124 APPENDIX. 



how much it was touched the farther from the poles ; and that being 

 touched in the circle drawn equidistant from the poles, answering 

 the sequinoctial of the world, it would have no respect at all. All 

 which notwithstanding, many times musing with myself and think- 

 ing on it, and finding as yet no other sufficient reason of the decli- 

 nation and variation both, I suppose it possible and likely that 

 the loadstone generally and totally both may have such a respective 

 force in it, as I have said, lying in his natural mine or newly taken 

 out of it; and also may retain the same, and impart it forcibly enough, 

 a goodwhile after : if so be it be laid and kept still in the like situ- 

 ation. But the cause why few loadstones of many, do retain the same, 

 [which made Severtius, in his first book Orbis Catoptrici, think there 

 were divers kinds of them, some, whereof he reports himself and others 

 to have made sufficient trial, having more points of respect (namely, 

 east and west) than others,] may be for that, for the most part with- 

 out regard they are laid, or else by reason of their shape they fall and 

 lie long in a diverse or contrary situation from that which was their 

 natural ; now, that side upward which was downward, now that side 

 eastward which was westward, now that side northward which was 

 southward; whereby it comes to pass that within awhile, as they are 

 much impaired in their two principal respective points of north and 

 south, so they become, as it were, giddy and mopish, and at length 

 almost quite defective in the other. 



Now, if this prove true, I dare avouch, that thereby is given a most 

 certain and ready means of measuring the longitudes, or east and 

 west distances ; and withal a most easy way of sailing by a great 

 circle, that is to say, the shortest cut, toward what position or situ- 

 ation soever ; the vertical touch for the most part being fittest for 

 this use, and an sequinoctial for the other ; whereas the polar touch 

 can demonstrate only the latitudes, although them of all other the 

 most firmly. But touching these corollaries there needs not any 

 further discourse, until experimental proof be made of the former 

 problem. 



Th. L. 



THE END. 



Printed by Richard and John E. Taylor, Red Lion Court, Fleet Street. 



