BOURNE ON OPTIC GLASSES. 33 



speache with mee, as concerning the effects and 

 qualityes of glasses, I have thought yt my duty 

 to furnish your desyer, according vnto suche 

 simple skill, as God hathe given me, in these 

 causes, Whiche ys muche inferiour vnto the 

 knowledg of those, that ys learned and hathe 

 red suche authors, as have written in those 

 causes, and also have better ability and tyme, to 

 seke the effects, and quality thereof, then I have, 

 eyther elles can, or may, by the meanes of my 

 small ability, and greate charge of children : 

 Whiche (otherwyse) yt ys possible that I shoulde 

 have bene better able to have done a nomber of 

 thinges, that now I must of force leave, that 

 perhapps shoulde have bene. And allso aboute 

 seaven yeares passed, vppon occasyon of a cer- 

 tayne written Booke of myne, which I delivered 

 your honour, Wherein was set downe the nature 

 and qualitye of water : As tuchinge ye sinckinge 

 or swymminge of thinges. In sort youre 

 Honoure had some speeche with mee, as touching 

 measuring the moulde of a shipp. Whiche gave 

 mee occasyon, to wryte a litle Boke of Statick. 6 

 Whiche Booke since that tyme, hath beene profit- 

 able, and helpped the capacityes, bothe of some 

 sea men, and allso shipp carpenters. Therefore, 

 I have now written this simple, and breefe note, 

 of the effects, and qualityes of glasses, according 

 vnto the several formes, facyons, and makyngs 



6 The work here alluded to is probably his "Treasure for 

 Travellers," which was published at London in 1578. 



D 



