PREFACE. 



TILL about the yeare 1649,* 'twas held a strange presumption for a man to attempt an innovation 

 in learning ; and not to be good manners to be more knowing than his neighbours and forefathers. 

 Even to attempt an improvement in husbandry, though it succeeded with profit, was look't upon 

 with an ill eie. Quo non Livor obit ?f Their neighbours did scorne to follow it, though not to do it 

 was to their own detriment. 'Twas held a sinne to make a scrutinie into the waies of nature ; 

 whereas Solomon saieth, Tradidit mundum dwputationibiis hominum : and it is certainly a profound 

 part of religion to glorify GOD in his workes. \ 



In those times to have had an inventive and enquiring witt was accounted resverie [affcctation], 

 which censure the famous Dr. William Harvey could not escape for his admirable discovery of the 

 circulation of the blood. He told me himself that upon his publishing that booke he fell in his 

 practice extremely. 



Foreigners say of us that we are Lyncei foris, Talpca domi. There is no nation abounds with 

 greater varietie of soiles, plants, and mineralls than ours ; and therefore it very well deserves to be 

 surveyed. Certainly there is no hunting to be compared with Venatio Panos ; and to take no notice 

 at all of what is dayly offered before our eyes is grosse stupidity. 



I was from my childhood affected with the view of things rare ; which is the beginning of philo- 

 sophy : and though I have not had leisure to make any considerable proficiency in it, yet I was 

 carried on with a strong [secret] inpulse to undertake this taske : I knew not why, unles for my owne 

 private [particular] pleasure. Credit there was none ; for it getts the disrespect [contempt] of a 

 man's neighbours. But I could not rest [be] quiet till I had obeyed this secret call. Mr. Camden, 

 Dr. Plott, and Mr. Wood confess the same [like]. 



I am the first that ever made an essay of this kind for Wiltshire, and, for ought I know, in the 

 nation; having begun it in An . 1656. In the yeare 1675 I became acquainted with Dr. Robert 

 Plott, who had then his " Naturall Historic of Oxfordshire " upon the loome, which I seeing he did 

 performe so excellently well, desired him to undertake Wiltshire, and I would give him all my 

 papers : as I did [he had] also my papers of Surrey as to the naturall things, and offered him my 



* Experimental! Philosophy was then first cultivated by a club at Oxon. ) Ovid. Fast. 



J Deus est maximus in minimis. Prxsentemqj refert quselibet Herba Deum. 



[The words inclosed within brackets are inserted in Aubrey's manuscript above the preceding words, of which they were 

 intended as corrections or modifications. If the work had been printed by the author he would doubtless have adopted those 

 words which he deemed most expressive of his meaning. J. B.] 



