THE PROLOGUE of the Tranſlator.
TRue it is, that after the noble & expert doctrine of wiſe and well learned Philoſophers, lefte & remaining with vs in writing, we knowe that the properties of thinges followe and enſue their ſubſtannce. Héerefore it is, that after the order and the diſtinction of ſubſtaunces, the order and the diſtinction of the properties of things ſhall be and enſue. Of the which things, this worke of all the bookes enſuing, by the grace, helpe and aſſiſtaunce of Almighty God, is compiled and made. Meruaile not ye wittie & eloquent readers, that I thin of wit, and void of cunning, haue tranſlated this booke from latin into our vulgar language, as a thing profitable to me, and peraduenture to manye other, which vnderſtand not Latine, nor haue not the knowledge of the properties of things, which things be approued by the bookes of great and cunning Clearkes, and by the experience of moſt wittie & noble Philoſophers. All theſe properties of things be neceſſarie and of great valew, to them that will be deſirous to vnderſtand the obſcurities or darkneſſe of holy Scriptures, which are giuen to vs vnder figures, vnder parables & ſeemblance or likelihoods of things naturalls & artificialls. S. Denis that great philoſopher and ſolemyne Clearke, in his booke named, The heauenly Hierarchies of Angells, teſtifieth and witneſſeth the ſame, ſaieng in this manner: Whatſoeuer any man will coniect, faine, imagine, ſuppoſe, or ſay: it is a thing impoſſible, that the light of the heauenly diuine brightneſſe couered and cloſed in the Deitie or in the Godhead, ſhould ſhine vpon vs: if it were not by the diuerſities of holy couertures. Alſo it is not poſſible, that our wit or intendement might aſcende vnto the contemplation of the heauenly Hierarchies immaterials, if our wit be not led by ſome materiall thing, as a man is ledde by the hande: ſo by theſe formes viſibles, our wit may he ledde to the conſideration of ye greatnes or magnitude of the moſt excellent beauteous claretie, diuine and inuiſible. Alſo, the bleſſed Apoſtle Paule in his Epiſtles reciteth this, ſaieng: that by theſe things viſibles, which are made and be viſible, man may ſée and know by his inwarde ſight intellectuall, the diuine, celeſtiall, & godlye things, which are inuiſibles to this our naturall ſight. Deuout Doctors of Theologie or Diuinitie, for this conſideration, prudently and wiſely read and vſe natural philoſophie and morall, and Poets in their fictions and fayned informations, vnto this fine and end, ſo that by the lykelihoode or ſimilitude of things viſible, our wit or our vnderſtanding ſpiritually, by cléere and ſkilfull vtteraunce of words, may be ſo well ordered and vttered, that theſe things corporalls may be coupled with things ſpiritualls, and theſe things viſibles maye be conioyned with things inuiſibles. Excited by theſe cauſes to the edifieng of the people contained in our Chriſtian faith of Almightie Chriſt Ieſus, whoſe maieſtie diuine is incomprehenſible, and of whom to ſpeak it becommeth no man but with great excellent worſhip and honour, and with an inwarde dreadfull feare. Loath to offend, I purpoſe to ſay ſomwhat vnder the correction of excellent learned Doctours, and wiſe men: what euery creature reaſonable ought to beléeue in this our bleſſed chriſtian faith.
FINIS PROLOGI.
[Signature, handwritten] Thomas Extſſett(?) ¶. \ 1601 /
