TO THE READER Ixxxv 



parties, it has been Modestly and Frugally, and with chief, if 

 not only respect to the poor Wood-man, whom none I 

 presume will envy, that living far from the Physician, he 

 should in case of Necessity, consult the reverend Druid, his a 

 Oafy and his Elm, Birch, or Elder, for a short Breath, a Green 

 Wound, or a sore Leg ; Casualties incident to this hard 

 Labour. These are the chief Particulars of this ensuing 

 Work, and what it pretends hitherto of Singular, in which let 

 me be permitted to say, There is sufficient for Instruction, 

 and more than is extant in any Collection whatsoever (absit 

 verbo invidia} in this way and upon this Subject ; abstracting 

 things Practicable, of solid use and material, from the Ostent- 

 ation and Impertinences of divers Writers ; who receiving 

 all that came to hand on trust, to swell their monstrous 

 Volumes, have hitherto impos'd upon the credulous World, 

 without conscience or honesty. I will not exasperate the 

 Adorers of our ancient and late Naturalists, by repeating of 

 what our Verulam has justly pronounced concerning their 

 Rhapsodies (because I likewise honour their painful Endea- 

 vours, and am obliged to them for much of that I know,) 

 nor will I (with some) reproach Tliny, Porta, Cardan, fMizal- 

 dus, Cursius, and many others of great Barnes (whose Writings 

 I have diligently consulted) for the Knowledge they have 

 imparted to me on this Occasion ; but I must deplore the 

 time which is (for the most part) so miserably lost in pursuit 

 of their Speculations, where they treat upon this Argument : 

 But the World is now advis'd, and (blessed be God} infinitely 

 redeem'd from that base and servile submission of our no- 

 blest Faculties to their blind 'Traditions. This you will be 

 apt to say, is a haughty Period-, but whilst I affirm it of 



1 Ne silvae quidcm, horridiorque naturae fades medicinis carent, sacra ilia 

 parente rerum omnium, nusquam non remcdia disponente homini ut Medicina, 

 fieret etiam solitudo ipsa, &c. HincnataMedicina, &c. Haec sola naturae placuerat 

 esse remedia parata vulgo, inventu facilia, ac sine impendio, ex quibus vivimus, 

 &c. Plin. 1. 24. c. I. 



