i8 PERIOD I. 



1600), while the revival of learning- and science was 

 proceeding actively in Italy, France, Switzerland, and 

 the Rhineland, England lagged behind. Humanist 

 studies were indeed pursued with eminent success in 

 the England of Sir Thomas More, but there was little 

 else for national pride to dwell upon. The re-opening 

 of ancient literature, the outpouring of printed books, 

 the Reformation, the new mathematics and astronomy, 

 the new botany and zoology, were mainly the work 

 of foreigners. Before the seventeenth century no 

 Englishman was recognised as the founder of a scientific 

 school. 



Passing over Edward Wotton (1492-1555), who 

 recast the zoology of Aristotle with very little effect 

 upon the progress of biology, we may head the list of 

 English naturalists with the name of William Turner 

 (d. 1568), who wrote on the plants and birds of Britain. 

 Turner was a Reformed preacher, who had been the 

 college friend of Ridley and Latimer. Being banished 

 for preaching without licence, he studied medicine and 

 botany in Italy, at Basle and at Cologne. Under Edward 

 VI. he returned to England and was made Dean of 

 Wells, fled again to the Continent on Mary's accession, 

 was re-instated by Elizabeth, was suspended for non- 

 conformity, and died not long after. Turner's herbal 

 (1551-63) cannot be said to have done much for English 

 botany. The arrangement is alphabetical, the pro- 

 perties and virtues of the plants are described out of 

 ancient authors, and most of the figures are borrowed. 

 Still, it was something to have the common plants of 

 England examined by a man who had studied under 

 Luke Ghini, had botanised along the Rhine, and was 

 the pupil, friend, and correspondent of Conrad Gesner, 

 the most learned naturalist in Europe. Turner's History 



