Volume 2

The herball or, generall historie of plantes / Gathered by John Gerarde ... Very much enlarged and amended by Thomas Johnson.

  • John Gerard
Date:
1633
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The herball or, generall historie of plantes / Gathered by John Gerarde ... Very much enlarged and amended by Thomas Johnson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    20/1730
    ordinarie,and oA. of the.(_ birurgions of the (ie of London,to the Reader. 3 George Baker, one of her <M aieflies chiefe ( hirurgtons in ec-2g Riffotlea Prince among{t the Philofophers; writing in his Me- 24. taphyficks of the nature of mankind faith that manisnatural es ly inclined and defirous of fcience. ‘The which fentence doth 4 teachvs;that all creatures (being vertuonfly given) doeftrine SfieVeste Creator ; and this knowledge is one of the: principall parts which doth concerne the perfection of vnderftanding : for.of the fame doth fol- low,that all fachare generally inclined te knowthe meanes by the which they may conferue their life,health,and reputation. And although it be neceflarie for man co learne and know all fciences,yet neverthelefle the knowledge of naturall philofophie ought to be preferred,as being the molt neceflari¢ ; and moreouer it doth bring wich icafingular pleafureand contentment, ‘The firft inuentor of thisknowledge was Chiron the Centaure,of greatrenowne,fonne to Saturne and Phillyre sand othersay that it was inuented of Apollo; & others of E/culape his fons eftéeming that fo excellent a fcience could neuer proceed but from the godsim- tmortall and chat it was impoffible for man to finde out the nature of Plants,sf the great worker,whichis God had. not firft inftrudted and. taught him. Foryas Pliny faith,if anythinke tharthefe things haue bin inuented'by man.heis vngrate2 full tor the workes of God. The firft that we can learn of among the Greekes that haue diligently written of herbes,haue bin Orpheus ,Mu/eus,and Hefode, haning bin taught by the “gyptians ; then Pythagoras of great renowne for his wiledom, which did write bookeés af the nature of Plants, and did acknowledge to learne the fame from Apollo: and Efeulape. Democrite allo did compofe bookes of Plants} hating firft-trauelled ouet all Perfia;Arabia,Ethiopia, and Egype.’ Many other excellent fpirits haue taken great pleafure in this {cienee, which to. acco mplifh haue hazarded their liues in.pafling many vnknowne regions, to learne the.tree knowledge of Blleborwsjand other Medicaments:of which number were: Hippo~ crates, Cratena ;Ariftotle,Theopbraft ,Diocles Cariftins,Pampbylus, MonzinsHieropbile, Diofcorides ;Gdlen, Pliny and many othérs,which I leaue to name, fearing to be too lone ‘And iflihay-fpeake without partialitie ofthe Author of chis book, his oreat paines, his nolefle expences in trauelling far. and:necrefor the attaining ot his skill haue bin extraordinarie.F or he was neuer. content with the knowledge of thofe fmples:which grow inthofe patts; but vpon: hispropet coltand charges hath had out oF all parts‘of the world all'the rare fimples which by any means he could ateainie viito,not oncly to haue them brought,but ‘hath procured by his ex- cellent knowledge to hauethem growing inhis garden, which as the ume of the yeare doth fertie may be feene: forthere (hall:you fee all manner ot ftrange trees, herbes,roots,plants,floures,and otherfuch rare chings,that it would make a man wonder,how one of his degree,not having the purfe of a number, could euer accompliththe fame.] proreit ypon my cenfcience,I- do not think for the know- dedge of Planes,that heisinferiour to any : for! did once fee him tried with one of the beft {trangers that euer came into England, and was accounted in Paris the onely man,being recommended vnto me by that famous man Mafter Amb. Paveus ones ri (hou! ai wt elt if fan {us berp male bat nny yards re we Joc dh Sal anPrt qed te inks Labo belt fal ei ha Tat kno ath fon cr
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