( 24 )
may be most easily found, and most readily attend the seekers of New Inventions.
The way to accomplish this Worke must be to enquire what to this purpose is already done, or in hand, in all places and also by whom, so that Communication of councels and proceedings, may (if possible) be had with those undertakers.
All Bookes of this Subject already extant in Print, must be collected and bought, not to transcribe them, but to examine them per Autopsiam, and Re-experiment the Experiments contained in them, and withall to give hints of New Enquiries.
The Compiler must be content to devote his whole life to this employment, one who (as we said before) hath the fire of Industry and the Alembick of a Curious and rationall head, to extract the Quintescence of whatsoever hee seeth.
He should bee as young as sufficient Abilities will admit, to the end that he may with the concurrence of Gods ordinary Providence, either finish, or very farre advance the Worke, while he liveth, and also that living long in that employment, he may heap up the larger stock of Experiments, which how much the greater it is in one Man, affordeth so much the more hopes of New Inventions.
The Nature, Manner, and Meanes of Writing the History of Trades being so farre expounded, before we proceed further therein, for the better Encouragement of Undertakers, we shall now represent such Profits and Commodities thereof, to the Common-wealth, as we at present more nearly reflect upon. For to Enumerate or Evaluate them all, will be much above our Capacity.
1. All men whatsoever may hereby so look into all Professions, as not to be too grossely cozened and abused in them.
2. The Mysteries of Trades being so laid open, as that the Professors of them cannot make so unlawfull and exorbitant
