Historia plantarum

With what certainty can this most frequented Emporium of the Gauls hold any prejudice, for confirming that expectation which it has conceived of you? Therefore, since you are such as this, I send this "Promptuarium of the Earth" original: "Telluris Promptuarium" to you as to a most exact Censor, written with the same art, so that you may observe in this manual whatever the highest princes of Medicine have thought concerning the nature of plants. You may seriously play in this vast garden of Nature with the greatest Authors, or if you prefer, you may fish, hunt, hawk, or finally indulge in country life for the sake of your spirit. May you consider all this work to be of good and equitable value. Live and be well, most distinguished man, and hold your Pinaeus dear. Given at Lyon, January 15, 1561.