The groundes of the longitude with an admonition to all those that are incredulous and beleeue not the trueth of the same. VVritten by Simon Forman, student in Astronomie and Phisique. 1591.

The groundes of the longitude with an admonition to all those that are incredulous and beleeue not the trueth of the same. VVritten by Simon Forman, student in Astronomie and Phisique. 1591.

Table of contents

Title page

§

The groundes of the Longitude, with an Admonition to all those that are incredulous and beleeue not the trueth of the same.

[Page]

The groundes of the Longitude, with an Admonition to all those that are incredulous and beleeue not the trueth of the same.

FOrasmuch as there hath beene diuerse Bookes written heretofore, by diuerse and sundrie learned men of the arte of Nauigation and Cosmografical science, the inuention & helpe of the Compasse: the making and vse of the Astralabie, the practise of the Crosse staffe, and Ballestile, and diuers other instruments aswell profitable as necessarie for those that vse and practise the arte of Nauigation, sometimes to take the height of the Sunne, sometimes to take the height, Longitude and Latitude of the Starres, to know the height of countries, and the Latitude of places, Ilandes, and cities from the Equinoctiall, that thereby they may the better know in what place they bee, and howe and whether to direct their voiage and their ship, that thereby they may also attaine more espeedily and safely to the expected and wished place, and come to the hauen they long for. And in asmuch as the good Mariner wanteth yet one thing as one of the chiefe pillers of his Arte, that is, some meane, or waie to finde aswell the Longitude which they most desire, as the Latitude which they perfectly haue: the which Longitude many men haue shot at, and none vnto this daie could perfectly find by any instrument, or by any other reason then Ptolomy setteth downe, which is by the Ecclipses of the Sunne and Moone, which Mariners and trauailers cannot haue at all times to helpe themselues after they are beaten and driuen with foule weather, or with some vncoth storme or raging Sea vnexpected, or else being in some straunge countrie or place, to know whether they are gone so farre as they would bee, where they suppose some vnknowen Ilande or lande lieth: or where they are short of the same, which is not to bee done by any of the instruments or meanes aforesaide. But by a more secreete meane and way as yet vnknowen vnto all the world, except to those to whom my selfe here before haue [Page] shewed it vpon the request of some which were very incredulous thereof, and yet remaine because themselues as yet do not know the waie of dooing it: because they that doe know it are sworne by a sacred othe not to manifest or teach the same to any without leaue before had of the Author.

And now because I knowe on the one side that men are as desirous of the knowledge hereof as my selfe haue beene sometimes of greater matters. And on the other side, they will still remaine incredulous of the trueth vntill they heare some reason for it, or see the experience thereof: as S. Thomas did of the resurrection of Christ: which afterwarde said vnto him, come hether Thomas and see the printe of the nayles in my handes, and thrust thy hande into my side, and be not faithlesse but belieue: So doe I say vnto all that be incredulous, and to those that thorough endlesse trauaile, and hardinesse of heart and foolish persuasions are perswaded, that there is no true way or means to finde and know the true Longitude of Countries, Citties, and places, and to all those curious carpers, whose wittes are intangled in vanitie, that are euer searching and neuer finde, reatching vp vnto the starres, & yet cannot attaine to the orbe of the Moone, who thinkes none like vnto themselues, and because they cannot themselues comprehend the mysterie of hidden and vnknowen things, none else should doe it nor assay it. As who should say, that the omnipotent God, the great Creator of all thinges, the giuer of all wisdome and knowledge were tied vnto them, that they should haue the preferment in things before others, or that he should bestow his guiftes according to their direction, and not according to his owne will: But as he made not all things at one time: so he ordeyned the knowledge of all things not to be found at one time, nor by one man: for if one man could doe euery thing, and that his witte were so apte and prompt that he could finde out the knowledge of euery thing, what neede had we then to seeke diuers men. for diuers causes, as Carpentars to build houses, Smiths to make yron worke, Coblers to mende shooes, &c.

[Page] Therefore, seeing that the great creator of all thinges disposeth his giftes of knowledge to euery man according to his will and the measure of faith, as saith S. Paul, and maketh vessels for honor and vessels for dishonor, some for the chamber, & some for the kitching, and maketh some poore, and some rich, and some wise, and some foolish: and pu [...]teth downe the mightie, and setteth vp the humble and meeke: making the foolish to confound the wise: and giueth to one man the knowledge of one thing, and to another the knowledge of another thing: to some the gifte of prophecie, to some the gift of healing, to some of doing of wonders and miracle, to some the interpretation of thinges, and finding of hidden misteries, yet al is the administration of one spirit, and power of the holy Ghost, as S. Paul saith, of his free grace powred out vpon euery creature, according to his diuine will and fore knowledge.

And if it be so, why maruell you so at me, that I should receiue so bountifull a gifte at the hande of God, or by him to be indued with the knowledge hereof. Am I a monster degenerated from kind, or am I not a creature, made and formed by his diuine wil, and borne into the world, and do liue to shewe forth and speake of his glorie and power as well as others.

Do not all the creatures of God manifest his power and glory, each one in his kinde and nature, as the birdes of the ayre the fishes of the Seas, the beasts and wormes that feede on the ground, and the hearbes and trees that grow therof, doth not Rubarbe purge coller, and is not Selledony good for the eies, is there not fire in a flint stone, and doth not the Sallamander liue in the fier: did not Mercurie Tristnegistus, find the Tables wherein was ingrauen the 7. liberal Sciences, & other secreet Artes in the valley of Hebron after the floud: and talked he not with the holy Ghost, as it is recorded in his booke Intituled by the name of Pymander. Was not Salomon endued by God with such excellent wisedome, as none [Page] had greater before his time. Did not God shewe his wonders by his seruant Moyses in the land of Egipt, and did not Moyses and the children of Israell passe through the red Seat and was not Pharao and his hostes drowned. Did not Iosua commande the Sunne to stand still on Gybeon, & the Moone on Aalon, vntill he was auenged on the enimies of the Lord and of Israel. Did he not giue power vnto Elias to shut the heauens, so that it rained not in 3. yeeres and sixe moneths. And then he prayed againe, and it did rayne.

I speake now of the power of the Lord & of his wonders done in the old world: which also ceaseth not to shew wonders vnto this day, and to giue power to some to beare his name before the rest.

Maruaile not therefore at me, that I should finde out the knowledge hereof, neither think it a thing impossible to be done, for it is not I, but the grace of God which is in me, as Paul saith, for all good giftes and the true knowledge of things commeth from God, according as it is written: And in the latter daies I will powre out my spirite vpon all flesh, and your yoong men shall dreame dreames, and your old men shall see visions, and your children shall tell of things to come. And therefore all though the Lorde did hide the knowledge here of from all the learned men that euer haue written vnto this day, as from Ptolomeus, Pithagoras, Plato, Beed, Aristotle, Alkindus, Lergis, Aomar, Albenoyt Zael, Guido bonatus, Haly, Iohn de sacrobosco, Alfonsus, Amoaz, Dorotheus, Frier Bacon, Petrus de Medina, Purbaicus, Regiomontanus, Alfraganus, Strabo, Stadius, Leouitius, and an infinite number moe of great and learned clearkes which haue written, aswell of Astronomie as Cosmographie, it was not for want of wisedome or learning in them, or great diligence to search the secreete misterie of things: neither was it for that there should be borne into the world a greater clarke then they to finde it. But it was decreed so by his diuine powre before that when the time thereof was come, it should be found by him whom he [Page] would to shewe his glory and powre euen by the simple and least made account of, to confound the wisdome of the wise and mightie. Euen by him that neuer thought of such a thing, nor neuer had indeuoured himselfe there abouts, nor applied any parte of his studie to that intent, had not Maister Robert Parker marchant of London, putting the same into his head, and intreated me to take some paines therein, at whose earnest request I bestowed some part of my studie & endeuour therein. And by the grace and helpe of God haue brought it to that passe, which any man that is desirous of the knowledge thereof, may learne the trueth thereof at the Authors handes if he repayre vnto him, or else if he or they repaire to Master Robart Parkes in pudding lane.

Therefore returning to our former discourse, againe to speake of the vnbeleeuing sorte, and those that stand so stifly vpon impossibilities, saying it is impossible to finde any true and direct way for the knowledge thereof, because so many learned men aforesaid could neuer finde it: and some againe make it impossible, because themselues haue trauailed therin with much studie, counting themselues great and cunning Clarkes, hauing found and prooued twentie waies at the least, and could not happen on the right way as themselues haue reported. And thereupon some haue beene about to write a booke against it, and of the impossibilitie and vncertaintie thereof: some againe are of another mind, and they say if he haue found out the true way thereof, hee neuer founde it by God, but by some sinister meanes by the Diuell, as who should saie that the cunning of the diuell, is greater then the knowledge and power of God, or that God was not able to giue the knowledge thereof, except the diuell will, or that he be made pryuie thereof, or that the diuell can do any thing without the permission or sufferance or commaundement of God. If you doubt thereof goe aske of Iob, and of the booke of the Kings: how the diuell came [Page] before God, &c. and how God gaue him leaue and powre, and how God made the diuell and instrument to do his will. But these and such like are not euill speakers, but impairers of the powre of God, dishonorers of his persone, presumptuous in their owne conceipt, enuiors of others, hinderers of the benefite of the common-wealth, negligent to do good, and as hard of beleefe as S. Thomas was.

Therefore I say vnto them as Christ said vnto S. Thomas, Come hether all you vnbeleeuers, all you that seeke and neuer find, all you cunning Sophisters, all you studentes of Astronomie & Cosmographie, all you also that account things impossible, and all you that will write Bookes against it and all you that haue so many waies and none true, and you also that seeke by subtiltie of Arguments to enter into the secreet knowledge thereof, that thereby you might take away another mans glorie: that seeke I say to haue the gaine and prayse of another mans trauaile. Come hether also all you that stand vpon the iudgement of the learned: and all you also that are desirous to learne and to augment your knowledge. Come hether also you Masters and Sailers, that entend any long voyages, here shall you finde one of the chiefe pillers of your Arte, here shall you find a Pilate to direct you in a dangerous passage, being driuen with a storme be it neuer so long, here shall you finde a Load starre, that shall shewe you where you shall goe forth or backe, East or West. Yea you shall finde such a practise and knowledge that shall proue, or disproue all your Maps, Cardes, Globes, and Bookes that here before haue beene written thereof, and further it resolueth and discouereth all the doubts here before had in Nauigation.

And the trueth and certaintie hereof is so sure, as the Latitude, and as easie to be done to euery wise man.

And for because you shall not thinke that I make a great preambulation or circumstanticall discourse therof, to perswade men without some ground or reason, I will here set [Page] downe certaine groundes and pillers thereof, the which if any can absolutely disproue, then may he well say that it is a fallible rule and not true: the which I knowe none can disproue except he will denie both reason and learning. And the groundes are these, viz.

Genesis. 1 God in the beginning created all thinges in number, waight and measure, in order, place, and forme, and appointed man to haue dominion ouer his creatures, and to search and seeke out the secreet and hidden vertues in them conteyned, giuen vnto them by by God their creator, seuerally, by measure, &c.

Genesis. 2 God created two lights, a greater light to rule the daie, as the Sunne, and a lesse to rule the night, as the Moone and the Starres.

Genesis. 3 God placed the Starres in the firmament of Heauen, to giue light vpon the Earth.

Ptolomie. Aristotle. Thom. de sacrob. 4 The first mouer doth giue a turne once euery 24. howers or there abouts, about the Earth, whereby the Sunne, the Moone, and Starres, are carried from the East vnto the West, and so about.

Ptolomie in Almegesto. Arist. in 2. mer. Thom. de sacrob. 5 The Earth is quiet and vnmoueable, and is accounted the Center of the worlde.

Thom. de sacrob. 6 Doe not the Earth and the Waters make one rounde bodie.

Ptolomie. Aristotle. Alphonsus. 7 There are two poles, the Arcticke and Antarcticke, the one in the North, the other in the South, and the Line Equinoctiall in the middest.

8 There is a Latitude, which is taken from the Equinoctiall to the Pooles, either to the South or the North,

9 There is no Latitude without his Longitude.

Ptolomic, 10 The Latitude is opposite to the Longitude, in respect that the Latitude is taken from the South to the North. And the Longitude from the West vnto the East.

11 The Sunne doth rise and fall in his course, and neuer continue at one staie.

[Page] 12 It is Omne oppositum.

13 There is fire in a flint-stone.

14 Diuers places haue diuers Latitudes in respect of the South and North. And diuers Longitudes in respect of East and Weast.

15 A man may see farther on a plaine ground, or on a hill, then he can among trees or in a bottome, and as farre by Sea as by Lande.

Too Groundes more I haue left out, because as they are most true, so they giue too plain euidence, and too much vnderstanding to a subtill witte.

Now if any can disproue absolutely these grounds aforesayd viz. That God in the beginning, did not create all thinges as is aforesaid, and set the Sunne, the Moone, and Starres to distinguish times and seasons, or that the Sunne, the Moone and Starres doe not giue light vnto the earth, or that the first moouer doeth not turne, or can gaine say the stabilitie of the earth, the scituation of the Pole starres, or Equinoctiall line, or can denie the Latitude, or say there is a Latitude without Longitude, or that can say they are not opposite, or that it is not Omne oppositum, &c. or that there is no fire in aflint-stone, or that all places haue one Latitude and Longitude, &c. or that a man can see farther generally in a bottome, then on a high hill, &c. Then in disprouing absolutely these generally, then hee may generally disproue our Arte, and finding of our Longitude, and so manie of these posisions as hee can absolutely disproue, so many of the pillers of our Arte doth fayle, for these positions which I haue here set downe, eyther they are the opinions of the Auncient writers, or confirmed by holy Scripture, or are such as daylie experience doth confirme or reason wholy allowe.

But if these may not be disproued generally and absolutely without caueling: then it is but a folly for any to [Page] stande incontention or deniall hereof, for whosoeuer shall denie it by wordes, the experience and deed shal shewe it to be true.

Cease therefore, all such as carpe against the trueth: and you also that wonder at the power and giftes of God, and you also that say you haue so many waies, and you also that will write Bookes against the trueth hereof, cease also you that say it was found by some sinister meanes: cease also you that stumble at a strawe and fall ouer a house, and you also that be like vnto S. Thomas in vnbeleeuing, and know you that whatsoeuer is not possible with man, is possible with God: and God will reueale the knowledge of hidden things at times appointed to those whom it please him to the great admiration of the worlde: and there is nothing so secreete among men, but it shall be made manifest.

Tell me, was the knowledge of all Artes and Sciences found out in one day, was Roome builte in a day, or stately Troy ouerthrowne in an houre, hath not God measured the heauens, and wayed the earth in the ballance, hath hee not sounded the deapth of the sea: and numbred the haires of our heads, gaue he not boldnes and eloquence of speach to Moses & Aron, gaue he not wisdom to Salomon, faithfulnesse to Abraham, to his twelue Apostles knowledge of tongues, and powre to cast out Diuels, and gaue hee not to his Prophetes, Martirs, Virgins, and Confessers constancie: is not he the onely well and fountaine of all goodnesse and grace, from whom all knowledge springs.

Did not one, finde out the Latitude, another the height of the Sunne, another the Astralabie, another the Compasse, another the Crosse staffe, another the Ballestille, all was not found at one time, nor by one man. Did not another finde the Arte of making of Glasses another the making of Guns, and gunne powder, another the Arte of Printing, others the making of globes Celestial & Terrestrial & innumerable other things very needfull and necessary which are now vsed.

[Page] I demaund also whether all Countries, Prouinces, and Ilandes scituated in the seas, were found all at one time or by one man, was not the Canarie Ilands found by a French man called Betanchor, in the yeare of our Lord God 1405. viz. Lancelotus, and the Iland Fortis ventura. And after this did not Farnandus Peraria inuade the Ilandes Ferrea, and Gomera. And did not Petrus de Vera, citizen of the noble cittie of Xeuicium, and Michael of Moxica subdue the Ilands Grancanaria, and Palma. And Alphonsus Lugo that which is now called Teneryfen, of latter daies. And further was not Hispaniola and Cuba discouered by Colonus, & diuers other Ilands, in the yeare of Christ 1493. and 1494. And did not Iohn Dias Solis sayle first into the riuer of Plate in the daies of Ferdinandus king of Spaine, &c. What need I speake of China, of Giapan, of Persia, of Ginnea, and of diuers other places late founde out, by running as it were at aduenture: If these countries and Ilandes were found as is said by great aduenture, there is no doubt now, but many notable trauailers hauing the helpe of so good and profitable a rule as the Longitude, will attempt to sayle and discouer yet diuers Ilands and Countries vnknowen to their perpetuall memorie and euerlasting prayse.

Now therfore, you that are men among men, and would be accounted wise on the one side: and that desire to be instructed in greater knowledge on the other side, consider with your selues, what God is, what his power conteyneth: what his giftes are, what his will is. Consider also what time bringeth to light, what Arte and cunning skill is: and to what industrie and trauaile attaineth: Lay all maliciousnes aparte, and enuie nor infame none, nor condemne them that trauaile in any Arte or Science for his countries wealth, pursue them not with euill wordes that seeke to doo you good, and to encrease, both your wealth and knowledge. Be not vnthankefull to God for his giftes: for whatsoeuer is done to good, it is the will of God either to suffer it or [Page] commaund it: euill is well done, where good commeth thereof to a multitude, and where God is glorified by it, praise God highly, that it hath pleased him, to giue the knowledge hereof to your Countriman, who meaneth to make you partakers of it, his paynes considered. For I dare to say if the knowledge hereof had beene founde by the Spaniardes or by any other Nation, he should be so well rewarded in his Countrey for his paines, and so highly honoured for the knowledge hereof: that hee should haue no neede to seeke any forraine Prince or Countrie for recompence, neyther should any other nation bee made priuie thereof they would keepe it so secreete. Consider hereof all you that shall reade this my writing, for herein is a misterie: and if rewarde be giuen accordingly: I shall hereafter perhaps make declaration, of the principles of another science, as much desired as this, of some other sortes of men, who labour continually for the knowledge thereof, and wander in darkenesse, in a thing more mysticall and of greater importaunce then this which I haue spoken of, and is thought as impossible too, as euer this was, but yet not so impossible, because of some it hath beene done in the olde worlde, and so was neuer this. And as there hath beene heretofore diuers proffers made in the absence and behalfe of the Author, by Maister Emery Mulleneux & others, for the trueth and triall hereof and hath not beene accepted hetherto: because some haue thought it eyther to be doone vpon presumption, or on a Brauado, &c. But whatsoeuer they before haue offered in the premises, I the Author hereof am ready at all times to performe the same God willing.

Furthermore, if it please God I liue in peace, and be once able to maintaine my studie without let and interruption: I will God willing rectifie the heauens for the true places of the fixed starres, according to the Signe, Degrees and Minutes, that they now stande in, vpon experience and iuste obseruation, and not vpon supposition & calculation after [Page] other mens Tables, for we do see, that all the Tables for the most parte, late set out of the fixed starres bee false and very erronious, and do differ among themselues very much, yea it seemeth, that our Ephimerides is false also in many places, as touching the mouing of the Planets, in some, a degree to much, in some, too degrees and more too little, and also the very motion of the Moone is not direct, which if it bee not farther looked into and amended, will cause great errour in time. Manie other things I haue to say, which now I omitte, but hereafter I will write hereof more largely by proofe of the present time, and not vpon supposition. In the meane time I leaue the vewe hereof and consideration to your discretion, giuing prayse to God that gaue vs the vnderstanding and knowledge hereof, to whom be prayse for euermore. Amen.

THe Tables hereto belonging shall follow, and be Printed shortly, with certaine other Bookes of Astronomie and Astrologie, as the Booke of the three sortes of houres, Naturall, Artificiall and Magicall, with all the doubtes of Astronomie, and alterations and significations of the Planets, the moouing of the eight Sphere, and the way to errect a figure both by the Eccliptike line, as also by the oblique ascention, wherein the misterie of Arte lieth hid, with diuers other Bookes God willing if they may be permitted.

Finis. Per me Simon Forman. 1591.

[Page]

§

§

[Page]

[Page] THE GROVNDES OF the Longitude: With an Admonition to all those that are Incredulous and beleeue not the Trueth of the same.

VVritten by Simon Forman, student in Astronomie and Phisique. 1591.

Nihil Impossibile Deo

Nil tam difficile quod non solertia vincat

Ʋeritas filia Temporis.

[figure]

Imprinted at London by Thomas Dawson. 1591,

§

§

[Page]

TO all true students of Geography and Cosmography: and to all trauailers aswell by lande as Sea, for the discouerie of straunge Places, Ylandes or Countries: to all students of Astronomy, and to all those that are desirous to augment their skill and knowledge by the helpe of the Longitude, and to all others, well willours of Arte and fauourers of learning. Simon Forman student in Astronomy and Phisique, sendeth greeting in our Lord God euerlasting. 1591.

Information about this book

Title statement

The groundes of the longitude with an admonition to all those that are incredulous and beleeue not the trueth of the same. VVritten by Simon Forman, student in Astronomie and Phisique. 1591.

Forman, Simon, 1552-1611.

Edition statement

1591

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A01073

ID [STC]

STC 11185

ID [STC]

ESTC S113117

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99848356

ID [PROQUEST]

99848356

ID [VID]

13444

Availability

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

Series

Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A01073)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 13444)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 230:05)

Source

— The groundes of the longitude with an admonition to all those that are incredulous and beleeue not the trueth of the same. VVritten by Simon Forman, student in Astronomie and Phisique. 1591., Forman, Simon, 1552-1611..

Extent

[16] p.

By Thomas Dawson,. Imprinted at London :: 1591.. (A defence of the Ptolemaic system.--STC.) (Signatures: A-B⁴ (B4 blank).) (Reproduction of the original in the Bodleian Library.)

Creation

Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford.

Editorial practices

EEBO-TCP is a partnership between the Universities of Michigan and Oxford and the publisher ProQuest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by ProQuest via their Early English Books Online (EEBO) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). The general aim of EEBO-TCP is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic English-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in EEBO.

EEBO-TCP aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the Text Encoding Initiative (http://www.tei-c.org).

The EEBO-TCP project was divided into two phases. The 25,363 texts created during Phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 January 2015. Anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source.

Users should be aware of the process of creating the TCP texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data.

Text selection was based on the New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (NCBEL). If an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in NCBEL, then their works are eligible for inclusion. Selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. In general, first editions of a works in English were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably Latin and Welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so.

Image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. Quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in Oxford and Michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet QA standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. After proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. Any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. Understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of TCP data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor.

The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines.

Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements).

Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site.