Of OXFORDSHIRE, ni 



ledge of man ha* yet been able to reach) altogether confonant and a- 

 greeableto mans reafon, and of no way or means that doth ccntraditt^ 

 or k contrary to human ratiocination : Whence it has been a general 

 obfervation and Maxim, that Nature doth nothing in vain. h funis 

 Ifiy contrary to that great wifdom of Nature, that thefe Jnetilyjbaped 

 bodies fljould have all thofe curious figures and contrivances f which 

 many of them are adorned and contrived with J generated or wrought 

 by a plaftic virtue, fir no higher end than only to exhibit a form . 



i2i. To which I anfwer, that Nature herein afts neither con- 

 trary to her own prudence, human ratiocination, or in vain, it be- 

 ing the wifdo'm and goodnefs of the Supreme Nature, by the 

 Scbool-men called Naturans, that governs and direcls the Natura 

 naturata here below, to beautine the World with thefe varieties ; 

 which I take to be the end of fuch productions as well as of mofl 

 Flowers, fuch as Tulips, Anemones, isc. of w'hich we know as lit- 

 tle ufe as of formed Hones. Nay, perhaps there may proportion- 

 ably, number for number, be as many of them of Medicinal or 

 other ufe, fuch as Selenites, Belemnites, Conchites, Lapitjudaicus, 

 isre. as there are of Plants : So that unlefs we may fay alfo 

 (which I guefs no body will) that thefe are produced contrary 

 to the great wifdom of Nature, we muft not ofjlones. 



122. And thus I have given the grounds of my prefent opinion, 

 which has not been taken up out of humor or contradiclion, with 

 intent only to affront other worthy Authors modeft conjectures, 

 but rather friendly to excite them, or any others, to endeavor col- 

 lections of ' fhell-fift), and parts of other Animals, that may an- 

 fwer fuch formed Hones as are here already, or may hereafter be 

 produced : Which when ever I find done, and the reafons alle- 

 gcd folidly anfwered, I fhall be ready with acknowledgment to 

 retraft my opinion, which I am not fo in love with, but for the 

 fake of Truth I can chearfully caft off without the leaft relu- 

 ftancy. 



123. However, in the meantime fince no doubt it will be ex- 

 pected, upon fo deliberate rejeftion of Animal molds, thatfome 

 further and more particular account fhould be given of the Pla- 

 flic virtue, or whatever elfe it is, thateffefts thefe ftapes : I fhall 



briefly fet down alfo my prefent thoughts concerning it, which 

 yet I intend not my felf (much lefs defire the Reader) to em- 



Mr.Hovkf Micrographkt, Obfcrv- 1/. 



(L kiaee, 



