at
all times appointed, the precise vsuall denomination of time, may be
knowen, for any place assigned.+ These wordes, are smoth and plaine
easie Englishe, but the reach of their meaning, is farther, then you
woulde lightly imagine. Some part of this Arte, was called in olde time,
_Gnomonice_: and of late, _Horologiographia_: and in Englishe, may be
termed, _Dialling_. Auncient is the vse, and more auncient, is the
Inuention. The vse, doth well appeare to haue bene (at the least) aboue
two thousand and three hundred yeare agoe:

[4. Reg. 20.]

in * King _Achaz_ Diall, then, by the Sunne, shewing the distinction of
time. By Sunne, Mone, and Sterres, this Dialling may be performed, and
the precise Time of day or night knowen. But the demonstratiue
delineation of these Dialls, of all sortes, requireth good skill, both
of _Astronomie_, and _Geometrie_ Elementall, Sphaericall, Phaenomenall,
and Conikall. Then, to vse the groundes of the Arte, for any regular
Superficies, in any place offred: and (in any possible apt position
therof) theron, to describe (all maner of wayes) how, vsuall howers, may
be (by the _Sunnes_ shadow) truely determined: will be found no sleight
Painters worke. So to Paint, and prescribe the Sunnes Motion, to the
breadth of a heare. In this Feate (in my youth) I Inuented a way, +How
in any Horizontall, Murall, or Aequinoctiall Diall, &c. At all howers
(the Sunne shining) the Signe and Degree ascendent, may be knowen.+
Which is a thing very necessary for the Rising of those fixed Sterres:
whose Operation in the Ayre, is of great might, euidently. I speake no
further, of the vse hereof. Bur forasmuch as, Mans affaires require
knowledge of Times & Momentes, when, neither Sunne, Mone, or Sterre, can
be sene: Therefore, by Industrie Mechanicall, was inuented, first, how,
by Water, running orderly, the Time and howers might be knowen: whereof,
the famous _Ctesibius_, was Inuentor: a man, of _Vitruuius_, to the Skie
(iustly) extolled. Then, after that, by Sand running, were howers
measured: Then, by _Trochilike_ with waight: And of late time, by
_Trochilike_ with Spring: without waight. All these, by Sunne or Sterres
direction (in certaine time) require ouersight and reformation,
according to the heauenly Aequinoctiall Motion: besides the inaequalitie
of their owne Operation. There remayneth (without parabolicall meaning
herein) among the Philosophers,

[A perpetuall Motion.]

a more excellent, mo