A TREATISE ON THE ASTROLABE
Lyte Lowys my sone, I aperceyve wel by certeyne evydences thyn
abilite to lerne sciences touching nombres and proporciouns; and
as wel considre I thy besy praier in special to lerne the tretys
of the Astrelabie. Than for as moche as a philosofre saith, "he
wrappith him in his frend, that condescendith to the rightfulle
praiers of his frend," therfore have I yeven the a suffisant
Astrolabie as for oure orizonte, compowned after the latitude of
Oxenforde; upon which, by mediacioun of this litel tretys, I
purpose to teche the a certein nombre of conclusions aperteynyng
to the same instrument. I seie a certein of conclusions, for thre
causes. The first cause is this: truste wel that alle the
conclusions that han be founde, or ellys possibly might be founde
in so noble an instrument as is an Astrelabie ben unknowe
parfitly to eny mortal man in this regioun, as I suppose. Another
cause is this, that sothly in any tretis of the Astrelabie that
I have seyn, there be somme conclusions that wol not in alle
thinges parformen her bihestes; and somme of hem ben to harde to
thy tendir age of ten yeer to conceyve.
This tretis, divided in 5 parties, wol I shewe the under full
light reules and naked wordes in Englissh, for Latyn canst thou
yit but small, my litel sone. But natheles suffise to the these
trewe conclusions in Englissh as wel as sufficith to these noble
clerkes Grekes these same conclusions in Grek; and to Arabiens
in Arabik, and to Jewes in Ebrew, and to Latyn folk in Latyn;
whiche Latyn folk had hem first out of othere dyverse langages,
and writen hem in her owne tunge, that is to seyn, in Latyn. And
God woot that in alle these langages and in many moo han these
conclusions ben suffisantly lerned and taught, and yit by diverse
reules; right as diverse pathes leden diverse folk the righte way
to Rome. Now wol I preie mekely every discret persone that redith
or herith this litel tretys to have my rude endityng for excusid,
and my superfluite of wordes, for two causes. The firste cause
is for that curious endityng and hard sentence is ful hevy at
onys for such a child to lerne. And the secunde cause is this,
that sothly me semith better to writen unto a child twyes a god
sentence, than he forgete it onys.
And Lowys, yf so be that I shewe the in my lighte Englissh
as trewe conclusions touching this mater, and not oonly as trewe but
as many and as subtile conclusiouns, as ben shewid in Latyn in
eny commune tretys of the Astrelabie, konne me the more thank.
And preie God save the king, that is lord of this langage, and
alle that him feith berith and obeieth, everich in his degre, the
more and the lasse. But considre wel that I ne usurpe not to have
founden this werk of my labour or of myn engyn. I n'am but a lewd
compilator of the labour of olde astrologiens, and have it
translatid in myn Englissh oonly for thy doctrine. And with this
swerd shal I sleen envie.
- Prima pars.-->—The firste partie of this tretys
shal reherse the figures and the membres of thyn Astrelabie by
cause that thou shalt have the gretter knowing of thyn oune
instrument.
- Secunda pars.-->—The secunde
partie shal techen the worken the verrey practik of the forseide
conclusiouns, as ferforth and as narwe as may be shewed in so
small an instrument portatif aboute. For wel woot every
astrologien that smallist fraccions ne wol not be shewid in so
small an instrument as in subtile tables calculed for a
cause.
- Tertia pars.-->—The thirde
partie shal contene diverse tables of longitudes and latitudes of sterres fixe for
the Astrelabie, and tables of the declinacions of the sonne, and
tables of longitudes of citees and townes; and tables as well for
the governaunce of a clokke, as for to fynde the altitude
meridian; and many anothir notable conclusioun after the
kalenders of the reverent clerkes, Frere J. Somer and Frere N.
Lenne.
- Quarta pars.-->
—The fourthe partie shal ben a
theorike to declare the moevyng of the celestiall bodies with the
causes. The whiche fourthe partie in speciall shal shewen a table
of the verrey moeving of the mone from houre to houre every day
and in every signe after thyn almenak. Upon which table there
folewith a canoun suffisant to teche as wel the manere of the
worchynge of the same conclusioun as to knowe in oure orizonte
with which degre of the zodiak that the mone arisith in any
latitude, and the arisyng of any planete after his latitude fro
the ecliptik lyne.
- Quinta pars.-->
—The fifthe partie shal be an
introductorie, after the statutes of oure doctours, in which thou
maist lerne a gret part of the generall rewles of theorik in
astrologie. In which fifthe partie shalt thou fynden tables of
equaciouns of houses after the latitude of Oxenforde; and tables
of dignitees of planetes, and othere notefull thinges, yf God wol
vouche saaf and his Moder the Maide, moo then I
behete.
Here begynneth the descripcioun of thin Astralabie.
Thyn Astrolabie hath a ring to putten onthe thombe of thi
right hond in taking the height of thinges. And tak kep, or from
henes forthward I wol clepen the heighte of any thing that is
taken by the rewle "the altitude," withoute moo wordes.
This ryng renneth in a maner toret fast to the moder
of thyn Astrelabie in so rowme a space that it distourbith not the
instrument to hangen after his right centre.
The moder of thin Astrelabye is thikkest plate,
perced with a large hool, that resceiveth in hir wombe the thynne plates
compowned for diverse clymates, and thy reet shapen in manere of
a nett or of a web of a loppe.
This moder is dividid on the bakhalf with a lyne that
cometh descending fro the ring doun to the netherist bordure. The
whiche lyne, fro the forseide ring unto the centre of the large
hool amidde, is clepid the south lyne, or ellis the lyne
meridional. And the remenaunt of this lyne doun to the bordure
is
clepid the north lyne, or ellis the lyne of
midnyght.
Overthwart this forseide longe lyne ther crossith him
another lyne of the same lengthe from eest to west. Of the whiche
lyne, from a litel cros (+) in the bordure unto the centre of the
large hool, is clepid the est lyne, or ellis the lyne orientale.
And the remenaunt of this lyne, fro the forseide centre unto the
bordure, is clepid the west lyne, or ellis the lyne occidentale.
Now hast thou here the foure quarters of thin Astrolabie divided
after the foure principales plages or quarters of the firmament.
The est syde of thyn Astrolabie is clepid the right syde,
and the west syde is clepid the left syde. Forget not thys, litel
Lowys. Put the ryng of thyn Astrolabie upon the thombe of thi
right hond, and than wol his right side be toward thi lift side,
and his left side wol be toward thy right side. Tak this rewle
generall, as wel on the bak as on the wombe syde. Upon the ende
of this est lyne, as I first seide, is marked a litel cros (+),
where as evere moo generaly is considerid the entring of the
first degre in which the sonne arisith.
Fro this litel cros (+) up to the ende of the lyne
meridionall, under the ryng, shalt thou fynden the bordure
divided with 90 degrees; and by that same proporcioun is every
quarter of thin Astrolabie divided. Over the whiche degrees there
ben noumbres of augrym that dividen thilke same degres fro 5 to
5, as shewith by longe strikes bitwene. Of whiche longe strikes
the space bitwene contenith a myle wey, and every degre of the
bordure conteneth 4 minutes; this is to seien, mynutes of an
houre.
Under the compas of thilke degrees ben writen the
names of the 12 Signes: as Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo,
Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricornus, Aquarius, Piscis. And
the nombres of the degrees of thoo signes be writen in augrym
above, and with longe divisiouns fro 5 to 5, dyvidid fro the ryme
that the signe entrith unto the last ende. But understond wel
that these degres of signes ben everich of hem considred of 60
mynutes, and every mynute of 60 secundes, and so furth into smale
fraccions infinite, as saith Alkabucius. And therfore knowe wel
that a degre of the bordure contenith 4 minutes, and a degre of
a signe conteneth 60 minutes, and have this in mynde.
Next this folewith the cercle of the daies, that ben
figured in manere of degres, that contenen in nomhre 365, dividid
also with longe strikes fro 5 to 5, and the nombre in augrym
writen under that cercle.
Next the cercle of the daies folewith the
cercle of the names of the monthes, that is to say, Januarius,
Februarius, Marcius, Aprilis, Maius, Junius, Julius, Augustus,
September, October, November, December. The names of these
monthes were clepid somme for her propirtees and somme by
statutes of Arabiens, somme by othre lordes of Rome. Eke of these
monthes, as liked to Julius Cesar and to Cesar Augustus, somme
were compouned of diverse nombres of daies, as Julie and August.
Than hath Januarie 31 daies, Februarie 28, March 31, Aprill 30,
May 31, Junius 30, Julius 31, Augustus 31, Septembre 30, Octobre
31, Novembre 30, Decembre 31. Natheles, all though that Julius
Cesar toke 2 daies out of Feverer and putte hem in his month of
Juyll, and Augustus Cesar clepid the month of August after his
name and ordeined it of 31 daies, yit truste wel that the sonne
dwellith therfore nevere the more ne lasse in oon signe than in
another.
Than folewen the names of the holy daies in the
Kalender, and next hem the lettres of the A B C on whiche thei fallen.
Next the forseide cercle of the A B C, under the
cross lyne, is marked the skale in manere of 2 squyres, or ellis in
manere of laddres, that serveth by his 12 pointes and his
dyvisiouns of ful many a subtil conclusioun. Of this forseide
skale fro the cross lyne unto the verrey angle is clepid Umbra
Versa, and the nethir partie is clepid Umbra Recta, or ellis
Umbra Extensa.
Than hast thou a brod reule, that hath on either
ende a square plate perced with certein holes, somme more and somme
lasse, to resceyve the stremes of the sonne by day, and eke by
mediacioun of thin eye to knowe the altitude of sterres by night.
Than is there a large pyn in manere of an extre,
that goth thorugh the hole that halt the tables of the clymates and the
riet in the wombe of the moder; thorugh which pyn ther goth a
litel wegge, which that is clepid the hors, that streynith all
these parties to-hepe. Thys forseide grete pyn in manere of an
extre is ymagyned to be the Pool Artik in thyn Astralabie.
The wombe syde of thyn Astrelabie is also divided
with a longe cros in 4 quarters from est to west, fro southe to northe,
fro right syde to left side, as is the bakside.
The bordure of which wombe side is divided fro the
point of the est lyne unto the point of the south lyne under the ring,
in 90 degrees; and by that same proporcioun is every quarter
divided, as is the bakside. That amountith 360 degrees. And
understond wel that degres of this bordure ben aunswering and
consentrike to the degrees of the equinoxiall, that is dividid
in the same nombre as every
othir cercle is in the highe hevene. This same bordure is divided also with 23 lettres
capitals and a small cross (+) above the south lyne, that shewith
the 24 houres equals of the clokke. And, as I have seid, 5 of
these degres maken a myle wey, and 3 mile-wei maken an houre. And
every degre of thys bordure contenith 4 minutes, and every minute
60 secundes. Now have I told the twyes.
The plate under the riet is discrived with 3
cercles, of whiche the leest is clepid the cercle of Cancre by cause that the
heved of Cancre turnith evermo consentrik upon the same cercle.
In this heved of Cancer is the grettist declinacioun northward
of the sonne, and therfore is he clepid solsticium of somer;
which declinacioun, after Ptholome, is 23 degrees and 50 minutes
as wel in Cancer as in Capricorn. This signe of Cancer is clepid
the tropik of somer, of tropos, that
is to seien "ageynward." For than beginneth the sonne to passen from
us-ward.
The myddel cercle in wydnesse, of these 3, is clepid the
cercle equinoxiall, upon which turnith evermo the hevedes of
Aries and Libra. And understond wel that evermo thys cercle
equinoxiall turnith justly from verrey est to verrey west as I
have shewed the in the speer solide. This same cercle is clepid
also Equator, that is the weyer of the day; for whan the sonne
is in the hevedes of Aries and Libra, than ben the dayes and the
nightes ylike of lengthe in all the world. And therfore ben these
2 signes called the equinoxiis. And all that moeveth withinne the
hevedes of these Aries and Libra, his moevyng is clepid
northward; and all that moevith withoute these hevedes, his
moevyng is clepid southward, as fro the equinoxiall. Tak kep of
these latitudes north and south, and forget it nat. By this
cercle equinoxiall ben considred the 24 houres of the clokke; for
evermo the arisyng of 15 degrees of the equinoxiall makith an
houre equal of the clokke. This equinoxiall is clepid the gurdel
of the first moeving, or ellis of the firste moevable. And note
that the firste moevyng is clepid moevyng of the firste moevable
of the 8 speer, which moeving is from est to west, and eft ageyn
into est. Also it is clepid girdel of the firste moeving for it
departith the firste moevable, that is to seyn the spere, in two
like partyes evene distantz fro the poles of this world.
The widest of these 3 principale cercles is clepid the
cercle of Capricorne, by cause that the heved of Capricorne turneth
evermo consentrik upon the same cercle. In the heved of this
forseide Capricorne is the grettist declinacioun southward of the
sonne, and therfore it is clepid the solsticium of wynter. This
signe of Capricorne is also clepid the
tropic of wynter, for than begynneth the sonne to come ageyn to us-ward.
Upon this forseide plate ben compassed certeyn
cercles that highten almycanteras, of whiche somme of hem semen parfit
cercles and somme semen inparfit. The centre that stondith
amyddes the narwest cercle is clepid the cenyth. And the
netherist cercle, or the firste cercle, is clepid the orizonte,
that is to seyn, the cercle that divideth the two emysperies,
that is, the partie of the hevene above the erthe and the partie
bynethe. These almykanteras ben compowned by 2 and 2, all be it
so that on diverse Astrelabies somme almykanteras ben divided by
oon, and somme by two, and somme by thre, after the quantite of
the Astrelabie. This forseide cenyth is ymagined to ben the
verrey point over the crowne of thin heved. And also this cenyth
is the verray pool of the orizonte in every regioun.
From this cenyth, as it semeth, there comen a maner
croked strikes like to the clawes of a loppe, or elles like the werk of
a wommans calle, in kervyng overthwart the almykanteras. And
these same strikes or divisiouns ben clepid azimutz, and thei
dividen the orisounte of thin Astrelabie in 24 divisiouns. And
these azymutz serven to knowe the costes of the firmament, and
to othre conclusions, as for to knowe the cenyth of the sonne and
of every sterre.
Next these azymutz, under the cercle of Cancer, ben
there 12 divisiouns embelif, muche like to the shap of the azemutz,
that shewen the spaces of the houres of planetes.
The riet of thin Astrelabie with thy zodiak, shapen
in manere of a net or of a lopweb after the olde descripcioun, which
thou maist turnen up and doun as thiself liketh, contenith
certein nombre of steires fixes, with her longitudes and
latitudes determinat, yf so be that the maker have not errid. The
names of the sterres ben writen in the margyn of the riet there
as thei sitte, of whiche sterres the smale point is clepid the
centre. And understond also that alle the sterres sitting within
the zodiak of thin Astrelabie ben clepid sterres of the north,
for thei arise by northe the est lyne. And all the remenaunt
fixed oute of the zodiak ben clepid sterres of the south. But I
seie not that thei arisen alle by southe the est lyne; witnesse
on Aldeberan and Algomeysa. Generaly understond this
rewle, that thilke sterres that ben clepid sterres of the
north arisen rather than the degre of her longitude, and alle the
sterres of the south arisen after the degre of her longitude—
this is to seyn, sterres fixed in thyn Astrelabie. The mesure of
this longitude of sterres is taken in the lyne ecliptik of
hevene, under which lyne, whan that the sonne and the mone be
lyne-right, or ellis in the superficie of this lyne, than is the
eclipse of the sonne or of the mone, as I shal declare, and eke
the cause why. But sothly the ecliptik lyne of thy zodiak is the
utterist bordure of thy zodiak there the degrees be marked.
Thy zodiak of thin Astrelabie is shapen as a compas which
that contenith a large brede as after the quantite of thyn Astrelabie,
in ensample that the zodiak in hevene is ymagyned to ben a
superfice contenyng a latitude of 12 degrees, whereas alle the
remenaunt of cercles in the hevene ben ymagyned verrey lynes
withoute eny latitude. Amiddes this celestial zodiak is ymagined
a lyne which that is clepid the ecliptik lyne, under which lyne
is evermo the wey of the sonne. Thus ben there 6 degres of the
zodiak on that oo syde of the lyne and 6 degrees on that othir.
This zodiak is dividid in 12 principale divisiouns that departen
the 12 signes, and, for the streitnesse of thin Astrolabie, than
is every smal divisioun in a signe departed by two degrees and
two, I mene degrees contenyng 60 mynutes. And this forseide
hevenysshe zodiak is clepid the cercle of the signes, or the
cercle of the bestes, for "zodia" in langage of Grek
sowneth "bestes" in Latyn tunge. And in the zodiak ben the 12
signes that han names of bestes, or ellis for whan the sonne entrith in eny
of tho signes he takith the propirte of suche bestes, or ellis
for that the sterres that ben ther fixed ben disposid in signes
of bestes or shape like bestes, or elles whan the planetes ben
under thilke signes thei causen us by her influence operaciouns
and effectes like to the operaciouns of bestes.
And understond also that whan an hot planete cometh into an
hot signe, than encrescith his hete; and yf a planete be cold,
than amenusith his coldnesse by cause of the hoote sygne. And by
thys conclusioun maist thou take ensample in alle the signes, be
thei moist or drie, or moeble or fixe, reknyng the qualite of the
planete as I first seide. And everich of these 12 signes hath
respect to a certeyn
parcel of the body of a man, and
hath it in governaunce; as Aries hath thin heved, and Taurus thy
nekke and thy throte, Gemini thin armholes and thin armes, and
so furth, as shall be shewid more pleyn in the 5 partie of this
tretis.
This zodiak, which that is part of the 8 speer, over-kervith
the equinoxial, and he over-kervith him ageyn in evene parties;
and that oo half declineth southward; and that othir northward,
as pleinly declarith the Tretys of the Speer.
Than hast thou a label that is shapen like a reule, save
that it is streit and hath no plates on either ende with holes. But
with the smale point of the forseide label shalt thou calcule
thin equaciouns in the bordure of thin Astralabie, as by thin
almury.
Thin almury is clepid the denticle of Capricorne, or ellis
the calculer. This same almury sitt fix in the heved of Capricorne,
and it serveth of many a necessarie conclusioun in equacions of
thinges as shal be shewid.
Here endith the descripcioun of the Astrelabie and here begynne the conclusions of the Astrelabie.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
To knowe the quantite of houres in equales 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.
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 hen 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.
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 2 degre of Libra, nadir of my
sonne, discending 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 ageyn-ward 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.
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 nomhre 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 he 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.
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.
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 he 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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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 nomhre 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 hut 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 he 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 nomhre 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 1 of the
clokke, til that the shadwe of the wyr,
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.
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.
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.
2 pars hujus conclusio.-->
Also the degre peraventure of Jupiter, or of another planete,
was in the first degre of Piscis in longitude, and his latitude
was 2 degrees meridional; tho tok I the point of A and sette it
in the first degre of Piscis on the ecliptik; and than sette I
the point of F dounward in the same signe by cause that the
latitude was south 2 degres, that is to seyn, fro the heved of
Piscis; and thus have I 2 degres bitwixe bothe prikkes. Than
sette I the degre of the longitude upon the orisonte; tho tok I
my label, and leide it fix upon the degre of the longitude; tho
sette I the point of A on my label evene over the ecliptik lyne
in the ende of the degre of the longitude, and sette the point
of F endlong in my label the space of 2 degres of the latitude
outward fro the zodiak (this is to seyn southward fro the
ecliptik toward the bordure), and turned my riet til that the
pricke of F saat upon the orisonte. Than say I wel that the body
of Jupiter in his latitude of 2 degrees meridional ascendid with
8 degres of Piscis in horoscopo-->.
And in this manere maist
thou worche with any latitude meridional, as I first seide, save
in Capricorne. And yif thou wilt pleye this craft with the
arisyng of the mone, loke thou rekne wel hir cours houre by
houre, for she ne dwellith not in a degre of hir longitude but
litel while, as thow wel knowist. But natheles yf thou rekne hir
verrey moevyng by thy tables houre after houre, [thou shalt do
wel ynow].
SUPPLEMENTARY PROPOSITIONS
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.
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-->.
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.
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 he 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, he 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 he 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 he 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 he 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.
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 he 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 so 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.
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.
