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❧ The Translator to the Reader.

Here is (gentle Reader) nothing (the word of God onely set apart)which so much beautifieth and adorneth the soule and minde of mã, asdoth the knowledge of good artes and sciences: as the knowledge ofnaturall and morall Philosophie. The one setteth before our eyes, thecreatures of God, both in the heauens aboue, and in the earth beneath:in which as in a glasse, we beholde the exceding maiestie and wisedomeof God, in adorning and beautifying them as we see: in geuing vnto themsuch wonderfull and manifolde proprieties, and naturall workinges, andthat so diuersly and in such varietie: farther in maintaining andconseruing them continually, whereby to praise and adore him, as byS. Paule we are taught. The other teacheth vs rules and preceptesof vertue, how, in common life amongest men, we ought to walkevprightly: what dueties pertaine to our selues, what pertaine to thegouernment or good order both of an housholde, and also of a citie orcommon wealth. The reading likewise of histories, conduceth not a litle,to the adorning of the soule & minde of man, a studie of allmen cõmended: by it are seene and knowen the artes and doinges ofinfinite wise men gone before vs. In histories are contained infiniteexamples of heroicall vertues to be of vs followed, and horribleexamples of vices to be of vs eschewed. Many other artes also there arewhich beautifie the minde of man: but of all other none do more garnishe& beautifie it, then those artes which are called Mathematicall.Unto the knowledge of which no man can attaine, without the perfecteknowledge and instruction of the principles, groundes, and Elementes ofGeometrie. But perfectly||to be instructed in them, requireth diligent studie and reading of oldeauncient authors. Amongest whi