Whervnto are annexed certaine declarations by examples, for the right vnderstanding of the same, to the ende that the simple reader might not iustly cõplain of hardnes or obscuritee, and for the same cause ar the demonstra- tions and iust profes omitted, vntill a more conueni- ent time. 1551. If truthe maie trie it selfe, By Reasons prudent skyll, If reason maie preuayle by right, And rule the rage of will, I dare the triall byde, For truthe that I pretende. And though some lyst at me repine, Iuste truthe shall me defende. THE PREFACE VNTO the Theoremes. I Doubt not gentle reader, but as my argument is straunge and vnacquainted with the vulgare toungue, so shall I of many men be straungly talked of, and as straungly iudged. Some men will saye peraduenture, I mighte haue better imployed my tyme in some pleasaunte historye, comprisinge matter of chiualrye. Some other wolde more haue preised my trauaile, if I hadde spente the like time in some morall matter, other in deciding some controuersy of religion. And yet some men (as I iudg) will not mislike this kind of mater, but then will they wishe that I had vsed a more certaine order in placinge bothe the Propositions and Theoremes, and also a more exacter proofe of eche of theim bothe, by demonstrations mathematicall. Some also will mislike my shortenes and simple plainesse, as other of other affections diuersely shall espye somwhat that they shall thinke blame worthy, and shal misse somewhat, that thei wold with to haue bene here vsed, so that euerie manne shall giue his verdicte of me according to his phantasie, vnto whome ioinctly, I make this my firste answere: that as they ar many and in opinions verie diuers, so were it scarse possible to please them all with anie one argumente, of what kinde so euer it were. And for my seconde aunswere, I saye thus. That if annye one argumente mighte please them all, then should thei be thankfull vnto me for this kind of matter. For nother is there anie matter more straunge in the englishe tungue, then this whereof neuer booke was written before now, in that tungue, and therefore oughte to delite all them, that desire to vnderstand strange matters, as most men commonlie doo. And againe the practise is so pleasaunt in vsinge, and so profitable in appliynge, that who so euer dothe delite in anie of bothe, ought not of right to mislike this arte. And if any manne shall like the arte welle for it selfe, but shall mislyke the fourme that I haue vsed in teachyng of it, to hym I shall saie, Firste, that I dooe wishe with hym that some other man, whiche coulde better haue doone it, hadde shewed his good will, and vsed his diligence in suche sorte, that I myght haue bene therby occasioned iustely to haue left of my laboure, or after my trauaile to haue suppressed my bookes. But