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.

VNTO THE VVORSHIPFVL the maisters, VVardens, and consequently to all the whole company and brotherhod of Chirurgiens of Lon∣don, Iohn Halle, one of the leste of them, sendeth hartie and louynge salutation.

SYthe the almightie Creator of all thinges, of his mercifull goodnes, only for loue that he had to man∣kynd (who fell by disobedience out of Paradise into miserie) hath cre∣ated medicine out of the earth for man his vtilitie and helpe in the tyme of his sicknes, as the wyse man sayeth, Eccl. 38. And hath ordeined ministers of the same medicine, by a true and perfect order of arte,* 1.1 deuided nowe into two partes, as the phisicien for inwarde infirmities, and the chirurgien or handeworker for outwarde griefes: It shoulde seme vnto me that they which despise the sayde arte, despise God his gracious giftes, euen as they whiche professe either part therof abusing the same, abuse God his mercifull benefites.

And for as muche as suche despisers and abusers, are as well offenders to God, as a detrimente to his creatures: It should seme a thing not vaine or voyde of profite, to reprehende and warne men of suche vi∣ces: specially where they are so frequented, that some by feling, and some by vnderstanding and seyng, dai∣ly

crie out with greuous clamores, of the incommodi∣ous successe of suche wicked factes.

First the despisers therof oftetymes (as we se) suf∣fer them selues (thorough hate that they beare to these excellēt partes and the ministers therof) by ne∣gligence to runne to extreame desolation: and ther∣fore many times worthily perishe, as a iuste rewarde for their contempte of God his ordeined remedies.

And yet truly I can not but confesse, that the abu∣sers of those thinges are the chiefe cause, of these so great euels and mischiefes: for the experience of their wicked doynges, and the ouerthwarte successe of the same, causeth the ignorant to be at defiāce with that whiche was made for their owne helpe and succoure: so that they often perishe, because they feare to seke remedy: they are so often beaten with the painfull rodde of hatefull abusers.

And alas, where as there is one in Englande, al∣moste throughout al the realme, that is indede a true minister of this arte, there are tenne abhominable a∣busers of the same. VVhere as there is one Chirur∣gien, that was apprentice to his arte, or one phisicien▪ that hath trauayled in the true studie, and exercise of phisique: There are tenne, that are presumptious smearers, smaterers, or abusers of the same: yea, Smythes, Cutlers, Carters, Coblars, Copers, Coriars

lether, Carpenters, and a great rable of women: VVhich (as the moste excellent Galen feared to hap∣pen) forsake their handiecraftes, and for filthy lucre abuse phisick, and chirurgerie. The cause wherof the sayde Galen wysely reciteth: for he sayeth, if these sciences had no coligance with other nedefull lear∣ninges, that those inconueniences would therof ensue.

I would to God therfore my dere maisters and brethrē, that there might no fault be found in vs, cō∣cerning these thinges: For truly if we weare such men of science, as we ought to be, those false abusers would be more fearful to medle as they doe. For what a sha∣me were it, that suche an abuser in talkinge with a chirurgien in dede, shall apere more perfecte in the knowledge of the anatomie, and the natures of sim∣ples, or the complexion of man his bodie, then he that hath ben apprentice to his arte? Surely me thinketh this were a great occasion, not only to cause these abu¦sers more to presume: but I feare me also that suche thinges haue bene the cause, that suche abusers haue ben defended, of those whiche of righte shoulde haue subdued them.

Heare me my maisters and brethren, is ther any philosopher so ignorant in philosophie, that he wan∣teth knowledge, to defende that whiche he doth pro∣fesse, against his contrary? doth he worthily beare the name of a Platoniste, that is ignorant in Plato his

workes? or is he worthy the name of a Musiciā, that hath learned to singe or plaie a fewe songes vpon an instrument, without the knowledge of the principles and rules of musicke? I am sure ye will answere no. If this be true in dede, as I thinke none can denie: Howe can we for shame call our selues Chirurgi∣ens, if we be not able to defende the same arte, to the confutation of the abusers therof. And I suppose verely, that Galen would not haue thought hym self a true Phisicien, if he had not bene able to confute the error of Thessalus and y^e empirickes of his time, that falsly abused the excellēt arte of medicine: wher¦of Chirurgerie is the most aunciēt and worthy part, as Cornelius Celsus witnesseth: what so euer in the abusiue deuision is otherwyse pretended.

Seyng therfore that it lyeth not in vs to extincte, put downe to silence, or subuerte these abusers: woulde God that we myght at the leaste, (throughe our excellentie) cause them as they are to seme exe∣crable. So that therby, they whiche haue power to re∣dresse these thynges, shall of their owne motion, se∣ing these abuses subuerte them: I meane that wee our selues myght growe to suche perfection, that the workes and knowledge of vs myghte apeare so immaculate, that by our iustnes, their falshode may be sene or knowne, by our cleanes theyr fowlnes,

by our knowledge their ignorance, by our certeyne▪ and true vse: their abusion and vncerteyne aduen∣tures: As eche thinge is knowen by his contrarie. So that at the laste, they thē selues (as Iannes and Iam∣bres, the charmers of Aegipte, although for a whyle they deceiued the kyng, by counterfeiting the myra∣cles of of Moises and Aaron the seruantes of God, yet at the laste confessed, that their owne dedes weare done by deceite, and the miracles of Moyses by the finger of God) shall confesse them selues also to be a∣busers, and we workers by true science. And so at the laste I doubte not, but all mē shall abhorre them. And as abuse groweth into hate and cōtempt, so the right vse shall obteyne loue and credite: so that the good in∣deuour of vs I truste, shall be the fall both of the abu∣sers, and the haters, of our excellent arte.

For truly my maisters and brethern, I can not a little commende your late good indeuoures in this be∣halfe. For I presently see a number of diligēt hartes, endeuouryng them selues by all meanes to excelle in all kynde of studies, belonging to their arte and pro∣fession: and as it alredy apeareth vnto me, so shall it shortely to all men, euen as choke peares to our ad∣uersaries. If we may but haue the fauourable de∣fence of you our maisters, as we haue had incourage∣ment therto, by your diligence in repayring our wor∣shipfull

halle, and y^e order therof: to the increasement of al kynde of knowledge, belonging to our profession.

I therfore, as preparatiue to the reste that shall folowe, dedicate thys my symple laboure, in set∣tyng forth this excellent compendious worke, called Chirurgia parua Lanfranci, vnder your ayde, helpe, succor, tuition, and defence: whiche was translated out of Frenche into the olde Saxony englishe, about twoo hundred yeres past. VVhich I haue nowe not only re∣duced to our vsuall speache, by changyng or newe translating suche wordes, as nowe be inueterate, and growne out of knowledge by processe of tyme, but al∣so conferred my labours in this behalf with other co∣pies, both in Frenche and latin: namely with maister Bacter, for his latine copie, and Symon Hudie for his frēch copie, and other English copies: of the which I had one of Iohn Chāber, & an other of Iohn Yates, both very auncient, with other mo: whose good helpe hath not a little farthered me in these thinges, to the intēt that it might perfectly come forth to a publique profite, whiche to doe I was constreigned, not only be∣cause I would not truste to muche to myne owne rude iudgementes: but also that by the authoritie of dyuers men of knowledge, this excellent worke (as it is wor∣thy) may y^e more effectually be alowed and accepted.

And this dedication haue I made vnto you, ra∣ther

then (as the common vse is) to noble menne and princes, because ye being fathers and auncient mai∣sters of the same, are better able by perswasion and instruction of doctrine, to defende the same, to the sa∣tisfiyng of all men, then the only name of any prince, or magistrate, whiche defence I doe not desire, be∣cause I thinke the most excellent Lanfranke, to lack authoritie of truthe, to defende him selfe, but only that myne owne imbesilitie and faintnes of name, in setting forthe of this worke, may by your worshipfull aide, succour, and helpe, be fortefied. And thus doing, ye shall not only encourage me for my part, to enter∣prise other thinges vtile and nedefull, but other also, with whom I haue conferred my studies, bothe haue done and doe intende the like, to the increase of the name, fame, and worshippe, of our excellent arte, and the companie or brotherhod of the same.

Vnto this worke also is added a briefe Anatomie, necessary for all Chirurgiens, and a table of the in∣terpretation, as well of all maner of strange wordes, as also of all maner of simples, by any occasion trea∣ted of in this profitable worke: By me collected, ac∣cording to myne owne experience and the meaning of good authors, as well y^e aunciētes as the new writers.

The whiche thing, if it be well approued of you, it wilbe (as the goodnes therof deserueth) The better accepted and receiued of all others, the whiche thing

to see, weare to me for this my good will, a sufficiente recompence. And what profite or commoditie, this worke shall be, (being nowe set forth vulgarly) to all estates of this realme, the excellēcie therof wil short∣ly so proue it by euident experience, that we nede not for that cause here to waste the time with wordes. Therfore that it may so come to passe, that our ende∣uours in generall, as well the maisters as the reste of the companie, maye procede as it is begonne, to the e∣dificatiō and building vp of good science, & to the sub¦uertion of all haters and abusers of the same: I shall not cease, not only to praie to God for helpe therin, whoe is capitaine and author of al goodnes: but also with such poore weapon, as the forsaid capitaine hath lent me, I will not cease while breath is in my body, to lay on with both handes till this battell be wonne, & our aduersaries conuinced and vanquished: which al∣though as I saide afore, they are x. to one, yet truthe being our weapon, and good science our armoure, with our generall the high author of them, we nede not to doubt, but that one shalbe good enough for a thousād, not so strongly armed, but naked men and bare of all knowledge.

And in the meane tyme, till we brynge forth our mayne battell, let this worthy Lanfranke skirmishe with thē, as I. Vigo & other haue done. And also let not vs be obliuious, in geuyng thankes to such, good men, as haue in these thinges not a litle furthered our

knowledges: as doctor Recorde, for his Vrinale of phi¦sicke, whiche he dedicated vnto vs: and also doctor Turner, whoe compyled his englishe her••ale, as he affirmeth for our sakes▪ whiche moste learned and worthie worke ought of vs to be honorably estemed: rather then as it hath been of some moste spitfully de∣spised, for the faulte of the lewde and negligent pryn¦ters: wherwith they seme most shamlesly to charge the author▪ where as accordinge to his desire, they ought rather for their owne profitable vse to amend the same▪ that by their good receiuing and wel vsing of it, he maye be animated, to finishe al y^e rest of that worke, according to his former intentes: the which to doe if he be discouraged by our ingratitude, how much the common weale shall lacke that commoditie, let the wyse and learned iudge. I truste I shall not nede to byd you bee thankefull to maister VVylliam Cun∣ningham doctor of phisicke, for his so many learned lectures which he red vnto you in our halle, to your great commoditie, if the faulte be not in your selues: of the whiche to be partaker with you, my frowarde fortune and distance of place (to my no small griefe) would not suffer me. And besides these, diuers other: which (to abreuiate the time) I passe ouer without the rehersall of their names, whose diligence of late hath bene (as vnto you at this daye it is not vnknowne)

to profite the common weale: whose names therfore among vs oughte therby to florishe, and their fame neuer to die or decaie. And then let vs make a gene∣rall proclamation, that who so euer hath professed the noble arte of chirurgerie, and will fighte against the despisers and abusers of the same: let them come vnder the baner of good authores, nowe sent amonge them, by our generall the creator of medicine: arming them selues well with knowledge and good science, and goe forth to battell against these deceiuers, and their capitaine filthie lucre. And their wages shall be well payde them: namely good fame and liuinge in this life, and eternall lyfe after this vale of miserie. The which he grante vs all, that dearly hath redemed vs with his precious bloude, Amen.

Notes

• * 1.1

  But of this deuision looke more in my preface to the Reader.