Introduction

TO THE HIGH AND MIGHTIE PRINCE, HENRY, Prince of Wales.

SJR,

NO vaine ambition of mine owne Desire, much lesse presumption of my none Desert, incited me to present this Volume to your Princely view; but rather, the gracious Countenance, which (euen from your Childehood) you haue euer daigned to all good endeauours, invited Mee also (after so many others) to offer at the high-Altar of your Highnesse fauour, this new-Naturalized Worke of a learned Stranger: Not with pretence of Profit to your Highnesse (who want not more exquisite Tutors in all excellent Sciences) but, vnder the Patronage of your powerfull Name, to benefite the Publicke; and conuay vnto my Countrymen (especially Architects and Artificers of all sorts) these Necessary, Certaine, and most ready Helps of Geometrie: The ignorance and want whereof, in times past (in most parts of this Kingdome) hath left vs many lame Workes, with shame of many Workemen; which, for the future, the Knowledge and vse of these Instructions shall happily preuent, if the euent but answere (in any measure) to that Hope of mine, which alone both induced this Desire and produced this Designe: Wherein I must confesse my part but small, sauing my great aduenture in the Charge, and my great Good-will to doe Good. All which, together with my best Seruices, I humbly prostrate at your Princely feete, as beseemes

Your Highnesse most humble Seruant Robert Peake.

To the Louers of Architecture.

OVr learned Author Sebastian Serly, hauing great foresight to shew and explaine the common rules of Architecture, did first publish his Fo•r•h Booke, entreating of Architecture, and after his Third Booke, declaring excellent Antiquities. Fearing that if hee had begunne with Geometrie and Perspectiue, common workmen would haue thought (that the two sornter although small) had not beene so needefull to studie and practise as the other: Which friendly Reader, considered, hindered mee long either from Translating or Publishing the two former, being perswaded by sundry friends and workemen, to haue desisted my purpose, both from translating or publishing. The which J had surely effected, if I had beene ouer-ruled by their requests and perswasions; alleadging strong reasons, that the common Workemen of our time little regarded or esteemed to Worke with right Simmetrie: the which is confused and erronious, in the iudgement of the Learned Architect, if they will follow the Order of Antiquities hereafter ensuing Wherefore least my good meaning, together with my Labour in Translating and Publishing, should not be regarded and esteemed (as worthie) considering it not onely tendeth to the great profit of the Architect or Workeman, but also generally to all other Artificers of our Nation: I aduise all generally, not to deceiue themselues, nor to be selfe-conceited in their owne workes, but well vnderstand this my labour (tending to common good) and be perswaded that who so shall follow these rules hereafter set downe, shall not onely haue his Worke well esteemed of the common people, but also generally commended and applauded of all workemen, and men of iudgement. Vale.