312
THE ESSEX NATURALIST
In 1686, when John Kay wrote, Dale would have been
26 or 27, and even at that age the Master acknowledges
fully his indebtedness to Dale, describing him as "my friend
and neighbour''.
The association between Ray and Dale must have started
almost as soon as Dale came to Braintree, probably first as
a disciple, but soon, almost as an equal.
Under Ray's guidance, as Dale himself declares, he was
initiated into scientific work. He travelled over much of
East Anglia in search of plants, and in his garden he raised
many difficult species from seed. In 1693 Dale published
his first work, "Pharmacologia seu Manuductio ad Materium
Medicum", which was an annotated list of drugs. The
first edition was in Latin, and apparently he had asked Ray
to prepare the Latin preface for publication, but Ray de-
clined, saying that his Latin would be too well known.
Subsequent editions, revised and in English, were issued in
1715 and 1737. In the preface he pays tribute to John Ray
as "his friend and neighbour of whom I am justly proud".
Dale was a careful and painstaking worker, and Ray
acknowledges the great help that he gave in helping to
check synonyms, correct errors and supply omissions.
Samuel Dale was a man of robust physique and character
and possessed considerable intellectual gifts. He was ver-
satile, interested in, and studied, everything with which he
came into contact, from the figures of three Saxon coins dug
up in Suffolk, bread made from turnips in a season of
scarcity, plants, fungi, insects, to the abundant organic
remains in the Red Crag deposits in the cliffs at Harwich.
His medical practice was widespread, and he spent a great
deal of time travelling to bis patients, which perhaps also
enabled him to pursue his interest in nature. In addition,
he took an active part in local affairs. He was for many
years a member of the "Company of Twenty-four" or the
"Headborough ", which from early days had been the local
authority in Braintree. Dale served it well in all its public
offices, acting as its clerk, as is shown by its well-kept
minutes in his handwriting. He also made a copy, which
is still extant, of the local records, thinking that they were
in danger of being lost or destroyed, as they have been.