^Turner* 59^ 
predecelTors, and extended Its bounds beyond 
the limits, which, till that time. Materia 
Medica alone, had prefcribed to it. But 
Gesner's talents, though in Botany they 
were original, were ftill more confpicuous 
in his knowledge of the animal kingdom, 
in which, his writings will long be valued 
and efteenied, by thofe efpecially, who, 
without painful refearches, would fee an- 
tient literature in a concentrated view. I 
fpeak not of his abilities as a philologift 
and critic, in which charaders he held a 
diftinguiflied place. But to proceed, 
William Turner was born at Mor- 
peth in Northumberland^ and educated at 
Pembroke college, Cambridge^ under the 
patronage and affiftance of Sir Thomas 
Wentworth. I find him a ftudent of that 
college about the year 1538, where he ac- 
quired great reputation for his learning. He 
applied hinifelf to philofophy and phyfie, 
and early difcovered an inclination to the 
ftudy of plants, and a wifh to be well ac- 
quainted with the Materia Medica of the 
gntients. 
He cpmplains of the little affiftance he 
coul4 
