This circle is not drawen vpon the body of the globe, because it is variable; but stands one the outside of it, beeing a broad circle of wood couered with paper on which are sett the moneths and days of the yeare, both in the old and new Calender, and also the 12 signes, and the points of the compasse. All which are easily discerned by the beholdinge. The vse of this Horizon is not so much in Geographie as in Astronomie.
_The Zodiake is a circle which compasseth the earth like a belt, crossing the æquator slopewise, not streight as the Meridians doe._ Opposite to it in the Heauens is another circle of the same name, wherein are the 12. signes, and in which the Sunne keepes his owne proper course all the yeare long, neuer declining from it on the one side or other. The vse hereof in Geography is but litle only to shew what people they are ouer whose heads the Sunne comes to bee once or twice a yeare; who are all those that dwell with in 23. degrees of the Aequator; for so much is the declination, or sloping of the _Zodiacke_. This circle is also called the Eclipticke line, because when the Sunne and Moone stand both in this circle opposite each to other, then there happens an Eclipse of the Sunne or Mone, vpon a globe it is easily discerned, by the sloping of it from the Aequator, and the diuisions of it into 12. parts, and euery of those 12. into 30. degrees.
_These are the greater circles: the lesser follow; which are all of one nature, and are called by one generall name: sc. Parallels, because they are so drawen on each side of the Aequator, as they are equidistant vnto it euery way._ Many of this kinde are drawne vpon the globe (as is easie to bee seene) and may bee conceaued to bee drawne vpon the earth: but there are only two sorts cheifely to bee marked: namely the
_The tropickes are two, parallel circles distant on each side of the Aequator 23. degrees shewing the farthest bounds of the Sunns declination North or South from the Aequator, or the midest of heauen._ And therefore they are called tropickes a [Greek: trepôthai] _vertendo_, because when the Sunne comes ouer these lines, hee either turnes away from vs, as in the Summer, or turnes toward vs againe as in the winter: There are then two of them _vid._