( io3^ ) 
to be fo ufed ih Kent, when I was a Youch, ) for what 
we otherwife call a Circle. And I take it to be an old 
Ef^gli/h word in that fenfe^ though now (in imitation of 
the French) the word Circle be more common. I know 
not whether a Compafs ( or any word hke it ) be fo 
ufed, for a Circle, in any other Language ^ ( but rather 
Cercle in French 5 Cefchio in Italian 3 Circulo in Spanifti 5 
or fome other word derived from the Latin Circulus. ) 
And from hence, the Circulus Nantkus may come to be 
called the Marimrs Compafs, which name, being given 
it by the firft lnventers,mightgive occafion for like Names 
in other Languages 3 (compos^ compaffo^ zee-kompas, 8cc.) 
I do not deny but that the Qrcinus^ or Inftrument by 
which we defcribe a Circle (called by us a pair of Compaf' 
fes) may have fome like name in other languages. But, 
how anciently, I do not know 3 nor that a Circle ab- 
folutely confider'd ( other than this Circulus nmticus ) i$ 
fo called. Howfar this conjefture, from the J^^?;?^, may 
give us a Title to the invention,(till abetter do appear 5) 
I fhall not determine 5 but only fuggeft to Confideration. 
I think it is now agreed on all bands, That (what we 
the Variation of the Variation^ is an Englijh Difco- 
verji^ (piMtGellibrand, if I raiftake not,one of Sir Thomas 
Grejhams Profeflbrs at Gre(ham Colledge 5 ) about the 
the year 1635. That is. That the Magmtick, Needle (in 
its Horrizontal Pofition) doth not retain the fame DecHi 
nation or Variation ixom the true North, (in the fame 
place, at- all times.but doth (fucceffively) vary (that De- 
clination) trom time to time. Which though it were, 
about that time, a Ne^ Difcovery is Now admitted as 
an Undoubted Truth. 
And ( what we call^ the Dipping Needle ^ is admitted 
alfo to be an Englijh Difcov^rj, fomewhar. Elder than 
that former. ( I cannot fay ot piefenr, whether by 
Mr Blagrave, or fome other Gref/jamite.) That is, That 
the Magnet ick Needlcy (befidcs its Direction toward the 
North 
