Beastes, and of many thynges els, a certaine Sympathicall forewarnyng
may be had: sometymes to great pleasure and proffit, both on Sea and
Land. Sufficiently, for my present purpose, it doth appeare, by the
premisses, how _Mathematicall_, the _Arte_ of _Nauigation_, is: and how
it nedeth and also vseth other _Mathematicall Artes_: And now, if I
would go about to speake of the manifold Commodities, commyng to this
Land, and others, by Shypps and _Nauigation_, you might thinke, that I
catch at occasions, to vse many wordes, where no nede is.
Yet, this one thyng may I, (iustly) say. In _Nauigation_, none ought to
haue greater care, to be skillfull, then our English Pylotes. And
perchaunce, Some, would more attempt: And other Some, more willingly
would be aydyng, it they wist certainely, What Priuiledge, God had
endued this Iland with, by reason of Situation, most commodious for
_Nauigation_, to Places most Famous & Riche. And though,
[* Anno. 1567 S. H. G.]
(of * Late) a young Gentleman, a Courragious Capitaine, was in a great
readynes, with good hope, and great causes of persuasion, to haue
ventured, for a Discouerye, (either _Westerly_, by _Cape de Paramantia_:
or _Esterly_, aboue _Noua Zemla_, and the _Cyremisses_) and was, at the
very nere tyme of Attemptyng, called and employed otherwise (both then,
and since,) in great good seruice to his Countrey, as the Irish Rebels
haue * tasted:
[* Anno. 1569]
Yet, I say, (though the same Gentleman, doo not hereafter, deale
therewith) Some one, or other, should listen to the Matter: and by good
aduise, and discrete Circumspection, by little, and little, wynne to the
sufficient knowledge of that +Trade+ and +Voyage+: Which, now, I would
be sory, (through Carelesnesse, want of Skill, and Courrage,) should
remayne Vnknowne and vnheard of. Seyng, also, we are herein, halfe
Challenged, by the learned, by halfe request, published. Therof, verely,
might grow Commoditye, to this Land chiefly, and to the rest of the
Christen Common wealth, farre passing all riches and worldly Threasure.
+‡Thaumaturgike‡, is that Art Mathematicall, which giueth certaine order
to make straunge workes, of the sense to be perceiued, and of men
greatly to be wondred at.+ By sundry meanes, this _Wonder-worke_ is
wrought. Some, by _Pneumatithmie_. As the workes of _Ctesibius_ and
_Hero_, Some by waight. wherof _Timæus_ speaketh. Some, by Stringes
strayned, or Springs, therwith Imitating liuely Motions. Some, by other
meanes, as the Images of Mercurie: and the brasen hed, made by _Albertus
Magnus_, which dyd seme to speake. _Boethius_ was excellent in these
feates. To whom, _Cassiodorus_ writyng, sayth. +_Your purpose is to know
profound thynges: and to shew meruayles. By the disposition of your
Arte, Metals do low: Diomedes of brasse, doth blow a Trumpet loude:
a brasen Serpent hisseth: byrdes made, sing swetely. Small thynges we
rehearse of you, who can Imitate the heauen. &c._+ Of the straunge
Selfmouyng, which, at Saint Denys, by Paris,
[* Anno. 1551]
* I saw, ones or twise (_Orontius_ beyng then with me, in Company) it
were to straunge to tell. But some haue written it. And yet, (I hope) it
is there, of other to be sene. And by _Perspectiue_ also straunge
thinges, are done. As partly (before) I gaue you to vnderstand in
_Perspectiue_. As, to see in the Ayre, a loft, the lyuely Image of an
other man, either walkyng to and fro: or standyng still. Likewise, to
come into an house, and there to see the liuely shew of Gold, Siluer or
precious stones: and commyng to take them in your hand, to finde nought
but Ayre. Hereby, haue some men (in all other matters counted wise)
fouly ouershot thẽ selues: misdeaming of the meanes. Therfore sayd
_Claudius Cælestinus_.
[De his quæ Mundo mirabiliter eueniunt. cap. 8.]
_Hodie magnæ literaturæ viros & magna reputationis videmus, opera quedam
quasi miranda, supra Naturã putare: de quibus in Perspectiua doctus
causam faciliter reddidisset._ That is. +_Now a dayes, we see some men,
yea of great learnyng and reputation, to Iudge certain workes as
meruaylous, aboue the power of Nature: Of which workes, one that were
skillfull in Perspectiue might easely haue giuen the Cause._+ Of
_Archimedes Sphære_, _Cicero_ witnesseth.
[Tusc. 1.]
Which is very straunge to thinke on. +_For when Archimedes_+ (sayth he)
+_did fasten in a Sphære, the mouynges of the Sonne, Mone, and of the
fiue other Planets, he did, as the God, which (in Timæus of Plato) did
make the world. That, one turnyng, should rule motions most vnlike in
slownes, and swiftnes._+ But a greater cause of meruayling we haue by
_Claudianus_ report hereof. Who affirmeth this _Archimedes worke_, to
haue ben of Glasse. And discourseth of it more at large: which I omit.
The Doue of wood, which the _Mathematicien Archytas_ did make to flye,
is by _Agellius_ spoken of. Of _Dædalus_ straunge Images, _Plato_
reporteth. _Homere_ of _Vulcans Selfmouers_, (by secret wheles) leaueth
in writyng. _Aristotle_, in hys _Politikes_, of both, maketh mention.
Meruaylous was the workemanshyp, of late dayes, performed by good skill
of _Trochilike. &c._ For in Noremberge, A flye of Iern, beyng let out of
the Artificers hand, did (as it were) fly about by the gestes, at the
table, and at length, as though it were weary, retourne to his masters
hand agayne. Moreouer, an Artificiall Egle, was ordred, to fly out of
the same Towne, a mighty way, and that a loft in the Ayre, toward the
Emperour comming thether: and followed hym, beyng come to the gate of
the towne. *
[* ☞]
Thus, you see, what, Arte Mathematicall can performe, when Skill, will,
Industry, and Hability, are duely applyed to profe.
[A Digression.]
And for these, and such like marueilous Actes and Feates, Naturally,
Mathematically, and Mechanically, wrought and contriued:
[Apologeticall.]
ought any honest Student, and Modest Christian Philosopher, be counted,
& called a +Coniurer+? Shall the folly of Idiotes, and the Mallice of
the Scornfull, so much preuaile, that He, who seeketh no worldly gaine
or glory at their handes: But onely, of God, the threasor of heauenly
wisedome, & knowledge of pure veritie: Shall he (I say) in the meane
space, be robbed and spoiled of his honest name and fame? He that seketh
(by S. Paules aduertisement) in the Creatures Properties, and wonderfull
vertues, to finde iuste cause, to glorifie the Æternall, and Almightie
Creator by: Shall that man, be (in hugger mugger) condemned, as a
Companion of the Helhoundes, and a Caller, and Coniurer of wicked and
damned Spirites? He that bewaileth his great want of time, sufficient
(to his contentation) for learning of Godly wisdome, and Godly Verities
in: and onely therin setteth all his delight: Will that mã leese and
abuse his time, in dealing with the Chiefe enemie of Christ our Redemer:
the deadly foe of all mankinde: the subtile and impudent peruerter of
Godly Veritie: the Hypocriticall Crocodile: the Enuious Basiliske,
continually desirous, in the twinke of an eye, to destroy all Mankinde,
both in Body and Soule, æternally? Surely (for my part, somewhat to say
herein) I haue not learned to make so brutish, and so wicked a Bargaine.
Should I, for my xx. or xxv. yeares Studie: for two or three thousand
Markes spending: seuen or eight thousand Miles going and trauailing,
onely for good learninges sake: And that, in all maner of wethers: in
all maner of waies and passages: both early and late: in daunger of
violence by man: in daunger of destruction by wilde beastes: in hunger:
in thirst: in perilous heates by day, with toyle on foote: in daungerous
dampes of colde, by night, almost bereuing life: (as God knoweth): with
lodginges, oft times, to small ease: and somtime to lesse securitie. And
for much more (then all this) done & suffred, for Learning and attaining
of Wisedome: Should I (I pray you) for all this, no otherwise, nor more
warily: or (by Gods mercifulnes) no more luckily, haue fished, with so
large, and costly, a Nette, so long time in drawing (and that with the
helpe and aduise of Lady Philosophie, & Queene Theologie): but at
length, to haue catched, and drawen vp, * a Frog?
[* A prouerb. Fayre fisht, and caught a Frog.]
Nay, a Deuill? For, so, doth the Common peuish Pratler Imagine and
Iangle: And, so, doth the Malicious skorner, secretly wishe, & brauely
and boldly face down, behinde my backe. Ah, what a miserable thing, is
this kinde of Men? How great is the blindnes & boldnes, of the
Multitude, in thinges aboue their Capacitie? What a Land: what a People:
what Maners: what Times are these? Are they become Deuils, them selues:
and, by false witnesse bearing against their Neighbour, would they also,
become Murderers? Doth God, so long geue them respite, to reclaime them
selues in, from this horrible slaundering of the giltlesse: contrary to
their owne Consciences: and yet will they not cease? Doth the Innocent,
forbeare the calling of them, Iuridically to aunswere him, according to
the rigour of the Lawes: and will they despise his Charitable pacience?
As they, against him, by name, do forge, fable, rage, and raise
slaunder, by Worde & Print: Will they prouoke him, by worde and Print,
likewise, to Note their Names to the World: with their particular
deuises, fables, beastly Imaginations, and vnchristen-like slaunders?
Well: Well. O (you such) my vnkinde Countrey men. O vnnaturall Countrey
men. O vnthankfull Countrey men. O Brainsicke, Rashe, Spitefull, and
Disdainfull Countrey men. Why oppresse you me, thus violently, with your
slaundering of me: Contrary to Veritie: and contrary to your owne
Consciences? And I, to this hower, neither by worde, deede, or thought,
haue bene, any way, hurtfull, damageable, or iniurious to you, or yours?
Haue I, so long, so dearly, so farre, so carefully, so painfully, so
daungerously sought & trauailed for the learning of Wisedome, &
atteyning of Vertue: And in the end (in your iudgemẽt) am I become,
worse, then when I begã? Worse, thẽ a Mad man? A dangerous Member in the
Common Wealth: and no Member of the Church of Christ? Call you this, to
be Learned? Call you this, to be a Philosopher? and a louer of Wisedome?
To forsake the straight heauenly way: and to wallow in the broad way of
damnation? To forsake the light of heauenly Wisedome: and to lurke in
the dungeon of the Prince of darkenesse? To forsake the Veritie of God,
& his Creatures: and to fawne vpon the Impudent, Craftie, Obstinate
Lier, and continuall disgracer of Gods Veritie, to the vttermost of his
power? To forsake the Life & Blisse Æternall: and to cleaue vnto the
Author of Death euerlasting? that Murderous Tyrant, most gredily
awaiting the Pray of Mans Soule? Well: I thanke God and our Lorde Iesus
Christ, for the Comfort which I haue by the Examples of other men,
before my time: To whom, neither in godlines of life, nor in perfection
of learning, I am worthy to be compared: and yet, they sustained the
very like Iniuries, that I do: or rather, greater. Pacient _Socrates_,
his _Apologie_ will testifie: _Apuleius_ his _Apologies_, will declare
the Brutishnesse of the Multitude. _Ioannes Picus_, Earle of Mirandula,
his _Apologie_ will teach you, of the Raging slaunder of the Malicious
Ignorant against him. _Ioannes Trithemius_, his _Apologie_ will
specifie, how he had occasion to make publike Protestation: as well by
reason of the Rude Simple: as also, in respect of such, as were counted
to be of the wisest sort of men. “Many could I recite: But I deferre the
precise and determined handling of this matter: being loth to detect the
Folly & Mallice of my Natiue Countrey men. *
[* ☞]
Who, so hardly, can disgest or like any extraordinary course of
Philosophicall Studies: not falling within the Cumpasse of their
Capacitie: or where they are not made priuie of the true and secrete
cause, of such wonderfull Philosophicall Feates.” These men, are of
fower sortes, chiefly. The first, I may name, _Vaine pratling busie
bodies_: The second, _Fond Frendes_: The third, _Imperfectly zelous_:
and the fourth, _Malicious Ignorant_. To eche of these (briefly, and in
charitie) I will say a word or two, and so returne to my Præface.
[1.]
_Vaine pratling busie bodies_, vse your idle assemblies, and
conferences, otherwise, then in talke of matter, either aboue your
Capacities, for hardnesse: or contrary to your Consciences, in Veritie.
[2.]
_Fonde Frendes_, leaue of, so to commend your vnacquainted frend, vpon
blinde affection: As, because he knoweth more, then the common Student:
that, therfore, he must needes be skilfull, and a doer, in such matter
and maner, as you terme _Coniuring_. Weening, thereby, you aduaunce his
fame: and that you make other men, great marueilers of your hap, to haue
such a learned frend. Cease to ascribe Impietie, where you pretend
Amitie. For, if your tounges were true, then were that your frend,
_Vntrue_, both to God, and his Soueraigne. Such _Frendes_ and
_Fondlinges_, I shake of, and renounce you: Shake you of, your Folly.
[3.]
_Imperfectly zelous_, to you, do I say: that (perhaps) well, do you
Meane: But farre you misse the Marke: If a Lambe you will kill, to feede
the flocke with his bloud. Sheepe, with Lambes bloud, haue no naturall
sustenaunce: No more, is Christes flocke, with horrible slaunders, duely
ædified. Nor your faire pretense, by such rashe ragged Rhetorike, any
whit, well graced. But such, as so vse me, will finde a fowle Cracke in
their Credite. Speake that you know: And know, as you ought: Know not,
by Heare say, when life lieth in daunger. Search to the quicke, & let
Charitie be your guide.
[4.]
_Malicious Ignorant_, what shall I say to thee? _Prohibe linguam tuam a
malo. A detractione parcite linguæ. +Cause thy toung to refraine frõ
euill. Refraine your toung from slaunder.+_ Though your tounges be
sharpned, Serpent like, & Adders poyson lye in your lippes:
[Psal. 140.]
yet take heede, and thinke, betimes, with your selfe, _Vir linguosus non
stabilietur in terra. Virum violentum venabitur malum, donec
præcipitetur._ For, sure I am, _Quia faciet Dominus Iudicium afflicti:
& vindictam pauperum._
Thus, I require you, my assured frendes, and Countrey men (you
Mathematiciens, Mechaniciens, and Philosophers, Charitable and discrete)
to deale in my behalf, with the light & vntrue tounged, my enuious
Aduersaries, or Fond frends. And farther, I would wishe, that at leysor,
you would consider, how _Basilius Magnus_, layeth _Moses_ and _Daniel_,
before the eyes of those, which count all such Studies Philosophicall
(as mine hath bene) to be vngodly, or vnprofitable. Waye well
_S. Stephen_ his witnesse of _Moses_.
[Act. 7. C.]
_Eruditus est Moses omni Sapientia Ægyptiorũ: & erat potens in verbis &
operibus suis. +Moses was instructed in all maner of wisedome of the
Ægyptians: and he was of power both in his wordes, and workes.+_ You see
this Philosophicall Power & Wisedome, which _Moses_ had, to be nothing
misliked of the Holy Ghost. Yet _Plinius_ hath recorded, _Moses_ to be a
wicked _Magicien_. And that (of force) must be, either for this
Philosophicall wisedome, learned, before his calling to the leading of
the Children of _Israel_: or for those his wonders, wrought before King
_Pharao_, after he had the conducting of the _Israelites_. As concerning
the first, you perceaue, how _S. Stephen_, at his Martyrdome (being full
of the Holy Ghost) in his Recapitulation of the olde Testament, hath
made mention of _Moses_ Philosophie: with good liking of it: And
_Basilius Magnus_ also, auoucheth it, to haue bene to _Moses_ profitable
(and therefore, I say, to the Church of God, necessary). But as
cõcerning _Moses_ wonders, done before King _Pharao_: God, him selfe,
sayd: _Vide vt omnia ostenta, quæ posui in manu tua, facias coram
Pharaone. +See that thou do all those wonders before Pharao, which I
haue put in thy hand.+_ Thus, you euidently perceaue, how rashly,
_Plinius_ hath slaundered _Moses_,
[Lib. 30. Cap. 1.]
of vayne fraudulent _Magike_, saying: _Est & alia Magices Factio,
a Mose, Iamne, & Iotape, Iudæis pendens: sed multis millibus annorum
post Zoroastrem. &c._
[1.]
Let all such, therefore, who, in Iudgement and Skill of Philosophie, are
farre Inferior to _Plinie_, “take good heede, least they ouershoote them
selues rashly,” in
[☞]
Iudging of _Philosophers straunge Actes_: and the Meanes, how they are
done.
[2.]
But, much more, ought they to beware of forging, deuising, and imagining
monstrous feates, and wonderfull workes, when and where, no such were
done: no, not any sparke or likelihode, of such, as they, without all
shame, do report.
[3.]
And (to conclude) most of all, let them be ashamed of Man, and afraide
of the dreadfull and Iuste Iudge: both Folishly or Maliciously to
deuise: and then, deuilishly to father their new fond Monsters on me:
Innocent, in hand and hart: for trespacing either against the lawe of
God, or Man, in any my Studies or Exercises, Philosophicall, or
Mathematicall: As in due time, I hope, will be more manifest.
Now end I, with +‡Archemastrie‡+. Which name, is not so new, as this
Arte is rare. For an other Arte, vnder this, a degree (for skill and
power) hath bene indued with this English name before. And yet, this,
may serue for our purpose, sufficiently, at this present. +This Arte,
teacheth to bryng to actuall experience sensible, all worthy conclusions
by all the Artes Mathematicall purposed, & by true Naturall Philosophie
concluded: & both addeth to them a farder scope, in the termes of the
same Artes, & also by hys propre Method, and in peculier termes,
procedeth, with helpe of the foresayd Artes, to the performance of
complet Experiẽces, which of no particular Art, are hable (Formally) to
be challenged.+ If you remember, how we considered _Architecture_, in
respect of all common handworkes: some light may you haue, therby, to
vnderstand the Souerainty and propertie of this Science. _Science_ I may
call it, rather, then an Arte: for the excellency and Mastershyp it
hath, ouer so many, and so mighty Artes and Sciences. And bycause it
procedeth by _Experiences_, and searcheth forth the causes of
Conclusions, by _Experiences_: and also putteth the Conclusions them
selues, in _Experience_, it is named of some, _Scientia Experimentalis_.
The +_Experimentall Science_+. _Nicolaus Cusanus_ termeth it so, in hys
_Experimentes Statikall_, And an other _Philosopher_,
[R. B.]
of this land Natiue (the floure of whose worthy fame, can neuer dye nor
wither) did write therof largely, at the request of _Clement the sixt_.
The Arte carrieth with it, a wonderfull Credit: By reason, it
certefieth, sensibly, fully, and completely to the vtmost power of
Nature, and Arte. This Arte, certifieth by _Experience_ complete and
absolute: and other Artes, with their Argumentes, and Demonstrations,
persuade: and in wordes, proue very well their Conclusions. *
[☞]
But wordes, and Argumentes, are no sensible certifying: nor the full and
finall frute of Sciences practisable. And though some Artes, haue in
them, _Experiences_, yet they are not complete, and brought to the
vttermost, they may be stretched vnto, and applyed sensibly. As for
example: the Naturall Philosopher disputeth and maketh goodly shew of
reason: And the Astronomer, and the Opticall Mechanicien, put some
thynges in _Experience_: but neither, all, that they may: nor yet
sufficiently, and to the vtmost, those, which they do, There, then, the
_Archemaster_ steppeth in, and leadeth forth on, the _Experiences_, by
order of his doctrine _Experimentall_, to the chief and finall power of
Naturall and Mathematicall Artes. Of two or three men, in whom, this
Description of _Archemastry_ was _Experimentally_, verified, I haue read
and hard: and good record, is of their such perfection. So that, this
Art, is no fantasticall Imagination: as some Sophister, might, _Cum suis
Insolubilibus_, make a florish: and dassell your Imagination: and dash
your honest desire and Courage, from beleuing these thinges, so vnheard
of, so meruaylous, & of such Importance. Well: as you will. I haue
forewarned you. I haue done the part of a frende: I haue discharged my
Duety toward God: for my small Talent, at hys most mercyfull handes
receiued. To this Science, doth the _Science Alnirangiat_, great
Seruice. Muse nothyng of this name. I chaunge not the name, so vsed, and
in Print published by other: beyng a name, propre to the Science. Vnder
this, commeth _Ars Sintrillia_, by _Artephius_, briefly written. But the
chief Science, of the Archemaster, (in this world) as yet knowen, is an
other (as it were) OPTICAL Science: wherof, the name shall be told (God
willyng) when I shall haue some, (more iust) occasion, therof, to
Discourse.
Here, I must end, thus abruptly (Gentle frende, and vnfayned louer of
honest and necessary verities.) For, they, who haue (for your sake, and
vertues cause) requested me, (an old forworne Mathematicien) to take pen
in hand: (through the confidence they reposed in my long experience: and
tryed sincerity) for the declaryng and reportyng somewhat, of the frute
and commodity, by the +Artes Mathematicall, to be atteyned vnto+: euen
they, Sore agaynst their willes, are forced, for sundry causes, to
satisfie the workemans request, in endyng forthwith: He, so feareth
this, so new an attempt, & so costly: And in matter so slenderly
(hetherto) among the common Sorte of Studentes, considered or estemed.
And where I was willed, somewhat to alledge, why, in our vulgare Speche,
this part of the Principall Science of _Geometrie_, called _Euclides
Geometricall Elementes_, is published, to your handlyng: being vnlatined
people, and not Vniuersitie Scholers: Verily, I thinke it nedelesse.
[1.]
For, the Honour, and Estimation of the +Vniuersities, and Graduates+,
is, hereby, nothing diminished. Seing, from, and by their Nurse
Children, you receaue all this Benefite: how great soeuer it be.
[2.]
Neither are their Studies, hereby, any whit hindred. No more, then the
Italian _Vniuersities_, as _Academia Bononiensis_, _Ferrariensis_,
_Florentina_, _Mediolanensis_, _Patauina_, _Papiensis_, _Perusina_,
_Pisana_, _Romana_, _Senensis_, or any one of them, finde them selues,
any deale, disgraced, or their Studies any thing hindred, by _Frater
Lucas de Burgo_, or by _Nicolaus Tartalea_, who in vulgar Italian
language, haue published, not onely _Euclides Geometrie_, but of
_Archimedes_ somewhat: and in Arithmetike and Practicall Geometrie, very
large volumes, all in their vulgar speche. Nor in Germany haue the
famous _Vniuersities_, any thing bene discontent with _Albertus
Durerus_, his Geometricall Institutions in Dutch: or with _Gulielmus
Xylander_, his learned translation of the first sixe bookes of
_Euclide_, out of the Greke into the high Dutch. Nor with _Gualterus H.
Riffius_, his Geometricall Volume: very diligently translated into the
high Dutch tounge, and published. Nor yet the _Vniuersities_ of Spaine,
or Portugall, thinke their reputation to be decayed: or suppose any
their Studies to be hindred by the Excellent _P. Nonnius_, his
Mathematicall workes, in vulgare speche by him put forth. Haue you not,
likewise, in the French tounge, the whole Mathematicall Quadriuie? and
yet neither Paris, Orleance, or any of the other Vniuersities of
Fraunce, at any time, with the Translaters, or Publishers offended: or
any mans Studie thereby hindred?
[3.]
And surely, the Common and Vulgar Scholer (much more, the Gramarian)
before his comming to the _Vniuersitie_, shall (or may) be, now
(according to _Plato_ his Counsell) sufficiently instructed in
_Arithmetike_ and _Geometrie_, for the better and easier learning of all
maner of _Philosophie_, _Academicall_, or _Peripateticall_. And by that
meanes, goe more cherefully, more skilfully, and spedily forwarde, in
his Studies, there to be learned. And, so, in lesse time, profite more,
then (otherwise) he should, or could do.
[4.]