with chief, if not only respect to the poor _Wood-man_, whom none I presume will envy, that living far from the _Physician_, he should in case of _Necessity_, consult the reverend _Druid_, his{lxxxv:1} _Oaks_ and his _Elm_, _Birch_, or _Elder_, for a short _Breath_, a Green _Wound_, or a sore _Leg_; Casualties incident to this hard _Labour_. These are the chief _Particulars_ of this ensuing _Work_, and what it pretends hitherto of _Singular_, in which let me be permitted to say, There is sufficient for _Instruction_, and more than is extant in any _Collection_ whatsoever (_absit verbo invidia_) in this way and upon this _Subject_; abstracting things _Practicable_, of solid _use_ and _material_, from the _Ostentation_ and Impertinences of divers _Writers_; who receiving all that came to hand on trust, to swell their monstrous _Volumes_, have hitherto impos’d upon the credulous _World_, without _conscience_ or _honesty_. I will not exasperate the _Adorers_ of our ancient and late _Naturalists_, by repeating of what our _Verulam_ has justly pronounced concerning their _Rhapsodies_ (because I likewise honour their painful _Endeavours_, and am obliged to them for much of that I know,) nor will I (with some) reproach _Pliny_, _Porta_, _Cardan_, _Mizaldus_, _Cursius_, and many others of great _Names_ (whose _Writings_ I have diligently consulted) for the _Knowledge_ they have imparted to me on this Occasion; but I must deplore the time which is (for the most part) so miserably lost in pursuit of their _Speculations_, where they treat upon this _Argument_: But the _World_ is now advis’d, and (blessed be _God_) infinitely redeem’d from that base and servile submission of our noblest _Faculties_ to their blind _Traditions_. This you will be apt to say, is a haughty _Period_; but whilst I affirm it of the _Past_, it _justifies_, and does _honour_ to the _Present_ Industry of our _Age_, and of which there cannot be a _greater_ and more emulous _Instance_, than the _Passion_ of His _Majesty_ to encourage his _Subjects_, and of the _Royal Society_, (His _Majesty’s Foundation_) who receive and promote His _Dictates_, in all that is laudable and truly _emolumental_ of this Nature. It is not therefore that I here presume to instruct _Him_ in the management of that great and august _Enterprise_ of resolving to _Plant_ and repair His ample _Forests_, and other _Magazines_ of _Timber_, for the benefit of His _Royal Navy_, and the glory of His _Kingdoms_; but to present to His _Sacred Majesty_, and to the _World_, what _Advices_ I have received from _others_, observed my self, and most industriously _collected_ from a studious Propensity to serve as one of the least _Intelligences_ in the ampler _Orb_ of our _Illustrious Society_, and in a _Work_ so necessary and important.