bee.

+FINIS.+

THE SECOND BOOKE
+OF THE PRINCIPLES+
_of Geometry, containing certaine_
_Theoremes, whiche may be cal-_
led Approued truthes. And be as
it were the moste certaine
groundes, wheron the
practike conclusions
of Geometry ar
founded.

[Leaf]

Whervnto are annexed certaine declarations by
examples, for the right vnderstanding of the
same, to the ende that the simple reader
might not iustly complain of hardnes
or obscuritee, and for the same
cause ar the demonstra-
tions and iust profes
omitted, vntill a
more conueni-
ent time.

1551.

If truthe maie trie it selfe,
By Reasons prudent skyll,
If reason maie preuayle by right,
And rule the rage of will,
I dare the triall byde,
For truthe that I pretende.
And though some lyst at me repine,
Iuste truthe shall me defende.

THE PREFACE VNTO
the Theoremes.

I Doubt not gentle reader, but as my argument is straunge and
vnacquainted with the vulgare toungue, so shall I of many men be
straungly talked of, and as straungly iudged. Some men will saye
peraduenture, I mighte haue better imployed my tyme in some
pleasaunte historye, comprisinge matter of chiualrye. Some other
wolde more haue preised my trauaile, if I hadde spente the like
time in some morall matter, other in deciding some controuersy
of religion. And yet some men (as I iudg) will not mislike this
kind of mater, but then will they wishe that I had vsed a more
certaine order in placinge bothe the Propositions and Theoremes,
and also a more exacter proofe of eche of theim bothe, by
demonstrations mathematicall. Some also will mislike my
shortenes and simple plainesse, as other of other affections
diuersely shall espye somwhat that they shall thinke blame
worthy, and shal misse somewhat, that thei wold with to haue
bene here vsed, so that euerie manne shall giue his verdicte of
me according to his phantasie, vnto whome ioinctly, I make this
my firste answere: that as they ar many and in opinions verie
diuers, so were it scarse possible to please them all with anie
one argumente, of what kinde so euer it were. And for my seconde
aunswere, I saye thus. That if annye one argumen