TO THE READER. 



I AM to give advertisement, that there came forth of late 

 a translation of this Book by an unknown person, who 

 though he wished well to the propagating of his Lordship s 

 Works, yet he was altogether unacquainted with his Lord 

 ship s style and manner of expressions, and so published a 

 translation lame and defective in the whole. Whereupon 

 I thought fit to recommend the same to be translated anew 

 by a more diligent and zealous pen, which hath since tra 

 velled in it ; and though it still comes short of that lively 

 and incomparable spirit and expression, which lived and 

 died with the author, yet I dare avouch it to be much more 

 warrantable and agreeable than the former. It is true, 

 this Book was not intended to have been published in 

 English ; but seeing it hath been already made free of that 

 language, whatsoever benefit or delight may redound from 

 it, I commend the same to the courteous and judicious 

 Reader. W. R. 



TO THE PRESENT AGE AND POSTERITY. 



GREETING, 



ALTHOUGH I had ranked the History of Life and Death as 

 the last amongst my six monthly designations, yet I have 

 thought fit, in respect of the prime use thereof (in which 

 the least loss of time ought to be esteemed precious), to in 

 vert that order, and to send it forth in the second place. 

 For I have hope, and wish, that it may conduce to a com 

 mon good ; and that the nobler sort of physicians will ad 

 vance their thoughts, and not employ their times wholly 

 in the sordidness of cures, neither be honoured for necessity 

 only, but that they will become coadj utors and instruments 

 of the divine omnipotence and clemency in prolonging and 

 renewing the life of man ; especially, seeing I prescribe it 

 to be done by safe, and convenient, and civil ways, though 

 hitherto unassayed. For though we Christians do conti 

 nually aspire and pant after the land of promise ; yet it will 

 be a token of God s favour towards us in our journeyings 

 through this world s wilderness, to have our shoes and 

 garments (I mean those of our frail bodies) little worn or 

 impaired. 



FR. ST. ALBANS. 



