MAn beinge allianced , both with Heaven , and earthe , is throughe his corporall necessityes constrayned , to conterate , and spende the best time of his Life , in Sleepe , & repose : notwithstanding being resuscitated , & erected out of a profounde , & deepe somniation , through the best parte of himselfe , which is his Soule , he pursueth , only and favoureth verye soberlye , the most vile and abiecte thinges , the concupiscence , and apetite wherof , he communicateth , and participate the , with brute , and irrationalle beastes . For man is not only this maske or vizard , and this figurated and articulated Massa in certayne members , which with our eyes we discover and behoulde , & with our fingers we may touche and sensiblye feele : but is rather , the virtue , and internalle for me , which effectuateth life in him , vigor , agilitye , and temperature , the same beinge as it weare , a radiant beame a little sparckle , and parcell , of the Divinitye , transmitted , and descended out of the most gloriouse Empire of Heaven , to effectuate , and bringe to passe in this wretched worlde , in our bodye , a shorte , and breefe ligatione : For who is there which doubteth , that the Soule , remembringe , and callinge to minde her first originalle , woulde not addresse , and endevoure her selfe to lerne , yea and if it weare possible to relerne , all those thinges , which be honorable vnto her Creator , & might also be profitable to all other creatures ? & for this cause it is , whye we have not our countenances declined towardes the earth as the brute beastes , but have them elevated towardes Heaven , because through such contemplacione , and by readinge of the true booke of lyfe , we might drawe therout , and practice on the ordre , and imitate , the constance which the caelestiall corps , doe observe , and one their perpetualle , and profitable agitatione therof . Let vs therfore consider on the Sunne , which is as it weare a Prince , and moderatoure of all other caelestiall constellations : what doth shee otherwyse effect through her environing rounde of the earth , then light vs , calefye , and warme vs , vivisye , & administre lyfe vnto vs ? but what commoditye , and profite is it vnto vs to searche the sunne on highe have we not the earth it selfe which with our feete we inculcate , and treade one , and accuse the same to be brute , & insensible , doth shee refuse , to receave , and conceave , and agayne continuallye , and without cessation superfluouslye procreate , and liberally imparte vnto vs , all that which is necessary , vnto our vesture aliment , and nourture ? It weare also indeede great shame , perfidiousnes , and execrable disloyaltye , and treason for vs , whom God hath adorned with so livelye , vigorouse , and fruictfull a spirite , that as all thinges which are inanimate , doc travayle , and laboure for our proffite , we shoulde shewe our selves stupidouse , and involuntary to helpe the one the other in all thinges possible and advaunce them : for as the wise , and sage men heertofore have sayed , that even as all the mundayne , and terrestrialle thinges , are created for man , and his vse , in like sorte also are men created for God , and the one man for the other . This consideration most illustriouse , & mightye Kinge , hath vrged , and impelled me , after that I next vnto your maiestye , have discharged my duty , and function , which I was owinge vnto your Highnes , and that especiallye in curinge of my Lorde , the Earle , of Montpensier and my Lordes of Buhy , & of Montigny , to peruse , & revolve certayne rescriptiones , and memorialles , which I had compiled , and collected together , when I served the disceased Kinge , as well touchinge the manuall operations , as also the comparisone , and conference of the aunciente instruments of Chyrurgerye , with the nue inventede , because through the discourse & rehearsall of the same , and by the discriptione and defiguratione of the foresayed instrumentes , to demonstrate , what commodity we might hope , and reape out of the one more then out of the other : All which , havinge accordinge to mye possibillirye , & as much as this pitifull time woulde permit & allowe of finished , I have embouldened myselfe , to consecrate , and dedicate the same vnto your most renoumned Maiestye : whom supliantlye & with all humillity I desire , requeste , and intreate , benignly to receave it , as a gifte , or present , which is not disagreeing vnto the present time , nether will be discommodiouse to your highnes . For because this Kingdome of Fraunce , is blinded with rage , & error , through the fatalle censure of the most fearfull God , doth ruinate it selfe , into his owne spoyle , of what arte I pray ( seinge that all other artes doe decrease , vnder this fear of warres ) might it rather implore confort & secourse , than of Physicke or Chyrurgerye ? And what is more Royalle , & more magnificall heer on earth , yea and more divine , then to recreate the afflicted , to relevate , & consorte the depressed , & humbled , and to restore health to all men , without which all dulcor , & pleasantnes of our life is nothinge els then amaritude , and Gaule ? Wherfore most magnificent , and renoumned Kinge , permit● praye and humblye intreate your highnes , that vnder your Heroicall name , this Pamphlet may be published , because throughe the same , as alsoe throughe youre most illustriouse actes , of the which the posteritye , perpetuallye shall not be silent , may be revealed , and knowne , how fayn your Highnes sawe this poore Kingedome of Fraunce florishe agayne : which now seemeth to respire , and in shorte time exsperateth to have an ominouse and happye end of her miseries , and calamityes , through the prudence wherwith your Maiesticall valoure , and vigilant valiaunce is accompaniede , and associated . From Paris , the 15. of Septembre , 1594.

THere is a common saying , & is now taken for a common proverbe : that all thinges have theire time , theire place , and theire sayson : by which occasion divers , & sundry interprises , which indeede of themselves are goode , doe leese their grace , and decorum , onlye because in theire condecent time they weare not practised , & put in vre . But it is not soe with the vtilitye , which the common wealth expecteth , throughe our industrye , principallye , & especiallye , through the studyes of good artes : such fruictes are never importune , nether at anye time out of season , nether abortive : but are at all times very wellcome , & profitable , on what time soever , on what manner , or of whome they might be brought : In which facte , the maxime , or proverbe may very truely be spoken of Maximo Fabio , whoe sayede , that all intentions , which to the publiqve profite of the commonewealthe weare assayede , & intended is allwayes well hopede of , to have a good evente , & is esteemede to be a happye intente , or praemeditatione : And contrarily those are esteemede infeliciouse , & vnfortunate , & are of a funestalle , and sorrowfull event , which are intendede , and attendede , vnto the dammage of the commone wealthe .

Wherfore I neede not doubte , of that which I praetende to mayntayne , and publishe into light , shall of any one whatsoever , be taken in badde parte , because I have conceavede , and publishede the same in time of iarres , and warres : For what time might I have elected more convenient , & propre , & more profitable to meditate one this Chyrurgerye , which compraehendeth her operatione , & propre Instrumentes , then at this time , Fraunce beinge in all qvarters , & in al partes , armed , & in weapons ? & animated agaynst her owne entralles , & we having our owne mindes exvlcerated as it weare , and hardened the one agaynst the other , by which occasione we to our greate greefe , and sorrowe , must behoulde , at all houres , so manye poore wounded , & mutilatede persons , their corps beinge wounded throughe the rage , and malevolence of their foes , on the which we are constrayned to imploy our handes , & instrumentes to reduce agayne the same to theire former , and accustomed health agayn ? Or what might they otherwyse hope , and expecte of me , then that which is accordinge , and agreinge vnto my vocatione , & callinge ▪ For as the Poëte sayeth ▪ The Neptunist of windes , of stormes , and of tempest Discoursinnge on the shoare , to his mates can talke best ; The Cerialist , of Oxen , Horse , and Plowes The cruell Martialist , of wounds , and of his blowes .

Therfore havinge seene , and also with my owne handes practized the space of twentye yeares the operation of Chyrurgerye , in most of the famouse , & renoumned Cityes , of Fraunce , & the Lowe Countryes , as well one greate , as smalle persons , and that with such diligence , and methode , that I couplinge , and comparinge , the vse of the aunciente Chyrurgians , with the practice of the moderne , and latter Chyrurgians , I then endevoured my selfe , as much as the disease , & the Patient also would permit me , to temperate , the rigoure , and severitye of the first Operatours , or Chyrurgians , throughe the supple , and gentle or sweete dexteritye of those which followed , to assimilate them the one with the other , supplyinge in the counterchang , of that which was wantinge in the one , through the dexteritye , and industriouse curiositye of the other , reducinge the same vnto the best forme of beinge , & alsoe the writinges , or scriptions , of the most expertest Chyrurgians , of this present time , with the writinges & iudgement of the whole , through the controulinge of the writinges of the one & of the other : So that I have intended to make a collection : in forme of a Manuall for my selfe , to opitulate , & addresse my memorye , in time of neede , and promptly to effectuate , any manualle , and not vulgare operatione : but the liberalitye throughe the which I am so voluntarye , to communicate the same vnto certayne of my goode frendes , whoe are studiouse , & desiruose of Chyrurgerye , hath precipitated me into this present prodigalitye , of the which I suddaynlye retired & drewe my selfe backwarde , blushing & as it weare ashamed , considering the meannes therof , as being vnworthy to come into light ( although notwithstandinge everye one hath a vayne imaginatione , & affectione , vnto the same which is proceded from him ) so that I omit the hardines which I might have had , to publishe the same vnto the printe , I coulde verye difficultly contayne my desirouse , & covetuouse handes , of that which I with greate laboure , dilligence , and throughe longe experience had collected together , to have in one moment abolished the same , if I had not purposed to reserve the same for my owne particulare , and peculiare commodity . But my foresayed frendes debellating agaynst my timorous & fearfull defensions , through certayn experience of time passed : to witt , that my booke of the diseases of the eyes , after certayne dayes he was commited to the presse , was vnto all Ch●rurgians verye necessarye , & profitable : and that my first , & seconde Tables of Anatomye , had administred vnto all men such greate service , and promptitude of the Anatomy , and cognisance of the partes of mans bodye : They have in the end resolved me of my doubtfull feare of prodigality , addinge also therbye that this feare of prodigalitye , coulde be dammageable vnto noe man then vnto me , and that it coulde make noe breach into my credite at all .

Throughe these foresayed remonstrations being convicted , & persvaded , vnder the pretexte of greate furtherance , which yonger Chyrurgians might heerby reape , and not beinge possible for me anye longer to resiste , the importunitye of certayne sproutes , & beginners of Chyrurgerye , who weare of opinione , that this present peece of worcke , with all the deformityes therof , might be profitable for them , and beinge certifiede , that if by anye means they coulde attayne them into theire handes , they woulde commit the same to the printe even such as it weare . So that I am constrayned to imploy my selfe certayne howres of the day , in correcting of the same and a little more imbellishe , and adorne , the same , with 4 portrayctures of mans bodye because the same entringe into the worlde , might be effected with more favoure , & credite , wherof the two first , doe demonstrate all externall partes , as well anteriorlye , as posteriorlye , & in the other two , all the superficiall Vaynes , are evidently layed open vnto vs , which as little rivers doe runne throughe the face & throughe all other externall partes of the bodye extende themselves as well behinde as before , because the same beinge of the yong Chyrurgians noted , they with lesse daunger might open anye of them .

Farther I have enriched this worcke , with divers defigurations of Instruments , not of all Instrumentes , but of those onlye , which I esteemed to be most necessarye : For even as the sage , prudent , and wyse Nature , hath instituted such an ordre , to mans body , that shee with few partes , can accomplishe , manye great and excellent actions , In like sorte must the Chyrurgiane , an imitatoure , and administre of Nature , endevoure , and constraygne himselfe , with few Instrumentes to execute , and effecte , manye , & greate Operations . And to speake the playne truth all this greate companye and treasure house of Engines , Molitiones , and of other Chyrurgicall Instrumentes , are more for curiousity , & oftentatione , then for anye necessitye , and vse . I am also verye certayne of that which our Hippocrates sayeth , to wit , that we ought not to constraygne , or restraygne , the libertye of our corps , and the Operations , vnto the penurye , and deficience of Instrumentes : but much more amplifie , and enrich the same , vnto the commoditye of the bodye , and ease of the Operations : but I woulde rather exoptate , and desire , that this vanitye , & superstitiouse bravadinge of Instrumentes , weare ruled with more religiouse mediocritye .

Also I have made , a greate & ample Table , or Index , in the end of the Boock , wherin through Alphabeticall ordre I have illustrated , the most notablest , & difficultest thinges , which in the inqvisitione might be an impediment , vnto the vnexperte in the arte of Chyrurgerye , in seekinge of their farther commoditye . And if so be any man obiecte vnto me , that this my discourse , is onlye compilede together of certayne rapsodyes of the antiqve Chyrurgians : I willingely heere confes , & acknowledge , that in this Treatise , ther is verye little , or nothing at all of myne owne Inventione : For I am not the man which liveth by an other mans mutuated supellectilles and I rather publiqvely confes , that I have collected all this out of auncient Chyrurgians , being greate shame for me to be repraehended , and surprised , of a secrete thefte . For what noveltyes are vnder the Sunne ? as the wyse man sayeth : And as the Comicus sayeth , what shoulde we now adayes say , which hath not before bin spoken ? But I may at all times with veritye say , that I am not entred into this matter to sowe , and feminate the same in an infertille grownde : For I have added thervnto greate amendmente , and have eradicated , & weeded out all spinosities , & thistles , wherof they weare replenished with greate difficultyes , seqvestringe on the one syde malevolent herbes , which choacked the good fruictes of the truth , composinge all thinges in good ordre , to adde thervnto cleernes , and facilitye : throughe the which excellent , moderne , & aunciente Aucthors may be vnderstoode of those , which can attayn to the klowledge of noe strange langvages . Nether have such Personages , out of which I have taken anye of their operationes , observed in all their treatises one ordre , perfectlye , and one manner of operatione , but one divers places , and in divers Bookes they have discribed them : wherfore they are not to be reprehended , who with a conseqvence , have redacted them together , because they might the easyer be compraehended , and vnderstoode . And althoughe those which heeretofore have written of Instrumentes have contentede themselves only withe the representation , of the simple Figures : In have heer endevoured to present dimensions , and proportiones , theire longitude , and crassitude , and so naturallye , that nether the Chyrurgiane , nor the Smithe which we cause to compose the same might have anye occasione of hesitatione , or doubte , nether fall into anye erroure , of theire commensuratione appropriatinge vnto everye one of them his name in Greecke , Latin , & Frenche , & reporte also his owne opportunitye , and vsage therof .

SOmetimes with my selfe consideringe , & in the ballance of my cogitations weighinge , how perrillous , & daungerouse an attempte it is ( most benevolence , benigne , & curtiouse Reader ) in these times , and ages , I omit ether to write , or divulgate anye worcke , but to translate it out of one language into an other . Yet I woulde not , nor indeede coulde not partely to satisfye the greate importunitye of certayne wellwillers of the Englishe natione , and poeple , but especiallye of my reverente master , whoe althoughe noe Englishe man , yet I assure thee one who throughe certayne acqvayntance of English Captaynes in these Lowcountryes , doth affect all Englishe men , & woulde heerby shew himselfe gratefull not onlye vnto them , but to the whole society of our Maiestyes subiectes , by incitatinge , & as it weare compellinge me his poore servant heere vnto , obiectinge vnto me my inconstant levitye , whoe havinge receavede so manye , & so greate benefites of the poeple , & studentes in Englande woulde not imparte this excellente , exquisite , and perpolite peece of worcke vnto them , seinge that also the Printer , was so willinge to incitate me heere vnto , heere by alsoe expressinge his affectionated goode will both to our most renoumnede Maiestye ( whome God longe praeserve ) and her subiectes . I standinge in a dumpe , & beinge with these obiections mute , Nesciens quid agerem , aut quo me verterem , not knowing wher to hide my selfe , at the last as one beinge erectede , and suscitatede out of a swound , I feeblely made this answer , that it fitted not nether was agreinge to my harshe , rude , and illiterate stile to beginne such a peece , of worcke , and I being noe Englishe man borne might chaunce ( as without doubt I have ) to take Sissiphus his laboure on me , in not writinge goode Englishe . And which is more , least I shoulde attribute any occasion of offence to my most reverent brother who beinge a Doctour of Physicke , & I but an illiterate , & ignorant youth applying my minde vnto Chyrurgerye , might suppose me to be so pratchante , & highminded that I sought to aequall my selfe with him who through his affectione he beareth to Englande hath also translatede an excellent booke of Physicke . But at the last I being fully resolved of my doubtes , & of them persuaded , that it would of all men be taken , & construede to a goode end , I coulde not any longer resist their importunate assaultes on the imbicille walles of my answers , but they havinge therin made a breach I was constrayned to yeelde my selfe a captive , & acknowledge them victors in consentinge to their requestes , by takinge this laboure of Atlas on my shoulders . Therfore I woulde not willingelye , have that this light inconstancye shoulde be obiected agaynste me , for not impartinge vnto thee ( most gentle Reader ) these my obliterate lines of this experte , excellente , and perpolite Chyrurgiane Iaqves Gvillaemeau , whome for his excellentie of his manuale operations I assure thee such a one hath never in Englishe binne translated : Behould now therfore to shew my selfe greatefulle for those benefites which whilome I have receavede in this florishinge , & blessed countrye of Englande , both in the Vniversitye , and in the other Cityes therof , I heere humblelye praesent vnto thee this my firste attempte , who althoughe indeede no Englisheman borne , yet bearinge a true English mans harte vnto our Maiestye endevouringe continuallye to shew my selfe gratefull vnto her , & her subiectes . And althoughe it be more grosse , & impolite , then decent , & convenient , to answer the fine , & scoffing heades , & wittes of these times whoe allmost can doe nothinge els then scoffe , mocke , & floute , at other mens industryes , and labours , yet I pray the ( gentle Reader ) not to eesteeme them all vayne , indecent , and invtile , for Non cuivis homini contingit adire Corinthum , everye man can not have a nose like a shooing horne , that is everye one hath not such a fertile witte as they have for I acknowledge my selfe to have but a barrane , & vnfrictefulle grownde & that ther doth nothinge then Filix innascere agris meis , and how is it possible then to reape goode Fruictes therof ? And knowe ( curtiouse Reader that I take it to be a godly thinge to publishe such a peece of worcke for the ayde , & succoure of all yonge Chyrurgians to operate , & worcke on mans bodye , for what more praeciouse thinge is there on earth then man : and if then we endevour to praeserve , the health of our bodyes it is then necessarye to have such boockes out of which we may learne the meanes wherby we might doe it , & I have the more willinglye translatede the same into the vulgare & Englishe tunge because everye one hath not the gift of langvages , & although it be not soe exqvisitelye done as it weare convenient it shoulde , tamen est laudanda voluntas , I have done my best indevoure thervnto , for ther wher abilitye lacketh , my goodwill notwithstandinge is to be receavede , and not to be repugnede , & reiected . Nether shalt thou heere ( gentle Reader ) have any exquisite methode , nor the flowing stile of Demostlenes , and eloquence of Cicero , but a playn common , and vulgare stile for it was not of the Aucthor composed in the firste for such men as are experte in these operations , but for the commonaltye , and yonger Chyrurgians , that they heerbye might learne the true operations of Chyrurgerye . If my boulde audacitye , or audaciouse bouldnes shall administer occasione of offence to any man , I recurre to that common refuge , which promiseth remissione to him which giveth his first assaulte . Wherfore if the learned will vouchsafe to reade this my first beginning without envye , or malice agaynst me , I shall thincke my industrye verye wellimployede & not to have bestowed all my labour in vayne : but if through the harshnes of my illeterate & rude stile they are caused to lay it out of theire handes , & sight , yet I humblely requeste them to take him vp agayn not for my sake , but for his owne , whoe although defilede , & poluted with my impolitede stile , yet they may gather in the garden of his exqvisite worckes , as fragrant gillowfers of Chyrugicall operations ( I dare avouch ) as any ever weare in Englishe . And if ther be anye of Momus his partakers , which doe revile , scoffe , & floute me , who are soe scrupulouse , & praeiudicialle , that with noe Physicke they can be cured of their criticall dissease , tell them I pray thee ( gentle Reader ) from me , that it is farre easyer for them to repraehende , then to correct or meliorize , and that they dare not for the best cappe they have take such a thing in hande , least they peradventure shoulde fall into the pitt which for other they had made , for there is an oulde , and inveterate proverbe as I remember in Latine Quod tibi fieri non vis , alterine feceris , let them ( I say ) reade this proverbe & I trust it wil be a purgation for them . What shall I say more ? for indeed I can say nothinge as the Comicus sayeth quod non fit dictum prius , If ther be anye which with their Argus eyes , will vue , & so narrowlye princke , and looke , for faultes in this my labour without doubte they shall finde faultes sufficient , but I woulde request them to leave their eyes at home with Lamia , when they loock for any faultes heer in , & spitt in a boxe , the spittle of quippes , & quiddityes , & cast them behinde some chest of oblivione that they never may anye more be spoken of , and let them not dispise this my poore farthing , for it may be heerafter shall finde my selfe doinge with some other peece of worcke more excellent . If therfor ( benevolent Reader ) we finde this worcke to be acceptable vnto thee , my master shall thinck his motion to have binne blessede and happye , the Printer his irritatione commodiouse , and I my labours , and industryes well bestowede , and it shall be as it weare a Calcar vnto me therafter to imploy my selfe with the translatione of some other excellent peece of worcke . If not I woulde frendly desire such as scoffe heerat , to reade , & dilligentlye consider these two verses which the Aucthor reciteth , and are these .

Thus beinge loath to interrupte thee anye longer with vayne , & illiterate speeches I commit thee to the tuition of God thy Creator , & his sonne Ihesu Christe who with his effused blooredeemed thee , and of the holye ghoste , who inspireth thee with his spirite , continuallye wishinge increace of all virtues , and longe lyfe vnto thee .