The whole course of chirurgerie wherein is briefly set downe the causes, signes, prognostications & curations of all sorts of tumors, wounds, vlcers, fractures, dislocations & all other diseases, vsually practiced by chirurgions, according to the opinion of all our auncient doctours in chirurgerie. Compiled by Peter Lowe Scotchman, Arellian, Doctor in the Facultie of Chirurgerie in Paris, and chirurgian ordinarie to the most victorious and christian King of Fraunce and Nauarre. Whereunto is annexed the presages of diuine Hippocrates.

To the friendlie Reader in praise and com∣mendation of the Authour of this Treatise M. Peter Lowe Doctour in Chirurgerie, & Chirurgion vnto the French King. William Clowes one of her Maiesties Chirurgions, wisheth all happinesse, with much increase of knowledge in this most excellent and famous Arte of Chirurgerie.

HEere hast thou friendly Reader truely and faithfully set downe vnto thee, a most worthy and compendious doctrine, con∣tayning many holesome and profitable preceptes, for the curing of Tumors, a∣postumes, woundes and vlcers, fractures, dislocations in generall & particular: with their Indications prognostications, signes and iudgementes: with diuers o∣perations chirurgicall, for the most parte in Dialogue wise, very delightsome, plaine and profitable, in which discourse is also cited and set downe many worthie quotacions, fa∣mous authorities, and Authors of renowne, with diuers well experimented remedies, both simple and compound, and so very briefly concluding with the deuine Presages of Hipppocrates. All which it hath pleased maister Peter Low of his owne entire affection and vnfayned zeale which hee beareth to all young springing Plants, called of Paracelsus and other learned writers, the children or sonnes of Arte: hath here published in our owne vulgar toungue his most fruitfull & necessarie Treatise of Chirurgerie, not as a stran∣ger, but as a deere Friend. In like manner hee hath of late performed one other Treatise being extant, and is intituled by him, The cure of the Spanish sickenesse. And further I haue thought it good, here to foretell, he is fully determined to publish in the English tongue, other very briefe & pithie workes of Chirurgerie, vnlesse he be stayd by the wronges and iniuries of a rude multitude of subtill Sicophants or vn∣gratefull Emulators, men indeede defectiue in their Art and

fouly faultie in their iudgementes, being the onely race and ofpring of Erasistratus and Thessalus Tralianus, who haue most vnseemely behaued themselues behind his backe, chiefely about the answering of this present booke, before a sort of them had euer seene him, or vnderstood whereof he intreated, and haue vsed against him likewise, a nomber of ridiculous, aspiring and proud pontificall comparrisons, patched together, like the ragges of a beggars cloake: and yet some of these hideous Monsters in humanitie, are as it were fallen asleepe, in their owne beastly ignorance, ma∣king no conscience in mispending their talents: neuerthe∣lesse, they will be marueilous vigilent in carping and repre∣hending of other mens labours and trauels, which is a point of extreame foolishnesse in them, because it is said, he that hath done least, is worthy of thankes. Notwithstanding, according to the olde wonted guise they haue plounged themselues againe and againe in the flouds and streames of vnquencheable hatred against all men whatsoeuer (English or straunger) that publisheth foorth bookes of Phisicke or Chirurgerie in the English toungue: neuer considering the graue and wise sayinges of Cicero, that a man is not onely borne for himselfe, but chiefely to profite his natiue Coun∣trey, Parentes and Friendes.* 1.1 And many of these foresaide professed enemies are more delighted in bragging & boa∣sting of their owne cunning and great skill in scratching and scraping together of abundance of woful-gotten pelfe, then otherwise carefull to seeke the good of others by pu∣blishing of such like works of Chirurgerie, as is this present Treatise, nay, a many of them are so euill affected and vn∣charitably giuen, that they will with all rigour, hard and bitter speeches most vniustly wounde men behinde their backes, and that after a Parasiticall manner: sometimes be∣fore persons of good account in their chambers priuately, & many times also at tables openly, with most intollerable reproches and odious defamations, and after extolleth them to their faces with a worlde of commendations, they will with the Crocodile seeke all aduantages to spoyle a man se∣cretly

& after wash his face againe with dissembling teares most trecherously. But here to leaue such vaine & variable heads in their indignation••, which reward hatred for loue, and contempt for friendly affection: & end with all thank∣fulnesse vnto the Authour of this Treatise, but most special∣ly for publishing the same in our English tongue: praying vnto God, who is the giuer of all knowledge and good giftes to increase the number of all well minded men, who for the good of posteritie doe imploy their labours & spend their time in the publishing of such like bookes of Chirur∣gerie, which will be no doubt a great benefite vnto the coū∣trey and common wealth.

William Clowes.

Notes

• * 1.1

  It is said, That man may boast of his wealth, that hath got∣ten it well.