of theſe books, but hoping that I ſhould ſet them forth with corrections and enlargements, and for that cauſe I gave them to Tritemius a Neapolitanian Abbot, formerly a Spanhemenſian, a man very induſtrious after ſecret things. But it happened afterwards, that the work being intercepted, before I finiſhed it, it was carryed about imperfect, and impoliſhed, and did fly abroad in Italy, in France, in Germany through many mens hands, and ſome men, whether more impatiently, or imprudently, I know not, would have put it thus imperfect to the preſs, with which miſcheif I being affected, determined to ſet it forth my ſelf, thinking that there might be leſs danger if theſe books came out of my hands with ſome amendments, then to come forth torn, and in fragments out of other mens hands. Moreover I thought it no crime if I ſhould not ſuffer the teſtimony of my youth to periſh. Alſo we added ſome Chapters, and we inſerted many things, which did ſeem unfit to paſs by, which the curious Reader ſhall be able to underſtand by the inequality of the very phraſe; for we were unwilling to begin the work anew, and to unravell all that we had done, but to correct it, and put ſome flouriſh upon it. Wherefore now I pray thee, Curteous Reader, again, weigh not theſe things according to the preſent time of ſetting them forth, but pardon my curious youth, if thou ſhalt finde any thing in them that may diſpleaſe thee.
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