The Craft of Mediation.
¶ Sequitur de mediacione.
Incipe sic, si vis aliquem numerum mediare:
Scribe figurarum seriem solam, velut ante.
The four things to be known in mediation: ¶ In þis Chapter is [taȝt] þe Craft of [mediaciouɳ], in þe quych craft þou most know 4 thynges. ffurst what is mediacioɳ. the secunde how mony rewes of figures þou most haue in þe wyrchynge of þis craft. þe thryde how mony diuerse cases may happ in þis craft.[8] the first ¶ As for þe furst, þou schalt vndurstonde þat mediacioɳ is a takyng out of halfe a nomber out of a [holle] nomber, leaf 149 a. *as yf þou the second; wolde take 3 out of 6. ¶ As for þe secunde, þou schalt know þat þou most haue one rewe of figures, & no moo, as þou [hayst] in þe the third; craft of duplacioɳ. ¶ As for the thryd, þou most vnderstonde þat the fourth. 5 cases may happe in þis craft. ¶ As for þe fourte, þou schalle know þat the profet of þis craft is when þou hast take away þe haluendel of a nombre to telle qwat þere schalle leue. ¶ Incipe sic, &c. The sentence of þis verse is þis. yf þou wold [medye], þat is to say, take halfe out of þe holle, or halfe out of halfe, þou most begynne þus. Begin thus. Write one rewe of figures of what nombre þou wolte, as þou dyddyst be-fore in þe Craft of duplacioɳ. versus.
¶ Postea procedas medians, si prima figura
Si par aut impar videas.
¶ Here he says, when þou hast write a rewe of figures, þou schalt See if the number is even or odd. take hede wheþer þe first figure be eueɳ or odde in nombre, & vnderstonde þat he spekes of þe first figure in þe ryȝt side. And in the ryght side þou schalle begynne in þis Craft.
¶ Quia si fuerit par,
Dimidiabis eam, scribens quicquid remanebit: