any land This Horizon is of two sorts namely right and oblique The right Horizon is that which they have that live under the Equinoctial which passeth by their Zenith and therefore the Equinoctial line or circle falleth perpendicularly and right acrosse with their Horizon and both the South and the North Poles are in their Horizon The oblique Horizon is that which they have that live not directly under the Equinoctial for unto them the Equinoctial divideth the Horizon obliquely and not right acrosse and one Pole is alwayes above their Horizon and the other is beneath their Horizon and cannot be seen This Horizon is represented in the Sea-Chart by a certain imagined circle whose center is the point where our ship is From which center are imagined to proceed unto the said circle 32 lines which represent the 32 winds or rumbs which alwayes are drawn in our Sea-Compasse which likewise in a little peece of paper doth continually represent unto us both by day and night the whole Horizon with his 32 divisions CHAP. XVI Of the 32 Winds THis right or oblique Horizon is divided into 32 equal parts by 16 lines which they call Rumbs and they cut themselves in the point where we stand of which rumbs that which passeth by the points where the Equinoctial beginneth and endeth which are where the Sun riseth and setteth the 11 of March and the 13 of September is called East and West and that which cutteth it right acrosse is named North and South And the four extreams or ends of these two lines are distant upon the Horizon one fourth part of a circle and they make four quarters Every one of which quarters being divided in the midst do make four other points and that which falleth between the North and the East is called North-east and that between the North and the West North-west that between the South and the East South-east and that between the South and the West South-west And so the Horizon is divided by four lines or numbs into eight principal winds noted in the Sea-Chart with black lines And if you divide every one of those eight parts in the midst you shall have other eight lines and other four rumbs which in all are 16 winds And each one of these hath his name compounded of the names of those principal winds which are on either side thereof As for example that half winde which is between the North and the North-east is called North-north-east and that which bloweth between the East and the North-east is called East-north-east and that between the East and the South-east East-south-east and that between the South and the South-east South-south-east and that between the South-west and the VVest VVest-south-west and that between the VVest and North-west West-north-west and that between the North-west and the North North-north-west And these are noted in the Chart with green lines Finally if you divide every one of these sixteen winds in the midst they will yield you other 16 winds and will amount to 32 winds in all Which 16 last mentioned are drawn in the Sea-Chart with red lines and are by the Spaniards called quarters of the eighth first and principal winds and every one of these is called by the name of that principal wind which is next it together with an addition of the word By and the name of another principal wind which is next unto it As for example of the two quarter-winds which fall next the rumb of the North that which lieth towards the North-east is called North and by East and that which falleth towards the North-west is called North by West So likewise of those two winds which blow next the North-east that towards the North is called North-east and by North and that towards the East North-east and by East And after the same manner you may name all the rest The Figure of the Sea-Compasse and of the Horizon divided into 32 Winds by 16 Rumbs But here is to be noted that there is difference between the Rumb and the Wind because a Rumb is one direct line continued with two contrary winds as the Rumb of North South and the Rumb of East and West And so when we will name the lying of any Coast we will say that it lieth North and South or North and by East and South and by West But the wind is one line of those 32 into which the Horizon is divided and it is one part of those two which together are called the Rumb And so we say that Land lieth from us towards the South and towards the South and by West or towards the South-south-west c. CHAP. XVII Of the two Tropicks BEsides the six Circles above-mentioned which are drawn upon the superficies of the Sphere of the World there are other two which the Sun describeth with the motion of the Primum Mobile about the 12 day of June and of December of which two Circles that which the Sun describeth the 12 of June from the time of his rising till the time that he riseth the day following is called the Tropick of the Summer Sun-standing or the Tropick of Cancer for the Sun having departed from the Equinoctial and increasing his Declination towards the North when he cometh to describe that Circle for two or three dayes it semeth that he cometh no neerer to our Zenith nor departeth from the Equinoctial one day more then another but from thence forward he goeth back diminishing his Declination till he come to the Equinoctial and crossing the same he goeth on the other side increasing his Declination until the 12 of December upon which day from the time of his rising till he be come about to rise again the next morning he describeth another Circle called the Tropick of the Winter Sun-standing or the Tropick of Capricorn for the Sun being departed from the Equinoctial and increasing his Declination towards the South when he cometh to describe that Circle it seemeth for two or three dayes that he returneth not one whit towards the Equinoctial nor goeth further from our Zenith one day more then other but from thence forwards he commeth back again diminishing his Declination till he be returned to the Equinoctial and from thence towards our Zenith These two Circles in Sea-Charts are marked with two great red lines drawn from East to West which lie on either side of the Equinoctial being distant from thence about 23 deg and an half And wheresoever our ship be in any place between these two Circles or lines we may in some time of the year take the Sun in our Zenith at which time it maketh no shadow at all being then just 90 degr high above our Horizon But they which are without the said two Circles or lines shall never have the Sun in their Zenith because it cannot come to the height of 90 degr above their Horizon CHAP. XVIII Of the Parallels THe parallel Circles are those which are in all parts equally distant from the
by the Compasse and the leagues which we have run and this hath no certainty but is a little more or less then a good Mariner according to his imagination supposeth that he hath sailed whereof the said point tooke his name This point is found in the Chart by taking out of the scale of leagues so many leagues as a man can well estimate that the ship hath gone and pitching one foot of the compasse in the place from which you departed you shall set the other point in such sort that both may be equally distant from the Rumb or wind whereby you have sailed and where that second point of your Compasse shall fall there is your ship according to your imagination CHAP. XXI Of the Traverse or Geometrical point THe point found by imagination is not so certain as is convenient because it oft commeth to passe either because the Mariner hath not made true account of the way that his ship hath made or for some other causes therewith concurring that if he taketh the heighth by the Sun or by the North star after he hath cast his point he commeth not to find himself in that distance from the Equinoctial which his point of imagination doth shew him but in some other distance And to avoid this error there is another way of casting your point in the Chart which is called punto de esquadria the Traverse point which point presupposeth the assured knowledge of two things one is the Rumb by which you have sailed the other is your distance from the Equinoctial For all this art of Navigation is grounded upon the course and height which is in quantity all one with the distance from the Equinoctial The Rumb or course is alwaies known by the Compasse the height by the star and the distance from the Equinoctial by the Sun This being known set the foot of one Compasse at the port or place from whence you departed and the other foot in the next Rumb where upon you have sailed and placing one point of an other paire of Compasses upon the line of graduation in the degree of your distance from the Equinoctial and the other point upon the next East and West Rumb let these two pair of Compasses standing thus open run along the Rumbs one towards another till the point which came from the place of your departure and that other which came from the height of your graduation meet and where they meet there is the place of your ship And this point so found out is most certain when the height is carefully taken and the Rumb known CHAP. XXII Of the amending of the point of imagination HE that knoweth how to find out the point by traversing shall easily amend the point of imagination when having taken his height he findeth the said point not to be good and certain And here is to be noted that when you saile East and West and find the point by imagination this point cannot be amended but you must saile in doubt how many leagues you have gone untill you fall with the land because that sailing in that course neither the height of the pole nor your distance from the Equinoctial doth any whit alter But when you saile by any other rumb your point of imagination may be amended and the amendment thereof shall be so much the more certain as the rumb of your Navigation cometh neerer to the North or South and by so much the more uncertain as it cometh neerer to the East or West This amendment is made two manner of wayes namely either by traversing or by the amendment of North and South and East and West which second amendment though it be a kind of traversing yet it is called by another name to distinguish it from the first The amendment of the point of imagination by the traverse point When you will amend your point of imagination by traversing you must set one foot of one pair of your compasses in the point found by imagination and the other foot upon the next rumb by which you have sailed and setting the foot of another pair of compasses in the line of graduation upon the number of degrees which you finde your self distant from the Equinoctial and the other foot upon the next East and West line run with your compasses so opened by the foresaid rumbs till the point proceeding from the graduation and the other which proceedeth from the point of imagination do meet just together and then you may say that your point of imagination is mended by traversing The amendment of the point of imagination by North South East and West The amendment by North South East West is after this manner Set the foot of one compasse upon the point found by imagination and the other foot upon the next North and South rumb then place one foot of another compass in the line of graduation upon the degree wherein you find your self and the other upon the next East and West rumb and so let these two compasses run thus open by their rumbs till the point which 〈◊〉 from the point of imagination and the other which cometh from the graduation do meet for then is your point of imagination amended by the amendment of East West North South Of these two amendments the first serveth when you sail in a large gulf because you may run at liberty with the compass the second serveth neer unto any coast CHAP. XXIII The point by imagination and the heighth WHen you sail by the sixth or seventh rumb that is by the East and by North or East and by South or by the West and by North or West and by South or else by the East Northeast or VVest Southwest or by the East Southeast or West Northwest there is a certain difficulty which may breed great errour in finding the traverse point notwithstanding the latitude be taken by reason of the Rudder that guideth the ship which giveth certain yawes out of the course that the Pilot pretendeth or by reason of the winde which bloweth not right in the poop but maketh the ship fall to the leeward from the direct and true course which it ought to keep Wherefore because in such a case if you find your point by traversing suppose by East and by North the way which I think is made and hath been failed may be by the East Northeast which point so found must stand more forward then the true point by so much difference as there is between 42 and 88 Spanish leagues which is 46 leagues that is the difference of distance from the Meridian or North and South line in those two points In such a case as this it is not meet to find your point by traversing to avoid the errour which hereupon may insue which errour ariseth of such a cause as that a mans judgement be it never so good cannot easily determine thereupon and so consequently he cannot judge precisely But to avoid confusion and cause of errour he must
6 From the Meridian of Sierraleona 187 leagues VVestward 4 50 3 0 From the Meridian of Sierraleona 187 leagues VVestward 5 40 1 50 From the Meridian of Sierraleona 194 leagues VVestward 5 45 0 45    South From the Meridian of Sierraleona 195 leagues VVestward 5 26 0 10 From the Meridian of Sierraleona 198 leagues VVestward 5 30 0 35 From the Meridian of Sierraleona 206 leagues VVestward 6 33 2 0 From the Meridian of Sierraleona 210 leagues VVestward 6 55 2 35 From the Meridian of Sierraleona 220 leagues VVestward 6 45 3 35 From C.S. Augustine North and by VVest 7 0 7 16 From C.S. Augustine North by East Easterly 6 40 1 4 From C.S. Augustine North Northeast 8 0 4 0 From Cape S. Augustine East Northerly 30 leagues 8 10 8 20 From C.S. Augustine 100 leagues 11 6 8 30 From C.S. Augustine not 120 leagues 5 37 11 30 At the I le Fernando Laronho near Brasil 8 30 2 20 Close by the coast Brasil 3 45 7 0 8 0 10 0 A little VVest from the Meridian of Trinidad near Brasil 11 10 18 30 Among the Ilands of Trinidad and Ascension 12 8 20 35 On the backside of the I le of Ascension 12 10 20 30 At the I le of Ascension 10 0 20 0 In the Meridian of Trinidad Easterly 14 53 27 0 Between the Iles of Trinidad and Tristan de Acunha 18 0   19 0    Varia East Latit South  De. M De. M From the shoalds of Brasil East Southerly about 14 leagues 12 30 19 30 From the same shoalds South-east about 55 leagues 13 52 20 10 Also from the same shoalds Southeast by East 13 20 19 37 From the coast of Brasil 150 leagues 10 0 18 0 At Cape S. Vincent in Brasil 12 0   From the coast of Brasil 100 or 120 leagues 8 30 17 0 7 30 18 0 From Laronho Southwest 12 leagues 8 1 4 20 From Ascension Ile 20 or 30 leagues Eastward at the Cliffe Penedo de S. Pedro 5 30   Betwixt Ascension Ile and S. Helens 7 30   At S. Helena 2 48   3 46   5 37   7 30   From S. Helena a little VVestward 9 0   From S. Helens not 19 leagues 5 40 18 30 From S. Helena northwest by VVest 16 leagues 3 45   From S Helena northwest 156 leagues 7 40 10 20 From S Helena 230 leagues 5 38 8 20 From Ascension I le north-northeast half a point northerly about 12 leagues 6 0   About the Ilands of Martin Vaz 13 0 19 0 Alongst by those Iles 11 15   From those Ilands northerly 30 leagues 18 30   From the shoare of Africk VVestward some 130 leagues 4 8 27 0 Bearing from thence toward S. Helena 2 48 25 0 From the main of Africa 160 leagues 2 50 23 0 In the Longitude of 28 degrees 15 20 32 0 A little VVestward from the Meridian of the Iles of Martin Vaz 14 58 28 35 Eastward from thence 15 37 28 53 From the former Observation 60 leagues 16 8 29 0 From the last Observation Eastward 27 leagues 16 52 29 33 Beyond Tristan da cunha 70 or 80 leagues comming from Martin Vaz 16 53 33 0 From Tristan da cunha VVestward 17 52 34 35 14 0 At the Iland of Tristan da cunha 19 0   From thence northward 16 8 33 34 Past the Iland towards C. Bona Speranza 14 0   From Tristan da cunha VV. n. VV. 368 leagues 14 0 2◠25 At Cape Frio 13 0   Near Cape Frio 12 0 23 30 From Cape Frio Eastward towards Africa 17 0   18 0   From Cape Frio about 125 leagues Eastward 11 8   About 155 leagues from Cape Frio 14 8 25 0 At Port desire 5 0 47 40 At the East mouth or entrance into Magellans straits 5 30   In the straits of Magellan 5 0   From Cape Bonae spei 900 leagues VVest by north half a point northerly 15 52 26 50 From Cape Bonae spei almost VVest by N. 180 leagues 8 50 34 0 At the bay of Soldania 0 20 33 55 1 30 33 20 At Cape Buona Esperanza 0 15   1 30   About Cape Buona Esperanza 2 0 35 0 From Cape Buona Esperanza VVestwards 30 or 40 leagues 5 38   Betwixt C. Buona Esperanza and S. Helena 3 45   From C. Buona Esperanza South 3 45   From C. Bona Speranza VVestward 40 or 50 leagues 3 0   From C. Buona Esperanza due northwest 5 37 20 0  West   From C. Bonae spei S.w. by S. 36 leagues 4 10 35 25 From C. Bonae spei S.w. by S. 28 leagues 3 50 35 30 At Cape das Agulhas near C. Bonae Spei 0 0   From thence 80 leagues Eastward 0 0   At Cape Talhada 40 leagues East from Cape das Agulhas being in sight of land lying from us north by East 3 47 34 20 At C. Corientes beyond C. Bonae spei 7 30   11 0 25 0 From C. Corientes Southwards 8 30 30 30 About the Ilands Primeras towards Mozambique 15 0 18 0 In the I le Mozambique 12 0 14 45    North. At the Iles of Nicobar 7 36 7 30 10 0   From thence till you come to the Line going towards the East Indies 11 0   At the Ile de Almirant near the line 13 0   Near to C. Guarda fui or Porto Galeacea 8 15 13 15 At P. de estreito or the mouth of the Red sea 5 15 12 15 At Baxos de Cuaqem 1 15 19 15 At Port de Igidid 0 40 22 0 At Xuarit 0 15    East   At Sidon in the bottom of the straigts 2 35 33 30  West North. From the place that is 200 leagues Westward from Goa to Cape Comorin 15 0   At Goa 15 0 15 20 At the Iles Comoro 13 0   In the Bay of S. Augustine in Madagascar 15 0   At Cape Romano in Madagascar 17 40 26 0 Near Madagascar 8 30 26 0 20 0 From Cape Romano Southerly 14 4 27  30  From C. Romano VVest Southwest half a point Southerly 110 leagues 14 14 36 34  Variat East Latit North.  De. M De. M. From C. Romano Southwest 50 leagues 15 25 28 20 In the heighth of C. Romano 8 leagues off 16 45 25 50 At the I le of S. Mary entring the Bay of Antongil 17 0 17 0 In the bottome of the Bay of Antongil by many and exact Observations 20 0   At the Bay of Tanassarin 5 30   At the VVest side of the sands of Saya de Malha 15 0 11 30 At the Iland Ragapez 22 11 10 0 From the
Clavius his grosse demonstration hereof 90 A more exact demonst with the practise thereof 92 The angle of dipping for any heighth of the eye 96 3 Error by the Parallax of the Sun corrected 96 4 Error in Observing by the refraction of the Sun or Stars corrected 97 Chap. 16· Faults amended in the Table of the Suns declination commonly called the Regiment of the Sun 97 Chap. 17. Of the Table of Declination of every minute of the Ecliptick in degrees min. and sec. made according to the greatest obliquity of the Zodiack this present age which by exact Observation is found to be 23 degrees 31 min. and an half 98 A Table of the Declination of every minute of the Ecliptick in degrees min. and sec. 101 Chap. 18. The use of the former Table of Declination 116 Chap. 19. The description and use of a great Quadrant for observation of the Sun on Land 120 A Table of observations of the Suns Meridian Altitudes taken by the foresaid Quadrant in the years 1594 1595 1596 1597 at London  Chap. 20. The finding of the Suns Apogeum and eccentricity out of the former observation 142 To know the time of the Suns comming to any point of the Ecliptick 142 Chap. 21. The middle motion of the Sun corrected out of the former Observations 150 A Table of the Suns middle motions 152 Chap. 22. A new theorick of the Sun for the making of the Table of the Suns Prosthaphaereses 154 A Table of the Suns Prosthaphaereses 157 Chap. 23. The making of the Ephemerides of the Sun 159 Chap. 24. How to reduce the apparent time to the equal time answering thereto 162 A Table of the Aequation of natural days 162 Chap. 25. A Table of Aequations of the Suns Ephemerides to make them serve for many years 163 Ephemerides of the Sun 164 Chap. 26. The use of these Ephemerides 169 Chap. 27. The making of the Table of the Suns Declination 170 Prosthaphaereses of the Suns Declination 172 A Table of the Suns Declination 173 Chap. 28· The use of the former Table of Declination or Regiment of the Sun 181 Chap. 29 The Declinations of the principal fixed stars about the Equinoctial corrected by Observation 183 A Table of fixed Stars about the Equinoctial 198 Chap. 30. The use of the former Table 199 Chap. 31. The true distances of certain principal fixed Stars from the North Pole found by late Observation 199 Chap. 32. To know at what time any of the foresaid fixed Stars come to the Meridian for any day of the year 202 A Table of the Suns right Ascensions in hours and minutes for every day of the year 204 Chap. 33. By the former Tables of fixed Stars and the Suns right Ascensions to know the houre of the night at any time of the year 206 Chap. 34. Of finding the Elevation of the Pole by Observation of the Pole Star and Guard 207 Chap. 35. The description and parts of the Sea Quadrant 208 Chap. 36. The description of the Nocturnal or night Diall 210 Chap. 37. The use of the Sea Quadrant first in Observing the height of the Sun looking only to the Horizon at Sea 211 Chap. 38. How with this Quadrant to Observe the height of the Sun with â—our back turned towards the Sun 211 Chap. 39. How to Observe with this Quadrant the height of the Sun or Star looking both to the Sun or Star and to the Horizon 212 Chap 40. How to find the height of the Pole by Observation of the Pole-star and Guard without giving or taking any allowance or abatement at any time when the Pole-star the Guard and Horizon may be seen 213 To know the houre of the night by the Nocturnal 213 An answer to Simon Stevin shewing his erorrs in blaming me of error in my table of Rumbs 214 The Contents of the TREATISE Of the ART of NAVIGATION The division of the whole Art of Navigation pag. 1 Chap. 1. The definition of the Sphaere 2 2. That the whole World is a Sphaere 2 3. Of the division of the Sphaere 2 4. Of the motion of the Heavens 4 5. Of the figure of the Heavens 4 6. That the earth and water make one perfect Globe 5 7. That the earth is in the center of the world 5 8. The whole quantitie of the earth 5 9. Of the Equinoctial circle 6 10. Of the Poles of the world 6 11. Of the Ecliptick line 7 12. Of the Declination of the Sun 7 13. Of the Colures 8 14. Of the Meridian circle 8 15. Of the Horizon 9 16. Of the 32 Windes 10 17. Of the two Tropicks 12 18. Of the Parallels 13 19. Of the degrees 13 20. What is meant by Longitude and Latitude 14 THE SECOND PART OF THE ART OF Navigation wherein is handled the Practick part shewing the making and use of the principal Instruments belonging to this ART Chap. 1. The making of the Astrolabe pag. 15 Chap. 2. Of the heighth of the Sun pag. 17 3. Of the Shadowes 18 4. Of the Regiment and Rules of the Sun 19 5. Of the Declination of the Sun and of the Tables thereof 20 How the Declination of the Sun may be found out 21 6. The Equation of the Suns Declination 22 7. Foure examples for the plainer declaration of that which is said before 22 8. Another manner of accounting by the Sun as they use in Portugall 25 9. How the height of the Sun may be known in any place whatsoever without an Astrolabe first knowing your distance from the Equinoctial 25 10. The Rule or Regiment of the North-star for the knowledge of the height of the Pole 26 11. The making of the Crosse-staffe 27 12. Of the position of the North-star and the Guards 28 13. Of the height of the Star taken with the Crosse-staffe 30 14. The Regiment or Rules of the North Star 30 15. Other things to be noted in observing the height of the Pole 32 16. Of the Crosiers 34 17. Of the Sea-Compasse 34 18. How the variation of the Compasse may be found 37 The finding of the Meridian line 37 19. Of the Sea-Chart 38 20. Of the point of Imagination 41 21. Of the Traverse or Geometrical point 42 22. Of the amending of the point of Imagination 42 The amending of the point of Imagination by the Traverse point 43 The amendment of the point of Imagination by North South East West 43 23. The point by Imagination and the height 44 24. What it is to increase or diminish in height 45 25. How you may cast a traverse point without Compasses 46 26. Of another kind of casting a point by traverse 46 27. Of the leagues which in Navigation answer to each degree of latitude in every Rumb 47 Chap. 28. How you may come to know the Longitude or the course from East to West pag 48 29. How you may set down in your Chart a new land never before discovered 50 30. Seeing two known points or Capes of land as you sail along
Equinoctial And these Circles may be infinite between the Equinoctial and the North and South Poles and in the Sea-chart some of them are represented by the lines which are drawn from East to West And two of these Circles are the two Tropicks of Cancer and Capricorn which are the bounds of the Suns greatest Declinations Likewise all those Circles which the Sun and the stars in Heaven do by the motion of the first or highest moveable heaven describe from East to West are parallels and serve in the Sphere to shew the Latitude And when a ship saileth in the same height of the pole then she saileth in a parallel and runneth alwayes East or West Which manner of sailing we use at all such times when we find our ship in the height of that land to which we are going CHAP. XIX Of the Degrees EVery one of these Circles is divided into 360 equal parts which they call degrees and every degree is divided into other 60 equal parts which are called minutes which degrees and minutes are the common measure that we use in Navigation when we make any account in the Heavens either in taking the the height of the Sun and stars above the Horizon or in measuring the distance from our Zenith to the Equinoctial These degrees are marked in a line drawn from North to South in the most vacant part of the Sea-Chart This line in general Sea-Charts is divided into 90 equal parts which are counted beginning at the Equinoctial line from one to 90 both Northwards and Southwards And in those Charts which are not general this line hath such divisions as it is capable of according to the largenesse of the Chart beginning to make account from the Equinoctial CHAP. XX. What is meant by Longitude and Latitude THe Longitude of any place is a part of the Equinoctial or of some other parallel contained between two Meridians whereof one passeth by the Canary Islands and the other by the place given but if neither of the said Meridians passe by the foresaid Islands it is called respective Longitude And this respective Longitude is called in the Art of Navigation the distance or length of the right line which is determined or bounded by two other right lines running North and South of which two the one passeth by the Port or Haven from whence we set sail and the other by the place where our ship is And so shall the distance of the right line be the part of any right line whatsoever running East and West comprehended between the two foresaid right lines extended North and South The Latitude of a place is a part of any Meridian whatsoever contained between two parallels whereof one is the Equinoctial and the other the parallel of the place given This Latitude the Mariners do call the Distance from the Line understanding by the Line the most principal of all others which are drawn in the Chart that is the Equinoctial Line They use also to call it the heighth which is as much to say as the heighth of the Pole above the Horizon And so the Distance from the Equinoctial shall be a part of any North and South Line contained between the Equinoctial and any line running from East to West which passeth in the graduation of the Chart by the same degree of Latitude in which we find our selves to be THE SECOND PART OF THE Art of Navigation Wherein is handled the Practick Part shewing the making and use of the principal Instruments belonging to this ART CHAP. 1. The making of the Astrolabe TO know the Latitude or distance from the Equinoctial line there are required five things whereof any one being wanting we cannot possibly finde out how far we are distant from the said Line And these are the Astrolabe or Quadrant the height of the Sun the Shadows the Declination the Regiment or Rules of the Sun The Astrolabe is to be made after this manner In the midst of a round plate or table of mettal or wood being smooth and plain every where and about a finger thick you shall take the center A wherein having placed one foot of your compasses you shall with the other draw as great a circle as conveniently you can in the said Table And within this Circle must be drawn two other Circles the one distant from the other about the breadth of a grain of wheat and the third must be distant from the second twice so much as the second is from the first And your Ruler being laid just to the center A you shall draw the line BAC which divideth every one of the three circles into two equal parts And putting one point of your compasses standing open according to the length of the line BC upon the point C where the greatest Circle is divided by the line BC with the other point you shall draw above the point D a part of a Circle and another under E. And then putting one foot of the compasses thus opened upon the point B you shall draw other two parts of a Circle which will crosse the first in F and G. And your Ruler being laid to F and G you shall draw the line DE which must passe by the center A. Then let the Quadrant DB be divided into 3 equal parts and every one of those into three other parts and each of those nine into two and every one of those 18 into 5 and so the said Quadrant shall be divided into 90 equal parts or degrees Unto which degrees shall be placed the numbers belonging to them from 5 to 5 between the second and the third circle beginning from B and ending with 90 at the point D. Then let there be made at the point D a little hole upon the line DE through which may be put a little ring or some strong riband or string and you shall make a knot thereon whereby your finger may take hold and the Astrolabe hanging by that hole you shall put through a slender threed with a plummet of lead which may hang quite under the Astrolabe which threed if while the Astrolabe hangeth immoveable it fall just upon the line DE then is the Astrolabe well rectified If not you must continue cutting off some thing and lightning that side towards which the thred doth fall until it hang even with the foresaid line Then must you draw upon a Ruler of the same matter being about a finger and an half broad the right line HI along through the very midst of the breadth thereof which Ruler shall be made after the same fashion that here is set down cutting away from one half of the length half of the breadth alwayes saving whole the line HI And so likewise shall you cut off along the half of the length on the contrary part half of the breadth so that the line HI may remain whole on that side also And neer to the ends of the said Ruler you shall set two little square Vanes of the breadth
that the rose or fly may play more nimbly upon the pin This pin must be made of lattin with a very sharp point and is to be fastned upright in a round box of wood which must be of the fashion of a great cup-dish containing the rose within it being covered above with a clear round glasse and the joynts thereof must be stopped with wax to the end that no wind may enter into the rose to disturb it There must be great care had that this rose with the wires placed upon the pin may go nimbly and may not swerve more to the one side then to the other but may stand even and level And when it inclineth towards either part you must put on the contrary part a little wax or a thin plate of lead fastened under the pastboard which covereth the wires This box wherein the rose plaieth up and down hangeth within two hoops of lattin which are two round circles inclosed one within another and distant asunder by the space of half a fingers breadth with two nails of lattin which are diametrally opposite And the box being fitly placed within these hoops you must make in the outward hoop two holes which must be distant from the foresaid two nails a quarter of a Circle both wayes And by these two holes must the outward hoop or circle be fastened within a square box or a round so as although that uttermost box be tossed up and down every way with the motion of the ship yet alwayes the superficies and glasse of the inner box may lie level with the Horizon And this being done with care the instrument which they call the Sea-Compasse is fully finished The manner of using the same is when being placed with the box in the midst of the poop of the ship where the bittacle standeth in a right line which passeth from the bolt-sprit by the midst of the main mast to the poop it serveth continually to govern the ship by moving of the Rudder till the winde or the line of your Compass towards which we desire to shape our course stand directly towards the prow or bolt-sprit of the ship They use also for the night to mark a point within the inner part of the inner box which in respect of the capitel of the Compasse may stand directly towards the prow of the ship And alwayes in guiding the ship you must take heed that the said point be continually joyned with the winde of the rose towards which you intend your course CHAP. XVIII How the Variation of the Compasse may be found THe Mariners use to examine whether their Compass North-easteth or South-westeth watching for that purpose when the former guard beareth with the North star North-east and South-west taking a little of the point of North and South And placing their Compasse in an open place where the North star may be seen if the flowerdeluis of the Rose looketh directly towards the star their Compasse varieth nothing at all but if the star be to the North-east so much as it varieth from the point of the flowerdeluis so much the Compass North-westeth and if it varieth to the North-west of the Compass how much the star swerveth from the point of the flowerdeluis so much the Compasse North-easteth And in regard of this variation of the Compasse there must alwayes allowance be made in the course which is holden This manner of finding out the variation I do account to be somewhat subject unto errour but at land there is another more certain way by the Meridian line which is to be taken in manner following The finding of the Meridian-line In a superficies which is plain and level every where and in a place where the Sun shineth at his rising and setting you must draw certain circles upon one center and having pitched a stile upright in the same center the head whereof must be approved with a pair of compasses to be equally distant from all parts of one of those circles observe you in the morning two or three hours before noon when the point of the shadow of the stile toucheth the circumference of any of those circles and having made a mark in the touches take diligent heed in the afternoon also when the same point of the shadow turneth about to touch in the same circle and making another mark in that second touch divide in the midst that part of the circle which is between those two marks Then laying your Ruler upon the point of the division and upon the center of those circles draw a line which shall be your Meridian and the true North and South Rumb upon which setting your compasse and laying your Ruler over the glasse that it may passe along over the Meridian and over the center or capitel of the rose or flie eithe said Ruler lieth over the North and South of the Compasse and then is the Compasse without variation or the Ruler declineth toward the north-North-east or South-west and how much it declineth that way so much the Compasse North-westeth or else it declineth towards the North-west and then it North-easteth so much as the Ruler declineth that way But to know the variation of the Compasse both at land and sea we will deliver another far more easie and certain way when we come to intreat of the universal Dial. CHAP. XIX Of the Sea-chart THe Sea-chart is nothing else but a lively picture of the earth and water And it containeth five notable things which do concern as well the true making of the Chart as also the inabling of the Mariner to know the way which he maketh the place where he is and the end of his journey The first is the laying out of the Coasts of the Land which that it may be truly done it is meet that every thing be set down in the Chart in the same course distance and heighth that shall be found in Navigation The second is that it containeth not onely the coast of the firm land but also all other particularities which do occur in sailing as namely Islands Iselets Banks or Bars Shoalds Rocks and Flats The third is the lines which signifie the 32 winds by the help whereof we may see whether the parts of the land be well laid out and in their true courses one from another And of these winds the black are the eight principal which are called whole winds The green be half winds or half parted winds and the red be the quarters of the winds You may know in your Chart whether these winds be well drawn if you trie with your compasses that all points of them be equally distant one from another and that all winds representing the same Rumb be parallels As namely that one north-Northeast and Southwest Rumb be parallel to another north-Northeast and Southwest Rumb The fourth is the graduation in all parts whereof it is meet that the degrees be equal one to another and that the parts of the land do directly lie East
and West from those degrees under which they are situate The fifth is the scale of leagues which you may see whether it be true by taking betwixt the points of your compasses just 4 degr out of the line of graduation which being applied to the scale of leagues must there agree exactly with 70 Spanish leagues or 80 English By the Sea-Chart are known five things The first is the lying or trending of the Coast. The second is the distance or number of leagues from one coast to another The third is the latitude or distance from the Equinoctial wherein all Lands both Continents and Islands as also every Port River Isle Shoald or Bank is situate The fourth is the rumb or rumbs by which we are to sail from one place to another The fifth is the point or place where we are with our ship when we are sailing The first is known with a pair of compasses putting one foot thereof upon the beginning of the coast whose trending we desire to know and the other foot upon the rumb which to our thinking is every where equally distant from the said coast For if one foot of the compasses running along the Coast the other foot keepeth by the said Rumb then we say the coast lieth even with that rumb And if our compasse runneth with out swerving one foot from the rumb and the other from the Coast till the point which runneth along the coast leaveth it then from that very place where it leaveth the same we may say that unto the other place where it began the coast runneth by such a rumb as if a man should say East and West Northeast and Southwest or any other rumb whatsoever The second thing which is the distance may be found by taking between the points of your compasses out of your scale of leagues if the distance be very great an hundred leagues and measuring with your compasse so opened from one place to another now if in so doing it falleth not just then remembring how many hundreds of leagues there are you must for the measuring of the rest pitch one foot of your compasse upon the point where the last hundred ended and the other foot upon the land whose distance you desire to know then bringing the compasse so opened to the scale of leagues you shall see manifestly how many leagues the said distance surmounteth above the hundreds But if the distance be lesse then an hundred leagues then setting the points of your compasses upon those two places whose distance you desire to know and removing the compasse so opened to the scale of leagues you shall easily know the distance of one of those places from the other The third which is the heighth or latitude wherein every Port River or Island standeth is to be found by pitching one foot of your compasses upon the Land Haven or Cape whose heighth you desire to know and the other foot upon the next East and West parallel and the compasse remaining in that sort move the point thereof along the said parallel or rumb to the line of graduation and there the other foot which lay upon the land will shew you the heighth thereof The fourth which is the rumb or rumbs by which you must sail from one place to another is known after this manner If you be to sail by one rumb only you may know it by pitching one foot of your compasses upon the place from which you are to depart and the other foot upon the very next rumb which to your thinking goeth most directly to the place whither you would go and running by that rumb with one foot of your compasse so opened the other foot will touch the place whither you are going But if it toucheth not the place whither you are going then pitch one foot of your compasses upon the same place and the other foot upon the second rumb which you suppose may lead you thither And placing one foot of another pair of compasses upon the place from whence we depart and the other upon the most direct rumb toward the place desired these two compasses running along the rumbs one toward another you must mark where those two points joyn together one whereof came from the place of your departure and the other from the place whither you are to go the point where they both concur is that to which we are to change our course As for example if I sail from the bar of S. Lucan to fall with Punta de Naga upon the Isle Teneriffe in time of winter it is evident that I must sail Southwest and by South till I bring my self East and West with Cape Cantin in 32 degrees and an half and from thence I must go Southwest and by west but not all the way because putting one point of the compasse upon Cape Cantin and the other point upon the South west and by west rumb next unto it my compasse thus running open alongst the said rumb the point which departed from Cape Cantin will run on the out-side of Punta de Naga But in such a case as this I place one point of one pair of compasses at Punta de Naga and the other point upon the Southwest rumb Likewise I place one point of another pair of compasses at Cape Cantin and the other upon the next Southwest and by west rumb Then let these two compasses so opened run by their said rumbs one against another and then you must look in what place heighth the very point is where those two points of the compasses which departed from Punta de Naga and Cape Cantin do meet and I say that when I am come to the said heighth and place having sailed from Cape Cantin Southwest and by west then I must change my course and run South-west CHAP. XX. Of the point of Imagination THe fifth thing to be known by the Sea-chart is the point of the ships place and this they term to cast a point or to set a prick upon the chart which is no other thing but to finde a point therein which is proportionally distant in the Chart from all the Lands and Islands there described so many leagues of the scale as there are leagues of distance upon the sea from the place where you are to the Lands and Islands round about you represented by these that are in the Chart. This point is to be found two wayes either by imagination or by traversing which may properly be called geometrical The point of imagination is usually found by the first of these two wayes when we sail directly by a parallel circle which is when we sail due East and West keeping alwayes in one heighth and distance from the Equinoctial or when we sail by any other rumb in close weather when neither the Sun at noon nor the North star in the night can be seen This point doth pre-suppose the knowledge of two things to wit the rumb by which we have sailed and that is known
two guards are in the same Azimuth or the one directly over the other betwixt the lowest and the East Heighth of the Pole Star Heighth of the Pole Heighth of thâ— Pole Star Heighth of â—he Pole Heighth of the Pole Star Heighth of the Pole Deg. degr mi. sec. Deg. degr mi. sec. Deg. degr mi. sec. 1 0 40 50 28 27 58 43 55 55 30 47 2 1 41 27 29 28 59 31 56 56 32 47 3 2 42 3 30 30 0 19 57 57 34 54 4 3 42 39 31 31 1 9 58 58 37 9 5 4 43 16 32 32 1 59 59 59 39 32 6 5 43 52 33 33 2 51 60 60 42 4 7 6 44 29 34 34 3 44 61 61 44 46 8 7 45 6 35 35 4 39 62 62 47 41 9 8 45 43 36 36 5 34 63 63 50 48 10 9 46 20 37 37 6 32 64 64 54 11 11 10 46 58 38 38 7 30 65 65 57 51 12 11 47 36 39 39 8 31 66 67 1 49 13 12 48 14 40 40 9 33 67 68 6 11 14 13 48 52 41 41 10 38 68 69 10 59 15 14 49 31 42 42 11 44 69 70 16 16 16 15 50 10 43 43 12 53 70 71 22 11 17 16 50 50 44 44 14 4 71 72 28 54 18 17 51 30 45 45 15 17 72 73 36 34 19 18 52 10 46 46 16 33 73 74 45 18 20 19 52 52 47 47 17 53 74 75 55 14 21 20 53 33 48 48 19 15     22 21 54 15 49 49 20 41     23 22 54 58 50 50 22 11     24 23 55 42 51 51 23 45     25 24 56 26 52 52 25 23     26 25 57 11 53 53 27 5     27 26 57 57 54 54 28 54     An Addition touching the Variation of the Compasse WHeras there have been some of opinion that there be two Magnetical Poles by knowledge whereof and of the Magnetical Variation Observed in any place they have imagined they could find the Longitude thereof to shew the great error and uncertainty of this their opinion I have here set down this Table of observations of the Variation of the Magnetical Needle which partly by my self but for the most part by others both English and strangers have bin taken in all parts of the World almost whither any Navigation hath bin made for these many years Which Observations I wish the Juditious Reader to compare together with so good advice and judgment as he can whereby I assure my self he will be enforced to acknowlege with me that there can be no such Magnetical Poles found as they imagine To prove these a few instances may be sufficâ—ent amongst many that may be gathered out of these Observations For if there be two such Magnetical Poles there can be but one common Magnetical Meridian passing by them and the poles of the World but by these Observations it is manifest that there be many Magnetical meridians passing by the Poles of the World as namely the Magnetical Meridian about Trinidado and Barbudas also the Meridian about the Westermost of the Azores also about P. das Agulhas lastly amongst the East Indian Ilands some what beyond Iava Maior the magnetical and true meridian must needs agree in one Now seeing that all these Magnetical Meridians passe by the Poles of the World there can be no reason given why the magnetical Poles should be said to be in one of them more then in another and if in any then in all whereof it must needs follow that as many Magnetical Meridians as you have that passe by the Poles of the World so many paire of Magnetical Poles must you have which is absurd and therefore no such Magnetical Poles Now if any shall think that the great difference that is found betwixt divers of these Observations taken at the same place by divers Observers doth make any thing against the intention of this Argument he is much deceived For although there be three or four degrees difference betwixt some Observations taken at the same place as namely at S. Helena some make the Variation to be almost three degrees some almost four others will have it to be about five degrees and an half and some others seven and an half And although there be some four or five score leagues difference in determining the place where the true and Magnetital Meridian should concur or where there should be no variation about Flores and Corvo and about P. das Agulhas some making to be about seventy or eighty leagues Westward from Flores and some about thirty leagues Eastward from thence where some others will have it hard by Flores or somewhat to the Eastwards thereof And at P. das Agulhas some say there is no variation at all but according to others we must goe 80 leagues further to the Eastward before we come to no variation All these differences notwithstanding how great soever they be can be of no validity to infringe the force of the foresaid argument for still these Observations will necessarily prove that either at Flores and at P. das Agulhas or at the most within three or four score leagues of those places there is a Magneticall Meridian passing by both the Poles of the World which two Meridians differing so much in Longitude each from other and having in all Latitudes great variations betwixt them it cannot be with any reason imagined how they may be reduced into one so to make two Magnetical Poles only But of all these so great differences either of the same or of divers mens Observations we may justly take occasion to admonish all Seamen especially such as are to take charge that they be very carefull both in providing themselves of the most convenient Instruments that can be gotten for this purpose and also in the circumspect and artificiall handling of them whensoever they goe about to make use of them in Observing to find the variation considering how great and excellent use there may be made hereof for finding out the place whereabouts you are betwixt East and West upon the huge and vast Ocean though you have seen no land for a long time  Variat West Latit North.  De. M De. M. In the Ice Haven at Nova Zembla 22 30 76 0 On the West side of Nova Zembla 26 0 76 0 From Nova Zembla Westward 20 leagues 31 0 73 0 At Crosse Iland near Nova Zembla 17 0   At the Hollanders Newland 16 0 81 0 In the Iland of Vaygats 7 0 71 0 Amongst the Iles of Vaygats 8 0 70 25 At S. James Ile 7 30 70 40 On Land near the bar of Pechora 3 30 69 10 At the North Cape 1 0 71 30 From Fowlay Iland half way almost to Friseland 11 15   From Friseland half way to Labrador now called Newfoundland 28 0 62 0  East
such as may easily be known by other circumstances whereof we shall speake hereafter And although the Mariners may find Amsterdam otherwise as by the places near adjoining by conjectures by the soundings by the sands and many other signes without any regard of the variation yet I thought good to propound a known place for example that the Universality of the same Rule might be known in long Navigations wherein no land appeareth As for example if the Master of a ship desire to sayle from hence to Cape S. Augustine in Brasile and know that the variation there as it is reported is 3 deg and 10 min. and the Latitude 8 deg 30 min. towards the South when in going thitherwards he shall come to that Latitude and variation he shall then know that he is come to the Cape of S. Augustine and although he think otherwise by his conjecture and reckoning yet not regarding that conjecture he shall confess himself either to have guessed ill or els to have been deceived with some Eastern or western currents For reason will not suffer us to think that that variation which before was found at the Cape of S. Augustine is changed that he should need to yeeld himself to that opinion So also who will not esteem it to be absurd and altogether against reason that he which knoweth very well that he findeth at sea another variation then that which is at Cape S. Augustine of 3 degr 10 min. should notwithstanding neglecting the experience of the variation and resting upon conjecture onely affirme that he is neer the Cape S. Augustine Because he speaketh contrary things when he saith that the variation there is 3 degrees 10 minutes and again avovcheth that it is not Neither is this unworthy the marking which hath often hapned that he which should have sailed to the Isle of S. Helena when he was come to the Latitude of the same Iland and saw not there the Iland and was also ignorant whether he were to the Eastwards or Westward from the same by conjectures sought that place towards the East which indeed lay from him towards the West and so the further he sailed the further always he went from that Iland Now I leave it to thy consideration if he whosoever he were that was Master of that ship which diligently sought that Iland for the space of cerain weekes tacking about also divers times before he could find any place to abide in if he I say had not been ignorant what the variation of the Compasse was at S. Helens Iland and what the use of the variation is at sea and how to find it out I leave it I say to thy consideration whether he would willingly have floated doubtfully to and fro following a greater variation knowing assuredly that the variation there was lesser Hereby it may easily be conceived how great use there is of the variation when they especially which in sayling follow the lines shewing the courses which lines because now they have found this name among the Portugales we call Rumbs the ignorance of which lines can hardly be permitted in them which attempt long voyages upon the huge Ocean ought every where to know certainly the place of the true North which is commonly found by the knowledge of the variation If any man likewise consider the uncertain situation of those places which are set into Globes or Sea Charts by the mariners relation which uncertainty taketh his beginning from hence because every man thinketh that to be the true place of the North which is shewed by the Flower deluce as they call it of the Compass which they brought with them from home which thing also bringeth no less doubtfulness to the Mariners themselves he will think and that not without cause that the Observation of the variation is a very needfull thing even for this cause also Because it is an easie matter to place the flower-deluce in such sort that it shall not miss any thing in shewing the true North part of the World to wit if one move the Magneticall needle or points of the wires in the Compasse from the flower-deluce so much as need shall require These things therefore have been Observed and granted and this especially that the variation altereth according to the variety of countries as by the common testimonie of all men it is proved it is in some sort manifest that they which denie this varying property to be of very great use for Navigation are either wiser then the common sort and have some hidden secrets which are not revealed to every man or else are notable fooles and mad men Therefore when the most excellent Prince Maurice having throughly considered hereof thought that it might assuredly be brought to that pass that Mariners might receive great profit by this means He the high Admirall gave commandment to all the companies of the Admiralty adjoyning also thereto a certain introduction that they should doe their best indevor that all Masters of ships should provide themselves for this purpose that is to say that to what place soever they should come they should seek out the Declination of the Magneticall needle from the North or the variation of the Compasse not lightly running over the matter as it were by the way and for fashions sake onely but with great carefulness and diligence taking with them meet and needfull Instruments for that purpose and that after their return into their own countrey they should truly and faithfully certifie their companies or brotherhoods of the Admiralty of that matter that the selfe same experiments being by them brought into good order might be published for the common good But that every man may more perfectly learn the circumstances of this matter I thought it meet here to set down certain principles of this thing which is yet notwithstanding to be further searched into by more experiments in which shall be shewed a generall view or Table of those places whose variations have already been Observed by the learned Geographer Petrus Plancius with continual labour and not without great charges from divers corners of the earth neer and farr off whom for honours sake I therefore name that as well they that shall hereafter find out places or havens after this manner as also they that have already found may know that they are bound to give thanks to Plancius alone as to him that is the chief cause of this Observation But that Table or generall view of variations whereof there shall hereafter follow a plainer declaration is this A Table or View of variation The Northeasting or the East variation of the first part or space towards the North. Increasing  Northeasting Latitude Longitude  Deg. M Deg. Mi Deg. Mi. In the Flemish Iland Corvo 0 0 N 37 0 0 0 In the Flemish Iland Saint Mary 3 20 N 37 0 8 20 Near the Iland Maio 4 55 N 15 0 11 20 At Palma one of the Canary Ilands 6 10 N 28 30 16 20 At
the Rock near Lisbon 10 0 N 38 55 24 30 In the Westermost part of Ireland 11 0 N 52 8 24 12 In the West part of England 12 40 N 50 21 28 0 Decreasing About one mile Eastward from Plimmouth 13 24 N â—0 18 30 0 By Tin mouth in the Sea 12 40 N 55 0 33 0 At London in England 11 30 N 51 24 34 6 In the Foreland of England 11 0 N 51 8 35 40 In Amsterdam 9 30 N 52 20 39 30    Northwesting     The Northwesting or the West variation of the second part or space towards the North Increasing At Helmshade to the westward from the North Cape of Finmarke 0 0   60 0 At the North Cape of Finmarke 0 55 N 71 25 61 30 At Norquinda 2 0 N 71 10 63 30 At S. Michael or Archangel in Russia 12 30 N 64 54 83 30 In the South streight of Vaigatz 24 30 N 69 30 103 0 At Langeness in Nova Zembla 25 0 N 73 20 100 30 Decreasing In Williams Iland In Nova Zembla 33 0 N 75 35 110 0 At Yshouck In Nova Zembla 27 0 N 77 12 120 30 At Winter-house In Nova Zembla 26 0 N 76 0 120 30 The Northeasting of the first part or space towards the South Increasing 105 Spanish leagues Westwards from Cape S Augustine in Brasile 0 0 S  0 0 At Cape S. Augustine in Brasile 3 10 S 8 30 6 0 North and South with Cape das Almas in Guinea 12 15 S 0 0 29 0 Towards the Northwest Northerly from the Ilands of Tristan da Cuneha 19 0 S 31 30 30 0 Decreasing Towards the Northwest Westerly from the same Ilands 15 0 S 31 30 36 0 North and South with the Cape of Good Hope 2 30 S 35 30 57 0    Northwesting     The Northwesting of the second part or space towardâ— the South except Goe Cochin Cantan Incrâ—asing 17 German miles from Cape das Aguillas Eastwards 0 0 S  60 0 5 miles in the Sea froÌ„ Terra de Natal 4 30 S 33 0 66 0 At the shoalds of Indie 11 0 S 22 0 79 30 In Mâ—sambique 11 0 S 14 50 81 40 In the Bay of S. Augustine in Madaâ—gascar 13 0 S 23 30 83 0 Southwards from Cape S Romane 16 0 S 28 0 86 20 In Anthonie Gills Bay in Madagascar 15 0 S 16 20 91 0 Decreasing 34 German miles Southeast from Brandaon 22 0 S 19 20 110 0 In Goa a famous Mart town in Indie 15 10 N 25 30 120 0 In Cochin 15 0 N 9 45 120 0 25 German miles West a little Northerly from the Southwest corner of Sumatra 6 0 S 5 28 147 0 In Bantam a Mart town of Java 4 45 S 6 0 150 0 In the Iland Lubocqua 2 25 S 6 10 155 0 In the Southwest corner from the I le of Balij 1 30 S 8 40 157 0 In the mouth of the river Cantan in China 0 0 N 23 0 160 0 In Buâ—â—aâ— 46 Dutch miles Eastwardâ— from the East part of Java 0 0 S  160 0 A declaration of the form â—r Table or veiw of variations BEfore wee come to the Declaration of this Table this first of all we would not have unknown namely that if perchance hereafter by more diligent and more exact experience any other variation Longitude or Latitude of places can be found then that which is set down in this Table so as it should be needfull to change the difinitions and expositions of some things and words here set down yet we ought not therefore to be scared from this purpose but much rather ought we to strive with all our strength to attain thereto that by little and little we may come to a more certain knowledge of things building upon these as upon foundations we therefore following this opinion will prosecute that as true which at this time is most like to be true that if others also do the same when occasion is given we may alwayes come neerer to that which is most true in the nature of things Which things being omitted that we may come to the declaration of the former Table first of all we say that the first of the three columnes which thou seest in the Table sheweth the variation of the place the second the Latitude to which the third is adjoyned containing the Longitudes as we could by conjecture attain unto them that the places might so much the more easily be found in the Globe and the manner of the variations might more plainly be shewed in that which followeth hereafter The mark of the letter N in the second column signifieth North Latitude and S South Then because in them mention is made of the variation of the Northeasting or the Northwesting increasing or decreasing all which as proper words of art have need of there several definitons first of all we must know that the Magneticall needle in one and the same place doth alwayes shew the same part of heaven but not the same part in all places for in some places it pointeth due North in other places it declineth more or lesse to the East or West Therefore in manner of a definition we will say thus The first definition THE Declination of the Magnetical needle from the North towards the East is called the Northeasting towards the West Northwesting and with a generall name it is called the variation but the variation and the North pointing of the needle that is the pointing of the needle due North may by a generall name be called the needle pointing or pointing of the needle As concerning those words of increasing and decreasing as also of the first and second part or space before we come to the definitions of them they have need of some precedent declaration It may be seen in the Table of variations that in Corvo the Magneticall needle pointeth due North but after that the more a man shall goe towards the East so much the more also shall he see the needle varie towards the East till he come one mile to the eastward from Plimouth where the variation comming to the greatest is 13 degr 24 min. From hence the Northeasting beginneth to decrease till you come to Helmshude which place is Westwards from the North Cape of Finmark where again the needle pointeth due North. Now the Longitude from Corvo to Helmshude is 60 Degr Which things being well weighed it appeareth that the greatest variation 13 degr 24 minutes at Plimouth the Longitude whereof is 30 degr is in the midst between the places where the needle pointeth due North. For 30 degrees is the midst between the beginning and 60 degrees And what is here said of the North part experience teacheth that the same taketh place in the South part also for 105 Spanish miles from Cape S Augustine at the begining of Longitude again it pointeth due North as it doth 17 Germaine