| |
| 1. | To fynde the degre in which the sonne is |
| day by day, after his cours aboute. |
| Rekne and knowe which is the day of thy |
| month, and ley thy rewle upon that same day, |
| and than wol the verrey poynt of thy rewle |
| sitten in the bordure upon the degre of thy |
| sonne. |
| Ensample as thus: The yeer of oure Lord |
| 1391, the 12 day of March at midday, I wolde |
| knowe the degre of the sonne. I soughte in |
| the bakhalf of myn Astrelabie and fond the |
| cercle of the daies, the whiche I knowe by |
| the names of the monthes writen under the |
| same cercle. Tho leyde I my reule over this |
| foreseide day, and fond the point of my reule |
| in the bordure upon the firste degre of Aries, |
| a litel within the degre. And thus knowe I this |
| conclusioun. |
| Anothir day I wolde knowen the degre of |
| my sonne, and this was at midday in the 13 |
| day of Decembre. I fond the day of the |
| month in manere as I seide; tho leide I my |
| rewle upon this forseide 13 day, and fond |
| the point of my rewle in the bordure upon |
| the firste degre of Capricorne a lite within the |
| degre. And than had I of this conclusioun the |
| ful experience. |
| |
| 2. | To knowe the altitude of the sonne or of |
| othre celestial bodies. |
| Put the ryng of thyn Astrelabie upon thy |
| right thombe, and turne thi lift syde ageyn |
| the light of the sonne; and remewe thy rewle |
| up and doun til that the stremes of the sonne |
| shine thorugh bothe holes of thi rewle. Loke |
| than how many degrees thy rule is areised fro |
| the litel cros upon thin est lyne, and tak there |
| the altitude of thi sonne. And in this same |
| wise maist thow knowe by night the altitude |
| of the mone or of brighte sterres. |
| This chapitre is so generall evere in oon |
| that there nedith no more declaracioun; but |
| forget it not. |
| |
| 3. | To knowe every tyme of the day by light |
| of the sonne; and every tyme of the nyght by |
| the sterres fixe; and eke to knowe by nyght or |
| by day the degre of eny signe that ascendith on |
| the est orisonte, which that is clepid comounly |
| the ascendent, or ellis horoscopum. |
| Tak the altitude of the sonne whan the list, |
| as I have seid, and set the degre of the sonne, |
| in caas that it be beforn the myddel of the day, |
| among thyn almykanteras on the est syde of |
| thin Astrelabie; and if it be after the myddel |
| of the day, set the degre of thy sonne upon the |
| west syde. Tak this manere of settyng for a |
| general rule, ones for evere. And whan thou |
| hast set the degre of thy sonne upon as |
| many almykanteras of height as was the altitude |
| of the sonne taken by thy rule, ley |
| over thi label upon the degre of the sonne; and |
| than wol the point of thi labell sitte in the |
| bordure upon the verrey tyde of the day. |
| Ensample as thus: The yeer of oure lord |
| 1391, the 12 day of March, I wolde knowe the |
| tyde of the day. I tok the altitude of my sonne, |
| and fond that it was 25 degrees and 30 minutes |
| of height in the bordure on the bak |
| side. Tho turned I myn Astrelabye, and by |
| cause that it was before mydday, I turned |
| my riet and sette the degre of the sonne, that |
| is to seyn the firste degre of Aries, on the right |
| side of myn Astrelabye upon 25 degrees and |
| 30 mynutes of height among myn almykanteras. |
| Tho leide I my label upon the degre of my |
| sonne, and fond the point of my label in the |
| bordure upon a capital lettre that is clepid |
| an X. Tho rekned I alle the capitale lettres |
| fro the lyne of mydnight unto this forseide |
| lettre X, and fond that it was 9 of the |
| clokke of the day. Tho loked I doun upon myn |
| est orizonte, and fond there the 20 degre of |
| Geminis ascendyng, which that I tok for myn |
| ascendent. And in this wise had I the experience |
| for evermo in which manere I shulde |
| knowe the tyde of the day and eke myn ascendent. |
| Tho wolde I wite the same nyght folewyng |
| the houre of the nyght, and wroughte |
| in this wise: Among an heep of sterres |
| fixe it liked me for to take the altitude of the |
| faire white sterre that is clepid Alhabor, and |
| fond hir sittyng on the west side of the lyne |
| of midday, 12 degrees of heighte taken by my |
| rewle on the bak side. Tho sette I the centre |
| of this Alhabor upon 12 degrees among myn |
| almykanteras upon the west side, by cause that |
| she was founde on the west side. Tho |
| leyde I my label over the degre of the |
| sonne, that was discendid under the west |
| orisounte, and rekned all the lettres capitals |
| fro the lyne of midday unto the point of my |
| label in the bordure, and fond that it was |
| passed 9 of the clokke the space of 10 degrees. |
| Tho lokid I doun upon myn est orisounte, and |
| fond there 10 degrees of Scorpius ascendyng, |
| whom I tok for myn ascendent. And thus |
| lerned I to knowe onys for ever in which |
| manere I shuld come to the houre of the |
| nyght, and to myn ascendent, as verrely as |
| may be taken by so smal an instrument. |
| But natheles this rule in generall wol I warne |
| the for evere: Ne make the nevere bold to |
| have take a just ascendent by thin Astrelabie, |
| or elles to have set justly a clokke, whan eny |
| celestial body by which that thou wenyst governe |
| thilke thinges be nigh the south lyne. |
| For trust wel, whan the sonne is nygh the |
| meridional lyne, the degre of the sonne |
| renneth so longe consentrik upon the almykanteras |
| that sothly thou shalt erre fro the |
| just ascendent. The same conclusioun sey I by |
| the centre of eny sterre fix by nyght. And |
| more over, by experience I wot wel that in |
| oure orisounte, from xi of the clokke unto oon |
| of the clokke, in taking of a just ascendent in |
| a portatif Astrelabie it is to hard to knowe -- |
| I mene from xi of the clokke before the |
| houre of noon til oon of the clokke next |
| folewyng. |
| |
| 4. | A special declaracioun of the ascendent. |
| The ascendent sothly, as wel in alle nativites |
| as in questions and eleccions of tymes, is a |
| thing which that these astrologiens gretly observen. |
| Wherfore me semeth convenyent, syth |
| that I speke of the ascendent, to make of it |
| speciall declaracioun. |
| The ascendent sothly, to take it at the largest, |
| is thilke degre that ascendith at eny of |
| these forseide tymes upon the est orisounte. |
| And therfore, yf that eny planete ascende |
| at thatt same tyme in thilke forseide degre, |
| than hath he no latitude fro the ecliptik lyne, |
| but he is than in the degre of the ecliptik |
| which that is the degre of his longitude. Men |
| sayn that thilke planete is in horoscopo. |
| But sothly the hous of the ascendent, that |
| is to seyn, the first hous or the est angle, is a |
| thing more brod and large. For, after the statutes |
| of astrologiens, what celestial body |
| that is 5 degrees above thilke degre that |
| ascendith, or withinne that nombre, that is |
| to seyn neer the degree that ascendith, yit |
| rekne they thilke planete in the ascendent. |
| And what planete that is under thilke degre |
| that ascendith the space of 25 degres, yit seyn |
| thei that thilke planete is "like to him that is |
| the hous of the ascendent." But sothly, if he |
| passe the boundes of these forseide spaces, |
| above or bynethe, thei seyn that the planete |
| is "fallyng fro the ascendent." Yit saien |
| these astrologiens that the ascendent and |
| eke the lord of the ascendent may be shapen |
| for to be fortunat or infortunat, as thus: A |
| "fortunat ascendent" clepen they whan that no |
| wicked planete, as Saturne or Mars or elles |
| the Tayl of the Dragoun, is in the hous of the |
| ascendent, ne that no wicked planete have |
| noon aspect of enemyte upon the ascendent. |
| But thei wol caste that thei have a fortunat |
| planete in hir ascendent, and yit in his felicite; |
| and than sey thei that it is wel. |
| Further over thei seyn that the infortunyng of |
| an ascendent is the contrarie of these forseide |
| thinges. The lord of the ascendent, sey thei |
| that he is fortunat whan he is in god place |
| fro the ascendent, as in an angle, or in a succident |
| where as he is in hys dignite and comfortid |
| with frendly aspectes of planetes and |
| wel resceyved; and eke that he may seen |
| the ascendent; and that he be not retrograd, |
| ne combust, ne joyned with no |
| shrewe in the same signe; ne that he be not |
| in his discencioun, ne joyned with no planete |
| in his descencioun, ne have upon him noon |
| aspect infortunat; and than sey thei that he is |
| well. |
| Natheles these ben observaunces of judicial |
| matere and rytes of payens, in whiche my |
| spirit hath no feith, ne knowing of her |
| horoscopum. For they seyn that every |
| signe is departid in thre evene parties by |
| 10 degrees, and thilke porcioun they clepe a |
| face. And although that a planete have a latitude |
| fro the ecliptik, yit sey somme folk, so |
| that the planete arise in that same signe with |
| eny degre of the forseide face in which his |
| longitude is rekned, that yit is the planete |
| in horoscopo, be it in nativyte or in eleccion, |
| etc. |
| 5. | To knowe the verrey equacioun of the |
| degre of the sonne yf so be that it falle bitwene |
| thyn almykanteras. |
| For as muche as the almykanteras in thin |
| Astrelabie ben compowned by two and two, |
| where as somme almykanteras in sondry astrelabies |
| be compowned by 1 and 1, or elles by 2 |
| and 2, it is necessarie to thy lernyng to teche |
| the first to knowe and worke with thin oune |
| instrument. Wherfore whan that the degre of |
| thi sonne fallith bytwixe 2 almykanteras, or |
| ellis yf thin almykanteras ben graven with |
| over-gret a poynt of a compas (for bothe |
| these thinges may causen errour as wel in |
| knowing of the tide of the day, as of the verrey |
| ascendent), thou must worken in this |
| wise: |
| Set the degre of thy sonne upon the hyer |
| almykanteras of bothe, and wayte wel where |
| as thin almury touchith the bordure and set |
| there a prikke of ynke. Sett doun agayn the |
| degre of the sunne upon the nether almykanteras |
| of bothe, and sett there another |
| pricke. Remeve than thin almury in |
| the bordure evene amiddes bothe prickes, and |
| this wol lede justly the degre of thi sonne to |
| sitte bitwene bothe almykanteras in his right |
| place. Ley than thy label over the degre of |
| thi sonne, and fynd in the bordure the verrey |
| tyde of the day, or of the night. And as verraily |
| shalt thou fynde upon thin est orisonte |
| thin ascendent. |
| |
| 6. | To knowe the spryng of the dawenyng |
| and the ende of the evenyng, the whiche ben |
| called the two crepuscules. |
| Set the nadir of thy sonne upon 18 degrees |
| of height among thyn almykanteras on the west |
| syde; and ley thy label on the degre of thy |
| sonne, and than shal the point of thy label |
| shewen the spryng of the day. Also set the |
| nader of thy sonne upon 18 degrees of height |
| among thin almykanteras on the est side, and |
| ley over thy label upon the degre of the sonne, |
| and with the point of thy label fynd in the |
| bordure the ende of the evenyng, that is |
| verrey nyght. |
| The nader of the sonne is thilke degre that |
| is opposyt to the degre of the sonne, in the |
| 7 signe, as thus: every degre of Aries by |
| ordir is nadir to every degre of Libra by ordre, |
| and Taurus to Scorpioun, Gemini to Sagittarie, |
| Cancer to Capricorne, Leo to Aquarie, Virgo |
| to Piscis. And if eny degre in thy zodiak be |
| derk, his nadir shal declare hym. |
| |
| 7. | To knowe the arch of the day, that some |
| folk callen the day artificiall, fro sonne arisyng |
| tyl it go to reste. |
| Set the degre of thi sonne upon thin est |
| orisonte, and ley thy label on the degre of |
| the sonne, and at the point of thy label in the |
| bordure set a pricke. Turne than thy riet |
| aboute tyl the degre of the sonne sitte upon |
| the west orisonte, and ley thy label upon the |
| same degre of the sonne, and at the poynt of |
| thy label set another pricke. Rekne than |
| the quantite of tyme in the bordure bitwixe |
| bothe prickes, and tak there thyn arch of |
| the day. The remenaunt of the bordure |
| under the orisonte is the arch of the nyght. |
| Thus maist thou rekne bothe arches, or every |
| porcioun, of whether that the liketh. And by |
| this manere of worching maist thou se how |
| longe that eny sterre fix dwelleth above the |
| erthe, fro tyme that he riseth til he go to reste. |
| But the day naturall, that is to seyn 24 hours, |
| is the revolucioun of the equinoxial with as |
| muche partie of the zodiak as the sonne of |
| his propre moeving passith in the mene |
| while. |
| |
| 8. | To turne the houres inequales in houres |
| equales. |
| Know the nombre of the degrees in the |
| houres inequales, and depart hem by 15, and |
| tak there thin houres equales. |
| |
| 9. | To knowe the quantite of the day vulgar, |
| that is to seyn fro spryng of the day unto |
| verrey nyght. |
| Know the quantite of thy crepuscles, as I |
| have taught in the 3 chapitre bifore, and adde |
| hem to the arch of thy day artificial, and tak |
| there the space of all the hool day vulgar unto |
| verrey night. The same manere maist thou |
| worche to knowe the quantite of the vulgar |
| nyght. |
| |
| 10. | To knowe the quantite of houres inequales |
| by day. |
| Understond wel that these houres inequales |
| ben clepid houres of planetes. And understond |
| wel that som tyme ben thei lenger by |
| day than by night, and som tyme the contrarie. |
| But understond wel that evermo generaly |
| the houre inequal of the day with the |
| houre inequal of the night contenen 30 degrees |
| of the bordure, which bordure is evermo answeryng |
| to the degrees of the equinoxial. |
| Wherfore departe the arch of the day artificial |
| in 12, and tak there the quantite of |
| the houre inequale by day. And if thou abate |
| the quantite of the houre inequale by day out |
| of 30, than shal the remenaunt that levith parforme |
| the houre inequale by night. |
| |
| 11. | To knowe the quantite of houres |
| equales. |
| The quantite of houres equales, that is to |
| seyn the houres of the clokke, ben departid by |
| 15 degrees alredy in the bordure of thin Astrelaby, |
| as wel by night as by day, generaly for |
| evere. What nedith more declaracioun? |
| Wherfore whan the list to knowe hou many |
| houres of the clokke ben passed, or eny part |
| of eny of these houres that ben passed, or ellis |
| how many houres or parties of houres ben |
| to come fro such a tyme to such a tyme by |
| day or by night, know the degre of thy |
| sonne, and ley thy label on it. Turne thy ryet |
| aboute joyntly with thy label, and with the |
| poynt of it rekne in the bordure fro the sonne |
| arise unto that same place there thou desirist, |
| by day as by nyght. This conclusioun wol I declare |
| in the laste chapitre of the 4 partie of this |
| tretys so openly that ther shal lakke no word |
| that nedith to the declaracioun. |
| |
| 12. | Special declaracioun of the houres of |
| planetes. |
| Understond wel that evermo, fro the arisyng |
| of the sonne til it go to reste, the nadir of |
| the sonne shal shewe the houre of the planete; |
| and fro that tyme forward al the night til the |
| sonne arise, than shal the verrey degre of the |
| sonne shewe the houre of the planete. |
| Ensample as thus: The xiij day of March |
| fyl upon a Saturday, peraventure, and atte risyng |
| of the sonne I fond the secunde degre |
| of Aries sittyng upon myn est orisonte, all |
| be it that it was but litel. Than fond I the |
| |
| on my west orisonte, upon which west orisonte |
| every day generaly, atte sonne arist, entrith the |
| houre of eny planete, after which planete the |
| day berith his name, and endith in the next |
| strike of the plate under the forseide west |
| orisonte. And evere as the sonne clymbith upper |
| and upper, so goth his nadir downer |
| and downer, teching by suche strikes the |
| houres of planetes by ordir as they sitten |
| in the hevene. The firste houre inequal of |
| every Saturday is to Saturne, and the secunde |
| to Jupiter, the thirde to Mars, the fourthe |
| to the sonne, the fifte to Venus, the sixte to |
| Mercurius, the seventhe to the mone. And |
| then ageyn the 8 is to Saturne, the 9 to |
| Jupiter, the 10 to Mars, the 11 to the sonne, |
| the 12 to Venus. And now is my sonne gon |
| to reste as for that Saturday. Than shewith |
| the verrey degre of the sonne the houre |
| of Mercurie entring under my west orisonte at |
| eve; and next him succedith the mone, and |
| so furth by ordir, planete after planete in houre |
| after houre, all the nyght longe til the sonne |
| arise. Now risith the sonne that Sonday by |
| the morwe, and the nadir of the sonne upon |
| the west orisonte shewith me the entring of the |
| houre of the forseide sonne. And in this |
| manere succedith planete under planete fro |
| Saturne unto the mone, and fro the mone up |
| ageyn to Saturne, houre after houre generaly. |
| And thus knowe I this conclusyoun. |
| |
| 13. | To knowe the altitude of the sonne in |
| myddes of the day that is clepid the altitude |
| meridian. |
| Set the degre of the sonne upon the lyne |
| meridional, and rekne how many degres of |
| almykanteras ben bitwyxe thin est orisonte and |
| the degre of thy sonne; and tak there thin altitude |
| meridian, this to seyn, the highest of the |
| sonne as for that day. So maist thou knowe in |
| the same lyne the heighest cours that eny sterre |
| fix clymbeth by night. This is to seyn that whan |
| eny sterre fix is passid the lyne meridional, |
| than begynneth it to descende; and so doth |
| the sonne. |
| |
| 14. | To knowe the degre of the sonne by thy |
| ryet, for a maner curiosite. |
| Sek besily with thy rule the highest of the |
| sonne in mydde of the day. Turne than thin |
| Astrelabie, and with a pricke of ynke marke |
| the nombre of that same altitude in the lyne |
| meridional; turne than thy ryet aboute tyl thou |
| fynde a degre of thy zodiak according with the |
| pricke, this is to seyn, sitting on the pricke. |
| And in soth thou shalt finde but 2 degrees in |
| all the zodiak of that condicioun; and yit |
| thilke 2 degrees ben in diverse signes. |
| Than maist thou lightly, by the sesoun of |
| the yere, knowe the signe in which that is the |
| sonne. |
| |
| 15. | To knowe which day is lik to which |
| day as of lengthe. |
| Loke whiche degrees ben ylike fer fro the |
| hevedes of Cancer and Capricorne, and loke |
| when the sonne is in eny of thilke degrees; |
| than ben the dayes ylike of lengthe. This is |
| to seyn that as longe is that day in that month, |
| as was such a day in such a month; there varieth |
| but litel. |
| Also, yf thou take 2 dayes naturales in the |
| yere ylike fer fro either point of the equinoxiall |
| in the opposyt parties, than as longe |
| is the day artificiall of that oon day as is the |
| night of that othir, and the contrarie. |
| |
| 16. | This chapitre is a maner declaracioun |
| to conclusiouns that folewen. |
| Understond wel that thy zodiak is departed |
| in two halve circles, as fro the heved of Capricorne |
| unto the heved of Cancer, and ageynward |
| fro the heved of Cancer unto the heved |
| of Capricorne. The heved of Capricorne is |
| the lowest point where as the sonne goth in |
| wynter, and the heved of Cancer is the heighist |
| point in which the sonne goth in somer. And |
| therfore understond wel that eny two degrees |
| that ben ylike fer fro eny of these two |
| hevedes, truste wel that thilke two degrees |
| ben of ilike declinacioun, be it southward or |
| northward, and the daies of hem ben ilike of |
| lengthe and the nyghtes also, and the shadewes |
| ilyke, and the altitudes ylike atte midday |
| for evere. |
| |
| 17. | To knowe the verrey degre of eny maner |
| sterre, straunge or unstraunge, after his longitude; |
| though he be indetermynat in thin |
| Astralabye, sothly to the trouthe thus he shal |
| be knowe. |
| Tak the altitude of this sterre whan he is on |
| the est syde of the lyne meridionall, as nye |
| as thou mayst gesse; and tak an ascendent anon |
| right by som manere sterre fix which that thou |
| knowist; and forget not the altitude of the firste |
| sterre ne thyn ascendent. And whan that this |
| is don, aspye diligently whan this same firste |
| sterre passith eny thyng the south westward; |
| and cacche him anon right in the same |
| nombre of altitude on the west syde of this |
| lyne meridional, as he was kaught on the |
| est syde; and tak a newe ascendent anon-ryght |
| by som maner sterre fix which that thou knowist, |
| and forget not this secunde ascendent. And |
| whan that this is don, rekne than how many |
| degrees ben bitwixe the firste ascendent and |
| the secunde ascendent; and rekne wel the myddel |
| degre bitwene bothe ascendentes, and set |
| thilke myddel degre upon thyn est orizonte; |
| and wayte than what degre that sitte upon |
| the lyne meridional, and tak there the verrey |
| degre of the ecliptik in which the sterre |
| stondith for the tyme. For in the ecliptik is the |
| longitude of a celestiall body rekned, evene |
| fro the heved of Aries unto the ende of Pisces; |
| and his latitude is rekned after the quantite of |
| his declynacioun north or south toward the |
| polys of this world. |
| As thus: Yif it be of the sonne or of |
| eny fix sterre, rekne hys latitude or his |
| declinacioun fro the equinoxiall cercle; and |
| if it be of a planete, rekne than the quantite |
| of his latitude fro the ecliptik lyne, all be it |
| so that fro the equinoxiall may the declinacioun |
| or the latitude of eny body celestiall be rekned |
| after the site north or south and after the quantite |
| of his declinacioun. And right so may the |
| latitude or the declinacioun of eny body celestiall, |
| saaf oonly of the sonne, after hys site |
| north or south and after the quantite of his |
| declinacioun, be rekned fro the ecliptik |
| lyne; fro which lyne alle planetes som tyme |
| declinen north or south saaf oonly the forseide |
| sonne. |
| |
| 18. | To knowe the degrees of longitudes of |
| fixe sterres after that they be determynat in |
| thin Astrelabye, yf so be that thei be trewly |
| sette. |
| Set the centre of the sterre upon the lyne |
| meridionall, and tak kep of thy zodiak, and |
| loke what degre of eny signe that sitte upon |
| the same lyne meridionall at that same tyme, |
| and tak there the degre in which the sterre |
| stondith. and with that same degre cometh that |
| same sterre unto that same lyne fro the orisonte. |
| |
| 19. | To knowe with which degre of the zodiak |
| eny sterre fix in thin Astrelabie arisith |
| upon the est orisonte, all though his dwellyng |
| be in another signe. |
| Set the centre of the sterre upon the est |
| orisonte, and loke what degre of eny signe that |
| sitt upon the same orisonte at that same tyme. |
| And understond wel that with that same degre |
| arisith that same sterre. |
| And thys merveylous arisyng with a straunge |
| degre in another signe is by cause that the |
| latitude of the sterre fix is either north or south |
| fro the equinoxiall. But sothly the latitudes |
| of planetes be comounly rekened fro the |
| ecliptyk, by cause that noon of hem declyneth |
| but fewe degrees out fro the brede of the |
| zodiak. And tak god kep of this chapitre of |
| arisyng of celestialle bodies; for truste wel that |
| neyther mone ne sterre, as in our embelif |
| orisonte, arisith with that same degre of his |
| longitude saaf in oo cas, and that is whan they |
| have no latitude fro the ecliptyk lyne. But |
| natheles som tyme is everich of these planetes |
| under the same lyne. |
| |
| 20. | To knowe the declinacioun of eny degre |
| in the zodiak fro the equinoxiall cercle. |
| Set the degre of eny signe upon the lyne |
| meridionall, and rekne hys altitude in the |
| almykanteras fro the est orisonte up to the same |
| degre set in the forseide lyne, and set there a |
| prikke; turne up than thy riet, and set the heved |
| of Aries or Libra in the same meridionall lyne, |
| and set there a nother prikke. And whan that |
| this is don, considre the altitudes of hem bothe; |
| for sothly the difference of thilke altitudes |
| is the declinacioun of thilke degre fro the |
| equinoxiall. And yf it so be that thilke degre |
| be northward fro the equinoxiall, than is |
| his declinacyoun north; yif it be southward, |
| than is it south. |
| |
| 21. | To knowe for what latitude in eny regioun |
| the almykanteras of eny table ben compowned. |
| Rekene how many degrees of almykanteras |
| in the meridionall lyne ben fro the cercle equinoxiall |
| unto the cenyth, or elles from the pool |
| artyk unto the north orisonte; and for so gret |
| a latitude, or for so smal a latitude, is the table |
| compowned. |
| |
| 22. | To knowe in speciall the latitude of |
| oure countre, I mene after the latitude of Oxenford, |
| and the height of oure pool. |
| Understond wel that as fer is the heved of |
| Aries or Libra in the equinoxiall fro oure orisonte |
| as is the cenyth fro the pool artik; and |
| as high is the pool artik fro the orisonte as the |
| equinoxiall is fer fro the cenyth. I prove it |
| thus by the latitude of Oxenford: understond |
| wel that the height of oure pool artik fro oure |
| north orisonte is 51 degrees and 50 mynutes; |
| than is the cenyth fro oure pool artik 38 degrees |
| and 10 mynutes; than is the equinoxial |
| from oure cenyth 51 degrees and 50 |
| mynutes; than is oure south orisonte from oure |
| equinoxiall 38 degres and 10 mynutes. Understond |
| wel this rekenyng. Also forget not |
| that the cenyth is 90 degrees of height from |
| the orisonte, and oure equinoxiall is 90 degres |
| from oure pool artik. Also this shorte rule is |
| soth, that the latitude of eny place in a regioun |
| is the distaunce fro the cenyth unto |
| the equinoxiall. |
| |
| 23. | To prove evidently the latitude of eny |
| place in a regioun by the preve of the height |
| of the pool artik in that same place. |
| In som wynters nyght whan the firmament |
| is cler and thikke sterred, wayte a tyme til |
| that eny sterre fix sitte lyne-right perpendiculer |
| over the pool artik, and clepe that sterre A; |
| and wayte another sterre that sitte lyne-right |
| under A, and under the pool, and clepe that |
| sterre F. And understond wel that F is not |
| considrid but oonly to declare that A sitte |
| evene over the pool. Tak than anoon-right |
| the altitude of A from the orisonte, and forget |
| it not; let A and F goo fare wel tyl |
| ageynst the dawenyng a gret while, and com |
| than ageyn, and abid til that A is evene under |
| the pool, and under F; for sothly than wol F |
| sitte over the pool, and A wol sitte under the |
| pool. Tak than eftsonys the altitude of A from |
| the orisonte, and note as wel his secunde altitude |
| as hys firste altitude. And whan that this |
| is doon, rekene how many degrees that the |
| firste altitude of A excedith his secunde altitude, |
| and tak half thilke porcioun that is |
| excedid and adde it to his secunde altitude, |
| and tak there the elevacioun of thy pool, and |
| eke the latitude of thy regioun; for these two |
| ben of oo nombre, this is to seyn, as many degres |
| as thy pool is elevat, so muche is the latitude |
| of the regioun. |
| Ensample as thus: Peraventure the altitude of |
| A in the evenyng is 56 degrees of height; |
| than wol his secunde altitude or the dawenyng |
| be 48 degres, that is 8 degrees lasse |
| than 56, that was his first altitude att even. |
| Tak than the half of 8 and adde it to 48 that |
| was his secunde altitude, and than hast thou |
| 52. Now hast thou the height of thy pool and |
| the latitude of the regioun. But understond |
| wel that to prove this conclusioun and many |
| another faire conclusioun, thou must have a |
| plomet hongyng on a lyne, heygher than |
| thin heved, on a perche; and thilke lyne |
| must hange evene perpendiculer bytwixe |
| the pool and thin eye; and than shalt thou |
| seen yf A sitte evene over the pool, and over |
| F atte evene; and also yf F sitte evene over the |
| pool and over A or day. |
| |
| 24. | Another conclusioun to prove the |
| height of the pool artik fro the orisonte. |
| Tak eny sterre fix that never descendith under |
| the orisonte in thilke regioun, and considre |
| his heighist altitude and his lowist altitude |
| fro the orisonte, and make a nombre of |
| bothe these altitudes; tak than and abate half |
| that nombre, and take there the elevacioun of |
| the pool artik in that same regioun. |
| |
| 25. | Another conclusioun to prove the latitude |
| of the regioun. |
| Understond wel that the latitude of eny |
| place in a regioun is verrely the space bytwixe |
| the cenyth of hem that dwellen there and the |
| equinoxiall cercle north or south, takyng the |
| mesure in the meridional lyne, as shewith in |
| the almykanteras of thin Astrelabye. And thilke |
| space is as much as the pool artike is high in |
| that same place fro the orisonte. And than is |
| the depressioun of the pool antartik, that |
| is to seyn, than is the pool antartik, bynethe |
| the orisonte the same quantite of |
| space neither more ne lasse. |
| Than if thou desire to knowe this latitude |
| of the regioun, tak the altitude of the sonne |
| in the myddel of the day, whan the sonne is |
| in the hevedes of Aries or of Libra; for than |
| moeveth the sonne in the lyne equinoxiall; |
| and abate the nombre of that same sonnes altitude |
| out of 90 degrees, and than is the |
| remenaunt of the nombre that leveth |
| the latitude of the regioun. As thus: |
| I suppose that the sonne is thilke day at |
| noon 38 degrees of height; abate than 38 |
| degrees oute of 90; so leveth there 52; than is |
| 52 degrees the latitude. I say not this but for |
| ensample; for wel I wot the latitude of Oxenford |
| is certeyn minutes lasse; thow might |
| preve the same. |
| Now yf so be that the semeth to longe a |
| tarieng to abide til that the sonne be in the |
| hevedes of Aries or of Libra, than wayte |
| whan the sonne is in eny othir degre of the |
| zodiak, and considre the degre of his declinacioun |
| fro the equinoxiall lyne; and if it so be |
| that the sonnes declinacioun be northward fro |
| the equinoxiall, abate than fro the sonnes altitude |
| at non the nombre of his declinacioun, |
| and than hast thou the height of the hevedes |
| of Aries and Libra. As thus: My sonne |
| is peraventure in the 10 degre of Leoun, |
| almost 56 degrees of height at non, |
| and his declinacioun is almost 18 degrees |
| northward fro the equinoxiall; abate than thilke |
| 18 degrees of declinacioun out of the altitude |
| at non; than leveth there 38 degrees and odde |
| minutes. Lo there the heved of Aries or Libra |
| and thin equinoxiall in that regioun. Also if |
| so be that the sonnes declinacioun be southward |
| fro the equinoxiall, adde than thilke |
| declinacioun to the altitude of the sonne at |
| noon, and tak there the hevedes of Aries |
| and Libra and thin equinoxial; abate than the |
| height of the equinoxial out of 90 degrees; |
| than leveth there the distance of the pool of |
| that regioun fro the equinoxiall. Or elles, if |
| the list, tak the highest altitude fro the equinoxial |
| of eny sterre fix that thou knowist, and |
| tak his netherest elongacioun (lengthing) fro |
| the same equinoxial lyne, and work in the |
| manere forseid. |
| |
| 26. | Declaracioun of the ascensioun of |
| signes. |
| The excellence of the spere solide, amonges |
| othir noble conclusiouns, shewith manyfest the |
| diverse ascenciouns of signes in diverse places, |
| as wel in the right cercle as in the embelif |
| cercle. These auctours writen that thilke signe |
| is cleped of right ascensioun with which more |
| part of the cercle equinoxiall and lasse part of |
| the zodiak ascendith. and thilke signe ascendith |
| embelif with which lasse part of the |
| equinoxiall and more part of the zodiak |
| ascendith. Ferther-over, they seyn that in |
| thilke cuntrey where as the senith of hem that |
| dwellen there is in the equinoxial lyne, and |
| her orisonte passyng by the two poles of this |
| world, thilke folk han this right cercle and |
| the right orisonte; and evermore the arch of |
| the day and the arch of the night is there ilike |
| longe; and the sonne twies every yer passing |
| thorugh the cenith of hir heed, and two |
| someres and two wynters in a yer han these |
| forseide peple. And the almycanteras in |
| her Astrelabyes ben streight as a lyne, so as |
| shewith in the figure. |
| The utilite to knowe the ascensions of signes |
| in the right cercle is this: Truste wel that |
| by mediacioun of thilke ascensions these astrologiens, |
| by her tables and her instrumentes, |
| knowen verreily the ascensioun of every degre |
| and minute in all the zodiak in the embelif |
| cercle, as shal be shewed. And nota that |
| this forseide right orisonte, that is clepid |
| Orison Rectum, dividith the equinoxial into |
| right angles; and the embelif orisonte, where |
| as the pool is enhaunced upon the orisonte, |
| overkervith the equinoxiall in embilif angles, |
| as shewith in the figure. |
| |
| 27. | This is the conclusioun to knowe the |
| ascensions of signes in the right cercle, that is |
| circulus directus. |
| Set the heved of what signe the lyst to knowe |
| his ascendyng in the right cercle upon the lyne |
| meridionall, and wayte where thyn almury |
| touchith the bordure, and set there a prikke; |
| turne than thy riet westward til that the ende |
| of the forseide signe sitte upon the meridional |
| lyne and eftsonys wayte where thin almury |
| touchith the bordure, and set there another |
| pricke. Rekene than the nombre of degres |
| in the bordure bitwixe bothe prikkes, and |
| tak the ascensioun of the signe in the right |
| cercle. And thus maist thou werke with every |
| porcioun of thy zodiak. |
| |
| 28. | To knowe the ascensions of signes in the |
| embelif cercle in every regioun, I mene, in |
| circulo obliquo. |
| Set the heved of the signe which as the list |
| to knowe his ascensioun upon the est orisonte, |
| and wayte where thin almury touchith the bordure, |
| and there set a prikke. Turne than thy |
| riet upward til that the ende of the same signe |
| sitte upon the est orisonte, and wayte eftsonys |
| where as thin almury touchith the bordure, |
| and set there a nother prikke. Rekene than |
| the nombre of degrees in the bordure bitwyxe |
| bothe prikkes and tak there the ascensioun |
| of the signe in the embelif cercle. |
| And understond wel that alle the signes in thy |
| zodiak, fro the heved of Aries unto the ende |
| of Virgo, ben clepid signes of the north fro |
| the equinoxiall. And these signes arisen bitwyxe |
| the verrey est and the verrey north in |
| oure orisonte generaly for evere. And alle the |
| signes fro the heved of Libra unto the ende |
| of Pisces ben clepid signes of the south fro |
| the equinoxial; and these signes arisen |
| evermore bitwixe the verrey est and the |
| verrey south in oure orisonte. Also every signe |
| bitwixe the heved of Capricorne unto the ende |
| of Geminis arisith on oure orisonte in lasse |
| than 2 houres equales. And these same signes |
| fro the heved of Capricorne unto the ende of |
| Geminis ben cleped tortuose signes, or croked |
| signes, for thei arise embelyf on oure orisonte. |
| And these croked signes ben obedient to |
| the signes that ben of right ascensioun. |
| The signes of right ascencioun ben fro the |
| heved of Cancer unto the ende of Sagittarie; |
| and these signes arisen more upright, and thei |
| ben called eke sovereyn signes and everich of |
| hem arisith in more space than 2 houres. Of |
| whiche signes Gemini obeieth to Cancer, and |
| Taurus to Leo, Aries to Virgo, Pisces to Libra, |
| Aquarius to Scorpioun, and Capricorne to Sagittarie. |
| And thus evermore 2 signes that |
| ben ilike fer fro the heved of Capricorne |
| obeyen everich of hem to othir. |
| |
| 29. | To knowe justly the 4 quarters of the |
| world, as Est, West, North, and South. |
| Tak the altitude of thy sonne whan the list, |
| and note wel the quarter of the world in which |
| the sonne is for the tyme by the azymutz. |
| Turne than thin Astrelabie, and set the degre |
| of the sonne in the almykanteras of his altitude |
| on thilke syde that the sonne stant, as is the |
| manere in takyng of houres, and ley thy label |
| on the degre of the sonne; and rekene how |
| many degrees of the bordure ben bitwixe |
| the lyne meridional and the point of thy |
| label, and note wel that nombre. Turne |
| than ageyn thin Astrelabie, and set the point |
| of thy gret rule there thou takist thin altitudes |
| upon as many degrees in his bordure fro his |
| meridional as was the point of thy label fro |
| the lyne meridional on the wombe side. Take |
| than thin Astrelabie with bothe hondes sadly |
| and slighly, and let the sonne shyne thorugh |
| bothe holes of thy rule, and slighly in thilke |
| shynyng lat thin Astrelabie kouche adoun |
| evene upon a smothe ground, and than wol |
| the verrey lyne meridional of thin Astrelabie |
| lye evene south, and the est lyne wol lye est, |
| and the west lyne west, and the north lyne |
| north, so that thou worke softly and avysely |
| in the kouching. And thus hast thou the 4 |
| quarters of the firmament. |
| |
| 30. | To knowe the latitude of planetes fro |
| the wey of the sonne, whethir so they be north |
| or south fro the forseide wey. |
| Loke whan that a planete is in the lyne |
| meridional, yf that hir altitude be of the same |
| height that is the degre of the sonne for that |
| day, and than is the planete in the verrey wey |
| of the sonne and hath no latitude. And if the |
| altitude of the planete be heigher than the |
| degre of the sonne, than is the planete north |
| fro the wey of the sonne such a quantite of |
| latitude as shewith by thin almykanteras. |
| And if the altitude of the planete be lasse |
| than the degre of the sonne, than is the |
| planete south fro the wey of the sonne such |
| a quantite of latitude as shewith by thin |
| almykanteras. This is to seyn, fro the wey |
| where as the sonne went thilke day, but not |
| fro the wey of the sonne in every place of the |
| zodiak. |
| |
| 31. | To knowe the cenyth of the arising of |
| the sonne, this is to seyn, the partie of the |
| orisonte in which that the sonne arisith. |
| Thou must first considere that the sonne arisith |
| not alwey verrey est, but somtyme by northe |
| the est and somtyme by south the est. Sothly |
| the sonne arisith nevere moo verrey est in oure |
| orisonte, but he be in the heved of Aries or |
| Libra. Now is thin orisonte departed in 24 parties |
| by thin azimutes in significacioun of 24 parties |
| of the world; al be it so that shipmen rekene |
| thilke parties in 32. Than is there no |
| more but wayte in which azimut that thy |
| sonne entrith at his arisyng, and take there |
| the cenith of the arisyng of the sonne. |
| The manere of the divisioun of thin Astrelabie |
| is this, I mene as in this cas: First |
| it is divided in 4 plages principalis with the |
| lyne that goth from est to west; and than with |
| another lyne that goth fro south to north; than |
| is it divided in smale parties of azymutz, as est, |
| and est by south, where as is the first azymut |
| above the est lyne; and so furth fro |
| partie to partie til that thou come ageyn |
| unto the est lyne. Thus maist thou understonde |
| also the cenyth of eny sterre, in which partie |
| he riseth. |
| |
| 32. | To knowe in which partie of the firmament |
| is the conjunccyoun. |
| Considere the tyme of the conjunccyoun by |
| the kalender, as thus: Loke hou many houres |
| thilke conjunccioun is fro the midday of the |
| day precedent, as shewith by the canon of |
| thy kalender. Rekene than thilke nombre of |
| houres in the bordure of thin Astrelabie, as |
| thou art wont to do in knowyng of the houres |
| of the day or of the nyght, and ley thy label |
| over the degre of the sonne, and than wol |
| the point of thy label sitte upon the houre |
| of the conjunccioun. Loke than in which |
| azymut the degre of thy sonne sittith, and in |
| that partie of the firmament is the conjunccioun. |
| |
| 33. | To knowe the cenyth of the altitude of |
| the sonne. |
| This is no more to seyn but eny tyme of |
| the day tak the altitude of the sonne, and by |
| the azymut in which he stondith maist thou |
| seen in which partie of the firmament he is. |
| And the same wise maist thou seen by night, |
| of eny sterre, wheither the sterre sitte est or |
| west, or north or south, or eny partie bitwene, |
| after the name of the azimut in which is the |
| sterre. |
| |
| 34. | To knowe sothly the degre of the longitude |
| of the mone, or of eny planete that hath |
| no latitude for the tyme fro the ecliptik lyne. |
| Tak the altitude of the mone, and rekne thy |
| altitude up among thyn almykanteras on |
| which syde that the mone stondith, and set |
| there a prikke. Tak than anon-right upon the |
| mones syde the altitude of eny sterre fix which |
| that thou knowist, and set his centre upon his |
| altitude among thyn almykanteras there the |
| sterre is founde. Wayte than which degre of |
| the zodiak touchith the prykke of the altitude |
| of the mone, and tak there the degre |
| in which the mone stondith. This conclusioun |
| is verrey soth, yf the sterres in thin |
| Astrelabie stonden after the trouthe. Comoun |
| tretes of the Astrelabie ne maken non excepcioun |
| whether the mone have latitude or |
| noon, ne on wheyther syde of the mone the |
| altitude of the sterre fixe be taken. |
| And nota that yf the mone shewe himself |
| by light of day, than maist thou worche |
| this same conclusioun by the sonne, as wel |
| as by the fixe sterre. |
| |
| 35. | This is the worchinge of the conclusioun |
| to knowe yf that eny planete be direct |
| or retrograd. |
| Tak the altitude of eny sterre that is clepid |
| a planete, and note it wel; and tak eke anon |
| the altitude of any sterre fix that thou knowist, |
| and note it wel also. Com than ageyn the |
| thridde or the fourthe nyght next folewing, for |
| than shalt thou perceyve wel the moeving of |
| a planete, wheither so he moeve forward or |
| bakward. Awayte wel than whan that thy |
| sterre fixe is in the same altitude that she |
| was whan thou toke hir firste altitude. |
| And tak than eft-sones the altitude of the |
| forseide planete and note it wel; for truste wel |
| yf so be that the planete be on the right syde |
| of the meridional lyne, so that his secunde altitude |
| be lasse than hys first altitude was, than |
| is the planete direct; and yf he be on the west |
| syde in that condicioun, than is he retrograd. |
| And yf so be that this planete be upon the est |
| side whan his altitude is ytaken, so that his |
| secunde altitude be more than his first altitude, |
| than is he retrograd. And if he be on |
| the west syde, than is he direct. But the contrarie |
| of these parties is of the cours of the |
| mone; for certis the mone moeveth the contrarie |
| from othre planetes as in hir epicicle, but |
| in noon othir manere. |
| |
| 36. | The conclusioun of equaciouns of |
| houses after the Astrelabie. |
| Set the begynnyng of the degre that ascendith |
| upon the ende of the 8 houre inequal; than |
| wol the begynnyng of the 2 hous sitte upon |
| the lyne of mydnight. Remeve than the degre |
| that ascendith, and set him on the ende of the |
| 10 houre inequal, and than wol the begynnyng |
| of the 3 hous sitte up on the mydnight lyne. |
| Bring up ageyn the same degre that ascended |
| first, and set him upon the est orisonte, and |
| than wol the begynnyng of the 4 hous sitte |
| upon the lyne of mydnight. Tak than the |
| nader of the degre that first ascendid, and set |
| him on the ende of the 2 houre inequal; and |
| than wol the begynnyng of the 5 hous sitte |
| upon the lyne of mydnight. Set than the nader |
| of the ascendent on the ende of the 4 houre |
| inequal, and than wol the begynnyng of the |
| 6 hous sitte on the mydnight lyne. The begynnyng |
| of the 7 hous is nader of the ascendent, |
| and the begynnyng of the 8 hous |
| is nader of the 2, and the begynnyng |
| of the 9 hous is nader of the 3, and the begynnyng |
| of the 10 hous is nader of the 4, |
| and the begynnyng of the 11 hous is nader |
| of the 5, and the begynnyng of the 12 hous |
| is nader of the 6. |
| |
| 37. | Another maner of equaciouns of houses |
| by the Astrelabye. |
| Tak thin ascendent, and than hast thou thy |
| 4 angles; for wel thou wost that the opposit |
| of thin ascendent, that is to seyn, the begynnyng |
| of the 7 hous, sitt upon the west orisonte, |
| and the begynnyng of the 10 hous sitt upon |
| the lyne meridional, and his opposyt upon the |
| lyne of mydnight. Than ley thy label over the |
| degre that ascendith, and rekne fro the point |
| of thy label alle the degrees in the bordure |
| tyl thou come to the meridional lyne; and |
| departe alle thilke degrees in 3 evene parties, |
| and take there the evene equacions of 3 |
| houses; for ley thy label over everich of these |
| 3 parties, and than maist thou se by thy label, |
| in the zodiak, the begynnyng of everich |
| of these same houses fro the ascendent; that |
| is to seyn, the begynnyng of the 12 hous next |
| above thin ascendent, the begynnyng of the |
| 11 hous, and than the 10 upon the meridional |
| lyne, as I first seide. The same wise |
| worch thou fro the ascendent doun to the |
| lyne of mydnyght, and thus hast thou othre |
| 3 houses; that is to seyn, the begynnyng of |
| the 2, and the 3, and the 4 hous. Than is the |
| nader of these 3 houses the begynnyng of the |
| 3 houses that folewen. |
| |
| 38. | To fynde the lyne meridional to dwelle |
| fix in eny certeyn place. |
| Tak a round plate of metal; for werpyng, |
| the brodder the better; and make there upon |
| a just compas a lite within the bordure. And |
| ley this rounde plate upon an evene ground, |
| or on an evene ston, or on an evene stok fix |
| in the ground; and ley it evene by a level. |
| And in the centre of the compas styke an |
| evene pyn, or a wyr, upright, the smaller the |
| better; set thy pyn by a plom-rule evene |
| upright, and let this pyn be no lenger than |
| a quarter of the dyametre of thy compas, |
| fro the centre amiddes. And wayte bisely |
| aboute 10 or 11 of the clokke, whan the sonne |
| shineth, whan the shadewe of the pyn entrith |
| enythyng within the cercle of thy compas an |
| heer-mele; and marke there a pricke with inke. |
| Abid than stille waityng on the sonne til after |
| |
| or of the pyn, passe enything out of the |
| cercle of the compas, be it nevere so lyte, |
| and set there another pricke of ynke. Tak |
| than a compas, and mesure evene the myddel |
| bitwixe bothe prickes, and set there a prikke. |
| Tak me than a rule and draw a strike evene |
| a-lyne, fro the pyn unto the middel prikke; and |
| tak there thi lyne meridional for evermore, as |
| in that same place. And yif thou drawe a |
| cross-lyne overthwart the compas justly over |
| the lyne meridional, than hast thou est and |
| west and south, and par consequens, |
| the opposit of the south lyne, i.e. the north. |
| |
| 39. | Descripcion of the meridional lyne, of |
| longitudes and latitudes of citees and townes, |
| as wel as of climates. |
| Thys lyne meridional is but a maner descripcioun, |
| or lyne ymagined, that passith upon the |
| poles of this world and by the cenyth of oure |
| heved. And it is cleped the lyne meridional, |
| for in what place that eny man is at any tyme |
| of the yer, whan that the sonne, by mevynge |
| of the firmament, cometh to his verrey meridian |
| place, than is it verrey mydday, that we clepen |
| oure non, as to thilke man. And therfore |
| is it clepid the lyne of midday. And nota |
| that evermore of eny 2 cytes or of 2 townes, |
| of which that oo town approchith ner toward |
| the est than doth that othir town, trust |
| wel that thilke townes han diverse meridians. |
| Nota also that the arch of the equinoxial that |
| is contened or bownded bitwixe the 2 meridians |
| is clepid the longitude of the toun. And |
| yf so be that two townes have ilike meridian |
| or oon meridian, than is the distaunce of |
| hem bothe ilike fer fro the est, and the contrarie; |
| and in this manere thei change not |
| her meridian. But sothly thei chaungen her |
| almykanteras, for the enhaunsyng of the pool |
| and the distance of the sonne. |
| The longitude of a climat is a lyne ymagined |
| fro est to west ilike distant fro the equinoxiall. |
| And the latitude of a climat may be |
| cleped the space of the erthe fro the begynnyng |
| of the first clymat unto the verrey |
| ende of the same clymat evene direct |
| ageyns the pool artyke. Thus sayn somme |
| auctours; and somme of hem sayn that yf men |
| clepe the latitude of a cuntrey the arch meridian |
| that is contened or intercept bitwix the |
| cenyth and the equinoxial, than say they that |
| the distance fro the equinoxial unto the ende |
| of a clymat evene ageynst the pool artik is the |
| latitude of a clymat forsoothe. |
| |
| 40. | To knowe with which degre of the zodiak |
| that eny planete ascendith on the orisonte, |
| wheither so that his latitude be north |
| or south. |
| Know by thin almenak the degre of the |
| ecliptik of eny signe in which that the planete |
| is rekned for to be, and that is clepid the |
| degre of his longitude. And know also the |
| degre of his latitude fro the ecliptik north or |
| south. And by these ensamples folewynge in |
| speciall maist thou worche in general in every |
| signe of the zodiak: |
| The degree of the longitude peraventure |
| of Venus or of another planete was 1 of |
| Capricorne, and the latitude of him was |
| northward 4 degrees fro the ecliptik lyne. Than |
| tok I a subtil compas, and clepid that oo point |
| of my compas A, and that other point F. Than |
| tok I the point of A and sette it in the ecliptik |
| lyne in my zodiak in the degre of the longitude |
| of Venus, that is to seyn, in the 1 degre |
| of Capricorne; and than sette I the point of |
| F upward in the same signe by cause that |
| latitude was north upon the latitude of |
| Venus, that is to seyn, in the 4 degre fro the |
| heved of Capricorne; and thus have I 4 degrees |
| bitwixe my two prickes. Than leide I down |
| softly my compas, and sette the degre of the |
| longitude upon the orisonte; tho tok I and |
| waxed my label in manere of a peire tables to |
| receyve distinctly the prickes of my compas. |
| Tho tok I thys forseide label, and leyde it fix |
| over the degre of my longitude; tho tok I |
| up my compas and sette the point of A in |
| the wax on my label, as evene as I koude |
| gesse, over the ecliptik lyne in the ende of the |
| longitude, and sette the point of F endelong |
| in my label upon the space of the latitude, |
| inward and over the zodiak, that is to seyn |
| northward fro the ecliptik. Than leide I doun |
| my compas, and loked wel in the wey upon |
| the prickes of A and of F; tho turned I my ryet |
| til that the pricke of F satt upon the orisonte; |
| than saw I wel that the body of |
| Venus in hir latitude of 4 degrees septemtrionals |
| ascendid, in the ende of the 8 degre, |
| fro the heved of Capricorne. |
| And nota that in this manere maist thou |
| worche with any latitude septemtrional in alle |
| signes. But sothly the latitude meridional of |
| a planete in Capricorne ne may not be take by |
| cause of the litel space bitwixe the ecliptyk |
| and the bordure of the Astrelabie; but |
| sothely in all othre signes it may. |
| |
| |
| 41. | Umbra Recta. |
| Yif it so be that thou wilt werke by umbra |
| recta, and thou may come to the bas of the |
| tour, in this maner shalt thou werke. Tak the |
| altitude of the tour by bothe holes, so that |
| thy rewle ligge even in a poynt. Ensample as |
| thus: I see him thorw at the poynt of 4; than |
| mete I the space betwixe me and the tour, |
| and I finde it 20 foot; than beholde I how 4 |
| is to 12, right so is the space betwixe thee |
| and the tour to the altitude of the tour. |
| For 4 is the thridde part of 12, so is the |
| space between thee and the tour the thridde |
| part of the altitude of the tour; than thryes 20 |
| foot is the heyghte of the tour, with adding of |
| thyn owne persone to thyn eye. And this rewle |
| is general in umbra recta, fro the poynt of |
| oon to 12. And yif thy rewle falle upon 5, than |
| is 5 12-partyes of the heyght the space between |
| thee and the tour; with adding of |
| thyn owne heyghte. |
| |
| 42. | Umbra Versa. |
| Another maner of the werkinge, by umbra |
| versa. Yif so be that thou may nat come to |
| the bas of the tour, I see him thorw at the nombre |
| of 1; I sette ther a prikke at my fot; than |
| go I neer to the tour, and I see him thorw at |
| the poynt of 2, and there I sette another prikke; |
| and I beholde how 1 hath him to 12, and ther |
| finde I that it hath him twelfe sythes; than |
| beholde I how 2 hath him to 12, and thou |
| shalt finde it sexe sythes; than thou shalt |
| finde that 12 passith 6 by the numbre of |
| 6; right so is the space between thy two prikkes |
| the space of 6 tymes thyn altitude. And note, |
| that at the ferste altitude of 1, thou settest a |
| prikke; and afterward, whan thou seest him at |
| 2, ther thou settest another prikke; than thou |
| findest betwyx thes two prikkys 60 foot; than |
| thou shalt finde that 10 is the 6-party of 60. |
| And then is 10 feet the altitude of the tour. |
| For other poyntis, yif it fille in umbra versa, |
| as thus: I sette caas it fill upon 2, and at |
| the secunde upon 3; than schalt thou finde |
| that 2 is 6 partyes of 12; and 3 is 4 partyes of |
| 12; than passeth 6 4, by nombre of 2; so is the |
| space between two prikkes twyes the heyghte |
| of the tour. And yif the differens were thryes, |
| than shulde it be three tymes; and thus mayst |
| thou werke fro 1 to 12; and yif it be 4, 4 tymes; |
| or 5, 5 tymes; et sic de ceteris. |
| |
| 43. | Umbra Recta. |
| Another maner of wyrking, by umbra recta: |
| Yif it so be that thou mayst nat come to the |
| baas of the tour, in this maner thou schalt |
| werke. Set thy rewle upon 1 till thou see the |
| altitude, and set at thy foot a prikke. Than |
| set thy rewle upon 2, and behold what is the |
| differense between 1 and 2, and thou shalt |
| finde that it is 1. Than mete the space between |
| two prikkes, and that is the 12 partie |
| of the altitude of the tour. And yif ther |
| were 2, it were the 6 partye; and yif ther |
| were 3, the 4 partye; et sic deinceps. And |
| note, yif it were 5, it were the 5 party of 12; |
| and 7, 7 party of 12; and note, at the altitude |
| of thy conclusion, adde the stature of thyn |
| heyghte to thyn eye. |
| |
| 44. | Another maner conclusion, to knowe |
| the mene mote and the argumentis of any |
| planete. To know the mene mote and the argumentis |
| of every planete fro yeer to yeer, from |
| day to day, from houre to houre, and from |
| smale fraccionis infinite. |
| In this maner shalt thou worche; consider |
| thy rote first, the whiche is made the beginning |
| of the tables fro the yer of oure Lord |
| 1397, and enter hit into thy slate for the laste |
| meridie of December; and than consider the |
| yer of oure Lord, what is the date, and behold |
| whether thy date be more or lasse than the |
| yer 1397. And yf hit so be that hit be more, |
| loke how many yeres hit passeth, and with |
| so many enter into thy tables in the first |
| lyne theras is writen anni collecti et expansi. |
| And loke where the same planet is |
| writen in the hed of thy table, and than loke |
| what thou findest in direct of the same yer of |
| oure Lord which is passid, be hit 8, or 9, or |
| 10, or what nombre that evere it be, til the |
| tyme that thou come to 20, or 40, or 60. And |
| that thou findest in direct wryt in thy slate under |
| thy rote, and adde hit togeder, and that is |
| thy mene mote, for the laste meridian of |
| the December, for the same yer which that |
| thou hast purposed. And if hit so be that hit |
| passe 20, consider wel that fro 1 to 20 ben |
| anni expansi, and fro 20 to 3000 ben anni collecti; |
| and if thy nomber passe 20, than tak that |
| thou findest in direct of 20, and if hit be more, |
| as 6 or 18, than tak that thou findest in direct |
| thereof, that is to sayen, signes, degrees, minutes, |
| and secoundes, and adde togedere |
| unto thy rote; and thus to make rotes. And |
| note, that if hit so be that the yer of oure |
| Lord be lasse than the rote, which is the yer |
| of oure Lord 1397, than shalt thou wryte in |
| the same wyse first thy rote in thy slate, and |
| after enter into thy table in the same yer that |
| be lasse, as I taught before; and than consider |
| how many signes, degrees, minutes, and secoundes |
| thyn entringe conteyneth. And so be |
| that ther be 2 entrees, than adde hem togeder, |
| and after withdraw hem from the |
| rote, the yer of oure Lord 1397; and the |
| residue that leveth is thy mene mote for the |
| laste meridie of December, the whiche thou |
| hast purposid; and if hit so be that thou wolt |
| witen thy mene mote for any day, or for any |
| fraccioun of day, in this maner thou shalt |
| worche. Make thy rote fro the laste day of |
| December in the maner as I have taught, |
| and afterward behold how many monethes, |
| dayes, and houres ben passid from the |
| meridie of December, and with that enter |
| with the laste moneth that is ful passed, and |
| take that thou findest in direct of him, and |
| wryt hit in thy slate; and enter with as mony |
| dayes as be more, and wryt that thou findest |
| in direct of the same planete that thou worchest |
| for; and in the same wyse in the table of |
| houres, for houres that ben passed, and adde |
| alle these to thy rote; and the residue is the |
| mene mote for the same day and the same |
| houre. |
| |
| 45. | Another manere to knowe the mene |
| mote. |
| Whan thou wolt make the mene mote of eny |
| planete to be by Arsechieles tables, tak thy |
| rote, the which is for the yer of oure Lord |
| 1397; and if so be that thy yer be passid the |
| date, wryt that date, and than wryt the nomber |
| of the yeres. Than withdraw the yeres |
| out of the yeres that ben passed that rote. |
| Ensampul as thus: the yer of oure Lord 1400, |
| I wolde wyten, precise, my rote; than wrot |
| I first 1400. And under that nomber I |
| wrot a 1397; than withdrow I the laste |
| nomber out of that, and than fond I the residue |
| was 3 yer; I wiste that 3 yer was passed |
| fro the rote, the which was writen in my |
| tables. Than afterward soghte I in my tables |
| the annis collectis et expansis, and among myn |
| expanse yeres fond I 3 yeer. Than tok I alle |
| the signes, degrees, and minutes, that I fond |
| direct under the same planete that I |
| wroghte for, and wrot so many signes, |
| degrees, and minutes in my slate, and afterward |
| added I to signes, degrees, minutes, and |
| secoundes, the whiche I fond in my rote the |
| yer of oure Lord 1397; and kepte the residue; |
| and than had I the mene mote for the laste |
| day of December. And if thou woldest wete |
| the mene mote of any planete in March, April, |
| or May, other in any other tyme or moneth of |
| the yer, loke how many monethes and |
| dayes ben passed from the laste day of December, |
| the yer of oure Lord 1400; and so |
| with monethis and dayes enter into thy table |
| ther thou findest thy mene mote iwriten in |
| monethes and dayes, and tak alle the signes, |
| degrees, minutes, and secoundes that thou findest |
| ywrite in direct of thy monethes, and adde |
| to signes, degrees, minutes, and secoundes that |
| thou findest with thy rote the yer of oure |
| Lord 1400, and the residue that leveth is the |
| mene mote for that same day. And note, |
| if hit so be that thou woldest wite the mene |
| mote in any yer that is lasse than thy rote, |
| withdraw the nomber of so many yeres as hit |
| is lasse than the yer of oure Lord a 1397, and |
| kep the residue; and so many yeres, monethes, |
| and dayes enter into thy tables of thy mene |
| mote. And tak alle the signes, degrees, and |
| minutes, and secoundes, that thou findest in |
| direct of alle the yeres, monethes, and |
| dayes, and wryt hem in thy slate; and |
| above thilke nomber wryt the signes, degrees, |
| minutes, and secoundes, the which thou |
| findest with thy rote the yer of oure Lord a |
| 1397; and withdraw alle the nethere signes |
| and degrees fro the signes and degrees, minutes, |
| and secoundes of other signes with thy |
| rote; and thy residue that leveth is thy mene |
| mote for that day. |
| |
| 46. | For to knowe at what houre of the day, |
| or of the night, shal be flod or ebbe. |
| First wite thou certeinly, hou that haven |
| stondeth, that thou list to werke for; that is |
| to say in which place of the firmament the |
| mone beyng, makith full see. Than awayte |
| thou redily in what degree of the zodiak that |
| the mone at that tyme is ynne. Bring furth |
| than the label, and set the point therof in |
| that same cost that the mone makith flod, and |
| set thou there the degree of the mone according |
| with the egge of the label. Than |
| afterward awayte where is than the degree |
| of the sonne, at that tyme. Remeve thou than |
| the label fro the mone, and bring and set it |
| justly upon the degree of the sonne. And the |
| point of the label shal than declare to thee, at |
| what houre of the day or of the night shal |
| be flod. And there also maist thou wite by the |
| same point of the label, whethir it be, at that |
| same tyme, flod or ebbe, or half flod, or |
| quarter flod, or ebbe, or half or quarter |
| ebbe; or ellis at what houre it was last, or |
| shal be next by night or by day, thou than |
| shalt esely knowe, &c. Furthermore, if it so |
| be that thou happe to worke for this matere |
| aboute the tyme of the conjunccioun, bring |
| furth the degree of the mone with the label |
| to that coste as it is before seyd. But than thou |
| shalt understonde that thou may not bringe |
| furth the label fro the degree of the mone |
| as thou dide before; for-why the sonne is |
| than in the same degree with the mone. |
| And so thou may at that tyme by the point of |
| the label unremevid knowe the houre of the |
| flod or of the ebbe, as it is before seyd, &c. |
| And evermore as thou findest the mone passe |
| fro the sonne, so remeve thou the label than |
| fro the degree of the mone, and bring it to |
| the degree of the sonne. And work thou than |
| as thou dide before, &c. Or ellis know |
| thou what houre it is that thou art inne, |
| by thyn instrument. Than bring thou furth |
| fro thennes the label and ley it upon the degree |
| of the mone, and therby may thou wite |
| also whan it was flod, or whan it wol be next, |
| be it night or day; &c. |