causes are most absent, there is greatest want of heat, and increase of
colde (seeing that colde is nothing but the priuation and absence of heate)
and if one cause be wanting, and the other present the effect will grow
indifferent. Therefore this is to be vnderstood, that the neerer any region
is to the Equinoctiall, the higher the Sunne doth rise ouer their heads at
noone, and so maketh either right or neere right Angles, but the Sunne
tarieth with them so much the shorter time, and causeth shorter dayes, with
longer and colder nights, to restore the domage of the day past, by reason
of the moisture consumed by vapour. But in such regions, ouer the which the
Sunne riseth lower (as in regions extended towards either pole) it maketh
there vnequall Angles, but the Sunne continueth longer, and maketh longer
dayes, and causeth so much shorter and warmer nights, as retaining warme
vapours of the day past. For there are found by experience Summer nights in
Scotland and Gothland very hot, when vnder the Equinoctiall they are found
very cold. [Sidenote: Hote nights nere the pole. Colde nights vnder the
Equinoctiall.] This benefit of the Sunnes long continuance and increase of
the day, doth argument so much the more in colde regions as they are nerer
the poles, and ceaseth not increasing vntill it come directly vnder the
point of the pole Arcticke, where the Sunne continueth aboue ground the
space of sixe moneths or halfe a yere together, and so the day is halfe a
yere long, that is the time of the Sunnes being in the North signes, from
the first degree of Aries vntill the last of Virgo, that is all the time
from our 10 day of March vntill the 14 of September. [Sidenote: One day of
sixe moneths.] The Sunne therefore during the time of these sixe moneth
without any offence or hinderance of the night, giueth his influence vpon
those lands with heat that neuer ceaseth during that time, which maketh to
the great increase of Summer, by reason of the Sunnes continuance.
[Sidenote: Moderate heat vnder the poles.] Therefore it followeth, that
though the Sunne be not there very high ouer their heads, to cause right
angle beames, and to giue great heat, yet the Sun being there sometimes