To the Reader
from that most Learned and Inquisitive Gentleman, a worthy Member of the Royal Society, Mr. Francis Willoughby, who hath made it his particular business, in his late Travails through the most considerable parts of Europe, to inquire after and understand the several species of Animals, and by his own Observations is able to advance that part of Learning, and to add many things, to what hath been formerly done, by the most Learned Authors in this kind.
And as for those most difficult Tables of Plants, I have received the like assistance, from one of his Companions in Travail, Mr. John Wray, Late Fellow of Trinity Colledge in Cambridge, who besides his other general Knowledge, hath with great success applyed himself to the Cultivating of that part of Learning.
And as for the principal difficulties, which I met with in any other part of this Work, I must acknowledge my self obliged to the continual assistance I have had, from my most Learned and worthy Friend, Dr. William Lloyd, then whom (so far as I am able to judge,) this Nation could not have afforded a fitter Person, either for that great Industry, or Accurate judgment, both in Philological, and Philosophical matters, required to such a Work. And particularly I must wholy ascribe to him that tedious and difficult task, of suting the Tables to the Dictionary, and the drawing up of the Dictionary it self, which upon tryal, I doubt not, will be found to be the most perfect, that was ever yet made for the English Tongue.
And here I think it prpoer to give notice that there are several Words mentioned in the Dictionary, and frequently used amongst some Authors, which are yet very questionable as to their fitness and propriety: Each of these were in the Original Coppy marked wth an Asterisk, for the better distinction of them; but by some oversight, these marks have been omitted in the Impression.
If any shall suggest, that some of the Enquiries here insisted upon (as particularly) those about the Letters of the Alphabet) do seem too minute and trivial, for any prudent Man to bestow his serious thoughts and time about. Such Persons may know, that the discovery of the true nature and Cause of any the most minute thing, doth promote real Knowledge, and therefore cannot be unfit for any Mans endeavours, who is willing to contribute to the advancement of Learning. Upon which Account some of the most eminent Persons, in several Ages, who were Men of business, have not disdained to bestow their pains about the First Elements of Speech.
Julius Cæsar, is said to have written a Book de Analogia. And the Emperour Charles the Great, to have made a Grammar of his vulgar Tongue. So did St. Basil for the Greek; and St. Austin for the Latin, both extant in their Works.
Besides divers of great reputation both Ancient and Modern, who have Written whole Books on purpose, concerning the just Number of the Letters in the Alphabet; Others have applyed their disquisitions to some particular Letters: Messala Corvinus, a Great Man, and a famous Orator amongst the Romans, Writ a Book concerning the Letter S. Adamantius Martyr, was the Author of another Book, concerning the Letters V. and B. Our Learned Gataker has Published a Book concerning Dipthongs. And Jovianus Pontanus esteemed a Learned Man has Two Books de Adspiratione, or the Letter H.
