A most excellent and compendious method of curing woundes in the head, and in other partes of the body with other precepts of the same arte, practised and written by that famous man Franciscus Arceus, Doctor in phisicke & chirurgery: and translated into English by Iohn Read, chirurgion. Whereunto is added the exact cure of the caruncle, neuer before set foorth in the English toung. With a treatise of the fistulae in the fundament, and other places of the body, translated out of Iohannes Ardern. And also the description of the emplaister called dia chalciteos, with his vse and vertues. With an apt table for the better finding of the perticular matters, contayned in this present worke.

A Complaint of the abuse of the noble Arte Chirurgerie.

A Midest the waues of Ocean seas, to memorie I gan to call, The famous arte of medicine, that daylie doth to ruine fall. A gift of God most excellent, to cure each mans infirmitie, Whereby his name extolled is, with praise and thankes continuallie. For what is he that doth beholde, the sundrie thinges that longes thereto, As gummes of trees, hearbs, seedes, and fruites, with stones and mineralls also. But will aduance his power great, to see their hidden propertie, And operations wonderfull, vppon the partes of mans body. And to fulfill this Godlie guift, he hath ordaned members fit, Chirurgians I meane which to the sicklie may deliuer it. But out alas I am constrained, with griefe of heart for to declare, That such a worthie arte shoud be, in peeces rent and left so bare. For to record the present state, it makes me greuously to mone, Sith Galen and Hippocrates, did exercise it all as one. In elder times there were but few, that had therein experience, But such in deede as did excell, in learning and in diligence.

Wherefore they were accepted then, as treasures ritch and precious, And also to the common wealth, accounted most commodious. But now there are so many that this famous arte doe dailie haunt, And such as for the most part are, both blind and verie ignoraunt. That for their hurtfull practises, t'were better they were neuer borne, Appearing to their countrie deare as Caterpillers be to •…•…rne. Chirurgery moreouer is, abhorred of the Phisition, Who doth esteeme it as a thing, to vile for his profession. The other doth account this arte, a part of Phisick for to be, As for those parts of man alone, that are apparaunt outwardlie. And therefore doth he not regard, in learning to be studyous, For that he doth suppose the same, vnto his arte superfluous. How can the Surgeon well dissolue, the thing contained in his cure, Except he doe euacuate, and purge the same that is vnpure. Or is he able for to cure, all woundes and vlcers redylie, Without the administration, of diuers medicines inwardlie. Or can he take away the griefe, that vnto nature hurtfull is, Without the ayde of diet due,

and purging that which is amisse. How can then Surgery I say, from Phisicke well detracted be, Sith that in euery action, according lie they doe agree. But as it ws without aduise, disorderedlie distincte in twaine, So now the same deuided is, by wicked impes in parts againe. Some for the rheume forsooth will deale, and some to heale th'affected eyes, Some for the deafenesse of the eares, and some to cure the stone likewise. Some for the strangury, and some to cure a feuer skilfull are, And some to beautify the face, some also agneales for to pare. Some for an vlcer, some a wound, and some the Fistulae alone, Some for the pockes, some for a wenne, and some to cure a broken bone. Some for the dropsy others eke, that for the gout alone doe deale, Some for the tooth ach expert be, and some the rupture for to heale. Thus euerie one doth catch a peece, and gadding goes from place to place, Like pedlers prating in their pumpes, which daielie doe the arte disgrace. But to maintaine their Idle liues, they rather seeme to practise it, Then by their studies for to liue, in common wealth as members fit. And further more a griefe it is, to see how thinges are brought about,

And onely to subuert the arte, and vtterly to roote it out. For they that doe professe the same, and should most excellent appeare. Their callings greatly doe neglect, in riot, pride, and bellie cheare. Not once regarding that they ought, in readinesse ech thing to haue, Whereby the grieued limmes and life, of the aflicted they may saue. But some will say I haue a salue, most excellent for ech affect, When he the bodies state, disease, And Countries force doth not respect. Nor yet the number that is hurt, by present chaunce ensuing then, So that in curing fiue or sixe, perhaps he spoyleth nine or tenne. Some will a mixture make of druggs, yet they their vses doe not know, Which when they are in practise put, their strange effects doe truely showe. And othersome in steade of bookes, doe studie at the bowles full hard, And when they should their cures apply, doe runne to plaies, to Dice and Cards. Some take delight to iest and skoffe, in whoredome and in idlenesse, Some couet greatly to be rich, and some delight in all excesse. Some are of such a currish kind, They are not, so that they may gayne, Nor takes regarde vnto the sicke, that languisheth in grieuous payne.

Some occupations three or foure, haue also ioyning therevnto, And when they haue great substance got, their studies quite they doe forgoe. And some moreouer papists are, some nulli fidians likewise be, Some atheists temporifers, and some machiuells a griefe to so••, And some so stained are with vice, that they more likely doe appeare, Incarnet diuells for to bee, then such as liue in Godlie feare. And some there be that prentises, (to page it after them) doe take, And ••ather then they will them teach, their onelie drudges do them make, Whose yeeres when they expired be, to practise straight they do prepare, As wise as woodcocks in their workes, without discretion or care, Some buy their medicines redie made, not knowing how to make the same, Or else doe take it in disdaine, therto their fingers fine to frame, Through which abuses this our arte, is brought in ruine and decay, And many thousands spoyled be whose cause I doe lament this daie, Yet no man heere I doe accuse, to be the priuate cause of this. But euerie one I doe exhort, to mend the thing that is amisse. Who dealeth not with brutish beasts, but man that is Gods Image deare, Regard therefore your calling great, and keepe your conscience alwaies cleare,

For whosoeuer doth decay through your default in 〈◊〉〈◊〉, His bloud in the last 〈…〉〈…〉, shall at your hands 〈…〉〈…〉. God graunt therefore that you may all, in studies graue be deligent, And louingly likewise impart, the skill that he to you hath ••ent. To one anothers mutuall vse, as Christian brethren ought to be 〈◊〉〈◊〉, And not to sell Gods blessings, which he freelie did on you bestow. Roote out all runnagates and such, as daylie doe their 〈…〉〈…〉, The noble Arte Chirurgerie, most wickedlie for 〈…〉〈…〉, Let modestie be your delight, let vertue still maintained be, And frame your selues in ech respect, to leade a life accordingly. That so the world regarding •…•…is, to God may yeeld eternall prayse, And those that bee to health restord, your honest name and fame may •…•…ise. And whilest I heere on earth remayne, to pray to GOD I will not cease, Till I returne to dust agayne, your knowledge daylie to encrease.

FINIS.

Iohn Reade.