succeeded John, Earl of Carbery, as President of the Royal Society, in
November, 1689.- J. B.]

====================================================================

PREFACE.

TILL about the yeare 1649,* 'twas held a strange presumption for a man
to attempt an innovation in learning; and not to be good manners to be
more knowing than his neighbours and forefathers. Even to attempt an
improvement in husbandry, though it succeeded with profit, was look't
upon with an ill eie. "Quo non Livor abit?"† Their neighbours did
scorne to follow it, though not to do it was to their own detriment.
'Twas held a sinne to make a scrutinie into the waies of nature;
whereas Solomon saieth, "Tradidit mundum disputationibus hominum": and
it is certainly a profound part of religion to glorify GOD in his
workes.‡

* 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