William Pemble

“ What is the compasse and depth of the earth. This may be seene in Hues de vsu Globi, part. 3. cap. 2. and in Clavius on Sacrobosco with others. They all differ so much one from another, that there is no certainty in trusting any of them. The most common and received opinion is that the circuit of the earth is 21600 miles, reckoning 60 miles for every degree, and then the depth or Diameter of the Earth shall be 6877 English miles, containing 5000 foote in a mile. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ Neither doe wee diue into the bowels of the earth, and enter into consideration of the naturall qualities, which are in the substance of Earth and water, as coldnes, drinesse moisture, heauines, and the like, but wee looke only vpon the out side, contemplating the greatnesse, scituation, distances, measuringe, and other such affections which appeare in the superficies of it, to the eyes of our bodies and mindes: These then of the earth and water together, rules are to bee knowne,
The earth and the water doe make one globe, i.e., one round or sphericall body. ”

“ 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. Now in what degrees of latitude euery on of these Climats beginne and end, shall appeare by this table following.
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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ Periscy (περισχιοι) 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.
The fourth distinction is by the scituation of the Inhabitants of the Earth, compared on with another: who are called either.
Perioeci (περιοιχοι) such as dwell round about the Earth in one and the same paralell, as for example vnder the Tropicke of Cancer. ”

“ 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. ”

“ Some affirme it may, and doth: who thinke there is greater probabilitie the earth should mooue round once a day, then that the Heauens should by reason of the incredible swiftnesse of the heauens motion, scarcs conpetible to any naturall body; and the more likely Slownesse of the earths mouing. Others deny it grounding theire opinion vpon Scripture, which affirmes the earth to stand fast, so as it cannot bee moued; and vpon Sence, because wee perceaue it not to moue, and lastly vpon reasons drawne from things hurled vp, and let fall vpon the earth. ”

“ In Geography when wee name the earth wee meane not the earth taken seuerally by itselfe, without the seas and waters. But vnder one name both are comprised, as they are now mingled one with another and doe both together make vp one entire and round body. ”

“ 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. ”

“ That both earth and water are one round body, not square, long, hollow, of any other figure. This is proued by diuerse reasons.
By Eclipses; when the earth, stands iust betweene the Sunne and the Moone, then doth the shadow of the earth falling vpon the Moone darken it wholy or in part. ”

“ The earth, though it bee of exceeding greate quantity being considered in itselfe, yet being compared to the Heauens, especially the higher sphæres, is of noe notable bignes, but may be accounted as a point or pricke in the middest of the world. ”

“ The naturall place of the water is to bee aboue the earth, and soe it was in the first creation of it, compassing, the earth round aboute as appeares Genes. 1. 9. But for the vse of man and all other liuing creatures, God made a separation of them caussing the waters to sinke downe into huge hollow channells, prepared to receaue it, that so the drie land might appeare aboue it. ”

“ 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. ”

“ It was therefore good reason the most beautifull body should haue the most perfect and exquisite shape. Exact roundnesse then is not found in any body, but the Heauens; the earth is round as was showed before, but not precisely, with out all roughnes and inæquality of its surface. There are hills like warts and vallies like wrinkels in a mans body; and that both for ornament and vse. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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.)
Vpon Globes the Climats are not vsually described, but are noted out vpon the brazen Meridian. ”

“ Certainly the midland countries, whence springs of great rivers vsually arise, doe ly so high, that the sea cannot naturally overflow them. For as for that opinion that the water of the sea in the middle lies on a heape higher then the water that is by the shore ”

“ Notwithstanding all this, most are of another opinion, that the earth standeth still without all motion, rest rather befittinge so heauy and dull a body then motion. The maine reason brought to establish it is this. Let a stone bee throwne downe out of the ayre from (W:) if the earth stand still, it is manifest it will fall vpon (X) iust vnder it ”

“ The tops of the highest hills, and the bottoms of the lowest vallies although in seuerall places they make the earth vneven, yet being compared to the vast greatnesse of the whole, doe not at all hinder the roundnesse of it. ”

“ This seemes probable, and the rather because heereby a reason of the originall of Riuers might more easily bee giuen. For the fountaines (C) lying euen with the superficies of the Sea, the water may easily passe through the hollowes of the earth, and breake out at (C) without ascendinge. But here also are some difficulties: for first wee find by experience that the fountaines of most riuers, and those greate ons too, lye sensibly higher then the plaine surface of the Sea. Againe, if the riuer moue directly round, what should bee the cause that begins and continues this motion? ”

“ So that a farre of their height makes but a little alteration and difference from the plaine Countreys, when wee behold all togeather a farre of: though when wee come neere, the alteration seemes more sensible. ”