those under the seventh which is subject to the Moon passeth through Germany the Low Countries and England which said Planets have their Operations or Influences on the Inhabitants dwelling under each of the said Climes So that although the glorious and eternal Luminaries of Heaven have an efficacious operation yet notwithstanding the Disposition of the Earth hath a far greater prevalency seeing that through the various scituation of Hills and Vallies we experimentally find more great and different effects of the Celestial Rays which are also contemporated by the Rivers and Lakes This can be denied by no man that Nature is admirable in her Works sometimes as it were on set purpose deluding the curiosity of Humane wisdom by receding from the ordinary Laws of Causes Who can render a sufficient reason of that which is testified by Mariners concerning the Region of Maliapur in which is seated Calicut an exceeding high Mountains topping the Clouds dividing this Province throughout and ending in a Promontory which is now called Comorium which although it hath the same Altitude of the Pole yet when the Winter rageth and the Waters swell on the one side on the other side the Fields and Towns are schorched with excessive heat and the Sea calm Wherefore this diversity which is discovered in the Climates the scituation of Provinces Contemporation of the Air and Elements do variously discriminate the Constitutions of Men and those Constitutions their Natures for the manners of the Mind follow the temperament and disposition of the Body The Septentrional or Northern People being remote from the Sun and by consequence inhabiting in cold Countries are Sanguine Robust full of Valour and Animosity hence they have alwaies been Victorious and predominant over the Meridional or Southern Nations as the ASSYRIANS over the CHALDEANS the MEDES over the ASSYRIANS the PARTHIANS over the GRECIANS the TVRKS over the ARABIANS the GOTHS over the GERMANS the ROMANS over the AFRICANS and the ENGLISH over the FRENCH They love Freedom and Liberty as those also do which are Mountaineers as the Helvetians Grissons and Cantabrians The Nations proximate to the Sun have their Blood wholly exsiccated by immoderate Heat hence the Inhabitants of those Places are melancholy and profound in the penetrating of the secrets of Nature For all the Northern Nations receive the Mysteries of the Sciences from the AEGYPTIANS and ARABIANS The Provinces which are immediately between both Torrid Zones enjoy a a Benign Heaven so that they Florish in Religion Justice and Prudence The Mutations of Governments the Transmigration and Emission of Colonies Converse Matrimony War and Peace also the Motions of the Celestial Spheres which drive from the Poles and the Zodiack of the Primum Mobile the Heavenly Images on these Inferiour Bodies do change and alter the Habits Manners and also Nature it self If we have recourse unto History we shall find the GERMANS noted of old for lofty Minds and the ITALIANS on the contrary too abject and low which difference now cannot be discerned Nations have Swayed and been Predominate by turns and as long as the Monarchy hath had duration amongst them Vertue hath flourished Arts and Arms have gone hand in hand which afterwards with the Ruine of the Empire hath been smother'd in its Ashes and received Vivification in another place yet notwithstanding these Obstacles every Nation hath certain Propensions and fixed Affections appropriate to every one which will adhere to Forrainers if that they long remain amongst them The Intelligent Reader who desireth a Knowledge in these and other Particulars with a throughout Prospect of the Vtility of COSMOGRAPHY and GEOGRAPHY may consult the Work it self RICHARD BLOME The Contents of the SECTIONS and CHAPTERS GENERAL GEOGRAPHY which may be divided into III. Parts 1. The Absolute Part divided into Five Sections The first Section of things to be foreknown Chap. 1. Of the Precognita's Pag. 1 Ch. 2. Things necessary to Geometry and Trigonometry p. 6 The Second Section explaineth the Affections of the whole Earth Chap. 3. Of the Figure of the Earth p. 11 Chap. 4. Of the Dimension and Magnitude of the same 15 Chap. 5. Of the Motion of the same p. 23 Chap. 6. Of its Place in the System of the World p. 27 Chap. 7. Of its Substance and Constitution p. 30 The Third Section in which the Constitution and Parts of the Earth are explained Chap. 8. Of the division of the Earth by Waters p. 35 Chap. 9. Of Mountains in general p. 40 Chap. 10. Of the difference of Mountains p. 46 Chap. 11. Of Woods Deserts and Mines p. 54 The Fourth Section of Hydrography in which the Waters and their Properties are explained Chap. 12. Of the division of the Ocean throughout the Earth p. 57 Chap. 13. Of the Ocean and its Parts p. 65 Chap. 14. Of the Motions of the Sea especially of the flux and reflux p. 83 Chap. 15. Of Lakes Pools and Marishes p. 102 Chap. 16. Of Rivers p. 108 Chap. 17. Of Mineral Waters Baths Spaws c. p. 130 Chap. 18. Of the mutation of Dry places into Watery and the contrary p. 142 The fifth Section of the Atmosphere and Wind Chap. 19. Of the Atmosphere and Air p. 154 Chap. 20. Of the Winds in general p. 179 Chap. 21. Of the differences of Winds and of them in particular p. 187 2. The Respective Part â—xplaining the Celestial Affections Chap. 22. Of the Celestial Affections in general p. 2â—3 Ch. 23. Of the Latitude of a Place and the Elevation of the Pole p. 207 Chap. 24. Of the division of the Earth into Zones p. 213 Chap. 25. Of the Longitude of the Days and division of the Earth into Climates p. 220 Chap. 26. Of the Light Heat Cold Rains with other Properties of the Zones according to the Season of the Year p. 231 Chap. 27. Of Shadows and the division of the Inhabitants in respect of the Shadow p. 259 Chap. 28. Of the Comparation of the Celestial Affections in divers places where is treated concerning the Antoeci Perioeci and Antipodes p. 269 Chap. 29. Of the diversity of Time in divers Places p. 275 Chap. 30. Of the divers Rising of the Sun and Moon and of the other Appearances p. 280 3. The Comparative Part considering the Affections which do arise from the comparing of one place to another Chap. 31. Of the Longitude of Places p. 291 Chap. 32. Of the Scituation of Places one to another p. 309 Chap. 33. Of the mutual distances of Places p. 335 Chap. 34. Of the visible Horizon p. 342 Chap. 35. Of the Art of Navigation in general and of the Building of Ships p. 344 Chap. 36. Of the Lading or Ballacing of Ships p. 345 Chap. 37. Of the Directory of the Nautick Art in the first part the knowâ—edge of the Distance p. 347 Chap. 38. Thâ—â—â—â—ond part the knowledge of the Quarters p. 348 Chap. 39. The third part of Histiodromia or the Course of a Ship p. 353 Chap. 40. The fourth part of the
about the Meridian because in this position they are nearer to the Earth almost by one semidiameter of the Earth The same Argument is valid as touching the Sun also for his Diameter is not found greater in the Meridian than when he is yet on the Horizon But the Diameter of the Moon is observed to be a little greater in the Meridian than when as yet she is on the Horizon Therefore in the Meridian it is somewhat nigher to us to wit almost one Semidiameter of the Earth CHAP. VII Concerning the substance and constitution of the Earth WE have in the foregoing Chapters considered the qualities or properties of the Earth no regard being taken of its substance or being But now these being declared it is fitting we consider this also that we may know what kind of body the Earth is and how its parts cohere together the which although it may rather rather seem natural yet because it is requisite for the perfect knowledge of the Earth we will here handle briefly leaving the accurate consideration thereof to the Natural Philosopher Proposition I. To declare of what simple and similar Bodies the Earth may consist or be compounded of Of the four Elements of the Earth There are divers opinions of Philosophers concerning this matter The Peripateticks number four Elements of the Earth and the whole sublunary World being now sufficiently known to the very Vulgar Fire Air Water and Earth Many of the Ancients as Democritus and Leucippus determined that the whole World consisted of very little solid pieces which differ only in their various figures shapes and magnitude and them many of the later Philosophers do follow and of late Cartesius endeavoured by such an hypothesis to declare all natural appearances The three Principles of the Earth by Chymists Chymists make three Principles Sal Sulphur and Mercury to whom some do rightly add Caput mortuum or the Dead head when as they three are fruitful But to me doubtful terms and words being laid aside and the things themselves well considered there seem to be five simple Bodies the first Principles of all things By Others Five simple bodies the first principles of all things to wit Water Oyl or Sulphur Salt Earth and a certain Spirit which the Chymists call Mercury For indeed all Bodies and the parts of the Earth are resolved into those five Elementary substances Notwithstanding I deny not that those differ not so much in essence as in the singular variety of their shapes and magnitudes Therefore the whole Earth consisteth of these simple Bodies which are divers ways commixed from whence ariseth so great variety of Bodies which do appear different from one another and similar or Bodies of like parts But the more exquisite declaration of these points belong to Natural Philosophy which I shall have occasion to treat of more at large in the first Volume of my Book of the Arts and Sciences now ready for the Press Proposition II. The Earth is divided into dry and moist parts or into Earth and Water to which some joyn the Atmosphere This is the vulgar division of Geographers and then the Water is taken in a large signification for all that is liquid or moist and fluid and running as the Land is taken for the whole dry and consistent part of the Earth Of the Land and its various bodies of Nature and thereby doth embrace and comprehend such various bodies of Nature to wit First Sand Loam Clay and Mineral Earths Chalk Cinnaber Ochre Terra sigiâ—lata or Saracens Earth Earth of Samos Bole-Armoniack with divers other kinds of Earth Secondly Stones of various sorts the chief among which are Diamonds Emeralds Rubies Saphirs c. Thirdly Mettals among which are Gold Silver Copper Tin Lead Mercury or Quicksilver Iron Steel c. Fourthly Brimstone Salts Niter Alom Bitumen Vitriol Antimony c. Fifthly Herbs Plants c. Of the Water and its parts To the Water are referred first the Seas secondly Rivers and sweet Waters thirdly Lakes and Fens or Marshes fourthly Mineral Waters as hot Baths sowr Waters c. Of the Atmosphere which encompasses the Earth The Atmosphere is that thin and subtile Body which girts and encompasses the Earth towards Heaven and contains the Air Clouds showers of Rain c. Therefore into these three Parts the Earth is fitly divided Proposition III. To expound how the Earth and Waters cleave or hold together and make the Land The Earth not bounded with one Superficies but hath hollow Cavities 1. The Land that is the dry part of the Earth is not bounded with one and that even superficies or surface but she hath many hollow Caves many parts lifted up aloft In her Cavities caves or hollows which are here and there found round about the whole Earth the Sea or Ocean is contained and therefore part of the Earthly superficies is covered with Waters Those hollows or cavities are not made of an even hollowness but have here and there Rocks and elevated parts and elsewhere they have Gulphs and swallows sunk very deep So the part of the Earth appearing out above the Waters hath certain as it were Navels in its middle and some parts are more or less raised up or sunk down than others So it cometh to pass that the Water environing the whole Earth is hindred that it overwhelms not the whole Earth but the higher parts and such as appear above the Waters are Islands of which some are great and some small Mouths holes Pipes other conveyances in the body of the Earth 2. Besides that continual Channel in the Earth in the outward superficies within also in the solid body of the Earth there are innumerable Mouths holes swallows windings conveyances deeps pipes and huge vast Receivers in some of which there is the Sea which by that secret conveyance are joyned to the Channel of the common Sea in some again there is Sweet Waters Rivers Streams In some spirits or else a sulphury and smoking substance Seneca saith rightly He gives too much way to his eye-sight who believeth not that there are in the hidden and secret bosom of the Earth Bays of a vast Sea Neither do I perceive what may hinder that there may not be some Sea-shore and the Sea received by hidden passages There is therefore no cause of doubting of there being many hollows in the very solid Earth For verily we conjecture at it by these means First by the Rivers which are found in many places where Earth is digged even to a notable depth which is frequent in Mines Secondly in some places the profundity of the Sea is beyond all sounding or measure Thirdly there are some Caves in the Earth In the Western part of Hispaniola is a Mountain of a great height being hollow within with many Caves in which Rivers of Waters are thrown down headlong with so great sound and rushing noise of streams that the very fall of those Waters may be heard
or Heaven which the Meridian line being found is easie to do by the Mariners Compass or the Magnetick Needle The Globe being thus placed at every moment of the day when the Sun shineth on the Globe may be seen the part of the Earth illuminated and the part not illuminated Those places which lie in the middle Semicircle of the part illuminated are those which will have the Meridies at that moment of time To those which are seated in the Oriental Semicircle dividing the illuminated part from the part not illuminated the Sun setteth but to those which are in the Occidental Semicircle separating the illuminated part from the part not illuminated the Sun riseth To find out the place of the Sun in the Ecliptick let the Needle or Spherical Gromon be moved hither and thither perpendicularly about the middle of the part illuminated until it maketh no shadow and let the point in the Globe be noted 〈◊〉 for this being brought to the Meridian here will shew the declination of the Ecliptick point in which the Sun is at the time of the Observation whence according to the condition of the time to wit Spring Summer Autumn or Winter the place of the Sun shall be known and thence the day of the year Also the place in the Globe unto which the Needle being affixed gave no shadow is that to which the Sun is vertical at that moment of time and the Parallel passing through this place will exhibit all the places in which the Sun will be vertical on that day Moreover to find the hour of the place in which the Globe is so placed or hung let that place be brought to the Meridian to which the Sun is vertical the Index to the 12th hour of the horary Circle and let the Globe be turned round until our place or that in which the Globe is seated do come to the Meridian the Index will shew the hour But because the Globe cannot be turned round when it is affixed by the Iron Style to the Horizontal plain therefore it will be convenient that the Quadrant be tied to the Pole or part of the Circle of the Periphery 113 â— â— for here the Arch being brought to the place of the Needle will shew the declination of the Sun from the Aequator whence the place of the Sun and the day of the year shall be found The same Arch will shew the degree in the Aequator from whence if that the degrees be numbred to the Brazen Meridian and these degrees be changed into hours or parts of hours Fifteen Degrees make an Hour you shall have the hour of the place If so be that the Sun be between the Occident and the Brazen Meridian that is of our place but if that it be between the East and our Meridian the hour found out must be subtracted from 12 and the remaining number will shew the hours from Midnight If that such a Brazen Arch be adjoyned to the Pole of the Globe as I have described 113 ½ degrees it may be bored through from the end even to 47 degrees that is from the departure of the Sun from the Aequator and a turning Plate be inserted in it which may bear the perpendicular Style and so there will neither be need of a Needle or of a Spherical Gnomon and the operation will be less obnoxious to errour Proposition II. The Terrestrial Globe being â—o placed as in the former Proposition is declared it will also shew when the Moon shineth to what People at any moment of time in which it is above our Horizon it is conspicuous to whom it ariseth to whom it setteth and to whom it is vertical These are all manifest from the preceding Proposition See Proposit 1. Proposition III. By how much the places of the Earth are remote from the Parallel of the Sun on any day by so much the Sun is elevated to a lesser Altitude in the same hours above their Horizon Let the places in the same Meridian be taken in the Globe for these do reckon all the same hours and that at once then let a Parallel be described for any assumed day and it will be manifest that any point of this Parallel is farther distant from the more remote places than from the places more near The Sun therefore being above the points of this Parallel will be farther distant from the Vertex of the remoter places than from the Vertex of those that are nearer and therefore he shall be less elevated over the Horizon of those places than of these Proposition IV. By how much the places of the Earth are more remote from the Aequator or more near the Pole by so much the more the parts of the Horizon are distant in which the Sun riseth on the day of the Solstice and the day of the Winter as also those in which he setteth The same is true concerning the Moon and all the Planets Take what places you please of a diverse distance from the Aequator and let the Pole be elevated for the Latitude of every one of them and let the points be noted in the Horizon in which the Tropicks of Capricorn and Cancer cut it A comparison being made the truth of the Proposition will appear this is also shewed the same way by how much the places are more remote from the Aequator by so much the more the Sun in his Aequinoctial rising is distant in the East on every day of the year The Astronomers term it the rising Amplitude Proposition V. Stars placed between the Parallel of any place lying without the Aequator and the Pole are less elevated above the Horizon of the places between this Parallel and the other Pole of those scituated there than above the Horizon of the places scituated between this Parallel and the nearer Pole Of the elevation of Stars c. The Parallel of any Star may be designed on the Terrestrial Globe or a point only noted for a Star and any place more remote from the Pole being assumed designeth the Parallel of the place Then taking another place scituated towards the other Pole the stay of the Star above the Horizon of both places may be found and the truth of the Proposition will be manifest Proposition VI. In places scituate in and near the Aequator the Sun and Stars directly ascend above the Horizon even to the Meridian and so descend again but in places scituated above the Aequator they obliquely ascend and descend and so much the more obliquely by how much the place is more remote from the Aequator Of the ascension and descension of the Sun and Stars Let any Parallel of the Sun be described on the Globe such as some already are delineated on the Globe viz. the Aequator the Tropicks and some Intermedial ones then let the Poles be placed in the very Horizon that it may be the Horizon of the places of the Aequator and it will be evident that the points of the
a b c d the distance from the Verticles b g be observed by a Quadrant Let at Alexandria in the day of the Solstice 21 of June g f or G F be observed 1 50 of the Periphery or 7 degrees 12 minutes but in Syene let there be no distance the Sun hangeth perpendicularly over their heads therefore B G shall be the Arch intercepted between those two places And because the distance put is 5000 Stadiums therefore according to the Golden Rule it shall be as 7 degrees 12 parts to one degree or as 1 50 to 1 360 or as 5 to 36 so 5000 to 694 4 9 Stadiums which are requisite for one degree or as 1 50 is to 50 or as 1 to 50 so 5000 to 250000 Stadiums of the whole Periphery A B C D according to this measure Yet seeing there are divers ways to take the Meridian Altitude of the Sun and the distance from the Vertical point g b Eratosthenes wrought it by a hollow Spherical Scioterick or Sundial which they called Scaphe where the Style B x sheweth the Vertex o x z but the Radius or beam of the Sun terminaitng the shadow of the Style or Pin marks out B z how much the distance of the Sun o b from the Vertex 7 degrees 12 firsts at Alexandria But in the City Syene the Style G x makes no shadow that day because o the Sun hangeth perpendicularly over it and therefore there is no distance of the Sun then because therefore the Angle B x z is equal to the Angle b x o whose measure is B o or B z there B o is equal to B z 7 degrees 12 first minutes or 1 50 of the Periphery The other things are performed as it hath been said The third manner of Posidonius Posidonius's manner used about the magnitude c. of the Earth Let two places B G be under the same Meridian Posidonius took B Rhodes and G the City Alexandria in Egypt let the Altitude of some Star in these two places when it cometh into the Meridian above the Horizon and that in the same day or in divers days which matters not at all Posidonius took the shining Star Canobus which is of the first magnitude in Argonavi See Scheme but this Star did not rise above the Horizon of Rhodes h H S but did only touch the Horizon in S yet it was elevated above the Horizon of Alexandria F R t in the Arch t S 1 48 part of the whole Periphery or 7 degrees 30 minutes Therefore the distance of the Arch T s that is B G shall be 7 degrees 30 minutes unto 1 degree or as 1 48 part unto 1 360 that is as 1 to 48 so 5000 to 240000 Stadiums of the whole Perimeter of the Earth according to these Hypotheses of Posidonius The fourth manner or way of Snellius Snellius's way about the dimension and magnitude of the Earth Because in the former ways we have taken two places B G lying under the same Meridian and yet the places fit for this business may lye under divers Meridians therefore we thought it requisite that an example and that of Snellius should be also concerning this case here proposed Let therefore A B C D be the Meridian of Alcmaria B Alcmaria it self the Elevation of the Pole h a 52 degrees 40 ½ minutes the distance from the Pole B A 37 degrees 19 minutes 30 seconds See Scheme Let the other place be P Bergenapsome the Meridian A P V V the distance from the Pole that is the Complement of the Elevation 51 degrees 29 minutes A P is 38 degrees 31 minutes therefore P G a Perpendicular Line being drawn to A B G the difference of the distances from the Pole is B G 71 minutes 30 seconds or 1 degree 11 minutes 30 seconds Moreover Snellius by a laborious Geodesie or Earth-meeting found the distance of Alcmaria from Bergen B P to be 34710 Rhindlandish Perches and the Angle of Position P B G to be 11 degrees 26 minutes 2 seconds Therefore in the Triangle strait angled P B G the Hypotenuse B P and the Angle B P G is given therefore by the Problem of the second Chapter B G is found 34018 for which Snellius takes 33930 for he detracts 88 Perches from the Stations of the Elevations of the Pole But the Arch B G 71 ½ scruples is the difference of the Elevation of the Pole therefore as 71 ½ minutes is to 1 degree or 60 minutes so is 33930 or 34018 to 28473 Perches for one degree or according to the round number 28500 or 19 Holland miles They which understand Spherical Trigonometry from the given A B A P the Angle A B P may find the Arch B P to be 1 degree 14 minutes which when they are equal with 34710 Perches 1 degree shall be equal to the Perches or of 18 miles and ⅘ But the cause that this number differeth from that of Snellius is first that Snellius did not take the very points of the Towers B P by which he obtained the Angle G B P for the knowing the Elevations of the Pole but he took the places a little distant from them See Snellius in page 197. Notwithstanding no man can doubt but the same may be found to be the Altitude of the Pole The other cause is that he taketh the Lines B G B P P G as strait which nevertheless are not strait although this discord may seem to make little or no difference of any moment But let Snellius his quantity of a degree of 28500 Perches be taken mine of 28300 Perches his makes 19 147 150 miles mine 18 ⅘ miles the Perimeter or Circuit according to Snellius shall be 10260000 Perches 123120000 feet or 8640 Holland miles The fifth manner being the first Terrestrial way of measuring the Earth The first Terrestrial way for the finding out the magnitude c. of the Earth The three following manners or ways are Terrestrial performing the work without the Heaven or Meridian Line Let B P be the Altitude of the Tower this is to be sought out in a Land-measuring way then let P s be the distance of the most remote term from whence the Tower may be seen And although P s be not a strait Line yet because it is the least part of the Periphery of the whole Earth therefore it is taken for a strait line and the Triangle strait angled B P s in which by the given B P P s the Angle B s P is found to whom B R s is equal whose measure is the Arch S P. Therefore as this Arch is to one degree so P s the found distance See Scheme is to the quantity of one degree As for Example let B P the Altitude be 480 Paces and let the distance P s of the point s which endeth the Sight be 40000 Paces or 10 German miles therefore let it be wrought according to the Problem of the second Chapter As
either more thick or subtle than the former they are refracted where they have entered at this other Medium or deflect from a strait direct course to the sides The Explication is easie from a Vulgar Experiment Let any Vessel be taken and let a ball of Gold or Copper or Gold money be affixed to the bottom then depart back from the Vessel by reason of the obstacle of the sides of the Vessel you can no longer see the Money at the bottom Then pour water into the Vessel which being done you shall see again in the former distance the Money at the bottom From hence it followeth that seeing no Ray could directly come from the Money to the eye by reason of the interposition of the sides of the Vessel and yet afterwards the water being infused the Rays arrived at the eye It followeth I say from hence that the Rays proceeding from the Money where they enter into the Air from the water do deflect or are refracted from the direct way and being so refracted they arrive at the eye It is called refraction by reason that for this cause an Oar being partly in the water doth appear refracted or broken See Scheme So let the Center of the Earth be T L the eye in the superficies let d r f p be the superficies of the Atmosphere or Air. Therefore no ray can directly arrive at the eye L because it is beneath L f g for other inferiour rays would fall in on the tumor of the Earth L o. Wherefore no Star can appear in a direct ray until it come to the Horizontal line L f g And the Stars appear before viz. whilst that they are yet beneath L g for Example in S and yet from S to the eye L no ray can directly come because that it should first fall on L o. Therefore of necessity the ray which cometh from the Star S to the eye L is not a direct but a refracted ray viz. L f which refracted ray is propogated from the incident ray S f to wit S f falling from the Aether on the more thick Medium viz. the Atmosphere in f is refracted and becometh f L when that it was direct in n And so the Star appeareth before that it could truly appear by a direct ray that is before that it arriveth at the Horizontal line L f g. So a Star being in S is not seen by the direct ray S L but by the refract r L whose incident ray is s r and direct r m and therefore the Star S appeareth higher by reason of refraction than it is and in another place it appeareth high in the Arch x g or in the Angle r l g as if it were in x when indeed it is in s For this is the nature of refractions that the rays falling from a more rarified medium on a more thick as from the Aether upon the Air they become refracted or decline towards the perpendicular drawn through the point of incidency or falling into the superficies of the incidency or medium For Example the ray S f falleth in from the Aether on the Air f is the point of the incidency T f the perpendicular drawn through f to the superficies d r f p therefore the ray S f n shall be refracted f T that of f n may be made f L. So of r m is made r L but the contrary is when that the rays proceed from the water to the Air for then they more recede from the perpendicular line drawn Lastly this also is the nature of refractions that the rays falling in perpendicularly on the superficies of another medium are not refracted but only those that fall obliquely and not perpendicularly and by so much they are the more refracted by how much they fall in the less perpendicularly or by how much the more they depart from the perpendicular So the rays S T f T H d T are not refracted because that they are perpendicular on the superficies d r f p but the rays S f S r are refracted because that they fall obliquely and indeed S f more than S r. From whence it followeth which Experience also testifieth that by how much the Stars are more near the Horizon by so much the more they refract their rays by how much the higher by so much the less And Astronomers have observed that the refraction is insensible where the Star hath attained the altitude of 20 degrees not that there is no refraction but that it is very small And for many Examples the skilful in the Opticks and later Mathematicians have derived the Rule of refraction of all Rays falling in obliquely viz. that in every medium there is one constant account between the sign of the Angle falling in and the sign of the Angle refracted to wit the Angle n f T is termed the Angle of incidency L f T the Angle refracted n f L the Angle of refraction and so in the refraction of the ray s r m. Therefore as the sign of the Angle T f n is to the sign of the Angle T f L the same is the reason of the sign of the Angle T r m to the sign of the Angle T r L. Thence it followeth that if from observation we have the quantity of refraction to the elevation of one Ray we may thence know the quantity of the refraction of all others howsoever elevated Proposition XXII The Atmosphere or Air causeth the Sun or the rest of the Stars to be seen before that they arise in the Horizon also to appear for some small space of time after that they have set also that they appear higher than they are and in another place of the Heavens as long as that they are no higher than 20 degrees The Air causeth the Sun and Stars to be seen before they arise in the Horizon We have sufficiently explained the Cause in the precedent Proposition only we shall add some Experiences or Natural Phaenomenons When that the Dutch wintered in Nova Zembla the Sun appeared to them sooner by sixteen days than it was in the Horizon that is when that it was as yet depressed beneath the Horizon about four degrees and that in a serene Air. And famous Astronomers have found it out with Tycho Brahe that in our places the Morning-sky or Air being serene we may behold the Sun elevated above the Horizon 34 minutes when that as yet he is wholy under the Horizon yet so that his limbus or skirt doth enlighten the Horizon And the Sun seemeth to arise when that as yet he is depressed about 34 minutes beneath the Horizon to wit the Air of the place where we are being serene So the Spica Virginis a bright Star seemeth to rise to us when that yet he is depressed 32 minutes beneath the Horizon which is thence collected because is seemeth to arise when the Cauda Leonis is 34 degrees 30 minutes high and in the same quarter in which this Star of the
Sun Theorem The Meridian of every place passeth through both the Poles of the Earth The Meridians are drawn through every ten degrees of the Aequator which are the Meridians of all those places through which they pass But instead of the Meridians of all other places that doth supply the place which is made of Brass and in which the Globe doth hang. For Instance If that any place in the Superficies of the Globe be brought unto the Brazen Meridian that shall be the Meridian of the place In Maps of Strait lines the Meridians are Strait lines drawn from the top or uppermost part unto the bottom In Maps of Crooked lines they are those Crooked lines which joyn in the Pole The Norizou Fightly The Horizon of any place in the Superficies of the Earth is the greatest imaginary Circle in the Heavens which terminateth the visible part of the Heaven in that place It is also termed the Rational Horizon that it may be distinguished from the Visible Horizon which is improperly so called It hath no place in the Artificial Globe but a Wooden Circle in which the Globe is sustained with its Brazen Meridian and serveth instead of the Horizon of any place as shall be shewed in the next Chapter and therefore it is termed the Wooden Horizon and simply the Horizon These are the Definitions whose knowledge is necessary for the attaining the following Doctrine besides which it behoveth us to borrow from Astronomy the mode of the Motion of the Sun and Stars The Motion of the Sun Moon and Stars The first and common Motion is that by which the Sun Moon and all the Stars seem to be carried round about the Earth to arise to us to make the Meridian and to set and that in the space of twenty four hours Every one of the Stars and the Sun every day by this their common Motion seem to deseribe Parallel Circles unto the Aequator because that this motion is performed upon the Axis of the Earth and the Poles of the same and therefore the Aequator is the greatest Circle of this Motion and the Rule and Square by which we measure the Motion of the other Parallels In every hour they pass fifteen degrees through the Meridian both of the Aequator and every other Parallel for 360 degrees divided by 24 the hours gives unto every hour fifteen and therefore one hour and fifteen degrees of the Aequator make an equal proportion The Horary Circle sheweth the hours which Circle being affixed unto the Artificial Globe is seen in the Brazen Meridian where the Pin or Hand adhereth to the extremity of the Axis of the Earth and it is turned about in the Horary Circle to shew the hours The second motion of the Sun Secondly The proper and second Motion of the Sun which is also Annual is that in which the Sun or rather the Earth is moved from West to East or contrary to its first motion The time or number of the days in which the Sun returneth unto the same point from whence it departed or in which it performeth its whole Period or Circle is termed a Year Now such a Year is 361 days and one fourth part of a day or thereabouts The Way of this second Solary motion is termed the Ecliptick as we have said before which is divided into twelve parts which are called Signs For Astronomers have observed these Constellations of the Heaven through which this Way of the Sun doth lye and from these Constellations denominated the twelve parts of the Ecliptick And because that all Constellations represent the forms of Animals therefore the Ancients termed that Way or Ecliptick The Zodiack Zone or Girdle in the Weaven the Zodiack Yet those which spake more distinctly call the Zodiack a Zone or Girdle in the Heaven whose middle is the very Ecliptick it self or Path of the Sun but the extream parts from both sides of the Ecliptick are distant from it eight degrees by reason that the rest of the Planets have a certain peculiar motion from East to West In which motion they do not describe the Ecliptick it self but paths declining somewhat from the Ecliptick which declination by reason that it exceedeth not 8 degrees therefore they do attribute 16 degrees of Latitude unto the Zodiack viz. Eight from both parts of the Ecliptick so that the Zodiack is that space of the Heaven in which the Planets are always moving neither do they ever move out of it and the Ecliptick is the middle Line of the Zodiack which the Sun passeth through by an Annual motion in which it always keeps its fixed course Moreover the Signs or Constellations of the Heaven through which the Ecliptick and the Zodiack passeth are these March 21.   The Signs of the Zodiack ♈ ♉ ♊ Aries Taurus Gemini June 21.   ♋ ♌ ♠Cancer Leo Virgo September 21.   ♎ ♠♠Libra Scorpius Sagitarius December 21.   ♑ ♒ ♓ Capricorn Aquarius Pisces Moreover the Ecliptick obliquely cutteth the Aequator Ecliptick so that its greatest distance is twenty three degrees and about thirty minutes Where therefore the Ecliptick cutteth the Aequator which he doth in two points in one of these is placed the beginning of the Ecliptick and also the beginning of the accounting of the Sigus In those points the Sun then being in causeth the equality of the days and nights in all places as also the beginning of the Vernal and Autumnal quarters We begin to number from that point in which the Sun makes the beginning of the Spring to us that is we being scituate from the Aequator towards the Pole Artick the first Sign or first twelfth part of the Ecliptick is termed Aries the second Taurus the third Gemini and so forth as aforesaid because about twenty Ages past those Signs of the Heaven were in these very parts of the Ecliptick Every one of these twelve Signs are divided into thirty Degrees for the whole Ecliptick hath three hundred and sixty Degrees which being divided by 12 makes 30. Moreover seeing that the Sun passeth over the whole Ecliptick that is 360 Degrees in 365 days and one fourth part of a day hence we collect that in every day he passeth 59 Minutes and 8 Seconds which is something less than a Degree The Motion of the Sun Now as the Sun in a years time or 12 Months runneth over the whole Ecliptick or 12 Signs of the Zodiack so also in every Month he passeth about one Sign but his entrance into the Sign is not at the beginning of the Months but on the 21th day of every Month and this is according to the Gregorian Kalender and on the 11th day of every Month according to the old Julian Account viz. on the 21th of March he entreth the Sign of Aries or the very Section of the Ecliptick with the Aequator then on the 21th of April he entreth Taurus and so on Now
distance from the place assumed the Spring when he goeth from a point of moderate distance towards the very Vertex of the Pole or to the point of the Ecliptick which is Vertical to the place or to the Parallel of the place the Summer where the Sun goeth from this other point of middle distance to a point of greatest distance that is the first degree of Capricorn or Cancer 2. In the places of the Aequator it self the Sun no day of the year remaineth above the Horizon more or less hours than twelve and so many beneath the Horizon In other places of the Torrid Zone one hour or an hour and an half at the most viz. in the extream places of this Zone about the Tropicks of Cancer and Capricorn when the day is at the longest the Sun remaineth above the Horizon twelve hours and in the shortest day about eleven hours and in the intermedial days that time of the stay of the Sum above and beneath the Horizon doth not much differ from twelve hours And therefore this is the cause that the nights are not without cold and the heat of the day continueth not long about the eveningtide 3. In the night time the Sun is profoundly depressed beneath the Horizon for that he illustrateth the Air with none of his rayes nay not reflex This is the cause that most dark nights are there and the cold of the night is augmented the Air is condensed and contracteth it self and being cold it descends towards the earth by its own ponderosity Moreover in a very short time about the space of half an hour before the rising of the Sun and after his setting those places have the light and heat of the Twilight 4 The Moon almost after the same manner as the Sun ascends directly from the Horizon towards the Meridian of those places yet a little more obliquely because it departeth from the Ecliptick and therefore towards the Torrid Zone about five degrees and it remaineth after the same manner as the Sun a little above twelve hours above the Horizon and is depressed beneath it almost so many hours and that profoundly as we have spoken of the Sun Therefore with her direct rayes or those near to the perpendicular she will augment the warmness of the night especially when she is Vertical to any place and diminish it by her recess but by reason of her short stay above the Horizon the effect of it is little discerned in any place except when it is Vertical to it 5. All the Stars arise and set in places nigh the Aequator but those Stars which are near the Pole in places more remote from the Aequator do not arise and those are but very few and therefore they can cause little heat and light and that also insensible in the Air. 6. In many places of the Torrid Zone as in India and its Isles in the Tongue of Africa and in Mexico the earth is Sulphureous which sendeth forth more calid vapours whence it communicateth a certain heat to the Air and a peculiar property In some places it is sandy as in the North part of Africa lying in the Torrid Zone in part of Lybia and the Land of the Negroes in many places of Arabia in Peru and in the places between Peru and Brazilia whence in these places a very great heat is raised by the Sun because the particles of the Sand do very long retain the heat received from the Sun and soon communicate the same to the vicine Air. In other places the Rivers are many and in those Sandy ones few there are many in Abyssine in Guiney Congo India and in Brazilia hence humid vapours are raised which do very much blunt the force of the Suns rayes and render his heat more tolerable 7. The most places of the Torrid Zone have the Sea adjacent as India and its Isles the Tongue of Africa Guiney Brazilia Peru Mexico some places of the Torrid Zone are Mediterranean as the more inward Africa the Regions between Peru and Brazilia whence it cometh to pass that in those places the heat and drought is greater and in some or most of them the Air is more moist and less fervent then can be caused by the Sun except other causes happen 8. Most of the Regions of the Torrid Zone seeing that they are almost encompassed by the Sea have in the middle places more or lesser ridges of exceeding high Mountains as India and its Isles the Tongue of Africa and Peru These rows of Mountains do very much vary the light heat and rayes of those places somewhere they hinder the Oriental rayes of the Sun otherwhere the Occidental Moreover the humid vapours condensed in the Air are moved to the Vertices of these Mountains as we have shewed in the twentieth Chapter whence rains and clouds proceed by which the heat and light of the Sun is very much obstructed and the Celestial cause of the Seasons is disturbed There are few of the places of the Torrid Zone which want those ridges as the inward Africa Mexico and the like 9. The effects of the Winds in the Torrid Zone are various and notable for a general wind blowing from the side Plagas of the East or from the East continually towards the West refrigerateth the Maritim places which regard the East as Brazilia the Oriental Coast of Africa but not so to those towards the West as Guiney Congo Angola and the Coasts of Peru. Some winds are appropriated as the South in Peru which winds dispel vapours towards the Plaga in which they blow Some are fixed winds of which we have largely treated in the one and twentieth Chapter Now these winds do very much disturb the Celestial cause of the Seasons for they are almost as equally constant and observe order as the motions of the Heaven it self They bring down the Air compel the vapours towards the tops of the Mountains and by other Modes alter the Seasons Ten Anniversary rains are in many places of the Torrid Zone and take away the Celestial cause seeing that they are as equally constant as the motion of the Sun it self For those err who suppose that this our Sublunary Orb observeth all with inconstancy and without order and that the Celestial only have a constant motion Seeing that the causes hitherto spoken of are so various to be able to cause the heat and the properties of the Seasons and in one place some are from other causes in another others are of force or concur in divers Seasons of the year or mutually impede one another hence we discover why the cause and condition of the Seasons of the Torrid Zone is so various Proposition XI How the Spring Summer Autumn and Winter Terrestrial do behave themselves and in what Months of the year they commence in the divers places of the Torrid Zone Of the beginning of the Seasons in places in the Torrid Zone We have said before and especially in the second Proposition that
the Brazilians in the months of October and February and striketh the Earth with reflex raies at most acute Angles Which diversity of these Regions promiseth the Inhabitants perpetual health by reason of the often calms and the Air quelling all noxious heats Hence it is easy to dollect that the seasons of the year do not so much depend immediately on the Sun and his motion as on the species of the Winds the diversity of aspects of the Stars the quality and peculiar scituation of the Region Moreover in these Mediterranean Regions towards the West the nights are more cold than in the Maritim so much some times that the Frost seizeth on the very hairs of the Peoples In the same months from the East about the Ocean is Summer and Siccity No Islands are opposite to Brazilia from the West beyond the ridges of the Mountains and the Marshes of Brazilia is the Winter Fogs and Rain Oftentimes the Heavens may be seen covered with vast Clouds from the East towards the West but those again very thin except in the days of the Rain the Sun both rising and setting may be beheld with fixed eyes for there is a wonderful serenity on every side especially towards the evening which never afordeth any Vapours or Clouds to the succeeding Moon but renders the night so clear that the old and new Moon may be seen in one and the same day and letters may be well read it the quarter Moon The Aether in respect of the diversity of the Planets other inseriour causes acceding receiveth its distemperature for the Heaven about evening is bright with Lightning without Thunder in the most dry and serene season The drops of Rain are very great and fall with great violence which is wont to be preceeded by a suffocative warmness The Dew here is more fruitful than that of Europe being impregnated with much Winter and therefore is more penetrating and thin especially in Summer which is manifest in all Mettals and in Iron especially which it easily eateth up without the assistance of any Clouds The Meadows and open Fields do less wax green in the Summer but more especially in the Pluvial months although the Earth then seemed somewhat more sad to the Inhabitants and the places unfit for Tillage afford Pasture See Piso All the Lands of Brazilia arise into moderate and pleasant Hills there are no Mountains of any great hight in the Coasts but yet some are discovered afar off in the Solitudes among the barren hills yet not every where but with some intervals of Miles the Valleys are interposed every one irrigated with some small Rivers and for that reason are not only fertil in the pluvial months but also in those of the Summer The Hills in the Summer months are steril by reason of the heat of the Sun so that they wither and Grass doth not only die on them but sometimes the Trees also It very seldom raineth throughout the whole day and night and for some continual days very seldom without intermission the Pluvial months do a little differ In the year 1640. as Marriners have observed there were 7 Pluvial months viz February March April May June July and August But most and almost continually from April May and June In the year 1642. the most Pluvial months six viz. March April May June July and August But the account of the other years was not much different Now these observations are to be taken only for one place and not for all the places in Brazilia Hence it is manifest that the Summer and Winter of Brazilia answereth to the Celestial account seeing that in the greatest distance of the Sun they have Rain and in the least and moderate towards the South they have heat Yet there are not a few irregularities the cause of which are to be sought from the scituation of the Winds and Earth The six rainy months are May June July August September and October 18. This is enough for the Southern America in the Northern it is otherwise For in the Province of Nicaragua it raineth for six months and the other six months it is Summer and dry weather so that passengers may travel in the night This now is contrary to the Celestial course for in the wet months for in May June and so on to November the Sun is vertical or near the Vertex unto these places so that then they should have Summer and Siccity and not Rain In November and December it is very distant therefore they should there have Rain Thus have we declared the Seasons of the chief places of the whole Torrid Zone from which being compared one with another we collect 1. That in some places the cold is scarse sensible in some part of the year and therefore the Winter is rather to be defined by the Rains than by cold in those places 2. In some places the cold is sufficiently sensible 3. In the night time especially in the last quarter the Air is discovered to be very cold by reason of the depression of the Sun beneath the Horizon 4. That it is not the least cause of the tolerable heat and that those Regions are inhabited viz. that no days are there long but almost equal to the night for if the days were as long there the Sun remaining above the Horizon as in the places of the Temperate and Frigid Zones then doubtless they would be uninhabited 5. That the Winds do much diminish the heat of the Sun 6. That places which ly in one and the same Climate have the Summer and Winter in divers times although they be very near to one another 7. That those places which have Siccity and Humidity contrary to the access and recess of the Sun are so scituated that on the East they have Ridges of Mountains and that they regard the West Peru excepted 8. That the Seasons observe no certain rule in the places of the Torrid Zone 9. That although most of the Inhabitants divide the year into two Seasons which is likewise observed by many Writers to wit a Pluvial and Dry Season yet it may aptly be divided into four so that they may not only have a Summer and a Winter but also a Spring and an Autumn For as in our parts the Spring approacheth near the nature of Summer and the Autumn of Winter so also the dry places of the Torrid Zone may be divided 10. And lastly in some places there is a continual Harvest in some only in two parts of the year and in others only in one part of the year Proposition XII To shew how the four Seasons of the year are made c. in the places of the Temperate Zones Of the seasons of the year in places lying in the Temperate Zones 1. In these places that cause which we have placed in the first place amongst the causes of the Seasons in the first Proposition of this Chapter is so potent in respect of the other causes that that
are under the 52 degree of South Latitude yet they have no very hot Summer So that the Hollanders in the month of January when there should be an hot Summer found a great glade of Ice in the Creek of one of their Seas In the Mountains of the adjacent Coasts Snow is discovered all the Summer long and it is observed that in almost all the Regions of the South Temperate Zone they have a Cold far more intense in Winter and a violency of Rain and a less heat in Summer than the parts of our Northern Temperate Zone Whether this be the cause that the Sun makes a longer stay and the slower progress in the Semicircle of the Northern Zodiac than in the Southern is to be questioned In the Neighbouring Province of Peru which they call La Valla Imperial in the Province of Potosi they find so great a Cold that for four miles circumference there groweth nothing The season of Chili In the Kingdom of Chili which extendeth it self from 30 degrees of South Latitude to 50 degrees the Spring beginneth in the months of August sooner than the Celestial Account admitteth and endeth in the middle of November And from the middle of November Summer beginneth even to the middle of February from whence Autumn leadeth on to the middle of May which the Winter succedeth which is very violent and dispoileth the Trees of their Blossoms and scattereth a deep Snow with a vehement Frost which yet is discovered by the Sun except which is very seldom that the Sun appeareth not but the Snow rarely falleth in the Vallies for although it falls in great abundance and is heaped up so high that it ascends the tops of Mountains and is heaped together in the vacuity of the Mountains as in so many wells and indure almost the whole year yet being there dissolved they flow into the Rivers and Torrents which run through the Vallies with a great force even to the Sea to the great enrichment of the Grounds But although here it Snow not except rarely in the Plains yet it maketh so excessive a Frost that the like is scarcely felt in many parts of Europe which happeneth partly from the Altitude of the Pole partly from the propinquity of the Mountains from which descend so subtile and penetrating Winds that sometimes they are unsufferable whence it cometh to pass that the Maritim parts are more temperate He that is Studious may collect other differences of Region under the same Climate or in the vicine Climates from Writers for example that in England the Air is not so cold as in Holland so that they pen not up their Heards in the Winter Betwen Siberia and Tartaria in a place seated not far from the Frigid Zone in the end of our Temperate are said to be plesant Fields and rich Pastures almost no cold seeing that they scarce feel Winter where by the command of the Duke of Moscovia the City Tooru is built which is at this day so much encreased that it is able to repell the Assaults of the Tartars The Island of Japan In Japan the Winter is Cold Snowy Ruiny when yet other Regions of Europe and Asia lying under the same Climate have far lesser Winter the cause is because that Japan consists of many Islands disjoyned by a small Euripus and that it also lyeth in the middle of the Ocean America very hot in the Summer In Armenia and the adjoyning places there is great heat in Summer because it lieth amongst Mountains here and there mixed with Fields hence the more rich in some places in Summer remove to the tops of the Mountains and remain there for some months but the meaner sort in the day time defend themselves in the Mountains from the near and about eventide do descend to the lower ground Proposition XIII To declare how in places in the Frigid Zone the four Seasons of the year have themselves with the light Of the places in the Frigid Zone The cause of those Seasons with the light proposed in the entrance of this Chapter thus stands in the Frigid Zone 1. The Center of the Sun for some days or months as the place is either nearer or remote from the Pole doth not arise above the Horizon and for so many days setteth not 2. In those days when he is above the Horizon he only illustrateth those places with his oblique raies because he is not much elevated above the Horizon but moveth round it because those places are over much removed from the way of the Sun 3. The Sun is not deeply depressed beneath the Horizon yea in places near the Polary Circle or Artick Pole although the Center of the Sun doth not arise yet part of his Skirt ariseth and is beheld for some days above the Horizon before the Center it self ariseth by reason that the half Sun possesseth 15 minutes in the Heaven For example let us take those places whose distance is from the Aequator 67 degrees towards the Pole Artick let the Pole be elevated according to this Latitude and in the Meridian Crena of the Horizon you shall see that the degrees of the Ecliptick do not arise from the 19th degree of Sagittarius to the 11 of Capricorn that is the Center of the Sun being in that Arch doth not arise for 24 days viz. from the 10th of December to the 4th of January and yet part of the Skirt of the Sun for that whole time shall be above the Horizon to wit on the 21 of December the Limbus glittereth the Horizon but on the 10 of December as also on the first of January half the Sun shall be above the Horizon and half beneath because the Center is then in the Horizon But the whole Sun shall be elevated above the Horizon when the Center of the Sun shall hold the 14 degree of Capricorn that is about the 4 day of January also the whole shall afterwards appear when his Center shall possess the 16 degree of Sagittarius that is about the 7 of December But in places where the elevation of the Pole is 70 or 75 degrees there this difference between the Oriental Limbus and the Oriental Center is very little so that the Limbus or Skirt scarcely anticipateth the rise of the Center of the Sun one day or half a day From this smallest of depression it followeth also that they enjoy the light of the Crepusculum many hours before the rising and after the setting of the Sun and although the Sun ariseth not yet in all or many of the hours of the day they have light in the Air. There is also another cause See Chap. 19. which maketh the Sun first to be seen before that he is elevated above the Horizon For thence it cometh to pass that not only the Sun is seen before he is elevated above the Horizon and before the Raies can directly come from him to the Eye but also that the light of the Twilight sooner illustrateth