I Was determined , most worthy Gent . for so I must tearme the mathematicall Clients : to haue freely bestowed vpon you sundry conclusions in the Quadriuials , both pleasant , profitable , and necessarie : which I haue by my reading and long practise : ( for I take thirty yeares to be a large stitch in a short age , ) gathered , experienced , and so sorted together , as I had thereupon after the homliest fashion framed , and prepared my ingredience thereunto . But perceiuing that the working , setting out , and cutting , of the same to the Presse , would be full of charges : that your selues first trained and taught therein by briefe , apt , and liuely demonstrations , shall the beeter vnderstand and carrie , what hereafter may be written , as also through some other especiall considerations mouing me heereunto , I haue altered the whole course of my passage , and am resolued to stay the same in my pen , vntil better oportunitie , only giuing you now a tast herby of the difference of certaine Instruments vsed in our practise , wherby you may so make your choise of the same , as you shall neither bee wearied with tediousnes , nor defrayed , and put of with vncertaintie and errour . Why I had determined before , and doe now set downe as followeth , groweth vpon the infinite and extreame imperfections , that I finde in most places where I become , to be daily committed , aswell in measure , as platting of lande to any vse , or purpose whatsoeuer : which are such and so manie , as the people generally beginne to doubt , whether there be any certainety , and persection , in the operation of such instruments as are applied thereunto , yea , or not . The practise hereof for surueigh of lands and tenements , is but new , and scarsely established : notwithstanding I doe affirme and vndertake , that it is certaine , perfect , and true , without any want or defect : and to the saide vse of Surueigh of all other deuices by bookes or otherwise most sure and lasting . It were then an exceeding losse to the common weale , a dangerous harming of peace betweene the Lord and his tenants , between neighbor and neighbour &c. which otherwise by such Serueighs might bee kept sound and inuiolate : and a foule blemish vnto learning and knowledge , if this excellent practise should bee ouerthrowne , and destroid by abusing the same . And although my hast and vnreadines to this my alteration , are likely to performe but an homly admonition , the one bringing forth a blind birth , and the other an vnshapen lump : yet may nine daies cherishing giue light to the first , and nine howers licking put fashion to the laste . And your selues ( if you please ) make such fauorable regard , & acceptation therof as it may bee sufficient and full to the purpose whereunto it is bent : assuring all persones whatsoeuer , that myne intention is not to the offence of any one , but onely for the preferring of trueth in these actions . That I may auoid confusion in deliuery of your cates , and wanne hope of better cheare , at our meeting , then you are likely to find . I will briefely set downe , what shal be your fare . You shal first haue a plain table , faire spread , with white couer : which may peraduenture , in seeming promise vnto you many dainties , although vpon triall , it will hardely performe sufficient necessaries . It is so plaine , smooth , and square , without hilles or dales , ascentes or descentes , bread rising or drinke sinking : as it offereth not so much as a Proficiat with the smoothnes , nor the perfect closing of a Circular conclusion with the squarenes . Ther is also the staffe , Astrolabe , Square , Ring Ruler , Circumferentor , Sector , and halfe protractor , with infinite such other , framed after the fantasie of the Deuisor : all which scarcely perfect parcels and lims of the Sphericall mouer , I do esteeme , and regard for their vses in demonstration accordingly . And the plaine table , and some of the rest , for platting and forming of summe plain parcels of land , to the measure , I alow and mislike not . But for exact workmanship of almaner of euen and vnleuel subiects Ad infinitum , for surueigh and entrie of euidence , for perpetuitie : neither the one of them , or the other , as they are yet prepared , is meete and sufficient .

Take lastly therefore the Theodolite , or Sphericall Instrument fully furnished , with her partes , aptly appoynted , for the through , and exact accomplishment both by Sea & land , of all practise for measure whatsoeuer : and in the same included , the perfection of al maner of platting , leading you with facility , expedition , & pleasure , by leuels & plaines , hilles & dales , rough & smooth wheresoeuer . Now it resteth that I craue fauorable patience of al Surueighors , stewards , & land measures , vsing the former Instruments only for a feaw wordes , promising my selfe readie , not onely to heare , but also to be reformed , if I shall report any thing amisse . Twentie and fiue yeares past or there abouts I vsed the said table , sometime directed by needles , sometime by the former Station , as is nowe vsed , sometime in the middle of the cloase , some time by the bounders &c. I considered hir defectes , neglected the same , and tooke mee wholy to thee Theodolite , whereupon , I haue euer since practised , to the daily increase of my liking , as well for perfection , and expedition , as for the infinite , and rare vses thereof , being accordingly prepared . The table through her lightnes , and shrinking to the wether , is tottering , and vnsure , and oftentimes dangerous : euen by the heauy and grosse handling thereof . The pointes , lines , and other obseruations , are againe often so blemished , and blurred with wette , as their vse is thereby cleane taken away : and the same otherwhile , so put downe in hast , for feare of a storme , as maketh great difference in a smal scale , neyther is there any comparison in a poynt , lyne , angle or measure wrought in the fieldes and foule wether , vnto the operations , framed in a well lighted house , vpon a faire leuell , and smooth table : the eye & hand hanging plumme ouer the worke , to be set downe vpon Angles , measures , & all other regardes curiously taken , and noted abroad . The Stations made by the bourd , are commonly short and therefore the more errors . The sightes of her Index are in many of them more than a foote erected from the base , and I haue often tried the perpendicular of the radius , or visual line to fault a straw bredth from the fiduciall side of their Scale : which happeneth aswell by the great distaunce aforesaid , as also in that their saide Scale , is sometime thicker on the one side , then on the other : besides the sturring and vntrue placing of the same vnto their last line drawne on their paper . If they haue not large and perfect needles ( which they seldome or neuer vse ) they direct their instrument from their last station , wher they leaue commonly one standing : and there is also an errour , through the thicknes , or sturring of that person , besides doubling of the same fault , in their next Angle , taken likewise vppon their for most measurer . And one errour committed in these practises , suffereth a multiplication infinite in asmuch as is after sollowing and depending : And in great labors , of fiue or sixe weekes in the fieldes : the charges of such one needlesse person , is more then noted of such honest gentle men , as would willingly but beare the necessarie expences of a perfect Surueigh , as is also the losse of time , made by that whole companie in a tempestious season . Againe , they are tied to their Scale , and cannot alter the same at their pleasure , neyther take they aduantage of all places within the Circuit of their charge , taking vp their trauayle at Randon , for their ease , and most aduantage : but must begin where they left : and if they make an intollerable fault , they are inforced to worke and worke ouer againe . Moreouer it is a difficult toyle and almost impossible to knit and fasten togither exactly as they ought their seueral labors , in single papers made of the fieldes and closes particularly taken , although there be that in certain passages , cutteth and crosseth ouer the whole worke , ( which is as as vncertaine as the rest ) with sundry other inconueniences as them selues do confesse . But the thing indeede which causeth their ineuitable errors , & hath perswaded many wise and excellent persons , to doubt whether there be perfection in mapping of landes and tenements for Surueigh , yea or not , is the vneuenes of the groundes , by their great difference , in hill and dale , from a leuell superficies , in that wee are necessarily compelled to put downe our practise vpvpon bookes that are leuel and smooth , Hpcopus est hic labor . Here is the hardnes of the Prouince , the roote of the sore , & pinch of the Shooe Here ( as children skipp where they cannot read ) they are driuen at an ouerclose , to draw out their line , and at an vndershut , onely by ayme and randon , to take in the same , they woat not where , nether skilleth it much , for the fault is euery where . To module , & imbosse their books , after the nature of the ground , were tedious , difficult , infinit , & almost impossible : And if al these preceeding defectes , wants , & inconueniences were not incident vnto the Table , and instruments aforesaide , yet should this mine errour ( if it be any ) be drawen into a heresie : because I assure you , I haue not hitherto seene any one thing for Surueigh , by that , or like instrument perfectly concluded , but commonly the hedges and bounders laid straight or little better , from angle to angle , are extreemely differing both in forme , measure and content , from their original it selfe . And I haue seen seueral measurements taken by the plain table , & set down particularly vnder sundry mens hands , differing xv acres , from the most vnto the least , in the summe of one hundred and twenty , valued and sold , at nine pounds , and ten shillings , for euery acre . And in my comming to London , this last Tearme , I saw a plaine Table , man ( mary he was a plumber , and had learned from a Painter ) in lesse than an acre and halfe , of leuell marrish grounde taken by some ●oure , stations fel short at his cloase two pearches at the least . And an ancient country measurer at the same time , a man highly regarded among his neighbors , for his vndoubted skill : differed in one hundred & ten akers , two and twenty at the least , in two seuerall measures , taken and set downe onely by himselfe . But they saie the table is easie and plaine . It is so indeed , as many do vse it , and a boy of twelfe yeares of age , may in three houres learne as much as some of them doe performe vpon the same . But , Aspera ad virtutem via , & quò pulchrius eo difficilius . Would they come by so sweete a curnell , without cracking of the Nutte ? They are termed Surueighors , if they but once shewe forth a plaine table : and are content to arrogate and challenge that name to them selues : but they must turne a new leafe , and take forther an other lesson before they finish a good and perfit Surueigh of a manner or Lordship in all parts as are requisite and meete : I speake onely of such as haue not the toungs , learning , experience and other abiliments necessarie thereunto . And now to the Theodolite : Let the same be massie , & transparant ( if you may ) large & perfectly deuided , close & ful vpon the supporter or staffe , with an Index equally mouing , & needle true , and well hanging , togither such other furniture , as I will ad to the same , and it shall not only remooue euerie defect , and inconuenience of the plaine table , and all other instruments aforesaid but also readily accomplishe in measure & Platting , whatsoeuer you may wish , and duely desire . Enter then your practise for a country , manner , Lordship &c. In the middle , or where you best like , obserue , and quote your Angles euery way as they light : sometime halfe a dozen at a station , more or lesse , and follow on for your most aduantage , so as if the inclosures , & grounds be but indifferently readie , and handsome : you may make a particular dispatch dayly of foure or fiue hundred acres at the least . You shall in your passage vpon long stations ( if the subiect so serueth ) readily obserue euery curue , bending , & declination of your hedges , bounders , watercourses , or other tractes whatsoeuer . Also the scites of buildings , with their lengthes , bredthes & forms : togither with gates , stiles , barres , waterings , plumpes of trees , tofts , banckes , turnes of ditches , and whatsoeuer else meete to be considered . And besides in vnleauell and vneuen grounds , the difference of the superficiall and essentiall line , from the horizontal and base : which line you shall skillfully sincke , or erect vpon your booke , vnto your first intended leuel ( for of necessity that must bee done ) so as the iust content of such vneuen grounds be not any way harmed : neither the parcels contigue , or adioyning maymed , or deformed : and yet euery mans seueral interest , clayme , and demaund , perfectly bounded and preserued , yea although in time to come , al maner of hedges and diuisions should bee cleane pluckt vp by the rootes . Finally , the saide instrument hole , and vnhalting , as it carrieth the forme of the first mouer , which commandeth all inferior creatures , and is preferred as most perfect and capeable , by the wisedome and ordinance of the Creator : so in vse and operation ( if ye looke skilfully thereinto , this Theodolite commandeth euerie one of her subiects . It carieth in it selfe all manner of of Angles , measures , numbers and proportions , I might say waight , for myne is neere twentie pounds Troie ( see howe I trifle . ) It enforceth grounds in what quantitie soeuer , be it ten thousand acres vnto the forme , likenes and similitude of any figure in the worlde , varying againe the same any way at your pleasure , so full and exactly , as any Artificer may set out his deuise with ruler and compasse : It presently deuideth , such or any other quantity of land into so manye equal , or limited differing parts , as you would de sire : & euery one of thē , into what forme or forms your selfe shal best like of , which is also necessarie for Surueighors , Builders , Imparkers , Gardners , Planters and such like . Touching many wordes , and much a doe about Reduction of figures , after Euclides demonstrations : I tell you truely the same Ingine carrieth in it selfe Euclide , Pithagoras , Archimedes , Architas , and the rest , with their points , Draughtes , Lines , Theoremes , Theoricks , Propositions , Figures , and Mathematicall conclusions , not in Elements , shewes , speculations , and demonstrations , but in the work & operation it selfe , wherunto they were deuised & framed . And I wil not doubt , in such or & any other quantity of land , as is aforsaid , forme & set out in portraiture ( if you shew me his shape ) ● wel Euclid himselfe , as euery one of his works and conclusions . And whereas a skilfull person ( vnto me vnknowne , yet duely regarded , for report of his learning , ) was lately imployed ( as I I heare ) in bounding the libertie for the Vniuersitie of Oxford , touching their prouision to bee taken in markets there , without inpeachment of her Maiesties Officers &c. I doubt not but that hee in tracting his limited distance ( whether of foure or fiue miles , in a straight line from his center , caried himselfe in a Circular motion equally distaunt from the same , vnto his first Circumferential station , for the accomplishment thereof : for ( in my opinion , ) that was both the best , and readiest way , for the well performance of so rare and worthie an exployt . And this said instrument prepared as before , for the regard of vneuen , and vnleuell grounds , doth artificially frame & rayse vp , Hilles , Mountes and walkes whether for , fortification or pleasure , so diuersely wel formed as may yeeld an especiall lyking and contentment to the beholders thereof : and is a secreat in the Theodolite , so lately by me found out , as I haue not yet any wher practised the same . For platting of grounds inaccessible , grounds surrounded with water , with gaging their difference , in ascent , & discent &c. true forming the frontiers & coasts of any country in your Sea passage , lying within your kenning , & infinit such other conclusions , as they are incident and necessary to surueigh , so may they by that instrument be aptly performed in measure of all sortes , superficiall , and solide , Regular and irregular , acessible and in acessible , it commandeth so roundly and full , as I haue not yet knowen any mensurable subiect , priueledged and freed from the force of the same : whether in celestiall or terrestriall regions . And I thinke it a matter both pleasant and profitable , that but once seated in the middle of a quadrangle sumptuously builded about , I may take ( by pitching & fastning my instrument onely in that place ) all manner of measures there subiect to myne eye whatsoeuer , aswell for the regard of the woorkemens labour , of all sortes ( knowing their alowance , ) as for the carrying away of a perfect plat , for framing the like . I haue also prepared my instrument for the erection of Dials horizontal , murall &c. aswell for finding the meridian , and all other plagues , as the declination , and difference of walles and other perpendiculars , from the same , which in such actions , are especially to bee regarded . And thus much for the instrument , which some peraduenture will thinke to bee spoken confidently , peremptorilie , and with a touch of presumption : as if I had or would haue some prettie skill in the same : But if I haue therein taken a note aboue Ela , or drawne beyond the nocke , I haue but abounded in my sence , and been partiall in commending for my choyse and best liking : The maner how to vse this instrument to the purposes aforesaid , and such other like : The method for taking , and setting downe of the notes , and quotations , of all things therein to be obserued : The perfect and pleasant waie of protracting the same , with the forme of your instrument , so readie and apt to that purpose , as you may well laie out and worke in one daie so much as you shall be able to take abroade in fiue : and heerein is to bee considered , that you may keep your said quotations sorted and filed vp in order , as you may set them out by any scale at all times , when you please : the calendring & reariuing of euidence , the trying and beating out of doubts & concealments , on your plat , much readier than in the fields the quickning & reuiuing of landes , rents , seruices , heriots , &c. the drawing & preparing of tenants to a willingnes for information , where euidence are scant ▪ the reading and vnderstanding of ancient records , of al sorts , with renuing the olde letter , worne , blemished , & obliterate : the cleane , readie , and exact taking awaie of your paper boooke thus finished , into velom maps , although it were of a duzen or sixteen skinnes put together , which I haue in my time performed ( for so wold the owner haue it ) and yet but by a small & competent scale : the ingrossing and perfecting vp of the same , with all your entries accordingly : the pullishing , washing , and trimming vp your booke , with all things to a full Surueigh appertaining , ( for all this ought to bee done and finished by your selues , and no stranger ought to be made priuie to such euidence : the charge of a court of Surueigh , Court Baron and Leet : the best and readiest manner of contracting all differing scales into greater or lesser formes : the manner of taking Longitudes , Latitudes , Altitudes , and Profundities redily , without anie knowen instrument or Engine of price : the vse of the Globe and Cosmographers glasse : the framing of Dials , Horizontals , Murals , Nocturnalls , &c : the preparing of the Astronomers staffe , the sea or Iacobs staffe , with their mother and ground from whence they are truely pricked , the frames for building , and moduling the same , with sundry necessarie points in perspectiue , for setting out of your plats besides Arethmeticke , and Geometrie for the performance of the premisses : I will in a very short time ( by Gods helpe ) shew , and deliuer vnto you . Neither may I heere omit to saie some what touching the vse , benefite , and commoditie of a Surueigh so perfected , & done . First it setteth downe the scituation and place of the whole Manner or Lordship it selfe , with the scite of the courte or maner house , or hall place , mesuages , Tenements , Curtilages , Mylles , Douehouses , Barnes , Stables , Cotages , Tostes , Rouels &c. built or decayed , in their full number , measure and forme : Chasses , Parkes , Warranes , Woodes , Fieldes , Closes , Pastures , Pikles , and euery parcel of Land , lying within the boundes , thereof , in their exact measure : fashion and quantitie , with differing the Meadowes , Pastures arable , and Woode seuerally by themselues , wherein the bounders and abbuttals of euery praticular is so wholy put downe , as no booke may bee comparable with the same . There are also obserued the deuisions betweene parcel and parcel , whether by Wall , Pale , Hedge , ditch , Watercourse , Stantile , or meere . Item all Riuers , Brooks , Grindels , Pittes , Waterings , Waies , Lanes , Chases , Drifts , Packewaies , Pathes , Gates , Barres , and Stiles what soeuer . The true placing whereof , bringeth perfection to the woorke , and may in time to come bee many waies most necessarie and profitable . Heere haue you also euery parcel ready measured , to all purposes : you may also see vpon the same , how conueniently this or that ground may be layd to this or that tenement or messuage , aswel in regard of waies , water , floud , or otherwise : which is a thing much helping and conducing to a partition , or deuision of such manner , or Lordship . If you will seuer any fielde or cloase into two or more parcels : the Scale will readily bewray how many perches , & feet shall performe the same , and where may be the rediest cut , and with what charge accomplished . If you should happen to buye any land , lying within that Circuit , and no part of the maner , the scituation and content of the same is also apparent . If you wil regard the groweth of the woods , and value thereof , that may you doe also vpon the Plat , hauing kept proportion in the same also by your Scale as you ought . And lastely , wheras infinite lands and tenements , and in the same , rents , seruyces , heriots &c. are decayed and concealed in sundry Honors , Castels , Lordships and Manners , aswel by turning arable into pasture , &c. as by blemishing and plucking vp of bounders and and meeres : besides altering and changing the names of furlongs , waies , chases and pathes , yea and taking away the vse of the same , notwithstanding their auncient and faire bookes , for the abbuttals thereof : the surueigh by plat , suffereth no such inconuenience , but shall be for continuall euidence , and perpetuall preseruation of all Landes and tenements , vnto the owners thereof , that are contayned and set downe in the same . And therefore vpon the perfecting of any such surueigh , you may make a faire parchment booke with a large margent , you may enter , & ingrosse the same from the saide Plat , & giue it date accordingly . At euery alienation & change of Tenaunts , landelolders , and Farmours , their names shal be registred and quoted in the same margent , concurring with their tenures , by the steward , surueighor or clark of the lands , for the time being : wherby all concealements and other abuses ( if any shal be practised ) shall not onely at al times here after plainly appeare , but also be readyly and truely helped and reformed : although euery deuytion and bounder we re clearely remoued . A bout twenty yeares since , in the controuersie for a sheeps course or walke , my hap was to be imployed for laying out of the mariners compasse , which directed the circuit & bounds of the same course , by measures of pearches , & the points of that instrument : I tracted the same by my Theodolite , in such sort , as I fitted the booke , found truly the bounds , & lighted vpon the dooles , that were sunke two or three foot into the ground , wherby I considered of what force a bounder by plat might be in time to come , which carrieth the hedges at a haire breadth by a circular diuision of infinite parts . This Instrument then being most necessarie vnto all noble , rare , & excellent practise with Geometrie , Arithmetike , and Cosmographie , her especial attendants , are of al persons generally highly to be regarded , as the principles and grounds of all skil whatsoeuer , concluding in a worde , that to attempt the performaunce of an high and loftie exploit without these things , is but to labor and toile for the purity of a speech , without rules and direction set downe for the same . Heereof Plato , Aristotle , Galen , Hipocrates , and other the princes of their professions , did separate an expload from the schools of their practise such as were ignorant in Geometrie & Arithmetike , as vncapable and vnmeet of and for the apprehension of knowledge . And if ye consider the natures , places , and motions of the celestiall parts , together with the cieation , forme & order of the inferior bodies , you shall well perceiue that neither waight , number , measure and proportion is omitted in the one , or anie maner of way wanting in the other . And from the first part of Architecture , euen to the daubing vp of the wals ( for they saie there is cunning in daubing ) all these partes are necessarily to be had & obserued . For , omitting the foundations , studdes , sels , dormors , sparres , and couer , if the dauber fitteth not his escotchbars to the studs , his splent to the scotchbas , his cllay to the splents , and pergit to the clay accordingly the wals shall cause you either to sit a cold in winter with their tightnes , or shrinke & vtterly fall downe in summer with their heauinesse . And because the vse is so generall , ( not that I would haue you to be daubers ) and the proctise so plesant ( for no exercise can be more delicious to an heroicall mind ) I doubt not but you will the rather haue regard to my words & willingnes to skil . Touching these sundry deuices of smal instruments , almost infinit , which they pull out of their purses , pockets , sleeues , &c. I see no great vse of the same , more than for a fewe demonstrations : and in the infancie of my practise , I also trifled with the like . I hope they meane not to contend in contraction or abreuiation , for then I am with them to bring , as old as I am , yet is the eie the first member that decaieth , as the finest die is the first cloth that staineth : but in earnest the assiduate practise of the Mathematiks will require two of the best that you haue . I thought vppon the shew of the same they haue surfeted with abundaunce of knowledg , as banqueters trifle with their trencheis when their bellies are full : or such as swim in diuersitie of opinions , being glutted with gladnes : but I found it far otherwise , and vpon regard of their yeeres , practise , and other abiliments for learning , I suspected it but a deuice to hold on their clients . But to the purpose . As these studies are the grounds & mother of al perfection in operation , so wold I haue such Engines in vse ( for the larger are the surer ) as might performe their actions fully and whole . And in platting of a Countie or Shire , except ( ouer and aboue the sight of the parish church , & tract of the riuers ( which are hardly obserued ) they doo laie out the true bounder , purrell , and procession of the same : the waies running thorough , and forme of the buildings there , with obseruation of chases , parkes , woods , and such like to be regarded for the scituation of the place ( which may bee done neere as readily as the first , and in volume small inough ) I finde no such vse of the thing as may counteruaile the charge . And the like regard I make in setting out a Citie , Borough , and Towne , except you so laie out the streets , waies , and allies , as may serue for a iust measure for pauing thereof , distance betweene place and place , and such other thinges of vse : the buildings of all sortes in their number , measure , forme & proportion , as each mans interest , claim , and demand may truly appeare , with a perfect regarde of waters , bridges , fields , cloases , orchardes , gardens , walkes , &c. lying and beeing within the bounds and limits of the same . And whereas I lately complained of the great and intollerable abuses daily committed in platting & measuring of landes , as wel for demise & sale , as for setting downe of euidence , which ( in my opinion ) would by authority be preuented and met with , as are other inconueniences in things far baser than land ) I was answered by a master in that profession , that the falt only rested in such schollers as would not abide and tarrie out sufficient instructions : and that no doubt ( besides the insufficiencie of their instruments ( as is aforesayd ) may bee some part of the cause . For , the Mathematikes ( without great heed and discretion ) breedeth ouermuch seueritie in olde folks , & exceeding selfe liking in such as are yong . And I wot not from whence it hath happened , that anie should vndertake to teach The Art of Arithmetike ( which I take to be the summe of all knowledge Arithmetical ) and if they could performe so much in waight , measure , and proportion , they might certainly vndertake the accomplishment of more than I dare now for to speake of . It is sayde that so much as wee maye attaine vnto of the same , was deliuered from God vnto Adam , and from him vnto his posteritie , and the thing it selfe , with the partes aforesayd , are so full of perfection & continuance as they may not be thought to be the inuention of mortalitie and corruption . And in shutting vp this point , to haue sayd , That an acre of land may not be layd square , in a limited line of numerall denominators , was vnder the ordinarie and common practise of Arithmetike , yet dyd the partie confesse that it might by instrument bee lineallye performed : as if there were anie line to bee made that were not commensurable . Item , to haue confidently affirmed , that placed in the eleuation of 60. and mouing from thence vnto the East , wee must of necessitie come vnto the equinoctiall , accordeth not with the knowledge of the sphere & vse of the gloabe , for we shall then come into the East when wee are once in the Tropike of Cancer , which children knowe to bee more than xxiij . degrees from the Equinoctiall Northward . And to be of opinion that in platting of vneuen & vnleuell grounds , the difference of the superficiall or essentiall line from the Horizontall or base , is to bee considered and helped onely by discretion , is no more but nicely to offend , and willingly to erre in an aimed proportion . For teaching the vse and demonstration of all manner of Geometricall instruments , and the vse of all instruments fitting for nauigation , &c. I saie , Quod nemo didicit , nemo docere potest : more peremptorie than Caesar , Veni , vidi , vici . But who so vndertaketh to leape or hee look , may happen to hurt himself by lighting vpon things that hee neyther seeth , knoweth , nor vnderstandeth . And I coulde happilye shewe somewhat my selfe in those matters , that a scholler of good yeres would in smiling sort confesse , and saie , Beati qui intelligunt . Wel , God so loue mee , as I loue and loue agayne all louers of knowledge , especiallye in these matters . And for anie thing heerein by mee promised , I hope ( with Gods assistance ) fully to performe , and heereafter for helpe of your memories , and benefit of other ( if al things may fit ) I will ( notwithstanding the charges of grounding and framing the conclusions , besides cutting them to the presse ) giue forth to the world so much as in my time by reading and practise haue fallen vnto my lot , and maye come to remembrance . Meane while I remaine at your pleasures , for the purpose aforesayd , not doubting but to satisfie your desire farre beyonde your expectation , and home to your liking . At mine entrie hereinto , I doubted of the shortnes of my store , for so straighted an argument , but or I wist , I had exceeded the forme of a Bill , and was almost come to the fashion of a booke . I perceiued then I was drawing of Circles . But least I should finde no ende in my circle , as the blind Iade in the horsemill knoweth no measure of his turning , I will heere cease circling for this time , wishing vnto you generally all maner of good , and in your desire of skill the perfection of knowledge in the dighest degree .