The Preface. 



fromajpiritjfivce th.it neither could I give Account how the 

 lotdftone drew iron^ or looked to the North; how aftsne , and 

 other heavy things were carried downewards -, how fight or 

 fantafie was made -, htw dtgcjtion or f urging were ejfetfcd-, 

 and many other fuch queftions , which are Jo ftightly refol- 

 vedinthe Schooles ? 



Be fides this rcafonjhe very defire of knowledge in myfelfr 

 andAwiUingnefletobeAVMUble unto others (at the le aft fo 

 farre AS to Jet them on faking for />, without having a preju- 

 dice of impofsibility in attaining it) was unto me a Jufficient 

 motive^ to ia large my difcourfe to the bulk it is rifen unto. For 

 what A mifery is it, that the flower and beft wits ofchriften- 

 dome^ which ftock to the Vniverfities^ under petence and up- 

 on ho ft of gaining knowledge flculd be there deluded^ and af- 

 ter manyyeares oj toyle and expence 5 bee fent home againe^ 

 with nothing acquired morel hen a faculty^ and readineffe to 

 talke like Parrats of many things but not to under ft and fo 

 much as anyoHC: f andwith.illivithaperfwa<lon that in truth 

 not hinge an be knowne' For fating knowledge afde^hat can 

 it avAile A man to le able to talke of any thing '. What are 

 t/.ofe wr -anglings , where the difcovery of truth is neither 

 fought, nor hoped, for , but meerly vanity and oftentation? 

 Doth not all tend, to make him feem and appear e that wh'ch 

 indeed he is net? Ncr let any body take it ill at my hands jhat I 

 fycakthus of the modcrne Schooles: for indeed it is rather 

 themfclve s then I that fay it. Excepting Mrthematicks , let 

 all the other Schooles pronoun; e their owne minds, and fay in- 

 gcniotijly^ whether they themfelves beleeve they have fo much 

 as any one demon ftration, from the beginning to the ending of 

 the whole c our fe of their learning. And if all, or the moft pArt^ 

 will agree that any one pofition ts demonftrated perfeflly y 

 and as it ought to bee , and as thoufands of conclusions Are 

 demonftrated tn Mrthematickes -, I am ready to undergoe 



Bj the 



