called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Capra a Goat and in Arabique Alhaiok or as Scaligâ—… saith Alatod which signifieth a Hee Goat and the two which are in his left head and are the 8th and 9th are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hoedi Kids and in A abique s Alfonsus hath it Saclateni but according to Scaliger Sadateni the â—…inmost aâ—…me This Configuration of these Stars was first observed by Cleostratus Tenedius as Higixus reporteth The 13th Aquila Alhhakkab the Eagle the modern Astronomers call it the flying Vulture in Arabique Altayr but Alfraganus is of a contrary opinion for he calleth the Swan by this name as we have already said they reckon in this Alteâ—…isme 9. Stars besides 6. other unformed which the Emperour Hadrian caused to he call Antinous in memory of Antinous his Minion The 14th is the Dolphin in Arabique Aldelphin and it hath in it 10. Stars The 15th is called in Latine Sagitta or Telum the Arrow or Dart in Arabique Alsoham it is also called Istusc which word Grotius thinkes is derived from the Greek ward 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signisying an arrow It containeth 5. Starrs in all The 16th is Serpentarius the Serpent bearer in Arabique Alhava and Hasalangue It consisteth of 24. Stars and 5. other unformed The first Star of these is called in Arabique Rasalangue PONT There was also discovered a new Starr in the foot of the Serpent bearer Anno. 1605. which might have been reckoned among the Stars of the third magnitude It began first to appeare about October in the yeare aforesaid and about February the yeare following being 1606 it vanished out of fight Kepler wrote a Book of this Star also unto whom you may have recourse for further satisfaction The 17th is Serpens the Serpent in Arabique 〈◊〉 it conâ—…sts of 18. Stars The 18th is Equiculus the little Horse and in Arabique Kasam Alfarâ—… that is in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as 〈◊〉 were the sure part of a Horse cut off it consisteth of 4. obscure Stars The 19th is Pegasus the great Horse in Arabique Aifaroâ—… Alathâ—…m and it Hath in it 10. Stars The Star on the right shoulder which is called Almenkeb and is the third in number is also called Seat Alfras Brâ—…hium equi And that which is in the opening of his month and is numbred the 17th is called in Arabique Enif Alfaras he Note of the Horse The 20th is 〈◊〉 in Arabique Almara Alâ—…sela that is the Chained Woman Alfraganus interpreâ—… it 〈◊〉 quae non est experiâ—… 〈◊〉 a Woman that hath not known a man This Constellation concaineth in it 23. Stars whereof that which is the 12th in number and is in the girdling place is commonly called in Arabique Mâ—…ach or according to Scaliger Mizar and that which is the 5th is called Alamac or rather Almaac which signifieth a socke or buâ—…kin The 21th is the Triangle in Arabique 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 which signifies Tripliciâ—… It consisteth of 4. Stars PONT Among all these constellations in the Northerne Hemisphaere which are in all 21. there are but three Stars onely of the first Magnitude The first of which is that in the left shoulder of Erichthonius or the Waggoner called in Latine Capella The second is the bright Star in the Harpe and the third is Arcturus betwixt the legs of Bootes Now the whole number of Stars in this part of the Heavens reckoning in these also which are of the 2d 3d 4th 5th and 6th magnitude with the obscure and cloudy ones also ariseth to 360. CHAP. VI. Of the Northerne Signes of the Zodiaque THe first is Aries the Ram in Arabique Alhamel this Constellation hath 13. Stars according to Ptolomies account yet Alfraganus reckoneth but 12. besides the other 5 unformed ones that belong unto it The 2d is Taurus the Bull in Arabique Altor or Ataur in the eye of this Constellation there is a very bright Starr called by the Ancient Romans Palilicium and by the Arabians Aldebaram which is to say A very bright Star and also Hain Altor that is the Bulls eye And those five Starrs that are in his forehead and are called in Latine Suculae the Grecians call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because as Theon and Hero Mechanicus conceive they represent the forme of the Latine Y. although perhaps iâ—… is rather because they usually cause raine and stormy weather Thales Milesius said that there were two of these Hyades one in the Northern Hemisphaere and the other in the South Euripides wil have them to be 3. Achaeus 4. Hippias Pherecides 7. Those other 6. or rather 7 Stars that appeare on the backe of the Bull the Greeks call Pletados perhaps from their multitude the Latines Vergiliae the Arabians Atauria quasi Taurinae belonging to the Bull. Nicander and after him Vitruvius and Pliny place these Stars in the taile of the Bull and Hipparchus quite out of the Bull in the left foot of Perseus These Starrs are reported by Pliny and Solius to be never seen at all in the Isle Taprobana but this is rid culous 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 PONT Plinies words in that place do not seeme to carry any such sense simply seeing that he addes the same also of the Bear His words are these in his lib. 6. cap. 22. Where speaking of certain Embassadours that came from the Isle Taprobana to Rome he saith Septentriones Virgilia sque apud noâ—… veluti novo caelo mirabantur They wondered to see the Beare and the seven Stars withus 〈◊〉 if they had bâ—… 〈◊〉 in a new world And â—…tainely if Vap 〈◊〉 bee situated under the very Liâ—…e this then for that very reason we alledged before on the 3. 〈◊〉 par 〈◊〉 of Lerius had been no such strange â—…ter is it had been spoken of the Septentriones only Neither had Pliny written any so absurd â—…on if he had said thus Septentriones 〈◊〉 nos veluti novo â—…lo mirabantur In the meane time I could wish that Authors would 〈◊〉 nothing in their bookes without 〈◊〉 examination although I am not ignorant that it is not strange to find Pliny faâ—…ring 〈◊〉 and then in these kind of things The third is Gemini the Twinns in Arabique Algeuze These some will have to bee Castor and Pollux and others Apâ—… and Herâ—… whence with the Arabians the one is called Apollar for a Aphellaâ—… and the other 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Scaliger 〈◊〉 It containeth in it besides the 7. â—…formed 18 Stars amongst which that which 〈◊〉 their â—…ad is called in Arabique â—…geazr The fourth is Cancer the Crab in Arabique 〈◊〉 consisting of 9. Start beside 4. â—…formed of which that cloudy 〈◊〉 which is in the 〈◊〉 and is the 〈◊〉 of all is called Mâ—…lles in Arabique which as Scaliger faith
For whereas in his lib. 6. cap. 22. having discoursed of the Mâ—…gnitude of the Isle Taprobane which is now thought to be Sumatra and lyeth directly under the line out of Eratosthenes and Megasthenes he presently adds that besides the testimony of the Antients the Romans had better knowledg of the same in the time of the Emâ—…eror Claudiuâ—… there being Embassadors sent from thence to Rome who among other things should relate that with them Gold Silver was in high account and that they had greater wealth then the Romans themselves but yet that the Romans had greater use of riches then they Which words of Pliny with many other there at large set down by him if they be but compared with what himself elsewhere writeth in his 2d book chap. 68. he will be found manifestly to contradict himself For disputing in this place and inquireing how great a part of the earth is inhabited Tres saith he terrae partes abstulisse nobis coelum c. Three parts of the world the Heaveus have robbed us of to wit the Torrid or middle Zone â—…bat is whatsoever lieth betwixt the two Tropiques and the two outmost or Frigid Zones that is to say whatever ground lieth betwixt either Pole and the Arctique and Antarctique circles According to that which the Poët sung of old Quarum quae media est non est habita bilis aestu Nix tegit alta duos In English thus The midst of these is not inhabited Through heat and two with snow are covered For this is that which Pliny meaneth that those two outwardmost are not habitable by reason of extremity of â—…old nor the other through too violent heat But that which is more to be wondred at in so great an Author who not withstanding indifferently took up aswel the common popular fables as the extravagant fixions of the Poëts also is that which he very confidently relates out of Corlius Nepos how that one Eudoxus taking Ship in the Arabian gulf came as farr as the Gades two Isles upon the confines of Spain Which voyage if we should but throughly examine wil be found to be as much 〈◊〉 that all the Fortugals and our Countrymen at this day performe in their Sea voyage to the East Indâ—… when as touching upon the Cape of good hope they twice crosse the line and passe through the whole Torrid Zone Not to speak any thing of that which he writes in his first book twenty third Chapter Namely that there is never a yeare that India doth not suck out of the Romane Empire at the least 500000. Sestercies by sending in such commodities as they sell to the Romanes for an hundred times as much as they are worth in India And that there is yearly Traffique by Shippe through the Red Sea betwixt them and the Romanes who are saine for their safer passage to defend themselves from Pirats by going provided with bands of Archers And here all that can be said in Plinies defence is thaâ—…those things which he relates in this second book were written by him long before the rest which followeh and that at that time these Indian voyages were not so frequently undertaken or the passages so well known unto the Romans especially for that in the bookes following as namely the sixth book 17. and 23. Chapters he saith that the whole course of the voyage from Egypt into India began but then first to be discovered when as he was writing the same and that Seneca having not long before begun a description of India reckoned up therein 60. great rivers and 122. Nations to be contained within the same The principall cause of the habitablenesse and fortility of the parts under the Torrid Zone iâ—… in that the Sun shineth upon them but 12. houres so that the nights beeing alwayes as long as the daies the coldnesse of the one doth very much attemperate the excessive heat of the other In like manner that both the Frigid Zones are habitable is to be attributed to the Sun which in his course through the six Northern signes of the Zodiaque never sets in six months space so those that live under 84 degrees of latitude so that by his continuall preseneâ—… the extream rigidity of the Clime iâ—… mitigated and the cold by this meanes dispelled CHAP. V. Of the Amphiseij Hereroscij and Periscij THe inhabitants of these Zones in respect of the diversity of their noonshadowes are divided into three kinds Amphisâ—…ij Heteroscij and Periscij Those that inhabit betwixt the two Tropiquâ—…s are called Amphiscij because that their noon shadowes are diversly cast sometime toward the South as when the Sun is more Northward then their Verticall point and sometimes toward the North as when the Sun declines Southwaâ—… from their Zenith Those that live betwix the Tropiques and Aâ—…ct que circles are called Heteroscij because the shadowes at noon are cast onely one way and that â—…ither North or South For the Sun never comes farther North then our Summer Tropick nor more Southward then the Winter Tropick So that those that inhabit Northward of the Summer Tropique have their shadowes cast alwayes toward the North as in like manner those that dwell more Southward then the Winter Tropick have their Noon-shadows cast alwaies coward the South Those that inhabit betwixt the Arctique or Antarctique circles and the Poles are called Periscij because that the Gnomons do cast their shadowes circularly and the reason hereos it for that the Sun is carried round about above their Horizon in his whole diurnall Revolution PONT The Heterosciall Zone is therefore two fold either Northern or Southern The Northern is comprehended betwixt the Tropique of Cancer and the Artik circle and â—…s called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Septentrionalis because that in it the Sun beames at noon are alwayes cast to that part only that byoth toward the â—…ole Articks The Southern Hetorosciall Zone containeth all that space of ground that lieth betwixt the Tropique of Capricorn and uâ—…e Antarctique circle And it is callâ—…d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Meridonalis because the Noon shadowes are projeâ—…ed toward the South Pole only The properties of these severall Zones are these that follow First they that inhabit the midst of the Torrid Zone are in a Right Sphaere for with them both the Poles of the world lie in their Horizon and their Zenith or Verticall point falleth in the AEquinoctiall Circle So that their peculiar Accidents are these First All the Sâ—…arres do rise and set in an equall space of time except the Arctique and Antarctique Poles as we have demonstrated out of Lerius in our notes upon the third Chapter Secondly They have a perpetuall AEquinoxe Thirdly They have the Sun verticall unto them twice in a yeare namely when hee entered into ♈ and ♎ Fourthly In the Suns periodicall motion through the Zodiaque look how much he goeth Southward from their Zenith in his returne hee declines as farr northward srom the same Fiâ—…thly They have
and that the Sphaere of the fixed Starrs was gone backe into the sacceeding parts And he did not perswadâ—… himselfe onely to this but even Ptolomy also and Ptolomy all that came after him so great is the power of Prejudicate Authority And he also rectified the Globe and made the taile of the little Bear to be distant from the Pole twelve gr twenty four min. choosing rather to believe it to be so then to consult with the Starrs to see whether it were so indeed or no. Which thing I cannot sufficiently wonder at in him seeing that not only in his time but also two hunared and eighteen yeares before him the taile of the lesser Bear was no farther from the Pole of the world then it is at this day as Eudoxus observed Which I have most plainly demonstrated in my book of the Praecession of the AEquinoctiall poinâ—… Besides Eratosthenes also who wrote one hundred twenty eight years after Fudoxus affirmed the same of the same Starre and so did those that wrote in Augustus his time If therefore two hundred and eighteen years before Hipparchus time that Starre was where it is now how then can that position of Hipparchus stand who placed it 12. gr 24 min. of the Pole of the world For if the Sphaere of the fixed Starres laid more backward into the succeeding parts as hee would have it and that in his time the Taile of the Cynosure was 12. gr 24. min. distant from the Pole it necessarily follows that in Eudoxus time it must have been farther distant from the Pole by 13. or 14. gr For this is the proportion of degrees required for that motion But it was then no farther distant then it is at this day and therefore Hipparchus hath abused both himselfe and all that have come after him And indeed I my selfe have made a collection out of him of all the risings and settings of the Starres which no man shall ever be able to understand except he first make such a Globe wherein the taile of the Cynosure shall be 12. gr 24. min. distant from the Pole which thing when I imparted to that great Astronomer Tycho Brahe he was amused and wondred very much at the novelty and strangeness of the thing and indeed not without cause For I did not speak a word to him of the construction of Hipparchus his Globe and the distance of the Cynosure from the Pole of it And therefore we plainly see that for as much as this Star keeps the same distance from the Pole at this day that it did 1967. years since there is no motion at all of the eighth Sphaere into the succeding parts but of the AEquinoctiall points into the precedent For of the motion there is no doubt at all to be made for at this time the AEquinoxe falleth before the first Star in Aries above 28. gr which notwithstanding in Eudoxus his time happened at the very Star But now whether the Star hath left the Sun behind it or the Sun the Star is the principall matter in question For it must be that one of them must stand still and the other move but wee have already shewed that the Starrs are immoveable and therefore the Sun and AEquinoctiall points are movable And indeed they have manifestly gone forward since Eudox's time 28. degrees This Copernicus that great Scholar and second Ptolomy of our age perceived when he spake these words Vos putatis c. You think saith he that the eighth Sphaere moveth into the consequent parts but consider whether the AEquinoctiall points do not rather move forward Whence it appears that this never suffioiently commended man concluded that there was a praecession of the AEquinoctiall points and not a motion of the eighth Sphaere into the subsâ—…quent paerts For one of these being granted the other must necessarily bee taken away for if the eighth Sphaere doth not move backward the AEquinoctiall points must necessarily move forward And therefore herein Copernicus conjectured aright But hee omitted the chiefest matter of all either because perhaps hee perceived it not or else despaired of ever being able to demonstrate it For seeing that the AEquinoctiall points are Moveable it must needs follow that a greater Circle described by the same must bee Moveable also by the twenty Sphaeric Element And if the Circle bee Moveable the Pole must also be Moveable And therefore the Pole of the AEquinoctiall is not the same with the Pole of the world for this is Immoveable but the other Moveable for so consequently all the greater Circles passing through these Poles which are the Meridians are also Moveable So that Sunne-Dialls and all Sciotericall instruments that are placed upon a Meridian Line after some certain tearm of years must necessarily be defective because the line it selfe is removed from its former situation Of which variablenesse wee have obse ved notable arguments in monuments of Antiquity These things it did concern Copernicus either to have seene or demonstrated who was the first man that ever rejected that fabulous and ridiculousmotionof the eighth Sphaere and withall proposed this opinion of the Praecession of the AEquinoctiall points who had hee but seen seen those things which we have observed historically out of the writings of the Ancient Astronomers so great was the ingenuity of the man that he would have instantly consented and demonstrated the matter Mathematically which certainly is no hard matter to do For is there any man so void of all reason and judgement as having granted the AEquinoctiall points to bee Moveable to deny that a great Circle described by the same must necessarily be moveable also and if so that the Poles are also Moveable and again this 〈◊〉 granted that the Meridians are so too He that shall deny this I cannot see what it hath profited bim to have studied the Mathematicks But you will object that the Meridians are not changed because they pass through the Poles of the world which are Immutable But then you have forgotten our Hypothesis which is that the Poles of the AEquinoctiall are not the same with the Poles of the world For these are immutable but those other Mutable And therefore wee see the necessity of this Argument and withal that these things being so we are yet very farre to seek in many things necessary for the situation and construction of the Sphaere For by this reckoning it followeth necessarily that the AEquinoctiall Circle should not bee described directly Parallel to the Pole of the world and many other things of this nature which might hence bee concluded I might willingly omit because I speak to a Mathematician who might better teach in these things Wherefore I think I may boldly say that none can be so impudent as to deny these things which are so manifest as that we can prove them not only Historically but also Apodictically by certain demonstrations And it behoves you to see and examine more narrowly whatsoever hath been written by Mathematicians concerning this
matter For there is now no place left of deny all but rather to see how these things may be better demonstrated and this done the construction and position of the Sphaere corrected But I do not speak this to the common sort of Astrologers who never have read any thing but the Theories of the Planets and never so much as saw any of the ancient Writers unto whom although they should perhaps have recourse they could not understand Now as concerning the motion of Trepidation it is long since exploded and for Copernicus his motion of Libration which is also a very vain conceit and I shall speak more of it here and shew whence this so idle a dream should possesse so worthy a man for it differeth not much from that imposture of Trepidation And as the truth hath at length got place and removed that fabulous motion of Trepidation so we doubt not but necessity will at the last send after it this motion of the eighth Sphaere also This therefore is the summe of our answer that we desire that the skillfull Artists would consider whether the knowledge of the variation of the Magneticall Needle may be illustrated by those things which we have delivered concerning the Mutability of the Meridians That there is no motion of the eighth Sphaere into the consequent parts That we are the first that have demonstrated the same And that from thence must necessarily follow the praecession of of the AEquinoctiall points And this being granted that then the AEquinoctiall points AEquinoctia Circles and their Poles and Meridians passing through them are also movable and their Poles also different from the Poles of the world And that the situation of Sun Dialls doth vary after sâ—…me tearm of years and that we are the first that observed the History of this not able piece of Antiquity which also may be demonstrated out of the Mathematicks This is my opinion which I will ever defend But do you consider better of it and in the mean time Farewell Lug. Bat. 16. Kal. Mai. An. 1604. And this is Scaliger's Epistle in which whereas he speaketh of three Books of the Magnet written by W. Gilbert it seems to be a slip of his memory for the same Author wrote not three but sixe Books de Magnete which were Printed at London by Peter Short Anno 1600. the fourth and sifth books whereof do especially handle the doctrine of the variation of the Compass And whereas he addeth that himselfe had plainly demonstrated in a certain book of his that the Tail of the Cynosure had the same situation anciently that it bath at this day he meaneth that book which beareth title Diatriba de AEquinoctiorum Anticipatione and was printed at Paris Anno 1613. Which Book I understand since that Johannes Maginus a Paduan and professor of the Mathematicks in Bononia hath undertaken to confute as appears by the Catalogue of Books in the year 1617. where there is mention made of the same confutation printed at Rome by Andrew 〈◊〉 and at Colen by Anthony Hierat in quarto In which book the Author takes upon him to impugne certain new Tenets concerning the Polar Star and the mutation of the AEquinoctiall points and immobility of the fixed Starrs with divers Astronomicall matters which the title promiseth notwithstanding it hath not yet been my good hap though I have made very diligent enquiry to meet with any of these books CHAP. XVI How to make a Sun Diall by the Globe for any Latitude of place WE do not here promise the whole Art of Dialling as being a matter too prolixe to be handled in this place and not so properly concerning our present business in hand And therefore it shall suffice us to have touched lightly and as it were pointed out onely some few grounds of this Art being such as may very easily be understood by the use of the Globe And here in this place we shal shew you only 2 the most common sorts of Dials one whereof is called an Horizontall Diall because it is described on a plain or flat which is Parallel to the Horizon and the other is called a Murall as being erected for the most part on a wall perpendicular to the Horizon and looking directly either toward the North or South But both these may not unfitly be called Horizontal not in respect of the same place indeed but of diverse And therefore whether it be a Flat Horizontall or Erect or else inclining any way there will be but one kind of artifice in making of the same Let us therefore now see in what manner a plain Horizontall Diall may be made for any place Having therefore first prepared your flat Diall Ground Parallel to the Horizon draw a Meridian on it as exactly North and South as possibly you can Which done draw another East and West which must cross it at right angles The first of which lines will shew twelve and the other six of the Clock both morning and evening Then making a Center in the intersection of these two Lines describe a circle on your Dial Ground to what distance you please and then divide it as all other circles usually are into 360. parts And it wil not be amiss to subdivide each of these into lesser parts if it may conveniently bee done And now it onely remains to finde out the distances of the hour lines in this circle for any latitude of place Which that we may do by the use of the Globe let it first bee set to the latitude of the place assigned And then make choice of some of the greater circles in the Globe that pass through the Poles of the world as for example the AEquinoctiall Colure if you please and apply the same to the Meridian in which situation it sheweth midday or twelve of the Clock Then turning about the Globe toward the West if you will till that fifteen degrees of the AEquator have passed through the Meridian you must mark the degree of the Horizon that the same Colure crosseth in the Horizon For that point will shew the distance of the first and eleventh hours from the Meridian Both of which are distant an hours space from the Meridian or line of midday Then turning again the Globe forward till other fifteen degrees are past the Meridian the same Colure wil point out the distance of the tenth hour which is two hours before Noon and of the second hour after noon And in the same manner you may find out the distances of all the rest in the Horizon allotting to each of them fifteen degrees in the AEquator crossing the Meridian But here you must take notice by the way that the beginning of this account of the distances must be taken from that part of the Horizon on which the Pole is elevated to wit from the North part of the Horizon if the Arcticke Pole be elevate and so likewise from the South part if the Antarctick be elevated These distances of the hours
up their opinions in writing and Arbitrators forthwith have been called about it Oâ—… which number it was my chance to bee chosen fâ—… one there being indeed amongst them many excellent both Mathematicians and 〈◊〉 But those that professed the Mathematicks were altogether unexperienced in Nauticall affaires anâ—… the Navigators were as ignorant of Astronomâ—…call Besides these Authors of whom wee were 〈◊〉 passe our judgments performed nothing worth 〈◊〉 great expectation Neither hath that Englishman who wrote a Book three yeares since of the Magnet produced anything answereable to thâ—… great opinion was raised of it I my selfe havâ—… often proposed to these Mathematicians that professe in this place a thing which it seemes can never sinke into their heads insomuch that they entertained it with scorne and laughter Hipparchus was the first that brought in that merry conceit of the eight sphaeres moveing toward thâ—… East and so perswaded Ptolomy that the fixâ—…d Stars in the eighth sphaere moved all in the same order situation and distance from each other toward the East Which Ptolomy so confirmed that it had been a hainous matter for posterity to have doubted of the same And first of all within the memory of our Fathers Nicolaus Copernicus that great restorer of Astronomy perceived the weaknesse of this conceit of Hipparchus and withall observed that the eight Sphaere did not move toward the East but that the AEquinoctiall points went forward inâ—…o the precedent Signes and this he calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But this observation of his hee onely nakedly proposed without any demonstration at all But I have observed that the Starrs have not as Hipparchus and Ptolomy dreame gone on to the subsequent parts and that the Cynosure or Polar Star was at the same distanoe from Pole in Eudoxus his time as it is at this day For proof of which assertion I have collected many instances which being granted the procession of the AEquinoctiall point must necessarily follow For one of these two must needes be granted to wit either of the motion of the eighth Sphaere toward the east or else the progresse of the AEquinoctiall points into the precedent Signes Now that the first is not to be admitted appeares manifestly because that the fixed Starrs have not 〈◊〉 all â—…hanged their situation in respect of the Polâ—… since Eudoxus his time Therefore the other must needs be granted The AEquinoctiall points therefore have gone forward to the antâ—…cedent Signes Which proposition notwithstanding the great Copernicus had no way to demonstrate 〈◊〉 out of the Phaenomena by which that other motion might as well bee defended as â—…his Wee therefore now have this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But what is it Even nothing else bâ—… the motion of the AEquinoctiall points into the precedent Signes Now if the AEquinoctiall points beâ—… moveable and the AEquinoctiall Câ—…cle bâ—…e deâ—…cribed by these points the AEquinoctiall Circle â—…hen must needs be moveable also which is as true as truth it selfe And if the AEquinoctiall circle be moveable his Pole must be moveable also and so the Poles of the AEquinoctiall must be divers from the Poles of the world for the Pole of the World is immoveable but this moveable Besides all the Meridian circles do passe through the Poles of the AEquinoctiall and in the superficies of stone Dialls the Meridian line which is drawn for the placing of the Sun Diall is understood to passe through the Poles of the AEquinoctiall which is confest by all men and is most true But because the Poles of the AEquinoctiall are moveable the Meridian line that passeth through the same must bee moveable also And therefore it necessarily followeth that after some certain number of yeares there wil be no further use of these Meridian lines in the designing of the hours in Dialls but a new Meridian line must be taken and the situation of the Diall altered though not the Diall it self We may therefore conclude that the Sun Dialls after some certain time will prove false unlesse the Meridian line be rectified This is demonstrated of the very principles of the Mathematitcks But besides this we have some notable instances out of the Ancients which do manefestly evince that after some tearm of yeares Sun Dialls doe not agree to their first designations all which I have diligently collected These things thus demonstrated I proposed them to these Mathematicians that because the whole businesses of the Magneticall Needle had dependance upon these Meridians they would consider whether or no this doctrine by me first proposed might open the way to the matter in hand c. Thus far Scaliger Let us now heare Tycho Inaequalitatis inquit circa motum c. That the reason saith he of the inaequality observed in the motion of the fixed Starrs or as Copernicus calls it the Anticipation of the AEquinoctiall points which is a very subtile and ingenious speculation of his owne that so he might reconcile and maintain the inventions of all that went before him that this conceit I say doth not constare sibi these 70. yeares obseruations of the Starr called Spica Virginis since his first observing the same doe manifestly prove For in this space of time the reciprocation of the AEquinoctiall points or promotion of the Starrs is swifter by much then he conceiued it would have been So that whereas now they ought to have finished but one degree in an hundred years space or thereabout they finished the same in 70. the quantity of the yeares being not so slow as hee imagined it to be as appeares plainly by that wee have delivered in the former Chapter For these two things do mutually cohere together in Copernicus that when the quantity of the yeare is greatest the motion of tho fixed Starrs should then bee slowest But these things the accurate observatâ—… ons of these present yeares doe manifestly elude for as much as they doe not answer his periodicall restitutions Thus these two great lights of our times Tycho and Scaliger to whom wee may adde the opinion of our Country-man Dr. Gilbert who in his 6th book de Magnete will have the praecession of the AEquinoctiall points to depend upon the Magneticall motâ—…n of the Poles of the Earth And this is that English-man as far as I can gather whom Scaliger mentions in his fore-cited Epistle Vnto whom I refer you for satisfaction in this point in his lib. 6. cap. 8. The first Star of Aries which in the time of Meton the Athenian was in the very Vernall Intersection in the time 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 Albumasars time 17. dâ—…grees 50. minutes in Albarenius his time 18. degrees 10 minutes in Arzachels time 19. degrees 37. minutes in Alphonsus his time 23. degreeâ—… 48. minutes in Copernicus and Rhoeticus his time 27. degrees 21. minutes Whence Franciscus Baroccius is convinced of
as is already shewed as 11 to 2. The Cube therefore of the Sun is 11. and the Cube of the Earth 2. Now these Diameters being multiplied cubically and thae greater Cube divided by the lesse the difference of their severaell Globes will appear For if you multiply 11. by 11. there ariseth 121. which number being multiplyed again by 11. the whole will be 1331. So likewise multiply 2. cubically that is to say by it selfe and there riseth 4. which being again multiplied by 2 ariseth to 8. Now divide the greater Cube 1331. by 8. and the product will be 166. which is the difference of the Globes of the Sun and the Earth And thus much may suffice us to have spoken of the Planets and if any desire a more copious Narration of the same they may have recourse to Ptolomy Copernicus and others that have written the Theories of the Planets For a more large description of these things seams not â—…o stand without purpose especially for that by reason of their Erraticall motion they cannot be expressed in a Globe Let thus much therefore be spokn of them as by the way only CHAP. II. Of the fixed Starrs and their Constellations ANd here in the next place we intend to speak of the Fixed Starrs and their Asterismes or Constellations which Pliny calls Signa and Sidera signes Concerning the number of which Constellations as also of their figure names and number of the Starrs they consist of there is diversity of opinion among Authors For Pliny in his 2d book 41. chap. reckoneth the whole number of the signes to be 72. But Ptolomy Alfraganus and those which follow them acknowledge but 48. for the most part notwithstanding some have added to this number one or two more as Berenices Haire and Antinous Germanicus Coesar and Festus Avienus Rufus following Aratus make the number lesse Julius Higinus will have them to be but 42. reckoneing the Serpent and The man that holdeth it for one signe and he omitteth the little Horse and doth not number Libra among the signes but he divideth Scorpio into two signes as many others also doe Neither doth he reckon the Crow the Wolf nor the South Crown among his Constellations but onely names them by the way The Bull also which was described to appear but half by Hipparchus and Ptolomy and those that follow them the same is made to be wholy apparant both by Vitruvius and Pliny and also before them by Nicander if we may believe Theon Aratus his Scholiast who also place the Pleiades in his back Concerning the number also of the Starrs that goe to the making up of each Constellation Authors do uery much differ from Ptolomy as namely Julius Higinus the Commentator upon Germanicus whether it bee Bassus as Philander calles him or whether those Commentaries were written by Germanicus himself as some desire to prove out of Lactantius and sometimes also Theon in his Commentaries upon Aratus and Alfraganus very often Now if you desire to know what other reason there is why these Constellations have been called by these names save onely that the position of the Starrs 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 Hipparchus was the man that first delivered to posterity the Names Magnitude and Places of the Stars But they were called by the same names before Hipparchus his time by Timochares Aratus and Eudoxus Neither is Hipparchus ancienter then Aratus as Theon would have him to be For the one flourished about the 420. yeare from the beginning of the Olympiads as appeareth plainly out of his life written by a Greek Author But Hipparchus lived above 600. yearâ—…s after the beginning of the Olympiads as his observations delivered unto us by Ptolomy doe sufficiently testifie Besides that there are extant certain Commentaries upon the Phaenomena of Eudoxus and Arratus which goe under Hipparchus his name unlesse perhaps they were written by Eratosthenes as some rather think who yet was before Hipparchus PONT That which is written of Hipparchus is not to be understood any further then touching the distinction of the Starrs of the first second and third magnitude For so Servius in his Commentaries upon the 1. lib. Geogr Hipparchus inquit scripâ—…it de signis c. Hipparchus saith he wrote of the Signes and reckoned up how many bright Stars how many of the second degree of light and how many obscure Stars there were in each constellation For otherwise that the Stars were known by the same names 1000 yeares before Hipparchtus may be proved cut of Seneca who in his 7. lib. Natural Quest. chap 25 saith thus Nondum sunt anâ—…i c. It is not saith hee 1500. yeares yet since Greece first began to number the Starrs and to give them certain Appellations Now Seneca we know was put to death by the command of Nero in the 65. yeare after Christ And Hipparchus lived not above 283. yeares before Christ in the time of Ptolomies Philadelphus And Job also whom Philo Judaeus reporteth to have married 〈◊〉 Jacob's daughter mentioneth these names Arcturus Pleiades and Orion if wee may trust St. Hierom's translation in this case cap. 9. verse 9. Who maketh saith he Arcturus Orion and Pleiades and the Starrs in the remoâ—…st parts of the South So likewise the Prophet Am 〈◊〉 chap 5 vers 8. Quaerite inquiet opificem Pleiadum Orionis c. Seeke ye him that made the Pleiades and Orion c. Now it is probable that there were two kinds of men that reduced the Starrs into constellations and these might probably be Husbandmen and Mariners The Husbandmen perhaps might make these to wit the Ram the Bull the Eâ—…e of Corne in the Virgins hand the young Kids the Goat the Waggoner the little Goat the Waggon all which are names used also by Homer Of the Mariners the Pleiades the Hyades the Whale and the like names seem to have been invented according to that of Virgil in the first of his Georgickes Navâ—…ta tuâ—… Stellis numeros nomina fecit 〈◊〉 des Hyades clarumque Lycaonis Astâ—…m Which is thus translated into English Verse by T. May. The Sailers number then and nam'd 〈◊〉 Star The Pleiads Hyads and the Northern Carre And now to whom do those other new Constellations above the Antartick Pole we their now so well known names but to the Portugals Hollander and English Sea-faring men Neither are those men at all to be regarded that condemne these usual names of the Starrs and Constellations as unfit to be used by Christian men For seeing they are now used without the least shew of superstirion and that there is very great necessity of these Appellations in as much as without them there could be no agreement or accord in these Arts and cience for these very names are used
were a Libation powring it upon their heads which done they are forthwith expiated and accounted free of the place But whereas Junius would have the word Col to be only corrupted from Columna I much doubt whether he will have any more of his opinion But of this place as also of all this Northern tract of land I shall have a more convenient opportunity to speak elsewhere Africa is divided from Asia according to Dionysius and Mela by the River Nilus and a Meridian drawn through it to the AEthiopian Ocean But Ptolomy would rather have its limets on this part to be the Arabian gulfe which he not so rightly calleth the Red Sea and a Meridian which should bee drawn from thence to the Mediterranean Sea over that neck of Land which lyeth betwixt the two Seâ—…s and which joyneth AEgypt to the Continent of Arabia and Iudaea Neither doth he think it congruous that AEgypt should be divided into two parts one whereof should be reckoned to Africke and the other to Asia which must needs be if the River Nilus be set for the bounds of the same Neither doth Strabo conceive this to by any whit improper since that the length of this Isthmus which divideth the two Seas is not above 1000. furlongs And hee seemeth to have said very rightly that it is not above a 10â—…0 furlongs For however Posidonius reckoneth it to bee very near 1500. furlongs yet Pliny would have it to be no more then 115. miles that is to say 920. forlongs And Strabo also reckoneth the distance betwixt Pelusium and the Heroes City which is situated close by the highest part of the Arabian Gulf to be but 900. Furlongs But if we will give any credit to Plutarch at the narrowest â—…art of the Isthmus the two Seas wil be found to be distant not above 300. furlongs And that when Anthony was overthrown by Augustus in a Sea fight and all his forces cleanâ—… broken Cleopatra seeking to avoid the servitude of the Romans went about to transport her Navie this way over the firme Land that â—…o she might find some new place of habitation as farr remote from the Romans as she might as it is reported by the same Author in the life of Anthony But what should move Copernicus In his first Book 3. Cap. to say that these two Seas are scarcely 15. furlongs distant I cannot conjecture unlesse I should think the place to bee corrupted through the negligence of the Transcribers or Printers And yet I could wish that this though it be a very great one were all the erours that were to bee found in the writings of that most excellent man This Isthmus as Eratosthenes conceived was anciently covered all over with waters til such time as the Altantick Ocean had intercourse with the Mediterranean and some of the old Grammarianâ—… Scoliasts on Homer doe affirm as Strabo testifieth that it was this way that Menelans in Homer sailed to the AEthiopians I wil therefore here set down some few things which may seem to make for the confirmation of this relation whether you will call it an History or rather a Fable or Conjecture of Eratâ—…sthenes First therefore that Egypt if not all of it yet atleast that part of it which is situated beneath Delta and is called Egyptus Inferior the lower Egypt and is accounted to be the guift of Nilus or rather the Sea was made by the aggestion and gathering together of mud and sand was the conjecture of Herodotus long before Strabo In like manner that the Island Pharos which in Plinies time was joyned to Alexandria by a bridg as himself testifieth lib. 5. cap. 31. and therefore for this reason may seem to have been called a Peninsula by Strabo was ancienâ—…ly distant from Egypt a whole day and nights saile is reâ—…orted both by Pliny and Solinus out of Homer And this is the reason as Strabo conjectures that Homer whereas hâ—…e maâ—…es often mention of Thebes in Egypt yet speakes not oâ—…e word of Memphis and that either because at that time it was a very smal place or else perhaps was not as yet in being the land being in Homers time covered all over with water where Memphis was afterward built And this seemes also to be confirmed by the great depression and lownesse of tho intermediate shore betwixt the two Stars which is so great that when Sesostris fiâ—…st had an intent of cutting a channell betwixt the two Seas as was afterward intended also by Darius and lastly by Ptolomy they were all forced for this reason to desist from their enterprise And indeed Strabo reports that himself saw the Egyptian shore in his time all overflowed beyond the Mountaine Casius Besides the great retireing of the waters at an ebbe as well in the Arabian gulf as in the Persian seeme somewhat to confirme this conjecture of Eratosthenes For the tides withdrew themselves so far back in the Arabian gulfe that Julius Scaliger makes mention of some Cavillers that for this very reason went about to derogate from the miracu lous passage of the Children of Israel for the space of above 600. miles through the red Sea as if they had watched their time when the tide gave way and that when it returned again the Egyptians were overtaken therewith and all drowned PONT This Sea is alwaies rendered by the Septuagint Erythraeum and by St. Hâ—…erom Rubrum but the Hebrew text it self undersâ—…ding this gulfe of the Sea which is called also by Ptolomy Sinus Arabicus calleth it Mare Suph which is as much as to say Mare algosum seu caricosum because it bringeth sorth great store of Alga and Sea weeds Which is observed also by Pliny lib. 13. cap. 25. where he saith Naseuntur in maâ—…i frutices c. There are also bred shrubs in the Sea and in our Sea little trees also For the Red Sea and all the Eastern Ocean is full of trees For no other Language hath a proper word to expresse that which the Greeks call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because that Alga is more usually taken for the name of an hearb but in this place it signisieth a shrub Thus Pliny You may also see Strabo lib. 16. That place which the Author citâ—…th out of Scaligeâ—… is in his 35. Exercitation against Cardan And I thinke it not a misse to heare him speakeing in his owne words that so it may appeare what his judgement is of that which is objected by those Cavillers His words are these In plaga Indica secnndùm Gangis at que Indâ—… fauces magnus est aestus c. About the coast of India saith hee where the Rivers Ganges and Indus disburthen themselves into the Sea there are very high tides So likewise in the Red Sea they are so great as that the contemners of Holy Writers have impiously forged that Moses when he led the Israelites out of AEgypt took the opportunity of the Waters retireing after the Tide Which notwithstanding could not possibly be because
it decreaseth till you are past the Cape of good hope where they will have it to lye in the just situation of the true Meridian neare to a certain river which for this cause is called by the Portugalls Rio de las Agulias And all this deviation is towad the East All this wee have had certain proofe and experience of and that by as accurate observations as those instruments which are used in Navigation would afford and the same examined and caculated according to the doctrine of Sphaericall Triangles So that we have just cause to suspect the truth of many of these traditions which are commonly delivered concerning the deflection of the Needle And namely whereas they report that under that Meridian which passeth through the Azores it exactly respects the true Meridian and that about the Sea coasts of Brasilia the North point of the Needle declineth toward the West as some affirm wee have found this to be false And whereas they report that at New-found land it declineth toward the West above 22 degrees we very much suspect the truth hereof because that this seems not at all to agree with the observatiō we have made concerning the variation about 11. degrees near upon the coasts of America of the truth of which I am so confident as of nothing more It therefore appeares to be an idle fancy of theirs who look to find some certai◠point which the Needle should alwayes respect and that either on the earth as namely some certain Magneticall mountains not far distant from the Arcticke Pole or else in the Heavens as namely the tail of the little Bear as Cardan thought or else that it is situate in that very Meridian that passeth through the Azores and about sixteene degrees and an halfe beyond the North Pole as Mercator would have it And therefore there it no heed to be taken to them neither who conceive that there might be some certain way found out of calculating the longitudes of places by means of this deflection of the Needle which I could wish they were able to performe and indeed it might bee done were there any certaine point that it should alwayes respect But to leave this discourse let us now see how the quantity of this declination of the Needle may bee found out by the use of the Globe for any place of known latitude And first you must provide you of some instrument by which you may observe the distance of the Suns Azimuth from the situation of a Needle Our Mariners commonly use a Nautical Compasse which is divided into three hundred sixtie degrees having a thread placed crosse-wise over the center of the Instrument to cast the shadows of the Sun upon the center of the same This Instrument is called by our Mariners the Compasse of variation and this seemeth to bee a very convenient Instrument for the same use But yet I could wish that it were made with some more care and accuratenesse then commonly it is With this or the like instrument you must observe the distance of the Suns Azimuth for any time or place from the projection of the Magnetical Needle Now we have before shewed how to find out how much the verticall circle of the Sun is distant from the Meridian And the difference that there is betwixt the distance of the Sun from the true Meridian and from the situation of the Needle is the variation of the Compasse Besides we have already shewed how the Amplitude of the rising and setting of the Sun may be found If therefore by the help of this or the like instrument it be observed as we have said how many degrees the Sun riseth or setteth from those points in the Compass that answer to the East or West you shal in like manner have the deviation of the Needle from the true Meridian if it have any at all PONT At the end of this Chapter I think it not amisse to set down that which Joseph Scaliger sometime upon occasion offered wrote unto David Rivaldus concerning the declination of the Magneticall Needle from the true Meridian This Epistle of his is extant among those Epistles that were set forth at Paris with some other of his workes Anno 1610. Aad because that there is something in the same that concerns the controversie of the Praecession of the AEquinoctiall points I will set down very near the whole Epistle and thus it is Literas tuas cum maxima voluptate c. Your Letters I have receceived and with very great satisfaction and delight wherein I perceived two things chiefely to bee insisted upon which were the Declination of the Magneticall Needle and the Precession of the AEquinoctiall points In my former Letters I made mention indeed of the same but with an intention rather to discover the opinion of others then to proclaim mine own For I onely made a bare proposall of the matter and no dogmaticall Position that so i◅ the said declination bee to bee examined by the Meridians add the Meridians according to my Hypothesis be moveable that then our Astronomers and Navigators should see whether or no there might not some cause and reason of this so manifest disagreement bee discovered out of this Essay of mine For I would not have proposed it onely had I been certainly assured of it but would rather have endeavoured to make it appear by demonstration Whether therefore that be the cause of it which I desire should be searched for out of my Hypothesis or whether it be some other it shall be all one to me But the investigation of the Meridians is not sufficient for this matter For wee must first dispute concerning the nature of the Magnet whether or no it be the property of it always to respect the North point and if so yet seeing that it declines from the tearm proposed so many degrees we are next to enquire whence this Uariation proceeds which certainly can be assigned to no other thing then to the Meridians But that wee may not urge this question any farther we must consult with those Authors that have written of the Magnet and especially with William Gilbert of Colchester a Philosopher and Practitioner of Physick in London who about three yeares since put forth three large bookes of the same subject wherein hee hath discovered to me his own learning rather then the nature of the Magnet For now I am more in doubt then before The other part of your Letter is concerning the Praecession of the AEquinoctiall points It was observed first of all by Hypparchus out of the observations of the fixed Starres of Aristarchus Saminus Conon and Timocharcis that the AEquinoctiall points were gone gone forward into the precedent parts because that hee had found that the four points AEquinoctiall and Solsticiall were farther off from the Starres assigned for the same then they were in the time of those Astronomers Which when hee saw bee doubted not forthwith to affirme that the AEquinostiall points were immoveable