P RO


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P iR


male a Dot againtr the Number of Dcgfees of the 'Angle
at the Centre, viz. 72. Thro' thisA Dot, ind the Centre of
the Circle, draw a Line cutting the Circumference of the
Circle. To the Point of Interfedtion, from the Point where
the Diameter cuts the Circumference, draw a right Line:
This Line will be a Side of the Pentagon, which being taken
in the Compaffes, and fet off as often as it willgo, in the
Circumference, will give Points, which being connecled by
Lines, will formthe Pentagonrequir'd. See POLYGON.
4. 1'o defcribe any regular Polygon, e. gr. an OCtagon on
a given Line. Subttraet the Angle at the Centre, which
the Protraaorgives, 450 from i8ol, the Remainder I35"
Degrees, is the Angle included between two Sides of the
oGagon; one half whereof is 67 2.  Applying then the
Diameter of the Protractor over the given Line, with the
Centre over one Extreme; make a Dot againfi 67 7, to which
from the Centre draw a Line. Apply the Protractor to the
other end of the Line, fo as the Centre be over the Extreme,
and there fet off another Angle of 67 '2. From the Point
where the two Lines thus drawn interfes, as a Centre, de-
fcribe a Circle, with the interval of the given Line. The
given Line will be one Side of the Oaagon, which being fet
off as often as it will go in the Circumference thus drawn,
will give Points, which being conneaed, will form the
Oclagon required.
PROTRACTOR Improved, is a Machine like the former,
only furnifh'd with a little more Apparatus, whereby we
are enabled to fet off an Angle to a Minute ; which is
impradicable in the other.
The chief Addition is an Index fitted on the Centre,
a{d movable thereon; fo as to play freely and fleadily
over the Limb. Beyond the Limb the Index is divided, on
both Edges, into Go equal parts of the Portions of Circles,
intercepted by two otherright Lines drawn from the Centre,
fo as each makes an Angle of one Degree with Lines drawn
to the afluumed Points from the Centte.-Now to fet off an
Angle of any Number of Degrees and Minutes with this
Protractor; move the Index fo, that one of the Lines
drawn on the Limb, from one of the forementioned PointF,
may be upon the Number of Degrees given: And prick
cff ss many of the equal parts on the proper Edge of
the Index, as there are Minutes given : thus, drawing a
Line from the Centre to that Point fo prick'd off, you have
an Angle with the Diameter of the Protractor, of the pro-
rofed Number of Degrees and Minutes.
Indeed, it may be of good Ufe to lay down an Angle to
a Minute, when we are able to take it to a Minute: But
till we have other-guife Needles, and jufler Theodolites,
than are yet made, the old Protractor may ferve very
well. Ste 'IlEODOLITE.
PROTUBEER AN CE, in Anatomy, an Eminence, or Tu-
mour that projeels, or advances out beyond the ref.
The Orbicular Protuberances of the third Ventricle of
the Brain are call'd Nates; and the Apophyfes of the Or-
bicular Protuberances, 7efles. See NATES and TESTES.
'The A72nnular Frotuberance is a procefs of the AMedulla
Oblongata, in fbrm of 1 Ring ; whence its Name, fitfi given
itby Willis. See MEDULLA Oblongata.
PROVEDITOR, PROVEDITOUR, or PROVEDITORE,
an Cfficer in feveral parts of Italy, particularly at Venice.
There are various kinds of Proveditors in Venice: as Pro-
veditor of the Ccmmcns ; who is nearly the fame with the
IEdiles among the Romans ; the Confuls in Languedoc;
and the Sheriffs in other Cities. Of thefe Proveditors there
are three.
Proveditcr General of the Sea, is an Officer whofe Autho-
rity extends over the whole Fleer,when the Captain-General
is abfent. He has, particularly, the Difpofal of the Cafl,
and pays the Seamen and Soldiers. The Captain-General,
and Proveditor, are mutually Spies over one another. Tho'
the Proveditor be inferior to the General 5 yet is the Power
fo divided, that one has Authority without Strength, the
other Strength without Authority.
The Proveditore alle Ragione vecchie, a'la Biave, alla
Giulfitia, have the Dire~tion of Matters relating to Policy
throughout the Signory.
PROVEND, or PROVENDER, isproperly a fortof Bufhel,
or Veffel containing the Meafure of Grains daily given to a
Horfe or other Beafi of Labour, for his ordinary Subfiftence.
Hence rrovender is become a general Name for all Food
'of Cattel.
In Monafieries, when the Religious go to Meals  they
arefaid to go to Provend.
Some derive the Word from the Latin Pra'bendo, Pre- I
bend See PRE BEND.
PROVER, in Law, Probator, an Approver; or a Perfun
uhjo, confeffing Felony, appeals, or iccufes another of the
fame
He is thus call'd, becaufe he muf tprove what he alledges
in his Appeal ; which Proof is either by Battel, or by the
Country, at his cleffion who is apealed. See T4YAL,
COM BAT, FeX.


39 SadJ . 3 coram Rege, Rot. 97. Lff. A Man became
an /Ipprovet', and appealed five, who alt join'd Battel with
him, and heovercame 'em  all four of 'em were accor-
dingly hang'd, and the fifth pleaded he was a Clerk. The
Prover was pardon'd.
PROVERB, is defined by Cambdcn a concife, witty,
and wife Speech ; grounded upon long Experience, and
containing, for the; mofl part, fome good Caveat.
We are furniffi'd with Inflances out of his own Colle&ion:
Such are, A clofe Mouth catches noflies.-a high Building,
a loax Foundation.-X carrion Kite 'will never be a good
Ha'wk.-Ajort Iorfe is foon curried -A  Man may love
his Hottfe wxell, tho' he ride not on the Ridge.-Ailfe
Knave needs no Broker.-Better to fpare at .rim than at
Bottom, &c.
PROVIDENCE, PRovIDENTIA, the Condu&t and Di-
reaion of the feveral Parts of the Univerfe, by a fuperior,
intelligent Being. SecUNIVERSE.
The Notion of a Providence is very intient, even in the
Heathen Theology; we find 71hales mentions it.
It is founded on this Suppofition, That the Creator has
not fo fixed, and afcertained the Laws of Nature, not fo
conneaed the Chain of fecond Caufes, as to leave the World
to itfelf; but that he ftill preserves the Reins in his own
hands, and occafionally intervenes, alters, refrains, infor-
ces, fufpends, Ec. thofe Laws by a particu'ar Providence.
See MIRACLE.
Indeed, fome ufe the Word Providence in a more general
Senfe  fignifying by it, that Power, or Adion whereby
the feveral parts of the Creation are ordinarily dire-qed.
Thus Damnacenus defines Providence to be the Divine
Willi whereby all things are order'd, and direded to the
proper End   Which Notion of Providence, fuppofes no
Laws at all fixed by the Author of Nature at the Creation X
but that he referved it at large to be govern'd by himfelf
occafionally. See NATURE.
The Antients call'd Providence by the Names of ate,
Fortune, Nature, Defliny, Neceffity, &c. See FATE, FOR-
TUNE, SC.
The antient Egyptians feem to have been the fir(f who
had the Notion of a Divine Providence: Arnobius ob-
ferves they reafon'd thus,- " Providnce is fo effential to
a Prince, that without it he cannot be, noreven be call'dt
a Prince; and the more Augull a Prince is, the more
perfect ought his Providence to be. Since, then, God is
" the Greatefl and moflt auguit of all Princes, to him mutt
belong the molt perfedt Providence."
The Epicureans deny any Divine Providence; as think-
ing it inconfiflent with the Eafe and Repofe of the Divine
Nature to meddle withhuman Affairs. See EPi CUREAN.
Others deny the Exiftence of a Providence, from the
feemingly unjuft Diflribution of Good and Evil, which
feem to fall indifcriminately on the Jufi and Unjufl.
Simplicius argues thus for a Providence: If God don't
look to the Affairs of the World, 'tis either becaufe he can-
not, or will not: But the firit is abfurd ; fince to govern
can't be difficult, where to create was eafy : The latter is
both abfurd and blasphemous. See GoD.
PROVIDENTLIE, in old Law-Books, were Provifions
of Eating and Drinking. See POURVEYANCE.
Providentia Vini ante adventi'm fnum in Cellaria erat
Centums  oliorum. Knighton, Anno I 354.
PROVINCE, PROVINCIA, among the Romans, was
a Country conquer'd by them, without the Bounds of
Italy ; govern'd by a Deputy, or Lieutenant; and having
peculiar Laws and Privileges.
Of thefe Countries, that part of France next the Alps
was one, and ftill retains the Name Provence.
Nicod derives the Word, a' procul vivendo, living a-far
of.
Among us, PROVINCEis ufed for the Extent of an Arch-
bilhop's Jurifdicion; in which fenfe, England is divided
into two Provinces, thofe of Canterbury and York.
PROVIN CE is now chiefly ufed for a Canton or Divifion
of a Kingdoms or Common-wealth comprehending feveraL
Cities, Towns, &c. all under the fame Government, and
ufually diffinguilh'd by the Extent of a Civil or Ecclefiaftic
Jurifdiction.
The Provinces were antiently V)utchies, Counties,, &c.
which have been fince all reunited under the fame Chief.
SeeDuEiE, .COUNTY, Jc5.
The Church diflinguifhes its Provinces by Archbifhop_
ricks ; each containing a certain Number of Bilhopricks.
See ARcnfirsHoP.
The Monks make particular Divifions of their rovinces,
according to the Antiquity and Number of Convents in
each. See PROVINCIAL, ORDER, tc.
The United Provinces are the feven Northern Provinces
of the Low-Cor-tries, who, revolting fram the Spaniph
Dotminion, made a firm and perpetual Alliance, Offenfive
and Defenfive, at Ertreck: in the Year I 5 79. See STATES
GiePeral.
PRO-