Tropicke we account 23 degrees which added and resolued into miles will make the said summe within the compasse of this Zone is situate the greatest part of Africke especially that of the Abyssines which common opinion with little probability would haue to bee the Empire of Prester Iohn also many Ilands as Iaua Summatra Taprobana besides a great part of the South of America called Peruana It was imagined by the Ancients as Aristotle Pliny Ptolomy and many other Philosophers Poëts and Diuines that this Zone through extreame heat was altogether vnhabitable for which cause they called it Intemperate The reason of this coniecture was drawne from the situation of this part in regard of that of the heauens For lying in the middle part of the world the Sunne must of necessity cast his rayes perpendicular that is to say at Right Angles Now according to the grounds of Peripateticke Philosophy the Idol of this age the heat deriued from the Sunne ariseth from the reflexion of the Sunne-beames against the surface of the Earth Wherefore the heat was there coniectured to bee greatest where the reflexion was found to bee greatest But the greatest reflexion according to all Mathematicians must be in this Torrid Zone where the Sunne darts forth his Rayes at right Angles which reflect backe vpon themselues Which false coniecture was a long time continued by the exuberant descriptions of Poëts and defect of Nauigation hauing as yet scarce passed her infancy But how farre these surmises come short of truth wee shall declare in our second part to which wee haue reserued those Physicall and Historicall discourses concerning the qualities and properties of the Earth 7 The Intemperat cold Zones are those which are included betwixt the Polar circles and the Poles whereof the one is Northerne contained in the Arcticke circle the other Southerne in the Antarcticke These two Zones are not made out of the combination of two circles as the former but by one circle with relation to the Pole The greatnesse and extent of this Zone is about 23 degrees and a halfe which resolued into Italian-miles will produce 1380. The Northerne cold Zone containes in it Groenland Fineland and diuerse other Northerne Regions whereof some are partly discouered and set out in our ordinary Maps other some not yet detected For the other Zone vnder the Antarticke Pole it consists of the same greatnesse as wee know by the constitution of the Globe hauing other such accidents correspondent as the Northerne so farre forth as they respect the Heauens For other matters they lye hid in the vast Gulph of obscurity this port hauing neuer yet for ought I know exposed her selfe to the discouery of the Christian world Whether these two Zones be without habitation by reason of intemperate cold as the other hath been thought by reason of too much heat wee shall in due place examine 8 The Temperate Zone is the space contained betwixt the Tropicke the Polar circle whereof the one is Northerne contained betwixt the Tropicke of Cancer and the Articke circle the other Southerne comprehended betwixt the Tropicke of Capricorne and the Antarcticke circle Why these Zones are tearmed Temperate diuerse reasons are alleaged 1 Because the Sun-beames here are cast obliquely on the surface of the earth and by consequence cannot produce so much heat as in those places where they are darted perpendicularly if wee only consider the constitution and site of the heauens For as we shall hereafter proue this may sometimes be altered by the disposition of some particular place 2 It may be called the Temperate Zone because it seemes mixt of both extreames partaking in some measure the both qualities of heat and cold the one from the Torrid the other from the Frigid Zones 3 Because in these Zones the distances betwixt Summer and Winter are very remarkable hauing a middle difference of time betwixt them as compounded of both extreames These temperate Zones included betwixt the Tropicks and the Polar circles are twofold as the circles The northerne temperate Zone comprehended of the Tropicke of Cancer and the Articke circle containes in it the vpper and higher part of Africke stretching euen to the mountaine Atlas Moreouer in it is placed all Europe euen to the Northerne Ilands in the Articke Zone and a great part also of Asia the other temperate Zone lying towards the South is not so well knowne being farre distant from our habitation and awaiting as yet the farther industry of our English and Dutch Nauigators The bredth of this Zone as the other containes about 43 degrees which is the distance betwixt the Tropicke and the Polar circle which multiplied by 60 will be resolued into 2580 Italian-miles 1 The Torrid Zone is the greatest of all next are the two Temperate Zones the cold Zones the least of all The Torrid Zone is found to be greatest as well in regard of longitude as latitude and is diuided by the Equatour into two halfes the next are the Temperate but the two cold Zones howsoeuer equall in Diameter to the Torrid are notwithstanding least of all where is to bee noted that euery Zone is of the same latitude from North to South beginne where we will because it is contained betwixt two equidistant circles but all inioy not the same longitude from East to West For the parts of euery Zone by how much neerer they are to the Equatour so much greater longitude will they haue by how much neerer the Poles they are so much the lesse longitude for as much as the Parallels towards the Poles grow alwayes lesser and lesser The inuention of the quantity of the Zones before mentioned may briefly thus bee performed The latitude of the torrid Zone is so much as the distance betwixt the Tropickes which is Astronomically grounded on the greatest declination of the Sunne being doubled This declination being by Clauius and others found to be 23 degrees 30 scrup which being doubled will produce 47 which againe multiplied by 60 and resolued into miles will amount to 2820 though the odde scruples of many Authors are neglected The latitude of the cold Zones is also drawne from the greatest declination of the Sunne For the distance of the Pole circles from the Pole it selfe is iust so much as the declination of the Eclipticke from the Equatour to wit of 23 degrees 30 scrup to which answer according to the former Rule 1420 Italian-miles The inuention of the latitude of the temperate Zones depends from the subtraction of the distance of the Poles of the Eclipticke from the Equatour that is from the greatest declination of the Sunne being doubled from the whole quadrant in which subduction the residue will be 43 to which will answer 2580 Italian-miles 1 The Zone wherein any place is seated may bee knowne either by the Globe or Geographicall Table or else by the Tables of Latitude By the Globe or vniuersall Mappe wee may know it by the diligent obseruation of the foure equidistant circles For if wee
GEOGRAPHIE DELINEATED FORTH IN TWO BOOKES CONTAINING The Sphericall and Topicall parts thereof By NATHANAEL CARPENTER Fellow of Exceter Colledge in Oxford THE SECOND EDITION CORRECTED ECCLESIAST 1. One generation commeth and another goeth but the Earth remayneth for euer OXFORD Printed by Iohn Lichfield for Henry Cripps and are to be sold by Henry Curteyne Anno Domini M. DC XXXV TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE WILLIAM EARLE OF PEMBROKE LORD CHAMBERLAINE to the Kings most excellent Maiesty Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter and Chancellour of the Vniuersity of Oxford Right Honourable THis poore Infant of mine which I now offer to Your Honourable acceptance was consecrated Yours in the first conception If the hasty desire I had to present it makes it as an abortiue brat seeme vnworthy my first wishes and Your fauourable Patronage impute it I beseech You not to Selfe-will but Duty which would rather shew herselfe too officious then negligent What I now dedicate rather to Your Honour then mine owne Ambition I desire no farther to bee accompted Mine then Your generous approbation wishing it no other fate then either to dye with Your Dislike or liue with Your Name and Memory The generall Acclamation of the Learned of this Age acknowledging with all thankefull Duty as well Your Loue to Learning as Zeale to Religion hath long since stampt me Yours This arrogant Desire of mine grounded more on Your Heroicke vertues then my priuate ends promised mee more in Your Honourable Estimation then some others in Your Greatnesse The expression of my selfe in these faculties beside my profession indebted more to Loue then Ability setts my Ambition a pinch higher then my Nature But such is the Magnificent splendour of Your Countenance which may easily lend Your poore Seruant so much light as to lead him out of Darknesse and as the Sunne reflecting on the baser earth at once both view and guild his Imperfections My language and formality I owe not to the Court but Vniuersity whereof I cannot but expect Your Honour to be an impartiall Vmpier being a most vigorous Member of the one and the Head of the other Corporation If these fruites of my Labours purchase so much as Your Honours least Approbabation I shall hold my wishes euen accomplished in their ends and desire only to be thought so worthy in Your Honourable esteeme as to liue and dye Your Honours in all duty and seruice to bee commanded NATHANAEL CARPENTER The Analysis of the first Booke Geography whose obiect is the whole earth is either Sphericall which is two-fold either Primary which considers the Terrestriall Spheare either as it is Naturall wherein are to bee considered two things the Principles whereof it consists to wit Matter and Forme Chapter 1. Proprieties arising out of them which againe are either Reall such as are assigned in respect of the Earth it selfe which are either Elementary as the conformity of all the parts concurring to the constitution of the Spheare Chapter 2. Magneticall which are either Partiall as the Coition Direction Variation Declination Chap. 3. Totall as the Verticity and Reuolution Chap. 4. Heauens wherein we treate of the Site Stability and proportion of the Earth in respect of the Heauens Chap. 5. Imaginary such as are the Circles and Lineaments of the Globe of whose Inuention and Expression Chap. 6. Artificiall in the Artificiall Spheare representing the Naturall vnto vs which is either Common or Magneticall Chap. 7. Secondary which handles such matters in the Spheare as secondarily arise out of the first Such are Measure of the Earth with the diuerse manner of Inuention Chap. 8. Distinction which are either Spaces considered Simply in themselues in which sort they are diuided into Zones Climates and Parallels Chap. 9. In respect of the Inhabitants which suffer manifold Distinction Chap. 10. Distances which are either Simple wherein is considered the Longitude Latitude of places Chap. 11. Comparatiue wherein two places differing either in Longitude or Latitude or both are considered Chap. 12. Topicall Libro 2o. OF THE SPECIALL Contents of each Chapter of the first Booke according to the seuerall Theoremes CHAP. I. Of the Terrestriall Globe the Matter and Forme 1 IN the Terrestriall spheare is more Earth then Water pag. 8 2 The Earth and Water together make one Spheare pag. 10 CHAP. II. Of the Conformity of parts in the constitution of the Terrestriall Spheare 1 The parts of the terrestriall spheare doe naturally conforme and dispose themselues as well to the Production and Generation as to the continuance and preseruation of it pag. 14 2 All Earthly bodyes incline and approach to the center as neere as they can 16 3 Of two heauy Bodies striuing for the same place that alwayes preuaileth which is heauiest 22 4 Hence it comes to passe that the Earth enioyes the lowest place the next the Water and the last the Aire ibid. 5 The Center of the Earth is not an Attractiue but a meere Respectiue point 25. 6 The same point is the center of Magnitude and weight in the Terrestriall spheare 26 7 Euery point or center of a weighty body is moued towards the center of the terrestriall Globe by a right line 27 8 A heauy point mouing toward the center will moue faster in the end then in the beginning 28 9 The motion of a magnitude towards the center is not meerely naturall but mixt with a violent motion 29 10 The lines wherein the centers of two heauy bodyes are moued downewardly being continued will meete in the center of the Earth 31 11 Two heauy bodie of the same figure and matter whether equall or vnequall will in an equall time moue in an equall space 32 12 The Terrestriall Globe is round and sphericall 33 13 The Rugged and vnequall parts of the Earth hinder not the sphericall roundnesse of it 36 14 The Water concurring with the Earth in the Globe is also sphericall 38 CHAP. III. Of the Partiall Magneticall affections in the spheare of the Earth 1 The Terrestriall spheare is of a magneticall Nature and disposition pag. 46 2 The magneticall motion is excited in a small and vnperceiuable difference of time 49 3 The motiue quality is spread spherically through euery part of the magneticall body 49 4 The motiue quality of the magneticall body is strongest of all in the poles in other parts so much the stronger by how much they are situated neere the poles 50 5 Magneticall bodies moue not vncertainly but haue their motions directed and conformed to certaine bounds 52 6 The Magnet communicates his vertue to iron or steele if it be touched with it 55 7 The Magneticall Coition is strongest of all in the poles 56 8 The South part of the Loadstone turnes to the North and the North to the South 57 9 The contrary motion in magnets is the iust Confluxe and Conformity of such bodies to magneticall vnion 59 10 If any part southward of the magneticall body be torne away or diminished so much
shall also be diminished of the North part 50 11 The Magneticall variation hath no certaine Poles in the terrestriall Globe 63 12 The point of Variation as of Direction is onely Respectiue not attractiue 65 13. The variation of euery place is constant not variable 66 14 The variation is greater in places neere the poles ibid. 15 The magneticall Declination is answereable to the Latitude not in equality of degrees but in proportion 69 16 The magneticall declination is caused not of the attractiue but of the Disponent and Conuersiue vertue of the Earth 70 17 The Magneticall Declination hath a variation 71 CHAP. IV. Of the totall Motions Magneticall 1 The spheare of the Earth by her magneticall vigour is most firmely seated on her Axell whose ends or poles respect alwayes the same points in the Heauens without alteration 72 2 It is probable that the terrestriall Globe hath a circular Motion 76 CHAP. V. Of the site Stability and Proportion of the Earth in respect of the Heauens 1 The terrestriall Globe is the center of the whole world 99 2 The position of the Earth in the center of the world may bee reconciled as well with the diurnall motion of the Earth as the Apparences of the Heauens 110 3 The Earth is firmely seated and setled in her proper place 115 4 The Earthly Globe compared in quantity with the Firmament supreme orbes of the Planets hath no sensible magnitude 118 5 The terrestriall Globe compared with the inferiour Orbes hath a sensible magnitude 121 CHAP. VI. Of the circles of the Terrestriall Spheare· 1 A circle though imaginary in it selfe hath his ground in the nature of the terrestriall spheare 123 2 The distinction of a circle into a certaine number of parts hath no certaine ground in the nature of the terrestriall spheare but onely in conueniency 124 3 By Astronomicall obseruation to find out the Meridian 127 4 To find out the Meridian magnetically 129 5 By the Incision of a tree the Meridian may be found out 131 6 The Meridian being found to find out the Equatour 137 7 Without the helpe of the Meridian to find out the Equatour 138 8 To find out the Equatour magnetically 138 9 The Equatour is an vnmoueable circle whose Poles neuer vary from the Fixt-Poles of the Earth 140 10 How to know the number of degrees in a lesser circle answerable to the greater 147 11 The sensible and Rationall Horizon in the Earth are much different in respect of the Firmament all one 151 12 The sensible Horizon may be greater or lesse according to the Nature and Disposition of the place 153 13 the Eye may be so placed on the Earth as it may behold the whole Hemispheare of the Heauens and yet no part of the terrestriall spheare 154 14 From the Horizontall circle is reckoned the Eleuation of the Pole in any place assigned 155 15 How to finde out the Horizon for any place assigned 156 16 How to finde out the Horizontall plaine 157 17 The distinction of Horizons ibid. CHAP. VII Of the Artificiall Representation of the Terrestriall spheare 1 Of the parts whereof the Globe is Geographically compounded 163 2 The vse of the Artificiall Globe is to expresse the parts of the Earth so farre forth as they haue a diuerse situation as well one in respect of the other as the Heauens 166 3 Of the direction of the artificiall Globe ibid. 4 Of the ground and fabricke of the Artificiall plaine Chart. 168 5 Of the ground and fabricke of the Geographicall Planispheares with their seuerall distinctions 175 6 Of the magneticall Terrella 182 CHAP. VIII Of the measure of the Earth 1 The common measures by which the quantity of the Earth is knowne are miles and furlongs 187 2 Of the inuention of the circumference of the Earth 188 3 By the eleuation of the Pole or obseruation of an Eclipse or some knowne starre the circuite of the Earth may be knowne 189 4 By obseruation of the noone-shadowes the measure of the earth may be found out 190 5 The opinions of Cosmographers concerning the measure of the Earth are diuerse which is chiefly to bee imputed to their errour in obseruing the distances of places experimentally according to Miles Furlongs and such like measures 192 6 How by the knowne height of some mountaine the diameter of the Earth may be found out 197 7 How to finde out the plaine and conuey superficies of the Earth 198 8 Of the number of square miles contained in the Earth 200 CHAP. IX Of the Zones Climates and Parallels 1 Of the temperate and vntemperate Zones 204 2 The tâ—rride Zone is the greatest of all next are the two temperate the cold Zones are the least of all 207 3 The Zone wherein any place is seated may be knowne either by the Globe or Geographicall table or else by the tables of Latitude 208 4 The Zones and Climates agree in forme but differ in greatnesse Number and Office 211 5 The Iâ—â—ention compared one with the other are not all of the same greatnes 212 6 The inclination of the Climates ibid. 7 The distinction of the Climates 213 8 Of the diuersity betwixt the Ancient and moderne Geographers concerning the placing and number of the Climates 214 9 How to find out the Parallell for each place 217 CHAP. X. Of the distinction of the Inhabitants of the Terrestriall spheare 1 Of the inhabiâ—antâ— of a right oblique and Parallell spheare with their properties and distinctions 220 2 Of the Amphiâ—cij Heteroâ—cij Periscij with their properperties 226 3 Of the Perioecj Antoeâ—j and Antipodes with their Accidents 228 4 How the Perioecj Antecj and Antipodes are distinguished in respect of the celestiall Apparences 231 CHAP. XI Of the Longitudes and Latitudes 1 Places enioying the same longitude are not alwayes equally distant from the first Meridian and contrariwise 235 2 The difference of Longitudes begetts the difference of times 235 3 Of the loosing or getting of a day in the whole yeere in a voyage about the earthly Globe 236 4 Of the Inuention of the Longitude by an Eclipse of the Moone 240 5 Of the Inuention of the Longitude by a Clocke watch or Houre-glasse 242 6 By the distance betwixt the Moone and some knowne starre to find out the Longitude 243 7 By the difference of the Sunnes and Moones motion to find out the Longitude of places 246 8 The expression of the longiâ—â—de by the Globe or Mappe 247 9 The Inuention of the Latitude 249 10 By the Meridian height of the Sunne to find out the Latitude 249 11 By the Meridian height of a knowne starre to know the Latitude 250 12 The expression of the Latitude on the Globe or Mappe 252 13 Of the Magneticall expression of the Latitude 252 CHAP. XII Of distances of places compared one with the other 1 Of the Inuention of the distances in longitude of two places vnder the Equatour in the same Hemispheare 254 2 Of the Inuention of
was neuer granted to haue any being or existence much lesse any causality in nature Some perhaps will say that not the vacuum it selfe but the euitation and auoiding it is the cause of the motion I deny not but this may in some sort be interpreted a cause but the doubt is not answered For wee seeke not a Finall but an Efficient cause and a curious searcher into Nature will hardly rest in a meere finall cause For the finall cause so farre forth as it is a cause preceding the effect can no otherwise bee conceiued than in the intention of the Agent then must enquiry bee made againe what the Agent should bee and so will the probleme rest vncleered 1. Because one parcell of the Aire could not moue another except the same were first moued it selfe and so a new Agent must of necessity bee found out 2 The Agent and the thing moued or Patient ought to bee two separate and distinct bodies But the parts of the ayre meeting together become one continuate body No shift is there left for these Philosophers but one distinction wherein they distinguish betwixt the Vniuersall and Speciall forme The Aire as they affirme according to his Speciall forme ascâ—nds vpward from the Center of the Earth yet by the Vniuersall for the conseruation of the whole vniuerse it may sometimes suffer a contrary motion as to moue downeward toward the Center In which distinction they suppose they haue cut the throat of all contrary reasons But who so vnderstands himselfe shall finde it but as a weake reed to hurt his hand which rests on it for a second enquiry will bee made what this vniuersall forme should bee For by it they vnderstand of necessity either an Internall forme or Nature or an Externall resultancie and harmony of the parts such as wee haue described in the first Chapter of this booke If they vnderstand this latter it cannot any way bee a cause of this motion because it followes and ariseth out of this motion concurring with the rest and no way preceeds it wheras on the contrary part euery cause is to goe before his effect Secondly this vniuersall forme or nature compared with the speciall there would arise a Subordination and not a Coordination or opposition forasmuch as the speciall is subordinate to the generall or vniuersall But subordinate causes can produce no other than subordinate effâ—â—ts But here we see the effects or motions to bee quite opposite the one to the other in asmuch as the motion of Descent in the Aire which they ascribe to the vniuersall forme is cleane opposite to the motion of Ascent ascribed to the speciall nature Thirdly these Philosophers vrging the necessity of Nature to preserue the Vniuerse are much deceaued in the manner and meanes thereof True it is that all Earthly and heauy bodies are directed and disposed to the conseruation of the earthly Globe But euery such body as wee haue shewed before seekes first the safeguard and preseruation of it selfe and secondarily by the safeguard of it selfe the preseruation of the whole For how can any part when it neglects its owne safety endeauour the preseruation of the whole sith the whole is but one compounded of many parts And therefore can it not bee auoided but that the disorders and disharmony of one part should preiudice and destroy the whole frame If they turne to the other part and grant this vniuersall forme to bee Internall many reasons stand opposite For first I would demand whether this vniuersall forme bee simple or compounded It cannot bee simple because it would alwayes produce one simple and vniforme effect but experience hath tâ—ught the contrary because wee shall not alwayes find the aire to descend but sometimes to moue obliquely to the left or right hand backward and forward as when it enters into the house by a doore or windowe On the other side it cannot well be called a compound forme because all formes the more vniuersall they are the more simple they are to be accounted because the speciall includes more composition than the generall Moreouer all compounded substance arise out of simples which are to bee esteemed first in nature Secondly I would aske whether this vniuersall forme bee vna numero the selfe same indiuiduall in all the parts and bodies or diuerse according to the diuersity of the said Bodies It cannot bee one and the selfe same in all bodies because according to the opinion of Aristotle the whole vniuerse is not one continuate body composed of essentiall parts but rather a heape or masse collected and digested out of many bodies Secondly the forme being thus one indiuiduall would bee singular or speciall not vniuersall If they affirme that this forme is diuerse according to the diuersity of the bodies it cannot bee the cause of this motion or descent in the Aire For this motion as they suppose is destined and appointed to no other end than to comfort Nature in her distresse when shee stands in feare of rupture or dissolution But how can this forme being bounded within the limits of the Aeriall superficies perceaue or feele this exigence of Nature in other Bodies Whatsoeuer they can say in this is altogether vncertaine and not warranted by any sound demonstration A second reason for the naturall descent of the Aire may bee drawne from a possible supposition from which wee may enforce a true conclusion Let vs suppose a portion of Aire by some violence to bee carried aboue his proper orbe as for example to the space which by our common Philosophers is ascribed to the Element of Fire neere the concaue superficies of the Moone I would here demand whether this portion of Aire thus transposed would ascend higher or descend lower or rest still in the same place It could not ascend higher first because in this wise it should be moued farther out of his owne place whereas according to the principles of Philosophie all bodies transposed from their proper places haue an aptnesse or inclination to returne againe to their proper seats and not to roue farther off Secondly this granted the Aire should inuade the place of the fire and so the Elements should suffer a confusion which Aristotle holds absurd Thirdly there cannot be imagined in that higher orbe any point or center to which it should direct his motion and therefore there is no such motion found or it must bee very irregular If on the other side it were granted that such a portion of Aire so separated should descend I aske againe whether they hold this motion naturall or violent It cannot bee a violent motion because it is directed to his owne naturall and proper place and this motion in the Elements is alwayes accounted naturall Last of all it cannot rest still in the same place because all bodies forced out of their places all obstacles being remoued must needs returne vnto their proper place Wherefore no other starting hole is here left to our opposites but that they
The parts whereof this Terrestriall Spheare consists may bee considered two wayes either as they are vnited in the whole by a Magneticall forme or disioyned and taken by themselues In the former the parts of the Earth are supposed to moue in the same motion by which the whole Spheare of the Earth is moued because the whole and all the parts taken together are the same and subiect to the same circular reuolution Notwithstanding this any part seuerall and disioyned from the whole hath a right motion downeward toward the Center by which it returnes to its true naturall vnion This inclination of the parts agrees not with the whole Earth neither vnto any part vnited and conglobated to the whole but onely to a part separated from his place so that the whole may notwithstanding in his place inioy a circular motion Now to come more neerely home vnto their Arguments drawne from the Homogeneity of the Earth wee answer as before that there is a twofold Homogeneity The one of the matter and quantity the other of the Magneticall forme and Nature of the former wee may conclude out of the right motion of all the parts the disposition of the whole so wee vnderstand it in a good sense first that euery part is here to bee vnderstood not in but out of his proper place Secondly that by the whole wee ought not to vnderstand the whole Globe with all his parts conformed in one Sphericall frame but all the parts indefinitely taken for if wee should vnderstand of the whole Globe their Argument will in no way hold true If according to the later wee might well grant them their Conclusion yet can it not oppugne our Assertion Because it will follow out of the Naturall inclination of euery part that all the parts seuerally taken haue such a disposition of returning to the Earth being separated there from Yet will not this by any necessary inference bee proued to agree to the whole Globe of the Earth but rather will it follow contrarywise that the whole Spheare of the Earth is moued circularly and therefore euery part with and in it is moued with the whole in the same motion A third argument which is thought greater then all the other is drawne from two experiments The first is that a stone or Bullet let fall from a higher place to the ground will perpendicularly descend to the point of the Earth right vnder Secondly that two Bullets imagined to bee of equall weight and matter being discharged from equall pieces of ordinance with the like quantity of powder the one towards the East the other towards the West will reach an equall distance in the Earth both which would seeme impossible if wee grant this supposition of the Earths circular reuolution For in the former case the Earth sliding away swiftly during the fall of the stone would change the point marked out for another And in the second for the like cause the Bullet shot towards the East being preuented by the swiftnesse of the Earth's motion carrying along with it the Ordinance out of which it proceeded should returne backe ouer the shooters-head and contrarywise that Bullet shot towards the West besides his owne motion by the motion of the Earth the other way should bee carryed so much farther as the Earth is remoued from the place where it was first discharged Both which experiments seeme to crosse this circumgyration of the Terrestriall Globe which our magneticall Cosmographers labour to confirme But with them to giue an answer to these and the like experiments wee must distinguish the parts of the Earth into three sorts some are hard and solide parts adioyned to the Globe as stones mineralls what else in the bowels of the Earth is vnited to it or at least necessarily adherent to the outward face of it Some other parts there are of a thinne and fluid substance as the Aire and other vapours in it deriued from the Earth A third sort there are of such parts as being in themselues solide are notwithstanding by some violence separated from the solide globe as stones cast into the Aire Arrowes Bullets and such like discharged from the hand or Engine For the two former wee may easily imagine them carried with the same circular motion which we assigne vnto the whole being no other then the parts of it depending from the whole masse For the third sort whereof consists the difficulty wee cannot imagine them so moued round as if they were wholly separated from the Communion of the Earthly Spheare for howsoeuer there seemes a separation according to matter and quantity yet retaine they the same magneticall inclination to the whole masse as if they were vnited to it and therefore such solide parts are moued with the same vniforme and naturall motion wherewith the Earth it selfe is turned so that in solide bodyes so separated from the superficies of the Earth of an Arrow or Bullets shot wee must imagine a twofold motion The one Naturall vniforme whereby they are moued as homogeneall parts according to the reuolution of the whole Spheare The other violent by force impressed from the Agent The right motion proceeding from the strength of the shooter cannot crosse or hinder the Naturall because the one being right and the other circular admit no such proportion as that one should hinder or further the other Neither can these motions well be tearmed contrary or opposite which are in diuers kindes To explaine this matter farther we will adde this Diagramme Lâ—t the whole orbe of the earth bee imagined to bee LQM whose center is A the thicknesse of the Aire ascending from the Earth O Q. Now as the orbe of this fluid substance of the aire asceÌ„ding vniformely is moued round with the Globe of the earth so must wee imagine the part of it marked out by the right line OQ to bee carried round with an vnalterable Reuolution Wherefore if any heauy body should bee placed in the Line OQ as for example P it will fall downe toward the center by the shortest way in the same line OQ which motion downewards towards the center can neither bee hindered by the circular motion of the Earth nor yet Mixt or compounded with it It cannot bee hindred because as wee haue shewed a Right motion and a circular being not in the same kind cannot properly bee reputed contrary Neither for the same cause can they bee mixt or compounded Wherefore this motion will be no other then one simple and Right motion neuer varying from the Line OQ which being once vnderstood it is no hard thing to imagine a Bullet or stone forced by equall strength from Q towards L and from Q. towards the point M to obserue alwayes a like distance notwithstanding the Earth's cirâ—ular Reuolution Hauing hitherto shewed this Sphericall motion of the Earth to bee possible and no way to contradict Nature wee are in the next place to shew it to bee no way opposite to the sense of
find it betwixt the two Tropicks we may without doubt thinke it to be in the Torrid Zone If betwixt the Tropicke circle and the Polar it will be in the Temperate If betwixt the Polar circle and the Pole it selfe it must bee in the cold Zone By the Tables of Latitude it may be found this way Seeke the latitude of the places giuen in the Table which if it bee lesse then 23 degrees 30 scruples the place is in the Torrid Zone If precisely it bee so much in the Northerne Hemispheare the place assigned is vnder the Tropicke of Cancer which is the bound betwixt the Torrid and the beginning of the Northerne Temperate Zone But if it be in the Southerne Hemispheare it will be vnder the Tropicke of Capricorne which ends the Torrid Zone and beginnes the South Temperate Zone Euery place hauing more Latitude then 23 degrees 30 scruples yet lesse then 66 degrees 30 Minutes is seated in the Temperate Zone either Northerne or Southerne as the places are in the Hemispheare If the place be precisely of 66 Degrees 30 minutes it will be iustly found to be vnder the Polar circle either Arcticke or Antarcticke Finally euery place whose Latitude exceeds the number of 66 degrees 30 minutes is seated in the cold Zone either Southerne or Northerne If it reach iust to 90 degrees it will bee iust vnder the Pole it selfe 9 Of the distinction of the Terrestriall Spheare by Zones we haue spoken we must in the next place deliuer the Distinction of the earth according to Climates 10 A Climate is a space of the Earth contained betwixt two Parallels distant from the Equatour towards either Pole Climates are so called because of their Declaration from Equatour for as much as they are to bee accounted as so many scales of ascents to or from the Equatour Some haue defined it from the vse which is chiefly to distinguish the longest time of the Artificiall day because at the point of euery climate truely taken the longest day is varied halfe an houre although this account agree not altogether with Ptolomie and the ancient Geographers before him as wee shall shew hereafter This distinction of the Terrestriall Spheare into Climates is somewhat a more subtile distinction then the former by Zones for as much as that is made by the combination of such Parallels as are principally named and of chiefe note as the Tropicks and Polar circles But this indifferently respects all without difference This first beginning and measure as well of this as all other measures of the earth is the Equatour for that which is most perfect and absolute in euery kinde ought to be the measure of all other But yet wee must vnderstand that although wee beginne our account of the Climats from the Equatour yet the Equatour it selfe makes no Climate but only the Parallels which are thereunto correspondent For as it is before shewed vnder the Equatour it selfe the artificiall dayes are all equall in length containing only twelue houres wherefore beginning from the Equatour betwixt that and the third Parallell wee count the first climate from the third to the sixt the second Climate and so all the rest making the number of the Climates double to the number of the Parallels so that one and the selfe same Parallell which is the end and bound of one Climate is the beginning of the next whence wee see that to the constitution of euery Climate three Parallels concurre whereof two are extreame comprehending the bredth of the said Climate and one diuiding it iust in the midst A Parallell therefore differs from a Climate as a part from the whole being one circle correspondent to the Equatour whereas a Climate is a space contained in three Parallels Secondly as a Parallell is conceaued to adde to the artificiall day one quarter or fourth part of an houre so a Climate makes halfe an houre so that by how much any Climate is distant from the Equatour by so many halfe houres the longest day of that Climate goes beyond the longest day of the place vnder the Equatour These Climates therefore cannot bee all of one equall quantity because the Equatour is a greater circle and comprehends the greatest space in the Earth so that it must needs follow that these Climates neere the Equatour being made by the combination of greater circles are greater then those neerer the Poles But because all Climates are made by the combination of Parallels wee are to vnderstand that there are three sort of Parallels to bee knowne in Cosmographie The first are those which doe distinguish the latitude of places taking their beginning from the Equatour and are in an ordinary Globe of Mappe distinguished sometimes by 10 sometimes by 15 degrees The second kinde of Parallels are those that make the Zones which are indeed some speciall named Parallels as the Tropicks and the Polar circles The third sort are called Artificiall Parallels because they shew the distances of artificiall dayes and nights which are commonly noted in the margent of a Geographicall Mappe which last sort of Parallels are here chiefly to be vnderstood 1 The Zones and Climates agree in forme but differ in greatnesse number and office The Climates are so called as we haue said because they decline from the Equatour and are spaces of the Earth containing two Parallells in which the longest day is varied by halfe an houre These agree with the Zones in some sort for both of them are spread by the latitude of the Earth and by Parallell circles compasse it about as so many girdles Neuerthelesse they differ one from the other 1. In Greatnesse because the Zones are greater the Climates lesser spaces in the Earth 2. In Number because there are only fiue Zones but many more climates 3. In Office vse and effect because the Zones are to distinguish the mutation of the quality of the aire and shaddowes according to diuerse Regions of the Earth but the Climates are vsed to shew the greatest differences of houres in the day to shew the variation of the rising and setting of the starres for places vnder the same Climate haue the same quantity of dayes and nights the same rising and setting of the starres whereas places seated vnder diuerse climats haue a great variation in the dayes and nights and a diuerse rising and setting of the stars for as often as the longest or Solsticiall day of one place differs from the longest day of another by the space of halfe an houre a new Climate is placed wherefore vnder the Equatour or middle part of the earth the dayes are alwayes equall to wit of 12 houres which beginning from the Equatour if wee approach towards either Pole so far as the greatest artificiall day amounts to 12 ½ we may assure our selues that wee are come to the first Climate and so forward still the greatest day of our Climate will by so much exceed the greatest day of the other As the Climates differ one from the other
and contrariwise from East to West The bounds or limits of this Longitude were by Ptolomie and the ancient Cosmographers set no farther distant then the halfe circle containing 180 degrees because the rest of the Earth lay at that time vndiscouered The end of this space towards the East was the Kingdome of China at the farthest part of all India distant as wee said from the Fortunate Ilands where Ptolomie placed the first Meridian 180 degrees which being taken in the Meridian and resolued into Miles according to our former rules will giue 10800 Italian miles but this space delineated out by the Ancients was very scant and narrow in respect of the other parts since found out being added to the former For beyond the bound set by Ptolomie in the East it is manifest that 60 degrees are found out and made knowne An example whereof wee haue in Scythia withouâ— the mountaine Emaus which is knowne to extend it selfe 60 degrees Eastward towards the Kingdome of Cathay discouered by the Portugals so that the breadth of the Earth Eastward is fully knowne so farre as 240 degrees which being measured in the Equatour will amount vnto 14000 miles Moreouer towards the West beyond the Fortunate Ilands it is knowne to stretch to the farthest border of America so that 340 degrees of the earth is fully detected if not all the rest being only 20 degrees which are only deficient to make vp the whole circle Which wee may the sooner credit because our times haue brought forth for ought any Authors haue related the most excellent Nauigators of all ages which haue sayled the vast Globe of the Earth round about and left behinde them a foundation whereon others might easily build But to let passe the Generall Longitude of the Earth betwixt the East and the West Wee must vnderstand that the Longitude here mentioned is to bee taken in a more speciall sense for the Distance of any place from the first Meridian being placed either in the Canaries as the Ancients would haue it or in one of the Azores according to the latter Geographers This then must be the bound from whence wee must beginne our account The subiect wherein the number of degrees may bee taken may bee the Equatour or Parallell Whence by some the Longitude of a place is defined to bee an Arch of the Equatour or Parallell intercepted betwixt the first Meridian and the verticall point of the place proposed so that by necessary consequence such places as are subiect to the same Meridian in the same Hemispheare Easterne or Westerne haue the same Longitude which is the distance from the point of the West but places declining more towards the East haue the greater Longitude but neerer to the West lesâ—e 1 Places inioying the same Longitude are not alwayes equally distant from the first Meridian and contrarywise places equidistant from the first Meridian haue not alwayes the same Longitude The reason is euident out of that which hath beene often spoken before because the degrees of a greater circle are greater of a lesser lesse according to the greatnesse of the circle Now the Longitude of a place measured in the Equatour will answer to 60 Italian miles but in other Parallels lesse 2 The difference of Longitudes begets the difference of Times Those therefore which exactly are subiect to the same Longitude haue their Noone at the same moment but where the Longitudes are different the Noonetides are also different That the difference of time is varied according to the difference of Longitude in diuerse parts of the Earth is a matter obuious to euery mans vnderstanding out of two premised grounds 1 That the Earth is Sphaericall 2 That the Sunne in his Diurnall course once in 24 houres compasseth it round whence it comes to passe that places situate Eastward see the Sunnes sooner then those which are placed in the West and that with a proportionall difference of time that to euery houre in the Sunne motion is assigned a certaine number of correspondent miles which is in some sort expressed in a Geographicall Globe or Map wherein we shall finde described 12 Meridians which diuide the whole compasse of the earthly Spheare into 24 equall parts in such sort that betwixt each of the two neerest Meridians are reckned 15 degrees which make one houre by which wee may more easily vnderstand how soone the Noone-time happens in one Citty before another for if one Citty stands Eastward from another the space of three of those foresaid Meridians it is euident that it will inioy noone three houres before the other The reason of this difference of times is the difference of Longitudes wherein to euery houre the Cosmographers haue allotted 15 degrees in the Sunnes Diurnall motion so that 15 degrees multiplied by 24 houres which is the whole naturall day there will bee produced 360 which is the number of degrees in the whole circle 3 If two men from the same place trauell the one Eastward the other Westward round about the Earth and meet in the same place againe they shall finde that he which hath gone Eastward hath gotten and the other going Westward hath lost a day in their account This is without difficulty to be vnderstood out of the change of Longitudes seconded by their trauell varying perpetually the quantity of the day for it is manifest that hee who from any place assigned saileth Eastward mouing continually against the motion of the Sunne will shorten somewhat of his day taking away so much from it as his iourney in proportion of distance hath opposed and anticipated in the time the Diurnall course of the Sunne so that daily gaining something from the length of the day which must bee elsewhere recompenced It must needs be that in the whole circuite of the earth it will amount to 24. houres correspondent to the whole circuite of the Sunne and the compasse of the earth which will make another day Likewise if we suppose another in compassing about the earth to goe Westward it cannot bee otherwise imagined but that seconding the course of the Sunne by his owne iourney hee will daily adde somewhat to the length of his day answerable to his distance from the place wherein hee began to follow the Sunne in his course from East to West The daily addition to the length of the day proportionall to the longitudes which he changeth the Sunne running a like course must daily diminish somewhat of the Diurnall course of the Sunne and so at his iourneyes end which was supposed to be the whole circuite of the earth answerable to 24. houres in the Sunnes course it will loose a whole day To demonstrate both these cases wee will imagine in supposition that of these two trauaillers going the one Eastward the other Westward the former should take away from the length of the day or the latter adde to it for euery 15. miles one minute Then by the golden Rule if 15. miles either subtract or adde one
by the ray EG so that the distance betwixt the Moone and the fixt starre will bee in that station the Arch of the circle CG Now by the first common Axiome of Euclide euery man must grant that the Arch of BG is greater then CG the former being the whole and this the part Secondly out of the same ground wee may as easily collect that this distance betwixt the Moone and some other knowne fixt starre is varied proportionally according to the distances of the places on the earth because so many places as there are so many diuersity of aspects will arise being increased or diminished according to the distances of places on the Terrestriall Globe This conclusion thus demonstrated wee must proceed to practice in this manner as is taught by Gemma Frisius First it behooueth you to search out by the helpe of Astronomicall Tables the true motion of the Moone according to the Longitude at that time of your obseruation at some certaine place for whose Meridian the rootes of those Tables are calculated 2. You must know the Degree of Longitude of some fixed starre nigh vnto the Eclipticke either preceding or following the moouing of the Moone 3. You must seeke out the Distance of moouing of the Moone and the said starre 4. The distance once had apply the crosse-staffe to your sight and so mooue the Crosse to and fro till you may behold the Center of the Moone at the one ende and the fixed starre with the other So shall you see expressed by the Degrees and Minutes marked on the staffe the distance of the Moone and the said starre correspondent to the place of your obseruation which being noted set downe also the distance betwixt the Moone and the foresaid Starre which was first calculated Then subtract the lesser from the greater the residue will shew the least difference which being diuided by the moouing which the Moone maketh in one houre you shall know the time in which the Moone is or was ioyned with the first distance of the foresaid starre Then hauing conuerted that time into degrees and minutes the rest will be performed either by addition or substraction of the Product thereof to or from that Meridian for which the Tables where by you first calculated the motion of the Moone were appointed and verified If the distance betwixt the Moone and the fixt Starre of your obseruation bee lesser then must you adde the degrees and minutes to the knowne Latitude so shall you finde the place of your obseruation to bee more Eastward If it bee greater then substract the degrees and minutes from the knowne Longitude and the place of your obseruation in this regard will bee more Westward These rules are so farre true that the Moone bee supposed to bee more Westward then the fixed Starre for if otherwise your working must be cleane contrary to wit if the distance betwixt the Moone and the fixed Starre bee lesser you must subtract the degrees and minutes from the knowne Longitude so shall the place of your obseruation bee more Westward but if it bee greater then must you adde the degrees and minutes vnto the knowne Longitude and the place of your obseruation shall bee sound Eastward This way though more difficult may seeme better then all the rest for as much as an Eclipse of the Moone seldome happens and a watch clocke or houreglasse cannot so well bee preserued or at least so well obserued in so long a voyage whereaâ— euery night may seeme to giue occasion to this experiment if so bee the ayre bee freed from clouds and the Moone shew her face aboue the Horizon 4 By the obseruation of the difference in the Sunnes and Moones motion the Longitude of places may be found out To explane this proposition wee will set downe three things 1 Certaine Postulata or granted Axioms 2 The example 3. The manner and practise The grounds or propositions which wee take as granted of all Mathematicians are these 1 That the motion of the Moone is 48 minutes of an houre slower in 24 houres or 360 degrees then that of the Sunne 2 That by obseruation of the heauens and other Mathematicall helpes an Artificer may know in any place first the Meridian Secondly the houre of the day Thirdly the time of the Moones comming to the Meridian 3 The time of the Moones comming to the Meridian may bee knowne by an Ephemerides These things granted wee will suppose for example that in London the Moone on some set day comes to the Meridian at foure of the Clocke after Noone 2 That in some part of the West-Indies the Moone bee obserued to come to the Meridian the same day at 10 minutes after foure These grounds thus set downe the distance of Longitude of that place Westward from London may bee found out The manner of practise is thus to bee wrought by the golden Rule If the difference of the Sunnes and Moones motion bee 48 minutes of an houre in 360 degrees what will it be in 10 minutes The fourth proportionall number will bee 75 degrees the distance of Longitude of the place assigned from London in West Longitude from which number the Longitude from London being subtracted and the remainder from 360 the residue will shew the Longitude If the Moone in the place assigned come sooner to the Meridian wee must count so much in East Latitude This way I first found in Mr Purchas his relation of Halls discouery of Groenland written by William Baffin since this Chapter came vnder the Presse the expression of which being as I suppose shorter and easier then in the Author I doe owe for the most part to my worthy Chamber-fellow Mr. Nathanael Norrington to whose learned conference I confesse my selfe to owe some fruits of my labours in this kinde and all the offices of friendship This manner of inuention for mine owne part I preferre before all the rest both for certainty and facility and as it should seeme by Baffins practise it is more in vse amongst Marriners then the former howsoeuer lesse mentioned amongst writers 14 Thus much for the Inuention of the Longitude the Expression is the imitation of the Longitude on the face of an Artificiall Globe or Mappe which is directed by these Rules 1 The place whereof wee desire to know the Longitude being brought to the Brasen Meridian the degrees of the Equatour will shew the Longitude This Rule may easily be explaned by these three precepts First that you must turne round the Globe on his Axell-tree till you bring the place whereof seek the Longitude vnder the brasen Meridian 2 You must diligently and exactly marke what degree the Meridian cuts in the Equatour 3. You must number how many degrees that point is distant from the first Meridian and the number will giue you the true Longitude sought after This also mâ—y be performed without turning of the Globe if so be any other Meridian in the globe signed out shall passe by the said place For
Trauellers report or some small obseruation of heauenly bodies or sounding the bottome of the Sea settle our opinion and make a plaine distinction 2 The Declination of any place being knowne the Latitude may also bee found out although not without some errour The ground of this Assertion we haue formerly handled in the Treatise of the Magneticall Affections of the Earth where wee haue shewed that the Declination of the Magneticall needle is alwayes answerable in some proportion to the Latitude of the place whence it must needs follow that the declination any where being found out together with the proportion the Latititude must needs be knowne In this point I referre my Reader to D. Ridleye's late Treatise of Magneticall bodies and Motions wherein hee by the helpe of M. Briges hath calculated a certaine briefe table for this purpose But that this manner of Inuention of the Latitude of a place must needs admit of some errour cannot well be denied for as much as Gilbert Ridley and others which haue written of this subiect haue acknowledged this motion of Declination to bee in many places irregular and not answerable in due proportion to the Degrees of Latitude which diuerse friends of mine well experienced in magneticall experiments haue to their great wonder confessed 12 This much for the Internall Adiuncts The Externall I call such as are not imprest into the Earth but externally adjacent or adioyning vnto it Here ought wee to consider the Aire adioyning to any place with his Qualities and Proprieties 13 The Ayrie properties of a place consist in such matters wherewith the Ayre according to diuerse places is diuersly affected and disposed In the Ayre we ought to note a twofold temper and quality the one Inbred and Essentiall the other Externall and Accidentall â—he former whether it bee heat ioyned with moisture as Aristotle aâ—â—irmes or cold ioyned with moisture as some others I leaue it to the Naturall Philosopher to dispute The latter being that to which our purpose is chiefly ingaged and that no farther then may appertaine to the Topicall description of a speciall Countrey These accidents being so various and many we are inforced to reduce them to a few generall heads which we will couch in this our Theoreme 1 The disposition of the Ayre adjacent to a place depends chiefely on the Temperament of the Soyle Those things wherewith the Aëriâ—ll Region is affected are of two sorts to wit either the Temperament consisting in the mixture of the foure first Qualities or else the bodies themselues as Meteors drawne vp into the Aire whereof these accidentall dispositions arise That both these chiefly depend from the Tempâ—rament of the Earthly Soyle of a certaine place many reasons will demonstrate first that Meteors whatsoeuer they are take their originall from the Earth is plaine 1 Out of the name which signifies things lifted vp to shew that a Meteor is lifted and drawne out of the Earth 2 Out of the materiall composition which can no where else take this composition For either wee should deriue it from the Heauens or from the Ayre it selfe or from the Fire From the Heauens it cannot take originall because it is corruptible and therefore of no heauenly substance according to Peripateticke Philosophie Not from it selfe because the aire being supposed a simple and vncompounded body cannot admit of such mixture Not from the Fire first because all Meteors partake not of fierie nature Secondly because fire cannot well subsist but of some matter whereon it may worke and conserue it selfe which can bee no other then that which is of a glutinous substance which wee no where finde but in the earthly Globe consisting of Earth and Water out of whose store-houses the matter of all such pendulous substances in the aire is deriued These Meteors may bee deriued from the Earth into the Aire two manner of wayes First Directly and immediatly by an immediate ascent or rising of exhalations from some one particular place into the Ayrie space right ouer it Secondly Obliquely to wit when Vapours or other such exhalations are by some violence or other carried from one place into another as winde which being ingendred in one place continually bloweth into another Againe the former may happen two wayes for either this rising of Exhalations out of the Earth is Ordinary or Extraordinary Ordinary I call that whereby the thinne parts of the water or Earth are continually spread and diffused through the whole Region of the Ayre for wee cannot imagine otherwise then that at all times and places the Terrestriall Globe composed of Earth and Water continually sends and euaporates out some thinne or rarified parts wherewith the earth is affected Whether this Rarefaction or Euaporation of the water bee the true substance of the Aire it selfe as some haue probably coniectured or else sâ—me other body different from it I will not here dispute This much will necessarily follow that it proceeds originally from the Earth right vnder it This vapour being ingendred from the water or moister parts of the Earth is much varied and temper'd according to the place from which it ariseth For the matter of the Earth being various and diuerse in disposition as well in regard of various veines of minerall substances whereof it consists as of the first and second qualities thereof arising must of necessity cause the Aire about each Region to bee of the same quality Whence a probable reason may bee shewne why of two places although both like in respect of the Heauens and other circumstances one should bee hot the other cold one healthie another contagious the one of a sharpe and thinne aire the other of a foggy dull temper For no question but the minerall matter whereof the soile of the Earth consists being not euery where Solid and hard but euery where intermedled with a vaporous and fluide substance must needs challenge a great interest in the temperament of the Ayre aâ— that which is the first mother if not of the Aire it selfe yet at least of the accidentall dispositions thereof The Extraordinary euaporations I call such as arise out of the Earth by some extraordinary concurse of the Sunne with some other Starres These are many times subiect to sense which happen not at all times and places such as are clowdes windes and such like which arise not naturally by their owne accord by a perpetuall emanation but are by some greater strength of the Sunne or Starres ratifying the parts of the earth or water drawne vp to the Aire about it Now for the Meteors Indirectly and obliquely belonging to any place amongst many other instances we may bring the winde which bloweth from one Region to another which according to ordinary experience partaketh of a twofold quality the one deriued from the place whence it is ingendred the other from the Region through which it passeth Which may appeare by our foure Cardinall windes as they are with vs in England Belgia and higher Germany For first
holy Scripture and it is not vnlikely â—hat many of those 〈◊〉 people fetcht their first originall from them The second cause may bee drawne from the Industrie and labour of the inhabitants in tillage and manuring of the ground wherein the Soâ—â—herne inhabitant hath beene more deficiâ—nt Foâ— it is certaine out of the holy Scripture that Noahs Arke wherâ—in was thâ— Seminary of mankinde and almost all other liuâ—â—g 〈◊〉 rested in â—he Northerne part of the world whence both man and beasts beganne to be propagated toward the Southâ—punc no farther then necessity enforced the Regions inhabited gâ—â—wing daily more and more populous and as iâ— were groaning to bee deliuered oâ— some of her children Hence may bee inferred â—wo consecâ—aries First that the Northerne Hemispheare was 〈◊〉 sooner and is now therefore â—ore populous then the Southerne Secondly that the chiefest and principall men which were best seated rathâ—r chose to keepe their ancient habitation sending such abroad who could either bee best spared or had the smallest possessions at home Yet notwithstanding it cannot be imagined but they retained with them a sufficient company and more then went away Out of which it must needs be granted that the Northerne halfe of the Earth being best inhabited should be best manured and cultured from whence the ground must in time proue more fruitfull and commodious for habitation for as a fruitfull Countrey for want of the due manuring and tillage doth degenerate and waxe barren so diuerse barren and sterill Countreyes haue by the industrie of the Inhabitants beene brought to fertilitie and made capable of many good commodities necessary for mans life If I were curious to draw arguments from the nature of the Heauens I could alleage the Greatnesse and Multitude of Starres of the greater magnitude in our Northerne Hemispheare wherein the Southerne is deficient as also the longer soiourning of the Sun in our Northerne Hemispheare but these as vncertaine causes I passe ouer Other reasons may perchance bee found out by those who are inquisitiue into the secrets of nature to whom I leaue the more exact search of these matters 4 Either Hemispheare consisting of 90 Degrees may be diuided into three parts each of them containing 30 Degrees 5 Of these parts 30 we allot for Heat 30 for Cold and 30 for Temperature whereof the former lyeth towards the Equatour the second towards the Pole the third betwixt both The ancient Cosmographers as wee haue shewed in our former Treatise diuided the whole Globe of the Earth into fiue Zones which they supposed had also proportionally diuided the Temper and disposition of the Earth In such sort that according to the Degrees of Latitude the Heat and Cold should in rease or diminish Which rule of theirs had beene very certaine were there no other causes concurrent in the disposition of the Earth and Ayre but onely the Heauens But sithence that many other concurrent causes as we haue shewed mixe themselues with these celestiall operations and the experiment of Nauigatours haue found out a disproportion in the quality in respect of the Distance some later writers haue sought out a new pertition more consonant to naturall experience The whole Latitude of the Hemispheare consisting of 90 Degrees from the Equatour to the Pole they haue diuided into three parts allowing 30 Degrees toward the Equatour to Heat 30 Degrees towards the Pole to Cold and the other 30 Degrees lying betwixt both to Temperature These 30 Degrees for Imagination sake they haue subdiuided againe each of them into two parts contayning 15 Degrees a peece more particularly to designe out the speciall disposition of each Region lying either Northward or Southward from the Equatour which is the bound betwixt both Hemispheares In the first section of 30 Degrees lying Northward from the Equatour wee comprehend in Africke Numidia Nigritarum Regio Lybia Guinia Nubia Egypt Ethiopia superior In Asia Arabia India Insulae Philippinae In America Noua Hispania Hispaniola Cuba with other parts of America Mexicana In the other extreame section from 60 Degrees of Latitude to the Pole wee comprehend in Europe Groenland Island Friesland Norwey Suethland for the most part Noua Zembla In Asia a great part of Scythia Orientalis In America Anian Quivira with diuerse other parts of the North of America Mexicana In the middle betwixt both betwixt 30 and 60 Degrees of Latitude wee comprehend in Africa Barbarie in Europe all the kingdomes except those North Prouinces before named and almost all Asia except some places toward the South as Arabia India and the Philippinae Insulae formerly placed in the first Section In like manner may we diuide the Southerne Hemispheare into three Sections In the first from the Equatour 30 Degrees we place in Africke Congo Monomotapa Madagascar In the Southerne Tract Beach and Noua Guinia with many Ilands thereunto adioyning as many of the Philippinae Insulae with Insulae Solomonis In America Peru Tisnada Brasilia with the most part of that Region which they call America Peruana In the other extreame Section from 60 Degrees to the Antarctike Pole is couched the most part of that great land scarce yet discouered called Terra Australis Incognita In the middle Region betwixt both from 30 to 60 Degrees shall wee finde placed in America the Region of the Pantagones in the Southerne Continent Maletur Iauaminor with many others In discouering the qualities of these seuerall Sections or partitions of the earth our chiefest discourse must be addressed to the Northerne Hemispheare as that is more discouered and knowne amongst old and new writers by which according to the former Proposition one may parallell the other concerning which wee will inferre these Propositions 1 In the first Section of the Hemispheare the first 15 Degrees from the Equatour are found somewhat Temperate the other 15 about the Tropicks exceeding Hot. That the Region lying vnder the Equatour is Temperately hot contrary to the opinion almost of all the Ancients hath beene in part proued heretofore as well by reason as experiment for that all places by how much the neerer they approach the Equatour by so much more should bee hotter as some imagine diuerse instances will contradict It is reported by Aluarez that the Abyssine Embassadour arriuing at Lisbone in Portugall was there almost choaked with extreame heat Also Pâ—rguer the Germane relates that hee hath felt the weather more hot about Dantzicke and the Balticke Sea then at Tholouse in a â—eruent Summer The causes which wee haue before touched are chiefly two The first is that the Sun is higher in this orbe in respect of those vnder the Equatour and moueth more swiftly from them spending on them onely twelue houres whence so great an impression of heat cannot bee made as in other places for heat being a materiall quality must necessarily require some Latitude of time to bee imprest into the ayre or any other subiect From the Diminution of heat in the Region must the ayre needs receaue into
the Scripture especially in the 8 of the Prouerbs and the 103 Psalme where God is said to haue set a bound vpon the seas which they should not passe But this reason seemes not warrantable That the great Creator of all things should in the first institution of Nature impose a perpetuall violence vpon Nature Moreouer all miracles are temporary and not perpetuall for then were it ordinary and so scarce a miracle others vpon lesse ground haue imagined that there are certaine Northerne starres in Vrsa maior and Draco of so great vertue that they can draw the Ocean from this habitable part of the earth toward the North and so constraine the waters that they cannot ouerwhelme the earth but this opinion is ridiculous and deserues no solide refutation being a meere coniecture without ground or probability others vpon the like reason haue dreamed that there is more Water then Earth in the Globe and that the water by his extraordinary masse occupying the center of the world turnes the earth on one side making it to swimme as a ship vpon the sea But this assertion wee haue refuted in our first Chapter of the first booke All these Authors suppose that the earth is vncouered toward the North-Pole but ouerflowne with waters towards the South which the experience of Nauigatours at this day hath sufficiently disanulled Others againe affirming out of a Peripateticall dreame that the water is ten times greater then the earth suppose the earth to bee like a sponge to drinke vp the water to proue which assertion they produce an experiment that the earth being digged any thing deepe in most places there will appeare water whence they collect that the water is mixt with the whole earth and receiued into it'â— concauities But howsoeuer wee may graunt that there are many and vast concauities in the Earth capable of Waters yet it is impossible that the Water should bee ten times as great as the Earth for by this reason although all the Terrestriall Globe were Water it could not bee but that a greater portion of Water then that in the Earth should arise aboue the Earth because according to their owne Supposition 9 partes should bee aboue the Earth Neither can Aristotles words bee well wrested to this interpretation For as much as hee vnderstood this ten-fold proportion of the Water to the Earth not of the spaces which they replenished measured by their Circles and Diameters but of the proportion they beare one to the other in their transmutation as that one measure of Earth turned into Water should bee as much as 10. All these opinions seeming so absurd it seemeth more probable to imagine that either the Waters are condensated and thickned which were in the beginning created thinne whence will follow that they should occupy a lesse place and by consequence leaue the dry-land in many places habitable or which is more probable that God in the first Creation made certaine hollow concauities and channels in the Earth which was before plaine and vniforme into which the waters were receiued and bounded in so much that they could not flow abroad This seemes enough to satisfy the search of such as are not too curious to search into his secrets whose power and omnipotence transcends the capacity of the wisest In this diuision of a place into Water and Land wee will first treat of the Sea and the accidents belonging thereunto Not that the water is worthier or greater then the Earth The contrary whereof wee haue proued heretofore but because the consideration of it is more simple as that wherein fewer matters are to bee handled then in the land For Riuers and Lakes although consisting of this watery element wee thought fit to handle apart as adiuncts belonging to the land 4 In the Sea are considered two things 1 The Adiuncts 2 The Diuision The Accidents of the sea whereof we are to treat are either Internall or Eâ—ternall 5 The Internall are such as are inbâ—ed in the Sea These againe are either Absolute or Relatiue 6 The Absolute are such as agree to the Sea without any comparison with the land such are either Figure Quality or Motion 7 The figure is the conformity of the externall superficies of the Sea whereof obserue this Theoremâ— 1 Although the whole body of the water be Sphericall yet it is probable that the parts of it incline to a Conicall figure That the whole Water according to it's outward superficies iâ— Sphericall and round is sufficiently demonstrated before in the first booke But notwithstanding this roundnesse of the whole the parts of it may for ought I see admit of a Conicall figure for as much as this hath little or no proportion to the vast Spheracity of the Water no more then little hils to the greatnesse of the Earth For the prosecution of which point I will first shew the reason of this my coniecture grounded on experience and afterwards out of the ground and demonstration of the principles of Mathematicall Philosophie endeauour to make it more manifest First therefore by a Conicall line wee vnderstand a crooked line which differs from a Periphery or circle in as much as it keeps not alwayes an equall distance from the center but is higher in the midst then on either side Now if the parts of the water standing still were in their higher superficies exactly sphericall they should by the same grounds bee concentricall or haue the same center with the whole Earth But that it hath not the same center will appeare by little dropps of Water falling on the ground which incline as wee see to a round figure yet were it more then ridiculous to say that this round conuexity of a droppe could bee concentricall with the whole Earth sith in so great a masse it is hardly sensible But here our ordinary Philosophers are ready to answer that this conformity of the water dropps in a round figure is rather Violent then Naturall because the Water being by nature moist is ready to fly and auoid the touch or drouth or any dry thing And because the Water thus auoiding the drouth cannot of necessity but some way touch it it is imagined to conforme it selfe to that figure whereit it may least of all touch This is the round or Sphericall figure wherein any body contained cannot touch a plaine otherwise then in one onely point But against this coniecture of moisture flying drouth strong enough is the experiment of Scaliger in his 105 exercitation that quick-siluer a moist substance being cast either into Water or Iron-Oare will gather it selfe to a round body notwithstanding it is manifest that quick-siluer naturally neither auoides the touch of Water or Iron for as much as the one is very mâ—â—st the other of great affinity as our Chimicks teach with quick-siluer the parent of all Mettals Moreouer it is manifest that this conformity to roundnesse is in dropps of raine falling to the Earth through the Aire yet will not our
Peninsula's the most famous are Africa Scandia Taurica Chersonesus Peloponnesus and America Peruana That little parcell of land which ioynes this Peninsula with the maine land we call an Istmus which is a narrow necke of land betwixt two seas ioyning two Continents such as are Istmus Corinthiacus and Istmus Cimbricus more famous are those two narrow lands whereof the one lyeth betwixt Peruana and Mexico in America the other diuiding Africke from Asia A Promontorie is a great mountaine stretching it selfe far into the sea whose extremity is called a Cape or Head of which the most remarkeable are the Cape of good hope in Africke 2. The Cape of S. Vincent in Portugall 3. The Cape of Comary in Asia 4. The Cape de la Victoria in America Our obseruation concerning this distinction shall bee comprised in this Theoreme 1 Peninsula's by the violence of the sea fretting through the Istmus haue oftentimes beene turned into Ilands and contrariwise sometimes Peninsula's by diminution of the sea made of Ilands This proposition is not hard to proue if any credit ought to bee gâ—uen to ancient writers for it is commonly related that Sicily was heretofore ioyned to Italy Cyprus to Syria Euboea with Boeotia Besbicum with Bythinia all which at this day are Ilands separated and diuided from the continent The like hath beene coniectured of our Brittany which some imagined heretofore to haue beene ioyned with the continent of France about Douer and Calais as may seeme probably to be gathered out of the correspondency of the Cliffs whereof we haue spoken in this chapter before the agreement of the soyle the smalnesse of the distance and many more arguments remembred by vs else-where Also it hath beene obserued on the other side that the sea in some places leauing his ancient bounds hath ioyned some Ilands to the land making Peninsulas of Ilands In this sort if wee belieue antiquity was Antissa ioyned to Lesbos Zephirium to Halicarnassus Ethusa to Mindus Promiscon to Miletum Narthucusa to the Promontory of Parthenius In these antiquities it behooues euery man to iudge without partiality according to reason not ascribing too much to fabulous narrations wherein those ages did abound neither yet shewing himselfe too incredulous For as much as we cannot charge these Authors with any manifest absurdity The speciall and particular arguments by which wee should establish our assertion wee must according to the rules of method reserue to the speciall part where we shall treat ofspeciall Countreyes CHAP. XII 1 OF the perpetuall Accidents of the land we haue spoken somewhat it remaines in this place wee treat of the Casuall 2 The casuall I call such as happen not ordinarily at all times such as are Inundations and Earth-quakes 3 An Inundation is an ouerwhelming of the land by Water Howsoeuer it bee certaine out of holy Scriptures that God hath set the sea his certaine bounds and limits which it cannot passe yet the same God sometimes to shew his speciall iudgement on some place or age hath extraordinarily permitted the sea sometimes to breake his appointed limits and inuade the Iurisdiction of the land This wee call a Deluge or Inundation The inundations which euer haue been obserued on the Earth are of two sorts either Vniuersall or particular An vniuersall is that whereby the whole face of the Earth is couered with water whereof we haue onely two examples The first was in the first creation of the world when as wee read in the Scriptures the whole face of the Earth was round inueloped with Water which couered the tops of the highest mountaines till such time as God by a supernaturall hand made a separation of the Waters from the dry land But this is improperly called an Inundation because the same properly taken implies as much as an ouer-flowing of that which was dry land before The second as we read in Genesis happened in the time of Noah when God for the sinne of man drowned the whole world breaking open the cataracts of Heauen and loosing the springs of the deepe Particular inundations are such as are not ouer the whole Earth but in some particular places or regions Such a deluge according to Genebrardus happened in the time of Enos wherein a third part of the Earth was drowned The like iâ— spoken of Ogygeâ— King of Athens that in his time happened a very great Inundation which drowned all the confines and coasts of Attica and Achaia euen to the Aegean sea In which time it was thought that Buras and Helice Cities of Achaia were swallowed vp whereof Ouid in his Metamorphosis speakes thus Si quaeras Helicen Buran Achaidos vrbes Inuenies sub aquis Buras and Helice on Achaiâ—n ground Are sought in vaine but vnder seas are found As famous was the Inundation of Thessaly in Deucalions time mentioned not onely by profane writers and Poets but also by S. Augustin Ierom and Eusebius which would haue it to happen in the time of Cranaus who next after Cecrops gouerned Athens This inundation was exceeding great extending it selfe not onely ouer all Thessaly and the regions adioyning westward but ouerwhelmed the greatest part of Italy The same or other happening neere the same time oppressed Aegypt if Eusebius may obtaine credit Hence some would haue the people of Italy to haue been called Vmbrij as Pliny and Solinus report quia ab imbribus diluuij superfuissent But this Etymologie seemes too farre fetcht There are also two other notable Inundations meÌ„tioned by ancient writers which fell out in Aegypt from the Riuer of Nilus whereof the first couered all the neither Aegypt which was subiect to Prometheus and hence as Natalis Comes obserues was the fable drawne of the vulture lighting on Prometheus liuer afterwards slaine by Hercules For as Diodorus Siculus obserues the Riuer Nilus for the swiftnes of his course was in ancient time called an Eagle This Riuer afterwards did Hercules by his great â—kill and iudgement streiten and bound reducing it into narrow channels whence some Greeke Poets turning Hercules labours into fables faigned that Hercules slew the Eagle which sed on Prometheus brest meaning that hee deliuered Prometheus out of that sorrow and losse which hee and his people sustained by that Inundation The second of these Egyptian flouds happened about Pharus in Egypt where Alexander the great built Alexandria To these may bee added many more of lesser moment as well in ancient times as in our dayes As that of Belgia in some parts mentioned before on another occasion and not many yeeres since in some parts of Somerset-shire with vs in Britanny 1 No vniuersall Inundation of the Earth can be Naturall The other may depend on some Naturall causes Of the causes of Inundations many disputes haue beene amongst Naturall Philosophers some haue trusted so farre to Nature that they haue ascribed not only particular Inundations but that vniuersall Deluge in the time of Noah to second causes of this opinion was Henricus Mecliensis a Schollar of
Helicâ— and Bura before mentioned in the Corinthian straites some haue beene of opinion that the whole Mediterranean within Hercules pillars was in time past habitable land till it gaue way to the violency of the Seas inuasion But in this I credit nothing without farther ground The like vncertainties are also related of the Atlantick Ilands greater then all Africa swallowed vp of the Ocean which Columbus was said in a sort to haue discouered in the Sea finding a great shallow fraught with weedes where he supposed this great Iland to haue stood But I rather beleeue that this Atlanticke Iland spoken of by Plato was either a Poeticall fiction as Moores Vtopia with vs or at least the Continent of America perhaps in those dayes obscurely discouered but the discouery lost againe to after ages 3 Certaine Regions by reason of great Riuers are subiect to certaine Anniuersary Inundations which commonly happen betwixt the Tropicks in the Summer without the Tropicks in the Winter The former clause is proued by experience almost in all great Riuers in the world which at some times of the yeere swell higher ouerflowing their bankes and drowning a part of the land about them But this happens not alike in all places for in Riuers included within the Tropicks as Nilus Niger in Africa and Oregliana in America with others there-about this Anniuersary Inundation is in the SuÌ„mer else-where it is commonly in the Winter For the former these causes may be assigned 1 The melting of the snow on the tops of the great mouÌ„taines in those parts which is greatest of all when the Sun is neerest or verticall vnto them which we are to accompt their Summer 2 The daily raines showres such Regions are subiect vnto These showres are much more frequent greater when the Sun is neerest their verticall point or in it The reason whereof we haue formerly shewed to bee this That the Sun daily in those parts drawes vp more vapours then he can dissipate consume Whence meeting with the cold of the middle Region of the Aire they are condensated into drops so turned into raine For the later case in riuers situat without the Tropicks coÌ„monly happens the contrary to wit that such Inundations happen rather in the winter then in the Summer whereof these reasons may bee rendred 1 Because Raine and showres whereof such ouer-flowing are ingendred in those parts are more frequent in winter then in the Summer 2 whereas neere the Equatour the snow is known to melt with the Sunne from the tops of high Mountaines in other parts it seldome or neuer melts at all as may bee thought vnder the Pole or thereabouts or else if it melt it happens as in the temperat Zones we see it doth oftner by raine then the heat of the Sunne 4 Next are we to speake of Earthquakes An Earthquake is a sensible motion and shaking of the parts of the Earth Amongst other remarkeable affections of a place which are not so ordinary an Earthquake hath no small consideration being oftentimes a meanes which God vseth to shew some great and extraordinary iudgement But not to spend more on this subiect then may seeme meete for Geography wee will shew the causes and kindes of it by which we may the sooner come to learne what Regions and places of the Earth are most subiect to this affection which is necessary of a Cosmographer to bee knowne Concerning the cauâ—es of it much dispute hath been among Philosophers some haue ridiculously affirmed that the Earth is a liuing creature and suppose with no lesse if not greater abâ—urdity that the Earth being in good temper doth rest settle quietly according to her naturall disposition From which temper if she be any way remoued as if she were sicke or pain'd in some part she shakes and shiuers The relation of this opinion is a sufficient confutation Thales Milesius would haue the Earth as a shippe to swimme on the Waters which being sometimes as a vessell by tempests turned on one side too much it takes a great quantity of water which is the cause of Earthquakes But this opinion is a poeticall fiction Little more probable is the opinion of Democritus that the Earth drinking in raine water more then her cauernes can well containe the water reuerberated backe is cause of such a motion But who can imagine that drops of raine falling into the Earth can bee reuerberated backe with such violence to cause such an extraordinary motion of the Earth Anaximenes Milesius was of opinion that the Earth her selfe was cause of her own motion for the parts of it being taken out as it were and broken fall downe sometimes into a great depth causing the vpper face of it to shake and tremble to which opinion also Seneca seemes to subscribe in the sixt booke of his naturall questions the 10 chapter To which also accords the Philosophicall Poet Lucretius in these words Terra superna tremit magnis concussa ruinis Subter vbi ingentes speluncas subruit aetas Quippe cadunt toti montes magnoque repentè Concussu laâ—è dispergunt inde Tremores Et meritò quoniam plaustris concussu tremiscunt Tecta viam propter non magno pondere tota The vpper Earth seaz'd with great ruines shakes When surrowed age her vast ribbes ouertakes For mountaines great fall downe and with the blow The Tremblings are dispersed to and fro Not without reason when a small-siz'd waine Makes houses neere the way to shake amaine This last opinion seemes to carry more shew ofprobability then the former neither can any man deny that sometimes the Earth in some parts may shake by the breaking downe of some subterranean parts whose suddain and violent motion may cause the rest being continuate to entertaine the like conuulsion But yet more generall seemes the opinion of Aristotle who would haue Earthquakes to proceed from a spirit or vapour included in the bowells of the Earth as he testifies in the 2 of his Meteors the 7 chapter For this vapour finding no way to passe out is enforced to returne backe and batred any passage out seekes euery corner and while it labours to breake open some place for going forth it makes a tumultuous motion which is the Earth-quake Now least it should seeme improbable that so great a masse of Earth should bee moued and shaken by so thinne and rarefied a body as is a fume or vapour Aristotle in the same place shewes the admirable force of Winds as well vpon the Aire as on the bodies of liuing creatures In the Aire because experience shewes that being stirred vp by a Windy vapour it sometimes is knowne to moue rockes from one place to another to plucke vp trees and shrubbs by the rootes and sometimes to throw downe the strongest and most stately buildings In mans body because by the stirring vp and agitation of the spirits which are the Instruments of vitall and animall functions sometimes one sicke man can doe that which cannot
the distance of two places in the same Hemispheare without the Equatour 255 3 Of the distance of places differing only in longitude in diuerse Hemispheares 260 4 Of the inuention of places differing onely in Latitude either in the same or diuerse kindes of Latitude 261 5 To find out the distance of places differing in Longitude and Latitude by the square roote 262 6 How to performe the same by the tables of Signes Tangents and Secants 264 7 To find out the distances of places by resolution of the sphericall Triangle 266 8 Of the Inuention of the distance by the Semicircle 271 9 Of the expression of the distance on the Globe or Mappe 273 To my Booke PArue nec inuideo sine me Liber ibis in Aulam Hei mihi quòd Domino non licetire tuo Goe forth thou haplesse Embrion of my Braine Vnfashion'd as thou art expresse the straine And language of thy discontented Sire Who hardly ransom'd his poore Babe from fire To offer to the world and carelesse men The timelesse fruits of his officious pen. Thou art no louely Darling stampt to please The lookes of Greatnesse no delight to ease Their melancholy temper who reiect As idle toyes but what themselues affect No lucky Planet darted forth his Rayes To promise loue vnto thy infant-dayes Thou maist perhaps be marchandize for slaues Who sell their Authors wits and buy their graues Thou maist be censur'd guilty of that blame Which is the Midwifes fault the Parent 's shame Thou maist be talke for Tables vs'd for sport At Tauerne-meetings pastime for the Court Thou maist be torne by their malicious phangs Who nere were taught to know a Parents pangs How eas'ly caâ—â—roud Ignorance out-stare The coâ—eliest weeds thy pouerty can weare When all the Sisters on our Isis side Are ofâ— sworne seruants to aspiring pride And our râ—â—owned Mother Athens groanes To see her garden set with Cadmus sonnes Whose birth is muâ—uall strife whose destiny Is onlâ— to be borne to fight and dy Prometheus is chain'd fast and cannot moue To steale a little fire from mighty Ioue To people new the world that we may see Our Mother teeme with a new progenie And therefore with thy haplesse Father proue To place thy duty where thou findest loue When thou arriu'st at Court thou long may'st stay Some Friends assistance to prepare thee way As in a clowdy morning I haue done When enuious Vapours shut me from the Sunne When all else enter see thou humbly stand To begge a kisse from thy Moecenas hand If he vouchsafe a looke to guild thy state Proclayme him Noble thy selfe fortunate GEOGRAPHIE THE FIRST BOOKE CHAP. I. Of the Terrestriall Globe the matter and forme 1 GEOGRAPHIE is a science which teacheth the description of the whole Earth The Nature of Geographie is well expressed in the name For Geographie resolued according to the Greeke Etymologie signifieth as much as a description of the Earth so that it differs froÌ„ Cosmographie â—s a part from the whole Forasmuch as Cosmographie according to the name is a description of the wholâ— world coÌ„prehending vnder it as well Geographie as Astronomie Howbeit I confesse that amongst the ancient Writers Cosmographie hath been taken for one the selfe-same science with Geographie as may appeare by sundry treatises meerely Geographicall yet intituled by the name of Cosmographie This Science according to our approued Ptolomie is distinguished from Chorographie foure wayes First because Geographie describeth the whole Spheare of the Earth according to its iust quantity proportion figure and dispositions which the principall parts of it haue as well in respect of one another as of the whole Terrestriall Globe so that it only vndertakes the chiefe and most noted parts such as are sines creekes nations cities promontories riuers and famous mountaines But the Chorographer separatly handleth the lesser parts and matters of smaller moment such as are hillocks brooks lakes townes villages and Parishes without any respect at all to the places adioyning as conferring them with the Sphaericall fabricke of the whole Earth Which by the same Author is well illustrated by an example drawne from the Painters Art For wee see that a Painter desirous to draw out and represent the head of any liuing creature will first draw out the lineaments of the first and greatest parts as the eyes eares nose mouth forehead and such like only caring that they may challenge a due and iust proportion and symmetrie one with the other not regarding the lesser particles and ornaments in each of these wanting perhaps space competent to accomplish it But if the same Painter would striue to expresse only an eye or an eare he might take space enough to designe out euery smaller lineament colour shadow or marke as if it were naturall for in this he cares not to make it correspondent to the whole head other parts of the body So happens it to the Geographer who willing to delineate out any part of the Earth as for example our Realme of England he would describe it as an Iland encompassed round with the sea figured in a triangular forme only expressing the principall and greater parts of it But the Chorographer vndertaking the description of some speciall and smaller part of England as for example the City of Oxford descends much more particularly to matters of small quantity and note such as are the Churches Colledges Halls Streets Springs giuing to each of them their due accidents colours lineaments and proportion as farre forth as Art can imitate Nature Neither in this kind of description needs there any consideration of the places adioyning or the generall draught of the whole Iland The second difference betweene Geographie and Chorographie assigned by Ptolomie consists in this that Chorographie is commonly conuersant in the accidentall qualities of each place particularly noting vnto vs which places are barren fruitfull sandy stony moist dry hot cold plain or mountainous and such like proprieties But Geographie lesse regarding their qualities inquires rather of the Quantities measures distances which places haue aswell in regard one of the other as of the whole Globe of the Earth assigning to each region its true longitude latitude clime parallell and Meridian 3ly Geographie and Chorographie are said to differ because Geographie stands in little need of the Art of Painting for as much as it is conuersant the most part about the Geometricall lineaments of the Terrestriall Globe clayming great affinity with the Art called of the Greekes Ichnographie whose office is to expresse the figure and proportion of bodies set forth in a plain superficies But contrariwise Corographie requires as a help necessary the Art of Painting forasmuch as no man can fully and perfectly expresse to the eye the true portraict of cities townes castels promontories and such other things in their true colours liuelyhood and proportion except they bee skilled in the Art of Painting So that this part is by some likened to that Art which the
we call it naturall forasmuch as it issueth and ariseth from the naturall disposition and inclination of all the parts To vnderstand which clause the better wee are to consider that a thing may bee called Naturall two manner of wayes first in regard of the primary intent of Nature as the neerest and immediate end or scope to which shee is directed Secondly in respect of her secundary intent or purpose as that which must of necessity follow the former True it is that euery Terrene Body according to Natures first intention seeks and works it 's owne perfection and conseruation Neuerthelesse according to her secundary Intent it concurres to the perfection and good of the whole vniuerse which we shall plainely see in a stone or clodd of earth which separated and remoued from it's mother the Spheare of the Earth by his descent and falling downewards seeks first his owne conseruation by reuniting it selfe to the Earth whence it was taken Secondly of the whole Globe of the Earth which by this vnion and addition no doubt is made more compleat and perfect This conformity of the Terrestriall parts out of which ariseth the Earths Sphaericity I call the naturall inclination they haue to moue and settle themselues in such a site or position as may bring forth a Sphaericall consistency so that if it were possible as what cannot be to Gods Almighty power that the whole Globe of the earth were dissolued and rent into little peeces yet were that vigor and motiue inclination remaining in the parts whereby they might settle and conforme themselues to the same Sphaericall nature and composition which it formerly enioyed For all the parts thus supposed to be distracted would no question meet together conforme themselues to the same point or Center and so equally poising themselues would restore the same Spheare so dissolued So that wee here note a double inclination and motion of earthly bodies first by a Right line of the parts tending towards the Center the other Sphericall of the whole Spheare whereof the first in nature preceedes the composition of the Spheare the other followes But this latter motion I leaue doubtfull till place conuenient 6 The conformity of the Terrene parts is twofold Primarie or Secondary The former is that whereby all earthly bodies are by a right line carried and directed to the Center of the Terrestriall Globe As in an Artificiall Spheare or circle drawne by a Geometrician their principall parts are expressed to wit the Center Ray and circumference so in the Naturall Globe of the Earth these three as it were Naturally Really discouer themselues vnto vs. For first there is set a fixt point to which all heauy bodies moue and conforme themselues Secondly there is set the line or Radius in which such bodies are carryed and conueyed Thirdly the confluence of all these parts begets the roundnesse and Sphaericall forme To begin first with that which is first in nature we will take these grounds 1 All Earthly Bodies incline and approach to the Center as neere as they can This proposition so farre forth as it concernes the two Elements of Earth and Water is confirmed by common experience and therefore needs no long demonstration For we see plainly that not only these two doe incline as much as may be all obstacles being remoued to the Center of the Earth but also all mixt bodies compounded of them being ouerswayed with the most predominant element doe challenge to theÌ„selues the same motion I say not that all these Terrestriall bodies driue meeâ— in the Center for that were impossible that all this massy Spheare should bee contracted to one point but that all the parts haue a mutuall inclination to approach as neere the Center as the necessity of the place and the concurrence of them amongst themselues will suffer By these Terrestriall Bodies which inioye this motion and inclination wee vnderstand first the two Elements of Earth and Water with all other bodies arising out of their mixture To these I may adde the Ayre which by reason of his affinity with the Earth and Water and naturall coÌ„formity to the same Center we may well tearme an earthly body It is commonly reported that the Ayre is lâ—ght and therefore carried vpwards not inclining at all to the Center of the Terrestriall Globe as the parts of these two Elements are But this assertion although bolstred vp both with antiquity and authority I take either to bee false or misunderstood and that I speake no more herein than I can proue I will produce some reasons strong enough as I thinke to perswade that the Ayre is a heauy body hauing a due inclination and conformity to the Center of the Earth First therefore will I produce this experiment When a Well or deepe Trench is digged vp in the earth I would willingly demand whether the Aire descends to fill up this Trench or concauity or else a void space is left vnfurnished of any naturall body to fill it If they admit the latter they will consequently bring in againe that vacuum or void space which Arist. and all sound Philosophers haue long since proscribed the confines of nature If they affirme the former that the Ayre descends to fill vp this empty space I will aske againe whether this descent of the Ayre be violent or naturall If they say Naturall they admit our assertion that the Ayre naturally descends towards the Center and so by consequence that it is heauy and not light by nature Neither according to our Peripateticall-Philosophy can wee ascribe more than one motion to the Aire because it is a ground generally receaued among Aristoteleans that One simple body can claime but one simple motion much lesse one simple forme as that of the Aire can produce two opposite and contrary motions such as are Ascent and Descent of the same body If they chance to light on the other member of our distinction and say that the motion of the Aire in this sort is violent it must needs follow that it must haue some externall cause or principle whence it should proceed because all such motions proceed from externall causes But here no such cause can be assigned For the cause would bee either the Earth which is so made hollow or the emptinesse or vacuum or at least the other parts of the Aire That it is not the Earth may be proued first because no Philosopher hath euer shewed any such Attractiue power to reside in the Earth but rather the contrary because the Earth and Ayre by most haue beene thought opposite in nature and repugnant one to the other Secondly because Philosophy teacheth that no agent can worke vpon a separate and distinct patient except there be a meeting of the Agent and Patient in some meane But here in this supposition the Earth is imagined to drawe and attract the Aire which as yet it toucheth not That this externall cause is not the Vacuum or Emptinesse is plaine because it
but after 10000 paces it was taken out of sight I would here aske the Geographers quoth Patricius whether in so short a distance wherein the bottome for the whole space surpassed not two foot in depth the water could ascend to 72 foot Had it beene my chance to haue gone with Patricius ouer the lake I might perhaps by obseruation of this experiment haue giuen a more probable coniecture of the cause Neuerthelesse being vnacquainted aswell with the place as the truth of his obseruation I may perhaps guesse somewhat at his errour First then whereas hee auerres that passing along for the space of a 1000 paces a Tower of 72 foot high seemed cut off by the midst which at 10000 vanished out of sight I confesse that in so short a space the swelling of the water inter-posed could not be so great as to hinder the sight and bee the cause of this effect wherefore some other Accidentall cause must bee sought out For the finding out of which to come as neere as I can I would make inquiry whether this passage of the Boat was directly forward from the Tower on the Water no land inter-posed or Indirectly side-wise in such sort as the shoare might be placed betwixt their sight and the Tower mentioned The former no wayes can be imagined foras much as it not only contradicts the grounds of our receiued Philosophie but also of Patricius himselfe for giuing the Earth a plaine surface or Angular or any other forme it were impossible that in so short a distance such an effect should happen out of the figurature of the water If the passage were oblique or indirect in such wise as the shoare might any way inter-pose it selfe betwixt the Boat and the Tower it were easie to imagine how such an experiment should happen for the land by which the Boat might bee carried might haue an ascent by such Degrees as the Tower at 1000 paces might bee for the halfe of it obscured and at last bee altogether taken out of sight This reason then of Patricius seemes rather to bee ascribed to the Land then the Water The third reason of Patricius is drawne from the Homogeneity of the Water If the water saith hee haue a round superficies the parts of it would challenge the like figure because in homogeneall bodies the same reason is to bee giuen of the whole and of the parts But the parts of the water are not Sphericall as may bee proued by diuers instances 1 Because water in the mouth of a pot seemes not to haue any such Sphericall roundnesse for although at the brinke it seeme to bee restrained aboue the pot yet no such swelling appeares in the middle 2ly That riuers are kept in by their bankes which otherwise would flow abroad 3ly That riuers when by the melting of snow they swell so great as they can hardly bee contayned within their bankes doe not seeme higher in the middle then in other places 4ly If any man from one side of the riuer to the other leuels at any marke he may surely hit it which hee should not doe if there were any Sphericall swelling in the midst which might hinder the sight 5ly and lastly it seemes so vnlikely that the water should rise in the midst that it is more probable it should be more hollow in that we plainly obserue that all filth and rubbish carried from the bankes into the riuer is wont to settle and swimme in the midst Notwithstanding all these argumēts of Patricius our ground is yet vnshaken 1 Concerning small drops and water in the mouth of pots it is found to be round and Sphericall though not exactly the reason wherof wee shall declare hereafter This roundnesse I confesse serues not any way to the confirmation of this assertion because the Sphericity and roundnes which wee auerre to be in Water hath for its center the center of the whole Earth and therefore in so small an arch or section as the bredth of a pot or a drop of water cannot possibly haue any sensible appearance or existence And we must needs confesse that this experiment was very fondly vrged to this purpose by some of our Geographers and such as stands not with any demonstration Which granted sufficiently answers all the reasons last vrged by Patricius except the last For as much as he requires in the Water a sensible appearance of this roundnesse in euery riuer or little parcell of water which cannot bee admitted Touching the last thing which hee vrgeth that all the rubbish and filthy matter is from the bankes carryed into the middle whence he would inferre the middle to be hollow and lowest we can answer diuers wayes 1 That this experiment is not alwayes certaine because euery man may oftentimes see the contrary to wit that such filthy rubbish rather vseth to cleaue to the banks of the riuer then to float into the midst 2ly That if any such thing happen it is because of the torrents which run violently from the banks into the midst carrying with it such things as are light the steepnesse of the place being greater the current wider or swifter But nothing here can bee concluded to proue the water according to his naturall force to be either plaine or hollow in the midst which this Aduersary vndertooke to demonstrate CHAP. III. Of the Partiall magneticall affections in the Spheare of the Earth 1 HItherto haue we discoursed of such affections of the Terrestriall Spheare as are Elementary and knowne heretofore to ancient Philosophers It followes in the next place that we treat of Magneticall affections to wit such as follow the magneticall nature of the Earth Of the vertue and propriety of the Load-stone many haue written but few sought out the true nature The inuention of it is attributed to a certaine heards-man who hauing his shooes shod with iron and an iron-pike in his hand resting himselfe on a quarry of Load-stone could hardly remoue himselfe frō thence But this seemes rather a pleasant Poeticall inuention then a true History hauing no good Author to auouch it But to let passe the first Inuention being a matter rather indebted to chance then industrie no small difficulties haue discouered themselues in the inuention and finding out of the causes of Magneticall properties Somewhat I cōfesse hath been written of such magneticall affections as haue been most knowne such as is the vertue Attractiue by which it drawes to it selfe iron or steele as also the vertue Directiue by which a needle touched with the Magnet directs and conformes it selfe North and South The rest of Magneticall proprieties I find in ancient Writers as little knowne as their causes if any matter herein were broached it was merely coniecturall and depending on no certain demōstration neither had we any certaine or satisfactory knowledge of this thing vntill such time as it pleased God to raise vp one of our Countrymen D. Gilbert who to his euerlasting praise hath troden out a new path to
receiued errour as we haue mentioned that there is a certaine Rocke or Pole of Load-stone some degrees distant from the true Pole of the world which the Magneticall needle in it's variation should respect This Pole they haue imagined to be in the same Meridian with that which passeth by the Azores whence they haue laboured to shew the reason why the Compasse should not vary in that place which they explaine by this Figure Let there be a circle describing the Spheare E AF the Horizon EF the Articke Pole A the Antarticke â— The Pole or Rocke of Loadstone placed out of the Pole of the Earth B. Let there bee placed a magneticall directory needle in H it will according to their assertion tend to the point B by the magneticall Meridian H B which because it concurres with the true Meridian B A or H A there will be no variation at all but a true direction to the North Pole of the Earth But let this magneticall needle be placed in the point D it is certaine according to this opinion that it will tend to the Pole of the Loadstone B by the magneticall Meridian D B. Wherefore it will not point out the Pole of the Earth A but rather the point C because these two Meridians come not into one and the selfe-same Hence they haue laboured with more hope then successe â—o find out the longitude of any part of the Earth without any obseruation of the Heauens which I confesse might easily be effected if this coniecture might stand with true obseruation But how farre this conceit swarues from the experience of Nauigatours one or two instances will serue to demonstrate For if the variation had any such certaine poles as they imagine then would the Arch of variation bee increased or diminished proportionally according to the distance of the places As for example If in the compasse of an hundred miles the Compasse were varied one degree then in the next hundred miles it would vary another degree which would make two degrees But this hath often been proued otherwise by diuerse experiments of Nauigations mentioned by Gilbert and F. Wright I will only produce one or two If a ship saile from the Sorlinges to New-found-land they haue obserued that when they come so farre as to finde the Compasse to point directly North without any variation at all then passing onward there will bee a variation toward the North-East but obscure and little then afterward will the Arch of this variation increase with like space in a greater proportion vntill they approach neere the â—ontinent where they shall find a very great variation Yet before they come a shoare this variation will decrease againe From which one instance if there were no other we might conclude That the Arch of variation is not alwaies proportionable to the distance which granted quite ouerthrowes that conceit of the Poles of variation Beside this if there were two such magneticall Poles there can be but one common Meridian passing by them and the Poles of the Earthly Globe But by many obseruations collected and obserued by Ed. Wright and others there should be many magneticall Meridians passing by the Poles of the world as in the Meridian about Trinidado and Barmudas the Meridian about the Westermost of the Azores lastly the Meridian running amongst the East Indian Ilands a little beyond Iaua Maior the magneticall and true Meridian must needs agree in one Now for as much as all these magneticall Meridians passe by the Poles of the earth there can no cause be assigned why the magneticall Poles should bee said to bee in one rather then another and if in any then in all Whence it must needes follow that as many magneticall Meridians as you haue to passe by the true Poles of the world so many paire of magneticall Poles must you haue which will be opposite to all reason and experience 1 The point of Variation as of Direction is only Respectiue not Attractiue It was supposed by the Ancients that the Direction and Variation of the Loadstone was caused by an Attractiue point which drew and enforced the lilly of the Compasse that way which errour tooke place from another common-receiued opinion that all the other motions of the magnet were reduced to the Attractiue operation but the errour was corrected by one Robert Norman an English-man who found this point to bee Respectiue and no way Attractiue Whose reason or demonstration is not disapproued by Dr Gilbert although in other matters hee sharply taxeth him His experiment is thus Let there be a round vessell as we haue described ful of water in the midle of this water-place an iron-wier in a conuenient round corke or boat that it may swimme vpon the water euen poyzed let this iron-wire be first touched with the load-stone that it may more strongly shew the point of variation let this point of variation be D let this iron-wire rest vpon the water in the corke for a certaine time It is certainly true that this iron-wire in the cork will not moue it selfe to the margent or brinke of the vessell D which certainly it would doe if the point D were an attractiue point 3 The variation of euery place is constant and not variable This hath beene ratified by the experience of Nauigatours which in the selfe-same Regions haue neuer missed the true variation which they haue assigned them before If any difference bee assigned in variation to the same Region wee may impute it to their errour which obserued it arising either from want of skill or conuenient instruments Neither can this euer be changed except some great deluge or dissolution happen of a great part of land as Plato records of his Atlanticke Ilands 4 The variation is greater in places neere the poles of the Earth This proportion is not to be taken vniuersally but commonly for the most part yet would it haue truth in all places if all other things were correspondent It is obserued that the variation is greater on the coasts of Norway and the Low-countries then at Morocco or Guinea For at Guinea the magneticall needle inclines to the East a third part of one Rumbe of the Compasse In the Ilands of Cape-Verde halfe in the coasts of Morocco two third parts In England at the mouth of Thames according to the obseruation of D. Gilbert and Ed. Wright though some deny it one whole Rumbe in London the chiefe city of it eleuen degrees and more which we also find or thereabout in Oxford The reason is because the magneticall motiue vertue is stronger in the greater latitude increasing towards the pole and the large Regions of land lying toward the Pole preuaile more then those which are situate farther off 12 Thus much for the Variation The Declination is a magneticall motion whereby the magneticall needle conuerts it selfe vnder the Horizontall plaine toward the Axis of the Earth What wee haue hitherto spoken of Direction and Variation magneticall was such as might be
expressed and shewed in the plaine of the Horizon by the Directory needle equally poyzed when it is set in any point of the Horizon But this Declination whereof wee are now to speake is the motion of an iron-wire or needle first equilibrated and then stirred vp by the loadstone vpon his owne Axis from that point of the Horizon the other end of it tending toward the center of the Earth where wee may for the better expressing of the motion note two things 1 That the magneticall wier set in a conuenient instrument if it bee carried from the Aequator to the Pole or from one Pole to another will by little and little turne it selfe round and make a circumuolution about his owne Axell 2 That by this conuersion and circumuolution about his axell it will according to diuers places and latitudes make diuers Angles in diuers places both which are included in this motion of Declination and are warranted by experience made by an Inclinatory needle applyed to a Terrella or round Loadstone as also by the experience of Nauigations on the great Spheare of the Earth To explaine which motion there are curious instruments formed and inuented by Dr Gilbert and Dr Ridley which the curious in this kinde to their greater satisfaction may peruse In the meane time wee will here content our selues with one figure following borrowed from their more copious inuention wherein we shall find enough to expresse the manner of this motion In this Figure let ABCD be the Terrella or round magnet representing the Spheare of the Earth A the North-pole B the South Aâ—B the Axell CED the Aequator AKB and ALB the Meridian circles meeting in the Pole AC and BD the Meridian or right Horizon hauing in it the two Poles FG and HI two parallels The Loadstone being thus designed in his outward Poles as it is according to his naturall eminency stored inwardly Let the Needles bee placed being before touched on the Limbe ouer-against the Poles AB and we shall obserue them to respect them directly coÌ„curring in one straight line with the Axell of the Earth Then set the same Needles in the Limbe ouer against the Aequator CD and they will dispose settle themselues in a parallell site to the Axell of the Earth and incline neither to one Pole or other Hence may bee collected by plaine consequence that there is a semi-circle betwixt each of these foure needles Now to finde the quadrants of these apply Needles in the Limbeat 33 degrees distant from the Aequator on each side of him and they will make right angles with the axell of the same where these eight needles haue 8 quadrants between them that is foure semi-circles which will make two whole circles one on each side of the Aequator But if you place the needles in the midst betweene the Aequator and the Poles they will respect the axell but obliquely as in all other parts except in the eight places before-mentioned From hence may we learne what we proposed first that the Declination is a conuersion of the magneticall wire or needle vpon its owne axell secondly that this wire by this motion so excited if it bee moued on any Meridian North or South will apply and conforme it selfe according to certaine angles to the Axell of the Earth Thirdly there will arise this corollary that the magneticall needle about the round Magnet maketh two circles Concerning this declination wee will insert two especiall Theoremes 1 The Declination is answerable to the latitude not in Equality of degrees but in proportion It is manifest out of that which wee haue spoken that this motion of Declination supposeth two motions The one of Conuersion whereby the needle is turned round on his owne Axis The other a Progressiue motion whereby the center it selfe of the Inclinatory Needle is carryed forward vpon a Meridian from North to South or contrarywise These two motions supposed to proceed and beginne together cannot possibly meet in such Equality as that the degrees of Declination directly answer in Equality to the degrees of latitude which is demonstrated by this Figure here inserted Let the magneticall body bee A this body while it shall bee moued aboue the Earth from GD the Equinoctiall toward the Pole B will bee turned vpon his owne Center and in the middle of the progresse of the center from the Equator to the Pole B it will be directed to the Equator D in the middle betweene the two Poles Therefore the middle must needes turne faster on his owne center then the center it selfe turned forward that by this conuersion it should directly respect the point D wherefore this motion will bee swifter in the first degrees to wit from A to L but in the latter it will be slower from L to B in respect of the Aequator from D to C. Now if the Declination were equall to the latitude then the magneticall wier should obserue and follow the facultie and peculiar vertue of the center of an operatiue and attractiue point But reason experience teacheth that it obserueth the whole body and masse with all the externall limits of the Earth and Load-stone the whole vertues and forces of both concurring aswell of the conuertible wier as of the whole Earth Neuerthelesse from this experiment the skilfull in Magneticall Philosophie haue found out a proportion whereby the latitude of places may instrumentally bee found out by the degrees of Declination 2 The Magneticall Declination is caused not of the Attractiue but of the Disponent and Conuersiue vertue of the Earth There is nothing more admirable in Nature then the order and situation of all bodies in their places most conuenient for each ones conseruation For the obtaining of which harmony as wee haue taught in our second Chapter it is endowed with a proper motion conuenient to place and seat it selfe both for the preseruation of it selfe and the whole Vniuerse This naturall Inclination is no-where more eminent and cospicuous then in the harmony of magneticall bodies which are as it were the sinewes of the Terrestriall Globe These motions some haue imputed to the Attractiue force but very erroneously as wee haue proued already of Direction and Variation and shall here demonstrate concerning the Magneticall Declination for first if it were caused by any Attractiue force approching it would follow of necessity that a Terrella or round Spheare made of a solide or perfect loadstone would more turne and wrest the magneticall needle then if it were made of a weaker and more imperfect substance also that a needle touched with a stronger stone should shew a greater Declination then that touched with a weaker But experience hath found the contrary because the Declination will bee all one bee the stone stronger or weaker Moreouer a Loadstone armed with an Iron-Nose as they tearme it put vpon the Meridian in any latitude will not lift vp a piece of iron more perpendicularly then if it were naked and vncouered although
Earth which must moue in the same time from West to East For the first wee must take aâ— granted of those which defend the opposite opinion these two grounds 1 That the subiect of this motion if it bee a heauenly body is the first moueable and supreame spheare of all the celestiall machine because all the rest haue assigned them their seuerall motions 2 That of two bodies circularly mouing vpon the same Center in the same space of time that which is greater in quantity must needs haue the swifter motion as wee see the spokes of a wheele to moue faster neere the circumference but slower in those parts which are ioyned to the Center This granted wee shall find the greatest of the first and supremest orbs to bee so incomparably vast in proportion to the Earth and the motion of it according to this magnitude to bee increased to such a swiftnesse as must needes transcend all fiction and imagination For besides the two Elements placed by the Peripaâ—etickes betwixt the Earth and the Celestiall bodies to wit Aire and Fire which challenge no meane distance betwixt their concaue and conuexe superficies who knowes not how many distinct and strange concamerations of Orbes and circles are placed and signed ouâ— betwixt the Moone and the first Moueable Aristotle hath reduced all the Orbes to eight whereof seuen were allotted to the seuen Planets but the eight to the fixt Starres which hee supposed to bee fastned as so many nailes in the same wheele But Ptolomie perceiuing this number to bee insufficient to satisfie his obseruations was inforced to adde a ninth to encrease the number Yet this contented not Alphonsus but hee must make vp tenne And although this opinion preuailed a long time in the Schooles of Philosophers as most exact and absolute yet came it farre short to satisfie the search of two latter Astronomers Clauius and Maginus who to adde something to Antiquity haue found out another orbe and so the whole tale is become eleuen and much it is to bee feared that the big-swolne belly of this learned Ignorance will beget more children to help the Mother because all the former haue proued lame and impotent God send her a safe deliuery To returne to my purpose all these orbs thus ranged and concamerated in order cannot but haue each of them a great and extraordinary thicknesse and profundity being to carry in them such huge and vast bodyes as the Sunne and Starres which are of themselues mighty Globes for the most part greater then the Earth as Philosophers haue found out by diuers Mathematicall instruments and expressed in Tables Also because amongst the Planetary Orbes wee shall finde them clouen into many partiall and lesser Orbes as Epicycles and Excentrickes the first of which must in reason surpasse the thicknesse of the Diameter of the Planet The profundity of all these Orbes is measured by their Diameters which wee shall find to surmount each other in extraordinary proportion For the Diameter of the Earth is 1718 German miles The greatest distance or elongation of the Moone being new 65 semi-diameters of the Earth the least is 55 semi-diameters The greater elongation of the Moone in the middle space is 68 the least 52 semi-diameters of the Earth Notwithstanding it is very probable that the Orbe of the Moone is yet of more thicknesse and profundity To passe ouer Venus and Mercurie and come to the Sunne wee shall find his distances from the Earth in his greatest Excentricity to bee 1142 semi-diameters of the Earth Mars Iupiter and Saturne are yet farther off from the Earth and their Orbes endowed with a greater treasure of thicknesse The distance of the Firmament wherein are placed the fixt Starres is by the best Mathematicians thought incomprehensible and not measurable by mans industrie in so much that Aristotle holds the Earth no other then as a point if it bee compared with the eighth Spheare which hee supposed to bee the highest and first Moueable To let passe the ninth Spheare the tenth which was vulgarly thought the first Moueable if it bee valued according to the proportion of the rest would haue his conuexe superficies moued so fast in one houre that it would ouercome so much space as 3000 greater circles of the Terrestriall Globe for as much as in the conuexe superficies of the starry Firmament it would containe more then 1800. And who can bee so sharpe sighted to see the profundity and thicknes of this orbe containing in it starres innumerable whereof some are apparent to each mans eyes others lying hid by reason of the distance whereof many haue lately beene discouered by reason of the Trunk-spectacle lately found out so that it may bee a probable coniecture that all these starres are not placed in the same Orbe or at least that this Orbe is farre greater and deeper then the ordinary current of Astronomers haue imagined it to bee To these eight Orbes here deciphered should wee adde the Caelum Chrystallinum the Primum Mobile the Idol of our common Astrologers and another which Clauius and Maginus haue inuented what bound should wee set to the greatneâ— of the Heauens or the swiftnesse of their motions how farre beyond all rouing imagination or Poeticall fictions should it transcend as thatwhich neither Nature could euer suffer or the wit of man vnderstand a motion a thousand-fold swifter then the flight of a bullet from a peece of ordinance I had almost said then thought it selfe For if a man cast his imagination on some marke or degree in the Sunnes parallell on theTerrestriall Globe and so instantly transferre it to another and so to a third passing ouer at each time the distance of 100 miles hee would find the Sunne to bee farre swifter in his motion and to haue ouer-passed him incomparably in his course were the Sunne placed in the superficies of the Earth and his course no greater then one of the greater circles of the Terrene Globe hee should by their owne computation finish his course in 24 houres and so runne 21600 miles in that time which maketh 900 miles in one houre And if this motion seeme so swift that it could hardly haue credit among ordinary capacities what should wee thinke of this motion which is imagined infinitely swifter If Ptolomie feared lest the Globe of the Earth should be dissolued and shattered in pieces by a far slower motion of what should wee imagine the heauens to be made which can suffer so portentous and incogitable a whirling Here the common Philosopher stands astonished and rather then hee will be thought to know nothing hee will say any thing why saith he should wee not beleeue it sith the Heauens in their motion find no Resistance whereas all other bodies are slacked by the medium or Aire by which they are to moue If in the Heauens were any such let or hinderance it would bee either in the Agent or Mouer or in the Patient or body moued Not in the mouer because as Aristotle
not backt with any necessary demonstration For it proues not thing else but the Earth to bee the Center of all earthie and heauy bodies and not to bee absolutely placed in the exact middle of the world Another reason not much vnlike the former is drawne by some from a finall cause and the naturall harmony of the parts of the world one with the other The Earth say they is of all other bodyes the most vile and sordid Therefore it is agreeable to nature that it should be placed in the middle equally distant from each part of the Heauens that one part might not seeme to complaine of this vnpleasing vicinity more then another But this reason takes as granted to matters as yet not decided First that the Earth amongst all other bodyes is most vile and sordid depending on the ground of Peripateticks that the heauenly bodies suffer no corruption a thing sooner spoken then proued Secondly that pure and impure bodies the most excellent and most vile in nature are alwayes most distant as in nature so in place which is a peremptory assertion without ground A third reason more probable then the former is drawne from the apparences of Starres aboue the Horizon It is manifest that the Starres aboue the Horizon appeare alwayes to bee of one and the selfe-same magnitude and quantity whether in the verticall point or in the East or the West or any other place whence we may collect that they differ equally in distance from the Earth and by consequence the Earth is seated in the middle of the world for if it were otherwise that the Starres in some place should bee neerer in other farther ofâ— they would some-where seeme greater otherwhere lesser according to the grounds of the Opticks This reason howsoeuer popular seemes to admit a two-fold exception First because it implies that a man standing on the superficies of the Earth is equally distant from all places and parts of the Heauens whereas the heauens in the Horizon are farther distant by reason of a whole semidiameter of the earth interposed Secondly all Starres arising in the East or setting in the West ordinarily seeme greater then in the Verticall point by reason of vapours ascending and interposed Whence wee cannot well gather the Earth to bee seated in the middest from the like apparence of the Starres when experience teacheth the coÌ„trary that they seeme not alwayes of the like magnitude Concerning the first we answer that the Semidiameter of the earth interposed betwixt the Superficies and Center is in it selfe greater But this as wee shall proue in respect of the Heauens is so little that the sense cannot gather any difference in obseruation of the Starres but that they should alwayes appeare of the like magnitude Concerning the second wee must needs acknowledge that vapours ascending about the Horizon by an Opticall Refraction make the Starres seeme greater then other wise they would doe But the reason may bee vnderstood in this sort that whether a â—an be placed in the same Horizon where the Sunne is when hee riseth or vnder that Horizon where the Sunne is now vnder his Meridian or vnder that horizon where hee is setting hee will appeare to bee of one and the selfe-same greatnesse without any sensible difference Whereas therefore they speake of the appearance of Starres they would haue them taken as abstracted from all impediments of sight or interposed vapours and so the reason may obtaine her force The fourth reason why the earth should bee seated in the midst alleaged by Ptolomie and others is this wheresoeuer any man stands on the Surface of the Earth six signes of the Zodiacke will shew themselues and the other six signes will lye hid and by consequence halfe the heauens will appeare the other halfe will bee vnder which is an euident reason that the Earth is in the midst for otherwise it could not so happen The former is confirmed by Ptolomie Alphraganus and the best Astronomers the consequence may bee inferred out of naturall reason This argument will sufficiently hold vpon this supposition mentioned before and to bee proued hereafter That the Earth hauing no sensible magnitude in respect of the Firmament no sensible difference can shew it selfe betwixt the Sensible and the Rationall Horizon Besides these reasons which make the matter more then probable others are produced by Ptolomie demonstratiue â—ot admitting any euident or probable exception or euasion The first is this If the Earth bee placed out of the Center of the world it must haue of necessity one of these three Sites or positions Either it must be in the plaine of the Equinoctiall or at least it must bee placed not onely without the plaine of the Equinoctiall but without the Axell-tree That is to expresse it plainer It must either bee placed beside the Axell-tree yet equally distant from both the Poles or else it must bee on the Axell-tree and so consequently neerer to one Pole then the other or thirdly it must needs be beside the Axell-tree yet neerer to one Pole then another If the first position were admitted these absurdities would of necessity follow First that in a right Spheare there would happen no Equinoctiall but onely in that Horizon which passeth by the Center of the world for example sake â—et there be imagined a Spheare BDCE whose Center is A let the Equator bee DE the Axel-tree of the world BC and let the Earth bee in F the right Horizon HG not passing by the Center of the world A which shall bee parallell to the Axis BC since the Equator cuts the Horizon in right angles It is most manifest that not only the equatour but other parallells of the same will bee vnequally diuided of the Horizon for as much as it passeth not by the Center or the Poles of the world wherefore it must needs follow that the dayes must continually be vnequall to the nights which contradicts all experience because in a right Spheare the dayes are alwayes found to bee equall to the nights Secondly out of this position it would follow that no man in a right Spheare should behold the halfe or hemispheare of the heauens but either a greater or lesser part as may be demonstrated out of the same Diagramme whereas sense can testifie that six signes of the Zodiacke are alwayes conspicuous aboue our Horizon and the other six alwayes hid only excepting that Horâ—zon which passeth by the Center of the Earth wherein the Mediety of Heauen is conspicuous Thirdly the same Starres in a cleere aire should not alwaies seeme of the same magnitude for if the earth be placed in the Equinoctiall plaine and beside the Axis of the world toward the Zenith or Meridian the Starres which are in the Meridian will appeare greater then in the East or West because they are neerer But if it bee placed neere the Nadir or midnight point they will appeare greater in the East or West then in the Meridian if it should bee placed towards
Spheare the Inclinatory Needle shall conforme it selfe in a Parallell-wise to the Axell of the Earth through that place passeth the Equinoctiall Line As to finde out the Meridian of any place wee are to vse the helpe of the Directory Needle so to the finding out of the Equatour and Parallels the Inclinatory Needle is most necessary because the former respects the Magneticall Motion of Direction the latter of Declination Now wheresoeuer wee shall see the Needle to conforme it selfe in such sort as it may lie Parallell with the Axell of the Earth we may assure our selues that such a place is vnder the Equinoctiall Circle The reason whereof wee haue giuen in our 3 Chapter out of the CoÌ„uertible nature of the Magnet and here needs no repetition only wee will insert this one figure wherein the line CD drawne through the Centers of two Inclinatory Needles lying Parallell to the Axell of the Earth A. B. will expresse this Equinoctiall line which wee here seeke For the Magneticall Inclinatory Needle being set in a Frame or Ring made for such a purpose will vnder the Equator respect one Pole no more then another but lie leuell with the Plaine of the Horizon as vnder the Poles it will make right Angles with the Plaine of the Horizon In the middle spaces betwitxt the Equatour and the Poles it will conforme it selfe in such sort as it makes certaine Angles with the Axell of the Earth though not equall yet proportionall to the Latitude out of which an ingenious Artificer may deduce the Parallels of any place without any obseruations of the Heauens as is taught by Instruments inuented by Gilbert Ridley and diuers others which haue vndertaken this subiect 16 Of the Inuention of the Equatour wee haue spoken In the site we ought to consider the placing of the Equator in respect of the world 1 The Equatour is an vnmoueable Circle whose Poles neuer vary from the â—ixt Poles of the world Whether the Poles of the Equator haue been any times varied from the Poles of the world is a controuersie which hath exercised the greatest wits Ioseph Scaliger trusting as it seemes more to ancient History then Moderne experiment seemes in two Epistles not only to make a doubt whether the Poles of the Equatour haue continued the same with the Poles of the world but superâ—iliously as the manner of most criticks is rather out of coniecture then Reason to taxe the common opinion of manifest errour and absurdity The ground and originall of this doubt growes out of the obseruation of the fixt Stars which haue since the Times of the Ancients beene found to bee moued out of their places or at least not to retaine the same points in the Period of the Sunnes Motion The chiefest Instances are taken from the stars in the Hornes of Aries which in Hyparchus time which liued aboue 60 yeeres before Ptolomy were obserued to bee not much distant from the Equinoxe and before him in the very point it selfe but in our time remoued about 28 Degrees off Also it is obserued in the Cynosure or Pole-star that in Hyparchus time it was distant from the Pole about 12 Degrees which wee finde in our time to bee scarce 3 Degrees distant To salue this Apparence Ptolomy inuented a slow motion of the Starry Heauen or Firmament whereby the Fixt stars might bee remoued farther off from the Equinoctiall points in the Eclipticke whence of a consequence the Pole-starre should not keep the same position in respect of the Pole it selfe but vary his site according to the Motion which opinion hath a long time passed without contradiction till Copernicus out of new grounds sought for this Motion in the Earth to which hee assigned no lesse then three Motions Since Copernicus arose Ioseph Scaliger who contradicting the common receiued grounds and yet for ought I see not trusting to the suppositions of Copernicus would bring in another opinion to wit that the Stars of the Firmâ—ment are not moued from the point of the Equinoxe but rather that the point is carryed away from the stars The decision of this point I dare not vndertake better becomming the learned and industrious endeauours of our worthy Professours M. Doctour Bainbrigge and M. Henry Brigges as best suiting with their Learning and Profession Ipse semipaganus ad sacra vatum carmen offero nostrum Neuerthelesse as a Learner for mine owne satisfaction I would willingly enter a little into conference with this great and admired Oracle Ioseph Scaliger to sound the certainty of his grounds That the Pole-starre saith hee was so far distant from the Pole as 12 Degrees was no true obseruation but the errour of Hyparchus who afterwards by his authority deceiued Ptolomy and He Posterity The Reasons hee alleadged are 1 Because Eudoxus which was more ancient then Hyparchus obserued the same star to bee in no other place then where now it is 2 Because that greater light of Astronomy Copernicus perceiuing the Equinoxes and Solstitiall points to be moued was enforced to inuent other grounds but because his demonstrations depended only on the Apparences hee sought out this effect in the motion of the Earth If it were manners to oppose so great a Scholler as Ioseph Scaliger I would aske a few questions why we should not credite the obseruations of Hyparchus Ptolomy and all posterity as well as of Eudoxus sith Antiquity without consent approbation is no great argument of truth Neuerthelesse if the matter be well examined we shall perhaps find Antiquity to be more firme on our side The same reason as I take it may be giuen for the stars in the Hornes of Aries as of the Pole-starre because all the fixt-starres by the consent of all are imagined to keep the same vniforme site among themselues in such sort as the varying of some would disorder all the rest at least argue the like variety or change of all Now to proue the stars of Aries to haue beene varyed many of the Ancients as Master Hues hath obserued liuing in diuers times haue confirmed The first star of Aries which in the time of Meto Atticus was obserued in the Vernall Intersection in the time of Thales Milesius was before it 2 Degrees in Tymocharis age it was after it 2 Degrees 24 Minutes In Hipparchus time 4 Degrees 40 Minutes in Abbumazars 17 Degrees 50 Minutes in Albarens 18 Degrees 10 Minutes in Arzachels 19 Deg. 37 Min. in Alphonsus his time 23 Deg. 48 Min In the time of Copernicus and Rheticus 27 Degrees 21. Min. In our time about 28. Against all these Testimonies if we should oppose the Testimony of Eudoxus and Scaâ—iger wee should bee thought very partiall to preferre them before the consent of Antiquity Eudoxus though very Antient being but one and the other one of the last If any should obiect that Eudoxus spake onely of the Pole-starre and not of the stars in the hornes of Aries I answere as before that the same reason is to bee
seene in this Figure wherein the Line CD represents vnto vs the sensible Horizon the Line AB the rationall The former is called Naturall or Physicall because it comes vnder the measure and apprehension of the sense the other Astronomicall because it is of great vse in Astronomy in the resolution of the Horizon into his parts wee ought to consider two things first the Poles of the Horizon Secondly his Periphery or circumference The Poles are commonly called Zenith or Nadir The Zenith is the Verticall point directly placed ouer our Head whereunto is opposite on the other side the Nadir directly vnder our foote and therefore may bee called the Pedall point The parts or intersections in the circumferences are designed out vnto vs by certaine lines discouering the coasts in the Terrestriall Globe These lines are called either windes or Rhumbes The windes with the Grecians were onely 8. But the latter Nauigators haue increased them to the number of 32 whereof foure were called Cardinall to wit such as are directed to the foure coastes of East West North and South The other are Collaterall being placed on each side of the Cardinall windes The Rhumbes are Lines passing by the Verticall point of any place as you may see in the Compasse going before Now because one Rhumbe answers to two coasts or windes the number of the Rhumbes is but halfe the number of the windes to wit 16. Here it is to bee noted that a Rhumbe differs from a Winde whereas a Rhumber is one line pointing out vnto vs two windes or coasts These Rhumbes as they are conceiued in the Globe were thought by Nonnus to bee the portions of greater Circles But learned Mr Hues in his booke out of vndoubted principles strongly confutes him The grounds which hee takes are these First that all Meridians of all places passe the Pole and cut the Equatour and all his parallels at right Angles Secondly If our course should bee directly any way else then towards one of the poles a new Meridian must succeed and a new Horizon Thirdly that the Iron Needle being touched with the Load-stone shewes the common section of the Meridian and the Horizon and on one side perpetually respects the North on the other the South Fourthly the same Rhumbe cuts all the Meridians atall places at equall Angles and euery where respects the like coasts in the world Fiftly that a greater circle drawne by the Verticall points if remoued from the Equatour cannot cut diuers Meridians at equall Angles Sixtly a greater circle drawne by the Verticall point of any place makes greater Angles with all other Meridians then with that from which it was first drawne whence it is necessary that the line which shall bee supposed to make Angles with diuers Meridians as the Rhumbes should bee bowed toward the Meridian I know not what would bee more said against the opinion of P. Nonnus who would haue all the Rhumbes to bee portions of greater circles To illustrate further the nature and vse of the Horizon wee will insert these Theoremes 2 The Sensible and Rationall Horizon in the Earth are much different in respect of the Firmament all one It may bee gathered out of the suppositions of Ptolomy and Alphraganus and almost all other Astronomers that no man being placed on the surface of the earth can precisely see the halfe of it For that Horizon which terminates our sight as we haue shewed is a plaine superficies euery way circularly extended in the Earth in such sort as men placed either in the Sea in a ship or in a great field or Countrey would thinke the visible part of the earth to bee plaine whose ends would seeme to touch the Heauens Whence must needs come to passe that such an Horizon cannot diuide the Spheare of the â—arth into two equall parts For so much will be found wanting as is measured betwixt that superficies which toucheth the earth and that which passeth by the Center of it equidistant from the other for this later only can diuide the earth into 2 equall parts according to Theodosius and may well bee seene in the former figure wherein are expressed both Horizons as well the visible as inuisible touching the Spheare in a point on the superficies as the Rationall passing by the Center Neuerthelesse wee must consider that the quantity intercepted betwixt these two Horizons in the Terrestriall Spheare is of little or no moment compared with the whole frame of the Heauens For sith the Heauens are so farre distant from vs it will come to passe that if two equidistant lines should bee drawne the one from the Eye the other from the Center of the Earth to the Firmament they would according to sense appeare one and the selfe-same by reason of the wonderfull distance as wee see in a long Gallery whose walls haue an equall distance the one from the other the walls will notwithstanding according to Opticall principles seeme widest where they are neerest and to close and shut vp at the ends or at least to concurre neerer much more must wee imagine this to happen in the sight if we compare the greatnesse of the Firmament with the Spheare of the Earth in whose magnitudes wee shall finde a incomparable disparity This will appeare by the Apparences for wee shall see the six signes of the Zodiacke conspicuous aboue our Horizon and the other six vnder it hid from our sight Also the Sunne and Moone when they are diametrally opposed almost at the same moment will appeare the one in the East the other in the West at least the one will rise soone vpon the setting of the other And if we beleeue Pliny the Moone was obserued to bee eclipsed in the East point the Sunne at the same time being in a sort aboue the Horizon in the West Such an Eclipse could not happen without a diametrall opposition of the two lights and therefore can the Sensible and the Rationall Horizon haue no sensible difference in respect of the Firmament 2 The sensible Horizon may be greater or lesser according to the nature and disposition of the place In this consideration wee take no notice of the difference of sights whether they be weaker or sharper but suppose an eye sufficient to kenne so farre in the Earth as the place will permit The difference then betwixt diuerse Horizons must bee sought out in the condition of the place A Sight placed on the top of a high mountaine may see much farther then one in a low valley compassed about with hills for as much as the Semidiameter of the sensible Horizon which is equall to the Rayes or Lines drawne from the extreame parts of the visible Earth are much greater The most indifferent iudgement of this Horizon may bee taken from the superficies of the Sea beyond sight of land for a man thereon sayling in a ship may perceaue the surface of the Sea as a plaine on euery side to bound the sight in a round circle
seeming together to terminate the end of the Earth and protension of the sight What the Semidiameter of this Horizon should bee hath not beene yet agreed vpon by all Erastothenes would haue it to bee 44 miles Macrobius 23. Proclus 250. Albertus Magnus 125. These differences seeme too great to admit of reconcilement yet taking into our consideration the disparity in account of miles betwixt the Moderne and Ancient Cosmographers as also betwixt the Greekes and Latines 2 the diuerse placing of the sight◠the various disposition of the places wherein they tooke their obseruations with other circumstances wee should diminish much of admiration But diuerse others whose opinion is more approued by moderne Cosmographers haue defined it to be about 63 miles The cause why this Horizon should bee so little in respect of the Rationall which passeth by the Center is the roundnesse of the earth interposed betwixt the sight and the farther parts which we haue formerly proued 3 The eye may be so placed on the Earth as it may behold the whole Hemispheare of the heauens and yet no part of the Terrestriall Spheare This may seeme a paradoxe with vulgar iudgement but it wants not a demonstration drawne from Astronomicall and Opticke principles To explaine which we must suppose out of the grounds already granted 1 That the Sensible and Rationall Horizon in respect of the Heauens ought to bee esteemed one and the selfe same by reason of the great distance and disproportion betwixt the Earth and the Firmament 2 That the eye of the beholder is in this sort supposed to bee in the Center because in this consideration the distance betwixt the superficies of the Earth and her Center is insensible 3 That the visuall Ray wherein the sight is carried is alwayes a right line Now suppose according to our former figure the Center of the eye wherein consists the sight to be in the point of the Terrestriall surface F the distance as wee said betwixt F and E the Center being insensible the eye is imagined in the center likewise the Horizons CFD and AEB for the same cause in respect of the Heauens are to bee esteemed one and the same because CA and DB haue no sensible difference It is then manifest that the eye so placed will behold in the heauenly Spheare all which is included betwixt A and B to wit the Hemispheare AGB bounded by the Rationall Horizon AEB Neuerthelesse in the Terrene Globe it can see nothing at all For either it should see onely the point F wherein it is seated or else some other point or part distant from it the former cannot bee admitted because the eye being there supposed to bee placed should according to this supposition behold it selfe which is against philosophy For granting the sense only a direct and not a reflexe operation it cannot bee imagined how it should perceiue it selfe Finally it cannot see any point in the Earth besides for then this point would either bee placed aboue the point F but this cannot bee because F being supposed in the superficies admits of no point higher in the Spheare or else vnder it but this cannot bee because CFD being a tangent line and touching the Spheare in F only there cannot according to Geometricall principles bee drawne any right line from the point F which can touch any point in the said Spheare but all will cut it and so the section cause impediment to the sight the Earth being an opacous and round body 4 From the Horizontall circle is reckoned the eleuation of the Pole in any place assigned The finding out of the eleuation of the Pole is a matter most necessary for a Cosmographer as shall appeare after where we shall speake of the Latitudes and Climates It is defined to bee an arch of the Meridian betwixt the Horizon and the Pole For the finding out of which many wayes haue beene deuised by Artificers The first is taken from the Sunne the second from the Pole-starre From the Sun it may bee performed two wayes 1 At the time of the Equinoxe 2 At any other time of the yeere At the time of the Equinoxe it may be found out by the obseruation of the Sunnes shadow at Noone-tide in this manner Let the Meridian height of the Sunne bee subtracted from the whole quadrant which is 90 degrees there will remaine the distance of the Zenith to the Equator which is equall to the eleuation of the Pole In the second place at any time of the yeere to know the eleuation of the Pole out of the Meridian height of the Sunne it is necessary out of an Ephimerides or any other way accurately to finde out the place of the Sunne in his Eclipticke for the day proposed together with his declination for the declination of the Sunne the Sunne being in the six Northerne signes subtracted from the Meridian altitude or added the Sunne being in the six Southerne signes will precisely giue the height of the Equator or which is the same the Meridian heigth of the Sun in the Equinoctiall which being once found we may worke as in the former By the Pole-starre wee may likewise find it out if wee obserue it three distinct times in the same night for three points being giuen euery Geometrician will finde out the Center which in this case must bee the Pole Many other wayes haue beene inuented by skilfull Astronomers which appertaining rather to Astronomy then Cosmography I purposely omit 24 Concerning the Horizon two things are chiefly to bee noted the Inuention and the Distinction The Inuention is considered either as it concernes the Zenith or Pole or the Plaine of the Horizon For both which we will set downe these Rules 1 The height of the Pole subtracted from the quadrant of 90 Degrees the residue will shew the Zenith or distance of the Zenith from the Pole The reason is euident because the height of the Pole together with the distance of the Pole and the Zenith make an arch which is a whole quadrant so that the height of the Pole subducted the distance will remaine as for example if wee put the eleuation of the Pole here in Oxford to be 51 ½ degrees or thereabout as hath been formerly taught Let these 51 ½ degrees bee subtracted from 90 then will remaine 38 ½ which is the true Zenith for that place 2 A line which makes right angles with a plummet perpendicularly falling on it will designe the Horizontall plaine The practise of the proposition is vsually shewed by Artificers by a certaine instrument called a Leuell which is made in a triangle forme from the vertex or head of which a line with a plummet fals on the Basis. Now when it shall bee found to be so placed that the line and plummet falling on the Basis shall make right Angles with it and cut the whole Triangle into two equall halfes wee may account the Base-line to bee the plaine of the Horizon For of this plaine such is the position
that it inclines no more on the one side then on the other but lies euen as wee see in the surface of the water when it rests quiet without motion for howsoeuer the water so resting as we haue formerly demonstrated is alwayes sphericall yet in a small distance in the sensible Horizon it may to sense be represented by a plaine 25 So much for the Inuention The Distinction of the Horizon is into three sorts for either it is a right Horizon or oblique or parallell 26 A right Horizon is that which with the Equator makes Right Angles This distinction growes naturally out of the Respect of the Horizon to the Equatour For sith the Equatour is one and the selfe-same immoueable circle and the Horizon is mutable and changed according to his diuerse verticall points they cannot alwayes keepe the same situation in regard one of the other This they haue reduced into three heads for either it is Right or Oblique or Parallell The Right is so called from the right Angles which the Horizon makes with the Equator wherein the two poles are alwayes couched in the Horizon and the Equator passing directly ouer their heads as is plaine to be seene in this figure here affixed such an Horizon haue these Inhabitants which dwell directly vnder the Equinoctiall line in the very middest of the Torrid Zone such an Horizon agrees to a great part of Africke to a part of Peru in America Also to most of the Molucco Ilands the Ilands of Taprobana and S. Thomas but no part of Europe is subiect to such a Right Horizon The cause of this variation of Horizons is the naturall roundnesse of the Earth For the earth being supposed to bee sphericall as we haue before demonstrated it must of necessity follow that the site of the poles should be changed according to the diuersity of the places Also because wheresoeuer we are placed on the Earth as wee haue shewed all impediments of the sight as mountaines and vallies put apart we can behold the Hemispheare of the Heauens which middle part being set downe is diuided from the part vnseene by the Horizon it must needs bee that either both the poles must be in the Horizon and so make a Right Spheare or at least one must bee aboue and seene and the other hid from the sight and so much as one is eleuated aboue the Horizon must the other bee couched vnder it For otherwise wee should see more or lesse then a precise moity or halfe of the Heauens sith the poles differ one from the other the halfe of the whole Heauens to wit by the Diameter of the world 27 An oblique Horizon is that which with the Equator makes oblique Angles Those Inhabitants are said to haue an oblique Horizon whose site and position declines somewhat from the Equator either to the North or South towards either pole yet so that the pole bee not eleuated so high as 90 Degrees for then it becomes a Parallell Horizon as wee shall shew in the next The representation of such an oblique Spheare may bee seene in this Diagram wherein the Horizon cuts the Equatour at oblique Angles whence it is called oblique Clauius seemes to adde another reason of this appellation to wit because in such an Horizon one pole is alwayes eleuated aboue and the other hid but this reason seemes too generall as that which agrees not onely to an Oblique but also to a Parallell Spheare From this Horizon by Iohannes de Sucrobosco the Spheare is called Artificiall because as Clauius coniectures it is variable and doth naturally diuide the Globe For whereas the Horizon of the Right Spheare passeth by either Pole it seemes by it selfe as it were Naturally and Directly to diuide the Spheare and this diuision is no way variable as that it should bee more or lesse Right but contrariwise in the oblique Spheare sith one Pole is placed aboue and the other beneath it seemes to be placed out of his naturall site and position Moreouer this Oblique Horizon is variable according to the diuersity of habitations so that it may be to some more to others lesse Oblique for so much the more Oblique must it be by how much the neerer it is placed to the Poles The Inhabitants of an Oblique Spheare are such as seated betwixt the Equator and either of the Tropicks of Cancer and Capricorne or such as dwell betwixt either Tropicke and the Polar-circle 28 A Parallell Horizon is that which lies Parallell to the Equator making no angles at all with it Such a kinde of Horizon those Inhabitants are said to haue which are included betwixt the Poles of the world and the Polar circles whose Horizon cuts not the Equatour at any Angles at all either Right or Oblique but lies Parallell vnto it as we see in this Figure here set downe Some haue reduced this kinde of Spheare to an Oblique Horizon in regard that in this site our Pole is eleuated aboue the Horizon and the other depressed vnder in which opinion Clauius seemes to second Iohannes de Sacrobosco on whom hee comments But this is ridiculous because the Spheare is called Right or Oblique as wee haue taught from the Angles which the Horizon makes with the Equator wherefore that Horizon which makes no Angles at all cannot bee called either Right or Oblique but is necessarily distinguished from either On this distinction of Horizons is grounded the diuision of the Inhabitants of the Earth according to three kinds of Spheares of whose accidents and proprieties wee shall more fully treat hereafter in the dictinction of the parts and Inhabitants of the Terrestriall Spheare because such proprieties cannot so well be taught without the knowledge of the Artificiall Spheare whose Nature and Fabricke wee shall labour God willing in our next Chapter to vnfold CHAP. VII Of the Artificiall Representation of the Terrestriall Spheare 1 HAuing hitherto treated of the Terrestriall Spheare as it is Naturall or reall wee are in the next place to speake of the Artificiall Globe The Artificiall Globe is an expression or imitation of the Spheare of the Earth 2 The Artificiall imitation of the Earth is either Common or Magneticall The common is againe twofold either in the Globe or in the Geographicall Mappe or Table 3 The Geographicall Globe is a round solid Body adorned with Lineaments pictures seruing for the vse of Geographers Who was the first Inuentour of this Artificiall Globe it is not euident some thinke with Pliny that it was found out by Atlas and carried into Greece by Hercules Others haue ascribed it to Anaximander Milesius some to Musaeus as Diogenes Laërtius others to other Authors amongst whom Architas Tarentinus is not forgotten as one that was esteemed the rarest Mathematician of his time But all these were out-stripped by Archimedes the Syracusan Mathematician who is said to haue composed a Spheare of transparent glasse representing vnto the life the whole frame of the Heauens wherein the Sunne
Yet amongst the later haue not all expressed themselues alike some haue pourtrayed out of the Earth in fashion of a Heart some according to other figures but in this perhaps as Painters they haue beene more iudulgent to fancy then common vse others haue gone about to expresse the Globe of the Earth in Elipticke Lines which the Machanicians call ouall But wee as well in this as other matters preferring choice before abundance will content our selues with one or two which vse hath stampt more current and experience hath found most vsefull to which as a ground we will premise this Theoreme 1 The Planispheare is grounded on a certaine aspect of the Terrestriall Spheare wherein the Eye of the beholder is so conceiued to bee fixed in some point of the Globe that it may see the one halfe or Hemispheare Concerning the position of the Eye two things are here remarkable 1 Where the Eye is supposed to bee placed either aboue the conuexe superficies or in the concaue some seeme to place it aboue the conuexe superficies of which opinion Gemma Frisius seemes to be who would haue the Eye to be set at an infinite distance others although not admitting of such an infinite distance deny not the Eye to bee aboue the conuexe superficies but neither way can be warranted Not the former because of the impossibility of the supposition For to imagine the Eye to bee set at an infinite distance were to deny a sight or aspect which they would haue to bee the ground of this projection For no object can bee perceiued but such as is bounded and determined in a certaine and proportionate space Neither can the later way passe cleere without exception because to such a projection such a sight is required which can see the whole Hemispheare for otherwise would it be vnperfect and want of the perfection of the Globe which containes two absolute and entire Hemispheares But now no place can be imagined without the Globe wherein the Eye can be so placed as to see the one halfe or Hemispheare for as much as it is impossible from the opposite points of any Diameter to draw two tangent lines which may meet together or cut one the other in the same point but will bee Parallell the one to the other wherefore wee may conclude that the Eye in this projection cannot be imagined without the conuexe surface of the Spheare but rather in the concaue How the Eye should bee imagined to be in the concaue superficies may be in this sort explayned wee must suppose a great Spheare of the Glasse or other such Diaphanous matter inscribed with all his Parallels and Meridians in such sort as they are represented vnto vs in the Globe the Eye according to opticall Principles may bee so placed neere the Center of it as it shall bee able to see precisely the one Hemispheare described with al his circles as we find it in the spheare I say neere not in the Center because the Angle of vision as we finde it taught in the Perspectiues doth not extend to a right Angle but is somewhat lesse 2 we must inquire in what point in the superficies the eye is placed To which wee answer that the place of the eye is of it selfe indifferent because it may bee imagined any where in what point soeuer Neuerthelesse wee will only fasten on two especiall wayes which are of most vse wherein the propositions following shall informe vs. 9 This Planispheare is twofold the first we tearme equinoctiall which supposeth the eye to be fixed on some point of the equinoctiall circle the other Polar wherein the sight is conceiued to bee fixed on the Pole of the Terrestiall Globe The ground and fabricke of the former is taught in these Propositions 1 The eye conceiued to be fixed on any point of the equatour will designe out vnto vs a Planispheare wherein all the circles are proiected circularly except the Equator and that Meridian which passeth by the said point This may easily bee shewne out of the Opticke principles we will suppose for example sake the eye to bee placed in some point of the Equatour which shall bee 90 degrees of longitude from the Equinoctiall point which kinde of proiection wee haue in many of our common Geographicall Maps of the earth In this manner of sight if the terrestriall Hemispheare which may only be comprehended by it be distinguished by this Parallells and Meridians ordered and ranged by distances of equall Arches in such number as we please It is most certaine that the Eye seeing distinctly and separatly euery one of these Meridians and Parallels will forme to it selfe so many visuall Pyramides called by Geometricians Cones which cones by this meanes will be Scalenes and will haue for their Bases those Meridians and Parallels the tops whereof will meet together in the same point and eye of the beholder which according to this supposition is the Pole of the Meridian which passeth by the Canaries called the first Meridian and representing vnto vs the Equinoctiall colure Now because these lines are â—ut by the plaine of the Meridian passing by the Canaries it followes out of the same grounds that their common sections and that of the Meridian are the proportions of circumferences which represent vnto vs in this Plaine the Meridians and Parallels seene in this manner of sight Notwithstanding that which is vnder the 90 degree of longitude as likewise the Equatour cannot according to Opticke demonstration be seene but as right lines cutting one the other at Right Angles in the Center of the same Meridian of the Canaries The Theory being expressed we will in the next proposition shew the manner of proiection 2 How to describe the Meridians and Parallels in the Equinoctiall Planispheare To shew the practise of this Theoreme let there be drawne a circle ACBD as you see in this figure diuided by two Diameters cutting on the other at right Angles in the Center into foure Quadrants or equall parts whereof each one is againe to bee diuided into 90 degrees In this the line AB is imagined to expresse the halfe of the Equatour as the line CD of the Meridian in which the two points C and D designe out the two Poles Let a rule bee drawne from the Pole C by euery tenth or fift degrees of the halfe circle ADB and let euery section of the Equatour and the rule be precisely noted In like sort from the point B let the Rule bee moued by euery fift and tenth Degree of the semicircle CAD and let euery seuerall Interfection of the rule and the Meridian CD bee precisely noted Then placing one foot of the compasse in the line CD which must bee drawne out longer because in it the Centers of the Parallels must be found out let the other be moued in order to euery intersection of the Meridian noted out and let so many circles be drawne as intersections which circles will bee so many Parallels The finding out
industriously calculated as I haue here inserted to saue others a new labour of calculation The Meridians are more easily found by hanging any directory wier or needle ouer the Terrella one end of which pointing towards the North and the other towards the South will discouer the Meridian line CHAP. VIII Of the measure of the Terrestriall Globe 1 HItherto haue we handled the Terrestriall Globe primarily in such proprieties as absolutely agree vnto its nature In the second place we are to handle such as secondarily arise out of the former Here wee are to handle two chiefe points 1 The Measure 2 The Distinction 2 The measure is that by which we find out the quantity of the whole Earth Good reason haue we to cal this the Secondary part of Geography for as much as these accidents and proprieties we here consider arise altogether out of the former In the former Treatise wee haue diuided the Naturall Spheare of the Earth from the Artificiall But in this part for auoiding of tedious repetitions of the same things wee haue ioyned them together For howsoeuer the measuring and dictinctions of the Earth bee truely grounded on the nature of the earth it selfe yet can it not be well expressed and taught without the materiall Instrument we haue therefore thought good to consider the measure of the earth before wee come vnto the Distinction because it is more simple and vncompound depending on the lineaments and measure of one circle whereas the Distinction necessarily requires the coniunction and combination of diuerse circles as Meridians and Parallels compared one with the other as shall bee taught hereafter Whether the great masse of the earth can bee measured or no seemes a matter not agreed on by all Some haue held an opinion that it cannot bee measured in regard of the infinite magnitude wherewith they thought it endowed which opinion seemes deriued from some of the Platonicks who ascribing to the Earth another figure besides the Sphericall haue cast themselues vpon vncertainties and being notable to reduce the Quantity of the Earth according to their owne grounds to any certaine measure haue denied it to bee measurable But the ground of this opinion wee haue taken away before in prouing the earth to be of a true Sphericall nature and therefore circumscribed in certaine bounds apt to be measured Another conceit more absurd then the former is not only the common people whose condition might excuse their ignorance but of such as would bee esteemed learned who contend that the greatnesse of the earth cannot bee measured the onely reasons they can alleadge for themselues are 1 That a great part of the earth is vnaccessible by reason of steepe rocks high mountaines spacious and thicke woods moorish fogges and such like impediments 2 That the parts of it are for the most part vneuen and subiect to no regular figure without the which no measure can bee exact The first cauill is of no moment because whereas wee affirme that the Earth by man may be measured we hold it not necessary that it should be trauersed ouer by iourneyes or voyages For as much as to the finding out of the Quantity of the whole Terrestriall Spheare it may seeme sufficient to know the measure and proportion of any little part in respect of the Heauens As for example what number of Miles Leagues or Furlongs answer to any degree or degrees in the Heauens wherfore we suppose the Earth to be measured ouer not with our feet but with our wits which may by Mathematicall rules be taught to march forward where our legges fayle vs The second obiection only proues thus much that the Earth partaking of so many vnequall parts and irregular formes cannot in the measuring admit of so much exactnesse as if it were endowed with one vniforme face yet it is exact enough to contenta Cosmographer who measureth not by feet and inches but by leagues and miles in which wee little regard such a needlesse curiosity 1 The common measure by which the quantity of the Earth is knowne are Miles and Furlongs Here is to be noted that such instruments as serue for measuring are of two sorts either greater or lesser the smaller are of diuerse sorts as a Graine Inch Foot Pearch Pole and such like Some of these howsoeuer sometime vsefull in Topographie can haue little or no vse at all in the vast greatnesse of the whole Earth Wherefore the Geographer seldome descends so low but takes notice of greater measures such as are Miles Furlongs where we may obserue by the way that the vsuall measuring amongst the Grecians was by Stadia or furlongs amongst many of the Latines by miles vnder which we also cōprehend Leagues these miles are diuersly varied according to the diuersity of Countries so that in some places they are esteemed longer in other shorter which differences may be learned out of this ensuing Table The instruments of measuring the Earth are 1 Furlong containing 125 Geometicall paces or 625 feet 2 Mile which is either 1 Proper containing 8 Furlongs or 1000 paces 2 Improper which is either 1 League which is either 2 German mile which is either the 1 Old containing 12 Furlongs 2 Newer containing 16 Furlongs 3 Common of 24 Furlongs 1 Common which is 32 Furlongs or foure Italian miles 2 Greatest containing 5000 paces which is called the Suenian or Heluetian mile Howsoeuer this Distinction of miles may be many wayes profitable especially in the Topographicall part yet shall wee seldome make vse of any other then the common Germane mile or the common Italian mile To which as the most knowne the rest may easily be reduced 3 The obiect here proposed to bee measured is the Spheare of the Earth The Dimensions according to which it is measured are either Simple or Compound 4 The simple is twofold either the Perimeter or the Diameter The Perimeter otherwise called the circumference is a great circle measuring the Earth round about 5 The Inuention of the Perimeter of the Earth depends on these following Propositions 1 If two or more circles bee drawne about the same Center and from the Center to the Circumference be drawne two right lines The Arches of all the Circles comprehended within the said right lines will bee like and proportionall one to the other This Proposition being meerely Geometricall is taken here as a ground without farther demonstration whereof if any man doubt hee may haue recourse to Clauius Commentaries vpon Iohannes de Sacrobosco This principle granted will beget these two Consectaries 1 As one degree is to the number of correspondent miles or furlongs so all degrees of the circles to the number of miles or Furlongs measuring the quantity of the Perimeter of the Earth 2 Wherefore one degree or portion of the Circle being knowne by his number of miles or furlongs the whole Circumference may be found out The reason of this consequence euery Arithmetician can easily shew out of the Golden Rule The chiefe point then
experimentally according to Miles Furlongs or such like measures How many Authors of great name and estimation haue differed amongst themselues euery man may enforme himselfe out of this Table here inserted These differences wee finde diuersly related but of all others which Authors haue set forth  Authors Furlongs Miles  Strabo and Hipparchus 252000 31500  Eratosthenes 250000 31250 The circuit of the whole earth containes according to Possidonius the ancieÌ„t Arabians 240000 30000 Ptolomie 180000 22500  The later Arabians 204000 25500  Italians and Germans 172800 21600 I preferre the iudgements of Mr Robert Hues For as much as it is not grounded on common tradition but industriously by himselfe deriued out of the Ancients by diligent search and examination as by one whose iudgement being armed as well with skill in the language as the knowledge of antiquity scornes to be iniured by translation What should bee the cause of these differences is a matter which hath staggered curious searchers into Antiquities more then the former Euery opinion being supported with the names and authorities of such renowned Authors might challenge a pitch aboue the measure of my Decision only I may not bee thought ouer presumptuous to coniecture where I cannot define especially hauing so good a guide as my forenamed Author to tread out the way before mee Wherefore supposing as a ground these Authors so much differing about the measure of the earth to haue beene in some sort led by reason The differences must needs arise out of one of these causes either the errour or negligence of the obseruers in trusting too much to others relations without any farther search or else the defect in the Mathematicall grounds out of which they deriued their demonstration or the diuersity of measures vsed in this worke or finally from the misapplication of these measures to the distances whence may arise some errour out of the experimentall measuring of places in the earth In the first place it may perhaps be doubted whether Aristotle defining the measure of the Earth to bee 400000 furlongs were not deceaued by relations for as much as hee auoucheth it from the Mathematicians of his times whose authority and credit for ought wee know deserues as well to bee forgotten as their names But this answer might seeme too sharp in the other for as much as wee find them registred for Masters in their science and such as could not easily bee cosened by others impostures Neither can wee imagine the second to bee any cause of their errour for the same reason because the wayes these Mathematicians vsed in finding out the circuit of the earth are by writers of good credit commended to posterity as warrantably grounded on certaine demonstrations being no other then what wee haue shewed before which admit of no Parallogisme In the third place wee ought to examin whether the diuersity of opinion concerning this matter proceeded from diuersity of the measures which were vsed in this worke Nonnius and Pâ—â—ceruâ— would needs perswade that the Furlongs whereby they measured the earth were not the same Maurolycus and Xilander talke of diuerse kindes of paces Maurolycus labours to reconcile both but without effect First whereas they would haue diuerse kâ—nde of paces it cannot be denied but in the meane time we cannot learne that the Grecians euer measured their Furlongs by Paces but either by Feet or Faddomes A Faddome which the Greeks call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is the measure of the extension of the hands together with the breast betwixt containing six feet which is a kinde of measuring well knowne vnto our Mariners in sounding the depth of the Sea This measure notwithstanding is by many translated a Pace by what reason let any man iudge Xilander in translating Strabo renders it an Ell Secondly for a Furlong it containes according to Herodoiuâ— an ancient Grecian writer 600 Feet which is also testified by Suidas being much later A Furlong containes 100 Faddomes euery Faddome foure Cubits A Cubit according to Heron a Foot and halfe or 24 Digits Now for the variety of Furlongs it is true that Censorinus makes three kindes For either it is called the Italian consisting of 625 Feet which is of most regard in measuring the Earth or the Olympian of 600 Feet or the Pythian containing 1000 Feet But to let passe this latter we shall finde by serious consideration that the Italian and Olympian Furlongs differ only in name and are indeed the same For the Italian containing 625 Roman Feet according to Pliny in his second booke is â—quall to the Olympian hauing 600 Grecian Feet For a Foot with the Grecians exceeds the Roman Foot by a twenty fourth part as much as is the difference betwixt 600 and 625. Hence wee see how little certainty can bee expected of such as goe about to reconcile these opinions out of the various vse and acception of the measures The most probable assertion then is that the errour was grounded on this that the distances of places mentioned by the foresaid Authors were not by themselues exactly measured but taken vp vpon trust on the relation of trauellers wherein they might easily bee mistaken For instance wee will take Eratosthenes and Possidonius as of greatest credit who are notwithstanding taxed for many errours in their experimentall obseruations whereas it is cleere that Ptolomy grounded his opinion on the distances of the places exactly measured as is witnessed by his designation of the Latitude of the earth so farre as it was discouered and knowne Eratosthenes for mistaking in the measure of distances is much taxed by Hyparchus as we find in Strabo For betwixt Alexandria and Carthage hee reckons aboue 13 thousand furlongs whereas by a more diligent enquiry there are found to bee but 9 thousand Likewise Possidoniuâ— is knowne to bee mistaken in that hee made the Distance betwixt Rhodes and Alexandria to bee 5000 Furlongs whereas out of the relation of Marriners some haue made it 4000 some 5000 as it is witnessed by Eratosthenes in Strabo who notwithstanding sayes that hee found by Instruments that it was not aboue 3750 and Strabo wouâ—d haue it somewhat lesse as 2640. Maurolycus going about to defend Possidonius against Ptolomy brings nothing but friuoâ—ous reasons vnworthy so good an author Out of all which hath beene spoken our former Corollary will bee manifest that the diuersity of opinions concerning the circumference of the Earth arose from the experimentall mistake in the distances of places where they trusted to other mens relations rather then their owne knowledge 6 The Diameter is a right line passing by the Center of the Earth from one side to the other and measuring the thicknesse of it the inuention of which depends on these Rules 1 As 22 is to 7 so is the circumference of a circle to the Diameter wherefore the circumference of the Earth multiplied by 7 and diuided by 22 will produce the Diameter The exact proportion betwixt the Circumferences of a
circle the Diameter being the ground of the Quadrature of a circle is a matter which hath set a work the greatest wits of the world hauing notwithstanding as yet by no man been brought to discouery in so much as Pitiscus and other good Mathematicians might well doubt whether euer it would come to light Nâ—uerthelesse where exactnesse cannot bee found wee must come as neere as we can The neerest proportion in numbers which any could yet light on is as 22 to 7 which in so great and massie a body as the Earth may passe without any sensible or explicable errour Supposing then out of our precedent Suppositions the whole circuit of the earth to bee 21600 Italian-miles which is the common opinion now receaued I multiply according to the golden Rule 21600 by 7 whence will arise 151200 which being diuided by 22 the Quotient will render 6872 11 8 which is the Diameter or thicknesse of the Earth some lesse curious are content to take only the third part of the circumference for the Diameter which will be 7200 which account is lesse exact yet sufficient for an ordinary Cosmographer for as much as 328 miles which is the difference is of no great moment in the measure of the whole Earth 2 By the knowne height of some mountaine without the knowledge of the circumference of the Earth the Diameter may be found out This is a way inuented by Maurolycus which proceeds in a contrary manner to the former because the former by the circumference first supposed to be known shewes vs a way to find out a Diameter but this first seeks out the Diameter by which wee may finde out the circumference the practise is in this manner Let the circuit of the Earth be conceaued to be BCD as we see in this Figure in which let there be chosen an high Mountain whose Altitude AB may bee knowne by the rules of measuring altitudes then from the Mountaines top A by the rules of measuring longitudes must the whole space of Sea or Land bee measured so far as it can be seene so that the visuall Beame AC may touch the Superficies of the Earth in C let the space theÌ„ which is seene in the Earth be BC which although in it selfe it bee crooked and not plaine yet can it not sensibly differ from a Plaine for as much as the Arch BC is extraordinarily little if compared with the whole Earth These grounds thus laid we must proceed by a Geometricall manner of argumentation in this sort Here are to bee obserued foure right lines whereof the first is AB the heigth of the mountaine obserued the second is the visuall Ray AC the third AD consisting of the height of the mountaine and the Diameter of the Earth The fourth BC the distance which is seene for as wee haue shewed it may without sensible errour bee taken for a right line Now for as much as AB BC are knowne their Quadrates by the 47 proposition of the first of Euclide will also bee knowne which being equall to the square of AC the square of the right line AC will likewise bee knowne But the square of the right line AC sith it toucheth the circle will be equall to a Right Angle Figure contained vnder DA AB wherefore the right angle so conceaued will be knowne But AB is the knowne heigth of the mountaine wherefore the right line AD will easily be knowne if wee diuide the knowne right Angle contained vnder AB AD by the right line AB for the Quotient will giue the right line AD from which if wee subduct AB the knowne height of the mountaine then will remaine the Diameter of the Earth BD which was here to be performed from this inuention will arise this Corollary 1 The Diameter of the Earth first supposed to be knowne the circumference may be found out in this manner as 7 is in proportion to 22 so is the Diameter to the Circumference 2 Wherefore let the knowne number of the Diameter be multiplied by 22 and the Product be diuided by 7 the quotient will giue the Circumference As for example according to our former instance Let vs suppose the Diameter of the Earth to bee 6872 8 11 this number being multiplied by 22 will produce 15120 which product diuided by 7 wee shall finde in the Quotient 21600 which is the circumference of the Earth 7 The compound dimensions according to which the Spheare of the Earth is proposed to bee measured are either the Superficies or the Solidity 8 The Superficies is againe twofold either Plaine or Conuexe the Plaine is the space included in the Perimeter 9 The plaine Superficies may be found out two wayes either by the Circumference or the Diameter both which wayes taught in these Rules 1 If the whole circumference bee multiplied in it selfe and the product bee diuided by 12 4 7 the quotient will shew the Superficies included in the circle As in the former example wee will take the Circumference of the Earth to be 21600 Italian-miles let this number be multiplied in it selfe and the product thereof diuided by 12 4 7 the Quotient will amount vnto 9278180 which is the plaine superficies of the Earth 2 If the Semi-Diameter of a circle be multiplied by the halfe part of the Circumference there will arise the measure of the Plaine Superficies contained in the Circumference The reason hereof is shewed by Clauius in his Tract de Isoperimetris Proposit. 4. where is demonstrated that a Right Angle figure comprehended of the Semi-Diameter of any circle and the halfe of the Circumference will be equall to the Circle it selfe of whose parts it is comprehended 10 So much concerning the Plaine Superficies the knowledge and inuention of the Conuexe may bee performed two wayes either by the Diameter and Circumference or else by the Space contained within the Circumference according to these Propositions 1 If the Circumference and Diameter be multiplied the one into the other the product will shew the number of square miles in the face of the Terrestriall Globe As for example let the Diameter of the Earth containing according to the common account 80111 9 12 furlongs bee multiplied by the whole circumference which is 252000 there will arise the Conuexe Superficies of the whole earthly Spheare which is 20205818181 9 11. 2 If the space contained in the greatest circle in the Spheare bee multiplied by 4 there will bee produced the whole conuexe Superficies of the Spheare How to finde out the space or plaine Superficies is a matter taught before which being once found is easily multiplied by 4 and so will giue vs the number sought 11 The last and greatest compound Dimension according to which the Earth is measured is the Solidity consisting of Length Bredth and Height or Thicknesse This may bee found out two wayes either by the Diameter and Conuexe Superficies first supposed to be known or by the knowledge of a great circle without supposing
the Supperficies to be first knowne both wayes shall bee expressed in these Propositions 1 If the Semidiameter of the Spheare be multiplied into the third part of the Conuex Superficies of the said Spheare there will arise the whole Solidity of the Earth This is demonstrated by Geometricians For a solide Rectangle compreheÌ„ded of the Semidiameter of the Spheare and the third of the CoÌ„uex Superficies of it will be equall to the Spheare it selfe As for example if the Semidiameter of the earth containing 40090 10 11 Furlongs bee multiplied by the third part of the Conuex Superficies containing to wit 67352727 3 11 there will arise the solidity of the earth which will containe 27002-3 06611570 3 11 Cubicke Furlongs That is the solidity of the earth will comprehend so many Cubes cantaining euery side so many Furlongs as there are vnities in the said number For the Areae or spaces comprehended of Solide figures are measured by the Cubes of those lines by whose squares the Conuexe Superficies of those lines are measured 2 If the greatest circle bee multiplied by â…” of the whole Diameter the product will shew the solidity of the Spheare This way is also demonstrated by Clauius in the same tract of measuring Magnitudes It may Arithmetically bee deduced in this sort If any Spheare whatsoeuer hath a Diameter of 14 Palmes and should bee multiplied by 3 1 7 the circumference of the greatest circle containing it will be found to be 44 whose halfe being 22 if it be multiplied into the Semidiameter 7 there will arise the Superficies of the greatest circle 154 which number if wee multiply by two third parts of the Diameter that is by 9â…“ there will bee produced the solidity of the said Spheare to wit consisting of 1437 â…” Cubicke palmes In the like sort may wee worke by miles or furlongs in measuring the whole terrestriall Globe which is a more conuenient measure for the massie Globe of the Earth CHAP. IX Of the Zones Climates and Parallels 1 OF the Measure of the Earth we haue treated in our former Chapter In the next place wee must speake of the Distinction of the Terrestriall Spheare which is either in regard of Spaces or Distances 2 Spaces are portions in the Spheare bounded by the Parallell circles such as are the Zones Climats and Parallels 3 These are againe considered two wayes either in themselues or else in their Adiuncts or Inhabitants belonging to them 4 A Zone is a space included betwixt two lesser and named circles or else betwixt a lesser circle and the Pole of the world The spaces into which the Terrestriall Spheare is diuided are either Greater or Lesser The Greater is a Hemispheare which ariseth out of one only circle by it selfe without the Combination of more Such are chiefly of three sorts The first is made by the Equatour which diuides the whole Globe into the north and the South Hemispheare The second is of the Meridian whose office it is to part the Earth into the Easterne and Westerne Hemispheares The third of the Horizon which diuides the Spheare into the vpper and lower halfes But these parts arising as I said out of one only circle are handled before with the circles themselues In this place wee are to speake of such parts as arise out of the Combination and respect of circles one with another Such as are the Zones Climats and Parallels A Zone signifies as much as a girdle or band because by it the spaces in the Earth are as it were with larger bands compassed about The Grecians haue sometimes giuen this name Zone to the Orbs of the Planets as Theon Alexandrinus in his Comment on Aratus in these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 There are saith he in the Heauens seauen Zones not contorminate with the Zodiacke whereof the first is possessed by Saturne the second by Iupiter c. But this acception of the name is far off from our purpose The name Zone as it is with vs in vse is by the Latine Poëts rendred sometimes Facia sometimes Plaga both signifying one and the selfe-same thing which is as much as a space comprehended within two Named and lesser Parallels or at least betwixt such a Parallell and the Pole it selfe because as wee shall shew hereafter Zones are of two sorts These Zones are in number fiue which diuision hath beene familiar with our Latine Poëts as may appeare by these verses of Virgil. Quinque tenent coelum Zonae quarum vna corusco Semper Sole rubens torrida semper ab Igne Quam circum extremae dextrâ laeuáque trahuntur Caerule â glacie concretae atque imbribus atris Has inter Mediamque duae Mortalibus aegris Munere concessae Diuûm c. Fiue Zones ingirt the Skies whereof one fries With fiery Sun-beames and all scorched lies 'Bout which the farthest off on either hand The blew-eyed Ice and brackish showres command 'Twixt these two and the midst the Gods doe giue A wholsome place for wretched man to liue Which description of Virgil little differs from that wee finde in Ouid in these Verses Duae dextrâ coelum totidemque sinistrâ Parte secant Zonae quinta est ardentior illis Sic onus inclusum numero distinxit eodem Cura Dei totidemque Plagae tellure premuntur Quarum quae Media est non est habitabilis aestu Nix â—egit alta duas totidem inter vtramque locauit Temperiemque dedit mista cum Frigore Flamma Two Girdles on the right hand on the left As many cut the Skies more hot's the fift So God diuiding with an equall hand Into so many parcels cuts the land The midst through heat affords no dwellers Ease The deepe snow wraps vp two but betwixt these And the other Regions are two places set Where frosts are mixt with fires and cold with heat But because this enumeration and description of the Zones set downe by the Poëts seemes too popular and generall wee will more specially diuide them according to the methode of our times in this manner 5 The Zones are either Vntemperate or Temperate the Vntemperate are againe twofold either cold or hot 6 The Intemperate hot Zone is the space contained betwixt the two Tropicke circles of Cancer and Capricorne How vnaptly these names of Temperate Vntemperate agree to the Zones considered in their owne nature wee shall speake in our second part yet because I thought it vnfit to vse other tearmes then the Ancients I will not coine new names This Zone or space included betwixt the two Tropicks circumscribes within it two great circles whereof the one is the Equatour running iust in the midst neither inclining to the North or South The other is the Eclipticke obliquely crossing it and meeting the two Tropicks twice in a yeere in the Spring and Autumne The extent or breadth of this Zone then is equall to the distance betwixt these two Tropicks to wit 47 degrees which make 2820 miles because from the Equatour to either
part of the Earth because such as dwell directly vnder the Equatour or either of the Poles although they may bee Antipodes agree not to that definition by reason the former are Antipodes only in opposite points of the Equatour the other of the Meridian Whether there were any Antipodes or no was made a question amongst the Ancients in so much that Saint Augustine in his booke de ciuitate Dei and Lactantius in his third booke of Institutions seemes stiffely to defend the contrary which opinion is supposed to grow out of their contempt or neglect of Mathematicall studies in those ages wherein the zeale to religion was most vnnecessarily opposed to Philosophie and the mistresse forsaken of her best hand-maides which ignorance of the Ancients was so farre deriued to posterity that in the yeere of our Sauiour 745 one Boniface Bishop of Mens was accused before the Pope Zachary Virgilius Bishop of Salisburg for heresy in that hee auerred there were Antipodes The matter being first preferred to the King of Bohemia and an appeale made vnto the Pope it happened that the honest Bishop for this assertion was flatly condemned for hereticall doctrine and inforced to recant his opinion yet is it wonderfull how such matters were thus decided for granting these two easie grounds First that the earth is Sphericall a proposition proued in their time 2 That euery place or at least two opposite places in the Terrestriall Spheare may bee habitable it must of necessity follow that such Antipodes must bee granted which makes me to imagine that Saint Augustine absolutely and grossely denied not the Antipodes because in setting downe the premises and grounds of our opinion hee seemed to vnderstand them too well to deny a necessary induction being a man of so great a wit and apprehension but questionlesse he thought that the Torrid Zone which by most of the Ancients in his time was reputed vnhabitable and vnpassable no man had yet set his foot in those remote parts beyond the line so that it seemed in him not to arise out of ignorance of the constitution of the earthly Globe but out of the receaued opinion of the Torrid Zone and the vast Ocean the one of which hee held vnhabitable the other vnpassable from whence also sprang vp an argument or rather an idle fancie that the Antipodes could not be admitted without granting another Sauiour and another kinde of men besides Adams posterity for if this coniecture had not taken place the Pope I suppose would neuer haue proued himselfe so ridiculous a Iudge as to haue condemned Virgilius for heresie As for Lactantius howsoeuer otherwise a pious eloquent Father the weakenesse and childishnesse of his arguments will to any indifferent reader discouer his ignorance in the very first rudiments of Cosmographie Here we may learne how farre religion it selfe is wronged by such who set her opposite to all her seruants But whatsoeuer the Ancients out of their glimring reason haue coniectured our times haue sufficiently decided this controuersie wherin such Antipodes are established both by reason and experience which matâ—er wee shall reserue to our second booke wherein we shall declare how farre and in what sense the Earth may bee tearmed habitable 1 Those which are to vs Perioeci are the Antoeci to our Antipodes our Antoeci the Periaeci to our Antipodes likewise our Perioeci are the Antipodes to our Antaeci This Proposition as a Corollary may by necessary consequence be deduced out of the precedent definition and be well expressed out of the constitution of the artificiall Globe and needs no farther demonstration 2 The Perioeci Antoeci and Antipodes are diuersly distinguished in respect of the celestiall apparences The proprieties of the Perioeci are chiefly foure 1 They haue the same eleuation of the Pole and therefore the same temper of the yeere and the same length of dayes and nights 2 They dwell East and West in regard one of the other 3 They haue contrary times of dayes and nights for when the one hath his Noone the other inioyes his mid-night likewise when the Sun with the one riseth it setteth with the other 4 They haue the same Zone Climate and Parallell but differ by a semicircle to wit 180 degrees To the Antoeci they haue likewise assigned 5 proprieties viz. 1 They inhabite the like Zones but in diuerse Hemispheares 2 They haue the same eleuation of the pole but not of the same pole because the one sees the pole Arcticke the other the pole Antarcticke equally raised aboue his Horizon 3 They haue Noone and Mid-night iust at the same times 4 They inioy the same temper of the Heauens 5 They haue the seasons of the yeere contrary For when the Southerne Antoeci haue their Summer the Northerne haue their Winter and contrariwise when the Northerne haue their spring these haue their Autumne To the Antipodes they haue allotted 3 Proprieties 1 That they haue the same eleuation of the pole though not of the same pole 2 They haue the same temper of the yeere and the same quantity of dayes and nights 3 They haue all the other accidents contrary For when the one hath Night the other hath Day when one Winter the other Summer when the one the Spring the other Autumne and contrariwise These accidents and proprieties here mentioned must be vnderstood in respect of the Heauens only The qualities arising from diuerse other Accidentall and particular causes in diuerse places of the Earth we shall differre vnto our second part CHAP. XI Of the Longitudes and Latitudes 1 THe distinction of the Terrestriall Globe according to certaine Spaces being formerly explaned we are now to treat of the Distinction of the said Spheare according to certaine Distances 2 A Distance here we vnderstand to be a direct line drawne betwixt two points in the Earth such a Distance is twofold either Simple or Comparatiue 3 The Simple Distance is taken from the two great circles to wit the Meridian or the Equatour which is either the Longitude or Latitude The diuision of Distances into the Simple or Comparatiue is most necessary for it is one thing for a place absolutely taken in it selfe to be distant from some fixt point or other in the Globe Another for two places to be compared betwixt themselues in regard of such a fixt point for as much as the former implies only the distance betwixt two points the other the distance of two such points or places in respect of the third These points from which such points are said to be distant are either found in the Meridian Circle from which the Distance is called Longitude or else in the Equatour whence we call it Latitude 4 The Longitude is the distance of any place Eastward from the first Meridian To vnderstand the better the Longitude we must consider that it may be taken two wayes either Generally or Specially In the former sense it is taken for the Distance of the whole Earth stretched from the West vnto the East
an Eclipse shall happen at some knowne place whereof you are well informed of the longitude Then must bee obserued by an Astrolable or other Astronomicall instrument at what houre this Eclipse begins at that place whereof you would willingly know the longitude If the Eclipse doe beginne in both places the selfe-same time you may assure your selfe that these two places differ not in longitude But if there be a difference in the time then must there be a difference in the longitude which to finde out you may in this sort proceed Take the lesser summe of houres out of the greater and there will be remaining either houres or minutes or both If there remaine houres then multiply the same by 15 if minutes diuide the same by 4 for in this account as wee haue taught 15. Degrees make an houre and adde the difference so found vnto the longitude if the Ecclipse appeare there sooner but if later subtract it from the longitude formerly knowne If there remaine any minutes after the diuision you must multiply those minutes by 15 and so shall yee haue the Minutes of Degrees To explaine this the better wee will take this familiar example from some of our later writers The longitude of Paris was set downe by Ptolomy to be 23 degrees now we may be informed by an Ephemerides that a certaine Eclipse of the Moone beginnes there 3 houres after midnight out of this I would willingly learne the longitude of Tubing a towne in Sueuia In this towne I obserue by some Astronomicall instrument at what houre the Eclipse there beginnes which I finde to bee at three of the clocke and 24 minutes after midnight Then by the subraction of the lesser number of time out of the greater I finde the remainder to be 24 minutes which diuided by 4. which makes one degree the quotient will bee 6. degrees and that is the difference which if you adde to the knowne longitude of Paris because the Eclipse begins there sooner then at Paris it will amount to 29 degrees wherby we may collect that the Longitude of Tubing is â—9 degrees To this rule for the most part are squared all Cosmographicall Tables of longitude but yet in this happen diuers errours 1. Because oftentimes in the Artificer there wants diligence in obseruing the right houre moment of the Eclipse 2. The diuers Epacts latitudes of the Moone are commonly neglected wherfore some haue thought it the best way if it were to be hoped that diuers exact Astronomers should at diuers places obserue the same Eclipse and so by conferring together according to the former Rule finde out the longitudes of those places But exact Astronomers cannot be so easily found in euery citie wherof we desire to know the longitudes or if there were such they keepe not alwaies such correspondency in friendship neither is an Eclipse of the Moone alwayes at command Neuerthelesse this way is not to bee despised because where better wayes are wanting wee must content our selues with what we finde 2 By a Clocke Watch or Houre glasse to finde out the longitude of a place This conclusion is to be performed in this manner You must get you a watch or clocke apt to runne if you can 24 houres this watch must you by the helpe of an Astrolabe rectifie and set iust at such time as you depart from the place where you are as bound to any other place whereof you desire to inquire the longitude during which time your diligent care must be to preserue your watch in motion without intermission being at last arriued at the place whereof you inquire the longitude you were best to stay till such time as the Index shall precisely point out some perfect houre At the same instant it must bee knowne by an Astrolabe what houre it is at the place where you are arriued for if your Astrolabe and Watch should both agree in one you might assure your selfe that there is no difference of longitude betwixt the place whence you came and the place whereto you are arriued For it is euident that in this sort your iourney hath beene either directly North or directly South vnder the same Meridian But if this differ either in houres or minutes they must be reduced vnto degrees in such sorâ— as we haue shewed in the former way Through which you may finde out the Longitude which you desire to know This inuention is by our Countryman Blundeuill ascribed to Gemma Frisius although I should take it to bee more ancient but whose inuention soeuer it was certainly it cannot but commend the Authour Peter Martyr in his Decades seemes to preferre this way before all the rest neuerthelesse in this I cannot assent to his opinion being one I had rather trust as an Historian then as a iudicious Cosmographer because the way cannot but admit of great vncertainty in so much as a Watch or Clocke will moue inequally being corrupted with rust especially on the Sea which alwayes abounds with moist vapours wherefore on the Sea some haue thought an Houre-glasse more conuenient which is true in comparison of the Watch but neither will the sands of an houre-glasse keepe alwaies the like motion If any certainty may bee this way it must bee by the helpe of the Automaton or perpetuall moueable of whose inuention we may sooner despaire then of finding out this conclusion 3 By the distance betwixt the Moone and some knowne Starre which is situate neere the Eclipticke the Longitude may be found out This way was taught by Appian illustrated by Gemma Frisius and Blundeuill to whose manner of explication wee haue for farther illustration added a figure of the Parallax whereon this inuention is grounded First then to shew this conclusion wee must first lay this ground that the Distances betwixt the Moone and other starres in the firmament are varied according to the difference of places In so much as two men liuing farre distant in diuers places of the earth beholding at one time the Moone and some other knowne fixt starre will not finde the like distance betwixt them whereof if any man doubt he may be informed by this figure Wee will imagine O to be the place of the Moone as seated in the lower Orbe G to bee the place of the fixt starre whose distance from the Moone is inquired E and F two stations and habitations of men dwelling on the earth whereof wee may imagine the one to bee in Europe the other in America It will be manifest that the inhabitant situate in F will behold the Moone in the point B and the said fixt starre in G because as the Optickes teach vs all things are seene in the places opposite to the eye so that the distance betwixt the Moone and the said starre will bee the Arch of the greatest Circle BG of the other side the inhabitants situate in E will behold the Moone by the ray EC in C. as likewise the said fixt starre G in the point G
many miles such places are distant one from the other For an example we will take the city Seuill on the Southmoâ—â— part of Spaine and Bilbao on the North-side the space betwixt those places being taken with a threâ—d or a compasse and applyed to one of the greater Circles will containe about 6 degrees which being multiplyed by 60 and so conuerted into Italian-miles will produce 360 and so many miles those Cities are to be esteemed distant the one from the other The end of the first Booke GEOGRAPHIE THE SECOND BOOKE CONTAINING the generall Topicall part thereof By NATHANAEL CARPENTER Fellow of Exceter Colledge in Oxford GENES 1. vers 10. And God called the Dry-land Earth and the gathering together of the waters called the Seas and God saw that it was good OXFORD Printed by Iohn Lichfield for Henry Cripps and are to be sold by Henry Curteyne Anno Domini M. DC XXXV TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE PHILIP EARLE OF MOVNTGOMERIE c. Knight of the most Noble order of the Garter and Steward of the famous Vniuersity of Oxford Right Honourable THis Geographicall Treatise consisting of two parts was in the very birth in such sort consecrated to your inestimable Brother as notwithstanding it so farre reserued it selfe to awaite your Honours fauour that Both may seeme as to share a part so to challenge the whole in my poore Industrie The Soule of man which some Philosophers imagine to be all in all all in euery part seemes to me no where better resembled then in your Generous Fraternity wherein the Soule of Heroicall Magnificence though Indiuided in it selfe so entirely communicates herselfe to either that both may seeme at once to enioy her presence while neither want If this my bold attempt in presenting to your Honours hands these vnworthy labours without any former reference might be interpreted intrusion it were enough for Ingenuity to pretend that your generous loue vnto our poore Colledge and the respectiue duty wherein the Colledge alwayes stands obliged vnto your Honour commands my pen beyond manners or ability Your affection to our house could no way expresse it selfe ampler then by trusting our custody with the charge of your choicest Iewell A Gentleman of that towardly wit and sweet disposition that Learning and Morality commonly reputed the daughters of time seeme in him scarce beholding to yeeres and to challenge a precedency before experience in so much that our ancient Mother markt out with all the Characters of age and declining weakenesse cherishing in her bosome this young darling seemes to resume her youthfull habit and triumph ouer Time and Ruines This happines amongst diuerse others vouchsafed by your Honour to the place for whose good opinion the best part of mine endeuours stand engaged hath encouraged my hopes to promise me your indulgent Acceptance of this slender piece long since intended and deuoted as my selfe vnto your seruice In which confidence fearing any longer to trespasse on your serious and high imployments endebted to your King and Countrey I humbly rest Your Honours in all duty and seruice to bee commanded NATHANAEL CARPENTER A TABLE OF THE SEVERALL Contents of the second Booke of Geography according to the speciall Theoreme CHAP. I. Of Topography and the Nature of a place 1 THe Terrestriall Spheare is euery-where habitable pag. 4 2 All places of the Earth haue suffered manifold mutation and changes as well in name as nature pag. 6 3 Places hauing long continued without habitation are seldome so healthy and fit for dwelling as those which haue beene in habited 11 CHAP. II. Of the generall Adiuncts of places 1 The manner how to measure the magnitude of a Region by the Diameter both according to breadth and length 15 2 Of the measuring of a Countrey by the circuite of it 17 3 The Measuring of a Countrey by the circuite is deceitfull and subiect to great errour 17 4 Those Regions are more exactly measured which partake of a plaine surface 19 5 How Countries are bounded 20 6 Naturall bounds are more certaine then Artificiall ibid. 7 Equall bounds containe not alwaies equall Regions 21 8 Of the quality of a Region ibid. 9 Speciall places are endowed with speciall Tempers and dispositions 21 10 Of the magneticall affections of a place as Variation and Declination 26 11 The magneticall variation is of no vse for the first finding out of the longitude yet may it serue to good purpose for the recognition of a place before discouered 27 12 The declination of a place being knowne the latitude may bee found yet not without some errour 29 13 Of the externall Adiuncts of the Aire belonging to a place ibid. 14 The disposition of the Aire Adiacent to a place depends chiefly on the Temperament of the soile 30 CHAP. III. Of the Adiuncts of a place in respect of the heauens 1 Places according to their diuerse situation in regard of the Heauens are diuersely affected in quality and constitution 34 2 Of the diuision of the Earth into the North and South Hemispheares 38 3 Northerne and Southerne places alike situate generally enioy a like disposition 39 4 The Northerne Hemispheare is the masculine the southerne the faeminine part of the Earth 40 5 Of the diuerse sections of the Hemispheares and the seuerall qualities belonging to them 43 6 Of the East and West Hemispheares 51 7 The Easterne Hemispheare is happier then the other 52 8 The difference of the East and West cannot worke any difference in two places by any diuersity of the heauens 53 9 Of the subdiuision of the Easterne and Westerne Hemispheares 54 10 Places situate towards the East in the same latitude are better then those places towards the West ibid. CHAP. IV. Of the manner of Expression and Description of Regions 1 Of the finding out of the Angle of position by some dioptricke Instrument at two or more stations 57 2 At one station by opticall obseruation to find out the situation of one place in respect of the other 59 3 Of the manner of translation of Regions into the Chart. 61 4 To set downe the Meridians and Parallels in a particular Chart. 62 5 How to set downe Cities Castles Mountaines Riuers c. in the Chart. 64 6 Of the fabricke of the scale of miles in the Chart. 65 7 The vse of the scale of miles set downe in the Chart. ibid. CHAP. V. Of Hydrography and the absolute adiuncts of the Sea of the figure and quality 1 Although the whole body of the water be sphericall yet it is probable that the parts of it incline to a Conicall figure 70 2 The water of the sea is salt not by Nature but by Accident 75 3 Seas absolutely salt are neuer frozen 79 4 The Water of the sea is thicker then the other Water 80 CHAP. VI. Of the motions of the sea 1 Of the ebbing and flowing of the sea and the causes thereof 82 2 All sâ—aâ— doe not ebbe and flow alike nor the same at all times
Expression and Manner of Description of Regions aswell in the finding out the Angle of position as Translation of places formerly found out into the Globe or Chart. Chap. 4. Speciall which contains the distinctioâ— of a place into Sea whose description is called Hydrography in which we are to consider the Adiuncts of the Sea which are either Internall which are inbred in the Nature of the Sea which againe are either Absolute such as agree to the Sea without any comparison of it with the Land Here we obserue in the water of the Sea 1 The Figure and Quality Chap. 5. 2 The Motion Naturall and Violent Chap. 6. Comparatiue which concerne the Depth Situation and Termination of the Sea Chap. 7. Externall which concerne Sea-Trafficke and Marchandize Chap. 8. Land which we terme Pedography whose Accidents are either Naturall which are againe diuided into Perpetuall such as ordinarily agree to the earth these againe are either Absolute wherein we haue no respect vnto the Sea Here we consider the Nature 1 Of riuers fountaines and lakeâ— Chap. 9. 2 Of mountaines vallieâ— and plaine-Regions woody and champion Countreyes Chap. 10. Comparatiue wherein we consider the Termination of the Sea with the Land Chap. 11. Casuall which seldome fall out such as are Inundations and Earth-quakes Chap. 12. Ciuill which concernes the Inhabitants of any place in whom we consider the Originall or off-spring Chap. 13. Disposition which is varied either accorâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 1 Site in respect of the Heauens Chap. 14. 2 Soyle Chap. 15. GEOGRAPHIE THE SECOND BOOKE CHAP. I. Of Topographie and the nature of a place IN the former Treatise by Gods assistance wee haue treated of the Sphericall part of Geographie It will in the second place seeme conuenient to speake of the Topicall part of it 2 The Topicall part teacheth the description of the Terrestriall Globe so farre forth as it is diuided into places The nature of Topographie whereof we are to treat in this second part is discouered vnto vs not only in the name which promiseth a description of places but also in the differences set downe by Ptolomy himselfe betwixt the Sphericall and Topicall part the former of which hee cals Geographie and latter Topographie whereof wee haue spoken at large in the first Chapter of our former booke Here onely wee will note this one distinction that Tâ—â—ograhie may bee tâ—ken either more generally or specially Generally we may take it so farre foorth as it discouers vnto vs either the whole world and all his parts or at least some great and principall parts such as is an Empire Region Kingdome or such like More specially and particularly it hath vsually beene taken for the description of a very small place whose situation in respect of the heauens is not noted but of the parts one to the other such as are Cities Burrowes Townes Castles Lakes and Riuers The former whereat wee chiefly aime cannot well bee performed without the vse of the Sphericall part That latter we will more sparingly touch being an infinite taske in the whole earth to descend to all particulars which come in our way yet shall wee not altogether omit or neglect such circumstances in their due places so farre foorth as wee can leauing the rest to such Topographers who spend their stocke in the description of some particular place or Region whereof this our Age hath produced many deseruing high commendations This Science was anciently adorned by Homer Anâ—â—imander Milesius Haecataeus Democritus Eudoxius Dicaearchus Euphorus as wee finde in Straboes first booke to which afterward succeede Eratosthenes Polybius Possidonius and diuers others Which part requires little or small knowledge in the Sciences Mathematicall but challengeth more affinity with the Physicall and Politicall part of Philosophie and therefore is more subiect to popular vnderstanding then the former and may without it affoord some profit to the Reader 3 The Topicall part is either generall or speciall The generall is that which handles the generall Adiuncts of a place 4 A place is a superficiall space of the Terrestriall Globe fitted for habitation To the constitution of a place as it is here Topographically taken there ought to be a concurrence of two things which we may call Matter and Forme The Matter is the space contained or superficiall platforme of the earth whereon wee dwell The forme is the capability or aptnesse of it for habitation both which concurring together are conceiued to make a place such as wee here Topographically vnderstand for here wee vnderstand not a place Physically for the receptacle of a naturall body in which sense the Heauens and all the elements are said to haue their naturall places Neither yet Geometrically for a plaine whereon a line or figure may bee drawne but Topographically for the vpper face of the earth whereon people or other liuing creatures may inhabite This place as appeares by reason and holy Scriptures was more ancient then habitation For whereas in the first Masse the earth was inueloped with waters on euery side affording no place for dwelling Almighty God is said afterwards to haue separated and parted the waters from the dry land making the one a Receptacle for Fishes and such creatures of the deepe the other for a dwelling place for mankind and such creatures as breath vpon the land yet hath hee so prouided in his diuine wisdome that neither the Inhabitants of the land can well want the Sea nor the liuing creatures in the Sea want the land The one appeares in that wee are inforced to make vse of the sea not onely for â—ood and nourishment whereof a great part consisteth of fish but also for our Traffique and commerce with forraine Nations which is better effected by Sea then Land-voyages The latter is as easily shewed in that the fishes of the Sea deriue not onely their composition but also their proper nourishment from the land whereof wee shall haue more occasion to speake hereafter Now wee are moreouer to consider that a place may bee taken in a double sense first more largely for any place wherein a creature may liue for longer or shorter time Secondly more strictly for such a space of earth whereon mankinde may conueniently reside or dwell The former comprehends not onely the land but also the water for experience shewes that men in ships may for a time reside and dwell on the backe of the maine Ocean But the latter betokening a continuance of habitation is onely agreeable to the land Which sense howbeit it be more consonant to the common vse of speech yet for methode sake wee are inforced to vse the former vnderstanding by habitation not onely a place of conuenient residence but any other whereon a creature for a time may breathe and liue 1 The Terrestriall Spheare is euerywhere habitable It was an ancient opinion as we haue formerly touched that the earth was not euerywhere habitable namely in the Intemperate Zones whereof the one was placed in the middle of the earth
caused commonly two wayes either by contagion naturally incident to diuerse places or by hostile Inuasion and deuastation of this latter arise two maine effects The first is the want and scarcity of Inhabitants which should dresse and manure the ground to make it more fruitfull and accommodate to mans vse The second is their pouerty and captiuity whereof the one makes them vnable the second vnwilling to effect any great matter for the benefit of the Land A good instance whereof wee may finde in the land of Palestine which in times past by God himselfe was called A land flowing with milke and hony for the admirable pleasantnesse and fertility of the Soile yet at this day if wee will credit trauellers report a most barren Region deuoid almost of all good commodity fit for the vse of man in the ruines of which sometimes famous kingdome euery bleere-eyed iudgement may easily read Gods curse long since denounced Which strange alteration next vnto Gods anger wee can ascribe to no other cause then the hostile inuasion of forraine enemies which hath almost lâ—ft the land waste without the natiue Inhabitants whence it could not chuse in a short time but degenerate from the ancient fruitfulnesse The like may we finde in all those miserable Regions which groane at this day vnder the tyranny of the vsurping Turke whence a prouerbe runnes currant amongst them That where the Turkes horse hath once grazed no grasse will euer aftâ—r grow which signifies no other then the barbarous manner of the Turkes hauing once conquered a land to lay it open euer after to deuastation for being for the most part warlike men trained vp in martiall discipline they little or nothing at all regard the vse of husbandry whence in short time a Countrey must needs â—urne wild and vnfruitfull To these causes we may adde the influence of heauenly constellations which being varied according to the times produce no small effects in the changes and alterations of the earth The diuerse alteration in the disposition of the Inhabitants which was our second point we haue referâ—â—ed to another place neere the end of this tract to which is properly appertaines 3 Plâ—ces hauing long continued without habitation are seldome so healthy and fit for dwelling as those which haue beene inhabited This Proposition I haue knowne to bee warranted by the Testimonie of many experienced Nauigators in so much as I presume few men can doubt of the truth of it who hath either beene a Traualler himselfe into farre Countreyes or at least hath read other mens discoueries The onely matter therefore wee here intend is to produce certaine causes of this effect to giue satisfaction to such as make a distinction betwixt the knowledge of the effect and inquiry of the cause The first cause which I can alleage is the industrie of mankinde inhabiting any Countrey mentioned in the former Theoreme out of which ariseth a twofold effect 1 The improuing of the Soyle by remouing all such impediments as otherwise would proue noysome to mankinde for whereas all things growing of their owne accord are suffered to rot into the ground in like manner what other can wee expect but Fennes Fogges and noisome vapours altogether hurtfull to the welfare and life of man 2 The profit of mans industrie is no lesse apparent in manuring the ground and opening the vpper face of the Earth which being composed of diuerse substances sendeth forth many times certaine hot fumes and vapours which in many cold Countreyes mollify the vsuall rigour of the Aire which most offends the Inhabitants This reason is giuen by my Countrey-man Captaine Whitborne for the extreame cold which some men professe themselues to haue tried in New-found-land which neuerthelesse according to many mens description is knowne to lye farre more South then England for the natiues of the Countrey being for the most part driuen into the North part by the Europeans who vsually trade there for fish and they themselues liuing altogether on Fish from the Sea or some wild beasts on the land as Beares Deare and such like without any manuring of the ground for herbage The Soyle by them is in a manner left altogether vnmanured so that neither the soyle can bee well cleansed from noisome vapours arising from the putrefaction of herbage rotting as I said into the ground or left free to send out such wholsome fumes and vapours from its interiour parts which may warme the Ayre and preserue mankind 3 A third reason drawne from mens Industries that those Countreyes which haue inioyed Inhabitants by the continuall vse of Fires haue their Aire more purged and refined from drossie and noisome vapours which vsually arise out of a contagious soyle daily infected by putrefaction for scarce any nation hath beene knowne so barbarous and ignorant which hath not the inuention and vse of Fire neither is any infection of the aire so pestilent and opposite to humane constitution which the breath of fire will not in some sort dispell If any man obiect the distance of houses and villages wherein fire is vsed which seeme to claime a small interest in the change of the ayre hanging ouer a whole Countrey let him well consider the quicknesse of motion and fluidity of the Ayre passing as it were in a moment from one place to the other and hee may soone answer his owne obiection All those reasons hitherto mentioned an inhabited Region owes to mans industrie which wee generally touched in the precedent Theoreme The second cause which is as a consequent of habitation is the necessity of breathing of people liuing in any Region of the earth whereby may follow two effects 1 A certaine measure of heat impressed into the aire as wee see in any roome in a great throng of people by reason of their breathing together in one place 2 The assimilation of the Aire to humane bodies by a continuall respiration These alterations of the aire might perhaps to common apprehensions seeme small and insensible But hee that considers how great a quantity of aire is requisite for a mans respiration and the space and extent of motion together with the multitude of Inhabitants in a populous Countrey would hold it no strange matter that the breathing of men should breed such an alteration of the aire wee finde by experience that strong built houses being left tenantlesse will soone fall into decay not so much for want of reparation as the foggy vapours and moisture caused by want of Respiration The like whereof in some proportion may we imagine to be in a region wanting Inhabitants and depriued of this benefit of nature CHAP. II. Of the Generall Adiuncts of Places 1 IN a place Topographically taken two things are to bee considered 1. The Adiuncts 2 The Description The Adiuncts are such proprieties as agree to speciall places 2 Such Adiuncts agree to a place either in respect of the Earth it selfe or in respect of the Heauens Those which agree to a place in respect of
the foure first qualities of Heate Cold Drouth and Moisture whereon depends a great part of the disposition not only of the soyle but also of mans body for as much as the one ordinarily borrowes his fruitfulnesse or barrennesse of these first qualities and the other hath his vitall Organes which are the ministers of the Soule much affected with them in so much as some Philosophers haue vndertaken to define all the differences of mens wits and intellectuall faculties out of the Temperament of the braine according to these foure accidents And what Physitian will not acknowledge all these Qualities and their mixture to challenge an extraordinary preheminence in the disposition and constitution of mans body whose mixture is the first ground of health or sicknesse The second meanes whereby the Heauens may cause a diuersity of temper in diuerse places is from the speciall Influences of some particular Starres and constellations incident to particular places for it were blockish to imagine that so many various Starres of diuerse colours and magnitudes should bee set in the Firmament to no other vse then to giue light to the world and distinguish the times sith the ordinary Physitian can easily discouer the Moones influence by the increase of humours in mans body and the experience of Astrologers will warrant much more by their obseruation as assigning to each particular aspect of the Heauens a particular and speciall influence and operation Now it is euident that all aspects of the Heauens cannot point out and designe all places alike for as much as the beames wherein it is conueyed are somewhere perpendicularly other where obliquely darted and that more or lesse according to the place whence it commeth to passe that neither all places can enioy the same Temperament nor the same measure and proportion Yet wee say not that the heauenly bodyes haue any power to impose a Necessitie vpon the wills and dispositions of men but onely an inclination For the Starres worke not Immediatly on the intellectuall part or minde of man but Mediatly so farre forth as it depends on the Temperament and materiall organes of the body But of this wee shall especially speake hereafter Where God willing shall bee opened the manner of this celestiall operation By this wee may vnderstand how farre the Heauens haue power to cause a diuersity in Places and Nations The second reason may bee the Imbred Quality Figure and Site of the Places themselues For that there is another cause of diuersity besides the situation of places in respect of the Heauens may easily bee proued out of experience for wee finde that places situate vnder the same Latitude partake of a diuerse and opposite Temper and disposition as the middle of Spayne about Toledo which is very hot and the Southermost bound of Virginia which is found to bee Temperate betwixt both All which notwithstanding are vnder the selfe-same Latitude or very neere without any sensible degree of difference also we sometimes finde places more Southward toward the Equatour to partake more of cold then such as are more Notherne as the Toppes of the Alps being perpetually couered with Snow are without question colder then England although they lye neerer to the equinoctiall Likewise Aluares reporteth that hee saw Ice vpon the water in the Abyssines Countrey in the month of Iuly which notwithstanding is neere or vnder the Line And Martin Frobisher relates that he found the ayre about Friezland more cold stormy about 61 degrees then in other places neere 70 degrees Wherefore we must needs ascribe some effect and operation to the soyle it selfe first in respect of the Superficies which is diuersly varied with Woods Riuers Marishes Rockes Mountaines Valleyes Plaines whence a double variety ariseth first of the foure first Qualities which is caused by the Sunne-beames being diuersly proiected according to the conformity of the place Secondly of Meteors and Exhalations drawne vp from the Earth into the Aire both which concurring must needs cause a great variety in mans disposition according to that prouerbe Athenis tenâ—e coelum Thebis crassum or that bitter taunt of the Poet on Boeotians Boeotum in crasso iurares aëre natum For ordinary experience will often shew that a thinne and sharp ayre vsually produceth the best witts as contrariwise grosse and thicke vapours drawne from muddie and marish grounds thicken and stupifie the spirits and produce men commonly of blockish and hoggish dispositions and natures vnapt for learning and vnfit for ciuill conuersation Secondly there must needs be granted to speciall Countreyes certaine Specificall qualities which produce a certaine Sympathie or Antipathie in respect of some things or others whence it commeth to passe that some plants and hearbs which of their owne accord spring out of the Earth in some Countreyes are found to pine wither in others some Beasts and Serpents are in some places seldome knowne to breed or liue wherewith notwithstanding other Regions swarme in abundance as for example Ireland wherein no Serpent or venomous worme hath beene knowne to liue whereby Africa and many other Countreyes finde no small molestation Neither is this variety onely shewne in the diuersity of the kindes but also in the variation of things in the same kinde whereof we might produce infinite examples For who knowes not which is a Physition that many simples apt for medicine growing in our land come farre short in vertue of those which are gathered in other countreyes I need amongst many ordinary instances giue no other then in our Rubarb and Tobacco whereof the former growing in our Countrey except in case of extremity is of no vse with our Physitians the other as much scorned of our ordinary Tobacconists yet both generally deriued from the true mother the Indies in great vse and request But of this last Instances are most common and yet for their ignorance of the true cause most admirable The causes of the former might in some sort bee found out either in the Heauens or in the Elementary nâ—ture of the Earth But some speciall proprieties haue discouered themselues which cannot be imagined to owe their cause to either but to some third originall which the Physicians in their Simples more properly tearme virtus specifica If any man should demand why countreyes farther from the course of the Sunne should be found hotter then some which are neerer Why the Rhenish wine Grape transported from Germany into Spaine should yeeld vs the Sherry Sacke Euery ordinary Phylosopher which hath trauelled little beyond Aristotles Materia Prima will bee ready to hammer out a cause as ascribing the former to the Heigth or Depression of the soyle the latter to the excesse of heat in Spaine aboue that of Germany But should wee farther demand 1 why Ireland with some other Regions indure no venemous thing 2 Why Wheat in S. Thomas Iland should shut vp all into the Blade and neuer beare graine 3 Why in the same Iland no fruit which hath any stone in
hath a two-fold Motion The first is common to all heauy Bodyes as well as the Earth in which is an inclination to come as neere as they can to the Center of the Earth whereof wee haue spoken in our former booke The second is that which more properly agrees to the Sea which is againe twofold either the Naturall or the Violent The Naturall howsoeuer requiâ—ing perhaps the concurrence of some externall cause is notwithstanding so called for as much as it chiefly seemes to proceede from the Disposition of the Sea-water The Violent is caused meerely by the violence of the winds mouing the Ocean The Naturall motion we haue againe diuided into generall or speciall because the Affluxe and Refluxe of the Sea whereof we are to treat is generall throughout the whole Ocean some petty creekes perchance excepted whereas the Currents which is the second kinde of motion are more speciall as agreeing not to all or most parts as it seemes but to some one or other speciall place as we shall shew 1 The Sea twice euery day ebbes and flowes The flowing and ebbing of the Sea howsoeuer it cannot be precisely obserued in all Seas yet because few places of the maine Ocean are exempted from it deserues the first chiefest consideration That such a motion there is experience shewes but the searching out of the cause is for ought I can obserue one of the greatest difficulties in all Naturall Philosophie in so much as Aristotle one of the acutest Philosophers is reported to haue stood amazed at the flowing and ebbing of Euripus and despairing of finding out the cause at length enforced to cast himselfe into the Riuer which had before confounded him Wherefore it may seeme sufficient for mee to trace their steps who haue waded far into the search of this cause hauing very little hope to goe further The first opinion was of the Stoickes who supposed the whole World to bee a great liuing creature composed of diuerse Elements which inioyes both breath and life This liuing creature they imagine to haue his nostrils placed in the maine Ocean where by drawing in and sending foorth breath the ebbing and flowing of the Sea is caused but this seemeth rather to bee a Poeticall fiction or Allegory then any conceit of a Philosopher Apollonius Tianaeus was of an opinion that certaine Spirits eithervnder or aboue the Water breathed into it this motion Timaeus taught the cause of this moisture to be the riuer breaking into the Ocean by the great mountaines Plato thought that it was made by the swallowing vp of the Sea into a gulfe or hole which being againe cast out was the cause of that motion in the Sea Seleuous the Mathematician which affirmed that the Earth was carried round with a perpetuall motion thought that the Moone was turned round with a motion contrary to the motion of the Eâ—rth and from this to proceed that motion of ebbing and flowing of the Sea whereof wee now treat What Aristotles opinion was concerning this matter is an vncertaine coniecture forasmuch as litle or nothing can bee gathered touching this point in controuersie out of any booke which is certainly knowne to be Aristotles for the tract of the propriety of Elements where the cause of this motion is ascribed to the Moone is iudged to be none of Aristotles but of some later Authour Yet Plutarch imposeth on Aristotle this opinion that this motion of the Sea should come from the Sun because by it are raised vp many windy exhalations which should cause the Sea to swell blowing into the great Atlantick Ocean But thisopinion is charged by Paâ—ricius of a threefold errour 1. That it should proceed from the Sun 2 From the wind 3 That it is only in the Atlantick Sea He saw saith Patricius that in the Atlantick which he could not in the Aegean Sea at home and neere Athens For 1 No wind blowes so regularly that for one six houres it should blow forward the other six houres backward for the wind oftentimes blowes many daies the same way without ceasing yet is their not one only flowing or one ebbing in the Sea 2. The Sunne stirres vp sometimes windes and sometimes stirres them not vp But of a perpetuall effect which is daily why would this Philosopher giue a cause meerely violent and not quotidian which notwithstanding would haue nothing violent to be perpetuall If the Sea bee somewhere moued naturally by other motions as the Euripus which is said to be his death wherefore will he deny this motion to be Naturall seeking out an externall cause of this effect But all this while our Platonick Philosopher seems to fight with shadowes for what iudicious man can imagine so iudicious and wise a Philosopher as Aristotle should so grossely ouershoot himselâ— to father this opinion I should much rather beleiue that no such opinion is to be found in Aristotle at least that it is indirectly related which I the rather beleiue because one Caesalpinus a late Writer aswell opposite to Aristotle as the other hath related Aristotles opinion otherwise to wit that the ebbing and flowing of the Sea is deriued from a double cause whereof the one is the multitude of Riuers bringing in a great force of waters into it whence it comes to passe that it flowes only towards one paâ—t which is the lower as it happens to the Mediterranean For the Egaean and Ponticke Sea with Maeotis flow into the Tyrrhene and not on the opposite side The other cause hee makes to bee the libration of the whole Sea for it is often turn'd from one side to the other which in so great a vastnes seemes but little but in straights narrow places much more So that Aristotle saith Caesalpinus would haue that to agree to the Sea which vsually happens to a paire of ballance which hauing receiued the beginning once of their motion are inclined sometimes this way sometimes that way by reason of the equality of the weight for if the weight of one should ouercome thewhole would incline thatway and would not riâ—e vpon the other side But against this opinion imposed on Aristotle Caesalpinus not without good reason excepts that the Superficies of the Water being Equidistant from the Center as is supposed by Geographers no reason may bee giuen why it should incline more to one side then another hauing once obtained his true place sith according to Aristotles owne grounds no violence câ—n be perpetâ—all To which I may adde another answer that no satisfactory reason can be alleadged why it should alwayes obserue so true and iust periods of time in its motion sith all Riuers are sometimes encreased and other times diminished according to the season of the yeere and variety of the weather wherefore the said Authour which impugnes this opinion hath framed another conceit grounded on the circular motion of the Earth which he explaineth in this sort It agrees â—o reason saith he that the Water should not altogether follow the motion
of the Earth but should in part bee driuen backe and in part flow besides for since it is of a moist nature while the Earth is carried from the Aire about it the Water iâ— somewhat left behind as wee may see in a small vessell which is moâ—e laâ—ge then deep for if it be moued forward the Water will leape back to the opposite part will oftentimes poize it selfe hither thither seeking an aequilibration when therefore the Earth is a litle caried forward the water as it were left behind being out of his Aequilibrium or aquall poize it will runne to the other part but beyond the true poize forthe violence of the motion oppressed into it in the beginning from thence for the same cause it will tend againe to the opposite part doing this oftentimes seeking an equall weight wherein it may rest so that if the Earth should at any times rest from her naturall motion the Water would also leaue off the Libration to and fro But because the circumvolution of the Earth is imagined to be perpetuall the libration of the sea is also per petuall so farre forth then that this motion is of the continent or Earth it is onely accidentall in the Water neither besides his proper nature neither according to nature But so farre forth as the Water is in some sort moued in the Earth it may be said to be according to nature for it alwaies seekes the lower place because it cannot aequally follow the motion of the Earth Hence they giue the reason why this motion is not perceiued in Lakes and Riuers as well as in the maine Ocean for sith the motion of the Earth is not very sensible it cannot be perceiued but in a great masse of waters The reasons to confirme this opinion besides the refutation of other opinions are chiefly these two If the Water by it selfe should be mou'd without the motion of the Earth it must needs be moued either according to or against his nature But neither of them can be graunted First if according to Nature there would not be one only motion of one body according to nature but many which is denyed by Arâ—stotle If besides or against Nature some violent motion would bee perpetuall which also seemes absurd wherefore it must needs follow that the sea should moue accidentally For sith the Water is conteined outwardly of the Aire internally of the Earth And that part of the Aire which toucheth the Water is of Aristotle called Stagnans or standing still not flowing as that which is aboue the Earth but is onely troubled variously with windes This libration or motion of the Water cannot bee caused by the wind or Aire wherefore it must proceed from the motion of the Earth The second reason may be drawne from the quantity of tides in diuers places of the Earth for it is â—ound by experience that the Water swels higher greater in the maine Ocean then in other lesser Seas For it is obserued that about great Brittaine it mounts sometimes aboue 80 cubits also it oftner ebbes and flowes in lesser currents because the spaces of this libration are shorter and straâ—ghter or because besides the motion of ebbing and flowing which the Mediterranean seas partake from the Ocean at Hercules Pillars they haue a proper libration in their owne channels whence it comes to passe that in some narrow seas as in the Euripus besides Euboia the sea seauen times a day ebbs and flowes whereof there can no sufficient reason be giuen from the motion of the Moone or other cause whereto other Philosophers ascribe this effect This opinion of Caesalpinus seemes to carry great likelyhood of reason and congruity with experience yet because it is grounded on the circular motion of the Earth which seemes a paradox to most men I dare not warrant it otherwise then probable neither can it well stand with the grounds of our Magneticall Philosophers because they affirme the whole spheare of the Earth and Water together with the Aire to moue round with one Vniforme revolution in such sort as one should not moue to the opposite part or stay behind the other as they would haue it here to doe There is yet another opinion more commonly defended in the schooles of naturall Philosopherâ— that this motion of the sea is to bee ascribed to the Moone as the principall cause others againe as they admit the Moone to haue her operation in this effect ioyne other causes to it and indeed this seemes more probable for there want not arguments in Patricius and other later writers to shew that the Moone cannot be the sole cause of this motion First because this motion is not obserued in all seas Lakes and Riuers wheâ—eupon neuerthelesse the Moone hath the like dominion But experience shewes the contrary for besides fresh Riuers it is manifest by obseruation of trauailers that this ebbing and flowing is not to be found in the Hircâ—â— Mantian and Dead sea also in Maotis Palus in the Pontick Propontiâ—ke Ligurian and Narbon streytes neither in the Tyrrhene sea Moreouer it is not obserued in a great part of the Red sea Neither can the Narrownesse of the channell excuse it because these seas are great and also for the most part within the Tropicke of Cancer and therefore exposed sometimes to the perpendicular beames of the Moone Secondly If the Moone should by her owne â—orce excite and moue these waterâ— then would it moue those seas which it doth moue Altogether and not only in parts The contrary whereof we may find First in the Red Sea which in the beginning and end Ebbes and flowes but in the middle not at all moreouer the Mediterranean sea ebbes flowes as one sea on all the coasts of Africa wherein it is in a sort diuided and yet those seas with which it is ioyned as the Tyrrhene Ligurian and Gallican Seas feele not any such motion Thirdly it is obiected that if the Moone were the only cause of this Flâ—x and Reflux of the sea then those seas which are said in whole to moue should aequally flow in hight but this is contradicted by experience because some flow higher and some lower As for example The Adriatick sea in the inmost creeke neere Venice swels neere foure foote in hight but the rest of it not aboue two â—oote which increase is likewise obserued in the Aegean Cretian Ionian and Cyprian Seas also the Syrian and Aegyptian euen to Portus Ferinae But from mons pulcher to the Herculean streytes it increaseth aboue two foot in length But without these straights the same Ocean by the coasts of Portugall and Biscay and France the Sea riseth vsually to 15 foot in hight and neere the coasts of Belgia and Brittaine 18 foot At the confines of Bristoll to 60 and thence to the borders of S. Michael to 60 But at the coasts of Aethiopia neere the Atlantick shores it riseth not higher then in the Adriatick Sea But neere the Ilands
Scaliger who would not haue a ship to passe it under three moneths out of which he laboured to proue this motion of the sea because the shippe was longer a going then returning The second experiment hee takes from the obseruation of one Iohn Eupolius who willing to passe from the port of S. Blasiâ—â— which is beyond the Cape of good hope in Africke to Melinde towards the Indies could not goe forward by reason that the currents as they call them droue them backe from Melinde to Pate a towne by this side of the Indyes whence hee would conclude that the Water should in this place rather runne from West to East towards the Indies The third experiment is drawne from the testimony of Thomas Lope who when he was to passe from the Cape of good hope towards the Indies testifies that the current of the Water was so violent that it oftentimes leapt into the forepart of the shippe The fourth is from the testimony of Iohannes Guietanus who putting forth from Tidor came into Spaine before the sixteenth moneth This iourney from Tidor to the Cape of good hope containes 55 leagues which makes 1650 miles from this to the Iland of S. Helena by the relation of another pilot are 1400 miles from whence to the Equinoctiall circle are 1600 miles from hence to Spaine by the computation of degrees are not aboue 1520 miles of all which the summe is 7114. Now if wee take out of sixteene moneths 49 dayes wherein the ship against Cape of good hope was carried hither and thither which the marriners call Voltegiairâ— and 70 other dayes wherein it stood still in the coasts of Guinea in Melacia there will remaine a whole yeere spent in this iourney which dayes if we diuide by those 7114 miles there will be allotted to euery day no more then 19 miles which euidently shewes that this iourney was most short in respect of the swiftnesse of the Nauigations For if the Ocean should driue his currents to St Hâ—lâ—na euen to the west they had ended their iourney in a farre lesser time because those currents as they say carry the ship But this iourney was accomplished very slowly wherefore the currents were not carried from East to West aâ— Sâ—aliger relates Likewise from sundry other experiments hee goes about to proue that it constantly cannot bee obserued to flow from North to South as the said Scaliger affirmes but that it is various according to diuers places Neuerthelesse that the Sea should haue a perpetuall current from the Poles towards the Equatouâ— seemes to stand as well with Reason as Experience For all men must needs confesse that the motion of the Heauens vnder the Equatour must bee much swifter then neerer the Poles because the circles of it are greater neere the Equatour Now by how much swifter the motion of the Heauen is by so much more is the Rarefaction of the Aire or other Elementary bodies right vnder it whether it be Aire as it is most probable or Fire as Peripatetickâ— imagine But howsoeuer we determine that controuersie it must needs be that the Aire must suffer Rarefaction answerable to the swiftnesse of the motion if not immediatly by the swift motion of the Heauens yet by a consequent by the greater feruour of the Fire which vnder the Equatour must needs be greater and of more force then about the Poles whence the parts of the Aire vnder it must partake more degrees of Heat and by necessary consequence suffer a greater Attenuation 2 The Sun-beames being darted perpendicularly cannot choose but attenuate and rarifie the Aire more vnder the Line then in places more declining to the Poles This ground thus laide these two consectaries will follow 1 That the Aire thus attenuated must needes take vp a largeâ— place then it before possessed which cannot be but by inlarging it selfe towards either Pole either North or South whence the parts of the Aire in those places must bee more thickned and condensated 2 That these parts of the Aire carried towards the Poles and meeting with the cold Regions of the North and South must by condensation turne into water and so fall downe in Raine or Snowes whence the Water encreasing neere the Poles perpetually must haue a perpetuall current towards the Equatour where they are againe exhausted in vapours by the Heat of the Sunne in such sort that as well the parts of the Sea betwixt themselues as the waters in regard of the Aire may proportionally maintaine themselues by the mutuall transmutation To this reason some haue added another that the Sunne soiourning in the Southerne Signes is neerer to the Earth then when hee is in the North by the whole Latitude of his excentrice and therefore of greater force to draw the water toward the South But whether this Reason be of any great force I will not spent time to dispute let euery man vse his own iudgment It seemes to me a coniecture not improbable that these currents may bee also varied according to diuers reasons of the yeere as also according to diuers channels by diuers crossings and doublings of the Tides as wee find in diuers places but I will not be too bold in this opinion because I loue not to walke without a guide in these vncertainties 4 Of the Naturall motion of the Sea we haue spoken It remaines we speake somewhat of the Violent The Violent motion is that which is stirred vp by windes The consideration of windes is either absolute or respectiue Absolute I call that wherein the Naturall effects and properties of the winds are handled which properties belong to the naturall Philosopher they being according to Aristotle a Naturall body vnperfectly mixt The Respeâ—tiue consideration is that wherein the windes are considered in respect to the â—errestriall Globe This Respect againe twofold either in regard of the whole Spheare of the Earth whereof they designe out the points of the Horizon by certaine lines called Rhumbas or else in respect of the Sea to which they giue a motion The former respect we haue handled in our first booke of Geography The later is more proper to this place howsoeuer the wind is an exhalation common as well to the Earth as to the Sea affecting both with some alteration yet because it more neerely affecteth the Sea as his proper Prouince and Dominion and hath for the most part beene most obserued of Sea men and Marriners Wee thought fit to treat of it in this place Of windes some are vncertaine and various which in all places interchangeably supply their turnes keeping no certainty or regularity in times or places others are called set or standing windes because they are obserued to blow at certaine time and places of both which as much as concernes our purpose we shall speake in these two Theoremeâ— 1 To some certaine places at certaine times belong certaine windes These windes are by some called Anniuersary because they blow at a certaine season euery yeere of these there
but also themselues practised such commerce as well for the benefit of their Common-wealth as the increase of their particular estate Two memorable examples we haue in Henry the third King of England and Laurence de Medices Duke of Florence whereof the former gaue many and large priuiledges to all the Hance Townes in his Kingdomes which were in Number about 27 The other himselfe for his owne priuate commodity exercised the Trade of Merchandize yet was this man most ingenious and a great louer of learned Men. CHAP. IX Of Pedography Riuers Lakes and Fountaines in the Earth 1 WE haue formerly treated of Hydrographie or the description of the Water now are we by Gods assistance to proceede on to Pedographie which is a description of the Firme Earth or Dry-Land 2 The Land is a space contained in the superficies of Earth distinguished from the Water The Earth in this place is not taken as in the former part of Geographie for the whole Terrestriall Spheare composed of Earth and Water Neither yet as it is vsually taken in Naturall Philosophy for an Absolute Elementary body whose causes and affections are to bee searched out but Topographically for a place or habitable space on the dry-land This dry-land distinguished from the Water by its Firmenesse and Constancy being noâ— subiect as the Water to motion and inconstancy was therefore if we belieue the Poet called Vestâ— according to that verse Stat viterra suâ vi stando Vesta vocatur Neither wants this fable of Vesta a sufficient morall First because Vesta was faigned to bee a keeper and protectour of their houses which may very well agree to the Earth which not only sustaines and beares vp all buildings and houses but also affords all commodities and fruits wherewith housholds are maintained Secondly Vesta was fained to be the Goddesse to whom the first fruits were offered in sacrifice which may well square with the nature of the Earth from which all fruits are originally deriued and therefore as it were of due ought all first fruits to bee consecrated to her altar Two other Parallels betwixt the Goddesse Vesta are added by Natalis Comes First because Plutarch sheweth in his Symposiacks that the Tables of the Ancients dedicated to Vesta were made round in forme and fashion of the Earth Secondly because the seat of Vesta was imagined to bee in the liquid Aire immoueable and not subiect to motion which well agrees with the common conceiued opinion of the Earth But these two rather expresse the nature of the whole Terrestriall Spheare then of the land diuided from the Waters This description of the dry-land separated from the Waters we haue termed Pedographieâ— because the Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 commonly deriued from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a foote signifies as much as a firme place whereon men may haue sure footing to which is consonant the Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which seemes most probably deriued from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies as much as Terere to weare out or waste because the Earth is dayly troden and worne with our feet The proprieties of the Earth appertaining to a Cosmographer are many and various wherefore to auoid confusion wee haue diuided them into these heads 3 The Adiuncts of a Place in the Land are either Naturall or Ciuill The Naturall are such as are in bred in the Earth 4 The Naturall may bee againe diuided into Perpetuall or Casuall Perpetuall are such as alwayes or most ordinarily continue the same 5 The Perpetuall proprieties are againe twofold either Absolute or Comparatiue The Absolute I call such as agree to the Land without any respect to the Sea 6 Of the former sort are such as belong to the Figurature of the Soile wherin three things are most remarkeable 1 Riuers Fountaines and Lakes 2 Mountaines Valleyes and plaines 3 Woods and Champian Countreyes 7 A Riuer is a perpetuall course of water from a certaine head or fountaine running from an higher to a lower place on the earth Riuers are by some Geographers more curiously distinguished into 2 sorts whereof the first are setled or stayed Riuers which slide away with a more equall and vniforme course The later are called Torrents or stickle waters which are carried with a far greater violence In a Riuer three things are chiefly remarkeable First the Fountaine or Spring secondly Whirle-pooles Thirdly the Mouth of it The spring is the place where at first the water sensibly breakes out of the Earth As Nilus in Africke is thought to haue his first head at the mountaines of the Moone A Whirlepoole is a place in a Riuer where the water falling into a Deep trench is whirled teurned round The Mouth is the place where any Riuer finds a passage our either into the sea or into another greater Riuer which in latine is tearmed ostium or a gate Whence they call Septem ostia Nili which are seuen mouths by which it fals into the Mediterranean This gaue the name to many Citties and Townes in England as Plimmouth Darâ—mouth Portsmouth Axmouth with many others Now for as much as all water is by nature heauy and therefore couets the lowest place The course of all Riuers must needes bee from a higher to a lower place whence we may guesse the hight of lands For it is necessary that for euery mile wherein the water glides forward on the earth there be made an allowance of 2 foote at least in the decliuity of the ground For although water will slide away at any inequality yet could not the water bee wholesome and retaine any reasonable swiftnesse of motion without this allowance Hence we may probably find out the huge hight of the Alpes about all the places in Europe because out of them spring foure great Riuers which runne foure wayes whereof the two greatest are the Danow which receiues into it 60 Nauigable riuers and so disburthens it selfe into the Euxine Sea far remote and the Rhene Of Lakes and Riuers many memorable matters may be spoken all which we will reduce to these heads 1 Their Generation and first originall 2 Their Appearance 3 Their Place in the earth 4 Their Vertues and effects all which we will comprehend in these Theoremes following 1 All Riuers haue their first originall from the sea the mother of Riuers The originall of fountaines and Riuers on the earth is a matter of great difficulty and for ought I know not yet found out of our greatest Philosophers yet being willing to goe as farre as I can I will glaunce at probabilities and first set downe other mens opinions Some haue beene of opinion that in the bowels of the earth are hid certaine vast concauities and cauernes which receiuing into them a great quantity of raine-Water haue giuen originall to Lakes and Fountaines Hence they giue the reason why these fountaines are perpetuall Because the raine-water receiued into these cauernes being extraordinary great is sufficient to nourish such springs of water vntill the
mountaines out of which such springs arise cannot be capable of so great a concauity neither can it otherwise be imagined but that many great riuers since the beginning had either bin absolutely dried vp or at least diminished in their quantity their Cisterns being daily more and more emptied out into their channells If they graunt that of this water a fresh supply be made it must be either from the sea or from vapours in the earth It cannot bee from the sea because as wee haue proued before the sea is lower then the fountaines where springs breake out of the Earth forasmuch as we see them runne to the sea from their fountaines as from a higher to a lower place That this supply of water in the depth of the earth should bee made by vapours it is also improbable in their opinion who cannot imagine so many ingendred in one place as to feed so great currents as also because many riuers were apparant in the first creation as the foure great currents of Paradice This obiection hath so farre driuen the Iesuits to their shifts as that they haue bin enforced to haue recourse to the opinion of Thomas Aquinas who dreames that the waters are enforced vpwardâ— by the influence of the heauens which they a litle before â—ast by and we haue before sufficiently refuted And whereas in the subsequent clause they labour to salue this place of Ecclesiastes That all Riuers come from the sea and returne thither againe They are constrained to leaue their old grounds and â—unne backe to Aristotle who holds that all riuers had their originall from vapours drawne vp by the sunne whereof the sea is the chiefe mother It will bee expected at least that we should disclose our owne opinion hauing censured the former which we will briefly doe as neere as probability can lead vs submitting also to those which are more iudicious First therefore we will suppose as probable that the earth is in a manner compassed round about with water for howsoeuer the places more eminent and separated for our habitation be dry land yet not farre vnder the superficies of the earth whereon we tread is the earth sprinkled round with water for which we may draw an argument aswell froÌ„ the Porous and spongy nature of the Earth which is apt to drinke in the water of the sea in the same hight because it is the nature of the water to diffuse it selfe abroad as also from experience of Minors and such as digg deepe into the earth who in most parts find water 2ly this water so enuironing the earth were it left to it's own naturall situation without an externall Agent would lift his superficies no higher then the superficies of the sea because being as one with the sea it will challenge the same Sphericall superficies Now to know how the water thus naturally settled is notwihtstanding lifted vp higher to become the source of Springs we must vnderstand that it comes to passe not onely by the heat of the sunne and starres piercing farte vnder the superficies of the earth according to the circle we haue allotted to the water But also to subterranean fires hid in the bowells of the earth in many places which are caused by sulphurous matter set on fire by the sunne or some other accident whether this sulphurous matter be pure Brimstone or Bitumen or a mine of sea-coale as some haue thought of our Baâ—hâ—s in England I will not curiously here dispute being of it selfe too large a subiect for me in this place to handle This heat may be conceiued to concur to the production of fountaines 2 manner of waies First by drawing vp diuerse moist vapours which by reason of the thicknesse and solidity of the earth being not presently euaporated out of the superficies of the earth are enforced to disperse themselues through diuerse crooked passages where condensated by cold distilling againe into drops of water they breake out through some places of the earth and so become a fountaine A second way which may also seeme probable is that the Heat peircing the Subterranean Water though not able to dissolue much of it into vapours for the solidity of the earth may notwithstanding through his heat Rarifie and attenuate these waters These waters then rarified must needs seeke a greater place wherein they may be contained sith Rarefaction is nothing else but the extension of a body to a greater place then before it occupied Hence is the Water enforced to enlarge his limits This enlargement or the place cannot be downeward towards the Center because all that place was supposed to be filled vp as farre as the Earth could drinke it Wherefore it must needs extend it's limits sidewise or vpwards By the former of which it may find a passage to breake forth on the superficies of the ground By the latter it may be lifted high enough to runne from the side of a higher mountaine towards the Sea-shore If any man should aske why this Rarefaction swelling of the Water is not so sensible in the open Ocean I answere that the sea is also much rarified lifted vp by reason of the sunnes heate which whether it be the cause of ebbing and flowing of the sea in part we haue before disputed Secondly that the sea-water should not rise so high as other water vnder the ground these reasons may be giuen First that the Ocean hath a larger channell to runne abroad on either side and so this swelling must of necessity become more insensible whereas the Waters in cauerns concauities of the Earth being oftentimes straightly bounded on either side by the narrownesse of the channell must of necessity take vp the more in hight and eminency 2 the Sunne heauenly bodies and subterranean fires worke more strongly and effectually on the open nakednes of the sea then on the waters hid vnder the ground which are more shrowded from such an extreame heat Whence it comes to passe that many parts of the sea are dissolued into vapours and so consumed and dispelled by the same Whereas this heat in the Subterranean waters being more moderatly impressed doeth not dissolue into vapours and consume so great a quantity of water but being of a middle temper rather rarifies it to the vse forenamed This seemes the more probable because spring water rising commonly in the sides of mountaines is for the most part thinner then the Sea-water as experience dayly warrants Thirdly the subterranean vapours are sooner dissolued into dropps of water by reason of the cold they must necessarily meete within their passage through the Earth whereas the other from the Sea meet with no such encounter till they arriue at the Middle-Region of the Aire whence they returne againe in showres of Raine 2 All riuers and Fountaines were not from the beginning For the confirmation of this assertion many histories may be produced It is reported that in Caria neere about the city Lorus there arose out of the Earth
of Riuers for it is manifest that all Riuers are higher at the Spring or fountaine then at the place where they disburtheÌ„ themselues into the sea Now although water is apt to slide away at any Inequality yet it is most probable that in greater riuers especially where the waters fall oftentimes with violence as at the Cataracts of Nile much inequality must bee granted in the Declivity of the ground supposing yet the water for euery mile to gaine two foot in the Declivity of the ground we shal find the hight very neere to equalize the hight of the highest mountaines although 2 foot in a mile is farre lesse then can be imagined in so great a Riuer The Riuer which I take for an example shall be Nilus which we shall obserue to runne about 50 Degrees from South to North which resolued into miles will make 3000 accompting for euery mile 2 foot we shall haue 6000 foot which will be neare these 10 furlongs being a mile and 5 parts then allowing for these mighty Cataracts where the water falls with so great a violence we must reckon a number of feet far greater then this measure for euery mile must the hight of land aboue the sea be much more then of the mountaines 4 Mountainous Regions are commonly colder then other plaine countries This proposition is not absolutely to bee vnderstood without a limitation for some plaine Countries neere the Articke Pole may be colder then some hilly Regions neere the Aequatour in regard of other concurrent causes but here we speake as the Logicians vse caeteris paribus comparing two places either together like or not much different or at least in our vnderstanding abstracting them from the mixture of all other considerations that this Theoreme is worthy credite diuerse reasons stand in readines to iustifie the first may bee drawne from the cause of heat in Inferiour Bodies which is the reflexion of the Sunne beames Now that this reflexion is of more strength and validity in plaine then in hilly and mountanous Countries is euident first because as the Optickes teach the rayes are more ioyned and combined in a plaine then in a conuex superficies for howsoeuer the whole Earth be of it selfe Sphericall yet the conuexity being not sensible by reason of the vastnes of the Circle whereby the conuexity is made lesse it may optically be called a plaine superficies Secondly it is taught in the Optickes that a reflexion is of more validity in an equall then in an vneuen and ragged superficies such as is found in Mountaines and vneuen places A second reason why mountanous Regions should exceed others in cold may be the vicinity of them to the middle Region of the Aire for of all the Regions if we beleiue Aristotle the middle is the coldest as being more seperate from the Sunne the fountaine of heat and the higher Region farther off from the reflexion of the Sunne-beames then the lower Now sith the parts of the Earth are affected with the quality of the Aire it must needs stand with reason that the more it shall approach to the middle Region the more it must partake of its quality Thirdly that this is consonant to obseruation reasons are vrged by experience of all Trauailers who report the topps of Mountaines euen in the midst of Summer to be couered ouer with snow although situaâ—e vnder or neare the Aequinoctiall Circle Of this nature are the Alpes in Italy the Mountaines of the Moone in Africke Andâ— in Peru and Tenariffe in the Canaries That snow should be an effect of cold I need nor labour to confirme A fourth reason may bee drawne from other effects of cold or heat for it is daily proued by experience that such diseases as chiefly follow heat especially the Pestilence in Aegypt and such plaine Countries are wonderfull prevalent whereas hilly and rockic Countries by the benefit of Nature stand in little feare of such Inconueniences Lastly no greater argument can be drawne then from the disposition of such men as inhabite such hilly Regions who haue all the Symptomes of externall cold and internall heat Insomuch as â—odin seemes to make a Harmony and â—oâ—cent betwixt the Northerne man and the Mountanist 〈…〉 Southerne man such as inhabite plaine countries ascribing to the former externall cold and internall heate to the latter externall heate and internall cold How farre this comparison will hold we shall haue more occasion to discusse here after when we come to the consideration of the Inhabitants â— Mountaines since the beginning of the world haue still decreased in their quantity and so will continually decrease vntill the end This obseruation Blaucanus I know not how truly ascribes to his owne Inuention but to what Author soeuer we owe it we must needs acknowledge a pleasant speculation grounded on good reason This Theoreme to demonstrate the better we will first lay these grounds oftentimes before-mentioned First as appeares by testimony of holy Scripture the figure of the Earth was in the beginning more perfectly Sphericall ouer-whelmed euery-where with Waters 2ly That a seperation was made by translocation of the parts of the Earth in such manner as some places admitting of concauities became the receptacle of the waters other places wheron these parts of the Earth were heaped together were made mountanous 3. Hence will follow that the Earth thus swelling vp in high mountaines is out of his naturall site and position therefore according to the law of nature will endeuour by litle and litle to returne to her former state and condition Now that the Earth hath sensibly suffered such a change since the beginning it is easie to shew out of experiments the causes we shall find to be the water aswell of the Rain as Riuers which we shall demonstrate by these Reasons 1 We see Riuers by litle and litle continually to fret and eat out the feet of mountaines wheÌ„ce the parts thus fretted through by coÌ„tinuall falling downe weare out the mountaines and fill vp the lower places in the valleyes making the one to encrease as the other to decrease the whole Earth to approach nearer to a Sphericall figure then before which seemes to be warranted by a place in Iob 14 where he saith to God The mountaine falling commeth to â—ought the rocke is remoued out of his place The waters weare the stones thou washest away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth From these Riuers in the valleyes continually eating through the parts of the Earth as the feete of mountaines are caused those slow but great Ruines called Labinae a lambendo by which sometimes whole Townes and Villages haue bin cast into the next great Riuer 2 To proue that Raine water challengeth a part in this diminution of mountains we may shew by the like experieÌ„ce we see plainly that Raine-water daily washes downe from the Toppes of mountaines some parts of the Earth whence it comes to passe that the highest mountaines
are harder and more rocky then others as being more able to resist this violence of the water Hence also it happens that old buildings being erected in the sides of mountaines haue their foundations after a time vncouered and are much subiect to Ruines an instance whereof may bee giuen out of the Romane Capitoll whose foundation according to the relation of George Agricola appeares now plainly aboue the ground which without question was heretofore deepe rooted in the Earth In Plaines and valleyes we find all things to happen contrary wise to wit that all places in regard of their superficies are raised much higher then they were in times past The reason whereof may easily be giuen out of the great quantity of the Earth carried by the washing of the Raine from the Topps of mountaines into the valleyes whence we may perceiue old houses heretofore fairely built to be now almost buried vnder ground and their windowes heretofore set at a reasonable hight now growne euen with the pauement so some write of the Triumphall Arch of Septimius at the foot of the Capitoll Mountaine in Rome now almost couered with Earth insomuch as they are inforced to descend down into it by as many staires as formerly they were vsed to asceÌ„d In like sort we see in old Monasteries Religious houses their lower roomes windowes doores very far couched vnder grouÌ„d of which great incoÌ„uenience we cannot suspect the Architects iudgment but rather our fore-mentioned cause from this burying of parts of some houses vnder ground it may be gathered that the farther they are vnder ground so much ancienter they are as we may obserue heere with vs in Oxford that our most ancient Colledges haue the windowes of their lower roomes some-where altogether choaked vp with Earth without or at least halfe way in somuch as the flore within is found to bee farre inferiour in height to the street without This is also confirmed by Architects who in digging vp old foundations before they came to firme ground whereon to erect a building are enforced first to remoue away the Rubbish or as they terme it the Made-ground wherein oftentimes they find Wood Iron-Instruments old coine with diuers other Trash of this Nature An instance we haue in some of the lower places in Somersetshire where some vpon occasion digging the Earth somewhat deep haue found great Okes turned topsy turvy with their Roots vpwards To coniecture with some that this was caused by Noah's Floud seemes to be very improbable 1 because as we haue formerly shewed in this Chapter the Water in the Deluge could not haue so violent a motion to procure such an alteration in the parts of the Earth 2 It cannot so well be imagined how such Trees should remaine so long a time without putrefaction wherefore we cannot well cast it on any other cause then the addition of the earthly parts brought by raine from the mountaines into the valleyes and so by some Land-flood which partakes much of slimy and earthly matter dispersed abroad vpon the land about Now on the contrary part wee find in few places of mountaines such made-ground which hath before beene moued This will also appeare out of the industry of our Low-countreyman who by baying vp the Riuers into certaine Artificiall Channels the ground about hath been much raised where on the contrary side the forcing of the water into higher places oftentimes is found to fret through the Earth and make it lower What we haue spoken of the effects of Riuers and Raine in diminishing the greatnes of the mountaines and exalting of the vallyes we may in some sort find in the sea For the bottome of the Sea being lower then the Earth and many great Riuers continually running from the Earth into it it is manifest that there is carried in their current a great quantity of earth in so much as by the heaping of sand and earthly rubbish the mouthes of great Riuers are in time choaked vp and commodious hauens spoyled and remoued farther into the land of which alternall transmutation of the Sea and Land wâ— shall speake hereafter for present instance need to goe no farther then diuerse Townes in Deuon which according to the Relation of ancient men haue heretofore been faire hauens able to receiue great ships to which notwithstanding at this time a small boat cannot arriue except in a full Tide The like whereof is reported by Aristotle 1 of a place in Egypt called Delta made by the heaping vp of sand and slime brought by Nilus from the Ethiopian mountaine 2 of Ammania Regio which in times past being Sea through the slime conuayed in the Riuers became afterwards as a standing poole which in processe of time waxed dry and ioyned it selfe to the Continent 3 Of Maeotis Palus that the dry land enuironing it round is so much encreased that ships of that burthen cannot arriue which could in times past within 60 yeeres before which is also in some sort testified by Polybius 4 The like is related of Bosphorus Thracius and many other places recorded by Pliny of which we shall speake hereafter From these obseruations Blancanus would inferre these consectaries 1 That the Earth was not from the beginning endowed with mountaines 2 That it should not so continue vntill the end of the world â—nd vnlesse the Fire whereof the Scripture speakes should preuent it the whole Earth should in the end be ouer-whelmed with waters as in the beginning and so be made void of habitation but on such coniectures I dare not too boldly venture being speculations built on no sufficient grounds All which can hence warrantably be collected is expressed in our former Theoreme 2 Of the Figurature of Countreyes in Mountaines Valleyes and Plaines we haue spoken It is requisite here wee speake somewhat of Woods and Champian Countreyes 3 A Wood is a Region or space of Land beset with trees A Champian Region is a space of Land either altogether voide or scarce furnished with trees Some Criticks here curiously distinguish in Latine betwixt Sylua Lucus and Nemus by Sylua vnderstanding a space beset with trees ordained to bee cut downe but Lucus was a place where trees were not ordained to bee cut downe but reserued sacred For in such groues they did anciently vse to offer sacrifice as may appeare by diuerse places out of the Old Testament where the Heathenish manner of worshipping was forbidden and sometimes reproued in the Kings of Iuda and Israel That which the Latines call Nemus is a Groue or Wood ordained onely for pleasure and recreation but the discussing of these businesses rather belong to a Grammarian then a Geographer who takes little notice but of those matters which most principally and remarkeably belong to any Region wherefore omitting other curiosities wee haue distinguished onely betweene a Woody and a Champian Countrey whereof as wee haue defined one is beset with a multitude of trees the other with few or none What concernes a
meant Heauen it selfe as many imagine But to confirme that this terrestriall Paradise is such a place some men produce these Arguments First that it is reported by Solinus that there is a place exceeding delightsome and healthsome on the top of Mount Athos called Acrothones which being seated about clouds or raine or such inconueniences the people by reason of their long liues are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Secondly they alleage for the hight of this Paradise that Enoch was there preserued from the violence of the flood as Isidore and Peter Lombaard maintaine But this opinion was of the Diuines condemned in the Florentine counsell and first where as they say that such a pleasant place is in the top of the mountaine Athos this neither proues that this is Paradise neither is it so high as they would haue it For euery high and pleasant place is not Paradise Secondly whereas they would haue Enoch and Elias preserued in the place it is expressely against Holy Scripture which affirmes directly that the waters ouer-flowed all the mountaines making no such distinction Secondly should wee credit this we might as well beleiue that certaine Giants saued themselues in that high place as some haue beleiued Besides the answer of their friuolous arguments these reasons may bee brought against their assertion First that such a place cannot be commodious to liue in for being so neare the moon it had also bin too neare the sun Secondly because in this sort it had bin too neare a neighbour to the Element of fire Thirdly because as many hold the Aire in that Region by the motion of the heauens is carried about so violently as nothing there can well consist Fourthly because according to Ptolomy the place between the Earth and the Moone is seuenteene times the Diameter of the Earth which make by a grosse accompt about 120000 miles Hence it must needs follow that Paradise being lifted vp to this great hight must haue the compasse of the whole Earth for a basis or foundation But this cannot be imagined first because it would be subiect to the eyes and knowledge of men Secondly it would hide the light of the Sunne for the first part of the day being on the East side Thirdly it would ouer-poize the Earth and so make it to shrinke out of his place one side being farre greater and heauier then the other The fourth conceit is of Tertullian Bonauenture and Durandus who would haue Paradise to bee seated vnder the Aequatour because that contrary to the opinion of most of all the Ancients they thought this place to be most pleasant and commodious for habitation It is true that the places vnder the Aequinoctial are not so burnt with the Sunne as some thought but as we haue proued out of latter Nauigators very pleasant and fruitfull for the most part yet cannot this be the place of Paradise for asmuch as the Riuers of Paradise mentioned in holy Scripture are not found to meet there which argument might also confute them which thought it was seated vnder the North-pole The last opinion which I hold the truest is of some latter Writers that Paradise was seated in a Region South-east from Mesopotania which is most amply and copiously proued by Sr Walter Rawleigh to whom I referre my Reader only two reasons I will alleage The first from the name of Eden sith there is found an Iland of this name North-west from the place assigned very fruitfull pleasant in all commodities of the Earth and in later times knowne also by the name of Eden which is likely to haue been continued from the beginning Secondly from the Riuers of Paradise which cannot be imagined to meet in any part of the world for Tigris and Euphrates it is certaine that they are found in this very Region for the other Riuer Gihon that it is falsely vnderstood of a Riuer running through Aethiopia is also most certaine for such a Riuer could neuer meet with Euphrates which is out of question one of the Riuers of Paradise for asmuch as it is so farre distaÌ„t diuided from it by the Mediterranean Sea wherefore I am constrained rather to embrace their opinion which interpret Chut to be a part of Arabia where Chush the father of Noah seâ—â—led his first habitation which for this cause he called after his own name but afterward in processe of time his posterity growing exceeding large and populous they were enforced to passe ouer into Africa and so settle themselues in Aethiopia which place also they called after the same name as wee haue seene of later yeares the Spaniards at the first discouery of the West Indies called one place Hispaniola and another Hispania Noua in remembrance of their former habitation But howsoeuer it be certain it is that Paradise was seated in the East from whence mankind had it's first off-spring And probable it is that Adam being excluded out of Paradise was cast into some place neare adioyning thereunto which may also from our habitable place of the West be accounted Eastward 3 The first plantation of Inhabitants immediatly after the Deluge begunne in the East As Adam the father of all Nations before the flood began his ofspring in the East neere Paradise so the second father of Nations Noah in the East first beganne to repeople the world after the deluge Which besides the clearer testimony of holy Scripture may sundry waies be demonstrated First because it is most certaine that the Earth beganne first to bee peopled neere the place where the Arke rested which is the mountaine Ararat Whether this be a mountaine of Armenia as the coÌ„mon Interpreters imagine or the mountain Caucasus betwixt Scythia India as some later Writers with greater probabilities haue guessed hath suffered a great dispute all agree in this that it was Eastward I will not be here ouer curious but refer it to our historicall part where we shall particularly handle the memorable accidents of particular places Enough it is to proue that the first plantatioÌ„ after the flood was East-ward 2ly no small probability is drawne from the ciuility magnificence and populosity of these Easterne nations before others For it is certaine that many excellent Arts haue flourished amongst those Easterne people before euer our westerne climate dreamed of such matters AmoÌ„gst many other matters Artillery Printing was in vse amongst the Chinois East-Indies of ancient time long before this inuention was known to vs as the Portugalls who haue trauailed thither haue confirmed To the vse of gunnes and ordinance many suppose Philostratus to haue alluded speaking in the life of Apollonius Tiraneus lib 2. cap 14. Where he saith that the people dwelling betwixt Hyphasis and Ganges vse not to goe farre to warre but driue away their enemies with thunder and lightning sent downe from Iupiter By which meanes it is said that Hercules and Bacchus ioyning their forces were there defeated and that Hercules there cast away his golden shield
mixture from the truest and ancientest Hebrew discipline It is manifest that in the Heathenish superstitions themselues many footsteppes haue bin discouered which will appeare by diuers Instances These arguments I confesse seeme very strong but yet not of sufficient strength to enforce credulity without other warrant To say peremptorily with Mr. Bodin that by the consent of ancient writers the Chaldeans are acknowledged the most ancient people is more then I dare to venter Neither is this opinion so strongly fortified with arguments but Reason may steppe in to haue a doubtfull assault Their first argument drawne from the testimony of holy Scriptures in th â—â— of Genesis seemes to stand on our side altogether against them For whereas it is said that they came from the east into the plaine of Shinaar it is manifest that the east was first peopled or else how should this people come from the east into these plaines of Shinaar to erect the tower of Babel Secondly whereas they vrge Arts Ciuility Magnificence of the Chaldeans wee shall find it rather to agree to the people which dwell farther east as is witnessed by the former instances And if any obiect that at this day is found the contrary for as much as we find the Indian to be a barbarous blind and ignorant Nation in respect of the Asiatickes and Europaeans we answere two wayes 1 First that we find not by experience the East-Indians to bee so altogether deuoide of ciuility but that wee may obserue not only amongst them the footsteppes but also the practise of many ingenuous Arts sage gouernment policy and magnificence as amongst the Chinois and the large territory of the great Mogull 2. It is not hard to imagine that in so large a tract of time the best setled common wealthes should be brought to nought arts ciuility magnificence be forgotten and the rarest inuentions bee cast into obliuion especially by those two enemies of ciuility warres and luxury both which hauing the raignes in their own hands are quickly able to abolish all wholesome discipline both in Lawes and Religion 3. Their argument drawne from the footesteppes of Languages in my shallow conceit proues nothing else but that all Lawes Arts and Learning was deriued to the Graecians from the Chaldaeans or the Nations neare adioyning which formerly receiued it from them But how farre Learning might propagate it selfe the other way towards the East is not a matter so cleare and out of question The preseruation of the Language for ought I â—ee might grow from the continuance of the Religion more firmely rooted and for a long time continued in Abrahams posterity whose abode was settled there about whereas the other farre diuorced aswell from their first spring as the monumentall seales of their religion quickly turned Religion into Pagan Idolatry Many reasons besides the disprouing of this former opinion may bee alleaged to proue the Easterne part of the world to haue bin first peopled amongst which I will only cull out this one grounded on the text of holy Scripture It is warranted out of the text 1 That when the waters begâ—n to decrease vpon the face of the earth and the Arke began to rest vpon the mountaine Araâ—at Noah sent out a doue to make tryall who returned with an oliue-branch in her mouth 2 That neare the place he issued out of the Arke with all his family he planted a vineyard and was drunke with the iuyce of the Grape not knowing the strength thereof out of which by all probable coniecture must needes bee collected that the Regions neare the place where the Arke first rested by the benefit of Nature afforded both Vines and Oliues for we cannot imagine the silly Doue at the time of the flood empty gorged to haue flowne very farre ouer the face of the waters to obtaine this Oliue branch nor Noah after the flood to haue gone very farre to seeke out a conuenient place for his Vineyard whence it is most likely that the Arke rested in such a place whose neare adjoining Regions are inriched with such commodities But this cannot bee verified of Armenia wherein for ought my reading informes me are found neither Vines nor Oliues whereas some places Eastward whereon the Arke according to this other opinion was supposed to rest afford both in great plenty To vmpite betwixt these two opinions I leaue to my frendly Readers because it is not in our power to command but obey Reason CHAP. XIV 1_OF the originall of Inhabitants of the Earth we haue spoken It remaines wee now treat of their naturall Disposition There is nothing more subiect to admiration then the diuersity of naturall Dispositions in Nations a matter euident to the eye of obseruation and needing no proofe or demonstration for who obserues not in all Nations certaine naturall or nationall vertues or vices which neither time nor Lawes could euer change or correct For not to 〈◊〉 farther off then our neighbouring Nations Confines what Writer in this kind almost were he not very partiall hath not taxed pride and ambition in the Spaniard leuity or rather as Bodin would haue it temerity in the Frenâ—h dangerous dissimulation in the Italian Drunkennesse in the Dutch Falshood in the Irish and gluttony in the English And howsoeuer many meanes haue bin put in practise either by the seuerity of lawes to curb such enormities or the subtilty of discourse to shroud these vices vnder the name of vertues yet these markes are found to stick as close as the spots vnto the Leopard as neither altering their pristine hue or yeelding to time or statutes And if it happened at any time that by extraordinary violence some litle alteration were wrought yet some few yeares would find it returne againe vnto his owne nâ—ture and disposition This variety of dispositions being very many and dâ—pending on sundry causes to helpe memory we will reduce into certaine heads out of which in the generall we may giue a iudgment leauing the rest to our speciall Tract The name of naturall disposition in this place we take in the largest sense so farre forth as it comprehends vnder it the Complexion Manners Actions Languages Lawes Religion and Gouernment All which so farre forth as they depend from the places we will shew Neither intend we to handle nicely all these specialities forasmuch as the Manners Customes Lawes and for a great part the externall rites of Religion depend on the naturall constitution of the Inhabitants so that little can bee spoken of the naturall constitution but of such actions effects and markes as shew themselues in their ordinary customes manners Wherefore we shall be constrained to treat of them together the one being a great furtherance to the explanation of the other 2 The naturall disposition of the Inhabitants of the Earth may suffer change and diuersity either in respect of the site or in respect of the quality of the soile or in regard of the Inhabitants themselues 3 The site is the respect
the Gotish tongue of the Spaniards to be changed to a smoother and sweeter pronunciation then that which is retained in Scythia I speake not of the Latin mixtuâ—e out of the meere Gotish words which wee shall perceiâ—e mollified with more vowels and set to a sweeter termination The like may be obserued in the Hebrew tongue which as Iosephus Abudachnon sometimes a Reader in this Vniuersity obserued to the eare sounded far sweeter in the Arabian Turkish and Persian dialects then its owne originall not that it is in them more perfect which were impiety to beleeue but because men in pronouncing of a language preferring pleasure before significancy haue mollified it with soft vowels and aspirations rather to serue the eare then vnderstanding No lesse affectation shall wee find of diuerse sortes of musicke â—orting with diuerse dispositions The Northerne mans humour consortes best with the Phrygian measure a loud and stirring harmony The Sothâ—rne man hauing his spirits more mollified affects the Lydian The people of the middle region are most of all delighted with the Doricke a musicke heretofore vsed in sacred exercises They who know these measures exactly and which is agreeable to this or that mans fancy will giue a probable guesse vnto his naturall disposition To runne ouer all the differences in manners and customes of the Northerne and Southerne nations were a matter infinite wherefore it shall suffice to wrap vp all in generall recapitulation If wee compare the Nortâ—erne man with the Southerne wee shall find the one white and red the other blâ—cke or tawney the one big-boned the other small and dwarfisâ— the one strong but easâ—e to be deceiued the other weake but witty and circumspect The one giuen much to wine the other exceeding sober the one neglecting both himselfe and others the other carefull and ceremonious The one rustically arrogant the other high minded the one prodigall the other parsimoniouâ— The one temperate the other lecherous the one a slouen the other neat and hand some the one plaine and simple the other craftie the one a Souldier the other a Priest the one a Workman the other a Philosopher the one standing on the strength of his â—ands the other of his wit Out of the mixture of these extreames it is no difficult matter to draw the disposition of the middle Nations For finding the two extreame nations of the North and the South to be not onely diuerse but for the most part opposite one to the other in disposition and manners it were very rationall to iudge the middle to haue a mixture of both which obseruation wee will proue For if wee compare the middle region with either the extreames we shall find no such apparant diuersity as betwixt the extreames themselues Here Monsieur Bâ—diâ— dreames of a golden mediocrity to magnifie his owne Countrey which hee finds in his middle region For sithence both these extreames challenge an extremitie of disposition hee imagineâ— this middle tract only reserued for vertue and temperance But if hee iustly weigh all in the ballance of impartiall iudgement he shall finde no such aduantage For first out of his owne grounds to which wee haue hitherto assented he ascribes to the extreame nations an eminency both of vice and vertue Then cannot the middle challenge these qualities otherwise then remitted and of lesse force If therefore he would haue their inclination to vice more moderated and corrected he must also confesse their disposition to vertuous actions to bee of lesse validity Againe these middle nations are to bee accompted either directly situate betwixt both the extreames or more inclining to the one then the other For these directly in the middle wee must imagine them to partake of both dispositions as well to vice as to vertue borrowing from either extreame as well good as bad Here therefore can bee found no disaduantage For if they will boast of the vertues of either they must likewise be ashamed of either vices If they plead a moderation of the former they must loose so much reputation in the later For these which more neerely incline to the one then the other it will bee apparant that as they approach the one in one quality so they are farther off in another as if they approach neerer in contemplatiue wit to the Southerne people so will they come so farre short of the Northerns valour For by how much more they come neere the vertue of the one so much come they short of the others Affections The like may bee iudged of their Imperfections so weighing reason with reason wee shall find no such inequality and disproportion to magnifie the one or vpbraid the other for that Almighty Creatour of all things is wont to distribute his blessings in proportion and Nature his soueraigne hand-maide triumphes in nothing more then variety Thus haue we spoken as farre as history and obseruation can iustifie of the lawes customes and manners of the Extreame and middle Nations in which we haue chiefly tied our discourse to the Northerne and Southerne people in this Hemispheare hauing few histories to leade vs to the consideration of the other opposite on the Southerne Hemispheare yet the causes being like we may out of the former bee able to giue a iudgement of the later 8 Hitherto haue we treated of the people of the Northerne and Southerne Hemispheares with the speciall subdiuision of each into Extreame or middle It now remaines that wee speake of the diuision of Inhabitants according to the Longitude 9 According to the Longitude Inhabitants are either in the Easterne Hemispheare or Westerne Those I tearme of the Easterne which liue betwixt the Canaries and the Molucco Ilands on this side The Westerne those which dwell betwixt those two on the other These two Hemispheares of the Earth haue by some beene called the Old and New-world because the former containing Europe Asia and Africke hath been knowne to the ancients as the portions of Noahs three Sonnes Shem Ham and Iaphet whereof as the Scriptures testifie Shem had Asia Iaphet Europa and Ham Africa The other containing America the South-continent and some other Ilands haue beene since discouered Of the comparison of the Inhabitants of these two Hemispheares we will insert this Theoreme 1 The people of the Easterne Hemispheare in Science Religion Ciuility Magnificence and almost euery thing else are farre superiour to the Inhabitants of the Westerne For demonstration of this point wee need not spend much time first it is manifest that this Hemispheare was peopled a long time before the other which is a probable argument of their culture and ciuility because all these matters haue commonly their growth perfection with Time the mother of all perfection That this part was peopled a long time before the other is most credible for it is plaine out of the Holy Scriptures that the first off-spring of mankind was in Asia whence it could not disperse it selfe into America and other parts of the Earth till such time as
it will lift vp much greater and heauier waights which experiments are sufficient to confirme our assertion that this Declination is caused only by the disponent and conuersiue vertue of this Terrestriall Globe 3 The magneticall Declination hath a variation That in the magneticall Direction there is found an Irregularity or variation hath beene sufficiently warranted by Artificers Instruments The like Irregularity is in the motion of Declination which makes magneticall Instruments and experiments more subiect to errour and imperfection The variation of Declination is defined to bee an Arch of the Magneticall meridian betwixt the true and apparent Declination The cause hereof is onely to bee sought in the vnequall temper of magneticall parts in the Earth For as in the Direction magneticall bodies are drawne and wrested from the true meridian by the eminent and more vigorous force of the Earth one side ouer-ruling the other so the magneticall needle the conuersion somewhat increased declines sometimes beyond his naturall site and conformity This may cause an errour but not of any great moment sometimes when there is no variation or Direction at all in the Horizon there may bee a Variation or Declination to wit either when the more eminent and stronger parts of the Earth are placed iust vnder the Meridian or when these parts are more impotent then the generall nature requireth or els when the Magneticall vigour is too much increased on one side and diminished on the other as wee may behold in the vast Ocean CHAP. IIII. Of the Totall motions Magneticall 1 HAuing passed the Partiall motions magneticall wee are next to speake of the Totall motions which more neerely agree to the whole Earth such as are the Verticitie and Reuolution 2 The Verticity is that whereby the Poles of the earthly Spheare conforme and settle themselues vnto the Poles of the Heauen 1 The Spheare of the Earth by her Magneticall vigour is most firmely seated on her Axell whose Ends or Poles respect alwayes the same points in the Heauens without Alteration That which in a little Magnet or Load-stone is called Direction in the vast Globe of the Earth is called Verticity To vnderstand which wee must conceite that the Earth hath naturally two Poles vnto which the meridionall parts doe direct not only magneticall bodies neere the Earth but her owne massie situation and firmenesse and settles her selfe so strongly by her magneticall vertue passing through the Meridionall parts to the Poles as if shee were tied by many strong cables to two Herculean pillars not subiect to alteration And if it should happen by any supernaturall power that the situation could bee changed shee would no doubt by her magneticall vigour and verticity returne and restore her selfe to her former position as all magneticall needles will doe to their proper site and conformity Of this Verticity needes no more to bee spoken then hath been already said in the point of Direction because the former is a representation of the latter and depends on the same demonstration Out of which ground wee may euidently conclude that the Axell of the Terrestriall Globe remaynes alwayes inuariable By which we may refute the opinion of Dominicus Maria who was Master to Copernicuâ— who out of certaine vnperfect obseruations was induced to beleeue that the Poles of the World were changed from their true and naturall situation I haue obserued saith hee looking on Ptolomies Geographie that the eleuation of the Pole Articke almost in all Regions as it is put downe in Ptolomie differs and failes in one degree and ten minutes from that which wee finde in our time which cannot bee ascribed to the errour of the table because it is not probable that the whole series should bee depraued according to this equality of number Wherefore it must follow of necessity that the North pole should bee moued toward the verticall circle which mystery not knowne of the Ancients for want of former obseruations hath shewed it selfe to our times being inriched not only with their but our owne experiments According to this opinion of Dominicus Maria the North pole should bee eleuated higher then it was and the Latitudes of Regions should bee greater then they were But to this opinion we will oppose the opinion of Stadius which holdeth that the latitudes of Regions haue beene decreased and diminished from that they haue had in Ptolomie without any such regular Increment or Decrement which hee labours to confirme by many obseruations as for example the latitude of Rome as it is set downe by Ptolomie is 41 degrees â…” parts but by newer obseruation it is found to be 41 degrees ½ parts out of which wee may well coniecture that Ptolomies obseruations were not alwayes exactly true being for a great part such as hee had receaued from Hipparchus and not examined himselfe as may bee seene in the latitude of many Citties in Europe where hee missed sometimes 2 sometimes 3 degrees Wherefore no iudicious Geographer would vpon such imperfect obseruations and vncertaine coniectures bring in a new motion of the earth to ouerthrow that magneticall Harmony and consistency corroborated with so many and sure demonâ—trations This may serue to answer a certaine Tenâ—nt of Vasquez the Iesuite and some others who imagine the Center and by consequence the Pole of the Earth to bee moued vp and downe by a certaine motion of Liberation The argument on which they would ground their assertion is taken from the Center of Grauity in this manner The whole masse of the earth say they is so setled about the Center that it is equally poized that is as much as to say that the parts are indowed with an equall waight Now such Bodies as are so equally poized by the addition or diminution of any part on either â—ide will bee straight-way tâ—rned from that â—iâ—e which they had before in Aequîlibrio as is dayly confirmed by experience of a Ballance and other such mechanicke instruments Wherefore in the Terrestriall spheare the Center and Poles should in this wise bee changed and altered and the whole suffer a kinde of starting or Libration For it is manifest by dayly obseruation that some things in the superficies of the earth are fallen off and carried into another place as Men Beasts and Birds which moue from one place vnto another Nothing is here of more moment then the motion of the Sea by which the parts of the water by continuall ebbing and flowing suffer such a sensible change of Addition and Diminution that no man can imagine how the parts of the Earth about the Center should alwayes bee equally counterpoyzed but the waight on one side should bee predominant vnto the other and so driue the Center from his former place This Argument Blancanus another late Iesuite leaues altogether vnanswered either imagining it too strong or out of a combined faction of their owne society vnwilling to contradict his fellow And indeed should wee consider the spheare of the earth no otherwise then according to
his Elementary constitution this reason would hardly admit of a solid answer For howsoeuer in the vast frame of the Earth the addition or subtraction of some parts would make but an insensible difference yet can it not bee denied but the least waight whatsoeuer added or subtracted would turne it from its Equall-poyze Neuerthelesse this I hold too absurd for a Christian to beleeue for as much as it contradicts the sense of holy Scriptures which auerre the earth to bee so setled on her foundation that shee should not at any time bee remoued or shaken which motion as shall bee proued in the second Theoreme I take to bee vnderstood of such a Trepidation of the Center and the Poles which by a metaphor are tearmed the foundation of the earth and not of the circular motion as some haue laboured to wrest it Wherefore nothing is here left vs to satisfie this doubt but to haue recourse to his magneticall verticity whereby the poles of the Earth endowed with a magneticall vigor and ouerswaying the elementary ponderosity of the earthly parts are as it were so fast bound to respect the same points or poles in the Heauens that the Center can no wayes bee shaken or moued out of his place 3 The Magneticall Reuolution is a motion by which the whole globe of the Earth is moued round Aristotle in his 1 booke de coelo makes 3 kindes of simple motions out of which hee labours to deduce the number of simple bodies The first is the motion from the center such as is of Fire and Ayre and all light bodies the second to the center such as is of Earth and Water the third is round about the center or middle which hee ascribes to the Heauens so that if this ground were true the Earth could challenge to it selfe no other then the right motion whereby the parts of it being separated from the whole returne to it againe But this opinion although popular and plausible hath beene contradicted as well by ancient Philosophers as moderne for by long experience and diligent obseruation they haue found the earth to bee endowed with a star-like vigour whereby shee may hauing all her parts vnited together by reason of her grauity vnto the Center and her place made sure by her magneticall poles moue naturally vpon her owne poles at least if so bee shee claime no other motion This opinion first blosomed as farre as I can gather in the Schoole of Pythagoras was cherished by Heraclides Ponticus and Ecphantus two famous Pythagoreans to which afterward ioyned themselues Nicetus Syracusanus and Aristarchus Samius all which haue vndertaken to defend that the Earth moues circularly and that this circumgyration of the Earth causeth the rising and setting of the Sunne as well as of other starres although in the manner they haue not expressed themselues alike hauing inioyed as yet scarce the first dawn of knowledge But all this while Philosophie contented her selfe with the acquaintance of a few choice friends not daring to prostitute her treasures to popularity But when it hapned in after times that shee was taught the language of the vulgar and spake to the vnderstanding of each mechanicke shee soone contracted some staines and squared her selfe rather to please the most then the best Thus the multitude as a vast torrent preuailed against the learned and cast into exile the inuentions of the Ancients which their ignorance was readier to censure then vnderstand Yet were not the seeds of this Philosophy quite extinct but as forgotten for a time vntill there arose Copernicus a man of incomparable wit who quickned and reuiued it to his euerlasting prayse and our profit I would not here be mistaken as though I strongly apprehend these grounds and reiect all the principles of our Peripateticke Philosophie I only inueigh against their preiudicate ignorance which ready to licke vp the dust vnder Aristotles feet with a supercilious looke contemne all other learning as though no flowers of science could grow in another garden I confesse this opinion of the Earths circular motion to bee subiect to many and great exceptions and opposed by strong and waighty arguments drawn probably from the booke of God the touch-stone of sincere verity yet I hold it too strongly fortified to be inuaded by popular arguments drawn from seeming sense and bolstered vp with names and authorities For mine owne part I confesse not absolute subscription to this opinion yet could I not conueniently leaue it out because hauing vndertaken to insert this Magneticall Tract I would not willingly mangle it in any part but shew it whole and intire to the view of the iudicious who herein may vse their Philosophicall liberty to imbrace or reiect what they please If these grounds seeme true they will finde acceptance if otherwise it cannot indamage Truth to know her aduersary Wherefore I thinke no man will take it amisse that I insert this following Theoreme 1 It is probable that the terrestriall Globe hath a circular motion Copernicus ascribes three motions to the spheare of the Earth whereof the first is in the space of 24 houres about her owne axell making the day and night and is therefore called the Diurnall The second is yeerely wherein the Center it selfe of the Earth is moued from West to East describing the circle of the Signes The third is a motion of Declination performed in an annuall reuolution reflecting against the motion of the Center for the Axis of the Earth is supposed to haue a conuertible nature whereas if it should remaine fixt there would appeare no inequality of day and night Spring Autumne Summer or Winter I will not here curiously distinguish the differences limits and periods of these three motions but leaue it to the skilfull Astronomer to whom properly it appertaines it is enough for mee to shew it probable that the Earth should challenge to it selfe a circular motion in prosecution of which I shall labour chiefly to establish that first motion which is of the Terrestriall globe about her owne axis which is the easiest both to beleeue and vnderstand That I may the better expresse the grounds of this opinion I will labour to proue these two points 1 That this opinion is consonant to reason 2 That it no way contradicts the sense of the Holy Scripture The former assertion wee will againe diuide into 3 articles 1 That the motion which wee seeke to establish in the Earth cannot without much absurdity bee granted to the heauens Secondly that it no way contradicts to nature of the Earth it selfe Thirdly that the arguments produced against this opinion are not so strong but may bee answered with probability First therefore finding the dayly rising and setting of the Sunne Moone and other Starres to arise from some motion wee are to seeke out the true subiect of this motion It is agreed vpon by all that this subiect must bee the Heauens which are carryed in 24 houres from East to West or the
yet may the rest compared amongst themselues be ranged in a certaine order as the Second Third Fourth Fifth and so along till we come againe to the First being in all reduced to the number of 180 answering to 360 Degrees as wee haue taught So much for the Meridians 11 The Parallels are equidistant Circles passing from the East to the West directly I haue defined the Parallell Circles in a larger sense then former Geographers vsually haue taken it in as willing vnder this generall name not onely to include the Parallels commonly so called but also the Equatour because I see no reason why the Equatour being euery where equidistant from each other Circle should not suffer this acception The common sort of Cosmographers vnder this name would onely comprize the minor Circles which are conceiued to bee equally distant and correspondent to the Equinoctiall Circle so that all should bee so called in respect of the Equatour to whom they are said to answer not in site and position for as much as they decline from the middle of the Earth to the North and South but in Comparison and Proportion for as the Equatour is drawne from East to West and diuides the whole Spheare of the Earth into the North and South Hemispheares So the other also diuide the Globe of the Earth though not into two equall parts as the Equatour but vnequall These Parallels many wayes are distingushed from the Meridians first because the Meridians are drawne directly from North to South but the Parallels from East to West Secondly the Meridians how many soeuer they are imagined to bee concurre and meete all in the Poles of the Earth whereas the Parallels howsoeuer drawne out at length will neuer concurre or meete in any point Whence it must needes follow that all Parallels and Meridians in the Globe must cut one the other and make right angles These Parallels although infinite in number may bee in the Spheare reduced to the number of the Meridians because they are drawne through the opposite points and degrees of the Meridian Semi-circle which would make vp the number of 180 but yet for Conueniency they haue not painted so many in the face of the Artificiall Spheare for as much as so many lines and circles might beget Confusion Wherefore Ptolomy and the Ancients haue distinguished the Parallels on both sides the Equator North and South with such a Distance that where the day should increase one quarter of an houre a new Parallel should be placed So that the longest day of one Parallell should surpasse the longest day of another for one quarter of an houre By which appeares that the Parallels are not of one greatnesse but by how much neerer the Pole they are placed so much lesse are they and so much greater by how much farther off from the Poles and neerest the Equatour These Circles are of great vse in Geographie as to distinguish the Zone Climats and Latitudes of Regions to shew the Eleuation of the Pole and to designe out the length and shortnesse of the day in any part of the Earth 12 A Parallell Circle is of two sorts either greater or lesser The greater is the Equatour or equinoctiall Circle 13 The Equatour is the greatest of the Parallels passing through the middest of the Earth and exactly diuiding them from the Poles into two equall halfes or Hemispheares whereof the one is North the other South This Circle is called the Equatour or Equinoctiall of Astronomers because that when the Sunne passeth vnder it as vpon the 11 of March and the 13 of September it makes the Day and Night equall This Circle of Astronomers is esteemed the most notable being the measure of the Diurnall and most regular Motions The Laâ—ines haue taken the name and appellation of this Circle from the Day as the Greeks from the Night Wherein the Sense is no way varyed because the equality of the Day argues the like equality of the Night The two Poles of the Circle are the same with the Poles of the Vniuersall Earth to wit the Articke or North-Pole and the Antarticke and Southerne Pole whereof the former is alwayes conspicuous in our Horizon the other lies couched and hidde from our Sight It is called the Articke-pole from the Constellation of the little Beare in the Heauens neere to the which it is situated in opposition to the which the other is called Antarticke It hath manifold vse in Astronomy copiously by Astronomers And no lesse in Geography for without this Equinoctiall Circle no Description of the Earth can be absolute perfect neither any Citie or Place in the Terrestriall Globe or Mappe set in his due and proper place This Equinoctiall Circle in regard of the Earth passeth through the middle-most part almost of Africa by Ethiopia America and Taprobana So that it exactly diuideth the Globe of the Earth into two halfes the Northerne and Southerne Hemispheares so that these people which dwell vnder the Equatour are said to inhabite the middle of the world because they incline neither to the North nor to the South hauing so much distance from the Articke Antarticke-Pole of the Earth Moreouer by this Circle as wee will declare hereafter are noted out vnto vs the East and West part of the Spheare no way to be neglected of Geographers 1 Concerning the Equatour two things are to be obserued either the Inuention or the Site and Position The Inuention is either Astronomicall or Magneticall The Astronomicall according to these Rules 1 The Meridian being found out to find the Equator This is easily performed by the helpe of the former Figure for therein the Meridian line being found out as we haue shewed let there bee drawne by the Center E of that Circle the line AC making right Angles with the said Meridian which line AC will bee the true Equatour and will point out vnto vs the true East and West as A the East and C the West Whence it appeares that the two lines to wit of the Equatour and the Meridian doe diuide and cut the whole Horizon into two equall Quadrants 2 Without the helpe of the Meridian to find out the Equatour In the time of either Equinoctiall in some Horizontall plaine in the Sunne-shine let there bee erected a Gnomon then in the day time let there bee noted all the points by which the end or top of the shadow hath passed for all those points in the time of Equinoctiall are in a right line because then the end of the shadow is carried in a line in the time of the Equinox in a Herizontall plaine This line will bee the true Equinoctiall-line the cause is giuen by Clauius in Gnomonicis lib. 1. prop. 1. Corollar 2. which depending on many Geometricall and Astronomicall principles as too far from my purpose I omit 15 The Magneticall inuention of the Equatour is wrought by the Magneticall Inclinatory Needle according to this Proposition 1 Wheresoeuer at any place of the Terrestriall
to wit that it might water aswell the mettalls in the bowells of the earth as giue moisture and nourishment to Plants and liuing creatures dwelling thereon And this motion saith he although it be against the particular nature of the water is not altogether violent because elementary bodyes are bound by a certaine law to obey and subiect themselues to the heauenly so that motions impressed by them are not enforced on them by violence For albeit in some sort it thwart the phisicall disposition yet haue all creatures an obâ—dientiall aptnesse as they terme it to submit themselues to the superiour But this opinion of Thomas Aquinas in my conceit seemes lesse sound then the former For first Thomas had no need at all of these shifts holding some of his other grounds For in another place comparing the hight of the sâ—a and land one with the other he firmely maintaines that the sea is aboue the land and that it is bounded and restrayned from ouerflowing the dry land by the immediate power of the Creator If this be graunted what need there any ascent or drawing vp of the water by any externall power of the heauenly bodyes sith the remitting of this restraint of waterâ— in some places were sufficient to cause such springs and riuers in the earth Secondly his opinion cannot stand without manifest contradiction of himselfe for how can the water being of his owne nature heauy be drawne vpward without violence and thwarting of nature And whereas he alleadges for himselfe an obedientiall aptnesse in the elementary bodies to obey the superiour he shall find very little helpe to maintaine his part For this obedientiall inclination must be either according to the nature of the water or opposite vnto it or at least the one must be sudordinate vnto the other That it is according to the nature of the water he himselfe disclaimes and experience refutes because it naturally descends not ascends if it be opposite as indeed it must needes be he contradicts himselfe If the Physicall and obedientiall inclination be subordinate the one to the other I vrge that subordinate causes can produce no other then subordinate effects for asmuch as the causes and the effects are measured and proportioned the one by the other But wee plainly see that the motions of ascent or descent are diametrally opposed and contrary the one to the other so that they cannot otherwise proceed then from opposite and contrary causes Secondly this obedientiall aptnesse is commonly vnderstood of a creature in respect of his Creator in whose hand it is as to create all things of nothing so to reduce all things againe into nothing But this although it be aboue nature yet no way contradicts nature and easier it is to be imagined that the Creator should annihilate any Creature then letting it remaine in his own Nature giue it a motion against nature Moreouer 〈◊〉 we duly coÌ„sider nature in her course we shall find that the lower elementall Bodies onely concurre to the conseruation of the whole and of one another by following their own priuate inclination for the whole is nothing else then an orderly concent and harmony of all the parts from whose mutuall cooperation it receiues his perfection so that where any part failes in his owne office the whole must needs sustain dammage Thirdly it will hardly be resolued by any of this opinion by what meanes or instruments the heauenly or superiour Bodies can haue such an operatiue power ouer the water as to lift it vpward from his owne Center for neither can this thing be performed by motion hight or any InflueÌ„ce which are the three meanes of operation of celestiall Bodies on elementary I will not stand to proue every particular in this matter But onely would haue my aduersary to answere and giue an instance and speciality Another opinion there is of Aristotle followed by all Peripaâ—eticks who in his first booke of Meteors and 13 Chapter goes about to proue and maintaine that all Springs and Wells in the land are produced and generated in the bowells of the Earth by any vapours resolued into water which opinion he labours â—o strengthen in this manner It is certain saith he that the Earth hath within it much aire because Nature will no-where admit a vacuity But the Earth hath not onely many open but a great many secret holes and conâ—auities which cannot otherwise be filled then with aire Moreouer a great part of the Earth and other vapours therein contained and stirred vp by the force of the Starres are conuerted into Aire and that aswell the Aire included in the bowells of the Earth as vapours there also bred are perpetually conuerted into water This reason may seeme to perswade because it followes of necessity that the coldnesse of the Earth expelling their heat they should harden condensate be disposed at last to the generation of water whence also the cause 〈◊〉 giuen of the generation of water in the middle Region of the Aire although it be not alwaies thence bred aswell for other causes as for that the Aire by the heat of the Sunne is sometimes too hot and the vapours are too much attenuated and ratified so that the matter of Raine cannot be alwaies supplyed This would Aristotle haue to bee the originall of all Springs and Fountaines So that the water should first distill as it were drop by drop out of this vapourous matter and this moist matter so collected and drawne together should afterwardâ— breake forth out of the ground and so cause such fountaines Some reasons are also produced to proue this assertion for say the Authors of this opinion If the Springs and Riuerâ— should proceed from any other cause then they should take their beginning from Raine-water which is before refuted or from the Sea by certain secreâ— passages which opinion seemes too weake to endure examination First this seemes an argument that the Sea-water is commonly Salt but the water of Springs and Riuers is for the most sweet and fresh and therefore such Springs are not deriued from the Sea Secondly because we neuer find the Sea to be emptied which must needes be if it should giue beginnings to all such currents of water in the Earth Thirdly we haue already shewed that the superficies of the Earth is higher then the Water so that it cannot be conceiued how riuers should be deriued from the Sea To this opinion howsoeuer seeming probable and supported with the name and authority of so great a Philosopher I dare not wholly assent forasmuch as it thwarts the Testimony of holy Scripture and cannot otherwise stand with reason because it cannot well be imagined how so many vapours and so continually should be ingendred in the bowels of the earth to nourish so many and so great currents as we see springing out of the Earth for a very great quantity or portion of Aire being condensated and made Water will become but as a little drop The Aire according
to Aristotles grounds being by a Tenne-fold proportion thinner then the Water Moreouer the Aire in these places seated in the superficies of the Earth and higher then other places and by consequent neerer the Sun should rather be rarified and thickned because heat is the greatest cause of rarefaction as we shall shew hereafter for the reasons alleaged for these opinions they are drawne only from the weaknes of their assertion which hold that Fountaines are deriued either from Raine water or from the Sea both which wee haue examined briefly and whereof wee shall speake hereafter The Schoole of Conimbra not vtterly reiecting all the former opinions haue vndertakeÌ„ to forgoe an opinion as it were partaking of all pretending to say something more when indeed they produce nothing besides the former Their assertion they haue set downe in eight propositions which I will faithfully set downe and then censure The first is that in subterranean places vnder the superficies of the earth is hid a great quantity of water distinguished into Riuers Ponds and Lakes This they proue from the daily experiment of such as diggs diuerse wells and deâ—pe trenches in the Earth Who many times vnder the Earth find not only many riuers and ponds but many times happen vpon so great abundance of Water that they can neither find the bottome or bounds thereof To this they add an experiment of Philip and Macedon recorded by Asclepiadorâ—â— who caused many men expert in digging of mettalls to be let downe into an old and forsaken mine to search out the veines of mettalls to see whether the couetousnesse of antiquity had left any thing to posterity These men vsing great lights are said to haue found nothing there but great and vast riuers and great receptacles of waters This they also labour to confirme by many and suddaine eruptions and breaking out of waters out of the earth whereof we shall haue occasion to speake more hereafter This first position howsoeuer in it selfe true enough seemes litle to the purpose but we will proceed to the second which is this That when God in the third day of the Creation seperated the waters into one place and hid it in the cauerns and secret receptacles of the earth at the same time dispersed into diuerse parts of the earth a great quantity of water by diuerse occult passages and channels whence comes that great masse of waters vnder the earth which is before mentioned This they seeme to perswade by reason for say they as the wise Architect of all for mans sake and the rest of liuing creatures for the vse of man hath discouered the dry land by restrayning all the waters into one place so it was most necessary that he should inwardly water the earth by which stones mettalls mineralls other such things in the bowells of the Earth should in time grow and increase Also that some water should from hence breake vp out of the Earth for diuerse causes hereafter specified Finally as Philo-Iudaeus affirmes for the continuation of the parts of the earth which otherwise might by drouth be seperated and diuided The third proposition grounded on the two former is this That many riuers and fountaines in diuerse places by Gods decree arise out of the earth by quantities of waters hid in the cauernes of the earth which they proue by reasons drawne from the vtility of such fountaines and riuers springing out of the earth Fourthly they defend that all fountaines and currents were not so made and appointed in the first Creation because Histories experience teach vs that many haue broken out of the ground afterwards whereof we shall haue occasion to speake hereafter Fiâ—tly they affirme that if the opinion of Aristotle be vnderstood of all fountaines and flouds it cannot be approued for asmuch as it seemes sufficiently declared in the third opinion how such riuers might be generated without such vapours as also because many arguments and places of holy Scriptures seeme to proue the contrary As also the foure Riuers of Paradice created in the beginning of the world cannot bee guessed to draw their originall from such vapours as Aristotle imagines to which accord many ancient Fathers vpon these places recited in that opinion whereas all riuers are thought to fetch their originall from the sea Sixtly for the credit of their master Aristotle they are constrained to auerre that although his opinion cannot be verified of all riuers and fountaines of the earth yet if it be restrayned to some such perpetuall currents it may haue probability For asmuch aswe are to beleeue that many such large cauerns and holes are hid vnder the earth in which no small quantity of vapours may be ingeÌ„dred This probability is greater in those riuers which are lesser in quantity then the greater for the reasons before shewed Seuenthly they affirme that it is absolutely to be beleeued that not only great riuers and currents are deriued from subterranean waters which haue originall from the sea but also lesse fountaines and springs for the most part challenge the same beginning whence they labour to proue by this reason that in very few places of the earth there is found so perpetuall and apt disposition of vapours vnder the ground as to nourish so many and so great currents of water Eightly say they it cannot be denied but that Waters aswell proceeding from raine as that which is generated of vapours in the cauerns of the earth sometimes may flow into fountaines and riuers What concernes Torrents bred of raine they haue recourse to the reasons of the first opinion for others they make it also probable because we see by experience that Vapours and Aire compassed about with earth are by reason of the cold enuironing it turned into water This is indeed the opinion of those subtill Iesuits of Conimbra wherein although they giue a flourish as if they would defend their master Aristotle on whom they comment yet meane they nothing lesse but indeed warily sticke to the other of the Diuines and ancient Fathers of the Church touching the deriuation of all 〈◊〉 from the sea Which opinion howsoeuer in it selfe most probable they know not how to manage and defend against opposition For whereas they suppose that in the first sepâ—â—tion of the sea from the dry-land a great quantity of water was dispersed into diuerse hollow places cauerns of the earth from whence Riuers are deriued and made they haue not in any probable manner expressed how this water should perpetually flow and feed so many great currents For first I would aske of these learned fathers whether the water inclosed in the bowells of the earth whence these springs are fed be higher or lower then the fountaines arising out of them If it be higher whether the Riuers are continually nourished on the old store or a new supply be daily made That so great riuers should bee maintained so many thousand yeares out of the old prouision is most improbable because the
bee performed by many stronger and abler men as it hath beene tried sometimes that a Franticke man hath broken very strong chaines wherwith he hath been bound which many other men could not doe Neither on the other side can it seeme strange that many and great exhalations vapours and spirits should be ingendred vnder the Earth For as much as the Earth is heaâ—ed many wayes Many wayes may bee specified whence such fumes should arise as first from the Sunne and Starres Secondly from the subterranean fires hid in the bowels of the Earth Thirdly in the winter-time by an Antiperistasis the heat collecting it selfe downeward to the inner parts of the Earth which was before in the outward parts of it The argument by which Aristotle would confirme this opinion is drawne as well from the time as from the places wherein Earthquakes vsually happen from the time because then most Earthquakes are obserued to bee when most exhalations are inclosed in the bowels of the Earth to wit in the Spring-time and the Autumne From the places because for the most part spongie and hollow Regions which may drinke in a greater quantity of exhalations are commonly most subiect vnto it for although many exhalations are dayly inclosed in the wombe of the Earth yet Earthquakes fall but seldome because the matter is seldome so strong and violent as to shake the Earth Wherefore some Philosophers haue expressed three principall wayes which make this Earth-quake first when a great quantity of exhalations is suddenly ingendred which for the greatnesse of it cannot be contained in so little a space for then being almost choked it seekes a way to fly forth Secondly when the Earth is condensated by cold and driues the exhalation from one place to another which flying hither and thither shakes and strikes the Earth Thirdly when the exhalation the cold compassing it round by an Antiperistasis begets heat within it and so is rarified for so being vnable any longer to confine it selfe to its former place it breakes forth and so shakes the Earth We must here note by the way that not onely exhalations are cause of the distemperature in the Earth but also subterranean fires and windes all which by some are iudged to bee of equall force in this action for the diuision of Earthquakes so farre forth as it concernes the difference of places we must vnderstand that it may be either Vniuersall or particular An Vniuersall Earth-quake is that which shakes all the whole Earth in euery part at least in the vpper face whereof I suppose no naturall cause can be giuen but the immediate and miraculous power of God such an Earth-quake happened at the time of our Sauiours Passion whereof Dydimus a graue and ancient Writer left record But that which is said to haue happened in the time of Valentinian mentioned by Orosius in his 7 booke of Histories 32 Chapter is thought by graue Authours to be no vniuersall Earth-quake howsoeuer for the large extent of it it was thought to be generall A particular Earth-quake is that which is bounded in some one or more particular places which for the causes before-alleaged cannot be so far extended because the cauernes and conuexities of the Earth where such vapours and exhalations are contained cannot bee ordinarily so great as to extend to many Kingdomes and Regions 1 Regions extreame cold or extreame hot are not so subiect to Earth-quakes as places of a Middle temper The reason is because in places extreame cold exhalations are not so soone ingendred and in so great a quantity as in other parts on the other side in places which are extreame hot the exhalations which are bred are soone consumed with excesse of heat both which may be confirmed by Instances It is obserued that in the cold Northerne parts as Olaus Magnus writes in his 10 booke and 13 Chapter Earthquakes are very seldome or neuer so it is obserued by Pliny in his 2 booke and 18 Chapter and Albertus Magnus in his 3 booke of Mâ—teours tract 2 That places which are very hot as Egypt are seldome troubled with this shaking of the Earth whereas places betwixt both which are seated in a more temperat climate find it not so strange 1 Hollow and spongie places are more subiect to Earth-quakes then solide and compacted soyles We must here vnderstand that hollow places are either such as lye open to the Aire or are hollow onely vnder and close vpward The former sort are not at all subiect to the molestation of Earth-quakes because the exhalations fly out without impediment but the latter being more apt to ingender and retaine such matter must of necessity bee more troubled This is most plainely obserued in Phrygia Italia Caria Lydia wherein such motions are more frequent To confirme this a little farther wee obserue that hilly and mountainous places suffer this violence oftner then other parts because there most commonly cauernes and concaâ—ities are more frequent then in plaine countreyes But here by the way may bee obiected that sandy and slimy countryes are many times more free from Earth-quakes then other places an instance whereof was giuen before in Aegypt wherein neuer any Earth-quake as most Authours affirme or at least but one as Seneca hath beene obserued The reason may bee giuen that sandy places without any strife suffer the exhalatioÌ„s to disperse themselues that slimy places want sufficient receptacles to entertayne them 3 Ilands are more often troubled with Earth-quakes then the Continent This haue they found to be true in many Ilands of the Mediterranean Sea and others also chiefly in Cyprus Sicylia Euboea Tyrus Angria Lippora and the Molucco Ilands betwixt the East and West-Indies The cause some would haue to bee the Antiperistasis or circumstancy of the waters which is apt to engender greater store of exhalations in the Earth But neuerthelesse that Ilands are more subiect to Earth-quakes then Continents I dare affirme no otherwise then probable because some places in the Continent seeme very much affected especially in Europe aboue other places Constantinople and Basilaea if we credite authors which haue written of this matter in Asia China and other Regions adioyning thereunto CHAP. XIII 1 THe Naturall affections of the Land haue hitherto beene declared Wee are in the next place to treate of the Ciuill Those wee terme Ciuill which concerne the Inhabitants 2 An Inhabitant is a man dwelling in a certaine place The name of an Inhabitant as we haue before noted may be taken either generally for any liuing creature residing in a certaine place in which sense Brute beasts may be called Inhabitants which signification is only metaphoricall or else for a Reasonable liuing creature whose abode is setled in any place or Region in which sense we here take it The consideration of the Inhabitants we haue reserued for this last Treatise following as well the methode of the first creation as of Moses in the narration For God proceeding in the first Creation according to the
order of Generation fâ—om the more vnperfect to the perfect created not man before such time as he had furnished the Earth with all things agreeable and necessary for his vse to which alludes the Poet in these Verses Sanctius his animal mentisque capacius altae Deerat adhuc quod dominari in caetera possit Natus homo est More sacred and of vnderstanding minde A creature wants to gouerne euery kinde So man begunne Of the Nature Proprieties Dignities and other accidents of this principall creature there wants no discouery sith large volumes are stuffed with this theame and euery man which knowes himselfe can preuent me in this subiect I will here speake of him so farre forth as hee is an Inhabitant or dweller on the Earth 3 In the Inhabitants wee are to consider two things either the Originall or the Disposition 4 The Originall is the off-spring whence all Inhabitants tooke their beginning Concerning the originall of people of the Earth wee are to obserue two things First the Distinction of originall Secondly the manner of Inuention For the first wee must note that all Inhabitants of the Earth haue a three-fold originall or beginning The first was from the first Creation the second was immediatly after the generall deluge wherein all the seminary of liuing creatures was preserued in the Arke The third is the first stocke or originall of each seuerall Nation For this last it is a matter which wee cannot here so well define till wee come to the particular description of each Region to which it properly belongs It shall bee enough in this generall part to speake of the two first as far as approued History and Obseruation shall direct vs For the Manner of finding out the originall of Nations these rules are giuen vs by Bodin in his ninth chapter of the methode of History The first is by the testimony of approued Authors The second is by the markes and footsteps of Languages The third may be drawn from the Limits and knowne bounds and situation of Countreyes This knowledge of the Originall of Nations hath been a matter of no small importance For as Bodin obserues there is nothing which hath more exercised the wits of Writers or caused more ciuill discords and ruines of diuerse common-wealths then the contention about the first originall of nations which iarres and contentions as I take it spring from no other ground then the naturall pride in the minds of men and the affection of Nobility whereby it often comes to passe that sâ—ch men as haue risen to greaâ—â—es by their Wealth Villanies or other such like meanes haue afterwards to continue and bolster vp their vsurped dignities sought out new pedegrees and Ancesters to set a glosse vpon their owne base beginnings a humor in our dayes more affected then prayse-worthy not only of priuat persons but of whole nations which run far off to seeke out their first originall which with more ease and certainty they might find neerer home To let passe other examples we need goe no farther then the French and the Britanes both which labour as much as may be to deriue their first originall from the Troians The first from the linage of Hector the other from Aeneas as if more glory were to be deriued from Troian fugitiues then from the valiant nation of the ancient Gauls and Germans from whom they might derâ—ue a â—ruer and a more certaine descent The consideration of this antiquity of nations so far forth as it concernes our Geographicall discourse reseruing matters of more specialty to our Speciall part wee will comprise in these Thâ—oremes 1 All Nations had their first originall from one stocke whence afterwards they became diuided Wee must here vnderstand as wee haue before noted that all Nations haue a threefold originall the first before the vniuersall deluge the other soone after the later long after For the first no doubt can bee made by such as credit the truth of holy Scriptures but it was from Adam the first father of mankind For the last it is doubtfull and various and therefore cannot well bee handled in generall before wee come to the description of particular countryes where we are determined to make a search as neere as can be into their originall But that which we chiefly here note in the second ofspring of mankind soone after the flood For certaine it is that all mankind was confined to the family of Noah in the Arke so that their first originall must be drawne from the Arke and that place where the Arke rested presently vpon the falling of the waters which we shall proue to be far Eastward Hence is the manifold arrogancy of many nations well discouered for amongst the Ancients some haue so much affected the antiquity of their race that forgetting their humane condition they haue deriued their nobility from the Gods Which humour hath not onely inuaded the minds and affections of foolish and ignorant men but also of such as haue stood in great opinion estimation of wisdome and vertue In so much as Caesar in a certaine oration to the people of Rome was not ashamed to boast that he was descended by his Fathers side from the Gods by his mother from Kings As also Aristotle deriued his ofspring from Apollo and Aesculapius which strange affectation was little lesse in the people of lower and baser condition who either being vtterly ignorant of their owne ofspring or at least dissembling it for the hate they bore to strangers haue called themselues 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is as much to say as a people bred of the same region not fetching their descent from any otheâ— nation In which sense Aristides in Panathenaiâ— giues the greatest nobility to the Athenians to wit that being borne of the Earth the mother of the Gods they deriued not their descent from any other forraine countrey and this errour is obserued not onely amongst the Ancient but also with the newer writers to bee so common that Polydore Virgill otherwise a prudent writer affirmes the Britaines to bee a people taking their originall from the Iland Countreyes and not deriued farther The like is written by Athamerus that the German nation being first bred in Germany owed their originall to no other Which hee labours to confirme out of Tacitus Sabellicus and Sepontinus But as Bodin speakes ingenuously the ancient might well bee excused in this errour But these men are subiect to great reprehension 1. Because they being Christians seeme to reiect the authority of holy Scriptures which testifie that all mankind was deriued from the selfe-same originall being as wee haue said all confined in the Arke of Noah 2 Because by this meanes giuing to natiâ—ns no other originall then from their owne country they distract and diuide each one from the mutuall loue and society of other Nations For besides many other reasons which moued Moses to write of the Genealogies of people this one seemes not the least that men should