86 JOHN GOODYER 



Theodorus Gaza translated Theophrastus from Greek into 

 Latin and dedicated it to Pope Nicolas : a calculation 

 shows that Nicolas was pope from 1447 to 1455 ^^^ 

 that Gaza died in 1478. But of still greater interest are 

 the words : 



Lodpve? ia6 Johes iaO i obolon 



which evidently refer to Goodyer's coadjutor John Heath, 

 who will be mentioned again presently, and to whom we 

 believe that the pa}'ments just recorded were made. 



Had Goodyer wished for a Preface to his translation 

 he might well have used the words of his senior, Henry 

 Lyte : 



' If perchaunce any list to picke a quarrell to my translation, as 

 not being either proper or not ful, if I may obteine of him to beare 

 with me til he himselfe shall have set foorthe a better . . . and in the 

 meane while (considering that it is easier to reprehend a mans doing 

 than to amend it) use me as a whetstone to further himselfe withal, 

 I will not much strive : for I seeke not after vayne glorie, but rather 

 how to benefite and profite my countrie.' 



In March he continued his studies in the botany of the 

 ancients by translating, doubtless with the help of John 

 Heath, the work of one of the principal commentators 

 on Dioscorides, the Scholia or Anwiadversions upon the 

 5 Bookes of Dioscorides of PhysicalL matter and upon his 

 two Bookes of Poisons, of Antonius Saracenus of Lyons, 

 ' In which y^ severall readings of divers Bookes are exa- 

 mined, y^ different opinions of y^ old or new propounded, 

 and some tymes reconciled, and y^ most corrupt, obscure, 

 and difficult places of y'^ Author himself, restored, illus- 

 trated, and unfolded '. 



Goodyer, with his usual punctiliousness, noted that the 

 translation was begun on 20 March 1655 at 11 a.m. 



Saracen's dedication is 'To Henry y^ 4th y^ most 

 Christian King of France and Navarre ' and is dated ' y® 

 Calends of March 1 598 '. This is followed by the Intro- 

 duction, which is worth quoting as an example of the 

 literary style of the time. 



