The Mathematicall Praeface to Elements of Geometrie of Euclid of Megara | Page 2

reading of olde auncient authors.
Amongest which, none for a beginner is to be preferred before the most
auncient Philosopher Euclideof Megara. For of all others he hath in a
true methode and iuste order, gathered together whatsoeuer any before
him had of these Elementes written: inuenting also and adding many
thinges of his owne: wherby he hath in due forme accomplished the
arte: first geuing definitions, principles, & groundes, wherof he
deduceth his Propositions or conclusions, in such wonderfull wise, that
that which goeth before, is of necessitie required to the proufe of that
which followeth. So that without the diligent studie of Euclides
Elementes, it is impossible to attaine vnto the perfecte knowledge of
Geometrie, and consequently of any of the other Mathematicall
sciences. Wherefore considering the want & lacke of such good authors
hitherto in our Englishe tounge, lamenting also the negligence, and
lacke of zeale to their countrey in those of our nation, to whom God
hath geuen both knowledge, & also abilitie to translate into our tounge,
and to publishe abroad such good authors, and bookes (the chiefe
instrumentes of all learninges): seing moreouer that many good wittes
both of gentlemen and of others of all degrees, much desirous and
studious of these artes, and seeking for them as much as they can,
sparing no paines, and yet frustrate of their intent, by no meanes
attaining to that which they seeke: I haue for their sakes, with some
charge & great trauaile, faithfully translated into our vulgare tounge,
& set abroad in Print, this booke of Euclide. Whereunto I haue added
easie and plaine declarations and examples by figures, of the
definitions. In which booke also ye shall in due place finde manifolde
additions, Scholies, Annotations, and Inuentions: which I haue
gathered out of many of the most famous & chiefe Mathematiciens,

both of old time, and in our age: as by diligent reading it in course, ye
shall well perceaue. The fruite and gaine which I require for these my
paines and trauaile, shall be nothing els, but onely that thou gentle
reader, will gratefully accept the same: and that thou mayest thereby
receaue some profite: and moreouer to excite and stirre vp others
learned, to do the like, & to take paines in that behalfe. By meanes
wherof, our Englishe tounge shall no lesse be enriched with good
Authors, then are other straunge tounges: as the Dutch, French, Italian,
and Spanishe: in which are red all good authors in a maner, found
amongest the Grekes or Latines. Which is the chiefest cause, that
amongest them do florishe so many cunning and skilfull men, in the
inuentions of straunge and wonderfull thinges, as in these our daies we
see there do. Which fruite and gaine if I attaine vnto, it shall encourage
me hereafter, in such like sort to translate, and set abroad some other
good authors, both pertaining to religion (as partly I haue already
done) and also pertaining to the Mathematicall Artes. Thus gentle
reader farewell. (?[?])
[Decoration]

[leaf] TO THE VNFAINED LOVERS of truthe, and constant Studentes
of Noble Sciences, IOHN DEE of London, hartily wisheth grace from
heauen, and most prosperous successe in all their honest attemptes and
exercises.
Diuine Plato, the great Master of many worthy Philosophers, and the
constant auoucher, and pithy perswader of Vnum, Bonum, and Ens: in
his Schole and Academie, sundry times (besides his ordinary Scholers)
was visited of a certaine kinde of men, allured by the noble fame of
Plato, and the great commendation of hys profound and profitable
doctrine. But when such Hearers, after long harkening to him,
perceaued, that the drift of his discourses issued out, to conclude, this
Vnum, Bonum, and Ens, to be Spirituall, Infinite, Aeternall, Omnipotent,
&c. Nothyng beyng alledged or expressed, How, worldly goods: how,
worldly dignitie: how, health, Strength or lustines of body: nor yet the
meanes, how a merueilous sensible and bodyly blysse and felicitie

hereafter, might be atteyned: Straightway, the fantasies of those hearers,
were dampt: their opinion of Plato, was clene chaunged: yea his
doctrine was by them despised: and his schole, no more of them visited.
Which thing, his Scholer, Aristotle, narrowly considering, founde the
cause therof, to be, "For that they had no forwarnyng and information,
in generall," whereto his doctrine tended. For, so, might they haue had
occasion, either to haue forborne his schole hauntyng: (if they, then,
had misliked his Scope and purpose) or constantly to haue continued
therin: to their full satisfaction: if such his finall scope & intent, had
ben to their desire. Wherfore, Aristotle, euer, after that, vsed in brief, to
forewarne his owne Scholers and hearers, "both of what matter, and
also to what ende, he tooke in hand to speake, or teach." While I
consider the