"Botmlcks and Medicine. ih^ Argum^t.Order, andUfefulncfs of ehefame^ 
interfperfing withallthe Caufesand Origmof thofc many Errors, which 
ihoxh -/Ancients and Moderns have fallen into upon this Subjeft; as alfo 
the negligence of thofcAntients- the Progrcfs of Phjftck^d^mo^g xhtRomans\ 
and the Age ofthecheif Writers on this Argument: Adding alfo the Au- 
thors opinion concerning Pliny, what is to be appro vd, what to be con- 
demned in him, and how far we are to proceed in the admiration of 
that Writer. 
But the Reader will doubtlefs receive the beft fatisfaiSion con- 
ceraiag thi« Book , from M, L4ntin hjnifelfe , as he was pleaf'd 
to give it in a late Letter of his to the Publiftier , accompanying 
the Prefent , he made of fevcral Copies of it to the R. Society , 
&ad to divers particular Members thereof ^ delighting in Bbtan- 
icalStudies to this eflfeft, 
SI I fendymfome ExemfUrsof the IntrodnBrn to a grtut Work,] 
^htchU, Dela Mare andlh^vecauPdtohefrinttd, t6 excite the Lovers 
ef Learning to facilitate the impreffion of the Whole Book,. I promife my felfe^ 
that this Prefent vpHI not be unacceptable to you, as mil in refpeSi of the Author^ 
^ho^ bejldes his great Learning generally knorvn ^ had the Honour to be lov'd 
■ hy Majefty G. Brittain, a$ for the worth of the Treatifeitfelfe if 
'"Which yoH may fudge by this Preface. Although it be a vfork^altogether Qi • 
.lical, and which^ Corrclling only Errors about the Names of Simfles^ may feem 
to contribute but little to the k^owledg^ of Mature ^ for the Advancement of 
yvhichyour llluftrious Society mfloys Allits Studies and Labors withfi much 
reputation ^ yet I may fay ^ that even this Book^may ferve for the accomplijh' 
mem of that great Dejign^ forasmuch as in difcovering the Errors and Neg^ 
iigence of the Antients^ and of the Afvdms that have follow* d them in the Hif- 
tory of plants ^ it /hews the necejfity there is to labour after a new Natural 
Hifiory, that may be free from thofe defeEis , if We intend to lay folid founda- 
tions for knowledge , and particularly for the Art of Medicine, In the mean 
time, thofe that ^ra^hifeit^ ^being often confirain^d to ufe Simples , the virtue sf 
which is not k?own to them but by the Experience' of the Antients , may by Ayd 
' ef this Bookavoid very dangerous miftakcs. 
But what Judgment foeveryoufiall make both of the Book^ and its Preface , 
Ipjall be fatisfi*d^ if you andyeur lUufirieus Friends, {to whom Jintreatyou to 
prefent fome of the Copies accompanying this^ pjall receive them as amarkj>f my 
efleem of the R. Society, the dejSgn of which I admire as the Nobleft , that ever 
was undertaken by men, I unceffantly praife their Induftry^ Prudence and Sin- 
cerity , and in finitely Value the parts and knowledge of thofe ^thatcompofe it. 
^ ^d this occafion /hal alfo ferve Meto&c^ 
^ ' LONDON, 
Printed by T. N. tor John Martyn Printer to the Royal Soeiety , and 
are to be fold at &he Bdi a litdc wirtiout Tmfle^BAr^ 16O9. 
