To the Louers of Architecture.
Vr learned Author Sebaftian Serly, hauing great forefight to flew and explaine the common rules of 'Architecture ; did Jirfl publifi his Fourth Booke-, entreating of Architecture, and after his Third Bo oke, declaring excellent An- tiquities. Fearing that ifhee had begunne with Geometrie and Perjpectiue, common workmen would haue thought ( that the two former although fmall) had not beene fo needefull to fludie andprattife as the other : Which friendly Reader, considered, hindered mee long either fromTranJlating or Pubtiflringthe two former, being perjwaded by Jundry friends and workemen,to haue defifled my purpofe, both fromtranflatingor publijhing . The which / hadfurely effected, if I had beene ouer-ruled by their requefis and perfwafions) alleadging flrong reafons, that the common Workemen of our time Vwtle regarded or ejieemed to Worke with right Simmetrie : the which is confuted and erronious, in the iudgement of the Learned Architect:, if they will follow the Order of Antiquities hereafter enfuing. Where- fore leafi my good meaning, together with my Labour in Translating and PublifJnng , [hould not be regarded and cfleemed ( as worthie ) confidering it not onely tendeth to the great profit of the Architect or Workeman, but alfo generally to ail other Artificers of our Nation : I aduife all gene- rally, not to deceiue themfelues, nor to be felfe-conceited in their owne worke s, but well ynder- Jland this my labour (tending to common good) and be per (waded that who fo fiall follow thefe rules hereafter fet downe,JhaU not onely haue his Worke well ejieemed of the commonpeople,but aljo generally commended and applauded of all workemen,and men of iudgement. Vale.
