FRANCIS WILLUGHBY. 65 



approbation, his particular directions as to the 

 management and carrying on." 



After reminding Mr Willughby that they had 

 " lately, out of Gerard, Parkinson, and Phytologia 

 Britannica, made a collection of rare plants, 

 whose places are mentioned therein, and ranked 

 them under their several counties," he proceeds 

 to state his intention to carry on and perfect the 

 design, for which purpose he was " writing to all 

 his friends and acquaintance who were skilful in 

 herbary, requesting them the next summer each 

 to search diligently his country for plants, and 

 to send him a catalogue of such as they might 

 find, together with the places wherein they gro\v. 

 In divers counties I have such as are skilful 

 and industrious. For Warwickshire and Not- 

 tinghamshire I must beg your assistance, which I 

 hope, and am confident, you will be willing to 

 communicate." He then proceeds to state the 

 plan of his work, which, he adds, " it will require 

 some years to compleat." 



Mr Ray published this work A.D. 1677, under 

 the name of Historia Plantarum, and inscribed it 

 to his friend and patron, Mr Willughby. 



There are no means of ascertaining positively 

 how far Mr Willughby assisted him agreeably to 

 his request. 



In the month of May, 1662, Mr Ray and Mr 

 Willughby set out from Cambridge on another 

 itinerary, passing through Northamptonshire, 

 Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Cheshire, several 

 counties of Wales, returning by Gloucestershire, 



