Great pollicy may be vsed of the Capitaines, (at tymes fete, and in
places conuenient) as to vse Figures, which make greatest shew, of so
many as he hath: and vsing the aduauntage of the three kindes of vsuall
spaces: (betwene footemen or horsemen) to take the largest: or when he
would seme to haue few, (beyng many:) contrarywise, in Figure, and
space. The Herald, Purseuant, Sergeant Royall, Capitaine, or who soeuer
is carefull to come nere the truth herein, besides the Iudgement of his
expert eye, his skill of Ordering _Tacticall_, the helpe of his
Geometricall instrument: Ring, or Staffe Astronomicall: (commodiously
framed for cariage and vse) He may wonderfully helpe him selfe, by
perspectiue Glasses. In which, (I trust) our posterity will proue more
skillfull and expert, and to greater purposes, then in these dayes, can
(almost) be credited to be possible.

Thus haue I lightly passed ouer the Artificiall Feates, chiefly
dependyng vpon vulgar _Geometrie_: & commonly and generally reckened
vnder the name of _Geometrie_. But there are other (very many)
_Methodicall Artes_, which, declyning from the purity, simplicitie, and
Immateriality, of our Principall Science of _Magnitudes_: do yet
neuertheles vse the great ayde, direction, and Method of the sayd
principall Science, and haue propre names, and distinct: both from the
Science of _Geometrie_, (from which they are deriued) and one from the
other. As +Perspectiue, Astronomie, Musike, Cosmographie, Astrologie,
Statike, Anthropographie, Trochilike, Helicosophie, Pneumatithmie,
Menadrie, Hypogeiodie, Hydragogie, Horometrie, Zographie, Architecture,
Nauigation, Thaumaturgike+ and +Archemastrie+. I thinke it necessary,
orderly, of these to giue some peculier descriptions: and withall, to
touch some of their commodious vses, and so to make this Preface, to be
a little swete, pleasant Nosegaye for you: to comfort your Spirites,
beyng almost out of courage, and in despayre, (through brutish brute)
Weenyng that _Geometrie_, had but serued for buildyng of an house, or a
curious bridge, or the roufe of Westminster hall, or some witty pretty
deuise, or engyn, appropriate to a Carpenter, or a Ioyner &c. That the
thing is farre otherwise, then the world, (commonly) to this day, hath
demed, by worde and worke, good profe wilbe made.

Among these Artes, by good reason, +%Perspectiue%+ ought to be had, ere
of _Astronomicall Apparences_, perfect knowledge can be atteyned. And
byc