large and copious List, but from experience and reason attempting their decisions.
And first we crave exceeding pardon in the audacity of the Attempt; humbly acknowledging a work of such concernment unto Truth, and difficulty in it self, did well deserve the conjunction of many heads: And surely more advantageous had it been unto Truth, to have fallen into the endeavours of some cooperating advancers, that might have performed it to the life, and added authority thereto: which the privacie of our condition, and unequall abilities cannot expect. Whereby notwithstanding we have not been diverted, nor have our solitary attempts been so discouraged, as to despair the favourable look of Learning upon our single and unsupported endeavours.
Nor have we let fall our Penne, upon discouragement of contradiction, unbelief, and difficulty of disswasion from radicated
1
beliefs, and points of high prescription; although we are very sensible how hardly teaching years doe learn, what roots old age contracteth into
errors, and how such as are but Acorns in our younger brows, grow Oaks in our elder heads, and become inflexible unto the powerfullest arm of reason. Although we have also beheld, what cold requitals others have found in their severall redemptions of Truth; and how their ingenious enquiries have been dismissed with censure, and obloquie of singularities.
Some consideration we hope from the course of our Profession; which though it leadeth us into many Truths that passe undiscerned by others, yet doth it disturb their communications, and much interrupt the office of our Pens in their well intended transmissions: and therefore surely in this work attempts will exceed performances: it being composed by snatches of time, as medicall vacations, and the fruitlesse importunity of Uroscopy
2
would permit us. And therefore also perhaps it hath not found that regular and constant stile, those infallible experiments, and those assured determinations, which the subject sometime requireth, and might be expected from others, whose quiet doors and unmolested hours afford no such distractions. Although who shall indifferently perpend
3
the exceeding difficulty, which either the obscurity of the subject, or unavoidable paradoxologie
4
must often put upon the Attemptor, will easily discern, a work of this nature is not to be performed upon one legge, and should smell of oyle
5
if duly and deservedly handled.
Our first intentions considering the common interest of Truth, resolved to propose it unto the Latine republicke and equall judges of Europe; but owing in the first place this service unto our Countrey, and therein especially unto its ingenious Gentry, we have declared our self in a Language best conceived. Although I confesse, the quality of the Subject will sometimes carry us into expressions beyond meer English apprehensions; and indeed if elegancie still proceedeth, and English Pens maintain that stream we have of late observed to flow from many, we shall within few years be fain to learn Latine to understand English, and a work will prove of equall facility in either. Nor have we addressed our Penne or stile unto the people, (whom Books doe not redresse, and are this way incapable of reduction) but unto the knowing
and leading part of Learning; as well understanding (at least probably hoping) except they be watered from higher regions, and fructifying meteors of knowledge, these weeds must lose their alimentall sappe and wither of themselves; whose conserving influence, could our endeavours prevent, we should trust the rest unto the sytbe of Time, and hopefull dominion of Truth.
We hope it will not be unconsidered, that we finde no open tract, or constant manuduction
6
in this Labyrinth; but are oft-times fain to wander in the America and untravelled parts of Truth; For though not many years past, Dr Primrose hath made a learned and full Discourse of vulgar Errors in Physick, yet have we discussed but two or three thereof. Scipio
And first we crave exceeding pardon in the audacity of the Attempt; humbly acknowledging a work of such concernment unto Truth, and difficulty in it self, did well deserve the conjunction of many heads: And surely more advantageous had it been unto Truth, to have fallen into the endeavours of some cooperating advancers, that might have performed it to the life, and added authority thereto: which the privacie of our condition, and unequall abilities cannot expect. Whereby notwithstanding we have not been diverted, nor have our solitary attempts been so discouraged, as to despair the favourable look of Learning upon our single and unsupported endeavours.
Nor have we let fall our Penne, upon discouragement of contradiction, unbelief, and difficulty of disswasion from radicated
1
beliefs, and points of high prescription; although we are very sensible how hardly teaching years doe learn, what roots old age contracteth into
errors, and how such as are but Acorns in our younger brows, grow Oaks in our elder heads, and become inflexible unto the powerfullest arm of reason. Although we have also beheld, what cold requitals others have found in their severall redemptions of Truth; and how their ingenious enquiries have been dismissed with censure, and obloquie of singularities.
Some consideration we hope from the course of our Profession; which though it leadeth us into many Truths that passe undiscerned by others, yet doth it disturb their communications, and much interrupt the office of our Pens in their well intended transmissions: and therefore surely in this work attempts will exceed performances: it being composed by snatches of time, as medicall vacations, and the fruitlesse importunity of Uroscopy
2
would permit us. And therefore also perhaps it hath not found that regular and constant stile, those infallible experiments, and those assured determinations, which the subject sometime requireth, and might be expected from others, whose quiet doors and unmolested hours afford no such distractions. Although who shall indifferently perpend
3
the exceeding difficulty, which either the obscurity of the subject, or unavoidable paradoxologie
4
must often put upon the Attemptor, will easily discern, a work of this nature is not to be performed upon one legge, and should smell of oyle
5
if duly and deservedly handled.
Our first intentions considering the common interest of Truth, resolved to propose it unto the Latine republicke and equall judges of Europe; but owing in the first place this service unto our Countrey, and therein especially unto its ingenious Gentry, we have declared our self in a Language best conceived. Although I confesse, the quality of the Subject will sometimes carry us into expressions beyond meer English apprehensions; and indeed if elegancie still proceedeth, and English Pens maintain that stream we have of late observed to flow from many, we shall within few years be fain to learn Latine to understand English, and a work will prove of equall facility in either. Nor have we addressed our Penne or stile unto the people, (whom Books doe not redresse, and are this way incapable of reduction) but unto the knowing
and leading part of Learning; as well understanding (at least probably hoping) except they be watered from higher regions, and fructifying meteors of knowledge, these weeds must lose their alimentall sappe and wither of themselves; whose conserving influence, could our endeavours prevent, we should trust the rest unto the sytbe of Time, and hopefull dominion of Truth.
We hope it will not be unconsidered, that we finde no open tract, or constant manuduction
6
in this Labyrinth; but are oft-times fain to wander in the America and untravelled parts of Truth; For though not many years past, Dr Primrose hath made a learned and full Discourse of vulgar Errors in Physick, yet have we discussed but two or three thereof. Scipio
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