In those booklets some things will be said which time will prove, but many things will be refuted by time and experience as vain and worthless as is customary with the people, the latter will be committed to the winds, and the former, entirely to memory.

It is generally considered the duty of mathematicians to write annual Prognostics. Since, therefore, I have resolved to afford satisfaction for the approaching year 1602 from the birth of Christ our Savior in limiting the prognostics not so much to the curiosity of the public as to the duty of a philosopher, I will begin rather with that which can be predicted most safely a rich crop of prognostics for this year is forthcoming, as the number of authors is increasing daily, owing to the growing curiosity of the people.