The compleat book of knowledge: treating of the wisdom of the antients and shewing the various and wonderful operations of the signs and planets, and other celestial constellations, on the bodies of men, women and children; and the mighty influences they have upon those that are born under them. Compiled by the learned Albubetes, Benesaphan, Erra Pater, and other of the antients. To which is added, the country man's kalendar; with his daily practice, and perpetual prognostication for weather, according to Albumazar, Ptolomy, and others. Together with a catalogue of all the market-towns, fairs, and roads in England and Wales. All those who peruse this book, must own, that it the knowledge gives of things unknown.

XIII. An Explication of the Circles of the Sphere, and some other Terms in Astronomy, for the easier Ʋnderstanding of this Book, and fur∣ther Information of the Reader.

THe Equinoctial Circle, Equator, or Equi∣nox, is a great Circle or Line, equally distant from the two Poles of the World, dividing the Sphere in the midst.

Zodiack is a broad Oblique Circle crossing the Eq••••noctial in two opposite Places, viz. in the beginning of Aries, and the beginning 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Libra; so that one half declines towards

the North, the other towards the South; ••nd in this Circle is comprehended the ••welve Constellations or Signs, every Sign containing thirty Degrees in length, and ••welve in breadth. Note also that the first ••ix are Northern Signs, and the six last Southern Signs.

The Ecliptick Line is a line imagined to go ••long the midst of the Zodiack, as a Girdle, ••ut of which the Sun never goeth; but the Moon and other Planets are sometimes on ••ne side, and sometimes on the other side, ••hich is called their Latitudes; only the ••xed Stars alter not their Latitude, whether ••reat or small; but the Longitude of a Star, •••• the Arch or part of the Ecleptick in De∣••rees, between the beginning of Aries, and ••••e Circle which passeth through the Poles ••f the Zodiack, and also through the Body ••f the Star; where note that all Circles of ••••e Sphere or Heavens, whether they are ••••rge or small, have three hundred and sixty degrees allowed to each of them.

Colures are said to be two great moveable ••ircles, crossing each other at the Poles of ••••e World, one cutting the Equinox at the ••eginning of Aries, and at the beginning of ••ibra, and the other cutting the Ecleptick, the beginning of Cancer, and at the begin∣ning

of Capricorn; and so dividing the Globe into four equal parts.

Horizon is a great Circle which divideth the upper Hemisphere (that is the uppe•• Hall of the World) from the lower, we be∣ing always supposed to be in the midst.

Meridian is a great Circle passing throug•• the Poles of the World, and the Poles of th•• Horizon, called the Zenith and the Nardi•• (which are two Points, one directly ove•• our Heads, the other directly under our Feet) on which the Sun always is just at Noon; an•• to go directly North and South, the Meri∣dian is not changed; but to go East or West it is changed; so sixty Miles either way maketh one Degree, or four minutes of Tim•• difference under the Equinox, viz. sixt•• miles Eastward, it is Noon four minute sooner, and sixty miles Westward fou•• minutes later.

Tropicks are supposed to be two lesse Circles parallel with the Equinoctial, an•• distant from it on either side twenty thre•• degrees, thirty one minutes each; the Eclip∣tick Line toucheth the Tropick of Cancer•• on the North side of the Equinal; and i•• toucheth the Tropick of Capricorn on th•• South side thereof; so that the Sun ha•••• his motion between these two Circles.

The Arctick Circle is equally distant from the North Pole, as the Tropicks are distant from the Equinox, twenty three degrees thirty one minuets.

The Antarctick Circle is the same distance from the South Pole.

Zones, so called, are five in Number, two cold, two Temperate, and one Hot, which are divided by the two Tropicks, and Poler Circles from each other; the hot Zone is counted between the▪ two Tropicks; that is, extended from one to the other, being about forty seven degrees two minutes broad; the Temperate, Zones are Extended from the Tropicks on either side, to about forty two degrees fifty eight minutes; that is, Northward, to the Arctick Circle, and Southward to the Antarctick Circle: And the two cold Zones are each within those two small Circles, having the Poles for their Center.

The Poles of the World, two Points ex∣actly oppose to each other in the Heavens, one in the North, the other in the South, the Earth being in the midst; so that it seems to turn about, as if it were born up by them; therefore by some it is termed the Axle-tree of the World, as if there were a Line sup∣posed to be drawn from one Pole, through

the Center of the Earth to the other, and the Earth turning thereon; tho' holy Writ tells us, The Lord hangeth the Earth upon Nothing, it being upholden by his Mighty Power. The Pole Arctick, or North Pole, is elevated above our Horizon fifty one Degrees; and those Stars within that distance from it, never set with us, but keep their Course round it daily; so likewise those that are at that distance from the South Pole, never rise with us, but per∣form their Course in the like order.

Azimuths are supposed Lines or Circles of Distance from the Meridian, drawn from the Zenith to any Degree, or two Degrees of the Horizon, or according to the thirty two Points of the Marriners Compass, so that in Traveling or failing any way, sup∣posing a Circle to go from our Zenith di∣rectly before us to the Horizon, is the Azimuth, called the Vertical Point, as well as the Zenith.

Almicantharats, or Almadarats, or Circles of Altitude, are imagin'd Circles, passing through the Meridian, parallel with the Horizon.

The Sphere is a round Body, representing the Frame of the whole World, as the Cir∣cles of the Heavens and the Earth: This is sometimes called a material Sphere, for the

Orbs of the Pianets are called their Spheres, that is, the Circles in which they move.

Ascention is the Rising of any Star, or of any part of the Ecliptick above the Ho∣rizon: Descention is its going down.

Right Ascention of a Star, is that part of the Equinox that riseth or setteth with the Star in a Right Sphere; but in an Oblique Sphere, it is that part of the Equinoctial in degrees contained between the first Point of Aries, and that place of the Equinoctial which passeth by the Meridian, with the Center of the Star

Oblique Ascention is a part of the Equino∣••tial in degrees, contained betwixt the be∣ginning of Aries, and that of the Equinox; which riseth with any Star or part of the Ecliptick, in an Oblique Sphere.

Ascentional Difference is the Difference be∣••wixt the Right and Oblique Ascention, or he number of Degrees contained between ••hat place and the Equinox, that riseth with ••he Center of a Star, and that place of the ••quinox that cometh to the Meridian with ••he same Star.

Solstice is in the Summer, when the Sun in the beginning of Cancer; and in the ••inter, when the Sun enters into Capri∣••rn; because then the Days seem to stand

still, and neither seem to increase nor de∣crease above two minuites in ten or twelve Days.

Constellation is a certain number of Stars, supposed to be limited within some form or likeness, as Aries the Ram is said to have thireen Stars, Taurus the Bull, thirty three Stars. Arcturus, Orion and the Pleides, men∣tioned Job 9. 9. are said to be Constella∣tions.

Perihelium is the Point wherein the Earth, (or any Planet) is nearest the Sun.

Aphelium is the Point wherein the Earth (or any Planet) is farthest from the Sun.

Planets, are the seven erratique or wan∣dering Stars, called Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Sol, (or the Sun) Venus, Mercury, and Luna (or the Moon) whose Characters, Names and Natures we have mentioned before, and whose Influences we shall by and by give you a farther Account of. These Planets have also their several Motions, as,

Direct, is a Planets moving in its natural Course, which is forward.

Retrograde is their moving backward, contrary to their direct Motion.

Combust is their being under the Sun∣beams, or within eight Degrees of him.

Oriental is when a Planet riseth before the Sun; Occidental, after him.

Latitude of the Earth, is the distance or breadth on either side of the Equinox to∣wards the Poles; and they that are under the Equinox have no Latitude, but the Poles of the World are in their Horizon; this is a right Sphere, and every sixty Miles directly North or South, are said to make one Degree or Latitude, and the heigth of either Pole above the Horizon, is answera∣ble to the degree of Latitude in an Oblique Sphere; as London is counted to be in La∣titude of fifty one Degrees thirty two Mi∣nuits, the Pole there being elevated as much. The like is to be observed in any other place or Region.

Longitude of the Earth, is the out-side thereof, extended from West to East, cros∣sing the Latitude at right Angles, the begin∣ning thereof (according to some Astrono∣mers) is the Canary Isles, so going East∣ward quite round the World, unto the same place again, which is three hundred and sixty degrees, and under the Equinoctial is reputed to be two Millions one Thousand six Hundred Miles, re••koning sixty Miles to a degree; but the farther off the Equi∣noctial, the fewer Miles are in a degree; for at London about thirty seven make a de∣gree of Longitude; so these degrees grows

less and less, until they all meet in the Lati∣tude of Ninety, that is, under the Poles.

Parallels are Lines straight or circular, equally distant from each other, as the E∣quinox, Tropicks, and Degrees of Lati∣tude, &c.

Climate, or Clime, is such a space of Earth comprehended between two Parellels, in which space there is half an Hour's differ∣ence in the Sun-dials, and length of the Days.

Antipodes are those whose Feet are direct∣ly against ours, as if a Line were drawn from one, through the Center of the Earth, to the other.

And this shall suffice as to the Explanati∣on of things, which I have done as briefly as I could, for the Advantage of the Rea∣der, to whom possibly these things (so ne∣cessary to be known) may have hitherto been concealed.