CAP. 4.

Of the circles of the earth.

In a round body as the earth is, there can be no distinction of parts, & places, without the helpe of some lines drawen or imagined to be drawen vpon it. Now though there are not, nor can be any circles truly drawen vpon the earth, yet because there is a good ground in nature and reason of things for them, we must imagine them to be drawen vpon the earth, as truly as we see them described vpon a Globe or in a plaine paper. Further this must be noted, that all circles on the earth haue the like opposite vnto them conceaved to be the Heavenes, vnder which they are directly scituated. Thus knowen, the circles that wee are to take the speciall notice of are of two sorts, Greater and Lesser.

The greater circles are those which devide this earthly globe into equall halfes or Hæmispheres.

The lesser are those which devide it into two vnequall parts, one bigger, another lesse.

Of the former sort there are foure, the
1. The Æquitor or Æquonoctiall line, is a line drawen iust in the midst of the earth, from East to West, which compasseth it as a girdle doth a mans body, and devidith it into two equall parts, one on the North side, the other on the South The two points in the earth that are every way farthest distant from it North, & South are called the Poles of the earth which doe directly stand vnder the two like points in the Heaven, so called because the Heaven turnes about vpon them, as the Earth doth in a Globe that's set in a frame. This circle is of the first & principall note and vse in Geography, because all measurings for distances of places and quarters of the Earth are reckoned in it, or from it. It is called the Æquinoctiall, because when the Sunne in the Heavens comes to be directly over that circle in the earth, the daies & nights are of equall length in all parts of the world. Marriners call it by a kind of excellency, The line. Vpon the Globe it is easily discerned being drawen bigger then any other circles from East to West, and with small divisions.
2. The Meridian, if a line that is drawen quite crosse the Æquinoctiall, and passeth through the Poles of the Earth, going directly North and South. It is called the Meridian, because when the Sunne stands just over that circle it is Meridies i.d. noone day. It may be conceaued thus, at noone day, when it is just twelue a clocke, turne your face towards the South, and then imagine with your selfe two circles drawen, one in the Heavens, passing from the North iust over your head through the body of the Sunne downe to the South, and so round vnder the earth vp againe to the North Pole. Another vpon the surface of the earth passing through your feete just vnder the Sunne, and so compassing the earth round till it meete at your feete againe, and these are Meridians answering one to another. Now the Meridian is not one only, as was the Æquinoctiall, but many still varying according to the place wherein you are, as for example. At London there is one Meridian, at Oxford another, at Bristow another, & so along Eastward or Westward. For it is noone at London sooner then at Oxford, and at Oxford sooner then at Bristow. Vpon the globe there are many drawen, all which passe through the poles, and goe North and South, but there is one more remarkeable then the rest, drawen broad with small divisions, which runneth through the Canary Ilands, or through the Ilands of Azores Westward of Spaine, which is counted the first Meridian in regard of reckoning and measuring of distances of places one from another; for otherwise there is neither first nor last in the round earth. But some place must bee appointed where to beginne the account and those Ilands haue beene thought fittest, because no part of the World that lay westward was knowne to the Ancients further then that: and as they began to reckon there, we follow them. This circle is called in greeke Μεσημβρινοσ.
3. The Horizon is two fold:
  1. The Sensible or appearing Horizon is the space of the earth so farre as in an open plaine, or vpon some Hill a man may see round about him. The brim or edge of the earth further then which you cannot see, that is the Horizon, or as some call it the Finitor. Because finet or terminat visum it setts the limits or bounds to your sight, beyond which nothing can bee seene vpon the earth. This is greater or lesser, according as the height of the eye aboue the plaine superficies of the earth, is more or lesse. The most exact triall hereof is at Sea, where there are no mountaines nor any vnequall risings of the water to hinder the sight, as there are at land. For example let (CBAF) be the superficies of the Sea and let a mans eye bee placed in (X) aboue the Sea; as the eye stands higher or lower so will the distance seene be more or lesse, [Sidenote: See Wright of Navigation p. 229.] as if the hight of (XA) be 6 foot which is ordinary the height of a man, the eye looking from (X) to (B) shall see 2 miles and 3 quarters, if (X) be 20 foote high (BA) will bee fiue miles, if 40 foote 7 miles, if 50 foote 8 miles. So that from the mast of a ship 50 foote high, a man may see round about at sea 8 miles every way, toward (BG) and (F). So farre may the water it selfe be seene, but any high thing on the Water may be seene farther, 16, or 20 miles according as the height is, as the ship at (C) may be seene from (X) as far more as it is from (A) to (B). There can be therefore no certaine quantity and space set downe for this sensible Horizon, which continually varies according to the height of the eye aboue the plaine ground or sea. This Horrizon is not at all painted on the globe nor can be.
  2. The intelligible or true Horizon is a line which girts the earth round in the midst, and divides it into two equall parts or Hæmispheares the vppermost vpon the top & middle point whereof wee dwell, and that which is vnder vs. Opposite to this in the Heavens is another Horizon, which likewise cuts the Heaven into two Hemispheres, the vpper and the lower. Aboue which circle when any starre or the Sunne is moued, it then riseth vnto vs, and setteth vnto those that dwell opposite vnto vs, and so on the contrary, you may conceiue it best thus, if standing vpon a hill, or some open place, where you may perfectly see the setting of the Sunne, you marke when the Sun is halfe gone out of your sight, you may perceiue the body of the Sunne cut in two, as it were by a line, going along through it, the halfe aboue is yet seene, that vnderneath is gone out of your sight. This line is but a peece of the Horrizon, which if you conceiue to be drawen vpward about the World from the West to the North, and so by East and South, to West againe you haue the whole Horrizon described.
  3. This circle is not drawen vpon the body of the globe, because it is variable; but stands one the outside of it, beeing a broad circle of wood couered with paper on which are sett the moneths and days of the yeare, both in the old and new Calender, and also the 12 signes, and the points of the compasse. All which are easily discerned by the beholdinge. The vse of this Horizon is not so much in Geographie as in Astronomie.
4. { Sensible or appearing.
5. { Intelligible or true.
6. The Zodiake is a circle which compasseth the earth like a belt, crossing the æquator slopewise, not streight as the Meridians doe. Opposite to it in the Heauens is another circle of the same name, wherein are the 12. signes, and in which the Sunne keepes his owne proper course all the yeare long, neuer declining from it on the one side or other. The vse hereof in Geography is but litle only to shew what people they are ouer whose heads the Sunne comes to bee once or twice a yeare; who are all those that dwell with in 23. degrees of the Aequator; for so much is the declination, or sloping of the Zodiacke. This circle is also called the Eclipticke line, because when the Sunne and Moone stand both in this circle opposite each to other, then there happens an Eclipse of the Sunne or Mone, vpon a globe it is easily discerned, by the sloping of it from the Aequator, and the diuisions of it into 12. parts, and euery of those 12. into 30. degrees.
{ 1 Æquator.
1. The tropickes are two, parallel circles distant on each side of the Aequator 23. degrees shewing the farthest bounds of the Sunns declination North or South from the Aequator, or the midest of heauen. And therefore they are called tropickes a τρεπωθαι vertendo, because when the Sunne comes ouer these lines, hee either turnes away from vs, as in the Summer, or turnes toward vs againe as in the winter: There are then two of them vid.
  1. The Tropicke of Cancer which lies on the North side of the Aequator, to which when the Sunne comes, it makes the longest day in Summer.
  2. The Tropicke of Capricorne, lying Southward of the Aequator, to which when the Sunne comes, it makes the shortest day in winter.
2. The Polar circles are two parallels drawne by the poles of the Zodiacke compassinge about the poles of the world, being distant from them euery way 23 degrees. These are two.
  1. The Articke Circle that compasseth about the North Pole: it is so called because that in the Heavens (where vnto this in the earth lies opposite) runs through the constellation of the great Beare, which in greeke is called αρκτοσ
  2. The Antarticke circle that compasseth about the South Pole, & is placed opposite vnto the former.
  3. To describe an Æquinoctiall planispheare, draw a circle (ACBD) and inscribe in it two diameters (AB) & (CD) cutting each other at right angles, and the whole circle into foure quadrants: each whereof devide into 90. parts, or degrees. The line (AB) doth fitly represent halfe of the Æquator, as the line (CD) in which the points (C) & (D) are the two poles, halfe of the Meridian: for these circles the eye being in a perpendicular line from the point of concurrence (as in this projection it is supposed) must needs appeare streight. To draw the other, which will appeare crooked, doe thus. Lie a rule from the Pole (C) to every tenth or fift degree of the halfe circle (ADB) noting in the Æquator (AB) every intersection of it and the rule. The like doe from the point (B) to the semicircle (CAD) noting also the intersections in the Meridian (CD) Then the diameters (CB) and (AB) being drawne out at both ends, as farre as may suffice, finding in the line (DC) the center of the tenth division from (A) to (C) and from (B) to (C), & of the first point of intersection noted in the meridian frõ the Æquator towards (C) by a way familiar to Geometricians connect the three points, and you haue the paralell of 10. degrees from the Æquator: the like must bee done in drawing the other paralells on either side, the Æquator; as also in drawing the Meridians from centers found in the line (AB) in like maner continued. All which is illustrated by the following diagram.
  4. To describe a Polar Planisphære, draw a circle (ACBD) on the center (E) & as before, inscribe in it two diameters (AB) and (BC) cutting each other at right angles, and the circle into foure quadrants. Each quadrant being deuided into 90. parts, draw from euery 5^th or 10^th of those parts a diameter to the opposite point: these lines all concurring in the center (E) being the pole, are as so many Meridians. Next, hauing cutt the halfe of any one of the former diameters into 9 parts, as (ED) in the points (FGHIKLMN) draw on the center (E) so many circles and these represent the paralells of the Globe, being also here true paralells.
3. All these with the former are easily known vpõ the Globe by these descriptiõs, & names vsually added vnto thẽ. But because maps are of an esier price, & more cõmon vse then Globes, it will be needfull to shew how all these circles, which are drawne most naturally vpon a round Globe, may also as truly, and profitably for knowledge and vse be described vpon a plaine paper. Whereby we shall vnderstand the reason of those lines which We see in the vsuall Mapps of the world, both how they are drawne, and wherefore they serue. Vnderstand therefore, that in laying downe the globe vpon a plaine paper, you must imagine the globe to be cut in two halfes through the midst, and so to be pressed downe flat to the paper; as if you should take a hollow dish, and with your hand squieze the bottom down, till it lie flat vpon a bord, or any other plaine thing for then will those circles that before were of equall distance, runne closer together towards the midst. After this conceit, vniversall Maps are made of two fashions, according as the globe may be devided two waies, either cutting quite through by the meridian from North to South, as if you should cut an apple by the eye and the stalke, or cutting it through the Æquinoctiall, East and West, as one would divide an apple through the midst, betweene the eye & the stalke. The former makes two faces, or hemispheares, the East and the West hemispheare. The latter makes likewise two Hemispheares, the North and the South. Both suppositions are good, and befitting the nature of the globe: for as touching such vniversall maps, wherein the world is represented not in two round faces, but all in one square plot, [Sidenote: Of this Hypothesis see Wrights errors of navigation.] the ground wherevpon such descriptions are founded, is lesse naturall and agreeable to the globe, for it supposeth the earth to be like a Cylinder (or role of bowling allies) which imagination, vnlesse it be well qualified, is vtterly false, and makes all such mappes faulty in the scituation of places. Wherefore omitting this, we will shew the description of the two former only, both which are easie to be done.
{ 2 Meridian.
{ 3 Horizon.
{ 4 Zodiack, or Eclipticke.
These are the greater circles: the lesser follow; which are all of one nature, and are called by one generall name: sc. Parallels, because they are so drawen on each side of the Aequator, as they are equidistant vnto it euery way. Many of this kinde are drawne vpon the globe (as is easie to bee seene) and may bee conceaued to bee drawne vpon the earth: but there are only two sorts cheifely to bee marked: namely the
{ Tropickes and the
{ Polar circles.

Of the former sort there are foure, the	{ 1 Æquator.
	{ 2 Meridian.
	{ 3 Horizon.
	{ 4 Zodiack, or Eclipticke.

The Horizon is two fold:	{ Sensible or appearing.
	{ Intelligible or true.

	{ Tropickes and the
	{ Polar circles.