THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY 



TO MV WORTHV AND HONOURED FRIEND 



NICHOLAS BACON, of GILL1NGHAM, ESQUIRE 



Had I not observed that purblind men have dis- 

 coursed well of sight, and some without issue, 1 excel- 

 lently of generation ; I, that was never master of any 

 considerable garden, had not attempted this subject. 

 But the earth is the garden of nature, and each fruitful 

 country a Paradise. Dioscorides made most of his 

 observations in his march about with Antonius ; and 

 Theophrastus raised his generalities chiefly from the 

 field. 



Besides, we write no Herbal, nor can this volume 

 deceive you, who have handled the massiest thereof : 

 who know that three folios - are yet too little, and how 

 new herbals fly from America upon us : from per- 

 severing enquirers, and hold in those singularities, we 

 expect such descriptions. Wherein England is now 

 so exact, that it yields not to other countries. 



1 Dr. Harvev. 2 Bauhin's Thiatrum Botamcum. 



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