The Epistle
Yet now of late daies this custome hath bin almost discontinued to the infinite prejudice of sacred inviolable Learning and Science, for Turpis sepe fama datur minoribus, (as Aufonius wrote in his time) for indeed the reason is pregnant:
Haud facile emergunt quorum virturibus obstat,
Res angusta domi.
But yet the great Rectour or Chancellor of all the Academyes in the world Jesus Christ, In whom are hid all the treasures of wisedom and knowledge, the Maister of that Colledge wherein he was but a Servant or Steward, That was learned in all the learning of the Egyptians, (I meane Moses) the first writer, the first Author, the first comender of knowledge, and the first ordainer of a lawfull Common-wealth, and ruler Church and state, hath not least our age without some monuments of great Princes, Earls, Lords and Knights for the Ornament and honour of learning, who for generall and particular causes and benefits have added their names to the society of writers, and divulged their workes in print, which are likely to be remembered to the worlds end. Such are our most temperate, Just, Usive, and Learned King and Soveraigne. The Right Noble, and Honourable Earle of Surrey, long ago departed out of this earthly Horizon. The now living Eales of Dorset, Northampton, Salisbury, and many Knights, Sir Phillip Sidney, Sir George Moore, Sir Richard Bartlett, Sire Francis Hastinges, and others. But of Aarons, and such as sit at the Helme of the Church, or are woorthily advanced for their knowledge in learning and state, I meane both Bishops and Doctors, almost innumerable of all whom I can say no more, if I were woorthy to say any thing, then apply unto them particularly that which was said of one of the greatest schollers and Divines that ever England had.
———— ————Dic obsecro sancta
Posteritas, nec enim mihi sas est dicere: tantum
Detantis tacitum, aut tantos audire ivuabit.
Then why should I presume, being every way the least and meanest of all other, now the third time to publish any part of my concerned studies for the age present and succeeding, and so to have my name inrolled amongst the benefactors and Authors of Learning.
———— ————Non omnia grandior ætas,
Quæ fugiamus habet; seris venit usus ab annis.
Alas sir, I have never abounded in any thing, except want and labor, and I thanke God that one of these hath bin prepared to feed the other, therefore I wil not stand upon any mans objections, who like Horses as it is in the fable being led empty, wel fed, and without burden, do scorne the laden Asse, adding misery to his loude, til his back was broke, and then was allaid upon the pampred disdainfull Horse: even so, these proud displeasing spirits are eased by the labors of us that beare their burthens, and if they content not themselves with ease, but wil also fit in the seat of the scornful, let them remeber,that when our backs be broke, they musttake up the carriage. But pardon me (I beseech you) if by way of Preface I open my hart unto your Wor: who is better able then ten thousand of the Momusses, and more charitably generous in receiving such gifts with the right hande (as these are) although they were given with the left; for seeing I have chosen you the patron of this worke, I will breefly declare and open my mind unto you concerning the whole Volume, sparing any other praises of your demerits then those wich by Martiall are ascribed to Regulus, wich I will without flattery of fear of the envious thus apply unto you:
Cum sit Sophiæ par fama & cura deorum |
[SSS. Trinitatis] | |
So then leaving these peroations, I will endeavor to prove unto you that this work which I now publish and divulge unto the world, under the patronage of your name is Divine & necessarie for all men to know, true, and therefore without slander or suspicious scandall to be received; and that no man ought rather to publish this unto the World, then a Divine or Preacher. For the first, that the knowledge of Beasts, like as the knowledge of the other creatures and workes of God, is Divine, I see no cause why any man shoulde doubt thereof, seeing that at the first they were created and brought to man as we may read Gen. I. 24, 25. and all by the Lord himselfe, so that their life and creation is Devine in respect of their ma-
