viii Preface 



The book is founded mainly upon a study of the herbals 

 themselves. My attention was first directed to these works 

 by reading a copy of Lyte's translation of Dodoens' Herbal, 

 which happened to come into my hands in 1894, and at once 

 aroused my interest in the subject. I have also drawn 

 freely upon the historical and critical literature dealing with 

 the period under consideration, to which full references will 

 be found in Appendix II. The materials for this work 

 have chiefly been obtained in the Printed Books Department 

 of the British Museum, but I have also made use of a number 

 of other libraries. I owe many thanks to Prof. Seward, 

 F.R.S., who suggested that I should undertake this book, 

 and gave me special facilities for the study of the fine 

 collection of old botanical works in the Botany School, 

 Cambridge. In addition I must record my gratitude to 

 the University Librarian, Mr F. J. H. Jenkinson, M.A., 

 and Mr C. E. Sayle, M.A., of the Cambridge University 

 Library, and also to Dr Stapf, Keeper of the Kew Herbarium 

 and Library. By the kindness of Dr Norman Moore, 

 Harveian Librarian to the Royal College of Physicians, 

 I have had access to that splendid library, and my best 

 thanks are due to him, and to the Assistant- Librarian, 

 Mr Barlow. To the latter I am especially indebted for 

 information on bibliographical points. I have also to thank 

 Mr Knapman of the Pharmaceutical Society, Dr Molhuizen, 

 Keeper of the Manuscripts, University Library, Leyden, 

 and the Librarian of the Teyler Institute, Haarlem, for 

 giving me opportunities for examining the books under 

 their charge. 



The great majority of the illustrations are reproduced 

 from photographs taken directly from the originals by 

 Mr W. Tarns of Cambridge, to whom I am greatly indebted 

 for the skill and care with which he has overcome the 

 difficulties incidental to photographing from old books, the 

 pages of which are so often wrinkled, discoloured or 



