A BRIEFE DESCRIPTION OF VNIVERSAL MAPPES AND CARDES AND OF THEIR VSE AND ALSO THE VSE OF PTHOLEMEY his Tables Necessarie for those that DELIGHT IN READING OF Histories and also for Traueilers by Land or Sea Newly set foorth by THOMAS BLVNDEVILLE of Newton Flotman in the Countie of Norffolke Gent. LONDON ¶ Printed by Roger Ward for Thomas Cadman Anno. 1589. ¶ TO THE RIGHT VVORSHIPFVL M. Francis Windam one of the Iudges her Maiesties Court of Common Pleas. GOOD Sir vouchsafe to receiue this poore litle Pamphlet partlie as in lieu of a richer Nevvyeares gift and partlie as a token of my thankefull minde which is more vvilling then able to deserue any one iotte of the great fauour friendship and diuers benefites that I haue from time to time receiued at your hands for want of which abilitie I neither can nor vvill loosen my selfe from any of those bondes vvherewith you haue most straightlie bound me but rather to increase the same humbly praying you to continue in your good loue and fauour tovvards me vntill I shall willinglie deserue the contrarie In the meane time I pray God to prosper you in all your doings and long to preserue you From my poore Swans nest 17. Decembris 1588. Your olde vvelvviller bound to be alwaies at your commaundement Thomas Blundeuille To the Reader I Daylie see many that delight to looke on Mappes and can point to England France Germanie and to the East and West Indies and to diuers other places therein described but yet for want of skill in Geography they knowe not with what maner of lines they are traced nor what those lines do signifie nor yet the true vse of Mappes in deed Wherefore somewhat to instruct those that haue not studied Geographie without the knowledge whereof me thinkes that the necessarie reading of Histories is halfe lame and is neither so pleasant nor so profitable as otherwise it would be I thought good to write this little Treatise in reading whereof if you reape any profit thereby I pray you bee thankeful to the Right Worshipful and my especiall good friend M. Francis Windam one of the Iudges of her Maiesties Court of Common Pleas who first motioned me thereunto and by whose perswasion I haue the more willingly put the same in Print Vale. CERTAINE TEARMES OF COSMOGRAgraphie brieflie expounded for those that are not learned in that science to the intent they may the better vnderstand this Treatise THe Axle tree of the Worlde is a right line imagined to passe through the Center or midst of the earth from the one ende of heauen to the other the vpper ende of which Axle trée is called the Pole Artike that is to say the North Pole the nether end the Pole Antartike that is the South Pole vpon which two Poles otherwise called the hooks or hengils of the world the heauens doe turne rounde about the earth Moreouer the Cosmographers doe deuide the worlde into diuers partes by certaine Circles whereof some are called greater and some lesser The greater are those which doe deuide the world into 2 equall partes whereof there be 6 that is the Equinoctiall the Zodiake the Meridian the Horizon and the 2 Colures The Equinoctiall is a great Circle girding the world in the verie midst betwixt the 2 Poles by reason whereof there are two latitudes the one Northern the other Southerne The Northerne latitude is that space which is conteined betwixt the Equinoctiall and the North Pole The Southerne latitude is that space which is conteined betwixt the Equinoctial the South Pole and either of these two spaces conteineth in bredth 90 degrées A Degrée is one part of a Circle béeing deuided into 360 partes called degrées Againe the circuit of the Equinoctial containing 360 degrées is the verie longtitude of the Earth the first degree of which longitude beginneth at the the first Meridian placed in the West and so procéedeth Eastward vnto the 180 degrée of the Equinoctiall and from thence returneth by the West vntill you come againe to the 360 degree which is the last degree of longitude And note by the way that euerie degrée of the Equinoctiall containeth 60 English miles so as the longitude of the whole Earth is 21600 miles The Zodiake is a great broad and slope or shoring Circle carrying the 12 Signes in the middest whereof is a line called the Ecliptike line from which the Sun neuer swarueth The Meridian is a greate Circle passing ouer our heades in what parte of the World soeuer we be and also through both the Poles which line when the Sunne toucheth it aboue the Horizon it is Noonetide or midday to those that dwell vnder the same The Horizon is a great Circle deuiding the vpper halfe of the World which we sée from the nether halfe which wee see not in the the very middest or Center of which Circle if in a plaine field you looke rounde about you you shall alwaies finde your selfe to be Now as touching the two Colures because they differ not in effect though in name from two Meridians I leaue to speake of them aswell for that I haue spoken of them at large in my Sphere as also for that they are not mentioned in this Treatise Of the lesser Circles there be foure that is the two Polar Circles and the two Tropikes Of the two Polar Circles the one enuironeth the North Pole therfore is called the Circle Artike the other enuironeth the South Pole and is called the Circle Antartike béecause it is opposit to the other Again of the two Tropiques the one is placed betwixt the Equinoctiall and the Circle Artike and is called the Tropike of Cancer and the other is placed betwixt the Equinoctiall and the Circle Antartike and is called the Tropike of Capricorne and each of these Tropikes is distant from the Equinoctiall 23 degrees and a halfe which is the greatest declination of the Sun from the Equinoctiall for he neuer mounteth higher then the Tropique of Cancer nor descendeth lower then the Tropike of Capricorne and these two Circles are Paralels to the Equinoctiall Paralels are 2 lines or Circles equally distant in all places one from another And by these foure lesser Circles the Earth is deuided into 5 Zones or broade spaces whereof there be two colde 2 temperate and one hotte described both in my Sphere and also in this treatise A Paralell of the longest day is a space of the Earth wherein the day increaseth by one quarter of an hower procéeding from Equinoctiall towards any of the Poles A Clime is a space of the Earth conteining two such Paralells wherein the day increaseth by halfe an hower of which Clymes according to the old Writers there be 7 declared at the full in my Sphere and also somewhat touched in this Treatise A Briefe Description of vniuersall Mappes and Cardes and of
their vse and also the vse of Ptholomey his Tables THis woord Mappa in latin signifieth a Table cloth of lynnen to couer a board of the shape and likenes whereof vniuersall tables contayning the description of the earth are commonly called Mappes And first you haue to vnderstande that euery such Mappe is chiefly traced with ij sortes of lynes or circles that is Meridians and paralels The Meridians are either right or circular lynes passing through both the Poles of the worlde and are imagined to be drawen right vp and downe from the head to the foote of the Mappe and are called Meridians of this Latin woord meridies which is as much to say as midday or noonetyde Because that when the Sunne commeth to touch any of those lynes it is mydday to those that dwel right vnder the same Againe Paralells are either right or circular lynes imagined to be equally distant one from another which doe crosse the foresaid Meridians with right angles Now in the verie midst of the Map is most commonly drawne from head to foote a ryght lyne which signifieth not onely the first Meridian but also the Axle tree of the world the vpper ende of which lyne is called the poole Artique that is to say the North Pole and the neather end the Pole Antartique that is the South Poole and this lyne is crossed in the verie midst betwixt the ij Pooles with another great circle or right lyne called the Equinoctiall because that when the Sunne commeth to touch this lyne or circle the day and nyght is equall throughout the world The one halfe of which lyne toward the right hand sheweth the east part and thother half towards the left hand sheweth the west part of the world so as these ij lynes the first Meridian and the Equinoctiall do point out the iiij quarters of the world North South East and West from whence the foure principall wyndes do blowe betwixt which wyndes are set downe in most Mappes together with their Latin or Italian names in the outermost skirt or border thereof viij other wyndes so as in all there be xij wyndes whereby the auncient Greekes and Romanes were wont to saile The names whereof both Greeke Latin and English are heretofore set downe in the latter end of our Sphere But now to returne to our first two lynes that is the first Meridian and the Equinoctiall you haue to note that both these lynes or circles are deuided each of them into 360. degrees so as euery quarter of them contayneth 90. degrees And in the Equinoctiall are set downe the degrées of longitude which is the length of the worlde round about from West to East and againe from East by West home againe The first degrée whereof beginneth whereas the first aforesaid Meridian crosseth the Equinoctiall in the verie middest of the Mappe and so procéedeth Eastward vnto the number of 90 degrées which is as farre as you can goe Eastward sith from thence by reason of the roundnesse of the Earth you must néedes turne backe againe by the backe side of the Sphere or ball Westward vntill you come to the 270 degrée which is the farther point westward you can goe from whence you must returne Eastward vntill you come to the 360 degrée which is the last degrée of longitude and endeth where the first degrée beginneth Moreouer in the said first Meridian or in some other Meridian hard by it are set downe the degrées of latitude that is to say the breadth of the worlde both Northerne and Southerne for from the Equinoctiall to the North Pole are contained in the foresaide Meridian 90. degrées and that is called the North latitude and from the Equinoctial to the South Pole are contained in y e said Meridian other 90 degrées which is called the South latitude and in most Mappes the Equinoctiall line is deuided and crossed with 18 Meridians on each side of the first Meridian deuiding the Equinoctiall into 36 seuerall spaces or distances euery space conteining 10 degrées and euerie degree containeth 60 Italian myles of length Moreouer betwixt the Equinoctiall and each of the Poles are drawen certaine Circles or lines called as I said before Paralels of which most commonly 4 are painted with red inke signifying the 4 lesser Circles before described in our Sphere whereof the highest towards the North Pole is called the Circle Artique béeing distant from the Pole 23 degrées and a halfe and the lowest towards the South Pole is called the Circle Antartique béeing also distant from the Pole 23 degrées and a halfe Now as touching the other two red Circles the one lying betwixt the Circle Artique and the Equinoctiall is called the Tropique of Cancer and the other lying betwixt the Equinoctiall and the Circle Antartique is called the Tropique of Capricorne and each of these two Tropiques is distant from the Equinoctiall 23 degrees and a halfe which is the greatest declination of the Sunne for betwixt these ij Tropiques the Sunne continuallie maketh his course and returne as this word Tropique signifyeth mounting neuer higher then the Tropique of Cancer nor discending lower then the Tropique of Capricorne for which cause some doe set downe in their Maps betwixt the sayde two Tropiques an ouerthwart line signifying the ecliptique line vnder which the Sun continually walketh Now by helpe of the foresaide 4 circles the earth is deuided into 5 zones that is one whotte 2 temperate and 2 cold The whotte is contained betwixt the 2 Tropiques in the midst of which whotte zone is the Equinoctiall line and of the 2 temperate zones the one lieth betwixt the Tropique of Cancer and the circle Artique and the other betwixt the Tropique of Capricorne and the circle Antartique Againe of the 2 colde zones the one lyeth betwixt the North Pole and the circle Artique and the other betwixt the South Pole and the circle Antartique Nowe besides these foure speciall Paralels there bee diuers other Paralels drawne on each side of the Equinoctiall both Northward and Southward which crossing in certaine points the first Meridian marked with degrees do shew the true latitude of euery place and vnder what Clime or Paralell it is and also how many howers the longest day of any place vnder euery Paralell is beginning to accompte the same eyther from the Equinoctiall vpward towardes the North Pole alongst the first Meridian marked with degrees of Northerne latitudes or els from the sayde Equinoctiall downe-warde towardes the South Pole marked with degrees of Southerne latitude Notwithstanding they vse most commonlye to set downe the number and iust distaunces of the Clymes Paralels and howers in the North latitude onely willing the like numbers of Clymes Paralels and howers to bee accompted in the South latitude euen as they are in the North latitude and with like distances And note that in procéeding towardes the Pole from the Paralell whereas the longest day is 24. howers they accompte the Paralell of the longest daye no longer by howers but by
say so much as was known in his time containing the same in 4 Tables In his 5.6 and 7. booke he describeth all Asia and the East Indians whereof hee maketh 12 Tables and in describing any Region or prouince he sheweth how it is bounded both North South East and West And also what notable Cities Flouds Lakes or Mountaines bee in euerie Region and therewith setteth downe the longitude and latitude of euerie place To which his booke diuers haue made certaine Alphabeticall tables containing the names of all the places that are mentioned in the foresaid books shewing in what leafe to finde the same to the intent that you may the more readily find out not onely the place but also the longitude and latitude thereof and in what Table it is contained Notwithstanding I knowe by good triall that there are a number of places mentioned in the saide bookes which you shall not finde in the foresaid Alphabet Werefore I wish that Mercator Ortellius Barnardus Brugensis or any other of the latter Cosmographers and setters foorth of Mappes and Cards would take the paine to make a generall Alphabet containing all the names that are to bee found and knowen both auncient and moderne of Regions Cities Seas Floods Lakes Riuers Portes Baies Hedlandes Caâ—es Mountaines and all other notorious places contained in their Maps and Cardes togither with the true longitude and latitude annexed to euerie place agréeable to their Maps to the intent that euerie man delighted with the reading of Histories may in their Mappes both generall and speciall easilie finde out anie place that hee seeketh Which worke in mine opinion would bee most thankfullie receiued of all those that delight in Geographie to the great commendation and prayse of the Authours thereof For though Ptolomey Appian Gemma Frizius Gastaldus Orontius Munsterus Ortellius and others haue set downe certaine names both auncient and moderne togither with their longitudes and latitudes yet they are but very fewe in comparison of all the names that are wanting yea or of those that are comprehended in their own Cards and Mappes all which Maps I would wish to agree in their longitudes and latitudes for otherwise a man shall hardly finde the place which hee seeketh Wherefore I pray God with all my heart that some good man that is a skilfull Cosmographer may shortlie traueile hearein to the profit of all Students in Geographie But now to returne to my matter which is to shew how to find out any place contained in Ptolomeis tables I say that you must first finde out the name of the place in the Alphabet and that will direct you to the booke wherin it is set down togither with the longitude and latitude thereof And there also you shall find in what table it is contained Then hauing taken a note of the longitude and latitude and also the number of the table wherein it is to be sought resort to that table bee it in Europe Affrike or Asia In the front of euerie which table and also in the base are set down certaine numbers of longitudes in such sort as the vttermost and nethermost be like numbers and do directly answere one another Againe on both sides of the table are set downe certaine numbers of latitude like in quantity and directly answering one another Then séeke out the longitude of the place which you would find in the front and also in the base and marke the same with two prickes one aboue another beneath From which two pricks lay a ruler or extend a thread holding it fast there vntill you haue found out the latitude of the place on both sides of the table which beeing also marked on each side with a pricke extend another thread from those two last prickes and in that very point wheras the two threads do crosse you shall find the place to be which you séeke or at least should be there Moreouer on the right hand of euerie table Ptolomey setteth downe most commonlie vnder what Clime and Paralel euerie place is and by that meanes you may also knowe the longest day that any Paralell hath For as I haue sayd before in my Sphere euery Paralell procéeding from the Equinoctiall towardes the Pole encreaseth by one quarter of an hower and euery Clime containing two Paralels encreaseth by halfe an hower Of which Climes Ptolomey setteth downe but seuen but of Paralels he maketh 21 in such order as this table following sheweth which Table consisteth of foure Columns whereof the first containeth the seuen Climes togither with their names and also howe many miles euery Clime hath in breadth And the second containeth 63 degrées of latitude further then which Northward Ptolomey his Tables do not extend The third containeth the numbers of the 21 Paralels and the fourth the howers and minutes of the longest day in euerie Paralell The seuen Climes their names and miles in breadth The degrees of latitude The 21. Paralels Of the longest day in euery Paralell The howers m.   63 * 21 19 30 60 â– 20 19 0 â– 19 18 30 â– 18 18 0 7 Dia Riphios 195. Miles 50 â– 17 17 30 â– 16 17 0 6 Dia Boristenes 225 â– 15 16 30 â– 14 16 0 13 15 30 5 Dia Romes 240. â– 12 15 0 40 â– 11 14 45 4 Dia Rhodou 350. â– 10 14 30 9 14 15 3 Dia Alexandrias 370. â– 8 14 0 30 â– 7 13 45 2 Dia Sienes 420. â– 6 13 30 â– 5 13 15 1 Dia Meroes 465 20 â– 4 13 0 â– 765. â– 3 12 45 â– 2 12 30 10 â– â– 1 12 15 â– â– * The Equinonctiall line vnder vvhich those that dwell haue no Latitude and therfore they haue alwaies 12. howers day and 12 hovvers night But you haue to vnderstand that whereas Ptolomey maketh the furthest North part of his seuenth Clime called Dia Ripheos to haue but 50 degrees and 30 minutes of latitude the moderne Cosmographers doe allowe to those mountaines 70 degrées of latitude affirming the same to bee those selfe Mountaines which are otherwise called Montes Hiperborei which because they enclose a great part of the North side of the world are called Orbis terrae cingulum that is to say the girdle of the worlde the wrong latitude whereof and of diuers other I thinke Ptolomey had from others and not from himselfe For being brought vp in so warme a soile as Alexandria standeth in he could neuer endure to go so far northward to take the latitude of those colde Riphean Mountaines and therefore if you list to knowe what latitude doth truly belong vnto euerie Clime and Paralell then resort to Orontius his Table of Climes and Paralels set downe in my Sphere which sheweth how many degrées of latitude euery Paralell hath togither with the longest day euen from the Equinoctiall to the very Pole wherefore I leaue to speake heere any further thereof and so for this time ende this Treatize which if I shall perceiue to bee thankfully taken I minde God willing to put in print the description and vse of the Sphere and of the Globe both Celestiall and Terrestiall Also a verie plaine and briefe Arithmetike togither with the discription and certaine vses of the Tables of Sines called in Latin Tabulae Sinuum And finally the principles of Nauigation more plainely I beleeue than euer there haue beene heretofore taught onely to helpe and further such as bee desirous to traueile by Sea and haue not bene exercised in the Mathematicall Disciplines without some knowledge whereof it is hard to bee skilfull in that Art FINIS The Axle trre of the world The two Poles The greter Circle The Equinoctiall The north latitude The South latitud A Degree Longitude The Zodiake The Meridian The Horison The 2 Colures 4 lesser circles The Circles Artike and Antartike The Tropike of Cancer The Tropike of Capricorn The greatest declination of the Sun Paralels Zones A Paralell of y e longest day A Clyme Europa Affrica Asia America Organum directorium