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George Baker, one of her <z5M°ajeJlies chief e Qhimrgi 



ordinarie ,and t5^f . of the Chirurgiom of the titie 



of London, to the <r R^ader* 



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R£lotle# Prince amongft the PhiIofophers,writing in his M c - 

 taphyficks of the nature of mankind,faith,that man is natural- 

 ly inclined and defirous of fcience. The which fentence doth 

 teach vs,that all creatures (being vertuoufly giuen)doc ftriue 

 to attain to perfe<aion,and draw neere in what they can to the 



l • l j . - Cre ? t0r J *r d - this knowled S c i$ °ne of the principal! parts 

 which doth concerne the perfeftion of vnderftanding: for of the fame doth fol 



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that all fuch are generally inclined to know the meanes by rhe which they 

 may conferue their Iife,hcaltb,and reputation. And although it be neceflary for 

 man to learn and know all fciences,yet neuertheielTe the knowledge of natural! 

 philofophie ought to be preferred, as being the molt neceffary : and moreoucr 

 it doth bring with it a lingular pfeafureand contentment, The firft inuentprof 

 this knowledge was Chiron the Qentdure,of great renowne/onne to Saturne and 

 PhiByreimd others fay that it was inuented of Apollofr others ofBfculape his fori • 

 efteeming that fo excel lent a fcience could neuer proceed but from the gods im^ 

 mortal], and that it was impolTible for man tofindeout the nature of Plants it 

 the great worker,which is God,had hotfM inftru&cd and taught him. For, as 

 Pliny faith,if any think that thefe things haue bin inuented by man,he is vnerare- 

 full for the worfees of God.Thefirft that we can learne of among the Greeks that 

 haue diligently written of herbes, haue bin Orpheus Mats jnd Hefiodehwmz 

 t>in taught by the Egyptian s:then Pythagoras ofgreat renown for his wifdome! 

 which did write bookes of the nature of Plants,and did acknowledge to learne 

 the fame jlrom Apollo and Efcuhpe. D^m^alfodidcompofe bookes of Plants, 

 fiauing firft trauelied ouer all Perfia, Arabia, Ethiopia, and Egypt. Many othe. 

 excellent (pints haue taken great pleafure in this fcience, which to accomplish 

 liaue hazarded their hues m paflmg many vuknowne pegions,to learne the true 

 knowledge of EQeborusM other Medicaments? of which number were Hippo- 



THoJcondes.Gakn.Ptiny.md many others,which I leaue to name,fearin2 to be too 

 Jong. And if I may fpeake without partiality of the Author of this book, his great 



P £nu' L ? ° ex P cnfcs in trauelling far and neere for the attaining of his 

 skill haue bin extraordinary. For he was neuer content with the knowledge of 

 thofe hrapies which grow in thofe parts, but vpon his proper coft and charges 

 hath had out of all parts of the world all the rare iimples which by any means he 

 could attame vnto,not only to haue them brought,but hath procured by hiscx- 

 cellent knowledge to haue them growing in his garden,which as the time of the 

 re doth ferue may be feene.for there flhall you fee all manner of ftrange trees, 

 bes,roots,plants,fWes : and other fuch rare things,that it would make a man 

 wonder how one of his degree, not iiauing thepurfe of" a number, could euel 

 accomplish the fame. I proteft vpon my confeience,! do not thinkc for the know- ] 

 T? C , ™ nts > that h , e is mferiour to any : for I did once fee him tried with one 

 f the belt Itrangers that euer tame into England, and was accounted in Paris 



cly man, being recommended vntome by that famous man Matter Amb. 



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