FIrst for Apollogie and Confirmation of the thinge I doe not see but I may well (without flattering or ouermuch affecting my owne doinges auouch it to be the best & rarest deuise for an Astrolabe that euer came forth in any age, & to most vse & pleasure, and do wish any man that thinketh hee can contradict it to doe it in writing that I may eyther yeild or aunswere. For, to backbyte or de­tract by wordes any man that hath openly published himselfe by writing is neyther honest nor credible, rather it bewrayeth himselfe to bee eyther partiall, malicious, ignorante, or vaineglorious. But to the matter I say for an Astrolabe not comparing it (though the deuise be more new & rare) with the Catholicon or Iewell, which contayneth in it the seuerall vses, not onely of all Astrolabes but also of the Sphere and Globes them­selues, and of all other Instruments both Astronomicall and Geometricall, being fitted accordingly as hereafter if God permit I will yet more ma­nifest. Therefore very vnaptly by Gemma Frisius named Astrolabum Ca­tholicon had he not added thereunto in his title. In quo quicquid vspiam rerum mathematicarum tradi possit continetur &c. And for that cause I ha­uing amplyfied the deuise both in fashion & vse, named it the Mathema­ticall Iewell But to fetsorth an Astrolabe: and no more but an Astrolabe: then I say, that this and no other is Astrolabium Catholicon or Generale. Which must needes be confessed, if with Messahala we do but define the word Astrolabe who (as Io. Stophlerus reporteth) sayth, that Astrolabium est nomen grecum cuius Interpretatio est acceptio stellarū. In latin it is cal­led (as Stophler saith) Astrolat sus: quasi astrorum casus vel lapsus, vel quia metitur lapsus vel transitus astrorumet signorū. Wherefore seeing it appea­reth by the diffinition of the name: that the very Intendement of the de­uise of the Astrolabe, was but to comprehende the lapses, courses, risings, and settings of the signes, starrs, and planets, vnto the sundry Horizons in seuerall countries and latitudes: and no further. All which this my Ʋra­nicall Astrolabe so effectually, so plausibly, so pleasingly, so easily, and so suffitiently performeth. That (the round globe it selfe excepted) neyther he Iewell, neither any other deuise of Astrolabe either generall or particu­lar, [Page] of which many haue been, and with great ioy and applausure hereto­fore receiued, cōmeth any way neere it. Therefore I can not see howe or with what face any man can iustly detract from it. Let me here examine the matter publicquely, and to make short & come speedily to the point omitting such horoscopes as Apian & others published with their cylin­ders shipps, rings & many other learned Ludicra & deuises in dyalls fra­med for the rising and setting of the signes & starrs, and leauing out such Astrolabes as old Sconer and diuers other did set foorth which weare ne­uer much accompted of, and straight iumpe in with that high cōmended and so euer wel accepted Astrolabe, euen the very foundatiō of al that haue been since which Io. Stophlerus last established in his booke de Fabrica et vsu Astrolabij. euen that Astrolabe without which on the backside, Gemma Frisius woulde not allowe his Catholicon currant: although in my Iewell I supply it on the face, and that more generall. Well then, if you throughly consider of, or looke into that so excellent deuise: whe­ther to a particular Horizon as Io. Stophlerus framed him: or generall to all Horizons as G. Frisius appointed him: or more general to al Horizons & both Poles, as my selfe in my Iewell deuised him: yet by all those deui­ses, in regard that of a 1000. starts & vpwards wel known & recorded by Images in the heauēs conceiued, there could be no vse of aboue 40. or 50. of them. & that vse halfe purblind for wāt of the Images. And that in this Vranicall Astrolabe there is equal vse of the whole trope & of euery Image & constellatiō in his full proportiō, as plaine as the day to be feene: a few towards the South pole which with vs are neuer seen excepted: and that many more Astrolabicall propositiones are to be performed thereon, ge­nerall to al Horizōs, then before could be done by that of Stophlers to one Horizon. Therefore I can not but most confidētly defend, confirme, and preferr the deuise thereof before thē all in his kinde. And adding another face thereunto, for those few cōstellations wāting & cōsidering the small charge, the easie portabillity & the readines of [...] (for which 3. causes the Astrolabe was first deuised & euer accompted of) it might seeme a deuise now sprung vp to put downe the globe it selfe. Add to these my newe de­uise of the Horarlum Planetarium on the top theareof, many waies before attempted, yet neuer made generall before: also the deuise in the two side semicircles (wheare once I had thought to haue placed the said south cō ­stellations wāting) for equating & rectifiyng of the fixed starres, for all a­ges, past and to come: neuer ioyned to any other Astrolabe. These I hope may satisfie for an Appollogie & confirmatiō of the deuise: yf not: Sure I am, they maye make you looke a Tearme or two longer for my Organum Ʋranicum thē I promised, because I meane once againe to peruse & write ouer the coppy perceauing by this that the Incorporating of thexamples [Page] with the precepts, which I vsed here and thought hereafter more to vse for breuity of wryting, wil make the more prolixitie of vnderstāding for yong practisers. Vnto whom, my harsh loose & deliuer of that I conceaue, (na­ture affoording me no better) I perceiue is of it selfe hard inough: which as I am sorie for, so haue I been alwaies willing, as I haue still offered & that gratis, viua voce to remedie it, as diuers by experience can testifie.

THen for Addition to the parts of this Astrolabe, let the Mater or Ce­lestiall thereof remaine as at the first, onely I thinke good in steede of the letters I.F.M.A &c, for more readines to write the words Ia­nuarie, Februarie, March &c. vnto the same places of the Ecliptick circle whereas the Sonne entereth the 12. Monethes of the yeare.

Let the Zenitfer also remaine as before sauing that, I would not haue the hower-circle thereon discribed, neyther any numbers wtitten in capi­tall letters, because they are combersom, but in steede of them smaller fi­gures set vpright the standing way as in this figure of the Almcantifer you see done from 50. to 70. and those are needefull, but in the Noone lyne for the double numbring from the centre out-wards, but in the North line there neede not any such.

Let the Cursor now carrie one quadrant of 90 deg. feruing chieflye for the Azimuthes, and therefore called the Azimuthall quadrant, numbred double vz. vpwards and downewards, and another of 6. howers double numbred also: but vpwards, al one way, called the hower quadrant: all which by his figure marked with A B C D. you may here see whose line A D is his fiducyall line which must alwayes run verye square crosse the Zenitfer as in the 1. Chap. is shewed, his line A B keeping in that motiō euen with the fiducyall line of the Zenitfer, at whose point A must be a centre loope hole for the Almicantifer to play vpon. And at B let be a­nother centre loope hole with a loope of thread, or a hooke alwaies fix­ed therein to hitch a thread and perle vnto, when neede requireth.

Let there be now planted to the fiducyall line of the Almicantifer E P G so many as the length will allow of those radiall degrees which should be on the Nooneline of the Zenitfer out-wards from the crosse ✚ or Ae­quinoctials intersection therewith, to help to lēgth the Zenitfer whē cause so requireth, for which purpose his Ostensor or pointer hath now two cen­tre loope holes at M & N to hitch likewise a thred and pearle vnto when neede so requireth. I haue also added vnto the centre end G of the Almi­cantifer for vse of the Cursors quadrants 3 crosse finnes. So that there are now to his centre G: 4 crosse fiducial lines G K. G I. G L. & G P. of which G P. and G I. are some-what the longer & doe answere in length to the [Page] outer numbers of the Azimuthall quadrant.

And G L & G K som-what the shorter aun­swering, but the inner numbers thereof. And all 4 serue alike to the hower quadrant. But in all: with this distinctiō that when G P F the fiducyal line of the Almicantifer (which is as the Index to the other three) commeth on either of those quadrants be sure the ho­wer or Azimuth shewed is Antemeridiā vz betweene 6 of the clocke in the morning & noone. And when the moouing about or application of the line G P F vnto any starr, planet, or point in the Celestiall, causeth G L to come on those quadrants, thē be sure the hower or Azimuth is Pomeridian vz. bee­tweene noone and 6 of the clocke at night. And when G K cōmeth on: then Noctur­nall or Ʋespertine, vz. betwene 6. at night & midnight. And when G. K cōmeth on, then Matutine or towardes the morning vz. be­tweene midnight and 6 in the morning ac­cording to which I haue in them placed the 4 wordes Antemeridian, Pomeridian, Ʋes­pertin, and Matutyn for ease of memorie.

Also I would nowe haue euen for ease as much as for vse three narrowe Cursors O P & Q which may bee called lydgers rather then Cursors, to be planted for all questions of one latit. euen fixed on the Zenitfer: the one at the verticall point in the Noonelyne, the other at the Horozontall poynte in the North lyne, the other at the Azimuthall poynt in the North line also, which poynte is alwayes twise so many radiall degrees frō the centre as the latitude of your place a­mounteth vnto and was not mentioned any where in the Booke: and the Verticall and Azimuthall lydgers to haue each a centre loone hole to hitch a thread and pearle vn­to, when cause requireth.

[Page]Lastly you shall describe the hower circle (which before was plāted on the Zenitfer) now on a plate or plaine by it selfe hauing a short Index at 12 of clocke at noone from

which you shall (after the Co­pernitian māner) nūber the af­ternone howers 1 2 3 &c. left­wards towards the East as by this figure you see. This hower circle must bee planted on the cētre of the Celestiall to moue stiflly vnder the Zenitfer with a bolster betweene the Zenit­fer and it: that the mouing of the Zenitfer do not stirre it.

NOw to the Explanation which methinks should not nede any vntil past the first 12 chapters because those cō ­taine nothing but what is cōmon in euery Astrolabe in a māner: most easie to be vnderstood of any that hath read but the first principles of the globe or speare. For al the Excētrick circles of the Mater, vz. such as are not de­scribed on the centre of the Celestiall or Mater of the Astolabe, are no o­ther (as in the 2 cap. is sayd) but thecliptick circle of the Zodiack marked with BC, with euery fift of his circles of lōgitude, distinguishing the whole face into the 12 signes & their parts, yssuing frō his poles: and euery fift of his parallel circles of latitude, passing on ech side towards ech of his poles, or so many & so much of thē as the proiectmēt wold allow, which admit­teth but one of the Zodiacks poles within it marked with the letter D. And theron is only the Aequinost. circle described cōcentrick cutting theclip­tick at the beginnings of Aries & Libra at B & C, whose nūbers & deui­fiōs because they should not disturbe the Mater, are set in the outer limbe thereof: where note that B stādeth at the tip of the taile of Cetus, C. in the right wing of Ʋirgo, D vnder the foote of Draco though some hath said there be no such letters. And now, who can not easily by the squares made with the crossings of those circles of long. & latit. easily descrye the lōgi­tudes & latitudes of any star, carect, or constellatiō thereon set or drawē as in the 2 cap. is taught. And seing the centre of the Astrolabe marked with A, represēteth the north pole of the world about which the Zenitfer mo­ueth. The radiall degrees of whose nooneline are nūbered frō thequinocti­als intersectiō, where the ✚ stāderh either way towards ech pole. Who cā [Page] be so ignorant but to know that by the leading about thereof by the de­grees of the Maters limbe, that his fiducyall or noone-line maye shewe the 360 Meridians of the globe, though to auoyde confusiō of lines they be not drawē on the Astrolabe, & that his radial degrees do lymit out the parallelles of latitude or declinatiō frō thequinoctiall by that leading about.

But to come vnto the residue of the booke wherein our newe deuised tackling is applyed to so excellent vses generall to all Horizons: which as it seemeth hath more want of Explanation. The first thing you haue now to do when any question is proposed, is to set the Index of the hower cir­cle vnto the place of the ☉, for the day or time of your question by helpe of the 5 cap. the & noneline, that is to say bring the nooneline of the Ze­nitfer vnto the degree of thecliptick aunswering your daye proposed, and then apply the Index of the hower-circle euen therewith, so is the hower circle planted for that day, and in like sort you shall from day to daye by helpe of the nooneline remoue the Index further & further for euery day a degree rebating the odd minuts in the 5 cap. mentioned. So shall the nooneline now shew you still theron the hower in euery questiō vnasked as they say: without labelling to the son, as in most chapters of the booke was vsed, although he that desireth variety may now vse both: For the A­micantifer labelled frō the cētre of the Astrolabe vnto the Sonnes place in thecliptick as in the booke is vsed, either it selfe or one of his three crosse finnes shall shew yow the hower in the hower quadrant of the Cursor, so you take those hower numbers which fit vnto the directiō of the fin writ­ten thereon: that is to say, if the Matutine or Pomeridian fin come there­on then the numbers from 1 to 6 must serue: if the Antemeridian or Ʋes­pertine then those frō 6 to 12.

The second thing most materiall to be done is as in the 10 & 17 cap. I indeuoured to shew to chuse out on the Zenitfer the pointes & lines ap­pertaining to your latitude, Horizon, or place of your abode, & to prepare him with his furniture to the Horizon of that place: Which hauing nowe foure Cursors you shall doe & vnderstand I hope with ease. And for more facilitie as well in working as nūbering, you shall reiect the odd minutes of your latitude, if any happen, and worke vpon the neerest entire degree as in all auntiēt Astrolabes the vse euer was vntill practise hath made you more perfect for the minutes. For example, to prepare the Zenitfer to the latitude & Horizon of Reading, where the latit. or poles eleuatiō is by the 10 cap. to be found about 51 2/3 deg. you shall in steed of 51 2/3 take 52 deg. and accompt that for our latit. neglecting the od 20 min. which for com­mō vse wil hurt little. Wherefore you shall seeke out this latit. 52 amonge the radiall degrees of the nooneline, where I haue in this figure set E, & [Page] there to plant the fiducial line of your Verticall lidger in the former figure marked with O. Thē likewise seke the same 52 latit. amōg the radial deg. of the North line where I haue set R, & there to plāt the Horizontall lid­ger Q. And between those 2 lidgers thus placed you shal euer find 90. ra­dial deg. of the Zenitfer as if you tel thē with a stick as they say you may e­asily try, now the 20 min: be reiected, & those 90 ra. deg. are the 90 inter­sectiōs of the 90 Almicātares with the North quadrāt of the Meridiā in e­uery latit. & therfore I cal thē the North deg. Thē seke out twise 52 deg. vz. 104 degrees in the Northline reckoned frō the cētre outwards which will fal out at 14 deg. without the ✚, where I haue set X and there plante the Azimuthall lydger P. And these 3 thus planted shall neuer be stirred so long as you keepe in the 52 latit. Then to proceede further if now you follow the fiducyall line of the Verticall lydger thus plāted crosse the Ze­nitfer frō E, you shal perceiue it of it selfe, to finde out & touch the Zenith point of your latitude, that is to say, the innermost end of that Zenith line which appertaineth to the 52 latit. marked with F, whose outer end is marked with B, this line B F is the Zenith line of the 52 latit. & all the rest of his fellowes are of no vse in that coūtry, yet is he ioyntly with them deuided by the crosse slope lines which you see into 90 parts, though vn­equall which are as in the 1 cap. is sayd, the 90 Almicantar roots that is to say out of these 90 roots seuerally doth spring the 90 seuerall Almicanta­res or circles of altitude of the 52 latit. which roots are easily reckoned by the vpright numbers set in the left margēt vnto euery 10 of them. And be­cause these roots begin frō the outer-most ends, & thence are nūbered in­wards, therefore the point B being the outer end of the 52 Zenith line, is the roote of the first or 0 Almicantare of this 52 latit. which in dede is al­waies the Horizon it selfe. For the Almicantares begin frō the Horizon & thēce grow lesse & lesse til they come to nothing at the Zenith, as the pa­rallells grow frō thequinoctiall to the pole, where they end at 90, so that e­uer the Horizō circle is the first or 0 Almicātare. This wel vnderstood thē shal you set the fiducial line A D of the Cursor euen with the point B on the Zenitfer & there plāt him fast with a screw pin, if your work be of met­tal & so shal he cut the noneline at A, thēce apply the fiducial line G F of the Almicātifer in the former figure euē with the noone line, & therō slide downe the finger of the pointer til it touch the Horizontall lydger at the point X there screw fast the pointer also. Lastly you shall frō the point X where the Azimuthall lidger resteth extēd his thread euē with the noone line, & there slide vp the perle til it touch the Verticall lidger at E, & there knit the pearle fast with a knot neuer to be stirred in the 52 latit. And so at the last (your three lidgers thus placed at E R & X & the Cursor to B A & the pointer distant from A according to the quantitie A R & the perle [Page] from X according to X A) your Zenitfer is prepared to the Horizon of this 52 latitude, which being done (once for all as they say) performeth al the Chapters of the booke without any altering or remouing, some 2 or 3 Chapters excepted, for which the Cursor onely is to be remoued but none of the rest, and therefore in regarde thereof the labour is short though it seeme long.

The Zenitfer thus prepared to the Horizon of the 52 latitude & the Ho­wercircles Index set to the ☉ as before, for the day and time proposed, you may then presently euen with one bare inspection see almost halfe the cō ­clusions of the booke performed without any labour at all more then to apply the nooneline vnto that planet carrect or starre which you meane to worke vpon.

Example: the 5 day of Marche 1598. proceeding as in the 5. cap. is taught, you shall finde the ☉ his place in thecliptick 25 degr. 3 min. in ♓ thereto dyrect the Index of the hower-circle by helpe of the Noone-lyne. Where let him rest fixed for all that day, so haue we no more troble with that part. And now will we here worke vppon the great starre of the first magnitude which you see in the face of Taurus cōmonly called Paliliciū Aldebaram or Oculus tauri to knowe his state in the heauens. His longi­tude is easily descryed as in the 2 cap. is shewed by the circles described on the Celestiall, to be about 4 deg. & an halfe, and his latitude in like sort to bee almost 5 degrees Southwards from thecliptick, for all the Starres which haue North latitudes, euen the one halfe of the globe are in this Astrolabe comprehended within the Zodiacke.

Then do but apply the Noone line of the Zenitfer as before prepared, vnto the middle pricke or centre of this starre Oculus tauri, it shall there shew you in the Maters limbe 62. deg. and better his right ascention and in theclipticke circle foure degrees and better in ♊ his deg. of culmi­nacon as in the 8 cap. and in the hower circle almost halfe an hower past 4 of the clock after-noone the time when as hee shall that day culminate or come vnto the meridian in the South part, as in the 16 cap. And thus much the bare line sheweth you. Now do but marke what point or radiall degree of the nooneline cutteth vppon the middle pricke of the Starre, & that point shall play as good a part, for if you reckon that point or degree according to the numbers set on the noone line, you shall find it 16 deg. and better, and so much is the declination of Oculus Tauri as in the 8 cap. and that Northwards from thequinoctiall circle because hee is within it. Then reckon by the radiall de. on the nooneline counting them from the vertical lidger (set co the latitude as before) til you com to that 16 degree ouer the cnetre of the star, you shall finde them amount to 36, & so much [Page] wil his distance from our Zenith be, when he commeth to the meridian, which 36 deg. taken out of 90 leaueth 54 degrees his Meridian altitude as in the 16 cap. And if you turne about the Zenitfer till the North line of Media nox come on this starr, so shall the nooneline also (whose office alone is now to shew the howers) shew you halse hower past 4 in the morning and better, the iust time when as Oculus Tauri shall come vnto the Meridian in the North vnder the earth. And now if you list to remoue the hower circles, Index from daye to day the noone line (resting still on the starre) may shew you what hower that Oculus ♉ cōmeth to the Meridian euery day of the yeare.

And as all those Meridian conclusiōs, (as I may terme them) are soone had by bare inspectiō without mouing. So you may as redily attaine al the Horizontall conclusions with a verie easie kinde of motion: but euē with leading about the Zenitfer by the Almicantifer, as one shoulde leade a horse by the halter rounde about an horse mill, and all the skill is but to knowe which way to leade him, for if your question proposed bee, to bee performed on thest halfe of the Horizon, which I call the East hemis­phere (for the Meridian or nooneline alwaies deuideth euery Horizon in two equall parts) then must your Almicantifer play on the East or left side of the nooneline where Oriens is written, and leade him about leftwards till the pointer touch vpon the planet or star proposed, but if on the West hemisphere then right-wards: as for example, to know what hower the ☉ shal rise the said 5 of March 1598 play your Almicantifer in the East he­misphere and thereby leade about the Zenitfer left-wards till the pointer may be brough to touch the said 25 deg, 3 mi. of ♓ there shal the noone­line shew you in the hower circle almost a quarter after 6 of the clock, the time of son rising that day, and the Almicantifer labelled to the East line of the Zenitfer, vz, to L M sheweth as in the 17 Chap. in the Celestialls limbe 355 1/2 deg. his oblique ascention for that daye. Then if you list to leade him on leftwards till the pointer come to touch the middle prick of Oculus Tauri, there you shall see the nooneline to shew in the howercir­cle a little past 9 in the forenoone the time of his rising that daye, and the Almicantifer labelled or applyed frō L on M, shall shew in the Maters limbe 41 deg. his oblique ascention for that day as in the 18 cap. And if now you would know what time they will set, then play the Almicanti­fer on the West hemispheare, and by him leade about the prepared Ze­nitfer right-wards till the pointer do touch eyther of them, and you shall so finde the nooneline to shew for the the son almost 6 of clock, and for Oculus Tauri the times of their setting, almost 12 at midnight. And the Vespertine fin of the Almicantifer G I applyed to L M so shall the fidu­ciall [Page] line G P F of the Almicantifer which represēteth now the West lyne shewe in the Maters limbe the 354 1/ [...] deg. and for the starre 86 deg. their oblique descentiōs for that day. Then if you reckon the howers betwene the Son rising and setting the same is the length of the day, and those ta­ken out of 24 leaueth the length of the night also, the howers betweene the rising & setting of Oculus Tauri are called his diurnall arch, those ta­ken out of 24 leaueth his Nocturnall arch. Likewise the right ascention of Oculus ♉ being as before 62 deg. and nowe his oblique ascention found 41 degree take the bigger out of the lesse there resteth 21 deg. his diffe­rence of ascention in this 52 latitude from that of the right Horizon.

The Third difficultie and materiall matter is as it seemeth for any lati­tvde assigned to prepare the Zenitfer to any Altitude taken, taught in the 13 Cap. thereby to knowe what hower of the day or night it is and such like questions. Let your lydgers lye still vnremoued so long as your ques­tions keepe in that latitude, whereunto they are placed. And admit then you had taken the altitude of the Son 25 deg. the 2 of October 1596. in the Morning (the Index of the hower circle being set as now is taught to the same degree of the Son in Thecliptick at K vz. euen with the prickt line L K. First you shall here seeke on the 52 Zenith line B E, for the 25 Almicantare roote which according to their nūbers set in the left mar­gent of the Zenitfer you shall finde at the point A of the line B F, where­unto you shall now apply the fiducyall line of the Cursor which shal then cut the 26 radiall deg. of the nooneline marked with C (but of that 26 radiall deg. there is no vse) and there let the Cursor be set fast, then extēd the Almicantifer euen by the nooneline and slyde downe the poynter till it do touch the 25 North degree that is to say, at the 25 radiall degree, re­coned from the Horizontall lydger at R towardes the centre L (and be­yond if neede so requier as here it doth not) which will here fall out at the 37 rad. deg. according to the numb. set on the North line at the letter Q. but those numbers as I sayde are not much to bee regarded after your lydgers are set. And your Cursor thus planted at D C and the poynter distaunt from C according to the quantitye C Q so is your Zenitfer prepa­red for that 25 altitude in this 52 latitude. Nowe therefore because the Altitude taken was in the morning, play your Almicantifer on the East hemispheare, and by him lead aboute the Zenitfer left-wardes till the poynter come vppon the Sunnes place in thecliptick at K, so shall the nooneline L C A there presentlye shewe you in the hower-circle 10 of the clocke the hower sought for without any labelling to the ☉. But yf you will labell the hower because the Booke sheweth so: then bringe downe the fiducyall line of the Cursor to the centre L the Zenitfer still [Page] remayning where he was, and

there the Almicantifer label­led to the Sun at K shall shew you in the hower quadrant of the Cursor 10 of the clocke Antemeridian euen as the Noone-lyne doth on the ho­wer-circle.

To performe the 15 Chap. applye the Noone-lyne to the ☽ and from thence reckon in the hower-circle set, so many howers eyther rightwardes or left-wardes according as you finde the hower giuen by his shade, distante from the In­dex and at the end of that rec­koning is your desire.

Now to the example of the 23 cap. yf you plant the none­line on the great Starre Ocu­lus Tauri, the howercircles In­dex planted at 26 deg. 3 min. of ♓ seeke thereon, 10 of the clocke at night the hower gi­uen and thence reckon there­on the howers vnto the noone lyne, you shall finde then 5 2/3 howers those shall be the ho­wers distaunce of Oculus Tauri from the South there sought, and that Westwards because the reckonning goeth West­wards from 10 of the clocke.

Next to the 24 cap. the ho­wercircles Index planted (for still that must first be done) at 20 de. 10 min. ♎. In steed of labelling to thee ☉ you shall applye the nooneline to 10 of [Page] clocke in the morning, in the hower-circle, and there holding still the Zenitfer, prepare it as before is taught to some altitude at auenture, ad­mit to 20 degrees: then playing about the Almicantifer if the poynter so set will come to touch the Sun his place or starre proposed, then bee sure that altitude prepared is your desire, but if the poynter ouer reach as at that proffer it will. Then holding still the Zenitfer at the hower giuen, prepare it to a greater altitude, admit to 25 deg. at auenture, and then playing about the Almicantifer you shall find the poynter to cut theclip­ticke in the 20 deg. 10 min. of ♎ at K being the Sonnes true place for that instant. Therefore you may conclude that the 10 of October 1596 at 10 of clocke in the morning the Son was 25 deg. high in our 52 latit. yf 25 had not hit you must haue assaied againe if neede had been.

The last difficultie is for the generall waye to get the 12 houses in the 27 cap. mentioned, and all the skill resteth but in triple, preparing of the Zenitfer for that purpose, of which the first is but the preparing to the Ho­rizon as before is taught: And then the noneline layd to the hower pro­posed, the howercircle set vnto the Sons place in the 25 deg. 3 min. of ♓ in the example of the 27 cap. mentioned vz. vnto 10 of clock, sheweth in theclipticke 22 deg. 30 min. the 10 house, and the North line 22 deg. 30 min. of ♌, the 4 house, and there (the Zenitfer holden still) the Almican­tifer played in the East Hemisphere, the poynter shall cut in theclipticke 28 deg. 30 min. of ♊ the ascendent or first house, and playde on the West Hemisphere 28. 30 of ♐ the 7 house. So have you the 4 chiefe Cardines of the 12 houses. And the other 8 are as easily had by two other like pre­parations, for the which there are planted on the Zenitfer 60 slope lynes called Domifiyng lines, beginning from his centre line L M, and thence numbered downewards to 60. And also 60 radiall degrees called Domi­fying degrees, planted in his left margent betweene M & Ʋ, beginning at Ʋ with 30 & thense numbered inwards with standing figures ending at M with 90. And vnto these 60 Domifying degrees, there are lymit­ted 60 Domifying roots in the noone line, which are but the double ra­diall degrees thereof, numbered from the centre outwards, that is to saye euery 2 radial deg. accompted but for one Domifying roote and euery 10 but 5 &c. and standing numbers set vnto them accordingly, of which because the Zenitfer yeildeth not sufficient, therefore I haue now supply­ed the rest from 45 forwards, in the Almicantifer as farre as it will stretch as before is shewed. And as one of the 90 Zenith lines serueth all the vses in one latit. as before is shewed. So one of these 60 Domifying lynes serueth the turne to get the other 8 houses at all times in one latit. which is easily chosen out by the sayd numbers ascribed vz. P O for the 52 latit. [Page] These thinges knowne, then to performe the second preparation which shal get you the 2.8.6. & 12. houses is thus done: Remoue the Horizon­tal Lidger vnto O the outer end of the 50 Domifying line, which shal cut the North line at T, & among the Domifying degrees 42 1/6 at W: there, at T.O.W. let the lidger rest & plāt the Cursor at the like number of the said Domifying roots in the noneline, vz. at the 42 1/6 Domifying roote which will fall out as the 5 2/3 rad. deg. from the ✚ at Z there fasten the Cursor & applying the Almicantifer euen by the noone line slip downe the pointer to the point T, & there fasten him. And thus (the Horizontall lidger plan­ted to TOW & the Cursor to Z and the pointer distant frō Z to the quā ­tity Z T) is your Zenitfer prepared for getting those other 4 houses. The Zenitfer all this while stāding still at 10 of clock: but now is twise to bee remoued, first two howers leftwards vz, to 12 of clocke where the Indez standeth. And there the Almicantifer played about, his pointer shall cut theclipticke in the East Hemisphere at 16 30 of ♉ for the 12 house & in the West Hemisphere, at 16 30 of ♏♐ for the 6 house. Then remoue a­gaine the nooneline two howers rightwards from 10 of clocke vz, vnto 8 of clock, & there the Almicātifer plaid about the pointer shal cut in the East Hemisp. the 20 deg of ♋ for the 2 house & in the West Hemisphere the 20 of ♑ for the 8 house. So

haue you 8 of your 12 houses to be set in your figure or scheme drawn as the maner is here present for you to see, which had. Nowe you must againe thirdly prepare the Zenitfer to the inner end of the 52 domifiing line thus: by remouing the Horizō ­tall lydger vnto P: which shall there cut in the lest margent the 57 2/3 Do­mifying degree at Y, and therefore you shall plant the Cursor vnto the 57 2/3 Domifying roote in the noone­line which will fall out at the 52 2/3 rad. deg. beyond the ✚ and thence slide downe the pointer to the lidger at P, and so is the Zenitfer prepared to get the other 4 houses yet wāting by help of two other remoues, vz. you shall now first plant his nooneline at 4 howers leftwards of 10 of clocke, vz. at 2 of clocke & there playing the Almicantifer about, it shall shew in the East Hemisp. 22 deg. of ♓ for the 11 house, and in the west Hemisp. 22 of ♍ for the 5 house. That done remoue the nooneline 4 howers rightwardes from 10 of clock vz. [Page] to 6 of clock and there playing the Almicantifer about, the poynter shall cut in the East Hemisp. 5. 30 of ♌ for the 3 house & in the west Hemisp. 5.30 of ♒ for the 9 house: Now place those 4 houses also as in this fi­gure you see and you haue done. Note that because in the 27 cap. these 4 remooues of the nooneline are done by applying the pointer prepared vnto the Horozontall pointe pitched in the Celestiall, and this way there but barely touched. I thought good to shew it now at large leauing eue­ry man to do it which way he best affecteth. Note also that when the Do­mifying roots are gone out of the Zenitfer, thē set the Cursor to the ✚ in the nooneline and there extende the Almicantifer outwardes euen with the nooneline where fastening him with some deuise you may then hitch a thread and perle to the pointer, and vse the pointer in stede of the Cur­sor and the thred & perle in steede of the Almicantifer and poynter.

LAST of all for Addition in the vse, take one deuise more with you for the Azmuth then before I wrate of: which with no small studdie I at­tayned, meaning to haue reser­ued it with diuers other proposi­tions that I haue in store for a se­cond edition. But because car­pers shall not say that my so cō ­mende Astrolabe wanteth any needefull part that other Astro­labes had. I will heere though I coulde performe it 2 or 3 wayes for breuity only deliuer the best. As to the example before men­tioned, where according to the altit. of the ☉ taken 25 degree high by the Zenitfer prepared to that 25 altit. and the pointer applyed on the Sun his place at K, his nooneline shewed in the howercircle 10 of clock. There holde fast the Zenitfer till you haue done, if you desire also to know what Azimuth the ☉ was then in. And play about the Al­micantifer (it is no matter on which side of the nonneline) till [Page] it will mete at G. iustly with the pearle (prepared as before) of the thread fastned in the loope of the Azimuthall lydger at X their hold also fast the thred X G. Thē apply the fiducyall line of the Almicantifer euen with the fiducyal line of the Cursor square crossing the Zenitfer: And so slyde thē square down together til the Almicātifer cut the perle at G. which wil be at H. in the nooneline, & there at H. fastē the Cursor & slice the poynter to G. & thē vnhitch the thred frō X & hitch it to the vertical lidger at E, & from E extend the thread on the Suns place at K, lastly playe about the Almicantifer till the poynter setled at G as before do touch the Verticall thread E K, which will be at I. H I. being equall to H G. So doth H I. the fiducyall line of the Almicantifer cut amonge the Antemeridian de­grees of the Cursors Azimuthall quadrant, 57 deg. the Azimuth sought for. That is to say, the degrees cut are to be taken by the outer numbe­ing being it was in the morning because the Azimuthes are numbered from the East and West pointes of the Horizon either-way vnto the Me­ridian there ending at 90, which is to be regarded by the letter P on the Almicantifer.

And out of this propositiō (because we will leaue no hard chap. of the booke vnexplaned) you may easily learne how to performe the 20 chap. another way. For by another Synonomy of speech to know the amplitude of rising and setting of the Sun, or stars, is but to know vpon what Azi­muth or point of the compasse they rise. Wherefore being that the Hori­zon circle of any place is the begining of the first circle of altititude that is to say, of the 0 Almicātare. Therfore to get this amplitude, you must first prepare your Zenitfer to that 0 altitude, that is to save, to the Horizon as before is taught by setting the Cursor to A D. and the pointer to R. frō A. And being so prepared, if it be for sonne rising let the Almicantifer playe in the East Hemisphere, and his pointer there touching the Suns place, hold fast the Zenitfer till you have all done, whose noone lyne she­weth in the hower-circle his hower of rising. Then for the Azimuth work in all respects as is done last before, and you shall find the meeting of the pearle and pointer at G. will fall out in the centre line L. M. extended. Wherefore if a thread were hitched in the centre L. and his pearle exten­ded beyond M. to that crossing at G. the Cursor neede not here bee re­mooued at all from A. D. when the one threade is extended out of the Verticall point E on the ☉ & this thred out of L till perle out that ver­cal thred as before he did at I this centre thred shall shew in the limbe of the Celestiall the amplitude desired, [Page] desired, If you reckon thence to 6 of clock that is to say; vnto that degree which the 6 of clock, howerline of the howercircle wold shew in the Ce­lestiall limbe, if it were extended.

Note that if any man shall affect to haue the howercircle on the Zenii­fer according to the first direction: and not on a plate or flat by it selfe as now I appoint him. Yet let him quite out away the Pomeridian howers which are without the Zenitfer numbered from noone vnto media nox, to to the end that nothing may hinder the sight of the whole Hemisphere at all times and that the Cursor maye alwayes haue free passage to the cen­tre. And then to vse in steede of the centre thread a rule or labell, like vn­to the Almicantifer before described, with the Vespertine sin onely. For so shall the rule shew the Antemeridian howers from midnight to noone and the fin the Pomeridian from noone to midnight, and all by that one halfe hower circle described on the Zenitfer euen as before it was done on the quadrant with three finnes, and as readily as in the booke by the whole circle.