TO THE READER. 



37" 



envy, that, living far from the physician, he should, in case of necessity, 

 consult the Reverend Druid, his Oaks *, and his Elm, Birch, or Elder, 'Ne suvse 

 for a short breath, a green wound, or a sore leg, casualties incident to his ridiorque na- 

 hard labour. These are the chief particulars of this ensuing Work, and medicinis ca< 

 what it pretends hitherto of singular, in which let me be permitted to p^ente*rTrim 

 say, there is sufficient for instruction, and more than is extant in any 



quam non re- 



coUection whatsoever (absit verbo invidia) in this way, and upon this Se^homfnt 

 subject, abstracting things practicable, of solid use, and material, from fieret'^'Slm 

 the ostentation and impertinences of divers writers, who, receiving all 

 that came to hand on trust, with a view to swell their monstrous volumes, JJ^''^™^- 

 have hitherto imposed upon the credulous world, without conscience or essT^lemedk 

 honestv. I will not exasperate the adorers of our ancient and late natu- p="'^'=' ^"is°' 



^ mventu faci- 



ralists, by repeating what our Verulam has justly pronounced concerning "g^^j"'^^™; 

 their rhapsodies, because I likewise honour their painful endeavours, and ^us vivimus 



. . , Plin. lib. xxvi. 



am obliged to them for much of that I know ; nor will I, with some, cap. i. 

 reproach Pliny, Porta, Cardan, Mizaldus, Cursius, and many others of 

 great name, whose writings I have diligently consulted, because of the 

 knowledge they have imparted to me on this occasion ; but I must 

 deplore the time which is, for the most part, so miserably lost in pursuit 

 of their speculations, where they treat upon this argument. The world 

 is now advised, and, blessed be God, infinitely redeemed from that base 

 and servile submission of our noblest faculties to their blind traditions. 

 This, you will be apt to say, is a haughty period ; but whilst I affirm it of 

 the past, it justifies and does honour to the present industry of our age ; 

 and of which there cannot be a greater and more emulous instance than 

 the passion of his Majesty to encourage his subjects, and of the Royal 

 Society, (his Majesty's Foundation,) who receive and promote his dictates, 

 in all that is laudable and truly emolumental of this nature. 



It is not therefore that I here presume to instruct him in the manage- 

 ment of that great and august enterprize of resolving to plant and repair 

 his ample forests, iand other magazines of timber, for the benefit of his 

 Royal Navy, and the glory of his kingdoms ; but to present to his Sacred 

 Majesty, and to the world, what advices I have received from others, 

 observed myself, and most industriously collected from a studious propen- 

 sity to serve as one of the least intelligences in the ampler orb of our 

 illustrious Society, and in a work so necessary and important. 



F 



9 



