It may be doubted that some straunge sicknesse and vnknowen diseases wil happen, as hollownesse of the heart, that a man shall not know a knaue from an honest man, and vncouth consumptions of the lyuer, that diuerse men of good wealth shall by their kinde hearts spend all and die banquerouts: some shal be troubled with diseases in the throate, which cannot bee helpte without Bull the hang man plaie the skilfull Chyrurgion. Amongest the rest, many that haue faire wiues shalbe troubled with greate swelling in the browes, a disease as incurable as the goute. Some shall bee troubled with the stone, and seeke to cunning women to cure them of that disease, an infirmitie easilie amended, and the doctors of Bridewell did not punish such women Phisitians by a Statute. But the greatest disease that is to bee feared, is the Cataphalusie, that is to saie, good fellowes this yeere for want of money shall oft times be contented to part companie. And / thus (gentle reader) thou hast my prognostication, gathered by arte, and confirmed by experience, and therefore take it in good worth, for _Quod gratis grate_, and so farewell. VII.--THOMAS DEKKER (The Gull's Hornbook _is an almost famous work, and has, I believe, been cheaply reprinted in separate form of late years. It cannot, however, be too well known, for it is excellent in itself, and though undoubtedly paraphrased from the_ Grobianus _of Dedekind, is so adjusted to English contemporary manners as to be practically original_.) THE GVLS Horne-booke: _Stultorum plena sunt omnia._ Al Sauio meza parola, Basta. By T. Deckar. _Labore et Constantia._ Imprinted at London for R. S. 1609. _To all Guls in generall, wealth and Liberty._ WHOM can I choose (my most worthie _Mecæn-asses_) to be Patrons to this labour of mine fitter th[=e] yourselues? Your hands are euer open, your purses neuer shut. So that you stand not in the _Common_ Rancke of _Dry-fisted Patrons_, (who giue nothing) for you giue all. Schollers, therefore, are as much beholden to you, as Vintners, Players, and Puncks are. Those three trades gaine by you more then Vsurers do by thirty in the hundred: You spend the wines of the one, you make suppers for the other, and change your Gold into White money with the third. Who is more liberall then you? who (but only Cittizens) are more free? Blame me not therefore, if I pick you out from the bunch of _Booke-takers_, to consecrate these fruits of my braine (which shall neuer die) onely to you. I know that most of you (O admirable _Guls_!) can neither write nor reade. A _Horne-booke_ haue I inuented, because I would haue you well schooled. _Powles_ is your _Walke_; but this your Guid: if it lead you right, thanke me: if astray, men will beare with your errors, because you are _Guls_. _Farewell._ T. D. To the Reader.