i 3 o NATURAL SCIENCES. 



vases and dishes which were decorated with figures of flowers, herbs, shells, 

 .insects, and reptiles. Palissy, whose earthenware was very highly esteemed 

 when it appeared at the French court, placed himself under the protection 

 of the Constable of Montmorency, and obtained the title of "Inventeur 

 des rustiques figulines du roi." (See in the volume on " Arts," chapter on 

 Ceramics.) 



. He was summoned to Paris by order of the King, and Catherine de' 

 Medicis gave him a workshop in the gardens of the Tuileries. It was then 

 that he described, in a course of public lectures, the result of his discoveries 

 and his theories on natural history. Referring to this, he wrote, " I dis- 



Fig. 93. Mark of Barthelemy Berton, printer at Kochelle, upon the Title-page of the " Discourg 

 admirables," by Bernard Palissy, published at La Rochelle in 1563, small quarto. 



played placards at the comers of the streets, in order to assemble the most 

 learned physicians and others, promising to explain to them in three lectures 

 all that I knew in regard to fountains, stones, metals, and other bodies. And 

 in order that the audience might consist only of the most learned and those 

 most anxious to instruct themselves, I stated in my placards that no one 

 would be admitted except on payment of a crown ; and this I did to see what 

 could be advanced in opposition to my views, knowing well that if I made 

 any false statements they would infallibly be caught up." We do not, 

 unfortunately, possess any further particulars as to these conferences at which 

 thirty-two most honourable and learned persons took part, in addition to many 



