee That, which han∣ging in the Aërial or Aetherial Parts of the Univers, firmly seateth it self upon it's own Poles, in a Situation natu∣ral and unchangeable, consisting also of som such parts as se∣parated from the rest can take upon them the nature and conditions of the whole.

Under this Description the Magnetical Philosopher's com∣prehend the Globes of Saturn, Jupiter, the Sun, &c. but be∣caus these Bodies are placed so far above the reach of our Experience, and purpose; it shall bee sufficient to make the Description good upon the Earth.

To do this, I think I may suppose, First, that the Con∣stitution of the Whole Earth may bee gathered from the pre∣vailing parts, such parts especially as do bear upon them the Marks and Signatures of the Whole.

Then secondly, That the parts of the Earth, which lie couched about the Center, are not of a different or dege∣nerous compliance from these which lie scattered about the Surface; which if anie bodie list to rais suspicions upon, as Mr White hath don, they may; but I am sure they were no nearer Him, when hee lai'd the Foundations of the Earth, then wee.

The prevailing parts about the Surface of the Earth, are the Mines of Loadstone, Steel, Iron, &c. of all which, it is certain, that they are indued with a virtue Magnetical, which enableth them to place themselvs in a set position betwixt North and South: And not onely these, but even Claie it self, burnt to Brick, and cooled North and South, if it bee hanged up in a close place, and left to it's libertie, will seat it self in the same Situation.

Page 281

But the most vigorous Magnetes are the Stone and the Steel, the Stone especially: And the Steel hath a capacitie to receiv a stronger virtue from the Stone, whereby it more firmly seat∣eth it self in the North and South-Position of the Earth, directly pointing out those Windes to the Mariner; not in all parts directly, becaus in following the Constitution of the Great Magnete of the Whole Earth, it must needs bee here and there led aside towards the East or West, by the unequal temper of the Globe, consisting more of Water then of Earth in som places, and of Earth more or less Magnetical in others.

This Deviation of the Needle, the Mariners call North-Easting, or North-Westing, as it falleth out to bee; other∣wise and more Artificially, the Variation of the Compass; which though it pretend uncertainly, yet proveth to bee one of the greatest helps the Sea man hath; for the Degrees of Variation, which the place it self exactly observed, giveth him a shrewd guess of the same, when hee meeteth with the same Variation again, unless the Variation it self should bee subject to a Change of Admirable Diminutions as the Late Discoverer calleth it in his Discours Mathematical, &c.

This Needle, touched with the Stone, and directing to∣wards the North and South, the Mariners (as the Magnetical Philosophers) call their Directorie-Needle,* 1.9 not onely for the reason intimated, but to distinguish it also from their other, called the Inclinatorie-Needle, becaus it is also found that the Needle touched with the Stone, will not onely turn towards the North, but make an Inclination under the Horizon, as to conform with the Diameter or Axis of the Earth.

This Motion of the Needle was accidentally discovered by Robert Norman, a Man of great dexteritie in the framing and dressing up of the Mariner's Compass. It hapned to him, that, as often as hee had finished his Needles, and equally poized them upon their Pins, hee had no sooner touched them with the Stone, but still the North-Point of the Needle would forsake the parallel Site in which hee had placed it, and incline it self to the Axis of the Earth. The reason whereof not presently perceiv'd, escaped a while, with a conceit, as if the Artificer had deceived himself in ballancing

Page 282

the Needle; which therefore hee endeavoured to correct with a little peice of Wax stuck upon the lighter End (as hee took it to bee) till at last, beeing imploied in the framing of a Compass, the Needle whereof was to bee 6 inches in length, and having polished and levelled it with all possible care, and yet after the touching of it with the Stone, finding one end to weigh down the other, hee was forced to cut off som part of the heavier end, (as hee still mistook it) and so more, till hee had made the Needle unserviceable: whereupon, consul∣ting with som knowing Friends, hee was advised to make som Instruments to trie out the experience. And it was found to bee this verie Inclination to the Axis of the Earth, and proportionably, though not equally, answering to the Degrees of Latitude.

But this Inclination also, as the Direction, is variable, and for the same causses of the Earth's unequal temper.

But all that which I have said will more evidently and ex∣pertly appear, upon the Terrella, or little Earth of Load-stone.

As the Great Magnete of the Earth, so everie Magnetical part thereof, and everie part of that, hath Poles, Axis, Equator, Me∣ridians, and Parallels of it's own. The Magnetical Philoso∣phers therefore, to represent unto themselvs the Great Na∣ture of the Whole, take a strong small piece of a Rock, which having reduced into a Globous form, they first found out the Poles by the filings of Steel (or otherwise) which will all meet together upon the North and South Points. A Circle drawn equidistantly from these describeth the Equator. This don, they take a smal Steel wyer, of about half an inch long, and applie it to anie part of the Equator, and it will precisely turn towards the North and South Poles, which is Motion of Direction, and marketh out the Meridians of the Terrella. But supposing a Concavitie to bee let into this Little Earth, in anie part, either about the Equator, or be∣twixt it and the Poles: In that case the Needle will not point directly to the Poles, but will make a Variation; unless it bee placed exactly towards the Middle of the Concavitie, and then it maketh no Variation at all, but turneth directly, as

Page 283

before; which from the Causses justifieth the Directions, and Variations of the Compass, towards and from the Poles of the Earth.

Remove this Wyer from the Equator towards the Pole, and the one End of it will rise up as Norman's Needle did, and the other End will stick down upon the Stone, making an Acute Angle, and describing a Parallel. Remove it nearer to the Pole, and the Angle will bee less and less acute, till at a a certain Parallel it becom a Right Angle to the Stone. Re∣move it yet nearer, and the Angle will bee Recto Major, or more and more obtuse. Bring it up to the Pole it self, and it will there stand bolt upright, and make one Line with the Axis of the Stone; which maketh good the Inclination of the Needle to the Diameter of the Great Magnete: for if Norman had touched his Needle under the Line, it would have stood level upon the Pin without anie Declination at all. If hee had touched it in anie place beyond the Line, the In∣clination, would have been on the South side; but living here more towards this Pole, it must needs fall out as hee found it. Nobile experimentum, as Dr Gilbert cal's it, and hee is bold to saie, ut nullius unquam rationis aut mentis compos, &c. that hee who had considered of this, and holdeth not himself convinced of the Principles of Magnetical Philosophie, is not to bee taken for a man of sens or reason. I know what Scaliger saith to this; Gilbertus Medicus, &c. tres am∣plissimos Commentarios edidit, in quibus magìs mihi probavit Do∣ctrinam suam, quàm Magnetis Naturam; nam incertior sum quàm dudum. Wee know what hee meaneth by amplissimos: but why tres Commentarios? Sure the Man had not read all his Books, for the Dr wrote six: but England was a kinde of Nazareth to this Great Scholar; hee would not endure anie good should com out from hence.

But to give the Art and the Nation but their due:* 1.10 As there is no point of Philosophie so admirable and secret with Na∣ture as this; so none so immerst in visible practice and expe∣riment, and bred up from the verie Cradle to that growth and stature, which now it hath in this verie Corner of the World, by English Men.

Page 284

Manie other Experiments of great Wonder and Satisfa∣ction are made by the Magnetical Philosophers upon the Stone; but to the purpose I speak of, these are the Principal, which is, to give the Reasons of the Needles turning towards the North and South, which is the Original of the Mariner's Compass.

The North and South Windes thus assured by the Motion either of Direction or Variation of the Needle, The Mariner supposeth his Ship to bee, as it alwaies is, upon som Horizon or other. The Center whereof is that of the Ship.

The Line of North and South found out by the Needle, a Line crossing this at right Angles sheweth the East and West, and so they have the 4 Cardinal Windes; and the Indian * 1.11 Compass consisteth of no more. Cross again each of these Lines, and they have the 8 Whole Windes, as they call them. Another Division of these maketh 8 more, which they call the Half Windes. A third maketh 16, which they call the Quarter Windes; so they are 32 in all. Martin Cortez no∣teth, that som Mariners of his time divided that Division over again, and so the Compass consisted of 64 Windes: but hee noteth also, that this Division was more exact then for the Use. Everie one of these Windes is otherwise termed a several point of the Compass, and the Whole Line consi∣sting of 2 Windes, as the Line of North and South, or that of East and West, is called a Rombe. The Spaniards first gave that Name, as Peter of Medina taketh it upon them; yet not out of their own Language, but fancying to themselvs that the Lines of the Compass (as indeed they do) much resembled the Spars of a Spining Wheel, which in Latine is called Rhombus, from the Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to turn about, they call those Lines Rumbos: and the Word hath taken.

The Compass therefore is an Horizontical Division of the 32 Windes, upon a round piece of Pasteboard set in a Box, in the Center whereof upon a pin of Laten cinque bored, the Needle or Wyers, first touched with the Stone, are placed. This Box hangeth in another Box, between two hoops of Laten, that however the outermost Box bee tossed up and down by the Motion of the Ship, yet the innermost may alwaies hang

Page 285

level to the Horizon. It is placed in the middle of the Pupe, upon a right Line imagined to pass by the Main-mast through the Center of the Ship, and so putteth the Pilot in his Waie.

These Compasses are represented, as they may upon the Globe, by those Circles which you see divided into 32 Parts with their Fleurç de Lis, alwaies pointing to the North. And though the Windes are not set down by Name, yet they may bee fetched from the Horizon without the Globe. And the Rumbes are drawn out at length circularly, if the Cours bee upon a Meridian, the Equator, or anie other parallel; other∣wise they are Helispherical Lines, as they call them, that is, partly Circular, and partly Helical or Spiral, as you may see them described upon the Globe.

In the Globes set out by Saunderson and Molineux, you have the Courses of Sr Francis Drake, and Fourbisher's Voyages; and in Janson's Globe that of Oliver Van-Nort described by the Rumbes, whereby you may judg of the rest.

The Knowledg of all this is not of less use to the Geogra∣pher, then the other Description by Circles; aswel for the Rea∣ding of Sea-Voyages and Discoveries of New Lands and Passa∣ges, as for that the verie Descriptions of the Earth, for a great part, cannot bee made without references to the Water.

As the Earth and Water are wholly represented upon the Globe, so the whole,* 1.12 or anie part of either may bee described in Plano, or upon a plane Surface in a Map or Sea-Chart. And of these also somthing shall bee discoursed hereafter; for the present,

Thus much of the Description: now followeth

Page 286

The Use of the Terrestrial Globe; and first of the Rectification.

THe first care of this is to see that the Foot of the Globe stand level or parallel to the Horizon; for which pur∣pose som Globes have a Plumb-line, and there bee that advise for a Triangular Level of Wood, with a Plummet for the pur∣pose, to bee applied to anie part of the Horizon, after the manner as the Mechanicks trie their Planes: but the matter is not tied to such a severitie of exactness, but that a good Eie may pass for a sufficient Judg. The next thing is, that it bee placed in the North and South-Position of the Earth as di∣rectly as it may. This dependeth upon the knowledg of the Meridian of the place, but may well enough bee don by a Needle, whose Variation is known, such an one as is used to bee set upon the South side of the Foot of som Globes, for the same purpose: then lift up the North-Pole above the Ho∣rizon so manie Degrees as will answer to the Latitude of the Place unto which you mean to rectifie, which suppose to bee Oxford, therefore the Pole is to bee lifted up 51 Degrees, for that is the Elevation of this Place: then finde out Ox∣ford in the Globe, and bring it to the Brass Meridian, and there staie it with a piece of paper, or the like, put between the Meridian and the Globe: And you have set before you Oxford with the verie same and all respects of Situation upon the Globe, as it hath upon the Earth it self. And this is cal∣led Rectification, or right setting of the Globe.

Page 287

By the known Place to finde out the Longitude and Latitude, and by the known Longitude and Latitude to finde out the Place.

THese Terms of Longitude and Latitude are understood ei∣ther of the same or several Plates. In the first sens they are absolutely called the Longitude or Latitude of this or that place. In the other sens wee use to say, The Difference of Longitude or Latitude between such and such a place. The Longitude of this or that place is the distance of it from the Great Meridian, to the Meridian of the Place reckoned in the Degrees of the Equator. The Latitude of a Place is the Di∣stance of the Equator from the parallel of the place reckoned in the Degrees of the Meridian. Therefore if the place met with bee under the Great Meridian, it hath no Longitude at all, as the Hill in Tenariffe, unless it bee in respect of som other Great Meridian, as that by Corvo, or the other by St Mi∣chaël; and of such a place it will bee sufficient to know the Latitude. So again, if the place met with bee under the Equa∣tor, it hath no Latitude at all; and of such a place it s•••••••••• bee sufficient to know the Longitude. But if the place should fall out to bee in the verie Intersection it self of the Equator, and the Great Meridian it hath neither Latitude nor Longitude; and of such a Place it is sufficiently said, that There it is.

But if the known Place lie at anie distance from the Equa∣tor, it is but bringing it up to the Brass Meridian, and the Latitude is found by observing what Degrees the Meridian setteth off. Let Oxford bee the Place you meet with, turn the Globe till it lie precisely under the Meridian, and you will finde from the Equator 51 Degrees, 32 Minutes of Northern Latitude; and, by consequence, you also have the Elevation of the Pole: for that is alwaies equal to the Latitude of the Place.

With the same labor you may finde out the Longitude, if holding still the Globe you observ the Degrees of Interse∣ction

Page 288

cut off by the Meridian in the Equator: as put the case for Oxford still, it will bee found 22 Degrees from the For∣tunate Islands, saith Camden; from St Michaël in the Azores 'tis exactly true by which the Preface promised to go; but from the Fortunate Isles or the Pike in Tenariffe, not out 15.

In case anie of the lesser Meridians happen to pass through the Place, you may rekon of what number it is from the Great Meridian, as whether it bee the 3d, 5th, 9th, &c. and so manie times 10 Degrees, (for at that distance they are set) is the Longitude of the Place. The same cours may bee taken by the Parallels to account the Degrees of Latitude.

And as the Longitude and Latitude are found out by the Place known, so after the same manner anie Place may bee found out by the fore-knowledg of them. This fore-knowledg was first had by Observation of the Eclipses of the Moon, and the Meridian Altitude of the Sun or Stars, but may bee now more easily gotten out of the Tables of Peter Appian, Gem∣ma Frisius, Mercator, Ortelius, Tycho, and that annexed to Mr Hues his Treatise of the Use of the Globes, wherein the Longitudes and Latitudes of all the Principal Cities, Capes, Ri∣vers, &c. are set down, but not accounting all from the same Meridian, which therefore also must bee considered off: For the named Autors, Appian, Gemma Frisius, and Tycho reckoned from the Canaries, the rest from St Michaël in the Azores.

Of the Difference of Longitude and Latitude, and what is to bee observed in the con∣verting of the Degrees of either into Miles.

THe Respect of several Places one to another, is called the Difference of Longitude or Latitude, as the Latitude of Oxford is 51 Degrees, the Latitude of Durham 55. The Difference of Latitude is 4 Degrees. The Use of Longitude and Latitude, in the absolute sens, was to make out the Position of anie Place, in respect of the Whole Sphere. In this other

Page 289

meaning, the Intent is to shew the Situation and Distance of anie Place from and in respect of anie other. The Situa∣tion of a Place to another Place, is otherwise called the Angle of Position; but of the Distance first, and how that is to bee made into Miles.

The several cases put by the Geographers of this Difference, are either of Places differing in Latitude onely, or Longitude onely, or both. Places differing in latitude onely, are all such as lie under the same Meridian, but several Parallels. This may so fall out, as that either both the Places may bee in North, or both in South Latitude, or one of them in each. If both the Places lie in North or South Latitude, then it is plain, that if the lesser Latitude bee subduced from the greater, the Re∣manent of Degrees, multiplied into Miles by 60, sheweth the Distance, as the Isl' de Maio in the Latitude of 14 Degrees; and the Isle of St Michaël 39 Degrees, are both under the same Meridian: the 14 Degrees are the lesser Latitude, which taken from the 39 the greater, the remainder is 25, which multiplied by 60, giveth the Distance in Miles. If one of the Places lie in North, the other in South Latitude, add the De∣grees of both Latitudes together, and do the like.

The verie same Cours is to be taken, if the Places differ in Longitude onely, in case they both lie under the Line it self, becaus there the measure is in a Great Circle, as in the Meri∣dians of Latitude; but if otherwise it fall out to bee in anie Parallel, on this or that side of the Line, the case is altered.

Wee take for instance the Difference of Longitude betwixt London and Charlton, or Charls-Town, in Charlton Island, so honored with the Name of CHARLS Prince of WALES, by Captain Thomas James, at his Attempt upon the North-West Passage in the Wintering, the 29th of Maie, the Year 1632, which was the Daie of His Highness Nati∣vitie.

The Difference of Longitude is 79 Degrees, 30 Minutes, as it was taken from an Eclips of the Moon, observed there by the Learned Captain, Octob. 29, 1631, and by Mr Henrie Gellibrand at Gresham College at the same time. It is required that this Difference of Longitude bee converted into Miles.

Page 290

The Latitude of Charlton is 52 Degrees, 3 Minutes; that of London much about the same. Here the proportion of 60 Miles to a Degree, will over-reckon the Distance almost by the half. The reason whereof shall bee first reported out of the Nature of the Sphere.

However it bee certain, that the Artificial Globe (as the Natural is supposed to bee) is of a Form precisely round, and may bee drawn upon all over with Great Circles Meridional∣ly, yet considered from the Middle Line to the Poles, it hath a sensible Inclination or Depression of Sphere, as it is termed in their words, so that if the Artificial Globe bee turned about upon it's Axel, several parts of the same Bodie shall bee more swiftly moved then other at the same time; for it is plain, that the Equator is moved about in the same duration of time, as the smallest Parallel, but the Circumferences are of a Vast and Visible Disproportion, and therefore is not pos∣sible they should go an equal pace.

It is upon the same grounds, that the Autor of the Ʋse of the Globe per Terram mobilem will tell you, that in the Diur∣nal Motion of the Earth, though Amsterdam (in the same Latitude with Oxford) keep pace with the Isle of St Thomas under the Line, yet they are of a very different dispatch; for Amsterdam goeth but 548 Miles in an hour, whereas the Isle of St Thomas posteth over 900 Miles in the same space of time, which is after the rate of 12 Miles in a Minute, and more. And all this is true (that is true to the Paradox) from the Inclination of the Sphere: But more plainly yet.

Wee see that the Meridians upon the Globe are set at 10 Degrees Distance, but wee may perceiv too that this Di∣stance groweth less and less, as the Meridians draw nearer towards their concurrence in the Poles, as the Globe it self doth from the Equator upwards, and therefore the Degrees however accounted proportionable, yet cannot possibly bee equal in the Lesser Parallels to those in the Equator, but must needs make an orderlie Diminution from thence to either of the Poles.

When therefore it was formerly said that 60 Miles of the Surface of the Earthlie Globe answer to a degree in the Hea∣ven,

Page 291

it is to bee understood of the Degrees of a Great Circle, and so is alwaies true in those of Latitude, but in the De∣grees of Longitude it holdeth onely in the Equator it self, but in the Parallels more North, or South the proportion diminisheth from 60 to none at all. So that if I would con∣vert the Longitudes of the Molucca's, or anie other parts un∣der the Line into Miles, it is but multiplying the Degrees of Longitude by 60 and the thing is don; but if I would do the like by Oxford, or anie other place betwixt the Equator and the Poles, I must first know what number of Miles answereth to a Degree in that Parallel of Latitude. The knowledg of this dependeth upon the proportion which the Equator beareth to the Parallels, which is learned out by the skill of Trigonometrie, but need not now bee so hardly attained to; for the Proportions are alreadie cast up into a Table by Peter Appian in the first Part of his Cosmographie. They are there set down according to the Rate of German Miles, one of which maketh 4 of ours. According to our own Rate they are as followeth:

Page 292

The Proportion of English Miles answering to their several Degrees of Latitude.
Deg. of Lat. Miles Eng∣lish. Seconds.
1 59 59
2 59 58
3 59 55
4 59 51
5 59 46
6 59 40
7 59 33
8 59 25
9 59 16
10 59 5
11 58 54
12 58 41
13 58 28
14 58 13
15 57 57
16 57 41
17 57 23
18 57 4
19 56 44
20 56 23
21 56 1
22 55 38
23 55 14
24 54 49
25 54 23
26 53 56
27 53 28
28 52 59
29 52 29
30 51 58
31 51 26
32 50 53
33 50 19
34 49 45
35 49 9
36 48 32
37 47 55
38 47 17
39 46 38
40 45 58
41 45 17
42 44 35
43 43 53
44 43 10
45 42 26
46 41 41
47 40 55
48 40 9
49 39 22
50 38 34
51 37 46
52 36 56
53 36 7
54 35 16
55 34 25
56 33 33
57 32 41
58 31 48
59 30 54
60 30 0
61 29 5
62 28 10
63 27 14
64 26 18
65 25 21
66 14 24
67 23 27
68 22 29
69 21 30
70 20 31
71 19 32
72 18 32
73 17 33
74 16 32
75 15 32
76 14 31
77 13 30
78 12 28
79 11 27
80 10 25
81 9 23
82 8 21
83 7 19
84 6 16
85 5 14
86 4 11
87 3 8
88 2 5
89 1 3
90 0 0

Page 293

KNowing then the Latitude of Charlton to bee 52 De∣grees, and that of London much about the same: I enter the Table, where I finde the Sum of 36 Miles, or thereabouts to answer a Degree of that Parallel, therefore muliplying the Degrees of Longitude by 36, it giveth up the number of Miles from the Great Meridian to the Place.

And very fit it were that these Proportions were written upon the Horizon of the Terrestrial Globes, rather then the Calendars. And what els there is, confessed by themselvs to belong of right to the other Globe, and of little use to the Geographer, till this will bee, they may bee cut upon a Sil∣ver-Plate, or Ruler of Box, or som how, or other; for without this Table, the Use of the Globe, as to this Case of Difference, is as good as none at all.

The last Case is remaining, which is put of such Places as differ both in Longitude and Latitude; for the considerati∣on whereof the Geographers have devised several waies, as the Arithmetical waie; That by the Sphaerical Triangles, by the Semi-circle, &c. But the working by either of these is of more time and intricacie then was to bee wished. The readi∣est of all, and not much inferior to the certaintie of the rest is the Geometrical waie, as Peter Appian (one of the Fa∣thers of this Art) hath termed it; and 'tis no more but this: Let the two Places bee the Isle of St Thomas and Te∣nariff in the Canaries. Take your Compasses and set one Foot of them in Tenariff, the other in S. Thomas, and keep∣ing the Feet of the Compasses at the same distance, remove them to the Equator, or Great Meridian, and see how many Degrees they set off; for that number multiplied by 60 is the Distance of the two Places in Miles. The ground of this Rule is, that the Distance of all Places not differing onely in Longitude, are to bee understood to bee in a Great Circle, and it was known before, that the Degrees of such a one are severally answered by 60 of our Miles upon the face of the Earth. You may do the like in the Quadrant of Altitude as will bee seen in the next Invention.

Page 294

To finde out the Bearing of one Place from ano∣ther, and what is meant by the Angle of Position.

THe Zenith is the Pole of the Horizon through which the Astronomers imagin Circles drawn (as the Meridi∣ans through the Poles of the World) so dividing the De∣grees of the Horizon as to mark out the Site of the Stars from this or that Coast of the World. And becaus these Circles are supposed to bee drawn through the Semt, or Se∣mith Alros, that is The Point over the Head, or Vertical Point, The Arabians called them Alsemuth, we cal them stil Azimuths. And for that the Zenith Point still altereth with the Horizon, these Circls could not have been describ'd upon the Globes, but are represented there by the Quadrant of Altitude, which is the 4th part of anie one of those, and most properly ser∣ving the other Globe, yet upon the same ground is useful to the Geograher in setting out that Angle which is made by the meeting of the Meridian of anie Place, with the Vertical Circle of anie other and of the same, called therefore the Angle of Position, or Site. To finde this out you are to ele∣vate the Pole to the Latitude of one of the Places, then bring the Place to the Meridian, and it will fall out directly to bee in the Zenith of that Elevation upon this ground, That the Elevation is alwaies equal to the Latitude; then fasten the Quadrant of Altitude upon the Zenith, and turn it about till it fall upon the other Place, and the End of the Qua∣drant will point out the Situation upon the Horizon. Let the Places bee Oxford and the Hill in Tenariff, set the Globe to the Elevation of Oxford, that is 51 Degrees of Elevati∣on above the Horizon, then bring Oxford to the Meridian, and it falleth under 51 Degrees of Latitude from the Equator, therefore it is found in it's own Vertical Point 90 De∣grees equidistantly removed from the Horizon: Fasten there the Quadrant, and move about the Plate till it fall upon the Hill in Tenariff, and the end of the Quadrant where it touch∣eth

Page 295

the Horizon will shew that the Hill in Tenariff beareth from Oxford South South-West: and if you multiplie the the Degrees of the Quadrant intercepted betwixt the two Places by 60, you have the Distance in Miles, which was pro∣mised before.

If you finde, as you needs must, that the Proportion of Miles upon the Globe doth not alwaies answer to that which wee reckon upon in the Earth, you are desired not to think much; for when it is promised that 60 of our Miles shall run out a Degree of a Great Circle above, it is inten∣ded upon this Supposition, as if the Earth wee tread upon were precisely round as the Globe it self is, and not inter∣rupted with Rivers, Hills, Vallies, &c. which though they bear no proportion otherwise, yet becaus it cometh to pass by this that wee cannot set our cours in a Streight Line upon the Earth as the Demonstration is forced to presup∣pose, wee must bee contented if som difference fall out.

The more unhappie Difference will bee found in the Longitudes themselvs. The Difference of Longitude betwixt Rome and Norenberg (as M. Gellibrand hath already made the Observation) is according te Kepler, but 4 Minutes of Time: Lansbergh reckoneth it at 10 Degrees, Mercator at 12, Stadius at 18, Longomontanus at 16, Stoffler at 18, Ma∣ginus at 26, Werner at 32, Origan at 33, Appian at 34, Re∣giomontanus at 36: with discouragement enough it may bee noted, for the Places are verie eminent, and of a near Di∣stance: the Men professed able, and for the most part reckon∣ing from the same Great Meridian; and yet the less to bee wondred at, if wee consider how much in this case must bee taken upon trust, even by these Men themselvs. Wee must not think they all spake this of their own Knowledg, for it is certain the thing might have been, and is don, though not without anie at all, yet without anie considerable dis∣agreement. I saie the Longitudes for a very great part, are exact∣ly enough agreed on. The perfection is not one Man's, nor one Ages Work, and must bee waited for. It must not seem strange if I tell you that you may distinguish the more certain from the doubtful by their dsconvenience, for

Page 296

where you finde them to agree, you have caus to suspect (for the most part) that they have lien long upon the Lees of Time, not as yet enquired into. But if you finde them to disagree, you may conclude that they have been brought to a new Examination. And of these, you are to take the latest, and from such (if it may bee) as have don it by their own Observation, as out of the Tables of Tycho before others. The difference of Longitude by Tycho's Tables betwixt Rome and Norenberg is under 4 Degrees, which cometh nearest to Kepler, who also took it himself from two several observa∣tions of the Moon. There will still seem to bee som want of satisfaction, but it is sufficient for anie man to know in this as much as anie other man doth.

If you would convert the Degrees of Longitude into Hours (for this also may bee don as well into Miles) you are to allow 15 Degrees to one Hour, upon the Reasons taught before; and that which will bee gained by this is to know, by how much sooner or later the Sun Riseth, or Setteth to one Place then to another. As the Difference of Longitude betwixt Oxford and Charlton is 79 Degrees, 30 Mi∣nutes: that is, 5 Hours, 18 Minutes: and becaus Charlton lieth West from London, the Sun Riseth so much sooner here then there.

To finde out the several Positions of Sphere, Clime, Parallel, &c.

THe Latitude and Longitude of a Place once resolved upon, the other Accidents of Sphere will follow of themselvs: the Position of Sphere you cannot miss of, for if the Place you trie for have no Lati∣tude at all, you know alreadie that it must of necessitie lie under the Line it self, and therefore in a right Position. If it have less, or more the Position is oblique. If it have as much as it can have, that is the Whole Quadrant, or 90 De∣grees, the Position is Parallel; the reasons were told before, and may evidently bee discerned upon the Globe.

Page 297

For the Climes and Parallels, and consequently the length of the longest Daie, The fore-knowledg of the Latitude leadeth you directly, in case the Climes bee set down upon the Brass Meridian, or in anie void part of the Globe, other∣wise it is but entring the Table of Climes and Parallels pro∣portioned to everie Degree of Latitude, and you have your desire. And as by the Latitude you may finde out the Clime, so if it happen that you knew the Clime before, as it may in the reading of the Estats du Monde, or the like Descri∣bers, you may by the Clime finde out the Latitude; And you cannot know either of these, but you must needs know the Zone: And if you know that, you can as easily con∣clude upon the Distinction of Shadows, for you knew be∣fore that the Inhabitants of the Mid Zone are alwaies Ascii or Amphiscii; those of the two Extreme Periscii; those of the two Temperate or Intermedious, Heteroscii. To finde out the other Distinction of Habitation you may do thus: Let Oxford bee the Place; bring it to the Meridian, where you finde it to bee 51 Degrees lifted up above the Equator; ac∣count so manie Degrees of Southern Latitude below the Equator, and you meet with the Antaeci (if anie bee) in the Terra Australis incognita; remove Oxford from the Meridian 180 Degrees, and you shall finde your Periaeci under the Meridian where Oxford was before, about the Bay of S. Mi∣chaël in the Kingdom of Quivira, and your Antipodes in the place where their Antaeci stood before, but they are not, for the Place is covered over with Water.

There yet remaineth one waie of Description, but out of Curious Art, and of no great Instruction, yet becaus it is made use of by som Geographers, and not left out by M. Camden himself in his Britannia, I may tell what it meaneth.

Page 298

Of Astrological Geographie, and to tell under what Sign, or Planet, a Region, or Citie is subjected.

THe Wisdom of the Antients (it was called so) held an Opinion that not our selvs onely, the Little Worlds, but the Great Globe of the EARTH also is particu∣larly reigned over by the Dominion of the 12 Signs, and Influence of the 7 Planets; upon which Principle (as wee receiv it by Ptolomie's Tradition) they divided this Globe into 4 Quadrants by the Intersection of the Equator with the Great Meridian passing by the Canaries. Every of these Qua∣drants they again divided into 4 Trigons, consisting each of them of 3 Signs of the Zodiack, not orderly, but so as that everie Trigon night bee made up of one Fixt Sign, one Moveable, and the third Common, as they distinguish. The first Quadrant was reckoned from the Vernal by the Pole to the Autumnal Intersection, and was called the Quadrant of the Habitable World: for every one of the other three was to that Time a Terra incognita. The first Trigon of this Qua∣drant falleth to the Dominion of Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius. The Second to Taurus, Virgo, and Capricornus, and to the Influence of such Planets as are connatural to such Signs. So Britain France, Germanie, &c. fall to the share of Aries and his Planet Mars. Italie, Sicilie, &c. to Leo: Norwaie, Ba∣varia, &c. to Scorpio; and so forwards, concluding all, and every Part and Province of the Globe under one, or other of the Twelv. But this emptie Speculation stopped not here, but would make us believ too, that not Whole Countries onely, but everie Citie, Castle, Village, nay, not a private Hous, or a Ship that ride's upon the Oceän but is thus di∣stinctly governed by their Planets. They do it upon this ground: Those men allow as earnest a livelihood to the Beam in the Timber, and Stone in the Wall as to themselvs. And when the first Stone of a Building is laid, a Citie or

Page 299

Hous is said to bee born, and as Formal a Figure erected of that, as of the Owner's Nativitie.

The Emperor Constantine (though you would not think it) at the Building of his new Rome commanded Valens, (a named Astrologer of that Time) to Calculate the Nati∣vitie, and make Judgment of the Life and Duration of that Imperial Citie. The Asscendent was Cancer, and the Astrologer said that the Empire should stand 696 years, and (whether hee knew so much or not) hee said true; the Citie lived longer indeed, but all the rest was but labor and sorrow. And for a more private Mansion, there is yet now to bee seen the Nativitie of the Warden's Lodgings of Mer∣ton College in one of the Windows; the Horoscope the same with that of Constantinople; now look what Sign of the twelv shall bee found to rise up in the Horoscope or Angle of the East, that is the Sign-Regent of that Hous, or Citie. Pre∣pared thus, the Astrologers sit in Judgment upon the Inclina∣tions and Fatalities of States and Men: and how little soever it may seem to us, or bee in it self, it was of moment to som of old, for Tiberius (an Astrologer himself) had the Genitures of all his Nobilitie by him, and according as hee found his own, or the Kingdom's Horoscope to bee well, or ill look't upon by theirs, so hee let them stand, or cut them off by Legislative Astrolologie.

According therefore to this waie of Description, the King∣dom of England is Astrologically Sited in the first Trigon of the first Quadrant, under the Dominion of Aries for the Sign, and for the Planet Mars; or otherwise under the Dominion of Pisces, now in the Place of Aries, and the In∣fluence of the Moon and Mars. And Silen saith, that the Pla∣net of England is the Moon, and Saturn of the Scots: Ʋnde homines illius regionis (saith an old Astrologer) sunt vagi, & instabiles, ludibrio exponuntur, nunc ad summum, nunc ad imum delati. So the Jews and wee are governed by the same Stars equally, as Cardan is pleased to saie of us; * 1.13 A Rebellious and Unluckie Nation, ever now and then making of New Laws and Rites of Religion to the better somtimes, but for, the most part to the worst.

Page 300

Now take an Essaie by all the waies of Description in the Geographie of Oxford.

It lieth in an Oblique Position of Sphere in the Nor∣thern Temperate Zone: The Elevation of the Pole 51 De∣grees, 30 Minutes: the Longitude from the Great Meridian in Tenariff 15 Degrees: under the 8 Clime, and 16 Parallel: the Longest Daie 16 Hours. The Sign-Regent is Ca∣pricorn: the Noon-Shadows are Heteroscian: Wee are Pericoeci to the Baie of S. Miguel in Qui∣vira: Antaeci to the Northern parts of Terra Australis incognita be∣low the Promontorie: Wee are Antipodes to none.

Page 301

The Description and Ʋse of Maps and Charts Ʋniversal and Particular.

IT was said before that as the Whole Earth upon the Globe, so the Whole, or anie Part thereof may bee Described upon a Plane: And howsoever the Description by Globe bee confessed on all sides to bee nearest and most commensurable to Nature.* 1.14 Non facilè tamen (saith PTOLOMIE) magnitu∣dinem praebet quae suscipere possit multa, quae necessariò suo collo∣canda sunt loco: neque descriptionem, ut unico momento cerni va∣leat, toti figurae adaptare potest: sed alterum ad alterius designa∣tonem transferre necesse existit: hoc est aut visum, aut sphaeram: quorum neutrum descriptioni, quae in plano fit, accidit, sed modum quendam ad similitudinem sphaericae imaginis inquirit, ut distanti∣as quae in ea statuendae sunt, quàm maximè commensuratas faciat, ac secundùm eam apparentiam, quia cum vera conveniat.

This manner of Description hath multiplied into several waies of Device; not onely from the different Ingenies of the Artificers, but from grounds in the Art it self, and from the several extents of the Known World at several times. Possidonius conceived it into the Form of a Sling as the Archbishop of Thessolonica noteth to that of Dionysius, After 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Delineation whereof is made by the learned Bertius, who noteth also Ad Fundam Possidonii that Possidonius did not this out of ignorance of the Sphe∣rical form of the Earth, but pretending onely to exhibit as much of the World as that time was made acquainted with,

Page 302

which cast up together, was not much unlike to that Fi∣gure which hee fancied. Mercator describeth it under the Form of two Hearts, Orontius of one, and under the same Form is the Arabick-Map cited by Scaliger and James Christ∣man, and not wanting to our Publick Librarie, together with the Tabula Bembina,* 1.15 or Aegyptian Map of the World in Hieroglyphicks, wee are now for as great a reason to call it Tabula Laudina, by whose vaste expence and Providence wee are possest of that and the like Monuments of the rarest Learning.

Others have fancied som other waies; but leaving what may bee supererogated by Affectation, There bee two man∣ners of this Description according to Art. The first by Pa∣rallelogram: The other by Planisphere.

The Description of the whole by Parallelogram.

THe Parallelogram used to bee divided in the mid'st by a Line drawn from North to South, passing by the Azores, or Canaries for the Great Meridian. Cross to this, and at right Angles another Line was drawn from East to West for the Equator; then two Parallels to each to com∣prehend the Figure in the Squares, whereof were set down rather four parts of the World then the whole: And this waie of Description howsoever not so exact, or near to Natural, yet hath been followed even by such as still ought to bee accounted Excellent, though it were their unlucki∣ness to light upon those needie Times of Reformation that had to struggle with that great Neglect and Interruption which passed betwixt the Daies of Ptolomie and Our's. Mer∣cator himself, I mean, Peter Plancius and others of about that time, and more lately: And som of them did not perceiv but that the Meridians might be drawn Parallel throughout, utterly against the original Nature and Constitution of the Sphere, which the Plain Charts were bound to follow at the nearest Distance. Upon the Globe it self wee know the Me∣ridians about the Equinoctials are equi-distant, but as they draw up towards the Pole, to shew their distance is propor∣tionably

Page 303

diminished, till it com to a Concurrence; answer∣ably the Parallels, as they are deeper in Latitude, so they grow less and less with the Sphere; so that at 60 Degrees the Equinoctial is double to that Parallel of Latitude, and so proportionably. This is the Ground.

It will follow from hence, that if the Picture of the Earth bee drawn upon a Parallelogramme, so that the Meri∣dians bee equally distant throughout, and the Parallels equal∣ly extended; the Parallel of 60 Degrees shall bee as great as the Line it self▪ and hee that coasteth about the World in the Latitude of 60, shall have as far to go by this Map, as hee that doth it in the Equator, though the waie bee but half as long. For the Longitude of the Earth in the Equator it self is 21600; but in the Parallel of 60 but 10800, Miles. So two Cities under the same Parallel of 60, shall bee of equal Longitude to other two under the Line, and yet the first two shall bee but 50, the other two 100 Miles distant. So two Ships departing from the Equator at 60 Miles di∣stance, and coming up to the Parallel of 60, shall bee 30 Miles nearer, and yet each of them keep the same Meridians, and sail by this Card upon the verie same Points of the Com∣pass at which they set forth.

This was complained of by Martin Cortez and others. And the learned Mercator considering well of it, caussed the Degrees of the Parallel to encreas by a proportion towards the Pole.

The Mathematical Generation whereof M. Wright hath taught by the Inscription of a Planisphere into a Concave Cylinder, which becaus it cannot bee expressed in plainer Tearms, take here in his own words, Cap. 2. Of his Corre∣ction of Errors in Navigation.

Suppose (saith hee) a Spherical Superficies with Me∣ridian's, Parallels, Rumbes, &c. to bee inscribed into a con∣cave Cylinder, their Axes agreeing in one. Let this Sphe∣rical Superficies swell like a Bladder, while it is in blowing equally all wayes in everie part thereof (that is, as much in Longitude as Latitude) till it applie, and join it self (round about, and all alongst also towards either Pole) unto the

Page 304

concave Superficies of the Cylinder, each Parallel upon this Spherical Superficies increasing successively from the Equinoctial towards either Pole until it com to bee of equal Diameter with the Cylinder, and consequently the Meridi∣ans, stil widening themselvs til they com to bee so far distant everie where each from other, as they are at the Equino∣noctial. Thus it may most easily bee understood how a Spherical Superficies may by Extension bee made a Cylindri∣cal, and consequently a plain Parallelogramme Superfi∣cies, becaus the Superficies of a Cylinder is nothing els but a plain Parallelogramme wound about two equal equidi∣stant Circles that have one common Axetree perpendicular upon the Centers of them both,* 1.16 and the peripheries of each of them equal to the length of the Parallelogramme, as the distance betwixt those Circles or height of the Cylinder is equal to the breadth thereof.

In this Parallelogramme thus conceived to bee made, all places must needs bee situate in the same Longitudes, Lati∣tudes, and Directions or Courses, and upon the same Me∣ridians, Parallels, and Rumbes that they were in the Globe, becaus that at everie point between the Equinocti∣al and the Pole, wee understand the Spherical Superficies to swell equally in Longitude as in Latitude, till it join it self unto the concavitie of the Cylinder, so as hereby no part is any waie distorted or displaced out of his true and natural situation upon his Meridian, Parallel or Rumb, but onely dilated and enlarged, the Meridians also Paral∣lels and Rumbes dilating and enlarging themselvs likewise at everie point of Latitude in the same proportion.

What the Autor of the brief Introduction to Geographie meaneth, where hee saith, That this Imagination unless it bee well qualified is utterly fals, and make's all such Maps faultie in the situation of Places, I know not: The conceit I am sure is grounded upon the verie Definition of a Cylin∣der by the 21. lib 10. Euclid. 'Tis confessed to bee but Hy∣pothetical, which is ordinarie with Mathematical Men. The Business was (and it doth that) to bring the matter down to common apprehension.

Page 305

But however this Description of the Earth upon a Pa∣rallelogramme may bee so ordered by Art as to give a true account of the Situation and Distance of the Parts, yet it can never bee fitted to represent the Figure of the Whole.

The Description of the Whole by Planisphere.

THis way of Description rendreth the face of the Earth upon a Plain in its own proper Figure Sphe∣rically, as upon the Globe it self,* 1.17 the gibbositie onely allowed for: Sed quicunque (saith Bertius) Globum Terrae institueit in plano describere, deprehendet fieri id uno circuli ambitu non posse.

As near to a Circle, as it might, Ortelius and others have described it upon one Face. I have seen it don upon four Ovals, but keeping touch with the Nature of a Circle, and of the sphere it self, it cannot well bee contrived upon so few as one, or more then two.

Suppose then the Globe to bee divided into two equal parts or Hemispheres. This you know cannot bee don but by a great Circle. And therefore it must bee don by the Equa∣tor or Meridian, for (the Colure is all one with the Meri∣dian) the Horizon cannot fix, and the Zodiack hath nothing to do here. Res est admodum impedita (saith the same Ber∣tius) & per quam difficilis orbem terrarum ejúsque partes descri∣bere, & quod in natura cernitur exactè in Globo, aut tabula spe∣ctandum repraesentare observato partium omnium situ & figura, &c. cum suis Longitudinibus, Latitudinibus, Intervallis, & respectu ad partes Coeli, prima & naturae proxima ratio est Spherica: Se∣cunda ea, quae ad Sphaeram maximè accedit ducta in plano, vel Tabula, quam idcirco vulgus Planisphaerium vocat. Sunt autem ejus modi duo. Ʋnus qui Sphaeram secat in Equatore, & duo efficit Hemisphaeria plana quorum in singulis Polus centri loco est. Circulus autem Equinoctialis loco peripheriae. Alter, qui Sphae∣ram secat. In aliquo Meridiano ita ut Poli in singulis Hemi∣sphaeriis

Page 306

Hemisphaeriis supra infráque compareant in extremitate axis. First then

Of the Section by the Equator.

BUt before that, it must bee commonly said of both these Sections, that the Translation of a Sphere from its pro∣funditie to a Plain of two onely Dimensions, Lineal and Su∣perficial, hath its Generation and Flux (I speak it in their words) from Optical or Perspective Imagination. They would have you (and by the Law of Art they may in infi∣nitum & impossibilia postulare) to suppose the Eie placed near about the Center of a Sphere of Glass, inscribed with Meridi∣ans, Parallels, &c. in the direct manner as upon the Globe you see the Eie so placed within the concave of this Sphere and fi∣xed upon the Pole, will comprehend a Section upon the Plane of the Equator, describing the Meridians by Right, and the Parallels by Circular Lines: or fixed upon som point of the Equator, the Meridian which is drawn by that point and the Equator it self will appear in Streight, all the rest in Crook∣ed Lines; for, if the the Eie bee fixed upon anie point of the Equator, the Meridians and Parallels will bee transferred to Sight, so as to bee themselvs the Bases of so manie visual Cones, the tops whereof shall meet in the same point of the Great Meridian; or if the Eie be fixed upon the Pole, the Paral∣lels will present themselvs in like Cones, the sides whereof shall bee terminated by the Meridians, and therefore the Meridians ought to bee Streight Lines, and the Parallels Whole Circles.

The Projections are both according to Art; but becaus the comprehension thereof cannot bee familiar without saying too much to the purpose before hand concerning the Optical Pyramid, and the Angle of Vision, these things I require; and point you to a more capable waie of Con∣ception.

Suppose the Globe of the Moon in opposition to the Sun, then shee is at the fullest. Let her bee Rising up in the East, and by the help of Refraction appear, as somtimes shee doth,

Page 307

in Diameter so big as a Bushel (as the Countrie expresseth) suppose another World there, (som Brains do more then so) but do you onely suppose it; and suppose also this Lu∣narie Earth to bee written upon with Meridians, Parallels, and all other Distinctions of the Sphere, and as visible as the Bodie it self. The Globe of the Moon you may bee sure is as solid and gibbous as that of this Earth and Water, and yet it is presented to your eie in the figure of a Planisphere. The reason is out of Perspective from the infinite distance. If you grant (as you cannot denie) but that your Sight is deceived in the Soliditie, you may verie well suffer your self to bee cozened on in the Inscriptions. These Meridians and Parallels upon this Globe of the Moon, swell out there in whole Circles, in the very same manner as upon the Arti∣ficial Globe it self, and yet suppose them to bee drawn there by either of the two Sections the Equator or Meridian, as the bodie of the Moon it self seemeth to you flat, and yet is not, so the Meridians and Parallels would represent them∣selvs in the verie same figure and distance as you see them here below upon a paper Planisphere.

By this deceit you may perceiv what is meant by that, which would not look so plain, if it were expres't by the punctilio's of Art.

Suppose the Globe to bee flatted upon the Plain of the Equator, and you have the first waie of Projection, dividing into the North and South Hemispheres, as you may see here in the Map.

The Pole is the Center, the Equator is the Circumference divided into 360 Degrees of Longitude; the Oblique Semi∣circle from Aries to Libra, is the North-half of the Zodiack; the Parallels are whole Circles; the Meridians are Streight Lines; the Great Meridian is divided into 90 Degrees of Latitude (and passeth by the Canaries); the Parallels are Pa∣rallels indeed, and the Meridians equidistantly concur,* 1.18 and therefore all the Degrees are equal. After this waie of Pro∣jection Ptolomie describe's that part of the Habitable World, which was discovered to his time.

Among the late Geographers first, and almost onely Postel∣lus

Page 308

and the Noter upon him Severtius have much admired this manner of Section. The Noter saith, Sícque haec Mappa omnium praestantissima, quae veriùs quàm reliquae orbis planiciem refert, ob certissimos ac evidentissimos suos Indices plu∣res, faciliores, ac magìs ad oculum perspicaces, usus babet.

Since that, Berlius very earnestly and angerly recom∣mendeth it to the Mechanicks: Consulent sibi & publico (saith hee) si modum istum reddant familiarem. But of the o∣ther waie he saith, Hic autem modus cùm sit omnium nequissimus, est omnium operosissimus, & tamen hodie in maximo usu. Tantùm valet apud vulgus praeconcepta opinio: which though it may bee true enough, yet wee are to hear what Ptolomie hath to saie himself.

Of the Section by the Meridian.

HEe confesseth the other waie to bee easiest, but Porrò similiorem etiam (saith hee) & magìs commensuratam de∣scriptionem orbis in Tabula faciemus, si Lineas Meridianas imagi∣natione concipiamus ad similitudinem Linearum Meridianarum in Sphaera, ità ut aspectus, seu oculorum axis in Sphaerae positionem penetret, & per Sectionem quae ad asspectum est Meridiani qui Longitudinem terrae cognitae in duas dividit partes, & Paralleli, qui & ipse bifariam ejus Latitudinem, nec non centrum spherae, quo ex aequo termini oppositi visu comprehendantur, & appa∣reant, &c.

Quod verò talis descriptio sphaericae formae similior sit quàm prior, per sese patet: quoniam si Sphaera fixa maneat, & non cir∣cumvolvatur, quod & tabulae contingit necessariò, quum per medi∣um descriptionis visus constituitur, unus quidem medius & meridi∣anus per axem asspectuum seu visûs in planum cadens in imaginatio∣onem rectae prebet Lineae: qui verò ex utrâque hujus parte sunt omnes, ad ipsum secundùm concava conversi apparent & magìs illi, qui plus ab eo distant, quod & hic observabitur, cum decenti convexi∣tatam analogia.

Suppose the Globe to bee flatted upon the Plane of the Meridian and you have the other waie of Projection. The Equator here is a Streight Line; the Great Meridian a whole

Page 309

Circle; the Lesser are the more, so as they com near to the Great: Therefore that which passeth by the point of con∣currence in the Equator, and divideth the Longitude of either Hemisphere into two equal parts is a Streight Line; and Ptolomie saith, that this is the more natural waie of Descri∣ption; and yet it is certain that in this Section the Meridi∣ans do not equi-distantly concur. The Parallels are not Pa∣rallels indeed, and therefore all the Degrees are unequal.

However this later waie is that which is now most, and indeed altogether in use.

Example of this in the Description of the Planispherical Map of Hondius.

THen holding our selvs to the more usual waie of Pro∣jection instead of anie other (for the difference would not bee much) wee set before us the two Hemispheres of Hondius of the year 1627 projected upon the Plane of the Meridian, you may understand it thus. Take the Globe out of the Frame and bring the Great Meridian to the Brass Meridian and you have the East and West Hemisphere. Sup∣pose these two Hemispheres to bee flatted upon the Plane of the Meridian, and the Imagination produceth these two faces of the Earth presented upon the Map.

The Great Meridian passeth by St Marie and St Michaël of the Azores, as you may see in the North-West Quadrant of the East Hemisphere. And yet the Description subjoined to these Hemispheres reckoneth Longitude from the Isles Corvo and Flores, and to make you sure that it doth so, it is said there about the later end, that in the Azores the Compass va∣rieth not at all (about Fayal and Flores) and that for no other reason hee took the Longitude of the Map from thence, and not as Ptolomie from the Canarie Isles. The Mistake is too great to fall from his own Pen; but it seem's the Descripti∣on was made for som other Map of Hondius where the Me∣ridian passed by the Azores, and ignorantly afterwards intru∣ded upon this, by the Printers or som others, if it were not so the oversight is the greater.

Page 310

This Meridian is of necessitie doubled upon the Plane, and yet is to bee supposed as one, which is easily don, if you reflect your conceit back upon the Nature of the Sphere, for do but fancie the two Faces into a Globe again, and the two Meridians will becom one. You are to conceiv as much upon the lesser Meridians: And you maie see too that they do not equally concur, for those two which are drawn quite cross to the Equator, precisely in the middle from 90 to 90, are straits Lines; all the rest as they more depart from the strait Lines, so to follow the Nature of the Globe they are more and more Circles, and at a farther distance.

In the Northwest Quadrant of the East Hemisphere, you have the nine Southerly Climes set down, as in the brass Meridian of Saunderson's Globe. The Northern Climes the Autor thought not fit to distinguish, but in the East Semi∣circle of the same Hemisphere, you have the length of the longest Daie in hours and minutes, to everie several Degree of Northern, and of Southern Latitude, which by a more exact and shorter cut, doth the Business of the Clime and Pa∣rallel without more ado, which therefore by som are ac∣counted but superfluous Terms of this Art.

In the East Semicircle of the other Hemisphere you have the proportion of English Miles to the several Degrees of Lati∣tude for both Quadrants, to the use whereof there is nothing here anew to bee said.

The Line crossing the two Hemisphers is the Equator, in the Degrees whereof the Longitude is to bee reckoned from S. Michael; and so the Latitude in the Great Meridian, no otherwise then as it was taught upon the Globe it self, though not with equal Art and assurance from the rea∣sons of Deficiencie in this waie of Projection rendered before.

Neither ought any thing to bee repeted over upon the Zodiack, the Tropical, the Polar, or Parallel Cirles, for they are all the same, and of the same use as upon the Globe, the Cards, and Rumbs are alike.

The little Circles or Roundlets dispersed here and there about the Hemispheres for the most part give account of the

Page 311

several Degrees of Variation of the Compass in North-ea∣sting or North-westing, as also in what Places there's no Variation at all, so as the Straits of Magellan the Roundlet there saith, Ad fauces freti Magellanici deviatio Acû 6 Grad. Orientem versus; That the Needle North-easteth six De∣grees.

In the Southern Quadrant of the Eastern Hemisphere you have set down three wayes of measuring the Distance of Places. The first performeth by a Globe: the second by an Astrolabe: the third by a Semicirle: but the second and third, as not of that readiness in working as the first, may bee passed over.

The first in effect is the Geometrical waie, Accipe Globum, quamvìs exiguum, &c. Horidius adviseth you to have a kinde of Terella, or little Globe, not adorned with all the requi∣sites of the Sphere, but onely traced over with Meridians, the Equator, and the Parallels: the Meridian and Equator to bee divided into Degrees. No more but so, Let the two Places into whose Distance you enquire bee London and Pa∣ris, finde the Longitude and Latitude of both the Places in the Planisphere; then again finde the same Longitude and La∣titude upon the Globe, then set one foot of your Compass up∣on the Place where London, and the other foot where Paris should bee upon the Globe, and bring your Compass with that Distance to the Equator: And the Degrees intercepted, multiplied into Miles by 60, shew the Distance. This is as much as to tell us, that in measuring the Distances of Pla∣ces there is no great trust to bee had to any Planispherical Projection whatsoever: for though that by the Section of the Equator bee nearer to the Sphere then this by the Se∣ction of the Meridian, yet they are both equally engaged in this Imperfection that they cannot satisfie for the gibbositie of the Globe.

Page 312

The Description and Use of Particular Charts.

PArticular Maps are but Limbs of the Globe, and there∣fore though they are drawn asunder, yet it is still to bee don with that proportion, as a remembring Eie may suddenly acknowledg, and join them to the whole Bodie.

They are most commonly described upon a Parallelo∣gramme, but their relation to the Bodie it self is not to bee judged by this. It is not don to that end, but that beeing but Parts and Members severed from the Whole, they yet might make shew of as great an appearance of Integritie as could bee allowed.

Their Place in their Bodie is to bee esteemed from their proper Lineaments, drawn within the Square, that is, such Portions of Meridians and Parallels as they consisted of in the Globe it self.

Briefly to the Constitution of a particular Chart, These Moments especially make up the Projection, the Graduation, The Reference to the great Meridian, the Scale, and the Compass.

* 1.19The Projection is most commonly (as I said) upon a Parallelogramme, somtimes inscribed with an Oval, as the Map of Flanders, and Germane Basse in Ortelius; or upon a Circle, as that of the North Pole in Mercator's Atlas: And becaus no Region is exactly square or round, so much of the bordering Territories are usually thrust in, as may not onely declare the Bounds, but fill up the Square too.

The Projection is mainly concerned in the fore-knowledg of the Longitude and Latitude of the Countrie: And the Latitude is to bee expressed by Parallels from North to South, as the Longitude by Meridians from West to East, each of them at 10 Degrees distance, or the Meridians at 15, as the Geographer shall pleas, and may bee drawn either by Circle, as the Maps of Asia and America in Ortelius his Thea∣trum;

Page 313

or by right Line, and that either extended, as in the Map of Africa there, or onely begun upon the Parallelo∣gramme, as in the Map of Europe; and then the two extreme Parallels may bee the North and South sides of the Paral∣lelogramme: but if they bee right Lines, they are not (that is, the Meridians are not) to bee drawn direct or parallel, but inclining and concurring to confess the Na∣ture of the Whole, whereof they are such parts, and the named Parallels are more notably to bee distinguisht then the rest, if they have place in the Map, as in that of Africa you have the Equator, and both the Tropicks either gra∣duated, as the Equator, or drawn double at least, as the Tropicks, &c.

For the Graduation.* 1.20 The Degrees of Longitude are most commonly divided upon the North and South sides of the Parallelogramme. The Degrees of Latitude upon the East and West sides, or otherwise upon the most Eastern and We∣stern Meridian of the Map within the Square, as in the De∣scriptions of Ptolemie continually; or if the Projection bee upon a Circle, as that of the North Pole in the Atlas, the Degrees of Longitude are set upon the uttermost Parallel, and those of Latitude upon a portion of the Great Meri∣dian, answerable to the Semidiameter of that Latitude. And the Climes maie bee set down to the Degrees of Latitude, as in the Description of Portugal by Vernandus Alvarus. But it hath seemed good to som Geographers, nay, even to Or∣telius himself in these particular Descriptions for the most part to make no Graduation or Projection at all; but to put the matter off to a Scale of Miles, and leav the rest to bee beleev'd. Whether this or Mercator's waie in the Atlas were more Artificial, I will not judg in the caus of the King of Spain's Geographer.

For the first Meridian,* 1.21 It is a fault you will more general∣ly finde, that there is verie seldom any expression of that Reference, so that though there bee Graduation, and the Longitude set before your eies, yet you will finde your self uncertain, unless it bee told you before, that the Longitudes in Mr Camdem, Speed, Nordon, and the late English Descri∣bers

Page 314

generally are taken from Mercator's First Meridian, by S. Michael in the Azores, though som of them indeed (and not M. Camdem onely, but such too as made it their busi∣ness to do otherwise) have proposed the Matter in effect to bee don by the Canaries as the Autor of the Brief In∣troduction to Geographie, (if I understand him) in these words.

Ʋpon the Globe there are manie (Meridians) drawn, all which pass through the Poles, and go North and South; but there is one more remarkable than the rest drawn broad with small Divi∣sions, which runneth thorough the Canarie-Islands or Azores, Westward of Spain, which is counted the first Meridian in re∣gard of reckoning and measuring of Distances of places one from another; for otherwise there if neither first nor last in the round Earth: But som place must bee appointed where to begin the Ac∣count: And those Islands have been thought fittest, becaus no part of the World that laie Westward was known to the Antients fur∣ther than that: and as they began to reckon, there wee follow them.

But as concerning Mercator himself you have more to look to. Mercator's constant Meridian was that by S. Mi∣chaël, and so you will finde it in the Atlas, set out by Rumul∣dus. But in that of Hondius Edition lately translated into English, you will finde it otherwise, though you shall see too in what a fair waie you are to bee deceived of this also.

In the Description of Island, pag. 33. The Book saith, It is situated not under the first Meridian, as one bath noted, but in the eighth Degree from thence. To which the Margin (but not knowing what) saith,

That this first Meridian is a great Circle rounding the Earth from Pole to Pole, and passing thorough the Islands called Azores, and namely the Isle of S. Michaël, as the same Noter to pag. 10.

Hee might think hee went upon aground good enough; for in the seventh Chapter of the Introduction, Mercator himself, saith thus:

Ptolomie hath placed the first Meridian in the Fortunate Isles; which at this daie are called the Canaries. Since, the Spanish Pi∣lots

Page 315

have placed it in the Isle of Goss-hauks, which in their Lan∣guage are called Assores, and som of them placed it in the middle of Spain, &c.

Now wee must hold (saith hee) that the Longitude is a certain space or interval of the Equator closed between Meridians, the one from the Isles called Azores, from whence it taketh the begin∣ing; the other, from that Place or Region, whereof wee would know the Distance.

And yet for all this the Longitudes in that Book are ac∣counted from the Canaries, as you may see in the East He∣misphere, and in the general Description of Africa. The Editioner Hondius would have it so, and (which is marvel the Marginal Noter could chuse but know) hee himself in the verie Begining maketh this Profession of it;

Ptolomie, saith hee, and wee in this Book do make the Longi∣tude to bee a segment of the Equator comprehended betwixt the Meridian of the place, and the Meridian of the Fortunate Islands, for from these Islands the Begining of Longitude is taken, &c.

Having saved you this Labor in Mercator, you may now bee told what is to bee don with Ortelius.

For his own Descriptions hee alwaies taketh to Ptolomie's Meridian by the Canaries, as you may see in his Ʋniversal Face of the World, and in the General Description of Africa, to the Description of Hispaniola, Cuba, Culiacan, &c. hee gi∣veth this Admonition.

Sciat Lector Autorem Anonymunt, qui hanc Culiacanam re∣gionem, & has insulas perlustravit, & descripsit, Regionum Longitudines, non ut Ptolomaeus aliíque solent; à Fortunatis insulis versus Orientem sumpsisse, sed à Toleto Hispaniae umbilico Occi∣dentem versús ex Eclipsibus ab ipsomet observatis deprehendisse.

The like Note hee affixeth to the Description of New-Spain: his meaning in both is, to let the Reader know that the Describer (who ever hee was) did not in these Maps ac∣count the Degrees of Longitude, as Ptolomie, from West to East, and from the Fortunate Isles; but from East to West, and from the Meridian of Toledo Hispaniae Ʋmbilico; which is the meaning of Mercator, when hee saith, That som of the Spanish Pilots placed the Great Meridian in the middle of

Page 316

Spain. And if you look upon the Longitude in the North and South sides of the Parallelogram, you shall see the De∣grees reckoned backwards contrarie to the received manner of Graduation. It is no verie hard matter to reduce these Longitudes to the ordinarie waie, but rather then so, your may have recours to the Later Description of America, by Leat and others.

For the Scale, in particular Maps extending to a con∣siderable portion of Longitude and Latitude, it dependeth for the ground upon the Degrees of the Great Circles, and the Proportion of Miles in several Countries to anie such Degree. But in Lesser Descriptions it hath more to do with the known distance of anie two, or more places experimentally found, or taken upon trust of Common Re∣putation.

Here it is not to bee thought that the Longitudes and La∣titudes of all Places in a particular Chart need to bee taken, but of the Principal onely, the rest to bee reduced by the Radius, the Angle of Position, and the like; and much also in this matter useth to bee given to the Common Suppu∣tation; all which, the last especially are the Causses why the Maps agree no better, for of all other the Account of the Common People is most uncertain.

The French Cosmographer of Amiens before named, when hee took upon him to finde out how manie of their Leagues answered to a Degree, took his Journie from Paris as directly under the Meridian as hee might, till hee rode 25 Leagues according to the Account of the Inhabi∣tants of the Place. Nec tamen vulgi supputationem satiatus (saith hee) vehiculum quod Parisios rectâ viâ petebat conscendi in eóque residens tota via 17024 ferè rotae circumvolutiones col∣legi, vallibus & Montibus (quod facultas nostra ferebat) ad aequalita∣tem redactis. Erat autem rotae illius diameter sex pedum, séxque pau∣lò magìs digitorum geometricorum, ob ídque ejus ambitus pedunt erat viginti seu passuum quatuor. His ergò revolutionibus per quatuor ductis reperi passus 68096 qui milliaira sunt Italica 68, cum passibus 96. In his return to Paris hee took Coach, the Diameter of the Wheel was 6 foot and a little more, there∣fore

Page 317

the Circumference 20 foot, that is, 4 paces. Hee rec∣koned upon the waie 17024 circumrotations of the Wheel, which multiplying by 4 the Numerus factus was 68006 pa∣ces, which amounted to 68 Miles Italian, and somwhat more. And yet according to Common Supputation they that reckon most, reckon but 25 Leagues to a Degree, and 60 Miles to 25 Leagues 8 Miles less. The Cosmographer addeth indeed, that by the same experiment hee sound, that the French-League was of a greater proportion then two Ita∣lian Miles.

If it could bee exspected that so exact a cours might bee taken in all particular Mensurations, wee might put the more trust in the distances, and yet you see wee might fail too. It is enough in such a case to know the reasons of those uncertainties where the thing it self is so in∣superable.

The Difference of Miles in several Countries is great, but it will bee enough to know that the Italian and English are reckoned for all one, and four of these make a German Mile; two, a French-League; three, and somwhat more, a Spanish-League; the Swedish, or Danish Mile consisteth of five Miles English, and somwhat more.

Now as the Miles of several Countries do verie much differ, so those of the same do not verie much agree: and therefore the Scales are commonly written upon with Ma∣gna, Mediocria, Parva, to shew the Difference.

Of Common English and Italian Miles 60 (as you know already) answer to a Degree of a Great Circle: 68 saith Fernelius: it ought to bee 63 and somwhat more by the Se∣midiameter of the Earth, as it was taken by Mr Edward Wright near Plimmouth-Sound; dut 60 is most commonly beleeved and is the proportion (which in a verie small matter) receiv∣ed by Ptolomie himself from Marinus the Tyrian with this ap∣probation:* 1.22 Sed in hoc quoque rectè setit partent unam qualium est circulus maximus trecentorum sexaginta, quinginta in terra constituere stadia, id enim confessis' dimensionibus' consonum existit.

Page 318

Of common Germane Miles 15 answer to a Degree; of common French-Leagues 25; of Spanish-Leagues 17; of Swedish and Danish 10.

In som Maps you shall finde the Miles thus hiddenly set down, as in that of Artois in Ortelius and elswhere. And the meaning still is, that you should measure the Milliaria magna upon the Lowermost Line, the Parva upon the uppermost, and the Mediocria upon the Middlemost.

Scala Milliarium.
[illustration] scale of miles

1 2 3 4 5 6

In som other Maps, as in that of Westphalia in the same Autor, you will finde the Scale written upon with Milliaria magna, mediocria, & Horae itineris. To which you are to note, that som Nations measure their waies by hours, con∣cluding of the Distance from the time spent in the going, the proportion whereof may bee gathered from this note upon the Description of Helvetia. Continet autem Milliare Helveticum, ut nunc utuntur, spacium duarum horarum equestris; duarúmque & dimidiae pedestris itineris. Computantur ergò octo millia passuum Italicoram pro uno milliario Helvetico.

Therefore one Hour-Mile of a Journie upon Hors, an∣swereth to four English Miles: And yet it is set down be∣fore the Atlas that the proportion of Itinerarie Hours to a Degree is 20: They cannot both bee true, 'tis enough to shew how uncertain this waie of measuring needs must bee.

For the Use of the Scale it is but setting one foot of your Compass in the little Circles of the places and bringing the Compass kept at that Distance to the Scale, and you have the number of great or middle Miles, according as the In∣habitants of those places are known to reckon.

The Compass is set down to shew the Bearing of Places,

Page 319

and by what Winde and Waie the Mariner is to shape his cours from Port to Port, as in the Universal Maps and Globe it self.

Example of all this in the Description of Saxton's Map of England and Wales.

ALl this may bee exemplified in som one Particular Chart. The example useth to bee given in the De∣scription of France, but might more properly bee made upon a Map of our own Countrie. There bee several of these as that of Humfrey Llyid, that of Wortnel, Mr Speed's Descriptions and others; but wee chuse that of Saxton, a man recommended unto us by Mr Camden himself in the Preface to his Britannia.

Nonnulli erunt fortasse qui Tabulas chorographicas hîc exspectent quas lenocinante picturâ oculis esse jucundiores, & in his Geogra∣phicis studiis plurimùm interesse fateor; maximè si mutis Tabulis literarum etiam lumen accedat. Hoc taemen praestare facultatis non est nostrae; & Angliam accuratissimè in Tabulis seorsim ornatis∣simus Vir Thomas Seckfordus Regiae Majestati à supplicum Libellis, suis impensis, & Christophori Saxtoni optimi Choro∣graphi operâ, magnâ cum laude descripsit.

Saxton drew up Typographical Descriptions of this King∣dom by the Shires and Counties into a set Volume of Tables; but whatsoever can bee severally said of them may better bee spoken all at once upon his great Chorographical Map of the Whole. A Description, which if it exceed not (as I think it doth) yet may compare with anie particular Ta∣ble made or to bee made of anie Countrie whatsoever.

The Description is of England onely and Wales, that it might bee the more exact and useful, which exspectation is so accurately answered that the smallest Village may bee turn'd to there; Henxey or Botlie, as well as Oxford.

It is describ'd upon a Parallelogram: the North and South sides are Parallels of Latitude divided into Degrees of Longitude. The East and West sides stand for Meridians, and

Page 320

are divided into Degres of Latitude, and everie Degree sub∣divided into 60 Parts but so, that a Degree of Longitude answereth but to so manie parts of a Degree of Latitude, as it ought in that Parallel. The Parallels as the Meridians are set down at one Degrees distance: the Parallels are Parallels in∣deed; the Meridians are Streight Lines, but more and more concurring from South to North, as is required from the nature of the Sphere.

The Latitude of the Countries is from 50 Degrees 8 Mi∣nutes to 55 and 50 Minutes. The Longitude from 17 to 25 Degrees and 9 Minutes: And 'tis reckoned from St Micha∣ël and St Maries in the Azores, as the Geographer himself there expresseth: Longitudinis gradus ab eo Meridiano capiunt initium qui per Divae Mariae Insulam transit, quae omnium Azorearum ma∣ximè ad Orientem vergit.

The middle Parallel of the Parallelogram is at 53 Degrees of Latitude and passeth by Newcastle upon Tine. The Middle Parallel of the Countrie it self is somwhat of a Lesser Lati∣tude, and may bee imagined to pass a not much besides Tid∣burie Castle in Staffordshire, as Mr Norden thought. And in∣deed Staffordshire hath been antiently accounted the Middle of England: and the Inhabitants of that Shire are called by BEDE Angli Mediterranei.

The Scale of Miles is answerable to one Degree of Lati∣tude, and is also divided, as they, into 60 Parts. And a Degree of Longitude answereth to so manie Parts of that 60, as it ought in the Parallel of 50 Degrees of Latitude, that is 38 Miles or thereabouts; and therefore the graduation both of the Scale, the Parallels, and Meridians is exact and according to Art. And in measuring the Distances of the Places, 'tis all one to set the Compass upon the Minutes of Latitude as upon the Scale it self.

In finding out the Longitude, or Latitude of anie Citie or Town in the Map, the manner is the same as in anie other, for the Longitude is to bee reckoned in the North and South sides, the Latitude in the East and West sides of the Paralle∣logram.

But the Situation and Distance of the Places in a particu∣lar

Page 321

Chart are most of moment, the Situations are plain. The Distances in this Map, where I could prove them ex∣perimentally, for the most part were found true. They cannot bee exact in anie Map whatsoever, as Mr Norden himself, who labored much in this matter maketh his complaint in that necessarie Guide, added to a little, but not much augmented, by the late Editioner. The setting down of the places themselvs in the void Angles of the Squares pretend's verie well, but there was not room for the purpose; yet in one respect the New Book bettereth the Old, in that the Bearing of Places is annexed by an expression of the Points of the Compass upon everie Square.

In som Maps of Particulars Countries you may possibly finde the Meridians drawn directly without anie hope of Concurrence. And Ptolomie saith it maketh no matter so this caution bee observed: Preterea nil referet si aequidistantibus usi fuerimus Meridianis Lineis rectis, quoque Parallelorum dum∣modo solùm partes distantiae Meridianorum eam rationem sumant ad distantias Parallelorum quam maximus habet Circulus ad illum Parallelum, qui in Tabula hâc medius erit.

It is all upon the first main ground of the Depression of the Sphere, which in anie Descriptions in anie considerable Distance from the Line, cannot really bee made good upon a Plane, but it to bee answered by proportion; for which caus Marinus the Tyrian condemned all Descriptions in Pla∣no; but Ptolomie shewed his Error. And from the same Principle is to bee deriv'd the understanding of those Titles written over som Descriptions in the Atlas, as to that of Bellovacum, or the Countrie of Bollonia. The Description is, The Meridians thereof are placed at the Parallels 50, & 45. So to the Description of the Landgraviate of Hessen; The Title is, The Meridians are distant according to the proportion of the 510 Parallel to the Great Circle. The Autor himself giveth you the reason of it in his Admonition set before the De∣scription of France, pag. 242.

Page 322

Of Topographical Maps, and for an Example the Description of Middle sex by Mr Norden.

* 1.23NOw that you may not bee mistaken in Terms, the De∣scription of the Whole whether by Parallelogramme, or Planisphere is most rightfully called Geographie in Plano.

Geographiae proprium est (saith Ptolemie) unam & conti∣nuam terram cognitam ostendere quemadmodum se habeat naturâ & positione.

The Description of anie verie great part of the Earth, as France, England, or the like, is most properly called Chorographie.

Ptolomie himself goeth no further in distinctions; for ha∣ving said, That Geographie is an imitation of the Picture of the Earth, with intimation of reference to the drawing of the lesser Worlds; hee addeth, Porrò finis Chorographicus connexione particulari continetur, veluti si quis aurem tantùm aut oculum imitetur. And indeed the Tables of Ptolomie needed no other Difference in terms. But the late Geographers fin∣ding it fittest of all to make Descriptions of small Parcels of the Earth, as Shires and Counties to us, the Circles of the Empire in Comparison to the Greatness of that, and the like; They have fallen upon a third member of this Di∣vision, calling these kinde of Descriptions Topographie, though Ptolomie did minutissimas proprietates Chorographiae at∣tribuere. And the word it self will not allow of anie verie great Distinction from the other, if it had not been gained upon by Use.

Now as there is no Chorographical Map or Description of the whole Region, or Countrie of this Kingdom can bee more exactly according to Art, or according to Industrie more particularly performed than that of Saxton, so for the Descriptions of the Shires or Counties thereof (which must then bee called their Topographie) No man whatsoever

Page 323

hath lighted upon a more exact and present waie of Deline∣ation then the Industrious Norden.

The intent of this Man was to make an absolute Descri∣ption of the Whole, and everie part of this Kingdom of Great Britain: It pleased him to call this purpose, Specu∣lum Britanniae. The first Part whereof (which is onely com∣pleted) affordeth us a general Description of the Kingdom, with a particular Description and Topographical Table of Middlesex. The Table is projected upon a Parallelogramme, the sides whereof are divided into Miles, so that though the sides look like Meridians and Parallels; yet they are not so, but a meer Scale, from which therefore are drawn cross the Table small black equidistant lines, looking also like to Parallels and Meridians, but serving onely for the readier taking of the Distances, the Divisions of these Lines from East to West standing for two, from North to South for four Miles. The Letters upon the East and West side, and figures upon the North and South side, serv for the finding out any place by the Direction of the Alphabet: For Ex∣ample, The Alphabet, saith Brentford. H. 12. See H in the East or West side, 12 upon the North or South side, and then by the Square made by the black Lines you fall upon the Place. The Figures here and there about, which in the Parallelogramme, 2, 3, 4, 5, and to 11 Note out the Prin∣cipal High-Waies from London thorough Middlesex, as num∣ber the 4 by Northolt is to shew the waie to Ʋxbridg, and so to Oxford, &c. This is told you in the Speculum, fol. 49. a. And these High-Waies are distinguished out by the Lines of Points; for that of One is to define out the Bounds of the Shire, as you may see upon the West side it passeth by the River Colne to Shyreditch, &c. The Capital Letters A, B, C, &c. are to distinguish the Hundreds of the Countie, as the Speculum saith, fol 13. A.

The Compass of 8 Rumbes in the North-East Angle of the Map is of the same known use as in any other.

Thus had this indefatigable Man intended to all the Shires of this Kingdom, and hee seemeth to intimate in the Preface to his Guide, as if the Maps were fully finished. And yet there

Page 324

are but verie few of them to bee commonly met with, but for Alphabetical Descriptions (the most usefull waie that ever was or could bee devis'd, especially in small Geographie. I think the Work never went further then Middlesex (for ought at least as I can finde.) The Greater or Less.

Of the Resemblance of Countries, and to other things in Art or Nature.

ANd this also as a Cerimonie of the Art is not to bee omitted. That the Geographers in their Descriptions not unusually (where it may stand with any due proporti∣on) do fancie the fashion of this or that Countrie to bee like such or such a figure, elswhere found in som other things Natural or Artificial: our own Island useth to bee like∣ned to a Triangle, and it doth not much abhor from that Figure.

Antiquissimi Scriptores in Polydore Virgil have resembled the Vectis Insula or Isle of Wight to an Egg. Peloponnesus of old hath been likened Platani folio to a Plantane Leaf. Strabo like∣ned Europe to a Dragon. Som of late have likened it to a King's Daughter. Spain to bee the Head. Italie the Right Arm, Cymbrica Chersonesus the Left, France the Brest, Germanie the Bellie, &c. Asia by som is likened to a half Moon. And of Africa one saith, That it is like the Duke of Venetia's Cap. The same Strabo compared Spain to an Ox-hide stretched out. Plinie and Solinas likened Italie to an Ivie-leaf, but the late Geographers more comparablie to a Man's leg.

This is the rather noted, becaus som Maps also are drawn according to this manner of Fancie, as that of Belgia by Ke∣rius within the Picture of a Lion; for so those Countries have been resembled.

This cannot alwaies fall out, for when Maginus cometh to tell the Form of Scotland, hee could liken it to nothing at all.

Page 325

Of the old and new Names of Places, and other Artificial Terms met with in the Maps.

IN reading the Descriptions you will finde great differ∣ence betwixt the New and Old Names of the Places, as for Hispalis of old, the new Descriptions read Sevil: for the Adriatick, Sea, Golfo di Venetia: for the Baltick, Mar de Belt, and the like.

In the Descriptions themselvs distinction is most com∣monly made of this, if the Describers bee as they should; but in the Maps it is not (indeed it could not bee) so usual∣ly observed. To supplie this, you have the Introduction to Geographie by Cluverius, where the Old and New Names are still compared, the omission whereof is no small fault in som Describers of our own.

But especially for this purpose is the Thesaurus Geographi∣cus Ortelij. A Geographical Dictionarie so called, and is a pre∣sent Satisfaction in this case.

You will meet also with certain Terms of Art, (so after a sort they may bee called) as Sinus, Fretum, a Baie, The Streights, and the like; and though it seemeth to belong unto this place to tell what they are, yet will it not bee much to the purpose to make so diligent an enumeration as som would have us, of the Terms Natural and Artificial in Geographie and Hydrographie. In the Natural appertaining to the Earth to tell what Nemus, Saltus, Arbustum, Virgultum, &c. the difference betwixt a Bush and a Shrub: In the Arti∣ficial to go down from Regnum, Territorium, &c. to Vicus, Pagus, Villa, Tugurium, and to saie that the definition of a Cottage is Rustica habitatio tecta ulvâ palustri. In the Natural Terms, Ad aquam spectantibus; Mare, Fretum, Sinus, &c. till you com to Torrens, Palus, Stagnum, Lacus, Rivus. Nothing but a Ditch left out. And Rivus is so called, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, be∣caus it runneth along. In the Artificial Terms you are there taught the exact Description of a Cistern, of a Fish∣pond and a Sink, and all this under the Title and Prote∣ction

Page 326

of Geographie. But excepting those, which you can∣not chuse but know; these are the Terms.

* 1.24An Island. Strabo called the Whole Globe of the Earth by this Name, becaus it is encompassed round by the Ocean. This then may bee the Great Island. The Less are such parts of the Great, as are surrounded by the Waters. It is called by the Italians, Isola; by the French Isle; by the Spaniards Ysla; by the Dutch Insel and Eijlandt, all which (the Maps so severally naming according to the Countrie) is not told you in vain.

* 1.25A Continent, or Part of Land not separated by the Sea, as the Continents of Spain, France, &c. The Belgians call it Landtscap sonder eylandt, A Landskip or Region with∣out an Island. It admitteth of another Sens in the Law: For Ʋlpian said, Continentes Provincias accipi debere, quae Italiae conjunctae sunt. Tryphon. de Excusat. Tutor. L. Ti∣tius, Testamento Romae accepto aut in continentibus, subaudi locis.

It is otherwise termed, Terra firma; by the French, Terre ferme; by the Italian, Terra ferma; by the Spaniards, Tierra firma, the firm Land. In Greek it is called, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Epirus, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (saith the Autor de Mundo) 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in Insulas & Continentes divisit.

Peninsula, or Penè Insula. An Island almost, onely in one part joining to the Continent,* 1.26 and that part useth to bee called Isthmus,* 1.27 or otherwise, A Neck of Land: Est an∣gustia illa intermedia inter Peninsulam, & Continentem, & velu∣ti quaedam Cervix, quae à Continente, velut à corpore gracilescens Pe∣ninsulam cum Continente tanquā caput cum reliquo corpore connectit.

The digging thorough of these Necks of Land hath been often undertaken, but not without a secret kinde of fatalitie.

The most famous Isthmus accounted is that of Corinth, hindering the Peloponesus from beeing an Island, and so put∣ting the Ships to a Circuit about; and therefore (as you may observ Plinie to saie) Demetrius Rex, Dictator Caesar, C. Princeps, Domitius Nero, perfodere tentavere infausto (ut omnium patuit exitu) incoepto. Dion saith that Nero's under∣takings were entertain'd with a spring of Blood first, and

Page 327

after that auditi mugitus, ululatúsque flebiles, visáque formidabi∣lia Spectra & Simulacra multa, horrible and fearful yells were heard, and manie formidable apparitions seen. Yet Demetrius is said to have desisted by the advice of the Artifi∣cers, who brought in word that the Baie was higher upon the Corinthian side, which would not onely prove dange∣rous by Inundation, but make the Streit unserviceable when the work was don.

Herod of Athens, Nicanor, Seleucus,* 1.28 and others are summed up by Rhodiginus for the like Attempts, and same success: And Philip the second of Spain had once in his minde to cut through that Streight of Land (I may call it so) betwixt Panma and Nombre de dios to make that vast Peninsula of Sou∣thern America (as but for this it were) an Island; but upon further consideration hee fell off from the Design.

The like undertakings were forbidden the Cnidians by the Oracle of Apollo; and Pausanias thinketh hee can tell the rea∣son: Quoniam rebus divinitus constitutis manum injicere non licet.

And yet the Arabick Geographer not having heard of anie such things, tell's the Cutting of the Streits of Gibralter, but like another storie: Indeed hee saie's 'twas don by Ale∣xander the Great, Qui operariis, atque Geometris ad se convo∣catis suum de acida illa terra fodienda, & canali aperiendo animum explicuit praecepitque illis ut terrae solum cum utriusque maris aequo∣re metirentur, &c. The sum is, that by the help of Alabii the Geographer, and other Mathematicians hee brake through the Isthmus and made it a Streit of Water.

For the Metaphor the Physicians are even with the Grammarians, for Galen saith,* 1.29 Tonsillas esse locorum ad Isth∣mum pertinentium inflammationes. Per Isthmum verò oportet in∣telligere partem illam quae eos & gulam interjacet, quae per Meta∣phoram quandam ità nominatur abiis, qui propriè dicuntur Isth∣mi. Sunt autem angusti qui dem terrae transitus inter duo maria sitae. And Julius Pollux hath it, Guttur propter angustias Isthmum dici.

A Promontorie: Mons in Mari prominens,* 1.30 A Mountain or Head of Land butting out upon the Sea. Sceglia sepra ac∣qua in mare, otherwise Capo: so the Spanish El Capo de tier∣ra en mari, A Cape or Head of the Earth in the Sea. 'Tis commonly noted in the Tables by the first letter of the

Page 328

word C, as in the Map of Africa in Ortelius, C. de buona speransa, Caput bonae spei, or The Cape of good Hope. As they set down R for Rio Rivus: R. de la plate, The Plate River: P for Port, P. Grande, P. del Nort, &c. Y, or Ya for Ysla: Y del Poso: Ya del Principe and the like.

* 1.31An Isthmus, or Streit of Water. Mare angustum, & quasi brachium Maris interceptum inter duo littora. So callled à fremi∣tu Maris, for which caus in the High Dutch it is called De Sund, from the Antient Saxon suno, as Kilian hath noted: Sond or Sund saith hee, Vet. Sax. Fretum.

You meet it often in the Dutch and Danish Maps, as Mil∣varts sont, Golber sont; but especially that most famous Streit upon the Baltick Sea, which not unlike the Castles upon the Hellespont commandeth all the Ships in their pas∣sage. It is called by them Sond, or Sund: by us the Sound. Instead of Fretum the Italian writeth Streto, or el Streto: the Spaniard Estrecho, as Estrecho di Gibralter: Gibraltarec it should bee, as was formerly noted, for the Mountain (from whence the Streit is named) is so called by the Arabick Geo∣grapher, and hee saith also that the Gebal (so they cal a Moun∣tain) was named from Tarec, the son of Abdalla, who made good the Place against the Inhabitants.

* 1.32A Creek or corner of the Sea insinuating into the Land. It is otherwise called Baia, a Baie: a Station, or Road for Ships: a Gulf, as Golfo di Venetia, Golfo de S. Sebastiano, &c.

* 1.33A Peer from Petra, becaus of the Congestion of great Stones to the raising up of such a Pile. 'Tis a kinde of smal Artificial Creek or Sinus, as the Peer of Dover: the Peer of Portland, &c.

The Concernment of All This.

THe things wee talk of all this while how like soever they may look to a Book-man's business, yet are such of themselvs as Kings and Princes have found their States concerned in.

* 1.34Zonaras will tell you that in Domitian's time it cost one Metius his life 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 for having a Map of the World hanging in his Chamber. The fault indeed was that (as common fame ren∣dred

Page 329

him) hee was thought to asspire to the Empire; of the truth whereof, it was taken to bee a suffici∣ent assurance, that hee should have so dangerous a thing about him as the picture of the Provinces.

Of what importance Julius Caesar, Antonine, and the other Emperors held these Descriptions is manifest by their very own Itineraries yet to bee seen. Felix Maleolus in his Dialogue of Nobilitie mentioneth a Description of all the World (the known Alì as then) begun by Julius Caesar, and finished by Augustus, in which hee saw set down Gentes & Civitates singulas cum suis distantiis.

The Tabulae Putingerianae annexed to the Descriptions of Ptolomie by Bertius are famous in this kinde. The Notitia utriusque Imperii singularly to the same purpose. Alexander the Great went upon no Design without his Geometers, Be∣ton and Diognetus. They are called by Plinie Mensores Itinerum Alexandri, and their Descriptions were exstant in his time.* 1.35

The great Defeat given at the Streights of Thermopylae only for want of cunning in the Passages is notoriously known. But the Experience of these things is harder by. Not a daie of these wee have now, but needeth thus much of a Ge∣ographer. And for want of such help Julius Caesar, Quando voluit Angliam oppugnare refertur maxima specula erexisse, ut à Gallicano Littore dispositionem civitatum,* 1.36 & castrorum Angliae praeviderit, possent enim erigi specula in alto contra civitates con∣trarias, & exercitus, ut omnia quae fierent ab inimicis viderentur, & hoc potest fieri in omni distantia qua desideramus; &c. saith Roger Bacon in his Perspectives.

It is propounded by a man ingeniously enough conceited, as a device nothing besides the Meditation of a Prince to have his Kingdoms and Dominions by the direction of an able Mathematician,* 1.37 Geographically described in a Garden-plat∣form: the Mountains and Hils beeing raised like small Hil∣locks with Turfs of Earth, the Vallies somwhat concave within: the Towns, Villages, Castles, or other remark∣able Edifices, in small green mossie Banks, or Spring-work proportional to the Platform: the Forrests and Woods represented according to their form and capacitie, with Herbs and Stubs, the great Rivers, Lakes and Ponds to

Page 330

dilate themselvs according to their cours from som Artifi∣cial Fountain made to pass in the Garden thorough Chan∣els, &c. All which may doubtless bee Mathematically counterfeited, as well as the Horizontal Dial, and Coat-ar∣mor of the Hous in Exceter College Garden.

It is known too that a Gentleman of good Note not far from this place caussed the like Geographical Descriptions to bee curiously wrought upon his Arras, wherein hee behold∣eth the Situations and Distances of the Countrie, as truly and more distinctly than in any Map whatsoever.

* 1.38The Autor of the compleat Gentleman telleth of a Pack of French Cards which hee hath seen, The four Sutes changed into Maps of several Countries of the four parts of the World, and exactly colored for their Numbers, the Figures 1, 2, 3, 9, 10, &c. set over their Heads. For the Kings and Queens the Portraictures of their Kings and Queens in their several Countrie habits, for the Knaves their Peasants and Slaves, &c.

It is certain that the greatest and most publick affairs of any State have their dependance upon forreign Cases past, or especially present. There is not so great an alteration in the Whole, as som Men think. The Carriage of Mat∣ters in times-by gon are not so unlike the things wee now presently do, as not to give us aim at the least. The Great is the same World, as the Little is the same Man, though now more stricken in years; and moreover the Compari∣son faileth in this, that in everie Age som men have attein∣ed to their own ripeness, though to that of the Whole Great Man none could but the Grandees of the Present. It yield∣eth thus much, that the Face and Picture of all instant Acti∣ons may bee seen by reflection in the future; or if the same Age look upon the Turk, or Venetian upon us, and wee upon them the like, or not much less, will bee the necessities of conversation with Record and Storie. There can bee nothing don in that, without an interview of the Places which must needs bee seen either with our own Eies there, or with other Men's in a Map.

FINIS.

Page [unnumbered]

Page [unnumbered]

Page [unnumbered]

Notes

Do you have questions about this content? Need to report a problem? Please contact us.