The DEDICATION.

Part of Agriculture (the 'Philosophy ot the Garden and Parterre on-ly ) but of Herbs and wholsome Sallets, and other plain and ulefulParts of Geoponicks , and wrote Books of Tillage and Husbandry ; andtook the Plough-Tackle for their Banner , and their Names from theGrain and Pulse they fow'd, as the Marks and Characters of the highestHonour.

But I proceed no farther on a Topic 1b well known to Your Lordship:Nor urge I Examples of such Illustrious Persons laying aside their Gran-deur, and even of deserting their Stations; (which would infinitelyprejudice the Publick, when worthy Men are in Place, and at theHelm ) but to shew how consistent the Diversions of the Garden andVilla were, with the highest and busiest Employment of the Common-wealth ; and never thought a Reproach, or the least Diminution to theGravity and Veneration due to their Persons, and the Noble Rank'they held.

Will Your Lordship give me leave to repeat what is laid of the youn-ger Pliny , ( Nephew to the Naturalist ) and whom I think we mayparallel with the Greatest of his Time (and perhaps of any since) un-der the Worthiest Emperor the Roman World ever had? A Person ofvast Abilities, Rich, and High in his Master's Favour; that so husban-ded his Time, as in the midst of the weightiest Affairs, to have anfwer’dand by his * Example , made good what I have said on this Occasion.The ancient and best Magistrates of Rome y allow’d but the Ninth Dayfor the City and Publick Business ; the reft for the Country and theSallet Garden : There were then fewer Causes indeed at the Bar ; butnever greater Justice, nor better Judges and Advocates. And ’tis henceobserved, that we hardly find a Great and Wise Man among the An-cients, qui nullos habuit hortos , excepting only Pomponius Atticus ;whilst his dear Cicero professes, that he never laid out his Money morereadily, than in the purchasing of Gardens , and those sweet Retirements,for which he so often left the Rostra (and Court of the greatest andmost flourishing State of the World) to visit, prune, and water themwith his own Hands.

But, My Lord, I forget with whom I am talking thus; and a Gar-diner ought not to be so bold. The Present I humbly make yourLordship, is indeed but a Sallet of crude Herbs: But there is amongthem that which was the Prize at the Isthmian Games ; and yourLordship knows who it was both accepted and rewarded as despicablean Oblation of this kind. The Favour I humbly beg, is your Lord-ship’s Pardon for this Presumption. The Subject is mean, and requiresit, and my Reputation in danger; should your Lordship hence suspectthat one copld never write so much of drejstng Sallets , who minded anything serious, besides the gratifying a sensual Appetite with a voluptuaryApician Art.

Truly, My Lord , I am so far from designing to promote those Sup-plicia Luxuria , (as Seneca calls them) by what I have here written;that were it in my Power, I would recall the World, is not altogetherto their pristine Diet, yet to a much more wholjome and temperate thanis now in Fashion: And what if they find me like to some who areea-

* Si quid terns oris d civilibus negotiis, quibus totum jam intenderat animum, fupurari potuit, colendis&gtis t priscos illos Romanes Num&ni Pompiliutn, Cincinn&tuni, Ciitoncm, F&bios, Ciccroncs,a liofque virtute claros' viros imitate ; qui in magno honore conJiituti t vites putartf fiercorare agroi, &Utigare mquaquam turpe &P inhenejlum putarunt> In Vit« Plin. 2.

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