A most excellent and learned vvoorke of chirurgerie, called Chirurgia parua Lanfranci Lanfranke of Mylayne his briefe: reduced from dyuers translations to our vulgar or vsuall frase, and now first published in the Englyshe prynte by Iohn Halle chirurgien. Who hath thervnto necessarily annexed. A table, as wel of the names of diseases and simples with their vertues, as also of all other termes of the arte opened. ... And in the ende a compendious worke of anatomie ... An historiall expostulation also against the beastly abusers, both of chyrurgerie and phisicke in our tyme: with a goodly doctrine, and instruction, necessary to be marked and folowed of all true chirurgie[n]s. All these faithfully gathered, and diligently set forth, by the sayde Iohn Halle.

The Preface

But one thyng yet I must warne all yong men of, that will profite in suche studie as I haue instructed, which is in one pointe to refrain and discente from the most part of yong men: that is to saye, from ga∣mes and spendyng the time in playe: for in my fantasy, who so euer is adicte to play & games shall neuer profite in this arte. For thou shalt fynde it time litle enough for thy study, if thou occupie all thy leysour from thy maisters or thyne owne busines at thy booke, that as thou workest or seest thy maister work: so thou maist therwith vnderstand the reason how, and howe muche suche worke is profytable.

And hereof assure thy selfe, that if thou haue not as great desyre to thy boke, as the greatest gamner hath to his game, thou shalte neuer worthily be called cunnyng in this art. For thou must thynke and e∣steme all tyme of leysure from thy worke and busynes, euen loste and euyl bestowed, in which thou hast not profyted somwhat at thy boke. Let thy boke therfore, I say, be thy pastyme and game: which (if thou loue it as thou oughtest) will so delight thee, that thou shalt thinke no tyme so well bestowed as at it. Yea thou muste desyre it as the childe doeth his mothers pappe: and so will it nourishe thee, that thou shalt worthily growe and increace to a worshypfull same of cunnynge and learnyng.

And nowe whatsoeuer vnto this work is added by me, as the Ex∣positiue Table, and the natomie: I most hartyly desyre al the good Readers to interprete it to the beste, regardyng the good wyll of the worker, rather then thexcellency of the woorke, whiche I confesse to be very faynt: trustyng that all suche as in those thynges are my mai∣sters and betters, wil rather seke the redresse and amēdement of such thynges as to them shall seme faultie, then disdaynfully to reprehende my good wyll, in settyng foorth of this worke. But as I feare it not in any godly or charitable personage: so am I past care, what be said of suche disdayners as speake euel of the doynges of all men, and yet wyll do nothyng that good is them selues. Not consydering that a hu∣mane creature is not borne into this worlde, onely to profite himself, but much rather to gratifie his frendes and contrey (as Cicero saith) besides Christian charitie, whiche byndeth vs to profy••e all men. And our sauiour Christ warneth vs, that no man hyde his talent. Thus (wyshyng to the gentyll readers theyr hartes desyre, that trauayle for the perfectnesse of this art, euen as vnto my self in my moste weighty affayres:) I ende this my symple Preface.