A Medical-Philosophical Discourse OF FERMENTATION OR, Of the Intestine Motion of PARTICLES IN EVERY BODY.
BY Dr. THOMAS WILLIS of Christ-Church in Oxford, and Sidley Professor of Natural Philosophy in that Famous University.
Translated into English by S. P.
LONDON: Printed for T. Dring, C. Harper, J. Leigh, and S. Martin. MDCLXXXI.
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">TO THE Most Reverend Father in Christ And the Right Honorable HIS GRACE, GILBERT: By Divine Providence Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, Primate and Metropolitan of all England, and one of His Majesties most Honorable Privy-Councellors.</h2>
Most Holy Prelate,
THE Eagle will not acknowledg his suspected Chicken, by one only sign, for it is not enough that it can look against the light, unless it be able also to behold the Sun&#8217;s Beams without winking: and indeed altho this our hasty issue, whether by the help of its own blindness, or of that doubtful light in which it liv&#8217;d, hath been able to come abroad, yet it hath not sufficiently given marks of its true race, until it might delight its Eye with your brightness as at the Sun&#8217;s Beams.
These Meditations or Discourses tho several times published, now therefore at length boast, that they are able to shew themselves to the light first, with your Sacred name in the front, it is then but reason, that the same Mecaenas, who hath brought me forth into the open light, from my own darkness, and from the filthiness, and soot in which I was involved, being condemned among the metals; should think not it any detraction, to lend to my Works Ornament, and Splendor, as well as to the Author and Publisher.
It was by your means (most Noble Prelate) that I obtained the Votes in this Famous Ʋniversity for the place of Sidly Professor, for how small soever my Merits might seem, they were helped by the greatness and weight of your opinion.
I am exceeding conscious to my self, how unfit, being destitute of all help, I came to that Province, both for the Dignity of the Place, of the Ʋniversity, and of my Mecaenas, yet I believe nothing is to be dispair&#8217;d of, under so great Auspicies. I would therefore, if there be any thing, at any time, more happily thought of, in the scrutiny of Nature; and brought forth by me, that it be not referred to my Ingenuity, or (which I might perhaps more truely deserve) my Industry, but to the Influences of my Patron: For to him only he Dedicates and Consecrates himself and all his, who is
Your Graces most humble And for ever obliged Servant, T. W.