ALthough ( as I doubt not ) euerie good man will enterpret this worke to none other ende , but to be for the confort of them that are wounded , sore , and diseased , and will esteeme no lesse of mee , by whome they profite , then they will be glad to receaue the benefits . Yet forasmuch as it is impossible to auoyde the teeth of malitious enuie , I thought it not vnnecessarie to preuent the furies of some , which are euer gnawing and byting vpon them that further any good sciences . To those I protest , that in all my labours and studies , I neuer entended or yet do entend to satisfie the mindes of any such picke-faultes , which will doe nothing but detract and iudge others , snuffing at all that offendeth the nōses of their momish affections , how laudable soeuer it be otherwaies .

But as M. Hunton in his Epistle to M. Bannester saide most true , that enuie lieth alwaies at vertues gate , and tread●…n on her heeles when she goeth abroad . And as the deafe cannot discerne the sweetnesse of Musicke : so the ignorant cannot looke into the excellencie of knowledge . For there is in these daies many that are so wilfull in their wickednesse , that being reproued for their ignoraunce , sticke not to threaten with woords , swordes , Curtelases , and Daggers , to wounde , cut , slash , yea and kill such good men who are painefull studients and labourers in the Arte.

As I red of that good man Maister Iohn Hall of Maidstone , who although he were a skillful man , and of excellent vertues in the Arte of Chirurgerie , yet for speaking against the deceiptfull sorcery of one Robart Harris , in An. Dom. 1556. He had a dagger drawen at him , as himselfe doth declare in his expostulations . And also it is credibly reported , that in Anno domini 1574. One Master Bactor a man of good knowledge , both in Phisicke and Chirurgery , for the reprouing of the great abuses of one Fower Akers , he had a sword drawen at him as hee trauailed on the waie , and likelie to haue beene spoyled , had not other trauailers asisted him . I may well veryfie the sayings of good Master Bannister , who doth explaine their diuelish practises , hauing neither learning , knowledge , modestie , nor honistie . And yet practise abroad their accustomed deceipts vnder the colour of admittance from the Hall of London , and some from others being in aucthorytie , of which sort I could name a great number , which for modesties sake , I omit . A thing greatly to be lamented that those which are or should be the fathers of arte , and vpholders of good artists , should so slightly passe their license to such ignoraunt asses , to maintaine them , not onely in coosining her Maiesties subiects of their monie , but oftentimes depriue them of their lims , yea and also their liues . But it is no meruaile , for monie is sweete , and what is it but Lucre may doe ? for I my selfe talking with one of the same companie and felowship , complayning vppon the abuses thereof , in passing their licenses to such , made me this answere . In deed quoth he it is not well , but we were as good to take their monie , for they would play the knaues neuerthelesse . Surely his aunswere was truer then he wist , although a matter most lamentable . For whereas by the good and godly lawes of the realme , they are prohibited from practising or medling in the arte without license , ( before the which should goe and approbation as well as examination ) now for sooth for monie they may buy them a cloake to coeuer them from the lawe , and to play their partes at will . Yet among the rest , I know some one of small learning and lesse knowledge , who hauing trauailed 180. miels to fetch a seale weying fower pound besides the a purtenances therevnto belonging , whereby he is growen so farre in loue with himselfe , and so vndiscretlie doteth ouer his owne doinges , at his returne , that he maketh is trauell and conquest as he thinketh , ordinary table talke , for he walked from Tauerne to Tauerne , and from Alehouse , to Alehouse , with his licence at his girdle closed in a boxe , as though hee had beene the proctor of some spitefull house ) aggrauating the matter so monstrouslie , as if he had endured the verie labours of olde Hercules , and no meruaile , for when hee had made his market , and receaued his letters of marte , falling in companie wth some others , and grewe in speeches of practise ( for there vppon he standeth , but his method is small ) did not sticke to confirme , that Arsenick and rusty Bacon , was a present remedie for wounds made with goonshot . And being an other time demaunded by a learned Doctor in Phisicke how a wound came to be an vlcer , was stricken dum . And yet of like he might aunswere his examinations well . For that ( as he saith ) he was vsed so familiarly , and plast amongest the best . A meane surely to embolden him well . For he was but bashfull when he was before the worshipfull Doctor . And yet will not sticke to make himselfe comparable to any , and will impudentlie cracke , that any man shal neuer attaine to do the like cures as he hath don , with a great deale more of shameles cōparisōs . There are others of the kinde of young Cuckoose , or as nuseled Snakes , which flie with Isops Crowe , which haing pluct the winges , would faine deuoure the bird .

But leauing them to their blindnesses , and praying vnto God for their amendment , my purpose is heere to do them good that haue neede , that is to distribute in english to them that are vnlearned , parte of the treasure that is in other languages , to prouoke them that are of better learning , to vtter their knowledge in such like attemptes : finally to declare that to the vse of many , which ought not to be secret for lucre of a few , and to communicate the fruite of my labours , to them that will gentlly and thankefullie receiue them , which if any be so proud or supercilious , that they immediatlie will despise , I shall friendlie desire them , with the wordes of Horace : Quod si meliora nouisti candide imperti , si non his vtere mecum .

If they know better , let vs haue part : If they doe not , why repine they at those which meane well ? why condemne they the thinges that they cannot amend . Or if they can , why dissemble they their cunning ? How long would they haue people ignorant ?

Why grutch they Chirurgerie should come foorth in English ? would they haue no man to know but onely they ? or what make they themselues ? for if Galen the Prince of this arte being a Grecian wrote in the Greeke : King Auicene of Arabia in the speech of the Arayans : If Plinius , Celsus , Serenus , & other of the Latines wrote to the people in the Latin tongue : Mercellus Ficinus ( who all men assent to be singulerly learned ) disdained not to write in the Italian tongue : generally , if the intent of all that euer set foorth any noble studie , haue beene to be read , of as many as woulde : what reason is it , that we should huther muther heere among a few , the thing that was made common to all ? Christ sayeth : no man lighteth a Candell to couer it with a Bushell , but setteth it to serue euery mans turne ; and these goe about , not onelie to couer it when it is lighted , but to quench it afore it bee kindled ( if they might by mallice ) which verie well veryfieth the sayings of Maister William CLOWES in his last edicion De Morbo Gallico , whose wordes are these . No man can lead so iust a lyfe , No worke be writ so true : That can escape their sqinting eyes , Or passe their ●luish view . which as it is a detestable thing in any godly science : so me thinketh in this so necessarie an arte , it is exceeding damnable and diuelish , to debarre the fruition of so inestimable benefites , which our heauenly father hath prepared for our comfort and innumerable vses , wherewith he hath armed our impotent nature , against the assaultes of so many sickenesses , whereby his infinite mercy and abundant goodnesse is no thing els more apparantly confessed , by the which benefites , as it were with most sencible argumentes , spoken out of heauen , he constraineth vs to thinke vpon our owne weakenesse , and to knowledge that in all flesh is nothing but miserie , sickenesse , sorrowes , sinne , affliction , and death : no not so much strength as by our owne power , to relieue one member of our bodies diseased . As for the knowledge of medicines , comfort of hearbes , mayntenance of health , prosperitie and life , they be his benefites , and proceed of him , to the ende that wee should in common , helpe one another , and so liue together in his lawes and commaundements , in the which doing , we shall declare our selues to haue worthelie employed them , and as fruitefull seruaunts , be liberally rewarded . Otherwise , vndoubtedly the talent which we haue hidden , shall be digged vp , and distributed to them that shal be more diligent , a terrible confusion before so high a Iustice , and at such a court , where no wager of lawe shall be taken , no proctour limited to defend the cause , none exception allowed to reproue the witnesse , no councell admitted to quallifie the gloses , the verie bare text shall bee there alleadged .

Cur non posuisti talentum in fenus ? Why hast thou not bestowed my talent to the vauntage . These and such other examples haue enforced me being oftentimes exercised in the studie and practise of Chirurgerie , to follow the good endeuours of other good men , who haue tasted of the same cuppe of enuie , as their predecessours haue done . And shall I perswade my selfe to escape the same ? No , for as I am credibly enformed by my verie good friends , that my booke was not so soone at the presse , as enuie euen readie to repine at the same . But being warned , I will be the better armed , & with my friends and predecessours , stande to the brunt of their brutish and malitious tongues . And nothing bee discouraged at them , for I know those that are godly and well disposed , will curteously except of euerie good and laudable attempt . And for the malitious , small regard is to bee giuen , for I doe perceaue that now in our time , no good enterprise can be gone about , but false detraction and enuie is readie to ouerthrow the same . For what are they that haue written both in auncient and later times , but they haue tasted of this beastly broode , and enuious sect ? Yea and of such men that haue as it were dandled them in their lappes .

For I cannot onely speake by experience of my selfe , but also by certaine knowledge of some others , that breding vp vnder our selues such impes , who we did not onely giue sufficient maintenance vnto , but also did impart vnto them those things which we by long studie and chargeable labour had found out . But when ( as they thought ) there was no more to be gotten , and them selues sufficiently furnished , being gone from their Maisters , were presently puffed vp in pride , and being better perswaded of them selues , then of their carefull teachers , forgetting from whence they sucked their milke , goe about by all meanes ( as much as in them lieth , to the aduauncement of their owne glorie ) to seeke the ouerthrow of their Maisters credits .

But vnhappie are those men which nusell such whelpes , or hath such fire brands , but surely they doe but kindle coles to burne them selues , for their rewarde shal be to haue the like seruaunts , to serue their owne turnes .

For as our Sauiour Christ saith : such bread as we breake , shal be broken to vs againe .

But no douht as we hatched euill seruaunts , so some haue bred good .

IF , according to the olde saying of the Stoickes ( most learned Aria ) men are begotten for mens sakes , then are those to be esteemed greatest , and had in highest accompt , that which daylie most doe profite the common health of man . Which , though by sundrie skills , it may be performed , yet by none more amply then that of curing diseases , the Art whereof , hath made her studentes immortall , or of eternall memorie .

And seeing your Arcaeus is of this number , and one who in following , and exercising this arte , hath made himselfe so famous in his countrie , as no man liuing the like : howe much more renowmed ( thinke you ) shall he bee , if those thinges he hath practised with his hands amongst the vnlearned , may in writing be testified also vnto the learned ? surelie ( as one saith ) he should aduaunce his head among the starres . But this glorie gotten by such industrie , diligence , labour , and incredible cunning , shall together with the auctor , languish & perish in obliuion , vnlesse by your meanes it be brought abroad into the light .

Make common therefore that which the common Chirurgians know not , and let not such healthfull remedies lye secret by you , least your readinesse in communicating the benefite , should seeme lesse , then was the aucthors willingnesse in bestowing it . And that I may not seeme as of no force to begge it , but euen by good right to demaund it at your hands , thus doe I iudge , that the booke of wounds , is not onely profitable , but also necessarie . For it not onelye teacheth those thinges , which with many faultes , and monstrous errours , are vnlearnedly , and vnskilfully written off by the barbarous , but also so reselleth the ignoraunce of our Chirurgions , As well in Englande as in spain . that hee seemeth vnto me , to haue deliuered mortall men from their tyrannie , whome Galen rightly compared vnto theeues .

Moreouer our age shall learne some thinges , which other antiquitie knowe not , or left as impossible to be set down , namely to cure happelie , and with an easie method : yea and that with remedies either gotten by muche practise and iudgement , or else fetched from Hippocrates and Gallens fountaines .

As for his order , though it be not so exact , because of his continuall practise and curing the sicke , yet is it likewise , for a great comprehension of Arte , to bee commended , for the distribution is perpetuall whereby hee deuideth woundes into their generall differences , and into simple and compound , as into their braunches .

Also the proper prognostications are noted , and lastlye the perticuler method of curing added . Then which order none coulde ( in my iudgement ) haue beene sette downe , or deuised better .

After this generall Chapter , followeth that of wounds in the head . For this , because of the greatnesse of the daunger , and worthienesse of the partie , offereth it selfe first .

Next to that , are the wounds of the breast and bellie , in such sort deliuered , that nothing can bee further wished , to the knowledge , either of their daunger or healing . The rest of wounds inflicted vppon other partes then those , are either comprehended vnder his simple wound , or else omitted of the aucthor as ouer light to bee written off . The temperature , placing , knitting , substance , figure , action , and vse of euerie affected part , he handleth in a certaine addition of phisicke to the end of this booke .

Which is notable in this , that almost no accident can happen to a wound , but from thence may bee found a readie way of curing the same .

But to come againe to his chirurgerie , his wounds being finished , he propoundeth the curing of vlcers , comprehended in one onely Chapter . Heere was some ouersight , for there are ii . or three Chapters thereof .

And heere I thinke good to admonish , that the same Chapter is all but a matter of remembrance , and as a thing taken out of his table , notes of memorie in like sort , as are also most bookes of Hippocrates that are carried about . Where hence it commeth that neither all things are defined , nor yet enclosed in the walles of method , and yet euerie where a perfect curation shineth foorth . But this breuitie is recompenced with a fine curation of the french disease : in which this is notable , that he sheweth the true manner of decocting Salsa Parilla , taught heretofore by no man . All which things are declared with a briefe exposition vpon euerie Chapter . But to ende my Epistle as I began , you shall do a worke worthie your condition , if , as you are example to others in wisedome and holy life , you doe also helpe mortall men in this liberalitie .