holers and hearers, "both
of what matter, and also to what ende, he tooke in hand to speake, or
teach." While I consider the diuerse trades of these two excellent
Philosophers (and am most sure, both, that _Plato_ right well, otherwise
could teach: and that _Aristotle_ mought boldely, with his hearers, haue
dealt in like sorte as _Plato_ did) I am in no little pang of
perplexitie: Bycause, that, which I mislike, is most easy for me to
performe (and to haue _Plato_ for my example.) And that, which I know to
be most commendable: and (in this first bringyng, into common handling,
the _Artes Mathematicall_) to be most necessary: is full of great
difficultie and sundry daungers. Yet, neither do I think it mete, for so
straunge matter (as now is ment to be published) and to so straunge an
audience, to be bluntly, at first, put forth, without a peculiar
Preface: Nor (Imitatyng _Aristotle_) well can I hope, that accordyng to
the amplenes and dignitie of the _State Mathematicall_, I am able,
either playnly to prescribe the materiall boundes: or precisely to
expresse the chief purposes, and most wonderfull applications therof.
And though I am sure, that such as did shrinke from _Plato_ his schole,
after they had perceiued his finall conclusion, would in these thinges
haue ben his most diligent hearers (so infinitely mought their desires,
in fine and at length, by our _Artes Mathematicall_ be satisfied) yet,
by this my Praeface & forewarnyng, Aswell all such, may (to their great
behofe) the soner, hither be allured: as also the _Pythagoricall_, and
_Platonicall_ perfect scholer, and the constant profound Philosopher,
with more ease and spede, may (like the Bee,) gather, hereby, both wax
and hony.

[The intent of this Preface.]

Wherfore, seyng I finde great occasion (for the causes alleged, and
farder, in respect of my _Art Mathematike generall_) to vse "a certaine
forewarnyng and Praeface, whose content shalbe, that mighty, most
plesaunt, and frutefull _Mathematicall Tree_, with his chief armes and
second (grifted) braunches: Both, what euery one is, and also, what
commodity, in generall, is to be looked for, aswell of griff as stocke:
And forasmuch as this enterprise is so great, that, to this our tyme, it
neuer was (to my knowledge) by any achieued: And also it is most hard,
in these our drery dayes, to such rare and straunge Artes, to wyn due
and common credit:" Neuertheles, if, for my sincere endeuour to satisfie
your