80 The Statural Hijlory 



CHAP. V. 

 Of Formed Stones. 



AFter Stones made to ferve the neceffnies of Man, and not 

 brought into form but by the tool of the Artift, come we 

 next to confider thofe that are naturally formed, and feem 

 rather to be made for his admiration than ufe. Whereof the 

 World is beautified with fo great variety, that as on the one hand 

 I cannot but wonder at the great Providence of God, and his 

 moft perfect Workmanftiip, that has thus created the Vniverfe for 

 Mans delight as well as ufe : fo on the other, I cannot but repre- 

 hend the petulant defpifers of this innocent fort of Learning, 

 who in derifion have called it, picking of ftones ; as if what the 

 Omnipotent and moft wife God hath thought lit to create, were 

 not worth the conlrderation of weak Man. But let fuch malici- 

 ous Scoffers know, that 'tis their pride and ignorance that has 

 engaged them in this Cenfure : for as God has created them, fo 

 fome things muft be written off meerly for information, as well 

 as others that tend to our advantage. Befide, who knows but 

 thefe things may have a ufe, that hereafter may be difcover'd, 

 though not known at prefent. Since then their Exceptions are 

 fo ill grounded, that they, vanifli in a manner as foon as named, 

 'tis but juft that I pay them in their own coyn, and flight their 

 judgment more than they dare do my fuljeft. 



2. In the handling whereof, though in a particular Chapter, I 

 (hall obferve the method of the whole Ejfay : And rirft treat of 

 fuch formed ftones as either in name, or thing, or both, relate to 

 the Heavenly Bodies or Air ; and next, fuch as belong to the Wa- 

 tery Kingdom : After them, fuch as refemble Plants and Animals, 

 whether in the whole, or parts. And laftly fuch ftones, wherein 

 contrary to all rule, Dame Nature kerns to imitate Art ; for fo far 

 from idlenefs (fays a very good Author ') is Nature in the bowels 

 and dark caverns of the earth, that ftie continually plays the Geo- 

 metrician there, and prefents us with Bodies, almoft of all kinds, 

 in ftone . 



i Ente/m, Jerc Metallica>cap.f 



3. Amongft 



