, : | ia e 
18 _ > Thetwo and twentierh Booke ea ee 
that very fame they tooke; were they never fo bafeweeds and of no reckoning): foras contemp- G 
tible otherwileas tiey were,yet being once emploied to this ufe,they ennobled andadorned the 
perfon himfelfe who ware them in a.Chaplet. And certes, the lefle\naarvell Lhaveif thele things 
bee nnknowne to us now adaies, {ceingias I doe; how little or no accountis made even of thofe 
things which make tothe «maintenance and prefervation.of ourhealdaisto the cure of all dolous 
rous greefes and maladies of the bodie; yea,and to the prevention ofdeathitfelfeButwhatmaa 
is there well given and honeltly minded,who can contain,and held luis peace, having fo jull cawle 
to reprove and rebuke the manner of the world.inthele our daies 2 Firlt acd formoft,our lifewas 
never fo coftly as now itis, inregardiof the dainties,delights and{uperfuities, which muftbee 
| maintained, it we will live to the fafhion of the time: and for to enjoy thefe pleafures onely, wee 
| hold our lives more {weet and precious. Never weremen more defirous of long life, and never py 
leffe carefull to entertaine the means of long life. The governement of our healthweecommit 
to the chargeof others,and ftraungers wee credit with our owne boaies, and yet flacke ynough 
and negligent are they,to ordaine according to our truft & confidengesthat which indeed {hould 
doe us good. Thus the Phyficians are provided well for: they thrive alone and goe,away with af 
gaines by thismeanes.Oh good God,to fee the follie and vanitie of man ! Nature having putfo 
many good things into our owne hands asfhe hath,and willing that wee fhould enjoy them for 
our health and pleafure :yerwe(to our great fhame andrebuke be itfpoken)are fo unhappie, as 
to commit our felves to othermens tuition, and live undertheir warrantizeandafiurance, Full 
well L know, that] for my partalfo, fhall have but {mall thankes of manya one forall my paines 
taken in writing this hiftorie of the world and Natures workes:nay, laniaflured tharlmake my 
felfe a laughing ttocke,and am condemned of them for {pending andJoofing my time infuch.a 
frivolous peece of worke as thisis. Howbeit,thisis yet my comfort and nofmallcontesmiment J 
take herein, that ay labors and travels (exceffive and infinitthough.they be)cannot be defpifed, 
burthe contempt will redound likewife to dame Nature her felfe. And yet fheeagaine, as akind 
and tender nource over mankinghath not failed (asI will declare hereafter) for our good,to ene 
due the very weeds which wee treadiunderfout with medicinable vertues, yea,and hath rr 
upon thofe which otherwife we hate and dare not approch, but with.carefull heed (for the fhrew 
ptickes and thornes which they carie about them) fingular properties to cure difeales. For,oyer 
and befides thofe whereof made mention in the booke going next before this,therebee other 
hearbs of that pricking kind, which arefo wonderfull in theit operation and etfe&s,that1 can gg 
never admire fufticiently and comprehend her providence. appearing in them, Furnifhed thee 
had the earth,with fmooth & pricklefle plants inougn, inthe mature of meats, forro content our 
tooth & fatishe our appetice: fhe had engraven and lively painted in flowers, notable properties 
in phyficke for to recover and maintaine our health; and by the finguler beautie which the gave 
unto them,vo allure the heart and eye of man tolooke toward them, faying(as it were) Come and 
gather us :wherein fhe had made a good medley of profitand pleafure together. And when thee 
had thus done, thee ftaied not there, but devifed to bring other hearbs, hideoustothe eye, and 
uotraclable in hand: Asif inthe forming of chem in thatfathion,we might heare her to give: 2 
reafon, Why fhe fo did? faying after a fort unto usin anaudible voice, That fhe made them with 
ptickes and thornes,becavfe fhe would nothave the foure-footed beafts(as hungrie and greedie 
after meat as they be)to eat them downe, Ehat the ihrewd hands of fome ungracious folke, wha 
can let nothing ftand,might not be ever and anone plucking and twitching atthem for wanton- 
nefle, That people fhould not go carelefiely trampling upon them with their feersfinally;For fear 
that birds pecking and fetling aloft upon their tender brauncies would flivethem down or knap_ 
them afunder. Therefore(I fay) with thefe prickles,ferving in ftead of weaponsas well defenfive 
as offenfive, fhe hath both protected and alfo armed chem: andallto keepe them fafe and {ure, 
forthe health of man,andto doe him fervice. Lo, howeven that whichwe hate and feeme toabs 
hor in chefe hearbs,was devifed for our comfort and benefiz,if wee had the grace te fee it. 
f 
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easy Ln GHOG Cuap, vil. io 03 : M 
Nb Ose The medicinable vertues of other flowers aud hearbs ferving for Chaplets. Alf of Erynge. 
hearbeit is againft{erpents, and all poyfons whatfoever,asif it srewfornothingels, Burto 
*Sea-Holly. Ko tale thofe hearbes which beare pricke,*Erynge or Eryngion, is fingular : fora foveraigne 
: vad come 
