He was not however inclined to read the sacred writings too literally
on this subject, for after giving a part of the first chapter of
Genesis, he quotes (from Timothy, ch. iii. v. 15) the words, "from a
child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee
wise unto salvation:" upon which he observes, "the Apostle doth not
say, to teach natural philosophy: and see Pere Symond, where he says
that the scriptures in some places may be erroneous as to philosophy,
but the doctrine of the church is right". It is presumed that the
above passages, which indicate the general nature of Aubrey's theory,
will be sufficient, without further quotations from this chapter. - J. B.]
CHAPTER IX.
OF PLANTS.
Pr?sentemq{ue} refert quaelibet herba Deum.- OVID.
[THIS is one of the most copious chapters in Aubrey's work. Ray 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 county of Wilts 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.
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