|
|
(This is reprinted pretty much as it appeared in the Pennsic 25 booklet
handed out at Troll. I have retained the techno-forsoothness, most of which
I made up in period style, except for a few bits which were cribbed from
various period works. A modern (non-forsooth) version is being prepared.
The final version will also have illustrations with hot-spots.)
Master John's Book of Divers Knowledge
and so a merchant may know his shortest journey in all cases by this simple
means.
To Prepare the Quadrant for Use
If the Quadrant, A, be printed in a Book, cut it out and affix it to a
Board with the Gluten called Varnish. Affix the plumb line and bob, B,
to the quadrant, mounting a bead or button, C, to the line such that it
may be moved yet holds its position. If the Quadrant have a Scale of Unequal
Hours, D, affix a second bead above the first. Thou may'st mount shadow
sights, S, to thy Quadrant in a suitable manner to aid the use of the Instrument.
Rules For the Quadrant to Know the Time of Day, Given the Date, at
the Pennsic War and Other such Places as May be at the Same Latitude, More
or Less
I:
Cast not thy gaze upon the Sun
, for he shall strike thee
blind in his brilliance! Sighting the Sun directly is not easier nor quicker
nor better.
II:
Knowing the date, set the bead using the Scales of Dates,
E, to indicate said Date.
III:
Hold thy Quadrant by its Left corner, in thy left hand,
the scales facing you. Align the plane of the Quadrant to point at the
Sun and to be vertical, so the plumb line may freely indicate the altitude
of the Sun. Measure the altitude of the Sun by watching the his shadow,
which is cast by the upper right edge of the Quadrant, F, upon thy finger,
held along said edge. Note the angle of the Sun's elevation or hold the
plumb line in place. Read the time from the hour lines, G, AM or PM as
may be, interpolating as best you may, to know the Local Apparent Time.
Knowing the Time you may now set your Tower Clock, H, to the proper hour.
IV:
To know the Mundane Time, add Twenty minutes to the Local
Apparrent Time to honor the Longitude of the place. Add Sixty minutes more
when Saving Daylight. When at the Pennsic War, add another five Minutes,
for the sign of Leo.
V:
Having ignored the First Rule and been struck blind by gazing
upon the Sun, you may be beaten about the head and shoulders, I, by those
to whom you complain about said affliction.
To Know the Height of a Ladder Needed to Rescue a Gentle in Distress
Stand away from the base of the tower, J, about as Far as it is Tall, or
closer or farther as may be convenient, especially if you would not be
discovered, but you must know this distance, d. Sight the Distressed Gentle,
K, using thy Quadrant, noting where the plumb line crosses the Shadow Scales,
L. If the elevation be more than forty five degrees, the height of the
Gentle would be the Distance to the Tower, d, multiplyed by twelve, then
divided by the reading on the Shadow Scale, then add thy stature, e. If
less than forty five degress, multiply the Distance to the Tower by the
reading of the Shadow Scales and then divide the result by twelve, then
add thy stature. When making thy ladder, add to the length somewhat, as
the ladder is better a bit long than a bit short, for you may not get a
second chance. By this means you may also know the width of a river or
a chasm, but you must use the Quadrant in a horizontal manner instead if
a vertical manner, and you must make two sightings before doing thy figures..
To Know the Seasons, the Signs, and the Date
Observe the the Sun to find his highest elevation of the day. Set the bead
at that crossing of the Noon Hour line, M. You may read Seasons and the
Signs, N, remembering that Aries is the Sign of Spring and Cancer is the
Sign of Summer. You may know the Date by reading the Date from the Scales
of Dates, E, where the bead indicates, knowing the correct Season.
To Know the Unequal Hours, and To Convert Equal Hours to Unequal
Hours and Back
If thy Quadrant has a Scale of Unequal Hours, D, set the lower bead for
the Date and set the Plumb Line over the Noon Hour Line as indicated by
that bead. Move the Upper Bead to indicate where the Plumb Line crosses
the Scales of Unequal Hours for their Noon Hour Line, thus adjusting for
the Declination of the Sun for the Day. Measure the Local Time as above,
making no corrections, and the Upper Bead will indicate the Unequal Hour.
Thus you may also convert any Equal Hours to Unequal Hours or Vice Versa,
given a time in one or the other.
To Know and Set Angles
The Quadrant may be used as a Protractor to Measure or set Angles, using
the Scale of Angles, O. If the Quadrant is set upon an object, such as
a Wall or a Conduit or a Gun, the Inclination of that Object may be known
by reading the Scale of Angles where the Plumb Line crosses.
To Know Where Your Garden will See the Sun
Set the bead to the Date of Interest and stand where you would have the
Sun Shine or not.Sight the top of the Obstruction of the Sun, along the
Azimuth of the Sun for the Time of interest, be it a Tree or a Wall or
a Building, and read the Time as you would with the Sun. If the Bead be
Left of the Noon Line, the place will receive the Sun at that hour. Should
the Bead be to the Right of the Noon Line, the Place shall be in the Shadow
of the Sun.
|
|
