WILLIAM GILBERT

of Melford,

Brother of the Author of this New Philosophy,

TO THE READER.

I found these papers and small codices original: codicillos — small notebooks or manuscripts. in a state of disorder—or rather, scattered about—through my searching; once found, I arranged them to the best of my ability. I have done so not in a manner fully equal to the weight of the subject, nor to the merit of the Author; and perhaps not even according to his own wish had he lived, for he certainly would have more successfully adorned the truth he discovered with his own genius. Yet I hesitated in my mind, fearing that by suppressing a subject of such great weight, I might do an injustice to those minds inclined toward great things. The hope of being of service overcame my fear, as did the desire to challenge others, through the means of that devotion original: pietate — here meaning familial duty and affection. which demands of me the highest duty toward a brother who loved me with more than brotherly love. I wish nothing to be attributed to me except the care and performance of my duty; but for him, and for this, his unfinished original: immaturo — literally "unripe," referring to the work being left incomplete at the author's death. work, I greatly desire trust and remembrance. You, indeed, Reader, whoever you are, who shall have toiled more over this subject, or who shall have labored more fittingly on this work for his sake, will have done me a great favor.

NOTE.

The reader will perhaps marvel that both brothers are named William. But those skilled in English affairs know that this sometimes happens among the English—not without reason relating to domestic arrangements original: rationes oeconomicas — this refers to a historical practice, sometimes seen in the 16th century, of giving the same name to multiple children to ensure a name survived or for specific inheritance purposes., and even among those who are not of the lowest rank of the people. My authority for this is G.B. Presumably Sir William Boswell, mentioned on the title page as the source of the manuscript., a man most worthy of a longer life, who recently joined the many original: concessit ad plures — a classical Latin idiom meaning he passed away..