<B CMASTRO>
<Q M3 IS HANDA ASTR>
<N ASTROLABE>
<A CHAUCER GEOFFREY>
<C M3>
<O 1350-1420>
<M 1350-1420>
<K CONTEMP>
<D EMO>
<V PROSE>
<T HANDB ASTRONOMY>
<G X>
<F X>
<W WRITTEN>
<X MALE>
<Y 40-60>
<H PROF HIGH>
<U NON-PROF>
<E X>
<J X>
<I X>
<Z INSTR SEC>
<S SAMPLE X>


[^CHAUCER, GEOFFREY.
TEXT:  A TREATISE ON THE ASTROLABE.
THE RIVERSIDE CHAUCER.
ED. L. D. BENSON.
BOSTON: HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY, 1987. 
PP. 662.C1.1 - 673.C2.7^]

<P 662.C1>
[}A TREATISE ON THE ASTROLABE}]

   Lyte Lowys my sone, I aperceyve wel by certeyne
evydences thyn abilite to lerne sciences
touching nombres and proporciouns; and as wel
considre I thy besy praier in special to lerne the
tretys of the Astrelabie. Than for as mochel as a
philosofre saith, "he wrappith him in his frend,
that condescendith to the rightfulle praiers of his
frend," therfore have I yeven the a suffisant Astrolabie
as for oure orizonte, compowned
after the latitude of Oxenforde; upon 
which, by mediacioun of this litel tretys, I 
purpose to teche the a certein nombre of conclusions 
aperteynyng to the same instrument. I 
seie a certein of conclusions, for thre causes. The 
first cause is this: truste wel that alle the conclusions 
that han be founde, or ellys possibly 
might be founde in so noble an instrument as is 
an Astrelabie ben unknowe parfitly to eny mortal 
man in this regioun, as I suppose. Another 
cause is this, that sothly in any tretis of the 
Astrelabie that I have seyn, there be somme 
conclusions that wol not in alle thinges parformen 
her bihestes; and somme of hem ben to 
harde to thy tendir age of ten yeer to conceyve.
   This tretis, divided in 5 parties, wol I shewe
the under full light reules and naked wordes in
Englissh, for Latyn ne canst thou yit but small,
my litel sone. But natheles suffise to the these
trewe conclusions in Englissh as wel as sufficith
to these noble clerkes Grekes these
same conclusions in Grek; and to Arabiens
in Arabik, and to Jewes in Ebrew, and to 
Latyn folk in Latyn; whiche Latyn folk had
hem first out of othere dyverse langages, and
<P 662.C2>
writen hem in her owne tunge, that is to seyn,
in Latyn. And God woot that in alle these
langages and in many moo han these conclusions
ben suffisantly lerned and taught, and yit
be diverse reules; right as diverse pathes
leden diverse folk the righte way to Rome.
Now wol I preie mekely every discret persone
that redith or herith this litel tretys to have
my rude endityng for excusid, and my superfluite
of wordes, for two causes. The first cause
is for that curious endityng and hard sentence
is ful hevy at onys for such a child to lerne.
And the secunde cause is this, that sothly me
semith better to writen unto a child twyes a
god sentence, than he forgete it onys.
   And Lowys, yf so be that I shewe the in
my lighte Englissh as trewe conclusions
touching this mater, and not oonly as trewe
but as many and as subtile conclusiouns, as
ben shewid in Latyn in eny commune tretys
of the Astrelabie, konne me the more thank.
And preie God save the king, that is lord of
this langage, and alle that him feith berith and
obeieth, everich in his degre, the more and
the lasse. But considre wel that I ne usurpe
not to have founden this werk of my labour 
or of myn engyn. I n'am but a lewd compilator
of the labour of olde astrologiens, and have it
translatid in myn Englissh oonly for thy doctrine.
And with this swerd shal I sleen envie.
   (\Prima pars.\) - The firste partie of this tretys
shal reherse the figures and the membres of
thyn Astrelabie by cause that thou shalt have
the gretter knowing of thyn oune instrument.
<P 663.C1>
   (\Secunda pars.\) - The secunde partie 
shal techen the worken the verrey practik 
of the forseide conclusiouns, as ferforth and 
as narwe as may be shewed in so small an 
instrument portatif aboute. For wel woot 
every astrologien that smallist fraccions ne 
wol not be shewid in so small an instrument as 
in subtile tables calculed for a cause.
   (\Tertia pars.\) - The thirde partie shal contene
diverse tables of longitudes and latitudes
of sterres fixe for the Astrelabie, and tables
of the declinacions of the sonne, and tables
of longitudes of citees and townes; and
tables as well for the governaunce of a clokke, as
for to fynde the altitude meridian; and many anothir 
notable conclusioun after the kalenders
of the reverent clerkes, Frere J. Somer and
Frere N. Lenne.
   (\Quarta pars.\) - The fourthe partie shal ben
a theorike to declare the moevyng of the celestiall 
<P 663.C2>
bodies with the causes. The whiche 
fourthe partie in speciall shal shewen a 
table of the verrey moeving of the mone 
from houre to houre every day and in every 
signe after thyn almenak. Upon which table 
there folewith a canoun suffisant to teche as 
wel the manere of the worchynge of the same 
conclusioun as to knowe in oure orizonte with 
which degre of the zodiak that the mone arisith 
in any latitude, and the arisyng of any planete 
after his latitude fro the ecliptik lyne.
   (\Quinta pars.\) - The fifthe partie shal 
be an introductorie, after the statutes of 
oure doctours, in which thou maist lerne a gret 
part of the generall rewles of theorik in astrologie. 
In which fifthe partie shalt thou fynden 
tables of equaciouns of houses after the latitude of 
Oxenforde; and tables of dignitees of planetes, 
and othere notefull thinges, yf God wol vouche 
saaf and his Moder the Maide, moo than I 
behete.

<P 663.C1>
[} [\PART I\] }]
[}HERE BEGYNNETH THE DESCRIPCIOUN OF THIN ASTRALABIE.}]

   1. Thyn Astralabie hath a ring to putten on
the thombe of thi right hond in taking the
height of thinges. And tak kep, for from henes
forthward I wol clepen the heighte of any thing
that is taken by the rewle "the altitude," withoute
moo wordes.
   2. This ryng renneth in a maner toret fast
to the moder of thyn Astrelabie in so rowme a
space that it distourbith not the instrument to
hangen after his right centre.
   3. The moder of thin Astrelabye is thikkest
plate, perced with a large hool, that resceiveth
<P 663.C2>
in hir wombe the thynne plates compowned
for diverse clymates, and thy reet shapen in
manere of a nett or of a web of a loppe.
   4. This moder is dividid on the bakhalf with
a lyne that cometh descending fro the ring
doun to the netherist bordure. The whiche
lyne, fro the forseide ring unto the centre of
the large hool amidde, is clepid the south lyne,
or ellis the lyne meridional. And the remenaunt
of this lyne doun to the bordure is
<P 664.C1>
clepid the north lyne, or ellis the lyne of 
midnyght.
   5. Overthwart this forseide longe lyne ther
crossith him another lyne of the same lengthe
from eest to west. Of the whiche lyne, from
a litel cros [^FIGURE OMITTED^] in the bordure unto the centre
of the large hool, is clepid the est lyne, or
ellis the lyne orientale. And the remenaunt of
this lyne, fro the forseide centre unto the bordure,
is clepid the west lyne, or ellis the lyne
occidentale. Now hast thou here the foure
quarters of thin Astrolabie divided after the
<P 664.C2>
foure principales plages or quarters of the
firmament.
   6. The est syde of thyn Astrolabie is clepid
the right syde, and the west syde is clepid the
left syde. Forget not thys, litel Lowys. Put
the ryng of thyn Astrolabie upon the thombe
of thi right hond, and than wol his right side
be toward thi lift side, and his left side wol be
toward thy right side. Tak this rewle generall,
as wel on the bak as on the wombe syde. Upon 
the ende of this est lyne, as I first seide, is
marked a litel cros [^FIGURE OMITTED^] , where as evere 
moo generaly is considerid the entring of
the first degre in which the sonne arisith.
   7. Fro this litel cros [^FIGURE OMITTED^] up to the ende
of the lyne meridionall, under the ryng, shalt
thou fynden the bordure divided with 90 degrees;
and by that same proporcioun is every
quarter of thin Astrolabie divided. Over the
whiche degrees ther ben noumbres of augrym
that dividen thilke same degres fro 5 to 5, as
shewith by longe strikes bitwene. Of whiche
longe strikes the space bitwene contenith
a myle wey, and every degre of the bordure
conteneth 4 minutes; this is to seien,
mynutes of an houre.
   8. Under the compas of thilke degrees ben
writen the names of the 12 Signes: as
Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo,
Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricornus, Aquarius,
Piscis. And the nombres of the degrees of
thoo signes be writen in augrym above, and
with longe divisiouns fro 5 to 5, dyvidid fro
the tyme that the signe entrith unto the last
ende. But understond wel that these degres 
of signes ben everich of hem considred 
of 60 mynutes, and every mynute of 
60 secundes, and so furth into smale fraccions 
infinite, as saith Alkabucius. And therfore 
knowe wel that a degre of the bordure contenith 
4 minutes, and a degre of a signe conteneth 
60 minutes, and have this in mynde.
   9. Next this folewith the cercle of the daies,
that ben figured in manere of degres, that contenen
in nombre 365, dividid also with longe
strikes fro 5 to 5, and the nombre in augrym
writen under that cercle.
<P 665.C1>
   10. Next the cercle of the daies folewith the
cercle of the names of the monthes, that is to
say, Januarius, Februarius, Marcius, Aprilis,
Maius, Junius, Julius, Augustus, September,
October, November, December. The names 
of these monthes were clepid somme for
her propirtees and somme by statutes of 
lordes Arabiens, somme by othre lordes of Rome.
Eke of these monthes, as liked to Julius
Cesar and to Cesar Augustus, somme were
compouned of diverse nombres of daies, as
Julie and August. Than hath Januarie 31 daies,
Februarie 28, March 31, Aprill 30, May 31,
Junius 30, Julius, 31 Augustus 31, Septembre
30, Octobre 31, Novembre 30, Decembre 31.
Natheles, all though that Julius Cesar toke 2
daies out of Feverer and putte hem in his
month of Juyll, and Augustus Cesar clepid the
month of August after his name and ordeined
it of 31 daies, yit truste wel that the
sonne dwellith therfore nevere the more
ne lasse in oon signe than in another.
   11. Than folewen the names of the holy
daies in the Kalender, and next hem the lettres
of the A B C on whiche thei fallen.
   12. Next the forseide cercle of the A B C,
under the cross lyne, is marked the skale in
manere of 2 squyres, or ellis in manere of laddres,
that serveth by his 12 pointes and his
dyvisiouns of ful many a subtil conclusioun.
Of this forseide skale fro the cross lyne unto
the verrey angle is clepid (\Umbra Versa\) , and
the nethir partie is clepid (\Umbra Recta\) , or
ellis (\Umbra Extensa\) .
   13. Than hast thou a brod reule, that hath
on either ende a square plate perced with certein
holes, somme more and somme lasse, to
resceyve the stremes of the sonne by day, and
eke by mediacioun of thin eye to knowe the
altitude of sterres by night.
   14. Than is there a large pyn in manere of
an extre, that goth thorugh the hole that halt
the tables of the clymates and the riet in the
wombe of the moder; thorugh which pyn ther
goth a litel wegge, which that is clepid the
hors, that streynith all these parties to-hepe.
Thys forseide grete pyn in manere of an extre
<P 665.C2>
is ymagyned to be the Pool Artik in thyn
Astralabie.
   15. The wombe syde of thyn Astrelabie is
also divided with a longe cros in 4 quarters
from est to west, fro southe to northe, fro
right syde to left side, as is the bakside.
   16. The bordure of which wombe side is
divided fro the point of the est lyne unto the 
point of the south lyne under the ring, in 90
degrees; and by that same proporcioun is every
quarter divided, as is the bakside. That
amountith 360 degrees. And understond wel
that degres of this bordure ben aunswering and
consentrike to the degrees of the equinoxiall,
that is dividid in the same nombre as every 
<P 666.C1>
othir cercle is in the highe hevene. This 
same bordure is divided also with 23
lettres capitals and a small cross [^FIGURE OMITTED^] above
the south lyne, that shewith the 24 houres
equals of the clokke. And, as I have seid, 5
of these degres maken a myle wey, and 3 milewei
maken an houre. And every degre of thys
bordure contenith 4 minutes, and every minute
60 secundes. Now have I told the twyes.
   17. The plate under the riet is discrived
with 3 cercles, of whiche the leest is 
clepid the cercle of Cancre by cause that the 
heved of Cancre turnith evermo consentrik
<P 666.C2>
upon the same cercle. In this heved
of Cancer is the grettist declinacioun northward
of the sonne, and therfore is he clepid
solsticium of somer; which declinacioun, after
Ptholome, is 23 degrees and 50 minutes as
wel in Cancer as in Capricorn. This signe 
of Cancer is clepid the tropik of somer, of
(\tropos\) , that is to seien "ageynward." For than
beginneth the sonne to passen from us-ward.
   The myddel cercle in wydnesse, of these 3,
is clepid the cercle equinoxiall, upon which 
turnith evermo the hevedes of Aries and Libra.
And understond wel that evermo thys cercle
equinoxiall turnith justly from verrey est to verrey
west as I have shewed the in the speer
solide. This same cercle is clepid also
Equator, that is the weyer of the day; for
whan the sonne is in the hevedes of Aries and 
Libra, than ben the dayes and the nightes ylike
of lengthe in all the world. And therfore ben
these 2 signes called the equinoxiis. And all
that moeveth withinne the hevedes of these
Aries and Libra, his moevyng is clepid northward;
and all that moevith withoute these
hevedes, his moevyng is clepid southward,
as fro the equinoxiall. Tak kep of these
latitudes north and south, and forget it nat.
By this cercle equinoxiall ben considred the
24 houres of the clokke; for evermo the arisyng 
of 15 degrees of the equinoxiall makith an
houre equal of the clokke. This equinoxiall is
clepid the gurdel of the first moeving, or ellis
of the first moevable. And note that the firste
moevyng is clepid moevyng of the firste moevable
of the 8 speer, which moeving is from
est to west, and eft ageyn into est. Also
it is clepid girdel of the firste moeving for it
departith the firste moevable, that is to seyn
the spere, in two like partyes evene distantz
fro the poles of this world.
   The widest of these 3 principale cercles is
clepid the cercle of Capricorne, by cause that
the heved of Capricorne turneth evermo consentrik 
upon the same cercle. In the heved of
this forseide Capricorne is the grettist declinacioun
southward of the sonne, and therfore
it is clepid the solsticium of wynter.
This signe of Capricorne is also clepid the
<P 667.C1>
tropic of wynter, for than begynneth the sonne
to come ageyn to us-ward.
   18. Upon this forseide plate ben compassed
certeyn cercles that highten almycanteras, of
whiche somme of hem semen parfit cercles and
somme semen inparfit. The centre that stondith 
amyddes the narwest cercle is clepid the
cenyth. And the netherist cercle, or the firste
cercle, is clepid the orizonte, that is to seyn,
the cercle that divideth the two emysperies,
that is, the partie of the hevene above the
erthe and the partie bynethe. These almykanteras
ben compowned by 2 and 2, all
be it so that on diverse Astrelabies somme
almykanteras ben divided by oon, and somme
by two, and somme by thre, after the quantite
of the Astrelabie. This forseide cenyth is
ymagined to ben the verrey point over the
crowne of thin heved. And also this cenyth
is the verray pool of the orizonte in every 
regioun.
   19. From this cenyth, as it semeth, there
comen a maner croked strikes like to the clawes
of a loppe, or elles like the werk of a wommans
calle, in kervyng overthwart the almykanteras.
And these same strikes or divisiouns
ben clepid azimutz, and thei dividen the orisounte
of thin Astrelabie in 24 divisiouns. And
these azymutz serven to knowe the costes of
the firmament, and to othre conclusions, as
for to knowe the cenyth of the sonne and
of every sterre.
   20. Next these azymutz, under the cercle
of Cancer, ben there 12 divisiouns embelif,
muche like to the shap of the azemutz, that
shewen the spaces of the houres of planetes.
   21. The riet of thin Astrelabie with thy zodiak,
shapen in manere of a net or of a lopweb
after the olde descripcioun, which thou maist
turnen up and doun as thiself liketh, contenith
certein nombre of sterres fixes, with her longitudes
and latitudes determinat, yf so be that the
<P 667.C2>
maker have not errid. The names of the sterres
ben writen in the margyn of the riet there as thei
sitte, of whiche sterres the smale point is
clepid the centre. And understond also that
alle the sterres sitting within the zodiak of
thin Astrelabie ben clepid sterres of the north, 
for thei arise by northe the est lyne. And all the 
remenaunt fixed oute of the zodiak ben clepid 
sterres of the south. But I seie not that thei arisen 
alle by southe the est lyne; witnesse on Aldeberan
and Algomeysa. Generaly understond this 
<P 668.C1>
rewle, that thilke sterres that ben clepid sterres 
of the north arisen rather than the degre of 
her longitude, and alle the sterres of the 
south arisen after the degre of her longitude - 
this is to seyn, sterres fixed in thyn 
Astrelabie. The mesure of this longitude of 
sterres is taken in the lyne ecliptik of hevene, 
<P 668.C2>
under which lyne, whan that the sonne and the 
mone be lyne-right, or ellis in the superficie of 
this lyne, than is the eclipse of the sonne or of 
the mone, as I shal declare, and eke the cause
why. But sothly the ecliptik lyne of thy
zodiak is the utterist bordure of thy zodiak 
there the degrees be marked.
   Thy zodiak of thin Astrelabie is shapen as
a compas which that contenith a large brede
as after the quantite of thyn Astrelabie, in ensample
that the zodiak in hevene is ymagyned
to ben a superfice contenyng a latitude of 12
degrees, whereas alle the remenaunt of cercles
in the hevene ben ymagyned verrey lynes withoute 
eny latitude. Amiddes this celestial
zodiak is ymagined a lyne which that is
clepid the ecliptik lyne, under which lyne
is evermo the wey of the sonne. Thus ben
there 6 degres of the zodiak on that oo syde
of the lyne and 6 degrees on that othir. This
zodiak is dividid in 12 principale divisiouns that
departen the 12 signes, and, for the streitnesse
of thin Astrolabie, than is every smal divisioun
in a signe departed by two degrees and two, I
mene degrees contenyng 60 mynutes. And
this forseide hevenysshe zodiak is clepid
the cercle of the signes, or the cercle of the
bestes, for "zodia" in langage of Grek sowneth
"bestes" in Latyn tunge. And in the zodiak
ben the 12 signes that han names of bestes,
or ellis for whan the sonne entrith into eny
of tho signes he takith the propirte of suche
bestes, or ellis for that the sterres that ben
ther fixed ben disposid in signes of bestes or
shape like bestes, or elles whan the planetes 
ben under thilke signes thei causen us by
her influence operaciouns and effectes like
to the operaciouns of bestes.
   And understond also that whan an hot planete
cometh into an hot signe, than encrescith
his hete; and yf a planete be cold, than amenusith
his coldnesse by cause of the hoote sygne.
And by thys conclusioun maist thou take ensample
in alle the signes, be thei moist or drie,
or moeble or fixe, reknyng the qualite of the
planete as I first seide. And everich of
these 12 signes hath respect to a certeyn
<P 669.C1>
parcel of the body of a man, and hath it in
governaunce; as Aries hath thin heved, and
Taurus thy nekke and thy throte, Gemini thin
armholes and thin armes, and so furth, as shall
be shewid more pleyn in the 5 partie of this
tretis.
   This zodiak, which that is part of the 8 speer,
over-kervith the equinoxial, and he overkervith
him ageyn in evene parties; and 
that oo half declineth southward; and that
othir northward, as pleinly declarith the Tretys
of the Speer.
<P 669.C2>
   Than hast thou a label that is shapen like
a reule, save that it is streit and hath no plates
on either ende with holes. But with the smale
point of the forseide label shalt thou calcule
thin equaciouns in the bordure of thin Astralabie,
as by thin almury.
   Thin almury is clepid the denticle of
Capricorne, or ellis the calculer. This same
almury sitt fix in the heved of Capricorne, and
it serveth of many a necessarie conclusioun in
equacions of thinges as shal be shewid.

(^Here endith the descripcioun of the Astrelabie and here       #
begynne 
the conclusions of the Astrelabie.^)

<P 669.C1>
[} [\PART II\] }]
[}1. TO FYNDE THE DEGRE IN WHICH THE SONNE IS
DAY BY DAY, AFTER HIS COURS ABOUTE.}]

   Rekne and knowe which is the day of thy 
month, and ley thy rewle upon that same day,
and than wol the verrey poynt of thy rewle
sitten in the bordure upon the degre of thy
sonne.
   Ensample as thus: The yeer of oure Lord
1391, the 12 day of March at midday, I wolde
knowe the degre of the sonne. I soughte in
the bakhalf of myn Astrelabie and fond the
cercle of the daies, the whiche I knowe by
the names of the monthes writen under the
same cercle. Tho leyde I my reule over this
foreseide day, and fond the point of my reule
in the bordure upon the firste degre of Aries,
a litel within the degre. And thus knowe I this
conclusioun.
   Anothir day I wolde knowen the degre of
my sonne, and this was at midday in the 13
day of Decembre. I fond the day of the
month in manere as I seide; tho leide I my
rewle upon this forseide 13 day, and fond
the point of my rewle in the bordure upon
the firste degre of Capricorne a lite within the
degre. And than had I of this conclusion the
ful experience.

<P 669.C2>
[}2. TO KNOWE THE ALTITUDE OF THE SONNE OR OF
OTHRE CELESTIAL BODIES.}]

  Put the ryng of thyn Astrelabie upon thy
right thombe, and turne thi lift syde ageyn
the light of the sonne; and remewe thy rewle
up and doun til that the stremes of the sonne
shine thorugh bothe holes of thi rewle. Loke
than how many degrees thy rule is areised fro
the litel cros upon thin est lyne, and tak there
the altitude of thi sonne. And in this same
wise maist thow knowe by night the altitude
of the mone or of brighte sterres.
  This chapitre is so generall evere in oon
that there nedith no more declaracioun; but
forget it not.

[}3. TO KNOWE EVERY TYME OF THE DAY BY LIGHT 
OF THE SONNE; AND EVERY TYME OF THE NYGHT BY
THE STERRES FIXE; AND EKE TO KNOWE BY NYGHT OR
BY DAY THE DEGRE OF ENY SIGNE THAT ASCENDITH ON 
THE EST ORISONTE, WHICH THAT IS CLEPID COMOUNLY 
THE ASCENDENT, OR ELLIS HOROSCOPUM.}]

   Tak the altitude of the sonne whan the list,
as I have seid, and set the degre of the sonne,
in caas that it be beforn the myddel of the day,
<P 670.C1>
among thyn almykanteras on the est syde of
thin Astrelabie; and if it be after the myddel
of the day, set the degre of thy sonne upon the
west syde. Take this manere of settyng for a
general rule, ones for evere. And whan thou
hast set the degre of thy sonne upon as
many almykanteras of height as was the altitude
of the sonne taken by thy rule, ley
over thi label upon the degre of the sonne; and
than wol the point of thi labell sitte in the
bordure upon the verrey tyde of the day.
   Ensample as thus: The yeer of oure lord
1391, the 12 day of March, I wolde knowe the 
tyde of the day. I tok the altitude of my sonne,
and fond that it was 25 degrees and 30 minutes 
of height in the bordure on the bak
side. Tho turned I myn Astrelabye, and by
cause that it was beforn mydday, I turned
my riet and sette the degre of the sonne, that
is to seyn the first degre of Aries, on the right
side of myn Astrelabye upon 25 degrees and
30 mynutes of height among myn almykanteras.
Tho leide I my label upon the degre of my
sonne, and fond the point of my label in the
bordure upon a capital lettre that is clepid
an X. Tho rekned I alle the capitale lettres
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fro the lyne of mydnight unto this forseide
lettre X, and fond that it was 9 of the
clokke of the day. Tho loked I doun upon myn
est orizonte, and fond there the 20 degre of
Geminis ascendyng, which that I tok for myn
ascendent. And in this wise had I the experience
for evermo in which manere I shulde
knowe the tyde of the day and eke myn 
ascendent.
   Tho wolde I wite the same nyght folewyng
the houre of the nyght, and wroughte
in this wise: Among an heep of sterres
fixe it liked me for to take the altitude of the
faire white sterre that is clepid Alhabor, and
fond hir sittyng on the west side of the lyne
of midday, 12 degrees of heighte taken by my
rewle on the bak side. Tho sette I the centre
of this Alhabor upon 12 degrees among myn
almykanteras upon the west side, by cause that
she was founde on the west side. Tho
leyde I my label over the degre of the
sonne, that was discendid under the west
orisounte, and rekned all the lettres capitals 
fro the lyne of midday unto the point of my
label in the bordure, and fond that it was
passed 9 of the clokke the space of 10 degrees.
Tho lokid I doun upon myn est orisounte, and
fond there 10 degrees of Scorpius ascendyng,
whom I tok for myn ascendent. And thus
lerned I to knowe onys for ever in which
manere I shuld come to the houre of the
nyght, and to myn ascendent, as verrely as
may be taken by so smal an instrument.
   But natheles this rule in generall wol I warne
the for evere: Ne make the nevere bold to
have take a just ascendent by thin Astrelabie,
or elles to have set justly a clokke, whan eny
celestial body by which that thou wenyst governe
thilke thinges be nigh the south lyne.
For trust wel, whan the sonne is nygh the
meridional lyne, the degre of the sonne
renneth so longe consentrik upon the almykanteras
that sothly thou shalt erre fro the 
just ascendent. The same conclusion sey I by
the centre of eny sterre fix by nyght. And
more over, by experience I wot wel that in
our orisounte, from xi of the clokke unto oon
of the clokke, in taking of a just ascendent in
a portatif Astrelabie it is to hard to knowe - 
I mene from xi of the clokke before the
houre of noon til oon of the clokke next
folewyng.

[}4. A SPECIAL DECLARACIOUN OF THE ASCENDENT.}]

  The ascendent sothly, as wel in alle nativites
as in questions and eleccions of tymes, is a
thing which that these astrologiens gretly observen.
Wherfore me semeth convenyent, syth
that I speke of the ascendent, to make of it
speciall declaracioun.
   The ascendent sothly, to take it at the largest,
is thilke degre that ascendith at eny of
these forseide tymes upon the est orisounte.
And therfore, yf that eny planete ascende
at thatt same tyme in thilke forseide degre,
than hath he no latitude fro the ecliptik lyne,
but he is than in the degre of the ecliptik
which that is the degre of his longitude. Men
sayn that thilke planete is in horoscopo.
   But sothly the hous of the ascendent, that
is to seyn, the first hous or the est angle, is a
<P 671.C1>
thing more brod and large. For, after the statutes
of astrologiens, what celestial body
that is 5 degrees above thilke degre that
ascendith, or withinne that nombre, that is
to seyn neer the degree that ascendith, yit
rekne they thilke planete in the ascendent.
And what planete that is under thilke degre
that ascendith the space of 25 degres, yit seyn
thei that thilke planete is "like to him that is
the hous of the ascendent." But sothly, if he
passe the boundes of these forseide spaces,
above or bynethe, thei seyn that the planete
is "fallyng fro the ascendent." Yit saien
these astrologiens that the ascendent and
eke the lord of the ascendent may be shapen
for to be fortunat or infortunat, as thus: A
"fortunat ascendent" clepen they whan that no
wicked planete, as Saturne or Mars or elles
the Tayl of the Dragoun, is in the hous of the
ascendent, ne that no wicked planete have
noon aspect of enemyte upon the ascendent.
But thei wol caste that thei have a fortunat
planete in hir ascendent, and yit in his felicite;
and than sey thei that it is wel.
Further over thei seyn that the infortunyng of
an ascendent is the contrarie of these forseide
thinges. The lord of the ascendent, sey thei
that he is fortunat whan he is in god place
fro the ascendent, as in an angle, or in a succident
where as he is in hys dignite and comfortid
with frendly aspectes of planetes and
wel resceyved; and eke that he may seen
the ascendent; and that he be not retrograd,
ne combust, ne joyned with no 
shrewe in the same signe; ne that he be not
in his discencioun, ne joyned with no planete
in his descencioun, ne have upon him noon
aspect infortunat; and than sey thei that he is
well.
   Natheles these ben observaunces of judicial
matere and rytes of payens, in whiche my
<P 671.C2>
spirit hath no feith, ne knowing of her
horoscopum. For they seyn that every 
signe is departid in thre evene parties by
10 degrees, and thilke porcioun they clepe a
face. And although that a planete have a latitude
fro the ecliptik, yit sey somme folk, so
that the planete arise in that same signe with
eny degre of the forseide face in which his
longitude is rekned, that yit is the planete
in horoscopo, be it in nativyte or in eleccion,
etc.

[}5. TO KNOWE THE VERREY EQUACIOUN OF THE
DEGRE OF THE SONNE YF SO BE THAT IT FALLE BITWENE
THYN ALMYKANTERAS.}]

   For as muche as the almykanteras in thin 
Astrelabie ben compowned by two and two,
where as somme almykanteras in sondry astrelabies
labies be compowned by 1 and 1, or elles by 2
and 2, it is necessarie to thy lernyng to teche
the first to knowe and worke with thin oune
instrument. Wherfore whan that the degre of
thi sonne fallith bytwixe 2 almykanteras, or
ellis yf thin almykanteras ben graven with 
over-gret a poynt of a compas (for bothe
these thinges may causen errour as wel in
knowing of the tide of the day, as of the verrey
ascendent), thou must worken in this
wise: 
   Set the degre of thy sonne upon the hyer
almykanteras of bothe, and wayte wel where
as thin almury touchith the bordure and set
there a prikke of ynke. Sett doun agayn the
degre of the sunne upon the nether almykanteras
of bothe, and sett there another 
pricke. Remeve than thin almury in
the bordure evene amiddes bothe prickes, and
this wol lede justly the degre of thi sonne to
sitte bitwene bothe almykanteras in his right
place. Ley than thy label over the degre of
thi sonne, and fynd in the bordure the verrey
tyde of the day, or of the night. And as verraily
shalt thou fynde upon thin est orisonte
thin ascendent.

[}6. TO KNOWE THE SPRYNG OF THE DAWENYNG
AND THE ENDE OF THE EVENYNG, THE WHICHE BEN
CALLED THE TWO CREPUSCULES.}]

   Set the nadir of thy sonne upon 18 degrees
of height among thyn almynkanteras on the west
<P 672.C1>
syde; and ley thy label on the degre of thy
sonne, and than shal the point of thy label 
shewen the spryng of the day. Also set the
nader of thy sonne upon 18 degrees of height
among thin almykanteras on the est side, and
ley over thy label upon the degre of the sonne,
and with the point of thy label fynd in the 
bordure the ende of the evenyng, that is
verrey nyght.
   The nader of the sonne is thilke degre that
is opposyt to the degre of the sonne, in the
7 signe, as thus: every degre of Aries by
ordir is nadir to every degre of Libra by ordre,
and Taurus to Scorpioun, Gemini to Sagittarie,
Cancer to Capricorne, Leo to Aquarie, Virgo
to Piscis. And if eny degre in thy zodiak be
derk, his nadir shal declare hym.

[}7. TO KNOWE THE ARCH OF THE DAY, THAT SOME
FOLK CALLEN THE DAY ARTIFICIALL, FRO SONNE ARISYNG
TYL IT GO TO RESTE.}]

   Set the degre of thi sonne upon thin est
orisonte, and ley thy label on the degre of
the sonne, and at the point of thy label in the
bordure set a pricke. Turne than thy riet
aboute tyl the degre of thy sonne sitte upon
the west orisonte, and ley thy label upon the
same degre of the sonne, and at the poynt of
thy label set there another pricke. Rekne than 
the quantite of tyme in the bordure bitwixe
bothe prickes, and tak there thyn arch of
the day. The remenaunt of the bordure
under the orisonte is the arch of the nyght.
Thus maist thou rekne bothe arches, or every
porcioun, of whether that the liketh. And by
this manere of worching maist thou se how
longe that eny sterre fix dwelleth above the
erthe, fro tyme that he riseth til he go to reste.
But the day naturall, that is to seyn 24 hours,
is the revolucioun of the equinoxial with as
muche partie of the zodiak as the sonne of
his propre moeving passith in the mene
while.

[}8. TO TURNE THE HOURES INEQUALES IN HOURES
EQUALES.}]

   Know the nombre of the degrees in the
houres inequales, and depart hem by 15, and
tak there thin houres equales.

<P 672.C2>
[}9. TO KNOWE THE QUANTITE OF THE DAY VULGAR,
THAT IS TO SEYN FRO SPRYNG OF THE DAY UNTO 
VERREY NYGHT.}]

   Know the quantite of thy crepuscles, as I
have taught in the 3 chapitre bifore, and adde
hem to the arch of thy day artificial, and tak
there the space of all the hool day vulgar unto
verrey night. The same manere maist thou 
worche to knowe the quantite of the vulgar
nyght.

[}10. TO KNOWE THE QUANTITE OF HOURES INEQUALES
BY DAY.}]

   Understond wel that these houres inequales
ben clepid houres of planetes. And understond 
wel that som tyme ben thei lenger by 
day than by night, and som tyme the contrarie.
But understond wel that evermo generaly 
the houre inequal of the day with the
houre inequal of the night contenen 30 degrees
of the bordure, which bordure is evermo answeryng
to the degrees of the equinoxial.
Wherfore departe the arch of the day artificial
in 12, and tak there the quantite of
the houre inequale by day. And if thou abate
the quantite of the houre inequale by day out
of 30, than shal the remenaunt that levith parforme
the houre inequale by night.

[}11. TO KNOWE THE QUANTITE OF HOURES EQUALES.}]

   The quantite of houres equales, that is to
seyn the houres of the clokke, ben departid by
15 degrees alredy in the bordure of thin Astrelaby,
as wel by night as by day, generaly for
evere. What nedith more declaracioun?
   Wherfore whan the list to knowe how many
houres of the clokke ben passed, or eny part
of eny of these houres that ben passed, or ellis
how many houres or parties of houres ben
to come fro such a tyme to such a tyme by
day or by night, know the degre of thy
sonne, and ley thy label on it. Turne thy ryet
aboute joyntly with thy label, and with the
poynt of it rekne in the bordure fro the sonne
arise unto that same place there thou desirist,
by day as by nyght. This conclusioun wol I declare
in the last chapitre of the 4 partie of this
<P 673.C1>
tretys so openly that ther shal lakke no word
that nedith to the declaracioun.

[}12. SPECIAL DECLARACIOUN OF THE HOURES OF
PLANETES.}]

   Understond wel that evermo, fro the arisyng
of the sonne til it go to reste, the nadir of
the sonne shal shewe the houre of the planete;
and fro that tyme forward al the night til the
sonne arise, than shal the verrey degre of the
sonne shewe the houre of the planete.
   Ensample as thus: The xiij day of March
fyl upon a Saturday, peraventure, and atte risyng
of the sonne I fond the secunde degre
of Aries sittyng upon myn est orisonte, all
be it that it was but litel. Than fond I the 
2 degre of Libra, nadir of my sonne, discending
on my west orisonte, upon which west orisonte
every day generaly, atte sonne arist, entrith the
houre of eny planete, after which planete the
day berith his name, and endith in the next
strike of the plate under the forseide west 
orisonte. And evere as the sonne clymbith upper
and upper, so goth his nadir downer
and downer, teching by suche strikes the
houres of planetes by ordir as they sitten
in the hevene. The firste houre inequal of
every Saturday is to Saturne, and the seconde
to Jupiter, the thirde to Mars, the fourthe 
to the sonne, the fifte to Venus, the sixte to 
Mercurius, the seventhe to the mone. And 
then ageyn the 8 is to Saturne, the 9 to
Jupiter, the 10 to Mars, the 11 to the sonne,
the 12 to Venus. And now is my sonne gon
to reste as for that Saturday. Than shewith 
the verrey degre of the sonne the houre
of Mercurie entring under my west orisonte at
eve; and next him succedith the mone, and
so furth by ordir, planete after planete in houre
after houre, all the nyght longe til the sonne
arise. Now risith the sonne that Sonday by
the morwe, and the nadir of the sonne upon
the west orisonte shewith me the entring of the
houre of the forseide sonne. And in this
manere succedith planete under planete fro
Saturne unto the mone, and fro the mone up
ageyn to Saturne, houre after houre generaly.
And thus knowe I this conclusyoun.

[}13. TO KNOWE THE ALTITUDE OF THE SONNE IN
MYDDES OF THE DAY THAT IS CLEPID THE ALTITUDE
MERIDIAN.}]

<P 673.C2>
   Set the degre of the sonne upon the lyne
meridional, and rekne how many degrees of
almykanteras ben bitwyxe thin est orisonte and
the degre of thy sonne; and tak there thin altitude
meridian, this to seyn, the highest of the
sonne as for that day. So maist thou knowe in
the same lyne the heighest cours that eny sterre
fix clymbeth by night. This is to seyn that whan
eny sterre fix is passid the lyne meridional,
than begynneth it to descende; and so doth
the sonne.

[}14. TO KNOWE THE DEGRE OF THE SONNE BY THY
RYET, FOR A MANER CURIOSITE.}]

   Sek besily with thy rule the highest of the
sonne in mydde of the day. Turne than thin
Astrelabie, and with a pricke of ynke marke
the nombre of that same altitude in the lyne
meridional; turne than thy ryet aboute tyl thou
fynde a degre of thy zodiak according with the
pricke, this is to seyn, sitting on the pricke.
And in soth thou shalt finde but 2 degrees in
all the zodiak of that condicioun; and yit 
thilke 2 degrees ben in diverse signes.
Than maist thou lightly, by the sesoun of
the yere, knowe the signe in which that is the
sonne.

[}15. TO KNOWE WHICH DAY IS LIK TO WHICH 
DAY AS OF LENGTHE.}]

   Loke whiche degrees ben ylike fer fro the
hevedes of Cancer and Capricorne, and loke
when the sonne is in eny of thilke degrees; 
than ben the dayes ylike of lengthe. This is
to seyn that as longe is that day in that month,
as was such a day in such a month; there varieth
but litel. 



