* Experimentall Philosophy was then first cultivated by a club at Oxon.

† Ovid.  Fast.

‡ “Deus est maximus in minimis.  Prsæsentemque refert quælibet Herba Deum”.

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

§ [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.]

Foreigners say of us that we are “Lyncei foris, Talpœ 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 philosophy :  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 Historie 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 further assistance.  But he was then invited into Staffordshire to illustrate that countie; which having finished in December 1684, I importuned him again to undertake this county:  but he replied he was so taken up in [arranging ?] of the Museum Ashmoleanum that he should meddle no more in that kind, unles it were for his native countie of Kent; and therefore wished me to finish and publish what I had begun.  Considering therefore that if I should not doe this myselfe, my papers might either perish, or be sold in an auction, and somebody else, as is not uncommon, put his name to my paines; and not knowing any one that would undertake this designe while I live, I have tumultuarily stitch’t up what I have many yeares since collected; being chiefly