(3^8) 
in vain) by fome of the greateft Men in matters of 
Literature, as Gefner, Nicholas He'mjius^ Monfieur Bigot ^ 
Monfieur Godin , Dr. Francis Bernardy and others ; fo 
that a fingle Copy of them has been (bid for an loo /. 
fterling: Yet we muft ingenioufly conrefs, that we are 
ignorant of the time in which the Author of thefe Cont* 
mentaries flouriftied tho' tis probable he is much more 
ancient then 4 or 500 Years (in which the Excellent 
Mr. Grevius thinks fit to place him) from the manner of 
his Style , which feems to be above the common Vein 
of the Cloyfter, or the Genius of that Age. Some paf- 
iages there are in him, which might be added by Rea- 
ders or CDpifls, who frequently ufed to interpolate and 
corrupt the pureft and the beft Authors ; butfuchare 
eafily difcernible to a Critical Eye, which knows how 
to diftinguifli the feveral Pencils that have touched the 
fame piece. 
The Firft Edition of this Book was in 1473. but by what 
IFate I know not, it foon vanilhed, and became unknown, 
and even loft to the moft induftrious fearches, till Fojjius 
in his Inflit Orator, and De Hijior, Lat, was pleaftd to 
illuftrate the Hiftory of it, and to (et it in its true light ; 
which gave a frefli edge to feveral great Men, to fliew the 
paflion they had of feeing it,but to no purpofe, till the dif- 
fufive Generofity of M Grevius brought it forth in a better 
form, to which in this Lond.Edit, there are added an 
Jex^ and the Tejlimoni€s of Famous Men concerning Jh'^ 
lius Celfus and thefe Commntaries. 
ERRATA. 
No 2 1 7. Page 1 1 1« Line 14^ for it b , read it is the half of, 
N'^ 221. Page 295. Line 1 7. for lafcivx read lafcivix. 
LONDON: Printed for S. Smith and B.Walford, Printers to \ 
the Ropl Society, at the Prince's Arms in St. Paul's Church- } 
yard, 1696, 
