The Way To Geometry

explanation will appear when the mouse pointer is moved over the marked passage. Cases which could conceivably be genuine variable orthography have been retained as printed. Many corrections are actually part of the arguments: no guarantee is given that all such errors in the text have been found and corrected. In the original, 20 pages were printed with out-of-sequence page numbers, the numbers as printed being repeated in the index. These have been retained as printed but marked with an asterisk to distinguish them from the in-sequence pages which have the same number, thus 249* Mixed fractions have been consistently transcribed as e.g. 5.5/96 although the period is not always present in the printed text (this avoids possible confusion of a hyphen, as 5-5/96, with a minus sign). The plus and minus signs in the printed text are apparently indistinguishable dashes - they have been transcribed as '+' and '-' as the context requires. VIA REGIA Ad GEOMETRIAM. THE WAY TO GEOMETRY. Being necessary and usefull, For Astronomers. Engineres. Geographers. Architecks. Land-meaters. Carpenters. Sea-men. Paynters. Carvers, &c. Written in Latine by Peter Ramvs , and now Translated and much enlarged by the Learned M r . William Bedwell. LONDON , Printed by Thomas Cotes , And are to be sold by Michael Sparke ; at the blew Bible in Greene Arbour, 1636. TO THE WORSHIPFVL M. Iohn Greaves , Professor of Geometry in Gresham Colledge London; All happinesse . SIR , Your acquaintance with the Author before his death was not long, which I have oft heard you say, you counted your great unhappinesse, but within a short time after, you knew not well whether to count your selfe more happie in that you once knew him, or unhappy in that upon your acquaintance you so suddenly lost him. This his worke then being to come forth to the censorious eye of the world, and as the manner usually is to have some Patronage, I have thought good to dedicate it to your selfe; and that for these two reasons especially . First, in respect of the sympathy betwixt it, and your studies; Laboures of this nature being usually offered to such persons whose profession is that way setled . Secondly, for the great love and respect you alwayes shewed to the Author, being indeed a man that would deserve no lesse, humble, void of pride, ever ready to impart…