90 THE PRAISE OF GARDENS 



PIERRE One of the most distinguished naturalists, mathematicians and philosophers 



GASSENDI of Prance. 1624, wrote his '■^ Paradoxical Exercises against the Aristotelians,^'' 

 (1592-1055). Tj^hich earned him the influence of Nicolas Peiresc, President of the University 

 of Aix. He then studied Astronomy and Anatomy, and ivrote a treatise to 

 show that tnan was intended to be a Vegetarian. 1628, he visited Holland, and 

 wrote an Examination of Robert Fludd's Mosaic philosophy. 1631, he observed 

 the Transit of Mercury over the Stints disc, foretold by Kepler. 1641, he was 

 called to Paris, and wrote a 77ietaphysical Disquisition on Doubts tipon the 

 " Meditatio7is " of his frie^id Descartes : they became estranged a7id reco7iciled. 

 Gasse7idi's philosophy of Atojus a7td a Void was founded tipon the Doctrines of 

 Detnocritus and Epicurus. 1645, appoi7ited P7'ofessor of Mathe77iatics i7i the 

 College Royale de Paris by i7tfluence of Cardi7ial du Plessis. 1647, published 

 his chief wo7-k 07t " The Life and Morals of Epicurus,'" xuhich rehabilitated this 

 philosopher ; a7id itt 1653, the Lives of Tycho B7-ahe, Copernictis, and other 

 Astronomers. 



Bayle styled hi77i '■^ the greatest philosopher a7nong scholars, a7id the g7-eatest 

 scholar a7nong philosophers.^^ 



AS concerning Plants, it may be expected that I should in this 

 place reckon up the principal of them ; yet I will not stand 

 to speak of such, which though accounted rare are to be seen 

 in other Gardens. I shall only touch at some of those which 

 Peireskius was the first, that caused to be brought into, and 

 cherished in Europe. Of which the Indian Gelsemine is one, 

 a wooddy plant, always green, with a clay-coloured yellowish 

 flower, of a most sweet smell. 



This was first brought from China, planted at Beaugensier, and 

 from thence propagated into the King's and Cardinal Barlerine 

 his Gardens. . . . The next is a plant called Lifa, or the Gourd 

 of Meccha . . . also the true Papyrus y^gyptia or ^Egyptian 

 paper . . . also the Indian Coco Nuts. ... In the next place, 

 Ginger, which being brought out of India did wax green in his 

 Garden, from whence it was sent to Paris, to Vidus Brosseus, a 

 famous Physician, the chief storer of the King's Garden, and 

 principal shewer thereof. . . . 



I say nothing of the broad-leaved Myrtle, with the full flower 

 of the Storax, and Lentise-Tree, which yields Mastick : and other 

 plants mentioned before. Much lesse shall I speak of the great 

 America?! Gelsemine., with the Crimson-coloured flower, not of the 



