CHAPTER IX. 



OF PLANTS. 



I'rsesenteiuq; refert qu:uli!>et herlia Deum. OVID. 



[Tins is one of the most copious chapters in Aubrey's work. Kay has appended a number of 

 valuable notes to it, several of which are here printed. Dr. Maton has quoted from this chapter, 

 which he mentions in terms of commendation, in his " Notices of animals and plants of that part of 

 the countv of AVilts within 10 miles round Salisbury," appended to Hatcher's History of Salisbury, 

 folio, 1843. J. B.] 



IT were to be wish't that we had a survey or inventory of the plants of every county in England 

 and Wales, as there is of Cambridgeshire by Mr. John Ray ; that we might know our own store, 

 and whither to repaire for them for medicinall uses. God Almighty hath furnished us with plants 

 to cure us, that grow perhaps within five or ten miles of our abodes, and we know it not. 



Experience hath taught us that some plants have wonderful vertues ; and no doubt all have so, 

 if we knew it or could discover it. Homer writes sublimely, and calls them Xelpes Qe'iov, the 

 hands of the gods : and we ought to reach them religiously, with praise and thanksgiving. 



I am no botanist myselfe, and I thinke we have very few in our countrey that are ; the more is 

 the pity. But had Tho. Willisel * lived, and been in England, I would have employed him in this 

 search. 



Sir William Petty surveyed the kingdome of Ireland geographically, by those that knew not 

 what they did. Why were it impossible to procure a botanique survey of Wiltshire by apothecaries 



* THOMAS WILLISEL was a Northamptonshire man (Lancashire J. RAY), a very poor fellow, and was a foot soldier in y c 

 army of Oliver Cromwell. Lying at St. James's (a garrison then I thinke), he happened to go along with some simplers. He liked 

 it so well that he desired to goe with them as often as they went, and tooke such a fancy to it that in a short time he became a good 

 botanist. He was a lusty fellow, and had an admirable sight, which is of great use for a simpler ; was as hardy as a Highlander; 

 all the clothes on his back not worth ten groates, an excellent marksman, and would maintain himselfe with his dog and his gun, 

 and his fishing-line. The botanists of London did much encourage him, and employed (sent) him all over England, Scotland, and 

 good part of Ireland, if not all ; where he made brave discoveries, for which his name will ever be remembred in herballs. If he 

 saw a strange fowle or bird, or a fish, he would have it and case it. When y e Lord John Vaughan, now Earle of Carbery, was 

 made Governour of Jamaica, 167 , I did recommend him to his Excellency, who made him his gardiner there. He dyed within 

 a yeare after his being there, but had made a fine collection of plants and shells, which the Earle of Carbery hath by him ; and had 

 he lived he would have given the world an account of the plants, animals, and fishes of that island. He could write a hand 

 indifferent legible, and had made himself master of all the Latino names : he pourtrayed but untowardly. All the profession he 

 had was to make pegges for shoes. 



