for the help of all the world, and the common good, therefore I caused this praiseworthy work to be begun by a Master learned in physic who, at my request gathered into a book the nature and virtue of many herbs out of the acknowledged masters of physic, Galen, Avicenna, Serapio, Dioscorides, Pandectarius, Platearius and others." Preface to _The Grete Herball_. "Consyderynge the grete goodnesse of almyghty God creatour of heven and erthe, and al thynge therin comprehended to whom be eternall laude and prays etc. Consyderynge the cours and nature of the foure elementes and qualytees where to ye nature of man is inclyned, out of the whiche elementes issueth dyvers qualytees infyrmytees and dyseases in the corporate body of man, but god of his goodnesse that is creatour of all thynges hath ordeyned for mankynd (whiche he hath created to his own lykenesse) for the grete and tender love, which he hath unto hym, to whom all thinges erthely he hath ordeyned to be obeysant, for the sustentacyon and helthe of his lovynge creature mankynde whiche is onely made egally of the foure elementes and qualitees of the same, and when any of these foure habounde or hath more domynacyon, the one than the other it constrayneth ye body of man to grete infyrmytees or dyseases, for the which ye eternall god hath gyven of his haboundante Grace, vertues in all maner of herbes to cure and heale all maner of sekenesses or infyrmytees to hym befallying through the influent course of the foure elementes beforesayd and of the corrupcyons and ye venymous ayres contrarye ye helthe of man. Also of onholsam meates or drynkes, or holsam meates or drynkes taken ontemperatly whiche be called surfetes that bryngeth a man sone to grete dyseases or sekenesse, whiche dyseases ben of nombre and ompossoyble to be rehersed, and fortune as well in vilages where as nother surgeons nor phisicians be dwellyng nygh by many a myle, as it dooth in good townes where they be redy at hande, wherefore brotherly love compelleth me to wryte thrugh ye gyftes of the holy ghost shewynge and enformynge how man may be holpen with grene herbes of the gardyn and wedys of ye feldys as well as by costly receptes of the potycarys prepayred."