The description and use of the universall quadrat.: By which is performed, with great expedition, the whole doctrine of triangles, both plain and sphericall, two severall wayes with ease and exactness. Also the resolution of such propositions as are most usefull in astronomie, navigation, and dialling. By which is also performed the proportioning of lines and superficies: the measuring of all manner of land, board, glasse; timber, stone. &c. / By Thomas Stirrup, Philomathemat.

The 16 of November 1652, I made these two following ob∣servations by the planet Venus in the day time, as to the finding of the houre by the Stars, shee being about her greatest distance from the Sun.

The said 16 day being serene, and I being abroad, and in a convenient place where I might see a clear Horizon, and seeing Venus shining so bright directly at the Suns rising, I could do no lesse then make observation by her, to see how her longitude, latitude, right ascension, decli∣nation and likewise the houre found by her would agree with the time of Sun rising wherefore first, I observed her altitude by my Instrument which being but small I could not make so exact observation as otherwise Imight have done; but as it were I found her altitude just 30 deg. Now the estimate time being Sun rising, (which was that morning at 8 a clock and 1 min. in our latitude of 52 deg. 30 min.) I looked in my Almanack for the lon∣gitude and latitude of ♀, which I found according to Mr. Vincent Wings Ephemeris, to be in 18 deg. ♎, with 2 deg. North latitude; then by the 41 Chap. I finde her declination to be 5 deg. 14 min. South, and so by the 39

Chap. her houre from the meridian to be no more but 57 min. so likewise by the 41 Chap. I finde her right As∣cension to be 13 hours 9 min. which circle I follow to the Ecliptique line, where it giveth me 18 deg. 45 min. ♎, for the place of ♀ in the outward ecliptique; unto which 18 deg. 45 min. ♎, I bring the complement of 0 houres 57 min. which is 23 hours 3 min. so doth the Sun in 4 deg. 47 min. ♐ being his place at the time of his rising, point out 20 hours 1 min. for the time required, agree∣ing exactly with the time of Sun rising: being also a good proof, that ♀ was then in the aforesaid place, both in re∣spect of longitude and latitude.

A second example, the same day a while after noon I observed the altitude of ♀ again, which I found to be 16 deg. 56 min. the Sun being then in 5 deg ♐, and ♀ in 18 deg. 10 min. ♎, which 2 deg. North latitude, wherefore by the 41 Chap. I found her declination to be 5 deg. 18 min. South, and so by the 39 Chap. her distance from the meridian 3 houres 32 min. so likewise by the said 41 Chap. her right ascension was 13 houres 10 min. which circle of right ascension I follow to the ecliptique line, where it giveth me the 19th deg. of ♎ for the place of ♀ in the outward ecliptique; unto which 19 deg. ♎, I bring 3 houres 32 min. of the houre circle, so did the Sun in 5 deg. ♐, point to 0 houres 30 min. in the houre circle; whereby it doth appear, that it was then halfe an houre past 12 of the clock in the day time; and in deed so it was by my fixed Sun Dial, being an exact Dial of a yeard square. perhaps some will think it strange, that the houre of the day should be found by this Star, or that this Star should appear so bright at the noon time of the day, that the houre should thereby be found, there being no Eclips

of the Sun at that time; but indeed it is not so strange as its true, as some of my friends can testifie.

Thus having shewed on both sides of the Univer∣sal Quadrat, how to resolve such Propositions Astro∣nomical, as are most useful for Seamen and Diallers and such like Artists; I will now shew likewise how to resolve such Nautical propositions, as are of ordinary use, con∣cerning longitude. latitude rumb, and distance.