The curious distillatory, or, The art of distilling coloured liquors, spirits, oyls, &c. from vegitables, animals, minerals and metals ... containing many experiments ... relating to the production of colours, consistence and heat ... : together with several experiments upon the blood (and its serum) of diseased persons, with divers other collateral experiments / written originally in Latin by Jo. Sigis. Elsholt ; put into English by T.S. ...

TO THE Right Honourable PHILIP, Earl of Chesterfield, Lord Stanhope of Shel∣ford, &c.

My Lord,

IN the Eastern parts of the World, no Man approaches a Great, an Illustri∣ous Person, without a Present: And in these Western parts it hath been for many

Ages a Custome, (and still re∣mains so) to dedicate Books of Curious and Polite Learning, to Eminent, and Worthy Men. And this for several Reasons: for by prefixing be∣fore the Books they publish the Names of those Excellent Men to whom they are obliged for former benefits, They do thereby in some measure ex∣press their Gratitude: As also by that means their works are better Adorned; and thus recei∣ving Splendor from their Pa∣trons Glory, they thereby gain the better acceptation in the World. Some propose the writing of Panegyricks in Ho∣nour of their Patrons. But

that looking so like Flattery, I willingly avoid. Besides, it were madness to suppose, your Lordships Masculine Virtues both of Mind, and Body; As your Courage, Generosity, Sin∣gular Prudence, Equity, Candor, Affability, Compassion to the Af∣flicted, &c. can possibly be described, or comprized, with∣in the Limits of an Epistle: Nor need I attempt the doing this, since your Lordships tru∣ly Noble Qualities, are so E∣minently known to the whole Nation.

I Address this Book to your Lordship, not for any of the aforegoing Arguments, but chiefly for the following Cause.

The Art by which the Experi∣ments produced in these Papers are made, (viz. Chymistry) hath in all Ages been imbraced, and cultivated by both the Learned Magi and Kings, and is at this day much prized, and Practised by many of the Princes of Germany: And highly esteemed and pro∣moted by the Example of our own Sovereign's delighting in it, and favouring of it. And it must be granted that the An∣tients could not bestow so much Honour upon it, as it hath gained (in this our time) by obtaining your Lordships Favour. For you have added new Rayes to Illustrate

it, by your Studying and Practising of it.

My Lord, Having mentio∣ned this, I have shewed the cause why I presume to make you this Present: The Treatise it self being of that Art, where∣of your Lordship is so great a Master; And therefore I hope the Argument will not be un∣grateful. The Original Au∣thor is sufficiently known (a∣broad) to be both a Learned, and Practically knowing Man, and he thought this piece worth the presenting to a whole Soci∣ety of Men, that are likewise such themselves; I mean the German Academy of the CURIOSI. It hath also the Applause of

many of our ingenious Vertu∣osi of the Royal Society: These Reasons have incouraged me to put it into English: And to de∣posite it at your Feet. Desire∣ing your Lordships acceptation of it, as a Testimony of Vene∣ration, And the Eternal de∣voting of my Self,

From my Study London, this 4th of April, 1677.

Your Lordships Most Humble, Affectionate and Faithful Servant, Tho. Sherley.