58 CHAPTER 5. 
with Dr. William Turner, who was uii« 
queftionably the earlielT: writer among us, 
that difcovered learning and critical judg- 
ment in the knowledge of plants j and 
whofe Book of Herbs/' as Dr. Bul- 
XEYN obferves, will always grow green, 
and never wither as long as Diof cor ides is 
held in mind by us mortal wights." But, 
before I turn my attention to Turner, 
I will remark, that, in an interval of 
thirty-four years between the firft edition 
of'' The Crete Herbal,'' in 15 16, and that 
of Turner, in 1550, I have it not in my 
power to refer to any publication on my 
fubjedl, in the Englifh tongue. That there 
were tranflat ions of feveral of the writers of 
the middle ages, has been noticed. Among 
thofe, on the continent, there were feveral 
by whofe means Botany made a rapid pro- 
grefs. The principal were Brunsfelsius, 
EuRicius CoRDUs, RuELLius, Vakrius 
CoRDUS, FucHsius, and above all Ges- 
NER, who, poffeffing a genius and induf-- 
try, almoft unparalleled in thefe ftudies, com- 
prehended this riling branch of knowledge, 
with a more expanded view than any of his 
predeceflbrS| 
