Preface.

Lastly, if my censors—those sharp-sighted doctors and masters—intend to touch or correct this book of mine, claiming that I have missed the truth, named the plants incorrectly, acted boldly regarding the effects of the herbs, or failed in any way, I wish to admonish and request of them in return: let them improve it. However, let it be with the condition that they do not clothe themselves in the words and feathers of others A reference to Aesop's fable of the bird in borrowed feathers, warning against plagiarism, nor ungratefully claim, keep, sell, or cry them out as their own. This would ultimately result in significant ridicule and disadvantage for them. Nevertheless, every work shall and will know well how to represent its master as he is and what he creates; we shall let the matter rest there for now. We intend, with the help of the Most High, to begin our book with the hot and stinging nettles, and see how many species of them there are, what they are named, where they are to be found, and for what purpose each may be usefully employed.

Wendel Rihel, Book Printer

An ornate woodcut initial letter 'D' decorated with scrolling foliage and floral motifs.Since I have found, friendly reader—contrary to my previously held opinion regarding the preceding herbal—that the same book, described by the well-learned and highly experienced Mr. Hieronymus Bock Hieronymus Bock (1498–1554) was a German physician and botanist who pioneered the transition from medieval botany to modern scientific observation (a particular lover of the common good and of the highly renowned divine art of simple medicine simple medicine: medicines made from a single constituent, usually a plant, rather than a complex mixture and the knowledge of herbs), was somewhat hindered because the illustrations of the herbs were not included. For I have heard from many—indeed, nearly everyone—as soon as the book first came out, and subsequently it was written to me time and again: why had I not added the figures of the herbs to the elegant and useful description? I always answered according to my intention: that I wished to spare the reader and the common man in this matter, so that they would not have to go without this useful book because it might be somewhat higher in price.

However, as I found (as indicated above) that everyone was quite eager for such illustrations, and likewise that other herbals, which are even higher in price, still find their way and are not as burdensome to the common man as I had thought, I did not wish to spare any expense, effort, or labor. Three years ago, I began to prepare the illustrations, and have now added them to the description—not without special effort from the writer—so that the useful pieces found in great abundance in this book (and indicated by a diligent index original: "Register") for maintaining bodily health and driving away manifold ailments of the human body with little cost, should not be withheld or despised. I ask this of you...