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 but
the observations of my frequent road between South and North Wilts;
that is, between Broad Chalke and Eston Piers. If I had had then
leisure, I would willingly have searched the naturalls of the whole
county. It is now fifteen yeares since I left this country, and have
at this distance inserted such additions as I can call to mind, so
that methinks this description is like a picture that Mr. Edm.
Bathurst, B.D. of Trinity Colledge, Oxon, drew of Dr. Kettle three
[some] yeares after his death, by strength of memory only; he had so
strong an idea of him: and it did well resemble him. I hope hereafter
it will be an incitement to some ingeniouse and publique spirited
young Wiltshire man to polish and compleat what I have here delivered
rough-hewen; for I have not leisure to heighten my style. And it may
seem nauseous to some that I have rak't up so many western vulgar
proverbs, which I confess I do not disdeigne to quote,* for proverbs
are drawn from the experience and observations of many ages; and are
the ancient natural philosophy of the vulgar, preserved in old English
in bad rhythmes, handed downe to us; and which I set here as
"Instantiæ Crucis" for our curious moderne philosophers to examine and