hath Created all thynges, in Number, Waight, and Measure_+: So, to vs, of hys great Mercy, he hath reuealed Meanes, whereby, to atteyne the sufficient and necessary knowledge of the foresayd hys three principall Instrumentes: Which Meanes, I haue abundantly proued vnto you, to be the _Sciences_ and _Artes Mathematicall_.”
And though I haue ben pinched with straightnes of tyme: that, no way, I could so pen downe the matter (in my Mynde) as I determined: hopyng of conuenient laysure: Yet. if vertuous zeale, and honest Intent prouoke and bryng you to the readyng and examinyng of this Compendious treatise, I do not doute, but, as the veritie therof (accordyng to our purpose) will be euident vnto you: So the pith and force therof, will persuade you: and the wonderfull frute therof, highly pleasure you. And that you may the easier perceiue, and better remember, the principall pointes, whereof my Preface treateth,
[The Ground platt of this Præface in a Table.]
I will giue you the +Groundplatt+ of my whole discourse, in a Table annexed: from the first to the last, somewhat Methodically contriued.
If Hast, hath caused my poore pen, any where, to stumble: You will, (I am sure) in part of recompence, (for my earnest and sincere good will to pleasure you), Consider the rockish huge mountaines, and the perilous vnbeaten wayes, which (both night and day, for the while) it hath toyled and labored through, to bryng you this good Newes, and Comfortable profe, of Vertues frute.
So, I Commit you vnto Gods Mercyfull direction, for the rest: hartely besechyng hym, to prosper your Studyes, and honest Intentes: to his Glory, & the Commodity of our Countrey. _Amen_.
The “Groundplat” was printed in the form of a stemma, or tree, on an oversized fold-out page. The layout was impossible to reproduce for this e-text, so the information has been rearranged in nested-list form. Size markings (see note at beginning of e-text) are relative within each paragraph.]
+‡Here haue you (according to my promisse) the Groundplat of‡+ +my MATHEMATICALL Præface: annexed to _Euclide_ (now first)+ published in our Englishe tounge. An. 1570. Febr. 3.
+‡Sciences, and Artes Mathematicall,‡ are, either+
+‡Simple‡+, Which dealeth with Numbers onely: and demonstrateth all their properties and appertenances: where, an Vnit, is Indiuisible. +‡Mixt‡+, Which with aide of Geometrie principall, demonstrateth some Arithmeticall Conclusion, or Purpose.