“O RERUM PRUDENS QUANTUM EXPERIENTIA VULGO MATERIEM LARGILIA BONI, SI VINCERE CURENT DESIDIAM, ET GRATOS AGITANDO PREBENDERE FINES! —————— DEUS AUCTOR, ET IPSA AREM ALUIT NATURA SUAM.” TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THOMAS, EARLE OF PEMBROKE AND MONTGOMERIE, LORD HERBERT OF CAERDIFFE, &c.; ONE OF THE PRIVY COUNCELL TO THEIR MAJESTIES, AND PRESIDENT OF THE ROYALL SOCIETIE. [A page is appropriated in the manuscript to the Author’s intended DEDICATION; the name and titles of his patron only being filled in, as above. The nobleman named is particularly mentioned by Aubrey in his Chapter on “The Worthies of Wiltshire”, printed in a subsequent part of this volume. He was Earl of Pembroke from 1683 till his death in 1733; and was distinguished for his love of literature and the fine arts. He formed the Wilton Collection of marbles, medals, and coins; and succeeded John, Earl of Carbery, as President of the Royal Society, in November, 1689.—J. B.] PREFACE. Till about the yeare 1649,* ’twas held a strange presumption for a man to attempt an innovation in learning; and not to be good manners to be more knowing than his neighbours and forefathers. Even to attempt an improvement in husbandry, though it succeeded with profit, was look’t upon with an ill eie. “Quo non Livor abit?”† Their neighbours did scorne to follow it, though not to do it was to their own detriment. ’Twas held a sinne to make a scrutinie into the waies of nature; whereas Solomon saieth, “Tradidit mundum disputationibus hominum”: and it is certainly a profound part of religion to glorify GOD in his workes.‡ * Experimentall Philosophy was then first cultivated by a club at Oxon. † Ovid. Fast. ‡ “Deus est maximus in minimis. Prsæsentemque refert quælibet Herba Deum”. In those times to have had an inventive and enquiring witt was accounted resverie [affectation§], which censure the famous Dr. William Harvey could not escape for his admirable discovery of the circulation of the blood. He told me himself that upon his publishing that booke he fell in his practice extremely. § [The words inclosed within brackets are inserted in Aubrey’s manuscript above the preceding words, of which they were intended as corrections or modifications. If the work had been printed by the author he would doubtless have adopted those words which he deemed most expressive of his meaning.—J. B.] Foreigners say of us that we are “Lyncei foris, Talpœ domi”. There is no nation abounds with greater varietie of soiles, plants, and mineralls than ours; and therefore it very well deserves to be surveyed. Certainly there is no hunting to be compared with “Venatio Panos”; and to take no notice at all of what is dayly offered before our eyes is grosse stupidity.