Averroeana being a transcript of several letters from Averroes an Arabian philosopher at Corduba in Spain, to Metrodorus a young Grecian nobleman, student at Athens in the years 1149 and 1150 : also several letters from Pythagoras to the King of India, together with his reception at the Indian court, and an account of his discourse with the King, and his gymnosophists, and his rules and precepts : his account of the power and efficacy of numbers, and magical uses thereof : to which is prefixt, a Latin letter by Monsieur Grinau, one of the Messieurs du Port Royal in France, to the ingenious Monsieur Gramont, merchant at Amsterdam, concerning the subject of these papers, and how they came to his hands : the whole containing matters highly philosophical, physiological, Pythagorical and medicinal, the work having been long conceal'd is now put into English for the benefit of mankind, and the rectification of learned mistakes.

A Letter Prefatory to the Ensu∣ing Discourse, by Monsieur Grinau, one of the Messieurs de Porte Royal in France, to the Ingenious Monsieur Gramont, Merchant at Amsterdam.

I Have often sought for an Oppor∣tunity of Testifying my Gratitude to∣wards you, which having at last found, I could not but lay hold on. Ʋn∣der your Influence, and your Expences, I first apply'd my self to Study, deriving my own Birth indeed from a very mean Family. And it is necessary that Rivers shou'd return from whence they first flow'd.

This little Treatise, such as it is, very unexpectedly fell into my Hands, and im∣mediately I determined to send it to you. You know our Friend M. L. Petit, a Per∣son, though of a weak Body, yet of a very

strong Ʋnderstanding, who has for many Years since resided in Andaluzia in Spain, that little Man, and pleasant Companion, first gave me a Copy of these Letters, and also affirm'd that they were written by Averroes own Hand in Ancient Latin, and in the Year brought from his Study at Corduba, and laid up in the Li∣brary of a certain Nobleman at Anda∣luzia.

Now I am to give an Account wherefore I present these Letters to you, an unequal Return of so large a Bounty. I know, Sir, that from your very Infancy you have Thirsted after Learning, and taken more Pains in the Study of Philosophy than others in the Acquiring of Riches. This indeed is the true Riches, which can nei∣ther cloy the Mind, or injure the Body; for the oftner they are tasted, the more they are desired.

We have Averroes himself confirming this Truth, who is acknowledged by all that have but the least Relish of Physick, to have very well deserved from that Art, he having laid down Excellent Rules,

built upon sound Reason for the Preser∣vation of Health, encouraging, and com∣mending Temperance to all his Disciples. And what his Opinion was concerning the Menstruum of the Stomach, his Books, hardly unknown to the Learned, do abun∣dantly discover, whereof there is an Ori∣ginal Manuscript Writ in Arabick, to be seen in the Library of the College of Phy∣sicians in London: For being a severe Searcher, and diligent Enquirer into the Secrets of Nature, he never rashly past Judgment upon things: And being an Arabian, and having a nearer Communi∣cation with Phoebus, whatsoever there is of Secret in this Business, that has crea∣ted so much trouble to our Modern Physi∣cians, could not be unknown to him.

Neither can it be suspected, but the Writings of Pythagoras were in his Hands, and their Sentiments are so much alike, that none can doubt but that there was an Intercourse and Correspondence be∣twixt their Souls.

As to what concerns Pythagoras, Man∣kind with one consent agree that he was a

Person endued with Antient Morals, and Sincere Fidelity, affecting neither the Applause nor Estimation of the Vulgar, having only a particular regard to the Welfare of Mankind, not stuffing his Writings with Rhetorical Flights to cap∣tivate the Ʋnderstanding of the Ignorant, always commending many wholesom Rules, and useful Notions, to the Service of the World. So that it seems he was altoge∣ther bent to promote the Health and Wel∣fare both of Body and Mind. What need is there to say more, so many Excellent Things have been Written by him, and with so many Praises have all the Learn∣ed in former Ages extolled him, that it would be highly unreasonable to suspect the Reputation of so great a Man.

But if any one shall so far Patronize Vice and Luxury, as to charge Pythago∣ras with Madness, for Interdicting In∣temperance, and Killing, and Eating of Flesh, let him consider whence all these Slaughters, and Cruel Symptoms of Dis∣eases, passing the Ʋnderstanding, even of Physicians, do proceed, except from an

••ntemperate Ingurgitation of all s;orts of Flesh? Whence comes the Languor of Sloath, Scurvies, Asthma's, &c. which Nature is hardly able to overcome, unless from a repeated Indulgence in the Eating of unwholesome Food, so that we may truly affirm the Gullet to have destroy'd more than the Sword.

These are the Reasons, Sir, that in∣duc'd me to Communicate these Letters to you. At the first sight indeed they seem to be the Exercises of Young Scholars, but when they are imbibed into prepared Minds, they will by so much the more ap∣pear to accord with the Judgment of the Best Philosophers, by how much they seem farther remov'd from the present Practice of the Schools; where indeed we endeavour many things, but do nothing, unless induce a Trojan Horse that overthrows every thing.

Away then with these Trifling Rudi∣ments of the Schools; for the more we ap∣ply our selves to them, the less wise we grow. We spend Five Years at School, and Seven in the Ʋniversity, and yet are

in doubt, whether the Conclusion is to be reckoned part of a Syllogism. O the stub∣born Guts of Scholars that can endure to swallow what they can never digest.

But Nature carries a Torch before us, and the more strictly we follow her, the nearer approach we make to Truth; she be∣ing the best Mistress of Arts, and Guide of Life.

There's no need of more words, only I beg you'd please to accept this Address in part, as a Testimony of the Gratitude of,

Sir,

Yours, P. Grinau.

Dat. Non. Apr. 1687.