of workes, Mathematically demonstrated? [☞] And our two Sciences, remaining pure, and absolute, in their proper termes, and in their owne Matter: to haue, and allowe, onely such Demonstrations, as are plaine, certaine, vniuersall, and of an æternall veritye? [Geometrie.] This Science of _Magnitude_, his properties, conditions, and appertenances: commonly, now is, and from the beginnyng, hath of all Philosophers, ben called _Geometrie_. But, veryly, with a name to base and scant, for a Science of such dignitie and amplenes. And, perchaunce, that name, by cõmon and secret consent, of all wisemen, hitherto hath ben suffred to remayne: that it might carry with it a perpetuall memorye, of the first and notablest benefite, by that Science, to common people shewed: Which was, when Boundes and meres of land and ground were lost, and confounded (as in _Egypt_, yearely, with the ouerflowyng of _Nilus_, the greatest and longest riuer in the world) or, that ground bequeathed, were to be assigned: or, ground sold, were to be layd out: or (when disorder preuailed) that Commõs were distributed into seueralties. For, where, vpon these & such like occasiõs, Some by ignorãce, some by negligẽce, Some by fraude, and some by violence, did wrongfully limite, measure, encroach, or challenge (by pretence of iust content, and measure) those landes and groundes: great losse, disquietnes, murder, and warre did (full oft) ensue: Till, by Gods mercy, and mans Industrie, The perfect Science of Lines, Plaines, and Solides (like a diuine Iusticier,) gaue vnto euery man, his owne. The people then, by this art pleasured, and greatly relieued, in their landes iust measuring: & other Philosophers, writing Rules for land measuring: betwene them both, thus, confirmed the name of _Geometria_, that is, (according to the very etimologie of the word) Land measuring. Wherin, the people knew no farder, of Magnitudes vse, but in Plaines: and the Philosophers, of thẽ, had no feet hearers, or Scholers: farder to disclose vnto, then of flat, plaine _Geometrie_. And though, these Philosophers, knew of farder vse, and best vnderstode the etymologye of the worde, yet this name _Geometria_, was of them applyed generally to all sortes of Magnitudes: vnleast, otherwhile, of _Plato_, and _Pythagoras_: When they would precisely declare their owne doctrine. Then, was [* Plato. 7. de Rep.] * _Geometria_, with them, _Studium quod circa planum versatur_. But, well you may perceiue by _Euclides Elementes_, that more ample is our Science, then to measure Plaines: and nothyng lesse therin is tought (of purpose) then how to measure Land. An other name, therfore, must nedes be had, for our Mathematicall Science of Magnitudes: which regardeth neither clod, nor turff: neither hill, nor dale: neither earth nor heauen: but is absolute _Megethologia_: not creping on ground, and dasseling the eye, with pole perche, rod or lyne: but “liftyng the hart aboue the heauens, by inuisible lines, and