THE TRIANGULAR QUADRANT: OR The QUADRANT on a SECTOR. Being a general Instrument For Land or Sea Observations. Performing all the Uses of the ordinary Sea Instruments; as Davis Quadrant, Forestaff, Crossstaff, Bow, With more ease, profitableness, and conveniency, and as much exactness as any or all of them. Moreover, It may be made a particular, and a general Quadrant for all latitudes, and have the Sector lines also. To which is added a Rectifying Table, to find the Sun's true Declination to a minute or two, any day or hour of the 4 years: Whereby to find the latitude of a place by a Meridian, or any two other altitudes of the Sun or Stars. First thus Contrived and made by john Browne at the Sphere and Dial in the Minories, and to be sold at 〈◊〉 house, or at Hen. Sutton's in Thredneedle-street behind the Exchange. 1662. triangular quadrant THE TRIANGULAR QUADRANT: Being a GENERAL INSTRUMENT for Observations at Land or Sea, performing all the Uses of all ordinary Sea Instruments for Observations, with more speed, ease and conveniency than any of them all will do. Contrived and made by john Browne at the Sphere and Sundial in the Minories, and sold there or at Mr H. Suttons behind the Exchange. 1662. THE Description, and some uses of the Triangular Quadrant, or the Sector made a Quadrant, or the use of an excellent Instrument for observations at Land or Sea, performing all the uses of the Forestaff, Davis quadrant, Bow, Gunter's crosstaff, Gunter's quadrant, and sector; with far more convenience and as much exactness as any of them will do. The Description. First, it is a jointed rule (or Sector) made to what Radius you please, but for the present purpose it is best between 24. and 36 inches Radius, and a third piece of the same length, with a tennon at each end, to make it an Equilateral Triangle; from whence it is properly called a Triangular Quadrant. ●●Secondly, as to the lines graduated thereon, they may be more or less as your use and cost will please to command, but to make it complete for the promised premises, these that follow are necessary thereunto. 1. A Line of degrees, of twice 90. degrees on the movable leg, and outer edge of the cross piece: for quadrantal and back observations. 2. Such another Line of 60. degrees, for forward observations on the inside of the cross piece. 3. On the movable leg▪ a Calendar of Months, and days in 2 lines. 4. Next to them, a Line of the Sun's place in degrees. 5. Next to that, a Line of the Sun's right Ascension, in degrees or hours. 6. Next above the Months on the same Leg, an hour and Azimuth Line, fitted to a particular Latitude, as London, or any other place, for all the uses of Gunter's Quadrant as you may find in the former discourse (called a Joynt-rule.) 7. On the head leg, and same side, a particular scale of altitudes, for the particular Latitude. 8. Next to that a general scale of Altitudes, for all Latitudes. 9 A Line of 360 degrees, divided so as to serve for 360 degrees of 12 Signs; and 24 hours, (and in foot and 2 foot rules for inches also.) 10. A Line of 29½ laid next to the former, serving to find the Moons coming to South, and her age, and place, and the time of the Night, by the fixed Stars. 11. A perpetual Almanac, and the right ascension, and declination of several fixed Stars. 12. A Line of Lines next the inside, may be put on without Trouble, or incumbering one another, all these on one side. Secondly, on the other side may be put the Lines of natural Signs, Tangents and Secants, to a single, double, and treble Radius, and by this means more than a Gunter's Sector, (the particular Lines being inscribed between the general Lines.) Thirdly on the other edge there may be Artificial Numbers, Tangents, Signs, and versed Signs, and by this means it is a Gunter's Rule or a Crosstaff. Fourthly, on the insides, inches, foot-measure, and a Line of 112. parts, and a large meridian Line, or the like: as you please. Lastly, two sliding nuts with points in them, fitted to the Cross piece, makes it a proper beam Compass to use in working by the Number's Signs and Tangents on the edge, or flat side, also it must have four or five sights, a Thread, and Plummet, and Compasses, as other instruments have, thus much for the Description, the uses follow. An Advertisement. First, for the better understanding and brevity sake, there are ten things to be named and described, as followeth; 1. the head leg, in which the brass Revet is fixed, and about which the other turn; 2. the movable leg, on which the Months and Days must always be; 3. the Cross piece, that is fitted to the head, and movable Leg, by the two Tennons at the end; 4. the quadrant side where the degrees and Months are, for observation. 5. the other or Sector side for operation, 6thly the head centre, being Centre to the degrees on the inside of the cross piece, for a forward observation as with the forestaffe. 7 The other Centre, near the end of the head leg, being the Centre to the movable leg, for backward observations, (as the Davis quadrant is used, and the bow) which you may call the foot centre, or leg centre for backward observations. 8thly the sights, as first the turning or eye sight, which is always, set on one of the centres, with a screw to make it fast there, which I call the turning sight, 9thly the Horizon sight that cuts the degrees of altitude, and sometimes is next to the eye, and sometimes remote from the eye, yet called the horizon (slideing) sight, 10thly. the object or shadow sight of which there may be 3 for convenience sake, as two fixed and one movable to slide as the horizon sight doth: the other two do serve also to pin the cross piece, and the two legs together, through the two tennons, all whose names in short take thus: 1. The head leg: 2. the movable leg: 3. the cross piece: 4. the quadrant side: 5. the sector side, 6. the head (or forward) centre. 7 the leg (or backward) centre. 8. the turning sight. 9 the (slideing) horzon sight. 10. the object (or shadow) sight. of which there be 3. all differing according to your use and occasions: one to slide to any place, the other 2. to be put into certain holes. nigher, or further off: as will afterwards largely appear. THE USES: I. To find the sun's declination, true place, right ascension, and rising, the day of the month being given. First open the rule to an angle of 60. degrees, which is always done when the cross piece is fitted into the Mortesse holes, and the pins of the object sights put in the holes through the tennons, or else by the second Chapter of the Joynt-rule: then extend a thread from the centre pin in the head leg, to the day of the month, & on the degrees it cuts the sun's declination, in the line of right ascension his right ascension, in the line of true place his true place, and in the hour line his true rising and setting, in that latitude the line is m●de for: Example, on the first of May I would know the former questions, the rule being set by the cross piece, and the thread on the leg centre pin; and drawn strait and laid over May 1. it cuts in the degrees 18. 4. north declination, and 20. 58. in ♉ Taurus for his place, and 3 hours 14. minutes right ascension in time, or 48. 32. in degrees: and the rising of the sun that day is at 4. 23, and sets at 5. 37, in 51. 32 latitude. The finding of hour and azimuth, either particularly, or generally, with other Astronomical propositions, are spoken enough of before in the Joynt-rule, and in all other authors that write of the Sector, or Gunter's rule, so that all I shall speak of now, shall be only what was forgot in the first part, and what is new as to the using the instrument in sea observations. II. To find the Suns or a Stars Altitude, by a forward Observation. Screw the turning sight to the head Centre, and set that object sight, whose holes answer to the Sliding horizon sight, in the hole at the end of the head leg, and put the horizon sight on the cross piece next the inside; Then holding the cross piece with your right hand, and the turning sight close to your eye, and the movable leg against your body, with your thumb on the right hand thrust upwards, or pull downwards, the horizon sight: till you see the sun through the object sight, and the horizon through the horizon sight, than the degrees cut by the middle of the horizon sight, on the cross piece shall be the true altitude required: III To perform the same another way. If your instrument be parted, that is to say the cross piece from the other, and an altitude be required to be had quickly, than set the two object sights, in two holes at the end of the line of natural signs, than set the head of the rule to your eye, so as the sight of the eye may be just over the Centre, then open or close the Joint, till you see the horizon through one sight, and the sun or star through the other, then is the sector set to the angle required, to find which angle do thus, take the parallel sign of 30 and 30, and measure it from the Centre, and it shall reach to the sign of half ●he angle required. Example. Suppose I had observed an altitude, and the distance between 30 and 30, should reach from the centre to 10. degrees on the signs, then is the altitude of the sun 20. degrees for 10 doubled is 20. FOUR To find the sun's Altitude by a back observation, Screw the Turning sight to the leg centre, (or centre to the degrees on the movable leg) and put one of the object sights, in the hole by 00. on the outer edge of the cross piece, and set the edge of it just against the stroke of 00, or you may use the sliding object sight and set the edge or the middle of that, to the stroke of 00, as you shall Judge most convenient; and the horizon sight to the movable leg, then observe in all respects as with a Davis quadrant, till looking through the small hole of the horizon sight, you see the cross bar and button, in the turning sight, cut the horizon: and at the same instant the shadow of the edge or middle of the object or shadow sight, fall on the middle of the turning sight, by sliding the horizon sight higher or lower, than the middle stroke of the horizon sight, shall cut on the movable leg, the suns true altitude required. As f 〈…〉 t stay at 50 degrees, then is the sun 50 degrees above the horizon. V. But if the sun be near to the Zenith or 90 degrees high, than it will be convenient to move the object sight, to a hole or two further as suppose at 10, 20, 30 degrees more, toward the further end of the cross piece and then observe as you did before in all respects, as with a Davis quadrant, and then whatsoever degrees the horizon sight cuts, you must add so much to it, as you set the object sight forwards, as suppose 30, and the horizon sight stay at 60, than I say 60, and 30, makes 90: the true altitude required. Note that by this contrivance, let the altitude be what it will, you shall always have a most steady observation: with the instrument leaning against your breast, a considerable thing, in a windy day, when you may have a need of an observation in southern voyages, when the sun is near to the zenith at a Meridian observation. VI To find the sun's distance from the zenith, by observing the other way, the sun being not above 60 degrees high, or 30 from the zenith. Set the turning sight as before on the leg Centre, than set an object sight in one of the holes in the line on the head leg, nigher or further of, the turning sight: as the the brightness or dimness of the sun will allow to see a shadow, then looking through the small hole on the horizon sight, till you see the horizon cut by the cross bar of the great hole, in the turning sight, turning the foreside of that sight, till it be fit to receive the shadow of the middle of the object sight; then the degrees cut by the horizon sight, shall be the suns true distance from the zenith, or the compliment of the Altitude. VII. Note that by adding of a short piece about 9 inches long on the head leg, whereon to set the slideing shadow sight, you may obtain the former convenience of all angles, this way also, at a most steady and easy manner of observation; but note whatsoever you set forwards on that piece, must be substracted from that the sight showeth, and the remainder shall be the sun's distance from the zenith required. As suppose you set forward 30 degrees, and the horizon sight should stay at 40, than 30 from 40 rest 10, the sun's distance from the zenith required; thus you see, that by one and the same line, at one manner of figuring, is the sun's altitude, or coalitude acquired and that at a most certain steady manner of observation. VIII. To find an observation by thread and plummet, without having any respect to the horizon, being of good stead in a misty or cloudy day at land or sea. Set the rule to his angle of 60 degrees by putting in the cross piece, then screw the turning sight to the head centre, then if the sun or star be under 30 degrees high, set the object sight in the movable leg, then looking through the small hole in the turning sight, through the object sight, to the middle of the star or sun, as the button in the cross bar will neatly show; then the thread and plummet, hanging on the leg centre pin, and playing evenly by the movable leg, shall show the true altitude of the sun, or star required counting the degrees as they are numbered, for th': north declinations from 60 toward the head with 10 20, As if the thread shall play upon 70 10 then is the altitude 10 degrees. IX But if the sun or star be above 30 degrees high, than the object sight must be set to the hole in the end of the head leg: then looking as before, and the thread playing evenly by the movable leg, shall show the true altitude required, as the degrees are numbered. Note that if the brightness of the sun should offend the eye, you may have a piece of green, blue, or red glass, fixed on the turning sight, or else remove the object sight nearer to the turning sight, and then let the sun beams pierce through both the small holes, according to the usual manner and the thread shall show the true altitude required. Note also if the thread be apt to slip away from his observed place, as between 25 and 40 it may: note a dexterious handling thereof will naturally show you how to prevent it: X. To find a latitude at Sea by forward meridian Observation or Altitude. Set the moving object Sight to the Sun's declination, showed by the day of the Month, and rectifying Table, and screw the turning sight to the leg centre, and the Horizon sight to the movable leg, or the outside of the Cross piece, according as the Sun is high or low (but note all forward observations respecting the Horizon, aught to be under 45 degrees high, for if it be more it is very uncertain, by any Instrument whatsoever, except you have a Plummet and then the Horizon is useless) then observe just as you do in a forward observation, moving the Horizon sight till you see the Sun through the Horizon sight, and the Horizon through the object sight, or the contrary. (moving not that sight that is set to the day of the Month or Declination,) than whatsoever the moving sight shall show, if you add 30 to it, it shall be the latitude of the place required; observing the difference in North and South Latitudes; that is, setting the sight to the proper declination, either like, or unlike, to the latitude- Example. Suppose on the 10. of March when the Sun's declination is 0— 10. North, as in the first year after leap year it will be, set the stroke in the middle of the moving object sight to 10 of North Declination, and the Horizon sight on the movable leg, then move it higher or lower, till you see the Horizon through one, and the Sun through the other, than the degrees between, is the Sun's meridian altitude, if it be at Noon, as suppose it stayed at 21 30▪ then by counting the degrees between, you shall find them come to 38. 40. then if you add 30. to 21. 30. it makes 51. 30. the Latitude required, for if you do take 0 10′ minutes from 38. 40. there remains 38. 30. the compliment of the Latitude. Note, that this way you may take a forward observation, and so save the removing of the ●urning sight. Note also, That when the Horizon sight shall stay about the corner, you may move the object sight 10. or 20. degrees towards the head, and then you must add but 20. or 10 degrees to what the sight stayed at; or if you shall set the sight the other way 10 or 20. degr. than you must add more than 30 so much. As suppose in this last observation, it had been the latitude of 45 or 50 degrees, than you shall find the sight to play so near the corner, that it will prove inconvenient, then suppose instead of 0 10. I set it to 20 degrees 10′ North declination, which is 20. degrees added to the declination, than the Sun's height being the same as before, the sight will stay at 41. 30. to which if you add 10 degrees, it doth make 51. 30. as before; here you must add but 10 degrees, because you increased the declination 20. degrees; but note by the same reason, had you set it to 19 50. South declination, than it had been diminished 20 degrees, and then instead of 30 you must add 50▪ to 1- 30. the place where the sight would have stayed. Thus you see you may very neatly avoid this inconvenience, and set the sights to proper and steady observations, at all times of observation. XI. To find the latitude by a backward Meridian Observation at Sea. This is but just the converse of the former, for if you set one sight to the declination, either directly, (or augmented or diminished as before, when the moving sight shall stay, about the corner of the Triangular Quadrant) than the other being slipped to and fro, on the outside of the Cross piece, till the shadow of the outer edge, shall fall on the middle of the turning sight, than 30 just, or more or less added, to that number the moving sight stayed at, (according as you set the first Horizon sight to the declination) shall be the true latitude required. Example. Suppose on the same day and year as before, at the same Noon time, I set my Horizon sight to just 10′ of North declination, you shall find the moving sight to stay at 21. 30. near to the corner, now if the Sun shine bright, and will cast the shadow to the turning sight, than set the Horizon sight at the declination, forward 10 or 20. degrees, than the moving sight coming lower you, add but 20. or to that it shall stay at, and the sum shall be the latitude. But it is most likely that it will be better to diminish it 20. degrees, than the moving sight will stay about 2- 30. on the Cross piece, and so much the better to cast a shadow; for if you look through the Horizon and turning sight to the Horizon, you shall find the shadow of the former edge of the moving shadow sight, to stay at 2- 30. to which if you add 20. the degrees diminished, and 30. it makes 51 30. the latitude required as before. Note also for better convenience of the shadow sight, when you have found the true declination, as before is taught, set the moving object sight to the same, on the Cross piece, counted from 00. towards the head leg, for like latitudes and declinations; and the other way for unlike latitudes and declinations, then observing as in a back observation, wheresoever the sight shall stay, shall be the compliment of the latitude required. If you add or diminish consider accordingly. Note likewise, when the declination is ne'er the solstice, and the same way as the latitude is, and by diminishing, or otherwise the moving sight shall fall beyond 00 on the Cross piece; Then having added 30. and the degrees diminished together, whatsoever the sight shall stay at beyond 00 must be taken out of the added sum, and the remainder shall be the latitude required. Example. Suppose on the 11. of june, in the latitude of 51 30 north, for the better holding sake I diminish the declination 30 degrees, that is in stead of setting it to 23. 32. north declination, I set it to 6: 28 south then the sun being 62 degrees high will stay at 08. 30. beyond 00. the other way now 30 to be added, and 30 diminished, makes 60, from which take 8. 30, rest 51 30 the latitude required. XII. To find a latitude with thread and plummet, or by an observation made without respecting the Horizon. Count the declination on the cross piece (and let 00 be the equinoctial and let the declination which is the same with the latitude be counted toward the movable leg, and the contrary the other way, as with us in north latitude, north declination is toward the movable leg, and south declination the contrary and contrarily in south latitudes) and thereunto set the midst of the sliding object or horizon sight, then is the small hole on the turning sight and the small hole on the horizon sight, two holes whereby the sun beams are to pierce to shine one on the other: then shall the thread show you the true latitude of the place required. Example. Suppose on the 11 of Decem. 1663., at noon I observe the noon altitudes set the middle of the Horizon sight to 23▪ 32 counted from 00. toward the head leg end, then making the sun beams to pierce through the hole of this, and the turning sight, you shall find the plummet to play on 51. 30, the latitude required, holding the turning sight toward the sun. Note also that here also you may avoid the inconvenience of the corner, or the great distance between the sights, by the remedy before cited, in the back and forward observation. For if you move it toward the head leg, than the thread will fall short of the latitude, if toward the movable leg than it falls beyond the latitude, as is very easy to conceive of: Thus you see all the uses of the forestaff, and quadrant, and Mr. Gunter's bow are plainly and properly applied to this Triangular quadrant, that the same will be a Sector is easy to persuade you to believe, and that all the uses of a Gunter's quadrant, are performed by it, is fully showed in the use of the Joynt-rule, to which this may be annexed, the numbers signs and tangents and versed signs makes it an excellent large Gunter's rule, and the cross piece is a good pair of large compasses to operate therewith; lastly, being it may lie in so little room it is much more convenient for them, with whom stowage is very precious, so I shall say no more as to the use of it, all the rest being fully spoke to in other Authors, to whom I refer you: only one useful proposition to inure you to the use of this most excellent instrument, which I call the Triangular Quadrant. Note that in finding the latitude, it is necessary to have a table of the sun's declination for every of the four years, viz. for the leap year and the 1, 2 and 3d. after, now the table of the sun's declination whereby the months are laid down, is a table that is calculated as a mean between all the 4 years, and you may very well distinguish a minute on the rule; now to make it to be exact I have fitted this rectifying table for every Week in the year, and the use is thus: hang the thread on the centre pin, and extend the thread to the day of the month, and on the degrees is the sun's declination, as near as can be for a common year, then if you look in the rectifying table for that month, and week you seek for you shall find the number of minutes you must add to or subtract from the declination found for that day and year: Example, suppose for April 10. 1662. the second after leap year, the rule showeth me 11. 45, from which the rectifying table saith I must subtract 3′ then is the true declination 11 42, the like for any other year. Note further that the space of a day in the sun's swiftest motion being so much, you may consider the hour of the day also, in the finding of a latitude, by an observation taken of the Meridian, as anon you shall see that as the instrument is exact, so let your arithmetical calculation be also: by laying a sure foundation to begin to work upon, then will your latitude be very true also. A Rectifying Table for the Sun's declination. D 1 year 2 year 3 year Leap year january 7 Sub 5 Sub 2 Add 1 Add 4 15 s 6 s 2 a 2 a 5 22 s 7 s 3 a 1 a 6 30 s 7 s 3 a 2 a 7 Februar 7 s 8 s 3 a 2 a 7 15 s 8 s 4 a 2 a 8 22 s 9 s 3 a 2 a 7 March 1 s 4 s 1 a 7 Sub 11 7 s 3 Ad 3 Add 9 Sub 9 15 Add 3 ad 1 Sub 9 Add 9 22 a 2 Sub 4 Sub 9 ad 8 30 a 1 Sub 4 Sub 9 ad 8 April 7 a 2 Sub 3 s 8 a 8 15 a 2 s 3 s 8 a 7 22 a 1 s 3 s 8 a 6 30 a 1 s 3 s 6 a 5 May 7 a 0 s 2 s 6 a 5 15 a 0 s 2 s 5 a 3 22 a 0 s 1 s 3 a 3 30 a 0 s 1 s 2 a 1 june 7 a 0 s 1 s 1 ad 0 15 a 0 s 0 s 0 Sub 0 22 s 1 s 0 ad 2 s 2 30 s 1 Ad 1 ad 3 s 3 july 7 Sub 2 Add 1 Add 3 Sub 4 15 s 1 a 1 a 5 s 5 22 s 2 a 1 a 5 s 6 30 s 2 a 2 a 6 s 7 August 7 s 3 a 2 a 7 s 8 15 s 3 a 2 a 7 s 8 22 s 3 a 3 a 8 s 9 30 s 3 a 3 a 9 s 9 September 7 s 3 a 3 Add 9 Sub 9 15 Add 3 Sub 3 Sub 9 Add 9 22 a 2 s 4 s 9 a 8 30 a 2 s 4 s 9 a 8 October 7 a 3 s 3 s 9 a 8 15 a 2 s 3 s 8 a 7 22 a 2 s 2 s 7 a 8 30 a 2 s 2 s 7 a 8 November 7 a 1 s 1 s 6 a 7 15 a 1 s 2 s 5 a 5 22 a 1 s 3 s 4 a 3 30 a 0 s 2 s 3 a 2 December 7 0 s 1 s 1 Add 1 15 Sub 1 s 0 s 0 Sub 1 22 s 1 s 0 Add 1 s 3 30 s 3 s 0 Add 2 s 5 The Declination of the Sun being given, or rather the Sun's Distance from the Pole, and the Compliment of two Altitudes of the Sun, taken at any time of the day, knowing the time between: to find the Latitude. Suppose on the 11. of june, the Sun being 66 degrees, 29′ distant from the North Pole, and the Compliment of one altitude be 80. 30. and the Compliment of another altitude 44. 13. and the time between the two observations just four hours; then say, As the Sine of 90 00 To Sine of Suns dist. f. the Pole 66 28 So is the Sine of ½ time betw. 30 00 To the Sine of ½ the 3d. side 27 17½ 27 17½ of a Triangle as A B. 54 35 The side A P 66 28 The side P A 66 28 The side A B 54 35 whole sum 187 31 half sum 93 46 The differ. betw ½ sum and AP side op. to inqu. Triangle 27 18 Then say, as S. of 90 90 00 To S. of Suns dist. from Pole 66 28 So is the Sine of A B 54 35 To the Sine of a fourth Sine 48 23 Then as that 4 to Sine of ½ sum 93 46 So is S. of the difference 27 18 To a seventh Sine 37 44½ or the versed Sine of P A B 77 02 Then to find Z A B Z B is 80 30 And Z A is 44 13 The former side A B is 54 35 Sum 179 18 half sum 89 39 difference 09 09 As S. of 90 90 00 To Sine of A B 54 35 So is S. of Z A 44 13 To a 4th. Sine 34 38 As S. 4th. 34 38 To S. of ½ sum 89 39 So is S. diff. 09 39 To a 7th. Sine 16 15¼ or to the vers. sine of Z A B 116 07 Then if you take P A B from Z A B there will remain Z A P 39 05 Then say again by the rule as before, As the sine of 90 00 To Co-sine of Z A P 50 55 So is the Tangle of A Z 44 13 To the Tangent of A C 37 04 which taken from A P 66 28 remaineth P C 29 24 Then last say, As the Co-sine of A C 52 56 To the Co-sine of C P 60 36 So is the Co-sine of Z A 45 47 To the Co-sine of Z P 51 30 The Latitude required to be found. This Question or any other may be wrought by the Sins and Tangents and versed sins on the rule, But if you would know more as concerning this or any other, you may be fully satisfied by Mr. Euclid Spidal at his Chamber at a Virginal Maker's house in Thredneedle Street, and at the King's head near Broadstreet end. Vale. FINIS. The Triangle explained. S P Z N a Meridian circls. A A the Equinoctial. ♋ B A ♋ the, tropic of Cancer. P B 5 P the hour circle of Five, ante, mer. P A 9 P the hour circle of Nine, ante, mer. Z B the Sun's coaltitude at 5— 80— 30 Z A the Sun's coaltitude at 9— 44— 13 P A & P B the Sun's distance from the Pole on the 2 h. li. of 5 & 9 66— 28 5-9 the equinoctial time between the two Observations— 60— 00 B A in proper measure is as found by the first measure working— 54— 35 Z C a perpendicular on A P from Z 29— 24 P Z the compliment of the latitude that was to be found— 38-30