And first: who, nerer at hand, can be a better witnesse of the frute receiued by _Arithmetike_, then all kynde of Marchants? Though not all, alike, either nede it, or vse it. How could they forbeare the vse and helpe of the Rule, called the Golden Rule? Simple and Compounde: both forward and backward? How might they misse _Arithmeticall_ helpe in the Rules of Felowshyp: either without tyme, or with tyme? and betwene the Marchant & his Factor? The Rules of Bartering in wares onely: or part in wares, and part in money, would they gladly want? Our Marchant venturers, and Trauaylers ouer Sea, how could they order their doynges iustly and without losse, vnleast certaine and generall Rules for Exchaũge of money, and Rechaunge, were, for their vse, deuised? The Rule of Alligation, in how sundry cases, doth it conclude for them, such precise verities, as neither by naturall witt, nor other experience, they, were hable, els, to know? And (with the Marchant then to make an end) how ample & wonderfull is the Rule of False positions? especially as it is now, by two excellent Mathematiciens (of my familier acquayntance in their life time) enlarged? I meane _Gemma Frisius_, and _Simon Iacob_. Who can either in brief conclude, the generall and Capitall Rules? or who can Imagine the Myriades of sundry Cases, and particular examples, in Act and earnest, continually wrought, tried and concluded by the forenamed Rules, onely? How sundry other _Arithmeticall practises_, are commonly in Marchantes handes, and knowledge: They them selues, can, at large, testifie. The Mintmaster, and Goldsmith, in their Mixture of Metals, either of diuerse kindes, or diuerse values: how are they, or may they, exactly be directed, and meruailously pleasured, if _Arithmetike_ be their guide? And the honorable Phisiciãs, will gladly confesse them selues, much beholding to the Science of _Arithmetike_, and that sundry wayes: But chiefly in their Art of Graduation, and compounde Medicines. And though _Galenus_, _Auerrois_, _Arnoldus_, _Lullus_, and other haue published their positions, aswell in the quantities of the Degrees aboue Temperament, as in the Rules, concluding the new _Forme_ resulting: yet a more precise, commodious, and easy _Method_, is extant: by a Countreyman of ours [R. B.] (aboue 200. yeares ago) inuented. And forasmuch as I am vncertaine, who hath the same: or when that litle Latin treatise, (as the Author writ it,) shall come to be Printed: (Both to declare the desire I haue to pleasure my Countrey, wherin I may: and also, for very good profe of Numbers vse, in this most subtile and frutefull, Philosophicall Conclusion,) I entend in the meane while, most briefly, and with my farder helpe, to communicate the pith therof vnto you.