Cosmography

Of cosmography, I have briefly set out here to give you some information. Cosmography is the whole and perfect description of the heavenly and also the elemental part of the world, and their corresponding application and necessary mutual comparison. This art requires astronomy, geography, hydrography, and music. Therefore it is no small art, nor so simple as it is (slightly) considered in common practice. This matches heaven and earth in one frame, and fittingly applies corresponding parts, so that the heavenly globe may (in practice) be duly described upon the geographic and hydrographic globe. And there, for us to consider an equinoctial circle, an ecliptic line, colures, poles, stars in their true longitudes, latitudes, declinations, and verticality; also climes and parallels: and by an annexed horizon, and the revolution of the earthly globe (as the heaven is carried about by the primum mobile, the outermost moving sphere, in 24 equal hours), to learn the risings and settings of stars (of Virgil in his Georgics: of Hesiod: of Hippocrates in his medical sphere, to Perdicca, king of the Macedonians: of Diocles, to King Antigonus, and of other famous philosophers prescribed), a thing necessary for the due tillage of the earth, for navigation, for the alteration of a man's body, being whole, sick, wounded, or bruised. By the revolution, also, or motion of the cosmographic globe, the rising and setting of the sun, the lengths of days and nights, and the hours and times (both night and day) are known: with very many other pleasant and necessary uses: of which some are known, but the better remain, for such as know and use them:

(☞)

who, from a spark of true fire, can make a wonderful bonfire, by duly applying due matter.

Here I will give you a brief account of cosmography. Cosmography is the whole and complete description of both the heavenly and the elemental part of the world, and how they correspond to each other, with the comparison between them that is needed. This art requires astronomy, geography, hydrography, and music. So it is no small art, nor as simple as it is casually taken to be in common practice. It matches heaven and earth in one frame, and fits their corresponding parts together properly, so that the heavenly globe can be drawn, in practice, on the geographic and hydrographic globe. There we can consider the equinoctial circle, the ecliptic line, the colures, the poles, the stars in their true longitudes, latitudes, declinations, and altitudes, as well as the climes and parallels. And with an attached horizon and the rotation of the earthly globe (as the heaven is carried around by the primum mobile, the outermost moving sphere, in 24 equal hours), we can learn the risings and settings of the stars (as prescribed by Virgil in his Georgics; by Hesiod; by Hippocrates in his medical sphere, to Perdicca, king of the Macedonians; by Diocles, to King Antigonus; and by other famous philosophers): a thing necessary for working the earth properly, for navigation, and for changes in the human body, whether healthy, sick, wounded, or bruised. By the rotation, too, or the movement of the cosmographic globe, the rising and setting of the sun, the lengths of days and nights, and the hours and times (both night and day) are known, along with very many other pleasant and necessary uses. Of these, some are known; better ones remain for those who know how to use them:

Note this.

who can make a wonderful bonfire from a spark of true fire, by applying the right material properly.