The Epiftle to the Reader. 
Worke-man cannot imitate, and Jucb venues and properties, that although wen 
know many, yet many more lye bidden and Vnknowne , but many good inflruBions 
alfo to our] elues : That as many herbes and flowers Hsith their fragrant j weete 
fmels doe comfort, and as it to ere reu m the [pints, and perfume a To hole houje ; 
euen [o juch men as Hue Vertuoufly , labouring to doe good, and profit the Church of 
God and the Commonwealth by their paines or penne, doe as it were fend forth a 
pleaflng fauour of J meet infractions, not only to that time wherein they hue , and 
are frejh, but being drye, withered and dead , ceafe not in all after ages to doe as 
much or more. Many herbes and flowers that bane [mail beautie or /auour to com- 
mend them, haue much more good vfe and Vertue: fo many men of excellent rare 
parts and good qualities doe lye hid vnknown and not ref pelted, yntill time and yfe 
of them doe fet forth their properties. Againe, many flowers haue a glorious fl?ew 
of beauty and brauery, yet /linking in /meli, oreljeof no other <v[e : fomany 
doe make a glorious oflentation, and fiourifl > in the world , when as if they jtinke 
not horribly before God, and allgood men, yet furely they haue no other vertue then 
their out fide to commend them, or leaue behind them. Some alfo rife njp and appear 
like a Lilly among Thornes, or as a goodly Flower among many W cedes or Graffe, 
eytber by their honourable authorise, or eminence of learning or riches, whereby 
they excell others , and thereby may doe good to many. The frailty alfo of Mans 
life is learned by the foone fading of them before their flowr ing, or in their pride, or 
Joone after, being either cropt by the hand of the fpe Bator, or by a f udden blafl wi- 
thered and parched, or by the reuolution of time decaying of it owne nature : as 
alfo that the faireft flowers or fruits firfl ripe, are fooneft and fir ft gathered. The 
mutabilitte al/o of flates and perfons, by this, that as where many goodly flowers 
fruits did grow thisyeare and age, in another they are quire pulled or digged Vp, 
and eyther tveedes and graffe grow in their place, or fame buildingereBcd thereon , 
and their place is no more known. The Quill refpeBs to be learned from them are 
many alfo : for the delight of the <■ varieties both of formes, colours and properties 
of Herbes and Flowers , hath euer beene power full ouer dull, unnurtured, rufticke 
and fauage people, led only by Features inflinB ; how much more powerfull is it, or 
fhould be in the mindes of generous perfons i for it may well bee [aid, he is not hu- 
mane, that is not allured with this obtecl. The ftndy, knowledge, and trauel in them , 
as they haue been entertained of great Things [Princes and Potentates, without dif- 
paragement to their Greatnefje, or hinder ance to their more ferious and weighty 
Affaires -.fo no doubt Vr.to all that are capable thereof, it is not onely plea[ant,but 
profitable, by comfortingtheminde, fpirits andfenfes with an harmelejfe delight, 
and by enabling the inducement to conferre and apply helpe to many dangerous di- 
feafes. It is alfo an InftruBer in the Verity of thegenuine Plants of the Ancients, 
and a QorreBer of the many errours whereunto the world by continuance hath cm 
diuerted,and almofl therein fixed, by eradicating in time, and by degrees, the perti- 
nacious wilfulneffe of many, who becaufe they were brought Vp in their errours, are 
moft vnwilling to leaue them without confider ation of the good or euill, the right or 
Wrong, they draw on therewith. And for myfelfe I may well fay , that had not mine 
owne paines and ftudiesby a naturali inclinat ion beene more powerfull in mee then 
any others helpe ( although fame through an euill difpofltton and ignorance haue fo 
far traduced me as to fay this Was rather another mans worke then mine owne, but 
I leaue them to their folly) 7 had neuer done /o much as I here pub l iff? • nor been fit 
or prepared for a larger, as time may fuddenlyf by Gods permifsionjbrmg to light, if 
the maleuolent dijpojitions of degenerate fpirits doe not hinder the accomplijhment. 
