Note 27 — Chapter VII · NICHOLAS OF LYNN. ZENO. MEDIEVAL NAUTICAL INSTRUMENTS

There are several astrolabes in the British Museum, one of 1280, another of 1342; one at King’s College, Cambridge (1540); two at Gonville and Caius College, one of early 14th century date, the other, rather later, formerly belonged to Caius himself; one at South Kensington (1374); one at Oriel College, Oxford, in rather bad condition; three at Merton College, one of 1350, another 1571, and a third very heavy one. At Merton there is also a very old quadrant of 12-inch radius, and a small disc of brass with pointers. At the Bodleian there is a Persian astrolabe. Mr Hyett’s astrolabe at Painswick House has 21 stars marked and one ring at the back; 36 festivals are marked. The number of English Saints shows it to be English. The interesting astrolabe which belonged to Sir Francis Drake is at Greenwich, its date is 1572. It belonged to the Earl of Chesterfield, who gave it to the Rev. T. Bigsby in 1783. Mr Bigsby gave it to King William IV, who presented it to Greenwich in 1833.