The first lecture, of geographie,: (vvhich is a description of the terestriall globe) / read publickly at Sr. Balthazar Gerbier his accademy, at Bednall-Greene.

The publick Lecture of an Introdu∣ction to Geographie (which is a description of the Terestriall Globe) read publickly at S^r. Balthazar Gerbier his Academy at Bednall Green.

AS Plato did refuse the entry into his Academy, to those that had not studied Geometrie; which findes the contents of all sort of quantity: It may justly be said, that Fathers of Families ought not to suffer their Sonnes to engage themselves to tra∣vell untill they have first studied, not onely their own home, but made themselves acquainted with those parts they are bound for; and to have pitcht on the best of that study: not as some Germains, over curious to note Steeples, and bare names of Towns (besides those of Hosts, and the places where the best wines are) but the constitution of Empires, States, and Nations: As it is an approved prudence to enquire after the qualities and ends of men, before we treate with them.

Now as the Academie thought it most fit to begin the opening of Lectures with an Introduction to Cosmographie (which is a description of the whole world, and consequently, that great look∣ing-glass declaring the marvellous works of God) To proceed with Geographie is also thought convenient, for that it proves as the Eye of History, representing unto us in a moment that accomplisht master piece, in English, the description of the Earth. This art com∣prehends first the Chorographie, which describes some part of the Earth, or some Kingdome.

Secondly, the Topographie, which describes a Citty, or some other place, with the adjacent neighbour-hood.

And thirdly, Hydrographie, which describes particularly the water, and its parts.

Wee must not make any scruple to say that to contract under our sences the diversitie of so many Monarchies that are on the Earth, and with a cast of an Ey of ones imagination, to represent to ones self all what the life, of number of men, and their great journeyes could not so truly performe, must needs be termed a kinde of borrowing from the all knowledge of God, in whose sight all things appear.

And as he hath put in man a minde full of knowledge; that there is nothing which fits him better then those objects, which may administer unto him a more perfect knowledge of things created; for that he seeth thereby the works of the maker, and reciprocally the maker by his works, Domine, Dominus noster quam admira∣bile est nomen tuum in universa Terra? And thereby man see∣ing such great wonders frames his minde: For as from Infants, we become men; of Ignocents, reasonable; so by study, wee become from ignorant, intelligent.

And to this, Geographie serves for easie steps, to those that have their naturall sence of sight; for that by those conducts or Chanals our minde is filled with a true discernment of all what appears on the superficie of the Earth; the division of Nations, and Shires; the situations whereof would otherwise be confused unto us, and conse∣quently would not prove of that use it is to a good Christian Tra∣veller.

Geographie is divided in two principall parts, in Geometricall and Historicall.

THE Geometricall, distinguishes and describes all the surface of the Terestriall Globe, by certaine imaginary circles and lineaments, which doe mark the longitude and latitude; and the principal parts in the which it can be divided, to discourse of it in order and clearly.

The Historicall Geographie, describes the proprieties of every Region, its situation, its Mountains, Forrest, and Ri∣vers; the temperature of the Ayre, the nature of the Soyle; what Metals, and what Plants it produceth, what Fruits, what Animals; of what complection the inhabitants are, what their Religion is, the form of their Politick State, their means, their forces, what Towns, and what Castles there are, &c.

On the surface of the Terestriall Globe, there are Poles, Hemisphears, Circles, Zones, Climats, Parallels, Degrees, Inhabitants, Regions, Windes, and Measures.

Poles are the extremity of an imagenary straight line pas∣sing through the Center of the Earth; the one is Artick, and the other Antarctick.

The Artick Pole is that which appeareth alwayes in our Hemispheare, and is named in diverse manners, as Borealis, or Boreus, and Aquilonaris of the Northern Winde, which blows from that part. It is also called Septentrionalis, of the seven stars, by the Latins called Triones, and by us vulgar∣ly the Chariot.

The Antarck Pole is that which is Diametraly opposed

to the Article Pole, it is also by the Latins called Australis, and Austrinus, and Notius, of the wind Auster, Notus, and Meridionalis, which is the South wind, its that which is never seen in our Hemispheare, But hidden under the Horizon.

Hemispheares are half Sphears.

The Circles are divided into great, and little.

The great Circles have their center equall with that of the Earth, which they divide in two equall Parts, there are six, The Equinoctiall, the Zodiack, the Meridien, the Horizon, and the two imperfect Circles.

The little Circles have their Center different to that of the Earth, which they divide in two unequall Parts, they are four, the Tropicke of Cancer, and the Tropicke of Capricorne; The two Pole Circles, Articke, and the Antarticke.

Of the Equinoctiall.

THE Equinoctiall is a great Circle, equally distant from the two Poles of the world.

It is called Equinoctiall, because that the Sun making his course under it, makes the dayes equall to the nights through all the universall earth, which happens when the Sun is at the first point of Aries, and Libra.

The Equinoctiall serves to shew the Latitude of the Towns, which is their distance from the Equinoctiall Line.

It serves to shew the Septentrionall, and Meridionall part.

It is divided into 360 parts, which are degrees of longi∣tude, And the Inhabitants which are under this Circle are esteemed to be in the middle of the world; as farre from the

Articke Pole, as from the Antarticke, having the Sphere straight, and all the Dayes equall to the Nights.

Of the Zodiack.

THE Zodiack is a great Circle, divided by the Equi∣noctiall in two parts equally; The part which de∣clines towards the Septentrion is called Septentrionall; and the six figures Septentrionals; which are Aries, Taurus, Gemi∣ni, Cancer, Leo, Virgo.

The part which declines towards South is called Meri∣dionall, and the Meridionals signes are Libra, Scorpius, Sagita∣rius, Capricornus, Aquarius, Pisces.

The Line which is in the midle of the Circle is called Eclip••icke, because that the Eclipses are made under it.

It hath in bredth 12 degrees, and 360. degrees in length; Each degree is divided in 60. minutes, every miniute into 60 seconds, and every second into 60 thirds, and so forth.

Of the Meridien.

THE Meridien is a great Circle, which passes by the Poles of the world; and by the Zenith of the Region of the which its said Meridien.

It is called Meridien because that the Sun making its course under it, it is Midday in the Region of the which its said Meridien.

Zenith is the point which is directly over our heads: It is evident that the Zeniths being infinite, the Meridiens will be also infinite, if they doe not meet many Zeniths under

a same Meridien: But the Geographers sets but one by e∣very Town or Province.

It sheweth also the difference of the Longitudes, which is the difference from one Meridien to another.

Of the Horizon.

THe Horizon is a great changeable Circle, which hath the same Center as the Earth, which it divides into two equall parts, Superiour and Inferiour: The Superiour part is called hemispheare of the day, and the Inferiour he∣mispheare of the night.

The highest point in the Horizon is called Semith in the Arabian tongue, or Pole of the Horizon.

Its opposite is said nathir: It is evident that the Se∣mith being infinite, the Horizons will be also infinite.

But the Geographers doe put but one for every Town and Province.

Of the two imperfect Circles.

THe two imperfect Circles, are two great Circles, cut∣ting one another in straight Angles, at the Poles of the World.

The one is called Circle of Solstice, and the other Circle of Equinox.

The Circle of Solstice, is the Circle which passes by the Poles of the World, and by the Solsticall points, which are Cancer and Capricorn.

Circle of the Equinox, is the Circle which passes by the Poles of the World, and by the Equinoctiall Poles, which are Aries and Libra.

They serve to cut the Spheare in foure equall parts, and the year in foure seasons.

Of the foure little Circles.

THe foure little Circles of the Spheare, are the two Tro∣picks of Cancer, and of Capricorne. The two Circles of the Pole Artick, and Antartick;

The Trophick of Cancer is the Circle which the Sun marks when it is in the first point of Capricorne.

These Circles are distant 23 degrees, 30 minutes from the Equinoctiall; which is the greatest declining of the Sun.

The Circle of the Artick Pole, is the Circle which is mark: by the Pole of the Zodiack about the Pole of the world Artick.

The Circle of the Pole Antartick, is the Circle which the Pole of the Zodiack marks about the pole of the world An∣tartick.

These Circles are 23 degrees, 30 minutes distant from the Poles of the World.

These Circles divide the Earth into five Zones.

That which is between the Tropick is called Torride, be∣cause of the continuall presence of the Sun, and hath of breath 47 degrees.

Those which are between the two Circles of the Poles, are called cold, by the farnes of the Sun, and are of 47 degrees.

Those which are between the Pole Circle and the Tro∣pick, are called temperate, because they participate of the two others, and have each one 43 degrees of breadth.

Of the Clymats.

A Climat is the space of the Earth, in the which the daies vary of a half hour.

The Climats begin at the Equinoctiall, and finish at the Circle of the Pole; therefore it is that there are 24 Climats, because that under the Equinoctiall the longest dayes are of twelve houres, and under the Circle of the Pole the greatest day is of 24 houres, which are 24 half houres, and there∣fore 24 Climats.

Those that have set but 7 or 8 Climats have put but those of the earth which they knew.

Ptolomee hath put 48. but he hath made them of quarters of houres, which are named Parallels.

Others have put 36, 24. to the Circle of the Pole, and 12. from the said Circle to the Pole, but they have made the Climates of 15. to 15. dayes.

The Ancients named the Climates by the places where they did passe, as by Meroes, Syene, Alexandria, Rhodes, Roma, Boristhenes and the Montagnes of Riphaes.

The Degrees are of two sorts; of Longitude and of Latitude:

The degrees of Longitude are innumber of 360.

The degrees of Latitude in the same number.

The Inhabitants of the Earth are considered according to their shadowes, or according to their positions and sears; The Inhabitants (according to their shadowes) are Amphisci∣ens in the Torrid Zone, Heterosciens in the temperate Zone, and Perisciens in the cold Zone; all these names come from the Greek tongue.

The Amphisciens have two sorts of shadowes.

The Heterosciens have only the one, or the other.

And the Perisciens have it round about them.

The considerations of the Inhabitants according, the Positions are of three Sorts; Periecians or cohabitants in a same Parallel, and Meriden; But at the points of the same opposed Paralled, Anticiens, and Contr' habitants in a same half of Meridien, and in divers Parallels equally distant of the Equator. And Antipodes, in the parts of the Earth di∣ametrally opposed.

The Regions or Quarters of the world are foure principall, Septentrio, Meridies, Oriens, and Occidens.

The principall Winds are North, South, Est, and West; correspondent to the aforesaid Regions.

The Measures.

• THE Point is the least partie.
• The Line consists in many continued points.
• The Line properly, or according, the Mathimaticiens hath no breadth.
• The Surface consists in many Lines.
• The Body or Solid in many Surfaces.
• The Inch comprehends twelve Lines: these Lines have the breadth of a grain of Corn.
• The Foot twelve Inches.
• The Cubit a Foot and a half.
• The Fadome six Foot.
• The Pearch 18 or 20 Foot.
• The Common Pace two Foot and a half.
• The Geometricall Pace five Foot.
• The Roman Mile is a thousand Geometricall Paces.
• The Grecian Stade a hundred and five and twenty Paces.
• The Persian Parasangne, three thousand seven hundred and fifty!

• The Egyptian Schene is of three different sorts, two thou∣sand five hundred, five thousand, and of seven thousand five hundred.
• The Spanish league three thousand foure hundred.
• The common French league, two thousand five hundred.
• The Switzers league, five thousand.
• The Italian mile, a thousand.
• The German league foure thousand.
• The Swedish league, five thousand.
• The Hungarian league, six thousand.
• The English mile, a thousand two hunderd.
• The degree of latitude, threescore thousand.
• The degree of Longitude (under the Equator) threescore thousand.
• The circumference of the Terrestriall Globe, one and twenty millions, six hundred thousand.
• The Diameter of the Terestriall Globe, seven millions one hundred seven an fifty thousand five hundred, or there about.
• The Surface is, one hundred seventy foure thousand milli∣ons, of millions, two and forty thousand millions.
• The solidity is the surface multiplied by the third of the Diameter.
• For every degree of Latitude, or of Longitude, under the Equator, is taken most commonly 60 minites, 60 thousand Geometricall Paces.
• Threescore Roman miles.
• Four hundred and fourscore Grecian stades.
• Sixteen Persian Parasangues.
• Fifty ancient French leagues.
• Seventeen Spanish leagues and a half.
• Four and twenty, or five and twenty common French leagues

• Twelve leagues of Switzerland.
• Threescore miles of Italy.
• Fifteen German miles or leagues.
• Twelve Swedish leagues.
• Ten Hungarian leagues.
• Five and fifty miles of England.
• Fifty miles of Scotland.

The proper terms belonging to Geographie, are

THe Sea, Gulfe, Strait, Isle, Peninsula, Istmus, Continent, Promontory or Cape.

The Sea is the Infinite concourse of Water which covers an infinite space of the surface of the Earth, which is divided into many parts, and receives divers names, according to the lands and people which joyns it (as we shall shew hereafter.

Gulf, is a great overture in the Earth, longer then broader where the Sea enters.

Strait (which is called in Latin fretum) is a forced Sea between two Lands, which maketh great noise, by reason of its agitation.

Isle, is a Portion of Earth invironed on all sides by the Sea.

Peninsula is a portion of Earth invironed by the Sea, saving that by some little part, it is fastened to another Land.

Istmus, is the little part of Earth which fastens the Peninsu∣la to the firme Land.

Continent, is the firm Land, which is neither Isle nor Pe∣ninsula, nor Istmus.

Promontorie, is the highest part of the point of the Earth, which advances in the Sea, and which is discovered far off; its that which is commonly called Cape.

The next Lecture of Geographie shall be the description of all the parts of the Terestriall Globe.