ROBERT HUES. TRACTATUS DE GLOBIS ET EORUM USU (1592).
TRACTATUS DE GLOBIS
ET EORUM USU.
A TREATISE
DESCRIPTIVE OF THE GLOBES CONSTRUCTED BY
EMERY MOLYNEUX, AND PUBLISHED
IN 1592.
BY
ROBERT HUES.
BY
CLEMENTS R MARKHAM, C.B., F.R.S.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR THE IIAKLUYT SOCIETY,
4, LINCOLN’S INN FIELDS, W.C.
M.DCCC.LXXXIX.
CONTENTS.
PAGE
TAULE OF CONTENTS . . . . . vii
INTRODUCTION . . . . .xi
LATIN TITLE . . . . . li
ENGLISH TITLE ….. liii
TABLE OF CONTEXTS FROM EDITION OF 1594 . . lv
DEDICATORY EPISTLE TO SIR WALTER RALEIGH . . 1
PREFACE . . . . . .5
FIRST PART.
Of those things which are common both to the Cœlestiall and
Terrestriall Globe . . .19
CHAP. I. What a Globe is, with the parts thereof, and of
the Circles of the Globe . . .19
CHAP. II. Of the Circles which are described upon the Super-
ficies of the Globe. . . .23
CHAP. III. Of the three positions of Spheres : Right, Parallel,
and Oblique . . . .33
CHAP. IV. Of the Zones . . . .37
CHAP. V. Of the Amphiscii, Heteroscii, and Peviscii . 39
CHAP. VI. Of the Periseci, Antaxi, and Antipodes . . 40
CHAR. VII. Of Climates and Parallels . . .42
SECOND PART.
CHAP. I. Of such things as are proper to the Cœlestiall
Globe ; and first of the Planets . . 44
CHAP. II. Of the Fixed Stars and their Constellations . 47
CHAP. III. Of the Constellations of the Xorthcrne Hemisphere 50
V11L
CONTENTS.
CHAP. IV. Of the Northerne Signes of the Zodiaque . 55
CHAP. V. Of the Constellations of the Southerne Hemisphere
and first of those in the Zodiaque . . 57
CHAP. VI. Of the Constellations of the Southerne Hemisphere,
which are without the Zodiaque . . 59
CHAP. VII. Of the Starres which are not expressed in the Globe 62
THIRD PART.
CHAP. I. Of the Geographicall description of the Terrestriall
Globe ; and the parts of the world yet knowne . 68
CHAP. II. Of the Circumference of the Earth, or of a Greater
Circle ; and of the Measure of a Degree . 80
FOURTH PART.
Of the Use of Globes . . . . .95
СПАР. I. How to finde the Longitude, Latitude, Distance, and
Angle of Position, or situation of any place ex-
pressed in the Terrestriall Globe . . 96
СПАР. II. How to finde the Latitude of any place . . 98
СПАР. III. How to find the distance of two places, and angle of
position, or situation . . .99
CHAP. IV. To finde the altitude of the Sunne, or other Starre 100
CHAP. V. To finde the place and declination of the Sunne for
any day given . . . .100
СПАР. VI. How to finde the latitude of any place by observing
the Meridian Altitude of the Sunne or other
Starre . . . . .102
CHAP. VII. How to find the Right and Oblique Ascension of
the Sunne and Starres for any Latitude of place
and time assigned …. 104
CHAP. VIII. How to finde out the Horizontal! difference betwixt
the Meridian and Verticall circle of the Sunne or
any other Starre (which they call the Azimuth),
for any time or place assigned . . 106
CHAP. IX. How to finde the houre of the day, as also the Am-
plitude, of rising and setting of the Sunne and
Starres, for any time or latitude of place . 107
CONTENTS.
CHAP. X. Of the threefold rising and setting of Stars . 109
CHAP. XI. How to finde the beginning and end of Twilight for
any time, and Latitude of Place . .113
CHAP. XII. How to find the length of the Artificiall Day or
Xight, or quantity of the Sunne’s Parallel that
remaines above the Horizon, and that is hid be-
neath it, for any Latitude of place and time
assigned. As also to find the same of any other
Starres . . . . .114
CHAP. XIII. How to finde out the houre of the Day or Night, both
equall and unequall, for any time or Latitude of
place . . . . .117
CHAP. XIV. To finde out the Longitude, Latitude, and Declina-
tion of any fixed Starre as it is expressed in the
Globe . . . . .1.18
CHAP. XV. To finde the variation of the Compasse for any Lati-
tude of place . . . .119
CHAP. XVI. How to make a Sunne Diall by the Globe for any
Latitude of place . . . .123
FIFTH PART.
Of the Rombes that are described in the Terrestriall Globe, and
their use . . . . .127
Of the use of Rumbes in the Terrestriall Globe . . 134
I. The difference of Longitude and Latitude of two places
being knowne, how to find out the Rumbe and Distance
of the same . . . . .139
II. The Rumbe being known, and difference of Longitude ; how
to find the difference of latitude and distance . .143
III. The difference of Longitude and distance being given, how to
find the Rumbe and difference of Latitude . .144
IV. The difference of latitude and Rumbe being given, how to
find the difference of longitude and distance . .144
V. The difference of latitude and distance being given, the
Rumbe aud difference of longitude may be found . 145
VI. The Rumbe and difference being given, the difference of
Longitude and Latitude may also be found . . 146
X . CONTENTS.
INDEX GEOGRAPIIICUS ….. 149
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX OF NAMES . . . .176
INDEX OF NAMES OF STARS GIVEN BY HUES IN HIS “TRACTATES
DE GLOBIS”, WITH REMARKS . . . 206
INDEX OF PLACES MENTIONED …. 222
INDEX TO SUBJECTS ….. 226
ILLUSTRATION.
THE MOLYNEUX CELESTIAL GLOBE (after a photograph, by kind
permission of the Treasurer and Benchers of the Middle
Temple) …. Frontispiece
INTRODUCTION.
AT the time when English sailors began to make
the reign of the great Queen illustrious by daring-
voyages and famous discoveries, it was natural that
these deeds should be worthily recorded. When
Drake and Cavendish had circumnavigated the globe,
when Raleigh had planted Virginia, Davis had dis-
covered his Straits, and Lancaster had found his
way to India, the time had come for Hakluyt to
publish his Principal Navigations, and for Moly-
neux to construct his Globes.
Englishmen were coming to the front rank as
discoverers and explorers, and it naturally followed
that maps and globes should be prepared by their
countrymen at home, which should alike record the
work already achieved and be useful for the guid-
ance of future navigators. But the construction of
globes entailed considerable expense, and there was
need for liberal patronage to enable scientific men
to enter upon such undertakings.
In the days of Queen Elizabeth the merchants of
England were ever ready to encourage enterprises
having for their objects the improvement of naviga-
tion and the advancement of the prosperity of
their country. While the constructor of the first
Xll
INTRODUCTION.
globes ever made in this country received help and
advice from navigators and mathematicians, he was
liberally supplied with funds by one of the most
munificent of our merchant princes. The appear-
ance of the globes naturally created a great sensa-
tion, and much interest was taken in appliances
which were equally useful to the student and to
the practical navigator. Two treatises intended to
describe these new appliances, and to serve as guides
for their use, were published very soon after their
completion. One of these, the Tractatus de Glohis
of the celebrated mathematician, Robert Hues, has
been selected for republication by the Hakluyt
Society. Before describing the Molyneux Globes,
and the contents of the Guide to their use, it will
be well to pass in review the celestial and terres-
trial globes which preceded, or were contemporaneous
with, the first that was made in England, so far as
a knowledge of them has come down to us.
The celestial preceded the terrestrial globes by
many centuries. The ancients appear to have adopted
this method of representing the heavenly bodies
and their movements at a very early period. Dio-
dorus Siculus asserts that the use of the globe was
first discovered by Atlas of Libya, whence originated
the fable of his bearing up the heavens on his
shoulders. Others attribute the invention to Thales ;
and subsequent geographers, such as Archimedes,
Crates, and Proclus, are said to have improved
upon it. Posidonius, who flourished 150 B.C., and
is often quoted by Strabo, constructed a revolving
INTRODUCTION.
xiii
sphere to exhibit the motions of the heavenly bodies ;
and three hundred years afterwards Ptolemy laid
down rules for the construction of globes. There
are some other allusions to the use of globes among
ancient writers ; the last being contained in a passage
of Leontius Mechanicus, who flourished in the time
of Justinian. He constructed a celestial globe in
accordance with the rules of Ptolemy, and after the
description of stars and constellations given by
Aratus. Globes frequently occur on Iloman coins.
Generally the globe is merely used to denote univer-
sal dominion. But in some instances, especially on
a well-known medallion of the Emperor Commodus,
a celestial globe, copied, no doubt, from those in use
at the time, is clearly represented. No Greek or
Iloman globes have, however, come down to us. The
oldest in existence are those made by the Arabian
astronomers.
The earliest form appears to have been the armil-
lary sphere, consisting of metal rings fixed round a
centre, and crossing each other on various planes,
intended to represent the orbits of heavenly bodies.
The Arab globes were of metal, and had the con-
stellations and fixed stars engraved upon them.
At least live dating from the thirteenth century
have been preserved. One is in the National Museum
at Naples, with the date 1225. Another, elated
1275, belongs to the Asiatic Society of London;
and a third, dated 12S9, is at Dresden. There are
two others, without date, but probably to be re-
ferred to the same period, one belonging to the
xiv ГУТКООГСТІОХ.
Astronomical Society of London, the other TO T
National Library of Paris,
But the mo¿t ancient celestial .rlole is at Fkrer.
and has been described by Proies-or Menee:.:
belong4 TO tLe eleventh century.
The astronomical knowledge ot* tl:e Arnos in t
East was communicated to their cottiicryiaen it> >’\ъ
and the schools of Cordova became sx> *amea- ti
T ley vre re ibequented by stulleuts tVorn Chris M
E«rope : ашдвдг waom was the celebrated mac і
maticlan. Ger wt d’Auvergne, afterwards Pope S
ve-ter IL Valencia was one ot the mo-t áouri:
UÏC centre- ot Ara dan culture in Sixain, at rj
under the Ruàiitaùs of Cor*4.ova. ami fhim i Oí І
1094 as the carita’ ot a small, independent kl:
dorn. It was in Valencia that the celestial eiol
now at Florence. -va •“J F. 2¿-: -F F^e:
r- PTÍÉS> г MÍ – oserai : : * г’-* !*•%=• – Тліє-
.у I >r і-Г*->ЇЛ ‘ Í І – M : • I. -«
INTRODUCTION.
XV
it, except the “Cvp\ and 1,015 stars are shown,
with the different magnitudes well indicated, ft is
a very precious relic of the civilisation of the Span-
ish Arabs, and is specially interesting as the oldest
globe in existence, and as showing the care with
which the Arabian astronomers preserved and handed
down to posterity the system of Ptolemy. The globe
possessed by the Emperor Frederick ТГ, with pearls
to indicate the stars, doubtless resembled those
of the same period which have come down to us.
The oldest terrestrial globe in existence is that
constructed by Martin Behaim, at Nuremburg, in
149:2. It is made of pasteboard covered with parch-
ment, and is 21 inches in diameter. The only lines
drawn upon it are the equator, tropics, and polar
circles, and the first meridian, which passes through
Madeira. The meridian is of iron, and a brass
horizon was added in 1500. The globe is illumi-
nated and ornamented, and is rich in legends of
interest and in geographical details. Tie aut юг of
this famous globe was born at Xuremburg of h rsrrc\
family. He had studied under Regiomontanu*. He
settled and married at Horca. the sapiMl -f F*N a1,
in the Azores, nad made rumer’-u- “oyate* ar 1 : -ti • er i To .”in _^m^». . ‘
I”‘к cs.. -i i V rr .-г r- ISf^^ pe»e ~bm*
•urv.
XIV
INTRODUCTION.
Astronomical Society of London, the other to the
National Library of Paris.
But the most ancient celestial globe is at Florence,
and has been described by Professor Meucci.1 It
belongs to the eleventh century.
The astronomical knowledge of the Arabs in the
East was communicated to their countrymen in Spain,
and the schools of Cordova became so famous that
they were frequented by students from Christian
Europe ; among whom was the celebrated mathe-
matician, Gerbert d’Auvergne, afterwards Pope Sil-
vester II. Valencia was one of the most flourish-
ing centres of Arabian culture in Spain, at first
under the Khalifahs of Cordova, and from 1031 to
1094 as the capital of a small, independent king-
dom. It was in Valencia that the celestial globe,
now at Florence, was constructed, in the year 1070
A.D.2 It is 7.8 inches in diameter. All the forty-
seven constellations of Ptolemy are engraved upon
1 II Globo Celeste Arabico del Secolo XI esistente vel gabineto
degli strumenti antichi di astronomia, di fisica, e di maternalica
del R. Institute diStudi Superiori illustrate da F. Meucci (Fireuze,
1878).
2 Professor Meucci observed that the star Regxdus was placed
on the globe at a distance of 16° 40′ from the sign of Leo.
Ptolemy, in 140 A.D., gave this distance as 2° 30′. According to
Albategnius, the star advances 1° in sixty-six years. It had
moved 14° 10′ since 140 A.D., which would give 1070 as about
the date of the globe.
The Arabic inscription on the globe coincides remarkably with
this calculation. It states that the globe was made at Valencia
by Ibrahim ibn Said-as-Sahli, and his son Muhammad, in the
year 473 of the Hegira, equivalent to 1080 A.D. It was con-
INTRODUCTION.
XV
it, except the “Cap\ and 1,015 stars are shown,
with the different magnitudes well indicated. It is
a very precious relic of the civilisation of the Span-
ish Arabs, and is specially interesting as the oldest
globe in existence, and as showing the care with
which the Arabian astronomers preserved and handed
down to posterity the system of Ptolemy. The globe
possessed by the Emperor Frederick II, with pearls
to indicate the stars, doubtless resembled those
of the same period which have come down to us.
The oldest terrestrial globe in existence is that
constructed by Martin Behaim, at Nuremburg, in
1492. It is made of pasteboard covered with parch-
ment, and is 21 inches in diameter. The only lines
drawn upon it are the equator, tropics, and polar
circles, and the first meridian, which passes through
Madeira. The meridian is of iron, and a brass
horizon was added in 1500. The globe is illumi-
nated and ornamented, and is rich in legends of
interest and in geographical details. The author of
this famous globe wTas born at Nuremburg of a good
family. He had studied under Piegiomontanus. He
settled and married at Horta, the capital of Fayal,
in the Azores, had made numerous voyages, and
had been in the exploring expedition with Diogo
Cam when that Portuguese navigator discovered
the mouth of the Congo. Behaim had the reputa-
tion of being a good astronomer, and is said by
structed for Abu Isa ibu Labbun, a personage of note in the
political and literary history of Muslim Spain during that cen-
tury.
XVI
INTRODUCTION.
Barros1 to have invented a practical instrument for
taking the altitude of the sun at sea.
Baron Nordenskiold considers that the globe of
Behaim is, without comparison, the most important
geographical document that saw the light since the
atlas of Ptolemy had been produced in about 150
A.i). He points out that it is the first which un-
reservedly adopts the existence of antipodes, the
first which clearly shows that there is a passage
from Europe to India, the first which attempts to
deal with the discoveries of Marco Polo. It is an
exact representation of geographical knowledge im-
mediately previous to the first voyage of Columbus.
The terrestrial globe next in antiquity to that of
Behaim is dated 1493. It was found in a shop at
Laon, in 1860, by M. Léon Leroux, of the Adminis-
tration de la Marine at Paris. It is of copper-gilt,
engraved, with a first meridian passing through
Madeira, meridian-lines on the northern hemisphere
at every fifteen degrees, crossed by parallels corre-
sponding to the seven climates of Ptolemy. There
are no lines on the southern hemisphere. The
author is unknown, but M. D’Avezac considered
that this globe represented geographical knowledge
current at Lisbon in about 1486. It appears to
have been part of an astronomical clock, or of an
armillary sphere, for it is only 6^ inches in diameter.2
Baron Nordenskiold was the first to point out
1 Bec. I, lib. iv, cap. 2.
2 D’Avezac gives a projection of the Laon globe in the Bulletin
de la Société de Géographie de Paria, 4me Série, viii (I860).
INTRODUCTION.
XVII
that a globe constructed by John Cabot is men-
tioned in a letter from Raimondo di Soncino to the
Duke of Milan, dated December 18th, 1497. ,But
it does not now exist.
The earliest post-Columbian globe in existence
elates from about A.D. 1510 or 1512. It was bought
in Paris by Mr. R. M. Hunt, the architect, in 1855,
and was presented by him to Mr. Lenox of New
York; it is now in the Lenox Library. This globe
is a spherical copper box 4^- inches in diameter, and
is pierced for an axis. It opens on the line of the
equator, and may have been used as a ciboriam.
The outline of land and the names are engraved on
it, but there is no graduation. The author is un-
known.
Among the papers of Leonardo da Vinci at Wind-
sor Castle there is a map of the world drawn on
eight gores, which appears to have been intended
for a globe. It is interesting as one of the first
maps on which the name America appears. Mr.
Major has fully described this map in a paper in
the Archceologia,1 and he believes that it wTas actually
drawn by Leonardo da Vinci himself. But Baron
Nordenskiold gives reasons for the conclusion that
it was copied from some earlier globe by an ignorant
though careful draughtsman.
In 1881 some ancient gores were brought to
1 “A Memoir on a Mappemonde by Leonardo da Vinci, being
the earliest map hitherto known containing the name of America;
now in the royal collection at Windsor.” By R. H. Major, Esq.,
F.S.A. (Archceologia, vol. xl, 1865).
b
xviii
INTRODUCTION.
light by M. Tross, in a copy of the Cosmographies
Introductio of Waldseemuller, printed at Lyons in
1514 or 1518. They are from engravings on copper
by Ludovicus Boulenger.
A globe was constructed at Bamberg in 1520,
by Johann Schoner of Carlstadt, which is now in
the town library at Nuremburg ; it consists of
twelve gores. There is a copy of the Schoner
globe, 10J inches in diameter, at Frankfort,1 and
two others in the Military Library at Weimar. On
the Schoner globe, North America is broken up into
islands, but South America is shown as a continu-
ous coast-line, with the word America written along
it, as on the gores attributed to Leonardo da Vinci.2
Florida appears on it, and the Moluccas are in their
true positions. A line shows the track of Magel-
lan’s ships ; and the globe may be looked upon as
illustrating the history of the first circumnaviga-
tion.
A beautiful globe was presented to the church at
Nancy by Charles V, Duke of Lorraine, where it
was used as a ciborium. It is now in the Nancy
public library. It is of chased silver-gilt and blue
enamel, 6 inches in diameter.3
1 The Frankfort globe is given by Jomard in his Monuments
de la Géographie; see also J. R. G. S., xviii, 45.
2 Johann Schoner, Professor of Mathematics at N~v.remhurcj. A
reproduction of his Globe of 1523, long lost. By Henry Stevens
of Vermont ; edited, with an Introduction and Bibliography, by
C. H. Coote (London, 1SS8).
3 First described by M. Blau, Mémoires de la Société Royale de
Nancy, 1825, p. 97.
INTRODUCTION.
XIX
There is a globe in the National Library at Paris
very like that of Schoner, which has been believed
to be of Spanish origin. Another globe in the
same library, with the place of manufacture—”Rhoto-
magi” (Rouen)—marked upon it, but no date, is
supposed to have been made in 1540. It belonged
to Canon L’Ecuy of Premontre. This globe was
the first to show North America disconnected with
Asia.
In 1541 Gerard Mercator completed his terres-
trial globe at Louvain, dedicating it to Cardinal
Granvelle. Its celestial companion was finished
ten years afterwards. These globes were 16 inches
in diameter. Many replicas were produced, and
Blundeville1 alludes to them as in common use in
England in 1594. Yet only two sets now exist.
In May 1868 the twelve gores for one of these was
bought by the Royal Library of Brussels, at the
sale of M. Benoni-Verelst of Ghent. The other
was found in 1875 at the Imperial Court Library
of Vienna. The terrestrial globe has rhumb lines,
which had hitherto only been shown on plane-
charts. The celestial globe has fifty-one constella-
tions, containing 934 fixed stars.
i Thomas Blundeville was a country gentleman, born in 1568.
He succeeded to Newton Flotman, in .Norfolk, in 1571; and was
an enthusiastic student of astronomy and navigation. In 1589
he published his Description of universal mappes and cardes, and
his Exercises appeared in 1594. This work was very popular
among the navigators of the period, and went through at least
seven editions. Blundeville also wrote on horsemanship. His
only son was slain in the Low Countries.
b 2
xvm
INTRODUCTION.
light by M. Tross, in a copy of the Cosmographies
Introductio of Waldseemiïller, printed at Lyons in
1514 or 1518. They are from engravings on copper
by Ludovicus Boulenger.
A globe was constructed at Bamberg in 1520,
by Johann Schoner of Carlstadt, which is now in
the town library at Nuremburg ; it consists of
twelve gores. There is a copy of the Schoner
globe, 10j inches in diameter, at Frankfort,1 and
two others in the Military Library at Weimar. On
the Schoner globe, North America is broken up into
islands, but South America is shown as a continu-
ous coast-line, with the word America written along
it, as on the gores attributed to Leonardo da Vinci.2
Florida appears on it, and the Moluccas are in their
true positions. A line shows the track of Magel-
lan’s ships ; and the globe may be looked upon as
illustrating the history of the first circumnaviga-
tion.
A beautiful globe was presented to the church at
Nancy by Charles V, Duke of Lorraine, where it
was used as a ciborium. It is now in the Nancy
public library. It is of chased silver-gilt and blue
enamel, 6 inches in diameter.3
1 The Frankfort globe is given by Jomard in his Monuments
de la Géographie; see also J. R. G. S., xviii, 45.
2 Johann Schoner, Professor of Mathematics at Nitremburg. A
reproduction of his Globe of 1523, long lost. By Henry Stevens
of Vermont ; edited, with an Introduction and Bibliography, by
C. H. Coote (London, 1888).
3 First described by M. Blau, Mémoires de la Société Royale de
Nannj, 1825, p. 97.
INTRODUCTION.
xix
There is a globe in the National Library at Paris
very like that of Schoner, which has been believed
to be of Spanish origin. Another globe in the
same library, with the place of manufacture—”Rhoto-
magi” (Rouen)—marked upon it, but no date, is
supposed to have been made in 1540. It belonged
to Canon L’Ecuy of Premontre. This globe was
the first to show North America disconnected with
Asia.
In 1541 Gerard Mercator completed his terres-
trial globe at Louvain, dedicating it to Cardinal
Granvelle. Its celestial companion was finished
ten years afterwards. These globes were 16 inches
in diameter. Many replicas were produced, and
Blundeville1 alludes to them as in common use in
England in 1594. Yet only two sets now exist.
In May 1868 the twelve gores for one of these was
bought by the Royal Library of Brussels, at the
sale of M. Benoni-Verelst of Ghent. The other
was found in 1875 at the Imperial Court Library
of Vienna. The terrestrial globe has rhumb lines,
wdiich had hitherto only been shown on plane-
charts. The celestial globe has fifty-one constella-
tions, containing 934 fixed stars.
i Thomas Blundeville was a country gentleman, born in 1568.
He succeeded to Newton Flotman, in.Norfolk, in 1571; and was
an enthusiastic student of astronomy and navigation. In 1589
he published his Description of universal mappes and cardes, and
his Exercises appeared in 1594. This work was very popular
among the navigators of the period, and went through at least
seven editions. Blundeville also wrote on horsemanship. His
only son was slain in the Low Countries.
b 2
XX
INTRODUCTION.
A copper globe was constructed at Rome by
Euphrosinus Ulpius in 1542, and dedicated to Pope
Marcellus II when he was a cardinal. It was
bought in Spain in 1859, and is now in the library
of the New York Historical Society. It is 15^
inches in diameter, divided in the line of the equa-
tor, and fastened by iron pins, and it has an iron
cross on the North Pole. Its height, with the
stand, is 3 feet 8 inches. The meridian-lines are at
distances of 30°, the first one passing through the
Canaries. Prominence is also given to the line of
demarcation between Spain and Portugal, laid down
by Pope Alexander VI. There is another globe,
found at Grenoble in 1 855, and now in the National
Library at Paris, by A. F. von Langeren, which
may possibly antedate the Molyneux globes.1
In the Oldnorske Museum at Copenhagen there
is a small globe of 1543, mounted as an armillary
sphere, with eleven brass rings. It was constructed
by Caspar Vopell, and is believed to have belonged
to .Tycho Brahe. A small silver globe is part of
the Swedish regalia, and was made in 1561 for the
coronation of. Eric XIV. Similar globes, forming-
goblets or ciboires, are preserved in the Rosenborg
Palace at Copenhagen and in the Museum at Stock-
holm. They are merely specimens of goldsmiths’
1 After the globes of Molyneux followed those of Blaew and
Hondius. Langeren and Hondius were rivals. They announced
their intention of bringing out two globes in 1597, but no copies
are known to exist. The globes of W. Janssen Blaew (1571-
1G38) were of wood, the largest being 27 inches in diameter, the
smallest ~i inches.
INTRODUCTION.
XXI
work, useful only if other maps of the same period
were wanting.
Counting the gores of Tross and of Leonardo da
Vinci, there are thus twelve terrestrial globes now
in existence which preceded the first that was con-
structed in England.
The preparation of celestial globes and armillary
spheres received an impetus from the labours of the
great astronomers who flourished for two centuries,
from the time of Copernicus to that of Galileo.
Nicolaus Copernicus was born at Thorn on the
Vistula in 1473, and was educated at the Univer-
sity of Cracow, studying medicine and painting, as
well as mathematics. After passing some years at
the University of Bologna and at Rome, he returned
to his native country. The uncle of Copernicus
was Bishop of Warmia or Warmland, on the Baltic,
near Danzig ; with a cathedral at Frauenburg, on
the shores of the Friske HafF. Here the great
astronomer became a canon; here he passed the
remainder of his life ; and here he wrote his great
work, De Rcvolutionibus Orbium Ccelestium. It
was completed in 1530, but over ten more years
were devoted to the work of correcting and alter-
ing, and when, at last, it wras printed at Nurem-
berg, Copernicus was on his death-bed. He died
on May 23rd, 1543, having just lived long enough
to rest his hand on a printed copy of his work. It
is not known that a sphere wTas ever constructed
in his lifetime to illustrate his system. Tycho
Brahe was born at Knudstrup, in December 154G,
XXII
INTRODUCTION.
three years after the death of Copernicus. The
one was a quiet ecclesiastic; the other a man of
noble birth, whose career was surrounded by diffi-
culties, owing to the family prejudices, which were
irreconcilable with the studies and occupations of
his choice. The family of Tycho Brahe believed
that the career of arms was the only one suited for
a gentleman. He became a student at Copenhagen
and at Wittenberg, and still further offended his
relations by marrying a beautiful peasant girl of
Knudstrup. The accident of his birth made it im-
possible for him to avoid strife. At Rostock he
felt bound to fight a duel with a Dane named
Pasberg, to decide the question as to which was
the best mathematician. Tycho Brahe had half
his nose cut off, and ever afterwards he wore a
golden nose. But, in spite of obstacles, he rose to
eminence as an astronomer. He discovered errors
in the Alphonsine Tables, and observed a new star
in Cassiopeia in 1572. King Frederick II of Den-
mark recognised the great merits of Tycho Brahe.
He granted him the island of Hveen in 1576,
where the illustrious astronomer built his chateau
of LTranienberg and his observatories.1 Here he
made his catalogue of stars, and here he lived and
observed for many years; but, on the death of
Frederick in 1588, the enemies of the great man
poisoned the mind of Christian IV against him.
His pension and all his allowances were withdrawn,
1 The instruments of Tycho Brahe and a plan of Uranienberg
are given in vol. i of the Adas Major of Blaew (Blasius).
INTRODUCTION.
xxiii
and he was nearly ruined. In 1597 he left the
island, and set sail, with his wife and children, for
Holstein. In 1599 he accepted a cordial invitation
from the Emperor Rudolph II to come to Bohemia,
and was established in the Castle of Beneteck, five
miles from Prague. He died at Prague in 1601,
aged 55.
The celestial globe constructed by Tycho Brahe
is described by his pupil Pontanus. It was made
of wood covered with plates of copper, and was six
feet in diameter. It was considered to be a mag-
nificent piece of work, and many strangers came to
the island of Hveen on purpose to see it. But
when Tycho Brahe was obliged to leave Denmark,
he took the globe with him, and it was eventually
deposited in the imperial castle at Prague. Of
about the same date is the celestial globe at the
South Kensington Museum, made for the Emperor
Rudolph II at Augsburg in 1584. It is of copper-
gilt, and is 7|- inches in diameter.
John Kepler, who was born at Weil in Wiirtem-
berg in 1571, is also said to have been of noble
parentage ; but his father was so poor that he was
obliged to keep a public-house. A weak and sickly
child, Kepler became a student at Tubingen, and
devoted himself to astronomical studies. He visited
Tycho Brahe at Prague in 1600, and succeeded him
as principal mathematician to the Emperor Rudolph
II. But he was always in pecuniary difficulties,
and was irritable and quick-tempered, owing to ill-
health and poverty. Nevertheless, he made great
XXIV
INTRODUCTION.
advances in the science of astronomy. He com-
pleted the Kudolphine Tables in 1627, being the first
calculated on the supposition that the planets move
in elliptical orbits. Kepler’s laws relate to the
elliptic form of orbits, the equable description of
areas, and to the proposition that the squares of
the periodic times are proportional to the cubes of
the mean distances from the sun. His work on the
motions of the planet Mars was published in 1609.
Kepler died in November 1630, aged 58.
The great Italian astronomer was his contempo-
rary. Galileo Galilei was born at Pisa in 1564,
and was educated at the university of his native
town. Here he discovered the isochronism of the
vibrations of the pendulum; and in 1592, when
professor at Padua, he became a convert to the
doctrines of Copernicus. His telescope, completed
in 1609, enabled him to discover the ring of Saturn
and the satellites of Jupiter; while the latter dis-
covery revealed another method of finding the lon-
gitude. The latter years of the life of Galileo were
clouded by persecution and misfortune. The Con-
vent of Minerva at Pome, where stupid bigots
forced him to recant, and where he whispered ” e
pur se muove”, is now the Ministry of Public In-
struction of an enlightened government. His trial
before the Inquisition wTas in 1632; he lost his
daughter in 1634; and in 1636 he became blind.
Galileo died in the arms of his pupil Yiviani, in
January 1642. There can be no more fitting monu-
INTRODUCTION.
XXV
ment to the great astronomer than the ” Tribuna”
which has been erected to his honour at Florence.
Frescoes of the chief events in his life adorn the
walls, while his instruments, and those of his pupils
Yiviani and Torricelli, illustrate his labours and
successes.
Pontanus, who was a disciple of Tycho Brahe,
mentions that Ferdinand I of Tuscany had two
large globes, one terrestrial, and the other an armil-
lary sphere with circles and orbs, both existing in
the time of Galileo. The latter, which was designed
by the cosmographer Antonio Santucci between
1588 and 1593, is still preserved, and has been
described by Professor Meucci.1 It is constructed
on the Ptolemaic system, and consists of nine con-
centric spheres, the outer one being 7 feet in dia-
meter, and the earth being in the centre. The frame
rests on a pedestal consisting of four caryatides,
which represent the four cardinal points; and it
stands near the entrance to the “Tribuna” of Galileo.
It is the last and most sumptuous illustration of
the old Ptolemaic system, and a monument of the
skill and ingenuity of the scientific artists of
Florence.
The celestial globe of Tycho Brahe and the armil-
lary sphere of Santucci cannot have been seen byMoly-
neux. Their construction was nearly contemporane-
ous with that of the first English globes. But all the
1 La Sfera Armillare di Tolomeo, construita da Antonio San-
tucci (Firenze, 1S7G).
XXVI
INTRODUCTION.
other globes that have been enumerated preceded the
kindred work of our own countrymen ; and in their
more complete development, under the able hands of
Mercator, they served as the pattern on which our
mathematician built up his own enlarged and im-
proved globes.
We find very little recorded of Emery Molyneux,
beyond the fact that he was a mathematician resid-
ing in Lambeth. He was known to Sir Walter
Raleigh, to Hakluyt, and to Edward Wright, and
was a friend of John Davis the Navigator. The
words of one of the legends on his globe give some
reason for the belief that Molyneux accompanied
Cavendish in his voyage round the world. The
construction of the globes appears to have been
suggested by learned men to Mr. William Sander-
son, one of the most munificent and patriotic of the
merchant-princes of London, in the days of the
great Queen. He fitted out the Arctic expeditions
of Davis ; and the same liberal patron readily under-
took to defray .the expenses connected with the
construction of the globes. There are grounds for
thinking that it was Davis who suggested to Mr.
Sanderson the employment of Emery Molyneux.
The approaching publication of the globes was an-
nounced at the end of the preface to the first edition
of Hakluyt’s Voyages, which saw the light in 1589.
There was some delay before they were quite com-
pleted, but they were actually published in the end
of 1592.
The Molyneux globes are 2 feet 2 inches in
INTRODUCTION.
XXV11
diameter,1 and are fixed on stands. They have
graduated brass meridians, and on that of the terres-
trial globe a dial circle or “Horarius” is fixed. The
broad wooden equator, forming the upper part of
the stand, is painted with the zodiac signs, the
months, the Roman calendar, the points of the
compass, and the same in Latin, in concentric
circles. Rhumb lines are drawn from numerous
centres over the surface of the terrestrial globe.
The equator, ecliptic, and polar circles are painted
boldly ; while the parallels of latitude and meridians,
at every ten degrees, are very faint lines.
The globe received additions, “including the dis-
coveries of Barents in Novaya Zemlya, and the date
has been altered with a pen from 1592 to 1603.
The constellations and fixed stars on the celestial
globe are the same as those on the globe of Mer-
cator, except that the Southern Cross has been
added. On both the celestial and terrestrial globes
of Molyneux there is a square label with this inscrip-
tion :—
” This globe belonging to the Middle Temple was
repaired in the year 1818 by J. and W. Newton,
Clobe Makers, Chancery Lane.”
i The largest that had been made up to the time ef their pub-
lication. The Behaim globe was 21 inches, the Mercator globes
1G inches, the Ulpius globe loh inches, and the Schoner globe
10i- inches in diameter. The others, which are older than the
Molyneux globes, are very small. The diameter of the Laon
XXV111
INTRODUCTION.
Over North America are the arms of France and
England quarterly; supporters, a lion and dragon ;
motto of the garter; crown, crest, and baldrequin ;
standing on a label, with a long dedication to
Queen Elizabeth.
The achievement of Mr. William Sanderson is
painted on the imaginary southern continent to the
south of Africa. The crest is a globe with the sun’s
rays behind. It stands on a squire’s helmet with
baldrequin. The shield is quarterly: 1st, paly of
six azure and argent, over all a bend sable for Sander-
son ; 2nd, gules, lions, and castles in the quarters for
Skirne alias Castilion; 3rd, or, a chevron between 3
eagles displayed sable, in chief a label of three points
sable for Wall; 4th,quarterly, or and azure, over all a
bend gules for Langston. Beneath there is an address
from William Sanderson to the gentle reader, English
and Latin, in parallel columns.
In the north polar regions there are several new
additions, delineating the discoveries of English and
Dutch explorers for the first time. John Davis
wrote, in his World’s llyd.rographical Discovery :
” How far I proceeded doth appear on the globe
made by Master Emerie Molyneux.” Davis Strait
is shown with all the names on its shores which were
given by its discoverer, and the following legend :
teJoannes Davis Anglus anno 1585-8G-87 littora
Americce circum spectantia a quinquagesimo quinto
grado ad 73 sub polarem scutando perlegit.” On
globe is Go inches, of the Nancy globe G inches, and of the Lenox
glube only \\i inches.
INTRODUCTION.
XXIX
another legend we have, “Additions in the north
parts to 1G03″; and below it are the discoveries of
Barents, with his Novaya Zemlya winter quarters—
” Ilet behouden huis.” Between Xovaya Zemlya
and Greenland there is an island called ” Sir Hugo
Willoghbi his land”. This insertion arose from a great
error in longitude, Willoughby having sighted the
coast of Xovaya Zemlya ; and the island, of course,
had no existence, though it long remained on the
maps. To the north of Siberia there are two
legends—” Rd. Cancelarius et Stephanas Burrow
Angli LappicB et Corelia? oras marinas et Sinun. S.
Xicolai vidgo dictum anno 1553 menso Augusto
exploraverunt”; and ” Joannes Mandevillanus eques
Angiitis ex Anglia anno 1322 Cathaice et Tartari
regiones penetravit.”
Many imaginary islands, in the Atlantic, are
retained on the Globe: including ” Frisland”,
“Buss Ins”, “Brasil”, ” Maidas”, ” Heptapolis”,
” St. Brandon”. On the eastern side of North
America are the countries of Florida, Virginia, and
Norumbega ; and also a large town of Norumbega
up a gulf full of islands. The learned Dr. Dee had
composed a treatise on the title of Queen Elizabeth
to Norumbega ; and in modern times Professor Hors-
forth has written a memoir to identify Norumbega
with a site up the Charles river, near Boston. On
the Atlantic, near the American coast, is the follow-
ing legend: ” Virginia primum lust rata, habitata,
et culta ab Anglis inpensis D. Gualteri de Ralegh
Equitis Aurati anmenti Elizabeths In Anglice
XXX
INTRODUCTION.
Regin
THE PREFACE.
9
miles. But for as much as Athos lies westward from
Lemnos, as may appeare out of Ptolomies Tables, no mar-
vaile that it casts so large a shadow, seeing that wee may
observe by daily experience, that as well when the Sun riseth
as when it sets, the shadowes are always extraordinary long.
But that which Pliny and Solinus report of the same
Mountaine I should rather account among the rest of their
fabulous Stories, where as they affirme it to be so high that
it is thought to be above that region of the Aire whence the
rain is wont to fall. And this opinion (say they) was first
grounded upon a report that there goes, that the ashes which
are left upon the Altars on the top of this hill are never
washed away, but are found remaining in heapes upon the
same. To this may be added another testimony out of the
Excerpts of the seventh book of Strabo, where it is said that
those that inhabite the top of this Mountaine doe see the
Sun three homes sooner than those that live near the Sea
side. The height of the Mountaine Caucasus is in like
maimer celebrated by Aristotle, the top whereof is enlightened
by the Sunnes beames the third part of the night, both
morning and evening. No lesse fabulous is that which is re-
ported by Pliny and Solinus of Casins, in Syria, from whose
top the Sun rising is discovered about the fourth watch of
the night; which is also related by Mela of that other Casius
in Arabia. But that all these relations are no other than
mere fables is acutely and solidly proved by Petrus Nonius pUSdceu°™’
out of the very principles of Geometry. As for that which
Eustathius writes, that Hercules Pillars, called by the Greeks Eustathius.
Calpe and Abenna, are celebrated by Dionysius Periegetes
for their miraculous height, is plainly absurd and ridiculous.
For these arise not above an hundred elles in height, which
is but a furlong; whereas the Pyramids of Egypt are reported
by Strabo to equall that height; and some trees in India are f^3}™,’
found to exceed it, if wee may credit the relations of those
“Writers who, in the same Strabo, afiirme that there grows a
10
THE PREFACE.
tree, by the river Hyarotis that casteth a shadow at noon five
furlongs long.
Those fabulous narrations of the Ancients are seconded
by as vaiue reports of our moderne times. And first of all
Scaliger writes from other men’s relations that Tenariff, one
of the Canary Islands, riseth in height fifteene leagues, which
amount to above sixtie miles. But Patricius, not content
with this measure, stretcheth it to seventie miles. There are
other hilles in like manner cry eel up for their great height,
as, namely, the Mountaine Audi, in Peru, and another in the
Isle Pico, among the Azores Islands; but yet both these fall
short of Tenariff. What credit these relations may deserve
we will now examine. And first for Tenariff, ic is reported
by many writers to be of so great height that it is probable
the whole world affordes not a more eminent place ; not ex-
cepting the Mountaine Slotu’s itself, which, whether ever any
other mortall man hath seen, beside that Monke of Oxford
(who, by his skill in Magicke, conveighed himselfe into the
utmost Northeme regions and tooke a view of all the places
about the Pole, as the Story hath it), is more than I am able
to determine. Yet that this Isle cannot be so high as Scaliger
would have it we may be the more bold to believe, because
that the tops of it are scarcely ever free from snow, so that
you shall have them covered all over with snow all the year
long, save onely one, or, at the most, two months in the
midst of summer, as may appeare out of the Spanish Writers.
Now that any snow is generated 60 or 70 miles above the
plaine superficies of the Earth and Water is more then they
will ever persuade us, seeing that the highest vapours never
rise above 48 miles above the Earth, according to Eratos-
thenes his measure; but according to Ptolomy they ascend
not above 41 miles. Notwithstanding, Cardan and some
> other protest Mathematicians are bold to raise them up to
” 288 miles; but with no small staine of their name have
they mixed those trifles with their other writings. Solinus
THE PREFACE.
11
reports that the tops of the Moimtaine Atlas reacheth very
neare as high as the circle of the Moon ; but he betrayeth
his own errour in that he confesseth that the top of it is
covered with snow, and shineth with fires in the Night. Not
unlike to this are those things which are reported of the
same moimtaine and its height by Herodotus, Dionysius
Afer, and his scholiast Eustathius; whence it is called in
Authours, Ccelorum Columen, the pillar that bears up the
Heavens. But to let passe these vaine relations, let us come
to those things that seem to carry a greater show of truth.
Eratosthenes found by Dioptricall instruments, and measur- Theon. i
J 1 ‘ com. in.
ing the distances betwixt the places of his observation, that Pto1-
a perpendicular drawn from the top of the highest moim-
taine down to the lowest bottome or vally, did not exceed
ten furlongs. Cleomedes saith that there is no hill found to
be above fifteene furlongs in height, and so high as this was
that vast steepe rocke in Bactriana, which is called Sisimitra?
Petra, mentioned by Strabo in his II booke of his Geography.
The toppes of the Thessalian Mountaines are raised to a
greater height by Solinus then ever it is possible for any
hill to reach. Yet, if we may believe Pliny, Dicaearchns L. I, c.
being employed by the king’s command in the same busi-
nesse, found that the height of Pelion, which is the highest
of all, exceeded not 1,250 pases, which is but ten furlongs.
But to proceed yet a little further, lest we should seem too
sparing herein, and to restraine them within narrower limits
than wee ought, wee will adde to the height of hilles the
depth also of the Sea. Of which the illustrious Iulius
Scaliger, in his 38 exercitations against Cardan, writeth
thus: The depth of the Sea (saith he) is not very great, for
it seldome exceeds 80 pases, in most places it is not 20 pases,
and in many places not above G ; in few places it reacheth
100 pases, and very seldome, or never, exceeds this number.
But because this falles very short of the truth, as is testified
by the daily experience of those that passe the Sea, let us
12
THE PREFACE.
make the depth of the Sea equall to the height of Moun-
taines: so that suppose the depth thereof to be 10 furlongs,
“which is the measure of the Sardinian Sea in the deepest
places, as Posidonius in Strabo affirmes. Or, if 3-011 please,
let it be 15 furlongs, as Cleomedes and Fabianus, cited by
Pliny, lib. 2, c. 102, will have it. (For Georg. Valla, in his
interpretation of Cleomedes, deales not fairely with his
Authour, where he makes him assigne 30 furlongs to be the
measure of the Sea’s depth.) These grounds being thus laid,
let us now see what proportion the height of hilles may bear
to the Diameter of the whole Earth ; that so we may hence
gather that the extuberancy of hilles are able to detract
little or nothing from the roundnesse of the Earth, but that
this excrescency will be but like a little knob or dust upon a
ball, as Cleomedes saith. For if wee suppose the circum-
ference of the whole Earth to be 180,000 furlongs, according
to Ptolomies account (neither did ever any of the Ancients
assigne a lesse measure than this, as Strabo witnesseth), the
Diameter therefore will be (according to the proportion be-
twixt a circle and its diameter found out by Archimedes)
above 57,272 furlongs. If, then, we grant the highest hilles
to be ten furlongs high, according to Eratosthenes and
Dictearchus, they will beare the same proportion to the
Diameter of the Earth that is betwixt 1 and 5,727. (Peu-
cerus mistakes himselfe when he saith that the Diameter of
the Earth to the perpendicular of ten furlongs is as 18,000
to 1, for this is the proportion it beareth to the whole cir-
cumference, and not the diameter. Or suppose the toppes
of the highest hilles to ascend to the perpendicular of fifteene
furlongs, as Cleomedes would have it, the proportion then
will be of one to 3,81S. Or if you please let it be thirtie
furlongs, of which height is a certain rock in Sogdiana
spoken of by Strabo in the eleventh Booke of his Geography
(notwithstanding Cleomedes is of opinion that a perpen-
dicular drawne from the top of the highest hill to the
THE PREFACE.
13
bottom of the deepest Sea exceeds not this measure), the
proportion will be no greater than of one to 1,903. Or let
us extend it yet further if you will to foure miles, or
thirty-two furlongs (of which height the mountaine Casius,
in Syria, is reported by Pliny to be), the proportion will yet
be somewhat lesse then of one to 1,789. I am therefore so Lib. 2,c. 65.
farre from giving any credit to Patricius, his relations of
Tenariffes being seventy-two miles high (unlesse it be
measured by many oblique and crooked turnings and wind-
ings, in which manner Pliny measureth the height of the
Alpes also to be fiftie miles),so that I cannot assent to Alhazan, L-de Cre*
r ” ‘ puse.
an Arabian, who would have the toppes of the highest hilles
to reach to eight Arabian miles, or eighty furlongs, as I
thinke; neither yet to Pliny, who, in his quarto lib., cap. ii,
affirmes the mountaine Hannus to be six miles in height, and
I can scarcely yield to the same Pliny when as he speaks of
other hilles foure miles in height, And whoever should
affirme any hill to be higher than this, though it were
Mercury lhmselfe, I should hardly believe him. Thus much
of the height of hilles which seemed to derogate from the
roundnesse of the Terrestriall Globe. Patricius proceeds,
and goes about to prove that the water also is not round or
sphrericall. And he borroweth his argument from the
observations of those that conveigh or levell waters, who
find by their Dioptricall Instruments that waters have all an
equall and plaine superficies, except they be troubled by the
violence of windes. On the contrary side, Eratosthenes, in
Strabo, affirmes that the superficies of the Sea is in some
places higher then it is in other. And he also produceth as
assertors of Ms ignorance those Water-levellers, who, being
employed by Demetrius about the cutting away of the
Isthmus, or necke of land betwixt Peloponessus and Greece,
returned him answere that they found by their Instruments
that that part of the Sea which was on Corinth’s side was
higher than it was at Cenehree. The like is also storied of
14
THE PREFACE.
Sesostris, one of the kings of Egypt, who, going about to
make a passage out of the Mediterranean into the Arabian
Gulfe, is said to have desisted from his purpose because he
found that the superficies of the Arabian Gulfe was higher
Aristotle, than was the Mediterranean, as it is reported by Aristotle in
the end of his first booke of Meteors. The like is also said
in the same place by the same Authour to have happened
afterward to Darius. Now whether the Architects or
Water-levellers employed by Demetrius, Sesostris, and
Darius deserve more credit than those whom Patricius
nameth I shall not much trouble my selfe to examine. Yet
Strabo inveigheth against Eratosthenes for attributing any
such eminences and depressions to the superficies of the Sea.
And Archimedes his doctrine is that every humid body
standing still and without disturbance hath a sphrerieall
superficies whose centre is the same with that of the Earth.
So that wee have just cause to regret the opinions, both of
those that contend that the superficies of the Sea is plaine,
as also of those that will have it to be in some places higher
than in other. Although wee cannot in reason but confesse that
so small a portion of the whole Terrestriall Globe as may be
comprehended within the reach of our sight, cannot be dis-
tinguished by the helpe of any Instruments from a plaine
superficies. So that we may conclude Patricius his argument,
which he alleadgeth from the experience of Water-con-
veighers, to be of no weight at all.
But hee goes on and labours to prove his assertion from
the elevation and depression, rising and setting of the Poles
and Starres, which were observed daily by those that traverse
the Seas ; all which he saith may come to passe, although the
surface of the water were plaine. For if any Starre be
observed that is in the verticall point of any place,
which way soever you travell from that place, the same
Starre will seeme to be depressed, and abate something of
its elevation, though it were on a plaine superficies. But
THE PREFACE.
15
there is something more in it than Patricks takes notice of.
For if wee goe an equall measure of miles, either toward the
North or toward the South, the elevation or depression of
the Starre will always bee found to be eqnall: which that
it can possibly bee so in a plaine superficies is more than
bee will ever be able to demonstrate. If wee take any
Starre situate neare the ^Equator, the same, when you have
removed thence 60 English miles, will be elevated about a
degree higher above the Horizon, whether the Starre be
directly over your head, or whether you depart thence that
so it may bee depressed from your Zenith for 30 or 50 or
any other number of degrees. Which that it cannot thus
be on a plaine superficies may bee demonstrated out of the
principles of Geometry. But yet methinks this one thing
might have persuaded Patricius (being so well versed in the
Histories of the Spanish Navigations, as his writings suffi-
ciently testifie) that the superficies of the Sea is not plaine,
because that the Ship called the Victory, wherein Ferdinand
Magellane, losing from Spaiue and directing his course to-
ward the South-west parts, passed through the Straits,
called since by his name, and so touching upon the Cape of
Good Hope, having encompassed the whole world about,
returned again into Spaine. And here I shall not need to
mention the famous voyages of our owne countriemen, Sir
Francis Drake and Master Thomas Candish, not so well
knowne perhaps abroad, which yet convince Patricius of the
same errour. And thus have we lightly touched the chiefe
foundations that his cause is built upon ; but as for those ill-
understood experiments which he brings for the confirmation
of the same, I shall let them passe, for that they seeme
rather to subvert his opinion than confirme it.
Thus, having proved the Globe of the Earth to be of a
Sphericall figure, seeing that the emineney of the highest
hills hath scarcely the same proportion to the semidiameter
of the Earth that there is betwixt 1 and 1,000, which how
16
THE PREFACE.
small it is an)’ one may easily perceive; I hold it very
superfluous to goe about to prove that a Globe is of a figure
most proper and apt to expresse the fashion of the Heavens
and Earth as being most agreeable to nature, easiest to be
understood, and also very beautifull to behold.
Now in Materiall Globes, besides the true and exact
description of places, which is, indeed, the chiefest matter
to be considered, there are two things especially recpnred.
The first whereof is the magnitude and capacity of them,
that so there may be convenient space for the description of
each particular place or region. The second is the light t-
nesse of them, that so their weight be not cumbersome.
Strabo, in his eleventh booke, would have a Globe to have
tenne foot in Diameter, that so it might in some reasonable
manner admit the description of particular places. But this
bulke is too vast to bee conveniently dealt withall. And in this
regard I think that these Globes, of which I intend to speak
in this ensuing discourse, may justly bee preferred before all
other that have been set before them, as beinge more capa-
cious than any other ; for they are in Diameter two foot and
two inches, whereas Mercator’s Globes (which are bigger than
any other ever set before him) are scarcely sixteene inches
Diameter. The proportion therefore of the superficies of
these Globes to Mercator’s will be as 1 to 2|, and somewhat
more. Every country, therefore, in these Globes will be
above twice as large as it is in Mercator’s, so that each par-
ticular place may the more easily bee described. And this
I would have to bee understood of those great Globes made
by William Saunderson of London ; concerning the use of
which especially we have written this discourse. For he
hath set forth other smaller Globes, also, which as they are
of a lesser bulke and magnitude, so are they of a cheaper
price, that so the meaner Students might herein also be
provided for. Now concerning the geographicall part of
them, seeing that it is taken out of the newest Charts and
THE PREFACE.
17
descriptions ; I am bold to think them more perfect than
any other : however they want not their errours. And I
thinke it may bee the authors glory to have performed thus
much in the edition of these Globes. One thing by the
way you are to take notice of, which is that the descrip-
tions of particular places are to be sought for elsewhere,
for this is not to be expected in a Globe. And for these
descriptions of particular countries, you may have recourse
to the Geographicall Tables of Abrahamus Ortelius,1 whose
diligence and industry in this regard seemes to exceed all
other before him. To him, therefore, we referre you.2
1 In the edition of 1659 the name of Gerardus Mercator is substi-
tuted for that of Abrahamus Ortelius.
2 In the Dutch editions here follows a long note by Pontanus,
describing the globe of Tycho Brahe at Prague, and those of the
Duke of Tuscany ; and giving the definitions of Euclid.
C
THE FIRST PART.
Of those things which are common both to the
Ccelestiall and Terrestrial! Globe.
CHAPTER I.
What a Globe is, vjith the 2>arts thereof, and of the Circles of
the Globe.
A GLOBE, in relation to our present purpose, we define to be
an Analogicall representation either of the Heavens or the
Earth. And we call it Analogicall, not only in regard of its
forme expressing the Sphrericall figure as well of the
Heavens, as also of the Terrestriall Globe, consisting of the
Earth itselfe, together with the interflowing Seas ; but rather
because that it representeth unto us in a just proportion and
distance each particular constellation in the Heavens, and
every severall region and tract of ground in the Earth ;
together with certaine circles, both greater and lesser, in-
vented by Artificers for the more ready computation of the
same. The greater Circles we call those which divide the
whole superficies of the Globe into two equall parts or halves ;
and those the lesser which divide the same into two tmequall
parts.1
Besides the body of the Globe itselfe, and those things
which we have said to be thereon inscribed, there is also
annexed a certain frame with necessary instruments thereto
belonging, which we shall declare in order.
1 Here Pontanus inserts another long note, in the Dutch edition,
respecting a discussion between Tycho Braye and Peter Ramus, on
the method of astronomical computation in use among the ancient
Egyptians.
20
A TREATISE OF THE
The fabricke of the frame is thus: First of all there is a
Base, or foot to rest upon, on which there are raised perpen-
dicularly sixe Columnes or Pillars of equal 1 length and dis-
tance ; upon the top of which there is fastened to a levcll
and parallel to the Base a round plate or circle of wood, of a
sufficient breadth and thicknesse, which they call the Hori-
zon, because that the uppermost superficies thereof performeth
the office of the true Horizon. For it is so placed that it
divideth the whole Globe into two equall parts, Whereof
that which is uppermost represented unto us the visible
Hemisphere, and the other that which is hid from us. So
likewise that Circle which divides that part of the world
which wee see from that other which wee see not, is called the
Horizon. And that point which is directly over our heads
in our Hemisphere, and is on every side equidistant from the
Horizon, is commonly called Zenith; but the Arabians name
it Semith. But yet the former corrupted name hath prevailed,
so that it is always used among Writers generally. And that
point which is opposite to it in the lower Hemisphere the
Arabians call Nathir; but it is commonly written Nadir.
These two points are called also the Poles of the Horizon.
Furthermore, upon the superficies of the Horizon in a
Material! Globe, there are described, first, the twelve Signes
of the Zodiaque, and each of these is again divided into
thirty lesser portions ; so that the whole Horizon is divided
into 360 parts, which they also call degrees. And if every
degree be divided into sixtie parts also, each of them is then
called a Scruple or Minute ; and so by the like subdivision
of minutes into sixtie parts will arise Seconds, and of these
Thirds, and likewise Fourths and Fifths, etc., by the like
partition still of each into sixtie parts.1
There is also described upon the Horizon the Pioman
1 Pontanus adds, in a note, that the days of the month, and the
Roman Kalends, Nones, and Ides, are also marked on the modern
horizon.
CCELESTIALL AND TERUESTEIALL GLOBE.
21
Calendar, and that three severall ways; to wit, the ancient
way, which is still in use with us here in England; and the
new way appointed by Pope Gregory 13, wherein the Equi-
noxes and Solstices were restored to the same places wherein
they were at the time of the celebration of the Councell of Nice;
in the third, the said Equinoctiall and Solsticiall points are
restored to the places that they were in at the time of our
Saviour Christ’s nativity. The months in the Calendar are
divided into dayes and weekes, to which are annexed, as
their peculiar characters, the seven first letters of the Latine
Alphabet. Which manner of designing the dayes of the
Moneth was first brought in by Dionysius Exiguus, a Pomane
Abbot, after the Councell of Nice.
The innermost border of the Horizon is divided into 32
parts, according to the number of the Windes, which are
observed by our moderne Sea-faring men in their Naviga-
tions ; by which also they are wont to designe forth the quar-
ters of the Heavens and the coasts of Countries. For the
Ancients observed but foure winds only, to which were
after added foure more; but after ages, not content with this
number, increased it to twelve, and at length they brought it
to twenty-foure. as Vitruvius notes. And now these later
times have made them up thirty-two, the names whereof
both in English and Latine are set down in the Horizon of
Materiall Globes.1
There is also let into this Horizon two notches opposite
one to the other, a circle of brasse, making right angles with
the said Horizon, and placed so that it may be moved at
pleasure both up and downe by those notches, as neede shall
require. This Circle is called the Meridian, because that Meridianus,
one side of it, which is in like manner divided into 360
degrees, supplyeth the office of the true Meridian. Now the
meridian is one of the greater circles passing through the
Poles of the World and also of the Horizon; to which, when
1 Pontanus here inserts a note on the uses of the horizon.
22
A TREATISE OF THE
the Sunne in his daily revolution is arrived in the upper Hemi-
sphere, it is midday; and when it toucheth the same in the
lower Hemisphere it is midnight at that place whose Meri-
dian it is.
These two Circles, the Horizon and Meridian, are various
and mutable in the Heavens and Earth, according as the
place is changed. But in the Materiall Globe they are made
fixed and constant; and the earth is made moveable, that so the
Meridian may be applied to the Verticall point of any place.1
In two opposite poynts of this Meridian are fastened the
Boreus two ends of an iron pinne passing through the body of the
Globe and its center. One of which ends is called the Arc-
ticke or Xorth Pole of the World; and the other the Antarc-
ticke or South Pole ; and the pinne itselfe is called the Axis.
For the Axis of the World is the Diameter about which it is
turned; and the extreme ends of the Axis are called the Poles.
To either of these Poles, when need shall require, there is
a certain brasse circle or ring of a reasonable strong making
to be fastened, which circle is divided into 24 equall parts,
according to the number of the homes of the day and night;
and it is therefore called the Houre circle. And this circle
is to be applied to either of the Poles in such sort as that the
Section where 12 is described may precisely agree with the
points of mid-day and mid-night in the superficies of the true
Meridian.
There is also another little pinne or stile to be fastened to
the end of the Axis, and in the very center of the Houre
circle ; and this pinne is called in Latine, Index Horarius,
and so made as that it turnes about and pointeth to every of
the 24 sections in the Houre Circle, according as the Globe
it selfe is moved about; so that you may place the point of
it to what houre you please.2
1 Pontanus here has a note on the uses of the meridian.
2 Here Pontanus has a note on using the hour circle, meridian, and
quadrant of altitude.
CtELESTIALL AND TERRESTEIALL GLOBE.
2:5
CHAPTER II.
Of the Circles which are described upon the Superficies of the
Globe,
And now in the next place we will shew what Circles are
described upon the Globe it selfe. And first of all there is
drawne a circle in an equall distance from both the Poles,
that is 90 degrees, which is called the yEquinoctiall or Equa- equator
tor; because that when the Sunne is in this Circle days and
nights are of equall length in all places. By the revolution
of Circle is defined a naturall day, which the Greeks call
vvxPvP’tpov. For a day is twofold : Naturall and Artificial! Fails^
A Naturall day is defined to be the space of time wherein
the whole ./Equator makes a full revolution ; and this is done
in 24 houres. An Artificiall day is the space wherein
the Sunne is passing through our upper Hemisphere ; to
which is opposed the Artificiall night, while the Sunne is
carried about in the lower Hemisphere. So that an Artificiall
day and night are comprehended within a Naturall day.
The Parts of a day are called houres; which are either equall ^fies.
or unequall. An Equall houre is the 24th part of a Naturall
day, in which space 15 degrees of the ^Equator doe always
rise, and as many are depressed on the opposite part. An in»qUaie
Unequall houre is the 12th part of an Artificiall day, betwixt
the time of the Suns rising and setting againe. These
Houres are againe divided into Minutes. Now a minute is
the 60th part of an houre; in which space of time a quarter
of a degree in the equator, that is 15 minutes, doe rise and
as many set.1
The JEquator is crossed or cut in two opposite points by
an oblique Circle, which is called the Zodiack. The obli- zodiacus
quity of this Circle is said to have beene first observed by
1 Here Pontanus has a note on the uses of the equator.
24
A TREATISE OF THE
Anaximantler Milesius, in the 58 Olympiad, as Pliny writeth
in his lib. 2, cap. 8. Who also in the same place affirmes
that it was first divided into 12 parts which they call Signes
by Cleostratus Tenedius, in like manner as we see it at this
day. Each of these Signes is again subdivided into 30 Parts,
so that the whole Zodiack is divided in all into 360 parts,
like as the other circles are. The first twelfth part whereof,
beginning at the Yernall Intersection, where the ^Equator
and Zodiack crosse each other, is assigned to Aries, the
second to Taurus, etc., reckoning from West to East. But
here a young beginner in Astronomy may justly doubt what
is the reason that the first 30 degrees or 12th part of the
Zodiack is attributed to Aries, whereas the first Starre of
Aries falls short of the Intersection of the iEquinoctiall and
Zodiacke no less than 27 degrees. The reason of this is
because that in the time of the Ancient Greeks, who first of
all observed the places and situation of the fixed Starres and
expressed the same by Asterismes and Constellations, the
first Starre of Aries was then a very small space distant from
the very Intersection. For in Thales Milesius his time it
was two degrees before the Intersection; in the time of
Meton the Athenian, it was in the very Intersection. In
Timocharis his time it came two degrees after the Intersec-
tion. And so by reason of its vicinity the Ancients assigned
the first part of the Zodiack to Aries, the second to Taurus,
and so the rest in their order; as it is observed by succeed-
ing ages even to this very day.1
Under this Circle the Sunne and the rest of the Planets
finish their severall courses and periods in their severall
manner and time. The Sunne keepes his course in the
middest of the Zodiack, and therewith describeth the Eclip-
tick circle. But the rest have all of them their latitude
and deviations from the Suns course or Ecliptick. By
reason of which their digressions and extravagancies the
1 Pontanus here gives a note on Thales and Meton.
CfELESTIALL AND TERKESTRIALL GLOBE.
25
Ancients assigned the Zodiaque 12 degrees of latitude. But
our moderne Astronomers, by reason of the Evagations of
Mars and Venus, have added on each side two degrees more ;
so that the whole latitude of the Zodiack is confined within
16 degrees. But the Ecliptick onely is described on the
Globe, and is divided in like manner as the other Circles into
360 degrees.1
The Sunne runneth thorough this Circle in his yearly
motion, finishing every day in the yeare almost a degree by
his Meane motion, that is 59 min. 8 seconds. And in this
space he twice crosseth the ^Equator in two poynts equally
distant from each other. So that when he passeth over the
^Equator at the beginnings of Aries and Libra, the dayes and
nights are then of equall length. And so likewise when the
Sunne is now at the farthest distance from the ./Equator, and
is gotten to the beginning of Cancer or Capricorne, he then
causeth the Winter and Summer Solstices. I am not ignorant
thatVitruvius, Pliny, Theon Alexandrinus,Censorinus, and Co-
lumella, are of another opinion (but they are upon another
ground) ; when as they say that the ^Equinoxes are, when as
the Sunne passeth through the eighth degree of Aries and
Libra, and then it was the midst of Summer and Winter,
when the Sun entered the same degree of Cancer and Capri-
corne. But all these authors defined the Solstices by the
returning of the shadow of dials : which shadow cannot bee
perceived to returne backe againe, as Theon saith, till the JuoVcfensor
Sunne is entered into the eighth degree of Libra and Aries.2 adlunsitur-
The Space wherein the Sunne is finishing his course
through the Zodiack is defined to be a Yeare, which consists Annus.
of 365 dayes, and almost 6 houres. But they that think to find
the exact measure of this period will find themselves frus-
trate; for it is finished in an unequall time. It hath beene
ahvayes a controversie very much agitated among the
1 Pontanus here has a note on the ecliptic and zodiac.
2 Here Pontanus inserts a note on the uses of the zodiac.
26
A TREATISE OF THE
Ancient Astronomers, and not yet determined. Philolaus, a
Pythagorean, determines it to be 365 dayes ; but all the rest
soa’Pde have added something more to this number. Harpalus
Em.’temp. W0llld haye it tQ be 365 dayeg and a halfe . Democritus 365
dayes and a quarter, adding beside the 164 part of a day.
(Enopides would have it to be 365 dayes 6 houres, and almost
9 houres. Meton the Athenian determined it to be 365 dayes,
6 houres and almost 19 minutes. After him Calippus reduced
it to 365 dayes and 6 houres, which account of his was fol-
lowed by Aristarchus of Samos, and Archimedes of Syracusa.
And according to this determination of theirs Julius Cesar
defined the measure of his Civile year, having first consulted
(as the report goes) with one Sosigenes, a Peripateticke and a
great Mathematician. But all these, except Philolaus (who
came short of the just measure), assigned too much to the
quantity of a yeare. For that it is somewhat lesse than 365
dayes 6 houres is a truth confirmed by the most accurate
observations of all times, and the skilfullest artists in Astro-
nomicall affaires. But how much this space exceedeth the just
quantity of a yeare is not so easy a matter to determine. Hip-
parchus, and after him Ptolomy, would have the 300 part of
Aa c. is. a day subtracted from this measure (for Jacobus Christ-
Alfrag.
maunus was mistaken when he affirmed that a Tropicall
yeare, according to the opinions of Hipparchus and Ptolomy,
did consist of 365 dayes and the 300 part of a day). For
they doe not say so, but that the just quantity of a yeare is
365 dayes and 6 houres, abating the 300 part of a day, as
may be plainely gathered out of Ptolomy, Almagest., lib. 3,
cap. 2, and as Christmannus hiniselfe hath elsewhere rightly
observed. Xow, Ptolomy would have this to be the just
quantity of a yeare perpetually and immutably ; neither
would he be perswaded to the contrary, notwithstanding the
observations of Hipparchus concerning the inequallity of the
Sunnes periodicall revolution. But yet the observations of
succeeding times, compared with those of Hipparchus and
CCELESTIALL AND TBRRESTKIALL GLOBE.
27
Ptolomy, doe evince the contrary. The Indians and Jewes
subtract the 120 part of a day ; Albategnius, the GOO part;
the Persians, the 115 part, according to whose account Mes-
sahalah and Albumazar wrote their tables of the Meane
Motion of the Sunne. Azaphius Avarius and Arzachel
atfirnied that the quantity assigned was too much by the 136
part of a day; Alphonsus abateth the 122 part of a day;
some others, the 128 part of a clay; and some, the 130 part
of a day. Those that were lately employed in the restitu-
tion of the Pomane Calendar would have almost the 133
part of a day to be subtracted, which they conceived in 400
years would come to three whole dayes. But Copernicus
observed that this quantity fell short by the 115 part of a
day. Most true therefore was that conclusion of Censorinus, censo. c.
that a yeare consisted of 365 dayes, and I know nut what
certaine portion, not yet discovered by Astrologers.
By these divers opinions here alleclged is manifestly dis-
covered the error of Dion, which is indeed a very ridiculous Dion, I. 4;
one. Por he had conceit that in the space of 1461 Julian
yeares there would be wanting a whole day for the just
measure of a yeare ; which he would have to be intercaled,
and so the Civile Julian Yeare would accurately agree with
the revolution of the Sunne. And Galen also, the Prince of £• 4>c- 3-
‘ Progn.
Physitians, was grossly deceived when he thought that the
yeare consisted of 365 dayes 6 houres, and besides almost the
100 part of a day ; so that at every hundred yeares end there
must be a new intercalation of a whole day.
Now, because the Julian yeare (which was instituted by
Julius Coesar, and afterwards received and is still in use)
was somewhat longer than it ought to have beene, hence it
is that the /Equinoxes and Solstices have gotten before their ^?atu°c’
Ancient situation in the Calendar. Por about 432 yeares mutatl°-
before the incarnation of our Saviour Christ, the Vernall
^Equinoxe was observed by Meton and Euctemon to fall on
the 8 of the Kalends of April], which is the 25 of March
28
A TREATISE OF THE
according to the Computation of the Julian Yeare. In the
yeare 146 before Christ it appeares, by the observation of
Ilipparchus, that it is to be placed on the 24 of the same
moneth, that is the 9 of the Kalends of Aprill. So that
from hence we may observe the error of Sosigenes (notwith-
standing he was a great Mathematician), in that above 100
yeares after Hipparchus, in instituting the Julian Calendar,
he assigned the /Equinoxes to be on the 25 of March or the
8 of the Kalends of Aprill, which is the place it ought to
have had almost 400 years before his time. This error of
Sosigenes was derived to succeeding ages also; insomuch
that in Galens time, which was almost 200 yeares after
Julius Cesar, the ^Equinoxes were wont to be placed on the
24 day of March and September, as Theodoras Gaza reports.
In the yeare of our Saviours Incarnation it happened on the
10 of the Kalends of April or the 23 of March. And 140
years after, Ptolomy observed it to fall on the II of the
Kalends. And in the time of the Councell of Nice, about
the yeare of our Lord 328, it was found to be on the 21 of
March, or the 12 of the Kalends of Aprill. In the yeare 831
Thebit Hen Chorah observed the Yernall iEquinoxe to fall
on the 17 day of March : in Alfraganus his time it came to
the 16 of March. Arzachel, a Spaniard, in the yeare 1090,
observed to fall on the Ides of March, that is the 15 day.
In the yeare 1316 it was observed to be on 13 day of March.
And in our times it has come to be on the 11 and 10 of the
same moneth. So that in the space of 1020 yeares, or there-
about, the ^Equinoctiall points are gotten forward no lesse
then 14 dayes. The time of the Solstice also, about 388
yeares before Christ, was observed by Meton and Euctemon
to fall upon the 18 day of June, as Joseph Scaliger and
Jacobus Christmannus have observed. But the same in our
time is found to be on the 12 of the same moneth.
The Eclipticke and yEquator are crossed by two great
Circles also, which are called Colures; both which are
CCELESTIALL AND TERRESTRIALL GLOBE.
29
drawne through the Poles of the world, and cut the iEquator qoiuriSois.
° ‘ 1 titiorum et
at right Angles. The one of them passing through the Horum0″
points of both the Intersections, and is called the Eqinoc-
tiall Colure; the other passing through the points of the
greatest distance of the Zodiack from the ^Equator, is there-
fore called the Solsticiall Col ure.1
Now that both the colures, as also the vEquinoctiall points
have left the places where they were anciently found to be
in the Heavens, is a matter agreed upon by all those that
have applyed themselves to the observations of the Ccelestiall
motions ; only the doubt is whether fixed Starres have gone
forward unto the preceding Signes, as Ptolomy would have
it, or else whether the vEquinoctiall and Solsticiall points
have gone back to the subsequent Signes, according to the
Series of the Zodiack, as Copernicus opinion is.2
The first Starre of Aries, which in the time of Meton the steiiarnm
flxerum
Athenian, was in the very Vernall Intersection, in the time n°g M^tata
of Thales Milesius was two degrees before the Intersection.
The same in Timochares his time, was behind it two degrees
24 minutes ; in Hipparchus time, 4 degrees 40 minutes ; in
Albumazars time, 17 degrees 50 minutes; in Albarenus his
time, 18 degrees 10 minutes ; in Arzachels time, 19 gr. 37
minutes ; in Alphonsus his time, 23 degrees 48 minutes; in
Copernicus and Ehceticus his time, 27 degrees 21 minutes. In Heronis
x ‘ ° Geodesiam,
Whence Pranciscus Baroccius is convinced of manifest error
in that he affirmes that the first Starre of Aries, at the time
of our Saviours Nativity, was in the very Vernall Intersec-
tion, especially contending to prove it, as he doth, out of
Ptolomy’s observations, out of which it plainly appears that
it was behind in no lesse then 5 degrees.
In like manner the places of the Solstices are also changed,
as being alwayes equally distant from the iEquinoctiall
1 Pontanus here inserts a note on the office of the colures.
2 Pontanus, in a long note, here gives the opinions of Scaliger and
Tycho Brahe on the precession of the equinoxes.
30
A TREATISE OF THE
points. This motion is finished upon the Poles of the Eclip-
tick, as is agreed upon both by Hipparchus and Ptolomy,
and all the rest that have come after them. Which is the
reason that the fixed Starres have always kept the same
latitude though they have changed their declination. For
Mutata confirmation whereof many testimonies may be brought out
declivat, J Jo
flxarum °f Ptolomy, lib. 7, cap. 3 Almag. I will only alleadge one
more notable then the rest out of Ptolomies Geogr. lib. 1,
cap. 7. The Starre which we call the Polar Starre, and is
the last in the taile of the Beare, is certainely knowne in our
time to be scarce three degrees distant from the Pole, which
very Starre in Hipparchus his time was above 12 degrees
distant from the Pole, as Marinus in Ptolomy affirmes. I
will produce the whole passage which is thus. In the Torrid
Zone (saith he) the whole Zodiacke passeth over it, and
therefore the shadowes are cast both wayes, and all Starres
there are seen to rise and set. Onely the little Beare
begins to appeare above the Horizon in those places that are
500 furlongs northward from Ocele. For the Parallel that
passeth through Ocele is distant from the ./Equator 11 gra.
§. And Hipparchus affirmes that the Starre in the end
of the little Beares taile, which is the most Southward of
that Constellation, is distant from the Pole 12 gr. §. This
excellent testimony of his, the Interpreters have, in their
translating, the place most strangely corrupted (as both
Johannes Wernerus and after him P. Nonius have observed),
setting down instead of 500 Quinque Mille 5000, and for
Australissimam, the most Southerne, Borealissimam, the most
Northerly: being led into this error perhaps, because that
this Starre is indeed in our times the most Northerly.
But if these testimonies of Marinus and Ptolomy in
strabo. this point be suspected, Strabo in his lib. 2, Geogr.,
shall acquit them of this crime. And he writes thus.
It is affirmed by Hipparchus (saith he) that those that
inhabit under the Parallel that runneth thorough the Conn-
CCELESTIALL AND TERRESTMALL GLOBE.
31
trey called Cinnamomifera (which is distant from Meroe,
Southward 3000 furlongs, and from the .Equinoctiall 8800),
are situated almost in the midst betwixt the ^Equator and
the Summer Tropicke, which passeth through Syene (which
is distant from Meroe 5000 furlongs), and these that dwell
here are the first that have the Constellation of the little
Beare inclosed within their Arctieke Circle, so that it never
sets with them, for the bright Starve that is seen in the end
of the taile (which is also the most Southward of all) is so
placed in the very Circle itselfe, that it doth touch the Hori-
zon. This is the testimony of Strabo, which is the very
same that Ptolomy and Marinus affirme, saving that both in
this place and elsewhere he alwayes assignes 700 furlongs in –
the Earth to a degree in the Heavens, according to the doc-
trine of Eratosthenes, whereas both Marinus and Ptolomy
allow but 500 onely ; of which we shall speak more hereafter.
Let us now come to the lesser circles which are described
in the Globe. And these are all parallel to the Equator; as
first of all the Tropickes, which are Circles drawn through
the points of the greatest declination of the Eclipticke on
each side of the /Equator. Of which, that which looks
toward the North Pole is called the Tropicke of Cancer; and Jr£ et
the other, bordering on the South, the Tropicke of Capricorne. CaPricorni-
For the Sunne in his yearely motion through the Eclipticke
arriveing at these points, as his utmost bounds, returneth
againe toward the /Equator. This Retrocession is called by
the Greeks rpoirri, and the parallel circles drawne through the
same points are likewise called Tropickes.1
The distance of the Tropickes from the iEquator is
diversely altered, as it may plainely appear, by comparing g^f^
the observations of later times with these of the Ancients. nntl°Muu-
For not to speake anything of Strabo, Proclus, and Leontius
Mechanicus, who all assigned the distance of either Tropicke
from the /Equator to be 24 degrees (for these seeme to have
1 Pontanus here adds a note on the uses of the tropics.
32
A TREATISE OF THE
handled the matter but carelessly) we may observe the same
from the more accurate observations of the greatest Artists.
For Ptolomy found the distance of either Tropicke to be
23 gr. 51 min. and 1 just as great as Eratosthenes and
Hipparchus had found it before him; and therefore he con-
ceived it to be immutable. Machomethes Aratensis observed
this distance to be 23 degrees 35 minutes, right as Almamon,
King of Arabia, had done before him. Arzahel, the Spaniard,
found it to be in his time 23 degrees 3d minutes ; Almehon
the Sonne of Almuhazar, 23 degrees 33 minutes and halfe a
minute; Prophatius, a Jew, 23 degrees 32 minutes; Pur-
bachius and Eegiomontanus, 25 degrees 28 minutes; Johan
Wernerus, 23 degrees 28 minutes and an halfe; and Coper-
nicus found it in his time to be just as much.1
There are two other lesser circles described in an equall
distance from the roles to that of the Tropickes from the
vEquator, which circles take their denomination from the
Pole on which they border. So that one of them is called
ArcTet ^ie Arcticke or Xorth Circle, and the opposite Circle the
Antam. Antarcticke or Southerne. In these Circles the Poles of the
Eclipticke are fixed, the Solsticiall Colure crossing them in
the same place. Strabo, Proclus, Cleomedes, all Greeke
Authors, and some of the Latines also, assigne no certaine
distance to these circles from the Poles ; but make them
various and mutable, according to the diversity of the eleva-
tion of the Pole or diverse position of the Sphere; so that
one of them must be conceived to be described round about
that Pole which is elevated, and to touch the very Horizon,
and is therefore the greatest of all the parallels that are
always in sight; and the other must be imagined as drawne
in an equall distance from the opposite Pole; and this is the
greatest of those parallels that are always hidden.
1 Pontanus here inserts a table of the distances of the tropics from
the equator, at various epochs, as calculated by the astronomers men-
tioned in the text, adding remarks by Tycho Brahe on the subject.
OCELESTIALL AND TERRESTRIALL GLOBE.
Besides the circles expressed in the Globe there are also
some certaine other circles in familiar use with the Practicall
Astronomers, which they call verticall circles. These are ?Tirc»li,
greater circles drawne from the verticall point through the
Horizon, in what number you please ; and they are called by
the Arabians Azimuth, which appellation is also in common
use among our Astronomers. The Office of these circles is
supplied by the helpe of a quadrant of Altitude, which is a Amtudin!
thin plate of brasse divided into 90 degrees. This quadrant
must bee applied to the vertex of any place when you desire
to use it, so that the lowest end of it, noted with the number
of 90, may just touch the horizon in every place. The
quadrant is made moveable, that so it may be fastened to
the verticall point of any place.
CHAPTER III.
Of the three positions of Sphceres : Bight, Parallel, and
Oblique.
According to the diverse habitude of the /Equator to the
Horizon (which is either parallel to it, or cutteth it, and that
either in oblique or else in right angles) there is a three-
fold position or situation of Spheres. The first is of those p0Sltl°-
that have either Pole for their verticall point, for with these
the /Equator and Horizon are Parallel to each other, or
indeed rather make but one circle betwixt them both. The
2d is of those whose Zenith is under the /Equator. The
third agreeth to all other places else. The first of these
situations is called a Parallel Sphere; the second, a Right; ^ineio,
and the third an Oblique Sphere. Of these severall kindes obuqua.
of position the two first are simple, but the third is manifold
and divers, according to the diversity of the latitude of places.
Each of these have their peculiar properties.
D
34
A TREATISE OF THE
Those that inhabite in a Parallel Sphere see not the Sun
acidemia”* or °ther Stars either rising or setting, or higher or lower, in
the cliurnall revolution. Besides, seeing that the Sun in his
yearely motion traverseth the Zodiaque which is divided by
the /Equator into 2 equall parts; one whereof lieth toward
the North, and the other toward the South ; by this means
it comes to passe, that while the sun is in his course through
those figures that are nearest the Vertical! Pole, all this
while hee never setteth, and so maketh but one continued
artificial! clay, which is about the space of sixe moneths.
And so contrariwise, while he runneth over the other remoter
figures lying toward the Opposite Pole, hee maketh a long
continuall night of the like space of time or thereabout.
Now at such time as the Sun in his cliurnall revolution shall
come to touch the very ^Equator, he is carried about in such
sort as that he is not wholly apparent above the Horizon, nor
yet wholly hidden under it, but as it were halfe cut off.
sffaJc?: The affections of a Eight Sphere are these. All the Stars
are observed to rise and set in an equall space of time, and
continue as long above the Horizon as they doe under it. So
that the day and night here is always of equall length.1
o^q-yp An Oblique Sphere hath these properties. Their dayes
continent, sometimes are longer then their niglts, sometimes shorter,
and sometimes of equall length. For when the Sun is placed
in the yEquinoctiall points, which (as wee have said) hap-
peneth twice in the yeare, the daies and nights are then
equall. But as he draweth nearer to the elevated Pole the
dayes are observed to increase and the nights to decrease, till
such time as hee comes to the Tropique, when as he there
maketh the longest dayes and the shortest nights in the
yeare. But when he returneth toward the Opposite Pole
1 Pontanus, in a note, doubts whether this does not agree with the
rational or intelligible rather than with the sensible horizon: because,
even in a right sphere, the sight can hardly reach both the Poles, by
reason of the exuberancy of the earth.
CCELESTIALL AND TEREESTBIALL GLOBE.
35
the dayes then decrease till he toucheth the Tropique that
lietli nearer the same Pole, at which time the nights are at
the longest and the dayes shortest. In this position of
Sphaere also some Starres are never seene to set; such as are
all those that lie within the eompasse of a Circle described
about the Elevated Pole and touching the Horizon ; and
some in like manner are never observed to appeare above
the Horizon ; and these are all such Starres as are circum-
scribed within the like Circle drawne about the Opposite
Pole. These Parallel Circles (as wee have said) are those
which the Greekes, and some of the Latines also, call the
Arctique and Antarctique Circles, the one alwayes appearing
and the other always l}Ting hid. All the other Starres which
are not comprehended within these two Circles have their
rising and settings by course. Of which those that are
placed between the /Equator and this always apparent
Circle, continue a longer space in the upper Hemisphere and
a lesse while in the lower. So, on the contrary, those that
are nearer to the Opposite Circle are longer under the
Horizon, and the lesse while above it. Of all which affec-
tion this is the cause. The Sunue being placed in the iEqua-
tor (or any other Starre) in his daily revolution describeth
the iEquinoctiall circle; but being without the /Equator he
describeth a greater or lesser Parallel, according to the
diversity of his declination from the iEquator. All which
Parallels, together with the /Equator itselfe, are cut by the
Horizon in a Eight Sphaere to right angles. For when
the Poles lie both in the very Horizon, and the Zenith in
the /Equator, it must needs follow that the Horizon must
cut the /Equator in right angles, because it passeth through
its Poles. Now, because it cutteth the /Equator at right
angles, it must also necessarily cut all other circles that are
Parallel to it in right angles ; and, therefore, it must needs
divide them into two equall parts. So that if halfe of all these
Parallels, as also of the ^Equator, be above the Horizon, and
D 2
3G
A TREATISE OF THE
the other halfe lye hid under it, it must necessarily follow
that the Sunne, and other Starres, must be as long in pass-
ing through tho Upper Hemisphere as through the lower.
And so the daies must be as long as the nights, as all the
Starres in like manner will be 12 houres above the Horizon,
and so many under it. But in an Oblique Sphere, because
one of the Poles is elevated above the Horizon and the other
is depressed under it, all things happen cleane otherwise.
For seeing that the Horizon doth not passe through the
Poles of the /Equator, it will not therefore cut the Parallels
in the same manner as it doth the /Equator; but those
Parallels that are nearest to the elevated Pole will have the
greatest portion of them above the Horizon and the least
under. But those that are nearest the opposite Pole will
have the least part of them seene, and the greatest part hid;
only the /Equator is still divided into two equall parts, so
that the conspicuous part is equall to that which is not seene.
And hence it is that in all kinds of Obliquitie of Sphere, when
the Sun is in the /Equator, the day and night is alwayes of
equall length. And as he approacheth towards the elevated
Pole the dayes encrease; because the greater Arch or por-
tion of the Parallels is seene. But when he is nearer the
hidden Pole the nights are then the longest, because the
greatest segment of those Parallels are under the Horizon.
And by how much Higher either Pole is elevated above the
Horizon of any Place, by so much the dayes are the longer
in Summer and the nights in Winter.1
1 Pontanus here explains the errors of Clavius and Sacrobosco
respecting the spheres, while expressing concurrence with our author.
CCELESTIALL AND TEKRESTltlALL GLOBE.
CHAPTER IIII.
Of the Zones.
The fonre lesser Circles which are Parallel to the /Equa-
tor divide the whole Earth into 5 partes, called, by the
Greekes, Zones. Which appellation hath also beene received
and is still in use among our La tine Writers ; notwithstand-
ing they sometimes also use the Latine word, Flaga, in the
same signification. Bnt the Greekes do sometimes apply
the word Zona to the Orbes of the Planets (in a different sense
than is ever used by our Authors), as may appear by that pass-
age of Theon Alexandrinus in his commentaries upon Aratus
—e-yei,
appearing like another lesser Sunne, and as it were matural-
ing the day. But when it followeth the Sunne in the Even-
ing, protracting the light after the Sunne is set, and sup-
plying the place of the Moone, it is then called Ecnrepos, the
Evening Starre. The nature of which Starre, Pythagoras
Samius is said first to have observed about the thirtie 2d
Olympiad, as Pliny relates, lib. 2, cap. 8. It performeth its
course in a yeares space or thereabout, and is never distant
from the Sunne above fortie sixe degrees, according to
Timceus his computation. Notwithstanding our later Astro-
nomers, herein much more liberall than hee, allow it two
whole signes or 60 degrees, which is the utmost limit of its
deviation from the Sunne.
46
A TREATISE OF THE
Mercury, iu Greeke Eo/m;? and ^ti\(3o)v (called by some
Apollos Starre), finislieth bis course through the Zodiaque in
a yeare also. And, according to the opinion of Timceus and
Sosigenes, is never distant from the Sunne above 25 gr., or
as our later writers will have it, not above a whole sigue, or
30 degrees.
Luna, SeXijvv, the Moone, is the lowest of all the Planets,
and finislieth her course in twentie seven dayes and almost
eight houres. The various shapes and appearances of which
planet (seeming sometimes to bee homed, sometimes equally
divided into two halves, sometimes figured like an imperfect
circle, and sometimes in a perfect circular forme), together
with the other diversities of this Starre, were first of all
observed by Endymion, as it is related by Pliny; whence
sprung that poetical fiction of his being in love with the
Moone.
All the Planets are carried in Orbes which are Eccentrical
to the Earth ; that is, which have not the same center with
the Earth. The Semidiameter of which Orbes, compared to
the Semidiameter of the Earth, have this proportion as is here
set downe in this table :
The Eccentricities of the Orbes compared with the Orbes
themselves have this proportion.
Of what parts the Semi-
diameter of the Earth
{ Luna
I Mercury
Venus
) f 48 5Gm.
I 11G 3 m.
641 45 m.
y is •ut
Ptolomy, Alfraganus, and those which follow them, acknow-
ledge but 48 for the most part ; notwithstanding some have
added to this number one or two more, as Berenice’s Haire,
and Antinous. Germanicus Cesar, and Festus Avienus Rufus,
following Aratus, make the number lesse. Julius Higinus
will have them to be but 42, reckoning the Serpent, and The
Man that holdeth it for one Sign ; and he omitteth the little
Horse, and doth not number Libra among the Signes ; but
48
A TREATISE OF THE
he clivicleth Scorpio into two Signes, as many others also doe.
Neither doth hee reckon the Crow, the Wolfe, nor the South
Crowne among his Constellations, but only names them by
the way. The Bull also, which was described to appeare but
halfe by Pliny and Hipparchus, and Ptolomy and those that
follow them ; the same is made to be wholly apparent both
by Yitruvius and Pliny, and also before them by Meander,
if we may believe Theon, Aratus his Scholiast, who also
place the Pleiades in his backe.
Concerning the number also of the Starres that goe to the
making up of each Constellation, Authors doe very much
differ from Ptolomy, as namely Julius Pfiginus, the Com-
mentator upon Germanicus (whether it be Bassus, as Phi-
lander calls him, or whether those Commentaries were
written by Germanicus himselfe, as some desire to prove out
of Laetantius), and sometimes also Theon in his Commen-
taries upon Aratus, and Alfraganus very often.
Now, if you desire to know what other reason there is
why these Constellations have beene called by these names,
save onely that the position of the Starres doth in some sort
seeme to expresse the formes of the things signified by the
same; you may read Bassus and Julius Higinus, abundantly
discoursing of this argument out of the fables of the Greekes.
Pliny assures us (if at least we may believe him) that Hip-
parchus was the man that first delivered to posterity the
names, magnitude, and places of the Starres. But they
were called the same names before Hipparchus his time by
Timochares, Aratus, and Eudoxus. Neither is Hipparchus
ancienter than Aratus, as Theon would have him to be.
For the one flourished about the 420 yeare from the begin-
ning of the Olympiads, as appeareth plainely out of his life,
written by a Greeke Author. But Hipparchus lived about
600 yeares after the beginning of the Olympiads, as his
observations delivered unto us by rtolomy doe sufficiently
testifie. Besides that there are extant certaine Com-
CŒLESTTALL AND TERRESTKIALL GLOBE.
49
mentaries upon the Phenomena of Eudoxus and Aratus
which goe under Hipparchus his name ; unlesse perhaps
they were written by Eratosthenes (as some rather thinke),
who yet was before Hipparchus.1
Pliny, in his 2 booke, 41 chapter, affirmeth (though I know
not upon whose authority or credit) that there are reckoned
1600 fixed Starres, which are of notable effect and vertue.
Whereas Ptolomy reckoneth but 1022 in all, accounting in
those which they call Sporades, being scattered here and
there and reduced to no Asterisme. All which, according to
their degrees of light, he hath divided into 6 orders. So
that of the first Magnitude he reckoneth 15 ; of the second,
45 ; of the third, 208 ; of the fourth, 474 ; of the fifth, 217 ;
of the sixth, 49 ; to which we must add the 9 obscure ones,
and 5 other which the Latines called Nebulosae, cloudy
Starres. All which Starres expressed in their severall Con-
stellations, Magnitudes, and Names, both in Latine and
Greeke (and some also with the names by which they are
called in Arabicpie), you may see described in the Globe.
All these Constellations (together with their names in
Arabique, as we find them partly set downe by Alfraganus,
partly by Scaliger in his Commentaries upon Manilius, and
Grotius his notes upon Aratus his Asterismes, but especially
Jacobus Christmannus hath delivered them unto us out of
the Arabique epitome of the Almagest) we will set downe
in their order. And if any desire a more copious declara-
tion of the same, we must refer him to the 7 and 8 booke of
Ptolomies Almagest, and Copernicus his Révolutions, and the
Prutenicke Tables digested by Erasmus Eeinholt ; where
every one of these Starres is reckoned up, with his due
longitude, latitude, and magnitude annexed.2
1 Pontanus refers to the conjecture that the stars were reduced into
constellations by two kinds of men, husbandmen and mariners ; and
to the names of stars in the translations of Job.
2 Pontanus also refers the reader to the commentary on Sacrobosco
by Clavius. and above all to Tycho Brahe.
E
50
A TREATISE OF THE
But here you are to observe by the way Copernicus and
Erasmus Reinholt doe reckon the longitude of all the
St aires from the first star in Aries; but Ptolomy from
the very intersection of the iEquinoctiall and Eclipticke.
prlmomotu S° that Victoiinus Stiigelius was in an error when he said
parte tenia, t|iat ptolomy also did number the longitude of Starres from
the first Starre, the head of Aries.
CHAPTER III.
Of the Constellations of the Northcrne Hemisphere.
The first is called in Latine Ursa Minor, and in Arabique
Mume^ti. Dub Alasgar, that is to say, the lesser Beare, and Alrucaba,
which signifieth a Wagon or Chariot; yet this name is
given also to the hinder most Starre in the taile which in
our time is called the Pole Starre, because it is the nearest
to the Pole of any other. Those other two in the taile are
called by the Greekes ^ooeurai, that is to say, Saltatores,
Dancers. The two bright Starres in the fore part of the body
the Arabians call Alferkathan, as Alfraganus writeth, who
also reckoneth up seven Starres in this Constellation, and
one unformed neare unto it. This Constellation is said to
have been first invented by Thales, who called it the Dog, as
Theon upon Aratus affirmeth.
The second is Ursa Major, the Great Beare; in Arabic,
Dub Alacber. The first Starre in the backe of it, which is
the 16 in number, is called Dub, /carefo^uo, and that which
is in the flanke, 17 in number, is called Mirae, or rather, as
Scaliger would have it, Mizar, which signifieth (saith he)
locum prcccinctionis, the girthing place. The first in the
taile, which is the 25 in number, is called by the Alfonsines
Aliare, and by Scaliger Aliath. This Asterisme is said to
have beene first invented by Naplius, as Theon affirmeth.
CCELESTIALL AND TERKESTEIALL GLOBE. 51
It hath in all 27 Starres, but as Theon reckoneth them, but
24. Both the Beares are called by the Greekes, according
to Aratus, afxaga, which signifieth a “Wagon or Chariot.
But this name doth properly appertaine to those seven
bright Starres in the Great Beare which doe something
resemble the forme of a wagon. These are called by the
Arabians Beneth-As, i.e., Filial Feretri, as Christmannus
testifieth. They are called by some, though corruptly,
Benenas, and placed at the end of the taile. Some will
rather read it Benethasch, which signifies Filiae Ursse. The
Grecians in their Navigations were wont alwayes to observe
the Great Beare, whence Homer gives them the Epithete
eXifcayrras as Theon observeth, for the Greekes call the Great
Bear eXi/cr). But the Phoenicians alwayes observed the lesser
Beare, as Aratus affirmeth.
The third is called the Dragon, in Arabique Alanin, and it
is often called Aben ; but Scaliger readeth it Taben ; whence
hee called that Starre which is in the Dragons head, and is
5 in number, Rastaben, though it be vulgarly written Rasa-
ben. In this Constellation there are reckoned 31 Starres.
The fourth is Cepheus, in Arabique Alredaf. To this
Constellation, besides those two unformed Starres which are
hard by his Tiara, they reckon in all 11, among which that
which is in number the 4 is called in Arabique Alderaimin,
which signifieth the right Arme. This Constellation is called
by the Phoenicians Phicares, which is interpreted Flammiger,
which appellation peradventure they have borrowed from the
Greeke word Trvpfcaeis.
The fifth is Bootes, Bocorr]?, which signifieth in Greeke an
Heardsman, or one that driveth Oxen. But the Arabians
mistaking the word, as if it had been written fioaT-n? of
fioaco, which signifies Glamcdor, a Cryer, call it also Al-
hava, that is to say, Vociferator. one that maketh a great
Noyse or Clamor; and Alsamech Alramech, that is, the
E 2
52
A TREATISE OF THE
Launce bearer. Betwixt the legs of this Constellation there
stands an unformed star of the first magnitude, which is called
both in Grecke and Latine Arcturus and in Arabique
Alramech, or the brightest Starre, Samech haramach. This
Starre Theon placeth in the midst of Bootes his belt or
girdle. The whole Constellation consisteth of 22 Starres.1
The sixth Constellation is Corona Borea, the North
Crowne, called by the Arabians Aclilaschemali, and that
bright Starre which is placed where it seemeth to be
fastened together, and which is the first in number, is called
in Arabique Alphecca, which signifieth Solutio, an untying
or unloosing. It is also called Munic; but this name is
common to all bright Starres. The whole Constellation
consisteth of eight Starres.
The seventh is Hercules, in Arabique Alcheti hale recha-
batch, that is, one falling upon knees, and sometimes abso-
lutely Alcheti, for it resembles one that is weary with
labour (as Aratus conceives), whence it is also called in
Latine Nisus or Nixus (which in Yitruvius is corrupted into
Nesses), and the Greeks call it evyovacn, that is to say, One
on hit, knees. The Starre which is first in number in the
head of this Constellation is called in Arabique Basacheti,
not Basaben, as the Alfonsines corruptly have it; and the
4 Starre is called Marsic, or Marfic Reclinatorium, that part
of the Arme on which we leane. The eight Starre, which is
the last of the three, in his Arme, is called Mazim, or Maa-
sim, which signifieth Strength. This Constellation hath
eight Starres, besides that which is hi the end of his right
foote, which is betwixt him and Bootes, and one unformed
Starre at his right Arme.
The eight is the Harpe, called in Latine Lyra, in Ara-
bique Schaliaf and Alvakah, i.e., Cadens, sc. Vultur, the
1 Pontanus discusses the word Arcturus. and mentions that the
word in Job, which is given as Arcturus in the Septuagint, is Ash in
Hebrew, from the root Gmtsch (“conr/rcffabHy).
CCELESTIALL AXD TEKRESTKIALL GLOBE.
53
falling Vulture. It consisteth of ten Starres, according to
Hipparchus and Ptolomy; but Timocliares attributed to it
but 8, as Theon affirmeth, and Alfraganus 11. The bright,
Starre in this Constellation, being the first in number,
Alfonsus calleth Vega.
The ninth is Gallina or Cygnus, the Hen or Swan, and is
called in Arabique Aldigaga and Altayr, that is, the flying
Vulture. To this Asterisme they attribute, besides those two
unformed neare the left wing, 17 Starres, the 5 of which is
called in Arabique Deneb Adigege, the taile of the hen, and
by a peculiar name Arided, which they interpret quasi redo-
lens lilium, smelling as it were of lilies.1
The 10th is Cassiopeia, in Arabique Dhath Alcursi, the
Ladye in the Chayre ; and it consisteth of 13 Starres, among
which the 2d in number Alfonsus calleth Scheder, Scaliger
Seder, which signifieth a breast.2
‘The 11th is Perseus, Chamil Eas Algol, that is to say,
bearing the head of Medusa; for that Starre which is on the
top of his left hand is called in Arabic Eas Algol, and in
Hebrew Rosch hasaitan, the Divels Head. This Constella-
tion hath, besides those three unformed, 26 other Starres; of
which that which is the seventh in number Alfonsus calleth
Alchcemb for Alchenib, or Algeneb, according to Scaliger,
which signifieth a side.
The 12th is Auriga the Wagoner, in Arabique Eoha, and
Memassich Alhanam. That is one holding the raines of a
bridle in his hand. This Asterisme hath 14 Stars ; of which
that bright one in the left shoulder, which is also the third
in number, is called in Greeke atf, Capra, a Goate ; and in
Arabique Alhaisk, or, as Scaliger saith, Alatod, which signi-
1 Pontanus here mentions the appearance of a new star in the
breast of the swan, in 1600, which was observed by Kepler and
others.
2 A new star which appeared in Cassiopeia, in 1572, is here referred
to by Pontanus.
54
A TREATISE OF THE
fieth a He Goate; and the two which are in his left hand,
and are 8th and 9th. are called epicfroL, Hcedi, Kids; and in
Arabique, as Alfonsus hath it, Saclateni; but according to
Scaliger, Sadateni, the hindmost arrue. This Configuration
of these Starres was first observed by Cleostratus Tenedius,
as Higinus reporteth.
The 13th is Aquila, Alhakkah, the Eagle; the moderne
Astronomers call it the flying Yulture, in Arabique Altayr ;
but Alfraganus is of a contrary opinion, for he calleth the
Swanne by this name, as we have already said. They
reckon in this Asterisme 9 Starres, besides 6 unformed,
Antinous. which the Emperor Hadrian caused to be called Antinous, in
memory of Antinous his minion.
The 14th is the Dolphin, in Arabique Aldelphin, and it
hath in it 10 Stars.
The loth is called in Latine Sagitta or Telum, the Arrow
or Dart, in Arabic Alsoham; it is also called Istuse, which
word Grotius thinkes is derived from the Greeke word otcro?,
signifying an arrow. It containeth 5 Stars in all.
The 16th is Serpentarius, the Serpent bearer, in Arabic
Alhava and Hasalangue. It consisteth of 24 Starres, and 5
other unformed. The first Starre of these is called in Ara-
bique Easalangue.1
The 17th is Serpens, the Serpent, in Arabique Alhasa ;
it consisteth of 18 Starres.
The 18th is Equiculus, the little Horse, and in Arabique
Katarat Alfaras, that is in Greeke 7rpora/nT} LTTTTO^, as it were
the fore part of a Horse cut off. It consisteth of 4 obscure
Starres.
The 19th is Pegasus, the Great Horse, in Arabique
Alfaras Alathem; and it hath in it 10 Stars. The Starre on
the right shoulder, which is called Almenkeh, and is the
third in number, is also called Seat Alfaras, Brachium Equi.
1 In 1605 a new star was discovered in the foot of Serpentarius,
which disappeared in 1606. Kepler wrote a treatise on it.
CCELESTLALL AND TEERESTRLALL GLOBE. 55
CHArTEE IV.
Of the Xortherm Signet of the Zodiaqxw.
The first is Aries, the Earn, in Arabique Alhamel: this
Constellation hath 13 Starres, according to Ftolomies ac-
count. Yet Alfraganus reekoneth but 12, beside the other 5
unformed ones that belong to it.
The 2d is Taurus, the Bull, in Arabique Alter or Ataur;
in the eye of this Constellation there is a very bright Star,
called by the Ancient Eomans Falilicium, and by the
Arabians Aldebaram, which is to say, a very bright Star,
and also Hain Alter, that is. the Bull’s Eye. And those five
Srars that are in his forehead, and are called in Latiue
Sncuhe, the Grecians call i-acV?, because, as Theon and Hero Tteonia
1 Pontanus says thai the whole number of stars in the northern
part of the heaven is 360. of which only three are of the first magni-
tude, Capella, Vega, and Arctnrus.
And that which is in the opening of his mouth, and is mmi-
bei^d the 17th, is called in Arabique Enif Alfaras, the nose
of trie Horse.
The 20th is Andromeda, in Arabique Almara Almasul-ela,
thai is, the Chained Woman; Alfraganus interprets it
Farininam qua? nou est experta virum: A Woman that hath
not knowen a man. This Constellation conraineth in it 23
Stars ; whereof that which is the 12th in number, and is in the
girdling place, is commonly called in Arabique Mirach, or,
according to Scaliger, Moza ; and that which is the fifth is
called Alamec, or rather Alrnaac. which signifies a soeke or
buskin.
The 21st is the Triangle, in Arabique Almutaleh .and
Alutlathuu, which signifies Triplicity. It consisteth of 4
Starres.1
56
A TREATISE OF THE
Mechanicus conceive, they represent the forme of the letter
T; although perhaps it is rather because they usually cause
raine and stormy weather. Thales Milesius said that there
were two of these Hyades, one in the North erne Hemisphere
and one in the South; Euripides will have them to be 3,
Achaeus 4, Hippias and Pherecides 7. Those other 6, or
rather 7 Stars that appeare on the back of the Bull, the
Greekes call Pleiades (perhaps from their multitude); the
Latines Vergiliae; the Arabians Ataurias, quasi Taurina?, be-
longing to the Bull. Nicander, and after him Vitruvius, and
Pliny place these Stars in the taile of the Bull; and Hip-
parchus quite out of the Bull, in the left foot of Perseus.
These Stars are reported by Pliny and Solinus to be never
seene at all in the Isle Taprobana ; but this is ridiculous, and
fit to bee reported by none but such as Pliny and Solinus.
For those that inhabite that Isle have them almost over their
heads. This Constellation hath 33 Stars in it, besides the
unformed Stars belonging to it, which are 11 in number.1
The third is Gemini, the Twinnes, in Arabique Algeuze.
These some will have to bee Castor and Pollux, and others
Apollo and Hercules; whence, with the Arabians, the one is
called Apellor or Apheleon, and the other Abi-acaleus, for Grac-
leus, as Scaliger conceiveth. It containeth in it (beside the
7 unformed) 18 Stars, amongst which that which is in their
head is called in Arabique Easalgeuze.
The fourth is Cancer, the Crab, in Arabique Alsartan;
consisting of 9 Stars, beside 4 unformed; of which that
cloudy one which is in the breast, and is the first of all, is
called Mellef in Arabique, which, as Scaliger saith, signifieth
thicke or well compact.
The fifth is Leo, the lion, in Arabique Alased, in the
breast whereof there is a very bright Starre, being the 8th
in number, and is called in Arabique Kale Alased, the
1 Pontanus says that the words of Pliny do not convey the sense
attributed to them in the text
CCELESTIALL AND TERRESTRIALL GLOBE.
57
heart of the Lion, in Greeke ^aa-iktoKO^, because those that
are borne under this Starre have a Kingly Nativity, saith
Proclus. And that which is in the end of the taile, and is the Procius de
Spheera.
last of all in number, is named Deneb Alased, that is, the
taile of the Lion; Alfraganus calleth it Asumpha. This
Constellation containeth in it 27 Stars, besides 8 unformed.
Of the unformed Stars, which are betwixt the hinder parts
of the Lion and the Great Beare (according to Ptolomies
account, although Theon, following Aratus, reckons the
same as belonging to Virgo), they have made a new Constel-
lation, which Conon the Mathematician, in favour of
Ptolomy and Berenice, would have to bee called Berenice’s
Haire ; which story is also celebrated by the Poet Callimachus
in his verses.
The sixth is Virgo, the Virgin, in Arabique Eladari; but
it is more frequently called Sunbale, which signifieth an
Eare of Corne ; and that bright Starre which she hath in her
left hand is called in Greeke o-a^i;?, an Eare of Corne, and
in Arabique Hazimeth Alhacel, which signifieth an handfull
of Corne. This Star is wrongly placed by Vitruvius and
Higinus in her right hand. The whole Constellation con-
sisteth of 2G Stars, besides the 6 uuformed.
CHAPTER V.
Of the Constellations of the Southerne Hemisphere: and first
of those in the Zodiaque.
And first of Libra, which is the 7 in order of the Signes.
That part of this Constellation which is called the Southerne
Ballance, the Arabians call Mizan Aliemin, that is to say,
Libra dextra vel meridionalis, the Bight hand or Southerne
Ballance. But Libra was not reckoned anciently among the
58
A TREATISE OF THE
Signes; till that the later Astronomers, robbing the Scorpion
of his Clawes, translated the same to Libra, and made up the
number of the Signes, whence the Arabians call the Northeme
Ballance Zubeneschi Mali, that is in Greeke, x^V fi°P€Lb>>
the North Clawe ; and the other part of it that looks South-
ward they call Zubenalgenubi, XV^-V VOTLOV, the South Claw.
This Constellation containeth in it 8 Starres, besides 9 other
unformed, belonging unto it.
The Eight is Scorpio, the Scorpion, in Arabicpie com-
monly called Alatrah, but more rightly Alacrah ; whence
the Starre in the breast of it, which is the 8 in number, is
called Kelebalacrah, that is, the Heart of the Scorpion; and
that in the end of his taile, which is the second in number,
they call Leschat, but more truly Lesath, which signifieth the
sting of any venomous creature ; and by this word they under-
stand the Scorpions sting. It is also called Schomlek, which
Scaliger thinks is read by transposition of the letters for
Moselek, which signifieth the bending of the taile. This
Constellation consisteth of 21 Starres, besides 3 unformed.
The ninth is Sagittarius, the Archer, in Arabique Elcusu
or Elcausu, which signifieth a Bow; it hath in it 31 Starres.
The tenth is Capricornus, the Goat, in Arabique Algedi.
To this Constellation they attribute 28 Starres, among which
that which is in number the 23 is called in Arabique Deneb
Algedi, the taile of the Goat.
The eleventh is Aquarius, the Waterman, in Arabique
Eldelis, which signifieth a bucket to draw water. The 10
Starre of this Constellation is called in Arabique Seat, which
signifieth an Arme. It containeth in all 42 Stars.
The Twelfth is Pisces, the Eishes, in Arabique Alsemcha.
It containeth 34 Starres, and 4 unformed.1
1 Pontanus reckons the number of zodiacal stars at 346, of which
only five are of the first magnitude—Aldebaran, Regulus, Cauda
Leonis, Spica, and a star near the mouth of the southern fish.
CŒLESTIALL AND TERRESTRIALL GLOBE.
59
CHAPTEE VI.
Of the Constellations of the Southeme Hemisphœre, which are
without the Zodiaque.
The first is Cetus, the Whale, called in Arabique Elkai-
tos, consisting of 22 Starres. That which is in number the
second is commonly called Menkar, but more rightly, as
Scaliger saith, Monkar Elkaitos, the nose or snout of the
Whale ; and the 14, Boten Elkaitos, the belly of the Whale ;
and the last of all save one, Deneb Elkaitos, the taile of the
Whale.
The second is Orion, which the Arabians call sometimes
Asugia, the Mad Man ; which name is also applied to Hydra,
and sometimes to Elgeuze. Now, Geuze signifieth a walnut,
and perhaps they allude herein to the Latine word Ingula,
by which name Festus calleth Orion ; because he is greater
then any-other of the Constellations, as a walnut is bigger
than any other kinde of nut. The name Elgeuze is also
given to Gemini. This Constellation is also called in
Arabique Algibbar, which signifies a strong man or Gyant.
It consisteth of 38 Starres, among which that which is the
second, and is placed in his right shoulder, is called Jed
Algeuze, that is, Orion’s Hand, as Christmannus thinketh :
but more commonly Bed Elgeuze, and perhaps it should
rather be Ben Elgeuze, that is, the bright Starre in Orion.
The third Starre is called by the Alfonsines Bellatrix, the
Warrior. That which is in his left foote, and is the 35 in num-
ber, Eigel Algeuze or Algibbar, that is to say, Orion’s foote.1
The third is Eridanus, in Arabique Alvahar, that is to say,
the Eiver ; whence N’ar, the name of a Eiver in Hetruria, is
conceived by some to have been contracted. It hath in it
1 Pontanus here again alludes to the mention of Orion in the trans-
lations of Job. The Hebrew word is Kesil, which means rage or
madness, answering to the Arabic Asugia.
GO
A TREATISE OF THE
3-4 Starres; among which that which is the 19 is commonly
called in Arabique Angetenar, but Scaliger rather thinks it
should be read Anchenetenar, which signifieth the winding
or crooking of a River. The 29 Starre is also called Beemim,
or rather Theemim, which signifieth any two things joyned
together, so that it is to be doubted whether or no this name
may not be as well applied to any two Starres standing close
by one another. And the last bright Starre in the end of it
is called Acharnahar, as if you should say Behinde the River,
or in the end of the River, and it is commonly called
Acarnar.
The fourth is Lepus, the Hare, in Arabique Alarnebet
and it containeth in all 22 Stars.
The fifth is Canis, the Dogge; Alcheleb, Alachbar, in
Arabique, the great Dog; and Alsahare aliemalija, that is to
say, the Right hand or Southerne Dog. “Which name Alsa-
hare, which is also sometime written Scera, Scaliger thinkes
is derived from an Arabique word which signifieth the same
that vSpocfrofila in Greeke, a disease that mad dogs are
troubled with, when as they cannot endure to come neare
any water. Notwithstanding, Grotius is in doubt whether or
no it should not rather be Elseiri, and so derived from the
Greeke word aeLpios. For by this name is that notable
bright Starre called which is in the Dogs mouth, and is
called in Arabique Gibbar or Ecber, and by corruption
Habor. This Constellation hath in it 11 Stars.
The sixth is the little Dog, called in Greeke Procyon, and
in Latine Antecanis, because it riseth before the great Dog.
The Arabians call it Alcheleb Alasgar, that is to say, the
lesser Dog, and Alsahare Alsemalija, and commonly though
corruptly Algomeiza, the left hand or Northeme Dog. This
Asterisme consisteth of two Stars onely.
The seventh is Argo, the Shippe, in Arabique Alsephina;
now Sephina signifieth a Ship. It is also called Merkeb,
which signifieth a Chariot; according as the Poets also
CCELESTTALL AND TERRESTRIAL!, GLOBE.
61
usually cal it apfxa 6akacr-MI.”
‘■ It is not seene at all'”, instead of: It is seene very plainely:’,
a6ai>7)? being crept into the text perhaps instead of evSavqs.
Xow the distance betwixt Rhodes anl Alexandria is set
L 2. c. -\ downe both by him and Fliny to be 3,000 furlongs, which
being multiplied by forty-eight, the product will be 24-0,000,
~ the number of furlongs agreeing to the measure of the
Earths circumference, according to the opinion of Posi-
dunius.
Ptolomy everywhere in his Geography, as also Marinus
Tyrius before him. have allowed but 300 furlongs to a
degree in the greatest circle on the earth, of which the
whole circumference containeth 360, so that the whole com-
^passe of the Earth, after this account, containeth but 180.000
furlong-. And yet Strabo aftfrmeth in his lib. 2, Geograph.,
that this measure of the Earths circumference set downe by
Ptolomy was both received by the Ancients, and also
approved by Posidonius himselfe.
strabo pa .So great is the difference of opinions concerning the com-
pa-se of the earth : and yet is every one of these opinions
grounded on the authority of great men. In this so great
diversity therefore it i J l }
for hee makes the longest day at Ehodes to be fourteene
houres and an halfe. And Ptolomy will have the same to
be equall both at Ehodes and at Cnidus. And to this
assenteth Strabo likewise, save onely that in one place he
sets it downe to be but fourteen houres bare ; so that by this
reckoning it should have lesse latitude. Xow Proclus his
words are these. In the Horizon of Ehodes (saith hee) the
Summer Tropicke is divided by the Horizon, in such sort
as that if the whole circle bee divided into forty-eight parts,
OCELESTTALL AND TEKRESTKIALL GLOBE.
87
twenty-nine of the same doe appeare above the Horizon
and nineteen lye hid under the Earth. Out of which divi-
sion it followes that the longest clay at Rhodes must be four-
teen ^Equinoctiall hours and an halfe, and the shortest night
nine and a half, thus hee saithe. I do not deny, but that Posi-
donius, his setting downe of the quantity of the portion of the
Meridian intercepted betwixt the verticall point of Rhodes and
Alexandria, might deceive Pliny, Proclus, and others. Yet
Alfraganus draweth his second Climate through Cyprus and
Phodes, and maketh it to have the longest day of fouiteen
houres and an halfe, and in latitude 36 gr. two-thirds. So that
here is very little difference betwixt him and Ptolomy. And
even Maurolycus himselfe, when in his Cosmographicall Dia-
logues he numbereth up the Parallels, maketh that which pas-
seth through Rhodes to have 36 gr. and a twelfth of latitude ;
herein differing, something with the most, from Posiclonius.
Eratosthenes his observations also doe very much contradict
Posiclonius. Eor Eratosthenes saith that hee found by scio-
tericall gnomons, that the distance betwixt Rhodes and
Alexandria was 3750 furlongs. But let us examine this a
little better. The difference of Latitude betwixt these two
places he found sciotericall}’, after his manner, to be some-
thing more than 5 degrees. And to this difference (accord-
ing to his assumed measure of the compasse of the Earth,
wherein he allows 700 furlongs to a degree) he attributes
3650 furlongs. Neither is there any other way of working
by sciotericall instruments (that I know) in finding out the
distance of furlongs betwixt two places; unlesse we first
know the number of furlongs agreeing either to the whole
circumference of the Earth, or else to the part of it assigned.
Let us now see if we can prove out of the observations of
Eratosthenes himselfe, that neither Posiclonius, his opinion
concerning the measure of the Earths circumference, much
lesse Eratosthenes his owne can be defended. And here
we shall not examine his observation of the difference of
88
A TKKAT1SK OF TI1K
latitude betwixt Alexandria and Syene, that so we might
prove out of his own assumption that the whole corn passe
of the Earth cannot be above 241,010 furlongs, as it is
demonstrated by I’etrus Nonius, in his lib. 2, cap. 18, De
Naciyationp. Neither doe we enquire, how truly bee hath
set downe the distance of the places to be 5000 furlongs;
whereas Solinus reckoneth not from the very Ocean to
Meroe, above G20 miles, which are but 4960 furlongs.
Now Meroe is a great deal farther than Syene. Neither will
we question him at all, concerning the small difference that
is betwixt him and Pliny, who reckons from the Island
Elephantina (which is 3 miles below the last Cataract, and
16 miles above Syene) to Alexandria, but 48G miles; so
that by this reckoning betwixt Syene and Alexandria, there
will not be above 45GO furlongs. But we will proceed a
contrary way to prove our assertion. This one thing, there-
fore, we require to be granted us; Which is, that looke how
great a space the Sunne Diameter taketh up in his Orbe,
for the like space on the Terrestriall Globe shall the
Gnomons be without any shadow at all, while the Sunne
is in their Zenith. Which if it be granted (as it is freely
confessed by Posidonius in Cleomedes) we have then gotten
the victory.
Now it is affirmed by Eratosthenes that the Sunne being
in the beginning of Cancer, and so directly in the verticall
point at Syene; both there and for 400 furlongs round
about the gnomons cast no shadow at all. Let us now
therefore, see how great a part of his orbe the Sunnes
diameter doth subtend. For by this meanes if this posi-
tion of Eratosthenes, which wee have now set downe, bee
true ; we may easily finde out by it the whole circuit of
the Earth. Firmicus Maternus makes the diameter both
of the Sun and Moone to be no lesse then a whole degree.
But he is too farre from the truth, and assigneth a greater
quantity, either than hee ought or woe desire. The Egyptians
Cf>§
480
Miles.
Furlongs.
The
f Italian
J English
1 A,^;™
i Arabian
^ German
containeth
8
8,
1U”
32
THE FOURTH PART.
Of the Use of Globes.
HITHERTO wee have spoken of the Globe itselfe, together
with its dimensions, circles, and other instruments neces-
sarily belonging thereto. It remaineth now that we come
to the practise of it, and declare its severall uses. And
first of all it is very necessary for the practise, both of Astro-
nomy, Geography, and also the Art of Navigation. For by
it there is an easie and ready way laid downe, for the
finding out both of the place of the Sun, the Longitudes,
Latitudes, and Positions of places, the length of dayes and
houres; as also for the finding of the Longitude, Latitude,
Declination, Ascension both Eight and Oblique, the Ampli-
tude of the rising and setting of the Sunne and Starres,
together with almost an infinite number of other like things.
Of the Chiefe of all which wee intend here briefely to
discourse, omitting the enumeration of them all, as being
tedious and not suitable to the brevity we intend. Now
that all these things may be performed farre more accu-
rately by the helpe of numbers, and the doctrine of Tri-
angles, Plaines, and Spluerieall bodies, is a thing very well
knowne to those that are acquainted with the Mathema-
tickes. But this way of proceeding, besides that it is very
tedious and prolixe, so likewise doth it require great practise
in the Mathematickes.
But the same things may be found out readily and easily
by the helpe of the Globe with little or no knowledge of the
Mathematickes at all.
96
A TREATISE OF THE
CHAPTER E
How to findc the Longitude, Latitude, Distance, and Angle of
Position, or situation of anyplace expressed in the Ter-
rcstriall Globe.
The Ancient Geographers, from Ptolomies time downe-
ward, reckon the longitude of places from the Meridian
which passes through the Fortunate Islands; which are
the same that are now called the Canary Islands, as the
most men doe generally beleeve; but how rightly, I will
not stand here to examine. I shall only here advertise
the reader by the way that the latitude assigned by
Ptolomy to the Fortunate Islands falleth something
of the widest of the Canary Islands, and agreeth a great
deale nearer with the latitude of those Islands which
insula de are knowne bv the name of Cabo Verde. For Ptolomy
Capo Verde.
placed all the Fortunate Islands within the 10 gr. 30 m.,
and the 16 gr. of North erne latitude. But the Canary Islands
£erro_(w^ are found to be distant from the Equator at least 27 degrees.
The Arabians began to reckon their longitude at that place
where the Atlantieke Ocean driveth farthest into the maine
land, which place is tenne degrees distant eastward from
the Fortunate Islands, as Jacobus Christmannus hath
observed out of Abulfeda. Our Moderne Geographers for
the most part beginne to reckon the longitude of places from
these Canary Islands. Yet some beginne at those Islands
which they eall Azores ; and from these bounds are the
longitudes of places to be reckoned in these Globes whereof
we speake.
Now the longitude of any place is defined to be an Arch,
or portion of the ^Equator intercepted betwixt the Meridian
of any place assigned and the Meridian that passeth through
Saint Michaels Island (which is one of the Azores), or of any
CtELESTIALL AND TERRESTEIALL GLOBE.
07
other place from whence the longitude of places is wont to
be determined.
Now if you desire to know the longitude of any place
expressed in the Globe you must apply the same place to
the Meridian, and observing at what place the Meridian
cutteth the ^Equator, reckon the degree of the ^Equator from
the Meridian of Saint Michael’s Island to that place ; for so
many are the degrees of longitude to the place you looke for.
In the same manner may you measure the difference of
longitude betwixt any other two places that are described on
the Globe. For the difference of longitude is nothing else
but an Arch of the ^Equator intercepted betwixt the Meri-
dians of the same Places. AVhich difference of longitude
many have endeavoured to set downe diverse ways how to
fincle by observation. Put the most certaine way of all for
this purpose is confessed by all writers to be by Eclipses of
the Moone. But now these Eclipses happen but seldome,
but are more seldom seene, yet most seldome, and in very
few places, observed by the skilfull Artists in this Science.
So that there are but few longitudes of places designed out
by this meanes.
Orontius Finams, and Johannes “Wernerus before him, con-
ceived that the difference of longitude might be assigned
by the known (as they presuppose it) motion of the
Moone, and the passing of the same through the Meri-
dian of any place. But this is an uncertaine and ticklish
way, and subject to many difficulties. Others have gone
other ways to worke; as, namely, by observing the space of
the iEquinoctiall houres betwixt the Meridians of two places,
which they conceive may be taken by the helpe of sunne
dials, or clocks, or houre glasses, either with water or sand,
or the like. But all these conceits long since devised, having
beene more strictly and accurately examined, have beene
disallowed and rejected by all learned men (at least those of
riper judgments) as being altogether unable to performe that
H
98
A TREATISE OF THE
which is required of them. But yet for all this there are a
kind of trifling Impostors that make public sale of these toys
or worse, and that with great ostentation and boasting; to
the great abuse and expense of some men of good note and
quality, who are perhaps better stored with money then
either learning and judgment. But I shall not stand here to
discover the erroures and uncertaineties of these instruments.
Only I admonish these men by the way that they beware of
these fellowes, least when their noses are wiped (as we say)
of their money, they too late repent them of their ill-bought
bargaines. Away with all such trifling, cheating rascals.1
CHAPTER II.
How to finde the Latitude of any place.
Latitude The latitude of a place is the distance of the Zenith, or
quid. c
the verticall point thereof from the ^Equator. Now if you
desire to finde out the latitude of any place expressed in the
Globe, you must apply the same to the Meridian, and
reckon the number of degrees that it is distant from the
^Equator; for so much is the Latitude of that place. And
this also you may observe, that the latitude of every place
is alwayes equall to the elevation of the same place. Eor
look how many degrees the verticall point of any place is
distant from the ^Equator, just so many is the Pole elevated
above the Horizon; as you may prove by the Globe if you
so order it as that the Zenith of the place be 90 degrees
distant every way from the Horizon.2
1 Here Pontanus has a note, describing the method of finding the
longitude by eclipses of the moon.
2 Pontanus gives a note here, explaining how to find the latitude
by observation of circumpolar stars.
(‘(ELKSTTALL AND TERRESTRTALL GLOBE.
99
CHAPTER III.
How to find the distance of two places, and angle of position, or
situation.
If you set your Globe in such sort as that the Zenith of
one of the places be 90 gr. distant every way from the
Horizon, and then fasten the quadrant of Altitude to the
Verticall point, and so move it up and downe untill it passe
through the Vertex of the other place ; the number of degrees
intercepted in the quadrant betwixt the two places, being
resolved into furlongs, miles, or leagues (as you please), will
shew the true distance of the places assigned. And the
other end of the quadrant that toucheth upon the Horizon
will shew on what wind, or quarter of the world, the one
place is in respect of the other, or what Angle of Position (as
they call it) it hath. Eor the Angle of Position is that Anguiu«
J ‘ ° positionis
which is comprehended betwixt the Meridian of any place, quid-
and a greater circle passing through the Zeniths of any two
places assigned ; and the quantity of it is to bee numbred in
the Horizon.
As for example, the Longitude of London is twentie sixe Exempium.
degrees, and it hath in North erne Latitude 51 degrees and a
halfe. Now if it be demanded what distance and angle of
position it beareth to Saint Michaels Island, which is one
of the Azores: we must proceed thus to find it, Eirst, let
the North Pole be elevated 51^ degrees, which is the latitude
of London. Then, fastning the quadrant of Altitude to the
Zenith of it, that is to say, fiftie-one degrees and an halfe
Northward from the ^Equator, we must turne it about till it
passe through Saint Michaels Island, and we shall finde the
distance intercepted betwixt these two places to he 11 gr.
40 min., or thereabouts, which is 280 of our leagues. And if we
observe in what part of the Horizon the end of the quadrant
II 2
100
A TREATISE OF THE
resteth, we shall find the Angle of Position to fall neare
upon 50 gr. betwixt South west and by west. And this is
the situation of this Island in respect of London.
CHAPTER IV.
To Jinclc the altitude of the Sunne, or other Starre.
The Altitude of the Sunne, or other Starre, is the distance
of the same, reckoned in a greater Circle, passing the Zenith
of any place and the body of the Sunne or Starre. Now that
the manner of observing the same is to be performed either
by the crosse staffe, quadrant, or other like Instrument, is
a thing so well knowne, as that it were vaine to repeat it.
Gemma Frisius teacheth a way how to observe the Altitude
of the Sunne by a Sphaaricall Gnomon. But this way of
proceeding is not so well liked, as being subject to many
difficulties and errours ; as whosoever proveth it shall easily
find.
CHAPTER V.
To finch the pi ace and declination of the Sunne for any
day given.
Having first learned the day of the moneth, yon must
lookc for the same in the Calendar described on the Horizon
of your Globe. Over against which, in the same Horizon,
you shall find the Signe of the Zodiaque, and the degree of
the same, that the Sunne is in at that time. But if it be
leape yeare, then, for the next day after the 28th of February,
yon must take that degree of the Signe which is ascribed to
the day following it. As for example, if yon desire to know
what degree of the Zodiaque the Sunne is in the 29th of
CCELESTIALL AND TEKKESTKIALL GLODE.
101
February, you must take that degree which is assigned for
the 1st of March, and for the first of March take the degree
of the second, and so forward. Yet I should rather counsell,
if the place of the Sunne be accurately to be knowne, that
you would have recourse to some Ephenierides where you
may have the place of the Sunne exactly calculated for every
clay in the yeare. Neither indeed can the practise by the
Globe in this case bee so accurate as often times it is required
to bee.
Now when you have found the place of the Sunne, apply
the same to the Meridian, and reckon thereon how many
degrees the Sunne is distant from the ^Equator, for so many
will the degrees be of the Sunne’s declination for the day
assigned. For the Declination of the Sunne or any other Quia decii-
° natio.
Starre is nothing else but the distance of the same from the
^Equator reckoned on the Meridian. But the Sunnes Decli-
nation may be much more exactly found out of those tables
which Mariners use, in which the Meridian Altitude, or
Declination of the Sunne for every clay in the yeare, and the
quantity of it is expressed. One thing I shall give you
notice of by the way, and that is, that you make use of those
that are latest made as neare as you can. For all of them,
after some certaine space of time, will have their errours.
And I give this advertisement the rather for that I have
seen some, that having some of these tables that were very
ancient, and written out with great care and diligence (which
notwithstanding would differ from the later Tables, and
indeed from the truth itselfe, oftentimes at least 10 min., and
sometimes more), yet would they alwayes use them very
constantly, and with a kinde of religion. But these men
take a great deale of paines and care to bring upon them-
selves no small errors.
102
A TREATISE OF THE
CHAPTER VI.
Hoic to finch the latitude of any place by observing the Meridian
Altitude of the Sunne or other Starrc.
Observe the Meridian Altitude of the Sunne with the
crosse staffe, quadrant, or other like instrument; and having
also found the place of the Sunne in the Eclipticke, apply the
same to the Meridian, and so move the Meridian up and
dowue, through the notches it stands in, untill the place of
the Sunne be elevated so many degrees above the Horizon
as the Sunnes altitude is. And the Globe standing in this
position, the elevation of either of the Poles will show the
Latitude of the place wherein you are, an example whereof
may bee this.
Esempium. On the 12th of June, according to the old Julian account,
the Sunne is in the first degree of Cancer, and hath his
greatest declination 23£ degrees. And on the same day sup-
pose the Meridian Altitude of the Sunne to be 50 degrees,
we enquire, therefore, now what is the Latitude of the place
where this observation was made ? And this wee finde out
after this manner. “We apply the first degree of the Cancer
to the Meridian, which we move up and downe, till the same
degree be elevated above the Horizon 50 degrees: which is
the Meridian altitude of the Sunne observed. Now in this
position of the Globe we find the North Pole to be elevated
63 gr. and an halfe ; so that we conclude this to be the lati-
tude of the place where our observation was made.
The like, way of proceeding doe Mariners also use for the
finding out of the Latitude of places by the Meridian Altitude
of the Sunne and their Tables of Declinations. But I sha11
not here speake any further of this, as well for that the
explication thereof doth not so properly concerne our proper
intention ; as also because it is so well knowne to everybody,
CCELESTIALL AND TEKRESTUIALL GLOBE.
103
as that the handling of it in this place would be needlesse
and superfluous.
The like effect may be brought by observing the Meridian
Altitude of any other Starre expressed in the Globe. For if
you set your Globe, so as that the Starre you meane to
observe be so much elevated above the Horizon as the
Meridian Altitude of it is observed to be, the elevation of
the Pole above the Horizon will shew the Latitude of the
place. But here I should advise that the latitude of places
bee rather enquired after by the Meridian altitude of the
Sunne, then of the fixed Starres ; because the Declinations,
as wee have already showed, are very much changed, unlesse
they be restored to their proper places by later observations.
Some there are that undertake to performe the same, not
only by the Meridian Altitude of the Sunne or Starre, but
also by observing it at two severall times, and knowing the
space of time or horizontall distance betwixt the two obser-
vations. But the practice hereof is prolix and doubtful :
besides that, by reason of the multitude of observations that
must be made, it is also subject to many errours and difficul-
ties. Notwithstanding, the easiest way of proceeding that I
know in this kind is this that folioweth.
To finde out the Latitude of any place, by knowing the
place of the Sunne or other Starre, and observing
the Altitude of it two severall times, with
the space of time betwixt the
two observations.
First having taken with your Compasses the complement
of the Altitude of your first Observation (now the comple-
ment of the Altitude is nothing else but the difference of
degrees by which the Altitude is found to be lesse then 90
degrees), you must set one of the feet of your Compasses in
that degree of the Ecliptique that the Sunne is in at that
time ; and with the other describe a circle upon the super-
104-
A TREATISE OF THE
ficies of the Globe, tending somewhat toward the West, if the
observation be taken before noone, but toward the East if it
be made in the afternoone. Then having made your second
observation, and observed the space of time betwixt it and
the former, apply the place of the Sunne to the Meridian,
turning the Globe to the East untill that so many degrees of
the ^Equator have passed by the Meridian, as answer to the
space of time that passed betwixt your observations, allowing
for every houre fifteene degrees in the ^Equator, and mark-
ing the place in the Parallel of the Sunnes declination that
the Meridian crosseth after this turning about of the Globe.
And then setting the foot of your Compasses in this very
intersection, describe an Arch of a Circle with the other foot
of the Compasse extended to the complement of the second
observation, which Arch must cut the former circle. And
the common intersection of these two circles will shew the
verticall point of the place wherein you are: so that having
reckoned the distance of it from the ^Equator, you shall
presently have the latitude of the same.
The same may be effected, if you take any Starre, and
work by it after the same manner; or if you describe two
circles mutually crossing each other to the complements of
any two Starres.
CHAPTEE VII.
How to find the Right and Oblique Ascension of the Sunne and
Starres for any Latitude of place and time assigned.
Ascpnsio The Ascension of the Sun or Starres is the degree of the
et descensio ,
quid. ./Equator that riseth with the same above the Horizon. And
the Descensión of it is the degree of the /Equator that goes
under the Horizon with the same. Both these is either Eight
Ascpnsio or Oblique. The Eight Ascension or Descensión is the degree
CCELEST1ALL AND TE11RESTKIALL GLOBE.
105
of the ^Equator that ascendeth or descendeth with the
Sunne or other Starre in a Eight Sphaere; and the Oblique is 0bl!fiue-
the degree that ascendeth or descendeth with the same in an
Oblique. The former of these is simple, and of one kind
only: because there can be but one position of a Eight
Spha?re. But the later is various and manifold, according to
the diverse inclination of the same.
Now if you desire to know the Eight Ascension and
Descensión of any Starre for any time and place assigned,
apply the same Star to the Meridian of your Globe : and that
degree of the ^Equator that the Meridian crosseth at the
situation of the Globe will shew the Eight Ascension and
Descensión of the same, and also divideth each Hemisphiere
in the midst at the same time with it.
And if you would know the Oblique Ascension or Descen-
sión of any Starre, you must first set the Globe to the lati-
tude of the place, and then place the Starre at the extreme
part of the Horizon ; and the Horizon will shew in the ^Equa-
tor the degree Oblique Ascension. And if you turn it about
to the West side of the Horizon, the same will also shew in
the ^Equator the oblique descensión of that Starre. In like
manner you may find out the Oblique Ascension of the
Sunne, or any degree of the Eclipticke, having first found
out, in the manner wee have formerly shewed, the place
of the Sunne. And hence also may bee found the difference
of the Eight and Oblique Ascension, whence ariseth the
diverse length of dayes.
As for example, the Sunne entreth unto Capricorne on the Exempium
eleventh day of December, according to the old account. I
would now, therefore, know the Eight and Oblique Ascension
of the degree of the Eclipticke for the latitude of fiftie-two
degrees. First, therefore, I apply the first degree of Capri-
corne to the Meridian, where I find the same to cut the
iEquator at 270 gr., which is the degree of the Eight Ascen-
sion. But if you set the Globe to the latitude of fiftie-two
106
A TREATISE OF THE
degrees, and apply the same degree of Capricorne to the
Horizon, you shall find the 303 gr. 50 min. to rise with the
same. So that the difference of the Eight Ascension 270
and the Oblique 303 gr. 50 min., will be found to be 33 gr.
50 min.
CHAPTEE VIII.
How to findc out the Horizontall difference betwixt the Meridian
and the Verticall circle of the Sunne or any other Starre
(which they call the Azimuth), for any time or place
assigned.
Having first observed the Altitude of the Sunne or Starre
that you desire to know, set your Globe to the latitude of
the place you are in : which done, turne it about, till the
place of the Sunne or Starre, which you have observed, be
elevated so much above the Horizon as the Altitude of the
same you before observed. Now you shall find that you
desire if you take the Quadrant of Altitude, and fasten it to
the Verticall point of the place you are in, and so move it
together with the place of Sunne or Starre up and downe,
untill it fall upon that which you have set downe in your
instrument at your observation. Now in this situation of the
Quadrant, that end of it that toucheth the Horizon will shew
the distance of the Verticall circle in which you have
observed the Sunne or Starre to be from the Meridian. As
for example.
Exemplum. In the Northerne latitude of 51 gr., on the 11th of March
after the old account, at what time the Sunne entreth into
Aries, suppose the Altitude of the Sunne before noone to be
observed to be thirtie gr. above the Horizon. And it is
demanded what is the Azimuth or distance of the Sunne
from the Meridian. First, therefore, having set the Globe to
the latitude of 51 gr., and fastning the Quadrant of Altitude
ClELESTIALL AND TEERESTKIALL GLOBE.
107
to the Zenith, I tume the Globe about till I finde the first
degree of Aries to be 30 gr. above the Horizon. And then the
Quadrant of Altitude being also applied to the same degree
of Aries, will shew upon the Horizon the Azimuth of the
Sunne, or distance of it from the Meridian, to bee about fortie
five degrees.
CHAPTEE IX.
How to finde the houre of the day, as also the Amplitude, of
rising and setting of the Sunne and Starres, for any time
or latitude of place.
The Sunne, we see, doth rise and set at severall seasons
of the yeare, in diverse parts of the Horizon. But among
the rest it hath three more notable places of rising and
setting. The first whereof is in the ^Equator, and this is
called his /Equinoctiall rising and setting. The second is
in the Summer Solstice when he is in the Tropique of Cancer,
and the third is in the Winter Solstice when hee is in the
Tropique of Capricorne. Now the ^Equinoctiall rising of
the Sun is one and the same in every Climate. For the
^Equator alwayes cutteth the Horizon in the same points,
which are alwaies just 90 gr. distant on each side from the
Meridian. But the rest are variable, and change according
to the diverse inclination of the Sphaere, and therefore the
houres are unequall also.
Now if yon desire to know the houre, or distance of time,
betwixt the rising and setting of the Sunne when he is
in either of the Solstices, or in any other intermediate
place, and that for any time or latitude of place, you shall
work thus : First set your Globe to the latitude of your
place, then having found out the place of the Sunne for the
time assigned, place the same to the Meridian, and withall
108
A TREATISE OF THE
you must set the point of the Houre Index at the figure
twelve in the Houre circle. And having thus done, you
must turne about the Globe toward the East part, till the
place of the Sunne touch the Horizon; which done, you
shall have the Amplitude of the Sunnes rising also in the
/Equator, which you must reckon, as we have said, from the
East point or place of intersection betwixt the ^Equator
and Horizon. And then if you but turne the Globe about
to the West side of the Horizon, you shall in like man-
ner have the houre of the setting and Occidentall Ampli-
tude.
And if at the same time, and for the same latitude of
place, you desire to know the houre and Amplitude of rising
and setting, or the greatest elevation of any other Starre
expressed in the Globe, you must turne about the Globe
(the Index remaining still in the same position and situa-
tion of the Index as before) till the said Starre come to the
Horizon, either to the East or West. And so shall you have
plainely the houre and latitude that the Starre riseth and
setteth in, in like manner as you had in the Sunne. And
then if you apply the same to the Meridian, you shall also
have the Meridian Altitude of the same Starre. An ex-
ample of the Suns rising and setting may be this :
Exempium. When the Sunne enters into Taurus (which in our time
happens about the eleventh of Aprill, according to the Julian
account), I desire to know the houre and Amplitude of the
Sunnes rising, for the Northeme latitude of fiftie-one degrees.
Now to finde out this, I set my Globe so that the North
Pole is elevated above the Horizon fiftie-one degrees. Then
I apply the first degree of Taurus to the Meridian, and the
Houre Index to the twelfth houre in the Houre circle. Which
done, I turn about the Globe toward the East till that the
first degree of Taurus touch the Horizon, and then I find
that this point toucheth the Horizon about the twentie-fifth
degree Northward from the East point. Therefore I eon-
CCELESTIALL AND TEKKESTRIALL GLOBE.
109
elude that to bee the Amplitude of the Sonne for that day.
In the meantime the Index strikes upon halfe an houre
after foure ; which I take to be the time of the Sunnes
rising.
CHAPTER X.
Of the threefold rising and setting of Stars.
Besides the ordinary emersion and depression of the
Starres in regard of the Horizon, by reason of the circum-
volution of the Heavens, there is also observed a threefold
rising and setting of the Starres. The first of these is called
in Latine, Ortus Matutinus sivc Cosmicus, the morning or
Cosmicall rising; the second, Vespcrtinus sivc Acronychus,
the Evening or Achronychall; and the last, Hcliachus vel
Solaris, Heliacal or Solar. The Cosmicall or morning rising
of a Starre is when as it riseth above the Horizon together
with the Sunne. And the Cosmicall, or morning setting of a
Starre, is when it setteth at the Opposite part of Heaven
when the Sunne riseth. The Acronychall or Evening rising
of a Starre is when it riseth on the Opposite part when the
Sunne setteth. And the Acronychall setting of a Starre is
when it setteth at the same time with the Sun. The Helia-
cal rising of a Starre (which you may properly call the
emersion of it) is when a Starre that was hid before by the
Sunne beams beginneth now to have recovered itselfe out of
the same and to appeare. And so likewise the setting of
such a Starre (which may also fitly be called the occupa-
tion of the same) is, when the Starre by his own proper
motion overtaketh any Starre, so that by the brightnesse
of his beams it can no more be seene.
Xow, as touching the last of these kinds, many authors are
of opinion that the fixed Stars of the first magnitude do
begin to shew themselves after their emersion out of the
110
A TREATISE OF THE
Sunne beames, when they are as yet in the upper Hemisphere,
and the Sunne is “one downe twelve degrees under the
Horizon. But these of the second magnitude require that
the Sunne is depressed 13 gr., and those of the third require
fourteene, and of the fourth fifteene, of the fifth sixteene, of
the sixth seventeen, and the cloudy and obscure Starres
require eighteene degrees of the Suns depression. But
Ptolomy hath determined nothing at all in this case, and
with all very rightly gives this admonishment, lib. 8, cap. alt.,
Almag., that it is a very hard matter to set downe any deter-
mination thereof. For as he there well noteth, by reason of
the uneqnall disposition of the Air, this distance also of the
Sunne for the Occultation and Emersion of the Starres must
needs be uneqnall. And one thing more we have to increase
our suspition of the incertainty of this received opinion, and
that is that Aritellio requires nineteene degrees of the Suns
depression under the Horizon before the Evening twilight
be ended. Now that the obscure and cloudy Starres should
appeare ever before the twilight be downe I shall very hardly
be persuaded to beleeve. Notwithstanding however the
truth of the matter may be, we will follow the common
opinion.
Now, therefore, if you desire to know at what time of the
yeare any Starre riseth or setteth in the Morning or the
Evening, in any climate whatsoever, you may find it out
thus: First set your Globe to the latitude of the place you
are in, and then apply the Starre yon enquire after to the
Easterne part of the Horizon, and you shall have that degree
of the Eclipticke with which the said Starre rises Cosmic-
ally and setteth Acronychally; and on the opposite side on
the West, the Horizon will shew the degree of the Eclipticke
with which the said Starre riseth Acronychally and setteth
Cosmically. For the Cosmicall rising and Acronychall set-
ting, and so likewise Acronychall rising and Cosmicall
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