ZUANNE DA COI. 225 



last, because a similar one to that sixth" [seventh ?] " he 

 sent to me two years ago, and I made him confess that he 

 did not understand the same, and a similar one to that 

 last (which induces an operation of the square and cube 

 equal to the number) I gave him out of courtesy solved, 

 not a year ago, and for that solution I found a rule 

 specially bearing upon such problems. 



ZUAN ANTONIO. I know well that these questions 

 were given to me by his said excellency, Messer Hiero- 

 nimo Cardano, and no other. 



NICOLO. Then the said Messer Zuanne da Coi must 

 have been to Milan and proposed them to his excellency, 

 and he, being unable to resolve them, has sent them to be 

 worked out by me, and this I hold for certain, because 

 the said Messer Zuanne promised me a year ago that he 

 would come here to Venice, but for all that he has never 

 been, and I think he has repented of his purpose and 

 given its turn to Milan. 



ZUAN ANTONIO. Do not think that his excellency 

 would have sent you these problems if he had not under- 

 stood them and known how to solve them, or that they 

 proceed from another person, for his excellency is one of 

 the most learned men in Milan, and the Marquis dal 

 Vasto has given him a great provision for his compe- 

 tency. 



NICOLO. I do not deny that his excellency is most 



VOL. I. Q 



