Mikrokosmographia a description of the body of man. Together vvith the controuersies thereto belonging. Collected and translated out of all the best authors of anatomy, especially out of Gasper Bauhinus and Andreas Laurentius. By Helkiah Crooke Doctor of Physicke, physitian to His Maiestie, and his Highnesse professor in anatomy and chyrurgerie. Published by the Kings Maiesties especiall direction and warrant according to the first integrity, as it was originally written by the author.

Who haue beene the chiefe Authors of Anatomy in our owne times. CHAP. XIIII.

MAny things also haue the Arabians written of the matter of Anatomy, of whom Auicenna is worthily accounted, especially for the speculatiue part, the Prince and Chieftaine; but amongst all, the Latines haue taken most pains in this argument, and amongst them, those of our owne age; so that now the Art is so beautified, that it seemeth the last hand is put vnto it, and the art of Anatomy may now be accounted to haue attained the very height of her glorie. Among the ancientest of them, we haue Mundinus, who wrote very perspicuously by way of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or resolution, following the order of dissection. Carpus wrote large Commen∣taries vpon him; but we must needes taxe them both with many ydle and absurd passages, besides the lamenesse and imperfection of their workes. Thomas de Zerbis set forth a large worke, but we imagine that he tooke much from other men, and had little of his owne, nei∣ther had he as we suppose, any great practise himselfe in dissection. After these came Vas∣seus, Carolus Stephanus, Andernacus. At length appeared Andreas Vesalius, who wrote ve∣ry accurately; and some thinke, he balked nothing that may appertaine either to Dissecti∣on, or to the actions or vse of the parts; but he is condemned of many, and haply not vn∣worthily; for that hauing transcribed almost all his worke out of Galen, yet hee cannot af∣foord him scarse a good word, but either pricked by ambition, or with an itching desire to contradict so great an Author, he neuer leaues goading and wounding his reputation, and that very often vndeseruedly.

Iacobus Syluius heerein hath carried away the reputation, that he hath digested in a most exquisite order, the vast and wilde Forrest as it were, and confusion of all the Muscles and Vessels, and giuen them particular and proper names, but hee was little beholding to his Printer, who hath let slip many escapes, and by your leaue added (as we thinke) somthings to him very superfluous. These two, Vesalius and Syluius flourished both in one time; but Vesalius was too tart and sharpe in his calumniations, Syluius too obstinate a desender of Galen. Vesalius hath rashly and vnaduisedly written many things against Galen. Syluius in defending his Maister Galen, is enforced to maintaine many vncouth Paradoxes. Gabriell Fallopius the most subtile and acute Anatomist of this age, hath deserued exceeding much of vs all; for in his obseruations he hath opened many things altogether vnknowne to the former ages: he wrote also an excellent Commentary vpon Galens Booke de Ossibus. Co∣lumbus couched the whole Art very succinctly in xv. Bookes, and penned them very neat∣ly. Valuerda the Spaniard hath done also exceeding well, and with great commendations. Eustachius hath published some small workes of Anatomy concerning the bones, and the frame and composition of the Kidneyes. Bauhinus first exceeded all men, and since in a la∣ter worke, hath exceeded himselfe, both in his descriptions, and in his Tables. Archangelus Picholominaeus a Cittizen of Rome, hath set forth very learned readings of Anatomy, inter∣laced with many disputations concerning things controuerted. Varolius Arantius and Pi∣gafeta haue added also their tribute vnto this treasury. Volcherus Coeiter, and Pelix Pla∣terus haue beautified it with their Tables, Volcherus is more easie and facile. Pla∣terus is acurate, but not fit Lettuce for euery mans lips, hee must picke nicely that will ga∣ther a Sallet out of him, hee is so intricate and full of his Dicotomies. Manie Frenchmen haue written well in their owne Language. Iacobus Guillimaeus the Kings Chirurgion hath adorned the whole art with Tables and Figures, by which he hath made an easie entrance for all men to vnderstand the grauest authors. The like may be saide of that industrious Paraeus, and Cabrolius the kings Anatomist in Mompelier. Seuerinus Pineus hath taken great paines: he wrote a Booke of the notes of virginity, wherein he hath very curiously descri∣bed the parts belonging to generation.

Andreas Laurentius hath taken worthy paines, and sweate much in this sande, to his great honour and the generall good of the whole Schoole of Anatomists; for beside his descrip∣tions, he hath handled learnedly the controuersies of euery part, with great euidence of ar∣gument, wherein I beleeue he hath satisfied himselfe and all the world beside. These his Controuersies we haue taken into our worke, yet not alwayes tying our selues to sweare what he sayes, but for the most part we finde him in the right. His descriptions wee take

vnder correction, not to be so perfect, and his Figures most imperfect. In those two Bau∣hine hath farre exceeded him and all men else; to whom therefore we sticke the closer, al∣though we could haue wished that Bauhine had had the care of his owne worke himselfe, & had not betrusted others with his credit, who haue in no few things fayled his expectation and ours. Pauius of Leiden is a great Anatomist, but writes for his inscription, Posse & nol∣le nobile. Surely he can do much, and I would to God he could be ouercome, to commu∣nicate himselfe; some things we haue gathered from his owne mouth, whereof it shal ne∣uer repent vs. Finally, within these three or foure years, Iulius Casserius the Anatomist of Padua in Italy, set forth an elegant Booke of the fiue sences, wherein he hath laboured sufficiently, if not too much; for there is a kinde of sobriety to be vsed also in humane stu∣dies, beyond which to be wise, is not farre from folly. Casserius hath done manie thinges excellently well, and of good vse, but his extraordinary diligence about the organs of the senses in so many creatures, I see no cause to imitate; for sure I am by that litle experience I haue, that many of these nice and fine points, though they make a faire shewe, and tickle the eares of a man when he reades them, and delight his eye when hee sees the resemblan∣ces of them printed before him; yet when he shall come to search for them in the bodye of man, they will not be so obuious, if they be at all, or if they be found, yet serue rather for a speculatiue pleasure & admiration, then be of any vse in the art of physick or Chirurgery.

Among our selues Gemini was the first: in his descriptions too breefe, in his Tables too confused, rather contenting himselfe with Vesalius, then giuing contentment vnto o∣thers: yet for those times he is worthily to be commended.

That good and ingenuous old man Banister, was a true patriot, he loued his Country & Learning, and spent himselfe in dooing good, and his memory is worthy to bee registred euen for his Anatomy among the rest of his Labours. At this day we haue also some wor∣thy to be named, who if they listed, could turne the gaze of the worlde Westwarde, and time I hope will bring their monuments to light. In the meane time, we haue aduentured to hold vp this taper, at which if they please they may light their Torches.

Notes

• Auicen. Latine writers
• Mundinus. Carpus.
• Tho. de Zerbis.
• Vasseus. Caro. Stephanus Andernacus. Vesalius an a∣curate writer.
• Syluius his cō∣mendation.
• Fallopius his commendati∣on.
• Columbus.
• Eustachius. Bauhinus.
• Archangelus Picholomineus. Var. Arantius P••g••feta. Volcherus Coeiter. Platerus. Guillemaeus.
• Paraeus. Columbus. Pinaeus.
• Laurentius his cōmendation.
• Bauhines dili∣gence.
• Pauius.
• Iulius Casserius