THE merueilous and diuine In­strument, called the Sayling Com­passe, (being one of the greatest wonders that this World hath) is a Circle diuided commonly into 32. partes, tearmed by our Seamen Windes, Rumbes, or Points of Compasse: which Cir­cle by the touch of the Loadestone sheweth the afore­said diuisions in all Horisons betweene the Poles, accor­ding to one and the selfe same perpetuall position in respect of the true points of North and South in euery Horison. This Circle is commonly described vpon Pastbord of 5. 6. 7. or 8. inches diameter: And hath sometimes subdiuisions, with the relation to the 32. and sometimes hath the ordinarie diuision of Circles, namely 360. In the Center of this Circle is faste­ned a little Diamond as it were, or a Capitall, as some call it, of Latten, being cinquebored, the point thereof appearing a conuenient space aboue the Circle, and the hollowed part downeward, to be placed vpon the pinne. In the bottome of this Circle are glewed two wyars about ¼ longer then the Diameter, bended proportionally the one toward the other in the forme [Page] of a loope, so that the endes ioyne close and euen toge­ther in the circumference: and the Circle in this ma­ner finished, is named the Flie of the Compasse. The boxe wherein this Flie is placed, must bee couered with cleare glasse, made close round about with waxe mingled with Rosen, or some other kind of Simmond. The bottome of this boxe is to be taken off and on, as occasion shall serue: in the Center whereof standeth the pinne of Latten of a reasonable height, for the Flie to haue sufficient scope. This boxe is to be hanged in two Circles of Latten within an other greater Boxe, that the Flie, which way soeuer the Ship swayeth, may alwayes stand vpon his pinne parallele to the Horizon: to which end they fasten a piece of Lead to the bot­tome of the lesser boxe.

As for the touching of the wyars of the Flie with the Loade-stone, I would wish it to be perfourmed af­ter this sort. First of all, haue a great care of the good­nesse, the quantitie and the forme of the Stone: for if he be neuer so good, and very small therewith, he can giue but small force vnto the Compasse: And againe, though he be neuer so great, yet if he be of base quali­tie, his Touche can be but faint. An ouall forme, or somewhat longer, reteining a like proportion from the middle to each end, is very good. Alwayes prouided, that the length of the Stone lie according to his owne line of North and South: for a stone of this forme gi­ueth foorth his vertue in the Touche a great deale more forcibly then it can, if by reason of the euil shape thereof, his force in himselfe be confusedly dispersed, and not ioyntly directed to his due points. The wyers before they bee touched, ought to bee polished and made very cleane, and fitted vnto the Flie, and then [Page] touched after this maner. With the North end of the Stone, presse each wyer, beginning at the middle, and so along vnto that ende, that you would haue turne Southerly: And with the South end of the Stone doe the like from the middle of eache wyer, vnto the ende that you would haue turne Northerly. Then glewe them in such sort, that the Flie may stand equally vp­on his pinne, hauing both the North and South endes of the wyers vncouered, that their Touche may be re­freshed, as occasion shall require.

After all this is accomplished, that the Instrument thus furnished may truely performe his office, there must iust regard be had of the Variation, as also of the diuerse Set of the Compasse: And likewise that it be not placed neare any Loade-stone, yron, or steele. By the Variation is vnderstood the difference in the Hori­zon betweene the true and the magneticall Meridian. By the Set, is meant the setting or placing of the wyers in the bottome of the Flie, which sometimes you shal finde standing right vnder the Flower de luce, repre­senting the North point, sometimes ½, ⅓ &c. toward the East of the Flower de luce.

The Compasse being artificially made and fitted as he ought to be, with al his iust regards: we must cō ­ceaue euery line drawen from the Center vnto each diuision, to represent alwayes the semidiameter of an Azimuth, bearing the same name with the diuision of the instrument. The line of North & South is eue­ry where the intersection of the Meridian with the Ho­rizon: and the line that crosseth him at right angles, is euery where the intersectiō of the East & West Azi­muth with the Horizon. The like is to be vnderstood of euery one of the other, according to their natures: [Page] so that euery point of the Cōpas, when the line there­of is by imagination produced in the Horizon vnto the Heauens, is vnderstood to be the base of a Quadrant of some one Azimuth or other: and the line falling from the Zenith, to the Center of the Compas, is as the Perpendicular cōmon to them all. Wherefore which way soeuer in any situation a ship doth saile vpon any point of the Compas, it must needes be that shee say­leth within the plaine of one Azimuth or other, in as much as euery point is the Base of an Azimuth: and so performeth alwayes her course vpon the Conuexe of the Sea, in a portion or portions of one great Circle or other, because all Azimuthes are great Circles. Albeit therfore a voyage were to be made from any place in any Latitude, more or lesse (it skilleth not) vnto any o­ther of the same Latitude, and that according to the common trade (which should not be, if great Circle­sayling were knowen & brought to perfectiō) keeping as neere as may be vnder one Parallele, from the be­ginning to the ende of the voyage: yet because in all this Ships motion, the Compas is considered as equi­distant alwayes vnto the Horizon, it must needes fol­lowe, that all the points of the Compasse (his Variation remembred) continue their mutuall respect to those of euery Horizon: the line of South and North, being still the Intersection of the Meridian with the Horizon: the line of East and West being still the Intersecti­on of the East and West Azimuth with the Horizon, crossing one an other alwayes at right angles: so that the situation of the shippe continually altering, doeth neuer alter the properties of the Compas: whose na­ture is to deriue those his diuisions vnto euery newe Horizon that hee approcheth vnto; all the lines of his [Page] points euer remaining Semidiameters of Azimuthes and Bases of their quadrants: the line falling from the Zenith through his Center, being still the perpendi­cular common to them all. Whereby it is manifest, that in as much as the direction of the sayling Com­passe is alwayes some one Semidiameter of an Azi­muth; and the shippe (being the body mooued) euer stemmeth in the plaine of the selfe same Azimuth: also the winde, being the efficient that moueth, of his mu­table propertie driueth foreright diametrally vpon the plaine of the Horizon: which cannot be but accor­ding to the intersection of the foresaid Azimuth: it is therefore impossible, if the shippe be moued, that is, transferred or changed from place to place, that the line or tracing of her course comprehended betweene those places, should be any other, but onely such as is composed of great Circular portions: of which, the length of the shippe it selfe is alwayes a segment. And so describeth she by that meanes in her course before mentioned, not a Parallele properly so called (as com­mon opinion doth wrongfully imagine) consisting of one continual lesser Circular line; or otherwise, a Spi­rall line truely so named, consisting of a continuall vniforme winding, answerable to the nature of the said line; but a course (quibusdam diuerticulis, as learned Nonius termeth it) with certaine turnings in and out, consisting of small segments of great Circles; keeping alwayes as neere the precise parallele, or Spirall line, as arte can ayde them. Wherefore it is confessed, that those seuerall courses haue some shew or resemblance of the two sorts of lines aforesaide: but by no meanes are they the very lines themselues in deede.

Who was the first inuenter of this Instrument mi­raculous, [Page] and endued, as it were with life, can hardly▪ be found. The lame tale of one Flauius at Amelphis, in the kingdome of Naples, for to haue deuised it, is of ve­ry slender probabilitie. Pandulphus Collenutius writing the Neapolitane historie telleth vs, that they of Amel­phis say, it is a common opinion there, that it was first found out among them. But Polidore Virgil, who sear­ched most diligently for the Inuentors of things, could neuer heare of this opinion (yet himselfe being an Ita­lian) and as he confesseth in the later ende of his third booke de inuentoribus rerum, could neuer vnderstand any thing concerning the first inuention of this instru­ment. Most men suppose the finding thereof to bee very newe, and hardly to be proued that it hath beene in any vse in these partes of the Worlde full 200. yeeres agone. But whether this propertie of the Load­stone was first knowen in the West or East partes of the world, it is very doubtfull. The East Indian histo­ries are pestered with such monstrous reports and Le­gendarie tales, that as yet they are but of very small credite. Their fabulous genealogies and Frierly dis­courses, doe breede a lingering expectation of some halting Poste, that making not so much haste as good speede, may with more sinceritie enforme vs of the state of those Countreis and matters vnto them be­longing. Some fewe yeeres since it so fell out, that I had seuerall conference with two East Indians which were brought into England by master Candish, and had learned our language: The one of them was of Mamillia, in the Isle of Luzon, the other of Miaco in Ia­pan. I questioned with them concerning their ship­ping, and maner of sayling. They described all things farre different from ours, and shewed, that in steade [Page] of our Compas, they vse a Magneticall Needle of sixe ynches long, and longer, vpon a pinne in a dish of white China earth filled with water: In the bottome whereof they haue two crosse lines, for the foure prin­cipall windes: the rest of the diuisions being reserued to the skill of their Pilots. Vpon which report of theirs, I made present triall howe a Magneticall Nee­dle would stand in water, and found it to proue excel­lently well; not doubting but that many conclusions of importance in Marine affaires will thereby more readily be performed.

I finde that as the Portugals traueiled in their very first discoueries for the East Indies, they got a Pilote of Melinde, that brought them from thence in 33. dayes, within the sight of Calecute, and had euen then in vse the Compas, the Carde, and the sownding line. Lu­douicus Vartomannus testifieth, that in his voyage from Bornco vnto Giaua, the Pilots of those Countreys had the vse of both Compas and Carde, and had skill to take direction from the South Pole, as ours doe from the North, euen in those dayes, when it was a very daintie matter for any of our Pilots to haue performed the like: being as then possessed with an opinion, that the Compas would turne round, assoone as euer they came vnder the Equator: as some doe yet surmise it would doe vnder the Pole, or neere the fantasticall Rocke of the purest Magnes. Philander in his annota­tions vpon Vitruuius, sheweth that some men deemed it not a newe, but an olde inuention, and tooke it to be that Nauticall instrument which is called by Plautus in Trinummo and Mercatore, by the name of Vorsoria. But this Adrianus Turnebus in no case will allowe, af­firming it rather to bee a kinde of tackle, wherewith [Page] they turned their Sayle.

If of olde time they had not this Instrument, it see­meth impossible that euer they could haue performed such voyages as they did: And if euer they had it, then were it as strange, that all memorie thereof should be vtterly suppressed, and that Ptolomey had not found some mention thereof made in Marinus Tyrius, or o­ther Cosmographers, whose workes were extant in his time. Experience testifieth, that this began to be in common vse about the time that Printing was in­uented, and the making of Gunnes. Both which, al­though they are of very excellent vse and great won­derments to the world, yet doeth this farre excell and exceede. For all things performed by them, are mar­shalled within the limittes and bounds of humane rea­son; and therefore their causes being knowen, their wonder ceaseth. But this being incomprehensible vn­to humane reason, carieth it away captiue vnto the a­stonishment thereof, and leadeth it to the admiration of him, whose wisedome comprehendeth all things, and distributeth knowledge and vnderstanding among men, according to such measure, times, and meanes, as seemeth best vnto himselfe; opening the eyes of the blind, and giuing vnderstanding to the simple, destroy­ing the wisedome of the wise, and making the vnder­standing of the prudent for to hide it selfe.

Considering the fowle abuses and errors that dayly are committed in the making and framing of this wor­thie Instrument, I haue thought good heere briefely to note the faults, and therewithall to shew the way how they may bee amended. Let no man mistake me: I speake not saue onely of ordinarie Compasses (being the most that euer I sawe) such as are in common vse, [Page] and are sale-ware for Masters and Pilots. What some discreete skilfull men carefully doe prouide for them­selues, I speake not of. First therefore for the most part, the Carde of the Flie is negligently diuided, not only in the Compas which they ordinarily saile by, hauing the 32. common partes: but as great negligence may be found in the double Flie, for their Compasse of Variation: where the vttermost Ring which they make moueable about the ordinary Flie, is diuided into de­grees: and there a degree or two oddes breaketh no square with them. The wyers of the Flie are as rudely set together, hauing their ends not sitted euen and close (as were meete) but starting a side eache from other, not somuch as filed smoothe, but rough euen as they were broken: whereby they are also disabled from taking so strong a touch, as they would, if they were made smoothe. For remedie hereof it were good, to drawe the ouale lines vpon the Carde of the Flie, in such sort, that the endes being euen with the circumference of the Flie, both the middles and the endes may haue an equall distance from the Center: Then according to those lines bow and cut the wyers, fitting their endes smoothe, and so closely ioyning them, that they may both seeme to be but one. After that, holding them together, dippe the endes in a little moulten Tinne, or if at the first they be welded toge­ther, it is the better: and with the edge of a dull knife, scrape off the Tinne againe asmuch as you can come by, which will be all in a maner, sauing onely a very lit­tle that keepeth the endes together: and that will hold them so fast, that you may conueniently handle them at your pleasure, and fasten them on their place, accor­ding to your desire. (But before they be set on, let them [Page] be touched as abouesaid, and being set on their tou­chings at the ends must be refreshed.) Thus shall your Flie stand and turne equally vpon his pinne: if not, in stead of the ordinary dawhing with waxe, two or three drops at the most will counterpoyse any swaruing: and many times you shall not neede any at all; which is most commendable. [...]

The Capitall is commonly wide from the Center of the Flie; and likewise the pinne whereon the Flie stan­deth, from the Center in the bottome of the Boxe: both grosse and absurd faultes, and yet easie to bee auoyded. [...]

The glasse that couereth the Boxe is commonly crackeled and snarled by the sides; and diuerse times also too little. These faults they couer with their thicke border of Rosen: but better were it to amend them with a little heede taking. The Glasse ought therefore to be somewhat thinne, smoothe, and of euen thicke­nesse; hauing the edges smoothed on a grinding stone, or by some other meanes, and made very fitte to the Boxe. So shall you neede but little quantitie of Sim­mond, onely to keepe out the ayre: which is the bet­ter, both for the clearer view of the Flie, and that your Boxe may hang the steaddier: and that will it not doe, if your Glasse be much thicker on the one side, then on the other, or els being too little, bee thrust neerer the one side, then the other, and the voide place filled vp with Rosen, according to ordinary custome.

The Boxe is hanged in two Circles, the one within the other, hauing the pinnes that they turne on, a quar­ter of a Circle in the one distant from the other. But these Circles are commonly so vnhandsomely made, and ill fauouredly hanged vpon their pinnes, that you [Page] should offer a Tincker discredit to compare his worke with this. Adde hereunto the riuetting of the Circles with yron, and hanging the bigger of them vpon yron nayles: which although they be but little, yet you must esteeme a litle in this case to bee a great deale too much. And if they had any care of that they haue in hand, they would not commit such a needelesse grosse absurditie, onely as it were in despite of Arte, to make expense of wit without gaine or profite. [...]

The piece of Lead that is fastened to the bottome, ought to be round and of equall thicknesse, the pinne passing through the Center thereof. If you haue it otherwise, then marke the Boxe and the bottome when it hangeth aright: and whensoeuer, hauing taken off the bottome, you will set it on againe, see that you make your markes in the Boxe and bottome agree, or else it can neuer with any certeintie hang as it should. Although it be exceeding lothsome vnto me to deale in these mechanicall base practises, yet the necessitie is such, that one must needes deale therein. For of all the Instruments that the Nauigator vseth, this is farre the most excellent: and yet of all others this is most negli­gently and vnartificially made. Their Staues and Sea Cardes made in England are neate and fine. Their A­strolabes are tolerable: but these are euen such, as I haue shewed vnto you, which I could not so well haue shewed, but by this anatomizing of them: that the blame may bee apparant, either in those that make them, or in such as buy them, that will not goe to the price of better: wherein folly would shewe it selfe ve­ry eminent, if when a shippe with her lading may bee woorth many thousands of poundes (besides the ine­stimable value of the mens liues that are in her) halfe a [Page] pound should be thought much to be bestowed on a perfect Compasse; vpon the goodnesse whereof many times, both shippe, and goods, and liues of men doe take their triall: yea all these doe they ieopard (as it were) vpon a wager that their Compasse is true and perfect. To conclude, I would wish in any wise, that Artificers of these Instruments shoulde make euen great conscience of that they haue in hand; and not sleightly to passe them ouer after the order of dozen ware. Also that such as exactly make them, should be rewarded and esteemed accordingly. And finally that they which are to vse them, doe well examine their goodnesse, before they buy them.

Moreouer, it many times falleth out, that the hol­lowe side of the Capitall is made too narrowe in the bottome: and then will the Flie neuer play well, except the pinne be exceeding small & sharpe: which assoone as by vse it is a little dulled, the Flie will neuer shewe his pointes truely, though hee were touched with the best stone in the world. And very oftentimes the ouer­sight herein, is imputed wrongfully to the weaknesse of the Touch.

And therefore take care, that the greater Boxe be­ing square, be not set together with yron nayles. But if it be round, then see that it be handsomely turned. And in any wise that the lesser Boxe, wherein the Flie standeth, be well & exactly turned, of seasoned wood, and hauing the inside coloured with some white gli­stering colour: and not according to the common cu­stome rubbed about with a piece of Chalke, or a little white lime.

Furthermore because it is very necessarie, that who­soeuer sayleth by any Carde, ought diligently to fore­see [Page] that the Set of his Compasse be answerable to his Card, of the like Set (I meane) vnto that his Card was made by; And for that the wyers being once glewed on, may not well be altered, or remoued; And the dou­ble Flie by reasō of his vnwildie corpulēcie is nothing nimble, I haue framed one after this sort; a briefe de­scription whereof I thought not impertinent here to insert. The endes of the wyers must bee welded toge­ther. The wyers themselues are halfe round, with the otherside flatte to be placed vpon the bottome of the Flie. The Capitell hath two thinne narrowe Stayes of Latten reaching to the wyers on each side and fast sol­dered vnto them. The toppe of the Capitell must bee skrewed on the outside, and a little square piece of Latten with a small hollowe bent fitted for to skrewe vpon him; vnto this ende, that the Capitell being put through the bottome of the Flie in the Centre, and the skrewe on the vpper side, being turned on the top of the Capitell, the Flie and wyers both, may by this meanes bee closely combined together without any paste or glewe, and bee left bare throughout, to the most aduantage at any time for receauing the touche of the Stone, and more easily be kept from rust, being the greatest enemie that the touche of the Stone can haue: vnto which, all your pasted or glewed wyers are necessarily subiect: insomuch as you shall very sel­dome and (as I thinke) neuer, in the whole many of your vsuall Flies see any one, that is not infected here­with: being farre more noisome then Garlike, or Oile, and all the rest of those fondly surmised conceites. If the skrewe come not close ynough vpon the Flie, a little piece of pastboorde put on before the skrew, will be a remedie sufficient therein. When the wyers are [Page] thus fastened vnto the Flie, you may at al times remoue them to any point or part of a point at your pleasure, without anoyance vnto any thing. In such as I haue caused to be made for this purpose, I haue vsed a nar­rowe forme of a loope, the distance betweene the wy­ers in the middle, being little more then the fifth part of their length: and haue abated also the mettall of the wyars about the middle of them, and allowed some­what the more towards their ends.

THe Compasse of Variation is made in all respects like vnto the ordinary sayling Compasse, & is the very same in deede, excepting these two Additions. The one is, that on the inside of the lesser Boxe round about, iust with the height of the Flie, either vp­on the Boxe it selfe, or else vpon Paper or Pastboorde, fastened to the side thereof, there be a Circle diuided into 360. partes. And at euery 90. let a line be produ­ced both vpward to the top, and by the space of halfe an ynche downeward. At any one of which lines make a Flower de luce representing the North; and there begin your numbers on both sides thereof from 1, vn­to 90. doe the like also from the opposite part, betoke­ning the South. The other is, that a thwart the vpper face of the Glasse, there be placed a Ruler of Latten in length answerable to the Diameter of the Boxe, bea­ring in breadth the third part of an ynche or halfe an ynche, if you thinke good, for a very great Compasse. In the middle of which Ruler there must a line bee drawen according to the length of the Ruler▪ And to­ward [Page] eache end of equall distance therefrom, fitte two Sights of three ynches or longer (as your Compasis) and about a quarter of an ynche broade at the toppe, waxing broader toward the foote; where they are to be ioynted in such sort, that they may for handsome­nesse sake be folded the one close vpon the other, and stand erected at right angles. In the one of these along the middle thereof cut out the mettall, beginning a lit­tle beneath the top, downe to the foote, of conuenient breadth; that a Lute string hauing a small pearle or bugle on it to slide vp and downe, may be fastened pre­cisely in the middle throughout from the toppe to the foote. The other Sight being made after the same pro­portion and forme that the former was, hath onely a fine small slit pearced from within very little off the toppe downe to the foote, and must in his thickenesse be abated, that he weigh no more then the other. The Ruler thus furnished with his Sights, in the space be­tweene the sights and the brimme of the Boxe, ought to haue two loopes cut out in decent maner to looke downe through them vpon the Flie. And this Ruler must be diuided into many equall small partes; as 20, to an ynche, or such like; the numbers beginning from the Lute string sight vnto the other; and from the foote of that other to the toppe. When the Ruler is finished, as before I haue specified, it must a little be let into the brimme of the Boxe, that it may stand fast ha­uing the middle of it right ouer the line of North and South in the Boxe; and the Sight with the Lute string, ouer the South. But let it in such sort be fastened, that you may conueniently either take it off, or set it on as occasion shall serue. So that the Ruler being taken off, it is a Sayling Compasse, being set on, it serueth for [Page] the Variation in maner following.

The Flie of the Compas hauing at opposite partes directly ouer the points of the wyers some markes on the vpper side easie to be discerned (if it be a Meridio­nall Flie, it needeth not, in as much as the Flower de luce and the South point serue the purpose) turne the Boxe toward the East in the foorenoone with the Ru­ler on it, till the Lute string doe cast his shadowe right vpon the middle line of the Ruler, or on the slit of the other Sight. Then marke immediatly where the sha­dowe of the pearle doth light, vpon what diuision, if the lines be diuided, otherwise marke it with a penne; And also what part the Southend of the wyers, or, (which is all one) the Northend doth point vnto in the side of the Boxe. In the afternoone doe the like to­ward the West, with the pearle still vnremooued, tur­ning the Boxe, till the shadowe of the pearle falleth full vpon the place that it did in the forenoone: And note then also what part the endes of the wyers doe point vnto. Then if the number of partes obserued in the forenoone, be alone with those in the afternoone, there is no Variation at all: for the ends of the wyers doe shewe the true Meridian. But if the one exceede the other, subtrahe the lesser from the greater; And halfe the remainder is the Variation of the Compasse toward that side, which had the greater number in his obseruation.

This Compasse serueth farre better to set the land withall, and to describe any Harbour, Coaste, Hauen, Towne, or Countrey, then any before in common vse; by looking through the slitte, and bringing the thing that you would note, and the Lute string both in one; withall marking what partes the wyers doe shewe at [Page] that instant. Likewise for taking of distances.

All this may also bee performed with a Circle of Latten about one quarter of an ynche broade, hauing a stay going athwart perced through with loope holes (that it be no hindrance to viewe the Flie) and a Ruler mouing vpon it in forme like to the former. Which Circle must be diuided, as that within the Boxe was, frō the Flower de luce, which is to be placed a quarter of a Circle distant frō the line passing along the mid­dle of the stay, & haue his numbers reckoned towards the endes of the same line. And so must the other halfe of the Circle be diuided from the South point. Being thus diuided it must be placed euen fast and very fitte, close aboue the Glasse. And when you will vse it, turne the Boxe about, till the flower de luce of the Cir­cle stand right ouer the Northerly endes of the wyers: And the Boxe so standing, set the Ruler according to the forenoone and afternoones obseruation, doing all things els, as before. And you shall finde the selfe same effect.

I haue tryed at land the Crosse-needle in steade of the Flie, and do like it exceeding well. Whether is the better at Sea, I doe referre it vnto their iudgements that shall make due triall of both. The Crosse-needle I call two needles, the one of Steele, and the other of Latten, ioyned together in the Capitell, where they crosse each other at right angles; and so made, that they be of one length, very straight, and equally stan­ding vpon the pinne, no end ouerweyghing the other. This Needle well made and fitted as it ought to bee, will besides his proper vse, supply the vse also of a Per­pendicle, (a matter of great importance) to shewe the vpright standing of your Instrument, which the single [Page] Needle cannot doe; neither yet the Flie any whit com­parable vnto this. But you are diligently to note, that in continuance of time as the force of the Touch of the Stone doeth decay, so will the North ende of either Needle or Flie rise somewhat higher, and the South end sincke lower. For this is one of the wonderful pro­perties that the touch of the Magnete hath, that a nee­dle as yet not touched standing equally vpō his pinne, being once touched with whether ende of the Stone you list, the one end thereof shalbe reared higher, and the other fall lower: The difference whereof, as the goodnes of the Stone is greater, will accordingly the more appeare. And in processe of time as his force stil decaieth, so returneth hee more and more to his euen standing againe. By reason of which propertie the Ar­tificer is constrained, that he may make the Needle lie euen, to abate somewhat of the falling end, that the o­ther by vertue of the touch raised vp, may through this abatement, be brought downe to an equalitie of situa­tion with his fellowe. When therefore you perceaue the rising of the North end (as aforesaid) assure your selfe the Flie or Needle is weakened in strength, and hath neede to be refreshed with the Stone. Otherwise, if it were at the first well touched, be not too busie with it, but let it alone; except you bee well assured of the goodnesse of the Stone, and of the right maner of tou­ching. If the Northend riseth not any thing at all, and yet the Flie playeth not, then is it to be remedied with sharpening of the pinne. The commoditie of the vse of this Needle for a Perpendicle is, that because it is within the Boxe, the winde cannot hinder it, as it will any other Perpendicle (especially being small) that is in the open ayre.

THIS Instrument is a Circle about a quarter of an ynch broade, hauing his diametrall staye, Ruler, Sights, and all things else, as is last before described; sauing these additaments. The Com­passe Boxe of this Instrument must be of Latten, of what depth or shallownes you please. Only so prepare it, that the Needle or Flie want not in any wise space ynough at libertie to play in. Let the Circle haue a Quadrant firmely sowdered to his vttermost circum­ference, making right angles with the superficies of the Circle: whose semidiameter let be about the length of the semidiameter of the innermost circumference of the Circle, or somewhat shorter. Diuide the Quadrant into 90. degrees: and the numbers of those parts, pla­ced in two seueral borders, must be reckoned contrary wayes, the one beginning, where the other endeth. Vpon the edge of the vtter Circumference of the Cir­cle, where it and the Quadrant meete, there must be a strong and firme ioynt fastening the Circle and Qua­drant in that place vnto the Boxe in such sort, that as the Circle continually riseth, so the Quadrant may still sinke in the Ioynt. For this Ioynt must issue from the Boxe with a necke somewhat longer then the se­midiameter of the Quadrant, standing at right angles vpon the Boxe and Circle both: hauing in the middle a slit of capacitie sufficient to receaue the Quadrant, moued therein vp and downe according to the motion of the Circle itselfe, with a little screwe pinne on the one side to stay the Quadrant therewith, and so conse­quently the Circle, wheresoeuer you will haue it. And [Page] on the other side an Inlet must bee handsomely filed, that the lower part thereof, (being of a conuenient quantitie to conteine within it both the borders of the Quadrant) may precisely make one right line with the middle of the Axis of the Ioynt, and the neither se­midiameter of the Quadrant erected. So shall it al­wayes supply the vse of a fiduciall line, and distinctly shewe the numbers that are cut in the borders afore­said. Thus much concerning the description. The vse is briefely this. When the Circle is not eleuated, it is the aboue mentioned Compas of Variation: The mid­dle line of the diametrall Stay, representing East and West, and the Base of the Quadrant produced, ser­uing for North and South, &c. But when it is eleua­ted according to the height of the Equator (whose an­gle by the fiduciall line of the Inlet, the Quadrant sheweth in one number, and the height of the Pole in the other) it performeth the vse of an Equinoctiall Dyall generally throughout the whole world. For, supposing the Circle raysed as apperteyneth, let the Needle (and a Crosse-needle seemeth the best) keepe his due place agreeable to the Variation: Then turne the Ruler with his Sights about, till the shadowe of the Lute string being toward the Sunne, doe fall vpon the middle line or slit of the opposite Sight, being per­pendicularly erected on the Ruler like vnto the other. So shall the vppermost end of the Ruler directed to­ward the Sunne, declare the true houre, either in the vpper superficies of the Circle, to be reckoned by 15. degrees continually from East to South in the Fore­noone, and from thence to West in the Afternoone: or else for more expedition in a peculiar Border of houres drawen according to euery of those 15. degrees [Page] in the voide superficies vnderneath.

I had once purposed to haue written somewhat of an Instrument deuised by Robert Norman: who al­though he was not learned, yet was hee a very expert Mechanician, of an honest and good mind, and found that by his owne industrious practise, concerning a strange propertie of the Magneticall Needle, which no man (I thinke) before him did euer finde, and which (the more is the shamefull slouth of men) very fewe Nauigators haue practised euer sithence: Al­though the Instrument be very easie to be made, and the propertie no doubt in Nauigation of great conse­quence. But vnderstanding by conference with a man of rare learning both in Phisicke, his owne profession, and in diuers other laudable knowledges, besides that, he many yeeres hath laboured in the consideration of the properties of that Stone, and mindeth nowe out of hand for the common benefite to publish those his la­bours, I surceassed altogether from that purpose of mine, assuring me that hee (if any other) will be able most exactly to handle that Argument: For I found him excellently skilled, farre beyond any thing that I either knewe or imagined in that matter. Albeit I had read all that I could heare to haue written thereof, and had practised as many of their Conclusions, as I made any reckoning of. But I found mine Authours, euen of the best accompt, in many things very friuolous and vaine, and ignorant of the chiefest properties of im­portance. He that seemeth to haue written most lear­nedly is a Neapolitane, whose footesteps I followed, and found his Assertions erroneous in sixe seuerall Conclusions.

LEt there be a Table prepared after theCap. 1. forme of a long square, of 16. inches in length, and 12. in breadth, or else 20. long, and 16. broade, (as you thinke good, more or lesse) plaine and smooth, [Page] with Angles precisely right; and hauing a square bor­der inclosing it to keepe downe a sheete of Paper, like as Surueying tables haue. Diuide the foure sides of the border into equall diuisions of 8. vnto an ynche, or a­ny other, (as may be most conuenient) reaching all a long the inner side of the square, and number them by fiues, the figures of euery side being twise set downe to be reckoned both wayes (as occasion shall serue.) Againe, subdiuide euery of those diuisions by two prickes into 3. partes, not adding any numbers. If these diuisions be wrought vpon Latten plates being laide on & riuetted to the Border, it wilbe a great deale the fairer. Your Table thus finished, you must prouide a Ruler and a Quadrant, as necessarie furniture belon­ging thereunto. Let the Ruler be as long as the Diago­niall line of your square, that is, reaching athwart frō corner to corner, hauing the oneside handsomely a­bated, and both sides perfectly diuided from within halfe an ynch of one ende throughout, into the very same diuisiōs wherewith the Border was parted, with his numbers also redoubled and (as that) both wayes to bee accompted in such sort, that the diuisions bee drawen downe to the lowermost edge of the sides of the Ruler, that lieth close on the Table.

The Quadrant is best of Latten, with his semidia­meter of 3. or 4. ynches (more or lesse) somewhat thinne, hauing al the middle of his substance cut away, saue about a quarter of an ynch breadth reserued for his Circular limbe, & there about also for the breadth of his two right sides. Diuide the limbe into ordina­rie points of the Compasse, expressing them in siphers 1. 2. 3. &c. Let those numbers be twise set downe to be reckoned forward & backward, and betweene euery [Page] Point let there be halfes and quarters. All which parts (as before in the Ruler) must be produced to the nea­thermost edge of the limbe. Diuide also the two out­sides of the Quadrant into such diuisions as the Ruler hath, so farre as they will reach, placing the numbers along from the Center-corner, to the meeting of the sides with the limbe, and drawing those diuisions like­wise to the lowermost edge of the sides.

Nowe must you consider, that the Nauigator hath three helpes to finde out the place of his Ship, that he may set downe the pricke thereof vpon his Carde, viz.

• 1. The Angle, on which the Ship maketh her way: which is giuen by the Compasse.
• 2. The quantitie of the Ships way, to wit, howe many leagues she sayleth in an houre, or a watche: which they terme the dead recko­ning, and is learned by often experience.
• 3. The Latitude, taken by obseruation with Mathematicall Instruments.

Any two of these being giuen, this Instrument ma­keth the third manifest, and giueth the pricke in the Carde very readily. Except it so be, that the Ship doth runne vpon the Points of East or West: for then all three are necessarily required.

You are further here to note, that the place from whence any course is begun, is called a Radicall place: And so is euery place in the proceeding of the voyage named, whereof the Nauigator either by his owne, or by other mens practise, hath learned the true situation. And nowe to approch vnto the vse, spread a sheete of large papervpō the Table, fastening it with the Border [Page] placed thereon, to keepe it euen and smoothe: And set a Flower de luce, or any other note, for the North, hard by the edge of any one of the sides (which your course shall shewe to be most conuenient) about the middle thereof. That one marke is sufficient to determine all the other sides, towards which of the 4. principall windes they doe beare: for his opposite must needes be South, and the other two East and West. So that the diuisions in the sides of East and West, doe al of them in power represent so many Paralleles: and those of North and South in like maner so many Meridians.

THe dueties of a Friend, and the pro­perties of a Flatterer doe differ so greatly, that a man cannot performe the office of the one, but he must re­nounce the practise of the other. And a very fountaine it is, from whence many mischiefes doe spring, and ouerflowe the wret­ched life of mankinde: That the true dealing of friends is most commonly vnpleasant and hatefull, but the soothing of Flatterers is become plausible and much set by. In resemblances they beare many times like shewe, but in purposes they doe alwayes differ. A true Friend will sometimes commend and prayse diuers things in his friend: And so also will the Flatterer in those whom he flattereth: The one commendeth that which in iudgement he thinketh commendable, and vnto that ende that the partie commended should still proceede in actions worthy of commendation: The other commendeth euen those things many times, which in iudgement he doth detest, and vnto that end, that hee may sooth vp the humour of the partie, and make his owne profite thereby. Moreouer, a Friend [Page] will dispraise in his friend those things which in iudge­ment he doth disallow; and the greater the faultes are, the more earnest will he be: to the end that the partie may amend and giue no aduantage to his enemie. The Flatterer sometimes (though seeldome) will also dis­commend, but euermore trifing matters, and therein will he be very vehement; but in great faults he is both blinde and dumbe: fearing to offend the partie, if he should touch them; and in the other counterfeiting sincere loue (the badge onely oftrue friendship) And so leaueth he the partie thus abused, to the scorne and reproch of the aduersarie, reaping the commoditie which he looked for, as the onely end of his trauaile.

I doe not thinke there is any man that either regar­deth Gods glory, or esteemeth of humane societie, but holdeth your Arte woorthy to be numbred with the most excellent, that are exercised among men: And therefore is it of very due right, that you the practisers of it, should be had in great reputation. Neither is there any other Arte, wherein God sheweth his diuine power so manifestly, as in yours; permitting vnto you certaine Rules to worke by, and increasing them from time to time, growing stil onwards toward perfection, as the World doth toward his end; And yet reserueth still vnto himselfe the managing of the whole: That when you haue done what you can, according to the skill you already haue, or shall doe, by any that you may learne hereafter: yet alwayes will he make it ma­nifest, that he alone is the Lord of the Seas, that all stormes and tempestes doe but fulfill his will and plea­sure, and that all the waues of the Sea are continually at his commaundement: finally that it is he, who often­times administreth many helpes beyond all expecta­tion, [Page] when the Arte of man vtterly faileth. All which in the CVII. Psalme is so liuely expressed by the Prophet Dauid, that in all writers, whether sacred or prophane that euer I read, or by any reports that euer I heard, or in the liueliest pictures that at any time I behelde, it is in my iudgement, pierlesse and vnmatcheable: descri­bing the whole in briefe, and yet in the breuitie omit­ting nothing that was necessarie; and affirming no­thing but that, which the continuall experience of our dayes doth proclaime to be most true. O that Nauiga­tours therefore would prayse the Lord for his mercies, and shewe foorth his wonders before the children of men. That they would once learne that, The feare of the Lord is the beginning of Wisedome. Most vndoubtedly then would their Arte flourish, their voyages prosper and haue better successe: yea themselues would be more estee­med & honoured of all men. Whereas nowe the pro­phane liues and brutish behauiour of diuerse of that trade, doth somewhat eclipse the glorie of the professi­on it selfe: And, besides other manifolde punishments, God striketh them with such blindnesse, as no men li­uing of any trade whatsoeuer are to be found so igno­rant, as many of them are of theirs; so senselesse in their owne defect, or so litle desirous to amend them. Yea, and some of the greatest skill and practise are so loathe to giue God his due glorie, that many times labouring to suppresse it, they make shipwracke of their owne credites and reputations, which otherwise of right might accrewe vnto them. Whē they haue performed along voyage of great difficultie, wherin many a time and oft they haue beene at their wits end, and knewe not which way in the world they should turne them selues, God deliuering them beyond their owne ex­pectations, [Page] as their consciences can witnes: yet when the danger is one past, and that home they be come, they take it as a blemish of their estimations, and great impeachment to their credites, to giue God the praise, and to yeeld him thankes, imagining that would de­rogate too much from the admiration, which they so greedily hunt after among men.

I haue heard a merie report: Shippes of sundry Nations lying in a harbour in faire weather, the yong mariners were climing and shewing feates of actiuitie, one of one Nation to outbragge the other. At length a nimble yoncker getteth him to the very toppe of the Foremast, and raysing himselfe boult vpright, turned round vpon his foote without any staye, chalendging his Antagonist, or any of the Nation to doe the like. His Antagonist presently vndertaketh the chalendge; but hauing turned scarse halfe about, fell downe, and (as God would) in his tumbling by good hap caught hold of the shrowdes: and assoone as euer he had a lit­tle recouered his spirits, being halfe dead for feare, yet set a bould countenance on the matter: and he also a­gaine with a loude voyce dared his aduersarie or any other of that Nation to doe the like; as though that which befell him by his errour, he had done of very purpose. Euen so diuerse that haue perfourmed long voyages, God knoweth how, but not they themselues; yet will sweare and stare, crake & boast, that they haue done all things according vnto Arte: and tell vs of such Gulfes and swift Currents, moe by a great many then euer God made, and are but deuised by themselues for shiftes to shadowe their ignorance, and to robbe God of his prayse: the thing being as strange a matter, and as much according vnto Arte [Page] that euer they came home againe, as that was, which the fellowe before specified wrought his feate by.

Petrus Nonius maketh mention of one in his dayes, that had tenne times passed from Portugall to the East Indies: And yet diuerse times when he shoulde haue subtrahed his declination, did adde it, and when he should haue added, did subtrahe it.

But for you the Nauigatours of England, this I doe verely thinke in my conscience, that diuers of you doe feare God vnfeinedly, and doe as much dislike the dis­solute course of the common sort, as any men can. And I do nothing doubt, although the number of such are too fewe in our Nation, yet are they moe then any Nation in Christendome can shewe besides. And al­beit your skill is not such, but that amendment may become it well ynough: yet doe I not iudge that either the Spaniards or Portugals, who are accompted the best, doe better yours: and for their life and behauiour I take it to be worse then the worst among you, reser­uing still for them, that which Horace long since impu­ted vnto them:

For notwithstanding their first Nauigatours were men of good skill, these now a dayes for the most part are grossely ignorant: And a great folly it is in diuerse of our Nation to haue such confidence in Portugall Pilottages for long voyages, hauing farre more skil­full of our owne Countreymen at home, both better to be trusted, and more valiant and present minded in any danger. And it is a thing very certaine, that ours doe encrease in skill, and better very much their Aun­cestours, [Page] whereas theirs for the most part are a great deale worse: And if they be once any thing out of their ordinary traded course, they are the seeliest fel­lowes that doe floate vpon the Seas. Their Cardes are decked with much Golde and little Arte, out of mea­sure false (as I haue heard by men of good experience) euen vpon their owne coastes, and are but transcripts newe furbished. Their other Instruments very simple, especially their Staues most contemptibly nought. I haue seene diuerse of them, euen as vnfit for the pur­pose they should serue, as an Oxe is to weare a saddle. But wee are very much addicted to admire strangers, and contemne our owne, according to the olde Pro­uerbe, For soothe it must needes be true; for I haue learned it of a Iewe. Two things therefore there are greatly wi­shed by all your well willers to encrease in you, The true feare of God, and a carefull diligence in things belonging to your Arte. Where the feare of God is not, no Arte can serue the turne: for that were to make of Arte an Idole. And yet all those that feare God, must take heede, that they doe not tempt God: And therefore ought they to vse Arte, as the meanes that God hath ordeyned for their benefite, and be thanke­full vnto him for it.

These Instruments, that, for the assistance of your Arte, it hath pleased God to giue me a small portion of knowledge to compose, whether without paynes and chardges they haue beene finished and brought to this passe, I commit to your iudgements. For mine owne part, I am one that in any priuate respect hath as little to doe with the Sea, as any other; and in perti­culer haue no cause for to hope that I shall reape any maner cōmoditie thereby. And for these my trauailes [Page] and expences, although it should be well accepted ac­cording to my desire among Nauigatours; yet haue I no reason to thinke me one iot to be benefited there­by, no not so much as in any credite (which notwith­standing, if it were one of an other profession, possible he might obtaine.) Nay, if I may escape handsomely from mockes and scornes, vsuall with some Contem­ners of laudable Sciences, I must thinke that I haue made a faire hand. But I thanke God I haue bestowed neither paines nor charges, more then I was willing and might well doe. And if it may by Gods grace prosper to the ende that I haue purposed, that is, to some of your good, little doe I esteeme what euery Idiote doeth thinke or iudge of my labour. I knowe right well, that among the vulgar people, there are many thousands, which going vnto market, doe bring home with them a peniworth or two of Cloaues or Mace nowe and then; and yet neuer asked the questi­on where they grewe, nor by which way they were transported from their Natiue countrey vnto vs, whe­ther by the way of Ormus through Persia, or of Arabia by Carauan vnto Alepo, or by the Red Sea vnto A­lexandria, and thence out of the Leuant vnto vs: or whe­ther they came through the huge Ocean by the Cape of Bona Speransa. They take no knowledge of such mat­ters: The cōsideration of any dangers in the Streights of Cincapura, or of the Showldes of Maldiuar neuer troubleth them: And yet it relisheth euen as well and serueth their vses as commodiously, as if they had all the afore mentioned knowledge. Albeit I hope that men of vnderstanding and wisedome will easiyly per­ceaue, that Gods prouidence in his workes is onely manifest vnto those which doe consider them, and of [Page] others is nothing at all discerned, & as little regarded. If it were onely among the common sort, that Cosmo­graphie should be so contemned, it were the lesse to be meruailed at: but that any which professe learning of any facultie whatsoeuer, should altogether neglect it, and be vtterly ignorant of it, it is to be more then pi­tied, and especially in Gentlemen and Noblemen is it no small defect: who diuerse times in this our age haue some occasion or other, at the least to talke and dis­course thereof. Wherein I coulde wish they woulde haue in remembrance a saying of Apelles vnto Me­gabysus a Nobleman of Persia▪ who comming into his Shop, although his knowledge was but small, yet was he loath to haue it appeare that he was ignorant of a­ny thing; And therefore began to question and dis­pute of lines, of shaddowes, and of such like matters belonging vnto that Arte. But Apelles entreated him to make more spare of his speache: for saieth hee, my youthes which grinde my colours, hearing your idle discourses, doe deride them, which before had you in great admiration for your gallant and glittering attire. If it were a thing possible, that they which are altoge­ther ignorant of Cosmographie, coulde be perswaded howe easie a matter it were to attaine vnto some com­petent knowledge therein, I doe verely thinke, that a­mong those that are of witte and iudgement, some­what more then they of the very vulgar sort, you should not finde one among a thousand, that woulde be ignorant of it, whereas nowe you haue euen scant one among a thousand, that hath any vnderstanding therein. For I am well assured, and doe speake it vp­on some experience, that one but of meane capacitie, so that he be of a willing minde, and haue a sufficient [Page] Instructour, with fitte Instruments, may very easily in one moneths space attaine vnto great contentment of knowledge, yea such, as they commonly imagine, coulde not be learned in seuen yeeres. Nowe as it is seemely for all men to haue at the least some taste in such knowledges, so vnto Nauigators it is necessarie in the highest degree. And I doe nothing doubt, but that any one of them, with a two moneths learning of a skilfull Teacher, and three yeeres practise in a fewe good voyages (God blessing his labours) shall get more perfection in that Arte in so small a space, then he coulde otherwise with twentie yeeres experience, according to the ordinarie ignorant practise. Al­though such Instructours are in number but fewe, yet I thinke there are moe then are greatly employ­ed; and would be many moe, if they were in request, and better esteemed, especially about the Citie of London; whither there is so great repaire and con­course of men addicted vnto those affaires: where pos­sible (though vnknowen vnto me) there may be di­uerse, yet knowe I but one, whose name is Iohn Good­wyn, dwelling in Bucklers-burie: A man vnskilfull in the Lattin tongue, yet hauing proper knowledge in Arithmetike, and Land-measuring, in the vse of the Globe, and sundry other Instruments: And hath ob­teined, partly by his owne industrie, and by reading of English Writers (whereof there are many very good) and partly with conference with learned men, (of which hee is passing desirous) such ready know­ledge and dexteritie of teaching and practising the groundes of those Artes, as (giuing him but his due) I haue not beene acquainted with his like. And great pitie it is that in so populous a place, many such were [Page] not employed: But greater is the griefe vnto diuers well willers of that noble Citie, and louers of good Artes, that where as not many yeeres since, there was a Mathematicall Lecture publiquely erected for those purposes, and furnished with a learned man of suffici­encie answerable, of very honest and courteous beha­uiour, affable to resolue beginners of their doubts; the partie was afterwards dismissed, and the thing (that beganne to be so great a commendation to the Foun­ders, so principall an ornament to the Citie, and a commoditie (both vnto it and the whole Realme in generall) was notwithstanding without all regarde, basely suffered to sincke and vanish in the ende vnto nothing. Surely in all equitie and reason it were fitte, that euery Citie standing vpon merchandise and ma­rine trades, should be ayding vnto those Faculties, whereby the greatest part of their well gotten goodes doeth accrewe vnto them: And especially that hono­rable Citie, which is not onely made riche, but by the meanes of Nauigation is growē famous also through­out the whole World. As therefore I vnfainedly ac­knowledge that in diuers good respectes no one Citie of the whole Earth is comparable vnto it. so doe I heartely wish an increase in all commendable actions, (among which this was none of the least) and not a decrease: The rather sith the augmentour of the pub­lique benefite in that behalfe, shall thereby highly commend his owne true loue towards his Citie and Countrey vnto all Posteritie, and become more re­nowmed by such actions, then by any painted glorious Tombe, or the like kinde of monuments.

The onely good methode of teaching and learning Cosmography (after a fewe principles of Geometry and [Page] Arithmetike first knowen) is, to beginne with the Ce­lestiall Globe, and to be perfect therein, before you deale with the Terrestriall: for this dependeth on that, and the former being once reasonably vnderstoode, the other is not two dayes worke. After you haue thus receaued a sufficient impression of the Globe (where­vnto all true Mappes and Cardes haue a necessarie re­ference) then will the consideration of them become exceeding pleasant and easie vnto you; but neuer be­fore. This I mention, because I haue heard ere nowe, of certaine Teachers, that vndertaking men of good habilitie to be instructed by them, haue beene a great while about a little; spending the time about diuerse pretie particular toyes, which full easely would haue beene knowen of themselues without any teaching, if they had taken the course that I speake off: But such imitate ill disposed Surgeons, which loue to protract a cure, of purpose to sucke the more gaine there­from.

Mappes and Cardes of the Globe of the Earth are of three sortes most vsuall, distinguished by their seue­rall kindes of Meridians and Paralleles. The first hath his Meridians and Paralleles described by Circular lines: And among those I take that manner of Proie­ction, which Rumoldus Mercator hath vsed (proposed long before by Orontius in his Frenche Cosmography, as I haue heard) to be of all other the very best, hauing the Meridians and Paralleles drawen according to the Mater of Gemma Frisius generall Astrolabe. The rea­son that I so greatly like of this, is, for that the proie­ction is very Regular, and therein the natiue Geogra­phicall description may neerest of all others obteyne their due situation.

[Page]An other sort there is, wherein the Globe of the Earth is diuided in two Hemispheres, the Center in both of them being one of the Poles, and the Circum­ference the Equator. In this the Meridians are streight lines drawen from the Poles vnto the Equator; and the Paralleles are Circles. These Paralleles may be described after two wayes: The one enlarging the landes descri­bed towardes the Equator, the other, towardes the Poles. The former is thus delineated. Set the one end of a Ruler vpon the ende of one of the Diameters or Meridians aforesaide, and the other part of the Ruler 90. degrees from that: And keeping the former ende fixed vpon his place, remooue the other to euery one, or fifth, or tenth degree of the next Quadrant, till your Ruler passing through the Pole, becommeth all one with the same Diameter, noting continually in the Semidiameter of 90. degrees distance, whence you first beganne to moue your Ruler, where it cutteth the saide Semidiameter: Then placing one foote of the Compasse vpon the Center or Pole, the other vpon any of those diuisions of the Semidiameter, describe a Circle, which shall be a Parallele answerable to that diuision: And so may you drawe as many, or fewe, as you thinke conuenient. The other is thus described. Beginne at the ende of any Semidiameter where it toucheth the Equator, and numbring still equall de­grees on eache side thereof, marke what intersections your Ruler applyed vnto them maketh in that Semi­diameter: Then may you drawe the Paralleles here al­so, euen as before. The former of these two is repre­sented vnto you by the figure A. the later by the figure B. This kinde of Proiection serueth most aptly to ex­presse in a Carde the Spirall course of a Ship, which [Page] some terme Paradoxall. But whether of these names (being both as yet strangers) shall best deserue to bee freedenized, I leaue to other mens iudgements: One­ly I say, (Paradoxall) is beside the purpose, and asto­nisheth with an emptie sound: but (Spirall) appertei­neth directly to the matter, and declareth the true es­sence of the thing signified.

The third sort of Cardes haue both their Meridians and Paralleles of streight lines equidistant, and these onely are in ordinarie vse with Saylers. Of these I neede not write any thing, they are so commonly knowen, and their imperfections in long voyages so manifest, though in short they may well serue the turnes. And yet I cannot here conceale one great se­crete concerning these Cardes, namely, that there is a certaine draught of them very Artificiall and regular: which being well vnderstoode, redresseth the errours of the other; and (as farre as I canne discerne) will so satisfie the Nauigators expectation, as no Carde hi­therto inuented was euer comparable vnto it, neither (as I thinke) any that shalbe hereafter, wil in al respects surpasse it. Although for the Geographicall descrip­tions, they may and must alter from time to time, as newer discoueries by light of trueth shall make them better knowen vnto vs.

This manner of Carde hath beene publiquely ex­tant in print these thirtie yeeres at least, but a cloude (as it were) and thicke myste of ignorance doth keepe it hitherto concealed: And so much the more, because some who were reckoned for men of good know­ledge, haue by glauncing speaches, (but neuer by any one reason of moment) gone about what they coulde to disgrace it. The Carde (which I meane) is the same, [Page] that was set foorth by the excellent Cosmograpber Ge­rardus Mercator, in shewe resembling ordinarie Sea Cardes, saue that the degrees of the Meridians in it doe proportionally encrease from the Equator toward eache Pole, vpon good reason and firme Demon­stration: thereby shewing the true Position of any one place in respect of an other: which the vsuall Cardes in a farre distance cannot doe, being yet the very principall point that the Nauigator desireth.

For the better vnderstanding and making of Sea Cardes of that sort, I haue here immediatly ensewing set downe a Demonstration, which I obteined of a friende of mine of like profession vnto my selfe, eui­dently shewing the proportionall encreasing of those degrees, wherein consisteth the excellencie of that Carde.

First determine the degree of the Equator, in respect whereof you woulde frame the Meridian of your Carde: for example, the little line a. Next describe the Quadrant of a Circle, so large, that it may per­fectly and distinctly receaue euery of the vsuall 90. de­grees, into which it must be diuided. Then from the Centre A. towarde B. take in the Semidiameter A B. (from whence the degrees of the Quadrant be­ginne) a line precisely equall vnto a, namely D F. And from the points D and F. to the Semidiameter A C. raise two Paralleles D E. and F G. Againe from F. toward B. at a distance conuenient, take the second line K H. equall vnto a. And from the points H K. rayse other Paralleles, H I. and K L. equidistant to the former. Afterwards applying the one ende of your Ruler to the Center A. and the other to euery the de­grees of the Quadrant B C. drawe lines athwart be­tweene [Page] the Paralleles aforesaid: so shall all the lines thus drawen cōteyned betweene the Paralleles, be the degrees of the Meridian sought for, taking their several Denominations of their correspondent degrees in the Quadrant, as by the figure here ensuing is manifest. Of what sort soeuer your Cardes be, you must alwayes remember, that the knowledge of the vse of the Globe must be a moderator vnto them: and that thereby you shall still become master ouer your Card, to espie and amend his faults; whereas otherwise you shall be ma­stered by your Cards, blindly embracing their errors. By meanes hereof it was, that the famous Nauigators of the World performed their discoueries & renow­med voyages, hauing no maner of Cardes to sayle by. And an easie matter it is, for a man that already hath ordinary skill and practise in sayling by vsuall Cardes, to learne in one fourthnight so much of the vse of the Globe, that vpon his obseruations he may either keepe or change his Points for his best aduantage; And of a­ny places, whose Longitudes or Latitudes are knowen, may tell without any Carde, vpon what point they lie, and howe farre they are distant from you: Also vpon what Point they lie each from other, & the distance be­tweene them, with diuerse other things that are neces­sarie, and helde for rareties in that facultie. For in very many of them Enuie doth so reigne, that almost euery one keepeth his owne knowledge to himselfe, without imparting it vnto others: whereas they should all pro­fite a great deale more, if they would communicate their knowledges one with an other, for the publique benefite: But in so much as eache one affecteth to be singular, disdayning the knowledge of others, they haue farre lesse knowledge amōg them all, then other­wise [Page] they might haue: for of necessitie many mens pra­ctises must cōcurre, to make experimental knowledge exact. It were greatly to be wished, that many of them might be founde so well minded towardes their owne trade, as was that notable Pilot Steuen Burrowes: who for his skill, industrie, and performance, may iustly be reckoned among the chiefe of our Nation, and of the world also; if we respect that only, in stead of al, which he worthily atchieued in the first Moscouian discouerie by the Scythian Sea: who if he had bin employed one Sommer more againe towardes the Riuer of Obbe, I doubt not, but proceeding with his former successe, he would haue performed more in that Sommer for trial of a Passage (any or none) that way vnto Catthay, then for the space of these 40. yeeres all Christendome hath done besides; not hauing (asitseemeth) added vnto his, 40. leagues of good discouerie, euer since. The good mind he bare towards his profession he testified here­in, that by his very earnest meanes he procured that learned and easie Treatise of Martine Curteise, concer­ning the Arte of Nauigation, to be translated into our English tongue. The which doubtles hath giuen great light vnto all of skil in that faculty, that euer were since of our Nation: And is more almost, then all our Naui­gators haue holpen the Arte of Nauigation withall besides. A great helpe also would it be for the furthe­rance of skill, if those that are practisers in that Arte, and such as are Students of the Mathematikes, might often conferre together. For except there be a vniting of knowledge with practise, there can be nothing ex­cellent: Idle knowledge without practise, & ignorant practise without knowledge, serue vnto small purpose. But certaine it is, that all the good partes which may [Page] be wished for, or aymed at, shall neuer absolutely con­curre in one man. And therefore if there be but some conuenient mixture of them in any, that party is to be esteemed. For although many things appertayning to Nauigatiō, may be learned & taught by rules of Arte, yet some necessarie points (without which all the rest is nothing) are beyond the compasse of Arte: As for a man to be of a ready and valiant mind; to handle and order those things, that are within the reache of his knowledge, with dexteritie vpon euery present occa­sion: These and such like are iustly termed the giftes of God: For although all things tearmed by Arte are the giftes of God (sith euen Arte it selfe is giuen by God, who is the Authour and fountaine of all know­ledge) yet these are tearmed his giftes more peculi­arly: because the other are giuen by meanes, and these without meanes. Suppose that a man haue all the knowledge that may be wished for, & be notwithstan­ding faint hearted, & his wits (as they say) to seeke, whē he hath most neede of them, his knowledge will ayde him very little. Againe, if he be of neuer so bolda cou­rage, & want discretion, knowledge, & iudgement, he is very vnfit for the gouernement of a Ship: But if such a one be also (as most cōmonly they are) wilfull, taking it for a glorie to be foolehardie, this is as great a mis­chiefe, as all other dangers of the Sea, if they were all set together. Where therefore boldnes of courage, di­rected & moderated by discretion & iudgement; also a body enhabled to brooke the Seas, are matched with a willing mind vnto Marine affaires, & endued with the feare of God; wheresoeuer I say, these speciall giftes of God are to be found, there the ornaments of Arte, as necessary additaments, will alwayes most effectually [Page] take place, & are most easily attained vnto. But where those former, at the least in some comperent measure, are not, al the rest is vanitie. It is euen a most irkesome and wofull sight, to behold a company of courageous yong Gentlemen to be led on blindfolded (as it were) in marine actions, by such as haue no feare of God be­fore their eyes; and many times by those, that are very ignorant of almost any thing that good is if any thing might be accompted good, where the feare of God is not) but onely can tell of their owne experience, howe they haue dissimboched from Terra Stolida, making their voyage toward the Isle of Pickery: gracing them­selues (as they suppose) with swearing and staring, and wishly lookes. A few such monsters hauing the chiefe gouernement in Ships, and voyages, are a great deale more dangerous, then all the monsters in the Sea: And for euery one that is bereft of life by these, a hundred at the least are destroyed by the other.

The serious consideration of these things haue oc­casioned me of a friendly mind and entire good will, (wherein toward your profession, I wil giue place vnto no man liuing) to admonish you of these points, which I haue thought necessary; Beseeching Almighty God, (who is the Lord both of Sea & dry Land) by his holy Spirit of true wisedome to gouerne & direct you in all your actions, that employing your diligent endeuour in your Arte in his feare, and calling vpon him in the time of trouble, he may heare and deliuer you from all your distresses; And that being deliuered, you may accordingly glorifie him, yeelding praise and thankes for his mercies before the sonnes of men.