much are the poles of the Ecliptick distant from the Poles of the world CHAP. XVI Vses of the Polar Circles 1. THe Polar Circles shew the poles of the Zodiack and shew their distance from the poles of the Equinoctiall 2. The temperate Zones are bounded by these polar circles for the Articke circle boundeth the North side of the North temperate Zone and the Antartick circle boundeth out the South side of the South temperate Zone 3. The Polar circles separate the temperate Zones from the cold Zones which they compasse round about and inclose within them Therefore the foure lesser circles that is the two Polar circles and the Tropicks deuide Heauen and Earth into fiue Zones CHAP. XVII Of the Zones A Zone is a space of Heauen or Earth conteyned betweene two of the smaller Circles or inclosed within the compasse of either Polar circle They are called Zones that is as much to say as girdles because they compasse about Heauen or Earth like a girdle The Zones are deuided by auncient Writers into two kindes that is into temperate and vntemperate Zones A temperate Zone is the space of Heauen or earth conteyned betweene either of the Tropicks and the next Polar circle There be two temperate Zones the one North the other South The North temperate Zone is conteyned betweene the Tropicke of Cancer and the Artick polar circle The South temperate Zone is that which is conteyned betweene the Tropicke of Capricorne and the Antartick polar circle They are called temperate Zones because they haue a better temperature of the ayre for the most part and more meer for habitation then the vntemperate Zones The bredth of eyther temperate Zone is alwayes equall to the complement of the distance of the Tropicks and therefore in this age is about 43. degrees that is 2580. English miles There be two kinde of vntemperate Zones the one exceeding in heat the other in cold for the most part The hot vntemperate Zone called also the Torrid that is the burnt or broyled zone is that space of Heauen or Earth which is conteyned betweene the tropicks It is called the burnt Zone because that by reason of the Sunnes continuall going ouer that zone and casting his beames directly downe thereupon it is scorched with ouer-much heat and is not so meet to be inhabited as the temperate zones The bredth of this Zone is alwayes equall to the obliquitie of the Zodiack or greatest declination of the Sunne doubled which in our time is about 47. degrees that is 2820. English miles The cold or frozen zones are the spaces of Heauen or earth conteyned within the Polar circles There be two cold zones the one North conteyned within the compasse of the Articke circle the other South conteyned within the compasse of the Antartick Polar circle These zones exceed in cold because they want the sight of the sunne for a great part of the yeare and when the Sunne appeareth vnto them his beames fall so obliquely vpon them that they can in all likelyhood receiue but small heat thereby for the most part The bredth of these Zones is measured from the Poles of the world to the Polar circles and therefore must alwayes bee so much as the Polar circles are distant from the Poles that is in our age about 23. Degrees and a halfe which make 1410. English miles CHAP. XVIII The difference of Shadowes that the Sunne maketh in these Zones THey that dwell in the torride Zone doe cast their shadowes which the Sunne maketh at noone which we may therefore call their noone shadowes both towards the North and towards the South towards the North when the sunne is betwixt their zenith and the south point of the Horizon and towards the South where the sunne is betweene their Zenith and the North. For seeing the zenith of them that dwell in that Zone is betweene the Tropicks the sunne must needs bee sometimes Northwards from their zenith and so make a south shadow and sometime Southwards and then make a north shadow For which cause they that inhabite this Zone are called Amphiscij that is such as cast their noone shadowes on both sides But they that dwell in the temperate Zones are called Heteroscij that is such as cast their shadowes at noone one way onely For they that dwell in the North temperate Zone haue the Sunne alwayes at noone from their Zenith Southwards and therefore must needs alwayes cast their noone shadowes Northwards Whereas contrariwise they that inhabit the South temperate Zone hauing the Sunne at noone alwayes Northwards from their Zenith must needs haue their shadowes at noone alwayes towards the South And they that are in the cold Zones are called Periscij that is such as cast their shadowes round about them For seeing the Sunne continueth euery yeare for certaine dayes together alwayes aboue their Horizon and therefore moueth round about them without setting it must needs bee that their shadowes also are carried round about them falling towards all parts of the world in the space of 24. houres * ⎠* THE SECOND PART Of the vses of the vppermost SPHAERE and of the Circles thereof joyntly PROP. I. To rectifie the Sphaere to the Latitude c. FIrst finde by obseruation or otherwise the height of the Pole or Latitude of that place for which you would rectifie the Sphaere Then by turning about the Meridian of the Sphaere lift vp or put downe the North Pole of the Sphaere about which the houre circle is fastened till the arch of the Meridian from the North part of the Horizon vpwards vnto the Pole be iust so many degrees as the eleuation of the Pole or latitude of the place was found to be for so haue you the Sphaere duly rectified As for example the Latitude of the Citie of London is 51. degrees and 32. minutes therefore if you lift vp the North Pole of the Sphaere aboue the North part of the Horizon so many degrees and minutes you shall haue your Sphaere rectified for that place PROP. II. To know the place of the Sunne c. LOoke the day of the moneth for which you desire to know the place of the Sunne in the Horizon and see what signe and degree of the Zodiacke vpon the Horizon answereth thereto for there haue you the place of the Sunne Take for example the 25. of December looke this day therefore in the Horizon and you shall finde answerable thereto 13. degrees and about 40. minutes of Capricorne which is the place of the Sunne at that time PROP. III. To know the declination of the Sunne c. BRing the point whose declination you desire to know vnto the Meridian of the Sphaere and look what number of degrees and minutes of the Meridian is conteyned betweene that point and the Equinoctiall for so much is the declination As if you would know the declination of the 10. degree of Taurus bring that degree to the Meridian and you shall finde the arch of the Meridian between
center then the center of the earth and therefore that the circle or Orbe wherein the Sunne is moued is an Eccentricke CHAP. VII Of the vses of the Sunnes eccentricall Orbe THerefore the vses of the Sunnes eccentricke may bee these 1. First to shew the reason of the apparent inequalitie which seemeth to bee in the motion of the Sunne for although the Sunne moâ—e equally in his owne Oâ—be and about his owne center yet to them that are at the center of the world or vpon the earth he shall seeme to moue vnequally that is swiftly when he is in that part of his eccentricke which is nearest vnto the earth and slowly when he is farthest from the earth And therefore in sommer when the Sunne is about his Apogaeum and in his greatest distance from the earth he seemeth to moue little aboue 57. min. in one day But in winter being about his Perigaeum and nearest vnto the earth he seemeth to moue more then 16. minutes whereas notwithstanding he moueth equally in his Eccentricke euery day about nine and fifty minutes and 8. seconds and so finisheth his reuolution in 365. dayes and six houres almost 2. The second vse of the Sunnes Eccentricke may be to shew the reason why the Sun appeareth greater at one time then at another for the Sun being in those parts of the eccentrick that are nearest vnto vs seemeth greatest and when he is in those parts of his eccentrick that are furthest from vs he appeareth to be least 3. And lastly the inequality of the Sunnes distance from the earth caused by his eccentrick is one especiall cause of the inequalitie of the Eclipses both of the Sunne and Moone CHAP. VIII The definitions of certaine Astronomicall wordes of art for the better vnderstanding of the Theorick of the Sunne 1. WHat the Aux or Apogaeum of the Sunne is it hath beene partly shewed already that â—â—mely it is that part or rather point of the Orbe carying the Sunnes Apogaeum wherein the said Orbe is thinnest or narrowest Or it is that point of the eccentrick which is furthest distant from the earth and is alwayes shewed by a right line vnderstood to be drawn from the center of the world by the center of the eccentrick vnto the Orbe carying the Sunnes Apogaeum Which line is therefore called the line of the Sun his Aux or the line of the Sunnes Apogaeum 2. The motion of the Aux or of the Apogaeum of the Sunne which is also called the Sunnes Aux in the second signification is nothing els but the arch of the Ecliptick conteyned betweene the beginning of Aries and the line of the Sunnes Apogaeum drawne forth to the Zodiack where this line also sheweth the place of the Sunnes Apogaeum 3. The middle or meane place of the Sunne in the Zodiack is shewed by a line drawne from the center of the world vnto the Zodiack equidistant from the center of the Eccentricke and of the Sunne 4. This line is therefore called the line of the meane or middle place of the Sun 5. The middle or meane motion of the Sunne is the arch of the ecliptick betweene the beginning of Aries and the middle place of the Sun 6. The true place of the Sunne is shewed by a streight line drawne from the center of the earth by the center of the Sun vnto the Zodiack which line is therefore called the line of the true place of the Sun 7. The true motion of the Sun is the arch of the eclipticke from the beginning of Aries vnto the true place of the Sun 8. The argument of the Sun at the 〈◊〉 â—erme it or the motion of the Sunnes Anomalie as Copernicus calleth it is the arch of the ecliptick conteyned betweene the place of the Sunnes Apogaeum and the middle place of the Sunne according to the order and succession of the Signes This arch is called the argument or motion of the sunnes Anomalie or irregularitie because that by it is alwayes found how much the suns true motion which is vnequall and irregular differeth from his middle motion which difference they call the Suns equation or prosthapheresis 9. The equation or prosthapheresis of the Sun is nothing els but the arch of the ecliptick conteyned betweene the true and middle places of the sunne This arch is called the sunnes equation because it maketh the suns middle motion equal to his true motion being added to it or subtracted from it as occasion requireth for which cause it is more significantly and fitly called Prosthaphaeresis that is as much to say as that which is to be added to or subtracted from the middle motion that so we might haue the true motion For so long as the Sunne is in the semicircle of his eccentrick discending from his Apogaeum to his â—â—â—gaeum so long this Prosthapheresis is to be subtracted from the middle motion but the Sunne being in the other halfe of his eccentrick ascending the Prosthapheresis or equation of the Sun must be added to the middle motion that 〈…〉 motion and place of the Sunne may be found Because that in the first semicircle of the eccentricke descending the middle place of the Sunne goeth before the 〈◊〉 and the middle motion is 〈…〉 greater 〈…〉 the Sun and therefore the difference of these 〈◊〉 motions that is to say the 〈◊〉 or Prosthaphaeresis must be subtracted to findeth 〈…〉 for the true place of the Sunne goeth alwaies 〈…〉 motion and place of the same CHAP. IX Of the vppermost Orbe of the Sphaere of the Moone carying the Dragons head and tayle NExt within the Orbes of the Sun in this Sphaere are conteyned the Orbes of the Sphaere of the Moone which 〈…〉 in number The vppermost of them which in this Sphaere is next vnder the Orbe that caryeth the Suns Perigaeum and is coloured with red is called the Caryer of the Dragons head and tayle or 〈…〉 which is as much to say as the Caryer of the knots that is of the two intersections or pointes wherein the rest of the Orbes of the Moone doe crosse ouer-thwart this Orbe This Orbe is deuided into foure nineties of degree for the easier reckoning of the motion and place of the Dragons head or tayle in this Sphaere And it is moued about in 18. Iulian yeares 224. dayes 3. houres and 5. minutes almost from the East Westwards vnder the ecliptick By reason of this motion it commeth to passe that the Eclipses or rather the places wherein the eclipses of the Sunne or Moone doe happen in the Heauens are remoued continually more backwards in the Zodiack contrary to the order and succession of the Signes As for example the eclipse of the Moone hapning this present yeare 1600. the 20. of Ianuarie neare vnto the Dragons tayle about the 9. degree and 40. min. of Leo the next eclipse that shall happen neare the same intersection of the Dragons taile in the yeare 1601. the 29. of Nouember shall be in 17. degrees and an halfe of
same distance or obliquitie from the Equinoctiall The other may bee called the true or moueable Eclipticke because it maketh not alwayes the same angles of intersection with the Equator but sometimes greater sometimes lesse For the greatest obliquitie of the Zodiacke which not long before Ptolomees time was obserued to bee 23. Degrees and 52. Minutes in Copernicus his time was hardly found to exceed 23. degrees 28. minutes according to his obseruation and therefore hee thought that the difference betweene the greatest and least obliquitie of the Zodiacke was 24. Minutes and the middle or meane obliquitie betweene both these to bee 23. Degrees 40. Minutes The manner of the variation of this obliquitie may in some sort bee shewed by this Sphaere if we suppose the fixed Eclipticke drawne round about through the middest of the Zodiack to be 23. degrees 40. min. distant from the Equinoctial at the beginning of Cancer and Capricorne and the moueable Eclipticke fastned as it were vpon two Poles at the beginning of Aries and Libra and so hauing alwayes the same points of intersection with the middle Eclipticke and Equinoctiall to bee moued vp and downe aboue and beneath the middle Eclipticke by the space of 12. Minutes at the beginning of Cancer and Capricorne and this motion to finish his reuolution once in 3432. Iulian yeares The bredth of the Zodiacke is bounded by the greatest latitudes of the Planets especially of Venus and Mars which sometimes hath almost 7. degrees of latitude The Zodiacke is diuided by the Equinoctiall into two semicircles The one aboue the Equinoctiall is called the Northerly semicircle the other halfe beneath the Equinoctiall is the Southerne semicircle of the Zodiacke So long as the Sunne moueth vnder the first of these semicircles the dayes are longer then the nights otherwise they are shorter Each of these semicircles is againe deuided into two parts and so the whole Zodiack into foure quarters the first from Aries to Cancer may be called the vernall or Spring-quarter which in this Sphaere is also shewed by the word Ver signifying the Spring The next from Cancer to Libra the Summer quarter wherein is written the word Aeâ—tas signifying the Summer The 3. from Libra to Capricorne is the Haruest quarter wherein you shall finde in this Sphaere the word Autumnus which signifieth Autumne or Haruest The fourth and the last from the beginning of Capricorne to Aries is called the winter Quarter which in this Sphaere is shewed by this word Hiems which signifieth the Winter And these foure quarters of the Zodiacke are thus called by the names of the Quarters of the yeare because the Sunne mouing vnder those quarters of the Zodiacke maketh those foure Quarters of the yeare Euery one of these quarters of the Zodiacke is againe deuided into three parts and so the whole compasse of the Zodiacke into 12. which are called the 12. Signes whereof euery one contayneth 30. Degrees in length from West to East and is in bredth equall to the bredth of the Zodiacke These Signes and the Zodiacke it selfe haue their beginning from that common meeting or crossing of the Eclipticke and the Equinoctiall where the Eclipticke beginneth to arise aboue the Equinoctiall towards the North pole and they are called by these names Aries Taurus Gemini Cancer Leo Virgo Libra Scorpio Sagitarie Capricorne Aquarie Pisces That is to say The Ramme the Bull the Twinnes the Crab the Lyon the Virgin the Ballance the Scorpion the Shooter the Goat the Water-pourer the Fishes And they are signified by these Characters ♈ ♉ ♊ ♋ ♌ ♠♎ ♠♠♑ â™’ ♓ This deuision of the Zodiacke into 12. Signes and of euery signe into 30. Degrees nature it selfe seemeth to haue shewed by the motions of the Sun and Moone For in what time the Sunne moueth once about the whole compasse of the Zodiacke the Moone maketh twelue reuolutions through the same Therefore as the time of a yeare is deuided into 12. Moones so the Zodiacke is deuided into 12. Signes And as euery Moneth contayneth 30. dayes so euery signe is deuided into 30. parts which they call Degrees which signifieth as much as steps because the Sunne steppeth or goeth forwards almost so much as a degree in euery day from the West Eastwards vnder the Zodiacke The Zodiacke is otherwise also deuided into two semicircles the one from Capricorne to Cancer ascending because that so long as the Sunne or any of the Planets are in that semicircle they still ascend and rise higher and higher aboue the Horizon The other semicircle of the Zodiacke from Cancer to Capricorne is called descending because the Sunne or Planets being in that semicircle come downe euery day lower then other The 12. Signes are by the Astrologians diuersly deuided first into chiefe meane and common signes The chiefe signes which are also called Cardinall that is the principall signes are Aries Cancer Libra and Capricorne because they come next after the principall points of the Zodiacke that is the two Equinoctiall points at the beginnings of Aries and Libra and the two solstitiall points of Cancer and Capricorne The meane signes which are also called fixed are Taurus Leo Scorpio and Aquarius They are called meane because they are placed betweene the chiefe or principall and the common signes They are called fixed signes because that when the Sunne is in those signes wee finde a more perfect temperature of the Ayre then when he is in the other signes The common signes which are also called double bodyed are Gemini Virgo Sagitarie and Pisces They are called common because they take part of the nature of the fixed signes going before them and of the Cardinall signes following after them They are called double bodied by reason of their Images as they are imagined in the eight Sphaere which are compounded of two bodies For there be two Twinnes and the Virgin holdeth an eare of corne in her hand Sagitarie is made of a Man and an Horse and there are two Fishes The placing and nature of these signes brought in this diuision The Astrologians also deuide the 12. Signes into foure trigons of triplicities so called because they are distant the third part of a Circle one from another The first triplicitie contayneth Aries Leo and Sagitarius and is called the fiery trigon or triplicitie The second triplicitie contayneth Taurus Virgo and Capricorne and is called the earthly trigon The third triplicitie contayneth Gemini Libra and Aquarius and is called the ayrie trigon The fourth triplicitie contayning Cancer Scorpio and Pisces is called the watrie trigon Nature it selfe is the cause of this diuision of the Signes also For into these Trigons of the signes shee hath distributed the Coniunctions of the three superiour Planets especially the coniunctions of Saturne and Iupiter which the Astrologians call great coniunctions For examples sake if there bee a great coniunction in Aries the same shall be twenty yeares after in Sagitarie and other twenty yeares after in Leo and after as many