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.
_The Zodiake is a circle which compasseth the earth like a belt,
crossing the aequator 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.
_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. }
_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 [Greek:
trepothai] _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.
_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._
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