the exiguity of the water which doth not grow thick but resolveth For although you take a great quantity of water and that you provoke with a light and gentle fire that the resolution may be impeded yet the water acquireth no salt tast 3. Lakes and Marshes though heated by the Sun yet wax not salt This Objection also Scaliger endeavoureth to avoid saying that this hapneth by the succession of fresh water And the same is found in those standing Pools and Lakes which only proceed from Rain or Snow dissolved where there is no place for that refuge of succession for those Lakes are rather dried when that it raineth not for a long space than turned into Salt or rendred salt Therefore rejecting those false Opinions concerning the cause and original of Salt in the Ocean let us lay hold of one of the most probable Opinions with little or no difficulty in it viz. 1. That these particles are Coeternal with the very Ocean and therefore we should no more dispute concerning their original than concerning the original of the Ocean it self the Earth yea and of the original and generation of the World 2. If that this Opinion be less complacent we may make choice of another viz. that these salt particles are here and there pulled from the Earth and so dissolved into water Now it is certain that there are many saline Mountains or Rocks in the bosom of the Sea Isle of Ormus a salt Rock The whole Isle of Ormus is nothing else but a white and hard Salt of which they make the Walls of their Houses and therefore no Fountain of fresh water is found in that Isle And none can be ignorant how that many mines of Salt are found on the Land and we have related concerning some in the Eleventh Chapter but we need not particulars Let us consider the whole Earth The greatest part of the Earth hath much Salt in it the greatest part of which is nothing else but a Salt for it hath its consistency from Salt for the Chymical Philosophers do rightly prove that the consistency and compaction of every thing proceedeth from Salt and Experience is answerable to the Assertion for if that you take an hard piece of Earth and burn it to ashes much Salt will be found in it Nothing can be alledged against this Opinion that is of any value and is not easily refuted for some say that it is impossible that those salt parts of the Earth should perpetually suffice and should not at some time or other be consumed by the water of the Ocean which continually taketh away some part of them Unto this I answer That the Salt of the Ocean is not consumed in so great abundance that it should stand in need of much instauration and if that any be consumed yet notwithstanding that is laid up in another place seeing that it is not removed out of the Earth Proposition IX Whether that Water be the fresher in the Ocean by how much it is nigher the bottom and why in some parts of the Ocean fresh Water is found in the bottom Of the freshness of Water in the Sea Unto the first I Answer That experience doth not testifie concerning that sweetness but in some places of which the other Question speaketh that in these places in the bottom of the Sea are Fountains of fresh water I have sufficiently said for it cannot naturally be that the more Salt-water should exist above water less Salt seeing that that is more heavy Those places of the Sea where fresh water is found to spring at the bottom may be collected by those that are studious from the Writers of Geography Proposition X. The Water of the Ocean becometh less salt by how much it is nearer the Poles and on the contrary the more salt by how much it is more near the Aequator or Torrid Zone Although this may be understood of most parts of the Ocean yet the Proposition admitteth of some exceptions The cause of this inequality in saltness is sixfold The Causes of the inequality of the saltness of the Sea in different places 1. That the heat of the Sun in the Torrid Zone lifteth up more vapours from the Ocean into the Clouds than in the Northern places which are the vapours of fresh-water because that the particles of Salt by reason of their gravity are not so easily lifted up Seeing therefore that from the Water of the Ocean of the Torrid Zone or where the place is more near the Torrid Zone so much the vapours are separated by the heat of the Sun thence it cometh to pass that the water that is lest is found more salt there than in the Northern places where there is not so much fresh-water separated by reason of the weak heat of the Sun The 2d Cause 2. The second Cause is the heat or cold of the water for the same numerical water or salt meat as also pickled meat sauce and the like afford a more sensible saltness to the tast when they are eaten hot than when cold for the heat or particles of the fire do move and render the particles of the salt contained in such meat more acute and separates them from the admixtures whence they bite and prick the Tongue more sharply Now because the water of the Ocean is the more hot by how much it is nigher the Aequator or the parallels of the Sun at every day and contrariwise the more cold by how much it is more near the Pole thence it followeth that waters though they should contain the same quantity of salt yet they must seem and appear so much the salter to the tast by how much they are nearer to the Torrid Zone and by how much they are more near the Pole by so much they have less sensible Salt The 3d Cause 3. The third Cause is the more or less quantity of Salt in the diverse parts of the Channel of the Ocean for as we find in the parts of the Earth that there are not pits of Salt in them all neither where they are found is there the like quantity of Salt must be held concerning the part of the Earth that the Sea washeth or covereth that is the Channel or the Shoars where there is therefore most quantity of Salt or Mineral in the bottom or shoar of the Ocean there the water is more salt because that it is impregnated with a greater quantity of Salt So the Isle of Ormus consisteth all of Salt therefore the adjacent Ocean hath very Salt waters But whether there be greater plenty of Salt in the Channel and shoars of the Ocean in the Torrid Zone or more saline Mines than in the North is very doubtful by reason of the want of observation yet it seemeth probable unto some that there is greater quantity of Salt in those places by reason of the greater heat of the Sun by which the parts of the water are separated from the Terrestrial and
Horizon but oblique Yet it is not general that the wind proceedeth in a perpendicular way to the Horizon because that oftentimes in the Air transverse Blasts are found So we see that Smoak coming forth of a Chimney is not carried by the wind towards one quarter but part of it is carried unto other quarters Proposition XII Why the Winds blow by an interrupted force so that sometimes they cease and other some as it were with redoubled strength they return with the greater importunity And why that they seem more continually to blow on the Sea so that it is discovered less calm The Winds 〈◊〉 blow by an interrupted force I suppose the reason to be that the cause that moveth or stirreth up the Winds continueth not always but that some space is required unto the collection of such a quantity which by such a vehemency may break through the Air and therefore because that Exhalations are more continual in the Air and the motion is less impeded there the calm in the Ocean is less discovered although that it be not wholly removed Proposition XIII Why no Wind bloweth perpendicularly from the Air unto the places of the Earth Concerning this question See Aristotle lib. 2. chap. 9. of Meteors Aristotle in his Second Book Chap. 9. of Meteors treateth very absurdly so that the Peripateticks are not agreeing concerning his Opinion neither shall I in this place relate their Sentiments The cause seemeth easily to be explained viz. that the Air being thrust downwards towards the Center of the Earth cannot break through this way by reason that other vapours are expelled or born upwards and therefore the overmuch resistance of the Air which is directly scituated under the Air moved causeth the protrusion to be made to the sides of the place in which the violence beginneth Which is therefore the more probable seeing that the matter of the Wind is for the most part more light than that Air and that is more rarified than that which is more near unto the Earth Proposition XIV Why Westerly-winds are less frequent than Easterly-winds See Proposition 10. The cause of this is manifest from the Tenth Proposition where we have made the Sun to be the first cause of Winds who so rarifieth the Air proceeding from the East to the West and therefore the Air is more thrust towards the West Therefore that this general cause may be impeded of necessity very many Exhalations must consist in the Western quarters which doth happen less frequently Proposition XV. Why the Northern and Eastern-winds are more impetuous and stormy and on the contrary the Southern and Western more relaxed and weak The Northern and Eastern Winds more stormy than the Southern and VVestern The cause is by reason that the Northern Air is more thick by reason of Cold and the Southern in our Zone by reason of the greater dissipation caused by the Sun and Heat is more rarified Now by how much the Air is more rarified by so much the lesser is it carried with an impetuous force Yet you must know that the South-winds are cold dry and violent in the Temperate Zone or the Artick Zone opposed to ours no less than the Northern-winds are unto us but the Eastern-wind is more rigid or more intense for another cause viz. because that it ariseth for the most part from the refraction of the Air made by the Sun which being continually carried from the East to the West the Air also is thrust forwards with the greater violence from the East to the West But it is probable that other causes may accede that may either help or obstruct that violence Proposition XVI Why the Southernly and Westernly-winds are found more hot than the Easternly and Northernly which have a wonderful power of causing Cold in respect of them The Southern and VVestern Winds are found more hot than the Easternly and VVesternly So this Question is wont vulgarly to be propounded yet we must know that in must not generally be understood of all places but only concerning the places of our Zone For in the other temperate Zone scituated towards the South from the Aequator the contrary holdeth true because that in these places the Northern-winds are hot or warm and the Southern are found more cold And so the nature of the thing and the condition of the cause required For the reason why the South-wind is discovered more warm to us and the North more cold proceedeth hence viz. that the South-winds come from a quarter and places more near unto the torrid Zone or way of the Sun but the Northern places more remote from that way of the Sun that is from more cold places But the contrary is found in places scituated towards the Antartick Pole from the Aequator because that the Northern-winds approach to them from the way of the Sun the Southern from the places more near the Pole But as concerning the Eastern and Western-winds I must answer otherwise neither doth that diversity of the places of our Zone and that of the opposite here take place Therefore first it is said in the preceding Proposition that the Western-winds are less frequent in all places the cause of which is the same with that by reason of which the Occidental winds are discovered more warm viz. because that for the most part they blow in the Night and after the setting of the Sun where the Air that is thrust forwards towards our place is more calid or less frigid than the Air of our place which is more remote from the West than that which lieth between the Sun and our place There is also another cause which also is of force in the difference between the Northern and Southern-winds viz. that the Western-winds blow with less violence and not so intense but with some relaxation Now it is known that any Air or Wind is discovered so much the more cold by how much it bloweth with the greater or more intense force although in truth it be no hotter or colder which is evident by our expiration which we can exhale either cold or hot Proposition XVII Why Mariners from the sight of a Cloud especially such a one that is of a pale or duskish colour predict a wind from that quarter also to declare the other signs of future winds Mariners from the sight of a Cloud predict a Wind from that quarter A twofold Reason may be rendred for either Clouds of that colour do shew that by and by they shall be dissipated and dissolved into Blasts or else the Clouds sinking by their own weight and segregated from other Clouds press down the Air beneath them and so cause it to blow Concerning the peculiar Clouds termed by the Dutch the Bulls-eye see the following Chapter 1. The Sun appearing spotted in his rising and lying obscured under a pale or black Cloud foretelleth either showers or winds 2. If that the Sun at his rising appeareth concave so that it shineth
from the middle and sendeth forth rays it signifieth a moist and windy season 3. If that the Sun be pale in his setting but if it be red the Air will be quiet and serene the next day 4. If the Sun being pale setteth in black Clouds it signifieth a North-wind 5. If that the Moon be red like unto gold it is deemed a certain sign of a Wind according to the Verse Pallida Luna pluit rubicunda fiat alba serenat 6. A circle about the Moon 7. If that the Northern-horn or corner of the Moon appear more extended a North-wind is approaching 8. If that the Southern a South-wind is at hand 9. The rising of the Moon and the more noted Stars as of the Bear Orion and especially the Goats with the Sun 10. If the small Stars in Cancer termed Asellos be covered with a Cloud if the Northern of them be covered the Wind will be South if the Southern be covered it will be North. 11. For the most part Winds begin to blow when that the Wind ceaseth 12. When a certain noise and murmur like to an Ebullition is heard in the Sea 13. The Ancients also prognosticated from the Raven the Dolphin and other Animals 14. From fiery Meteors as from Lightning and Falling-Stars but not from the Ignes fatui Proposition XVIII Why in the Spring and Autumn the Winds are more frequent and blow with greater force than in the hot Summer or cold Winter Greater and more frequent Winds in Spring and Autumn than in Summer and cold VVinter In the Spring it is supposed to be partly by reason of the dissolving of Snow especially in Mountainous places partly because that the Pores of the Earth are then opened and send forth many exhalations partly because that the Air and Vapours are then more thin when that they were condensed in the Winter Add that for the most part in the Month before the beginning of the Spring and in the very Spring many Rays do fall by reason that humid Constellations then have possessed those houses of the Zodiack into which on the entrance of the Sun we account the beginning of the Spring and also in Autumn the frequent Rays and Exhalations are to be accounted the cause of the Winds as well as in the Spring by reason that a moderate heat proceeding from the Sun advanceth the Vapours and Exhalations yet such as are more thick and less attenuated But in the heat of Summer there are no Winds for the most part for the same reason by reason of which Rays are very seldom seen at that Season viz. because that the Sun overmuch attenuateth the Exhalations and doth not permit them so to conjoyn or meet in such a quantity as is required to the generation of the Winds Which cause is not general or always true and neither is it generally true that in the heat of Summer there are no Winds for here we are only to understand it concerning that which oftentimes happeneth But in the sharp Winter the winds are more rare and that by reason that both fewer Vapours are raised from the Earth and those also that are elevated are either condensed into Clouds or are so dissipated by Frost that they cause no wind Proposition XIX In what Altitude of the Air or in what Region of the Air the Winds begin to blow In what Region the Winds begin to blow There are some that suppose the winds not to exceed the lower Region of the Air because that they discover that the tops of the high Mountains as Olympus feel no Blasts But I question the Observation seeing that the Smoak cast forth from the top of Mount Aetna is discerned to be moved to and fro by the wind therefore I suppose that such a windy commotion may be caused also in the upper Region of the Air. Proposition XX. Vnto what space one and the same Wind may extend it self How far one and the same Wind may extend it self There is great diversity in this matter for the winds blowing from the East to the West under the torrid Zone seem to encompass the whole Earth and those also that blow either from the North or South for many days and long spaces are wont to accompany and follow Mariners The same seemeth true concerning collateral Lines but this diversity is because that the same wind is different in divers places as we have shewed in the Tenth Proposition in the end of the explication of the first cause CHAP. XXI Of the Winds in particular and Tempests IN the foregoing Chapter we have alledged the distribution and differences or rather the denominations of the Winds which they receive from the quarter from whence they blow or seem to blow which division also is accidental by reason that they are taken in respect of a certain place of the Earth unto which those Quarters are related Now in this Chapter we shall alledge the divisions and Phaenomena which are in a certain time of the year or else are proper to certain tracts of the Earth although that we desire to have more and those likewise more accurate Observations concerning these things But we will produce what we have collected with much labour from the Diaries of the Seamen Proposition I. One Wind is constant and another inconstant Of Winds constant and inconstant That is a constant wind which at the least for one or two hours bloweth from the same quarter That is an inconstant wind which sometimes bloweth and other some is changed into other winds blowing from other quarters The causes of the more or less duration of the same wind also of the swift immutation seemeth to be 1. if that it be from a general cause or from a cause less constant So Winds proceeding from the motion of the Air with the motion of the Sun in the torrid Zone are constant so those also that blow from the dissolving of the Snow especially in the Mountains 2. If that by chance there be no such vapours in other quarters which are apt to generate Winds 3. If that the circumambient Air about the Cloud of which the Winds are generated be more thick and granteth no passage to the Exhalations but if that the Air be not so thick or more relaxed and that few Vapours be here and there in divers places and quarters and lastly if that the general causes do cease then indeed the Winds are found variable which are for the most part gentle Proposition II. One Wind is general and another particular Of general and particular Winds The general Wind is termed by Mâ—riners a Passant wind which at many places at once in a long tract of Earth bloweth on the Sea almost for a whole year That is termed a particular on the contrary which bloweth not at once in many places for a whole year Now a general Wind is hindred 1. In the parts of the Sea near the Earth for here Vapours from other quarters do interpose
all places almost in the Parallels of the 10 deg even unto the 30 deg North. After the same manner beyond the Tropick of Capricorn in the Sea between the Promontory of Good-hope and Brazile the South-East wind bloweth even unto the 30 deg of Latitude that is 7 degrees beyond the Torrid Zone towards the South and that through the whole year And although as we have said that this general wind is not discovered on all Coasts much less in Mediterranean places yet in some it is sufficiently observable So on the Coasts of Brazile Easterly unto the Coasts of Loango the South-East is a Quotidian wind although that other winds do admin themselves There is a threefold Cause of this continual general wind alledged by Modern Philosophers for both it and the Torrid Zone were unknown to the Antients who have not so much as mentioned it Some Determine that the Sun is the cause of this wind blowing from the East to the West by reason that by its great faculty it rarifyeth the Air in the Torrid Zone and so it thrusteth it forwards from the East to the West seeing that the Sun it self goeth this way Some and those of the Opinion of Pythagoras that Determined the Heaven to stand still and the Earth to moved round some of them I say supposed this general wind to Proceed from hence viz. that whilst the Earth is moved round and the Air with it this less followeth the motion of the Earth but is somewhat more slower to motion and therefore whilst that we are carried with the Earth from the West to the East the Air moved with less celerity to the same quarter seemeth to meet us and to be moved from the East to the West when that yet we do rather meet it See Des Cartes in his 222 Proposition of his Principels Des Cartes alledgeth the third Cause and that altogether new in the 222 Proposition in his Principles Where he endeavoureth to shew that the Moon causeth this motion as well as the motion of the Sea from the East to the West But because that his Opinion cannot be understood except that all his Philosophical Hypotheses should be Explained therefore we shall say nothing concerning it here especially seeing that we shall shew in another place that that Cause is not true I approve of the first Cause the second seemeth therefore not to be received because that many Copernicans approve not of it and no reason can be given why this wind should be found to blow only between the Tropicks or to the 30 deg of Latitude and not in the whole temperate Zone Proposition III. Some Winds are Periodical and fixed others wandering and Erratick Some winds fixed others wandering Those are termed fixed and periodical which blow on certain daies and then cease for a certain number of daies until that they begin to blow again Some return in the space of half a year othersome are Monthly which return in the interval of one or two Months Also the fixed winds are otherwise subdivided viz. some when that they begin to blow continue for some Months others for half a year others for a Month others for a few daies Amongst these those are chiefly observed by Mariners which blow for some Months in certain places of the Sea and they call these winds as also the times wherein such winds blow Motions or Moussons And such Motions are more especially notable in the Indian Ocean from Africa to the Philippine Isles although that they be not wanting in other places there is a very great moment to be placed in the observation of these Motions for Seamen ought to choose the time of them for the Voyage that they intend to that same quarter or that which is collateral unto which that wind bloweth neither to undertake a Voyage to the quarter of this Motion but to expect the contrary Motion For in the parts of the Indian Ocean where that one wind ceaseth to blow for some Months another succeedeth contrary to the former and continueth with the same constancy until that it hath compleated its time and therefore they call these Contrary Motions They term those the time of the mutation of those Motions which intercede between the end of one Mousson and the begining of the contrary For one Motion ceasing another doth not presently begin to blow but some days fall between some times more sometimes fewer also more in some places and fewer in other some And in these intermedial daies in which no certain Motion bloweth the wind is variable the calm dangerous and for the most part the Sea is tossed with uncertain waves and sudden Tempests arise some of these Motions return twice in a year but not with the same vehemency whence Mariners term the one the great Motion the other the lesser 1. In that part of the Atlantick Ocean that lyeth in the Torrid Zone as also that which is in the Temperate Zone the North wind perpetually bloweth in the Months of October Months most fit to taka a Voyage from Europe to India November and January And therefore these Months are chiefly fit to undertake a Voyage in from Europe to India that they may pass the Aequator by the help of those winds For it is manifest by experience that some Ships that have set Sail from Europe in March have arrived no sooner at Brazile than those that have set Sail in October viz. both of them have come thither in the Month of February being helped by the North wind Yet because that this wind is not so continual and certain therefore Mariners are not wont to call it a Motion Neither is it an easie matter to render a cause of this wind in these Months unless you will refer it to copious thick vapours or to a continnual pressure made from thick Clouds But those that have wintered in Nova Zembla testifie that there is a most frequent North wind all the time of the Winter where this effect cannot be ascribed unto the Sun rarifying the Air seeing that he lyeth obscured under the Horizon Yet I suppose that in general the Cause may proceed from the dissolving of Snows or gross Vapours or Clouds collected in the Winter in the Northern and Southern places especially on the Mountains Which I am induced to believe by this Argument more especially because that these Motions blow for the most part from the North and South quarters or the Collateral unto them Therefore by reason that Snow and thick Clouds are dissolved in the Northern places by the Sun especially in that half of the year in which he passeth through the North part of the Ecliptick therefore those Motions shall then be Northernly After the same manner in the Southern or Antartick places for the other half of the year the Sun dissolveth the Snow and the thicker Clouds therefore then the Motion shall be discovered Southerly Now that these Motions blow more from the Sea in the Collateral quarters
again opposite four days of the year in two of which the Sun shall obtain a middle distance from the place given if therefore the place given be North take two of those four days whereof one happeneth between the 21 of December and the 21 of March this shall be the entrance of the Spring the other between the 21 of September and the 21 of December this shall be the entrance of Autumn But if the place given be South from those four days you must take the day between the 21 of June and the 21 of September for the entrance of the Spring and for the beginning of Autumn that which happeneth between the 21 of March and the 21 of June The beginning of Winter shall be the 21 of June if the place be South but if North the 21 of December 3. If the place given be between the Aequator and the eighth degree of Latitude it shall have two Summers and two Spring seasons besides Autumn and Winter except peradventure we will cast away that second Spring which is intermedial between the two Summers as we said in the end of the preceeding Proposition and attribute a continual Summer to that time which if you do we must act no otherwise with the given place than in the former Mode If we will attribute two Summers and two Springs to it as the definitions of Summer and Spring accurately observed do require we shall first act by the first Mode as in the former Theorems viz. we shall find the entrance of Summer and Winter and except the four days of moderate distance found in the Table of those four those two which we advised to take in the former Mode for the entrance of the Spring and Autumn here again we shall take on the same conditions but of the other two days that only which is proximate to the day of the Summer shall be taken For this will shew the end of the Summer and the beginning of the second Spring but for the day of the second Summer another day of the three remaining shall be taken in that Area from which the beginning of the first Summer was taken viz. that which is distant by an equal number of days from the 21 of June and the 21 of Capricorn if the place be South the first day of the Summer So the days shall be found in which the Summer the Spring Autumn and the Winter do begin and end in the places of the Torrid Stone Proposition V. In the places in the temperate and frigid Zones the four seasons of the year are almost equal or consist of an equal number of days But in the places of the Torrid Zone they are unequal Neither are only the times of the divers seasons unequal but also the time of the season in the divers places of the Zones is unequal The seasons of the year in the places in the Temperate and Frigid Zone are equal 1. For the places of the temperate and frigid Zones what I have said is easily demonstrated For seeing that the Sun in every time of those four quarters of the Year runs through three Signs therefore the times of the Spring Summer Autumn and the Winter shall be equal or of equal days except some days viz. five in which the Summer and four in which the Spring of the Northern places exceed the Autumn and the Winter but in the Southern places it is otherwise for Autumn and Winter exceed the Spring and Summer which as we have shewed before proceedeth from the excentricity of the Sun 2. In places lying under the Aequator there are two Summers as also other Seasons but hoth short as also both the Springs viz. each Summer and each Spring hath only 32 days which is 64 days but the Autumns and Winters are longer viz. 55 days which is 110 days 3. In the places of the Torrid Zone by how much the less they are remote from the Aequator by so much the more they have the longer Summer the less Winter and more or less moderate Autumn and Spring for in places not remote above 10 degrees from the Aequator the Summer continueth six Months Now the greatness of the Summer Autumn Winter and Spring is known by the preceeding Proposition What hath hitherto been said is only to be understood concerning the Celestial Seasons that is those which depend on a Celestial Cause or from the access or recess of the Sun for from this alone cometh not light heat and cold as we have said in some places before therefore we shall consider the other causes in the following Propositions Proposition VI. In places of the Tornid Zone as the Sun by day is very near the Vertex so on the contrary by night he is beneath the Horizon Of the Motion of the Sun in places of the Torrid Frigid and Temperate Zones and very much removed from the Vertex of those places so that those places by night lye almost in the middle shadow of the Earth neither can the Air possibly any wayes be warmed by the Suns rayes by frequent reflection In places of the Frigid Zone as the Sun by day is not very nigh the Vertex so by night he doth not profoundly remain beneath the Horizon but for the greatest part of the night doth so turn round beneath the Horizon that many rayes from him by reflection do penetrate into the Air. In places of the Temperate Zone as the Sun by day cometh to the Vertex of those places by a moderate Vicinity so by night by an easie distance he is depressed beneath the Horizon so that some rayes at least are in the Air. To shew this by the Globe first let the Pole be elevated for some place scituated in the Torrid Zone or rather let the Pole be placed in the Horizon it self that the places of the Aequator may be in the Vertex of the Horizon or that the wooden Horizon may become the Horizon of the places of the Aequator then consider the depression of the Parallels which the Sun describeth by his circumrotation beneath the Horizon and the truth of the member of this Proposition will appear Then let the Pole be elevated for the places of the Frigid Zone or let the Poles be placed in the Vertex of the Horizon and the Parallels of the Sun beneath the Horizon from the first degree of Libra to the first of Aries being considered it will again be manifest that they are very little depressed below the Horizon And so we have shewed the second member or part of this Proposition Lastly let the Pole be elevated for the Latitude of any place scituated in the Temperate Zone and the depression of the Parallels beneath the Horizon again being considered the third part of this Proposition will be proved Proposition VII A place being given in the Globe and the day of the year to find the Longitude of the Crepusculum or Twilight in the place given at the day given That time is
of Mars Jupiter Saturn and the fixed Stars is altogether uncertain by reason of the defect of the parallaxy or mutual changing In the Copernicans Hypothesis the distance is varied not only from the motion of the Planets but also from the motion of the Earth it self The Reasons of either Opinion to wit of the Ptolomean and Copernican concerning the place of the Earth are almost the same with them which in the precedent Chapter we have alledged for this disputation hath great affinity with the same For if you ascribe and allow the second motion to the Sun which is called the proper motion not the Sun but the Earth shall be in the midst but if you allow that second Motion to the Earth not the Earth but the Sun shall be in the middle These Arguments following may be said for the Copernicans Opinion The Sun not only the fountain of Light but also the vital Spirit of the whole Universe 1. The Sun is not only the Fountain of Light which as a most clear shining torch illuminates the Earth Moon Venus and without doubt the rest of the Planets but he is the fire-hearth of heat and vital spirit by which this whole Universe seemeth to be cherished and sustained Therefore it is probable that he holdeth the middle place and that these are moved round about him 2. It is more likely that the Earth should be moved about the Sun that together with the rest of the Planets she may receive light and heat from him The Sun a vast body c. 3. The Sun being placed in the midst some cause is rendred why the rest of the Planets and the Earth may be carried round about him to wit because the Sun is a most vast body and endowed with great vertues and forces therefore he rowleth and stirreth up the rest of the Planets to their motion And this Reason especially taketh place if we admit Keplers Hypothesis concerning the motion of the Planets Spots in the Sun 4. The Observations of Galilaeus and Scheiner concerning the spots in the Sun prove that the Sun is moved about his Axil In the same manner therefore the rest of the Planets have their cause of going about neither seems it consistent with reason that any other should be attributed to him 5. If we allow the Earth a place between Mars and Venus and allow the Center to the Sun the motion of every Planet fittingly answers and agrees to the distance from the Center which in the Ptolomaick Supposition is manifest not to be effected by the consideration of the motions of the Sun Venus and Mercury 6. Those Celestial appearances which we have used in the former Chapter for the proving the second Motion of the Earth are also valid and efficacious for this place which I have said must be assigned to the Earth to wit the Retrograde course and station of the Planets and the admirable apparent motions of Venus and Mercury c. For indeed that second motion of the Earth doth before hand suppose this place and placing of the Earth or hath it joyned to it self very nearly But this Argument in my Opinion is the chiefest Yet for the first motion of the Earth nothing can be fetcht by way of Argument for gathering thence the situation of the Earth For the Earth might be in the Center of the World if she were without or wanted the second motion as Origanus also determines 7. So also the variation of the distance of the Planets from the Earth is well declared The Aristotelians and Platonists Arguments about the Earth Yet notwithstanding the Aristotelians and Platonists oppugn the Pythagoreans Opinion with many Arguments and endeavour to challenge the Center of the Earth for a place by these Arguments First heavy things are carried to the Center of the World but the Earth is the heaviest body therefore it takes up that Center Secondly heavy things would go from the Earth towards the Center of the Universe unless this Center were in the Earth Thirdly the Center is the ignoblest place and the Earth also is the vilest part of this Universe therefore it shall have the Center thereof Fourthly if the Earth were without the Center of the World and motion of the Stars then the Stars and Constellations would be seen in some seasons of the year and some days bigger than in others Fifthly neither would the middle part of Heaven always be conspicuous as Taurus rising the Scorpion should set c. Sixthly neither would there be Equinoxes Seventhly neither the Moon rising eclipsed would the Sun set c. Eightly neither would the number of Miles in the Earth equally answer every degree in Heaven The aforesaid Reasons of the Aristotelians refuted by the Copernicans The Copernicans do easily weaken these Reasons of the Aristotelians For the first and second is refell'd because the motion of heavy things is not to the Center of the Vniverse but to the homogeneal body as is proved by the parts of the Moon the Sun and Loadstone The third Reason taketh a false major and minor proposition For the Center is also a noble place and the Earth is not ignoble or base The other Reasons are easily disproved by Diagrams or Descriptions this at least being fore-supposed that the distance of the Earth from the Sun or Center how great soever it be yet if it be compared with the distance of the fixed Stars from the Sun it would be so little as that it would have no proportion to it The distance of the Moon Venus and Mercury from the Earth not so great as of Mars Jupiter and Saturn Moreover the Explication of the Theorem belongeth to this place that the distance of the fixed Stars and superiour Planets Mars Jupiter and Saturn is so great from the Earth that the half Diameter of the Earth hath no proportion to it but the distance of the Moon Venus and Mercury is not so great touching the Sun there is as yet a doubt surely if there be any proportion of the half Diameter of the Earth to the distance of the Earth from the Sun that will be very small But the Theorem is proved thus First the fixed Stars and higher Planets appear to us to rise at the same moment at which they would appear to rise by a right contrived supputation and calculation if we were set in the Center of the Earth Therefore the distance of our place from the Center of the Earth that is the half Diameter bears no proportion to the distance of the fixed Stars Secondly if we take the Meridian or Altitude of a fixed Star or one of the superiour Planets with an Astronomical Instrument we find the same as if we had observed it in the Center of the Earth Therefore the semidiameter of the Earth vanisheth away in respect of that distance Thirdly if there were any proportion then the distance of two Stars would be found to be lesser about the Horizon than
vicine place is to be found whereby it may come unto those Northern Regions Seeing that therefore this flux is perpetual neither doth the water come by a manifest way unto those Regions whence the flux is made therefore it seemeth necessary to conclude that the waters come through subterraneous passages unto those Northern Regions and so there to be effused from the holes of the Channel as from a spring and that the water moveth hence towards the South There falleth in another cause taken from the former For the water of the Ocean in the Torrid Zone is more heavy than that in the Northern places by reason of the great abundance of Salt as we have proved in the Eighth and Twelfth Proposition Therefore the water or Ocean in the Torrid Zone doth more press through the Orifices of the Subterranean passages than in the Northern places and therefore in these places the water less resisting suffereth the water to flow from the Orifices of the Channels Unto this I answer That that flux of the Ocean is not only from the North as the Objection seemeth to inferr and as some especially the Ancients conceived of it who would have the water to flow in four Channels from the very Pole as also some Geographical Maps do exhibit it neither is it continual but is observed by reason of the frequency of Northern Winds moreover the great and perpetual abundance of Snow and Rain in those places augmenteth the water and causeth it to flow towards the South Add likewise that in other parts another motion of the Ocean is found concerning which see the following Chapter 3. It seemeth not absurd but rather most true that all the Fountains of Rivers taken together disburthening themselves into the Ocean are the very Fountains of the Ocean For seeing that in perpetual progress of time so great an abundance of water floweth from them into the Ocean questionless the water cometh from the Ocean to the very Springs and Channels of the Rivers partly through the Subterranean passages and partly by Rains 4. It may seem to prove that the Fountains of the Ocean may be in the very Channel because that in the bottom of the Ocean in some parts sweet or fresh water is found which could not be but by some Fountains flowing in the bottom Linschaten relateth that in Ormus fresh water is drawn by divers in the Ocean at the depth of four or five Orgya and the like Fountains are found in other parts of the Ocean and Bays Unto this I answer That few such Springs have yet been found which suffice not the vast Ocean Neither do we dispute concerning these Fountains as we have said before Hence it is manifest that in some sort it is true and we may well say that the Ocean hath Springs but not in that sense that we are wont to speak concerning the Springs of Rivers and in which we would have our Proposition to be taken Hence also it is manifest what we ought to think concerning that Question viz. Whether the Sea is always one and the same and perpetually so remaineth or whether it be another thing whose parts are perpetually consumed and generated again Proposition VIII The saltness of the Waters proceedeth from the particles of Salt which are mixed with it but whence they may exist or are so augmented is the doubt Of the Saltness of the Sea-water Experlence proveth the first member of the Proposition by which it is commonly known that Salt is made of Sea-water by decoction of the water or by the heat of the Sun or the fervour of the Fire In Germany and other places the water is separated by the help of the Fire In France the greater heat of the Sun performeth the same the Ocean being let into certain Trenches made in which in the space of some Months the water being exhaled by the force of the Sun Of Salt and of what made concreted and hard Salt is found On the shoars of many Regions as of England and other parts plenty of Bay-Salt is found the Sea-water continually overflowing those shoars leaveth daily some particles or humors from which the water exhaleth and concrete Salt is left whose blackness is taken away by boyling although it be washed away and dissolved from many Coasts by the violence of the Ocean which is the cause that it is not found on all Coasts Seeing therefore that this Experiment is common Aristotle had small reason to alledge a false Experiment concerning a waxen Vessel let down into the Sea Hence it is manifest that the proximate cause of the Saltness of the Sea-water or the true subject of this saltness is the Saline particles which are contained in that water Therefore the Aristotelians with their Master spake improperly and obscuredly without cause when they defend and say That the saltness of the Sea proceedeth from the adustion of the Sea caused by the Sun or from the adust particles But of this more anon The chief difficulty and controversie is concerning the other member of the Proposition Whence these Salt particles of the Ocean exist Aristotle supposeth that dry exhalations or fumes all which he saith are of an adust and Saline nature elevated from the Earth are mixed with humid vapours and when that these have met together in Rain they fall with these into the Sea and that thence proceedeth the saltness and Salt particles in the Sea See Aristotle lib. 2. chap. 7. and on this account he seemeth to defend this Opinion because that from thence he may render a reason why the Sea is always salt But other Peripateticks will have it and so do endeavour to draw Aristotle to their part that this saltness is in the Sea it self by reason that it is perpetually scorched by the heat of the Sun a sign of which is that the water is found by so much the less salt by how much it is more deep or remote from the superficies for in the superficies we discover it to be most salt Both these Opinions are obstructed with great difficulties and absurdities so that it seemeth wonderful that the minds of Philosophers and Learned men could acquiesce in them First the opinion of Aristotle is thus obstructed that Salt-rain should be found in the Ocean which never yet was found to be void of all tast of salt Secondly the Sea should be less salt when it raineth not for a long time the contrary of which yet is found The other Opinion hath these difficulties 1. It is false that the waters of the Ocean are found the less salt by how much they are nigh to the bottom for there are few places viz. in those bottoms where Springs of fresh water do flow 2. Experience testifieth that fresh water although long exposed to the Sun or heat of the Fire yet doth not become salt This Objection Scaliger endeavoureth to avoid by an over-nice subtilty for he saith that this hapneth in these Observations by reason of
apprehend it from his words neither do I see how it can follow from his Hypothesis It is probable that the Sun and general winds do very much contribute to this intumescency of the water and seeing that the Sun in the Aequinoctials doth incumb on the middle of the Sea of the Torrid Zone therefore either he or the winds cause that the Sea then swelleth more than at another time But as concerning the Solstices we must say in a contrary mode or that the same is the cause of the greater intumescency of the Sea in the time of the Aequinoctials either of the Spring or Autumn which is the cause of more frequent rains winds and inundadions in those seasons Proposition XIV In some parts of the Ocean Gulphs and Shoars great is the encrease and decrease of the water in the influx and deflux in other some it is very small in some not discernable and so there is no flux and reflux or intumescency and detumescency The increase and decrease of the water in several parts of the Ocean Those places receive great Augmentation and decrease 1. That are under the Torrid Zone between the Tropicks for then the Moon pressing for the most part is there carried round 2. In places that are directly extended from East to West or nigh the Collateral quarters 3. In those Gulphs that are long and less broad the Augmentation is the more sensible 4. In those places in which few Islands or procurrents adjoyn to the Earth The greatest flux and deflux in the Streight of Cambaja The greatest flux and deflux hitherto observed is that which is in the Streight of Cambaja in one of the inlets of the River Indus and it hath struck many with admiration for the water recedeth to an high distance and that very speedily Whence not without reason the River Indus or the Gulph of Cambaja is thought to be that unto which when that Alexander the Great came and endeavoured to pass his Army over as it is there related the water presently went back and left his Ships a ground hence he went no farther but judged that the Gods had here fixed the bounds of his Expedition with a prohibition of proceeding any farther The cause is the small or narrow and deep depression of the Channel but yet 't is probable there was some other cause Fluv and reflux at Damman At the City Damman in India not far from Surat the Altitude of the water by flux and reflux is varied at two and a half Orygas and the Sea departeth from the shoar the space of half a mile In the Gulph of Cambaja the flux augmenteth the Altitude five Orgyas others say seven which unusual augmentation hath been the cause of the loss of many Ships by unexperienced Mariners for the water falling they have been split on the Rocks No constant time of the flux and reflux in the Streights of Magellan The flux and reflux in the Red-sea In the Gulphs and shoars of the Streights of Magellan no constant time of the flux and reflux is observed for sometimes the water floweth and refloweth in three hours othersome in twelve hours which inconstancy is to be ascribed to the violent irruption of the Ocean into that Streight and from the various agitations of the wind About Malacca also at the Streight of Sunda a notable flux and deflux is observed In the Arabian Gulph or Red Sea some of the Ancients have written that there is so great a reflux as Scaliger writeth that Moses and the Israelites passed over without any Miracle But it is false because the reflux is not there so great as to leave the Channel dry On the Coasts of China the flux and reflux is very sensible as also at the Isles of Japan At Panama on the Coast of America lying at the Pacifick Ocean the Sea is very much exalted The Sea at the flux much exalted at Panama and by and by depressed again in the full Moons the flux is so much augmented that water entreth into the Houses of the City Yea in almost all the shoars of the South Sea the Altitude of the water is wonderfully augmented and diminished so that in the reflux the decrease is sensible for two miles In the Gulph of Bengala at the shoar of Sâ—am the flux augmenteth the Altitude ten foot The flux not perceivable in the Mediterranean Sea But in the Mediterranean Sea which floweth in through the Streights of Gibralter from the West to the East the flux is not perceivable because the scituation is contrary to the quarter into which the Sea is moved and therefore the water of it is little augmented by the flux so that it is not discernable unless in the Gulph of Venice which by reason of its long extension and small Latitude sheweth the flux and reflux when in the other part of the Mediterranean Sea by reason of its notable Latitude that little augmentation and decrease is not discovered Whence this flux and reflux was unknown to the Grecians as also to the Romans in the time of Scipio Africanus And the Grecians as well as the Romans accounted it as miraculous what sometimes they discovered in other places as is manifest from the Expedition of Alexander the Great and of Scipio in the expugnation of Carthage but in the time of Cicero it was known to the Romans Yet some observed it a little at Massilia also at certain Coasts of Barbary it is noted enough The flux and reflux in the Baltick Sea not yet found out In the Baltick Ocean as also in the whole Northern Sea beyond England towards Norway and Greenland the flux and reflux of the Sea is not yet found out as neither in the North Coast of the Pacifick Ocean But the cause is not yet sufficiently known unless you will say that those Seas are remote from the course of the Moon and also that they are extended from the West to the East and North moreover that many Isles and procurrencies of land do hinder These three must be conjoined to impede the flux of the Sea in these places Proposition XV. The flux and reflux of the Sea is a violent motion viz. an impulse but the reflux is a natural motion of the water For the flux is caused by the pression of the Moon or matter between the Moon and the Earth or also because that the Sea doth not remain in that scituation which is received in the flux this is a sign that it was a violent motion But in the reflux the Sea is moved from a more high place to a more depressed place which is the natural motion of water Lemma The place of the Moon being given in the Ecliptick and the Latitude and hour of the day from an Ephemerides or by Supputation or Astronomical observation to find on the Terrestrial Globe the place unto which the Moon at the hour given is vertical also to exhibit all those places of the Earth unto
termed the Longitude of the Twilight in which either before the rising of the Sun or after his setting some light is discovered in the Air. For the finding the Longitude of the Twilight by the Globe of any place and day of the year For the finding out of the quantity of this time we must suppose that which is observed by Astronomers as we have said in the nineteenth Chapter that the morning twilight beginneth for the most part if the Air be serene the Sun drawing nigh to the eighteenth degree of depression beneath the Horizon and the evening endeth when the Sun hath come to that degree of depression Let therefore the Pole be elevated for the Latitude of the place given and let the place of the Sun in the Ecliptick being found from the day of the year be sought in the Ecliptick of the Globe and let his opposite point be noted then let the Quadrant be applied to the Vertex and the point noted be found to the Horizon the Index to the twelfth hour of the Cycle then let the Globe be turned round until the noted point be elevated 18 degrees above the Horizon which is known by the help of the Quadrant for so shall the place of the Sun be depressed so many degrees beneath the Horizon and the Index in the Cycle shall shew how many hours or parts of an hour the serenity of the Air being laid down the twilight continueth that day in the place given It is convenient by three examples to learn the use of this Problem choosing a place for one of the Torrid Zone another of the Temperate and a third of the Frigid Zone Proposition VIII In places of the Torrid Zone the twilights are small very long in those of the Frigid and moderate in those of the Temperate Zone Of the difference of the Twilights in the several Zones For in places of the Aequator and those near the Crepusculum according to the Hypothesis laid down in the former Proposition is of about one hour which yet experience testifieth is only half an hour or little more because the more thick and gross Air is not so high there as is required to make the twilight to the 18 degree of depression both also because the Hypothesis of the 18 degree is to be taken concerning very small light with which the twilight beginneth such as yet is not accounted by the Vulgar for a twilight In the Frigid Zone the twilights continue for many days when the Sun remaineth beneath their Horizon In the Temperate Zone it continueth 3 4 5 and 6 hours and in some places all night and in the days of the Summer according as the places are more or less nigh the Frigid Zone All these are proved by the Mode proposed in the precedent Proposition Proposition IX A place being given in the Temperate or Frigid Zone and another in the Torrid Zone and moreover the day of the year being given to find out the hour of the place of the Torrid Zone in which hour the Sun may have the Altitude above the Horizon of that place and so strike that place with his rayes equally elevated as great as it hath in the place of the Temperate Zone in the Meridies it self Let the Pole be elevated for the Latitude of the place of the Temperate or Frigid Zone and let the place of the Sun found from the day given be brought to the Meridian and the Altitude of it reckoned for this is the Altitude of the rayes heating that place and illustrating it in the Meridies Then let the Pole be elevated for the Latitude of the place given in the Torrid Zone let the Quadrant be applied to the Vertex and let the degree of Altitude before found out be noted in it let the place of the Sun be brought to the Meridian the Index to the twelfth hour of the Cycle then let both the Globe and the Quadrant be moved till the place of the Sun agree with the noted degree of the Quadrant for so the Sun shall have the same Altitude above the Horizon of this place as it is in the Meridies of the former The Index will shew the hour demanded in the Cycle therefore this hour and the rayes of the Sun illustrating and beating of the place and Air of the Torrid Zone are as equally elevated over the Horizon of it as the rayes in the Meridies of the former place it thence followeth that the same heat will be in the Torrid Zone at the hour found out as in the place of the Temperate Zone in the Meridies except other causes intercede Some hinderances viz. first that the Sun in the foregoing days hath introduced some one or other calid Constitution to the place and the Air of the Torrid Zone and not such and so great in the places of the Temperate or Frigid Zone Then secondly that the Sun straitly ascending towards the Meridian above the Horizon of the places of the Torrid Zone sendeth forth all his rayes to the place as in one plain and to one plaga and therefore causeth greater heat than in the Temperate or Frigid Zone where the Sun moveth obliquely from the Horizon to the Meridian and sends forth his rayes from one and another plaga therefore the rayes are not contracted into a place so narrow nor do they continually heat For example let us seek in what hour of the day in places being under the very Aequator on the day of the Aequinoctials the Sun will have that Altitude as he hath at Amstelodame on the Meridies of the same day Proposition X. How the causes of light heat and of the seasons which we have reckoned up in the first Proposition of this Chapter have themselves in the Torrid Zone and how to shew them Of the seasont light and heat in the Torrid Zone and how they are shewed First every day of the year ascendeth directly above the Horizon of those places especially of the Aequator towards the Meridian and the Vertex of them and therefore about the ninth hour of Forenoon he heginneth to ejaculate to those places rayes about 40 degrees declining from the perpendicular rayes which rectitude of the rayes or perpendicular of the rayes augmenteth towards the Meridies and again decreasing continueth to the fourth hour after the Meridies or Noonstead where the Sun departing towards the Occidental Horizon beginneth to send forth his rayes more obliquely to those places therefore the greatest heat in those places ought to be from about the ninth hour before Noon even to the third or fourth after Noon if that this cause be only regarded but yet because the Sun now departs from the Vertex of those places and sometimes approacheth nearer therefore the Winter of every one of those places shall be when the Sun goeth from the points of the Ecliptick much remote from those places that is from the first degree of Cancer or Capricorn towards the points having a middle
the Brazilians in the months of October and February and striketh the Earth with reflex raies at most acute Angles Which diversity of these Regions promiseth the Inhabitants perpetual health by reason of the often calms and the Air quelling all noxious heats Hence it is easy to dollect that the seasons of the year do not so much depend immediately on the Sun and his motion as on the species of the Winds the diversity of aspects of the Stars the quality and peculiar scituation of the Region Moreover in these Mediterranean Regions towards the West the nights are more cold than in the Maritim so much some times that the Frost seizeth on the very hairs of the Peoples In the same months from the East about the Ocean is Summer and Siccity No Islands are opposite to Brazilia from the West beyond the ridges of the Mountains and the Marshes of Brazilia is the Winter Fogs and Rain Oftentimes the Heavens may be seen covered with vast Clouds from the East towards the West but those again very thin except in the days of the Rain the Sun both rising and setting may be beheld with fixed eyes for there is a wonderful serenity on every side especially towards the evening which never afordeth any Vapours or Clouds to the succeeding Moon but renders the night so clear that the old and new Moon may be seen in one and the same day and letters may be well read it the quarter Moon The Aether in respect of the diversity of the Planets other inseriour causes acceding receiveth its distemperature for the Heaven about evening is bright with Lightning without Thunder in the most dry and serene season The drops of Rain are very great and fall with great violence which is wont to be preceeded by a suffocative warmness The Dew here is more fruitful than that of Europe being impregnated with much Winter and therefore is more penetrating and thin especially in Summer which is manifest in all Mettals and in Iron especially which it easily eateth up without the assistance of any Clouds The Meadows and open Fields do less wax green in the Summer but more especially in the Pluvial months although the Earth then seemed somewhat more sad to the Inhabitants and the places unfit for Tillage afford Pasture See Piso All the Lands of Brazilia arise into moderate and pleasant Hills there are no Mountains of any great hight in the Coasts but yet some are discovered afar off in the Solitudes among the barren hills yet not every where but with some intervals of Miles the Valleys are interposed every one irrigated with some small Rivers and for that reason are not only fertil in the pluvial months but also in those of the Summer The Hills in the Summer months are steril by reason of the heat of the Sun so that they wither and Grass doth not only die on them but sometimes the Trees also It very seldom raineth throughout the whole day and night and for some continual days very seldom without intermission the Pluvial months do a little differ In the year 1640. as Marriners have observed there were 7 Pluvial months viz February March April May June July and August But most and almost continually from April May and June In the year 1642. the most Pluvial months six viz. March April May June July and August But the account of the other years was not much different Now these observations are to be taken only for one place and not for all the places in Brazilia Hence it is manifest that the Summer and Winter of Brazilia answereth to the Celestial account seeing that in the greatest distance of the Sun they have Rain and in the least and moderate towards the South they have heat Yet there are not a few irregularities the cause of which are to be sought from the scituation of the Winds and Earth The six rainy months are May June July August September and October 18. This is enough for the Southern America in the Northern it is otherwise For in the Province of Nicaragua it raineth for six months and the other six months it is Summer and dry weather so that passengers may travel in the night This now is contrary to the Celestial course for in the wet months for in May June and so on to November the Sun is vertical or near the Vertex unto these places so that then they should have Summer and Siccity and not Rain In November and December it is very distant therefore they should there have Rain Thus have we declared the Seasons of the chief places of the whole Torrid Zone from which being compared one with another we collect 1. That in some places the cold is scarse sensible in some part of the year and therefore the Winter is rather to be defined by the Rains than by cold in those places 2. In some places the cold is sufficiently sensible 3. In the night time especially in the last quarter the Air is discovered to be very cold by reason of the depression of the Sun beneath the Horizon 4. That it is not the least cause of the tolerable heat and that those Regions are inhabited viz. that no days are there long but almost equal to the night for if the days were as long there the Sun remaining above the Horizon as in the places of the Temperate and Frigid Zones then doubtless they would be uninhabited 5. That the Winds do much diminish the heat of the Sun 6. That places which ly in one and the same Climate have the Summer and Winter in divers times although they be very near to one another 7. That those places which have Siccity and Humidity contrary to the access and recess of the Sun are so scituated that on the East they have Ridges of Mountains and that they regard the West Peru excepted 8. That the Seasons observe no certain rule in the places of the Torrid Zone 9. That although most of the Inhabitants divide the year into two Seasons which is likewise observed by many Writers to wit a Pluvial and Dry Season yet it may aptly be divided into four so that they may not only have a Summer and a Winter but also a Spring and an Autumn For as in our parts the Spring approacheth near the nature of Summer and the Autumn of Winter so also the dry places of the Torrid Zone may be divided 10. And lastly in some places there is a continual Harvest in some only in two parts of the year and in others only in one part of the year Proposition XII To shew how the four Seasons of the year are made c. in the places of the Temperate Zones Of the seasons of the year in places lying in the Temperate Zones 1. In these places that cause which we have placed in the first place amongst the causes of the Seasons in the first Proposition of this Chapter is so potent in respect of the other causes that that
above almost maketh up and moderateth them To wit in the Regions of the Northern Temperate Zone it is Spring and Summer the Sun going from Aries by Cancer to Libra because then he is more near them Then the Sun going from Libra through Capricorn to Aries it is Autumn and Winter But in the Southern Temperate Zone the matter is contrary neither can those other causes altogether disable the force of this first and induce a new course of the seasons and be able to alter the times as in the Torrid Zone 2. Yet those Seasons of divers places vary so that in one place there may be more Heat or Cold or Rain than in another although the places lie in the same Climate but yet they cause not the Winter to be changed into Summer or Summer into Winter A Rocky Marshish and Maritim Land findeth somewhat another degree of heat or cold than Vallies or a Chalk and Maritim Land 3. The places in the Tropicks for the most part in the Summer have an excessive heat others a Pluvial Season so that they almost approach to the nature of the places of the Torrid Zone So in the part of the Kingdom of Guzarat lying without the Tropick at the same time the wet and dry months are observed which in the part lying beyond the Aequator the Summer is changed into a Pluvial Season yet then there is greater heat than the dry part of the year where they have a moderate cold and in truth in the places of the Temperate Zones we judg the Summer and Winter not from the drought and rains but from the heat and cold Now in the Coasts of Persia and Ormus there is so great heat without Rains in the Summer by reason of the vicinity of the Sun rhat both the Men and their Wives ly in Cisterns full of Water The like heat is in Arabia The Regions of Africa on the Mediterranean Sea are called the coast of Barbary Throughout all Barbary the middle of October being past Showers and Cold begin to increase and in December and January the cold is perceived more intense and that only in the morning and withal so remiss that the Fire is not desired February taketh away the greatest part of the cold from the Winter but yet it is so inconstant that sometimes 5 or 6 times in one day the Air changeth In the month of March the North and West Winds blow violently and cause whole trees to be vested with blossoms April giveth form almost to all Fruits so that the entrance of May and the end of April is wont naturally to produce Cherries In the middle of May they gather Figs and in the middle of June in some places are ripe Grapes Of the seasons of the year of Barbary the Figs or Autumn are gathered in August and there is no greater plenty of Figs and Pears than in September There is not so great intemperies of the year in those places but that the three months of the Spring are always temperate The entrance of the Spring that is the Terrestrial not the Celestial is as they reckon on the 15th of February and the end the 18th of May in all which time the Air is most grateful to them If from the 25th of April to the 5 of May they have no Rain they esteem the same as ominous They count their Summer even to the 16th of August at which time they have a very hot and serene Air. Their Autumn from the 17 of August to the 16 of November and they have that for two months to wit August and September yet not great That which is included between the 15 of August and the 15 of September was wont to be termed by the Antients the Furnace of the whole year and that because it produced Figs Pears and that kind of Fruit to maturity From the 15 of November they reckoned their Winter which they extend to the 14 of February At the entrance of this they begin to till their Land which is the plain but the mountainous in the month of October The Africans have a certain perswasion that the year hath 40 very hot days and on the other side so many cold The Opinion of the Arabians days which they say begin from the 12 of December They begin the Aequinoxes on the 16 of March and on the 16 of September Their Solstices on the 16 of June and the 16 of December The end of their Autumn all their Winter and a good part of their Spring is full of violent Winds accompanied with Hail Lightnings and dreadful Thunders neither is there wanting in many places of Barbary an abundance of Snow In Mount Atlas 7 degrees distant from the Tropick of Cancer they divide the year only into two parts for from October even to April they have a continual Winter and from April again to October they have Summer In this there is no day in which the Mountains tops glitter with Snow The seasons of Numidia In Numidia the parts of the year swiftly pass away for in May they reap their Corn in October they gather their Dates but from the middle of September to January a violent Frost continueth October abstaining from Rains all hopes of Sowing is taken from the Husbandman the same hapneth if that April produceth not Pluvial Water Leo Astricanus remembreth many Mountains of Snow in Africa not far from the Tropick of Cancer Of China The North part of China although no more remote from the Aequator than Italy yet it hath a cold more sharp for great Rivers and Lakes are congealed up with Frost the cause of which is not yet sufficiently known except we should refer it to the Snowy Mountains of Tartaria not far remote to the avoyding of which cold they abound with the Skins of Foxes and Scythilian Rats New England New England although it lie in 42 degrees of North Latitude and therefore no more removed from the Aequator than Italy yet in the month of June when Sir Francis Drake was there the Air was so vehement cold that he was compelled to sayl back to the South for the Mountains were then covered with Snow The cause is the Frigid temperature of the Earth being Stony The seasons of Aegypt In Aegypt which is bounded with the Tropick of Cancer the Spring and Temperate Season of the year is observed about January and February The Summer beginneth with March and April and continueth June July and August The Autumn possesseth September and October The Winter hath November and December About the beginning of April they Reap their Corn and presently thresh it After the 20 of May not an Ear of Corn is to be seen in the Fields no Fruits on the trees On the Ides of June the inundation of the Nilus beginneth The seasons in the streights of Magellan In the Streights of Magellan and the adjacent Regions although they be no more distant from the Aequator than our parts
are under the 52 degree of South Latitude yet they have no very hot Summer So that the Hollanders in the month of January when there should be an hot Summer found a great glade of Ice in the Creek of one of their Seas In the Mountains of the adjacent Coasts Snow is discovered all the Summer long and it is observed that in almost all the Regions of the South Temperate Zone they have a Cold far more intense in Winter and a violency of Rain and a less heat in Summer than the parts of our Northern Temperate Zone Whether this be the cause that the Sun makes a longer stay and the slower progress in the Semicircle of the Northern Zodiac than in the Southern is to be questioned In the Neighbouring Province of Peru which they call La Valla Imperial in the Province of Potosi they find so great a Cold that for four miles circumference there groweth nothing The season of Chili In the Kingdom of Chili which extendeth it self from 30 degrees of South Latitude to 50 degrees the Spring beginneth in the months of August sooner than the Celestial Account admitteth and endeth in the middle of November And from the middle of November Summer beginneth even to the middle of February from whence Autumn leadeth on to the middle of May which the Winter succedeth which is very violent and dispoileth the Trees of their Blossoms and scattereth a deep Snow with a vehement Frost which yet is discovered by the Sun except which is very seldom that the Sun appeareth not but the Snow rarely falleth in the Vallies for although it falls in great abundance and is heaped up so high that it ascends the tops of Mountains and is heaped together in the vacuity of the Mountains as in so many wells and indure almost the whole year yet being there dissolved they flow into the Rivers and Torrents which run through the Vallies with a great force even to the Sea to the great enrichment of the Grounds But although here it Snow not except rarely in the Plains yet it maketh so excessive a Frost that the like is scarcely felt in many parts of Europe which happeneth partly from the Altitude of the Pole partly from the propinquity of the Mountains from which descend so subtile and penetrating Winds that sometimes they are unsufferable whence it cometh to pass that the Maritim parts are more temperate He that is Studious may collect other differences of Region under the same Climate or in the vicine Climates from Writers for example that in England the Air is not so cold as in Holland so that they pen not up their Heards in the Winter Betwen Siberia and Tartaria in a place seated not far from the Frigid Zone in the end of our Temperate are said to be plesant Fields and rich Pastures almost no cold seeing that they scarce feel Winter where by the command of the Duke of Moscovia the City Tooru is built which is at this day so much encreased that it is able to repell the Assaults of the Tartars The Island of Japan In Japan the Winter is Cold Snowy Ruiny when yet other Regions of Europe and Asia lying under the same Climate have far lesser Winter the cause is because that Japan consists of many Islands disjoyned by a small Euripus and that it also lyeth in the middle of the Ocean America very hot in the Summer In Armenia and the adjoyning places there is great heat in Summer because it lieth amongst Mountains here and there mixed with Fields hence the more rich in some places in Summer remove to the tops of the Mountains and remain there for some months but the meaner sort in the day time defend themselves in the Mountains from the near and about eventide do descend to the lower ground Proposition XIII To declare how in places in the Frigid Zone the four Seasons of the year have themselves with the light Of the places in the Frigid Zone The cause of those Seasons with the light proposed in the entrance of this Chapter thus stands in the Frigid Zone 1. The Center of the Sun for some days or months as the place is either nearer or remote from the Pole doth not arise above the Horizon and for so many days setteth not 2. In those days when he is above the Horizon he only illustrateth those places with his oblique raies because he is not much elevated above the Horizon but moveth round it because those places are over much removed from the way of the Sun 3. The Sun is not deeply depressed beneath the Horizon yea in places near the Polary Circle or Artick Pole although the Center of the Sun doth not arise yet part of his Skirt ariseth and is beheld for some days above the Horizon before the Center it self ariseth by reason that the half Sun possesseth 15 minutes in the Heaven For example let us take those places whose distance is from the Aequator 67 degrees towards the Pole Artick let the Pole be elevated according to this Latitude and in the Meridian Crena of the Horizon you shall see that the degrees of the Ecliptick do not arise from the 19th degree of Sagittarius to the 11 of Capricorn that is the Center of the Sun being in that Arch doth not arise for 24 days viz. from the 10th of December to the 4th of January and yet part of the Skirt of the Sun for that whole time shall be above the Horizon to wit on the 21 of December the Limbus glittereth the Horizon but on the 10 of December as also on the first of January half the Sun shall be above the Horizon and half beneath because the Center is then in the Horizon But the whole Sun shall be elevated above the Horizon when the Center of the Sun shall hold the 14 degree of Capricorn that is about the 4 day of January also the whole shall afterwards appear when his Center shall possess the 16 degree of Sagittarius that is about the 7 of December But in places where the elevation of the Pole is 70 or 75 degrees there this difference between the Oriental Limbus and the Oriental Center is very little so that the Limbus or Skirt scarcely anticipateth the rise of the Center of the Sun one day or half a day From this smallest of depression it followeth also that they enjoy the light of the Crepusculum many hours before the rising and after the setting of the Sun and although the Sun ariseth not yet in all or many of the hours of the day they have light in the Air. There is also another cause See Chap. 19. which maketh the Sun first to be seen before that he is elevated above the Horizon For thence it cometh to pass that not only the Sun is seen before he is elevated above the Horizon and before the Raies can directly come from him to the Eye but also that the light of the Twilight sooner illustrateth
therefore a round spherical figure is to be assigned to the Earth Because all the appearances as well Celestial as the divers elevation of the Pole the divers altitude of the Sun of that day in divers Countries the reason of the Shadows the difference and increase of the Longest days towards the Pole times of the rising and setting of the Stars c. as Terrestrial as the direction of Navigations the appearing and hiding of Towers and Mountains the distances of Places the Ports Coasts Winds c. are most commodiously declared by that round or spherical form or figure neither can another figure be devised which can perform that as it is manifest by the consideration of divers figures and forms of Bodies And our artificial Terrestrial Globe so justly represents all these things as they are really found to be in the Earth which certainly could not be done if the Earth had any form or figure than that of our artificial Globe And what other form soever you shall chuse there will follow innumerable absurdities For it is manifest that it is not plain by the appearances hither alledged and that it neither can be hollow is clear from this that the Sun and Stars ought first then to appear to the western People than to the Eastern if it were of such a figure as we see the Sun rising first to illuminate the Valleys before it can give light to the averse parts of Mountains CHAP. IV. Concerning the Dimension and Magnitude of the Earth The Opinions of divers Writers concerning the Dimension and Magnitude of the Earth THe Dimension or measuring of the Earth comprehends three principal Heads First the Longitude or length of the Diameter or half Diameter that is of a line from the Superficies to the Center as also of a periphery of the Earth or the Circumference Secondly the magnitude of the Superficies of the whole Earth Thirdly the solidness or corporeal Dimension of the Earth But these things are so contrived together that one of them being known the other two come to our knowledge by Geometrical Instruments because the Earth is a certain Sphere as it is shewed in the second Chapter This property is the most noble and hard to know and hath exercised the most excellent Wits for many Ages insomuch that some Men have written whole Books concerning this matter And therefore I have thought that it would not prove ungrateful to the Students of Geometry if I should fully relate here the History of this Dimension Diogenes Laertius praiseth Anaximander the Milesian the Scholar of Thales Anaximander the Milesian the Scholar of Thales that besides other Astronomical Inventions he first of all others described the circuit or perimeter of both Land and Sea But Anaximander lived about the year 550 before the Birth of Christ The Mathematicians of succeeding Ages seem to have followed his Dimension even until Eratosthenes Aristotle because Authors make mention of none other and therefore I judge that to be the Magnitude assigned by Anaximander which Aristotle hath noted in the end of his second Book de Coelo saying The Mathematicians also which endeavour to measure out the Magnitude of the World report that the Earth is bounded in and girt with four hundred Stadiums By this perimeter it is no difficult matter to assign the half diameter of the Earth according to Anaximander But because we can find nothing noted concerning Anaximanders Invention besides that one place of Diogenes Laertius Eratosthenes his and Eratosthenes his diligence is obscured who next after Anaximander undertook this business with great applause of all men he lived about two hundred years before Christ and as he was most conversant in the rest of the Mathematicks and Dimensions so he is esteemed most accurately to have perfected Gâ—eodaesia or Surveying and this glory is principally ascribed to him But he discovered and delivered The circuit of the Earth that the perimeter or circuit of the Earth is two hundred fifty thousand Stadiums or Furlongs but others two hundred fifty two thousand which Pliny reports to make up three hundred fifteen thousand Roman miles every one of which are thought to be a thousand Paces Eratosthenes had written three Books of Geography Eratosthenes which by reason of the injury of time are now not to be found Strabo Strabo the famous Geographer relateth the Contents and Arguments of each Book Cleomedes and Cleomedes hath noted up his manner which Eratosthenes used for the discovery of the Circuit of the Earth in which what can be wanted we will hereafter declare For indeed Eratosthenes his measuring forth the Earth was by many Mathematicians especially Hipparchus a hundred years after Eratosthenes judged to swerve from the truth although there is nothing written touching Eratosthenes his Dimension or measuring forth the Earth but that he added twenty five thousand stadiums to the perimeter Possidonius But Posidonius being not only a most knowing Astronomer and Practioner but also in every part of Philosophy most expert did next after Eratosthenes enter upon this Doctrine a little before the birth of Christ to wit in the time of Cicero and Pompey This man by his Dimensions found the circumference of the Earth to be two hundred forty thousand stadiums Cleomedes as Cleomedes hath noted but 180000 stadiums Strabo as Strabo hath delivered whereby ariseth a great doubt concerning the cause of this difference between Cleomedes and Strabo his allowance seeing this of Strabo is the truer although uttered in a few words But Cleomedes his assignation of the same is far from truth although he read and expounded Posidonius his Geodesie to many Concerning his size or manner we will speak hereafter But the Dimension of Eratosthenes was used as yet of many even to Ptolomy's time the year 144 after Christ who used a Perimeter of 180000 stadiums and affirmed it to be more agreeable to truth insomuch that this very Invention was by Theon ascribed to him Theon It is gathered that Marinus a famous Geographer Marinus and by whose Writings Ptolomy was much aided did attempt something in this business as appeared by his Geographical Writings of the same Ptolomy After these times when as the study and prosecution of the Sciences by little and little vanished away in Greece nothing was done in this business neither did the Romans undertake any thing herein But the Arabians and Sarazons having obtained the Empire or glory of other Arts from the Grecians to themselves so likewise they left not this part of the Mathematicks untouched Forasmuch as Snellius relates out of Abelfedea an Arabian Geographer who flourished about the year of Christ 1300 and whose Writings were printed at Rome about the 800 year of the Christian Account Maimon Ring of Arabia studious in Geography in whose days it flourished Maimon King of the Arabians or the Calife of Babylon being studious in the Mathematicks forasmuch as he
being conveyed into the German Ocean and hence into various parts of the Earth but when that they had perfected a great part of the Channel The Water of the German Ocean higher than the Land they were compelled to desist by reason that at length they found by observation that the water of the German Ocean was higher than the Land of Leyden and the Shores of this Ocean therefore the German Ocean is higher than the Belgick Bay But we must esteem otherwise of those Bays which flow between the Lands not by an oblong but by a broad tract as the Bays or Gulphs of Mexico Bengala and others that these are of the same Altitude with the Ocean from which they are separated by no strait passages is not to be doubted of Although I am not ignorant that the Spaniards formerly did question this latter viz. whether the Pacifick Ocean were higher than the Bay of Mexico when they consulted of digging through the American Isthmus or that of Panama that they might have a free and convenient passage from the Bay of Mexico to Peru China and the Indian Isles viz. the Spaniards feared least the English Dutch and other Nations should use this Streight and stop the mouth of it and so invade Peru. Wherefore to conclude it seemeth that we must determine that all the parts and broad Bays of the Ocean are all of the same Altitude as the first Proposition proveth See Proposit I. but that the long Gulphs or Bays especially those let in through an angust Channel or Streight are somewhat more low chiefly in the extream parts Concerning which yet I could wish that more diligent Observations were made viz. these are the doubts 1. Whether the Indian Atlantick and Pacifick Ocean be of the same Altitude or whether the Indian or Pacifick be higher than the Atlantick 2. Whether the Northern Ocean properly so called viz. that which is near to the Pole or in the frigid Zone be higher than the Atlantick Ocean 3. Whether the Red Sea be higher than the Mediterranean 4. Whether the Pacifick be higher than the Gulph of Mexico 5. Whether the Baltick Ocean be equally as high as the Atlantick The same should be observed concerning Hudsons Bay Streights of Magellan and such other Concerning the Euxine Sea we shall treat in the fifteenth Chapter The continual flux and reflux of the Sea and other fluxes altogether cause the divers Altitudes of the parts of the Ocean and in the same part in a diverse time and hours of the day But these are external causes and we at present only consider the natural constitution of the Water moreover they do not so vary the Altitude in the Ocean it self as it appeareth at the shoars Corollary Therefore we cannot assent to Papyrius Fabianus and Cleomedes which made the greatest Altitude of the Ocean to be fifteen stadia's half a German mile except we must take their Opinion concerning the profundity and so Altitude is ill placed there for profundity Proposition VI. The depth of the Sea or Ocean in most parts may be sounded by the Load or Plummet there being very few places whose bottom hath not been yet found out The depth of the Sea in most places may be sounded The profundity of the Ocean is various according to the more or less depression of the Channels it is found 1 80 of a mile 1 20 ¼ ½ in very few places about a German mile where they have not line enough to sound the depth albeit here it be probable that it is not terminated at any vast distance But yet we deny not but that in the profound Channels there be as it were some hollownesses The profundity of the Sea is far lesser in the Sinus or Bays than in the Ocean which Channel is less profound or hollowed by reason of the vicinity of the Land as for the same reason the Ocean is less deep at the shoar than in places more remote from the Land which hapneth only by reason of the hollow figure of its Channels Of the Mariners Plumet Mariners sound the profundity with a Plumet of Lead in form of a Pyramid of about 12 pound weight if that the line be of three or four pound such as is sufficient unto 200 perches although others require a plumb of more weight Yet there may be a deceit in this Observation if so be that the line being snatched by the Vortices of the waters or waters themselves do not descend perpendicularly but obliquely But where the profundity of the Ocean is so great that neither Cables or Chains are sufficient is uncertain although some have invented something for finding out of this For they determine that you must observe how much time passeth in the space whilst a Plumet of noted weight descendeth to the profundity of the Sea Then you must apply a Cork or Alder-pith to the Plumet or a blown-up Bladder so that this may presently be separated from the lead when that the lead hath hit the bottom of the Sea and so an application being made the lead must be let down again to the bottom and the time must be noted until the Cork return to the superficies of the Sea From this Observation if it be compared with the observations made in another place they suppose that the profundity of the Ocean may be found by the use of some Canons But the uncertainty of the Rules and the fallacy of the Observations and the so great brevity of time is such that I think the knowledge of the depth can never be obtained by this method Yet this is sufficiently manifest that the depth of the Ocean is no where infinite but every where hath a bottom For seeing that the Earth it self is not infinite but round and in a figure returning into it self it is manifest that the profundity of the Ocean is not infinite neither doth it extend from one part of the superficies through the Center to the opposite superficies so that it may separate the parts of the Earth mutually from one another because the Earth is heavier than the Water and therefore the parts of the Earth if that they were separated by the interceding Earth yet presently would be conjoyned again But from the profundity observed hitherto in most places it is manifest that it is almost equal to the Altitude of the Mountains and Mediterranean places above the shoar viz. as much as these are elevated and are extant above the Horizon of the shoar so much are the Channels of the Sea depressed beneath it or as much as the Earth riseth from the shoars towards the Mediterranean places so much by degrees more and more is it depressed even unto the places of the middle of the Ocean where for the most part is the greatest depth The profundity is changed sometimes in this sometimes in that part for divers reasons 1. By reason of the flux and reflux 2. With the increase and decrease of the Moon 3. From
Salt but this is a deceitful sign The 4th Cause 4. The fourth Cause of the unequal saltness is the frequency or scarcity of Rains unto which we may add Snow and in the Northern places Snow and Rain is frequent in the places of the Torrid Zone they are less frequent in some parts of the year and in othersome they are almost continual And therefore in these places in the pluvial Months the water of the Ocean is not so salt on the shoar and hath less Salt in it than in the dry Months Yea in many Regions of the Coast of Malabar the Ocean is fresh in the pluvial Months by reason of the abundance of water that floweth from the top of the Mountain Gatis and falleth into the Sea for this very reason in divers Seasons of the year the same Ocean is of a various saltness yet because in the Northern places the Rains and Snows are continual throughout the whole year therefore this Sea is less salt than in the Torrid Zone The 5th Cause 5. The fifth Cause is the dissimilary solution or unequal faculty of the Water to dissolve this Salt and unite it to its self for hot water sooner uniteth Salt unto it self than cold Water although therefore in the Northern places of the Ocean the shoars and Channels of the same contain more or the like quantity of Salt that those places of the Torrid Zone do yet because the water is there more cold it is not so able to dissolve and unite the Salt to it self so subtily us the water in the Torrid Zone which is more hot The 6th Cause 6. The sixth cause is the exoneration of many and great Rivers into the Sea but this cause only taketh place in the parts of the Ocean that are vicine to the shoars but is not discovered in the remote parts So Mariners affirm that the Ocean on the Coast of Brasilia where the Silver-River disburtheneth it self loseth it saltness and affordeth fresh waters fifteen miles distant from the shoar The same is observed of the African Ocean on the Coasts of Congi where the River Zaire exonerateth it self and of many more Rivers Unto these add runing Fountains in some parts of the bottom of the Ocean These are the Causes which seem to concur to the variety and diversity of saltness in divers parts of the Ocean from which the saltness of every one of the Seas may be explained From whence also it is easy to give an account why the water of the German and Northern Ocean is less apt to separate Salt from it self by coction than the water of the Spanish Ocean the Canary Isles and that of Cape Verd whence the Dutch fetch Salt in great abundance and transport it into the Northern Regions viz. this Ocean is more near the Torrid Zone and receiveth water from the Ocean of the Torrid Zone the other is more remote from the Frigid Zone yet I cannot deny the constitution of the Channels themselves to be more or less saline The Sea-water at Guinee in the Ethiopick Ocean affordeth Salt at one coction as white as snow such as neither the Spanish Ocean nor any other in Europe do produce at one coction or boyling Proposition XI Why Rain-water in the middle of the Ocean is found sweet but the water which we separate from the Marine or Salt-water either by decoction or distillation is yet notwithstanding found salt when yet the Rain-water proceedeth from the Vapours exhaled from the Sea Fresh-water abstracted from Salt-water The Learned Chymists or true Naturalists have hitherto laboured in vain that they might find out an Art by which they might distill and abstract fresh water from the water of the Ocean which would be of great advantage but as yet their Labours have proved fruitless for although as well in the decoction as distillation Salt may be left in the bottom of the Vessel yet the water separated by decoction as well as distillation is yet found salt and not fit for men to drink which seemeth wonderful unto those that are ignorant of the cause Yet Chymistry that is true Philosophy hath taught the reason for by the benefit of this we know that there is a twofold salt in Bodies or two kinds of salt which although they agree in tast yet they much differ in other qualities one of these Artists term fixed the other volatile salt The fixed salt by reason of its gravity is not elevated in distillation but remaineth in the bottom of the Vessel but the volatile salt is full of spirit and indeed is nothing else but a most subtile spirit that is elevated by a very light fire and therefore in the distillation ascendeth with the fresh water and is more firmly united by reason of the subtilty of the Attoms neither is this volatile salt found only with fixed salt in Sea-water but almost in all bodies as Chymistry proveth by experience but in some in a greater and in othersome in a lesser quantity in a greater quantity in sharp tasted Herbs in a lesser in oily Herbs Therefore difficulty consisteth in the separation of this salt spirit or volatile salt from the water But why the pluvial water in the midst of the Sea is no less fresh than on the Land seeing that yet it is generated by abstraction of the exhalations of the Ocean caused by the fervour of the Sun or from some subterraneous fire which evaporation doth little differ from distillation The cause seemeth to be Fourfold 1. A slow operation by which the tenuous part is only elevated from the Ocean which although it containeth a saline volatile spirit yet it hath it in less quantity than if that this exhalation were caused by a more forcible heat 2. The long way that this vapour passeth through before that it arriveth unto that Region of the Air where it is condensated into rain in passage it is possible that the saline spirit is by degrees separated from the watery particles 3. The admixture of other watery particles existing in the air 4. A Refrigeration Coition and condensation of the vapour for these exhalations exhaled from the Ocean by degrees are more and more refrigerated and being conjoyned with other obvious and admixed vapours they condense into a more thick vapour or cloud in this Refrigeration and condensation or coition of the saline spirit with the fiery particles they fly into the more exalted part of the Air. Now why the same is not performed in distillation where the vapours exalted are also condensed the cause is 1. That by reason of the small passage the saline spirit is as yet over straitly conjoyned to the watery particles 2. That the vapour restrained in the vessel admitteth not a free passage to the evolant spirit Proposition XII Sea-water is more ponderous than fresh water and the water of one Sea is more heavy than another Sea water more heavy than fresh water The cause is manifest from what hath been said
many places but in some in greater quantity than in others Serpents on the Coast of Malabar On the Coast of Malabar and at Cambaja Serpents are discovered on the superficies of the water this is a sign to Sea-men that they are near to those Regions About four miles from New Spain many Roots Bulrushes and Leaves like unto Fig-leaves float on the water which they eat and are in tast like unto Coleworts In the description of the first Navigation of the Dutch unto the Streights of Magellan we read that on the 12th of January in Anno 1599. the water of the Ocean not far from the Silver-River or Rio de laplata in Brasil appeared of a red and bloody colour but being drawn up in a bucket or the like when that they had more throughly viewed it they found that an innumerable multitude of Worms of a red colour were contained in that water and being taken up in the hand they leaped like unto Fleas And these Seamen call Sea-fleas and they are supposed to come from an innumerable company of small Crabs which being found on the South Continent fill the Sea Here is no place to treat of the Animals of which there are various kinds in divers places of the Sea Proposition XVII Why the Sea in the Night season seemeth to glitter especially if that the Waves be raised the more vehemently by the Winds The Sea in the Night seemeth to glitter or shine This question requireth the knowledge of that difficulty concerning the causes of Colours Divers are the resolutions of Philosophers concerning them but as for the explication of the proposed phenomenon or Question that Opinion seemeth the most commodious which sheweth how Colours do exist or rather appear from a certain and various motion but we leave the accurate explication of the same to Naturalists Proposition XVIII The Ocean or rather all Water casteth out Terrestrial Bodies on the shoar especially in the Full Moon Terrestrial bodies are cast out of the Ocean on the Shore It is not difficult to render an account of this property which Experience sufficiently testifieth For Water is never without some motion which if it be swift and towards one quarter it carrieth Terrestrial bodies with it until it meeteth with the shoar where by reason of the ceasing vigour of the motion of the water those Terrestrial bodies are laid down but in the Ocean the Waves are carried hither and thither By these the Terrestrial bodies are carried after the same mode and because that all Waves tend to some coast of Land therefore all Terrestrial bodies are carried towards the shoar In the Full Moons is the greatest motion of the Ocean therefore vain is their Opinion who believed the Ocean to be an Animal and to have sense by which it purgeth it self from all dregs Terrestrial bodies but here the cause is sufficiently manifest CHAP. XIV Of the Motions of the Sea in general and in particular of the Flux and Reflux Proposition I. Water hath no natural Motion except one by which it moveth from a more higher place unto these that are more low but if the vicine place or body be equal or of a greater Altitude than the superficies of the Water then the Water naturally resteth that is it is not moved except that it be compelled by a violent cause Water hath no natural motion except one THe truth of this Proposition is manifest from Vulgar experience for if that a vessel containing water be moved the water so long fluctuateth in it until no part be higher than the other that is until they compose a Spherical figure or superficies as we have said in the Thirteenth Chapter For although this Motion hath a violent cause viz. the motion of the Air about the Earth yet because that there is a great question concerning this cause and it is so manifest in the water that it seemeth not to come unto it from an external cause so for to distinguish this motion of the water from other motions we term it Natural Now this motion is unto that quarter unto which the place more depressed is scituated Proposition II. When part of the Ocean is moved the whole Ocean is moved or all the other parts of it are also moved but by so much the more that every one is nearer the part moved For because that if part of the Ocean be moved it doth necessarily change place and therefore this place is more low than the place of the vicine water this nearer water shall be moved into this place and the vicine water of that into the place of that and so forward in the other parts But there is lesser motion in the places of the more remote parts Proposition III. To observe the quarter into which the Sea that is moved tendeth The quarter into which the Sea that is moved tendeth Chuse a time if you can when no violent Wind bloweth and cast into the Water a body almost of the same gravity with the water let the place be observed where it was cast in to wit let the Boat remain there immovable then when that this body is carried by the Sea a moderate space from the place where it was cast in then let another Boat be placed of that and let the quarter be observed into which the scituation of this second Boat vergeth from the former For this also shall be the quarter in which we say that the Sea at that time is moved Proposition IV. The Motion of the Sea is either direct or a Vortex or a Concussion I call that direct which tendeth unto some quarter a Vortex when the water moveth into a round and is in some part rejected a concussion when it trembleth But laying aside the two latter unto the end of the Chapter we shall treat of the direct motion and therefore we shall call this by a general term the Motion of the Sea Proposition V. Of the Motions which we find in the Sea some are general some proper and singular other some contingent General proper and singular motions of the Sea I call that General which is found almost in all the parts of the Ocean and that at all times I call those proper and special motions by which only some parts of the Ocean are moved and they are twofold perpetual and anniversary the former are those which persist without mutation or cessation the other which are found at certain months or days of the year in some certain Sea I call those motions of the Sea contingent which without any certain order sometimes do cease and other some begin such are infinite Proposition VI. Wind is the cause of the contingent motion of the Sea forcing the Sea to a quarter opposit to the Wind neither is the Sea ever free from such motions Wind is the cause of the motion of the Sea For seeing that the Air toucheth the Sea and the Wind is nothing else but a strong commotion of
which the Moon will be vertical that day viz. one after another See Proposition 13. in Chap. 19. The use of this Problem is great yea very necessary in the Doctrine concerning the flux and reflux of the Sea The mode of performing of the same you shall find in the Nineteenth Chapter and the Thirteenth Proposition For there it is more conveniently explained yet the Explication of that Proposition may be anticipated and demonstrated to the studious in this Chapter Proposition XVI In those places of the Sea to which the Moon is vertical the flux and deflux is greatest except that there be other impediments which we have reckoned up in the XIV Proposition And by how much the parts of the Sea are more remote from the place by so much the flux and deflux is lesser other things being equal For because in that place the pressure is greater and the tumour of the water greater which is more vicine to the Moon pressing and the Celestial matter thence followeth that that the Proposition intimateth the objections concerning some other places in the comparison of which the contrary is found are to be excused by the admixtion of other causes Proposition XVII The quantity of the flux and reflux is unconstant in every place and divers on several daies and by so much the greater or lesser by how much the Moon is more remote or near unto that place The Moon every day changeth her place in the Ecliptick For the Moon every day changeth her place in the Ecliptick and so on other daies is vertical to other places and by consequence is more remote from any place or more near Which being observed we conclude from the preceeding Proposition that there is a divers quantity of the flux and reflux in one and the same place on divers daies whether that the diversity be sensible or insensible Proposition XVIII The greatest intumescency of water in any place and term of the flux ought to be when that the Moon doth occupy the Meridian of the place But in many places it is found to be in another scituation of the Moon For then is the Moon most nigh to any place of the Earth when that it is in the Meridian of that place because that the Hypotenusa of a right angled Triangle is lower than the Cathetus Whence it is inferred by the XVI Proposition that when the Moon is in the Meridian See Proposition 16. there ought to be the greatest intumescency and Altitude of water and immediately a decrease to succeed But when the Moon is in the lowest of the Meridian then the narrowest of the vortex of the Earth opposite to it in the upper Meridian and therefore doth effect the same as if that the body of the Moon were present But here ariseth a great difficulty For there are many places and Coasts of the Earth in which we find that the term of the flux is not when that the Moon cometh to the Meridian as the Philosophers held before this age but sooner or later viz. when that the Moon cometh to a certain quarter not Cardinal and this quarter is not constantly observed but in new and full Moons for the most part the greatest intumescency is and the begining of a detumescency before the Moon cometh to this quarter or vertical Circle So at London the water is at the highest when the Moon cometh to the quarter which is between the South and West or North and East that is to the South West or North East quarter At the Coast of China in the Port of the City Maccau The greatest flux at the Coast of China observed by a Portugal a certain Portugal Mariner observed the time of the greatest intumescency by this mode The Elevation of the Pole is 22 degrees 20 minutes in the Year 1584 on the 19 of September the Moon was at full then the intumescency or Altitude of the highest water was observed in the morning at ½ or ¼ of an hour past 8. therefore then the Moon was removed from the Meridian 3 ¼ hours Whence the quarter or vertical Circle in which the Moon at that moment of time was is found according to the Problem of the 30 Chapter Anno 1585 on the 16 of February in the full Moon the greatest hight of water was observed at half an hour past a eleven a Clock at Noon Certain observations taken by a Dutch Mariner of the flux of the Sea in many places A certain Dutch Mariner on the daies of the new and full Moon noted the hours of divers places for the term or intumescency of the flux from which I have extracted these At the twelfth hour on the daies of the new and full Moon on the Coast of Flanders at Enchusen in Holland at Horn at Embden in East Freezland at the mouth of the Elve at Eider at the Isles of Jutland and at Dover at England At 45 minutes past 12 at Flushing in Zealand half an hour after one a Clock at the Occidental Coast of the Isle of Wight at Calis at the mouth of the River of Thames at the shoar of Zeland in the mouths of Scald in Mosa and at Gored A quarter after two before the mouth of Scald and the mouth of Mosa At three a Clock at Amsterdam Roterdam Dort in Holland at Newcastle in England at Arment in Flanders in the mouth of the River of Burdeaux in the South Coast of Britain Gallocia Gascoyn Biscay Portugal and Spain and on the Western Coast of Ireland even to Hitland A quarter after four in the evening at Roan in France between Mosa and Rochel in the River of Burdeaux in the Bays of the Spanish Portugal and Gallecian Coast in the South Coast of Britany in France Gascoyn and on the Western Coast of Ireland Half an hour past four from the Texel at the South Coast of Ireland A quarter past five in all the Ports of the Southern Coast of Ireland at Plymouth in England and other Southern places of it even to the Coast of Wales At six in the evening and morning before Hamburgh in the Elbe before Bremen the Texel Antwerpe in the Channel between England and Brabant without Sorlis A quarter before seven in the evening between Fawick and Vaelmuya in the Channel even to Bristol before St. Nicholas and Podessembe even to Waymouth and Hartepole At half an hour past seven in the Haven at the Texel at Kilduyna in the middle of the Channel nigh Plymouth and in the Sea even to the Promontory of the Lizard A quarter past eight in the evening nigh the Isle of Wight in the Channel even to Bevesier without the Fly on the Coast of Holland At nine before the mouth of the River Ems in Freezland before the Fly before the Coast of Freezland at the Eastern Coast of the Isle of Wight At half an hour past ten before the mouth of the River Thames on the Coasts of Normandy and Picardy And at a quarter
termed Arms which proceed from a River divaricated into two Channels 7. A Fountain or Spring is water bubling and flowing forwards from a certain place of the Earth 8. A Well is when the water bubleth up but floweth not forwards Proposition II. Torrents and Rivulets may sometimes proceed from a quantity of rain and dissolved Snow From whence Torrents and Rivulets do proceed For in the Mountainous or more elevated parts of the Earth are found many Cavities small Lakes and standing Pools Now if that so great a quantity of water flow into these from the falls of Rain or Snow that they cannot well contain them they overflow and run down on the more depressed places and because that on every year this happeneth it maketh a Channel for it self but sometimes Torrents do flow without any Channel From this cause viz. Rains and the dissolution of Snow many Rivulets are made also Torrents and moderate or indifferent Rivers in those places which have ridges of Mountains in a long tract as the Procurrent of Africa India Peru Sumatra and the like And these Rivulets flow neither in the Summer nor in the night but only in the day Proposition III. Most Rivulets proceed from Fountains But Rivers of a great magnitude have their Original either from the congress of many Rivulets and indifferent Rivers or flow from Lakes and Marshes For no Rivers of any considerable magnitude as the Albis the Rhine do flow from one Fountain but exist from many small Springs or Lakes Rivulets proceed from Fountains But these proceeding from Lakes are augmented by the accession of other Rivers The River Volga or Rha receiveth two hundred and more partly Rivulets and partly indifferent Rivers before that it dischargeth it self into the Caspian Sea and the Danube as many before she flow into the Pontus And although that Pliny and Cardan write that no Rivers flow into the Nile yet experience testifieth the contrary to them that have travelled in Abyssine The Proposition is easily proved by an enumeration of Examples Springs proceed commonly from Hills Mountains The Springs of some Rivulets and Rivers are in Mountains and elevated places and some on a Plane As for the Springs of those Rivers that proceed from Lakes we have said in the former Chapter that those Springs are in the bottom or Channel of the Lakes and that such Lakes are as it were Conduits and effusions about the Spring before that the water floweth in a Channel or in a greater quantity For some Springs are covered with Earth or water others open The Springs on a Plane are of those Rivers from which Tanais and Albis exist in their first tract unto which others do accede It were easie to collect other Examples Cardanus deny â—â—h these Fountains to be generated in these plane places but to be derived from the vicine Mountains by some subterraneous passage But I suppose that such Springs first make a standing Pool or Marsh For Tanais seemeth not to flow from a Spring but from a Marsh or some less profound Lake Many are the Mountainous Springs of Rivulets as of those of the Rhine Po Danube Borysthenes c. The Nile Wolga and the great River of St. Laurence in Canada flow from a Lake Yet there is one mode by which from one Fountain a great River may proceed viz. if that the Fountain be on an Elevated place but the Channel of the River must be a little higher than the Altitude of the inlet So the flowing water first in a more swift Current then in a more slow is collected in the Channel and in course of time may be a very great River by reason that so much did not flow out in the first generation Proposition IV. Rivers are very much augmented by frequent Rains and dissolved Snow and that in divers seasons and months of the year Rivers are much encreased by rain and snow So in the Region of Peru and Chili some Rivers are so small that they flow not in the night time but only in the day because that then the water floweth from Snow dissolved on the Mountainâ— of the Andes through the heat of the Sun So the Rivers both in the Oriental and Occidental Coast of the procurrent of Africa as in congo Angola and the like are bigger in the day than in the night So it is also in the shoars of Malabar and Chormandel in India Yea in those four Regions in Summer time the Rivers are almost dried up and in the Winter or wet season are overflowing So Wolga in the Months of May and June aboundeth with water so that the Lands and Islands are then covered with water in the other Months the Sands will hardly admit a passage over them for Ships that are laden The reason is because that then the Snow is dissolved on the Mountains whence those Rivulets proceed which being more than one hundred do exonerate themselves into the Volga So the Nile Ganges Indus c. are augmented from rains or Snow so that they overflow the Lands But these augments happen in a different season because that they arise from divers causes and divers places for by reason that rains are more frequent in the Winter therefore Rivers are more high at the season except another cause intervene from the dissolution of Snow which sometimes happeneth in some places and Mountains in the Spring in others in the Summer and in others in the intermedial time by reason that the Snow is then dissolved on the Mountains that are adjacent to the Rivulets of these Rivers Moreover some Rivers especially the greater proceed from remote places where it is then Summer when it is Winter in the place through which they flow and those variations cause the swelling of Rivers in divers seasons But most Rivers do so in the Spring because that then Snow is dissolved in most places The variety of these causes must be shewed in the particular description of every River Concerning that peculiar Spring of Japan which floweth every day only for two hours we shall speak in the following Chapter Proposition V. What may be the Original of that water which floweth from Springs Or whence are Rivers generated The cause of water flowing from Springs We have before our eyes the great River Rhine Albis and others the generation of which by reason of their abundance of waters seemeth more admirable than that of Rivulets but we have shewed in the precedent and third Proposition that the water of Rivers partly proceeds from 〈…〉 and the dissolution of Snow partly from Lakes and partly from the meeting of Rivulets and Rivers Therefore the question is not so much concerning the Rise and Springs of Rivers as the Original and perpetuity of Fountains and Springs The Opinion of Philosophers and Geographers are various The Opinions of Philosophers and Geographers concerning it are various 1. Some think that all the water of Springs of Rivers proceed from Rain or
do grow and where that all Wells are salt In the City of Suez at the Termination of the Red Sea all Wells are salt or brackish and the water two miles distant is somewhat salt So in many Islands in the Sea no Wells of fresh water are found though not so salt as the Sea water it self as in the Isle of St. Vincent and others In Peru in the low Region the Lakes are salt by reason of the vicinity of the Sea Yea in the Oriental Maritimate places the Nuts called Coco Nuts are found somewhat salt Also in the Mediterranean places themselves Fountains of salt water are found as in Lorrain Lunenburgh and the like 3. Because that it is manifest that the Sea emitteth its water through subterraneous passages from the salt Fountains of Lunenburgh where beneath the Earth those Aqueducts full of salt or Sea-water are found 4. Because that digging to a great depth as also in Mines much water is found of which neither the Rain nor the Air can be made the efficient cause How water cometh from the Sea to the places of Fountains so as to become sweet we have now shewed viz. the bottom of the Sea is not every where Rocky or Stony but in many places Sandy Muddy Gravelly Spungy drinking the water of the Sea and by a continuation of the Earth brings it by degrees to a long distance from the Sea where at length the Guttulae unite especially in a narrow space such as are Mountains and make a Fountain in the given place or Cavity but if so be that Cavity be hidden from the Earth then the water so collected either followeth another way wheresoever it be made and so a Fountain seemeth to break forth in another place which yet is not in than place but is a River derived from the former place by a subterraneous passage Or if that the water of that Cavity findeth no way about it self neither by violence can break through the Earth that covereth it then that water is not augmented but what water flowed unto it to have been its encrease that is averted to another place For that is the property of all humid bodies that all their parts and particles are moved towards that place where the deflux is made So if you fill a Vessel with water that the swelling or tumour may be above the brim of the Vessel then all the parts of the extant water have an equal inclination and power of deflux in the vicine part of the brim But yet by reason of the mutual coherence of the particles whose cause is declared in Natural Philosophy if that the deflux be made in one part of the brim all the other parts leave the vicine brim and draw to that part of the brim or they follow where the deflux is made So if you immerge a long crust of Bread into water you shall see the water born upwards and and the part of the Bread that is not immerged to be humid The Sea goeth under the Earth through Caverns Moreover the Sea goeth under the Earth through Caverns from which after the same mode the water may glide or creep forth unless you had rather ascribe it to evaporations which are carried upwards and uniting the drops in a narrow place But because there are many things which may seem to render this opinion less probable these ought also to be considered that it may be evident that they weaken not this assertion laid down Things to be noted 1. The places of Fountains are more elevated than the Superficies of the Sea by reason that most of them are in Mountanous places therefore water cannot flow from the Sea to those places because the nature of water is to move to places more depressed or less elevated as it is manifest from Rivers and the Artifices of Drainers 2. Although the bottom of the Sea be gravelly muddy and sandy so that the water may penetrate it self through its particles yet the reason doth not appear evident enough but that it may more moisten the adjoyning Earth and that which is not so high than to glide upwards to the places of Fountains seeing especially that the Earth is Rocky and Stony as in the Mountains of the Island of St. Helena 3. There is no reason why the water so gliding from the Sea should not break forth in a middle way between the Sea and the Fountain 4. In the most profound Mines none or very little water is found as Thurnheuserus witnesseth 5. This water of the Fountains should be salt because that it doth proceed from the Sea These are the chief Arguments which may seem to weaken the opinion proposed For I pass by those slight ones alledged by others Other Arguments Answered viz. that they suppose that the Sea is not sufficient to supply so many Rivers then again that Rivers then should never be diminished if that were the true cause of Rivers that we have laid down But unto these two the answer is easy because that the Sea again receiveth the water again from the Rivers that it sent forth into the Fountains Then as for the other we have shewed before that the question is not neither do we determine that all the water of the Rivers is from the Sea but only concerning the water of Springs which is not the alone cause of Rivers as we have said already and we also assert that the water of Fountains is augmented from rains and Dew because that these moistening the Earth glide or are drawn towards the places of Fountains Four Other Arguments of great concernment where the efflux of the water is made which we have explained by other Examples We come now to those four Arguments alledged which may seem to carry some weight with them The first is esteemed very valid as being taken from multiplicit experience therefore many solutions are brought and alledged by Learned men First they the most easily discharge themselves who defend the Ocean to be more high than the Earth for so they deny the assertion and they say that this Altitude of the Ocean is the cause of Springs because that Springs are less high than the water in the middle of the Ocean See Olearius his Voyage into Persia Moreover Olearius in the Description of his Voyage into Persia relateth that he ascended the Mountain that adjoyneth to the Caspian Sea and with an Astrolabe or rather a Gaeodetical Instrument to observe the Elevation of this Mountain above the superficies of that Sea but found none but that the extream superficies of that Sea was seen in the Horizontal Line yea somewhat elevated above it so that the Tumour of this Sea was found a little more high than the vertex of the Mountain on which he made his observation But in truth this solution cannot be admitted of See Chap. 13. because we have shewed in the Thirteenth Chapter that the water of the Ocean is not higher than the Mountains
of which it is probable that the mutation of the height of the Sea availeth much sometimes in this and sometimes in that part by reason of the floods waves or tempest For the water being made higher more presseth the water and promoteth its ingress through the Earth to the Springs And seeing that every day the Altitude of the Sea is augmented and diminished in the parts of the Ocean not only by storms but also by the flux and reflux therefore such a pressure happeneth every day but I question whether this cause can effect much The third Argument answered Unto the third Argument I say that the reason is the disposition of the places and of the Earth it self and as I said that the humour is moved and glideth towards that part where the flux is made neither do I think it needeth any farther explication The fourth Argument Answered The fourth Argument taken from the saltness hath a more difficult solution because that it seemeth not possible that the saltness should be taken away only by transcolation for the saltness of the water consisteth in a double Salt which the Aristotelians never observed the one of which the Chymists aptly call fixed the other volatile Salt And the fixed Salt may indeed be separated from the marine water as well by continual transcolation as by coction and distillation of the water but the volatile Salt because it is spirituous is immediately advanced with the water neither can it be separated by frequent and often repeated distillation Therefore it is hard to give a mode by which this volatile salt spirit in its passage between the Sea and the Fountain may be separated from the Sea water Yet in the mean while these will suffice for the solution 1. Although we have not discovered the mode and artifice by which this volatile salsitude may be separated from the Sea water yet we must not deny but that it may be separated for by nature we find it separated viz. for fresh showers fall into the Ocean which yet were generated of the vapours taken up from the Sea 2. Those particles of Salt water penetrating the Earth before they flow to their Fountain are mixed here and there with other waters proceeding there from rain or vapours and so that small saltitude that they yet had is rendred altogether insensible 3. It is not true that the salsitude is altogether insensible in all Springs because that some Fountains are salt as we said before other-some brackish a little as those two miles from the City Suez and in places less remote from the Sea Therefore there is need of a long transcolation and gentle evaporation to separate the water from the volatile Salt and by this artifice we make Sea water less salt and such also is the generation of rain water which therefore is not salt or at least less salt For it is certain that sometimes saltish kinds of rain do fall into the Sea Therefore the waters of Fountains proceed partly from the Sea or subterranean waters partly from Rivers and Dew that moisten the Earth But the water of Rivers partly proceedeth from Springs and partly from Rain and Snow Proposition VI. Certain Rivers hide themselves in the midst of their passage under the Earth and in another place rise up again as if they were new Rivers Of Rivers which in the midst of their passage hide themselves under the Earth and rise again The most celebrated of them are 1. The River Niger which meeting the Mountains of Nubia is observed under them and cometh sorth again from the other Occidental quarter 2. Tigris having passed the Lake Arethusa meeting the Mountain Taurus is hidden in a Cave and floweth out on the other side Then when it hath passed the Lake Thospites it is again obscured in subterranean Caverns and then after it hath thus run the space of about six German miles it breaketh forth again 3. About Arcadia in Peloponnesus many such Riverets are to be found as Aristotle writeth in his first Book of Meteors Chapter Eleventh 4. Alpheus a River of Achaia is absorbed by the Earth The Grecians write that it keepeth its course under the Sea and beneath the Earth even unto Sicilia where they will have it to emerge on the Coast of Syracuse and to be that River that is called Arethusa in Sicilia Now this they especially collected from this viz. that Arethusa in Sicilia every fifth Summer cast up the dung of those Beasts at that time when the Olympian Games were celebrated and the dung and garbage of the slain Victims were cast into Alpheus Therefore being carried with a direct Current they were cast up in Sicilia 5. The River Guadiana between Portugal and Biscay in times past called Anas wholly obscureth it self at Medelina and about 8 German miles further discovereth it self again 6. Dan which flowing with the River Jor maketh Jordan breaketh forth some miles from its Fountain Phiala Straw or rushes being cast into the same are found and discovered in the Fountain or proruption of the River Dan. The Reasons why these Rivers hide themselves under the Earth and again emerge are 1. The obstacle of a more elevated place than the Channel of the River 2. Either perchance some cavity existing in the Earth or some inconstant matter which easily giveth place to the gliding River There are also other Rivers which hide themselves under the Earth but do not again emerge as we shall shew in the following Propositions Proposition VII Most of the great and indifferent Rivers as also a great part of the lesser do exonerate themselves into the Sea or a Lake and the place where this exoneration is made is termed the Mouth of the River Some Rivers have one some three and some more such Mouths Some of the Rivers of indifferent magnitude as also the lesser sort discharge themselves into greater Rivers the others either stagnate or are sucked up by the Earth Most Rivers both great and small lose themselves in the Sea or in Lakes Concerning the greater Rivers the thing is evident by the Example of the Rhine the Danube the Wolga and such like For the Danube is exonerated into the Euxine Sea by seven Mouths the Wolga hath at least seventy Outlets or Mouths the Nile hath seven and where it overfloweth more The cause why greater Rivers do exonerate themselves into the Sea is their abundance of water and vehement course Now why they have more outlets than one there is a twofold reason for the same 1. The abundance of water 2. The generation of Sands and ridges in the mouths which in progress of time was so augmented that they become either part of the Land or Island and so cause that the River gliding is divided into two branches And when many such ridges are generated the River is divided into many branches or one mouth into many but then for the most part the mouths are carried forwards and the Sea recedeth from
touched on it because that no Geographers have hitherto made mention of it as also of the River Jeniscea and Yrtiis The River Orellana 7. Orellana in America so called from Francis Orelli is accounted amongst the greatest Rivers of the Earth It s Fountain is in the Kingdom of Peru in the Province of Quito in the South latitude of 72 degrees but this is not altogether certain its Mouth is fifteen miles in Latitude two degrees Southerly It s tract is said to be 1500 Spanish miles by reason of its great number of bendings when that in truth it extendeth not 700. Others confound with it or make the River Maragnon to be a branch of it It is in some places four or five Leagues broad but it receiveth not its water so much from a Spring as from Rains falling on the Mountainous parts of Peru so that in the dry mouths of those Mountains it carrieth little water And indeed the Moderns do much detract from its magnitude Rio de la Plata 8. Rio de la Plata in Brasilia its Fountain is in the Mountains of Peru Its Mouth is in the South latitude of 37 degrees and that is said to be about twenty miles but when it overfloweth it hath many Outlets which some account for one at that time it carrieth not much water The Natives call it Paramaguasu that is a water like the Sea as some observe The River Omaranna 9. Omaranna also a River in Brasilia flowing from the Mountains of Peru in a long tract These three great Rivers in Brasilia viz. Orellana Rio de la Plata and Omoranna meet somewhere in some Lakes in the Mediterranean places of Brasilia and emorge again being disjoyned The River Canada 10. and lastly Canada or St. Laurence in America Septentrionalis its Spring is in the Lake called des Iroquis It s large Mouth is in the 50th degree of North latitude and its tract is no lesser than 600 German miles Proposition XXVIII Whirlpools are found in the Channels of some Rivers So in the River Sommona between Amiens and Abbeville in Picardy in France is a secret Whirlpool into which the waters rush with such violence that their found may be heard for some miles Proposition XXIX River-water is more light than Sea-water Sea-water more heavy than River-water The cause is easily known to wit Sea-water carrieth much Salt in it Thence it hapneth that many things sink to the bottom in Rivers which float on the Sea which frequently is seen in Ships heavy laden that are raised up in the Sea higher than when in Rivers Now various is the proportion betwixt these waters because that the Sea-water is not every where of the same gravity nor the water of divers Rivers but yet the proportion is about 46 to 45 so that 46 ounces of River-water do equally ponderate 45 of Sea-water CHAP. XVII Of Mineral Waters Baths and Spaws Because that there are many kinds of liquid Bodies or Waters the peculiar properties of which men do admire at therefore Geographers are wont to treat of them But all of them hitherto except a bare recital of their Names and a reckoning up of some wonderful Fountains or Springs have added nothing to solid knowledge But we shall treat more clearly of them and that with a declaration of their causes Proposition I. No Water is pure and Elementary but containeth or hath admixed particles such as are found in Terrestrial Bodies These particles are not only Earth but also they are various as Oyls Spirits and the like That is termed Mineral-water which containeth so many or such particles of a different nature from the Water so that from them it gaineth or hath notable qualities which we discover by sense or the properties are notable by sense No Water is pure but hath admixed particles THe truth of the Proposition is manifest by Experience and is proved both from the differences of tasts and from distillation and all Naturalists agree that simple or pure water as the other Elements separated from others do not exist in nature The cause is the various and perpetual agitation of the particles but in Waters that I may say somewhat in particular concerning our matter in hand by the cause of admixtion of Heterogeneous they receive Spiritual particles The Rain and the Air it self touching the water consists of divers particles therefore all waters have admixed particles of another nature but there is not the like quantity in all of them Into the Rhine indeed the Danube and Albis and into all great Rivers other Riverets do flow in impregnated with innumerable particles and in such quantity that they are evident to the senses but because besides these many other Riverets do flow into them not impregnated with so great a quantity of Heterogeneous particles as are discoverable to the eyes and because that the greatest part of the water that they carry consists of Rain and Air therefore also in these greater Rivers those Heterogeneous particles are not easily discovered but must be separated from them by Art if that any one will have them discovered to the sense But we shall especially call them Mineral waters which have some notable property beyond the common waters that is that contains such an admixture of Heterogeous particles that thence possess a notable and sensible quality Proposition II. Mineral Waters are of three kinds Of Mineral waters Some are Corporeal we want an apter word others Spiritual otheâ—s both Corporeal and Spiritual I term those Corporeal Mineral waters which contain solid and fixed particles of Minerals so that these may be discovered and separated by the sight These Corporeal Bodies are twofold some carry those particles of Minerals of a very great magnitude that without any trouble or very little at the least they may be beheld in the water and to speak properly they are not commixed waters Such are those of which we have spoken in the former Chapter because that the grains of Gold Silver and the like are contained in their waters therefore they are termed Gold and Silver-bearing Rivers but these waters in property of Speech are not to be termed Mineral because that they have not these particles commixed with them but free neither do they recive any property or quality from them Yet because that men also admire such Rivers and the explication of them hath great affinity with the enodation of Mineral waters properly so termed therefore I comprehend them under the general â—ppellation of Mineral waters Bituminous Fountains and the like may be reduced under this Classis Corporeal Mineral waters But those are termed more properly Corporeal Mineral waters which contain indeed solid particles of Minerals but so little small and altogether commixed that they are not presently discovered by the sight but either by Art or a long tract of time subsiding and concreasing and are reduced into a sensible quantity as are saâ—â— Springs sulphureous Fountains and such
Streights 4. Rivers 5. Lakes 6. Pools and 7. Marishes 1. Marishes may be exsiccated or drained either by subduction of the water or by exsiccation of the earth as none can doubt for in many Regions the Soil is fruitful where there were Marishes some years since as in Westphalia Gelderland Brabant Holland Muscovia 2. The same is the account of Pools seeing that they differ not much from Marishes Proposition V. Rivers leave their Channel or Shoar that is part of their Channel and afford new Land Rivers quit their Shoar and afford new Land 1. If that they carry much Terrestrial matter Sand or Gravel with them which sinketh to the bottom in progress of they time so augment the Altitude of the Channel that it is no more depressed than that place from whence the water floweth from the vicine earth but if that that matter sinketh into one place in part of the Channel it will separate one part which then at length will be dried up 2. If that the River take another Channel whether it be done by Art or Nature and a violent cause as by Wind Inundation or the like 3. If the Springs of the Rivers be obstructed or cease to send forth water the earth being fallen in or condensated or a great quantity of Sand being driven by the winds into the Fountains or adjacent places Examples of Rivers whose Channels are exsiccated at this time either in whole or in part are every where obvious in Writers yet not of great Rivers but of small or of the parts of any great Rivers So a Channel of an Arm of the Rhine which flowing by Leyden flowed in times past into the German Ocean now for some Ages deserted by the water at this day is land the Rhine stagnating between Leyden and the Vicus Cattorum The Shoars are uncovered from the waters of Rivers and that some Rivers run in a more narrow Channel than they did formerly is manifest from many examples and from thence that some at this day are not Navigable which formerly were may easily be collected the Altitude of the water being diminished and none at all to be left in their Channel at some time or other as in the River Scaldis Therefore Governours of Commonwealths have a great care that the Mud and Sediments be drawn from out the Channels of Rivers that they may remain navigable as is seen in many places But great Rivers cannot be dried up or changed into land except in many ages because that many lesser Rivers flowing from divers parts make them of which though some may be dried up or change their course yet all do not suffer the same except in a long space of time and the Channel is deeper But one heap or ridge of Sand may cause the River to run through another Channel and the former to be dried up yet it taketh not away the River except the Fountains or Branches of it be obstructed Therefore it is true that neither the Nile Tanais Albis or the Rhine or other Rivers always flowed or shall perpetually flow but that there was earth before and shall be afterwards where they now flow Proposition VI. Lakes are dried up and changed into Land Lakes dried up and changed into Land 1. If that a Lake be constituted from Rivers that flow in that mutation is made by the abduction withdrawing or cessation of the River and also by evaporation 2. If that a Lake receiveth waters by a subterraneous passage from the Ocean or Sea there will be a mutation of that Lake after that those subterraneous passages are obstructed and so Lakes are first changed into standing Pools and Marishes then at length into dry Land It is evident saith Aristotle that because a force of waters hath brought in Mud or something of that sort he speaketh of Lakes made of Rivers therefore standing Pools are made and the earth is dry and that their water being left and standing in succession of time it is exsiccated and altogether vanisheth So the Lands that touch upon the Lake Maeotis by the Soil brought down by the Rivers are increased so much that Ships now far less then those about 60 years since for traffick sake enter into it There are many examples found of small Lakes changed into dry Land especially in Holland Proposition VII Streights are exsiccated and changed into Isthmusses or Continents That happeneth Streights when that by reason of the continual sinking of the Terrestrial matter made in a long time the channel of the Streight is become so high that it denieth a passage to the Sea So it is very probable that the Isthmus between Africa and Asia was a Streight by which the Mediterranean and Red-sea were conjoyned as we shall shew in the following Proposition In many Streights at this day the Altitude of the Sea and the Altitude of the Channel is found lesser than in former time which is a certain token that those Streights shall have no water in them in the time to come and shall be changed into a dry Isthmus So the Streight through which the Atlantick Ocean maketh a Gulph which the Hollanders called Snyder-zee and the Texell at this day receiveth no larger landing Ships and the depth of the Sea is every year found lesser and the Land higher therefore where the water is at the Texell there after some Ages will be dry Land Concerning the Vlier the same in time to come will also happen Proposition VIII The Bays or Gulphs which the Ocean maketh between the Mid-lands in course of time do become dry places Bays or Gulphs in time do become dry Land This is done by a double cause 1. If that the Streight by which the Bay is conjoyned to the Ocean becometh an Isthmus or else be stopped by Sand and Gravel which is done in progress of time as we have said in the preceding Proposition For by this cause the Bay of the Ocean and a part or member of it shall be cut off from the body and shall become a Lake and then a standing Pool and Marish and by exsiccation become earth and no water shall be seen there 2. If that the very Channel of the Bay become higher by reason of the Rivers flowing into it and carrying Sand along with it that it in time cannot receive the Sea so by degrees the Sea will recede from the shoars of that Bay Therefore the Mediterranean the Baltick the Red Persian and other Seas that are Bays of the Ocean will cease in time to be Seas and will be changed into Lands which shall be fully proved in the following Proposition Proposition IX The Ocean for saketh some Shoars or Coasts so that it becometh Land where the Ocean formerly was Where the Ocean formerly was is now Land by its forsaking the shoars That happeneth for these causes 1. If that the force of water be broken at the shoars by Rocks here and there on the Coasts or Clifts in the Sea for that
or force in and therefore a general Wind is considered especially in the midst of the Sea most remote from the Land 2. Yet another wind may also blow in the midst of the Sea viz. if that in another a Cloud or other cause generating of a wind be very great From these two Causes it happeneth that a general wind is less or more constant or continual in divers placer Now the general winds are only found in the Sea of the torrid Zone or that which lieth between the Tropicks about the whole Earth yet in some places it extendeth it self without the Tropicks the space of 7 degrees and they are called Eastern that is the East-wind or collateral to the East as the South-East North-East viz. which blow from the East towards the West for the whole year But they do not consist with the like constancy in all the parts of that Sea but in some they are more hindred and in some less They are more constant in the Pacifick Ocean viz. in that part of it which lieth between the Tropicks so that Ships that loose from the Port of Aquapulco in New Spain in America towards the Philippin Isles that is such as steer their course from the East to the West oftentimes for 60 degrees Sail continually without any alteration or furling of the Sail with a constant East or North-East wind neither unto this day hath any Ship in that most long Voyage of 1650 miles been cast away Whence the Mariners say that they may sleep securely in this Voyage neither is there any need of guiding the Ship seeing that the general Wind bringeth the Ship to the wished Port for here other winds do impede the general Wind. The same constancy of this same Easterly wind is found in the Sea from the Cape or Promontory of Good-hope in the bounds of Africa or rather from that procurrent part of Africa which lieth in the Torrid Zone even to Brazil in the midst of which Voyage lieth the Isle of St. Helena unto which Mariners returning from India unto Europe are wont to direct their Course The Isle of St. Helena is distant from the Promontory of Good-hope 350 Miles and is oftentimes accomplished in sixteen days or also in twelve as the general wind is either vehement or slack for in this there is not a perpetual likeness the Sea-men using the same security when that they have first sailed to the Parallel of that Island for the Promontory of Good-hope lieth without the Tropicks which we have said that they use who Sail in the Pacifick Ocean from Aquapulco to the Philippins yea when that they have passed the Promontory of Good-hope they judge themselves to have escaped all danger and variation of the winds and sleep securely the wind constantly filling their Sails towards that Island and Brazil But yet this only is their great care that they may not Sail beyond the Island seeing that it is a very small one for if that they have passed it the eighth part of a mile they cannot regain it viz. an Easterly wind forcing them towards the West therefore then they are forced with great loss of their Voyage to make to the Coasts of Brazil or the other Isle called Ascension to water at If then you demand by what course they Sail when that the Ships make a contrary Voyage in this Sea viz. whilst that they steer from the Philippin Isles unto New Spain or from Brazil and the Isle of St. Helena unto the Promontory of Good-hope whilst that they Sail from India in these Voyages the Reader must know that Mariners use a threefold mode for either they navigate the Sea scituated without the Tropicks therefore they do not touch at the Isle of St. Helena whilst that they Sail from Europe into India or where necessarily they must pass by this they do not directly steer their course from the West to the East but obliquely from the North the Collateral quarter of it to the South or the Collateral quarter of it or lastly they choose such a time of Navigation in which they know that that general wind is impeded often by others But this latter because that it happeneth rarely therefore they rather make choice of the two former Modes of which we sâ—ll speak more in the Chapter of Navigation Therefore there are two Seas of the Torrid Zone in which that general Oriental wind with its Collaterals reigneth throughout the whole year viz. that which lieth between the procurrent of Africa and Brazil the other is that which is extended between New Spain or rather between America and the Oriental Islands of which the Philippins are a part The third part of this Sea under the Torrid Zone viz. between the Procurrent of Africa and the Philippins or Oriental Islands is not indeed destitute of this general wind but oftentimes it is hindred in this Sea by reason of the frequency of Islands which hindrance yet in some places is more frequent than in other some Between Mozambique and India the general wind is of most force in January February March April in other Months other winds do blow of which we shall speak in the following Proposition This general wind is more hindred in the Sea of the Indian Isles At the Isle of Banda in the Month of May the Oriental winds begin to be prevalent being very violent and accompanied with rain at Malacca in September and in other places otherwise as we shall shew in the following Proposition See Proposition 3. Yet this you must know that this general wind doth not equally extend it self in these Seas towards the Tropicks in all parts but that there is a great difference in this For the Tropicks are distant from the Aequator on both sides 23 ½ deg but the general wind may be discovered in one Meridian unto the Latitude of 20 degrees in another Meridian unto 15 in another unto 12. So in the Indian Ocean when in the Months of February and January the East wind or South or South-East bloweth it is not discovered until you come to the 15 degree of Latitude So unto those that Sail from Goa unto the Promontory of Good-hope here a general wind meeteth them at the 12 deg of South Latitude and at the 28 degree of the same Latitude accompanieth them So also Mariners have observed that no general wind bloweth between the 4. degree of Northern Latitude even unto the 10 or 11 deg between Africa and America for when they have Sailed by that wind from St. Helena towards the Aequator even unto the 4 deg of Northern Latitude then are they destitute of that wind even until they come unto the 10 degree of Latitude And from that degree even unto the 30 the North-East is again manifestly found continually to blow although that the 30 degrees be 7 degree from the Torrid Zone Yet notwithstanding in the 6 7 and 8. degree of Parallel Latitude it also bloweth in some places but in
to wit In the South-East and North-East or in the quarters more near to the North and South its cause seemeth to be referred either to the divers scituation of the places in which the Snow and the more thick Clouds are there collected or rather unto a general wind which is very forcible to attract those Motions unto another quarter For seeing that a general wind of its own nature tendeth directly from the East to the West and these Motions tend from one Pole unto the other thence ariseth a mutual hindrance and thence it may come to pass that the wind may gain an intermedial quarter between the East and South and East and North. The South-West and North-West Motions are unconstant rare and weak and therefore are scarce reckoned amongst Motions when that the North and South by accident seem to decline sometimes to the West but they are attracted to the East by a general wind Now to render a reason concerning the great diversity of these Motions in divers places more accurate observations are required and those not of one year but of many with the notation of the Winter Rainy Snowy Seasons and the Mountains of these places from the quarters of which these state winds do blow we should also know the Phasis and Motion of the Moon and what variation this maketh Several winds blow at certain times in set places 2. In July South winds blow at Cape Verd for then there is the Winter in the time of Rain and this seemeth to produce from no other Cause than that by which in our Zone North winds blow in the Winter 3. At the Promontory of Good-hope in September the North-East wind bloweth 4. At Patanen in India in November December and January continual Rains and a North-East wind predominateth but in other Months an East wind bloweth and it is Summer 5. About Sumatra there is a mutation of the Motions in November and December 6. In the Isle of Mayo one of the Azores in the end of August a vehement wind bloweth from the South and bringeth Rain which moistens the Earth otherwise dry and then first of all Grass springeth up which feedeth many Goats at the end of December 7. In Congo from the middle of March to September at what time it is Winter there the North and North-West wind blow or other intermedial winds which force and gather the Clouds on the tops of the Mountains and generate an obscure Air with Rain But from September to March the South and South-East and other intermedial winds blow that are contrary to the former See the following Proposition We have taken these differences of the state and Anniversary winds from the Observation of Mariners that term them Moussons or Motions if that they blow in a long tract of the Sea And now we should Treat of their Causes but that we are ignorant of the Mountains of the Regions of the times of the Snows and their meltings and many other matters Moreover those Observations of Seamen are not sufficiently accurate so that they deserve a diligent inquisition concerning their Causes The more noted Motions are these More noted Motions 1. In the Indian Ocean between Africa and India and to the very Moluccos in an Oriental Motion towards the West which begineth in January and bloweth for six Months even to the begining of June In August and September a contrary Motion begineth viz. Western winds In June July and August is a mutation of Motions and great Tempests from the North. Now when that we speak of Oriental and Occidental winds we do not only understand the East and West winds but also the Collateral winds 2. The Oriental motion varieth very much at the Shoars so that Ships can only Sail from India on this side Gatis or on the Coasts of Malabar from January to the middle of May to Persia Arabia Mecha and Africa for seeing that in the end of May and all June July and August the Tempests rage violently and often a North wind or furious North-East wind frequently intermixing it self therefore in these Months no Ships pass from India on this side Gatis but on the Coast of India beyond the Gatis or Ganges that is on the East quarter or on the Coasts of Choromandel such Tempests are not known A Voyage is undertaken from Ceilan Java and other Isles to the Moluccoes in September because that then the Oriental motion begineth which hindereth the general wind But when you depart to 15 degrees of South Latitude beyond the Aequator this Occidental motion is not discovered in the Indian Ocean but a general South East wind filleth the Sails 3. From Cochin to Malacca that is from the West to the East they begin their Voyage in March because that then there the Western motion begineth or rather the North West wind frequently bloweth 4. In the Kingdom of Guzurat half the year the North winds blow from March to September and in the other half the South winds and that without any other hindrance caused by other winds 5. The Dutch set Sail from Java for the most part in January or February when that they return for Europe then they Sail with an Easterly wind even to 18 degrees of South Latitude and here the South or South-East wind begineth to blow by which they Sail even to St. Helena 6. Although in the Indian Ocean from January even to June the motion be Oriental and then from August to January the motion be Occidental yet nevertheless in divers parts of it when we must Sail from one place to another divers seasons are discovered more or less convenient by reason that the Collateral winds do more or less blow or the motion is more or less vehement at those times or other winds more often or more seldom intermix at that time therefore those that are to Sail from Cochin to Malacca observe another motion another from Malacca to Maccou the Emporium of China another from Maccou to Japan 7. At Banda the Western winds cease with the end of March and at the end of April there are variable winds and calms with the Month of May violent Easternly winds with Rain begin 8. At Ceilan about the Promontory called Punto Gullo on the 14th of March the first Occidental wind beginneth viz. the West-South-West then the South-West constant and continnual from the end of March to the first of October then the North-East begineth which bloweth there even to March but some daies at ten or also more these State-winds or motions happen sooner or later 9. In the Voyage from Mozambique to Goa in May and June the South-East winds are predominate even to the Aequator but from the Aequator to Goa the South-West and South winds reign in July August and the following Months 10. In the 35 deg of the Elevation of the Meridian which passeth through the Isle of Tristan de Conha in May on the New Moon the West wind reigneth 11. At the 2 â…• of
great concernment yet it is better to begin from the Aequator that all the places may lie in some Climate Proposition XV. To shew the use of the Table of the Climates 1. The Latitude of some place or Elevation of the Pole being given to know the quantity of the Longest day in that place and the Climate in which it lieth Let the given Elevation of the Pole be sought in the Table and on the opposite Region we shall find both the quantity of the Longest day as also the Climate and the Parallel If that the given Elevation cannot be found in the Table then take that Elevation which is less near or the like which is found in the Table From the Longitude of the Longest day of any place to know the Latude of the place and the Parallel and Climate 2. The Longitude of the Longest day of any place being given which any person hath observed or received by relation to know from thence the Latitude of that place the Parallel and the Climate in which that place lieth Enter the Table with the Latitude given and you shall see on the opposite Region both the Latitude and the Place demanded as also the Climate and Parallel 3. A Climate being given to determine the Longitude of the Longest day and the Elevation of the Pole This is facil from the very sight of the Table CHAP. XXVI Of the Light Heat Cold Rains in the diverse parts of the Earth or Zones and other properties of the Zones Proposition I. These Causes are efficacious to generate and procure Light Heat Cold and Rain with other Meteors in the places of the Earth and the vicine Air. Of the causes of Heat 1. THe more or less or no obliquity of the Rays of the Sun coming to or emitted on any place For the Rays falling perpendicular on any place cause great heat and the other Rays sliding obliquely have for that very reason a less power of heating by how much the obliquity of them is the greater that is by how much the more they decline from the perpendicular Ray. 2. The diurnal stay of the Sun above the Horizon of the place For the same heat maketh more hot and changeth the Air in a longer time than in a shorter 3. The depression of the Sun beneath the Horizon being more or less in the Night season For this difference of depression causeth that either more or less Light is perceived in the Air also more or less Heat Rain thick Clouds Hitherto belongeth the Twilight 4. The more or less Elevation of the Moon above the Horizon the more or less depression of the same beneath the Horizon the more or less Diurnal stay of the same above the Horizon The Causes are the same with those alledged in the three foregoing Paragraphs The Planets and fixed Stars raise Vapours c. in the Air. 5. The same may be said of fixed Stars especially of those more noted ones and of the five other Planets Saturn Jupiter Mars Venus and Mercury For they generate some light and heat in the Air although it be but little and change the Air divers ways and raise Vapours if that we may credit Astronomers 6. The propriety or species of the Earth of every place For where the Earth is more stony and rocky there for the most part it is more Cold than where it is sulphureous and fat and here again it is more fertilâ— Where there is much Sand and no Rivers there is greater Heat Fumes and Mists proceed from Lakes 7. Lakes or the Sea adjacent From thence also Fumes and Mists are raised more moist and frequent in the Air and the Rays are less powerfully reflected from the Sea than from the Earth 8. The scituation of Places For the Sun acteth otherwise on Mountains and Mountainous places than on Valleys and Plains Moreover Mountains hinder the free access of the Rays of the Sun to the subject places for to them the Vapours of the Air are in some sort attracted See Chap. 20. whence the Mountains change the seasons of the adjacent places as Heat Rain and the like For these would be otherwise in the Subject places if that the Mountains were absent The Winds cause difference in the weather 9. The Winds especially the general So the Etesian winds temperate and allay the Canicular heat A general Wind in the Torrid Zone especially the Subsolan winds in Brasilia render the Heat temperate when in Africa which is Occidental the Heat is vehement because these places feel not so general a Wind. The Northern winds are cold and dry the Southern warm and moist in our places 10. Clouds Rain and Fogs take away and diminish light and heat I suppose that there are not many causes of this variety in light and heat c. which is observed in divers places of the Earth or also in the same places but yet in a different time or season Proposition II. How are the Seasons of the year Spring Summer Autumn and Winter to be defined The four Seasons of the Year Although in Sciences we ought not to contend and dispute concerning Definitions yet because certain Homonymes or Likenesses do here occur without the Explication of which there will arise much confusion in the following Doctrine therefore I will so propose this Question that you may the more cautiously avoid this Homonyme that they may not be deceived and intangled by the same The Question comprehendeth two difficulties first Whether these Seasons ought to be defined from the entrance of the Sun and his stay in certain sings of the Ecliptick and Zodiack According to Astronomers and Astrologers For so Astronomers and Astrologers commonly do saying that that is the Spring whilst the Sun moveth from the first degree of Aries to the first of Cancer that is Summer whilst the Sun moveth from the first of Cancer to the first of Libra that is Autumn whilst the Sun moveth from the first of Libra to the first of Capricorn and that is Winter whilst the Sun moveth from the first of Capricorn to the first degree of Aries Now it is manifest that these Definitions are not general and agreeable to all places because they are only of force in the Northern places scituated from the Aequator towards the Pole Artick and not in the Southern so that for these Definitions the same persons bring Definitions contrary to the former saying that in these places the Spring beginneth from the first degree of Libra proceeding unto the first of Capricorn the Summer from the first of Capricorn to the first of Aries the Autumn from the first of Aries to the first of Cancer and the Winter from the first of Cancer to the first of Libra But from thence it would follow that those Seasons cannot possibly be defined which is false and Generals ought to be defined by Generals Secondly Definitions so made cannot have place in the places of the Torrid Zone
distance from the place assumed the Spring when he goeth from a point of moderate distance towards the very Vertex of the Pole or to the point of the Ecliptick which is Vertical to the place or to the Parallel of the place the Summer where the Sun goeth from this other point of middle distance to a point of greatest distance that is the first degree of Capricorn or Cancer 2. In the places of the Aequator it self the Sun no day of the year remaineth above the Horizon more or less hours than twelve and so many beneath the Horizon In other places of the Torrid Zone one hour or an hour and an half at the most viz. in the extream places of this Zone about the Tropicks of Cancer and Capricorn when the day is at the longest the Sun remaineth above the Horizon twelve hours and in the shortest day about eleven hours and in the intermedial days that time of the stay of the Sum above and beneath the Horizon doth not much differ from twelve hours And therefore this is the cause that the nights are not without cold and the heat of the day continueth not long about the eveningtide 3. In the night time the Sun is profoundly depressed beneath the Horizon for that he illustrateth the Air with none of his rayes nay not reflex This is the cause that most dark nights are there and the cold of the night is augmented the Air is condensed and contracteth it self and being cold it descends towards the earth by its own ponderosity Moreover in a very short time about the space of half an hour before the rising of the Sun and after his setting those places have the light and heat of the Twilight 4 The Moon almost after the same manner as the Sun ascends directly from the Horizon towards the Meridian of those places yet a little more obliquely because it departeth from the Ecliptick and therefore towards the Torrid Zone about five degrees and it remaineth after the same manner as the Sun a little above twelve hours above the Horizon and is depressed beneath it almost so many hours and that profoundly as we have spoken of the Sun Therefore with her direct rayes or those near to the perpendicular she will augment the warmness of the night especially when she is Vertical to any place and diminish it by her recess but by reason of her short stay above the Horizon the effect of it is little discerned in any place except when it is Vertical to it 5. All the Stars arise and set in places nigh the Aequator but those Stars which are near the Pole in places more remote from the Aequator do not arise and those are but very few and therefore they can cause little heat and light and that also insensible in the Air. 6. In many places of the Torrid Zone as in India and its Isles in the Tongue of Africa and in Mexico the earth is Sulphureous which sendeth forth more calid vapours whence it communicateth a certain heat to the Air and a peculiar property In some places it is sandy as in the North part of Africa lying in the Torrid Zone in part of Lybia and the Land of the Negroes in many places of Arabia in Peru and in the places between Peru and Brazilia whence in these places a very great heat is raised by the Sun because the particles of the Sand do very long retain the heat received from the Sun and soon communicate the same to the vicine Air. In other places the Rivers are many and in those Sandy ones few there are many in Abyssine in Guiney Congo India and in Brazilia hence humid vapours are raised which do very much blunt the force of the Suns rayes and render his heat more tolerable 7. The most places of the Torrid Zone have the Sea adjacent as India and its Isles the Tongue of Africa Guiney Brazilia Peru Mexico some places of the Torrid Zone are Mediterranean as the more inward Africa the Regions between Peru and Brazilia whence it cometh to pass that in those places the heat and drought is greater and in some or most of them the Air is more moist and less fervent then can be caused by the Sun except other causes happen 8. Most of the Regions of the Torrid Zone seeing that they are almost encompassed by the Sea have in the middle places more or lesser ridges of exceeding high Mountains as India and its Isles the Tongue of Africa and Peru These rows of Mountains do very much vary the light heat and rayes of those places somewhere they hinder the Oriental rayes of the Sun otherwhere the Occidental Moreover the humid vapours condensed in the Air are moved to the Vertices of these Mountains as we have shewed in the twentieth Chapter whence rains and clouds proceed by which the heat and light of the Sun is very much obstructed and the Celestial cause of the Seasons is disturbed There are few of the places of the Torrid Zone which want those ridges as the inward Africa Mexico and the like 9. The effects of the Winds in the Torrid Zone are various and notable for a general wind blowing from the side Plagas of the East or from the East continually towards the West refrigerateth the Maritim places which regard the East as Brazilia the Oriental Coast of Africa but not so to those towards the West as Guiney Congo Angola and the Coasts of Peru. Some winds are appropriated as the South in Peru which winds dispel vapours towards the Plaga in which they blow Some are fixed winds of which we have largely treated in the one and twentieth Chapter Now these winds do very much disturb the Celestial cause of the Seasons for they are almost as equally constant and observe order as the motions of the Heaven it self They bring down the Air compel the vapours towards the tops of the Mountains and by other Modes alter the Seasons Ten Anniversary rains are in many places of the Torrid Zone and take away the Celestial cause seeing that they are as equally constant as the motion of the Sun it self For those err who suppose that this our Sublunary Orb observeth all with inconstancy and without order and that the Celestial only have a constant motion Seeing that the causes hitherto spoken of are so various to be able to cause the heat and the properties of the Seasons and in one place some are from other causes in another others are of force or concur in divers Seasons of the year or mutually impede one another hence we discover why the cause and condition of the Seasons of the Torrid Zone is so various Proposition XI How the Spring Summer Autumn and Winter Terrestrial do behave themselves and in what Months of the year they commence in the divers places of the Torrid Zone Of the beginning of the Seasons in places in the Torrid Zone We have said before and especially in the second Proposition that
the Seasons in many places of the Torrid Zone are contrary to the motion of the Sun viz. that it is Summer there when the Sun is most distant and Winter when he is nearest yea vertical to the Vertex Therefore we have distinguished the Seasons into Celestial and Terrestrial We have shewed heretofore and that in the third and fourth Proposition how any place being given in that Torrid Zone the Months of the year are to be found in which the place ought to have Summer Spring Autumn and Winter if we have regard to the access and recess of the Sun that is we have taught to design the times of the Celestial Seasons But seeing that in many places of this Zone the forementioned Seasons do not happen in those Months but in others and that in divers places in a different time therefore the times of the Terrestrial seasons must be taken not from the Heaven or a certain method but from the experience made in those places and as much as possible the cause of every one of them why they repugn the Celestial cause must be explicated viz. from those 10 causes which we have laid down in the first Proposition 〈◊〉 this therefore ought first to be known that the Winter in the Torrid Zone doth rage with cold and frost but rather with raines and is to be defined by a lesser heat then that in the time of the Summer Farther in many places of the Torrid Zone they reckon not four but two seasons of the year viz. Summer and Winter and these are not distinguished by heat and cold but chiefly by siccity and humidiy for in the Winter they have often greater heat than in their Summer with a shortness of respiration because the rain and the Clouds press the Calid Air downwards But the Spring and Autumn are not to be found by so manifest signs or differences We shall begin our Narration from that part of Africa which lyeth under the Torrid Zone and proceeding towards the East with Brazilia we shall finish the whole Torrid Zone seated in the West measured by us The Regions of the Occidental shore of Africa from the Tropick of Cancer to Cape verd that is distant 14 degrees from the Aequator towards the North are all abounding both with Corn and variety of Fruit there are also heards of Cattell and flocks of Sheep in great abundance The Inhabitants are of a great strength the heat of the Air a little exceedeth Mediocrity so that the Inhabitants go naked except the Noble and those that are rich whose clothing is a Linnen Cloth The cause of this fertility and temperate Air contrary to the custom of the Torrid Zone is First many Rivers of which the chief are Senega and Gambea before they discharge themselves into the neighbouring Sea they water those Regions and render the Air more humid and frigid Secondly the vicinity of the Sea which affordeth humid vapours and somewhat cold Winds How the Seasons of the year have themselves in this place and what months of the year Summer and Winter happen and are vigorous I have not found noted by Writers which is to be imputed to their negligence and sloth Yet in one Itinerary I have read that in one of the Islands which lye not far from the Promontary of Cape verd by name Salinae or the Hesperides in one of them I say called St. Vincents the Latitude is 16 degrees the watery months that is Winter are August September November December January even to February This time almost agreeth with the Celestial cause for in the months of May June and July because the Sun is very near or else vertical to that place therefore it maketh the Celestial Summer and here the Terrestrial agreeth with it for then they have a greater heat and dry Air without Rain In the months of February March and April is their Spring be-because the Sun is moved from a moderate distance to a lesser therefore they are then without rains and have a moderate heat The months of August September and October are to be ascribed to Autumn by reason of the rains although it ought to begin latter because the Sun in August hath not yet returned from his least distance to his mean Lastly the months November December and January are Winter because the Sun hath then the greatest distance from their Vertex and then they find more and longer continuing rains with some cold but this is not to be observed every year though most years But how the seasons are in the Continent of Africa is not related except that concerning the shore of Sierra Leon it is contrary as we shall now speak 2. Now succed the Regions of the Coast of Africa which look towards the South and extend themselves from the Promontory of Cape Verd to the curvature or bending part of Africa that is from the West to East These Regions are termed by one name Guiny although others attribute this term only to one part Now they lie in the Torrid Northern Zone 3.4 and more degrees from the Aequator In these Regions there is a continual heat of the Air without any intervening Cold yet they attribute some months to the Summer and some to the Winter I think the same must be understood of the former Western Coast for in the Regions of the Shore called Sierra Leon which is removed above 9 degrees from the Aequator towards the North as also in many Tracts of Guiny they ascribe the months March April May June and July to Winter especially the three first by reason that on these months there fall frequent and almost continual rains hot or warm great Thunders and Lightnings and so great Storms rage without violent Winds that none can easily conceive them See Chap. 21. who hath not had experience of them How they rage I have already spoken also in these months the Fields lie Barren but when these Stormy months are expired then they dig up the dry Earth which hath sucked up the great Rains in the said wet months and mix stamped and bruised Coals instead of manuring and so for the space of 10 days suffer the Earth to putrify and then they sow their Seed There is here so great an heat of the Air joyned with humidity by reason of the propinquity of the Sea that the Fish which are taken stink if kept undressed half a day Therefore in these places the Winter shall be in April May and June when the Storms and Rains rage The Spring in July August and September the Summer in October November and December and the Autumn in January February and March where the Rains and Storms do begin Now all these times of the Seasons in those places are contrary to the Celestial cause or motion of the Sun for in the months of May June and July great heat ought to be there because then the Sun is then vertical or near the Vertex which the heat or warmness of the Rain also
for if these Rains fall not and the Clouds obscured not the Sun that great heat of the Sun would render the ground Sandy and Steril as Lybia and Arabia where these Rains are not the Sun being near the Vertex Contrary wise in the Months of December January and February they should have Winter or lesser heat because that then the Sun is most remote from them and then they have Summer Yet in the night the Air is cold enough moreover a continual Wind from the 12th hour of the day to the 12th hour of the night bloweth from the Sea which is very acceptable 14. In the Coast of the East Indies which is called Choromandel the seasons also differ from the Heavens for in the Months of March April May and June the Sun causeth vehement heat and there is no rain Now the People which for the most part are Saracens divide the year into the hot the wet and the Cold seasons the hot or Summer as I have said is in the months of March April May and June but the intollerable heat is from the middle of May to the middle of June the Wind blowing from the North unto which if you turn your face you shall discover so great a heat of the Air as if you drew nigh an Oven for the Sun then in that Plaga is in the Meridies also the Wood and Stones contract a great heat yet the Waters in the Wells is so cold that many drinking thereof for extream heat dye The greatest heat of the day is between Nine in the Forenoon and Three in the Afternoon in these intermedial hours they rest from travelling the other hours before Nine in the Morning and Three in the Afternoon the Air is at least tolerably temperate serene and acceptable the Heaven delightful and travelling pleasant The VVet season taketh up four months July August September and October The Cold season November December January and February in December and January the Cold is sensible enough especially in the night Here are many things which deserve our enquiry for in the months of March April May and June the Sun cometh to those places of the Coast of Choromandel and becometh Vertical to them therefore it is no wonder if they have great heat but why have they not the same heat in July and August feeing he is equally as near them in those months and by reason of the former heat it should be more hot Moreover why do the seasons of the Coast of Choromandel differ from the seasons of the Coast of Malabar seeing that they both lie in the same Climate and have the Sun Vertical on the same days and on the same remote And that which is more to be wondered at there interceedeth between these two Regions in some places 70 in others only 20 miles interval so that you may come into a place of a serene and servid Air where the Winter predominateth and that in the space of one day Masseus thus speaketh of these places In these Regions saith he amongst other admirable things that above others exceedeth the reach of all Philosophers that in the same Plaga of the Heavens in the equal access and recess of the Sun in the same months of the year from the Sun rising beyond the Mountain of Gatis which by a direct excursion to the Promontory of Cori intersects the whole Region of Malabar there is Summer and drought and from the West on this side Gatis there are Rains and Winter that in so near a propinquity of places in respect of the course of the seasons the same People almost seem Antipodes one to another But not only in these but also in others we have shewed this diversity to be found and shall shew more anon The cause is the scituation of the Mountains which determinate the Land of Choromandel from Malabar proceeding from the North towards the South To this must be added divers Winds for on the Coast of Choromandel a general Eastern Wind is more discovered except in the Summer months of May and June which driveth the vapours towards the tops of the Mountains whence it raineth in the Land of Malabar These Mountains tops are discovered to be continually covered with Clouds in the Pluvial months also more vehement Showrs in those where the rain is in Malabar But when it raineth in the Region of Choromandel then is there a serenity in the tops of the Mountains as in the Land of Malabar except the months July and August for in these it raineth in both Lands 15. In the Regions of the Gangick Sea opposite to the Coast of Chroromandel and in the Northern Torrid Zone as Sian Peru the Chersonesus of Malacca the Pluvial months in which the Rivers overslow are September October and November But in the Land of Malacca it raineth every week of the year twice or thrice except the months of January February and March in which there is a continual drought All these are contrary to the Celestial course and their causes must be sought from the Mountains Winds the propinquity of the Sea and the like But because as yet we have no accurate observations concerning these Regions we will not search them here The chief cause of the Fertility of these Regions is the overflowing of the Rivers The vapours of the adjacent Sea the Rivers and the Winds do much allay the heat whence the Inhabitants have great plenty of Fruits In the Kingdom of Patana and those bordering on it the Summer beginneth in February and continueth to the end of October in which time there is a continual heat which is allayd with a continual Oriental Wind the Air wholsom In November December and January there are continual Rains which yet do not hinder a new increase every month at the least The same must be understoood of Camboja And this Winter agreeth with the Celestial course 16. Leaving Asia the Pacifick Sea being Sayled over we enter that part of America which lieth under the Torrid Zone which is twofold South and North the South again is twofold Peru and Brazilia although the parts of Peru be vicine yet they have contrary Seasons in one and the same time for the Region of Peru is divided into three parts the Shoar or Maritim part the Mountainous and the Plain part which he in the same Climate In the Mountainous places they have a Plavial Winter from the month of October to the end of March when they should have Summer by the vicinity of the Sun They have Summer from the entrance of April to October in which months no Rains do fall but in the Winter months there are continual Rains Therefore the Terrestrial seasons differ here from the Celestial In Maritim Peru there is almost no Winter in the whole year but they account their Winter from the month of April to October which agreeth with the Celestial cause because the Sun is then removed from them to the Tropick of Cancer and thence returneth by reason
that in those months it Raineth not but almost every day the Clouds appear so thick as if it would immediately Rain but there falleth only a certain kind of Dew and that especially in the months of June July and August Yet this mist is not unwholsom but being condenfed into Dew and falling it irrigateth the Vallies It doth not Rain at this time in the Mountainous places but is a serene season This Maritim Peru is distinguished into Vallies and Sandy places the Vallies are abundantly fertile the Sandy places which are between every Valley are steril also in the adjacent Islands it never raineth but a Dew only falleth In the Isle of Gorgon which is removed three degrees from the Aequator towards the South it raineth for Eight months almost continually with so great Thunder and Storms not to be parallel'd In May June July and August it is Summer and dry contrary to the Celestial course In some parts of this Torrid Zone it is very cold for in the Province of Pastoa in the Valley Airssina both in Summer and Winter the season is very cold so that the fruit encreaseth not In the Region of Cusco which lyeth almost in the middle betwen the Tropick of Capricorn and the Aequator hard Frosts and Snows are also found From whence it is collected that Peru is parched with no violent heat but rather enjoyeth a temperate Air throughout the whole year excepting its Sandy places and Hills but the Vallies are most fertile and pleasant abounding with Trees and Fruits Their Water they receive in the Winter from the Dew which I have said falleth every day but in the Summer from the Flouds which descend and rush from the Mountains because in the Mountainous Region it is then Winter and raineth And from these Torrents the Inhabitants conduct the Water by certain convoyances into the Vallies yet some Vallies are content only with the Dew and yet produce abundance of Fruit. The cause of this diversity between the seasons of the Mountainous and the plain Peru and why it never raineth in the level Peru is difficult to declare for these Mountainous parts are so near to the level Maritim Peru that any one in the morning descending from these pluvial and raging showers in the evening may arrive at the level Peruvia where there is no rain but a serene Air. The cause seemeth to be twofold First those tops of the Mountains And Secondly a South-West Wind which is proper and perpetual to Peru. Therefore this Wind forceth the Vapours towards the Mountains where they are as it were conderised so that the Clouds may not destil their drops in the level Peru but in the Mountainous places they are attracted after the mode which we have explained concerning Mountains Therefore Peru hath this in common with Aegypt and some other places that the South Winds are not the cause of Rain and warmth but rather a clearing the Air although it may seem to have place in all the places lying towards the South from the Aequator 17. The South part of America viz. Brazilia is very pleasant and excelleth with an wholsom disposition of the Air so that it giveth place unto no Region of the Earth Concerning its seasons the Inhabited front of it receiveth the Subsolan Wind which refresheth Men and Beasts and freeth them from the intolerable heat of the Vertical Sun which if it approach the Sea is discovered in the morning if it depats from thence it is discerned more after the Spring of the morning See Piso in his Book De medicina Braziliensi concerning the seasons neither doth it languish about the evening It is wont do do so in many parts of India but it is so intense by the assistance of the Sun that it is vigorous beyond midnight and the Nocturnal Condensation of the Air cannot easily dul or overcome that dilation and natural motion of the Air. But the other part which is seperated from Peru by high ridges of Mountains and vast spaces although it be infested with an unwholsom West Wind and a Mediterranean Gale at midnight yet it is every where encompassed with Mountains near the Sea and is so driven from the Matutine Gale that it can hardly penetrate to the Shores As in these most delectable and constant seasons of the year there are no great mutations so they happen in the day and night seasons more evidently because the days and nights are not more equal in space than different in heat and cold for the Sun ascending higher after it hath opened the pores of the Earth and Men it hideth it self more profoundly and that by an equal interval whence the greater condensation of the Air effects the more extream rorifluous part of the night Hence a penetrating cold from the third hour of the night even to the rising of the Sun striketh the body so that that this is wont to be very noxious to those that are new comers into the Land which he that shunneth not will hardly lead a good life in these or other parts of the Indies The Brazilians therefore very cautiously keep a continual fire in their habitations and near their resting places by the benefit of which they may be able to indure cold and drive away venemous Infects Moreover the direct ascent and descent of the Sun causeth the shortest Crepusculas and maketh the nights so even to the days that an hours difference can hardly be found The cold is more in the Summer nights than in the Winter which is to be admired at and it is more mildly discovered in the latter than in the former the Air being tranquillous The beginning of the Wet season is in the month of March or April and is finished in August in which the Sun returning from Cancer in part dissolveth the matter of the Rain into winds whence immediately proceed storms and tempests which by and by the Spring Season calmly composeth The Inhabitants of the Tropicks know no mutation about the seasons of the year the Sun twice coming towards and departing back as many supposed but only going away from the Aequator to the Tropick of Cancer or Capricorn There are only two times of the year whereof one is dry and hot called Summer the other hot and moist like to Summer with us in Europe which supplyeth the place of Winter And this is found most true in all the Indies between both Tropicks For although the beginning and end of the Winter and Summer seasons by reason of the particular incidences of the place and also for the greater or lesser vicinity of the Aequator do not happen in the same yet for the most part the year is accomplished in about six months inclining to Humidity and six to Siccity and on that account as in the places of many Citties of Asia and Africa of the same Latitude with us there is thence a great remission of the heat our here is little perceived although the Sun passeth the Zenith of
the Air than it would do without this refraction We shall anon alledge an example of the appearancy of the Sun proceeding from refraction 4. The Full Moon and near the Full remaineth above the Horizon for many days when the Sun is depressed beneath it viz. for so many more days by how much that place is more near the Pole Yet it is not so highly elevated above the Horizon as to cause any warmness But the Full Moon in those months in which the Sun remaineth above the Horizon in an whole revolution the Full Moon is never above the Horizon The Planets not always the same above Horizon 5. The Fixed Stars are almost the same always above the Horizon but not the Planets For Saturn remaineth 15 years above the Horizon of the place near the Pole and 15 beneath the same Jupiter 6 years beneath and 6 above the same Horizon Mars 1 year Venus and Mercury about half a year From this cause it is likely that there is great diversity of the motions of the Air and seasons in divers years 6. The Land in most places of the Frigid Zone is Stony Rocky and as hard as Flint in few places Chalky Sulphureous and Fat In these places there is a moderate fertility in the other a sterility 7. Those Regions are incompassed with the Sea but for the Mediterranian we as yet have no certain account 8. Some of the Regions of the Frigid Zone have Mountains of a moderate hight but most want them running on a plain for a long space 9. The cold Winds there frequently blow from the Polary Plaga seldom the East Wind and least of all the West In the cold Artick Plaga the North Winds rage in the Antartick the South 10. Clouds and Rains frequently perplex these Regions From these causes it is not difficult to collect what the condition of the seasons in these Regions are for in the Winter time when the Sun riseth not for whole daies it cannot otherwise be but that for the most part thick Clouds Frost and Cold must render the Land uninhabitable They are not altogether deprived of light for that time for the Moon being above the Horizon for a long time giveth light and the twilight is daily afforded from the Sun to the Vicine Horizon But the Snow the stick close about the Earth which cannot be discussed by the heat of the Sun and therefore hinder the aspect of remote things There is no fertility but all barren and uncultivated for that which some suppose by how much any Region is nearer to the Pole by so much less it feeleth the intenseness of the cold and the Fields are found more fertil seemeth not probable to me when neither in Nova Zembla which is distant 16 degrees from the Pole nor in Spitzbirga which is only 8 degrees distant such a constitution of the Earth is found but a roughness and hardness and almost in the middle of Summer Snows or at least Showers and very cold Winds Neither is their opinion helped by one example observed by Mariners in a certain Region 9 degrees distant from the Pole which most men suppose to be Groenland For in this green Grass is found and an Air more warm than in Nova Zembla as is most certain The only Animals peculiar to these Northern Regions Rhinoceros a kind of Venison is the Rhinoceros and this in the space of a month becometh exceeding fat by feeding on this grass Nevertheless seeing that as yet not many Regions are hitherto found of this temperature in the Frigid Zone it is not expedient for us from this single example to make a general conjecture especially seeing that the cause of this peculiar constitution is manifest for that Land is full of Marshes and Sedgey and the grass by which the Rhinoceros or Dear are tendred so fat is not a kind of Terrestrial Grass but Sedge and Osiers but other Herbs are not there found or any Trees From whence we may gather that that Land containeth some fat and Sulphureous Substance which being mixed which the water produceth such an Oyle and fattening Sedge but that the like Earth is to be found in other parts of the Frigid Zone hath not as yet been observed but rather the contrary Therefore in the Winter in these places is little light but an incredible and great violence of Cold Snow Showers and Polary Winds And this Winter beginneth in the Northern Frigid Zone when the Sun first entreth Capricorn although also the Autumn the Sun going from the 1 degree of Libra to the 1 of Capricorn be little different from this violent Winter The Spring indeed is less infested with this violence of the Air yet it is without Snows Showers and cold Polary Winds Yet the increase of heat in the day or rather the decrease of cold is discovered at that time viz. the Sun going from the 1 degree of Aries to the 1 of Cancer And in this Vernal season or in the latter days of it the Sun continueth above the Horizon in intire revolutions and therefore then there is discovered a moderate heat which yet is not of that force as to melt and dissolve the Snow of all those places into Water much less is it able to melt the Ice whence Marriners report that here is to be found Snow and Ice of a perpetual duration Then the Summer shall be from the going of the Sun from the 1 degree of Cancer to the 1 of Libra in the first part of which the Sun yet remaineth for whole daies above the Horizon and augmenteth the heat by some accession so that June July and August are months of a tolerable Air. In some places among the Mountains the heat of the Sun is intense but the Showers and Clouds do much hinder this benignity of the Sun and especially the most sharp Northern Winds unto which sometimes Snow is adjoyned so that no fruits or Corn can here arrive to any maturity except in some places near the Artick Circle CHAP. XXVII Of the Shadows which the bodies erected in the Earth and illuminated by the Sun do cast and of the division of the Earth arising from thence SEeing that the Shadows in divers places of the Earth which the illuminated bodies of the Sun do cast are carryed into divers places and falling on the Sense have much variety hence it came to pass that men who were ignorant of this cause were struck with an admiration and in respect of the Shadows of the Earth divided the Inhabitants of the Earth as it were into three sorts which division must be applyed to the places of the Earth or to its Superficies So that they termed some Amphiscij others Heteroscij and the rest Periscij The explication of which terms seeing that they contain but small learning we shall say somewhat also concerning Shadows which although they do not pertain to Geography yet by reason of their near affinity they may be proposed in this Chapter Of
place and scituation and therefore very unlike Figures arise thence in the Table thence it cometh to pass that according to the various scituation of the Eye which we attribute to it without the Earth or without that part which it ought to represent there ariseth a various representation of that Superficies on the Table For as there existeth another sort of Frontispiece of the walls of an house when the Eye may behold it from a scituation directly opposite another from an oblique scituation another from an upper place another from a long place and so changing according to the various scituation of the Eye which Tutors may explain by Diagrams so there ariseth a different position of the parts of the Earth to be represented on the Table if that the Eye be so constituted or conceived in the Air in such a scituation that it may hang over the Aequator of the Earth and otherwise if that it be supposed to exist in the pretended Axis of the Earth or in the Semi-Axis of the Hemisphere and otherwise if it be conceived to be eminent over any other place of the Earth Thence it cometh to pass that both the Aequator and the Parallels as well as the Meridians obtain various representations because the Rays drawn from them existing in the Earth to the Eye perforate the Tables in divers points endued with a various scituation which the Readers may easily understand The Direction of a Tutor very profitable if that they have the living information and direction of a Tutor The other which I esteem fit for the Readers consideration in this Method for his better understanding is concerning the cause of the variety in the Magnitude of Tables and representations for we can shew the same Superficies of the Earth as also of all the Bodies of the World as Temples Houses and the like on a great or small Table The Cause is twofold first by how much the Eye is placed more remote from the Earth or any Object by so much the representation receiveth the lesser Magnitude ziz the scituation of the Table or Glass so remaining 2. How much the Table or Glass in which the representation should be made by the perforation of the Rays is nearer moved to the Eye by so much the representation or projecture receiveth the lesser form by how much the nearer to the Object so much the greater But if the Eye may be removed in any kind from the Object the Table remaining so that it be removed in the same Line with the Center of the Earth or so that it remain in one Perpendicular Line to the Superficies of the Earth therefore the Figure of the projecture is not changed but only the Magnitude the similitude remaineth So also if that the Table be any ways moved to the Eye or removed towards the Object all the projectures do become of a divers Magnitude yet they remain mutually alike and represent all the places in a like scituation so that the Table shall observe the Parallel scituated from the Eye in his access and recess But if the Table receiveth another position and also if the Eye be not only removed but also recedeth from that Perpendicular Line then the like projectures shall not arise and the places shall not have the like scituation on the Earth but besides a various Magnitude there shall also be a notable dissimilitude in the scituation of the places one to the other But in the projectures of all Bodies as also in the projecture of the Superficies of the Earth it is so wont to happen that we attribute such a scituation to the Table or Glass that it may touch the Body or Superficies in that Point to which the Line drawn is Perpendicular to the Superficies of the Body or which is drawn from the Eye to the Center of the Earth now to obtain the lesser or greater projecture we remove the Point of the Eye more or less from the Earth But then we conceive the Earth to be very small This in general being explained concerning the projecture of the Earth and the Original of Geographical Maps we shall shew the Method of doing it where first we shall shew whether these Tables should be made according to the Rules of Perspective and whether all may be made according to them for the end of these Tables or Maps is to the life and exactly as may be to express the scituation of the places in the Superficies of the Earth Therefore it is demanded and that not unadvisedly whether this may be done by another Method which observeth not the Rules of Perspective for whether it be done according to the Rules of Perspective or contrary to them so that it exactly representeth the scituation of the places the Table shall be accounted to be well done To that I answer that although certain Tables of some small Province may be made and are also made by another Method to wit by Angles of position or also by distances as we shall shew in the last place yet in a great part of the Superficies of the Earth it cannot be performed by a more commodious Method than by the Rules of Perspective although the true scituation of the places may not be represented in the Tables made according to these Rules Things to be known about the making of these Maps For we must know that in making of these Maps we must attend to a threefold end 1. That all the places must have such a scituation and distance to the chief Circles of the Earth as the Aequator the Parallels the Meridians as they have in the Earth it self so that from those Tables the Parallels of every place the distance from the Aequator from the Pole the Zone the Climate c. may be beheld because that from thence many properties of the Regions and Celestial appearances do depend 2. That the Magnitudes of every Region may have that proportion that they have in the Earth it self 3. That every place may have the same scituation to the other mutually which they have in the Earth it self Of these three requisites all Maps or Tables ought exactly to perform the first and for the most part exactly do because they are made from the Table of Latitude and Longitude of places neither do the Rules of Perspective hinder the same But for the second they cannot accurately perform the same if that the Rules of Perspective be observed because the crooked paths of the Superficies being more remote from the Eye makes the representation lesser in the Glass than those parts subjected to the Eye but yet that inequality is small and becometh insensible if that the Eye be conceived to be remote an infinite interval from the Earth But the third requisite can be performed by no larger Tables such are those of the whole Earth also those of the 4 quar of the Earth and the greater Provinces although they may accomplish it in the lesser Regions and the vulgar suppose
which the other place is scituated at the place which is represented from that bound and let the extension of the Quadrant be noted with Chalk on the Globe Then let the Pole be Elevated for the Latitude of the other bound and the Quadrant be affixed to that term the other extremity to the other given quarter The point in which the Quadrant shall cut the Arch marked with Chalk shall represent the third place whence it is easy to take the distance from these two terms CHAP. XXXIV Of the Visible or Sensible Horizon A Sensible Horizon is a Periphery on the Superficies of the Earth which boundeth the prospect of the Eye moved round about or which terminateth part of the Superficies which the Eye moved about may see or from whence the Rays may come to the Eye His Semidiameter is termed the greatest Arch of the Earth intercepted between the Foot of the Spectator and that Periphery which therefore is perpendicular over it Proposition I. The extension or Semidiameter of the sensible Horizon variously existeth both according to the divers Altitude of the Eye as also from the diversity of the taken Semidiameter of the Earth A sensible Horizon what Let the greatest Circle of the Earth be M P N Q. Let T be the Center T P the Semidiameter P O the Altitude of the Eye let O be the Eye Let the Tangents O N O M be drawn from O and let us conceive the Ray N O to be as it were carried about on the Superficies of the Earth and so to describe the Periphery this shall be the sensible Horizon his Semidiameter P N P M for the Rays N O M O are the last which from O can come to the Eye from the Superficies of the Earth which we here suppose to be perfectly round And it is manifest if we take the lesser or greater Altitude than P O that also the Arch P N shall be greater or lesser After the same Mode if F P be made to be of more or fewer miles P N shall also be of more or fewer miles The opinions of the Antients concerning this Horizon These seem to be the Causes that the Ancient Authours have followed divers opinions concerning this Horizon or Extension of Sight For Macrobius assigneth to it the Semidiameter P N of 180 stadia's that is 22 ½ miles Eratosthenes 350 stadia's which makes 44 miles Albertus Magnus 1000 which makes 125 miles Proclus 2000 stadia's that is 250 miles Many assign 500 stadia's that is 62 ½ mile Yet I suppose the Causes of the diversity of these assignations not only to be those of which I have spoken but the divers assumed distance of the stadia as shall be manifest from the following Proposition Proposition II. The stature of a Man being given from the Foot to the Eye and the Semidiameter of the Earth being given to find out the Semidiameter of the sensible Horizon Let P O be the stature of a Man O the Eye T P is the Semidiameter O N is the Rays touching the Superficies of the Earth terminating the sensible Horizon or the Aspect therefore P N is the Semidiameter the Longitude of this is demanded Let P O be added for Example of Five Foot to T P the Semediameter 19598300 so you shall have T O and in the Triangle N T O besides T O and T N we know the Angle T N O to be right or 90 degrees Therefore N T O is found according to this proportion As T O is to T N so is the whole sinus to the sinus of the Angle N O T whose Complement at 90 degrees is the Angle N T O or the Arch N P which may be turned into miles Corollary We therefore may thence know that if this or that quantity of the Semidiameter T N or T P be taken and another Altitude of the Eye O how great a variation there thence is of the sensible Horizon Proposition III. The Altitude of the Eye being given on a Tower or Mountain to find the distance of the last point unto which the Eye extendeth it self or which the Eye can see Let P O be the given Altitude of the Tower in which the Eye being placed beholdeth all round Therefore in the Triangle right Angle N T O the given have themselves after the same Mode as in the preceeding Problem Therefore the Angle N T P and the Arch N P shall be found after the same Mode which we have used in the solution of the former Proposition IV. The Semidiameter of the sensible Horizon being given or the greatest distance from which the Eye is supposed to see to find out the Altitude of the Eye Of the finding out the Altitude of the Eye This is the same with that Problem The greatest distance being given from which the Vertex of the Mountain is seen to find the Altitude of the Mountain In the Triangle N T O let the right Angle T N O be given and the Angle N T O is known from the Semidiameter of the sensible Horizon P N moreover let the Semidiameter of the Earth T N be given Therefore T O shall be found according to the proportion As the whole sinus is to the secant of the Angle N T O so is T N to T O. From which if you substract T P the remaining number will shew the sought for Altitude of the Eye Proposition V. The Altitude of the Eye being given and of some erected sean Magnitude as a Tower the Mast of a Ship or an high Mountain to find the distance of this from the Eye that is the distance of the Ship To find the distance of a Ship c. by the Eye For Example in the Diagram in the preceeding Propositions let P O be the Altitude of the Eye in the Ship Tower or Mountain Let F S be the Mast of another Ship and let P be the point and F S the Ship so seated that in P the first top of the Mast S moy be seen Therefore the point S shall be in the Line O N which is the Tangent drawn from the Eye O for whatsoever is seated beneath this O N X that can send forth no direct Rays to the Eye O but it must so draw near that the Vertex or point may fall into the right Line O X. Therefore the distance F P is sought viz. in which the first Ray from S may come to the Eye In the Triangle N O T the Angle N T O is found from the given N T T O and from the right Angle T N O. And again in the Triangle right Angle N T S N T T S is given and the right Angle S N T the Angle N T S shall be found out and so the whole Angle O T S shall be had whose measure is the Arch P S the distance demanded Proposition VI. On the contrary if the Altitude of the Eye be given and the distance from which first the
the Shore and in the Harbours as also greater Ships come to Zeland than to Holland Proposition V. If a Ship be so burdened that its weight or gravity be almost equal to the weight or gravity of the Sea water equal to the capacity of the Ship yet it sinketh not in the Sea but when it shall be brought into any Rivers it sinketh to the bottom The reason is because the Water of Rivers is lighter than the Water of the Sea Therefore if the weight of the laden Ship be almost equal to the gravity of the Marine Water therefore it shall be greater than the gravity of River Water and so the Ship shall be sunk in the River or carried to the bottom Many Ships for this reason have perished which have been over laden by unskilful Mariners or not unburdened in the Mouths of the Rivers Now how much this gravity should be is known from the proportion of the Sea Water to River Water Proposition VI. Any body swiming on the water hath that weight that the watery Moles hath equal to the demergent part of this body Corollary The part of the Ship being given which is under Water the weight of the whole burdened Ship may be found For the gravity of the Water is known or is easy to be found For Example one Cubick foot of Water is 70 li. and therefore if the part of the Ship under Water be 2000 Cubick foot therefore the gravity of the Watery Moles which is equal to the part of the Ship under Water shall be 140000 li. So much also shall be the weight of the Ship laded Proposition VII A Ship is most commonly accounted commodiously to carry that quantity of burden whose gravity is equal to the gravity of half the Moles of water which the Ship can contain For Example if the Ship can carry 500000 Tun of Water whereof every one is accounted at 2000 li. weight that is if it contain the Water of 1000000000 li. You may conveniently lade it with the burden of 250000 Tuns 1000000000. In this sense you must understand it when they say that Ships are so many Tuns or carry so many Lasts The Spanish Carracts carry 1200 Lasts the greatest Holland Indian Ship 800 Lasts Proposition VIII By how much the Weight of the Ship laded is greater by so much the less it is tossed with storms and tempests A laded Ship is not so subject to be tossed in Tempests as when not laden Ships of 2000 Tuns are not in danger of those Tempests which are vexatious to Ships of 300 or 500 Tuns Much more might be said but this may suffice for Elements CHAP. XXXVII Of the third and chief Part of the Nautick Aâ—t viz. the Art of Guiding or Navigating of a Ship and its subdivision of the Four Parts Proposition I. That is termed the Art of Guiding or Navigating of a Ship which teacheth unto what quarters a Ship is to be Guided in any scituation of it in the Sea that it may come to the purposed place without danger I Make Four Parts of it Of the Guiding or Steering of Ships 1. Special Geography that is the knowledge of a space intercepted between two places and the properties of the same 2. The knowledge of the quarters in every place 3. The cognition of the Line by which the Ship is to be brought from one place to the other for there are between every two places infinite intercepted Lines this part is termed Histriodromice 4. The knowledge of the scituation of every place unto which by Sailing we arrive or how these places are scituated unto that place unto which the Ship is to be directed This is the chief part of the Art of Sailing Proposition II. The cognition of the intermedial space comprehendeth these things Things observed from Special Geography and Nautical Maps 1. The scituations of the places the procurrences of Angles the bending of the Shores the aspect of Promontories Mountains Bays the depths of Waters the sight of Islands and Coasts of Lands All which are known from Special Geography and Nautical Maps but most easily and with greatest certainty from observation and frequent Navigation through any tract of Land which is the only Cause that some Mariners are more fit to guide a Ship to such place and others to another 2. The knowledge of the General and Special Winds and those that are peculiar unto any place which is exceeding necessary in Navigations which are undertaken in the Torrid Zone and adjacent places For here a general Wind and in many places Anniversary Winds which we have shewed to be called Moussons Motions in our XX. Chapter do rule which either promote or hinder Navigation For the Indian Sea is Sailed by these Anniversary Winds Of these and also of storms and tempests we have spoken in the XX. Chapter See Chap. 20. 3. The Condition of the Motion of the Seas in every tract also the quarter of it into which quarter the Sea and Waves are born for they carry the Ship with them The diversity of those Motions in many places we have shewed in the XVII Chap. See Chap. 17. First of all there is required a knowledge of the Ship and reflux of the Sea and the time or hour of the increase and decrease at every day the supputation of which is termed the reckoning of the Tides for except a Master know this the Ship is often much hazarded when it is near Shores or Sands whereof most in the greatest increase of the Water do not hinder the passage of the Ship but most do in the decrease So with a flux the Navigation is more facile to the Shore and to the inlets of Rivers and the contrary is discovered in the reflux Of the supputation of this time we have spoken a little in the Proposition of the XVII Chapter CHAP. XXXVIII Of the knowledge of places viz. the North South East and West and the intermedial quarters Proposition I. In every place to know the Plagas viz. the North South East and West and the intermedial quarters The quarters very neccessary in Navigation THe knowledge of this is the most necessary of all the Problems of the whole Art of Navigation seeing that a Ship must be guided unto some quarter which if unknown there can be no direction and the very defect of this knowledge alone hindred the Navigation of the Ancients and in this is the chief difference between the Ancient and Modern Navigation For the Ancients had not a Method by which at any time in the large Ocean they might know where was the North where the South and the other quarters Therefore they could not nor durst they commit themselves to the vast Ocean but only coasted the Shores so that they might know the quarters from other signs The Ancients had a double Method of finding out the quarters The Ancients had a double Method which serveth also to the Modern Navigation of finding out the quarters
now this Problem is the same with that to find out the Meridian Line and the North and South quarters for these being known it is easy to know the rest First by the Stars viz. in the night the Bear or the Helice and Polary Star so called in the extremity of the tail of the Vrsa Minor of great same amongst the Ancients which shewed the North quarter whence all the rest are found for the face being turned to the North the East is at the right hand and the West on the left the Line of which quarters at Right Angles cutteth the Line of the North and South And these Cardinal quarters being found it is easy to find the intermedial quarters unto which purpose that there may be no need of a description they had a Circle made with the quarters whose Northern Line being placed above the Northern Line of any place the other quarters at one sight are discovered But in the day they sought out the quarter by the rising or setting of the Sun as we have shewed in the XXVIII Chapter See Chap. 28. 2. The other Method of the Antients for the knowing of quarters was the knowledge of the scituation or extension of the Shoars and one Promontory to the other For seeing the quarter of this extension was known to them either from the Maps or from Observation and Experience they might in Navigation by seeing them know the other quarters For one quarter being known all the rest are known therefore the Ancients did not far depart from the Coasts viz. that they might know the quarter by the benefit of the known quarter of the extension of Shoars For they could not always use the Method of the Stars and the rising and setting of the Sun 3. The third Method of the Ancients of the knowledge of the quarters was the observed course of the Ship For going from any place and guiding the Ship to the known quarter they were able from the mutation of the course of the Ship to know the quarters 4. Hence it is manifest that the chief cause of the dangerous and imperfect Navigation of the Ancients was the ignorance of a Method by which every where in the middle of the vast Ocean they might know the quarters and so that quarter unto which the Ship was to be steered For as I have said the Method by the Stars and the rising and setting Sun cannot be applied on all days and on the hours of every day for the mark from the scituation of the Shoars faileth in the mid Seas in the night neither is it safe enough in the day time The third Method from the observed course of the Ship hath not place when the Ship is tossed by boysterous winds and tempests from one quarter to another And in this casually lyeth the chief difficulty This I thought fit to admonish concerning the Modes of the Ancients for the finding out the Meridian Line and the North and South by reason that the imperfection of these was the cause of the dangerous and small Navigation of the Ancients seeing that they were never able to commit themselves to the vast Ocean and therefore never knew those Regions between which the Ocean is interposed of which the chief is all America never yet fully known But at this day the Method of knowing the quarters in all places and of finding out the Line of the North and South is facile by the benefit of the admirable propriety which the Loadstone and all Iron touched by it hath been found to have Viz. that all Magneticks not hindred by others in any place direct their points almost to the same quarters For there are two opposite points in the Loadstone whereof one always and in all places turneth it self to the North or the adjacent quarter the other to the South and so also the other points of the Magnes respect the other quarters viz. every point its particular quarter but all of them are not considered but only those two points which as I have said do convert themselves to the North and South which are termed the Poles of the Magnes one Northern the other Southern And the same virtue much to admiration is communicated to the Needle but by an inverted and contrary operation of nature For the end of the Lamine or Needle which is touched at the North Pole of the Magnes doth not convert it self to the North but to the South and that end which is rubbed at the South Pole of the Loadstone turneth not to the South but to the North. These points of the Needle are also termed the Poles The virtue of the Loadstone Although therefore the Loadstone and the Iron touched by it have very many notable properties yet all may be referred to two species or heads one is that virtue which doth extract the Iron the other by which in every place it directeth the two points of its Superficies to the North and South The former faculty the Ancients were not ignorant of but only this latter Seeing therefore the Magnes hath this property therefore by its help it is easy to find in any part of the Earth or Sea where the North or South is whence all the other quarters are soon known For if those points of the North and South be noted in any Loadstone or the North and South Pole and we have this Magnes in the Ship where we are in the Sea when we desire to know the quarters the Loadstone being hung by a Cord that it may easily move it self will so direct its Poles to the quarter of the North and South that it will shew the quarters demanded But the Magnetick Needle is more easy for use whose end is touched at the South Pole of the Magnes For if that this Needle be placed in the middle upon a sharp perpendicular pin so that it can freely turn round the Needle resting will shew by one of its ends the North quarter and by the other the South From what hath been said it is easy to make a Nautical Instrument Proposition II. To make a Mariners Compass Of the making the Mariners Compass Let the described Circle on any Paper be divided into 32 Quarters or degrees and let one of these deg being taken for the North Quarter be ascribed with these appellations Viz. with a peculiar Sign the Flower de Luce and the found out points for the other Quarters viz. South East West North-East North-West as we have propounded them in the Diagram in the XX Chapter Mariners term this Chart the Rose Then let the Magnetick Needle be so affixed beneath the Chart that the middle of the Needle may be beneath its Center and the North Pole of the Needle may be subjected to the Line of the Paper unto which we ascribe the Northern Quarter Moreover the Paper being so made with the Needle lying under let it be put upon the pointed pin that it may have a free Circumrotation So the Index of the
mark with a Chalk Then let the shank applied to the quarter be moved until the other noted point of the shank applied to the quarter fall in on the Parallel of the observed Latitude For the point of the falling in is the place sought viz. the place of the Ship But if that there be no Parallel of Latitude observed on the Map let the degrees intercepted between this Latitude and the vicine Parallel be taken by the interval of the Compass on the lateral line And let the Rule in the line of the quarter and one Foot of the Compass be moved together in this Parallel until the other Foot of the Compass and the noted shank do meet the point of the meeting sheweth the place of the Ship Seamen use two pair of Compasses If that you will determine more accurately by the Calculation of the place demanded on the Map or Earth it self the Problem is this The Latitude and Longitude of one place being given and the quarter in which the Navigation is appointed to another place and the Latitude of this place given to find his Longitude for the Latitude and Longitude given is the place it self 3. The quantity of the Voyage performed from one known place to another unknown being observed and the Latitude of this other being observed to find this other on the Maps Let the quantity of the Voyage performed be taken by the interval of the Compass from the opposite Scale Then if a Parallel through the degree of Latitude be observed on the Map let one Foot of the Compass be placed on the noted place the other Foot on this Parallel This point shall be the place demanded But if the Parallel pass not through the degree of Latitude let one shank of the Rule be applied to the vicine Parallel on the other shank let the degree of Latitude be noted and let the Rule be moved until the other Foot of the Compass toucheth the noted point of the Rule The place of the Map subject to the point in this scituation shall be the sought for place of the Ship If that a more accurate invention is required by Calculation the Problem shall be this The Latitude and Longitude of one place being given and the distance of the other on the line of Navigation and the Latitude of this to find out the Latitude of this other For this being known when the Latitude is observed you have the scituation of the place it self on the Maps or Earth The 4th or 5th Method also of finding out of this place is also given viz. in which the Longitude of the other or sought for place is supposed to be observed but the Latitude is unknown But because that very seldom the Longitude can be observed on the Sea therefore this Method is omitted as unuseful See Snellius Stevens and Metius He that desireth more concerning this Method let him Read Snellius Stevens Metius and others that have treated at large of it Proposition III. To conjecture unto what quarter the Ship is moved and in what Rhombe although the signs be fallacious In the solution of the former Proposition for the finding out the place of a Ship those things as noted were taken and observed 1. The quarter unto which the Ship is moved and the Rhombe in which 2. The way made 3. The Latitude of the place unto which it hath arrived Now therefore we must shew how these three may be observed on the Sea that they may be used for the finding out of the place For if that these be not rightly known or observed the true place shall neither be found or discovered First therefore let us see concerning the quarter of the course of the Ship and the Rhombe The Pilots know the quarter from the Compass or Loadstone The Pilots know the quarter from the Compass or Loadstone For what quarter or Rhombe of the Compass agreeth with the Line of the conceived Longitude of the Ship the same is put into the quarter of the Ship to be moved and to describe its Rhombe For they seldom use the sign taken from the quarter of the apparent rising and setting of the Sun which they compute These signs may be corrupted by divers Causes so that they may deceive in shewing the Rhombe or quarter 1. If that the Declination of the Magnetick Needle be uncertain in that place and therefore the quarters of the Compass do not shew the true quarters 2. If that the Sea in that place hath a flux to a certain place for it will carry the Ship from the true Rhombe although the Ship be directed unto the same quarter the fluxes and refluxes are the frequent cause of this error And in many places of the Torrid Zone a general Motion is of force and in many places a stated and fixed Motion from stated winds 3. Winds especially storms remove the Ship from the Rhombe of their Voyage although they ply in the same quarter 4. The fluxes of the Sea which are carried towards other quarters and carry the Ship with it 5. The Rudder or Helme cannot be moved by him that steereth unto any quarter as it ought to be the waves of the Sea obstructing of it All these hinder the Ship to be moved in the same Rhombe whose quarters are shewed by the Compass But how much it is drawn aside must be learned by conjecture from the vehemency of the Flood and of its quarter and the like but the Method is very imperfect Proposition IV. To cast up the Voyage made upon the Rhombe to measure it at the given time from the given place The casting up the Voyage made upon the Rhombe c. Pilots conjecture the same 1. When they observe or know by experience what course a Ship is wont to make with such a Wind. 2. If that they have Sailed in the same Meridian or vicine Line with any Wind and have observed the Latitude of the place in the beginning of the Motion and the Latitude of the place in the following time For the difference of Latitude turned into miles sheweth the course made for so long a space of time and such a Wind. Whence for the time given and such a Wind continuing the course made is collected 3. With more industry they measure the course performed by a Boat and string one end of which is fastened to the Boat and the other with the Globe is in the Ship for the Ship remaining immovable Sailing is permitted to the Boat untill it be removed 10 or 12 Orgyas of the string and the time elapsed between is observed And from this for any time of the performed course of the Ship is found out The signs of the performed Sailing of the Ship are corrupted and rendred uncertain by divers ways yea are uncertain of themselves seeing they are mere conjectures 1. Oftentimes the Ship maketh lesser or greater way than the conjecture affordeth viz. because in many places of the Sea the flux is
landed his Army there and obtained the Regal Dominion thereof which being passed over unto him by their Nobles and Commonalty their Charter so signed was transmitted to Rome and was confirmed by a Patent of Pope Hadrian by a Ring delivered unto him in token of his investure and was farther confirmed by the Authority of certain Provincial Synods and ever since that time it hath remained in the possessions of the Kings of England The Temporal Government of Ireland The Temporal Government since the English became Masters thereof hath most commonly been by one Supream Officer sent over by the Kings of England and called Lord Deputy or Lord Lieutenant who for Majesty State and Power is not inferiour to any Vice-Roy in Christendom living in great grandure and having ample and Royal Power and Authority granted unto him and as Assistant unto him in so weighty a concern he hath his Privy Council being a select number of honourable and prudent persons chosen out of the Nobility Clergy and Capital Officers of State for their Degrees of Honour and Offices of State they are the same with those of England already treated of The present Lord Lieutenant is the Right Noble his Excellency Arthur Capell Earl of Essex Viscount Maldon Baron Capell of Hadham c. Its Laws and Courts of Judicature The Laws of this Kingdom have correspondency with those of England and have likewise there several Courts of Judicature as the Chancery Common-Pleas Kings-Bench Exchequer c. but above all the High Court of Parliament There are likewise in each County Justices of the Peace for the quiet governing and well ordering the Inhabitants as in England The Archbishops and Bishops As to the Ecclesiastical Government of this Kingdom it is committed to the care of four Archbishops under whom are divers Suffragan Bishops whose names are as followeth Under the Archbishop of Armagh who is Primate of Ireland are the Bishops of Meath or Elnamirand Conuer Rathluc Dune or Dundalethglas Ardachad Derry Dal-Liquir Chlocor or Lugundum and Rathbot Under the Archbishop of Dublin those of Ferne Lechlin Glendalach Ossery and Kildare Under the Archbishop of Cassile those of Limrick Waterford Corke Laonie or Kendalnan Gellumabrath Lismore Ardefret the Isle of Gathay Clon De Rosalither Melite or Emilech and Ross or Roscree And under the Archbishop of Tuam those of Elphin Gonany Clonfred Enachdun Achad Duac or Killmacduoc Mage Killmundâ—ach Cellaiar Roscomon and Lade or Killaleth According to the Temporal Government of this Kingdom it is severed into four Provinces to wit Leimster Vlster Connaugh and Mounster which are again subdivided into several Counties which comprehend several Baronies in which are seated several Towns And of these Provinces in order LEIMSTER It s fertility THis Part of Ireland for the generality is of a fertil Soil affording great plenty of Corn Cattle Fowl and Fish enjoyeth a wholsom and temperate Air is well watered with Rivers the chief amongst which are the Shour Neor and Barraeo It s Bivers which have their rise out of that great Mountain called by Giraldus Bladinae Montes It is very well inhabited as well by the Gentry as the Commonalty and the rather by reason of Dublin the Metropolitan City of this Kingdom therein seated It s form may be said to be triangular for from South-east to the West-point is above 80 miles from thence to the North-west about 70 and her East-Coast about 18 the circumference making about 270 miles And for its bounds it hath on the West the Province of Connough on the North that of Leimster and on the East and South the Sea which regards England from which that is from Holy-head in the Isle of Anglesey it is distant about 50 miles a Sea very dangerous for Saylers by reason of the Flats and Shallows that lie over against Holy-point which are called the Grounds And as to its division it is severed into ten Counties to wit Dublin East-Meath West-Meath Longford Kildare Kings County Queens County Caterlough Weixford and Kilkenny all which are again subdivided into several Baronies and of these Counties in order County of Dublin described DVBLIN or Divelin a fertil County for Corn and Cattle but ill provided with Wood which defect is supplied by Peat or Turff dug up in the clammy places as also by Sea-Coal brought from England It is severed into seven Baronies viz. New-Castle Vpper-Cross Rath-down Castle-knock Coolock Balrudery and Nether-Cross and by reason of its City Dublin the Metropolis of Ireland is very well furnished with Towns and inhabited by Gentry It s chief places are Dublin Dublin the capital City in the Island by Ptolomy called Eblana by the Latinists Dublinium and Dublinia by the West Britains Dinas Dulin and by the Irish Balacleigh that is the Town upon Hurdles by reason that when it began to be first built the ground being wet and moorish the Foundation of its Houses were laid upon Hurdles It is a City of great Antiquity and said to be built by Harold the first King of Norway who brought most of the Kingdom under his obedience though not without great Spoils and after the Conquest of the English was Peopled by a Colony of Bristol-men It is no less pleasantly than commodiously seated on the River Liffie which after a small course emptieth it self into a capacious Bay of the Sea where it hath a good Haven and a fair prospect and on the South it hath delightful Hills which with the several Parks here adjacent afford great Recreation to the Gentry It is a City dignified and enriched with the residence of the Lord Lieutenant as also with the See of an Archbishop with an Vniversity and the Courts of Judicature by reason of which it is a place of good Traffick being well inhabited and frequented by Nobility and Gentry as also by abundance of wealthy Merchants and Shop-keepers It is beautified with many fair Buildings both publik and private the principal amongst which are the Lord Lieutenants Palace a stately Structure built by order of King Henry the Second in the East-Suburbs then the Cathedral Church dedicated to St. Patrick consisting of a Dean Chanter Chancellor Treasurer two Arch-Deacons and twenty Prebendaries Nigh unto which is the Archbishops Palace both which are without the City in the Suburbs called St. Patricks Then the Collegiate Church consecrated to the Holy Trinity commonly called Christ-Church seated in the midst of the City which Queen Elizabeth dignified with the Priviledges of an Vniversity and not far from this is the Town-Hall called Toles-tale a fair Stone-building of a quadrangular form and here the Lord Major Sheriffs Aldermen and other the Magistrates of the City assemble together for the management and consulting on the publick Concerns of the City as to hear Causes hold Sessions c. Then a beautiful Colledge with several other fair Edifices It is at present a City of a large Extent to what it formerly was and doth daily increase in