LETTER III.

A CATALOGUE OF Authors quoted in this Book. THE TABLE

To the Right Honourable THOMAS

Earl of _Pembroke_ and _Montgomery_; Baron _Herbert_ of _Caerdiff_; Lord _Rosse_, _Par_, _Marmion_, St. _Quintin_ and _Shurland_; Lord Lieutenant of the County of _Wilts_ and _South-Wales_; Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter, and President of Her Majesties most Honourable Privy Council.

_My Lord_,

I count it no small Happiness, in an Age so Censorious as this, to have found a Patron so universally admir’d, that I am under no apprehension of being thought a Flatterer, should I make use of and indulge all the Liberty of a profest Panegyrist; but that is what a sense of my own Inability and Your Lordship’s Modesty forbids: It is sufficient for me, that, under Your Lordship’s known Learning in Antiquity and History, both Antient and Modern, my weak Endeavours at restoring a _lost Science_ may be secure from the Assaults of the _Envious_ or the _Ignorant_.

I have nothing to fear from the Animosities of Parties, since how inveterate soever they may be against each other, yet they all agree in this one Point, to Esteem and Honour Your Lordship, who are the _Atticus_ of the Times, by Your Virtues endear’d to all sides, and each believing that not to Value Your Lordship, would be to discover such an aversion to Honour and Virtue as the worst of Men would abhor.

Your Virtues, my Lord, are so conspicuous, that they give you that Natural and Rational Right to true Nobility, which the _Roman_ Satyrist so justly exprest:

——_Nobilitas sola est atq; unica Virtus._

I will not dispute whether or no there be any Intrinsic Value in a long Descent, or whether that be deriv’d from the necessity of a Subordination essential to Government, or else from the just Reward of Virtue, which ennobles all the Posterity of the Possessors of it, it being here a very useless Disquisition since Your Lordship’s Family is of so very high an Original that none can boast a greater Antiquity, and that Your Lordship is possest of all that Merit which first distinguish’d Man from Man, and gave a Preeminence to the Deserving. Among all the Excellencies which thus dignifie Your Lordship’s Character, perhaps there is none more eminent than Your Protection and Encouragement of Arts and Sciences, to which the _English_ World owe the incomparable Mr. _Lock_’s _Essays on Human Understanding_, and other Works extreamly beneficial to the Public. Neither do I in the least question but Your Lordship’s Protection of so excellent and useful an _Art_ as _Surgery_, will render it as flourishing here in _England_ as it is in any other part of the World. ’Tis true we are not wanting of some extraordinary Professors of that _Art_, but I could also heartily wish we had not a greater number of Bad, and yet perhaps the chief occasion of this may be the want of a due Method of Encouragement, by which the modest Endeavours of young Proficients are eclips’d, and which (to make a Comparison) like tender Plants, are nipp’d in the Bud and perish for want of Watering.

Now as the want of Opportunity has been in some respect a prejudice to my Business, so also the want of Encouragement has in a great measure been a hindrance to this Work: For what regret of Mind must it needs occasion, to find none esteem’d but such as speak Experience in their Looks, and that Youth should be despis’d tho’ never so hopeful and industrious, meerly because of a particular number of Years, and what an interruption must it be to our painful Studies, to think that even the best Performances of this kind are contemn’d because they are chiefly a Collection, when on the contrary it is receiv’d as an establish’d Maxim, that such as Travel into Foreign Countries, are not only the most capable to describe them, but also whatsoever they relate is look’d upon as the sole matter of Fact and Truth, when many times Business is better transacted by Correspondence, and those that have been at the trouble, expence and danger of Travelling have come home no more improv’d than they went out, except in the Fashions and Levities of the Age, yet are we commonly so imprudent as to value Things meerly for their coming from a far and at a great deal of Expence; but whilst we admire those Novelties, we are often misled and deceiv’d by meer Fables and imaginary Stories of such Things as neither are, nor ever have been.

This I speak not in prejudice to Travelling it self, which, if rightly understood, is certainly the greatest Improvement in the World, and I could heartily wish I had had the opportunity of its Advantage, but on the contrary I do it chiefly to show that it is not impossible to give a tolerable, if not the best Account of the Ancients without it; for what can any one, who now travels into _Egypt_, learn or see but such a ruin’d Country, that the very Place is hardly known where those wonderful Cities _Thebes_ and _Memphis_ stood, except what is Traditional or extracted from the Writings of the Ancients. ’Tis true, the learn’d and accurate Mr. _Greaves_ has given us the best Description of the _Pyramids_, but then this was both because they are at this Day in being, and to be view’d by Travellers, as also that he carry’d along with him the best contriv’d Instruments for taking their exact Altitudes and Dimensions, which few besides that see them trouble themselves with, but are content to say, they have seen them; nevertheless _Greaves_ can neither give us the Names of the right Founders of them, nor any certainty whether there were perpetual _burning Lamps_ in them, or a _Colossus_ or _Statue_ on the top of the bigger _Pyramid_, or, in a word, by whom and to what end the monstrous Figure of the _Sphinx_ was built.

But however the aforesaid Reflections are not the only Discouragements to Industry and Study; to see our Profession over-run by _Quacks_ and _Mountebanks_, and that _Valet de Chambres_ are suffer’d to Bleed, dress Wounds, cut Fontanells, and perform the like Operations, is what has reduc’d _Surgery_ to so low an ebb. In like manner the noble _Art of Embalming_ has been intirely ruin’d by the _Undertakers_, as also the _Court of Honour_ much prejudic’d, of which Your Lordship has been twice Supreme Judge; from whence it is the _Balsamic Art_ is now-a-days look’d upon as a very insignificant Thing, and not a little despis’d, whereas the Knowledge and Practise of that _Art_ is both useful in Natural _Phylosophy_, _Physiology_, _Physic_, _Surgery_ and _Anatomy_, as I hope I have fully prov’d in the body of my Book, over and above that the History thereof leads us into the first and best Antiquities of the World. Your Lordship therefore being both a great Admirer and Encourager of Things of this nature, I hope, thro’ Your generous Protection, not only to secure my self against the contempt of all Critics, but also to be enabl’d to continue and complete my intended Work, and this has also been one Reason why I have thus vindicated _Surgery_, the _Art of Embalming_ and my own _Collection_; in which, altho’ I am not thoroughly satisfy’d that there is any thing worthy Your Lordship’s perusal, yet this I am sure of, that Your Candour will appear the greater, by condescending to accept my mean Performance.

And here, my Lord, I have the temptation to loose my self in the Field of Your Praises, but that I know both my Patron and my self too well to indulge the agreeable Contemplation. Were Your Lordship like common Patrons, I should do like common Dedicators, speak of the admirable Temperance of Your Life, Your Moderation, the Wonders of Your Conduct when You were _Lord High Admiral_, which Office was Administer’d by Your Lordship to the Universal Content and Satisfaction, both of the Merchant, the Officers and Sailers; Your Lordship’s Prudence, Judgment and Sincerity in Your high Post of _President_ of Her Majesties most Honourable Privy Council: And I might extend my Considerations even to the great Happiness such a Person must possess, who is so generally valu’d and esteem’d both by his Queen and Country; but what is so well known I shall leave as wanting not the help of any Panegyric to make it more evident, and content my self with the Honour and Satisfaction of being permitted to Subscribe my self, _My Lord_,

_Your Lordship’s most Humble And most Obedient Servant_, Thomas Greenhill.

THE PREFACE.

_It is not only the Authority of King_ Solomon, _the greatest, richest and wisest of Men, that convinces us_ There is nothing new under the Sun, _but also common Observation daily shews us the Truth hereof; for whether we respect Kingdoms and Monarchies, Cities or Villages, with their Civil, Military and Rural Transactions; whether we consider the Ambition of Kings and Princes, or the Captivity and Subjection of the Common People; or if we look into the various Sects, Religions, Habits, Customs, Manners, Arts and Sciences that are in the World, we shall in all things find we are but Imitators of our Fore-Fathers, and tread only in their Footsteps_.

_The same Thing is acted to Day which was done a Thousand Years ago, and this, after a Vicissitude of fantastic Alterations, will in another Century come into Fashion again; so that we move like the Cœlestial Orbs, in the same Circumvolutions, and our whole Life is but_

Actum agere, & _Penelopes_ telam retexere.

_It is the same with Books and Writings; for tho’ public Advertisements do daily inform us, that some Work or other is continually on the Stocks, yet is it but the same Story inculcated over again, in another Language, different Volume, larger Print, additional Sculptures, and some new Alterations; or else it is but a Translation, with Annotations, Comments, and a Table annex’d, which serve for new Amusements and the Maintenance of the Booksellers. Others which bear a greater Repute in the World, as being penn’d by the more Learned and Ingenious Persons, in a very Concise and Elegant Stile, are generally nothing but some new fine-spun_ Virtuosi _Suggestions, extracted from an almost forgotten and out-of-fashion_ Hypothesis, _and each Improvement in Modern Arts, has undoubtedly ow’d its Original to somewhat hinted to us by the Ancients_.

_All this I freely acknowledge to be my own Case, with this difference only, that I know my self deficient in that solid Learning and admirable Stile they were wont to use; yet for your encouragement to peruse this Treatise, I can assure you, you shall hardly find any other Book which so generally, particularly and completely handles this Subject: Besides, I can justly aver that I devis’d and compil’d the greatest part thereof before I met with any Author that gave me so much Satisfaction as I have since had; and notwithstanding my Notions were in a great measure agreeable to theirs, tho’ unknown to me, yet will I modestly submit and attribute the Invention thereof to them_, First, _As being my Seniors, and who Wrote before me, and_, Secondly, _as infinitely the more Learn’d and better Qualify’d Writers. Nor does this Submission detract the least from my Labour, it having been to me the same thing as a_ lost Art: _And I would gladly be inform’d, by any one at this Day, of the true Method of the antient_ Egyptian Embalming; _nay, would be content only to know the more Modern, tho’ more excellent Way, that of_ Bilsius.

_We must therefore grant that the Ancients knew many Things, which in process of Time, either thro’ Fire, Inundations, hostile Invasions, or other Accidents and Devastations, have intirely perish’d, and still remain so, as_ Pancirollus _fully shews; or if we have any superficial Knowledge of them, as is somewhat apparent from our Modern Architecture, Sculpture, Painting_, &c. _yet are we even at this present so vastly deficient in the very best of our Imitations, that none have ever hitherto arriv’d to any tolerable Perfection; nevertheless should any one so perfectly apply himself to the Study of one of those_ lost Arts, _as to make a new Discovery therein, I hope you would allow him the same Praise as if he had been the first Inventor; and, for my part, however I should fail in answering your Expectation, of what is seemingly promis’d in the_ Title-Page; _yet, thus far I am pretty sure, that I have given more light into the Matter, than has been done by any of those imperfect Accounts of_ Herodotus, Diodorus Siculus, _&c. And tho’ some Things that I say may seem to want Authority, yet for the most part, should I have made all the Quotations I could have brought to prove my Assertions, it would have extended this Volume to a much larger size than I intended; wherefore I have in a great measure designedly omitted them, to the end I might avoid Prolixity as much as possible, and in other places I have us’d their Words expresly as my own, not to detract from them, but to be more concise, and have in several places not mention’d their Names, for the aforesaid Reasons: So I do here, once for all, with submission, Apologize for my self, that the censorious World may not repute me an ungrateful_ Plagiary.

_I acknowledge therefore this my Labour, in one respect to be a Collection, in all to be still deficient of that Perfection which so noble an_ Art _deserves; yet in some Things I have improv’d it, and in others apply’d it to those Uses which have scarce before been thought of. But all the Satisfaction I have herein, is to think that I have perform’d my Duty, in exerting my small Talent, with the utmost Care and Diligence, for the Benefit of our_ Company; _and if my Work does not perform what is intended and desir’d, it will nevertheless be Useful, Pleasant, and serve to Divert you, which_ Horace _says is the Perfection and Chief end of all Writing_:

Omne tulit punctum qui miscuit Utile Dulci.

A List of such Noblemen and Gentlemen as have been pleas’d to Encourage this Work with Sculptures.

His Grace _Wriothesly_ Duke of _Bedford_ The Honourable _James Saunderson_, Esq; _Nathaniel Long_, Esq; Mr. _James Pettiver_, Apothecary, F. R. S. _Charles Bernard_, Esq; Serjeant Surgeon _John Lawson_, M. D. _Hans Sloane_, M. D. _William Gibbons_, M. D. Mr. _Francis Moult_, Chymist His Grace _Thomas_ Lord Arch-Bishop of _Canterbury_ _John Thorpe_, A. M. Mr. _Joseph Whiston_, Druggist _Robert Nelson_, Esq; Mr. _George Rolfe_, Surgeon

A List of such Noblemen and Gentlemen as have been pleas’d to Encourage this Work by Subscriptions.

A.

Mr. _Benjamin Adams_ _John Allen_, Esq; Mr. _Richard Alsop_ Mr. _Thomas Ashly_ _William Ashmole_, M. D. _Philip Ayres_, Esq;

B.

Mr. _William Bacon_, Surgeon _William Baddiford_, M. D. _Nicholas Battersby_, Esq; Mr. _Nicholas Batt_ Mr. _Robert Baylies_ _Wriothesly_ Duke of _Bedford_ Mr. _William Bedford_ _Charles Bernard_, Esq; Serj. Surg. Mr. _Henry Bernard_, Apothecary Mrs. _Jane Bernard_ Dr. _William Benson_ _Joseph Birch_, M. B. Mr. _John Blomfield_ Mr. _James Booth_, Surgeon Mr. _John Bound_ Mr. _John Bornhold_ _George Bramston_, L. L. D. Master of _Trinity-Hall_ in _Cambridge_. _Samuel Brewster_, Esq; Mr. _George Brewster_ _William Bridge_, M. D. Mr. _Samuel Bridge_, for 6 Books Mr. _Jeremiah Bright_ Mr. _Thomas Briscoe_ Mr. _Barton Bromly_ _Humphry Brooks_, M. D. _John Brown_, Esq; _Thomas Brown_, M. D. Mr. _Richard Brown_ Mr. _Albert Bryan_ Mr. _Richard Bull_, Druggist _Richard Butler_, Esq; Mr. _John Byard_, Surgeon Mr. _Christopher Byland_ Mr. _Francis Bythel_

C.

_Thomas_ Lord Arch-Bishop of _Canterbury_, for 3. Mr. _Thomas Cawthorpe_, Apoth. Mr. _John Chamberlain_ Mr. _Lawrence de la Chambre_ _Thomas Chambers_, Esq; _Hans Peter Charriere_, M. D. Mr. _Thomas Child_, for 3. Mr. _Thomas Cholmley_ Mr. _John Chrichloe_ The Right Honourable the Earl of _Clarendon_ Mr. _Joseph Clench_, Apothecary _William Cockburn_, M. D. _William Cole_, M. D. Mr. _William Cole_, Surgeon Mr. _George Collinson_ Mr. _Andrew Cooper_, Surgeon Sir _Godfry Copley_ _Thomas Cotton_, Esq; Mr. _William Cowper_, Surgeon Mr. _Brian Cozens_ Monsieur _Le Croix_, Surgeon to the Sick and Wounded of _Kingsale_ in _Ireland_

D.

Sir _William Dawes_, Bar^t. D. D. Mr. _Philip Dewert_ Mrs. _Elizabeth Dillingham_ Mr. _Francis Douce_, Surgeon Capt. _Joseph Drake_, Clerk of the Admiralty _James Drake_, M. D. Mr. _Charles Draper_ Mr. _Samuel Dudly_

E.

_Henry Edmunds_, M. A. The Reverend _Charles Elstob_, D. D. _Anthony Erby_, Esq;

F.

Dr. _William Forward_ Sir _Andrew Fountain_

G.

_Samuel Garth_, M. D. for 4. Mr. _Christopher Gately_, Apoth. Mr. _Robert Gay_, Surgeon Mr. _Alexander Geekie_, Surgeon _William Gibbons_, M. D. The Reverend _Edmund Gibson_, D. D. Mr. _Charles Gildon_ Mr. _Francis Glascock_ Mr. _Thomas Granger_ Mr. _Edward Green_ } Mr. _Joseph Green_ } Surgeons Mr. _John Green_ } _William Greenhill_, Esq; for 3. Mr. _John Greenhill_ Mr. _William Grigson_ Mr. _William Grimes_

H.

The Right Honourable the Lord _Halifax_ Mr. _Stephen Hall_, Surgeon The Reverend _William Hanbury_, M. A. _John Hare_, Esq; Mr. _Charles Hargrave_ Mr. _Charles Harman_ Mr. _John Harris_ _John Harrison_, Esq; Mr. _John Hartley_ Mr. _Richard Harvey_, Surgeon Mr. _Joshua Hatfield_ The Honourable _Charles Hatton_, Esq; Mr. _Henry Hazzard_ _George Hepburn_, M. D. Mr. _John Hesket_ _Thomas Hesket_, A. M. _Thomas Hewett_, M. A. and Fellow of _Clare-Hall_ in _Cambridge_ The Reverend _George Hicks_, D. D. Mr. _Bevill Higgons_ Mr. _Thomas Hill_ Mr. _John Hill_, Apothecary Mr. _George Hinckster_, Surgeon Mr. _George Hockenhull_ Mr. _Thomas Hodgson_ _Henry Hoghton_, Esq; _Philip Horneck_, L. L. B. Mr. _Benjamin Howell_ Mr. _Hungerford Hoskins_

J.

Mr. _Stephen Jermyn_

K.

Mr. _William Keith_ Mr. _John Kersey_, Sen. Capt. _John Kerton_ Capt. _John Key_ Mr. _Thomas King_, Apothecary

L.

Mrs. _Catharine Lacy_ Mr. _Samuel Lane_, Apothecary _John Lawson_, M. D. _Nathaniel Long_, Esq; Mr. _Josias Long_ Mr. _Mordecai Lyde_, Surgeon

M.

Mr. _John Mackie_, Surgeon Mr. _John Magill_, Surgeon Sir _George Markham_, Baronet Mr. _Samuel Marwood_ Mr. _Nathaniel Mezy_, Apoth. Dr. _Richard Middleton Massey_ Mr. _Charles Mathar_ Mr. _Charles Midgley_, Chymist Mr. _John Mills_, Surgeon Dr. _More_, Lord Bishop of _Norwich_ Mr. _Peter Motteux_ Mr. _George Moult_, Chymist Mr. _Francis Moult_, Chymist Mr. _Thomas Murray_

N.

_Robert Nelson_, Esq; Dr. _William Nicholson_, Lord Bishop of _Carlisle_ _Denton Nicholas_, M. D. Mr. _Vincent St. Nicholas_, Surgeon Mr. _Marmaduke Norcliff_, Surgeon Mr. _Joseph Nutting_, for 2.

O.

Mr. _John Oldmixon_

P.

Mr. _John Padmore_, Apothecary _Richard Page_, Esq; Mr. _John Partridge_, Apothecary Mr. _John Peat_ Mr. _James Pettiver_, Apothecary Mr. _William Philips_ The Honourable _William Pierpoint_, Esq; Mr. _Thomas Pierce_, Surgeon The Reverend Mr. _George Plaxton_ Mr. _William Plaxton_ Mr. _Jacob Pullen_ Mr. _Nathan Putt_

R.

Mrs. _Grace Rackstraugh_ _John Rathborn_, M. D. Mr. _George Richardson_, Apoth. Mr. _Jonas Rolse_ Mr. _George Rolfe_, Surgeon Mr. _Abel Roper_

S.

Mr. _Samuel Sault_ Mr. _John Salter_, Surgeon Mr. _John Salter_, Apothecary Mr. _John Savage_ Mr. _Richard Savery_ The Honourable _James Saunderson_, Esq; for 2. Mr. _Joshua Sharpe_ _John Shadwell_, M. D. _Hans Sloane_, M. D. Mr. _William Sloper_, Surgeon The Reverend _Thomas Smith_, D.D. Mr. _George Smith_ Mr. _John Smith_ Mr. _Nathaniel Smith_, Surgeon Mr. _Francis Snape_ Mr. _Joshua Spencer_, Chymist Mr. _Thomas Spurway_ _Samuel Stebbins_, Esq; Mr. _Thomas Stollord_, Surgeon Mr. _Samuel Storer_ Mr. _John Sturmy_ Mr. _John Sturt_

T.

Mr. _William Talman_ Mr. _Christopher Talman_, Surgeon Dr. _Thomas Tomlinson_ The Honourable Coll. _Thompson_ _John Thorpe_, M. A. _Edward Tidcomb_, Esq; Mr. _Thomas Tucker_, Surgeon Mr. _James Tully_

W.

Mr. _Charles Wadcock_, Surgeon Mr. _Lyonel Wafer_, Surgeon Mr. _Henry Walker_, Surgeon _Robert Walpool_, Esq; Councellor of the Admiralty Mr. _Samuel Walton_, Chymist The Reverend _Richard Ward_, M.A. Capt. —— _Watkins_ _Abraham Weeks_, M. A. of _Maudlin College_ in _Oxford_ _Thomas West_, M. D. Mr. _John West_ Mr. _Joseph Whiston_, for 6. Mr. _Ayliff White_ Mr. _George Wilson_, Chymist Mr. _John Wilson_, Surgeon Mr. _James Wiltshire_ _Henry Worsley_, Esq; Mr. _John Wyat_, for 6.

Y.

Mr. _John Yates_, Surgeon

Amico admodum colendo D. _THOMÆ GREENHILL_ eximiam suam ΝΕΚΡΟΚΗΔΕΙΑΝ edenti χαίρειν καὶ εὐπραγεῖν.

_Quodcunq; ex Terris volitat medicamen_ Eois, _Et quas commistas_ India _præbet Opes; Quotquot_ Persiacis _glomerantur Aromata in Arvis, Atq;_ Sabæorum _Balsama prompta Solo; Quascunq; auratas_ Arabum _Campestria Merces, Pharmaca vel quotquot_ Turcica Mecca, _locant; Fervidus exustas peragrans Mercator Arenas, Quæcunq; asportat Magmata odorifera; Quæq;_ Palæstinis _stillant Opobalsama Plantis, Et quæ_ Nilois _consita sparsa Jugis; Thaumata_ Memphiticis _quæcunq; videntur in Antris, Et quæ Pyramidum claustra stupenda tenent; Tradidit arcano quodcunq; Volumine_ Mystes Ter Magnus, _vel quæ dogmata_ Aristoteles; _Cuncta hæc dignatur nobis_ Greenhillius _ardens Ecce salutifera suppeditare Manu. Esse quid hoc dicam, novus hic divinus_ Apollo _Quod subito Arctois Alpibus exoritur! Cedite_, Romani _Medicastri, cedite_ Graii, _Abdicet atq; Artes_ [1]Anglica Turba _novas. Nullus adest Squalor, Fætorve, aut dira Mephitis, Sed redolent succis Atria thuriferis; Mirifico incisæ stipantur Pulvere Venæ, Atq; Artus laxos Unguina mista fovent. Volvas, Mysta sagax, Vita Ceromate functa Corpora, & intingas_ Bammate _perpetuo: Præclara socios pergas sanare Medela, Atq; Orci rabidis Faucibus eripere; Donec succinea sero sis clausus in Arca, Dumq; Animus propere tendat ad Astra Viam_.

Joan. Kersey, _Sen._

Footnote 1:

Undertakers.

Viro Admodùm Erudito _Thomæ Greenhill_, Chirurgo in ΝΕΚΡΟΚΗΔΕΙΑΝ, sive Artem _Pollincturæ_, ab illo editam.

_Miramur_ Phariis _nutantia Pondera Saxis, Et minùs Hospitibus firma Sepulchra suis. Quod dare debuerant, Ævo Monumenta carerent, Sæcula ni functis sumeret ipse Lapis. Arguit elapsam, quâ_ Mumia _duruit, Artem, Orbatumq; dolet Matre superstes Opus. At tua Niliaci referent Arcana Laboris Scripta, nec ignotis jam fluet Amnis Aquis._ Arabiæ Fœlicis _Opes, Miracula_ Memphis, Isiacos _Mores, Justa, Sepulchra, Faces, Quicquid_ Arabs _novit_, Pharii _docuere Sophistæ Indicibus Chartis pandet amica Manus_. Pollinctura _tibi reduces debebit Honores, Arteq;_ Apollineâ _Structa perennis erit. Corpora quâ nobis servas, tibi nomen in Ævum Servabis; quâ nos Fama manebit, ope. Quid dissolvendum restat, Mors irrita? Servat Corpora_ Greenhillus _salva, Animasq; DEUS_.

G. R.

TO HIS _Ingenious Friend Mr._ Thomas Greenhill.

’Tis great and worthy of our _Praise_ to lead The _Living_ thro’ the _Dwellings_ of the _Dead_; _Death’s_ grisly _Terrours_ by your _Skill_ to Charm, And his fell _Furies_ of their _Stings_ disarm: The _Mighty Maker_ has on you bestow’d The wond’rous _Science_ for a general _Good_. The _Labours_ of your _Studies_ he has crown’d With _Art_, alike Important and Profound; With _Death_ and _Time_ he’s taught you to engage, And save his best _Creation_ from their _Rage_. _MAN_, the true _Image_ of his heav’nly _Form_, Was a rich _Prey_ to the devouring _Worm_; Scarce had his _Breath_ it’s Vital Seat forsook But frozen were his _Limbs_, and frightful was his _Look_, Livid his _Lips_, his whole _Complexion_ wan, And _Nature_ loath’d to view the lifeless _Man_; A poor Precarious _Being_ he enjoy’d, And soon the _Grave_ his beauteous _Frame_ destroy’d, Till you had learn’d by equal _Thought_ and _Care_ To keep him, as he was created, _Fair_; To heal the ghastly _Wounds_ that _Death_ had made, And give new _Beauties_ which shall never fade: _Heav’n_ has to you the Sacred _Art_ reveal’d, Which had for twice ten _Ages_ been conceal’d; From common Ruine you the _Body_ keep, And turn the filthiness of _Death_ to _Sleep_; Fair as the _Slumbers_ of a _Virgin_ seem, Who dreams of _Joy_, and blushes at her _Dream_, _Youth_ you preserve, and by your _Science_ save The living _Graces_ in the rotting _Grave_. Sooner the _Egyptian_ King’s aspiring _Tomb_ May fall, the _Marble_ waste, the _Brass_ consume, Old _Time_ may sooner run his destin’d Race, Than the new _Wonders_ of your _Art_ deface: The _Balm_ and _Eastern Odours_ you employ, The Noxious _Vapours_ of the _Vault_ destroy; You reconcile us to the Things we loath, We feel the _Flesh_ is firm, the _Features_ smooth; We see, we smell, by e’ry _Sense_ we try Your _Skill_, and are no more afraid to _Die_. Go on——And may you equal _Favour_ find, With the vast _Service_ you have done _Mankind_: May the vile _Quacks_, who _Heav’ns_ high _Form_ prophane, With _Practices_ as infamous as vain. The base _Impostors_ of the _Funeral Trade_, Who cheat at once the _Living_ and the _Dead_, Be _punish’d_ and _expos’d_, and _Art_ restor’d To her old _Honours_, and her due _Reward_: So late _Posterity_ shall sing your _Praise_, And _Fame_ bright _Statues_ to your _Glory_ raise.

_J. Oldmixon._

_To his Friend the Author._

Fragrant _Arabian Gums_, employ’d with _Art_, From _Worms_ and _Dust_ preserve our meaner _Part_; But _Labours_, such as yours, enliven _Fame_, And with due _Elogies_ preserve a _Name_; They’ll make the _Worthies_ of the _Age_ to come Just _Homage_ pay, and venerate your _Tomb_. _Greenhill_, proceed in _Learning’s Paths_ to tread, And make your self _Immortal_ by the _Dead_; Be this your _Praise_, with equal _Skill_ you strive To _Embalm_ the _Dead_, and keep your _Friends_ alive.

_B. B._

ERRATA.

Page 24. Line 24. for _Jujiæ_ read _Injice_, p. 31. l. 9. for _Nolanus_ r. _Santorellus_, p. 111. l. 31. for on _r._ in, p. 127. l. 29. for _Marenuna_ r. _Maremnia_, p. 230. l. 12. for _Romans_ r. _Grecians_, p. 330. l. 26. for _Scardonius_ r. _Scardeonius_.

THE

Art of Embalming.