To the READER.

AMongst other Treatises of this deceased Author, of which, in their due time, we intend to make thee partaker, we have, in the first place, made choice of this, as well in some measure to keep our word with thee, as also to stay thy expectation till other things can be made ready. We intend not to spend time either in the commendation of It or the Author, being w•ll assured that our words will not, where the matter it self is 〈…〉 capable to, satisfie therein the judicious Reader. Onely let 〈◊〉 say thus much, that though the generall Subject of this Book 〈◊〉Dialling, yet 'tis handled in a way which no man whosoever, Page  [unnumbered] that we know of, hath hitherto fully traced. For by it thou wilt see, that the representing the true Houre by the shadow made by the Axis of the World is but one of those infinite wayes which may be invented, and that it is as possible to do the same thing by the shadow of the Axis of one of the vertical Circles, and by the projection of one Ellipsis upon a plain, sup∣ply the place of all the Parallels comprehended within the Tro∣picks. 'Tis true, that Mr. Va•lezard, a learned Mathema∣tician, we think yet living in France, hath some yeers since published a short Treatise in that Language, in which he shew∣•th by the projection of an Ellipsis upon the plain of the Hori∣zon, and by the help of an upright moveable stile to finde the He•re and Azimuth, with some other uses of the same. But this Treatise of our Author is very different from that, and most of the things here handled, such as are not appliable to his, and in themselves wholly new.

In the next place, if it shall seem strange to any that amongst other things, as well of this, as of different natures, which we intend shortly to Publish; we begin first with this of Dialling (a Subject upon which something too hath already been published by our Author, and from whence some might perhaps take occasion to carp at him, as either unable for other things, or too much busied in this) we desire them first to con••∣der how difficult this Subject hath been thought by the 〈◊〉, and withall what large Volumes have been writ by som•Page  [unnumbered] of the best rank of later Mathematicians, (such were Cla∣vius, Maigran, and others) and then compare their wayes with what they shall here and hereafter (God willing) finde in our Author, and we doubt not, but they will be forced to yield him it this honour, to have made that Art, in all the Cases of it, and all Circumstances thereunto belonging, more easie and expedite both in the Understanding and Practice, and with much more brevity than any that have gone before him either of our own or other Nations.

Lastly, we advertize thee (Reader) that our Authour, in regard of his great and long infirmities, could not fit either this, or any other of his Treatises for the Presse, as he desired and intended; and therefore they must needs want much of that accomplishment which otherwise they would have had. But we hope, notwithstanding, thou wilt finde so much of worth in them as they now are, whereby thou wilt judge them (as we do) fitter to be made publick, then wholly suppressed.