1 Of the Circles.

The circles expressed in Mappes are fiue, the Equinoctiall, the 2. Tropikes, and the two Polare circles.

The Equinoctiall or Equator, is a cir­cle imagined iust in the midst betweene the two Poles, compassing the whole earth about.

1 This circle deuideth the worlde in­to two equall parts, that is so saye, the [Page] North and the South.

2 It serueth also to know the Longi­tude of places, which is measured vpon it, and the Latitude which is measured from it, either Northwarde or South­warde.

3 When the Sunne is in it, the day is equall with the nighte throughout all the worlde.

4 When the Sunne is furthest from it, the day is either shortest or longest.

The Tropikes are those circles which the Sunne maketh about the worlde, when it is furthest from the Equinoctial either Northwarde or Southwarde.

If it be Northwarde it is called the Tropike of Cancer, bicause the Sunne then returning backwardes entreth into that signe.

If it be Southwarde it is called the Tropike of Capricorne, bicause then the Sunne entreth into the signe of Capri­corne.

These circles do deuide the temperate Zones from the burnt Zone.

[Page] The Polare circles are those which the Poles of the Zodiake doe make aboute the Poles of the worlde, in the space of 24. houres.

They deuide the temperate Zones from the colde Zones: and are so farre distant from their Poles (that is, the Ar­ctike from the North, and the Antartike from the South Pole) as the Tropikes are from the Equinoctiall.

The two Tropikes and the two Po­lare circles do deuide the whole earthe into fiue parts, which are called Zones. Wherof that which lieth vnder the E­quinoctiall betwéene the two Tropikes, is called the burnte Zone: the other two betwixt either of the Tropikes and the Polare circles are called Temperate Zones: and the other two vnder either Pole are called colde Zones.

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2 Of the Longitude and Latitude.

In reckning y^e Longitude of y^e world, the auncient Geographers tooke their beginning at a right line imagined to be drawne from the one Pole to the other, by the Ilandes called the Canaries, be­yonde Hercules pillers (which lyne for this purpose I call the VVesterne line) so that the Longitude of any place is the di­staunce [Page] of the same from that line East­warde, and so rounde aboute vnto the same line agayne.

Some late writers do reckē the Lon­gitude frō the VVesterne line Eastward 180. degrées, and also from the same westward. 180. degrées, which béeing ad­ded togither do make. 360. describing it in the middest betwene the two Poles, and deuiding the world into. 2. equall partes, wherof the Westerne they call the Po­nent, and the Easterne the Levant.

The latitude is the distaunce af any place frō the Equinoctiall circle towards either of the Poles.

Where so euer you are, imagine a poynt or pricke directly ouer your head, which is called Zenith, the distāce wher­of from the VVesterne lyne is the longi­tude, and from the Equinoctiall the lati­tude. And for this purpose in the vni­uersall Chartes, you haue lines (called Meridians) drawne in lengthe from Pole to Pole, distant one from another 10. degrées, beginning at the VVesterne lyne, and so Eastwarde, which doe eui­dently [Page] shew the Longitude of any place.

There are also drawne certaine Para­leles from the Equinoctiall towardes ei­ther of the Poles, differing one from an other. 10. degrées, declaring the Latitude.

Note that the latitude or distance frō the Equinoctiall line, and the eleuation of the Pole in any place are equall.

3 Of Climates and Paraleles.

The Climates & Paraleles serue both for one purpose, that is, the difference of the longest dayes, whiche doe increase within certayne spaces from the Equi­noctiall towards either of the Poles.

A Climate is a space of distance from the Equinoctiall line, where the longest day maketh difference of halfe an houre.

The olde writers do make but seuen Climates, and doe name them of some notable and famous place.

1 The first they name of Meroe a citie in Afrike, vnder the burnte Zone, thys cōteineth in brodnesse. 7. degrées. 40. mi.
[Page] It beginneth at 12. deg. 45. mi.
It endeth at 20. deg. 30. mi.
The longest day. Prin. 12. h. 45. m.
The longest day. Fin. 13. h. 15. m.

2 The seconde of Syena, a citie in the confines of Ethiopia, vnder the Tropike of Cancer, cōteining in brodnesse. 7. degr.
beg. 20. g. 30. m. dies lo. 13. h. 15. m.
end. 27. g. 30. m. dies lo. 13. h. 45. m

3 The third is named of Alexandria, a famous Citie in Egypte, conteyning in brodnesse. 6. g. 10. min.
beg. 27. g. 30. m. dies lo. 13. h. 45. m
end. 33. g. 40. m. dies lo. 14. h. 15. m

4 The fourth hath his denomination of that noble Ilande of Rhodes in Asia the lesse, whose brodnesse is. 5. g. 20. m.
beg. 33. g. 40. m. dies lo. 14. h. 15. m
end. 39. g. [...]. m. dies lo. 14. h. 45. m

5 The fifte climate hath his name of the citie of Rome, whiche conteineth in brodnesse. 4. g. 30. m.
[Page] beg. 39. g. 40. m.dies lo. 14. h. 45. m
end. 43. g. 30. m. dies lo. 15. h. 15. m.

6 The sixte of the sea Euxine called Pontus, which is 3. g. 45. m. brode.
beg. 43. g. 30. m. dies lo. 15 h. 15. m.
end. 47. g. 15 m. dies lo. 15. h. 45. m

7 The seuenth is named of Boristhe­nis a great riuer in Scythia, whose brod­nesse is. 3. g. 15. m.
beg. 47. g. 15. m dies lo. 15. h. 45. m.
end. 50. g 30. m 16. h. 15. m.

Some do adde the eight Climat by the South partes of England, and the ninth by the riuer Tanais.

The Southerne Climats, haue y^e same names, putting only this Greeke propo­sition, Anti, before them.

A Paralele is iuste halfe a Climate, so that one Climate conteyneth two Paraleles.

4 The measure of distance of one place from another.

Diuers nations do diuersly measure the distance of places.

The Egyptians by signes or markes.

The Persians by their Parasangas.

The Gréekes by furlonges.

The Latines by miles, and sometimes by stones or markes.

The Spaniards & Frenchmē by legues.

The Germanes and diuers other natiōs by myles, and those of diuers length. Those which do write of these mat­ters, do all in a maner agrée in this, that foure graynes of barly do make a finger.

Foure fingers a hande.

Foure hands a foote.

Foure foote a Geometricall pase, whiche is two simple pases.

125. Geometricall pases a furlong.

8. Furlonges one mile.

16. Furlongs a French league, which is two Italian miles.

3. Miles a great league.

30. Furlongs one Parasanga, which the [Page] Persians at this day call Farasanga.

40. Furlongs one Germaine mile.

To apply your degrées to the finding out of the distance of one place from an other, by the number of miles (as they are cōmonly taken amongst vs in Eng­lande) you must vnderstande that euery degrée containeth. 60. miles on earth, so that if you multiplie. 360. degrées, which is the compasse of the Equinoctial, by. 60. you shall finde the worlde to conteine a­boute the whole circumference of the earth and water. 21600. miles.

If you take your measure of distance from the Equinoctiall line directly either Northwarde or Southward, or else vp­pon the Equinoctiall line Eastwarde or Westwarde, you néede no more but count your degrées, and for euery degrée count. 60. miles: or if your Chart be true in proportion, open your compasse as wide as those two places are asunder, whose distance you woulde knowe, and apply the same to the Equinoctiall line, and multiplye your degrées as before, and so you shall haue your purpose.

In particuler and Chorographical [Page] Chartes you may finde the true distance of any place from another, either by the numbers of longitude and latitude de­scribed in the margine of your Chart, or by the Scale which is moste commonly made for that purpose. And if you wante bothe these helpes, take any two places wherof you knowe or may learne the true distance, and measure that, and according to that propor­tion you may finde out any distaunce in the Chart. (⸪)