LETTERS ON SCIENTIFIC SUBJECTS. 29 



caracters in obeliscis, did discerne the sbadowes, and by that 

 meanes distingwisshed the howers of the daie. Papirius Cursor 

 did the use of horologis at Rome : and Scipio Nascica did firste 

 devid the daie into twenty foure howers by the runninge of 

 water. And Boetius Severinus the philosopher did first in- 

 vente those clockes wee daily use, that move by waightes and 

 tourne by wheeles*. 



This catologge I alleadge to shew, that in all tymes and ages 

 moste renounied princes have contended for the prise of glory, 

 by inventinge rare woorkesfor necessitie or pleasure, and also 

 to shew that in all tymes and ages menn have been very curious, 

 and have bestowed great cost in distinguisshinge of tymes, as 

 a thirige that ought to be estemed moste pretious. To imitat 

 whose example and to exceed whose excellencie, the Senate of 

 Strasbourge have caused this wonderfull fabrike to be made 

 in this forme as you see, by Doctor Dassipodius, publicke 

 professor of the Mathematickes, Wolkenstenius his coadju- 

 tor, and Stun the painter ; the renoune of whose fame as it 

 is reported in moste partes of Europe, so no doupt it wil be 

 perpetuated by continewaunce of tyme to all ensewinge pos- 

 terities. Thus hath, Right Worshipfull Sir, my desyre to de- 

 clare the forwardnes of my good will carried me perhaps farr 

 beyonde the compas of my learninge, in indeavoringe to in- 

 clude sutch an exquisite peece of woorke in my rude letters, 

 and to contayne the statlynes of the high tower within the 

 basnes and lownes of my creapinge style. But I hope you 

 will easily pardon this presumption, consideringe it proceadeth 

 from an obsequious mynde to procure your contentment by 

 this my studious travaile. And although as it was geaven for 

 advise to a temerarious weake person, that he should abridge 

 some whatfrom his rasshenes or addsomethinge to his strength, 

 if he ment to attaine any tbinge by his labour, so I maie be 

 admonished that I should have with houlden some parte of my 

 good will, or encreassed somewhat to my knowledge, before I 

 had undertaken the description of this fabricke, yf I did de- 

 syre to make my letters acceptable to the willinge peruser 

 thereof. Yet still I bwild the foundation of my compforte on 

 the assured pillers of your favorable and gracious acceptaunce. 



* In the Archaologia, vol. 5, is a very interesting article on the introduction of 

 clocks by Daines Harrington. A manuscript at Trinity College, Cambridge, O. ii. 

 32, contains another account of the Strasburgh clock, written in Latin in the year 

 1590. These two accounts seem to agree very nearly with one another. 



