The schoole of skil containing two bookes: the first, of the sphere, of heauen, of the starres, of their orbes, and of the earth, &c. The second, of the sphericall elements, of the celestiall circles, and of their vses, &c. Orderly set forth according to art, with apt figures and proportions in their proper places, by Tho. Hill.

To the Reader.

DIuers haue writtē of sun∣dry matters in former A∣ges, to the intent to bene∣fit these our later times, wherin a man can name no kind of Art or Science, liberall or me∣chanicall, but there are as rare wits to bee found as euer liued since lerning florished. The reason is good that it should be so. For first, we haue come to our handes, vse and iudgement, whatsoeuer either autique or moderne Authors haue left behinde. Se∣condly, the gouernment (God be blessed) hath a long time (now these 40. yeares)

bin so peaceable, that Students had neuer more libertie to looke into learning of any profession, for the inlarging of their vn∣derstanding. Lastly, the meanes other∣wise, aswell out of the vniuersities, as in them, haue been and are so many and so good, to attaine to all knowledge, that I dare be bold to say, England may com∣pare with any Nation for number of ler∣ned men, and for variety in professions. Of late a man of good merit, named Tho. Hill, painful with his pen whiles he liued, (as the world can witnesse, being possessed of sundry his works in Print) now decea∣sed, left this Treatise Mathematical, in∣tituled The Rudiments of the Sphere: which being found by iudgment of the ler∣ned in the like profession, worthy the pub∣lishing, I haue, not only for the memory of the Author, but also for the profit of alwel

affected Students, vndertaken to set forth. Wherein whosoeuer bestoweth time & la∣bor to read, with a temperate and sober spirit, I doubt not but they shall be satisfi∣ed in all such points, as this Mathema∣tician pretendeth to handle. His stile is not to be plausible, considering the subiect or matter whereof he discourseth, doth re∣straine him, both to tearmes of Art, and phrases consonant. But for his order and facility (such as a profession of this nature will beare) better to be conceiued, than some (none dispraised) that haue written of the like argument. It is not vnlike, but he would (if God had spared him longer life) haue held on as he began, to set forth for the common good of his and our Coun∣try diuers necessary works. This seeming his last, and whereof there is vse both on Sea and Lande, printed according to his

owne copy, and the Figures answe able to the patterns as they were dravne by pen, now newly stept into the world, receiue & read friendly, find no faul; but accept the good minde of the de••eased man, and thanke them by whose meanes this booke, which otherwise night haue beene lost, is set on foot, and come abroad. April. 8. 1599.

Yours W. I.