WHERFORE THESE POSITIONS SERVE, WHAT THEY BE, AND HOW NECESSARIE IT WAS TO BEGIN AT THEM.
My purpose is to helpe the hole trade of teaching, euen from the very first foundation: that is, not only the Grammarian, and what shall follow afterward, but also the Elementarie, which is the verie infantes train, from his first entrie, vntill he be thought fit to passe thence to the Grammar schoole. My labour then beginning so low, am I not to follow the president of such writers, as in the like argumentes, haue vsed the like methode? The maner of proceding which the best learned authors do vse, in those argumentes, which both for the matter be of most credit, and for the maner of best accompt, kepeth alwaie such a currant, as they at the first laie downe certaine groundes, wherin both they and their readers, whether scholers onely, or iudges alone, do resolutely agree. Which consent enureth to this effect, that they maie therby either directly passe thorough to their ende without empeachment: or else if any difficulty do arise in the way, they may easely compound it, by retiring themselues to those primitiue groundes. The Mathematicall, which is counted the best maister of sound methode, of whome all other sciences do borrow their order, and way in teaching well, eare he passe to any either probleme or theoreme, setts downe certaine definitions, certaine demaundes, certaine naturall and necessarie confessions, which being agreed on, betwen him and his learner, he proceedeth on to the greatest conclusions in his hole profession, as those which be acquainted with _Euclide_ and his friendes, do verie wel know. Wil the naturall philosopher medle with his maine subject, before he haue handled his first principles, matter, forme, priuation, motion, time, place, infinitie, vacuitie, and such other, whervnto _Aristotle_ hath dedicated eight whole bookes? What shall I neede to take more paines in rehersall of any other writer, whether Lawyer, Physician, or any else, which entreateth of his peculiar argument learnedly, to prooue that I am first to plant by positions, seeing the verie diuine himselfe, marcheth on of this foote and groundeth his religion vpon principles of beleefe? I professe my selfe to be a scholer, wherby I do know this methode, which the learned do kepe, and I deale with an argument, which must needes at the first be verie nicely entertained, till proofe giue it credit, what countenaunce soeuer hope maie seeme to lend it, in the meane while. I maie therefore seeme to deale against mine owne knowledge, if I do not fortifie myselfe with such helpes, as vpon probable reason, maie first purchace their owne standing, and being themselues staid in place of liking maie helpe vp all the reste.