_Of divers Distinctions, and Divisions of the earth._
Next after the Circles of the Earth, wee may not vnfitly handle
the seuerall Divisions and distinctions which geographers make of
the parts, and inhabitants of the earth. These are many, but wee
will briefely runne them ouer.
1 The first and most plaine is by the Coasts of the Heauens, and
rising, and Setting of the Sunne, so it is distinguished into the
{ East where the Sunne ariseth. _Oreins_, _Ortus_
{ [Greek: anatolê].
{ West where the Sunne goeth downe. _occidens_.
{ North: betweene both fromwards the Sunne at Noone.
{ _Septentrio_.
{ South: betweene both towards the Sun at Noone.
{ _Meridies_.
These foure are called the cheife or Cardinall quarters of the
world. They with the others betweene them are easily knowne but
are of more vse to Mariners then to vs. Wee may rather take
notice of those other names which by Astronomers Geographers
Divines and Poets are giuen vnto them. Who sometime call the East
the right hand part of the world, sometime the West, sometime the
North, & sometime South, the diuersity is noted in these verses,
_Ad Boream terræ, Sed Coeli mensor ad Austrum,_
_Præco Dei exortum videt, occasumque Poeta._
That is
Geographers looke to the North, Astronomers to the South.
Priests turne them to the East, & Poets to the West.
This serues for vnderstanding of Authors, wherein any mention is
made of the right or left part of the World, if for example he be
a poet, he means the South by the right hand, the North by the
left: because a poet turnes his face to the West, and so reckons
the quarters of Heauen and Earth.
2 The second distinction is by the notable differences of heat
and cold, that are observed on the earth, this is the division of
the Earth by Zones or Girdles, which are parts of the Earth,
wherin heat and cold doe remarkably increase or decrease. Those
Zones are 5.
1 The hot or burning Zone (_Zona torrida_) which containes all
that space of earth, that lieth betwtene the two Tropicks,
supposed heretofore (but falsly as after experience hath shewed)
to be inhabitable by reason of heat, the Sunne continually lying
ouer some part of it.
2.3 The temperate Zones wherein neither heat nor cold is extreame
but moderate: these are two, one on the North side of the
Aequator, betweene the Articke circle, and the Tropicke of
Cancer, another on the South side betweene the Tropicke of
Capricorne, and the Antarcticke circle.
4.5 The cold, or Frozen Zones, wherein cold for the most part is
greater then the heat, these likewise are two, one in the North,
betweene the Articke circle, and the North Pole, another on the
South betweene the Antarctick circle and the South Pole. These of
all parts of the earth are worst inhabited, according as
extremity of cold is alwaies a greater enemy to mans body, then
extremity of heat.
3 The third distinction is by the shadowes, which bodies doe cast
vpon the earth, iust at nooneday; for these doe not alwaies fall
one way but diuersly according to their divers scituation vpon
the Earth. Now in respect of the shadowes of mens bodies, the
inhabitants of the earth are divided into the
1 _Amphiscy_ ([Greek: amphischioi]) whose shadow at noone day
fall both waie, so to the North when the Sunne is Southward of
them, & to the South when the Sunne is Northward, and such are
those people that doe dwell in the hot Zone. For the Sunne goes
ouer their heads twice a yeare, once Northward, another time
Southward, when the Sunne is just ouer their heads they are
called _Asoy_, [Greek: aschioi], without shadow.
2 _Heteroscy_ ([Greek: heteroschioi]) whose shadowes doe alwaies
fall one way, namely alwaies towards the North, as those that
dwell in the Northerne temperate Zone, or alwaies to the South,
as those that dwell in the Southerne temperate Zone.
3 _Periscy_ ([Greek: perischioi]) whose shadowes goe round about
them, as those people who dwell in the two cold Zones, for as the
Sunne never goes downe to them after he is once vp, but alwaies
round about, so doe their shadowes.
4 The fourth distinction is by the scituation of the Inhabitants
of the Earth, compared on with another: who are called either.
1 Perioeci ([Greek: perioichoi]) such as dwell round
about the Earth in one and the same paralell, as for
example vnder the Tropicke of Cancer.
2 Antoeci ([Greek: antoichoi]) such as dwell opposite to
the former in another Paralell of the same distance
from the Æquator. As those vnder the Tropicke of
Capricorne.
3 Antipodes ([Greek: antipodes]) who dwell iust vnder vs
theire feete opposite to ours.
5 The fifth distinction is of the Length and Breadth of the Earth
and places vpon it: these may bee considered two wayes
1 Absolutely, and so the
{ Longitude or Length of the Earth is its Circuit, and
{ Extension from East to west,
{
{ Latitude or breadth of it, is the whole Circuit and
{ Compasse of it from North to South.
2 Comparatiuely: comparinge one places scituation with
another, and so the
{ Longitud of a place, is the distance of it from the
{ first Meridian going through the Canary Ilands,
{ Eastward. Whereby wee know how farre one place lies
{ East or West from another.
{
{ Latitude of a place, is the distance of it from the
{ Æquator towards the North or South. Whereby wee know
{ how farre one Place lies Northward, or Southward of
{ another.
The Longitude must bee reckoned by the degrees of the Æquator,
the Latitude by the degrees of the Meridian.
For example, in these two Hæmisphæres, the longitude of the whole
earth is from (_C_) to (_A_) and (_B_) in the Æquator. The
latitud is from (_N_) to (_S_), and from (_Q_) to (_P_) the North
and South poles, and this reckoned in any meridian. The first
meridian is (_ANBS_) which goes by the Canary Ilands, the
Æquinoctiall is (_ABCA_). Now I haue a Citty giuen so. (_D_) I
would know in what longitude and latitude it is. For the
longitude I consider what meridian passeth through it, which is
the meridian (_NDS_) which crosseth the Æquinoctiall in (_I_) at
15 degrees, wherefore I say that (_D_) stands Eastward from the
first Meridian 15 degrees. So I finde that the Citty (_E_) is 150
degrees Eastward, (_G_) 195, and (_F_) 345.
For the Latitude I consider what paralell runnes through (_DEG_)
or (_F_) and I finde the 30 to passe by (_D_) 45 by (_E_) the 15
by (_F_) the 45 Southward by (_G_) and those numbers are the
latitude of the place that are distant from the Æquator, (_CAB_).
[Illustration]
Concerning the means whereby the longitude of places is found
out, there is scarce any thing that hath troubled Mathematicians
so much as the observation of it. For because no standing marke
can be taken (the Heavens alwaies running about) it must needs
bee difficult. To measure vpon the earth, going alwaies vnder the
same paralell, is a way certain in regard of some few places, but
so troublesome in it selfe, and vnprofitable in regard of other
places that ly out of that paralell, that it may be accounted a
fruitlesse labour. The voyages & accounts of Marriners at Sea,
are so full of casualty & vncertainty by reason of the doubtfull
variation of the compasse, the vnequall violence of windes and
tides, the false making of their sea cards, by which they saile,
and the ignorance of the Masters for the greatest part, as there
can hardly be any assured reckoning made by them. The best means
of observation is by Eclipses of the Sunne & Moone, which in
severall Countries are sooner or later seene, according as one
place lies farther East or farther West from another. But this
also falls out so seldome, and when it happens, is so seldome
obserued, and when it is observed, hath so many difficulties in
the precise and exact observation of it; that wee may Well
account this inquiry after the longitude of places, to be one of
those things whereof wee must be content to be ignorant, & rather
to gesse at it in Grosse, then in vaine to striue for exactnesse,
which is the cause why the tables of the longitude and latitude
of Citties, though they many times agree in the latitude, doe yet
for the most part very much differ in the Longitude.
6 The sixth Distinction is by the Length or shortnesse of the Day
in Summer time in seuerall Quarters of the earth. And this
diuision is by Climates ([Greek: chlimata]) which are seuerall
spaces of the earth contained betweene two Paralells, in the
which the longest day in Summer excedes that in another Paralell
by halfe an Houre. There is a greate deale of Confusion and
difference betweene the late and ancient Geographers about the
distinction and diuers reckonings of the Climats. It is not
worth the labour to recount theire opinions and Calculations:
thus much is plaine, and easie to bee knowne. There are 24.
Climats in which the Day encreaseth by halfe houres from 12.
houres to 24. There are likewise 6. Climats in which the day
encreaseth by moneths, from one moneth to sixe that is halfe a
yeare. Vnder the Aequator the day is alwayes twelue houres longe,
but as you goe from it towards the Pole, the Day lengthens still
till it comes to a day halfe a yeare long.[3] Now in what degrees
of latitude euery on of these Climats beginne and end, shall
appeare by this table following.
[Footnote 3: Those that dwell vnder the Pole haue not past 3, or
4 moneths profound as tenebras darke night, for when the Sun is
in Libra & Pisces being then nigh, the Horizon it sends forth to
them a glimmering light not vnlike to the twilight or dawning of
the day in a morning a little before the Suns rising _Munster_
lib. I. cap.]
7 The seaventh and last distinction of the earth is taken from
the scituation of it in respect of the Heavens, and especially
the Sunnes motion. In regard whereof Some parts or inhabitants of
the Earth are said to be or dwell in a Right Spheare, some in a
paralell Spheare, and others in an oblique or crooked Spheare.
They dwell (in _Sphæra recta_) in a right or streight Spheare who
dwell iust vnder the Æquinoctiall, whose Horizon is paralell to
the Meridians, but cutts the Æquator at right Angles, they dwell
in paralell Spheares, who dwell iust vnder either of the Poles,
whose Horizon is parallell to the Æquator, but cuts all the
Meridians at right Angles: and the latter is sometime called a
Paralell Spheare.
They dwell (in _Sphæra obliqua_) in a crooked Spheare, who
inhabite any place betweene the Æquinoctiall and the Pole, whose
Horizon cuts the Æquator, the Paralells, and the Meridians at
oblique or vnequall angles.
A table of the climats.
+------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+
|Climes|Paralells |The |Latitude |The |The places by which|
| | |longest |& elevation|breadth |the climates passe.|
| | |summer |of Pole. |of the | |
| | |day. |Scr. Degr. |Climats. | |
| | |Hou. Scr.| |Deg. Scr.| |
+------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+
| 0 | 0 | 12 0 | 0 0 | 4 18 | The beginning |
| | 1 | 12 15 | 4 18 | | from the Aequator.|
+------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+
| 1 | 2 | 12 30 | 8 34 | 8 25 | Sinus Arabicus or |
| | 3 | 1 45 | 12 43 | | the Red Sea. |
+------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+
| 2 | 4 | 13 0 | 16 43 | 7 50 | Meroe an Iland of |
| | 5 | 13 15 | 20 33 | | Nilus in Aegypt. |
+------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+
| 3 | 6 | 13 40 | 23 10 | 7 3 | Siene a Citty in |
| | 7 | 13 45 | 27 36 | | Africa. |
+------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+
| 4 | 8 | 14 0 | 30 47 | 6 9 | Alexandria in |
| | 9 | 14 15 | 33 45 | | Aegypt. |
+------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+
| 5 | 10 | 14 30 | 36 30 | 5 17 | Rhodes and |
| | 11 | 14 45 | 39 2 | | Babylon. |
+------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+
| 6 | 12 | 15 0 | 41 22 | 4 30 | Rome and |
| | 13 | 15 15 | 43 32 | | Hellespont. |
+------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+
| 7 | 14 | 15 30 | 45 29 | 3 48 | Venice and |
| | 15 | 15 45 | 47 20 | | Millaine. |
+------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+
| 8 | 16 | 16 0 | 49 21 | 3 13 | Podalia and the |
| | 17 | 16 15 | 50 33 | | lesser Tartary. |
+------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+
| 9 | 18 | 16 30 | 51 58 | 2 44 | Batavia and |
| | 19 | 16 45 | 53 17 | | Wittenberge. |
+------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+
| 10 | 20 | 17 0 | 54 29 | 2 17 | Rostoch. |
| | 21 | 17 15 | 55 34 | | |
+------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+
| 11 | 22 | 17 30 | 56 37 | 2 0 | Ireland and |
| | 23 | 17 45 | 57 34 | | Moscovy. |
+------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+
| 12 | 24 | 18 0 | 58 26 | 1 40 | Bohus a Castle |
| | 25 | 18 15 | 59 1 | | in Norwey. |
+------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+
| 13 | 26 | 18 30 | 59 59 | 1 26 | Gothland. |
| | 27 | 18 45 | 60 40 | | |
+------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+
| 14 | 28 | 19 0 | 61 18 | 1 13 | Bergia in |
| | 29 | 19 15 | 61 53 | | Norwey. |
+------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+
| 15 | 30 | 19 30 | 62 25 | 1 0 | Wiburge in |
| | 31 | 19 45 | 62 54 | | Finland. |
+------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+
| 16 | 32 | 20 0 | 63 22 | 0 52 | Arotia in |
| | 33 | 20 15 | 63 46 | | Sweden. |
+------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+
| 17 | 34 | 20 30 | 64 6 | 0 44 | The mouth of |
| | 35 | 20 45 | 64 30 | | Darecally a riv. |
| | | | | | of Swed[~e]. |
+------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+
| 18 | 36 | 21 0 | 64 49 | 0 36 | Diverse places |
| | 37 | 21 15 | 65 6 | | in Norwey. |
+------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+
| 19 | 38 | 21 30 | 65 21 | 0 29 | Suetia, Alba |
| | 39 | 21 45 | 65 35 | | Russia. |
+------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+
| 20 | 40 | 22 0 | 65 47 | 0 22 | With many Ilands. |
| | 41 | 22 15 | 65 57 | | |
+------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+
| 21 | 42 | 22 30 | 66 6 | 0 17 | Thereunto |
| | 43 | 22 45 | 66 14 | | adioyning. |
+------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+
| 22 | 44 | 23 0 | 66 20 | 0 11 | Wanting speciall |
| | 45 | 23 15 | 66 25 | | names. |
+------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+
| 23 | 46 | 23 30 | 66 28 | 0 5 | And Landmarkes. |
| | 47 | 23 45 | 66 20 | | |
+------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+
| 24 | 48 | 24 0 | 66 31 | 0 0 | Island vnder the |
| | | | | | Articke circle. |
+------+----------+---------+-----------+---------+-------------------+
|Here the Climats | Menses | | These Climats are supposed |
|are accounted by +---------+-----------+ to passe by diverse Ilands |
|the months from | 1 | 67 15 | within the Articke circle |
|66 Degr. 31 min. +---------+-----------+ as Groenland, Island, |
|where the day is | 2 | 69 30 | Greenland: wherein as yet |
|24 houres vnto +---------+-----------+ for the narrownesse of |
|the Pole it selfe| 3 | 73 20 | these climats comming |
|set at 90 Degrees+---------+-----------+ neere together, and the |
|where the | 4 | 78 20 | vncertainty of |
|artificiall day +---------+-----------+ observation no |
|is sixe Months. | 5 | 84 0 | speciall places haue beene |
| +---------+-----------+ assigned as to the other. |
| | 6 | 90 0 | |
+-----------------+---------+-----------+-----------------------------+
1 The vse of this table is easie. In the first Culumne are
contained the names and number of the Climats. In the second the
Paralells which enclose it on each side, and deuide it in the
middest. For the paralells here are drawne by euery halfe houres
encrease.
The third Columne is the length of the Day in Summer, in euery
Climate, which from 12. houres encreaseth by halfe houres to 24.
houres after by moneths, from one moneth to sixe.
The fourth containes the degrees of latitude, how farre euery
climate lies from the Æquinoctiall.
The fift contaynes the space or breadth of euery Climate, how
many degrees or minutes it takes vp vpon the Earth.
The sixt containes some notable places by which the Climats
passe.
2 Hereby it is easie to know what the longest Day is in any Place
of the worlde whose latitude is knowne. Or contrarily the longest
Day being knowne to know the latitude. For example Oxford hath
latitude 52.0. degrees longitude 24.0. In the table I finde that
52. degrees of Latitude lie in the 9th Climate wherein the day is
16. houres and a halfe longe. So much I say the Day is at Oxford
in Summer. The place of Oxford in the Hæmisphere is at (_V_.)
3 Vpon Globes the Climats are not vsually described, but are
noted out vpon the brazen Meridian. So also in vniversall mappes
they are seldome drawne, to avoide confusion of many lines
together, but they are many times marked out on the limbe or edge
of the mappe.