The cure of old age and preservation of youth by Roger Bacon... ; translated out of Latin, with annotations and an account of his life and writings / by Richard Browne. Also, a physical account of the tree of life / by Edw. Madeira Arrais ; translated likewise out of Latin by the same hand.

TO THE READER.

Reader,

I Here impart to you the Im∣provement (or rather the Re∣covery) of a most useful piece of Knowledge, an Addition to your Days and the Comfort thereof: Wherein, beside the Exact Course of living prescribed by Physicians for above two Thousand Years, you will find both Medicines and a Me∣thod whereby to cure all Ails com∣ing through any little deviation from that exact Course, which is so diffi∣cult, if not impossible, to be obser∣ved. But indeed the most use so small Endeavours towards the Obser∣vation of any wholesome Rules, that we may with reason conclude the

World is in prosecution of a Course rather how to dye than live. Men will close their own Eyes, when, would they but open them to a right Infor∣mation, they might live more, and more happy days. And you perhaps will maintain, that The whole have no need of a Physician, but they that are sick: But I may rejoin to the Saying, That your Health, I doubt, is in a Phari∣saical condition; and when you have read this Book, I doubt not, but you will abate your Opinion. For, be∣side that Aptitude and Inclination to some Disease, which (though latent to you, yet manifest to a Physician) may be in you, from the very mo∣ment of your Nativity, you make every day a considerable step to∣ward Old Age, which is it self a Dis∣ease. And now, Sir, how do You? You find no Pain, and think all is well. A Physician seems as useless

as a Captain in time of Peace. In∣deed when a Disease invades you, the Physicians are commissioned to give Battel to it; but when the Brunt is over, they must quit your Service, whilst You, like supine Men and se∣cure, consider not, that Fortificati∣on, a main point in the Art of War, is most properly exercised in Peace, and that it is too late to build the Walls, when the Gate should be shut against the Enemy. Whereas, I am per∣swaded, were men as careful in preserving their Health, as they are sollicitous for the recovery of it, they might often multiply the Summ of their Years, and live the Product without a Disease. And I count it a Piece of Skill in a Physician far sur∣passing the most admirable Cures, to preserve a Man from all Diseases. Which Hippocrates and Galen, both Men of a weak Constitution by Na∣ture,

preserved themselves from by their Art till above an hundred Years of Age. And had not both these great Physicians been more ingaged on the Offensive than on the Defen∣sive part; for so many Cures which took up their Endeavours, they might have added as many Years to their own Lives, had they been bent that way. But alas! Health with Virtue, and Diseases with Vices, run parallel. For as Lawgivers have better provided for the Punishment of ••he bad, than for the Encourage∣ment of the good; so Physicians take abundant Care of the Sick, but sel∣dome visit those in Health, whom so to preserve would be the most glo∣rious Act of the Profession. And this is the Task of the first of these Treatises.

The second considers Man in his Immortal Capacity, and gives a most

rational Description of the Tree of Life. I must acknowledge, the vast and general Prospect and Care all of Humane Race have to Futurity be∣yond confinement, argue to me an in∣nate Option in them of Immorta∣lity, which God, when he had com∣manded Nature to implant, would never in his Goodness have denied, had not Man frustrated himself by his own Folly. Now though I could be willing enough to find out a way to immortalize Flesh and Blood; yet I will neither be so vain, as with E∣rasistratus to promise such Immortali∣ty to my self or others; nor shall I be so bold as to encounter for it with the Flaming Sword: The term of my Hopes is, by a lawful course of Nature to obtain a Reprieve of the deserved Sentence passed by our of∣fended God, at least by Tempe∣rance and Medicines to avoid many

Troubles, till it shall please him to sign the Execution. This Treatise may serve as a Theory to the pre∣ceding Practice, and to illustrate on what Principles the former proceeds. For as a Corollary it assigns very pro∣bable Reasons for the great Age of the Antediluvians. And since the Tree of Life is not it self attainable, a Quid pro Quo to prolong our Lives, which we cannot perpetuate, may be of good Use.

The Author of the first Treatise was our own Countryman, of whose Life I next give you some Ac∣count.

The second was writ by a Fo∣reigner, of whom also in its place I give you what I know. But their Books bespeak best the Authors Worth; I therefore recommend the Perusal of them to your Conside∣ration.

As for the Commentator, he hopes, his publishing so useful (but intricate) an Author, may atone for what is said besides.

Richard Browne.