Certaine termes of Land and Water plainely defined and described .

THe Terrestriall Globe is defined to be a Sphericall body , proportionably composed of Earth and Water : into which two parts it is divided . Whereof the Earth comes first to view ; whose parts are either Reall , Imaginary : and the reall parts , either Continents , Islands .

Now a Continent is a great quantity of Land , not interlaced or separated by the Sea ; in which many Kingdomes and Principalities are contained ; as Europe , Asia , Africa , America ,

An Island ( called in Latine , Insula quasi in salo ) is a part of the earth , environed round with waters ; as Britaine , Java , S. Laurence Isle , Barmudas .

These againe are subdivided into Peninsula , Istmus Promontorium .

A Peninsula , is almost an Island ; that is , a tract of Land , which being almost encompassed round by water is joyned to the firme Land by some little Istmus : as Poloponnesus , Taurica , Cymbrica , and Pervana .

An Istmus is a little narrow necke of Land , which joyneth any Peninsula to the Continent ; as the Straights of Dariene in Peru , and Corinth in Greece ,

Promontorium , is some high Mountaine , which shooteth it selfe into the Sea , the utmost end of which , is called a Cape , as that great Cape of good hope , and Cape Verde in Africa ; Cape Comori in Asia , and that of S. Michaels mount in Cornwall ; the North Cape up in Norway , and divers other .

There are likewise other reall parts of the Earth ; as Mountaines , Vallies , Fields , Plaines , Woods , and the like .

The other generall part of the Globe is the Water ; which is divided into 1. Oceanus . 2. Mare . 3. Fretum . 4. Sinus .

1. Oceanus , the Ocean , is that generall collection of all waters , which invironeth the whole world on every side .

2. Mare , the Sea , is a part of the Ocean ; to which wee cannot come , but through some Straite , as Mare Mediterraneum , Mare Balticum , and the like .

These two take their names , Either from the adjacent places , as the British Ocean , the Germane Sea , the Atlantick Sea . Or from the first discoverer , as Mare Magellanicum , Davis and Forbishers straites , &c. Or from some remarkable accident , as Mare Rubrum , from the red colour of the Sands . Mare Aegeum , Pontus Euxinus , and the like .

3. Fretum , a Straite , is a part of the Ocean restrained within narrow bounds , and opening a way to the Sea ; as the Straits of Gibraltar , Hellespont , Anian .

4. Sinus , a Creeke , is a crooked shoare , thrusting out as it were two armes to imbrace the lovely presence of the Sea ; as Sinus Adriaticus , Sinus Persicus , and Corinthiacus .

To this also belong Rivers , Brookes , and Fountaines , which are engendred of congealed ayre in the earths concavities , and seconded by the Sea-waters , creeping through hidden crannies thereof . Thus much of the Reall parts of the Globe in generall .

Of the Circles of this Mappe , and their uses .

THe Imaginary parts of the Earth are such , which not being at all in the Earth , must yet be supposed to be so , for the better teaching and learning this Science ; and are certaine Circles going about the Earth , answerable to them in Heaven in name .

The Meridian ( which comes first to be considered ) is a great Circle compassing round the Earth from Pole to Pole ; and is that which you see in the circumference of both Planispheares of the Map ; and wherein are written the names of the Zones & Climates . This chiefe , first , fixed Meridian passeth through the Islands called Azores , according to the ancient Cosmographers ; and there are two reasons why they did there begin to reckon the longitude of the Earth :

First , for that at that time there was no Land knowne further to the Westward than that place .

Secondly , under that Meridian the Needle in the Mariners Compasse had no variation , but did point directly North and South .

There be also many Meridians according to the diverse place in which a man lives , the number of them equall to so many points as may be imagined in the Globe ; but the usuall setting them knowne to view , is by ten degrees asunder ; and are those blacke lines which you see in both Planispheares , running down along from the North to the South Pole .

The use of the Meridian , is to shew the Longitude of any place . Now the longitude of a Region , City or Cape , is the distance of it East from the first great Meridian ; and this ongitude is measured and numbred in the Aequinoctiall line by Meridians from the generall and fixed Meridian , into the East , and containeth the whole compasse of the Earth , viz. 360. degrees

To prove this by example , cast your eye on London , and you shall see it something to the East of the second blacke Meridian ; passe downe with that blacke line to the Aequinoctiall , and looke as much East there , as London is from that Meridian above , then count the degrees of the Aequinoctiall , from the first great Meridian to that place , and that distance is the longitude of London : which you may perceive to be 20. degrees and better : And the like manner of working is to be made for all other places .

That line full of degrees crossing both Planispheare : straight a long in the middle , and dividing the world into two halfes ( viz ) North and South halfes ; is called the Aequinoctiall line , or the Aequator ; either because it is of equall distance from both Poles of the world , or else because the Sunne comming in this Circle makes the dayes & nights throughout the world of like length ; which happens upon the 10 , or 11. of March , and the 13. or 14. of September . It passes through Abassia or Prester Johns Kingdome , and Manicongo in Africa , through the grea● Island Sumatra , and the Maldive Isles of Asia ; and in America , through Guiana .

The use of it is to shew the Latitude of any Countrey , City , Promontory , or the like : Now the Latitude is the distance of a place toward the South or North , from the Aequinoctiall line or middle of the world ; and is reckoned and measured upon the Meridian toward either Pole : Those therefore have Northerne latitude that inhabit betweene the Aequinoctiall and ●he North Pole , as they have Southerne latitude that are betweene the same Aequator and the South Pole .

Those blacke lines thwarting the blacke Meridians from East to West , are parallels , & are also called Aequidistants , being distant one from another 10. degrees toward both Poles ; and are here set downe for the easier counting the latitude of any place from the Aequinoctiall : as for the latitude of London ; count so many decimall parallels , till you come to the parallel which is neerest London , ( you shall find them to be five ) then follow that line to the Meridian , and see the figures set thereat ; they are 50. ) moreover , adde to that number of 50. so much as London is s●tuate above that parallel , the space is one degree and a halfe ; thus shall you finde the latitude of London ( that is , the distance thereof from the Aequator toward the North Pole ) to the 51 degrees and a halfe : and in the like manner must the Latitude of all other places be sought . Thus much of Longitude and Latitude , by which two the whole earth is reckoned .

The Meridian and Aequinoctiall , as also the Zodiacke , are filled throughout with degrees , the number 360. and every degree consists of 60. Minutes , and containes , according to our ordinary account , 20. leagues , or threescore miles .

The great Circle that is drawn bending bias in one planispheare up to the Tropicke of Cancer , in the other downe to the Tropick of Capricorne , is the Zodiacke ; it is replenished with degrees , and beares on it the Characters of the 12. signes .

The uses of it are to shew over what Countries and people the body and beames of the Sunne come perpendicular at some times or other in the yeare ; and it shews to all ( where the dayes increase and decrease ) the longest and shortest dayes of the yeare , for the Sunne ( which causeth the same ) being alwayes in this Circle , and therein moving about one degree a day , all the while he is comming up from the Tropicke of Capricorne to that of Cancer , the dayes increase in the Northerne Climates ; but contrariwise in his course backe from Cancer to Capricorne , they shorten to us , and lengthen to those in the Southerne Climates ; and this Circle shewes the foure quarters of the yeare ; Spring , Summer , Autumne , Winter .

The Tropicke of Cancer , ( so called , or the Coelestiall signe Cancer ) is a circle , whose distance from the Aequinoctiall toward the North , is 23. degrees and a halfe . When the Sunne is come so farre Northward as to touch this Circle , then is our longest day in the yeare .

It passes through the Southermost parts of Barbary & Aegypt , Arabia , India , China , Nova Hispania , and the Island Cuba .

The Tropicke of Capricorne , ( likewise so named of the signe Capricorne in the starry heaven ) is a circle of like distance at the other Tropicke from the Aequinoctiall Southward , that is 23. degrees and a halfe . When the Sunne is gone downe to the circle Southward , it is our shortest day in the whole yeare .

This Tropicke passes through Monomotapa , Saint Laurence Island , Peru , and South coasts of Brasile .

The Articke , or North polar circle , is distant from the North Pole , 23 , degrees and a halfe ; so much as the Tropicke of Cancer is from the Aequinoctiall ; but the distance betweene that Tropicke and it , is 43. degrees .

You may see it passe through Island , Norway , Boddia , Moscovy , Tartary , crosse Davis S●●aites , and Groenland .

The Antarticke or Sout●●olar Circle , is distant from the South Pole , 23. degrees and a ha●●e ; so farre as the Tropicke of Capricorne is from the Equinoc●●all .

This circle passes thro●●●● Magellanica , or Terra Australis Incognita onely .

Now these foure lesser ●●●cles , ( viz. ) the two Tropickes , and Polar circles , doe fitly pa●●●he Earth into five Zones .

The Zones .

A Zone is a space of Earth , contained betweene two of the smaller circles , or within the compasse of either polar Circle : the name signifies as much as a girdle , by reason that each Zone compasseth about the earth in manner of a girdle . Of these there be two kinds , one temperate , the other untemperate .

There be two temper●●e Zones ; the one North , the other South .

The North temperate Zo●● , is that space of Earth contained betweene the Tropicke of C●ncer , and the North polar Circle .

The South temperate Zo●● is that space of earth stretched along betweene the Tropicke of Capricorne , and the South Polar Circle .

They are called temper●●● Zones , for that the ayre thereof hath a farre better and more ●●●●erate temperature , and meeter for man to inhabit , than t●●●●temperate Zones . The breadth of them is 43. degrees a piece , which degrees , make either temperate Zone to be 2580. English miles broad apiece .

The untemperate Zones are twofold ; one exceeding in the extremity of heat , the other as much in cold ; they have bin thought in former times altogether uncharitable , but latter experience hath found them more fi● for habitation .

The Torrid or burnt Zo●e ( which is the hot untemperate Zone ) is that space of heaven which you see contained betweene the Tropicke of Cancer , and that of Capricorne . It hath the name of Torrid , because the Sunne continually passes thereover , and casting downe direct rayes , ●●ects it with a marvellous heate ; thereby making it not so convenient for the Inhabitants , as the temperate Zones are . The breadth of this Zone is comprehended betweene the two Tropickes , and containes 47. degrees , that is of English miles 2820.

The frozen Zones are spaces of Earth inclosed within either of the Polar circles : of these there are two , one North , the other South .

The North fr●zen Zone , is that space of Earth contained within the compasse of the North Polar circle . The breadth thereof reckoned 23. degrees and a halfe , ( viz. ) from the Pole it selfe to the Polar circle ; which of English miles is 1410.

The South frozen Zone , is that space of Earth compassed all about with the South Polar circle : It hath the like breadth from the South Pole , as the other frozen Zone hath from the North Pole and likewise the number of miles is the same .

They are called frozen Zones , because they ( for the most part ) exceed in cold ; and that is caused in regard that the Sunne , for a good part of the yeare , is under the Horizon , and sees them not ; and when he is come up into their sight , his appearance ( which is for a pretty long season together ) rather comforts them , than any vertuall heat proceeding from him ; for there th● ayre is stuft with thicke foggy vapours , and his beames at highe●● fall but very oblikely on them ; so that what through his want and unability to dispel the cold , and the colds force to resist and beare backe the Suns heate ; these Zones remaine almost unhabitable , and even ( as the word is ) frozen .

The names of all these , set in the right place of each Zone , you shall see in that Meridian going about America and Magellanica .

Of the Climats .

IN that great Meridian going about Europe , Asia , and Afric● are described the Climates ; Now a Climate is a space of the Earth included within the space of two Parallels . The use of them is to shew the difference of length , and shortnesse of dayes over all the world , as you may see in the midst of every Climat , set the number of the houres of the longest day in the yeare , under that Climat : the longest day in one Climat , differing halfe an houre from the longest in another . So that there are foure and twenty Climats , consisting of forty eight Parallels , ere the day come to be 24. houres in length , which is twelve houres longer than the ordinary Aequinoctiall day is . Now this is to be understood ; Under the Aequinoctiall line , and 13 , degrees , that is 3. Parallels , on either side thereof , the dayes exceed not the length of twelve houres , but after in every Clime increase the length of halfe an houre , so that there are numbred ( as is said before ) 48. Parallels , which make 24. Climats , before the dayes become 24. houres long ; the which length they being growne to , their increase is then by whole weeks and moneths , till in the foure and twentieth Clime : about the Pole , the day is ful half a yeare long . And as it is thus betweene the Aequator and North Pole , so is it betweene the said Aequator and South Pole : wherefore there are two sorts of Climats , that is , 24 Northerne , and as many Southerne . The Climes Northward are thus named : the first is Dia Meroes , because the middle parallell thereof passes through the middest of the Inland Jland Meroe , in the Continent of Africa ; the second is Dia Sienes ; the third Dia Alexandria ; the fourth Dia Rhodos ; the fift Dia Romes ; the sixt Dia Ponton ; the seventh Dia Borisihenes ; the eight Dia Ripheos ; the 9th Per Dianam . The South Climes have the same names , save onely that the word Anti is thereto added ; as Anti Dia Meroes ; the next Anti Dia Sienes , and so along unto the ninth Southward : further than the ninth Clime on either side th● Aequinoctiall they are not named ; but yet the Climes runne on both wayes to the number of 24. as is seene in the Meridian . That there be but nine named ; the reason is , because when these names were given , no more than nine Climats were knowne to those of ancient times ; but since though the number of them be increast to 24. the rest are not so knowne by proper names , but remaine innominate .

The Division of the Earth , and of the foure parts thereof .

THe world in later times hath been divided into the known and unknowne : This last , since obscuritie hides it , silence shall overslip it . The knowne branches it selfe into the four-fold Division , viz. 1. Europe ▪ 2. Asia , 3. Africa , 4 America .