i io6f ) 
which they cireumfcrib'd within the fpace betwixt the 51 - 
and 53 degrees of ekvation, within which Dragon Swe^ ^ 
den^ together with the Baltkk Sea^ extends itielf in an 
equal fpace. As for thofe that would fee the form of 
their BalHck Sea, fet forth under the figure of Hercules and 
a Dragon, he refers them to that ancient Monument fet - 
forth in Begems Spkilegium Antiquitatis where Hercules 
appears clad with a Lyons Skin, and holding in one hand 
a Club, and in the other a Golden Apple, having a Dra- 
gon under it, from whofe Belly and Feet a vaft River - 
flows, by which artifice their Baltick S^^ is denoted, go« 
ing under the name df a Dragon. 
As for the Signs of the Zodiaek, he fays neither the 
Chaldeans J Ajjyrians^ Greeks nor Latins have affign'd any 
caufe why the Names and Images of Arles^ Taurus^, Gemi' 
ni^ &c. slTc given them, rather than thofe of Kings, 
and Valiant Heroes : Nor can the account of thefe be - 
adjufted to any Country fo well as to their North : 
Having regard to their way of computing the Year, \ 
he begins with Capricorn : By this he fays their Ance- 
ftors would denote nothing but thdv Jml Goat, Jti^ 
hn foocken i^ and therefore in their Runick Calendar at the 
beginning of the Year they have piftury the Horn of this 
Goat, which they us*d in their drinkings as a peculiar 
Symbol of Joy for the revolution of the^ Sun. Then alfo 
they were wont to call Councils for undertaking Wars, 
which alfo was intimated by the figure of a Goat, or Ca- 
pricorn, and fo the Names of Goat and Horn gave the 
ti2imQ oi Capricorn. Now neither thQ A/jj/rians, JEgjipti- 
' ms, Greeks nor Latins, in the firft times began their Tear 
from Capricorn ^ but borrowed this Cuftom from the North 
along time after. Next Capricorn com^% Aquarius^ which 
is wont to be painted Emptying a great Pot of Water : for 
while ;the Sun is in this Sign the cold relaxes^ and the 
Sho*^ melts on the thirteenth day of the Feaft jfW, and 
&e Earth in the month of Fehrnarj produces great Rains- 
or.. 
