PREFACE.

A decorative woodcut initial 'A' features ornate foliage, scrolls, and architectural motifs.

Several years ago, benevolent reader, this philosopher of ours, GILBERT, was printed and published in London, and he shared his diaskepseis examinations/discussions regarding the nature of the magnet with the literary world. However, in these regions of ours, it was a very rare bird and became known to few. I have now exhibited and restored it again with an altered appearance: for the writings of such a great man should not be most unfairly hidden, but rather recalled from the shadows to the light in any way possible, especially since I know that no one in this subject, which is truly most difficult, is his equal. For what others scarcely touch upon with a word, our GILBERT has unfolded most amply and idiom: "began the matter as if from the egg," meaning from the very beginning has explained most clearly and sharply. Although Scaliger refers to Julius Caesar Scaliger, a philosopher and critic treated all other things with subtlety, he could not satisfy the truth of the matter in this question. He appeals, along with other philosophers, to occult qualities. But to one who is ignorant, everything is occult and hidden. Hence it also happens that in many matters, as our book 2, chapter 2 attests, when some argue a cause for which they cannot provide a reason, they bring in the magnet and amber as if they were masked advocates. But these men (besides that common error), not knowing that the causes of magnetic motions are far different from the powers of amber, stumble easily, and they themselves are further deceived by their own thoughts.