Helmdon Mantle Tree Infcription,

167 improvement of the fons of citizens of a trading metropolis, both entrufled to tiie charge and government of focieties of merchants,- and one of them founded by a mercantile company, not any care was taken that the boys mould be put in the road to fo neceflary an acquifition ; and,' as I have underftood, no provifion for arith- metical knowledge was made in the original eftablimments of St. Paul r s and Merchant Taylors' Schools. In endeavouring to fupply fo great an omiflion Record was en-r titled to a coniiderable degree of merit ; for though, as he confefl"- cd, " his Ground of Artes might be of fmall aid to the learned ibrt> it might be to the fimple and the ignorant which needeth moft, a good furtherance and mean to knowledge-." Nor ought his co* adjutor, John Dee, to be paffed by wiihout his mare of credit. To an improved edition of Dr. Record's book the reputed conjurer prefixed thefe flanzas : . '* That whick my friend 'hath well begun - For very love to .common weal, Need not ; all whole to be new done But now inereafe. I doe appeal- . i " Something herein,! once redreft, . And now again for thy behoof, Of zeal I ;doe, and at requeft, Both mend and adde, fit for all proof* '. 9 "* Of numbers ufe> the endlefTe might. No wit nor language can exprefle : Apply and try both day and night, And then this truth thou wilt confeiTe.' 4 And to the title page of a fornxer edition, as it is believed, was fubjoincd ;