Enchiridion medicum: containing the causes, signs, and cures of all those diseases, that do chiefly affect the body of man: divided into three books. With alphabetical tables of such matters as are therein contained. Whereunto is added a treatise, De facultatibus medicamentorum compositorum, & dosibus. / By Robert Bayfield.

TO THE READER.

Courteous Reader,

I Have for thy benefit collected out of sundry Ancient and Modern Authors, as it were a breviary or Abridgement of Physick, and to∣gether with those deductions, I have enterlaced many experiments of mine own, which by continual use and practice, I have ob∣served to be true. But I may seem to some over∣bold in setting forth this book, when as the works of so Honourable and Learned men, who have laboured in this kind, are so learnedly penned, and highly esteemed. In truth I must, and do most willingly confess, that neither in learning or experience, I am to be compared with the least of them; nay unfit to carry their books after them: yet notwithstanding, because many industrious Students want an estate to purchase such Au∣thors, their several prizes amounting to so much, and also considering the great utility of an Epitomy of Physick, whose matter is mani∣fold, and use general; and that no English Au∣thour (I am sure in this volume) as yet extant,

hath the Definitions, Causes, Signes, and Cures of so many diseases, amounting to the number of one hundred and fifty, besides all those particular diseases that are handled disperstly in this book, I have thought it good therefore, I say, to epito∣mize, and contract the learned works of the lear∣nedest and best Authours in England now ex∣tant with us, into a portable Enchiridion. Now what profit this my book will bring to young Stu∣dents, and such as thirst after knowledge, I leave to the event: If none, I hope Godwill esteem my labours, Non ex eventu, sed ex affectu, not ac∣cording to what it did, but according to what I desire it should do. I know it will passe under the censure and judgement of divers sorts of men; some are ignorant and cannot judge; Et ideo grave judicium est ignorantis, and the igno∣ranter man, the severer Iudge. Others are too rash, and are ready to censure it before they read it, or at least do read by starts, and judge by par∣cels, and so must needs be partial in their judge∣ment. Others are malicious, maligning, and de∣praving other mens labours; and I know many about this City that can hear all, but can speak well of none, being full fraughted with jeeres, and can so well dispute and craftily reason, that they will easily make

Candida de nigris, & de candentibus atra.

But to such I say, as one lately did to the like,

Cum tua non edas, carpis mea carmina Leli:

Carpere vel noli nostra, vel ede tua.

Sloth sits and censures what the industrious teach, Foxes dispraise the grapes they cannot reach.

Therefore I intreat thee who ever readest this Work, that thou wouldest give thy mind, as well to pardon failings, as to know the truth. If thou meetest with any faults escaped, either through forgetfulnesse or non-understanding; I desire thee either with thy pen to correct them, or in courtesie to conceal them; Remembring that the first editions of young Writers may have some faults: If my endeavours want strength, thou canst not in equity deny me pardon, seeing thou thy self mayest run upon the same Rocks in other difficulties: for, Nemo sine crimine vivit.

Now Courteous Reader, expecting thy favourable acceptation of these my labours, which expectation of mine, if it be not de∣luded, I shall be further encouraged to con∣secrate the residue of my studies to thy com∣modity.

Thine ever to his power, ROBERT BAYFIELD.