CERTAIN brief and necessary rules of Geography, serving for the understanding of charts and Maps.  
Collected by D. P.  
Rogatu honoratisses. viri D. H. S. W. P.  
Imprinted at London, by Henry Binneman. ANNO. 1573.   

Certain rules of Geography, for the understanding of Maps and charts.  
THe perfect understanding of Maps and the use of the same doth consist in the knowledge of these four points.  
1 The necessary circles described in Maps.  
2 The longitude & latitude of places.  
3 The Climates and Paraleles.  
4 The measure of distance of one place from another.  

1 Of the Circles.  
The circles expressed in Maps are five, the Equinoctial, the 2. tropics, and the two Polare circles.  
The Equinoctial or Equator, is a circle imagined just in the midst between the two Poles, compassing the whole earth about.  
1 This circle divideth the world into two equal parts, that is so say, the North and the South.  
2 It serveth also to know the Longitude of places, which is measured upon it, and the Latitude which is measured from it, either Northward or southward.  
3 When the Sun is in it, the day is equal with the night throughout all the world.  
4 When the Sun is furthest from it, the day is either shortest or longest.  
The tropics are those circles which the Sun maketh about the world, when it is furthest from the Equinoctial either Northward or southward.  
If it be Northward it is called the tropic of Cancer, because the Sun then returning backwards entereth into that sign.  
If it be southward it is called the tropic of Capricorn, because then the Sun entereth into the sign of Capricorn.  
These circles do divide the temperate Zones from the burnt Zone.  
The Polare circles are those which the Poles of the Zodiac do make about the Poles of the world, in the space of 24. hours.  
They divide the temperate Zones from the cold Zones: and are so far distant from their Poles (that is, the Arctike from the North, and the Antarctic from the South Pole) as the tropics are from the Equinoctial.  
The two tropics and the two Polare circles do divide the whole earth into five parts, which are called Zones. Whereof that which lieth under the Equinoctial between the two tropics, is called the burnt Zone: the other two betwixt either of the tropics and the Polare circles are called Temperate Zones: and the other two under either Pole are called cold Zones.   geographical zones 
MERIDIES. A ZONA FRIGIDA. B ZONA TEMPERATAAUS. C ZONATORRIDA. D ZONA TEMPERATA BOR. E ZONA FRIGIDA. E SEPTENTRIO   

2 Of the Longitude and Latitude.  
In reckoning the Longitude of the world, the ancient Geographers took their beginning at a right line imagined to be drawn from the one Pole to the other, by the Islands called the Canaries, beyond Hercules' pillars (which line for this purpose I call the Western line) so that the Longitude of any place is the distance of the same from that line Eastward, and so round about unto the same line again.  
Some late writers do reckon the Longitude from the Western line Eastward 180. degrees, and also from the same westward. 180. degrees, which being added together do make. 360. describing it in the midst between the two Poles, and dividing the world into. 2. equal parts, whereof the Western they call the Ponent, and the Eastern the Levant.  
The latitude is the distance of any place from the Equinoctial circle towards either of the Poles.  
Where so ever you are, imagine a point or prick directly over your head, which is called Zenith, the distance whereof from the Western line is the longitude, and from the Equinoctial the latitude. And for this purpose in the universal charts, you have lines (called Meridian's) drawn in length from Pole to Pole, distant one from another 10. degrees, beginning at the Western line, and so Eastward, which do evidently show the Longitude of any place.  
There are also drawn certain Paraleles from the Equinoctial towards either of the Poles, differing one from an other. 10. degrees, declaring the Latitude.  
Note that the latitude or distance from the Equinoctial line, and the elevation of the Pole in any place are equal.   

3 Of Climates and Paraleles.  
The Climates & Paraleles serve both for one purpose, that is, the difference of the longest days, which do increase within certain spaces from the Equinoctial towards either of the Poles.  
A Climate is a space of distance from the Equinoctial line, where the longest day maketh difference of half an hour.  
The old writers do make but seven Climates, and do name them of some notable and famous place.  
1 The first they name of Meroe a city in Africa, under the burnt Zone, this containeth in brodnesse. 7. degrees. 40. mi. 
 It beginneth at 12. deg. 45. mi. 
 It endeth at 20. deg. 30. mi. 
 The longest day. Prin. 12. h. 45. m. 
 The longest day. Fin. 13. h. 15. m.  
2 The second of Syena, a city in the confines of Ethiopia, under the tropic of Cancer, containing in brodnesse. 7. degr. 
 beg. 20. g. 30. m. dies lo. 13. h. 15. m. 
 end. 27. g. 30. m. dies lo. 13. h. 45. m  
3 The third is named of Alexandria, a famous City in Egypte, containing in brodnesse. 6. g. 10. min. 
 beg. 27. g. 30. m. dies lo. 13. h. 45. m 
 end. 33. g. 40. m. dies lo. 14. h. 15. m  
4 The fourth hath his denomination of that noble Island of Rhodes in Asia the less, whose brodnesse is. 5. g. 20. m. 
 beg. 33. g. 40. m. dies lo. 14. h. 15. m 
 end. 39 g. ●●…. m. dies lo. 14. h. 45. m  
5 The fift climate hath his name of the city of Rome, which containeth in brodnesse. 4. g. 30. m. 
 beg. 39 g. 40. m. dies lo. 14. h. 45. m 
 end. 43. g. 30. m. dies lo. 15. h. 15. m.  
6 The sixth of the sea Euxine called Pontus, which is 3. g. 45. m. broad. 
 beg. 43. g. 30. m. dies lo. 15 h. 15. m. 
 end. 47. g. 15 m. dies lo. 15. h. 45. m  
7 The seventh is named of Boristhenis a great river in Scythia, whose brodnesse is. 3. g. 15. m. 
 beg. 47. g. 15. m dies lo. 15. h. 45. m. 
 end. 50. g 30. m 16. h. 15. m.  
Some do add the eight Climate by the South parts of England, and the ninth by the river Tanais.  
The Southern Climates, have the same names, putting only this Greek proposition, Anti, before them.  
A Paralele is just half a Climate, so that one Climate containeth two Paraleles.   

4 The measure of distance of one place from another.  
divers nations do diversly measure the distance of places.  
The Egyptians by signs or marks.  
The Persians by their Parasangas.  
The Greeks by furlongs.  
The Latins by miles, and sometimes by stones or marks.  
The Spaniards & Frenchmen by leagues.  
The Germans and divers other nations by miles, and those of divers length. Those which do writ of these matters, do all in a manner agree in this, that four grains of barley do make a finger.  
Four fingers a hand.  
Four hands a foot.  
Four foot a Geometrical pace, which is two simple paces.  
125. Geometrical paces a furlong.  
8. furlongs one mile.  
16. Furlongs a French league, which is two Italian miles.  
3. Miles a great league.  
30. Furlongs one Parasanga, which the Persians at this day call Farasanga.  
40. Furlongs one German mile.  
To apply your degrees to the finding out of the distance of one place from an other, by the number of miles (as they are commonly taken amongst us in England) you must understand that every degree containeth. 60. miles on earth, so that if you multiply. 360. degrees, which is the compass of the Equinoctial, by. 60. you shall find the world to contain about the whole circumference of the earth and water. 21600. miles.  
If you take your measure of distance from the Equinoctial line directly either Northward or Southward, or else upon the Equinoctial line Eastward or Westward, you need no more but count your degrees, and for every degree count. 60. miles: or if your Chart be true in proportion, open your compass as wide as those two places are asunder, whose distance you would know, and apply the same to the Equinoctial line, and multiply your degrees as before, and so you shall have your purpose.  
In particular and Chorographical charts you may find the true distance of any place from another, either by the numbers of longitude and latitude described in the margin of your Chart, or by the Scale which is most commonly made for that purpose. And if you want both these helps, take any two places whereof you know or may learn the true distance, and measure that, and according to that proportion you may find out any distance in the Chart. (⸪)