Mathematical Learning (to ſpeak nothing touching the neceſsity & delight thereof) hath bin ſo ſparing
ly imparted to our Countrymen in their native Engliſh, eſpecially the nobler and ſublimer part,
that in Compliance with the Solicitations of ſeveral of my noble and learned Friends, and the Incli
nations of ſuch as are Mathematically diſpoſed, more eſpecially thoſe, who either want Time or
Patience to look into the vulgar and unſtudied Languages, I did adventure upon this Work of Collecting & Tranſ
lating from amongſt the excellent Pieces that are ſo abounding in the Italian and French Tongues, ſome of thoſe
that my own obſervation and the intimation of Friends were moſt uſefull and deſired, and with all moſt wanting
in their Own.
ly imparted to our Countrymen in their native Engliſh, eſpecially the nobler and ſublimer part,
that in Compliance with the Solicitations of ſeveral of my noble and learned Friends, and the Incli
nations of ſuch as are Mathematically diſpoſed, more eſpecially thoſe, who either want Time or
Patience to look into the vulgar and unſtudied Languages, I did adventure upon this Work of Collecting & Tranſ
lating from amongſt the excellent Pieces that are ſo abounding in the Italian and French Tongues, ſome of thoſe
that my own obſervation and the intimation of Friends were moſt uſefull and deſired, and with all moſt wanting
in their Own.
I was, indeed, at firſt ſeriouſly Conſcious, and am now, by experience, fully convinced how diſproportionate the
weight of the Enterprize is to the weakneſs of the Vndertaker, but yet the Paſsion I ever had to be ſubſervient to
my Friends and Compatriots in their Inquiſition after theſe Sublime Studies, and a Patience which I owe to the
Flegme that is predominant in my Conſtitution, joyned with a nine-years converſence in theſe Languages, as alſo an
unhappy and long Vacation that the perſecutions of the late Tyrants gave me from more advantagious employ
ments ſo prevailed with me, that I reſolved to improve even my very Confinement to ſerve thoſe Friends, whom, as
the Times then ſtood, I could not ſee.
weight of the Enterprize is to the weakneſs of the Vndertaker, but yet the Paſsion I ever had to be ſubſervient to
my Friends and Compatriots in their Inquiſition after theſe Sublime Studies, and a Patience which I owe to the
Flegme that is predominant in my Conſtitution, joyned with a nine-years converſence in theſe Languages, as alſo an
unhappy and long Vacation that the perſecutions of the late Tyrants gave me from more advantagious employ
ments ſo prevailed with me, that I reſolved to improve even my very Confinement to ſerve thoſe Friends, whom, as
the Times then ſtood, I could not ſee.
The Book being for Subject and Deſign intended chiefly for Gentlemen, I have hin as careleſs of uſing a ſtudied
Pedantry in my Style; as careful in contriving a pleaſant and beautiful Impreſſion. And when I had conſidered
the hazard, and computed the charge of the undertaking, I found it to exceed the ability of a private Purſe, eſpe
cially of mine, that had bin ſo lately emptied by the hand of violent enemies, and perfidious friends; not to
make mention here of the Sums that a Loyal Reflexion upon my Princes Affairs had at the ſame time drawn
from me; and judg'd that the most ſafe, eaſy, and reaſonable way was to invite thoſe Perſons who had appeared
deſirous of the Book, to be contributary to their own Contentment, by ſubſcribing towards the charge of this Pu
blication.
Pedantry in my Style; as careful in contriving a pleaſant and beautiful Impreſſion. And when I had conſidered
the hazard, and computed the charge of the undertaking, I found it to exceed the ability of a private Purſe, eſpe
cially of mine, that had bin ſo lately emptied by the hand of violent enemies, and perfidious friends; not to
make mention here of the Sums that a Loyal Reflexion upon my Princes Affairs had at the ſame time drawn
from me; and judg'd that the most ſafe, eaſy, and reaſonable way was to invite thoſe Perſons who had appeared
deſirous of the Book, to be contributary to their own Contentment, by ſubſcribing towards the charge of this Pu
blication.
And for the better management of the Work, I joyned to my ſelf a Printer, whoſe Genius having rendered
him Mathematical, and my overtures of profit having intereſſed his diligence, I was induced to promiſe my ſelf a
more than common Aſſiſtance from him: and at his door I with reaſon lay all miſcarriages that concerns his
Profeſſion in the Buſineſs.
him Mathematical, and my overtures of profit having intereſſed his diligence, I was induced to promiſe my ſelf a
more than common Aſſiſtance from him: and at his door I with reaſon lay all miſcarriages that concerns his
Profeſſion in the Buſineſs.
In this Work I found more than ordinary Encouragement from that publick ſpirited Perſon the Reverend and
Learned Dr. Thomas Barlow, Provoſt of Queens Colledge Oxford, and Margaret Profeſſor in that Vniver
ſity, as alſo from thoſe two able Mathematicians and my Reall Friends Major Miles Symner, and Mr. Robert
Wood of Trinity Colledge Dublin, and ſome few others whoſe Modeſty hath expreſly enjoin'd me a concealment
of their Names.
Learned Dr. Thomas Barlow, Provoſt of Queens Colledge Oxford, and Margaret Profeſſor in that Vniver
ſity, as alſo from thoſe two able Mathematicians and my Reall Friends Major Miles Symner, and Mr. Robert
Wood of Trinity Colledge Dublin, and ſome few others whoſe Modeſty hath expreſly enjoin'd me a concealment
of their Names.
Well, at length I have got to the end of my firſt Stage; and if I have not rid Poſt, let my excuſe be that my long
ſtay for my Warrant cauſed me to ſet out late; and being ill mounted, and in a road full of rubbs, I could not with
any ſafety go faſter; but hope to get it up in the next Stage, for in that I intend to ſhift my Horſes.
ſtay for my Warrant cauſed me to ſet out late; and being ill mounted, and in a road full of rubbs, I could not with
any ſafety go faſter; but hope to get it up in the next Stage, for in that I intend to ſhift my Horſes.
The names of thoſe Authors and Treatices which I judged would moſt grace our Language, and gratify Stu
dents, are particularly expreſt in the General Title of the two Tomes. Diſtinct Tomes they are as conſiſting of
ſeverat Pieces: Collections I call them, becauſe they have bin ſo publiſhed, diſperſt, and worn out of Print, that
they very rarely meet in one hand: and Tranſlations I own them to be, as not pretending to any thing more than
the diſpoſure and converſion of them: thoſe Tracts only excepted which compoſe the ſecond Part of the ſecond
Tome.
dents, are particularly expreſt in the General Title of the two Tomes. Diſtinct Tomes they are as conſiſting of
ſeverat Pieces: Collections I call them, becauſe they have bin ſo publiſhed, diſperſt, and worn out of Print, that
they very rarely meet in one hand: and Tranſlations I own them to be, as not pretending to any thing more than
the diſpoſure and converſion of them: thoſe Tracts only excepted which compoſe the ſecond Part of the ſecond
Tome.
The firſt Book which offers it ſelf to your view in this Tome is that ſingular and unimitable Piece of Reaſon
and Demonſtration the Syſteme of Galilco. The ſubject of it is a new and Noble port of Aſtronomy, to wit the
Doctrine and Hypotheſis of the Mobility of the carth and the Stability of the Sun; the Hiſtory whereof I ſhall
hereafter give you at large in the Life of that famous Man. Only this by the by; that the Reader may not wonder
why theſe Dialogues found ſo various entertainment in Italy (for he cannot but have heard that though they have
been with all veneration valued, read & applauded by the Iudicious yet they were with much deteſtation perſecuted,
ſuppreſſed & exploded by the Superſtitious) I am to tell him that our Author having aſſigned his intimate Friends
Salviati and Sagredo the more ſucceßfull Parts of the Challenger, and Moderater, he made the famous Commen
tator Simplicius to perſonate the Peripatetick. The Book coming out, and Pope Urban the VIII. taking his Ho
nour to be concern'd as having in his private Capacity bin very poſitive in declaiming against the Samian Philo
ſophy, and now (as he ſuppoſed) being ill delt with by Galilco who had ſummed up all his Arguments, and pur
them into the mouth of Simplicius; his Holineſs thereupon conceived an implacable Diſpleaſure against our Au
thor, and thinking no other revenge ſufficient, he employed his Apoſtolical Authority, and deals with the Conſiſtory
to condemn him and proſcribe his Book as Heretical; proſtituting the Cenſure of the Church to his private revenge.
This was Galilco's fortune in Italy: but had I not reaſon to hope that the Engliſh will be more hoſpitable, on the
account of that Principle which induceth them to be civil to (I ſay not to dote on) Strangers, I ſhould fear to be
charged with imprudence for appearing an Interpreter to that great Philoſopher. And in this confidence I ſhall
forbear to make any large Exordium concerning him or his Book: & the rather in regard that ſuch kind of Gau
deries become not the Gravity of the Subject; as alſo knowing how much (coming from me) they must fall ſhort of
the Merits of it, or him: but principally becauſe I court only perſons of Judgement & Candor, that can diſtinguiſh
between a Native Beauty, and ſpurious Verniſh. This only let me premiſe, though more to excuſe my weakneſs in
the menaging, than to inſinuate my ability in accompliſhing this ſo arduous a Task, that theſe profound Dialogues
have bin found ſo uneaſy to Tranſlate, that neither affectation of Novelty could induce the French, nor the
Tranſlating humour perſwade the Germans to undertake them. This difficulty, as I conceived, was charged either
upon the Intricacy of this manner of Writing, or upon the ſingular Elegance in the ſtile of Galilco, or elſe upon the
and Demonſtration the Syſteme of Galilco. The ſubject of it is a new and Noble port of Aſtronomy, to wit the
Doctrine and Hypotheſis of the Mobility of the carth and the Stability of the Sun; the Hiſtory whereof I ſhall
hereafter give you at large in the Life of that famous Man. Only this by the by; that the Reader may not wonder
why theſe Dialogues found ſo various entertainment in Italy (for he cannot but have heard that though they have
been with all veneration valued, read & applauded by the Iudicious yet they were with much deteſtation perſecuted,
ſuppreſſed & exploded by the Superſtitious) I am to tell him that our Author having aſſigned his intimate Friends
Salviati and Sagredo the more ſucceßfull Parts of the Challenger, and Moderater, he made the famous Commen
tator Simplicius to perſonate the Peripatetick. The Book coming out, and Pope Urban the VIII. taking his Ho
nour to be concern'd as having in his private Capacity bin very poſitive in declaiming against the Samian Philo
ſophy, and now (as he ſuppoſed) being ill delt with by Galilco who had ſummed up all his Arguments, and pur
them into the mouth of Simplicius; his Holineſs thereupon conceived an implacable Diſpleaſure against our Au
thor, and thinking no other revenge ſufficient, he employed his Apoſtolical Authority, and deals with the Conſiſtory
to condemn him and proſcribe his Book as Heretical; proſtituting the Cenſure of the Church to his private revenge.
This was Galilco's fortune in Italy: but had I not reaſon to hope that the Engliſh will be more hoſpitable, on the
account of that Principle which induceth them to be civil to (I ſay not to dote on) Strangers, I ſhould fear to be
charged with imprudence for appearing an Interpreter to that great Philoſopher. And in this confidence I ſhall
forbear to make any large Exordium concerning him or his Book: & the rather in regard that ſuch kind of Gau
deries become not the Gravity of the Subject; as alſo knowing how much (coming from me) they must fall ſhort of
the Merits of it, or him: but principally becauſe I court only perſons of Judgement & Candor, that can diſtinguiſh
between a Native Beauty, and ſpurious Verniſh. This only let me premiſe, though more to excuſe my weakneſs in
the menaging, than to inſinuate my ability in accompliſhing this ſo arduous a Task, that theſe profound Dialogues
have bin found ſo uneaſy to Tranſlate, that neither affectation of Novelty could induce the French, nor the
Tranſlating humour perſwade the Germans to undertake them. This difficulty, as I conceived, was charged either
upon the Intricacy of this manner of Writing, or upon the ſingular Elegance in the ſtile of Galilco, or elſe upon the