The Epittlc Dedicatory. 



of the particulars, concerning which, I had 

 no reafon to have a Regifter ready in my 

 head. Here firft my fortune was to finde a 

 multitude of monftrous untruths, and pro- 

 digies of lies, in both Latine and Englifh old 

 and new Writers, worfein their kinde then 

 the ftories in Sir John Mandevels Travels, 

 or in the Hiftory of Fryer Bacon and his Man 

 Miles -j or elfe what may be moreridicu- 

 loufly removed not onely from truth, but 

 from any femblance thereof. And which 

 moved me moft at this very feafon, when 

 weefteemed the World to be now awaked, 

 I found in the Shops Authors newly fet forth 

 (I hope againft their own wills) who fe- 

 rioufly profeffed to have made a feleti 

 choice of Experiments of this nature, and 

 to report nothing-, but what from observation 

 and experience they have certainly found 

 trne^ yet deferving not to have the credit 

 of Wecker and Porta. Profeffions in fuch 

 Papers, which feem to me at no time pro* 

 per, but when the perfons credits, together 

 with their Books, are joyntly to be fet to 

 fale. You eafily believe that lam not free to 

 follow thefe Examples, for then , firft, I 

 muft abufe your Noble Name, by infcribing 

 it to a moft unworthy Difcourfe, and then 

 (which is too common a fault) traduce as 

 many Readers, as ignorance and fisnple- 

 A 3 nefs 



