of the Zodiacke and the other by the sections of the Zodiacke and Equatoure That which passeth by the Poles of the equatour and Zodiack doth deuide in two parts each halfe cyrcle as well of the equatour as the Zodiacke Therefore the one condicion of the Colures goeth by the solsticiall pointes of the Zodiacke which are the beginnings of Cancer and Capricorn and the furthest pointes from the equatour whereof it is named the solsticiall Colure The other is named the equinoctiall Colure séeing it entreth by the saide equinoctiall sections which are the beginnings of Aries and Libra that is the equinoctiall points So that these Colures deuide aswell the equinoctiall as the Zodiacke into foure quarters in that they goe by the foure principall poyntes of them The Colures generally are called al the greater cyrcles drawne by the Poles of the world which take their name thereof insomuch as they neuer are descerned or séene whole in the turning about of the worlde as the other cyrcles but vnperfect and lacking For both the arks right against one another about the Poles in the thwart sphere are not séene both at once For they are either continually in sight to vs and neuer drawne away or hid like vnto those which be neare to the eleuated Pole Or else they neuer appeare in sight to vs but are continually hid from vs as those which be the opposites But the reaching of the Colures fastneth in the two circles extended and passing by the foure principall pointes of the ecclipticke as the equinoctials and solsticials which touching one another in the Poles of the world do in their cyrcumferences make right angles and part the Zodiack and equatoure into foure equall quarters The Colure of the equinoctials resting in the equinoctiall points The other containing the solstiticiall pointes is called the Colure of the solstices The Colure of the equinoctials is a greater cyrcle moueable and euery where alike drawne by the Poles of the worlde or equatour and the equinoctial points as the beginnings of Aries and Libra making with the equatour right sphericall angles with the Zodiack thwart angles For oftentimes the greatest cyrcles by a mutual touching togither doe make right angles in the sphere as they cut in two parts or into equall halfe cyrcles and by the Poles one another and contrariwaise when they cutte one another by the Poles then doe they forme and make right angles with their cyrcumferences and part one the other into equall parts as writeth Theodosius in his first Booke de Sphera and in propositi 18. 19. 20. and 21. Or thus the Colure of the equinoctials which is named the equinoctiall Colure is a greater Cyrcle passing by the poles of the world and the first pointes of Aries Libra where the two Equinoctiall points are said to be in that the sunne causeth a like day and night in euery place or for that these pointes are in the Equator wherof it is called the Colure distinguishing the equinoctials so that the two Colures crosse one another on the Poles of the world at right spericall Angles It is called the Colure of the equinoctials for that it passeth by the equinoctiall pointes as by the beginnings of Aries Libra which they call the Equinoctial pointes for that when the sunne hapneth into either of them the day and night is of equall length throughout the Earth which commeth to passe twise in the yeare as in the Spring and Haruest whereof the one is called the Equinoctiall spring and at this day is about the eleuenth of March which is the day before Gregory the other the Haruest Spring and hapneth in our time the 14. of September that is thrée daies afore Lambert whereof ariseth this auncient verse Lampert Gregori nox est aequata diei The Colure of the Solstices is a greater circle moueable and euery where alike drawn by the solsticiall points or the beginnings of Cancer Capricornus and the Poles of the Zodiacke and Equatoure making right sphericall angles with both for of both is the Poles comprehended And according to Theodosius propo lib. 2. de Spera that by any twoe cyrcles crossing one the other when a thirde deuideth the parts of both equally and in two partes the same is the greater cyrcle and passeth by the poles of both But that which passeth by the Poles of the other Cyrcle doth part it in two parts and at right angles Here may be demanded why the other twoe are called the solsticiall pointes séeing the Sunne stayeth no where Which is thus answered that the sun digressing from either equinoctiall poynt by his proper motion doeth dayly depart from the equinoctiall cyrcle till hée come vnto the solstitiall point where he is furthest distant from the equatoure But immediately after hee beginneth to returne and come againe vnto the equatour till he come vnto the other equinoctiall pointe So that the pointe of the suns furthest distance which is the beginning of Cancer or Capricornus and of the same called the solstice in that the sun stayeth there that is ceaseth from his further going or departure and beginneth againe to come to the Equatoure For the sun after his comming vnto that point departeth and commeth againe to the equatour so that the end the departure and beginning of his comming is the solstice Therefore not for that the sun stayeth there are they called the solstices although about those pointes of the going and comming of the sun it is so small that for foure sire or more daies after he séemeth in iudgement as it were to stay in one declination and therefore for that cause may be named the solstitials These of sundrie as of Campanus are also called Tropicke points through the suns returning And these may be called Uerticiall or Cardinal cyrcles séeing they goe by those tops of the world and expresse or shewe the foure quarters of the Zodiacke Moreouer séeing certaine parts of these cyrcles being neare the pole are hid and the other right against them nothing at all discerned at any time therefore is it that they are called in Greeke Kolouroi which is in English maimed and vnperfect as Proclus Diadochus Mocrobius and Capella write But this agréeth not in the right Horizont séeing there is no part of heauen which doeth alwaies remaine there hid But in the description of the astrolobie howe large soeuer the same bee yet onely these cyrcles appeare continually vnperfect Yet further the Colure of the solstices or the cyrcle distinguishing the solstices which also is called the solstitiall cyrcle is a greater cyrcle drawne and passing by the poles of the world and Zodiacke and the greatest declinations of the same and by the beginnings of Cancer and Capricornus It is called the Colure of the solstices in that it passeth by the solsticiall pointes as by the beginnings of Cancer and Capricornus which are named the solsticiall pointes for that in them the solstice is caused that is the suns comming vnto
regarded then any of the others in that at the appearance of them Summer is signified and at the setting of them which is sixe moneths after winter is then in entrance like which is not shewed in the other signes And in our time they are in the 22. and 23. degrée of Taurus the sun ioyneth with them euery yeare in the thirde and fourth day of May. So that after those daies through the suns departing from them they are knowne to arise Heliace before the sun and then is summer entred which in our time hapneth about the 7. 8. 9. or 10. day of may And when the sun is come by his course vnto the 22. and 23. degrée of Scorpio which hapneth in our time in the 5. and 6. day of Nouember then is the sunne directly against Pleiades and the sun then arising in the morning they doe set and aboute these daies as in the 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. and 10. day of Nouember winter is entred These as Ptholomie writeth are of the nature of Mars and the Moone but all the others being some of the third and fourth and some of the fist bignesse are of the nature of Saturne and a litle of Mercurie THe signe Gemini is placed in heauen as that betwéen them and Taurus is that constellation Orion standing Their headed deuideb from the rest of the body yet imbracing one the other by bodies and doe dyrectly set with the féete and arise together bended as they were lying Of which those two be the notablest that stand in the heads and that clear star in the head which goeth before named Castor and of some Appollo hauing besides in eyther shoulder a cleare starre in the right elbowe one in either knée one and in either foote one star And the other which followeth beeing next to Cancer hath in the heade a star named Pollux of others Hercules on the left shoulder one in the right another and in the other partes sundry other stars to the number of 18. knowne in both There is an other star standing without the forme of Gemini going before the foote of Gemini and following after called Propus and is in our time in the 24. degrée of Gemini Of which two are of the second bignesse as those in the heads but the others are of the thirde fourth and fifte bignesse And are all of the nature of Saturne sauing the head going before is of the nature of Mercurie and that in the heade following of the nature of Mars THe signe Leo looking vnto the West is placed on the body of Hydra and not in the head by which Cancer is nigh vnto the halfe of it hauing the middle deuided by the summer cyrcle in such sort that vnder that Orbe hée hath the fore féet placed setting and rising with the head Also he hath in the head thrée stars in the nape of the neck two in the breast one in the space betwéene the shoulders vnder the necke or behiude the necke thrée in the middle of the taile one in the ende of the taile another and in the belly one cleare or bright star named the hart of the Lion which also is called aroyal star in that it is more about the Zodiack then the other great fixed stars and for this cause called a star of the first bignesse although in truth it is but a star of the second bignesse being of the nature of Iupiter and Mars All the stars which this signe hath as Ptolomie writeth are 27. Of which many are of a greate brightnesse as the two in the nape of the necke of the second bignesse that on the heart of the first bignesse another on the backe of the second bignesse another in the end of the taile of the first bignesse and all the rest of the third fourth and fift bignesse THe image named the Carter or driâ—â—â— of the Car Ptolomie doeth decke with 14. staires being all nowe in Gemini and of the 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. and 6. bignesse of the nature of Mars and Mercurie Also this image named the Carter hath a cleare starre named the Goate standing on his left shoulder being a starre of the first bignesse and in our time in the 15. degrée of Gemini borowing nature of Mars and Mercurie And that image or constellation named the Kiddes beeing two small stars standing on the left hand of the Carter are in our time in the 12. degrée of Gemini of the fourth bignesse and of the nature of Mars and Mercurie THe image named Perseus hath 26. stars which forme two perticuler images of which that which is séene on his left side is named Gorgon or the head Algoll And hereof it commeth that they are called the Gorgon stars The other séene on his right side the ancient astronomers name the Cyrcle oâ— sithe Also Ptholomie in the description of Perseus attributeth to the heade of Algoll that is Medusa as to a perticular image foure starres And the brighter stars of them being in the heade of Algoll is the 12. star is in our time in the â—9 degrée and twenty minutes of Taurus The following star being of the fourth bignesse is in our time in the 18. degrée of Taurus And Ptholomie writeth that the head of Algoll beeing of the second bignesse is of the nature of Saturne and Iupiter and that on the right side of Perscus of the second bignesse is of the nature of Saturne and Iupiter and is in our time in 24. and 28. minutes of Taurus ON the head of Aries not far from the féete of Andromedâ— standeth a figure which the Gréekes for the likenesse of the letter Delta â—aâ—e Deltoton and the Latines for the similitude of the fourme called a Tryangle This figurâ— hath 〈◊〉 equall sides but the third not so perfect fashioned yet easily to bee knowne for that it shineth brighter then many other starres about it To which the starres of Aries are a litle Southerly And to it Ptholomie attributeth foure stars although all other authors affirme onely thrée stars except Alphonsus which in our time are in Taurus being of the thirde and fourth bignesse and altogether of the nature of Mercurie THe image of Andromeda placed in heauen with the armes stretched abroad and each hand bound Ptholomie declareth it to haue 23. stars of the thirde fourth and fift bignesse and in our time are in Aries and Taurus whose nature resembleth Venus This Cassiopia is figured like to a woman sitting in a chayre with the handes lifted vp after a wayling maner and in the turning of the world about she is drawne with the head alwaies vpward Ptholomie doeth number 13. stars in that image of the 3. 4. 5. and sixe bignesse which in our time are in the signes Aries and Taurus and of the nature of Saturne and Venus Among the Astrologians onely Ptholomie and Alphonsus doe place twoe horses in heauen or as I may more rightly speake the two partes of horses of which the one is called the fore
vnderstood of yoong students and practisioners in this maner First the side A. B. containeth thrée spaces which multiplied doe bring forthê° The line B. C. comprehendeth 4. distances which multiplied doe produce or bring for 16. which two squares conioyned doe make 25 the square which procéedeth of the 5. multiplied which the line A. C. containeth doe they equate Euen so in the instruction of finding the distances of places according to the third rule the difference of the longitudes is represented by the line B. C. but the difference of the latitudes by the line A. B. Therefore as by the quantities knowne of the lines A. B. and B C. is the quantitie of the line A C. attained Also by the differences of the longitudes and the latitudes of places knowne and those afore taught being multiplied and increased the distance of them is easily knowne which by the line A C. is represented And in the Triangle and quadrate is the side but in the number named the roote These hitherto for the knowledge of finding the distances of places shall suffice The definition appellations diuision and offices or vtilities of the Horizont THe Horizont called the ender and Cyrcle of the halfe Sphere is the edge betwéene the light part that standeth for the same wee sée and the darke halfe that wee cannot sée of the skie The Horizont as Proclus writeth is a greater cyrcle immoueable or fixed not one and the same euery where but to each place proper from the verticiall point and round about equally distant and deuiding the whole sphere of the world into two equall halfe spheres of which the one halfe appeareth in sight to vs and the other halfe hid vnder the earth The description of the Horizont doth Macrobius teach where he writeth that the Horizont is after two condicions the one extendeth on euery side vnto the firmament and serueth peculiarly as it were for the deuision of heauen in deuiding iustly the skie into two halues of which the one appeareth in sight to vs aboue the proper Horizont and the other hid vnder that Horizont from vs. Which Horizont hath his name of the skie and of the same called the celestiall Horizont whose diameter after Macrobius is as large as the diameter of the eight sphere which as he affirmeth is the furthest and highest parte of the skie that men can readily sée and discerne with the eie But the earthly Horizont in that the same serueth for the sightes onely of the earth and water and not stretching vnto the firmament nor that his halfe diameter as Macrobius writeth doeth excéede 180. furlongs which containeth 22. miles and ½ So that the whole diameter after his account is but 45. miles in length Which if any man stand vpon an euen or plaine ground orels on the sea may see round about him 22. miles a halfe euery waies Which rounde compasse of the whole Horizont after Macrobius doth containe 141. miles and 3 7. parts A comparison that as the meridian is an immoueable cyrcle euen so is the Horizone for if the same were moueable it woulde not crosse the meridian at right angles and vnto these should be imagined that if it were moueable in each day the same would mooue with the meridian cyrcle The appellations aud diuers names of the Horizont 1 THis circle is called the Horizon as it were the cyrcle deuiding the halfe spheres or of the greek worde Orizomai which in English signifieth to define determine and set out in that the same defineth the parte of the worlde séene Or of Oros or Orion that is the bound or ender 2 It is named also the gyrdle or the cyrcle of rising 3 Macrobius calleth the Horizone that bounde of heauen that is séene aboue the earth lib. 1. cap. 15. In that it is the end or bound seperating the neather halfe Sphere from the vpper And of him also called the edge of the halfe sphere And Alfragnus called it the cyrcle of the halfe sphere 4 The Horizone also is so defined of his office in that his office is to deuide that part of the worlde in sight from that hidde vnder the earth Whereof it is not vnworthily called the ender séeing it permitteth nor suffereth any to sée but the halfe sphere at one time and therefore is called of some the cyrcle of the half sphere as afore taught This cyrcle is alwaies vnderstood to be described by the verticiall point in that as the verticall point is changed euen so likewise is the Horizone The Horizone is deuided after twoe sortes first into a right and thwart secondly into a sensible and rationall Horizone The Horizone of the right sphere is called right or right cornered aboue which neither of the Poles of the worlde is eleuated which they haue whose Zenith is vnder the Equinoctial or dwell vnder the Equinoctiall Their Horizone is the cyrcle drawne by the Poles of the worlde which deuideth aswell the meridian as the Equatoure at right angle through which rightnesse it obtaineth that name that it is called the right Horizone The sensible Horizone is a space of the earth defined by a compasse rounde about which the sight of the eie attayneth and comprehendeth in a plaine and euen field Or thus the sensible Horizone is that which the eie â—â—â—fectly séeth and describeth according to the â—ounde of â—ight and called of some the artificiall Horizon and that fo the sâ—â—â— cause that which is contained by sight is by a certaine similitude agreeing with the artificiall day And as the artificiall day is so named for that artificers doe especially worke in it euen so the like is the horizone named artificiall in that towers foretresses and castles in time past were built like the horizone The diameter of this horizone after Macrobius which nearer agréeth to a truth then either Proclus or Albertus as afore was taught is of 36. furlongs to which almost foure Germaine miles answere and 22. English miles and so far on a plain and euen ground not hindred by hils or thicke mists may a man fully sée And in the same space the imbossed rounds of the earth being without hils is increased and groweth to 250. féele or 125. cubits so that this horizone is not sodainly changed nor in a short space Therefore of necessity must ensue that those which are distaunt by a lesser space then 360. furlongs to sée alwaies some part of the earth common to both But those which are distant by many spaces doe comprehend diuers compasses by sight of the eie and diuers horizones The rationall horizone is that which afore was described that the same is a greater cyrcle lying by the edge of the earth and reaching round about vnto the skie and deuiding the celestiall Orbs into two equall halfe Spheres as the one halfe in sight and the other hid to vs. Although the plain vpper face of the horizone passeth not by the center of the earth yet by the edge of the same through
the daies in the right Sphere and of the vnequalnesse in the thwart or bowing sphere and where the day spaces are encreased and lengthened there the night spaces be lessened and decreased and being otherwise they shew the contrary In the second the Parallels which the verticial points forme when they expresse the boundes of the latitudes of places then are they standing vnder by which their longitudes or distances from the West are accompted In the third the Parallels which either the Planets or the fixed stars describe referred vnto the Equatour do expresse the boundes of their drawings or motions from the equatour The others or rest which applied vnto the ecclipticke described doe shew the bounds of the latitudes and that for how long time they tarry aboue the earth or otherwise hid within the earth and vnder the Horizone doth either shew In the fourth the greatest and chiefest vtilities of the Parallels are that which on the habitable earth the practisioners seuer by such distances as by how much y e greatest artificiall daies are by a quarter of an houre longer increased and extended For they distinguish the habitable earth and that by obseruation into certain necessary spaces and doe iudicate the regular increasings of the daies and what is common to each dwelling vnder those parallels in asmuch as the quantities the increasings and deminishings of the dayes and nightes the risings and settings of the stars the Noonstéede shadowes and the nature of the Winter and Summer but those which are contrary as that there is a difference diuersity of the dwelling places being vnder diuers Parallelles they indéede bee necessary vnto the distribution and description of the clymate Although the number of these cyrcles bee so infinite as is the infinite variety of the stars and verticall points yet are there foure vsually rehearsed in these Elements or introduction that be especially noted and described by peculiar names and for the same cause as séemeth to mée in that they deuide the whole Globe of heauen and earth into fiue Zones and these applied vnto the plaine or flat of the equatour The tropicke of Cancer or summer tropicke The tropicke of Capricorne or winter tropicke The articke or Northerly Pole The antarticke or Southerly Pole Which Circles are called the Tropickes THe Sun according to the former words through the motion of the first mouer is in 24 houres drawn once about and for that hee is caried in the thwart Cyrcle and in the same by his proper motion chāgeth dayly vnto other places of the Zodiacke it must néeds ensue that he describeth in each day a new parallel And those doeth the sun repeat in the partes of the Zodiack which be equidistant from the solsticiall points in such wise that they be in the whole 182. cyrcles And these do they call the cyrcles of the natural daies of which the vttermost and furthest that include the suns way are named the Tropicks which is in English the sun boūds in that the sunne neuer passeth them neither toward the North nor toward the South but after his touching of each he returneth againe The one of these called the tropicke of Cancer and the other the tropicke of Capricorne Why these are called the Tropickes THey are named the Tropicks of the Gréeke word Tropikoi which is in English the turnings againe in that when the Sun is digressed from the Equatoure and come vnto those hee turneth backe againe Also the Tropicke cyrcles touch the Zodiack at the beginnings of Cancer and Capricorne of which the one is called the Tropicke of Cancer and the other of Capricorne the one being Northerly and the other Southerly And as to our dwelling the one is called the summer Circle and the other the Winter So that when the sun toucheth any of these he turneth againe and is carried toward the other As by this example further appeareth where all that season and time from the twelfth day of December vnto the eleuenth day of Iune a manne may perceiue the Sunne euery day arising higher and higher and when he is at the highest ouer our heades that day doth he by his course describe the summer Tropicke from which againe turning the sunne euery day after draweth lower and lower from our verticall pointe vntill he be come againe vnto the lowest In which twelfe day of December not going any further toward the South but being come vnto the beginning of Capricorne he describeth the winter Tropicke The Tropicke of Cancer is a lesser Circle which the sunne describeth at the entring into the beginning therof and is drawne by the daily motion whose plaine or flat passeth not by the center of the earth and it is one of the naturall Circles which is outermost described of the sun toward the North and drawne by the beginning of Cancer And it hath also his name of the standing in that the same is the bound of the sunnes iourney or course toward the North and the nighest comming vnto vs vnto which being brought he turneth backe and directeth his course into the South of which that place is called Trope It is continually distant from the Equatour by the quantity of the suns greatest declination which at this day is of 23. degrées 28. minutes and two fifts almost and it encloseth also the suns way and doth besides with the other 3. Parallels deuide the Zones of heauen and earth Further this is named the cyrcle of the summer solstice by the same reason in that it is drawne by the pointe of the summer solstice And the Northerly Tropicke in that it is the Northerly part of the world And the summer cyrcle for that the Sun in the summer falleth into this cyrcle Also this cyrcle in all the Northerly tract is on this wise that the greater part or portion is aboue the Horizone and the lesser part as to vs vnder the Horizon so that the sunne runing in that cyrcle causeth the longest day of summer And whiles the sun describeth these cyrcles the dayes bee longer then the nightes For the longest day increaseth from minute to minute from houre to houre and from the latitude of one degrée vnto the latitude of 66. degrées and 30. minutes In which the day artificial is of 24. houres and is thereof called a whole day For in the latitudes following and beyonde hee increaseth into many whole daies A like definition hath Proelus where hee writeth that the summer Tropicke is the furthest cyrcle Northwarde that the sun describeth into which when the sun is come he then maketh his summer turne and causeth also at that time the longest day and shortest night of the yeare from which turning backe he goeth againe toward the contrary coast of the world so that of the same Proclus it is called a Tropicke which is in English a returning cyrcle For it is euident to all men that after the sunne beginneth to turne he may in short time after or at the least within 5. dayes
Tropicks all heauen into fiue parts or Regions which they call zones The descriptions names qualities and vtilities of the Zones THe foure lesser cyrcles called Parallels that were afore described doe deuide the whole heauen towarde the Poles into fiue spaces which that heauen might bee compassed aboute with these larger swathes the astronomers of the same called them Zones or otherwise of the Latines Gerdils The Cosmographers by the same imagination applied doe also dispose and distribute the whole Globe of the earth into fiue roomes or spaces lying directly vnder and agréeable in proportion to them in heauen Wherefore a zone after the minde of the Gréekes is a portion tract or space of heauen or earth betwéene the two Parallels or lesser cyrcles being nighest equidistant or contained betwéene the roome equidistaunt and Pole of the world and gyrdeth or compasseth as it were the heauen or earth Or thus a zone is a space of earth like to the two Parallels or lesser cyrcles aboue which the astronomers imagine to run on the vpper face of the sphere And as the whole portion included by the two Tropicks called the burning zone doth compasse heauen as a gyrdle euen so imagine the roome of the earth lying right vnder the Tropicks The zones haue sundry names for of the Gréekes they be called zóne and of the Latines by a borowed word Zona as may appeare by Iulius Firmicus Macrobius Virgilius Ouide and other Latines That heauen or earth is imagined to bee gyrded about with these Martianus nameth them swathes Tully and Macrobius nameth them by the like reason gyrdles Ouide nameth them plagues that is roomes or spaces And how many zones they bee may easily appeare in that the astrologians Geographers Phisitions and Poets do deuide as well the heauen as earth into siue roomes or spaces by the foure Parallels or lesser cyrcles of which there bee two maner of zones the celestiall and the earthlie The celestiall are the cause of the earthly in that the earthly lie directly vnder them And of the zones the celestiall bee they which the astronomers by imagination describe and distribute in the hollow of heauen the earthly be they which lie perpendicularly vnder And both also be temperate and vntemperate zones The celestiall zones in that they haue nothing of the elementary qualities therefore doe they not by heat burne and scorch nor by cold make stiffe nor cause a temperate mixture of qualities or temperatnesse yet are they noted and descerned by the names of the qualities as the earthly zones which being the author of the sun and fountaine both of light and heate and running continually in the middle zone of heauen is diuersly felt according to the maner of the distance Or thus there are no qualities formally attributed to the celestiall zones but to them onely vertually which is on this wise to be vnderstoode as that the celestiall zones of themselues be neither cold hot nor temperate but are so called through the suns declination from the equatour as well into the North as into the South quarter of the world In the which declination is the like matter felte as well in the suns right sending downe of beames as in the thwart proiection of thē on the vpper face of the earth which diuersly changeth the heat 〈◊〉 The scorching or vntemperate middle Zone which through the heat and burning beames the sun there causeth when he is ouer the head or in the Noonestéed place is contained betwéene the boundes of the sunnes iourney which the two Tropicks make and includeth 47. degrées of heauen For the two Tropicks are on either side the equatoure so that it vseth the middle roome in the burning zone from which the sun towarde the North and South neuer declineth aboue 23. degrées and 29. minutes By which appeareth that it is there as hot in the middle of winter as it is in Spaine in the middle of summer and therefore not disagréeing to that which the auncient Cosmographers wrote that the countries lying vnder this space or rather vnder the equatour is vnhabited through the burning heate and of them for this cause named the burning or scorching zone But of later yeares it is found contrary in that at Molucca Good-hope Calicute and Samatra rich drugges and other fine spices haue beene there gotten by the Spantards and Portingals and yéerly haunted by them as at this day the same is throughly known to many which also confesse that the places vnder the Equinoctiall and the rich City Calecute being by the sea coast of Inde standing betwéene the equatour and our Tropicke of Cancer and vnto the other Tropicke South vnder the Burning zone that the places is habitable and peopled although very cumbersome with extremity of heat Also that space on earth containeth 685. Germaine miles or 23500. furlongs Ptholomie and Auicen affirme that the places betwéen the equatour and summer Tropicke is habitable and that many Cities bee there although the sunne in those places through his direct beames and especially vnder the equatour doth by the ouer much heat and continual heat burn and mightily scorch The like doe sundry others affirme which write that those places is conuenient for the life of creatures in that vnder the equatour there bee many waters which although resolued and run through the heate yet doe they breath and send vpward colde vapors which the sun continually maintaineth in drawing vp through his vehement heat and sending down mighty showers of raine which vapors in the night through the suns furthest distance vnder the earth and especially at midnight cause a mighty cold and chilling ayre which the sun after his rising vntill he be somewhat ascended aboue the earth cannot sodainly ouercome and put away that cold impression of the ayre So that the people there inhabiting bee monstrous of forme and haue rude wits wondrous wild and terible conditions like to wilde and furious beasts The countries which lie vnder the Southerly Parallels as those which are described by the Equinoctiall line vnto the summer Tropicke where the sun is drawne and runneth ouer the tops of them there through the aboundance of vapors rayne and night colde is the suns heate repressed mitigated and dulled so that the heades of the Ethiopians or Moores be litle hauing but litle and withered braines their bodies short hauing thicke crisped haire on their heades grosse and dull of senses blacke scorched or burned bodies withred or wrinckled faces crooked of stature being in a maner hot by nature and cruell condicions through the mightinesse of heat in those places And the constitution also of the ayre is there such that al liuing and cresent things on that earth are found and known to agrée with them Further it is to be noted and vnderstood that any there trauailing from the Northerly places the further they goe towarde the South somuch the stronger heat or burning they shalbe annoyed with The two temperate zones be next adioining to the burning zone the
one on the Northerly and the other on the Southerly side of it And the beginnings of either bee the hotter the ends colder the middle of them exquisitly temperate in the other parts doth the heat either so much the more excéede or the bitter colde ouercommeth and ruleth as howe much the nearer they approach or come vnto the burning Zone or otherwise vnto either of the extreame Zones which continually cause a bitter and an extreame colde The cause of this diuersity is through the suns beames for the sun continually moouing in the middle iourney of heauen described betwéene the two Tropicks and digressing or going beyond the prefixed bounds of nature doeth not shew his beames vnto diuers parts of the earth in one manner but vnto the places right vnder and in the burning zone the tractes or countries contained vnder them doth he send downe right beames which stretcheth to the vpper face of the earth at right angles And vnto the countries of either temperate zone doeth the sun send downe thwart or slope beames And vnto the places vnder either cold zone doth he streach long beames on the plaine of the earth euen the like as being neare to the Horizone which neither reach vnto the vpper face of the earth nor cause angles but kéep an equall distance vnto it do streach forth infinitely But those beames of the sun doe neither giue light nor heat but turne backeward in that the property of the reflexion which of the beame against a solider resistance prohibiting or letting the penetration is a certaine repercussion and reuerberation that increaseth and doubleth the force of the direct beame and by the reflexed beame to it adioyned or at the least by his vertue applied and communicated Séeing this reflexion is the especiallest cause of the heat and that the angles of the reflexions falling doe continually make or be equal in the angles for that cause do they much vnlike increase the force of the directe beames and their effectes doe notably varie So that in the burning zone the reflexion stretcheth vnto right angles séeing the straight or right beames are caried led into themselues in such sort that as direct and reâ—lexen they méete and bee mixed and in this doubling as it were the vertue and force of the direct beames is on such wise increased that it kindleth burneth and consumeth And in either temperate zone is the reflexion caused at right angles in that the sun beames doe thwartly reach to the vpper face of the earth and are turned and extended backward vnto thwart angles which how much the néerer and liker they bee to the right so much the nearer doe they ioyne either beames togither by which they procéed and come into the nearer parts of the burning zone But so much the blunter as they streach so much the longer do they seperate either beames as howe much the more they are extended vnto the extreame or outmost bounds And for this cause doe they more heat then the fore parts of the temperate zone whose heate is a litle gentler or milder then the heate of the burning zone and the beames a litle further of whose colde notwithstanding differeth somewhat from the extreame or outmost vntemperate zones And those which streach and fall into the middle region of either temperate zone doe cause a meane betwéene the right and very sharp angles and yet not directly matched or ioyned nor doe they by so neare a space communicate their vertue as in the beginning of it neither by so large a distance as in the end but in the middle in a maner So that they cause and increase a temperate heate in the same zone But in the extreame or colde Zones is no reflexion of beames caused for those beames equally distant from the earth are streached forth infinitely and for that cause doe those neither giue light nor moue or procure heat neither doe those zones at any time warme either perfectly cleare or appeare bright but that they continually be foggy misty darke and bitter or extreame cold through the continuall mists which more and more increase especially toward the northerly pole And yet many affirme a reasonable dwelling in those places yea and vnder the Northerly pole but far colder and bitterer dwelling through the far being from the way of the sun and beholding of the comfortabler starres For the Sunne through his ouer far distance cannot by his presence aboue the earth comfort and heate This now is the perfect cause of the diuers and vniuersall coustitutions of the ayre and chiefe qualities in each zones so that of the particular constitutions be other causes But to returne vnto the temperate Zones the latitude of either temperate Zone is of 43. degrées almost of Germaine miles 645. and of furlongs 21500. So that the Boreallor Northerly zone beginning from the Tropick of Cancer endeth at the arcticke cyrcle or at the degrée of latitude 66. and 31. minutes And the Southerly from the Tropicke of Capricorne is extended or reacheth vnto the antarcticke cyrcle or the degrée of the Southerly latitude 66. and 32. minutes The vntemperate cold zones that reach froÌ„ either temperate vnto the poles of the worlde doe mooue continuall cold and frosts So that the beames of the sun although they pearse and enter through yet seeing they extende not backward nor through the reflexion or streaching backeward be strengthned and sharpned therefore can they not so heate that by the thawing they dissolue the earth and yse nor put away or voyde the mist. Now the vntemperate Northerly zone beginning from the 66. degrée and 31. minutes of the Northerly latitude endeth at the Pole arcticke and the vntemperate southerly zone begun from the same bounde of the Southerly latitude extendeth and endeth at the pole antarcticke Those people which dwell vnder the burning zone bee named of the Gréekes Amphiskioi Amphiscij in that the Noone shadowes at diuers times of the yeare goe or be cast to them twoe waies as toward the South or North. And twise also in the year runneth the sun right ouer their heades as is demonstrated in the second Theorme of Euclide so that at Noone it commeth to passe that they haue almost no shadow for the sun being direct or in right line ouer their heades at Noone hee then sendeth downe right Beames which are cast or streached to the plaine of the earth at right angles so that their shadowe falleth and is right vnder the feete and not on any side of them So that the sun in any other time of the yeare beeing without the verticall pointes the shadowes at Noone are one whiles cast into the South and another whiles into the North vnto them euen as the sun digressing from their toppes or Noonstéed is either caried into the North or otherwise declineth into the South This sorte of people which bee vnder either temperate zone are called of the Gréeke Cosmographers Eteroskioi Heteroscij in that they haue a single
and reasonable well furnished of all things néedfull for mans life So that in the same middle Region of the earth vnder the Equatour it appeareth that through the coldnesse of the night it doth there temper sufficiently the burning heat of the day Besides these after the mind of Hiero. Cardane in that Saturne Mercurie and the moon which properly are cold and moyst planets haue a great force in the Regions vnder this zone but especially the moon that worketh her most force there in the night time more then the other twoe and of this cause more temperatnesse in the day time Besides these it is well known that those people haue two summers and two winters in the yeare For in the yeare of our Lord 1530. at the will and charge of Charles the fift Emperor a parte of America westward was discouered where Peru among the rest was found richest both of Gold and other rich things and costly drugges which is situated in longitude of 290. degrées from the West toward the East and is distant 5. degrées from the Equatoure toward the South But what substance of Gold and other rich things hath yearely bene brought from this yle néedeth not here any further rehersall And the like is to be considered and noted of the other two zones contained betwéene the Polare cyrcles and Poles of the worlde Although Albertus Mag. denieth a commodious dwelling for men in those places and confirmeth the same by probable reasons yet experience reclaimeth and denieth those opinions of his and other ancient writers In that it is well knowne that Gothland Norway Russia Lapeland Groueland and diuers other countries towarde the North pole is inhabited and well peopled And Galeottus Naruiensis proueth that men dwell vnder the North pole affirming the same not to bee true that the cause of the cold there is onely the far distaunce of the sun as not of the heate by nearenesse of his comming In that the sun by reason of the signe in which he is either increaseth or diminisheth them with vs. Besides he affirmeth that the colde is not so dispersed rounde about as that it compasseth rounde after the forme of a cyrcle nor that the heate in like sort doeth run round about the whole body of the earth Further Cardane writeth that vnder the poles there is no such coldnes as some suppose in that the Moone Venus and Mars haue the greatest latitudes in respect of the sun and the others besides For the moon hath fiue degrées to the North Venus and Mars excéed vnto eight degrées Northward but Saturne which is the author of cold scarcely performeth thrée degrées Northward Besides these the Moone more auaileth Northward and Southward neare to the poles then the sunne in that she nearer approacheth those parts For the Moone as aboue said hath fiue degrées of latitude as well to the North as South so that when she shall be in the first degrée of Cancer with her greatest latitude Northward that is in the head of the Dragon she shal then be néerer by fiue degrées to the Northerly pole then the sunne And in like maner when she shalbe in the taile of the Dragon at the entrance and beginning of Capricorne she shall bee nearer the pole antarcticke by fiue degrées than the sun Although in the winter the moone should be in the beginning of Capricorn with the Southerly latitude of foure or fiue degrées yet may she worke and cause more in the change of weather and shall cause more in Scotland than the sun in that her power and vertue there is such But in Brasilia and vnder the antarcticke pole for two causes the one in that shee is there of such power and the other for that in her working she is nearer What the longitudes and latitudes of the celestiall Zones are THe longitude of Zones beginneth from the West and is extended by the Noonestéede into the East and from the East againe by the midnight pointe into the West The motions of the sun in the zodiacke and Poles of the zodiacke doe describe the latitude of the zones For the suns motion or the zodiacke do describe the burnt zone séeing the sun on the one parte of the zodiacke goeth toward the North vnto the elongation of 23. degrées 28. minutes and being by his dayly motion in the beginning of Cancer doth describe the Tropick of Cancer which is the bound of the two zones the burnt zone and Northerly temperate Zone And on the other part of the zodiacke doeth the sun goe into the South vnto the same elongation and being in the beginning of Capricorne doth likewise describe the Tropicke of Capricorne which is the bounde of the other twoe zones in that it distinguisheth the burnt from the southerly temporate zone And the space also included in these two cyrcles vsing the middle place is called the burnt zone and thus the burnt zone doth imploy 46. degrées and 57. minutes The Poles of the Zodiacke which are dayly about the Poles of the worlde from which they differ 23. degrées and 28. minutes and are drawn by the motion of the first mouer doe describe two cyrcles in the diuers parts of heauen as the Polare cyrcles which also be the bounds of the zones that distinguish the twoe temperate from the colde zones So that the latitude of either colde zone vnto the poles of the world is of 23. degrées and 28. minutes The other degrées of the semicyrcle are atributed to the temperate zones so that either zone containeth 43. degrées and 3. minutes What is the Longitude and Latitude of the earthly Zones THe longitude of the earthly zones is like to the longitude of the celestiall as from the West by the noon stéed into the East and from thence by the midnight pointe againe into the West And the latitude of them is like to the latitude of the celestial zones for as the maner of the latitude of the celestiall burnt Zone is vnto the whole cyrcumference euen so is the maner of the earthly burnt zone vnto the compasse about of the earthly Globe that is as 47. degrées is vnto 360. and so likewise conceiue of the others And that this may plainer appeare vse the figure following in which a l h e. is the meridian or Colure of the solstices e x l. the Equatoure a x h. the meridian s u p. the earthly Globe s n. the earthly Tropicke of Cancer k o. the Tropicke of Capricorne t u. and q p. the arcticke cyrcles To these answere f r o k b b. and d s m c c. also c ff b a g e e i. the celestiall cyrcles And what the proportion f d. is vnto the whole cōpasse d a k g f the same is as aboue written the proportion r s. vnto the whole cyrcumference of the earthly Globe and on this wise conceiue of the other cyrcles The letters f d. bee the latitude of the celestiall burnt zone and r s. of the earthly d c.
and f g. be the latitudes of the temperate zones in heauen and s t a c r q. of them on earth The twoe outwarde zones to these here drawne bee by themselues noted as well in heauen as on earth Now that wee haue declared with the fiue cyrcles the latitudes either of the celestiall or terestriall zones are defined it shall therefore be necessary to write here of the latitudes of the earthly zones in miles And that you may readily find the latitude in miles multiply the degrées by 15. in that so many Germaine miles answere to one degrée of the great cyrcle in heauen as the 43. degrées of the burnt zone being the suns greatest declination multiplied by the 15. miles doe produce 705. Germain miles which is the latitude of the burning zone The latitude of either temperate zones containeth 646. Germain miles almost And from either Tropicke vnto the pointes right vnder the poles doeth the space or distaunce containe 352. Germaine miles Where is the beginning and end of euerie Zone according to latitude and which places are in which Zones THe middle of the burning zone is vnder the Equinoctiall line where either pole is in the Horizon And both be his bounds where the eleuation of the pole aswell Southerly as Northerly is of 13. degrées and 28. minutes For either temperate zone doeth there begin and streacheth vnto the same place where the eleuation of the pole is of 66. degrées and 30. minutes which place is the beginning of the cold zones By these nowe may a man easily conceiue which places are in which zone for if the eleuation of the Pole Northerly be lesser then 23. degrées and 28. minutes this place then is in the burning zone as the inner Libia Aethiopia a part of Arabia Felix and India But if the eleuation containeth precisely so many degrées and minutes the place then is in the bounde of the burnt and temperate zone as is Siene a city of Aegypt Further if the eleuation of the Northerly Pole bee greater then 23. degrées and 28. minutes yet lesser then 66. degrées and 30. minutes this place theÌ„ is in the temperate zone as Greece Italy Spaine Germanie France England c. But if the latitude be precisely of 66 degrées and 30. minutes the place is in the bound of the temperate and cold zone as is almost Lagenlaâ—us of Suetia Last if the eleuation of the pole excéedeth 66. degrées and 30. minutes the place is in the cold zone beyond which degrées hath Nicolaus Douis a Germaine added a table of Noreway Gothland Iseland Greenland Fineland and Lapeland c. How the Zones and Climats doe differ THe Zone is a space or roome of the earth froÌ„ the West into the East and from thence by the midnight pointe againe into the West But the Clymate is a space of the earth whose beginning is constituted in the west and ende in the East A Zone also is the space of earth betwéene two cyrcles equidistant but a Climate is the only space or roome of the habitable earth contained betwéene two lines equidistant What the qualities of the Zones are TO the celestiall Zones are qualities attributed not formally but onely vertually that is the celestial zones are neither cold hot nor temperate but of this named colde burning and temperate through the sunne which one whiles comming into this and another whiles declining into that parte of the worlde doâ—th send downe his beames to the earth in sundry maner as one whiles plum downe right when the sun runneth vnder the equinoctiall and another whiles by a thwart maner as in the thwart sphere which beames besides how right angles they make on earth so much the greater heate they cause and how thwarter angles they make somuch the weaker heat they procure So that vnder the Equinoctiall the beames most rightly and downe right falling doe make right angles on the vpper face of the earth which through the same causeth a most great heat Also the beames faling toward either poles doe cause thwarter angles and they make the angles more vneuen or thwarter and therof the same heat is the lesser And in the temperate zone especially in the summer the beames doe make almost angles falling vnto a rightnes but in the winter vnto a thwartnes so that in the same Region is a coÌ„modious dwelling But in the colde zones the angles are caused vnlike or vneuen thwartest or slopest as in the burnt Zone they are rightest and most downward in somuch that the cold zones euen as the burnt are commodious to dwel vnder For the beames falling and reflexed how much néerer they fal and be togither somuch the stronger and mightier they moue and cause the heat as we dayly sée that the sun in the noonstéed being as in the summer to cast or streach downe almost perpendicular or down right beames which beames also are almost reflected into theÌ„selues of which the greatest heat of the day then is caused And contrariwise the sun being in the East or west where y e beames streaching downward and reflexed are scatred and run abroade the effects be lesser and the heat much abated and féebled Euen so the beames in the burnt zone bee perpendicular or plum downright which reflexed into themselues do cause a most great heat In the temperate zone doe the beames bylitle and litle fall sloper and sloper of which they cause there a temperate heat But in the cold zones the beames furthest decline or fall slopest through which they procure no effect of the coÌ„sequent cause there a very weake heat What the vtilities of the Zones be _1 THe auncient considerers of the stars haue thus instituted the distribution of the zones for two causes The one is that by this reason they might shewe to vs which places of the earth be reasonably habitable most commodious to dwell vnder 2 The other is as wee learne by experience that the wits of men and nature of places by them appeare and are knowne in that the ayre compassing vs is a certaine cause of the temperatnes For the maners and condicions of men as writeth Galen doe for the most parte ensue the temperameÌ„ts of the bodies yea the nature of trées plants hearbs and beasts do like ensue the temperament of ayre Of which that we might bee the surer and certainer of the natures of the foresaid matter it pleased the ancient to deuide them into fiue zones Of which it is wel known that the bodies of men or people dwelling vnder the burning zone as the Moores be shorter of stature theÌ„ those people dwelling vnder the temperate zones wilder and crueler Also they bee crafty and subtill of nature hauing besides wrinkled faces thick crisped heare on the head and blacke scorched bodies and crooked of stature Also all liuing and cresent things are found to agrée according to the quality of the ayre in that Region Further the people dwelling vnder the Northerly Parallels or Polare cyrcles