THE GROUNDS OF the Longitude: With an Admonition to all those that are Incredulous and believe not the Truth of the same.  
Written by Simon Forman, student in Astronomy and physic. 1591.  
Nihil Impossibile Deo  
Nil tam difficile quod non solertia vincat  
Veritas filia Temporis.  
Imprinted at London by Thomas Dawson. 1591.,   

TO all true students of Geography and Cosmography: and to all travailers aswell by land as Sea, for the discovery of strange Places, islands or Countries: to all students of Astronomy, and to all those that are desirous to augment their skill and knowledge by the help of the Longitude, and to all others, well willours of Art and favourers of learning. Simon Forman student in Astronomy and physic, sendeth greeting in our Lord God everlasting. 1591.   

The grounds of the Longitude, with an Admonition to all those that are incredulous and believe not the truth of the same.  
FOrasmuch as there hath been diverse Books written heretofore, by diverse and sundry learned men of the art of Navigation and cosmographical science, the invention & help of the Compass: the making and use of the Astralabie, the practice of the Cross staff, and Ballestile, and divers other instruments aswell profitable as necessary for those that use and practise the art of Navigation, sometimes to take the height of the Sun, sometimes to take the height, Longitude and Latitude of the Stars, to know the height of countries, and the Latitude of places, Islands, and cities from the Equinoctial, that thereby they may the better know in what place they be, and how and whether to direct their voyage and their ship, that thereby they may also attain more espeedily and safely to the expected and wished place, and come to the haven they long for. And in as much as the good Mariner wanteth yet one thing as one of the chief pillars of his Art, that is, some mean, or way to find aswell the Longitude which they most desire, as the Latitude which they perfectly have: the which Longitude many men have shot at, and none unto this day could perfectly find by any instrument, or by any other reason than Ptolemy setteth down, which is by the Eclipses of the Sun and Moon, which Mariners and travailers cannot have at all times to help themselves after they are beaten and driven with foul weather, or with some uncouth storm or raging Sea unexpected, or else being in some strange country or place, to know whether they are gone so far as they would be, where they suppose some unknown Island or land lieth: or where they are short of the same, which is not to be done by any of the instruments or means aforesaid. But by a more secret mean and way as yet unknown unto all the world, except to those to whom myself here before have showed it upon the request of some which were very incredulous thereof, and yet remain because themselves as yet do not know the way of doing it: because they that do know it are sworn by a sacred oath not to manifest or teach the same to any without leave before had of the Author.  
And now because I know on the one side that men are as desirous of the knowledge hereof as myself have been sometimes of greater matters. And on the other side, they will still remain incredulous of the truth until they hear some reason for it, or see the experience thereof: as S. Thomas did of the resurrection of Christ: which afterward said unto him, come hither Thomas and see the print of the nails in my hands, and thrust thy hand into my side, and be not faithless but believe: So do I say unto all that be incredulous, and to those that through endless travail, and hardiness of heart and foolish persuasions are persuaded, that there is no true way or means to find and know the true Longitude of Countries, Cities, and places, and to all those curious carpers, whose wits are entangled in vanity, that are ever searching and never find, reatching up unto the stars, & yet cannot attain to the orb of the Moon, who thinks none like unto themselves, and because they cannot themselves comprehend the mystery of hidden and unknown things, none else should do it nor assay it. As who should say, that the omnipotent God, the great Creator of all things, the giver of all wisdom and knowledge were tied unto them, that they should have the preferment in things before others, or that he should bestow his gifts according to their direction, and not according to his own will: But as he made not all things at one time: so he ordained the knowledge of all things not to be found at one time, nor by one man: for if one man could do every thing, and that his wit were so apt and prompt that he could find out the knowledge of every thing, what need had we then to seek divers men. for divers causes, as Carpentars' to build houses, Smiths to make iron work, Cobblers to mend shoes, etc.  
Therefore, seeing that the great creator of all things disposeth his gifts of knowledge to every man according to his will and the measure of faith, as saith S. Paul, and maketh vessels for honour and vessels for dishonour, some for the chamber, & some for the kitchen, and maketh some poor, and some rich, and some wise, and some foolish: and putteth down the mighty, and setteth up the humble and meek: making the foolish to confound the wise: and giveth to one man the knowledge of one thing, and to another the knowledge of another thing: to some the gift of prophecy, to some the gift of healing, to some of doing of wonders and miracle, to some the interpretation of things, and finding of hidden mysteries, yet all is the administration of one spirit, and power of the holy Ghost, as S. Paul saith, of his free grace powered out upon every creature, according to his divine will and fore knowledge.  
And if it be so, why marvel you so at me, that I should receive so bountiful a gift at the hand of God, or by him to be endued with the knowledge hereof. Am I a monster degenerated from kind, or am I not a creature, made and form by his divine will, and borne into the world, and do live to show forth and speak of his glory and power as well as others.  
Do not all the creatures of God manifest his power and glory, each one in his kind and nature, as the birds of the air the fishes of the Seas, the beasts and worms that feed on the ground, and the herbs and trees that grow thereof, doth not Rhubarb purge collar, and is not Selledony good for the eyes, is there not fire in a flint stone, and doth not the Salamader live in the fire: did not Mercury Tristnegistus, find the Tables wherein was engraven the 7. liberal Sciences, & other secret Arts in the valley of Hebron after the flood: and talked he not with the holy Ghost, as it is recorded in his book Entitled by the name of Pymander. Was not Solomon endued by God with such excellent wisdom, as none had greater before his time. Did not God show his wonders by his servant Moses in the land of Egypt, and did not Moses and the children of Israel pass through the red Seat and was not Pharaoh and his hosts drowned. Did not josua command the Sun to stand still on Gybeon, & the Moon on Aalon, until he was avenged on the enemies of the Lord and of Israel. Did he not give power unto Elias to shut the heavens, so that it reigned not in 3. years and six months. And then he prayed again, and it did rain.  
I speak now of the power of the Lord & of his wonders done in the old world: which also ceaseth not to show wonders unto this day, and to give power to some to bear his name before the rest.  
Marvel not therefore at me, that I should find out the knowledge hereof, neither think it a thing impossible to be done, for it is not I, but the grace of God which is in me, as Paul saith, for all good gifts and the true knowledge of things cometh from God, according as it is written: And in the latter days I will power out my spirit upon all flesh, and your young men shall dream dreams, and your old men shall see visions, and your children shall tell of things to come. And therefore all though the Lord did hide the knowledge here of from all the learned men that ever have written unto this day, as from Ptolomeus, Pythagoras, Plato, Beed, Aristotle, Alkindus, Lergis, Aomar, Albenoyt Zael, Guido bonatus, Haly, john de sacrobosco, Alfonsus, Amoaz, Dorotheus, Friar Bacon, Petrus de Medina, Purbaicus, Regiomontanus, Alfraganus, Strabo, Stadius, Leovitius, and an infinite number more of great and learned clerk which have written, aswell of Astronomy as cosmography, it was not for want of wisdom or learning in them, or great diligence to search the secret mystery of things: neither was it for that there should be borne into the world a greater clerk than they to find it. But it was decreed so by his divine power before that when the time thereof was come, it should be found by him whom he would to show his glory and power even by the simple and least made account of, to confound the wisdom of the wise and mighty. Even by him that never thought of such a thing, nor never had endeavoured himself there about, nor applied any part of his study to that intent, had not Master Robert Parker merchant of London, putting the same into his head, and entreated me to take some pains therein, at whose earnest request I bestowed some part of my study & endeavour therein. And by the grace and help of God have brought it to that pass, which any man that is desirous of the knowledge thereof, may learn the truth thereof at the Author's hands if he repair unto him, or else if he or they repair to Master Robart parks in pudding lane.  
Therefore returning to our former discourse, again to speak of the unbelieving sort, and those that stand so stiffly upon impossibilities, saying it is impossible to find any true and direct way for the knowledge thereof, because so many learned men aforesaid could never find it: and some again make it impossible, because themselves have travailed therein with much study, counting themselves great and cunning Clerks, having found and proved twenty ways at the least, and could not happen on the right way as themselves have reported. And thereupon some have been about to write a book against it, and of the impossibility and uncertainty thereof: some again are of another mind, and they say if he have found out the true way thereof, he never found it by God, but by some sinister means by the Devil, as who should say that the cunning of the devil, is greater than the knowledge and power of God, or that God was not able to give the knowledge thereof, except the devil will, or that he be made privy thereof, or that the devil can do any thing without the permission or sufferance or commandment of God. If you doubt thereof go ask of job, and of the book of the Kings: how the devil came before God, etc. and how God gave him leave and power, and how God made the devil and instrument to do his will. But these and such like are not evil speakers, but impairers of the power of God, dishonorers of his person, presumptuous in their own conceit, enuiors of others, hinderers of the benefit of the commonwealth, negligent to do good, and as hard of belief as S. Thomas was.  
Therefore I say unto them as Christ said unto S. Thomas, Come hither all you unbelievers, all you that seek and never find, all you cunning Sophisters, all you students of Astronomy & cosmography, all you also that account things impossible, and all you that will write Books against it and all you that have so many ways and none true, and you also that seek by subtlety of Arguments to enter into the secret knowledge thereof, that thereby you might take away another man's glory: that seek I say to have the gain and praise of another man's travail. Come hither also all you that stand upon the judgement of the learned: and all you also that are desirous to learn and to augment your knowledge. Come hither also you Masters and Sailors, that intend any long voyages, here shall you find one of the chief pillars of your Art, here shall you find a  to direct you in a dangerous passage, being driven with a storm be it never so long, here shall you find a Load star, that shall show you where you shall go forth or back, East or West. Yea you shall find such a practice and knowledge that shall prove, or disprove all your Maps, Cards, Globes, and Books that here before have been written thereof, and further it resolveth and discovereth all the doubts here before had in Navigation.  
And the truth and certainty hereof is so sure, as the Latitude, and as easy to be done to every wise man.  
And for because you shall not think that I make a great preambulation or circumstantical discourse thereof, to persuade men without some ground or reason, I will here set down certain grounds and pillars thereof, the which if any can absolutely disprove, then may he well say that it is a fallible rule and not true: the which I know none can disprove except he will deny both reason and learning. And the grounds are these, viz.  

Genesis.  1 God in the beginning created all things in number, weight and measure, in order, place, and form, and appointed man to have dominion over his creatures, and to search and seek out the secret and hidden virtues in them contained, given unto them by by God their creator, severally, by measure, etc.  

Genesis.  2 God created two lights, a greater light to rule the day, as the Sun, and a less to rule the night, as the Moon and the Stars.  

Genesis.  3 God placed the Stars in the firmament of Heaven, to give light upon the Earth.  

Ptolemy. Aristotle. Thom. de sacrob.  4 The first mover doth give a turn once every 24. hours or there about, about the Earth, whereby the Sun, the Moon, and Stars, are carried from the East unto the West, and so about.  

Ptolemy in Almegesto. Arist. in 2. mer. Thom. de sacrob.  5 The Earth is quiet and unmovable, and is accounted the Centre of the world.  

Thom. de sacrob.  6 Do not the Earth and the Waters make one round body.  

Ptolemy. Aristotle. Alphonsus.  7 There are two poles, the Arctic and Antarcticke, the one in the North, the other in the South, and the Line Equinoctial in the midst.  
8 There is a Latitude, which is taken from the Equinoctial to the Pools, either to the South or the North,  
9 There is no Latitude without his Longitude.  

Ptolomic,  10 The Latitude is opposite to the Longitude, in respect that the Latitude is taken from the South to the North. And the Longitude from the West unto the East.  
11 The Sun doth rise and fall in his course, and never continue at one stay.  
12 It is Omne oppositum.  
13 There is fire in a flintstone.  
14 divers places have divers Latitudes in respect of the South and North. And divers Longitudes in respect of East and West.  
15 A man may see farther on a plain ground, or on a hill, than he can among trees or in a bottom, and as far by Sea as by Land.  
Too Grounds more I have left out, because as they are most true, so they give too plain evidence, and too much understanding to a subtle wit.  
Now if any can disprove absolutely these grounds aforesaid viz. That God in the beginning, did not create all things as is aforesaid, and set the Sun, the Moon, and Stars to distinguish times and seasons, or that the Sun, the Moon and Stars do not give light unto the earth, or that the first mover doth not turn, or can gain say the stability of the earth, the situation of the Pole stars, or Equinoctial line, or can deny the Latitude, or say there is a Latitude without Longitude, or that can say they are not opposite, or that it is not Omne oppositum, etc. or that there is no fire in aflint-stone, or that all places have one Latitude and Longitude, etc. or that a man can see farther generally in a bottom, then on a high hill, etc. Then in disproving absolutely these generally, than he may generally disprove our Art, and finding of our Longitude, and so many of these posisions as he can absolutely disprove, so many of the pillars of our Art doth fail, for these positions which I have here set down, either they are the opinions of the Ancient writers, or confirmed by holy Scripture, or are such as daily experience doth confirm or reason wholly allow.  
But if these may not be disproved generally and absolutely without caviling: than it is but a folly for any to stand incontention or denial hereof, for whosoever shall deny it by words, the experience and deed shall show it to be true.  
Cease therefore, all such as carp against the truth: and you also that wonder at the power and gifts of God, and you also that say you have so many ways, and you also that will write Books against the truth hereof, cease also you that say it was found by some sinister means: cease also you that stumble at a straw and fall over a house, and you also that be like unto S. Thomas in unbelieving, and know you that whatsoever is not possible with man, is possible with God: and God will reveal the knowledge of hidden things at times appointed to those whom it please him to the great admiration of the world: and there is nothing so secret among men, but it shall be made manifest.  
Tell me, was the knowledge of all Arts and Sciences found out in one day, was Room built in a day, or stately Troy overthrown in an hour, hath not God measured the heavens, and weighed the earth in the balance, hath he not sounded the depth of the sea: and numbered the hairs of our heads, gave he not boldness and eloquence of speech to Moses & Aron, gave he not wisdom to Solomon, faithfulness to Abraham, to his twelve Apostles knowledge of tongues, and power to cast out Devils, and gave he not to his Prophets, Martyrs, Virgins, and Confessers constancy: is not he the only well and fountain of all goodness and grace, from whom all knowledge springs.  
Did not one, find out the Latitude, another the height of the Sun, another the Astralabie, another the Compass, another the Cross staff, another the Ballestille, all was not found at one time, nor by one man. Did not another find the Art of making of Glasses another the making of Guns, and gun powder, another the Art of Printing, others the making of globes Celestial & Terrestrial & innumerable other things very needful and necessary which are now used.  
I demand also whether all Countries, Provinces, and Islands situated in the seas, were found all at one time or by one man, was not the Canary islands found by a French man called Betanchor, in the year of our Lord God 1405. viz. Lancelotus, and the Island Fortis ventura. And after this did not Farnandus Peraria invade the Islands Ferrea, and Gomera. And did not Petrus de Vera, citizen of the noble city of Xevicium, and Michael of Moxica subdue the islands Grancanaria, and Palma. And Alphonsus Lugo that which is now called Teneryfen, of latter days. And further was not Hispaniola and Cuba discovered by Colonus, & divers other islands, in the year of Christ 1493. and 1494. And did not john Dias Solis sail first into the river of Plate in the days of Ferdinandus king of Spain, etc. What need I speak of China, of Giapan, of Persia, of Ginnea, and of divers other places late found out, by running as it were at adventure: If these countries and Islands were found as is said by great adventure, there is no doubt now, but many notable travailers having the help of so good and profitable a rule as the Longitude, will attempt to sail and discover yet divers islands and Countries unknown to their perpetual memory and everlasting praise.  
Now therefore, you that are men among men, and would be accounted wise on the one side: and that desire to be instructed in greater knowledge on the other side, consider with yourselves, what God is, what his power containeth: what his gifts are, what his will is. Consider also what time bringeth to light, what Art and cunning skill is: and to what industry and travail attaineth: Lay all maliciousness apart, and envy nor infame none, nor condemn them that travail in any Art or Science for his country's wealth, pursue them not with evil words that seek to do you good, and to increase, both your wealth and knowledge. Be not unthankful to God for his gifts: for whatsoever is done to good, it is the will of God either to suffer it or command it: evil is well done, where good cometh thereof to a multitude, and where God is glorified by it, praise God highly, that it hath pleased him, to give the knowledge hereof to your Countryman, who meaneth to make you partakers of it, his pains considered. For I dare to say if the knowledge hereof had been found by the Spaniards or by any other Nation, he should be so well rewarded in his Country for his pains, and so highly honoured for the knowledge hereof: that he should have no need to seek any foreign Prince or Country for recompense, neither should any other nation be made privy thereof they would keep it so secret. Consider hereof all you that shall read this my writing, for herein is a mystery: and if reward be given accordingly: I shall hereafter perhaps make declaration, of the principles of another science, as much desired as this, of some other sorts of men, who labour continually for the knowledge thereof, and wander in darkness, in a thing more mystical and of greater importance than this which I have spoken of, and is thought as impossible too, as ever this was, but yet not so impossible, because of some it hath been done in the old world, and so was never this. And as there hath been heretofore divers proffers made in the absence and behalf of the Author, by Master Emery Mulleneux & others, for the truth and trial hereof and hath not been accepted hitherto: because some have thought it either to be done upon presumption, or on a Bravado, etc. But whatsoever they before have offered in the premises, I the Author hereof am ready at all times to perform the same God willing.  
Furthermore, if it please God I live in peace, and be once able to maintain my study without let and interruption: I will God willing rectify the heavens for the true places of the fixed stars, according to the Sign, Degrees and Minutes, that they now stand in, upon experience and just observation, and not upon supposition & calculation after other men's Tables, for we do see, that all the Tables for the most part, late set out of the fixed stars be false and very erroneous, and do differ among themselves very much, yea it seemeth, that our Ephemerideses is false also in many places, as touching the moving of the Planets, in some, a degree to much, in some, too degrees and more too little, and also the very motion of the Moon is not direct, which if it be not farther looked into and amended, will cause great error in time. Many other things I have to say, which now I omit, but hereafter I will write hereof more largely by proof of the present time, and not upon supposition. In the mean time I leave the view hereof and consideration to your discretion, giving praise to God that gave us the understanding and knowledge hereof, to whom be praise for evermore. Amen.  
THe Tables hereto belonging shall follow, and be Printed shortly, with certain other Books of Astronomy and Astrology, as the Book of the three sorts of hours, Natural, Artificial and Magical, with all the doubts of Astronomy, and alterations and significations of the Planets, the moving of the eight Sphere, and the way to erect a figure both by the Eccliptike line, as also by the obliqne ascension, wherein the mystery of Art lieth hid, with divers other Books God willing if they may be permitted.  
Finis. Per me Simon Forman. 1591.