6 PREFACE. 



further assistance. But he was then invited into Staffordshire to illustrate that countie ; which hav- 

 ing finished in December 1684, I importuned him again to undertake this county: but he replied 

 he was so taken up in [arranging?] of the Museum Ashmoleanum that he should meddle no more 

 in that kind, unles it were for his native countie of Kent ; and therefore wished me to finish and 

 publish what I had begun. Considering therefore that if I should not doe this myselfe, my papers 

 might either perish, or be sold in an auction, and somebody else, as is not uncommon, put his name 

 to my paines ; and not knowing any one that would undertake tliis designe while I live, I have 

 tumultuarily stitch't up what I have many yeares since collected ; being chiefly but the observations 

 of my frequent road between South and North Wilts ; that is, between Broad Chalke and Eston 

 Piers. If I had had then leisure, I would willingly have searched the naturalls of the whole county. 

 It is now fifteen yeares since I left this country, and have at this distance inserted such additions as I 

 can call to mind, so that methinks this description is like a picture that Mr. Edm. Bathurst, B.D. of 

 Trinity Colledge, Oxon, drew of Dr. Kettle three [some] yeares after his death, by strength of me- 

 mory only ; he had so strong an idea of him : and it did well resemble him. I hope hereafter it will be 

 an incitement to some ingeniouse and publique spirited young Wiltshire man to polish and compleat 

 what I have here delivered rough-hewen ; for I have not leisure to heighten my style. And it may 

 seem nauseous to some that I have rak't up so many western vulgar proverbs, which I confess I do 

 not disdeigne to quote,* for proverbs are drawn from the experience and observations of many ages ; 

 and are the ancient natural philosophy of the vulgar, preserved in old English in bad rhythmes, 

 handed downe to us ; and which I set here as Instantiai Crucis for our curious moderne philosophers 

 to examine and give bion to their OOTI'S. 



But before I fly at the marke to make a description of this county, I will take the boldness 

 to cancelleer, and give a generall description of what parts of England I have seen, as to the soiles : 

 which I call Chorographia Super and Sub-terranea (or thinke upon a more fitting name). 



Londtin, Gresham Coll., June Gth, 1685. 



* Plinie is not afraide to call them Oracles: (Lib. xviii. Nat. Hist. cap. iv.) " Ac primum omnium oraculis majore ex parte 

 agemus, quac non in alio vitsc genere plura certiorara sunt." 



