ounde: both
forward and backward? How might they misse _Arithmeticall_ helpe in the
Rules of Felowshyp: either without tyme, or with tyme? and betwene the
Marchant & his Factor? The Rules of Bartering in wares onely: or part in
wares, and part in money, would they gladly want? Our Marchant
venturers, and Trauaylers ouer Sea, how could they order their doynges
iustly and without losse, vnleast certaine and generall Rules for
Exchaunge of money, and Rechaunge, were, for their vse, deuised? The
Rule of Alligation, in how sundry cases, doth it conclude for them, such
precise verities, as neither by naturall witt, nor other experience,
they, were hable, els, to know? And (with the Marchant then to make an
end) how ample & wonderfull is the Rule of False positions? especially
as it is now, by two excellent Mathematiciens (of my familier
acquayntance in their life time) enlarged? I meane _Gemma Frisius_, and
_Simon Iacob_. Who can either in brief conclude, the generall and
Capitall Rules? or who can Imagine the Myriades of sundry Cases, and
particular examples, in Act and earnest, continually wrought, tried and
concluded by the forenamed Rules, onely? How sundry other _Arithmeticall
practises_, are commonly in Marchantes handes, and knowledge: They them
selues, can, at large, testifie.

The Mintmaster, and Goldsmith, in their Mixture of Metals, either of
diuerse kindes, or diuerse values: how are they, or may they, exactly be
directed, and meruailously pleasured, if _Arithmetike_ be their guide?
And the honorable Phisicians, will gladly confesse them selues, much
beholding to the Science of _Arithmetike_, and that sundry wayes: But
chiefly in their Art of Graduation, and compounde Medicines. And though
_Galenus_, _Auerrois_, _Arnoldus_, _Lullus_, and other haue published
their positions, aswell in the quantities of the Degrees aboue
Temperament, as in the Rules, concluding the new _Forme_ resulting: yet
a more precise, commodious, and easy _Method_, is extant: by a
Countreyman of ours

[R. B.]

(aboue 200. yeares ago) inuented. And forasmuch as I am vncertaine, who
hath the same: or when that litle Latin treatise, (as the Author writ
it,) shall come to be Printed: (Both to declare the desire I haue to
pleasure my Countrey, wherin I may: and also, for very good profe of
Numbers vse, in this most subtile and frutefull, Philosophicall
Conclusion,) I entend in the meane while, most briefly, and with my
farder helpe, to c