Anti-Prognostication, Preface
The preface to the Reader.
COnsyderyng with my selfe, (gentyl reader) that so manynotable workmen at thys tyme, hathe by theyr cunning, & also by their diligēt laboure, hauehave layde the foundation of a moste woorthy buildynge: & also brought the same a good waye aboue the grounde, intendynge by gods helpe not onelyonly to finishe the playne worke thereof, but also to garnishe it with suche ornamentes as myghte beseeme so princely a palayce: I thoughte it not my parte for the good affection that I heart to the woorke, to stande altogyther ydell, yf by any meanes I myghte be profytable in the same. And walkynge about to see the compasse and fasshion of it, I perceyued that the great stones whiche pertayned to the structure were suche as neither by my strengthe I was able to lyste theym, nor yet by my cunnyng in that kynd of mas… ry to place and ioyne theim: but as for hewyng or fashionyng them, I sawe it was so farre aboue my knowledge and vnderstandyng, that I dyd not ones applye my selfe to hauehave any medlynge with them. At the last when I had …ewed all other thynges sufficiently, I espied a lyttle heape of rubbyshe whyche not only hyndered them that wente to and fro o…er it, in specdynge their worke, but also semed to be no small deformitie to the leuelled playnesse of the statte forme, whereon the buyldyng should stande, I myghte see also that some of the master masons them selues had taken paines in remouynge the same vnprofytable Chaos: which caused me to thynke, that I coulde not be better occupied then to conney the same quight out of the way, that it shoulde neyther be a lette nor an yll sight, in the procedyng of so necessary busynes. Wherefore I prepared and made for my selfe as it were a lyttell wicker baskette, whiche I myght easily beare, so cary away this hyndryng heape, where it shalbe confused and utterly dispersed abroade. And although the substance of my bas kette be symple and weake, yet it is good enoughe to cary tubb… …he and suche lyght stuffe as I put therin. But as soone as I beganne to tourne vp the vpper parte therof, I vnderstode, that because it had lyenge longe compacte togyther, thers was bredde in it a great numbre of toades and snakes that beganne to hysse and spewe out theyr poyson agaynst me, bycause I diseased theim of their nesle and barrborowe. But God be thanked I come not naked among them, I hauehave an armoure called Veritas, that is able to withstande the malice euen of dragons, and crocodiles. Som men perchāce wolde meruayle why I woulde not strike …eim, that so furiousely hauehave gone about to stynge me. In deede I hauehave prepared al redy moderate defence, but I staye vppon certayne dóubtes that are these:
Fyrst, whether it be the poynte of al… ned manne to rayle or no…
Secondely, whether the conclusion in Syllogismo litigiolo bee good or no?
And thirdly whether there be a kynde of argument called Syllogismus conuciatorius, or no? these doubtes resolued I wold… procede. As for Uaughan I hauehave nothing to dooe with hym, but to wysshe hym his tyghte wyttes and a good tongue.
I hauehave taken vpō me to dissolue this masse at astrologie, and that by goddes helpe I wyll doo to the vttermoste of my power, so that my contention is agaynst no mā. But my labour is to remoue this obstacle out of good menues waies, and if any yll men hereafter exercise their malyce vponupon me, I must nedes say as Socrates sayde: Though an asse spurne agaynst me, I wil not go to lawe with hym. Therefore they that hauehave delyte in railyng, let them rayle and spare not: They that hauehave pleasure in scoffyng, lette theim scoffe and flowte tyll they hauehave proued theym selues cōmen parasites and sycophantes in so dooynge, I wyll not ones be moued with suche vnhoneste meanes. But yf any man shall propounde any probable argument to mayntayne this cause, I wyll doo the best I can to answer it, and if I be not able (as I hauehave always offered) I wyll yelde vntounto hym. Wherefore gentyll reader, if thou cansts fynde thy selfe eased with any of these two small trauayles, I hauehave my request.