TO THE 



READER. 



iFter what the Frontijpecc and Porch of this 

 Wooden Ed/ fee prefents you, I (hall need 

 no farther to repeat the Occafion of this 

 following Vifcomfe : I am only to acquaint 

 you , 7 hat as it was deliver'd to the 

 ROYALSOCIETY by an unworthy Member there- 

 of, in obedience to thtir Commands^ by the fame it is now 

 publifh'd without any further Profpc^. And the Reader 

 is to know. That if thele dry fiic]{s afford him any Sap, 

 it is one of the leaji and mcaneji of thofe fteces which 

 are every day produc'd by that lUujirious Ajjembly^ and 

 which enrich their CoUeSiions^ as fo many Monmnents of 

 their accurate Experiments^ and Publique Endeavours, in 

 order to the produftion of real and ufeful Theories^ the 

 Propagation of "Natural Science^ and the honour of their 

 Infiitution. If to this there be any thing fubjoyn'd herc^ 

 which may a while bcfpcak the patience of the Reader, 

 it is only for the Encouragement of an Induflry, and 

 worthy Labour, too much in our days negle£ied, as haply 

 eftecm'd a confidcration of too fordid and vulgar a na- 

 ture' for Noble Perfons and Gentlemen to bufie themfelvcs 

 withal, and who oftner find ways to fell down and de- 

 ftroy their Trees and Plantations, then cither to repair or 

 improve them. 



But what fhall I then fay of our late prodigious 

 Spoilers, whofe furious devaftation of fo many goodly 

 Woods^zv\di Forejis have left an Infamy on their Names and 

 Memories not quickly to be forgotten ! I mean our un- 

 happy 'Vfurpers, and injurious Se<juejlrators *, Not here 

 to mention the deplorable neceflities of a Gallant and 

 Loyal Gentry, who for their Compofiiions were (many of 

 them) compell'd to add yet to this Wafle, by an inhu- 

 mane and unparallel'd Tyranny over them, to prcfervc 

 the poor remainder of their Fortunes^ and to find them 

 Bread. Nor 



